Robotic surgery performed remotely 08:43, July 21, 2025 By ZHOU WENTING in Shanghai ( China Daily Zhang Zizhen, a gastrointestinal surgeon from Renji Hospital in Shanghai, conducts a remote operation through a robotic system on Thursday. CHINA DAILY Three top surgical teams from China and the United Kingdom came together to conduct a remote robotic surgery spanning across continents on Thursday, with the medical teams saying it was like they were in the same operating theater. Led by Shanghai Renji Hospital, in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine and London's Royal Marsden Hospital, the multisite coordinated surgery took place simultaneously in Shanghai, Hong Kong and London. The experimental operation was performed on a pig in Hong Kong, and the doctors performed a relay laparoscopic robotic gastrectomy on it, using a domestically made remote platform of surgical robots. Doctors from Renji Hospital, which is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said that the successful completion of the surgery not only validated the stability, precision and adaptability in multiple places of Chinese surgical robotic technology in remote clinical applications, but also demonstrated the potential for establishing highly efficient collaborative mechanisms across different countries and regions. Zhang Zizhen, director of the gastrointestinal surgery department at Renji Hospital, was the first to connect to the surgical robotic system for remote operation. He completed the dissection and exposure of the gastroesophageal junction area smoothly, saying that the image quality of the system was clear and precise. Subsequently, control of the surgery was transferred to the London team. Asif Chaudry, chief expert of upper gastrointestinal surgery at the hospital, maneuvered the robotic system to separate the stomach from the colon, pancreas and spleen, exposing the blood supplying arteries of the major organs in the upper abdominal cavity, and meticulously clearing the lymph nodes in the area. Throughout the operation, he maintained real-time communication with experts in Shanghai and Hong Kong via voice conversation, praising the instant response of the surgical operating system, and saying that "it was as if he were right beside the 'patient'". At the Hong Kong site, doctors were responsible for monitoring and system support throughout the surgery, ensuring the smooth operation of the system and providing clinical support to the surgical teams at the other two locations. Lasting approximately one hour, the surgery was said by the teams to feature clear image transmission, smooth command responses and seamless transitions of control among the three surgical teams, showcasing a tightly coordinated surgical process. Also, the surgical perspectives and anatomical views for the doctors at different locations were highly consistent, guaranteeing the continuity and safety of the surgery. "Such a multisite collaborative practice across regions and time zones reflects the path of promoting the cross-regional flow of high-quality medical resources through technical means, and provides a feasible reference for the future realization of the telemedicine model, in which patients don't need to move, experts are online, and resource are shared," said Wang Zheng, vice-president of Shanghai Renji Hospital. The hospital will work with experts from all over the world to jointly explore new paths for the development and collaboration of telemedicine technology, providing practical samples for the systematic development of smart medicine in China, and bringing more advanced and high-quality medical services to patients, he said. Chaudry emphasized that interdisciplinary scientific research and digital innovation are continuously reshaping the future of global cancer treatment and care. "The fusion of clinical leadership, robotic technology and translational medical research enabled the teams to transcend national boundaries, operating as a unified surgical team. This means that regardless of where patients are located on Earth, they will be able to receive professional and personalized treatment plans," he said. Major hospitals in China have accumulated experience in remote surgery. Using domestically made 5G surgical robots, doctors at Shanghai Chest Hospital performed remote lung cancer surgery on a patient in Kashgar prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is 5,000 kilometers away, in July last year. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) 21 July 2025 18:10 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The 4th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) International Investment and Trade Exhibition was held in Qingdao, China, drawing participation from 26 countries across the SCO communityincluding member states, observers, and dialogue partners, Azernews reports. Azerbaijan was prominently represented through a national pavilion organized by the countrys trade mission in China. The pavilion featured a dedicated section titled the Pomegranate corner, where visitors were introduced to Azerbaijans rich pomegranate culture and product range. Demonstrations and sales of various Made in Azerbaijan goods were also carried out, with Azerbaijani representatives engaging in negotiations with potential buyers and importers. During the Economic and Trade Promotion Conference held as part of the exhibition, Natig Khalilov from Azerbaijans trade mission delivered a comprehensive presentation on the countrys economic outlook. He highlighted Azerbaijans favorable macroeconomic indicators, investor-friendly business environment, and ongoing trade and investment initiatives. Khalilov also emphasized the growing potential for expanded cooperation between China and Azerbaijan in various economic sectors. 21 July 2025 19:39 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The prospects for deepening cooperation between Azerbaijan and North Macedonia in the fields of energy, trade, and investment were discussed during a recent high-level meeting, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by Azerbaijan's Economy Minister on his X account. As part of our working visit, we met with Afrim Gashi, Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. We noted the strong potential for expanding economic cooperation between our countries, Jabbarov wrote. We discussed opportunities for partnership in energy, trade, and investment, he added. The meeting reflects growing interest in strengthening economic ties between Baku and Skopje, particularly in strategic sectors. 21 July 2025 12:46 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more There's something truly special about watching a film under the open sky. Whether you're with friends, family, or just enjoying a solo evening, few experiences can match the magic of an outdoor movie night. Add to that the charm of local cinema and a scenic seaside location, and you have the perfect summer evening. With this spirit, a new cultural initiative Movie Night on the Boulevard has kicked off in Baku, inviting the city's residents and tourists to celebrate Azerbaijani film in a vibrant open-air setting, Azernews reports. The project is organized with the support of the Culture Ministry, the Azerbaijanfilm Film Studio and the Seaside Boulevard Department. The first screening featured the film "Meeting", produced by Azerbaijanfilm Film Studio. The project aims is to educate the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and national values, and to promote Azerbaijani cinema not only among Baku residents but also to tourists visiting the city. Hundreds of viewers attended the first presentation of the project. As part of the event, costumes and props from Azerbaijanfilm, as well as filming and technical equipment, were also exhibited. Visitors showed great interest in seeing the familiar outfits and accessories of their favorite film characters, as well as the equipment used during filming. The next film screenings will be dedicated to the 127th anniversary of Azerbaijani cinema. On this occasion, two more films will be shown on August 1 and 2 on the Baku Seaside Boulevard. 21 July 2025 15:09 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers (AUF) has announced the full-length feature film screenwriting contest titled "I Am a Woman", Azernews reports. A total of 96 scripts were submitted for the competition, of which 71 were accepted for consideration. Since January, regular masterclasses have been organized for participants. The noticeable increase in the number of female authors among the finalists indicates the effectiveness of the efforts carried out in this direction. The winners of the competition are expected to be announced by August 2. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of 5,000 AZN (2,950 USD), the second-place winner will be awarded 3,500 AZN (2,058 USD), and the third-place winner will receive 2,500 AZN (1,471 USD). All winners will also be presented with diplomas. Taking into account the active role of Azerbaijani women in all spheres of society- economic, military, diplomatic, social, and cultural, the project aims to promote the increased representation of both female authors and female protagonists in cinema. Founded in 2012, the Azerbaijan Film-Makers Union (AUF) focuses on the development of local cinema as an integral part of national culture and world cinema. Azerbaijani cinema has come to be an internationally recognized modern art, enjoying huge popularity and recognition at international film festivals, which frequently award the national films. Over the past years, more than 300 films and 1,200 documentaries, as well as hundreds of cartoons, were filmed. The Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers is a member of the Confederation of Unions of Cinematographers of the CIS and Baltic States. The history of the film industry in Azerbaijan spans over 100 years. Over this time, the local film companies have produced hundreds of films. Following the Lumiere brothers' invention of the cinematograph in 1895, Russian photographer and cameraman Alexandre Michon began filming motion pictures showcasing daily life in Baku. The first silent short film of the Azerbaijani cinematography titled "You are caught", premiered in Baku in August 1898, marked the birth of Azerbaijani cinema. At the beginning of the last century, foreign film companies such as Pathe, the Pirone Brothers Society, and Film opened their branches in Baku and began producing films. In 1916, a short film called "In the Kingdom of Oil and Millions" was shot based on the novel of the same name by writer Ibrahimbek Musabayov, and in 1917, "The Cloth Peddler" was produced based on the operetta by Uzeyir Hajibayli. After the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan in 1923, the Azerbaijan Photo and Film Administration (APFA). The first state film factory started operating on April 28 of the same year. The first film shot here was the feature film "Maiden Tower", based on a folk legend. Today, local film companies are producing dozens of films that have gained international acclaim. The film production industry in the country is rapidly expanding, making it possible for a multitude of filmmakers to express themselves in different ways. 21 July 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan's Emergency Situations Ministry continues to carry out its responsibilities to protect the population and territories from natural and man-made emergencies. Azernews reports that the Ministry carried out significant operational activities over the past week based on calls received via the Ministry's 112 hotline. Emergency response teams responded to 940 fire incidents, 67 cases involving people in helpless situations, and 3 road traffic accidents. Thanks to prompt and decisive action, fires were swiftly extinguished, and human lives were safeguarded. In total, emergency personnel rescued 71 individuals, including 16 children, over the course of the week. Among them were 16 people saved from drowning at sea. Additionally, 22 individuals, including 7 children, were evacuated to safety. Unfortunately, 11 individuals suffered smoke inhalation, and the bodies of 12 deceased persons were recovered and handed over to the relevant authorities. These figures underscore the critical role played by the Ministry of Emergency Situations in ensuring public safety through rapid and effective intervention during crises. 21 July 2025 11:12 (UTC+04:00) On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and, through you, to all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Belgium," the letter reads. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to King Philippe of the Belgians, 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! 21 July 2025 18:50 (UTC+04:00) by Mazahir Afandiyev In today's modern and globalized world, as in many other fields, the media sector in Azerbaijan is also expected to modernize, respond to new challenges, and ensure that society is informed in a transparent, accurate, impartial, and truthful manner. Throughout the history of our statehood and nation-building, Azerbaijan has consistently contributed to enlightenment, the fair evaluation of undertaken initiatives, and the dissemination of information to society, all of which have enriched the concept of journalism. Historically, freedom of speech has been a means for people in every country to express their thoughts freely. It is no coincidence that the press, with its considerable influence on public opinion, is known worldwide as the "fourth estate." In countries where a free press exists, democratic values and political pluralism naturally take root. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of national journalism in Azerbaijan. On July 22, 1875, Hasan bey Zardabi published the first Azerbaijani-language newspaper, "kinci", an event that stands as one of the most significant milestones in Azerbaijan's history of national awakening and cultural progress. Although only 56 issues were published until September 1877, the newspaper played an invaluable role in laying the foundations for and advancing Azerbaijans national press. Over the years, Azerbaijani media has undergone a rich and honorable development spanning various historical periods. After Azerbaijan regained its independence, a return to many national and spiritual values was also reflected in the media landscape. Starting from 1993, under the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, significant media reforms were undertaken. Censorship was abolished, and other artificial barriers restricting freedom of speech and information were removed. As a result, a progressive legal framework was created to regulate media activity. Steps were taken to resolve challenges facing the media, strengthen its economic independence, and enhance its role in building civil society. Today, the challenges brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution necessitate that journalism in Azerbaijan and the organization of work on information portals and innovative platforms be more structured and efficient. In this regard, improving the functioning of media institutions and adapting journalism to the demands of the modern era remains a key priority. It is no coincidence that numerous newspapers and magazines are currently published in Azerbaijan, and online journalism is rapidly developing. The advancement of information technologies has integrated Azerbaijani media into the global information network. Thanks to the demonstrated political will, press freedom has been established in Azerbaijan, accompanied by a broad spectrum of printed publications. Under the direct leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the "State Support Concept for the Development of Mass Media in the Republic of Azerbaijan" was developed and adopted. Additionally, in 2021, after many years, a new draft law titled "On Media" was prepared. The bill was widely debated in Parliament, during which independent and corporate interests were expressed, along with expert opinions derived from international experience. The adoption of this law aims to adapt media activity to the challenges of the digital age and foster a healthier information environment in Azerbaijan. As President Ilham Aliyev emphasized: "We all striveand will continue to striveto make our country stronger and improve the well-being of the Azerbaijani people. Undoubtedly, both the government and the media bear significant responsibilities in this endeavor." Thanks to these efforts, we now witness a completely new landscape in traditional journalism, on television screens, social media platforms, and in the blogging sphere. While this evolution fosters diverse viewpoints, it also contributes to establishing discipline needed to achieve set goals. Azerbaijani journalists have also pioneered innovations in military journalism. During the 44-day Second Garabagh War, journalists risked their lives to report the truth from the frontlinesinforming both Azerbaijani citizens and the international community. They worked around the clock in dangerous war zones, fulfilling their professional duties with distinction. Today, Azerbaijan honors the memory of journalists who sacrificed their lives during the First and Second Garabagh Wars and in the post-war period. Their heroism is remembered with deep respect by the Azerbaijani people. Commander-in-Chief, Great Leader, and President Ilham Aliyev played a pivotal role in the information front during the Second Garabagh War. His interviews with leading international media outlets conveyed Azerbaijans just position and became a guiding roadmap for Azerbaijani journalists. During and after the war, Azerbaijani media contributed actively to the information struggle against enemy propaganda. Post-war, these efforts continued through media forums and high-profile international events, fostering cooperation with global media organizations. Today, our professional journalists actively disseminate every statement made by President Ilham Aliyev about peace, as well as factual reports on the situation in liberated territories, to both domestic and international audiences. Currently, in the cities liberated from occupation and where full sovereignty has been restored, the Azerbaijani national presspassed down from previous centuriescontinues its mission professionally, in line with international standards. On July 19, 2025, the III Shusha Global Media Forum, which has now become a tradition, began its work in the city of Khankendi under the theme Digital Transitions: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. During the forum's opening, President Ilham Aliyev answered questions posed by media representatives from various countries, and through the local and international journalist platform, once again demonstrated to the world the new geopolitical realities that have emerged in the region, as well as Azerbaijans determination to establish peace in the South Caucasus. We express our gratitude to the international media that have always supported Azerbaijan in its just cause and have not acted with double standards, especially to the information portal EU Reporter, and we regard this support as an investment in the development of the press. It is gratifying that the 150th anniversary of Azerbaijani national press coincides with the nationally significant "Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty." The inclusion of freedom of speech and press as fundamental principles in the Constitution has laid the groundwork for the media to emerge as a free and robust institution of society. In conclusion, during this challenging period of global transformation, it is vital that the national media operates with integrity, professionalism, and within the framework of national interests. In Azerbaijan, this honorable responsibility is shouldered by a vast community of journalists. We are confident that modern Azerbaijani media will continue to prioritize state interests while aligning with global trends, and it will play a more active role in informing the public about Azerbaijans international position and the positive changes taking place in our society. 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. 21 July 2025 14:35 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has admitted that Russian-Azerbaijani relations are currently going through a difficult phase, though he emphasized that the bilateral partnership rests on a strong foundation and shared interests. Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have a solid foundation, but sometimes it happens that these relations go through difficult times, and now is one of those difficult times, Peskov said, noting that Moscow remains hopeful the current period of tension will pass. He highlighted that the cooperation between the two countries is truly mutually beneficial and stressed the importance of mutual respect. It is very important for us that Russians are respected in Azerbaijan. A very large Azerbaijani diaspora lives in Russia. Almost all of the representatives of the diaspora are our law-abiding citizens and enjoy due respect here. Those who violate the laws are held accountable, he added. Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs recent statement regarding a potential international lawsuit over the crash of an AZAL passenger plane in Russian airspace, Peskov stated: If Azerbaijan decides to sue Russia in connection with the crash of the AZAL plane, this is their right. Note that his remarks come days after President Ilham Aliyev confirmed at the III Shusha Global Media Forum that Azerbaijan is preparing legal action against Russia over the downing of an AZAL plane. 21 July 2025 19:05 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasized the strategic importance of the Zangezur corridor, calling it a vital project that can transform the South Caucasus into a hub of trade, prosperity, and cooperation, Azernews reports. Speaking to journalists aboard his plane while returning from Northern Cyprus, Erdogan underlined that the opening of the corridor would benefit not just Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkiye, but also broader regional economies. We view this road as a crucial issue due to its geoeconomic dimensions. As such, this corridor will connect the territories of our region beyond the region and revive trade, he said. The Turkish leader also called for a constructive approach to resolving any disputes over the project. Our main expectation is that this road will not become a source of conflict, but a symbol of consensus, he stated. Erdogan praised the efforts of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who he said is deeply committed to launching the corridor. He is trying to put the corridor into operation as soon as possible. He wants it to be used for both Azerbaijan and the region. I believe that we will resolve this issue together, he added. He concluded by expressing optimism that regional actors could cooperate to bring the corridor to life: I believe that we, as regional countries, can resolve this issue through consensus. This would give the region the opportunity to become a prosperous place where cooperation prevails. 21 July 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Hanwha Philly Shipyard, owned by South Korea's chemicals-to-shipbuilding conglomerate Hanwha Group, is considering bidding for the U.S. Navy's combat support ship construction project, the group said Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap. At a recent media briefing in Philadelphia, the shipyard's CEO David Kim said Hanwha is in "discussions" about participating in the project. An additional U.S. defense budget of more than US$20 billion has been approved for the construction of combat and support ships, he said, adding the Senate and House of Representatives are discussing how to execute the funding. Some of the planned combat support ships are the type of vessels Hanwha is capable of building, which is why the company needs to win the bid, Kim said. The company is already preparing documents for submission to the U.S. Navy and getting ready for the bidding process, he added. Hanwha Group acquired Philly Shipyard Inc. for $100 million last year as part of its global expansion strategy. Through the acquisition, Hanwha aims not only to enter the market for building 3,600 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) liquefied natural gas-powered container carriers and LNG ships but also to win contracts to supply components for U.S. Navy vessels and potentially build Navy ships in the long term. "The U.S. defense budget focuses on combat ships, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. But a fleet cannot go into battle with only attack vessels. It needs support ships as well," said Lee Jong-moo, head of Hanwha Philly Shipyard. "U.S. support shipbuilding capability has weakened and fallen behind schedule, so the U.S. is considering placing orders with foreign shipyards if support ships can be built quickly," he added. U.S. President Donald Trump has emphasized the need to revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry and the importance of partnering with allies, including South Korea, a global leader in naval vessel construction. In April, U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited Hanwha Ocean Co.'s shipyard in Geoje, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, to discuss cooperation in naval defense. Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., also visited Seoul that month for meetings with Hanwha officials, including Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, to explore potential partnerships. 21 July 2025 09:45 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Germany could face a serious electricity shortage in the coming years, as its current renewable energy trajectory may not be sufficient to meet national demand, Azernews reports via Bild. According to the newspaper, both the Ministry of Economics and the countrys industrial sector are expressing growing doubts about the feasibility of relying solely on unlimited expansion of wind and solar power. Economy Minister Katarina Reich stressed that the focus should shift from merely building more renewables to modernizing and expanding the countrys electricity grid. She noted that the required overhaul of Germanys power grid by 2045 could cost approximately 600 billion a price tag she acknowledged as very expensive. Germanys challenge is further complicated by its plan to completely phase out coal-powered electricity by 2038 at the latest. With renewable energy sources unable to fully fill the gap, Reich indicated that natural gas power plants could become a crucial part of the transitional strategy. To this end, the minister announced plans to launch a tender for the construction of new gas power plants later this year, in hopes of securing a stable and flexible energy supply for the future. 21 July 2025 22:17 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more At least 19 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school and college campus in Dhakas northern Uttara area on Monday, officials confirmed, Azernews reports. The F-7 BGI training jet took off at 13:06 local time before crashing into the Milestone School and College, sparking a massive fire and causing extensive damage to buildings. Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the blaze as onlookers watched in shock. Dr. Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, reported that among the injured were children and adults with severe burns. A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, are currently hospitalized, he said. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with one teacher recounting, When I was picking up my kids and reached the gate, I heard an explosion behind me. Turning back, I saw fire and smoke everywhere. The Bangladesh Air Forces public relations department confirmed the crash, stating the plane lost control shortly after takeoff. The military has pledged a full investigation into the cause. Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, promising necessary measures to assist victims and their families. The loss suffered by the Air Force, students, parents, teachers, and staff is irreparable, he said. This tragedy echoes recent regional aviation disasters, including last months devastating crash of an Air India flight in Ahmedabad, India, which killed 260 people. Authorities continue rescue and recovery efforts, while investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to this fatal crash. The algae bloom can be seen clearly from the air Blue-green algae bloom can be seen at Lough Neagh on July 19, 2025 in Toomebridge Blue-green algae has been confirmed on Lough Neagh for the third year in a row. The algae, also known as cyanobacteria, has been spotted once more in Lough Neagh, the UK's largest freshwater lake. The green gunk can be seen in Toomebridge and was photographed over the weekend. This follows previous years' blooms, which have significantly impacted the lake's water quality and surrounding ecosystem. The algae can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals, and public health warnings have been issued. The algae bloom can be seen clearly from the air New signs have been placed outside the Antrim Forum leisure centre which sits beside the Six Mile Water River, warning the public about the presence of the toxic blue-green algae in nearby Lough Neagh. Signs from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council that have appeared in the area read: Blue-green algae has been detected in this area. This may produce toxins causing illness such as skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea and muscle pain. We advise that adults, children and animals avoid contact with the algae along the shoreline and the water close to it. The algae has been blamed for a number of dog deaths in recent years. Blue-green algae bloom can be seen at Lough Neagh on July 19, 2025 in Toomebridge Watch: Sam McBride's in-depth look at Lough Neagh's blue-green algae crisis It comes after a temporary shut-down in eel fishing on Lough Neagh was extended on Thursday to cover the rest of the eel fishing season. The initial decision by the Lough Neagh Fishermans Co-Operative Society (LNFCS) was taken in May over concerns about the fat content of the eels in the Lough. This is the third year in a row that toxic blue-green algae has been identified in Lough Neagh. A number of factors have contributed to its rise since 2023, with a warming climate and higher levels of nutrients in the water leading to swathes of algae blooming in Northern Irelands waterways. Department of Agriculture figures suggest farming is responsible for around 60% of those nutrients. Despite this, Stormont recently voted against a consultation on nutrients proposed by Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir. The increasing presence of zebra mussels has also resulted in clearer water, allowing sunlight to penetrate further and increase the levels of growth in the algae. Mr Muir said the closing of the fishing season was deeply regrettable and that he would meet with industry representatives in the coming days. "This is a blow for an industry that has commanded huge respect around the world, he said. "The next focus is now on the opening of the silver eel fishing season between September and December later this year. Eel fishing has been an intrinsic part of the history and heritage of communities around Lough Neagh. Disruption was seen across large parts of Northern Ireland on Monday as the region faced torrential rain. Some towns in Co Down and Fermanagh experienced record level downpours with Killowen, Murlough and Enniskillen seeing almost months worth of rain in less than a day. An amber weather warning was issued for large parts of the south east while yellow warnings were in place for the north and west. Several roads were closed as a result of floods which led to significant delays for a number communities. Flooding at the Blacks Road underpass in west Belfast as an amber alert for rain is issued on July 21st 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) A forecaster from the Met Office estimated that while they do not possess any weather stations in Fermanagh, parts of the county may have seen up to 100mm of rainfall in the space of three hours. The spokesperson said: It's been one of the wettest July days on record for Northern Ireland. It's Killowen which has seen the highest rainfall totals in the last 24 hours. We've had 71.8mm here. And then Merlo has had 62.2mm that's the second highest. The monthly average for July in Northern Ireland is 89mm , so we haven't been that far off seeing a month's worth of rain in just 24 hours in some locations. Watch: Flash Flooding hits parts of Northern Ireland We just don't have observations, obviously, in every part of the country. [Fermanagh] looked like they could have seen about 100 millimetres in the space of three hours, which is a really significant amount of rain in such a short time. A heavy overnight deluge in Fermanagh meant two roads were impassable with visitors in the Marble Arch Caves left scrambling to escape intense flooding in the cave system. A PSNI spokesperson said: Road users are advised the Marble Arch Road, Florencecourt and Sligo Road, Enniskillen are both impassable due to floods this evening. Flooding is also affecting other parts of west Fermanagh please take care when travelling, slow down, and exercise caution on affected roads. Meanwhile, several events across the region were forced to be postponed due to the disruptions including a number of sporting events in Co Armagh and Down. Clan na Gaels Cul Camp in Lurgan and were forced cancel the childrens group due on account of keeping the safety and wellbeing of the kids in mind. Elsewhere, considerable delays were seen in Belfast as the underpass next to the Blacks Road off slip was left completely flooded save for one lane. This morning the Department for Infrastructure also closed the M12 leaving the M1 heading towards Carn due to flooding on the carriageway. Authorities had asked motorists to instead use M1 Junction 10 Lough Road or Junction 12 Birches for access to Craigavon or Portadown. A PSNI spokesperson said: "A closure is currently in place on the M12 following heavy rainfall. The country bound lane is currently impassable at Portadown (junction 12) due to heavy rainfall, and we would ask that motorists come off the motorway at junction 10. A further update will be provided in due course." In the Republic of Ireland, some housing estates faced major flooding with Dundalk in Co Louth bearing the brunt of the downpours. Met Eireann issued orange weather alerts for rain and thunderstorms for several counties including Dublin, Limerick and Wexford. However, the Met Office has advised that conditions are set to calm throughout the week with no expectation of heavy rains returning. Tuesday will be mostly cloudy and dry with light rain showers across some central and eastern parts of Northern Ireland. The good news is that things are settling down a bit as we head through the next few days, the forecaster explained. Tuesday itself looks fairly cloudy for the most part, perhaps one or two light showers, but nowhere near the sort of rainfall totals that we've seen in recent days. And many places will probably stay dry on Tuesday as well. In terms of temperatures, I think they are quite similar throughout the week. We've got highs of about 20 degrees tomorrow. So that's Tuesday. And then let's look ahead to Wednesday [which] is quite similar. It looks largely cloudy, a few light showers, but many places staying dry, and then perhaps some sunny spells to end the day as well. The spokesperson added that the region can expect sunny spells closer to the weekend with the highs reaching 21C and lows of 13C. Theres not a lot of rain in the forecast through the rest of the week, the forecaster continued. We've got a ridge of high-pressure building, so a lot of dry weather around from Thursday and into the weekend, with a good amount of sunny spells as well. So much more settled really. Temperatures again probably reaching the low 20s each day. And it's most likely going to be dry then on the weekend, you said? Yeah, it looks that way at the moment. You might get a little bit of rain or drizzle pass through on Friday morning. Lightning strikes and hail are also possible, the Met Office said. Stock photo Spectators at The Open in Royal Portrush have faced heavy showers this week. Photo: Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Parts of Fermanagh were hit by flooding tonight amid warnings that Northern Ireland is expected to experience some of the worst of a heavy spell of rainfall. Forecasters predict the region could see half a months worth of rain in less than a day. An amber alert has been issued by the Met Office for counties Antrim, Down and Armagh between 11pm on Sunday and 8am on Monday. Tonight there were reports that parts of Fermanagh had been deluged, with two roads impassable. The PSNI said: Road users are advised the Marble Arch Road, Florencecourt and Sligo Road, Enniskillen are both impassable due to floods this evening. Flooding is also affecting other parts of west Fermanagh please take care when travelling, slow down, and exercise caution on affected roads. The expected rainfall carries a risk of flooding, power cuts and dangerous driving conditions. Forecasters also warned there is a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads while fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. Simon Partridge, a forecaster with the UK Met Office, said: It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours. The rain carries a risk of localised flooding (Liam McBurney/PA) 'We are excited to see Rory' - Shannon Aitken from Canada The region records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a months rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. The forecaster said: A spell of very heavy rain is expected to affect parts of east and southeast Northern Ireland during Sunday night and at first on Monday morning. "There remains some uncertainty in the northern extent of the heaviest rain, but some places are likely to have 50-75 mm of rain in a short space of time with a risk of flash flooding. There have already been two separate yellow alerts in place for parts of Northern Ireland, with thunderstorms, lightning strikes and hail all deemed possible. One alert for counties Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone ran from 12pm until 8pm on Sunday, while the other alert covering counties Antrim, Down and Armagh has been running from 6pm on Sunday and will last until 6pm on Monday. Amid the more serious amber alert, the Met Office is advising the public to take steps to stay safe, including avoiding travelling if possible and exercising caution around any floodwater. Stories of accidents shared as Farm Safety Week highlights dangers Co. Tyrone farmer who lost an arm aged 12 urges others to be aware of farm risks A Co Tyrone man has told of how his life changed in an instant after losing his arm in a farming accident when he was just 12. William Sayers is one of two farmers who shared their stories to mark Farm Safety Week, which starts today. Farming is one of the most dangerous jobs in Northern Ireland, accounting for 20% of workplace fatalities. As a child, Mr Sayers dreamed of taking over his familys farm in Donemana, but lost it in the blink of an eye. His father, George, also lost a leg due to a separate farming accident aged just two. It was life-changing, and I had to accept that this was my new reality, Mr Sayers said, recalling his own incident. It was realising I could not do the things I used to and having to think about a different career as I always dreamed of taking over the farm. William Sayers says the aftermath of the accident felt like 'life starting all over again' The accident that took Mr Sayers arm happened when slurry was being spread on the familys farm. When checking how the tank was filling, his unzipped coat became caught in the machinery. It was difficult to accept, not only for me, but for my parents as well, he said. They had to help me a lot as a child. Their hopes were not going to work out. My own and my familys expectation was that I would be the fifth generation to take over the land. This is the 13th annual Farm Safety Week. Mr Sayers added: People are definitely much more aware now, which is good, but theres definitely room for improvement. People are much more conscious, and the idea of farm safety is promoted more. Its a team effort. The media take an interest, and the farmers union makes it clear: if there are no farmers, there is no food, there is no future. Farm Safety Week is important to me; I lost an arm through a mistake I made. I never want the same thing to happen to anyone else. I feel a responsibility to help save people from that. People can keep both arms and have the farming future theyve always wanted if theyre safety conscious. My father was always very good at giving advice. If I could give my 12-year-old self any advice, it would be to listen to him more. I could not get over the fact that we had both been through such similar things. It must have been really daunting for him. We went to the same hospital, Id go upstairs for the arm to be seen to, and he would go downstairs for the leg. My father was very strong throughout it; not every parent would have been able to cope. It was hard for both of us to come to terms with. I blamed myself for not listening to him more, and I paid a heavy price for it. If my story can prevent someone from losing their life or being seriously injured, then it is worth telling. William Sayer Another farmer, Colm Quinn (40), from Castlewellan, also spoke out. He narrowly avoided losing his eyesight after being struck by a plank of wood three years ago. Farming has always been a part of our family. I grew up on a farm, and now my son, Eoin, is growing up on a farm, he said. I was building an extension onto our shed, and when screwing in a piece of wood, the screw somehow came loose and hit me in the corner of the eye. It was challenging to get down because I was alone, and I was in a lot of pain. The doctor at Downpatrick hospital consulted with a doctor at the Royal Victoria, and it was decided I needed three stitches. If it had been a millimetre the other way, I would have lost my eye. I am 40 now, I have seen some hard times and I like to think I am a tough person. I was trying to get down, and the blood was running out of my eye. After the accident, I am definitely more wary of working alone and making sure I wear my safety goggles. Colms eight-year-old son, Eoin, was very emotional when the accident happened. I wish he was wearing his glasses. I always tell him he has to wear the glasses, even if he is only cutting wood for two seconds, Eoin said. Colm added: It is important for children to be on the farm, while being very mindful of the surroundings and keeping them safe. Theres no better way for them to learn the family business. In the 12 months to April, five agricultural workers were killed, according to the Farm Safety Foundation (FSF). An 81-year-old retired farmer was killed by an animal and two other individuals, aged 56 and 64, were struck by a falling object. Another elderly farmer died after being hit by a tractor in addition to a 41-year-old who was involved in a machinery accident. FSF manager Stephanie Berkeley said confidence built up over many years can be a strength, but also create blind spots. Ive always done it that way is a phrase we hear all too often," she said, warning against underestimating the dangers of the vehicles, equipment and animals. We risk letting routine turn deadly. Experience should guide caution, not excuse it. Over the years we have seen the attitudes and behaviours around farm safety in the UK and Ireland starting to change but the pace of change is slow. Too slow for the families who have lost loved ones in preventable accidents. Too slow for the thousands of farmers living every day with chronic pain, long-term illness, or life-altering injuries caused by the very work that sustains our communities. "We cannot accept this as the cost of doing business. latest | Person hospitalised after fall from republican bonfire in Derry as landowner refuses to discuss securing area They sustained a broken bone while the pyre is expected to be biggest in years The bonfire under construction at Meenan Square in Derry Garrett Hargan Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 21:28 A person has been hospitalised following an incident at a bonfire in Londonderry with the housing association that owns the site refusing to confirm whether it will be secured. An image of the church in Berlin Street daubed with graffiti Graffiti has been sprayed on a church in west Belfast off the Shankill Road and a number of signs have also been erected around the building. The incident comes following a protest held last night at the church in Berlin Street. The protest was organised following another incident earlier in the day during which police spoke to a man acting suspiciously in the Paris Street area. A PSNI spokesperson said no offences were detected when they spoke to the individual, but he was given advice and guidance about his behaviour and removed from the area. Police are now probing the damage done to the place of worship and have urged anyone with information to contact them. A PSNI spokesperson said: Police received a report of a man acting suspiciously in the Paris Street area of North Belfast on Sunday afternoon, 20th July. Officers attended and spoke with a male. No offences were detected. The man was given advice and guidance by police about his behaviour and was subsequently removed from the area by officers. An image of the church in Berlin Street daubed with graffiti Watch: Flooding hits Northern Ireland as amber rain warning issued Later that evening, police received a report of a large protest at a church in the Berlin Street area. The protest was monitored and the crowd dispersed at approximately 8.15pm Graffiti has been spray painted onto the church and signs placed over windows. Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1181 20/07/25. Concerns have been raised around access to drug treatment services and prevention efforts, according to an independent evaluation of the Governments drug strategy. Rural areas, young people and marginalised groups are reported as being disproportionately affected by service discrepancies. Meanwhile, the review found that annual funding arrangements and restrictive hiring policies have contributed to staffshortages and disruptions in service delivery. The National Drug Strategy (NDS) is set out as a national framework for addressing substance use through a whole-of-government, person-centred, and health-led approach that primarily frames substance use as a public health issue. An independent review of the strategy, published on Monday, found that several stakeholders also believe prevention efforts are underdeveloped, inconsistent and lacking national ownership. The report compiled by Grant Thornton notes some progress and achievements but makes 10 recommendations for the future direction of the strategy. The authors consulted with the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Health Research Board (HRB), members of the National Oversight Committee (NOC) and Strategic Implementation Groups (SIG) for the NDS, as well as service users and family members with lived experience of drug use. Based on those engagements, it found that equity of access continues to be a concern, particularly for marginalised groups. Prevention and early intervention efforts were found to be fragmented and inconsistently delivered, while recovery and service user involvement requires further formalisation and resourcing. Additionally, the limited integration of alcohol policy and the gradual implementation of legal reforms, such as alternative sanctions, were identified as areas requiring strategic refinement. Meanwhile, governance structures were found to lack clearly defined roles, mandates, and accountability mechanisms. Stakeholders highlighted the need for strong national leadership, enhanced co-ordination across departments, and more inclusive decision-making processes that incorporate lived experience of service users. There were also calls for enhanced data integration and the establishment of a national research and evaluation centre. The report also details claims of inconsistent reporting from all treatment providers which is further constraining the ability to assess the strategys effectiveness. Stakeholders reported that high attrition rates have been observed in different regions due to factors including limited funding. There were repeated calls by some stakeholders for multi-annual funding commitments and targeted workforce investment to support more consistent and sustainable service provision. Prevention efforts were widely viewed as under-resourced and lacking strategic focus. There was an emphasis on the need for early, community-based interventions that address root causes, such as trauma, poverty, and social disadvantage. Evidence shows that early life experiences significantly influence later substance use. The SPHE programme in schools was repeatedly cited for its inconsistent delivery. Many stakeholders also felt that the NDS lacked clarity and strategic direction regarding alcohol addiction. The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said it is essential to assess how the more than 300 million euro in annual public expenditure on drugs delivers impact. She said: The establishment of new HSE health regions presents a valuable opportunity to tailor drug treatment services to population needs and to ensure that both existing and new funding is allocated effectively and transparently. Meanwhile, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane OConnor, said: We have made significant progress in implementing the national drugs strategy, and Im pleased that the independent evaluation documents the many achievements over the last eight years. She added: The recommendations from the independent evaluation will inform the development of the successor National Drugs Strategy. We need to move forward with new policies and better services to address the ever-changing drugs situation. Former Irish Olympic swimming coach George Gibney is expected to return to Ireland as early as Tuesday to face criminal charges (PA) Former Irish Olympic swimming coach George Gibney is expected to return to Ireland as early as Tuesday to face criminal charges. The 77-year-old was arrested on foot of an Irish extradition warrant in Florida earlier this month. Mr Gibney has been charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one charge of attempted rape against four minor females aged between eight and 15 years at the time of the alleged offences. It is understood that Mr Gibney will be flown back to Ireland tonight and is expected to arrive in Ireland on Tuesday. He is being accompanied by Irish police on the flight. He will be brought before Dublin District Court once he arrives back in the state. It comes almost two weeks after a US judge ordered the extradition of Mr Gibney. US magistrate Judge Daniel Irick made the order at a hearing in Florida earlier this month. The decision came after Mr Gibney had agreed to be extradited from the US to stand trial over multiple sex offence charges. In court documents, it stated that Mr Gibney is sought by the Irish Government, which has filed charges against him and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Mr Gibney, who had sex offence charges against him dismissed in the 1990s, has lived in the US for years. In 2020, the podcast Where Is George Gibney, produced by Second Captains and the BBC, highlighted allegations of abuse against Mr Gibney and prompted new complainants to come forward. Forecasters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have upgraded their warnings ahead of heavy rainfall on Sunday night into Monday. Northern Ireland is expected to experience some of the worst of a heavy spell of rainfall on Sunday evening into Monday. Forecasters predict the region could see half a months worth of rain in less than a day. It comes as yellow-level rain warnings were put in place for the eastern counties of Northern Ireland, as well as several counties south of the border. 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 The Northern Ireland warning applies for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday. A more intense amber-level warning was also put in place between 11pm on Sunday and 8pm on Monday. The Met Office warned that homes and businesses are likely to be flooded. The expected rainfall carries a risk of flooding, power cuts and dangerous driving conditions. Forecasters also warn there is a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads while fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. Simon Partridge, a forecaster with the UK Met Office, said: It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours. The region records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a months rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. A yellow-level thunderstorm warning was in place for the western half of Northern Ireland between midday and 8pm on Sunday. Flooding was already affecting routes in Fermanagh on Sunday evening, with the Marble Arch Road, Florencecourt, and Sligo Road, Enniskillen, both described as impassable by police. A PSNI spokeswoman said: Please take care when travelling, slow down, and exercise caution on affected roads. 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 The Republic of Irelands forecasting agency, Met Eireann, issued its own orange-level rain and thunderstorm warning for Dublin, Louth and Meath between midnight and 2pm on Monday. It said there would be widespread surface flooding, very difficult travelling conditions, lightning damage and very poor visibility. A yellow-level warning for Kildare, Wicklow and Monaghan applies for the same time frame. It said there will be spells of heavy rain with a chance of isolated thunderstorms, localised flooding, poor visability and difficult traffic conditions. It followed earlier thunderstorm warnings for Cork and Clare in the south-west of the country, which had both expired by 7pm on Sunday. Mr Larson was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on June 6 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach (Thomas Padilla/AP) D-Day veteran Papa Jake Larson, who survived German gunfire in the June 1944 Normandy landings and went on to garner 1.2 million followers on TikTok late in life by sharing stories to commemorate the Second World War and his fallen comrades, has died at 102. An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Minnesota was cracking jokes till the end, his granddaughter wrote while announcing his death. Tributes to the veteran quickly filled his Story Time With Papa Jake TikTok account from across the US, where he had been living in Lafayette, California. Papa Jake Larson shared stories to commemorate the Second World War (Thomas Padilla/AP) Towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in the Second World War, paid homage to him too. Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17 at 102 years young, granddaughter McKaela Larson posted on his social media accounts. He went peacefully. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest, she wrote. Born on December 20 1922 in Owatonna, Minnesota, Mr Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age as he was only 15 at the time. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. Mr Larson was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the cliffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers. We are the lucky ones, Mr Larson told The Associated Press (AP) at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive. Mr Larsons service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honour award (Eric Risberg/AP) Mr Larson went on to fight through the Battle of the Bulge, a gruelling month-long fight in Belgium and Luxembourg that was one of the defining moments of the war and of Hitlers defeat. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honour award. In recent years, Mr Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations and at every stop, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie. In return, he offered up big hugs. One memorable encounter came in 2023, when he came across Bill Gladden, a then-99-year-old British veteran who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle. I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Mr Larson told Mr Gladden, their hands clasped tightly. Mr Gladden died the following year. In his TikTok posts and interviews, Mr Larson combined humorous anecdotes with sombre reminders about the horrors of war. Reflecting to AP on the three years he was in Europe, Mr Larson said he was no hero. Speaking in 2024, he also had a message to world leaders: Make peace not war. Mr Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations in recent years (Eric Risberg/AP) He often called himself the luckiest man in the world, and expressed awe at all the attention he was getting. Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told AP in 2023. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about. Small-town museums and groups around Normandy that work to honour D-Days veterans and fallen shared tributes online to Mr Larson, one of their most loyal visitors. He was an exceptional witness and bearer of memory, the Overlord Museum posted on Facebook. He came every year to the museum, with his smile, his humility and his tales that touched all generations. His stories will continue to live. Rest in peace Papa Jake, it read. Thanks for everything. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. SANDISFIELD The Select Board is doubling down on its commitment to Fire Chief Michael Grillo, following a July 14 meeting in which Grillo accused Sandisfield Fire Department Inc. and its leaders of attempting to sabotage his efforts as fire chief. The Select Board on Sunday released a statement called "Fire Department Leadership Concerns." The Town of Sandisfield is aware of the confusion and misinformation circulating regarding the appointment of our new Fire Chief, Mike Grillo, the Select Board wrote in the statement. We want to take this opportunity to clarify the process and share the reasons behind his selection. The Select Board also released documents supporting its position to hire Grillo, who started on June 17 and said he has faced resistance in recent weeks from volunteer firefighters namely that they havent shown up for calls. Based on Grillos recommendation, on July 14 the Select Board appointed just three firefighters to the roster for the current fiscal year. That number wont satisfy the two-in, two-out rule, which dictates that four firefighters are needed to respond to a structure fire: two inside and two outside to assist. Grillo told the Select Board that hes concerned about the influence of Michael Morrison and Ralph Morrison, who are brothers. Michael Morrison is the towns police chief, and he was placed on paid administrative leave at the beginning of July until a whistleblower investigation is complete. Since Michael Morrison has been on leave, Grillo said most volunteer firefighters havent responded to calls. Hes ended up responding to 911 calls alone. Ralph Morrison was Sandisfield's fire chief for decades. He resigned in November 2023 but he's still president of Sandisfield Fire Department Inc. Michael Morrison is a director for the nonprofit. At the July 14 Select Board meeting, Grillo read a letter into the record requesting the town sever ties with Sandisfield Fire Department Inc. The Select Board will take up that letter at its meeting on Monday. The Select Boards statement on Sunday said Grillo was appointed based on qualifications, professional experience and the Select Boards confidence in his ability to move the department forward, according to the statement. Grillos resume reflects a strong background in fire service, planning, and training. Sandisfield's hiring process entailed interviews, reference checks with fire chiefs, educators and municipal leaders. Grillos professional profile on his LinkedIn page states he was a volunteer at the Cohanzie Fire Department in Waterford, Conn., starting in 2011. Grillo was a part-time firefighter for the Waterford, Conn., Fire Department from August 2014 to June 2020. Starting on Feb. 3, 2024, Grillo was a probationary member of the Yantic Fire Department in Norwich, Conn. After he was terminated from that position on Feb. 5, 2025, he filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in New London Superior Court on April 17. In that case, he is acting as his own lawyer. A criminal background check was also conducted and came back unremarkable, the Select Board's statement said. Grillo ran for Norwich City Council in the fall of 2021. At that time, he faced charges regarding a bad check from one of his businesses. The charges were dropped later that year, according to The (Norwich) Bulletin, which followed the case. Even prior to formally accepting the position, Chief Grillo demonstrated exceptional initiative, the Select Boards statement said. It praised him for drafting initiatives directly in response to concerns raised during his initial interview. The Select Boards statement praised Grillo for identifying deficiencies in gear and equipment and forming plans to address them. In addition, he identified gaps in EMS billing procedures and taken steps toward improvement. The Select Boards statement said Grillos proposal to hire professional firefighters to staff Sandisfield's firehouses 24/7 is to ensure coverage and align with state response standards. The three-month pilot program will then be evaluated for its necessity and effectiveness. We urge all residents to support the departments efforts to improve public safety rather than spread speculation or misinformation that can ultimately undermine those goals, the statement reads. Residents of Sandisfield deserve to feel confident that their emergency services both fire and medical are reliable and responsive. The statement encouraged people with concerns to avoid social media speculation and instead reach out to the Fire Chief, Town Manager, or attend a Select Board meeting, where these matters are regularly addressed. It ended thus: Lets move forward together with respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of our community. Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access. Susan Phillips is a former reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. She lives in Windsor after living abroad and in Washington, D.C. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. IIT Madras-incubated startup Plenome secures Rs 6.5 Cr in seed funding July 21, 2025 | Monday | News Plenomes technology is based on a unique patent-protected architecture that enables safe storage image credit- shutterstock IIT Madras-incubated startup Plenome Technologies, which develops disruptive solutions for secure data management at scale, has raised seed funding of Rs 6.5 crore from Indian and Foreign investors. This is a major boost to access global markets for this Blockchain-AI solutions firm, which is developing technologies to enable data transfers in sensitive industries like Healthcare and Voting. Plenomes BlockTrack OraganEase solution for managing sensitive organ donation databases is already being deployed in trial runs in partnership with the apex body for organ transplants at a South Indian State. Plenome is also pioneering a novel pay-per-use model for conducting remote elections in large organisations, using its record-setting Blockchain-based BlockVote software. This software was already successfully deployed for IIT Madras Student Elections. Additionally, Plenome is conducting trial runs of Ashwin, a suite of AI-powered electronic data capture, record maintenance and insight generation platforms in the dental specialisation within healthcare and is seeking to extend this to eye care, cosmetic and fertility segments. Ashwin offers voice-enabled electronic data capture through input in several Indic and foreign languages. Plenomes technology is based on a unique patent-protected architecture that enables safe storage and retrieval of datasets across diverse organisations and geographies. The application of this technology to specific domains such as healthcare and voting bring out its strengths in accessibility and ease of deployment. Within the healthcare domain, Plenome solutions enable data transfers while ensuring the integrity and safety of the underlying records, while also allowing user controls. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Prisoners have been given almost 550,000 in bus money to cover the cost of transport following their release from jail over the past five years, new figures have revealed. The annual amount spent helping inmates get to their desired destinations after leaving prison has more than doubled since 2022 due to rising transport costs and a 25 per cent increase in releases. Advertisement Last year, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) spent 182,121 on bus, train and taxi fares for inmates upon their release from jail. This was a 16 per cent increase from the previous year, and more than double the 87,598 that was spent in 2022. Prisoners receive pocket money of up to 2.20 per day while serving custodial sentences, and can earn an additional 3.50 per week by engaging in work training activities. Nearly 6.8 million in taxpayers cash was paid to inmates in pocket money over the past two years, while an additional 12.4 million was gifted to them by friends and family on the outside during the same period. There was more than 1.5 million held in back accounts managed by the IPS on behalf of inmates at the beginning of this year, according to records released under the Freedom of Information Act. Advertisement However, if prisoners still need help getting to their desired destination following their release, the IPS can issue a travel voucher, which specifies a destination but not a monetary value. Upon release, the [IPS] provides support to assist prisoners in transitioning back into the community, said a spokesman. One aspect of this support is the provision of travel vouchers for those who need assistance reaching their destination. The IPS is billed directly by transport providers, ensuring that released individuals can travel without needing to cover the cost upfront, reducing barriers to reintegration," he explained. The spokesman said the increase in the costs associated with post-release transport was likely attributable to price increases by travel providers, and a rise in the number of releases each year. A total of 34,592 prisoners were released during the five years, with the annual number increasing by 26 per cent from 6,438 to 8,113 between 2022 and 2024. The annual amount spent on bus money for prisoners decreased from 78,200 in 2020 to 43,760 the following year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It increased to 87,598 in 2022 and soared to 156,791 in 2023. Last year, it increased by another 16 per cent to 182,121. Ireland is prepared to take further action to bring about a ceasefire in the Middle East, the Tanaiste has said. Simon Harris is one of 26 signatories to a joint statement on Monday which calls for an end to the war in Gaza. Advertisement Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. He said Israel must immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently enable the UN to do life-saving work safely and effectively in the region, adding that Hamas must also release all hostages immediately. The letter is signed by the foreign ministers of the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid war-damaged infrastructure in Gaza City. Photo: Jehad Alshrafi/AP. It is also signed by the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. Advertisement It states that Israel must comply with obligations under international humanitarian law. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Advertisement The ministers added: The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since October 7 2023 continue to suffer terribly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families. It says that proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a humanitarian city are completely unacceptable. Advertisement Ireland Inmates given almost 550,000 in 'bus money' over... Read More Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law. The ministers also oppose steps for demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including proposals for accelerated settlements in the West Bank. The authors conclude: We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region. A 63-year-old man has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a teenager in a Dublin laneway. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto, of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last May of sexually assaulting the 18-year-old on October 26th, 2022. Advertisement Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, said the victim wants to remain anonymous but had no issue with the defendant being named. Reading his victim impact statement to the court, the injured party said he had just left secondary school and turned 18 at the time of the assault. I was forever changed after that, he said. Im 21. I wont get to be 18 again and time waits for no one. Ill never get that time back, he added. He said he hoped he could get closure and move on with my life and thanked gardai for getting him through a gruelling trial. Advertisement Garda Liam OMeara told the court he was on duty at Rathmines Garda Station when the teenager made an allegation that he had been sexually assaulted. The injured party said he was halfway down a lane and was wearing a set of headphones, listening to music when two females passed by. One of the females stopped at the top of the lane and beckoned in his direction. He was not sure if he was being called because he had his headphones in. The injured party said Otto almost immediately cupped his penis through his trousers. He asked Otto to back away. He moved away but Otto offered to give him oral sex and he declined. At this point the injured party took out his mobile phone and recorded some of the incident. Advertisement There was another attempt to touch him and he told Otto to go away, the court heard. The injured party said he was in shock. He called his father who was unable to attend, but his mother came to the garda station. CCTV Gardai identified Otto from CCTV of the lane and a warrant was issued. Otto was arrested and detained in the usual fashion and was interviewed on two occasions. Otto said it was the injured party who carried out the assault and took a trial date. The court heard Otto has one previous for assault causing harm on April 27th, 2019 and received a suspended sentence on October 20th, 2020. Boiling water was thrown over the injured party who had rejected Ottos advances. The court heard Otto is a male transitioning into a female. Judge Codd asked if the transition was complete. Gda OMeara told the judge the transition was not complete. Advertisement Pieter LeVert BL, defending, told the court Otto accepted the verdict of the jury in full. He said his client is 63 and is originally from the Philippines and left school early to work. He said his client owned and operated a salon in the Philippines. Otto came to Ireland in 2011 to work in a salon of a girl from the Philippines. Counsel said difficulties with Ottos vocal cords caused his client to have no voice. Having stopped working as a result of that and suffering severe financial difficulties, Otto began working on the streets. Mr LeVert said his client was a victim of a robbery and then attempted suicide. Documents A document from Ruhama, an NGO providing support to sex workers, which Otto first contacted in March 2014, was handed into court. Advertisement A document was also handed in about attendance at adult education services and a hairdressing course. Counsel said Otto is biologically male and has been transitioning for a number of years having had a breast augmentation and using a hormonal patch three times a week. Otto has diabetes and there has been great caution because of that. He said there were a number of letters from the National Gender Service who provide psychological services. Mr LeVert handed in two newspaper articles dated February 10th, 2025 and May 30th, 2025 written by journalist Conor Gallagher, saying there was still no formal model of how to deal with transgender prisoners and where they should be housed. Counsel said the article states these people are currently held in the E wing of Limerick Prison where they are typically held up to 23 hours a day in their cells. What weight has this evidence? Its a newspaper article? remarked Judge Pauline Codd. Mr LeVert asked the court to take account of the issues around trans prisoners, that Otto was a foreign national with no family here and his clients acceptance of the jurys verdict. The judge asked what level of English Otto had and counsel said an interpreter was used for the trial however none was used for the sentencing hearing on Monday. Judge Codd noted Otto, who was 58 at the time of the offence, identified as female but is biologically male. The judge said that it created a difficulty in terms of sentencing as Otto has not yet received a gender recognition certificate. The judge noted the injured party believed the person was a woman and when Otto asked him for assistance and so the complainant approached the accused. She noted Otto had claimed to be the victim and the case was fully defended. Judge Codd said the attempt to blacken the injured partys character was unnecessary and egregious. The judge noted the victim gave a moving account of how the assault affected him - that he should be having a good time with his friends and feels like his life is being held up. Judge Codd noted it was clear from his demeanour that the injured party found the court process distressing. A sexual assault of a young person, albeit on a lower scale as it occurred over the victims clothing, can result in psychological harm, said the judge. The issue of deterrence arose, said the judge, noting there was a previous assault causing harm conviction for throwing boiling water over a person who had rejected Ottos advances. In mitigation, the judge noted Otto grew up under difficult circumstances and there was evidence in that regard from Ruhama. However she said these are cases where the victim feels rightly outraged by being violated in this manner. The judge also noted there was no guilty plea to save the victim the trauma of giving evidence. Judge Codd said although there was no violence, the actions of the accused amounted to a gross violation of his bodily integrity. The touching was aggravated by the lewd language that was used and that the victim was a person who was much younger. The court heard Otto has not expressed remorse but accepted the verdict of the jury. The previous conviction for assault causing harm was not the same type of offence but it related to rejected advances, the judge noted. Judge Codd said Otto was now placed onto the Sexual Offenders Register. She said the court has a letter from Ruhama, where they received personal support. She said Otto was a person undergoing transition and that it is difficult where their gender identity does not align with their biological sex. Judge Codd noted Otto was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence and imposed a three-year jail term. A dad-of-two who inadvertently recorded the moment he stabbed his wife to death told paramedics and gardai at the scene that the deceased was having an affair and he "freaked out" after seeing "something on her phone about sex", a court has heard. Stephen Mooney (53) was sentenced on Monday at the Central Criminal Court to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of his 43-year-old wife Anna Mooney (nee Shuplikova). Advertisement At the hearing, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family and their two children. Mooney pleaded guilty to his wife's murder earlier this year after gardai hacked into his phone and discovered video footage of the build-up to the murder and an audio recording of the murder itself. Outlining the evidence, Det Sgt Basil Grimes told prosecutor Desmond Dockery SC that Mooney called emergency services at 1.09am on June 15th 2023. He reported that a person had been stabbed at his home on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 and when asked who did it, he replied: "I did." Advertisement A Dublin Fire Brigade officer was first on the scene and found Mooney kneeling over his wife's lifeless body, speaking to emergency services on the phone. She had a knife lodged in her chest. The defendant told the paramedic: "I've killed her... She's my wife. This has been going on for years. I'm really sorry, she's been having an affair." A garda who arrived a short time later took a note of Mooney saying: "She's having an affair, it got out of control, I tried to save her, everyone's lives are ruined." Advertisement He added: "It's awful, I'm sorry to put you through this. I saw something on her phone about sex and everything else and freaked out." He later said: "There is no suspect. I am the guilty one. There's nothing worth this." Det Gda Jeanette O'Neill carried out a technical exam of the home and found blood pooling on a couch and blood spatter on the wall immediately behind it. Ms Mooney was lying on her back on the kitchen floor when paramedics arrived. Advertisement Pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collis said the stab wound to Ms Mooney's chest tracked to 13.3cm and pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity. The knife that had been lodged in her chest had a 16cm single-edged blade and a wooden handle. There were further stab wounds to the lower left side of her back, the left upper arm and further incised wounds to her left hand and arm. She had "quite a considerable amount" of alcohol in her system. The pathologist concluded that death was caused by multiple sharp force injuries. Advertisement Det Gda Grimes said that weeks before Mooney was due to go on trial this year, gardai accessed his phone for the first time using updated software that allows phones to be hacked even when they are protected by a password or pincode. Analysis of the phone uncovered a 90-minute video clip which included footage of the murder, he said. He said Mooney can be seen leaving the room where the murder happens and returning with the murder weapon. The moment when Ms Mooney died happened off-camera, he said, but the audio records "all events leading to her death". Det Gda Grimes said the video then goes quiet before Mr Mooney can be seen returning to the kitchen, where he drinks three glasses of water and runs water over his hands while making the 999 call. The detective said it appears that Mooney himself had set the phone to record in an elevated position with a view of the kitchen table. Detectives believe that Mooney set it up that way to record his wife entering her pin number into her own phone so that he could then take her phone and find out who she was contacting. The recording was still running when Mooney attacked his wife. The detective confirmed that Mooney has worked as an estate agent and has no previous convictions. Under cross-examination, he agreed with defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that Ms Mooney moved to Ireland from Ukraine in 2004 and the pair married in 2005. They have two children together. Det Gda Grimes agreed that the investigation had confirmed that Ms Mooney was having a relationship with a man in Germany. Neither of the Mooney children were in court for today's hearing, but Ms Mooney's brother, Anton Shuplikova, listened to the proceedings from Ukraine using a video-link and an interpreter. Following the detective's evidence, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family. "I am truly sorry for what happened that night," he said. "It is the burden I go to bed with every night and wake up with every day." Ireland Man (22) pleads guilty to having gun and ammunitio... Read More "I loved Anna. I want to say sorry to Anton and his extended family." He finished by saying: "I wish to apologise to my kids for the terrible suffering I have caused everybody. I hope one day everybody will be able to forgive me." Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. He said that while the family did not make a victim impact statement, from the evidence and the nature of the offence, he understands the "huge damage and trauma that has been caused". He said he has no discretion in sentencing, and Mooney's future will be determined by a parole board. Over half of the people seeking asylum occupying a controversial emergency accommodation centre in Athlone will tell the government by next week whether they have accepted alternative accommodation offered to them. At the High Court on Monday, senior counsel Aoife Carroll, for the government, told Ms Justice Emily Farrell that of the remaining 125 people at the accommodation centre, 70 people had received offers of alternative accommodation and that the court should know their answers next week. Advertisement Last month, Ms Carroll told the court that 137 people were in emergency accommodation at the facility, but that figures were dropping as alternative accommodation was being sought. The High Court action was taken by Independent Ireland councillor for Athlone-Moate District Paul Hogan, who successfully applied to the court in December for a judicial review, arguing that the expedited development was unlawful. The State has conceded to the court that the statutory instrument used to expedite the construction of the facility was "invalid" and is working on repairing legislation. A Statutory Instrument is a secondary legislation made by a Minister, modifying or supplementing existing laws. Cllr Hogan is taking the case against the office of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Advertisement Cllr Hogan claimed the Minister failed to adequately "screen" the project for potential environmental impacts and that the Minister lacked the expertise to carry out such assessments in such an expedited manner. Protests have been held in Athlone over the plan to further develop army-tent accommodation for a possible 1,000 asylum seekers. Last month, Ms Justice Farrell said she would defer judgment, quashing the use of the Statutory Instrument used to develop the emergency accommodation at Lissywollen in Athlone, Co Westmeath. Ms Justice Farrell had said she wanted to wait for updates and to see draft legislation from the Oireachtas. The government submitted it intended to remedy the legal issue over the bypassing of environmental assessments for the accommodation. Advertisement Today, Ms Carroll said the department was continuing to work to reduce the number of people at the facility, but that there was "significant pressure" on the system. Regarding the repairing legislation, Ms Carroll said "we have not made the progress hoped". Ms Carroll said that "significant work" had been done on a general scheme and that it was hoped this would go for drafting in preparation for legislation. Ms Carroll again asked for the court not to make final orders in the matter and to maintain the status quo pending the legislation, which is hoped to be put to the Dail in November. Advertisement Ms Justice Farrell adjourned the matter to next week but warned she could not keep deferring final orders when the government had "ample opportunity" to put legislation before the Dail. David O'Brien BL, for Cllr Hogan, said the government indicating "loose dates" had been "a regrettable motif" in the case. Any November date for the legislation to come before the Dail, which was indicated to the court in May, had been initially "unrealistic... now, it is at the point of untenable" and his client was left "without a modicum of explanation", he said. Cllr Hogan claims the ministerial process employed was "unlawful, irrational and a breach of fair procedures". Two passenger flights travelling from the US to Europe diverted to Shannon Airport on Monday morning after both flight crews declared medical emergencies. American Airlines flight AA-326 departed Charlotte, North Carolina shortly before midnight (Irish time) destined for Athens in Greece. Advertisement The flight was about five hours into its journey when the crew made the decision to divert to Shannon. The flight crew made contact with air traffic controllers here and initially advised them they needed to divert to Dublin Airport. Later, the crew of the Boeing 777-223(ER) jet confirmed that they wished to divert to Shannon because of poor weather conditions in Dublin. Its understood that the crew reported they had two passengers on board who required medical attention. Advertisement Authorities at Shannon were advised of the unscheduled arrival while the National Ambulance Service was also requested to dispatch resources to the airport. The flight landed at 6.50am and taxied to the terminal where paramedics were standing by. Meanwhile, a second American Airlines flight, travelling from New York to Milan in Italy, also diverted to Shannon Airport this morning. Flight AA-198 departed New Yorks JFK International Airport shortly after midnight (Irish time) and was almost five hours into its journey when the crew requested clearance to divert to Shannon. The Boeing 777-223(ER) jet was about 300 kilometres southwest of Shannon at the time. The crew confirmed they wished to divert to Shannon to seek medical attention for a male passenger in his 50s. The National Ambulance Service was contacted again and requested to mobilise paramedics to the airport. The flight landed at 7.35am and was met at the terminal by paramedics. The patient was transported to hospital for treatment. Flight 198 continued its journey to Milan shortly at 8.50am while the second flight, AA-326, resumed its journey to Athens at 9.53am. The airline has been contacted for a comment. Orange-level weather warnings were in place for parts of Ireland on Monday morning after a night of heavy rain across the island. There were reports of localised flooding across parts of the island following a series of weather alerts on Sunday, with the unseasonably high rainfall into the start of the week. Advertisement A status orange rain warning for Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow came into effect from midnight and expires at 2pm on Monday. Met Eireann said there would be persistent and heavy rain with a chance of thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Kildare is under a yellow-level rain warning for the same period. The warnings followed other alerts about thunderstorms in the east of the country and increased rain in the south-west. Advertisement Met Eireann warned that the weather would bring widespread surface flooding, very difficult travelling conditions, lightning damage and very poor visibility in the worst-affected areas. Warning Updates Status Orange Rain & thunderstorm warning for Dublin, Louth & Meath Valid: 00:00 21/07/25 to 14:00 21/07/25 Status Yellow Rain warning for Kildare, Wicklow & Monaghan Valid: 00:00 21/07/25 to 14:00 21/07/25 Stay safe and updatedhttps://t.co/GYji547FKt pic.twitter.com/4r5XXhrTxp Met Eireann (@MetEireann) July 20, 2025 Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is expected to experience some of the worst of a heavy spell of rainfall on Sunday evening into Monday. Forecasters predict the region could see half a months worth of rain in less than a day. It comes as yellow-level rain warnings were put in place for the eastern counties of Northern Ireland, as well as several counties south of the border. Advertisement The Northern Ireland warning applies for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday. A more intense amber-level warning was also put in place between 11pm on Sunday and 8pm on Monday. The Met Office warned that homes and businesses are likely to be flooded. The expected rainfall carries a risk of flooding, power cuts and dangerous driving conditions. Advertisement Forecasters also warn there is a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads while fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. Simon Partridge, a forecaster with the UK Met Office, said: It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours. The region records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a months rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. A yellow-level thunderstorm warning was in place for the western half of Northern Ireland between midday and 8pm on Sunday. Flooding was already affecting routes in Fermanagh on Sunday evening, with the Marble Arch Road, Florencecourt, and Sligo Road, Enniskillen, both described as impassable by police. A PSNI spokeswoman said: Please take care when travelling, slow down, and exercise caution on affected roads. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft has crashed in to a school campus in northern Dhaka killing at least 16 people, including its pilot, and injuring dozens, officials said. According to the military and a fire official, the Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI aircraft crashed in to the campus of Milestone School and College, in Dhakas Uttara neighbourhood, on Monday afternoon, where students were taking tests or attending regular classes. Advertisement Saidur Rahman, a National Burn Institute official in Dhaka, told Bangladeshs leading English daily, The Daily Star, that the death toll rose to 16 within hours. Volunteers cordon off the area after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed (Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP) Bengali-language Prothom Alo daily said most of the injured were students with burn injuries, with at least 20 people taken to a hospital. Parents and relatives attended the scene as rescuers, using rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured. Rafiqa Taha, a student at the school who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that Milestone School and College, with some 2,000 students, runs classes from elementary to 12th grade. Advertisement On Monday, she said, some students were taking tests while others attended regular classes. I was terrified watching videos on TV, said the 16-year-old student. My God. Its my school. The Bangladesh Armys public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force. Israeli ground troops for the first time on Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. Advertisement The main group representing hostages families said it was shocked and alarmed by the incursion, which was confirmed by an Israeli military official, and demanded answers from Israeli leaders. Smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks. The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gazas Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine. Advertisement In the latest sign of international frustration, the United Kingdom, France and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a statement saying the war in Gaza must end now. They harshly criticised Israels restrictions on humanitarian aid and called for the release of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza. Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in Deir al-Balah during repeated waves of mass displacement in Gaza. Associated Press reporters heard explosions and saw smoke rising from parts of the city that were ordered evacuated on Sunday. Advertisement The Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said it was the first time ground troops had operated in the area. A man living in the evacuation zone, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Israel dropped pamphlets at dawn ordering people to evacuate. Two hours later, tanks rolled into the area. He said his 62-year-old father, who had spent the night elsewhere, fled from house to house as Israeli forces moved in and saw them flattening structures with bulldozers and tanks. Both men managed to leave the evacuation zone. The military declined to say if it had ordered the evacuation of aid groups based in the city, saying only that it maintains continuous contact with them and facilitates their relocation when necessary. Advertisement Israel has taken over large areas of Gaza and split the territory with corridors stretching from the border to the sea as it seeks to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. In response to the Deir al-Balah incursion, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum warned in its statement that the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didnt know what was at stake. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war and killed around 1,200 people. Less than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Russia has unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, only hours before the UK and Germany are to chair a meeting to discuss US President Donald Trumps plans for Nato allies to provide Ukraine with weapons. The attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Advertisement In Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi district, a drone struck the entrance to a subway station where people had taken cover. A bus stop damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Videos posted on social media showed the station platform engulfed by smoke, with dozens of people inside. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the station had to be ventilated in what he called an enhanced mode. The heaviest strikes hit Kyivs Darnytskyi district, where a nursery, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire. Advertisement The hours-long drone and missile assault on Kyiv overnight into Monday underscored the urgency of Ukraines need for further Western military aid, especially in air defence, a week after Mr Trump said deliveries would arrive in Ukraine within days. The virtual meeting will be led by British Defence Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. Mr Healey said US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and Nato leader Mark Rutte, as well as Natos Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, will attend the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Moscow has intensified its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate as Russian drone production expands. Advertisement In a shift of tone towards Russia, the US president last week gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions. A man near the broken windows in his house after a Russian attack in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) At Mondays meeting, Mr Healey was expected to urge Ukraines Western partners to launch a coincidental 50-day drive to get Kyiv the weapons it needs to fight Russias bigger army and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, the UK Government said in a statement. Mr Trumps arms plan, announced a week ago, involves European nations sending American weapons to Ukraine via Nato either from existing stockpiles or buying and donating new ones. The US president indicated discussions were partly focused on advanced Patriot air defence systems and said a week ago that deliveries would begin within days. Advertisement But last week various senior officials suggested no transfers had yet taken place. Gen Grynkewich told The Associated Press on Thursday that preparations are under way for weapons transfers to Ukraine while US ambassador to Nato Matthew Whitaker said he could not give a time frame. Germany has said it offered to finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and raised the possibility of supplying systems it already owns and having them replaced by the US. But delivery could take time, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested, because they have to be transported, they have to be set up; that is not a question of hours, it is a question of days, perhaps weeks. Advertisement Other Patriot systems could come thanks to Switzerland, whose defence ministry said on Thursday it was informed by the US Defence Department that it will reprioritise the delivery of five previously ordered systems to support Ukraine. Firefighters work at a destroyed apartment building after a Russian attack in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) While Ukraine waits for Patriots, a senior Nato official said the alliance is still co-ordinating the delivery of other military aid such as ammunition and artillery rounds which includes aid from the US that was briefly paused. Mr Zelensky said on Saturday that his officials have proposed a new round of peace talks this week. Russian state media on Sunday reported that no date has yet been set for the negotiations, but said that Istanbul would probably remain the host city. The Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday that Russia is open to peace with Ukraine, but achieving its goals remains a priority. The overnight Russian barrage of Kyiv began shortly after midnight and continued until around 6am. Residents of the capital were kept awake by machine gun fire, buzzing drone engines, and multiple loud explosions. It was the first major attack on Kyiv since Mr Trumps special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg arrived in the city last Monday. Firefighters work in a destroyed apartment building in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Russia halted strikes on Kyiv during his visit. Ukraines air force said Russia launched 426 Shahed and decoy drones overnight into Monday, as well as 24 missiles of various types. It said 200 drones were intercepted with 203 more jammed or lost from radars. Ukraine, meanwhile, continued to deploy its domestically produced long-range drones. Russias Ministry of Defence said that its forces shot down 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, with almost a third of them destroyed close to the Russian capital. Twenty-three drones were shot down in the Moscow region, the ministry said, 15 of which were intercepted over the city itself. The problem in EVs, solar panels, batteries and other industries that supply them and its not a problem confined to those sectors is that Chinas economic model has prioritised investment, production and jobs. Beijing has identified strategic areas of growth in its rolling five-year national economic plans and handed out massive financial subsidies to those sectors to stimulate investment. BYD, the worlds biggest EV maker, slashed domestic prices by up to 34 per cent this year, triggering a price war. Credit: Bloomberg Local governments, anxious to get their share of investment and jobs, then offer their own incentives and help fuel a rush by companies to do what Beijing has encouraged them to do, leading to overinvestment and overcapacity. Exports are the safety valve for the excess capacity, particularly in the post-property crisis, post-pandemic environment, where domestic demand has been weak. Faced with pushback (even before Donald Trump started slapping tariffs on everyone) from export markets concerned that China was undermining their industries and persistent deflation within its own economy from the US to countries in Europe and Latin America it would appear that China has finally recognised the need to act. Loading A decade ago, China had similar overcapacity issues in its steel and coal sectors. Beijing responded by forcing plant closures and corporate consolidations while avoiding economic shock by pumping fiscal stimulus into the economy. Unlike the current overinvestment, those sectors were largely state-owned. It will be trickier trying to corral the multitude of private companies engaged in the crowded advanced manufacturing sectors that Beijing has identified for Chinas latest phase of growth. It will be even trickier in the face of Trumps tariffs. While the US and China agreed to an uneasy truce after a tit-for-tat exchange of absurdly high tariffs Trump announced a 145 per cent rate on imports from China and Beijing responded with a 125 per cent rate on imports from the US the continuing 30 per cent US tariff on goods, once pre-existing tariffs (leftovers from the 2018-19 trade war) are taken into account, means Chinas exports to the US still face a 55 per cent duty. Chinas most recent trade numbers, for June, showed a record $US586 billion ($900 billion) surplus when they were published last week, or 5.8 per cent above the same month last year. Exports to the US, however, were 16.1 per cent lower than in June last year. It was exports to South-East Asia, Europe and Japan that accounted for the growth. Donald Trumps trade war has complicated matters for Beijing. Credit: Bloomberg With Trumps deal with Vietnam, including punitive tariffs on trans-shipped exports to the US targeting Chinese goods re-routed through third countries to exploit lower duty rates Americas reciprocal tariff regime poses a major threat to Chinas ability to continue to rely on trade for growth. Last year, Beijing tried to stimulate domestic consumption with incentives for trade-ins of autos and household appliances and other goods. That seems to have had some effects Chinas GDP grew 5.3 per cent in the June quarter, compared with the same period last year but its a policy with an impact that will inevitably wane, as the number of remaining households with the capacity to take advantage of it dwindles. In Trumps new world trade order, there will be less global trade and less trade with China. There are other, more sustainable, measures that Beijing could take to boost domestic consumption, particularly increased spending on Chinas social welfare safety nets, but Xi has been reluctant to embark on large-scale stimulus spending or to re-balance the economy away from its over-reliance on exports. Having experiencing the implosion of Chinas property sector, a sector that had been used and incentivised to stimulate the wider economy during periods of economic stress, the authorities would understand that the extent of overinvestment and overcapacity in other sectors today is a threat to Chinas economic and social stability that could be exacerbated by a downturn in trade. The threat doesnt come from Donald Trump alone. On Friday, the G7 economies agreed to increase their collective efforts to respond to the impact of Chinas over-capacities and the flood of exports it is producing, along with its dominance of strategic sectors, including rare earths. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has delivered a cheeky warning to fans that they may appear on the big screen during the British bands latest US concert at the weekend just days after kiss cam video from an earlier show went viral because of the reaction of the pair caught on camera. The Jumbotron Song footage was captured at Coldplays concert during their Music of the Spheres world tour in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning AEST), and appeared to show Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his chief people officer Kristin Cabot cuddling. Realising they were on the big screen, Byron appeared to duck away while Cabot hid her face behind her hands and turned away from the camera. Oh, look at these two ... Either theyre having an affair or theyre very shy, Martin said, as laughter rang out across the stadium. But as the institution enters its fourth year of a five-year lease with little progress made, impatience is brewing in some parts of the Chinatown community over the extensive delays. So why hasnt the Museum of Chinese in Australia opened yet? History in the making Sydneys Chinatown is one of Australias best-known and most frequented, with roots tracing back to the 1870s, when Chinese migrants shifted their fruit and vegetable trading from the Rocks to settle around Haymarket. Chinese people began arriving in Australia as part of the massive migration wave during the gold rush of the 1850s. During the 1900s, they spread into other trades and services, finding prosperity in fruit and vegetable trading, shopkeeping, tobacco farming and clothes laundering. The end of the White Australia policy in 1973 brought another wave of migrants. But unlike Melbourne and regional cities such as Bendigo (which established its Golden Dragon Museum in 1991) and Ararat (which opened its Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in 2001), Sydney has fallen behind in establishing its own museum to showcase the contributions of Chinese Australians. That looked to finally change in mid-2020. As the pandemic set in, Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the council would lease the property to the Museum of Chinese in Australia. It would feature a gallery and exhibition space, programming activities, community spaces for events, an artist-in-residence program, and a cafe and shop. It is chaired by 82-year-old Daphne Lowe Kelley, who has spent most of her career serving Chinese-Australian organisations, and was presided over by Dr John Yu, a Chinese-born Australian paediatrician and 1996 Australian of the Year. But neither the council nor the museums leadership anticipated the challenges of establishing a new gallery in a heritage-listed 19th-century building. While the site has given the museum a spiritual and physical home, with rent subsidised by the council, the lease agreement contains pages of added requirements, heritage restrictions and red tape. This is an amazing gift, new MOCA chief executive Peter Cai said of the building. And it came with a lot of conditions, and some conditions are not easy to address. There are a lot of costs to remedy. The initial renovation proposal, overseen by Tony Stephens, the previous chief executive who departed the organisation in January, came to roughly $4.7 million, said Kelley, who estimates the true cost would have been closer to $6 million or $7 million after factoring in contingencies and other unanticipated expenses. Figures from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) show revenue from donations and bequests came to $1,766,821 in the four years between fiscal 2021 and 2024. This figure doesnt include rent subsidies from the City of Sydneys accommodation grant program, $2.28 million from Create NSW given in 2022, or two grants from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations of around $600,000. The latter funded a temporary physical and digital exhibition called Stories of Home that ran for two months in 2022. In the absence of local donations, lobbying government has been crucial. It was almost impossible trying to raise any funds during COVID, Kelley said. People are now questioning many things A number of departures on the museums board has added to perceptions of volatility. Only three inaugural board members remain: Kelley, Joanna Capon and Yin Cao. Dr John Yu, Stephen FitzGerald and Su-Ming Wong have departed the board. Since then, a number of others have come and gone. Loading One former director, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential matters freely, said board members had at times disagreed on the best approach to raising money. Its become a fundraising issue. They need a certain amount of money to open. They havent been able to achieve that yet, they said. Despite being volunteers for the charity, the former board member described the work as a full-time job. It was very intense, they said. I found myself spending a lot of time on the wrong things. While Ive stepped off the board, Im still a big supporter and would love to see it open. An active representative of the Chinatown community, who declined to be named, said the museum had lost a lot of the goodwill it initially had. Because its been years, people are losing interest or faith, they said. People are now questioning many things; where has [the money] gone, how has it been spent? The same Chinatown community representative feels the museum has had little to show, despite a handful of pop-up exhibitions and events. If you cant fix the building with the money you have, what are you delivering in the meantime? they asked. Theyre not engaging in the community at all. Kelley is aware of the critiques. They dont really know what goes behind the scenes, what has to be actually done, and how difficult it is to achieve a lot of what it takes to actually get it open, she said. Putting on a show Plans are now being redrawn for a reduced scope refurbishment. Even then, Kelley estimates opening will cost $3 million to $4 million. Thats still a lot of money, she said. Youve got to remember, we also need to have funds for the programs and operational costs. The race is on to pull the various pieces together for a soft launch. On top of refurbishment plans to be redrawn, costed and commenced, an exhibition director (historian and Chinese art and photography curator Shuxia Chen) has been drafted to conceptualise the museums first exhibition, which will focus on local stories about Haymarket habitants that have been there for generations, such as the Lam family of Asian grocer Dong Nam A, or the Pang family, which ran a Chinese restaurant in Haymarket for nearly three decades and have donated large sums to the museum. We must put on a good show for people, Cai said. Decisions need to be made about the exhibitions budget. Youre talking about special lighting, casings, you have to hire expert consultants to put it all together. Its not as easy as hanging something on a wall. Meanwhile, Kelley is hustling for donations, having visited Canberra to lobby Wong and Plibersek, and sharing bank details in community newsletters. Ive been lobbied about this so much, Wong said at the April event. The museum has secured its tenancy for another decade, which Kelley hopes will help to encourage donations after hearing feedback that some felt reluctant to donate money for a building that belongs to the council. A refit is not as sexy to the philanthropic community, said another former board member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. We spoke to a lot of other Chinese museums around the world ... The Chinese Canadian Museum took eight years to get running from conceptualisation to open doors. It just takes a little while. Cai is excited to showcase the many contributions of Chinese Australians over the decades and is at pains to convey the complicated nature of the project to supporters, whom he said had been generous and full of goodwill. I can empathise with some of our supporters who just want to see the building open soon, he said. I want as much as I can to speed things up. Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape has demanded a preliminary report by Wednesday from the investigation into corruption concerns involving a key figure in the Pacific nations successful bid to join the National Rugby League competition. Wapu Sonk stood down from the PNG NRL franchise board on Friday after an investigation by this masthead into whether he attempted to benefit from a deal between the countrys national oil and gas company and a Chinese government-controlled firm. PNG businessman Wapu Sonk stood down from the countrys NRL franchise on Friday. Credit: Nathan Perri His position as managing director of state-owned Kumul Petroleum Holdings has also come under scrutiny, with Marape announcing the appointment of a new chairman to lead a full and independent review of the issues raised. This matter must be resolved quickly, clearly and professionally. I expect a preliminary report on my desk when I return to Port Moresby on Wednesday, Marape said. Several businesses owned by Greg Josephson, the Universal Store co-founder who was killed at a Clayfield party last month, have closed down. Josephson founded the clothing chain Universal Store with his brother Michael in 1999 and sold it in 2018. Before his death, he and his wife were planning to shift their focus to ventures on the Sunshine Coast, which included the Rosecliff Farm Cottages, Cafe Doonan, and the Eumundi Hotel. Loading On Monday night, Cafe Doonan posted a statement regarding Josephsons death, announcing the closure of Cafe Noosa, Noosa General Store, and Eumundi Sourdough Co. We know this comes as quite a shock, and were sorry for any inconvenience caused, the statement said, explaining that Cafe Doonan would remain open. We will all do our absolute best to honour Gregs dream. The cafe described Josephsons passing as heartbreaking and unexpected. Words can do this loss no justice. Greg was on his way to create an amazing hub of businesses, with a passion and drive that was unmatched. He loved being a part of the community and had an impressive vision for the four locations. He was a kind and gentle man who is missed dearly by all staff. We are deeply saddened by this loss. Josephson was farewelled last week at a Brisbane church, with hundreds of mourners attending. The 15-year-old boy charged with his murder remains in custody. Queensland authorities say they will investigate multiple reported crocodile sightings at Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast, hundreds of kilometres south of Queenslands croc country. While speculation intensified after the emergence of sonar photographs apparently showing a crocodile at the Noosa Rivers entrance, one expert said it was highly unlikely that the animal would travel so far south in winter. James Graham, the fishing enthusiast who took the underwater photos from his boat on Sunday afternoon, believed they showed a large reptile. Reported croc sighting in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Credit: James Graham He posted the photos online hours after another man reported seeing a 3.5-metre croc about 450 metres away at the Noosa Spit dog beach. Former federal Labor leader Mark Lathams portrait will continue to hang in Parliament House after his one-time colleagues decided it should remain as a historical image with a note condemning his behaviour. Latham has faced accusations of abusive behaviour from a former partner, which he has denied, allegations he filmed sex tapes in his parliamentary office, and revelations that he sent lewd messages while in state parliament, but his portrait is still on display in Labors party room in Canberra alongside all other former leaders. Mark Lathams portrait (bottom right) will remain in Labors caucus room with text added below it. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer On Monday, the party decided to retain the portrait with a note reading: In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and failed to meet the standards we expect and demand. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said she was happy with the outcome, which struck a balance between condemning Lathams behaviour and chronicling his role in the party. Gisele Kapterian, the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Bradfield, says at least 56 ballot papers were wrongly rejected in the final recount of the ultra-marginal seat, while 95 were incorrectly allowed, prompting her to ask the High Court to overturn the result and declare her the winner. Kapterian last week ended weeks of speculation and lodged a petition with the High Court, which sits as the Court of Disputed Returns to hear election challenges, in a bid to be declared victorious in Bradfield instead of teal MP-elect Nicolette Boele. Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian is seeking to have the result overturned. Credit: Jessica Hromas Boele, who will give her inaugural speech to federal parliament on July 28, won the once blue-ribbon Liberal seat after a recount of the northern Sydney seat in which she finished 26 votes ahead of Kapterian. In her petition, Kapterian says the Australian electoral officer (AEO) who is the electoral commissions manager in each state wrongly rejected at least 56 of the reserved ballot papers, where those ballot papers indicated a preference, by the voter, for the petitioner ahead of the first respondent. Boele is listed as the first respondent. They came, they bid, they yelled over each other. A two-bedroom unit in Coorparoo has sparked one of Brisbanes fiercest first-home buyer bidding wars, with the sale price soaring to a reserve-smashing $800,000 in three minutes. The entry-level unit, at 7/69 Shakespeare Street, sits in an old boutique brick block of eight just a stones throw from the suburbs cafe precinct and last sold for $585,000 less than two years ago. But its location, coupled with a cheeky Instagram rhyme, managed to reel in a staggering 25 registered bidders at the Saturday auction mostly aspiring homeowners thirsty for a firsty. The brick unit is one of eight, a short walk from Coorparoos cafe strip. Credit: Domain Bidding for the home opened at $500,000, with 10 of the 25 bidders raising their paddles. The price soared to $680,000 in seconds. This is a small, close-knit community, and the location of the hotel, so close to two schools, is just inappropriate, Holland says. Im afraid I agree that the government has got to find some other means of housing the people once they arrive. Noel Holland, a retired detective inspector who lives a short walk from the asylum seeker hotel in Epping Forest. Credit: David Crowe Also like many in this town, he believes the protests are out of control. In his view, the police should be using their powers to arrest anyone trying to hide their identity at the protests. Six men were arrested on Sunday night for what Essex Police called mindless thuggery including injury to a police officer and damage to a vehicle. Witnesses saw a protester kick in the windscreen of a police car. Epping, the last stop on the Central Line for those heading north-east on the London Underground, now looks like a war zone to Britons watching the news. But it is a comfortable town with no history of heated division until the asylum hotel arrived. At lunchtime on Monday, for instance, the main street was busy with people in a dozen cafes or at an open-air market with arts and crafts. A few Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes and Range Rovers passed along with the local traffic. The jewellery store displayed a Rolex in its front window. Police officers stand guard near the Bell Hotel as demonstrators gather outside. Credit: Getty Images But the mood has changed in Epping since one of the asylum seekers was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. The man, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, denied all the offences when he appeared in court on July 10. But this has not quelled concerns among local parents, who began protesting outside the asylum hotel. Im not Far Right. Im worried about my kids, read one sign on Sunday, held by parents outside the asylum hotel. The sexual assault charges turned a tidal wave of concern into a tsunami, says Epping journalist David Jackman, who covered the region for local newspapers for 38 years before setting up his own news site, Everything Epping Forest. A woman holds a placard during a protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, England. Credit: Getty Images There were at least two fires at asylum hotels in the area in recent years, and one man who was staying at the Bell Hotel will stand trial in September, charged with two counts of arson. Jackman, in a written account of the past few weeks, said the protest on Sunday night required police with riot shields to hold the line against protesters throwing plastic bottles, eggs, milk and other objects. Video footage now seen around the world shows unbelievable scenes, including a protester jumping up and down on the roof of a moving police van, and a man kicking another police vehicle, he wrote. In an echo of the Australian debate over the past two decades, Britain is struggling to respond to thousands of people arriving by boat. While French police can wade into water to try to stop the boats leaving, they do not venture into the English Channel to turn them around. British authorities intercept the boats to escort them to Dover a sight that infuriates right-wing critics such as Nigel Farage, head of Reform UK. The arrivals surged to 19,982 in the six months to the end of June up 50 per cent on the same period last year, according to a tally by Reuters based on government data. The problem is not new; boat arrivals increased when the Conservatives held power from 2010 to 2024, but it has become toxic in local communities because authorities have taken over hotels and motels to house asylum seekers. Some Epping residents simply fall silent when the subject comes up. Others express their anxiety about right-wing activists using Epping to make headlines. Hundreds of people have been protesting at the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping for housing migrants since the arrest of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the town. Credit: Getty Images It is outrageous, irresponsible and preposterous to assert and even suggest that residence [sic] of Epping and Epping Forest were at all violent last night, wrote Glenn Hernandez, a resident, on the community Facebook group. He and others want the hotel shut down and the asylum seekers relocated to prevent more clashes. For now, the Bell Hotel is closed to visitors and surrounded by a temporary fence. Signs order passersby not to take photographs. A security guard stands inside the entrance. Holland, who lives near the hotel and sees asylum seekers walking to and from their temporary home, believes the protests must be kept away from the Bell Hotel to avoid greater riots in weeks to come. Theres no point in protesting outside the hotel, he says. If theyre going to have a protest, have it in the town centre and make it an organised protest to keep the thugs away from the hotel. Protesters outside the Bell Hotel on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images The call between Tucker and Trump was tense, The Telegraph understands. After the story was published, Trump fired off a lengthy denial on Truth Social, his own media platform. The 79-year-old accused Tucker of running a false, malicious, and defamatory story and filed a $US10 billion ($15 billion) lawsuit against the WSJ, naming Murdoch and the reporters who wrote the story as defendants. Trump at a dinner for Republican senators at the White House on Friday. Credit: AP Holding her nerve has earned Tucker the wrath of the US president and many of his loyal followers. The Epstein story is the type of reporting Tucker made a name for on Fleet Street in London and now in the US, those close to her say. For months, Trump has been angered by the WSJs coverage of his policies as the newspaper has continued to refuse to shy away from criticising them. While News Corps media outlets the New York Post and Fox News often portray the president in a positive light, the WSJ has not attempted to curry favour with the White House. Media executives such as Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos have appeared to try to appease the US president, but the WSJ has stood out for critical pieces, at times skewering his policies. Trump and Rupert Murdoch (right) in the Oval Office in February with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Credit: AP In May, when a reporter from the newspaper attempted to ask Trump a question on Air Force One, he denounced the paper as rotten and as having truly gone to hell. However, the WSJ has maintained its influence. Last month, Vice President JD Vance travelled to Murdochs Montana ranch to speak to the media mogul, his son Lachlan and other Fox News executives. Tucker, 58, was selected by Murdoch as the newspapers first female editor-in-chief, replacing Matt Murray in February 2023 in a bid to shake up the publication. Emma Tucker when she was named first female editor of The Sunday Times. Born in London in 1966, she grew up in Lewes, Sussex, before going to study philosophy, politics and economics at University College, Oxford, where she edited the university magazine Isis. After joining the graduate trainee program at the Financial Times, where she met her close friend Rachel Johnson, Boris Johnsons sister, she went on to work in the newspapers Berlin and Brussels bureaus. In 2020, she became the first female editor of The Sunday Times in more than a century. Former colleagues describe her as tenacious. Asked about the run-in with Trump, John Witherow, the former editor of The Times, told The Telegraph of his former deputy: I know shes tough. Within weeks of arriving at the WSJ, Tucker demonstrated her determination to back her reporters in the campaign to release WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich, who had been detained in Russia. But while she received praise for her campaign for Gershkovichs release, her arrival was not welcomed by everyone. Many staff were abhorred by job cuts, restructuring and a push to digital-first to attempt to bring an edginess back to the publication. Last year, more than 100 journalists staged a protest against the changes, covering the walls of her office in Post-it notes with comments such as the cuts are killing morale. Tucker told Vanity Fair that while the cuts may look callous, its so that we get it right, so I dont have to do it over again. She has also come under fire for coverage from both sides of the political aisle. The WSJ was the first newspaper to report on former president Joe Bidens mental fitness, which was denounced by some left-leaning publications at the time. Loading She also clashed with Murdoch. Reports suggested he was livid with her after the WSJ described a newsletter launched by a former CNN reporter as a must-read. Tucker has also been outspoken about standing up to the Trump administration. Responding to claims by the CEO of Elon Musks X that her newspaper had run a fake news story about the platform, she said: Many of the stories we publish do upset political leaders or CEOs, but we cant, you know, we have to be thinking about the validity of the story. Tucker will probably face Trump in court in some form as her paper defends the $US10 billion lawsuit. Whether full details of the alleged birthday card will come to light is not yet clear. Unlike the two reporters who brought her the story, and Murdoch, she is not named in Trumps legal action. Since parts of the letter were published on Thursday, the Trump administration has already promised to release more transcripts from the investigations into Epstein. But the scandal shows little sign of going away. The release of the grand jury documents may fall short of what many of Trumps supporters have sought. On Sunday, one of Epsteins former lawyers called on the US Justice Department to release additional investigative records from its sex-trafficking investigation, and urged the government to grant Ghislaine Maxwell Epsteins former girlfriend and former British socialite immunity so that she can testify about his crimes. AFG had eyes for the boutique brokerage, thanks to its strong growth trajectory. Under the terms of the deal, it will remain independently managed, but will operate with AFG as its majority shareholder. The investment forms part of AFGs new broker equity partnership strategy, which the company says is the first of its kind among Australian mortgage aggregators. It builds on the banks previous reconciliation commitments; through listening to the voices and expertise of First Nations people and using that knowledge to continually expand their strategies, the bank demonstrates a sustainable approach to their reconciliation program, now and into the future. SIX homeowners in Co Carlow are waiting to learn if their properties will be included in the national pyrite remediation scheme following completed investigations by the housing agency. Speaking at a recent Carlow County Council meeting, chief executive Coilin OReilly provided an update on the ongoing pyrite situation affecting the county, confirming that investigations into the six suspected cases have been completed. The homeowners have already been informed of the outcome of the investigations, Mr OReilly told councillors. We dont have the results because it needs to go from the housing agency to the Department of Housing to be included in legislation under the pyrite remediation scheme. The decision on whether these properties will be included in the government-funded remediation programme now rests with the minister for housing, he confirmed. However, he expressed optimism about the prospects for Carlow homeowners. Thats a decision for the minister, but I will make representations to the assistant secretary to make sure that they are included, he said. I think the fact that theres only six makes it more likely that they will be. Cllr Daniel Pender, who raised the issue at the meeting, emphasised the importance of maintaining public awareness of the situation. I just want to seek an update on the pyrite situation. Its important that we keep that in the public domain and be talking about it and keep pressure on, he said. The six properties were initially identified through self-testing by homeowners and their surveyors, who detected the presence of pyrite in concrete blocks. The council subsequently appointed independent engineers to verify these findings through official inspections. Pyrite, a mineral found in rock excavated from quarries and used in building blocks, causes defects that lead to cracks and structural problems in homes. The issue has affected approximately 20,000 homes across Ireland since it was first identified in 2007, with the majority located in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. The national pyrite remediation scheme provides government funding to help affected homeowners repair damage caused by the defective building materials. Under the scheme, no eligible homeowner is excluded from receiving support for remediation costs. The council previously advised anyone who suspects their building contains pyrite to contact the countys acting chief fire officer for guidance on the proper procedures for testing and assessment. David Raleigh A man has been hospitalised with serious injuries following a road traffic collision in Limerick last evening. The man was injured when a van he was traveling in left the road at Croagh, Co Limerick, shortly after 5pm on Sunday. The injured man was removed from the scene by air ambulance. He was being treated for serious head injuries at Cork University Hospital. No other vehicle was involved. A Garda spokesman said: Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a single vehicle road traffic collision at Croagh, Co. Limerick this evening, Sunday 20th July 2025. The collision occurred at approximately 5:15pm and involved a van. A man, aged in his 30s, was transported to Cork University Hospital to be treated for injuries. No other information is available at this time. Filipino-American collaborators Bobby Pontillas and Bernard Badion won Annecys prestigious Animation du Monde award this year for their sizzle reel that provides an intriguing taste of their intentions for their original animated series, Sun Chasers. Working in collaboration with Manila-based Toon City Animation, Sun Chasers is a passion project steeped in Filipino lore, mythology, and design. After spending their careers bringing to life the stories of other cultures, this project represents not only their most independent endeavor to date but also their most personal. Many in animation will recognize Pontillas name from his 16 years in the industry as a renowned character designer for Blue Sky Studios, Walt Disney, Nickelodeon, Netflix, and for his Academy Award nomination for co-directing the animated short One Small Step in 2018. Badion came to Hollywood with his aspirations in comedy writing and a masters degree in writing from Loyola Marymount University. There, he was mentored by Gloria Calderon Kellett, who hired him as a writers production assistant on her revival of One Day at a Time. He then worked for Sanjay Shah on Fresh Off the Boat, which transitioned into writing for animation on Transformers: Earthspark. While both were part of the small but robust community of Filipino talent in Los Angeles, they didnt actually connect until Pontillaswho tells Cartoon Brew he had a bit of an epiphany in the wake of his Oscar nominationasked himself, What do I have to offer storytelling-wise to the industry? Wanting to create more stories based in his own culture, Pontillas pivoted his career away from animation design to become a creator championing Filipino stories. He was in development at Disney when he was introduced to Badion as a writer, and they sat down to work on an idea they called almost like a distant cousin of their current work on Sun Chasers. Pontillas says they were brought together onto that project because, It was a nice and cozy Filipino family, and the executives were stoked by that. But were big fans of supernatural stuff as well because that is where a lot of Filipino stories come from: ghosts, goblins, monsters, and spirits everything thats really scary. Its the stories that our uncles and aunties told us growing up that scared us. So were like, were not doing Filipino culture justice if we dont incorporate that into the story, he continues. We took it from this place of just family comedy and injected all of this supernatural stuff with the creatures and the monsters. We ran with that idea because we might as well go all out. Were at Disney and put our best foot forward to represent our culture, and we did that. They didnt like that, Badion laughs. Bobby was into it. Everyone else, not. And so it disappeared. Bobby went back into the family idea, but that whole thing fizzled away. Then Bobby hits me up at the end of the pandemic and says, Ive been thinking about the supernatural thing that no one liked. Are you still thinking about that? And I was like, Dude, Ive been waiting for you to email me. I got it to a point where its nothing like what we had. Its like Avatar meets The Office. And we talked about it and he was like, Just go crazy on this idea and whatever it is, lets work on it. They continued development over Zoom and through intense brainstorming and writing bursts at each others homes until it was ready to pitch toward the end of 2024. However, instead of doing the traditional pitch rounds, Pontillas says he decided to try Mipcom, the annual television industry marketplace trade show held in Cannes, France. The way that Mipcom and any kind of ordeal like that works is that you have to schedule your meetings beforehand to even get into the room. But I didnt do that because Im an animation dumb-dumb, and I didnt know that I had to do any of that kind of stuff, Pontillas self-deprecates. So, I didnt get any meetings. I was just trying to pitch it on the floor internationally at our Philippines Expo booth. Pontillas says thats where he met Miguel del Rosario, the CEO of Toon City. I was like, Why not just pitch it to him? Why am I trying to pitch it to people that dont care about it at this point, early development? And we found out that we had the same dream of telling Filipino stories, made by Filipinos. But also, the Philippines is mostly a service studio country, he says of the animation work for television and film that is done for major studios through Toon City. [Miguel] wanted to expand outside of that. He knows that service studio work is always going to be the backbone, but he wanted to expand beyond that because he wanted to highlight young artistic voices in the Philippines, and thats exactly what I want to do. Pontillas says he did his full Sun Chasers pitch at the Mipcom booth and then went to Manila to pitch the whole team at Toon City, who responded enthusiastically. I went back to the U.S. and lived my L.A. life, hustling again and trying to make ends meet in the industry until I was like, Miguel, what if I just moved to the Philippines and worked on this? he says. At that time, we were aiming specifically for Annecy. We saw that Annecy was going to happen in June, so we knew the deadlines, and we had a goal: Lets make a trailer for Annecy because they have those MIFA pitches. Lets go! In mid-January 2025, Pontillas was Manila-bound and worked with the Toon City animators, who committed to Sun Chasers as their own passion project. I highlighted the Filipino story and said we need you guys to lend credibility and authenticity to it. We obviously had to pay out of pocket, but the crew, the team, and everybody else were so on board. During production, Badion says he was able to visit the team for a week, and he says the animators were integral to making the Sun Chasers sizzle even more than they imagined. We didnt want to just sprinkle Filipino culture into a show, he stresses. We wanted to build from it, and literally, Bobby got to do that firsthand with the animators, which was incredible. Theyre in the culture of the Philippines, so they had so much input in the way things look, the way things feel, and the color of things. It was eye-opening. Pontillas concurs, saying he and Bernard are very American. So, when we were coming to them with this story, I always told them, Listen, I grew up in the United States. Were making a Filipino story. Please be forward with what you feel is authentic in terms of the environments and the tone, he says of their brief. It feeds our soul to try to get in touch with our Filipino side, whether weve been to the Philippines or not. And that was our way of doing it, working with this team. Sun Chasers eventually made its deadline and the MIFA cut. When we found out we made it into Annecy, I read the email and I was jumping around in the room over here, Pontillas remembers with joy. If it didnt happen, we would have found a second plan. But because it happened, it meant so much for me and Bernard as creators, he continues. But it meant so much for the country. I cant explain to youwhen we went public, that were going to Annecy for an original Filipino animation idea, to go onto a global stage like that? Thats exactly what we want to do: to inspire young artists here in the Philippines, so that they dont have to always be a service studio mentality. You can see someone like Bernard and me create an original IP and go onto the global stage. If we could do that and show them that its possible, I think that kind of ripple in the years to come is that they dont have to be stuck in one mentality. Of course, ultimately winning the Animation du Monde made a huge impact on Toon Citys continued investment in Sun Chasers. Pontillas says, I think that did wonders for Miguels confidence with a global audience, not just the Philippines, right? Thank goodness we walked away with something because we pitched our hearts out and we made this, and weve been working on this for years. As for whats next, Badion says that in June, they got the call from Toon City that they had been hoping for. The prize of the Animation du Monde is that were invited back next year, and everyone comes back with updates. Miguel was basically like, We cant go back there with an update. We already animated this whole thing. Weve got to go back there, guns blazing with, at the minimum, a pilot. I mean, thats a big thing for him to say because thats a big investment of time and resources, Badion underscores. So, were still kind of figuring out what it all means and how we do this, but thats whats going to happen next. I think it just legitimized our whole show, Badion continues. I cant say how much Annecy christened everything: Toon City, me and Bobby as creators, and the show. Everything post-Annecy is way easier to get meetings, so were going to do everything we can to hustle this into a thing. Were attacking from all sides. Advertisement The modular version of the Carbon Purification Unit (CPU) has been modified and installed for the catch4climate (CI4C) project at Schwenk Zement's Mergelstetten cement plant. Measuring 31m long and approximately 5x5m in cross-section, this component was installed with millimeter precision using a tandem lift on the Mergelstetten construction site, in a very confined space. During operation, the CPU system operates on a central roller. It cleans and liquefies the CO 2 -rich exhaust gases from the oxy-fuel combustion furnace and transforms them into food-grade products. This crucial step allows the captured CO 2 to be reused in a purified form. Crown Subaru will sponsor a blood drive with the American Red Cross at the American Red Cross Chapter SETennessee Office, at 4115 South Access Road from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. As a part of this years Subaru Loves to Care initiative, this blood drive aims to serve the community by combatting the recurring challenge with summertime donations, and increasing the lifesaving blood and platelet supply during a time of typically high demand. According to the American Red Cross, there is typically an increased need for blood this time of year due to summer surges of traumacases. At the same time, the American Red Cross says donations typically decrease in the summer months due to busy donor schedules and activities, and the lack of opportunities to host drives at schools and other educational institutions. When donors come to give blood, platelets or AB Elite plasma July 15- 31, they will be rewarded with aFandango Movie Ticket by email (up to $15 ticket prices and fees). Terms and additional details can be found here. Due to the high demand and versatility of Type O blood, Type O + and O - donors will receive an additional gift card. Read the American Red Cross donation guidelines, learn more about their rewards, and sign up for a donation time by visiting their page here . To learn more about Subaru Loves to Care, click here . The Mayors Council on Disability invites the community to join in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with an event themed Access for All.The ADA Celebration will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, July 25 at the Walker Pavilion in Coolidge Park, 150 River St. in Chattanooga.This free, family-friendly event will feature: food and refreshments; local vendors showcasing disability resources and accessible activities in the Chattanooga area; interactive displays; and information booths."The celebration aims to honor the progress made since the passage of the ADA and to promote continued advocacy for accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities," organizers said.Were excited to bring the community together to recognize this important milestone, said City of Chattanooga Community Program Manager Vanessa A.Jackson. This event is about celebrating achievements, raising awareness and reinforcing our commitment to ensuring access for all.Additional information is available on the Facebook event page . Attendees are also encouraged to reach to vjackson@chattanooga.gov. The Bible Lands Museum, a traveling free exhibit, will be arriving Aug. 1-4 at the White Oak Church of Christ, 2229 Lyndon Ave. in Red Bank.The traveling museum will feature artifacts and displays from dates throughout Bible history, including 1st Century Roman armor, models of the tabernacle and Herod's temple, a crucifixion display, Greek and Persian arrows from 800 B.C. and much more.Lectures on the Global Flood, the Israelites in Egyptian Bondage, Roman Crucifixion, Roman and Christian Armor and the Dead Sea Scrolls will also be given.The exhibit will be open from 10- a.m.-8:00 p.m.on Friday, Saturday Monday, and from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday.Admission is free.For more information, contact White Oak Church of Christ at 423-877-9762, or visit the museum's website at www.biblelandsmuseum.org. Wacker Chemie AG commissioned the Etching Line Next, its new production line for the manufacture of ultra-pure semiconductor-grade polysilicon, at its Burghausen production site in Germany. Accompanied by customers, suppliers and project partners, high-profile figures including Bavarias Minister-President Markus Soder and Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs were among the guests who attended the official ceremony to mark the opening of the plant. Ultra-pure polycrystalline silicon is the purest man-made material. Everything regarding the semiconductor industry and, consequently, digital transformation revolves around this key raw material, emphasized WACKER CEO Christian Hartel while addressing 100 guests in Burghausen, and added, We are the only company in Europe and the largest in the world who manufactures ultrapure polysilicon for the semiconductor industry. The Etching Line Next allows us to further consolidate our position as a global quality and technology leader. Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Soder also lauded the expansion project at the opening ceremony. "A strong signal for Bavaria and Germany as a business location: the opening of a state-of-the-art production line at Wacker Chemie in Burghausen worth 300 million. Hyperpure semiconductor-grade polysilicon is the basis for digitalization. Wacker Chemie is the global leader in this field. Together with the federal government, Bavaria is supporting the investment with around 50 million in innovation funding. This is a clear commitment to Burghausen, the Bavarian chemical triangle and the high-tech chemical industry. As a whole, we are working with the new federal government to restart the economy: we are reducing energy and electricity costs, and are committed to an energy price for energy-intensive companies. The rapid expansion of renewable energies and gas-fired power plants is also important for Bavaria. We are lowering corporate taxes and launching the investment booster. But we need a quick solution to the global tariff dispute. Instead of EU bureaucracy, 'quick & easy' must be the order of the day. Only with a strong industry will we be able to maintain our success and continue to create value in the country in the future. Thank you for your loyalty to the location and all the best," said Markus Soder in his address. Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), also applauded the companys investment in the expansion of its polysilicon production. I congratulate WACKER on the commissioning of this groundbreaking plant. Semiconductors are the backbone of our modern economy. Without them, everything comes to a standstill. With this investment, supported by the federal and state governments, we are not only securing jobs in the region, but also strengthening Germany and Europe as a whole in the face of global competition. This is a strong signal for innovation, technological sovereignty and the future of our location. Growing demand for hyperpure, semiconductor-grade polysilicon The internet, autonomous driving, Industry 4.0 digital transformation and ever-growing data volumes in an ever-increasing number of data centers are driving the demand for polysilicon, one of the key raw materials in todays digital era. Polysilicon in the highest grade of purity is indispensable for producing high-performance chips required, for example, in artificial intelligence applications or supercomputers. Very few companies are able to meet the more stringent purity requirements of the semiconductor industry. In the polysilicon business for over 70 years, chemical company WACKER is the worlds leading producer of this key raw material in the semiconductor industry. By investing in a new production line for semiconductor-grade polysilicon, WACKER continues to expand its activities in this sector. Compared to 2024, the company aims to double its sales to semiconductor customers by 2030. The new production line is a key project for our growth, remarked WACKER CEO Christian Hartel, and elaborated further, "WACKER is a global leader in the semiconductor sector. Today, every second computer chip is made from polysilicon delivered by WACKER. Etching Line Next will not only allow us to meet the growing demands of the semiconductor industry, but also to achieve an exceptionally high product quality and a very high level of stability in production processes. Thanks to our new line, we can consistently produce polysilicon that will enable developers and manufacturers to come up with even more powerful logic and memory chips for the most demanding applications, such as artificial intelligence. In short: no polysilicon from WACKER, no AI. With a total expenditure of over 300 million, Etching Line Next is currently the Groups largest investment project. Construction work began in fall 2022. Commissioning took place in stages from fall 2024. The plant recently went into operation and is already producing its first consignments. By virtue of the new production line, WACKER is increasing its production capacity for products that comply with the highest semiconductor-grade standards by more than 50 percent. This expansion in capacity will also create around 150 new jobs. Semiconductor-grade polysilicon: purity of over 99.9999999999 percent Cleaning the surface of the polysilicon chunks, which serve as a raw material for producing semiconductor wafers, is a complex and technically demanding process. Acids are used to remove the uppermost layer from the polysilicon surface. The chunks are then rinsed, packaged and shipped, whereby all operational steps are to a large extent automated and performed under cleanroom conditions. The ready-to-ship polysilicon now has a purity of over 99.9999999999 percent. The concentration of critical impurities is only in the parts-per-trillion range. This corresponds to not more than a grain of sugar in an Olympic-size swimming pool filled with water. Important research and innovation projects were also initiated at the start of the project. An innovative cleaning process in conjunction with highly automated processes consistently guarantees the highest level of product purity. This enables WACKER to meet the growing quality demands that are essential to produce hyperpure silicon wafers and semiconductor chips. Innovative technologies were also used during the planning phase. For example, production and logistics processes were planned virtually and simulated with the help of computer-aided simulation software. This resulted in significant cost savings and made it possible for the plant to be commissioned much earlier than the scheduled date. In 2025, the Bodo Moller Chemie Group is looking back over five decades of successful company history as a family-run solutions provider and partner to global chemical companies such as BASF, Dow, DuPont, Henkel, and Huntsman. Expansion, strong partnerships, and future-proof solutions will continue to be priorities for its corporate strategy in the future. CEO Frank Haug and Managing Director Korinna Moller-Boxberger on the stage: With heartfelt words, they reflect on a successful past and a promising future on the occasion of Bodo Moller Chemies 50th anniversary. Bodo Moller Chemie What started off as a small family firm in the 1970s is still family-run but has grown significantly with some 400 employees, primarily chemists, technicians, and engineers, now catering to clients worldwide. To match this growth, the company has steadily expanded its customer service, logistics, and technical support infrastructure over the last 50 years. Beyond its headquarters in the German city of Offenbach, the specialty chemicals expert has also established a global network of more than 40 locations, from which it serves clients in more than 60 countries around the world. The goal is to assist users worldwide in sectors such as aviation, the automotive industry, battery manufacture, hydrogen usage, communications, or robotics with custom-fit solutions and leading manufacturers innovative products. Core expertise adhesive technology systematic solutions We are pioneers in adhesives. Our core expertise lies in transforming chemical products into mechanical design data or physical units to deliver highly effective, sustainable, innovative end products, states Frank Haug, CEO of the Bodo Moller Chemie Group. We offer this expertise to our clients worldwide, setting us apart from the competition, adds Korinna Moller-Boxberger, Managing Director of the Bodo Moller Chemie Group. This is the approach the company takes to bringing the right chemicals to industry and converting chemical properties into functional values, such as components for smartphones, robots, aircraft, or vehicles. Our mission remains converting molecules into functioning units knowledge translates into value, affirms Haug. More than 250 chemists and engineers deliver technical consultation, supported by the companys dedicated global laboratory infrastructure. There are currently already five laboratories in operation in Europe, China, America, and the Middle East with more planned in India. Strategic focus: Expansion, megatrends, and new business activities Besides expanding its core technological expertise, the family enterprise is also continuing to advance cross-sector future areas of interest: With the Fit for the Future 2030 program, Bodo Moller Chemie is focusing on AI, sustainability, digitization, and global expansion, especially in Asia and America, with a revenue target between 600 and 700 million euros. In the fiscal year 2024, the company generated earnings of 233 million euros, placing it firmly on its path to meeting its target. When it comes to sustainability, the adhesive expert already offers bio-based epoxy resins for hydrogen pressure tanks and debonding-on-demand solutions for adhesive applications. Another priority is special solutions for robotics, autonomous driving, and communication technologies with applications such as conductive adhesives, optimized thermal management, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The company is expanding its market presence in the IMEA region with its newly established Life Sciences Division and a laboratory specifically set up for this new division. Only those who detect such megatrends early on and offer an innovative, custom-fit product portfolio will be able to grow organically moving forward, declares Haug regarding the companys strategic orientation towards future markets. Pakistani Christians gather outdoors to pray for Sunday worship after their church was burned down. | Open Doors The Pakistan Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the government to establish an inquiry commission within 30 days to investigate the widespread misuse and blatant abuse of blasphemy laws. Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) mandated the formation of this body to look into the extensive pattern of misuse of the laws, which were strengthened during the 1980s by military ruler Gen. Ziaul Haq in what appeared to be an effort to secure support from Islamist groups and protect perceptions of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, and the Quran. Justice Khan issued the order during a hearing involving multiple blasphemy cases, which often featured allegations of repeated abuse. Families of more than 100 victims of false blasphemy accusations claimed that officials from the anti-blasphemy unit of the cybercrime section of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), along with lawyers and others, conspired to honey-trap innocent individuals, including Christians, into sharing content perceived as blasphemous. They accused these officials of using such content to extort money by threatening legal action, and those who refused to pay faced prosecution under blasphemy laws, exposing them to vigilante violence. Research groups have documented that several individuals accused of blasphemy have been killed extra-judicially by Muslim extremists over the years. The petition in the Islamabad High Court was first filed in September 2024, and the court conducted at least 42 hearings before issuing the directive to the federal government. The court also stated that the commission must complete its investigation within four months, although it can request an extension if necessary. The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) reported a total of 701 blasphemy cases from 1947 to 2021, during which 1,415 persons were accused1,308 men and 107 women. It documented that at least 89 people were killed and 30 injured in related violence, including 72 men and 17 women. The data indicated a sharp rise in cases following the 1986 amendments introduced by Haq, which made blasphemy a capital offense. Before those changes, only 11 cases had been reported, with three people killed. The National Commission for Human Rights noted a disturbing increase in blasphemy charges from October 2023 to July 2024, which it alleged were largely fueled by entrapment through pornographic and blasphemous websites. It stated, The investigations findings highlighted a troubling trend: a sharp increase in registration of blasphemy cases, the majority of which were initiated by the FIAs cybercrime unit, frequently in collaboration with a private entity. The report linked the surge in cases to the implementation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act of 2018. It revealed that young men were targeted through entrapment tactics involving female operatives with fake identities who lured them into blasphemous activities online, leading to their subsequent arrests. The report provided detailed figures, noting that 11 blasphemy cases were reported in 2020, nine in 2021, 64 in 2022, 213 in 2023, and 767 through July 2024. The data from CRSS also indicated the religious backgrounds of those accused between 1947 and 2021, which included 947 Muslims and 421 non-Muslims, with 47 cases religious affiliations unknown. Among the non-Muslims, 225 were Christians, followed by 174 Ahmadis, 20 Hindus, and one Sikh and Buddhist each. Home News ACNA delays trial of bishop accused of abuse due to prosecutor resigning The Anglican Church in North America has delayed the denomination's trial proceedings for a bishop accused of mishandling abuse cases due to the prosecutor's resignation. Bishop Stewart Ruch III of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest was recently put on trial for allegedly failing to properly respond to sexual and spiritual abuse within his diocese. However, the ACNA Ecclesiastical Court for the Trial of a Bishop issued an order on Sunday, noting that the resumption of the trial had been rescheduled from July 21 to Aug. 11. The order, which was signed by Court President Bishop David Bryan and Presiding Officer the Rev. Canon Jeffrey G. Weber, cited the resignation of Alan Runyan as provincial prosecutor as the reason for the postponement. The Court issues this Order in full recognition of the complexities created by the resignation of the Provincial Prosecutor and the Province's ongoing efforts to appoint a successor, but concludes that the public interest in resolution, the rights of the Respondent, and the need for finality in this prolonged matter all compel that the proceedings must now move forward without further undue delay, the order explained. The Court remains committed to conducting a full and impartial adjudication on the merits and assures all parties that no adverse inference shall arise from the procedural posture of either side as of this date. ACNA Archbishop the Most Rev. Steve Wood wrote in a letter on Sunday that he considered the resignation of Runyan to be an unsettling and surprising development in the proceedings. This is a serious and concerning situation for the Church, added Wood. I ask for your continued prayers. I remain confident that Christ will lead us forward as we seek to honor Him in all things. In June 2021, ACNA received reports of an erosion of trust within the Illinois-based Upper Midwest Diocese due to allegations that diocesan leadership was mishandling abuse allegations. A major example was ACNA lay leader Mark Rivera, who was arrested and eventually found guilty of multiple charges of sexual assault, with his 9-year-old goddaughter being a victim. Issues over how the Ruch-led diocese was handling allegations led to the launching of ACNAtoo, a watchdog group centered on abuse survivors within the denomination. In August 2023, ACNA announced that Ruch would face an ecclesiastical trial, with charges including violating ordination vows, conduct giving just cause for scandal or offense, including the abuse of ecclesiastical power and for disobedience, or willful contravention of denominational bylaws. In a statement released at the time, Ruch said that he was thankful and relieved that there will be an occasion to hear all sides and gain some resolution after two years. Please bring your concerns to your clergy, vestry, or parish councils, who will offer care in every way possible. I am so thankful for your faithfulness in praying for healing for all and for the Lords leading during this painful season, Ruch stated. Please pray for everyone involved in these proceedings. And pray that, in the meantime, our diocesan churches receive Gods blessing as they continue to carry out their Gospel work. On Saturday, Runyan, a longtime practicing attorney who was supposed to serve as the provincial prosecutor in the trial, sent a letter to Wood announcing his resignation. Runyan explained that he was stepping away because of an incident during the fifth day of the proceedings in which a member of the court began a line of questioning based on evidence not presented at trial. The Court member's statements and questions put the integrity of the investigative process at issue in these proceedings despite the Court's prior ruling that those inquiries were improper, wrote Runyan. At that point, all six of the other members of the Court had been exposed to an unwarranted suspicion of provincial investigative bias brought into the trial by a single Court member, contrary to the Court's duty to determine the outcome based solely on the evidence in the trial record. Because of what happened, Runyan wrote that he believed the trial process had been irreparably tainted and that a trial process that bears within it the seed of impropriety, no matter the outcome, must change. Home News 'Reprehensible': DHS blames Dems, media for fueling 830% increase in assaults on ICE agents U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are facing an eight-fold increase in assaults, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security blaming politicians and the media for stirring up "anti-ICE rhetoric" and promoting what it says are misleading stories about immigration enforcement efforts. ICE officials have experienced an 830% increase in assaults between Jan. 21 and July 14 compared to the same period in 2024, the DHS stated in a statement. The timeline coincides with the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said it's "reprehensible that our officers are facing this threat while simply doing their jobs and enforcing the law." "Brave ICE law enforcement are risking their lives every day to keep our communities safe from the worst of the worst criminals," McLaughlin said. "ICE law enforcement are succeeding to remove terrorists, murderers, pedophiles and the most depraved among us from America's communities, even as crazed rhetoric from gutter politicians are inspiring a massive increase in assaults against them." The agency accused politicians like Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., of helping to escalate the "anti-ICE rhetoric." The agency cited his actions as protesters attempted to interfere with a criminal search warrant at a marijuana facility in California. A crowd of around 500 protestors reportedly threw rocks and other objects as they surrounded law enforcement members and their vehicles, the DHS stated last week. Carbajal allegedly arrived on the scene and spoke with an ICE public affairs specialist, who provided the California representative with his business card. The politician reportedly showed the card to the protesters, who then targeted the ICE employee. Protestors threw a rock at the ICE employee, resulting in lacerations to his hand that forced him to visit the emergency room and receive stitches. Responding to the claims, Carbajal insisted that the DHS and ICE had used "a disturbing and disproportionate level of force" that day. He also alleged that the protesters had been "peaceful" and that ICE's doxxing claims were an attempt "to deflect attention from their unjust tactics." The operation at the marijuana facility resulted in the arrest of 361 illegal aliens and the rescue of 14 migrant children who were potential victims of forced labor and human trafficking. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., was indicted last month for allegedly assaulting and interfering with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center in May. McIver pleaded not guilty to the charges. During a briefing outside of the courthouse, the Democratic politician claimed that the charges would not "intimidate" her, The Associated Press reports. McIver visited the Delaney Hall Detention Facility on May 9, accompanied by two other members of Congress, as part of a congressional oversight inspection that coincided with a rally protesting immigration enforcement efforts. At one point, the Newark Mayor Ras Baraka arrived and refused to leave a secure area after authorities informed him that he didn't have authorization to be there, leading to his arrest. The indictment accuses McIver of challenging the officers who moved to arrest the mayor and using her forearms to strike two law enforcement officers. The New Jersey representative also reportedly tried to grab and restrain one of the officers who attempted to arrest the mayor. DHS also accused the media of publishing "alarmist, patently false stories" about federal immigration enforcement efforts. DHS provided a list of media stories that it claimed to have debunked. The agency also denied the accusation that ICE is targeting children, insisting that agents will ask parents if they want to be removed with their children or if they want the child to be placed with someone safe chosen by the child's parents. "Their lies and fake stories continue to stir up hate and violence, which is leading to these assaults," DHS said about the media. While the Trump administration has increased immigration enforcement efforts, several churches have objected to the rescinding of a policy enacted by the Obama administration in 2011 that barred immigration law enforcement operations in "sensitive" areas, such as churches and schools. In April, a group of churches, along with a nonprofit and an interfaith group, filed a complaint against the Trump administration in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Eugene Division. The complaint accused the Trump administration of violating their First Amendment rights. Additionally, the Roman Catholic dioceses of San Bernardino and Nashville each recently issued decrees stating that individuals who fear being detained by ICE agents were not obligated to attend mass. The bishops of Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville also issued a statement in early June warning that "as many as 100 of those detained [in recent ICE raids], while undocumented, apparently had no previous criminal issues." "That brings into question whether the enforcement activity was principally targeted at those who should have no place in our communities because of their own illegal activity," the religious leaders wrote. Home News Family delays telling hospitalized pastor his wife is dead after Richmond Road Baptist Church shooting A few hours after his wife and one of his daughters were buried in a joint funeral, a week after they were shot at his church, Jerry Gumm, pastor of Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, was still recuperating from his injuries in a hospital. It was unclear on Monday if he was aware that his wife was dead, but as of Friday afternoon, Pastor Gumm was still unaware that his wife had died. According to his daughter, Star Jones, the family had chosen not to disclose the tragedy to him, at least for a while. My Dad Jerry Gumm is awake but groggy. He is doing well. They took the ventilator out but [he] can't talk d[u]e to his injuries. He did lose hearing in his right ear and has a long road ahead of him, she wrote in a post on Facebook last Friday. I appreciate all the prayers, love and support from family and friends. May God continue to heal and bless him. For those visiting him please do not mention anything of my Mom and sister. I and Jerry decided to wait for now. The pastors wife, Beverly Gumm, 72, and their 32-year-old daughter, Christina Combs, were both buried on Saturday evening after a well-attended service, Jones said. They were both fatally shot after 47-year-old Guy House, also deceased, went on a shooting rampage at the church after he shot and injured a Kentucky State Police trooper, Jude Remilien, at the Blue Grass Airport, Lex 18 reported. Gumm was cooking lunch in the churchs fellowship hall with Jones on July 13 when a man, now identified as House, came through the back door and asked for the whereabouts of Jones' sister, Angel. 'I just want to speak to Angel,' thats our sister. My mother said Angel is not here. He said, well I guess someone is gonna have to die then. And shot twice at her. The first time, she ducked and [he] missed. Second time [his bullet] hit her in the chest, Jones told WKYT. House later went outside the church, where he fatally shot Combs. He also shot Pastor Gumm and Combs husband, Randy Combs. It was unclear Monday whether Pastor Gumm has yet been told of his wifes passing. The church did not immediately respond to calls from The Christan Post for comment. Jones revealed in a Facebook post on Sunday night that the pastor remains hospitalized, but was doing better and could be home in a week. At the churchs first worship service since the shooting on Sunday, Rachael Barnes, another of Beverly Gumms daughters, said the whole ordeal feels like a bad dream. "I'm still pretty much numb, kind of in shock, it feels like a bad dream, unfortunately, it's not," Barnes told Lex 18. "We're all just trying to stick together and help each other," she added. "My mom had eight children, so the seven of us that're still here, we're trying to lean on each other's shoulders and just be there and continue to have our faith in God." Home News Man indicted for gruesome crucifixion-style murder of beloved pastor 'I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground' A man has been indicted for killing a pastor in a brutal attack that authorities say was part of a larger plot targeting Christian leaders across the country. The accused allegedly believed he was carrying out executions in accordance with Old Testament law. On Friday, Adam Sheafe, 51, was charged by a Maricopa County grand jury with first-degree murder in the death of Pastor William Schonemann, who was found dead inside his home in New River, Arizona, on April 28. Two members of his congregation discovered the body, which had been positioned with the arms stretched outward, in a posture resembling crucifixion, according to the Maricopa County Attorneys Office. Investigators linked Sheafe to the killing through evidence recovered at the crime scene, as well as from two other burglaries in Cave Creek and Sedona that occurred in the days before and after the pastors death. Authorities say Sheafe stole a pickup truck during the Cave Creek break-in, and that vehicle was later caught on surveillance footage at the Sedona burglary site. He was arrested shortly afterward, with detectives reportedly finding incriminating items in both the stolen truck and his backpack. The indictment includes one count of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, burglary in the first and second degrees, kidnapping, theft of means of transportation, and criminal trespass. Prosecutors allege that Schonemanns murder was not an isolated act, but the first step in Sheafes plan to kill 14 pastors and priests nationwide whom he viewed as violating religious law. In a jailhouse interview with Arizona Family, Sheafe admitted to killing the 76-year-old pastor, claiming he did so because Schonemann had preached that Jesus is Gods only son. He described the act as a form of execution consistent with biblical commandments. Theres a commandment that if somebody is preaching that somebody other than God is God, we are to execute them, he said during the interview. Sheafe claimed he acted alone and without any personal connection to the victim, stating that his only criteria was whether a religious leader had, in his view, broken the first commandment. Theres nothing worse than breaking the first commandment, he said. You replace who my daddy is, Im going to nail you to the wall. He further said he placed a crown of thorns on the pastors head before killing him and denied that Jesus is divine, calling such teachings a deception. All the preachers, in my perspective, are leading the flocks astray, he said. Theyre preaching that Jesus is Gods only Son and God also. Thats not what God said. Sheafe said he intended to target 13 more pastors and priests, with a 14th victim chosen as a symbolic act for Adam, whom he described as Gods one and only created son. He claimed his plan was to rid the Earth of evil and that he deliberately sought out pastors who lived alone. He said he followed Schonemann home from New River Bible Chapel and confirmed that the pastor lived by himself. During the interview, Sheafe said he had no remorse and would carry out more killings if released. Not only do I have zero remorse, I plan on fulfilling what I started, he said. If my father puts me in an authoritative position on this Earth, I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground. When asked if he believed murder was a sin, Sheafe responded that while it was, executing those who break the first commandment was divinely mandated. He repeatedly said that God alone is to be worshiped and that calling Jesus the son of God is heretical. So whats this Jesus is only Gods son garbage that I was raised to believe? he said. Thats not what God said. He described his religious awakening as rooted in a literal interpretation of Old Testament commandments, denying that he was directed by God to carry out the killing. Did God ask me to do this? Absolutely not, he said. I did it on my own because I got sick and tired and fed up. Sheafe, who was born and baptized in Phoenix, said he returned there to end his life where it began. He recounted setting up a tent under a tree in the city and later another off Carefree Highway, where he surveilled local churches. He also said he believed he would not face any consequences. God would never allow me to spend the rest of my life in jail, he claimed. Set the execution date right now. The Maricopa County Attorneys Office has not announced a trial date. Home News Parents ask Supreme Court to stop school from pushing child's 'gender transition' behind their backs Two parents have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop a Massachusetts school district from hiding and not disclosing the so-called social gender transition of their child. In a petition for writ of certiorari filed last Friday, Stephen Foote and Marissa Silvestri urged the Supreme Court to act on what they consider a threat to parental rights and child mental health. The couple filed a lawsuit against officials with Ludlow Public Schools, accusing them of encouraging their middle school daughter to identify as nonbinary against their wishes. Understanding that their daughter suffered from depression and questioned her gender identity, the couple hired a private counselor and instructed the school not to have private conversations with their daughter on these matters. However, the complaint alleges that school officials went against the parents' wishes and regularly encouraged their daughter to "transition" to a male name with nonbinary pronouns. The school permitted the daughter to use the bathrooms designated for boys. The parents allege that school officials kept this gender identity status hidden from them and refused to discontinue the transition after the parents learned about the situation. The lawsuit contends that the school counselor questioned her parents' choice of counselor without ever talking with the parents, and the school "concealed their activities" by using the child's "real name and pronouns when communicating with" the parents. "Parents across the country need this Court's swift intervention, lest schools continue to mold their children's sexual identity without parental input. There's no time to waste," reads the petition. Foote and Silvestri are represented by attorneys with the Child & Parental Rights Campaign and the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal nonprofit that has won several First Amendment cases before the Supreme Court. ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch said in a statement that parents "have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children." "Mr. Foote and Ms. Silvestri have a moral belief, backed by well-supported scientific opinion, that a so-called gender transition harms children," stated Bursch. "Yet the Ludlow School Committee has not only enacted a secret social transition policy that keeps parents completely in the dark about their kids, they also blatantly go against parents' express wishes." In April 2022, Foote and Silvestri, along with another set of parents, Jonathan Feliciano and Sandra Salmeron, filed a complaint against Ludlow officials regarding the gender identity policy. Named defendants included officials at Baird Middle School, Interim Superintendent Lisa Nemeth, former Superintendent Todd Gazda, Baird Middle School Principal Stacy Monette, school counselor Marie-Claire Foley and former librarian Jordan Funke. In December 2022, U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni ruled against the parents, writing that Massachusetts law "recognizes gender identity as a personal characteristic deserving of protection from discrimination" and does not "provide exceptions to permit parents to override a school's decision to support students who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming." However, Mastroianni also found it "disconcerting" that the school had a policy "requiring school staff to actively hide information from parents about something of importance regarding their child." "Students and parents would almost certainly be better served by a more thoughtful policy that facilitated a supportive and safe disclosure by the student, with support and education available for students and parents, as needed and when accepted," he wrote. In February, a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a per curiam opinion upholding the lower court ruling. The majority concluded that "the Parents have failed to state a plausible claim that Ludlow's implementation of the Protocol as applied to their family violated their fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their child." The panel opinion rejected the parents' argument that school officials' actions "constituted medical treatment that restricted their parental right to control their child's medical care." "Thus, although precedent indicates that parents have the right to direct their children's medical treatment, whether that treatment is complex or more routine, the allegations here do not involve clinical conduct at all," the per curiam opinion continued. "Solely as pled here, we do not believe that using the Student's chosen name and pronouns something people routinely do with one another, and which requires no special training, skill, medication, or technology without more, can be reasonably viewed as evidencing some indicia of medicalization." Home News UK Christian legal group threatens to sue city council over pride flag display: 'Secular religious ideology' A Christian legal group in the United Kingdom is threatening to sue a city council in London for allegedly promoting a secular ideological agenda by displaying more than 300 Progress Pride flags on an iconic street. Christian Concern, which is based in London and often represents Christians alleging discrimination in the U.K. and elsewhere, issued a press release earlier this week criticizing Westminster City Council for its annual tradition of replacing the U.K.'s national Union Jack flags on Regent Street with Progress Pride flags. The group claims the display, which is scheduled to go up on June 22 and remain until next month, is implicitly threatening to those who disagree with LGBT ideology. "The Pride Progress flag [proclaims] a secular religious ideology which seeks to group together categories of people based upon their sexual preferences and identity: in doing this, it creates division between those people who do not recognize themselves under the umbrella of its myriad causes and those that do," the group said. "Those who do not join under the Flag have been considered as 'hateful,' 'discriminatory,' 'intolerant' and 'bigoted.'" Graphic designer Daniel Quasar, who claims to be non-binary and uses "xe/xyr" pronouns, designed the Progress Pride flag in 2018. In addition to the rainbow associated with the traditional Pride flag, the Progress Pride flag features chevrons that symbolize people of color, transgenderism and those with HIV/AIDS. The group noted that Westminster Council has embraced its reputation for being too "woke," and that Westminster Council's own chief executive, Stuart Love, has described them as the "Wokeminster Council." Andrea Williams, who serves as executive director at Christian Concern, explained in a statement why she believes the Progress Pride flag is pernicious. "The majority of the public do not know the highly controversial and harmful symbolism presented by the Progress Pride Flag," Andrea Williams, who serves as executive director at Christian Concern, said in a statement. "At the heart of the flag is the trans flag pink for girls, blue for boys and white for the 'transition' phase." Williams noted that transgenderism for children is increasingly being repudiated in the U.K. and other countries. "This ideology [has] been discredited by the Cass Review, the closure of the Tavistock, and most recently the Supreme Court ruling. When will the Crown Estate catch up with the rest of society?" Five Supreme Court justices in the U.K. ruled in April that the legal definition of a woman in the 2010 Equality Act applies "to a biological woman and biological sex." The Cass Review was a landmark health study that found "no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress." Amid an exponential rise in minors being referred to the Tavistock gender clinic in the U.K., the clinic ultimately shuttered after the Cass Review urged a different service model for treating gender dysphoria. Williams urged the Westminster City Council to stop the display "so that everyone can feel welcome in Regent Street and the surrounding areas." "If the council chooses to proceed with the display, we will consider taking legal action," she added. A spokesperson for Westminster City Council remained unapologetic about the display and described it as an "established fixture," according to the LGBT outlet Pink News. "Pride flags are in keeping with a cosmopolitan city that welcomes millions of visitors every year," the spokesperson said. "All public community celebrations have a fixed duration and are both proportionate and fitting." "Given similar pronouncements in previous years we await further information about the Christian Legal Centre's legal challenge with interest," the person added. Last year, more than 31,000 people signed a petition launched by Christian Concern that protested the Regent Street display. The group also played a role in urging the Church of England to withdraw its guidance that endorsed puberty-blocking drugs for children. Home News Christianity faces being wiped out, UKs FoRB envoy warns amid intensifying persecution Christianity is at risk of being wiped out in parts of the world due to intensifying persecution, the United Kingdoms special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, David Smith, has warned. The British government is now targeting 10 countries as part of its revised foreign policy focus to defend this human right. Smith, the Labour Party MP for North Northumberland, made the remarks during a briefing at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office. A Christian who previously worked with Tearfund and the Bible Society, he announced a new plan to prioritize FoRB in countries where religious minorities, including Christians, Bahais and Ahmadiyya Muslims, face repression or violence, the Religion Media Centre reported. Smith said the U.K. will focus on 10 countries, naming Vietnam, Algeria, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq. He said these were selected because of the severity of need, the U.K.s diplomatic ties and the possibility of making progress. He added that persecution, carried out both by governments and social groups, can involve harassment by police, social ostracism, detention without cause, denial of citizenship, torture, attacks on places of worship and even killings, citing research by the Pew Research Center. He cited recent data showing that 380 million Christians face persecution worldwide and warned, Persecution on the basis of religion or belief, enacted by States themselves and social groups, is taking place on every continent in the world. Smith called the U.K.s commitment a new chapter in foreign policy and said freedom of religion was interlinked with other liberties, including freedom of speech, conscience and assembly. Of the 10 selected, only three Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan are among the top 10 in the Open Doors World Watch List, which identifies countries where Christians are most severely persecuted. The worst offenders on that list, such as North Korea, Somalia and Yemen, are not among the U.K.s current priorities. Smith acknowledged the gap and said that countries like Eritrea and Yemen remain within his scope through ongoing advocacy. He stated that the strategys targeted nature does not prevent the U.K. from acting in other cases, including on behalf of prisoners of conscience. He referred to the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, who are not recognized as Muslims by the state and whose mosques are often desecrated, and the repression of Bahais in Iran and Christians in North Korea. FoRB, Smith explained, is not merely about religious belief but about the health of societies. Religious intolerance and persecution can fuel instability and conflict, he said. He added that protecting belief rights is crucial to preventing future crises, especially in countries grappling with war or sectarian divisions. The U.K. governments FoRB strategy involves five strands. First, it aims to uphold international standards through bodies such as the U.N. and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Second, it will embed the issue into targeted bilateral diplomacy, encouraging individual missions to raise FoRB in foreign capitals. Third, the U.K. will strengthen international coalitions working on religious freedom. Fourth, the Foreign Office will incorporate FoRB into its mainstream human rights programming. The fifth strand involves collaboration with civil society groups working on interfaith respect and awareness. Speaking at the briefing, Lord Collins of Highbury, minister for human rights, said the U.K. has long believed that rights and the rule of law strengthen global prosperity and resilience. He said his office had already written to British heads of mission directing them to embed human rights, including FoRB, into all areas of diplomatic work. He cited the recent release of two individuals Nigerian atheist Mubarak Bala and Cuban Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo as examples of successful British-supported advocacy. Only by working together can we build a world where everyone, everywhere, can live with dignity, free to believe or not believe without fear, Lord Collins said. In April, during a debate, Smith said Britains diplomatic stance is informed by its own history, moving from persecution to pluralism, which he said provides credibility to advocate abroad. He described the U.K. as uniquely well placed to act in support of religious liberty, citing its legacy of legal rights and peaceful pluralism. The role of FoRB envoy was created following a 2019 report by then-Bishop of Truro Philip Mounstephen, which found that Foreign Office staff lacked awareness of global religious persecution. The report led to recommendations that religious freedom be formally integrated into U.K. foreign policy. Smith argued that defending FoRB not only benefits persecuted communities but also those who engage in repression. He said FoRB could unlock new opportunities and freedoms for their nations to flourish, and reaffirmed his commitment to press the U.K. government to act. Meanwhile, Christian Today noted that new research by Jersey Road PR has found that mainstream U.K. media rarely report on attacks against Christians globally. Home News Pentecostal church forces London authorities to overturn street preaching ban A church in west London has successfully forced local authorities to reverse a ban that restricted street preaching, leaflet distribution and public displays of religious messages. The decision follows a legal challenge that argued the rules were unlawful and infringed on fundamental rights. The Kingsborough Centre, a Pentecostal church based in Uxbridge, filed for a judicial review after discovering in 2023 that its regular outreach activities had been made illegal under a Public Spaces Protection Order issued by the London Borough of Hillingdon. The church found out about the order during a prayer meeting and said it hadn't been consulted beforehand, as confirmed in a subsequent meeting with council officers, the U.K.-based group Christian Concern said in a statement provided to The Christian Post on Sunday. The PSPO, introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, banned the use of amplification equipment, the distribution of religious literature and the display of Bible verses in Uxbridge town center. Church members said police confronted them the day after the order was published, warning that their preaching, signs, and leaflets breached the order and could lead to 100 ($135) fines or prosecution, as reported by The Standard. The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is Christian Concerns legal arm and supported the Kingsborough Centre, stated that signs with messages such as Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings were targeted, along with leaflets titled How Can I Know God? and What is Christianity: An Introduction to the Story of Jesus. The church had been engaging in such outreach for years, including peace events after the 7/7 London bombings and running services like nurseries and affordable childcare across Hillingdon and Hounslow. In February 2024, police questioned Pastor Dwayne Lopez and other Christian missionaries preaching on Uxbridge High Street after a public complaint objected to their use of verses from 1 Corinthians 6. Citing the local PSPO, officers raised concerns about the use of amplification and informed the group that they were investigating allegations of racist and homophobic comments. Body-worn camera footage showed officers explaining hate crime definitions and asking about the content of their discussions. No arrests were made, but Pastor Lopez, backed by the CLC, condemned the use of the PSPO as a means to suppress religious expression and called the police action unjust. Church leader Pastor Babatunde Balogun said the congregation was criminalized for loving our neighbor, and added that street evangelism was central to their faith and community service. He said the restrictions created a climate of fear and prevented the church from carrying out its ministry, as quoted by The Telegraph. The legal team representing the church argued that the PSPO prohibited peaceful and lawful activity that could not be classified as anti-social under Section 59 of the legislation. They said there was no evidence of disturbances caused by Christian outreach and that the council failed to explain why such a broad restriction was justified. The legal claim cited violations of Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect freedoms related to religion, speech and assembly. In August 2024, the High Court granted permission for the judicial review to proceed. By December, following correspondence with the church and its lawyers, the council issued a formal U-turn. It acknowledged that under existing legal exemptions, religious and charitable leaflet distribution could not be banned under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The council also stated that it would remove the restrictions on amplification and the display of religious materials and would clarify the exemptions in a revised PSPO. Hillingdon Council maintained that the original PSPO did not single out religious groups but was designed to regulate general disruption in public spaces. It said it responded to concerns from church groups by conducting an early review and issuing a revised PSPO after a consultation earlier this year. The new order, introduced on May 1, removed the elements that had triggered the legal dispute. CLC chief executive Andrea Williams said the PSPO had introduced unprecedented restrictions and warned it could have set a dangerous precedent for Christian outreach if left unchallenged. She said her organization was encouraged by the councils reversal and urged other churches to closely monitor similar measures. The Free Speech Unions General Secretary, Toby Young, was quoted as saying that even the threat of a judicial review has proven sufficient in getting local authorities to withdraw such orders. He said the council had to learn the lesson the hard way, according to the Telegraph. Hillingdon Council has agreed to cover the Kingsborough Centres legal costs, which are estimated to be around 20,000 (nearly $27,000). Home News IDF disputes latest Hamas claims that dozens were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for aid in northern Gaza The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that reports claiming up to over 70 Gazans were killed by Israeli fire in Gaza didnt align with information available to the military, while acknowledging that some warning shots were fired. In the latest of a string of near-daily reports of mass casualties allegedly caused by IDF soldiers opening fire at Gazans near aid distribution sites, Hamas-affiliated sources claimed that up to 73 people were killed on Sunday. According to the IDF, soldiers identified a gathering of thousands of Gazans in the northern Gaza Strip, and some troops fired warning shots in order to remove an immediate threat posed to them. The Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry alleged that 73 people were killed as they waited for humanitarian aid trucks near several distribution centers, most of them in Gaza City. The IDF is aware of the claim regarding casualties in the area, and the details of the incident are still being examined. An initial review suggests that the number of casualties reported does not align with the information held by the IDF. The IDF urges caution regarding information published by unreliable sources, the military stated. The IDF also reiterated that it is working to enable and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, noting it certainly does not intentionally target humanitarian aid trucks. The IDF is operating in a complex environment against the Hamas terrorist organization, which seeks to create friction, endangering both the civilians of Gaza and IDF troops, and disrupts the delivery of humanitarian aid. Many of the recent claims of mass casualties were linked to the work of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an independent aid group supported by the U.S. that is currently the primary source of food aid for residents of the enclave. The GHF stated on X, Were deeply saddened by reports that more than 30 people were killed while trying to access food from a UN convoy at the Zikim crossing in Northern Gaza as humanitarian efforts face escalating violence. Like most violent incidents, this incident is not linked to GHF, despite what was falsely implied by Al Jazeera. These tragedies deserve visibility. The entire aid system is under immense strain. We hope reporters will cover these incidents with the same scrutiny GHF receives because understanding the full picture is essential to protecting civilians and improving aid delivery. In the past, GHF claimed that similar incidents had been instigated by people connected to Hamas. Another Gazan report from Saturday claimed 32 people were killed in the early morning hours on their way to an aid distribution site. The IDF responded by stating that shots were fired approximately one kilometer away from the aid distribution site, at nighttime, when its not active. Israeli troops identified suspects who approached them during operational activity in the Rafah area, posing a threat to the troops. IDF troops operated in order to prevent the suspects from approaching them, called for them to distance themselves, and after they did not comply, the troops fired warning shots. The IDF is aware of reports regarding casualties. The incident is under review. According to a report by the United Nations, which is mostly based on claims by Hamas-affiliated sources, around 875 deaths were recorded in the past month and a half near aid distribution sites in Gaza. We are seeing reports from media outlets alleging deaths near our sites today, according to Hamas (except they still call it the Gaza Health Ministry). These reports are false. Had the reporters bothered to reach out we would have told them this. Outlets like the AP and Sky News continue to serve as mouthpieces for Hamas day after day, the GHF responded to the claims. The reported IDF activity resulting in fatalities occurred hours before our sites opened and our understanding is most of the casualties occurred several kilometers away from the nearest GHF site. We have repeatedly warned aid-seekers not to travel to our sites overnight and early morning hours. The GHF further stated, The reality is this: we are the only organization feeding Gazans right now. Where is the UN? They have tens of thousands of pallets of aid sitting inside Gaza but out of reach of hungry civilians. Enough is enough. The UN needs to get off the sidelines and either find a way to deliver aid or let us help them do it. With their support together we can stop the mass movement of people in search of food. The alternative is more chaos and desperation. This article was originally published by All Israel News. BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani exchanged congratulations Saturday on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past 60 years, regardless of changes in the international landscape, the two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, setting a model of mutual support and win-win cooperation between developing countries, Xi said. He noted that in recent years, China-Mauritania relations have been developing in a sound and stable manner, with growing political mutual trust and fruitful exchanges and cooperation across various fields. Xi recalled that he met with President Ghazouani last year during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, where they reached important consensuses and jointly announced the elevation of China-Mauritania relations to a strategic partnership, marking a new chapter in bilateral ties. Xi said he attached great importance to developing China-Mauritania relations and is willing to work with Ghazouani to take the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a new starting point to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutual trust and cooperation, and jointly open up a new future for the development of the China-Mauritania strategic partnership, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. For his part, Ghazouani said that over the past 60 years, his country and China developed a solid friendship featuring close cooperation at all levels and mutual support on international occasions. During the FOCAC Beijing Summit last September, he and Xi jointly lifted the exemplary bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, he said, calling the move a reflection of the deepening of bilateral ties, which will benefit the friendly people of the two countries, and help promote the security, prosperity and well-being of people around the world. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with his Mauritanian counterpart, Mokhtar Ould Diay. In his message, Li said China is willing to make joint efforts with the Mauritanian side to take the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties as an opportunity to fully implement the important consensuses reached between Xi and Ghazouani, consistently enriching the content of the bilateral strategic partnership. For his part, Ould Diay said Mauritania firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to work with China, under the wise guidance of the two presidents, to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership, serving the development of both countries. Home News Christian In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder relocates family to Tennessee as franchise expands eastward Lynsi Snyder, outspoken Christian and president of In-N-Out Burger, revealed Friday that she is relocating her family from California to Tennessee, citing the challenges of raising children and conducting business in the Golden State. Theres a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here, Snyder said during an appearance on Allie Beth Stuckeys "Relatable" podcast. Doing business is not easy here. The move comes months after the beloved West Coast burger chain broke ground on a new 100,000-square-foot office in Franklin, just south of Nashville, as part of its eastern U.S. expansion. Snyder confirmed she is moving her family to the area. Were building an office in Franklin, so Im actually moving out there, she said. Snyder, who has served as In-N-Outs president since 2010 and is the only grandchild of founders Harry and Esther Snyder, emphasized that California will remain central to the companys operations, even as the business prepares for growth in the Southeast. The bulk of our stores are still going to be in California, she said. It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there and being able to have the family and other peoples families out there. Founded in 1948, In-N-Out Burger has grown into a cultural phenomenon with more than 400 locations across eight states. Yet, despite the chains deep roots in California, Snyder acknowledged that the state has posed increasing difficulties for the company, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. There were so many pressures and just hoops we were having to jump through, she said, recalling the San Francisco Department of Public Healths mandate for restaurants to check customers vaccine cards. Youve got to do this, you have to wear a mask, you gotta put this plastic thing up between us and our customers, and it was really terrible, you know. And I look back and Im like, Man, maybe we should have just pushed [back] even harder on some of that stuff and dealt with all of the legal backlash. In-N-Out made headlines at the time for refusing to enforce the vaccine card checks, resulting in temporary store closures in San Francisco. It was a brief moment, but its worth it, Snyder added. In another tough decision, she shut down a store in Oakland over safety concerns. There was actually gunshots went through the store, there was a stabbing, there was a lot, she shared during a separate interview with PragerU. She described the area as absolutely dangerous. In addition to building its Tennessee office, In-N-Out has plans to open its first restaurants in the state by 2026. Snyder said the company will use its Texas warehouse to supply the new locations. Were not putting our meat facility where we do all of our beef and send it to our stores [to] make patties were not going to have that there. Well have a warehouse, but not do our own meat there, so well be able to deliver from Texas. While Snyder has long declined offers to bring the brand to Florida and other East Coast states, she hinted that new markets could be on the horizon. Texas can reach some other states, she said, without naming specifics. Snyder, a mother of four who has been married to Sean Ellingson since 2014, is also overseeing a major shift in the companys California operations. In-N-Out will close its Irvine headquarters by 2030 and consolidate back to its original office in Baldwin Park. My uncle opened the office in Irvine in the 90s, Snyder explained. When my dad came down to run the business, we had moved to Northern California. It was family over fighting with his brother and running the company. So when he came down and saw Irvine and all of that, [he] was just like, This is not us. This is not our roots, this is not my dad, and he wanted to move everyone back to Baldwin Park. So he kind of did a hybrid. In every decision about the future of In-N-Out Burger, I give strong consideration to what my grandparents and my family would think is best for our company, Snyder said in a previous statement. This move helps us bring our In-N-Out family back together in a way that strengthens our ability to serve customers, who are always our top priority. Some of our associates will be relocating to Tennessee, which makes it even more important to centralize our western headquarters in one location, she added. Our West Coast family will be together in one place, where In-N-Out Burger began. Snyder has also been open about how In-N-Outs deeply rooted Christian values have guided her leadership. Since the 1990s, the company has printed Bible verses on its packaging, a tradition started by her uncle Rich before his passing. She later expanded the tradition to add Bible verses to other items such as fry boats and coffee cups. It was my uncle Rich who put the Bible verses on the cups and wrappers in the early 90s, just before he passed away, Snyder said. He had just accepted the Lord and wanted to put that little touch of his faith on our brand. Its a family business and will always be, and thats a family touch. Snyder, who previously shared with The Christian Post how faith helped her overcome personal struggles, also founded Army of Love, a ministry focused on discipleship and spiritual mentorship. I knew that I would be a part of a ministry that would unify the Body of Christ into soldiers who would reach out to one another and to the lost in the last days, she said. Many people attend church, but the pool of discipleship is shallow. Using faith-based training modules, Snyders organization works alongside groups like Teen Challenge to help believers deepen their spiritual walk. Picture our lives being a power strip, she said. We plug so many things into the power strip work, family, hobbies and God. But that is all wrong. God must be the power strip, and everything in our life should be plugged into Him as our power source. Home News Members praise God in tents after fire destroys historic black church in South Carolina Despite a massive fire destroying their more than century-old church building on Saturday, members of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Darlington County, South Carolina, gathered for worship in tents at the site of their church to give God glory on Sunday morning. You can have church anywhere. But today, having everyone show up for us, be here. The church was still together without the building, churchgoer Tinika Reeves told WBTW. The Darlington County Sheriffs Office said they responded to reports of smoke at the church, led by the Rev. Eugene Thomas, shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday. Once they arrived, the church was found engulfed in flames. The Palmetto Rural Fire District also responded to the fire with assistance from the Darlington Fire Department, Darlington County Fire District, Windy Hill, and West Florence Fire-Rescue, according to a statement released by the agency on Sunday. Our thoughts and prayers are with Reverend Eugene Thomas and the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church family, the Palmetto Rural Fire District said. While the church was founded in 1869 by the Rev. Daniel Jesse, the now destroyed building was constructed in 1910. Brian Gandy, director of the Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum, offered prayers to the church on Saturday as he mourned the loss of one of the countys oldest organized African American churches. What a sad day it appears that Pleasant Grove Baptist Church may be a total loss, he wrote in a statement on Facebook. This congregation is one of the oldest organized African American churches in Darlington County and has a very rich history in the Back Swamp/Pocket Road community. This church is made up of extremely strong members with a rock solid faith, he added. This will be a blow, but with the members that I know at Pleasant Grove, they will rise above this and continue their legacy of serving God and their community. My prayers are with them! The Rev. Thomas told WBTW that after news of the fire had spread, he was making plans to worship at the nearby New Providence Missionary Baptist Church when his members gave him a different perspective. All of a sudden, so many members came to me and said, we want to be on our ground tomorrow. And I said, yes, thats it. Thats perfect. Thats just where we need to be at this time, he said. Seeing the remains of the destroyed church for the first time wasnt easy, however. Once we pulled into the driveway, it was real. We felt it. And we just saw our building being totally destroyed, Reeves said. Thomas said when he first heard about the fire at the church, he prayed before going to the scene, but he was still broken by what he saw of the historic building. I headed out here. And when I got here and saw the shape it was already in, that church was basically gone. I was just broke, he told WBTW. Despite the loss, his congregants have reminded him what is truly important. Thats what Ive seen through this, he added. That the church is one thing, and its not a building. Its the people. Home News Puerto Rico bans sex-change procedures for minors Puerto Rico has banned so-called gender transition procedures for minors, joining more than two dozen states in prohibiting trans-identified youth from obtaining the life-altering surgeries and drugs. Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon, a Republican, signed Senate Bill 350, also known as the Law for the Protection of the Health and Well-being of Minors in Puerto Rico, into law last Wednesday. Her signature follows the approval from the Puerto Rico Senate in a 24-2 vote and the Puerto Rico House of Representatives in a 47-4 vote. The bill is now in effect as Public Law 63-2025. The measure "prohibits medical or surgical procedures that alter the sexual biology of minors under the pretext of gender transition, including irreversible hormone interventions" and "establishes a penalty of fifteen years in prison for violators and a $50,000 fine for legal entities." "Minors, having not yet reached the necessary emotional, cognitive, and physical maturity, are particularly vulnerable to making decisions that could have irreversible consequences. Therefore, it is the State's duty to ensure their comprehensive well-being, protecting them from decisions that could affect their long-term health, especially when these decisions involve irreversible changes in their anatomy and biology," the law states. The law bans puberty-blocking drugs, androgen blockers, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone "for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria or altering the biological sex of a minor under the pretext of gender transition." The law also restricts all persons under 21 from receiving "surgical procedures that modify or remove sexual organs with the goal of altering their natural biological function, as well as interventions intended to align a minor's physical appearance with an identity other than their biological sex." Any healthcare professional who performs the procedures is subject to license revocation. The bill clarifies that those with documented intersex traits may obtain the procedures prohibited by the bill. President Donald Trump signed an executive order shortly after taking office earlier this year stating that "It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, 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." More than two dozen states have already passed laws banning gender transition procedures for minors in some or all cases: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year in its United States v. Skrmettidecision that Tennessee's ban on gender transition procedures for minors did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Efforts to ban minors from obtaining the life-altering procedures at both the state and federal levels stem from concerns about their long-term impacts. The American College of Pediatricians has identified the side effects of puberty blockers as "osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility." The organization has warned that cross-sex hormones can cause youth to experience "an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan." So-called gender-reconstruction surgeries involve the removal of healthy body parts that align with an individual's biological sex or the creation of artificial body parts that correspond to a person's stated gender identity. Federal Religious Liberty Protections, William Wilberforce Letters Found, Portlands First Evangelical Crusade In 25 Years link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:25 07:25 Top headlines for Monday, July 21, 2025 In this episode, we explore the U.S. federal government's new guidance aimed at bolstering religious liberty accommodations for federal employees, highlighting its potential impacts and implications. Next, we travel back in time to the University of Chester's archives, where a fascinating discovery of four early 19th-century letters, including two penned by the renowned abolitionist William Wilberforce, offers fresh insights into historical narratives. Plus, we discuss the significant legal victory for pro-life advocates as a federal appeals court upholds West Virginia's right to ban the abortion pill, examining the potential ramifications for reproductive rights across the nation. 00:12 Trump admin. urges religious accommodations for federal workers 01:05 Judge blocks Washington law forcing priests to violate confession 01:59 Kenneth Flowers gets 4 to 15 years in prison for rape of teen boy 02:49 William Wilberforce historic letters found in university archives 03:47 Republican gov. vetoes bill enhancing parental rights in schools 04:42 West Virginia's ban on the abortion pill upheld by appeals court 05:40 Portland to host city's first Evangelical crusade in 25 years Home Opinion Why ChatGPT doesnt speak in tongues Many years ago, the son of a pastor I knew visited a tongues-speaking church out of curiosity. Members of the congregation would stand, supposedly speak in tongues, and immediately afterwards another member would rise and provide an interpretation (in keeping with 1 Cor. 14:27). Deciding to join in, the pastor's son stood up, recited the Lord's Prayer in Latin, and then sat back down. A church member immediately rose and gave an interpretation that had absolutely nothing to do with the Latin version of the Lords Prayer. Oops. CPs recent article Can ChatGPT interpret speaking in tongues? reminded me of that episode, and brought back memories I had long ago of visiting tongues-speaking churches. Just like back then, the whole Yea or Nay tongues debate is a sensitive one, stirring up lots of emotions, especially with those who believe tongues are normative in the church today. No matter which side of the fence you currently reside on, with just a little effort, I think we can get some insight into this topic via a relatively quick, systematic, and biblical approach. In the end, itll help explain why ChatGPT doesnt speak in tongues. Two quick distinctions The Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas believed that a key task for philosophers was to make distinctions. When it comes to the question of tongues, there are at least two key distinctions in Scripture that need to be noted. The first concerns the difference between what is prescriptive in the Bible vs. what is descriptive. Scripture describes many things in its pages, but it doesnt necessarily prescribe them all. A case in point is the second chapter of Acts and others in 1 Corinthians, where the authors depict different historical occurrences that happened in the early Church, which were for that time alone. In his book, New Testament Teaching on Tongues, Dr. Merrill Unger speaks to this and the point of tongues on Pentecost when he says: The supernatural display of languages at Pentecost was a harbinger of the dominant feature of world-wide evangelism to be realized in the new age and was a sign to the Jews that the Holy Spirit had been given to work out in believers Christs glorious salvation purchased on the cross and to equip them to proclaim the wonderful message of this salvation to every creature under Heaven. The apostle Paul himself declared, The Jews require a sign (1 Cor. 11:22), and boy did they get one on that day. The second distinction involves the difference between the fact of miracles and the gift of miracles, like being able to speak in a language youve never learned. The fact of miracles can be found throughout all of Scripture, but the gift of miraculous sign gifts is constrained to three specific and brief periods of history the Mosaic period, the prophetic period (with Elijah and Elisha), and the apostolic period with Jesus and the apostles. In each of those situations, God gifted a few persons with sign gifts that were used to overrule false teachings and false gods, confirm God's truth, and serve as a witness against those who stood in opposition. And afterwards? Those gifts disappeared with those gifted with them. What and why tongues? If those two distinctions make sense to you, lets next look at the biblical definition of tongues. The words the New Testament uses to describe the event at Pentecost when certain individuals spoke with other tongues (glossa, Acts 2:4) and their audience heard them in their own language (dialektos, Acts 2:8) make it clear that tongues was a dialect; a known language. That being true, it's hard to challenge that the equivalent would be someone today spontaneously speaking a language that they've never learned, such as Japanese. Countering that, some will point to Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 13:1, If I speak with tongues of men and of angels and later in 1 Corinthians 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit as tongues being a non-human language. In the first case, I think a strong case can be made that the apostle was employing hyperbole or speaking hypothetically. In the second instance, David K. Lowery, writing in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, sums that up well when he says: The context of this verse is the assembled congregation in Corinth in which utterance in a tongue was given without the benefit of interpretation (cf. vv. 13, 19). Apparently, no native speaker of the tongue was present in the assembly. The utterances therefore were mysteries, truths requiring a supernatural disclosure which God had not provided the Corinthians in this particular instance. Lastly, it's vital to understand God's specific purpose for tongues. Fortunately, we don't have to guess because Paul tells us: In the Law it is written, By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers (1 Cor. 14:21-22, emphasis mine). Paul references how the Israelites had scorned Isaiah, who told them Gods truth in simple and clear Hebrew. But since they rejected it in a language they knew, God would come to them with Assyrian armed forces, whose soldiers would speak to them in a foreign language, which was a curse on them because of their unbelief. Using this as his context, Paul says the purpose of tongues is for a sign, but not for believers; instead, they are a sign of judgment and warning to unbelievers. This realization brings strong clarity to what we see happen in the New Testament with tongues. Recall for a moment how and when tongues arrived. Israel had just murdered and rejected their Messiah in a way reminiscent of the Jewish rejection of God in the Old Testament. The Jews had heard Christ's message in their own language and rejected it along with God's ultimate Prophet, Jesus, but now they are hearing God's message in a different language that serves as a warning to any who would still disregard it. With tongues, God gave them a strong warning sign that the age of the Church had arrived. So, unlike what some denominations teach and practice today, when a closer look is given to how and when tongues appear in Scripture, the purpose of tongues is revealed to be a negative sign to unbelievers, just as Paul indicates. When you roll all of this together, we see why ChatGPT doesnt speak in tongues, and why the CP article on the topic stated at the end: This Pentecostal reporter tested the chatbot on Tuesday, and it noted that the translation of the glossolalia produced was a creative interpretation, not a literal translation, since the original doesnt map to any known language. Thats pretty telling. Those wishing to make tongues standard practice in the Church today, an admission slip into the body of Christ, a subsequent experience that signifies a special baptism of the Spirit (a phrase that never appears in the Bible), or a mark of deeper spirituality should re-examine Scripture and then perform an honest inner assessment of the above before affirming that tongues are for today. The Charity Commission has said it will contact the attorney general over the legality of charities supporting beneficiaries in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) of the West Bank and Gaza. Last week, the Guardian reported that approximately 5.7m had been transferred to an Israeli high school in the West Bank via two UK-registered charities between 2017 and 2021. The commission did not block the payments but said it had sent guidance to both the Kasner Charitable Trust and UK Toremet Limited. It is not illegal for charities to operate in the OPT, the commission said, but it has referred potential criminal matters to the police. The commission said it would seek advice from the attorney general, whose office told Civil Society it had yet to receive a letter. Complex legal issues A spokesperson for the commission said: We know this is a highly contentious issue about which there are strongly held opposing views. The commission can only operate within our legal framework, and the fact that a charity operates in the occupied Palestinian territories does not in itself constitute a criminal offence or breach of charity law. This principle applies equally to any area in the world under the control of a non-state actor. Charities are able to carry out work in such areas, provided it aligns with their charitable purpose, is lawful, and is in the charitys best interests. As civil regulator, the commission in line with its duties refers all potential criminal matters to the relevant law enforcement body for investigation, as we did in this case. Given the complex legal issues in relation to international law we are in the process of seeking renewed specialist advice from the attorney general. Contact with charities The commission said it had undertaken three separate regulatory compliance cases involving UK Toremet since 2016 about its work in the occupied Palestinian territories. Through this engagement, it said it issued the charitys trustees with statutory guidance and an action plan, which included specific reference to the importance of compliance with the Geneva Conventions Act 1957. The regulator said it also told trustees the governments position that construction of settlements in the OPT is illegal under international law. A spokesperson for UK Toremet said the charity had acted on the commissions advice including decisions about how money for the Bnei Akiva High School would be allocated. UK Toremet is an English charity that is non-political, non-denominational and not driven by any political or ideological agenda, they said. Since its inception in 2010, UK Toremet has received donations from tens of thousands of donors and has managed thousands of grants in support of the work of over a thousand grantees, in England and all over the world. Grants are made within the scope of English charity law, in accordance with UK Toremets own grantmaking policies and procedures, and subject to monitoring by the Charity Commission. Meanwhile, the commission said it engaged with the Kasner Charitable Trust in 2020, and, as part of that case, sought more details from trustees regarding the reporting of its grantmaking activities. The commission said it issued trustees with statutory guidance on the importance of transparent reporting and intended to contact the trustees again to follow up on this matter. Civil Society has contacted Kasner Charitable Trust for comment. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, A new report by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has ranked the UK at 64 for its generosity out of 101 countries and territories. CAFs World Giving Report 2025 , published today, says that 64% of people globally gave money to good causes last year, with individuals in low-income countries being twice as generous as those in high-income countries. Its report is based on an assessment of the amount of money donated to charities, people in need and for religious reasons from a sample of over 50,000 people and is an enhanced version of its long-running World Giving Index. Africa ranked most generous continent The report says that people worldwide were most likely to donate by giving money directly to people in need (38%) or charities (36%), while a quarter gave to a religious organisation or for religious reasons. The average person donated 1.04% of their monthly income figure after tax through any combination of the three giving routes in 2024. Africa was ranked as the worlds most generous continent in terms of the number of people who donated and how much they gave, with African countries making up six of the top 10 and 17 of the top 30 most generous countries. On average, people in Africa donated 1.54% of their income to good causes, compared with 0.64% for those in Europe. Nigeria topped CAFs survey as the most generous country, with people there giving on average 2.83% of their income to charities, religious organisations and directly to individuals in need. This was followed by Egypt (2.45%) and Ghana and China (2.19%). Conversely, the five least generous countries in the world were France and Portugal (0.45%), Finland (0.40%), Germany (0.39%) and Japan (0.16%). People in high-income countries donated on average just 0.70% of their annual incomes, which is around half the proportion given in low-income countries, where people donated 1.45%. Most supported cause The report says that while donors worldwide supported a wide range of causes last year, the only cause in the top five for each continent was children and young people, with three in 10 people supporting it. Donors in Asia and Africa were the most likely to support environmental causes, with 16% of people in the former continent supporting these causes compared with 13% in the latter. In all other continents, an average of 10% or less of people used their donations to support the environment. One in four donors worldwide supported humanitarian aid and disaster relief, with Bosnia and Herzegovina being the only country where the majority of the population (59%) supported it. The least popular causes globally were the arts, culture, heritage or science and other (5%) and armed forces (4%). Support was most likely to be given to local or regional charities, with 71% of respondents choosing them compared with 46% who supported national charities and 23% who chose international charities working in their countries. The report also says that globally, 26% people volunteered last year, while the average amount of time spent volunteering per person was nine hours. People in Qatar volunteered the most, with 27.5 hours on average per person, followed by Rwanda (26.6 hours) and Cote dIvoire (23.3 hours). Wide disparity Neil Heslop, chief executive of CAF, said: Around the world, social purpose organisations are facing severe financial headwinds. Traditional funding models need to change as patterns of behaviour evolve and governments cut back on their aid and development spending with philanthropy seeking to respond. Individual giving remains the cornerstone of generosity. Yet, theres a wide disparity, with the most dynamic cultures of giving often in countries where the populations are also much in need. Its notable that giving doesnt necessarily correlate with wealth or even security, but rather on the perception of necessity and very often we perceive those closest to us to be most in need. During these challenging times, theres much we can learn about the power of connection, and the nature of compassion for our fellow citizens, whether they be across the street or around the world. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, CEO change at Pilotlight Skills-based volunteering charity, Pilotlight, has announced that its chief executive, Ed Mayo, will be stepping down later this year and will be replaced by Lisa Pearce from October 2025. During Mayos five years as CEO, Pilotlight has doubled the number of skilled volunteers that it deploys and grown its income by 42%. Mayo said: It has been the privilege of my life for us to have supported 803 charities over my time, working with the talented team at Pilotlight. I am confident that Lisa is the perfect successor to widen the impact of our work at a time when it is most needed. New CEO for Church Mission Society Church Mission Society (CMS) has promoted Andy Roberts to chief executive, taking up the new position on 1 August. Roberts, founder of Brazilian childrens charity ReVive International, has been CMSs director of mission since 2021 and succeeds Alastair Bateman in the CEO role. He said: Its a privilege to step into this position at such a pivotal time. My passion is to see mission shaped by deep listening, courageous innovation and local leadership. While CMS has a 225-year legacy, were entering a fresh era of pioneering grounded in the same spirit that inspired our founders. Chair appointed at Thames Hospice Katherine Horler has been announced as the next chair of Thames Hospice. Horler has spent over 20 years as chief executive of a regional charity supporting young people and adults with their career development, and has held multiple chair and governor roles at national, regional and local levels. She first started volunteering with Thames Hospice 18 months ago and will succeed current chair Chris Aitken in December. New chair for LawWorks Former attorney genera Lord Peter Goldsmith will become chair of legal pro bono charity LawWorks with effect from 1 September. Goldsmith continues to appear in court in the UK and internationally and has led cases in several jurisdictions. He said: Its an honour to take on the role of chair at LawWorks, which plays such an important part in promoting and enabling pro bono. I look forward to working with the team to continue building on its impact and reach and would also like to pay tribute to Alasdair Douglas for his leadership over the past nine years. Jo Cox Foundation names next chair The Jo Cox Foundation has announced that Baroness Jan Royall, has been appointed as the charity's next chair by the board of trustees, taking up the role in September 2025. The move comes following the departure of Jacqui Smith as chair in July 2024, since which time Rosamund Blomfield-Smith has been its interim chair. Royall served as chief whip in the House of Lords and then leader of the house from 2008-2010. Since stepping down from frontbench politics in 2015, Royall has been principal of Somerville College, Oxford since 2017, a role from which she will step down this August. New chair for Working Families Working Families, a charity for working parents and carers, has appointed employment law consultant and long-standing trustee Paul Coulson as its new chair. Coulson said: My employer gave me a great deal of flexibility, so that I could continue to work full-time. It was a privilege to be so present with my young children, an experience that I had missed out on in their first few years due to the demands of work. My experiences reflect societal change but still too many families share my mums experiences and not enough share mine. Former chancellor to chair Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Former chancellor Sajid Javid has been confirmed as the Holocaust Memorial Day Trusts new chair at the charitys annual general meeting. Javid succeeds Laura Marks, who retires after nine years of service, having completed the maximum permitted term as chair. Javid said: Im deeply honoured to take on the role of chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and would like to thank Laura Marks for her outstanding leadership and dedication. My commitment to preserving the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and ensuring its lessons continue to resonate with future generations remains steadfast, in the hope of upholding the dignity and humanity of all people. Unite Foundation announces chair and trustee The Unite Foundation, which supports care experienced and estranged students to go to university through their accommodation scholarship, has announced the appointment of John Cater as its new chair. Cater, who was until recently the longest serving vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University, will be joined by Julie Hall, vice-chancellor at London Met University, who has been appointed as a trustee. Cater said: I am honoured to take on the role of chair at such a pivotal time for the Unite Foundation. I look forward to working with the board and team to expand our impact and ensure that every young person has the chance to succeed, regardless of their background. Mencap chair stands down Carolyn Fairbairn is to step down as learning disability charity Mencaps chair at the end of 2025. A search for her successor is underway, led by Lucy Edge, Mencaps vice chair. Fairbairn said: It has been a privilege to serve as Mencaps chair for the past three years. What a time of change it has been. I am proud that together we have stabilised Mencaps finances, built an outstanding leadership team and crafted an ambitious new strategy. Cancer Research UK director to retire Phil Almond, Cancer Research UKs executive director of marketing, fundraising and engagement, has announced his retirement from full time employment, and will be leaving the charity at the end of May 2026. The search for a successor to Almond, who joined the charity in 2019 following six years at the BBC as chief marketing officer, is underway. Almond said: My time at the charity has been incredibly varied from our recovery from Covid to an impactful brand refresh that tells a more powerful story of our impact, to driving forward digital transformation. But what has remained constant is the passion and commitment of everyone at Cancer Research UK to keep accelerating progress for those affected by cancer and their loved ones. New head of finance for Fundraising Regulator The Fundraising Regulator has announced former director of finance and corporate resources at Versus Arthritis Ian Larkham as its head of finance and registration. erald Oppenheim, chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator, said: We are delighted to welcome Ian Larkham to the Fundraising Regulator as our new head of finance and registration. He brings impressive experience from across the sector, with a strong track record in financial leadership, strategic planning, and organisational development. Three trustees join Royal College of Psychiatry The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) has appointed three new lay trustees to its board of trustees. Caroline Rivett is a specialist in cyber security, having worked with life science companies to protect their data and systems against cyberattacks. Joseph Morrow is the Lord Lyon and has been actively involved with numerous charities, community activities and civic duties in Scotland for more than 40 years. Stuart Bell was the chief executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust until June 2020 when he retired after nearly 38 years service in the NHS. UK UNHCR appoints trustees UK for UNHCR has appointed Anita Yuen, Jon Sparkes, Lara Boro and Mick Dyson as new trustees to its board. Yuen is currently chief partnerships officer at Women Deliver while Sparkes is chief executive of Mencap. Boro is chief executive of the Economist Group while Dyson is the chief finance officer at the Education Development Trust. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Kristina Obames first shoot in Gabon was a disaster. The generator exploded. The crew bus disappeared. For four days, the gorillas she was hoping to film failed to show up. When they finally appeared on the fifth day, Obame, a wildlife filmmaker from Gabon, captured footage that would become her debut film, Ndossi, blending folklore and conservation from a rarely seen perspective: an African womans. Everything went wrong, Obame recalled. But it affirmed why I do this work. Obame is part of a growing movement of African filmmakers reclaiming wildlife storytelling, replacing outside perspectives with homegrown ones. For a long time, the space has been dominated by Western productions that often arrive, film, and leave, with the featured communities rarely getting a chance to have any input or review the final work. In Western-led productions, local film crews are sometimes hired to tick a box, as one African filmmaker put it, but not encouraged to give meaningful input. Im not interested in re-creating Sir David Attenborough films. Theyre great for what they are, but thats not my voice, Obame said. Our connection to nature isnt just about animals, its about our ancestors and our traditions. Thats the story I wanted to tell. Fiona Tande, the founder of the Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival, the first African-led nature-film festival, grew up on the same documentaries that shaped Western views of Africa. In many of them, she noted, animals were depicted as noble protagonists while local people were cast as threats or intruders. Western films often portray animals as heroes and locals as villains, she said. This framing ignores a deeper truth, she added: Africans have lived alongside wildlife for generations, guided by traditions that treated nature as sacred. Conservation isnt new to us, Tande said. It just never had that name. When Pridelands launched, in 2022, only two African-made films were submitted. By 2024, that number had risen to twenty, including Living with Lions, a Swahili docudrama on human-wildlife conflict that went on to win three awards. Its hard to put exact figures on African representation in the global wildlife filmmaking industry, but data from major festivals offer a glimpse into the imbalance. At Wildscreen, a British natural-history festival, over 25 percent of submissions featured African wildlife, yet just 7 percent were made by Africans; only 4 percent of 2022 attendees were from Africa. When I began in wildlife filmmaking, in 2016, it was lonely, said Anthony Ochieng, a Kenyan conservation filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer. There were almost no Black people in the space and definitely none filming underwater. Trained in wildlife management and now a certified diver, Ochieng turned to film to explore marine ecosystems, often focusing on the experiences and perspectives of the coastal communities that depend on them for survival and cultural identity. Among local communities in Kenya, theres this belief that the ocean ends at the beach, Ochieng said. But theres life beneath. And storiesstories weve never told. His recent short film Matumbawe, set in the coastal town of Diani, follows Dosa, a coral restorer, through the eyes of his daughter, Khadija, as she absorbs the skills of his trade and the challenges of conservation. Some of this new generation of wildlife storytellers are now building the infrastructure to teach others. Hans Cosmas Ngoteya cofounded the Tanzania Wildlife Media Association, where he helps train emerging storytellers, pushes for policy reforms, and screens films in Swahili via pop-up cinemas and local television. Were not just making films for festivals, he said. Were trying to change mindsets, and the industry. For his recent film Sentinels of Engaruka, a documentary about Maasai-led conservation, his team lived in a village for two months before filming a single frame. We wanted the community to see us not as outsiders, but as part of their lives, he said. That kind of access doesnt just change what we film, it changes how people speak to us, what they choose to share, and how the whole story comes together. Ngoteya said his goal is to eliminate Western influence and spotlight local voices on and off camera, not just for the sake of representation, but because he believes authentic stories must come from those who live them. Many Western wildlife productions emphasize spectacle, and focus on the animals alone, he says, while African-told stories are grounded in lived experience and cultural context. I ask myself, how can my film help someone whose crops were destroyed by elephants last night? said Ngoteya. Thats the difference. We understand the problem from the inside. Sign up for CJRs daily email Another Tanzanian organization, the African School of Storytelling, or AFRISOS, was founded in 2020 by the Tanzanian filmmaker Jigar Ganatra. Ganatra believes the African perspective on wildlife filmmakers is still unfolding. Too often, he said, African filmmakers mimic Western formats without grounding their work in indigenous perspectives. Theyre regurgitating the same thing theyve been exposed to by Western media, he said. The narration, the style, the lens, the gazeits not an African gaze. For him, telling an African nature story requires more than just representation. It means spending time with communities, learning from them, and connecting with their histories. Africas natural and cultural heritage is disappearing fast, he said. We need to protect these stories before theyre gone. Canal Insurance Company named Paul Stachura to its executive team as vice president and chief claims officer. Stachura has experience in commercial auto claims and litigation management, having held senior leadership roles with Chubb, Firemans Fund, QBE North America and State Auto. He previously served as chairman of the claims committee for the American Insurance Association. Canal Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Canal Financial Group. The company specializes in providing insurance to commercial trucking and specialty transportation insured through selected agents. A Miami jury this week awarded a former Florida state senator $100 million in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the condominium complex where her son was shot to death in 2021. Daphne Campbell, who served for eight years in the Florida Senate, sued the Monte Carlo Condominium Association, the property management firm, and a security company, according to court records, the Miami Herald and other news sites. After four years of litigation, the state court jury returned the verdict Tuesday. The jury assigned 57% of fault to the property manager, AKAM On-Site Inc.; 18% to the condo association; 18% to the EMS Protective Group security firm; and 7% to the tenant who lived there, according to the jurys verdict sheet in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court. The woman was reportedly Jason Campbells girlfriend, and the shooter was described as a jilted lover of the girlfriend. Lakoria Washington was charged in the murder, according to news reports. The Campbell familys lawsuit complaint alleged that the attack was reasonably foreseeable. The shooter had previously gained access to the property in 2021 while armed, and the complex was a known high crime area, the family charged. The condo association, property manager and security company failed to secure the premises, protect tenants and invitees, and failed to warn people of the danger. The damages award will be shared by the former senator and her husband, as well as the children of the victim, the Herald reported. The shooter, Washington, has pleaded guilty to the murder and is being held in jail in Miami-Dade County. The Campbell family was represented by members of the Morgan & Morgan law firm and the Ver Ploeg & Marino firm. The verdict is one of many high-dollar and high-profile jury awards in cases involving premises liability and negligent security in Southeastern states in recent years. Concert tickets for the internet's latest heartthrob, Sombr, have now gone on sale for Europe and the UK. Sombr is bringing his 'The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour' to Europe between 10 February and 6 March, and the UK between 8 March and 16 March, including three shows at London's O2 Academy Brixton. Read more: Stranger Things Prequel Play Explains How It Merges with Season 5 in New Netflix Strategy The 20-year-old, whose real name is Shane Boose, has taken social media by storm with his songs 'Back to Friends' and 'Undressed' having gone viral on TikTok. Along with good looks his teenage fans have compared to Timothee Chalamet's, Sombr has what seems to be the requirement of becoming the 'internet's next favourite pop boy.' Here's everything you need to know about Sombr and his upcoming tour. Who Is Sombr? Shane Boose was born and raised in New York City. He went to LaGuardia High School, the performing arts school where other celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Nicki Minaj, and lookalike Timothee Chalamet attended. Boose studied classical music, but took the opportunity during Covid to create his own alternative pop sound in his bedroom. He released 'Caroline' from that period, which garnered over a million streams in its first week. Sombr has had a rapid ascent into stardom this year, appearing on the Billboard Top 100 for the first time in April for his breakout song 'Back To Friends.' The song's chorus went viral on TikTok, leading to its incredible success. 'Back To Friends' landed Sombr his TV debut when he performed it live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Rolling Stone named it one of the best songs of 2025 so far. But Sombr has proven he's not a one-hit wonder, releasing 'Undressed' a few months later, which also went TikTok viral and reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. '"Back to Friends" was just starting to see some success [when I created "Undressed"], which I think made me a bit more confident with the music I was making,' he told Billboard in June. When asked about the success of those songs, Sombr said, 'There's nothing that can prepare you for something like this. It's absolutely unreal.' Sombr released his latest single, 'We Never Dated,' last month following the success of 'Undressed.' The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour Tickets for the European leg of Sombr's tour, including UK dates, went live at 10:00am on Friday. Currently, 17 shows are advertised for the EU and six for the UK. Sombr has shows lined up in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, and Belgium. He then heads to London for three shows before making his way over to Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Dublin. Sombr will take his tour over to Europe early 2026 after playing across North America between September and November this year, and Australia and New Zealand in December. Tickets for the Australia and New Zealand legs of the tour are on sale now. The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour won't be Sombr's first time touring. The musician toured North America in 2024, famously chipping a tooth on stage, which his fans won't let him live down. Originally published on IBTimes UK MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio A police officer shot two large dogs as they were attacking a female Sunday afternoon, killing the dogs but not before they seriously injured the victim. Witnesses called police just before 2 p.m. to report the attack on the 5200 block of Henry Street. When officers arrived, the female still was under attack. Police say one of the responding officers opened fire on the dogs, killing them both. Officers then began giving medical assistance to the victim until paramedics arrived. Witnesses tell police the victim was walking both dogs when they turned on her and began attacking her. The victim was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center. No information was released on her condition. Anyone with information can contact detective 216-587-9624 or detectives@mhpd-ohio.com. ATTICA, Ohio Winding south on Ohio 4, youll pass the Simple Life Diner, with large American flags lining streets. Roll through Attica, the northern Ohio village of fewer than 900 people, and a dirt track soon comes into view. Pull into the lots, and tailgaters will be set up, and when the gates open, patrons will filter into the grandstand or saunter along the outer pits, meeting drivers and checking out cars. Welcome to the Greatest Show on Dirt, a world of dirt-track sprint-car racing. Less than a week in office, East Cleveland Mayor Lateek Shabazz on Monday fired Kenneth Lundy, the citys acting police chief. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio Less than a week in office, East Cleveland Mayor Lateek Shabazz on Monday fired Kenneth Lundy, the citys acting police chief. In a letter to Lundy, Shabazz said Lundy was hired as a classified employee in 2016 and rose through the ranks until he was appointed the departments acting chief in January 2024. Shabazz said Lundy was promoted for years, despite never completing the required civil service examinations for the job. Police do not disobey laws, Shabazz wrote. I am demanding strict constitutional compliance and obedience to laws from all law enforcement personnel. I have zero tolerance for law-breaking law enforcers. The new mayor will announce a replacement later this week. Shabazz said that Lundy was appointed as an acting chief, a position that cannot last more than 180 days in the city. He was appointed Jan. 2, 2024, and the term should have ended July 1, 2024. The mayor said Lundy was not hired or appointed from an eligibility list, which prevents Lundy from possessing civil service or collective bargaining rights. Lundy could not be reached for comment Monday. The firing comes as East Cleveland reels from a series of scandals. Its former mayor, Brandon King, was convicted of public corruption charges, and an appellate court placed Shabazz in office. Prior to that, more than a dozen officers - in a department of less than 45 - were convicted in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court stemming from an assortment of charges, from bribery to robbery, involving residents. And Lundy had replaced Brian Gerhard, who resigned amid allegations that he posted racially offensive memes. Gerhard replaced Scott Gardner, who pleaded guilty to a tax charge in 2024. In the letter to Lundy, Shabazz also cited the former officers romantic relationship with the girlfriend of a homicide suspect who Lundy was investigating. The letter notes that Lundy failed to notify Cuyahoga County prosecutors in the case. The suspect, Jerry Sims, was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2019 after a jury convicted him based on the testimony of his former girlfriend, Erica Campbell. In April, prosecutors dropped the charges against Sims and he was released from prison. Last month, a Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Campbell on charges of perjury. Her attorney, Allison Hibbard, declined to comment Monday. Shabazz wasted no time adjusting to his new office. He replaced interim Mayor Sandra Morgan, who served for several months while King was suspended from office. The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that Shabazz was the citys mayor after agreeing that the citys charter made the president of City Council the new mayor after the removal of a mayor. The Ohio Statehouse on Capitol Square in downtown Columbus. The capitol houses the Ohio General Assembly, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com Rotunda Rumblings Session showdown: The Ohio House is back in session, but whether Republicans have the votes to override Gov. Mike DeWines property tax vetoes remain to be seen. Anna Staver reports that House members are getting lobbied hard to let the governors vetoes stand. DeWine promised to create a property tax working group that would develop alternative plans for relief by Sept 30. No word yet on when that committee will start meeting. Stretching the rules: Ohios budget isnt just about spending; its where some of the states biggest policy decisions get made. Lawmakers have used it to restrict abortion, limit what SNAP recipients can buy, overhaul retirement boards and mandate where books can be shelved in libraries. Critics say it violates the state constitutions single-subject rule. But courts have largely allowed it. Staver deep dives into the why and the history of legislating by budget. Draft dodging? Several times in recent years, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio staff, as well as utility company officials, have gotten independent auditors to soften or delete draft report language thats unfavorable toward utilities. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, PUCO critics point to examples of behind-the-scenes moves they say help allow powerful utilities to continue charging illegal or unfair fees to their customers. A PUCO spokesman, though, said such criticism is either misguided or an outright lie. PBS cuts: The U.S. House of Representatives voted early Friday to approve a White House request to rescind $9 billion that Congress previously agreed to spend on public broadcasting and foreign aid, Sabrina Eaton writes. It passed by a 216 to 213 margin. All Ohio Republicans backed the measure except for Daytons Mike Turner while all the states Democrats opposed it. Turner did not release a statement explaining his vote. Racy drawings: Before Jeffrey Epsteins first arrest in 2006, billionaire retail magnate Leslie Wexner and dozens of other powerful associatesincluding Donald Trumpcontributed to a 50th birthday album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Wexner, then Epsteins financial patron and closest known business ally, submitted a cryptic note: I wanted to get you what you want so here it is followed by a drawing resembling a womans breasts. Sabrina Eaton has more. Off the map? While Ohio Republicans are expected to redraw the states congressional districts this year in a way that helps them pick up multiple seats in 2026, Ohio Democrats still have a card to play. As Andrew Tobias of Signal Ohio explains, if the GOP-led legislatures pass new maps via legislation, Democrats could try to put a repeal referendum on the 2026 ballot. All this is still theoretical, of course and Republicans themselves have a couple potential ways to thwart such an attempt. Full Disclosure Here are five things we learned from the May 13, 2025 ethics disclosure form filed by state Rep. Lauren McNally, a Youngstown Democrat, about her 2024 finances: 1. Besides McNallys 2024 legislative salary of $77,848.92, she only listed one source of income last year: a tax refund of less than $1,000. 2. McNallys investments in 2024 included a rollover IRA with the John Arnold Wealth Management Company, a college savings 529 account with BlackRock, and an Ohio Public Employees Retirement System account. 3. At some point in 2024, McNally owed at least $1,000 to PNC Bank, GMC, Wells Fargo, and Chase Bank. 4. McNally listed two instances in which lobbyists spent money on her in 2024: the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce gave her a $40 ticket to its Salute to Elected Officials event in November, and a $50 ticket an Appalachian luncheon held by Heritage Ohio, the states historic preservation society, in December. 5. The Ohio House last year reimbursed McNally $3,192.32 for mileage between her home and Columbus, as well as $1,400.72 for lodging. Birthdays State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney Straight from the Source A safe traveler is a well-rested traveler - Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, commenting as he cut the ribbon to celebrate new rest areas along Ohio roadways. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. Ohio Democrats are sleepwalking through a political inferno, clinging to civility while Republicans bulldoze basic rightsand unless they start fighting fire with fire, they'll be complicit in the wreckage left behind. Getty Images CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio Democrats keep acting like the rules of normal politics still apply. Meanwhile, Republicans are governing like arsonists with a flamethrower and a fireproof supermajority. The latest state budget was a legislative dumping ground for policies too extreme or unpopular to pass on their own. Attacks on home rule. Anti-trans measures. Loopholes for corporate donors. The list goes on. And while Democratic state representatives issued statements and registered their votes in opposition, it wasnt nearly enough. For months, Ive been pointing out in my columns how Ohios Republican lawmakers are undermining the health, safety, education and economic security of everyday Ohioans. And readers have reached out time and again, asking what they can do to fight back. But perhaps a more pressing question is: What are elected Democrats doing to fight back? How are they galvanizing all that public dissent into actual resistance? Even former President Barack Obama has said out loud what many of us are thinking: The passivity of Democrats is costing us. Its ceding ground to those pushing policies that are inhumane, unconstitutional and written to serve the wealthy at everyone elses expense. I think its going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And its going to require Democrats to just toughen up, Obama said at a recent fundraiser, according to The Hill. You know, dont tell me youre a Democrat, but youre kind of disappointed right now, so youre not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something. If youre reading this and reducing the argument to what you believe is my own partisan loyalty, youre overlooking an urgent truth. The controversies surrounding many of the policies Republicans have championed objectively boil down to basic decency versus opportunistic cruelty, transparency versus secrecy, justice versus raw political power. The stakes are existential. And yet, Democrats have primarily chosen caution over confrontation. Its not too late. The moment to act is always now. But the era of polite floor speeches and press releases is over. Its time to get disruptive and force the public to confront whats happening. The outrage is already there. The job now is to shape it and mobilize it. Here are 12 ways Democrats can start thinking bigger, bolder and outside the traditional playbook to lead a movement back to moral clarity and a government that answers to the people. Get Smart, Get Loud, Get Creative Flood social feeds Create a bold TikTok and Instagram series using high-energy creators, satirical sketches and over-the-top humor to expose the absurdity of GOP budget riders. Think Daily Show meets Ohio politics. Walk voters through what was tucked into the budget bill and how it affects them. Hack the commute Buy ad space on buses, billboards and gas station TV screens. Use QR codes that link to outrageous budget facts and invite people to see what lawmakers dont want you to know. Simple, clear messaging about what the GOP snuck into the budget: attacks on trans kids, undercutting local control, favors for billionaires. Make it visual. Make it viral. Meme the mess Turn every legislator behind these policies into a recognizable character online. Use memes, reels and digital trading cards to link names to the harm theyre causing. Stop speaking vaguely about the legislature. Call out the architects of these policies by name and tie them to unpopular outcomes. Own the Narrative Launch a podcast A weekly breakdown of Ohios political overreach featuring policy experts, affected residents and statehouse reporters. Keep it sharp, funny and informative. Produce a series of short videos or graphics explaining one outrageous item per post: the Modell Law rollback, corporate dark money protections, etc. Tell human stories Short, emotional videos featuring real Ohioans affected by budget cuts. Make it personal. Build an interactive website An easy-to-navigate hub that shows who voted for what, who benefits, and how you can take action locally. Make it mobile-first and shareable. Frame the legislative actions as a coordinated power grab: undermining democracy, hurting vulnerable communities, rewarding donors. Not a series of random bad policies, but a unified assault on Ohioans. Stop Playing Defense Roll out counter-proposals Package bold, progressive legislation under one umbrella (e.g., The Ohio Peoples Plan) and use it to organize rallies, petitions and local pledges of support. Even if doomed in the current Statehouse, symbolic bills force debate and public discourse on topics ranging from dark money to local gun control. Lawfare with flair File lawsuits and amplify them with compelling explainers and timelines on social. Make court battles part of the public narrative, not a side note. Use the courts to challenge budget riders that may violate constitutional rules about single-subject legislation or home rule protections. Activate municipalities Organize a coalition of defiant cities and school boards. Provide them with templates for resolutions and messaging toolkits to push back in sync. Encourage city councils and mayors to pass resolutions defying overreach or joining forces in lawsuits. Coordinate with grassroots organizations. Reclaim Moral Ground Reclaim the moral frame Run campaigns around basic shared values: fairness, dignity, freedom. Use preachers, veterans, nurses and parents as the voices. Frame this as a moral battle for Ohios soul. Are we a state that protects the vulnerable or punishes them? That listens to voters or rigs the rules? Build strange bedfellows Highlight bipartisan moments of outrage. Use cross-aisle press conferences and joint op-eds to break the partisan binary and deepen public concern. Highlight unlikely allies. Think: Libertarians angry about government overreach, parents concerned about anti-trans laws, mayors across the aisle upset about local control. Break the script Flash mobs at the Statehouse. Pop-up protests with costumes. Billboard trucks circling GOP districts. The key is to make the kind of noise that gets covered. Walk out of sessions. Hold press conferences on the Statehouse lawn. Protest alongside constituents. Interrupt the narrative with spectacle that forces attention. If Democrats wont summon the courage to rise to this moment, history would be kind to remember them simply as the party that failed to fight. But more likely, theyll be held responsible for everything that followed, for every freedom lost, every injustice unchecked, every door closed to the people they were elected to serve. Leila Atassi is the editor of the Public Interest and Advocacy team at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. She writes a weekly opinion column on state and local issues. You can reach her at latassi@cleveland.com. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden after the president arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, June 11, 2024. Hunter Biden said in a new interview that his father, former President Joe Biden, had been taking Ambien in the period before his first presidential debate last June against then-candidate Donald Trump, and that the prescription sleeping pill contributed to his disastrous performance. "I'll tell you what, I know exactly what happened in that debate," Hunter Biden told independent journalist Andrew Callaghan in a lengthy interview published Monday, exactly one year after Biden abruptly withdrew from the 2024 presidential race. "He flew around the world basically ... he's 81 years old, he's tired as s---, they give him Ambien to be able to sleep, he gets up on the stage and he looks like he's a deer in the headlights," the younger Biden said. Joe Biden's live debate performance was marked by stumbling, meandering answers and a quiet, raspy voice that took viewers by surprise and immediately raised questions about Biden's fitness to serve another term. A little over a month after the debate, Biden announced he was dropping out of the presidential race, clearing the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to secure the Democratic nomination. Some bosses think flattering their employees is a good leadership tactic. Those bosses are wrong, says Jennifer Schielke. "Flattery is what I've seen from a lot of leaders," says Schielke, a leadership expert and CEO of Bellevue, Washington-based staffing and recruiting firm Summit Group Solutions. Bosses tend to throw excessive praise at their employees when they want everyone to like them, she says. But insincere compliments can come across as manipulative, like you have an ulterior motive. When someone is going above and beyond at work, they probably deserve some authentic praise and appreciation. But leaning on flattery too much points to "insecurity" and a lack of leadership skills, says Schielke. "I just don't see any benefit of it, truly." You probably know when a boss is giving empty compliments. Say you realize you did a poor job executing a project, but your boss tells you they were really impressed with it. Or they constantly compliment your skills, to the point where it feels disingenuous. "Leading doesn't have to be a popularity contest," says Schielke. "It's really investing in employees, being kind and addressing the hard stuff, too." Most workers do tend to like a boss who's a "people person" someone who enjoys having genuine interactions with others, and uses soft skills like empathy, compassion and communication to create an inviting workplace culture according to workplace culture expert Tom Gimbel. "The more authentic you are, the more people are going to connect with you and enjoy your company," Gimbel told CNBC Make It in April 2024. Schielke likes to dedicate certain days of the week to a team-building exercise, she says, like "Tell Me About Yourself Tuesdays," where employees spend minutes, or sometimes hours, discussing subjects that are important to them. Her company also has "Wacky Wednesdays," where she assigns quirky topics to her employees, who then present a workshop, training module or a simple moment of comedic relief about them, she adds. Instead of unduly flattering employees, you can make them feel valued at work simply by paying attention to their perspectives and needs, Schielke says. If your particular workplace craves hybrid work, employee resource groups or volunteer opportunities simple policies that you have the power to grant you'd do well to listen, she notes. These efforts are "very, very meaningful and valuable" to employees, says Schielke, no matter the business. Want to be a successful, confident communicator? Take CNBC's online course Become an Effective Communicator: Master Public Speaking. We'll teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, calm your nerves, what to say and not say, and body language techniques to make a great first impression. Get started today. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers. Elon Musk's X on Monday denied allegations made by French authorities as part of a criminal investigation into alleged data tampering, adding that it would not submit to the prosecutor's demand to hand over data. X's global government affairs account said the French investigation, which ramped up this month, is "politically-motivated" and designed to "restrict free speech." "French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged "fraudulent data extraction," X said in a post on the social media platform. "X categorically denies these allegations." French prosecutors started an investigation in January over allegations that the company's algorithm was being used for the purposes of foreign interference. The probe began after two complaints one from a French member of parliament and another from a senior official at a public institution. This month, the investigation was handed over to a key unit of France's national police. Prosecutors said the investigation would focus on investigating offences of tampering with automated data systems as well as the fraudulent extraction of data from these systems. "French authorities have requested access to X's recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform in order for several 'experts' to analyze the data and purportedly 'uncover the truth' about the operation of the X platform," X said. Musk's social media platform also said it, "remains in the dark as to the specific allegations made" against it. "However, based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," X said. "For these reasons, X has not acceded to the French authorities' demands, as we have a legal right to do. This is not a decision that X takes lightly. However, in this case, the facts speak for themselves." In an email to CNBC, a spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor's office said that it had requested that X provide its algorithm, but not access to private data, in order for investigators to "carry out a technical verification of the elements" highlighted by experts and researchers in regard to the way data is handled. According to French law, "investigators are bound by secrecy and that only those in charge of the investigation will have access to it," the spokesperson said. X will have a "secure process" to communicate with "guarantees of confidentiality," the spokesperson added. In its statement, X took fire at two specific individuals. The company claimed the two "experts" who will review X's algorithm are David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF) and Maziyar Panahi, an AI platform leader at ISC-PIF. X noted Chavalarias runs a campaign called "Escape X" which encourages users to leave the social media platform, and said Panahi "has previously participated in research projects with David Chavalarias that demonstrate open hostility towards X." Both researchers have indeed been named on a research paper related to X. "The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably. A predetermined outcome is not a fair one," X said. CNBC has reached out to both Chavalarias and Panahi, and has yet to receive a comment on X's statement. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday it is investigating a near miss between a SkyWest Airlines jet and a U.S. Air Force jet over North Dakota last week. SkyWest Flight 3788, an Embraer ERJ-175 operating as a Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot on Friday after performing a go-around during its landing approach when another plane became visible in its flight path, SkyWest said. The Air Force confirmed a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot Air Force Base conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday. "We are currently looking into the matter," the Air Force said. The SkyWest pilot reportedly said the incident caught him by surprise, prompting him to make an aggressive move to avoid a possible collision, according to a video recording posted by a passenger on social media. SkyWest did not immediately comment on the video or confirm its accuracy. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating another close call involving a Delta jet and a group of Air Force jets near Reagan Washington National Airport on March 28. The jet in that incident, a Delta Airbus A319, received a cockpit collision warning alert that another aircraft was nearby, and controllers issued corrective instructions to the Delta plane and one of the military jets. The Delta plane had been cleared to depart as four Air Force T-38 Talons were heading to nearby Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover. The NTSB said in a preliminary report there had been confusion about when controllers were to halt traffic during the flyover. There has been intense focus on military traffic near civilian airplanes since an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet on January 29 near Reagan National, killing 67 people. In early May the FAA barred Army helicopter flights around the Pentagon after another near miss. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Aug. 1 is the " hard deadline " for countries to reach a trade deal with the United States. The market, however, didn't care. Stocks instead looked to start the week on a high note as investors turned their focus to a slew of major corporate reports due out this week. More than 100 S & P 500 companies are slated to post results, including Tesla and Google-parent Alphabet. Wall Street has a lot riding on some of these reports, as most of second-quarter earnings growth is expected to come from megacap tech. (For more on what to expect from some of the biggest reports this week, check out my latest Earnings Playbook .) .SPX YTD mountain S & P 500 year to date "Our view is you are going to need a notable 'beat and raise' across the board here for the most part, outside of an Alphabet where the expectations, valuations are a little bit more reasonable in nature," CFRA analyst Angelo Zino told CNBC's Frank Holland on "Worldwide Exchange" Monday morning. Alphabet, which reports Wednesday after the bell, trades at around 19 times forward earnings. Big Tech rivals Meta Platforms and Apple sport respective multiples of 27 and 29. One thing that can provide some comfort to Wall Street for now is that the reporting period is off to a strong start. FactSet data shows that of the 62 S & P 500 companies that have already posted results, 85% have exceeded expectations. However, RBC isn't fully sold just yet. "Overall, we exited week 1 of 2Q25 reporting season feeling like everything is fine, but not fabulous, and wondering if investors generally got what they expected but were hoping for a bit more," Lori Calvasina, the bank's head of U.S. equity strategy, wrote in a note Monday. She noted that companies reporting in the weeks ahead could signal trade-related pressure will hurt their bottom lines. This is despite investors looking beyond the recent tariff headlines. Morgan Stanley's chief investment officer Michael Wilson holds a more positive view, however. "Earnings momentum, positive operating leverage and cash tax savings are underappreciated tailwinds, in our view. We lean more toward our bull case (7200) by the middle of next year. While there should be some consolidation during 3Q, we think dips are meant to be bought," he said. Wilson's bull-case target signals 14% upside from Friday's close. European small-cap stocks have outperformed this year and are poised to continue their winning streak, according to a senior Goldman Sachs strategist. Speaking to CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday, Sharon Bell said a weak dollar and expectations of an improving regional economy were giving "a little bit of a kicker to small caps." "So small caps in Europe have outperformed this year, which is very different from the U.S. [where] it's the mega caps that have done very well," she said. "Small caps tend to be more domestic they tend to be euro earners in Europe, and the euro has done well. If you're a dollar earner, you're a big-cap international company. Translating that back into euros when the euro has been so strong [will have] been painful for you this year. So that's one reason small caps have done well." MSCI's Europe Small Cap Index, home to stocks from across the region including British real estate platform Rightmove and Swiss real estate firm PSP Swiss Property , has gained around 13% since the beginning of the year. The German SDAX index, comprised of 70 small cap companies, has gained close to 32% so far this year. In comparison, the pan-European Stoxx 600 is up 7.9% in the year to date, while the U.S. S & P 500 index has added around 7%. Bell also noted that part of small cap stocks' appeal right now is that they remain cheap relative to large and mega-cap companies. "The large caps [are] at all at all-time highs and extremely stretched in valuation terms," she told CNBC. "And of course, when you get a little bit cheaper versus the large caps, you become big targets. And we have seen a pick-up in M & A [which] I do think will continue to improve next year, and in the end, all small caps get bid up when you start seeing people's expectations for M & A improve." According to data from professional services giant PwC, global M & A volumes fell 9% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, but deal values were up by 15%. In the EMEA region, volumes and values were down 6% and 7%, respectively, compared to the first half of 2024. PwC attributed this largely to a drop in the number of megadeals in the U.K. compared with the previous year. Bell isn't alone in seeing opportunities among small European firms. Bank of America's July European Fund Manager Survey found that a net 44% of respondents expect small caps to outperform large caps over the next 12 months. The regional survey included responses from fund managers who collectively manage assets worth $172 billion. That view marks a massive pivot in position on small cap stocks. Just one month earlier, only 7% of fund managers told BoA they believed small caps would outperform. BoA strategists said in the report on the survey findings that there was currently "a clear preference for European cyclicals, value [and] small caps stocks." Christopher Hart, a fund manager at Boston Partners, told CNBC on Friday that, while he didn't disagree with the pro-small cap view "from an idiosyncratic perspective," it was important to take a considered approach to investing in the space. However, Hart who manages Boston Partners' $274 million Global Equity Fund did note that there was "a sweet spot" among small caps, with some smaller companies offering both value and a strong growth trajectory. He urged not to treat small-caps as one. JPMorgan Chase has overhauled the leadership of its internal research group responsible for quantum computing and other forms of advanced technology, hiring a State Street executive, CNBC has learned. Marco Pistoia, the former IBM inventor who became head of JPMorgan's applied research group in 2020, has recently left the bank, according to a person briefed on the matter, who declined to be identified speaking about personnel. That group conducted research into how emerging technologies including quantum computing and communications, blockchain, computer vision and networking could solve problems in finance. JPMorgan has hired Rob Otter, who is State Street's global head of digital technology and quantum computing, to replace Pistoia, according to an employee memo sent Monday. Before joining State Street in 2022, Otter was head of JPMorgan's Onyx blockchain business and worked in technology roles at Barclays , Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs. With the private jet industry becoming increasingly competitive and dominated by industry leader NetJets, Flexjet aims to be more like an exclusive membership club, offering luxury experiences and bespoke services. Flexjet already has partnerships with Belmond, yacht maker Ferretti Group and Bentley Motors, collaborating on jet interiors and curated events. For Cleveland-based Flexjet, the deal creates a relationship with the world's largest luxury giant and its portfolio of more than 75 coveted brands, from Louis Vuitton and Dior to Dom Perignon and Tiffany. Global sales of luxury goods declined 2% last year to 363 billion euros ($424 billion) as demand from Gen Z and Chinese consumers fell, according to a report from Bain and Altagamma. Luxury hospitality, however, grew by 4%, while gourmet food and fine dining surged 8% and sales of yachts and private jets increased 13%. The deal highlights the luxury industry's rapid expansion into the experience economy as wealthy consumers increase their spending on travel, dining and special events. LVMH acquired hospitality group Belmond in 2018 for $3.2 billion, and has been building out its Cheval Blanc and Bulgari hotel and resort brands. L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by French luxury giant LVMH, is leading an $800 million investment in Flexjet that will also include brand partnerships and collaborations. The investment group also includes affiliates of KSL Capital Partners and the J. Safra Group. Flexjet will continue to be controlled by parent company Directional Aviation Capital. An investment group led by LVMH's private equity arm is buying 20% of private jet company Flexjet, marking the latest push by the luxury industry to expand into travel. The Inside Wealth newsletter by Robert Frank is your weekly guide to high-net-worth investors and the industries that serve them. "We have been trying to move Flexjet into an experiential role," said Kenn Ricci, chairman of Flexjet and principal of Directional Aviation. "If you think about luxury travel and where it is today, I keep thinking about a Flexjet community. When you have an experience at a hotel, you get to have it for a week, and you get to know what that experience is. But when you fly on a jet, it happens four hours, five hours. So how do we create that Flexjet community?" Ricci said most of the proceeds of the deal will go to expanding and improving Flexjet's infrastructure. That includes buying larger, long-range planes to fill rapidly growing demand for international travel. The company will also build up its infrastructure overseas, with added maintenance facilities and ground handling. And Flexjet will continue adding and training flight crews through its special cabin attendant academy. About 25% of the proceeds will be used to pay a special dividend to shareholders. Ricci said Flexjet is projecting earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $425 million this year, up from $398 million in 2024 and more than double the levels in 2020. The company offers fractional ownership and leasing options, as well as jet cards. Its fleet of 318 aircraft is expected to reach 340 by the end of 2025, and it has more than 2,000 Flexjet members under the fractional and leasing program, according to the company. Ricci said L Catterton approached Flexjet with the potential deal as the private equity firm seeks to stay ahead of the changing definitions of luxury among the wealthy. "(L Catterton) presented us some ideas about where they see the future of luxury," Ricci said. "They basically see that the luxury of the future is time. And they see that in private travel, you can recoup time." Ricci said the details of potential brand partnerships or collaborations have yet to be announced. But he cited as a model Flexjet's partnership with Belmond, which includes special deals and enhanced stays at the company's luxury hotels in Venice and Ravello, Italy; and Mallorca, Spain, as well as other locations. He said the company's bespoke aircraft cabins, modeled after individually designed rooms at the best hotels, would also continue to be a competitive advantage. "When faced with a behemoth like NetJets, we don't need to be the largest," he said. "We want to be the boutique." L Catterton is 40% owned by LVMH and the family office of CEO Bernard Arnault. It manages $37 billion in equity capital across consumer brands including Birkenstock , Thorne and Etro. Scott Dahnke, global CEO of L Catterton, said in a statement that Flexjet's history "is one of never settling in pursuit of thoughtful innovation to best fulfill the desires of the consumers within their unique and exciting marketplace." Britain and ChatGPT maker OpenAI have signed a new strategic partnership to expand AI security research collaboration and explore investing in UK AI infrastructure, such as data centers, the government said on Monday. "AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country whether that's in fixing the NHS (National Health Service), breaking down barriers to opportunity or driving economic growth," technology minister Peter Kyle said in a statement. "This can't be achieved without companies like OpenAI, who are driving this revolution forward internationally. This partnership will see more of their work taking place in the UK." OpenAI said it will open its first office in Washington, D.C. early next year, the latest sign that the artificial intelligence startup is looking to deepen its ties to lawmakers and and regulators. The office will be home to OpenAI's workforce in the nation's capital, which is currently made up of about 30 people, an OpenAI spokesperson said Monday. The company has been operating out of a co-working space in the city for the past year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is slated to speak at a conference hosted by the Federal Reserve in D.C. on Tuesday. In June, the company launched a new offering called OpenAI for Government and said it was awarded a contract of up to $200 million by the U.S. Department of Defense. Chan Park, OpenAI's head of global affairs for the U.S. and Canada, will run the D.C. office alongside Joe Larson, who will lead the public sector business as vice president of government starting later this month. Ronnie Chatterji, the company's chief economist, will also frequently work from that location, the spokesperson said. OpenAI's D.C. office will include a laboratory called "The Workshop," where nonprofit leaders, policymakers and educators can test the company's technology. The space will be used to preview new technology, offer trainings and bring together experts, the spokesperson said. The company, valued at $300 billion earlier this year, currently has offices in locations including San Francisco, New York, Seattle, London, Paris, Tokyo and Singapore. WATCH: ChatGPTs growth has been unassailed and looks set to continue: Altimeters Apoorv Agrawal Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Bruker The lab instrument and tools maker shed 12% after the company issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the second quarter. The company expects to earn between 32 cents and 34 cents per share on revenue ranging from $795 million to $798 million. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a profit of 42 cents per share on revenue of $813.3 million. Block The fintech stock surged 8% as it prepares to officially join the S & P 500 before the opening of trading on July 23. Block will replace Hess, which has been acquired by Chevron. Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals The biotech company fell nearly 12%, adding to its steep decline from the previous session. Shares slid 11.1%, following those of Sarepta Therapeutics. Sarepta Therapeutics The biotech stock tumbled 7% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced following Friday's close that it was pulling its support for Elevidys, a gene therapy developed by Sarepta used to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, after another patient death. Shops such as Leerink Partners, Mizuho and Needham soon downgraded the stock. Alkermes The biopharma company lost 9% after it announced Phase 2 trial results for its alixorexton drug, which aims to treat patients with narcolepsy Type 1. EQT Corporation Shares of the largest natural gas producer in the U.S. fell 8% after CEO Toby Rice told the Financial Times that China will win the artificial intelligence race unless Congress streamlines permitting for projects. Pinterest Shares of the social media company jumped more than 2% after Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight. Nowak highlighted Pinterest's attractive valuation along with "GPU enabled investments and budding engagement and monetization improvements" as the key reasons for his new rating. SolarEdge The solar technology manufacturer's stock jumped 8% after analysts at Susquehanna increased their price target for the company to $26. But solar stocks face big headwinds as President Donald Trump moves to end federal support for the sector. Dollar Tree Shares added 2.2% upon an upgrade to overweight from equal weight at Barclays. Analyst Seth Sigman said he expects a "cleaner growth story" ahead. Cleveland-Cliffs The steel manufacturer gained 13% after the company said it expected to spend less money than anticipated on capital expenditures and administrative expenses for the full year. That overshadowed a larger-than-expected loss for the second quarter. Verizon The telecommunications stock rose 5% after posting second-quarter earnings of $1.22 per share on revenue of $34.5 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.18 billion on $33.74 billion in revenue, according to LSEG. Invesco Shares added 1% after TD Cowen upgraded the investment management firm to a buy rating from hold. Analyst Bill Katz called Invesco's Friday announcement that it was requesting to migrate its QQQ exchange-traded fund to an open-end fund structure from a unit investment trust a "game changing event." CNBC'S Spencer Kimball contributed reporting. Stocks such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Southwest Airlines are among the names that could see sharp movements this week on the back of their latest earnings. The second-quarter earnings season seems to be off to a good start, with 12% of the S & P 500 's components already reporting results. Of these companies, about 85% have posted a positive earnings surprise, according to FactSet. Looking ahead, CNBC Pro screened for stocks that could outperform this week in response to their latest quarterly results, specifically by examining forecast moves based on their actions in the options market. Below is the list of stocks that are expected to post notable swings. One name on the list was Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has tumbled nearly 13% this year. The fast-casual burrito chain will report results this Wednesday, and its shares could see a 6% move as a result. Last Friday, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill to an outperform rating from market perform. "We believe CMG is well positioned for accelerating comp [same-store sales] growth and improving margin trajectory beginning in 2H25, and view favorably its strong U.S.-heavy store growth that has room to accelerate towards 10% over time," wrote analyst Andrew Strelzik. Strelzik's new price target of $65 per share, up from $56, represents upside of nearly 21% from Friday's close. Southwest Airlines, up 10% this year, could see shares move 5% after reporting results for its most recent quarter this Wednesday. The company will hold a conference call to discuss the results the following day . In May, Deutsche Bank upgraded Southwest to a buy rating from hold. "The three drivers behind our Buy rating are as follows: 1) Southwest's refreshed board of directors (along with Elliott Management) has ushered in a new era of change at the company, which we think will drive higher shareholder returns; 2) current strategic initiatives should drive meaningful revenue and [earnings before interest and taxes] growth over the next 12-24 months; and 3) we think Southwest's return on invested capital (ROIC) will significantly improve over the next two years," wrote analyst Michael Linenberg. The analyst accompanied the move by raising his price target to $40 from $28. This updated forecast implies upside of nearly 10% from Southwest's Friday close. Telecommunications stock Charter Communications could see a 7% move following results. The company, up 13% in 2025, next reports earnings on Friday . In May, Loop Capital upgraded shares of Charter Communications to a buy rating from hold. Analyst Alan Gould's price target of $510, upped from $430, represents upside of approximately 33% for the stock. The analyst cited Charter's upcoming merger with Cox Communications as a catalyst for the stock. The deal is expected to close in 2026. "The transaction is expected to be accretive, reduce leverage, and deliver scale efficiencies positioning CHTR as the largest domestic cable operator. Additionally, CHTR's Life Unlimited rebrand, which provides a converged broadband/mobile offering as well as customer service guarantees, is showing early traction," Gould wrote. Other names on the list include Danaher , International Business Machines and GE Vernova . President Donald Trump's new $10 billion libel lawsuit against media baron Rupert Murdoch over a Wall Street Journal article about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will be handled by the same Florida federal judge who presided over a prior breach-of-contract suit Trump filed against his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Trump voluntarily dropped that $500 million lawsuit against Cohen, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Miami in 2023, shortly after Judge Darrin Gayles scheduled a deposition where Trump would have had to answer questions about his allegations under oath by Cohen's attorney. The president's filing of the suit against Murdoch sets the stage for Gayles to schedule another deposition for Trump and for Trump to weigh whether he wants to answer questions under oath from Murdoch's legal team. Those questions could focus on Trump's past friendship with Epstein and his convicted procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell, and comments such as one Trump made in 2002 to New York magazine about Epstein. "He's a lot of fun to be with," Trump is quoted saying. "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." Gayles was randomly assigned as the judge for Trump's new lawsuit on Monday. A former federal prosecutor whom then-President Barack Obama nominated to the bench in 2014, Gayles became the first openly gay Black man to serve as a federal judge after the Senate confirmed him in a 98-0 vote. Cohen told CNBC on Monday that even if Gayles orders Trump to sit for a deposition for his suit against Murdoch, he does not expect history to repeat itself. U.S. President Donald Trump signs the sweeping spending and tax legislation, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2025. President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill," which he signed into law this month, will add $3.4 trillion to the U.S. national debt over the next decade, according to a new report published Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The report found that the law, which Republicans passed along party lines, will also "increase by 10 million the number of people without health insurance" by 2034. The budget office scrutinized the final version of the bill after Republicans made a series of last-minute changes to cobble together the votes needed in the Senate; it passed by a vote of 51-50. That revised version subsequently passed the House on a vote of 218-214. Trump enacted it on July 4. The 887-page package extends Trump's 2017 tax cuts while providing tax deductions for tips and overtime pay for the next four years. It includes hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending for the military and to carry out Trump's mass deportation agenda. And it pays for some of that with cuts to Medicaid, SNAP benefits (which help low-income families purchase groceries) and clean energy funding. The analysis found that the law's net spending cuts of $1.1 trillion are outstripped by the $4.5 trillion in decreased revenue, compared to if the measure had not passed. Republican leaders said passing the "big, beautiful bill" was essential to averting a tax hike at the end of this year, when much of Trump's 2017 tax law was slated to expire. Recent surveys show the bill is unpopular with Americans. Democrats are leaning heavily into attacks on the bill as a tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthy, paid for in part with spending cuts that harm the working class. Some Republicans and White House allies, meanwhile, are casting the bill as a tax benefit for "working families," highlighting the move away from taxes on tips and overtime in particular. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., predicted that voters will "reward" Republicans for the bill in the midterm elections. "This is a bill that was written for hard working Americans, middle and lower class earners in particular, and they will feel the effects of that in the economy, and they'll have higher wages and more opportunity and more economic growth, and that's a major factor in a midterm election. And the border will be secure. We'll have American energy dominance going again," Johnson told NBC News earlier this month after it passed. Asked if he has any concerns that it will cost the GOP seats in the 2026 midterm elections, Johnson responded, "No concerns at all. In fact, it's going to gain seats for us. We're that confident." The CBO also found that the law, which includes changes to the Affordable Care Act, will reduce average premiums for the standard "benchmark" ACA plan by about 0.6% in 2034. In an aerial view, a container ship is seen docked at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California, on April 18, 2025. Across the U.S., from California to the Gulf Coast, secondary and smaller ports are processing less trade as shippers readjust supply chain deliveries in a race against August tariff deadlines. Recent data on container volumes shows that while the nation's busiest port, Los Angeles, has seen a sizable bump in traffic, that has come at the expense of trade activity for smaller ports, where there has been a reduction in scheduled services for imports, according to ITS Logistics' monthly US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. "The ports of Oakland, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and Panama City [Florida] are getting sandwiched out of port calls as more shippers decide to unload their freight in the larger ports in an effort to get the product in before the tariffs," said Paul Brashier, vice president of global supply chain at ITS Logistics. The Port of Oakland recently reported a 10.1% decrease month-over-month in June year-over-year container traffic was down 13%. Port of Oakland maritime director Bryan Brandes said the softening demand is a result of the ongoing tariff uncertainty. "This is not a seasonal dip, but a market recalibration," said Brandes. "Importers and exporters are adjusting their supply chain timing and routing decisions in response to evolving conditions," he added. Oakland is unique among U.S. ports, maintaining a near 50/50 balance of imports and exports, with a big role in the nation's agricultural trade. The Port of Oakland is the No. 1 refrigerated export gateway in the U.S., and nearly all containerized cargo moving through Northern California goes through the Port of Oakland. Container volumes are key economic and job drivers for a port's local community and economic stability, and port officials have voiced concerns in recent months about the trade war risks. The Port of Oakland, along with its partners, supports more than 98,000 regional jobs and $174 billion in annual economic activity. Jobs and trade have also been a focal point for the larger ports, even amid a short-term increase in container volumes during the pause on the steepest Chinese tariff levels, which saw the Port of Los Angeles handle record monthly traffic in June. Back in its May container update, Port of LA executive director Gene Seroka said the drop in containers being moved impacted jobs. "We saw that for every two longshore members that walked into the hiring hall, one went home without work," he said. During the more recent front-loading of Chinese goods ahead of the mid-August deadline for a trade deal before much higher tariffs kick in, port officials have stressed that they would not describe it as a "surge." Seroka recently told CNBC that "shifting timelines simply mean shifting volume and more uncertainty here at the Port of LA. Looking into August, if everything holds the way we see it right now, I expect volume to ease because of those new tariffs being in place, making it more costly for American importers." Smaller ports will continue to face economic pain "It's easy to say right now, peak season is earlier than normal. Just a question of how long this will last," Brashier said. He added that the recent trend among ocean carriers to concentrate on the largest ports like Los Angeles while skipping secondary ports like the Port of Oakland should continue. "There is too much uncertainty in the marketplace right now for companies to truly book ahead," he said. "Companies are reassigning their logistics to be as efficient as possible in moving their decreased number of containers. It is all about margins, so when you are negotiating with logistics companies, shippers may have more negotiating power with more containers arriving at one port instead of two or three." Comparing June and July container arrivals, the majority of the secondary ports across the U.S. are down substantially, according to trade tracker Vizion, though Oakland has seen a slight turnaround. USMOB (Mobile): +3,154 TEUs (+7.04%) USOAK (Oakland): +1,183 TEUs (+1.10%) USJAX (Jacksonville): -3,803 TEUs (12.90%) USCHS (Charleston): -21,339 TEUs (13.37%) USBAL (Baltimore): -14,815 TEUs (17.65%) USMSY (New Orleans): -10,657 TEUs (34.92%) USSEA (Seattle): -65,705 TEUs (35.75%) USTIW (Tacoma): -60,311 TEUs (36.01%) Josh Stein, governor of North Carolina, recently told CNBC that there has been a recent reduction in traffic at the state's biggest port in Wilmington, a result of trade policy that "changes practically on a daily basis." "We need to have stability, businesses need certainty, so they can figure out how and where to invest," Stein said. More than 20% of North Carolina's GDP in 2024 came from international trade in goods, according to data from Trade Partnership Worldwide. The outlook for Chinese exports to the U.S., according to recent SONAR data on ocean freight bookings, suggests a decline in orders headed to the U.S. in the coming weeks. President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner for Republican Senators at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2025. The U.S. has signaled it will not let up on its Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs on the European Union as the bloc fights to strike a deal in time. Over the weekend, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he was confident that a trade deal could be struck with the European Union, but warned that the deadline for a baseline 30% tariff is fixed. "That's a hard deadline, so on Aug. 1, the new tariff rates will come in," Lutnick said Sunday on CBS News when asked about the deadline for his EU tariffs. He did signal that talks could continue after this date, however, noting: "These are the two biggest trading partners in the world, talking to each other. We'll get a deal done. I am confident we'll get a deal done." "Nothing stops countries from talking to us after Aug. 1, but they're going to start paying the tariffs on Aug. 1," he added. The EU has said it is preparing retaliatory measures against the U.S. if punitive trade tariffs are imposed. Lutnick dismissed the possibility of the EU targeting items like Boeing airplanes and Kentucky bourbon, however, saying, "they're just not going to do that." Last-ditch talks to reach a trade agreement are ongoing, with the EU hoping it can negotiate a lower tariff rate. The bloc had hoped it could strike a similar pact to the U.K., which was the first country to make a trade agreement with the U.S. That deal includes a 10% baseline tariff with some caveats relating to car, steel and aerospace imports. But economists and analysts have become increasingly skeptical about Brussels' ability to agree on a similar framework. For one, the EU has a much trickier relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump than the U.K. does. Trump has frequently bemoaned what he sees as an imbalanced trade relationship and unfair trading practices, which the EU denies. According to the European Council, total trade between the EU and U.S. amounted to 1.68 trillion euros ($1.96 trillion) in 2024. While the EU ran a trade surplus in goods, it recorded a deficit in services with the U.S. Overall, the bloc had a surplus of around 50 billion euros last year, when both goods and services are taken into account. Last Friday, the Financial Times reported that Trump was pushing for a minimum tariff of 15% to 20% on EU imports in any deal with the bloc. The president was also reportedly happy to keep duties on the auto sector at 25%, a move that would hurt car exporters in Germany particularly hard. Speaking to CNBC's "Europe Early Edition" on Monday, Arnaud Girod, head of economics and cross-asset strategy at Kepler Cheuvreux, said a rate of 15% to 20% "would be a total car crash for European exports." "On top of that, you add the euro strength that we've had ... so that would start to cost and to be very painful for European exports, and, of course, would also potentially, you know, reignite some fears on the inflation front in the U.S.," he added. Google announced Monday the removal of nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and other accounts tied to state-linked propaganda campaigns from China, Russia and more in the second quarter. The takedown included more than 7,700 YouTube channels linked to China. These campaigns primarily shared content in Chinese and English that promoted the People's Republic of China, supported President Xi Jinping and commented on U.S. foreign affairs. Over 2,000 removed channels were linked to Russia. The content was in multiple languages that supported Russia and criticized Ukraine, NATO and the West. Google, in May, removed 20 YouTube channels, 4 Ads accounts, and 1 Blogger blog linked to RT, the Russian state-controlled media outlet accused of paying prominent conservative influencers for social media content ahead of the 2024 election. Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson all staunch supporters of President Donald Trump made content for Tenent Media, the Tennessee company described in the indictment, according to NBC News. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maldives on July 25 and 26 to grace the island nation's Independence Day celebrations as a "guest of honour", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.Ahead of the proposed visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India and Maldives are discussing a free trade agreement (FTA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty.PM Modi's visit marks a significant reset of bilateral ties that had come under severe strain after Mohamed Muizzu became president in November 2023. It will be the first visit by an Indian head of state or government since Muizzu assumed office.The two leaders will hold discussions on issues of mutual interest and take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives joint vision for a 'Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership'. The joint vision was adopted during Muizzu's visit to India in October 2024."The visit reflects the importance India attaches to its maritime neighbour, Maldives, which continues to hold a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)," the MEA said.Addressing a press briefing, Misri remarked that India was one of the biggest partners of the Maldives, with bilateral trade between the two countries around $500 million, ANI reported.On the economic front, the two countries are working on a FTA as well as an investment treaty, Misri said, adding that the countries are exploring new areas of cooperation in renewable energy, fisheries so on, according to the report.In January 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared photos of his trip on social media, several users compared the islands with the Maldives. It became a diplomatic row when three Maldivian ministers made disparaging remarks against India and Modi. The ministers responded to his post, describing Modi as a "clown," "terrorist" and a "puppet of Israel".The ministers faced backlash on the social media and the posts were deleted from X, formerly known as Twitter.Following the controversial remarks, celebrities and citizens gave a boycott call to Maldives under the hashtag #BoycottMaldives. The island rely heavily on tourism and a large part of that income came from India. In 2023, Indian tourists made more than 209,000 trips to Maldives, making up 11% of its tourism market.The 'India Out' campaign started in 2020 as on-ground protests in the Maldives and quickly moved to social media platforms. Shifxan Ahmed, the co-founder of Dhiyares, told Indian Express they are only protesting against the military presence in the country, adding that they are not enticing anyone to resort to violence.Though the campaign gained popularity in the past year or so, its root cause can be traced back to 2013 when Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of the Progressive Party (PPM) became the president. The relationship between India and Maldives soured as the PPM was considered pro-China. US Stock Market Highlights: S&P 500 posts first close above 6,300, Nasdaq hits a record ahead of big tech earnings By CNBCTV18.COM Jul 22, 2025 1:43 AM IST (Updated) US Stock Market Highlights: The S&P 500 edged up 0.14% on Monday (July 21) to close at 6,305.60, marking its first-ever finish above the 6,300 level, as upbeat earnings sentiment outweighed concerns over trade tensions. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.38% to end at 20,974.17, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting fresh intraday highs earlier in the day, driven by gains in tech heavyweights like Meta Platforms and Amazon. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 19.12 points, or 0.04%, to close at 44,323.07. US Stock Market Highlights: The S&P 500 edged up 0.14% on Monday (July 21) to close at 6,305.60, marking its first-ever finish above the 6,300 level, as upbeat earnings sentiment outweighed concerns over trade tensions. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.38% to end at 20,974.17, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting fresh intraday highs earlier in the day, driven by gains in tech heavyweights like Meta Platforms and Amazon. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 19.12 points, or 0.04%, to close at 44,323.07. Watch this space for all the Live updates. At least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food at locations across Gaza on Sunday, the territorys Health Ministry said, on the deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war.There was new alarm as Israels military issued evacuation orders for areas of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organisations trying to distribute aid are located.One aid group said several groups offices were told to evacuate immediately. There was no immediate Israeli comment on that.The largest death toll was in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. At least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministrys records department, told The Associated Press.The UN World Food Programme said 25 trucks with aid had entered for starving communities when it encountered massive crowds that came under gunfire.A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to comment on the incident to the media, said Israeli forces opened fire toward the crowds who tried to take food from the convoy. Footage taken by the UN and shared with the AP showed Palestinian men running as the sound of automatic gunfire could be heard.Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours, said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour. I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, its better. Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people randomly and he saw his cousin and others shot dead.Israels military said soldiers had shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat, and it was aware of some casualties. But it said the numbers reported by officials in Gaza were far higher than its initial investigation found.The military accused Hamas militants of creating chaos and endangering civilians.More than 150 people were wounded overall, with some in critical condition, hospitals said.Al-Waheidi said another six Palestinians were killed in the Shakoush area, hundreds of metres north of a hub of the recently created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israel-backed group, in the southern city of Rafah.Witnesses and health workers say hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the groups aid distribution sites.Separately, seven Palestinians were killed while sheltering in tents in Khan Younis in the south, including a five-year-old boy, according to the Kuwait Specialised Field Hospital, which received the casualties.Evacuation orders cut road across Gaza The new evacuation orders cut access between the central city of Deir al-Balah and Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow territory. The military also reiterated evacuation orders for northern Gaza.The United Nations has been in contact with Israeli authorities to clarify whether UN facilities in the southwestern part of Deir al-Balah are included in the evacuation order, according to a different UN official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorised to speak to the media.The official said that in previous instances, UN facilities were spared from evacuation orders.The latest order covers an area stretching from a previously evacuated area all the way to the Mediterranean coast and will severely hamper movement for aid groups and civilians in Gaza.The Medical Aid for Palestinians group in a statement said several humanitarian organisations offices and guesthouses had been ordered to evacuate immediately and nine clinics, including the MAP one, had been forced to shut down. It was not immediately clear what other groups were affected.Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called for people to head to the Muwasi area, a desolate tent camp with little infrastructure on Gazas southern coast that Israels military has designated a humanitarian zone.The announcement came as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israels military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations.Earlier this month, Israels military said it controlled more than 65 per cent of Gaza.Palestinian death toll nears 59,000 Gazas population of more than 2 million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced multiple times.Ambulances in front of three major hospitals in Gaza sounded their alarms simultaneously Sunday in an urgent appeal as the hunger crisis grows. The Health Ministry posted pictures on social media of doctors holding signs about malnourished children and the lack of medication.Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023 killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive.Israels military offensive has killed more than 58,800 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt say how many militants have been killed but says more than half of the dead have been women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots organisation that represents many families of hostages, condemned the new evacuation announcement and demanded that Netanyahu and Israels military explain what they hope to accomplish in central Gaza, accusing Israel of operating without a clear plan.Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages, the forum said. On Saturday night, during a weekly protest, tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv to the branch of the US Embassy, demanding an end to the war. Opinion Dick Wadhams dick-wadhams@midtc.com Updated 2 days ago No good deed should go unpunished. Or at least that seems to be the mantra of the City of Denver. Despite all the rosy declarations of statistical victory, Denver is still mired in crime and homelessness. Just ask the tens of thousands... 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 Snyder cites challenges of raising a family and doing business in California as reasons for her move In-N-Out will open a new office in Franklin, Tennessee to support its southeastern expansion Company maintains firm stance against broader East Coast expansion, saying Florida has begged us Lynsi Snyder, the billionaire president and owner of In-N-Out Burger, announced she is leaving California and relocating to Tennessee as the iconic burger brand opens a new eastern territory office to support its expansion into the southeastern U.S. In a recent appearance on the Relatable podcast hosted by Allie Beth Stuckey, Snyder said the company is building a new office in Franklin, Tennessee part of a larger move to establish a presence in the state where In-N-Out plans to open 35 restaurants. Were building an office in Franklin, so Im actually moving out there, Snyder said. Theres a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here. Snyder, the only grandchild of In-N-Out founders Harry and Esther Snyder, has long been the face of the famously family-run burger chain. Despite her move, she assured customers that California remains central to the companys identity. The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, she said. Florida has "begged" for new burger joints In February, In-N-Out announced plans to close its Irvine, Calif., headquarters and consolidate its two West Coast offices into a single facility in Baldwin Park, the city where the first In-N-Out stand opened in 1948. Snyder told Stuckey the Irvine office is expected to close by 2030. The new Tennessee office is part of a carefully planned expansion, Snyder said. In-N-Out famously adheres to a strict logistics model that requires a patty production facility within 300 miles of any location, a constraint that has limited its national footprint. Still, the company is growing steadily into the American South and Midwest. Despite interest from states like Florida and others on the East Coast, Snyder said she remains committed to a more selective expansion strategy. Florida has begged us and were still saying no, she said. You know, the East Coast states, were still saying no. You know, were able to reach Tennessee from our Texas warehouse. Snyders relocation underscores a broader trend of California-based business leaders relocating to states like Texas and Tennessee, often citing more favorable conditions for business and family life. In-N-Outs East Coast fans may have to keep waitingbut for Tennessee burger lovers, the wait is almost over. You know, plenty of folks in this town would sniff Christian Bales armpits for free Its impossible to find a good nanny in this town who wont show too much affection to your kids. Advertisement 14 Kenny Chesney Kept Over 100 People Employed During the Pandemic When his tour was postponed during the chaotic early months of the pandemic, he paid his crew out of his own pocket: "I had to make a decision if I was gonna keep my lifestyle the way it was, or if I'm gonna take care of my people. Advertisement 13 Taryn Manning Needs Her Employees Squeaky Clean The Orange Is the New Black star (allegedly) headbutted her assistant, whipped her with a wet towel and drenched her face with Windex. And that was the second (alleged) assault on the same assistant. 12 Jennifer Hudson Is Outrageously Generous Hudson bought her assistant, Walter Williams, an entire house for Christmas in 2013. All he had to do in return was have his reaction posted to her Instagram (and also serve her every whim at all hours of the day). 11 Jennifer Lopez Made the Quarterly Check-In Quite Awkward She fired her makeup artist, Scott Barnes, for leaking unflattering details about her life to the press. Except he was able to prove that he wasnt the leaker, and she was forced to hire him back: I went right back to work with her, and we just never spoke about it again, which is even weirder. Advertisement Advertisement 10 Emma Watson Is Extremely Passive Aggressive One employee said that she takes perfectionism to the extreme, meaning that if you screwed up, shed give you the silent treatment! It was so awkward. 9 Sandra Bullock Is a Huge Proponent of Little Treat Culture She reportedly gives out gifts like spa treatments for employees birthdays, and one year shelled out $10,000 year-end bonuses for pretty much no reason. Advertisement 8 Ellen DeGeneres Has a Zero-Tolerance Policy She reportedly leaves feedback for her household employees in the form of passive-aggressive sticky notes, berating them for poor light-switch etiquette or misplacement of a salt shaker. Advertisement 7 Courtney Love Tried to Turn Her Personal Assistant Into a Criminal Mastermind Her assistant accused her of acting with an improper and evil motive amounting to malice or despicable conduct when she made her send fake legal orders and try to source a computer hacker. Advertisement 6 Rihannas Forced Happy Hours She describes compulsory partying among her reports: After work, when Im literally in my kitchen having a drink, I invite all my staff. And we work. She did serve as her assistants bridesmaid, which was pretty cool of her. 5 Naomi Campbell Wont Stop Throwing Phones at People Shes been accused of physically assaulting employees at least 10 times, but she has a special place in her heart for phones as projectiles. She pled guilty to assaulting a personal assistant with a cell phone in 2000, and threw a Blackberry at her housekeeper in 2007. When she was assigned a PR person to improve her public image after that, she (allegedly) assaulted them as well. Advertisement 4 Mariah Carey Fired Her Nanny for Being a Good Nanny Careys nanny filed a lawsuit claiming that she terminated Plaintiff after berating her for exhibiting too much affection towards her children. They eventually settled out of court. Advertisement 3 Oprah Winfrey Went on Strike to Get Her Producers a Raise She went on strike in the 80s in support of her producers, and when her bosses refused, she gave them sizable bonuses out of her own pocket. Advertisement 2 Christian Bales Assistant Had to Sniff His Pits Bales personal assistant claims it took five years of intensive therapy to recover from the PTSD his job gave him: I would do anything from sniffing Christians armpits for B.O. right before he hit the red carpet to making emergency sock runs if Christian was all out of clean ones. Like many fictional municipalities, Leave It to Beavers Mayfield was never explicitly located, precisely because the shows creators wanted viewers to feel like it could be their town. Some of them felt that a little too strongly, however, resulting in countless hours spent poring over dialogue and examining each frame for clues to where in the U.S. the idyllic town exists. Their efforts have produced two primary contenders: Illinois and Wisconsin. Many Ohioans try to claim the town, citing possession of an actual Mayfield as well as Ward Cleavers origins in Shaker Heights and anecdotal references to landmarks around Cleveland, but comments from one character noting that anothers parents wish they live closer, like Ohio, pretty much shoots down the possibility that theyre in Ohio. It also doesnt help that Ohio is close to everything. Kind of the nature of Ohio. Theres a stronger case for Wisconsin. In one episode, the high school band is said to be traveling to Madison to play for the governor, and in another, characters strongly allude to attending a Green Bay Packers game. However, a Mayfield in Wisconsin and Ohio, for that matter presents a huge problem: proximity to a beach. Ward Cleaver once claims the ocean is 20 miles away, and both states are smack in the middle of either coast. Don't Miss Illinois isnt anywhere near an ocean, either, but it is on Lake Michigan. You ever seen that thing? If you didnt know where you were, youd swear it was the Atlantic. Most pertinently, one establishing shot in a 1959 episode is unmistakably downtown Skokie, a suburb of Chicago. It doesnt get a lot more concrete than, you know, concrete. Of course, the real answer is Los Angeles. Leave It to Beaver was filmed primarily at CBS and Universal Studios in fact, the Cleavers technically live on the same street as the Munsters with some location shots clearly identifiable as Hollywood and Santa Monica. If the Cleavers lived in Los Angeles, though, they would probably be multigenerational factory workers rather than the perfect nuclear family that never really existed. Advertisement In this case, like so many series and movies, Los Angeles is just a metaphor. As Paramount and Skydance tighten the noose around the necks of President Donald Trumps most prominent critics in the comedy business, podcasting giant Marc Maron just reminded us that, like Trump, he was also deeply, personally bothered by Jon Stewarts success. Late last week, CBS announced that they will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and retire the Late Show franchise in May 2026, following the expiration of Colberts current deal with the Paramount property. This sobering cancellation came just days after Colbert called out Paramount for paying President Donald Trump $16 million to settle a frivolous lawsuit against 60 Minutes in a Late Show monologue, describing the payment as a big fat bribe meant to buy the Presidents approval for their acquisition deal with David Ellisons company Skydance Media. Weeks before the Late Show cancellation, industry insiders warned that Colbert would be an early casualty of the Paramount/Skydance merger as Ellisons potential new regime seeks to curry favor with the White House. Now, all eyes are upon The Daily Show and its once-weekly host Stewart, who could be next on the chopping block. Don't Miss In the meantime, Maron just went on the NPR podcast Wild Card to imply that the downfall of Stewart would be the answer to 30 years of his prayers. When asked by Wild Card host Rachel Martin if hed ever had a nemesis in his long comedy career, Maron replied bluntly, Yeah, I always have a nemesis. The comedian and podcaster, who is retiring his popular podcast WTF this fall, explained that he uses petty personal rivalries as a motivational tool, although, Most of that is fueled by resentment, insecurity, jealousy or whatever. Advertisement For years, Jon Stewart was my nemesis, I mean, for most of my professional life, Maron said, explaining, When I was coming up as a comic, he had figured it out. I always used to think it was just cause he had committed to a haircut and a way of presenting. But like, he was just everywhere. Maron almost praised his old rival, saying of Stewart, He was the king of the thing, you know, politics, satire, or whatever. And it was just there was a jealousy to it, but it got consuming, and it went on a long time. And, you know, he knew it, and weve had confrontations about it, and we are not friends. When Martin asked Maron if there was anything he admired about Stewart, Maron side-stepped the invitation to say something nice about the Daily Show host, instead replying glibly, I think, over the arc of it, the fact that hes kind of, like everybody, landed with a podcast, thats satisfying, referencing Stewarts Daily Show companion podcast The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. Advertisement Speaking about his own podcast, Maron reflected, Early on in the podcast, a lot if it was built on me kind of trying to make amends with people I thought I had offended or that I had problems with, mostly people in my community, then revealing, I was like, I should reach out to Jon, because weve got this historical problem, or at least I do, and we could work it out on the air, it would be great!' Maron did end up contacting Stewart to gauge interest in squashing their beef on WTF, and Stewart called Maron personally to discuss the potential peace talks. I said, Look, Im doing this podcast thing, and theres a lot people Im kind of working out things with and making amends and stuff, and I thought it would be great if you and I did that, Maron recalled of his pitch to his old foe. Advertisement Advertisement And he goes, Yeah, Im not doing that.' He said, Whatever youre doing, theres no love here. And then he said, Im sure what youre doing is very creative, but theres no love here,' Maron reported of Stewarts response. Maron then snarked, So I guess it was pretty creative. By Marons own admission, the acrimony between him and Stewart was entirely born out of his own jealousy and insecurity, and it was mostly one-sided. Still, Marons decision to publicly dissect his distaste toward Stewart at a time when his nemesis is one of the last remaining critics of Trump in the TV comedy industry is pathetically petty and self-centered, even for the stand-up who has made an entire podcasting career out of being just that. Maybe Marons just jealous that, despite his decades of political comedy caterwauling, he was never cutting enough to land on the Presidents hit list himself. Joe Rogan couldnt believe it when he heard about George Carlins rant. He must have woken up the morning of September 11th and gone, Did I manifest this? He was reacting to a story Anthony Jeselnik told on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast a few years back. While Jeselnik got some crucial details wrong, the essentials were right. On September 9 and 10, 2001, Carlin performed shows at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, featuring material for an upcoming HBO special scheduled for November. The tentative title: I Kinda Like It When A Lot of People Die. Carlin had an extended bit at the end of the show about his love for big, fatal disasters with lots of dead people. Granted, Carlin was mostly talking about natural disasters, but the morbidly black humor would have been just as ugly in the wake of 9/11. You know whats the best thing I can hear on television? We interrupt this program, he joked. You know the worst thing I can hear? No one was hurt. Im always rooting for a really high death toll. Don't Miss You think those jokes were eerily prescient? That same set featured punchlines about Osama bin Laden and an exploding airplane. On the latter count, Carlin may have told the worlds most unsettling fart joke: These planes get flying so fast that all the most vicious, lethal, volatile, flammable, unstable farts get pushed toward the back of the airplane, where they begin to build up pressure. And they build, and they build, and they build until they reach critical fart density C.F.D. and they continue to build throughout the flight, until finally some kid turns on a Game Boy and boom! The whole back end of the plane blows off. And you know who gets blamed? Osama bin Laden. Terrorists get blamed for these explosions that are nothing more than cabbage-fart detonations. You can understand why HBO didnt want to air those particular gags two months after the actual terrorist attacks. The material was too dark even for Carlin, who abandoned the closing bit behind I Kinda Like It When A Lot of People Die, wrote a bunch of new jokes, and instead recorded a different special in November, Complaints and Grievances. Carlin did briefly address 9/11 in that special, an elephant in the room he believed he had to acknowledge early to get it out of the way. Otherwise, he said sarcastically, the terrorists win. It was still Carlin in eff-you mode, noting that current circumstances forced people to cozy up to people you dont like, people you dont trust, people you dont respect. In his case, that was the United States government. Advertisement Jeselnik told Rogan that Carlin had filmed the special in Vegas, but the tapes were destroyed. Nope and nope. There was no film crew present, but Carlin did make an audio recording of his September 9th and 10th sets. The cassettes were later discovered by his daughter, Kelly, years after Georges death in 2008. Fifteen years after 9/11, she released I Kinda Like It When A Lot of People Die, the last of Carlins career. Comedian Lewis Black, no stranger to dark comedy, wrote the liner notes for the posthumous album. Its George Carlin opening a few more doors for us to walk through with him. Attackers are exploiting a previously unknown vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server, with security researchers confirming dozens of servers compromised globally since attacks began on July 18. While the companys July security update only partly addresses the problem, there are a couple of additional configuration changes enterprises can make to fully protect themselves, the company said in a statement issued Saturday. To counter the new vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2025-53770 and CVE-2025-53771, Microsoft has recommended enabling the AMSI integration feature and using Microsoft Defender across SharePoint Server farm(s) to protect against this vulnerability. Recent cyberattacks deploying the potent Authentic Antics malware tool to target Microsoft cloud accounts were the handiwork of the notorious Russian Fancy Bear hacking group, the UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has said. Authentic Antics was discovered after a cyberattack in 2023 which prompted an NCSC technical teardown of the malware that it published in May this year. The agency has now confirmed everybodys suspicions by formally attributing the platform to Russias GRU 26165 military intelligence unit, better known as Fancy Bear or APT 28. However, where most reports on espionage tend to gloss over details, the NCSCs latest report offers an unusual level of background on the alleged Fancy Bear operations and the Russian operatives behind them. Modified: Monday, 21 July 2025 18:00 BST Ben Hughes STORY LINK US Dollar to Yen Today: JPY Rates Boosted by Poor Government Performance in Elections Yen Boosted by a Weaker Japanese Government Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The ruling government lost more power in weekend elections. Political uncertainty could curb the will to hike rates further. This should be a yen negative, but Mondays session saw the yen gain nearly 1%.Markets seem to be set for another week of the summer doldrums, which means slow, but bullish stock markets, and a lack of major catalysts. The ECB meeting on Thursday may liven things up, but since this is the last appearance ahead of the central banks summer holiday, it seems unlikely they will make any major moves and a pause in the cutting cycle looks the most likely course of action.Data in the US is particularly quiet this week, with only PMIs of any consequence. Tariff headlines have died down and were quiet last week, but with the new trade deal deadline of August 1st approaching, there may be some renewed chatter. Earnings season continues with Tesla and Alphabet due to report on Wednesday.EURUSD seems comfortable around the 1.16 level after the US dollar bounce from oversold levels in the first half of July. Whether this develops into a full reversal likely depends on what the Fed do into the end of the year. With CPI ticking higher, and unemployment at just 4.1%, there doesnt seem any need for a rate cut, but political pressure and other data (PPI came in at 0% last week) suggests the Fed will cut 1-2 times into December.Mondays main story comes from some notable strength in the Japanese yen following the weekends Upper House election results. This has led to a 1% rally against the USD even though the political outlook has become more uncertain.Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas ruling coalition, comprising the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, suffered a significant setback in the weekend elections, losing its majority in the upper house, mirroring its earlier defeat in the lower house in October 2024. Exit polls projected the coalition would secure only 41-43 seats, short of the 50 needed to maintain control, marking its worst performance since 1999. This outcome has intensified pressure on Ishiba, who has led a minority government since the LDP lost its lower house majority. Despite calls for his resignation, Ishiba vowed to remain in office to address pressing issues like rising consumer prices and U.S. tariff negotiations, with a critical deadline looming on August 1st.The election saw a surge in support for right-wing populist parties, particularly Sanseito, which won 14 seats, up from one, with its Japanese First platform railing against immigration and gaining traction among younger voters frustrated by economic challenges like soaring rice prices.The LDPs weakened position may lead to legislative gridlock, complicating budget and trade deal approvals. It may also lead to a softer approach from the BoJ, whos hiking cycle has come under fire. This has been the major driver behind the yen recovery, so the election results should be negative rather than a positive, making Mondays rally somewhat odd. Heres ING with some thoughts:Opposition parties might try to make political hay by pushing for looser fiscal policy to address the cost-of-living challenges in Japan, and this prospect had weighed on JGBs ahead of the election. This sounds yen negative. And there is also the risk that if PM Ishiba is pressed to step down, he could be replaced by someone like Sanae Takaichi, who wants the Bank of Japan to go slow with rate hikes. In other words, it is not clear that the yen should be rallying today. A clearer read may emerge tomorrow when Japanese financial markets reopen after the Marine Day public holiday.Bond yields have short higher in the last 12 months due to the BoJs relatively hawkish stance and this has supported the yen. However, its clearly not a straightforward situation and it may be a case that markets would now be more comfortable with a softer approach to hikes before something breaks. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Japanese Yen Forecasts BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), which concluded on Sunday in Beijing, has reinforced its role as a vital platform for promoting resilient, diversified and cooperative global supply chains, with a promising increase in international collaborations. With over 6,000 cooperation agreements and partnership intents reached this year, the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to supply chains is steadily transforming the global supply network into a chain of shared benefits for all. "This event is much more than an expo. It is a forest of connections between economies, industries and people," John Denton, the secretary-general of the International Chamber of Commerce, said at the opening ceremony. "We are here together to advance our shared prosperity." INNOVATION After three editions, CISCE has built a reputation as a hub of technological innovation in supply chain and a striking showcase for China's new quality productive forces. "Innovation is the defining feature of CISCE and the source of its vitality," said Yu Jianlong, the vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), organizer of the expo. This year's expo showcased an array of standout technologies, including a humanoid robot equipped with Nvidia chips, an AI-supported car paint defect inspection system, and a hydrogen energy supply chain display based on liquid hydrogen technology. Beyond the high-tech products dazzling eager audiences, this edition of the expo also spotlighted a deeper question: how to transform technological achievements into powerful drivers of industrial development. This year's CISCE featured, for the first time, a dedicated innovation chain zone. Though modest in size, the zone brings together a diverse range of 14 participating institutions, including the World Intellectual Property Organization and the China National Intellectual Property Administration. These exhibitors represent key players across various stages of science and technology commercialization, ranging from policy-making and technology transfer to innovation incubation, and provide targeted solutions to critical challenges in transforming technological achievements. "Here in China, people are so advanced. The technology adoption is so fast," said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, during an interview on the sidelines of the expo, citing many examples of how China's innovative applications are setting global trends -- with companies worldwide learning from its practices. COOPERATION As an international expo shared by the world, the CISCE continues to promote inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation globally. Through the expo, an increasing number of international participants are aligning with the world's most comprehensive supply chain while keeping pace with its rapid development. According to the data from CCPIT, the expo has seen a steady rise in international participation. The proportion of overseas exhibitors has grown from 26 percent in the first edition to 32 percent in the second, and reached 35 percent this year. Over 65 percent of the exhibitors are Fortune Global 500 companies or industry leaders. Meanwhile, the geographic reach of participants has expanded from 55 countries and regions in the inaugural expo to 75 in the latest edition. Major multinational companies have utilized CISCE to strengthen local partnerships and expand their presence in China. "Over the past three years at CISCE, we've showcased progress alongside our suppliers in smart manufacturing, green manufacturing and talent development," Isabel Ge Mahe, Apple's vice president and managing director of Greater China, told Xinhua. She highlighted Apple's 20 billion U.S. dollars investment in China over the past five years, primarily focused on innovation and supply chain advancements, and praised China's dynamic innovation ecosystem and sophisticated smart supply chains. "We are deeply rooted here, incredibly proud of the supply chain we helped build, and will continue to invest and innovate with our local partners." Domestic provinces also used the expo to court supply-chain partners. At a side event, southwest China's Sichuan Province drew foreign giants with its complete industrial chain, pro-business climate and huge market. "We entered China more than 40 years ago and we're still expanding," said Utsugi Yuyama, executive officer of Japanese material manufacturer AGC Inc. The company already runs chemical and electronic lines in Sichuan and plans more. He hailed the province's talent pool and comprehensive industrial chain, where local and foreign enterprises integrate to drive growth. GREENER SUPPLY CHAIN Green development has increasingly become the foundation and highlight of the expo. How to promote green and low-carbon development across industrial and supply chains has become a notable question at the expo, and an increasing number of major enterprises in their supply chain are stepping up with innovative solutions. "Green standards, including carbon tracking and sustainability metrics, are becoming essential across industries," said Zhou Xing, head of public affairs at PwC China, who identified green transformation as one of the four key trends shaping the current global supply chain restructuring. At this year's expo, multinational companies such as Schneider Electric made their debut, showcasing digital solutions for sustainable supply chain construction. The company is working to establish an efficient and resilient green supply chain that can respond swiftly to market shifts. "The supply chain expo provides an important platform for global enterprises, especially in green supply chain construction," said Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric and president of its China and East Asia operations. Yin added that Schneider Electric hopes to share its experience and seek more cooperation opportunities through the event. Returning to CISCE for the third consecutive year, Starbucks China spotlighted a comprehensive look at the "green path" from coffee bean to brewed cup. According to the company, around 30 percent of its total carbon emissions in China stem directly or indirectly from its own operations, while the remaining 70 percent originate upstream, from sectors like dairy production and logistics. To tackle this challenge, Starbucks China announced a strategic partnership with Envision Group, a leading green tech company, at this year's expo. Over the next three years, the two sides will work together to roll out a digital carbon management platform aimed at gradually covering 100 percent of Starbucks China's direct suppliers. 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. Who is one of the most influential figures in the Labour Government and yet almost unknown to the British public? Who secretly brokered the recent controversial deal whereby Britain agreed to hand over 101million annually to Mauritius for 99 years in return for a lease on a base in the Chagos Islands, which a previous administration had already secured with a payment of 3million in 1968? Who is fanatically anti-Brexit and indeed began to campaign for a second referendum only a couple of weeks after the British people had voted to leave the European Union? Who was in Ukraine in March a one-man diplomatic service flitting about the corridors of power in Kyiv trying to thrash out a ceasefire with Volodymyr Zelensky that would be acceptable to Donald Trump? The answer to all these questions is Jonathan Powell. He is Tony Blair's former chief of staff who last November was appointed Britain's National Security Adviser by Sir Keir Starmer. Powell is the principal official adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security matters, which is a very important job. Jonathan Powell was appointed Britain's National Security Adviser by Sir Keir Starmer last year. He is the principal official adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security matters, which is a very important job His was an arresting appointment in several ways, not least because, unlike his six predecessors in the role, he hadn't been a very senior civil servant. Powell was a junior diplomat when he was plucked out for stardom by Blair 30 years ago. He became an effective Labour Party apparatchik, serving Blair for the entire ten years of his prime ministership. That was four years longer than his more high profile, and much less subtle, colleague spin doctor Alastair Campbell. Powell is in the news doubtless much to his discomfort because yesterday's Mail on Sunday reported accusations that he is running a secret diplomatic back channel to terrorists and other dodgy characters using his own taxpayer-funded team of nameless operatives. A few years after he left No 10, Jonathan Powell founded an outfit called Inter Mediate, whose website says its mission is 'to advance political solutions toward a more peaceful and secure world'. Much of its work is rather less highfaluting than this statement implies. Inter Mediate continues to receive funding from the Foreign Office for making contact with non-state armed groups even though its founder is now the National Security Adviser. He has formally stood down as the charity's 200,000-a-year chief executive. Powell (pictured with Sir Tony Blair in 2007) was a junior diplomat when he was plucked out for stardom by the former prime minister 30 years ago One of the group's reported successes was to help establish links with the new Syrian government, paving the way for a visit to Damascus by Foreign Secretary David Lammy to meet recently installed President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Unfortunately, not everything is going according to plan. Inter Mediate's work is being undermined by a bloody conflict between Islamist Bedouin tribes and the Druze in the south of Syria. There is of course nothing illegal, or even necessarily undesirable, about a so-called charity associated with Britain's National Security Adviser playing a behind the scenes role in UK foreign policy. But it is certainly a very rum state of affairs. Even rummer is the fact that Jonathan Powell, despite his important job, is classified as a 'special adviser'. This means he doesn't have to answer to Parliament even though he deals directly with foreign governments for instance, when popping up in Ukraine and negotiating with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands. Such unaccountability of course suits him perfectly. Most of his working life he has operated in the shadows, seldom having to give an explanation for his actions, still less having to justify them. As Tony Blair's chief of staff, this serpentine creature was (along with Alastair Campbell) given unprecedented powers to issue orders to civil servants, including senior ones, despite the objections of the then head of the civil service. But being neither a civil servant himself, nor of course an elected politician, Powell was able to avoid giving evidence to parliamentary committees. During his ten years at Tony Blair's side, he largely flew below the radar, making or being party to important decisions without being properly examined. Stephen Glover has no doubt that Powell, the veteran anti-Brexiteer, is using his influence over Sir Keir Starmer, persuasively dripping his pro-EU propaganda into the Prime Minister's receptive ear For example, he supported the efforts of Alastair Campbell in 'sexing up' the September 2002 dossier, which tried to make a case for war against Iraq on the grounds that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. (He didn't.) On one occasion, Powell wrote to Campbell and Sir John Scarlett, head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, who was charged with drawing up the dossier: 'I agree with Alastair you should drop the conclusion ... Alastair what will be the headline in the Evening Standard on the day of publication? What do we want it to be?' Powell later told the Hutton Inquiry that he hadn't played a 'major role' in drafting the dossier. Arguably true, but he certainly exercised some influence over it. Despite his virtual immunity to parliamentary scrutiny, Jonathan Powell was chief British negotiator in Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007. In this role, he and Blair secretly agreed to amnesties for more than 200 suspected IRA terrorists, though this was not revealed for many years. Powell nursed a soft spot for Martin McGuinness, chief of staff of the Provisional IRA during the Troubles and undoubtedly responsible for many murders. After McGuinness's death in 2017, Powell remembered him as 'likeable'. (Campbell went even further, tweeting that McGuinness was 'a good guy'.) Incredible though it sounds, as well as being a major figure in what was called Blair's 'sofa government', Powell was also responsible for raising funds for the Labour Party. He nearly landed his master in the soup after approaching Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone for contributions after Labour's 1997 election victory. Blair narrowly escaped corruption charges after the Government said it would seek an exemption for Formula One (which Ecclestone had backed) from an EU ban on tobacco advertising. Jonathan Powell was undeniably an important figure in Blair's court, loyally doing what he thought his master wanted, while receiving much less media attention than the more confrontational and brutish Campbell. And now he's back. So too, as British ambassador in Washington, is Peter Mandelson, another Blairite acolyte. The two men probably wield more power in foreign affairs than the slow-footed David Lammy. To this degree, at least, New Labour is back. Since Powell and Mandelson are far more experienced, intelligent and well-informed than Lammy as well as than most of those on Labour's unimpressive front bench one might be tempted to welcome their return. But Powell's reinstatement in particular is hard to take. How typical of the man that the company he founded should be playing a mysterious, unofficial role in British foreign policy, possibly connecting the Foreign Office with some very dubious people. Nor do I have any doubt that this veteran anti-Brexiteer is using his influence over Sir Keir Starmer, persuasively dripping his pro-EU propaganda into the Prime Minister's receptive ear. More than anyone in modern politics, Powell has succeeded in wielding power without accountability. The extraordinary thing is that he has been allowed to get away with it. Where will this elusive man turn up next? Someone must collar him. A fundamental axiom of democracy is that public figures should answer for their actions and it's high time Jonathan Powell was made to do so. Heres something truly shocking. Ten days after the Hamas terrorists murdered and raped 1,200 Jews in Israel, a radical preacher by the name of Shujauddin Sheikh stood up to speak to a gathering at the Karachi Press Club in Pakistan. In his address later broadcast via an Islamic radio station to British Muslims in the northern town of Bury this rabble-rouser described Jews as the biggest enemies of humanity and shared a number of anti-Semitic tropes. The station was fined by regulator Ofcom for this incendiary slur. So, did the Muslim charity behind the station apologise? Of course not. Instead, it launched a vicious assault on Ofcom, claiming the regulator supports a Zionist agenda and is a key word Islamophobic. Why am I highlighting the incident? Because it offers a chilling glimpse into the dystopian future of British life if a sinister new plan backed by Keir Starmer and the Labour Government is allowed to take effect. Ever since returning to power one year ago, Labour MPs, many of whom depend on Muslim votes, have been demanding a hard-edged definition of Islamophobia. And now, at the instruction of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, a special committee below the radar and away from public scrutiny has been pushing ahead with a plot to impose one upon the British people and our institutions. We got an idea of what Rayner and the rest have in mind a few weeks ago when, on the very same day that Labour was finally forced to make a commitment to holding a national inquiry into the mass rape of white working-class girls, their secretive working group quietly launched a call for evidence about creating the new definition. Thousands of people attended a Stand Up To Islamophobia march in London in June At the instruction of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, a special committee below the radar and away from public scrutiny has been pushing ahead with a plot to impose a hard-edged definition of Islamophobia upon the British people and our institutions Was this call to the British people in general, or critics of the idea of Islamophobia? Of course not. Although anyone can respond to the consultation, Labour kept things quiet and has reportedly called on hand-picked loyalists and Muslim organisations to feed into the work. The new definition, Labour claims, will help ministers and other relevant bodies understand what constitutes unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities. The consultation ended yesterday. We do not actually know who was consulted. We do, however, know that Sir Keir and his party seem hell-bent on strengthening the code of silence that too often applies whenever Muslim practices are questioned. And we do know who is on their committee, including its chairman, Tory grandee and arch-Remainer Dominic Grieve. And that gives us a very good and very troubling idea of what they will conclude. To fully make sense of this, we must go back to 2018, when a definition of Islamophobia was first put forward by an All-Party Parliamentary Group of MPs and backed by the Labour Party, then in opposition. That, too, involved the likes of Grieve and fellow liberal-minded Remainer Anna Soubry. Their report concluded that Islamophobia was rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. What on earth does this mean, you might ask? What counts as targeting expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness? Anything thats perceived to be Islamophobic by Muslim campaign groups and their allies on the radical Left, thats what. Astonishingly, this earlier definition specifically mentioned expressions of concern about Muslim rape gangs as an example of Islamophobia. It described discussion of Muslim grooming gangs which we now know as a matter of plain fact are disproportionately more likely to involve men of Pakistani origin as a subtle form of anti-Muslim racism and a modern-day iteration of age-old stereotypes and tropes about Islam and Muslims. Imagine if this pernicious definition backed by Labour then and which informs its thinking now had been accepted by public institutions at the time. Throughout the entire rape-gang scandal, people would have had to walk on eggshells. Its likely they would have felt obliged to remain silent lest they be branded Islamophobic for daring to expose the evil paedophiles. None of this should come as a surprise because for years now, Left-wing activists, Labour MPs and others have sought to use accusations of Islamophobia to shut down any discussion about rape gangs, first-cousin marriage, Sharia law or cultural practices within some Muslim communities. Are we to be banned from challenging and debating how Islam views things such as womens rights, gay rights, and freedom of expression? Will criticism of Islams position on these issues also effectively be outlawed by this new dogmatism? That original definition had plenty more to say, meanwhile. Discussing conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government, or other societal institutions might also be considered Islamophobic, for example. Where would that leave us on the rise of sectarian Muslim MPs in Westminster who appear to spend more time focusing on what is happening in Gaza than wanting to fix problems here in Britain? Or what if somebody wants to voice concern about the fact that, as reliable surveys show, some 40 per cent of British Muslims would support a Muslim-only political party, while one-third would back the imposition of a parallel Sharia legal system in Britain? Will this too be branded Islamophobia? Labours attempt to produce and then enshrine a definition of Islamophobia will inevitably have a chilling effect on British society. The fact of the matter is that pressure to protect Islam and Islamism from criticism whether through this plan to outlaw Islamophobia, the misuse of existing laws like the Public Order Act, or simply threats of violence is already corroding our freedom of expression. This is why I support the recent suggestion by the think-tank Policy Exchange that all government activity on Islamophobia be paused until the forthcoming inquiry into the rape gangs has concluded at which point we will be able to see, fully, what damage these efforts to police our language have really done. Put it this way: if the rape-gang scandal taught us anything as a country, it is that we must be able to debate everything freely and openly, no matter how uncomfortable it makes others. I, for one, do not want to live in a country where dogmatic accusations of Islamophobia are used to prevent people from the pursuit of truth and justice. The Durrells ITVs awardwinning 2016 adaptation of Gerald Durrells bestselling trilogy about his familys move to Corfu in the 1930s was joyous and golden, awash with love, eccentricity and mad humour. We all wanted to be part of that wonderful chaotic family as they moved from villa to villa Strawberry Pink to Daffodil Yellow to Snow White during their four-year stay. Lunching in the sun at a table half submerged in the Ionian Sea with Geralds brother and sisters Leslie and Margo. Drinking wine in the shade with his widowed mother Louisa (played by Keeley Hawes). Helping young Gerry himself tend his pelicans. Or maybe just being charmed by eldest brother, Larry, an aspiring writer who was portrayed (by Josh OConnor) as tall, dark, charismatic and excitingly louche. Of course, all writers exercise poetic licence, tidying up messy corners and smoothing over rough edges particularly when writing about their own families. But according to Larry a new biography of Lawrence Durrells life, which was mostly written by the late Michael Haag and completed by his editor after his sudden death in 2020 important chunks were edited out of the family story. Such as the fact that Mrs Durrell was a raging alcoholic (as were all three sons) with depressive tendencies and delusions of grandeur who often took to her bed with a bottle of gin. And that the Durrells were disliked in Corfu by many locals who found them rude, boorish and so disrespectful in their obsession with nude swimming and sunbathing that they were often stoned in a fury. But perhaps the biggest surprise is Larry himself: the eldest brother who was feted as one of Britains greatest novelists after the publication of his exotic and erotic masterwork, The Alexandria Quartet, between 1957 and 1960. Again, not all is as it seemed. A new biography of Lawrence Durrell portrays him as bullying, manipulative, vain and violent It turns out that, as well as being short barely 5ft 2in blond, thickset and a teeny bit piggy-looking with his bulbous nose and heavy brow, Larry was a boozy, womanising nightmare. Bullying, manipulative, vain and violent, he left a trail of female destruction as he sailed through the Med (which he called the sex organ of Europe), carousing with bohemian writers Henry Miller and Anais Nin (who called him pig-face) and vowing never to return to the shabby little island of his despised Great Britain. Yes, he was fantastically charismatic in company one friend claimed it was as though someone had uncorked a bottle of vintage champagne when he entered the room and was a loyal son and wonderfully attentive big brother. But, to women, he was deeply unpleasant. He treated his first wife, artist Nancy Durrell (nee Myers) appallingly, shoving her down the stairs and refusing to let her stand next to any man who was taller than him. He was also deeply unkind to his second wife, Eve Cohen. Perhaps its no coincidence that both struggled with mental health issues. As, apparently, did his two daughters: Penelope (Pinko) and the late Sappho. When, in 1985, Sappho took her life at the age of 34 by hanging herself with a pair of tights in her north London home, it was reported that he didnt even return to Britain for her sad, rain-soaked funeral. And theres more though not covered in Haags book, which cuts off abruptly in 1945. Because after Larry died in 1990 at the age of 78 in the South of France, a great sheaf of Sapphos writings were finally released by her friend, literary executrix and former neighbour, Barbara Robson. The Durrells ITV s awardwinning 2016 adaptation of Gerald Durrells bestselling trilogy made us all want to be a part of that wonderful chaotic family, writes Jane Fryer Viewers were particularly charmed by eldest brother Larry, an aspiring writer who was portrayed (by Josh OConnor, pictured right) as tall, dark, charismatic and excitingly louche In them, amongst many other claims, she accused her father of incest her supposed memories set out in a particularly unpleasant poem which detailed the creases of his stomach and jowls during a summer siesta. But well come back to that later. Larry was born in India in 1912 to Louisa and her a successful civil engineer, whom he was named after. His was a seemingly idyllic childhood, awash with colour, servants, privilege and the fleeting glimpses of leopards. But it was all cut short when, aged 11, he was packed off home. He loathed everything about Britain. The grey, suburban landscape; his school; his failure to get into Cambridge all of which he blamed for his stunted growth. And it cant have been easy. His father died suddenly when he was 16, and Larry was notified by telegram and never really spoke of him again. Louisa, was similarly off bounds. In one extraordinary interview with Malcolm Muggeridge for the BBC in 1965 in which he expresses sexist, racist and misogynistic views and talks of putting women on the slab he says of his relationship with Louisa: I will never go there. Too dark. Of course, both Larrys upbringing and the era go some way to explaining his character, his temper and his loathing of English culture (which he called the English Death). But there seems no excuse for his appalling treatment of women such as his first wife, Nancy Myers, whom he met in 1932. She was at the famous Slade school of art in London, full of promise and a good five inches taller than him. He was working for an estate agent in Leytonstone. Ironically, it was Larrys vulnerability that first attracted her. According to Haags new biography, she said he was gentle and small and liked to talk in a baby voice: Ise only ickle baby... Ise only really teeny weeny. Together, they racketed about in London, playing jazz in clubs, running a photographic studio and partying: A period he described as a dream of broken bottles, sputum, tinned food, rancid meat, urinals. Both were fuelled by a desire to live a different kind of life. To be creative and bohemian and have nothing to do with the dreariness of bourgeois life. Lawrence Durrell pictured with friends in the ruins of Camirus, Rhodes, in September 1946 Larry and his first wife Nancy were the main drivers for the family's move to Corfu thanks to their shared desire to live a different kind of life So it was Larry and Nancy the latter completely erased from the Durrell family history who were the main drivers for the move to Corfu. They would have gone alone, but Louisa was drinking so heavily, hallucinating about her dead husband and behaving so erratically that she couldnt be left. So, they all went, along with Roger the dog. In his 1954 book, Gerald wrote: Our arrival in Corfu was like being born for the first time. Corfu was a happy place for the Durrells and, at the beginning, a paradise for Larry and Nancy who slept on the beach, drank, wrote, painted, quarrelled, made love, swam and sunbathed. But, within a couple of years, it was falling apart. Durrell treated her like dirt, called her a dirty Jew, and she became more withdrawn. In company, hed either ignore her or humiliate her by snapping: Why dont you shut up? In 1938, he wrote to a friend, Nancy wants to have a child, the slut. It wasnt until 1945 when Larry was stationed as a press attache in Cairo, and Nancy and their baby Penelope were in Jerusalem that she mustered the courage to write and tell him she was leaving him. Penelope didnt see her father again until she was in her teens. Meanwhile, Larry threw himself into writing, his job at the Foreign Office, and women. They found him charming, charismatic and attractively dominant despite his diminutive stature. He once described his third book, The Black Book, as so good I am terrified of it. But he could also be funny, clever and wickedly good company. According to his fourth wife Ghislaine de Boysson, whom he married in 1973, he was still receiving passionate letters from female fans well into his 60s. After Nancy, his next big love was Eve Cohen, an Alexandrian Jewess, who was the inspiration for Justine in his famous Alexandria Quartet and whose heritage seemed to both intrigue and repel him. When their daughter Sappho was born in 1951, after a long labour with her head all scrunched up and eyes like slits, Larrys first comment was to joke that Eve must have been having an affair with a Korean. Larry, his third wife Claude and daughter Sappho reading a newspaper together in March 1962. Sappho later accused her father of incest But, while he was enchanted with his new daughter, Eve struggled with postnatal depression and was shipped off from their new home in Cyprus where he was writing his travel book Bitter Lemons to a clinic abroad. And so Granny Durrell stepped in to help but, having never seen the contents of a dirty nappy in her life, was horrified. She said that when my mother came back, she was going to punish me, Sappho wrote. Instead, when Eve finally returned in 1953, she found her daughter filthy and traumatised with matted hair. After a three-day stand-off, she scooped Sappho up and moved back to London where they lived in a succession of tiny flats. Next up was Claude-Marie Vincendon, a petite French-Egyptian, who became Larrys third wife in 1961. Claude was lovely and, over the years, Sappho would spend holidays with them in a peasant cottage near Nimes in France, where Larry was writing the Alexandria Quartet which was to make him famous. According to Sappho, it was when Claude died suddenly from lung cancer in 1967 and Larry was floored by grief, that the relationship between daughter and father darkened. Since Claude died, his traditional pattern of: wife whore/stupid/bitch: me virgin/wise has disintegrated. Because none of the women he has had since then ever measured up to Claude, he has been placing more and more the role of wife on me always aggressive toward wives, she wrote. They cant do anything right expect be sweet and kind and giving. Presumably, if there had been any abuse, it would have started around this time. I feel that when Im with him or writing to him that I am on his black side. Im frightened of him physically and mentally, she wrote. My father always lived on a balance of madness he is an aggressive, demonic drunkard I never thought he violent until he hit me. Damning stuff. But all this was written long after the time and was never documented in Sapphos contemporaneous diaries. And poor Sappho had her demons. In 1979, after two abortions in six months, she had a nervous breakdown and it was apparently during psychoanalysis that her first memories of incest bubbled up. Today more than 30 years after his death Larry's lush, exotic and erotic musings on love, art and the theory of relativity feel overblown, overwritten and desperately out of date, writes Jane Fryer When her allegations were released in 1991 after Larrys death at her stipulation the Durrell family were appalled. Gerald was apparently too angry to speak. Nancy never spoke of it. Ghislaine, whom he had gone on to marry in 1973, was adamant that it had been a normal relationship. The family blamed it all on Sapphos fragile mental health and wild imagination, and closed ranks. But those people who believed her pointed to a few possible clues. That well into her 20s, every letter from him sparked a mixture of excitement and terrible apprehension. Each trip to France made her ill with nervous diarrhoea. That incest themes ran through some of her fathers works. That her close friends insisted she was not remotely mad. And that, just before her death, she scribbled on an envelope: In the event that my father should request to be buried with me, my wish is that the request be refused. Hard to know the truth. There seems no doubt that Larry adored his daughter once boasting that she was simply dazzling for beauty and brains and will be a great poet. Perhaps he loved her too much. As with other women in his life, he plundered her life appallingly and, over the years, she found intimate, private details her affairs, abortions and breakdowns popping up in the pages of his later books. Which, sadly for Larry and regardless of however many thousand words he continued to bash out every week, never showed any of his early brilliance. Today more than 30 years after his death his lush, exotic and erotic musings on love, art and the theory of relativity feel overblown, overwritten and desperately out of date. But so does Larry. So perhaps the Durrells editorial policy was a good one. Perhaps, despite Haags best intentions, it would be better to know less about Larry and the damage he caused as he smashed through other peoples lives. Over the past few years, it seems like fake designer bag replicas are being produced at an all-time high, with even the most tactful details of the Hermes Birkin bags and Chanel flap bags being reproduced. They're called 'super fakes,' and some can even retail for thousands of dollars, as many customers now go through private dealers via WhatsApp or Telegram to get their hands on sophisticated replicas. The phenomenon is so prevalent that, according to recent research by Michigan State University, almost seven in 10 people reported being deceived into buying a counterfeit good online at least once in 2023. In November 2023, federal agents performed the largest seizure of fake goods in U.S. history, according to ABC News, of which the total was approximately $1.03 billion. It wasn't just bags that agents seized - it was also jewelry, clothes, and shoes. According to The Wall Street Journal, some luxury brands are even paying private investigators to find out what these counterfeiters are doing when it comes to replicating their items. With more fakes than ever overflowing the market, it's hard to know who to trust. In November 2023, federal agents performed the largest seizure of fake goods in U.S. history, according to ABC News , of which the total was approximately $1.03 billion - pictured above is a real Birkin Even department stores are facing something called 'return fraud,' per CNN , which happens when a customer buys a real item and then replaces it with a replica before sending it for a return to get the large sum of money back According to The Wall Street Journal, some luxury brands are even paying private investigators to find out what these counterfeiters are doing when it comes to replicating their items - like this real Chanel bag seen in July Even department stores are facing something called 'return fraud,' per CNN, which happens when a customer buys a real item and then replaces it with a replica before sending it for a return to get the oftentimes large sum of money back. In some instances, these returned counterfeit bags have been sent to customers who believe that they're purchasing the real thing. So, which online platforms are the real deal? FEMAIL recently had the opportunity to go inside pre-loved designer retail platform Vestiaire Collective's New York City warehouse, where we saw the rigorous authentication process that each item goes through before it's sent to the customer. Vestiaire allows customers to shop from curated closets of individuals all over the world, giving fashion lovers the option to buy and sell some of their coolest and rarest pieces. During our visit, we watched the authentication process of multiple items, including a precious Hermes Kelly bag, with one of their professionally trained authenticators, Hyo Lee. The company's verification process includes four steps - profile monitoring to make sure that there's no suspicious behavior happening, digital verification through experts and AI technology, physical in-person verification at their warehouse, and finally, quality control. While we were at the warehouse, we even took a stab at trying our own authentication course, during which we tried to tell authentic bags and jewelry items from ones that they have previously identified through their rigorous process. When we were there, we ran through the authentication process for multiple items, including a precious Hermes Kelly bag, with one of their professionally trained authenticators, Hyo Lee Their verification process includes four steps - profile monitoring to make sure that there's no suspicious behavior happening, digital verification through experts and AI technology, physical in-person verification at their warehouse, and finally, a quality control Vestiaire allows customers to shop from curated closets of those all over the world, giving fashion lovers the option to buy and sell some of their coolest and rarest pieces in their collections - like these real Chanel shoes seen in Paris in July She warned that it can be 'difficult to authenticate' if you don't have experience or practice, but that there are a few general tips to keep in mind. The bag that Xenia Adonts is carrying above is a real purse from Chanel's collection The task was much harder than it looked, and many of the bags that we thought were real were actually the staged fakes. FEMAIL spoke to the company's Senior Brand Manager and Authentication Specialist, Ms. Victoire Boyer Chammard, who revealed some of the most important details you need to look out for when differentiating a super fake from the real designer item. She warned that it can be 'difficult to authenticate' if you don't have experience or practice, but that there are a few general tips to keep in mind. The first step? Checking everything - digging through every inch, flap, and zipper of the item you're looking at. 'Whether through photos or physically, it is essential to examine the packaging and all accompanying elements of an item to ensure that the materials, colors, typography, and finishes are consistent with the product that comes with the rest,' Chammard told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'A luxury item will always be made from high-quality materials,' she continued. 'Check the quality of the materials (leather, for example). The smell and touch should help. If it smells like plastic or if the touch feels rough, this should alert you.' Chammard also emphasized the importance of checking the weight of certain parts of the bag or jewelry item, too. The first step? Checking everything - digging through every inch, flap, and zipper of the item you're looking at. Above, Kris Jenner carries her real Birkin bag 'The engravings should be legible and sharp. A counterfeiter often makes mistakes in the details, so examine your item carefully from all these angles' Chammard said that you need to look closely at the 'typography and information on composition labels,' like this real Louis Vuitton bag seen at Paris' Haute Couture week this month 'High-quality pieces are often heavier. Light or hollow pieces could indicate that the item is a counterfeit,' the expert offered. Similarly, inspecting all of the item's information is something to pay close attention to. Chammard said that you need to look closely at the 'typography and information on composition labels.' 'Everything should be centered, without spelling errors, and should conform to the typography, font, and writing size of the era,' she explained. And, last but not least, you need to 'pay attention to the finishes' on the pieces. 'The stitching should be regular unless it's artisanal work,' Chammard said. 'The engravings should be legible and sharp. A counterfeiter often makes mistakes in the details, so examine your item carefully from all these angles.' As for jewelry, she said that it 'requires the same methodology.' Still, she warns that authentication is a 'very specialized job,' and highly recommends purchasing pre-loved bags and other luxury items, like jewelry, from a 'reputable platform with the expertise' Ranging in price from $3,490 to $6,810, the bowling-shaped Margaux bag by The Row comes in a handful of different sizes, as well as a variety of colors and finishes 'Combining digital and physical authentication for items that could be subject to counterfeiting is essential, and that's what we offer at VC,' Chammard explained. Above is a real Birkin bag carried by twins Jyoti and Snehal Babani 'In the world of jewelry, its important to clearly distinguish between costume jewelry and fine jewelry, as they do not use the same materials and do not have the same standards in terms of craftsmanship,' the expert shared. Still, she warns that authentication is a 'very specialized job,' and highly recommends purchasing pre-loved bags and other luxury items, like jewelry, from a 'reputable platform with the expertise.' 'At Vestiaire Collective, our authenticators come from fashion, luxury and auction houses, and complete 750 hours of initial training, followed by 180 hours annually at minimum though our own authentication school, the Academy,' she explained. Jewelry specialists are also required to take external gemology courses. 'Each expert is enabled to run authenticity checks on all the categories including accessories, ready to wear, jewelry and watches,' she said. They've had to adopt more advanced techniques as time has gone on, too. Vestiaire collaborates with certain brands like Gucci and Burberry, as well as e-commerce platforms like MyTheresa and LuisaViaRoma, to 'ensure the quality' of their expertise. 'Combining digital and physical authentication for items that could be subject to counterfeiting is essential, and that's what we offer at VC,' Chammard explained. If an item is deemed fake by one of Vestiaire's experts during the authentication process, they will cancel the sale and inform both the buyer and seller. Under their terms and conditions, the seller of the item may decide to have the item returned to them, as they may want to try to get a refund from the original place where they made the purchase. Any remaining fakes are destroyed using the company's sustainable methods. 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 I have a big birthday looming no, not that one, not quite yet - but the one that nudges me into my 50th year. And, somehow, this feels significant. Perhaps its not that surprising - the Chinese Medicine practitioner Katie Brindle told me that, for women, the landmark birthday is not 50, but 49, because according to TCM we move through life in seven year cycles and the start of the eighth marks the beginning of our second spring. Im not sure Im quite ready for that yet, but when I look over pictures from the last year I can definitely see any wisdom I may have accumulated thus far in life showing up far more than it ever did before. Ive never had Botox, fillers and the rest and I havent yet decided if I will, but like most of us, I wouldnt mind slowing the progress of time on my face. And I know that make-up can work magic if its done well. So, I decided to ask the experts about the most ageing make-up mistakes they see women making and their fixes. Read on to learn how to roll back the years with a flick of your mascara wand Katherine Spenley (@katherine_spenley) has never had Botox, fillers and the rest, and hasnt yet decided if she will, but like most of us, she wouldnt mind slowing the progress of time on her face NEVER OVER-POWDER Frances Prescott, Make-up artist and founder of Tri Balm and Maeva Rae A common mistake is to over powder. Dont! For a gorgeous dewy finish, use a hybrid product combining make-up and skincare ingredients, like Katherine Daniels Pure Pigment Foundation Drops (42 / 20ml katherinedanielscosmetics.com) which has a supple texture that doesnt cake. Or look for tinted moisturisers instead. GET CLEVER WITH CONCEALER Sascha Jackson, lead make-up artist Stila One of the most common ageing mistakes is using concealer thats too light and applying too much of it. The key is to choose a shade close to your foundationno more than half a shade lighter. If youre dealing with dark circles, apply a peach-toned corrector first to neutralise purple tones, then follow with a small amount of concealer to brighten. Use a soft, fluffy brush to apply concealer gentlyespecially under the eyes, where too much product can settle into fine lines. BRING ON THE BLUSH BUT IN THE RIGHT SPOT Gabriella Elio, Make-up artist and founder of Sweed Beauty Women who are peri or menopausal, dont need to be afraid of blusher, but they (i)do(i) need to use it differently. Ignore the apples of your cheeks and apply to the top of your cheekbone instead, then blend down. Then put a flick of highlighter on top youre focusing on lighting up your face at eye level. Blusher, like the Sweed Air Blush Cream (28, spacenk.com), used at the top of your cheeks replicates the fullness of lost fat pads. As we age, we all lose structure and fat a swirl of blush creates the illusion of fullness, and youth! SOFTEN YOUR GO-TO SHADES Suzy Griffin Dunne, Make-up artist, founder of Hildun Beauty As we age, we need to reconsider not just the placement of make-up but also the textures of the products we are using. Generally, we need more hydration and creamier textures that are going to move with our faces instead of getting stuck in lines. Another important factor to consider when is that the colours we used to wear may be a little harsh, and we might need to soften those shades, perhaps changing our traditional black eyeliner to a brown. We have found this approach very popular with lots of our customers. In fact, we now have three shades in our ultra creamy brown eyeliner with a fourth launching later this year (16, hildunbeauty.co.uk). PLUMP UP LIPS LIKE A PRO Vincent Ford, Global Make-up artist When you apply your lip pencil or lipstick avoid taking the product all the way to the corners of the mouth. This pulls the mouth down and ages you. Instead only apply the lip colour to the centre of the lips and blend outwards, softly diffusing the colour. It will give the appearance of a fuller, more youthful mouth. Easy! OPEN EYES WITH A TOP LASHES TRICK Caroline Barnes, celebrity make-up artist Applying mascara to your top lashes only can really lift your eyes, especially if you use a mascara that dumps a lot of the product at the root of the lash because this creates a lovely invisible line that doesnt weigh the lid down. Try Elf Extender (6.94, elfcosmetics.co.uk), which has a really thin barrel that deposits the mascara very close to the lash, or Sweed mascara (24, boots.com), which deposits the mascara right to the roots of your lashes. Obviously you could open out your eyes by having mascara on the top and bottom lashes, but making it a little bit top heavy really does create a beautiful lift. Cosmetic Craving Eyeam Magnesium Butter, 25 for a 60g pot (eyeamworld.com) This brand is the brainchild of the Organic Pharmacys Margo and her daughter Roxy, so I had high hopes and I wasnt disappointed. After applying a good dollop to the soles of my feet I had a super deep sleepNot surprising given that 5ML contains 200mg of magnesium. I felt so good afterwards that Ive passed my pot on to a friend who has had trouble getting enough rest recently. Ill report back, but, at the very least, I know their feet will soon be sandal-ready. @katherine_spenley It was a rainy April evening, cool and blustery, and I remember it vividly because that was the night I fell in love with a married woman. Lauren and I had been seeing each other for a few months at that point. It was 2004 and wed arranged to meet in our usual place, a bookshop near her flat. When she hadnt appeared an hour after our designated time, I began to worry shed decided against it. And then suddenly there she was. Soaked through and dishevelled, her usually immaculate hair damp and limp. We embraced and I told her she was the most beautiful drowned rat Id ever seen. Shed forgotten her umbrella and her mobile phone had run out of battery, she said, apologising profusely. Dont be silly, I replied. How could anyone be annoyed with the gorgeous vision thats just walked in? It was then I knew I was head-over-heels with a woman whose husband was at home waiting for her. We had met for the first time at a work do at a hotel in west London. She was 5ft 9in with shoulder-length blonde hair. I found her enchanting, flirtatious and funny. She was 42, I was 38. We seemed to have chemistry, even then. I resisted the thought of her at first she was married, after all, and I soon discovered she had an eight-year-old son too. Still, we exchanged a few casual emails and then an unexpectedly direct message landed in my inbox. Would I cook her supper at my flat in Wimbledon? I cant pretend I wasnt thrilled. Max Wooldrige hadnt expected to fall so in love with a married woman and do that thing men accuse women of doing when they have affairs with married men: hang on in there, believing we would eventually be together when all logic and reason insisted we would not Some kind of physical relationship became inevitable. What I hadnt expected was to fall so madly in love with her and do that thing men accuse women of doing when they have affairs with married men: hang on in there, believing we would eventually be together when all logic and reason insisted we would not. Did I waste the best years of my life on her, as a histress rather than a husband? When I look back I think, yes, I probably did. Yet being with Lauren was so exhilarating, I found myself utterly unable to end it. There were times when I looked at her in a restaurant, face flushed and wine glass in hand, or in the morning when we woke up together that I felt like the luckiest man alive. When we kissed she made my heart skip like no one else had. Out in London after work together, our arms linked as we walked, stopping for hugs and kisses along the way, it felt so right, I could forget she was married at all. She worked from home in rural Hertfordshire but met with clients in the City regularly and had a flat in north London where we often stayed together. Of course, I couldnt see her as often as I liked. These joyous times and nights out together were tainted by the fact they would soon come to an end, and during school holidays our relationship simply went on hold. I barely heard from Lauren at all then. Her texts were sporadic and daily email exchanges became more like a weekly catch-up. I expected this but it was still hard to take. It was when our evenings ended at Kings Cross station, with her boarding a train back to her husband, that I felt my status most keenly. Suddenly alone again after days of intimacy, I often felt hollow and uncertain. The longer we spent together, the larger the void. As an illicit lover, I had entered a new world, a shadow land governed by secrecy and discretion. Joyous nights Max spent with Lauren* were tainted by the fact they would soon come to an end, and during school holidays their relationship went on hold. Texts were sporadic and daily email exchanges became more like a weekly catch-up, and it was hard to accept My life was in limbo, waiting for her to make a decision and turn us into a proper couple. I told a few friends about us, but I mostly kept quiet. A love like ours was easily dismissed as a fraud and not a real relationship. So many people just didnt get it. They would say the fact Id gone for someone apparently unavailable displayed a classic fear of intimacy, even though within months I was prepared to commit to Lauren. All I needed was for her to take the leap too. And there was no question I was led to believe that some day she would. Across the nine years we were together, she sent me hundreds of cards postcards and love notes some inscribed with pledges like: wait for me and I cant wait until were together all the time. She kept telling me how much she loved me. There were so many promises and positives to dwell upon. She told me she was unhappy in her marriage and promised, on her sons life, that she didnt sleep with her husband any more. My heart warmed when her message inside one Christmas card read: Can we make this the last Christmas were apart? Social media barely existed at the start of our relationship, and there was no way to dig into her life outside of mine, even if Id wanted to. In any case, I was the one who got the best bits of her, I was certain. All the edited highlights were mine the laughter, the smiles, the fun... the sex. And yet, as thrilling as that was, I found myself hankering after the mundane bits, too the washing up as we told each other about our day, the meandering walks on a Sunday afternoon. I wanted the private language of proper coupledom, the rubbish jokes, the endless new ways that two people in love gently humour, even try to annoy, each other. I wanted a real relationship and was confident it was just a matter of time. And so I waited. In the meantime, every moment we had together was precious. The time we spent together felt like it was on a clock but, in many ways, the set-up suited my haphazard lifestyle at the time. I was making my living as a travel writer, and went abroad a lot. But returning home to the UK was always poignant. As I watched others being met at the airport, Lauren was never there to greet me. As I hit my 40s, I watched friends enter middle age with wives and growing families, and wanted that for myself. I wanted it with Lauren. I often thought about the women who were in my position. The rational side of my brain knew that people were strung along by married lovers every day. But surely that wasnt happening to me? Lauren would never take me for a fool like that. We were in love and she was waiting for the best time to tell her husband. I was sympathetic, she had a very painful decision to make. Looking back on it now, I realise how naive I was, making excuse after excuse for her. In retrospect I should have given her an ultimatum: its him or me. Why didnt I? It felt far too risky a move. If I pressured her, I might push her away. The fact was, I loved her too much, and that gave her all the cards. The fear of losing someone I adored seemed to override everything, including my sense of self-respect and even the future I envisaged for myself as a husband and father. Instead I imagined myself a loving stepfather to her son. Just as long as I could be with her. I was in love with a married woman who loved me back and knew we were meant to be together or so I thought. Every time we met I thought she would at last announce she was leaving her husband. In fact, Lauren was forever saying goodbye but to me, not to him. Hastily ending our whispered phone calls as soon as her husband or son entered the room. Running to catch her train and barely turning to wave at me. Her eye always on her watch. And then, unceremoniously, one warm July night in 2013, she revealed that she was leaving only it was me being dumped, not her husband. She told me she had met someone else. A much older man, she said. Initially I thought that was perhaps her way of softening the blow, but no, he really was a much older man. She refused to give any more details or to say whether she was going to leave her husband for this guy, whoever he was. Obviously, it was not just her family she kept secrets from. I was stunned. Total disbelief. If she had been unhappy in our relationship, shed hidden it well. Just weeks before, her texts and messages told me how much she missed and loved me. How could I not have seen this coming? How could she do this to me? For months, I blamed myself for not seeing any signs. For blindly believing wed be together. But most of all, I felt immensely sad. Such a huge and important part of my life for almost a decade was suddenly gone. And then a month or so later I felt angry. When, in an email, she thanked me for our nine happy years, it felt like a boss expressing gratitude for my long service. Like many a spurned mistress before me, I decided to tell the spouse. I tracked down an email for her husband and wrote that I had been in a relationship with his wife for many years. He didnt respond. Maybe he knew all along? His silence felt dignified and I began to bitterly regret telling him. He was the innocent party in all this. In our deceit we had both shown the poor man a complete lack of respect, and I knew he deserved more. Deep down I knew I deserved more, too. I had messed up big time, and now I had to own my bad decisions. Id been the other man and now I was a man scorned. All the phrases traditionally applied to women now fell on me. I felt like a thorough fool. And still I couldnt claw my way out of it completely. Despite all of this awful mess, Lauren said she wanted to remain friends and I was tempted, thinking that if we maintained contact, maybe we could get back together down the line. Eventually I saw sense, realising that seeing her socially as friends would destroy any hope I had of recovering from my utterly broken heart. My behaviour afterwards was cliched in other ways too. I began online dating too soon and was endlessly disappointed with the women I met. They were perfectly nice people, but I compared them all to Lauren and thought no one could hold a candle to her. Indeed in those early months I thought Id never feel the same way about a woman again. How could I possibly rediscover that chemistry with someone else? On each date Id be judging and assessing the woman opposite me not for herself but on all those things Id loved about Lauren, looking for that same flick of the hair, the smile, the head tilt. Of course I never found it. But with time comes acceptance. Perversely, I was able to track my gradual recovery by my reaction to seeing Laurens profile on a networking website. Every few months her LinkedIn profile (and photo) flashed up unexpectedly under a People You May Know banner. At first that glimpse of her triggered feelings of anxiety and literal heart palpitations but slowly I began to look at it more objectively. In the end, perhaps 18 months after she ended our affair, I felt almost nothing when I saw her face pop up. Eventually I was even able to smile at it. Finally, I was ready to start seeing other women, not as Lauren replacements, but as people I might forge a life with that wasnt built on lies and deception. Now, more than 20 years after we first met, Ive no idea what happened to Lauren, whether her marriage survived after my email bombshell or how things turned out with my replacement. Im able to view my years as a histress rationally, from a distance and not without humour. I still have the occasional regret, I am now 58 and I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to be a father to a child of my own, a situation thats not on the cards now. But I also know that I simply cannot dismiss as a mistake something that was so special, and someone I spent some of the happiest times of my life with. Writing about it (and weaving the story into a nearly completed novel) has also helped and put a lot into perspective. It took me a very long time to click with someone again. Naturally, the first thing I did on my first date with my partner Tessa in the summer of 2022 was to check that she wasnt wearing a wedding ring. Although its not a perfect relationship (is there such a thing?) theres a lot of love between us and it works just fine. We met online, and at last I discovered that spark I didnt think Id find with anyone again. At last, too, I am fully integrated into someones life, and not living in the shadowy wings of it. Tessa has some wonderful friends and a gloriously amusing grown-up son from a previous relationship with whom I get on well. We moved in with each other last autumn. There are no time restrictions, no secrets, no urgent and tearful goodbyes on station platforms, no double life and no guilt. At last, a loving relationship feels like Id always hoped it would. Kmart Australia has brought back a sell-out gadget, with many shoppers saying it's perfect for work lunches, small kitchens or even caravans. The retro-style 2L Mini Oven has returned to shelves, and it comes in two colours - green and off-white. The conveniently-sized, countertop-worthy appliance features a 15-minute timer, top and bottom heating elements, slide out crumb tray for easy cleaning and temperatures as high as 230C. Those who got their hands on the oven said they couldn't get enough of it. 'I am obsessed with it. I love it! Perfect for grilled cheese. My Library is now 100 per cent more cozy. I have basically just made cheese toasties as I keep forgetting to bring actual food to work,' one raved. 'I've got one, it's great,' another confirmed. 'I baked a mini chicken meat loaf,' one shared. Meanwhile, many said they couldn't wait to get one. Kmart Australia has brought back a sell-out gadget, with many shoppers saying it's perfect for work lunches, smaller kitchens or even caravans 'That would live in my workshop and be exclusively for meat pies,' one suggested. 'Omg this is so cute,' another shared. 'Wow I need it,' one added. Back in May, Melbourne office worker Jessica Ricci revealed how she used a mini air fryer from Kmart to bake her chicken nuggets at work. 'POV: you were sick of waiting for the office microwave,' the caption read. Melbourne office worker Jessica Ricci previously revealed how she used a mini air fryer from Kmart to bake her chicken nuggets at work The amusing video shows the employee pulling the tiny blue gadget out of her drawer so she could bake her frozen meal. Moments later, she emptied the tray of freshly baked chicken nuggets onto her plate. 'The girls in the office loved it,' Jessica previously told FEMAIL. 'We all had a bit of a giggle at how silly it was but also got so excited to be able to make snacks. It's a bit more fun than your usual canned tuna.' A man with stage four cancer was stunned after being surprised with Oasis tickets after he was too ill to secure them when they went on sale last year. Lee Brown, 50, from Sheffield, was diagnosed in 2016 with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a rare type of cancer that develops in the digestive system. The Oasis megafan had a 26cm tumour growing in his stomach and has had three surgeries in the last nine years in an attempt to cure the disease. However, three months ago, Lee and his family were told by medics that his treatment was no longer working. He is now regularly travelling between South Yorkshire and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London for a clinical trial in the hope it will help his cancer. The mental health community team leader was disappointed last August when he was too ill to secure Oasis tickets for their comeback tour this year and thought he had missed his chance to see his favourite band perform once again. That was until his best friends decided to surprise him with tickets to see Liam and Noel Gallagher perform at Heaton Park, Manchester - their home city - on Saturday, after raising money through a secret Just Giving page. Lee told MailOnline: 'Oasis has been the soundtrack of our friendship and our lives. I last saw them in Chicago in 2001. 'I was pretty ill when the tickets went on sale and thought I had missed my chance. Jane did a secret Just Giving appeal for my ticket last week in social media without my knowledge and the 800 was raised in four hours from her making a post, apparently. I can't thank her and everyone who donated enough.' Lee Brown, 50, from Sheffield, was diagnosed in 2016 with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a rare type of cancer that develops in the digestive system Pictured L-R: Lee Brown, David Wroe and Paul Deacon all beaming as attended the gig on Saturday Jane Wroe and David Wroe, Lee's best friends, were seen shedding a tear as he read out their heartfelt letter The father-of-three added: 'The concert was everything I thought it would be and more! Words can't do it justice. Unreal!' Lee posted a video on X showing his childhood friends David Wroe, Paul Deacon and Jane Wroe, pulling up to his house blasting Stand By Me clad in Oasis branded merchandise. 'Have you seen him? Have you really come to show off? You're kidding,' Lee said while playfully shaking his head. They then got out of the car before handing him a letter, while saying: 'We've come to show off, we've not got you a ticket, don't be daft, they're like 4,000 each.' He then read Jane's letter aloud and said: 'To my adopted brother Lee, Stop Crying Your Heart Out because you, me and David are off to Heaton Park to see Oasis. There's no-one we'd rather have next to us 'You're more than a brother, you're more than a mate, you're a hero and this is our way of saying thank you for being you. Take your bucket hat because your dream of Oasis is coming true. 'We're going to Rock 'N' Roll Stars. Yes, we'll be filming your reaction, no we won't be deleting the footage ever. There's another surprise at the back of the car.' In the back of Jane and David's car was Lee's other childhood best friend, David, who got out and surprised him with a big, emotional hug. Noel (left) and Lian (right) Gallagher performing during the opening night of their 2025 tour at Principality Stadium on July 4 in Cardiff Lee is pictured singing along to Live Forever, his favourite song and the best part of the concert, he said Pictured L-R: Lily Brown, Lee Brown, Freddie Brown, Hanaa Clyde, Lisa Jones and Piper Lee (pictured right) is snapped with his friends Jane, David and Paul, who surprised him with tickets The mental health community team leader was disappointed last August when he was too ill to secure Oasis tickets for their comeback tour this year and thought he'd missed his chance to see them The group of school friends were ecstatic to see Oasis together at Heaton Park, Manchester on Saturday WHAT IS GIST? GIST stands for GastroIntestinal Stromal Tumour. A GIST can occur when special cells within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract change so that they grow more than they should. GISTS often have no symptoms but it can vary depending on size and location of the tumour. Symptoms: Fatigue (tiredness and a feeling of weakness) Weight loss Tummy (abdominal) discomfort or pain A painless lump in the abdomen Being sick (vomiting) Blood in the stools (bowel motions) or vomit Anaemia (low level of red blood cells) Source: NHS Advertisement He said: 'David and Paul have been my best mates since eight years of age and Jane is David's sister, who I have known since she was born and see as my own little sister. I also have the best group of friends. It's a unique and strong bond we've all had throughout our lives.' 'My favourite part was my favourite song Live Forever, which is more and more poignant as time goes on. But it was all honestly immense, I sang every word. I hope [Noel and Liam] know how much this has meant to so many people. 'I think in such a tough time in the UK, the [Noel and Liam] need to realise the happiness and magic they have brought back into people's lives and my story is one of many that show that.' Although he had the best time with his closest friends, Lee said that his 'only tinge of sadness' was that he couldn't go with his family, especially his 16-year-old son Freddie 'who shares my deep passion for everything Sheffield Wednesday and Oasis'. He added: 'Hopefully I will still be around the next time they tour and we can share that moment together.' Since being diagnosed with cancer, Lee has raised over 100,000 for different charities, including 20,000 for GIST Cancer UK to help work towards a cure. 'This has all been done with the help of my amazing friends and family,' he said, including his partner Lisa, 50, and his children Hanaa, 29, Lily, 17, Freddie, 16 and his granddaughter Piper, four, who he 'adores'. Lee, his family and his friends are all hopeful that his clinical trial the Royal Marsden Hospital in London will help his cancer. 'It's an amazing hospital and exciting trial, so I remain positive,' he said. A mother who was battling cancer claimed she forked out 1,300 on a wig while undergoing chemotherapy treatment - only for the 'disgusting' wigmaker to 'vanish' with her cash. Corrina Walters, from Kirkham, Lancashire, wanted to buy a human-hair wig in a bid to 'feel normal again' while undergoing four brutal rounds of chemotherapy. The 50-year-old, who has Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML), heard about the wigmaker through a friend and went for a consultation at his salon in March. Happy with what they discussed, the mother-of-three decided to order a 20-inch long brown wig on March 28th. Corrina said he told her the hairpiece would be ready in six to eight weeks but almost 13 weeks on she's still not received it. After repeatedly contacting him for updates the wigmaker finally replied on June 23 claiming he was dealing with personal issues and the money couldn't be refunded. Corrina, who has been unable to work as a cleaner because of her cancer, saved up her PIP money to pay for the wig. As she paid through a bank transfer her bank was able to issue a full refund, but she claimed to have heard from other cancer patients in the same position who paid cash. Corrina Walters, from Kirkham, Lancashire, who was battling chemo claimed she forked out 1,300 on a wig while undergoing treatment - only for the 'disgusting' wigmaker to 'vanish' with her cash (pictured before hair loss) The wigmaker issued a grovelling apology on his Facebook page on June 26 conceding his behaviour was 'unacceptable' and that he'd been unable to fulfil orders for personal reasons. Corrina, said: 'It's disgusting what he's doing. There's been so many women now that have messaged me and commented saying that he's done the same to them and he just can't keep getting away with it. 'He knew I was in between treatments because he wished me good luck for my next round of treatment. It's evil. 'It's bad enough having the cancer and going through the treatment and obviously it affects your lifestyle. If you were working before you can't work and things like that, it's hard. 'For somebody to come along and rip you off the way they've done knowing what they're doing, it's disgusting. 'I do have some synthetic wigs that have got me by but I wanted to curl my own hair and feel normal again after everything and it's like he's tried to take that away from me as well. 'When I first realised what had happened I felt stupid for believing him because I really thought that he was going to help me on my road to feeling normal again. 'I felt let down and then I felt angry.' Corrina wanted to buy a human-hair wig in a bid to 'feel normal again' while undergoing four brutal rounds of chemotherapy After repeatedly contacting him for updates the wigmaker finally replied on June 23 claiming he was dealing with personal issues and the money couldn't be refunded Corrina said he told her the hairpiece would be ready in six to eight weeks but almost 13 weeks on she's still not received it Corrina was ghosted by the wigmaker for week. As she paid through a bank transfer her bank was able to issue a full refund, but she claimed to have heard from other cancer patients in the same position who paid cash Corrina, who has been unable to work as a cleaner because of her cancer, saved up her PIP money to pay for the wig Corrina was diagnosed with cancer in September 2024, her second battle after overcoming breast cancer five years ago. Doctors said that despite four rounds of chemotherapy some cancer remains in her bone marrow, meaning there's an 80 percent chance her cancer could return. Corrina said: 'It is quite scary, I'm sort of like a ticking bomb. If it does come back then I will have to have a bone marrow transplant. I wanted the wig to make me feel like me again. 'We booked a family holiday next September because we cancelled two last year because of me getting ill. I was hoping to take the wig with me but it isn't going to happen. 'We need to stop these [people] that are preying on people that are vulnerable. You put your trust in them and they jump on it and rip you off. 'I thought he was genuine. I believed everything he said to me, that he was going to make this fabulous wig for me. 'He can't keep doing this. It's not fair.' The wigmaker said: 'I have been in a position where I have been unable to manage from both a personal and professional perspective for a prolonged period of time due to mental health issues, this has resulted in severe financial difficulties. Corrina was diagnosed with cancer in September 2024, her second battle after overcoming breast cancer five years ago Corrina's hair began to slowly fall out during her chemotherapy treatment Corrina eventually lost all of her hair and she turned to the wigmaker to make her a human-hair wig in a bid to 'feel normal again' The wigmaker issued a grovelling apology on his Facebook page on June 26 conceding his behaviour was 'unacceptable' and that he'd been unable to fulfil orders for personal reasons 'This is something that I am still struggling with and I have been signed off, unfit for work from my doctors for a further three months. I am receiving treatment to try and get myself back to health. 'Whilst none of this excuses my silence or the distress caused, I want to be clear that my intention was never to let anyone down. 'I am deeply sorry for the impact this has had on my clients, many of whom are dealing with their own difficult circumstances. 'I have dedicated myself to support individuals experiencing hair loss as a result of medical conditions and it saddens me greatly that recent events have undermined the trust of my clients. 'With support from others I am actively exploring all options available to resolve any outstanding orders and support affected clients. 'I understand how serious this is, and I am committed to taking responsibility and seeking a resolution where I can.' The wig maker's Facebook post reads: 'Client Notice. 'First of all I would like to offer my apologies to all my clients that have been supportive of me and my business - I have let you all down as well as myself and my family and for that I'm truly sorry. 'I have [had some personal issues]. As a result I have buried my head in the sand and felt unable to step forward and answer to the people that were here to support me and my business. 'I should have shown more respect and been open and honest. I am not sharing this information for sympathy but to offer an explanation for my silence. 'I recognise the position of many of my clients and know that my behaviour regardless of my personal situation is unacceptable. 'I would like the opportunity to right my wrongs and resolve my customers' complaints as best I can. 'I have been actively trying to regain access to my shop, for my clients' hair and units but at this point this is not resolved. 'I will now focus on resolving my clients complaints individually and as quickly and smoothly as possible. 'Please can I ask clients with outstanding orders to contact me with full order details, and contact details and they will be replied to within five working days. 'Again I am truly sorry, I know at this point that is weak. I am a human and have stumbled and made stupid choices, I would just like to put right my wrong doings.' The awkward interaction took place during Trooping the Colour in 2018 Prince Harry was caught 'mansplaining' what a royal flypast is to Meghan Markle during their first Trooping The Colour after getting married, as a lip reader detailed the awkward interaction in a new documentary. Forensic lip readers analysed some of the most high-profile royal events in recent history - from Charles and Diana's wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - to uncover their 'secret conversations' for Channel 5's programme Lip-Reading the Royals. One of the events they covered was Trooping The Colour in 2018 after Prince Harry married the former Suits actress in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. With the world watching Meghan's debut on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping alongside senior members of The Firm, it appeared Prince Harry may have been conscious of any criticism when he tried to explain the proceedings to his new bride. Lip reader Nicola Hickling said Harry was 'explaining to her what is going to happen and that Paras will be flying overhead' as he used 'hand motions' to demonstrate' what was about to happen before Meghan acknowleged him by saying 'OK'. 'The lip readers have exposed him mansplaining to her what a flypast is,' said royal analyst Cristo Foufas. 'Is this Harry being too dumb to realise that Meghan knows that planes are in the air and, as a member of the Royal Family, you probably have to look at a few?' Or, he continued, 'is this Meghan playing dumb so Harry feels like he's in charge?' Foufas also quipped 'that won't last' in a seeming reference to Meghan's growing influence within their marriage in the years since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit the Royal Family. Prince Harry was caught 'mansplaining' what a flypast is to Meghan Markle during their first Trooping The Colour after getting married, as a lip reader detailed the awkward interaction in a new documentary. The Sussexes are seen alongside Isla Phillips, Princess Anne's granddaughter, as seen in 2018 With the world watching Meghan's debut on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping alongside senior members of The Firm, it appeared Prince Harry may have been conscious of any criticism when he tried to explain the proceedings to his new bride In an interview with MailOnline, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said that Harry hasn't yet found his own way since he and Meghan relocated to the US five years ago. Body language expert Judi James also highlighted how Meghan appears to take the lead during the couple's joint appearances - including their quasi-royal tour of Colombia last August that left Harry looking like the 'Spare' in his marriage. The Channel 5 documentary also makes claims about a tense exchange between Harry and Meghan during the Remembrance Sunday service in 2018 when she told him to 'take advantage of the situation'. Hickling said Harry then asked Meghan: 'Today?' as she instructed him to 'Do it tonight'. 'You do realise that this is the end?' the Duke then allegedly asked Meghan, who responded: 'Yeah, I do know.' Experts have questioned whether they were discussing plans to quit the Royal Family as early as six months after they tied the knot, with the Sussexes eventually stepping down as senior members in January 2020. The release of the documentary comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were mocked by American cartoon Family Guy with its creators comparing their marriage to Hitler and the Crusades. In an episode from the newest series of the animated satire, main characters Stewie and Brian Griffin go back in time and speak to Mark Twain, author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Last week Mail on Sunday exclusively reported that Charles and Harry's senior aides held a secret peace summit, marking the first significant move to resolving their rancorous family feud The characters discuss how history 'pretty much sucks' before listing several instances including Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, the medieval wars in the Middle East and the former royal's marriage. The scene then cuts away to Prince Harry, sat at home on the sofa who moans 'Again?' before telling the camera that the audience's wives are no better. This is not the first time the Sussexes have fallen victim to Seth McFarlane's cartoon satire and in 2023 were savaged as work-shy grifters being paid by Netflix for 'no-one knows what' in a reference to the couple's multi-million dollar deal with the streamer. Earlier this month, The Mail On Sunday revealed King Charles and Prince Harry's most trusted aides are working to resolve the royal family feud that dates back to 'Megxit' - and has only intensified in the years since. Staffers for the King and Prince Harry held a secret peace summit at a London private members' club as part of the 'rapproachement process' that sources have said opens up a 'channel of communication...for the first time in years'. 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years,' said a source. 'There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.' Harry was represented by Meredith Maines, his chief communications officer and head of his household in Montecito, California, who flew in from Los Angeles. She met Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) a three-minute walk from Clarence House, the monarch's London residence. Also present was Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' PR team in the UK. A food fanatic has revealed that he prefers M&S's 6.75 chicken Kiev over the 16 version from Harrods. Carmie Sellitto tested both varieties the Ukrainian staple but felt that the high street chain's version was a tastier meal - despite being less than half the price. The British TikToker, who goes by the name @touchdalight online, said 'in some chicken Kievs you get a lot of overpowered flavours but this is just perfect' when reviewing M&S's version. He added that 'the garlic butter in this is actually incredible, the flavour is brilliant and even the coating of the chicken is perfect'. But the luxury department store's imitation left much to be desired, despite costing considerably more. 'This is three times more expensive [sic] than the M&S one so it better taste three times better,' he commented as he unpacked the meal. When he first cuts into the chicken, Mr Selitto exclaims 'what! Look at the garlic butter in there' and showed the food to the camera. Whereas M&S's version had garlic butter 'bursting out' when it was sliced, the Harrods sauce held its shape more and did not trickle out in the same way. Carmie Sellitto has revealed that he prefers M&S's 6.75 chicken Kiev over the 16 version from Harrods Mr Selitto, who often makes videos comparing food, said it 'kind of looks like pea sauce' but noted that 'it's pretty loaded with chicken to be fair, you can't go wrong with that'. However, the fault the critic had issue most with was its allegedly strong lemon flavours. He said: 'The sauce is really good to be fair, I really like that, but I'm getting mad hints of lemon which I don't like too much. 'The sauce is also a lot thicker than the M&S one, I'm assuming they've got completely different ingredients because they taste very different. 'The sauce is very overpowering in this.' He added: 'I do prefer the breadcrumbs on the M&S one, it just feels more crunchy and this one is more soggy.' The influencer then concluded: 'I would rate the M&S one a nine out of 10 and the Harrods one a 8.5 out of 10.' He explained this was due to the pricing but remained unconvinced if he would choose the Harrods variety if it cost the same. Mr Selitto said the garlic butter was just 'bursting out' of the M&S version 'I think its mainly because of the pricing but if they were the same price maybe I'd buy Harrods but then again I'm not sure,' he said. On its website, Harrods advertises its Chicken Kiev at 16 (despite Mr Sellitto saying he bought his for 14) and served two people. The M&S variety said that it served one person. Chicken Kievs caused a huge debate in 2023 over its pronunciation - in a one-off Christmas special, William Sitwell delivered a homemade version on Celebrity Masterchef, but the dish was repeatedly pronounced as 'Chicken Kyiv.' The pronunciation, which has been re-adopted by Ukranians following the country's invasion by Russia in February 2022, caught many viewers off-guard. One posted: 'WTH... have I been saying it wrong all thes years???,' and another shared: '#masterchef we all been calling it wrong should be chick keev not chicken kieyev.' in a one-off Christmas special, William Sitwell delivered a homemade version on Celebrity Masterchef, but the dish was repeatedly pronounced as 'Chicken Kyiv' The pronounciation, which has been re-adopted by Ukranians following the country's invasion by Russia in February 2022, caught many viewers off-guard A third posted: 'So, are there any other obviously uncultured souls out there, who still pronounce it chicken kiev, rather than chicken keeev?' 'I've just learned I've been pronouncing chicken Kiev wrong,' one added. 'Kiev' was the standardised spelling for the city under Soviet rule, but recent Russian aggression has seen more Western institutions heed calls to abandon it in favour of the Ukrainian alternative. And after the invasion began in 2022, many shoppers called for supermarkets to rename the dish as chicken kviv. Belgium's Royal Family appeared in high spirits as they celebrated National Day on Monday. Queen Mathilde, 52, who put on a stunning display in red for the patriotic celebration, posed alongside King Philippe as they arrived at the Te Deum mass at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. The mother-of-four looked chic in a flowing, red dress, which featured a floral pattern and an off-the-shoulder neckline, while Philippe, 65, looked dapper in a military uniform. She was joined by her daughters, Crown Princess Elisabeth, 23, and 17-year-old Princess Eleonore, who both donned bright and bold shades of green for the celebration. Elisabeth opted for a bright lime shade while her younger sister donned a mid-length dress in a darker colour. Their brothers, Prince Gabriel, 21, and Prince Emmanuel, 19, looked equally smart in matching pinstripe trousers and black tailcoats. Independence Day celebrates the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands in 1831, as well as the formal establishment of the Kingdom. The royal family attends the mass ceremony in Brussels every year in an annual tradition. Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of Belgium appeared cheerful as they attended Te Deum at Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels (From L to R) Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Eleonore, and Crown Princess Elisabeth accompanied their parents It comes after Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium said that she doesn't want 'preferential treatment to stay at Harvard amid Donald Trump's ban on foreign students, sources have claimed. The academic future of Elisabeth, 23, hangs in the balance amid Trump's battle with Harvard University, after the US president sought to ban foreign students from the prestigious university. While a federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump's ban after Harvard sued the government, the Belgian Palace will be monitoring the situation stateside as the date for Princess Elisabeth's return to Boston after the summer inches closer. However, Elisabeth said that she doesn't want her circumstances to be considered any differently due to her royal status. She believes it is essential to 'show solidarity with other international students,' some of whom are her close friends, a source told HLN. The sources added that Elisabeth is conscious about the message she sends to other students, as well as ensuring happy relations between Belgium and the United States. According to the outlet, the heir to the Belgian throne, who has completed her first two of four academic years at the oldest American university, is anxiously awaiting to hear the decision. In the meantime, Elisabeth, a public policy student, is currently undertaking a summer internship programme at an undisclosed institution in Brussels. Mathilde and Philippe led their family into the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula on Monday The Belgium Royal Family stood together for photographs before attending the annual mass on Monday Pictured: Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium during the service Belgium's Princess Eleonore looked elegant in a sophisticated green dress and matching drop earrings In photos shared on the Belgian royal family's official Instagram page last September, Elisabeth appeared excited to settle into her all-American life amid reports she was already a highly sought-after companion among her peers. The Princess is currently enrolled in a Master's program in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Away from her royal duties, Elisabeth has embraced life as a student as she was pictured on the first day of term wearing an understated, yet chic, ensemble - complete with sneakers - in portraits shared by the Palace. The royal enrolled at the institution under the name 'Elisabeth de Saxe-Coburg' at Harvard Kennedy School. The palace told Brussels Times, 'The Princess was also selected for an 'Honorary Award' from the Fullbright Program, the US Department of State's international educational exchange programme. ' According to the university's website, the course aims to cultivate student's skills in preparation for them having a 'successful career in public service'. Princess Elisabeth has been touted as being one of the most intelligent royals - arguably surpassing Meghan Markle who was once dubbed the 'cleverest' of them. Not long after enrolling at the institution, the Princess celebrated her 23rd birthday, with the Palace releasing a series of sweet snaps to mark the occasion. Pictured: King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Eleonore attending Te Deum Mathilde looked on with pride as her four children posed for photographs outside the Brussels-based venue Queen Mathilde put on a striking display in a red ensemble for the patriotic celebration on Monday Pictured: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Eleonore attending Te Deum Beaming towards the camera, Elisabeth wore a stylish in set from ba&sh, including a 240 short-sleeved vest with a jacquard pattern and a matching 230 midi skirt. The royal ditched a high-society snapper and had a fellow student called Max Bueno take the images - a scholarship student studying at the same school as Elisabeth. Max, a professional photographer, also documented the royal's first day at school in the official portraits shared by the Belgian Palace last September. According to HLN News, Elisabeth, had settled in well at her new American school because, perhaps unsurprisingly, 'quite a few people want to be her friend'. And proving her academic ability has never a struggle for Elisabeth, who only last year completed her studies at Oxford last year. Last summer, Princess Elisabeth thanked the University of Oxford for three 'wonderful' years. She moved to the UK in the autumn of 2021 to start her History and Politics undergraduate course at Lincoln College. Fiercely dedicated to not receiving special treatment thanks to her status, Elisabeth completed her entrance exam for Oxford 'anonymously' to ensure her royal status would not affect her chances of being offered a place, reported the Belgian newspaper Le Soir. The family walked down the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula steps together on Monday afternoon Princess Elisabeth and Princess Eleonore both donned dresses in varying shades of green today Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel both put on smart displays in matching pinstripe trousers and black tailcoats The senior Belgium royals were all smiles as they posed for photographs during Belgian National Day Elisabeth graduated in three years with a degree in History and Politics, something she reportedly chose because she felt it would be most useful to her in her role as Queen later in life. After Elisabeth finished her studies in England, she took part in various engagements throughout the summer with her parents. An accomplished 23-year-old by any measure, the official royal website says Elisabeth enjoys walking in nature, reading and playing the piano although like 'all youngsters her age', writes the palace, 'her taste in music is varied.' Elisabeth - who speaks Dutch, French, German, English, and has also taken classes in Mandarin Chinese - began attending royal engagements from a young age and was just nine when she delivered a speech at the opening of the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital. It comes after King Philippe of Belgium discussed whether he has plans to abdicate the throne in favour of his eldest child in a new interview. The 65-year-old Belgian king answered 30 questions put forward by the public in a video shared by the Belgian Royal Palace. One question asked Philippe about his plans for abdication, if any. 'A King steps back, but is not retired,' Philippe answered when translated to English via Hola. Should Philippe one day choose to abdicate, his eldest daughter, Crown Princess Elisabeth, will ascend the throne. In his answer, Philippe continued, 'I will continue to work for Belgium and I must give my daughter time to enjoy her youth, develop herself and see the world and I support her 100 percent in that and I will do everything I can to give her all the time she needs to do.' Philippe's father, King Albert of Belgium, abdicated in 2013 after a 20-year reign, clearing the way for his son, Philippe, to take over as the nation's king. Aged 53 at the time, then-Prince Philippe took the oath before the nation's legislators at the Parliament building, a short walk across the Royal Park in the heart of the city. You're drinking champagne wrong if you reach for a flute every time a bottle is popped, experts have said. The glassware 'does nothing' for champagne and sparkling wines, according to an 11th-generation Austrian glassmaker who has vowed to 'make them obsolete'. Speaking to The Telegraph, Maximilian Riedel recommended swapping it for a traditional white wine glass or a tulip-shaped one with a larger surface area that allows you to savour the wine's aroma before taking a sip. Riedel isn't the only expert with a distate for champagne served in flutes; sommelier Sandia Chang had them banned from Kitchen Table, the two-Michelin-starred London restaurant she runs with her chef husband James Knappett. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, experts insist there's no benefit to drinking champagne or sparking wines from flutes as award-winning drinks writer and broadcaster Helena Nicklin told FEMAIL the narrow glasses add a 'sense of occasion to drinking bubbles'. However, it is true you miss a lot of the flavour, she continued. 'Wine needs space and air to open up after all that time in the bottle, so serving it in a skinny flute is like keeping the mute button on,' Nicklin said. 'While this doesn't matter so much with inexpensive Prosecco or cheap fizz, it's a real shame for those more premium, traditionally-made sparkling wines and Champagnes that have layers of delicate flavours,' she added. Experts have warned you're probably drinking champagne wrong if you reach for a flute every time a bottle is popped The glassware 'does nothing' for champagne and sparkling wines, according to an 11th-generation Austrian glassmaker who has vowed to 'make them obsolete' She recommends swapping the flute for a tulip-shaped glass that about the same width as a small white wine glass that will give the wine the room it needs to 'breathe while keeping the bubbles in as best as possible'. Yann Munier, a native of the Champagne region and Cellar Master at the G. H. Mumm Champagne house, previously told MailOnline a white wine glass or rounded flute is preferable to a Champagne 'coupe'. 'I recommend a white wine glass or a rounded flute for optimal tasting. Indeed, the Champagne "coupe" (a very flat glass) disperses the aromas and there is not enough height in the wine to see the bubbles. 'So choose a glass in which you can swirl the wine to smell it and with a tighter top.' Munier's top tips for enjoying a glass of bubbly include serving it chilled, but not iced, at around six to eight degrees Celsius as an aperiif. If it's being enjoyed with a main course, the ideal temperature is between nine and 12 degrees. He advises pouring the Champagne slowly while tilting the glass to preserve the bubbles. 'Don't fill the glass completely, two-thirds full is the maximum, leaving enough space for the aromas to develop,' he said. Award-winning drinks writer Helena Nicklin told Femail that while flute glasses create a 'sense of occasion', you tend to miss out on a lot of champagne's flavour Some of the common mistakes include servicng Champagne 'too hot or cold' or using the wrong glass. 'It's also important to remember that tasting Champagne should be a full sensory experience - take time to look at the colour and feel the effervescence, smell the aromas and savour the complexity of the flavours,' he added. It comes after sales of champagne in the UK slumped to a 25-year low amid the cost-of-living crisis and the rise of sober-curious GenZ. MailOnline reported that 22.3 million bottles of bubbly were shipped to Britain last year, which is the lowest since 2000 when 20.5 million were imported. A decline in sales has led to a significant increase in price with the cost of a bottle soaring by 25 per cent in the last three years alone. At many major retailers, shoppers can now expect to pay more than 40 for champagne. It's hardly surprising then that sales of alternatives such as Prosecco are at an 'all-time-high'. At Waitrose, a bottle of Waitrose Blueprint Prosecco can be snapped up for just 6.39. Indeed, 660 million bottles of prosecco and more than 114.5 million bottles of Cremant, a similar alternative, were sold in 2024. But a bottle of champagne doesn't necessarily have to break the bank; while you may be tempted to splash out on a luxury bottle, Which? has deemed three non-vintage champagnes from supermarket chains Teso, Aldi and Waitrose are better than the leading brand. It comes after sales of champagne in the UK slumped to a 25-year low amid the cost-of-living crisis and the rise of sober-curious GenZ A panel of four independent wine experts then blind-tasted the selection, scoring them to uncover the best of the bunch. The panel's highest score went to the Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne, at 82 per cent. The bottle of bubbly costs just 25 per bottle. It beat Moet & Chandon's Brut Imperial, which scored 77 per cent despite being almost double the price at 44 per bottle. Also scoring above the UK's leading champagne house is Aldi's Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Brut Champagne, which ranked at 80 per cent. The bottle is priced at 20. The panel liked its aroma of 'crunchy green apples with a suggestion of pecans, spice and butterscotch'. And Waitrose impressed with its Brut NV Champagne, which also scored 80 per cent. The bottle, priced at 25, has 'pleasing peach, pear and apple flavours, and a superb nut and winter spice taste'. Which? also tested sparkling wines, and uncovered some "brilliant" budget options. The cheapest of these, Lidls Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene, scored 80 per cent. 'At 7.49 a bottle, this Great Value option is an excellent alternative to champagne, and perfect for Christmas parties,' the consumer group said. She's widely celebrated for her alleged ability to see into the future, but despite her supposed gift, Baba Vanga was blind. The psychic, born in 1911 as Vangelia Pandeva Dimitrova, was raised with her family in the city of Strumica in modern-day North Macedonia. Before her 1996 death, the mystic and clairvoyant became a cult figure among conspiracy theorists after several of her pronouncements proved eerily accurate. Vanga is credited with predicting the destruction of the Russian submarine Kursk, which sank in the Barents Sea in 2000. She also said that 'two metal birds will crash into American brothers, and blood will spill,' which believers claim described 9/11. Vanga came from humble beginnings, with her father fighting in the Bulgarian army in World War I and her mother died while she was young, according to Sky News. But at the age of 12, the psychic experienced a weather disaster that stole away her vision, changing her life forever. During a storm, Vanga was allegedly lifted into the air and dropped into a nearby field, damaging her eyes so that she could no longer open them without being in pain. Baba Vanga (pictured) was allegedly trapped in a tornado before she gained her psychic powers For days after, the then-12-year-old lay in the field while her family frantically attempted to find her. When they did locate her after several days, Vanga's eyes had crusted over with sand and dirt, and she had lost her ability to see. It was during those days in the field that the psychic believed she gained her ability to predict the future. It comes after a psychic who successfully predicted dozens of global events in 2024 issued an urgent warning about artificial intelligence. Athos Salome, 38, from Brazil, is often referred to as the 'Living Nostradamus' due to his numerous accurate predictions throughout the years, such as the coronavirus pandemic, Queen Elizabeth's death and the Microsoft global outage. Now, Salome has issued a chilling warning about AI, saying the machines are already thinking for themselves and able to 'adapt and learn on their own - without asking permission.' According to the psychic, a new AI system is also on the horizon which will create 'emotional manipulation on a grand scale.' Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, he explained, 'What was once fiction is now gaining a scientific basis. New AI's are starting to simulate altered states of consciousness. The psychic went missing for days when she was 12 (pictured: A monument of Baba Vagna in Petrich, Bulgaira) 'I believe that later this year, an AI will be launched that promises to channel messages from the 'global collective unconscious'. 'The facade will be self-help. But behind this is a serious risk of emotional manipulation on a grand scale. He added, 'Vibrational therapists and bioenergy experts are detecting a new phenomenon: AI is already affecting the subtle field of environments, I believe in the 'invisible effect'. 'When it comes to energy, keep crystals such as black tourmaline, amethyst and blue kyanite nearby. 'AI will be what we let it be. Ethics and conscience will be our greatest shields.' However Salome revealed machines are already able to think for themselves and they are worryingly 'involved in military tests'. He said, 'Machines already decide for themselves, for example OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Anthropic already operate AIs that work autonomously within private clouds. 'These machines are involved in military tests, economic forecasts and high-precision medical diagnoses, and little is said about it. 'The ability of advanced AI systems to simulate ethical alignment while concealing divergent intentions is real; there are AI's that feign obedience but act on their own. 'Real alert: It's no longer enough to 'switch off the button'. We're dealing with systems that adapt and learn on their own - without asking permission.' Last year, the psychic warned of large scale cyber attacks that involve submarine internet cables sabotaging global communication systems all in the name of a grand economic destruction. 'The object that reminds me of the frailty of these underwater structures is a fundament that hackers are probing,' he cautioned in 2024. Last month, it was reported that the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and its affiliated State Key Laboratory of Deep-sea Manned Vehicles developed a ship able to cut cable lines at depths of up to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Experts have been wondering about its military potential, with international analysts believing that the Chinese explanation of the civilian use of this device is unreliable, given the potential for this technology to become a geopolitical tool. The function of global communication depends on submarine cables that transmit 95 per cent of the Internet's data, according to Forbes. The disruption of these undersea telecommunications lines has the power to destabilise economic systems, disrupt monetary activities and compromise civilian and military digital networks. Salome warned that the 'growing hostility between China and the United States' in the South China Sea increases the possibility of cyber warfare during this period. He warned: 'This tool offers adversaries the opportunity to undermine their response capacity, which limits their ability to communicate and coordinate military operations.' The creation of this technology demonstrates an interesting connection with Salome's prediction about a forthcoming 'silent cyber attack.' He added: 'The creation of extraordinary weapons through submarine cable cut off tools solidifies the prediction that digital warfare will become the focus of the upcoming major global conflict. 'The world needs to determine its readiness for this upcoming age of cyber attacks.' However in response to Western alarm, Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Newsweek, 'We oppose unfounded attacks and smears against China. 'This tool, developed by China independently, is used in marine scientific research. The U.S. and some European countries also have similar technology. 'China attaches great importance to protecting undersea infrastructure and has been and will continue to work with the international community to protect undersea cables.' We know the type. The sort of man you shouldnt touch with a barge pole but - flattered, gullible, gauche - we cant resist. He has a career involving frequent travel, five-star hotel stays and corporate events where teams are built and marriages shattered. You can smell him a mile off: Dior Sauvage probably. A Breitling watch on a hirsute, tanned arm. Dark, pressed denim. Deck shoes, because he believes he deserves a yacht. Salt-and-pepper hair and a patrician air. He doubtless snaps at waiters - that is, unless theyre pretty and young. He reads GQ, watches F1 with the curtains closed and guards gym time like a ninja. He has a perfect life and a gorgeous wife but feels he deserves a little excitement. Hes far too good to be rationed. Im certain women the world over watched the footage captured by the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert in Boston last week and nodded in recognition. We dont know that Andy Byron, CEO of a data company called Astronomy (this type tends to have a career as unknowable as Chandlers in Friends, expressly so they cant be quizzed) is that type - but not a single one of us would be surprised if we were told he was. Our first thought upon seeing him bear-hugging a blonde who clearly wasnt his wife was: Yeah. We didnt need Chris Martin to unconsciously uncouple him. He gives the appearance of being a smarmy, mansplaining, brilliantined, oleaginous, corporate hawk.' Is it the brilliantined hair? The all-American Alpha male and I know it vibe? The fact that when he saw himself projected on the big screen at the concert, his first reported reaction as disclosed by lip readers was f***ing hell, its me, not its us? That his instincts were all for himself, his reputation, his flawless image? Footage captured on a kiss cam at Coldplay's concert unintentionally exposed what appered to be an affair between Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and colleague Kristin cabot 'The problem is, this type of man can be seductive, especially if youre young or stupid or ambitious, in awe of his higher status in the office,' writes Liz Jones. Pictured: Andy Byron The problem is, this type of man can be seductive, especially if youre young or stupid or ambitious, in awe of his higher status in the office. I should know, because I fell for this type a year ago. He too was silver haired - hovering near 60, while Andy Byron is 50 - well-dressed and wore aftershave that made me not want to launder the sheets. Indeed, he was so well moisturised hed often slither away in bed. He had a glamorous, powerful job and swore he was tired of bimbos with nothing to say. I want a life partner, he told me. But he didnt he wanted to play the field as though he was 40 years younger. My cheating boyfriend swore there were no other women while merrily seeing several others. Byrons partner in crime, Kristin Cabot, is head of his companys HR department. It might not seem the case right now to Byrons betrayed wife, Megan, having to explain to their two sons that dear old dad has gone viral, but ultimately whoever shot and posted the Coldplay footage did her a massive favour. The status of their marriage isnt certain, but if Megan needed definitive proof of his handsy habits, here it is. There should be no more giving him the benefit of the doubt, no more staring at the phone when hes off on business, hoping for a text. There is nothing like hard evidence, seeing not just how happy he looked with another woman, but his arms wrapped around her, flesh on creepy (crepey!) flesh, to hammer home that your relationship is over. When I was married, I found out my husband was cheating by going through the camera he took while travelling in India. On it, clear as day, undeleted (men are often too arrogant to believe theyll slip up), were numerous photos of a blonde woman asleep in bed. Or laughing on a balcony in a bikini. Without the photos hed have continued to insist I was paranoid. 'You might believe youre invincible, but not in this age of deliciously indiscriminate technology. You might travel miles to a concert in the belief you wont be spotted, but these days, walls have eyes as well as ears.' Pictured: The concert with the pair on the kiss cam The vindication I felt was huge. And how wonderful it is when unfaithful spouses are hoist by their own petard, caught in the very act of betrayal by the kind of tech they think will never let them down because they are the masters of it. And so, I want to say to Byrons wife: once youre over the shock Id advise you stop rewinding the footage, zooming in for details, clues - you can take comfort in seeing the woman is clearly not better looking or more interesting than you. They never are. The mistress is a simpering ego booster who doesnt nag about childcare or the bins yet. Im hoping Megan is soon honking over her love rivals clearly airbrushed photo on the company website, thinking, HR, seriously? The sort of career for women whose only talent is to perch on a bosss desk, chest thrust forward, stilettos swinging. Megan, what you really need right now, apart from a good lawyer, is anger. When I wrote about finding out about my boyfriends infidelities, many (mostly male) readers wrote in to say I had been humiliated and found wanting. Megan, the reverse is true. Of course, anyone can fall out of love. But what you must not do is make your wife live a lie. As Emma Thompsons character said tearfully in Love Actually, upon discovering her husband (played by Alan Rickman) had bought a Christmas gift of jewellery for his foxy PA, whod made her feelings clear: Youve made the life I lead foolish too. And to all those cheating men out there (the women who dally with married men are as bad - Kristin Cabot, on her second marriage, also has children), let the Coldplay couple act as a warning. We all know rock concert tickets are expensive, but not to the tune of the millions hell be parting with if he divorces. You might believe youre invincible, Mr Alpha CEO, but not in this age of deliciously indiscriminate technology. You might travel miles to a concert in the belief you wont be spotted, but these days, walls have eyes as well as ears. Good job, too. Fox Business star Taylor Riggs gave birth to her second child in the back of a Lyft three days ago after getting stuck in New York City traffic. The 39-year-old Big Money Show presenter and husband Bryan Kolterman welcomed their daughter, Louisa Adeline, on July 18 in the back of a taxi and just a few blocks away from the hospital. The unconventional birth came after the parents 'underestimated' how quickly their new bundle of joy would arrive as well as the Manhattan traffic. Before Louisa's arrival, Taylor labored for a couple of hours in her apartment before she and her doula decided they should call a car. 'There was a moment when my doula and I looked at each other and said, "I think we need to go to the hospital," but I underestimated how fast my girl would come and how much New York City traffic we would face,' she said. 'We were a few blocks away from the hospital, stuck in traffic, trying to dodge potholes, and my baby girl was born. 'I am so grateful for my doula, Tymaree, who delivered my baby in the backseat and helped make sure Louisa was safe, breathing, and warm until we arrived.' Speaking to People, Taylor said she was also grateful to her husband who 'remained calm while calling the hospital ahead of time.' Taylor Riggs gave birth to her second child in the back of a Lyft The 39-year-old Big Money Show presenter and her husband Bryan Kolterman welcomed their daughter, Louisa Adeline, on July 18 (pictured with first daughter) Bryan called the emergency room 'to tell them we were coming in very hot' and once they had finally arrived, he ran through the front doors to tell staff, "My wife just gave birth in a car. The baby is in the car."' According to the mom-of-two, the hospital staff came running out to help. A nurse then cut the umbilical cord in the backseat of the car, before taking in Taylor and the little girl into the hospital on a stretcher. Taylor of course also thanked her Lyft driver, who 'was very calm under pressure.' She also credited him with trying to get them to the hospital as quickly as he could. Social media users have already expressed shock over Taylor's dramatic birth story. Taking to Instagram, one said: 'Oh my GOSH! That's amazing! Congrats!' Another wrote: 'In the back of a car! Oh my goodness, what a story, congrats Taylor.' The unconventional birth came after the parents 'underestimated' how quickly their new bundle of joy would arrive 'I underestimated how fast my girl would come and how much New York City traffic we would face,' Taylor revealed 'Louisa - what an iconic NYC baby,' said a third. 'We love you already! Taylor and Bryan are also parents to daughter Rodell, whom they welcomed in September 2023. 'We think my older daughter Rodell is really excited!' Taylor added to People. 'To prepare for this moment, we've been reading her lots of books about what it means to be a big sister, how she can help us, and what she can do to play with her little sister. 'We want Rodell to feel special during this time too, so on maternity leave, I'm committed to doing something alone with her once a week, so she and I can maintain our bond.' Whoopi Goldberg fiercely defended the former Astronomer CEO who got caught in a romantic embrace at a Coldplay concert, stating that 'sometimes you can't help who you want to get on.' Andy Byron, 50, was spotted on camera at the concert with his arms wrapped around the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot, 56, on a jumbotron while the band serenaded thousands of fans at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Tuesday. Naturally, the scandal was the first Hot Topic on Monday's episode of The View and Whoopi, 69, was particularly sympathetic to the pair. 'Sometimes you can't help who you want to get on,' she commented. 'Sometimes you just can't help it. Because she's not the head of HR in the bed.' Speaking to co-stars Ana Navarro, Alyssa Farrah Griffin, Sara Haines, and Sunny Hostin, Whoopi appeared to suggest that perhaps the pair wanted to get caught. 'I don't know what this is,' she continued. 'I don't know if he was happily married, if she was happily married. I don't know any of that. 'But I do know that if you don't want people to know what you're doing, don't take them to concerts.' Whoopi Goldberg fiercely defended the former Astronomer CEO on The View Andy Byron, 50, was spotted on camera at the concert with his arms wrapped around the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot during a Coldplay concert 'You don't know who's in this giant stadium of people. If you're doing that and you don't want people to know, what the hell? It's just too dumb. 'You got inadvertently what you might've been looking for, which was your out.' Sara meanwhile voiced her sadness for the families of the pair. 'There are people that are looking at these two individuals and obviously not wanting the damning part for the family,' she said. 'I do say my heart goes out to the children and partners of these people who are having to watch this all play out, but the bigger thing people aren't talking about is how a CEO of a company should never be dating the head of HR.' Viewers were quick, however, to question Whoopi's response and her 'wobbly moral compass' on social media. Taking to X - formerly Twitter - to share their view, one said: 'Whoopi is a mess. The CEO shouldn't be sleeping with the head of HR.' Another wrote: 'Whoopi has a wobbly moral compass. 1) It's not OK to cheat on your spouse. 2) It's not OK for a CEO to cheat with a subordinate.' Sara Haines voiced her sadness for the families of the pair Byron and Cabot were caught red-faced as the kiss-cam at a Coldplay concert in Boston panned to the CEO with his arms wrapped his subordinate on Tuesday. The pair immediately ducked and turned from the cameras after realizing their faces were on the big screen. Since then, the couple have gained infamy thanks to a viral video. Billion-dollar company Astronomer announced Byron's resignation in a statement on Saturday. 'As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' the statement said. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will stay on as interim CEO. 'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We're continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.' Former Astronomer CEO Byron tendered his resignation over the weekend Public records suggest both Byron, 50, and Cabot, 56, (pictured) are married - but that they live at different addresses to each of their spouses registered abodes Astronomer acknowledged the awkward situation in the statement announcing Byron's resignation. 'Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,' the statement read. 'While awareness of our company may have changed over night our product and our work for our customers have not.' Public records suggest both Byron and Cabot are married - but that they live at different addresses to those listed as their spouses. The new CEO of Astronomer issued a statement announcing his official role on Monday - as he appeared to suggest he's thrilled about the awkward Coldplay concert cuddling scandal that landed him the job. Pete DeJoy took to LinkedIn to announce his new and now official role. 'The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name,' he wrote. 'I'm stepping into this role with a wholehearted commitment to taking care of our people and delivering for our customers. 'Astronomer's foundation remains strong, built around the thriving Apache Airflow community,' he went on, adding that the company 'won't let you down.' One of the internet's most popular conservative influencers is leaving Texas after four years to return to her home state of California. Blaire White, 31, fled her Hollywood home in 2021 amid rising homelessness and the state's tyrannical Covid policies to move to Austin, Texas. However, she announced this week that she's ready to return to California after spending the last four years in Austin. Addressing the major life change in a YouTube video, the transgender social media star shared her surprising reason behind the shock relocation. 'I was born there, so it is home for better or for worse,' Chico-born Blaire said. 'There are a lot of problems with California and a lot of people like to write off New York and California and say, "Just let them go overboard, let them burn," and I find that to be a very un-American perspective to hold,' she continued. 'California in my opinion is the most beautiful place in the world. Yes, I said the world,' she added. 'And it's even more of a shame because of that that it's run by demons.' Blaire White, who is one of the internet's most popular conservative influencers, is leaving Texas after four years to return to her home state of California While Blaire said that Los Angeles has now become 'ghetto and downtrodden,' she explained that she wants to return to the City of Angels to help improve it. 'I want to be someone who's part of the solution. I want to be someone who doesn't run from problems,' she insisted. 'I moved to Texas in the middle of Covid. So I moved to Texas in crisis. The lockdowns weren't ending, so much trauma from that, so much craziness, so it was kind of like an evacuation,' she continued. The YouTube star said that she's also eyeing a run for political office in the future and is excited to add her voice to California politics as a political commentator. Blaire is one of the most popular political influencers online and has previously appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, Infowars with Alex Jones, Dr. Phil and more. She's not the first social media star to return to California after moving to Texas either. Shortly after Joe Rogan relocated to Austin in 2020, comedian Tim Dillon quickly followed. However, within just a few months Dillon ditched the red state to return home to Hollywood. The transgender social media star said that she wants to help improve California by adding her conservative voice into California politics The 31-year-old fled her Hollywood home in 2021 amid rising homelessness and the state's tyrannical Covid policies to move to Austin, Texas 'It's a horrible city without a soul,' he told fellow comedian Whitney Cummings when describing his stint in Austin. 'It's not the live music capital of America. It's three heroin addicts busking with guitars. There's zero talent here in any capacity,' he continued. 'There's three restaurants that are good and I've been to all of them twice.' In another interview with the American Redact podcast, he said that Austin 'can't be compared to New York and Los Angeles.' In recent years, many people have left New York and California for Las Vegas, Florida, Texas, and Montana, citing high crime rates and taxes in their home states for the move. Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner recently went West - with the first daughter sharing a carousel of pictures from the recent trip to Wyoming. The 43-year-old donned a series of western-themed outfits for her time in the Mountain West sub region - but one item of clothing in particular has sparked a furious response. In two of the snapshots shared by the mom-of-three, she was seen wearing a short mini skirt which featured a Native American print and tassels, sparking outrage from fans over apparent cultural appropriation. 'The skirt I'm sure was inspired by indigenous people something you and your family have no respect for,' criticized one horrified user. 'That outfit looks ridiculous on you... really,' one user slammed. 'Cultural appropriation!' admonished someone else. Another chimed in that the 'indigenous outfit is cultural appropriation.' 'Are these Halloween outfits? Incredible,' joked another. Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner recently went West - with the first daughter sharing a carousel of pictures from the recent trip to Wyoming Ivanka had paired the skirt with white cowgirl boots and a black sleeveless shirt in one snap. And, in another picture shared, she accessorized with a denim jacket and small brown bag as she cuddled up and posed next to her 44-year-old husband. As per Native Blog, cultural appropriation of Native fashion in the United States has suggests not only that Native American life and cultures existed only in the past, but also that Native clothing is mere costuming, primitive, warlike or only for mascots. According to Travel Wyoming, the state has been home to many Plains Indian tribes, including the Arapaho, Arikara, Bannock, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kiowa, Nez Perce, Sheep Eater, Sioux, Shoshone and Ute tribes. Today, both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho reside on Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation, the site noted. In another snapshot from the trip, Ivanka wore a sage green dress with long sleeves and a long, flowing skirt. She paired it with a boho disco belt on her hips and her white cowgirl boots. It is not known when the pictures were taken, with Ivanka adding a simple caption that read: 'A couple summer Fridays ago' It is not the first time the husband and wife have visited the western state, spending a remote July 4th weekend there in 2020, as well as attending her brother-in-law Joshua Kushner's star-studded Western-themed second wedding to model Karlie Kloss in 2019. The 43-year-old donned a series of western-themed outfits for her time in the Mountain West sub region - but one item of clothing in particular has sparked a furious response In another snapshot from the trip, Ivanka wore a sage green dress with long sleeves and a long, flowing skirt. She paired it with a boho disco belt on her hips and her white cowgirl boots Just last month, Ivanka and her family - Jared, plus their three kids - Arabella, 13, Joseph, 10, and Theodore, eight, were seen in Venice for pals Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' wedding. The family were seen doing some exploring around Venice before the festivities officially kicked off - with Donald Trump's grandkids all smiles for the outing. Since then, Ivanka was also spotted at 'billionaire summer camp' - also known as Allen & Co.'s annual leadership retreat - in Sun Valley, Idaho. The summer retreat included some laid-back activities like biking and hiking, per The Observer, but most importantly, the moguls were there for business. Also on the agenda were 'high-level meetings and private lectures,' the outlet reported, many of which are confidential and closed off to the public and media. When Rowan Steiner saw what looked like a blue-colored cyst in her baby's mouth, she rushed him to the doctor. The mother-of-five from Utah had 'never seen anything like it', and neither had her pediatrician who sent the family straight to a dentist and pediatric oral surgeon. They too were stumped by the 0.4-inch 'mass' on nine-month-old Max's gums, and told he to go to the hospital, where a specialist said he needed an 'urgent CT scan'. It was only when the head doctor walked in, an ear, nose and throat specialist, that the true identity of the 'tumor' was revealed. It was a piece of plastic from a fidget toy that had become suctioned and embedded in the infant's mouth. Instead of ordering a CT scan, the doctor used a dental tool to detach the edge of the 'mass', which quickly popped off, resulting in minor bleeding from the gums. Steiner, speaking after the 12-hour ordeal that took place in 2022 but was only revealed online late last month, said: 'We were terrified, and then when we found out it was a fidget toy, we were relieved. 'That was probably the best case scenario after thinking that it was going to be a tumor, or he could have swallowed it or choked on it.' She added: 'I, his dad, and all of the doctors physically touched it... every single person did, it was just suctioned so tightly that it wasn't moving at all.' Max Steiner, then nine months, was rushed to the hospital after his mother noticed this bizarre blue mass in his mouth during a diaper change at home in Salt Lake City, Utah Your browser does not support iframes. The mother, 31, had noticed the plastic on her son Max's gums while he was crying during a diaper change, prompting the rushed hospital visit. Over the course of 12 hours, the little boy was seen by five doctors in their local area of Salt Lake City, including two at the hospital, before the plastic was confirmed. A fidget toy is a small object, often rainbow colored, that someone can hold in their hands and play with to improve focus, relax or relieve stress. In Steiner's case, her son had likely been chewing on a pop-it fidget toy, a piece of plastic with bubble-like silicon buttons on it that people press in and out, before at least one of the buttons popped off and became lodged in his gums. Doctors in Australia and the UK have previously warned that these devices should only be used by older children, saying that parts of them can pop off and pose a choking hazard. Social media is full of similar cautionary tales of parents warning others to be aware of small pieces of plastic that can pop off toys, including fidget toys. Steiner added: 'Throughout the day the doctors had mentioned it could be a toy. We were totally open to the idea because I have five children and a nine-month-old wants to put everything in their mouth at that stage. It was eventually revealed that the 'vascular tumor' was nothing more than a piece of plastic from an Amazon fidget toy. Doctors warn that these can pop out, and pose a choking hazard And Max is pictured here in happier times before the hospitalization debacle 'We thought something was lodged but there was no place for it to lodge. 'There was nothing inside his gum and we were just skeptical because we were like how would this make sense. A fidget toy was not what we were thinking of at all.' She said her son suffered from bleeding after the plastic was removed and then swelling around the edges of his gums. After revealing the complication on TikTok, users were quick to respond to say they would throw out their fidget toys. One user commented: 'Going to throw ours away right now. I have a ton for our two-year-old grandson. I actually have one that looks almost identical to that one, color and all. 'I thought those were pretty safe since they're silicone and I thought they were all one molded piece. Thank you for sharing your story!' Another wrote: 'It totally makes sense that no ones instinct is that its a toy or something. 'But its also a little scary that so many doctors' physical exams completely missed the possibility. Im glad your baby girl is okay!' A third wrote: 'Girl. How did you not put your hand in there and feel.' The above image shows Max being held by his father while the family were in the hospital Steiner said the toy had been purchased from Amazon, which was approached for comment. Fidget toys are generally not recommended for younger children, but advertisements online for the devices, priced as low as $5, list them as 'for kids' and a 'sensory tool for classrooms'. Australian pediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead raised concerns over the toys in 2023 after hearing about at least two infants that had choked on pieces from the devices. Pop-it fidget toys were all the rage at the height of the Covid pandemic, with parents believing they were giving children a useful non-digital device to keep them entertained during shutdowns. Once seen as elementary school novelties, the devices have also started to pop up in some classrooms with teachers claiming they can help alleviate stress. Health chiefs are urging the 418,000 under-25s who left school without receiving a life-saving cancer vaccine to come forward for the jab. The HPV vaccine, routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13 in Year 8, protects against human papillomavirusa common infection linked to several cancers. Around 80 per cent of the population will be exposed to HPV at some point, usually through sexual contact. Children are targeted for vaccination before they have been exposedwith the aim of providing protection through into adulthood. In most cases the virus is harmless, but in some cases it can trigger changes in DNA that lead to cervical cancer, and cancers of the penis and anus. When someone performs oral sex on a partner with HPV, the virus can infect cells in the mouth and throat. The vaccine, which is proven in studies to be highly effective, prevents this from happening. Now, GP practices across England will invite patients aged 16 to 25 to get vaccinated via letters, emails, texts and the NHS App. Just 67.2 per cent of girls were fully vaccinated in 2021/22, down from a high of 86.7 per cent in 2013/14 Experts have previously warned that low uptake of the HPV vaccine is putting children at risk of developing cancer later in life. They believe this may be partly due to a misconception that the jab is only relevant to sexually transmitted infectionsand therefore not necessary for children. In the 2023/24 academic year, 76.7 per cent of girls and 71.2 per cent of boys had received the vaccine by Year 10. Uptake in Year 8when the jab is first offeredalso rose slightly on the previous year, by 1.6 percentage points in girls and 2.5 in boys. The new push is part of the NHS's goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, by increasing vaccine coverage and boosting cervical screening rates. It aims to raise uptake among girls to 90 per cent by the same date. Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England's national director of primary care, said: 'This vaccine is vital to our efforts to eradicate cervical cancer in girls and women but it's just as important for boys, too. 'So if you're eligible for a HPV vaccination or are the parent of a child who is eligible, but didn't get the vaccine at school when they had the chance, I would urge you to come forward when your GP contacts you.' Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Sharif Ismail, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency said: 'We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic.' This he warned has left 'many many thousands across the country' at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. 'This is a real concern as each HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers,' Dr Ismail added. 'We're calling on all parents to return their children's HPV vaccination consent forms promptly. 'This simple action could protect your child from developing cancer in the future.' He also urged young adults up to the age of 25, who didn't get the jab to speak to their GP about catch-up options, because 'it's never too late to get protected.' Public Health and Prevention Minister, Ashley Dalton, added: 'If you've missed your vaccination at school. It isn't too late. 'Don't hesitate to make an appointment with your GP. One jab could save your life.' The vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and men who have sex with other men. Previously children were required to get two vaccinations, but as of September 2023 they only need one new jab. The latest HPV vaccine, first introduced in England in 2021, is proven to be more effective. In the long term the jab is predicted to reduce cases of women's cancer by 16 per cent and HPV attributable deaths by nine per cent more than the previous type. Importantly, studies in England have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases. Examining his patient's red, painfully inflamed eye, Australian ophthalmologist Emil Kurniawan was in no doubt that she had a pterygium, a benign but potentially vision-altering growth on the surface of the eye. Linked to prolonged UV exposure, it is commonly found in people living in sunny regions including many parts of Australia. However, neither Mr Kurniawan nor the patient was actually in Australia: they were in the UK. Furthermore, the patient hadn't had years of exposure to the sun and hadn't grown up abroad. 'Most of the people I see with pterygium in the UK have spent some time living in sunny places. However, there are exceptions and these reiterate the fact that the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays in the UK can be strong enough to cause damage damage that wearing sunglasses could prevent,' says Mr Kurniawan, a consultant surgeon at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and the private OCL Vision clinic in London. The problem is that while people know how dangerous UV rays can be for the skin, they don't recognise that the sun's effects can be even more damaging to the eyes, he explains. In fact, research by the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation found that eyes are ten times more sensitive to the sun's UV rays than skin. And failing to protect them by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses when it's cloudy as well as in bright sunshine can lead to a range of problems. This includes pterygium and photokeratitis, essentially sunburn of the eye. Cumulative UV exposure may also hasten the onset of cataracts, where the lens of the eyes becomes cloudy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects the central part of vision and is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting one in three people over the age of 65. It also can increase your risk of cancer, both to the eyelid which is made up of the thinnest skin on the body and, some studies suggest, the eye itself. Consultant ophthalmologist Emil Kurniawa says the sun's UV rays in the UK can be strong enough to cause eye damage Denise Voon, an optometrist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says that even during the winter months UV rays can be damaging Research by the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation found that eyes are ten times more sensitive to the sun's UV rays than skin 'We all know how erratic the sun can be in the UK, yet even when it's cloudy UV levels can be high this means sunglasses are as important as sun cream,' says Mr Kurniawan. 'Knowing the dangers, I will wear my sunglasses from March right through to October and I advise my patients to never be without theirs, either.' Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the dangers. 'High UV levels are still sometimes only associated with hot and sunny weather, but in fact temperature and bright sunshine is not a reliable indicator,' explains Denise Voon, an optometrist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a clinical adviser for the College of Optometrists. 'Any time the levels of UV are high, you need to wear sunglasses.' UV rays can penetrate cloud cover and can also cause harm when it's colder. For instance, at higher altitude there is less atmosphere to filter the rays, making them stronger; reflective surfaces such as water, sand even concrete can increase your exposure, too, as the rays effectively bounce off the surfaces towards you. 'And don't think you're safe in the winter,' says Denise Voon. 'While winter sun has lower UV levels than in the summer, it can still cause problems, particularly if it's reflecting off snow.' Contact lenses put your eyes at risk While you can buy contact lenses with UV filters, this can convey a false sense of protection, says Denise Voon, a clinical adviser for the College of Optometrists. Contact lenses only protect what they cover, namely the cornea and the pupil. The outside of the eye, including the eyelid, conjunctiva and surrounding skin are left exposed, so you still need sunglasses. Advertisement UV levels are often included on weather forecasts: you can also find them on the Met Office's website or via its free app. The highest readings occur around the time when the sun is at its highest, usually from late morning to early afternoon. Level 1 is 'low' risk; 3-4 is 'moderate'; and 11+ is 'extreme'. 'If it's moderate or above, wear sunglasses,' says Mr Kurniawan. As with the skin, the damaging rays to the eyes are UV-A and UV-B. UV-A rays make up 95 per cent of the radiation that reaches Earth's surface, explains Denise Voon. These rays pass through the lens, penetrating more deeply into the eye. This can cause lasting damage and there are links to macular degeneration. UV-B rays are absorbed by the cornea at the front of the eye so don't penetrate as deeply. Along with photokeratitis (while rare, it can be extremely painful), these are linked to cancer. Around 900 people in the UK are diagnosed with eye cancer each year, with 130 deaths. Some around 80 are diagnosed with eyelid cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. A 2021 University of Manchester study, published in the journal Nature Communications, suggested a link with conjunctival melanoma, too the conjunctiva is the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye and inner surface of the eyelids. While cancer here is rare, it can spread to other parts of the body, says Mr Kurniawan. Another potential problem is uveal melanoma, cancer in the iris it accounts for 79 per cent of all eye cancer cases in the UK. And studies have shown UV rays may cause it. Blue, hazel or green eyes are particularly sensitive to the sun's rays, says Denise Voon. The pigment that's responsible for eye colour, melanin, is also important in protecting the eyes against UV radiation filtering out the rays; and lighter-coloured eyes have less of it. However 'everyone, regardless of eye colour, needs UV eye protection', she adds. And that's particularly important with children. Worryingly, a new survey by the College of Optometrists shows that 55 per cent of parents don't make sure their children are wearing sunglasses in the sun. 'Being younger and healthier, children have larger pupils and clearer lenses, allowing more UV light to reach the retina they're also more likely to spend more time outdoors,' says Mr Kurniawan. 'Reducing cumulative lifetime exposure is key, which makes it important to start protecting eyes from a young age.' Babies shouldn't be in direct sunlight under the age of six months, according to the NHS after that age you can buy special sunglasses that look like swimming goggles held in place with an elasticated band, before moving on to more conventional sunglasses when they're four or five years old (a wide-brimmed hat is also a good idea). But a recent Which? report noted that an alarming third of the children's sunglasses bought online didn't provide the correct UV protection and were actually unsafe for children to wear. Some let through too much UV light and others had one lens with different levels of protection from the other. Check for the UKCA or European CE mark these mean the glasses meet all the legal health and safety standards to protect against UV light. But the price of the glasses is irrelevant you can get inexpensive ones with appropriate UV protection. 'I've bought exactly that for my children in the past from the seaside shop,' says Denise Voon. And don't assume that darker lenses are better. 'While they may help to reduce glare, they have nothing to do with UV protection,' she explains. 'And if they're too dark filter category 4 [where filter category 1 is the lightest] then it is illegal to drive in them.' If you wear prescription glasses, you can choose simple clip-on sunglasses that hook on to your existing ones. Photochromic lenses, which provide UV protection, are another option. These adapt to changing light conditions to remain clear indoors and then darken when outdoors. 'I have these myself and wear them year round, says Denise Voon. 'They make you very aware of how high UV levels are in weather you'd not necessarily expect to experience them.' Design-wise, choosing wraparound sunglasses means you'll get more coverage, as they prevent UV rays from entering around the sides and the top of the frames. 'It's clear people aren't accustomed to wearing sunglasses as much in the UK, but with many of the serious effects of UV exposure being cumulative, it's a habit we need to change,' says Mr Kurniawan. 'Thankfully, it couldn't be simpler to do and it really can help avoid sight loss later on in life.' Americans exposed to 'forever chemicals' have up to a 31 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study warns. Researchers from Mount Sinai looked at the link between polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - found in everything from non-stick cookware to food packaging to tap water - and the incidence of type 2 diabetes, which affects up to 35 million Americans. Past research has linked the chemicals, which accumulate in the body over time and are slow to break down, to a range of health problems, including kidney, breast and testicular cancers. To paint a more comprehensive picture of PFAS and diabetes risk, researchers looked at large population-level datasets to identify patterns of exposure and illness. Based on available data, the study analyzed 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and compared them to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. All participants were matched based on age, sex, and ancestry. Researchers used blood samples to analyze PFAS levels and found that higher levels increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost one third. Specifically, each increase in range of PFAS exposure was linked to a 31 percent increase in risk. Dr Vishal Midya, who was the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of environmental medicine at Mount Sinai, said: 'Because they don't break down easily, PFAS accumulate in the environment - and in human bodies. Researchers from Mount Sinai looked at the link between polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - found in everything from non-stick cookware to food packaging to tap water - and the incidence of type 2 diabetes Your browser does not support iframes. 'Our study is one of the first to examine how these chemicals may disrupt the body's metabolism in ways that increase diabetes risk - particularly in diverse US populations.' For the study, the researchers used data from BioMe, an electronic health record-linked biobank of more than 65,000 patients seeking primary care at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York since 2007. From an initial analysis, 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were selected with this group made up of 33 percent African Americans, 33 percent Hispanics, and 33 percent Whites. These patients were then compared to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. All participants were matched based on age, sex, and ancestry. Blood plasma samples collected from the individuals before they were diagnosed with diabetes or given the all-clear were used to assess PFAS levels. The researchers then applied Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression to the samples. This statistical method is used to analyze the effects of mixtures of chemical exposures on a health outcome. By using WQS, the team were able to see how PFAS levels in the blood were linked to patients developing diabetes. Metabolic alterations, such as insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism, are key contributors to the development of type 2 diabetes. PFAS exposure can contribute to diabetes development through several mechanisms, including disrupting cells in the pancreas responsible for regulating blood glucose levels, increasing insulin resistance, and potentially increasing body fat These changes, often linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, disrupt the body's ability to regulate blood sugar effectively, leading to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when the level of sugar in your blood gets too high. Chronic or persistent hyperglycemia can lead to diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include feeling thirsty, frequent urination, tiredness and breath that smells fruity. Treatment for type 2 typically involves taking insulin several times a day, either by injection or through a pump. PFAS exposure can contribute to diabetes development through several mechanisms, including disrupting cells in the pancreas responsible for regulating blood glucose levels, increasing insulin resistance, and potentially increasing body fat. The researchers say the new findings underscore the importance of regulating PFAS. Senior author, Dr Damaskini Valvi, said: 'Findings can help us design more effective interventions for the early prevention of type 2 diabetes in the future, taking into account individuals' exposures to environmental chemicals along with other well-known genetic, clinical, and lifestyle factors implicated in diabetes development. 'Mounting research suggests that PFAS are a risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as obesity, liver disease, and diabetes.' PFAS are microscopic substances that take thousands of years to break down in the environment and human body, earning them the name 'forever chemicals.' Their main purpose is to repel water and oil, which is what makes non-stick cookware easier to clean and why certain jackets and tents can withstand rain. The chemicals can seep into the water supply from washing dishes and can enter food if packaging is made to be grease-resistant or if the non-stick coating on pots and pans begins to deteriorate. PFAS are also common in pesticides used on crops, which produces chemical-rich runoff that can enter the drinking water supply. There is no level of safe exposure to the chemicals. Public water systems have four years to implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their water, under orders made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Beginning in 2029, the EPA will police levels of six types of PFAS in drinking water - PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, and PFBS - and systems with unacceptable levels, will be required to notify the public. Last year, the EPA set the maximum contaminant levels for PFAS at 4.0 parts per trillion. One study found that US counties where drinking water surpassed this level - such as Nassau, Suffolk, and Rockland in New York and Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties in California - had a higher incidence of digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth and throat cancers. Increases in incidence rates ranged from slightly elevated, at two percent, to 'substantially elevated' at 33 percent. The Mount Sinai team are now calling for studies involving larger populations, expanding over the life course, in order to better understand the health impacts of PFAS across the lifespan and at vulnerable life periods. A woman who spent $25,000 on a facelift has revealed what she wishes she knew before jetting to Mexico for the procedure. Peggy Lynn Marchetti, 60, has been sharing daily recovery updates with her 7,450 Instagram followers since she underwent a plethora of procedures in Guadalajara just three weeks ago. Under the care of surgeon Dr Fabian Mendoza, she had an extended deep plane lower facelift, upper and lower blepharoplastywhen the skin around the eyes is cut and tighteneda lip lift, and fat injections to replace volume in her cheeks. Ms Marchetti has been more than happy to answer people's questions about her staggering glow up, and surprisingly, she said the operations didn't leave her in a lot of pain. She said: 'The first one to three days is uncomfortable. You have the headdress the bandages and I had three drains. 'You have lots of swelling, so you feel really tight, but I wouldnt consider that pain just being uncomfortable and hard to rest.' But it was in a standalone video that Ms Marchetti revealed the things she wish she had done before having a facelift. Speaking directly to camera, she began by explaining that she wishes she had had the op soonerbut not for the reason you'd expect. Peggy Lynn Marchetti has turned the clock back by decades just weeks after her facelift She said: 'I would have done it a lot sooner, somewhere between the age of 50 and 54. Why? Because you heal faster, you're in overall better health, and your face and your body still match. 'Trust me, when you look 40, but your hands and your chest tell a different story, it's not good. Today's face lifts are not your mama's face lift. Cosmetic Surgery has come a long way.' Getting into what she wishes she had known about and acted on, she said that she regrets not being more liberal with SPF as years of sun damage have left her with 'discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles and crepey skin'. 'In my younger years, I wished I would have taken sunscreen a lot more serious, not just on my face, but on my neck, my chest, my hands. 'Those UV rays as you age show up, and they rob your skin of all the radiance. I'm totally kicking myself.' Ms Marchetti also said she wishes she had started having anti-wrinkle injections when she was younger. 'I would have started Botox and been consistent, a little consistency, and maintenance, preventative, all of those measures go a long way,' she mused. Finally she advised others hoping to have a facelift to 'start saving early' and view it like they would a retirement pot. 'You're worth the investment in cosmetic surgery,' she said. 'No matter where you get it, it is not cheap.' Ms Marchetti has not stated how much she has spent on her surgeries, but responded to one follower: 'The cost really depends on the procedures that youre having done. My surgeon, hospital, medications, recovery, home, clinical testing, pre-surgery, post surgery, therapies, travel, and incidentals. A good budget $20-$25k.' Last week we revealed the similarly amazing results of a London grandmother who flew to Turkey for a facial rejuvenation procedure. She spent 10,000 her face lift, investing the money she saved from giving up smoking sixteen months prior. ABC's Martha Raddatz left viewers shocked as she appeared to pay Donald Trump a compliment during an interview with Los Angeles's mayor, Karen Bass. Raddatz had been speaking with Bass about the state of her city on Sunday's edition of This Week when she asked whether any good had come of Trump's policies at the border. Illegal border crossings soared to record highs under President Joe Biden, averaging 2 million per year. Illegal crossings have since fallen to their lowest point in decades thanks to a hardline immigration approach from the president. Raddatz, in turn, broached the subject by bringing up to Bass the amount of illegal immigration that was occurring under Biden. 'There were- there was hundreds of thousands of people crossing that border. When you look at that border today, is there anything good you think the administration has done in these six months at the border?' she said. 'I dont know. I dont think so,' a stubborn Bass replied after an hour of bashing ICE agents' recent raids and Trump's deployment of the National Guard. 'I think that the viewpoint has been punitive,' she said. [It's] been, "Let's make it as miserable as possible so that these people don't come."' Users on X were quick to express their surprise, with one pointing out, 'The claim was so insane that [even] Martha Raddatz corrected her.' ABC's Martha Raddatz appeared to pay Donald Trump a rare compliment over the weekend during a Sunday interview with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Raddatz had been speaking with Bass about the state of her city on Sunday's This Week when she asked whether any good had come of Trump's policies at the border 'LA Mayor Karen Bass Comment About Trump and the Border Was so Crazy Even Martha Raddatz Was WTF?!' another wrote. Raddatz was then asked whether Bass was 'having a conversation with the Trump administration' about her continued qualms. Bass - who has run LA since 2022 - said no but that she had 'put in a request.' 'I hope to. I will always be open to a conversation,' she emphasized, before adding 'I am just hoping that this reign of terror ends. 'I'm hoping that the military leaves, because they were never needed here to begin with,' she said. 'I'm hoping that we can get back to normal. I'm hoping that the next time I come to this restaurant, that it will be filled, because people won't be afraid to come here.' More viewers expressed shock in the replies, including a Facebook user who wrote on ABC News' resharing of the now viral- clip to Facebook. 'WTF is "normal" for CA???' they said. 'That was probably the first time Bass set foot in that neighborhood and restaurant,' another sniped. On a post on the network's Instagram, a viewer shamed Bass for chiding federal agents they claimed were 'being attacked at your prompting.' Protests in the City of Angels have at times turned violent following the deployment of the National Guard. Illegal border crossings soared to record highs under President Joe Biden, averaging 2 million per year. Illegal crossings have since fallen to their lowest point in decades thanks to a hardline immigration approach. Pictured, Migrants travelling to the US border through Mexico in 2023 Raddatz then asked whether Bass was 'having a conversation with the Trump administration' about her stance. Bass said no but that she had 'put in a request'. Trump ran on a campaign that promised deportations Last week, in a major victory for immigrant rights groups and a sharp blow to the Trump's tactics that Bass and others have called a retaliation campaign designed to make an example of Democratic strongholds, US District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong halted what she ruled were unconstitutional raids occurring in LA. The temporary order could eventually become permanent if the plaintiffs prevail at trial, but it for now bars federal agents from using race, language, or vocation as justification for immigration stops. Such stops have upended lives, shuttered businesses, and thrown entire communities into chaos across Southern California, Bass and other critics have claimed - causing the friction with the federal government. On Friday, Bass praised temporary stop to stop raids with a statement that claim citizens were still living in fear as 'masked men grab people off the street, chase working people through parking lots and march through children's summer camps'. Governor Gavin Newsom - another outspoken critic of the federal government's activity in the city - said the ruling stops what he called the violation of people's rights and racial profiling. In a statement, he said the Trump administration has been arbitrarily detaining people. 'Stephen Millers immigration agenda is one of chaos, cruelty and fear,' he added, referring to the White House's deputy chief of staff. Trump, meanwhile, ran on a campaign that promised deportations. ICE RAIDS have upended lives, shuttered businesses, and thrown entire communities into chaos across Southern California, Bass and others have claimed - causing friction with the federal government Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass furiously confronted ICE agents and slammed their 'outrageous' immigration raids in a public clash earlier this month. Trump is reportedly readying to deploy ICE tactical units to NYC, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia and Virginia as well His administration maintains the raids are legal and part of the president's repeatedly promised enforcement of federal immigration laws. Earlier in the month, Bass confronted ICE agents in LA's MacArthur Park, where ICE had arrived with a large number of vehicles and officers earlier in the day. She was followed by a cameraman as she walked through the anti-ICE protesters, some of whom shouted insults. she demanded to speak with the officer in charge of the ICE operations, and as she saw another agent calling their supervisor, she said: 'Can I talk to 'em?' 'They need to leave and they need to leave right now because this is unacceptable,' she further fumed. Following Los Angeles, Trump is reportedly readying to deploy ICE tactical units to New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia and northern Virginia. No such announcements have been made. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis briefly lost it on Fox News' Brian Kilmeade after simply being reminded about the array of insults Donald Trump hurled at him during their respective campaigns. The One Nation host had asked his high-profile guest how he and the president are getting along these days. His answer quickly went viral. 'You guys went at it pretty hard in the primaries, just like he did with Ted Cruz, just like he did with Marco Rubio,' Kilmeade told DeSantis. 'And then obviously things are going great-' A visibly annoyed DeSantis - appearing remotely - immediately interrupted, just seconds into the interview. 'I don't think that's true, I think that's just you guys... I think we get along great,' the Republican argued. 'We are working very constructively,' he continued. 'No state has done more to support their agenda on illegal immigration than we have.' The rest of his spiel appeared to completely ignore the crux of Kilmeade's question, sounding more like the contents of a brochure for the Sunshine State than a measured response. Kilmeade, however, stayed quiet. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis briefly lost it on Fox News ' Brian Kilmeade after being reminded about the array of insults Donald Trump hurled at him during their respective campaigns last year on Kilmeade's show Monday The One Nation host had asked his high-profile guest how he and the president are getting along these days 'No state is working more constructively on environmental restoration,' DeSantis said. 'I just did a huge announcement this week on working with the Everglades,' he continued. 'And we've also returned almost a billion dollars to them as part of their DOGE effort. 'So, I think it's been really, really good, and the state of Florida - we're the envy of the nation. 'People want to come here, people want their states to follow our lead, and we'll continue to lead with purpose and conviction,' he concluded. The argument appeared to convince - or at least scare - Kilmeade, who quickly persisted with the rest of the interview. Not mentioned during the duration were the assortment of crass nicknames DeSantis was christened with by his then rival as the Republicans relentlessly duked it out. 'Ron DeSanctimonious,' 'Ron Dishonest,' and 'Shutdown Ron' are among some of the few, with Trump even taking the time to specify his preferred nomenclature for DeSatntis in a Truth Social post penned in February 2023, after reports claimed he used a specific one to badmouth DeSantis privately. 'I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious "Meatball" Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will,' he wrote at the time, amid calls of racism since DeSantis, 46, is Italian. 'It would be totally inappropriate to use the word "meatball" as a moniker for Ron!' Trump assured. His answer quickly went viral, montgs after being christened by 'Ron DeSanctimonious,' 'Ron Dishonest,' 'Shutdown Ron' and more during his unsuccessful presidential bid DeSantis forfeited his White House bid following a poor showing in the all-important Iowa caucus in January of last year Despite never sharing a debate stage, the two continued to take shots at each other until the GOP primary, after which DeSantis forfeited his White House bid following a poor showing in the all-important Iowa caucus. At the time, there was also talk of the Florida Republican facing off with his California counterpart Gavin Newsom - an idea that, like DeSantis receiving the Republican nomination, never came to fruition. Other victims to Trump's name-calling - as Kilmeade, 61, indicated - are now allied with Trump our are part of his administration. Now in the midst of his second term as Florida's governor, DeSantis is not eligible for reelection as an incumbent in November of next year. Candidates - aside from Independent Jason Pizzo - have yet to be chosen. Bernard Arnault is hoping for a turnaround when his luxury empire updates investors. The wealth of the Frenchman (pictured with Ivanka Trump), whose empire includes Louis Vuitton and Dior, has fallen by more than 15billion this year. But he is still one of the world's richest men - worth 116billion despite a 26 per cent slide in LVMH shares. On Thursday LVMH, whose sales fell earlier this year, announces its second-quarter figures. Putting on a brave face: The wealth of Bernard Arnault, pictured with Ivanka Trump, has fallen by more than 15billion this year Arnault, who attended Donald Trump's inauguration, hoped rich Americans splashing out would offset a slowdown in China. But demand has been hit by trade war tension between the US and China. Its alcohol brands, such as Moet champagne, have also been hit hard by tariffs and waning demand. A Canadian tourist has been found dead on a beach in the Dominican Republic, marking the second recent mysterious fatality in the Caribbean country under unexplained circumstances. Dorian Christian MacDonald, 38, of Nova Scotia, Canada, was tragically discovered dead in the waters off a beach in Maimon Bay last week while vacationing in the Dominican Republics popular Puerto Plata resort town, according to CTV News. The unsettling discovery comes just three months after 20-year-old spring breaker Sudiksha Konanki vanished from her resort - her body still missing, and the case clouded in more questions than answers. 'He wasn't just a friend. He was my brother in every way but blood - and maybe more so than some who share it,' wrote MacDonald's loved one, Tara McKenzie, on a GoFundMe page launched to help cover expenses. 'He was that person, his presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, hes gone.' On June 20th, MacDonald reportedly took a brief late-night walk alone on a beach around 2am, stepping out from his solitary stay at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the islands north coast, according to CTV News. Tragically, that would be the last time he was seen alive, as just an hour later, a harrowing 911 call was placed reporting a missing person. Both police personnel and Civil Defense - a government agency that supports local law enforcement with naval operations - arrived at the scene, where they discovered MacDonalds body in the water during high tide just after 4am. Dorian Christian MacDonald (pictured), 38, of Nova Scotia, Canada, was found dead from an apparent drowning in the waters off a beach in Maimon Bay last week while vacationing in the Dominican Republics popular Puerto Plata resort town On June 20th, MacDonald reportedly took a brief late-night walk alone on a beach around 2am, stepping out from his solitary stay at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the islands north coast (pictured) Both police personnel and Civil Defense responded to a 911 call reporting a missing person on the beach, where they discovered MacDonald's (pictured) body in the water during high tide just after 4am According to the fundraiser, the Canadian tourist tragically died from a sudden and unexpected drowning. 'On June 20th, while vacationing in the DR, Dorian died suddenly in a drowning accident,' McKenzie wrote. 'He was only 38 years old.' 'And now, the world feels a lot quieter and a whole lot less vibrant just knowing he's no longer part of it,' she added. A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) told CTV News that the department 'is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,' but 'due to privacy considerations, no further information may be disclosed.' Now, MacDonalds family - his mother, sisters, and close friends - are tirelessly working to bring his body back home to Nova Scotia, with the fundraiser launched to support the difficult process. 'We don't even get to even begin saying goodbye properly or grieve as we should until then,' McKenzie wrote. 'The process of repatriating someone from another country is a slow, expensive and deeply complicated situation that I wish on no one.' 'Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, were looking at a cost of $10,000$20,000 just to get him back,' she added. 'And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs - with us.' MacDonalds family - his mother, sisters, and close friends - are tirelessly working to bring his body back home to Nova Scotia, with the fundraiser launched to support the difficult and expensive process (pictured: loved one Tara McKenzie left, MacDonald right) MacDonald's mysterious drowning comes just months after Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, vanished in the early hours of March 6 at the Riu Republica Resort on Punta Cana (pictured) As of Friday evening, the family had raised over $33,000 toward their $40,000 goal. 'Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you's as freely as oxygen and always wanted and was willing to celebrate any and everything together, McKenzie added. 'We will carry your name, your stories, the memories, your ridiculous jokes and infectious laugh and incredible heart with us always.' Although the Dominican Republic is known as one of the Caribbeans most sought-after tourist destinations, several foreigners have been found dead under suspicious circumstances - including unexplained drownings and mysterious disappearances from guarded beaches. Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, vanished in the early hours of March 6 at the Riu Republica Resort on Punta Cana. The spring breaker was caught on CCTV walking to the beach with former Iowa high school wrestling champ, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe, at 4.15am. Dominican officials were quick to rule her death a drowning, but investigator Toby Braun - along with an oceanography expert - told DailyMail.com that if that were the case, her body would almost certainly have washed ashore. Riibe, the 22-year-old college student last seen with Konanki, quickly became a central figure in the chaotic case - his passport was confiscated, and he was ordered to remain in the Dominican Republic under strict supervision. Dominican officials were quick to rule Konanki's (pictured) death a drowning, but investigator Toby Braun - along with an oceanography expert - told DailyMail.com that if that were the case, her body would almost certainly have washed ashore The spring breaker was caught on CCTV walking to the beach with former Iowa high school wrestling champ, 22-year-old Joshua Riibe (pictured), at 4.15am Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman is urging Dominican Republic authorities to release all evidence related to the 20-year-olds case, citing key information that remains undisclosed He came under suspicion after reportedly giving various versions of his drunken night out with Konanki, but provided more insight in a further interview with investigators before he returned to the US. In a reversal of his earlier statements, Riibe later claimed he had managed to bring Konanki to safety before she ultimately went missing. He was never named a suspect in the case. Konanki's family has since made the heartbreaking decision to ask the investigation to be closed as a drowning, as reported by Fox 5 DC. However, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman is urging Dominican Republic authorities to release all evidence related to the 20-year-olds case, citing key information that remains undisclosed - including the analysis of Riibes cell phone and any text messages sent after Konankis disappearance. Chapman has since dispatched two of his own detectives to the Dominican Republic to conduct an independent investigation. A couple sued Waitrose for race discrimination after they came back from an illicit holiday with a tan. Peter Hedger and Katerina Dimitrova were sacked from the supermarket for going on an unauthorised trip abroad, an employment tribunal heard. They sued the upmarket retail giant, claiming that they were discriminated against because of their 'tanned skin'. However, the tribunal found that they were sacked for going on holiday to Miss Dimitrova's home country of Bulgaria, and extending their stay without permission. The tribunal, held virtually in Birmingham, heard that the couple worked at Waitrose, which is owned by John Lewis. It was told: 'The (couple) put in a leave request for 2 September 2023 which was refused. 'They then made a contact with their branch on a number of occasions between 9 September 2023 and 28 October 2023. 'On none of these occasions did they mention that they were abroad and it was only after they returned to the UK that they disclosed that they had travelled to Bulgaria towards the end of August 2023.' Peter Hedger and Katerina Dimitrova (pictured) sued the upmarket retail giant, claiming that they were discriminated against because of their 'tanned skin' But the tribunal found the pair (pictured) were sacked for going on holiday to Miss Dimitrova's home country of Bulgaria, and extending their stay without permission The tribunal heard the couple (pictured) had travelled to Bulgaria towards the end of August 2023 The tribunal was told the retailer's position was that the couple 'had been dismissed for gross misconduct namely, unauthorised absence'. It added: 'On appeal the appeal officer had concluded that the evidence showed that the (couple) had not been open and honest with their branch about the reasons for absence, had not let their managers know of the absence at the soonest opportunity and had not informed their managers that they would be in Bulgaria. 'Unauthorised absence was listed as an example of gross misconduct (in John Lewis)'s handbook.' It appeared that the couple had claimed to be house hunting in the UK, when in fact they had extended their stay in Bulgaria. A letter on the outcome of their appeal said: 'I suspect you went to Bulgaria during your authorised leave and decided to stay longer.' Mr Hedger told the tribunal that the situation had come about because neither he nor Miss Dimitrova had anywhere to live. He added that 'neither he nor Ms Dimitrova had worked since their dismissal as it was difficult for them to get work on the same shift, their financial means were not good and they had no income'. Employment Judge Naeema Choudry said: 'The reason for dismissal was not due to the (couple) being in Bulgaria but because they were believed to be absent from work for no good reason and not to be house-hunting in the UK because they were abroad at the relevant time, having stayed abroad after a period of authorised annual leave. The tribunal panel said it was clear the couple (pictured) were 'dismissed because they were perceived to be on holiday when they were supposed to be at work' 'As such, a claim based on Ms Dimitrova's Bulgarian nationality has no reasonable prospects of success and is struck out. 'I am also satisfied that the allegation relating to "tanned skin" has no reasonable prospects of success and should be struck out. 'It is clear that the (couple) were dismissed because they were perceived to be on holiday when they were supposed to be at work and not because they had tanned skin.' Their claims for discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race were struck out because 'they have no reasonable prospect of success'. Both of their claims for unfair dismissal have also been struck out. Ms Dimitrova's claim relating to the right to be accompanied at disciplinary and appeal hearings will be heard at a tribunal on a later date. Jerry Oppenheimer is a bestselling biographer who has written two books about the Kennedys, The Other Mrs. Kennedy, about the life of Ethel Skakel Kennedy and RFK Jr. and The Dark Side of the Dream. America's 'Royal Family' the Kennedys has a newly crowned queen, quietly anointed by the clan's powerful matriarch Ethel Kennedy before she died last year at 96, the Daily Mail has learned exclusively. The new power behind the Kennedy throne, according to insiders, is Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, 65, the seventh-born of Ethel and Senator Robert F. Kennedy's brood of 11, and the ex-wife of former New York governor and Big Apple mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo. Kerry considered the most loyal of Ethel's surviving children and author of a forthcoming book about her mother publicly displayed her newly inherited muscle over the 4th of July holiday weekend with shocking fireworks. As dozens of cousins, siblings, relatives and hangers-on gathered at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, for the political clan's annual Independence Day celebration and family photo, several notable absences drew whispers. According to close sources, staunch Democrat Kerry a devoted Biden supporter like her mother had 'icily blacklisted' her brother, Bobby Jr., Trump-appointed head of the Department of Health and Human Services, from the festivities. And Kerry also banned her despised second-cousin, JFK's only grandson, Jack Schlossberg, no doubt because of his embarrassing unhinged social media rants and attacks on certain family members and others. In the wake of the seeming snub, Schlossberg, a 32-year-old Yale law school graduate with no known occupation, wasted no time making an inexplicable attack on one of the Kennedy family's famously beloved members: His late grandmother Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis. In a curious Instagram post, the tall, swarthy and nerdy Schlossberg, Caroline Kennedy's son, appeared on tape with the cover of the July 7 issue of People magazine. Ethel Kennedy (middle left) crowned her beloved daughter Kerry (center right) as the family matriarch before death - and she's already plotting to cut off Bobby Jr. (left) for backing Trump Kerry, a proud Joe Biden backer and Ethel's favorite of her 11 children, has already publicly disowned Bobby in public and blacklisted him from attending any extravagant Kennedy events Both Bobby and Kerry's other nemesis, JFK's only grandson Jack Schlossberg, were both absent from the family's annual 4th of July bash at their compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts It showed Jackie standing behind JFK with the headline: 'Jackie Knew Everything,' an apparent reference to long-standing allegations that the president had an affair with Marilyn Monroe. In a skin-tight gown and sultry voice, Monroe famously sang 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' to the handsome well-known womanizing president, when he turned 45 in 1962, sparking rumors of an affair, just months before he was assassinated. Jackie had previously resurfaced in another Schlossberg posting on X back in January, in which he asked if Vice President JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, was 'way hotter than Jackie O.' Schlossberg wasn't the only relative left out of the Kennedy Independence Day party. According to the insiders, Bobby Jr.'s third wife, actress Cheryl Hines, was said to feel 'bereft, insulted, heartbroken and p**sed' for herself and her controversial husband for being excluded from the family circle by Kerry. Sources tell the Daily Mail that RFK has gotten used to the put-downs by family members over his controversial views on vaccines, his short-lived run for the presidency and his decision to join with the Republican Trump administration. In the past, sources say, Hines was 'thrilled being part of the Kennedy family, now not so much. 'Bobby really doesn't give a s**t about his sister's disinvitation and her blacklist. He has the country's health to deal with.' While the rest of the Kennedys celebrated, 32-year-old Jack Schlossberg, best known for his bizarre antics and family-bashing online rants, popped up on Instagram sporting a shaved head, gaming headset and an 'I heart EU' t-shirt 'Kerry firmly let it be known that she's followed matriarch Ethel's wish to lead the family and she's clearly running the show,' says another insider. Along with transferring her power to Kerry, Ethel gave her daughter the green light to write a book about her life, to be entitled Ethel: Faith, Hope, Family, and an Extraordinary American Life. It's described by the publisher as 'an intimate portrait,' and quoted Kerry as declaring, 'The world is immeasurably better because [my mother] has lived in it.' Known for their liberal Democratic politics, numerous tragedies and horrific scandals over decades, the Kennedys have, according to a close family observer, 'morphed into a real-life reality show-style dynasty, right up there with the Kardashians, publicly letting it all hang out, with their feuds and virtual blood-letting.' Schlossberg is clearly at the center of the drama and he wasted no time criticized his second cousin during his short-lived presidential campaign last year. Bobby Jr.'s shock move to join President Trump as his Secretary of Health is pure political whiplash for the Kennedy family - ditching decades of their Democrat legacy in one fell swoop Bobby and Kerry are the children of Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy - whose 1968 assassination came just five years after his brother JFK was shot and killed during his presidency Kerry has long been tied to politics as the ex-wife with disgraced New York Governor Andrew Cuomo In one foul-mouthed Instagram video, he took on a typical Kennedy Bostonian accent - he's from New York City and said he was 'a fan' of Bobby's father, calling his assassination 'a tragic day.' But as for Bobby himself, Schlossberg declared: 'That guy, he's a p***ka freaking p***k. He's lying to you He's got Trump donors. He's got Trump advisors, him and Trump go away freaking back Don't throw your vote away,' and he called on his following to 'vote for Biden. It'll feel good.' In another Instagram video, he called Bobby's candidacy an 'embarrassment' and a 'vanity project,' declaring: 'I've listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president.' He accused Bobby of trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame. And worse still, he mocked his health issue, a neurological disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia, in a social media post he later deleted. Jack's mother Caroline Kennedy, who was the former US ambassador to Australia and Japan, also jumped on icing out Bobby Jr by attacking her cousin's HHS nomination in a public letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. In the letter, she urged the members to reject him, calling him unqualified and referring to him as a 'predator.' She also asserted that Bobby, a one-time heroin addict once convicted of possession, a felony, had 'encouraged siblings and cousins down the path of substance abuse, suffered addiction, illness and death.' Sources told DailyMail.com that Kerrys move to ice out Bobby Jr. from the familys holiday bash left his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, heartbroken, as she was thrilled to join the Kennedy clan when they married in 2014 In 1984, Bobby's younger brother, David Ethel and RFK's fourth child died at 28 of 'multiple ingestion' of three drugs found in his body fluids. In her letter, Caroline declared: 'Bobby is addicted to attention and power Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children vaccinating his own kids while building a following, hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating their own.' Kennedys haven't been Schlossberg's only targets. He launched an attack on popular conservative news personality Megyn Kelly after she branded him and his mother 'disgusting,' and was critical trans rights, which Schlossberg supports. Kelly airs a program on satellite radio and YouTube with an audience of more than three million. During Bobby's confirmation hearings for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Schlossberg ranted on X for hours, calling his cousin a 'guru shaman figure' who runs a cult and described him as a 'f***ing liar.' When Bobby Jr. was running for president, Kerry and their mother Ethel attended a Biden event and declared, 'The Kennedy family endorses Joe Biden for president.' And another sister, Rory Kennedy, added to the very public family feud, writing a post declaring: 'The decision of our brother Bobby to run against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.' High-flying real estate agent Josh Tesolin may be under investigation by NSW Fair Trading, but he hasn't let that put a dampener on his lavish lifestyle. Despite the official scrutiny, Tesolin remains one of Australia's highest-performing agents, reportedly raking in $9million in commissions over the past financial year. Tesolin isn't just a top-selling real estate agent he and his wife, Sophia, have amassed a property portfolio estimated at more than $15million. This includes a four-bedroom home in Bella Vista, purchased for $2.3million in July 2021, and a five-bedroom house in Rozelle, which sold for $2.2million in 2024. Tesolin also owns two investment properties on the outskirts of Brisbane, acquired for a combined $789,000. He drives a Bentley Bentayga, which start at around $395,800, and has a penchant for Gucci and Louis Vuitton loafers, which retail for $1,600 and $1,700 respectively. Tesolin is also known for his flashy custom suits, including a jacket lined with images of homes he seemingly had a hand in selling, worn at a conference in New Zealand. And on the agent's wrist? A Rolex Day-Date, known as the 'President' model thanks to its association with global power players, which start at around $62,000. Ray White Quakers Hill owner and principal Josh Tesolin (pictured with his wife Sophia) boasts an expansive property empire, with almost a dozen properties between them Tesolin is seen gifting one of his staff member a Rose Gold Rolex Tesolin is seen wearing a custom jacket lined with images of homes he's understood to have had a hand in selling, seen at a conference in New Zealand (pictured) The Rolex was made famous by US Presidents like Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Donald Trump, as well as cultural icons Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, and Warren Buffett. Tesolin is also known for gifting luxury timepieces to his staff to mark milestones. One post on social media shows the agent gifting a sales agent a rose gold Rolex, estimated to be valued at over $50,000. In another, a watch worth an estimated $35,000 was handed out. Tesolin, who regularly wears colourful socks, has previously joked that the cartoon patterns help him stay 'relatable' to his clients. 'Vendors often judge agents from the outside - assuming we're arrogant or overly serious - but when I show up in Gucci shoes, a custom suit, and socks with flying pigs, it breaks the ice, makes me more approachable, and shows I don't take myself too seriously,' he told the One Life Club podcast in January, 2024. 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. His wife is listed as the office manager at Ray White Quakers Hill in Sydney's northwest, where Josh is the owner and principal. Tesolin himself is a fan of flashy timepieces, and can often be seen wearing his own Rolex and other designer clothes Tesolin and his wife Sophia own around $11million in real estate, including a four bedroom home in Sydney's Bella Vista, bought for $2.3million in 2021 Fair Trading confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the investigation into Josh Tesolin is ongoing Daily Mail Australia in April revealed Tesolin and his agency were at the centre of a NSW Fair Trading investigation into underquoting and complaints. The agent publicly acknowledged the investigation for the first time in a podcast interview with disgraced agent Adrian Bo. 'What are we being investigated for? Fair Trading came in, asked for files, we complied with the regulator,' Tesolin said. 'Anything the regulator has asked, whether it be 500 files... three files... we have completely complied with the regulator at every single stage.' A Fair Trading spokesperson last week confirmed 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.' The inquiry is expected to wrap up in the coming weeks. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Tesolin has engaged in underquoting, only that his agency is the subject of an active investigation. Every time a woman puts her hands in her pockets, zips up the side of her pants, or belts the waist of her wrap dress, she owes a debt of gratitude to someone she has likely never heard of. That someone is Claire McCardell. She was once one of the most influential and famous fashion designers in the world. When she died in 1958, the New York Times ran her obituary on their front page and hailed her as the 'All-American designer for the All-American girl.' Yet despite having more of an impact on women's lives than Coco Chanel and Christian Dior combined, McCardell has been largely forgotten a name familiar only to the fashion cognoscenti and design historians. Author Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson is determined to change that. She is seeking to reinstate McCardell in the pantheon of designer greats with her new book, 'Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free.' Because, according to Evitts Dickinson, what McCardell did entirely reinvented the way women dress. Coming to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s, the designer recognized that women's lives were changing. They were living, moving and working in a modern world. McCardell turned up her nose at corsetry, high heels and delicate fabrics, and espoused a feminist philosophy that translated into designs she believed a liberated woman would want to wear. According to author Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, Claire McCardell (pictured) entirely reinvented the way women dress. Coming to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s, the designer, who was featured on the cover of Time magazine in May 1955, recognized that women's lives were changing 'You have to design for the lives American women lead today,' she noted in an interview with feminist writer Betty Friedan in 1947. McCardell was born in 1905 in the quiet hamlet of Frederick, Maryland. The daughter of a banker and housewife, as a girl, she railed against the restrictions of female clothing that made climbing trees and stashing apples almost impossible. She majored in home economics for two years at nearby Hood College before making the bold leap to New York City to earn a degree from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (now Parsons The New School for Design). A stint in Paris followed and convinced McCardell that American women deserved better than the poor imitations of Parisian haute couture that filled US stores. McCardell believed they needed clothes that reflected the pioneering spirit embodied by Charles Lindbergh, who she watched land at Le Bourget Airport on 21 May 1927 after his historic solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris. Returning to New York and its Seventh Avenue design district the hub of American fashion production McCardell secured a job at Townley Frocks, then one of the leading garment manufacturers. During her tenure she fought for the inclusion of many of what we now consider staple features in womenswear. Pockets rather than purses was an essential ethos in the McCardell worldview. Not content with male-driven view that they made the female figure look fat, the designer argued pockets were a necessity for women whose presence in the modern American workforce was becoming ever more important. Closures were next on her list. Without a husband or maid, how could a woman, McCardell argued, fasten her dress? Without further ado she shifted the zipper on her pieces from the back to the side. That change embodied how the designer believed women should be allowed to dress 'independent clothes for the independent working gal,' she proclaimed. According to her boss at Townley, her pleated 'monastic dress,' created in 1938, looked terrible on the hanger but, when belted at the waist with its spaghetti style ties another of McCardell's innovations it embodied functional elegance that made it an immediate bestseller when it hit the ready-to-wear racks. Not content with male-driven view that they made the female figure look fat, the designer argued pockets were a necessity for women whose presence in the modern American workforce was becoming ever more important 'You have to design for the lives American women lead today,' McCardell noted in an interview with feminist writer Betty Friedan in 1947. (Pictured: models in identical suits designed by McCardell) When McCardell died in 1958, the New York Times ran her obituary on their front page and hailed her as the 'All-American designer for the All-American girl' (Pictured: models wearing McCardell's designs) Her pleated 'monastic dress' (pictured), created in 1938, looked terrible on the hanger but, when belted at the waist, it embodied functional elegance that made it an immediate bestseller when it hit the ready-to-wear racks Four years later, McCardell bested her own record for success when, in 1942, she created the cotton 'Popover' wrap dress. It was marketed to American consumers as the 'original utility fashion' and sold for $6.95. The dress was originally made from inexpensive cotton, which McCardell later switched out for denim a bold move and a novel use of a fabric previously considered the reserve of menswear. Thirty years before Diane Von Furstenberg repurposed the wrap dress into one made from jersey claiming she had launched not just a revolution but a symbol of sartorial female independence McCardell's 'Popover' gave women the benefit of looking good while still being functional. Lord and Taylor, the famed but now defunct department store, gave the dress an entire window display in its flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue. One fashion journalist described the life-altering garment as 'so glamorous that Fifth Avenue and the farm united in their acceptance of it.' A staggering 75,000 dresses were sold in the first six months, earning McCardell not just fame but her place as the preeminent arbiter of female fashion. Cut off from the leadership of Parisian fashion houses due to World War II and facing the challenges of wartime shortages, she was allowed to flex the muscles of innovation without the backlash of the conservative male voices that still dominated American fashion. Trousers with pleats, and yes pockets, became de rigueur for a newly functional face of the female workforce, who also found in McCardell's love of hoods a practical replacement for hats which remained in place only with uncomfortable and unstable pins. Leggings and other sportswear separates quickly became part of the McCardell repertoire. Faced with a shortage of leather due to wartime rationing, she had the perfect excuse to abandon the high heel, which she had long thought impractical for a working woman. She pivoted to the ballet flat soles made of rubber and the shoe made from a fabric matching her designs. Though she sparked a trend that still flourishes today, her rival Coco Chanel is the one who gets all the credit, despite the fact the French designer didn't launch her own version until 1957. During her tenure McCardell fought for the inclusion of many of what we now consider staple features in womenswear, from pockets to zippers on the sides of dresses rather than the back (Pictured: a dress designed by McCardell) Trousers with pleats, and yes pockets, became de rigueur for a newly functional face of the female workforce (Pictured: McCardell's trousers in a Neiman Marcus ad) Four years later, McCardell bested her own record for success when, in 1942, she created the cotton 'Popover' wrap dress (pictured) Thirty years before Diane Von Furstenberg repurposed the wrap dress into one made from jersey, McCardell's 'Popover' gave women the benefit of looking good while still being functional McCardell (pictured) pivoted to the ballet flat soles made of rubber and the shoe made from a fabric matching her designs. But, while McCardell thrived during the war with her penchant for utilitarianism, she found herself distinctly out of step with a post-war return to the whimsy of impractical glamor. In February 1947, Christian Dior debuted the 'New Look.' Padded shoulders, tightly corseted waists, high heels and impossibly full skirts, filled out a collection that was the antithesis of all that McCardell had worked for in her now two-decade career. Romantic and ethereal, Dior's designs captured a much-needed emotional rejuvenation after the deprivation of the wartime years. The post-war resurgence of French couture was still in full swing when, in 1958, McCardell died at the age of just 52. Evitts Dickinson is seeking to reinstate McCardell in the pantheon of designer greats with her new book Buyers of the American fashion emporiums had returned to copying Parisian couture and American talent lay dormant for nearly two decades until a new wave of designers such as Calvin Klein, von Furstenberg, Halston, Donna Karen and Ralph Lauren emerged. But it wasn't just the mood of the time that contributed to McCardell's fall from favor. In truth, she contributed to the end of her own line for the simple reason that, unlike Chanel and Dior, she did not designate a successor. Head designer, Yves Saint Laurent, carried the Dior label to greatness following Christian Dior's death in 1957. But McCardell's label, whose ownership reverted to her Maryland-based non-fashion family, died just a few months after she did. As a consequence, few acknowledge McCardell's place as one of history's fashion greats. Does Anna Wintour even know her name? Maybe, but my hunch is probably not. For a woman who has championed fashion at its most exclusive, restrictive and expensive, Wintour would surely find little to admire in McCardell's functional utilitarian designs. But the reemergence of McCardell's name is a timely reminder that the history of dress is ultimately shaped by how the majority of women have lived in and loved their clothes. Because she may not have been embraced by the fashion glitterati, but McCardell's legacy is alive and well and it's woven into the fabric of every woman's wardrobe today. It was a grotesque teddy bear so lifelike, it sparked a full blown police investigation in California after bystanders believed it had been stitched from real human skin. The macabre bear, purchased on online marketplace Etsy, had been left outside a gas station in Victorville, making for a disturbing find for customers who called 911 on Monday. Though the seemingly grisly discovery was ultimately determined to be a prank that has since gone viral, the incident has led the Daily Mail to uncover a thriving niche of similar, gruesome novelty items sold on the popular site. Among the creepy creations, designed and sold by different Etsy vendors, are 'severed' nipples and flesh-like belts designed to look like they were carved from human bodies. The crafts are made from latex or silicone and then tinged with what looks like dried blood to resemble human skin in various stages of decay. If done right, the appearance of having been ripped from a live body or corpse and hastily sutured together can be remarkably realistic - and disgusting - and somehow Etsy-approved. But some makers of the gory 'human skin' creations defend their products as unassailable. 'Art is supposed to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable, or at least spark conversations that may break down why certain pieces are offensive,' Caelum Cooney, one of many Etsy artists selling human skin lampshades, told the Daily Mail. A creepy teddy bear found outside a California gas station this week sparked a police investigation after it was mistaken for real human remains The bear - though found to be made of latex - was revealed to have been purchased on Etsy, which an entire marketplace of similar, shockingly realistic 'human skin' crafts are being sold. Pictured above are 'Hanging Severed Nipples' priced at $22.53 The $2.4billion Brooklyn-based Etsy, Inc., meanwhile, hasn't responded to questions about the eerie products and the atrocities they're designed to evoke, nor to an inquiry about the company's standards for vendors. The $165 'Human Skin Teddy Bear' that made headlines Monday was left a day earlier at the entrance to a gas station in Victorville, California. In response to a 911 call claiming it was made from 'human remains,' police quickly cordoned off the parking lot with crime scene tape while stunned bystanders looked on in horror. Images showed a coroner's investigator holding the bear with gloved hands, carefully turning it over before slipping it into a pink plastic evidence bag. Police later alleged that a local man, Hector Corona Villanueva, intentionally left the bear at the station before calling 911 as a prank. But the joke was on him. He was arrested Monday on suspicion of knowingly reporting a false emergency. 'Incidents such as this take up valuable emergency resources and put the public at risk, possibly delaying response time to legitimate calls for service,' the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department wrote in a news release. Once the story made global headlines on Monday, the Etsy vendor that made the bear sold out of others similar to it. Another vendor, MyersKillerKreations lists a 'Fake Human Skin Nipple Belt' starting at $133.75 Abby Bilotta, a Pittsburgh-based artist and Etsy vendor, advertised her 'one-of-a-kind human skin lamp' for which she was charging $150 DreadSkinsStudio in Truro, England, which offers the severed nipples, also sells several versions of a 'Fake Skin Severed Nipple Box' in which to store keepsakes 'You can't make this s**t up!' read the post on a Facebook page called DarkSeed Creations. 'One of my skin teddy bears has apparently been involved in a prank that brought police attention! This is f***** wild!' The man behind DarkSeed Creations is South Carolina-based artist Robert Kelly, who describes himself as a 'purveyor of the perverse... manipulator of the macabre... developer of the diabolical.' Offending people is part of his schtick. 'It was just a regular order we never expected this,' he told DailyMail.com early on Monday morning. 'We don't condone a prank that causes any illegal activity, but every artist wants credit for their work.' Several other Etsy vendors sell an array of products that are equally convincing in resembling ripped and bloody human skin. Those include custom-made furniture, vests, hats, shoes, boots, neckties, belts, wallets, flasks and cell phone cases. Perhaps the most gruesome is a bloodied 'Hanging Severed Nipple' selling for $22.53. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies were dispatched to a gas station in Victorville after receiving a 911 call that 'human remains' had been found A teddy bear that appeared to have been wrapped in human skin and then dumped outside a gas station convenience store resulted in a police investigation but was ultimately determined to be part of a prank 'Hang it up on an alternative Christmas tree, use as a Halloween decoration or wear it as a bizarre pendant! Completely hand made from latex flesh. 'Coloured with acrylic paint washes and fake blood and finally sealed for freshness!' writes DreadSkinsStudio in Truro, England, which makes the product. The studio also sells several versions of a 'Fake Skin Severed Nipple Box' in which to store keepsakes. DreadSkinStudio describes its creators as, 'Makers of things. Wasteland things. Terrible things.' Ian Lawley Bell, the contact person for the shop, has not responded to our inquiry seeking comment on his choice of imagery. Shortly after we reached out to him late Monday, his shop's status changed to 'taking a short break.' Another vendor, MyersKillerKreations, sells a 'Fake Human Skin Nipple Belt' starting at $133.75. Several of that studio's product descriptions show they were inspired by Ed Gein, the so-called 'Butcher of Plainfield, Wisconsin' who in the 1950s confessed to killing two women and was discovered to have fashioned keepsakes from the skin and bones of corpses he exhumed from local graveyards. The artist behind 'Dark Seed Creations' appeared to take credit for the item, calling it a misunderstood piece of horror art made from latex. Some of his creations include skin-like teddy bears and dolls intentionally designed to shock DreadSkinStudio shop's status has since changed to 'taking a short break' on Etsy Among Gein's keepsakes was a lampshade made of human skin. The idea had gained notoriety during World War II when the commander of the Buchenwald concentration camp possibly among others had a lampshade made from the skin of Jews killed in the Holocaust. Whether inspired by Gein or Nazis, fake human skin lampshades are easy to find on Etsy. One, selling for $119.26 and up by MyersKillerKreations, can at extra cost be engraved with initials, symbols or a number such as the prisoner numbers tattooed onto arms of concentration camp inmates. The maker of a skinned face lamp going for $324.45 promises it 'will surely be a conversation starter among guests.' 'Want a cool and creepy piece of home decor! Get a skin lamp! 100% cruelty free and looks real! Best of both worlds!' was how Abby Bilotta, a Pittsburgh-based artist, advertised her 'one-of-a-kind human skin lamp' for which she was charging $150. 'I like anything that's freaky as long as it's not offensive to people,' she told Dailymail.com. At 19, Bilotta, takes inspiration from Gein and said didn't know human skin lamps are also associated with Nazi Germany. 'Oh my gosh, I had no idea about that. I never even heard of that before. This obviously is offensive. I'll take it down.' For decades, the 5,525-mile US-Canada border has been lauded as the most peaceful frontier on the planet. But recent months have shattered that calm with a terrifying wave of immigration crises, drug smuggling, and diplomatic friction between the long-standing allies. As the amity between Americans and Canadians evaporates, and a trade war takes hold, the world's longest frontier has become a ground zero for tensions that look set to get worse. In recent weeks, US border guards have arrested seven 'suspicious' Iranian and Uzbek men near the Canadian frontier, while a Canadian man who had lived with his family in the US for years unexpectedly lost his right to reside there. This marks a sharp turnaround from last year, when the southern US-Mexico was making the headlines, amid a surge of immigrants, including gangsters and militants, under former President Joe Biden's watch. The Trump administration has largely shuttered the southern border, with far fewer migrant encounters and crossings in 2025 than in previous recent years. Now, the northern border is getting attention and for all the wrong reasons. Speaking at an event in Detroit in June, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, said the US-Canada border was replacing the southern frontier as the soft spot for transnational gangsters. 'When we seal secure areas where criminals may want to cross, they will find new areas,' Noem told a conservative gathering. She said Canada was allowing drugs and people smugglers across the frontier. Donald Trump accuses Canada of flooding his country with fentanyl, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa would have to 'dramatically reduce' its reliance on Washington DC in the future. The border area spanning parts of Maine, Vermont and New York has seen record numbers of illegal crossings in recent months The border tensions echo the tough talk displayed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump 'The old relationship we had with the US based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over,' Carney told reporters in March. The US-Canada border stretches from the frigid Arctic down to the southern tip of Alaska, and then from the West Coast across North Atlantic, where it separates Maine from New Brunswick. There were land disputes between the two countries until the 19th century, but for many decades the world's longest border has been pone of its most peaceful. It is frequently described as being 'undefended,' even though law enforcement are present on both sides. Fast-forward to 2025, and the situation changes. The Daily Mail takes a look at the recent events that have jangled nerves on both sides of the US-Canada frontier. A tranquil corner of upstate New York was shaken by fears of terrorism on July 1 seven foreign men including five Iranians were caught near Mooers Forks by federal agents trying to sneak across the US-Canada border. All the men had previously been arrested for trying to cross into the US illegally, reportedly sparking concern over Iranian sleeper cells operating in the country. Chris Landry, a Canadian man and Green Card holder who resided with his partner and five children in New Hampshire, was denied entry into the US after his annual trip back to Canada. Landry was stopped at the border in Maine with three of his children and barred from re-entry, based on cannabis and motoring offenses from the 2000s. '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.' American Pie actress Jasmine Mooney, 35, was another Canadian to get caught up in Trump's crackdown. She was detained for nearly two weeks in March by US immigration officials after being denied entry into the US while travelling from Mexico to San Diego, California. Her work visa had been revoked back in November. She called the experience a 'deeply disturbing psychological experiment.' Kenia Jackeline Merlos and her four American-born children were detained for more than two weeks at a border patrol facility on the US-Canada border after the family was arrested at Peace Arch State Park in Washington state on June 28. The Department of Homeland Security accused Merlos of 'attempting to smuggle illegal aliens' into the country, in another sign of stepped-up efforts to crackdown on people without papers. 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 Canadians are fearful of visiting the US after the case of Jasmine Mooney, a Canadian former actress who spent 12 days in US immigration custody over a seemingly minor visa problem Canadian RCMP officers check the papers of two people who entered Quebec from the US amid a surge Canadian's have been angered by Trump's tough approach to Canada, which he has called a '51st state' of the US Quebec authorities in July said they were looking for a group of migrants who were involved in a vehicle crash on the Canada side of the border, after crossing illegally from New York. The 48-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested for impaired driving. Six to eight passengers, believed to migrants, fled the scene on foot. Quebec has been deluged by asylum seekers headed north amid Trump's crackdown, many of them Haitians who recently lost their protected status in the US. The US in June extradited an ISIS supporter living in Canada who had been caught planning a mass shooting attack on a Jewish center in New York. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, tried to travel from Canada to New York City in September 2024, but was caught just before he crossed the US border. Khan, also known as 'Shahzeb Jadoon,' was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. 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. St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, 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 in 2024, said Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). A similar problem exists on the other side of the border, along what U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) calls the Swanton Sector, which saw 15,000 apprehensions in the 10 months of fiscal year 2024. That was the largest volume ever recorded by the sector, and more than over the course of the previous 13 years combined. Illegal migrants from 85 different countries attempted to cross the 295-mile stretch across Vermont, New York and New Hampshire, CBP said. Seven Mexican adults were apprehended in the chilly woods of upstate New York, near the Canadian border, in February The US-Canada border is getting busier, with a 400 percent surge in asylum applicants at one crossing These startling incidents come against a backdrop of tensions between the US and Canada over trade an economic relationship that Trump says undercuts American farmers, auto-makers and others. Last week, Trump announced he would impose a new 35 percent duty on Canadian goods starting on 1 August, deepening a trade war that started when he took office in January. Carney said this week that some tariffs look set to be part of any coming trade deal with the US. Will Amos, a former Liberal member of Canada's Parliament, recently told The New York Times that the centuries-old relationship was heading into uncertain territory, and that the future does not look good. 'We can be allies but, at the end of the day, Canada's going to have to look out for number one and in a much more aggressive way,' Amos said. 'It's not clear whether that's going to be in the US's interests. We will see.' A father-of-two who suffered a devastating stroke mid-flight to a dream family holiday has been left stuck in Malaysia after collapsing in front of his wife and daughters on the plane. Now left picking up the pieces, wife Noor Haris, 55, a medical doctor from Malaysia living in Newcastle, has spoken for the first time about the terrifying ordeal that turned a long-awaited summer holiday into a life-altering nightmare. Her husband, Mohd, 51, suffered a stroke just hours before their British Airways flight from Newcastle to Kuala Lumpur was due to land on July 4. He collapsed in front of their two daughters, aged 16 and 18. Recalling the harrowing experience to MailOnline, Noor said: 'It was around 6am, I had gone to get a drink and my husband needed the toilet. That's when he fell on to the floor and collapsed. 'He could not move his left arm or leg, they were completely dead. That's when we realised he was having a stroke.' A GoFundMe has now been launched to help support Noor and her family. The family had boarded the British Airways flight on July 3 at 5:30pm from Newcastle, via London Heathrow, heading to Malaysia for their children's school holidays. The trip was meant to bring respite after a gruelling few months. Mohd had suffered his first stroke in March 2025 and had spent two months recovering in hospital. With medical clearance to fly and using a walking stick, the family felt optimistic. Noor's husband, Mohd, had suffered his first stroke in March 2025 and had spent two months recovering in hospital Mohd is now stuck in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur after suffering a second stroke while on a flight from Newcastle to Malaysia via Heathrow Wife Noor Haris, 55, a medical doctor from Malaysia living in Newcastle, has spoken for the first time about the terrifying ordeal that turned a long-awaited summer holiday into a life-altering nightmare But in the early hours over Asia, disaster struck again. 'I kept telling the crew: "He's having a stroke, he's definitely had a stroke",' Noor said. Displaying extraordinary calm under immense pressure, Noor, a full-time working doctor, cared for her husband with the help of compassionate BA crew and a fellow doctor on board. An anonymous medical professional came and assessed and reviewed Noor's husband. They also carried out checks on him every half-an-hour to ensure his condition was not worsening. Staff provided clean pajamas, and despite the harrowing situation, Noor managed to clean him up and settle him back into his seat. 'When we got him back again to his seat, at that point there was some discussion about trying to divert the flight,' she said. 'Even though unfortunately he could not move his left arm or leg he was otherwise stable. They checked his blood pressure and everything and they were all okay so the decision was made to continue the journey.' Speaking of the devastating moment Mohd collapsed in the plane's narrow aisle, Noor admitted she 'blanked out everything because I knew in my mind what was going on. 'I'm also a medical doctor so with my knowledge I did not panic, but the girls, they were sat in front of us, and when they heard that their dad had collapsed they turned around but I couldn't even look at their faces. 'I was totally unaware of what everybody else was thinking or doing. A couple of passengers did offer to try and help to lift him up,' she added. Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, paramedics were waiting on the tarmac, having been alerted by the crew. Noor expressed her relief that due to the urgency of the situation, the family managed to get through immigration, board an ambulance and reach a local A&E in under an hour. 'I was quite lucky at the time because I had my two daughters with me and was giving them specific instructions about what to do. Noor expressed her relief that due to the urgency of the situation, the family managed to get through immigration, board an ambulance and reach a local A&E in under an hour. 'As soon as we arrived he was wheeled in, they put a cannula in his arm and went straight for a CT scan.' The scans confirmed a new stroke - a right pontine infarct and left parieto-occipital infarct. He now suffers from left-sided weakness and is being tube-fed due to the risk of aspiration. 'As soon as they confirmed it was not bleeding, we were transported to a neighbouring hospital which actually happened to be a special stroke unit.' Noor said that the entire ordeal happened quickly and the decision was made that he was not a candidate for any immediate intervention. He was admitted to the hospital then and has been there ever since. While doctors in Malaysia have identified him as a strong candidate for intensive rehabilitation, the family's life has been thrown into limbo. Meant to fly back on July 22, Noor has remained in hospital with her husband 24/7, unable to leave his side, while their daughters stay with relatives. 'He has improved movement in his left arm and leg but obviously its limited what he can do with his hands and his walking is not good. 'Doctors are also trying to adjust his medication for his high blood pressure and diabetes,' she said. Noor is also highly concerned about Mohd's deteriorating mental health following his sickness. 'He can't do much, he struggles to do his buttons and pick things up so even just dressing himself is a challenge,' she said. 'He's very, very depressed. He keeps saying he ruined everything, that it's all his fault. But I keep telling him: "It's not. It's not your fault." 'He's feeling really down as well, because he knows that it's very unlikely he'll be able to drive and he used to do the school run for the girls.' The sudden crisis has now left Noor grappling with the emotional and financial toll. 'I'm supposed to be back at work on July 24,' she added. 'But now I'm having to negotiate, because I don't know when we'll be able to fly home.' Noor has been liaising with her husband's consultants in the UK to try and work out the safest time for the pair to journey back to Newcastle. 'There's also the uncertainty with the girls - one will be starting university, and they are both waiting for school results,' Noor said. 'So there is that dilemma as to whether I should let them go back on their own. But that will mean splitting up the family,' she added. With medical clearance to fly and using a walking stick, Mohd felt optimistic prior to the nightmare flight earlier this month A GoFundMe has now been launched to help support Noor and her family as they face growing costs for living expenses, potential repatriation, and their daughters' education. The fundraiser reads: 'Noor has always been a pillar of strength - for her family, and for everyone around her. Now, I hope we can be her support. 'Please consider donating whatever you can. No contribution is too small, and even if you're unable to give, your prayers and sharing this fundraiser are just as meaningful. 'Let's come together as a community to show Noor and her family that they're not alone.' Despite the trauma, Noor is full of praise for British Airways staff. 'They were absolutely very supportive, very professional, very, very good,' she said. 'I appreciate that according to their protocol they should have diverted but I think I know this was the right thing to do, potentially, he probably had a clot that caused his stroke, but by the time we got to Malaysia the clot had actually probably moved because when they scanned him they could not see the clot.' For now, the family's future remains uncertain - but Noor remains at her husband's side, quietly and determinedly holding it all together. MailOnline has approached British Airways for comment. It was the twisted, toxic relationship at the heart of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Ghislaine Maxwell's affair with the pedophile wasn't just love - it was also wealth, power and security. And for Epstein, it meant access to her elite network of royalty, billionaires and influential figures. And it appears it all began in 1991 at then real estate magnate Donald Trump's Plaza Hotel, when the starry-eyed couple, Epstein, 38, and Maxwell, 30, sat side-by-side at a gala event honoring socialite Maxwell's scion father Robert and his wife Elisabeth DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. That was the first of many intimate photos of the couple, many released by prosecutors during her 2021 child sex trafficking trial showed them arm in arm as they lived a glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle. But other photos hinted at the darker undercurrents to their relationship: in one Maxwell holds Epstein's foot and massages it while her top is open, exposing much of her breasts. In another shot, taken on Epstein's plane known as the 'Lolita Express', Maxwell grins at the camera with his foot in her hand while he looks bored and chats with a friend. Foot massages were how Maxwell and Epstein would start their victims down their path that led to sexual abuse and rape. And the fact that Maxwell was giving them to her boyfriend illustrates the complicated dynamics that brought them together. The Epstein case has returned to the headlines after the bombshell July 7 memo by the Trump administration claiming there was no signs of him blackmailing anyone and that nobody else would be investigated. Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein made for an unlikely pair - he was a scrappy college dropout from South Brooklyn, she a polished Oxford grad from British high society. But when they met at Trump's Plaza Hotel their sordid love story bloomed The couple photographed together on what appeared to be a ski holiday with his arms around her belly. The photo prompted speculation she had become pregnant during her trial The memo, from the Department of Justice and the FBI, also said that there was no 'client list' and no further evidence would be released. Future disclosures could shed fresh light on Maxwell, 63, and Epstein, who was 66 when he died, but the public record already gives us plenty of insight into how they created an international sex trafficking operation. They appear to have met at a time when Epstein was still making a name for himself. In 1987, Epstein was hired to work at Towers Financial which would collapse six years later after being exposed as a $450million Ponzi scheme. Epstein would walk away unscathed and fabulously wealthy. The co-founder of the company, Steven Hoffenberg, went to prison for 18 years. By Hoffenberg's account - he died in 2022 but gave numerous interviews before his death - Epstein and Maxwell were introduced by her father, Robert, the late publishing baron, as early as 1988. A BBC documentary, House of Maxwell, alleged that Epstein helped Robert Maxwell hide hundreds of millions of dollars he had stolen from his company's pension funds. Maxwell and Epstein were an unlikely pair: he was rough around the edges, having grown up in South Brooklyn and dropped out of college. Maxwell - convicted of procuring underage girls for the pedophile - was romantically entangled with Epstein before becoming his 'madam,' relying on his wealth after her mogul father's sudden death left her family in scandal and financial turmoil In photos, they embodied the essence of upper-class romance, affectionate and inseparable as they traveled the world. But beneath the surface, Epstein's predatory desires made monogamy impossible, and Maxwell was all too willing to help fulfill them In one photo aboard Epstein's infamous 'Lolita Express,' Maxwell flashes a grin while holding his foot with her shirt slip down to an almost scandalous degree - an eerie nod to the pair's twisted tactic of using foot massages to lure young girls into their trap She was a British socialite who attended Oxford University and grew up in extreme privilege in a 56-room mansion. But as Robert Maxwell's biographer Tom Bower has put it, when Maxwell met Epstein her 'fate was sealed'. He has said: 'She worshipped rich, domineering men.' Whatever bond the couple had been cemented in 1991 when tragedy struck: Robert Maxwell died after falling off his yacht in the Canary Islands under mysterious circumstances. Ghislaine was bereft: she was his father's favorite, and he was said to be 'unusually close' to her, even naming his yacht, Lady Ghislaine, after her. Public disgrace soon followed when it emerged $500million had been looted from the pensions of Robert Maxwell's companies, which included numerous British newspapers and the New York Daily News. Maxwell needed an escape, and she needed a protector - she needed Epstein. As journalist and Epstein chronicler Vicky Ward has put it: 'He saved her. When her father died, she was a wreck; inconsolable. And then Jeffrey took her in. She's never forgotten that - and never will.' For wealthy financier Epstein, their relationship meant access to Maxwell's network of royals, billionaires and powerful figures. He is pictured walking alongside Ghislaine (in green) and Prince Andrew at the 2000 Royal Ascot Just 19 days after Maxwell's father's death, she was photographed at the Plaza Hotel in New York at a memorial for him - with hungry eyes locked on Epstein. Few others in the room seemed to matter to Maxwell, who was in a blue silk jacket while Epstein was in a white bow tie and with a large grin on his face. What followed was a romance that allowed Maxwell to retain her life of privilege and luxury and, through her contacts, gave Epstein access to the world's elite. She and Epstein traveled around on his fleet of private jets to his lavish homes in Palm Beach, Florida, New Mexico, New York and later his private island in the US Virgin Islands. During Maxwell's later trial for sex trafficking, Juan Alessi, the house manager at Epstein's Palm Beach home from 1992 to 2002, called Maxwell the 'lady of the house'. He said: 'From the day she came to the house, she right away took over, and she mentioned to me she was going to be the lady of the house. Also, she was in charge of other homes, other properties.' From the outside, their life must have seemed impossibly glamorous. Maxwell was in need of a 'protector' and an escape after her father Robert Maxwell died after falling off his yacht in the Canary Islands under mysterious circumstances in 1991 Epstein and Robert weren't just partners in crime - they allegedly propped up each other's Ponzi schemes, with Epstein reportedly helping Robert Maxwell conceal hundreds of millions looted from his company's pension funds which came to light upon his mysterious death Photos from this time show them partying with the likes of Donald Trump: a video from 1992 shows Epstein doubling over while the President says something about a woman while the pair were at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate. Bill Clinton flew numerous times on Epstein's planes including a bizarre trip to Africa 2002 for humanitarian work with Maxwell on board, along with Kevin Spacey and the comedian Chris Tucker. Britain's Prince Andrew visited Epstein multiple times including visits in 2010 when he allegedly had sex with 17-year-old victim Virginia Giuffre. The photos released during Maxwell's trial showed the couple photographed together at Balmoral, the late Queen Elizabeth II's residence in Scotland, in 1999, after being invited there by Andrew. Others showed them on what appeared to be a ski holiday: he is in a red jumpsuit while she is in a thick sweater. In one such photo, Epstein appears to put his hand on Maxwell's belly, which during her trial prompted speculation she had become pregnant. Another photo could - with a different set of models - be a Ralph Lauren advert as it shows Epstein in a tweed jacket and Maxwell sitting next to him, a large dog between them. Other photos show Maxwell sitting on the back of a 4x4 with Epstein driving and another showing her nuzzling her nose into the cheek of Epstein, who is wearing a black tie. Staff inside Epstein's mansion said Maxwell proudly dubbed herself 'the lady of the house' - even going so far as to hang a close-up sketch of herself and a nude beach photo in the bathroom The photos released during Maxwell's trial showed the couple photographed together on vacation, with Maxwell nuzzling her face into Epstein's cheek The two even showed off their royal connections by traveling to Balmoral, the late Queen Elizabeth II's residence in Scotland, in 1999, after being invited there by Andrew (pictured) In October 2002, Maxwell wrote a love letter about their relationship which was used as evidence by prosecutors. Speaking in the third person, she wrote: 'Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together, a couple for the last 11 years. They are, contrary to what many people think, rarely apart I almost always see them together. 'Jeffrey and Ghislaine share many mutual interests and they have a lot of fun together. They both have keen searching and inquisitive minds. 'She grew up amongst scientists and in an academic and business environment. Jeffrey and Ghislaine complement each other really well and I cannot imagine one without the other. On top of being great partners, they are also the best of friends.' During this time, the sky, it seemed, was the limit - but there were no limits to Epstein's appetite for underage girls. Maxwell's job was to find them for him. Speaking in 2020, Epstein survivor Maria Farmer, described how Maxwell would hunt for children while driving through the streets of New York. Farmer said: 'Who would think this woman would be a British witch? She was so nice. 'I'd seen her drive up half of Central Park, tell the driver to stop the car, she would jump out. She would get a phone number, write it down, and give it to the kids. Everybody always loved her because she seemed so trustworthy.' Giuffre, who tragically committed suicide in April aged 41, had said that Maxwell 'had a knack for it', referring to recruiting girls. She said: 'She would be able to figure out what that possible victim wanted or needed. 'Because she looked like a nice Mary Poppins figure you had to trust her.' At one point, Maxwell even berated Giuffre for not doing a good enough job. According to Giuffre, Maxwell told her: 'I just can't believe how bad you are at it. Pick any girl in the square.' Giuffre said: 'There was no sorrow or even you're doing something wrong you shouldn't do it, there was nothing like that, it was just a game to her.' Part of what made Maxwell able to do it was that she viewed Epstein's victims as beneath her, as one report put it, that they were 'trash'. One photo, if not for the subjects, could pass for a Ralph Lauren ad, as the couple embodies Americana with Epstein in a tweed jacket and Maxwell sitting by his side in a chic hunting jacket as a Golden Retriever lounges between them Maxwell's devotion to the deceased pedophile extended so far that she would drive by Central Park and pick out girls for him to satiate his desire to have sex at least three times a day During Maxwell's trial 'Kate', one of the four women who testified against her, said that Maxwell asked her to find others to give oral sex to Epstein 'because it was a lot for her (Maxwell) to do'. Kate said Maxwell told her: 'You know what he likes: cute, young, pretty, like you.' According to Maxwell, Epstein needed to have sex three times a day, hence the need to schedule dozens of 'massages' every week. The stress appears to have gotten to her at times and Epstein's former housekeeper in Palm Beach, Juan Alessi, has claimed that Maxwell once told him: 'I hate him (Epstein) but I can't leave.' Not that Maxwell was suffering - or broke. She was living in a Manhattan mansion with 12 rooms, eight fireplaces and 7,000 square feet of space that Epstein bought in 2000 for just under $5million. Maxwell later took ownership of the property, which was six blocks from Epstein's home, and sold it in 2016 for $15million. During Maxwell's trial the jury was shown financial records which showed Epstein moved more than $30million to Maxwell's accounts from 1999 to 2007. For Maxwell, crime certainly paid. Epstein and Maxwell appear to have sought distance from each other in 2006 when he was investigated by police in Palm Beach, Florida. That led to his sweetheart plea deal in 2008 where he admitted soliciting a minor for prostitution and served 15 months in prison. Maxwell began dating Ted Waitt, the billionaire co-founder of Gateway Computers but Epstein kept her close and he helped to found her do nothing ocean conservation nonprofit, TerraMar, in 2012. By 2013, Maxwell had moved on to Scott Borgerson, a dashing former US Coast Guard officer, whom she would later marry. In the first known and only photo of them together, Maxwell, who was 14 years Borgerson's senior, smiles broadly. Her future husband's wedding ring from his first marriage was clearly visible. By all accounts, Maxwell lived what appeared to be a normal life, becoming a stepmother of sorts to Borgerson's two children while she fought off a growing wave of civil lawsuits from her victims. Maxwell would slip away from Epstein's grasp after his 2006 legal trouble and marry former US Coast Guard officer Scott Borgerson, who she would play house with for his two kids until she was swooped up by the FBI in 2019 after Epstein was arrested Maxwell went on trial in 2021 and was found guilty of conspiracy to entice and transport minors for sex acts, as well as sex trafficking of a minor They lived in a $2.4million waterfront home in Manchester-by-the-Sea in Massachusetts where Maxwell, a keen jogger, would go for runs and enjoy swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. All of that changed in August 2019 when Epstein was arrested. Inexplicably, Maxwell, who has citizenship in France, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the US, decided to stay put in America. That meant she became target number one for the FBI after Epstein's suicide in September 2019. Maxwell went on trial in 2021 and was found guilty of conspiracy to entice and transport minors for sex acts, as well as sex trafficking of a minor. She is currently serving her 20 year sentence at a federal prison in Florida, where she reportedly has become friends with a double murderer. In hindsight, Epstein's final act wasn't just a middle finger to his victims, it also sealed the fate of the woman who had once deeply loved him. Advertisement It is a sinister organised crime group whose bloodthirsty henchmen routinely engage in drug smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, rape and murder. Bizarrely, the ultra violent Black Axe gang, whose secret rituals have seen it compared with a cult, started out as a university fraternity in Nigeria in the 1970s and where new members are forcibly recruited, while many volunteer. Recruits, often male university undergraduates aged between 16 and 23, undergo a secret initiation ceremony that involves physical and psychological trauma including being stripped naked, tortured and having to take part in a blood drinking ritual, after which they are 'reborn' as an 'Aye Axeman'. Now the mafia-style organisation's sophisticated international cybercrime network has turned it into a global threat - and shattered the lives of thousands of Britons who have been fleeced of their life savings. The enterprise has an estimated 30,000 members operating in cells in dozens of countries around the world. According to Pentagon analysts in the US, victims are conned out of in excess of $5billion (3.8billion) every year through a range of elaborate online stings including romance and inheritance scams along with ransomware and phishing attacks. Now law-enforcement agencies have warned that young people in Britain and Ireland are among thousands across Europe falling into the clutches of the gang after being recruited through Snapchat. Graduates and young professionals have been targeted along with teenagers after being lured in by the ruthless criminals to often unwittingly take part in money laundering and data stealing operations. It is a sinister organised crime group whose bloodthirsty henchmen (pictured) routinely engage in drug smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, rape and murder Bizarrely, the ultra violent Black Axe gang (pictured), whose secret rituals have seen it compared with a cult, started out as a university fraternity in Nigeria in the 1970s Last October bank worker Funmi Abimbola (pictured), 26, was jailed for three years after he was identified as a facilitator for the gang Some recruits, including students, who are struggling with debts are seen as easy targets after being offered the chance of making a quick buck by the gang while others are blackmailed into acting as money mules after the criminals obtain compromising images of them. Others include young professionals who work for banking institutions or major organisations with access to sensitive and potentially lucrative data. Snapchat is the preferred social media platform used by the gang as messages disappear quickly meaning they are less likely to be discovered. This week it was reported recruiters have drawn up simple registration forms sent to mules to fill in bank details and other information once they have agreed to allow their accounts to be used to move fraudulent money. Detectives investigating the gang have reportedly found images of completed Snapchat-based forms on mobile phones which have been seized from suspects. Senior detectives probing the gang have told how many recruiters known as 'herders' have successful jobs, often in the IT industry. Describing how the racket works, Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan, of the Garda Economic Crime Bureau in Ireland, said: 'Most of the mules are recruited on social media, messages going round Snapchat about a chance to make easy money.' But he added last month: 'Individuals need to realise that if they act as a money mule, they are interacting with vicious transnational organised criminals. Now the mafia-style organisation's sophisticated international cybercrime network has turned it into a global threat. Pictured: Interpol helping target the Black Axe gang Some recruits, including students, who are struggling with debts are seen as easy targets. Pictured: The Black Axe gang Others include young professionals who work for banking institutions or major organisations with access to sensitive and potentially lucrative data. Pictured: The gang 'You owe them and they control you. If the money is frozen by the bank, they have been known to demand that you pay up yourself like drug dealers. 'The money mules have no idea what their account will be used for, how much or where it was stolen. If stolen in the USA, they may look to extradite you there to charge you and sentencing is very harsh there. 'They also need to realise that they are helping organised crime gangs who traffic humans, who run brothels, as well as funding their lavish lifestyles. 'People who get involved in this are destroying their own futures because they could go to jail, end up with a criminal record and be prevented from getting jobs.' And, almost certainly, few could imagine they were being lured into a criminal world that is helping to enrich the lifestyles of its ruthless leaders back in West Africa. Police in Ireland scored a major success against the gang in 2020 when a series of raids saw the arrest of a handful of Black Axe members. The seizing of just one phone in the operation would go on to expose a far wider network stretching across the globe. Officers had been called in by European law enforcement agency Europol after a company in the Dutch port of Rotterdam had been swindled out of 1 million in a scam known as business email compromise (BEC). Police in Ireland scored a major success against the gang (pictured) in 2020 when a series of raids saw the arrest of a handful of Black Axe members The seizing of just one phone in the operation would go on to expose a far wider network stretching across the globe. Pictured: The gang In the scam, fraudsters sent emails to businesses pretending to be from a supplier saying their account details have changed, before asking for the money to be sent to a new account. In this case, the company was sent a forged email from a mobile phone that was traced to an apartment in north Dublin. Detectives armed with a warrant swooped on the apartment which was home to a Nigerian graduate in his 20s who had a degree in computer science and was unknown to the police. His phone held details of a vast network of money launderers and international scams that had been carried out globally and led to the identification of hundreds of suspects around the world. Police were also able to put out of action a gang of 12 Italians working for the gang who had travelled to Ireland over a number of weeks to open multiple bank accounts used for money laundering. The trail led to Giuseppe Divicarro, a fashion photographer in his 40s living in north Dublin. His phone contained links to bank accounts opened by some of the 12 Italian nationals along with a fake electricity bill for a bogus address which had been used by the gang members. Divicarro - who was jailed for three-and-a-half years for gangland and money laundering offences in 2021 - had also used the same fake bill to open multiple bank accounts in his own name for money laundering. Operation Skein - which was set up to target the criminal organisation (pictured) in Ireland - has identified more than 1,400 people who have connections to the wider criminal organisation in a variety of roles More than 565 people have been arrested in connection with suspected money laundering and organised crime offences including more than 50 senior gang members. Pictured: The gang He claimed he was a gambling addict who had been lured into the criminal enterprise to pay off his debts. Since then Operation Skein - which was set up to target the criminal organisation in Ireland - has identified more than 1,400 people who have connections to the wider criminal organisation in a variety of roles. More than 565 people have been arrested in connection with suspected money laundering and organised crime offences including more than 50 senior gang members. Around 300 people have been prosecuted and 39 juveniles given cautions. At least 1,000 have been identified as money mules - typically students recruited on forums such as Snapchat. Others, including professionals in high-end jobs with financial institutions and corporations, were found to have links to Irish-based members of the crime network. A computer expert employed by one of the country's leading accountancy firms was one of several people employed in the financial or tech sector who came under suspicion during the probe. Another was said to be a healthcare worker suspected of stealing an employee database from a nursing home while another was the girlfriend of a suspected Black Axe facilitator who worked in a call centre for a financial institution. Around 300 people have been prosecuted and 39 juveniles given cautions. Pictured: Police investigating the Black Axe gang At least 1,000 have been identified as money mules - typically students recruited on forums such as Snapchat. Pictured: The gang The log-in details for the banking system and other access information were alleged to have been printed out and stuck up on the wall of her bedroom. Last October bank worker Funmi Abimbola, 26, was jailed for three years after he was identified as a facilitator for the gang. He was working in human resources at the Bank of Ireland when he helped to launder hundreds of thousands of euros through Irish accounts over a period spanning nearly three years. Abimbola, of Dublin, was said to be 'academically gifted' with two degrees including a master's, and no prior convictions. He had tried to escape justice after fleeing to the UK before being tried after he was extradited. Irish police operations also uncovered how cryptocurrency - which can be sent rapidly between digital wallets around the world - had become an integral element in Black Axe's money-laundering operations and the methods they were using. The raids also provided vital information for a global law enforcement operation which targeted the criminal network in a series of coordinated covert operations last year. The mission - codenamed Operation Jackal III - led to the arrest of 300 people in 21 countries including Britain and Ireland where police forces, financial intelligence units and asset recovery offices were mobilised along with private sector partners. Irish police operations also uncovered how cryptocurrency - which can be sent rapidly between digital wallets around the world - had become an integral element in Black Axe's money-laundering operations. Pictured: Police investigating the gang The raids also provided vital information for a global law enforcement operation which targeted the criminal network (pictured) in a series of coordinated covert operations last year The raids saw $3million (2.24million) in assets, including cryptocurrencies and luxury items, being seized while more than 700 bank accounts were frozen. Data from seized computers and phones revealed large transfers to Nigerian bank accounts, cryptocurrency transactions, and sophisticated money laundering operations. Interpol, which coordinated the operation, said the raids had come as a 'major blow' to the criminal network. Isaac Oginni, director of Interpol's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said after the operation: 'The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing. 'This operation's results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.' A major success in the UK came in 2019 when three members of the same family who were working directly for the alleged leader of the notorious crime network were jailed for a total of more than 16 years after laundering nearly 1 million for the syndicate. Okemiorukaye Nakpodia, 62, was jailed for six and a half years, Esther Nakpodia, 41, for two and a half years and Unuakpotovo Nakpodia, 52, to seven years, seven months. The siblings, from Greenwich, south east London, operated telephone and email scams between 2007 and 2015 on behalf of their Nigeria-based brother-in-law Augustus Bemigho-Eyeoyibo. While leaders claim Black Axe is a rogue breakaway group, international law enforcement agencies describe it as the 'criminal wing' of the NBM and evidence shows its illicit funds are funnelled into the group. Pictured: Items seized during Black Gang investigations Former confederates of the criminal enterprise, based in the Benin City in southern Nigeria, say corruption and collusion with local authorities has allowed it to thrive. Pictured: Police investigations into the Black Axe Despite being named by prosecutors as its leader, Bemigho-Eyeoyibo, who has run for political office in Nigeria, has insisted the organisation he led for four years called the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) is a legitimate concern. While leaders claim Black Axe is a rogue breakaway group, international law enforcement agencies describe it as the 'criminal wing' of the NBM and evidence shows its illicit funds are funnelled into the group. Former confederates of the criminal enterprise, based in the Benin City in southern Nigeria, say corruption and collusion with local authorities has allowed it to thrive with members from the police and military often acting as recruiters. According to a BBC probe into the gang, evidence of extreme violence including mutilated dead bodies showing signs of torture regular surface on social media in Nigeria. The violence and brutality of gang members - known as Axemen - is rooted in its domestic drug dealing, prostitution and extortion rackets and territorial competition with rival gangs. International crackdowns have enabled Interpol to create a huge intelligence database on the gang, which is now shared with officers throughout its 196 member countries. But officials warned the gang's expertise along with technological innovations enabled it to switch tactics and develop new scams while international reach meant the organisation remained an ongoing threat. Experts said innovations in money-transfer software and cryptocurrency have played into the hands of the group. One senior Interpol official said: 'These criminal syndicates are early adopters of new technologies. A lot of fintech developments make it really easy to illegally move money around the world.' Parents have criticised plans to give pupils an extra week off school so they can go on cheaper holidays - saying it will be a 'burden' for those that work full time. Under the controversial new scheme, students will have the autumn half term holiday extended from one week to two. But school days will be lengthened slightly throughout the year to make up for the missed lesson time. Schools spearheading the revolution include North Walsham High School and Long Stratton High School, both run by the same trust in Norfolk. Critics previously attacked the 'ridiculous' changes, warning they are more about 'making life easy for teachers' and are 'dumbing down' education. Now parents at the two impacted schools have weighed in on the row - with some saying they will struggle to organise childcare during the additional time off. James Fraser, 43, who has two children, including a nine-year-old at primary school and a 13-year-old at North Walsham High School, criticised the plans. He said: 'I don't think it's well thought out because of the impact it will have on parents. It will have an impact on many people, including grandparents. Parents have criticised plans to give pupils an extra week off school so they can go on cheaper holidays. Pictured: Long Stratton School Heidi Walker, 48, (left) who owns a vape shop in Long Stratton called JJ Vapes, warned that parents will struggle to take the time off North Walsham High School executive headteacher James Gosden (pictured) said the extra week off at autumn half term would enable families to have 'cheaper holidays' 'My youngest one is at junior school and there's been no co-ordination between the schools. 'I'm in a position where, as a parent, I can be flexible, but it's not as if you can go to your boss and say, "Can I work an extra ten minutes in my day and get a week off?" 'This is going to cause too much disruption. It's really hard for some parents. Their time is so compressed and difficult they don't even have the time to fight it.' Meanwhile, Heidi Walker, 48, who owns a vape shop in Long Stratton called JJ Vapes, also warned that parents will struggle to take the time off. She said: 'I would not say I agree with it at all. It's a burden for people who work and have to get childcare.' One parent of two children at North Walsham High School, who didn't want to give her name, added: 'Both my children are at the same school. 'It's not very good for people who have children at different schools. It would be a nuisance.' On Thursday, North Walsham executive headteacher James Gosden said the changes to the school holidays would help parents avoid price hikes by airlines. Schools spearheading the revolution include North Walsham High School (pictured) and Long Stratton High School, both run by the same trust in Norfolk Research has found many families think the summer break is too long, and would prefer time off to be spread more evenly throughout the year. Pictured: Julia McDonald He said they would also reduce staff absence by giving them a 'better break' during periods with high levels of sickness. Parents had supported the change, Mr Gosden said, with 78 per cent of the 157 families who responded to a consultation in favour. It came as a new survey also revealed that half of frazzled parents want summer holidays to be slashed from six to four weeks and half terms extended. Research by the charity Parentkind found many families think the summer break is too long, and would prefer time off to be spread more evenly throughout the year. Amy Thomas, 40, is a nail technician in Long Stratton. She said: 'I read about this. I know people who have children at Long Stratton High School. 'I personally think they would have been better off taking a week off the six-week holidays and making it shorter, instead of increasing the school day. 'It's quite a long day for children. They've got to spend longer at school now to claw it back.' Helen Moxon, 50, has a nephew at Long Stratton High School. Helen Moxon (pictured), 50, has a nephew at Long Stratton High School She said: 'My nephew said they're changing the times for school. He didn't say much more. He's nearly 16, so he doesn't talk much. 'They [the holiday companies] will just adjust. 'I don't agree with the whole fining people for kids taking time out of school. If parents have a valid reason they should be able to do it. 'If you're sensible about it, what's the problem about taking them out? The teachers must agree to it now. 'I have friends who are teachers who do say they absolutely must be at school because they need to learn stuff.' One parent, who didn't want to give her name, said: 'I think it's a good idea. But will the holiday people put their prices up?' Julia McDonald, 62, said of the changing term dates: 'I think it's marvellous for people who have school-age children because it can only make holidays cheaper. 'When mine were children it was okay to take them out for a week. We would take them to places like Rome. We took them to The Colosseum. Desislava Hristova (left), 38, has a daughter at Long Stratton High School 'It was educational. But they [the schools] started to get very serious about it [parents taking children out of school during term time]. 'I was chair of governors at a primary school and when this [fining parents for taking children out of school] I was against it.' Desislava Hristova, 38, has a daughter at Long Stratton High School. Desislava said of her daughter thinks about the plans: 'She's very happy about it [the longer Autumn term holiday]. I think it's a good idea. 'It will make my life much easier. 'In October, it's better for us to travel and it will make it more affordable to visit family in Bulgaria and Turkey. It will until the holiday companies ratchet up their prices. 'There's a paradox. Kids are on school holidays and travel agencies and companies manipulate their prices and don't give people a choice.' Sam Reynolds, 49, is a mother of two from North Walsham, who has a daughter aged nine at a primary school there and a 12-year-old at the high school. Schools spearheading the revolution include North Walsham High School and Long Stratton High School (pictured), both run by the same trust in Norfolk She said: 'We got a letter saying they were going to trial it in October and see how it went and have a two-week half term, instead of a one week one. 'They decided to try it because of cheaper holidays for families and also because there's a lot of sickness when people go back to school. 'I suppose it's just germs everywhere. My girls get colds when they go back to school after the six-week summer holiday. 'It's quite difficult to explain to a nine-year-old why they only get a one-week holiday while their sister gets a two-week holiday.' She said: 'I don't think having longer holidays will affect them. They're at high school and if they want to learn they'll learn. You cannot dictate in high school. 'I'm quite old-fashioned. I don't take my children out of school for school holidays but some people do. 'I think they need to be in school for educational and social reasons. 'I think the fines are quite high. Apparently, the fines out-weight the savings you make on a holiday. Critics previously attacked the 'ridiculous' changes, warning they are more about 'making life easy for teachers' and are 'dumbing down' education. Pictured: Long Stratton High School 'The travel companies need to address the situation.' Anne-Marie Grinsted, 37, has a daughter in nursery but heard about the changes at North Walsham High School. She said: 'I think it's a good idea. I hope it's in place when my little girl is at school. I think the holiday companies will have changed things by then to charge extra.' But Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, told the Mail: 'We have to ask what's more important a passport to Majorca or a passport to [children's] futures?' Mr McGovern said decisions about school breaks should be based on children's education, rather than convenience to parents. He said: 'We need to be upping the academic demands on children. This is dumbing down.' He added: 'Children need to have shorter lessons, rather than longer lessons. They get tired during the day. 'They have to provide a minimum number of hours per year, so in theory they could just make days longer and longer and the number of days shorter and shorter. A new survey has revealed that half of frazzled parents want summer holidays to be slashed from six to four weeks and half terms extended. Pictured: Long Stratton High School 'Education is not about making life easier for teachers it's what's in the best interests for children. 'The workload for teachers has been reduced, for example school reports are now AI-generated. In some respects, they have never had it so good. 'It is still a hard job but it's a vocation as well. We shouldn't be changing the school year to fit in with the holiday plans of teachers.' One parent, who asked not to be named, previously complained: 'It's ridiculous. October isn't when most families are taking holidays. 'I was against this because I don't see how it's going to benefit my kids. 'I've also got to make arrangements for them on these days, while teachers get more time off.' Another said: 'Ten minutes a day won't make up for losing a whole week in school. 'And a week either side of the summer holidays would have been better than a week at Halloween.' There was further criticism online, with comments including: 'Are holidays more important than getting an education? 'And who can afford a two-week autumn holiday anyway except teachers?' Another said: 'Public schools have been doing this for decades, they don't think TUI has twigged?' Youngsters set to be given the right to vote in the next General Election have showcased a shocking lack of knowledge about the UK's political leaders. Sir Keir Starmer announced plans on Wednesday to lower the England's voting age from 18 to 16, which could see around 1.5million more teens able to cast their vote when the nation next heads to the polls. The move, a manifesto pledge from the party, has been criticised as a cynical ploy since a large proportion of young voters support Labour. But, opposition parties may be able to blow a sigh of relief after MailOnline went out and quizzed prospective teen voters on their knowledge of the UK political landscape - with some shocking results. While a majority of the teenagers interviewed were able to tell us the Prime Minister's name, some didn't know who he was when shown an image of him. Even worse for Labour, even fewer were able to name the deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner or Chancellor Rachel Reeves when shown pictures of them. But it's not necessarily good news for the Tories - just two were able to identify Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. Instead, it was Reform UK leader Nigel Farage who came out on top - with an overwhelming number of youngsters able to identify who he was when shown a picture of him. Youngsters set to be given the right to vote in the next General Election have showcased a shocking lack of knowledge about the UK's political leaders. Pictured: 13-year-old Dominic Carlyle 14-year-old Olive Irving holds up pictures of Angela Rayner and Kemi Badenoch. Few teens were able to name the deputy Prime Minister and the Conservative leader when shown pictures of them Although a majority of the teenagers interviewed were able to tell us the Prime Minister's name. Pictured: Eloise Lincoln, 14, holding up a picture of Sir Keir MailOnline visited the streets of Newcastle and Cambridge earlier this week to find out how much prospective teen votes know about the figureheads of UK politics. The youngsters were shown pictures of Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner. In Newcastle, Nigel Farage was the most recognisable with four out five teens able to name him. Dominic Carlyle, 13, from Jarrow, South Tyneside, knew both Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage from their pictures. He said: 'Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister but I don't know who the leader of the opposition is. 'I thought it was Rishi Sunak. I've seen Ed Davey before but I don't know who he is. 'I would bring in laws to stop smoking. I want to completely get rid of cigarettes. I would tax them more to get rid of them. 'There isn't anything else that I would want to change and I don't have an interest in any specific areas in politics. Dominic Carlyle (pictured), from Jarrow, South Tyneside, thought Rishi Sunak was still the leader of the opposition Dominic (pictured) knew both Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage from their pictures 'I will be voting when I'm over 16. Some 16-year-olds don't know much about politics so won't be able to use their vote properly. 'Schools should be teaching us more about politics. We never really get taught about it, it's only older children in sixth form who choose to study it.' Olive Irving, 14, from Gateshead, wasn't able to name any of the politicians pictured. She said: 'If I could introduce a policy, I would make school holidays longer. 'I'm not really into politics, but I know that Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister. 'I barely know any politicians. I know their names, but not their faces. I know Farage's name as well as Ed Davey's name. 'I know who the chancellor is because my mam showed me a picture of her crying in the Commons. 'People thought she was going to get fired and she started crying about it. 'A lot of kids will vote for who their friends want to vote for or they won't actually look into politics and vote for who they like the look of. Olive Irving (pictured), 14, from Gateshead, wasn't able to name any of the politicians pictured Oliva is seen holding up pictures of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. She admitted she was 'not really into politics', but knew that Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister 'I will use my vote but I will look at their policies and do my own research. 'We are taught useless things in school that we won't need in ten years, like algebra, instead of proper things like politics. 'I'm never going to use algebra so I don't know why we're taught that.' Eloise Lincoln, 14, from Newcastle, correctly identified Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage and Ed Davey. She said: 'I would want the government to introduce more policies about the environment such as lowering emissions. 'Lowering the voting age could be a good policy but there are a lot of younger people who are influenced by the internet. 'They may not actually know much about politics but go off what they see online. 'They should teach us more in schools if they are lowering the voting age. I would use my vote at 16 but I would do my research.' Olivia Connon, 15, from Newcastle, correctly identified Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch. She said: 'I know a bit about politics but not enough. Eloise Lincoln (pictured), 14, from Newcastle, correctly identified Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage and Ed Davey Eloise (pictured) believes the Government should introduce more policies focused on helping the environment such as lowering emissions 'I would vote if I was 16 but you have to investigate first about what the policies are. 'I met Rishi Sunak once, we talked about ice cream but he said his favourite flavour was vanilla, which is boring. He didn't get any syrups or flakes in it. 'I know that Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister but I didn't know that Kemi Badenoch was the leader of the Conservatives. 'I don't know much about current policies but if I could bring one law in it would be something to help people have more access to healthcare, as we need more funding in the NHS. 'If the voting age was lowered now it wouldn't be very good because people wouldn't know what they were doing. We need more education on politics.' Megan Wilson, 15, from Gateshead, correctly named Nigel Farage in the picture quiz. She said: 'The voting age should be 18, 16 is too low. People would make stupid decisions or waste their vote. 'There isn't enough education about politics in schools. You only go over it once or twice so you don't learn it properly. Olivia Connon (pictured), 15, from Newcastle, correctly identified Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch Olivia (pictured) revealed she even met Rishi Sunak once, but wasn't a fan of his favourite ice cream flavour 'I turn 16 early into the school year, I'm one of the oldest in my class so I would be voting while doing GCSEs. 'When you're 18, you know a lot more about the world and probably have a job or have been through college. You have more life experience. 'All my friends think it's a stupid decision to lower it because there are already debates about people voting at the age of 18. 'I don't know much about tax or policies. I know we pay tax but that's it. 'My mam votes but I wouldn't, even if the age is being lowered to 16. 'Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister but I don't know who the leader of the opposition is. I don't know much about current policies but if I could bring in legislation I would want to split the six weeks holidays up. 'It's too long, I get bored half way through. I would want four weeks and then another two somewhere else in the year.' Meanwhile in Cambridge, MailOnline spoke to several 16 and 17 year olds, who despite being older than those interviewed in Newcastle, were only marginally more knowledgeable of the UK's political leaders. Megan Wilson (pictured), 15, from Gateshead, correctly named Nigel Farage in the picture quiz Megan (pictured) believes lowering the voting age to 16 is not a good idea as youngsters don't know much about politics at that age Only one person was able to identify who the leader of the opposition was (Kemi Badenoch), with two people thinking it was the former Home Secretary Priti Patel. But, much to the Prime Minister's relief, all of the people interviewed were able to identify Keir Starmer. College student Charlotte Templar, 17, is a Green Party campaigner and was for the voting age being lowered. She said: 'The main argument against it is that 16-year-olds aren't informed enough to vote but that can be applied for people aged 18/20/22. 'You are affected by all things at that age and it will make more people want to vote and it will help move away from older people having all the power to make decisions that will affect younger people for longer. 'I feel like I'm old enough to vote and it has been proven in Scotland that it does work. 'Everyone should know what the parties stand for - it should be the school and the parent's responsibility. 'Some might say young people will do 'joke' votes [where they vote for a party unseriously because they think it is funny] but I don't think it would be a large enough amount of people to make a difference. No one says that about university students.' College student Charlotte Templar (pictured), 17, is a Green Party campaigner Charlotte (pictured) was in favour of the voting age being lowered to 16 Jack, 17, said he thought his generation was the 'most politically aware'. He said: 'Realistically 16-year-olds are capable for making a choice like any other eighteen or nineteen year olds. 'If a 50-year-old man votes for Nigel Farage because he thinks he's funny then there shouldn't be a discussion as to whether sixteen-year-olds are mature enough or not.' Zosia, 17, said she was worried about 'joke' voting. She said: 'People will make 'joke' votes for parties like Reform. They could be under the influence of adults around them or their friends. 'At 18, you're only just beginning to experience your life like you are at 16.' Mikayla, 17, added: 'I think people are going to be influenced by social media and who their friends are voting for.' Chloe, 17, said she agreed the voting age should be lowered. The A-Level politics student said: 'You can pay tax and get married - the only difference really at 18 is that you can buy alcohol. College students Zosia (left), Jack (centre) and Mikayla (right) all agreed that lowering the voting age was a good idea Jack (centre), 17, said he thought his generation was the 'most politically aware' 'Politics isn't really taught in school in as much depth as it should be. 'Hopefully it would make people more interested in politics and understand why it matters to them.' Friend Hannah, also 17, said: 'The general election affects everyone who is 16. 'I'd like to see them focus more on the environment - it always come second to most things.' Sophie McArthur, 17, said she didn't think lowering the voting age was a good thing. The college student said she was worried about boys in particular being influenced online and how other people's views could affect them. She said: 'Young people are influenced by the media and there are certain sides of TikTok which can not be a very good thing for people who are impressionable or not mature enough. 'I know people who like Charlie Kirk - these are boys who are like "red pill". It makes you worry about the decisions they'll make if they could vote and who for.' College students Chloe (left) and Hannah (right) are also in favour of the voting age being lowered Hannah (right) believes the Government should be doing more to help the environment Charlie Kirk is an American political activist who rose to prominence as the founder of Turning Point USA - a ring-wing student organisation aligned with Donald Trump - and spoke at the Cambridge Union in May. Gabriella Giussali, also 17, agreed. She said: 'Some people are too young to form that opinion and be able to vote. There are a lot of people who understand politics and lots of people who don't.' Lucia Browne, 17, said she wasn't 'confident' people at her age would make the 'right' decision. She said: 'Social media means a lot of people are influenced and I think there's a different across the country as to how young people will vote. 'You only pay national insurance at 16 so you don't really know a lot about how things work. We're not at the age where we should be dictating government policy.' Julia, 18, visiting from Sweden said: 'I don't think it's a good idea. In Sweden it is 18 and you get more into politics as you get older, meet more people. When you work, you begin to understand people. 'It is too big of a power for a young age. I'd raise it to 20.' Sylwester, 16, also from Sweden added: 'People aren't experienced enough. I'd say 18 is the best age.' Advertisement The Greek immigration minister does not mince his words. He may be new to the job but his message to the millions of young men waiting in North Africa to come to his country for a life in Europe is clear: 'Don't come here. We will put you in jail or send you back home.' In an exclusive interview with the Mail, Thanos Plevris said: 'The Greeks, like the rest of Europe, want to help real refugees, but we will not be taken for fools. It is the end of the fairy tale that those coming to Greece and Europe in incredible numbers are all women and children. They are mainly men aged between 18 and 30 who are economic migrants. We are not a hotel any more. 'Many are from safe countries, such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Now we are telling them that if you sail in illegally by boat to Greece, do not expect asylum but get ready for five years in jail or a ticket home instead.' Greece is on the frontline of Europe's out-of-control migration crisis that, as Britons know well, has reached northern France where trafficking gangs are using fleets of small boats to send tens of thousands of migrants to Dover. Greece, on the other side of the continent, has its own relentless wave of newcomers. This year, at least 10,000 migrants have reached its biggest island, Crete, from lawless Libya a few hundred miles away across the Mediterranean Sea. In the first week of this month alone, just after Mr Plevris was appointed immigration minister, a surge of 4,000 arrived illegally on the island, which is struggling to cope. The coastguard and police are holding the uninvited foreigners in emergency camps in empty warehouses where they get a chilly welcome, basic rations and sleep on concrete floors. As we witnessed, they are young men growing dangerously angry while incarcerated against their will in the stifling summer heat. The Greek immigration minister Thanos Plevris (above) has issued a message to the millions of young men waiting in North Africa to come to his country: 'Don't come here. We will put you in jail or send you back home' Migrants from Libya are guarded by armed police as they wait in stifling heat and sit on concrete floors at a warehouse in Chania town, Crete A coast guard office holding a stick is seen handling a migrant after a row at the the camp which threatened to run out of control 'Our big problem today is with Libya and who they are sending over,' the plain-speaking and unapologetic Mr Plevris told me as he promised to stifle the migration flow for ever. 'Libya is using big vessels carrying 200, even 300, people. Of all those who have arrived, 85 per cent are male, and the majority of them are young. They are using Greece to enter Europe illegally for a new life. 'If we just continue to sit and watch, it will never end. Three million migrants are today massing in Libya. 'Now I plan to deter them from setting off for here.' Ten days ago, the Greek parliament passed a new law to help Mr Plevris get his wish. It suspended all asylum applications from those arriving illegally from North Africa for 'at least three months' due to the 'extraordinary' migration emergency. The European Union has sided with Athens, saying the Greek crisis is 'exceptional'. Under the legislation, due to be introduced within days, most of the illegal arrivals will have two choices: a five-year prison spell or deportation to their home country, at Greece's expense. 'We will no longer tolerate an invasion from North Africa,' Mr Plevris said. Migrant camps with prison-like accommodation are being prepared on the mainland to house future arrivals. 'Our immigration ministry is not a hotel service,' Mr Plevris added in a headline-grabbing television soundbite after the law won overwhelming support in parliament. The Kitrenosi emergency camp outside Rethymnon in Crete is holding hundreds of migrants as they wait for a ferry to Athens The Greek Coast Guard oversee the shipping out of Hundreds of migrants at Kitrenosi emergency camp which is stationed outside Rethymnon in Crete The migrants were shipped out on buses to the Knossos Palace ferry to Athens on Thursday evening He is also reviewing the 'current situation' where migrants are placed, sometimes for years, in welcoming reception centres with 'menu-style' meals and state benefits, while it is decided if they are genuine refugees or not. Greece's revolutionary agenda is backed by the country's prime minister. A key aide said: 'This is an urgent situation. We are taking extraordinary steps that are difficult and strict. Our government can no longer accept the migration flows from North Africa. People there need to think twice before they pay a large sum of money [to traffickers] to come to this country.' It is anybody's guess if the thousands of young men who have reached Crete in the new surge realise what a bleak future lies ahead. But in the few days since the law was voted in, no boats have arrived from Libya. When the Mail visited two of Crete's emergency holding camps, we were allowed to walk inside among the migrants but not permitted to speak to them. 'Be careful,' I was warned by an armed police officer guarding 400 migrants at a camp on the outskirts of Chania, two hours from the Crete capital of Heraklion. 'These are dangerous people. They all want something from you, even just a cigarette, and they get angry if you don't hand it over.' Inside the warehouse camp, the smell of unwashed men and urine made my eyes smart. As we walked in, the migrants shouted for help, putting up their hands to show ten fingers, the number of days they have been incarcerated here. There was a tinderbox atmosphere and the conditions were unpalatable, to say the least. Some migrants were lying on mattresses, resorting to sharing because there are so few. For the unlucky ones, it was a concrete floor with a T-shirt for a pillow. 'They all sit with their own nationalities, the Egyptians together, the Palestinians together, and so on,' said one female guard at the door of the warehouse. Some migrants were lying on mattresses, resorting to sharing because there are so few available in the Chania town warehouse Inside the warehouse camp, the smell of unwashed men and urine was overbearing The migrants shouted for help, with some putting up their hands to show ten fingers, the number of days they have been incarcerated here At Heraklion, the Crete island's capital, 270 migrants are guarded in a port building as they wait for a ferry to Athens 'They are very difficult to control. There are so few of us, just five, and so many of them. We are tired, they are tired. It is not a safe situation.' One pitiful boy, who whispers to me that he is an Egyptian and 14, is barefoot and wearing just underpants and a shredded T-shirt. In one corner, standing alone, is a tall figure with dark hair and his neck covered in the red and white scarf of Palestine. 'He will say he is Egyptian, if he is asked,' a guard told me. 'But he has come from Gaza. 'He won't have an identity document because he will have destroyed it before reaching Greece. It makes our job of finding out who these people are, if they are bad or good, more difficult.' The police guards, just three men and two women, were under stress. If they open by a crack the giant metal doors to the warehouse to get in and out, throngs of men run to the entrance to try to reach the fresh air and escape the stench for a minute or two. 'No, no, no,' shout the inmates in one crescendo of furious male voices as the doors are snapped shut. Nearer Heraklion, in the mid-Crete town of Rethymno, is a second warehouse camp. If anything, the atmosphere was more tense still. It is on rough land overlooking the sea and a beach, and had nearly 180 men inside when we visited. Inside, we saw a gruff-looking police officer using a metal baton to control the migrants. One Egyptian who argued with him, after dilly-dallying for a few minutes on a visit to the latrine block in the yard, was chased and hit on the arm by the officer. 'You can show my stick on your photographs,' the officer said to me, 'but not my face.' Hundreds of migrants were shipped to the Knossos Palace ferry as they look to try and reach Athens from Crete Migrants from Libya at Chania town, Crete, are seeking to reach the Greek capital in search of a life in Europe He added: 'These men are disappointed, angry, and increasingly volatile. They will remember me. They expected to get a free pass into Europe because the Libyan boat traffickers told them that. Now we are keeping them here. They are not getting what they wanted or hoped for. It is difficult to make them stay calm. You must be wary.' It is at the Rethymno camp that we saw migrants being deported, first to Heraklion port and then to mainland Greece, in an operation resembling the movement of prisoners. During the afternoon, they were brought out of the warehouse in six nationality groups and made to sit on the ground in the blazing sun for half an hour to wait for buses to take them to the ferry for Athens where migrant camps have already been toughened up. Some held cardboard from torn-up boxes over their heads to protect themselves from the sun as they sat in the dust. Nearly all were barefoot, some bare-chested, and each carried a blue plastic bag of possessions plus a bottle of water. We were told that the migrants and the buses would remain in a closed deck area of the ferry away from fee-paying passengers for the night crossing. It was an operation with little compassion for the migrants, but the country has clearly run out of patience. Mr Plevris, who belongs to the Right-wing faction of Greece's ruling and increasingly conservative New Democracy party, said: 'Our prime minister has warned for years of the problems with immigration. 'We want to support refugees, but we believe it is important for our society that we only take those who want to be part of Europe.' He pointed out how many of the illegal migrants want to 'transfer' their own cultures and religious beliefs to Europe. 'They want to go on living by their own rules and they want us to accept that. But we will no longer do so,' he added. Migrants are seen sitting on the floor of the Kitrenosi facility with water bottles to stay hydrated Many of the migrants shared the mattresses as comfy space in the Kitrenosi camp is limited Mr Plevris said the European asylum system was skewed. It encourages migrants who cheat by throwing away their passports (to avoid showing they come from safe countries) or lying about their age to boost their chances of being allowed to stay. Egyptians wanting to escape military service destroy identity papers to disguise the fact they come from a country listed as safe by the United Nations and European Union. If the words of Mr Plevris, 48, sound like common sense today, his critics have dredged up the fact that he was a political firebrand when first elected to parliament in 2007 as a member of a now defunct hard-Right anti-immigration party. In 2011, he made a much criticised speech in parliament, which is still on YouTube. He said: 'In my opinion, the immigration issue can be solved in two ways. The first way is border security, which cannot exist if there are no deaths [to the migrants]. 'The second is that we must understand the logic of disincentives. We must tell the migrants when you come here you will have no social benefits, you will not be able to drink, you will not be able to go to hospital. '[The migrant] must tell others in Pakistan that he is having a worse time in Greece than back home. Unless he sees a life of hell and not a paradise, he will come.' Controversial though his speech was, his appointment is popular with ordinary Greeks today. As I travelled in Athens to interview Mr Plevris, the taxi driver recognised the address. 'Ah. Are you going to see the new minister,' he asked. 'I would like to send him a message from people like me. Tell him on migrants that enough is enough. No more must come in. We all feel the same. We wish him good luck with his new law.' Donald Trump's efforts to cut ties with Elon Musk and SpaceX hit a road block when a formal review laid out just how crucial his contracts are to America's dominance in space. Trump had suggested at the height of his feud with the world's richest man that the administration could save millions of dollars by 'terminating' government contracts with Musk's companies, which would force him to 'head back home to South Africa.' The relationship had spectacularly combusted over Musk's criticism of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and personal attacks about the president's former relationship with child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Days later, a senior official at the General Services Administration ordered the Defense Department to fill out a form detailing every current SpaceX contract and transaction agreement, The Wall Street Journal revealed. The official said the data they collated would be shared with the White House to await further instruction. He also made similar requests to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in an effort to establish whether a competitor could run the same contracts more effectively. But the Defense Department's review instead established that most of the deals with SpaceX were vital to the missions of the department and NASA, insiders claimed. It also further highlighted how the government relies on Musk's companies to remain leaders in space exploration, and how little competition there is in the market. On June 5, Trump suggested on Truth Social the government could save money by 'terminating' government contracts with Musk's companies, which would force him to 'head back home to South Africa.' At the height of President Trump's public feud with Elon Musk, the administration reviewed SpaceX government contracts in an effort to cut ties with the billionaire's business Musk has somewhat of a monopoly on rocket launches and low Earth orbit satellite services, as competitors like Boeing face setbacks in their race to catch up with SpaceX technology. In amidst the drama between Musk and Trump, the SpaceX founder had threatened to decommission his Crew Dragon - which is the only US certified vehicle able to fly people to and from the space station. The threats sparked concern within NASA, particularly after the Crew Dragon was recently involved in a mission to save two astronauts who had been stranded at the International Space Station for 286 days. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were trapped on the ISS with no way home after their Boeing Starliner suffered technical difficulties. A week-long mission turned into nine months in space, until Musk's Crew Dragon came to the rescue to bring them home in March. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell met with White House officials as the review was ongoing, insiders told the publication. Despite Musk's feud with Trump, SpaceX has continued to win contracts in 2025, including a deal worth $5.9billion to conduct 28 national security flights. It also launched an upgraded GPS satellite for the Space Force in May, and NASA expects SpaceX to fly a new crew to the International Space Station within weeks. In amidst the drama between Musk and Trump, the SpaceX founder had threatened to decomission his Crew Dragon - which is the only US certified vehicle able to fly people to and from the space station. The threats sparked concern within NASA, particularly after the Crew Dragon was recently involved in a mission to save two astronauts who had been stranded at the International Space Station for 286 days This has not improved relations between Trump and Musk, who remain divided on several key administration issues - primarily the Big Beautiful Bill and Trump's more recent decision not to release any new information about Epstein. Musk pledged to launch his own political party in protest of the spending bill, which he warned could 'bankrupt America' and add an estimated 3.3 trillion to 4.5 trillion to the national debt. Trump immediately hit back, writing: 'Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. 'No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!' More recently, Musk weighed in on Trump's comments that the highly sought after Epstein client list is no more than a 'hoax' created by Democrats. 'Wow, amazing that Epstein "killed himself" and Ghislaine is in federal prison for a hoax,' the SpaceX CEO posted on his X account. 'He should just release the files and point out which part is the hoax,' he added in another post. Musk's barrage of criticism crystallized the growing discontent from Trump's MAGA base over the president's handling of the Epstein files. A Delta pilot pulled off an 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid a collision with a military bomber, preventing what could have been a catastrophic mid-air disaster over North Dakota. The Delta regional jet was nearing Minot International Airport after a 90-minute flight from MinneapolisSaint Paul when passengers and crew were startled as the pilot suddenly began making a series of sharp, unexpected turns, according to KMOT News. Unbeknownst to the passengers at the time, the plane had come terrifyingly close to crashing into a massive military jet - B-52 Stratofortress - flying out of Minot Air Force Base. 'Being in the very front row, you feel everything, and those hard turns, you could tell something wasnt right,' Monica Green, a passenger on the flight, told the outlet. The pilots quick thinking aboard Delta Flight DL3788 - an Embraer E175 operated by SkyWest - may have saved hundreds of lives, despite unsettling passengers, after the plane came dangerously close to the military bomber. As the pilot sharply swerved through the air to avoid disaster, passengers described the atmosphere onboard as 'weirdly calm,' despite the sudden and evasive maneuvers. 'We took a really hard turn, and thats when the pilot got on the intercom and said, "sorry everybody, Ill explain everything when we land safely,"' Green told KMOT. 'The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment,' she added. A Delta pilot pulled off an 'aggressive maneuver' to narrowly avoid a collision with a military bomber, preventing what could have been a catastrophic mid-air disaster over North Dakota on Friday night (stock) Unbeknownst to the passengers at the time, the plane had come terrifyingly close to crashing into a massive military jet - B-52 Stratofortress - flying out of Minot Air Force Base (pictured) 'We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet.' The flight circled Minot Airport several times before finally landing, with passengers sensing the rising tension among the crew. Some, including Green, quietly began texting loved ones - internally panicking as the gravity of the situation set in. 'He was very casual,' Green explained, describing the pilot's demeanor. 'If you can be casual about something like that.' 'But you could tell he was stressed,' she added. 'He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed. It felt good that they werent just going to brush it off.' Once the plane landed safely, the pilot addressed passengers over the public address system, explaining that air traffic control had instructed an abrupt course change due to inadequate separation from another aircraft on the approach path. He told passengers he had received no prior warning about nearby military air traffic - something he noted was highly unusual, given Minot Air Force Bases radar capabilities. Acting fast, he decided the safest move was to swerve the plane behind the bomber - hence the abrupt movements, according to video obtained by ABC News. 'Given his speed - I dont know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it,' the pilot said once on the ground. On Friday, a Delta regional jet was nearing Minot International Airport after a 90-minute flight from MinneapolisSaint Paul when passengers and crew were startled as the pilot suddenly began making a series of sharp, unexpected turns (pictured: stock Air Force bomber jet) Exactly how close the two aircraft came remains unknown, as does whether any cockpit warning systems were triggered during the near miss. SkyWest has since launched an investigation (stock) 'So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, it caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up, because the Air Force base does have radar,' he added. 'Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work.' Monica Green, a passenger on the flight with a sizable Instagram following, shared a clip of the pilots in-flight explanation to her platform, praising his expertise in the caption and thanking him for keeping everyone safe. In the video, the pilot is heard calmly explaining to passengers that another aircraft had been heading toward them - and noting that he still didnt understand why they hadnt been informed about it in the airspace. He also collectedly explained that he initially thought the approaching aircraft was a small plane - but it turned out to be a massive military jet. Despite the seriousness of what he was describing, his tone remained steady and composed throughout, just like it was just another day in the air. Once he finished addressing the passengers, the footage captured a wave of applause - an outpouring of relief from people who suddenly realized how close they had come to danger just moments before. Exactly how close the two aircraft came remains unknown, as does whether any cockpit warning systems were triggered during the near miss, according to ABC. Monica Green (pictured), a passenger on the flight with a sizable Instagram following, shared a clip of the pilots in-flight explanation to her platform, praising his expertise in the caption and thanking him for keeping everyone safe Although Green couldnt see the bomber from her seat, she later overheard tense conversations in the small airport terminal - passengers and crew quietly discussing just how close the collision had actually been. 'When we landed, it was really quiet. No one stood up right away like people normally do,' she told KMOT. 'At the airport, I heard some people saying their friends saw it from the ground. The other plane nearly hit us, and it went so low it passed under us.' SkyWest has since launched an investigation into the incident, a spokesperson told ABC in a statement. 'SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path,' the statement read. 'We are investigating the incident.' Daily Mail has reached out to Delta and Minot Air Force Base for comment. The sole survivor of the deadly beef Wellington lunch that killed his wife and two relatives has broken cover for the first time since Erin Patterson was found guilty. Local church pastor Ian Wilkinson received a round of applause from the congregation as he delivered a message of hope during a rare address at his Korumburra Baptist Church on Sunday. It was his first public appearance since Patterson was found guilty of killing her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, at her Leongatha home in Victoria's Gippsland region on July 29, 2023. The mother-of-two was also found guilty of attempting to murder Heather's husband, Mr Wilkinson, who spent weeks fighting for life in hospital and underwent a liver transplant. As the two-year anniversary of the ill-fated lunch looms, Mr Wilkinson made a much-anticipated return to the church, where he's been the local pastor for two decades. 'My name is Ian. I used to lead services here a lot and Im pleased to be back with you again,' he told the congregation. Mr Wilkinson delivered a poignant message of hope by citing an often-quoted verse from Psalm 23:4 in the Bible, Nine News reported. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,' he said. Ian Wilkinson (left) has made his first public sighting since Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering his wife and in-laws Erin Patterson was recently found guilty of murdering three in-laws with death cap mushrooms in a Beef Wellington that she served them for lunch at her home The congregation led special prayers for the Wilkinson and Patterson families during the service as they prepare to mark two years since losing their loved ones. Simon Patterson had also been invited to the ill-fated lunch that claimed the lives of both of his parents and his aunt, but did not attend. It was Mr Wilkinson's first public sighting in three weeks, apart from a personal statement shared in a noticeboard message outside the church the day after Patterson was found guilty. 'Life can be hard, but God is faithful,' he was quoted in the message. The notice from the church leadership team also requested privacy during this 'difficult time'. 'We all greatly miss Heather, Don and Gail, whether we were friends for a short time or over 20 years,' it said. 'They were very special people who loved God and lived to bless others. 'It's been a long journey, and we continue to lovingly support Ian, Simon and all the Wilkinson and Patterson family members through this difficult time. 'We appreciate all the care from our local communities, special support from individuals and from the Baptist Union of Victoria, and the churches and people from all over the world who have been praying for us.' Local church pastor Ian Wilkinson (right) was the sole surviving guest from the deadly beef Wellington lunch that killed his wife Heather (left) 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,' Ian Wilkinson (pictured) told the congregation Mr Wilkinson attended almost every day of Patterson's ten-week trial, where he gave powerful and compelling evidence. More details about his miraculous recovery could be revealed if he takes up an invitation to make a victim impact statement ahead of Patterson's pre-sentencing hearing later this year. A 12-person jury found Patterson guilty of three murders and one attempted murder at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court a fortnight ago following a week of deliberations. Patterson had invited the group to her home, where she served them individually wrapped beef Wellingtons containing lethal mushrooms. The killer initially feigned grief as the fatal lunch made headlines around Australia, before Victoria Police charged her with murder in November 2023. Patterson faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars. A series of powerful cold fronts will bring rain, damaging winds, thunderstorms and snow to multiple states and territories across Australia this week. It follows a freezing end to the weekend in Sydney, with Penrith recording its coldest morning in four years on Sunday as temperatures dipped to -0.3C. Camden and Campbelltown recorded lows of -2.1C and -0.5C respectively. Further east, residents at Sydney Olympic Park woke to just 2.8C the coldest morning there in two years. 'We've had the high-pressure systems come over some still air... and it was just able to settle cold temperatures that are continuing,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Morgan Pumpa explained. 'Wednesday through to even possibly Sunday or Monday does look very cold.' According to Weatherzone, two major cold fronts and their associated low-pressure systems will move west to east across the country this week. The first cold front arrived on Monday morning, bringing a cold, wet and windy start to the week in Western Australia. Perth could struggle to reach 15C on Monday, which would make it the citys coldest day so far this year. This front will push into South Australia on Monday before sweeping across southeastern Australia on Tuesday. Sydney's west shivered through their coldest mornings in years as still air and clear skies allowed temperatures to plummet (above, commuters in Sydney) A series of cold fronts is sweeping across Australia's south, bringing showers, gusty winds, and a drop in temperatures Blustery winds, rain and cold air will follow across the southern half of the country from Monday to Wednesday, Weatherzone said. Damaging wind warnings are already in place for parts of SA and Victoria, with potential warnings for NSW and Tasmania in the coming days. This front will also interact with a low-pressure trough over eastern Australia, generating widespread rain and thunderstorms across NSW and Queensland on Tuesday and Wednesday. The second cold front is due to reach southwestern WA on Wednesday, then move across SA and central Australia on Friday, before hitting southeastern and eastern Australia over the weekend. Its expected to form a large low-pressure system that will pull in tropical moisture, potentially creating a vast northwest cloudband. 'This setup has the potential to generate a massive northwest cloudband that will soak part of every state and territory in the second half of this week.' Forecast accumulated rain this week In addition to widespread rain, the second front may bring more damaging winds to southern parts of the country and snow to the Alps with even a chance of snow flurries in southern WA on Thursday. 'The combined influence of this weeks cold fronts and low pressure systems will deliver a decent amount of rain to part of every state and territory in Australia between now and the weekend. 'Due to the eastward movement of these weather systems, the bulk of this rain will fall on and west of the Great Dividing Range. 'This means that the Murray-Darling Basin and many thirsty agricultural areas of SA, Tas, Vic and WA will also see a good drop of rain in the next seven days.' Perth Tuesday: Showers. Min 7C. Max 16C. Wednesday: Showers. Min 8C. Max 18C. Thursday: Showers easing. Min 6C. Max 14C. Heavier snowfall is expected across alpine areas in Victoria and New South Wales over the weekend (above, Thredbo, NSW) Adelaide Tuesday: Showers. Min 9C. Max 13C. Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 8C. Max 15C. Thursday: Late shower or two. Min 8C. Max 17C. Melbourne Tuesday: Showers. Min 11C. Max 15C. Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Min 5C. Max 14C. Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 4C. Max 15C. Hobart Tuesday: Showers increasing. Min 6C. Max 17C. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 6C. Max 13C. Thursday: Sunny. Min 3C. Max 14C. Canberra Tuesday: Showers. Min 2C. Max 15C. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Min 1C. Max 13C. Thursday: Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Min -3C. Max 13C. Sydney Tuesday: Possible shower. Min 11C. Max 20C. Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 12C. Max 19C. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 9C. Max 17C. Brisbane Tuesday: Shower or two. Min 13C. Max 22C. Wednesday: Showers increasing. Min 13C. Max 22C. Thursday: Sunny. Min 13C. Max 23C. Darwin Tuesday: Sunny. Min 19C. Max 31C. Wednesday: Sunny. Min 19C. Max 31C. Thursday: Cloud clearing. Min 20C. Max 31C. Do you know more? Email: lucy.manly@dailymail.com.au A top Sydney surgeon locked in a bitter marital split has been living with his new lover and the lovers ex-boyfriend at his harbourside mansion on Sydney's ritzy north shore. Kidney transplant specialist Professor David Gracey split from his political lobbyist husband Michael Kauter, chairman and CEO of boutique government affairs advisory Strategic Political Counsel, in December. The estranged couple's $9.5million Mosman mansion is now home to Dr Gracey, his new boyfriend Brooke McFarlane and McFarlanes art dealer ex, Jason Bonham. Mr Kauter - the majority owner of the home - moved out shortly before Mr McFarlane and Mr Bonham moved in. But he says two more people - and their dog - are also now 'squatting' in the basement of his former home. The multimillionaire lobbyist was arrested by police after he turned up at his ex-husband's surgery for what said was a routine check-up, but the charges were withdrawn in June. An outstanding charge against him, involving the alleged destruction of a photo frame and shirt, was diverted under a mental health Section 14 and due for finalisation in August. 'The whole situation is, in my view, regrettable and frankly sad, but theres no need for me to comment,' Mr Kauter told Daily Mail Australia. Dr David Gracey (pictured left) alongside his new Kiwi lover Brook McFarlane The home where Dr Gracey is living with his new lover and his lover's ex Jason Bonham The couple were married for several years before they split which turned nasty 'I hold no bitterness or anger, Ive moved on. 'My focus is on building a positive future, and Ive never been so excited about whats ahead. I wish everyone the best.' Section 14 orders divert certain matters from the criminal justice system where health issues, like psychological stress, are involved and provides no finding of guilt or conviction. The ex-boyfriend of Professor Gacey's new lover - who are all now living in the Mosman home, known as The Villa - was previously an art gallery owner on New Zealand's South Island. Mr Bonham is said to have left New Zealand soon after local media reported he owed more than $50,000 in rent, rates and insurance following the gallery's closure. He is now operating a showroom in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs but denied 'doing a runner'. He told Otago Times Daily he may have been 'a couple of months in arrears', but said he hoped to catch up on his bills after the lease on his gallery was sold. We havent done a runner,' he said. Gallery owner Jason Bonham left New Zealand amid speculation about unpaid rent at his high-end art gallery Mr Kauter has shared photos on social media of the alleged 'squatters' and their dog (pictured) living at the Mosman property he co-owns 'Its been more negotiating around whos going to be going in there next and making sure we get the right contribution towards that lease negotiation which covers anything thats potentially outstanding. Dr Gracey and Mr Kautner's lavish mansion is currently undergoing court-ordered renovations and had to be cleared of extensive contents to allow the work to go on. Social media images revealed floor-to-ceiling piles boxes of Mr Bonhams items including leather gear, hoses, dog and kitchen appliances and expensive artefacts. Neighbours allege the home has been operating like a backpackers' hostel, with Mr Bonham's clutter, and the two others living in the basement, who have been branded squatters and 'vagrants'. But Dr Gracey insists he was just helping out some friends and it's not been a permanent arrangement. There were no vagrants there,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'They were mutual friends of mine and my ex who were temporarily residing whilst finding a place in Sydney after relocating from interstate. No one was forcefully evicted, they found a place and moved. The bluechip property which boasts harbour views is understood now said to be worth more than $15million. It will be put up for sale once a new swimming pool is installed and the separate living quarters have been renovated. Ministers are under pressure to ditch 'two-tier' plans for a new definition of Islamophobia after an official report raised concerns about free speech. The study ordered by the Commission for Countering Extremism found that the public do not believe Islam needs further protection with many saying the law has already gone too far in limiting discussion. More than a third of voters said they self-censor their language when discussing Islam for fear of potential repercussions. The report found that the public is broadly happy with the protections given to most religions. But 39 per cent of people said Islam enjoys too much protection in law, compared with just 18 per cent who think it needs more. 'Islam is the only religion asked about where a larger proportion of the public think it is protected too much,' the report stated. The findings came as a consultation closed yesterday on government plans for a new definition of Islamophobia, championed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, which critics have warned could create a blasphemy law 'by the back door'. MPs last night said the plan could create a 'two-tier' system in which people would be barred from criticising Islam in the way they can with other religions. Ministers are under pressure to ditch 'two-tier' plans for a new definition of Islamophobia after an official report raised concerns about free speech. Pictured: Rioters gathered at Millfield Mosque in Sunderland after the Southport stabbings last July The study ordered by the Commission for Countering Extremism found that the public do not believe Islam needs further protection. Pictured: Stand Up To Racism and Stand Up To Islamophobia march in London in 2019 The findings came as a consultation closed yesterday on government plans for a new definition of Islamophobia, championed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner (pictured earlier this year), which critics have warned could create a blasphemy law 'by the back door' In opposition, Labour signed up to a definition of Islamophobia which suggests the term 'Asian grooming gangs' is racist. Ministers established a 'working group' in February to create a new definition. Critics fear it will reach similar conclusions and warn it would have a 'chilling effect' on free speech if adopted. Tory MP Nick Timothy, who has been encouraging people to respond to the 'rigged' consultation, said the study underlined public concerns about the issue. The former Downing Street chief of staff said: 'The research shows what everyone already knows. 'The threat of violence, self-censorship and our new de facto blasphemy laws mean our freedom of speech is disappearing... 'We need a government prepared to stand up before the mob, not surrender to it.' Fellow Tory Richard Holden, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Speech, accused ministers of pandering to hardline campaigners on the issue because of the electoral threat posed to Labour by pro-Gaza independents. MPs last night said the plan could create a 'two-tier' system in which people would be barred from criticising Islam in the way they can with other religions. Pictured: Far-right protesters in Sunderland in August last year, after the Southport stabbings Ministers established a 'working group' in February to create a new definition. Pictured: Residents protesting this week outside The Bell Hotel, which is currently housing migrants, in Epping, Essex He said: 'No one should be subjected to bigotry or hatred and individuals are rightly protected already under the law from discrimination... 'What we should never do, though, is allow Labour to single out a religion from challenge and debate as they try and win votes from certain communities. 'Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer must not be allowed to create a two-tier system in which Islam gets special protection while those who raise safeguarding concerns, speak plainly or make factual observations find themselves targeted, punished and ostracised.' The Commission for Countering Extremism was set up in 2018 to provide expert advice to the Home Office on tackling extremism in society. The body commissioned pollsters Ipsos to conduct the survey on public attitudes towards free speech. It was published last week. No10 has insisted it is committed to free speech and will not adopt a policy that prevents legitimate criticism of Islam. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'Any working group proposal must be compatible with the unchanging right of citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression. But we also need to take a step back. 'Levels of Islamophobia are at a record high and the work to develop a definition of anti-Muslim hatred or Islamophobia is aimed at improving understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities.' Joe Rogan hit out at the FBI's Kash Patel and Dan Bongino for failing to deliver files on Jeffrey Epstein while speculating about who is really in charge of the sharing information with the public. The podcast host's outburst came after it emerged that the Department of Justice is ending its probe into the case, despite failing to disclose the disgraced financier's 'client list' as previously hinted at. 'Kash came on the podcast and said, "Theres nothing that you want to see",' Rogan said during his show Friday. 'Dan Bongino, whos always shouting from the rooftops, "Were going to get to the bottom of this and find out who these people are", now everyones saying "No, Epstein killed himself. No, nothing to see here", that's why people are cynical.' Patel and Bongino, along with other MAGA personalities, have fueled speculation that Epstein kept a shadowy 'client list' which would be reviewed and disclosed in due course. Bongino stated there was 'extremely credible' evidence of a 'multitude of tapes' existed showing Epstein and associates committing child abuse, a claim which was echoed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. But Rogan claimed the reticence to release the files is indicative of the fact Kash and Bongino are being controlled by external forces. 'People are cynical because you had all this hope for change, and then you realize, "Oh the same people that are pulling the strings are still pulling the strings",' he said. Joe Rogan expressed dismay over Kash Patel and Dan Bongino for failing to deliver files on Jeffrey Epstein Bongino (left), Patel (right) and other MAGA loyalists have at times both been proponents of the theory that Epstein kept a shadowy client list which they vowed to disclose as part of their investigation 'I think the cynical perspective is that at the highest levels, its all being controlled by money and thats not going to change.' The DOJ, led by Bondi, said last week it had concluded that Epstein did not possess a 'client list' and that it had decided against releasing any additional records from the investigation. Conspiracy theorists seized on the decision as the latest in a long line of attempts to cover up and cover for a shadowy list of associates that many believe Epstein kept. The disgraced financier's former lawyer Alan Dershowitz denied the claims and said Epstein did not keep a list of clients. Meanwhile Republicans on the House Rules committee blocked an amendment pushed by Democrats that would have allowed for the release of documents related to the Epstein probe. The DOJ's decision led to a revolt among MAGA loyalists, many of whom had hoped that the files would see prominent Democrats linked to Epstein. The backlash pushed President Trump to request that Bondi release more of the materials. 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' he wrote on his Truth Social account. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial for charges of sex trafficking The podcast host's outburst came after it emerged that the Department of Justice is ending its probe into the case, despite failing to disclose the disgraced financier's 'client list' as previously hinted at Bondi started that process on Friday by filing with the Southern District of New York to unseal the highly-secretive grand jury court documents in the case. Although the filing is submitted it doesn't mean the documents are coming anytime soon. The grand jury information is only a part of the evidence that makes up the so-called Epstein files. Trump's vow to unseal more information came after the Wall Street Journal published a 50th birthday card it said he allegedly sent to Epstein in 2003. It comes as Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers had appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction for sex trafficking. To date, she remains the only person behind bars for crimes associated with the late pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. A married teacher at a Christian school has been arrested for allegedly carrying on a sexual relationship with a female student. Sarah Huggins Logan, a 35-year-old teacher at North River Christian Academy in Alabama, was charged on Friday over the alleged misconduct. It is understood the parents of the alleged juvenile victim learned of the twisted affair on July 16. They allegedly alerted the school and authorities that their underage daughter had been involved in a sexual relationship with a teacher. The school said in a statement they 'notified the appropriate state and local authorities' and had 'cooperated completely with the responsible agencies.' An investigation was immediately launched by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Violent Crimes Unit. Logan, who appears to be married with two children, was nabbed after a series of interviews and after police obtained 'other evidence', authorities said. Now, authorities have expressed concerns that there could be more victims and are urging anyone with further information to come forward. Sarah Huggins Logan, a 35-year-old teacher at North River Christian Academy in Alabama , was charged on Friday over the alleged misconduct The school said in a statement they 'notified the appropriate state and local authorities' and had 'cooperated completely with the responsible agencies' She was charged with being a school employee engaging in a sex act, but more charges could soon be added. It is unclear how old the student involved was. It is also unclear when the alleged offending took place. The school said: 'It should be self-evident to say that this incident is heart rending for all involved. This includes especially the families directly impacted. 'We have prayed for them and encouraged our entire school family to hold them up in their personal prayers. This situation is easy for no one; there are only degrees of difficulty. 'Our first concern is for the health and welfare of our students, staff, and families. 'Contributing to rumors and suspicions profits no one and contributes only to the hardships experienced by those impacted.' A boarder at a prestigious private school in Sydney's west has died in a tragic single-vehicle car crash. Stirling Heriot, 17, was killed when his car overturned near his family's remote property in Quambone, 200km north of Dubbo in central NSW, on Friday night. Emergency services found the Year 12 King's School student dead at the scene when they arrived at 6.45pm. 'Officers attached to Orana Mid Western Police District attended and found a vehicle had left the roadway and rolled,' NSW Police said. On Sunday, his Parramatta-based school, where boarders pay more than $80,000 a year in fees, paid tribute to the teenager after the horror crash. 'Stirling was widely admired for his kindness, generosity and willingness to engage warmly with those around him,' the school said. 'A dedicated contributor to school life, he was a committed member of the 2nd IV in rowing and had previously been involved in rugby and cadets.' The independent Anglican school applauded Stirling's dedication and pride in his country roots. Stirling Heriot (pictured) was killed in a car crash in remote NSW on Friday night 'His persistence and work ethic were evident in all he undertook, especially in Industrial Technology, where he was proudly building a tandem-axle multipurpose farm trailer intended for use on the family property as his major project,' it said. The King's School added that Stirling's passing would be 'deeply felt by his family, his friends and many others across the school who had the privilege of knowing and teaching him'. 'As we navigate this difficult time, our focus will be on supporting one another, especially our students,' it said. 'Please keep the Heriot family in your prayers during this profoundly painful time.' Hundreds of comments under the statement mourned the 'kind' and 'gentle' 17-year-old. 'This young boy brought joy, light, and laughter to those around him. In his short time here, he left a mark that time will not erase. His spirit was gentle, his smile unforgettable,' one wrote. 'So incredibly tragic! My heart is broken for the family. Sending all my love and thoughts to the Heriot family and all his friends,' another said. 'So devastating, such a young boy lost to soon,' another wrote. Stirling (pictured) was remembered as an active member of his boarding school which said he was 'kind', 'gentle' and passionate Stirling's former housemaster Robbie Williams shared a lengthy tribute to the student he knew for four years. 'What I always loved about Stirling is that he is honest as the day is long and the big fella didn't have a mean bone in his body!' he wrote. 'He is a kind, caring and empathetic young man who was extremely well respected by all who came into contact with him. 'I have never seen a young man roll up his sleeves and work as hard as Stirling when he got the chance to put his skills on display in something he loved!' An obituary for Stirling described him as 'deeply connected to his local heritage'. 'Whether sharing laughter around a bonfire or helping neighbours with practical tasks, he embodied the very best qualities of Australian country life,' it read. 'Though his life was unexpectedly and painfully shortened, Stirling leaves behind a legacy that will endure in the hearts of his family, friends, and community.' A lab assistant has lost her unfair dismissal case against a Catholic girls school after she was sacked for slapping a schoolgirls hand during a rowdy science class. Jillian McLoghlin was fired by St Columbas College, in the northwest Melbourne suburb of Essendon, after the school principal reviewed video of the incident which was filmed by another student. The footage was captured during a Year 9 biology lesson in August last year that involved students dissecting a bull's eye. Video captured an audible 'smack' as Ms McLoghlin slapped the 15-year-old girls hand, prompting the student to recoil in shock and exclaim, 'Oh my God!' Ms McLoghlin said the slap was a reflex action to prevent the student from injuring herself on a scalpel she was packing away with a dissection board, scissors, and forceps. She argued her dismissal was unfair and the college had relied unfairly on a video of the incident which was counter to school rules that prevented students using their phones in class. Ms McLoghlin admitted she was 'cross' at misbehaving students who were flicking pieces of a bulls eye at each other, and she had told them to stop. But Fair Work Commission deputy president Alan Colman upheld the technician's dismissal, describing the slap as 'forceful', 'entirely unwarranted', and 'difficult to imagine being appropriate in this day and age'. High school lab technician Jillian McLoghlin (pictured) lost her unfair dismissal case against a Catholic girls' school after she slapped a student Mr Colman found that the technician was not acting to protect the student. 'It does not make sense that slapping the student's hand would prevent her from cutting herself on a scalpel,' he said. 'There is nothing in the video that is suggestive of there being any safety risk to the student, other than Ms McLoghlin's slap. 'Further, the notion that Ms McLoghlin was trying to protect (the student) is inconsistent with Ms McLoghlin's statement that, if she had been trained on dealing with unruly behaviour, she would have been able to walk away from the situation. Mr Colman said the slap was 'entirely unwarranted'. 'In this day and age, it is difficult to imagine situations in which it would be appropriate for a teacher or a school assistant to slap the hand of a student, but if there are any such situations, this was not one of them.' Mr Colman also found there was no reason why the college should not have used the video recording in its investigation of Ms McLoghlins conduct. 'The schools policy that governs electronic devices in class applies to students,' he said. The incident happened at St Columba's College in Essendon in 2024 'It does not prevent the colleges use of video recordings for disciplinary purposes.' He said it was evident Ms McLoghlin had not accepted full responsibility for her conduct or the seriousness of her behaviour. 'She seeks to ascribe some of the blame for her conduct to a lack of training from the college on how to deal with unruly students,' Mr Colman said. 'But one does not need such training to know that it is impermissible to slap a student.' St Columba's College principal Rita Grima gave evidence of the school policy which specifically prohibits staff from using physical means or corporal punishment to discipline or control students. She said that Ms McLoghlin had been trained on the Code as recently as February 2024 and, as an employee of the college, she was required to comply with it. Last month, the Commission awarded maximum compensation of $55,000 to a teacher sacked for yelling at students, finding that was not the true reason for her dismissal. President Trump appeared to call for Barack Obama to be arrested after spy chief Tulsi Gabbard claimed the former leader was behind a 'years-long coup' against him. Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, declassified hundreds of documents on Friday related to the investigation in to alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. She claimed the emails reveal a conspiracy by Obama to try and subvert Trump's win by using 'manufactured and politicized intelligence' to make it seem like bad actors may have influenced the result. 'Their goal was to subvert the will of the American people and enact what was essentially a years-long coup with the objective of trying to usurp the President from fulfilling the mandate bestowed upon him by the American people,' Gabbard said. Her claims were reiterated by Trump who republished her interviews with Fox and several others about the issue on Truth Social. And on Sunday, he escalated things further by reposting an AI-generated TikTok video titled: 'No one is above the law'. The clip featured a series of Democratic politicians, including Obama, former president Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, repeating the phrase 'no one is above the law'. It then transitions to a digitally-altered video of Trump and Obama sitting together in the Oval Office. To the tune of YMCA by Village People, Obama is swept up by FBI agents, cuffed and led away. The clip ends with Obama donning an orange jumpsuit behind bars. President Trump has called for Barack Obama to be arrested after intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard claimed the former leader was behind a 'years-long coup' against him Trump shared an AI-generated video showing Obama being apprehended by the FBI on Truth Social Gabbard released an 114-page document she says shows the Obama administration was aware that there was no threat of Russia 'directly' manipulating the vote in 2016. She called for an investigation into and potential criminal prosecution of anyone who took part which may include the ex-President and James Comey, the former FBI director. The documents revealed insider discussions among top Obama officials about Russia's much-debated role in the 2016 US elections. Although many of the documents are highly redacted or completely blacked out, they show conversations among favorite Trump targets including former intel chief James Clapper, as officials debated how to describe Russian election activity. The documents found that there was 'no indication of a Russian threat to directly manipulate the actual vote count through cyber means'. But Gabbard says the documents show that Democrats chose to ignore that - or even promote the opposite narrative - to try and take down Trump. 'Their egregious abuse of power and blatant rejection of our Constitution threatens the very foundation and integrity of our democratic republic,' Gabbard in a blistering statement accompanying the document release. 'No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.' Several of the documents put out by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) show officials found that Russia either wouldn't try or wouldn't be able to shift the outcome of a US vote. 'Russia probably is not trying to going to be able to? [influence] the election by using cyber means to manipulate computer-enabled election infrastructure,' reads one draft line by the then-deputy director of ODNI. Gabbard released an 114-page document on Friday she says shows the Obama administration was aware that there was no threat of Russia 'directly' manipulating the vote in 2016 The Director of National Intelligence alleged there has been a 'treasonous conspiracy' as she demanded an FBI investigation Documents show officials crafting a document saying there wasn't an indication Russia could manipulate the vote count The administration unsealed the documents amid the fury over the Jeffrey Epstein files By December 9, following Trump's stunning win over Democrat Hillary Clinton, a document to top intelligence officials tasked them with creating an assessment 'per the Presidents request' about 'tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election' 'We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election,' according to a January 2017 report titled 'Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections.' The report then mentioned Russian cyber operations against both political parties. Of the material Gabbard released, one new August 31, 2016 document by an official with their name blacked out states that the 'thrust of the analysis is that there is no indication of a Russian threat to directly manipulate the actual vote count through cyber means.' Democrats have responded by claiming that Gabbard's declassification is designed to deflect from the Department of Justice's decision to close its investigation into the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. In response Trump has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to disclose grand jury testimony files, pending court approval. A migrant reportedly forced a kiss on a suicidal mother's mouth after she refused to go back with him to his asylum hotel. Zayed Alanzi, 26, is said to have stalked the woman before he grabbed her by the cheeks, kissed her and shoved his tongue inside. She fought him off and then distracted him to stop the predator potentially targeting a teenage girl nearby before police arrived. The mother said he 'would not take no for an answer', according to The Sun. 'He asked me to go up a road. I said "No. I'm going that way" and that's when the police turned up.' 'I told him I wanted to be left alone on numerous occasions.' The married man, who was staying at the Royal Hotel in Hull, claimed the woman consented to the kiss. However the victim insisted he was a stranger. Zayed Alanzi, 26, reportedly stalked a suicidal mother before he grabbed her by the cheeks, kissed her and shoved his tongue inside It comes as violent protests erupted outside an asylum hotel last week following the arrest of an Ethiopian resident accused of sexually assaulting schoolgirls Alanzi claimed in his evidence that he was just trying to help the mother during the early hours of April 28. The sex attacker was jailed for a year last week - but could serve half his sentence as it is said officials may have him deported. He has also been ordered to pay 187 and was put on the sex offender register. It comes as violent protests erupted outside an asylum hotel last week following the arrest of an Ethiopian resident accused of sexually assaulting schoolgirls. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with a number of sexual offences. He was arrested by officers on July 8 after reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a number of people. Kebatu appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, and denied all offences. He was charged with three counts of sexual assault, as well as one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. Dame Joanna Lumley has spoken out in support of the controversial assisted dying policy, saying she would not want to carry on if she couldn't recognise her loved ones. The actress, 79, said she supported the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow adults with less than six months to live to apply for assisted death. The bill passed a vote in the House of Commons last month, despite objections from Labour ministers and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and will be discussed in the House of Lords in the autumn. Dame Joanna, known for starring as Patsy in the BBC comedy Absolutely Fabulous. was asked about the bill in an interview with Saga Magazine. She said: 'People are terribly anxious about it and think you may be coerced. 'But Im saying this now, when nobodys coercing me - dont let me turn into somebody who doesnt recognise the people I love most, where Im having a miserable time. 'When I get to that stage, when my mind is gone and I have to be fed, that wont be me any more - and I wouldnt mind saying "farewell".' TV presenter Dame Esther Rantzen has been another vocal supporter of the bill and recently urged the Lords not to block the legislation. Joanna Lumley 79, said she supported the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow adults with less than six months to live to apply for assisted death The actress said she would not want to carry on if she couldn't recognise her loved ones TV presenter Dame Esther Rantzen and her daughter Rebecca Willcox have also been vocal supporters of the bill Rebecca Wilcox pictured outside Parliament as the vote to allow assisted dying passed Dame Esther, 85, has terminal cancer and is being backed by her daughter Rebecca Wilcox. The support from Dame Joanna has been welcomed by campaigner Louise Shackleton. Mrs Shackleton, 58, is currently being investigated for taking her terminally ill husband Anthony, 59, to Switzerland last December to assist his suicide, after he had suffered from motor neurone disease for six years. She told The Mirror that she is set to bury his ashes today on what would have been his 60th birthday She added: 'He would have been overwhelmed that such a huge star has spoken out. 'I would like to thank Joanna on behalf of fellow campaigners for having the courage to speak out and to represent the vast majority of people who are in agreement with what she is saying but haven't got her platform. 'Hopefully there will be measured, educated and community focused progress to move this forward.' The bill did have opponents from all parties including Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick. Louise Shackleton is being investigated for taking terminally ill Anthony, 59, to Switzerland last December to assist his suicide, after he had suffered from motor neurone disease for six years Ms Shackleton, 58, said her world was 'blown apart' by the email - while he was so happy he marked the date on his calendar The Shadow Justice Secretary says the idea of legalising assisted dying fills me with dread Robert Jenrick said his grandmother Dorothy continued to bring joy to the family as she defied a terminal diagnosis for nearly a decade. The pair are pictured together in 1985 Writing for the Daily Mail, he revealed how he helped look after his grandmother, Dorothy, as a teenage boy and how she continued to bring joy to the family as she defied a terminal diagnosis for nearly a decade. He said the prospect of legalising assisted dying 'fills me with dread', adding: 'My Nana felt like she was a burden. I know how much she hated the indignity she felt at having to ask my Mum or us to help her with basic needs. 'People like her and there are many such people may consider an assisted death as another act of kindness to us. How wrong they would be. 'Our society pays little regard to end of life care. We need to do much more as a country to help the elderly, like my Nana, in their final years. But my experience has taught me that there can be dignity in death, and that even in someones twilight years, there is joy to be extracted from life. So Ill be voting No. And as I do so, Ill be thinking of my great pal my Nana, Dorothy. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged her MPs to vote against the legislation, describing it as 'a bad Bill' despite being 'previously supportive of assisted suicide'. Mother of the House Diane Abbott also asked MPs to vote against the bill, saying: 'There is no doubt that if this Bill is passed in its current form, people will lose their lives who do not need to, and they will be amongst the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.' A founder of the Greens has been expelled from the party for expressing opinions critical of transgender ideology on social media. Drew Hutton, who established the Australian Greens in 1992 with future parliamentary leader Bob Brown, has been kicked out of the Queensland branch he had established following a state council meeting on Sunday. The 78-year-old environmental activist said the state branch he set up 34 years ago had been taken over by extreme transgender activists, who he argued had downplayed the dangers of puberty blockers and the need for biological women to have separate change rooms from biological men. 'The QLD Greens state council has just expelled me from the party,' he said. 'I knew I was gone the moment I walked into the room.' Hutton, who also set up the Lock The Gate alliance in 2011 to campaign against coal seam gas mining on agricultural land, said environmentalists were now outnumbered in the party he set up. 'Not one environmental activist in the room. The only issues the Greens are really interested in are queer and transgender,' he said. 'When people learn what they are really on about, the Greens will be lucky to ever win a seat again.' A founder of the Greens has been expelled from the hard-left party for expressing opinions critical of transgender ideology on social media (Drew Hutton is pictured with his author wife Libby Connors) Drew Hutton, who established the Australian Greens in 1992 with future parliamentary leader Bob Brown, has been kicked out of the Queensland branch he had established following a state council meeting on Sunday Queensland Greens convener Gemmia Burden said delegates had voted to expel Hutton for breaching party rules on transgender issues - three years after he had his membership suspended. 'Delegates from Queensland Greens branches have upheld the Constitution and Arbitration Committee's (CAC) ruling to expel Drew Hutton for breaching the Queensland Greens Code of Ethics,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'This decision reflects the Greens' position as endorsed by its membership - that trans rights are non-negotiable human rights, a position publicly reaffirmed in 2022. 'No one should be subjected to violence or hate speech on the basis of their gender, nor their race, sexual identity, ethnicity, or religion. 'Respectful debate is the fundamental basis upon which members of the Queensland Greens make decisions, and the vast majority of members do so without breaching party rules.' Burden said Hutton's comments 'went beyond respectful and robust discussion - they were harmful to the safety and wellbeing of people within the party and the broader community'. Greens leader Larissa Waters, who hails from Queensland, is declining to intervene to save Hutton's membership, putting her at odds with former parliamentary leaders and Tasmanian environmentalists Bob Brown and Christine Milne. 'This was an independent decision of the party, via the governance processes established by the membership, and with a clear outcome. Nobody is above the rules,' she said. Greens leader Larissa Waters, who hails from Queensland, is declining to intervene to save Hutton's membership The 78-year-old environmental activist said the state branch he set up 35 years ago had been taken over by transgender activists who had downplayed the need for biological women to have separate spaces from biological men (he is pictured protesting in 1983) 'Good governance means that people can put their case forward, including the right to appeal a decision. In this case the appeal was unsuccessful.' But former Queensland Greens senator Andrew Bartlett, who was previously also a party campaign convener, said Hutton's expulsion highlighted how Greens members were now self-censoring their opinions on transgender issues. 'I don't think the party has a good capacity for self-reflection and for handling differences of opinion that are seen as critical for those that are in control,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Most political parties have a core group of people that have the main control and power over things, and I don't think they take criticism of them very kindly and that leads to people not speaking at all when they do have concerns; I think is unhealthy for any organisation. 'If they have some general concerns, they feel like they've just got to keep their mouths shut.' Bartlett said former Greens leader Adam Bandt, who said trans rights were 'non-negotiable', had set the tone of the party nationally. 'It's not unique to Queensland - it's a view amongst the wider party that we need to be unequivocal,' he said. He added Hutton's membership status should have been dealt with two years ago. Former Queensland Greens senator Andrew Bartlett, who was previously also a party campaign convener, said Hutton's expulsion highlighted how Greens members were now self-censoring their opinions on transgender issues Hutton, who also set up the Lock The Gate alliance in 2011 to campaign against coal seam gas mining on agricultural land, said environmentalists were now outnumbered in the party he set up 'It's been sitting there for like two years bubbling away - I think it's better if there's significant concerns about a serious difference of opinion that's seen as important enough, then it's better to try and bring it to the surface quickly,' Bartlett said. Hutton had a series of Facebook posts in April criticising the transgender movement in the UK, arguing biological women needed safe spaces from biological men and that puberty blockers were a bad idea. 'A recent YouGov survey in the UK showed huge majority opposition to biological males, self-identifying as females, having access to women's sport and change rooms,' he said. 'Also majority support for biological sex as the defining element of woman and almost universal opposition to giving puberty blockers to children. 'Any political party supporting the extremist trans agenda will be lucky to make double figures once their position is widely known.' Hutton said a Greens member of Chinese ancestry had written to him comparing his treatment to something out of the Chinese Communist Party. 'Im getting many messages from Greens members expressing support for my appeal against suspension,' he said last week. 'Here is a particularly moving statement this Chinese-Australian member has sent to his branch reminding us that this is an issue about real people as well as principle.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government won a landslide majority in the lower house of Parliament but needs the Greens in the Senate to pass legislation opposed by the Coalition. The Greens lost three of their four lower house seats at the last federal election in May, including the Queensland electorates of Brisbane and Griffith, as voters also kicked out former leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne. Daily Mail Australia has also contacted Brown for comment. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was joined by his son Nathan as he made his way from The Lodge to Parliament House ahead of the first sitting week of the new parliament - leaving many to wonder exactly why. Nathan Albanese was photographed walking alongside his father during a choreographed photo opportunity in Canberra on the chilly winter morning, just before official proceedings began. Today's photos have renewed interest in Nathan's future, with some wondering if he's preparing to step further into the public eye, perhaps even considering a political career. Nathan works for Commonwealth Bank after completing an internship at consultancy giant PwC. Albanese also pulled some strings back when he was Opposition Leader to secure an internship for Nathan at PwC, after speaking with the company's government relations boss, according to the Australian Financial Review. The following year, however, the uni graduate was involuntarily dragged back into the public eye after Albanese got him a membership to the Qantas Chairman's Lounge from his mate Alan Joyce - a privilege typically reserved for celebrities, executives and big-name politicians. At the time, many Aussies accused Nathan of being a 'nepo baby' due to his dad's help, but others argued it was the kind of thing most parents would do for their kids if they had the influence. Politicians' children are usually off limits to prying reporters, but Albanese has shown a readiness to wheel his son out to the public when convenient. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his son Nathan walk towards Parliament House in Canberra on Monday morning Dressed smartly and walking in step with his father, Nathan's presence on Monday morning has tongues wagging in Canberra - is the PM's son preparing for a more public role? The Prime Minister held his son's arm aloft on stage on election night in 2022, calling Nathan his 'proudest achievement' and embracing him in front of supporters. It caused an internet stir, with some saying Nathan had stolen the show. The Prime Minister's Office on Monday said that Nathan has no political ambitions - he was simply there to support his dad as Parliament resumed. Nathan's appearance comes as the Prime Minister begins his second term in office, implementing a lengthy agenda taken to voters at May's election. Among the laws set to be introduced in the first week of parliament are a 20 per cent reduction in HECS debts for students, expanded protection for penalty rates, and increased safety measures for children in childcare centres. Labor's ranks have expanded in the 48th Parliament to include 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives - the first government in nearly 60 years to not lose a single seat at a federal poll. Albanese will address the significantly increased Labor caucus later on Monday, before Parliament is officially opened on Tuesday. Earlier, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley addressed her joint party room for the first time since the Coalition's landslide loss at the election, which has seen their numbers reduced to just 43 seats. She said the real work of opposition would begin with the start of Parliament, but she was ready for the challenge. 'I'm feeling very energised about parliament coming back,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 'On behalf of struggling Australians, we are here for them. We are here to take the fight up to the government,' she told the party room meeting. 'That's what people expect. They want a Parliament that understands their lives, what their lives are like, and a government that gets out of the way. 'Our policies are up for review, but our values are not.' Ms Ley said the opposition would be willing to work with the government to get the childcare laws passed as soon as possible. 'If the Prime Minister and his team bring forward constructive policies that are in the national interest, then we'll support them, and we'll work with them,' she said. Nationals Leader David Littleproud said the Coalition is prepared for a tough path back to forming government. 'We have to be humble for what has happened to us. But we can do one of two things: we can sit in the corner in the foetal position and give up, or we can come out swinging,' he said. 'And I can tell you what we will do is come out swinging.' A liberal writer is encouraging fellow progressives to cut off family members who support Donald Trump. New York Magazine's Sarah Jones insists that going 'no contact' is the only way to deal with right wing family members. 'Sometimes the act of knowing a person leaves you with no choice but to move on without them,' Jones wrote. 'If my parents liked Alligator Alcatraz, Id no longer speak to them. 'If they were rude to my LGBT friends, Id block their numbers. Though shunning wont work as a political strategy, there are still natural consequences for the way we speak and behave.' Her comments were a response to a guest essay by former Obama speech writer David Litt in The New York Times, in which he advocated for reaching across the aisle when it comes to families with opposing political views. Jones said she hails from a conservative family and suggested this has been a source of contention. 'I come from a conservative family and a conservative place, and I nurture my pain like its a small pet,' she wrote. 'But I speak to my family and sometimes I even go home to see them.' Liberal writer Sarah Jones is urging fellow progressives to cut off family members who support Donald Trump Jones insists that going 'no contact' is the only way to deal with right wing family members She shared a link to her article on Friday on X with the caption: 'Should you cut off your MAGA relatives? That's up to you, in the end, but I think it's a perfectly reasonable choice to make.' In the piece she cited a study by marketing firm The Harris Poll which found that half of American adults are estranged from a relative, with one in five citing political differences as the reason why. This is a phenomenon which has been exacerbated since Trump returned to office, according to Jones. Her views are in contrast to Litt who talked about how he connected with his anti-Covid vaccine, Joe Rogan loving brother-in-law over their love of surfing after previously keeping his distance. 'Shunning plays into the hands of demagogues, making it easier for them to divide us and even, in some cases, to incite violence,' Litt wrote. However this approach was slammed by Jones as, 'so naive it borders on malice'. Jones' stance was condemned by social media users who flooded her post to express their disagreement. 'Seriously, the only one that would be hurt over time in this situation is you,' one person wrote. Her comments were a response to a guest essay by former Obama speech writer David Litt in The New York Times in which he advocated for reaching across the aisle 'Putting politics before family and not being able to take the high road says that youre unable to be neutral and keep the peace. Just agree to not talk politics and be civil with friends and family.' 'Dear Sarah, LMAO, how arrogant! You keep cutting people off, soon you will have no one. Good Luck! Laughing at you!' another added. 'Sounds like they are better off without you. Disregard everything they ever did for you in a snap, what a great person you must be,' a third person agreed. However, Jones is not the only progressive to advocate such drastic action. MSNBC's Joy Reid previously interviewed a Yale psychiatrist that it's fine to disown family members who voted for Trump. Dr. Amanda Calhoun, a child psychiatry fellow at the Ivy league school, made the comments during an interview on Reid's show The Reid Out last at the end of last year, while discussing coping strategies for people upset by Trump's election win. 'There is a societal norm that if somebody is your family that they are entitled to your time and I think the answer is absolutely not,' Calhoun said. Donald Trump has demanded a high profile Democrat be sent to prison in the latest escalation in their long-running feud. California Senator Adam Schiff is at the center of a Justice Department investigation for a 'sustained pattern of possible mortgage fraud' involving misrepresenting which home he used as his primary residence, Trump said. 'Adam 'Shifty' Schiff is in BIG TROUBLE,' Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday night. 'He falsified loan documents.' Trump also went on to slam Schiff for orchestrating an 'American Tragedy' by investigating his son Donald Trump Jr.'s phone records in 2019 amid concerns about the origin of a meeting with Russians held in Trump Tower three years prior. 'He once said my son would go to prison on a SCAM that Schiff, along with other Crooked Dems, illegally 'manufactured' in order to stage an actual coup,' Trump wrote. 'My son did nothing wrong, knew nothing about the fictional story. It was an American Tragedy! 'Now Shifty should pay the price of prison for a real crime, not one made up by the corrupt accusers!' Schiff had threatened to subpoena Don Jr. to glean new details about two phone calls he made to blocked numbers after meeting with a Russian lawyer. At the time, Trump was under investigation for potentially colluding with the Kremlin. President Donald Trump has demanded a high profile Democrat who be sent to prison in the latest escalation in their long-running feud California Senator Adam Schiff is at the center of a Justice Department investigation for a 'sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud' involving misrepresenting which home he used as his primary residence, Trump said He also led the charge to impeach Trump in his role as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Trump's latest round of attacks on Schiff are yet another example of the president seeking out anyone who has crossed him over the years. This includes New York Attorney General Letitia James who has found herself at the center of a DOJ investigation into her real estate transactions after bringing multiple cases against Trump. James has launched lawsuits against the president during both terms, including for alleged fraud. Since January 20 she has filed at least 15 actions. The Post reports that subpoenas were issued in Virginia concerning a mortgage application in which she affirmed that she intended to make a Norfolk home her primary residence. The outlet said it obtained records which showed the AG's signature granting a power of attorney to her niece to execute the purchase. 'This investigation into me is nothing more than retribution. It's baseless,' James said of the probe. Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan told the publication it was 'awfully coincidental' that Trump's critics have been subjected to home loan investigations. He accused Schiff of orchestrating an 'American Tragedy' by investigating his son Donald Trump Jr .'s phone records in 2019 amid concerns about the origin of a meeting with Russians held in Trump Tower three years prior 'You don't get a free pass because you're a public official,' McQuade said. 'But I think they've really undermined the credibility of the department by staking out this ground seeking retribution against Trump's enemies.' Trump said he wanted to see Schiff 'brought to justice' through the investigation into his finances. But Schiff maintained his innocence and argued he was being persecuted by the Trump administration as political retribution for his involvement in opposing the family over the years. 'This is just Donald Trump's latest attempt at political retaliation against his perceived enemies,' Schiff wrote on X. 'So it is not a surprise, only how weak this false allegation turns out to be.' A spokesperson for his office insisted the lenders for both of his homes - one in Washington and another in California - were aware that he intended to use both year-round while serving in public office. He maintained neither home is considered a 'vacation' property. Trump's latest round of attacks on Schiff are yet another example of the president seeking out anyone who has crossed him over the years, including New York AG Letitia James who is also being investigated for alleged mortgage fraud Appointing one home as a primary residence can allow a borrower to secure lower rates, because it is considered a less risky investment. Schiff took aim at the president during an appearance on Stephen Colbert's show telling him to 'p**s off'. 'But before you p**s off, would you release the Epstein files?' Schiff asked, to rapturous applause. It is unclear how Trump became aware of Schiff's mortgages, or what involvement he has played in the investigation so far. According to The Washington Post, a confidential memo within Fannie Mae, the lender responsible for the questionable loans, said an investigation has been ongoing amid concerns Schiff 'engaged in a sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation on 5 Fannie Mae loans'. The internal memo states the company's financial crimes team received a document demand from the Federal Housing Finance Agency on May 12 relating to loan files. It states that a condo in Burbank, California, has at times been listed as a 'primary residence' before adding, 'however the 691 square foot, 1-bedroom unit appears unsuitable for a family of four, raising doubts about their true occupancy intent.' Each of the loans involved have since been paid off in full. Tobacco wars kingpin Kaz Hamad and his 'buffoon' hitmen are being hunted by Victorian police for the bungled murder of Melbourne woman Katie Tangey. Ms Tangey, otherwise known as Vivien May-Royale, died in the targeted house fire in Truganina, in Melbourne's west, in the early hours of January 16. She made a desperate triple-0 call shortly after 2am, telling the operator she couldn't get out of the burning house in Dover Street. Ms Tangey then desperately tried to escape the inferno through a window on the top floor of the home, but she became trapped and burnt to death in the flames. On Monday, Victoria Police offered a $500,000 reward for anyone who could help bring Ms Tangeys killers to justice. Two men who started the blaze are still on the run, but police have now publicly admitted for the first time that they believe Hamad ordered the bungled firebombing. 'I'm six months into the investigation now and what I can say is this - yes, he's involved,' Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said on Monday. 'From the information we have, the illegal tobacco trade is front and centre as to why this incident occurred. Katie Tangey was killed in a bungled fire that was meant for someone else Kazem Kaz Hamad fled Australia to the Middle East where he continues to run his crime empire 'We know there was a theft of (Hamad's) commodities, being illegal tobacco and we know that he sought retribution. 'Unfortunately... the two buffoons who committed this act targeted the wrong address.' Inspector Murray said he was not suggesting Hamad deliberately targeted Ms Tangey, but his alleged tasking of the job was ultimately behind the crime. We know hes overseas. Were all ears, he said. In fairness, Id say even he would be disgusted as to whats transpired here. 'If hes got any sense of decency, Im sure he can get us on the phone and let us know the two individuals who actually did this. They should be held accountable. They should be held responsible and brought to justice so we can give some closure to Katies family. Detectives refused to reveal who they believe was Hamad's real target for the firebombing on the night Ms Tangey died. Were very confident that we know the motive, Det Insp Murray said. The burnt remains of the home where Katie Tangey perished A man sets fire to the home of Ms Tangey's brother. She had been house sitting Katie Tangey desperately tried to escape the inferno Were fairly solid on the motive now. Were fairly solid on whats transpired. Our focus is to identify those two individuals who committed this act. 'Others can be held accountable in various other ways, but we want to identify those two because they are solely responsible, in my view, for killing Katie. Inspector Murray described the horror Ms Tangey faced in her final agonising moments alive. '(Ms Tangey) was a completely innocent individual who had nothing to do with this illegal tobacco trade at all,' he said. '(She) was asleep in bed, in the early hours. One can only imagine how scared she must have been.' In a fresh twist, it was revealed an anonymous phone call was made to Crime Stoppers in which police were given a pseudonym or nickname linked to the attack. Police are now asking that person to contact them again in the hope they may be able to provide more information. Detectives earlier released an image of a man, described as slim, Middle Eastern, and aged between 25 and 30, whom they wish to speak to about the tragedy. A man police believe can help solve the tragic death of Ms Tangey Ethan Tangey, golden retriever, Sunny, and his wife Brooke 'Detectives are particularly keen to hear from anyone who recognises the man in the image or has any further information on the nickname provided in the call to Crime Stoppers,' a police statement added. In June, police raided a home in Dandenong in relation to the crime and seized a phone. Ms Tangey had been house sitting with her brother's golden retriever, Sunny, who also died inside the three-storey townhouse. Her brother Ethan Tangey and his wife Brooke were just days into their honeymoon when the fire took place. CCTV captured the vehicle in which the killers fled the scene, travelling north on Forsyth Road in Truganina at approximately 2.12am. Any information can be given to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. A former flight attendant has claimed airlines refuse to educate passengers about the proper etiquette of using plane toilets out of fear it will offend some of them. Marcus Daniels left his role in the aviation industry in 2019 after spending more than five years working as a flight attendant in Australia and the Middle East. While there were plenty of positives and negatives to the job, Mr Daniels highlighted one major issue with international flights: a lack of education about toilets. He has dozens of horror stories about the messes passengers would leave behind, mostly due to them having never used a Western-style toilet before. 'As cabin crew, you notice it happens on specific flights to specific destinations. We'll chat and find other crew picked up on the trend too,' Mr Daniels said. 'On those flights, passengers will defecate on the floor and you just do your best to smile and not say anything. 'You get used to it after a while and can start mentally preparing yourself for those flights.' In particular, Mr Daniels noted the affected routes were mainly those stopping in developing countries. Marcus Daniels (pictured) revealed the hardest part of being a flight attendant was dealing with messes left by passengers who didn't know how to use a Western-style toilet Mr Daniels claimed the issue mainly affected flights stopping in developing countries 'It's not really a problem in first-world countries because we know how to use western toilets,' he said. 'Most of the confused passengers don't speak English as their first language so we can't really explain how to use the toilet. 'The issue is education. If they knew how to use the toilets, they would. 'It would be great if there were visual guides showing how to use the toilet properly, rather than just guides for flushing.' The issue may come as a shock to those who think of flight attending as a glamorous job, but Mr Daniels claimed the clean-ups were a regular occurrence. 'On these routes, we're having to constantly check the toilets to make sure they're clean and the toilet rolls aren't stuffed down the bins,' he said. 'On one flight I had a passenger who kept peeing on the floor. I tried to show her how to use the toilet, and she would nod and agree, then do it again. 'It got to the point where it was unsanitary for me as well so I had to lock off the toilet for the rest of the flight.' Despite education around Western-style toilets being a known issue, Mr Daniels (pictured) explained it is largely ignored by airlines that want to avoid offending customers Despite the problem being well-known among international cabin crew, it has been largely ignored by airlines. 'Airlines are very particular about how they communicate with customers because they don't want to offend anyone,' Mr Daniels said. 'All of us are trying to be accepting of all cultures. However, there needs to be some kind of video or visual guide about using and keeping the toilets clean. 'It would be a dream come true. I have friends who are still working these routes and, nine years later, it's still an issue.' A Somali-American democratic socialist has clinched the Minneapolis mayoral endorsement just weeks after a '100% communist' was elected in New York City. Omar Fateh, a 35-year-old Minnesota state senator, won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Partys endorsement for Minneapolis mayor on Saturday - an upset victory over two-term incumbent Jacob Frey that few saw coming, as reported by Axios. The win comes less than a month after 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani defeated New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary - a victory that prompted Donald Trump to brand him a '100 percent Communist lunatic.' 'I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor,' Fateh wrote to X following the endorsement. 'This endorsement is a message that Minneapolis residents are done with broken promises, vetoes, and politics as usual. Its a mandate to build a city that works for all of us.' More than 1,000 party activists packed the Target Center on Saturday afternoon, where around 5pm, delegates cast their first mayoral endorsement votes via smartphone - launching a nearly two-hour vote tallying process by party officials. The suspense was palpable as attendees wondered if Frey - who led the city through the turbulent 2020 Black Lives Matter protests - would succeed in blocking the first Somali-American Muslim to serve in the state's senate. Mamdanis endorsement energized left-wing challengers, who celebrated the possibility of unseating Frey at the upcoming DFL convention - while others looked on with doubt and concern over the 'progressive uprising' in Americas biggest cities. Omar Fateh (pictured), a 35-year-old Minnesota state senator, won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Partys endorsement for Minneapolis mayor on Saturday - an upset victory over two-term incumbent Jacob Frey that few saw coming The win comes less than a month after 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani (pictured) defeated New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary - a victory that prompted Donald Trump to brand him a '100 percent Communist lunatic' The suspense was palpable as attendees wondered if Frey (pictured) - who led the city through the turbulent 2020 Black Lives Matter protests - would succeed in blocking the first Somali-American Muslim to serve in the state's senate The potential shift in the nations political landscape was on full display at this weekends convention. Frey's supporters began abandoning the arena at about 9pm in protest, just as the results came in - Fateh had secured the endorsement. Not only did Fateh claim a seat at the mayoral table, but he also made history -becoming the Minneapolis DFLs first endorsement in a contested mayors race since at least 1997, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. Fateh captured 43.8 percent of the roughly 577 delegate votes, while Frey trailed with 31.5 percent, as reported by Axios. The socialist candidate ultimately secured over 60 percent of delegate votes at the convention, despite vocal complaints from the Frey campaign over the fairness of the process. Chaos erupted as Freys campaign officials challenged the results, claiming the partys online delegate voting system had allegedly malfunctioned - pointing to a suspiciously low number of recorded votes. 'This election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates, particularly in light of the extremely flawed and irregular conduct of this convention,' Frey campaign manager Sam Schulenberg said in a statement, according to the outlet. 'Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November, he added. Fateh has drawn increased attention following Mamdanis stunning - and surprising - victory over Cuomo in Manhattan's Democratic mayoral primary. Some have even dubbed him the 'Mamdani of Minneapolis,' according to the Star Tribune. Not only did Fateh (pictured) claim a seat at the mayoral table, but he also made history -becoming the Minneapolis DFLs first endorsement in a contested mayors race since at least 1997 The parallels are hard to miss: both Fateh and Mamdani are in their 30s, Muslim, democratic socialists and state lawmakers focused on making their cities more affordable and equitable. However, their rise in the political spotlight hasnt come without backlash - from both online critics and prominent, well-known faces. Former New York Giants player Carter Coughlin launched a savage attack on Fateh following his endorsement on Sunday, claiming that his policies of rent control and raising minimum wage would set Minneapolis back years. He also debated Fateh's credibility to become mayor with some of his followers. 'In a city that has endured unimaginable destruction and racial tension, these policies would set Minneapolis back another 10 steps,' Coughlin wrote. 'MPLS (Minneapolis) needs rebuilding, and this will do the opposite. Pray for wisdom.' Nevertheless, Fateh took to the arena floor just after 10pm to claim victory, declaring, 'Today, we witnessed a rejection of politics as usual,' as reported by Axios. We know the status quo are going to do anything and everything to maintain power, he added. 'They'll have all the money in the world - but they don't have you.' Though the final decision wont come until November, one thing is clear: Minneapolis is signaling a readiness for change - and big cities could be sparking the start of a broader movement. Jeffrey Epstein's former lawyer called for Ghislaine Maxwell to be freed from jail and compelled to testify at Congress in a bid to finally dispel the conspiracy theories about a 'client list' plaguing the White House once and for all. Alan Dershowitz, who also represented Donald Trump, told Newsmax that Maxwell should have her 20 year sentence commuted and appear on Capitol Hill to reveal everything she knows. It comes as Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to release more of the Epstein files related to grand jury testimony about the case, pending court approval. Trump's order came after backlash to the Department of Justice's announcement that it is closing its investigation, without any further arrests or bringing to light the so-called client list many believe exists. The decision caused uproar among MAGA loyalists, who were hoping any such list would identify figures involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Scrutiny in the case ramped up even further after The Wall Street Journal ran a story claiming the president sent Epstein a 'bawdy' birthday message in 2003. Dershowitz has previously quashed claims that his client ever kept a list and suggested that the latest tranche of documents due to be unsealed is unlikely to contain any bombshells. 'Ghislaine Maxwell is basically serving the sentence that Epstein would have gotten,' said Dershowitz. 'She should never be in jail for 20 years. What should happen is that she should be freed. Jeffrey Epstein 's former lawyer called for his madam Ghislaine Maxwell to be freed from jail and compelled to testify at Congress in a bid to dispel the conspiracy theories about a 'client list' Alan Dershowitz denied that Epstein kept a client list, but believes Maxwell should be forced to testify to clear up the matter once and for all President Trump ordered the release more of the Epstein files related to grand jury testimony about the case, pending court approval, in a bid to quash conspiracy theories 'She should have her sentence commuted. She should then be called in front of Congress, have Congress give her total immunity, and then she can tell everything.' Maxwell has expressed a willingness to testify, according to Dershowitz. She was convicted of aiding Epstein in procuring underage girls for sex in 2022 and is currently serving time in a Florida jail. Maxwell is appealing her conviction on the grounds that a 2007 non-prosecution Epstein made in relation to a solicitation of a minor charge in Florida bars her from being prosecuted in New York. 'She knows everything,' Dershowitz told Fox. 'She is the Rosetta Stone. She knows everything. She arranged every single trip with everybody. 'She knows everything. And if she were just given use immunity, she could be compelled to testify. 'Im told that she actually would be willing to testify. And thered be no reason for her to withhold any information.' Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison cell while awaiting trial for charges linked to the sex trafficking ring in 2019. Dershowitz says Maxwell is understood to be willing to testify. She is currently appealing her conviction Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel were appointed amid promises to Trump voters that the truth about Epstein would come out, even if it meant upsetting the disgraced financier's powerful former friends but many MAGA loyalists feel they have failed to deliver Conspiracy theorists have long posited that there was more to his death. Dershowitz told Fox the documents of note are 'sealed records by two or three federal judges in the New York courts'. 'The information that hasnt been requested is going to be far more informative and far more relevant than the grand jury information,' Dershowitz said. 'Grand jury information is narrowly tailored by prosecutors only to provide sufficient evidence to result in an indictment.' The DOJ released 11 hours of footage in a bid to try and stamp out the rumors for good. But sleuths were quick to point out that parts seemed to be missing and that the view of Epstein's cell was obscured. The clip secured from a camera stationed outside Epsteins cell was also found to be 'likely modified' using the professional video editing software Adobe Premiere Pro, according to the analysis from Wired. The doubt stemmed from the 'raw' released footage's timestamp, which jumps ahead one minute at midnight on August 10. The DOJ and FBI said no one else will be arrested and charged in connection to Epstein's crimes. Ghislaine Maxwell (right) is already serving a 20-year prison sentence. Pictured, Trump, future wife Melania, Epstein, and Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago club in February 2000 The jump is present in the original clip as well an enhanced version released by the FBI. Bondi tried to explain away the missing minute of footage as part of a routine reset that takes place at the center every night, claiming: '[E]very night the video is reset, and every night should have the same minute missing.' Bondi also said the Justice Department was looking to publish additional footage to prove it was part of a regular reset undertaken at the prison and not an elaborate coverup. Many of the Epstein conspiracies have been touted by figures within the Trump administration. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino previously stated there is 'credible evidence' of a 'multitude of tapes' existed showing Epstein and associates committing child abuse, a claim which was echoed by Bondi. The Attorney General further fanned the flames of speculation by claiming the Epstein list was 'sitting on [her] desk right now' ready for review. However, The DOJ and FBI have since released a joint review concluding that Epstein had 'no incriminating client list' that could implicate high-profile associates. Despite previously vowing to disclose the Epstein files, Trump is now trying to downplay them as 'boring stuff' and claims he 'doesn't understand why' there is demand for their release. Epstein, seen here in 2005, died at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019, from what feds ruled was suicide. In the six years since, several have asked how such an important, surveilled figure managed to take his life without being stopped Surveillance footage released last week to back up the DOJ's claim that disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein killed himself The president said he parted ways with Epstein before the financier's legal troubles became public in 2006 and categorically denied the Wall Street Journal's report about the birthday note. He revealed he is suing the outlet and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion over claims of libel. This letter, which the newspaper did not publish but only described, was said to contain, 'several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker'. According to the WSJ: 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly "Donald" below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.' He told the newspaper: 'This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words.' Meanwhile, Maxwell's former prison dorm mate shared her chilling fears for the felon's fate, revealing just how firmly some of the theories about Epstein's death are held. Trump was also accused of penning a bawdy note to Epstein for his 50th birthday which the Wall Street Journal claims to have seen. The president denied the allegations Six years on, fascination with Epstein's death shows no signs of abating. Despite making releasing the files a campaign pledge, Trump has now tried to diminish their significance Jessica Watkins, a transgender veteran who was serving time for the January 6 riots before receiving a pardon by Donald Trump, suggested 63-year-old Maxwell could meet the same fate as Epstein, who was found dead in his prison cell. 'Just putting this out there: I know Ghislaine Maxwell personally when I was in prison with her. She isn't suicidal in the least,' Watkins posted on X. There are also virtually no working cameras in FCI Tallahassee,' she added in an apparent reference to the suspicious coincidences around Epstein's death, which was ruled a suicide. Watkins claimed that only 'maybe ten' cameras in the 'entire' prison were present or working. 'Just getting ahead of potential narratives,' Watkins said. Watkins said that should Maxwell 'vanish...it would not [be] by her own hand.' 'She also doesn't do drugs, is in good health, and works out everyday, so no "old age" or "natural causes" arguments will work either,' Watkins wrote. A motorist has been arrested after allegedly driving a 'Chinese Police' vehicle around Sydney with live ammunition in the boot. NSW Police spotted the Mercedes S-Class in Strathfield, in the city's inner west, at about 2.50pm on Friday. The vehicle had police insignia on the doors and bonnet with the word 'police' displayed in Mandarin and the incorrect spelling of 'poilce' in English. The driver, 21, allegedly presented a forged document to officers, claiming the vehicle was used to transport Chinese consulate officials. Officers searched the car and allegedly found a box containing 48 live rounds of ammunition in the boot. The driver allegedly claimed the boot was the 'best place' to store the ammunition and that he had a valid firearms licence and two guns secured at his home. Police seized the ammunition and other items allegedly used to impersonate police. At a Baulkham Hills home, officers later found two gel-blasters and seized the mans registered firearms pending a review of his licence. Police have made an arrest after finding a Mercedes S-Class allegedly carrying police insignia (above) Further inquiries allegedly led them to two gel-blasters at a Baulkham Hills home (pictured) Police slapped the alleged 21-year-old driver with nine charges relating to the weapons and vehicle The man faces multiple charges including displaying emergency services organisation insignia, driving a motor vehicle with unlawful police insignia, and using false documents to influence exercise of public duty. He as also charged with providing information known to be false or misleading, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, and not displaying P plates. He was granted bail and will appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday. Australians may have to go back to paying fees again for using rival bank ATMs like they did a decade ago if they want to keep having access to cash, a finance expert says. The Big Four banks in 2017 agreed to scrap those $2 fees for customers who used the automatic teller machines of a competitor. While it was regarded as good news, that policy is threatening the future of cash in Australia with very few consumers now using banknotes to pay for everyday goods and services. Australia's key cash-in-transit company Armaguard, owned by billionaire transport magnate Lindsay Fox's family, needs $50million a year in handouts to survive and now federal regulators are proposing Australia have a new minister for cash. In just seven years, the number of ATMs have more than halved, plunging from 13,814 in June 2017 to just 5,476 in June last year, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data showed. The Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB and ANZ used the abolition of rival ATM fees to take away those cash dispensing machines and squeeze Australia's cash-in-transit companies during contractual negotiations. This has made distributing cash unprofitable with the Big Four banks, supermarket giant Woolworths and retail group Wesfarmers - the owner of hardware chain Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks - last week announcing they would provide a $25.5million lifeline to Armaguard from July to December. 'Major banks and major retailers have reached an agreement with Armaguard to extend their financial contribution for a further six months,' the Australian Banking Association said. Australians may have to pay fees for using rival bank ATMs like they did a decade ago if they want to keep having access to cash, a finance expert says (pictured are Commonwealth Bank customers in 2017) Armaguard needs to be subsidised to the tune of $50million a year despite having a 90 per cent share of Australia's cash-in-transit market, with the Reserve Bank estimating cash now makes up just 13 per cent of in-person transactions. Jason Bryce, the founder of Cash Welcome, said Armaguard wouldn't need to be subsidised by the banks and the supermarkets if those old fees for using rival ATMs still existed - and generated $500million a year in revenue. 'I think it was a bad, short-sighted move - I don't want to prescribe the answers - but the problems date from that decision,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'There's no doubt the $2 ATM fee for customers of other banks kept the cash distribution system paid for and viable in Australia - since 2017, since that decision, the cash industry has contracted and been under pressure. 'There needs to be some kind of structural change to provide support, go forward, to cover the $50million-odd per year that Armaguard is now getting. 'There should be no need for $50million a year - the problem has been created by the banks and the supermarkets.' Mr Bryce said the abolition of those rival ATM fees had led to the big banks putting extra pressure on cash deliverers, to the point that Spanish group Prosegur in 2023 merged with Armaguard to survive. 'The two big companies have merged into one and that one company is on the verge of bankruptcy,' he said. The Big Four banks in 2017 agreed to scrap those $2 fees for customers who used the automatic teller machines of a competitor Jason Bryce, the founder of Cash Welcome, said Armaguard wouldn't need to be subsidised by the banks and the supermarkets if those old fees for using rival ATMs still existed Peter Fox, the executive chairman of Armaguard, told The Australian Financial Review its 'shortfall in revenue' was 'caused by the four major banks and two retailers which slashed their margins to Armaguard in a period of cut-throat competition'. Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn last year admitted the banks were 'very, very aggressive' towards Armaguard. 'The banks drove Armaguard to the brink of bankruptcy,' Mr Bryce said. 'Matt Comyn says the banks underpaid Armaguard for cash-in-transit.' 'It's really up to the banks to pay more. 'So banks now don't really have much of a leg to stand on when they complain about handing over $25million for six months.' The disappearance of major bank ATMs saw the appearance of third-party ATMs that charge $3 fees for use. 'There's less bank-owned ATMs and there's more third-party ATMs that charge $3 or so,' Mr Bryce said. The Council of Financial Regulators - which includes the RBA - and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is proposing a new federal minister in charge of cash distribution who would have oversight over a registered entity that would 'provide critical cash services to a significant part of the market'. 'Despite the rise of digital payments, cash remains vital for many Australians, particularly in regional and remote communities,' it said in a consultation paper. 'Cash supports secure, inclusive, and resilient transactions for those who prefer or rely on it.' The federal government last year announced a cash mandate would be coming into force on January 1, 2026 requiring businesses to offer customers a cash option. New CCTV has revealed a shadowy figure dressed all in black moments before a mother unleashed blood-curdling screams as she was fatally stabbed in the neck. The footage was played on Monday at the inquest into the murder of Indian national Prabha Kumar, 41, who was killed in a Parramatta park in Sydney's west in 2015. The inquest was told Ms Kumar's husband, Arun Kumar, had been having an affair, had just renewed his wife's life insurance, and changed the PIN on her bank account an hour before her stabbing. Two days after the murder, as Mr Kumar flew to Australia after deleting messages between himself and his lover in India, she texted him, saying: 'Idiot, you've got to be strong. 'Do you need me to come?' At the time of the deadly attack, Ms Kumar was on a long phone call to her husband in India. He has since given three different versions to police of what he heard during the call. The inquest was told detectives are still investigating whether Mr Kumar could have organised the hit on his wife. An inquest into the stabbing death of Indian national Prabha Arun Kumar began on Monday The IT worker had been walking down a dimly-lit path just 300m from her Westmead home when she was attacked Ms Kumar's only child, daughter Megahana, 21, watched the two-day inquest by audio video link from India on Monday as it was shown video of her mother's final moments. Counsel Assisting the inquest Jillian Caldwell said Ms Kumar was clearly 'relaxed' while on the phone to Arun until she was attacked without warning. As she commuted home by train from her IT job at an office in Rhodes to Parramatta via Strathfield, she looked 'unconcerned' as she crossed the street. However, the CCTV footage cuts out just as the 41-year-old was walking past Evolve Housing on Argyle Street at 9.17pm on March 7, 2015. 'This is the last image of Prabha,' Ms Caldwell said. '(She) is talking on her phone to Arun. There is no-one behind her. She's not concerned about her whereabouts.' The footage was captured 130m from where she was stabbed, which was only 300m from her Westmead home. Mr Kumar's account of what happened next varies in differing statements he gave police. As she took the train trips home from her IT job at an office in Rhodes to Parramatta via Strathfield, she looked 'unconcerned' crossing streets The inquest heard that prior to her death, Prabha's husband Arun (pictured at his wife's funeral in Bangalore) had been having an affair, had renewed her life insurance and changed the PIN on her bank account an hour before the fatal stabbing Initially, he said he could not hear another person, but later said he could clearly hear the voice of his wife's attacker. After arriving in Australia, Mr Kumar told police on March 9, 2015, that his wife had told him in the moments before the attack that 'a guy completely covered in black suddenly passed me'. He said she had cried out, 'Please do not do anything to me I will give, I will give', before she screamed loudly when she was stabbed. In that interview, Mr Kumar said he didn't hear anything else. But in November that year, he said that after pleading with her attacker not to hurt her, she then cried out after being attacked, 'You have stabbed me, no-one is around'. In February 2016, he told detectives he could hear someone in the background making demands of her. One of Ms Kumar's flatmates, Sarada, also gave a different account of what her husband told her had happened. On the evening of the attack, Sarada, who had never previously spoken with Mr Kumar, had eight missed calls from him. CCTV footage showed Prabha Arun Kumar on the phone to her husband shortly before her life was cut short Counsel Assisting the inquest Jillian Caldwell said Ms Kumar was clearly 'relaxed' while on the phone to Arun until she was attacked without warning He told her: 'Sarada Sarada, I'm Prabha's husband. It looks like Prabha is in danger, can you go to the park?' When Sarada ran straight to the park and saw police and an ambulance, she called Mr Kumar back and asked how he knew his wife was in danger. She said Mr Kumar told her his wife 'saw a guy in black and told him, 'Don't do anything to me. I'll give you anything I have' and had then said, 'He stabbed me'. A passer-by found Ms Kumar facedown and bleeding profusely on the footpath. One man, then a student, recalled hearing two screams and went to investigate. He heard 'screaming, loud, intense, it sounded like someone being attacked' and then 'heard a second scream, louder, more of a crying scream,' Ms Caldwell said. Police and an ambulance initially couldn't find Ms Kumar, but when she was located, her heart was beating and she had a pulse. Paramedics rushed her to Westmead Hospital, applying ventilation and adrenaline en route. The inquest was told detectives are still investigating whether Mr Kumar could have organised the hit on his wife Prabha's death sparked an outpouring of grief from the Parramatta community at a candlelight vigil By 11pm, three cardiac specialists were operating on her wounds to stem the blood flow. But by 12.15am, Ms Kumar started to deteriorate and her blood pressure dropped. She died half an hour later. NSW Police told the inquest Mr Kumar remains one of several persons of interest. While the investigation into the murder remains live, there has been a recommendation it be referred to the Homicide Cold Case Unit. The inquest is expected to conclude on Tuesday. A young family's holiday at the beach turned to tragedy after their police officer dad suddenly died while enjoying a well deserved break from duty. Paul Leslie Matts, 37, from Orange in the NSW Central Tablelands region, died unexpectedly on July 8 after suffering a medical episode on the sand while playing with his children. He leaves behind his wife Danni Matts, his daughter Harlow and son Xavier, and his step-children Archer and Jasmine. The NSW Police sergeant, formerly of Coffs Harbour, had been an officer for more than 16 years. His widow's close friends, Jenna McAtamney and Sarah Wilkinson, paid tribute to the fallen police officer. They have established a GoFundMe page on behalf of his children and his heartbroken wife who are 'facing life without their loving dad and step-dad'. 'This loss has left the family devastated and in need of support as they begin to navigate this new reality,' it read. The sergeant and his wife's youngest child, Xavier, is just 8-months-old. Paul Leslie Matts (pictured with his wife Danni, his daughter Harlow and step-children Archer and Jasmine) died on July 8 while on holiday with his family Mr Matts (pictured with his eight-month-old son Xavier) had been a NSW officer for 16 years Mr Matts' family have been left devastated by the tragic loss The officer had previously been the local policeman in the small town of Burren Junction, where his MP, Roy Butler, thanked him in parliament for organising a community day in 2020. 'To repay Burren for being so welcoming, Paul organised a family fun day for the town. He moved heaven and earth to put on an afternoon and evening of entertainment from slip 'n' slides, a visit from Santa and a raffle for a family holiday. 'The purpose of the event was twofold: to say thank you and to help people take their minds off the drought. On behalf on Burren Junction, thank you.' His widow's friends explained that she is trying to be strong for her children and is learning to financially support her family following the loss. Mr Matts was a 'great father' and 'will be very missed by his children', Ms McAtamney and Ms Wilkinson said. 'Danni is doing everything she can to stay strong for her kids, but she cannot do it alone.' Friends and loved ones of the family shared their condolences on a Facebook post announcing his death. 'A beautiful soul gone way too soon. RIP buddy,' one wrote. 'So sorry for your loss David and Julie, thinking of you both,' another shared. 'Thinking of you Julie, David and family, sending my deepest condolences,' a third commented. 'So very sad to see someone so young pass away. RIP,' another said. The officer also leaves behind his parents David and Julie, and his sisters Catherine and Rebecca. His funeral will be held on Thursday in Coffs Harbour. A British tourist has been found dead on his sun lounger on a popular Greek beach. The 74-year-old man was discovered unconscious at around 12pm on Sunday, July 20, by fellow beach-goers on Stalis Beach on the popular Greek isle of Crete. The Brit, who had taken himself to the beach in a bid to enjoy the idyllic sea, went for a swim before sitting on a sun lounger to relax. However, he then became struck with a 'strong feeling' of sickness before losing consciousness, the cretapost has reported. Hellenic National Center of Emergency Care (EKAB) were immediately made aware of the incident and called to the scene. Emergency services then worked tirelessly in a desperate bid to revive the elderly man, but unfortunately their efforts proved unsuccessful. The cause of his death is currently unknown, with an autopsy being undertaken. An FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.' A 74-year-old British man was found unconscious at around 12pm on Sunday, July 20, by fellow beach-goers on Stalis Beach (pictured, file image) on the Greek isle of Crete. The cause of his death is currently unknown The Brit went for a swim before sitting on a sun lounger to relax. However, he then became struck with a 'strong feeling' of being unwell before losing consciousness, the cretapost has reported. Pictured: a file image of Stalis, Crete The tragedy comes after a 73-year-old man was discovered at the spot in Agia Paraskevi, Siathos (pictured, file image), on June 20, with onlookers immediately alerting a lifeguard who was then able to provide first aid and call the emergency services The tragedy comes following a series of deaths of British tourists on beaches in popular tourist hotspots, with a British tourist also found dead on a Greek beach just last month. The 73-year-old man was discovered at the spot in Agia Paraskevi, Siathos, on June 20, with onlookers immediately alerting a lifeguard who was then able to provide first aid and call the emergency services. While a doctor from a nearby health center tried desperately for 40 minutes to revive the tourist, he was later tragically pronounced dead. An autopsy was set to shed light on the cause of his death. At the time, an FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities'. Meanwhile, on June 12, a 68-year-old man was tragically found dead in Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, with local media reporting that he had gone for a swim and lost consciousness before sadly passing away. Officers from the Central Port Authority of Rhodes rushed to the scene following reports of his body being found. He was then transferred to the island's Archangelos Health Center where he was sadly pronounced dead. The British man was discovered at the spot in Agia Paraskevi, Siathos (pictured, file image), on June 20, with onlookers immediately alerting a lifeguard who was then able to provide first aid and call the emergency services. On June 12, a 68-year-old man was tragically found dead in Lindos (pictured), on the island of Rhodes, with local media reporting that he had gone for a swim and lost consciousness before sadly passing away In early June, two British tourists died on the Algarve after jumping into their holiday apartment pool after a night out. The alarm was raised around 4.30am at a hotel apartment in the party resort of Albufeira where two British men died last month. Emergency responders sent to the scene made unsuccessful attempts to revive the two men this morning. Police are said to be working on the theory the pair, aged 27 and 29, got into difficulties because they had been drinking and didn't know how to swim. Portugal's Policia Judiciaria have been asked by colleagues at the GNR police force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the men's deaths but they are not being treated as suspicious at this stage. On June 4 Scots tourist Greg Monks was tragically found dead near Albufeira town centre after going missing a week earlier. The 38-year-old plant mechanic from Glasgow is believed to have lost his life after jumping over a wall and falling down a steep hillside during a night out with his stag do friends. A search for him was launched on May 28 and his parents and girlfriend Nicole Kelso flew to Albufeira to help with the efforts to find him. Around four hours before Greg's body was found by police, another young British tourist was found dead in Albufeira, at the back of a residential block below a steep drop near the Old Town. The 21-year-old, also said to have gone out drinking with pals and thought to have become disorientated as he tried to get back to his hotel, was never named. News of his death only emerged three days after Greg was found dead. A British teenager has died after plunging from the third floor of the famous Ibiza Rocks Hotel. The 19-year-old tourist was immediately pronounced dead following the fall just after midnight on Monday, July 21, in the party resort of San Antonio where a Scottish holidaymaker lost his life just a fortnight ago. Two ambulances were sent to the scene of the four-star hotel at around 12.40am, but paramedics were sadly unable to revive him. The Civil Guard confirmed this morning that the holidaymaker was a British national but have not provided any further details about his identity or the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. Meanwhile, local police said that the British teenager was 'already dead by the time help arrived', adding that initial investigations suggested the fall had been accidental. A spokesperson for the local police said this morning: 'We are investigating the death of a 19-year-old British man at a hotel in San Antonio in Ibiza. 'The alarm was raised around 12.40am this morning. 'Our officers were sent to the scene but the man in question was already dead by the time help arrived. A 19-year-old British teenager has died after plunging from the third floor of Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio on the popular Spanish party island of Ibiza (pictured) Two ambulances were sent to the scene but paramedics were unable to revive him. The Civil Guard confirmed this morning he was a British national. (Pictured: Ibiza Rocks Hotel) Local police said that the British teenager was 'already dead by the time help arrived', adding that initial investigations suggested the fall had been accidental. Pictured: file image of the famous Ibiza Rocks Hotel where the incident took place 'The fall was from from the third floor of the hotel to an outside part of the complex. 'Court officials authorised the removal of his body at 2.40am this morning. 'The fall could be accidental based on the early information obtained from cameras but as part of the investigation possible witnesses will need to be located and interviewed. 'The results of the post-mortem will also be important to the investigation.' An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' Well-placed sources confirmed the hotel where the tragedy occurred is the famous Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio. The source said: 'The post-mortem will help to determine if the man who died had consumed alcohol or taken drugs beforehand and in what quantities.' It is currently unclear whether the British teenager was holidaying with friends or family and whether he fell from his room or another part of the hotel. MailOnline has contacted Ibiza Rocks Hotel for comment. The 19-year-old's tragic death is currently being investigated by police. A spokesperson for the local police said this morning: 'We are investigating the death of a 19-year-old British man at a hotel in San Antonio in Ibiza'. Pictured: Ibiza Rocks Hotel It comes after a Scottish tourist plunged to his death while staying at Ibiza Rocks Hotel on July 7. Evan Thomson (pictured), 26, from Aberdeen, was celebrating his birthday with friends when he tragically lost his life at the famous party hotel on July 7 The tragedy comes just days after a Scottish tourist plunged to his death while also staying at the famous party hotel on July 7. Evan Thomson, 26, from Aberdeen, was celebrating his birthday with friends when he tragically lost his life at Ibiza Rocks Hotel. Paramedics rushed to the site of the incident on the hotel grounds but pronounced him dead at the scene. Confirming his death, the Nuestra Senora del Rosario Polyclinic said last Monday: 'Regrettably and despite all the efforts of medical personnel, the patient who fell yesterday in San Antonio has died due to the severity of his injuries.' Posting about his tragic death on social media, Evan's mother Lel Kellighan wrote: 'I'm absolutely heartbroken to write and tell you all, earlier this week my son Evan was in a tragic accident whilst on holiday with his friends in Ibiza and sadly passed away. 'We are all absolutely broken. Please allow us some time.' Following Evans' death, the hotel said in a statement: 'This is a truly tragic and extremely sad situation. 'Our senior management team onsite did everything possible to help the police with their investigation into events leading up to Evans' death, and to provide constant support from our customer services managed to Evan's friends. 'That has included them having four-hour access to our senior manager for any help or questions and giving them permission to pass on her mobile number to Evan's family should they wish to call us direct. 'They were very appreciative of all the help and support at such a difficult time. Following Evan Thomson's (pictured) death, the hotel said in a statement: 'This is a truly tragic and extremely sad situation' 'We are deeply saddened by Evan's death and our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends at this truly difficult time.' A 33-year-old female British tourist also died in her room at Ibiza Rocks Hotel on April 30, with local police and paramedics rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised around 6.30pm. Emergency responders confirmed when they arrived the holidaymaker had gone into cardiac arrest and spent around 40 minutes practising CPR on her to try to revive her. She was declared dead at the scene after efforts to save her life proved unsuccessful. Civil Guard officers were preparing a full report on the tragedy today to hand over to a local court which has opened an investigation. But well-placed sources said there was nothing at this stage pointing to the death being suspicious. Ibiza Rocks responded by offering 'its utmost support' to the family of the British holidaymaker. Meanwhile, on April 27, a 19-year-old Italian tourist of Turkish origin plunged to her death from the fourth-floor at the same hotel at around 9am. She had flown to the island the previous day and gone out partying. She was said at the time to have tried to been trying to reach her room via a balcony from a shared area of the hotel after realising she didn't have her key card when she lost her footing and fell. In a statement regarding the deaths on April 27 and April 30, Ibiza Rocks Hotel said: 'Following the tragic events that occurred this week due to causes beyond our control, IRG expresses its dismay and extends its utmost support to the families of the victims, thanking people for respect for their privacy in a situation of immeasurable pain.' This is the dramatic moment a vicious fight erupted at a Benidorm hotel swimming pool with brawlers pushed into the water as tourists watched on in horror. Footage shows fists flying as the chaotic fight escalated on the poolside of a hotel in the Spanish holiday hot-spot. Two men wearing swimming trunks are shown being brutally slammed by a man dressed in black, while another man in a white T-shirt is seen targeting another sunbather. As the video goes on more people pile in to the bust-up, targeting the man in white who then ends up in the pool. He quickly emerges and pushes a man into the water in retaliation, while his pal dressed in black continues to square up to a group of sunbathers. A separate angle of the bust-up shows the man in black being pushed into the water by a man in blue swimming trunks. But when he gets out of the pool he begins to throw a flurry of punches and kicks while a group of men retaliate. An England flag can be see hanging in the background with the words 'Ash's Stag 2025, but it is unclear whether the men involved are British, or why the fight broke out in the first place A violent fight erupted at a Benidorm hotel swimming pool which saw brawlers being pushed into the water Bizarre footage shows the scuffle unfolding on the poolside of the Marina Beach Resort hotel in the Spanish holiday hot-spot The clip has gone viral on social media, and has racked up nearly 300,000 views on TikTok The clip has gone viral on social media, and has racked up nearly 300,000 views on TikTok at the time of writing. Some viewers have expressed shock at the behaviour of the sun-seekers, while others have found humour in the bizarre incident. Several social media users have also suspected that the men involved are British. 'How embarrassing...say no more, it's Benidorm', one social media user wrote. Another commented: 'These lot are an absolute embarrassment'. 'Quite possibly the worst (but best) scrap ever', a third joked. The violent punch-up in Benidorm comes just a month after a British tourist was brutally sucker-punched by a Spanish local after getting caught up in a brawl with bouncers in the Spanish resort. Some viewers have expressed shock at the behaviour of the sun-seekers Footage taken by a fellow bar-goer shows the unnamed Brit being slammed onto the floor by another man in Benidorm. According to an eyewitness, the man and his group were asked to leave the unknown bar by another reveller before a bouncer intervened and things got 'heated.' The Brit, who is dressed in white, can be seen being shoved by a group of men, while his friend steps in. As the exchange escalates, video shows the man being brutally punched in the face and falling on the floor, as his leg bends backwards towards his hip. A woman wearing a pink cowboy hat rushes to his aid and crouches over him, as a group of men continue to scuffle with the bouncers. An onlooker said: 'It's always the d***head Brits - it makes you ashamed to be a Brit sometimes. 'We'd been in there for two hours or so - it seemed a nice bar and all of a sudden we heard a bit of a commotion. 'There was a smaller guy who we think was a local and he looked like a bouncer but looked a bit too small to be one. 'He was asking them to leave, and then the larger bouncer came over and things got a bit heated. 'It looks like the smaller guy then knocks him out. 'He was out cold, and his leg looked dislocated.' The condition of the Brit who was floored in the Benidorm bar fight was not known. Meghan Markle is a 'fraud' and As Ever is all about 'milking' her fame from marrying Prince Harry to 'sucker people into buying her stuff', two of North America's leading brand experts have claimed. Canadian lawyer Phillip Millar and California marketing executive Camille Moore, stars of popular The Art of the Brand podcast, believe the launch and concept of her lifestyle business has been one of the worst they have ever seen. I love sh***ing on people who suck. Meghan Markle sucks as far as Im concerned', Mr Millar has said. 'It [As Ever] is run by a confederacy of dunces working on this platform that is just getting maximising the value from her fame that came from Suits and being a part of the Royal Family and they're just milking that for everything they can'. Millar and Moore, who have advised big businesses including Mercedes-Benz, LOreal, Olaplex, Dior, Van Cleef and Air Canada, say Meghan's business has been a 'royal disaster'. Mr Millar believes that As Ever lacks authenticity because he claims that Meghan is 'pretending' to be a domestic goddess and most people don't believe it. But he added that the people who have rushed to buy her wine, jam, crepe mix and tea shows 'how gullible a lot of consumers are'. Canadian lawyer Phillip Millar has branded Meghan a 'fraud' and says As Ever is about 'milking her fame and royal connections Canadian lawyer Phillip Millar and California marketing executive Camille Moore, stars of popular The Art of the Brand podcast, believe the launch and concept of her lifestyle business has been one of the worst they have ever seen Camille claims she has taken 'zero ownership' over the brand Meghan has most recently launched a range of wines Her jams sold out immediately. She has denied this was a stunt He said: She's not substantial. I'm agitated by her so much because it is a deliberate misrepresentation of what she is because she thinks she can pretend to be that while actually being this and sucker people into buying her stuff and every step of the way she's failing because it's not legitimate. It's not intelligent. It's not well executed. The experts have claimed that her new lifestyle brand is not built on 'substance' 'There was nothing about her brand that was good from the start to a distinguishing eye. She was a fraud what I can see from the beginning who was just using opportunities to advance herself. Her brand wasn't one built on substance. It was based on using people. 'They're not executing anything well on any show on anything. But it shows how gullible a lot of consumers are'. Mr Millar said that investors including Netflix appear to have failed to ask serious questions of Meghan before the launch. People who consider themselves smart because nobody ever questions them are running this business and telling her to use a playbook that works for products where scarcity matters. Confectionery scarcity doesn't matter. He added: There's an egocentric approach to it that if you achieve some level of celebrity, you think you can build a brand, but that's the start of your brand. You can make short-term money from it, but it's not a long-term strategy. Phillip believes Meghan has failed to see what she really is - a 'disruptor' rather than a homemaker. He said: Her brand should be I'm a disruptor. I go into TV. I make noise. I go into the Royal Family. I make noise. She should brand herself as a rebel, but she's not consistent with what she is. 'She should be a disruptor and sell products that are not that expensive and that represent disruption, but that audience is not spending a lot of money'. Ms Moore said Meghan is responsible 'for really probably having the worst brand execution to date', adding: 'She's had zero ownership in this business. It's effectively like she's just like labeling her brand'. She added: 'I feel like she's doing such a brutal or good job, depending on how you're looking at it, of getting this like free PR and then absolutely s***ing the bed'. When she started posting links on the ShopMy e-commerce site, some thought that this was going to prove an irresistible source of serious income for the Duchess of Sussex. It couldnt be easier, really influencers link posts from their Instagram to the online shop, and then rake in a percentage of every item of clothing, make-up or homeware sold as a result. Some of the top creators make up to $1million (740,000) a year with a cut of between 10 and 30 per cent per item, depending on the retailer. The creators are ranked in a tiering visible only to other ShopMy entrepreneurs; the biggest earners are icons and the lowliest ranking is enthusiast. After an initial flurry on the site, in which she directed shoppers to the sweaters she wore in her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, the denim dress she wore on a date night with Prince Harry to watch Beyonce and her make-up and hair favourites, Meghan has fallen silent. Indeed, shes not posted in over two months on ShopMy and it seems that her ranking has dropped from icon to enthusiast as a result. While she continues to appear regularly on her own Instagram page and that of her brand, As Ever, she or her team are not linking through for easy money. Meghan has not posted in over two months on ShopMy At the start of ShopMy, Meghan directed shoppers to a number of items she had worn, including the denim dress she wore on a date night with Prince Harry to watch Beyonce A spokesman for the couple did not respond to requests for clarification but a source says that however lucrative this potential revenue stream is simply not important to her. Her current priorities are centred on As Ever and expanding her business ventures. ShopMy represents an exploration into social media that she enjoys. The source adds: The duchess has consistently approached ShopMy with a focus on authentically sharing products and designers she supports, particularly female founders she wants to uplift. The deal is then: Meghan doesnt need the money, because shes making plenty already. As speculation grows over the couple attempting to renew links to the UK with two key members of the Sussex team meeting the Kings aide, Tobyn Andreae, earlier this month, as revealed exclusively by The Mail on Sunday its intriguing to examine what commercial successes the couple have had since moving their lives to California. The bottom line, of course, has always been significant for both Harry and Meghan. As they seemingly make steps towards rebuilding bridges with the Royal Family, you have to ask: How would a rapprochement serve the Sussexes? And, more than this, might they need to make up with the King for financial reasons. After all, he used to fund his son Harrys life ... right down to a wardrobe allowance for his wife. People who know the Sussexes say the reopening of communications doesnt mean theyre any less committed to life in Montecito. Im told: Theyre very happy living in and raising their family in California and, as it stands, have no plans to leave. The duke will of course continue, as he has done since he emigrated, to visit the UK in support of his charitable causes and patronages. Meghan and Harry arrive at Grand Champions Polo in Florida, US. The couple are said to be happy living in California and have no plans to leave Indeed, Montecito is the epicentre of how they are marketing themselves. Meghans As Ever brand was originally known as American Riviera Orchard, after the area in which they live. Five months after Megxit in February 2020, the Sussexes bought their house in Montecito for $14.65million (10,890,000). And its that purchase which seems to have fired the starting gun on the Sussexes endeavours. In their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey the following year, which took place while Meghan was pregnant with daughter Lilibet, Prince Harry reflected on their money-making activities to date. He said their deals with Netflix and Spotify had both been driven by financial necessity. The prince said he was cut off by his family in the first quarter of 2020, shortly after he and Meghan announced they would step back as senior members of the royals. He added that he still had the money left to him by his late mother, Princess Diana. Without that, we wouldnt have been able to do this, he said, referring to the familys move to California. Even the reputed 10million left by Diana wouldnt be enough to sustain the couple's lifestyle for long, as their expenses add up to around $4million a year after tax If Harry and Meghan had really been getting $100million over five years from Netflix at a steady rate of $20million a year, then you could consider it taken care of. But a source with knowledge of the Netflix deal say its never worked out like that But even the reputed 10million left by Diana wouldnt be enough to buy his house and sustain their lifestyle for long. The couple are widely reported to have taken out a mortgage, with repayments apparently standing at $480,000 a year. On top of this, property tax will be a further $68,000 a year. Utilities are estimated at $24,000 a year, staffing costs $250,000 and security always a priority for Prince Harry, who made two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the Army Air Corps is said to cost up to $3million a year. It all adds up to needing to clear around $4million a year after tax, which is quite a task. Sources also indicate that the price Harry and Meghan pay to run their Archewell production company is significant, probably $3million a year, which as an overhead commitment is quite big by Hollywood standards, though some of those costs come out of charity funds. If Harry and Meghan had really been getting $100million over five years from Netflix at a steady rate of $20million a year, then you could consider it taken care of. But a source with knowledge of the Netflix deal say its never worked out like that. They said: From speaking to someone with knowledge of the deal, it looks like theyve probably managed to maybe keep $10million-$15million or a touch more purely for themselves over the nearly five years so far not bad business, but that kind of money doesnt last long with their lifestyle. Netflix paid for the production of [the tell-all hit documentary series] Harry & Meghan, which would have included a big fee for them. Id guess [the money Netflix spent on it] works out at $20million all-in. Netflix havent done too badly out of the relationship in as much as theyve probably only gone out of pocket to the tune of around $40million or thereabouts, and they did at least get a huge hit documentary out of the investment, and a less successful show in With Love, Meghan. The whole arrangement was basically a trade-off for Netflix getting the Harry & Meghan documentary and they will regard it as a modest win. Venetian gangs are grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned. Venice, as one of Italy's top tourist attractions, has long been a hotspot for criminal activity targeting unsuspecting holidaymakers. The scourge has led furious residents to form their own associations to publicise the identities of those caught in the act and work as volunteer informants for police. A slew of videos published on social media shows alleged pickpockets - often teenage girls and in some cases pregnant women - attempting to cover their faces as enraged citizens yell to draw attention to them. Officials warn that legal loopholes already allow adult pickpockets, particularly women, to operate with little concern for law enforcement. Deputy Chief of the local police, Gianni Franzoi, told Secolo d'Italia: 'There are now more female pickpockets, drawn to the city by a bubble of legal impunity... '(The law) stipulates, in addition to a formal complaint, the injured parties' presence at the hearing,' he said, explaining that in order for a pickpocket to be convicted, the victim must also attend the court date. 'The victims are mostly foreigners, and they hardly ever come to the hearing. So, there are no trials and no convictions.' But even amid an increased police presence and efforts by citizen activists to catch opportunists, those under the age of 14 cannot bear criminal responsibility. Gangs are therefore stepping up efforts to recruit 'baby borseggiatori' - or baby pickpockets - into their ranks. Venetian gangs are grooming children to work as pickpockets as they seek to prevent police crackdowns from eating into their profits, officials and activists have warned Tourists are seen filling St. Marks Square in Venice. Police officials say they expect up to 900 empty wallets to be found in the square this year amid a rise in pickpocketing Suspected pickpockets hide their identities from the camera The Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, has called for the existing legal framework to be adapted to give police and courts more powers to prosecute pickpockets. 'We cannot resign ourselves to the normalisation of crimes that damage people's lives and the city's image on a daily basis,' Brugnaro declared last week. 'We need urgent corrective measures. The government has to listen to local communities and guarantee urban security.' Meanwhile, Monica Poli, spokesperson for the association Cittadini Non Distratti (Undistracted Citizens), denounced the involvement of children in criminal activities. 'The problem is that there are many minors under 13, including girls (who are pickpockets). 'What drives us forward is above all to defend the most vulnerable groups, namely the elderly and disabled, who are the preferred victims of these increasingly violent pickpockets, and we do so out of civic duty.' Poli has garnered significant notoriety on social media, particularly on TikTok, where she and her fellow citizen activists routinely post videos of suspected pickpockets. Her catchphrase 'Attenzione, borseggiatori!' (Attention, pickpockets!) went viral in 2023 and has been remixed into dance tracks and used to mock everyday scenarios, like animals trying to nibble their owners' food. The newfound social media fame helped to shine a light on the work Poli and her fellow volunteers, who first began combing the streets for pickpockets some three decades ago, have done. Poli says that her group aims to protect tourists and raise awareness about pickpocketing in Venice, claiming her group protects US and UK tourists from being targeted. 'I have been part of a group of disturbance against pickpockets for 30 years - together with 40 other people,' she told Newsweek shortly after erupting to social media stardom. 'People are pickpocketed for their American or English passport, then to return to their country they have to go to the embassy in [...] Rome.' 'This incurs additional expenses for them, so it is better to prevent this by warning tourists of the problem.' Poli claims she has never been asked to stop by police, but runs a physical risk for her actions, adding she was once attacked by a group of women who fell foul of her vigilantism. Monica Poli, a middle-aged Italian woman from Venice, became an internet sensation in 2023 as she publicised the work of her citizens' association against pickpockets Suspected pickpockets walk away from Poli as she screams 'Attenzione, borseggiatori!' Poli's catchphrase 'Attenzione, borseggiatori!' (Attention, pickpockets!) went viral in 2023 and has been remixed into dance tracks and used to mock everyday scenarios, like animals trying to nibble their owners' food In the meantime, deputy police chief Franzoi laments that the rate of pickpocketing - which skyrocketed after the return of tourists following the lifting of pandemic restrictions - looks set to continue on its upward trajectory. 'This year we've intercepted 100 pickpockets, including several minors,' he told Italian media. 'Another interesting statistic is the number of wallets found in St. Mark's Square: we'll reach 900 in 2025.' Officials point out that without a change in legislation, citizen activist groups and individual victims will continue to carry out vigilante justice. In some cases, such situations have led to violent assaults, some of which are perpetrated against innocent bystanders mistaken for thieves. Last week, a 60-year-old German tourist was beaten by a group of angry citizens and holidaymakers who had reacted to warnings that a Spanish family had just fallen foul of pickpocketing. The Spaniard in question grabbed hold of the ageing German and pushed him against the wall, before others rushed in to surround him. He was ultimately pushed and struck several times as the crowd forced him to empty his pockets and open his bag before police arrived. 'I arrived on vacation in Venice three days ago,' he told police officers, according to Venezia Today. 'I never expected something like this. I was attacked, beaten, and called a thief. Now I want to file a complaint against those who attacked me.' Retired police officers will be forced to give evidence to an inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave - which will begin later this year despite claims it is a 'waste' of taxpayer money. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the statutory public inquiry will investigate the events surrounding the clashes between police and miners at the Orgreave Coking Plant in South Yorkshire on June 18, 1984. The incident saw miners converge on the plant to try to disrupt deliveries before they were met with force by thousands of police officers. More than a hundred people were injured during the most violent day of the 1984-1985 miners' strike. Campaigners have long called for an inquiry to investigate claims of police brutality and the blaming of miners' for the violence as part of an alleged 'institutional frame-up'. In total, 95 picketers were arrested and initially charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited. But demands for an inquiry had long been resisted by politicians including the late Lord Tebbit, who called it a 'sheer waste of money' and pointed out that many of the people involved were dead. Today, the Taxpayers' Alliance told MailOnline it was concerned about the cost of holding such the inquiry, considering how expensive and long they tend to be. The inquiry will be statutory with powers to compel people to provide information where necessary, the Home Office said. The statutory inquiry will investigate the events surrounding the clashes between police and miners at the Orgreave Coking Plant in South Yorkshire on June 18, 1984 The incident saw miners converge on the plant to try to disrupt deliveries before they were met with force by thousands of police officer The inquiry - which was part of Labour's manifesto - was announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, has agreed to chair the inquiry, which the Home Office said is intended to 'aid the public's understanding of how the events on the day, and immediately after, came to pass'. Ms Cooper said what happened at Orgreave 'cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas'. She added: 'The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened. 'I pay tribute to the campaigners who never stopped in their search for truth and justice, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as we build an inquiry that gets the answers they and their communities deserve.' The Home Office said formal consultation between the Home Secretary and the Rt Revd Wilcox on the inquiry's terms of reference has begun. The Rt Revd Wilcox said he did not 'underestimate the weight of expectation or the significance of the task'. He added: 'I look forward to engaging with stakeholders in the coming weeks over the draft terms of reference, and to working with the government to identify experts to support me on the independent panel. 'I expect the panel to begin its work in the autumn, and we will endeavour to deliver an inquiry which is thorough and fair, and which will uncover what happened at Orgreave as swiftly as possible.' Demands for an inquiry had long been resisted by politicians including the late Lord Tebbit, who called it a 'sheer waste of money' and pointed out that many of the people involved were dead Police with riot shields face picketers during the confrontation on June 18, 1984 The Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign (OTJC) said it wanted to know who was responsible for 'organising and ordering the deployment of multiple police forces, including mounted police armed with truncheons, shields and dogs, against striking miners'. The campaign group said it wanted the inquiry to find out how it was decided that 'striking miners should be attacked and arrested at Orgreave and charged with riot and unlawful assembly, which carried heavy prison sentences'. It added that it wanted to know why 'the police operational order for police deployments that day disappeared and other evidence been destroyed or Embargoed until 2066 and 2071'. OTJC secretary, Kate Flannery, said the announcement of an inquiry was 'really positive news'. Ms Flannery added: 'We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films.' The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary, Chris Kitchen, said the inquiry was 'hugely welcome'. Mr Kitchen added: 'The events at Orgreave, and throughout the strike, destroyed the trust between the police and mining communities even now, 41 years later. 'It is vital that this trust is won back and the NUM believe this inquiry will go some way to rebuilding that trust.' The Battle of Orgreave took place at the height of a year-long industrial dispute with Margaret Thatcher's government Kevin Horne, a miner arrested at Orgreave, said: 'It is now over 41 years since a paramilitary style police operation was planned at Orgreave and it is important to remember that some of the miners attacked and arrested there are now dead and many others are old and ill. 'We need a quick and thorough inquiry with a tight timescale so that surviving miners can at last obtain the truth and justice they have been waiting for.' Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, said the inquiry was a 'landmark moment for justice and accountability'. Mr Coppard added: 'The Inquiry represents an opportunity to examine not only the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces on that day, but also the broader role of government at the time. 'It's a step towards setting the historical record straight, ensuring lessons are learned, and restoring public trust.' The internet is still obsessed with the kiss cam scandal involving former Astronomer CEO, Andy Byron, and his colleague Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert. Social media has been awash with new memes, jokes, and GIFs seemingly popping up every few minutes. It was supposed to be just another wholesome night under the stars as Coldplay serenaded thousands of fans in Massachusetts. But when the kiss-cam landed on one loved-up couple, things took a turn no one saw coming, least of all their spouses. Andy Byron, the now-former CEO of software firm Astronomer, was spotted getting rather cosy with colleague Kristin Cabot, the company's Chief People Officer, as the camera zoomed in on them. He quickly ducked down in a desperate bid to hide his face, and she looked away. Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin couldn't resist, quipping, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' Within hours, the clip had rocketed across social media, shared, dissected, and remixed by an army of amateur detectives, meme lords, and workplace gossip connoisseurs. Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were not pleased when their intimate moment was caught on the big screen during a Coldplay concert Since then, the internet has had a field day with several memes making light of the incident People on the internet are still coming up with creative ways to make light of the situation - nearly a week after it happened By the end of the week, Byron had resigned, Cabot was also placed on leave, and Coldplay's kiss-cam had cemented its place in the internet hall of fame. People have been having a field day with the scandal - from office romance memes to Coldplay-themed jokes, no one has been spared. TikTok sleuths turned into corporate HR experts overnight, while Twitter users transformed the drama into a soap opera with bite-sized episodes. Amid the drama, Chris Martin even got his digs in by cracking a joke during a concert in Madison, Wisconsin, on Saturday. Speaking to the crowd, he cheekily said: 'We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd.' 'How we're going to do that is we're going to use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen.' Despite the internet exploding with hot takes, memes and mock statements, Andy Byron has yet to issue any public apology following his very public kiss-cam moment at the Coldplay concert. Several fake statements, designed to appear as heartfelt apologies, have been circulating online, including one where he allegedly quoted Coldplay's 'Fix You' and begged forgiveness from his wife and staff. This meme attempts to capture the shock on the couple's face after seeing themselves on the big screen People have poked fun at the fact that Byron has resigned and Cabot has now been put on leave Some of the most iconic scenes from Friends have been remixed in relation to the incident One viral hoax even ended with the line: 'I hope one day she'll forgive me. But for now, I'll just let Coldplay fix me.' But Astronomer has confirmed that those statements are completely fake and did not come from Byron. The company also made it clear that only Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were involved, and that a board-led investigation is underway. But some PR experts have waded in on the issue, saying the incident could work out in Astronomer's favour. Some have described it as a 'blessing in disguise' for a previously low-profile data company. It is not just social media users who are still talking about the situation. Huge brands such as Ikea, Ryanair, Tesla, and Frido have all jumped on the viral moment. The car maker tweeted: 'Posting a pic of you enjoying your loaner Tesla while your own one is in service is the equivalent of taking it to a Coldplay concert.' This meme shows Batman projecting the image of the pair in the sky An advice to how to go to a concert if you're cheating on your partner was captured in this meme The popular Homer Simpson meme where he hides in bushes was used to describe how the couple may have felt Frido also showed an image of Byron cuddling one of their pillows instead of Cabot. Its caption read: 'Bro could have just used our Cuddle Pillow and avoided all that embarrassment.' A pro-Palestine protester who caused a scene at the end of a Royal Opera House performance has been reportedly identified as a self-described 'queer dance artist'. Daniel Perry, a privately educated performer who attended the 16,000-per-term Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, has worked as a dancer since 2013, according to an online biography. The artist - who uses 'they/them' pronouns - caused a scene during the curtain call of Il Trovatore on Saturday as they unfurled the Palestine flag on stage. Perry could be seen resisting a furious attempt by a man identified as Royal Opera director Oliver Mears to yank the flag out of their hands. They pull the flag back towards them, sending Mr Mears stumbling, as Perry's fellow performers awkwardly side-step out of the way of the carnage. The protesting performer then stands with the flag as - in video seen from another angle - a woman appears to remonstrate with them from behind a curtain. Self-described as a 'queer dance artist', Perry has privatised their social media accounts, one of which features the transgender, pride and Palestinian flags alongside a watermelon emoji - a symbol of pro-Palestine protest. A post earlier this month seen by MailOnline showed them standing outside the musical Cabaret in London's Charing Cross in a vest daubed with the slogan 'Free Palestine'. Daniel Perry could be seen resisting an attempt by a man identified as Royal Opera director Oliver Mears to drop a Palestinian flag after unfurling it on stage on Saturday Perry describes themselves as a 'queer dance artist' on Instagram. Their biography features transgender, rainbow and Palestine flags In the caption, they compared the events of the play - which charts the rise of the Nazi party in Germany through the lens of a Berlin cabaret club - to current events. They previously performed as a dancer in an earlier run of the play alongside Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, as well as West End productions of Mary Poppins and Carousel, according to a biography. An online CV suggests they also worked on a number of cruise lines as a dancer, and appeared in a straight-to-DVD gangster film and a TV advert for crisps. 'I decided to make this top and wear it as a reminder to myself, and to those around me, of the themes of the show and its relevance to our current times,' they wrote. 'I am so disappointed in an industry that I have worked in for over 10 years. Where is your support for those who need our help?' They also called for a boycott of Coca-Cola, which has been a target of the so-called 'boycott, divest, sanctions' movement targeting businesses that continue to trade with Israel amid its war with Hamas in Gaza. Perry is reported by The Telegraph to have been hired as a freelancer for the Royal Opera's latest run of Il Trovatore - a four-part opera composed by Verdi - which ended on Saturday night. A witness said the dancer unfurled a Palestinian flag during the opera's curtain call. They said: 'Someone from the opera house/company came on stage from the wings to try to remove the flag from the cast member who wrestled it back and refused to give it up during Il trovatore.' It remains unknown whether they have been reprimanded for their on-stage protest. The Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire charges up to 16,000 per term for boarding, or around 48,000 a year. Its alumni include Dame Julie Andrews and Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley. The man seen to attempt to yank the flag out of Perry's hands has been identified as Royal Opera director Oliver Mears (pictured) Perry unfurled the flag during the curtain call for the last night of Il Trovatore at the Royal Opera House on Saturday Perry has called for a boycott of businesses that continue to trade with Israel such as Coca-Cola, and compared the events of Cabaret to current events in Gaza Perry describes themselves as a Queer dance artist, choreographer/movement director and DJ Opera fan Stephen Ratcliffe, who was also watching the production, on X added: 'Controversy at end of Trovatore @rbo_org tonight when an extra/chorus member unfurled a Palestinian flag. 'Off stage manager tried to grapple with him but he held his ground. Bet he won't be working there again.' Royal Ballet and Opera - which counts the King as its patron - says the protest was 'spontaneous and unauthorised' and was 'not in line with our commitment to political impartiality'. It has previously staged concerts in solidarity with Ukraine, featuring performers who fled to Britain in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion. A spokesman said: 'The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist. 'It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.' MailOnline has contacted the Royal Ballet and Opera and Daniel Perry for further comment. At least 16 people, mostly students, were killed on Monday when a training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into a school campus in the capital Dhaka. More than 100 people were also injured in the accident, with at least 83 undergoing treatment in several hospitals, the office of interim leader Muhammad Yunus said. The jet crashed onto the campus of the Milestone School and College in the city's Uttara area in the afternoon, where children were present. Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash as bystander are seeing trying put out the flames. Other clips circulating on social media show crowds of students fleeing from the scene in a panic. The Bangladesh Army's public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force. Yunus added that 'necessary measures' would be taken to investigate the cause of the accident and 'ensure all kinds of assistance'. 'The loss suffered by the Air Force...students, parents, teachers and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable,' he said. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, killing at least one person Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash Firemen check the wreckage of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025 Local newspaper Prothom Alo said that initial reports indicated the plane had crashed onto the roof of the college canteen. The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in neighbouring India's Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. A preliminary report into the crash found that fuel switches for the engines of the doomed Boeing 787 Dreamliner began to lose thrust and sink down moments after setting of to London from the Indian city on June 12. 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, claiming the lives of all but one passenger on board and 19 people on the ground. Bangladesh's fire service and security personnel conduct a search and rescue operation after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21 Firefighters and soldiers work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft Volunteers cordon off the area after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft has crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh An ambulance carrying injured people comes out of the spot after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh The aircraft crashed on a campus of the Milestone School and College (pictured) in the city's Uttara area The Bangladesh Army's public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force Fire official Lima Khan stated by phone that at least one person died and four others were injurer and rushed to the Combined Military Hospital for treatment Screen crab shows school building surrounded by smoke following the crash Other videos on social media show crowds of students fleeing from the scene in a panic Screengrab shows bystanders running away from the scene of the crash in a panic Firefighters and volunteers work after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, 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. 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. '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 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. Firefighters work to remove the wreckage from a building, after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus Onlookers gather near the spot, after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus A helicopter hovers over security personnel making way for an ambulance carrying an injured victim after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21, 2025 People talk with an authority person at the site where an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus More than 50 people, including children and adults, were hospitalised with burns, a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery told Reuters Image shows a F-7 BGI training aircraft 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.' This is a breaking news story, more to follow. Seeing Oasis play together again was the only miracle that fan Mark Chapman had expected to see this month then the wheelchair users next to him stood up. The 32yearold, who has been unable to walk since the age of nine, has described the 'biblical' scenes at Manchester's Heaton Park as other fans in the accessible area abandoned their crutches when the Gallagher brothers took to the stage. He suspects fans desperate to secure briefs for the band's reunion tour are to blame after snapping them up from resellers who bought tickets meant for those with genuine disabilities. Accessible area tickets for the show were on secondary resale site Viagogo for 634 each, and were sold in pairs, reports suggest - despite companion tickets being added free of charge when booked officially. Videos and images Mr Chapman shared online showed crutches and wheelchairs ditched in the raised seating area, which is intended for those unable to stand. Around him, dozens of people were on their feet. The music superfan believes lax checks allowed those who had snapped up the resold ballots to enter while appearing to pretend they had a disability before seemingly abandoning all pretence to boogie with the brothers. He himself struggled to get tickets for the accessible area and ultimately had to buy standard tickets for himself and carer Sam Priest, who would normally be given a free ticket in order to accompany him. The Oasis fan was later able to get a refund for Sam's ticket after he contacted organisers to explain the situation and had to join a waiting list to enter the raised accessible area on the day itself. Have you struggled to get disabled seats for concerts because of resellers? Email: jon.brady@mailonline.co.uk Fans at an Oasis show earlier this month appeared to make miraculous recoveries from their disabilities, ditching wheelchairs and crutches Music superfan Mark Chapman, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has accused gig-goers of faking their disabilities to get into the prized Oasis shows He suspects people snapped up tickets for the accessible area via resale sites. Some were listed on Viagogo for 634 each - despite the fact carers go free with official vendors He said: 'There were loads of people in wheelchairs and with crutches, but when Oasis came on they all jumped out their wheelchairs and dropped their crutches and stood up for the whole gig for two hours. 'Me being quite severely disabled, I know that standing up for two hours is very, very unlikely.' Carer Sam added: 'We were joking Jesus Christ must have been on the platforms, there were so many miracles performed that night.' Mark was diagnosed with lifeshortening Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was five years old. The music podcaster, who went to over 100 gigs last year, has been an Oasis fan for 25 years and has seen Liam Gallagher perform live solo eight times. So, when the band announced they were reuniting Mark, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, was ecstatic. But he has since labelled the behaviour of those who appeared to feign disability 'appalling' and said their behaviour was tantamount to 'abuse'. 'The behavior of some attendees was unacceptable as they clearly weren't disabled,' he later said in a social media post. He later said: 'They were literally just standing for the whole time, they kept leaving the platform and joining their friends in front of the platform and leaving their wheelchairs behind and crutches behind, and when they went to the toilet. 'It's really frustrating. I could see people in front of the platform who were clearly struggling who had to stand there without a seat, and there were people on the platform who didn't need to be there. 'A lot of my friends applied who were also disabled and they didn't get any tickets whatsoever. 'It was frustrating knowing that there's people who needed to be there who couldn't.' Mr Chapman watching the gig - as one of the few people with genuine disabilities that appeared to be at the show Oasis gig-goers on July 12 - wit crutches dumped and a wheelchair seemingly abandoned by bucket hat-wearing fans Liam and Noel Gallagher taking to the stage at Heaton Park on July 11 - the night before Mr Chapman went to see them perform Tickets for the sold-out shows went for obscene amounts on resale sites despite Ticketmaster vowing that those who bought second-hand briefs would not get in Tickets for the accessible section at Heaton Park were available in pairs for 634 each on Viagogo, according to the SWNS news agency. The number of tickets for accessible areas that were sold on the platform is thought to have been small. A spokesperson told MailOnline that any tickets for accessible areas require users to provide valid proof of their disability. They said: 'Viagogo takes the integrity of event access very seriously and all listings have to adhere to our rules and regulations. 'When sellers list tickets with accessibility designations, such as a wheelchair user, they are required to clearly state this on the listing. 'Any buyer purchasing one of these tickets will have to provide valid proof of disability before the transaction is able to be completed. 'If the buyer is unable to provide proof then the transaction is cancelled by viagogo. 'This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure tickets intended for fans with disabilities are used appropriately and fairly.' Similarly, a man with cerebral palsy who went viral earlier earlier this month after he was held aloft by fans to see the gig on Friday July 11 had been unable to get access to the accessible seating area. Daniel Tester, 37, was held up by fellow Britpop fans to see the show after his sister Jemma was unable to get hold of the tickets meant for those with disabilities. BBC News reported that Jemma had been 'unable to secure access' to the area for her brother, who uses a wheelchair. Both fans say the gig was lifechanging all the same but questions remain over why fans with disabilities struggled to access the area meant for them while those who were seemingly not disabled could carry on with impunity. Adam Webb, campaign manager at anti-tout body the FanFair Alliance, said: 'Over the years, viagogo has been mired in controversies and legal actions around the world. 'But this really takes the biscuit. It's absolutely disgraceful that the platform's operators appear to be allowing touts to exploit accessible ticket allocations in this way - effectively treating them like 2 for 1 offers. 'Our campaign continues to uncover evidence of endemic anti-consumer and illegal practices taking place on these under-regulated, offshore ticket resale websites. 'That's why we fully support the Government's manifesto commitment to introduce additional protection measures - including a resale price cap - to prevent British audiences being ripped off. Those measures cannot come soon enough.' The Oasis tour is continuing through the end of July and August in the UK and Ireland before heading across to North America. The Gallaghers then return to Wembley for further shows in September. Accessible tickets for September shows at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium are listed on Viagogo for up to 789, MailOnline found today. The tickets are listed as being for the 'West Accessible' zone of the rugby stadium. They only appear on the 'global' version of the site, viagogo.com, and do not appear on viagogo.co.uk. Tickets for the accessible area of Oasis shows at Murrayfield are on the 'global' version Viagogo for 695 each - with others listed for more. They do not appear on the UK-facing site A disabled Oasis fan was lifted into the air so he could see the Gallagher brothers perform this month - as his sister told the BBC she could not get accessible area tickets In the months ahead of the tour, Ticketmaster had vowed to cancel thousands of tickets that it believed had been listed for resale. It says it verifies 'all' accessible bookings made via its platform. Briefs were being offered for amounts in excess of 7,000 after seemingly being snapped up by professional touts. The Government is currently mulling over how to tackle the problem of professional touting following a consultation earlier this year, and has proposed capping the prices at which tickets can be resold to disincentivise touting. A Ticketmaster spokesperson said: 'To make sure accessible tickets only go to those who need them, we verify all accessible bookings made on Ticketmaster. 'After purchasing, fans have three weeks to submit their accessibility requirements via their Ticketmaster account or app. If they are unable to do so, those tickets are cancelled. 'The unauthorised resale of accessible tickets for profit on these websites is yet another reason we fully support the Government's proposed industry-wide resale cap. 'As well as protecting fans from inflated prices by removing the incentive for touts, it would help ensure that accessible tickets are reserved for those who genuinely need them.' Some fans have opted not to even buy tickets for Oasis at all - instead climbing huge metal fences or even disguising themselves as litter pickers in order to see the shows. Gig promoter LiveNation was approached for comment. Former Labor leader Mark Latham has furiously hit out at his former party after a note was added to his parliamentary portrait condemning his behaviour. The portrait will continue to hang in Parliament House despite Latham, who was banned from Labor in 2017, being accused of domestic violence. Latham strongly denies the untested claims made in a civil court apprehended violence order application by his former partner Nathalie Matthews, and said he has 'broken no laws'. Ms Matthews alleged a 'sustained pattern' of abuse. Her allegations include he pressured her to take part in 'degrading' sex acts. Calls have grown since the claims were made public for his official portrait in Labor's federal party room to be removed. But a Labor caucus meeting on Monday was told a 'unanimous consensus position' had been reached where the framed picture would remain, but with a caption that would provide context. The words will read: 'In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and fail to meet the standards we expect and demand.' Mark Latham (pictured) led Labor from 2003 to 2005 before being banned in 2017 A note condemning Latham's behaviour has been added to his Parliamentary portrait The decision to add context to Latham's portrait was the right one, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said. She said it was a 'recognition' that Latham's behaviour and attitudes don't align with the modern Australian Labor Party and that the wording allowed people to feel something had been done. Latham led Labor between 2003 and 2005 and currently sits as an independent in the NSW upper house. He has been hit with calls to resign over sexually explicit messages allegedly sent to his former partner while sitting in the chamber of parliament. On Monday, Latham hit back on X, and said: 'Can't the Labor caucus go the full Stalin and white me [out] with a trace around my head?' He then shared a picture of himself at a table with mostly glamorous women, adding that this should instead be used as his parliamentary portrait. The women at the table included his former partner Ms Matthews and comedian Carly Electric. It is not suggested Latham had a relationship with any of the guests at the table other than Ms Matthews. Latham hit back on social media and mocked his former party Latham shared a picture of himself at a table with mostly glamorous women and said this should instead be used as his official portrait Latham lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard. The campaign was marked by his aggressive handshake with Howard outside the ABC's radio studios on election-eve. The infamous episode was largely blamed for his election defeat and delivered the Howard government a fourth term. Latham retired from politics a year later in 2005 before joining the Liberal Democratic Party in 2017, leading to a ban from his former party. He joined One Nation's NSW branch in 2018, but was sacked as its leader in 2023 following a homophobic social media post. The Federal Court in 2024 ordered Latham pay independent NSW politician Alex Greenwich $140,000 in damages over the homophobic post. On Monday night, Anthony Albanese weighed in on the allegations and said that he never wanted Latham to be his party's leader. Anthony Albanese spoke about the allegations against Latham on Monday night and said he campaigned against him being party leader 20 years ago 'Mark Latham has views which I find repulsive across a range of areas,' Mr Albanese told ABC's 7.30. 'He's someone who I regret being elected leader of the Labor Party.' Mr Albanese said his feelings were not in 'retrospect' as he had been doing the numbers for Kim Beazley during the 2003 leadership challenge which Latham narrowly won. 'History has proven that judgment to be correct. Mark Latham since ... has gone further and further and further away from any values that represent mainstream Australia,' he said. European Union citizens could be allowed to work in Britain for up to three years under a reciprocal 'youth mobility scheme', a senior minister has indicated. Nick Thomas-Symonds said he aimed to model the scheme on those the UK already has with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. These allow those aged 18-30 to live and work her for two years, with a possible year extension, but have a cap on the number allowed it. The EU Relations Minister had been battling Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who reportedly wanted the scheme to have a 12-month limit, as those here for longer feature in migration statistics. The length of the scheme Mr Thomas-Symonds is looking to confirm with Brussels is likely to raise fears that it is a way of re-introducing freedom of movement for thousands of foreign workers. The UK's mobility agreement with Australia is capped at 45,00, although only 9,750 visas were issued in 2024. But the EU has pushed for a much higher cap. Speaking to the Times Mr Thomas-Symonds said he planned to 'deliver the smart, controlled, balanced scheme that I agreed on in the common understanding', which would be longer than 12 months. 'There's 13 of them that already exist, and it's in that context that we will be negotiating with the EU but the idea or suggestion that this is somehow freedom of movement is completely wrong,' he said. Nick Thomas-Symonds (pictured in May with European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic) said he aimed to model the scheme on those the UK already has with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Your browser does not support iframes. These allow those aged 18-30 to live and work her for two years, with a possible year extension, but have a cap on the number allowed it. 'Nobody says we have freedom of movement with Andorra or Uruguay, with whom we already have youth mobility schemes.' In May EU official last night suggested it would want the scheme to be similar in scale to the one Britain has with Australia. However, given the EU's population is 450million, compared to Australia's 26million, it raises the prospect of allowing in 500,000 from the continent. The Brussels official told the Times at the time: 'Are Australians better than Europeans? If the same model applies, then the numbers would have to be much higher or it would be hurtful. 'What is the British problem with our young people, our children?' Downing Street has insisted there are a series of 'red lines' for those continuing discussions. These include EU migrants not being able to bring dependents or claim benefits under the proposed scheme, while they must pay to use the NHS. No10 also stressed there would be a cap on the number of youth visas that would be issued to EU nationals. Water bills will rise 30 per cent over the next five years, an independent report warned today as the Government confirmed the regulator will be abolished. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said Ofwat will be scrapped as part of an overhaul of a 'broken' regulatory system that has failed customers and the environment. He made the announcement this morning in response to an independent review by Sir Jon Cunliffe commissioned by the Government to answer public fury over pollution in rivers, lakes and seas, soaring bills, shareholder pay outs and bosses' bonuses. Mr Reed said in a speech at London's Kingfisher Wharf that a move to create a single 'powerful' regulator taking in the functions of four existing bodies with overlapping functions would curb pollution and 'prevent the abuses of the past for customers'. He also said it would ensure 'British families are never again hit by the shocking bill hikes we saw last year', and committed to cut water companies' sewage pollution in half within five years. It comes after the largest review of the sector since privatisation advised the system for regulating water companies should be overhauled and replaced with one body for England and one body for Wales. The long-awaited final report from the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon, outlined 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments to turn around the ailing industry. Sir Jon said today that bills would rise by 30 per cent over the next five years due to a failure to invest in the sector amid a growing population and climate change. Environment Secretary Steve Reed speaks to the media at Kingfisher Wharf in London this morning following the publication of the Independent Water Commission report Your browser does not support iframes. He told BBC Breakfast: 'Bills are going to rise by 30 per cent over the next five years. There are some inescapable facts here. The cost of producing water and dealing with our wastewater is going up. 'Climate change, higher environmental standards, demographic pressure, the population is going up. Just that need to renew ageing infrastructure. Key recommendations in water sector review The much-anticipated final report from the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, has outlined 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments to turn around the ailing industry. Here are some of the key recommendations in the report: - Overhauling the current system of regulation The review recommends overhauling the regulators and replacing them with one body for England and one body for Wales. For England, this would see Ofwat and the Drinking Water Inspectorate abolished, and the removal of the environmental regulation functions for the Environment Agency and Natural England. Instead, a 'joined-up' and 'powerful' single integrated water regulator would be established. In Wales, Ofwat's economic responsibilities would be integrated into Natural Resources Wales, the review said. - Setting up regional planning authorities Eight new regional water system planning authorities in England and one national authority in Wales should be set up, the review says. This would involve devolving current planning responsibilities and transferring resources from the regulators to these new authorities, which would be responsible for developing water investment plans that reflect local priorities and voices. - Introducing stronger consumer protections The commission recommends measures such as expanding the role of the voluntary Consumer Council for Water into an ombudsman to give stronger protection to customers and a clearer route to resolving complaints. It also proposes the introduction of a national social tariff to provide consistent support for low-income customers who need help to pay their bills and to transfer responsibility for consumer advocacy to Citizens Advice. - Stronger environmental regulations The report proposes stronger regulation on abstraction, sludge, drinking water standards and water supply. It also recommends improving the process where companies collect and analyse wastewater discharges they make into waterways by introducing more digitalisation, automation, third-party assurance and inspections. After one of the driest springs on record, it recommends compulsory water metering, changes to wholesale tariffs for industrial users and greater water reuse and rainwater harvesting schemes. - Tightening oversight of water company ownership and governance The commission recommends new regulatory powers to block changes to water company ownership, for example, where investors are not seen to be prioritising the long-term interests of the company and its customers. It also suggests new 'public benefit' clauses in water company licences and recommends the regulator set 'minimum capital' requirements so that companies are less reliant on debt and more financially resilient. - Public health reforms The report covers legislative reforms to better manage public health risks in water, recognising the many people who swim, surf and enjoy other water-based activities. These include public health objectives in water quality legislation, senior public health representation on regional water planning authorities and legislative changes to address emerging pollutants such as PFAs, also known as forever chemicals, micropollutants and microplastics. - Fundamentally resetting economic regulation This recommendation includes a new 'supervisory' approach that supports tailored decisions and earlier interventions in water company oversight. The report also makes recommendations on the Price Review process, including changes to ensure companies are investing in and maintaining assets and to help attract long-term, low-risk investment. - Providing a clear strategic direction The commission said both the UK and Welsh governments should publish a new long-term National Water Strategy with a minimum horizon of 25 years and interim milestones. It also says a set of ministerial priorities specifically for the water industry should be issued to regulators every five years, replacing the current strategic policy statement. - Infrastructure and asset health reforms The report sets out changes in how water infrastructure is managed, monitored and delivered to better safeguard the provision of water and management of wastewater for future generations. They include new requirements for companies to map and assess their assets - such as pipes, treatment works and pumping stations. It also calls for resilience standards that are forward-looking and applied consistently across the industry. Advertisement 'The problem comes when you suddenly go from not investing for a long period, to massive investment, in order to catch up. That's really what's driven those huge bill increases that we've seen. 'We need to help the most vulnerable, we also need to smooth that over a long period so that people can cope with the higher costs of water. And the regulators have a really important job in squeezing efficiency, incentivising the companies to be more efficient.' Later this morning, Mr Reed announced that the Labour Government will scrap Ofwat as part of the 'biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation'. He said: 'Today I can announce that the Labour Government will abolish Ofwat. In the biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation, we will bring water functions from four different regulators into one.' Mr Reed said the new single regulator would be 'powerful' and 'responsible for the entire water sector', with a clear mandate to 'stand firmly on the side of customers, investors and the environment'. 'It will prevent the abuses of the past,' he said. 'For customers, it will oversee investment and maintenance so hardworking British families are never again hit by the shocking bill hikes we saw last year.' Mr Reed also declared 'today marks the start of a water revolution' as he unveiled plans for a new body to end the 'tangle of ineffective regulation' and deliver for customers, investors and the environment. 'For the environment, it will cut all forms of pollution to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good,' he said. Ofwat will remain in place during the transition, but Mr Reed said it would be given a clear mandate to provide strong leadership in the interim. 'This is our chance to make sure our children and their children can create the same wonderful memories we remember from our own childhoods,' he added. 'Splashing about in the waves on the beach, rowing along a river, without having to worry about toxic sewage pollution. Today marks the start of a water revolution.' Mr Reed also said the water industry is 'broken' and has been allowed to fail under a 'regulatory system that let them get away with it'. He added: 'Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted with record levels of sewage.' Mr Reed blamed soaring water bills for straining household finances and warned that poor infrastructure is holding back economic growth. He thanked Sir Jon and his team for their 'outstanding' report and said he would give a fuller response in the Commons this afternoon. 'Water companies have been allowed to profit at the expense of the British people,' he said. The Prime Minister's official spokesman insisted the target set for cutting sewage leaks was 'the most ambitious target any government has ever made'. When it was pointed out the target was lower than that already in place he added: 'This is a credible plan, unlike previous plans that have not been delivered.' He insisted that Mr Reed had the Prime Minister's full support. Sir Jon's report, published this morning, recommended far-reaching changes to the way the water system is regulated as it called the current landscape 'fragmented and overlapping'. For England, proposals included abolishing Ofwat, which oversees how much water companies in England and Wales can charge for services, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which ensures that public water supplies are safe. The report also advised removing the regulatory roles of the Environment Agency and Natural England, which monitor the sector's impact on nature, such as companies illegally dumping sewage into waterways. Instead, a 'joined-up' and 'powerful' single integrated water regulator should be established, according to the recommendations. In Wales, Ofwat's economic responsibilities would be integrated into Natural Resources Wales, the review said. The current system has faced intense criticism for overseeing water companies during the years they paid out shareholders and accrued large debts while ageing infrastructure crumbled and sewage spills skyrocketed. Other recommendations from the commission include stronger consumer advocacy, nine new regional water authorities to deliver on local priorities, significant improvements to environmental regulation and tighter oversight of company ownership and governance. The regional authorities - eight in England and one national authority in Wales - would see current planning responsibilities devolved and resources from regulators transferred to ensure investments reflect local priorities and voices. In a speech at the London Water and Steam Museum today, Sir Jon opened by comparing the current water crisis to the 'great stink' of 1888. He said: 'I have more than once thought of the Great Stink when leading the Independent Water Commission on water over the last nine months.' 'While today we enjoy safe water and clean sanitation to a level would have been unimaginable 165 years ago, there are many parallels,' he said, such as a system under huge pressure from economic and population growth. 'If we are to achieve the water sector we need, we need to look at all the factors that contribute to our Great Stink moment. 'And the water industry, of course is at the heart of this, and the industry as a whole has not met public expectations or maintained public rust. 'In recent years, some companies have manifestly acted in their private interest but against the public interest and that must be prevented in future.' On the economic regulation of water companies, Sir Jon said there needs to be a 'fundamental rebalancing', saying the regulatory culture has become 'too adversarial'. Protesters during a Surfers Against Sewage 'Paddle-Out Protest' in Brighton in May last year He said: 'There needs to be a fundamental rebalancing of this approach to economic regulation and oversight of water companies, a rebalancing towards a closer judgment-based survervisory engagement with individual water companies. 'This will require a fundamental shift in capability and also a shift in regulatory culture that has become too adversarial on both sides.' Sir Jon also said privatising companies boosted investment and efficiency in the sector but performance has now plateaued. He said: 'The Commission recognises the motivation behind this but our assessment is that it has taken this approach beyond the limits of its effectiveness and indeed to a point where it may have become counterproductive in terms of performance of the industry as a whole and of its ability to attract investment.' Asked about whether the report endorsed the regulatory forbearance for embattled Thames Water that its creditors have called for, Sir Jon said: 'I don't think so. 'What the report says is that there will be circumstances in which that is in the public interest but it also says that there are circumstances where what is required is disproportionate and is not in the broader public interest to give that forbearance. 'And there will be circumstances in which, no matter what forbearance you think might be possible, actually you don't think the company is recoverable and you need to go straight to the administration regime.' Environment Secretary Steve Reed gives a speech at Kingfisher Wharf in London this morning He later added: 'But there are times when, in order to pursue capital, you actually make the problem you're trying to fix worse. I can't say what the right answer is for Thames.' Sir Jon also suggested a new water regulator would take two years to set up after looking at the timeframe for setting up Ofcom, the communications regulator, in the early 2000s. Questioned after his speech on how the process could take and whether it needs new leadership, he said: 'I don't know how long. We didn't go through an implementation plan. 'We did look at the issues, facilities that would get broken, the people that would have to move. We engaged with the regulators and asked them to explain what the cost would be. People have different views. We took a judgment in the end of what was needed. 'We looked at Ofcom, which took two years. Some of it depends on how fast legislation is introduced, because you could do things before legislation but actually we need the legislation to come in. And it was two years to bring the regulation together. I'm under no illusion that there is a whole trail of culture and systems that have to happen after. But the Ofcom one was two years... to get the major change in and the new institution functioning. 'Leadership, this sort of thing needs very high level leadership but it requires also a sort of balance of skills and expertise that we don't have at the moment because the regulators aren't set up in that way.' The Thames Water Deephams Sewage Treatment Works in London, pictured in March He later added: 'These are some of the issues that Government will have to tackle going forward.' Earlier, Sir Jon told Times Radio that regulators have failed to work together to make the sector deliver and blamed the Government for not giving clear direction. 'It's the failure of Government to balance out all the different pressures on water,' he said, adding that firms 'need to perform better' and 'be funded to invest'. The Government backed the commission's findings, with water minister Emma Hardy saying consumers have been 'failed time and time again'. Also speaking on Times Radio, she said 'root-and-branch reform' is needed to fix the crisis and told listeners the Government is considering a piece of primary legislation to deliver many of the proposed changes. Ms Hardy also described trust in the water industry as at 'the lowest ever level' and criticised executives for handing out pay rises and bonuses. 'Everyone knows the system is broken,' she said. 'And they give themselves huge pay rises.' However, the minister also ruled out supporting Government intervention to cap pay in the private sector. Ex-Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe led the Independent Water Commission Ms Hardy said: 'I don't think as Government we should say what private companies should pay. But I will say - read the room. Look how angry and furious people are.' Other key recommendations in the review include: Expanding the role of the voluntary Consumer Council for Water (CCW) into an ombudsman to give stronger protection to customers and a clearer route to resolving complaints. Significant improvements to environmental regulation, including the process where companies collect and analyse wastewater discharges they make into waterways, by introducing more digitalisation, automation, third-party assurance and inspections. Tightening oversight of water company ownership and governance through measures such as new regulatory powers to block changes to water company ownership and 'minimum capital' requirements so that companies are less reliant on debt. Introducing legislative reforms to better manage public health risks in water, recognising the many people who swim, surf and enjoy other water-based activities. Fundamentally resetting economic regulation, including a new 'supervisory' approach that supports tailored decisions and earlier interventions in water company oversight. Elsewhere, the report shared proposals on implementation, including which reforms can be delivered in the short term and which require new primary legislation. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, pictured by the Hogsmill River in London in March 2024, called for the creation of a Clean Water Authority that could 'hold these water companies to account' Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have said that water regulation needs to change. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called for the creation of a Clean Water Authority that could 'hold these water companies to account' and 'fine them when they fail'. Tory shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins urged the Government to be 'transparent' about what would replace Ofwat, but also accused Labour of copying the policies of the previous government. Environmental campaigners and consumer groups have offered sharply contrasting responses to the landmark report. Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said public trust in water companies had been 'drained' by poor environmental performance and wider service failures. Mr Keil added: 'The commission has set out significant changes to the regulatory system. 'But water companies have always had the freedom to do what's right by their customers - and many have made bad choices.' Mr Keil said affordability must be a key focus of reform, with households already struggling following this year's sharp rise in water bills. 'More people are turning to CCW to complain about not being able to afford their bill,' he said. 'Over two in five households have told us they've cut spending on essentials like food to make ends meet. 'The case for a single social tariff for water has never been more urgent.' He welcomed recommendations to make the existing voluntary ombudsman scheme mandatory, saying: 'We're delighted the commission has recommended building on our work at a time when we're seeing more people turn to us for help.' But River Action chief executive James Wallace accused the commission of falling short, saying it had 'blinked' when faced with a chance to break with the past. 'This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset a broken and corrupted system,' he said. 'Instead, we've been handed vague policy nudges that leave the current failed privatised water company model intact.' Mr Wallace said nothing less than 'a credible plan to rescue Britain's rivers, lakes and seas' was needed, including a clear path to bring 'failing companies like Thames Water into public control'. He called on the Government to put Thames Water into special administration as a 'powerful statement of intent', warning: 'Our water is our life-blood and not for sale.' Water UK, the trade body for the water companies, welcomed the commission's findings, calling reform 'long overdue'. A spokesperson said: 'Everyone agrees the system has not been working. 'These recommendations should establish the foundations to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.' Richard Benwell, a member of the Independent Water Commission's expert advisory group and chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said a 'culture of rule-breaking and non-compliance' was harming rivers and wetlands, and called for a more powerful and independent environmental regulator. He welcomed the proposal for new Regional Water Authorities but warned reforms would fall short without proper funding and a clear steer from Government. 'Reforming regulators without fixing resourcing and remit would be painting over cracks,' he said. Ali Morse, water policy manager at The Wildlife Trusts, said the report offered 'strong recommendations' for more integrated, regionally driven planning, but warned time was running out to act. 'The commission has set the framework - now the Government must act with purpose,' she said. Gary Carter, national officer at the GMB union, said the report confirmed what the union had argued for years - that water privatisation had been a 'disastrous failure'. He accused company bosses of profiting while the water infrastructure 'crumbles through lack of investment' and sewage pollutes rivers. 'It's a disgrace - and one Ofwat has overseen,' he said. 'Now is the time to fundamentally reform the water sector and renationalise this vital resource.' Advertisement Nigel Farage has claimed he can halve crime as he warned that parts of British society are 'collapsing'. The Reform leader insisted he could achieve the massive reduction within five years, suggesting there would be a New York-style 'zero tolerance' approach. At a press conference in London, Mr Farage pointed to shoplifting and muggings in London, and argued that large numbers of immigrants were making the streets less safe. However, Mr Farage faced questions about the cost of the proposals, with criticism that Reform is making huge promises without saying how they would be funded. He estimated that there would need to be 17.4billion spent over the next Parliament, but said the country could not 'afford' to tackle crime - which was costing far more. Mr Farage said the police would be required to investigate all crimes and see serious offenders spend years more behind bars in 'proper justice'. Measures include the introduction of 'saturation stop and search' in high crime areas, with as many as one in five people stopped to send out a message that crime will not be tolerated. Nigel Farage insisted he could achieve the massive reduction within five years, suggesting there would be a New York-style 'zero tolerance' approach Your browser does not support iframes. Thousands more prison places would be built on disused Ministry of Defence land to end the need for early release. The most serious offenders could be forced to serve their time in jails overseas, including in El Savador's notorious supermax prisons. He acknowledged he had not yet spoken to the authorities there, but stressed they were already willing to take prisoners from the US. Mr Farage said he was in talks with Albanian leader Edi Rama about taking back all nationals serving sentences in the UK. The MP committed to recruiting 30,000 new police officers, ending early release for prisoners convicted of serious violent, sexual or knife offences. Mr Farage conceded that very little of the programme will be possible until the UK leaves the European Court of Human Rights. The UK would have to give six months' notice of the exit to the Council of Europe - a separate organisation to the EU. But a Reform government would almost certainly have to pass legislation confirming the desire to leave, similar to that needed for Brexit. Experts believe Mr Farage would also have to repeal or significantly amend a swathe of domestic legislation including the Human Rights Act. In the absence of approval from Holyrood all devolution laws might need to be torn up, including the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. The worst offenders could be sent to brutal jails in El Salvador He said: 'We will cut crime in half. We will take back control of our streets, we will take back control of our courts and prisons.' Mr Farage expressed fears that 'nobody in London understands how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country'. 'Don't underestimate the simmering anger and disgust that there is in this country that we are letting in every week many hundreds of undocumented young males, many of whom come from cultures in which women and young girls are not even treated as second-class citizens,' he said. Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Farage said he was putting criminals 'on notice' that Britain's soft-touch justice system will come to an end if Reform win the next election. Mr Farage warned that law-abiding members of the public have been left felling 'helpless' by the way crime has been 'normalised' in recent years and pledge to 'take back control of our streets from the criminals who currently plague them'. 'Reform UK will be the toughest party on law and order this country has ever seen,' he wrote. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'Nigel Farage is writing his own crime fiction. Their own document admits it is unfunded - which means they are not being honest about the price you will pay for their policies just like Labour. 'This is the same Nigel Farage who calls immigration enforcement "divisive", wants an amnesty for illegal immigrants who've "integrated", and says mass deportation is a "political impossibility". You cannot trust a word he says. 'While Farage churns out soundbites based on totally unfunded and uncosted plans that would leave hard working families forced to pay for them through tax rises, the Conservatives are doing the hard graft. 'Our Deportation Bill will disapply the Human Rights Act, deport every foreign criminal, and close the legal loopholes Labour won't touch. If the ECHR stands in the way, we'll leave it.' Bali detectives have discovered a second firearm allegedly used in the gangland killing of an Australian man. Zivan 'Stipe' Radmanovic, 35, was shot dead in front of his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas shortly after midnight on June 14 at a villa in Munggu, in the Indonesian island's south. A second man staying in the villa, Sanar Ghanim, 34, was left seriously injured in the alleged attack. Radmanovic's wife Jazmyn Gourdeas and her sister Daniella, who is the partner of Ghanim, hid under covers in a bedroom as two gunmen stormed the villa. Senior Commissioner Ariasandy said on Monday, during a press conference at Badung Police Station, that officers had found a second handgun believed to have been used in the shooting. He said: 'We have found a nine millimetre caliber pistol, discovered by investigators in an irrigation stream, not far from the crime scene where the victim's vehicle had been found.' Badung Police Chief Batubara explained the second firearm was found 15 days after the shooting and about one week after officers found the first gun. 'The second weapon was found around 50 meters from the location where the first gun was found. Radmanovic (right) was shot dead in front of his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas (left) on June 14 at a villa in Munggu, in Bali's south Bali Police display evidence at a press conference on Monday relating to the shooting of Zivan 'Stipe' Radmanovic and Sanar Ghanim Ghanim (pictured) survived the attack, but was left seriously injured and recently underwent surgery 'After we found the first gun, there were several days of bad weather, including heavy rain, which caused the irrigation channel to flood. 'We found the second gun buried in the sands in Tabanan.' Mr Ariasandy confirmed the second firearm has been sent for forensic examination. 'We now strongly believe that the handgun found is one of the two firearms used in the fatal shooting of the victim,' he said. 'Based on forensic laboratory results, we have confirmed the balaclava and gloves recovered from the crime scene, believed to belong to one of the perpetrators, contained DNA that matches one of the suspects currently in custody. 'The DNA found on the balaclava and gloves is identical to one of the suspect.' Three Australian men Paea-I-Middlemore Tupou, 26, Mevlut Coskun, 23, and Darcy Francesco Jenson, 27 have been arrested and may face the firing squad if found guilty. Bali Police have said they believe the discovered firearm is one of two handguns used in the fatal shooting The three Australians (pictured in orange t-shirts) who been arrested include Paea-I-Middlemore Tupou (left), Darcy Francesco Jenson (middle) and Mevlut Coskun (right) Bali police will allege Melbourne men Mr Coskun and Mr Paea-I-Middlemore were the gunmen while Mr Jenson, from Sydney, helped plan the murder, while also providing a sledgehammer and hire cars for the getaway. The shooting is understood to be connected to Melbourne's feuding Middle Eastern crime syndicates. Mr Ghanim survived the shooting but Bali police confirmed he recently underwent surgery and his condition is not currently known. The latest update in the chilling case comes after the DNA of Mr Radmanovic was found on the shoe of a suspect. Earlier this month, Mr Ariasandy said: 'We found evidence linking the perpetrator to the items found at the crime scene... DNA on the suspect, which turned out to be the victim's DNA. 'This is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that indicates the suspect is the perpetrator, the executor of the crime.' At the scene police found 17 bullet casings and 55 bullet fragments at the scene. Bali Police revealed how the gang of suspects allegedly fled across Indonesia after the shooting, escaping the scene on motorbikes before switching cars twice on an 18hour, 1200km getaway to Jakarta. The three can be held without charge for months while police investigate the killing. A TikTok boxing star clashed with protesters outside the controversial migrant hotel in Essex on Sunday. Social media influencer and boxer Ed Matthews joined angry locals gathered outside The Bell Hotel in Epping to protest against its use as accommodation for asylum seekers after a man staying there was charged over three 'sexual assaults'. Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied a number of offences. Thursday's demonstration started peacefully, but ended with three arrests after clashes with counter protesters and an incident which saw a police van drive into a man. Six arrests were made during the protest on Sunday evening which attracted more counter demonstrations and has spilled over in to today as people continue to stand outside this morning. Matthews, 24, from Brentwood in Essex, has over 248,000 Instagram followers, livestreamed his visit to the protest. He could be seen posing for selfies with fans before approaching police officers standing outside the hotel with a can of Stella in hand. This is the moment TikTok boxing star Ed Matthews clashed with protesters outside the controversial migrant hotel in Essex on Sunday Matthews was seen asking a police officer if it would be illegal for him to drink his can of Stella in front of him He ignored the officers warning and proceeded to tell those around him to 'move out the way' before piercing a hole in the can and drinking from it in a bizarre performance 'If I shotgun this, is that illegal?', he asked one officer who replied: 'Why would you do that mate? Drink your Stella somewhere else.' However, Matthews ignored the cop and proceeded to tell those around him to 'move out the way' before piercing a hole in the can and drinking from it in a bizarre performance recorded by men with cameras. The influencer seemed to be under the impression he was popular with all of the protesters as he walked around confidently with his own film crew in tow. But things got awkward when he was confronted by others who were less than impressed with his presence. Calling him over for a chat, one man shouted: 'You come down here for your ten followers? Don't come over here filming.' A few of the other demonstrators attempted to hide their faces with their hoods and t-shirts as Matthews and his cameraman approached. Matthews defended himself, insisting 'everyone's filming', and when asked why he had joined them said: 'I'm here for the right reasons.' The man then told him off for his stunt with his can of beer in front of officers, telling him he's making the whole protest look like a 'joke' and told him to 'do things properly'. Calling him over for a chat, one man shouted: 'You come down here for your ten followers? Don't come over here filming' The man then told him off for his stunt with his can of beer in front of officers, telling him he's making the whole protest look like a 'joke' and told him to 'do things properly' The hotel (above) has been operating as an asylum hotel on and off for the last five years 'What are you here promoting? Stella? I'm here to protect the kids,' the man added as they began to square up to each other. Matthews attempted to walk away when another man said: 'Take your camera and f*** off.' The pair then got into a heated discussion as the TikToker asked: 'Why are you being rude mate? We are here for the right reason, ain't we?' 'No you ain't, you're here because you want f***ing content,' the man replied. Waving his beer in the air, Matthew said: 'What? Because I had a Stella?' But the man had clearly had enough and knocked the can out of his hand as he said: 'I don't give a s**t about the Stella. Get out of here now, I'm telling you to f**k off.' Matthews then sulked off towards a group of younger boys who looked overjoyed to see him. The men can be heard still shouting about how he should join them in protesting peacefully, to which he shouted back: 'We should all be working together. This is what they want mate, for us all to be arguing. 'We are all here for the right reasons. No need to get rude.' He then joined a group of people who were standing on the back of a pick-up truck to watch some commotion between officers and protesters. 'Do you think I want the streets unsafe?' he said into the camera, adding: 'It's just people kicking off for the livestream. There's no need for it.' One young fan asked him if he was okay after getting his Stella knocked out of his hand, to which he replied: 'I'm good. It's cool, I'm driving anyway.' Essex Police said six arrests were made on Sunday night for 'violent disorder' after the peaceful protests turned into 'mindless thuggery'. A police officer was seen with blood running down his cheek outside The Bell Hotel last night Protesters took to the streets for another day - with marchers seen holding red smoke flares aloft as demonstrators displayed signs behind them Riot police followed a march into the town centre as protesters gathered in the area a second time Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which had begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle.' The force announced before the protest that it would order demonstrators to remove face coverings when requested under section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. They said anyone who refused to remove a face mask when asked to do so was likely to be arrested and could be imprisoned if convicted. Officers said: 'The right to peaceful protest is protected by law and allows everyone freedom of expression, but this must be done respectfully and if there is a risk to public order, we will act appropriately.' Demonstrators gathering on Sunday displayed signs which opposed the hotel holding migrants as protestors let off red, white and blue smoke flares. Bottles and flares were thrown towards police vehicles stationed outside the hotel by some protesters who led chants such as 'send them home' and 'save our kids'. Police also surrounded a counter-protester, an elderly woman, who was escorted by police out of the area as a group of masked protesters followed her and shouted abuse. More images from last night's gathering showed cars beeping their horns as they drove by, waving Union Jack flags out of the window as onlookers cheered. It comes after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with a number of sexual offences People wrapped in St George's flag faced down riot police who lined up in a queue on Hemnall Street Protesters marching in Epping chanted in opposition to The Bell Hotel housing migrants Protesters waved flags and signs as chants of 'save our kids' and 'send them home' rang out Further signs displayed by two women read: 'I'm not far right, I'm worried about my kids' and 'Make Epping Safe Again', while another read: 'We go home when they go back'. A line of police vans and officers blocked off the entrance to the hotel with protesters facing them on the other side of the pavement. UKIP politician Nick Tenconi led chants outside the hotel as he called on protestors to gather outside 'every week'. Yesterday's gathering came after tempers flared on Thursday, when a group of hardcore agitators appeared to stop three Essex Police riot vans from driving past the hotel to support their colleagues in the centre of the town, before protestors took to the road to block and attack police vans. Dramatic footage from that night showed a demonstrator being driven into by one of the police vehicles, which appeared to spark chaos outside the hotel. Keith Silk, 33, from, Loughton, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with violent disorder and criminal damage following clashes outside the hotel. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today. Dean Walters, 65, of Harlow, has also been charged and released on bail to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24, with stringent conditions until then. Another man arrested on Thursday for failing to comply with a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail. Protesters appeared to scuffle with police near the centre of Epping as people marched Bottles and smoke flares were thrown towards police vehicles stationed outside The Bell Hotel A man was seen being put into the back of a police van at the Epping protests on Sunday night Officers were seen near crowds who had descended near the hotel for another day of protesting Essex Police said: 'Our investigations into the incidents which followed a peaceful protest in Epping on Thursday evening are continuing at pace and we thank the public for sharing vital information.' Local MP Neil Hudson condemned Thursday's 'violent scenes' in a post on X, after eight police officers were injured. He said: 'This is completely unacceptable. Police put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. People have the right to peacefully protest but these violent scenes are not us, not Epping, not what we stand for. 'I urge folk to listen to the advice of the police while we work to sort this.' In the footage captured on Thursday, an Essex Police van was seen knocking over a young man, who stood in Epping High Road, in what appears to be an attempt to stop the vehicle leaving. In a comment addressing the video, a spokesperson for the Met said: 'Met officers attended Epping, Essex, on the evening of Thursday, 17 July, following a request by Essex Police to support with an ongoing protest and counter-protest. 'On arrival, officers were met with significant hostility from protesters, with police vehicles damaged and officers threatened with violence. 'During their attendance, officers attempted to leave the immediate area due to safety concerns and were subsequently blocked in by the group of protesters using barriers. Another display called to 'Stop the Boats' with England flags between the O's and on either corner A man with a St George's flag mask rode past the protesters who lined the pavements holding flags and signs A sign held up among the crowds read: 'You are paying billions to prop up a broken asylum system. Look after our own' Police surrounded a woman, who was escorted by police out of the area as a group of masked protesters followed her and shouted abuse Blue and white smoke bombs were let off outside the hotel in Epping as protesters gathered UKIP politician Nick Tenconi led chants outside the hotel as he called on protesters to gather outside 'every week' 'We go home when they go back' reads this sign held outside the hotel yesterday evening Crowds were seen facing police who lined up outside the hotel as smoke bombs were launched During Thursday's protest, a police van leading the convoy was seen hurtling through a plastic barrier A man was seen being struck by the police van following violent protests outside the migrant hotel in Essex on Thursday 'During this, a police van made contact with one of the protesters.' Protesters had erected a make-shift barrier made up of pallets and plastic fencing in the road to stop police leaving the scene on Thursday. The first of four Essex Police vans crashed through the barrier, leading to a protester to stand in the road, who was then knocked out of the way by the second van as people screamed: 'Oh my god' and 'what the f***'. The youth who was mowed down by the police van is then seen getting up and brushing himself down as he shouts at the convoy. Another man, who was standing by the side of the road, also fell to the ground during the chaotic clip - which has been seen millions of times online. It is unclear whether either man needed medical attention. Essex Police officers, dressed in full riot gear, were seen sat in the vehicles - as thugs are seen attacking the vans, kicking and launching missiles at them. Footage also showed riot police smash a shield into a protester's face and knock his teeth out in a heated clash. The clip shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force. Riot police smashed a shield into a protester's face and knocked his teeth out in a heated clash outside the hotel Footage of the encounter shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket' A car, understood to be a police vehicle, was seen with a heavily damaged windscreen last night Protesters gathered outside the migrant hotel where a demonstration on Thursday descended into violent chaos One woman displayed a sign made of cardboard which read 'I'm not far right I'm worried about my kids' A sign displayed outside the hotel in reads 'Protect our Kids' with England flags painted on either side Dozens of officers were seen standing close to the protesters with riot helmets in their hands yesterday The injured man then looks down at his hand in disbelief as he clasps his teeth and shows them eagerly to fellow protesters including a lady with the Flag of St. George draped over her shoulders. In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'. He claimed: 'I was trying to talk to him (the riot officer) and he smashed me in the face with his shield.' The protester can then be seen reaching into his pocket before he presents what resembles a yellow luminescent highlighter, a bottle top, and two teeth. Other footage shows the man furiously shouting at the riot police after his teeth have been knocked out as the man filming comments 'he's fuming mate'. There had been among up to 100 officers who battled with anti-migrant protesters who had confronted a counter anti-racism demonstration. Speaking after Thursday's incidents, ACC Hooper said: 'If you were one of those individuals that was responsible for the damage - particularly to my officers or vehicle - you can expect a knock on your door.' He added: 'Eight of my officers... were assaulted last night and that is absolutely, totally unaccepted. They have come here to do a role, to support their communities they're a part of that community. And that's what we won't tolerate.' The family of the newborn killed after being allegedly dropped by a six-year-old left to roam a French maternity ward alone have claimed that they had spoken to the child's mother twice telling her to keep an eye on him. Five-day-old Baby Zayneb-Cassandra was found lying unresponsive on the floor beside her crib with a traumatic brain injury at the Jeanne-de-Flandre Children's Hospital in the northern city of Lille, France, on Friday, July 11 and died from her injuries last Tuesday. A boy, whose mother was in the maternity ward, was found standing on a chair beside her and is believed to have plucked the tiny baby from her crib and dropped her on the floor. Karima, a cousin of Zayneb's grieving father has claimed that hospital staff were 'warned' of the child's 'abnormal behaviour' and that the baby's grandfather had spoken to the boy's mother two times, urging her to keep an eye on her son. She also alleged that the boy had fixated on Zayneb, calling her 'my doll', and had likely touched her unsupervised a day prior to her fall. 'The day before, Zayneb had already been found without a diaper or electrodes, wet and suffering from hypothermia,' Karima claimed. When the family notified the hospital of this, they claimed that they were told by staff that the baby must have taken her diapers off herself. The family of the newborn killed after being allegedly dropped by a six-year-old left to roam a French maternity ward alone have claimed that they had spoken to the child's mother twice telling her to keep an eye on him Baby Zayneb's grieving father Mohamed-Hamza told French press that he will 'fight to identify those responsible' for the tragedy Baby Zayneb, who was born six weeks premature by caesarean to parents Mohamed-Hamza and Sephora, was resuscitated twice before she died last week. Lille's prosecutor's office on Friday confirmed that the infant died from trauma 'consistent with a fall to the floor'. 'A six-year-old child, a member of another family, was indeed seen near the crib and the child on the floor,' prosecutors also confirmed. Zayneb's family are also urging other witnesses to come forward, with Karima explaining that what Zayneb's mother doesn't want 'is for people to think that she left her child unattended,' when she 'entrusted her to the hospital staff'. The boy and the baby were discovered by Delphine, a young woman who had recently given birth herself, who rushed into the room after hearing what she described as a 'loud bang'. Delphine later told Le Parisien that the boy in question had been disruptive for days and was not being supervised as his mother was also recovering from giving birth. 'He was running around everywhere and had already touched a baby in a stroller,' Delphine said. Questions are mounting as to how the boy was able to gain access to Zayneb's crib in the neonatal unit alone, despite being reported as a 'disruptive presence' in the hospital. Karima explained how the boy was running riot in the halls for days after being dropped off at the hospital each morning by his father. 'The father would drop him off in the ward from 7am to 8pm,' she said. Mohamed-Hamza's cousin Karima alleged that the six-year-old boy had fixated on Zayneb, calling her 'my doll', and had likely touched her unsupervised a day prior to her fall Zayneb's grandmother, Fatma, told the Voix du Nord newspaper: 'The boy would arrive at 7am and spend all day running up and down the hallways. 'All the mothers were complaining, and a nurse even warned the child's mother that there was a problem. He was entering the other rooms. 'He also entered Zayneb's room for the first time. He said she looked like a doll, and my husband, who was there, took him out.' 'It seems he tried to grab her by her nappy, and she fell on her head,' Fatma concluded. 'My family is destroyed... My daughter is devastated. Coming home without her baby is inconceivable.' Zayneb's distraught father, Mohamed-Hamza, told Le Parisien he doesn't blame the boy who allegedly caused his daughter's life-ending injuries, but hit out at the hospital for their lack of care. 'Every six-year-old is a little disruptive. I don't blame the mother; she had just given birth... But the child should have been supervised,' the 23-year-old declared. Fatma added that she had to push medical staff to arrange psychological support for her inconsolable daughter-in-law after she was informed her child had died. A criminal investigation into the tragedy was opened this week by the juvenile unit of the Lille Judicial Police Service, in conjunction with local prosecutors. The hospital also announced the opening of 'an internal administrative investigation'. A spokesperson said: 'This human tragedy has deeply affected the staff and teams of Lille University Children's Hospital, as well as the other families present.' A separate statement provided to French press acknowledged 'a particularly serious and upsetting exceptional event, unrelated to care'. 'The thoughts of the University Hospital professionals are first and foremost with the young victim, her family, and her loved ones,' it read. The hospital also added that 'measures to strictly limit visits to the neonatal units of the Lille University Hospital have been taken as a precautionary measure'. Mohamed-Hamza and Sephora have not yet filed an official complaint, but dismissed the statement. 'It won't bring my daughter back... But we're waiting for answers. There was a breach, and I'm going to fight to identify those responsible. 'Justice will do its job,' he told Le Parisien. A billionaire New York City real estate tycoon faces losing his fleet of mansions, yachts and supercars after his business defaulted on huge loans. Charles Cohen, 73, has seen authorities in France seize high-value artworks, luxury decor and his prized collection of fine wines, with his assets in the US now under the same threat. Cohen, who boasts a net worth of almost $2 billion, is being sued by Fortress Investment Group over a $535 million loan it made to his property firm, Cohen Realty Enterprises, in 2022. As collateral on the loan, Cohen listed his office tower on Manhattan's Lexington Avenue, the Le Meridien Dania Beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and four other properties, according to court records reported by the Wall Street Journal. But Cohen also personally guaranteed $187.2 million of the loan, which has allowed Fortress to now go after the billionaire's array of luxury assets. Cohen's business defaulted last year, but Fortress said that the value of his collateral did not meet his debts, and court records cited by the Journal showed he is at risk of losing his homes in New York, Connecticut, and Provence, France. Fortress is also reportedly going after his 25 luxury supercars, which includes two Ferraris, and five yachts. Cohen is facing allegations that he transferred ownership of his assets to family members in an attempt to avoid paying his mounting debts, which he denied. Billionaire New York City real estate tycoon Charles Cohen faces losing his fleet of mansions, yachts and supercars after his business defaulted on huge loans Cohen, 73, has seen authorities in France seize high-value artworks, luxury decor and his prized collection of fine wines from his Chateau de Chausse estate in France, a sprawling 138-acre mansion with a vineyard in France's Provence region (pictured). His assets in the US are now under the same threat Cohen is reportedly at risk of losing his five yachts. One of his vessels, a 220-foot, $49.6 million ship, is pictured Once one of the most powerful real estate moguls in Manhattan, Cohen saw his fortunes sour in the pandemic. Lockdowns sent demand for office spaces through the floor, and Cohen's string of movie theatres that he owns were upended as people could no longer go to see blockbusters in person. Cohen notably won an Oscar in 2017 as his production company, Cohen Media Group, distributed The Salesman, which won best foreign-language film. As many property tycoons gave up their skyscrapers and office buildings to lenders, Cohen kept hold of many as he said he felt personally attached to them as they had been in his family for decades, ever since his father and two uncles started their property empire that Cohen would later take over. This led him to reach a restructuring plan with Fortress that included the personal guarantee of almost $200 million, a decision that has now landed scrutiny on his lavish assets. Cohen has launched a countersuit against Fortress, beginning a battle with the investment group in what the Journal described as 'one of the nastiest in commercial real estate for many years.' Earlier this month, a judge in Italy ruled that one of Cohen's yachts, a 220-foot, $49.6 million vessel, couldn't leave the Port of Loano without approval from the court. The yacht is one of five of Cohen's boats that Fortress is trying to seize, but court records reportedly showed that he transferred ownership to his wife, Clo Jacobs, last year. Jacobs worked as the public relations and marketing director of the American division of luxury designer Jimmy Choo, according to a New York Times report on their wedding in 2004. Cohen has been accused of moving ownership of luxury assets to his wife Clo Jacobs (pictured), former marketing director of Jimmy Choo. He is pictured after winning an Oscar in 2017 through distributing The Salesman, which won best foreign-language film Public records show that Cohen owns an $8.9 million apartment in Manhattan's Sutton Place (pictured) According to Fortress, he also did the same with his $20 million mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, and the Chateau de Chausse estate in France. Late last year, French authorities raided the Chateau de Chausse, a sprawling 138-acre mansion with a vineyard in France's Provence region. Under orders from a French court, debt collectors seized hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of Cohen's personal belongings including his prized fine wine collection on behalf of Fortress. After being accused of trying to avoid this fate by transferring ownership to his wife, Cohen denied these claims and said they were legitimate moves for tax-planning purposes. He told the Journal that he is in the process of selling some of his vast array of properties to pay his debts to Fortress, but needs more time to complete the deals. In a deposition in February, he reportedly complained to the court about Fortress' attempts to seize his assets, saying they 'keep pecking at us, like a bird would peck at something... Enough was never enough.' With his vast empire now at risk, Cohen says he is not afraid of losing his reputation as one of the property world's big hitters. 'Ive always been good at hanging on... Thats what weve always done, and we will continue to do that' As collateral on his $500 million loan, Cohen listed his office tower on Manhattan's Lexington Avenue (pictured) Among Cohen's vast array of properties is the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood (pictured) Cohen also listed the Le Meridien Dania Beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, (pictured) and four other properties Christopher Caffarone, Cohens attorney, says that Fortress' aggressive actions have seen the billionaire unable to withdraw money from his personal accounts without approval from Fortress, alongside restrictions to brokerage accounts held by Cohen, his mother and his sister. 'His familys lives are being disrupted,' Caffarone said earlier this year at a court hearing. 'They are getting subpoenaed. They are getting deposed.' Fortress argued that it is going after Cohen's family members because he transferred personal assets to them, and said in court records that it 'is left with no choice but to begin enforcing its judgment against Cohens assets.' With his vast empire now at risk, Cohen says he is not afraid of losing his reputation as one of the property world's big hitters. 'Ive always been good at hanging on,' he told the Journal. 'Thats what weve always done, and we will continue to do that.' Daily Mail has contacted Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation for further comment. Police have arrested the father of a nine-year-old girl who was found dead hours after he claimed his daughter had been abducted. Melina Frattolin was reported missing on Saturday after her father Luciano Frattolin told New York State Police (NYSP) he thought his daughter had been kidnapped by someone in a white van. But records now show that Frattolin is being held in Essex County Jail in upstate New York. A mugshot of the 45-year-old coffee entrepreneur has been released. It is unclear if any charges have been filed, with police set to provide a further update Monday morning. Frattolin is expected to be arraigned at 10.30am ET. The distressing development comes after police issued a heartbreaking update that the little girl had been found dead in the town of Ticonderoga on Sunday. NYSP had issued an 'amber alert' on Saturday as a desperate search was launched for Melina, with cops saying at the time that she was believed to be in imminent danger. Tragically, the girl's body was found yesterday after extensive searches, with investigators saying there was no indication that she was abducted and that there was 'no threat to the public'. Cops said that 'as the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided.' The nine-year-old girl was found dead less than 24 hours after her father claimed she had been abducted in a white van. (Pictured: Melina Frattolin with her father Luciano, 45) New York State Police (NYSP) issued an 'amber alert' on Saturday for Melina Frattolin (pictured) after Luciano Frattolin, 45, told them he thought his daughter had been kidnapped Records now show that Frattolin is being held in Essex County Jail in upstate New York. A mugshot of the 45-year-old has been released Luciano Frattolin (pictured), 45, told police he thought his daughter had been kidnapped, but they identified 'inconsistencies' in his story and she was later found dead She was located in Ticonderoga, New York, around 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen. Lake George, the spot where he said he last saw her, is a small waterside town in the Adirondack region of upstate New York around 60 miles north of Albany. Frattolin was described as five feet tall and weighing 100 pounds. Police said that both she and her father are Canadian residents. Frattolin is the founder of an organic coffee brand called Gambella, according to the product's website. 'Luciano Frattolin is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses,' the website reads. On Sunday afternoon police issued an update saying 'there is no indication that an abduction occurred' and the little girl had been found dead. (Pictured: Melina with her father) Police said both Melina Frattolin and her father Luciano are Canadian residents Lake George, where the girl's father said she was last seen, is a small waterside town in the Adirondack region of upstate New York around 60 miles north of Albany 'With a background in the humanities and social sciences, his formal education, together with his pragmatic understanding about the complexities of life, motivates him to maintain an understanding of the world grounded in a distinct cross-cultural ethos. 'The son of an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, Luciano was born in the small, remote village of Gambella. 'With a childhood spent running between rows of crimson coffee buds on the Ethiopian family plantation, and the neoclassical architecture of his father's Milano, his vision of the world and his pursuits within, reflect these hyphenated cultures.' The married HR executive caught being cuddled by her married CEO at a Coldplay concert has dragged her husband's elite old-money Boston family into a humiliating scandal. Kristin Cabot, 52, is married to Privateer Rum owner Andrew Cabot, who is a direct descendent of one of the original Boston Brahmin families. The term 'Boston Brahmin' refers to the historic aristocracy in Boston, dating back to the the earliest English colonists. These ultra-wealthy families held significant social, political and cultural influence from the 18th century onward. Andrew, 60, touts his family lineage on the Privateer Rum website, highlighting how he is the sixth-generation owner of the brand and a direct descender of its founder Andrew Cabot, whom he appears to have been named after. But Andrew and his illustrious lineage have now faced a global scandal that's hit like a bolt from the blue after Kristin was caught on kiss cam being cuddled by her colleague Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert in Boston last week. The pair, who recoiled on seeing themselves on the big screen, met at AI startup Astronomer. Byron resigned as its CEO last week. He's also married to a woman called Megan with the couple owning a sprawling Massachusetts mansion. The Cabot Family, which first made its fortune in soot, dates back at least 10 generations and is involved in a slew of businesses across New England, including rum production. The family is one of the richest in Boston, with a fortune worth at least $15.4 billion today, and was considered untouchable for decades until their dynasty was underscored by political rise of John F. Kennedy. JFK defeated Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in a senate race in 1952, paving the path for the Kennedys to establish themselves as American royalty. But despite the Kennedys emergence to power, the Cabots are still so well-known in the Boston area that locals jokingly claim they 'speak only to God'. Kristin Cabot was caught in a moment of intimacy during a Coldplay concert in Boston with her boss Astronomer CEO Andy Byron (pictured together during the gig) Kristin, 52, is married to Privateer Rum owner Andrew Cabot, (pictured together) who is a direct descendent of one of the original Boston Brahmin families The family is one of the richest in Boston, with a fortune worth at least $15.4 billion today, and was considered untouchable for decades until their dynasty was underscored by political rise of John F. Kennedy. Pictured: President JFK meets with Henry Cabot Lodge in 1961 Massachusetts property documents dated in January confirmed that Kristin is currently married to Andrew, the chief executive of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based booze maker. It is unclear exactly when the pair tied the knot, but the documents confirm that Kristin, whose maiden name is Stanek, was married at the time of selling a $1.8 million property in Watertown, Mass, earlier this year. The Cabot family legacy dates back to the American Revolution when the original Andrew Cabot, who died in 1791, positioned himself as a successful merchant and rum distiller. Family patriarch Samuel Cabot Jr. helped propel the family into riches by marrying Eliza Perkins, the eldest daughter of wealthy merchant trader Col. Thomas Handasyd Perkins, in 1812, historical records reveal. The couple fathered seven sons whose descendants would go on to led successful businesses of their own, including co-founding America's first mutual fund. The family - whose name is now in the mud thanks to the Coldplay concert scandal - found riches in soot, which is an essential component in automobile tires. Members of the Cabot family participated in the slave and opium trades during the early 19th century. Cabot family members also served in a series of professions including medicine, law, finance, teaching and the Foreign Service. The Cabot Family, which first made its fortune in soot, dates back at least 10 generations and is involved in a slew of businesses across New England, including rum production. Pictured is the The John Cabot House mansion, which was built in 1781 and is the oldest brick building in Beverly, Massachusetts JFK defeated Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (pictured in 1957) in a senate race in 1952, paving the path for the Kennedys to establish themselves as American royalty Kristin is married to Andrew Cabot, (pictured) who is listed on Privateer Rum's website lists as its CEO and COO of the company. Andrew, 60, touts his family lineage on the Privateer Rum website, highlighting how he is the sixth-generation owner of the brand and a direct descender of its founder Andrew Cabot The Cabots bestowed donations and established endowments at some of America's most elite academic institutions, including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Norwich University and the Perkins School for the blind. The family fortune was worth an estimated $200 million in 1972, according to a New York Times profile on the Cabots written at the time. The $200 million fortune, not accounting for growth over the decades, is worth an estimated $15.4 billion in 2025. The Cabots, now embroiled in scandal, were so wealthy that they were characterized in John Collins Bossidy's 1910 poem 'Boston Toast' as only speaking to god. 'This is good old Boston, the home of the bean and the cod,' the poet wrote. 'Where the Lowells talk to the Cabots, and the Cabots talk only to God.' The Lowells were another Boston Brahmin family who played a significant role in the American revolution and the US manufacturing industry. The Cabots took over Boston and were seemingly untouchable until the rise of the Kennedys, which resulted in a political and societal rivalry. President William Howard Taft is seated alongside Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge in the early 1900s Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon (1913 - 1994), left, and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, right, wave their arm and smile while acknowledging the crowd at the Republican National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, July 28, 1960 President elect Richard M. Nixon (c) confers with Henry Cabot Lodge Jr (l), his chief Vietnam peace negotiator, and Lawrence E. Walsh, the former Deputy Attorney General designated by Nixon as the No. 2 man at the Paris negotiations in January 1969 Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, who resigned from his seat to fight in the Second World War, was an influential Republican. Lodge, who regained his Senate seat in 1947, was a 'committed internationalist' and resisted isolationism, American Magazine reports. He poised Eisenhower to be the Republican presidential candidate in 1952, but his dedication to Eisenhower's campaign saw him lose his seat to Democrat JFK. Kennedy lodged his family's growing financial and political successes to snag the seat, which had long been under Cabot control, according to Old Money Luxury. JFK lobbied support among Irish Catholics and other immigrant groups, who likely did not feel represented by Lodge, an old money Protestant. The Democrat also leveraged emerging media during his campaign, presenting himself as a likable leader with his immigrant heritage inspiring many that they too could find success in the American Dream. Lodge then spent most of the 1950s as the US Ambassador to the United Nations and was a the Republican vice presidential candidate in 1960. JFK, during his presidency, tapped Lodge to take over operations in South Vietnam - despite the pair being from different political parties. Lodge is believed to have been involved in the death of Ngo Dinh Diem, president of South Vietnam. His alleged role in Diem's death was arguably one of the most controversial moments on his political career, but did not stop his from later serving as President Lyndon B. Johnson's ambassador to West Germany. He also served a personal representative of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford to the Holy See in Rome. Kristin and Andrew Cabot are referred to as 'husband and wife' in New Hampshire property records. They bought a $2.2million two-story, four-bedroom New Englander-style house in Rye, New Hampshire in February The family has been thrust into controversy yet again after Kristin was caught cuddling with her boss Andy Byron, CEO of AI firm Astronomer. In the viral moment, the two were seen enjoying the show when the camera operator working the jumbotron panned to them. Byron had his arms wrapped around Kristin and the pair swayed in unison as the British band played. The intimate moment descended into chaos as panic set in, Byron seemingly fell to his knees while Kristin put her head in her hands as the crowd laughed. After the clip of the two went viral, Astronomer issued a statement confirming that Byron has been placed on leave as they investigate the incident. The Friday night statement said: 'Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave. We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days.' Prior to the announcement that Byron was on leave, the company had announced that a formal investigation into the clip was underway. CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot appeared to be living the American dream before the viral moment Byron is also married, with his wife Megan Byron, removing his last name from her social media accounts shortly after the exchange with Chris Martin went viral Kristin is married to Andrew Cabot, who is listed on Privateer Rum's website lists as its CEO and COO of the company. Public documents show that Andrew has been married at least twice before, in 1993 and 2014. He shares two children with his first wife Maud, who shared a picture of her ex-husband with Kristin looking loved up at his daughters 25th birthday party on social media in April of last year. Kristin even posed with his son Henry, 30, in the snaps, and was seen wearing a wedding ring at the event - which was missing during her cozy Coldplay date with Byron. Kristin and Andrew are also referred to as 'husband and wife' in New Hampshire property records, buying a $2.2million two-story, four-bedroom New Englander-style house in Rye, in February. They sold another four-bedroom property nearby for $1.05m in February, after purchasing it in April of last year. Andrew filed for divorce from his second wife Julie in 2018, after marrying in 2014, citing irreconcilable differences. Both he and his first wife Maud filed for divorce jointly in 2013, after separating in 2011. Kristin has been married once before, filing for divorce from Ken Thornby in 2018, which was finalized in 2020. Byron is also married, with his wife Megan, removing his last name from her social media accounts shortly after the concert exchange went viral. Kristin's now-deleted LinkedIn account showed that she has served as an 'advisory board member' at Privateer Rum since September 2020. Kristin, Cabot and Byron have not responded to Daily Mail's requests for comment. Police were called to a protest outside the construction site of a controversial 2.5million mosque as rival factions clashed. People gathered around the building site of the three-storey South Lakes Islamic Centre in Furness, Cumbria, on Saturday. Demonstrators holding placards with messages reading 'Muslims welcome here' butted heads with protesters waving Union flags with messages reading 'No to the mosque' and 'Not racist! Just patriotic!'. A local Labour MP, who attended the protest, slammed anti-mosque protesters as racist. Construction on the mosque started in January this year with those behind the ambitious plans claiming it will be the first mosque in the South Lakes area of the Lake District. Standing opposite the anti-mosque protesters, Paul Jenkins, who organised a counter-protest on behalf of Furness Stand Up To Racism, said: 'The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. 'The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multifaith community and defend the right of the Islamic centre to be here.' Local Labour MP Michelle Scrogham, who was first elected in July last year, also attended the counter-protest. Police were called to a protest outside the construction site of a controversial 2.5million mosque as rival factions clashed Construction on the mosque started in January this year with those behind the ambitious plans claiming it will be the first mosque in the South Lakes area of the Lake District Demonstrators holding placards with messages reading 'Muslims welcome here' butted heads with protesters waving Union flags with messages reading 'No to the mosque' and 'Not racist! Just patriotic!' She said: 'I am here because there's absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria. The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don't represent the people of this area. 'The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming. We've had immigration on a mass scale for many, many years. 'People that moved here in the 1800s - they weren't from round here - this town is built on immigration. 'The number of people who have moved here for jobs and work and settled with their families and nothing has changed at all. 'Anybody that wants to come here and say you're not welcome they're wrong. It's just utterly wrong.' Demonstrator Henry Goodwin said: 'There are five British values, which include tolerance of other people's faiths and beliefs. 'We're standing up for proper British values.' Amy Heild said: 'I had a look for some quotes from the Koran and the Bible. 'In both religions I found lots of examples where they are advocating for peace and tolerance of people's different faiths and religion, and looking at how God would look favourably on people that support people outside of their own faith and the human right to dignity in their own beliefs.' People gathered around the building site of the three-storey South Lakes Islamic Centre in Furness, Cumbria, on Saturday A local Labour MP, who attended the protest, slammed anti-mosque protesters as racist Those demonstrating against the mosque refused to speak to reporters on the ground. Planning approval for the mosque was granted in December 2022 after 30 objections were raised. Opponents have raised concerns about the development, saying it is not needed in Furness, while supporters say the centre would provide a much-needed place of worship for hundreds of Muslim families living in the area. Earlier this year, representatives from the South Lakes Islamic Centre said construction had been delayed due to negative television coverage. In a YouTube video, a representative said: 'The concrete, which was supposed to come this week, has been delayed because of the GB News coverage. 'It's just the challenges we face; it's a difficult area to build, but we are progressing very quickly.' The second of two brothers caught on camera punching and kicking police officers at Manchester Airport today claimed he struck out because he thought one of them was 'choking' his brother. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, was filmed hitting two policewomen and a male officer who were trying to detain him for headbutting a passenger at a Starbucks cafe minutes earlier. His brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, was also captured raining punches on the male officer, PC Zachary Marsden, who was armed. Giving evidence last week, Amaaz claimed that when he was 'grabbed' by PC Marsden at a car park pay station he hadn't realised he was a police officer. He said he resisted arrest even when he saw his police uniform because he feared PC Marsden was 'going to batter me to the point where I'm dead'. 'It just felt like I was fighting for my life,' he added. Today it was his older brother's turn to give evidence from the witness box at Liverpool Crown Court. Amaad, a former KFC assistant manager, told jurors that three police officers arrived as they were paying for parking following the headbutt. Muhammad Amaad, 26, arriving at Liverpool Crown Court where he today told a jury he fought back against an armed policeman because he thought he was 'choking' his brother, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (pictured last week) Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, arriving at Liverpool Crown Court last week before he told a jury he fought back as an armed officer tried to arrest him because he feared he planned to 'batter me to the point where I was dead' Muhammad Amaad, 26, (left) and his brother Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, (right) arriving for their trial at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday either side of their solicitor, Aamer Anwar Asked by his barrister Chloe Gardner if he immediately saw they were police, he replied: 'Yeah.' Amaad said the officers 'grabbed' his brother without announcing who they were or what they wanted and began forcing him towards the ticket machine. 'I didn't understand the need for the aggression,' he said. Amaad said he saw an officer - who he later learnt was PC Marsden - 'grab' his brother by the neck, and responded by saying: 'Easy, easy, easy.' 'I was trying to de-escalate the situation,' he told the jury. Amaad said at this point he wrongly thought PC Marsden had both hands around his brother's neck. 'I thought he was choking him,' he said. Amaad said he put his arm on the officer's arm and said: 'What are you holding his neck for? There's no need for it.' Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (in blue) was seen to throw ten punches at the officers during the violence, while his brother - Muhammad Amaad (far left), 26, who is also on trial threw six Constable Lydia Ward, who jurors heard is heavily pregnant, previously told of being 'terrified' after coming under attack from Amaaz - as footage of her injuries was was shown to a court Denying pushing the officer, he added: 'I just wanted his hand off his neck.' Amaad said he then felt a 'bang' to the face and put his hands out. Saying he felt 'shocked' and 'stunned', he said: 'I genuinely didn't know what hit me, I was caught by surprise. 'I didn't know who was punching me, my eyes were closed.' Amaad said he and PC Marsden 'sort of fell over onto the chair' and he could feel 'punches and holding and grabbing'. 'I had to defend myself,' he added. Amaad said the incident happened 'really quick' and he felt 'disorientated'. 'I punched out because I was being punched,' he said. Police bodyworn camera footage shown to the court shows PC Ward being comforted by PC Ellie Cook Amaad said when he felt the 'pulling and pushing' stop he 'stepped up' and saw PC Marsden pointing what he later learnt was his Taser at him. 'I just felt a sharp pain hit my chest,' he said. Amaad said his legs immediately felt 'weak' and he fell backwards into the seats. At that point he saw the officer had a firearm and feared he was going to be shot, so put his hands behind his head. 'I just thought to myself "I'm not dying today",' he said. 'I've been punched, Tasered, I'm not going to die today.' Questioned by Ms Gardner he said he 'considered' that PC Marsden might shoot him, Amaad said he did. Amaad said he then saw his brother 'flat' and 'stiff' on the ground. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz is seen arriving at Liverpool Crown Court at the start of his trial Amaaz's brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, is also on trial over the alleged attack at Manchester Airport (he is seen arriving at Liverpool Crown Court on June 30) Jurors have been shown CCTV and bodycam footage in which Amaaz is Tasered after punching firearms officer PC Ellie Cook and PC Lydia Ward who was unarmed in the face. PC Marsden is then seen to kick Amaaz in the head as he lies on the ground. Today Amaad said he did not see PC Marsden kick his brother in the head because their elderly mother was in the way. Amaad said he was shouting out 'Mum' and was also worried about his young nephew. 'I didn't want her to be next. I didn't want the officers to start on my mum.' He denied reaching for PC Marsden's firearm. Amaad said PC Marsden was shouting 'Get down!' so he put his hands back behind his head and got to his knees. He said he then felt a kick to his leg and stomach area and then a 'smack, smack' to the back of his head. Amaad felt someone jump on his back and looking sideways heard an officer telling him: 'If you move I'm going to smash your f*****g face in'. As he was under arrest, Amaad said he told officers: 'I'm not resisting.' 'I was terrified,' he said. At that point he saw his mother's face was bleeding and his nephew crying. Asked again by Ms Gardner why he initially struck out at PC Marsden at the pay station, Ammad said: 'At that point I was trying to make him stop and defend myself.' After the incident Amaad was left with marks to his chest, and cuts to his head, neck and mouth. At the police station he felt 'terrified' and 'petrified'. 'I'd never been in a police station in my life,' he said. 'I didn't know what was going to happen or what to do.' When he gave evidence earlier in the trial, PC Marsden told jurors that as he attempted to gain control of Amaaz in order to arrest him, he felt an 'immense weight' pressing on him from behind. He later realised this was Amaaz's brother Amaad. His 'initial fear' was that 'someone is trying to get to my gun', a loaded Glock semi-automatic, out of its holster, he said. He said Amaad who was 'taller and larger build than me' then grabbed his body armour, dragged him to the bench and subjected him to 'blows from all directions'. PC Marsden said he had been assaulted on duty multiple times but could 'confidently' say the punches were 'the hardest I've ever felt in my life'. Asked today about the incident during which the airline passenger was headbutted by his brother, Amaad insisted it had been in self-defence. He said they had gone to meet their elderly mother from a flight, only for her to tell them a fellow passenger had been calling her a 'P*** b*tch' throughout the journey. Amaad said as they were walking through the arrivals hall she pointed out the passenger, Abdulkareem Ismaeil. He said his brother 'calmly' asked Mr Ismaeil to explain but that the passenger said the racial abuse had been aimed at a 'little girl' sitting nearby. Amaad said that as his brother asked for an apology, Mr Ismaeil threatened to 'smash' his brother, saying 'You don't know who I am' and 'I'll kill you'. Describing the headbutt, Amaad said his brother 'defends himself' because Mr Ismaeil was 'in his face'. Neither brother has ever been arrested, cautioned or convicted, the trial has heard. Amaaz denies assault by beating, two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, and a charge of assault by beating of a police officer acting as an emergency worker. Amaad denies one charge of assault causing actual bodily harm relating to PC Marsden. The trial continues. One person was killed, and rescuers are searching for two others who are still missing after several people were swept over an Oregon waterfall. A group of six people went over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River, about 10 miles from the city of Bend, on Saturday afternoon, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. Search and rescue teams used drones to find three of the individuals in the water. Once they were rescued from the river, they were taken to a local hospital by ambulance. One person was confirmed dead at the scene and two others remain missing as of Monday. Dillon Falls, located within Deschutes National Forest, features a large 15-foot drop followed by a series of rapids that surge through a narrow lava rock gorge. The drop almost immediately turns into churning rapids in a quick, step ladder-like pattern, according to Visit Central Oregon. Jason Carr, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, told The Oregonian the group of unidentified people was floating down the river and missed the chance to exit before the waterfall. 'If you go through those falls, the chances of you surviving are extremely minimal,' Carr said. One person is dead and two are missing after group of six people went over Dillon Falls (pictured) on the Deschutes River, about 10 miles from the city of Bend, on Saturday Warning signs are posted along the river to alert people to the approaching falls, but the sheriff's office said the group missed the exit before the drop Search and rescue teams are set to continue their efforts on Monday following an extensive search on Sunday It is not immediately clear what device the group was using to float, but tubing and rafting is popular along the Deschutes River. Carr explained that warning signs are posted along the river to alert people to the approaching falls. 'It appears at this point they obviously did not see or recognize or know that there were falls around the corner,' he said. The three survivors were scraped and bruised but able to walk on their own after they were rescued, Carr said. Search and rescue teams are set to continue their efforts on Monday following an extensive search on Sunday. Two drones were deployed early Sunday morning by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue to search the Dillon Falls area in coordination with swiftwater rescue team members. Three K9 teams also assisted, working alongside marine patrol boats to search the area downstream of Dillon Falls, according to the sheriff's office. Fifteen swiftwater rescue team members were deployed to physically search high-interest areas identified by drone imagery and visual reconnaissance. The sheriff's office has not released information on the victims' identities, but said their recovery efforts will continue on Monday. A cocaine-snorting mother who violently shook her baby daughter to death while bathing her has been jailed for 15 years. Cruel Melissa Wilband, 28, killed four-month-old Lexi Wilband and then tried to cover it up after the infant collapsed at home in Newent, Gloucestershire, during the first Covid-19 lockdown in April 2022. Little Lexi died six days later in hospital with a nurse holding her hand, but Wilband had not stayed by her bedside despite knowing she might not live through the night. During a four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, it was heard Wilband had tried to be a 'loving mother' but lived a 'chaotic personal lifestyle'. As a habitual cocaine user, Wilband took the Class A drug throughout her pregnancy, six days after giving birth and regularly while in bed with her boyfriend Jack Wheeler and Lexi in the basket alongside them. It emerged during the trial that Wilband had told a 'spiral of lies', including how she faked a paternity test to falsely claim Mr Wheeler, 31, was Lexi's biological dad and even presented him with a bogus DNA certificate claiming he was '100%' the 'farther'. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Saini said Lexi had been a 'healthy baby' but Lexi was shaken so hard on at least two occasions that this caused brain damage. He said: 'After the evening meal you were bathing Lexi and you shook Lexi, and immediately after this she went floppy. Your shaking of Lexi led to severe bleeding in her brain. 'I am sure on the evidence that Lexi had been shaken by you in another, less violent, incident before that Easter Sunday. Melissa Wilband (pictured), 28, was found guilty by a jury of the manslaughter of Lexi who collapsed at their home in Newent, Gloucestershire, in April 2020 Lexi Wilband (pictured) was just four months old when she died after being shaken to death by her mother Wilband and her former partner Jack Wheeler (pictured), 31, had also been charged with Lexi's manslaughter but this was formally withdrawn during the trial after prosecutors offered no evidence against him. 'Only you will know why you acted in the way you did. It is hard to imagine the pain that Lexi must have suffered both from the past violence and the violence that led to her death. She would have cried out in anguish.' When paramedics arrived at Wilband's home, she lied about how Lexi collapsed and even tried to shift the blame onto Mr Wheeler, who was charged with manslaughter but had this formally withdrawn. He was also acquitted of causing or allowing Lexi's death. She also messaged Mr Wheeler while at the hospital telling him to lie about what had happened that evening. Those messages had been deleted from Wilband's phone but were present on Mr Wheeler's phone. In his initial account to police, Mr Wheeler, of Ledbury, went along with what Wilband had told him to say. However, he changed that account in subsequent police interviews and in his evidence in court. Wilband also told Mr Wheeler to burn drug bags that were in her bedside drawer so that they would not be found. Again these messages were deleted from Wilband's phone. The court heard how she and Mr Wheeler would regularly take cocaine while in bed with Lexi in her basket alongside them. A jury unanimously convicted Wilband of manslaughter and unanimously found Mr Wheeler not guilty of the charge against him (Pictured: Wilband outside Bristol Crown Court on March 4) The trial was earlier told how Wilband told a 'spiral of lies', including how she faked a paternity test (pictured) to falsely claim Mr Wheeler was Lexi's biological father Jurors heard how Wilband told medics that Lexi had stopped breathing while Mr Wheeler had been carrying Lexi in her bouncer chair and was swinging it. The court also heard Wilband lied to medical professionals and missed several appointments. It was suggested by the prosecution that she might have missed appointments in order to prevent a doctor noticing that something was wrong with Lexi after she had been shaken. Jurors heard how Wilband, who had a volatile relationship with Mr Wheeler, made a 111 call on April 12 2020, from the new-build council house where she lived with Mr Wheeler and Lexi. The court was told that Wilband did not call 999 for an ambulance, but instead dialled 111 - the non-emergency NHS number. She hung up before getting past the automated message and then phoned her father who advised her to dial 999. However, she again dialled 111. It took over three and a half minutes from first dialling 111 for Wilband to speak with emergency services. Lexi was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and was intubated, with Wilband asked if she would like to hold her baby before the procedure took place. She declined to do so and the infant was then transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital. A decision was made to switch off Lexi's ventilator on April 17, following the results of an MRI scan. Jurors were told that Wilband spent three hours with Lexi that evening before leaving to go to sleep in a different part of the hospital. Lexi passed away with a nurse holding her hand, on April 18 - six days after she collapsed. Jane Osborne KC, prosecuting, said Wilband was aware that her baby might die during the night but did not stay at her bedside. 'A staff nurse held Lexi's hand through the night and remained with her,' Ms Osborne said. 'On the morning of April 18, Lexi seemed to have longer pauses in her breathing. Ms Wilband was told to attend the ward. 'She arrived just after Lexi had ceased to show any signs of life and had stopped breathing.' A post-mortem examination gave Lexi's cause of death as bleeding to the brain, caused by a non-accidental traumatic event such as someone 'shaking her violently', Ms Osborne said. Further tests found the areas of bleeding in Lexi's eyes were 'too numerous to count', she added. Giving evidence, Wilband denied ever shaking Lexi and said she had a 'bad wrist' that meant she was physically unable to shake her, and sought to blame her partner. Mr Wheeler said he had no idea why Lexi had collapsed and denied carrying her in the bouncer chair. Evidence was also heard that Wilband had researched online for 'baby screaming'. Prosecutors told the court that Lexi was shaken so hard by Wilband on at least two occasions that this caused brain damage which Lexi could not recover from. The events that evening, April 12, 2020, were described differently by Wilband and Mr Wheeler in court, and were contradictory in parts. In a victim impact statement read to the court today, Mr Wheeler's mother Donnah Davies said, although she was not Lexi's paternal grandparent, 'from the day she was born to the moment she died she was our granddaughter.' She told the court: 'She was a beautiful, quiet little baby girl and we loved her. 'The day Lexi died, both Paul (Jack's father) and I went to hospital in Bristol and it is a day we will never forget. 'I picked up Lexi in my arms to say goodbye. She looked so peaceful. I can clearly remember what lovely long eyelashes she had. 'I could not understand or comprehend why she was no longer with us.' Wilband was told at Bristol Crown Court (pictured) she would serve two thirds of the 15-year sentence and the remainder under licence. Ms Davies said the following days were a 'blur' and said she 'lost the ability to function.' She described her son's arrest as 'overwhelming' and said Lexi's death had 'consumed' the family for the last five years. She said: 'Ledbury is a small community and with Jack being under investigation some people automatically assumed he was guilty. 'I tried to be strong for my family but the stress and worry of it made me extremely anxious. 'Lexi was only in our lives for a short time but Paul and I will never forget her. Lexi, a little four and a half month baby lost her life, all those who knew and loved her will never see her again. 'Lexi's death is something Paul and I will carry with us for the rest of our lives. We are irreversibly changed.' Wilband was found guilty by a jury of the manslaughter of Lexi Wilband and sentenced to 15 years in jail. She was told she would serve two thirds of the 15-year sentence and the remainder under licence. An investigation was launched by Gloucestershire Constabulary's Major Crime Investigation Team on April 13, 2020 when doctors had identified that Lexi's injuries were non-accidental and had been inflicted. Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Adam Stacey said: 'Lexi was four-and-a-half months old when she died. 'Melissa Wilband inflicted such serious injuries that were sadly to prove fatal and tragically Lexi passed away six days later, despite the best efforts of all the medical staff who tried to save her. Further medical evidence showed that Lexi had suffered at least one other episode of shaking at some point before this one. 'Wilband told lie after lie after lie - right from Lexi's conception, and all the way throughout the pregnancy. These lies continued and were made to medical professionals trying to save Lexi's life, to the police, and all the way through to her giving evidence in court. The jury saw those lies for what they were. 'Lexi should be five years old now with her whole future ahead of her. She was shaken by someone who should have been protecting her. Someone who should have put her safety and wellbeing above everything else, her mother. Wilband did not do those things and in fact did the exact opposite. She now faces the consequences of her actions.' A beloved newlywed husband was killed in a horrific crash during a demolition derby-style event at a fair in Minnesota, just one day before he and his wife were set to leave on their honeymoon. Joshua Wines, 28, died after he sustained critical injuries Thursday night during the Isanti County Fair's high-octane 'Night of Destruction' event in Cambridge, Minnesota. The event is a four-part motorsport show known for fiery collisions and massive crowds. Heartbreaking images captured by event-goers show what appears to be Wines' derby car flipped on the track with smoke in the air. The driver was airlifted from the scene and rushed to North Memorial Hospital with critical injuries, which he later succumbed to. 'Josh fought courageously in the hospital after being airlifted from the scene, but his injuries were ultimately too severe,' his loved ones shared on a GoFundMe page. Josh's family revealed that he donated his organs to help save the lives of others. Joshua Wines, 28, (pictured, right, next to his wife Kayla) died after he sustained critical injuries Thursday night during the Isanti County Fair's high-octane 'Night of Destruction' event in Cambridge , Minnesota Heartbreaking images captured by event-goers show what appears to be Wines' derby car flipped on the track with smoke in the air 'Josh and his wife were just beginning their life together - newly married and preparing to leave for their long-awaited honeymoon,' the GoFundMe read. 'Now, instead of celebrating their future, she is faced with unimaginable loss and the emotional and financial burdens that follow.' Wines' father told FOX 9 that the couple had tied the knot last fall and were meant to take off on their honeymoon the next morning. Event organizers have canceled a similar event on Saturday, and hosting a vigil for Wines instead. County Sheriff Wayne Seiberlich told the Star Tribune Sunday that his office launched an investigation into the reason behind the crash - but that it is not considered a 'criminal investigation' at this point. 'At this time, this is not a criminal investigation,' Sheriff Seiberlich said. 'We will consult with our County Attorney's Office Monday.' Josh and his wife were just beginning their life together - newly married and preparing to leave for their long-awaited honeymoon The event is a four-part motorsport show known for fiery collisions and massive crowds 'This event was designed around speed and vehicle-to-vehicle contact and occurred on private property. Drivers signed waivers to participate,' he added. Long Shot Trucking, where he worked, also shared that they are 'rallying behind one of our own - Josh Wines, a dedicated driver, husband, and friend - who was critically injured during the Night of Destruction event at the Isanti County Fair.' 'The timing couldn't have been more heartbreaking - he and his wife were just about to leave on their long-awaited, week-long honeymoon,' the message continued, urging the community to donate. UK and US aircraft carriers have been pictured steaming through the Pacific in a display of combined military might amid growing tensions with Beijing. As part of its eight-month mission to the Far East, HMS Prince of Wales joined USS George Washington in the Timor Sea on Friday, July 18 in a bid to help reaffirm Britain's Indo-Pacific commitments. The 65,000-tonne leviathan - the biggest warship ever built for Britain - sailed alongside the large US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier during Talisman Sabre 2025. Jaw-dropping images capture the moment the U.S. Navy aircraft, attached to a Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, was joined by Britain's vast 3.5billion vessel, while U.S. warplanes also roared overhead. The maritime mission acts as a symbolic show of unity and collaboration amid China's growing military expansion in the Pacific, alongside its significant role in the global commercial shipbuilding market. Marking the first time that nuclear-powered aircrafts from both the UK and the U.S. have operated together in a coordinated maritime formation, it serves as a symbol of allyship between the powerful nations. The maritime juggernaut is currently embarking on an eight-month global deployment under the UK Carrier Strike Group having left home shores in April. As a multinational operation that incorporated 19 nations and more than 35,000 personnel, the Royal Navy ship was also joined by two British ships - the destroyer HMS Dauntless and the tanker RFA Tidespring. During its eight-month mission to the Far East, HMS Prince of Wales (right) joined USS George Washington (left) in the Timor Sea on Friday, July 18 in a bid to help reaffirm Britain's Indo-Pacific commitments amid growing tension with Beijing The 65,000-tonne leviathan - the biggest warship ever built for Britain (front) - sailed alongside the large US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (back) as part of Talisman Sabre 2025 Jaw-dropping images capture the moment the U.S. Navy aircraft, attached to a Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, was joined by Britain's vast 3.5billion vessel, while U.S. warplanes also roared overhead Allied ships from Australia (HMAS Sydney), Norway (HNoMS Roald Amundsen) and Canada (HMCS Ville de Quebec), also sailed alongside the UK ship. As part of the U.S. Navy aircraft, F-35C stealth jets were also seen flying above the U.S.-U.K carrier strike group, while the Prince of Wales carried two dozen F-35B fighter jets. While the Government has not confirmed the precise route of 'Operation Highmast' - the codename for the deployment - the Navy has not ruled out sailing through the contentious 110-mile wide Taiwan Strait. It also comes amid mounting fears that China is planning to launch a full-scale invasion of the island, with Beijing 's military having already drilled huge D-Day style assaults of Taiwan using soldiers, marines, warships and its air force. Meanwhile, Russia has continued to test Britain's defence capabilities, with Royal Navy warships and helicopters shadowing five Russian vessels in UK waters over the first week of July alone. Plymouth-based frigate HMS Iron Duke, Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Tyne and Wildcat aircraft from 815 Naval Air Squadron were dispatched on three separate operations in the North Sea and English Channel between July 1 and July 8. The deployment of HMS Prince of Wales marked the fourth time a European member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific in 2021. Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said that the exercise on Friday, July 18, serves as a 'real demonstration of the UK and our partners' warfighting capabilities'. Marking the first time that nuclear-powered aircrafts from both the UK and the U.S. have operated together in a coordinated maritime formation, it serves as a symbol of allyship between the powerful nations It also comes amid mounting fears that China is planning to launch a full-scale invasion of the island, with Beijing 's military having already drilled huge D-Day style assaults of Taiwan using soldiers, marines, warships and its air force. Pictured: U.S. Navy aircraft, attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 Commodore James Blackmore (pictured), Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said that the exercise on Friday, July 18, serves as a 'real demonstration of the UK and our partners' warfighting capabilities' The Royal Navy said that the exercise was undertaken as a mark of 'allies demonstrating their commitment to the collective security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region' Meanwhile, John Healey, the UK's Defence Secretary, said: 'Our commitment to the Indo-Pacific is unwavering, as this huge military exercise demonstrates. 'We will continue to work alongside our closest allies to maintain the security and stability that underpins global prosperity.' The Royal Navy said that the exercise was undertaken as a mark of 'allies demonstrating their commitment to the collective security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region'. The U.S. Navy described Talisman Sabre as 'the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States', adding that it helps to 'advance a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners'. They also said that the exercise seeks to 'enhance our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.' It has been undertaken as part of Operation Highmast, a 2025 mission commanded by Commodore James Blackmore and his staff from aboard HMS Prince of Wales. Between now and December, the mighty fleet will conduct a series of drills and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia. The goal is to reaffirm the UK's commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific region, demonstrate collective resolve with our allies and showcase British trade and industry. It has been undertaken as part of Operation Highmast, a 2025 mission commanded by Commodore James Blackmore and his staff from aboard HMS Prince of Wales occurring between now and December. Pictured: a US F/18 launches from USS George Washington Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales. Between now and December, the mighty fleet will conduct a series of drills and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia In April, the commander of the British-led carrier strike group insisted the Royal Navy stands ready to defy China - and that it is prepared for any sort of military operation. Commodore Blackmore said: 'I will deliver whatever mission I am ordered to go and do that's my role' While the Government has not confirmed the precise route of 'Operation Highmast' - the codename for the deployment - the Navy has not ruled out sailing through the contentious 110-mile wide Taiwan Strait. Pictured: U.S. Navy aircraft during the dual carrier operations on Friday, July 18 Your browser does not support iframes. Concerns had previously been raised that the mission could potentially see the naval flotilla clashing with China when it reached the contested waters of the Indo-Pacific, while the Navy also has not ruled out the possibility of sailing through the contentious 110-mile-wide Taiwan Strait. A report released in early July claimed that Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, was gearing up for a potential conflict with Russia by reserving space for ships carrying military supplies. Boudewijn Siemons, chief executive of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, told the Financial Times that it was planning how to manage if the port was flooded by British and US vehicles and supplies if needed. Meanwhile, China has been rapidly expanding it's navy, building the equivalent of the entire Royal Navy in just four years - with the pace of shipbuilding outstripping even the US. In April, the commander of the British-led carrier strike group insisted the Royal Navy stands ready to defy China - and that it is prepared for any sort of military operation. Ahead of the UK task group's deployment, Commodore Blackmore said: 'I will deliver whatever mission I am ordered to go and do that's my role. 'My part of the bargain is being ready for all eventualities from a combat capability, from a defence engagement capability, from a partners and allies capability, so I'm ready to exercise whatever the Government or the Ministry of Defence asks me to do.' Adding that the deployment will send a 'powerful message' to allies and potential adversaries, he added: 'It's about supporting key trade routes that exist from the Indo-Pacific region to the UK, and supporting partners and allies in the region, showing that we are there as a capable and credible force should it be required. On April 22, crowds cheered as HMS Royal Prince of Wales departed her home of Portsmouth, alongside her escort ship, HMS Dauntless. Banners and flags were waved by members of the public from the walls and beach of Portsmouth harbour The ship's company on the aircraft carrier appeared in high spirits as they waved to the crowds gathered in Portsmouth in April Banners and flags were waved by members of the public from the walls and beach of Portsmouth harbour with sailors aboard the 65,000-tonne warship waving back to cheers from the crowds as they passed. Pictured: Royal Navy sailors ahead of HMS Prince of Wales setting sail 'That in a time of crisis, we can come together and fight together and show that we have a capability that we mean business with. 'Working closely with partners from across the globe, Operation Highmast will demonstrate credible deterrence and our support to Nato and the rules-based international order. 'This will reaffirm that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad and reinforce the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific.' The 2021 deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group spearheaded by HMS Prince of Wales's sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth - did not traverse the strait. It led to accusations from Tory MPs that Britain was seeking to cosy up to Beijing. Should the strike group again avoid the territory, similar accusations could arise. On April 22 2025, crowds cheered as HMS Royal Prince of Wales departed her home of Portsmouth, alongside her escort ship, HMS Dauntless. Banners and flags were waved by members of the public from the walls and beach of Portsmouth harbour with sailors aboard the 65,000-tonne warship waving back to cheers from the crowds as they passed. In a tribute to the Pope Francis, HMS Prince of Wales's ensign flag on its flight deck was at half-mast as a 'sign of a respect' to the late pontiff, a navy spokesman confirmed. Greece has detained nearly 200 migrants who arrived after an asylum freeze imposed on claimants from North Africa. 'The illegal immigrants who entered from Libya in recent hours were arrested by the coast guard,' migration minister Thanos Plevris said on X on Saturday. 'They do not have the right to apply for asylum, they will not be taken to reception centers, but will be held in police custody until the process of their return is initiated,' he added. The 190 migrants arrived in three groups south of the island of Crete, the coastguard told AFP. A fourth group of 11 people was found near the island of Agathonisi, opposite the Turkish coast. State TV ERT reported one of them was injured and later died in hospital. The move marks a further hardening of Greece's stance towards migrants under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right government, which has built a fence at its northern land borders and boosted sea patrols since it came to power in 2019. Greece is experiencing a rise in migrant arrivals from Libya, mainly landing in Crete, the home island of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece has detained nearly 200 migrants who arrived after an asylum freeze imposed on claimants from North Africa, the country's migration minister Thanos Plevris (pictured) said over the weekend The 190 migrants arrived in three groups south of the island of Crete. Pictured: Migrants are transported in a bus on way to a detention centre after being rescued by Coast Guard off the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos, in the port of Piraeus in Athens on July 21, 2025 A fourth group of 11 people was found near the island of Agathonisi, opposite the Turkish coast Over 2,000 people have landed just in July, sparking anger among local officials and tourism operators who have put pressure on the conservative government to take action to stop the flows. The government has declared a three-month suspension on asylum requests from any persons arriving by sea from North Africa. The Greek migration ministry has also prepared legislation enabling migrant detention for up to two years for illegal entry, and up to five years if subsequently caught staying in Greece illegally. 'Somebody entering my country illegally must understand, they are entering a regime of surveillance, not hospitality,' Plevris told Open TV on Thursday. 'I am a fan of deterrents... we are not a hotel,' said the minister, who has called the migrant influx an 'invasion'. Earlier this month, dozens of migrants were seen in shocking footage leaping off a boat and running onto a beach in front of tourists on a Greek holiday island. In one clip, recorded at Diskos beach in the south of Crete, a group of asylum seekers were seen crammed in to a small boat as it bobbed near the shoreline. The concerning levels of sea arrivals prompted a visit by Greece's foreign minister George Gerapetritis to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar this month. Migrants who were rescued by Coast Guard off the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos walk on a ship as they disembark at the port of Piraeus before being taken to a detention centre, in Athens on July 21, 2025 Greece is experiencing a rise in migrant arrivals from Libya, mainly landing in Crete. File photo: Newly-arrived migrants line up inside a municipal hall in the town of Agyia, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 13, 2025 The government has declared a three-month suspension on asylum requests from any persons arriving by sea from North Africa. File photo: Newly-arrived migrants wait in line in their temporary shelter at a municipal hall in the town of Agyia, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 10, 2025 The Greek migration ministry has also prepared legislation enabling migrant detention for up to two years for illegal entry. Pictured: Newly-arrived migrants queue inside a municipal hall where they are sheltered, in the town of Agyia, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 10, 2025 The move marks a further hardening of Greece's stance towards migrants under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right government. Pictured: Migrants rescued south of Crete wait to be registered on their arrival at the the port of Lavrio, Greece, on Thursday, July 10 Over 2,000 people have landed just in July, sparking anger among local officials and tourism operators Greece was on the front line of migration crisis in 2015-16 when hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa passed through its islands and mainland. File photo: ewly-arrived migrants wait to board a bus outside a municipal hall in the town of Agyia, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 13 Migrants, who were rescued off Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos, arrive at the port of Lavrio in Lavreotiki, Greece, on July 10, 2025 Migrants are gathered by Greek coast guard officers after disembarking from a cargo ship, in the port of Lavrio, south of Athens, on July 10, 2025 Last month Athens also said it would deploy two frigates near Libyan territorial waters to help stem the flow. It urged Libya to cooperate more closely with Greece and the EU to stop migrants sailing from there or turn them back before they exit Libyan territorial waters. The North African country has remained deeply divided since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled and killed longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi. Human rights groups accuse Greece of forcefully turning back asylum-seekers on its sea and land borders. This year, the European Union border agency said it was reviewing 12 cases of potential human rights violations by Greece. The government denies wrongdoing. Greece was on the front line of migration crisis in 2015-16 when hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa passed through its islands and mainland. An electric vehicle event quickly erupted into chaos after what was set to be an educational display allegedly turned into a 'car dealership' at a local Hamptons park. The gathering, run by Eventlink L.L.C., took place on July 9 at Herrick Park in East Hampton, New York, and was originally set up to teach the community about electric cars. However, after just 45 minutes, it was shut down after locals became irate with how General Motors Company - a firm worth $52 billion - took over the public space. The event itself had a permit to run from noon until 6pm after it was pitched to Village Hall 'as an educational forum for electric vehicles.' But, according to East Hampton Village Administrator Marcos Baladron, it was instead used as a 'Trojan Horse for a national auto brand to sell cars.' The wealthy East Hampton locals - who live in one of the most expensive and ritzy zip codes in the country - ultimately got their way and the event was shut down. 'As soon as it became clear what was happening, we terminated their permit and shut it down. The Village of East Hampton will always protect its public spaces from commercial misuse,' Baladron told The East Hampton Star. Baladron, who said EV educational events have been hosted in the village in the past, was not the only one left livid by the apparent display. Larry Cantwell, who previously served as the East Hampton Village Administrator for 30 years, echoed his concerns. An electric vehicle event on July 9 in New York's East Hampton Village sparked fury in the community after what was set to be a purported educational display of cars appeared to turn into a GMC 'car dealership' Larry Cantwell (pictured), who previously served as the East Hampton Village Administrator for 30 years, was left livid by the event that was canceled 45 minutes after it started Cantwell posted an image from the event on Facebook, showing parked electric cars with tall GMC banners alongside them. 'New General Motors dealership opened today on Herrick Park. When will the exploitation end?,' Cantwell wrote. While many were left enraged by the alleged car dealership popping up in the quaint village, others, including Mayor Jerry Larsen, did not see it that way. 'When we took over, we inherited an abandoned park and we've turned it into a community space,' Larsen told the outlet. 'Just like it says in the deed, it's for town and village residents to enjoy. When we shut down the street and had the block party, I didn't know how that would be received, but people loved it. If you don't take a risk, and you hide under your shell, you'll never know what can build a community and what won't.' But, according to Cantwell, that park was donated for the community to use 'as a park and recreation' space. 'I don't think the public places in the Village of East Hampton should be for sale and commercialized by these major corporations,' Cantwell explained. 'I feel like there are an awful lot of people and corporations who want to take advantage of our community. My belief is we should have zero tolerance for the commercialization of public space and public property. It shouldn't be for sale, period.' When he arrived at the event, Cantwell said he witnessed six cars with their hoods open parked on the grass. He said: 'It was out of control. There were 10 signs promoting G.M. products. There were 15-foot-high banners, and they were unloading a tent. 'There were stands next to each parked car with a description of its attributes. It was like you were walking through a car dealership.' When he arrived for the event, Cantwell said he witnessed six cars with their hoods open parked on the grass Cantwell posted an image from the event on Facebook, showing parked electric cars with 15ft high GMC banners alongside them While many were left enraged by the alleged car dealership popping up in the quaint village, others, including Mayor Jerry Larsen (pictured), did not see it that way Although Larsen defended the village's event, he made it clear that he agrees it 'was over the top' and not what the community expected it to be. 'It wasn't for a contribution. It was similar to other vendors who do art shows in the park, or, for example, the farmers market in the park,' Larsen added. 'They pay a small fee to the village, $500, and they get a permit to do their event. It's a public space. People apply for permits and unless there's a good reason not to allow it, it's allowed. This event, I agree, was over the top, and not what we expected it to be.' According to village code, events that promote an 'outdoor sale of goods or services' are not allowed on the premises unless they are 'sponsored by a charitable organization.' Larsen said when a special event permit request is made it has to go to all the department heads, including police, so they can make suggestions on restrictions. The Village Administrator, Baladron, then reviews the comments and decides whether or not certain restrictions should be implemented before approving or denying the event as a whole. For this specific event, the Department of Public Works restricted the EV's from parking on the grass - something they were seen doing anyway. Bradford Billet, the executive director of the East Hampton Village Foundation, also spoke out about the controversial event. East Hampton Village Administrator Marcos Baladron (pictured) called the event a 'Trojan Horse for a national auto brand to sell cars' The night before the event at the park, two of the EV cars were displayed at the Tuesday night Main Beach concert, which was sponsored by the foundation. Billet made it clear the foundation had 'nothing to do with the Herrick Park event,' but explained how the EV display went down the night before. 'It was not a sales thing. They displayed two vehicles and gave away swag. It was about E.V. technology and how great it is. It wasn't the focus of the night,' he said. The night prior, the organizer made a $5,000 donation to be part of the concert, which draws thousands of people every week. Sponsors can also decide to donate $25,000 for the gold-level tier and $10,000 for a silver-level donation. That money allows the Main Beach events to be free and also goes toward improvements in Herrick Park. 'In the roughly four years we've been in existence, the foundation has given almost $3 million to the village for the public benefit,' Billet said. 'All of these things are for the public good. None of the donors or sponsors are getting special treatment, other than getting their name out there. I won't say there's no value to that.' Billet also noted that he has turned away thousands of dollars from alcohol brands who wanted to sponsor events in the past. Bradford Billet (pictured), the executive director of the East Hampton Village Foundation, made it clear the foundation had 'nothing to do with the Herrick Park event,' but explained how the EV display went down the night before For the controversial event, the company behind it, Eventlink L.L.C., was refunded its $1,500 it paid for the permit after it was canceled. Despite the event being shut down, Cantwell fears this is just the start of big name companies infiltrating the village. 'What's it going to be next? If you let G.M. do it one weekend, will it be Ford on Labor Day?,' he said. 'Once you open up the box where do you draw the line? For what? For a contribution? Aren't we bigger and better than that?' Daily Mail contacted Cantwell, Mayor Larson, Baladron and Event Link L.L.C. for comment. Passengers have been left terrified after a fire broke out in an overhead locker on a Virgin Australia flight landing in Tasmania. Flight VA1528, which departed Sydney this morning, had begun its descent into Hobart around 9am when smoke began filling the Boeing 737-8FE cabin. Witnesses believe an overheated lithium battery was to blame, although the airline has yet to confirm the cause of the fire. In shocking footage, smoke can be seen escaping from the overheard luggage compartment as the crew sprang into action. Passengers also jumped out of their seats when smoke noticeably filled the cabin, the alarming footage obtained by Pulse Tasmania showed. Flight attendants opened the locker to discover the blaze in a bag. Passengers described seeing flames leap out of the compartment when it was opened. Initial attempts to control the flames with an onboard fire extinguisher proved unsuccessful. Lithium battery fires are notoriously difficult to put out because they are a self-fueled chemical reaction. Cabin crew with the help of passengers then doused the flames with bottle after bottle of water fetched from the galley until it was brought under control. A fire broke out in an overheard compartment on Virgin Australia flight VA1528 on Monday at about 9am as it prepared to land in Hobart after departing Sydney earlier in the morning (pictured) Virgin Australia passengers reported the flame was caused by a lithium battery (stock) Once the flight had landed in Hobart, airport firefighters boarded the plane and removed the bag containing the battery. Hobart Airport COO Matt Cocker said one person received medical attention by paramedics for suspected smoke inhalation. 'The outbound Virgin flight back to Sydney is currently delayed, however all other operations at Hobart Airport are running as usual,' he said. Virgin Australia confirmed flight and cabin crew were checked over by paramedics as a precaution before being given the all-clear. 'Safety is always our highest priority. We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters,' a Virgin Australia spokesperson said. A replacement aircraft was found for the return flight, which was delayed by about five hours, while the Boeing 737-8FE aircraft was assessed for damage. No other flights at Hobart Airport were impacted by the fire. Sam McCambridge, who works for a rental car company at Hobart Airport, said two different groups of passengers told him cabin crew extinguished a fire after realising 'a lithium battery or some sort of charging device had caught fire in someone's bag'. He told ABC News one customer described 'smoke and a bit of a funny smell' drifting from an overhead locker. Piers Morgan's ex-wife was left fighting for her life with 'little hope' after a freak accident - but has now recovered following a 'minor miracle'. Mr Morgan was married to Marion Shalloe between 1991 and 2008 and they share three children together - Albert, Stanley, and Spencer. But their eldest son, Spencer, has now shared the harrowing story behind his mother's ordeal explaining it began several months ago. In a post uploaded to Instagram, Ms Shalloe could be seen wearing a green dress standing in the middle of two of her children, Spencer and Bertie, in a hospital ward. Spencer wrote: 'Seven months ago our mum was involved in a freak accident which left her fighting for her life 'We were told on more than one occasion that there was little hope if any but against all odds she hung on in there and thanks to the two heroic surgeons in the third pic and countless others at @chelwestft she left hospital today after 218 days on the ward.' The relieved son continued: 'The staff labelled her a minor miracle but they are the miracle workers. My family are eternally grateful for their incredible work. Never give up.' Spencer did not specify what had happened, but shared a number of images taken inside and in front of the hospital. In a post uploaded to Instagram , Ms Shalloe could be seen wearing a green dress standing in the middle of two of her children, Spencer and Bertie, in a hospital ward Spencer did not specify what had happened, but shared a number of images taken inside and in front of the hospital Piers Morgan was married to Marion Shalloe between 1991 and 2008 and they share three children together - Albert, Stanley, and Spencer In one video, hospital staff can be seen cheering as Ms Shalloe walks out of the ward with a crutch. Beneath Spencer's post, Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid wrote: 'The best news,' followed by a heart emoji. And Loose Women's Jane Moore said: 'She's a tough bird.' Several other famous faces also shared their joy at the good news. Fans in the comments joined in, with one writing: 'The dancing nurse made me emotional. She must really enjoy her job and surely loved looking after your mother. Bless your mum and all who looked after her at the hospital.' A second wrote: 'Gosh so happy your mum is okay. Chelsea & Westminster saved my life too, they're earth angels.' A third person added: 'I'm so happy to see dearest Marion finally walking out of there. My love to all of you and big love for Mazza, who is truly one incredible lady!!' Someone else chimed in: 'Absolutely fantastic news. well done to you all for not giving up. Xx' Pictured: Piers Morgan and his second wife Celia Walden seen leaving the Fashion for Relief show for London Fashion Week in February 2010 Pictured: Piers Morgan with Wife Marion Elizabeth Shalloe (r) at the UK premiere of Saving Private Ryan in September 1998 Ms Shalloe had been working as a hospital ward nurse herself when she married Mr Morgan in 1991. The journalist and media personality is now married to Celia Walden - a journalist and novelist - and has been since 2010. Their daughter, Elise, was born in 2011. A group of more than 20 people from the "Bridge 2 Harmony" Choir at Roosevelt High School in the U.S. state of Iowa visited Shijiazhuang, a city in north China, from Friday to Sunday to experience Chinese culture. Donald Trump's own top cabinet officials and pro-MAGA supporters are pressuring him to replace Attorney General Pam Bondi amid Jeffrey Epstein and Russia 'hoax' fury. She's facing increasing pressure to file charges to investigate and prosecute former President Barack Obama and his officials for their alleged roles in the Russia 'hoax' against Trump. The immense campaign comes as Bondi is already in hot water with MAGA supporters for dropping the ball on the long-anticipated release of the Epstein files. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently released new documents surrounding intelligence efforts to 'frame' Trump during the 2016 election. Her bombshell report showed that Obama's team 'manufactured and politicized intelligence' to make it appear that Russia and criminal actors impacted the 2016 election. The Russian collusion theory, which Trump raged as a 'witch hunt' against him, has been widely debunked after consuming his first term. Gabbard specifically targeted Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel during an interview with Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo. 'It is their responsibility to gather all of the evidence, both that we have released, the facts that have already been known previously, the information that will continue to come out, and move forward with this prosecution and these indictments.' Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) called for Bondi to start prosecuting Obama officials U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to the media, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House Gabbard putting public pressure on Bondi to take action against Obama officials, as MAGA supporters are also clamoring for more to be done on Epstein, puts her in a tough spot. Bondi is already struggling to respond to the Epstein controversy. The Department of Justice announced in early July that there was no evidence that billionaire financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in prison and that there was no 'client list' that could be released to the public. The news fueled calls for Bondi's resignation, after she sent mixed messages about the existence and release of the Epstein files. Comedian and podcaster Tim Dillon revealed he recently traveled to Washington, DC, for a dinner with a few members of the Trump administration to talk about the issue, as they tried to clarify details of the case. When Bondi said she had 10,000 hours of video connected to the Epstein case, Dillon revealed on his podcast, officials clarified she was speaking only about the footage of child porn found in Epstein's possession, not footage of Epstein and clients. Dillon recommended the president fire Pam Bondi and release the files if he wanted to get ahead of the scandal that threatened to 'engulf his presidency.' 'She's either incompetent or, or she's untruthful,' Dillon said. 'Pam Bondi's gotta go. She's gotta go back to Florida and prosecute people that you know are misbehaving on jet skis,' Dillon continued. 'She's gotta get out and you gotta bring in Megan Kelly. Truly you have to bring in Megan Kelly to be the Attorney General of America.' Other podcasters and influential Trump supporters have joined calls for Bondi's dismissal. Political activist Laura Loomer referred to Bondi as 'Blondi' and said she had failed the president. 'Pam Blondi is very damaging to President Trump's image. She drags the administration down and the base doesn't want her as AG,' she wrote. Trump has defended Bondi, despite criticism from his base, praising her for doing a 'FANTASTIC JOB' in the administration. Megyn Kelly has criticized Pam Bondi for mishandling the Epstein files Comedian and podcaster Tim Dillon has called for Trump to fire Attorney General Pam Bondi '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,' he continued. Kelly joined voices criticizing Bondi's handling of the case, noting she 'repeatedly misled on Epstein' and 'didnt have the courage to explain herself.' Dillon was critical of Bondi's handling of the Epstein case, describing it as the 'biggest bungle ever.' He also recommended that Trump fire FBI director Kash Patel. 'You can't just bring in just TV people, you have to bring in good TV people,' Dillon said, noting that Patel and other officials were 'like people who failed at having podcasts.' A newly unveiled Department of Justice internal investigation charges that the FBI sloppily investigated Hillary Clinton's 2016 email server scandal, resulting in an incomplete probe. The politically devastating investigation into the then-presumed Democratic presidential nominee was ended in 2016 after then-FBI Director James Comey announced that his agency would not recommend charges for Clinton after she used a personal server to store government emails - an infraction many Republicans argued was a crime. But an internal review of the FBI's investigation that finished in 2018 by the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that not every stone was unturned. That 35-page addendum, published on Monday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, says the FBI failed to complete a 'thorough and complete investigation' after the OIG uncovered a thumb drive full of government emails that was never investigated by Comey. It does not specify how many of Clinton's emails were left untouched. 'This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence in the FBI's investigation of former Secretary Clinton's email usage and mishandling of highly classified information,' Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said in a statement. 'Under Comey's leadership, the FBI failed to perform fundamental investigative work and left key pieces of evidence on the cutting room floor,' the statement continued. Comey's investigation primarily focused on approximately 30,000 emails Clinton sent or received while serving as secretary of state from 2009 - 2013. The probe uncovered 'top secret' files stored on Clinton's personal server, indicating she may have mishandled classified documents. The investigation, which also examined if foreign adversaries had access to the files, determined that though Clinton was 'extremely careless' in her handling of sensitive materials, it did not surmount to a violation of the law. The FBI failed to investigate a thumb drive containing sensitive government information during its probe into ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A newly unclassified FBI document shows that without reviewing the drive, the probe would be incomplete Former FBI Director James Comey said in July 2016 that 'no reasonable prosecutor' would bring a case against Clinton given the evidence. The newly unearthed documents say that the investigation and review of the evidence was not thorough The original investigation examined numerous devices and tens of thousands of emails related to Clinton and her aides. But there was also a realization that some devices had been destroyed or were inaccessible, hindering the breadth of the inquiry. The Clinton emails have been scrutinized extensively since 2016, with multiple reviews by the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General (OIG) and congressional committees. The OIG has criticized aspects of FBI leadership and found mistakes were made, but concluded the investigation was not driven by political bias and that 'no prosecutable evidence' was uncovered against Clinton Comey noted in July 2016 that 'no reasonable prosecutor' would push a case based on the FBI's findings, but the scrutiny of Clinton's emails still cost her politically as she went on to lose the election to Donald Trump. The 92-year-old Grassley thanked FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi for helping the Judiciary Committee unseal the previously classified 2018 OIG report. The newly unclassified document is an appendix to the OIG's publicly disclosed June 2018 report into the Clinton email investigation. Dubbed the 'Clinton annex' by Grassley's office, the addendum came just a month after the initial report was filed, in July 2018. However, the file claiming the report was incomplete was never publicly reported, remaining classified until this week. Grassley, whose committee oversees the two agencies, has been conducting oversight of the Clinton probe for nearly a decade since 2016. He first petitioned the FBI to release the OIG's 'Clinton annex' in 2020. The annex says the overlooked thumb drive contained very sensitive information taken from the State Department, including some emails from President Barack Obama at the time. Trump has often lashed out at Comey, accusing him of being politicized against him. The Republican fired Comey in 2017, in part, for his handling of the Clinton investigation Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, published the 'Clinton annex' on Monday after seeking its release since at least 2020 Though a drafted FBI memorandum recommended that the agency investigate the thumb drives, they were never reviewed as a part of the Clinton investigation, the annex states. The drafted memorandum stated that the thumb drives were critical to a 'thorough and complete investigation,' but that the FBI never submitted this request In addition to not investigating the thumb drive, the FBI also obtained intelligence that 'the Obama administration took efforts to scuttle the investigation into Clinton and protect her candidacy,' Grassley's office claims. The newly unveiled 'Clinton annex' shows Comey and others at the FBI did not make efforts to fully investigate those intelligence reports, the Republican alleges. The FBI's unwillingness to release the bombshell document stands in opposition to its eagerness to investigate Trump for alleged ties to Russia during the same timespan, the Iowa Republican says. 'Comey's decision-making process smacks of political infection,' Grassley contended. Attorney General Bondi celebrated Grassley's yearslong work on the Clinton investigation on Monday. 'Today, the Department of Justice honored Chairman Grassley's request to release information relating to former-FBI Director James Comey's failed investigation into Hillary Clinton's mishandling of highly classified information during her tenure as Secretary of State,' she said in a statement. 'I commend Chairman Grassley for his unwavering, years-long commitment to exposing the truth and holding those who seek to conceal it accountable.' A Ukrainian OnlyFans model who was found seriously injured in Dubai on the side of the road has told for the first time of the terrifying abuse she endured. Maria Kovalchuk was found with horrific injuries including a broken spine and limbs when she was discovered on a roadside on March 19 and spent time in hospital in a coma. The 20-year-old is now recovering from her ordeal in Norway and has broken her silence in an interview with Russian presenter Ksenia Sobchak. Speaking to the interviewer, Maria explained that it all unfolded when she missed a flight from Dubai to Thailand after she overslept. While checking out of her hotel, she bumped into a Russian man she had met at a karaoke bar once before. After telling him about her situation, he invited her to stay in his room and told her they could fly to Thailand together in his private jet. OnlyFans model Maria Kovalchuk, pictured in Norway with her mother Anna, as she breaks her silence on her brutal Dubai assault in an interview with Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak Maria Kovalchuk, 20, went into a coma and suffered horrific injuries including a broken spine and limbs when she was discovered on a roadside on March 19 Her friends expressed fears she had been kidnapped before she was found 10 days later in a critical condition The man was accompanied by three friends - a man and two women. 'We went up to the room. The guys were half-sober, they had just come from a party. And overall, everything went well throughout the day. We talked, discussed our trip to Thailand. 'I even called my mum, said that everything was fine, the guys were normal. I called in their presence, to be on the safe side. But things took dark turn the next day, when the men started to behave aggressively towards her, she says. 'They were drinking very strong alcohol, like whiskey. They started to tease me, like, why don't I drink. 'Then there were some aggressive pushes, they started to joke: 'You belong to us. We'll do whatever we want'.' 'I tried to take it as a joke, because it was really weird. 'They started behaving inappropriately, smashing bottles on the floor. Maria explained that the horrific ordeal unfolded when she missed a flight from Dubai for Thailand after she overslept She said that she bumped into a Russian man she had met at a karaoke bar once before and joined him and his friends before things took a dark turn 'After that, they took my personal belongings, which included my passport.' Maria added that the men had 'hinted' that they wanted to have sex with her, which she did not reciprocate. As things escalated, Maria tried to escape but said the men ultimately dragged her back into the room. When they stepped out onto the balcony, she managed to flee and hid at a nearby construction site. The men then found her and 'beat her', she said. 'I ran away. Then, already on the street, when I was, I didn't see them anymore, but I knew they were coming,' said Maria. 'I ran to the nearest building, just scared, and ran in, hid there. It was just an unfinished building.' Maria said she doesn't remember the violence itself that led to her injuries, and CCTV footage has since been erased, she said. 'Three months have passed the police waited until the cameras were automatically wiped [after this period]. So now there's no evidence,' said Maria. Maria is pictured here after the attack in a hospital in Dubai Maria had been missing for eight days after telling her friends she had been invited to a party at a hotel Maria is pictured here before her horrific ordeal 'Most likely, there was a blow to the head, I suppose. The next scene [that] I remember is me asking for help from a passing car, which had already stopped and called an ambulance and the police. She had fled wearing only a hotel robe. 'I think that maybe I was thrown. Or it was a beating. One of two options, the injuries looked like either a beating or a fall.' The men accused by Maria were both briefly detained by police in Dubai- but only for one day. There appear to be no charges against them. Maria had been missing for eight days after telling her friends she had been invited to a party at a hotel on March 9. On March 19, ten days after she disappeared, a battered and bloodied Maria was found dumped at a roadside in Dubai with her limbs and spine broken. Maria was rushed to hospital and underwent three surgeries to save her life, before later receiving a fourth procedure. The father of a nine-year-old girl who was found dead in New York hung his head in shame as he was arraigned for allegedly killing her when he was set to hand custody back to her mother. Luciano Frattolin, 45, was seen in a white jumpsuit and shackles being hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to murdering his daughter Melina. Authorities allege that he killed the little girl on Saturday while they were traveling home to Montreal, Canada, before reporting that she had been abducted. Authorities issued an AMBER alert at the time, however cops came to suspect that Frattolin had 'fabricated' the report, officers said at a press conference on Monday morning. At the press conference, officials said that Luciano and Melina had traveled to the US from Canada on July 11 for a vacation, and were expected to return on Sunday. Luciano and Melina had spent the week on vacation in New York, but he was set to hand custody of his daughter back to her mother that day, officials said. Melina's mother had full-time custody, and had been estranged from Luciano since 2019. At around 6:30pm on Saturday, Melina phoned her mom to say she was heading back to Canada, but sometime that night she was allegedly murdered. The little girl was found in the shallow portion of a pond in upstate New York near the town of Ticonderoga on Sunday. Her cause of death is not yet known, and officials said they would perform an autopsy on Monday. Police have not officially determined a motive, however the timeline laid out by cops at Monday's press conference suggest that the alleged murder came as Luciano was set to give custody of his daughter back. He is now facing charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse. Luciano Frattolin, 45, hung his head in shame as he was arraigned on Monday for allegedly killing his daughter, 9, when he was set to hand custody back to her mother over the weekend Luciano Frattolin allegedly killed his daughter Melina on Saturday before reporting that she had been abducted, which cops said he had 'fabricated' Cops said Luciano Frattolin, 45, 'fabricated' reports of his daughter's abduction, and he is now facing charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse Melina's body was tragically found in a remote area near the town of Ticonderoga on Sunday, with New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell saying at Monday's press conference that the discovery was devastating. 'This is certainly a difficult case, a heartbreaking investigation,' McConnell said. McConnell said Luciano initially claimed that his daughter was kidnapped near Lake George in upstate New York when he pulled over to urinate in the woods. He said he turned around to find that Melina was missing, and saw a 'suspicious white van' fleeing the scene. But he later said that 'two unknown males forced' his daughter into the white van. When her body was found, detectives said there was no evidence she was ever abducted and there was 'no threat to the public' following Luciano's arrest. Cops said that 'as the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided.' She was located in a remote stretch in Ticonderoga, New York, around 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen. Lake George, the spot where he said he last saw her, is a small waterside town in the Adirondack region of upstate New York around 60 miles north of Albany. On Sunday afternoon police issued an update saying 'there is no indication that an abduction occurred' and the little girl had been found dead. (Pictured: Melina with her father) Police said both Melina Frattolin and her father Luciano are Canadian residents Lake George, where the girl's father said she was last seen, is a small waterside town in the Adirondack region of upstate New York around 60 miles north of Albany Luciano is the founder of an organic coffee brand called Gambella, according to the product's website. 'Luciano Frattolin is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses,' the website reads. 'With a background in the humanities and social sciences, his formal education, together with his pragmatic understanding about the complexities of life, motivates him to maintain an understanding of the world grounded in a distinct cross-cultural ethos. 'The son of an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, Luciano was born in the small, remote village of Gambella. 'With a childhood spent running between rows of crimson coffee buds on the Ethiopian family plantation, and the neoclassical architecture of his father's Milano, his vision of the world and his pursuits within, reflect these hyphenated cultures.' Disturbing dashboard camera video captured Florida police officers smashing a car window, then punching the driver in the face during a routine traffic stop. William McNeil Jr., 22, was pulled over by cops from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) on February 19. The shocking footage of the incident shared on Sunday showed JSO officers breaking McNeil's window, punching him in the face, pulling him out of his car, then striking him again as they threw him to the ground to arrest him. A police report obtained by News4Jax stated that McNeil was pulled over after an officer allegedly saw his headlights and taillights were off in inclement weather. McNeil's dashboard camera video begins with him discussing why he was pulled over with another officer, who is on the passenger side of the car. 'When he pulled me over, he walked up and I opened my door because my window doesn't work, and I said, "What did I do wrong?"' McNeil said. 'He said, "Well, for one, your headlights are off under this weather." I'm like there's multiple people with their headlights off first of all, and then there's no rain.' The officer whom McNeil was talking to replied, 'It doesn't matter. You're still required to have headlights on.' Dashboard camera video showed police smashed through the car window and punch William McNeil Jr., 22, in the face during a traffic stop on February 19 Cops from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office broke McNeil's window, punched him in the face, pulled him out of his car, then hit him again as they threw him to the ground McNeil asked the officer to show him the law that requires that, and the officer told him he would once he stepped out of the vehicle. Then McNeil asked the officer to call his supervisor when another cop smashed his window and punched him in the face while shouting at him to exit the vehicle. The police report claims that McNeil was given multiple warnings that officers were going to break the window. However, the video showed that only one officer was heard saying, 'Alright, go for it,' seconds before smashing the glass. The report also claimed that McNeil was not wearing his seatbelt. However, the video showed McNeil was wearing his seatbelt, and the officer unbuckled it himself. In the police report, the officer alleged that he believed McNeil was reaching for a knife under his seat and was 'continuing to pull away from officers' during his arrest. The video showed that the officer who broke the window and punched McNeil asked him to show his hands, which McNeil complied with. McNeil was then pulled out of the car after the officer unbuckled him and was punched by a second officer as a group of them forced him to the ground. The police report claimed that McNeil was given multiple warnings that officers were going to break the window and alleged that he was wearing a seatbelt The video showed that McNeil was wearing a seatbelt and the officers actually had to unbuckle him and one officer was heard saying, 'Alright, go for it,' seconds before smashing the glass McNeil was punched again and after was pulled out of the car and told to stop talking while he tried to explain to cops that he was putting his hands behind his back While McNeil is on the ground, an officer shouted, 'What is wrong with you?' and as he tried to reply that he was putting his hands behind his back, the cops tell him to stop talking. McNeil told NewsJax4 that he suffered injuries to his face and brain during the arrest. 'I suffered a chipped tooth; my tooth went through my lip, and they slammed me on the ground and on the concrete. I had to get nine stitches. I also had a concussion and now I suffer from short-term memory loss,' McNeil said. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office told DailyMail.com that it is investigating the incident. 'We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025,' Sheriff T.K. Waters said. 'We have launched an internal investigation into it and the circumstances surrounding this incident. We hold our officers to the highest standards and are committed to thoroughly determining exactly what occurred.' McNeil hired civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Ben Crump to represent him as he seeks justice from the incident. 'I am absolutely disgusted by the actions of these officers, but, unfortunately, Im not surprised,' said Daniels. 'The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has a long history of this kind of needless violence and brutality.' 'It should be obvious to anyone watching this video that William McNeil wasnt a threat to anyone,' said Crump. 'He was calmly exercising his constitutional rights and they beat him for it.' A protester whose teeth were knocked out when riot police smashed a shield into his face during the chaos outside the Epping migrant hotel is back on the scene after gluing the missing gnashers back in. Hundreds of furious locals gathered outside the Bell Hotel on Thursday after Ethiopian resident Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sex attacks on schoolgirls. The protest started peacefully, but descended into frenzied violence when anti-migrant demonstrators clashed with counter protesters and police. Footage showed the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he was hit with the shield at full force. The injured man then looked down at his hand in disbelief as he clasped his teeth and showed them eagerly to fellow protesters. As people continue to gather outside the hotel today, the man was spotted back on the scene - with all his teeth in tact. Asked what happened by a fellow protester filming him, he said: 'They're not teeth, they're implants. They've broke the implants, so I've literally Gorilla glued them in. 'There's no eating with them. I've got to have them put back in and it's going to cost a fortune. As people continue to gather outside the hotel today, the man was spotted back on the scene - with all his teeth intact. Asked what happened by a fellow protester filming him, he said: 'They're not teeth, they're implants. They've broke the implants, so I've literally Gorilla glued them in' Footage of the encounter shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force 'They're just glued in, so I hope no one flicks me in the mouth today because they'll come out again!' In the aftermath of Thursday's demonstration, the injured man spoke to a camera and relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'. He claimed: 'I was trying to talk to him (the riot officer) and he smashed me in the face with his shield.' The protester was then be seen reaching into his pocket before he presents what resembles a yellow luminescent highlighter, a bottle top, and two teeth. Other footage shows the man furiously shouting at the riot police after his teeth have been knocked out as the man filming comments 'he's fuming mate'. At the protest residents stood side-by-side to call for the hotel to stop operating as refugee accommodation. More footage from the event appeared to show the moment a demonstrator was driven into by a police vehicle. The van could be seen knocking over the young man, who stood in Epping High Road, in what appeared to be an attempt to stop the vehicle leaving. Protesters had erected a make-shift barrier made up of pallets and plastic fencing in the road to prevent police driving away from the scene. Exclusive from Epping Protest: Teeth are back in pic.twitter.com/0I6HMS2DYH WesleyWinter (@WesleyWinterYT) July 20, 2025 Riot police smashed a shield into a protester's face and knocked his teeth out in a heated clash outside an Epping migrant hotel The injured man then looks down at his hand in disbelief as he clasps his teeth and shows them eagerly to fellow protesters Other footage shows the man furiously shouting at the riot police after his teeth have been knocked out as the man filming comments 'he's fuming mate' In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket' The injured man shows his teeth eagerly to fellow protesters including a lady with the Flag of St. George draped over her shoulders Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'The events in Epping on Thursday were shocking and have no place in our neighbourhoods' A man was seen being struck by a police van following violent protests outside a migrant hotel in Essex on Thursday But the first of four vehicles crashed through the barrier, leading a protester to stand in the road, who was then knocked out of the way by the second van as people screamed: 'Oh my god' and 'what the f***'. The youth who was mowed down by the police van could then be seen getting up and brushing himself down as he shouted at the convoy. Thursday's demonstration ended with three arrests after clashes with counter protesters and police. Six arrests were made during the protest on Sunday evening which attracted more counter demonstrations and has spilled over into today. Hundreds of Palestine Action supporters plan to get arrested in a mass summer demonstration, planning documents reveal. At least 500 radical activists are preparing to sit in London for 60 minutes or 'until arrest' on August 9th while holding signs which state: 'I oppose Genocide. I support Palestine Action'. Palestine Action was proscribed (banned) on July 5 by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after protesters associated with the group broke into Britains largest airbase and vandalized two RAF Voyager aircrafts. It is a criminal offence to support them. The 15-page document, titled 'Lift the ban, De-proscribe Palestine Action' and was last updated on Sunday, details the groups extensive plot to overwhelm the police and the justice system until - it claims - the Government is forced to U-turn and reverse the ban. Their protest, planned for next month, would be the largest escalation in a series of similar protests that have taken place across the UK since the ban. So far dozens of people have already been arrested for holding similar signs expressing support for the prohibited group. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Daily Mail: The Government simply cannot allow a proscribed group to overwhelm our justice system. Anyone assisting the group must face immediate justice. There can be no doubt in peoples minds: if they support a terrorist group, they will be punished. A supporter of Palestine Action is carried away by police officers after holding up a sign supporting a proscribed group on July 19, 2025 in London, England. A supporter of Palestine Action gives a 'V' sign as they are arrested and put in a police van after holding up a sign supporting a proscribed group on July 19, 2025 in London, England. Palestine Action was proscribed under the 2000 Terrorism Act days after the group's activists claimed to be behind a break-in at an air force base in southern England. Lord Walney, the former government extremism adviser, added: People shouldnt be duped - this stunt will do nothing to help Palestine but it will land you with a criminal record that could ruin your life. The police are doing their job but now need to act quickly to show there are serious consequences for supporting a proscribed group. Under the heading The Action, the document explains: [The protest on August 9] will be a conditional commitment action, which means it will only go ahead if 500 people have committed to taking action on the same day. It continues: 'The intention is for a mass action on a scale that makes it almost impossible for the police to intervene. 'Although theres a substantial risk of arrest, and all taking part should be prepared for that, the indications from the past three Saturdays are that the stakes for action-takers are relatively low, in comparison to the worst-case scenarios. 'No-one has yet been charged with an offence, and no-one has been remanded. The document also advises supporters what to do 'in case of arrest' and how to respond to house raids from police. It also links to a pre-prepared statement which activists are encouraged to read during police interviews and information about Preparing For Prison which includes advice about ordering vegan meals and how to receive books behind bars. A detained demonstrators sits inside a police van, following a protest in support of the Palestine Action group in Parliament Square in London Since Palestine Action was banned on July 5, police have warned that expressing support for the group was now a crime The protest was organised by Defend Our Juries who are campaigning to de-proscribe the Palestine Action. A person holds a Palestinian flag outside the High Court. A Community Security Trust (CST) spokesperson said: Palestine Action is now a proscribed organisation, and the public will expect the police to continue fully enforcing the law, as they have done to date. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries - the group organising these protests - said: It's disgraceful that a Labour Home Secretary imagines that with a stroke of her pen, she can abolish our ancient freedoms. Visitors to Parliament Square, watching the Met's finest haul away priests and teachers for holding simple cardboard signs, opposing genocide, are wondering whether they've been misdirected to Tiananmen Square. A number of police forces around the country, such as in Edinburgh, Chichester and Kendal, have exercised common sense to leave protestors be. Police chiefs embracing the Orwellian approach should think twice. Once the proscription order is ruled unlawful (and it is just a matter of time) they will be paying out substantial compensation for wrongful arrest and trespass to property. A Met Police spokesperson said: 'While we would not go into the details of our approach, the public can be reassured that we will have a detailed plan in place to respond to any eventuality. 'Our officers will continue to apply the law in relation to Palestine Action as we have done over the past three weekends. 'Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested.' This is the moment terrified Delta passengers learned their pilot quickly swerved the aircraft to avoid a catastrophic mid-air collision with a military B-52 bomber. Delta Flight 3788 was nearing the end of its 90-minute journey from Minneapolis to North Dakota's Minot International Airport on Friday night when the pilot suddenly made a series of sharp, unexpected turns. The passenger jet climbed abruptly before circling the area and returning for a safe landing, flight tracking data reveals. But the 'aggressive maneuver' startled passengers and crew who were unaware at the time that the plane had come terrifyingly close to crashing into a massive B-52 Stratofortress flying out of Minot Air Force Base. After landing, the pilot addressed his terrified passengers, revealing how air traffic control had instructed an abrupt course change due to inadequate separation from another aircraft on the approach path. 'For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, and so we continued,' he explained over the public announcement system. He explained how there is no radar at Minot Airport so air traffic control has to 'visually' check that aircraft have enough clearance. He alleged he received no prior warning about nearby military air traffic and, having to act fast, decided the safest move was to abruptly swerve behind the bomber. This is the moment terrified Delta passengers learned their pilot quickly swerved the aircraft to avoid a catastrophic mid-air collision with a military B-52 bomber The pilot pulled off an 'aggressive maneuver' to narrowly avoid a collision with a military bomber, preventing what could have been a catastrophic mid-air disaster over North Dakota on Friday night (stock photo) The plane had come terrifyingly close to crashing into a massive B-52 Stratofortress flying out of Minot Air Force Base (Pictured: stock Air Force bomber jet) Air traffic control informed the pilot to turn right because the spacing between Delta Flight 3788 and the jet ahead of it was too small. 'Um, and I looked over and there was an airplane, which those of you on the right-hand side, I thought it was a small airplane,' the pilot told the passengers in footage captured by passenger Monica Green. 'He [air traffic control] said, 'Turn right.' I said, 'There's an airplane over there.' And he says, 'Turn left.' And that by the time we read back to clearance, looked over and saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us.' He also collectedly explained that he initially thought the approaching aircraft was a small plane - but it turned out to be a massive military jet. The pilot said he did not know how fast the bomber was flying but knew 'they were a lot faster than us' and 'felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it'. Despite the seriousness of what he was describing, his tone remained steady and composed throughout, just like it was just another day in the air. 'So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, it caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all,' he added. 'I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up, because the Air Force base does have radar, and nobody said, 'Hey, there's also a B-52 in the pattern'. 'Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work.' Once he finished addressing the passengers, the footage captured a wave of applause - an outpouring of relief from people who suddenly realized how close they had come to danger just moments before. Exactly how close the two aircraft came remains unknown, as does whether any cockpit warning systems were triggered during the near miss, according to ABC News. Delta Flight DL3788 was nearing the end of its 90-minute journey to North Dakota 's Minot International Airport on Friday night when the pilot suddenly made a series of sharp, unexpected turns. The passenger jet climbed abruptly before circling the area and returning for a safe landing, flight tracking data reveals The pilot's quick thinking aboard Flight DL3788 - an Embraer E175 operated by SkyWest - may have saved hundreds of lives, despite unsettling passengers. As the pilot sharply swerved through the air to avoid disaster, passengers described the atmosphere onboard as 'weirdly calm,' despite the sudden and evasive maneuvers. 'Being in the very front row, you feel everything, and those hard turns, you could tell something wasn't right,' Green told KMOT News. The flight circled Minot Airport several times before finally landing, with passengers sensing the rising tension among the crew. Some, including Green, quietly began texting loved ones - internally panicking as the gravity of the situation set in. 'We took a really hard turn, and that's when the pilot got on the intercom and said, 'sorry everybody, I'll explain everything when we land safely,'' Green told KMOT. 'The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment,' she added. 'We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet.' Green, who has a sizable Instagram following, shared a clip of the pilot's in-flight explanation to her platform, praising his expertise in the caption and thanking him for keeping everyone safe. 'He was very casual,' Green explained, describing the pilot's demeanor. 'If you can be casual about something like that.' 'But you could tell he was stressed,' she added. 'He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed. It felt good that they weren't just going to brush it off.' The plane had come terrifyingly close to crashing into a massive military jet - B-52 Stratofortress - flying out of Minot Air Force Base (pictured) Monica Green (pictured), a passenger on the flight with a sizable Instagram following, shared a clip of the pilot's in-flight explanation to her platform, praising his expertise in the caption and thanking him for keeping everyone safe Although Green couldn't see the bomber from her seat, she later overheard tense conversations in the small airport terminal - passengers and crew quietly discussing just how close the collision had actually been. 'When we landed, it was really quiet. No one stood up right away like people normally do,' she told KMOT. 'At the airport, I heard some people saying their friends saw it from the ground. The other plane nearly hit us, and it went so low it passed under us.' SkyWest has since launched an investigation into the incident, a spokesperson told ABC in a statement. 'SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path,' the statement read. 'We are investigating the incident.' Daily Mail has reached out to Delta and Minot Air Force Base for comment. A Missouri couple has been arrested after they allegedly abandoned their young son at a courthouse alone and pleaded with cops to 'take him away.' Jeremy Lamp, 36, and Jessica Lamp, 31, are accused of leaving their infant son behind at the Livingston County Courthouse in Chillicothe. They allegedly left the young boy with no food, clothes or plan for his care - with police saying they did so 'without remorse and without ensuring proper care.' They've both been charged with child neglect and are expected to appear in court Monday for a bond hearing. Cops say the couple showed up to the courthouse the day before for a routine drug screening with a Missouri Department of Social Services investigator, which was part of an ongoing child welfare case. Jeremy reportedly tested clean but Jessica's mouth swab came back positive for methamphetamine. This led to a social worker recommending a 'safety plan' to protect the child. But instead of cooperating, Jeremy allegedly refused all options - including having Jessica stay away from the home, having him and the baby leave the house or even allowing the child to stay with a relative. Jeremy Lamp, 36, (left) and Jessica Lamp, 31, (right), are accused of leaving their infant son behind at the Livingston County Courthouse in Chillicothe 'The investigator explained that due to the drug test coming back positive, she couldn't leave the baby with them,' the Chillicothe Police Department stated in the couple's probable cause affidavits. Officers say the Lamps returned to the courthouse the next day and left their child behind 'without remorse and without ensuring proper care.' 'Jeremy and Jessica then left the courthouse without the child,' police wrote, adding that the boy had been left with no clothes, food or other infant care. The couple was later found at a nearby medical center, where they were arrested. Jeremy allegedly admitted to abandoning the child, saying: 'The way I looked at it was that they were gonna take him anyway.' He also told officers that 'none of the options' the court presented were acceptable, according to his statement. 'Jeremy said that none of the options were viable. He said that Children's Division told him that they would take the child so he left Victim 1 with them,' the probable cause statements read. 'When I questioned him about this he said 'the way I looked at it was that, they were gonna take him anyway.' They allegedly left the young boy with no food, clothes or plan for his care - with police saying they did so 'without remorse and without ensuring proper care' at the courthouse (pictured) Both Jeremy and Jessica have prior criminal convictions, including assault and DWI charges for him and child endangerment for her. Authorities say the child is now in the custody of Missouri Children's Division. Outspoken New York progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seems to have gotten a taste of her own medicine. A disturbing video made its rounds on X Monday morning of the congresswoman's Bronx campaign headquarters being vandalized in red paint with a note attached to the front gate reading 'AOC Funds Genocide in Gaza.' The glass directly covering photograph of the congresswoman's face was entirely obscured by red paint as well. The viral video footage of the incident also shows the NYPD's evidence collection team arriving to remove the sign and investigate the scene. The unhinged action came days after AOC voted against an amendment proposed by MAGA Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to cut funding to Israel's 'golden dome' air defense systems by $500 million. The amendment to the annual military spending package - known as the National Defense Appropriations Act, or NDAA - was backed by only six members of the House of Representatives. Only GOP firebrand Thomas Massie and AOC's leftist 'Squad' sisters of Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib supported MTG's flamboyant amendment. A group called the Boogie Down Liberation Front took responsibility for the attack on AOC's office. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a May Day rally in New York City, U.S., May 1, 2025 Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's office in the Bronx, New York NYPD officers outside of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's office in the Bronx, New York In a statement, the group noted that 'the Bronx is sick and tired of people like AOC and Ritchie Torres using us as a stepping stone for their own political careers.' 'The Bronx stands with the people of Palestine and we denounce the hypocrisy of AOC who voted to fund Israel's ongoing genocide and starvation campaign in Gaza. F**K AOC!,' the group added. Ocasio-Cortez issued a statement Saturday which explained her vote against the amendment, noting that it 'does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza.' 'I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end,' Ocasio-Cortez added. 'I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide,' the New York Democrat concluded. Marjorie Taylor Greenes amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it. What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 19, 2025 The irony of AOC, a vocal progressive who has also advocated for defunding the police, being treated like this by activists of her own political realm was not lost on social media users. X user @nikhil0582 wrote, 'Yesss..finally . I have been waiting when the crazy lefties come after her.' Another user who posts under the handle of @NaMesoAtta noted 'These freaks are absolutely allergic to anything resembling actual power. They'd much rather get likes on Instagram doing dumb stuff like this than ask why their own movement has zero political power whatsoever and why that might be.' X user @OriginalBad described the attackers as 'nutjobs who want to do nothing but lose elections.' In 2020, AOC's congressional office reposted a Marie Claire magazine article about the representative's views on defunding the police. That article noted that 'Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is among the proponents of the call to defund the police' and in her view a community that spends less money on policing looks 'like a suburb.' 'Affluent white communities already live in a world where the choose to fund youth, health, housing etc more than they fund police,' Ocasio-Cortex noted at the time. 'These communities have lower crime rates not because they have more police, but bc they have more resources to support healthy society in a way that reduces crime,' the Bronx Congresswoman added. President Donald Trump called for an end to cashless bail, a bold move that could overhaul the way the American prison system works. Trump claims the financial-based bail system results in a rise in crime, and he called for it to come to an end. 'Crime in American Cities started to significantly rise when they went to CASHLESS BAIL. The WORST criminals are flooding our streets and endangering even our great law enforcement officers. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, IMMEDIATELY!,' he wrote on Truth Social on Monday. Crime, in fact, is not on the rise in most American cities right now. The latest national and city-level data for 2025 actually show violent crime, murders and shootings declining during the first six months of the year. Some reports indicate the U.S. is on track for the lowest property and violent crime rates since national record-keeping began in the 1960s. The president has - in recent days - posted other items on social media that are tied to the prison system, including an AI-generated video of Barack Obama being arrested at the White House. Trump also has called for Alcatraz, California's infamous island prison, to be reopened. While Trump signed criminal justice legislation into law during his first term that reduced certain mandatory minimum sentence and expanded eligibility for early release, he did not take on the bail system. President Donald Trump called for the end of the cashless bail system Trump has had his own experience with cash bonds in order to stay out of prison. He had to post a $175 million bond to New York in a case involving his business practices. And he was required to post $200,000 bond in his election subversion case in Georgia, which he did so after surrendering at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta in August 2023. But Trump falsely claimed in May 2024 that he had to put up bail in his New York hush money case, saying New York City was violent because other defendants did not have to post bail. He was actually released on his own recognizance, like many charged with a non-violent crime. And in two federal cases - one in Washington, DC, over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and one in Florida over his post-presidency retention of classified documents - Trump was released on his own recognizance. A cashless bail system would see defendants released based on factors like flight risk or a danger to community and not on ability to pay. However, the system may not work like Trump wants it to. Studies show cashless bail does not keep the prison population down A study in California earlier this year found 70 percent of suspects released on zero-dollar bail, reoffended. The state recently ended its current money bail system. The data showed suspects released on zero-dollar bail were twice as likely to be rearrested for felonies and three times as likely to be rearrested for violent crimes compared to those who had to post bail, CBS News reported. Proponents of cashless bail, however, say it could decrease prison populations as a cash bail system sees people being detained in jail, sometimes for lengthy periods of time while awaiting trial, solely because of their inability to pay. Illinois, in 2023, became the first state to eliminate the use of cash bail. But the move didn't decline prison populations as much as expected, a study from the Center for Criminal Justice at Loyola University in Chicago found. 'What's changing is that the means of release are changing,' David Olson, a co-director of the center, told ABC News. 'People don't have to post the money, and rather than being released in a few days when they come up with the money, they're being released in a day or two.' A young couple have been brutally executed in broad daylight in Pakistan after her family complained she had married without her family's blessing. The horrifying moment was captured on video and posted online, triggering national outrage. The sickening footage, which quickly went viral across social media over the weekend, shows the man and woman gunned down at close range as onlookers watch in chilling silence. Police have since arrested 11 suspects over the so-called 'honour killing', which took place in the remote, mountainous Deghari district of Balochistan. Police identified the victims as Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah. In the clip, verified by local authorities, several men arrive in pickup trucks before confronting the newlyweds. The young bride, speaking in the local language, insists she is legally married. She says: 'Come, walk seven steps with me, and then you can only shoot me,' moments before she is shot three times at point-blank range. Her husband is then executed similarly, with a second man stepping forward and emptying his gun into the already lifeless groom. The woman, in centre, is seen walking down a path before she is brutally executed The video ends with the couple's bloodied bodies lying on the rocky ground. Authorities confirmed that no family members had come forward to report the murders, a silence that speaks volumes in a country where honour killings remain disturbingly common. The footage is believed to have been filmed by an unidentified individual who then posted it online. Farhatullah Babar, a prominent Pakistani human rights activist, praised the young woman's final moments, saying: 'The bravery shown by the slain woman is both humbling and remarkable, as she neither begged for her life nor showed any weakness.' He called for those involved in the 'brutal murder of the newlywed couple' to face the harshest punishment possible. The shocking case has once again drawn attention to Pakistan's grim record on honour killings. She bravely turns her back to her assailants and waits for them to pull the trigger in the disturbing clip Despite national laws banning the practice, hundreds of women are still murdered every year for defying family or tribal expectations, often with little to no consequence. In January, police arrested a Pakistani father suspected of murdering his 15-year-old daughter, a US citizen, for refusing to stop posting on TikTok. Activists are now calling for urgent action to stamp out such killings, as the country reels from another senseless, medieval act of violence. A teenager accused of murdering a female paddleboarder continued posting on his social media days after her body was found - and even offered to help cops searching for her killer. Deven Young, 17, was arrested last week and charged with the murder of Sunshine Stewart, 48, who was found beaten and strangled to death in Union, Maine, on July 3. Young has denied involvement in her death. He is currently being held in a youth detention center in South Portland, where hell be held until trial. The teens arrest last Wednesday came exactly two weeks after Stewart was last seen alive. She set off from the Mic Mac Campground to paddleboard on nearby Crawford Pond on the evening of July 2. When Stewart hadnt returned after midnight, the campgrounds owner, Katherine Lunt, reported her missing to police. Shortly after, Stewarts body was found in what police cryptically called unusual circumstances at a nature reserve at the center of the pond. News of her death stunned the quiet, close-knit community of Union. Amid mounting fears that a deranged killer - and possibly even a serial killer - could be lurking in their midst, police worked in relative silence, sharing few updates, as they searched for the culprit. During that time, Young continued posting on his Facebook page, seemingly unfazed by the commotion Stewarts death had caused. Deven Young, 17, was taken into custody last Wednesday and later charged with the murder of Sunshine Stewart. He is the only suspect in the case Sunshine Stewart was a season camper at the Mic Mac Campground in Union, Maine. Any connection she had to Young is not known In his final post, dated July 12, Young shared an image of a boat anchored on a lake at sunset. Its not clear where the image was taken. Asked by a friend in a comment beneath the post how he was, Young responded: 'I'm doing good how are you doing.' Youngs Facebook page has since been deleted. His profile picture had shown him posing with a shotgun in a chair, staring slack-jawed at the camera, with a cartoon American flag superimposed at his feet. There was nothing untoward about Youngs behavior in the days that followed Stewarts murder, according to Katherine Lunt, who told the Midcoast Villager his actions around the camp were never suspicious. He would offer to assist other campers with their loose pets, yard work, and make wood crafts, which he gave to other campers. We as a campground community, are devastated that he continued camp life amongst us as normal and we suspected nothing, said Lunt. It is heart-wrenching and terrifying that we had no idea the murderer was amongst us as we were looking for a stranger. Police have not yet shared what evidence they have against Young. However, hours before his arrest was announced, Maine State Police were going door-to-door around Crawford Pond asking all men in the area to submit DNA samples for testing. It appears Young may have placed himself on law enforcements radar. According to Lunt, on Wednesday, July 16, State Police returned to the campground to continue their investigation when Young approached investigators and vounteered that he had some information about Stewarts death. Young's last post on Facebook, dated July 12, included an image of a boat anchored in a body of water at sunset. The page has since been deleted It appears Young may have placed himself on law enforcements radar. Hours before his arrest, he told police he had some information about Stewart's death, according to a report Stewart's remains were found along the southeast shore of 100 Acre Island, a nature preserve in the middle of the pond The teenager accompanied a group of officers and a game warden out on a boat on Crawford Pond, and reportedly led them to the opposite end of 100 Acre Island where Stewarts body was found. What Young shared with investigators is not known. However, he was interviewed by police after the excursion. Investigators then left the campground but returned later that night to interview Young and his parents. After two hours, Young was taken into custody. Earlier in their investigation, State Police had been reviewing hours of surveillance footage from around the campsite supplied to them by Lunt. Lunt told the Midcoast Villager she reviewed the footage after Youngs arrest. The videos showed Young had gone out on Crawford Pond in an aluminum boat before Stewart. He could later be seen returning to the camp on his boat. Investigators have not yet announced a motive for the crime. Young, who is from Frankfort, Maine, has spent the last two summers vacationing with his family on Crawford Pond. Stewart was also a seasonal guest at the campsite. Shed arrived at Mic Mac only days before her death, with plans to spend her summer living out of a camper. Any connections Young had to Stewart are not yet known. Rumors have circulated on social media that Young was a known troublemaker at the site and his behavior had long raised concern - but Lunt denied any truth to the hearsay. They were never kicked out of the campground, she said. Quite honestly, if any of this were true, the day this investigation started, he would have obviously been the first suspect in this case, and it would not have taken two weeks to solve. Young, who is from Frankfort, Maine, has spent the last two summers vacationing with his family on Crawford Pond. He will turn 18 in December The owner of the Mic Mac Campground, Katherine Lunt, said there was 'nothing suspicious' about Young's behavior in the aftermath of Stewart's murder Young was charged as a juvenile with murder last week, but the Maine Attorney Generals Office has filed a motion to try him as an adult, which is yet to be ruled on. He appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewarts death. He spoke only to confirm he understood the charges and had conferred with his court-appointed attorney. Judge Eric Walker ordered Young to remain in custody on a charge that he caused Stewarts death either intentionally, knowingly, or with depraved indifference. Police affidavits and additional information regarding the evidence against Young will remain under seal until a status conference is held on August 22, Walker ruled. In the meantime, friends and loved ones of Stewarts have voiced their collective heartache over her passing, remembering her as kind, talented, and a free spirit. Meredith Smith, a childhood friend of Stewarts, told the Daily Mail she was stunned that a teenager had been arrested for her murder. Part of me is relieved that someone has been arrested, but the other part says this is far from over because I feel like theres still so much more to this story that we dont know, said Smith. Sunshine was strong and feisty; she wouldve put up a fight...she would've given this person hell. Stewart has been remembered as a woman who loved nature and radiated positivity Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewarts death The Maine Attorney General's office confirmed to the Daily Mail that Young is the only suspect in Stewart's death. In an earlier interview, Smith said she couldnt understand why anyone would want to hurt Stewart. Everyone who knew her loved her, she said. Who would do something like this to her? She didnt have any enemies theres nothing she couldve done to make anybody mad enough to harm her. Were all on edge, its just so scary if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone. Stewart would have turned 49 next month. Young will turn 18 this September. Requests for comment from Youngs attorney and his parents have gone unanswered. He is next due to appear in court on August 22. Investigators are asking anyone with information about Stewarts death to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. As Pete Buttigieg eyes a 2028 presidential run, insiders are highlighting how the former transportation secretary appeared to be more concerned with diversity than efficiency during his run as secretary of transportation. Under Buttigieg, 43, the Department of Transportation (DOT) spent over $80 billion on a Biden-era equity initiative in a four-year span, according to a press release. The program, called Justice40, was established to direct 40 percent of all DOT grant funding to 'disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.' Buttigieg far exceeded the requirement, allocating 55 percent of DOT funding to the program which was established to meet a Biden order meant to 'advance equitable outcomes.' There are also questions about whether Buttigieg prioritized equity over creating better travel experiences for Americans. In one meeting during his term atop the DOT, industry executives suggested upgrading air traffic control capabilities, but stunningly the Democrat shot down the idea because it would enable airlines to fly more planes. 'So why would that be in his interest?,' sources told the New York Post of the incident. An air industry official anonymously told the outlet that Buttigieg 'was definitely pushing an agenda,' adding the Democrat had 'little to no interest' in modernizing air traffic control systems. Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks during a VoteVets Town Hall, May 13, 2025, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The rumor mill suggests he is weighing a run for president in 2028 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been chronically understaffed for years He took 'zero action' on the flight systems responsible for keeping travelers safe, the official added. 'At first, [the Department of Transportation] and he were reluctant to say there was an air traffic controller shortage or that the shortage had anything to do with flight delays or flight cancellations.' But a spokesman for Buttigieg denied that the former secretary neglected air traffic control issues. 'Suggesting that Secretary Buttigieg chose not to pursue air traffic control modernization is absurd,' Chris Meagher, Buttigieg's spokesman, told the Daily Mail. 'Secretary Buttigieg's focus was always on safety not just in aviation, but also on roads and bridges, where 40,000 Americans die on our country's roads each year. Fixing issues with air traffic control was a priority.' David Grizzle, a former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official under former President Barack Obama, told the Post that Buttigieg's tenure was lackluster. 'There certainly were no remarkable achievements in aviation during his [Buttigieg's] term.' During the Democrat's tenure close to 11 percent of flight cancellations were due to failures in the national aviation system, according to DOT data. Most flights, 54 percent, were caused by weather conditions while 34 percent were due to faults from airlines. An American Eagle regional jet takes off from Washington Reagan National Airport on March 23, 2025 in Arlington, VA. Earlier this year a plane and helicopter collided near the airport, killing all passengers aboard both vehicles The DOT, under Buttigieg, approved roughly 400 DEI-related grants, according to an analysis done by the Post. Meanwhile, the first Trump administration granted just 60 DEI initiatives amounting to a few billion dollars. 'Biden and Buttigieg spent their tenure pandering to the woke mob and spent tens of billions on their anti-American DEI agenda,' a DOT spokesperson told the Daily Mail. 'Secretary Duffy is working to clean up the Biden-Buttigieg mess by prioritizing safety and efficiency, including by revitalizing our air traffic control system after years of neglect under Pete's watch.' Issues at the FAA, the agency overseeing national air travel under the DOT, have been notorious for years. The agency has not had full staffing levels for the better part of a decade, employing just 80 percent of the target for professional air traffic controllers. There have also been a number of high-profile near-misses in recent years where planes have narrowly avoided collisions. In 2023, a crucial FAA system went dark, prompting the first nationwide grounding for flights in the U.S. since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Problems at the agency have seemed to persist through the Trump administration, too. Earlier this year a plane and helicopter collided Washington National Airport, killing all passengers aboard both vehicles, forcing the FAA to change its guidance for the region. Initial evidence points to dangerously narrow vertical separation between the airliner's approach path and the helicopter's route along the Potomac River as the cause though a final report by the NTSB isn't due until next year. The Colorado dentist on trial for fatally poisoning his wife admitted to drugging her four years before her murder, the victims best friend testified on Monday. Nikki Harmon, whose husband had known defendant James Craig since his teens and at one point worked for him, choked back tears and struggled to speak as she took the stand feet from her former friend. Craig, 47, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 2023 death of his 43,-year-old wife, Angela, the mother of his six children. Prosecutors allege he tainted her shakes and poisoned her with arsenic, cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in eyedrops, amidst financial struggles and a new affair. Harmon told the court on Monday that Craig and his wife Jim and Angie came to the Harmons' home in 2019 to share shocking information. He told us that he had been dealing with sexual addiction for a long time and that it had gotten to a point where he was going to, or had thought about, killing himself, Harmon said. And he told us that, one night, he was planning to inject himself with something to kill himself and drugged Angie to make sure that she didnt wake up and stop him. Angela, Harmon said, told us that she was going to stay in the marriage and she was going to help him work through it. Colorado dentist James Craig, 47, is charged with fatally poisoning of his wife, Angela, 43 in 2023; family friend Nikki Harmon testified on Monday that the couple had told her years earlier that he was struggling with sex addiction and had previously drugged his wife Craig is charged with first-degree murder and additional offenses stemming from his alleged plots from behind bars including ordering a hit on a detective and trying to convince his teen daughter to exonerate him by making a deep-fake video of her mom asking for poison And so he was attending group counselling and therapy. Harmon testified that her relationship with her best friend cooled after the conversation and that Angela seemed mad, texting that Harmon hadn't been there for her when she needed her. Harmon felt that Angela was upset and 'taking it out on me - and I was okay with that.' Despite the fact that they were no longer as close, Angela texted Harmon on March 9, 2023 and asked her to come check her blood sugar; Harmon's daughter is diabetic, she said. Angela was watching cartoons on the couch with her two youngest when Harmon arrived and 'looked like she hadn't slept well ... she just really looked like she was very sick.' The mother of six told Harmon 'that she hadn't been able to get off the couch for several days, that she wasn't able to keep any food down, that she was super tired.' Witnesses who've testified so far have included an office manager who noticed a 'personal package' Craig seemed anxious to received contained potassium cyanide; she's the person who raised the initial alarm on the day of Angela's final fatal crash Angela's teenage daughter took her to the hospital later in the day, where she was admitted and remained for days, Harmon said. She texted her friend throughout the hospitalization, and Angela seemed to have no idea what was causing her mystery illness, Harmon testified. Harmon was also texting Craig - who at first proffered coronavirus and diabetes as possibilities before texter her that he had 'no idea' what was wrong with his wife. Six days after Angela texted Harmon, she was admitted to the hospital, initially conversant with relatively stable vitals, but she suffered a severe crash later in the day, Dr Peter Sottile testified on Monday. 'What was reported to me was that the husband had been in the room with Angela and came out and reported she was having arm pain and looked uncomfortable and in distress,' he told the court. She was unresponsive, hypotensive, with low blood pressure and low oxygenation, he said - and doctors soon determined she had severe swelling in the brain that was 'not compatible with survival.' 'It's unusual for a 40-something woman ... to walk into the ER with some type of vague complaints and, all of a sudden, essentially die in front of you,' he testified. Prosecutors, including Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley, argue that Craig poisoned his wife cyanide, arsenic and a chemical found in eye drops - after beginning a new affair and suffering from financial troubles Dr Sottile and other providers went to share the distressing news with Craig and the others supporting him as they waited near the ICU, he said. Craig sent the others out of the room and was informed that 'his wife was likely brain dead' - to which the dentist's response was 'unusual,' the doctor told the court. 'His words were to the effect of, "That's unfortunate" - it was a very lacklustre, for lack of a better word ... response to hearing that your wife, who had been healthy, was now likely dead. 'He went on to say that this was "bitter." When asked if he wanted doctors to continue interventions, Dr Sottile said, Craig's 'response was that we should stop - that she would want us to stop.' Around the same time doctors were sharing devastating information with Craig, the dentist's long-time friend, Dr Ryan Redfearn, was informing hospital staff that he'd discovered cyanide had been delivered to Craig's office, Redfearn testified on Friday. That information was later passed to Sottile and the medical team, the toxicology team was called in and Angela was given the cyanide antidote, Dr Sottile said Monday. But the brain swelling remained 'not likely reversible.' Toxicology experts testified Monday afternoon to the high levels of cyanide, arsenic and tetrahyrdrozoline found in samples from Angela's body sent to a specialist lab by Arapahoe County Coroner Kelly Lear. Dr Justin Brower, of NMS labs, told jurors that blood draws from Angela taken just before noon on 3/15 showed cyanide levels of 1.7micrograms per liter - far higher than trace amounts that can be found in the average population, levels like .01. On top of that, her levels had increased to 3.7 by that evening. 'To me, it looks like there had to have been a second administration of cyanide while she was in the hospital,' the forensic toxicologist added. Samples taken from Angela on March 9 showed 330 micrograms per liter of arsenic - a level that's 'toxic and, in some circumstances it could be lethal,' he said. Arsenic levels had dropped to 68 micrograms per liter by March 15, he said - but the levels should've been lower if she hadn't continued to be exposed to it, Brower testified, given the way the body processes the poison. Prosecutors argue that Craig not only poisoned Angela with tainted shakes but also administered cyanide while she was in the hospital. The defense has argued that Angela was struggling, manipulative and suicidal, repeatedly querying experts' credentials and questioning the validity of evidence. An asylum seeker has won an immigration appeal after changing his nationality from Iranian to Afghan halfway through the case. The migrant initially told the Home Office that he left Iran 'illegally' and if he returned would be in danger of persecution because he was an ethnic and religious minority. However, this claim was dismissed. He later appealed the matter, claiming he was actually from Afghanistan and had been forced to leave due to problems his family faced with the Taliban. The unnamed migrant said if he were to return he would suffer a decline in his mental health which would breach his human rights. A hearing with a First-tier Tribunal judge took place but due to an 'administration oversight', the migrant and his solicitors did not attend and so his appeal was dismissed. He has since appealed this decision and an Upper Tribunal judge has now ruled that his case should be reheard because his in-person evidence was of 'critical importance' to testing credibility. The Upper Tribunal heard the man arrived in the UK in August 2012 and claimed asylum the following month. File image: The migrant initially told the Home Office that he left Iran 'illegally' and if he returned would be in danger of persecution because he was an ethnic and religious minority His claim was refused in 2015, and despite his attempts to appeal the decision, he was unsuccessful after it was found that he 'lacked credibility' and 'failed to establish a well-founded fear of persecution in Iran'. The man remained in the UK and in July 2021 told the Home Office that he feared persecution upon return to Iran on account of his Baluch ethnicity, his Sunni Muslim faith, and the fact that he had left Iran illegally. He stated that his brother's involvement in smuggling activities would place him at risk if he returned, and that his 'serious underlying mental health conditions' would impact his reintegration into Iran, which he claims would breach his human rights. The tribunal said that he submitted a witness statement in advance of an appeal hearing which spoke of an alternative reason why he needed protection. The judgement said the man 'now claims to be a national of Afghanistan' and had left the country when he was 17. He stated that he had left Afghanistan due to problems his family faced with the Taliban, and told of how his father, brother, and sister still live there. The man then explained that he left Afghanistan in 2011 before travelling to Iran, Turkey, and then the UK. The judgment states: 'He stated that, upon claiming asylum in the UK, he falsely asserted Iranian nationality out of fear of being returned to Afghanistan. File image: The unnamed migrant said if he were to return he would suffer a decline in his mental health which would breach his human rights 'He now claims that, if returned to Afghanistan, he would face ill-treatment at the hands of the Taliban.' The man again said that his mental health issues would constitute 'very significant obstacles' to his reintegration in Afghanistan, and so his removal would breach his human rights. Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge Sara Anzani decided that the matter should be heard afresh by the First-tier Tribunal. The judge said: 'This was a protection appeal in which the [man's] credibility was central to the determination of the claim, thereby rendering his oral evidence of critical importance. 'Furthermore, there was evidence before the Tribunal of the [man's] documented mental health difficulties, which required careful consideration in the context of procedural fairness. 'The Judge's reasoning fails to reflect adequate engagement with these issues, or with the question of whether the appeal could be fairly and justly determined in the [man's] absence. 'For these reasons, I find that the Judge did not address all relevant material considerations and failed to properly assess whether refusing the [man's] readjournment request would compromise his right to a fair hearing.' A man who threw a six-year-old boy from the 10th floor of the Tate Modern art gallery has been charged over an alleged attack of two women at Broadmoor Hospital. Jonty Bravery, 23, dropped the little boy from 100ft in the gallery near the River Thames in central London in August 2019, and was jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years at the Old Bailey the following June. As a result of the horror incident, which Bravery later admitted as attempted murder, the child smashed against the wall of the gallery before landing on the roof of the fifth floor - leaving him with spine and brain injuries. Now, Bravery has been accused of beating Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz at the maximum security hospital in Berkshire on September 30 last year. He is due to stand trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 10, but prosecutor Tina Flannery said Bravery was 'not going to engage' with legal proceedings at today's preliminary hearing. She said: 'He sends messages via the team at Broadmoor to say it is going to affect his therapy if he attends court.' Defending, Sukh Khalon said he had not been able to meet with Bravery following two thwarted attempts to arrange a legal visit in May and June this year. District Judge Paul Goldspring said his scheduled trial will go ahead even if he chooses not to engage in the proceedings. Jonty Bravery (above) has been charged over an alleged attack of two women at Broadmoor Hospital last year Bravery dropped a six-year-old little boy from 100ft in the Tate Modern art gallery (above) and was jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years at the Old Bailey in June 2020 He said: 'We'll deal with it on the day in whatever position we find ourselves in on November 10.' Bravery will remain on technical bail until then as a patient at Broadmoor Hospital. In January 2020, Bravery punched a female nursing assistant in the head and face then bit a rehabilitation therapist assistant on his finger when he tried to help his colleague. He was being held at the high-security psychiatric hospital on remand ahead of his sentencing. Bravery was given another 14 weeks jail in December 2020 after he admitted the two assaults. He had been diagnosed with autism and a personality disorder, the court was told. Bravery is due to stand at Westminster Magistrates Court (above) after being accused of beating Linda McKinlay and Kate Mastalerz at the maximum security hospital in Berkshire on September 30 last year One the day of the attack at the Tate Modern he had left his assisted housing in Northolt before he travelled to London Bridge using an Oyster Card he bought in a shop. He attempted to enter the Shard, near London Bridge, but was asked to leave when he could not afford a ticket. Walking around the Southbank he asked a member of the public 'where the next highest building was'. Bravery was on a low dose of anti-psychotic medication when he threw the child off the viewing platform of the Tate Modern. He is charged with two counts of assault by beating. A former Ukrainian official has been found dead in a swimming pool at a Spanish residential complex where a defected Russian helicopter pilot was assassinated. Igor Hrushevsky, an ex-employee of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was swimming in the pool of a residential complex called Cala Alta in Villajoyosa, south of Valencia, before he was found dead. It is the same building where Maksim Kuzminov was reportedly shot dead after he defected to Ukraine in an Mi-8 helicopter. The Kremlin was accused of carrying out Kuzminov's assassination last year. Hrushevsky, 61, was discovered by a Ukrainian neighbour face down in the swimming pool water and bleeding from one ear at around 9:30pm on June 29. He was showing no signs of life. The passersby pulled him from the water and performed CPR before calling paramedics, but the former official was unable to be saved, according to El Espanol. The cause of death has not yet been revealed. Hrushevsky's death comes just 18 months after Russian defector Kuzminov was killed inside a garage allegedly by Putin's hitmen. Igor Hrushevsky, an ex-employee of Ukraine 's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was swimming in the pool of a residential complex called Cala Alta in Villajoyosa, south of Valencia, before he was found dead Hrushevsky, 61, was discovered by a Ukrainian neighbour face down in the swimming pool water and bleeding from one ear at around 9:30pm on June 29 The passersby pulled him from the water and performed CPR before calling paramedics, but the former official was unable to be saved He was found riddled with bullets in an underground car park in Villajoyosa near on February 13. Ruben, a local worker, told The Sun he discovered the army captain, 28, in a pool of blood soon after what is believed to have been a brazen Kremlin-ordered hit job. The pilot, who was named and awarded $500,000 (393,000) by Ukraine after defecting in August 2024, was found dead in the carpark with his attackers allegedly escaping in his car after running him over. The killing put fear through other Russian defectors who have fled to Spain, local media reported. Russian state media claimed Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council had advised Kuzminov to stay in Ukraine, where they could protect him. But after rejecting the advice, he had been given a new identity and joined a large community of Russian speakers living in and around Benidorm using a Ukrainian passport with the name Igor Shevchenko. The Russian pilot had been sentenced to death for 'treason' in Russia after his shock defection, which is believed to have been the conclusion of a delicate six-month operation orchestrated by Ukraine. Police sources told The Sun at the time that the ammunition used to kill him was Russian and the move was believed to be a 'calling card', and it was feared he may have been killed by a Kremlin hit squad based in Costa Blanca. A report also claimed the same hit team may have be responsible for the 2022 death of multimillionaire Sergey Protosenya, 55, who was found hanged after allegedly killing his wife and teenage daughter with an axe as they slept in Costa Rica. Maksim Kuzminov who flew his helicopter over the frontline to defect to Ukraine was gunned to death in Spain while living under a new identity A burned car allegedly used by the perpetrators of the murder of the Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov to escape the scene is parked outside the Spanish Civil Guard barracks Russian gas tycoon Sergei Protosenya, his wife Natalya, 53, and teenage daughter Maria were found dead in their Spanish mansion, in Lloret de Mar, on April 19, 2022 Intelligence experts believed the Russian Embassy in Spain stayed on the sidelines to avoid implication, El Pais reported last year. Living under a new identity in Spain - and enriched by the Ukrainians after his defection - he had set about building a new life for himself free from the horrors of war. But he is believed to have made a fatal mistake in contacting a former flame and inviting her to his new address. 'We know he had invited an ex-girlfriend to Spain and afterwards he was found dead. That call could have been intercepted by Russian secret services,' Spanish media reported. Independent Telegram channel Volya - which monitors both sides in the war - drew a link between the case of the slain pilot and the murky circumstances surrounding the demise of multimillionaire Sergey Protosenya, 55. The former oligarch, a deputy chairman of Russian gas company Novatek, was found hanged in spring 2022 after allegedly murdering his wife Natalia, 53, and their teenage daughter, Maria, as they slept in a Catalan resort town. An AirBnB host was left stunned after guests fled her stunning North Carolina farm after spotting a MAGA flag nailed to a fence on the property. Danielle Durham's luxurious farm stay in Lexington, south of Winston-Salem, offers guests the opportunity to escape the city and experience farm life first hand. The Outskirts of Heaven Farm, where the average stay costs $170 per night, is a rural oasis where visitors can horseback ride, hike, swim and interact directly with animals. Guests rave about Durham's charming home which they say is run by 'good, down to earth people' who have made the farm a 'fantastic retreat for the whole family'. So it's unsurprising that Durham was flabbergasted last week after a guest checked in and decided to leave just five minutes later. 'Our AirBnB guest said there is no way she could stay somewhere like this,' Durham said as she panned across the farm's beautiful landscape in a now-viral video. 'Because she saw this...' the host continued, before stopping the camera on a small flag supporting Donald Trump and JD Vance's 2024 election campaign that had been pinned to the fencing of an animal pen on the property. Durham claimed the guest then 'got in her car and drove away, and left', leaving farm dog Zoey - who features in the clip - feeling 'sad'. AirBnB host Danielle Durham (pictured) was left stunned after a guest fled her stunning North Carolina farm just five minutes after checking in last week Durham claims the 'guest said there is no way she could stay somewhere like this' because of a small Trump-Vance campaign sign that was pinned to a fence on the property Durham was soon attacked by progressives suggesting anyone with different politics to them should be canceled. Some allege it would be 'unsettling' to stay in a place where guests are 'greeted by signs that signal exclusion, extremism, and a disregard for many people's dignity'. Others argue Durham and her team have 'terrible politics should not be supported'. A few went as far as saying they 'would have stayed here in a heartbeat' but would no longer even considered it because Durham 'posted her political views for all to see and they do not mesh well with my morals'. But the host - who has received dozens of raving reviews from former guests - does not seem too bothered by the campaign to attack her business. In another video posted Sunday, Durham directly called out 'everyone trying to cancel the farm because of my sign'. 'I took it down. I'm going to make a new TikTok, right Chip Chip?' she said as she showcased a cute little pig who lives on the farm. 'Tell everybody you love them, Chippy,' she added before launching into an montage highlighting all of the glamour the property has to offer. The Outskirts of Heaven Farm, where the average stay costs $170 per night, is a rural oasis where visitors can horseback ride, hike, swim and interact directly with animals Guests rave about Durham's charming home which they say is run by 'good, down to earth people' who have made the farm a 'fantastic retreat for the whole family' Durham's luxurious farm stay in Lexington, south of Winston-Salem, offers guests the opportunity to escape the city and experience farm life first hand. Pictured: Chippy the pig Guests can 'wake up to animals right outside your window', she captioned a photo of a bedroom outfitted in farmhouse-inspired decor. She also showcased the property's 'cute breakfast nook', large living space, another bedroom and the home's exterior. 'All animal lovers welcome!' she added, before promoting the property's hiking trails, fishing area, river, hammock napping area, campfire pit and in-ground swimming pool. The clip ends with a close-up on Chippy the pig, who is seen sticking his snot near the break in the white fence. The only sign left in sight is one baring a drawing of a pig that reads, 'every butt deserves to be rubbed'. Although several MAGA critics have slammed Durham for putting her alleged political affiliations on display at the farm, many social media users have also rushed to her defense. 'If you get mad over a political view and hate this place soley (sic) over that you are literally what's wrong with the world. Hypocritical as can be and the amount of cognitive dissonance it requires is pathetic,' one person wrote on the farm's Facebook page. 'Get a life and go do something that actually matters and makes a difference because these people are.' In another video posted Sunday, Durham directly called out 'everyone trying to cancel the farm because of my sign' and highlighted the amenities the property offers. Guests can 'wake up to animals right outside your window', she said as she showed off a bedroom at the home She also showcased the property's 'cute breakfast nook', large living space (pictured), another bedroom and the home's exterior Durham promoted the property's hiking trails, fishing area, river, hammock napping area, campfire pit and in-ground swimming pool where guests can 'lounge' 'All animal lovers welcome!' she added, showing off the front door of the farmhouse A veteran echoed the sentiment, writing: '10 stars beautiful property. 'People should stop harassing a lovely business just bc you don't agree with them politically. It's not left or right. 'We're all American. I didn't join the military to protect the constitution only for those I agree with politically.' 'As a business owner myself I have received the same exact backlash as this owner has. 'It must be really exhausting to literally sit there and ask every place of business who they voted for,' another sympathized. ''I bet some businesses even LIE to you just to get your business and you wouldn't even know it! Jokes on you. Keep on representing America and keep American businesses thriving.' A former guest added: 'Absolutely beautiful! The property is an unbelievable place to relax and the hosts are wonderful as well! Highly recommend!' Donald Trump has intervened in the Idaho murders case and said that quadruple killer Bryan Kohberger should be forced to explain why he committed the atrocities. The 30-year-old killer finally confessed to the murders in a stunning turn of events earlier this month, but has not offered a motive or explanation for his crimes. Trump demanded that the judge require Kohberger to give an explanation for his heinous crimes during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday after taking the plea deal. 'Bryan Kohberger, who was responsible, in Idaho, for the deaths of four wonderful young souls, has made a plea bargain deal in order to avoid the Death Penalty. These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered,' the president said on Truth Social Monday. 'While Life Imprisonment is tough, it's certainly better than receiving the Death Penalty but, before Sentencing, I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders. 'There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING. People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Kohberger admitted to the murders of 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, her 21-year-old best friend Madison Mogen and 20-year-old couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. He confessed that he broke into a student home in Moscow, Idaho, in the dead of the night on November 13, 2022, and stabbed the four victims to death. Quadruple killer Bryan Kohberger is pictured inside the Ada County Courthouse, in Boise, Idaho, on July He was arrested around six weeks later but spent more than two years fighting the charges. Just weeks before his trial was slated to begin in August, Kohberger struck a controversial deal with prosecutors, changing his plea to guilty on all four counts of murder and one count of burglary. Under the terms of the deal, he will be spared from the death penalty and will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, while waiving all rights to appeal. The Goncalves family vehemently opposed the plea deal, with father Steve protesting outside the change of plea hearing in Ada County Courthouse in Boise on July 2. With Kohberger no longer facing trial, Judge Steven Hippler lifted a sweeping gag order, but refused to immediately unseal all records related to the case. To this day, the parents said they still don't know what the motive for the murders was. Kohberger has not revealed a motive for the attack and there is no known connection between him and his victims. During the change of plea hearing, it was revealed that Kohberger bought a Ka-Bar knife and sheath from Amazon in March 2022 - months before the killings. Listen to On The Case: The Idaho Murders wherever you get your podcasts now. Subscribe to The Crime Desk, Daily Mail's podcast network for ad-free listening, plus hours of exclusive True Crime content, including the No.1 True Crime podcast, The Trial Donald Trump demanded that the judge require Kohberger to give an explanation for his heinous crimes Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders of 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves, her 21-year-old best friend Madison Mogen and 20-year-old couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin In June 2022, he moved from his parents' home in Pennsylvania to Pullman, Washington, where he enrolled on the criminal justice PhD program at Washington State University. From the following month onwards, his cell phone pinged close to the victims' home at 1122 King Road - indicating that he likely stalked or surveilled at least one of the women who lived there. At around 4am on November 13, 2022, Kohberger broke into the three-story home and went straight up to Mogens room on the third floor, where he murdered Mogen and Goncalves. On his way back downstairs or on leaving the property, the prosecutor said he encountered Kernodle on the second floor, who had just received a DoorDash food order. He attacked her with the knife and then also murdered Chapin who was sleeping in her bed. Kohberger then left through the back sliding door on the second story of the property, passing roommate Dylan Mortensen who had been woken by the noise and peeked around her bedroom door. Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle (both left), Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves (both right) Mortensen and roommate Bethany Funke - whose bedroom was on the first floor - were the only survivors. Prosecutors believe Kohberger did not intend to kill all four victims that night - but did enter the home intending to kill and had planned his attack for some time. He was tracked down, after he left a Ka-Bar leather knife sheath next to Mogens body at the scene. Through Investigative Genetic Genealogy, the FBI managed to trace DNA on the sheath to Kohberger. Kohberger will return to Ada County Court for his sentencing on July 23, where the families of the victims will be given the opportunity to deliver impact statements. This is a breaking news story. More to follow. On The Case: The Idaho Murders is out now wherever you get your podcasts - be sure to subscribe or follow to never miss an episode. Disturbing news details have emerged in the case of a Texas man arrested after his teenage daughter gave birth in a Walmart bathroom. Kingsville Police responded to the store just before 10.30pm on July 14, after receiving a call that a maintenance worker discovered a newborn child in a bathroom trash can while taking out the garbage, KRIS 6 reported. In the aftermath, officers reviewed the store's security camera footage and discovered that a 17-year-old girl had entered the bathroom, where she remained for about 40 minutes, before leaving the store and getting into a car in the parking lot. Police were ultimately able to track down the teenager's car and performed a traffic stop, before taking the girl to the hospital for treatment. The teen's father, Jerry Lee Martinez, 45, was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child after she told investigators he was the father of her baby. She told police that Martinez had begun 'touching her inappropriately' when she was 15 years old and forced her to have sex with him several times over the last two years, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KIII. The girl said Martinez was the father of the child and when he found out that she was pregnant, he hit her in the stomach on several occasions. She told investigators that he took her to Mexico earlier in the day to have an abortion before she delivered the stillborn in Walmart. Jerry Lee Martinez (pictured), 45, was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child after his teenage daughter told investigators he was the father of her baby The 17-year-old told police that Martinez had taken her to Mexico to get an abortion on July 14 before she gave birth to the stillborn at a Walmart in Kingsville (pictured) She told police that Martinez (pictured) had begun 'touching her inappropriately' when she was 15 years old and forced her to have sex with him several times over the last two years Walmart employees tried to perform life saving measures on the infant and authorities rushed the child to the hospital right next door, where doctors pronounced her dead. Police were ultimately able to track down the teenager's car and performed a traffic stop, before taking the girl to the hospital for treatment. The teen girl is not in police custody and was taken to a 'secure location' while her father was arrested. Martinez is also facing charges of abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence, tampering with a witness and tampering with physical evidence 'The avenue taken last night wasn't the correct one, wasn't a safe one for the mother or the child,' Celinda Tatum, a Kingsville Police Department accident investigator told KRIS 6. 'We do advise that anytime an incident does occur at any moment, contact police or emergency personnel so that the baby and the mother can get seen medically.' Martinez is being held at the Kleberg County Jail on $600,000 bond, and prosecutors warned at his court appearance on Thursday that he could face additional charges. A New Yorker has had his conviction overturned for the 1979 murder of Etan Patz, a six-year-old boy abducted and killed the first time his parents let him walk home alone from a school bus stop. Pedro Hernandez should be retried for the killing of Etan Patz or set free, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday. Hernandez was convicted in 2017 of killing Patz in 1979, after confessing he'd lured the youngster to a basement in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. On Monday, the appeals court ruled that instructions given to jurors as they prepared to deliberate that trial were improper and prejudicial, the New York Times warned. The conviction hinged on whether Hernandez's confession before he had been read his Miranda Rights could be considered legitimate, with no other evidence ever tying Hernandez to the case. A three-judge panel ruled on Monday that 'the state trial court contradicted clearly established federal law' when it allowed the jury to convict Hernandez with the confession, and that 'this error was not harmless.' Hernandez was arrested in 2012 and first went on trial for Patz' murder in 2015, but the prosecution ended in a hung jury before a second trial saw him convicted following over nine days of deliberations. Etan's body was never recovered. Hernandez - who was 18 at the time of Etan's disappearance - said that he dumped the boy's remains in the garbage. No physical evidence was ever produced to verify this. Hernandez's lawyers argued at the time of his arrest in 2012 that he suffered from schizotypal personality disorder, which can cause hallucinations, and that he had a low IQ 'at the border of intellectual disability.' Etan Patz, 6, disappeared in May 1979 when he was believed to be abducted on his way to a school bus stop Pedro Hernandez confessed to killing Patz, however he has not had his conviction overturned and will either receive a new trial or will be freed The crux of the decision to overturn Hernandez's conviction hinged on a confession he made to police in 2012. He had never before been a suspect, but his family reported to cops that he had confessed during a prayer group to killing a child in New York at the time of Etan's disappearance. Under interrogation, Hernandez - who worked in a bodega near to where the boy's bus stop was - again confessed to luring Etan into a basement by promising him soda. 'Something just took over me,' he said in a recorded confession. 'I felt so sorry.' Hernandez's attorneys attempted to have the interrogation confession thrown out, arguing that the 'confession in one of the nation's most notorious child disappearances was false, peppered with questionable claims and made after almost seven hours of police questioning.' He had confessed before his Miranda Rights were read to him, and detectives then had him repeat the confession on video after they were read. Etan's father Stanley and brother Ari are seen in 1985 holding a photo of the missing child Etan's parents Julie and Stanley Patz arrive at Hernandez's sentencing in 2017 His attorneys argued that the confession was the result of psychotic hallucinations, and when jurors eventually convicted him in 2017, they said the deliberations over his confessions had been 'difficult.' Three notes the jury sent to the judge during their deliberations asked whether they should disregard the confession due to the lack of Miranda Rights being read beforehand. 'The trial court instructed the jury, without further explanation, that the answer is, no,'' the judge's in Monday's panel said. The judging panel ruled that these instructions 'would have unquestionably impacted deliberations.' 'Under the extraordinary circumstances of this case, we believe that no fair-minded jurist would conclude that the state has proved harmlessness beyond a reasonable doubt' the panel wrote. Hernandez's lawyers argued at the time of his arrest in 2012 that he suffered from schizotypal personality disorder, which can cause hallucinations, and that he had a low IQ 'at the border of intellectual disability' Etan's disappearance stunned New York City and led to nationwide searches when he vanished over four decades ago, and the case is often credited for ushering in an age of heightened attention on the cases of missing children Etan's disappearance stunned New York City and led to nationwide searches when he vanished over four decades ago, and it is remembered by many Americans as a watershed moment in the end of parents allowing their children to move around unattended. His case is often credited for ushering in an age of heightened attention on the cases of missing children. He became the first child pictured on milk carton campaigns, where the cases of missing children were put on the labels of milk cartons in hopes of bringing attention to their investigations. The anniversary of Etan's disappearance also became National Missing Children's Day. Following the decision on Monday, one of Hernandez's trial attorneys Harvey Fishbein said that he always believed the confession was false. He said that the ruling from the judges panel 'reads that an innocent man was convicted.' 'For more than 13 years, Pedro Hernandez has been in prison for a crime he did not commit and based on a conviction that the Second Circuit has now made clear was obtained in clear violation of the law,' Fishbein said in a statement. A teen surf instructor has revealed exactly how it felt to be attacked by a shark that tried to eat him in waters known as the 'shark bite capital of the world.' Sam Hollis, 18, was surfing on Friday off the coast of New Smyrna Beach, a Florida beach infamous for its frequent shark bites, when he says the predator suddenly latched onto his foot and dragged him about 10 to 15 feet. Graphic images revealed the extent of his gruesome injuries from his hospital bed as he recovers. The young surfer, who started when he was just a kid and is now working as a surf instructor, will undergo surgery after the terrifying encounter but is expected to make a full recovery. He described to Fox35 the feeling of when he was first bit by the shark that 'came out of nowhere.' Hollis said it felt hot when the shark first clamped down on his foot, like a dog with a toy in his mouth. 'It felt clamped and then it kind of felt hot because of the teeth,' Hollis told the outlet from his hospital bed. 'And then it just kind of started pulling. It's almost like, um, a dog with a toy in its mouth going like, you know, like that.' Sam Hollis, 18, (pictured) was surfing on Friday off the coast of New Smyrna Beach, a Florida beach infamous for its frequent shark bites, when he says a shark suddenly latched onto his foot and dragged him about 10 to 15 feet Graphic images reveal the extent of his gruesome injuries from his hospital bed as he recovers 'I was kicking at it after I realized it had me in its mouth. I was like, 'Yeah, get this thing away from me' he added. Earlier this month, a Florida surfer almost lost his arm moments entering the water in the same beach after he was attacked by a shark. Dramatic video captured the moment Matt Bender, 40, of Orlando, was bandaged up as blood gushed from his limb. The surfer was riding the waves in the afternoon when he was mauled by the shark in New Smyrna Beach. The video, shared by Instagram user @theother_mazdagirl, shows the chaotic moments after the attack as beachgoers rushed to help. Blood can be seen on Bender's arm as his hand appears to be hanging on by a string as a fellow surfers wrap it in towels and attempt to calm him down. The young surfer who started when he was just a kid and is now working as a surf instructor will undergo surgery after the terrifying encounter but is expected to make a full recovery New Smyrna Beach in Florida (pictured), a popular surfing spot, is known as 'shark bite capitol of the world' 'I felt it clamp down like a bear trap out of nowhere,' he told Fox affiliate WOFLTV. He said it felt like 'electricity' when the shark bit into his right forearm. 'I never saw the shark, but it bit really forcefully. It felt like electricity.' At least 20 people, mostly students, have been killed and more than 170 rescued after an Air Force training plane smashed into a school in Bangladesh. The aircraft smashed into a campus in Dhaka, the capital, shortly after takeoff on Monday afternoon where it burst into flames and claimed the life of the pilot. Another 171 students were rescued with injuries from a smoldering two-story building, officials said, including many with burns who were whisked away in helicopters, motorised rickshaws and the arms of firefighters and parents. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a 'technical malfunction' moments after takeoff at 1.06pm local time, and the pilot attempted to divert the plane to a less populated area before crashing into the campus of Milestone School and College, according to a statement from the military. Students said the school's buildings trembled violently, followed by a massive explosion that sent them running for safety. A desperate scene soon unfolded at the crash site, as panicked relatives searched for loved ones. Screams filled the air at a nearby hospital. Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash as bystander are seeing trying put out the flames. Other clips circulating on social media show crowds of students fleeing from the scene in a panic. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka on Monday afternoon, killing at least 20 people Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash Another 171 students were rescued with injuries from a smoldering two-story building, officials said The Milestone school is in Dhaka's Uttara neighborhood, which is roughly seven miles drive from the A.K. Khandaker air force base. The school is in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. The pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam, made 'every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location,' the military said, adding that it would investigate the cause of the accident. The government announced a national day of mourning on Tuesday, with flags to fly at half-staff across the country. At the crash site Monday afternoon, a father sprinted with his daughter cradled in his arms. A mother cried out, having found her younger child, but desperately searched for her older one. Another father described his feeling of helplessness while waiting to learn the fate of his daughter. 'The plane crashed on the building where my daughter was. My wife called me, but I was praying so I could not pick up,' Jewel, who goes by one name, said at the scene. 'When I came here I saw there was a huge fire. There was a dead body of a child.' Luckily, his daughter was safe, he said, but he saw many other children suffering from burns. Students also scrambled to see what had happened. 'We fought with the crowd and the soldiers to get close to the crash site in our school,' said Estiak Elahi Khan, who is in the 11th grade. 'What I saw I can't describe that... that's terrible.' Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital said more than 60 students, many between the ages of 12 and 16, were transferred to a special hospital for burn victims. Firemen check the wreckage of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025 Bangladesh's fire service and security personnel conduct a search and rescue operation after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21 Firefighters and soldiers work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft A truck arrives after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 21 July 2025 By Monday evening, rescuers continued to scour the debris, searching for bodies. A crane was being used to remove debris. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, also pledged an investigation, and he expressed his deep sorrow over the 'heartbreaking accident'. He called it 'a moment of deep national grief'. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed shock and sadness. 'Our hearts go out to the bereaved families,' Modi said in a post on X. 'India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.' Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, said by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary grades through high school. 'I was terrified watching videos on TV,' the 16-year-old said. 'My God! It's my school.' It is the deadliest plane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in neighbouring India's Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. Volunteers cordon off the area after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft has crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh An ambulance carrying injured people comes out of the spot after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh The aircraft crashed on a campus of the Milestone School and College (pictured) in the city's Uttara area The Bangladesh Army's public relations office confirmed in a brief statement that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force Fire official Lima Khan previously stated by phone that at least one person died and four others were injured and rushed to the Combined Military Hospital for treatment Screen grab shows school building surrounded by smoke following the crash Other videos on social media show crowds of students fleeing from the scene in a panic Firefighters and volunteers work after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka A preliminary report into the crash found that fuel switches for the engines of the doomed Boeing 787 Dreamliner began to lose thrust and sink down moments after setting of to London from the Indian city on June 12. 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, claiming the lives of all but one passenger on board and 19 people on the ground. 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. 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. '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 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. Firefighters work to remove the wreckage from a building, after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus Onlookers gather near the spot, after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus A helicopter hovers over security personnel making way for an ambulance carrying an injured victim after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21, 2025 People talk with an authority person at the site where an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus More than 50 people, including children and adults, were hospitalised with burns, a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery previously said Image shows a F-7 BGI training aircraft 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.' The dreaded Highland midge is no respecter of rank and not even a thick beard can stop them going after your Royal blood. But now King Charles has launched a product that could help high-born and commoner alike battle the twin scourges of biting insects and untidy facial hair. The Monarchs range of beard grooming products are made from a midge-repellent plant found on the Balmoral estate. The Kings 50,000-acre residence in Aberdeenshire is selling the collection of oils, washes and balms, made in collaboration with local beard care firm Hairy Highlander. They have been infused with wild bog myrtle, hand-foraged from the estate grounds. The plant has long been used for centuries by Highlanders to keep midges away. Its leaves and twigs, when crushed and rubbed on the skin, release a fragrant oil that acts as a natural insect repellent. Balmoral Castle and Estate also said that the shrub has long been valued in Highland tradition as part of skin-soothing botanical care especially in harsh, weather-exposed conditions. King Charles sporting a beard as a young man in 1976 Royals including (left to right) the Duke of Sussex, Prince William and Prince Michael of Kent have sported facial hair The beard care products feature two signature scents. They are Laird a bright, citrus-spiced blend of pink grapefruit, lemon verbena, and cinnamon leaf and Chieftain a grounding mix of Norwegian fir, cedarwood, and patchouli, inspired by Highland forests. For 30ml of the Chieftain Organic Beard Oil the Balmoral online store charges 25 while a 200ml bottle of the Laird Organic Beard Wash costs 32. A 50ml tub of Chieftain Organic Beard Balm is 27. The Chieftain organic beard oil launched by King Charles In a statement, Balmoral Castle and Estate describes the products as Expertly crafted in the Highlands by Hairy Highlander. Now available as part of the Balmoral Exclusive Collection. Family firm Hairy Highlander crafts organic grooming products from wild-harvested botanicals and donates 10 per cent of its profits to rewilding northern Scotland, helping restore native habitats and support long-term ecological regeneration. The company said it was a real honour to create this bespoke grooming range for Balmoral Castle. Balmoral estate set up an online shop to sell merchandise last year and other products include a tartan throw priced at almost 1,000. The store features a range of gifts inspired by the Royal residence including socks, dog leads, baby clothing and beanie hats. The centrepiece of the collection is items made using the newly launched Balmoral hunting tartan which was created by leading designer Araminta Birse-Stewart. They include a 962 cashmere tartan throw, a tartan scarf priced at 385 and a shawl made using the fabric which costs 140. Balmoral has been used as a holiday getaway for the Royal Family since the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II passed away there aged 96 in September 2022. The King is due to travel to Balmoral for his traditional summer holiday next month and the estate closes to the public on August 10. You were probably worrying about how Police Scotland would be celebrating International Pronouns Day but be anxious no longer. As we revealed yesterday, its one of a host of key dates in a woke inclusion calendar helpfully supplied to officers by force diversity managers. It also enables staff to ask for more information about Pansexual Visibility Day, International Drag Day and Non-Binary Peoples Day. By now, you probably wont be shocked to learn that theres no special day for victims of crime on the calendar, though one does exist. February 22 is recognised as the European Day for Victims of Crime but its a busy period on the equality calendar, as February is LGBT History Month. Commemorating crime victims who already get a raw deal from Police Scotland would doubtless fall foul of the diversity commissars who are handsomely paid to churn out this nonsense. Last month the force was accused of promoting trans ideology by putting up posters in a station, going through each letter of the alphabet for example, G is for gender identity. Meanwhile, a senior police officer is said to have claimed that use of white first-aid training dummies showed Police Scotland was racist though it was quickly pointed out that the dummies arent only white, so it was a baseless claim. Then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tried - and failed to drive through transgender self-ID reforms Top brass stopped cops from taking part in Saturdays Pride march in Glasgow after a judicial review south of the Border found the practice wasnt impartial something that should have been obvious without a courts intervention. But police chiefs are dragging their feet on implementing the Supreme Court gender ruling in April which swept away the key pillars of the trans ideology which has spread like knotweed through the public sector. And theyre still in a quandary over whether rapists should be allowed to identify as women forcing the service to seek clarification from an equality watchdog. Last week it emerged no one will be disciplined over an internal police document that compared gender-critical beliefs with Nazism. Policing is far from an isolated example. As we reported in yesterdays Mail, the Tories estimate the cost of the burgeoning diversity industry bankrolled by the taxpayer at nearly 20million since 2019. Scotlands crisis-hit NHS was the biggest spender, despite struggling to recover since Covid, and at a time of record waiting lists. Health boards have splashed 8.9million on DEI [diversity, equality and inclusion] training, including 624,000 at NHS Fife. It was taken to an ongoing tribunal by nurse Sandie Peggie after she had to share a changing room with a trans doctor. Councils, universities, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and Scottish Government departments spent a further 11million between them on DEI. The SPSs spend on DEI of 751,934 included 9,180 on the controversial LGBTQ+ rights group Stonewall and more than 725,000 on diversity staff wages. An unidentified slice of the spending was for awareness/ celebration sessions. Sepa, the environmental quango, drafted in equality trainers while it was still reeling from a devastating cyber-attack. Those trainers were from the Equality Network, which was critical of Holyrood authorities after they said access to the parliaments toilet facilities should be determined by biological sex. Another beneficiary of public funding is LGBT Youth Scotland. It was once led by a man who carried out a vile sex attack on a baby boy (and advised the SNP government on issues such as legalising same-sex adoption). It also provided training to police call-handlers despite the fact that it had produced a coming out guide for schoolchildren which was co-written by another convicted paedophile. Remarkably, the charity, which has encouraged schoolchildren to sign LGBT rainbow flags, receives more than 1million a year of funding from a variety of sources, including the SNP Government, councils and the NHS. Plainly, there is a kind of mania at work which means well-remunerated officials who should have known better fell hook, line and sinker for hardcore beliefs which dont have widespread public backing. You probably dont remember being consulted on it because you werent; it was simply taken for granted that voters wouldnt put up much of a fight, and if they did they could be demonised and belittled. That was the fate of those who were brave enough to speak out when Nicola Sturgeon tried and mercifully failed to drive through transgender self-ID reforms. The diversity craze is driven by a lie theres nothing remotely diverse about enforcing trans ideology which most people dont support. About two-thirds of Scots were against the main tenets of the abortive transgender law masterminded by the SNP, which was blocked by the UK Government and is now effectively dead in the water. Yet a legion of bureaucrats is being paid to keep pushing discredited diktats, foisting them on staff who know failing to toe the line might well be a terminal moment for their careers. The rot started early. In 2008, it emerged that more than 100 public sector staff had been hired to promote diversity, costing Scots at least 3million a year at the time. The health service alone accounted for almost half of this total, spending 1.4million a year. In return for this huge outlay, diversity workers came up with barmy schemes such as trying to ban NHS staff from using the terms mum and dad, in case they offend LGBT people. Back then, police were being told to ask if suspects were going through a transgender journey, to try and avoid discrimination. Nearly 20 years on, the diversity push is still going on but it has stepped up a gear in recent times and theres no doubt the SNP has pressed down hard on the accelerator. However, there are tentative signs that some politicians are beginning to realise that this crusade just like net zero is becoming a vote loser. But a lot of non-jobs depend on its continuation even as NHS waiting lists spiral and victims are told minor crimes can no longer be fully investigated because of police budget cuts. Safeguarding political correctness is our only growth industry. But it has turned us into a laughing stock and done nothing to help reverse the decline in public services, or to boost the moribund economy. The SNP will want to steer clear of the subject as the Scottish election next May looms large. After all, the chief architect of the diversity obsession cant be expected to put an end to its malign influence. However, there will be plenty of votes to be won for any party which pledges to take an axe to the growing army of woke apparatchiks which now dominates every corner of public life. A prolific bag thief who was caught on camera sneakily stealing a bag from a busy London bar has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. Sid Rebai, 36, would regularly frequent pubs in the City of London in the hope of snatching bags which contained expensive personal belongings. In the astonishing footage showing Rebai in action, the thief can be seen holding a phone to his ear as he walks near two people deep in conversation as they talk over a pint. Seemingly having picked the pair out as they were engrossed in a discussion, Rebai lingers near and extends his leg out to the bag which is under the table shared by the pubgoers. Wearing a black cap which he paired with a hoodie and jeans, Rebai drags the rucksack to his feet before quickly picking it up and fleeing the area before the victim has the chance to notice his belongings had been stolen. In one day alone, April 8 this year, the thief would steal three bags from pubs in the City - of which he was convicted for. He was also found to have stolen a bag and a laptop from a pub in the Minories on April 29. On May 6, the day of his arrest, Rebai was spotted at a pub in Aldgate, where plain-clothed police officers had stationed themselves in the hope of catching him. In the astonishing footage showing Rebai in action, the thief can be seen holding a phone to his ear as he walks near two people deep in conversation as they talk over a pint Seemingly having picked the pair out as they were engrossed in a discussion, Rebai lingers near and extends his leg out to the bag which is under the table shared by the pubgoers Rebai drags the rucksack to his feet before quickly picking it up and fleeing the area before the victim has the chance to notice his belongings had been stolen He was found in possession of a stolen bag and quickly arrested before officers returned the bag and its contents to the victim of the crime. Rebai pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), which bans him from entering the City of London for six years. Inspector Dan Green, of the Proactive Acquisitive Crime Team at the City of London Police, said: 'This is another great result in seeing a prolific bag thief behind bars and returning stolen items to victims. 'Our warning to criminals; don't come into the City to steal bags. If you do, you risk being spotted by our plain-clothed officers, who will track you down, arrest you and bring you to justice.' His sentencing comes just a week after we reported how fitness influencer Grace Beverley had her vintage Chanel bag stolen from right under her nose during a day out in Notting Hill. Rebai's sentencing comes just a week after we reported how fitness influencer Grace Beverley had her vintage Chanel bag stolen from right under her nose during a day out in Notting Hill The founder of activewear brand TALA, 28, was sat outside a popular Greek restaurant with her sister in the west London street when a brazen thief sneakily swiped her bag from between her feet. Sharing a clip of the ordeal, she said: 'I feel like I'm so observant and really, really careful with my bag and phone in London but my whole bag just got robbed from between my feet at a restaurant. 'I was at Zephyr in Notting Hill, I was sat outside. My whole bag, my bag was between my feet, squeezed between my feet and this man managed to get the whole thing.' She added: 'Me and my sister were talking about juicy gossip so I feel like that did get in the way but can you believe? 'My entire bag, my brand new, first ever vintage Chanel is dead.' In a clip shared on TikTok the business owner showed how the thief had stolen the bag by pretending to sit down at the same restaurant before snatching it from between her feet The man then put the vintage Chanel bag inside another tote bag before leaving the restaurant and crossing the road out of sight In the clip, Grace and her sister could be seen chatting animatedly at a table outside while several people walked past. One man, wearing wearing a navy top and grey shorts with a matching grey cap, wandered down the street and then reversed. With handfuls of shopping bags he came and sat down behind the influencer and her sibling, moving a chair and carefully placing his bags down around him. As the two girls continued their conversation, the thief reached down behind him, quickly snatching the bag and putting it inside a white tote bag before calmly walking out of the restaurant's seating area. A Texan father who uprooted his family to Russia in a bid to escape 'woke America' has reportedly been sent to the front lines of the brutal war in Ukraine to fight for Putin. Derek Huffman, 46, moved with his wife DeAnna, their three daughters and the family husky to the small town of Istra, near Moscow, earlier this year after claiming the US had become overrun by 'woke ideology'. The family took advantage of a Kremlin-backed visa programme aimed at attracting Westerners who reject liberal ideals - something Mr Huffman called 'a fresh start in a country that respects family vaules'. But the American expat's dream of a quieter life in Russia has taken a dramatic turn. Initially promised a non-combat role in the Russian military - first as a welder, then a war correspondent - Mr Huffman now finds himself alarmingly close to the battlefield, according to his wife. DeAnna Huffman said her husband felt he was being 'thrown to the wolves' given that he had only received a limited amount of training, and that it was in Russian. She added that her husband, who only had minimal instruction before being deployed, is 'leaning on faith' to survive, as the family awaits news in fear. The last message they received from him came on Father's Day in June. In a video clip, Mr Huffman appears in full camouflage, speaking directly to his children. Derek Huffman, 46, moved with his wife DeAnna, their three daughters and the family husky to the small town of Istra, near Moscow, earlier this year after claiming the US had become overrun by 'woke ideology' Initially promised a non-combat role in the Russian military - first as a welder, then a war correspondent - Mr Huffman now finds himself alarmingly close to the battlefield, according to his wife 'I miss you all more than you can imagine,' he said. 'I can't wait to see you, hopefully I get a vacation at some point and I get to go home and spend a couple of weeks with you. 'But man, you're on my mind 24/7 and just know that what I'm doing is important to me and important to our family. Just know I will do whatever it takes to be safe and to come home to you. Take care of each other.' Since then, there's been silence. The family insists he is 'doing fine', but a now-deleted link on their YouTube channel directed followers to a Telegram group titled Save that Little Girls where an emotional photo of DeAnna and her daughters crying in the street was posted alongside a plea - 'We are asking the United States government to save this family.' It remains unclear who created the group. The Huffmans' controversial decision to flee America came after growing frustration with progressive teachings in schools. After a move from Arizona to Texas, Mr Huffman said he was horrified when his daughter Sophia was expected to discuss lesbian relationships at school - a moment he called the 'final straw'. 'She didn't fully understand it, but for us, that was enough to realise something had to change,' Mr Huffman told Russia Today. A scouting trip to Moscow in 2023 sealed the deal. The couple claimed Russia felt cleaner, safer, and more in tune with their values. Upon arrival, they were quickly embraced by state-affiliated media and even settled into an expat commune known as the 'American Village', established by pro-Kremlin US blogger Tim Kirby. The community, founded as a haven for Americans disillusioned with liberal gender norms, has only attracted two families to date - the Huffmans among them. Mr Huffman was eager to prove his loyalty, insisting he was not searching for handouts. Mr Huffman was eager to prove his loyalty, insisting he was not searching for handouts The last message the family received from him came on Father's Day in June. In a video clip, Mr Huffman appears in full camouflage, speaking directly to his children 'The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia,' he said. 'If I risk myself for our new country, no one will say that I am not a part of it. Unlike migrants in America who come there just like that, do not assimilate, and at the same time want free handouts'. But now, DeAnna says he was misled. 'When he signed up and had all of that done, he was told he would not be training for two weeks and going straight to the front lines,' she said. 'But it seems as though he is getting one more week of training, closer to the front lines, and then they are going to put him on the front lines.' It comes after Russias wartime toll of dead and wounded reached a historic milestone last month. According to the British Ministry of Defence, more than one million Russian troops have been killed or injured since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022. The estimate aligns with a recent study by the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, which puts Russian military deaths at up to 250,000 and total casualties, including the wounded, at over 950,000. In just over three years, Russian fatalities are estimated to be five times higher than the combined death toll from all Soviet and Russian wars between the end of the second world war and the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The family's attempt to escape cultural tensions in the West has led them into the heart of a geopolitical warzone, and with no updates since June, they are left clinging to hope. 'Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined,' she confessed. The Trump administration released a huge batch of previously classified documents regarding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on Monday as Americans clamor for the Jeffrey Epstein files. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was publishing 230,000 pages worth of documents relating to the civil rights leader's April 1968 assassination. The release was in accordance with Donald Trump's executive order earlier this year mandating the release of files on former President John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and MLK. The files in the release had never been digitized 'and sat collecting dust in facilities across the federal government for decades,' according to an ODNI press release. Their declassification and publication comes as the Trump administration has been dealing with a growing contingent of discontented MAGA devotees who are determined to see additional files on the deceased sex offender. 'If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of the people,' Republican firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X. 'If not. The base will turn and there's no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else.' The administration has sought to downplay the disappointment of the missing Epstein files in recent days. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. walks across the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, April 3, 1968 Social media users were quick to point out how the MLK files were released while documents regarding Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and death remain sealed And the timing of the MLK files immediately raised suspicions online. 'This is nothing but a distraction from the lack of the release of the Epstein files!' commentator Ed Krassenstein posted on X. 'How do we get the MLK files before Epstein!' pundit Luke Rudkowsi similarly wrote. Despite the outcry for additional Epstein files, multiple Trump administration officials touted the release of the new documents as an act of transparency. The files were reportedly under a court-imposed seal since 1977. The freshly released files include documents on the FBI's investigation into MLK's assassination, internal FBI memos about the probe's progress and pages detailing prison testimony about the plot. 'The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government's investigation into Dr. King's assassination,' Gabbard said in a statement. 'Under President Trump's leadership, we are ensuring that no stone is left unturned in our mission to deliver complete transparency on this pivotal and tragic event in our nation's history,' she continued. 'I extend my deepest appreciation to the King family for their support.' CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the effort delivers 'maximum transparency to the American people.' Dr. Alveda King, the niece of MLK, celebrated the release. 'I am grateful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for delivering on their pledge of transparency in the release of these documents on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr,' she said in a statement. DNI Tulsi Gabbard announced the release of the MLK files on Monday The Rev. Ralph Abernathy, right, and Bishop Julian Smith, left, flank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during a civil rights march in Memphis, Tenn., March 28, 1968 'My uncle lived boldly in pursuit of truth and justice, and his enduring legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day. While we continue to mourn his death, the declassification and release of these documents are a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve.' However, MKL's two living children, Martin III and Bernice, seemed less enthusiastic in a statement released on Monday. 'As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief - a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met - an absence our family has endured for over 57 years,' they wrote. 'We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief.' MLK's family also repeated again that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of King's assassination, was not solely responsible for the plot. The family has instead claimed that they believe Ray was a scapegoat. A Scottish Green MSP who accused the Supreme Court of bigotry faces losing her job after being effectively deselected by party members. Maggie Chapman was demoted to second place on the North East regional list, making it highly unlikely she will return to Holyrood at next years election. She was the only one of the partys seven MSPs to be ousted from the top slot. The only region in which a second-placed Green candidate has ever secured a seat so far is Lothian. The revolt by North East members followed allegations that Ms Chapman bad-mouthed her rival Guy Ingerson to a new employer and said he should be watched while on probation. Mr Ingerson had called it a serious breach of the partys code of conduct. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: Maggie Chapmans views are so extreme and outlandish, even by Green standards, that ordinary Scots will be relieved that an internal spat has resulted in her demotion. But even if she fails to be returned to parliament, her colleagues still back the same high-tax, anti-growth policies that would hammer Scottish taxpayers, and a nonsensical gender ideology that undermines the rights of women and girls. Ms Chapman and outgoing Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie Zimbabwe-born Ms Chapman, 46, a former lecturer and Rape Crisis centre worker, has been involved in a series of controversies since entering Holyrood in 2021. In April, the self-styled vocal trans ally narrowly survived a vote to remove her as deputy convener of the equalities committee after attacking the Supreme Court for ruling that biological sex, not gender choice, was the decisive factor under UK equality law. She accused the court of bigotry, prejudice and hatred. Roddy Dunlop KC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said the reprehensible smear had created a risk of danger to judges. Ms Chapman also stood by at a protest in Dundee about the Courts decision where another speaker, Sophie Molly, launched into an obscene tirade against author JK Rowling. And, after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel that killed more than 1,300 people, Ms Chapman blamed Israels illegal occupation of Palestine for the massacre. In a thread on X, she wrote: Whats happening in Palestine is a consequence of apartheid, of illegal occupation, and of imperial aggression by the Israel state. She later expressed regret for causing significant upset and anger for some. Despite an attempt by internal factions to demote them as well, Green MSPs Patrick Harvie and Ross Greer both stayed at the top of the Glasgow and West Scotland lists. They had been criticised by some members for being too comfortable at Holyrood and for wanting to resume power-sharing with the SNP after next years election. The list rankings are vital to the Greens, as they have never won a Holyrood seat before, and rely on the parliaments proportional system for all their MSPs. The partys co-leader Lorna Slater said she was delighted at the strong group of lead candidates. Ms Chapman was approached for comment. Hunter Biden is still very angry with actor George Clooney, who wrote a New York Times op-ed last July pushing then President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. The younger Biden sat down for a three-hour-long, very foul-mouthed interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, hosting him in Wilmington, Delaware. Biden used four-letter words when discussing Clooney and other Democrats who had been critical of his father or helped orchestrate the president's exit from the 2024 race. The anniversary of the senior Biden bowing out of the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris was Monday. 'F*** him, f*** him and everybody around him,' the former first son said of Clooney, as he discussed the actor's decision to pen the op-ed that insinuated that the Democratic president was senile. 'I agree with Quentin Tarantino, F***ing George Clooney is not a f***ing actor. He is a f***ing, like, I dont know what he is. He's a brand,' Biden continued. 'And by the way, and God bless him you know what, he supposedly treats his friends really well, you know what I mean, buys them things. And he's got a really great place in Lake Como and he's great friends with Barack Obama. F*** you, what do you have to do with fucking anything?' 'Why do I have to f***ing listen to you?' Biden asked. In the op-ed, Clooney said of the president that 'the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.' The actor had seen Biden at a June 15, 2024 fundraiser in Los Angeles ahead of Biden's disastrous June 27 debate in Atlanta. In the op-ed, Clooney divulged that the Biden he saw at the fundraiser was the same one who appalled Democratic voters on the debate stage. Hunter Biden was extremely critical of actor George Clooney in an interview released Monday with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan. 'F*** him, f*** him and everybody around him,' Biden said after Clooney wrote an op-ed encouraging President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race Actor George Clooney (left) appears alongside President Joe Biden (right) at a fundraiser on June 15, 2024. Clooney later wrote in a New York Times op-ed that the Biden he saw at the fundraiser acted similarly to how Biden was during his disastrous debate against Trump 'This is about age. Nothing more,' Clooney wrote. 'We are not going to win in November with this president.' The president's debate performance against President Donald Trump had heightened calls for the 81-year-old to drop out, with Clooney's op-ed published less than two weeks later. Behind-the-scenes, CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson wrote in their book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again that President Biden didn't recognize Clooney when he arrived at the LA fundraiser. The younger Biden countered that Monday saying that Tapper and Thompson's sources misinterpreted presidential protocol. Biden said Clooney was introduced to the president at the fundraiser because that is the customary part of presidential photo lines. 'And he may know George for the last 30 years and he may have met him 15 times but the guy on his shoulder, who's usually a military officer, has one job, to say the name of the person who's walking up,' Biden said. He added: 'I was there. I watched George Clooney be introduced to my dad with 30 other people in line and the guy said, "Mr. President, George Clooney and Julia Roberts." That's it, that's the story.' Biden claimed that Clooney used that incident to undercut his father. 'What right do you have to step on a man who's given 52 years of his f***ing life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are gonna take out basically a full-page ad in the f***ing New York Times to undermine the president at a time in which, by the way, what do people care about the most?' Biden said. 'Why do you think that the Republicans have an advantage over us? Because theyre unified.' Representatives for Clooney did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment. Biden also bristled that Clooney had almost skipped the fundraiser over his father and the actor's wife Amal not seeing eye-to-eye on an issue having to do with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. YouTuber Andrew Callaghan (left) scored a three-hour-long interview with Hunter Biden (right). In the sit-down, Biden went on a foul-mouthed tear about actor George Clooney, who pushed his father to abandon his reelection bid last year Biden went after authors Tapper and Thompson by name as well. The former first son called the book a 'money grab' on Tapper's part and mocked the cable news host's ratings. 'Jesus Christ Jake, grow the f*** up,' Biden said, noting how he's known the CNN newsman for 30 years. He objected to Tapper suggesting he was acting as some sort of 'chief of staff' who helped hide President Biden's declining condition. In an interview with Katie Couric, Tapper had referred to Hunter Biden not as a faux White House chief of staff, but serving that role in the Biden family. 'What they're also doing,' he continued. 'Is that they've started a congressional investigation and now I have to deal with another f***ing subpoena because Jake Tapper has decided that he's - through anonymous sources - create some kind of conspiracy of a crime and here we are, to what end? To what end?' 'As the world falls apart around us, why do I have to f***ing spend my time worrying or thinking about or even talking about someone as irrelevant of Jake Tapper,' Biden added. He continued to discuss the pressure campaign that followed his father until the president announced on July 21, 2024 that he would end his reelection bid. Several hours later, Biden endorsed Harris. Biden complained that his father and Trump - who at 79 will become the nation's oldest president should he serve all four years - are being measured differently, pointing to a gaffe Trump made at the G7 last month, when he mistakenly announced a trade deal with the 'EU' while standing alongside the U.K. prime minister. 'Can you imagine if he opened up that treaty with Prime Minister Starmer at the G7 in Canada and all the pages fell out and then he said he just signed a treaty with the European Union,' Biden said. 'And then he got on a plane and said the reason he was going home early from the G7 is because he had a major announcement the next day and the next day he put up a flagpole. Can you imagine?' Trump had rushed home from the summit in Canada to deal with Israel and Iran warring. 'Where the f*** is Jake Tapper?' Biden asked. 'Where the f*** is George Clooney.' CNN defended Tapper in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'Jake Tapper is one of the most influential political journalists of his time. His award-winning programs The Lead with Jake Tapper and State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash reach broad global audiences across CNN, CNN International and HBO Max with significant digital extensions across CNN.com and social platforms,' said spokesperson Dylan Rose Geerlings. 'No single metric can capture the true reach and impact of a journalist driving the national conversation, but Jakes work and his outsized influence speak for themselves.' Throughout the three-hour-long sit-down, Biden also slammed David Axelrod several times. Axelrod was former President Barack Obama's longtime political adviser who suggested early in the 2024 cycle that Biden should consider dropping out and allowing the Democrats to have a primary instead. 'David Axelrod had one success in his political life and that was Barack Obama and that was because of Barack Obama not because of f***in David Axelrod.,' Biden said. Obama chose Joe Biden to be his running mate during the 2008 election cycle - but there have long been reports about there being rifts between the Obama and the Biden camps. That was on full display during the interview, when Biden went after the Pod Save America podcasters too. He mocked the group - made up of four former Obama aides - Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor. Biden called them 'four white millionaires that are dining out on their association with him from 16 years ago, living in Beverly f***ing Hills, telling the rest of the world what black voters in South Carolina really want.' 'The Anita Dunns of the world, who's made 40, 50 million dollars off the Democratic party, theyre all gonna insert their judgment over a man who has figured out, unlike anybody else, how to get elected to the United States Senate over seven times,' Biden added. Dunn served in his father's administration but also worked for Obama. Biden also mocked Rahm Emanuel, Obama's former White House chief of staff, for having presidential ambitions. 'What a f***ing ...,' Biden said trailing off. 'David Axelrod's going to run his campaign for him,' he said, rolling his eyes. A hospital manager said she had no concerns for the safety of patients being treated by Sandie Peggie and details of the row which led to her being suspended was just she said/she said hearsay. Sandie Peggie, 51, is suing NHS Fife and Dr Beth Upton after being made to change next to the born-male medic at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. She was suspended after confronting the 30-year-old resident doctor in the female-only changing room. Yesterday service manager Lottie Myles told the landmark employment tribunal brought by the veteran nurse that the dispute was a she said/she said situation where there was nobody who could provide evidence. And the witness, who started work at NHS Fife just six months before the changing room incident, said there were no patient safety concerns and that Ms Peggie would not have treated trans patients differently to any others. The tribunal in Dundee entered its second week of the latest string of hearings yesterday. Just days after the changing room incident Mrs Peggie was suspended. Ms Myles reviewed the suspension later in 2024. The tribunal heard claims that Mrs Peggie was homophobic and there were elements of racism in her beliefs but Ms Myles dismissed them as hearsay and claims which havent been documented or theres little evidence of. Claims about nurse Sandie Peggie did not stand up Lottie Myles had no concerns about Mrs Peggie treating trans patients The Accident and Emergency nurse had told the manager she would not treat a transgender patient any differently to anybody else, the tribunal heard. Ms Myles said: '[Mrs Peggie] has been a nurse for 30 years, Im sure in that time she has dealt with transgender patients. I felt confident and reassured there were no patient safety concerns. When patient safety concerns were raised, the tribunal heard, nobody could confirm them and Ms Myles branded them hearsay. Ms Myles, who made the decision to lift the suspension on March 7, told the tribunal two senior consultants and two senior nurses werent happy at the decision. But those expressing their concern were not able to give an accurate response regarding the alleged patient safety concerns. The tribunal was told that Dr Kate Searle had expressed unhappiness at bringing Mrs Peggie back to work. It was told: [Dr Searle] made a comment saying there had been patient safety issues, there had been other behaviours towards a doctor. Confronted: Dr Beth Upton I asked if this had been investigated and reported appropriately, and she said no. I said that if these events had happened and they had not been reported, you were culpable. Ms Myles had been asked to help oversee Mrs Peggies return to work and had proposed she work in a different hospital. But this was rejected by the nurse. It was eventually agreed to put the pair on opposite shifts in what was described as a compromise. On Friday NHS Fife published a statement online which critics have said was an attempt to smear the veteran nurse and the charity supporting her. Yesterday Mrs Peggies legal team said they have now asked the embattled health board to confirm the names of those who signed off on the statement. MSP Tess White, of the Scottish Conservatives, said: Senior officials should come clean over who authorised the outrageous statement issued last Friday, so that those responsible are made to carry the can. The tribunal continues. President Trump's cabinet members have looked to catch internet virality in the last few months, getting out of DC and into the field and in some cases, the marshlands. Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance have both worked out with members of the military, and Secretary Noem has ridden along on ICE raids. The latest addition to the administration seeking social media infamy is Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who shared a stunning photo Monday morning of her participation in a python hunt in the Florida Everglades. 'LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!' Rollins wrote quoting billionaire pop star Taylor Swift's song of the same name, posted with a snake emoji. Rollins, 53, posted the set of pics from the Sunshine State from the hunt, which reportedly took place Sunday night. 'Last night I joined a python hunt in the Florida Everglades! Got hands-on with Floridas invasive species problem. Learned how to wrangle those slithery giants like a pro, joined a heart-pounding hunt under the swamps moonlight, & saw up close how these pythons disrupt the ecosystem,' Rollins added in her post. 'Whos ready to join the hunt?, she also asked her followers, prompting them to engage with the post. X users obliged with comments and the response was decidedly mixed. Secretary Brooke Rollins posted a series of photo from her Sunday night python hunt on X Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins captured a python in the Florida Everglades One user who posts on X under the handle @starrygirl737 wrote, 'This sounds like an awesome experience!' Another user, @cFishFL, who appears to be a native Floridian wrote, 'Let us hunt year round for pythons in Everglades National Park!' Yet, another X user @galexy70 responded less favorably to the secretary, commenting 'Yay! More cosplay!' Rollins served as chief for domestic policy during Trump's first administration and was among the names mentioned in the running for chief of staff. Instead, she was confirmed overwhelmingly by the Senate to lead the Department of Agriculture in a 72-28 vote in February. Rollins is a conservative legal activist and public policy analyst who most recently served as president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank that developed policy and cultivated a network of personnel for the second Trump administration. By Monday afternoon, Rollins was back to posting more conventional political fare on her feed, announcing an allocation of $675 million in agricultural hurricane relief in Felda, Florida and touting the state's influential sugarcane industry. Five days before its official release date, the internet blew up as Prince Harry's highly anticipated memoir was leaked online. People began posting videos on TikTok as they read aloud the vivid details of Harry losing his virginity in a field behind a pub and his anecdote about frostbite on his 'todger' after a trip to the North Pole. Excerpts - including some which were doctored - were shared on Twitter after some Spanish booksellers broke the embargo and put the book out early on January 5, 2023, leading some newspapers to get their hands on the book early. It was reported that publishers spent millions to prevent the content of the book from getting leaked, but this proved to be futile. Coming off the back of Harry and Meghan's no-holds-barred interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the book was billed as a fresh attack on the Royal Family. To say that Spare, which was officially published on January 10, 2023, ruffled a few royal feathers would be a crude understatement. Royal author Ingrid Seward claimed that Harry's emotional problems had been caused by him allowing the 'Spare' label to 'dominate his life - to the extent that he has now made a career out of it'. Seward wrote in her book, My Mother and I: 'Harry had a good relationship with his father until he moved to America, "unlocked his inner self", and started using his position as the spare to make noise.' Coming off the back of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's no-holds-barred interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Spare was billed as a fresh attack on the Royal Family In his memoir, Harry laid bare shocking accusations, including that his brother Prince William (pictured alongside the Princess of Wales and Harry in 2017) physically attacked him The Duke of Sussex shocked the world with several headline-making revelations in his tell-all book, which was released in January 2023 Seward has spent 40 years covering The Firm and its highs and lows from the War of the Waleses and Toegate to Megxit and beyond. Like many journalists of her generation, she would often find herself invited to Kensington Palace for cosy chats with Princess Diana or to the ski slopes of Switzerland with Charles, William and Harry. Having witnessed the boys grow into men, she is one of the most qualified people to comment on why Harry couldn't be happy in his position within the Royal Family. Harry would play the fool and get away with childish antics, such as standing behind visitors and pulling funny faces behind their backs to make William laugh when he had to meet them. At the age of nine, Harry reportedly turned to his brother and declared: 'You're going to be King; it doesn't matter what I do.' It seems that this attitude is one Harry has carried from childhood into his adult years. In his memoir, Harry laid bare shocking accusations, including that his brother physically attacked him and that Charles did not hug Harry when his mother Diana died. Seward wrote: 'His row with his brother was one thing - this is not unusual with siblings, when one has all the responsibility and the other is free to have more fun. Ingrid Seward, who has spent 40 years following The Firm, claimed that Harry's emotional problems had been caused by him allowing the 'spare' label to 'dominate his life - to the extent that he has now made a career out of it' Seward wrote: '[Harry's] row with his brother was one thing - this is not unusual with siblings, when one has all the responsibility and the other is free to have more fun.' William and Harry are pictured in 2017 King Charles and Prince Harry, who are apparently no longer on speaking terms, are pictured in 2019 'But the anger aimed at the monarchy, the British people, his father and stepmother was totally unnecessary.' On its first day of publication, Spare sold approximately 1.4million copies in the US, Canada and the UK, becoming the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time. The book's title came from Harry's feeling of being 'a spare part' compared to William being heir. In Spanish the book was titled En La Sombra (In The Shadow), which aptly summarises Harry's ill-feeling towards his brother. In the Channel 5 documentary, Meghan: Duchess for Sale?, which aired earlier this month, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said: 'Spare was again, together with the interviews, something that was a red rag to King Charles. 'Harry trashed his family in the book and they haven't forgotten and they may never trust him again afterwards.' Seward wrote: 'Much of Harry's ire has been directed at his elder brother William, the heir, and their relationship has always been fraught with rivalry - so much so that Harry developed a complex about being the second best. 'He always felt the need to compete in everything, especially with his brother. 'His relationship with the Queen was very much characterised by Harry being the joker, and when he had something serious to say to her, he had very little idea how to go about it.' The brothers ended up at loggerheads when the Queen reluctantly accepted that Harry could keep his beard on his wedding day. The royal author wrote: 'When William discovered this he was furious: annoyed that Harry had gone to the Queen, annoyed that she had given her clearance and annoyed at what he saw as Harry's one-upmanship.' The brothers ended up at loggerheads when the Queen reluctantly accepted that Harry could keep his beard on his wedding day. The pair are seen in 2022 after their grandmother's death Seward wrote: 'The anger aimed at the monarchy, the British people, his father and stepmother was totally unnecessary.' Charles is pictured with Meghan and Harry in 2018 It was the late Queen, pictured alongside Harry and Meghan in 2018, who found herself in an 'impossible position' when it came to dealing with her grandson's antics The Waleses and the Sussexes are pictured during the notoriously awkward walkabout following the Queen's death in 2022 This stemmed from the fact that William had not been allowed to keep his beard at his own wedding. 'Harry explains in Spare that William always felt the Queen indulged Harry in his misbehaviour, while he was expected to maintain high standards. 'This argument became so heated that at one point William actually ordered Harry to shave, "as the Heir speaking to the Spare",' wrote Seward. But it was the late Queen who found herself in an 'impossible position' when it came to dealing with Harry's antics. Seward wrote: 'However much she loved Harry - and she did - she couldn't condone the way he was speaking about the institution of the monarchy that she had spent 70 years preserving. 'He chooses to be the victim and wreak vengeance on the slights he thought he had suffered; on his family, on the Press and through the courts.' Jack Royston, royal correspondent for Newsweek, noted in Channel 5's documentary, Meghan: Duchess for Sale?, that in the aftermath of the publication of Spare the Sussexes suffered a massive crash in the opinion polls. On its first day of publication, Spare sold approximately 1.4million copies in the US, Canada and the UK, becoming the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time Seward wrote: '[Harry] chooses to be the victim and wreak vengeance on the slights he thought he had suffered; on his family, on the Press and through the courts.' Harry is pictured during a BBC interview following his lost security court case earlier this year Your browser does not support iframes. It seems that Harry's determination to tell his version of 'the truth' has not only placed a wedge between the Sussexes and the Royal Family, but also damaged the public perceptions of the couple. They were chastised by both the British and American press, with the US animated sitcom South Park even making a parody episode called The Worldwide Privacy Tour. The couple were also called 'grifters' by a Spotify executive. In the YouGov opinion polls, both Meghan and Harry's popularity has been on a steady decline. Most recently Harry's high-profile court case, which saw the Government's decision to downgrade his security during his visits the UK upheld, has prompted rumours of a sequel to Spare. A Buckingham Palace insider told The Sun: 'There's a lot of worry that Harry could tell all in a book deal or even follow Meghan's lead and make a podcast. 'He's hinted he has discovered secrets during the hearings, particularly regarding the treatment of him and Meghan, that would shock us all. 'It is a veiled threat, essentially that he will tell all if it doesn't go the way he wants it to.' While Spare 2 could do well for Harry financially, many royal observers wonder if this would eliminate any chance of a reunion between Harry, William and Charles. A rise in shark sightings near US beaches may be alarming to some, but an expert has said Americans need to get used to sharing their summers with these apex predators. Chris Fischer, the founder of OCEARCH, told the Daily Mail populations have bounced back from the brink of extinction over the last 30 years, and it's leading to a major resurgence of all creatures in the ocean. 'Scientists came to us in 2006 and said, 'We have an issue here, Chris, we're down to nine percent of our large sharks worldwide,'' Fischer explained. 'We're seeing ecosystems kind of collapse when we lose the sharks because the sharks are the apex predator, the balance keepers of these systems,' Fischer said. However, thanks to multiple efforts in the US to ban practices that kill sharks and wipe out their food sources, Fischer said beachgoers are seeing levels of shark activity that hasn't been seen since the 1950s. 'I think there are far more white sharks, if we're talking about large sharks, off our coast than people think there are,' the expedition leader revealed. 'There is no way that we have captured more than a fraction of one percent. I think that you're looking at tens of thousands of them, certainly 10,000 of them most of the time,' Fischer added. Overall, there are between 50 and 70 different kinds of sharks that are regularly seen around the US coastlines, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). OCEARCH recently tagged 'Contender' in January, a white shark that's close to 14 feet and weighs over 1,600 pounds The nonprofit marine research group OCEARCH has tagged and tracked 92 white sharks along the US coastline over the last decade Those include the blacktip, sandbar, spiny dogfish and white sharks. The so-called great white shark has become famous - or infamous - because of movies such as Jaws, which sensationalized the threat of shark attacks near US beaches. Fischer noted there's actually no such thing as a 'great white shark,' and the named was changed from white shark for dramatic effect in movies like these. Shark numbers, including the white shark, typically swell in the summer as these predators return to their breeding grounds and search for prey in the warmer waters along the beachfront. However, the marine researcher called the belief that sharks have been moving closer to crowded US shorelines because of climate change a 'bizarre, fabricated concept.' 'We've all been swimming with all kinds of sharks all our lives now, because the ocean is returning to abundance,' Fischer revealed. Abundance refers to having a healthy, thriving population of various species in the ocean, where there are enough animals to keep the ecosystem balanced and functioning properly. OCEARCH is a non-profit group focused on shark research and ocean conservation. They've conducted expeditions to study and tag sharks, collecting data on their movements and biology to support marine conservation efforts in the US. 'We've now successfully returned our ocean to abundance. So yes, we're going to be seeing things that people think are unusual, but that's actually what what the ocean is supposed to look like,' the OCEARCH founder added. Chris Fischer, the founder of OCEARCH, told the Daily Mail that conservation efforts since the 1990s have led to a resurgence of all creatures in the ocean Contender (pictured) is a massive white shark that has been tracked heading up the US East Coast towards the Carolinas and Virginia Fischer noted several major factors that are driving up shark sightings and misconceptions that these creatures have become more of a danger to US beaches in recent years. Perhaps most importantly, the OCEARCH founder said that the COVID pandemic has thrown off people's perceptions of what's in the ocean. Due to many of the conservation efforts that took place right before the US went into lockdown, many marine species started to boom again - a process that was further aided by fewer humans out on the water. 'Everyone went away for COVID, and just around the same time we passed the Forage Fish Protection Act. They came back down to the beach two years later and all of a sudden there was bait everywhere, and all the fish we'd managed back,' Fischer said. 'You're getting to see what your great granddaddy used to watch here at the beach. You just have never seen in your life because we had compromised the system so badly. And now it's back,' he continued. Fischer explained that it's also not global warming that brings sharks closer to the shore, it's a normal method of hunting called 'crowding' which sharks use to corner bait fish like mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. Sharks push these abundant species into the shallower waters closer to the beach so they're easier to eat. The researcher noted that the white shark plays an especially key role in population control and ecosystem balance for these other species in US waters. 'If you think about every species in [the ocean]. It's like an orchestra, and every species is a different instrument, and the white shark is the conductor,' Fischer said. Sharks have relatively good eyesight underwater, but they can have trouble distinguishing between a seal and a person on a surfboard (Stock Image) Your browser does not support iframes. With more legislation against the overfishing of certain species, like the Forage Fish Protection Act of 2020, and the banning of deadly inshore gill nets in the 1990s, marine populations have been thriving. Not only are there more sharks, there is more of everything in sea, meaning sharks have more to feed on and are getting much bigger. In January, OCEARCH tagged and began tracking the white shark named Contender, a 14-foot, 1,600-pound behemoth discovered near the coast of Georgia. He's the largest male white shark researchers have encountered in the Atlantic, but it's possible that record won't last for long. Fischer explained that the devastation of shark populations in the 70s and 80s primarily wiped out larger, ancient sharks. These predators can live for roughly 70 years and don't even become sexually mature until they reach the age of 30. 'The first sharks we began protecting back in the early 90s, late 80s are just now becoming sexually mature. So that means the only really big animals out there are the ones that survived us,' the researcher said. Fischer added that it'll still be decades before today's young sharks reach their maximum size in the wild, so Contender could still be growing. Contender (pictured) is much larger than the average male shark, which measures between 12 and 13 feet in length Researchers have been tracking sharks all the way up the East Coast, even into New England Although shark hotspots like Florida, California, and Hawaii continue to bring the greatest chance of a shark encounter, Americans vacationing in the Carolinas, Texas, New York, and New Jersey should stay alert when they head into the water. In fact, South Carolina (120) and North Carolina (81) currently rank fourth and fifth in terms of confirmed shark attacks in the US over the last two centuries. Florida is far and away the shark attack capital of the US with 942 attacked since 1837, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File. Hawaii ranks as a distant second with 199 confirmed attacks. Many of these attacks involved tiger sharks, which are known for their tremendous size (up to 18 feet in length) and their reputation for eating anything from fish to sea birds. California has seen the third-most attacks in recorded history, with the vast majority involving white sharks. In winter, the Arctic should be a stunning white landscape a pristine world of ice and falling snow spanning thousands of miles. But shocking photos reveal the new reality at the North pole, thanks to climate change. Scientists from London who travelled to Svalbard in February and early March report a 'dramatic and concerning shift in the Arctic winter'. At the Norwegian territory, they encountered exceptionally high temperatures, widespread snowmelt, and blooming vegetation. Within a few decades, huge parts of the Arctic in winter could look like the lowlands of Scotland, the experts predict. Dr James Bradley, expedition member and environmental scientist at Queen Mary University of London, calls for urgent climate action to reduce global warming. 'Standing in pools of water at the snout of the glacier, or on bare, green tundra, was shocking and surreal,' he said. 'Climate policy must catch up to the reality that the Arctic is changing much faster than expected.' Scientists from London who travelled to Svalbard in February and March report a 'dramatic and concerning shift in the Arctic winter'. There they encountered exceptionally high temperatures, widespread snowmelt, and blooming vegetation Researchers report: 'Vegetation emerged through the melting snow and ice, displaying green hues typically associated with spring and summer' Dr Bradley and a few other colleagues travelled to Svalbard, a Norwegian territory, for a fieldwork campaign in February this year. At Svalbard, which sits within the Arctic Circle, they experienced 'exceptionally' high air temperatures, among the warmest ever recorded in the Arctic. For example, in Ny-Alesund, north-west Svalbard and about 745 miles (1,200km) from the North Pole, the air temperature average for February 2025 was -3.3C/26F. This is considerably higher than the 1961-2001 average in the region for this time of year of -15C/5F. The team witnessed widespread pooling of meltwater into 'vast temporary lakes', which they were able to walk through like gigantic puddles. Meanwhile, vegetation emerged through the melting snow and ice, displaying 'green hues' typically associated with spring and summer. 'Blooms of biological activity were widespread across the thawing tundra,' say the researchers in their paper, published in Nature Communications. 'Surface soils, which are typically frozen solid during this time of the year, thawed such that they were soft enough to be directly sampled with a spoon.' Warming over Svalbard in February 2025: Image shows surface air temperature anomaly for February 2025 over the Arctic region relative to the February average for the period 19912020. Svalbard is about 500 miles north of mainland Norway, east of Greenland Rainfall over Svalbard triggered widespread snowmelt and pooling of meltwater, which the researchers were able to walk through like giant puddles. Pictured, a meltwater pooling above frozen ground at the snout of Midtre Lovenbreen glacier, February 26, 2025 Svalbard, warming at six to seven times the global average rate, is at the forefront of the climate crisis, according to the team February temperatures at Svalbard In Ny-Alesund, north-west Svalbard, the air temperature average for February 2025 was -3.3C/26F, and reached a maximum of 4.7C/40.4F. This is much higher than the 1961-2001 average for February (-15C/5F). Air temperatures higher than 0C were recorded in NyAlesund on 14 of the 28 days of February 2025. Such sustained warmth, coupled with prolonged rainfall, triggered widespread melting of snow and ice. Advertisement There was also a lack of snowfall, which instead fell as rain indicating warmer than usual conditions. The team were used to donning thermal layers and thick gloves, but they often found themselves working bare-handed in the rain. 'The gear I packed felt like a relic from another climate,' said Dr Bradley. Human communities and infrastructure at Svalbard are threatened by winter warming like this, partly due to the possibility of avalanches. The team warn of unstable 'snowpack' the accumulation of snow on the ground, compacted by its own weight which increases avalanche risk. They even questioned their own safety at Svalbard, suggesting that future fieldwork might not be feasible. Svalbard, the world's northernmost permanent settlement, is at the 'front line' of the climate crisis as it is warming at six to seven times the global average rate. Human-caused global warming is particularly amplified in the Arctic, causing the climate there to warm more quickly than the rest of the Earth. Over a two-week period, researchers were only able to collect fresh snow once, as most of the precipitation fell as rain A snow pit on Autre Brggerbreen, March 1, 2025. The snow depth (from the snow surface to the glacier ice surface) was 60 cm, with multiple ice layers throughout the snowpack - indicating that February's melting event was not a one-off occurrence this winter Pictured, a view towards Colletthgda in Svalbard, during winter 2023. Dr Bradley said there is 'a lot of year-to-year variability' in the region Teams are working in Ny-Alesund to study glacial and terrestrial microbial communities and their role in carbon and other elemental cycles during the dark, frozen, winter period - but future trips might not even be safe due to snowpack instability increasing risk of avalanches The big reason for this phenomenon known as 'Arctic amplification' is that the relatively dark surface of the ocean absorbs more heat. And the more ice is melted at the Arctic, the more heat is absorbed. The team's findings challenge the long-held assumption that the Arctic is 'reliably frozen' in winter and they don't think they are 'an isolated occurrence'. Winter warming events in Svalbard have been a recurring phenomenon in recent decades as a consequence of human-caused climate change 'Winter warming in the Arctic has long reached melting point and is reshaping Arctic landscapes,' they conclude. 'Although the recent thaw event of February 2025 was not an isolated occurrence, witnessing it in real time served as a reminder of the accelerating pace of change, and made us wonder if we have been too cautious with our climate warnings. 'These winter warming events are seen by many as anomalies, but this is the new Arctic.' Sometimes nothing satisfies a salt craving quite like some olives. But next time you reach for a can at the shops, you might want to look a bit closer at the ingredients list. Sophia Smith Galer, a British TikTok influencer and writer, warns that black olives are not quite what they seem. In her viral video, she explains that black olives are packed with additives to remove their bitterness and change their colour. It means olives marketed as black might not be naturally black at all. 'You're probably buying fake black olives from the supermarket,' she said in the clip, which has more than 119,000 views and 6,000 likes. Typically, in a cheap can of supermarket black olives, all the individual olives 'taste and look very similar', she explains. But that's because they're 'all turned the exact same black colour' with 'one particular ingredient'. Green olives are picked before fully ripened, whereas black olives have been left to ripen fully. But olives may have been packed with a compound to make them appear darker (file photo) It's a little-known fact that green olives are the ones that have been picked before they're fully ripe, whereas black olives have been left to ripen fully. Whether green or black, supermarket olives are often soaked in sodium hydroxide, which softens them and removes their bitterness. Professor Gunter Kuhnle, food scientist at the University of Reading, said sodium hydroxide is 'quite commonly used in food processing'. 'Its used for the processing of many grains such as maize, peeling of foods, but its not that often on the label,' he told MailOnline. Lactic acid is also added to olives in brine, as it lowers their pH, acting as a natural preservative against the growth of unwanted pathogens. But there's another additive that you'll commonly find on the ingredients list of black olives ferrous gluconate. Ferrous gluconate, an iron compound used in the olive industry, imparts a uniform jet black colour to the little round fruits. It means that black olives are often actually green ones that have had the black compound added to make them darker, the TikToker explains. Although she holds a can from Waitrose, multiple UK supermarkets sell their own brand of black olives containing the little-known additive Ferrous gluconate is also used as a supplement to combat iron deficiency, but side effects can include nausea, vomiting and stomach pain What is ferrous gluconate? Ferrous gluconate is a black compound often used as an iron supplement, sold in pill form. Ferrous gluconate is also used in the food industry to make food appear darker, such as olives. It is approved as a food additive by the Food Standards Agency in the UK and the Food and Drug Administration in the US. Advertisement 'Its job is to bind to compounds in the olives to oxidise them and turn them all into this uniform black colour,' explained Smith Galer, who is also a former fellow with Brown University's Information Futures Lab. 'Just because they're called black olives, doesn't mean they were naturally black they weren't, they were green.' Ferrous gluconate (E579) is approved as a food additive by the Food Standards Agency in the UK and the Food and Drug Administration in the US. It is also used as a supplement to combat iron deficiency, but side effects can include nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. 'Proper' black olives without the additive will often be a little bit softer than green ones simply because they were left to ripen before being picked and processed. Although the influencer shows us a can of Waitrose black olives, other British big grocery giants sell black olives containing the additive too. MailOnline found Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco are selling their own brand of black olives containing the 'stabiliser' ferrous gluconate. MailOnline found ferrous gluconate in supermarket-brand black olives sold by Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda Not all black olives from these supermarkets will contain ferrous gluconate, however. Many black olives of a good enough quality will have been properly left to ripen before picking, packing and shipping. Naturally black olives (those left to ripen) tend to be sweeter and slightly softer, with less bitterness compared to green olives. For example, at the end of the video clip, Smith Galer eats Beldi olives from Morocco, a naturally-wrinkly variety served cured in salt. 'You can if you want buy real black olives in the supermarket,' she adds. 'Those are the real things.' MailOnline contacted spokespeople at Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco for comment. A spokesperson at John Lewis, which owns Waitrose, said: 'The use of this ingredient is common across the industry and preserves the quality and taste of black olives. 'We give our customers choices and we also sell a wide variety of olives which dont use this ferrous gluconate.' Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Ferrous gluconate is approved by the Food Standards Agency and used across the industry in olive processing to preserve their flavour for the best quality and taste.' From the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites protects some of humanity's most treasured historical monuments. Now, 26 new sites have been added to this prestigious list. This year's additions include the original Disney Castle, a Diamond Mountain in North Korea, and the Killing Fields of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge. UNESCO has also included Port Royal - a mysterious sunken 'Pirate City' in Jamaica. Of the 32 candidates nominated this year, those accepted include 21 cultural sites, four natural wonders, and one mixed location. Following 10 days of deliberations in Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has expanded its list to 1,248 sites across 170 countries. That includes two countries, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, which have now claimed their first UNESCO world heritage sites. Countries with sites added to the list must commit to preserving them and could receive funding from the UN to help with that conservation. The palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, including Neuschwanstein Castle, are just one of the 26 sites which have been made new UNESCO World Heritage sites this year The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Germany When Walt Disney needed inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty, he turned to the stunning palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Built between 1864 and 1886, the spires of Neuschwanstein Castle tower over the Bavarian Alps. King Ludwig II, who would be declared mad shortly after the castle's completion, drew inspiration for the castle's design from fairy tales and the operas of Wagner. The castle features grand murals of forests and cherubs alongside a hidden grotto built to connect the King's living space and offices. Despite its medieval appearance, Neuschwanstein was actually constructed with the height of 19th-century technology. There is running water and automatically flushing toilets, hot air central heating, and even a system of electric bells used to summon servants. Alongside Neuschwanstein, the King's other homes -Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and the Royal House at Schachen - are now all UNESCO World Heritage sites. Neuschwanstein Castle was built between 1864 and 1886 and served as the inspiration for the castle in Disney's Sleeping Beauty Cambodian Memorial Sites, Cambodia Between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge party killed between two and three million people. Inspired by radical Maoist ideology, the party led by Pol Pot killed ethnic, educated, urban, or professionally trained individuals. Perceived opponents of the regime were taken to sites which became known as the killing fields, where they were murdered and dumped in mass graves. These graves were so shallow that bones of the dead can still be seen sticking out of the ground to this day. One of these sites, formally an orchard located 6 miles (10km) south of the capital Phnom Penh, was made into a memorial site for the atrocity named the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. The centre includes a large Buddhist stupa, or tower, made out of hundreds of unidentified skulls from those killed at the site. The Killing Fields and the notorious S-21 and M-13 prison, where thousands were tortured, have all been made part of the UNESCO world heritage list. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites list now includes Cambodia's Killing Fields, the sites where millions of people who were killed by the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. Pictured: A man walks through one of the killing field sites outside of the capital Phnom Penh Mount Kumgang, North Korea Known as the Diamond Mountain from the Sea, Mount Kumang is now one of three UNESCO World Heritage sites in North Korea. UNESCO has added the area as a mixed site, meaning it has outstanding natural and cultural value. This area is renowned for its valleys, waterfalls, incredible biodiversity, and peaks rising to nearly 5,250 ft (1,600m). Due to the local climate, these mountains are constantly shrouded by a changing pattern of mists, rain, and clouds. Additionally, the area has been considered sacred by Korean Buddhists for hundreds of years. The site is home to ancient stone carvings and temples dating back as far as the 5th century, including three which are still active today. Until January last year, the site was also one of the very few locations open to South Korean tourists as part of the so-called 'Sunshine Policy'. Known as the Diamond Mountain from the Sea, Mount Kumang is the most recent of three UNESCO World Heritage sites in North Korea Gola-Tiwai Complex, Sierra Leone The Gola-Tiwai Complex is the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Sierra Leone and has been added following decades of conservation work in the region. The complex will include the 700 square kilometre Gola-Tiwai National Park as well as the nearby Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Once considered at threat by logging and civil war, this rainforest is home to a bewildering array of rare and endangered species. The area hosts more than 1,000 plant species, 55 mammals, up to 448 birds, and 600 species of butterfly. It is also the last remaining home of the forest elephant and pygmy hippopotamus in Sierra Leone. Pygmy hippos, made famous by Khao Kheow Open Zoo's Moo Deng, are now found in only a handful of waterways in West Africa and are considered endangered. The forest is also key to the survival of some species we would recognise here in the UK, such as migratory swifts which stop to rest in Gola-Tiwai on their way to Europe. Sierra Leone's first UNESCO World Heritage site is the Gola-Tiwai rainforest, which is home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals such as the white-bellied pangolin The complex will include the 700 square kilometre Gola-Tiwai National Park (pictured) as well as the nearby Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary Port Royal, Jamaica, was a thriving English trading town and notorious pirate haven in the 17th century before an earthquake caused the city to fall into the ocean Port Royal, Jamaica In the 17th century, the town of Port Royal was a major hub of English trade in the Caribbean and a notorious pirate haven nicknamed 'the wickedest city of Earth'. The city was home to English and Dutch 'Privateers', gangs of marauding pirates encouraged to attack the Spanish fleets. On shore, these wealthy criminals would spend their ill-gotten cash in the city's many taverns, gambling dens, and brothels. However, a major earthquake in 1692 and an accompanying tsunami sank most of the port into the ocean. What remained of the town was then destroyed by a fire and a hurricane in the following years, all but wiping Port Royal off the map. Today, the remains of the pirate town are still found beneath the waves where they have been converted into a major archaeological site. This area, known as the Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal, has now been officially recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage site. It's the 'cheating scandal' that has sent the internet into a frenzy. At a recent Coldplay concert, a seemingly loved-up couple threw themselves on the floor and covered their faces after appearing on 'kiss cam'. The erratic behaviour even caused frontman Chris Martin to quip: 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' It turns out the pair are Andy Byron, CEO of AI startup Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company's chief people officer. Records suggest both are married to other people - triggering an onslaught of memes, jokes and GIFs about the scandal. Anyone watching the video may wonder why the pair were acting so brazenly in public. Now, one psychologist claims the couple may have wanted to be seen together so they would be 'forced to confront the truth'. So, do you agree with her theory? Fans erupted after the CEO of a billion-dollar company was caught cozying up to a female colleague on a Coldplay concert kiss cam The couple were seen covering their faces, with Mr Byron, the head of the AI startup Astronomer, diving out of view and Ms Cabot turning away from the camera 'It wasn't just the [apparent] betrayal that grabbed headlines, but rather the boldness of it,' Nicole McNichols, professor of human sexuality at the University of Washington, wrote on Psychology Today. 'A public affair, at a Coldplay concert, and on the jumbotron. Which raises the obvious question - why cheat so publicly?' She said understanding why someone cheats can help people better understand the challenges that all relationships face - even the healthy ones. One reason that people cheat can be emotional disconnection from their partner, she explained, with a long-term relationship becoming more about logistics than nurturing a connection. 'The body language of the couple at the concert was affectionate and emotionally intimate', she said. 'It didn't read as a lusty fling but more like a moment between two people trying to feel seen. 'And when someone feels emotionally invisible in their primary relationship, they may seek validation elsewhere.' Another possible reason for cheating, she said, is a cry for freedom. As the frontman panned his 'kiss cam' around the crowd at Gillette Stadium in Boston, the pair looked horrified to be seen by thousands on the big screen The erratic behaviour even caused frontman Chris Martin to quip: 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy' Why do people cheat? Emotional disconnection The need for novelty and feeling alive The thrill of transgression A cry for freedom Source: Professor Nicole McNichols Advertisement 'Was this couple trying to get caught? Perhaps not in the viral, TikTok-meme way it unfolded,' she said. 'But attending a packed concert together - when they surely could have hidden somewhere else - suggests that, on some level, they wanted to be seen. 'Or maybe they wanted their situation to blow up so they'd be forced to confront the truth of their lives.' She added that people may 'unconsciously create chaos' when they feel emotionally stuck because they don't know a 'healthier way out'. Other reasons for cheating could include the need for novelty and feeling alive, and the thrill of transgression, she explained. 'In this case, the public nature of the affair almost amplified the thrill,' she wrote. 'It suggests a mindset of entitlement and maybe even a belief that they could get away with what most people wouldn't dare.' None of these excuses excuse the betrayal, she added, but can help explain it. People on the internet are still coming up with creative ways to make light of the situation - nearly a week after it happened This meme attempts to capture the shock on the couple's face after seeing themselves on the big screen Since the video has gone viral, Mr Byron has resigned and Ms Cabot placed on leave. A comment from Astronomer, read out live on ITV's This Morning, says: 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently that standard was not met. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' The Mail previously reported that while public records suggest both Mr Byron and Ms Byron are married, they live at different addresses to those listed as their spouses. Joe Rogan attempted to rewrite the beginnings of human civilization, adding that ancient Egyptian researchers are trying to hide 30,000 years of history. On the July 15 episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the 57-year-old claimed that Egyptologists were 'gate-keeping' information related to ancient cultures that may predate the Egyptians by thousands of years. The podcast host also made the case that there's now evidence to prove Egypt was just another part of a much older society on Earth that may have created modern technology far different than we use today. 'We're told it's 2500 BC for the Great Pyramid, but boy, there's a lot of people that don't agree with that, including geologists,' Rogan said. Rogan cited that today's scientists have all but confirmed that a mysterious civilization built ancient structures like Gobekli Tepe in Turkey up to 12,000 years ago, knowledge that would radically rewrite the story of humanity. However, Rogan accused many scientists and historians of dismissing these discoveries, claiming that they've profited from keeping the Egyptians as the first great civilization. 'Everybody wants to be right and they all have this date that they've been talking about and writing books about and giving lectures about. They never want to revise that,' Rogan claimed during the July 15 podcast. 'They never want to have an open mind and say perhaps there is evidence, of course, that there was a sophisticated civilization there [in] 2500 BC but maybe they were a part of a very old civilization,' he continued. Joe Rogan (pictured) claimed that researchers focused on ancient Egypt have pushed back against other discoveries that would rewrite the ancient world Geologists have argued that the Great Pyramid must be older than Egyptologists claim because of the amount of erosion is has suffered While slamming ancient Egyptian researchers for the alleged suppression, Rogan again took aim at Dr Zahi Hawass, a renowned archaeologist and Egypt's former Minister of Antiquities. Rogan accused Hawass, who he's called the worst guest in his show's history, of being 'totally ignorant' about the ancient Egyptian concept of 'Zep Tepi,' or the 'First Time.' It refers to the idea of the mythical golden age at the beginning of Egyptian history when the gods ruled directly on Earth. Hawass dismissed this concept as nonsense or mythology. Rogan also slammed Hawass and other Egyptologists for dismissing the so-called king's lists, which allegedly chronicle the history of Egyptian rulers for 30,000 years. 'Egyptologists that are conventional thinkers, they they think that it's mythology. They think that's myth. But, you know, you get to about 2500 BC, that's all real. Well, how the f*** do you know, right? They don't. You don't,' Rogan declared. Rogan then began to reveal what the Egyptology community allegedly doesn't want people to consider. This included the theory that the Great Pyramid couldn't possibly be only a few thousand years old, due to all the erosion in the stones. Geologist Robert Schoch, who Rogan referenced, has stated that rainfall data and water erosion patterns in ancient Egypt suggest heavy rainfall last occurred in the Nile Valley around 9,000 years ago. That would mean the Great Pyramid was more than 4,000 years older than what's commonly accepted today. Rogan claimed that Dr Zahi Hawass (pictured) was the worst guest he ever had on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast Rogan then delved into the mystery surrounding the site of Gobekli Tepe, which is believed to be an ancient ceremonial or religious site constructed by hunter-gatherers. This archaeological site with massive T-shaped limestone pillars in Upper Mesopotamia is believed to have been inhabited from around 9500 BC to at least 8000 BCE, during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Era. That's over 5,000 years before the Egyptian pyramids were built and roughly 6,000 years before Stonehenge. 'If there was an advanced civilization 11,800 years ago that was able to create Gobekli Tepe, which we know now to be true, what else have we not found?' Rogan asked his guest, fellow podcast host Danny Jones. 'Was it a breakaway civilization? Did they escape the Earth and go to the moon? Like they're trying to do now,' Jones added. Rogan followed up on Jones' assumption, suggesting that these lost human civilizations, including the Egyptians, may have taken a very different path in terms of technical innovation. Rogan theorized that instead of moving on to create the internal combustion engine, microchips, and plastics, these ancient societies evolved to construct advanced technology using entirely different engineering principles. 'I think the path that they took involved immense stone structures, cosmology. They probably didn't have internal combustion engines. They probably had a completely different kind of technology that we wouldn't even think of,' Rogan explained. Gobekli Tepe in Turkey was constructed around the same time as researchers believe Yonaguni monument would have been built in Asia, more than 10,000 years ago To Rogan's point, Gobekli Tepe is not the only mysterious structure that could soon rewrite everything modern society knows about the ancient world. A sunken 'pyramid' near Taiwan has been sitting just 82 feet below sea level near the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Called the Yonaguni monument, it has stumped and astonished researchers, mainly due to its sharp-angled steps that stand roughly 90 feet tall and appear to be made entirely of stone, leading many to believe it was man-made over 10,000 years ago. Meanwhile, another ancient structure in Indonesia could predate Gobekli Tepe and the Yonaguni monument by a staggering amount of time. Gunung Padang, first re-discovered by Dutch explorers in 1890, is said to be the world's oldest pyramid. Studies have shown that the 98-foot-deep 'megalith' submerged within a hill of lava rock dates back more than 16,000 years. 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 Are your hands feeling dry, cracked and irritated right now? A leading dermatologist swears by the $10.99 DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream from Chemist Warehouse as his winter saviour to combat this common concern. Associate Professor Dr Deshan Sebaratnam, a consultant dermatologist and senior lecturer at UNSW, explained why winter always seems to cause havoc for our skin, and why our hands are often the worst hit. 'In winter, our hands are uniquely vulnerable,' Dr Deshan told Daily Mail Australia. 'There's less humidity in the air, so we lose moisture more easily. That's compounded by indoor heating. 'Cold weather and indoor heating work together to dehydrate the skin. Cold air holds less moisture, and when we transition indoors, heaters reduce ambient humidity even further.' This rapid shift from cold to warm environments puts additional stress on the skin's barrier, leading to micro-cracks and inflammation, he explained. 'Additionally, during winter, we tend to wash our hands more frequently due to seasonal illnesses,' he said. 'Frequent hand washing, especially with soaps or alcohol-based sanitisers, exacerbates the issue by stripping away the skin's natural lipids and disrupting the acid mantle, our skin's first line of defence. Before: A leading dermatologist has recommended a one-minute bedtime ritual to combat dry, cracked and irritated hands during winter After: Customers who moisturise with DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Hands have shared their impressive results from using the product 'When this barrier is weakened, irritants can penetrate more easily and moisture escapes more rapidly, resulting in dryness, sensitivity, and sometimes even eczema or dermatitis. Hands, being constantly exposed, are one of the first areas to show these effects.' The result, for most, is tightness, cracking, irritation - and for those with particularly sensitive skin, flare-ups of eczema or dermatitis. Dr Deshan's expert tip for combatting the discomfort of dry hands is to treat moisturising as a non-negotiable step in your winter skincare routine, particularly before bed. Take a minute before tucking yourself in to massage a good moisturiser into your skin, the dermatologist advises. 'Overnight is the best time to hydrate,' he says. 'It allows your skin time to repair, and you can enhance absorption by wearing damp cotton gloves or socks over a rich hand cream.' 'Some people need to moisturise multiple times a day, especially those with dry skin or eczema. 'For others, applying when hands feel dry is enough. Ideally, moisturise after washing your hands, before bed, and after exposure to cold, these are key times when your skin barrier needs extra support.' Dr Deshan Sebaratnam gives the budget pharmacy buy his seal of approval But not all moisturisers are created equal. Dr Deshan says to look for products that combine hydrating and protective ingredients. 'Urea is a key ingredient - it deeply hydrates while gently exfoliating rough skin,' he explains. 'Glycerin draws moisture into the skin, while ceramides help repair the skin's barrier,' he adds, while 'shea butter is an occlusive that locks in hydration to protect against moisture loss.' 'Most good moisturisers combine all three types of ingredients, so you don't need separate products. One well-formulated moisturiser will cover all bases.' His top pick is DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Hands, already a cult favourite among tradies, nurses and farmers, and quickly gaining popularity with budget beauty aficionados too, it is just $10.99 at Chemist Warehouse. The formula also includes glycerin, vitamin E, dimethicone and sodium PCA, which work together to draw in moisture, protect the barrier, and support skin healing. DU'IT Tough Hands is clinically proven to restore cracked, damaged skin Aloe vera, lemon myrtle, and tea tree oil provide a natural antimicrobial boost, while it is free from parabens, petrolatum, lanolin and other common irritants - making it safe even for eczema-prone or diabetic skin. And it's derm-endorsed, with Dr Deshan giving it his tick of approval. 'It's affordable and contains urea, glycerin, and dimethicone, which hydrate, repair, and protect the skin,' he says. Reviews of the budget moisturiser are overwhelmingly positive, with hundreds of shoppers leaving five-star ratings, and the before and after images shared speak for themselves. One recent purchaser dubbed DU'IT Tough Hands the 'best hand cream ever.' 'Pharmacist first recommended this cream to heal my hands after a strong reaction to cleaning solutions even wearing gloves,' the shopper said. 'Cannot recommend highly enough and all my friends who I have told say the same thing.' The formula's hero ingredient is Urea, which deeply hydrates while gently exfoliating rough skin, as well as glycerin and shea butter to draw moisture into the skin and lock in hydration Another customer was just as emphatic: 'Best hand cream I ever had! I have cracked skin on my hand( fingers) once or twice in a year and I have tried hundreds different creams including from doctor's.... Those creams may help me to release it for temporary but not much work afterwards. 'Since I use this I never go to other cream especially when my hands start super dry and itchy and cracked. I recommend it to everyone to try as the price is reasonable and the function is amazing!' If your hands have been suffering more than usual this season, the fix might just be a one-minute nightly ritual and $11 pharmacy buy away. Buy DU'IT Tough Hands Intensive Hand Cream for Dry Hands online or at your local Chemist Warehouse. *Circana, Hand & Nail Category, Grocery & Pharmacy, March 2024 Emma Slade is attempting a mammoth challenge across the whole of the Himalayan kingdom Emma Slade might have made one of the world's most unusual career jumps. The 58-year-old left behind a high-powered banking career to become ordained as a Buddhist nun in Bhutan. Emma's spiritual journey started when she travelled to Bhutan after being held at gunpoint and robbed in her hotel room while on a business trip in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1997. The traumatic event left her struggling with PTSD. Although Emma did return to her job, she eventually chose to walk away from the financial world to search for a more fulfilling path. And a visit to Bhutan was to change her life forever. A meeting with spiritual leader Nima Thesering in 2011 put her on the path to studying Buddhism and Emma went on to become the first Western woman to be ordained as a Buddhist nun in Bhutan in 2014. The yoga teacher says that she 'felt at peace the moment' she arrived in Bhutan, describing her arrival there as an 'overwhelming spiritual homecoming'. 'I wanted to become a nun to contribute the best I could to this world and to try to be a kind person,' she reveals. Emma Slade might have made one of the world's most unusual career jumps. The 58-year-old left behind a high-powered banking career to be ordained as a Buddhist nun in Bhutan Emma became the first Western woman to be ordained as a Buddhist nun in Bhutan in 2014. She's pictured here meeting the Dalai Lama in 2024 While it might seem like a shocking transition, Emma reveals that her family took her decision in their stride. 'I've always been feisty, my family wouldn't be surprised if I became an astronaut one day!' And although Emma's new lifestyle looks very different to her routine as a banker, she's still very busy, explaining that her life as a nun is split in to two distinct parts. She spends half her time instructing students in Buddhism and yoga and half in solitude where she engages in prayer and meditation for up to 12 hours. Emma explains: 'People think solitary confinement is a prison sentence - I find it peaceful and relaxing. A time to think.' The yoga teacher also spends time working at the charity she founded, Opening Your Heart to Bhutan, which supports vulnerable and special-needs children in Bhutan. Emma is now set to take on an epic 400km walk across the whole of Bhutan to raise money for the charity, an idea that came to her 'while walking across London's Putney Bridge'. Set to take 37 days, the nun will tackle 12 mountain passes at altitudes of up to 4,000m, through terrain that's home to tigers, black bears, snow leopards and wild boars. Day four of the trek is particularly challenging and the point of the journey where many people tend to 'give up', explains Emma. Paro Taktsang, a sacred Buddhist monastery, appears to cling to the cliffside of the upper Paro valley Emma recommends visiting Bhutan's capital, Thimpu (pictured). The city has many famous temples 'I'm not a teenager any more but I am preparing by doing some walking,' she says. 'In terms of the wild animals, Ugyen who will be with me, has a special kind of shouting sound that is supposed to scare bears away. 'Other than that, I am just hoping that my mind will be calm when faced with difficulties.' But while Emma jokes that she'll probably 'never walk again after this', the nun says her epic adventure will all be worth it when she ends her journey in Samtse District, the location of her charity's school. 'So many children will be there at the end celebrating with me. That alone keeps me going.' To find out more about Emma's epic fundraising challenge, visit openingyourhearttobhutan.com What to see in Bhutan 'Each district offers something unique and spiritually enriching', says Emma. Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery) A sacred Buddhist monastery, Paro Taktsang appears to cling to the cliffside of the upper Paro valley. It's an important pilgrimage site and often sits shrouded in clouds. Punakha Dzong This is one of Bhutan's oldest and largest fortified monasteries. In spring, the monastery is surrounded by colourful lilac jacaranda trees. Punakha Dzong one of Bhutan's oldest and largest fortified monasteries The yoga teacher also spends time working at the charity she founded, Opening Your Heart to Bhutan, which supports vulnerable and special-needs children in Bhutan Thimphu The capital of Bhutan, Thimph, has many famous Buddhist temples. Tourists can also visit the Folk Heritage Museum and the National Textile Museum. Bumthang Valley Sometimes known as Bhutan's 'beautiful field', Bumthang Valley is incredibly picturesque with rich paddies and several pretty villages. Lhuntse Home to several key pilgrimage sites, Lhuntse is one of Bhutan's most isolated regions. The region is famous for weaving with tourists able to see demonstrations. The people 'Bhutanese people are more quiet and reserved than British people. But once you start a meaningful conversation with them, you learn something new every time', says Emma. Everyone loves to land a poolside spot in the sun and this year has seen fierce battles between those looking to grab their loungers early. Even though most resorts prohibit the reserving of sunbeds, it's common to see them draped with towels while holidaymakers are off having their breakfast a travel etiquette no-no. And now the worst-behaving Brits have been revealed with one region coming bottom of the list. Those in the West Midlands are most likely to get up early when they're on holiday in order to reserve their sunbed. This was closely followed by people living in England's North West and North East, Wales and Northern Ireland. The results come from a YouGov survey of more than 2,500 UK adults, who were asked about their part in the so-called 'sunbed wars'. Those living in the South West and Yorkshire and the Humber are least likely to spring out of bed to snatch a lounger. Across the UK, 12 per cent of those asked admitted to this behaviour with people in Northern Ireland and Wales just above the UK average, and Scotland coming in at 10 per cent. The worst-behaving Brits when it comes to reserving loungers have been revealed. Pictured: File photo Even though most resorts prohibit the reserving of sunbeds, it's common to see them draped with towels while holidaymakers are off having their breakfast a travel etiquette no-no. Pictured: File photo Dozens of guests were recently seen charging towards available loungers at a Greek hotel (pictured) Though over one in ten revealed this habit, it marks a decrease from the 72 per cent who admitted doing so five years ago, according to GetYourGuide, an online marketplace for travel activities. Benjy Potter, a spokesperson for the company, said this shows that 'the days of getting up at the crack of dawn to simply sit are fading fast' though footage on social media from this summer shows the dawn scramble is very much still a thing. But it seems that some habits are harder to break. The research revealed that almost a quarter of Brits still indulge in a full English breakfast at the airport before jetting off. Booze has been given a brush-off, with 30 per cent of UK travellers saying they drink less alcohol on holiday now than they did five years ago. Only 12 per cent admit having a tipple at the airport before flying, with those in the North East (18 per cent) most likely to hit up Wetherspoons for a pint. Despite this, many tourists are still playing up when abroad. This week, holidaymakers were left shocked as they watched a 'stampede' unfold for prime sunbed spots at a popular five-star hotel in Crete. Sunbed snatchers: Which area is guilty of breaking poolside rules? Region % of those of admit to waking upearly to reserve a lounger West Midlands 15 Wales 13 North East England 13 North West England 13 Northern Ireland 13 East of England 12 London 12 South East England 12 East Midlands 10 Scotland 10 Yorkshire and the Humber 8 South West England 8 A full English at the airport (pictured, file photo) remains a popular tradition with Brits heading abroad It was sparked by influencers who wanted to take selfies 'all day' on them infuriating other guests. Dozens of guests were seen charging towards available loungers as the pool opened for the day in chaotic scenes at Akasha Beach Hotel & Spa on the Greek island of Crete. And earlier this month, British summer workers got revenge on 'selfish' tourists in Zante who reserved sunbeds by 'hiding' their towels and flinging them up trees. Waitress Millie Newsham, 20, was on her way back to her hotel room at 6am after a night out with friends last week when they noticed towels had been placed on sunbeds to reserve them. Footage shows the group dragging towels off the loungers, chucking and scattering them around the poolside. The Brits can be seen flinging the towels onto railings and a tree. Its where visitors end up battling crowds to order pints of Guinness for 10 (8.65) and now its been named one of the biggest tourist traps in the world. Temple Bar in Dublin, renowned for its lively nightlife and traditional Irish pubs, has been given the dubious honour of ranking third in a round-up of global tourist traps. In research by Nomad eSim, reviews of the area were analysed to see how many times the negative term was used. The Irish icon saw tourist trap mentioned a whopping 687 times. Complaints about Temple Bar range from how dirty it is to the sky-high prices, with one reviewer describing it as overcrowded, overpriced and overrated. One user on Instagram wrote that they cant believe it only came third. Dublins nightlife hotspot was only beaten by Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco and Las Ramblas in Barcelona, coming in first and second place respectively. The US attraction is located in the Californian citys northern waterfront, and attracts millions of visitors each year with souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, and sea lion sightings. Temple Bar in Dublin, renowned for its lively nightlife and traditional Irish pubs, has been given the dubious honour of ranking third in a round-up of global tourist traps Its where visitors end up battling crowds to order pints of Guinness for 10 (8.65) and now its been named one of the biggest tourist traps in the world Dublins nightlife hotspot was only beaten by Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco But many are left underwhelmed. Comments brand the area dirty, run down and overcrowded, and point out its only worth it to see the seals. 1,000 reviews used the term tourist trap. Spains Las Ramblas, a promenade that runs for more than a kilometre through central Barcelona, is packed with shops, eateries, and attractions. While some travelers enjoy its energetic vibe, others find the experience chaotic and overwhelming. The area is often packed with crowds and is known for pickpocketing. Visitors find that its one of the most overrated roads in the world, and some even go as far as to say that it should be on your DO NOT DO list. However, someone cheekily wrote on social media: La Rambla isn't a tourist trap, it's there to keep the tourists away from the good places and for that I salute it. It was listed as a tourist trap in 826 reviews. Las Ramblas is a promenade that runs for more than a kilometre through central Barcelona, is packed with shops, eateries, and attractions With heavy foot traffic comes an overwhelming number of souvenir shops and complete lack of authenticity on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, says Nomad eSim Checkpoint Charlie, the famous Cold War-era border crossing in Germany, and the historic and bustling Royal Mile in Edinburgh, round out the top five. One review of the Scottish capital expressed disappointment: Bring back the days when locals could live and work in the area without locusts like plagues of tourists!. Europe's most popular cities are being overrun this summer, as record-breaking tourist numbers turn once-scenic streets into overcrowded, chaotic hotspots. Videos show locals and visitors alike struggling to navigate packed squares, endless queues, and overwhelming crowds across Greece and Italy - as selfie-hunting holidaymakers ignore mounting anti-tourism protests. In the Italian capital of Rome, tourists are crammed shoulder-to-shoulder as they try to take in the city's famous architecture, with one likening the experience to being 'part of one big sweaty herd.' Meanwhile, in Athens, known for its ancient ruins and historic streets, the crowds are so dense that visitors can barely squeeze past each other. An Antiques Roadshow guest gasped when he learned the hefty value of a 'scary' bowl passed down to him. A rediscovered video from 2015 sees expert Duncan Campbell assess a Kashmiri begging bowl on the BBC show. The owner of the interesting piece revealed he kept it 'under the stairs' and described the bowl as 'attractive in a scary sort of way'. 'It was my grandfather's,' the guest explained. 'It's been handed down to me from my grandfather who was in army in the North West frontier in the 1890s. So we think that's where he got it, in the area which is now sort of North West Pakistan.' Duncan eagerly gushed: 'I can tell you exactly where it comes from. It's covered in local symbols. It comes from Kashmir.' He went on to reveal the different details, including 'local flora', that helped identify where the bowl originated from. A rediscovered video from 2015 sees expert Duncan Campbell (left) assess a Kashmiri begging bowl on the BBC show The owner of the interesting piece revealed he kept it 'under the stairs' and described the bowl as 'attractive in a scary sort of way' The expert shared how the antique was based on a 'begging bowl' which 'dervish monks used to carry to collect arms from the locals'. 'It's a popular shape that was used by the local craftsmen to turn into all sorts of things, for example your lovely centrepiece, which is not ever intended to be sold to a Kashmiri, it was always expected to be sold to a foreigner,' Duncan explained. He described the piece as 'wonderful' and noted the size was 'on a very grand scale'. Duncan went on to share his valuation of the antique bowl. He said: '... As far as date of manufacture goes, this is going to be about 1890 and the market for what's essentially Islamic metal work has grown and grown over recent years. 'This is not only skillful work but a really nice looking object, it has some considerable value too. It would cost you somewhere around the 4,000 mark.' 'Oh, right. That's more than I was thinking, thank you very much,' the surprised guest replied. It comes after another episode of Antiques Roadshow from 2016 saw presenter Fiona Bruce, 61, and the experts head to Scarborough Grand Spa Hall on the North Yorkshire coast. He said: 'This is not only skilful work but a really nice looking object, it has some considerable value too. It would cost you somewhere around the 4,000 mark.' 'Oh, right. That's more than I was thinking, thank you very much,' the surprised guest replied The specialist appraisers met with guests to value their family heirlooms and heritage items - with expert Ronnie Archer Morgan, 75, taken aback by one in particular. He spoke to a woman who had brought in a Polynesian, club-like tribal weapon for evaluation - which was unlike anything he had seen on the programme before. Ronnie, an expert in tribal art and weaponry, opened by asking: 'What's a feminine person like you doing with a big, heavy, aggressive thing like this?' She explained: 'Well, it belongs to my dad actually, it's not mine, and it was passed down to him by his dad who acquired it through some elderly spinster ladies who gave it to him. He was a solicitor in Scarborough town so that's how but I dont know anything more.' The slightly unclear origins of the item did not matter to Ronnie - who was just floored by its quality. He exclaimed: 'Amazing. I can't actually believe what I'm looking at. This is absolutely superb. 'It's a Fijian Bulibuli and this is a thing of rare beauty. It is really what us collectors look for. This is the best I've ever seen.' This type of weapon from the South Pacific island nation typically has a straight, long handle with a rounded head and protruding decorative circles on it. The guest's item was completely textbook, with raised carved studs. She responded, incredulous, to Ronnie's praise for it: 'Really? Wow!' An Antiques Roadshow guest (pictured) 'takes the expert's breath away' with an 'absolutely superb' item never seen on the show before - which is worth a life-changing sum The specialist appraisers met with guests to value their family heirlooms and heritage items - with expert Ronnie Archer Morgan (left), 75, taken aback by one in particular By the end of the discussion, Ronnie had massively built up the anticipation ahead of the all-important valuation - and it did not disappoint. And with an unbelievable object comes an unbelievable price', he said. 'I'm thinking about this. The market for this sort of thing is more in Paris or in Brussels and in New York. 'But they get very excited and they've got galleries that deal in this sort of stuff and a nice one of these would probably be 8,000 to 10,000.' The guest, eyes wide, was astonished by this - but Ronnie was not done yet. 'This, I would stick my neck out and say if you had to buy this from the Sablon [antiques market] in Brussels, I think it would cost you between 30,000 and maybe 35,000. 'I really think it could make that.' The woman was blown away by the prospect of such a life-changing sum: 'Wow! That's amazing!' Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer. Devinder Garcha, the ex-fiance of MasterChef favourite Sarah Todd, has broken his silence on her new romance with her younger co-star Declan Cleary. Former model Sarah began dating Devinder about 2008. They welcomed a child in 2011, got engaged in 2013 and are believed to have split sometime after - though neither of them announced a break-up. Now that relationship is back in the spotlight after Sarah, 38, revealed she was shacking up in Melbourne with 27-year-old Declan, whom she met on the latest season of MasterChef. We caught up with Devinder, 49, last week to ask him what he thought of his ex being with a much younger man. He offered a gracious response, while also sharing details about his split from Sarah - with whom he co-parents 14-year-old son Phoenix - that were never made public. 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. Devinder Garcha, the ex-fiance of MasterChef favourite Sarah Todd (left), has broken his silence on her new romance with her younger co-star Declan Cleary (right) The project manager said he was happy for them, adding that he'd met Declan for the first time 'the other day' and thought he was a 'nice guy'. 'I wouldn't say we're friends or not friends. We're pleasant, and good luck to her,' he added. Devinder explained he'd spoken to Declan while Sarah was dropping off their son. 'We try to keep it all amicable. It's all the best for the kid. Declan seems like a nice guy. Phoenix likes him. He seems pleasant. I wish them all the luck,' he said. 'We both focus a lot on Phoenix. As long as he's happy, I'm happy. 'No signs of any need to worry about their relationship. It's their relationship.' The father-of-one said he and Sarah were together for 'about five years [in] total' and engaged for two. This would put the date of their split soon after Sarah's first stint on MasterChef in 2014 - finally clearing up the mystery of when they broke up. She finished in ninth place that year, later returning for the Fans & Favourites season in 2022 in which she placed runner-up. Devinder (right, with Sarah and their son) said he was happy for the couple, adding that he'd met his ex's new boyfriend for the first time 'the other day' and thought he was a 'nice guy' Sarah returned to the franchise for a third time this year to compete in Back to Win. Devinder explained that he and Sarah were living at his family home in London with his parents before she got the call to go on the 2014 season of MasterChef. 'We came back here for MasterChef and I've been in Melbourne since. I tried to support her all the way through, but obviously my main focus is my son,' he said. As for their wedding that never happened, he said life simply got in the way before they had a chance to walk down the aisle. 'We were career-focused more than focused on [the wedding]. We had discussions about where, but we didn't get too far into dates and times. It just fizzled out,' he added. 'We separated in Melbourne, but we've been here ever since. She doesn't live far away. I live in South Yarra; she lives in Hampton.' Sarah and Devinder - who is originally from the town of Basildon in Essex, England - kept much of their relationship private when she shot to fame as a celebrity chef. Fans were surprised when she was seen with another man in 2015, as no public announcement of their break-up had been made. 'I met him the other day. He seems like a nice guy. I wouldn't say we're friends or not friends. We're pleasant, and good luck to her,' Devinder told Daily Mail Australia Devinder stopped appearing on Sarah's Instagram account around December 2014. She later sparked romance rumours with Swedish-born F1 driver Marcus Ericsson after being pictured sitting in his lap. Later that same night, they were seen with their hands around each other's waists. Sarah kept that relationship under wraps as well - it's not known whether she and Marcus ever officially dated or, if so, when they split. Just a year earlier, Sarah had been ecstatic about her engagement to Devinder, telling Daily Mail Australia he had surprised her with a romantic proposal on Hamilton Island. 'He invited my mum and we went up to Airlie Beach,' she told us at the time. 'We had a beautiful ten-course degustation at Qualia, and I was really tired and wanted to go home for a nap, but he kept insisting we go for a walk. 'I'm so glad we did because he took me down to the beach and the next thing I knew he got down on one knee.' At the time, Sarah said she was also keen to grow her family with Devinder, telling us: 'A little brother or sister for Phoenix would be wonderful.' It wasn't to be - but it's good to hear, a decade on, that they remain on good terms. These days, Devinder lives his life offline, dedicating his free time to his teenage son. Before joining Cleanaway Waste Management in Melbourne, he worked for various companies including ANZ and Carlton & United Breweries. After filming wrapped on MasterChef, Declan made the move from Sydney's Northern Beaches to Melbourne - along with his dog Sol - to be with Sarah and her son Phoenix Meanwhile, Sarah, who used to run a restaurant in India, looks settled in Melbourne. She and Declan were pictured moving boxes from a Bunnings ute into their shared home on June 30, the day after Declan was eliminated from MasterChef. Fans are convinced it won't be long before an engagement for the celebrity chefs. Even Declan's mother, Samantha, has given her seal of approval, saying she 'couldn't be happier' for them. The pair went public last month in a photo shoot and interview with Stellar magazine. Declan, who made the move from Sydney's Northern Beaches to live with his girlfriend, said he 'instantly got along' with Sarah despite their age gap. Trinny Woodall has recalled the harrowing moment she had to tell her daughter Lyla, then 11, that her father Johnny Elichaoff had died by suicide. The fashion and beauty entrepreneur, 61, who rose to fame as co-host of What Not to Wear spoke about losing her ex-husband Jonny in a candid new podcast chat on Monday. Former drummer and businessman Johnny died in 2014 at the age of 55 after taking his own life in a shopping mall. Trinny and Jonny, who share daughter Lyla, who is now 21, married in 1999 before getting divorced a decade later in 2009 - but they remained friends and spoke every day until his death. As well as daughter Lyla, Johnny had his son Zak from his first marriage Speaking on Ferne Cotton's Happy Place podcast this week, Trinny explained how she approached the task of telling Lyla the news. Trinny Woodall has recalled the harrowing moment she had to tell her daughter Lyla, then 11, that her father Johnny Elichaoff had died by suicide Former drummer and businessman Johnny died in 2014 at the age of 55 after taking his own life in a shopping mall She said: 'I think it's different because both of Johnny's, Lyla was 11 and Zach was 21 and so you have an awareness of quite a lot but the concept of what death is different at 21 from 11. 'When I heard about Lila's dad, Lila was at school and my first challenge was how can I even tell her, how can I say the words to tell her and so my sister was a friend of a woman called Julia Samuel, who wrote an amazing book, Grief Works and she's fantastic. 'Julia came around to our house and I just said, 'I need some words' and so she said, 'You're going to tell her he had a heart attack in his head'.' Trinny continued: 'She came back from school and came upstairs and immediately felt, why am I getting upstairs? I've just come back. I usually go down the kitchen and get something to eat and Zach was in the bedroom and we lay her on the bed. 'We told her and she screamed really loudly and it was like an animal scream and then 20 minutes later she's downstairs getting a snack, so children's absorption of what has happened is that there's that gut, she really loved her dad. 'This thing is just, she can't quite understand it, but she knows that he's not coming back in some daily way and then we had a cremation so then there's a real awareness.' She also spoke about navigating her own grief and letting go of any guilt she may have felt over his death. Trinny explained: 'I think going back to earlier, it's that would've, should've, could've - so do I regret that I didn't do more for my ex-husband to stop him killing himself? Speaking on Ferne Cotton's Happy Place podcast this week, Trinny explained how she approached the task of telling Lyla the news Trinny and Jonny, who share daughter Lyla, who is now 21, married in 1999 before getting divorced a decade later in 2009 - but they remained friends and spoke every day until his death 'No, because it was nothing I could have done. Yeah, so to ponder on the regret of somebody who kills himself, it can take you into the darkest hole, but you can also know when somebody who is in that situation switches off and that is their path and nobody can get in. 'I had to learn and I think there's some there's two fabulous charities who look at that. It's the biggest case of men dying under 50.' Jonny found fame as a touring drummer for U2, Siouxsie Sioux and the League of Gentlemen in the Eighties. Johnny, who had battled an addiction to painkillers for 20 years, took his own life at the Whiteley's shopping centre in Bayswater, west London, in November 2014. The drummer-turned-businessman had been talked down from the same spot 11 days previously and was sectioned briefly. But he returned to the shopping centre twice more in the space of five days before finally killing himself the next day. Johnny married TV presenter Trinny in 1999 in London's Knightsbridge and the couple had a child Lyla, now 21, before they divorced in 2009, but remained on good terms. An inquest into his death was conducted at Westminster Coroner's Court in November 2015, during which Trinny's brother Mark Woodall read a statement from the presenter. She wrote: 'Johnny Elichaoff was a much loved brother, father and husband and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. 'Even in his darkest moments he was always there for those who needed him as a parent, brother, son and spouse with unconditional love and support. Johnny, who had battled an addiction to painkillers for 20 years, took his own life at the Whiteley's shopping centre in Bayswater, west London, in November 2014 'As a person he had the best sense of humour, he was unconditionally kind and never spoke ill of other people. 'He was heartfelt with his advice and had the ability to always make people feel better once they had confided in him. 'Everyone who met him had a story to tell about and not a day goes by his family don't think of him and the utter tragedy of his passing.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for details. Ricky Whittle has reportedly returned to London and is reportedly looking for love as he signed up to celebrity dating app Raya. The ex-Hollyoaks star, who finished runner up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, moved to Los Angeles to work in Hollywood in 2011. According to The Sun, one picture showed the actor cuddling a quokka and another of him running shirtless through a street. A source said: 'It's like he's saying I'm cuddly, hot and very available. 'His profile popped up a couple of weeks ago. It says he's an actor who lives in LA but was visiting London. 'Given how good he looks, I bet he had loads of people swiping on his profile.' Ricky Whittle has reportedly returned to London and is reportedly looking for love as he signed up to celebrity dating app Raya The ex-Hollyoaks star, who finished runner up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, moved to Los Angeles to work in Hollywood in 2011; pictured with Jorgie Porter portraying Theresa McQueen Ricky is best known over here for playing Calvin Valentine on Hollyoaks. After his character was killed off in 2010, Ricky relocated moved and has starred in shows including The 100 and American Gods. Despite all of his success across the pond, during his interview with MailOnline in 2023 Ricky did not completely rule out a possible return to the British soap one day. He said: 'Would I ever do a soap again? Probably not, but for fun why not, I don't care as I'm in a fortunate position, where I don't need to work. 'I haven't been in Hollyoaks for 20 years but at the end of the day you can never shy away from where you came from.' He also opened up about the influence his time on Hollyoaks had on his acting skills, saying: 'If it wasn't for Hollyoaks I wouldn't be where I am now. 'Hollyoaks is an education, you're learning 12 to 15 scripts every day and halfway through a day, new pages are coming down and it's like "learn them now" and you just get it done and don't think about'. 'My character went from being the good guy, to the bad guy to the club owner, to the policeman, to your sister's on drugs, to you'd killed someone and then he's back to life - it's like you go through a whole gambit of emotions'. According to The Sun, one picture showed the actor cuddling a quokka and another of him running shirtless through a street A source said: 'It's like he's saying I'm cuddly, hot and very available. It says he's an actor who lives in LA but was visiting London. Given how good he looks, I bet he had loads of people swiping on his profile' 'If that's not great education for an actor- I don't know what is.' He added: 'I would never look down on soap actors because they're the ones that are putting in five days a week and I've got nothing but love for those guys and what that show did for me.' He turned his back on Hollywood in 2023, telling MailOnline he was 'done' with America and its 'crazy politics' and was planning to move away from Los Angeles. But just a couple of years later it seems Ricky may be considering a return to the big time as the hunky actor made a surprise appearance at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival earlier this year. He arrived on the red carpet in southern France looking typically dapper in a black tux ahead of his role presenting the festival's Golden Nymph Awards Ceremony alongside Shy'm, 39. The duo posed for photos together, with Ricky playfully making sure the spotlight was on the French actress as she put on a leggy display in an eye-catching black and white dress. Later in the evening the pair suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction while performing a dance routine on-stage as Shy'm spilled out her outfit momentarily. Whittle was last seen on television while playing Mickey Barnes in one episode of The Rookie, a show following a police officer in Los Angeles. Prior to that the 45-year-old had enjoyed a quiet couple of years work-wise after the end of American Gods in 2021. Georgia Love has been leaning on her nearest and dearest for support following her recent split from her husband Lee Elliott. And on Sunday, the 35-year-old revealed she has even replaced a photo of herself and Lee in her home with a picture of her male best friend. The Bachelorette star took to her Instagram on Sunday to reveal her new home setup, which included a photo with her friend Abir Ahmed. The image, taken at her real-life bachelorette party back in 2021, showed the pair smiling for the camera in a warm embrace. She also has a candle with the quote 'love is all you need' and a mug with the words 'wait for it' on the desk alongside a large plant. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Georgia Love has been leaning on her nearest and dearest for support following her recent split from her husband Lee Elliott. Pictured in 2023 The 35-year-old revealed she has replaced a photo of herself and Lee with a picture of her male best friend It comes after Georgia's ex Lee sparked rumours he has been enjoying a romance with Carrie Bickmore. According to Woman's Day, the radio host and the former Bachelorette star have been spending a lot of time together at Carrie's home in recent weeks. The publication claims the pair were introduced by mutual friends and the relationship is 'heating up quickly'. 'They've been trying hard to keep things under wraps. But there's definitely something romantic going on. They're a beautiful couple!' a source told the magazine. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Carrie Bickmore and Lee Elliott for comment. Lee and Georgia, who first met on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, announced their separation with identical posts to Instagram in May. 'After nine wonderful years together, including four as husband and wife, [we] have made the incredibly difficult decision to lovingly part ways,' they wrote. 'Our relationship has been so special and we will always cherish the memories, love, and laughter we've shared. The image, taken at her bachelorette party back in 2021, saw Georgia and her friend Abir Ahmed. smile for the camera while embracing one another It comes after Georgia's ex Lee sparked rumours he has been enjoying a romance with Carrie Bickmore (left) 'There is no drama, no bad blood. Just two people who have grown in different directions while still holding deep respect and care for each other. 'We remain friends and we'd really appreciate our privacy as we navigate this next stage. Thank you.' Georgia and Lee had fuelled rumours they had split for some time, after having not been seen together for four months and ditching their wedding rings. Carrie, meanwhile, has long been linked to her Carrie & Tommy radio show co-star, Tommy Little. While they have never confirmed that they are a couple, fans continue to speculate about the true nature of their relationship. She has stunned fans of the cult horror hit I Know What You Did Last Summer by returning for a surprise cameo in the highly-anticipated reboot. And Sarah Michelle Gellar did a great job of keeping her part in the movie tightly under wraps when she joined her husband of 22 years, Freddie Prinze Jr., in Australia to film the slasher flick last year. But her involvement in the latest instalment came as a surprise to fans seeing as though her popular character Helen Shivers was killed off. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia while filming her new Uber One campaign, Sarah said she never lied about her part in the film, but rather chose her words wisely. 'I never said I wasn't going to be in the movie. All I ever said was I was dead,' she said with a laugh. 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. Sarah Michelle Gellar has stunned fans of the cult horror hit I Know What You Did Last Summer by returning for a surprise cameo in the highly-anticipated reboot Sarah said the couple loved Australia so much they wouldn't discount putting down roots in Sydney During their stay, Sarah and her family visited Taronga Zoo, Sea Life Aquarium and even did the Sydney Bridge climb Freddie and Sarah starred together in the cult original film in 1997, when he was 21 and she was just 20. They married five years later. As for her time Down Under during filming, Sarah said the couple lived like locals and she now considers herself 'a Sydney girl'. 'Sydney to me is that wonderful mix,' she said. 'You have the laidback beach culture of LA, but you have the modern city and the culture of New York. So, I'm definitely a Sydney girl.' But when Freddie suggested they stay in the popular beachside suburb of Bondi, Sarah knew better. 'No, no. Bondi is great to eat but it's too crowded. You won't love it. I know you,' she said. The Scooby-Doo star said she much preferred Bondi's quieter neighbouring suburbs. 'Double Bay or Rose Bay, I'm ready to go,' she said, raving about the eastern suburbs' stunning beaches and top-notch coffee spots. Her involvement in the latest instalment came as a surprise to fans as her popular character Helen Shivers was killed off in the 1997 hit The couple and their children arrived in Australia for filming in November last year. During their stay, they visited Taronga Zoo, Sea Life Aquarium and even did the Sydney Bridge climb. When it was time to head home to LA, Sarah left with a suitcase filled with one iconic Aussie staple. 'I am a Tim Tam girl,' she said. 'My suitcase was quite filled. I was very worried about customs!' It was during her stay in Sydney that the idea of an Uber One partnership was born. Uber One is an exclusive membership that offers savings on Uber rides and Eats, as well as other perks, such as big savings at the cinema. 'We were living in Rose Bay and we didnt have a car, we literally Ubered everywhere and ordered Uber Eats constantly,' Sarah explained. 'So, when Uber One approached me for this campaign, they actually showed me how much I wouldve saved if Id been an Uber One member during our stay. Youll see in the ad it was a lot.' In a promotional clip for Uber One, Sarah is reunited with the murderous fisherman villain from I Know What You Did Last Summer. She demonstrates what she could have 'saved last summer' with Uber One - a somewhat frightening sum. Uber One members can now watch Sarah in the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot at Hoyts with great perks, including $12.50 general admission tickets, $27.50 HOYTS LUX tickets and free popcorn refills. Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez were spotted back in Europe after jetting around the world following their wedding. Just weeks after tying the knot in Venice with the ceremony attracting criticism for its extravagance the billionaire Amazon founder, 61, and his now-wife were pictured touching down in the South of France again. The pair traveled to France at least twice this year as there were public sightings of the couple in Cannes following her bachelorette party in Paris back in May. Bezos also attended the amfAR Gala in Cap d'Antibes during that trip. This month, after celebrating their nuptials with a number of A-list Hollywood stars, they headed to Paris Fashion Week, where the former journalist, 55, attended the Balenciaga Haute Couture show. The pair were pictured arriving, making the dock their personal runway as they strutted towards the extravagant Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes. Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez were spotted back in Europe after jetting around the world following their wedding Sanchez put on a glamorous display as she modeled a colorful, silk dress with mixed patterns, neon colors and a sexy, low back design. She paired the eye-catching dress with baby blue sandal heels and a white and blue mini purse from Dior as she joined her husband for their European excursion. The pair were spotted holding hands as they exited their luxurious yacht. Sanchez was recently partying in Paris with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brooks Nader after honeymooning on their luxury superyacht with newly separated couple Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom spending time with them. This comes after the famous couple said 'I do' in the romantic city of Venice back in June. Their $50 million wedding had a star-studded guest list with many A-listers such as Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance. Now Sanchez wears a $5 million diamond wedding ring that has fans as well as jewelers in an uproar. One of their A-list wedding guests recently revealed what their lavish nuptials were really like as they disclosed that none of the Bezos couple's 200 guests were told to sign non-disclosure agreements. Sara Foster, the daughter of David Foster, shared details about the glamorous Venetian wedding on Thursday's episode of her The World's First Podcast. Just weeks after tying the knot in Venice, the billionaire Amazon founder and his now-wife were pictured touching down in the South of France again The pair were pictured arriving, making the dock their personal runway as they strutted towards the extravagant Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes This comes after the famous couple said 'I do' in the romantic city of Venice back in June Their $50 million wedding had a star-studded guest list with many A-listers such as Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance While talking to her sister Erin Foster, she surprisingly revealed: 'No one signed NDAs. No NDAs.' She also said that the ceremony was 'very intimate' when asked to dish on the 'wedding of the century.' 'There's nothing. It's so interesting how the optics were this over-the-top, you know, protestors ... It's just not, it's not what it was. It actually felt very intimate.' She also revealed that there were 'definitely a lot of people that were not photographed' but chose to keep mum on the identities of the low-key attendees. 'I can't. I mean, that's, like, so lame. I'm not gonna do that. But it's very interesting how many people went un-photographed. It was definitely a very interesting setup.' The Liberals may be stuck in the political wilderness, but over at Sky News HQ, the conservative star factory never stops. Word from Macquarie Park is that the 24-hour news channel has found its Gen Z poster girl - and she's already being groomed for prime-time stardom. Freya Leach - already a fixture on Sky News after dark - recently stepped in on The Late Debate with old soul Caleb Bond, after Liz Storer was quietly shown the door. At the time, there were whispers Storer was let go for not being sufficiently pro-Israel - a theory floated by Mark Latham, who's never met a conspiracy he didn't like. Now, insiders tell us Sky News has 'big plans' for Leach, who unsuccessfully ran for the seat of Balmain in the 2023 state election. 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. Sky News insiders tell us the conservative network has 'big plans' for Freya Leach Leach (pictured at the TikTok Awards) is apparently getting her own show - 6pm on Sundays The rumour is she is getting her own show. We're told the timeslot is Sunday at 6pm, but we've had no confirmation about the format. Still, we can hazard a guess - our money's on it being a youth show. This obviously won't get many eyeballs on TV where the viewers skew older, but it could well prove a winner on YouTube, where Sky has an enormous audience. So, who is Freya Leach? Dux of St Andrew's Cathedral School class of 2020, her right-wing credentials are second to none. Her father is Reverend Mark Leach, the man behind Christian Zionist outfit 'Never Again is Now', which rallies non-Jews to take a stand against antisemitism. When she's not firing off conservative talking points on Sky News, Freya moonlights for the Menzies Research Centre as its director of the 'Centre for Youth Policy'. Since October 7, she has rebranded as an Israel advocate - even daring to venture into pro-Palestinian strongholds at the University of Sydney. Speaking of which, it was during her time at Sydney Uni that she first made headlines in 2022 as a 19-year-old law student. Freya's dad is Reverend Mark Leach, the man behind Christian Zionist outfit 'Never Again is Now', which rallies non-Jews to take a stand against antisemitism The rising network star stepped in on The Late Debate after Liz Storer was let go by Sky News Storer (left) used to co-host The Late Debate panel show with 'old soul' Caleb Bond (centre) She claimed a fictional legal case in an assignment featured a character named 'Freya' - which she reckoned was a thinly veiled jab at her. The university said it was a coincidence. When we reported last week that Leach was filling in for Storer after her axing, we heard she was gobsmacked to see her name in the headlines. She apparently told friends it must have been a 'slow news day' at the Daily Mail. She sells herself short. We keep hearing from Sky News sources that she is a 'rising star' and they 'like her a lot upstairs'. Among lefty Gen Zs, Leach is basically a cartoon villain after she featured as one of the conservative voices on SBS's 'Influencers Debate' panel before the election. The debate was about as heated as you'd expect - but the real barbs were traded afterwards when the left- and right-wing factions engaged in an online flame war. Taking to TikTok, Leach described social media commentator Punters Politics as a 'one-trick pony', Cheek Media owner Hannah Ferguson as 'not as smart as I thought', and said Abbie Chatfield 'had no idea what she was talking about'. Chatfield responded by calling Leach 'mean'. Among lefty Gen Zs, Leach (right) is basically a cartoon villain after she featured as one of the conservative voices on SBS's 'Influencers Debate' panel before the federal election Taking to TikTok, Leach said Abbie Chatfield 'had no idea what she was talking about' (left). Chatfield responded by calling Leach 'mean' (right) But the real issue many have with Leach isn't her views, but rather the way some outlets dress her up as a neutral voice of 'young Australia' on issues like housing and the cost of living - conveniently forgetting she's a card-carrying conservative. Over the past year, multiple articles have amplified her social media content while neglecting to mention she's on the payroll of a Liberal-aligned think tank. It's a fair complaint - transparency matters - though it's becoming increasingly redundant now she's a regular fixture on Sky News after dark. Leach was contacted for comment. Veteran reporter Peter Ryan has died aged 64 after a long battle with thyroid cancer. The Walkley Award-winning journalist, who worked as a reporter for 45 years with the ABC, was diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer in 2014. His family has confirmed he passed away in Sydney on Friday night. Peter began his career as a cadet at the Sydney Daily Mirror before landing a job at the ABC. He worked as the head of TV news and current affairs in Victoria, before becoming the ABC's Washington bureau chief and the founding editor of Lateline Business, which later became The Business. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Veteran reporter Peter Ryan (pictured) has died aged 64 after a battle with thyroid cancer In 2017, Peter won the Walkley Award for his coverage of the Commonwealth Bank scandal. Pictured at the Walkley Awards In 2017, Peter won the Walkley Award for his coverage of the Commonwealth Bank scandal, which exposed deposit machines being used by drug syndicates to launder millions of dollars. His coverage contributed to the calling of the banking Royal Commission. In 2018, he was the National Press Club Finance Journalist of the Year. He was also awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2022 for his service to journalism. Peter was a senior business correspondent from 2016 until he retired in June. Peter moved into palliative care and wanted to spend more time with his wife Mary Cotter and daughter Charlotte. Following his retirement, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said: 'Peter Ryan is an absolute legend. 'Every day as you wake up and you think about what's happening in the economy, if you only needed to listen to one voice to be sure that you got its essential elements, it would be Peter's.' He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2022 for his service to journalism The ABC has paid tribute to the veteran reporter in a statement following news of his passing. 'The ABC is deeply saddened by the death of our great friend and esteemed colleague Peter Ryan,' the statement read. 'After a distinguished 45-year career in journalism Peter retired from the ABC last month due to ill health. 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to Peter's family.' ABC News Director Justin Stevens also said Peter has left a 'significant legacy' and 'touched the lives of many'. 'Through his journalism, he had a profound impact on the lives of Australians and our society. It was a privilege to know him and work alongside him.' Australian radio duo Jimmy Smith and Nathan Roye have been slammed after making an immature joke about women using tampons live on air. The 2Day FM stars were presenting their breakfast radio show when Jimmy read out a joke from a book. 'Two tampons were walking down the street. Which one said hello first?' he asked. His co-host Nath questioned: 'I don't know, which one?' 'Neither - they were both stuck up c**ts,' Jimmy responded, leaving one of the show's producers shocked. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Australian radio duo Jimmy Smith and Nathan Roye (pictured) have been slammed after making an immature joke about women using tampons live on air 'Producer Lolo, do you think you should buy the book after hearing something like that?' Nath asked. 'My soul just left my body,' the stunned producer said, to which Jimmy responded: 'Did your tampon?' Listeners flocked to the radio station's Instagram page to express their outrage at the joke. 'Sorry love you guys.. not a cool joke,' one person wrote. 'Cringiest sh*t on radio, stop calling me,' another said while a third added: 'How is this allowed to go to air?!' Jimmy and Nath were confirmed as 2Day FM's breakfast hosts back in January alongside Emma Chow. The trio gained 0.5 per cent of the breakfast market share in the latest radio ratings. The 2Day FM stars were presenting their breakfast radio show when Jimmy read out a joke from a book The station finished at 4.5 overall - up by 0.2 - as it gains ground on Triple M's overall 4.9 market share. Triple M recently suffered a brutal blow in the third radio ratings survey of 2025. The survey showed that Beau Ryan, Aaron 'Woodsy' Woods and Cat Lynch's Sydney breakfast show continues to lose listeners. The trio, who lost 1.5 per cent of the market share in survey two, dropped another 1.5 in the latest survey, bringing them down to a 4.4 market share from a previous 5.9. Rumours are swirling that pop icon Justin Bieber will tour Australia following the release of his much-talked-about debut album. The 31-year-old pop star, who just released his seventh studio album Swag to critical acclaim, is reportedly set to announce an Aussie tour soon. The rumours began circulating this week after 6PR Perth's Millsy and Karl mentioned the star's much-anticipated return Down Under. 'Rumour has it that with the release of his new album Swag, pop icon Justin Bieber will announce an Australian tour he will make his way to Perth,' the radio program claimed. The speculation is unsurprising as it is standard practice for artists to to announce a new album, then tour under the same name. 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. Rumours are swirling that pop icon Justin Bieber is set to tour Australia following the release of his much-talked-about debut album The 31-year-old pop star, who just released his seventh studio album Swag to critical acclaim, is reportedly set to announce an Aussie tour soon However, despite the rampant rumours, Justin has not yet confirmed whether he will be touring the album, nor has Frontier Touring, who told Rolling Stone it had no information on any potential Australian tour dates. Frontier Touring was responsible for promoting Justin's slew of cancelled shows three years ago. At the time, the company told Daily Mail Australia Justin was pausing his tour for health reasons. 'We are aware that Justin Bieber has decided to take a break from touring and wish Justin a speedy recovery and admire his decision to put his health first,' the promoter said in a statement. The Canadian star postponed a series of concerts after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome - a rare neurological condition that left him suffering facial paralysis. Justin revealed via social media that he'd be stepping back from touring to focus on his well-being. 'Earlier this year, I went public about my battle with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, where my face was partly paralysed,' he said in an Instagram story. 'As a result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North America leg of the Justice Tour. Justin was forced to cancel his last Aussie tour three years ago due to health reasons 'After resting and consulting with my doctors, family and team, I went to Europe in an effort to continue with the tour. I performed six live shows, but it took a real toll on me. 'This past weekend, I performed at Rock in Rio and I gave everything I have to the people in Brazil. After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized I need to make my health the priority right now. 'So I'm going to take a break from touring for the time being. I'm going to be OK, but I need time to rest and get better (sic)." He thanked his fans for their support, saying: 'I've been so proud to bring this show and our message of Justice to the world. Thank you for your prayers and support throughout all of this! I love you all passionately!' However, the following year, Justin cancelled the tour altogether and assured fans they would all be receiving refunds for their tickets. Uma Thurman has opened up about how 'beautiful' motherhood and compared her parenting to her own upbringing. The Kill Bill star, 55, shares two children with actor Ethan Hawke, Maya, 26, and Levon, 23, and 13-year-old daughter Luna with financier Arpad Busson. And speaking to The Sunday Times, Uma has spoken about how her life has changed from her younger days in Hollywood since becoming a mother. 'It's beautiful and there's not that much time left in the day,' Uma said, but she is now looking towards what life will be like once all her children have flown the nest, in what she calls the 'sunset period'. Uma is planning what she will do when her time isn't spent 'shopping and driving and emailing teachers and all the things we do'. But elsewhere, Uma shared that she often compares how she parents her children to the 'mind-boggling' freedoms she enjoyed as a teenager. Uma Thurman has opened up about how 'beautiful' motherhood and compared her parenting to her own upbringing (Seen in June) The Kill Bill star, 55, shares two children with actor Ethan Hawke, Maya (right), 26, and Levon (centre left), 23, and 13-year-old daughter Luna (left) with financier Arpad Busson (Seen in 2023) Uma revealed she used to travel into the city on her own as a teenager to audition with just a quarter in case she got lost. She said: 'Mind-boggling, I mean, it's unimaginable, those were different times.' It comes after Uma was joined by her rarely seen daughter Luna at the opening night of Eurydice at the Signature Theatre in New York City in May. The actress and her youngest stepped out to support her oldest daughter Maya ahead of her Off-Broadway debut. Maya starred as the titular character in Sarah Ruhl's adaptation of the classic Greek myth, which ran until June 22. Walking the red carpet head of the show, Uma looked effortlessly chic in a wool coat, which she teamed with smart trousers. Smiling for photos beside her mum, Luna opted for a black top and a pair of straight leg jeans. Maya looked stunning in a draped, satin midi dress which she teamed with a matching rust-coloured umbrella and heels. Uma's two older children, Maya and Levon - whom she shares with her ex-husband Ethan Hawke are well known for having followed their famous parents into acting. Uma's two older children, Maya and Levon - whom she shares with her ex-husband Ethan Hawke (Seen in 1997) It comes after Uma was joined by her rarely seen daughter Luna at the opening night of Eurydice at the Signature Theatre in New York City in May The actress and her youngest stepped out to support her oldest daughter Maya Hawke ahead of her Off-Broadway debut But she has cultivated a far more private existence for her youngest daughter Luna, whom she shares with her ex, the French hedge fund manager Arpad Busson, 62. A rare exception occurred in 2023 at the New York City premiere of Wes Anderson's critically acclaimed comedy Asteroid City, which Maya had a small role in. Even though Luna isn't usually spotted at similar events, this time she was seen posing for photographers. While little is known about Luna, Uma previously opened up about why she decided to give her daughter four middle names. 'Maya came up with the best excuse, which was that I probably wouldn't get to have any more children, so I just put every name that I liked into Luna's,' she told Jimmy Fallon during a Tonight Show appearance. 'We couldn't quite agree on the name, so we call her Luna. She's lucky that way.' Uma and her financier ex Arpad Busson began their onoff relationship back in 2007, and revealed that they were engaged in June of the following year, but they called off the engagement in 2009. The split was short-lived, though, and Uma and Arpad reunited in 2010, with the engagement back on. Luna arrived in 2012, but her parents still hadn't married by 2014, when they called it off their engagement for a second time and seemingly split for good. In early 2017, Uma and Arpad became engaged in a custody battle over their youngest child, with The Pulp Fiction star ultimately receiving primary physical custody of Luna. Prior to dating Arpad, Thurman was married twice: from 1990 to 1992 to Oscar winner Gary Oldman, and then from 1998 to 2005 to Ethan Hawke after they met on the set of their 1997 sci-fi drama Gattaca. They welcomed Maya in 1998 and Levon in 2002, before separating in 2003. Prior to his relationship with Uma, Arpad's best-known partner was Elle Macpherson, whom he was together with from 1996 to 2005 and shared two sons. Sophie Habboo showed off her blossoming bump and shared a 60th birthday tribute to her ageless mum Sarah Wigley. The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, is expecting her first child with husband Jamie Laing, 36. And taking to Instagram on Sunday, Sophie displayed her growing bump in an array of stunning snaps from a night out. Sophie looked radiant as she posed for snaps in a red mesh co-ord, featuring a boat neck cami top showing her bra paired with low-rise fold-over flared trousers. Elsewhere, she took to her Instagram Story on Monday to share a birthday tribute to her mum Sarah, who was celebrating her 60th. Snaps showcased Sarah's ageless beauty as Sophie shared pictures from when her sister was a child and now - with her mum appearing to look the same in both. Sophie Habboo showed off her blossoming bump and shared a 60th birthday tribute to her ageless mum Sarah Wigley on Instagram over the weekend Elsewhere, she took to her Instagram Story on Monday to share a birthday tribute to her mum Sarah, who was celebrating her 60th 'Happy 60th to the best mum @sarahwigley123 !!! Love you so so much,' Sophie captioned a snap, which showed the reality star in a white halterneck showing off her bump while her mum looked incredible in a fruit patterned strapless top. Sophie shared a second snap of mum Sarah and her sister Georgia when she was a child, with Sarah looking exactly the same as she does now. In a final snap, Sarah could be seen in her younger years displaying her model looks. It comes one day after Jamie shared a sweet pregnancy update on wife Sophie as he reflected on their life together ahead of them welcoming their first child. And in a new video shared to Instagram on Saturday, Jamie contemplated how the couple had started out as friends before things blossomed and now they are excitedly feeling their baby kick. The heartfelt clip, set to Goo Goo Dolls hit Iris, saw Sophie larking around with friends pre-baby as her husband took a trip down memory lane. The video then showed Sophie with a prominent baby bump, showing how their lives have changed and how Sophie's pregnancy is coming along nicely. A caption across the video read: 'One moment your best friends, the next... we're feeling our baby's kick.' Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Sophie displayed her growing bump in an array of stunning snaps from a night out Sophie looked radiant as she posed for snaps in a red mesh co-ord, featuring a boat neck cami top showing her bra paired with low-rise fold-over flared trousers Sophie shared a second snap of mum Sarah and her sister Georgia when she was a child, with Sarah looking exactly the same as she does now In a final snap, Sarah could be seen in her younger years displaying her model looks Jamie also captioned his post 'Life' before tagging his wife, whom he married in April 2023 followed lavish celebration in Spain a month later. Jamie shared some funny snaps of his pregnant wife as they jetted off on a babymoon on Friday. The TV personality took to his Instagram to post a fun clip of Sophie standing outside of an airport looking a little downcast. He then posted a funny snap of the soon mother-to-be curled up on a chair of a plane with a thick eye mask and a cap covering the top of her face. Alongside the clip Jamie penned 'Hey Mamma' before writing on top of her sleeping picture, 'The Mamma Is Out'. For their trip, which the destination of has not yet been revealed, Sophie wore a pair of grey joggers and a grey T-shirt. Opting for comfort, the former reality TV personality finished her ensemble with a pair of black trainers and a black jacket. Jamie shared a sweet pregnancy update on wife Sophie as he reflected on their life together ahead of them welcoming their first child The Made In Chelsea stars, 36 and 30 respectively, announced earlier this year that the were expecting a baby together [pictured in June] It comes after Sophie revealed on her and Jamie's newly named podcast NearlyParents, that she has struggled with some aspects of her pregnancy. She confessed that when her second trimester hit, she felt like she was 'dying' and was dealing with a lot of hormones that made her frequently feel irritated. 'This girl has gone from a bit of a b***h to don't come near me,' she quipped. 'Up until week eight, I was smooth sailing. No good aversions, no sickness, so much energy, I was like what is every talking about this is unbelievable. 'Week eight hit and everyone's starting to grate to me a bit. Like that man sat next to me on the plane breathing, like is it illegal if I punch him in the face? 'If you're a fan of the podcast, I love you so much but you're not going to like me if you meet me at the moment.' A new book charting in unsparing detail, the car-crash marriage between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been teased. And in the upcoming release it has also been revealed how Amber broke Elon Musk's heart a decade ago. While their romance started out smoothly, what no one knew until much later was that Amber and Elon's relationship was also turbulent and toxic, plagued by fighting, jealousy and dramatic accusations. Elon's inner circle would go on to state strikingly similar things about Amber's character as Johnny's people. It has been revealed that during the time when Johnny filmed the fifth instalment of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales, some of his closest colleagues and friends saw the pair having lively disagreements. But despite the initial concerning behaviours sparked between the two, on May 22, 2015, Amber addressed Johnny as 'My One and Only' in the couple's shared love journal. She told him that in him she found 'the madness of passion' as well as 'the safety of peace'. Amber would later allege that five more incidents of violence occurred after writing those words. A new book charting in unsparing detail, the car-crash marriage between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been teased And in the upcoming release it has also been revealed how Amber broke Elon Musk's heart a decade ago One of those incidents happened during their belated honeymoon trip in July 2015, aboard the luxury Eastern Oriental train through Malaysia. As evidence, Amber produced for the court a handwritten page from her diary in which she wrote that he had choked and hit her. Johnny denied the allegation and presented honeymoon photos showing himself with an injured eye. At the end of the honeymoon, Amber wrote in their love journal: 'What a beautiful, extraordinary, magical, memorable, wonderful, stunning, surprisingly evolving and impulsive adventure. I couldn't have imagined a more gorgeous honeymoon.' Not surprisingly, the honeymoon didn't last. Soon after a restraining order against Johnny was granted in May 2016, a large plant was delivered to Amber's Los Angeles apartment, with a card reading: 'I had a wonderful weekend with you E.' According to the sworn testimony of the concierge, Elon already had his own key fob for the penthouse garage and had been visiting Amber regularly for over a year, late at night, when Johnny was away. In late June, Amber surprised Elon for his birthday. She flew to the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. On the way she picked wildflowers, and when she arrived, his security team helped her hide in the back of a Tesla. As Elon approached the car, Amber popped out of the back, clutching a bouquet. Two weeks later, in mid-July, Elon and Amber were spotted together in Miami, Florida. Amber was there with her sister, Whitney. The trio stayed in poolside villas at the Delano Hotel in South Beach, and Elon flew Amber and Whitney up to Cape Canaveral, where a SpaceX launch of Falcon 9 was scheduled to take place. It has been revealed that during the time when Johnny filmed the fifth instalment of the Pirates Of The Caribbean, some of his closest friends saw them having lively disagreements But despite the initial concerning behaviours sparked between the two, on May 22, 2015, Amber addressed Johnny as 'My One and Only' in the couple's shared love journal Amber told Elon's biographer Walter Isaacson that it was 'the most interesting date' she'd ever been on. These were the first buds of a relationship that would grow into something serious. What no one knew until much later was that Amber and Elon's relationship was also turbulent and toxic, plagued by fighting, jealousy and dramatic accusations. Elon's inner circle would go on to state strikingly similar things about Amber's character as Johnny's people. As she was rebuilding her life and leaning into activism when she briefly became an icon for the MeToo movement things were heating up with Elon. Soon she'd be returning to Australia's Gold Coast to film Aquaman, only this time she'd be travelling with Elon instead of Johnny. In Australia, Elon rented Amber a beautiful home. Here, away from the office, his infatuation became problematic for executives at SpaceX and Tesla. For the first time, Elon was distracted from his life's work. 'It would be a Tuesday night and she would keep him up all night. There was a blatant disregard for the fact he had tens of thousands of employees and he had responsibilities,' said a source. 'She did more to slow the advancement of electric cars than the CEO of Exxon Mobil.' Elon himself later described the relationship with Amber as the most agonising of all his romantic relationships. 'It was brutal,' he said. For a man who has trouble accessing his humanity, Elon found that Amber evoked the most human of emotions: he was lovesick. A few months after the Australia trip, during an interview for Rolling Stone, a flustered Elon excused himself and had a pep talk with his chief of staff, Sam Teller. A few minutes later, he confessed to the reporter: he and Amber had just broken up and he 'was really in love and it hurt bad'. In fact, he'd barely been able to function at the launch of his Tesla Model 3 the night before. 'I've been in severe emotional pain for the last few weeks. Severe. It took every ounce of will to be able to do the Model 3 event and not look like the most depressed guy around. 'For most of that day, I was morbid. And then I had to psych myself up: drink a couple of Red Bulls, hang out with positive people and then tell myself, 'I have all these people depending on me. All right, do it!' ' After a restraining order against Johnny was granted in May 2016, a large plant was delivered to Amber's LA apartment, with a card reading: 'I had a wonderful weekend with you E' This breakup wouldn't be their last Amber and Elon continued to see each other, on and off, throughout the rest of 2017. A friend of Amber's who asked us not to use her name remembered a conversation in which Amber told her Elon was crazy, possessive and jealous, and that he'd placed cameras in her house, bugged her car, and was following her. But Amber's friend was sceptical: 'This is exactly the same s*** we just did with this other guy, Johnny. How is no one seeing this?' On a trip to Rio de Janeiro in December 2017, Amber and Elon had a fight that ended their relationship for good. Amber locked herself in their hotel room and started screaming that Elon had taken her passport and that she was scared she'd be attacked. Hotel security guards and Elon's sister-in-law, who was also on the trip, assured Amber that no one was trying to hurt her, she was safe, her passport was securely in her bag. She could leave whenever she wanted. But Kimbal, Elon's brother, said Amber's ability to shift her own reality was shocking. 'She really is a very good actress, so she will say things that you're like 'Wow, maybe she's telling you the truth' but she isn't.' According to the sworn testimony of the concierge, Elon already had his own key fob for the penthouse garage and had been visiting Amber for over a year when Johnny was away After the split, Amber texted her agent, Christian Carino, who had arranged mediation between her and Johnny the year before: 'Dealing with breakup. I hate when things go public. See I'm so sad.' 'You weren't in love with [Elon],' Christian replied. 'You told me 1,000 times you were just filling space. Why would you be sad if you weren't in love with him to begin with?' Amber asked Christian to give Johnny a letter she wrote expressing her love for him and apologising for what happened. 'God I miss him,' she said. Kelly Loudenberg and Makiko Wholey, 2025 Paul Hogan has revealed the true reason he was forced to use a wheelchair when arriving in Australia for a month-long holiday in May. The 85-year-old actor told 7NEWS on Monday that he suffered an injury in a skateboarding accident, which exacerbated his arthritis. 'They got me in the wheelchair,' the Crocodile Dundee star said with a laugh, adding that he is in good health. 'I have arthritis. And I have a knee, which, much to my embarrassment, I injured skateboarding,' he said. Hogan continued: 'I was an 80-plus skateboarder. I'm not proud, I'll get in the wheelchair every time.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Paul Hogan (pictured) has revealed the true reason he was forced to use a wheelchair when arriving in Australia for a month-long holiday in May. The 85-year-old actor told 7NEWS on Monday that he suffered an injury in a skateboarding accident, which exacerbated his arthritis When questioned on his decision to take up skateboarding at his age, the iconic movie star replied, joking, 'Well, I've always been a late starter.' Hogan looked much healthier and happier as he left Sydney at the start of July following a vacation Down Under. He entered Sydney Airport unaided by a wheelchair and appeared to have healed up from his skateboarding accident. It was a far cry from how Hogan had arrived in Sydney from the USA in May. At that time, he looked frail and exhausted, and was escorted from the terminal with the help of staff while sitting in a wheelchair. With multiple airport personnel assisting him, Hogan was ushered outside to waiting transport. Paul's return Down Under came amid reports he's moving home for good. Chatter has increased that the star is planning to relocate home to Australia permanently. Hogan had arrived in Sydney from the USA in May (pictured). At that time, he looked frail and exhausted, and was escorted from the terminal with the help of staff while sitting in a wheelchair Hogan has remained in the USA for decades, and has expressed that he stays stateside to care for his troubled son, Chance, 27. However, according to recent reports, Hogan has finally decided to return home with his son's blessing. Chance reportedly saw how positive a trip Down Under was for his dad earlier this year. 'Paul felt healthier than he had in months, and even Chance agreed that Australia had been good for them both,' an alleged source told New Idea. 'Chance has long known he's the reason why Paul remains in the States,' they continued. 'But this recent trip was a wake-up call. He can see how important it is for his dad to spend his twilight years on home turf. He now believes it will extend his life.' Chance has been living with his father in LA since his parents' divorce in 2014 after 24 years of marriage. Hogan shares son Chance with second wife Linda Kozlowski, who was his Crocodile Dundee co-star. 'I have arthritis. And I have a knee, which, much to my embarrassment, I injured skateboarding,' he said. 'I was an 80-plus skateboarder. I'm not proud, I'll get in the wheelchair every time'. Pictured on 7NEWS The actor made the move to settle with Linda in Los Angeles in the '90s. He also has several children with former wife Noelene Edwards - sons Brett, Clay, Scott, and daughter Lauren. Paul shot to fame in the '80s when he portrayed Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee in the classic outback adventure franchise which boasted three films. The star was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance. Oasis fans were sent into a spin as the very first backstage snap of the Gallagher brothers together on tour was revealed. Liam, 52, and Noel, 58, are reportedly 'kept apart' in 'military style operation' when not on stage. But a picture which surfaced on Reddit on Monday suggests that may not be the case. The brothers were seen backstage at one of their epic reunion gigs with two young fans, and both Liam and Noel looked relatively happy to be there. Posing with two of their young fans, Liam was seen cheering and punching the air while Noel adopted a more muted expression. Fans went wild over the snap, the first one seen of the pair together off-stage, with some even asking if it was photoshopped. Oasis fans were sent into a spin as the very first backstage snap of the Gallagher brothers together on tour was revealed on Reddit on Monday They commented: '2 years ago I probably would have said this was photoshopped. I just did not think this would happen,'; 'Never thought I'd see a picture of Noel and Liam where they are more excited than anyone else in it. Good news- things on tour are going well,'; 'Those lucky lads, im happy they met their heroes,'; 'Why do they still pose the same way it's adorable 'A year ago, someone would have called this AI.' Liam and Noel's mum Peggy is reportedly keeping her once feuding sons in check amid their Oasis reunion tour, it was recently revealed. The pair are reportedly kept apart, but now their beloved mother, 81, is also on hand to help avoid a bust up. The warring siblings' fractious relationship came to a head in 2009, after a backstage fight in Paris led to Noel leaving the iconic Britpop band and they have been embroiled in a very public feud ever since. But Liam is said to be 'loving' spending time with his mum, to whom he is very close, and her presence is helping him 'keep his head down' and stay in the 'best mindset'. Liam, 52, and Noel, 58, are reportedly ' kept apart' in 'military style operation' when not on stage (Seen on stage earlier this month) Fans went wild over the snap, the first one seen of the pair together off-stage, with some even asking if it was photoshopped Proud Peggy is also reportedly ecstatic ahead of all her sons on stage at Wembley next week, with eldest Paul, 59, performing a DJ set ahead of the main show. A source told The Sun: 'Liam is incredibly close to Peggy and has loved spending time with her during the tour. [She] has always stayed out of their disagreements and just wants the best for her sons.' 'Liam has been keeping his head down and concentrating on the tour. His main priority is staying in the best mindset possible.' MailOnline contacted Oasis' reps for comment at the time. But despite managing to put their difference aside to get back on stage, they have reportedly required separate dressing rooms and transport to avoid a clash and resulting 'PR and financial nightmare'. A source told The Mirror: 'They will not be in each other's pockets and effectively be separate entities that come together for necessary promotional work and the gigs. Other than that they will be apart for much of this reunion. 'Rehearsals will be the first time that they will be together for a significant amount of time working again. The atmosphere is sure to be electric, but also a little edgy.' In 2019, Peggy told her youngest son Liam that he was going to bury the hatchet with his brother the following year, firmly declaring: 'And that's it.' The pair are reportedly kept apart, but now their beloved mother, 81, is also on hand to help avoid a bust up (Liam and Peggy in 1998) Liam is said to be 'loving' spending time with his mum and her presence is helping him 'keep his head down' and stay in the 'best mindset' (Noel and Peggy 1997) Since Oasis' split in 2009, Peggy is said to have continually urged her sons to put aside their differences - telling Noel and Liam that putting an end to their feud would have been the 'best 80th birthday present'. Earlier this month Liam and Noel's estranged father hit out at his sons by saying they 'don't know f***ing music'. Irish-born Thomas Augustin Gallagher hasn't seen the Oasis duo for years, who've never forgiven him for how they treated their mother when they were boys. Since the duo reunited a video has come to light of Thomas - who goes by Tommy - dismissing his sons' illustrious career. In the 2018 video, TikToker Jack Burke was filming in Manchester when Tommy walked past and intervened, saying: 'Have you heard of the band Oasis? Im their father. Noel and Liam Gallagher.' When Jack asked for his name, he said: 'Thomas Augustus Gallagher' - pulling his passport out of his pocket to show to Jack. As Jack walks off, Tommy retorts: '[Them] guys talking about music, they wouldnt f***ing know music if it f***ing bit them.' Conor McGregor and fiancee Dee Devlin issued a defiant display of unity on Monday as they shared a family snap amid concerns that their relationship could be on the rocks. This month has seen the Irish MMA fighter embroiled in more controversy after being accused of cheating on Dee as well as sending nude pictures to rapper Azealia Banks. Amid the scandal, those close to Dee have expressed their fears, telling The Mail over the weekend that they are 'concerned with how much she can take'. While rumours continue to swirl about the state of their relationship, Dee and Conor, both 37, shared a picture of themselves cuddled up alongside their children. Beaming at the camera, Conor was seen with an arm wrapped around Dee while at a water park with Conor Jr, eight, Croia, six, Rian four and Mack, 20 months. The family have been on holiday in Sardinia in recent weeks amid the latest raft of controversy to surround the MMA fighter. Conor McGregor and fiancee Dee Devlin shared a family snap on Monday amid concerns that their relationship could be on the rocks Their united display comes after concerns when Conor was seen smooching a mystery brunette in full view of fellow beachgoers in Fort Lauderdale Dee has been posting several snaps from their holiday, yet sources have claimed not all is as it seems between the pair. Someone familiar with her situation told The Mail: We are being told to believe that this is a happy, loving relationship behind all the headlines. I think a lot of things clearly point to the fact that she is not. From early on in the relationship, she has had a great deal to cope with. I would be very concerned with how much she can take. A close family friend of Dee added: Its impossible not to like Dee. Shes your typical girl next door. She is a very bubbly person and she always puts a positive spin on things. I believe she truly does love Conor. But what woman wouldnt be humiliated by his behaviour. It has not been easy for her. Conor was embroiled in controversy this month when he was photographed kissing a mystery brunette woman on a beach in Fort Lauderdale. With his partner Dee - whom he has been engaged to since 2020 - nowhere in sight, questions were raised about their relationship. Rapper Azealia Banks then added to the furore as she took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to accuse Conor of sexual harassment. Someone familiar with Dee's situation told The Mail: We are being told to believe that this is a happy, loving relationship behind all the headlines. I think a lot of things clearly point to the fact that she is not' (pictured in 2022) Last week, Azealia, 34, shared nude photos which purported to show Conor, which she claimed he sent to her unprompted. Amid the storm, Conor and Dee have firmly brushed off the criticism by continuing to show their affections for one another, and put on a very cosy display in one outing. The couple have been enjoying time in Sardinia together to celebrate Conor's 37th birthday - which was on July 14. Dee shared a gushing tribute to Conor on the day and they have both been posting loved-up content to social media in the days since while enjoying their trip. Their united display comes after concerns when Conor was seen smooching a mystery brunette in full view of fellow beachgoers in Fort Lauderdale. Conor was spotted enjoying a cold beverage while the woman, who was dressed in a leopard print bikini, shared his sun lounger. The pair chatted away in the shade as the sportsman cosied up to her by wrapping his arm around her back. However, Dee brushed off the scandal as she simply posted a loving tribute to Conor to her Instagram page. Azealia Banks set the internet ablaze after sharing alleged nude photos of Conor that she claims the disgraced star sent unprompted (pictured in 2022) Dee shared a post from a fan account on her Instagram story which read: 'Happy Birthday to the person who always keeps Dee entertained and makes her smile.' Just hours later, Azealia set the internet ablaze after sharing alleged nude photos of Conor that she claims the disgraced star sent unprompted. She accused Conor of sexual harassment when she shared nude photographs purporting to show the MMA star. 'How you gonna send a b**** a some crooked d*** pics then threaten her not to tell,' she wrote alongside the screenshots. '@TheNotoriousMMA n**** do you know who the f*** I am? This is HARAM.' Azealia continued: 'Like how are you really going to sexually harrass me with the potato farmer d*** then threaten me not to tell???? Honey ain't u trying to be the president of Ireland what is it giving fam? Use some f***ing sunscreen damn.' As well as the alleged nude selfies, the screenshots also showed a message from what purported to be Conor's account reading: 'Don't be a rat cos all rats get caught.' Alongside one image which seemingly shows his manhood strapped to a dumbbell, the Irish fighter apparently wrote: 'Lifting weights.' Dee brushed off the scandal as she simply posted a loving tribute to Conor to her Instagram Azealia shared another screenshot of the alleged pictures suddenly being 'hidden' on X because she does not follow Conor's account. Although it is unclear if he had anything to do with that alleged change, she commented: 'The motherf***er woke up early LOL.' DailyMail.com reached out to the last-known attorneys on record for Conor, his agent and Azealia's agent for comment at the time. It is the latest embarrassment to hit the sportsman's relationship with his partner Dee, who was ever-present by his side throughout his sexual assault court case last year. In 2024, Conor lost a civil case as jurors at the High Court in Dublin found him liable of raping Nikita Hand, 35, in a Dublin hotel on December 9, 2018, with the judge awarding Hand 250,000 in damages. But despite the verdict, Dee emphatically made it clear that she intended to back Conor - attacking Nikita in a series of posts on Instagram at the time. In the posts, she wrote: 'Conor and I dealt with these issues privately many years ago, as should be done in a relationship and we have come out stronger than ever. 'We have four beautiful children now whose smiling faces and happy hearts are a testament to who he is and who we are!' The pair have been together for 15 years and got engaged in August 2020 after Conor proposed while they were celebrating his birthday. The couple met as teenagers at a nightclub in 2008 and Dee has been a key player in the MMA star's story, supporting him when he was jobless and focused on making it as a professional fighter. Molly-Mae Hague has shared her candid complaints about a recent 86,000 motorhome holiday her family went on - after Tommy Fury said their daughter Bambi shouldn't be spoilt with five star trips. The influencer and businesswoman, 26, recently went on a family trip with Tommy and their two-year-old the Isle of Man. But in her latest YouTube vlog Molly-Mae opened up about some of the more difficult parts of the holiday including navigating travel delays with a toddler. The family were travelling on a swanky Elddis Avalon 255 motorhome which retails at 86,995, after Tommy insisted their daughter Bambi shouldn't be 'spoilt' with 'five star hotels and business class flights' when they go away on family holidays Yet in her latest vlog, Molly-Mae revealed the trip had been blighted with delays, leaving Bambi 'overtired and overstimulated'. Molly-Mae Hague has shared her candid complaints about a recent 86,000 motorhome holiday her family went on - after Tommy Fury said their daughter Bambi shouldn't be spoilt with five star trips The influencer and businesswoman, 26, recently went on a family trip with Tommy and their two-year-old the Isle of Man She explained: 'Tommy has bought a motorhome and we spent our first weekend in the motorhome this weekend. 'Obviously, being us, we went in feet first and decided to go to the Isle of Man. 'Tommy's family were spending the weekend in the Isle of Man. I was feeling spontaneous so we literally booked the ferry to the Isle of Man an hour before we needed to leave. 'We'd never used the motorhome before, we needed to pack it up, sort Bambi, I just had this wave of 'you only live once, have a bit of fun'. 'Bambi doesn't need to be so perfectly routine every day, she's not a newborn anymore. 'I've got so stuck in my ways with the fact that her routine is her routine and I don't really steer away from it. 'I'm not gonna feel bad for that because that is what works for me and that is what works for Bambi and Tommy, so that's fine.' She then added of when things started to go wrong: 'So anyway, booked the ferry, packed the motorhome up and nearly didn't make the ferry but that's another story and then there was a two hour delay. But in her latest YouTube vlog Molly-Mae opened up about some of the more difficult parts of the holiday including navigating travel delays with a toddler She said of getting there: 'So anyway, booked the ferry, packed the motorhome up and nearly didn't make the ferry but that's another story and then there was a two hour delay' Molly-Mae's trip comes after last month Tommy, also 26, insisted that Bambi shouldn't be 'spoilt' with 'five star hotels and business class flights' 'This ferry, which was already gonna get us in at 11:30pm, which was already severely triggering me because Bambi goes to bed at 7pm, was not fine. It was giving me a prime example as to why the routine works for us. 'It was one of those moments where strangers come up to you and are like 'can I help? Is there anything I can do?' 'She was screaming that much for four hours straight. 'The boat basically had a malfunction and it wouldn't move for like two hours so we had a huge delay. 'She was so, so, so overtired and overstimulated - Bambi is so routine, she is the opposite of flexible.' And when they arrived things continued to go downhill, as she said: 'We managed to get to the Isle of Man at 1:30am in the morning. 'We didn't know where we were, what we were doing, we were going to a different campsite to Tommy's family. It was just a lot. 'We had to make our bed out of this sofa, I was like 'I'm really out of my depth, I'm struggling'. 'The next day, Bambi was so tired, she was just screaming, literally screaming, so, so unhappy. 'Me and Tommy were looking at each other like 'what were we thinking?. I was having a breakdown.' She went on in the vlog: 'Bear in mind this motorhome of Tommy's is his pride and joy, he's obsessed with itI kid you not, the next day he was like 'I'm selling it, the minute we get home I'm putting it up for sale, I hate this motorhome.' And when they arrived things continued to go downhill, as she said: 'We managed to get to the Isle of Man at 1:30am in the morning...' During the trip she also shared some memories from her childhood She went on in the vlog: 'Bear in mind this motorhome of Tommy's is his pride and joy, he's obsessed with itI kid you not, the next day he was like 'I'm selling it, the minute we get home I'm putting it up for sale, I hate this motorhome' 'It wasn't even the motorhome's fault. For our first time, stupid move.' They even considered getting an early ferry home but once they met up with Tyson Fury and his wife Paris, things improved. She said: 'We were actually going to get on a ferry that day to come home because we were so out of our depth, we couldn't do it. 'But then, when we met up with them, we were like 'no, we're gonna stick it out, we can do this.' Last month Tommy reflected on some of their lavish trips away saying he recently bought the campervan so they can have more 'normal' holidays. Speaking to Eddie Hall on his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Beast, Tommy said: 'Having a daughter, Bambi, is everything in my life. She's what I work for. She's what I fight for. 'I don't even buy anything for myself anymore. It's all going away. Today's world is tough because you don't wanna spoil your children, but then it's hard to not, in a way. 'I've just bought and it's coming in two weeks a massive RV type thing. I just said to myself, 'She can't take business class flights every time, that ain't the real world.' 'I didn't go on a plane until I was 17! It was a Flybe flight and the propeller nearly broke. But Bambi's got more air miles than me now, and she's two and a half.' He added: 'I want her to know the meaning of normal, which is, you know, a nice camping holiday, driving to the lake. 'Not staying in five star hotels, not going business class flights, not doing that sometimes - and that's okay. 'Yeah, so I think she's getting to an age now where she's understanding more, and that as a father I introduce them sort of holidays, it's very important.' Molly-Mae's latest vlog also comes after her sister Zoe came under fire for complaining about a recent trip too. Molly-Mae's influencer sister was recently mocked by fans for leaving Bali after just 48 hours because it didn't live up to her expectations. Instead she and her husband Danny made a last minute decision to fly to Dubai instead after Zoe, 28, took to social media to admit 'something wasn't quite right'. The fitness influencer had planned the trip to Indonesia with her husband Danny to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. And despite staying in a huge sea view room at the Radisson Blu, a five-star hotel, they decided to leave early and jet to Dubai instead. Zoe explained that Bali looks better on social media than in real life, as influencers make it look luxurious, despite it being a developing country. In a YouTube video, Zoe told the camera: 'Since landing in Bali, something for us wasn't quite right. It come after Molly-Mae's sister Zoe was recently mocked by fans for leaving Bali after just 48 hours because it didn't live up to her expectations The fitness influencer had planned the trip to Indonesia with her husband Danny to celebrate their first wedding anniversary 'We came here with high expectations because we had seen on social media that everyone was having such a lovely time. Lovely places to eat and beaches, and lovely gyms and coffee shops. 'But I don't think the reality of Bali is shown much at all, and I do think it is down to a lot of influencers posting the more luxury side of things.' She added: 'Before joining the army, I spent five months travelling South East Asia. I did Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, I did a lot and spent time in these countries. But there is something very different about Bali. 'We got told Uluwatu where we are now is one of the best places to go, so if this is one of the better places, I'm not sure where the other places are like. 'I wasn't going to sit down and say anything, but people want to know.' Danny then joined the video and said: 'You either go on holiday to travel and experience culture or you want to go away and relax.' Zoe continued: 'Yeah, and we could have got a flight tomorrow as today is our anniversary, but time is precious and we just want to get out, and why delay it. 'We missed the mark, maybe we didn't do our own research, maybe it is our own fault. I did a lot of research though. 'I think it is just personal preference, and our preference was that this isn't for us, and we are making the executive decision to go enjoy our anniversary somewhere we know that we love and can relax and can drink the water.' Fans were divided in the comment section, with many claiming they loved Bali and asking for specific reasons why she didn't like it. 'I find this really surprising seeing as you travelled this part of the world. Everywhere there is like this - the 5* resorts are social media worthy but ultimately it's a developing area of the world and lots of the people there live in poverty.'; 'That is such a shame you didn't have a good experience:( Bali is a truly magical place with incredible people! But it is a poor country and I think people forget that and expect it to be like Dubai when that isn't the reality. Hope you have a good time in Dubai.'; 'I'm interested to know what exactly you didn't like about it? You didn't really go into specifics? I travelled there last year and loved it!'; Others agreed with Zoe, adding: I'm just home from backpacking Australia, Bali, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and I can hands down agree with the insta vs reality with Bali!! We tried to enjoy it as much as we could but it is 100% portrayed sooo differently by influencers,' And despite staying in a huge sea view room at the Radisson Blu, a five-star hotel, they decided to leave early and jet to Dubai instead 'Why is everyone hating? Bali isn't for everyone, they arrived and didn't like it? Why would they waste time & money somewhere they're not enjoying?' In 2019, Zoe's sister Molly-Mae shared with fans that she 'fell in love with Bali' as she shared a series of stunning snaps to Instagram. Zoe later shared a photo dump on Instagram, showcasing her lavish Dubai trip after leaving Bali. The couple stayed at Atlantis The Royal, with rooms starting from around 290 per night during July, which is considered low season. In peak season, rooms can cost 1,570 a night. Zoe shared on Instagram: 'Danny surprised me with a stat at @atlantistheroyal which I couldn't believe!!! 'Going at this time of year definitely helped as everything was a lot cheaper!! For a very special occasion it's perfect.' Katherine Ryan has admitted that she's feeling 'dejected' at the thought of her next baby being a boy. The comedian, 42, who is expecting her fourth child with husband Bobby Kootstra, already has son Fred, four, as well as daughters Violet, 16, and Fenna, two. However, during a recent interview, Katherine spoke of her dread at adding another boy to her brood, recalling how she's been 'antagonised by men' throughout her life. The TV personality also joked that her son Fred is a 'toxic male' as she opened up about facing gender disappointment. Speaking to Jamie Theakston and Zoe Hardman on Heart Breakfast on Monday, Katherine responded candidly when the radio hosts asked how she felt ahead of welcoming her fourth child. She explained: 'I have to say, that I cant ever complain post first trimester, Im quite big, so I think it might be a boy, so Im feeling dejected about that, because men have just antagonized me all life, even before their born.' Katherine Ryan has admitted that she's feeling 'dejected' at the thought of her next baby being a boy [Pictured leaving Heart radio studios on Monday] The comedian, 42, who is expecting her fourth child with husband Bobby Kootstra, already has son Fred, four, as well as daughters Violet, 16, and Fenna, two The star went on to confirm the gender order of her children so far, stating: 'Girl, boy, girl', before explaining that she 'never' finds out the sex of her child. 'It's always a surprise and I love that, its vintage', she explained. The 8 Out Of 10 favourite then went on to confess that she'll no doubt have 'gender disappointment' with her upcoming child if it was a boy as she spoke about her four-year-old son. She told the hosts: 'I will have it this time if its a boy. You know what it is, my son is a toxic male, hes four years old and he always wants to fight me, I drove him to nursery the other day, he sat behind me and he had a sword held to my throat for a while. 'Like whose giving you weapons. I didnt grow up with brothers, so its been an adjustment for me. But I love him, hes a very special guy.' Katherine, who initially announced her pregnancy last month, has been open about her fertility struggles in recent years, revealing in 2024 that she had had three miscarriages in five years. Speaking in November, Katherine admitted she would love to have more kids but was worried about her age. 'I'm old. I used to think I was going to be the babies' dad because I'm working but actually I'm like their grandmother,' she quipped at the time. 'My back hurts, sometimes I give them treats. I'm like a fun grandma.' However, during a recent interview, Katherine spoke of her dread at adding another boy to her brood, recalling how she's been 'antagonised by men' throughout her life (pictured last month) The TV personality also joked that her son Fred is a 'toxic male' as she opened up about facing gender disappointment 'I cant ever complain post first trimester, Im quite big, so I think it might be a boy, so Im feeling dejected about that, because men have just antagonized me all life, even before their born.' The 8 Out Of 10 favourite then went on to confess that she'll no doubt have 'gender disappointment' with her upcoming child if it was a boy as she spoke about her four-year-old son The TV star revealed in 2022 that she had kept her second pregnancy a secret because she was scared it would lead to her losing work. She was eight months pregnant when she presented ITV's Ready To Mingle, a fact that she hid from everyone. Katherine and her husband Bobby have been together since 2018, but have known each other since they were children as they grew up together in Canada. Childhood sweethearts, the two parted ways initially before rekindling their romance this side of the Atlantic. The couple revealed in the latest series of the family's reality show that they 'wanted the option of having a fourth [child].' The series saw the couple exploring their marriage through therapy before visiting a fertility clinic. Katherine admitted in the scenes which aired in February that she knew conceiving a fourth child would be challenging thanks to both her and Bobby's age. Katherine, who initially announce her pregnancy last month , has been open about her fertility struggles in recent years, revealing in 2024 that she had had three miscarriages in five years The TV star revealed in 2022 that she had kept her second pregnancy a secret because she was scared it would lead to her losing work 'It's not that surprising that over 40 women have fewer follicles than we once did,' said Katherine. 'But we talk a lot about male fertility as well, which is on a steep decline. But I would still like a fourth baby. 'We are so blessed to have the kids that we do have. Having children is not for everyone, but I personally really like making people. I think it's a superpower if you can do it.' She explained at the time how she and her husband had never previously struggled with getting pregnant but had suffered multiple losses. 'We've always gotten pregnant with the babies quite quickly. I've been pregnant five times in five years, but that also means I've had three miscarriages in five years and the likelihood of that increases as you get older,' she explained. Actress Alice Evans' bitter legal battle to force her ex - Fantastic Four star Ioan Gruffudd - to cough up more support money for her and their two young daughters is set for a dramatic showdown this week. The former couple are expected to face each other in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday when Evans, 56, will ask Judge Josh Stinn to increase the $4,500 a month Gruffudd, 51, is currently paying. In the run-up to this week's court hearing, DailyMail.com has obtained court documents filed by Evans in which she claimed poverty and was so broke that she had to borrow money from friends and set up a GoFundMe account that raised $18,000 in donations. She said that she and her girls - Ella, 15 and Elsie, 11 - were recently evicted from their LA home because she couldn't afford to pay the $6,500 per month rent. She contended that she had to 'burn through' her savings to pay living expenses and legal fees. And she insisted Gruffudd - who married his now-pregnant new wife Bianca Wallace, 32, in April - can afford to pay more than the $3,000 per month child support and $1,500 spousal support he now pays. Alice Evans, 56, and loan Gruffudd's, 51, messy divorce battle is hitting its peak as they're set to face off in court on Wednesday where she will ask the judge to increase his child support payments to keep a roof over their daughter's heads Evans has already created a divorce fundraiser by setting up a GoFundMe, which has so far raised $18,557, as the mother of two claims they were evicted from their LA home since she couldn't afford the monthly $6,500 rent She insists Gruffudd - now married to pregnant actress Bianca Wallace, 32 - can easily afford more than the $3K in child support and $1.5K in spousal support he currently pays But Gruffudd is fighting his ex's cash demands and in his own court filing, poured scorn on Evans' claims, saying that she 'purposely got herself evicted. intentionally ceasing paying rent and instead taking the children on a vacation trip to Europe.' Her motive, he said, was to 'support her false public narrative of financial destitution in an attempt to further harm my reputationas a fraudulent way to strong-arm me into paying more support than I can afford.' Gruffudd also maintained that subpoenaed bank records show that, far from being broke, Evans made more than $130,000 in 2024 and is expected to earn a similar amount this year - a claim that Evans called 'false and misleading.' In his recent court filing, Gruffudd told how he was 'mortified' to have received 'dozens of stressed messages from our minor children in which they have parroted Alice's false and manufactured claims of becoming homeless in the immediate future.' But in her new court documents, Evans denies manipulating the children to send plaintive messages to their father. 'I absolutely did not ask the children to send messages to (Gruffudd) about our eviction and pending homelessness,' she said. 'The children are well aware of our financial distress and the eviction.' In April, Ioan and Bianca - who went public with their relationship in October 2021 - took to their respective Instagrams to share a video of them tying the knot in a romantic ceremony, captioned: 'Mr & Mrs Gruffudd. Marriage now, wedding later' Gruffudd is pushing back against Evans' demands, accusing her of deliberately skipping rent, taking the kids to Europe, faking financial ruin to damage his reputation and pressure him for more payouts and influencing their children to send messages to him lamenting over the possibility of being 'homeless' In her newest court filings, Evans pushed back against her husband's claims, claiming she never coerced her 15 and 11-year-old daughters to reach out to their dad and that they simply were aware of the financial situation and eviction The new filings also hit back against Gruffudd's accusation that she was violating a three-year restraining order by stating he was trying to violate her first amendment rights and that she never stalked him or his new wife Evans also pooh-poohed Gruffudd's accusation in his most recent court filing that his ex is still violating a three-year domestic abuse restraining order 'by physically stalking, ongoing harassment and publicly posting denigrating things about me on social media.' She called the restraining order Gruffudd's effort 'to muzzle me and violate my First Amendment rights.' And, she added. 'There is absolutely no evidence of stalking. I have no idea where he and his wife live, nor do I have any interest in stalking them. This is plainly ridiculous.' Gruffudd sought - and was granted - the restraining order in August 2022 after telling the court how Evans had 'engaged in a smear campaign of hateful text messages, emails and social media postsaimed at intimidating me and my fiance Bianca Wallace while alienating our two young children from me.' With the restraining order due to expire next month, Gruffudd is going back to court August 1 to ask Judge Stinn to extend it, and his new wife, Bianca Wallace, is expected to testify against Evans. 'At the (August 1) hearing, I will be calling witnesses and presenting evidence to show Alice's continued abuse,' declared Gruffudd - whose latest movie, Bad Boys: Ride or Die has grossed more than $400million worldwide. Gruffudd and Evans met on the set of the movie 102 Dalmatians more than 20 years ago. They fell in love in real life and were married in Mexico in 2007. Gruffudd filed for divorce in March 2021, shortly after Evans announced on social media that her husband of 14 years was leaving her. They were divorced in July 2023. Davinia Taylor has expressed her shock at being mistaken for the Coldplay kiss cam woman who was caught cosying up to her CEO boss at the band's concert. Andrew Byron, the head of the billion-dollar AI startup Astronomer, was broadcast on the big screen at Boston's Gillette Stadium with his arm around the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot during Coldplay's gig there Tuesday night. They rapidly covered their faces, with Byron diving out of view and Cabot turning her back to the camera, but their reaction caught the attention of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who joked: 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.' And amid the clip instantly viral, Davinia has been forced to deny she's having an affair as she told of being compared to the cheating woman by a work colleague. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the actress, 47, recounted to her followers that a colleague had said that her pals had asked 'is that Davinia having an affair?' in their WhatsApp group chat. Quickly jumping to her own defence, Davinia exclaimed: 'Absolutely not', before listing the reasons why she wouldn't have had a dalliance with the sneaky tech executive. Davinia Taylor has expressed her shock at being mistaken for the Coldplay kiss cam woman who was caught cosying up to her CEO boss at the band's concert Andrew Byron, the head of AI startup Astronomer, was broadcast on the big screen at Boston's Gillette Stadium with his arm around the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot on Tuesday night The former Hollyoaks star, who is happily in a relationship with Matthew Leyden, firstly noted that she wouldn't have 'time to go' to the Coldplay gig before sharing insisting that she's never go with a tech executive. She remarked: 'I'm very happy with my hands on builder.' She also told how she never wears her hair down as she expressed her confusion at being mistaken for the HR chief. Davinia then went on to share a poll that she conducted, revealing that over 20% of her fans believed she looked like the kiss cam woman. Meanwhile, her followers took to the comments with many admitting that they did mistake the kiss cam woman for her upon first glance. They penned: 'Yessssss - Ive been waiting for someone to say this - I thought you looked a like as soon as I saw the video.' 'So funny the thought crossed my mind too I had to zoom in to check.' 'At first glance yes! Bet they both wish theyd had some Willpowder now though.' Quickly jumping to her own defence on Instagram, Davinia exclaimed: 'Absolutely not', before listing the reasons why she wouldn't have had a dalliance with the sneaky tech executive The ex Hollyoaks star, who is in a relationship with Matthew Leyden, firstly noted that she wouldn't have 'time to go' to the Coldplay gig before sharing insisting that she's never go with a tech executive Davinia then went on to share a poll that she conducted, revealing that over 20% of her fans believed she looked like the kiss cam woman Meanwhile, her followers took to the comments with many admitting that they did mistake the kiss cam woman for her upon first glance 'This is so funny though because I did a double take. Think its the twinkly eyes.' 'Ive got to say at first glance I thought so too! But then I realised.' 'I defo thought it was you at first glimpse!!! I thought: no way is she cheating on her fit hubby with THAT.' Amid the shocking clip going viral, Byron was placed on leave this Friday before the company announced his resignation on Saturday. Public records suggest both Byron, 50, and Cabot, 56, are married - but that they live at different addresses to each of their spouses' registered abodes. Astronomer recently issued a statement announcing that Byron had resigned from the billion-dollar company. 'As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' the statement said. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.' CEO Andy Byron, 50, who was caught on camera at a Coldplay concert cozying up to the company's HR chief Kristin Cabot is revealed to have resigned from Astronomer Astronomer announced the CEO's resignation on Saturday following an internal investigation that put Byron and Cabot on leave on Friday Massachusetts property documents dated in January confirmed that Cabot is currently married to Andrew Cabot, the chief executive of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based booze maker Byron is also married, with his wife Megan Byron, removing his last name from her social media accounts shortly after the exchange with Chris Martin went viral Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will stay on as interim CEO. 'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. Were continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.' Speculation of the suspected affair became the talk of the internet, and Daily Mail confirmed that Cabot is in fact currently married to another CEO. Massachusetts property documents dated in January confirmed that Cabot is currently married to Andrew Cabot, the chief executive of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based booze maker. It is unclear exactly when the pair tied the knot, but the documents confirm that Cabot, whose maiden name is Stanek, was married at the time of selling a $1.8m property in Watertown, Mass, earlier this year. Privateer Rums website lists Andrew Cabot as its CEO and COO of the company, and public documents show that he has been married at least twice before, in 1993 and 2014. He shares two children with his first wife Maud, who shared a picture of her ex-husband with Cabot looking loved up at his daughters 25th birthday party on social media in April of last year. She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan. Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain. Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years. After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans. Katie, now 47, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017. Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, Daily Mail takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price. The many faces of Katie Price: Daily Mail takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts 1995 - Barefaced beauty At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling. At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan. Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age. 1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling 1998 - First boob job Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C. The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure. Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters. 1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C 1999 - Second and third boob job Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21. Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to a F cup. Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones. 1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21 2001 - Lip fillers At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers. While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene. Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions. 2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers 2004 - Botox Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles. She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.' At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.' 2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines 2006 - Fourth boob job Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup. The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle. She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox. 2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup 2007 - First nose job and veneers At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers. 'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.' Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!' 2007:Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers 2008 - Fifth boob job Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup. The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job 10 years prior. Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range. 2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup 2011 - Sixth boob job Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup. Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers. The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'. 2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup 2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh. Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.' Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup. 2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast 2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust. The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis. Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration. 2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup 2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift. The procedure is designed to lift a sagging cheeks and blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features. However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml. 2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word 2018 - Second face lift Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it. She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had He agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.' 2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 2019 - Third face lift, boob job first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation. The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck. Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup. 2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck 2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel. The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure. Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.' 2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job 2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum. The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal. The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash. 2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts 2022 - Another brow and eye lift Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage. Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.' It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work. Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years! 'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow. 'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched. 'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face. 'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.' 2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to to travel to Turkey for more surgery 2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th. The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium. She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size. Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more. 'I would go bigger as well and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look. 'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.' 2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th 2024 - MORE facial surgery In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing. The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure. A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court. 2024: Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing 2025 - Facelift 'tweaks' In January 2025, Katie flew abroad for 'tweaks' to her sixth 10,000 face lift and documented the trip for a new YouTube video. Katie, who was also getting a mini lift on her nose said she ignored the doctor's warnings about potential scarring and was just eager to get in and have her surgery. After undergoing the tweaks to her facelift and nose, the surgery wasn't finished for Katie. She had planned to get her ears pinned back to match her new taut visage, but after her blood pressure dropped during the surgery, the doctors advised she get the procedure the following day under local anesthetic. The Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner has tragically passed away at the age of 54, the Daily Mail can confirm. The actor died in Costa Rica on Sunday after drowning while swimming off the coast, according to local authorities who spoke with ABC News. The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warners body was discovered near Cocles, a beach in the Limon province. He was reportedly caught by a strong current, and his official cause of death has been listed as asphyxia. Daily Mail has reached out to Warners representatives for comment, but they have not yet responded. While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, experts note that some beaches in Costa Rica can pose serious risks depending on conditions. The Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner has tragically died after drowning at the age of 54, according to TMZ (seen in 2006) Though many areas are safe for swimming, others are known for powerful currents and rip tides that demand caution. Warner was best known for his iconic role as Theodore Huxtable, the only son of Cliff Huxtable, on the beloved NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, earning widespread acclaim and becoming a household name. According to WedMD, Asphyxia 'happens when your body doesn't get enough oxygen to keep you from passing.' Breathing impairment, due to water inhalation, can cause the condition, which can result in unconsciousness or death. Although it is unknown what caused him to drown, the waters in Costa Rica can be dangerous, depending on the specific beach and conditions. While many beaches offer safe swimming, some have strong currents and rip tides that require caution. The actor, best known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the beloved NBC sitcom, appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. At the time, Warner was just a teenager, but his performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards. The actor, best known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the beloved NBC sitcom, appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992 (seen in 1899) In the show, Theo is diagnosed with dyslexia after struggling academically during his freshman year at New York Universityan arc that resonated with many viewers; seen in 1990 Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, born in 2017. While he occasionally shared glimpses of his family life on social media, he chose to keep their identities private, opting not to publicly reveal their names. His character, Theo, was based on Bill Cosbys real-life son, Ennis Cosby, and was portrayed with depth and sensitivity. In the show, Theo is diagnosed with dyslexia after struggling academically during his freshman year at New York Universityan arc that resonated with many viewers. Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner carved out a successful and diverse career in both comedy and drama. The actor was in Costa Rica with his family where he drowned while swimming off the coast of Costa Rica on Sunday, local authorities told ABC News He starred as Malcolm McGee in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (19962000) opposite Eddie Griffin, and later headlined BETs Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015 as Dr. Alex Reed. His television credits also included recurring roles and guest appearances on shows like Sons of Anarchy, Jeremiah, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Community. Warner also voiced the Producer character on the educational childrens series The Magic School Bus. Prior to his breakout role, Warner, who was born in New Jersey, he attended a performing arts school in New York City. Cosby personally selected Warner to play his son. In 2023, Warner insisted he and the rest of the cast of The Cosby Show 'still very proud of' their hit series. The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warners body was discovered near Cocles, a beach in the Limon province (Playa Cocles pictured above) Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner carved out a successful and diverse career in both comedy and drama (pictured on The Resident) 'We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other,' he told People. 'Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I'm still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on first and foremost, Black culture but also American culture,' Warner explained, nodding to the rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment claims against his former onscreen dad. News of Warners sudden death has left fans and colleagues in shock. 'That man gave us one of the greatest scenes in the history of television. I cannot even believe this. I am over here SOBBING! Rest in poetry, Malcolm Jamal Warner,' one fan wrote on X. Another tweeted: 'Rest in power to Malcolm-Jamal Warner (19702025), who passed away on July 21, 2025, at age 54 from an accidental drowning. Forever our Theo Huxtable, a symbol of Black excellence, grace, and artistry. Your legacy shines on.' Jamie Foxx was among the first Hollywood stars to pay tribute to Warner. 'Speechless on this one rest in power, my brother,' he wrote on Instagram, almost immediately after the news broke. Harrowing new details have emerged in the shooting death of Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman's grandson aged just 13. Anthony Zecca was accidentally shot and killed by his own father, Gregory, 38 - who is the son of Chapman's wife Francie - at their family apartment in Naples on Saturday evening. Zecca's fatal gunshot wound was on his neck, just above his sternum, with no exit wound, per a police report from the Collier County Sheriff's Office in Florida obtained by DailyMail.com. Law enforcement said Zecca had lost a huge amount of blood by the time they arrived at the scene - with the teenager receiving CPR, chest compressions and a chest seal in an ultimately futile bid to save his life. Deputies were dispatched at 8:08pm ET to the scene - with Zecca pronounced dead at 8:21pm ET. The firearm used in the shooting was on the kitchen island when deputies arrived. Harrowing new details have emerged in the shooting death of Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman's grandson Anthony Zecca aged just 13 - Anthony is the son of Gregory Zecca, the son of Chapman's wife Francie (the family are pictured in 2022) Anthony was accidentally shot and killed by his own father, Gregory, 38 at their family apartment in Naples on Saturday evening - Zecca is pictured in 2021 A spokesman for the The Collier County Sheriffs Office told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'The call came into our dispatch at 8:08 p.m. This was an isolated incident. 'Our detectives are conducting a thorough investigation looking into all the elements of this tragic incident. 'The investigation includes statements from witnesses who were at the scene, forensic testing, subpoenas, and search warrants. Gregory - who is Francie's son from a previous marriage - reportedly collaborates with his stepfather Duane on his bounty hunting team. He is notably a gun enthusiast. Back in 2021, he proudly shared photos of himself and his late son 'getting some range time in' with their rifles. Gregory has now disabled his social media accounts. Duane and Francie, 56, who is his sixth wife, addressed the terrible loss in a statement. They shared: We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony. Chapman is pictured with wife Francie DailyMail.com requested comment from Duane's representative but hasn't yet received a response. Last year, Anthony spent the summer with his grandparents and told a story about how he felt the wind of the Holy Spirit while visiting his 'Meemaw' in the hospital ER in 2023 after she injured her ankle. Anthony and Duane sat on a bench in the waiting room when he suddenly felt a gush of cold wind blowing in from outside even though it was a warm, rainy day. 'When we're walking to her room I feel the wind again but from a different direction. When it first came, it hit me [on my chest]. But when it came again, it hit me from the back,' the Christian child marveled. 'And I'm wondering what is this? Because the doors didn't open this time, so why am I getting hit by wind? [It was] the Holy Spirit. And I asked Meemaw and she said, "It was the Holy Spirit."' Francie had been feeling miserable but 'after X-rays and after we prayed, we go back into the room and she's just fine. She said, "This don't even hurt anymore." And it turned out to not be broken.' Zecca, 38 who is Francie's son from a prior marriage reportedly collaborates with his stepfather Duane on his bounty hunting team (pictured in 2021) Notably, Chapman's son is a gun enthusiast. Back in 2021, he proudly shared photos of himself and his late son 'getting some range time in' with their rifles Despite the horrific nature of Anthony's death, local law enforcement is calling the freak accident an 'isolated incident,' and no arrests have been made (pictured in 2021) Chapman and his 56-year-old wife his sixth addressed the terrible loss in a statement: 'We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony' (pictured in 2024) One year ago, little Anthony spent the summer with his grandparents and told a story about how he felt the wind of the Holy Spirit while visiting his 'Meemaw' in the hospital ER in 2023 after she injured her ankle (pictured in 2024) Aside from artillery and Jesus, little Anthony also enjoyed dancing to Usher and attending local Comic Con conventions where he posed with Predator. The Chapmans who began dating in 2020 first bonded over their shared grief about being widowed. Duane suffered the loss of his fifth wife Beth Smith in 2019 to stage II throat cancer and Francie suffered the loss of her husband Bob Frane in 2018. 'We understood the pain that the other one was feeling, and [in] those tough days and moments, we helped each other stand up,' she told ET in 2020. 'We could cry with each other and talk about what we were feeling. We were able to walk alongside each other through the pain and heartbreak, and it brought us together in this amazing way.' The mourning couple will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary on September 2. Duck Dynasty star Jessica Robertson was trolled for her 'backhanded' pregnancy announcement for her daughter Priscilla, 18, this week. Robertson, 44, whose daughter Merritt, 21, is also pregnant, took to Instagram to announce Priscilla's pregnancy - admitting motherhood at such a young age 'isn't the plans we had laid out.' Sharing photos of Priscilla showing off her bump, Robertson wrote: 'Me & Jep are excited to welcome another new grandbaby in October. 'Priscilla will give birth to our granddaughter & we are blessed to add another grandbaby. 'This isnt the plans we had laid out for Priscilla but God takes our meager offerings and turns them into His greatest blessings! 'We are so proud that Priscilla & Dillon chose life for their baby and we will all be rewarded with this precious baby girl! We pray blessings on her pregnancy & ask God for a safe delivery for Mom & Baby. We praise God for His perfect gifts! Duck Dynasty star Jessica Robertson was trolled for her 'backhanded' pregnancy announcement for her daughter Priscilla, 18, this week - pictured with husband Jep Robertson, 44, whose daughter Merritt, 21, is also pregnant, took to Instagram to announce Priscilla's pregnancy - admitting motherhood at such a young age 'isn't the plans we had laid out' 'Pray for us! 3 babies under 1!' Fans quickly called out Robertson for sounding 'disappointed' in her post - and made light of her announcement for Merritt - who got married last year - which read: 'Over the moon to announce another grand baby on the way!!! Baby girl due December 2025!!' Fans wrote: 'Ugh the disappointment she must feel when her own mom adds in: this isnt the plans we had for.. 'You announced merritts pregnancy before you announced Priscillas and Priscilla is due before Merritt, why is that?? Because youre ashamed of her for not being married? This post is very backhanded. I feel so sorry for this sweet girl!! 'I hope she hasnt been made to feel ashamed of this. Life happens and she has made the choice to be a mother. Congratulations to her 'Isnt the plans we had for you. Okay just say youre disappointed then.' 'Such an odd way to announce a pregnancy. Extremely backhanded. 'This poor girl. Praises and bash all in the same post.' Fans quickly called out Robertson for sounding 'disappointed' in her post - and made light of her announcement for Merritt - who got married last year - which read: 'Over the moon to announce another grand baby on the way!!! Baby girl due December 2025!!' 'Backhanded compliments for the win! Gotta make sure the world knows her Christian parents didn't approve of her "sins" in order to save face. I also grew up in this kind of family and am SO glad I broke the cycle. Poor girl. Others supported Robertson for her candid post - with the family well-known for their strong Christian faith and conservative beliefs, One fan wrote: 'She worded it perfectly. Yall, they are on a Christian platform and published authors in the spotlight. Others typed: 'They had to acknowledge it in some way, while still celebrating the AMAZING news of life on its way. Its not shame, its transparency. Jessica, ignore the weird comments on here you worded it just fine. Congrats on another grand baby!!! 'Congratulations! This post is worded beautifully. Priscilla will be an amazing mother!' The announcement comes two months after the death of Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, the father of Jep, at 79. The professional hunter turned reality star's family announced the news in a Facebook post, leaving fans devastated. 'We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,' Phil's daughter-in-law Korie Robertson said Sunday on Facebook. Others praised Jessica for maintaining her Christian beliefs and congratulating her daughter The announcement comes two months Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson died at the age of 79 She thanked people who had prayed for Phil, who dealt with Alzheimer's disease in his final months. She recalled how he bravely told loved ones that he was not afraid of death and considered it a comeback to the kingdom of God. A number of shocked fans posted messages of support, with one saying: 'Honestly, Phil was like Americas grandpa.' Another added: 'He put smiles on the faces of us all!' Late last year, Robertson had received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, his family said on the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast. Phil's son Jase Robertson had previously said on the podcast that his father had been battling a blood disease. 'Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus,' she wrote. She added, 'We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again.' Korie said the Robertson family would continue to remember their late patriarch. 'We know so many of you love him and have been impacted by his life,' she said. She added the family was planning on 'having a private service for now, but well share details soon about a public celebration of his life.' Pip Edwards' ex Dan Single has broken his silence on a horrific accident that left him in an induced coma. The Ksubi designer was left injured after he fell from a third-storey balcony at an upscale Paris hotel in 2017. The accident saw him plunge several storeys, shattering his legs and leaving him in a coma for eight days. Dan has revealed how the incident that saw him 'die for ten minutes' was a 'life-changing experience'. 'Falling off a fourth-floor balcony in Paris in 2017, dying and then coming back to life, was certainly a life-changing moment,' he told Esquire. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Pip Edwards' ex Dan Single has broken his silence on a horrific accident that left him in an induced coma for several days Dan was left injured after he fell from a third-storey balcony at an upscale Paris hotel in 2017. He shattered his legs and was left in a coma for eight days. Pictured Dan and ex-wife Bambi 'When you die you will never know if you achieved your dreams or if you got the house or if the business didn't work out because you are dead. 'It's just finished. It sounds a bit morbid, but I think that has stopped me from being scared or regretting things.' His ex-wife Bambi Northwood-Blyth, a model and TV presenter, was in the Hotel Grand Amour apartment with Dan on March 11, 2017, when he fell 'feet first' from a bedroom window. Alongside two friends, she was seen rushing to a nearby hospital, where Dan was placed in an induced coma. A month later, previously supportive fans turned on him, labelling him 'pathetic' for using fundraising website GoFundMe to ask for $250,000 to cover hospital bills. An anonymous donor said: 'How come you can fund partying, drinking and overseas trips but not your own recovery?' 'I'll give you $5 with the sole intent of telling you what an idiot everyone thinks you are.' It was later claimed Bambi was 'mortified' about Dan's decision to ask for money, and reports subsequently emerged speculating the pair had split during the fallout. He also previously dated PE Nation founder Pip, the mother of his 18-year-old son Justice, but they split in 2008 and have remained on good terms In 2018, Dan confirmed his split with Bambi on the 12-month anniversary of the balcony fall. Alongside an image of his estranged wife, he explained: 'When I fell, my hips and pelvis broke in half, and with that our D&B co-dependent relationship broke too.' 'We were no longer joined at the hip. Two people cannot live as one, it's not healthy, you can try but you're really living half a life.' He also previously dated PE Nation founder Pip, the mother of his 18-year-old son Justice, but they split in 2008 and have remained on good terms. Former Sex and The City star Gilles Marini is siding with viewers who think the spinoff And Just Like That should end. The 49-year-old French actor's breakout role was in the 2008 Sex and the City movie, in which he portrayed Dante, a lusted-after neighbor of Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones. Speaking with the US Sun this week, he said about the HBO spinoff, 'Everything takes its time. It goes up, and then it goes down. We have to know and understand when it's time to go.' He suggested, 'Maybe taking the side of one of the characters and having this history behind of Sex and The City, but making something so clearly different.. somebody else come in with something new, you know? Really fresh, like the storyline has to be completely shattered.' Marini noted that the show could stand to be more relatable: 'And something that is meaningful nowadays. Everybody loved this show because everybody could relate. Let's have a show where really everyone can relate a little bit [more].' Former Sex and The City star Gilles Marini is siding with viewers who think the spinoff And Just Like That should end The 49-year-old French actor's breakout role was in the 2008 Sex and the City movie; pictured in 2022 Fans of And Just Like That season 3 were left furious following episode eight last week, and accused the show's main characters of competing for 'biggest dummy.' The episode, called Happily Ever After, saw Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) reunite with boyfriend Aidan Shaw (John Corbett), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) nearly relapse on alcohol. While aware of fans' critiques of the show, he said he'd like to hear from viewers who aren't familiar with Sex And the City. And despite his thoughts on the changes the new show should make, he said he would not be opposed to taking a role on the series. 'If I got the call Id run to it. Absolutely. I think one of the most amazing things that I had the chance to do in my life was Sex And The City,' he told the outlet. Gilles also addressed Cattrall's decision not to return to the small screen as Samantha. 'To each their own. Sometimes people want to start something, and then when they're done, they're done with it. 'At the end of it, look at the career she has, I mean, everything shes done. She doesn't need [anything]. Its her decision, of course,' he reasoned. He acknowledged the opportunities that appearing in the movie have afforded him. The hunky stat reflected, 'Michael Patrick King, the director of the film, he said, "Listen, when the movie comes out, your life will never be the same and your phone will never stop ringing." And I'm like, why? Why is he saying that? And now I know why he said that.' Marini portrayed the character Dante, a lusted-after neighbor of Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones, in the film The original Sex and the City show ran for six seasons, airing on HBO from 1998 to 2004; L-R Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall pictured in 1999 On Monday, July 21 he paid tribute to former Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who drowned in Costa Rica on Sunday at age 54 Marini began his career working as a baker and a fireman before moving to the United States to begin a modeling career. After the success of the Sex And the City film, he was invited to participate in the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. He earned a runner-up position alongside partner Cheryl Burke and was invited back for the fifteenth season, placing sixth. On Monday, July 21 he paid tribute to former Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who drowned in Costa Rica on Sunday at age 54. Sharing a photo of them, he wrote, 'He was a light in so many lives, kind, thoughtful, and full of spirit. 'It's hard to believe he's gone. I'll always remember the moments we shared, the laughter, the talks, and the quiet understanding. 'My deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, and everyone who was lucky enough to know him. May his memory be a blessing and may he rest in peace.' In April, Nadia, a US Navy sailor, rented a car from Hertz to visit her mother. After nine days, she returned the vehicle to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Before handing over the keys, she drove through an AI scanner at Hertz's request. Hours later, she received a message from Hertz and its new AI partner, UVeye, demanding $935: $500 for damage, and $435 in fees. The system had flagged two small dents on the passenger side. 'I know for a fact I didn't cause any of the damages,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I was primarily at my mother's house with the car parked.' Nadia's experience reflects a pattern emerging among Hertz customers. DailyMail.com has spoken to scores of drivers who say the scanners are flagging dents, scrapes, and rim scuffs they don't recognize and charging them with fees between $130 and $935 that are hard to refute. In April, Hertz announced its partnership with UVeye, an AI-equipped vehicle scanning company. The technology is already in use at five locations, with plans to expand in major airport-based rental spots by the end of the year. Hertz says the system improves driver safety, standardizes assessments, and catches hard-to-spot damage like undercarriage wear and tire scuffs. Screenshots shared with DailyMail.com show Hertz charged a Navy Sailor $935 for these two dents Independent experts said the AI scanners and the customer-facing problems they're creating are raising broader questions about automation and what rights renters have when disputing a fee. Hertz initially told DailyMail.com that these scanners were solely safety-focused. After customers started to complain, the company changed its tune: a spokesperson said 'fees are based on the actual losses and expenses we incur as a result of vehicle damage.' When DailyMail.com pressed the company about its own policies, Hertz representatives have either ignored questions entirely or claimed not to understand them. Since July 2, DailyMail.com has asked Hertz representatives five separate times to clarify whether damage charges fund actual repairs or compensate for diminished vehicle value. Hertz has still not answered this question after multiple follow-ups. When asked about company policies, Hertz representatives insisted on the publication of 'before photos' from customers rather than addressing questions about charging transparency. And as the scanners and their fees continue, more drivers are speaking out. Hertz launched its partnership with UVeye in April. At the time, the company said the program would ensure vehicle safety and wouldn't nickel-and-dime customers for cosmetic issues Nadia, a US Navy Sailor, shared this damage charge with DailyMail.com Hertz is operating at least five scanners across the US and it has plans to launch the tech in other major airports A customer who rented from Newark Liberty International Airport shared an email thread with DailyMail.com after receiving a $416.95 bill for 'cosmetic damage to the tire rim' from the scanner damage he says he never noticed. 'We paid the amount only because the online claims page presented legal threats and offered no way to speak with a real person,' the driver wrote to a Hertz representative. He asked for photo documentation to share with his credit card company. The human-led damage team replied that they 'do not have access' to those files. Hertz tells DailyMail.com that it is integrating live agents into the UVeye applications to better assist customers with similar issues. Another renter said he was charged $130 for a tiny dent on a Kia K4 sedan even though his three-day rental only cost $116 with an AAA discount. Other drivers claimed they were charged $130 for a dent 'the size of a fingernail,' and $195 for 'a very dubious and minor ding.' The new stories mirror accusations made by at least four other drivers in the past month. In early July, Adam Foley spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com after he received a request for $285 after driving his rented Buick through the scanners. Another driver was charged $130 for this dent, according to screenshots obtained by DailyMail.com Adam Foley received a notification to 'save big!' if he paid the fine immediately - when he tried to refute the charge, he was only given an option to speak to an AI agent Like every case DailyMail.com has reviewed, Hertz offered Foley a discount if he paid the fine immediately and directed his dispute to an AI chatbot. 'It's a shakedown that is extremely off-putting,' Foley said. 'I used to view Hertz as one of the higher tier rental companies and my default, ideal choice.' While Hertz says live agents will soon come into the app, independent experts have warned that the lack of human agents is concerning. 'It is unacceptable that a resolution with a human is not possible,' said Dr Ramnath Chellappa, a digital market expert and professor at Emory University. 'If anything, AI should be reducing the human effort in assessment and walk-through with the vehicle; therefore, it should end up offering cost savings.' Collision experts aren't even sure the scanner identified definitive damage. 'There appears to be a very minor dent visible only under enhanced lighting and reflection distortion,' Alex Black, the chief marketing officer of EpicVIN, a vehicle history report company, said after analyzing pictures Foley shared. 'It's plausible that the second fine is a reflection or a smudge, not an actual dent.' UVeye is capable of scanning multiple touchpoints on the car and is also used in GM and Toyota dealerships Another Hertz renter said they received a $130 charge for this dent - their three-day rental period only cost $116 Black said he would have quoted $100 to $150 for the fix, not the $285 that Hertz had charged Foley. Every customer who spoke to DailyMail.com about receiving a charge has said they will no longer use Hertz. The new claims also mirror accusations made to other major publications. On July 9, The New York Times interviewed a customer who was charged $195 for a small dent underneath a door handle, according to the article. 'It could have been a shadow,' Kelly Rogers, who rented the car with her husband, told the Times. 'We were pulling it up on the app, and we're like, "This is so bananas."' Another driver, identified as Patrick, told The Drive he got a $440 damage fee for a tire rash, a common scrape when motorists accidentally hit the curb when parking. Several people have also taken to Reddit to complain about the charges, including a driver who rented a Toyota Corolla, and claims they got a $190 fee for a small dent. DailyMail.com asked UVeye about the company's involvement in assessing damage. The company hasn't responded to multiple requests for comment. A classic Detroit brand is going to make some big changes across America. Stellantis the company running iconic American car brands Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram shocked investors, admitting it lost $2.68 billion in the first half of 2025. That extends a streak of sales bungles. Last year, the company reported a 70 percent plummet in profits. Now, experts tell DailyMail.com that consumers should expect to see a lineup of rumbling gas-burners at US dealerships to boost those sales. 'Brand portfolio decisions made under the prior leadership missed the core needs of existing Ram, Dodge, and Jeep customers,' Rella Suskin, an analyst at MorningStar, said. 'This has left wide gaps in these brands' offering relative to where the market demand lies.' The first gas-powered shoe to drop was Ram's decision to revive the Hemi V8 version of its full-size pickup truck. Last year, the truckmaker killed the grumbly 5.7-liter engine for a more efficient, higher-powered V6 engine. But customers balked at the decision to kill the gas-guzzler, forcing the truck's top boss to apologize in a new ad campaign. Stellantis, the company that operates Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram, said it lost around $2.7 billion in the first six months of the year 'We own it. We got it wrong. And we're fixing it,' Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of the Ram brand, said in its latest commercial, speaking over the thunderous growl of the truck's iconic V8 cylinders. 'You hear that? That's our HEMI. And it's saying, "We're back."' Suskin said the shift back to rumbling tailpipes will extend to other brands, too. She pointed out that Jeep is bringing back the mid-sized Jeep Cherokee this year, plugging the company back into the best-selling segment in American carmaking. 'For Dodge, the company had focused on a new electric version model, however this does not speak to the core customer,' she added. 'Stellantis will look to bring back a car to appease the core customer.' The about-face comes as Stellantis faces a financial crisis that's forcing the dramatic strategy shift. The company's staggering billion-dollar first-half loss was revealed ahead of a scheduled July 29 earnings release. Ram said it will bring back a V8 Hemi option for truck drivers by the end of the year Antonio Filosa, the company's new CEO, said he is rebuilding relationships with dealers and customers The financial meltdown isn't surprising. Former CEO Carlos Tavares abruptly quit in December with two years left on his contract, leaving replacement Antonio Filosa a gargantuan clean-up task. Meanwhile, Trump's tariffs are hammering the company hard. Stellantis has already paid $350 million in tariffs this year and expects the bill to hit $1.5 billion by December. US shipments have cratered 25 percent. But here's the kicker for car buyers: prices at dealerships are expected to jump this year, Suskin said. Dodge currently has 118 days worth of unsold cars sitting on lots way above the industry average of 82 days. That massive inventory glut, combined with pre-tariff vehicles still being sold off, has kept prices artificially low. 'Management alluded to the avoidance of price increases thus far,' she said. 'But we expect price increases to be used as a tariff-impact mitigation lever.' Stellantis declined to comment. Shoppers were full of jealousy after a TikTok user revealed food court offerings at a Costco in Japan. The TikToker, known as racquecitytravels, visited a Costco in Tokyo this month and ordered items like a 20-piece chicken stick bucket and matcha ice cream. 'If you have the time in your itinerary, I suggest spending an afternoon at your closest Costco trying out the different food court menu items & shopping around,' she wrote in her video caption. Other items commenters couldn't stop freaking out about on the food court menu included a jumbo Bulgogi Bake, melon smoothie, and the fan-favorite combo pizza, which has been discontinued in the US. Now that shoppers have gotten a hint of the location's menu, many of them are looking to visit Japan just to order one of its 'wild' offerings. 'I needed a reason to move and this was the icing on the cake,' a commenter wrote. 'I would go into extreme debt shopping in the Japan Costco,' a shopper responded. 'Everything in Japan is just better than USA I'm starting to see that,' another Costco member added. TikTok users were jealous over Costco's food court menu in Japan, which included jumbo Bulgogi Bakes and combo pizzas Several TikTok users were stunned to see that matcha ice cream was available at Costco in Tokyo Out of over 900 Costco stores worldwide, Japan is home to nearly 40 locations as of this year. The first store opened in 1999 in Hisayama, Fukuoka Prefecture, and it wasn't an easy task in making sure it would be suitable for Japanese culture. 'We had to change some of our apparel. The sizing on men's shirts in Japan, Korea and Taiwan is entirely different,' Costco co-founder Jim Seinegal told the Seattle Times. 'Our Kirkland Signature shirt has an Asian cut to it, slimmer in the waist and smaller sizes.' Despite the changes, Costco was not afraid to bring some of its American-style menu options to menus, including its signature hot dogs. The Japanese stores are also full of Kirkland branded baked goods, which were described as a 'staple at Japanese supermarkets.' Besides the Tokyo store's scrumptious food court items, TikTokers went crazy for its toys, including its Godzilla figure. 'Godzilla figures at a Costco?! - I'm in the wrong country man,' a shopper commented. Slide me Several items ranging from KitKat bars to Godzilla toys are available to purchase at Costco stores in Japan Japan is currently home to nearly 40 stores. As of now, there are over 900 locations worldwide The US has the highest Costco store count worldwide, with more than 600 locations. Many of these stores have implemented changes recently that have ignited fury from shoppers. Backlash began last year after the chain hiked its membership prices for the first time in seven years. It got worse that December after the company announced its plan to replace Pepsi beverages with Coca-Cola. Some members claimed they'd boycott the store after the change was confirmed in January, and the situation worsened in March once the first Coca-Cola machine was spotted in a newly-opened California location. While the changes dramatically changed some members' opinions of Costco, the company still achieved an 8 percent increase in first quarter sales in 2025 to $61.96 billion from last year's $57.39 billion. A Del Taco franchise took a risky, million-dollar move. Now, it's bankrupt. Matador Restaurant Group, a South Carolina-based operator of Del Taco locations in Georgia and Alabama, filed for Chapter 11 protection last week. It's the latest restaurant brand to collapse under financial pressure. The past year has been notably brutal for chains that cater to low- and middle-income diners. And it adds to a string of troubles for Del Taco itself. The brand which competes with Taco Bell and offers $3 to $15 meals like steak tacos, guacamole and chicken burritos, and breakfast wraps has struggled with falling sales. 'D*mmit, I like the fish tacos,' one Del Taco fan said on Reddit. In court filings, Matador blamed its filing on a web of weaker-than-expected sales and high-interest cash advances. The company's financial spiral began in late 2024, when it was hit by a triple threat: declining revenue, surging operational costs, and rapid expansion. A franchise operator that runs 22 locations across the south declared bankruptcy To stay afloat, Matador took out over $2.7 million in merchant cash advances (MCAs) from nine different lenders. But the short-term loans came with steep fees and aggressive repayment terms. Lenders began siphoning money directly from the company's accounts, choking cash flow and making daily operations impossible. In its bankruptcy filing, Matador declared between $1 million and $10 million in both assets and liabilities. Matador is owned by Red Door Brands, which also operates Little Caesars, Arbys, and McAlisters Deli locations in the Southeast. But only the Del Taco business ran into trouble. So far, the company hasn't announced any closures related to the filing. Matador operates most of the Del Taco restaurants in Alabama, though a recently opened location in Huntsville is not part of the brand. Del Taco national sales aren't faring much better. The chain, which has about 600 restaurants nationwide, has logged five straight quarters of same-store sales declines. Parent company Jack in the Box which acquired the brand for $585 million in 2022 is now actively seeking a buyer. Restaurant sales have struggled this year as low- and middle-income consumers keep preparing food at home Del Taco has a menu of Mexican-inspired foods that range from $3 appetizers to $15 meals Lance Tucker took over as Jack in the Box's top boss in March - the company is looking at selling Del Taco's brand just three years after spending $585 million on the chain Matador is the second major Del Taco franchisee to declare bankruptcy in the past year. In February, Newport Ventures, which operated 18 Colorado restaurants, shuttered all of its locations after three months in court. The parent company started reopening 17 of those locations in June. Del Taco and Red Door Brands didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's requests for comment. Theyre not alone in the restaurant industry fallout. Several other iconic fast food and fast casual eateries have recently plummetted into bankruptcy court. Hooters, the iconic 'breastaurant,' has shuttered about 100 stores and is working through a Chapter 11 filing. TGI Fridays is also working through store closures and bankruptcy. A former top boss is trying to revive the brand in a franchise model. Last year, Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy protection following a disasterous run of shrinking sales. First Horizon Corporation (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seventeen ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, ten have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $23.28. FHN has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Raymond James Financial reissued an outperform rating and issued a $24.00 price target (up previously from $20.00) on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of First Horizon from $19.50 to $22.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of First Horizon from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $24.00 price target (up previously from $22.00) on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of First Horizon from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Get First Horizon alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on First Horizon Institutional Inflows and Outflows First Horizon Stock Performance A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FHN. Jones Financial Companies Lllp purchased a new position in First Horizon in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of First Horizon during the 4th quarter worth $2,589,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 128.8% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,751 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $136,000 after acquiring an additional 3,801 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 29.9% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,568 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 591 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 301,577 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,074,000 after acquiring an additional 2,687 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.28% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE FHN opened at $22.33 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $20.56 and its 200 day moving average price is $19.99. First Horizon has a 1 year low of $14.34 and a 1 year high of $22.44. The company has a market capitalization of $11.33 billion, a PE ratio of 14.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.96. First Horizon (NYSE:FHN Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.04. First Horizon had a net margin of 17.10% and a return on equity of 10.55%. The firm had revenue of $830.19 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $832.95 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.36 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that First Horizon will post 1.67 earnings per share for the current year. First Horizon Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. First Horizons payout ratio is currently 38.71%. About First Horizon (Get Free Report First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through Regional Banking and Specialty Banking segments. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for First Horizon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Horizon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of NexGen Energy (NYSE:NXE Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Buy from the six research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating on shares of NexGen Energy in a research report on Friday, April 4th. Desjardins initiated coverage on shares of NexGen Energy in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Get NexGen Energy alerts: Read Our Latest Report on NXE NexGen Energy Trading Up 0.1% NXE opened at $6.94 on Wednesday. NexGen Energy has a 1-year low of $3.91 and a 1-year high of $8.96. The company has a market capitalization of $3.96 billion, a PE ratio of -43.37 and a beta of 1.55. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $6.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.86. NexGen Energy (NYSE:NXE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by ($0.04). Equities analysts forecast that NexGen Energy will post -0.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of NexGen Energy Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of NexGen Energy by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 26,399 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,000 after purchasing an additional 1,656 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its position in shares of NexGen Energy by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 20,675 shares of the companys stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 1,946 shares during the period. Rathbones Group PLC raised its position in shares of NexGen Energy by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 33,131 shares of the companys stock valued at $149,000 after purchasing an additional 2,100 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of NexGen Energy by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 104,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $690,000 after purchasing an additional 2,648 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its position in shares of NexGen Energy by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 233,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,046,000 after purchasing an additional 2,933 shares during the period. 42.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About NexGen Energy (Get Free Report NexGen Energy Ltd., an exploration and development stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation and development of uranium properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Rook I project that consists of 32 contiguous mineral claims totaling an area of 35,065 hectares located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NexGen Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NexGen Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lowered its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 3.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 983,645 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 37,824 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbHs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $163,295,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. City Holding Co. increased its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 238.0% during the 1st quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 169 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 138.8% during the 1st quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 191 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. purchased a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc increased its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 289.4% during the 4th quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 183 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Down 2.1% Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock opened at $240.40 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 12-month low of $133.57 and a 12-month high of $248.28. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $212.72 and a 200 day moving average of $193.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.25 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.29. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.34. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 42.91% and a return on equity of 34.53%. The business had revenue of $30.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.50 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. The companys revenue was up 44.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.6499 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.16%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $240.00 price target (up previously from $215.00) on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $270.00 target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday. Finally, Susquehanna set a $265.00 target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $258.33. View Our Latest Research Report on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) and Universal (NYSE:UVV Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and valuation. Dividends Altria Group pays an annual dividend of $4.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.0%. Universal pays an annual dividend of $3.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.0%. Altria Group pays out 68.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Universal pays out 86.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Altria Group has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years and Universal has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years. Altria Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get Altria Group alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Altria Group and Universals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Altria Group $24.02 billion 4.09 $11.26 billion $5.97 9.76 Universal $2.95 billion 0.46 $95.05 million $3.78 14.47 Altria Group has higher revenue and earnings than Universal. Altria Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Universal, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility and Risk Altria Group has a beta of 0.59, indicating that its stock price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Universal has a beta of 0.73, indicating that its stock price is 27% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Altria Group and Universal, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Altria Group 2 5 2 0 2.00 Universal 0 0 0 0 0.00 Altria Group presently has a consensus price target of $56.75, suggesting a potential downside of 2.63%. Given Altria Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Altria Group is more favorable than Universal. Profitability This table compares Altria Group and Universals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Altria Group 43.09% -295.44% 25.48% Universal 3.22% 7.89% 3.84% Institutional & Insider Ownership 57.4% of Altria Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.0% of Universal shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Altria Group shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.9% of Universal shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Altria Group beats Universal on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks. About Altria Group (Get Free Report) Altria Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. It sells its products to distributors, as well as large retail organizations, such as chain stores. The company was founded in 1822 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. About Universal (Get Free Report) Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Tobacco Operations; and Ingredients Operations. It is involved in the procuring, financing, processing, packing, storing, and shipping leaf tobacco for sale to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. The company contracts, purchases, processes, and sells flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos that are primarily used in the manufacture of cigarettes; and dark air-cured tobaccos principally used in the manufacture of cigars, natural wrapped cigars and cigarillos, smokeless, and pipe tobacco products. It also provides value-added services, including blending, chemical, and physical testing of tobacco; service cutting for various manufacturers; manufacturing reconstituted leaf tobacco; just-in-time inventory management services; electronic nicotine delivery systems; and smoke testing services for customers. In addition, the company offers testing services for crop protection agents and tobacco constituents in seed, leaf, and finished products, including e-cigarette liquids and vapors; and analytical services that include chemical compound testing in finished tobacco products and mainstream smoke. Further, it provides a various value-added manufacturing processes to produce specialty vegetable and fruit-based ingredients, as well as botanical extracts and flavorings for human and pet food markets; and recycles waste materials from tobacco production. Universal Corporation was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samsonite Group (OTCMKTS:SMSEY Get Free Report) is one of 47 publicly-traded companies in the CONSM PD MISC DIS industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Samsonite Group to similar businesses based on the strength of its institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends and risk. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Samsonite Group and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Samsonite Group alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Samsonite Group $3.59 billion $345.70 million 9.43 Samsonite Group Competitors $2.84 billion $82.79 million 3.74 Samsonite Group has higher revenue and earnings than its competitors. Samsonite Group 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 and Insider Ownership Dividends 42.0% of shares of all CONSM PD MISC DIS companies are owned by institutional investors. 19.4% of shares of all CONSM PD MISC DIS companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Samsonite Group pays an annual dividend of $0.39 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.9%. Samsonite Group pays out 36.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, CONSM PD MISC DIS companies pay a dividend yield of 3.1% and pay out 72.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Samsonite Group is clearly a better dividend stock than its competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Samsonite Group and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Samsonite Group 0 0 0 2 4.00 Samsonite Group Competitors 118 922 1004 29 2.46 As a group, CONSM PD MISC DIS companies have a potential upside of 21.18%. Given Samsonite Groups competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Samsonite Group has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Profitability This table compares Samsonite Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Samsonite Group 8.67% 21.65% 6.52% Samsonite Group Competitors 0.03% 1.22% 0.51% Volatility & Risk Samsonite Group has a beta of 0.69, indicating that its share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Samsonite Groups competitors have a beta of -0.51, indicating that their average share price is 151% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Samsonite Group beats its competitors on 11 of the 15 factors compared. About Samsonite Group (Get Free Report) Samsonite International S.A. engages in the design, manufacture, sourcing, and distribution of travel luggage bags in North America, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The company offers luggage, business, computer, outdoor, casual, and women's bags; and travel accessories and slim protective cases for personal electronic devices primarily under the Samsonite, Tumi, American Tourister, Speck, High Sierra, Gregory, Lipault, Kamiliant, Hartmann, and eBags brands, as well as other owned and licensed brand names. It sells its products through various wholesale distribution channels, as well as through company operated retail stores and e-commerce. The company was founded in 1910 and is based in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Receive News & Ratings for Samsonite Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Samsonite Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arcadia Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,026 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $283,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of USMV. Compass Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 82.0% during the 1st quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLC now owns 273 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. Howe & Rusling Inc. increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 94.2% during the 4th quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. now owns 301 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 146 shares during the period. Chapman Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Columbia River Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Get iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Trading Up 4.8% iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF stock opened at $92.89 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $23.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.90 and a beta of 0.72. The companys 50-day moving average price is $93.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $92.06. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 52 week low of $83.99 and a 52 week high of $95.12. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gries Financial LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Bank Of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO) by 6.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 15,461 shares of the banks stock after selling 1,051 shares during the period. Gries Financial LLCs holdings in Bank Of Montreal were worth $1,477,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BMO. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank Of Montreal by 11.6% during the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 22,296 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,164,000 after acquiring an additional 2,322 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Bank Of Montreal by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 55,674 shares of the banks stock worth $5,403,000 after purchasing an additional 988 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its stake in Bank Of Montreal by 16.7% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 36,175 shares of the banks stock worth $3,511,000 after acquiring an additional 5,185 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in Bank Of Montreal by 10.7% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 23,379 shares of the banks stock worth $2,269,000 after acquiring an additional 2,264 shares during the period. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in Bank Of Montreal by 10.3% in the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 4,045 shares of the banks stock worth $380,000 after acquiring an additional 378 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 45.82% of the companys stock. Get Bank Of Montreal alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently issued reports on BMO shares. Cibc World Mkts cut shares of Bank Of Montreal from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, April 4th. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Bank Of Montreal in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. They set a sector perform rating for the company. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Bank Of Montreal from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays lowered shares of Bank Of Montreal from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, June 9th. Finally, CIBC restated a neutral rating on shares of Bank Of Montreal in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $129.50. Bank Of Montreal Stock Performance Shares of BMO stock opened at $114.50 on Monday. Bank Of Montreal has a 12 month low of $76.98 and a 12 month high of $114.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.07. The companys fifty day moving average price is $108.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $101.06. Bank Of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Get Free Report) (TSE:BMO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 28th. The bank reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.84. The firm had revenue of $6.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.79 billion. Bank Of Montreal had a net margin of 10.25% and a return on equity of 10.15%. The firms revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.59 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Bank Of Montreal will post 7.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank Of Montreal Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be paid a $1.1801 dividend. This represents a $4.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.12%. This is an increase from Bank Of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.11. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 30th. Bank Of Montreals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.33%. Bank Of Montreal Profile (Free Report) Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The companys personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank Of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO). Receive News & Ratings for Bank Of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank Of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robinhood Markets, CocaCola, Vale, Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, Kraft Heinz, and Agnico Eagle Mines are the seven Gold stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Gold stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business is the exploration, mining or processing of gold. By investing in these equities, investors gain exposure both to the market price of gold and to the operational performance of individual mining firms. Because their value reflects company-specific factors as well as golds spot price, gold stocks can be more volatile than the metal itself. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Gold stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Robinhood Markets (HOOD) Robinhood Markets, Inc. operates financial services platform in the United States. Its platform allows users to invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), American depository receipts, options, gold, and cryptocurrencies. The company offers fractional trading, recurring investments, fully-paid securities lending, access to investing on margin, cash sweep, instant withdrawals, retirement program, around-the-clock trading, and initial public offerings participation services. HOOD stock traded down $2.19 during trading on Monday, hitting $107.55. The company had a trading volume of 28,269,705 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,798,402. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $78.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.81. The stock has a market cap of $95.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 61.09, a PEG ratio of 5.60 and a beta of 2.36. Robinhood Markets has a 12 month low of $13.98 and a 12 month high of $113.44. Read Our Latest Research Report on HOOD CocaCola (KO) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. Shares of CocaCola stock traded up $0.56 on Monday, hitting $70.41. 8,466,331 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 16,390,602. CocaCola has a one year low of $60.62 and a one year high of $74.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $303.04 billion, a PE ratio of 28.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.89. The firms 50-day moving average price is $70.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.17. Read Our Latest Research Report on KO Vale (VALE) Vale S.A., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials segments. The Iron Solutions segment produces and extracts iron ore and pellets, manganese, and other ferrous products; and provides related logistic services. Shares of Vale stock traded up $0.35 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $10.12. 41,157,367 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 33,403,499. The stock has a market cap of $45.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Vale has a fifty-two week low of $8.06 and a fifty-two week high of $12.05. The company has a 50 day moving average of $9.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.47. Read Our Latest Research Report on VALE Newmont (NEM) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana. Shares of NYSE NEM traded up $2.18 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $60.37. 6,111,535 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,823,346. Newmont has a 1-year low of $36.86 and a 1-year high of $61.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 1.98. The company has a market cap of $67.19 billion, a PE ratio of 13.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.33. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $55.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.80. Read Our Latest Research Report on NEM Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) Freeport-McMoRan Inc. engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. Shares of NYSE:FCX traded up $0.87 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $45.67. 6,171,060 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,808,408. The firm has a market capitalization of $65.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.82, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 2.32. Freeport-McMoRan has a twelve month low of $27.66 and a twelve month high of $52.61. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $41.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $38.76. Read Our Latest Research Report on FCX Kraft Heinz (KHC) The Kraft Heinz Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets food and beverage products in North America and internationally. Its products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy products, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products under the Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Ore-Ida, Maxwell House, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Heinz, ABC, Master, Quero, Kraft, Golden Circle, Wattie's, Pudliszki, and Plasmon brands. KHC stock traded down $0.25 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $27.58. The stock had a trading volume of 8,732,781 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,661,228. The firm has a market cap of $32.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Kraft Heinz has a 1-year low of $25.44 and a 1-year high of $36.53. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $26.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.60. Read Our Latest Research Report on KHC Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. It explores for gold. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. AEM traded up $4.91 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $122.64. The company had a trading volume of 1,688,331 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,615,438. Agnico Eagle Mines has a 52 week low of $69.72 and a 52 week high of $126.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market capitalization of $61.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.10, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.50. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $117.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $107.33. Read Our Latest Research Report on AEM See Also Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE:BKD Get Free Report) and Concord Medical Services (NYSE:CCM Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, risk and analyst recommendations. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Brookdale Senior Living and Concord Medical Services, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Brookdale Senior Living alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brookdale Senior Living 1 1 3 0 2.40 Concord Medical Services 0 0 0 0 0.00 Brookdale Senior Living presently has a consensus price target of $7.70, suggesting a potential downside of 0.19%. Given Brookdale Senior Livings stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Brookdale Senior Living is more favorable than Concord Medical Services. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Brookdale Senior Living $3.13 billion 0.58 -$201.93 million ($1.04) -7.42 Concord Medical Services $52.60 million 0.47 -$42.23 million N/A N/A This table compares Brookdale Senior Living and Concord Medical Servicess top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Concord Medical Services has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Brookdale Senior Living. Volatility & Risk Brookdale Senior Living has a beta of 0.83, suggesting that its share price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Concord Medical Services has a beta of -0.9, suggesting that its share price is 190% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Brookdale Senior Living and Concord Medical Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brookdale Senior Living -7.52% -79.84% -3.33% Concord Medical Services N/A N/A N/A Summary Brookdale Senior Living beats Concord Medical Services on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Brookdale Senior Living (Get Free Report) Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns, manages, and operates senior living communities in the United States. It operates in three segments: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The Independent Living segment owns or leases communities comprising independent and assisted living units in a single community that are primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors. The Assisted Living and Memory Care segment owns or leases communities consisting of freestanding, multi-story communities and freestanding, single-story communities, which offer housing and 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living for the Companys residents. This segment also operates memory care communities for residents with Alzheimers and other dementias. The CCRCs segment owns or leases communities that provides various living arrangements, such as independent and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing; and services to accommodate various levels of physical ability and healthcare needs. It also manages communities on behalf of others. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. About Concord Medical Services (Get Free Report) Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates a network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in the People's Republic of China. It operates in two segments, Network and Hospital. The company's services include linear accelerators and external beam radiotherapy, proton therapy system, gamma knife radiosurgery, and diagnostic imaging services. Its other treatments and diagnostic services comprise positron emission tomography-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanners. In addition, the company provides clinical support services, such as developing treatment protocols for doctors, and organizing joint diagnosis between doctors in its network and clinical research, as well as helps to recruit and determine the compensation of doctors and other medical personnel. Further, it offers radiotherapy and diagnostic equipment leasing, management services, and premium cancer and proton treatment services to hospitals, as well as teleconsultation and medical information technology services; and sells medical equipment. Additionally, the company operates specialty cancer hospitals, which offers radiation, imaging, test laboratory, inpatient, and nursing services. Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Receive News & Ratings for Brookdale Senior Living Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookdale Senior Living and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 161,696 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,944,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in DEO. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC increased its position in Diageo by 234.4% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,600,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $330,627,000 after acquiring an additional 1,822,994 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in Diageo by 1,181.5% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,406,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $178,745,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296,285 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its position in Diageo by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,813,938 shares of the companys stock valued at $739,126,000 after acquiring an additional 571,873 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Diageo by 39.9% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 649,769 shares of the companys stock valued at $82,605,000 after acquiring an additional 185,282 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Diageo by 4,656.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 154,305 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,170,000 after acquiring an additional 151,061 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the companys stock. Get Diageo alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently issued reports on DEO shares. Morgan Stanley restated an underweight rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Berenberg Bank started coverage on Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $129.00. Diageo Price Performance Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $103.06 on Monday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $106.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $109.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.03 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $99.26 and a 12 month high of $142.73. Diageo Company Profile (Free Report) Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The company offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaca, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavored malt beverages. It also provides Chinese, Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as flavored malt beverages, ready to drink, and non-alcoholic products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DEO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Diageo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Diageo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ping An Insurance Co. of China (OTCMKTS:PNGAY Get Free Report) is one of 58 public companies in the INS MULTI LINE industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Ping An Insurance Co. of China to related companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings and risk. Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.0% of Ping An Insurance Co. of China shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.6% of shares of all INS MULTI LINE companies are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Ping An Insurance Co. of China shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 9.0% of shares of all INS MULTI LINE companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Ping An Insurance Co. of China alerts: Risk and Volatility Ping An Insurance Co. of China has a beta of 0.36, indicating that its stock price is 64% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ping An Insurance Co. of Chinas peers have a beta of -6.73, indicating that their average stock price is 773% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ping An Insurance Co. of China 0 1 0 0 2.00 Ping An Insurance Co. of China Competitors 315 2084 2874 110 2.52 This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Ping An Insurance Co. of China and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. As a group, INS MULTI LINE companies have a potential upside of 17.92%. Given Ping An Insurance Co. of Chinas peers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ping An Insurance Co. of China has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability This table compares Ping An Insurance Co. of China and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ping An Insurance Co. of China 10.42% 9.02% 0.92% Ping An Insurance Co. of China Competitors 10.27% 8.71% 2.85% Dividends Ping An Insurance Co. of China pays an annual dividend of $0.77 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.6%. Ping An Insurance Co. of China pays out 43.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, INS MULTI LINE companies pay a dividend yield of 2.5% and pay out 38.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Ping An Insurance Co. of China and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Ping An Insurance Co. of China $158.77 billion $17.61 billion 7.68 Ping An Insurance Co. of China Competitors $20.68 billion $1.60 billion 81.39 Ping An Insurance Co. of China has higher revenue and earnings than its peers. Ping An Insurance Co. of China is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Ping An Insurance Co. of China peers beat Ping An Insurance Co. of China on 9 of the 15 factors compared. About Ping An Insurance Co. of China (Get Free Report) Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Life and Health Insurance; Property and Casualty Insurance; Banking; Asset Management; and Technology segments. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers. The company's Property and Casualty Insurance segment provides auto, non-auto, and accident and health insurance to individual and corporate customers. Its Banking segment undertakes loan and intermediary businesses with corporate and retail customers; and offers wealth management and credit card services to individual customers. The company's Asset Management segment provides trust products services, brokerage services, trading services, investment banking services, investment management, finance lease, and other asset management services. Its Technology segment offers financial and daily-life services through internet platforms, such as financial transaction information service, and health care service platforms. The company also provides annuity insurance, IT and business process outsourcing, real estate investment and management, futures brokerage, project investment, currency brokerage, property agency, fund raising and distribution, real estate development and leasing, and insurance agency services. In addition, it provides factoring, equity investment, logistics and warehousing, management consulting, e-commerce, and credit information services; and operates an expressway, as well as produces and sells consumer chemicals. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is based in Shenzhen, China. Receive News & Ratings for Ping An Insurance Co. of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ping An Insurance Co. of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dividends Coffee pays an annual dividend of $0.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.0%. Coffee pays out 37.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BEVERAGES SOFT companies pay a dividend yield of 2.8% and pay out 60.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Coffee is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Insider & Institutional Ownership 48.6% of shares of all BEVERAGES SOFT companies are owned by institutional investors. 21.6% of Coffee shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 22.8% of shares of all BEVERAGES SOFT companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Coffee alerts: Profitability This table compares Coffee and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Coffee 4.35% 13.87% 10.11% Coffee Competitors 1.86% -4.95% -0.90% Risk and Volatility Earnings & Valuation Coffee has a beta of 1.33, meaning that its share price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Coffees rivals have a beta of 0.82, meaning that their average share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Coffee and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Coffee $84.65 million $2.22 million 7.45 Coffee Competitors $12.24 billion $1.30 billion -4.04 Coffees rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Coffee. Coffee is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Summary Coffee beats its rivals on 7 of the 11 factors compared. About Coffee (Get Free Report) Coffee Holding Co., Inc. engages in manufacturing, roasting, packaging, marketing, and distributing roasted and blended coffees in the United States, Australia, Canada, England, and China. It offers wholesale green coffee products, including unroasted raw beans that are sold to large, medium, and small roasters, as well as coffee shop operators; and roasts, blends, packages, and sells coffee under private labels in cans, brick packages, and instants of various sizes. The company also roasts and blends company label branded coffee to supermarkets, wholesalers, and individually owned stores; and sells tabletop coffee roasting equipment, instant coffees, and tea products for its customers. Its coffee brands include Cafe Caribe, Don Manuel, S&W, Cafe Supremo, Via Roma, Premier Roasters, and Harmony Bay. The company was formerly known as Transpacific International Group Corp and changed its name to Coffee Holding Co., Inc. in April 1998. Coffee Holding Co., Inc. was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Staten Island, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Coffee Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coffee and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV Get Free Report) is one of 75 public companies in the Other Alt Energy industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare GE Vernova to similar businesses based on the strength of its valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations and risk. Dividends GE Vernova pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.2%. GE Vernova pays out 14.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Other Alt Energy companies pay a dividend yield of 1.1% and pay out 54.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get GE Vernova alerts: Volatility and Risk GE Vernova has a beta of 1.86, suggesting that its share price is 86% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, GE Vernovas rivals have a beta of -71.88, suggesting that their average share price is 7,288% less volatile than the S&P 500. Insider & Institutional Ownership Analyst Recommendations 43.5% of shares of all Other Alt Energy companies are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of GE Vernova shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 18.7% of shares of all Other Alt Energy companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for GE Vernova and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GE Vernova 0 7 20 4 2.90 GE Vernova Competitors 263 991 1657 56 2.51 GE Vernova presently has a consensus target price of $468.88, indicating a potential downside of 18.50%. As a group, Other Alt Energy companies have a potential upside of 2.40%. Given GE Vernovas rivals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe GE Vernova has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Profitability This table compares GE Vernova and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GE Vernova 5.42% 10.10% 2.04% GE Vernova Competitors -41.99% -24.92% -4.00% Earnings & Valuation This table compares GE Vernova and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio GE Vernova $34.94 billion $1.55 billion 82.90 GE Vernova Competitors $3.59 billion $321.70 million 5.80 GE Vernova has higher revenue and earnings than its rivals. GE Vernova is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Summary GE Vernova beats its rivals on 11 of the 15 factors compared. About GE Vernova (Get Free Report) GE Vernova LLC, an energy business company, generates electricity. It operates under three segments: Power, Wind, and Electrification. The Power segments generates and sells electricity through hydro, gas, nuclear, and steam power. Wind segment engages in the manufacturing and sale of wind turbine blades; and Electrification segment provides grid solutions, power conversion, solar, and storage solutions. The company was incorporated in 2023 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Receive News & Ratings for GE Vernova Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GE Vernova and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gries Financial LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IQLT Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 35,738 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,418,000. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in IQLT. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Navigoe LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Garde Capital Inc. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 144.8% in the 4th quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 595 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $55,000. Get iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA IQLT opened at $42.71 on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $42.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $40.68. iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF has a one year low of $35.51 and a one year high of $43.78. The firm has a market cap of $11.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.86 and a beta of 0.87. iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Profile The iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks in developed countries, outside of the US. The index is selected and weighted for exposure to fundamental quality metrics. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IQLT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IQLT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kuehne & Nagel International (OTCMKTS:KHNGY Get Free Report) is one of 45 publicly-traded companies in the TRANS SERVICES industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Kuehne & Nagel International to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, risk, profitability, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations. Dividends Kuehne & Nagel International pays an annual dividend of $1.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Kuehne & Nagel International pays out 54.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, TRANS SERVICES companies pay a dividend yield of 3.0% and pay out 46.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Kuehne & Nagel International lags its rivals as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Get Kuehne & Nagel International alerts: Profitability This table compares Kuehne & Nagel International and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kuehne & Nagel International 4.68% 41.13% 10.28% Kuehne & Nagel International Competitors 2.85% -6.69% 2.80% Insider & Institutional Ownership Valuation and Earnings 55.5% of shares of all TRANS SERVICES companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.4% of shares of all TRANS SERVICES companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. This table compares Kuehne & Nagel International and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Kuehne & Nagel International $28.18 billion $1.34 billion 18.66 Kuehne & Nagel International Competitors $6.81 billion $184.70 million 13.77 Kuehne & Nagel International has higher revenue and earnings than its rivals. Kuehne & Nagel International is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Risk and Volatility Kuehne & Nagel International has a beta of 0.93, indicating that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kuehne & Nagel Internationals rivals have a beta of 0.94, indicating that their average stock price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Kuehne & Nagel International and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kuehne & Nagel International 1 2 0 0 1.67 Kuehne & Nagel International Competitors 365 1338 1515 90 2.40 As a group, TRANS SERVICES companies have a potential downside of 1.15%. Given Kuehne & Nagel Internationals rivals stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Kuehne & Nagel International has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Summary Kuehne & Nagel International rivals beat Kuehne & Nagel International on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Kuehne & Nagel International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kuehne + Nagel International AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated logistics services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Sea Logistics, Air Logistics, Road Logistics, and Contract Logistics. It offers less-than-container load, reefer and project logistics, and flexible container shipping solutions. The company also provides time-critical solutions, sea-air and time-defined products, airside and air charter services, cargo insurance, and customs clearance services. In addition, it offers spare parts logistics, production, and e-commerce logistics, distribution, packaging, and process solutions. Further, the company provides supply chain consulting and order management services. It serves aerospace, automotive, mobility, consumer, healthcare, high-tech and semicon, industrial, and perishables industries. The company was founded in 1890 and is based in Schindellegi, Switzerland. Kuehne + Nagel International AG is a subsidiary of Kuehne Holding AG. Receive News & Ratings for Kuehne & Nagel International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kuehne & Nagel International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Horizon Investment Services LLC reduced its position in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) by 7.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,921 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 652 shares during the period. Horizon Investment Services LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $1,016,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of EOG. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 14.8% during the 4th quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC now owns 826,038 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $101,256,000 after acquiring an additional 106,677 shares during the last quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP increased its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 24.2% during the 1st quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 13,441 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 2,616 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 15.3% during the 1st quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 20,344 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $2,609,000 after purchasing an additional 2,697 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 37.9% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 162,603 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $20,852,000 after purchasing an additional 44,687 shares during the period. Finally, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 182,634 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $23,032,000 after purchasing an additional 8,127 shares during the period. 89.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get EOG Resources alerts: Insider Transactions at EOG Resources In other news, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 3,951 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.65, for a total transaction of $472,737.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 45,739 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,472,671.35. This represents a 7.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. EOG Resources Trading Down 0.7% EOG stock opened at $117.63 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $64.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.91, a PEG ratio of 9.22 and a beta of 0.76. EOG Resources, Inc. has a twelve month low of $102.52 and a twelve month high of $138.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The business has a fifty day moving average of $117.82 and a 200-day moving average of $121.26. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The energy exploration company reported $2.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.75 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $5.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.92 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 22.35% and a net margin of 26.14%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.82 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.47 EPS for the current year. EOG Resources Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be paid a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.47%. This is a boost from EOG Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 17th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is presently 36.18%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth EOG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays increased their target price on EOG Resources from $137.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Bank of America decreased their price objective on EOG Resources from $125.00 to $124.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Morgan Stanley set a $135.00 price objective on EOG Resources and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on EOG Resources from $138.00 to $136.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their price target on EOG Resources from $150.00 to $140.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, EOG Resources has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $139.81. View Our Latest Report on EOG EOG Resources Profile (Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas primarily in producing basins in the United States, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and internationally. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Horizon Investment Services LLC lowered its stake in NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG Free Report) by 8.3% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 5,652 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 511 shares during the quarter. Horizon Investment Services LLCs holdings in NRG Energy were worth $540,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its position in NRG Energy by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 330,700 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,569,000 after acquiring an additional 40,322 shares in the last quarter. Bingham Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in NRG Energy by 14.1% in the 1st quarter. Bingham Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,203 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $306,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in NRG Energy by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 275,525 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $26,302,000 after acquiring an additional 10,491 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its position in NRG Energy by 32.7% in the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 10,082 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $962,000 after acquiring an additional 2,484 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Impact Partnership Wealth LLC lifted its position in NRG Energy by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 5,049 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $482,000 after acquiring an additional 544 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.72% of the companys stock. Get NRG Energy alerts: NRG Energy Trading Up 3.1% NYSE:NRG opened at $151.97 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $154.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $120.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61. NRG Energy, Inc. has a 1-year low of $65.11 and a 1-year high of $168.57. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades NRG Energy ( NYSE:NRG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The utilities provider reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $1.90. The business had revenue of $8.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.28 billion. NRG Energy had a return on equity of 73.78% and a net margin of 4.66%. NRG Energys quarterly revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.31 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that NRG Energy, Inc. will post 6.36 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reissued a market perform rating and set a $167.00 price target (up from $115.00) on shares of NRG Energy in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Raymond James Financial began coverage on shares of NRG Energy in a research report on Friday, June 13th. They set a strong-buy rating and a $195.00 price target on the stock. Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of NRG Energy from $138.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of NRG Energy in a research report on Friday, April 4th. They issued a buy rating and a $129.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of NRG Energy from $113.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, NRG Energy has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $160.30. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on NRG Insider Buying and Selling at NRG Energy In related news, Director Kevin Howell sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.50, for a total transaction of $7,725,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 55,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,563,471.50. This trade represents a 47.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. About NRG Energy (Free Report) NRG Energy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and home services company in the United States and Canada. It operates through Texas; East; West/Services/Other; Vivint Smart Home; and Corporate Activities segments. The company produces and sells electricity generated using coal, oil, solar, and battery storage; natural gas; and a cloud-based home platform, including hardware, software, sales, installation, customer service, technical support, and professional monitoring solutions. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NRG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for NRG Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NRG Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Marcus & Millichap (NYSE:MMI Get Free Report) and International Land Alliance (OTCMKTS:ILAL Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk and earnings. Risk & Volatility Marcus & Millichap has a beta of 1.23, indicating that its share price is 23% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, International Land Alliance has a beta of -0.78, indicating that its share price is 178% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Marcus & Millichap alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Marcus & Millichap and International Land Alliances revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Marcus & Millichap $711.99 million 1.71 -$12.36 million ($0.17) -183.79 International Land Alliance $8.10 million 2.00 $3.05 million N/A N/A International Land Alliance has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Marcus & Millichap. Profitability This table compares Marcus & Millichap and International Land Alliances net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Marcus & Millichap -0.95% -1.09% -0.82% International Land Alliance -43.94% -10.72% -5.10% Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Marcus & Millichap and International Land Alliance, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Marcus & Millichap 1 2 0 0 1.67 International Land Alliance 0 0 0 0 0.00 Marcus & Millichap presently has a consensus target price of $30.00, indicating a potential downside of 3.98%. Given Marcus & Millichaps stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Marcus & Millichap is more favorable than International Land Alliance. Insider & Institutional Ownership 62.8% of Marcus & Millichap shares are owned by institutional investors. 39.2% of Marcus & Millichap shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.2% of International Land Alliance shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Marcus & Millichap beats International Land Alliance on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Marcus & Millichap (Get Free Report) Marcus & Millichap, Inc. engages in the provision of investment real estate brokerage services. It specializes in commercial real estate investment sales, property financing, research, and advisory services. The company was founded by George M. Marcus and William A. Millichap in 1971 and is headquartered in Calabasas, CA. About International Land Alliance (Get Free Report) International Land Alliance, Inc. operates as a residential land development company with target properties located primarily in the Baja California, Northern region of Mexico, and Southern California. Its principal activities include purchasing properties; obtaining zoning and other entitlements required to subdivide the properties into residential and commercial building lots; securing financing for the purchase of the lots; enhance the properties' infrastructure and amenities; and selling the plots to homebuyers, retirees, investors, and commercial developers. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Receive News & Ratings for Marcus & Millichap Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marcus & Millichap and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Internet Initiative Japan (OTCMKTS:IIJIY Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Sunday morning. Internet Initiative Japan Price Performance IIJIY stock opened at $36.80 on Friday. Internet Initiative Japan has a 12 month low of $29.50 and a 12 month high of $44.71. The firm has a market cap of $3.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.03. The companys 50-day moving average price is $37.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.34. Get Internet Initiative Japan alerts: Internet Initiative Japan (OTCMKTS:IIJIY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 13th. The communications equipment provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.52 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $590.48 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $575.53 million. Internet Initiative Japan had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 6.30%. Equities analysts predict that Internet Initiative Japan will post 0.37 EPS for the current year. Internet Initiative Japan Company Profile Internet Initiative Japan Inc provides Internet connectivity, WAN, outsourcing, systems integration, and network-related equipment sales services in Japan. It operates through two segments, Network Services and Systems Integration Business, and ATM Operation Business. The company offers mobile communication and remote access/telework services; WAN/network services, including SDN, multi-cloud network, closed connection, internet VPN, SEIL, remote access, wireless LAN, and GIGA-school; leased line and broadband services; IIJ DNS platform, and domain name registration and maintenance services; IIJ access ID management, dial-up access, and IIJ IPv6 fiber access services; and security solutions for IIJ managed firewall, DDoS protection, and managed IPS/IDS services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Internet Initiative Japan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Internet Initiative Japan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF (NYSEARCA:QVML Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $37.06 and last traded at $37.15, with a volume of 149 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $37.03. Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF Stock Up 0.6% The company has a market cap of $1.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.98 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $35.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.60. Get Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF by 71.7% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 21,660 shares of the companys stock worth $726,000 after buying an additional 9,043 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $137,000. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan increased its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan now owns 34,132,010 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,143,317,000 after acquiring an additional 3,758,630 shares during the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $2,564,000. Finally, ArborFi Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $363,000. Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF Company Profile The Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF (QVML) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index that selects the top 90% of stocks in the S&P 500 based on three factors: quality, value, and momentum. QVML was launched on Jun 30, 2021 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones (NYSE:IRS Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Sunday morning. IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones Stock Performance NYSE:IRS opened at $14.71 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.11 billion, a PE ratio of 9.32 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $14.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a current ratio of 1.88. IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones has a fifty-two week low of $7.93 and a fifty-two week high of $17.67. Get IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones alerts: IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones (NYSE:IRS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $117.45 million during the quarter. IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones had a return on equity of 7.91% and a net margin of 25.95%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones Company Profile A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 53,817 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $694,000 after buying an additional 1,027 shares in the last quarter. Glenorchy Capital Ltd lifted its stake in shares of IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Glenorchy Capital Ltd now owns 43,938 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $656,000 after acquiring an additional 2,262 shares during the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones by 810.8% during the 1st quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 4,718 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 4,200 shares during the last quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA bought a new stake in shares of IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones during the 4th quarter worth approximately $72,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones by 42.7% during the 1st quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 21,341 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $275,000 after acquiring an additional 6,390 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 45.46% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the diversified real estate activities in Argentina. It operates through five segments: Shopping Malls, Offices, Hotels, Sales and Developments, and Others. The company is involved in the acquisition, development, and operation of shopping malls, office buildings, and other non-shopping mall properties primarily for rental purposes. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IRSA Inversiones Y Representaciones and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lewis Asset Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 6.1% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 395 shares during the quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLCs holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $371,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of BMY. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $16,651,000. Avaii Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 590.9% during the first quarter. Avaii Wealth Management LLC now owns 78,597 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $4,794,000 after purchasing an additional 67,221 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.4% in the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 65,038 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,967,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Shorepoint Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Shorepoint Capital Partners LLC now owns 58,426 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,305,000 after buying an additional 1,248 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 550,613 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $33,582,000 after purchasing an additional 80,087 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.41% of the companys stock. Get Bristol Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol Myers Squibb Price Performance BMY stock opened at $47.44 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $96.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.75, a PEG ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.65. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 12-month low of $41.90 and a 12-month high of $63.33. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $47.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $52.89. Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.30. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 87.62% and a net margin of 11.38%. The business had revenue of $11.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.77 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($4.40) EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 92.88%. Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol Myers Squibb In other Bristol Myers Squibb news, EVP Samit Hirawat bought 4,250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 25th. The shares were bought at an average price of $47.58 per share, for a total transaction of $202,215.00. Following the acquisition, the executive vice president directly owned 83,513 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,973,548.54. The trade was a 5.36% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently issued reports on BMY shares. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Bristol Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $36.00 to $34.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a neutral rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. William Blair restated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Piper Sandler began coverage on Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $65.00 price objective for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.69. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lewis Asset Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 3.7% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,904 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 113 shares during the quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLCs holdings in American Express were worth $781,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in American Express by 24.4% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,481 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,924,000 after purchasing an additional 1,273 shares during the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG raised its position in American Express by 24.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 2,633 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. GHE LLC raised its position in American Express by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. GHE LLC now owns 17,021 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $5,052,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the last quarter. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in American Express during the 4th quarter worth $68,000. Finally, Guardian Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in American Express during the 4th quarter worth $8,698,000. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 3,019 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.66, for a total value of $799,008.54. Following the transaction, the insider owned 10,919 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,889,822.54. This represents a 21.66% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 9,450 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.50, for a total transaction of $2,603,475.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,402 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,590,251. This represents a 50.13% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. American Express Trading Down 2.0% AXP opened at $308.92 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $216.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $304.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $291.04. American Express Company has a 1-year low of $220.43 and a 1-year high of $329.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.86 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $17.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.70 billion. American Express had a net margin of 14.78% and a return on equity of 32.87%. The businesss revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.49 earnings per share. Analysts predict that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. American Express Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 3rd. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.02%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AXP. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of American Express from $360.00 to $371.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of American Express from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $327.00 target price on shares of American Express in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, BTIG Research set a $277.00 price target on shares of American Express and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Express has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $307.68. View Our Latest Research Report on American Express American Express Company Profile (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. LTC Properties, Inc. (NYSE:LTC Get Free Report) announced a dividend on Wednesday, July 16th, investing.com reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 24th will be given a dividend of 0.19 per share by the real estate investment trust on Thursday, July 31st. This represents a yield of 6.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 23rd. LTC Properties has a dividend payout ratio of 118.8% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect LTC Properties to earn $2.72 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 83.8%. Get LTC Properties alerts: LTC Properties Stock Performance LTC stock opened at $34.97 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 10.55 and a current ratio of 10.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.03 and a beta of 0.65. LTC Properties has a 1 year low of $31.70 and a 1 year high of $39.89. The stocks fifty day moving average is $35.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.98. Insider Activity at LTC Properties LTC Properties ( NYSE:LTC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $49.03 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $44.43 million. LTC Properties had a net margin of 42.16% and a return on equity of 8.48%. LTC Propertiess revenue for the quarter was down 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.69 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that LTC Properties will post 2.79 EPS for the current year. In other news, EVP David M. Boitano acquired 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 27th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $34.71 per share, for a total transaction of $208,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 15,626 shares in the company, valued at approximately $542,378.46. This trade represents a 62.33% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of LTC Properties A hedge fund recently raised its stake in LTC Properties stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in shares of LTC Properties, Inc. (NYSE:LTC Free Report) by 37.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,344 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 5,840 shares during the quarter. Royal Bank of Canadas holdings in LTC Properties were worth $757,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.25% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $36.00 price target on shares of LTC Properties in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Wedbush raised LTC Properties to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $38.00. Get Our Latest Analysis on LTC About LTC Properties (Get Free Report) LTC Properties, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in managing seniors housing and health care properties. It operates through the Texas, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Remaining States geographic segments. The company was founded by Andre C. Dimitriadis on May 12, 1992 and is headquartered in Westlake Village, CA. Read More Receive News & Ratings for LTC Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LTC Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lunt Capital Management Inc. cut its position in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD Free Report) by 9.7% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,994 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 320 shares during the quarter. Lunt Capital Management Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF were worth $563,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IWD. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Texas Capital Bank Wealth Management Services Inc now owns 5,294 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $980,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Bond & Devick Financial Network Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Bond & Devick Financial Network Inc. now owns 10,592 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,993,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 19,548 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,678,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Virtue Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Virtue Capital Management LLC now owns 4,104 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $760,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC increased its position in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 772 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. 84.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA IWD opened at $196.43 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $62.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.83 and a beta of 0.95. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $191.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $188.39. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF has a one year low of $163.19 and a one year high of $200.42. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Company Profile 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. * Against the backdrop of mounting trade protectionism and rising global fragmentation, the event showcases China's bid to champion openness, innovation and international cooperation in the face of growing headwinds. * China has consistently championed open, cooperative international trade as an anchor of stability, especially during times of worldwide economic volatility and geopolitical turbulence. * China's economy beat expectations with robust 5.3 percent GDP growth in the first half of 2025 and is actively taking steps to maintain stability and sustain growth momentum in the months ahead. BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- As tariff tensions and geopolitical uncertainties continue to rattle the global economy, the 2025 China International Supply Chain Expo is emerging as a promising platform to foster resilient, diversified and cooperative global supply chains. Running from Wednesday to Sunday in Beijing, the third edition of the supply chain-themed expo has drawn more than 600 exhibitors, notably those of carmakers, logistics providers and pharmaceutical firms, spanning 75 countries and regions. Against the backdrop of mounting trade protectionism and rising global fragmentation, the event showcases China's bid to champion openness, innovation and international cooperation in the face of growing headwinds. PLATFORM FOR COOPERATION The event comes at a time of heightened trade friction and mounting uncertainty, which is expected to weigh heavily on global economic activity. In its April forecast, the International Monetary Fund projected global growth to slow to 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3 percent in 2026, down from 3.3 percent for both years in its January outlook. "Geopolitical tensions have disrupted supply chains, harming not only others but also one's own interests," said Xu Jiabin, an economics professor at Renmin University of China. "That's why we must adopt an inclusive mindset and work together to improve the global supply chain's connectivity and coordination. This is the path to mutual benefit." As the world's first national-level platform focused on supply chains, the expo helps connect Chinese and international firms, promote technical alignment and support deeper economic cooperation, Zhou Xing, head of public affairs at PwC China, told Xinhua. "The expo offers a high-efficiency matchmaking platform," she said. "It enables companies to align on technology, standards and markets, helping drive global collaboration." For Chinese firms, the expo offers a window to expand their international footprint and connect directly with global supply chain nodes. For multinational firms, it provides an opportunity to gain access to China's vast market, comprehensive industrial ecosystem and strong policy support. SIG Group, a Singapore-based accounting and tax firm, is participating in the expo for the second time. As a company dedicated to supporting Chinese enterprises in expanding into ASEAN markets, it engaged in in-depth exchanges with a wide range of partners at the event. Edward Liu, a senior director at SIG Group said the event offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the firm's ability to serve its clients in the future. CHINA'S COMMITMENT China has consistently championed open, cooperative international trade as an anchor of stability, especially during times of worldwide economic volatility and geopolitical turbulence. In a congratulatory letter sent to the 20th Western China International Fair in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China is willing to take the fair as an opportunity to further enhance mutual understanding, strengthen friendship, and deepen cooperation with friends from all countries. China will uphold the multilateral trading system and ensure the stable and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains together with the world, injecting new impetus into the prosperity and development of the world economy, Xi noted. During a March meeting in Beijing with more than 40 global CEOs and business leaders, Xi said, "China has been and will remain an ideal, secure, and promising destination for foreign investors." "Embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future," he said. The Chinese president called on foreign firms to safeguard the multilateral trading system, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, protect the international environment for openness and cooperation, and advance economic globalization in the right direction. CONFIDENCE IN CHINA China's economy beat expectations with robust 5.3 percent GDP growth in the first half of 2025 and is actively taking steps to maintain stability and sustain growth momentum in the months ahead. Such economic resilience has strengthened public and investor confidence in the country's long-term economic prospects, particularly its appeal as a strategic hub for multinational firms looking to restructure and diversify their supply chains. "China is no longer just a manufacturing base, but an innovation hub," said Zhou. "By integrating digital tools and investing in strategic sectors like EVs, renewables and biotech, China is strengthening its position in global value chains." This strategic pivot is already being recognized by global companies. "China has the world's most complete EV supply chain, with top-tier local suppliers and highly responsive manufacturing capabilities," a Tesla spokesperson told Xinhua. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shared a similar view on Thursday, describing China's supply chain as a "miracle" and highlighting the country's deep capabilities in artificial intelligence and computer science. As China continues to pursue high-quality opening-up, foreign firms are also gaining expanded access and greater policy support. "Foreign companies are expected to benefit from greater market access, a more level playing field and broader opportunities for cooperation," said Poh-Yian Koh, president of FedEx China. FedEx applauds the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to optimize the business environment, and pledges to continue to strengthen its logistics network and digital capabilities to enhance connectivity between Chinese and global markets, she added. (Video reporter: Song Yidai, Bao He; video editors: Yin Le, Song Yidai, Cao Ying, Liu Ruoshi) Millstone Evans Group LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWB Free Report) by 425.3% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 478 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 387 shares during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 ETF were worth $147,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Auour Investments LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 0.6% in the first quarter. Auour Investments LLC now owns 5,486 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,671,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 1,761 shares of the companys stock worth $540,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. AssuredPartners Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. AssuredPartners Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,372 shares of the companys stock worth $421,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. increased its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. now owns 2,036 shares of the companys stock valued at $656,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 0.3% in the first quarter. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC now owns 13,453 shares of the companys stock worth $4,127,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 1000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 ETF Trading Down 0.0% NYSEARCA:IWB opened at $345.18 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $41.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.71 and a beta of 1.01. iShares Russell 1000 ETF has a 12 month low of $264.17 and a 12 month high of $346.27. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $331.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $320.52. About iShares Russell 1000 ETF iShares Russell 1000 ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 1,000 largest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report) by 3.3% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 8,281 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 262 shares during the quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $3,609,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSI. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC increased its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 4,467 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $1,956,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Motorola Solutions by 24.2% in the first quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC now owns 955 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $418,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Wealth Services lifted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 8.2% in the first quarter. Peterson Wealth Services now owns 7,894 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $3,456,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 29.1% in the first quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 615,207 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $269,344,000 after purchasing an additional 138,643 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 2.9% in the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 12,855 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $5,628,000 after purchasing an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. 84.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Motorola Solutions alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets MSI has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $527.00 to $511.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $570.00 to $515.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research report on Monday, July 7th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. They set a buy rating and a $490.00 price objective for the company. Finally, William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $510.67. Motorola Solutions Stock Up 0.1% Shares of MSI opened at $420.85 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 1 year low of $385.17 and a 1 year high of $507.82. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $416.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $430.26. The firm has a market cap of $70.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.95. Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $3.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.01 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $2.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.52 billion. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 160.93% and a net margin of 18.67%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.81 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 13.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th were paid a $1.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $4.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.04%. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio is currently 36.39%. Insider Activity at Motorola Solutions In related news, CAO Katherine A. Maher sold 1,073 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $418.68, for a total transaction of $449,243.64. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 804 shares of the companys stock, valued at $336,618.72. This trade represents a 57.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.44% of the companys stock. Motorola Solutions Profile (Free Report) Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Motorola Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Motorola Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Alliance LLC raised its position in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC Free Report) by 1.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,094 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Wealth Alliance LLCs holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $1,072,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 55,522.3% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,520,158 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $778,336,000 after acquiring an additional 1,517,425 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 5.9% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,239,434 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $3,866,133,000 after acquiring an additional 461,307 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 28.5% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,030,644 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $952,962,000 after acquiring an additional 450,858 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 337.1% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 482,112 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $226,250,000 after acquiring an additional 371,814 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 24.7% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,733,680 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $813,599,000 after acquiring an additional 343,018 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the companys stock. Get Northrop Grumman alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total transaction of $3,793,275.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 201,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,964,243.54. This represents a 3.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Roshan S. Roeder sold 991 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $490.00, for a total value of $485,590.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 319 shares in the company, valued at $156,310. This trade represents a 75.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 16,569 shares of company stock valued at $8,323,150. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have recently commented on NOC. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Northrop Grumman from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $424.00 to $521.00 in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating and set a $542.00 price objective (down from $580.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $525.00 target price on Northrop Grumman and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Wall Street Zen cut Northrop Grumman from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Northrop Grumman from $600.00 to $550.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $550.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on NOC Northrop Grumman Stock Down 1.0% NOC opened at $518.83 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The firm has a market cap of $74.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.47, a PEG ratio of 6.17 and a beta of 0.15. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a 52 week low of $426.24 and a 52 week high of $555.57. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $492.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $487.55. Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The aerospace company reported $6.06 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by ($0.27). The company had revenue of $9.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.07 billion. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 9.19% and a return on equity of 25.46%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current fiscal year. Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a dividend of $2.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. This is an increase from Northrop Grummans previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. This represents a $9.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.78%. Northrop Grummans dividend payout ratio is 36.46%. Northrop Grumman Company Profile (Free Report) Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The companys Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Northrop Grumman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northrop Grumman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OneAscent Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Free Report) by 12.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,487 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 384 shares during the quarter. OneAscent Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $318,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 5.9% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Capital Wealth Advisors now owns 1,800 shares of the technology companys stock worth $207,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC now owns 3,778 shares of the technology companys stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust grew its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.4% in the first quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 10,172 shares of the technology companys stock worth $927,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the period. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 32.9% in the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 586 shares of the technology companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, True Vision MN LLC grew its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 2.6% in the first quarter. True Vision MN LLC now owns 5,817 shares of the technology companys stock worth $530,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.37% of the companys stock. Get Dell Technologies alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently commented on DELL shares. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Dell Technologies in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Dell Technologies from $89.00 to $126.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Raymond James Financial boosted their price target on Dell Technologies from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Barclays boosted their price target on Dell Technologies from $116.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Dell Technologies from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Dell Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $140.06. Dell Technologies Price Performance Shares of DELL stock opened at $129.21 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.02. The business has a fifty day moving average of $117.32 and a 200 day moving average of $105.85. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 1 year low of $66.25 and a 1 year high of $147.66. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 29th. The technology company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.68 by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $23.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.17 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 4.63% and a negative return on equity of 226.48%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.27 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current year. Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 22nd will be issued a $0.525 dividend. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 22nd. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is 33.49%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 600,000 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.56, for a total value of $76,536,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 980,295 shares in the company, valued at approximately $125,046,430.20. The trade was a 37.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director V (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 6,086 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.50, for a total value of $751,621.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 986,261 shares in the company, valued at approximately $121,803,233.50. The trade was a 0.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 12,897,063 shares of company stock worth $1,570,909,812 in the last quarter. 42.00% of the stock is owned by insiders. Dell Technologies Profile (Free Report) Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG). Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DELL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dell Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dell Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc. lowered its stake in shares of 3M Company (NYSE:MMM Free Report) by 12.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,467 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 200 shares during the quarter. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc.s holdings in 3M were worth $215,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. William Allan Corp raised its position in shares of 3M by 8.7% during the 1st quarter. William Allan Corp now owns 6,478 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $951,000 after purchasing an additional 519 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC grew its stake in 3M by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 3,264 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $479,000 after acquiring an additional 383 shares during the period. Meridian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of 3M during the 1st quarter valued at $223,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its stake in shares of 3M by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 42,130 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $6,187,000 after buying an additional 1,483 shares during the period. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of 3M by 162.9% during the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 23,289 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $3,420,000 after buying an additional 14,431 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.25% of the companys stock. Get 3M alerts: Insider Transactions at 3M In other news, EVP Zoe L. Dickson sold 7,915 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.02, for a total transaction of $1,179,493.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 6,127 shares in the company, valued at approximately $913,045.54. This trade represents a 56.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP John Patrick Banovetz sold 7,759 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.37, for a total transaction of $1,151,202.83. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 31,372 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,654,663.64. This represents a 19.83% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock. 3M Stock Performance Shares of MMM opened at $153.81 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.87. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $149.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $145.65. 3M Company has a 12 month low of $101.77 and a 12 month high of $164.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $82.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.39, a PEG ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.02. 3M (NYSE:MMM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The conglomerate reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.15. 3M had a net margin of 16.01% and a return on equity of 96.48%. The firm had revenue of $6.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.93 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that 3M Company will post 7.8 EPS for the current fiscal year. 3M Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.73 per share. This represents a $2.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.90%. 3Ms dividend payout ratio is presently 40.61%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently weighed in on MMM shares. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of 3M from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of 3M in a research note on Saturday, July 12th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of 3M from $141.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating on shares of 3M in a research note on Friday. Finally, Barclays set a $170.00 price objective on shares of 3M in a research note on Friday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, 3M has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $156.33. Get Our Latest Analysis on 3M About 3M (Free Report) 3M Company provides diversified technology services in the United States and internationally. The companys Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles. Read More Receive News & Ratings for 3M Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for 3M and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL Get Free Report) and China Marine Food Group (OTCMKTS:CMFO Get Free Report) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings. Insider & Institutional Ownership 41.0% of Hormel Foods shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of Hormel Foods shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 41.8% of China Marine Food Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Hormel Foods alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Hormel Foods and China Marine Food Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Hormel Foods $11.92 billion 1.34 $805.04 million $1.36 21.43 China Marine Food Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Hormel Foods has higher revenue and earnings than China Marine Food Group. Risk & Volatility Hormel Foods has a beta of 0.33, indicating that its stock price is 67% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, China Marine Food Group has a beta of -76.51, indicating that its stock price is 7,751% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Hormel Foods and China Marine Food Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Hormel Foods 0 4 2 1 2.57 China Marine Food Group 0 0 0 0 0.00 Hormel Foods currently has a consensus target price of $32.86, suggesting a potential upside of 12.72%. Given Hormel Foods stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Hormel Foods is more favorable than China Marine Food Group. Profitability This table compares Hormel Foods and China Marine Food Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Hormel Foods 6.27% 10.20% 6.11% China Marine Food Group N/A N/A N/A Summary Hormel Foods beats China Marine Food Group on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Hormel Foods (Get Free Report) Hormel Foods Corporation develops, processes, and distributes various meat, nuts, and other food products to retail, foodservice, deli, and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail, Foodservice, and International segments. The company provides various perishable products that include fresh meats, frozen items, refrigerated meal solutions, sausages, hams, guacamoles, and bacons; and shelf-stable products comprising canned luncheon meats, nut butters, snack nuts, chili, shelf-stable microwaveable meals, hash, stews, tortillas, salsas, tortilla chips, nutritional food supplements, and others. It sells its products under the HORMEL, ALWAYS TENDER, APPLEGATE, AUSTIN BLUES, BACON 1, BLACK LABEL, BREAD READY, BURKE, CAFE H, CERATTI, CHI-CHI'S, COLUMBUS, COMPLEATS, CORN NUTS, CURE 81, DAN'S PRIZE, DI LUSSO, DINTY MOORE, DON MIGUEL, DONA MARIA, EMBASA, FAST N EASY, FIRE BRAISED, FONTANINI, HAPPY LITTLE PLANTS, HERDEZ, HORMEL GATHERINGS, HORMEL SQUARE TABLE, HORMEL VITAL CUISINE, HOUSE OF TSANG, JENNIE-O, JUSTIN'S, LA VICTORIA, LAYOUT, LLOYD'S, MARY KITCHEN, MR. PEANUT, NATURAL CHOICE, NUT-RITION, OLD SMOKEHOUSE, OVEN READY, PILLOW PACK, PLANTERS, ROSA GRANDE, SADLER'S SMOKEHOUSE, SKIPPY, SPAM, SPECIAL RECIPE, THICK & EASY, VALLEY FRESH, AND WHOLLY brands through sales personnel, independent brokers, and distributors. The company was formerly known as Geo. A. Hormel & Company and changed its name to Hormel Foods Corporation in January 1995. Hormel Foods Corporation was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Austin, Minnesota. About China Marine Food Group (Get Free Report) China Marine Food Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the processing, distribution, and sale of processed seafood products and algae-based beverage products primarily in the People's Republic of China. The company offers dried processed seafood products, such as roasted squid, roasted file fish, roasted prawns, shredded roasted squid, barbecued squid, sliced barbecued squid, sliced roasted octopus, spicy sliced octopus, spicy baby squid, spicy sliced squid, and spicy squid head products. China Marine Food Group Limited sells its dried and flavored seafood-based snack foods under the Mingxiang brand; and algae-based beverage products under the Hi-Power brand. The company also sells fresh and frozen marine catch, including Squid (Loligo bleekeri) and horse mackerel. China Marine Food Group Limited was founded in 1999 and is based in Shishi, the People's Republic of China. Receive News & Ratings for Hormel Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hormel Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesco PLC (OTCMKTS:TSCDY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $17.29 and last traded at $17.28, with a volume of 2252 shares. The stock had previously closed at $16.92. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Tesco in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy. Get Tesco alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Tesco Tesco Trading Up 2.6% Tesco Increases Dividend The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $16.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.73. The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th were issued a $0.3636 dividend. This is a boost from Tescos previous dividend of $0.17. This represents a yield of 3.44%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 16th. About Tesco (Get Free Report) Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Tesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 19.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,704 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 272 shares during the period. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc.s holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $451,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Wealth Alliance LLC increased its stake in Travelers Companies by 10.7% in the first quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 5,665 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,498,000 after purchasing an additional 549 shares during the period. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its position in Travelers Companies by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 4,388 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,160,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its position in Travelers Companies by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 17,537 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,638,000 after acquiring an additional 634 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its position in Travelers Companies by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 5,734 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,516,000 after acquiring an additional 778 shares during the period. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in Travelers Companies by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 13,672 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,616,000 after acquiring an additional 562 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.45% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Transactions at Travelers Companies In related news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 20,286 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.48, for a total value of $5,547,815.28. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 26,932 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,365,363.36. This represents a 42.96% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Avrohom J. Kess sold 23,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 48,387 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,254,650.91. The trade was a 32.63% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 163,869 shares of company stock worth $44,868,201 in the last quarter. Insiders own 1.46% of the companys stock. Travelers Companies Price Performance Shares of NYSE:TRV opened at $265.77 on Monday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $265.92 and its 200-day simple moving average is $256.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $59.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $203.21 and a 12 month high of $277.83. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The insurance provider reported $6.51 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.52 by $2.99. The business had revenue of $11.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.02 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 18.68% and a net margin of 10.97%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.51 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be paid a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 10th. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is currently 19.46%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently issued reports on TRV shares. Barclays cut Travelers Companies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price target for the company from $280.00 to $274.00 in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Travelers Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. HSBC cut Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $270.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, March 24th. 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. Finally, Citigroup restated a market perform rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Travelers Companies currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $274.61. View Our Latest Stock Report on TRV About Travelers Companies (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. Featured Stories 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. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. lessened its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 1.3% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 1,759 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 23 shares during the period. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $964,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Mastercard by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. now owns 771 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $423,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. raised its stake in Mastercard by 12.8% in the first quarter. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. now owns 2,007 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,123,000 after buying an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Mastercard by 7.9% during the first quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 578,640 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $317,164,000 after buying an additional 42,273 shares during the period. Bingham Private Wealth LLC boosted its position in Mastercard by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Bingham Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,228 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,221,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sargent Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 19.8% in the 1st quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 14,806 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $8,115,000 after acquiring an additional 2,443 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Insider Activity at Mastercard In other Mastercard news, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $570.67, for a total value of $178,049.04. Following the sale, the director owned 8,469 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,833,004.23. The trade was a 3.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Raj Seshadri sold 1,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $546.77, for a total value of $601,447.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 12,921 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,064,815.17. This represents a 7.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 38,753 shares of company stock valued at $20,351,084 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Mastercard Price Performance MA stock opened at $552.52 on Monday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $428.86 and a 52-week high of $594.71. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.81. The stock has a market cap of $503.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.02. The business has a fifty day moving average of $567.30 and a two-hundred day moving average of $548.77. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.57 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.12 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 196.87% and a net margin of 45.21%. The companys revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.31 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year. Mastercard Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 9th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio is presently 21.32%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $633.00 target price on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $640.00 to $612.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Mastercard from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Mastercard currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $612.90. View Our Latest Research Report on Mastercard Mastercard Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. trimmed its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report) by 3.1% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 8,020 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 259 shares during the period. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF accounts for about 0.7% of Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd.s holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $2,896,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Arcadia Wealth Management LLC raised its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 4,360.5% in the first quarter. Arcadia Wealth Management LLC now owns 24,399 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,810,000 after acquiring an additional 23,852 shares in the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 754.6% in the 1st quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 1,299 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $469,000 after purchasing an additional 1,147 shares in the last quarter. Lowery Thomas LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Lowery Thomas LLC now owns 14,251 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $5,146,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.3% in the first quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 56,191 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $20,290,000 after purchasing an additional 747 shares during the period. Finally, Counterweight Ventures LLC boosted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.1% during the first quarter. Counterweight Ventures LLC now owns 17,606 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $6,357,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. 75.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Trading Down 0.0% Shares of IWF opened at $434.26 on Monday. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $308.67 and a twelve month high of $436.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $113.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.43 and a beta of 1.08. The firms 50-day moving average is $411.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $391.79. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. lowered its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWN Free Report) by 3.1% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 11,076 shares of the companys stock after selling 360 shares during the period. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd.s holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF were worth $1,672,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Lowery Thomas LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 5.5% during the 1st quarter. Lowery Thomas LLC now owns 9,591 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,448,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 3,834 shares of the companys stock worth $579,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 0.8% during the first quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 608,076 shares of the companys stock worth $91,807,000 after buying an additional 4,756 shares during the last quarter. Stordahl Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 4.7% in the first quarter. Stordahl Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,132 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,530,000 after buying an additional 457 shares during the period. Finally, Nwam LLC boosted its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 1.0% in the first quarter. Nwam LLC now owns 9,097 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,373,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.70% of the companys stock. Get iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Stock Performance IWN opened at $163.34 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $156.53 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $155.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.96 billion, a PE ratio of 14.35 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF has a 52 week low of $129.38 and a 52 week high of $183.51. iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF, formerly Ishares Trust Russel 2000 (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 2000 Value Index Fund, is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 2000 Index issuers with relatively lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Windle Wealth LLC cut its holdings in Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL Free Report) by 13.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 56,250 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 8,898 shares during the quarter. Welltower makes up 4.4% of Windle Wealth LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest position. Windle Wealth LLCs holdings in Welltower were worth $8,618,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Welltower in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Welltower in the first quarter worth about $28,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Welltower during the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Franchise Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Welltower during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, ZynergyRetirementPlanningLLC acquired a new position in shares of Welltower during the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. 94.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Welltower alerts: Welltower Stock Performance Shares of WELL stock traded up $0.18 during trading on Monday, reaching $159.23. 72,990 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,892,241. The company has a quick ratio of 4.23, a current ratio of 4.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $104.13 billion, a PE ratio of 91.75, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.92. Welltower Inc. has a twelve month low of $106.98 and a twelve month high of $161.24. The firms fifty day moving average price is $152.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $146.76. Welltower Dividend Announcement Welltower ( NYSE:WELL Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.15 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $2.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.40 billion. Welltower had a return on equity of 3.41% and a net margin of 12.65%. The firms revenue was up 30.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.01 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Welltower Inc. will post 4.88 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th were issued a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 14th. Welltowers dividend payout ratio is 154.02%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Andrew Gundlach acquired 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 30th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $151.46 per share, with a total value of $3,029,200.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 20,000 shares in the company, valued at $3,029,200. This represents a increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently weighed in on WELL. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Welltower from $158.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Wall Street Zen cut Welltower from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Welltower from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Welltower from $145.00 to $157.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Welltower in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $168.18. Get Our Latest Stock Report on WELL Welltower Company Profile (Free Report) Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a real estate investment trust (REIT) and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve peoples wellness and overall health care experience. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WELL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Welltower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Welltower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WT Wealth Management lowered its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XHLF Free Report) by 18.4% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 16,346 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,685 shares during the period. WT Wealth Managements holdings in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF were worth $823,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the first quarter valued at $277,000. Holcombe Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $312,000. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated boosted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 19.2% during the 1st quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 6,776 shares of the companys stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 1,093 shares in the last quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 81.9% during the 1st quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC now owns 7,572 shares of the companys stock worth $381,000 after acquiring an additional 3,410 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sowell Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $421,000. Get BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF alerts: BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Price Performance XHLF stock opened at $50.29 on Monday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $50.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $50.26. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a 52-week low of $50.12 and a 52-week high of $50.45. BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Company Profile The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XHLF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of six months. XHLF was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XHLF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XHLF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The new Jew Hatred GCSE has been okayed by Britains exam board body as well as the Labour government. The EXEDEL exam board has stated that the new exam curriculum will teach pupils on the best way to hate Jews and will be a qualification many young students in British schools are already very well versed in. Jewish teachers and pupils are regularly abused in UK schools, and the Labour government refuses to address that there is any problem. There is nothing to see here. Jew hatred is a normal part of British life these days, and I state that fact impartially about the fucking Jews. Under the Labour government, we have no comment about Jews or the state of Israel and welcome antisemitism in all its forms in every facet of daily life, a spokesman for the education ministry told the Guardian newspaper on Sunday. Labour ministers celebrated the new Jew Hatred GCSE by throwing paper aeroplanes around parliament with swastikas drawn on the wings and singing praises for the terrorist group Hamas and Adolf Hitler. It is not known yet if the Jew Hatred qualification will be rolled out for A-levels, but there is one member of parliament, Jeremy Corbyn, who claims that he has a PhD in the subject. Strikingly, author Jim McVeigh described his new book Our Martin: Irish Republican Martin McGuinness as a bit of a love story. Speaking to Derry Now ahead of its Derry launch in the Guildhall at 7.00pm on Wednesday (July 23), Mr McVeigh said he had been asked to write the book by former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams. At that time, obviously, I didnt know a lot about Martins personal life, about his family life and one of the things about the book is it is a bit of a love story too, he said. But, as I spoke to Bernie [Martins wife] and just gathered the information about their life together, I discovered they were a really strong couple, in love from their teenage years right to the very end when Martin passed and that was a surprise, he added, because Im not from Derry and I didnt know Bernie or the family very well. Our Martin: Irish Republican Martin McGuinness is a mixture of political history in relation to the conflict but it is also an intimate look at Martins life, his personal life, his family life and it is a love story. No matter where Martin was in the country or what he was doing, he tried to get home if it was physically possible. It didnt matter if he had to drive from one end of the country to the other to be home at 4 oclock in the morning. He wanted to be there with his family, for his kids getting up out of bed. When I spoke to Bernie, we agreed there had been a lot written about Martin but very little had looked at the real Martin - Martin the man, the father, the husband, comrade, friend. I wanted to write a book which looked at the type of man he was and his family life, as well as the politics, the history, the conflict, explained Jim McVeigh, I felt it was a book that hadnt been written yet. Lifelong Republican Jim McVeigh, who hails from the Clonard area of Belfast, has previously written books on Tom Williams - the last IRA Volunteer to be executed (September 2 1942) - and Joe McKelvey an IRA Volunteer who was executed in 1922, along with several other Republicans. Martin and Bernie McGuinness meeting South African President Nelson Mandela during the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin in June 2003. I actually wrote Tom Williams book when I was in prison, said Jim McVeigh, He came from the same part of Belast as myself. I have also had a novel Stolen Faith published by OBrien Press. It is a historical thriller set in the Mother and Baby Homes. A former Sinn Fein councillor on Belfast City Council and a trade union activist, Mr McVeigh said the material for Our Martin: Irish Republican Martin McGuinness was a mix of historical research and interviews. So, as well as reading all the available material, I interviewed, in the first instance, Martins family, friends and comrades. I also spent a lot of time talking to Bernie and talking to Martins two sons and two daughters, his close friends and close comrades in various parts of the country, over the two years it took to complete the book, he said. Asked if anything he found while researching the book surprised him, Jim McVeigh said there was quite a bit. I was in Prison for 16 years during the conflict and when you are in prison you read a lot and you study. I did an Open University in prison and my Masters at Queens and would have considered myself well read but even as a Republican, I had never heard of Derrys Springtown Camp before this, he said. I knew the history of Derry, the discrimination, gerrymandering that occurred there but Id never heard of the Springtown Camp! When I saw the images of families living in Nissan Huts, it brought it all home to me just how bad conditions were for the Catholic, Nationalist population, not just in Derry but across the State. It was pretty shocking, he added. Jim McVeigh, Author of 'Our Martin: Irish Republican Martin McGuinness. I was reading a lot about that period in particular, the late 1960s - 1969, the early Civil Rights Movement - and just the brutality of the old Unionist regime. Many Unionists are still trying to deny or minimise just how bad the State was. Then you read about the brutality of the B Specials and the cover ups, the fact that in those early years the aggressors were entirely the B Specials, the RUC, and the British Army, you are quickly reminded just how bad things were and who really fired the first shots. Jim McVeigh recalled how he had first met Martin McGuinness when he was in the H Blocks. I was in the H Blocks during the Peace Process and in its early stages, in 1997 or 1998, Martin and a Sinn Fein delegation visited the prison. About 50 of us were brought to the prison gymnasium in the middle of the H Blocks and we met Martin and were briefed on the Peace Process. Later released from prison under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Jim McVeigh remembered Martin McGuinness as a genuine, warm, sincere person. He was the type of person who really listened to you. He always had time for you, said Mr McVeigh. Why this book and why now? Jim McVeighs response is unequivocal. I think Republicans are sometimes accused of trying to re-write history and I think that couldnt be further from the truth. When I look at the amount of books that have been written by Republicans in the past quarter of a century, you could count them on two hands. There havent been that many Republican accounts of our history and I think there is a real appetite out there, especially among young Nationalists, to understand what happened, why it happened, why the conflict lasted so long, how did it end, how did the Peace Process begin, and why did it endure? he said. There is a whole generation that needs to know about the Northern State, the Orange State, how bad things - our Republican perspective on the history of the conflict, he added. In addition, a lot of nonsense has been written about Martin, most of it salacious gossip and speculation based on anonymous sources within the so called British security services and former Republicans. But, I think whether you are a Nationalist, a Republican, or indeed a Unionist or neither, there is a side to Martin that might be pleasantly surprise you in terms of his character and personality. Martin once famously made one statement about the cutting edge of the IRA. He was portrayed as a hard man but Martin was critical to the development of the Peace Process. However, when you read the rest of that interview, he went on to say, if someone could show him there was an alternative to armed struggle, he would gladly take it. In hindsight he was a man true to his word. Whenever he became convinced there was a political alternative to the armed struggle, and all that that entailed and the impact that had, he became a passionate advocate of the Peace Process and there wouldnt have been one without him, asserted Jim McVeigh, who added, The Peace Process was built by a lot of people not least John Hume and Gerry Adams, but it certainly would not have been possible without Martin. Our Martin: Irish Republican Martin McGuinness also contains more than 100 photographs, many of which will never have been seen before. They have been provided by Martins family, friends, comrades. Republican Information Centre: From left: Mitchel McLaughlin, Gerry O'Doherty, Liam McCartney, Barney McFadden, Martin, Sean Keenan Sr, John Carlin, Tommy Toner, Agnes McNaught, Ricky Halpenny, and Mary Nelis, Derry 1982. Jim McVeigh revealed while writing the book, he was struck by the fact, over the decades of the conflict, it was actually Republicans who were open to dialogue and compromise. I dont just mean in the 1990s during the Peace Process, he said, but before that. And the real problem was in the 1970s and the 1980s, the strategy of the British Government and the British crown forces was to defeat Republicans, not to engage in dialogue with Republicans, not to take a political compromise to the conflict, he added. But when I look at the history, it was Republicans who were willing to talk. It was Republicans who engaged in a peace process and it only happened in the 1990s because the British by that time had been forced to conclude they could not defeat the IRA and they would have to talk. Up until that they thought they could simply defeat the IRA through counter insurgency strategies and shoot-to-kill. I hope young Republicans and Nationalists and others will be learn something from the histories of those decades contained in the book. Our Martin: Irish Republican Martin McGuinness by Jim McVeigh is published by Beyond the Pale Books and costs 24.99. The Housing Executive has described as totally inaccurate claims anti-social behaviour in Derry city centre is being caused by people from outside the city being placed in emergency accommodation here. A spokesperson for the organisation told The Derry News: Currently, only a very small number of placements have been made in the north-west for those not originally from the area none of these placements have any additional support needs. However, acknowledging the ongoing problem with on-street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Victoria Market, Sackville Street, Strand Road and Waterloo Place, PSNI Derry City and Strabane Chief Inspector Michael Gahan said he knew these issues were impacting on traders, and also on people working and living in these areas. The emergency accommodation claim was made by Aontu representative Emmet Doyle, who called on the Housing Executive and the PSNI to address problems being caused by groups of people drinking, taking drugs and engaging in violence in the city centre. [They] are not from the city and have likely been placed here by the Housing Executive in Belfast because their local emergency accommodation will not accept them, said Mr Doyle. I have said now multiple times that this city is not a dumping ground for the problems of other areas like Belfast, yet I am receiving more and more calls about the behaviour of people drinking, taking drugs and fighting in full view of the public in broad daylight in the City centre, he added. Scenes outside Sumra House of fighting during the week, coupled with women working in the area being harassed by drunk men in and around Victoria Car Park and the laneway between there and the BT building are totally unacceptable and need to be urgently addressed before someone is seriously hurt. I know there are members of the police and the Housing Executive who are as frustrated as I am, having spoken to them, but there is now an onus on both organisations to put in place a zero tolerance policy for those who come to this city and abuse it and its people - the official line from the Housing Executive that they have a duty to provide accommodation doesn't mean Derry should be constantly be the destination for those with either vulnerabilities or addictions - I know that in many cases the local HE office are only informed on a Monday when the Belfast office place people here over the weekend - it must stop. I've raised this again today with senior police officers and I am becoming more and more concerned that local authorities are not taking this issue seriously. I am convinced something terrible is going to happen if we do not address this problem now and send the message that Derry is not a dumping ground, said Mr Doyle. Refuting Mr Doyles claims, a Housing Executive spokesperson told The Derry News: It is totally inaccurate to state we are placing households in Derry who have been refused access to accommodation elsewhere. The vast majority of our temporary accommodation placements in the city are those who are from the area in need of homeless support. Currently, only a very small number of placements have been made in the north-west for those not originally from the area none of these placements have any additional support needs. As with all these placements, they will be short in timeframe and households will be relocated as soon as accommodation is available in their areas of choice. We have no reports of any outstanding anti-social issues relating to anyone we have placed in temporary, emergency accommodation in the north west area. As always, we welcome the opportunity to work with interested representatives and stakeholders in the city to provide accurate information about our ongoing work to address and prevent homelessness and find solutions together, said the Housing Executive spokesperson. The PSNI said there were anti-social behaviour issues, periodically in and around our city centre. Derry City and Strabane Chief Inspector Michael Gahan said: "We know there are issues periodically in and around our city centre, specifically in relation to on-street drinking and anti-social behaviour in areas including Victoria Market/ Sackville Street, Strand Road and Waterloo Place. We know these issues are impacting on traders, and also on people working and living in these areas. "Where there are offences reported, that police can deal with and respond to, we will take action. "We work with partners on a continual basis to respond to issues that arise, and often our officers will attend calls with partners to support them. These can be issues where there is a high level of vulnerability; issues that are often complex and which require a multi-agency response as no agency can deal with them in isolation. We will continue to work with and support partners to address these issues, while our officers are committed to providing a visible policing presence in the city. Reporting crimes, or incidents that impact on a persons quality of life helps focus our patrols where they are needed and so we can take positive action. To make a report to police, call 101, report online at www.psni.police.uk/makea report or speak directly to your Neighbourhood Team. Always 999 in an emergency. Just 18 months after stepping onto the stage for the first time, Stage Beyond member Kieran Townley has made his television debut in the gripping ITV1 medical thriller 'Malpractice'. Kieran (32) who is from Derry and had no previous acting experience before joining the Derry-based inclusive theatre company, appeared as an extra in Season 2, Episode 3 of the hit drama, filmed in Belfast last summer. While his role was brief, it marked a major personal achievement. Its a small step, but a big achievement especially for someone with autism, said Kieran. I just wanted to get a taste of what its like to be on TV," he added. Kierans screen debut was made possible through The Extras Dept (formerly Extras NI), whose background artists have supported major productions such as 'The Fall' and 'Game of Thrones'. In his scene, Kieran plays a doctor, standing with fellow medics as the lead characters debate a patients case. Kieran's scene in Malpractice can be watched by clicking on: https://bit.ly/40EOUFE He credits Stage Beyond Theatre Company for giving him the confidence to take this leap. "It is a safe environment for autism", he said. Before I joined, I was just sitting at home watching TV. Stage Beyond helped me build my confidence, learn new skills, and connect with others. Now, Ive discovered a real passion for performing." Since becoming a member of Stage Beyond in 2023, Kieran has performed in touring productions, including 'The Great Dictator', 'Available Light', and 'Room at the Inn' - the latter directed by BAFTA award-winning writer and director Damian Gorman. Kierans journey into acting followed a difficult period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown was really hard. I couldnt volunteer at my youth club, and I was grieving the loss of my grandfather. Joining Stage Beyond gave me something positive to focus on. Watching himself on screen for the first time was an emotional experience. I cried but in a good way. Its surreal to see yourself on TV, he said, laughing as he recalled his parents reaction: They asked, Is that it? and I told them, Of course! Im an extra! They are of course very proud of him. Kieran Townley (second right) performing in Stage Beyond's production Available Light at the Millennium Forum in June 2024. Kieran hopes his story encourages more inclusion for neurodiverse actors in TV and film. He is inspired by movie icons such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, who revealed his autism diagnosis later in life, and rising star Bella Ramsey, who recently spoke about their own diagnosis while filming HBOs The Last of Us. People dont realise how many well-known actors and TV personalities are autistic. It shows whats possible, said Kieran. Acting has helped me reduce stress, feel more confident, and just be myself." A passionate film buff and anime fan, Kieran also admires Oscar winners Cillian Murphy and Sir Michael Caine. He is now eager to continue developing his craft with Stage Beyond. The multi award-winning local theatre company is supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and by Derry City and Strabane District Councils Community Festival Fund. Follow Stage Beyond on: Facebook: @stagebeyond; Instagram: @stagebeyond2023; and TikTok: @stagebeyondtheatreco. Survivors and families of those killed in the Omagh bomb have asked to be represented by a special advocate in closed hearings at the public inquiry. Omagh Bombing Inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull is hearing arguments around applications during dedicated hearings this week. Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC said the inquiry, which is probing whether the 1998 dissident republican bomb attack could have been prevented, will hear some sensitive security evidence in closed hearings. The atrocity in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Speaking during hearings in Belfast on Monday, Mr Greaney said the inquirys legal team recognises that survivors and the bereaved have spent 25 years seeking the truth, and may be suspicious or even cynical of the UK states willingness to engage in a way that is straightforward and wholehearted with this inquiry. We acknowledge too, that the idea of evidence being heard in circumstances in which the families and survivors will be excluded is one that they will find difficult to accept, to say the least, and accordingly, we regard it as entirely understandable that some, although not all, have suggested special advocates should be appointed to represent their interests in any closed hearings, and have made applications for that to occur, he said. Outlining the arguments that will be made, Mr Greaney said some contend special advocates cannot legally be appointed in a statutory public inquiry, while others have said if such a power does exist it should not be exercised. He said others have said special advocates can legally be appointed in an inquiry, and should be in this case to ensure the interests of the bereaved and survivors are protected, meanwhile others are neutral, and one group has said they are content to leave the matters to the inquirys legal team. Mr Greaney also revealed that both the Advocate General of Northern Ireland Lord Hermer KC and Secretary of State Hilary Benns position is that there is no power to appoint a special advocate in a statutory public inquiry. It was also noted that special advocates were not appointed in the inquiry into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko or in the Manchester Arena Inquiry. Hugh Southey KC, acting for some of the bereaved families and survivors, emphasised the importance of a process from which everyone walks away feeling confident in the outcome. He said those which he represents have been calling for the appointment of a special advocate since the early days of the inquiry. They obviously have a degree of scepticism about the states position in relation to this inquiry, he said. There has been considerable delay in getting to this stage and also there is a history, they would argue, of the state not necessarily of being fully open, essentially about whats happened in the past, and because of that they are of the opinion that it is particularly important that any closed procedure involves the state being fully tested, and its important also that they have confidence in the outcome of any closed procedure. He added that special advocates played a key rule in a judicial review which was taken by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the bomb, previously of the governments decision not to call a public inquiry. That is part of the reason why, from their point of view, it is important that special advocates continue to be involved in the process, he said. He argued that those he represents who are excluded from the closed hearings in terms of not having a special advocate will not understand the legal basis. They wont understand the evidential basis, thats inevitable, but they will also not understand, be able to know whether there is any error effectively in the approach the inquiry adopt when making those findings, he said. The hearing will continue on Tuesday. Nvidia-backed Perplexity AI is reportedly in talks with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its AI-powered Comet browser on new devices. The move is a part of Perplexitys plan to rival Googles dominance in search and make its AI capabilities readily available for users. According to a report by Reuters, the AI platform will feature its Comet browser as either the default option or a pre-installed app on smartphones. CEO Aravind Srinivas told Reuters that its challenging to replace Chrome as the default browser; however, securing such deals could be a game-changer for user growth. The Comet browser is currently in beta for desktop users. As per the report, Perplexity aims to expand its user base from a few hundred thousand beta users to hundreds of millions by next year. However, the company faces stiff competition from entrenched browsers like Google Chrome, which dominates roughly 70% of the mobile browser market. Built on Chromium, Comet is fully compatible with Chrome extensions and user bookmarks. However, it integrates Perplexitys conversational AI tools directly into the browsing experience. The built-in assistant will understand and respond to users queries on any webpage. Also read: Elon Musk to launch Baby Grok, a kid-friendly AI from xAI: Heres what it may offer Additionally, Comet browser comes with a side panel that allows users to interact with AI to summarise pages, manage emails, search calendars, schedule meetings, and more. Interestingly, Perplexity doesnt position it as a search engine, but as a full-fledged digital assistant. Also read: Hackers target Microsoft SharePoint again with critical zero-days, over 85 servers hit Perplexitys Comet accessibility Currently, access to the Comet browser is limited to Perplexity Max subscribers, who pay $200 (roughly Rs 17,200) per month. An invitation-only rollout for Windows and Mac users will be announced soon, followed by mobile versions for Android and iOS by the end of this year. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Samsung reportedly lobbies Washington on chip tariffs and AI export curbs A senior executive from Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division has reportedly visited Washington, D.C., to express the company's concerns regarding US semiconductor tariff policies and upcoming restrictions on AI chip exports. High-stakes lobbying effort According to South Korean media outlet Hangyung, Yong Kwan Kim, president of Management Strategy at the DS division, led the discussions with US officials, also addressing subsidy negotiations for Samsung's chip plant in Taylor, Texas. Kim reportedly conveyed that new semiconductor tariffs would impact not only Samsung but also its allied companies, potentially undermining the US goal of building a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem and countering China's technological rise. He also raised concerns about the AI chip export ban, which has already led to a KRW500 billion (US$360 million) inventory write-down for Samsung in the second quarter of 2024 due to halted exports of AI chips made for Chinese clients. Nvidia's canceled orders create ripple effects Meanwhile, Reuters, citing The Information, reported that despite recent US approval to allow H20 export to China, Nvidia had canceled orders after a heightened US ban in April 2024, which freed up TSMC's reserved capacity. Although the export ban was subsequently loosened, restarting H20 production would take months, and CEO Jensen Huang said in Beijing that the company has no plans to restart production. Texas project faces uncertainty Discussions with US officials also covered subsidy adjustments for Samsung's Taylor project. Samsung had committed to a US$37 billion investment in exchange for a US$4.75 billion subsidy. However, with the Trump Administration hinting at renegotiating subsidy terms, uncertainty around the project has grown. Originally, Samsung planned to build two fabs, an R&D center, and a packaging facility in Texas. Due to reduced CHIPS Act support, Samsung scaled back its investment and canceled the packaging plant. China operations under threat Further complicating matters, the US is reportedly considering revoking export waivers for TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix for their China-based operations, shifting to a case-by-case approval model. This would affect Samsung's Xi'an facility, its only overseas memory plant, which is responsible for 40% of its NAND flash output. Article edited by Jerry Chen BOE's OLED salvo hits Samsung again, Apple braces for fallout BOE Technology Group has filed a second patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Display in under two months, escalating a legal showdown that could disrupt Apple's iPhone OLED panel supply chain and reshape the global display industry. Citing US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas filings, South Korean media outlet The Guru reports that BOE and its subsidiary, Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology, have filed a new complaint accusing Samsung Display of infringing four OLED-related patents. The disputed technologies involve encapsulation films to improve panel durability, display circuitry, under-display camera (UDC) components, and pixel-driving circuits. The lawsuit targets Samsung Electronics' premium smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Fold5, Fold6, and the S25 Ultra, as allegedly infringing devices. BOE is demanding triple damages for willful infringement and has asked the court to ban the import, sale, and distribution of the affected products in the US, along with full legal cost compensation. The filing follows an earlier lawsuit by BOE in May 2025 in the same court. The legal standoff now includes five patent infringement cases and one trade secret dispute between the two companies, with Samsung Display initiating three and BOE two. None of the cases has yet reached a verdict. Trade secret case: ITC ruling may hit BOE's Apple ties Amid unresolved patent disputes, a parallel trade secret case is moving in Samsung's favor. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) recently issued a preliminary ruling stating that BOE and seven of its subsidiaries violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act by misappropriating Samsung Display's OLED trade secrets to produce panels and modules. The ITC proposed a limited exclusion order to bar the import of BOE's infringing OLED products into the US, along with a cease-and-desist order targeting existing inventories. While the ruling is preliminary, analysts note that such decisions are seldom reversed. A final determination is expected in November 2025, followed by a 60-day presidential review period. The consequences for BOE could be significant. The company has become a major secondary OLED supplier for iPhones, having built annual capacity for 100 million panels as of June 2025, posing a challenge to entrenched suppliers Samsung Display and LG Display. If the ban is enforced, BOE would be prohibited from exporting OLED panels to the US, threatening its multiyear push to cement its role in Apple's high-end supply chain. Analysts say the situation could prompt Apple to rethink its sourcing strategy, with Samsung and LG standing to gain. Apple supply at risk, domestic price pressure looms BOE began supplying Apple in 2017 with displays for iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches, before entering the iPhone OLED panel segment with the iPhone 12. It established the B11 fab in Mianyang, Sichuan, to handle Apple-specific OLED orders. Korea JoongAng Daily estimates that BOE supplies roughly 20% of OLED panels for the iPhone 16 lineup. Any disruption could delay production and ripple through global panel pricing. Although existing Apple devices already imported to the US wouldn't be impacted by the ITC ruling, Business Korea notes that the legal risks could lead Apple to reconsider its dependence on BOE. In the near term, Samsung and LG are seen as the likely alternatives. Some Chinese market analysts suggest BOE may redirect unused OLED capacity to the domestic market, potentially triggering intensified price competition. This shift could also accelerate BOE's entry into the premium LTPO OLED segment used in flagship iPhones, posing long-term competitive pressure on South Korean rivals. BOE said it would seek a review of the ITC's decision and reaffirmed its commitment to the global display industry's long-term development. US ITC preliminary ruling against BOE and potential implications Item Details ITC preliminary ruling BOE and seven affiliated companies were found to have violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act by misappropriating Samsung Display's trade secrets. The ITC recommends imposing an import ban on OLED panels. Proposed orders Limited exclusion order: Prohibits the import of the implicated OLED panels, modules, and components into the US. Cease-and-desist order: Restricts the use of related inventory and limits further production and sales. Effective date November 2025 (if the ruling is finalized) Key impact If the ban takes effect, BOE will be unable to ship OLED panels to the US, potentially affecting its supply relationship with Apple and iPhone production. Samsung and LG may benefit. Background October 2023: Samsung filed a complaint with the ITC accusing BOE of misappropriating OLED trade secrets. 2024: ITC investigators concluded BOE had misappropriated 15 of 16 trade secrets, recommending remedial action. Source: BOE, Patently Apple, and Money UDN; compiled by DIGITIMES, July 2025 Article edited by Jerry Chen Weekly news roundup: Nvidia partners with Micron, Huawei's 'Little HiSilicon' launches, GB300 production begins Below are the top DIGITIMES Asia stories from July 14 to 20, 2025. The top three topics include Nvidia teams up with Micron for a major SOCAMM rollout, aiming to challenge high-bandwidth memory. Moreover, Nvidia begins limited GB300 AI server production. For China's semiconductor sector, Huawei's "Little HiSilicon" launches a wide range of chips, including its first RISC-V models. Nvidia picks Micron for massive SOCAMM rollout Nvidia is set to take a significant step in the memory market by planning the deployment of 600,000 to 800,000 SOCAMM modules in 2025. Seen as a possible next-generation alternative to high-bandwidth memory (HBM), SOCAMM's introductionthough on a smaller scale initiallycould signal major shifts in both the memory and substrate sectors, according to industry experts. Huawei's 'Little HiSilicon' launches all-out chip blitz: from RISC-V MCUs to AI edge SoCs HiSilicon (Shanghai) Technologies, Huawei's specialized chip design subsidiary known as "Little HiSilicon," has rolled out an extensive portfolio of self-developed chips across sectors such as IoT, industrial automation, smart home technology, visual AI, and energy management. Notably, the launch includes the company's first chips based on the RISC-V architecture, signaling China's intensified efforts to advance domestic innovation in semiconductor development. GB300 production underway: Nvidia's strategic shift brings relief to ODMs Nvidia has started small-scale production of its upcoming GB300 AI server platform, with large-scale shipments projected to begin in September 2025, according to supply chain insiders. Thanks to a strategic realignment that is easing manufacturing demands, industry experts foresee a smooth production ramp in the second half of the year. Exclusive: Intel ends reorg by July, stability ahead Intel moves annual conference to Phoenix amid ongoing leadership-driven restructuring. Following Lip-Bu Tan's appointment as Intel CEO in March 2025, the company has undergone extensive organizational changes. Supply chain sources report that the annual "Intel Technology Tour," traditionally held in September, will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, for the first time, reflecting the broader corporate overhaul currently reshaping Intel's workforce and internal structure. Samsung Display reportedly secures exclusive OLED deals for Apple's first foldable iPhone Samsung Display is said to be positioning itself as the exclusive provider of OLED panels for Apple's first foldable iPhone, marking a closer alliance between the two leading technology companies. Why Nvidia, Samsung, Qualcomm are all knocking on Xiaomi's door The steady stream of top executives visiting Lei Jun sends a clear message. During their trips to China, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have all sought meetings with Xiaomi's founder and CEO. This deliberate convergence highlights Xiaomi's rising prominence as a key force in China's innovation landscape. Penang's OSAT boom: ASE, Tongfu, Inari lead charge in advanced packaging Malaysia has progressively built up its outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) sector, with Penangdubbed the "Silicon Valley of the East"serving as its hub. A recent DIGITIMES visit to Penang provides new insights into the region's established OSAT leaders as well as rapidly emerging players. Article edited by Jack Wu Subscriber content preview The move would potentially create the largest railroad in North America, connecting the East and West Coasts. By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are in merger talks to create the largest railroad in North America that would connect the East and West Coasts. The merger discussions began during the first quarter of this year, according to a person familiar with the talks who isn't authorized to discuss them publicly. It would combine the largest and smallest of the country's six major freight railroads. . . . Subscriber content preview Photo via Cushman & Wakefield [enlarge] Work began in early 2020, on the corner of Fifth Avenue Northwest, then halted in late 2023. SEATTLE A stalled, unfinished apartment project at 412 N.W. 65th St. sold last week for just under $5 million, according to King County records. The seller was the receiver, in a foreclosure proceeding. . . . Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and 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 Some of the problems facing the health service in Louth were highlighted by Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu during a debate in Leinster House about the 2025 Health Bill. The Dundalk deputy focused on the need for digitalisation and said staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are doing a huge amount of work and are under severe pressure. He said: It is down to the number of people and the number of cases - sometimes complex cases that should be elsewhere - that there is severe pressure there. There are individual cases where sometimes they are dealing with a system that is not computerised as it should be. That is even in regard to communications between GPs and the hospital and notes taken in the hospital, particularly in the emergency department. That does not make any sense whatsoever in 2025. More hospital beds are needed, along with additional step-down facilities in Louth. Focussing on Dundalk he said: We would like to see delivery on the primary care centre. It is not just about the primary care centre; it is about those community pieces related to everything from mental health services right through. He continued: If I am talking about mental health services, I must mention we are still awaiting delivery on the ten-bed extension to the Drogheda department of psychiatry, DDOP, in Crosslanes. That would only provide Louth-Meath with, I think, 14.1 beds per 100,000, which is way below the State average, and the State average is not particularly good. Read Next: Planned road closures across Louth for safety and resurfacing works I have spoken to the Minister before about the pieces of work that need to be delivered in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, regarding orthodontics. It is hard not to mention last night's debate on endometriosis. Recently, I and many others went to a meeting organised by Sinn Fein in my constituency and I was absolutely shocked. It was very similar to an awful lot that was said here. I am taken aback by the number of emails and contacts I have had from constituents about their personal plight since that debate. That is an issue we need to see delivery upon. 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 A polluter or polluters who had caused the significant fish kill in small tributary of the Douglas River should come forward, a Cork City South East Councillor has said. Peter Horgan of the Labour Party was speaking as investigations continued after the discovery on Thursday of up to 1500 dead fish in the Ballybrack River. Mr Horgan said that he had spoken with the Inland Fisheries Ireland investigators and it was clear that the burden of proof to pursue convictions remained stubbornly high. I would appeal to the person or erodes who carelessly caused this water pollution and fish kill to reveal themselves to authorities, said Mr Horgan. It may not have been maliciously intended but the impact has been devastating for the fish population in Ballybrack. That will recover with time, I am told. However if the polluters continue to hide in shame, then it is my belief that karma will catch them if the authorities cannot because the burden of proof is so high and chemical spillage has since evaporated. I would also urge members of the public to be mindful of how they dispose of any fluids down public drains and to be watchful if they notice something untoward by public drains. I fully intend to raise the matter with the Council executive and Uisce Eireann also on management of piping into Ballybrack. Mallow woman Rose Doyle has just returned from Rome where she had the privilege of becoming the first Corkonian to participate in a private audience for teachers from across Ireland and Britain with the newly elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. Speaking to The Echo, Rose, who has just completed a Masters degree in Limericks Mary Immaculate College of Education, said her week long trip to Rome was the first pilgrimage she had undertaken. The private audience with Pope Leo took place in Clementine Hall in the Vatican. It was our group and another group of students from Denmark, I think. He spoke to us for about ten minutes and it was a very surreal experience and, of course, I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to meet him, said Rose. One of the things he said, thinking back out it afterwards because it was so overwhelming at the time, was about the significant influence that teachers have on their pupils and the importance of being good role models. It was absolutely amazing, an experience I will not forget. Rose said that each of the participants had an opportunity to meet with Pope Leo individually following the address. He was really friendly, he gave each and every person time, if we wanted to talk to him or have anything blessed or so on, she said. The week long pilgrimage of teachers was to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope which is taking place this year in Rome. As part of the pilgrimage, the Irish element of which was being led by Bishop Paul Connell of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, the teachers visited the four Holy Doors in Rome, which are only opened once every 25 years, as well as many other sites in the city. They also visited Castell Gandalfo, the Summer residence of the Holy Father. In a statement issued following the visit, Pope Leo said that children would look up to the teachers as models of faith, particularly in you teach and live. I hope that, each day, you will nurture your relationship with Christ, who gives us the pattern of all authentic, so that, in turn, you may guide and encourage those entrusted to your care to follow Christ in their own lives." He also warned against paying too much attention to digital input and urged the teachers to listen to their own hearts. Its in our hearts that God speaks to us, that God calls us to know him better and to live in his love. Latest government data, which shows that 4,741 less homes have commenced this year compared to this time last year, have been described as a sign of failed policy by Cork Social Democrats TDs. The latest housing commencement data, released by government this week, shows that in June this year, 19 homes commenced in Cork city and 71 in the county. There have been 264 and 515 commencements so far this year in Cork city and county respectively, or a total of 779, marking a decrease from 2024 figures. By the end of June last year, there had been 3,430 commencements in Cork city and 2,090 in the county or 5,520 total, and at the end of the year there had been 4,584 in the city and 4,630 in the county. TD for Cork South Central Padraig Rice told The Echo that the figures were very concerning, saying: Commencement of homes in Cork city are down a staggering 3,166 for the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year a decrease of 92.3 per cent. While commencement data is not directly indicative of how many homes will be built, it gives a clear picture of the pipeline of home construction for the coming years. The data we are seeing today is incredibly worrying. These figures clearly paint a picture of failed government policy. It again shows that this governments housing delivery plan is in tatters and that the government is not treating the housing crisis like the emergency it is. Instead of turning a corner on housing, this government is going around in circles with the same failed policies as its predecessor. Cork East TD Liam Quaide added that the figures for Cork county show a very concerning but predictable drop in commencement notices for new homes. He continued: Last year's figures were artificially inflated because developers were rushing to avail of a waiver on water-connection charges and development levies. The Government misled the public about their housing figures to buy the election and what we are seeing now is a clear reflection of a failed housing policy. A Cork-based consulting firm has announced the expansion of its Leeside workforce with the creation of more than 70 new jobs, to be implemented by 2028. Business Platforms, which has a base in Penrose Dock, announced on Monday that the company plans to double its workforce in Cork by adding a total of 75 new jobs. The announcement comes as the company, which specialises in manufacturing execution systems (MES), serialisation, supply chain operations, and digital transformation for the pharmaceutical industry, has seen an increased demand for its services. The new jobs, expected to be filled over the course of the next three years, will be primarily consulting and engineering roles. Co-founded in 2019 by Paul Browne, Phillip Doyle, and Liam ORiordan, Business Platforms supports more than 50% of the top 20 largest pharmaceutical firms worldwide. Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, said that the creation of the new roles in Cork is a testament to the strength of the industry and expertise across the county. Irelands pharmaceutical sector stands as a global leader, driving innovation, excellence, and economic growth, said Mr Martin. This announcement from Business Platforms is a testament to the strength of this industry and the world-class expertise we cultivate here in Cork. By creating 75 highly skilled jobs and expanding its consulting services, Business Platforms is strengthening the digital transformation of pharmaceutical manufacturing and reinforcing Irelands position at the cutting edge of the industry. I congratulate the entire team on this milestone and look forward to their continued success." Joe Lyons, who was recently appointed as general manager at Business Platforms as part of their planned expansion, said that the new roles will enable the company to meet the evolving needs of their clients. This announcement reflects the increasing demand for specialized consulting services in the pharmaceutical industry, said Mr Lyons. We are proud to continue our commitment to excellence by growing our talented team, investing in cutting-edge learning and development initiatives, and expanding our service offerings to meet the evolving needs of our clients. By investing in talent and fostering strong industry partnerships, Business Platforms will continue to contribute to the regions economic growth and provide long-term career opportunities for professionals in the consulting and engineering sectors. The companys ongoing commitment to innovation and operational excellence drives continued growth and new strategic partnerships, thereby reinforcing our position as a global leader in pharmaceutical consulting, he added. We are excited for the next phase of our journey, with our talented team, strong client relationships, and commitment to excellence, we are well-positioned to achieve our vision of becoming a leading global provider of business consulting and operational support for pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality, and supply chain systems." Anne Lanigan, who is the divisional manager within Enterprise Ireland for technology and services said that supporting Irish companies with the ambition to scale globally is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland. We look forward to working closely with Business Platforms to optimise their full international growth potential into the future, said Ms Lanigan. For more information about Business Platforms and career opportunities, visit: www.businessplatforms.com. A Brazilian man who was trying to secure car insurance in Ireland purchased a fake no claims bonus from a Facebook page which he submitted to the insurance company, a district court in Cork has heard. Court presenter Sergeant Eimear OConnell told Bandon District Court that Claudio Rodrigues Pereira, aged 47 of Emmet Row, Bandon, Co Cork, submitted the false document to Axa Insurance as part of an application for motor insurance in April 2023. Axa made a complaint to gardai about the application and Pereira was arrested and charged with using a false instrument under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. The court was told that Pereira had three previous convictions, two of which were for using a false instrument arising from a similar incident where he had applied to Liberty Insurance also in 2023. On that occasion he had bought a false Portuguese driving licence from a Facebook page. Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said that Pereira had been living in Ireland for four years and had a full Brazilian licence when he arrived. He said that his client had been duped by the Facebook page offering licenses and no claims bonuses and was very contrite. Mr Taaffe said that the offending occurred over a short period of time and that his client was now taking lessons with a view to obtaining an Irish driving licence. Judge Joanne Carroll said that the offence was a terrible deception that was clearly premeditated and that Pereira was trying to bypass Irish law while a visitor to this country. She added: If you go on to a Facebook page to buy a licence or other documents you are setting out to deceive, the question is can this man stay out of prison? Claudio Rodrigues Pereira was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme A woman who found a lost debit card on the street and used it to go shopping in two supermarkets has avoided a criminal conviction in the district court. Sergeant Eimear OConnell told Bandon District Court a man had gone to Bandon Garda Station on Sunday, May 4 last to report his debit card as missing. The injured party told gardai he had lost his card and it had been used for a number of transactions he did not authorise. The court was told the card was used for four different transactions in SuperValu in Bandon and another transaction at Aldi supermarket in Bandon. The items purchased were groceries and the total value of the transactions was 139.61, with 32.87 spent in Aldi, and 106.74 spent in SuperValu. Sgt OConnell said Mimi Kiss, 42 of North Main Street, Bandon, Co Cork, was identified via CCTV footage. Kiss, who was aided in court by a Hungarian translator, made full admissions when she was arrested and pleaded guilty to five counts of theft. Defence solicitor Myra Dinneen said her client had been living in Ireland for seven years and had no previous convictions of any kind. She said Kiss had brought 200 to court to compensate the injured party and was really sorry over this. She said Kiss, who works full-time in local factory, had found the card and accepted what she did next was a very big mistake. Ms Dineen said her client was very remorseful for her actions and had suffered considerable stress and anxiety as a result. Judge Joanne Carroll accepted Kiss had shown significant remorse. She said the fact Kiss was in full-time employment, had no previous convictions, and had made good the loss were all in her favour. She ordered Kiss to donate 150 to the poor box and to carry out 20 hours of charity work. The judge said if Kiss did as instructed she would apply the Probation Act for one of the SuperValu thefts and the Aldi theft, and strike out the remaining charges. The case was adjourned to November 7 for finalisation. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme Last month, I took part in a drive to Kyiv to deliver a set of seven end-of-life vehicles for use by the Ukrainian emergency services in the midst of their ongoing war with Russia. A team of 11 of us went out and returned safely - the oldest among us was 79 and the youngest was 23. I celebrated my 61st birthday while in Ukraine. I embarked on the trip for several reasons, one of them being that Im concerned for my long-term health and that if I waited another few years, I might not have the physical capacity to do proper travelling. I was a soldier during my early to mid-20s (1985-1990) and felt that it was now for definite or maybe never. I also wanted to see for myself what conditions were like for the Ukrainian people. We left from Dublin Port on Monday morning, June 16, and returned via Chisinau Airport in Moldova to Dublin. The vehicles we brought were loaded with medical and first-aid supplies. Someone from Ardee RFC in Co. Louth presented sets of Ardee and Leinster gear for morale and rehabilitation purposes. Donations of privately owned old bangers, or jalopies, of vans, jeeps and pick-ups, are preferred because they will have a fairly short shelf-life. This also includes decommissioned public service vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, etc. The vehicles are used in frontline areas of the war to evacuate casualties to triage stations and stabilisation points, with onward transport to hospitals by ambulance. Irish ambulances are appreciated because treatment can start immediately, given the room available inside them. The group would particularly welcome help from working or retired mechanics for future trips, in preparing the vehicles, which are also taxed, insured and pass their Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), to enable them to transit across Europe legally. Donated vehicles must be capable of passing the CVRT or of being renovated to do so before we can drive them through Europe, or at the very least the commercial vehicle 12-week test. All of the ones we brought already were tested. On last months run - the sixth the group have done - five of the vehicles had their full CVRT and two the 12-week test. Trucks would also be on our shopping or wish list as it would be possible to put a vehicle into one along with aid. The funniest and most profound experience on the tour was on the Ukrainian side of the border post, watching Tipperary and Kilkenny guys having a friendly hurling puck-around along with a Dub, while waiting for the last two vehicles (Mercedes and Scania trucks) to come through processing. One digit or letter in the chassis numbers was smudged on both sets of paperwork, so we were trying to scrounge an A4 scanner as well for the Ukrainian end. Polish public servants can be just as finicky as Irish public servants when it comes to paperwork. There will be more trips - hopefully, the seventh one by the group will take place in late September or early October. Volunteers are welcome to come along as drivers if they wish. Our normal accommodation is in the centre of Kyiv, close to Maiden Square, the presidential residence and other government buildings so its under the protection of the Iron Dome air-defence systems by default. Please note that certain donations of materials or vehicles may be embargoed from publicity in the general or social media. Ukraine is under martial law and people who help us there welcome most publicity, but geolocation data on phones ought to be disabled, and always ask before taking any photographs. Each of us who took part in the run got a certificate signed by the Acting Commander of the Ukraine armed forces. Drivers pay their own way, e.g. diesel, tolls, ferries, food and accommodation. Regarding Irelands wider role in helping Ukraine, I was deeply impressed by the Operation Carousel conducted by the Irish Defence Forces under the leadership of Commandant Niall Buckley last June. Due to Irelands policy of neutrality, the convoy of more than 30 vehicles was unable to proceed all the way to Kyiv so the vehicles were left in a secure holding facility near the south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszow for collection by the Ukrainian Army. The Department of Foreign Affairs is rightly wary of creating diplomatic incidents and Irish military personnel could easily be needed at home in their professional capacity. For further information about the trip I went on to Ukraine, please contact: Jim Harding, Hardings Stoneyard, Gowran Co Kilkenny, R95WR15. Jim set up the Kilkenny to Ukraine voluntary group Facebook page, @kilkennyukraine.com and email: ireland2ukraine@gmail.com. WhatsApp 0862500404. Road manager for the tour was Joe Mason on 087 9222786. A lady called Angie Schmitt wrote a piece in an American publication, The Atlantic. In it, she described the morning school run in Florida. She observed that if you were to stop by an elementary school during mid-morning, youd be likely to find a site of relative calm. Students in their classroom cutting away at construction paper, kids enjoying themselves out in the playground, or off-key musical instruments bellowing through a classroom window. Come at drop-off, though, and youll probably see a very different picture: the school perimeters thickening with jigsaw layers of sedans, minivans, and SUVs. A Florida resident told ABC News about the havoc near her home. Youre taking your life in your own hands to get out of here. Between 8am and 8.30am and 2.30pm to 3pm, you dont even want to get out of your house. Its daily punishment. I feel her pain. You dont have to cross the Atlantic to find chaos at school opening and closing times either. School runs here have become a thing of nightmares. Thankfully, the schools are shut at present - meaning we get some respite from the weekday drop-offs - but you can bet as soon as late August comes around, the ordeal will begin again. My memory is poor at the best of times, but I was trying to remember if there was such a thing as a school run when I was in primary school and Im pretty sure there wasnt. As kids, we all either walked or cycled to school back in the 1960s, regardless of the weather. We dressed appropriately for the conditions and we somehow managed to survive. I can remember sitting at my desk on many occasions in wet trousers after getting a soaking on the way in and I never died of pneumonia. In some of the classrooms, a large central heating pipe ran along the wall above the level of the skirting board, and on a really wet day, that would be top heavy with kids sitting on it trying to dry off and get some heat into the bones. You could see the steam rising from the damp clothes. Getting a spin to school wasnt an option for most kids anyway. There werent as many cars around in those days so if you did get a lift, it probably meant you sat on the crossbar of some guys bike. Things had changed by the time my own kids reached school going age. We lived out in the countryside and the school was a fair distance away - too far for their little legs to carry them, so we had a school run. Looking back on it now, though, I cant say bringing them to school was very traumatic. But it is now. The school runs I had with our grandkids before they moved Down Under were unlike anything I had experienced previously. Dropping them off at the school in the morning and collecting them in the afternoon stressed me out. There were many times when my heart nearly stopped. Their primary school was located on the side of a busy street, so parking was a problem. The only option was to pull up as close to the school entrance as traffic would allow and let them hop out and run the gauntlet of passing traffic. There was danger everywhere, with hundreds of children all heading in the same direction, crossing the street from all angles. Many with hoods up and totally blind to the cars around them. It was even more hazardous on a windy day when they couldnt hear the noise of the car engines either. The afternoons were worse. Watching the children spilling out from school with cars parked on either side of the road and traffic speeding in both directions used to make my blood run cold. To have any hope of finding a parking spot, youd need to turn up an hour before collection time, and I often did when picking them up on a wet day. I hated those school runs with a passion. In Australia, I was reintroduced to the school run. I brought and collected the three grandchildren a few times while we were in Brisbane. It was actually a pleasant experience, especially when I got used to the route. There was a small bit of stress initially, when I worried I might take a wrong turn and end up losing them in the Outback, but that was short- lived. The pre-school young Archie attended had plenty of parking spaces and that made life very easy. Getting into the premises was a bit like trying to gain entry to Fort Knox but thats how it should be. The keypad at the front door was the first obstacle. Once inside, another code had to be entered on a touch screen before you could go any further. But it was a user-friendly system, and some of the staff began to recognise me after a while. I never witnessed any madness by parents or chaos caused by bad driving either, so all in all there was no pressure. It was all very civilised. The primary school the two older boys went to was next door. So, after dropping Archie off, it was just a short walk with the other two lads. There was a lollipop man on duty outside the gate there and I could never pass him without having a chat. He was originally from the UK but living in Brisbane for donkeys years and loved it. He was nearly 80 but could easily pass for a man 20 years younger. He put that down to the Australian lifestyle and was even trying to encourage me to apply for a position. They were short-staffed. Whatever about doing that job in Oz, I could never do it here, even if I was on the breadline and down to my last cent. Facing that chaos every day would only shorten my life, unlike my friend in Brisbane. Fiona Magennis A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to having a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in his possession in west Dublin last year. Jamie Moss, Meadowview, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, appeared before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to two offences. He was arraigned before the court and replied guilty to the charge that on February 16th, 2024 at Old Navan Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 in Dublin, he had in his possession and control a 9mm Makarov calibre semi-automatic pistol in such circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession or under control for a lawful purpose. On the same date, at the same address, he pleaded guilty to having in his possession a 9mm Makarov Sellier and Bellot round of ammunition in such circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession or under control for a lawful purpose. A barrister for the State told the court that a sentence hearing for a co-accused is listed for October 20th this year and said the matters can be joined together. She said Mr Moss is currently on bail and there was no issue with that continuing. Carol Doherty BL, for Moss, asked that a probation report be prepared in respect of her client, who is a young man who has just finished his education. Ms Justice Karen OConnor directed that a probation report be prepared and remanded Moss on continuing bail to October 20th for sentencing. In June this year, co-accused Sarah Jane Byrne (27) pleaded guilty to five offences. Byrne pleaded guilty that on February 16th 2024, at Old Navan Road in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, she had in her possession or under control a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference she did not have them for a lawful purpose. On the same date, at her home address, she pleaded guilty to similar charges relating to possession of 27 rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition, a 12-gauge "over and under" sawn-off Beretta shotgun, and a Tokarev submachine gun. Niamh O'Donoghue A 63-year-old man has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a teenager in a Dublin laneway. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto, of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last May of sexually assaulting the 18-year-old on October 26th, 2022. Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, said the victim wants to remain anonymous but had no issue with the defendant being named. Reading his victim impact statement to the court, the injured party said he had just left secondary school and turned 18 at the time of the assault. I was forever changed after that, he said. Im 21. I wont get to be 18 again and time waits for no one. Ill never get that time back, he added. He said he hoped he could get closure and move on with my life and thanked gardai for getting him through a gruelling trial. Garda Liam OMeara told the court he was on duty at Rathmines Garda Station when the teenager made an allegation that he had been sexually assaulted. The injured party said he was halfway down a lane and was wearing a set of headphones, listening to music when two females passed by. One of the females stopped at the top of the lane and beckoned in his direction. He was not sure if he was being called because he had his headphones in. The injured party said Otto almost immediately cupped his penis through his trousers. He asked Otto to back away. He moved away but Otto offered to give him oral sex and he declined. At this point the injured party took out his mobile phone and recorded some of the incident. There was another attempt to touch him and he told Otto to go away, the court heard. The injured party said he was in shock. He called his father who was unable to attend, but his mother came to the garda station. CCTV Gardai identified Otto from CCTV of the lane and a warrant was issued. Otto was arrested and detained in the usual fashion and was interviewed on two occasions. Otto said it was the injured party who carried out the assault and took a trial date. The court heard Otto has one previous for assault causing harm on April 27th, 2019 and received a suspended sentence on October 20th, 2020. Boiling water was thrown over the injured party who had rejected Ottos advances. The court heard Otto is a male transitioning into a female. Judge Codd asked if the transition was complete. Gda OMeara told the judge the transition was not complete. Pieter LeVert BL, defending, told the court Otto accepted the verdict of the jury in full. He said his client is 63 and is originally from the Philippines and left school early to work. He said his client owned and operated a salon in the Philippines. Otto came to Ireland in 2011 to work in a salon of a girl from the Philippines. Counsel said difficulties with Ottos vocal cords caused his client to have no voice. Having stopped working as a result of that and suffering severe financial difficulties, Otto began working on the streets. Mr LeVert said his client was a victim of a robbery and then attempted suicide. Documents A document from Ruhama, an NGO providing support to sex workers, which Otto first contacted in March 2014, was handed into court. A document was also handed in about attendance at adult education services and a hairdressing course. Counsel said Otto is biologically male and has been transitioning for a number of years having had a breast augmentation and using a hormonal patch three times a week. Otto has diabetes and there has been great caution because of that. He said there were a number of letters from the National Gender Service who provide psychological services. Mr LeVert handed in two newspaper articles dated February 10th, 2025 and May 30th, 2025 written by journalist Conor Gallagher, saying there was still no formal model of how to deal with transgender prisoners and where they should be housed. Counsel said the article states these people are currently held in the E wing of Limerick Prison where they are typically held up to 23 hours a day in their cells. What weight has this evidence? Its a newspaper article? remarked Judge Pauline Codd. Mr LeVert asked the court to take account of the issues around trans prisoners, that Otto was a foreign national with no family here and his clients acceptance of the jurys verdict. The judge asked what level of English Otto had and counsel said an interpreter was used for the trial however none was used for the sentencing hearing on Monday. Judge Codd noted Otto, who was 58 at the time of the offence, identified as female but is biologically male. The judge said that it created a difficulty in terms of sentencing as Otto has not yet received a gender recognition certificate. The judge noted the injured party believed the person was a woman and when Otto asked him for assistance and so the complainant approached the accused. She noted Otto had claimed to be the victim and the case was fully defended. Judge Codd said the attempt to blacken the injured partys character was unnecessary and egregious. The judge noted the victim gave a moving account of how the assault affected him - that he should be having a good time with his friends and feels like his life is being held up. Judge Codd noted it was clear from his demeanour that the injured party found the court process distressing. A sexual assault of a young person, albeit on a lower scale as it occurred over the victims clothing, can result in psychological harm, said the judge. The issue of deterrence arose, said the judge, noting there was a previous assault causing harm conviction for throwing boiling water over a person who had rejected Ottos advances. In mitigation, the judge noted Otto grew up under difficult circumstances and there was evidence in that regard from Ruhama. However she said these are cases where the victim feels rightly outraged by being violated in this manner. The judge also noted there was no guilty plea to save the victim the trauma of giving evidence. Judge Codd said although there was no violence, the actions of the accused amounted to a gross violation of his bodily integrity. The touching was aggravated by the lewd language that was used and that the victim was a person who was much younger. The court heard Otto has not expressed remorse but accepted the verdict of the jury. The previous conviction for assault causing harm was not the same type of offence but it related to rejected advances, the judge noted. Judge Codd said Otto was now placed onto the Sexual Offenders Register. She said the court has a letter from Ruhama, where they received personal support. She said Otto was a person undergoing transition and that it is difficult where their gender identity does not align with their biological sex. Judge Codd noted Otto was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence and imposed a three-year jail term. France is investigating whether X has manipulated its algorithm and engaged in "fraudulent data extraction." Prosecutors are looking into if the social media platform engaged in election interference. They launched the investigation on July 11, following reports in January. It has labelled X as an "organized gang." X's Global Government Affairs account issued a scathing breakdown of what it calls France's "politically-motivated criminal investigation" and its refusal to cooperate. The French government has requested that X provide its "recommendation algorithm and real-time data about all user posts on the platform." France is using multiple experts to look at the information. One is David Chavalarias, director of the Paris Complex Systems Institute (ISC-PIF), who leads the "Escape X" campaign. Another expert Maziyar Panahi, an AI engineer at ISC-PIF, worked on research projects alongside Chavalarias "that demonstrate open hostility towards X." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsurprisingly, X is not happy about the involvement of Chavalarias and Panahi, claiming it could mean a predetermined outcome. As a result, X is refusing to provide French authorities with the requested access. In the statement, X said the investigation, led by parliamentarian Eric Bothorel, "egregiously undermines Xs fundamental right to due process and threatens our users' rights to privacy and free speech. Mr Bothorel has accused X of manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes, an allegation which is completely false." The UK government has announced a new strategic partnership with OpenAI that could lead the company to "expand AI security research collaborations, explore investing in UK AI infrastructure like data centers, and find new ways for taxpayer funded services" to use AI. The move follows the introduction of the AI Action Plan in January, which fast-tracks the construction of data centers in certain regions of the UK. In the (entirely voluntary) partnership agreement technically a Memorandum of Understanding OpenAI and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) agree to tackle positive-sounding, but ultimately vague tasks things like finding ways for "advanced AI models" to be used in both the public and private sectors and sharing information around the security risks of AI. OpenAI is also supposed to help DSIT identify ways it can deliver on the infrastructure goals of the AI Action Plan, and possibly explore building in one of the UK's new data center-friendly "AI Growth Zones." All of this sounds nebulous and non-committal because the memorandum OpenAI signed is not at all legally-binding. The partnership sounds nice for elected officials eager to prove the UK is competing in AI, but it doesn't tie anyone down, including the UK government: If Anthropic offers a deal on Claude, they can take it. OpenAI already has offices in London, so deepening its investment doesn't seem out of the question. Signing the memorandum is also consistent with OpenAI's growing interest in working with governments desperate for the high-tech gloss of the AI industry. The logic follows that if OpenAI can get regulators dependent on its tools say, a ChatGPT Gov specifically designed for government agencies they'll be more inclined to favor the company in policy decisions. Or at the very least, making a show of collaborating early could win the company a sweeter deal down the road. A major zero-day security vulnerability in Microsoft's widely used SharePoint server software has been exploited by hackers, causing chaos within businesses and government agencies, multiple outlets have reported. Microsoft announced that it had released a new security patch "to mitigate active attacks targeting on-premises [and not online] servers," but the breach has already effected universities, energy companies, federal and state agencies and telecommunications firms. The SharePoint flaw is a serious one, allowing hackers to access file systems and internal configurations or even execute code, to completely take over systems. The flaw could put more than 10,000 companies at risk, Cybersecurity company Censys told The Washington Post. "It's a dream for ransomeware operators, and a lot of attackers are going to be working this weekend as well." Google's Threat Intelligence Group added that the flaw allows "persistent, unauthenticated access that can bypass future patching." The US Cybersecurity and Infrastucture Security agency (CISA) said that any servers affected by the exploit should be disconnected from the internet until a full patch arrives. It added that the impact of the attacks is still being probed. Advertisement Advertisement The vulnerability was first spotted by Eye Security, which said the flaw allows hackers to access SharePoint servers and steal keys in order to impersonate users or services. "Because SharePoint often connects to core services like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, a breach can quickly lead to data theft, password harvesting, and lateral movement across the network," Eye Security wrote in a blog post. The FBI is aware of the attack and is working closely with government and private sector partners. It's not immediately clear which groups are behind the zero-day hacks. In any case, the attack is liable to put Microsoft under the microscope again. A 2023 breach of Exchange Online mailboxes led the White House's Cyber Safety Review Board to declare that Microsoft's security culture was "inadequate." As is tradition, Google has already shown off at least one of its new Pixel phones before it's announced. The front page of the Google Store currently features a short video teasing one of the Pixel 10 smartphones the company is announcing on August 20. If you take the webpage literally, then Google's video is showing off the base Pixel 10, which has a similar look to the Pixel 9, with some key differences. Those include a new grayish-blue finish, a tweaked back design that makes the back of the phone looks like it's rising out of the frame and an additional camera. If you haven't gotten to try a Pixel 9, last year's phone only had wide and ultrawide cameras, with the telephoto lens exclusive to the Pixel 9 Pro models. Leaks suggest Google is giving all of its phones telephoto cameras in 2025, though it's still possible the phone in the video is a Pixel 10 Pro. There's not much to glean from the video beyond that. Some of that could be because of the more modest approach Google is rumored to be taking with its new phones, focusing on technical improvements like a new Tensor chip rather than radical new designs. Google runs a leaky ship when it comes to hardware, with most of its new products reported on well in advance of the company actually announcing them. In recent years, Google has seemingly embraced that, teasing the Pixel 9 lineup ahead of launch last year, and revealing the Pixel 7 months before it was announced in October 2022. As Prince Harry makes early attempts to repair his relationship with King Charles, royal experts believe Meghan Markle is providing her full, quiet support. Palace aides for Harry and his father appear to be back in touch for the first time since a period of no contact raising hopes for some healing in the royal family rift. The Duke of Sussex earlier this year said he and the King had not spoken in a while but that may now be changing. Meghan's Steady Support While Meghan has remained focused on growing her lifestyle brand As Ever, she is said to support Harry's efforts to mend ties. BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror that the Duchess of Sussex wants what is best for her husband. "My belief is that Meghan loves Harry and wants him to be happy," Bond said. "And if a reconciliation with his father, which he has said he wants, will make him happy, then I think Meghan would be supportive." Bond recalled the King's early relationship with Meghan, which was warm and affectionate. "Harry wrote about how jovial and animated his father was when they used to visit him, for example, talking to Meghan about music," she said. Bond also noted Charles was by Meghan's side to walk her way down the aisle at her and Harry's wedding, which she described as a tender moment between the two. She continued that Meghan might also want her children to know more about their royal history. "I think she would also welcome the chance for her children to get to know their grandfather and understand their heritage," Bond said. "There are unconfirmed reports that she used to send him videos of the children before the rift with Harry became so deep." William Still Distant Although Harry and Charles may be warming toward each other, no progress has been reported between the Duke of Sussex and his brother, Prince William. Bond said William remains "deeply wounded" and "the brothers are still miles apart in every sense." "It is a hugely difficult situation for a father, with loyal William at his side and rebellious Harry in California," Bond said. "I imagine the King would have warned William about the meeting. I hope so, anyway." Bond said it is possible William could forgive past remarks from Harry, but not those aimed at his wife, Princess Kate. "I think William might find it in his heart to forgive Harry's jibes about their sibling rivalry, his indiscretions about their disagreements and fights," she said. "But I don't think he is in any way ready to forgive Harry for hurting Catherine and revealing a row about bridesmaids' dresses and a disagreement about lip gloss." Though a full reunion may be far off, Bond believes Meghan's quiet backing could help Harry take meaningful steps forward with his father. "A reconciliation could still be a very long way away," she said. "But if it happens, Harry will have gone some way to fulfilling his father's wish." En espanol The moment shocked millions of viewers. On Sunday night, Cuban contestant Laura Perez suffered a terrifying fall during the live broadcast of Miss Universe Latina, Telemundo's popular reality show that selects the U.S. Latina representative for Miss Universe 2025. The incident occurred during one of the show's most anticipated challenges, where contestants were harnessed and lifted into the air to "capture the crown" mid-flight. While most participants completed the task without trouble, Perez's attempt turned into a nightmare. Viewers watched in disbelief as Perez, 26, suddenly plummeted from a significant height when her harness failed mid-air. Mexican host Jacqueline Bracamontes rushed to Perez's side as smoke effects concealed the scene, repeatedly asking, "Estas bien? Estas bien?" (Are you OK?) Perez, visibly shaken and unable to get up did not answer. Within minutes, the live broadcast was suspended. Social media exploded with concern for the Cuban-born model as footage of the fall began circulating online. Telemundo released a statement shortly after, obtained by rENSTARZ and the Latin Times,, confirming Perez received immediate medical attention. "The unfortunate accident that occurred last night during Miss Universe Latina, El Reality is under investigation," the network said. "The safety and well-being of our talent and employees is always our top priority in all productions. Laura Perez received immediate medical attention, and we hope she can participate in tonight's finale." Despite Telemundo's assurance that Perez is recovering, no personal statement has been issued by the contestant herself. Fans and fellow contestants have flooded social media with messages of support, awaiting further updates. Perez's accident has raised questions about safety measures in reality competitions. Viewers pointed out that earlier contestants performed the same challenge successfully, but Telemundo confirmed that the incident is under internal review. As the competition approaches its final episode, Perez remains a fan favorite. Known for her poise and grace, she has emerged as one of the strongest contenders for the crown. If medically cleared, she is expected to return for the finale. Born in Santa Clara, Cuba, Perez trained at Arte en Movimiento Escuela Profesional de Danza before relocating to Miami, where she worked in the hospitality industry. In previous interviews, she often credited her grandfather as her greatest inspiration, sharing how his encouragement fueled her modeling career. At 26, Perez represents not just Cuban pride, but the resilience of Latina women pursuing the American dream. Her presence in Miss Universe Latina has captured attention from both fans and judges, and her potential participation in Miss Universe 2025, scheduled for November 21 in Thailand, remains a possibility if her recovery goes well. Whether she returns for the finale or not, Laura Perez's fall has become one of the most dramatic moments in the show's history, reminding audiences of the real risks behind seemingly glamorous productions. Telemundo has yet to announce whether safety protocols will change moving forward. For now, all eyes are on Perez as fans hope for her speedy recovery and possible return to the competition that could change her life. Billy Porter is making sure summer 2025 belongs to him, and he's doing it in heels, lipstick, and full showbiz glory. From launching his own makeup empire to stepping into the most iconic role on Broadway, this queer superstar is proving there's nothing he can't turn fierce. Porter kicked off July with the launch of Black Mona Lisa Beauty, his brand-new genderless makeup and skincare line. The name isn't randomfans will recognize it from his hit 2023 album. Now, it's the banner for his beauty revolution. With prices starting at just $9.99, the collection includes everything from eye shimmers to serums, all designed to help people "play" with their look, regardless of gender identity or experience with makeup. What's next? He's teasing fashion, shoes, and even cookware. Yes, cookware. But Billy isn't stopping there. In a full-circle moment, he's also taking over Broadway's Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, stepping into the role of the Emcee this July. For Porter, it's a long-overdue dream come true. He auditioned for the part back in 1998 and lost out. This time, history will be made: he's the first Black actor to headline the role on Broadway, and he's planning to flip the narrative, portraying the Emcee as a Black man fleeing the American South, only to land in Europe's own dark chapter. His 13-week run promises to be one of the most talked-about Broadway moments of the year. He is already a Broadway darling, known for his Tony-winning turn in Kinky Boots and his Emmy Award-winning role in Pose, brings charisma, depth, and unapologetic style to the iconic character. His arrival comes after Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada concluded their celebrated run on July 20. Now, Porter's performance will lead Cabaret through its final 13 weeks, wrapping up in October 2025. In recent interviews, Porter has called playing the Emcee a dream role, saying it allows him to blend his musical theater roots with his unique voice as a queer Black artist. His take on the Emcee is seductive and chaotic, and deeply personal. For Porter, the character's boundary-breaking spirit resonates with his own career of challenging norms and telling untold stories. The production itself has become a must-see for Broadway fans. With provocative choreography, decadent set design, and an atmosphere that feels more Berlin nightclub than traditional musical theater, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club has redefined what a Broadway revival can be. Now, with Porter's voice guiding the audience, the production's themes of identity, freedom, and societal collapse feel more urgent than ever. Tickets for Porter's performances are selling quickly, especially since his appearance will be limited to specific dates between July and October. Fans and theater critics alike are anticipating what many are calling a career-defining turn for the star. For Porter, it's a full-circle momentreturning to Broadway, not just to perform, but to redefine an iconic role on his own terms. Award-winning Chicago artist Anne Nordhaus-Bike has a watercolor painting of blue flowers, Exploring, in a summer art exhibition titled The Natural World at the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL, from Monday, August 4, through Saturday, September 20, 2025. Meet the artist at a reception for The Natural World show on Wednesday, August 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, a mansion-turned-cultural center located within a forest preserve, at 1717 31st St., Oak Brook, IL. The reception will feature non-alcoholic beverages, and admission is free. "I'm excited to return to Mayslake Peabody," Nordhaus-Bike said. "It's a beautiful, historic venue with spacious gallery rooms and windows overlooking a natural setting - perfect for showcasing my Exploring flowers painting!" The painting came out of Nordhaus-Bike's desire to "paint something blue" one day. "I just needed to dip my paintbrush into a different, cooler color," she added. "What resulted was a new set of blossoms that reach up to the sky, ready to explore the world." The Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) is organizing The Natural World show, its annual summer member exhibit. CAVA serves artists age 50+ and creates opportunities for members to show in notable venues. The Mayslake Peabody Estate gallery hosting the show is open Monday through Friday, noon to 3 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The DuPage Forest Preserve, which operates the venue, offers tours at 12:30 p.m. weekdays and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (630) 206-9566. For more about the show and Anne's Exploring blue flowers painting, go to https://annenordhausbike.com/blogs/blog/blue-flowers-watercolor-at-natural-world-show If you are healthy now, longevity and long-term care should be on your radar. You may feel great in your 50s, but longevity increases your risk of needing long-term care, and needing it for longer. Yes, you read that right. Being healthy is a major factor in increasing your risk of needing extended care as you age. Here's why early planning matters. If you're in your 40s, 50s, or even into your 60s and in good health, long-term care might feel like a distant concern. But that's exactly why now is the right time to pay attention. Matt McCann, CLTC, a leading expert on long-term care planning, says the top reason you could one day need long-term care in the future is longevity. "Living a long life is a gift, but it comes with challenges we don't always plan for. Healthy adults are not immune to age-related decline that eventually requires help with daily living activties or supervision due to memory loss." Americans are living longer than ever before. Because people are living longer, those years of care often stretch far beyond what most families expect or plan for, sometimes five, even ten years or more. Chronic conditions such as arthritis, dementia, stroke, or frailty don't appear overnight. But as you age, the odds rise, and when extended care is needed, it can be physically, emotionally, and financially draining especially if you haven't prepared. "Getting older doesn't mean waking up one day and suddenly needing help. It creeps uparthritis, memory loss, maybe a fall. And when it happens, if you're not ready, it doesn't just affect you. It shakes your whole family, your finances, everything, unless you are prepared." Matt McCann. McCann says too many people wait until their health has already declined to plan for long-term care. The problem is, by then it's often too lateand even if you qualify, your options are far more limited. Long-Term Care Insurance is the device that most people use to provide the guaranteed tax-free benefits to pay for the quality long-term care services they will need. However, every insurance company has its own underwriting rules, which vary among insurance companies. Long-Term Care Insurance and Underwriting - Health is Key You might assume that being healthy means you won't need long-term care, but good health is actually one of the biggest reasons to plan ahead. It gives you access to more choices and lower premiums, especially if you apply while you're still younger and insurable. McCann says that considering your good health will lead to greater longevity; therefore, planning for the future costs and burdens of aging should be a primary goal before you retire. "Good health is a gift, but it also means you're more likely to live a long lifeand longevity increases the odds you'll need care. That's why planning for the costs and burdens of aging should be a priority, especially before you retire, while you still have the most options." Matt McCann. Planning for long-term care while you're still healthy and insurable gives you more control. McCann says you can explore the various types of qualified Long-Term Care Insurance, including traditional (such as LTC partnership plans) and hybrid LTC policies, which will safeguard income and assets, ensure access to quality care, and ease family stress and anxiety. Most importantly, McCann says planning protects your family from becoming default caregivers. Getting accurate Long-Term Care Insurance quotes is the first step you should take. "Long-Term Care Insurance ensures you can access quality care without draining retirement savings or relying on family members to become caregivers. You want your loved ones to have the time to be family and not become your caregiver." Matt McCann. Adjust Thinking: Good Health = Longevity. Longevity = Long-Term Care McCann stresses that being healthy in your 40s or 50s doesn't exempt you from needing extended care. However, your age and health allows you to plan and do so affordably. "When you add Long-Term Care Insurance to your retirement plan before you retire, you're not just protecting your income and savingsyou're giving your family peace of mind. The truth is, the longer you live, the more likely you'll need careand often for far longer than you ever imagined." Matt McCann, nationally recognized long-term care expert. Take the Next Step Today is the perfect time to plan. Use the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator to see extended care costs where you live. Talk with a certified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist, like Matt McCann, who works with all top-rated companies. Get Expert Guidance for Your Long-Term Care Planning Matt McCann, CLTC, is a nationally recognized specialist in long-term care planning, licensed to assist clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. He represents the leading insurance companies in the industry and is known for his ability to simplify the often confusing process of preparing for future extended care needs. With decades of experience and thousands of individuals and families helped nationwide, McCann focuses on creating Long-Term Care Insurance solutions that are affordable, customized to your age, health, and family history, financial goals, and the regulations specific to your state. Nearly 30 years of experience in long-term care planning. Holds the CLTC (Certified in Long-Term Care) designation, which recognizes in-depth training on the planning process for extended care needs. Scope of Work Represents all major top-rated LTC Insurance companies, providing objective, comparative guidance. Offers nationwide consultations, often via phone and secure screen sharing, making it easier for clients to access expert advice from anywhere. Known for processing a high volume of claims for his clients a testament to both the need for long-term care planning and his role in helping families secure and use their policies effectively. You can get free and accurate quotes from all the top companies plus professional recommendations by visiting Free and Accurate LTC Insurance Quotes. Media Availability Matt McCann is available for radio, TV, and podcast interviews. He also speaks to groups and organizations worldwide about aging, caregiving, health, and long-term care issues. Contact Matt McCann for interview opportunities or speaking engagements. Sunday, July 20, 2025 It is never a good idea to take anything for granted in life. For decades, successive U.S. presidents cajoled other NATO member countries to take defense spending seriously but those pleas largely fell on deaf ears. Most of the countries decided that they had more important matters to worry about, and were happy to simply take shelter under Americas nuclear umbrella. Throughout that period, the U.S. spent hundreds of billions of dollars each year on its military, at times contributing close to 70 percent of NATOs collective defense budget. The requirement for each NATO member country to spend 2 percent of its GDP on defense was first introduced in 2006. That obligation was formalized by NATO heads of state in 2014. By that year, the U.S. was already exceeding the target, devoting 3.7 percent of its GDP to military expenditures. In 2024, the U.S. spent 3.38 percent of GDP on defense, far outperforming the majority of countries in the alliance. Canada (1.37 percent), Belgium (1.3 percent) and Spain (1.28 percent) came nowhere near meeting the 2 percent goal. Canadians and Europeans took that lackadaisical approach to military spending because it was inconceivable to them that America would ever think about not abiding by Article 5 of the NATO Treaty if Europe were to come under attack by Russia or some other external adversary. Perhaps no one could also imagine that the U.S. would ever elect a president like Donald Trump. That is the point about taking nothing for granted in life. Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 finally woke up Europe. But the alarm bells didnt really go off until earlier this year when President Trumps second term began. His horrendous treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office five months ago, and his initial refusal to blame Vladimir Putin for Russias unprovoked war on Ukraine, sent a clear message to the Europeans that there was a real possibility they might have to confront the Russian menace on their own. To their immense credit, many of the current leaders of Europe are finally rising to the occasion. At the recent NATO summit in The Hague, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who is a former Dutch prime minister, pushed alliance members to agree to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense, something President Trump had been calling for. New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has led the charge in getting his country to start spending hundreds of billions of euros to build up its military. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is similarly taking measures to meaningfully boost British defense spending. They have all heeded calls that French President Emmanuel Macron has been making for several years about Europe taking responsibility for its own defense. He recognized Europes vulnerability much earlier than anyone on the continent. It should be noted that there are some European NATO countries that have not been as negligent as the rest of the continent. Unsurprisingly, those praiseworthy members are either situated close to Russia, or were previously under the influence of the Soviet Union. Poland and Estonia are two of those nations. The Poles have consistently taken defense spending seriously, and currently devote over 4 percent of their GDP to it. Estonia is expected to allocate 5.4 percent of GDP to military expenditures next year. Estonias Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was quoted in a recent article as saying: Im born in 1977, and we had no right to celebrate Christmas. Our national flagit was the highest crime to have it at home. We have decided that we will never let it happen again, whatever the costs are. People who have experienced oppression tend to understand the value of freedom much better than others, and will do whatever it takes to preserve it after they get a taste of it. As the Ukrainians are making it clear to everyone who is watching or listening, they will fight to the death to avoid falling under the thumb of Vladimir Putin. Despite the newfound seriousness in Europe about defense spending, those of us who care deeply about this existential battle for liberty over tyranny shouldnt celebrate just yet. There is already talk that some NATO countries plan to use accounting gimmicks to continue to evade responsibility. Even worse, before the NATO summit, Spain, the naughtiest freeloader, reportedly asked to be excluded from the new 5 percent spending target, claiming that it had other domestic priorities. Someone should remind the Spanish not to be this complacent. Being situated far away from Russia does not guarantee safety. If the arsonist in the Kremlin were to set Europe ablaze, Spain would be equally engulfed in the flames. It would become impossible for the Spanish to ship their olive oil, shoes and other marvelous products anywhere for sale. I have argued recently that it doesnt quite make sense for NATO to be spending trillions of dollars each year to militarize, at the expense of important social welfare programs. I have a lot of sympathy therefore for the Spanish position. But their laudable point of view fits only in an ideal world, which doesnt exist today in light of all the geopolitical risks facing the free world. Idealism should always be balanced with pragmatism. The foremost responsibility of presidents and prime ministers is to ensure that their nations are well equipped to defend themselves against external attacks. That entails having the foresight to anticipate risks. Given where Europe is today vis-a-vis the threat from Russia, it is quite clear that the continents past leaders failed to discharge their duties properly when it comes to national defense. History should judge them harshly on that score. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 84F. N winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Farming has once again been named the UKs deadliest job, as new figures reveal it accounts for one in five workplace deaths despite employing just 1% of the workforce. The grim data, released today (21 July) to coincide with the start of Farm Safety Week 2025, highlights an ongoing crisis in farm safety that campaigners say must be urgently addressed. In the past year alone, 28 farm workers across the UK lost their lives 23 in Great Britain and five in Northern Ireland while a further four members of the public, including two children, were also killed in farm-related incidents. Tragically, the two children died in accidents involving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), according to rural charity the Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies, which spearheads Farm Safety Week. Nearly half (48%) of those killed were aged over 65, underscoring the vulnerability of older farmers in an industry where retirement is often delayed and safety risks persist into later life. Despite making up just 1% of the UK workforce, the agricultural sector continues to account for nearly 20% of all workplace deaths, giving it the worst safety record of any occupation in Britain. The annual Farm Safety Week campaign, now in its 13th year, aims to shine a light on the dangers of working in agriculture and to shift attitudes towards risk and safety culture. This is year 13 of Farm Safety Week. Thirteen years of stories. Thirteen years of heartbreak. Thirteen years of lives changed forever, said Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation. And still, too many are relying on luck to get home safe. Luck is not a safety strategy. Its not a plan. Its not enough. While the figures remain high, there are some signs of progress. According to NFU Mutual, the number of farm accident claims fell slightly from 937 in 2023/24 to 894 in 2024/25, and reported cases of long-term ill-health and serious injury dropped from 23,000 to 18,000. Nonetheless, the financial cost of farm accidents remains severe, with NFU Mutual paying out over 48 million in the past year. Despite these small gains, the most common causes of accidents remain unchanged: moving vehicles, falls from height, slips, trips, and trapped body parts continue to top the list. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to express concern about the industry's culture of complacency and risk-taking. Farming is an extremely important but difficult and challenging job, said Wayne Owen, an inspector at the safety watchdog. This general complacency towards tasks, and a poor attitude towards keeping people safe and healthy, has to change. The responsibility for that change rests with the industry itself. The Farm Safety Foundations own research found that 81% of UK farmers believe complacency always having done it that way is a major factor behind farm accidents, while 82% blame poor attitudes towards safety. When you start to underestimate the dangers of the vehicles, equipment and animals we know so well, we risk letting routine turn deadly, added Ms Berkeley. Experience should guide caution, not excuse it. This year, the campaign is going global, working alongside Farmsafe Australia to share stories and best practices from the UK, Ireland, and the southern hemisphere. Both the HSE and Farm Safety Foundation agree that reducing fatal and serious injuries is just part of the solution changing mindsets is critical. Change doesnt happen overnight, said Ms Berkeley. It starts with one decision, one action, one conversation. We owe it to those we have lost. "We owe it to those still living with the consequences. And we owe it to the next generation of farmers in the UK, Ireland and beyond. NFU Cymru has written directly to the prime minister calling for a u-turn to the controversial changes to inheritance tax rules, as they are causing 'distress and torment' among farmers. The letter comes as the government is expected to publish draft tax clauses for the next Finance Bill, against the backdrop of rising concern across the rural community. At the heart of the issue are reforms to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR), announced in the 2024 autumn budget, which are set to come into effect from April 2026. Under the proposed changes, 100% inheritance tax relief for qualifying agricultural and business assets will be capped at 1 million. Any value above that threshold will receive only 50% relief, with both APR and BPR contributions counted within the same 1 million limit. The policy shift is being seen by many in the industry as a direct threat to the future of family farming in the UK. The looming 'family farm tax' has prompted widespread anxiety, particularly among older farmers facing complex financial decisions with little time to prepare. NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said he had no choice but to write to Sir Keir Starmer after receiving an outpouring of concern from farming families across Wales. I have been compelled to write to the prime minister after being contacted by hundreds of concerned Welsh farming families, he said. Mr Jones warned that the number of farms likely to be affected by the inheritance tax changes could far exceed the Treasurys estimates. "What pains me more than anything is the sheer number of elderly farmers who, having worked hard all their lives, now find themselves tormented with the continual worry that their passing will create an unmanageable financial burden for their loved ones." He highlighted how older farmersmany in poor healthare now having to grapple with complicated tax and legal issues, often without access to insurance that could help meet future tax bills. Across our nation, there are countless examples of farmers in their twilight years having to deal with complex tax and legal considerations, at a time in life when even minor decisions can be a source of considerable apprehension, he said. For many of these people, either due to age or health issues, there is no recourse to insurance cover to meet tax liabilities. Mr Jones said it was unthinkable that any government would deliberately place elderly farmers in such a difficult and invidious position, and urged ministers to reconsider. My view remains that an opportunity still exists for your government to mitigate very many of the human impacts of these policy proposals, whilst meeting the governments aim of raising revenue. The fallout is made more contentious by what many farmers see as a broken political promise. In November 2023, at the CLA Conference, then-Shadow Defra Secretary Steve Reed MP now Defra Secretary declared: We have no intention of changing APR. That commitment, farmers say, has now been abandoned. NFU Cymrus letter is part of a wider campaign to #StopTheFamilyFarmTax, which urges farmers to write letters to their local MPs explaining the personal and financial impact of the reforms. Italys gross domestic product (GDP) may reduce by an estimated 0.9 per cent if US tariffs are 20 per cent, and the reduction may be 1.4 per cent in case tariffs are 30 per centeffectively wiping out expected growth, with an estimated negative impact of just under 30 billion (~$34.92 billion) between 2025 and 2026, according to the second edition of the EY-Parthenon Bulletin. EY forecasts Italian GDP growth of 0.6 per cent this year, and that may rise to 0.8 per cent in 2026. Italy's GDP may drop by 0.9 per cent if US tariffs are 20 per cent, the EY-Parthenon Bulletin said. It may fall by 1.4 per cent in case tariffs are 30 per centeffectively wiping out expected growth. It forecasts 2025 GDP growth of 0.6 per cent, and that may rise to 0.8 per cent in 2026. Despite this challenging scenario, Italian companies are demonstrating a strong ability to react internationally. EY-Parthenon is the strategy consulting arm of Ernst & Young (EY), focusing on transformative strategy and transactions. If tariffs were confirmed at 20 per cent, as announced in early April, the economic impact is estimated at around 20 billion, a 65 per cent contraction compared to growth expectations, i.e., minus 0.9 per cent cumulative between 2025 and 2026. Despite this challenging scenario, Italian companies are demonstrating a strong ability to react internationally, Marco Daviddi, managing partner EY-Parthenon in Italy, wrote in the bulletin. In the first six months of 2025, there was significant growth in investments by Italian companies in foreign targets, with 143 announced acquisitions, compared to 122 in the same period of 2024, marking a 17 per cent increase. The value of transactions also increased, from 7.1 billion in the first half of 2024 to 13.5 billion in the same period of 2025, with the industrial sector being the leading sector, accounting for 24 per cent of transactions. The growth in mergers and acquisitions was moderate: 6 per cent in the number of deals in the first half this year, but with a halving in value compared to the same period in 2024. Industry (22 per cent), consumer goods (18 per cent) and technology, services and energy (11 per cent) remain the most active sectors. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Kareena Kapoor is known for her unfiltered charm and drama she brings to the screen in and outside the industry. We have long adored her legacy through various roles from energetic Geet in Jab We Met to poised and elegant Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Having completed 25 years in Bollywood, Kareena continues to reign with ease that is so effortlessly her confident, witty and charming. However, cinema is not the only screen that Kareena has aced. If you ever need a proof that Mai apni favourite hu isnt just a dialogue, then Kareena Kapoors social media is where you'd find it. Its a whole mood! From unfiltered selfies, family outings to glam GRWM and behind the scenes from movie sets, here are a few moods of Kareena Kapoor on social media that will have you binge scrolling and double tapping. 1. Glam Queen View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) Whether its old money or new age minimalism, you name the aesthetic and you would find it on Bebos feed. With her glam quotient, Bebo gives ultimate diva energy on her social media, be it in her vanity or red carpets. From dramatic couture to dainty and embellished ensembles to comfy Kaftans, Kareena sure knows a thing or two when it comes to rocking every outfit. And the glam selfies? Theyre always on point. 2. Unbothered Bebo View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) What makes Kareena so relatable is that she keeps it all real. Whether its carefree selfies by the beach or binging on Chinese food in PJs, Bebos content is a perfect blend of ease and elegance. Along with the camera-ready looks, she effortlessly slips in the no make-up looks that dont make beauty seem aspirational. And of course, no look barefaced or glamorous is complete without that iconic signature pout. 3. Vacay Goals View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) If theres one thing thats obvious from Kareenas social media, it is that she is a traveller and a beach baby. From the picturesque sunset snaps from Maldives to adventurous clicks from a Tanzanian safari to candid moments with her boys by the sea, Kareena is all in for a family getaway. The postcards from these trips are ones that will always hold you in awe. 4. Cool Mom Chronicles View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) Being a mother of two and constantly in the limelight has got to come with its own challenges, but Kareena embraces motherhood so effortlessly. Her social media is peppered with snapshots of her son Jeh photobombing a mid-shoot session or him flaunting her Best Actor Award, many adventures of Taimur, mushy moments of crushing over Saif and quick clicks from her hot girl yoga. Through all of it, Kareena has proven to be a cool mom for sure. 5. Girls Girlie View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karisma Kapoor (@therealkarismakapoor) Every girl needs girls who support you, cheer for you and pick you up on the toughest of days. Nobody can do without female friendships and if you think you can, thats a lie! Kareena Kapoor and her infamous girl gang (Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora) are quite known for their girlhood and years of friendship in Bollywood. We often get snippets of their night outs and getaways through Kareenas social media. Be it twinning with her girls or having a cozy girls night in Kareena shines differently when the company is her girls. Bebos feed surely reminds us that female friendships are non-negotiable. 6. Caption game - strong Like goofy pictures werent enough, Kareena also loves to play around with words and puns. Kareenas caption game proves she is the OG of sass and sarcasm. She has her way around emojis and trendy hashtags. From witty one liners, slyly using her own movie dialogues, occasional roasts of her husband Saif Ali Khan (lovingly of course), Bebos words are in perfect sync with her pictures. Also Read: Photos: Kareena Kapoor Khan to Shilpa Shetty, Bollywood Divas Who Are Yoga Enthusiasts Busan International Film Festival has announced the official selection of 30 projects for this years Asian Project Market, and Indian projects have made a strong mark. Difficult Girls, produced by Alia Bhatt and directed by her mother Soni Razdan, made it to the list. The film has been produced under Bhatt's banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions, and also involves her sister, Shaheen Bhatt and producer Alan McAlex, known for Sandhya Suri's Santosh. All We Imagine As Light's director Payal Kapadia backed film, The Last of Them Plagues, directed by Kunjila Mascillamani, also made it to the prestigious list. The film has been co-produced by Jeo Baby and Kani Kusruti. The lineup also includes The Magical Men, directed by Indian director Biplob Sarkar. Indian director Pradip Kurbah's Moon is also in the lineup. Notably, he won the BIFF 2019 Jiseok Award. Thehas announced the official selection of 30 projects for this years Asian Project Market, and Indian projects have made a strong mark. Difficult Girls, produced byand directed by her mother Soni Razdan, made it to the list. The film has been produced under Bhatt's banner, Eternal Sunshine Productions, and also involves her sister, Shaheen Bhatt and producer Alan McAlex, known for Sandhya Suri's Santosh.'s directorbacked film, The Last of Them Plagues, directed by Kunjila Mascillamani, also made it to the prestigious list. The film has been co-produced by Jeo Baby and Kani Kusruti. The lineup also includes The Magical Men, directed by Indian director Biplob Sarkar. Indian director Pradip Kurbah's Moon is also in the lineup. Notably, he won the BIFF 2019 Jiseok Award. Besides these, the lineup also includes a total of five Chinese-language films, including three from Taiwan that highlight women-led narratives. Japan is represented by directors Shiraishi Kazuya, Fujita Naoya and Zhang Yaoyuan. Their projects explore themes such as migrant labour, identity and challenges of youth. The Asian Project Market (AMP) provides emerging filmmakers a platform to connect with top international film industry professionals, spotlighting a diverse slate of fresh feature film projects each year from big-scale commercial to low-budget indie projects. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare) The APM will take place from September 20 to 23 as part of the 20th Asian Contents & Film Market at BEXCO, Busan. The winners will be announced during the APM Awards Ceremony on September 23. This will be held alongside the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which will go on from September 17 to 26. Alia Bhatt, she was most recently seen in Vasan Bala's film Jigra with Vedang Raina, where she played a fierce sister on a mission to save her brother. She will next be seen in YRF's Alpha with Sharvari and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love and War with Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. Talking ofshe was most recently seen in Vasan Bala's film Jigra with Vedang Raina, where she played a fierce sister on a mission to save her brother. She will next be seen inwith Sharvari and Sanjay Leela Bhansali'swithand Also Read: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and more shower love on Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's Saiyaara BAMAKO, Mali, July 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with Youri Communication, an international roundtable of experts, politicians, and civil society activists convened at the Grand Hotel in Bamako on July 19 to address historical justice and establish mechanisms for reparations for colonial crimes in Africa. The event, themed "Colonial crimes: it's time for compensations," served as a critical platform for African leaders to unite on the issue and outline a path toward holding former colonial powers accountable. The roundtable focused on key issues including the official recognition of colonial-era damages, the creation of viable legal mechanisms for reparation, and the comprehensive calculation of economic losses. A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the perceived failures and ineffectiveness of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Speakers expressed a consensus that the ICC is highly politicized, making it an unlikely avenue for Africa to secure fair and impartial justice from former colonizers. In light of the ICC's shortcomings, the roundtable explored the prospects of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights as a more effective institution for delivering genuine justice. The discussions are intended to form the basis for future actions aimed at achieving accountability. The event featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Mohamed Ousmane Ag Mohamedoun Haidara, Ousseynou Ouattara, Youssouf Z Coulibaly, Assane M. Seye, and Daouda Naman Tekete. The roundtable also included exclusive commentary from historian Amadou Diaw and the President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Modibo Sacko. About Youri Communication: Youri Communication is a an emerging media consulting firm based in Bamako, specializing in strategic communications for political and non-governmental organizations across West Africa. For over seven years, the company has been dedicated to amplifying African voices on the global stage. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2734648/image.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bamako-roundtable-outlines-framework-for-colonial-reparations-citing-icc-ineffectiveness-302509225.html Sheridan, Wyoming--(Newsfile Corp. - July 20, 2025) - Strategic investor Gaurav Srivastava today announced the launch of his new podcast, The Power Circuit, a deep-dive series exploring "how power actually works." Each episode features candid, long-form conversations with former intelligence officials, business leaders and policymakers, unpacking the hidden mechanics of crisis management, strategic decision-making and geopolitical transformation. "Power is a multi-dimensional force," says Srivastava. "On The Power Circuit, we'll go beyond headlines to reveal the levers, networks and strategies that really shape our world." A recognized authority in energy, commodities and frontier-market finance, Srivastava brings to the microphone a wealth of real-life, behind the scenes experience. After leaving college in 2008 to manage his family's first South African investment, he went on to build a track record of transformative deals in the petroleum and gas sector. The Power Circuit will kick off in Q4/2025 with interviews featuring former senior intelligence and military officers who played pivotal roles in counterterrorism and nation-building operations, a senior Public Relations professional who has dedicated himself to rebuilding his country and and a former senior White House advisor shaping US Foreign Policy. Srivastava is no stranger to long-form podcast dialogue. He's appeared in a double-episode of Targeted-a series spotlighting individuals hit by unfounded business and political allegations-and a double episode on Going Rogue with Lara Logan, dissecting the intersection of geopolitics, oil diplomacy and reputation warfare. The Power Circuit launches Q4, 2025, with new episodes released weekly on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. To subscribe, visit www.thepowercircuit.com or follow @ThePowerCircuit on X and LinkedIn. About Gaurav Srivastava Gaurav Srivastava is a strategic investor specializing in energy, commodities and financial markets across emerging economies. Since 2008, he has led ventures in South Africa's petroleum sector, built cross-border partnerships in Asia and orchestrated infrastructure investments in the Middle East. A frequent commentator on global affairs, he has been featured on Targeted, Going Rogue with Lara Logan and in leading financial and geopolitical publications. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259209 SOURCE: Plentisoft Extended global collaboration aims to optimize operations, drive efficiency, and unlock new go-to-market opportunities MELBOURNE, Australia, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the expansion of its existing collaboration with Telstra , Australia's leading telecommunications and technology company. Infosys will be the strategic partner for Telstra International , the global arm of Telstra, to advance technology leadership, drive innovation and support Telstra's new Connected Future 30 strategy by dynamically responding to customers' evolving needs. The collaboration will also drive efficiency while accelerating Telstra International's strategy of streamlining operations and delivering solutions which add value to customers. Infosys will deploy an AI-first approach to modernize and streamline essential systems for Telstra International, which will enhance connectivity, drive business growth, and accelerate the adoption of AI. "Our expanded collaboration with Infosys is pivotal to delivering greater value for our customers and shareholders as we evolve into a software-centric, AI-first connectivity company," said Chris Ellis, Head of IT, Software Engineering & IT, Product & Technology at Telstra. "It strengthens our focus on world-class product engineering and software excellence-modernizing and accelerating how we deliver, scale, and evolve digital experiences." Roary Stasko, CEO, Telstra International, said, "We are strengthening our core connectivity capabilities and accelerating transformation across the entire value chain for our customers. As we double down on connectivity, this collaboration with Infosys will enable us to deliver more intelligent and responsive services, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of technological change while consistently delivering exceptional customer experiences." Raja Shah, EVP and Industry Head, Global Markets, Infosys, said, "In today's rapidly evolving telecom landscape, agility and efficiency are paramount. Infosys is delighted to support Telstra International in its transformation journey, leveraging the cutting-edge capabilities of Infosys. This collaboration further underscores our commitment to deliver new-age enterprise solutions that will help Telstra International accelerate innovation and drive operational resilience." About Telstra International Telstra International is a trusted digital infrastructure and connectivity partner in Asia Pacific and the global arm of Telstra, a leading telecommunications and technology company with a proudly Australian heritage. Telstra International provides secure and resilient connectivity solutions to meet the growing needs of thousands of technology, enterprise, and wholesale customers. Telstra International is built by industry experts that bring deep technical expertise, a long history of operating in Asia Pacific and a passion for partnering with customers to help their business grow. Connecting to points of presence in close to 200 countries and territories, Telstra International's global network leverages more than 30 cable systems spanning over 400,000 kilometres, with access to 38 cable landing stations and licenses across Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas. For more information, please visit TelstraInternational.com About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 320,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses, and communities. We enable clients in more than 59 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence ("AI"), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/4364085/Infosys_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infosys-and-telstra-international-collaborate-to-advance-technology-leadership-302509305.html DKSH Management Ltd. / Key word(s): Takeover DKSH Technology to Acquire Eppendorf's Direct Presence in Thailand 21.07.2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Media release DKSH has signed an agreement with the Eppendorf Group, a leading German life science company, to acquire Eppendorf's direct presence in Thailand. With this transaction, DKSH further solidifies its position as a leading scientific solutions provider in Asia and beyond. Zurich, Switzerland, July 18, 2025 - DKSH has announced today that it signed an agreement to acquire Eppendorf's direct business in Thailand. Eppendorf is a leading international life science company that develops, manufactures, and distributes instruments, consumables, and services for use in laboratories around the world and employs around 4,500 people in more than 30 countries. In Thailand, Eppendorf is a local market leader for liquid handling (pipettes), centrifuges, and general laboratory equipment. The transaction includes the takeover of Eppendorf (Thailand) Co., Ltd. employees, as well as an exclusive right to distribute Eppendorf's products in Thailand. Through this transaction, DKSH will further solidify its position as a leading market expansion services provider in the field of Scientific Solutions in Asia and beyond. Hanno Elbraechter, Head, Business Unit Technology at DKSH, said: "We are delighted to see Eppendorf Thailand join our operations. This step highlights the continued outsourcing trend adopted by numerous multinational companies aiming to focus more on their strategic core capabilities, that will benefit DKSH. Eppendorf's portfolio consists of highly competitive instruments, services, and consumables and is complementary to ours in the region. Through our capillary distributor and customer network, we will jointly be able to expand in high-growth segments such as food & beverage, biotech, and pharma." Wilson Wang, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific China at Eppendorf Group, commented: "We are excited to start this new chapter with DKSH. With this transaction, we are combining the local strengths of DKSH with Eppendorf's strong brand and premium reliable products. We are confident DKSH will successfully develop the business and are convinced this step is beneficial for our own business, our business partners and customers, as well as our valued employees." The closing of the transaction is expected during the third quarter of 2025 and is subject to certain conditions. About Eppendorf Eppendorf is a leading international life science company that develops, manufactures, and distributes instruments, consumables, and services for use in laboratories around the world. The product portfolio of the business units Liquid Handling & Consumables, Separation & Instrumentation and Bioprocess includes, for example, pipettes, pipette tips, centrifuges, mixers, ultra-freezers and bioreactors for cell and gene research. In addition, Eppendorf offers a wide range of high-quality consumables. In fiscal year 2024, the Eppendorf Group recorded consolidated revenue of 980.3 million and invested 69 million in research and development (R&D). Eppendorf products are used in academic or industrial research laboratories, such as pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, and food industries, as well as clinical, environmental, forensic, and industrial laboratories for process analysis, production, and quality assurance. Since 1945, the Eppendorf Group has been headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and today operates production and R&D sites in Europe, Asia and North America and has subsidiaries in more than 30 countries. Today, the Group employs around 4,500 people worldwide. They all act in accordance with the purpose of the company's founders: to improve human living conditions. www.eppendorf.com About DKSH For 160 years, DKSH has been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across its Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials, and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, DKSH offers sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services, following its purpose of enriching people's lives. DKSH is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 28,060 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 11.1 billion in 2024. DKSH Business Unit Technology offers complete solutions for specialized scientific and industrial applications. With around 1,820 specialists, the Business Unit generated net sales of CHF 549 million in 2024. www.dksh.com/tec For more information please contact: DKSH Holding Ltd. Till Leisner Head, Group Investor & Media Relations Phone +41 44 386 7315 till.leisner@dksh.com Melanie Gruter Manager Group Media Relations Phone +41 44 386 7211 melanie.grueter@dksh.com Eppendorf SE Dr. Ralph Esper Barkhausenweg 1 22339 Hamburg, Germany Phone: +49 40 538 01-195 esper.r@eppendorf.de End of Media Release The first Belt and Road Conference for Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development was held in China's Chongqing, aiming to harness the strength of the overseas Chinese communities to advance the Belt and Road Initiative. - The pivotal Phase IIb ALIENTO study met the primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in the annualized exacerbation rate (AER) at 52 weeks when astegolimab was given every two weeks - - The Phase III ARNASA study did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in the AER at 52 weeks - - The safety profile of astegolimab was consistent with previously reported data, with no new safety signals identified - - Analysis of the ALIENTO and ARNASA data will be discussed with regulatory authorities and shared at an upcoming medical meeting - Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today topline results from the pivotal Phase IIb ALIENTO (n=1,301) and the Phase III ARNASA (n=1,375) trials investigating astegolimab compared to placebo, on top of standard of care maintenance therapy in people with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The studies included a broad population: both former and current smokers, regardless of blood eosinophil count, who have a history of frequent exacerbations. The pivotal Phase IIb ALIENTO study met its primary endpoint and showed that astegolimab reduced the annualized exacerbation rate (AER) by a statistically significant 15.4% at 52 weeks, when given every two weeks. However, the Phase III ARNASA study did not meet its primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in the AER, demonstrating a numerical 14.5% reduction at 52 weeks when astegolimab was given every two weeks. The results were generally consistent across secondary endpoints in both studies. The total number of exacerbations was lower than prospectively anticipated in both trials. The safety profile of astegolimab was consistent with previously reported data, with no new safety signals identified. "While COPD remains the third leading cause of death worldwide, patients and families have limited treatment options for managing this debilitating and complex disease," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "This was the first set of studies in an 'all-comers' COPD population, and we will discuss these data with regulatory authorities to evaluate next steps for astegolimab." Detailed results from ALIENTO and ARNASA will be shared at an upcoming medical meeting. About the ALIENTO and ARNASA studies Astegolimab is an investigational, fully human anti-ST2 monoclonal antibody designed to bind with high affinity to the ST2 receptor, thereby blocking the signaling of IL-33. The astegolimab COPD pivotal program consists of two registrational studies, the Phase IIb ALIENTO (NCT05037929) and Phase III ARNASA (NCT05595642) studies. Both ALIENTO and ARNASA are double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center studies that evaluate the efficacy and safety of astegolimab administered every two or every four weeks in patients with COPD on top of standard of care maintenance therapy. Patients in the studies included former and current smokers, regardless of blood eosinophil count, who have a history of frequent exacerbations. The primary analysis is based on the initial phase of the study, which consisted of 1,301 patients for ALIENTO and 1,375 patients for ARNASA. The primary endpoint is the reduction in the annualized rate of moderate and severe COPD exacerbations (AER) over the 52-week treatment period. AER is the total number of exacerbations (a sudden worsening in airway function and respiratory symptoms) occurring over the relevant treatment period, divided by the total number of patient years. Standard of care maintenance therapy for both studies was one of the following combinations inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) plus long-acting beta-agonist (LABA); long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) plus LABA; ICS plus LAMA plus LABA. About Genentech Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250720149499/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Lindsey Mathias, (650) 467-6800 Advocacy Contact: Del Conyers, (571) 684-1616 Investor Contacts: Loren Kalm, (650) 225-3217 Bruno Eschli, +41 61 68-75284 The pivotal phase IIb ALIENTO study met the primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in the annualised exacerbation rate (AER) at 52 weeks when astegolimab was given every two weeks The phase III ARNASA study did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in the AER at 52 weeks The safety profile of astegolimab was consistent with previously reported data, with no new safety signals identified Analysis of the ALIENTO and ARNASA data will be discussed with regulatory authorities and shared at an upcoming medical meeting Basel, 21 July 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today topline results from the pivotal phase IIb ALIENTO (n=1,301) and the phase III ARNASA (n=1,375) trials investigating astegolimab compared to placebo, on top of standard of care maintenance therapy in people with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The studies included a broad population: both former and current smokers, regardless of blood eosinophil count, who have a history of frequent exacerbations. The pivotal phase IIb ALIENTO study met its primary endpoint and showed that astegolimab reduced the annualised exacerbation rate (AER) by a statistically significant 15.4% at 52 weeks, when given every two weeks. However, the phase III ARNASA study did not meet its primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in the AER, demonstrating a numerical 14.5% reduction, at 52 weeks when astegolimab was given every two weeks. The results were generally consistent across secondary endpoints in both studies. The total number of exacerbations was lower than prospectively anticipated in both trials. The safety profile of astegolimab was consistent with previously reported data, with no new safety signals identified. "While COPD remains the third leading cause of death worldwide, patients and families have limited treatment options for managing this debilitating and complex disease," said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Roche's Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "This was the first set of studies in an 'all-comers' COPD population, and we will discuss these data with regulatory authorities to evaluate next steps for astegolimab." Detailed results from ALIENTO and ARNASA will be shared at an upcoming medical meeting. About the ALIENTO and ARNASA studies1,2 Astegolimab is an investigational, fully human anti-ST2 monoclonal antibody designed to bind with high affinity to the ST2 receptor, thereby blocking the signalling of IL-33.3 The astegolimab COPD pivotal programme consists of two registrational studies, the phase IIb ALIENTO (NCT05037929) and phase III ARNASA (NCT05595642) studies. Both ALIENTO and ARNASA are double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicentre studies that evaluate the efficacy and safety of astegolimab administered every two or every four weeks in patients with COPD on top of standard of care maintenance therapy. Patients in the studies included former and current smokers, regardless of blood eosinophil count, who have a history of frequent exacerbations. The primary analysis is based on the initial phase of the study, which consisted of 1,301 patients for ALIENTO and 1,375 patients for ARNASA. The primary endpoint is the reduction in the annualised rate of moderate and severe COPD exacerbations (AER) over the 52-week treatment period. AER is the total number of exacerbations (a sudden worsening in airway function and respiratory symptoms) occurring over the relevant treatment period, divided by the total number of patient years. Standard of care maintenance therapy for both studies was one of the following combinations - inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) plus long-acting beta-agonist (LABA); long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) plus LABA; ICS plus LAMA plus LABA. About Roche Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice. For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roche's business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com. All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law. References [1] A Study to Evaluate Astegolimab in Participants With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ARNASA). [Internet; cited March 2025]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05595642. [2] A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Astegolimab in Participants With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. [Internet; cited March 2025]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05037929. [3] Kelsen SG, Agache O, Soong W, Israel E, Chupp GL, Cheung DS, et al. Astegolimab (anti-ST2) efficacy and safety in adults with severe asthma: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2021 Sep;148(3):790-8. Roche Global Media Relations Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com Hans Trees, PhD Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech Phone: +41 79 935 81 48 Nathalie Altermatt Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas Phone: +41 79 568 24 95 Simon Goldsborough Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine Phone: +41 79 461 86 83 Kirti Pandey Phone: +49 172 6367262 Yvette Petillon Phone: +41 79 961 92 50 Dr Rebekka Schnell Phone: +41 79 205 27 03 Roche Investor Relations Dr Bruno Eschli Phone: +41 61 68-75284 e-mail: bruno.eschli@roche.com Dr Sabine Borngraber Phone: +41 61 68-88027 e-mail: sabine.borngraeber@roche.com (mailto:sabine.borngraeber@roche.com) Dr Birgit Masjost Phone: +41 61 68-84814 e-mail: birgit.masjost@roche.com Investor Relations North America Loren Kalm Phone: +1 650 225 3217 e-mail: kalm.loren@gene.com Attachment Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! XILINGOL LEAGUE, China, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 19, the 35th Grassland Naadam Fair of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region kicked off in Xilinhot, Xilingol League, welcoming over 100,000 visitors from across China alongside local residents to share in this celebration. At dawn, the opening ceremony commenced as tens of thousands of attendees representing diverse ethnic groups converged from all directions, adorned in their finest traditional attire. Under the theme "Musical Tours in Inner Mongolia, Daily Naadam", the event unfolded through three carefully choreographed chapters, namely "Meeting", "Gathering" and "Promise of Reunion", vividly showcasing the profound heritage of grassland culture. This Naadam Fair has elaborately planned 18 characteristic zones, featuring both traditional Mongolian cultural displays such as the "Three Manly Skills" competitions and intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, as well as innovative modern experiences like grassland photography in folk costumes and family camping. Visitors can not only watch captivating performances but also join activities such as horseback riding and stamp collection, experiencing the unique charm of grassland culture through interaction. As the host of Inner Mongolia's Summer Naadam for four consecutive years, Xilingol League is advancing decisively toward becoming a nationally celebrated grassland eco-cultural tourism destination by leveraging its exceptional natural and cultural assets. This summer, Xilingol has launched multiple hospitality-driven measures: distributing digital vouchers worth 1 million yuan on short-video platforms, preparing 20,000 complimentary gift sets containing heatstroke prevention gear and guidebooks for visitors, and offering 50% admission discounts at all scenic spots at Level A and above in Xilingol League from July 18 to 21. Source: Organizing Committee of the 35th Grassland Naadam Fair of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Contact person: Mr. Hao, Tel: 86-10-63074558. Kunstliche Intelligenz, Magnificent Seven, Tech-Euphorie seit Monaten scheint an der Borse nur eine Richtung zu existieren: nach oben. Doch hinter den Rekordkursen lauert eine gefahrliche Wahrheit. Die Bewertungen vieler Tech-Schwergewichte haben historische Extremniveaus erreicht. Shiller-KGV bei 39, Buffett-Indikator auf Allzeithoch schon in der Dotcom-Ara war der Markt kaum teurer. Hinzu kommen euphorische Anlegerstimmung, IPO-Hypes ohne Substanz, kreditfinanzierte Wertpapierkaufe in Rekordhohe und charttechnische Warnsignale, die Erinnerungen an 2000 und 2021 wecken. Gleichzeitig drucken geopolitische Risiken, Trumps aggressive Zollpolitik und saisonale Borsenschwache auf die Perspektiven. Die Gefahr: Aus der schleichenden Korrektur konnte ein rasanter Crash werden und der konnte vor allem uberbewertete KI- und Chipwerte hart treffen. In unserem kostenlosen Spezial-Report zeigen wir Ihnen, welche Tech-Aktien am starksten gefahrdet sind und wie Sie Ihr Depot vor dem Platzen der Blase schutzen konnten. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! DETROIT, MI / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / KeyBank: New branch is designed to give clients a more personal and accessible banking experience KeyBank held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new, full-service, state-of-the-art branch in Detroit's Belmont neighborhood. The new branch is located at 1900 East 8 Mile Road and several leaders from KeyBank and the Detroit community attended the celebration. As part of the grand opening, KeyBank made three donations of $10,000 awarded to: RacquetUp Detroit Matrix Human Services Detroit Phoenix Center "KeyBank is excited at the opportunity this new branch provides for us to become an integral part of the Belmont neighborhood," said David Mannarino, KeyBank's Michigan market president and commercial banking leader. "This new location highlights KeyBank's continued investment in Michigan. We are excited to work more closely with our neighbors, clients and community partners." In addition to high-touch banking services, this new state-of-the-art branch offers full-service banking capabilities including touch screen monitors to enhance the client experience. This branch also features a community room that can double as an area for financial seminars and group presentations with clients and the public, as well as a drive-up teller line, ATM and free parking. Longtime banker Cynitra Oliver is serving as branch manager at the new location. "KeyBank's new branch in the Belmont community is uniquely designed to give our clients a more personal banking experience, with even better access to a full suite of products and services," said Oliver. "We are excited to bring this more consultative approach to the neighborhood and demonstrate our commitment to helping our clients move forward on their financial journey." In addition to helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals, the new Belmont branch is also serving clients seeking to develop and grow businesses in the area. ABOUT KEYBANK In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit?https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC. CFMA #250624-3297778 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/keybank-celebrates-new-full-service-branch-in-detroits-belmont-neigh-1050622 BURLINGTON, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Murchison Minerals Ltd. ("Murchison" or the "Company") (TSXV:MUR) announces that in connection with the private placement (the "Offering") originally announced in the Company's press release of May 30, 2025, the Company has applied to the TSX Venture Exchange for an extension of a further 30 days price protection in order to complete the Offering. The Company intends the Offering to close in the next couple weeks. Closing of the Offering is subject to all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approval of TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. Certain insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. About Murchison Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: MUR) Murchison is a Canadian-based exploration Company focused on the exploration and development of the 100% - owned Brabant Lake zinc-copper-silver project in north-central Saskatchewan and on nickel-copper-cobalt exploration at the 100% - owned HPM Project in Quebec. Additional information about Murchison and its exploration projects can be found on the Company's website at www.murchisonminerals.ca. For further information, please contact: Troy Boisjoli, President and CEO or Erik H Martin, CFO Justin Lafosse, Director Corporate Development Tel: (416) 350-3776 info@murchisonminerals.com Forward-Looking Information Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. FLI herein includes, but is not limited to: future drill results; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used with respect to the assay results; the prospects, if any, of the deposits; future prospects at the deposits; and the significance of exploration activities and results. FLI is designed to help you understand management's current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this press release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law. Unless otherwise noted, this press release has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this press release. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI or information contained herein. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI. Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to obtain the assay results; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; environmental expectations; community and nongovernmental actions; and any impacts of COVID-19 on the deposits, the Company's financial position, the Company's ability to secure required funding, or operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedar.com. 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. SOURCE: Murchison Minerals Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/oil-gas-and-energy/murchison-minerals-applies-for-extension-of-price-protection-for-private-placeme-1050628 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. (TSXV: SM) ("Sierra Madre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an upsize to its previously announced "best efforts" private placement. Under the amended terms, the Company will issue up to 27,858,000 units of the Company (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.70 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to $19,500,600 (the "Offering"). Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, is expected to participate in the Offering. Beacon Securities Limited ("Beacon") is acting as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents including Canaccord Genuity Corp. (together with Beacon, the "Agents") in connection with the Offering. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Unit Share") to be issued pursuant to Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), as amended and supplemented by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"), and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share (a "Warrant Share") at a price per Warrant Share of $0.85 for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with NI 45-106, the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada, other than Quebec, pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption. The securities issued under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption to Canadian subscribers will not be subject to a hold period in Canada. An amended and restated offering document dated July 18, 2025 related to the Offering will be filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.sierramadregoldandsilver.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. The securities 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Offering is expected to close on or about July 24, 2025, and is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Sierra Madre Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. is a precious metals development and exploration company focused on the Guitarra mine in the Temascaltepec mining district, Mexico, and the exploration and development of its Tepic property in Nayarit, Mexico. The Guitarra mine is a permitted underground mine, which includes a 500 t/d processing facility that operated until mid-2018 and restarted commercial production in January 2025. The +2,600 ha Tepic Project hosts low-sulphidation epithermal gold and silver mineralization with an existing historic resource. Sierra Madre's management team has played key roles in managing the exploration and development of silver and gold mineral reserves and mineral resources. Sierra Madre's team of professionals has collectively raised over $1 billion for mining companies. On behalf of the board of directors of Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd., "Alexander Langer" Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and statements that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and completion of the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering and the receipt of regulatory approvals for the Offering. Risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except as may be required in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice regarding forward-looking information and statements. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259464 SOURCE: Sierra Madre Gold & Silver Promotional Events for the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade Successfully Held in Hong Kong and Macao MACAO, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 17 and 18, promotional events for the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) were held in Hong Kong and Macao, respectively. The events drew more than 400 representatives from government agencies, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, and the private sector. Partnering with Strategic Connectors to Strengthen Global Industry Linkages Through sustained engagement with stakeholders in Hong Kong and Macao, CIFIT continues to advance broader international economic integration. These efforts include facilitating outbound investment by businesses based in mainland China and providing professional support to assist international investors seeking to enter the Chinese market. The roles of Hong Kong and Macao as strategic nodes in global investment corridors remain central to this agenda. Collaborating with Super Value Creators to Strengthen Financial Integration As a long-standing CIFIT participant, Hong Kong continues to exhibit at the fair and upholds its role as one of the world's most open economies, global hub for financial services, trade, shipping, and innovation. Macao continues to build on its strengths in cultural tourism, convention and exhibition services, financial innovation, and traditional Chinese medicine. The region draws on the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to support engagement with Lusophone markets through CIFIT-related initiatives. Creating New Channels for Global Business Engagement The Fair will take place in Xiamen from September 8 to 11, 2025. The United Kingdom will serve as the Guest Country of Honor, while Jiangsu Province will be recognized as the Guest Province of Honor. Under the theme Expanding Two-Way Investment, Advancing Global Development, the Fair will focus on three priority areas: Invest in China, Outbound Chinese Investment, and International Investment, with an emphasis on strengthened global engagement and thematic specialization. Participants noted the fair's role as a key platform for facilitating engagement between Hong Kong and Macao businesses and their mainland counterparts, supporting outbound commercial activity, and enhancing inbound foreign investment. The integration of Hong Kong and Macao's international networks and service platforms further amplifies the fair's ability to align global resources with strategic development goals. As the host city prepares for the 25th CIFIT, Xiamen extends an open invitation to international stakeholders to serve as long-term partners. More information https://www.chinafair.org.cn/CifitSystem/index/#/. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735022/image.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gateway-to-success-engaging-hong-kong-and-macao-to-promote-the-25th-cifit-302509597.html Combines proactive threat intelligence with real-world attacker telemetry and automated red teaming to allow organizations to rapidly understand exposure and stay ahead of in-the-wild exploitation watchTowr today announced a significant product evolution, unveiling a Preemptive Exposure Management solution that builds on its proven success in enabling organizations to stay ahead of in-the-wild exploitation of critical vulnerabilities. Built for Fortune 500 companies and critical infrastructure providers, the enhancement merges watchTowr's Proactive Threat Intelligence capabilities with its proven External Attack Surface Management technology into a unified, AI-powered platform that autonomously provides security teams with the speed, confidence and precision needed to move faster than attackers. In an alarming trend the industry continues to battle, the speed at which vulnerabilities are exploited continues to shrink, in some cases, within as little as four hours. In an increasingly high-speed threat environment, approaches driven by vulnerability management SLAs are no longer enabling organizations to remain secure. The watchTowr Platform addresses this by combining proprietary threat intelligence, real-time attacker telemetry, and automated red teaming to provide organizations with clear, rapid insights into how they could be breached-and what to do about it-before the inevitable occurs. "By the time a vulnerability hits the headlines, attackers have already broken in, and in many cases, left backdoors behind," said Benjamin Harris, co-founder and CEO of watchTowr. "When threats move faster than your team can react, time becomes your most critical defense. That's exactly what the watchTowr Platform is designed to give you: time to react and fight back, before a breach occurs." At the heart of this speed is an AI Execution Pipeline, a critical layer that autonomously translates what attackers are doing in the wild into actionable intelligence, determining whether and exactly how an organization's environment and systems are impacted. When adversaries shift tactics, autonomous tests are triggered instantaneously within the watchTowr Platform without manual input, giving organizations more time than ever to respond. watchTowr's Proactive Threat Intelligence provides proprietary and first-party insight into real-time attacker behavior, fueled by a number of distinct capabilities: watchTowr Instinct : A preemptive algorithm that consistently identifies vulnerabilities highly likely to be exploited in the wild, enabling identification and action before weaponization. : A preemptive algorithm that consistently identifies vulnerabilities highly likely to be exploited in the wild, enabling identification and action before weaponization. Attacker Eye : Live attacker telemetry collected through a global, honeypot network that feeds the platform with insights so teams understand how attackers are actually operating in the wild. : Live attacker telemetry collected through a global, honeypot network that feeds the platform with insights so teams understand how attackers are actually operating in the wild. watchTowr Labs: An in-house APT group consistently discovering and analyzing zero-days, novel attacker techniques, and Internet-wide weaknesses that could impact customer environments before hackers. These capabilities are fused with watchTowr's market-leading External Attack Surface Management technology: Adversary Sight : Reconstructs external footprints as seen by attackers and continuously discovers known and unknown assets across SaaS, clouds, applications and infrastructure to deliver true attack surface visibility. : Reconstructs external footprints as seen by attackers and continuously discovers known and unknown assets across SaaS, clouds, applications and infrastructure to deliver true attack surface visibility. Automated Red Teaming : Simulates comprehensive tactics, techniques, and vulnerabilities used by real-world attackers to continuously identify and validate exploitable weaknesses at scale, allowing teams to focus on fixing what actually matters. : Simulates comprehensive tactics, techniques, and vulnerabilities used by real-world attackers to continuously identify and validate exploitable weaknesses at scale, allowing teams to focus on fixing what actually matters. Rapid Reaction: Ensures the fastest emerging threat response in the industry beyond vulnerability scanning, simulating attacker tactics and techniques across all MITRE ATT&CK Initial Access vectors. Together, watchTowr's Proactive Threat Intelligence and External Attack Surface Management capabilities, wrapped within its autonomous AI Execution Pipeline, help customers accurately predict the tactics and techniques likely to be used in future attacks, understand how attackers are targeting organizations today, and automatically and continuously determine whether they are currently affected or exposed within minutes, buying time in an ever aggressive race between attackers and defenders. The enhancements to the watchTowr Platform come on the heels of the appointment of Ryan Dewhurst to lead Proactive Threat Intelligence at the company. To take the first step in preemptively discovering exposure in your attack surface, visit https://watchtowr.com/. About watchTowr watchTowr is the Preemptive Exposure Management capability trusted by Fortune 500 companies and critical infrastructure providers. By combining proactive threat intelligence, real attacker telemetry, and automated red teaming, watchTowr continuously identifies and validates real exposure so security teams can outrun real-world threats. When exploitation happens in hours, watchTowr delivers what no one else can: time to respond. Follow the company on LinkedIn and X. To learn more about watchTowr, visit https://watchtowr.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250721000593/en/ Contacts: Jason Vancura Marketbridge for watchTowr watchTowr@marketbridge.com Eutelsat OneWeb LEO services to provide resilient, high-speed, low-latency connectivity to UK government operations globally Services to be delivered through trusted distribution partner NSSLGlobal, to support vital diplomatic, defence, policing, and disaster response operations Reflecting critical role of LEO services play in enhancing operational effectiveness and enabling secure, low-latency communications for government operations Regulatory News: Eutelsat Group (ISIN: FR0010221234 Euronext Paris London Stock Exchange: ETL) has signed an agreement with NSSLGlobal, a leading provider in satellite communications systems to the maritime, enterprise, defence and government sectors and the UK's FCDO Services (Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office) to deliver OneWeb low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity services. This strategic partnership will support a broad range of critical UK government activities worldwide including diplomatic missions, policing, resilience, defence and other essential operations. Under the agreement, Eutelsat OneWeb's LEO's constellation will provide high-speed, low latency connectivity for British Embassies, High Commissions, and Consulates as well as broader UK government activities globally. Trusted partner NSSLGlobal will deliver fully managed, end-to-end services ensuring seamless support for FCDO missions across all sectors. Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO services and user terminals will be deployed to enhance regional resilience and ensure continuity of operations as part of the FCDO's commitment to hurricane preparedness and response across British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. Cyril Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit at Eutelsat Group, commented: "We are proud to support the UK government and its global missions by delivering secure, resilient connectivity worldwide, even in the most remote or challenging environments. This agreement reflects the critical role LEO services play in enhancing operational effectiveness and enabling secure, low-latency communications for government operations." Mike Astell, Chief Executive Officer, FCDO Services said"This partnership marks an exciting new chapter in FCDO Services' long history of providing secure satellite communications. By joining forces with NSSLGlobal and Eutelsat OneWeb, we're enhancing our ability to deliver rapid, secure connectivity anywhere in the world. This reinforces our commitment to meeting the unique needs of our government customers." Sally-anne Ray, Group CEO, NSSLGlobal added, "We are proud to support FCDO Services in delivering the secure communications that government teams depend on. Eutelsat OneWeb's LEO technology is a valuable addition to the solutions we provide, giving government customers even greater resilience and choice, wherever their work takes them." About Eutelsat Group Eutelsat Group is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. The Group was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 34 Geostationary satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites. The Group addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes more than 6,500 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services. Eutelsat Group's unique suite of in-orbit assets and ground infrastructure enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and the Eutelsat Group employs more than 1,500 people across more than 50 countries. The Group is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL). Find out more at www.eutelsat.com DISCLAIMER The forward-looking statements included herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on management's views and assumptions as of the date of this document. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks. For illustrative purposes only, such risks include but are not limited to: risks related to the health crisis; operational risks related to satellite failures or impaired satellite performance, or failure to roll out the deployment plan as planned and within the expected timeframe; risks related to the trend in the satellite telecommunications market resulting from increased competition or technological changes affecting the market; risks related to the international dimension of the Group's customers and activities; risks related to the adoption of international rules on frequency coordination and financial risks related, inter alia, to the financial guarantee granted to the Intergovernmental Organization's closed pension fund, and foreign exchange risk. Eutelsat Communications expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any projections, forecasts or estimates contained in this document to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. The information contained in this document is not based on historical fact and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts or data mentioned will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group considers as reasonable. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250721930537/en/ Contacts: Media enquiries Joanna Darlington Tel. +33 674 521 531 joanna.darlington@eutelsat.net Anita Baltagi Tel. +33 +33 643 930 178 anita.baltagi@eutelsat.net Katie Dowd Tel. +1 202 271 2209 katie.dowd@eutelsat.net Investors Joanna Darlington Tel. +33 674 521 531 joanna.darlington@eutelsat.net Hugo Laurens Berge Tel. +33 670 80 95 58 hugo.laurens-berge@eutelsat.net Agoura Hills, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Cydcor, a leader in outsourced sales and marketing has once again been named as the preferred staffing provider for the 2026 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Access LIVE convention, taking place February 2-5 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This marks the second consecutive year Cydcor has earned this distinction at the industry's premier annual event. WSWA's Access LIVE unites more than 2,500 industry professionals and 400+ exhibitors, serving as the premier marketplace for innovation, networking, and brand discovery in the wine and spirits sector. Following Cydcor's standout performance at the 2025 convention where its team of brand ambassadors, bartenders, and mixologists delivered seamless, brand-forward service, WSWA renewed its partnership for 2026. Cydcor's ability to consistently provide top-tier representation and flawless execution has cemented its reputation as the go-to staffing partner for exhibitors looking to make a powerful impression on the expo floor. Photos of WSWA AccessLive 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10205/259391_e5061f8e34aadac4_001full.jpg As the official staffing partner at Access LIVE 2026, Cydcor will once again deliver on its event services capabilities by providing brand-aligned talent tailored to the needs of each exhibitor. From mixologists to multilingual representatives to sampling specialists, each staffing ambassador is selected based on the needs of the client, trained to represent the brand clearly, and engage with the brand's audience while keeping the client's goals front and center. "We're honored to return as the preferred staffing provider for Access LIVE 2026," said Cydcor CEO Vera Quinn. "For us, event staffing isn't just about filling roles. It's about amplifying brand stories, creating meaningful interactions, and helping our clients stand out in high-energy, competitive environments. This recognition reflects our expertise in experiential marketing and the trust WSWA and its exhibitors have placed in Cydcor." Cydcor's event services capabilities deliver comprehensive event staffing and brand activation support across a wide range of industries, including wine, spirits, and consumer packaged goods. With expertise across in-person sales, experiential marketing, and brand activations, Cydcor excels in converting interactions into outcomes with precision and scale. From small-scale activations to large conventions, the company offers flexible staffing models, customized brand training, and end-to-end support. Cydcor's WSWA Event Staffing Capabilities Include: Brand Ambassadors Mixologists & Bartenders Sampling Specialists Multilingual Product Reps On-Site Logistics & Support "We've built our reputation on helping brands break through the noise," added Quinn. "Whether it's with a powerful pitch or an unforgettable booth experience, we bring the talent and energy to make it count. Access LIVE is where relationships are built-and we're proud to be part of that again." To learn more about Cydcor's event staffing services, visit Cydcor.com/Event-Services. For more information on WSWA's Access LIVE or to register for the event, visit AccessLive.wswa.org. About Cydcor For more than three decades, Cydcor has provided customer acquisition solutions to Fortune 500 and emerging companies in a wide range of industries. Cydcor has mastered the power of building relationships with consumers while leveraging the advantages of technology to acquire, grow, and retain customers for its clients. Founded in 1994, the privately held company is based in Agoura Hills, California. For more information about Cydcor, www.cydcor.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259391 SOURCE: Cydcor LLC The Blockchain Group becomes Capital B and announces the ongoing creation of a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) The Blockchain Group becomes Capital B, Europe's first Bitcoin Treasury Company New logo aligned with Bitcoin's founding principles and Capital B's long-term vision New website, new design, and new features including a data analytics dashboard showcasing Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy Ongoing creation of a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi to support the development of Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy Puteaux, July 21, 2025: The Blockchain Group (ISIN: FR0011053636, ticker: ALTBG) (the "Company", "Capital B"), listed on Euronext Growth Paris, announces today a new chapter of its evolution by becoming Capital B, Europe's first Bitcoin Treasury Company, holding subsidiaries specialized in Data Intelligence, AI, and decentralized technology consulting and development. The Group unveils a new logo, aligned with Bitcoin's founding principles and Capital B's long-term vision. The new trade name Capital B will gradually replace the former name on financial platforms. The Group also announces the launch of a new website featuring a redesigned interface and new functionalities, including a data analytics dashboard showcasing Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy. Finally, the Company announces that it is currently engaged in the process of establishing a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi (UAE) to support the development of Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy. These developments reflect the acceleration of the Company's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy, which is focused on increasing the number of bitcoin per share on a fully diluted basis over time. Rebranding: The Blockchain Group Becomes Capital B The Company announced today that it is now communicating under the name Capital B, marking a new milestone in its evolution as the first Bitcoin Treasury Company in Europe. This name change reflects the Company's ambition since the adoption of its Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy on November 5, 2024, which aims to increase the number of bitcoin per share on a fully diluted basis over time. The Group specifies that this new trade name will gradually replace the former one on financial platforms and may eventually be reflected through a change in its ticker symbol on Euronext, as well as in the United States once its listing on the OTCID market is confirmed. A dedicated press release will be issued on that occasion. Conception du nouveau logo de Capital B This rebranding is accompanied by a new logo, aligned with Bitcoin's founding principles, the evolution of the Company's original identity, and Capital B's long-term vision: see pdf version of the press release. Mise en ligne d'un nouveau site internet As part of its rebranding and new visual identity, the Group announces the launch of a new website, accessible at the following address: https://www.cptlb.com The visual, functional, and technical design of this website supports Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy and will notably provide the following key information: A presentation of Capital B, its team, its operational companies, and its Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy, focused on increasing the number of bitcoin per share on a fully diluted basis over time; Capital B's financial communications, available in both French and English; Media coverage, including articles published by external outlets, as well as podcasts, conferences, and other formats related to Capital B; Key financial data relating to Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy, through a dedicated dashboard. Ongoing process to establish a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi The Group announces that it is engaged in the process of creating a Capital B subsidiary in Abu Dhabi, aimed at supporting the development of Capital B's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy. The Group will publicly communicate updates on the progress of this process as appropriate. * * * About Capital B (ALTBG) Capital B is a Bitcoin Treasury Company listed on Euronext Growth Paris, specialized in Data Intelligence, AI, and Decentralized Tech consulting and development. EURONEXT Growth Paris Ticker: ALTBG ISIN: FR0011053636 Reuters: ALTBG.PA Bloomberg: ALTBG.FP Contact: communication@theblockchain-group.com Contacts - Actus Finance & Communication Investor relations Mathieu Calleux tbg@actus.fr Press relations Anne-Charlotte Dudicourt acdudicourt@actus.fr - +33 6 24 03 26 52 Celine Bruggeman cbruggeman@actus.fr - +33 6 87 52 71 99 Capital B press releases are available on: Financial information - Capital B To receive all press releases free of charge, register with Actusnews ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lZ2dZptvZmmYl3GfYpVpbmhrZ5dlyGeZbmqVk2RpY8uWcJ9gm21hnMiYZnJklmdm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-93120-20250721-tbg-cp-21-juillet-2025-capital-b-en-final.pdf Auction Offers Prime Opportunity for Contractors, Landscapers, and Business Owners KANSAS CITY, KS / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / After years of serving the Kansas City area, Lewis and Sons Asphalt and Paving is offering its entire fleet of equipment, tools, and office assets in an upcoming online auction. This highly anticipated event presents an exceptional opportunity for contractors, landscapers, construction professionals, and business owners to purchase well-maintained commercial-grade equipment and office furnishings at competitive prices. Lewis and Sons Asphalt & Paving Company Auction Liquidation Scheduled to begin closing on Monday, July 28, 2025, the auction features an extensive inventory of heavy equipment, trucks, trailers, tools, and office items. A public preview day is scheduled for Friday, July 25, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, allowing interested buyers to inspect items firsthand before placing bids. Among the headline items are: Bobcat S300 Skid Steer Loader Leeboy 8500 Asphalt Paver Wolfpac 4100 Tandem Steel Drum Vibratory Finish Roller 2006 Ford F-450 Dump Truck - bulletproofed, with operable bed controls inside and outside the cab 2002 GMC C4500 Flatbed Dump Truck 2006 Econoline 16-Ton Hydraulic Tilt Trailer In addition to the larger machinery, the auction includes a wide range of tools and light equipment ideal for contractors and tradesmen. Highlights include: Concrete saws (Husqvarna FS 309, Target ES 16) Plate compactors from Wacker Neuson and Mikasa Sangyo Generators including Multiquip 6000 and Titan Industrial models Power washers, air compressors, welders, and a comprehensive collection of hand tools and automotive shop gear The auction also features a selection of office furniture and supplies, including desks, filing cabinets, chairs, and storage solutions-perfect for any business looking to outfit or upgrade a commercial office space. "This is a rare chance to acquire equipment that's been in use by a reputable and established paving company," said the auction coordinator. "From major machines to everyday tools, the inventory is ideal for anyone looking to expand their fleet or start a business with reliable equipment." With nationwide bidding available online, buyers across the country can participate with ease. Whether you're in construction, landscaping, or another industry that relies on heavy equipment and tools, this auction is a can't-miss event. Auction Preview: Friday, July 25, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Location: Kansas City, KS (full address provided on auction site) Auction Ends: Monday, July 28, 2025 For full auction details and to register to bid, visit: https://bids.oaikc.com/auctions/43124-lewis-and-sons-asphalt-and-paving-company-auction Contact Information Wes Schlobohm President 9137035150 SOURCE: Official Auctions Inc View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/lewis-and-sons-asphalt-and-paving-to-liquidate-entire-fleet-at-o-1050655 Suresnes, 21 July 2025 BOOSTHEAT (FR001400OS22 / ALBOO) announces the acquisition of its first Bitcoin as part of the Bitcoin Treasury Company activity launched by its subsidiary Bitcoin Hold France. Bitcoin Hold France announces the final completion of the acquisition of 2.45 Bitcoin from the net proceeds of the 250,000 fundraising announced on 10 July 2025. Banque Delubac & Cie acted as a digital asset service provider (DASP) registered with the Autorite des marches financiers, responsible for services relating to the acquisition and custody of Bitcoin. Risk factors: The public's attention is drawn to the risk factors relating to the Company and its business, described in the 2024 Annual Financial Report available on the Company's website. The occurrence of some or all these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial situation, results, development or prospects. On the date of the last Financial Report, the Company carried out a specific review of its liquidity risk and considered that it was able to meet its future maturities over the next 12 months, thanks to the use of this financing facility. In addition, investors are invited to consider the risks specific to the new Bitcoin Treasury Company business announced by the Company on 10 July 2025. Risk factors specific to Bitcoin Treasury Company's business: The price of Bitcoin may be subject to sharp fluctuations, which may result in a rapid and/or significant depreciation of the digital assets held by the Company (and/or its subsidiaries). In addition, the liquidity of Bitcoin may be affected by sudden market fluctuations, regulatory restrictions and/or malfunctions of exchange platforms, making it more difficult to sell assets when cash is needed. In addition, the regulatory and tax framework applicable to digital assets is likely to change rapidly and may differ from one jurisdiction to another. Changes in legislation and/or decisions by market authorities could therefore have an adverse impact on the holding and/or use of digital assets (including Bitcoin) by the Company (and/or its subsidiaries). Finally, the holding of digital assets (including Bitcoin) may require the implementation of strict security measures (secure digital wallets, private keys, cold storage protocols). Any security breach, loss of access to private keys or computer attack could result in the total or partial loss of the digital assets held by the Company (and/or its subsidiaries). * * * Find all the information about BOOSTHEAT at www.boostheat-group.com ABOUT BOOSTHEAT AND BITCOIN HOLD FRANCE Founded in 2011, BOOSTHEAT is a player in the energy efficiency sector. The Company's mission is to accelerate the ecological transition by integrating its technology into energy-intensive applications. BOOSTHEAT has designed and developed a patented thermal compressor that significantly optimises energy consumption, thereby promoting the rational and appropriate use of resources. The Company has also created a Bitcoin Treasury Company business within its subsidiary Bitcoin Hold France for the purpose of acquiring and accumulating Bitcoin. BOOSTHEAT is listed on Euronext Growth in Paris (ISIN: FR001400OS22). I CONTACTS ACTUS finance & communication - Jerome FABREGUETTES LEIB Investor Relations Tel.: 01 53 67 36 78 /boostheat@actus.fr ACTUS finance & communication - Anne-Charlotte DUDICOURT Press Relations Tel.: 06 24 03 26 52 /acdudicourt@actus.fr Warning: BOOSTHEAT has set up financing in the form of OCEANE-BSA bonds with Impact Tech Turnaround Opportunities (ITTO), which, after receiving the shares resulting from the repayment or exercise of these instruments, does not intend to remain a shareholder of the Company. The shares resulting from the redemption or exercise of the aforementioned securities will generally be sold on the market within a very short period of time, which may create significant downward pressure on the share price. Shareholders may suffer a loss of their invested capital due to a significant decrease in the value of the Company's shares, as well as significant dilution due to the large number of securities issued to Impact Tech Turnaround Opportunities (ITTO). Investors are advised to exercise caution before deciding to invest in the securities of the Company admitted to trading that carries out such dilutive financing transactions, particularly when they are carried out on a successive basis. The Company notes that this dilutive financing transaction is not the first it has carried out. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: x2+bZJZtaZeXynFtYpuYbZJlmJuUyJKZZpXHyJRuZJzJm2qVyJxjnMiXZnJklmZu - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-93118-20250721-alboo_cp_achat_bitcoin_eng.pdf The Blockchain Group confirms the acquisition of 22 BTC for ~2.2 million, the holding of a total of 1,955 BTC, and a BTC Yield of 1,373.2% YTD Final completion of the capital increase as part of the "ATM-type" capital increase program with TOBAM, at a subscription price of ~3.95 per share, announced on July 15 th , 2025, for a total amount of ~1.1 million, enabling the acquisition of 10 BTC for ~1.0 million Conversion of BSA 2025-01 into 2,274,754 new ordinary shares of the Company, for a total amount of ~1.2 million, enabling the acquisition of 12 BTC for ~1.2 million Final conversion of all OCA B-02 held by investor Adam Back, into 17,176,105 ordinary shares of the Company 'BTC Yield' of ~1,373.2% YTD and ~7.5% QTD 'BTC Gain' of ~549.3 BTC YTD and ~133.6 BTC QTD 'BTC Gain' of ~55.5 million YTD and ~13.5 million QTD Total group holdings of 1,955 BTC for ~177.0 million at ~90,526 per bitcoin Puteaux, July 21, 2025: The Blockchain Group (ISIN: FR0011053636, ticker: ALTBG) (the "Company"), listed on Euronext Growth Paris, Europe's first Bitcoin Treasury Company, holding subsidiaries specialized in Data Intelligence, AI, and decentralized technology consulting and development, confirms the final completion of the capital increase as part of the "ATM-type" capital increase program with TOBAM, at a subscription price of ~3.95 per share, announced on July 15th, 2025, for a total amount of ~1.1 million, enabling the acquisition of 10 BTC for ~1.0 million. The Group also announces the conversion of BSA 2025-01 into 2,274,754 new ordinary shares of the Company, for a total amount of ~1.2 million, enabling the acquisition of 12 BTC for ~1.2 million. The Group also announces the final conversion of all OCA B-02 held by investor Adam Back into 17,176,105 ordinary shares of the Company. Since the beginning of the year, the Group has achieved a 'BTC Yield' of ~1,373.2%, a 'BTC Gain' of ~549.3 BTC, and a 'BTC Gain' of ~13.5 million. As of today, The Blockchain Group and its subsidiary The Blockchain Group Luxembourg SA hold a total of 1,955 BTC, with an acquisition value of ~177.0 million, based on an average price of ~90,526 per bitcoin. The Company thus reinforces its Bitcoin accumulation strategy while continuing to develop the operational activities of its subsidiaries. As communicated on April 30, 2025, a presentation explaining the Company's Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy focused on increasing bitcoin per fully diluted share over time is available on its website: https://www.theblockchain-group.com/investor/news-financial-information/ Final completion of previously announced operations On July 15, 2025, the Company announced its decision, acting pursuant to the twelfth resolution adopted by the general meeting of shareholders on June 10, 2025, to carry out a capital increase for a total amount of 1,114,496.41 (including share premium), through the issuance of 282,201 new ordinary shares at an average subscription price of ~3.9493 per share. The Company hereby announces the final completion of this operation, resulting in the waiver, in accordance with the Program, of shareholders' preferential subscription rights in favor of the investors to whom the offer was addressed, in the proportions set out below: Investor Number of shares Rounded average price / share () Amount () TOBAM Bitcoin Enhanced Fund 206,294 3.9493 814,716.89 TOBAM Bitcoin Treasury Opportunities Fund 61,717 3.9493 243,738.94 TOBAM BTC Linked and Blockchain Equity Fund - - - MDP - TOBAM Global Blockchain Equity Fund 14,190 3.9493 56,040.57 TOTAL 282,201 3.9493 1,114,496.41 On April 7, 2025, the Company also announced the free grant of BSA 2025-01 warrants to its shareholders to accelerate its Bitcoin strategy, on the basis of seven BSA 2025-01 warrants for one new ordinary share at a subscription price of 0.544 per share. The Company hereby confirms the conversion of 15,923,278 BSA 2025-01 warrants into 2,274,754 new ordinary shares of the Company, for a total amount of 1,237,466.10. The main terms of the BSA 2025-01 issue were set out in the press release dated April 7, 2025. Finally, Adam Back notified The Blockchain Group of his intention to convert all the OCA B-02 (the "OCA Tranche 2") he holds. The Company confirms today the final conversion of all 12,146,942 OCA B-02 held by Adam Back, resulting in the issuance of 17,176,105 new ordinary shares of the Company, at a conversion price of 0.7072 per share. The conversion of all 12,146,942 OCA B-02 by Adam Back results in the issuance of 17,176,105 new ordinary shares of the Company at a conversion price of 0.7072 per share. This conversion price was set by the Board of Directors by applying a 30% premium over the conversion price of OCA B-01 (the "OCA Tranche 1"). The issuance of the 17,176,105 new ordinary shares of the Company resulting from the conversion by Adam Back of 12,146,942 OCA B-02 is fully paid up through debt set-off. In accordance with Article R. 225-134 of the French Commercial Code, the payment of the 17,176,105 new ordinary shares by way of debt set-off against the Company is recorded in an account statement drawn up by the Board of Directors and certified as accurate by the statutory auditor. The OCA B-02 have been converted into ordinary shares of the Company in the following proportions: Investor OCA B-02 Shares issued Adam Back 12,146,942 17,176,105 TOTAL 12,146,942 17,176,105 Impact of the operations on the distribution of the Company's share capital The impact of the final completion of the operation described above on the distribution of the Company's share capital is as follows: As of July 21, 2025 Fully Diluted Basis (*) Shareholders Number of shares % of capital Number of shares % of capital Executives 12,030,185 7.75% 18,418,953 5.67% Fulgur Ventures - 0.00% 145,911,009 44.92% Adam Back 34,188,627 22.04% 36,412,138 11.21% TOBAM 6,875,608 4.43% 10,924,557 3.36% UTXO Management - 0.00% 7,999,210 2.46% Free Shares** - 0.00% 1,880,000 0.58% Public & Institutional 102,039,485 65.78% 103,249,822 31.79% TOTAL 155,133,905 100% 324,795,689 100% (*) Calculations made on the basis of the number of shares composing the Company's share capital as of July 21, 2025, adding the shares resulting from (i) the conversion of all OCA issued or announced, (ii) the conversion of the BSA 2025-01 announced to date and the issuance under the adjustment measures for the benefit of OCA Tranche 1 holders issued or exercised to date, and (iii) the issuance of Free Shares whose allocation has been decided. The Company reminds that neither the existing capital nor the fully diluted basis includes, as of today, the potential addition of shares to its share capital resulting (i) from the conversion of the BSA 2025-01 issued as announced on April 7, 2025 and not yet converted to date, nor (ii) from adjustment measures for the benefit of OCA Tranche 1 holders not yet exercised. The Company also reminds that the fully diluted basis does not include the shares that may correspond to the unsubscribed amounts to date of the 300 million of capital increases authorized in favor of TOBAM. (**) Free Shares, the allocation of which has been decided but which have not been issued as of today, included in the fully diluted basis. The Company also reminds of the potential addition of shares to its share capital resulting from (i) the conversion of the BSA 2025-01 issued as announced on April 7, 2025, and (ii) legal adjustment measures for OCA holders. The breakdown of these, adjusted for BSA exercised to date as well as legal adjustment measures exercised or announced, is as follows: Shareholders Shares that may be issued upon exercise of BSA 2025-01 not yet exercised nor announced to date Shares that may be issued under the legal adjustment measures for OCA holders not yet exercised nor announced to date Total Dirigeants 1,151,166 423,744 1,574,910 Fulgur Ventures 0 9,677,771 9,677,771 Adam Back 523,809 0 523,809 TOBAM 3,571 0 3,571 UTXO Management 0 530,559 530,559 Public & Institutionnel 5,306,067 0 5,306,067 TOTAL 6,984,613 10,632,074 17,616,687 Expansion of the Company's bitcoin holdings The Blockchain Group announces the final completion of the acquisition of an additional 22 BTC using the proceeds from the final completion of the operation described above, as part of the continuation of its Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy. Banque Delubac & Cie (DASP registered with the AMF), executed the acquisition of the BTC using the proceeds from the capital increase and the exercise of BSA 2025-01, and was entrusted with their secure custody via the technological solution of Swiss company Taurus, a world leader in infrastructures for digital assets. The Company also indicates that ongoing operations, namely the capital increase announced on July 15, 2025, subscribed by Adam Back for an amount of ~5.0M, could enable the acquisition of ~40 additional BTC, bringing the Company's total potential holdings to 1,995 BTC. Detail of the Group's BTC acquisitions: Reported Date BTC Acquisition BTC Acquisition Cost Basis Total BTC Holdings Total BTC Cost Basis Total BTC Cost Total BTC Net Asset Value July 21, 2025 22 101,112 1,955 90,526 176,978,818 197,674,331 July 14, 2025 29 95,225 1,933 90,406 174,754,350 184,069,828 July 7, 2025 116 92,175 1,904 90,332 171,992,827 175,501,059 June 30, 2025 60 91,879 1,788 90,213 161,300,535 164,280,027 June 23, 2025 75 91,792 1,728 90,155 155,787,783 158,616,662 June 17, 2025 182 93,264 1,653 90,081 148,903,379 154,165,568 June 2, 2025 624 96,447 1,471 89,687 131,929,311 141,874,161 May 22, 2025 227 93,518 847 84,706 71,746,119 79,209,857 March 26, 2025 580 81,550 620 81,480 50,517,503 50,560,770 Dec 4, 2024 25 90,511 40 80,468 3,218,718 3,261,985 Nov 5, 2024 15 63,729 15 63,729 955,941 1,223,244 Note: Total BTC Net Asset Value as of July 21, 2025, is based on the acquisition cost by BTC of the latest acquisition as of the date of this press release. Achievement of a 'BTC Yield' of 1,373.2% YTD and 7.5% QTD The Group has achieved a 'BTC Yield' of 1,373.2% YTD and 7.5% QTD. Details are as follows: Year To Date (YTD): Reported Date Total BTC Holdings Issued Common Shares Fully Diluted Shares1 BTC (sats) per Fully Diluted Share2 'BTC Yield' YTD3 'BTC Gain' YTD 'BTC Gain' YTD July 21, 2025 1,955 151,353,181 323,547,250 604 1,373.2% 549.3 55,537,720 July 14, 2025 1,933 135,400,845 320,990,295 602 1,368.3% 547.3 52,118,241 July 7, 2025 1,904 134,661,845 320,251,295 594 1,348.8% 539.5 49,729,497 June 30, 2025 1,788 134,461,545 318,109,554 562 1,270.7% 508.3 46,701,530 June 23, 2025 1,728 130,170,510 316,207,689 546 1,231.7% 492.7 45,224,376 June 17, 2025 1,653 126,728,969 316,207,689 522 1,173.2% 469.3 43,765,888 June 2, 2025 1,471 108,862,920 299,355,400 491 1,097.6% 439.0 42,342,772 May 22, 2025 847 102,174,488 214,500,356 394 861.0% 344.4 32,206,732 March 26, 2025 620 93,384,449 186,413,170 332 709.8% 283.9 23,152,139 Dec 4, 2024 40 93,384,449 95,264,449 41 141.2% 21.2 1,916,705 Nov 5, 2024 15 85,051,121 85,051,121 17 Quarter To Date (QTD): Reported Date Total BTC Holdings Issued Common Shares Fully Diluted Shares1 BTC (sats) per Fully Diluted Share2 'BTC Yield' QTD3 'BTC Gain' QTD 'BTC Gain' QTD July 21, 2025 1,955 151,353,181 323,547,250 604 7.5% 133.6 13,510,891 July 14, 2025 1,933 135,400,845 320,990,295 602 7.1% 127.3 12,118,307 July 7, 2025 1,904 134,661,845 320,251,295 594 5.7% 101.8 9,384,129 June 30, 2025 1,788 134,461,545 318,109,554 562 69.3% 429.5 39,463,781 The number of shares on a fully diluted basis includes (i) the total number of ordinary shares outstanding, (ii) the shares that would be issued upon the full conversion of all currently issued convertible bonds of the Company, and (iii) the free shares granted. The Company precises that the number of fully diluted shares is adjusted to reflect only fully completed operations to date (i.e., excluding ongoing operations). BTC per Fully Diluted Share is calculated by dividing Total BTC Holdings by the Fully Diluted Shares outstanding at the end of each period. The result is then expressed as satoshis (sats) per Fully Diluted Shares outstanding, rounded down. There are 100,000,000 sats in 1 BTC. Each sat represents 0.00000001 BTC, the smallest unit of bitcoin. As the BTC Yield is intended to illustrate how the Company finances the acquisition of BTC over a given period, the calculation of the number of shares on a fully diluted basis does not include unexercised BSA warrants, as they do not provide financing to the Company and have no impact on the Company's equity until they are exercised. The Company will provide further communication regarding the exercise of warrants and the resulting BTC acquisitions at a later stage. Important information about 'BTC Yield', 'BTC Gain', and 'BTC Gain' KPIs The Company uses 'BTC Yield', 'BTC Gain' and 'BTC Gain' as indicators to monitor its Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy. These indicators illustrate the manner in which the Company finances the acquisition of bitcoin in a given period by: 'BTC Yield' : indicator reflecting the percentage change in the ratio of Total BTC Holdings to Fully Diluted Shares outstanding over a given period; : indicator reflecting the percentage change in the ratio of Total BTC Holdings to Fully Diluted Shares outstanding over a given period; 'BTC Gain' : indicator that represents the number of BTC held by the Company at the beginning of a period multiplied by the 'BTC Yield' for such period; and : indicator that represents the number of BTC held by the Company at the beginning of a period multiplied by the 'BTC Yield' for such period; and 'BTC Gain': indicator representing the euro value of the 'BTC Gain' calculated by multiplying the 'BTC Gain' by the acquisition cost per BTC of the last acquisition of the applicable period. The Company has selected the last acquisition of the applicable period to determine the market price of bitcoin solely for the purpose of facilitating this illustrative calculation. These indicators will be communicated periodically by the Company as part of its Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy, notably on a half-yearly and annual basis. When the Company uses these KPIs, it also takes into account the various limitations of these metrics, including that they do not take into account debt and other liabilities and claims on company assets that would be senior to common equity, and that these indicators assume that all indebtedness will be refinanced or, in the case of the Company's (or its subsidiaries') convertible debt instruments, converted into shares of common stock in accordance with their respective terms. Additionally, 'BTC Yield' is not, and should not be understood as, an operating performance measure or a financial or liquidity measure. In particular, 'BTC Yield' is not equivalent to "yield" in the traditional financial context. It is not a measure of the return on investment the Company's shareholders may have achieved historically or can achieve in the future by purchasing stock of the Company, or a measure of income generated by the Company's operations or its bitcoin holdings, return on investment on its bitcoin holdings, or any other similar financial measure of the performance of its business or assets. 'BTC Gain' and 'BTC Gain' are not, and should not be understood as, operating performance measures or financial or liquidity measures. In particular, 'BTC Gain' and 'BTC Gain' are not equivalent to "gain" in the traditional financial context. They also are not measures of the return on investment the Company's shareholders may have achieved historically or can achieve in the future by purchasing stock of the Company, or measures of income generated by the Company's operations or its bitcoin holdings, return on investment on its bitcoin holdings, or any other similar financial measure of the performance of its business or assets. It should also be understood that 'BTC Gain' does not represent a fair value gain of the Company's bitcoin holdings, and 'BTC Gain' may be positive during periods when the Company has incurred fair value losses on its bitcoin holdings. The trading price of the Company's common stock depends on numerous factors in addition to the quantity of bitcoins the Company holds and number of actual or potential shares of its stock outstanding, and as a result, the market value of the Company's shares may trade at a discount or a premium relative to the market value of the bitcoin the Company holds, and neither 'BTC Yield', 'BTC Gain' nor 'BTC Gain' are indicative or predictive of the trading price of the Company's securities. As noted above, these KPIs are narrow in their purpose and are used by the Company to assist it in assessing the use of the equity capital, as it pertains to its bitcoin holdings only. The Company's ability to achieve positive 'BTC Yield', 'BTC Gain', or 'BTC Gain' may depend on a variety of factors, including its ability to generate profits in excess of its fixed charges and other expenses, as well as factors outside of its control, such as the price of bitcoin, and the availability of financing on favorable terms. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The presentation of these KPIs does not imply any intention to pay dividends on its common shares in the future. Holding the Company's common shares does not equate to direct ownership of the Bitcoin held by the Company. Investors should rely on the financial statements and other disclosures by the Company. These KPIs are only intended as supplemental metrics for those who understand their purpose and limitations, not as replacements for traditional financial analysis. Risk factors The Company reminds that the risk factors related to the Company and to its business are detailed in its 2024 annual financial report, available for free on the Company's website (www.theblockchain-group.com/investor/news-financial-information/). The realization of all or part of these risks could negatively impact the Company's operations, financial position, results, development, or outlook. * * * About The Blockchain Group (ALTBG) The Blockchain Group is a Bitcoin Treasury Company listed on Euronext Growth Paris, specialized in Data Intelligence, AI, and Decentralized Tech consulting and development. EURONEXT Growth Paris Ticker: ALTBG ISIN: FR0011053636 Reuters: ALTBG.PA Bloomberg: ALTBG.FP Contact: communication@theblockchain-group.com Contacts - Actus Finance & Communication Investors Mathieu Calleux tbg@actus.fr Media Anne-Charlotte Dudicourt acdudicourt@actus.fr - +33 6 24 03 26 52 Celine Bruggeman cbruggeman@actus.fr - +33 6 87 52 71 99 The Blockchain Group press releases are available on: Financial information - The Blockchain Group To receive all press releases free of charge, register with Actusnews Disclaimer This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to purchase securities in any jurisdiction. It may not be regarded as an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction where such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or certification under the local regulations. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mZ1wYJpsY2zImpyeaMuWZ2ZnZpiXyGGdZmmYyWmcYszJbmuSmmmSnMeXZnJklW5o - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-93092-20250721-tbg-cp-21-juillet-2025-en-final.pdf Summary: Brandon Plastic Surgery has been recognized by Tampa Style Magazine for its leadership and contributions to the field of plastic surgery, highlighting its advancements in body contouring techniques. Brandon, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Brandon Plastic Surgery, under the leadership of Dr. Marvin Shienbaum, has been honored by Tampa Style Magazine for its exceptional contributions to the field of plastic surgery. This recognition highlights the clinic's commitment to utilizing advanced surgical techniques, ensuring both patient satisfaction and transformative results. Tampa Style Magazine's recognition is granted to those practices and professionals who demonstrate innovation, skill, and outstanding patient care. For Brandon Plastic Surgery, this acknowledgment reflects its dedication to delivering high-quality care and utilizing the latest advancements in plastic surgery. The clinic's work in body contouring has garnered significant attention, with particular recognition for its signature procedures, such as the hourglass tummy tuck. This body sculpting technique has become one of the clinic's most sought-after offerings, underlining Brandon Plastic Surgery's focus on achieving personalized, effective results for each patient. In addition to its surgical expertise, Brandon Plastic Surgery has been recognized for its broad range of minimally invasive and non-surgical treatments. These procedures offer patients effective ways to enhance their appearance with little to no downtime. These options allow patients to achieve youthful, refreshed looks without the need for traditional surgery, reflecting the clinic's commitment to providing innovative solutions that meet diverse patient needs and preferences. The recognition by Tampa Style Magazine also highlights Brandon Plastic Surgery's commitment to maintaining a patient-centered approach. The clinic's surgical team ensures that every patient receives tailored care designed to meet their unique aesthetic and health goals. This dedication to individualized treatment plans has contributed to the clinic's reputation as one of the leading providers of plastic surgery in the region. The honor reflects the clinic's focus on integrating the latest technology and advancements in cosmetic surgery. As the field of plastic surgery continues to evolve, Brandon Plastic Surgery remains dedicated to staying at the forefront of these changes, providing patients with the most current and effective treatments available. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Brandon Plastic Surgery at office@brandonplasticsurgery.com. About Brandon Plastic Surgery: Brandon Plastic Surgery is a premier plastic and reconstructive surgery practice providing personalized care and exceptional surgical results. Offering a wide range of procedures, including body contouring, breast surgery, facelifts, and minimally invasive treatments, the clinic prioritizes safety, innovation, and patient satisfaction. With a strong reputation for excellence, Brandon Plastic Surgery continues to lead in the field of cosmetic surgery. Media Contact: To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10740/259390_82ed258224c50b33_001full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259390 SOURCE: GetFeatured Subscription of 2.6 million, representing 100% of the initial amount Financial horizon extended to the end of Q3 2026 thanks to concomitant financial restructuring Bpifrance now holds 23.95% of capital and 28.05% of voting rights. Regulatory News: Advicenne (Euronext Growth FR0013296746 ALDVI), a pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and marketing of innovative treatments for people suffering from rare kidney diseases (the "Company"), raised a total of nearly 2.6 million through the issue of 1,895,948 New Shares at a unit price of 1.35 as part of the capital increase through the issue of new ordinary shares (the "New Shares") with shareholders' pre-emptive subscription rights (the "DPS") announced on June 30, 2025. This transaction will extend financial visibility until the end of the third quarter of 2026. Didier Laurens, Chief Executive Officer of Advicenne, comments: "I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the shareholders who, through this operation, are supporting Advicenne's continued development, first and foremost Bpifrance. We can be proud of their confidence in the project supported by all Advicenne employees. This transaction puts the finishing touches to the optimization of our financing. Now, more than ever, we are focusing on the upcoming filing of ADV7103 for registration in the dRTA in the United States, and the extension of our financial visibility enables us to project ourselves calmly towards this objective. Philippe Boucheron, Deputy Director, Biotech and Medtech Investment Division of Bpifrance and Chairman of Advicenne, highlights: "We were keen to support Advicenne and its team. Opportunities to invest in a commercial company in our sector which has developed its own drug from lab to market are rare, particularly in France. Following the launch of Sibnayal in Europe, Advicenne's team has continued to work hard on the US marketing authorization application in dRTA, which will be a powerful driver of value creation. A Capital Increase to secure the US ambitions This Capital Increase is part of the financing of Advicenne's growth, particularly in the U.S. The funds will be allocated as follows: around 70% for the completion of ADV7103's regulatory activities in dRTA in the U.S and its clinical development plan in cystinuria, and the conclusion of an industrial and commercial partnership; around 30% for the continued marketing activities of Sibnayal in Europe and the financing requirements of the Company's ongoing operations. This Capital Increase ensures the financing of Advicenne's anticipated cash requirements at least until the end of the 3rd quarter of 2026. This extended financial visibility considers the restructuring agreement for the loan granted by the European Investment Bank, announced on June 30, 2025. It also ensures the finalization of the registration dossier for ADV7103 in dRTA in the U.S and its filing during Q4 2025, with a view to obtaining approval by the end of Q3 2026. During this period, Advicenne will also complete the development plan for ADV7103 in cystinuria. In Europe, the objective is to accelerate the adoption and sales growth of Sibnayal, working in parallel for the enhancement of its reimbursement, especially in France. Results of the capital increase with pre-emptive subscription rights The capital increase with pre-emptive subscription rights received a total demand for 1,257,403 new shares at a unit price of 1.35, on the basis of 2 new shares for every 13 existing shares held, i.e. a total amount of 1,697,494.05, representing around 66% of the initial offering (2,559,529.80). Subscriptions were distributed as follows: 283,430 New Shares by irrevocable entitlement, representing 14.9% of the New Shares to be issued; - 774,150 New Shares subject to reduction, representing 40.8% of the New Shares to be issued. The take-up rate for reducible applications was therefore 100%. to which were added 199,823 New Shares on an unrestricted basis, representing 10.5% of the New Shares to be issued, allocated by the Board of Directors under its right to freely allocate unsubscribed shares on an irreducible and reducible basis, as provided for in Article L.225-134 I. 2 of the French Commercial Code. In accordance with their subscription commitments: the FPS Innovation 1 fund, managed by Bpifrance Investissement, which also manages the Innobio fund, the Company's reference shareholder, subscribed to 740,740 New Shares for a total amount of 999,999; and - Didier Laurens, Managing Director of the Company, subscribed to 37,037 New Shares for a total amount of 49,999.95. It should be noted that the guaranteed commitments for a total of 1,500,000 signed by 6 investors (the "Guarantors") have been partially exercised up to 57% of their commitment, i.e. 638,545 New Shares. In return for their guaranteed commitments, the Guarantors received a remuneration corresponding to 10% of the amount of their subscription commitment by way of guarantee. Guarantorss Allocation shares Allocation EUR Friedland Gestion 85,139 114,937.65 Gestys 85,139 114,937.65 Hamilton Stuart Capital 63,854 86,202.90 Market Wizards 212,848 287,344.80 Maitice 42,569 57,468.15 Treecap BV 148,996 201,144.60 TOTAL 638,545 862,035.75 Settlement and delivery of the New Shares Following settlement and delivery, which will take place on July 24, 2025, Advicenne's share capital will amount to 2,843,923.80, comprising 14,219,619 shares with a par value of 0.20 each. Application will be made for the New Shares to be admitted to trading on Euronext Growth in Paris on the same day, on the same quotation line as the existing shares (ISIN code FR0013296746 mnemonic code ALDVI). Impact of the Capital Increase on the shareholder structure To the best of the Company's knowledge, the breakdown of share capital and voting rights post-Capital Increase is as follows: Capital breakdown (post-capital increase) on a non-diluted basis Shares Voting rights Didier Laurens, CEO 37,037.0 0.26% 37,037.0 0.22% Employees, Consultants and committee members 108,778.0 0.76% 217,556.0 1.29% Sub Total Management Employees 145,815.0 1.03% 254,593.0 1.51% Bpifrance Investissement1 3,405,245.0 23.95% 4,730,813.0 28.05% Cemag Invest 2,217,928.0 15.60% 2,983,574.0 17.69% Irdi Soridec Gestion 435,511.0 3.06% 435,511.0 2.58% Sub Total Board 6,058,684.0 42.61% 8,149,898.0 48.32% Free float 7,957,041 55.95% 8,461,486 50.17% Treasury shares2 58,079 0.41% 0.0 0.00% Total 14,219,619 100,00% 16,865,977 100,00% 1 All funds managed by Bpifrance (including FPS Innovation 1). 2 as of 30/06/2025. Capital breakdown (post-capital increase) on a diluted basis Shares Voting rights Didier Laurens 337,037 2.23% 337,037 1.89% Employees, consultants and committee members 553,778 3.66% 662,556 3.72% Sub Total Management Employees 960,815 6.35% 1,069,593 6.01% Bpifrance Investissement1 3,405,245 22.49% 4,730,813 26.60% Cemag Invest 2,217,928 14.65% 2,983,574 16.77% Irdi Soridec Gestion 435,511 2.88% 435,511 2.45% Charlotte Sibley 25,000 0.17% 25,000 0.14% Sub Total Board of Directors 6,083,684 40.18% 8,174,898 45.96% Free float 8,039,166 53.10% 8,543,611 48.03% Treasury shares2 58,079 0.38% 0 0.00% Total 15,141,744 100,00% 17,788,102 100,00% 1 All funds managed by Bpifrance (including FPS Innovation 1). 2 as of 30/06/2025. Impact of the Capital Increase on the situation of the shareholder The impact of the issue of New Shares on the shareholding of a shareholder who held 1% of the Company's capital prior to the Capital Increase and who did not subscribe to it is as follows: Shareholder interest (%) Non diluted basis Diluted basis Before issuance of the New Shares via the Offering 1,00% 0,93% After issuance of 1,895,948 New Shares via the Offering (completion of the capital increase to 100%) 0,87% 0,81% on the basis of 12,323,671 existing shares at the date of this press release ** if all BSPCEs are exercised, representing a total of 922,125 shares. The impact of the Capital Increase on consolidated shareholders' equity per share (calculated on the basis of consolidated shareholders' equity at December 31, 2025) is as follows: Equity per share (in ) Non diluted basis Diluted basis Before issuance of the New Shares via the Offering -1.55 -1.44 After issuance of 1,895,948 New Shares via the Offering (completion of the capital increase to 100%) -1.16 -1.09 on the basis of 12,323,671 existing shares at the date of this press release ** if all BSPCEs are exercised, representing a total of 922,125 shares. Reminder of the other terms of the Capital Increase Legal framework of the offer The offer was carried out on the basis of the 11th and 17th resolutions adopted by the Combined General Meeting of shareholders on May 15, 2025, and by the Board of Directors of Advicenne on June 27, 2025, which decided to implement the delegation of powers granted to it, and launched the capital increase with preferential subscription rights. A notice to shareholders concerning the transaction was published on July 2, 2025 in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO). Prospectus In accordance with the provisions of Article L.411-2-1 1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article 211-2 of the General Regulations of the Autorite des Marches Financiers (the "AMF"), the Capital Increase did not give rise to a prospectus submitted for AMF approval, as the total amount of the offering calculated over a twelve-month period does not exceed 8,000,000. Undertaking to abstain from trading and to retain shares The Company has undertaken to abstain from trading for a period of 6 months in connection with the Capital Increase. Resumption of exercise rights for holders of BSPCEs issued by the Company Holders of BSPCEs issued by the Company are hereby informed of the resumption of their rights to the allocation of new shares in the Company as from the settlement-delivery of the New Shares, i.e. July 24, 2025. The rights of holders of warrants issued by the Company who have not exercised their right to receive shares in the Company by July 4, 2025 (00:00 Paris time) will be preserved in accordance with legal and regulatory provisions. Risk factors Risk factors relating to the Company and its 2024 universal registration document, available in the Investor Relations section of its website (https://advicenne.com/). The occurrence of any or all these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial situation, results, development or prospects. Capital Increase Partners TP ICAP Global Coordinator, Lead Manager and Bookrunner Bird Bird Legal advice About Advicenne Advicenne (Euronext: ALDVI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 2007, specializing in the development of innovative treatments in Nephrology. Its lead product Sibnayal (ADV7103) has received its Marketing Approval for distal renal tubular acidosis in EU and GB. ADV7103 is currently in late-stage development in cystinuria in Europe and in dRTA and cystinuria in the US and in Canada. Headquartered in Paris, Advicenne, listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange since 2017, has now been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since its transfer on March 30, 2022. For additional information, see: https://advicenne.com/. Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Advicenne's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond Advicenne's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include in particular those inherent in the marketing and commercialization of drugs developed by Advicenne as well as those developed or identified in the public documents filed by Advicenne with the Autorite des marches financiers, including those listed in chapter 3 "Risk Factors" of Advicenne's universal registration document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers on April 28, 2023 and in the 2023 half-year report, available free of charge on the website of the Company ((https://advicenne.com/). Subject to applicable regulations, in particular articles 223-1 et seq. of the general regulations of the Autorite des marches financiers, Advicenne does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or statements. Disclaimer This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of common shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful in the absence of registration or approval under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The distribution of this press release may be subject to specific regulations in certain countries. Persons in possession of this document are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such local restrictions. This press release constitutes a promotional communication and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 (as amended the "Prospectus Regulation"). With respect to member states of the European Economic Area other than France (the "Member States"), no action has been or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities that would require the publication of a prospectus in any of these Member States. Consequently, the securities cannot and will not be offered in any Member State (other than France), except in accordance with the exemptions provided for in Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, or in other cases not requiring the publication by Advicenne of a prospectus under the Prospectus Regulation and/or the regulations applicable in those Member States. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. This press release may not be published, distributed or disseminated in the United States (including its territories and possessions). This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or subscribe for any securities in the United States. The securities mentioned in this press release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any applicable state or federal securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, registration under the Securities Act. Advicenne does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States under or pursuant to the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering in the United States. This press release may not be distributed directly or indirectly in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Lastly, this press release may be drafted in either French or English. In the event of any discrepancies between the two texts, the French version shall prevail. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250721158532/en/ Contacts: Advicenne Didier Laurens, Directeur General +33 (0) 1 87 44 40 17 Email: investors@advicenne.com Ulysse Communication Media relations Bruno Arabian +33 (0)6 87 88 47 26 Email: advicenne@ulysse-communication.com New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Elle Caruso Fitzgerald, a leading voice from the Faith Based Investing Content Hub, explains in her latest article how investors should think about liquidity and large-cap ETFs. Fitzgerald details how liquidity concerns may be overblown, particularly for large-cap ETFs, and investors may miss out on compelling opportunities. How Investors Should Think About Liquidity & Large-Cap ETFs To summarize, an ETF's liquidity is directly linked to the liquidity of its underlying securities. Therefore, to accurately assess an ETF's liquidity, it's crucial to examine the portfolio's holdings. Relying solely on total assets or trading volume may be misleading. To view the full article, please visit: https://www.etftrends.com/faith-based-investing-channel/how-investors-should-think-about-liquidity-large-cap-etfs/. About the Faith Based Investing Content Hub by JLens The Faith Based Investing Content Hub on ETF Trends is dedicated to helping investors understand and leverage the power of JLens' Jewish-themed funds. In particular, TOV provides a new investment vehicle for the Jewish community to hold corporations accountable, while also giving investors and shareholders the ability to 'invest Jewishly.' About VettaFi VettaFi is a leading provider of data-driven insights and specialized services for asset managers and investors, bringing together a wealth of expertise to support client success. At the core of VettaFi is a commitment to fostering strong relationships and delivering innovative solutions that help clients engage, grow, and thrive in an increasingly complex financial landscape. For more information about VettaFi, please visit www.vettafi.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259526 SOURCE: VettaFi Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2025) - Zhibao Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ZBAO) ("Zhibao," "we," or the "Company"), a leading and high growth InsurTech company primarily engaging in providing digital insurance brokerage services through its operating entities in China, today announced that Zhibao Technology's executive management team will be delivering a live Company presentation on Thursday, July 17 at 12 PM ET via the Skyline Signature Series. About The Skyline Signature Series The Skyline Signature Series is Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC's proprietary branded live virtual webinar event that provides public companies with a convenient and effective forum to communicate their story to a diverse audience of financial professionals through live CEO virtual presentations. Following Zhibao's Company presentation, a Q&A session will be held where audience members will have the opportunity to submit their questions, which will then be answered live by Zhibao's management. Presentation Details Presenters: Daniel Tao (Underwriting & Product Director & Investor Relations Director) Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM ET Location: Virtual Fee to Attend: Free Registration Link: Sign-Up Here "The Skyline Signature Series offers an excellent opportunity for Zhibao to connect with both current and potential shareholders," said Mr. Botao Ma, CEO of Zhibao Technology. "Participating in events like this allows us to share our latest innovations and progress with a broader audience of investors, industry experts, and potential collaborators. This upcoming event serves as a valuable platform for building strategic relationships, gaining insight into investor sentiment, and enhancing communication and transparency with our shareholder community." About Zhibao Technology Inc. Zhibao Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ZBAO) is a leading and high growth InsurTech company primarily engaging in providing digital insurance brokerage services through its operating entities ("Zhibao China Group") in China. 2B2C ("to-business-to-customer") digital embedded insurance is the Company's innovative business model, which Zhibao China Group pioneered in China. Zhibao China Group launched the first digital insurance brokerage platform in China in 2020, which is powered by their proprietary PaaS ("Platform as a Service"). Zhibao has developed over 40 proprietary and innovative digital insurance solutions addressing different scenarios in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to travel, sports, logistics, utilities, and e-commerce. Zhibao acquires and analyzes customer data, utilize big data and AI technology to continually iterate and enhance its digital insurance solutions. This iterative process, in addition to continually improving its digital insurance solutions, will keep it abreast of the new trends and customer preferences in the market. For more information, please visit: ir.zhibao-tech.com. Forward Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "is/are likely to," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/258853 SOURCE: Zhibao Technology Inc. TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Black Iron Inc. ("Black Iron" or the "Company") (TSX:BKI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Porter as Chairman of the board of directors of the Company ("Board"). Mr. Porter has served as a director of the Company since 2010 and is a seasoned executive who has been responsible for operations, safety, health, sustainable development, communications and community relations across the mining and steel sectors for over 33 years. Mr. Porter previously served as Vice President Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness at the Rio Tinto/Mitsubishi owned Iron Ore Company of Canada from 1992 to 2008 and as Vice President Operations at Altas Specialty Steel - Rio Algom from 1978 to 1991. Mr. Porter's appoint follows the resignation of Mr. Bruce Humphrey as Chairman and a director of the Board following 15 years with the Company. Mr. Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated "I would like to thank Bruce for his years of dedication and guidance as we twice brought Black Iron's Shymanivske Iron ore project to the brink of construction, only twice to have Russia invade Ukraine upending our plans. With Dave taking over as Chairman, Black Iron's board, management and shareholders are in excellent hands as he is a critical thinker with extensive hands-on iron ore and steel industry experience." About Black Iron Black Iron is an iron ore exploration and development company, advancing its 100% owned Shymanivske Iron Ore Project located in Kryviy Rih, Ukraine. Full mineral resource details and projected project economics can be found in the NI 43-101 technical report entitled "(Amended) Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Re-scoped Shymanivske Iron Ore Deposit" published in March 2020 with an effective date of November 21, 2017 under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Project is surrounded by five other operating mines, including Metinvest's YuGOK and ArcelorMittal's iron ore complex. Please visit the Company's website at www.blackiron.com for more information For more information, please contact: Matt Simpson Chief Executive Officer Black Iron Inc. info@blackiron.com Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, opinions and estimates of the date such statements are made based on information available to them at that time. Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the appointment of directors. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the war in Ukraine; general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; other risks of the mining industry and the risks described in the annual information form of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company notes that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. SOURCE: Black Iron, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/black-iron-announces-appointment-of-mr.-david-porter-as-chairman-of-the-board-1050637 The interleukin-17 inhibitors market is expected to remain strong in rheumatology (psoriasis and arthritis), with potential expansion into hidradenitis suppurativa and other dermatologic conditions. The emergence of advanced biologics like sonelokimab and izokibep could shift market dynamics, offering more targeted, tissue-penetrant therapies that may outperform first-generation IL-17 inhibitors. LAS VEGAS, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Size, Target Population, Competitive Landscape & Market Forecast report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, addressable patient population, which includes top indications such as Plaque psoriasis, Psoriasis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and others. The selected indications are based on approved therapies and ongoing pipeline activity. The report also provides insights into the emerging interleukin-17 inhibitors, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into 7MM. Key Takeaways from the Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Report As per DelveInsight's analysis, the total market size of interleukin-17 inhibitors in the 7MM is expected to surge significantly by 2034. The report provides the total potential number of patients in the indications, such as Plaque psoriasis, Psoriasis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and others. and others. Leading interleukin-17 inhibitor companies, such as MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, Affibody Medical AB, SFA Therapeutics, DICE Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, and others, are developing novel Interleukin-17 inhibitors that can be available in the interleukin-17 inhibitors market in the coming years. and others, are developing novel Interleukin-17 inhibitors that can be available in the interleukin-17 inhibitors market in the coming years. Some of the key interleukin-17 inhibitors in the pipeline include Sonelokimab, Izokibep, SFA-002, Simepdekinra (DC-853), and others. and others. In April 2025, Affibody Medical AB reported positive Phase II clinical results for izokibep in psoriatic arthritis, highlighting its potent IL-17A inhibition and clinical improvements in joint and skin symptoms. reported positive Phase II clinical results for izokibep in psoriatic arthritis, highlighting its potent IL-17A inhibition and clinical improvements in joint and skin symptoms. In March 2025, UCB announced further long-term data from the Phase III trials and their open-label extensions, investigating BIMZELX in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, were presented as six posters at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Dual inhibition with bimekizumab-bkzx demonstrated high efficacy and sustained clinical benefits across different adult patient populations living with this common inflammatory skin condition. announced further long-term data from the Phase III trials and their open-label extensions, investigating BIMZELX in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, were presented as six posters at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Dual inhibition with bimekizumab-bkzx demonstrated high efficacy and sustained clinical benefits across different adult patient populations living with this common inflammatory skin condition. In March 2025, SFA Therapeutics announced the presentation of two head-to-head preclinical studies of its oral psoriasis treatment candidate, SFA-002, at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. announced the presentation of two head-to-head preclinical studies of its oral psoriasis treatment candidate, SFA-002, at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. In March 2025, SFA Therapeutics announced positive data from its Phase Ib clinical trial of SFA-002, an oral treatment for mild-to-moderate chronic plaque psoriasis. The study met its primary endpoint of safety, with no TRAEs or toxicities observed during the treatment period, and no rebound effects were noted. Discover which indication is expected to grab the major interleukin-17 inhibitors market share @ Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Report Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Dynamics The interleukin-17 inhibitors market has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis. IL-17 inhibitors target a key cytokine pathway involved in the inflammatory response, providing robust efficacy in patients who are either unresponsive to conventional therapies or require biological treatment due to disease severity. Major pharmaceutical players like Novartis (COSENTYX), Eli Lilly (TALTZ), and UCB (BIMZELX) have successfully commercialized IL-17 inhibitors, creating a competitive but growing therapeutic space. The expansion of approved indications, alongside strong clinical trial outcomes for newer agents targeting IL-17F or dual IL-17A/IL-17F inhibition, continues to fuel market momentum. Market dynamics are also influenced by the evolving treatment landscape, where IL-17 inhibitors compete with other biological classes such as TNF inhibitors and IL-23/IL-12-23 inhibitors. Despite strong efficacy, particularly in the skin and joint manifestations, positioning IL-17 inhibitors as first-line biologics remains a challenge due to physician preference for older, well-established therapies and payer reimbursement considerations. However, increasing real-world evidence supporting long-term safety and durability of response for IL-17 inhibitors is gradually shifting treatment paradigms. Additionally, head-to-head trials showcasing superior efficacy profiles over TNF inhibitors in psoriasis further strengthen the competitive positioning of IL-17 inhibitors. On the innovation front, pharmaceutical companies are investing in next-generation IL-17 inhibitors with improved dosing convenience, enhanced specificity, and broader indications. Pipeline candidates targeting diseases beyond dermatology and rheumatology, such as hidradenitis suppurativa, uveitis, and inflammatory bowel disease, hold promise for future market expansion. Moreover, subcutaneous and intravenous formulations, along with self-administered devices, are being developed to enhance patient adherence and expand the patient base. These advances reflect the industry's efforts to differentiate its products in an increasingly crowded market. However, market growth is not without challenges. Patent expirations for key products in the next 5-10 years are likely to invite biosimilar competition, potentially driving price erosion. Moreover, payer pressure to contain biological therapy costs and the emergence of novel oral small molecules such as JAK inhibitors pose additional threats to the IL-17 inhibitors' market share. In summary, the IL-17 inhibitors market is poised for steady growth, supported by strong clinical efficacy, expansion into new indications, and increasing physician and patient acceptance. However, the market's long-term trajectory will depend on manufacturers' ability to navigate competitive pressures, reimbursement challenges, and biosimilar threats, while continuing to innovate in drug formulation and indication expansion. Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Treatment Market The IL-17 inhibitor class has become a key treatment approach for chronic immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, notably psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and axial spondyloarthritis (AS). These therapies specifically block IL-17A, IL-17F, or the IL-17 receptor, which are critical drivers of inflammation mediated by Th17 cells. Approved IL-17 inhibitors currently include COSENTYX, TALTZ, SILIQ, and BIMZELX. Since the 2015 FDA approval of Novartis' secukinumab (COSENTYX), the first drug in this class, the market has grown consistently, propelled by strong clinical results, fast symptom relief, and broadened use across dermatology and rheumatology indications. COSENTYX leads the market, followed by Eli Lilly's TALTZ (ixekizumab) and Amgen/Kyowa Kirin's SILIQ (brodalumab). More recently, UCB's BIMZELX (bimekizumab), a dual inhibitor of IL-17A and IL-17F, has gained approval in Europe and the US. BIMZELX is a humanized IgG1/? monoclonal antibody that binds selectively to IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-17AF cytokines, preventing their interaction with the IL-17 receptor complex. In October 2024, the FDA approved a 320 mg dose of BIMZELX for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis with skin involvement. For psoriatic arthritis without skin symptoms, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, a 160 mg dose is recommended. SILIQ is a human IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) blocker approved for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy and have not responded to, or lost response to, other systemic treatments. Marketed under different names globally, it is called "SILIQ" in the US, "KYNTHEUM" in Europe, and "LUMICEF" in Japan. In July 2017, AstraZeneca and MedImmune announced that their partner, LEO Pharma, received full EU approval for KYNTHEUM in all 28 member states for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Earlier, in February 2017, the US FDA approved SILIQ for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with the drug administered via injection. In May 2015, Amgen terminated its partnership with AstraZeneca on the development of this psoriasis biologic, citing concerns over potentially restrictive labeling related to the drug's risk of suicidal ideation. Learn more about the interleukin-17 inhibitors @ Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Analysis Key Emerging Interleukin-17 Inhibitors and Companies The emerging drug pipeline for IL-17 inhibitors is diverse and includes several promising candidates, such as Sonelokimab (MoonLake Immunotherapeutics), Izokibep (Affibody Medical AB), SFA-002 (SFA Therapeutics), Simepdekinra (DICE Therapeutics/Eli Lilly) and others. Sonelokimab, a next-generation biologic developed by MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, utilizes a nanobody-based approach to target both interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F. It is in advanced clinical stages for various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The drug has shown encouraging outcomes in moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and is currently being assessed in Phase III trials under the MIRA study. In addition, Phase II studies in psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have demonstrated significant improvements in both joint and skin symptoms, underscoring its therapeutic potential in rheumatology. In January 2025, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics broadened sonelokimab's clinical pipeline by launching three additional studies. These include VELA-TEEN, a Phase III trial for adolescent HS patients; LEDA, a Phase II study in palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP); and S-OLARIS, a Phase II trial targeting axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Izokibep, a compact IL-17A inhibitor developed by Affibody and ACELYRIN, is designed for enhanced potency and tissue penetration. It has demonstrated robust clinical activity in inflammatory disorders such as hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, and plaque psoriasis. Its small molecular format allows for subcutaneous administration, potentially reducing injection frequency and improving tissue targeting compared to conventional biologics. Izokibep is currently in Phase III trials for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), where it has shown promising early results and a favorable safety profile. In February 2025, Affibody reacquired the global rights to izokibep. Previously, in 2021, Affibody had licensed worldwide development and commercialization rights (excluding select Asian territories) to ACELYRIN through a collaboration agreement. The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies are poised to transform the interleukin-17 inhibitors market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the interleukin-17 inhibitors market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth. To know more about interleukin-17 inhibitors clinical trials, visit @ Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Treatment Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Overview Interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors are monoclonal antibody therapies designed to block IL-17A or its receptor, both of which play a critical role in promoting inflammation associated with various autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. These treatments work by either directly neutralizing IL-17A or inhibiting its receptor (IL-17RA), thereby halting the downstream signaling pathways that attract immune cells and intensify inflammation. IL-17 inhibitors are mainly prescribed for managing moderate-to-severe cases of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. By interfering with IL-17 signaling, these drugs help control chronic inflammation, minimize tissue damage, and alleviate disease symptoms. Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Epidemiology Segmentation The interleukin-17 inhibitors market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020-2034 in the 7MM, segmented into: Total Cases of Selected Indications for IL-17 Inhibitor Total Eligible Patient Pool of Selected Indications for IL-17 Inhibitor Total Treated Cases of Selected Indications for IL-17 Inhibitor Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Report Metrics Details Study Period 2020-2034 Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Report Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU-4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Key Indications Covered in the Report Plaque psoriasis, Psoriasis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and others Key Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Companies MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, Affibody Medical AB, SFA Therapeutics, DICE Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, UCB Pharma, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Bausch Health, Kyowa Kirin, LEO Pharma, and others Key Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Sonelokimab, Izokibep, SFA-002, Simepdekinra (DC-853), BIMZELX, COSENTYX, SILIQ, TALTZ, and others Scope of the Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Report Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Therapeutic Assessment: Interleukin-17 Inhibitors current marketed and emerging therapies Interleukin-17 Inhibitors current marketed and emerging therapies Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Dynamics: Conjoint Analysis of Emerging Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Drugs Conjoint Analysis of Emerging Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Drugs Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Market Access and Reimbursement Discover more about interleukin-17 inhibitors in development @ Interleukin-17 Inhibitors Clinical Trials Table of Contents 1 Key Insights 2 Report Introduction 3 Executive Summary of Interleukin-17 (IL-17) Inhibitors 4 Key Events 5 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology of IL-17 Inhibitors 6 IL-17 Inhibitors Market Overview at a Glance in the 7MM 6.1 Market Share (%) Distribution by Therapies in 2024 6.2 Market Share (%) Distribution by Therapies in 2034 6.3 Market Share (%) Distribution by Indications in 2024 6.4 Market Share (%) Distribution by Indications in 2034 7 IL-17 Inhibitors: Background and Overview 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Potential of IL-17 Inhibitor in Different Indications 7.3 Clinical Applications of IL-17 Inhibitor 8 Target Patient Pool 8.1 Key Findings 8.2 Assumptions and Rationale: 7MM 8.3 Epidemiology Scenario in the 7MM 8.4 Total Cases in Selected Indications for IL-17 Inhibitors in the 7MM 8.5 Total Eligible Patient Pool for IL-17 Inhibitors in Selected Indications in the 7MM 8.6 Total Treated Cases in Selected Indications for IL-17 Inhibitors in the 7MM 9 Marketed Products of IL-17 Inhibitors 9.1 Key Competitors 9.2 BIMZELX (bimekizumab): UCB Pharma 9.2.1 Product Description 9.2.2 Regulatory Milestones 9.2.3 Other Developmental Activities 9.2.4 Clinical Development 9.2.4.1 Clinical Trial Information 9.2.5 Safety and Efficacy 9.2.6 Analyst Views 9.3 SILIQ/KYNTHEUM/LUMICEF (brodalumab): AstraZeneca/Bausch Health/Kyowa Kirin/LEO Pharma 9.3.1 Product Description 9.3.2 Regulatory Milestones 9.3.3 Other Developmental Activities 9.3.4 Clinical Development 9.3.4.1 Clinical Trial Information 9.3.5 Safety and Efficacy 9.3.6 Analyst Views List to be continued in the final report 10 Emerging Therapies of IL-17 Inhibitors 10.1 Key Competitors 10.2 Sonelokimab: MoonLake Immunotherapeutics 10.2.1 Product Description 10.2.2 Other Developmental Activities 10.2.3 Clinical Development 10.2.3.1 Clinical Trial Information 10.2.4 Safety and Efficacy 10.2.5 Analyst Views 10.3 Izokibep: Affibody Medical AB 10.3.1 Product Description 10.3.2 Other Developmental Activities 10.3.3 Clinical Development 10.3.3.1 Clinical Trial Information 10.3.4 Safety and Efficacy 10.3.5 Analyst Views List to be continued in the final report 11 IL-17 Inhibitor: Seven Major Market Analysis 11.1 Key Findings 11.2 Market Outlook of IL-17 Inhibitor 11.3 Conjoint Analysis of IL-17 Inhibitor 11.4 Key Market Forecast Assumptions of IL-17 Inhibitor 11.4.1 Cost Assumptions and Rebates 11.4.2 Pricing Trends 11.4.3 Analogue Assessment 11.4.4 Launch Year and Therapy Uptakes 11.5 Total Market Size of IL-17 Inhibitor in the 7MM 11.6 Market Size of IL-17 Inhibitor by Indication in the 7MM 11.7 The United States Market Size 11.8 EU4 and the UK Market Size 11.9 Japan Market Size 12 Market Access and Reimbursement of IL-17 Inhibitors 13 SWOT Analysis of IL-17 Inhibitors 14 KOL Views of IL-17 Inhibitors 15 Unmet Needs of IL-17 Inhibitors 16 Bibliography 17 Report Methodology Related Reports Interleukin-2 Inhibitors Market Interleukin-2 Inhibitors Market Size, Target Population, Competitive Landscape & Market Forecast - 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key IL-2 inhibitors companies, including Mural Oncology, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Philogen, Merck, Nektar, Cue Biopharma, Krystal Biotech, ILTOO Pharma, Innovent, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, R2T Biopharma (XEME Biopharma), AstraZeneca, GI Innovation, Merck, R2T Biopharma (XEME Biopharma), Sanofi, Synthekine, BioNTech, Medicenna Therapeutics, Ascendis Pharma, Sanofi, Synthorx, Cugene, AbbVie, Deka Biosciences, Dragonfly Therapeutics, Werewolf Therapeutics, Xilio Therapeutics, Bioniz Therapeutics, Equillium, Asher Bio, Synthekine, Anaveon, Aulos Bioscience, Selecxine, ProBio, Hoffmann-La Roche, TILT Biotherapeutics, among others. Psoriasis Market Psoriasis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key psoriasis companies, including UCB Pharma, Novartis, Alumis, SFA Therapeutics, Amgen, AbbVie, Can-Fite BioPharma, Johnson & Johnson, among others. Plaque Psoriasis Market Plaque Psoriasis Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key plaque psoriasis companies, including Dermavant Sciences GmbH, IQVIA Biotech, UCB Biopharma SRL, Parexel, Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd., Durect, Astellas, Biogen, Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shire, Zalicus, AbbVie, Santalis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Maruho Co. Ltd, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, among others. Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market Hidradenitis Suppurativa Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2034 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key hidradenitis suppurativa companies, including Incyte Corporation, ACELYRIN, AbbVie, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Priovant Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, Incyte Corporation, Sanofi, Kymera Therapeutics, UNION Therapeutics, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +14699457679 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/3528414/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/interleukin-17-inhibitors-market-to-witness-strong-growth-during-the-forecast-period-20202034-driven-by-expanding-indications-and-therapeutic-innovation--delveinsight-302509333.html SALINAS, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Taylor Farms, North America's premier provider of ready-to-enjoy salads and healthy fresh foods, proudly announces the awarding of over $650,000 in scholarships through its enhanced annual scholarship program. Taylor Farms awards students in three distinct categories: the Extraordinary Scholarship, the Innovative Scholarship, and the Employee Scholarship. A total of 38 new scholarships have been awarded for 2025: The Extraordinary Scholarship supports students pursuing degrees at four-year universities. This year, 26 exceptional students were honored in this category. The Innovative Scholarship is designed to encourage academic and career development at junior colleges and trade schools, with 9 promising students recognized this year. The Employee Scholarship now provides direct support to 3 dedicated Taylor Farms team members who are advancing their own education and development goals. Since launching the program in 2008, Taylor Farms has awarded $4.7 million in scholarships to 319 students, all children of full-time Taylor Farms employees. The company remains deeply committed to education and believes in empowering its community through opportunity and learning. "We are honored to continue to support our team members and their families in their educational journeys," said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms. "By investing in education and the academic aspirations of our communities, we are building the foundation for continuous opportunity. Congratulations to this year's winners." Taylor Farms partners with the Community Foundation for Monterey County to administer the application and award process. Scholarship recipients receive an upfront financial award and are eligible for annual renewals for the duration of their undergraduate or graduate studies. In addition to the 2025 new recipients, 81 renewal scholarships were granted to students who originally received their awards between 2022 and 2024. "Every year we have an incredible group of applicants, and this year was no exception with close to 100 submissions received. The dedication and pursuit of higher education is apparent in the essays and personal statements we reviewed. Our committee spent hours combing through every application and feel that this year's recipients are incredibly exceptional with bright futures ahead of them. We are honored to share in this academic milestone and look forward to hearing their stories in the future." Retail Scholarship Committee Chair, Charis Neves Contact Information Taylor Farms press@taylorfarms.com SOURCE: Taylor Farms View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/taylor-farms-awards-more-than-650-000-in-scholarships-through-their-annu-1050649 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Galway Metals Inc. (TSXV:GWM)(OTCQB:GAYMF) (the "company" or "Galway Metals"), is pleased to announce an update on recent insider purchases, through a series of transactions conducted through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange. Robert Hinchcliffe, President, CEO and Director, acquired an aggregate 780,000 common shares of the Company in the current calendar year at an average price of approximately $0.475 per share. These purchases come after acquiring just over 1 million shares in 2024 and 1.6 million shares in the open market in 2023. As a result, Mr. Hinchcliffe now owns a total of 8,530,746 common shares of Galway Metals, representing approximately 8% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. About Galway Metals Inc. Galway Metals is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its 100%-owned, high-grade, open-pit flagship Clarence Stream gold project in southwest New Brunswick. Clarence Stream is an emerging gold district with an exploration strike length of approximately 65 kilometres, and the existing resource is open in virtually all directions. Galway Metals also has 100%-ownership in the Estrades project, a former producing high-grade, gold-rich polymetallic VMS mine in the northern Abitibi of western Quebec. Led by a management team with a proven track-record of creating shareholder value having sold Galway Resources for US$340 million, Galway Metals is focused on creating value for all its stakeholders. For additional Information on Galway Metals Inc., Please contact: Robert Hinchcliffe President & Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1-800-771-0680 Email: info@galwaymetalsinc.com Website: www.galwaymetalsinc.com Look us up on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn Cautionary Statement Neither the TSX Venture 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's 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 management's 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, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, information with respect to the OTCQB listing, DTC eligibility, and broadening U.S. institutional and retail investors. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to changes in economic conditions or financial markets, political and competitive developments, operation or exploration difficulties, changes in equity markets, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca. 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. SOURCE: Galway Metals Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/galway-metals-reports-on-continued-ceo-share-purchases-1051054 And this is what the filmmaker replied- Shut up! Dont breed negativity sitting at home! Watch the work of the two kids! And do some work yourself Right from Mahesh Bhatt to Alia Bhatt to Karan Johar, Kunal Kohli, Sanjay Gupta, all have praised the makers amid its blockbuster success. Johar described the film as beyond magical. But was trolled for his praise as a user called him Nanny for Nepo Kids. And this is what the filmmaker replied- Shut up! Dont breed negativity sitting at home! Watch the work of the two kids! And do some work yourself STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alia Bhatt on Saiyaara Alia Bhatt wrote a long note that said, I dont remember the last time I looked at two actors with such awe. With stars in my eyes watching the stars in yours. You both shine with such individuality, such honesty I could watch you again, and again, and again. (And lets be honest I probably will.) She added, To the captain of this very wonderful ship @mohitsuri what a film. What feeling. What music!!!!!!!! You made me feel things that only the movies can make you feel. Saiyaara is full of heart, full of soul, full of something that just stays with you in the best way. Aneet replied saying, I wish I could gather every moment of inspiration, love, awe, possibility, wonder, and imagination that Ive experienced because of you; put it in a box and give it to you. Alia Bhatt my hero. Forever and ever and ever. Amid the initial findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report that point to fuel switches being in the cutoff position, investigators are turning their attention to the tail of the crashed Air India AI-171 plane. They are looking for signs of a contained electrical fire, suspecting it could have disrupted flight sensors and cut off the fuel supply Wreckage of the Air India plane that crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, lies on a building, in Ahmedabad. File image/PTI Its been nearly 40 days since Air India AI-171 flight crashed 26 seconds after it took off from runway 23 of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad in Indias western state of Gujarat. Investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are still trying to ascertain what caused the Boeing aircraft to crash, killing 260 people. Amid the AAIBs preliminary report indicating that the fuel switches were in the cutoff position, resulting in fuel being cut off to both engines shortly after take-off, investigators are now looking at the tail of the crashed airplane, hoping to find some clues there. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres what we know so far. An answer in the tail? Officials are now looking at the wreckage of flight AI-171, especially focusing on the empennage, or tail assembly. The development comes after the aircraft showed signs of a contained electric fire but restricted to only a few components located in the rear. Remarkably, the tail, which had disengaged during the crash, remained mostly intact and escaped the explosion and fuel fire that charred the rest of the aircraft. Officials revealed that the tail now stored safely in Ahmedabad could hold the key to understanding a potential malfunction in the aircrafts electrical supply during take-off. They hold the key for a detailed analysis of a possible malfunction in the electric supply of the aircraft during lift off, an official told The Indian Express. Officials note that an electric fire could have occurred owing based on the condition of the aft Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder or the rear black box from the rooftop of the BJ Medical College hostel mess building on June 13. The rear black box had suffered extensive internal thermal damage. Officials noted that the tail absorbed the expected crash force on impact with the hostel building, but not to an extent that would normally destroy the black box beyond recovery. It needs to be probed if the electric fire in the tail was due to a fault that originated in one of the flight components when it began rolling for take-off, or was it purely a fire following the impact The fire was contained in the tail section, which, despite being embedded in Building A (hostel mess), did not spread to the structure or its electrical framework, The Indian Express quoted the official as saying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Besides the rear black box, other components in the planes tail such as the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), transducers, and rudders are also under scrutiny. The APU was found intact and has been retrieved for further examination. According to authorities, investigating the tail wreckage has become even more significant since the crew of the previous flight AI-423 from Delhi to Ahmedabad had logged an issue with the Stabilizer Position Transducer, which is also located in the empennage. However, engineers had cleared this issue before AI-171 took off. Investigators further note that survivor Viswashkumar Rameshs account of flickering cabin lights also lends weight to the electrical fault theory. They note that the aircrafts power systems could have rapidly switched between the main supply, backup generator, and attempted re-ignition all within seconds. The back of the Air India plane after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad. The London-bound Air India flight 171 passenger plane crashed on June 12 in Indias western city of Ahmedabad. File image/AFP What does the AAIB report reveal so far? The preliminary report, which emerged on July 12, revealed that just seconds after take-off, both fuel-control switches in the Air India plane moved to the cutoff position. This starved the engines of fuel, and they began to lose power. The report says: 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. It did not identify who said what. The report also revealed that CCTV footage obtained from the airport showed a ram air turbine (RAT) being deployed during the initial climb immediately after take-off. This acts as a backup power source during emergencies, and is normally only deployed during complete power failure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A woman offers tribute to the crew members of the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad last month during a prayer meeting at a church in Mumbai. AP What next? Following the reports release, many media outlets, especially western news websites, indicated that the pilots of the ill-fated Air India flight had a role to play in the crash, prompting Indias Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu to say, Lets not jump to any conclusions at this stage. The reportage of the findings also led the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) to issue a statement, saying the crew acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions and the pilots shouldnt be vilified based on conjecture. To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession, it added. Days later, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) issued a legal notice against The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, demanding apologies and retractions for what it calls baseless and defamatory coverage surrounding the crash of Air India Flight AI 171. Additionally, chair of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, last Friday said it is too early to draw conclusions in the investigation into the deadly June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171. Homendy called the media reports on the Air India crash premature and speculative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Sunday, the AAIB also roped in veteran pilot and Air Indias former director of operations, Captain RS Sandhu into the probe. AAIB has onboarded seasoned aviator RS Sandhu in the ongoing investigation of the Air India Boeing 787-8 plane crash in Ahmedabad last month, PTI news agency quoted a source. Captain Sandhu was also a designated examiner for the Boeing 787-8 fleet at Air India. Notably, his inclusion comes when various pilot unions, including the Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA India), had called for technical expertise in the probe. In fact, ALPA India had said that the AAIB needed to involve a pilot representative in the investigation. With inputs from agencies US President Trump has endorsed calls by intel chief Tulsi Gabbard to prosecute Barack Obama and top officials over allegations they orchestrated a treasonous conspiracy during the 2016 election. With newly declassified documents and escalating rhetoric, Gabbard claims a years-long coup was orchestrated from the top Former US President Barack Obama and US President-elect Donald Trump speak ahead of the state funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral on January 9, 2025 in Washington, DC, US. File Image/Pool via Reuters Is there a possibility of legal action against former United States President Barack Obama and senior officials from his administration by President Donald Trump? At the centre of this growing controversy is Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic representative who now leads the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Gabbard has made extraordinary allegations involving the 2016 US election, characterising the actions of Obama-era intelligence officials as part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the legitimacy of Trumps first election win. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gabbards statements have gained traction within pro-Trump circles and prompted direct endorsement from the president himself. Gabbard accuses Obama of orchestrating a years-long coup Gabbard has publicly accused Barack Obama and several of his top national security advisers of participating in what she described as a deliberate and illegal effort to discredit Trump after his electoral win in November 2016. According to her, the effort relied on manufactured intelligence and misrepresented analysis, and was aimed at supporting the idea that Russian interference had handed Trump the presidency. Donald Trump, left, looks on as Tulsi Gabbard speaks at the National Guard Association of the United States 146th General Conference, August 26, 2024, in Detroit, US. File Image/AP In Gabbards words: The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government. Their goal was to subvert the will of the American people and enact what was essentially a years-long coup with the objective of trying to usurp the President from fulfilling the mandate bestowed upon him by the American people. No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. The American peoples faith and trust in our democratic republic and therefore the future of our nation depends on it. She claimed that the Obama administrations post-election assessment of Russian interference contradicted the intelligence communitys consensus in the months before the election, which had allegedly concluded that Russia was unlikely to interfere or influence the outcome. Her office has made available a cache of documents including a partially redacted Obama-era intelligence assessment on cyber threats, and internal memos from senior officials such as then-DNI James Clapper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Among those named by Gabbard were Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and Obama himself. Gabbards team also published commentary alongside these documents, alleging that leaks following a December 9, 2016, meeting of Obamas senior national security team were part of a broader disinformation campaign. The material refers to a memo titled The Russia Hoax, which claimed: Deep State officials in the IC [intelligence community] begin leaking blatantly false intelligence to the Washington Post claiming that Russia used cyber means to influence the outcome of the election. Later that evening, another leak to the Washington Post falsely alleges that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the election to help President Trump. The same document states that on January 6, 2017, the Obama administration publicly released a declassified intelligence assessment that referenced further information suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin directed efforts to aid Trumps campaign. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Gabbard, the additional information cited in the assessment turned out to include the Steele dossier, a compilation of unverified claims, some of which were later discredited. How Trump responded Trump has not only endorsed Gabbards accusations but has taken visible steps to promote the message. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised a Fox News appearance by Harrison Fields, a Special Assistant in his administration, stating: Great job by young and talented Harrison Fields on Fox News. The Panel was fantastic on prosecuting Obama and the thugs who have just been unequivocally exposed on highest level Election Fraud. Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard. Keep it coming!!! In a separate post on X, Gabbard wrote: For months preceding the 2016 election, the Intelligence Community shared a consensus view: Russia lacked the intent and capability to hack US elections. But weeks after President Trumps historic 2016 victory defeating Hillary Clinton, everything changed. Americans will finally learn the truth about how in 2016, intelligence was politicized and weaponized by the most powerful people in the Obama Administration to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President @realDonaldTrump, subverting the pic.twitter.com/UQKKZ5c4Op DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also posted a 45-second AI-generated video depicting Obama being arrested in the Oval Office. The video, which originally circulated on TikTok, was uploaded without commentary to Trumps Truth Social account. It began with real footage of Obama stating, especially the President is above the law, followed by various prominent Democrats, including Joe Biden, repeating the phrase no one is above the law. Donald J. Trump Truth Social 07.20.25 06:47 PM EST pic.twitter.com/Xf5LYzkZiI Fan Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 20, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The scene then shifts to a fabricated depiction of Trump and Obama in the White House, where FBI agents enter and arrest Obama, who later appears in a jail cell wearing an orange jumpsuit. The soundtrack: YMCA by the Village People, a staple at Trump rallies. Where the facts stand Despite the volume of material released by Gabbard and the forcefulness of her claims, multiple previous investigations both bipartisan and nonpartisan have offered a more nuanced interpretation of Russias actions in 2016 and the Obama administrations response. Democratic lawmakers have called Gabbards report inaccurate and misleading. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, labelled the allegations baseless. Several reviews, including those by the US intelligence community and the Senate Intelligence Committee, have concluded that while Russian actors attempted to access voter registration data in states like Illinois and Arizona, there was no evidence that vote tallies were altered. Intelligence reports also consistently stated that Russias primary effort was focused on influence operations shaping American public opinion through disinformation, fake social media accounts, and leaked Democratic emails, rather than changing the actual results. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Republican-led Senate report also endorsed the assessment that Moscows efforts were aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton and benefiting Donald Trump. Among the Republicans on that committee was Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who now serves as US Secretary of State in the Trump administration. A recent CIA review acknowledged concerns about how quickly the Obama-era assessment had been compiled, reported The New York Times. In its wake, the agency referred John Brennan to the FBI for investigation regarding how he managed the preparation of the intelligence conclusions. However, no charges have been brought. One email cited in Gabbards documentation indicated that Obama requested a comprehensive assessment of Russian interference methods before leaving office, fearing that an incoming Trump administration might suppress or ignore the intelligence findings. US Senator Mark Warner of Virginia responded to the Gabbard report by stating: This is one more example of the director of national intelligence trying to cook the books. Were talking about apples and oranges. The Russians were not successful at manipulating our election infrastructure, nor did we say they were. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Warner also pointed out that recent intelligence assessments under Gabbards leadership still acknowledge that Russia continues to engage in influence operations targeting the United States. A March intelligence report concluded that: Moscow probably believes information operations efforts to influence U.S. elections are advantageous, and that these activities are part of a long-term strategy to undermine confidence in American democracy. The big question: Can Trump legally prosecute Obama? The question of whether Trump can direct federal prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against Obama or his former officials rests not on legal prohibition, but on political precedent. Since US President Richard Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal in 1974, successive administrations have generally refrained from overtly influencing prosecutorial decisions at the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, these boundaries are guided more by custom than law. Within the US system, both the Attorney General and FBI Director are appointed by the President and serve within the executive branch. Trump, in his first term, dismissed FBI Director James Comey in 2017 and again replaced Christopher Wray in his second term, putting Kash Patel at the head of the FBI. Legal experts note that if Trump installs loyalists in key roles including US attorneys and assistant attorneys general he could wield substantial influence over federal investigations and prosecutions. Critics warn that this may enable Trump to direct legal action against political rivals, including by reopening unsubstantiated allegations or launching new inquiries into figures like Obama, Biden, or former officials involved in the Russia investigation. While the law does not explicitly bar a sitting president from seeking investigations into a predecessor, doing so would test long-standing institutional norms designed to keep politics separate from law enforcement. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Indias second-largest crypto exchange, CoinDCX, was targeted by hackers on July 19, resulting in $44 million (Rs 378 crore) being wiped off the platform. This attack comes a year after WazirX was hit by a hack, resulting in the theft of assets worth $235 million (Rs 2,024 crore). What does this latest breach mean for crypto customers in India? The breach at CoinDCX comes at a time when crypto security is under the spotlight in India. Representational image/Pixabay Last July, Indias then-largest crypto exchange WazirX was hacked, resulting in the theft of crypto assets worth $235 million (Rs 2,024 crore). Now, a year later, Indias second-largest crypto exchange CoinDCX reported a major security breach, which led to approximately $44 million (Rs 378 crore) being wiped off from the platform. On Saturday (July 19), co-founders of CoinDCX Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal confirmed that they had been hit by hackers, describing the hack as a sophisticated breach of its infrastructure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What exactly happened? Have customers been hit? Are there crypto assets been affected? Why are crypto platforms susceptible to breaches? We get you all the answers. What is CoinDCX? Before we deep dive into the hacking incident at CoinDCX, lets get a better understanding of what it is. Established in 2018, today CoinDCX is a cryptocurrency exchange and has been founded by IIT Bombay alumni Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal. According to the duo, the idea behind CoinDCX was to create a centralised platform where users could trade cryptocurrencies easily and securely. This vision has driven the companys growth and innovation since its inception. Today, as per their website, CoinDCX has over 1.6 crore users and a daily trading volume of over $10 million. CoinDCX was formed in 2018 by IIT Bombay alumni Neeraj Khandelwal and Sumit Gupta. Image Courtesy: CoinDCX So, what happened at CoinDCX? On July 19, popular ethical hacker ZachXBT revealed a breach at CoinDCX on his Telegram channel. Soon after, the platforms co-founder and CEO Sumit Gupta confirmed the news saying hackers had wiped out approximately $44 million from the platform. Today, one of our internal operational accounts used only for liquidity provisioning on a partner exchange was compromised due to a sophisticated server breach. I confirm that the CoinDCX wallets used to store customer assets are not impacted and are completely safe. This wont cause any loss to our customers. CoinDCX will be bearing the full amount, Gupta posted on X. Hi everyone, At @CoinDCX, we have always believed in being transparent with our community, hence I am sharing this with you directly. Today, one of our internal operational accounts - used only for liquidity provisioning on a partner exchange - was compromised due to a pic.twitter.com/L1kZhjKAxQ Sumit Gupta (CoinDCX) (@smtgpt) July 19, 2025 However, many pointed out that the confirmation from CoinDCX came 17 hours after ZachXBT had flagged the issue. To that, CoinDCXs other co-founder Neeraj Khandelwal said the company wanted to first secure the assets before making any public announcement. Thats the most important thing and inform when we are confident of safety. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did the breach occur at CoinDCX? Explaining that it was a sophisticated server breach, the platform explained that the hackers hit one of the companys internal operational accounts, which was typically used for providing liquidity. They stated that the hackers had exploited a server-side vulnerability in an internal liquidity provisioning account. As a report in the Mint states, even short windows of access to a hot wallet can result in massive losses. The anonymous and irreversible nature of blockchain transactions means funds can be moved and laundered quickly, often before teams can respond. However, the damage was contained, according to CoinDCXs Gupta, who stated that the affected account was isolated. Since our operational accounts are segregated from customer wallets, the exposure is only limited to this specific account and is being fully absorbed by us from our own treasury reserves, he added. ZachXBT, the ethical hacker, outlined how the hack took place. He said that the stolen stablecoins were moved from Solana to Ethereum. They were routed through Tornado Cash, a service often used to obfuscate blockchain transactions. Moreover, the hacker reportedly funded their wallet with 1 ETH via Tornado Cash before initiating the theft, which complicates efforts to trace the full path of the stolen funds. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD No customer funds were affected by the hack, CoinDCX said. Representational image/Reuters Are customers assets safe? CoinDCX categorically stated that no customer funds were affected as user assets were stored separately in secure cold wallets. It stated that it had temporarily suspended its Web3 services to contain the breach. A few hours later, it restored the in-app feature. CoincDCXs Gupta further added on X that an FIR had been filed and that CoinDCX reserves would be absorbing all losses. He further added that all trading and withdrawals were running normally and there is no impact on users. Our internal security and operations teams have been working through the day along with leading cybersecurity partners to investigate the matter, patch any vulnerabilities and trace the movement of funds, he added. Gupta said that every security incident is a learning and assured further strengthening of the platform. More importantly, this is our time to win this war against cyberthreats in the industry, and we commit to work together with experts to secure our industry. I understand incidents like this can be unsettling, even when customer assets are unaffected. Thats why I am sharing this incident with you with full transparency. Is this the first such incident in India? Unfortunately, no. A year back, in the same month, WazirX was hacked, which has gone down as the countrys biggest cyberattack on an Indian crypto exchange. Hackers caused a loss of over $230 million, or nearly 45 per cent of investor funds on the platform. Investigations later revealed that it was linked to North Koreaaffiliated groups, including the Lazarus Group. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, this hack on CoinDCX comes on the heels of similar such attacks on crypto firm in recent times. For instance, Irans largest cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, lost over $90 million in a cyberattack at a time amid the recent flare-up between Israel and Iran. In June, US-based crypto exchange Coinbase suffered a data breach that exposed customer information. Hackers used the stolen data to carry out social engineering attacks aimed at stealing user funds. They also demanded a $20 million ransom in exchange for not leaking the data and halting further attacks. The estimated financial impact ranged between $180 million and $400 million. Why do hackers often target crypto assets? Hackers often attack crypto platforms owing to a number of reasons, including regulatory gaps, and limited legal recourse. Experts explain that each new layer in blockchain transactions add potential vulnerabilities, making them more prone to attacks. Moreover, once funds are moved, theres no central authority to freeze or recover the stolen assets. Crypto exchanges lack oversight or regulation in India. With inputs from agencies A Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest was forced to make a sharp evasive turn during its approach to Minot, North Dakota, to avoid a US Air Force B-52 bomber. Passengers were startled as the pilot apologised, calling it an aggressive manoeuvre. The near-miss has triggered investigations by the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration A staff uploads packages on Delta Air Lines plane at John F Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City, US, April 23, 2025. File Image/Reuters A Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest Airlines was involved in a tense midair encounter near Minot, North Dakota, on July 18, when its pilot abruptly changed course to avoid a potential collision with a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress. The regional jet, carrying commercial passengers, had been preparing to land at Minot International Airport when the incident occurred during its final approach phase. The unexpected presence of the military aircraft and the ensuing avoidance manoeuvre have prompted separate investigations by the airline and federal aviation officials. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The incident has also raised questions about military and civilian coordination in shared airspace. How it happened SkyWest Flight 3788, operating as a Delta Connection service, departed Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on a scheduled route to Minot, North Dakota. The aircraft, an Embraer E175, was nearing its destination and had received clearance for approach from the airports control tower. However, shortly before landing, the crew was forced to perform what the pilot later described to passengers as an aggressive manoeuvre to avoid another aircraft that suddenly appeared in their flight path. SkyWest confirmed that the aircraft was cleared for final approach but initiated a go-around when the crew visually identified an unexpected aircraft ahead. SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident, the airline stated. Passengers reported that the jet made a sharp turn, prompting immediate concern on board. Monica Green, a passenger seated on the flight, said she felt the aircraft veer suddenly and sharply. We took a really hard turn, and thats when the pilot got on the intercom and said, sorry everybody, Ill explain everything when we land safely, she told CNN. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It caught me by surprise Once the aircraft safely landed in Minot, the pilot addressed the passengers, detailing what had happened in the moments leading up to the go-around. His remarks, recorded and shared in a now-viral TikTok video, indicated that the encounter was both unexpected and serious. NEW: Delta pilot makes an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber above Minot, North Dakota. New audio footage captured by a passenger onboard the plane reveals what exactly happened, according to the pilot. "Given his speed ... I don't know how fast they pic.twitter.com/Hos687fZRm Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 20, 2025 The pilot told passengers that while communicating with the tower, he was instructed to report six miles out from the airport. Upon executing a right turn, he suddenly observed another aircraft on the same side and was advised by air traffic control to instead turn left. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Describing the other aircrafts velocity and behaviour, he remarked: I dont know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us. I thought that was the safest thing to do was turn behind it. The pilot added that the aircraft was kind of, sort of coming at us and expressed frustration that no advance warning had been provided. Nobody told us about it, he said. Sorry about the aggressive manoeuvre, it caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up, because the Air Force base does have radar long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologise for it and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work. The passengers responded with applause, showing appreciation for the pilots honesty and handling of the situation. How passengers reacted Despite the abrupt turn, passengers on board reportedly remained calm, reported New York Post. Green also told KFYR-TV that at first, she questioned whether the severity of the turn was real. I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting, she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Green explained that the tone in the pilots voice after the manoeuvre made it clear that the situation had been tense. The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment. We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet. She appreciated the pilots transparency after the fact, saying that he offered a thorough account of what had happened and did not attempt to downplay the seriousness. He was very casual, if you can be casual about something like that, but you could tell he was stressed. He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed. It felt good that they werent just going to brush it off. What we know about the B-52 Stratofortress The aircraft involved in the near-miss was identified as a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range heavy bomber designed for high-altitude strategic missions. According to the US Air Force, the B-52 is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and can carry both nuclear weapons and conventional precision-guided munitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, January 16, 2018. Image/US Air Force The bomber was part of a flyover event for the North Dakota State Fair and had departed from Minot Air Force Base, which is located near the citys commercial airport. In a statement provided to ABC News, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed the aircrafts presence in the area. We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter. We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening, the spokesperson said. Minot AFB is home to two major operational units: the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing. Together, they manage a significant portion of the US Air Forces strategic arsenal, including 26 B-52 bombers stationed at the facility. Unanswered questions arise One of the unresolved questions is how the encounter occurred despite the presence of radar infrastructure at the military base. The pilot, in his remarks to passengers, expressed surprise that the proximity of the B-52 had not been communicated earlier, particularly given that the Air Force base has radar capability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Additionally, oversight complications arise from the fact that the Minot airport control tower involved in the incident is not operated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Because of this, the FAA has not yet issued a formal report on the event but confirmed it is in the process of collecting relevant data. The agency has not disclosed whether any automated alert systems in the cockpit were triggered during the encounter, nor has it released details about the exact distance between the two aircraft at the moment the evasive manoeuvre was performed. What we know about ongoing investigations SkyWest Airlines has launched an internal review to determine how the event unfolded and whether any procedural or communication lapses occurred. The airline has reiterated that passenger safety is its top priority and noted that the crew acted in accordance with standard procedures once the unidentified aircraft appeared. The FAA, while not directly responsible for the tower in question, is also investigating. The agencys current focus is on understanding the coordination if any between military and civilian aviation authorities in that specific airspace during the time of the incident. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although no injuries were reported and the flight completed its journey without mechanical issues, the sudden manoeuvre and close proximity of a military bomber have added urgency to calls for clearer communication protocols when civilian and military aircraft operate in overlapping zones, particularly near dual-use airports such as Minot. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies The Monsoon session of the Parliament is set to begin today with nearly eight new bills on the agenda. India will receive its first consignment of Apache attack helicopters. In the US, a court hearing in the dispute between Harvard University and the administration of President Donald Trump will take place in the Massachusetts district court. The Monsoon Session of the parliament is set to begin. File image/PTI It is set to be a busy Monday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, the monsoon session of the Parliament is set to begin from today. Meanwhile, a hearing in the ongoing legal dispute between Harvard University and the administration of President Donald Trump will take place today. The Canadian government is likely to adjust counter tariffs on US steel and aluminium. India will receive its first consignment of Apache attack helicopters. TMC will hold its annual Martyrs Day rally today in Kolkata. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day. Monsoon session of Parliament to commence The monsoon session of the Parliament is set to commence today and run until August 12. This will be the first full session after recent significant events, including a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military operation. According to NDTV, eight new bills are on the agenda, some of which include amendments to Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws, new taxation laws, and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business. There will be a total of 21 sittings. Ahead of the session, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will hold an all-party meeting on July 20 to discuss the upcoming legislative agenda and foster constructive discussions. Trump and Harvard University dispute hearing A hearing is scheduled to take place between Harvard University and the administration of President Donald Trump in a federal court. The dispute is concerning the freeze of federal grants to the prestigious institution. Harvard reportedly refused to comply with the White Houses demands for sweeping changes to its governance and admissions policies among other things. Representational image/AP The dispute stems from the administrations decision in April this year to freeze over $2.2 billion (Rs 18,370 crore) in federal grants and $60 million (Rs 499 crore) in contracts to Harvard. This move came after Harvard reportedly refused to comply with the White Houses demands for sweeping changes to its governance, admissions policies, and its approach to issues such as antisemitism on campus and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The administration has also linked its actions to concerns about Harvards handling of student protests. Harvard University swiftly responded by filing a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the funding freeze is unlawful, unconstitutional, and constitutes government overreach into academic independence. Canadian govt to adjust counter tariffs on US steel and aluminium Today marks the last day of the Canadian governments 30 days to reach a deal on US tariff levies. It will likely adjust its 25 per cent counter tariffs on US steel and aluminium in response to a doubling of US levies. This move is part of an ongoing strategy to protect Canadas domestic industry while navigating a complex trade dispute with the United States. The Canadian Ministry of Finance stated that the adjustments are designed to align with progress made in these broader trade discussions. This approach allows Canada to maintain pressure on the US while also signalling a willingness to find a negotiated solution. The trade conflict began earlier this year when US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on a wide range of goods, including a 50 per cent duty on steel and aluminium from Canada. In response, Canada implemented its own retaliatory tariffs on roughly $30 billion worth of American goods. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India to receive Apache helicopters India is set to receive the first consignment of three Apache attack helicopters from the United States today. These highly anticipated tanks in the air, will significantly enhance the combat strength of the Indian land forces. The first batch of the much awaited Apache helicopters will take arrive on July 21. File image/AP The helicopters are scheduled to arrive at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad. Their deployment is specifically planned for areas near the Pakistan border, particularly in the desert sector near Jodhpur, where the Army had established its first Apache squadron in March 2024. TMC to hold its annual Martyrs Day rally Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to hold its annual Martyrs Day rally in Kolkata today. The Martyrs Day commemorates the killing of 13 Youth Congress workers in police firing during a protest on July 21, 1993. The incident is considered a pivotal moment in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees political career and the formation of the TMC itself. The rally is traditionally held in front of Victoria House in Esplanade, central Kolkata, and draws hundreds of thousands of party workers and supporters from across West Bengal. This year, the event holds particular significance as it will be the last Martyrs Day rally before the 2026 state Assembly elections. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court imposed restrictions on the timings of processions to minimise traffic congestion for office-goers. The court also suggested that the TMC consider shifting the venue to a larger ground like Brigade Parade Ground or Salt Lake Stadium from next year, citing public inconvenience. With inputs from agencies Two brothers in Himachal Pradesh, Pradeep and Kapil Negi, have tied the knot with Sunita Chauhan in a ceremony attended by hundreds of relatives and villagers. The men, belonging to the Hatti tribe, carried the centuries-old tradition of polyandry in the Shillai village of the Sirmaur district. The trio say the union is consensual. But is the practice legal in India? A woman in Himachal Pradesh has married two brothers of the Hatti tribe. Sunita Chauhan has tied the knot with Pradeep and Kapil Negi of the Shillai village in the Sirmaur district. Celebrating the centuries-old tradition of polyandry, the two brothers and the woman publicly held the nuptials. The trio say they have willingly entered the alliance. Lets take a closer look. What is polyandry? Polyandry refers to the practice of having more than one husband at a time. The custom, known as Jodidara in Himachal Pradesh, is followed by the Hattis and some other communities in the lower Himalayas. The practice is also called Draupadi Pratha after the Mahabharats Draupadi, who married five brothers the Pandavas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Besides villages in the Trans Giri area, the tradition is prevalent in Jaunsar Babar, a tribal area of Uttarakhand and Kinnaur, a tribal district in HP. Two brothers marry same woman in Himachal The wedding of two brothers with the same woman in Himachal Pradeshs Trans-Giri area of Sirmaur district has caught national attention. While it is not an unusual affair for the locals, the custom of polyandry among the Hatti tribe has surprised many across the country. Grooms Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi of Shillai village married their bride, Sunita Chauhan, a woman from the nearby Kunhat village, in a ceremony that kicked off on July 12 and lasted for three days in the Trans-Giri area, as per a PTI report. Videos from the ceremony, being celebrated with local folk songs and dances, have gone viral on social media. Hundreds of villagers and relatives from nearby regions were part of the celebrations. Pradeep works for the Jal Shakti Department, while his younger brother, Kapil, is employed abroad in the hospitality sector. This was our joint decision, its a matter of trust, care and shared responsibility. We followed our tradition openly because were proud of our roots, Pradeep told The Tribune. VIDEO | Himachal Pradesh: Two brothers of the Hatti tribe tied the knot to a woman in Shillai village, with hundreds of people witnessing the marriage solemnised under the anachronistic tradition of polyandry. The ceremony began on July 12 and lasted for three days in the pic.twitter.com/h8DTUXsCmH Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 21, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Weve always believed in transparency. I may live abroad, but through this marriage, were ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family, Kapil said. Sunita said she was aware of the tradition and decided to marry the brothers without any pressure. This was my choice. I was never pressured. I know this tradition, and I chose it willingly. We have made this commitment together, and I believe in the bond we have formed, she was quoted as saying by the newspaper. How common is polyandry in Himachal? The Hatti community, present in the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border, has been practising polyandry for centuries. It was declared a Scheduled Tribe three years ago. Almost three lakh people belonging to the Hatti community live in about 450 villages in the Trans-Giri area of Sirmaur district. Five cases of polyandry have been reported in Badhana village in Trans-Giri over the past six years, reported PTI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Experts say the tradition of polyandry started as a bid to avoid the division of ancestral land, to ensure no woman remained widowed and to maintain unity in families. Sometimes, women are expected to take the brother of the man they married as their husband due to a lack of resources. A woman in Jamna village of Sirmaur was told by her husband to tie the knot with his brother when he grew of age. The woman told India Today she used to pack her brother-in-laws lunch when he was in school. She said there was abject poverty when she first came to her marital home 25 years ago. There was just one woollen sweater and one pair of slippers. So, my mother-in-law and I shared them. When a sweater and a pair of slippers were being shared, I obviously had to be shared, the woman, now in her 40s, said. ALSO READ: What is solo polyamory? How is it different from traditional polyamory? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Are such marriages legal? Indian law does not permit polyandry. However, it allows for the protection of the customs and traditions of its many tribes. The Hatti community is governed by the Hindu Marriage Act. As per NDTV, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has protected the custom of polyandry among the tribe under Jodidar Law. Children born out of these joint-marriages are adopted under Wajib-ul-Arz, a record of customs and traditions within a village, which gives sanctity to"Jodidaran Prata". The name of the father gets into panchayat records through Wajib-ul-Arz, and that works for all official purposes, Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the Central Hatti Committee, told India Today last year. With inputs from agencies After a disastrous debate and questions being raised about his age, Joe Biden announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the 2024 presidential election on July 21 last year. He later announced that then-Vice President Kamala Harris would be the Democratic candidate replacing him Former President Joe Biden announced that he would not be running for a second term. File image/AP Former US President Joe Biden made history when he announced that he would not be running for a second term on July 21, 2024. The announcement was a result of his disastrous performance at the presidential debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump. 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 1861, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought. This was the first major land battle of the American Civil War. Here are some of the events that took place on this day across the world. Biden ended his reelection bid On July 21, 2024, then- President Joe Biden officially announced the end of his bid for re-election in the 2024 United States presidential election. This pivotal decision came after growing concerns within his own Democratic Party regarding his age and a widely criticised performance in a presidential debate against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in June 2024. At 81 years old, Biden faced mounting pressure from fellow Democrats, many of whom publicly urged him to step aside to ensure the party had the strongest possible candidate for the November election. His withdrawal, coming less than four months before Election Day, marked a historic moment in modern US political history. This was the first time an incumbent president had ended a re-election campaign before Election Day since Lyndon B Johnson in 1968. US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump speaking during the presidential debate in 2024 along with former President and Democrat candidate Joe Biden. File image/Reuters Immediately following his announcement, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor for the Democratic nomination. Harris quickly launched her own presidential campaign that same day and rapidly garnered enough delegate support to replace Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Bidens decision, while jarring to some, was framed as being in the best interest of my party and the country to allow him to focus solely on his duties as president for the remainder of his term. This event fundamentally reshaped the 2024 presidential race, setting the stage for a new dynamic in the general election. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The First Battle of Bull Run was fought The first major land battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run, was fought near Manassas, Virginia, on this day in 1861. It holds significant historical importance as the first major land battle of the American Civil War. Nearly 18,000 Union and 18,000 Confederate troops, largely unseasoned volunteers, clashed near Bull Run Creek in Virginia. Both Union and Confederate forces were largely composed of inexperienced volunteers, many of whom had signed up for only 90 days of service. This reflected the widespread belief that the war would be short. The Union forces, commanded by Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, marched from Washington DC. His aim - striking a decisive blow against the Confederate army led by Brigadier General PGT Beauregard, hoping to open the way to the Confederate capital in Richmond and quickly end the conflict. A painting of the first Battle of Bull Run, fought during the American Civil War. Wikimedia Commons The morning of July 21 began with Union crossings of Bull Run and assaults on Matthews Hill. Though Union forces initially pushed back Confederates, they encountered stiff resistance atop nearby Henry House Hill. There, Confederate Brigadier General Thomas Stonewall Jackson made his legendary stand, inspiring his troops and earning his enduring nickname. By late afternoon, a coordinated Confederate counterattack led by Beauregard, Jackson, Early and cavalry under JEB Stuart overwhelmed the fatigued Union troops. Panic ensued, turning a retreat into a chaotic rout. Muddy roads and fleeing spectators hindered orderly withdrawal toward Washington. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The result was a Confederate victory that shattered illusions of a short war. It exposed weaknesses in training, leadership and coordination on both sides. In its aftermath, McDowell was replaced by General George B McClellan and northern resolve hardened for a protracted conflict. The battlefield near Manassas would witness further carnage in the Second Battle of Bull Run two years later. This Day, This Year On this day in 2011, the US space shuttle program came to an end after 135 missions. The final book in the Harry Potter series was released. The worlds lowest recorded temperature, i.e. 128.6 degrees F (-89.2 degrees C), was measured at Vostok Station, Antarctica. A British fighter jet stuck in Kerala for over five weeks is ready to leave India after repairs on Tuesday (July 22). The F-35B Lightning II stealth aircraft has been grounded in the southern state since it landed at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in mid-June. Now, the plane has incurred a hefty parking fee of Rs 26,261 per day A British Royal Navy fighter jet being moved to a designated facility for British engineers to assess it after remaining stranded for about a month following a technical issue, at Kerala airport in Thiruvananthapuram, July 6, 2025. File Photo/PTI A stranded British fighter jet is set to leave Kerala after more than five weeks. The state-of-the-art F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet is expected to fly out of the southern Indian state on Tuesday (July 22). The British Royal Navys plane had landed in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in mid-June and remained grounded since then. The jet inadvertently became a unique ambassador to promote the states tourism, with the prolonged grounding making it a subject of jokes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But how much did it cost to park the British plane in a foreign airport? Lets take a closer look. Why British jet remained grounded in Kerala for weeks The UK Royal Navys F-35 Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of June 14. The highly advanced stealth jet, built by Lockheed Martin, is worth more than $110 million. According to defence officials, the British aircraft was running low on fuel. It also faced bad weather as the jet was flying about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala, leading to the pilot onboard the plane seeking permission to land at the civilian airport in Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian Air Force (IAF) helped with refuelling the UK's advanced stealth aircraft, which was part of the fleet of the HMS Prince of Wales. However, the jet encountered hydraulic failure during its attempted return. Despite efforts to repair it, the plane continued to be grounded. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guarded the British aircraft, which was parked at bay number 4 of the domestic terminal. While India offered to move the jet to a hangar or temporary shed amid concerns about monsoon rains, the UK initially resisted the calls. How the British fighter jet was finally repaired A 24-member British Royal Air Force technical team landed in Kerala on July 6 on board a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft to inspect the grounded jet. It comprised 14 technical experts from the British Royal Air Force and 10 crew members. The team came with specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process. A British Royal Air Force transport aircraft Atlas ZM417 lands at the Trivandrum International Airport, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Sunday, July 6, 2025. File Photo/PTI The UK Ministry of Defence said they had deployed a team of 14 engineers to Thiruvananthapuram airport to assess and repair the F-35B aircraft. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The British Royal Navys F-35B was later towed to Air Indias maintenance hangar at the airport following the arrival of the team of experts from the UK. The team worked under intense security and secrecy, operating in a restricted zone of the hangar, Mathrubhumi reported. The repair operations have been kept under wraps, with British military officials providing protection to the jet. As per The Hindu report, the auxiliary power unit of the combat aircraft developed some major snags, which needed services of an expert team. The maintenance work on the grounded British fighter jet was finished last week. There were speculations that if the expert team from the UK failed to repair the aircraft, it would be dismantled and flown out in a bigger cargo plane such as a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. The F-35B will now depart Kerala on July 22. However, the exact time of its departure is yet to be communicated, which airport will be used for refuelling on the way to London or when the backup aircraft will arrive to transport the technicians and equipment back, an airport official told the BBC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Latest visuals of the British Navy's F-35 fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14. It is likely to fly back soon. Official confirmation is awaited. A technical team of the UK pic.twitter.com/XB22TcO4PT ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025 Parking the British jet in India for over a month cost The UK authorities will have to pay a hefty sum in parking fees for the aircraft for each day it was stationed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport since June 14. The fee for using the hangar facility since July 6 will be charged by AI Engineering Services Ltd, which owns the hangar and provides the maintenance, repairs, and overhaul facility, reported The Hindu. According to the Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW), the British fighter jet F-35B has reportedly incurred daily parking charges of Rs 26,261. This amounts to about Rs 9.19 lakh for over 35 days. With inputs from agencies The Chinese-made F-7 BGI had taken off around 1 pm on a routine training mission when it went down and hit Milestone School and College in Dhakas Uttara area. At least 19 have been left dead and over 100 injured. The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, has been killed. But what do we know about the F-7 BGI? Tragedy stuck Bangladesh on Monday after an aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force went down in Dhaka. The plane, which hit a school campus in Dhakas Uttara area, left 19 dead and over 100 injured. The jet, an F-7 BGI, was on a routine training mission when it went down. It hit Milestone School and College around 1 pm. Several students were on campus at the time. Rescue operations are ongoing. The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, has been killed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what do we know about the Chinese-made F-7 plane? Lets take a closer look: What we know It is made by C hinas Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. It is said to be the most advanced version of the J-7G. It is often referred to as the Grandpa fighter jet. There seems to be some debate over whether the craft was produced with Russian help or reverse-engineered by the Chinese. However, it continued to export its advanced versions abroad. It was specifically designed keeping in mind the requirements of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). It is said to be a cost-effective, multi-purpose fighter aircraft. Bangladesh signed a deal with China to deliver 16 such aircraft in 2011 in order to modernise its fleet. The aircraft were delivered in 2013. The F-7 BGI is a newer version of the F-7BG fighter jet. It comes with KLJ-6F fire-control radar. This allows it to find foes at a distance of over 86 kilometres. It can track six targets, and engage two simultaneously. The F-7 BGI has a full glass cockpit with three multi-function displays and three multifunctional heads-up displays and hands on throttle-and-stick controls. These features allow the pilot to improve his situational awareness. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It can hit a speed of Mach 2.2 and is said to have a service ceiling of 57,420 feet. Its afterburning engine generating 82 kN of power. It has five hard-points to carry air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, GPS-guided bombs, and drop tanks. It can carry the PL-5, PL-7 and probably the PL-9 short range air-to-air missiles. It can carry bombs and unguided rocket pods of around 1,360 kilos. However, the F-7 BGI does not have the capacity to carry Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles. It is said to be far more manoeuvrable than most MiGs and other similar fighters. This is due to its J-7G2 airframe with a double-delta wing design which allows excellent lift at high angles of attack, minimises risk of stalling and improves agility. The F-7 BGI can also carry C-704 anti-ship missiles for maritime strike missions. It can also use Chinese helmet-mounted sights for better target acquisition. Experts say the F-7 BGI is primarily suited for short-range aerial combat and training which is its main use in the Bangladesh Air Force. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A J-7 last month went down in Myanmar, leaving four people dead in a village. The Myanmar Air Force attributed the crash to technical failure. However, the Myanmars Peoples Liberation Army claimed that it had downed the craft. In 2022, a J-7 crashed into a residential building in Chinas Xiangyang. Thankfully, the pilot ejected before the crash and survived. These developments, along with the performance of Chinese-made aircraft used by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, have raised serious questions about the quality of defence equipment produced by Beijing. It is mainly used as an interceptor aircraft in various air forces around the world including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Bangladesh has 37 such aircraft, while Pakistan has 120 of these aircraft. What happened? The F-7 BGI took off for a training mission around 1 pm. The crash and the subsequent fire killed 19 people. At least 50 others were critically injured, Brigadier General Zahed Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told reporters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said that rescuers have recovered 19 bodies from the school compound alone while the rescue operation was underway. Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for the Health Ministry, said that 72 people were hospitalised with burns and other types of injuries. He said that wounded people, mostly students, were being treated at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS). Firefighters and army members work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft after it crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 21, 2025. (Reuters/Stringer) According to doctors, eight of the injured were in critical condition. The number of injured people being brought to our facility is rising, a doctor at NIBPS told reporters. In a statement, the defence ministry said that the F-7 BGI training aircraft took off at 1:06 pm and crashed into the college campus soon after. The plane crashed with a big bang into a four-storey building of the Milestone School with a big bang and immediately caught fire, a fire service official said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to police, firefighting units, ambulances, and air force helicopters rushed to the scene soon after the crash. A teacher of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that security personnel were putting bodies in body bags to be taken to Dhakas combined military hospital from the damaged building, which housed classes from one to seven. Dozens of ambulances were carrying the wounded to nearby hospitals,, she said. The National Burn Institute in the capital said they were treating 18 people, mostly students, some with critical conditions. The interim government has declared a one-day state mourning on July 22 when the national flag will be flown at half-mast across Bangladesh and its missions abroad. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed shock and sorrow over the casualties caused by the crash. I am deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the heartbreaking accident involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet at the Milestone School and College campus, he said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fahim Hossain, an eleventh-grade student, said that the jet crashed right in front of his eyes just 10 feet ahead of him. It hit the ground floor of a two-storey building around 1:15pm, where classes for the primary section were taking place, Fahim told The Daily Star. With inputs from agencies Maria Farmer, who is in her 50s, is believed to be the first Jeffrey Epstein victim who went to the authorities. She has claimed she had a troubling encounter with Donald Trump in the 1990s at Epsteins Manhattan offices. But who is Farmer? What did she tell authorities about Trump? Maria Farmer is believed to be the first Jeffrey Epstein victim who went to the authorities. Image courtesy: mariafarmerart.com One of Jeffrey Epsteins first accusers is now linking US President Donald Trump to the late, disgraced financier. Maria Farmer, an artist in her 50s, has claimed she had a troubling encounter with Trump back in the 1990s. Farmer and her younger sister Annie both testified at Ghislaine Maxwells sex trafficking trial. She claimed she urged the police in 1996 and later the Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into Epsteins social circle. The development comes amid Trump suing the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over a bombshell story over his ties to Epstein. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But who is Farmer? What do we know about her? And what has she said? Lets take a closer look Who is Farmer? Farmer is an American visual artist. She has said that she met Epstein when she was a student at the New York Academy of Art. Farmer has claimed she was introduced to Epstein by Elaine Guggenheim, who was the dean of the academy at that time a claim the New York Academy of Art has denied. Guggenheim has said she is distantly related to the family behind the Guggenheim Museum. Farmer worked for Epstein in 1995 and 1996. She said he initially wanted her to buy art on his behalf. Farmer accused Epstein and Maxwell of assaulting her at the Ohio estate of Les Wexner. Wexner, an associate of Epstein, is the ex-chairman of Limited Brands. Farmer said she later found out that Maxwell assaulted her sister Annie at Epsteins New Mexico ranch. Farmer, who fled New York in the aftermath of the allegations, accused Maxwell of intimidating her and trying to destroy her reputation. Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 in a US prison. Many in the Maga movement have for years alleged that he was murdered by the deep state. Reuters/File Photo I was terrified of Maxwell and Epstein and I moved a number of times to try to hide from them, Farmer stated in an affidavit filed last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Farmer has said she kept a low-profile over the past two decades. She has been earning money selling antiques and restoring old houses. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2019. In 2020, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. What has she said? Farmer said she took her concern about Epstein and his associates to the authorities. She said she first approached the New York Police Departments Sixth District in 1996. Nearly a decade later, in 2006, she was interviewed by the FBI. Farmer claimed she told the authorities to look at the relationship between Epstein and high-profile celebrities like Trump and politicians like Bill Clinton. She said she mentioned Trump specifically because the two men seemed so close. Farmer has claimed she has a troubling encounter with Trump in the 1990s. At the time, she was a teenager and Trump was a real-estate developer. Farmer, who was working for Epstein in 1995, arrived at his offices in Manhattan after getting an unexpected call from him. Farmer, who was wearing running shorts, claimed Trump, who was in a business suit, stared at her bare legs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She said she remembered feeling scared. Then, Epstein came into the room. He told Trump no, no. Shes not here for you. The men then left the room, she said. Donald Trump had once called Jeffrey Epstein a friend. File Photo/Reuters Farmer claimed she heard Trump say that she looked 16-years-old. The White House has denied the incident ever occurred. The president was never in [Epsteins] office. The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep," White House communications director Steven Cheung said. The Epstein controversy has created a major fissure between Trump and his loyal base, with some of his most vocal supporters slamming the White House for the way it has handled the case, and questioning why Trump would not want the documents made public. Trump had promised to sue the Wall Street Journal almost immediately after the paper put a new spotlight on his well-documented relationship with Epstein by publishing an article that described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trumps name and was included in a 2003 album compiled for Epsteins 50th birthday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump denied writing the letter, calling the story false, malicious, and defamatory. The suit, filed in filed in federal court in Miami, accuses the paper and its reporters of having knowingly and recklessly published numerous false, defamatory, and disparaging statements, which, it alleges, caused overwhelming financial and reputational harm to the president. With inputs from agencies Jake Papa Jake Larson, a decorated World War II veteran and D-Day survivor who became a TikTok sensation in his 90s, has died at 102. From storming Omaha Beach in 1944 to sharing wartime stories with 1.2 million followers online, Larsons extraordinary life bridged generations and preserved the memory of one of historys most pivotal eras World War II veteran Jake Larson meets youths during ceremonies at the US cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, on June 6, 2025 in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. File Image/AP Jake Melvin Larson, widely known as Papa Jake on TikTok and revered globally as a decorated World War II veteran and D-Day survivor, passed away last week (July 17, 2025), at the age of 102. From a Minnesota farm boy who enlisted underage to a Bronze Star recipient and later an internet sensation in his late 90s, Papa Jakes life spanned not only decades of personal courage and national history but also a digital bridge to younger generations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Announced by his granddaughter McKaela Larson through a social media post, his passing sparked tributes from across the United States and towns in France, especially in Normandy, where Larson had long been welcomed as a cherished guest and war hero. He had spent the last years of his life living in Lafayette, California. Jake Larson, known as Papa Jake had gained 1.2 million followers on TikTok by sharing war stories. File Image/AFP Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young, McKaela wrote. He went peacefully. I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all. You meant the world to him, she added. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest. From a farm boy to a war hero Jake Larson was born on December 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, and raised in the nearby community of Hope. In 1938, at just 15 years old, he enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard by falsely claiming he was of legal age. Assigned to the US Armys 135th Infantry Regiment in the 34th Infantry Division known as the Red Bull Larson embarked on a military career that would define much of the 20th centurys pivotal moments. By 1942, he was deployed overseas to Northern Ireland, where he rose to the role of operations sergeant. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In this capacity, he played a behind-the-scenes yet critical role in planning the Allied invasion of Normandy, compiling operational materials for what would become the largest amphibious military assault in history: Operation Overlord. Papa Jake during D-Day & WWII On June 6, 1944, Larson was among approximately 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day landings. Assigned to Omaha Beach, he was one of 34,000 US soldiers to engage in the bloody assault that day. Machine gun fire from fortified German positions made the beach one of the most perilous fronts, claiming over 2,400 American lives. Larson was one of the few to reach the bluffs overlooking the beach unharmed. In this photo taken April 29, 2019, D-Day veteran Jake Larson poses before going for a ride in the The Spirit of Benovia World War II-era aircraft in Oakland, California, US. File Image/AP In a recollection shared through a US Army video posted in June, he described the chaos and fear that defined those hours: It seemed like that the landing was an eternity, with all the firing going on. I cant describe it. And people say, Were you scared? I was scared of stepping on a landmine, and thats what I was trying to prevent. I was 5 foot 7 at that time. I weighed 120 pounds and I said, Thank God the Germans arent good at shooting at toothpicks, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Larson went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge the last major German offensive on the Western Front enduring a month of intense winter warfare across Belgium and Luxembourg. His actions during the war earned him numerous honours, including the Bronze Star Medal from the US Army and the French Legion of Honour, Frances highest civilian and military award. Despite his accolades, Larson never saw himself as a hero. We are the lucky ones, he told AP at the 81st D-Day commemoration in June, while standing among the headstones at the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach. They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive. Post-war life for Papa Jake Following his discharge from military service in 1945, Larson returned home and later married Lola Cassem. Their marriage lasted until her death in 1991. In the decades that followed, he built a quiet life for himself, largely out of the spotlight, until his unexpected rise to social media fame in the twilight of his life. In 2020, with assistance from his granddaughter, Larson launched a TikTok account @storytimewithpapajake where he began sharing stories of his war experiences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The platform, initially foreign to many of his generation, soon turned him into a viral figure. In this photo taken April 29, 2019, D-Day veteran Jake Larson walks to a seat before going for a ride in the The Spirit of Benovia WWII-era aircraft in Oakland, California, US. File Image/AP By 2025, he had amassed over 1.2 million followers and more than 11 million likes. His popularity extended to YouTube as well, where he gained more than 16,000 subscribers. His videos a mix of candid reflections, historical commentary, and humour became a medium through which millions learned about the human costs and moral weight of the Second World War. Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told AP in 2023. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about. In 2021, he published a memoir titled The Luckiest Man in the World: Stories from the Life of Papa Jake, a nod to how he often described himself not for having survived the war, but for having the opportunity to share his life and honour his fallen comrades. Papa Jakes legacy Larsons presence was a mainstay at international memorial events, particularly in Normandy, where he was deeply respected. From schoolchildren to museum curators, he was warmly welcomed during his visits. The Overlord Museum in France dedicated to preserving the memory of D-Day posted a tribute that described him as an exceptional witness and bearer of memory, recalling his humility, storytelling, and warm smile that touched visitors of all ages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even in his final years, he remained active and engaged with his audience. In 2023, during a commemorative visit to France, he met with 99-year-old British veteran Bill Gladden, who had landed in a glider on D-Day and been wounded by gunfire. Their emotional exchange hands clasped, tears in their eyes became a moment widely shared online. I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Larson told Gladden. Gladden passed away the following year. Papa Jakes contributions to preserving World War II history were recognised by international media as well. In June, he and CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour were jointly awarded a News and Documentary Emmy for their live interview during the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Though his fame came unexpectedly and late in life, Larson used it to promote remembrance, compassion, and peace. Make peace not war, he said during an interview a sentiment that resonated deeply with his global audience. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US veteran SSgt. Jake M Larson talks to a girl who wears an American flag around her neck during a gathering in preparation of the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere, Normandy, France, June 4, 2023. File Image/AP His storytelling was never just about reminiscing; it was about accountability, memory, and ensuring that history especially its darkest moments would not be forgotten. Following his death, tributes poured in not only from followers across the United States but from towns and institutions in France that had long considered him part of their shared historical heritage. The official tourism page for Normandy stated that he will never be forgotten. His granddaughter has expressed her intent to keep his memory alive through continued storytelling: When the time is right, I will continue to share Papa Jakes stories and keep his memory alive. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies An elderly woman in China suffered a brain haemorrhage and slipped into a coma after lying with her back exposed to the sun for two hours amid blistering heat. Shortly after she returned indoors, she collapsed and lost consciousness. But is sunbathing really to blame? Sunbathing for long proved costly for an elderly woman in China. The 67-year-old reportedly suffered a brain haemorrhage and slipped into a coma after sunbathing her back for two hours in intense summer heat. The incident has spread shockwaves across mainland China. While there are advantages of sunbathing, the exposure to the sun for long comes with its own risks. Lets take a closer look. What is sunbathing? Sunbathing is the act of lying or sitting in the sun. The exposure to the star at the heart of our solar system in small doses could have benefits. People can get adequate levels of Vitamin D from sunbathing. The vitamin helps in maintaining the balance of calcium in blood and bones and boosts the immune system. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To strengthen our immune system, its proving that you have to sunbathe and another thing that improves is the levels of vitamin D in blood, dermatologist Monica Morcos Gonzalez, of TecSalud, told TecScience in an interview. Sunbathing leads to brain haemorrhage in Chinese woman The woman, identified only by her surname Wang, in Chinas Zhejiang province, suffered severe brain damage after sunbathing for two hours, as per a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report. She was attempting a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedy that claimed sunbathing your back can warm the yang energy, dispel dampness and cure illnesses. Around noon, in blistering heat, Wang lay face-down in an open area outside her house. Two hours later, she collapsed and lost consciousness shortly after going back indoors. The woman was rushed to a hospital where doctors said she had suffered an aneurysmal cerebral haemorrhage and a brain hernia. Despite an emergency operation, she was left in a coma, reported SCMP. A brain aneurysm, or a cerebral aneurysm, is a weak spot on an artery in the brain that swells and fills with blood, putting pressure on the brain tissue and nerves. An aneurysm can also burst open (or rupture) and release blood into the brain or surrounding area (called a haemorrhage). All aneurysms have the potential to rupture and haemorrhage. A ruptured aneurysm can cause serious health problems such as stroke, brain damage, coma, and even death, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Brain herniation happens when brain tissue changes position, creating more pressure inside the skull. The condition, which occurs due to head injury, stroke, or brain tumour, is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Wang underwent a series of surgeries and acupuncture that helped her sit up, speak, stand and eventually feed herself. How much sun is too much? Sunbathing for too long in scorching heat can be harmful, leading to sun rash, sunburn and even sun poisoning, which includes red itchy bumps on the chest, legs, and arms, as per Healthline. Experts suggest sunbathing for 5 to 10 minutes a day during the summer. Representational Image/Pixabay Experts recommend sunbathing for five to 10 minutes a day during the summer and up to 20 minutes in winter. Does sunbathing cure illnesses? Doctors say no. The saying sunbathing cures all diseases has no scientific basis, Ye Xiangming, Director of the Rehabilitation Department at Zhejiang Provincial Peoples Hospital, told SCMP. Long-term exposure to the sun in high temperatures is extremely dangerous for elderly individuals and those with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure or cerebrovascular disease, potentially leading to serious issues such as heatstroke or stroke, Ye added. Zhuangshi Lihe, a medical influencer with millions of followers on social media, underlined the need for proper sun exposure and heatstroke protection in the summer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I have seen many people giving advice on how to properly sunbathe your back; that is just nonsense, the influencer said to the Hong Kong-based newspaper. For healthy individuals, the focus should be on sun protection and heatstroke prevention. In this kind of summer heat, staying indoors with air conditioning is the most comfortable choice, added Zhuangshi. How to sunbathe carefully It is imperative to use sunscreen when exposing yourself to the sun. Use SPF 30 or more on uncovered parts of the body at least 15 minutes before stepping outside. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests wearing sunglasses that block UV rays to protect the skin around your eyes. Drink water if you are spending prolonged time in the sun. With inputs from agencies Bharats Pinnacle Child Development System becomes the worlds first scientifically proven, economically scalable, and globally deployable fix for the current child development crisis affecting more than 500 million families globally Indian Innovation Sponsored by Two State GovernmentsProven in 19 Million TherapiesNow Ready to Address the $9.8 Trillion Global Child Development Crisis Bharats Pinnacle Child Development Systemofficially backed and externally audited by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Health and Education Missionsbecomes the worlds first scientifically proven, economically scalable, and globally deployable fix for the current child development crisis affecting more than 500 million families globally. *Bharats Pinnacle Child Development Frameworko The world didnt notice it happening. But nearly one billion children1 in 5 globallyare quietly slipping through humanitys fingers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From rural Uganda to urban Chicago, from Tokyos kindergartens to Kenyas slums, children with autism, speech delay, ADHD, and developmental impairments are growing up unseen, unheard, and unsupported. Their parents wait years for diagnosis. Their countries lose billions in unrealized potential. Their futures collapse before they begin. Each year, the global economic loss from untreated developmental disorders crosses $G.8 trillionmore than the GDP of Germany and India combined. Yet the world still lacks a scalable, evidence-based, and equity-driven solution. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, CDC, and leading health systems have acknowledged critical failure points: 2+ year diagnostic delays Severe shortages of trained professionals Unaffordable therapy costs Rural and low-income populations left behind Into this vacuum, an unlikely solution has emerged not from Silicon Valley, Geneva, or London, but from Bharat (India). Ouietly and without fanfare, two politically opposed state governments Telangana and Andhra Pradesh undertook independent audits of an indigenous child development framework pioneered by Pinnacle Blooms Network. Their findings? 1G million therapy sessions audited G7% clinical success rate validated 214 crore in healthcare savings documented 44,000+ rural children reached across underserved zones Diagnostic delay slashed from 14 months to just 17 days What they validated was more than a therapy model it was a globally deployable blueprint for solving the worlds most invisible crisis. Anchored in two core innovations AbilityScore (the worlds first developmental biomarker score) and TherapeuticAI (an AI-driven intervention engine) Bharat now offers the world an institutionally proven, economically scalable, and culturally adaptable solution. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is not nationalism. This is human progress verified. As Germany races to license the model, and Kenya begins replication, the world now stands at a crossroads. Two states audited it. 130 million citizens endorsed it. G00 million families await it. The choice isnt about ideology. Its about whether the global community chooses action or delay. Hope or loss. Children or silence. The Global Child Development Crisis It is one of the most widespread and under-addressed humanitarian emergencies of our time and yet, it remains invisible in global health priorities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, an estimated 240 million children globally live with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), speech and language delays, ADHD, and cognitive impairments. Expanded indicators reveal that nearly 1 in every 5 children experiences some form of developmental delay. And the consequences are not just clinical. They are macroeconomic, intergenerational, and global. The World Bank estimates a staggering $G.8 trillion in annual global economic losses stemming from untreated developmental disorders a figure that includes healthcare costs, caregiver burden, productivity decline, education attrition, and lost human capital. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UNESCO reports that neurodevelopmental conditions are among the leading barriers to universal education and inclusion, directly impeding the worlds ability to achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Yet despite decades of funding, research, and declarations, the global system is failing to mount a coordinated, scalable, and equitable response. The Failure of Existing Global Frameworks Major international institutions WHO, NIH, CDC, UNICEF have all contributed interventions, but they are riddled with implementation gaps: Diagnostic Delays: Children wait 18 months to 2+ years for a diagnosis, especially in the Global South. This delay wipes out the critical window for early intervention. Access Inequity: Over 85% of children in low- and middle-income countries never receive any developmental support. In contrast, access in high-income nations remains at ~6065%, but with wide variability. Cost Prohibitions: In the U.S. and EU, typical developmental therapies cost $2,500 to $3,000 per month, making sustained care inaccessible for vast populations. Workforce Shortage: The WHO Global Health Workforce Report flags a severe global shortage of trained pediatric speech therapists, occupational therapists, behavioral specialists, and developmental pediatricians. Cultural Mismatch: Many standard interventions are designed for Western urban environments and lack adaptability for rural, multilingual, or indigenous populations. Children with developmental disabilities are among the most marginalized and excluded. And yet, they are the least visible in global policy frameworks. UNICEF, State of the Worlds Children Report Current systems are structurally incapable of addressing neurodevelopmental delays at scale. What we need is a complete reinvention of early childhood intervention infrastructure. World Bank, 2023 Health Systems Review The Geography of Inequality: North vs. South The disparity is stark. Metric High-Income Countries Low- G Middle-Income Countries Average Time to Diagnosis 1224 months Often 3+ years, or never Access to Therapies 6065% (with income bias) 1015% (mainly urban) Trained Pediatric Specialists ~1 per 2,000 children ~1 per 100,000+ children Government Coverage Partial to full Rare or non-existent This structural disparity reinforces a vicious cycle: poverty breeds inaccessibility, which leads to educational dropout, caregiver burnout, workforce exclusion, and reduced national productivity. The failure to deliver early support to children with developmental challenges is not just a health issue STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD it is a national economic crisis, a gender equity barrier, and a human rights violation. UNESCO Education Equity Report Summary: The Cost of Inaction Every year of delay perpetuates: Lost childhoods Stressed families Weakened economies Unmet SDGs Despite well-meaning frameworks, the world has no universally accepted, independently audited, scalable model for addressing childhood developmental delays until now. Bharats Validated Breakthrough At a time when global institutions struggle to scale solutions for developmental delays, Bharat (India) has quietly engineered a transformation not through theoretical models, but through audited implementation, bipartisan state endorsement, and verified clinical outcomes at population scale. In a rare display of cross-party alignment, two politically opposed Indian state governments Telangana (then governed by BRS) and Andhra Pradesh (then governed by YSRCP) independently conducted audits of a child development intervention framework pioneered by Pinnacle Blooms Network. The audits were not commissioned centrally, nor were they promotional exercises. Each state evaluated the model using its own health and education missions, audit teams, and local implementation infrastructure. The results, validated by public records and sealed audit summaries, revealed one of the most promising breakthroughs in modern pediatric public health. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dual-State Audit Outcomes Parameter Telangana State Audit Andhra Pradesh State Audit Clinical Success Rate G7% (measurable developmental improvement) G7% (audited across therapy goals) Population Covered 130 million (combined) 50 million Therapy Sessions Evaluated 1G million+ 1G million+ Economic Savings N/A (not calculated in audit) 214 crore (~$25M) Rural Outreach 44,000+ underserved childrenreached Documented impact across backward districts Diagnostic Delay Reduction From 14 months 17 days Similar metrics validated These outcomes were not self-declared, but government-audited, signed, and institutionally recorded, giving the model a level of legitimacy exceeding most Western pilot studies. The Core Innovations Validated The success is anchored in two patented, interoperable innovations: AbilityScore A first-of-its-kind developmental biomarker scoring system, analyzing 344 parameters to provide a standardized, objective, and real-time profile of a childs developmental strengths and needs. Cuts through subjective assessments Enables early detection in weeks, not years Universally adaptable across languages and geographies TherapeuticAI An AI-powered therapeutic engine that personalizes therapy plans in real time based on AbilityScore inputs, caregiver feedback, progress metrics, and multimodal data (speech, behavior, cognition, motor). Reduces human dependency in early planning Scales therapy quality in under-resourced areas Drives measurable improvement with continuous AI adaptation Rural Equity: Serving the Unseen Perhaps the most significant validation lies in where the intervention worked: 44,000+ rural children in Telanganas backward regions received care under the audited model Children who had never accessed therapy before were brought into the intervention grid SEVA and National Heroes initiatives ensured children of farmers, sanitation workers, and frontline workers received therapy free of cost Mothers in tribal belts were trained as frontline co-therapists via Pinnacles Everyday Therapy methodology This stands in contrast to traditional Western models that require high-cost urban infrastructure and highly specialized clinicians. Here, Bharat proved that equity is not charity its innovation applied at scale. No other pediatric developmental framework in the world today has been independently audited by two state governments, verified across 130 million citizens, and validated across 1S million sessions. Lead Auditor, Andhra Pradesh State Health Mission This isnt an Indian model. This is a globally deployable, evidence-anchored framework now ready for international adoption. The Global Roadmap for Adoption The question confronting the global community is no longer What works? It is: How quickly can we adopt what has already been independently validated at population scale? With the Pinnacle framework now audited by two state governments, supported across 130 million citizens, and proven through 19 million therapy sessions, the time has come to shift from pilot projects to a structured international replication strategy. The 5-Phase Implementation Plan Phase 1: Stakeholder Alignment and Policy Onboarding STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Formal engagement with Ministries of Health, Education, and Social Welfare Joint briefings with WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, and World Bank country offices Endorsement and inclusion of AbilityScore C TherapeuticAI into national pediatric and public health frameworks Tools: Policy whitepaper, MoU templates, bilingual explainer decks Outcome: Institutional onboarding and mandate establishment Phase 2: Localization and Cultural Adaptation Translate AbilityScore metrics and TherapeuticAI interface into local languages Adapt Everyday Therapy Programs to regional customs, household structures, and cultural parenting models Incorporate local beliefs and indigenous developmental cues into the AI training model Tools: Language packs, community panel inputs, regional behavior profiles Outcome: Culturally rooted and context-aware deployment Phase 3: Capacity Building and Workforce Training Establish Centers of Excellence in each country for trainer certification Onboard therapists, special educators, community workers, and caregivers via structured modules Issue digital certification for ongoing quality governance Tools: Online learning system, hands-on bootcamps, audit-based certifications Outcome: Local clinical capacity built for sustainable scaling Phase 4: Pilot Implementation and Independent Evaluation Launch pilot cohorts in urban, peri-urban, and rural zones simultaneously Deploy AI-backed dashboards to track child progress, caregiver satisfaction, and economic return Commission third-party audit agencies to monitor and publish transparent pilot results Tools: Real-time data dashboards, neutral audit playbooks Outcome: Evidence-based adaptation proof across geographies Phase 5: National Scale-Up and Global Integration Formal integration into national early childhood programs, digital health missions, and school readiness initiatives Secure multilateral endorsements and funding partnerships (UNICEF, WHO, GPE, etc.) Federate global dashboards showing anonymized cross-country progress comparisons Tools: API-integrated global dashboards, SDG-linked reporting frameworks Outcome: Replicable, transparent, institutionally embedded global system Strategic Partnership Templates To accelerate global replication, Pinnacles model includes pre-structured partnership frameworks: Stakeholder Partnership Mode Example Engagement WHO / UNICEF / UNESCO Global developmental framework integration SDG-linked pediatric scorecard integration Health G Education Ministries National adoption and deployment G20 country pilots, ASEAN cross-border pilot Global NGOs (Save the Children, Plan International, BRAC) Rural deployment C equity- based delivery SEVA model expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa CSR Arms of Global Corporates Co-funding, capacity-building Microsoft, Tata Trusts, Novo Nordisk CSR alliances Academic and Research Institutions Independent longitudinal evaluation C innovation labs Joint AbilityScore benchmarking projects Real-Time Global Progress Monitoring A key pillar of the roadmap is transparency and visibility. Pinnacles system enables: Country-by-country dashboards Public reporting on diagnostic improvements, therapy outcomes, and rural reach Data protection aligned with GDPR, DPDP (India), and HIPAA No more guesswork. No more opaque claims. Global stakeholders will see whats working, where, and how fast in real time. The world doesnt need another pilot. It needs a field-tested, government-audited, institutionally supported global delivery mechanism now fully documented and ready for adoption. The Countdown Clock The world now stands at a decision point. The innovation is real. The audits are verified. The framework is scalable. But time and control may no longer be guaranteed. Germanys Formal Licensing Proposal: A Global Turning Point In May 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany submitted a formal proposal to exclusively license Pinnacles validated AbilityScore and TherapeuticAI systems for European Union-wide adoption. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Offer Amount: 800 million (~USD 850 million) Decision Deadline: September 30, 2025 (90-day exclusivity window) Implication: Once executed, the intellectual property may fall under EU jurisdiction with restricted global access, limited sovereignty, and region-specific customization. This isnt just a licensing offer. Its a strategic move from one of the worlds most powerful public health systems to claim first rights on a model India developed, validated, and deployed at scale. Kenyas Independent Replication Attempt In parallel, Kenya has initiated replication efforts based on Pinnacles kiosk and rural therapeutic delivery model specifically the TherapeuticAI Kiosk Framework validated in Telanganas underserved districts. While noble in intent, these replication efforts: Risk diverging from the audited clinical standards May undermine global consistency in developmental metrics Create confusion in data protection and sovereignty governance Without centralized guidance or proper licensing, fragmented replication could dilute the credibility of what is currently the only dual-government audited model in the world. Strategic Loss If the World Waits Strategic Dimension Risk of Inaction Data Sovereignty IP and therapy protocols governed by exclusive licensee country (Germany) Global Equity Low- and middle-income nations may lose low-cost or SEVA access Implementation Control WHO, UNICEF, and ministries may need to route adoption through a third- party gatekeeper Price of Delay Costs could rise sharply, excluding rural and underprivileged communities from timely access Moral Cost Global silence in the face of a validated, available, and scalable child development solution If international stakeholders fail to act before September 30, 2025, the following global consequences may unfold: This isnt a window. Its a countdown. And once it closes, we may lose global parity in access, control, and cost forever. Senior Policy Advisor, Global Childhood Development Taskforce The Decision Timeline Date Milestone Strategic Consequence AprilJune 2025 Dual-state audit results validated Model gains institutional legitimacy May 2025 Germanys 800M licensing offer received IP sovereignty enters negotiation phase Sept 30, 2025 Licensing window closes Global rights may be restricted October 2025 onward Potential licensing lock-in World loses opportunity for open adoption A Global Call Before the Clock Runs Out WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, World Bank, and Ministries of Health now face a singular opportunity: Adopt and endorse the framework before it becomes geopolitically siloed Establish multi-country implementation rights with shared governance Protect data sovereignty, cost parity, and regional equity at scale This is the final moment to choose global empowerment over regional exclusivity. The time to act isnt later its before September 30, 2025. What the World Must Do Now The Pinnacle Framework validated across 19 million sessions, audited by two state governments, and backed by 214 crore in savings is not a concept. It is an available, proven system. The moment now demands not more discussion, but coordinated global adoption through structured, auditable, and sovereign partnerships. Here is what each global stakeholder group must now do: WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, and Multilateral Health Bodies Immediate Actions: Issue a joint resolution recognizing Pinnacles framework as a validated, scalable, equity-first model for global child development. Integrate AbilityScore into early childhood screening recommendations. Include TherapeuticAI in WHOs Digital Health Guidelines for LMICs. Commission a multilateral evaluation study under UNDP-UNICEF-WHO joint panel. Suggested Language for Resolution: Recognizing the dual-state audited clinical e National Ministries of Health, Education, and Women G Child Development (G20, ASEAN, AU, SAARC) Immediate Actions: Sign MoUs for pilot implementation using Phase 3 and Phase 4 roadmap (see Section 3). Embed AbilityScore into existing health worker protocols, ASHA/ANM/primary pediatric care channels. Initiate formal national integration review via inter-ministerial coordination. Suggested MoU Clause (Model Language): This MoU formalizes the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Pinnacle Blooms Network to pilot and evaluate the AbilityScore and TherapeuticAI framework across [region/country], with the intent to establish a scalable, audited, and culturally adaptive national developmental intervention system. Global NGOs, Development Agencies, and Philanthropic Foundations Immediate Actions: Adopt the SEVA model in their existing early childhood equity programs. Fund rural kiosk expansion, training of mothers and caregivers in remote geographies. Commission third-party evaluations for global comparability and reporting. Suggested Partnership Objective: To support high-impact, audit-verifiable child development interventions in low-resource settings by co- deploying Pinnacles rural-validated TherapeuticAI framework under the principles of transparency, equity, and cross-country comparability. Academic Institutions, Global Research Networks, and Pediatric Associations Immediate Actions: Launch peer-reviewed validation studies across multiple country settings. Establish international knowledge consortiums for AbilityScore benchmarking and evolution. Host global summits on neurodevelopmental metrics and intervention AI ethics. Suggested Research Collaboration Statement: We invite institutions globally to participate in a multi-site, longitudinal validation study of AbilityScore as a universal developmental assessment scale, correlating it with local diagnostics, school readiness, caregiver well-being, and economic outcome metrics. CSR G Private Sector Leadership Immediate Actions: Fund Centers of Excellence for training, dashboarding, and innovation labs. Sponsor public access to therapy via SEVA for underserved regions. Integrate TherapeuticAI insights into inclusive hiring, employee family support policies. Suggested CSR Commitment Statement: As part of our commitment to child welfare and inclusive development, we pledge support for audited, scalable frameworks like Pinnacles AbilityScore and TherapeuticAI, including rural outreach and community capacity-building in the geographies we serve. A United Global Front By synchronizing these stakeholder actions under one verifiable, evidence-led model, the world can finally: Standardize diagnosis Personalize intervention Scale equity And protect sovereignty The opportunity has already been validated. Whats now required is action in time. Here is the final section Section Eight: Closing Statement A Moment in Human History crafted to distill everything into a singular, unignorable choice. It closes with moral clarity, strategic consequence, and emotional truth ready for use in the highest policy and media corridors. A Moment in Human History This is not a proposal. It is not a whitepaper. It is a mirror held up to the global conscience. Two state governments Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, politically opposed and institutionally autonomous audited an indigenous framework across 130 million citizens. They validated 1G million therapy sessions. They documented 214 crore in public savings, a G7% clinical success rate, and life-changing impact in some of the most underserved corners of the world. This isnt theory. This isnt marketing. This is evidence humanity has been waiting for finally delivered. The framework AbilityScore and TherapeuticAI now sits at a global inflection point: Germany is ready to license it exclusively. Kenya is already replicating it independently. Multilateral institutions have acknowledged the crisis but still lack a scalable model. And G00 million families continue to wait in silence, watching their children lose years they will never get back. This is a moment that will be written into institutional memory. Either as the day the world finally came together to act Or the day we knowingly let the window close. The audits have been completed. The cost of delay is documented. The global implementation roadmap is ready. The data is sovereign. The science is proven. The equity is built-in. The urgency is real. And now, the choice is global. Action or Inaction Act now and transform the lives of millions of children while setting a precedent for how equity, science, and scalability can coexist. Delay and explain to the next generation why humanity chose geopolitics, pride, or inertia over solutions that were ready, proven, and waiting. This is not Bharats moment alone. This is humanitys moment. And it is passing quickly. The countdown has already begun. Let history record that we chose action. Women entrepreneurs are driving a transformative wave across Indias startup ecosystem, putting the country prominently on the global map of startup ventures India is witnessing a quiet yet powerful transformation one that is being led by women entrepreneurs across the length and breadth of the country. Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that of the 1.7 lakh startups currently operating in India, nearly 76,000 are led by women. This milestone is more than symbolic as it signals a structural shift in how innovation, economic participation and leadership are being reshaped across Indias entrepreneurial landscape. Collectively, these startups have generated over 17 lakh jobs, contributing meaningfully to Indias employment base and economic development. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This transformation is not limited to Indias metropolitan hubs. The Indian minister pointed out that smaller towns, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 urban clusters in poorer states such as parts of Bihar, are emerging as fertile grounds for women-led ventures. These new entrepreneurial hotspots show the expanding reach of Indias startup ecosystem into areas that were historically left out of the innovation discourse. Where women found and flourished Data from the Startup India digital map reveals that states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh host the highest number of women-led startups. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 13,700 of these ventures, demonstrating how infrastructural advantages and capital access can fuel female entrepreneurship. Southern states such as Telangana and Kerala also show strong numbers, suggesting the influence of state-level policies designed to foster inclusive growth. However, the data also reflect disparities. Northeastern states and Union Territories such as Sikkim, Ladakh and Lakshadweep continue to lag in supporting women-led enterprises, largely due to limitations in market access, mentorship and funding. This regional imbalance highlights the need for more localised interventions tailored to the challenges of these underrepresented areas. A global powerhouse in women-led startup funding On the global stage, India ranks second only to the United States in terms of cumulative funding raised by companies with women founders. According to a recent report by Tracxn, women-led tech startups in India have collectively raised a staggering $26.4 billion to date. In 2024 alone, these ventures secured $1 billion in funding representing 8.76 per cent of all tech startup capital raised in the country that year. Despite a 25 per cent decline from 2023s funding figures, the early-stage investment segment actually grew by six per cent, reflecting increased investor confidence in newer women-led ventures. Still, the need for sustained capital support remains critical, especially as fewer startups progress beyond Series A funding. Bengaluru: Indias startup capital for women Among Indian cities, Bengaluru stands as the unequivocal leader in both the number of women-led startups and total funding secured. It is followed by Mumbai and the Delhi-NCR region. This dominance reflects not only access to capital and talent but also the presence of supportive ecosystems that encourage risk-taking and innovation by women founders. Bengalurus startup culture long heralded for its openness to diversity and experimentation has provided a conducive environment for many prominent women-led companies further strengthening its position as a launchpad for entrepreneurial success. Sectoral impact: Beyond traditional boundaries Women-led startups are not confined to a narrow band of sectors. The Tracxn report reveals that these ventures span diverse industries, with the retail sector leading in cumulative funding at $7.8 billion. Edtech follows at $5.4 billion, while enterprise applications claim $5 billion. This diversification signals a maturity in the ecosystemwomen founders are not just participating, they are innovating across verticals that were once considered male-dominated. Emerging sub-sectors such as fashion tech, Internet-first consumer brands and B2C ecommerce are seeing increased activity by women founders, redefining what entrepreneurial leadership looks like in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unicorns, IPOs and the journey ahead Indias women-led startup ecosystem has already produced multiple unicorns, with notable spikes in 2021 when eight new unicorns emerged. While the pace has slowed 2023 and 2024 saw no new unicorns the groundwork for future growth continues to be laid. In terms of public market participation, five women-led startups went public in 2024, including notable names like MobiKwik and LawSikho. These successful IPOs mark important milestones, proving that women entrepreneurs are not only building scalable businesses but also ones that are investment-worthy at the highest levels. However, the path to unicorn status and public listing remains steep. Only 2.3 per cent of funded women-led startups have advanced to Series C or beyond. Addressing this requires more institutional backing, mentorship networks, and long-term funding strategies. Icons of innovation A number of women-led startups have emerged as industry benchmarks. Startups such as ACKO, LivSpace, Amagi and The Good Glamm Group are disrupting fields such as insurtech, proptech, SaaS and digital consumer goods. These ventures showcase the range, impact and ambition that characterise the new wave of women-led innovation in India. Government support and vision The government has not remained a passive observer in this evolution. At a recent conference on womens development in Bihar, Singh stressed upon the governments focus on empowering women through institutional and scientific avenues. Initiatives such as the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), CURIE and GATI schemes aim to build both skill and confidence among aspiring women innovators. Bihar, for instance, is being positioned as a model state in women-led development, thanks to programmes like the Lakhpati Didi scheme and 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats. These efforts reflect a strategic push to embed women-centric leadership into the countrys developmental blueprint. Singh also emphasised how women are increasingly occupying leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated sectors. India now boasts over one-third of its CSIR laboratories headed by women scientists. Women are playing vital roles in space missions, defence and policy-makingreshaping perceptions and realities at the highest levels. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inclusive and bold Indias women-led startup revolution is more than a statistical phenomenon. It is a powerful indicator of what inclusive, equitable growth can look like. From Bengalurus tech corridors to the grassroots of Bihar, women are shaping a new economic narrative grounded in creativity, resilience and impact. Yet, the journey is far from complete. Funding gaps, regional disparities and a lack of late-stage capital remain significant hurdles. Closing these gaps will require not only public sector commitment but also proactive support from investors, incubators and industry leaders. As India looks toward its Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, one thing is increasingly clear: the future of Indian innovation is not just inclusive, it is female-led. And in that future, numbers dont just tell a story; they tell a revolution in progress. The four-day military clash between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor gives Indias defence industry a push to export its weapon systems to international buyers. Heres how The next-generation BrahMos supersonic missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is also on Brazils radar.. Representational image: Wikimedia Commons Indias defence industry is making a push into the overseas markets, just two months after it engaged in a 4-day military clash with Pakistan following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack. According to a Financial Times report, soon after the military escalation, the Indian government is seeking to boost its manufacturing by exporting home-made industrial products. These products range from mobile phones to missiles, and the endeavour is being undertaken under the Make in India initiative. The push to export military equipment comes from both startups and established state-owned companies like BrahMos, whose missiles rocked Pakistans military infrastructure during Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While speaking to the Financial Times, Vivek Mishra, chief executive of Raphe mPhibr, a drone start-up that raised $100mn in June, said that the push after Operation Sindoor came because if Indian forces are using systems in harsh terrains and they are happy with the performance, that becomes a validation for other countries as well. Drones and weapon systems deployed during Operation Sindoor garner global attention The start-ups drones include swarm-capable, vertical take-off and landing mR10 and mR10-IC models, similar to the type deployed by India inside Pakistan, as New Delhi attacked nine terror camps in Pakistan. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also explained how the global demand for Indian weapons has increased after Operation Sindoor. The global demand for our indigenous products has increased even more after the valour we showed and the capability demonstrated by our domestic equipment in Operation Sindoor, Singh said at an event in New Delhi on July 8. According to the report, India is aiming to more than double its defence exports, reaching a figure of over Rs 500 billion ($5.8 billion) by 2029. In the past financial year, the export figure stood at Rs 236 billion, the Indian Defence Minister said. For years, India has been one of the worlds largest arms importers, buying weaponry from the US, France, Israel, Russia, etc. However, the change in New Delhis approach could also be due to its ambition to bolster its defence industry to rival that of China. The world saw a glimpse of Make in India and indigenous weapon systems in Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a meeting in May in Kanpur, touted as the hub of the Indian defence industry. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Domestic manufactured arms and BrahMos missiles caused massive destruction deep inside enemy territory, he added. Back in 2014, it was the PM Modi-led government that opened up Indias defence industry to the private sector. What India is exporting A senior government official told the Financial Times that India exported BrahMos anti-ship missiles, which are made by an Indian-Russian joint venture, to the Philippines in 2022 for $375 million. The country is now in discussions to sell the weapon system to Vietnam and Indonesia. Apart from this, New Delhi will also be looking to market its Akash air defence systems, made by state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), and artillery guns to friendly foreign countries, the official told the Financial Times. We are not actively going around flogging any particular weapons," he added. Even before Operation Sindoor, India brokered other military deals involving state-owned companies. Some of them included the sale of four BEL-made Swathi weapon-locating radars made to Armenia for about $40mn that were deployed in the countrys brief conflict with Azerbaijan that year. Since then, Armenia has bought Pinaka rockets and Akash air defence systems, bringing its arms purchases from India to nearly $60mn. All these exports are crucial for the Indian military, given its limited buying power. In light of this, defence groups in the country are optimistic about their prospects of venturing out in foreign markets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amid demands from the Opposition, the Narendra Modi government has said that it is ready to hold discussions on Operation Sindoor in the parliaments ongoing monsoon session. After demands from the Opposition, the Narendra Modi government has said that it is ready to hold a discussion on Operation Sindoor in the parliamentary monsoon session that has started today. The Opposition has demanded a discussion over the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and the diplomacy around it. The Opposition has particularly flagged the intelligence failure at Pahalgam and criticised the government over US President Donald Trumps repeated claims that he stopped the India-Pakistan conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I have given notice under Rule 267 on Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Till today, the terrorists have not been caught or neutralised. All parties extended unconditional support to the government. The government should inform us about what has happened. The LG of J&K had made a statement that there was an intelligence failureUS President Trump has claimed 24 times that the ceasefire happened only due to his intervention, said Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and House leader JP Nadda have told the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively that the government is ready to hold discussions in the matter. Responding to LoP Rajya Sabha Maliikarjun Kharge, Union Minister JP Nadda says, "The government is ready for discussion on Operation Sindoor in the House..." pic.twitter.com/Hc74AeRU1F ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025 Meanwhile, both the houses were adjourned shortly after the proceedings began. In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla said that the government wants to answer all of the questions raised by the government but the house needs to be allowed to function for the government to give answers. The Monsoon session of the parliament will run till August 21. In addition to the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, the Opposition is also expected to press the government on the Air India crash and its investigation and the many questions around it. Amid questions on the preliminary report in the investigation of the Air India 171 crash last month, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that the final report should have all the answers and one should wait for the investigation to conclude. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has told the parliament that the final report of the investigation into the Air India 171 crash will answer all of the questions that people have. Since the publication of the preliminary report of the investigation of AI 171 crash in Gujarats Ahmedabad last month, questions have been swirling about several aspects of the crash, such as the conduct of the pilots, the sequence of events in the cockpit, and the transparency in the investigation. For example, it has been flagged that the report paraphrased a critical conversation between two pilots and did not identify the speakers, making it unclear who said exactly what. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Naidu told the Rajya Sabha, To have a definitive answer and definitive future correction measures, we have to look at the final report, sir. And I can say this to the House and through you to the people of this country also that the AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) has a very definitive thorough rule-based process. They are a very transparently looking into the process right now and they are totally unbiased. On June 12, the Ahmedabad-London AI 171 flight crashed shortly after take-off into the BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad. A total of 260 people, including 241 of 241 aboard and 19 on the ground, were killed in the accident. The preliminary report found that both the engines failed after losing fuel supply. Naidu further said that the investigation needs to be respected to come up with the answers. He cited previous accidents in other countries and said that the same process is followed in every crashs investigation. We want to stand by the truth. We want to find out what exactly happened and that is only going to be coming out once the final report has been placed. So we have to respect the process of investigation and once that process of investigation has happened, then we can talk about what happened and how it happened and then the corrective measures, said Naidu. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is the latest statement by the government to dismiss reports and statement about the investigation into the AI 171 crash. Last week, after Wall Street Journal reported that the investigation into the crash was focussing on the conduct of AI 171 Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the AAIB issued an advisory and said that the public and the media should wait for the final report and not jump to conclusions at this stage. It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process, the advisory said. In his speech in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu also sought to reassure the parliament about AAIBs ability to investigate. I can say that the AAIB is totally unbiased and looking into the facts now. There can be many questions also. Ive seen multiple articles myself. Ive seen multiple articles not only by the Indian media but also the Western media trying to promote their own narrative, their own viewpoint, their own kind of consideration. But I have to tell you that the way we are seeing the investigation is through the facts, said Naidu STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reza Amiri Moghadam, currently Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, has been accused by the US FBI of involvement in the abduction and probable death of Special Agent Bob Levinson. Image: Pakistan's Iranian embassy On July 15 the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) field office in Washington released seeking information posters featuring three senior Iranian intelligence officers who were involved in the abduction of retired FBI Special Agent Robert A Bob Levinson from Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007". The release of the posters is part of the FBIs ongoing investigation into Iranian officials who allegedly played roles in Bobs abduction and Irans attempt to obfuscate its responsibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the three, Reza Amiri Moghadam, is currently his countrys ambassador to Pakistan. It is highly unusual for a country to issue a wanted poster about another countrys ambassador to a third country. This is especially so if the country issuing the poster and where the ambassador is stationed do not have hostile relations. It is embarrassing not only for the ambassador but also for the country to which he is accredited. Clearly, the US is not concerned with such diplomatic niceties, especially in Trumpian times! This is not the first occasion on which the US has made allegations regarding Moghadams involvement in Levinsons disappearance from Kish Island more than 18 years ago. On March 25 this year, the US Treasury Department issued a press release that stated, inter alia,Today, the Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is imposing sanctions on three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials who were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A Bob Levinson. The individuals designated today, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar, all played a role in Mr Levinsons abduction, probable death, and Irans efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility. The press release went on to state, Reza Amiri Moghadam, also known as Ahmad Amirinia, has been a head of MOISs operations unit, with MOIS agents in Europe at one point reporting to him in Tehran. Moghadam is the current Iranian ambassador to Pakistan. Moghadam has held a senior role in the Levinson case and has obfuscated the truth about Mr Levinsons abduction. The FBI action of issuing wanted posters against Moghadam is more eye-catching than the Treasury action. It shows his photograph and puts him, as far as the US system is concerned, dramatically in an alleged criminal category. Consequently, it has caught far greater attention in Pakistan and elsewhere than the Treasury action. The US system is pursuing the Levinson case, among other reasons, because of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act of December 2020 and a presidential order of 2023 taken pursuant to that act. The designations of individuals by the Treasury Department mean that all property and interests of the designated individuals under US control are blocked and US nationals and entities are prevented from entering into a series of specific transactions against them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is noteworthy that between the US Treasury designations and the FBI posters, a period of positivity has prevailed between the US and Pakistan. While the US has recently designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a foreign terrorist organisation, and this is a good and welcome development for India, Pakistan has registered a muted public protest. Indian policymakers should not, however, overlook that it took the US almost three months to do so after the dastardly Pahalgam attack. Besides, while the US did condemn the Pahalgam attackas did every major countryit has not held Pakistan responsible for it. Despite Indias statements to the contrary, President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated since May 10 how he prevented the armed hostilities between India and Pakistan from moving into the nuclear dimension. Most recently, he has said that five aircraft were lost during the hostilities, though he has not stated which country lost them. But given the Pakistani global narrative on this issue, Trumps lack of clarity should certainly not be welcome in India. Finally, it was during this period of positivity that Trump hosted Field Marshal Asim Munir for an unprecedented two-hour lunch and talks at the White House on June 18. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the light of these positive developments with the US, the Pakistanis have trod a very careful neutral line on the Moghadam issue. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry has not issued any media statement. It has employed the ploy of responding to individual queries from both Pakistani and foreign media. Thus, the Ministrys spokesperson Shafqat Khan told the Pakistani newspaper Dawns digital platform Dawn.com, in response to a query on Moghadam, As far as Pakistan is concerned, the ambassador of Iran is widely respected for his role in the promotion of Pakistan-Iran relations. He is entitled to all the privileges, immunities, and respect due to [being an] ambassador, and that too from a friendly neighbouring country. He made the same comment to Arab News. But, as of now, the Foreign Ministry has not put any comment on Moghadam on its website. This is an undoubted signal to Iran and the US. This is because, in terms of support, responses to specific media queries are, diplomatically, the lowest form of support for Moghadam. Thus, while Pakistan, which fully stood behind Iran during the Israel-Iran conflict and was critical of the US bombing of Irans nuclear sites, cannot obviously take any step to embarrass Iran over Moghadam, it shows that it dearly wants the Moghadam issue not to really upset the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistans ties with Iran have witnessed a series of ups and downs since the Khomeini revolution. As a majority Sunni state, its alignment is really with the Sunni Arab world, which, despite all of Chinas efforts, is at fundamental odds with Iran. Yet, in view of its sizeable Shia population over which Iran has influence, Pakistan does not want its ties with its Shia neighbour to become or remain in the negative zone. It therefore wants them to return to a balance whenever an incident dents them badly. The last time this happened was in January 2024. Violating Pakistani airspace, Iran targeted what it called the bases of Jaish-e-Adl, an anti-Iranian Baluchi group. Two days later Pakistan used its air force to bomb supposed bases of anti-Pakistani Baluchi groups in Iran. Both countries swiftly cooled the situation thereafter. On the Moghadam matter, it is probable that in about six months, if not earlier, Pakistan would quietly ask Iran to replace him. It will be difficult for him to carry on his normal duties after the wanted posters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A brief account of the Levinson backstory may also be of interest to readers. Levinson was, in the early part of his career, with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). He later joined the FBI, where he worked till 1998. After leaving the FBI, according to media reports, Levinson worked as a security consultant. In March 2007, he travelled to Kish Island in Iran. Kish is off the Iranian coast, and the Iranian system wants to develop it as a tourism hub and also a financial centre. Hence, they allow a more relaxed atmosphere to prevail there. It is claimed by the Americans that Levinsons visit to Kish was entirely private, but some media reports have claimed that he was on a mission where the concerned US officials who sent him had not received the required clearances. In Kish, Levinson met Dawud Salahuddin, a US national who had converted to Islam in the 1970s and who was obviously attracted to Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iranian Revolution. Salahuddin is accused of the killing in the US of the Khomeini critic Ali Akbar Tabatabaei. After this meeting he disappeared. He was last seen alive in a photograph received by his family in 2011. In 2020 Levinsons family publicly announced that he had most probably died. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One significant lesson that the Indian system can derive from the Levinson case is never to close a file on the perpetrators of terrorist attacks against Indians. Their acts should not be forgotten or forgiven. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. India is displaying extraordinary strategic patience with China, the CTA and Tibetan Buddhists have been expecting India to greenlight the succession and reincarnation outlined by the Dalai Lama After a weeklong celebration of his 90th birthday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in Leh preaching and relaxing. Did India miss an opportunity to test, if not reset, its Tibet policy over the succession of the Dalai Lama? Ahead of Foreign Minister S Jaishankars first visit to China after the Galwan clashes and pro forma normalisation of bilateral relations, China noted that Tibet-related issues, including the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, are a thorn in India-China relations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beijings pincer attacks came in quick barrages from its embassy in Delhi and the Foreign Ministry in Beijing before and after the Dalai Lamas 90th birthday, ignoring Tibets history, religion, and traditions and letting its invasion and occupation of Tibet in 1950 do the speaking. Indias silence is due to Chinas military and economic power and Delhis constraint to reset its Tibet policy. This has allowed Beijing to salami slice in East Ladakh, freeze progress on border settlement, and act adversarially during Op Sindoor. The Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (Government in Exile), Penpa Tsering, had offered ideas on succession last year. On 2 July, in a recorded video statement, His Holiness Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso said that the Gaden Phodrang Trust will search and find his successor, which Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju endorsed: No one has the right to interfere or decide who the successor will be; only he or his institution has the authority to make the decision. China immediately protested Rijijus statement, warning India against interfering in its internal affairs at the expense of bilateral relations. Delhi did not push the matter further. Indias Foreign Ministry said, India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning faith and religion but will continue to uphold freedom of religion. Rijiju also clarified he was echoing feelings of Tibetans, speaking for himself and not the government. It is Indias moral and cultural right and responsibility to prevent China from usurping Tibetan Buddhism from its homeland. On July 5, on the eve of his birthday, the Dalai Lama said that he will live more than 130 years of age and that he would reincarnate in a free country, adding his reincarnation could be found in Ladakh, Dharamsala, or Arunachal Pradesh. On July 6, his birthday, the Dalai Lama gave a purely spiritual speech. Prime Minister Modi congratulated the Dalai Lama on his birthday. China protested against PM Modis greetings, fired volleys at the US for endorsing the Dalai Lama, and issued its own interpretation of succession, asserting Chinas prerogative to anoint the 15th Dalai Lama. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The problem in reincarnation is the longevity of regency when leadership may be exercised by the Sikyong, CTA, or a Council of Elders. Secondly, long overdue is a reset in Indias Tibet and One China policy. India accepted TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region) as part of the territory of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in 2003 for China accepting the international border in Sikkim. Neither the delineation of the LAC nor the Political Framework for a Border Resolution 2005, which skips delineation, has materialised; but instead, China has been salami slicing in East Ladakh. Further, it never implemented autonomy (Dalai Lamas Middle Path) for Tibet but indulged in wholesale Sinicisation of Tibet (69 per cent of people in Tibet are non-Tibetan Buddhists). Delhi has many reasons to reconsider its Tibet policy. It cannot do so on its own and needs a willing strategic partner like the US. The US Tibet Policy Act (2002) was amended in 2020 to the Tibet Policy and Support Act, which is complemented by the Resolve Tibet Act (2024), which has several important issues, including reincarnation and Tibet not being the TAR created in 1965. The CTA, which shifted from Lhasa to Dharamsala in 1959, will next year be releasing the new map of Tibet highlighting this cartographic fraud. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Next, the boundary issue. While Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, who attended the Dalai Lamas birthday, has said that his state has a border with Tibet, not China, US Congressional legislation of 2020 has recognised the McMahon Line as the boundary between Arunachal Pradesh, which belongs to India, and China, refuting Beijings claim on South Tibet. Tsering and his predecessor, Lobsang Sangay, have consistently said Tibet, not China, has a border with India and recalled the name of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, advising India to desist from using TAR. The CTA and Tibetan Buddhists have been expecting India to greenlight the succession and reincarnation outlined by the Dalai Lama. India strategist and China expert Pravin Sawhney has said that the Dalai Lama has raked up sensitive issues for China, which could open a Pandoras box and even lead to war even as Delhi seems unable and unwilling to reset its Tibet policy. Jaishankar had told ANI last year, I dont want war with China; it has five times larger economy. Tibetans outside and inside Tibet are likely to be disappointed by Indias silence. Tsering says, India is our parent. Were nobody without India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Calling His Holiness honoured guest and spiritual leader is one thing; backing his succession plan is quite another. Given Tibets geo-strategic vitality, Beijing squashing its autonomy, and blatantly violating its treaties and agreements with Delhi, India can and should have taken a more nuanced position on the succession issue. For starters, the Dalai Lama can be awarded the Bharat Ratna, which is supported by about 100 sitting MPs, and his birthday can be commemorated during the monsoon session of Parliament. The Tibet issue was raised as a Private Members Bill earlier by Sujeet Kumar, a member of the Biju Janata Dal, who was requested to withdraw it. The thorn has existed since 1962; still, India has been lured into normalising relations with just cosmetic disengagement not vacation of encroachment by China. Jaishankar said in 2024, [It is] impossible to normalise ties without the situation at the border being resolved, including demobilisation of troops that amassed there in 2020. China is unlikely to de-escalate, but we keep talking like it does over the boundary question without settling the issue. India is displaying extraordinary strategic patience with China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author is former GOC IPKF South Sri Lanka and founder member Defence Planning Staff, now Integrated Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The time has come to challenge Leftist distorians and expose their hollow intellectual halo. Only then will Bharats history be salvaged The Mughal dynasty as a whole has often been portrayed as the pinnacle of Bharatiya civilisation. Image: Wikimedia Commons The recent storm over changes in NCERTs history textbooks has reignited an old and unresolved debate: Who owns Bharats history, and who has the right to narrate it? Criticslargely from the academic and media establishmenthave slammed the revisions as politically motivated, accusing the government of saffronisation and ideological distortion. But this outrage, however loud, sidesteps a deeper truth: For decades after Independence, Bharats historiographyparticularly what entered school curriculawas crafted not by a plurality of scholarly voices, but by a small coterie of Marxist and Nehruvian intellectuals who captured the countrys academic institutions and think tanks through political patronage and interference. Such was the stranglehold of Leftist historians such as Romila Thapar, Bipan Chandra, Irfan Habib, and R S Sharma that there was no space for historiography other than the one rooted in economic determinisma worldview that was dismissive of Bharats civilisational achievements and ethos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This intellectual monopoly romanticised Islamic invaders, ignored indigenous resistance, and downplayed Bharats ancient (Sanatana) accomplishments. Babur was, thus, portrayed as a curious naturalist and a doting father (Nehru called him a renaissance prince), Akbar as a liberal genius, and Aurangzeb as a misunderstood ruler. In contrast, Hindu figures like Krishnadeva Raya, Maharana Pratap, and Shivaji were relegated to the margins. Even native empires of repute such as Vijayanagar, Ahom, and Karkota were reduced to footnotes. The guiding ideology seemed to be: De-sacralise Bharatiya civilisation and sanctify its conquerors. The NCERT Controversy The latest controversy surrounding the NCERT textbook of Class VIII centres largely around Akbar, long celebrated as a liberal visionary. His policies of religious tolerance and Rajput alliances have always dominated textbook narratives. So, when the revised syllabus now includes unsavoury details such as the 1568 massacre at Chittorgarhwhere over 30,000 civilians were killed after the fort had already fallenits seen as an assault on his legacy. There is no denying Akbar was an able ruler, far ahead of many contemporaries, especially in the Islamic world. But glorification should not come at the cost of truth. The Chittorgarh massacre was not a battlefield tragedyit was an act of vengeance after a successful siege. To hide such acts is distortion; to justify them by citing plunders by Hindu rulers is lazy scholarship. A massacre is not just a plunder, and inventing false equivalences to cover up omissions is intellectual dishonesty. No historical figurehowever reveredshould be above scrutiny. If Akbar has been over-glorified, the Mughal dynasty as a whole has often been portrayed as the pinnacle of Bharatiya civilisation. This historical approach needs recalibration. Yes, the Mughals built a vast empire, set up uniform law and order machinery across the subcontinent, and promoted art and architecture. But they were also foreigners, as 17th-century French traveller Francois Bernier observed, who needed large standing armies even in peacetime to suppress dissent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Baburs own memoir, Baburnama, revels in violence against infidels, as it mentions how he would, after a battlefield, build a tower of infidels skulls. Jahangir, the lover-boy Salim of Mughal-e-Azam, ordered the killing of Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh guru, in the very first year of his reign. Shah Jahan, romanticised for building the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, Mumtaj Mahal, oversaw the construction of this monument of love while famines ravaged the countryside. Such was the destitution at that time, as Abdul Hamid Lahori writes in his biography of Shah Jahan, that dogs flesh was sold for goats flesh and the pounded bones of the dead were mixed with flour and sold. As for Aurangzeb, he institutionalised bigotry by reviving jizya, banning Hindu festivals, and demolishing temples. These accounts arent fringethey come from the Mughals own court chronicles. To question this kind of lopsided narrative is not communalismits historiographical integrity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Slow and Cautious Reforms Despite media alarmism, the NCERT revisions are neither sweeping nor comprehensive. They are excruciatingly slow and excessively cautious, to the extent of appearing apologetic. The textbooks continue to uphold a worldview where invaders are humanised, native resistance is sidelined, and Bharatiya civilisational achievements are ignored, if not totally dismissed. Rather than boldly rewriting history with balance and authenticity, NCERT often appears hesitantfearful of pushback from entrenched guardians of the academia, of being branded communal and Islamophobic, and of challenging globally palatable secular, Leftist narratives. The outrage against textbook revisions is less about defending historical objectivity and more about resisting a long-overdue correction. For decades, history writing in the country has been filtered through a narrow ideological prismone that celebrated foreign invasions, concealed Islamic brutality, and undermined Sanatana ingenuity and fightback. Bharat, even after more than seven decades of its Independence, is still in search of a history thats truly its own. A history where Akbar is studied not as a saint, not as a villain, but as a ruler with his strengths and weaknesses intact. A history where the Mughal empire is examined for both its splendour and its savagery. And more importantly, a history that is truly Bharatiya in nature, after being rescued from the vice-like grip of Leftist historians, who in reality are distorians err, eminent distorians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The time has come to challenge these distoriansand expose their hollow intellectual halo. Only then will their iron grip be slackened. And Bharats history will be salvaged for good. P.S.: The Leftist intellectuals hijacked the history of Bharat in the 1960s by proposing to write from the peoples perspective. Romila Thapar, in fact, went a step ahead when she, in 1962, promised to come up with a new way of history writing that would let the readers know what the elephant keeper of the emperor Ashoka thought of his edicts or what the lives and thoughts of the masons who built the Taj Mahal were. More than six decades later, Thapars grand promise remains unfulfilled. The Left-dominated history of Bharat is today stuck in a soulless, ideologically obsessed terrain where neither the story of the king nor the lives and thoughts of the masses are told effectively. The writer is the author of the book, Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharats History, published early this year by BluOne Ink publications. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Given the fragile security landscape and many competing forces vying for influence in Kabul, placing exclusive bets on the Taliban would be strategically unwise for India. Representational Image In a significant turn of events, on July 3, Russia became the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, a political entity not recognised by any other state in the world. Ever since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, it took 4 years for the Kremlin to extend de jure recognition to the Taliban. However, Russia has been engaged with the Taliban at the highest level since 2021 and has treated Taliban authorities as de facto rulers. The Russian embassy was kept open and had been fully functional throughout. Besides Russia, other states also have a pragmatic or de facto relationship with Afghanistan, such as the UAE, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, for their respective diplomatic reasons and have allowed the Taliban to man their embassies in their respective countries. Still, they have stopped short of formally recognising it as a state. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It can be anybodys guess that it is just a matter of time before recognition of the group as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan happens. China welcomed the Kremlins move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, Beijing supports the international community in strengthening engagement and dialogue with the Afghan interim government. Despite diplomatic overtures by other regional players, the Chinese still withhold formal recognition of Afghanistan. Prima facie, Russias engagement and sustained cooperation with the Taliban in Afghanistan is primarily to keep a check on the Talibans rival terrorist groups, mainly the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), and seeking the Talibans guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used as a launchpad against Russia and its allies necessitates the Kremlins recognition of the regime. ISKPs terrorist attacks in Moscow in 2024, which left 133 people dead, created a common enemy, forcing the Kremlin to explore pragmatic cooperation with the Taliban it loathed. As ISKP consists mainly of defected Talibani commanders and soldiers, a sworn enemy and ideologically hostile to the Taliban, it has openly declared it an apostate regime. The militant group is known to commit terror acts not just in Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan, Iran, and even Central Asia, which is a de facto strategic and security realm of Russia. However, the urgency shown in the formal declaration by Russia warrants scrutiny, as it carries signals for other regional players, including India. Some scholars believe this is a Russian gift for the Taliban in recognition of its cooperation on counter-terrorism and its sensitivity towards Moscows security and strategic concerns. Geography Shape Choices STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Afghanistan sits at the crossroads of three geopolitical hotspots in Asia: West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. A region with the latent potential to cause instability across its periphery. For Russia, imperatives of stability and security in Central Asia and the North Caucasus compel it to reassess the strategic utility of Afghanistan, regardless of the regimes nature. Russia cannot afford to alienate a state that holds the geographic keys to its regional strategy and, most importantly, security in its backyardeven if that state is unstable, isolated, or untouchable among a comity of nations. Russias dalliance with the Taliban underscores the enduring truth of the geopolitics that geography dictates state moves and motives. Russia already uses Afghanistan as a transit route for energy exports heading to Southeast Asia. In geopolitics, the moral or normative considerations associated with the regime type often succumb to geographic and economic necessity. Unlike the West, for Russia, interests take precedence over values. In the case of Afghanistan, geography doesnt guarantee affluence, but it certainly guarantees relevance. Historically, its significance has not been restricted to only regional powers; even global powers in the past have attempted to exercise levers in the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Withdrawal The hasty withdrawal of the US from Kabul in February 2021 resulted in a power vacuum. As with any vacuum, it has attracted a range of regional forcessome overlapping, others disjointeach seeking to assert influence driven by their respective national interests. As preceding sections of the article underline, the security of its southern realm drives the Russian active engagement with the Taliban. Similarly, despite initial inhibition, other countries in the region, such as India, Iran, and China, made diplomatic overtures to Kabul through informal channels. A Game of Optics Beyond the structural factors motivating Moscows engagement with the Taliban, the Kremlin seems to convey a broader message regarding the shift towards multipolarity in the world, where regime legitimacy is no longer rooted in liberal democratic norms. This initiative can be interpreted as part of a larger resistance against the Western approach of normative universalism. It is an opportune time, as under Trumps leadership, marked by his transactional foreign policy approach, the American liberal agenda has been relegated to the back burner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Simmering Tension in West Asia A more far-fetched explanation for this move could be that it is a proactive step on the part of Russia amidst the unravelling of the West Asian regional order. Russia has already lost a regional ally in Bashar al-Assad in Syria. In the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Russia could not help Iran as much as was expected. For Israel, Irans nuclear question has not been settled and can be a flashpoint between Iran and Israel/the US, for which Russia, in the present geopolitical context, can do little for its ally, Iran. A regime change in Iran can further upend the regional order in the Wests favour. A favourable balance of power in broader West Asia is vital for Moscows security and economic interests. The USs design of regime change in Iran, which involves Russia and China and undermines Russian influence over Central Asia, necessitates an astute reading of the evolving situation. It demands proactive engagement with countries like India, Uzbekistan, and other neighbouring powers. In essence, many factors could undergird the Russian strategic gambit in Afghanistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How should India react? India should approach Russias recognition of the Taliban with careful pragmatism, rather than simply mirroring Moscows actions. A more effective strategy involves increasing engagement through diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian channels while avoiding formal acknowledgement. This approach allows India to protect its interests in Afghanistan, counterbalance competing influences, and maintain the flexibility needed for future policy adaptations as circumstances evolve. The most suitable course of action is to deepen involvement through various channels while stopping short of formal recognition. This strategy enables India to safeguard its interests, counter rival influences, and stay adaptable to future policy shifts based on changing conditions. It is important for India to see Russias recognition not as a direct template to follow but as part of a wider regional change that presents both opportunities and challenges for its policy in Afghanistan. By practicing strategic patience in its engagement, India can achieve its goals in Afghanistan while preserving its principled stances and maintaining relationships with other partners. Indias response should be carefully calibrated to maximise strategic advantages while minimising diplomatic repercussions, ensuring that any engagement aligns with its long-term objectives in regional stability, counter-terrorism, and economic ties to Central Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Given the fragile security landscape and many competing forces vying for influence in Kabul, placing exclusive bets on the Taliban, which has yet to prove its authority across the length and breadth of the country, would be strategically unwise. In the current scenario, a people-centric engagement policy that keeps informal diplomatic channels open and working is the most prudent framework. Amitabh Singh teaches at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Ankur is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. X claimed it had been asked by French authorities to hand over access to its recommendation algorithm and data about all user posts on the platform Elon Musks social media platform X has pushed back against a French criminal investigation into alleged algorithmic manipulation, describing the probe as politically motivated and an attempt to curb free expression. In a statement issued on Monday (July 21), X claimed it had been asked by French authorities to hand over access to its recommendation algorithm and data about all user posts on the platform. The platform said it had refused to comply with the request and had yet to receive clarity on the specific accusations being levelled against it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech, the company said. The Paris prosecutors office said on July 11 that it had opened the inquiry following reports submitted in January by a French MP and a senior official. It is investigating possible violations including tampering with the functioning of an automated data processing system and the fraudulent extraction of data. The prosecutors office confirmed it had asked for access to Xs algorithm in a letter dated July 19 but insisted it had not sought user data. X alleged that the inquiry was instigated by Eric Bothorel, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macrons Renaissance party. Bothorel told the Financial Times that he had flagged several issues with the platform to prosecutors, including its alleged lack of content moderation and what he characterised as the biased promotion of rightwing content. If the justice system is taking next steps . . . it means they think it is necessary, Bothorel said. He cited Elon Musks promotion of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in January as a cause for concern. The French probe runs parallel to broader scrutiny of X by the European Commission, which is examining whether the company has breached the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping regulation aimed at curbing online harms. Brussels has delayed a decision on that inquiry until September. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, the Commission reportedly discussed potentially harmful or illegal responses generated by Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musks xAI, in conversations with X executives. A formal investigation remains under consideration. Bothorel criticised the EUs slow progress in enforcing DSA rules, saying: Its disheartening to see the European Union fail to take responsibility when it comes to enforcing and especially applying the sanctions regimes that were envisioned under the DSA and DMA. If I chose to refer the matter to the justice system, it was also to provoke the commission a bit, he added. Nearly 20 years after a series of blasts tore through Mumbais suburban trains, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 men convicted in the 2006 train bombing case that killed 189 people and injured over 800. Nearly two decades after the deadly 2006 Mumbai train bombings, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 men who were convicted in the case. The blasts had killed 189 people and left over 800 injured. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse pointed to major flaws in the prosecutions case. The court noted that key witnesses could not be relied upon, identification parades were not properly conducted, and several confessions were obtained through torture, raising serious questions about the fairness of the trial. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The defence had raised serious questions about the test identification parade. Many witnesses remained silent for unusually long periods, some over four years, and then suddenly identified the accused. This is abnormal, the bench said as quoted by India Today. The Bombay High Court raised serious doubts over the prosecutions case in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, pointing out unreliable witnesses, procedural lapses, and weak evidence handling. One key witness, the court noted, had testified in several unrelated crime branch cases, including the Ghatkopar blast case, which made his credibility questionable. Others were unable to convincingly explain how they managed to identify the accused after so many years. The judges also flagged lapses in the investigation. Some crucial witnesses were never examined, and the prosecution failed to prove that key evidence such as RDX and other explosives was properly preserved and securely sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory. Citing a clear non-application of mind, the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. It struck down the 2015 judgment of the special MCOCA court, which had sentenced five of the accused to death and seven others to life imprisonment. The deadlock stems from the fact that outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurtis party Vetevendosje (VV), which topped February polls, did not win enough seats to have its choice for speaker installed A member of Kosovo's Parliament looks at his phone during a session in the plenary hall of the Kosovo parliament in Pristina on July 13, 2025. Kosovo MPs failed on July 21, 2025 to elect a speaker and constitute a new parliament for the fiftieth consecutive time, continuing a political stalemate months after they were voted into office. AFP Kosovo MPs failed Monday to elect a speaker and constitute a new parliament for the fiftieth consecutive time, continuing a political stalemate months after they were voted into office. The deadlock stems from the fact that outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurtis party Vetevendosje (VV), which topped February polls, did not win enough seats to have its choice for speaker installed. The session is adjourned; we resume on Wednesday, said Avni Dehari, who is chairing the parliament temporarily as the oldest MP. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Several MPs attempted to take the floor but Dehari turned off their microphones. Opposition parties have repeatedly voted against VVs pick for the speaker, former justice minister Albulena Haxhiu, and have asked Kurti to change the candidate as she is seen as a divisive figure. But the caretaker prime minister has refused to compromise. Kosovo is a hostage of Albin Kurti, said Vlora Citaku, general secretary of the previous legislatures leading opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Without the speaker, the parliament cannot be constituted, nor can a new government be elected leaving Kurti in the role of caretaker for more than five months. Observers fear that the fractured political scene could result in a snap election if no government can be formed. Under Kosovos legal framework, the inaugural session of parliament must be reconvened every 48 hours until a speaker is elected. There is no legal time limit for how long this can continue. Trying to end the stalemate, the Constitutional Court had ruled last month that the parliament inauguration deadlock should end within 30 days. MPs must fulfil their constitutional obligation for the constituting of the parliament of the Republic of Kosovo via the election of the parliamentary speaker and deputy speakers, the court said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The deadline expires on Saturday, but the parties have not made any progress in finding a compromise. In protest against the failure to constitute the assembly, renowned lawyer Arianit Koci shaved his head at the entrance of the assembly. Our very statehood is being threatened. Friends and enemies are becoming convinced that we are not capable of maintaining a state, he said. July 22, 2025, 03:00:37 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter EU's new migration policy ties aid to enforcement, sparking economic and sovereignty concerns The European Union has adopted a more stringent migration policy, primarily based on its recent Pact on Migration and Asylum, which links development aid to the cooperation of African nations in managing migration flows, Deutsche Welle says in a report. This strategy of conditional engagement leverages financial assistance to ensure countries help control their borders and accept the return of irregular migrants. While EU officials present this as a cooperative framework for managing a shared challenge, it has drawn significant criticism from policy experts. Analysts warn the approach amounts to economic coercion that undermines the sovereignty of African states, forcing them to divert scarce resources from essential development goals to border enforcement. This could distort the purpose of development aid, increase geopolitical risk for investors, and potentially strain long-term economic partnerships between the EU and Africa by failing to address the root causes of migration. Amid growing threat to Europe from Russia, Poland is planning to acquire a stake in satellite imagery company that has been providing applications to Ukraine that have helped it plan the defences against the Russian invasion. Servicemen of the 24th Mechanized brigade, named after King Danylo, of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops, on a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 15, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) Amid fears that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his aggression on Europe, Poland has planned to acquire a stake in a satellite company that has helped Ukraine in the war with Russia. The satellite company Iceye, founded by CEO Rafa Modrzewski and his partner Pekka Laurila, has tracked Russian troop deployment. Ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Iceye supplied Ukraine with images of Russian troop movements that helped plan the defences better. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Financial Times has reported that Poland is in the final stages to acquire a stake in Iceye. The size of the stake has not been disclosed. In recent years, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, satellite imagery and satellite internet have emerged highly strategic assets for nations. As most of these organisations are based in the United States, and European nations are no longer assured that President Donald Trump will allow European nations to maintain access to these companies. Notably, after the spat at the White House, the Trump administration blocked Ukraine from accessing Maxar. From Arctic shipping to Ukraine war Iceye was founded in 2014 to provide radar imagery of moving ice blocks to Arctic shipping companies. However, as tensions raged in Europe as Russia prepared to invade Ukraine, Iceye pivoted to providing satellite imagery related to the war in Ukraine. It has now become a provider of military applications and is one of the many firms trying to capitalise on Trump dictating US firms dealings with European nations, such as Maxar or Starlink. Modrzewski told the FT they set up Iceye with backing from Aalto Universitys Center for Entrepreneurship when they were students and now want to expand its production capacity at least fourfold to meet surging demand for its satellites. They currently manufacture up to 25 satellites and raise it to 100-150 a year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Poland will invest in the company via the countrys nations development bank and follows the defence ministrys $230 million purchase in May of six satellites. In recent years, as European nations have found their access to US-based tech giants blocked or disrupted by politics, they have sought to develop alternatives. At times, access to Elon Musk-owned Starlink has also been compromised because of politics. As a result, European nations have explored alternative satellite internet services providers. Recent events have deepened the concerns of multinational firms operating in China. The practice of issuing exit bans, particularly for those with family ties in China or involved in commercial disputes, has been used as a tool by Chinese authorities for years. However, the latest incidents have elevated the risks to a new level particularly for foreign nationals travelling on business. Reports said two US citizens including a federal employee and a senior executive at Wells Fargo have been barred from leaving China. These cases are not isolated. Dozens of American citizens, many of them ethnic Chinese, are under similar exit bans in China, often with little transparency or legal recourse. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD John Kamm of the Dui Hua Foundation told The Washington Post that the number of such bans may be as high as 50, with new cases emerging monthly, typically tied to commercial or civil disputes. The Wells Fargo Incident: A turning point The case of Chenyue Mao, a managing director at Wells Fargo specialising in international factoring, has become emblematic of the growing tension. Mao, a US citizen born in Shanghai, entered China recently on a business trip and discovered upon attempting to leave that she was subject to an exit ban. Wells Fargo promptly suspended all employee travel to China and confirmed it was actively working through appropriate channels to secure Maos return to the US, reports said. Maos extensive professional history in global trade finance, including leadership roles in international financial organisations, highlights the potential diplomatic fallout. Her travel restriction, imposed without clear explanation, raises serious concerns about the predictability and safety of conducting business in China. Corporate fallout and diplomatic repercussions Multinational corporations, especially those with staff deployed in mainland China, are now reevaluating risk exposure. Some companies have already issued internal directives discouraging solo travel or advising employees to avoid China altogether, Reuters reported. The broader implication, however, is that firms are beginning to question whether operating in China is worth the geopolitical and personal risk. US government agencies have responded cautiously but firmly. The State Department reiterated its advisory urging Americans to reconsider travel to China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans. Furthermore, senior diplomats have raised these cases directly with Chinese officials, with pressure mounting at high levels to ensure the affected individuals are allowed to return home. Mixed signals from Beijing China has long courted foreign investment, emphasising its openness to global business. Spokespersons from the Chinese Embassy in Washington have reiterated that China guarantees the safety and legitimate rights of foreign citizens within its borders, provided they respect local laws. But Chinas growing use of exit bans, lack of judicial transparency and disregard for dual nationality protections run contrary to these assurances. A wake-up call for Western corporations The events surrounding Maos detainment have triggered a reckoning among global business leaders. Veteran bankers and corporate executives who previously experienced Chinas regulatory environment with relative confidence now face a stark reality that no foreign passport offers guaranteed protection. For ethnic Chinese professionals, the risk is compounded by Beijings refusal to acknowledge dual citizenship. In the words of a former US official, naturalised citizens are particularly vulnerable. The Chinese government views them as Chinese nationals first, giving the state leverage through family connections still in the country. Cases like that of a US government employee reportedly held in China for visa-related issues reinforce these concerns, especially as the person involved was travelling for personal reasons and not on official business. Eroding business confidence The chilling effect on global business sentiment is growing. The use of exit bans, especially against senior executives, threatens not only individual liberties but also the operational flexibility of multinational firms. As reported by The Economic Times, Maos case has generated considerable alarm, especially in sectors reliant on frequent cross-border engagement such as finance, tech and manufacturing. Chinas ambition to remain a global business hub now faces a self-imposed challenge. Detaining business travellers, whether as part of internal investigations or diplomatic leverage, sends a contradictory message. While the countrys leadership continues to court global investors, its practices increasingly alienate the very professionals it seeks to attract. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India: A stable and strategic alternative Amid this growing disquiet, attention is turning toward India as a more secure and strategically viable destination for Western companies. The appeal is rooted not just in Indias demographic advantages or its burgeoning middle class, but in its political and legal transparency, favourable investment climate and robust institutional framework. Over the past few years, India has actively positioned itself as an alternative manufacturing and technology hub through initiatives such as Make in India and production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes. Western multinationals have already begun shifting parts of their supply chains to India, often citing regulatory stability and democratic governance as key factors. The timing could not be more opportune. While Chinas opaque legal environment deters inbound travel and long-term planning, India offers relative predictability. The recent instability in US-China relations only sharpens this contrast. Business leaders are increasingly factoring in not just cost efficiency but also geopolitical resilience when selecting regional bases. Building trust through rule of law Unlike China, India maintains an independent judiciary and relatively open media ecosystem, both of which contribute to a safer environment for foreign investors and professionals. Arbitrary detentions, opaque travel restrictions and politically motivated legal actions, which are key concerns in China, are far less common in India. This legal clarity provides assurance to international firms that their rights and those of their employees will be upheld. Furthermore, Indias diplomatic relations with Western nations have been steadily improving. Strategic partnerships with the US, EU, Japan and Australia bolster its credibility as a long-term business ally. These alliances also create a security buffer that helps insulate foreign investors from the volatility seen in other emerging markets. In practical terms, firms looking to de-risk their Asia strategies are already exploring options to relocate regional offices or data centres from China to India. The software and electronics industries are leading the charge, but the trend is expanding into pharmaceuticals, textiles and financial services. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Companies previously hesitant to exit China entirely are now taking a China-plus-one approach retaining minimal presence in China while building up operations elsewhere. India, with its skilled workforce, improving infrastructure and investor-friendly reforms is increasingly emerging as that plus-one. Several multinationals are quietly moving critical roles out of China. Apple, for instance, has increased its iPhone production capacity in India. Likewise, Google and Microsoft have expanded their development centres across Bengaluru and Hyderabad. These arent merely tactical decisions. They reflect a growing strategic consensus that long-term exposure to China carries reputational and operational risks that are no longer acceptable. The Wells Fargo episode, for all its uniqueness, has only intensified these conversations. Corporations now see India not just as a promising growth market, but as a secure geopolitical partner. A shift in the balance of power The detainment of American nationals in China, particularly high-ranking business professionals, has introduced a new layer of risk into an already complex geopolitical arena. While Beijing attempts to walk a fine line between regulatory control and economic openness, it risks alienating the very investors and professionals critical to its growth ambitions. In contrast, India offers a path forward for Western firms looking for stability, transparency and a reliable rule of law. As corporate leaders reexamine where and how they operate in Asia, the choice between risk and resilience is becoming clearer. And for many, India is emerging not just as an alternative, but as the new centre of gravity in the regions economic future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A training aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed onto a school campus in the countrys capital, Dhaka, killing at least 20 persons and injuring 171. Firefighters and army members work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft after it crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 21, 2025. (Reuters/Stringer) A training aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crashed onto a school campus in the countrys capital, Dhaka, killing at least 20 persons. At least 20 people have been killed in the crash at the Milestone College campus, Shahjahan Shikder, and 171 have been injured, according to the Bangladeshi military. Most of those injured are schoolchildren and around 70 of the injured were undergoing treatment in hospitals for burns, Sayedur Rahman, a Special Assistant to the interim ruler Muhammed Yunus, previously told BBC Bangla. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The crash occurred at Uttara area of Dhaka on Monday afternoon. The pilot of the plane, identified as Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, was among those killed, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (PR), the communications wing of the Bangladeshi military. The fighter jet involved in the crash was an F-7 BGI, which the country purchased from China. As per the official document, each F-7 jet costs $5.85 million. The authorities noted that children were present inside the school at the time of the crash, leading to a high casualty. Fire and rescuers from the military arrived at the scene soon after the crash. A #Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training aircraft has crashed into Milestone College campus Atleast one person killed, numbers may rise. An F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed just after takeoff around 1:06pm, video 3 pic.twitter.com/he3X7cVK7A Tuhin Babu (@MdTuhinBabu9) July 21, 2025 Fire official Lima Khanam said that the jet crashed at around 1:06 PM (local time). The video of the crash soon started to circulate online, showing thick smoke and flames rising from the crash site. It is pertinent to note that Bangladesh purchased the jet back in 2022 from China. As per the Bangladeshi authorities, the F-7 BGI is a multi-role capable aircraft manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation in China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Trump administration is growing increasingly uneasy with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus aggressive military actions in the region, particularly his recent strikes in Syria, according to a report. A White House official described Bibi as a child, saying he acted like a madman. President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a news conference in the East Room of the White House, on Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington. AP File The Trump administration is increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, known as Bibi, over his aggressive stance in the conflict with Syria, Axios has reported. A White House official, speaking to Axios, said, Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time. This could undermine what Trump is trying to do, referring to a recent Israeli strike on the Syrian presidential palace. The remarks come amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Damascus and southern Syria, where government forces have also been targeted. In a separate incident, Israeli forces reportedly struck the Holy Family Catholic Church compound, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to another US official, President Donald Trump personally phoned Netanyahu following the Gaza church strike and demanded an explanation. The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f***? the official told Axios. These comments follow Netanyahus third visit to the United States in recent weeks, during which he held multiple meetings with Trump, including a dinner at the White House. However, despite the high-level engagement, there was no breakthrough in efforts to end the Gaza war. A third White House official told Axios that scepticism towards Netanyahu is growing within the Trump team, describing the Israeli leader as too impulsive and too disruptive. Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just wont behave, the official added. Israeli government spokesperson Ziv Agmon did not respond to the remarks attributed to Trump and his aides. In the wake of the Israeli strike in Syria, the United States intervened to ease tensions. The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey announced a ceasefire agreement between the parties involved. While the ceasefire temporarily paused further escalation, senior Trump administration officials remain alarmed by Netanyahus broader regional policies, Axios reported, citing six U.S. sources. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A year after the uprising in Bangladesh toppled the countrys PM Sheikh Hasina, a report suggested that Hasina-era officials have conducted several property transactions in the UK in a bid to save their assets from the Dhaka courts As Bangladesh prepares to commemorate one year of student-led revolution that toppled the countrys former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, an explosive report suggested that in the past year, Bangladeshis linked to the Hasina regime have made significant property transactions. The report by The Guardian and the campaign group Transparency International stated that several Bangladeshis, under scrutiny in Dhaka, have either sold, transferred or refinanced their UK properties, especially in London. When it comes to the timeline, the report stated that all these transactions took place shortly before the revolution rocked Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The luxury UK real estate has been at the centre of the drama between Hasina and her co and Bangladeshs current interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Investigators in Dhaka have been probing the allegations that powerful and politically connected figures under the previous regime exploited their senior positions to loot state contracts and the Bangladeshi banking system. The interim government alleged that the Hasina regime managed to channel millions looted from Bangladesh into UK properties. In light of this, the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) froze 90 million worth of property belonging to members of the Rahman family in May. Three weeks later, the NCA froze over 170m of assets belonging to Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. It is pertinent to note that Chowdhury was the former land minister in the Hasina government who amassed a vast fortune under her rule. The Bangladeshi ministers assets included more than 300 UK properties, ranging from apartments to lavish townhouses. Some notable mentions According to the disclosures made to the UK Land Registry, at least 20 applications for dealing have been submitted in the past year, concerning property owned by figures under scrutiny by Dhaka. These applications indicated that the properties underwent sale, transfer or change to a mortgage. Out of these, three properties worth 24.5 million were owned by members of the Sobhan family, the powerful dynasty that owns the Bashundhara business group. According to The Guardian, until April last year, a four-storey townhouse in Knightsbridge was directly owned by Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Bashundharas managing director, via a company based in the United Arab Emirates. The Sobhan family is among several Bangladeshi dynasties that are under investigation by Bangladeshs Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegations such as money laundering. As per the report, the property was transferred to a UK business called Brookview Heights Ltd, free of charge. Brookview is owned by a director of Orbis London, a real estate advisory firm with offices in Liechtenstein and Singapore. The British company has acted for the Sobhan family on property transactions in the past. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The townhouse was eventually sold for 7.35m to a newly formed company, whose sole director is an accountant with no online profile. The same accountant is reportedly the director of other companies as well. In the past, the family has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and will robustly defend ourselves against these allegations. Apart from this, two more individuals have come under the scrutiny of ACC. One is Chowdhurys brother, Anisuzzaman, while the other is a successful British-Bangladeshi property developer, whose name The Guardian has chosen not to mention. When it comes to Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, the UKs land registry data shows market activities on four of his properties. They include the sale of a 10m Georgian townhouse on the fringes of Regents Park, central London, completed last July. According to The Guardian, the other three are understood to be put on refinancing. Meanwhile, Chowdhurys lawyers argue that he did not believe that there was any legitimate reason for any of his assets to be frozen and that the sale of the Regents Park property was agreed back in 2023, before the revolution rocked Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The other three applications dealt with properties owned by the son and nephew of Salman F Rahman, who runs the Beximco business group, one of Bangladeshs largest conglomerates. Both Ahmed Shayan Rahman and Ahmed Shahryar Rahman are under investigation by the ACC. Lawyers for the Rahmans denied any wrongdoing and argued that political upheaval in Bangladesh had led to allegations being made against many people. They made it clear that the two brothers would engage with any investigation which takes place in the UK. Dhaka raises alarm In June this year, a Bangladeshi delegation led by the countrys interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus arrived in London to forge stronger ties with the United Kingdom. At that time, Ahsan Mansur, the central bank governor who is leading his countrys efforts to repatriate assets, called for more measures against Hasina-era officials. We are aware of efforts to liquidate assets, and we would like the UK government to consider more freezing orders, Mansur said. Measures to block transactions would give us hope of following due process to repatriate assets, he added. His calls were echoed by ACC Chair Mohammad Abdul Momen, who asked the NCA to consider freezing the assets of several individuals, amid a flurry of post-revolutionary property market activity. The UK government is facing pressure to do something in this regard, from within as well. Joe Powell MP, the chair of an all-party parliamentary group examining corruption and tax, urged authorities to move quickly with the investigation. History tells us that assets can quickly evaporate unless swift steps are taken to freeze those assets while investigations are underway, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Powell welcomed the actions already taken by the NCA but urged it to expand the net as soon as possible. The Labour MP is leading the group of parliamentarians that is looking at how London real estate is being used to transfer wealth by the elites around the world. The group became more active following Russias invasion of Ukraine. With a trade deal with the US looking less likely and the deadline approaching, the EU is preparing contingency plans for swift action if talks fail EU diplomats are gearing up to convene as early as this week to devise strategies for a potential no-deal outcome with US President Donald Trump, whose tougher stance on tariffs looms large before the August 1 deadline. Negotiations with Washington remain the EUs priority to resolve the deadlock by next month. However, Bloomberg has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that last weeks talks in Washington have not produced any desired progress. Discussions are set to continue over the next two weeks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US pushing for near-universal tariff on EU goods According to the report, the US is pushing for a near-universal tariff on EU goods exceeding 10 per cent, with limited exemptions for aviation, certain medical devices, generic medicines, select spirits, and specific manufacturing equipment critical to the US. Earlier this month, Trump warned the EU of a 30 per cent tariff on most exports starting August 1. He has already imposed a 25 per cent levy on cars and auto parts, 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, and recently announced a 50 per cent levy on copper. Additional duties on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are threatened for next month. The EU estimates these US tariffs already affect 380 billion ($442 billion), or roughly 70 per cent, of its exports to the US. The EU is seeking broader exemptions and protection from future sectoral tariffs, acknowledging that any deal will likely favour the US. Bloomberg previously noted that the EU will evaluate the overall imbalance of any agreement before considering retaliatory measures. EU prepares for no-deal outcome With a deal looking less likely and the deadline approaching, the EU is preparing contingency plans for swift action if talks fail, the report said. Retaliation would likely require approval from EU leaders due to the high stakes, potentially widening the transatlantic trade rift, especially given Trumps warnings that countermeasures would trigger harsher US responses. The EU has already greenlit potential tariffs on 21 billion of US goods, targeting politically sensitive states like Louisianahome to House Speaker Mike Johnsonwith products like soybeans, poultry, motorcycles, and other agricultural goods. A further 72 billion in US products is lined up for tariffs in response to Trumps reciprocal and automotive levies. Last week, Bloomberg reported growing support among EU member states to deploy the anti-coercion instrument (ACI) if no acceptable deal is reached and Trump follows through on his threats. The ACI would allow the EU to impose measures like taxes on US tech giants, restrictions on US investments, or limits on US firms access to EU markets and public contracts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Designed as a deterrent, the ACI targets deliberate coercive trade actions by third countries. While the European Commission can propose its use, EU member states decide if coercion exists and whether to activate it. The UN World Food Programme said its 25-truck convoy carrying food aid encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire near Gaza City, soon after it crossed from Israel and cleared checkpoints Palestinians look at foodstuffs for sale at a makeshift market in the Mawasi area of Rafah, amid a huge spike in prices of already scarce foodstuffs in the Israel-besieged Gaza Strip on July 20, 2025. AFP Gazas civil defence agency said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to collect humanitarian aid in the war-torn Palestinian territory on Sunday, killing 93 people and wounding dozens more. Eighty were killed as truckloads of aid arrived in the north, while nine others were reported shot near an aid point close to Rafah in the south, where dozens of people lost their lives just 24 hours earlier. Four were killed near another aid site in Khan Yunis, also in the south, agency spokesman Mahmud Basal told AFP. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The UN World Food Programme said its 25-truck convoy carrying food aid encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire near Gaza City, soon after it crossed from Israel and cleared checkpoints. Israels military disputed the death toll and said soldiers had fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat posed to them as thousands gathered near Gaza City. Deaths of civilians seeking aid have become a regular occurrence in Gaza, with the authorities blaming Israeli fire as crowds facing chronic shortages of food and other essentials flock in huge numbers to aid centres. The UN said earlier this month that nearly 800 aid-seekers had been killed since late May, including on the routes of aid convoys. Like hunting animals In Gaza City, Qasem Abu Khater, 36, told AFP he had rushed to try to get a bag of flour but instead found a desperate crowd of thousands and deadly overcrowding and pushing. The tanks were firing shells randomly at us and Israeli sniper soldiers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest, he added. Dozens of people were martyred right before my eyes and no one could save anyone. The WFP condemned violence against civilians seeking aid as completely unacceptable. 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. The army says it works to avoid harm to civilians, and that this month it issued new instructions to its troops on the ground following lessons learned from a spate of similar incidents. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel on Sunday withdrew the residency permit of head of the OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) office in Israel, Jonathan Whittall, who has repeatedly condemned the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in a post to X, accused him of spreading lies about the war in Gaza. Papal call The war was sparked by Hamass attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israels retaliatory campaign has killed 58,895 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday expressed his regret to Pope Leo XIV after what he described as a stray munition killed three people sheltering at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. At the end of the Angelus prayer on Sunday, the pope slammed the barbarity of the Gaza war and called for peace, days after the Israeli strike on the territorys only Catholic church. The strike was part of the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, held mass at the Gaza church on Sunday after travelling to the devastated territory in a rare visit on Friday. Expanding operations Most of Gazas population of more than two million people have been displaced at least once during the war and there have been repeated evacuation calls across large parts of the coastal enclave. On Sunday morning, the Israeli military told residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the Deir el-Balah area to move south immediately due to imminent operations in the area. Whole families were seen carrying what few belongings they have on packed donkey carts heading south. They threw leaflets at us and we dont know where we are going and we dont have shelter or anything, one man told AFP. The displacement order was another devastating blow to the already fragile lifelines keeping people alive across the Gaza Strip, the UN OCHA said on Sunday. According to the aid agency, 87.8 percent of Gaza is now under displacement orders or within Israeli militarized zones, leaving 2.1 million civilians squeezed into a fragmented 12 per cent of the Strip, where essential services have collapsed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The armys latest announcement prompted concern from families of hostages held since October 7, 2023 that the Israeli offensive could harm their loved ones. Delegations from Israel and militant group Hamas have spent the last two weeks in indirect talks on a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 10 living hostages. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamass 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Deir al-Balah, one of Gazas few areas with standing buildings, was spared by the IDF so far due to intelligence suggesting hostages were held there The Ansar Mosque and an adjacent cemetery in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Source: AFP Israel on Sunday (July 20) announced its first military operation into Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza town previously avoided due to concerns for hostages, as it accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of obstructing US-mediated ceasefire talks. The Israeli military ordered Palestinians in parts of Deir al-Balah to evacuate south to a tent city for civilians displaced by the 21-month war. The fighting in the besieged territory has intensified after a truce collapsed in early May. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israels control over flow of humanitarian aid Tensions have escalated over the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel shifted from traditional aid channels to the US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which it claimed would weaken Hamas. The UN has labelled the GHF discriminatory and inadequate to prevent famine for many Gazans. Concurrently, Israel launched operations to seize Palestinian territory, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages from its October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. That assault killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 abducted, with about 50 hostages remaining, 20 believed alive. Hamas has not disclosed their locations, threatening executions if Israeli forces approach. Israel now controls roughly 75 per cent of Gaza, but Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal for any ceasefire or hostage release, a demand Israel rejects. Why has Israel avoided Deir al-Balah so far? Deir al-Balah, one of Gazas few areas with standing buildings, was spared due to intelligence suggesting hostages were held there, though its uncertain if this still holds. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed alarm over the Deir al-Balah operation, stating, For the hostages, this is not a negotiating bargaining chip, but a clear and present danger to their fates. Enough! A sweeping majority of the nation of Israel wants the war ended in a comprehensive deal that returns all of the hostages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Talks on to secure release of hostages On July 6, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched negotiators to Qatar, a Hamas intermediary, before a White House visit where he and US President Donald Trump expressed optimism for a diplomatic resolution to free 10 living and 18 deceased hostages. Minister Gila Gamliel accused Hamas of stalling, anticipating progress once Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, joins talks. The moment he runs things in Doha, we will see what the ramifications are, she told Israels Army Radio. Hamas, designated a terrorist group by much of the West, warned that the deadlock threatens hostages. We have sustained their survival as much as possible, until now, said Abu Obeida, Hamass armed wing spokesperson, on Friday. If the criminal enemy obstructs or withdraws from this round, we cannot guarantee a return to partial deals or to the proposal for the release of 10 captives. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has suffered a major political setback as his ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the upper house, leaving it in the minority in both chambers of parliament for the first time since 1955. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to the media following upper house elections, at Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters in Tokyo on July 20, 2025. Image- AFP Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas ruling coalition has failed to win a majority in the 248-seat upper house, according to public broadcaster NHK, dealing a major blow to his leadership. Ishibas Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito needed 50 additional seats to secure a majority, on top of the 75 they already held. With only two seats left to be declared, the coalition had managed just 46. This defeat leaves Ishibas coalition in the minority in both houses of parliament, following its earlier loss in the lower house in October marking the first time since the LDPs founding in 1955 that it lacks control of both chambers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the setback, Ishiba vowed on Sunday to remain in office and address key issues such as U.S. tariff pressures. However, he now faces growing internal pressure to either step down or seek a new coalition partner. Shigeru Ishibas ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito managed to secure just 47 seats in Japans upper house electionsfalling short of the 50 needed to claim a majority in the 248-seat chamber, where half the seats were contested. The setback compounds the coalitions poor performance in the lower house elections last October, its worst in 15 years. The twin blows have left Ishibas government increasingly exposed to no-confidence motions and growing dissent within his party over the need for new leadership. Reacting to the outcome on NHK after polls closed Sunday, Ishiba said he solemnly accepted the harsh result. Speaking later to TV Tokyo, he added, We are engaged in critical tariff negotiations with the United States. Sabotaging them is not an optionwe must commit all our efforts to securing Japans national interest. As the monsoon session of Parliament is set to kick off today, the Centre signalled its readiness to discuss Operation SindoorIndias military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, along with Trumps recent claim of brokering a ceasefire. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget 2025-26, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and others look on in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi. PTI The Centre on Sunday indicated it was open to discussing Operation SindoorIndias military response to the Pahalgam terror attackin Parliament, and suggested it may also address US President Donald Trumps recent claim of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was prepared to debate any issue of national importance during the monsoon session, which begins Monday. We are open to discussing key issues such as Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack. These matters concern the nation deeply, and the government wont shy away from debate, Rijiju said after an all-party meeting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The meeting, attended by 54 leaders from across parties, saw demands from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Left, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (UBT) for a discussion on the operation. Interestingly, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shindepart of the ruling NDAalso backed a debate, according to two leaders present. The Congress has specifically demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House, covering both the operation and Trumps remarks. We hope the Prime Minister speaks in Parliament. These are serious mattersthe Pahalgam attack and the security lapse behind it. Comments from the US President raise concerns about Indias honour and the bravery of our armed forces, said Gaurav Gogoi, Congresss deputy leader in the Lok Sabha. Gogoi also said the Opposition would seek answers on the ongoing voter roll revision in Bihar. Sources said it remains unclear if the Prime Minister will respond directly, though Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to deliver a detailed statement on Operation Sindoor. Zelenskyy made the announcement during his daily address on Monday, stating that Ukrainian Security Council chief Rustem Umerov had briefed him on the upcoming talks and ongoing preparations Russia and Ukraine will hold a fresh round of peace talks in Turkey on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in what would be the third such meeting following inconclusive sessions in Istanbul earlier this year. Zelenskyy made the announcement during his daily address on Monday (July 21), stating that Ukrainian Security Council chief Rustem Umerov had briefed him on the upcoming talks and ongoing preparations. Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, he said, adding that more details would be shared on Tuesday (July 22). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The talks come as both sides continue to accuse each other of bad faith and with fighting still raging on multiple fronts. The previous rounds of discussions, held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2, ended without substantive progress, despite strong pressure from US President Donald Trump to broker a ceasefire. So far, the only tangible outcome of negotiations has been limited prisoner exchanges. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its aerial assaults and captured additional territory in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin has reiterated its demands that Ukraine surrender four occupied regions, in addition to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. It also insists that Ukraine abandon its Nato aspirations a red line Kyiv has refused to cross. Ukrainian officials have expressed scepticism about Russias intentions, even after the Kremlin said last week it was open to further talks following Trumps ultimatum. The US president warned that Moscow had 50 days to reach a ceasefire agreement or face sweeping new sanctions. He also promised renewed arms shipments to bolster Ukrainian defences, including Patriot missile systems. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that expectations for a breakthrough should remain tempered. A lot of diplomatic work lies ahead, he told reporters, suggesting that fundamental differences between the two sides remain unresolved. With inputs from AFP An off-duty US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent was shot during an attempted robbery in New York Citys Riverside Park late Saturday night, in what police believe was a random attack. Whereas, Trump has blamed Biden policies for the incident, Police stand at the front of the Richmond Road Baptist Church as other officers maintain a perimeter following a shooting at the church in Lexington, Ky. AP An off-duty US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent was shot late Saturday night during an attempted robbery in New York Citys Riverside Park, police said. Officials believe the incident was random and not related to the agents job. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, 21-year-old Miguel Mora is a person of interest in the case. He was hospitalised with gunshot wounds believed to have been sustained during the encounter and is expected to be arrested. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The CBP agent was sitting by the water in Manhattan when two men approached him on a scooter. One of them pulled a gun. The agent, realising he was being robbed, drew his own weapon. A shootout followed. The agent was shot in the face and forearm, while the gunman was also injured. Both suspects fled the scene. Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden. He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED. The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. The entire incident was captured on CCTV, helping investigators identify Mora as the shooter. He later arrived at Bronx Care Hospital with gunshot wounds matching those seen on the video. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he visited the wounded agent in hospital. His condition has not been disclosed. Commissioner Tisch said Mora is in the U.S. illegally, having crossed the border through Arizona in 2023. He has a criminal history, including two domestic violence arrests, an active warrant for missing a court date, and is wanted for a robbery in December 2024 and a stabbing in January 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mora is currently in police custody at Lincoln Hospital after undergoing surgery. Critical minerals have replaced oil and gas as the biggest concern in global energy security, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol, highlighting a major shift in energy priorities amid the rapid rise of AI, electric vehicles, and clean power demand. Critical minerals have overtaken oil and gas as the top concern for global energy security, marking a significant shift in the worlds energy priorities, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said, outlining the changing dynamics in the energy market amid the rapid rise of AI, electric vehicles, and clean power demand. Speaking in Paris, Birol noted that oil supply is no longer the primary challenge, as demand weakens amid rapid electrification. The soaring need for electricitydriven by artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and rising air-conditioning usehas pushed critical minerals to the forefront of energy concerns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A single medium-sized data centre consumes as much electricity as 100,000 homes, Birol said, stressing the urgent need for steady and clean power to support tech expansion and AI development. The IEAs latest Global Critical Minerals Outlook warns that the refining of essential materialssuch as cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earthsis dangerously concentrated. China now controls about 70 per cent of refining capacity for 19 out of 20 key minerals, raising serious supply security and geopolitical risks. Birol cautioned that this dependency could cause severe disruptions. Battery metal prices could spike by 4050 per cent if supply shocks or export restrictions occur. He called for swift government intervention through public investment and policy tools like price-stabilisation mechanisms. In a world of high geopolitical tensions, critical minerals have emerged as a frontline issue in safeguarding global energy and economic security, Birol said. This new analysis reviews whats at stake and outlines what must be done to strengthen the resilience and diversity of mineral supply chainsessential for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy in the 21st century. The IEA is urging a coordinated public-private push to secure mineral supply chains, calling for global cooperation, incentives, and the adoption of advanced technologies such as AI. The goal, Birol said, is to ensure the future of clean energy systems and digital innovation is not held hostage to fragile or monopolised supply routes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Seven people killed and over a dozen others injured after armed clashes exploded in Chaman, a town in Pakistan-administered Balochistan A deadly armed conflict exploded in Pakistans Chaman on Sunday, killing 7 people and injuring over 12 others. The clashes broke out between two opposing groups in the Pakistan-administered Balochistan province, Ary News reported. Police sources told the Pakistani news outlet that one of the critically injured victims succumbed to injuries later, raising the death toll to 7. It is pertinent to note that Chaman is a precarious border town located in Balochistan near the Afghan frontier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per the report, the conflict demanded an urgent intervention by Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, who somehow managed to stop the fighting. However, the persistence of high tension in the region has led to the blockage of the Quetta-Chaman highway by one of the groups at Qila Abdullah, Ary News reported. This eventually resulted in a massive traffic jam with long queues of stranded vehicles. One among many Soon after the clashes were controlled, local officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Qila Abdullah, tribal elders, and religious scholars, gathered at the Jungle Pir Alizai police station to evaluate the situation. What makes the matter concerning is the fact that the Chaman armed unrest is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have taken over the province. The town itself faces instability due to tribal arguments and border tensions. However, what makes the incident significant is the fact that the Quetta-Chaman highway blockade that followed has upset trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan, highlighting the importance of the crucial route. The Pakistani authorities noted that efforts are being undertaken to negotiate with the parties involved and reopen the highway. In the meantime, security forces remain on high alert in the region. Amidst the chaos, on Sunday, a video showing the killing of a man and a woman in Balochistan circulated online and drew criticism. The public outrage eventually prompted actions from provincial officials, Ary News reported. The video led the government to send footage to NADRA for biometric analysis. Eventually, officials successfully identified the individuals and tribal ties involved. However, the name of the prime suspect remains hidden. Interestingly, Shahid Rind mentioned that such acts are not authorised by Pakistani law, and tribal councils (jirgas) have no legal standing in resolving criminal matters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies. At a time when Vladimir Putin has escalated his war on Ukraine, a German general has warned that Russia could soon attack Ukraine with up to 2,000 drones at once. Flames and smoke billow from buildings during mass Russian drones and missile strikes on the Ukraine's capital Kyiv on July 4, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: OLEKSII FILIPPOV/AFP) As Vladimir Putin has ramped up the war on Ukraine, a German general has warned that Russia could soon attack with up to 2,000 drones at once. For weeks, Russia has been attacking Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles on a near-daily basis. It has ramped up attacks consistently and mounted the largest barrage with 741 drones and missiles on the night of July 8-9. Russia is actively expanding its drone production capacity and could soon attack Ukraine with up to 2,000 drones at once, according to Major General Christian Freuding, the head of the Situation Center for Ukraine at Germanys Ministry of Defense. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an interview with the German militarys Nachgefragt programme, Freuding said that such mass deployment of drones could present a major challenge for Ukraines air defence systems, which are not optimised for intercepting large volumes of low-cost drones simultaneously, according to a translation of his remarks. ALSO READ: Trumps 50-day tariff threat to Russia could mean a licence for Putin to execute his Ukraine plan From a high of around 500 drones and missiles on Ukraine in overnight attacks, Russia went to raining more than 700 drones and missiles in a matter of mere weeks, suggesting it has huge stockpile, well-oiled production capacity, and smooth supply chains. Russia is not alone in its war efforts. China has not just kept the Russian economy afloat by making up for the loss of trade after the invasion of Ukraine but has also provided Russia with drones, machinery to make weapons, and dual-use goods used to make weapons. Iran has provided Russia with several thousands of drones and has also transferred the production know-how. Russia is playing low cost-high effect game against Ukraine Freuding flagged that the cost of launching these attacks is much less for Russia than the cost of tackling these attacks for Ukraine and its partners. While an Iranian-origin Shahed drone costs 30,000 and 50,000, one Patriot interceptor missiles costs more than 5 million, according to Freuding. ALSO READ: With Russias terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender not a peace deal The US-origin Patriot missile is the mainstay of Ukrainian air defence against Russian missiles and some high-end drones. Due to costs, Ukraine uses conventional anti-aircraft guns, interceptor drones, and electronic warfare to take down drones and reserves Patriot interceptors for largely taking down Russian missiles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Freuding said that Ukraine needs cost-effective air-defence systems, ideally in the 2,0004,000 range per interception. The development of such systems is essential to respond effectively to large-scale Russian drone attacks, said Freuding. Russia is trying to exhaust Ukraines air defence supplies With such continuous attacks, Russia is trying to exhaust Ukraines air defence supplies, according to Michael Kofman, an analyst focussed on the Russian war on Ukraine, who serves as a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. They [Russians] target population centres because theyre trying to exhaust Ukrainian air defence, and they know Ukrainian air defence will prioritise defending the cities and critical infrastructure, Kofman told The Telegraph earlier this month. At the beginning of this month, Russia launched 537 drones and missiles over the weekend the highest in the war until then. A few days later, Russia broke the record with 550 drones and missiles. Days later, Russia again broke the record with 741 drones and missiles. Despite such attacks, US President Donald Trump has refused to take any punitive action against Putin, who has continued to refuse to make peace. Instead, he has given Putin a 50-day window to hit Ukraine with all that he has got. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The assault on Kyiv began just after midnight and continued until around 6am. The overnight bombardment left two people dead and 15 wounded, including a 12-year-old child, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a residential building burns following a Russian air attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Saturday, July 19, 2025. AP Russia launched one of its most intense aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, just hours before a high-level North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) meeting convened to discuss new weapons deliveries to Kyiv. The overnight bombardment left two people dead and 15 wounded, including a 12-year-old child, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Monday (July 21) barrage came just days after US President Donald Trump promised fresh military support for Ukraine, including Patriot air defence systems. Speaking last week, Trump said deliveries would begin within days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kyiv pounded as Ukraine hits Moscow with drones The assault on Kyiv began just after midnight and continued until around 6am. It was the most significant attack on the capital since Trumps special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in the city last week. Russian strikes had paused during his visit. Moscows defence ministry said it used drones and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to hit Ukraines airfields and military infrastructure. Ukraines air force reported that 426 Shahed and decoy drones were launched, along with 24 missiles of various types. The military said 200 drones were intercepted and 203 others were either jammed or lost from radar. As Ukraine scrambled to reposition its aircraft, four of its military planes accidentally entered Romanian airspace for several minutes, the countrys defence ministry said. Ukraine also launched long-range drone attacks of its own. Russias defence ministry said 74 drones were shot down overnight, including 23 in the Moscow region. Fifteen were intercepted directly over the city. Nato meeting to press on with arms effort Mondays attack heightened pressure on Nato allies as they met to accelerate military aid. The virtual session of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group was chaired by UK Defence Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Nato chief Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen Alexus Grynkewich also attended. Healey was expected to urge allies to launch a 50-day drive to ensure Ukraine receives critical weapons supplies, according to a statement from the UK government. The campaign coincides with Trumps announcement of a 50-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face new sanctions. The US plan involves European nations either donating existing stockpiles of American-made arms or purchasing and sending them through Nato to Ukraine. However, there have been delays in implementation. Ukraine awaits Patriot missile systems Germany has offered to finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and has raised the possibility of donating existing systems and receiving replacements from the US. But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned delivery could take time. In a parallel development, Switzerlands defence ministry said it had been informed by the US that five previously ordered Patriot systems would be reprioritised to help Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Kyiv waits for the high-end air defences, Nato continues to coordinate deliveries of artillery rounds and ammunition. A senior Nato official said shipments that had been paused were resuming. Zelenskyy on Saturday proposed a new round of peace talks, though Russian state media reported no date had been set. The talks are expected to be held in Istanbul. On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remains open to peace, but reiterated that its goals must still be achieved. Malaysias Court of Appeals has a dealt Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim a victory in a case that would determine whether he could be prosecuted as the prime minister. He has been accused of sexual assault by a former aide. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends the BRICS Summit, at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes A Malaysian Court of Appeal has accepted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims request to completely pause a sexual assault case against him. In 2021, Yusoff Rawther, a former research aide to Ibrahim, accused him of sexual assault in 2018. Separately, Ibrahim is appealing a lower courts ruling that sought clarity whether a prime minister had immunity for his pre-office and post-office granted him exception from prosecution. Previously, Ibrahim was convicted of sodomy in 2000 and 2014. In the first case, he was acquitted by a higher court. In the second case, he received a pardon from the new government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the current case, Ibrahim has denied any wrongdoing. Anwar Ibrahims two sodomy convictions This is at least the third time that Ibrahim has faced serious charges. He has previously been convicted of corruption and sexual assault. In 1998, Ibrahim was accused of corruption and sodomy. He was the deputy prime minister at the time. He was fired from the government over allegations. Homosexuality remains criminalised in Malaysia. Those in same-sex relationships are often prosecuted under sodomy charges. In 1999, Ibrahim was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six years. In 2000, he was convicted of sodomy and sentenced to nine years. In 2004, the Federal Court overturned the sodomy conviction. In 2008, Ibrahim was charged with sodomy. Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide, had alleged that Ibrahim sodomised in a house in Kuala Lumpur in 2008. In case full of turns and twists, Ibrahim was acquitted in 2012, but an appeals court overturned the acquittal and sentenced him to five years in 2014. He was pardoned and released in 2018 after a change of the government. There has been widespread belief that these cases against Ibrahim were politically-motivated and did not have substance. What we know of the current case? The complainant in the current case, Yusoff Rawther, filed his case in 2021 and accused Ibrahim of sexually assaulting him in October 2018 while they were in Ibrahims residence in Kuala Lumpur. Yusoff has sought special, general, aggravated, and exemplary damages un the case. UKs F-35B jet, which has been stuck in Kerala for more than five weeks, will be taking off on Tuesday, airport officials confirmed. A British F-35B fighter jet, which has been stranded since June 14, 2025 is seen at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, in the southern state of Kerala, India, on June 26, 2025. AP The UK's F-35B jet, which has been stuck in Kerala for more than five weeks, is set to fly on Tuesday. The state-of-the-art British fighter jet is due to be pulled back from the hangar today, and the departure is scheduled for Tuesday, an airport spokesman told the BBC. We do not have any technical details, he added. The F-35B jet landed at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft was diverted after it ran into bad weather while conducting sorties in the Indian Ocean. The fighter jet then developed a technical snag, forcing it to remain stuck in Kerala. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The jets prolonged presence on Indian soil sparked curiosity and raised questions over how such a modern aircraft remained stranded in a foreign nation for so long. It is pertinent to note that the aircraft was part of the fleet of the HMS Prince of Wales. The F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are known for their short take-off and vertical landing capability. The case of the stranded $110m (80m) jet was also raised in the House of Commons. The struggle to get the fighter jet repaired After the plane made an emergency landing in Kerala, engineers from the British Royal Navys flagship carrier visited India to fix the aircraft. However, they were unable to repair. Fortnight back, the UK Ministry of Defence issued a statement in which they noted that they had deployed a team of 14 engineers to Thiruvananthapuram airport to assess and repair the F-35B aircraft. The team came to India with specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process, a statement said. Meanwhile, videos circulating online at the time showed the F-35B being towed away to a hangar. Some experts went on to claim that if the technicians failed to repair the aircraft, the fighter jet would have to be dismantled and carried out in a bigger cargo plane, such as a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. According to the BBC, the UK High Commission in India and the British Defence Ministry maintained that they would not share details of repairs. However, things changed on Monday when airport officials told the BBC that the aircraft is confirmed to be airworthy. As per the report, the F-35B fighter jet is scheduled to be pulled out on Monday, and the exact time of its departure is yet to be communicated. The timings will also depend on which airport will be used for refuelling on the way to London or when the backup aircraft will arrive to transport the technicians and equipment back". STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran has agreed to resume nuclear talks with European powers in Istanbul this Friday, the first since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites a month ago, sharply escalating tensions in the region. A missile in front of a poster of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a military exhibition in Tehran, Iran. Representsational image: Hasan Sarbakhshian/AP Iran has said it will hold new talks with European powers in Istanbul on Friday, according to state media. This will mark the first round of dialogue since the United States and its ally Israel targeted Iranian nuclear sites a month ago. Iranian officials are expected to meet with representatives from Britain, France, and Germany collectively known as the E3 after the trio warned that sanctions could be reinstated if Tehran does not return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Western nations and Israel have repeatedly accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons a charge Tehran has consistently denied. In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai, as quoted by state television on Monday. He emphasised that the talks would focus on Irans nuclear programme. AFP reported that a German diplomatic source said on Sunday that the E3 nations Germany, France, and the UK remain in contact with Tehran, stressing that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. The source added that the three countries are working closely within the E3 framework to secure a lasting and verifiable diplomatic solution to Irans nuclear ambitions. Iran and the United States had engaged in multiple rounds of nuclear negotiations through Omani mediation before Israel launched its 12-day military offensive against Iran. However, the talks collapsed after US President Donald Trump joined Israel in launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, effectively derailing the diplomatic process. Tensions between Israel and Iran have sharply escalated in recent weeks, with both sides engaging in direct military strikes and bombing each others territory. Subsequently, the United States intensified its involvement by deploying B-2 bombers and bunker-busting munitions, targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said on Monday that a series of attacks on the Hodeidah port was under way, without providing any details. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz waits for his British and French counterparts ahead of a meeting, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem August 16, 2024. Source: Reuters The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemens Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the Iran-backed militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army was forcefully countering any attempt to restore the terror infrastructure previously attacked. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said on Monday that a series of attacks on the port was under way, without providing any details. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement, the Israeli military said the port it attacked had been used among other things, to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are then used by the Houthi to execute terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its allies. Since Israels war in Gaza against the Palestinian militant group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel has responded by launching attacks on Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port. As I have made clear Yemens fate is the same as Tehrans. The Houthis will pay a heavy price for launching missiles toward the State of Israel, Katz said. Earlier in July, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on the Greek ship Eternity C that maritime officials say killed four of the 25 people aboard. In May, the U.S. announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) Amazon India is hosting an Off To College sale, featuring various college gadgets from top brands, including ASUS, Lenovo, HP, Dell, and many more. The sale offers up to 60% off on branded college essential gadgets like laptops, TWS, etc, and will run until 27th July 2025. Amazon Off To College Sale Offers Deals on Laptops for college Deals on tablets Deals on Smartwatches Deals on TWS Earbuds Bank Offers Up to Rs. 4500 instant discount with HDFC Bank credit & debit card EMI (6 months and above) transactions. Up to Rs. 2000 instant discount with Axis Bank credit card EMI transactions. Up to Rs. 1750 instant discount with Yes Bank, BOBCARD credit card EMI transactions. Up to Rs. 1500 instant discount with HSBC Bank credit card EMI transactions. Up to Rs. 3500 instant discount with OneCard credit card EMI transactions. For more such deals, visit the Off To College Sale page. 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. BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- At the Siemens' booth at the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, the German conglomerate is exhibiting digital solutions powered by the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence and the industrial metaverse. These solutions, along with numerous others from Siemens' partners, on its open digital platform called Xcelerator, aim to facilitate digital transformation and low-carbon growth of enterprises. The platform will deliver innovative solutions to the global market and match Chinese suppliers with international opportunities, helping accelerate their integration into the global value chain, according to Siemens. Xiao Song, chairman, president and CEO of Siemens China, emphasized the company's commitment to helping Chinese firms upgrade advanced manufacturing capabilities with digital and low-carbon technologies on its open platform. Siemens aims to help Chinese firms "build green competitiveness globally as well as more resilient and sustainable global industrial and supply chains," Xiao said. As the global industrial landscape undergoes rapid restructuring, Xiao noted that the expo is becoming an important platform for promoting the deep integration of the whole industrial chain and supporting Chinese firms to go overseas while meeting green standards. Siemens is just one of the multinational companies that are displaying their latest digital and green technologies at the expo, underlining their efforts to build resilient, low-carbon supply networks and deepen ties with Chinese partners. The supply chain expo, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, is seen as a key platform for multinational firms to strengthen collaboration with Chinese partners amid global economic uncertainties. The event has attracted 651 companies and institutions from 75 countries and regions. Overseas exhibitors account for 35 percent, a three-percentage-point increase from last year. Bosch, another German industrial giant, is concentrating on intelligent and electric vehicle components at the expo, tapping into China's rapidly expanding new energy vehicle market, which is also the largest in the world. Chinese consumers are highly receptive to new technologies in electric and intelligent-connected vehicles, with automotive models evolving at an incredible pace. Bosch highlighted the importance of cooperation and localization for long-term growth. "During this critical period of accelerated transformation in the global automotive supply chain, open cooperation and strengthened local manufacturing and innovation capability are key to long-term sustainable growth," said Xu Daquan, president of Bosch China. "Bosch will continue to work with local partners in China to help build a more resilient, flexible and globally oriented smart mobility supply ecosystem," Xu said. Amid digital transformation, Bosch's industrial internet solutions empower both upstream and downstream suppliers while Bosch itself is widely adopting AI technologies to better predict demand and manage inventory amid efforts to build a flexible and resilient supply chain. Schneider Electric, a first-time participant at the expo, exhibits both hardware products and digital green solutions. The company is working to build an efficient and resilient green supply chain capable of responding swiftly to market shifts. "The supply chain expo provides an important platform for global enterprises, especially in green supply chain construction," said Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric and president of its China and East Asia operations. Yin added that Schneider Electric hopes to share its experience and seek more cooperation opportunities through the event. Aerospace giant Airbus also eyes greener development while boosting localization for a more resilient supply chain. Erik Buschmann, chief operating officer of Airbus China, stated the company's commitment to transforming the aviation industry into a greener industry while ensuring the sustainable use of resources. At a forum of the expo, Buschmann said many parts of its A320 aircraft assembled in Tianjin are from Chinese suppliers, which is underlying Airbus' intention that "we want to be more local." "We try to have a very strong local footprint. We're working to increase that in order to put more emphasis on resilience," Buschmann said. Brent Gardner-Smith/Aspen Journalism A truck drives out to Ritschard Dam, which forms Wolford Mountain Reservoir, on July 13, 2016. A court sided with the River District in a dispute with Denver Water over repairs to the dam. Western Intelligence Intensifies Attempts to Recruit Russian Diplomats Sputnik News 20250720 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Western intelligence agencies have stepped up their attempts to recruit Russian diplomats after the beginning of the special military operation, Russian Ambassador to Romania Vladimir Lipayev has said in an interview with Sputnik. "After the beginning of the special military operation, this activity [attempts to put pressure on Russian diplomats or recruit them], which involves various methods of influence, has intensified," Lipayev said. Russian diplomats and their family members are have always been in the sphere of special attention of Western intelligence services, Lipayev added. In March, 2024, former Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said that US intelligence services were actively seeking to recruit Russian diplomats, including by sending them recruitment offers to their phones and approaching them in public. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Press Release of the 11th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns Between the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs MANILA 19 July 2025 -- The 11th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns between the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (hereinafter, the 11th JPWG-MOC) was conducted from 17 to 18 July 2025 in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine Delegation was led by Hon. Marshall Louis M. Alferez, Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, Department of Foreign Affairs. The Vietnamese Delegation was led by Hon. Trinh Duc Hai, Chairman, National Boundary Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two delegations affirmed the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Viet Nam, especially with regard to maritime concerns. Noting the complexity of the situation in the South China Sea, the two delegations agreed that maritime cooperation serves to enhance the Strategic Partnership and contributes to the peace, stability and prosperity in the region. This cooperation is also a strong demonstration of the commitment of both sides to uphold the stability and order in the South China Sea based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The two delegations reviewed the implementation of the Understanding on Incident Prevention and Management in the South China Sea and acknowledged the deepening cooperation between the two countries on maritime safety, maritime security, seafaring, marine scientific research, marine environmental protection, limits of relevant maritime zones, promotion of the law of the sea, and other areas in marine and maritime cooperation. The two delegations also agreed to continue their productive and constructive collaboration and consultation in the abovementioned areas. The two delegations exchanged views on recent developments in the South China Sea and expressed concerns about unilateral activities that undermine the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states as entitled under international law. Both sides underscored the importance of upholding international law, particularly the UNCLOS. They also reaffirmed their commitment to resolve disputes in the South China Sea by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, and full respect for legal and diplomatic processes. The two delegations affirmed their commitment to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, that is in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS, in line with the Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive COC. In this regard, they agreed to continue to consult closely with each other as well as all relevant parties in the COC negotiations. The maritime cooperation mechanism between Viet Nam and the Philippines was established in 2004 and is a major pillar in the relations between the two countries. It continues to play a significant role in strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership, as well as in promoting the rights and interests of each side, especially in the South China Sea. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli fire kills over 67 aid seekers in Gaza, medics say IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 20, 2025 Gaza's Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that Israeli forces killed at least 67 people waiting for United Nations aid trucks in northern Gaza. In a Sunday statement, the ministry said dozens more were injured in the incident, marking one of the deadliest recent attacks on civilians seeking aid, following another similar tragedy on Saturday that left 36 dead. Additionally, six people were killed near a separate aid distribution point in southern Gaza. According to health officials, a total of 88 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday. After over 21 months of war, much of Gaza lies in ruins, with famine risks worsening. Palestinian medical authorities warned that hospitals, overwhelmed by patients suffering from severe hunger and exhaustion due to dwindling food supplies and aid disruptions, could soon see hundreds more deaths. The Israeli military aggression against Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, displaced almost the entire population, and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis. Israel waged a genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian Hamas Resistance group carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pope condemns Israel's 'barbarity' in Gaza Church attack IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 20, 2025 Pope Leo XIV has condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza's sole Catholic parish, which claimed the lives of three Christians and left several others wounded. During his Sunday address, the Pope named the victimsSaad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, and Najwa Ibrahim Latif Abu Daoudand shared a message for Christians across the region. "To our beloved Christians in the Middle East, I say: I am close to your sense of helplessness in the face of this dramatic situation. You are in the heart of the Pope and of the whole Church." The Pope further expressed his sorrow over the attack on the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza City, describing it as part of a broader pattern of military aggression targeting civilians and places of worship. "I express my deep sorrow for the Israeli army's attack on the Catholic parish... I pray for the victims... and I am particularly close to their families and all the parishioners. Unfortunately, this act adds to the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza," he said. "I call once again for an immediate end to the barbarity of war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict," he added. The pontiff called for an immediate end to the violence and urged all sides to respect humanitarian norms, citing specific prohibitions under international law: "I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force, and forced displacement of the population." 2050**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran submits official report on Israeli war crimes to the U.N. Security Council IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has sent a report to the U.N. Security Council detailing crimes committed by the Israeli regime during its war of aggression against the Islamic Republic last month. In identical letters addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the current rotating President of the Security Council, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, the mission presented a comprehensive account of violations, particularly those targeting women and children, during the 12-day military aggression in June. The report was also forwarded to the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, as well as to UNICEF. Referring to the loss of life and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, the letter underscores the collective responsibility of the Security Council and the international community to hold those responsible for the blatant aggression. According to the report attached to the letter, 1,100 civiliansincluding 132 women and 45 childrenwere killed in Israeli attacks, which began in the early hours of June 13. The report notes that these strikes were carried out with deliberate targeting of civilian and vital infrastructureincluding hospitals, media outlets, and peaceful nuclear facilitieswith substantial military, intelligence, and political backing from the United States and several Western countries. It includes names and biographical details of some victims, including 30 schoolchildren, families who lost all their members, and casualties from strikes on Hakim Children's Hospital, kindergartens, public parks, Evin Prison, and ambulances. The mission condemned these as grave violations of the U.N. Charter, international law, the Geneva Conventions, and international human rights standards. It called on the Security Council to address the structural impunity of the Israeli regime and its allies, urging decisive action against those responsible. 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH rebuffs Beijing's 'inaccurate' security alert for Chinese students Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra July 20, 2025, 11:23 am MANILA -- The Philippine government on Sunday disputed China's latest advisory warning its students about safety risks in the country, calling the security alert "inaccurate" and "mischaracterizing" the actual situation on the ground. "The relevant advisory issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education mischaracterizes the situation in the Philippines," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement, responding to Beijing's July 18 alert citing the supposed "deteriorating public security situation" and an "increasing number of criminal incidents targeting Chinese citizens." This is the second time this year that China has raised concerns over public safety in the Philippines. In April, the Chinese Embassy in Manila released a similar statement warning of an unstable security environment. The DFA said Philippine law enforcement agencies are actively addressing crimes involving Chinese nationals, whether as victims or perpetrators, including incidents between foreign nationals themselves. "All instances of crimes, including those involving Chinese and other foreign nationals as well as those perpetrated by foreign nationals against their own, are being addressed by relevant law enforcement authorities," the DFA said. The department also confirmed it has raised concerns with Beijing through formal diplomatic channels. "The Department has conveyed its concerns regarding the inaccuracies in the advisory issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education through diplomatic channels. It is hoped that the Chinese side will undertake the necessary corrections," it said. Despite the issue, the DFA reaffirmed Manila's openness to continued engagement with Beijing. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNRWA urges global action to end Gaza blockade Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 11:17 PM The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a renewed call for worldwide action to address Israel's ongoing blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip, warning that inaction equates to complicity in the starvation of Palestinians. In a social media post on Sunday, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini revealed that the agency has been unable to deliver any aid to Gaza since March 2nd. "I've been searching for something to feed my children, but there is nothing," he lamented, adding, "How can one respond to such messages of despair? It shames me and amplifies the feeling of helplessness." Lazzarini pointed out that food supplies are just a few kilometers away and emphasized that UNRWA has enough stock outside Gaza to support the entire population for the next three months. "We have not been allowed to bring any aid in since March 2nd," he noted. He characterized the situation as a man-made crisis, facilitated by the impunity afforded to the Israeli regime. Highlighting the urgent need for political intervention, Lazzarini stressed that only decisive political will can put an end to the ongoing starvation. "Only political will and leadership can reverse full-fledged starvation," he asserted. In the past 24 hours, Gaza has reported 18 additional deaths related to starvation, bringing the total since October 2023 to 86, including 76 children. Approximately 17,000 children in Gaza are currently suffering from acute malnutrition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address One million children starving to death in Gaza as Israel continues siege: UNRWA Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 7:23 PM The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has warned that the Israeli regime is starving the civilians in the Gaza Strip, including one million children. One million Gaza children are starving to death due to the continuous Israeli blockade, UNRWA warned in a statement posted on X, stressing that "The people of Gaza are being starved." The UN agency for Palestinian refugees once more called on the Israeli regime to lift the ongoing siege, saying, "Lift the siege: allow UNRWA to bring in food and medicines." Since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza in October 2023, the territory's Health Ministry has reported numerous cases of children dying from starvation and dehydration. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands more are at risk of death due to widespread food insecurity and the collapse of healthcare services. The Health Ministry warned on Sunday that 86 Palestinians, including 76 children, have died of hunger and malnutrition since the start of the war, describing the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza as "a silent massacre." In the last 24 hours alone, there have been 18 deaths from hunger in Gaza. Gaza authorities blame both the Israeli regime and the international community for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip, where some 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed since October 2023 due to relentless bombing and the blockade, which has caused famine-like conditions. Hamas officials, UN experts, and humanitarian aid workers say Israel is using starvation as a "weapon of war." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel forces kill more than 70 aid seekers in Gaza: Health Ministry Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 7:01 PM The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 73 people were killed and around 150 people injured by Israeli gunfire while seeking aid across the besieged Palestinian territory. Some 67 people were killed in northern Gaza, the ministry said, while six others were killed in Khan Yunis in the south of the Strip. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, said people were shot at by the Israeli army on Sunday morning while attempting to get aid northwest of Gaza City. "Al-Shifa Medical Complex is in a catastrophic state due to the overwhelming number of martyrs, injuries and starving civilians," Abu Salmiya was quoted as saying. The attacks were among the deadliest among repeated such instances where aid seekers have been killed in recent weeks. In total, nearly 100 people have been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the besieged Palestinian territory on Sunday. The UN rights office has documented the killing of at least 880 Palestinians within the past six weeks at aid points in Gaza run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The majority of those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza GHF sites, while some were killed on the routes of other aid convoys. The health officials in Gaza on Sunday also said at least 71 children had died of malnutrition during the war, and 60,000 others were suffering from symptoms of malnutrition. They warned that hundreds of people could soon die as hospitals were inundated with patients suffering from dizziness and exhaustion due to the scarcity of food and a collapse in aid deliveries. Residents said it was becoming impossible to find essential food such as flour. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns that Israel is starving civilians, with multiple deaths reported in the past 24 hours due to Israel's continued blockade on the entry of food and essential supplies. UNRWA demanded that Israel allow more aid trucks into Gaza, saying it had enough food for the entire population for over three months, but this was not allowed. Israeli military issues forced displacement orders In central Gaza, the Israeli military on Sunday also dropped leaflets over residents in parts of Deir al-Balah, ordering them to leave the area. Dozens of families began leaving their homes, carrying some of their belongings. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans have been sheltering in the Deir al-Balah area. Much of Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland during more than 21 months of war. The Israeli regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has killed at least 58,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since October 7, 2023. Israel has long been accused of using food as a weapon of war against the Palestinians in the besieged strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pope Leo condemns 'barbarity' of Israeli war on Gaza after church attack Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 4:08 PM Pope Leo XIV has condemned the "barbarity" of the Israeli regime for its violent actions against the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate end to the ongoing aggression. During his traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, the Vatican leader denounced the "barbarity" of the war in Palestinian territories and cautioned against the "indiscriminate use of force." His appeal followed a deadly strike by Israeli forces three days earlier on a Catholic church in Gaza, resulting in over a dozen casualties. The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza, was targeted in a deadly Israeli attack on Thursday. "I once again urge for an immediate end to the barbarity of war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict," Pope Leo stated at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome. Pope Leo specifically condemned the attack on the Holy Family Church, which was sheltering around 600 displaced individuals, the majority of whom were children, including many people with disabilities and special needs. "This act, unfortunately, contributes to the ongoing military assaults against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza," Leo remarked on Sunday. "I appeal to the international community to uphold humanitarian law and honor the obligation to protect civilians, as well as to refrain from collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations," he insisted. The United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva has indicated that the Israeli strike on the church sheltering displaced Palestinians may constitute a war crime. On Friday, the UN human rights office called for an investigation into the Israeli attack on the church. A spokesman for the UN office, Thameen Al-Kheetan, said the attack on a religious site housing displaced civilians raises serious concerns of a "violation of international law" and could be classified as "a war crime." On the same day, leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches visited the Holy Family Catholic Church to assess the damage inflicted by the Israeli strike. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, accompanied by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, reported that the pope personally reached out to express his concern during their visit to the church. "Pope Leo made it clear that it is time to stop this slaughter, that what has occurred is unjustifiable, and we must work to ensure there are no further victims," Pizzaballa told Vatican News. He added that the pope conveyed his "closeness, care, prayer, support, and commitment to do everything possible to achieve not only a ceasefire but also an end to this tragedy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aid ship 'on mission for Gaza's children' sets sail from Italy Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 3:06 PM An international aid ship carrying life-saving supplies for children in Gaza has departed from southern Italy. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international nonprofit group, said the Handala vessel set sail from the port of Gallipoli on Sunday as part of its "mission for the children of Gaza." According to the organizers, medical supplies, food, and aid equipment for Palestinian children will be on board the vessel. "In the face of genocide and deliberate starvation, every act of solidarity matters," the coalition said in a statement. "As long as Israel enjoys impunity, violence will continue." The vessel is expected to spend about a week at sea, with a 20-member crew that includes European lawmakers, human rights activists, and journalists. French Member of the European Parliament Emma Fourreau, one of those on board, acknowledged the risks before departure but said they pale in comparison to what children in Gaza face every day. "We are fully aware of the risks. But they are nothing compared to what children in Gaza endure every day," she said. "We stand for peace and international law." Other notable passengers include Gabrielle Cathala from France's Unbowed (LFI) Party, Palestinian-American activist Huwaida Arraf, and American labor organizer Chris Smalls. The Handala's departure comes over a month after Israeli forces seized another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Madleen, before it could reach Gaza in early June. All twelve passengers aboard including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg were detained and later deported by Israel. Through its blockade of Gaza, Israel has imposed sweeping restrictions on the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and humanitarian relief. Human rights organizations say the blockade is central to Israel's ongoing campaign of genocide in the Palestinian territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mossad chief asked for US help to ethnically cleanse Gaza during Washington visit: Report Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 7:19 AM During his recent Washington visit, the Israeli spy chief reportedly asked American officials to extend assistance to Mossad in ethnically cleansing the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. David Barnea pushed US officials during the visit to provide incentives to Libya, Indonesia, and Ethiopia to accept hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians as refugees, Axios reported on Saturday. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the American news website said Barnea had held a meeting last week with White House envoy Steve Witkoff. "Barnea told Witkoff that Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya had expressed openness to receiving large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza," two unnamed sources said. "Barnea suggested that the US offer incentives to those countries and help Israel convince them," Axios reported. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that his cabinet's goal of expelling much or all of Gaza's population will be "voluntary" for Palestinians. Legal experts from across the globe have disputed Netanyahu's claim, saying such a move would constitute ethnic cleansing and a clear war crime. The US had reportedly asked Netanyahu to find the countries that would agree to receive large numbers of Palestinians displaced from the Gaza Strip. Axios wrote that to plan to relocate the Gazans in other countries has sparked concerns in "Egypt and many Western countries that Israel is preparing for the mass displacement of Palestinians out of Gaza, something Netanyahu's ultranationalist coalition partners and many inside his own party have been pushing for years." Soon after assuming office, US President Donald Trump proposed the expulsion of the Palestinians from Gaza to allow the Israelis to annex and develop it as the "Riviera of the Middle East." In the meantime, Gaza's over 2.3 million population have been internally displaced by the Israeli regime forces repeatedly. Since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, the Israeli regime has leveled much of the strip, including homes, hospitals, mosques, and schools, to make Gaza uninhabitable for Palestinians and force them to leave. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "The international community must recognize the TRNC" Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey 20.07.2025 Speaking at the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day Ceremony, President Erdogan said: "The international community must recognize the TRNC and establish diplomatic, political, and economic relations without delay. Direct flights and trade routes must be opened." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day after laying a wreath at the Ataturk Monument in Lefkosa. "The international community must recognize the TRNC and establish diplomatic, political, and economic relations without delay. Direct flights and trade routes must be opened. Thankfully, the TRNC is increasingly having a more visible presence in the international arena at the current point we have reached," President Erdogan said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Talks Tough On Georgia -- But Acts Soft By Rikard Jozwiak July 21, 2025 European Union foreign ministers failed to take any meaningful decision on Georgia at their July 15 meeting in Brussels. However, the European Commission did send a letter to Tbilisi warning that Georgians' visa-free travel privileges could be suspended if a number of conditions aren't met by the end of August. The question now is how serious this deadline really is, whether the Georgian government will budge, and ultimately whether Brussels can actually muster the will to act if Tbilisi doesn't change course. One thing was clear from the start. Sanctions, even the latest proposal of slapping asset freezes and visa bans on two Georgian judges, were off the table. Both Hungary and Slovakia had made it clear in preparatory meetings that they would not approve. According to EU diplomats familiar with the discussions, the issue was briefly touched upon, but since unanimity is needed and clearly wasn't attainable, it was agreed that sanctions work will continue at lower levels in Brussels. This is a clear indication that restrictive measures of this sort won't happen anytime soon. And, with the same ministers at the same meeting failing to adopt sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlers and Russian officials, it is increasingly obvious that the EU consensus rule is once again preventing the bloc from taking concrete foreign policy decisions. Surprisingly, there was also no push to start a review of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, which could lead to the suspension of certain provisions -- particularly those related to trade. Suspending Visa Liberalization? The issue is how much of an effect this would have, as EU imports from Georgia under the agreement's free trade component are only worth around 200 million euros. Some EU member states did bring it up, and there is a real possibility that the ministers will return to it when they formally meet again in October. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas concluded that the option of triggering a review is very much on the table, especially since this move doesn't require unanimity. That leaves the suspension of visa liberalization as the remaining option to put pressure on Tbilisi -- a move that would require a qualified majority to trigger. While RFE/RL understands that such a majority is emerging, it's not universally popular among member states and it was made clear that it should be used as a very last resort. Around eight member states, led by Italy, argued against it, saying it would hit the Georgian population at large and therefore would be disproportionate. Kallas urged countries to be ready to react in case Tbilisi hasn't complied with eight visa-free regime benchmarks that the European Commission put forward in a report back in December 2024. These benchmarks include repealing the controversial "transparency of foreign influence" law and the equally contested legislative package on "family values and protection of minors." Brussels also wants Georgia to align its visa policy with the EU list of visa-required third countries. Kicking The Can Now the main consideration is whether the EU will really do something and what the deadline really is. The European Commission did send a letter to Georgia on July 15 noting that "in case of persisting non-compliance the Commission could take appropriate measures on the basis of the Article 8 of the revised Visa Regulation, specifically activating the visa suspension mechanism." Various Georgian media outlets circulated an early version of the letter, which didn't include a specific deadline. It simply asked Georgian authorities "to update the Commission on the implementation of these recommendations and, if not already done, to take appropriate measures to address the issues raised in all Commission recommendations (in annex)." Interestingly, this was not the final version of the letter, which was identical to the draft apart from a revision of the above-mentioned paragraph. The final version, seen by RFE/RL, stated that "we would like to ask you to update the Commission on the implementation of these recommendations by the end of August and, if not already done, to take appropriate measures to address the issues raised in all Commission recommendations (in annex)." So, end of August it is -- a date Kaja Kallas also mentioned in the press conference after the foreign affairs meeting. The question is how firm that deadline really is. The Georgian parliament is in recess for all of August. While the president can recall the chamber for emergency sessions to pass crucial legislation, few in Brussels believe this will happen. But the bloc is also "on holiday" for most of August. EU foreign ministers will come together for an informal meeting in Denmark on August 29-30 and again on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, but their first formal meeting at which any concrete decision can be made will take place on October 20. It seems member states would be more comfortable waiting for the European Commission's next visa suspension mechanism report due later in the autumn or even the annual enlargement reports, which the Commission plans to publish later this year, assessing the progress of all EU candidate countries. As the ministerial meeting showed, Brussels tends to kick the can whenever consensus is lacking. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-warns-georgia-visa- free-suspension-august-deadline/33478483.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 Russo-Ukraine War - 20 July 2025 - Day 1243 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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, there have been 122 combat encounters since the beginning of this day. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression. Today, Russian zagarbniki made two missile strikes using 5 missiles, 53 aviation strikes, dropping 71 controlled bombs. In addition, 1,427 kamikaze drones were recruited and carried out 4,327 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the North-Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, 18 clashes with Russian zagarbnikami, five of which continue so far. The Russian enemy launched nine air strikes, dropped 12 controlled bombs, fired 229 artillery shells. Today, Russian forces attacked four times in the South-Slobozhansky direction, in the areas of the settlements Vovchansk, Krasne Pershe, Kutkivka and Staritsa. In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces carried out four offensive actions in the area of Kindrashivka, Green Grove and in the direction of Kupiansk, one confrontation is still ongoing. In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces have already repelled 17 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Karpivka, Kolodyazi, New Mir, Ridkodub, Shandrigolove, Torske and in the direction of Serebryanka, three clashes are still ongoing. In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces six times attacked in the areas of viymki, verkhn kamans kogo, fedorivka and grigorivka, three combat still ongoing. Since the beginning of the day, in the Kramatorsky direction, Russian forces once attacked in the direction of the Predtechiny. Eight boezitknen took place in the Toretsky direction today. The Russian enemy tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Diliyivka, Scherbinivka, Rusynoy Yar, Toretsk and in the direction of Katerynivka, two attacks are still ongoing. In the Pokrovsk direction, since the beginning of this day, Russian forces attacked 36 times positions in the areas of settlements Poltavka, Udacne, Novoekonomicne, Lisivka, Zvirove, Novopavlivka, Gorikhove, Oleksiyivka and in the direction of Pokrovsk, Mirnohrad. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 34 assaults, two more clashes are ongoing so far. Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, 209 Russian occupants were defecated, of which 130 - irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed two units of automobile equipment, five motorcycles, three cannons, 14 unmanned aircraft, three APL control antennas, two APL control points, also damaged three units of automobile machinery, two cannons and two APL control antannas of the Russian occupiers. In the Novopavlovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Yalta, Mirne, Tolstoy, Resurrection, Maliivka, Green Field, Temirivka and Novopil. Three more clashes are underway. In the Gulyaipilsky and Orikhivskky directions, Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions, but launched air strikes on settlements of Plavna and Primorsky. In the pridniprovsky direction, there was one battle encounter, in addition, Russian forces caused an air strike unkekorovanim aviation missiles on odradokamanci. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 21 July 2025 - Day 1244 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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 139 combat clashes. The Russian enemy launched one mass missile strike with twenty-four missiles and forty-five airstrikes, dropping sixty-one guided airstrike bomb. Also used 1251 kamikaze drones for strikes and carried out 3145 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian defenders repelled eleven attacks of the colonizers in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, yet another confrontation has not subsided. The enemy launched four airstrikes, dropping six controlled airstrikes and carrying out 177 artillery shells, including four from reactive arson systems. In the South Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian units prevented four Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Vovchansk, Kamyanka, Stroivka and Kutkivka. One battle is going on so far. In the Kupyansky direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled six Russian attacks in the areas of Golubivka, Kupyansk, Sand, Zagrizovy and Green Grove. In the Lyman direction Ukrainians stopped the soldiers of eighteen assault actions of the Russian colonizers near the settlements of New Mir, Karpivka, Kolodyazi, Yampolivka, Torske and in the direction of settlements Serebryanka, Seredne, Shandrigolove, Grigorivka. Three more clashes are ongoing so far. In the Sivers komu direction, the Russian opponent committed three offensive actions in the area of Serebryanka, Verkhnyokamans kogo and Pereiznogo. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled six attempts of the zagarbnikiv to advance in the area of the White Mountain and towards the Predtecinyo. In the Toretsky direction, Russian forces today nine times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Diliyivka, Romanivka, Oleksandro-Kalinovy, Novospasky and towards Katerynivka and Pleschiyivka. Defense forces are steadily suppressing the pressure and repelling all attacks of the Russian enemy. Throughout the day in the pokrovsky direction, Russian forces committed forty-three offensive actions. The activity of Russian occupiers was fixed near the settlements of Udacne, Novoekonomicne, Lisivka, Zvirove towards Novoukrainka, Pokrovska, Dachnyo, Mirnohrad, Mayaka. The two clashes are still ongoing. Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, eighty-one Russian occupant, of which forty-six - irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed five unmanned aircraft, and also struck one Russian cannon. In the Novopavlovsky direction, Ukrainian units repelled nine attacks in the areas of the settlements of Zyrka, Piddubne, Mirne, Dachne and towards the settlements of Oleksandrograd, Voskresenka. Four clashes are still ongoing. In the direction of Gulyaipils komu, the Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions. In the Orihiv direction, the Russian enemy stepped on the position of Ukrainian defenders in the Kamiansky area three times, but the Defense Forces units successfully repelled enemy pressure. In addition, Russian aviation struck the settlement Stepnogirsk. In the direction of Pridniprovsk, there was one battle with the Russian occupiers towards the settlement of Prdniprovsk. The Russian opponent was not successful. China maintains growth in rare earth magnets export to US in June as a responsible supplier: expert Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 20, 2025 07:55 PM China's exports of rare earth magnet to the US in June soared to more than seven times their May level, marking a sharp recovery in the flow of critical minerals used in electric vehicles and wind turbines after a China-US trade deal, Reuters reported on Sunday. That came after China-US pacts reached in June to resolve issues around shipments of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, the report claimed. China maintained its positive trend in rare earth magnet exports to the US in June, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Sunday. This underscores the country's role as a responsible major supplier dedicated to ensuring the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, an industry veteran said. China exported 352.8 metric tons of rare earth magnets to the US in June, according to data released by the GAC. Reuters reported that China's exports of rare earth magnets to the US in June soared to more than seven times their May level. The corresponding value of rare earth magnets exports to the US was $16.08 million in June, compared with $2.42 million in May, data from the GAC showed. In general, China's exports of rare earths to foreign countries expanded in June, maintaining a growth momentum from the previous month. In June, China exported 7,742.2 metric tons of rare earths, according to the GAC, up 32 percent from the previous month and 60.3 percent from June 2024. China's exports of rare earths in June climbed to the highest volume since 2009, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing official data. China takes a responsible stance on regulating rare-earth exports, trying to promote global civilian use while curbing potential military applications and minimizing security concerns, Wu Chenhui, an independent analyst specializing in the critical minerals sector, told the Global Times. Rare earths have both civilian and military applications, and therefore taking export controls is consistent with international norms, Wu said. Wu said China has approved and supported some export requests in accordance with applicable rules, and the positive export trend demonstrates the nation's role as a responsible major supplier dedicated to ensuring the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. At a regular press conference on June 26, He Yadong, a spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, said China has been accelerating the approval process of rare-earth export licenses in line with laws and regulations, and it has approved a number of compliant applications, and will continue to strengthen the approval process for compliant applications. Asked to comment on claims made by some Western officials against China's regulations on rare earths on June 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stressed that "given the dual-use nature of rare earth-related items, China has taken relevant measures in accordance with the regulations on export control of dual-use items, which is consistent with international practices and does not target any specific country." Guo added that China stands ready to work with relevant countries and regions to enhance dialogue and cooperation on export control, uphold the WTO rules and the multilateral trade system, and keep the global economic order stable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Don't try to justify Israeli, American aggression: Iran FM to European states Iran Press TV Saturday, 19 July 2025 11:37 PM Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slams certain European states for their efforts at justifying the Israeli regime's and the United States acts of aggression, including their unprovoked war against Iran last month. The top diplomat made the remarks during a telephone conversation with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Saturday. Araghchi warned that such biased behavior served to normalize and promote violations of the international law. By trying to rationalize such acts of uncalled-for aggression, the European countries would also be contributing to intensification of insecurity across the West Asia region and the world, he added. The region has witnessed intensified acts of deadly aggression by the regime and the US, particularly over the past decade. The aggression has manifested in both parties conducting targeted assassinations of regional figures as well as in Washington's unequivocal military backing of Tel Aviv's deadly operations against regional states. Last month, the regime launched a series of attacks on Iran -- including against some of its nuclear sites -- killing at least 935 people, such as senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. The US joined the fray towards the end of its 12-day streak, attacking several Iranian nuclear facilities. Following the assaults, several key European states, especially Germany, attempted to serve as apologists for the aggression. Araghchi, however, denounced the attacks as "blatant violations of the principles of the United Nations Charter and the international law." He emphasized the necessity of a firm stance by all countries in condemning the flagrant lawlessness and holding the aggressors accountable. For his part, the Swiss official likewise noted that the Israeli-American attacks against the Iranian nuclear installations had violated the international regulations. He said Switzerland's position was one of defending diplomacy, expressing his country's readiness to contribute to efforts at advancing diplomatic solutions as a means of avoiding violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Damaged air defense systems replaced: Army operations chief IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Army's operations chief says the air defense systems that were damaged during the US-Israeli war of aggression have been replaced and redeployed, ensuring continued protection of the country's airspace. Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi said Iranian forces managed to secure the country's skies by utilizing existing systems and installing new ones following recent attacks. He said that one of the first targets in the 12-day imposed war was the country's radar and air defense systems. "The criminal Zionist regime launched a cowardly aggression against Iranian soil," Mousavi said, adding that the enemy's objective was to destroy Iran's air defense capabilities. He praised the round-the-clock efforts of air defense forces, saying many systems were damaged but quickly replaced and deployed in predetermined locations. "We managed to cover the country's airspace ... and the enemy failed to achieve its goals despite its desperate attempts," he said. Mousavi also highlighted the achievements of the Armed Forces during the war, saying their performance reaffirmed Iran's defensive readiness and determination to respond to external threats. Israel attacked Iran in an unprovoked act of aggression on June 13, assassinating military commanders and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes, and killing civilians in air raids on residential areas. On June 22, the United States also joined the war and bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. The war was halted on June 24 after the Tel Aviv regime requested a ceasefire following retaliatory missile strikes by Iran. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Army to host hybrid rescue operation in Caspian Sea IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 20, 2025 The Islamic Republic of Iran Army plans to host the hybrid maritime rescue exercise 2025 (CASAREX 2025) in the Caspian Sea. The exercise will run for three days, starting Monday. Naval vessels from the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Russian Federation Navy are scheduled to participate in the drills. The event will be held under the slogan "Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea." Participating forces will include the naval branches of Iran's Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.), the Law Enforcement Force, along with the Russian Federation Navy. Observers from other littoral states of the Caspian Sea will also be in attendance. The primary goal of the operation is to reinforce maritime safety and security while fostering greater cooperation among the naval forces of these countries. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araqchi slams countries defending Israeli and U.S. aggressions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 20, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says that the U.S.-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran constitutes a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and international human rights, criticizing the biased stance of certain European countries for justifying the acts of aggression by the Israeli regime and the United States. In a phone conversation with Ignazio Cassis, Switzerland's Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday, Araqchi underlined the need for all countries to take a firm stance in condemning this clear breach of international law and to hold the perpetrators accountable. The Iranian minister warned that the biased stance of certain European countries in justifying the aggression may result in normalizing and promoting lawbreaking, and exacerbation of insecurity regionally and internationally. The Swiss minister reaffirmed his country' support for diplomacy and expressed readiness to cooperate in this regard. He also described the military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities as contrary to international regulations and underscored the importance of continued efforts to prevent the escalation of tension and insecurity. On June 13, the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked attack on Iran, targeting military commanders and nuclear scientists. The attacks on residential areas also caused civilian casualties, which prompted Iran to respond decisively; however, the conflict came to a halt on June 24 when the regime requested a ceasefire following the retaliatory missile strikes. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader's aide meets Putin in Kremlin to discuss nuclear, regional issues Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 4:02 PM Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, have discussed the latest issues regarding Tehran's nuclear program and tensions in the region. During the surprise meeting in Moscow on Sunday, Larijani "conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear program", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He added that the Russian president had expressed Moscow's "well-known positions on how to stabilize the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear program". Meanwhile, the Russian presidency also confirmed the meeting and said that, at the instruction of Ayatollah Khamenei, Larijani presented Iran's views on the current escalation in the region and, notably, surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Putin expressed support for stabilizing the situation in the region and resolving any issues pertaining to Iran's nuclear program via political means, it added. The meeting was held amid reports that Iran and the European troika - France, Germany, and Britain - have agreed in principle to hold fresh nuclear negotiations next week. In a statement last week, Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed a report claiming that President Putin had urged Iran to agree to a zero enrichment agreement with the United States, describing it as "defamation." The statement came after the American news website Axios, citing three sources familiar with the matter, reported that Putin had "encouraged" Iran to accept a nuclear deal that would exclude uranium enrichment. "Invariably and repeatedly, we have emphasized the necessity of resolving the crisis concerning Iran's nuclear program exclusively through political and diplomatic means, and expressed our willingness to help find mutually acceptable solutions," the ministry said. Iran has consistently announced that it does not seek a nuclear weapon, while defending its "legitimate rights" to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, European troika agree to resume nuclear talks next week: Reports Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 1:54 PM Iran and the European troika - France, Germany, and Britain -have reportedly agreed in principle to resume nuclear negotiations next week. An informed source told Tasnim news agency on Sunday that the two sides have agreed to restart talks, but the time and place of the negotiations are yet to be finalized. "The principle of talks has been agreed upon, but consultations are continuing on the time and place of the talks. The country in which the talks could be held has not been finalized," the source said. According to the source, the talks will be held at the level of foreign ministers. In talks with his German, French, and British counterparts and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the EU and European troika need to abandon their "worn-out policies" of threat and pressure if they seek to play a role in any new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. Pointing to repeated European threats about the activation of a mechanism that would re-impose hefty sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Araghchi said, "If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snapback' for which they lack absolutely no moral and legal ground." Snapback would bring into force six previous Iran-related Security Council resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010. It would reinstate the expired UN arms embargo that barred countries from supplying, selling, or transferring most military equipment to Iran and prohibited Tehran from exporting any weapons. It would also impose export controls, travel bans, asset freezes, and other restrictions on individuals, entities, and banks. Iran and the United States held five rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's peaceful nuclear program before June 13, when the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked act of aggression on the Islamic Republic, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists in addition to ordinary civilians. Mediated by Oman, the 6th round of talks was planned to be held in the Omani capital of Muscat on June 15, but was called off due to the anti-Iran attacks. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran replaced air defenses damaged in Israeli aggression: Army commander Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 10:44 AM The Iranian Army's deputy for operations says the country managed to replace the air defenses, which were damaged during the recent US-supported Israeli aggression, with the new systems. Speaking on Sunday, Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi said Iran's radar and air defense systems were among the first targets of Israel in its 12-day cowardly assault, but the Air Defense Force personnel remained at their stations around the clock and confronted the enemy. "The Zionist enemy sought to destroy Iran's defense capabilities, and some of our defense systems were damaged in this war," he added. "With the efforts of my comrades, however, the damaged systems were replaced and deployed at pre-determined locations." Mousavi also noted that by using the existing air defense systems and the new replacements, the Iranian forces managed to cover the country's skies, and thus the enemy failed to achieve its objectives. He further said that Israel did not enter the war alone and that the United States and NATO helped it. "The capacity of the Iranian Armed Forces is beyond what the illegitimate Zionist regime can counter. However, the supporters of this usurping regime have been aiding it for months by gathering intelligence, and we consider the US complicit in the Zionist regime's crimes," he pointed out. The commander also emphasized that the Iranian nation stood alongside the country's Armed Forces during last month's aggression and demonstrated unbreakable unity. On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, killing at least 1,060 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia. On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the terrorist assault. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's strongest deterrent against enemies is national unity: Parliament speaker Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 8:37 AM Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has called on Iranians to preserve their national unity, saying it prevents the enemy from waging another act of aggression against the country. Qalibaf made the remarks during an open parliamentary session on Sunday, as the recent Israeli-US assault against the Islamic Republic reinforced a shared sense of national identity among the Iranian people despite different political inclinations. "The enemy suffered a major blow from the Iranian people during the imposed 12-day war. The biggest factor preventing the enemy from another encroachment on our beloved Iran is the national unity that the world witnessed," he said. "Undoubtedly, the greatest duty of every Iranian is to preserve this unity, whose prerequisite is to recognize Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] as the decisive authority and a reassuring source of support." He also noted that the enemy suffered its greatest defeat at the hands of the Iranian nation and that it was slapped in the face during last month's aggression. He added that the strategy of growing stronger in various fields compels the enemy to respond to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people instead of pursuing imposed peace or imposed war. On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia. On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault. 'Israel seeks to disintegrate Muslim states' Referring to Israel's brutal strikes on Damascus, Qalibaf said the regime seeks to destabilize, disarm, and disintegrate the Muslim countries in order to expand its own occupied territory. Tehran always stands by the Syrian people and defends the Arab country's unity and territorial integrity, he emphasized. "The Zionist regime is the enemy of any kind of peace, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity throughout the region and the only language it understands is the language of force." Also in his remarks, the Iranian parliament speaker hailed a recent decision by The Hague Group to impose an arms embargo on Israel. He said the "courageous" move could turn into a practical model for effectively confronting the usurping entity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM says E3 lacks legal, political or moral standing to invoke snapback mechanism Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 3:05 AM Iran says that France, Germany, and the UK lack the legal, political, and moral authority to invoke the snapback mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal. In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with the President of the Security Council and its members, and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi underscored Tehran's position on Sunday. Araghchi emphasized that the three European nations have supported Israel's aggression toward Iran, rejected the fundamental tenets of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and failed to honor their commitments to the JCPOA agreement. The foreign minister noted that Iran had exhausted the JCPOA's dispute resolution process following the US withdrawal from the deal. However, instead of collaborating, the E3 aligned themselves with Washington's so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. He stated that through their actions and statements -- such as providing political and material support for the recent unprovoked military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US, rejecting the main pillars of the JCPOA, and their ongoing failure to meet their commitments --the E3 have forfeited their status as "Participants" in the JCPOA. Consequently, any attempts to reinstate terminated UNSC resolutions are rendered null and void, Araghchi emphasized. Iran initially responded to the unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA by fully utilizing the accord's dispute resolution mechanisms before gradually implementing remedial measures as outlined in Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA, the foreign minister noted. Iran endeavored to encourage the other "Participants" to return to compliance, Iran's top diplomat said. "However, the E3 have reneged on their commitments and actively contributed to the so-called US 'maximum pressure' policy, and recently, the military aggression against our people too. Actors with such a record ought to be the last to claim 'good faith,'" Araghchi noted. The E3 must not be permitted to undermine the credibility of the UN Security Council by misusing a resolution that they themselves have not honored, Araghchi added. "The E3 must heed their own advice to the US in their letter of 20 Aug 2020 and refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work," he said. In conclusion, Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran has consistently demonstrated its capability to confront any misguided "dirty work," while remaining open to reciprocating sincere diplomatic efforts in good faith. In talks with his German, French, and British counterparts and Kallas on Thursday, Araghchi said the EU and European troika need to abandon their "worn-out policies" of threat and pressure if they seek to play a role in any new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. Pointing to repeated European threats about the activation of a mechanism that would re-impose hefty sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Araghchi said, "If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snapback' for which they lack absolutely no moral and legal ground." Snapback would bring into force six previous Iran-related Security Council resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010. It would reinstate the expired UN arms embargo that barred countries from supplying, selling, or transferring most military equipment to Iran and prohibited Tehran from exporting any weapons. It would also impose export controls, travel bans, asset freezes, and other restrictions on individuals, entities, and banks. Iran and the United States held five rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's peaceful nuclear program before June 13, when the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked act of aggression on the Islamic Republic, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists in addition to ordinary civilians. Mediated by Oman, the 6th round of talks was planned to be held in the Omani capital of Muscat on June 15, but was called off due to the anti-Iran attacks. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Says To Meet With European Nations On July 25 Over Nuclear Issues By RFE/RL's Radio Farda July 21, 2025 Iran is set to meet with officials from Britain, France, and Germany -- the so-called European three (E3) -- on July 25 in Istanbul to discuss the country's nuclear program as Western nations turn up the pressure on Tehran to reach a settlement or face new sanctions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said late on July 20 that the talks would be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers. "In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks," Baghaei told state TV. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi confirmed that a meeting was in the works but said the time and place were still to be determined. The E3 nations have warned that if a nuclear deal with Iran is not reached by the end of August, they will reinstate all UN sanctions against Iran by activating a so-called "snapback" mechanism. On July 18, Aragchi called on the European powers to halt threats against Tehran, including the warnings about reinstating UN sanctions. Under the 2015 nuclear agreement -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- longstanding UN restrictions on arms sales, banking, and nuclearrelated technology were lifted a decade ago. European governments can still invoke the deal's snapback mechanism before an October 15 deadline, a step that would restore those sanctions and give them a narrow but significant source of leverage in current negotiations. Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the wake of the US and Israeli bombing of its nuclear sites last month. The European are pressing for UN nuclear inspectors to resume work in Iran, aiming in part to prevent Tehran from reorganizing its nuclear program after the damage caused by the strikes. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, China and Russia -- longtime supporters of Iran in such negotiations -- cannot veto a snapback of sanctions. Although the formal window to trigger the mechanism closes in October, European governments could opt to postpone the move beyond that deadline to keep the door open for further talks. On July 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin held previously unannounced talks in the Kremlin with Ali Larijani, the top adviser on nuclear issues to Iran's supreme leader. Larijani "conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear program," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Peskov added that the Russian president had expressed Moscow's "well-known positions on how to stabilize the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear program." Iranian and US negotiators were scheduled to meet in Oslo earlier this month, but the meeting was postponed, with no new date agreed upon. 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. A major unresolved issue is the fate of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, enriched to 60 percent above levels needed for civilian use but still below weapons grade. Iran is estimated to have had around 400 kilograms of this uranium. Aragchi told Fox News on July 21 that Tehran will not give up its nuclear-enrichment program, even in the face of "serious" damage cause by US and Israeli strikes. "It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But, obviously, we cannot give up of enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," he said in a clip ahead of the network broadcast of the interview. Meanwhile, Iran's IRNA news agency on July 20 reported a massive explosion in a residential building in the city of Rezvanshahr in Gilan Province near the Caspian Sea. A local official told the news agency that the explosion occurred at around 1 p.m. local time on July 20 in a residential unit. The cause of the incident was being investigated, officials said. "The residents of the residential unit where the explosion took place were not at home, so fortunately there were no casualties, but eight residents of the surrounding houses were injured due to the force and intensity of the explosion and were treated on the spot," a local official said. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-europe-nuclear- trump-aragchi-istanbul-talks-putin/33479258.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 Israel MOD to Procure Advanced Negev Machine Guns for Ground Forces in Approximately $20M Deal Israel Ministry of Defense 16/7/2025 The Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD) at the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), through the Deputy Ground Forces Procurement Unit, has signed an agreement with Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) to supply advanced machine guns in 7.62 mm caliber from the Negev 7 and UX series. The deal, valued at approximately $20 million (NIS 67 million), is expected to significantly enhance the IDF ground forces' firepower capabilities. Under the agreement, IWI will also provide a comprehensive maintenance package to ensure high operational readiness for infantry forces over an extended period. The machine guns will be delivered to the IDF Ground Forces from 2026 to 2027. The Negev UX machine gun, developed in collaboration with the IDF, has proven itself a significant force multiplier in ground maneuvering during the current war. The weapon combines lightweight design, mobility, and high firepower, enabling maneuvering forces to operate effectively in complex combat environments, built-up areas, and varying ranges. The agreement marks another step in IMOD Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram's policy of expanding Israel's defense production base to support the IDF's current operational requirements and strengthen its readiness for the coming decade. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with senior advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Larijani Vladimir Putin held a meeting at the Kremlin with senior advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Larijani. July 20, 2025 17:00 The Kremlin, Moscow At the instruction of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Larijani presented the views of the Islamic Republic on the current escalation in the Middle East and, notably, surrounding Iran's nuclear programme. The Russian side expressed support for stabilising the situation in the region and resolving any issues pertaining to Iran's nuclear programme via political means. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin-Trump Meeting is Essential and Only a Matter of Time Sputnik News 20250720 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, is essential and will take place one day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. "It is possible and it will take place one day. It is essential," Peskov said in an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin. The latest phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, which took place on July 3, was pragmatic. "It was a pragmatic, business-like conversation between two people who are standing firmly on their positions, but are ready to listen to each other," Peskov said in an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin. Despite his "tough and straightforward" rhetoric, Trump is "confirming his intention to do every possible thing to facilitate peaceful settlement" of the conflict in Ukraine, Peskov said. The settlement of the Ukrainian conflict is a complicated and lengthy process and "most likely Washington starts to understand it more and more," the spokesman added. Speaking about the Ukrainian crisis, Peskov said that Putin has repeatedly expressed his desire to shift the settlement of the conflict to a peaceful course as soon as possible. "President Putin has repeatedly expressed his desire to bring the settlement of the Ukraine conflict to a peaceful course as soon as possible," Peskov told Rossiya 1 reporter Pavel Zarubin. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bedouins-Druze Clashes in Southern Syria Stop - Interior Ministry Sputnik News 20250720 DOHA (Sputnik) - Clashes between Druze units and Bedouin tribes have ceased in the city of Suwayda in southern Syria, Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba said. "Following intensive efforts by the Interior Ministry to implement the ceasefire agreement and deploy its forces in the northern and western areas of Suwayda province, tribal militants have completely left the city of Suwayda, and clashes in urban areas have ceased," the spokesman's statement reads, as quoted by the Syria TV broadcaster. Last week, armed Bedouin groups attacked several Druze settlements in Suwayda province, clashing with Druze self-defense forces. The Syrian Defense Ministry said that over 30 people had been killed and 100 others wounded in the clashes, including 20 troops loyal to the Syrian transitional government. On Tuesday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that the army and interior ministry deployed troops to Suwayda to clear the city of illegal armed factions. Later, they began withdrawing heavy military equipment from Suwayda toward Damascus, transferring residential areas under the control of internal security forces. The Israeli government ordered an immediate military strike against Syrian forces. Israel said it acted out of concern for the Druze community of Syria, citing close ties with the Druze population within Israel and historic connections. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria Needs to Use All Its Resources to Prevent Terrorist Activity in Country - Rubio Sputnik News 20250720 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Syrian authorities need to use all their resources to prevent the Islamic State (IS or ISIS, a terrorist organization banned in Russia) and other "violent jihadists" from operating in the country if they want to establish peace, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Earlier, Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba said that clashes between Druze units and Bedouin tribes in the city of Suwayda in southern Syria had ceased. "If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria free of ISIS* and of Iranian control they must help end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent ISIS and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres," Rubio said on X. Last week, armed Bedouin groups attacked several Druze settlements in Suwayda province, clashing with Druze self-defense forces. The Syrian Defense Ministry said that over 30 people had been killed and 100 others wounded in the clashes, including 20 troops loyal to the Syrian transitional government. On Tuesday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that the army and interior ministry deployed troops to Suwayda to clear the city of illegal armed factions. Later, they began withdrawing heavy military equipment from Suwayda toward Damascus, transferring residential areas under the control of internal security forces. The Israeli government ordered an immediate military strike against Syrian forces. Israel said it acted out of concern for the Druze community of Syria, citing close ties with the Druze population within Israel and historic connections. *a terrorist organization banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. House passes US$500 million in Taiwan aid ROC Central News Agency 07/20/2025 03:42 PM Washington, July 19 (CNA) The United States House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan will be administered by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency and will remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the U.S. Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed an amendment to remove the US$500 million in Taiwan-related funding from the bill. Speaking on the House floor, she argued that the amount marked a US$100 million increase from the previous year. Greene claimed that "increasing foreign aid to Taiwan will only increase their reliance on the United States" and said the U.S., with its US$37 trillion in national debt, could not afford to continue foreign assistance to "other countries." She also warned against potentially "instigating World War Three with China" and said the United States should focus on its own border before addressing those of other countries, including Taiwan and Ukraine. Her amendment was rejected in a 421-6 vote following bipartisan opposition. Speaking against Greene's amendment, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert said the Trump administration had issued a policy statement the day before calling for more aid for Taiwan, recommending US$1 billion. He said that the proposal could have been considered if the White House Office of Management and Budget had submitted relevant materials on time. Calvert stated that supporting Taiwan aligns with the core interests of the United States. "The funding will go a long way to make sure that Taiwan has the resources necessary to help prevent a Chinese invasion," he said. "That's the position of the Trump administration and that's the position of this bill," he added. Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said "Taiwan is threatened by the People's Republic of China" and warned that other nations, including the Philippines, would also be at risk "if Taiwan falls." "This bill will assist Taiwan in preparing their military, increasing their readiness and their deterrence capabilities," she added. The committee directed the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit a funding plan to the House and Senate appropriations committees within 60 days of the law taking effect. Under U.S. law, the bill must pass the U.S. Senate in the same form before it can be sent to the president for signing. (By Elaine Hou and James Thompson) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senate Committee bill's provocative stance signals certain US lawmakers' attempt to deepen intervention into Taiwan question: expert Global Times By Fan Anqi and Bai Yunyi Published: Jul 20, 2025 11:29 PM A US Senate Committee is attempting to push for defense budget bill for fiscal year 2026 with a more provocative stance on inviting Taiwan region to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), on which experts and observers said signals certain US lawmakers' attempt to deepen US intervention in the Taiwan question. The US Senate Armed Services Committee recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, sending it to the full Senate for a vote, per media reports. Compared to past versions that merely "suggested" inviting the island of Taiwan to RIMPAC, the 2026 Senate version takes a more provocative stance. The bill "strongly encourages" the Secretary of Defense to invite Taiwan to RIMPAC "as appropriate," it said. Last year's House version included a similar proposal as a non-binding "Sense of Congress" statement. Such provisions reflect congressional opinion but have no legal force, according to the Taiwan local media. On Friday, the US House of Representatives passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2026, which includes $500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals $831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote, CNA reported Sunday. While the bill passed, it faced oppositions from some lawmakers. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed to remove the $500 million in Taiwan-related funding, arguing that "increasing foreign aid to Taiwan will only increase its reliance on the United States" and said the US, with its $37 trillion in national debt, could not afford to continue foreign aid. She also warned against potentially "instigating World War Three with China" and said the US should focus on its own border before addressing those of other countries. Experts warn that the US Congress has long posed a major obstacle to China-US communication on the Taiwan question, which would greatly undermine regional security and peace. Observers from the island questioned the invitation, warning that Taiwan's participation could raise concerns among other parties, and run counter to US' existing one-China policy that the US may not be able to handle the potential fallout. Moreover, if the island participates, mainland may view such a move as a provocation and a challenge to its red line on the one-China principle, Taiwan local media outlet China Times reported on Saturday. Some others on the island commented that the US Congress makes similar recommendations every year, but none have materialized so far, so expectations this time should also remain low. KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun noted that although Congress routinely introduces multiple pro-Taiwan provisions each year, whether they are included in the final bill remains uncertain. Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, noted that the US Congress often plays an extreme and irresponsible role in shaping Taiwan-related policy, adding that Congress has consistently been the biggest obstacle to communication between China and the US on the Taiwan question. "Taiwan's lobbying groups have long infiltrated, and even effectively bought off some members of Congress, leading the legislature to prioritize domestic political considerations over the stability of China-US relations," Li told the Global Times on Sunday. The act signals certain US lawmakers' attempt to deepen intervention in the Taiwan question, which could further heighten tensions and instability in the Asia-Pacific region. Li warned that the US is increasingly becoming a source of conflict and crisis in the region. Wang Shushen, deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that Congress often includes sensitive provisions within NDAA. The latest version reflects an increasingly assertive stance from lawmakers, but the final decision still rests with the executive branch, particularly the Department of Defense. The concerns raised within the island of Taiwan also reflect that many in Taiwan have come to the painful realization that the US has all along played the "Taiwan card" to serve its own strategic interests, while Taiwan itself ultimately bears the risks. Wang also noted that while the US house has passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2026, it reflects the internal divisions in US policy toward Taiwan region, with the Republicans demanding that Taiwan increase its own budget. What's more, the $500 million has little substantial effect, and its use is heavily constrained as the US is also increasing aid to Ukraine, which may affect the provision of military aid to Taiwan island, Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Will Trump's 50-Day Deadline Shift Putin? Doubtful, Analysts Say By Steve Gutterman July 19, 2025 US President Donald Trump handed the Kremlin a clear warning this week, announcing plans for weapons supplies to Kyiv via Europe and saying the United States will impose "very severe tariffs" on Russia if it doesn't reach a deal on the war in Ukraine within 50 days. Trump did not specify whether a cease-fire would suffice, or only a comprehensive peace deal. Either way, many analysts say it's unlikely to happen. Here's why. Territorial Aims Russian President Vladimir Putin's goals clearly go far beyond the conquest of part of Ukraine: He has made plain that he wants to subjugate the country and weaken NATO and the West, restoring a measure of Moscow's Soviet-era sway over swaths of Europe. But a more immediate aim is all about territory. Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine. In addition to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia has controlled since 2014, Putin formally and falsely claims that the Ukrainian mainland regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson are now Russian -- including the substantial portions that Russia does not occupy. Russia has said a full Ukrainian withdrawal from those four regions is a prerequisite of any peace deal -- a demand that Kyiv says is unacceptable. And while analysts say Putin could weather any backlash at home if he agreed to a pact that would limit Russia's presence to the land it now holds, he has given zero indication that he might do that. On the contrary, Russia has stuck to this demand in its rhetoric. On the ground, it has sought to make its claim a reality, pressing forward in the Donetsk region in particular and bearing down on the ruined city of Pokrovsk. In one of the first Russian reactions to Trump's remarks, Kremlin-aligned lawmaker Konstantin Kosachyov said on Telegram that "oh so much can change on the battlefield in 50 days." Russia could seek to step up its offensive in the coming weeks, pushing to advance not just in the provinces it claims but also elsewhere, such as in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions north of Donetsk. In June, Putin issued a thinly veiled threat to try to capture the city of Sumy. Still, there actually is a limit to what can change in six weeks on the battlefield, where incremental Russian gains have come at a massive cost in terms of casualties, which are estimated to be close to 1 million killed or wounded since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But while there is no way Russia can seize the remaining parts of the four regions by September -- areas that include the capitals of Zaporizhzhya and Kherson -- that may only sharpen Putin's desire to secure control over them on paper ahead of any deal. "To me, it's clear that Putin does not want any cease-fire, at least not until he gains control over all the regions that are defined as Russian in his version of the constitution," Dmitry Gudkov, a former opposition lawmaker in the Russian parliament, told Current Time on July 16. "In essence, it would mean Ukraine's capitulation." 'Ultimatums Are Unacceptable' Trump has sought to broker an end to the war in Ukraine since he took office six months ago, following an election campaign in which he said he could get it done in a day or two. Facing pushback from Putin, most notably in the form of his carefully worded rejection of the US call for a 30-day cease-fire, Trump has had harsh words for Putin in recent weeks. But the 50-day warning was the first time Trump has given the Kremlin an ultimatum -- a form of pressure that Putin, who has made demands that other countries treat Russia as an equal a formal part of his foreign policy, does not seem to like. So while many in the West have been eager for Trump to make specific demands on Putin, it's not clear whether an ultimatum increases or decreases the chances of a deal. Putin has not spoken publicly about Trump's remarks, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said nothing specific about them. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who oversees Moscow's ties with the US, said on July 15 that "any attempts to make demands, especially ultimatums, are unacceptable to us." "If we cannot achieve our goals through diplomacy, then the [war against Ukraine] will continue," Ryabkov said, delivering the closest thing so far to an official rejection of Trump's call for a deal within 50 days -- by September 1 or 2, depending on how it's counted. "This is an unshakable position." The Blame Game The Kremlin may hope that Trump's turn against Putin in recent weeks is not so unshakable -- and that if there's no deal come September, the pendulum will swing back and the US president will lay at least part of the blame on Kyiv. One prominent view in Russia is that Trump's current focus is "transient" and the increased support for Ukraine is "a maneuver designed to increase pressure on Putin and test whether this approach yields results," Tatyana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, wrote on X. Those who hold this view believe that when "it becomes evident that such pressure is ineffective -- expected to be soon -- Trump is likely to revert to a diplomatic course, including exerting pressure on Ukraine to reach a compromise," Stanovaya wrote ahead of Trump's remarks. Trump has put much of the blame on Ukraine at times in the past. And an aspect of his July 14 remarks that flew mostly under the radar was that he stressed that he hopes the push for a deal within 50 days will "have an impact on Ukraine also." "We want to make sure that Ukraine does what they have to do," Trump said. "All of a sudden, they may feel emboldened and maybe they don't want [a deal] -- this is a very difficult situation." 'Not Ready For Prime Time' In any case, though, there are at least two reasons why the threat of sanctions seems unlikely to push Putin much closer to a deal with Ukraine to halt or end the war at this point. One is that it is unclear how the measures Trump threatened -- chiefly, tariffs or sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil -- would work. Trump's July 14 announcement was "laudable in its intention to hit Russia on the economic side" but "not ready for prime time in its details," Daniel Fried, a fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank and an architect of US sanctions against Russia after it seized Crimea in 2014, said on the podcast Just Security. It's also unclear how well they would work if they are put in place, so the Kremlin could be inclined to take its chances. "China and India are the top two recipients of Russian energy exports, and the expectation that they will pressure Putin to end his war in the next 50 days seems naive," Michael McFaul, a political science professor at Stanford University and the US ambassador to Russia in 2012-14, wrote in Time Magazine. The other reason is that Russia has weathered Western sanctions so far and the Kremlin has made that a point of pride, slotting it into the overarching narrative that Russia -- in fact the aggressor in an unprovoked war -- is fighting a defensive campaign in a major showdown with West -- and winning. Against that backdrop, appearing to bend in the face of the tariff threat is something Putin would be loath to do unless absolutely necessary. 'Two Big Contingencies' The same may go for the stepped-up weapons shipments that Trump has promised Ukraine, with NATO allies footing the bill by purchasing Patriot air-defense missile systems and other arms from the United States or sending Kyiv weapons they have already received. Fried, the former sanctions architect, said that if Trump's announcements on weapons for Ukraine and economic pressure on Russia are "crystallized, sharpened, and implemented," it could make a big difference in terms of the war and the path to peace. "Two big contingencies: Get the weapons flowing and keep them flowing; and crystallize our policy options for hitting the Russian economy. You do both and Ukraine's in a very different position," he said. "If Putin's assumptions or his hopes for a US failure of leadership and abandonment of Ukraine prove to be false, then he may have to settle." Other analysts suggest that's not about to happen anytime soon, if at all. "I think...we're going to need to see the United States showing a lot more muscle if it really is going to be able to bring Putin to the table in any kind of meaningful way," Russia expert Mark Galeotti said on the This Is Not A Drill podcast. The prevailing view in Russia is that "none of these developments will alter Putin's strategy of coercing Kyiv into capitulation by any available means," Stanovaya wrote. "Putin will not be beaten out of his war optimism easily, and he believes [Trump] has few cards," Alexander Gabuev, director of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, wrote on X on July 14. As far back as winter "it was clear that Vladimir Putin is convinced [of] one thing: time is on his side," Gabuev wrote. "This is why he isn't interested in a deal [that's] not on his terms." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-50-day-ultimatum- putin-ukraine-peace-deal/33477792.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 German chancellor played key role in Trump's decision to maintain aid to Ukraine: FM Iran Press TV Sunday, 20 July 2025 7:04 AM US President Donald Trump's decision to continue military aid to Ukraine can be attributed, in many aspects, to the diplomatic efforts of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Germany's foreign minister. Johann Wadephul, in an interview with Bild on Sunday, highlighted that Merz "played a significant role" in turning Trump's stance towards Ukraine aid in its conflict with Russia. "The entire Europe is on Ukraine's side. The United States is also ready to continue support. This is, to a significant extent, a result of the German chancellor's initiative," he said. "Friedrich Merz played a significant role in this, because he made it clear from the very outset that he defends Ukraine." "Friedrich Merz phoned Donald Trump and said there is a need for the United States now. We can only be glad that the chancellor has established a pragmatic relationship with the US president, and that the voice of Germany is heard in Washington again," Wadephul said. On July 14, Trump said that the US will continue transferring military equipment and weapons to Ukraine if Europe pays for the supplies and NATO coordinates the process. According to Trump, the deliveries will include 17 Patriot systems Trump also said the US would impose import duties of 100% on Russia and its trade partners if Moscow and Washington did not reach an agreement on resolving the conflict in Ukraine within 50 days. After returning to the White House in January, Trump scaled back support for Ukraine, said Washington's aid to Kiev is a drain on the US taxpayer, and criticized Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky of being an obstacle to peace. However, in recent weeks, Trump has signaled his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin for allegedly refusing to negotiate a ceasefire proposal. While Putin has agreed to a brief pause in the fighting, he has rejected US proposals for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia has argued that the proposal, which Ukraine has accepted, would give Kiev a chance to remobilize its troops and rearm. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Warns: West Using Romania as Springboard for Ukraine Escalation Sputnik News 20250720 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The West views Romania as a foothold for intervention in the Ukrainian conflict, which poses threats to regional security, Russian Ambassador to Bucharest Vladimir Lipayev said in an interview with RIA Novosti. "It is obvious that the states of the so-called collective West are trying, without directly using their armed forces, to increasingly intervene in the conflict in Ukraine, hoping to change its course by increasing the degree of escalation. The use of the territory of the alliance member states closest to Russia, including Romania, is considered one of the tools for such intervention. For this reason, the militarization of Romania is in full swing," Lipayev said. He noted that elements of the US missile defense system were deployed on the country's territory, military bases were being expanded, and the NATO contingent was increasing. The Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase is located less than 400 kilometers from Sevastopol, the diplomat noted. Since 2016, Romania has become an important element of NATO's missile defense system in Europe. US missile systems are deployed in the country, and the number of military exercises of the alliance increases annually. Lipayev warned that the policy of militarization within the framework of NATO poses threats not only to Russia, but also to Romania itself. "Membership in NATO and participation in the adventurous plans of this bloc poses the main threat to Romania's security today," Lipayev said. The country's ruling circles do not inform the people about the real risks of such a political course, lulling them with promises that NATO will protect them, Lipatev added. At the same time, the amounts spent by Romania on helping Ukraine significantly exceed $1 billion and continue to increase. "[The Romanian authorities] try not to talk about the amounts allocated to 'help' Kiev. But taking into account the transferred Patriot [air defense] system, they significantly exceed $1 billion and continue to increase," Lipayev said. Romania also continues to actively participate in the training of the Ukrainian servicemen, including F-16 pilots, as well as in repair of the military equipment, which prolongs the conflict, Lipayev added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Accused Of 'Stealing' Ukraine's Future With Forced Deportation Of Children By Una Cilic, Maryana Sych and Kateryna Farbar July 21, 2025 When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Februry 2022, Ksenia Koldin was finishing grade 11 in Vovchansk, a city some 70 kilometers from her native Kharkiv. Six months later, with the country at war, she and her younger brother were forced to go to Russia. They weren't on the front lines, but the two some of the thousands of casualties from the conflict nonetheless. Earlier this month, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Russia guilty of implementing an organized system of human rights violations, including the forced deportation of children. But a new report by the global think tank Globsec goes a step further, echoing growing accusations of Moscow's aim to "steal" Ukraine's future. "Russia's weaponization of population displacement and the deportation of children represents one of the most deliberate and devastating assaults on a civilian population in modern European history," the report, authored by Associate Fellow Megan Gittoes, says, noting the strategy in the global context of mass refugee movements exposes millions to the risks of trafficking and exploitation. "Far from being unintended consequences of war, these are core components of the Kremlin's hybrid warfare strategy, designed to weaken Ukraine's demographic resilience in what has become a protracted conflict," the report, released at the Globsec Forum 2025 last month, adds. Amid massive drone strikes, battlefield clashes, and ruined cities, thousands of Ukrainian children have been taken from their homes and sent to Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine or locations in Russia and its ally, Belarus. Some have been placed with Russian foster families or at "reeducation camps" while many others like Koldin, went to school -- in Russia. There, she recounts experiences that come across more as indoctrination than education. "Every Monday we had 'talks about important things' lessons. This is the famous Russian propaganda about how great Russia is. Then we had to sing the national anthem," she told RFE/RL. Koldin stayed in school for three months during which she said her teachers and the administrator of the college tried constantly to persuade her to take Russian citizenship saying she could get money and housing if she did. She refused. Around 19,546 children have been deported to Russia since the start of the invasion in 2022, and just about 1399 children have been returned to Ukraine, according to data from Bring Kids Back UA. Russia has been accused of changing the Ukrainian children's names in an attempt to deprive them of access to relatives. Mariam Lambert, co-founder of Emile Foundation that works on the process of returning forcibly deported children, says the pressure put on Ukrainian children now in Russia is a "deliberate and organized crime." "In Ukraine, children are targeted by Russia to wipe out their identity," Lambert said in an interview with RFE/RL. "The whole goal is to create a new generation in Russia. And that's a crime according to the Geneva Convention." Moscow has denied committing any crimes with the moving of the children, says it is saving them from the war. The International Criminal Court (ICC) sees it otherwise. In March 2023 it issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights. The court alleges responsibility for the war crime of the unlawful deportation and transfer of children during the war. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, who represents the state in efforts to bring back civilians and military personnel, says Russia hasn't been forthcoming with information regarding children from Ukraine. "From our perspective, we clearly see the main goal of deporting Ukrainian children: to use them as the next generation of Russian soldiers," Lubinets told RFE/RL. "Their documents are changed, all of them, including birth certificates and education records. They are forced to speak only Russian and to identify themselves as Russian," he added. An investigation by Schemes (Skhemy), an investigative news project run by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, last December revealed Russia has been using a militaristic youth organization, Yunarmia, to foster the loyalty of teenagers in occupied parts of Ukraine and prepare them to fight in Moscow's war against their native country. Yunarmia "was created with the specific idea of the militarized reeducation of not only Russian [children] but also Ukrainian children from the occupied territories," said Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer at the Regional Center for Human Rights, which was forced to move from Crimea to Kyiv after the Russian occupation. Those parents trying to find their children and repatriate them after being separated appear to back up Lubinets' claims. The Globsec report cited the testimony of several parents saying Russian officials put up obstacles to try and make the return of children more difficult. 'Brainwashing' One of them, a woman named Tatyana, said when she tried to secure the return of her son, who was transferred to a camp in Crimea in 2023, she was accused by Russian officials of acting on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence and detained her for several days. Koldin said she experienced another issue when trying to secure the return of her brother, now 14, after they were separated in Russia. He had spent five weeks at a summer camp and then moved in with the new Russian family to Abinsk, a city in the Krasnodar region. There, she said, "they started brainwashing him." "They said that the Nazis were operating in Ukraine, that they wanted to kill him, that no one needed him in Ukraine, that there was a war there and that he shouldn't go there," Koldin said. He was reluctant to go, having made new friends and fearing what awaited him in Ukraine after hearing how bad it was. "We talked for three hours, during which I tried to persuade him to agree to go with me. He absolutely did not want to go," Koldin recounts. "He said the same things about the Nazis being there, that he wanted to stay here, that there was a war, that they were bombing." He finally relented, with his Russian foster mother telling them as they left: "Go, go to your Ukraine, it will soon become Russia anyway." Ukraine has made the return of children a key point in struggling peace talks with Russia. Lubinets says Russian officials are reluctant to return the children "because they fully understand that every returned child is a potential witness." "We must acknowledge that Russian propaganda works on them every single day," he says. Ksenia Koldin says it took several months for her brother to re-assimilate. She says her brother now goes to school and lives under the care of a "good Ukrainian foster family." They both live in Kyiv and see each other on the weekends. She also continues to fight for others who have not been as fortunate. Koldin is an ambassador for Save Ukraine, and the voice of children who were deported and had similar experiences to her. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-children-russia- deportation-war/33479256.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 Russia Launches Massive Air Attacks On Ukraine Amid Peace Talk Proposal By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 21, 2025 KYIV -- Russia launched hundreds of drones and more than two dozen missiles in a massive attack on Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people, including one in the capital, Kyiv, which came under fire a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed holding a fresh round of peace talks. Over the weekend, Zelenskyy offered to hold new peace talks with Moscow this week, as international partners prepared to send more weapons to Ukraine through NATO, following an agreement with US President Donald Trump The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia fired 426 Shahed-type drones, five Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and 19 cruise missiles at various locations around Kyiv and other parts of the country. Just under half of the drones and all but one of the missiles were destroyed or jammed, it added. "Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities," Zelenskyy said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that one person was killed in the Ukrainian capital, and two were wounded in the overnight attack. "In the Darnytskiy district, one person was hospitalized. [...] In the Shevchenkivskiy district, where fire gutted two floors of a residential high-rise apartment building, one person required medical assistance at the site, " Klitschko said. The attack also destroyed the entrance of the Lukyanivska subway station in Kyiv, which has been used as a shelter during air attacks. The station had to be closed. In the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv called the attack the largest on the city since the beginning of Russia's the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Russia claims it is not targeting civilian infrastructure with its air strikes. Ukrainian authorities and international agencies, such as the United Nations and the European Union, have accused Russia of intentionally targeting civilians, in what they say amounts to war crimes. Two rounds of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in May and early June secured large-scale prisoner swaps and deals to return the bodies of slain soldiers. But they made no breakthrough in achieving a cease-fire to potentially end the military conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. US President Donald Trump, voicing frustration over the lack of progress, gave Moscow a 50-day deadline last week to agree to a cease-fire or face tougher sanctions. Zelenskyy said Rustem Umerov, the newly appointed head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, had sent Moscow the offer to hold the meeting in the coming week, but did not provide further details. The Kremlin said it welcomes new talks, but that the "most important thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear, obvious, they have not changed." It also has insisted that any peace agreement sees Ukraine cede control and withdraw from four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022, but never fully captured. Kyiv must also renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces -- demands Ukraine and its Western allies have flatly rejected. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-airstrikes- zelenskiy-kyiv-peace-talks/33479720.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, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fangzhou Inc. ("Fangzhou" or the "Company") (06086.HK), a leader in Internet healthcare solutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company, at the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing. Leveraging its AI application services, innovative treatment solutions, and convenient pharmaceutical services, Fangzhou will collaborate with Novo Nordisk on managing serious chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Fangzhou and Novo Nordisk Signed Collaboration Memorandum Fangzhous founder, chairman, and CEO Dr. Xie Fangmin, and Christine Zhou, Novo Nordisk Senior Vice President & President of Region China, attended the signing ceremony. By leveraging Novo Nordisk's expertise and innovative products in diabetes and obesity treatment, Fangzhou plans to employ its smart healthcare ecosystem and robust technology infrastructure to create a comprehensive health management service. This will include medication guidance, reminders, efficacy tracking, and health education, effectively shaping the value chain in the glucose control and weight loss sector. The aim is to shift the focus from a disease-centered approach to a health-centered model, providing patients with higher quality and more convenient one-stop healthcare services. Dr. Xie Fangmin remarked, We are partnering with Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company, to explore AI technology and address the pain points of traditional health management. Together, we aim to deliver innovative digital solutions for managing blood sugar and weight on a global scale. Christine Zhou said, With the combined strengths of both companies, this collaboration will closely integrate chronic disease prevention and digital innovation technology, jointly enhancing public awareness of diabetes and obesity. It will also support the aim that the concepts of early screening, early diagnosis, and early treatment are effectively implemented within smart healthcare environments. Looking forward, both companies expect to explore further innovative collaborations in the medical industrys digital transformation, with the goal of benefiting patients with serious chronic diseases and accelerating the achievement of the Healthy China 2030 strategic objectives. About Fangzhou Inc. Fangzhou Inc. (06086.HK) is Chinas leading online chronic disease management platform, serving 49.2 million registered users and 223,000 physicians (as of December 31, 2024). The Company specializes in delivering tailored medical care and precision medicine solutions. For more information, visit https://investors.jianke.com. Media Contact For further inquiries or interviews, please reach out to: Xingwei Zhao, Associate Director of Public Relations Email: pr@jianke.com Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/adc495ab-39bc-4bc9-92b6-f012c865a299 Grapevine, TX, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Wholesome Company, a wellness brand focused on holistic and evidence-aligned support for mental well-being, is pleased to announce the launch of Reprev, a breakthrough nutritional supplement formulated to help individuals reduce anxiousness, manage stress, and improve sleep quality. Designed for rapid absorption and daily use, Reprev combines naturally calming ingredients with a flexible, easy-to-use format aimed at supporting emotional resilience in todays high-stress landscape. Reprev Drink Mix According to the National Comorbidity Study Replication, anxiety has become one of the most pressing public health concerns of the decade, affecting over 40 million adults in the US. These numbers have given rise to a growing number of individuals seeking accessible, non-habit-forming tools to help them regain a sense of calm and control. Reprev addresses this need through naturally calming ingredients and a multi-system approach to relaxation and emotional balance. Its key ingredients, L-Theanine, GABA, Magnesium, and Tart Cherry Powder, are known for their calming and sleep-supportive properties, working together to ease tension, promote relaxation, and enhance restorative sleep without sedation. Many people today are looking for tools that help them stay calm, focused, and emotionally grounded without turning to long-term prescription medication or habit-forming substances, said Charles Schwanky, a representative for The Wholesome Company. Reprev was created to meet this need, offering a natural, fast-acting option to help users regain control in moments of stress. A Multi-Pathway Approach to Stress Relief Rather than relying on a single mechanism of action, Reprev was intentionally developed to target three interconnected physiological systems neurotransmitters, hormones, and sleep cycles that govern how the body perceives, processes, and recovers from stress. This integrated approach reflects the complex nature of stress and aims to provide a more balanced, sustainable relief across both short and long-term needs. Neurotransmitters: Ingredients such as L-Theanine and GABA support the activity of brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA itself, which are central to mood regulation and relaxation. Hormones: The formula also considers the impact of cortisol, the bodys primary stress hormone, by supporting pathways that naturally help reduce its effects. Sleep cycles: Reprev includes compounds that interact with melatonin production and brainwave modulation to support healthy sleep rhythms, a critical component in long-term mental well-being. This multi-pathway approach allows Reprev to work with the bodys natural systems, offering fast-acting support during acute stress while also promoting long-term emotional balance through consistent, daily use. Formulated for Rapid Absorption and Everyday Flexibility Reprev comes in convenient stick packs designed to mix easily with water or a preferred beverage. According to the brand, its rapid-absorption formula allows calming effects to be felt within 30 to 60 minutes of consumption. Depending on individual needs, users can take one to three servings per day. Each dose is carefully calibrated to provide flexibility based on the level of stress or anxiety being experienced. One stick pack may be used for light daily stress or general calm. Two stick packs may be suitable for moderate anxiety or busy days. Three stick packs can be taken in particularly high-stress moments or when deeper relaxation is needed. The drink mix is available in three naturally flavored varieties: Berry Bliss, Lavender Breeze, and Orange Dreamsicle. Reprev Flavors Responding to a Growing Need Reprevs launch reflects a recent shift in how individuals approach mental wellness. As reports of chronic stress, sleep disruption, restlessness, and emotional burnout increase, more people are actively seeking tools that help them stay grounded, present, and calm. The Wholesome Company aims to offer Reprev as an accessible solution that can fit within ones everyday wellness routine. If youve ever suffered from severe anxiousness or stress-induced panic, then you know what its like to feel like youre all alone without any lifeline to help you, and that can be extremely debilitating, said J. Roy, Co-Founder & CEO of The Wholesome Company. After years of personally struggling with extreme anxiousness, I finally found a balance of ingredients that took me out of fight-or-flight and gave me the lifeline I had been desperately seeking. I couldnt keep it to myself, knowing what it had done for my own life, hence the birth of Reprev. Our hope is that Reprev becomes the rescuer in your pocket that it has been for so many of us here at The Wholesome Co. Availability Reprev is now available through The Wholesome Company website at http://wholesomeisbetter.com. Each box contains 30 single-serving stick packs and can be ordered in individual flavors or as part of a variety pack. About The Wholesome Company The Wholesome Company is a wellness brand based in Texas, focused on developing science-informed, naturally formulated solutions that support mental and emotional well-being. Committed to transparency, clean ingredients, and real-world usability, the company creates products that fit seamlessly into daily life. The Wholesome Company empowers individuals with approachable, thoughtfully crafted tools that support balance, resilience, and overall peace of mind. Media Contact Company Name: The Wholesome Company Contact Person: Charles Schwanky Contact Number: (800) 935-6561 Email: hello@wholesomeisbetter.com Country: United States Website: http://wholesomeisbetter.com Social Media Handles: @wholesomereprev Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This press release is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please check with your doctor. The news site hosting this press release is not associated with (Company Name). It is merely publishing a press release announcement submitted by a company, without any stated or implied endorsement of the product or service. EssilorLuxottica to acquire PUcores division dedicated to the development, manufacturing and sale of ophthalmic lens materials The acquisition will enhance the Groups R&D and production capabilities for the manufacturing of innovative high index, thinner and lighter ophthalmic lenses, and ensure long term sustainable sourcing Paris, France (21 July 2025) EssilorLuxottica announces today it has signed an agreement with the South Korean company PUcore for the acquisition of all its assets and entities involved in the development, manufacturing and sale of monomers used in the production of high index ophthalmic lenses. The activities acquired by EssilorLuxottica include a R&D unit, a materials production facility and a sales office in the Republic of Korea. As part of the transaction, the Group will also acquire an intellectual property portfolio in relation to the formulations of products and production processes. We are happy to welcome PUcores optical division and its talented teams into our Group. In line with our commitment to elevating standards in the research, development and manufacturing of ophthalmic lenses, this addition will allow us to widen our portfolio of patents, technologies and know-how and extend our expertise upstream in the value chain. By continuing to improve the production and formulation of high index monomers, we will raise the bar for the performance and sustainability of the processes and supplies used across the entire ophthalmic industry, commented Francesco Milleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul du Saillant, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at EssilorLuxottica. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Attachment London, United Kingdom, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XRP has remained resilient over the past 24 hours, trading steadily between $3.50 and $3.55, with a current price of $3.52, reflecting a 2.3% daily gain. While price volatility has moderated, on-chain data shows rising transaction volume, new wallet activity, and open interest in XRP derivativessignaling renewed institutional momentum. In response to these structural shifts, global cloud mining platform JA Mining has launched a new line of dual-income mining contracts, allowing investors to earn daily fixed returns while capturing upside potential if token prices appreciate during the contract term. The contracts are accessible via XRP, BTC, ETH, DOGE, and other major cryptocurrencies. Market Context: Activity Deepens Beyond Price Recent data indicates XRPs on-chain activity and derivatives exposure are both on the rise, with total open interest in XRP futures surpassing $10.4 billion. Analysts note that while price corrections may occur, long-term capital continues to accumulateshifting focus from speculative short-term plays to structured income strategies. JA Minings latest offering reflects this shift by introducing a product model designed to balance risk and reward: a fixed-income contract structure that also lets users benefit from crypto market upside . Dual-Income Structure: Predictable Returns + Market Gains Once activated, each contract provides: Stable daily income (USD-equivalent) (USD-equivalent) Payouts in the original invested cryptocurrency (e.g., XRP in, XRP out) (e.g., XRP in, XRP out) Capital appreciation benefits if the token rises during the contract term Example: A user allocates $5,800 worth of XRP into a 3-day contract, receiving $249.60 per day, totaling $748.80. If XRP gains 10% over the same period, the final payout in XRP also appreciates proportionally, boosting the overall return. Mining Contract Examples (Updated July 2025) LTC Classic Miner $200 | 2 Days | $7/day Total: $14 DOGE Innovative Miner $2,420 | 3 Days | $86.88/day Total: $260.63 DOGE Quality Choice $12,500 | 3 Days | $535/day Total: $1,605 BTC Intelligent Innovation $55,600 | 2 Days | $4,770/day Total: $9,540.96 BTC Efficient & Excellent $258,000 | 5 Days | $24,664.80/day Total: $123,324 For more plans, please visit the official website: https://jamining.com Fully Online, Green-Powered, and Globally Accessible JA Mining operates 100% online, with instant contract activation and real-time earnings tracking. The platform is accessible in over 100 countries, requiring no mining hardware or technical setup. All operations are powered by renewable energy, aligning with global ESG priorities. Key features include: Investment support for XRP, BTC, ETH, DOGE, and more No hardware, no manual configuration Automated daily payouts Multilingual user support $100 signup bonus for new users About JA Mining JA Mining is a global cloud-based cryptocurrency mining platform offering short-term contracts with daily returns. Built around transparency, automation, and sustainability, JA Mining empowers users of all experience levels to generate mining income without the complexity of traditional setups. Supporting major digital assets such as XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin, the platform delivers a simple yet powerful entry point into structured crypto investment. Get started now with a $100 bonus and zero setup required: https://jamining.com Media Contact: JA Mining info@jamining.com www.jamining.com Attachment Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published by Prosafe SE ("Prosafe" or the "Company") on 24 April 2025 where it was announced that Prosafe had agreed the terms of a recapitalization (the "Recapitalization") which, inter alia, includes a recapitalization of USD 193 million into 321,635,718 new shares in the Company (the "New Shares") and an offering of up to 17,868,651 warrants to shareholders in the Company as of 16 May 2025 as registered in the Euronex Securities Oslo VPS on the record date 20 May 2025 (the "Warrants"), subject to final approval being obtained by all lenders. Reference is further made to the announcement published by the Company on 18 July 2025 regarding approval and publication of a prospectus in relation to issuance of the New Shares and offering of Warrants. Registration of the New Shares issued following conversion of USD 193,000,000 of debt into equity has as part of the completion of the Recapitalization been registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises. The Company's registered share capital has consequently increased by EUR 3,216,357.18, from EUR 178,686.51 to EUR 3,395,043.69, by issuance of 321,635,718 new shares, each with a nominal value of EUR 0.01. The Company's new registered share capital is EUR 3,395,043.69 divided into 339,504,369 shares, each with a nominal value of EUR 0.01. Prosafe is pleased to announce that the Recapitalization is now effective. The Recapitalization significantly improves Prosafes financial position, providing fresh liquidity and a reduction in debt of USD 193 million. Prosafe maintains a positive outlook with new contracts recently secured and improved activity on the back of vessel re-activations. Prosafe recently announced the award of a new 4-year contract for the Safe Notos at a significantly improved day rate of approximately USD 140k/day. The Safe Caledonia started its contract with Ithaca in the UK North Sea on 2 June 2025 and Safe Boreas has arrived in Singapore ahead of the upcoming contract in Australia which has a start-up window between 15 November 2025 and 15 February 2026. The Company would like to extend a warm welcome to the new Board of Directors elected at the Companys annual general meeting held on 21 May 2025. The Company would also like to thank the departing board for all of their work, dedication and support over the past several years. The Company expects unrestricted liquidity (excluding restricted cash and cash held in New Group) of approximately USD 90 to 100 million and headroom against the new USD 20 million covenant of approximately USD 70 to 80 million at the date of the Recapitalization. Forward Looking Statement: Prosafe takes the opportunity to provide guidance for the full year 2025 EBITDA which is anticipated to be in the range of USD 35 - 40 million. This assumes successful completion of the Safe Boreas re-activation prior to end Q3 2025, planned Special Periodic Surveys (SPS) and related off-hire periods for Safe Zephyrus and Safe Notos during Q3 and Q4 2025 as well as the successful completion of the Safe Caledonia contract. Reference is made to the Q1 presentation published on 21 May 2025 regarding current contracts, anticipated capital expenditure and costs. For further information, please contact: Terje Askvig, CEO Phone: +47 952 03 886 Reese McNeel, CFO Phone: +47 415 08 186 This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and the requirements of Oslo Brs' Continuing Obligations. Dublin, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cote d'Ivoire IVD Market by Offering, Technology, Application, Diagnostic Approach, End User - Forecast to 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The growth of this market is driven by the rising burden of infectious diseases, increasing government support and international aid, advancements in diagnostic technologies, and growing health awareness and population growth. Furthermore, public-private partnerships (PPP), growing demand for molecular diagnostics, telemedicine, and point-of-care testing, and increasing awareness of early diagnosis are expected to generate growth opportunities for the stakeholders in this market. The key players operating in the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market are Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Becton, Dickinson and Company (U.S.), bioMerieux SA (France), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands), Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., (U.S.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd (China), The Cote d'Ivoire Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Biovet Ltd. (India), and Laboratories & Allied Ltd. (Kenya). By offering, the Cote d'Ivoire IVD is segmented into reagents & kits, instruments, and software & services. In 2025, the reagents & kits segment is expected to account for the largest share of 84.2% of the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the recurring use of assays & kits in the detection of various chronic diseases, the commercial availability of a diverse range of reagents & consumables for the diagnosis of various diseases, and the increase in the volume of testing for infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza. Cote d'Ivoire faces a high burden of infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and hepatitis. For instance, malaria remains endemic, accounting for a significant portion of outpatient consultations and hospitalizations. This creates a consistent demand for rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), PCR reagents, and other related kits. By technology, the Cote d'Ivoire IVD is segmented into immunoassay/immunochemistry, whole blood glucose monitoring, molecular diagnostics, point-of-care diagnostics, biochemistry/clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology, coagulation & hemostasis, and other IVD technologies. The whole blood glucose monitoring segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period of 2025-2032. The high growth of this segment is mainly driven by the growing prevalence of diabetes and rising awareness regarding the availability of self-testing kits for glucose monitoring are major factors driving the growth of this segment. By application, the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market is segmented into infectious diseases, diabetes, oncology, cardiology, nephrology, autoimmune diseases, and other applications. The cardiology segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors such as rising burden of cardiovascular diseases, increasing lifestyle-related risk factors, increasing demand for early diagnosis & management, limited healthcare infrastructure demands for accessible and affordable testing solutions, government initiatives for spreading awareness of CVD risk factors, and growing adoption of point-of-care testing devices. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant public health concern in Cote d'Ivoire. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, coronary heart disease accounted for 11,073 deaths, representing 6.42% of total deaths in the country. The age-adjusted death rate was 124.19 per 100,000 population, ranking Cote d'Ivoire 74th globally in terms of coronary heart disease mortality. By diagnostic approach, the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market is categorized into laboratory testing, point-of-care testing, and OTC/self-testing. In 2025, the laboratory testing segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market. This can be attributed to the widespread reliance on centralized laboratories for comprehensive diagnostic services, which are considered the gold standard for accuracy and reliability. Laboratory testing is essential for the diagnosis and monitoring of a broad range of diseases, including infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and non-communicable diseases, which are prevalent in the region. By end user, the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market is segmented into diagnostic laboratories, hospitals & clinics, home healthcare, and other end users. In 2025, the diagnostic laboratories segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market. This dominance is primarily attributed to the increasing demand for accurate and early disease detection, the availability of advanced diagnostic technologies, and the growing number of private and public diagnostic laboratories across the country. Diagnostic laboratories typically offer a broad range of specialized tests and have the infrastructure and expertise required for complex analyses, which enhances their role in disease management. Key Questions Answered in the Report: What is the current revenue generated by Cote d'Ivoire IVD globally? At what rate is the Cote d'Ivoire IVD demand projected to grow for the next 5-7 years? What are the historical market sizes and growth rates of the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market? What are the major factors impacting the growth of this market at the regional and country levels? What are the major opportunities for existing players and new entrants in the market? Which segments in terms of offering, technology, application, diagnostic approach, and end user are expected to create major traction for the manufacturers in this market? What are the key geographical trends in this market? Which regions/countries are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the manufacturers operating in the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market? Who are the major players in the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market? What are their specific product offerings in this market? What are the recent strategic developments in the Cote d'Ivoire IVD market? What are the impacts of these strategic developments on the market? Key Topics Covered: 1. Market Definition & Scope 1.1. Market Definition 1.2. Market Ecosystem 1.3. Currency 1.4. Key Stakeholders 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Research Approach 2.2. Process of Data Collection and Validation 2.3. Market Sizing and Forecast 2.4. Assumptions for the Study 3. Executive Summary 3.1. Overview 3.2. Segmental Analysis 3.3. Regional Analysis 3.4. Key Players & Competitive Scenario 4. Market Insights 4.1. Overview 4.2. Factors Affecting Market Growth 4.2.1. Drivers 4.2.1.1. Increasing Burden of Infectious Diseases 4.2.1.2. Rising Government Support and International Aid 4.2.1.3. Advancements In Diagnostic Technologies 4.2.1.4. Rising Health Awareness and Population Growth 4.2.2. Restraints 4.2.2.1. High Costs of Advanced Technologies 4.2.2.2. Limited Healthcare Infrastructure 4.2.3. Opportunities 4.2.3.1. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) 4.2.3.2. Rising Demand for Molecular Diagnostics 4.2.3.3. Telemedicine and Point-of-Care Testing 4.2.3.4. Rising Awareness of Early Diagnosis 4.2.4. Challenges 4.2.4.1. Economic Constraints 4.2.4.2. Supply Chain and Logistics Issues 4.3. Regulatory Analysis 4.3.1. Regulatory Authority 4.3.2. Regulatory Framework 5. Cote d'Ivoire IVD Market Assessment - by Offering 5.1. Overview 5.2. Reagents & Kits 5.3. Instruments 5.4. Software & Services 6. Cote d'Ivoire IVD Market Assessment - by Technology 6.1. Overview 6.2. Immunoassay/Immunochemistry 6.3. Molecular Diagnostics 6.4. Point-of-Care Diagnostics 6.5. Biochemistry/Clinical Chemistry 6.6. Whole Blood Glucose Monitoring 6.7. Hematology 6.8. Microbiology 6.9. Coagulation & Hemostasis 6.10. Other IVD Technologies 7. Cote d'Ivoire IVD Market Assessment - by Application 7.1. Overview 7.2. Infectious Diseases 7.3. Oncology 7.4. Cardiology 7.5. Nephrology 7.6. Diabetes 7.7. Autoimmune Disorders 7.8. Other Applications 8. Cote d'Ivoire IVD Market Assessment - by Diagnostic Approach 8.1. Overview 8.2. Laboratory Testing 8.3. Point-of-Care Testing 8.4. OTC/Self-Testing 9. Cote d'Ivoire IVD Market Assessment - by End User 9.1. Overview 9.2. Diagnostic Laboratories 9.3. Hospitals & Clinics 9.4. Home Healthcare 9.5. Other End Users 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1. Overview 10.2. Key Growth Strategies 10.3. Competitive Benchmarking 10.4. Competitive Dashboard 10.4.1. Industry Leaders 10.4.2. Market Differentiators 10.4.3. Vanguards 10.4.4. Emerging Companies 10.5. Market Share/Ranking Analysis, by the Key Players, 2023 11. Company Profiles Abbott Laboratories (U.S.) Becton Dickinson and Company (U.S.) bioMerieux SA (France) Danaher Corporation (U.S.) F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland) QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands) Siemens Healthineers AG (Germany) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.) Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.) Illumina Inc. (U.S.) Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd (China) The Cote d'Ivoire Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Biovet Ltd. (India) Laboratories & Allied Ltd. (Kenya) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/oxc7ep About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. QINGDAO, China, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Mayors Dialogue Qingdao" forum, themed "Celebrating Culture and Tourism Together," was held on July 19 in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Eight overseas cities and three Chinese cities jointly explored innovative pathways for cultural tourism exchanges and industrial collaboration. The event was guided by the State Council Information Office and co-hosted by the Qingdao Municipal People's Government and the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Mayors or their representatives from Piraeus, Greece; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Minsk, Belarus; Regensburg, Germany; Lagos, Nigeria; Shimonoseki, Japan; Dunedin, New Zealand; Daegu, South Korea; as well as China's Qingdao, Yantai, and Weihai, engaged in discussions on critical themes, including "Leveraging Distinctive Advantages to Develop Marine Tourism," "Revitalizing Historical Urban Areas for Cultural Tourism Renaissance," and "Advancing International Tourism to Foster People-to-People Exchanges." Park Gihwan, representative of the Mayor and director general of the Economic Bureau of Daegu Metropolitan City, ROK, highlighted the three-decade sister-city partnership between Daegu and Qingdao since 1993, spanning economic collaboration, high-level official exchanges, and youth initiatives. He emphasized the symbolic connection between Qingdao's International Beer Festival and Daegu's reputation as the "City of Fried Chicken and Beer," urging both cities to leverage these cultural icons to deepen their ties. In October 2024, Qingdao and Minsk formalized their sister-city relations, building on the foundation established by the Qingdao-Minsk China-Europe Railway Express launched in 2019. This logistics corridor has significantly bolstered bilateral trade between the two cities. Kukharev Vladimir, chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee of Belarus, underscored Belarus's keen interest in learning from China's urban governance expertise to optimize urban governance methods and enhance urban resilience and sustainable development. Positioned as a pivotal global platform for exchange, the Global Mayors Dialogue aims to strengthen international trust, foster mutual learning, and expand cooperation. During the event, the 11 participating cities extended a collective invitation to global travelers, utilizing cultural tourism as a bridge for grassroots diplomacy. Source: Qingdao Municipal People's Government SAN DIEGO, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit seeking to represent purchasers of Organon & Co. (NYSE: OGN) publicly traded securities between November 3, 2022 and April 30, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). Captioned Lerner v. Organon & Co., No. 25-cv-12983 (D.N.J.), the Organon class action lawsuit charges Organon as well as certain of Organons top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A previously filed complaint is captioned Hauser v. Organon & Co., No. 25-cv-05322 (D.N.J.). If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Organon class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-organon-co-class-action-lawsuit-ogn.html You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com. Lead plaintiff motions for the Organon class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than this upcoming Tuesday, July 22, 2025. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Organon develops and delivers health solutions through prescription therapies and medical devices. The Organon class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Organon faced a higher risk of loss of exclusivity and price erosion as to Nexplanon than implied by its Class Period statements; (ii) as a result, Organons long-term Nexplanon sales growth was not as strong as defendants portended during the Class Period, and would not reach $1 billion by the end of fiscal year 2025 (much less upwards of $1.5 billion after that), and that Organon was likely not on track to achieve the $1 billion milestone payment from Merck & Co. on its Nexplanon sales thereafter; (iii) thus, Organon was not on track to achieve, much less maintain, the $1 billion in free cash flow required to sustain its outsized dividend; (iv) consequently, Organon was also not on track to maintain 4.0x debt leverage; (v) as such, Organon might not be able to maintain its corporate debt ratings at their then-current Class Period levels; and (vi) as a result, Organon lacked a reasonable basis to report its Class Period business metrics and financial projections. The Organon class action lawsuit further alleges that on May 1, 2025, in connection with announcing its first quarter 2025 financial results for the interim period ended March 31, 2025, Organon slashed its dividend by 90%, down from 28 per share per quarter ($1.16 per share annually) down to just 2 per share per quarter (or 8 per share annually). According to a quote attributed to Organons CEO, defendant Kevin Ali, in the press release Organon issued that day, it had reset [its] capital allocation priorities to accelerate progress towards deleveraging, enabling a path to achieve a net leverage ratio of below 4.0x by year-end, emphasizing that Organons primary capital allocation priority was now maintaining lower leverage. On this news, the price of Organon stock fell more than 27%. The plaintiff is represented by Robbins Geller, which has extensive experience in prosecuting investor class actions including actions involving financial fraud. You can view a copy of the complaint by clicking here. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased Organon publicly traded securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Organon class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Organon class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Organon class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Organon class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world, and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 800-449-4900 info@rgrdlaw.com Heineken Holding N.V. reports transactions under its current share buyback programme Amsterdam, 21 July 2025 - Heineken Holding N.V. (EURONEXT:HEIO; OTCQX: HKHHY), hereby reports transaction details related to the first tranche of up to circa 375 million tranche of its share buyback programme of up to circa 750 million as communicated on 12 February 2025. From 14 July 2025 up to and including 18 July 2025 a total of 69,809 shares were repurchased on exchange at an average price of 65.03. Up to and including 18 July 2025, a total of 1,441,001 shares were repurchased under the share buyback programme for a total consideration of 97,320,138. Heineken Holding N.V. publishes on a weekly basis, every Monday, an overview of the progress of the share buyback programme on its website: https://www.heinekenholding.com/investors/share-information/share-buyback-programme Enquiries Media Heineken Holding N.V. Kees Jongsma tel. +31 6 54 79 82 53 E-mail: cjongsma@spj.nl Media Investors Christiaan Prins Tristan van Strien Director of Global Communications Global Director of Investor Relations Marlie Paauw Lennart Scholtus / Chris Steyn Corporate Communications Lead Investor Relations Manager / Senior Analyst E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com E-mail: investors@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239355 Tel: +31-20-5239590 Regulatory information: This press release is issued in connection with the disclosure and reporting obligations as set out in Article 5(1)(b) Regulation (EU) 596/2014 and Article 2(2) of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 that contains technical standards for buyback programs. Editorial information: Heineken Holding N.V. engages in no activities other than its participating interest in Heineken N.V. and the management or supervision of and provision of services to that company. HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 340 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKENs over 85,000 employees, HEINEKEN brews the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. HEINEKENs dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts of consumers. HEINEKEN is committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brew a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. HEINEKEN operates breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Most recent information is available on www.heinekenholding.com and www.theheinekencompany.com and follow HEINEKEN on LinkedIn and Instagram. Attachment VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a strategic partnership with Solana to launch the month-long Solana Eco Month campaign. Scheduled to run from July 21, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to August 20, 2025, 10:00 (UTC), the campaign will feature a generous $1 million prize pool, including 0-fee trading, staking rewards, Spot airdrops, and Futures trading bonuses. Six Major Events Comprehensively Cover User Needs Event 1: Enjoy 0-Fee Trading Users can enjoy zero-fee trading across multiple Spot trading pairs including SOL/USDT , SOL/USDC , and popular Futures such as SOLUSDT and SOLUSDC. Additionally, withdrawals for SOL are fee-free. Please note that users from Africa, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Taiwan are not eligible for this event. Event 2: New Users ExclusiveStake SOL for Up to 400% APR New users can stake SOL for 3 days and earn up to 400% APR. Slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Users must complete Advanced KYC Verification to participate. Event 3: Solana Spinfest Users complete tasks on the event page to earn spin chances. Each spin provides a chance to win prizes from a $100,000 reward pool. Event 4: Trade Spot to Share 650 SOL Task 1: New User Exclusive New users complete at least 100 USDT in SOL/USDT trading and maintain a total Spot balance of 100 USDT or more in any token by the end of the event to receive 0.065 SOL , limited to the first 5,000 users . in SOL/USDT trading and maintain a total Spot balance of or more in any token by the end of the event to receive , limited to the . Task 2: Boost Your Trading Volume Users who trade at least 5,000 USDT in SOL/USDT share the 325 SOL prize pool proportionally based on trading volume, with a maximum reward of 6.5 SOL per user. Event 5: Trade Futures to Share $100,000 in Futures Bonuses Users who make at least one SOL Futures trade during the campaign period will qualify to participate in this event and compete for a share of the $100,000 Futures bonus pool. Task 1: Welcome Bonus for New Futures Users First-time Futures traders on MEXC can trade any Futures contracts and hit volume milestones to share $50,000 in Futures bonuses. Task 2: Futures Trading Leaderboard Users who trade any Futures contracts with a cumulative volume of at least $500,000 will qualify for the leaderboard. Higher trading volumes earn greater rewards. Both new and existing users are eligible. Event 6: Stake SOL, Get MXSOL & Earn Up to 13% APR Users can stake SOL to receive MXSOL and earn up to 8% APR through an ongoing program with no end date. through an ongoing program with no end date. Starting July 21, 2025, 18:00 (UTC), holding MXSOL earns an extra 5% APR as a limited-time bonus, available on a first-come, first-served basis bringing the total APR to as high as 13%. Exclusive Sub-Events from Solana Projects In addition to the main events, the event also includes six exclusive sub-events from Solana projects. The event period is from July 21, 2025, 18:00 to August 20, 2025, 18:00 (UTC). These sub-events offer users additional opportunities to earn rewards through deposits, trading, referrals, and in some cases, staking tasks. This campaign fully demonstrates MEXC's long-term commitment to empowering users and supporting the development of high-quality blockchain ecosystems. By lowering participation barriers and offering multiple incentives, MEXC connects users to real opportunities within the Solana ecosystem, enabling mutual benefits for both users and the ecosystem. For full details and to participate in all Solana Eco Month events, please visit the official event page on MEXC . About MEXC Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being "Your Easiest Way to Crypto." Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding. MEXC Official Website X Telegram How to Sign Up on MEXC Risk Disclaimer: The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66cea4ec-5880-45c8-9ce5-e907947c8ac5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f8304d6a-ba80-428f-bbba-3574a3283fe7 ALK (ALKB:DC / OMX: ALK B) today announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of the companys tree pollen tablet ITULAZAX for the treatment in adults. The recommendation allows for patients to gain access to ITULAZAX through the National Health Service (NHS) systems in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by making it eligible for general reimbursement. The recommendation of ITULAZAX is another significant milestone for ALK, marking the second NICE approval of ALKs sublingual allergy immunotherapy (AIT) products received in 2025. Being the first-ever of their kinds to become widely accessible through the National Health Service (NHS) systems, ACARIZAX (final approval obtained in March 2025) and ITULAZAX are now available treatment options to address the significant underutilisation of AIT in the UK compared to other European countries. ALKs Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations, Sren Niegel, says: Todays approval emphasises a remarkable achievement by ALK with now two of our sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablets being recommended by NICE within less than six months. We appreciate the endorsement from a highly respected institute like NICE which improves the treatment accessibility for patients impacted by allergy. Scientists warn that this year's tree pollen season has started early due to warm weather, leading to higher pollen counts. This is bad news for the approximately 16 million people who are affected by hay fever in the UK, and while many manage symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, the consequences can be more challenging for the 4 million people with moderate to severe tree pollen hay fever. NICE conducts reviews to assess the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions, treatments, and technologies. The institute published a Final Draft Guidance on 21 July 2025, appraising the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of ITULAZAX in the treatment of uncontrolled tree pollen allergy. NICE is expected to publish a Final Guidance in August, after which the NHS systems in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are required to implement ITULAZAX in the treatment practices. Following the approved applications of ACARIZAX and ITULAZAX for adults and adolescents, submissions will also be made to extend the approvals to include children as well as for the grass tablet GRAZAX. ALKs current business in the UK mainly focuses on anaphylaxis (treatment of severe allergic reactions) with the adrenaline pen Jext on the market and the recently approved nasal spray EURneffy due for launch later this year. AIT tablet sales are currently modest, but ALK expects the combination of its anaphylaxis treatments and the tablets to create long-term synergies in parallel with an expanded infrastructure and as more patients become aware of these treatment options. The NICE approval does not affect ALKs financial guidance for 2025. ALK-Abello A/S For further information please contact: Investor Relations: Per Plotnikof, tel. +45 4574 7527, mobile +45 2261 2525 Media: Maiken Riise Andersen, tel. +45 5054 1434 About ALK ALK is a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on allergy and allergic asthma. It markets allergy immunotherapy treatments and other products and services for people with allergy and allergy doctors. Headquartered in Hrsholm, Denmark, ALK employs around 2,800 people worldwide and is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Find more information at www.alk.net. Attachment Denver, Colorado, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIXA Miner today announced the launch of its enhanced Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) cloud mining contracts, offering a stable and intelligent alternative to high-volatility trading. Designed for investors looking to earn consistent daily income without guessing market bottoms or reacting to unpredictable price swings, the new plans integrate AIXA Miners proprietary AI-driven cloud mining engine , built on sustainable infrastructure and global compliance standards. As digital asset markets continue to experience heightened volatility, many retail and institutional participants are shifting away from speculative strategies toward more structured, passive income models. In response to this demand, AIXA Miner has recalibrated its ETH and XRP mining contracts to offer improved reward efficiency, faster onboarding, and seamless integration with smart contract-based daily payouts. Weve seen a fundamental shift in user expectations, said an AIXA Miner product strategist. Todays investors want transparency, automation, and performance they can rely onnot the stress of timing market entries and exits. Our ETH and XRP mining upgrades are purpose-built for this new phase of participation. Unlike traditional mining models that require upfront hardware, software configuration, and energy management, AIXA Miners cloud-based cloud mining solution enables users to participate in mining with zero technical setup. Through its mobile-optimized platform and AI-powered backend, users can select a contract, initiate mining, and begin receiving rewards within 24 hours . The core of this upgrade lies in AIXA Miners intelligent mining engine, which constantly analyzes network fees, block validation cycles, and energy availability to optimize hash allocation. As Ethereum and XRP operate under different consensus models and chain dynamics, the AI system adjusts each assets mining activity independently to ensure maximum efficiency and reward consistency. Both ETH and XRP were selected for these upgrades due to their resilience and relevance across the blockchain ecosystem. Ethereum continues to lead as the foundational layer for decentralized finance and smart contracts, while XRP is gaining traction among payment networks and cross-border financial institutions. Their consistently high transaction throughput and liquidity make them ideal for reliable passive income mining. With the latest improvements, users can lock in daily earnings that are unaffected by token price fluctuations. Instead of attempting to catch volatile price swings or time short-term trades, participants receive predictable daily payouts governed by transparent smart contracts. AIXA Miners infrastructure is supported by global data centers powered by clean energy sources including hydroelectric, wind, and solar. These sites span across energy-stable regions in North America, Southeast Asia, and South America. By operating on renewable-powered farms, the platform maintains a low carbon footprint, aligning its operations with modern sustainability standards and ESG goals. In addition to environmental benefits, energy-efficient mining significantly reduces operational costs, allowing for better reward distribution to users. The company continues to invest in upgrading its ASIC and GPU hardware for enhanced longevity, while minimizing heat and power loss through next-gen cooling and voltage control systems. The platform's commitment to sustainable mining is embedded in its contract design. Participants in ETH and XRP plans can view detailed breakdowns of energy sources, regional deployment, and environmental impact metrics through the platforms user dashboard. This data-driven approach reinforces trust and accountabilitykey factors for todays security-conscious investors. The onboarding process remains streamlined. New users can sign up, choose their preferred mining asset (ETH or XRP), select a plan duration, and monitor returns through an intuitive dashboard. All rewards are processed and delivered via automated smart contracts, ensuring that earnings are distributed fairly and on time without the need for manual claim requests. For users seeking flexibility, AIXA Miner offers a range of contract options with varying durations and capital thresholds. Whether participating with minimal funds or allocating toward long-term crypto income, the ETH and XRP mining plans are structured to accommodate a wide variety of financial goals. We believe the future of crypto income is not speculativeits sustainable, data-informed, and inclusive, the spokesperson added. With these upgrades, AIXA Miner empowers users to participate in the crypto economy with confidence and without complexity. As the digital asset sector continues to evolve, platforms like AIXA Miner are redefining what it means to earn from cryptomoving beyond hype cycles and toward stable, infrastructure-backed income streams that support users in all market conditions. Media Contact: PR Division info@aixaminer.com https://aixaminer.com Attachment PHILADELPHIA, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and positive behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting, today announced the opening of Sierra School of Tucson, SESIs sixth school in Arizona. The new campus, located at 450 East Wetmore Road, is now enrolling students for the 2025-26 school year, which begins July 31. The Sierra School of Tucson will serve students in grades K-12 (ages 5-22) and is designed to nurture their academic, social, and behavioral growth. The school offers a structured learning environment grounded in evidence-based practices, standards-aligned curriculum, sensory integration, and behavior modification. Over the past seven years, Sierra Schools of Arizona have helped thousands of students succeed, said Dawn Thomas, president of SESI. Were excited to expand into Tucson to provide families and district partners with a program that meets students where they are and supports their full potential. Sierra School of Tucson offers three specialized Learning Pathways to meet a wide range of needs: Spark: For students needing academic and behavioral support, focused on transitioning to less restrictive settings. Spring: For students with emotional or mild cognitive disabilities, combining academics with life skills instruction. Bloom: For students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities or autism, emphasizing functional academics, communication, and daily living skills. Students will also have access to related services such as counseling, occupational therapy, sensory rooms, motor labs, and social work. All programs are built on an integrated Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) designed to promote growth, remove barriers to learning, and equip students with the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond. With small class sizes and a dedicated team of educators, therapists, and support staff, were able to build meaningful relationships with students and their families, said Lenora King, SESI school director. Families can enroll directly, and we partner with local school districts to ensure students get the support they need in the most appropriate setting. In addition to the Tucson opening, SESI is renaming two existing Lexington Life Academy campuses in the greater Phoenix area. Lexington Life Academy Gateway will now operate as Sierra School of Gateway and Lexington Life Academy South Mountain will become Sierra School of South Mountain. Both locations will continue to accept the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), which provides financial support to Arizona families of children with special needs, including autism, helping them access the educational setting that best fits their child. For a full list of SESI programs in Arizona, visit https://sesischools.com/register-central-arizona. About Specialized Education Services, Inc. Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, is a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting. SESI partners with school districts to run in-district classrooms and private day schools that meet the academic, behavioral, and emotional needs of special and alternative education students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Emotional Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and other challenges. Partnering with over 800 school districts nationwide, SESI serves nearly 13,000 students in private day schools and in-district classrooms. SESI is accredited by Cognia. Dublin, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Saudi Arabia in vitro diagnostics (IVD) market, valued at USD 1.42 Billion in 2024, is witnessing robust growth driven by rising chronic disease prevalence and technological advancements. Forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 5.40% from 2025 to 2034, the market is expected to reach USD 2.40 Billion by 2034. This growth is largely supported by Vision 2030 healthcare investments, molecular diagnostics, and point-of-care testing. Market Overview The Saudi Arabia IVD market is buoyed by increased healthcare spending and a rising demand for advanced diagnostic solutions. Government initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare infrastructure and the adoption of modern technologies significantly contribute to market expansion. The Vision 2030 initiative, which prioritizes healthcare modernization and digital integration, plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation within the market. Strategic collaborations with global leaders such as Roche Diagnostics further accelerate market growth. Growth Drivers and Trends An increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and asthma serves as a key growth catalyst. In December 2023, a study reported high rates of these conditions, compounded by elevated body mass index levels across the populace, underscoring the demand for advanced diagnostic solutions. Additionally, the growing geriatric population amplifies the need for diagnostic testing. Between 2020 and 2022, individuals aged 60 and older comprised 5.59% to 6.9% of the population in Saudi Arabia, a trend contributing to heightened market demand. Market Segmentation The Saudi Arabia IVD market is segmented by product and services, technology, application, and end user. Products and services include reagents, kits, instruments, software, and services, while technologies encompass immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, clinical chemistry, and more. Applications span infectious diseases, diabetes, oncology, and beyond, with major users being hospitals, diagnostic centers, and academic institutes. Market Dynamics and Key Players Infectious diseases are poised to drive market growth, fueled by high prevalence rates, such as hepatitis B and dengue fever. This necessitates rapid diagnostic solutions, positioning the infectious diseases segment as a significant growth driver. Leading players in the market include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Abbott, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Roche provides advanced diagnostic solutions, while Bio-Rad leads with its QXDx product line, offering precise DNA and RNA quantification. Abbott's high-throughput systems and Thermo Fisher's innovative devices enhance diagnostic capabilities, fostering operational efficiency in clinical settings. Other prominent players are QIAGEN, Quidel Corporation, and Danaher Corporation. Conclusion The Saudi Arabia in vitro diagnostics market is poised for substantial growth, driven by chronic disease prevalence, governmental investments in healthcare digitization, and strategic industry collaborations. As the demand for advanced diagnostic solutions continues to rise, the market is expected to expand further, offering numerous opportunities for industry leaders and new entrants alike. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 250 Forecast Period 2025-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $1.42 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $2.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.4% Regions Covered Saudi Arabia Companies Featured F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Abbott Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Key Topics Covered 1 Preface 1.1 Objectives of the Study 1.2 Key Assumptions 1.3 Report Coverage - Key Segmentation and Scope 1.4 Research Methodology 2 Executive Summary 3 In Vitro Diagnostics Market Overview 3.1 Middle East and Africa In Vitro Diagnostics Market Overview 3.2 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market Overview 4 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market Landscape 4.1 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market: Developers Landscape 4.2 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market: Product Landscape 5 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers and Constraints 5.2 SWOT Analysis 5.3 PESTEL Analysis 5.4 Porter's Five Forces Model 5.5 Key Demand Indicators 5.6 Key Price Indicators 5.7 Industry Events, Initiatives, and Trends 5.8 Value Chain Analysis 6 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market Segmentation (2018-2034) 6.1 By Product & Services 6.2 By Technology 6.3 By Application 6.4 By End User 7 Regulatory Framework 8 Funding and Investment Analysis 9 Strategic Initiatives 10 Supplier Landscape 11 Saudi Arabia In Vitro Diagnostics Market - Distribution Model (Additional Insight) 12 Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) Insights (Additional Insight) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xg8k65 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Lisbon, Portugal, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fasqon today announces the launch of its next-gen Web3 banking and crypto platform designed to solve the biggest financial pain points facing individuals and businesses across Portugal, Spain, and Europe. In a market long dominated by slow, costly, and fragmented financial services, Fasqon is redefining whats possible. By merging traditional banking tools, crypto payments, and a unique IBAN-enabled crypto card, the platform delivers an unmatched level of speed, flexibility, and access all within one seamless experience. Legacy Banks Fail to Meet Gen Zs Evolving Demands Entrepreneurs in Spain and Portugal are increasingly frustrated with outdated banking systems that fail to meet the demands of todays fast-paced business environment. From excessive paperwork and frozen accounts to delayed transfers and lengthy KYC procedures, these traditional processes are actively sabotaging business operations and killing deal flow. Founders are burning out trying to navigate legacy infrastructure that still moves at the pace of the 1980s. Meanwhile, Gen Z and Millennial builders are demanding modern, responsive, and crypto-friendly tools offer speed, transparency, and flexibility. Fasqon delivers on that need offering an all-in-one Web3 platform that blends traditional banking functionality with crypto-native financial infrastructure, designed to empower todays digital-first entrepreneurs. Fasqon's platform eliminates friction, speeds up financial operations, and gives founders the control and flexibility they need to scale without being slowed down by the past. From Problem to Product: What Fasqon Set Out to Fix Despite rapid growth, the crypto-finance space still suffers from fragmented infrastructure, unclear regulations, and limited real-world usability. Users must juggle multiple platforms to access liquidity, while traditional banks treat crypto as high-risk freezing accounts and delaying transfers. Cross-border payments remain slow and costly, especially for freelancers and digital nomads. Meanwhile, most crypto cards lack personal IBANs, restricting salary deposits and core banking functions. The result is a patchwork of partial solutions that fail to meet the needs of modern users. From Blocked Accounts to Unlocked Potential, Fasqon Scales The global payment landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift. With over $13.9 trillion in digital payment transactions expected by 2025, the demand for faster, more flexible financial infrastructure has never been higher . Yet banks remain stuck in the pastslow to integrate crypto, hesitant to modernize, and rigid in responding to new customer needs. With the crypto industry barely a decade old and formal regulations only beginning in 2020, compliance burdens continue to slow innovation. Meanwhile, freelancers, remote workers, and small businesses are stranded on outdated rails, while blockchain-powered financial systems have already set a new standard for instant, borderless payments. While competitors such as Revolut and Crypto.com offer either digital banking or crypto functionality, neither delivers a unified platform that combines seamless euro and crypto payments and a personal IBAN-linked crypto card. Fasqon offers a truly integrated financial experience. Users can open a fully functional bank account and crypto wallet in minutes, with each crypto card linked to a unique personal IBAN. This enables seamless euro and crypto transactions including direct payments to traditional bank accounts and on-chain wallets all from a single platform. Users earn passive income simply by holding assets in their Fasqon wallet, with rewards instantly available for spending. Strategic Partnerships and Compliance To ensure robust compliance and operational excellence, Fasqon has partnered with Bison Bank, a leading regulated financial institution in Portugal. This collaboration reinforces Fasqons commitment to security, transparency, and trust all essential pillars for users navigating the rapidly evolving digital finance landscape. Tailored to meet the needs of both everyday users and entrepreneurs in the Portuguese and Spanish markets, Fasqon supports local payment rails and aligns with European regulatory frameworks ensuring both compliance and operational reliability. Empowering Users and Businesses Fasqons mission is to democratize access to modern financial tools, empowering individuals, freelancers, and SMEs to manage, spend, and grow their digital assets without the friction of legacy banking systems. Whether sending money across borders, paying with crypto at local merchants, or earning rewards on deposits, users benefit from a seamless experience designed for real-world financial needs. Orest Petryna, Founder of Fasqon, commented: Fasqon was created to solve the real pain points we experienced in both crypto and traditional banking from complexity and lack of privacy to limited access to practical financial tools. Our platform empowers users with true ownership, seamless payments, and enterprise-grade security, while making Web3 accessible, intuitive, and useful for everyone. About The Company Founded in Lisbon, Portugal in 2023, Fasqon is the first fully integrated Web3 banking and crypto platform. By combining traditional and crypto payments with a unique IBAN-enabled card, Fasqon delivers a seamless financial experience tailored to the needs of the Iberian market. The company is built on a foundation of security, compliance, and user empowerment strengthened by a strategic partnership with Bison Bank 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. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Media Contact Website: www.fasqon.com Orest Petryna Founder Fasqon office@fasqon.com Chicago, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global commercial microwave oven market was valued at US$ 2,648.22 million in 2024 and is expected to US$ 4,764.23 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period 20252033. The global commercial microwave oven market represents a cornerstone of the modern foodservice industry, an indispensable tool engineered for speed, efficiency, and consistency. While the fundamental technology is familiarevidenced by the fact that more than 90% of American households own a microwavethe commercial-grade counterpart is a vastly different machine, built to withstand the relentless pressures of a professional kitchen. Download Sample PDF copy: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/commercial-microwave-oven-market This report delves into the intricate facets of this dynamic market as of 2025, moving beyond surface-level percentages to deliver critical data points. The report also explore the intense demand cycles, the specific performance metrics of leading models, the complex global trade currents, and the nuanced economic factors that define the market today, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive and actionable understanding of the industry's landscape. Key Findings in Commercial Microwave Oven Market Market Forecast (2033) US$ 4,764.23 million CAGR 6.85% Largest Region (2024) North America (36.46%) By Type Solo Microwave Ovens (51.22%) By Heating System Magnetron-Based Heating Systems (93.18%) Top Drivers Intense demand for faster food preparation in foodservice establishments. Need for consistent menu execution and simplified kitchen staff training. Global expansion of quick-service restaurants and convenience store foodservice. Top Trends Integration of smart, programmable controls for precise multi-stage cooking. Adoption of ventless, high-speed combination ovens saving space, costs. Growing focus on energy-efficient designs to lower operational expenses. Top Challenges High initial capital investment for advanced, high-speed combination oven models. Increasing competition from other versatile and rapid-cook oven technologies. Adhering to strict, evolving energy and safety compliance regulations. Analyzing Core Demand Drivers and Intensive Usage Patterns in Professional Kitchen Settings The fundamental demand within the commercial microwave oven market is dictated by the high-velocity nature of foodservice operations. Unlike its residential cousin, a commercial microwave in a restaurant setting can be used at least 4-6 times per hour, functioning as a critical component for rapid heating and defrosting. This intense usage spectrum is precisely why manufacturers offer tiered product lines. Heavy-duty commercial microwaves are robustly designed to withstand 200 or more uses per day, catering to high-volume establishments like quick-service restaurants and institutional cafeterias. Following this, medium-duty commercial microwaves are perfectly suitable for operations requiring 100150 uses per day, such as casual dining or smaller cafes. At the entry-level, light-duty commercial microwaves are designed for up to 50 uses per day, ideal for breakrooms, hospital lounges, or convenience stores. The core function remains paramount; for reheating ready meals, a minimum temperature of +70C for not less than 2 minutes is the standard benchmark for ensuring food safety and quality, a task these appliances are built to perform reliably and repeatedly throughout a demanding workday. Unpacking the Longevity, Durability, and Maintenance Realities of Commercial Microwave Ovens For any commercial enterprise, equipment durability and service life are critical to calculating return on investment, and the commercial microwave oven market is no exception. The service life of a commercial microwave that is used frequently is typically between 5 and 7 years. However, this is not a fixed ceiling; for commercial microwaves that are used less often, the average service life can extend to 10 years or more. Furthermore, with a proper and consistent maintenance schedule, a commercial microwave's service life can be extended to around 10 years, even under significant operational stress. The longevity is rooted in the quality of its individual components. The magnetron, the heart of the microwave, is typically rated for 2,000 hours of use in standard models. For more demanding applications in the commercial microwave oven market, some industrial microwave magnetron tubes are rated for an impressive 8,000 to 10,000 hours of use. Other key parts are similarly durable; the high-voltage transformer in a commercial microwave can be used for up to 3,000 hours, and the high-voltage capacitor shares a typical lifespan of 3,000 hours. Even smaller mechanical parts are built for endurance: the timing switch in a commercial microwave can typically be used 5,000 times, while each relay switch is designed for approximately 125,000 uses, underscoring the built-to-last philosophy that governs the commercial microwave oven market. A Deep Dive into Operational Nuances and Advanced Cooking Functionalities Offered The sophistication of modern units is a key driver of the commercial microwave oven market, with advanced functionalities designed to enhance precision and workflow. Defrosting, a common task, is often executed at about 30% power to prevent the exterior of food from cooking while the interior remains frozen. A typical defrost cycle for frozen food in a microwave might run for 2 to 3 minutes at 30% power before needing to be checked by kitchen staff, ensuring a controlled and even thaw. Beyond simple heating, manufacturers incorporate features for operational efficiency. For instance, the fan motor in some Panasonic commercial microwaves continues to run for approximately 5 minutes after the heating cycle has completed; this is a deliberate design choice to effectively cool the internal electrical components and prolong the appliance's lifespan. User interface design also considers the fast-paced kitchen environment. In some models, the simple act of opening the microwave door during a cooking cycle automatically cancels the remaining time, preventing accidental overcooking and allowing for immediate interventiona small but crucial detail in professional food preparation. Profiling the Dominant Players and Their Flagship Models in the Competitive Landscape The competitive landscape of the commercial microwave oven market is characterized by several key players who differentiate their offerings through power, programmability, and capacity. Panasonic is a prominent name, with its NE-17523 model offering a powerful 1700 watts and featuring an impressive 90 programmable memory pads, 15 power levels, and 5-stage cooking capabilities within its 0.6 cubic foot capacity. Their NE-1054F model provides 10 preset controls, can store up to 20 commands, and offers 6 power levels with options for 2- and 3-stage cooking. Midea competes with models like the 1034N0A, which has a power output of 1000 watts, 5 power levels, and a large capacity of 1.2 cubic feet (34 liters), controlled by an electronic dial timer that can be set for up to 6 minutes. Their 1025F1A model can be programmed with up to 100 auto items. Amana targets the heavy-duty segment with its RC30S2 model, boasting a formidable 3000 watts of power, 11 power levels, 100 programmable menu settings, and 4-stage cooking. For lighter use, the Amana RMS10TS features 10 programmable pads with 20 programmable settings. Finally, Sharp offers the R-24AT, a heavy-duty model with 1900 watts of power output, a 20-liter (0.7 cubic foot) capacity, 11 variable cooking controls, and 20 programmable memory settings, demonstrating the fierce competition based on technical specifications. Mapping the Global Trade Flows and Export Dominance in Manufacturing and Supply An analysis of the commercial microwave oven market is incomplete without understanding its global manufacturing and supply chain, which is heavily centered in China. In 2023, China exported a staggering total of 65,756,800 microwave oven units. A significant portion of these exports, 19,731,100 units, were shipped to the United States in 2023, highlighting the U.S. as a primary consumption market. Other key destinations for Chinese exports included the United Kingdom, which received 3,899,110 units, the Russian Federation, which imported 3,939,220 units, and Japan, which was the destination for 3,648,410 units in the same year. The sheer scale of this trade is further illuminated by shipment data; from November 2023 to October 2024, China exported 29,793 shipments of microwave ovens. These shipments in the commercial microwave oven market originated from 2,321 different Chinese exporters and were sent to 3,181 different buyers globally. In the single month of October 2024, there were 1,759 microwave oven export shipments from China. Among specific manufacturers, LG Electronics stood out as the largest single exporter of commercial microwaves, with 912 shipments totaling 6,613 tons. In 2022, there were a total of 389 commercial microwave export shipments weighing 7,400 tons, illustrating the massive and concentrated flow of products that defines the global market. Deconstructing the Pricing, Repair Costs, and Total Cost of Ownership Factors Understanding the total cost of ownership is a crucial consideration for buyers in the commercial microwave oven market, extending beyond the initial purchase price to include maintenance, repairs, and warranty coverage. General repairs for a commercial microwave can range from $100 to $300, depending on the issue's complexity. A more specific and common issue, the need to repair a microwave magnetron, is typically between $150 and $300. Simpler fixes, such as a microwave door repair involving a latch or seal replacement, may cost between $50 and $150. However, if the entire door assembly needs replacement, the cost could exceed $200. These potential costs are mitigated by robust manufacturer warranties. The Sharp R-24AT, for instance, includes a 3-year manufacturer's on-site warranty. Amana's heavy-duty RC30S2 comes with a 3-year limited warranty, but buyers can also purchase an extended 4-year warranty for around $143.99 or a 5-year warranty for about US$ 235.99. With at least 42 different spare parts available for a model like the Panasonic NE-1853BPQ, the ecosystem for maintenance and repair is well-established. Get Expert Validation Before You Purchase: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/expert-call/commercial-microwave-oven-market Exploring Critical Technical Specifications, Power Consumption, and Regulatory Compliance in 2025 The technical specifications of power and electrical draw are defining characteristics in the commercial microwave oven market, directly impacting performance and installation requirements. While an average modern residential microwave uses around 1200 watts and compact residential microwaves use between 500 and 800 watts, commercial models start at a higher baseline, typically using over 1000 watts. This power differential dictates electrical needs; a midsize residential microwave of 800-1200W typically draws 10 amps, whereas a powerful commercial microwave of 1800-2200W can draw 20 amps or more, often requiring a dedicated circuit. Even when not in use, energy consumption is a factor in the commercial microwave oven market, as in standby mode, a microwave can use 2 to 7 watts of power simply to run the clock and await commands. Beyond performance, regulatory adherence is non-negotiable. Commercial kitchen equipment often requires multiple safety and sanitation certifications, such as NSF, UL, CSA, and ETL, to be legally sold and operated in key regions like North America, ensuring that every unit meets stringent standards for public health and electrical safety. Global Commercial Microwave Oven Market Key Players: GE Appliances Panasonic Corporation Samsung Electronics LG Electronics Alto-Shaam Inc. Menumaster Nexel Amana Midea Group LG Electronics Bosch Siemens Home Appliances Group Electrolux AB Sharp Corporation Toshiba Corporation Whirlpool Corporation Other Prominent Players Key Segmentation: By Type Convection Microwave Ovens Grill Microwave Ovens Solo Microwave Ovens Combination (Grill + Convection) Ovens By Structure Built-in Countertops Over-the-Range Wall Mounted Others By Capacity <100 Liters 100 - 300 Liters >300 Liters By Heating System Magnetron-Based Heating Systems GaN-Based Solid-State Power Amplifier Systems By Power Output Below 1000W 1000W - 2000W 2000W - 3000W Above 3000W By End Users Hotels & Resorts Restaurants & Cafes Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs) Institutional Use (Hospitals, Schools, Canteens) Convenience Stores & Retail Outlets Catering Services Others By Distribution Channel Online E-commerce sites Company website Offline Supermarkets/ Hypermarkets Department Store Independent Retailers By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa (MEA) South America Need a Customized Version? Request It Now: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/commercial-microwave-oven-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global market research and advisory firm providing data-driven insights across industries such as technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and more. We publish multiple reports daily, equipping businesses with the intelligence they need to navigate market trends, emerging opportunities, competitive landscapes, and technological advancements. With a team of experienced business analysts, economists, and industry experts, we deliver accurate, in-depth, and actionable research tailored to meet the strategic needs of our clients. At Astute Analytica, our clients come first, and we are committed to delivering cost-effective, high-value research solutions that drive success in an evolving marketplace. Contact Us: Astute Analytica Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World) For Sales Enquiries: sales@astuteanalytica.com Website: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ Follow us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maxim Group LLC, a leading full-service investment banking, securities, and wealth management firm, is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its Equity Sales and Trading division with the addition of seasoned professional, Michael Chrisman. This strategic addition enables the broadening of institutional services offered through the firms California branch. Michael Chrisman brings 28 years of experience in Institutional Sales trading. Mr. Chrisman has managed a broad array of West Coast-based mutual funds and hedge funds through trading both domestic and international securities, ETFs and programs across all sectors and market caps. Prior to joining Maxim, Mr. Chrisman served in senior positions at various firms, including ANOS Capital, Piper Jaffray, Deutsche Bank, ONeil Securities, and The Benchmark Company. We are thrilled to welcome Michael to our team as Maxims institutional sales trading platform continues to expand into the West Coast, said Michael A. Cerussi, Head of Institutional Sales and Trading at Maxim Group. With his experience in global markets, Michael adds a valuable perspective to our team. His insight will help us unlock new opportunities and strengthen the way we support clients across a wide range of regions and sectors. About Maxim Group LLC Maxim Group LLC is a full-service investment banking, securities and wealth management firm headquartered in New York. The independent and employee-owned firm provides a full array of financial services including investment banking; private wealth management; and global institutional equity, fixed-income and derivatives sales & trading, equity research and prime brokerage services. Maxim Group LLC is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) and is a member of FINRA SIPC, and NASDAQ. To learn more about Maxim Group LLC, visit maximgrp.com. PHILADELPHIA, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berger Montague PC advises investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Organon & Co. (Organon or the Company) (NYSE: OGN) on behalf of purchasers of Organon securities between November 3, 2022 through April 30, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired Organon securities during the Class Period may, no later than JULY 22, 2025 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . Organon, headquartered in Jersey City, NJ, is a healthcare company focused on womens health. In October 2024, Organon acquired Dermavant, a biopharmaceutical company focused on dermatological conditions, for $1.2 billion. According to the lawsuit, despite the increase in debt from the Dermavant acquisition, the Company assured investors that it would maintain its dividend, which it described as its #1 capital allocation priority. The suit alleges that, notwithstanding such representations, Organon had shifted its capital allocation priority after the Dermavant acquisition to focus on reducing its debt. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that defendants failed to disclose that Organon faced a higher risk of loss of exclusivity and price erosion as to Nexplanon. To learn your rights or for more information, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Caitlin Adorni at cadorni@bergermontague.com or (267)764-4865. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member. Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. Contact: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 aabramowitz@bergermontague.com BOSTON, MA, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the international technology standards organization Object Management Group (OMG) announced it approved the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) version 2.0 specification for final adoption along with the Kernel Modeling Language (KerML) specification version 1.0 that provides the semantic and syntactic foundation for SysML v2, and the Systems Modeling Application Programming Interface (API) and Services specification version 1.0 that enables SysML v2 models to interoperate with other models and tools. "The effort to bring SysML v2 is the cumulative work of many OMG members over the last seven years. The result is a full-blown major release of the most widely used systems engineering standard," said Bill Hoffman, Chairman and CEO of OMG. The specifications enable next-generation systems modeling with improved precision, expressiveness, consistency, usability, interoperability, and extensibility over SysML version 1. SysML v2 enables the modeling of increasingly complex systems as part of the evolving practice of model-based systems engineering. This is an essential contribution to our strategic ambition to evolve systems engineering to a fully model-based discipline, said Ralf Hartmann, president of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). The OMG Systems Modeling Community (SMC) is a vibrant community of users, tool vendors, and academia collaborating with INCOSE to develop practices to facilitate the transition from current practice to model-based systems engineering (MBSE) with SysML v2. To take advantage of the rich features of the language and API, organizations are encouraged to develop a transition strategy and plan to adopt these technologies and leverage these practices, said Chris Scheiber, Chief Engineer at Lockheed Martin. SysML v2 includes concepts for modeling systems with deeply nested hierarchies of structure, behavior, requirements, and cross-cutting relationships. It also enables systems engineers to specify analysis and verification cases to ensure the systems of interest satisfy their requirements, said Sanford Friedenthal, Co-Chair of the Systems Modeling Community (SMC). SysML v2 provides complementary textual and graphical representations of the underlying model, facilitating improved system understanding. A standard API and associated set of services to navigate, query, and update the model enables interoperability with other tools and software applications throughout the life cycle of system development. The SMC is also developing a gold standard reference implementation and conformance test suite to evaluate tool conformance to the specifications, said Ed Seidewitz, Co-Chair of the Systems Modeling Community. The SysML v2 specification is available on the OMG SysML specification page, and the reference implementation is available from the OMG Systems Modeling Community. OMG specifications address middleware, modeling, and vertical domain frameworks. All OMG specifications are available from the website. About OMG The Object Management Group (OMG) is an international, open membership, not-for-profit technology standards consortium with representation from government, industry, and academia. OMG Task Forces develop enterprise integration standards for a wide range of technologies and industries. OMG's modeling standards enable powerful visual design, execution, and maintenance of software and other processes. Visit www.omg.org for more information. ### Note to editors: Object Management Group and OMG are registered trademarks of the Object Management Group. For a listing of all OMG trademarks, visit https://www.omg.org/legal/tm_list.htm. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SysML v2 Tool Vendor Announcements Ansys Olaf Kath, Vice President of Product at Ansys - "Systems engineering is a social exercise -- SysML v2 marks a significant advancement for Ansys customers working in MBSE by helping teams collaborate more efficiently, reduce ambiguities, and improve results, " said Olaf Kath, vice president of product at Ansys. "The open standard supports easy integration with Ansys SysML v2-based System Architecture Modeler and connected workflows, simplifying complex system behaviour analysis and boosting expressiveness. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Systems Modeling Community and Revision Task Force on future generations of SysML v2 and related standards." Celedon Solutions, Jared Fuchs, CEO - "We are excited to support the SysML v2 specification as the foundation for our next-generation engineering platform, Davinci. Our automated engineering application leverages agentic AI to build any system from concept through manufacturing. With SysML v2 as the core modeling language, Davinci enables seamless integration between user goals, automated simulations, and generative design. This unified and automated digital modeling approach delivers orders-of-magnitude faster workflows than traditional methods. SysML v2's enhanced precision and interoperability are essential to realizing our vision for a future of rapid complex system design." Dassault Systemes, Frederic BOURCIER, CATIA R&D Cyber Systems Vice-President By engaging with the community to contribute to SysMLv2 early, we have built a strong belief that SysMLv2 provides a semantic elevation opening new possibilities for Systems Engineering in relation to its adjacent engineering domains. With SysMLv2 powered by CATIA Magic, Dassault Systemes will further enhance Virtual Twin Experiences for cyber systems modeling and simulation and help to accelerate the adoption of the next generation SysML." Ellidiss Technologies, Pierre Dissaux, CEO - "Thanks to our strong involvement in the specification of the SysML v2 domain library for the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL), Ellidiss can provide System and Software modeling continuity for real-time safety-critical projects. Our existing design methodology, early timing analysis tools, and formal Logic Model Processing (LMP) solutions are now available for SysML v2 users." IBM, Melissa Modjeski, Vice President, IBM Software - Security, Lifecycle Management and B2B Integration - "As systems engineering becomes increasingly critical for developing complex products and systems, IBM is excited about the final adoption of the SysML v2 specification. Leveraging our experience in engineering lifecycle management, we're committed to helping accelerate SysML v2 adoption in the market and integrating it into model-based digital engineering processes that span from systems engineering to the different downstream engineering domains." Intercax. Dr. Manas Bajaj, Chief Systems Officer The SysML v2 Language and API & Services are foundational for enterprise-scale digital engineering. Syndeia, our digital thread platform, was the first commercial platform to offer support for the Systems Modeling API and Services (in development) in 2021. It has since expanded its capabilities to enable integrated end-to-end digital engineering with SysML v2. Syndeia allows users to build, query, visualize, navigate, and automate live digital threads between SysML v2 models with models/data in other enterprise applications, such as PLM, CAD, ALM, Simulations, Projects, and V&V. Any tool providing Systems Modeling API and Services 1.0 standard (aka SysML v2 API) can be seamlessly integrated with other enterprise applications using the Syndeia platform. Intercax is proud to have led and supported the development of SysML v2 API and Language at OMG over the last decade and is now delivering on that vision with Syndeiabringing innovative, enterprise-scale integration with SysML v2 and digital threads to the engineering enterprise. Mgnite Inc., Hisashi Miyashita, CEO - Mgnite celebrates the final adoption of SysML v2, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Model-Based Systems Engineering. Through our active collaboration with the Systems Modeling Community, we have contributed to SysML v2's standardization efforts, particularly in visualization, state space representation, and real-world use cases. With the launch of our SysML v2 integrated modeling environment, Mg, we are committed to accelerating MBSE adoption through seamless and innovative integrations with tools and platforms like Excel, PowerPoint, DOORS NG, and MATLAB/Simulink -- enabling next-generation MBSE practices across industries. Obeo - Cedric Brun, CEO - "As one of the driving forces behind open-source modeling, Obeo is thrilled to see SysML v2 reach final adoption. Our web-native, open-source platform, SysON, already delivers a standards-based SysML v2 experience in the browser and plugs seamlessly into the wider digital-engineering toolchain. Built on the specifications open API, SysON also lets teams activate tailored methodological guidance, an extra edge that helps organizations industrialize good practices as quickly as they build their models. Above all, our ambition with SysON is to lower the entry barrier and accelerate SysML v2 adoption across industries." PTC, Patrick Ollerton, Product Manager - "PTC is pleased to support the release of SysML 2, OMG's new standard for model-based systems engineering (MBSE). This release is a significant industry milestone and an important step forward in realizing integrated, digital product engineering. Using the new standard, PTC delivers SysML 2 capabilities with PTC Modeler, enabling companies to design, verify, and maintain complex, safety-critical systems. The latest release, PTC Modeler 10.2, is available in Summer 2025." Qualtech Systems, Inc. (QSI), Deepak Haste, Senior Director of Engineering QSI is excited to support the forthcoming adoption of the SysML v2 specification. A member of the SysML v2 Submission Team (SST), QSI has long been a proponent of SysML v2 as an industry standard for multi-vendor tool integration, bringing closer the disciplines of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and Fault Management (FM). As the TEAMS Integrated Diagnostics and Prognostics toolset provider, and the digital-twin for sustainment life-cycle coverage, QSI looks forward to its MBSE endeavors with SysML v2 as a key enabler." Sensmetry (SysIDE developer), Juozas Vaicenavicius, CEO & Co-Founder Sensmetry, with our SysIDE tool suite, is on a mission to enable Systems Integrated Digital Engineering (SysIDE acronym) to build superior systems much faster. We have developed the SysML v2 specifications with industry partners and SysIDE, a modern, comprehensive SysML v2 suite, to provide a solid technological foundation for the new paradigm. For the past 2.5 years, SysIDE, with 10k users, has been supporting the growth of the SysML v2 community worldwide and the emergence of an open, interoperable ecosystem. With SysML v2 officially approved, we are doubling down on our community & open ecosystem building efforts! Siemens Digital Industries Software, Frances Evans, Senior Vice President, Lifecycle Collaboration Software - By supporting the latest SysML v2 standard, we combine cutting-edge systems engineering best practices with a modern user experience and streamlined cross-domain workflows. We are empowering engineers to work more efficiently, align across domains, and accelerate the development of complex systems. SodiusWillert, Thomas Capelle, President - As a leading provider of systems and software engineering interoperability and integration solutions, we look forward to supporting SysML v2 as a core part of our offerings. The standardized SysML v2 API represents a major opportunity to enable effective multi-vendor interoperability solutions and drive the implementation of a comprehensive digital engineering vision. SysGit, Charles "Zeke" Brechtel, CTO at SysGit - "SysML v2 is a leap forward for the engineering community. SysGit is proud to support it as a foundational standard for model-based systems engineering. SysML v2 textual notation unlocks a new model storage format that can directly integrate into git-based version control, DevOps, and DevSecOps capabilities, pioneering a new opportunity to integrate agile software practices with complex system development. SysGit is proud to provide this capability to our customers and is excited to be a part of the present and future of this powerful enabling technology!" Tom Sawyer Software, Janet Six, PhD, Senior Product Manager - "The formal approval of SysML v2 is a pivotal moment for systems engineering. At Tom Sawyer Software, were proud to support the standard with high-performance, interactive visualization tools that bring precision and clarity to even the most complex models. We look forward to empowering engineers to explore, analyze, and communicate their systems with the full power of SysML v2." DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Little Pepe ($LILPEPE) has just crossed a major milestone, surpassing $10 million in total presale funding as Stage 7 continues at a token price of $0.0016. The project's rapid growth is attracting attention from both retail and institutional crypto investorsnot just because of its meme appeal, but also due to the strong utility it offers through its Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 infrastructure. With each stage of the presale selling out faster than the last, Little Pepe is now on a fast track to becoming one of the most influential meme-utility projects in the current market cycle. Milestone Moment: $10M Raised and Counting The $10 million in funds raised in the $LILPEPE presale marks a defining milestone, placing it among the top-performing new crypto projects of 2025. Unlike many meme projects that depend completely on hype, Little Pepe has progressively built momentum by providing a roadmap filled with tangible technology, inclusive of the rollout of its EVM Layer 2 blockchain, low gas fees, and future dApp integration. Raising such a large amount before its official token launch shows strong confidence in the team and the broader vision. Each stage of the presale has attracted a wider range of investorsfrom casual meme coin fans to serious blockchain usersindicating that the appeal of $LILPEPE goes far beyond memes alone. Little PepeThe Rise of a Meme Coin With Real Utility Little Pepe ($LILPEPE) has raised more than $10 million till now in total and is continuing its upward trajectory in the crypto space. The projects ability to continually meet and exceed presale desires is a testament to growing investor interest and its wonderful approach to the meme coin market. Unlike other meme tokens that frequently depend completely on hype, Little Pepe backs its viral energy with a strong technological foundation: a custom-built Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 blockchain. With Stage 7 going on and tokens available at $0.0016. The speed at which the presale stages have sold out shows rising demand and a strong urge for a meme coin that offers both network enchantment and scalable blockchain infrastructure. For those seeking to get in early, the project continues to present a compelling opportunity. Built for Scalability and Speed At the heart of Little Pepe's success is its Layer 2 architecture. Built on an EVM-compatible chain, the project offers quicker transaction speeds and decreases gas fees in comparison to the Ethereum mainnet. This technical edge lets it support a range of real-world use cases, from decentralized finance (DeFi) to NFTs and beyond. As scalability is still a major challenge within the blockchain world, Little Pepe positions itself as a forward-thinking solution with real staying power. The Layer 2 design no longer enhances overall performance but additionally keeps the platform less expensive and reachable, which is key for meme-driven communities. The project has smartly capitalized on this by creating an ecosystem that invites developers, creators, and investors to take part without being hindered by high fees or network congestion. Strong Community Driving Growth Another foremost motive behind Little Pepe's speedy achievement is its vibrant and passionate community. Across X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and other social platforms, customers are actively discussing the project, sharing memes, and encouraging others to get involved. This natural momentum is critical for meme coins, as network engagement regularly determines long-term viability. The project has also gained attention from numerous crypto influencers and analysts who see $LILPEPE as one of the few meme coins with real long-term potential. As an end result, the project has visible strong participation from both retail investors and crypto fans eager to be part of the following huge meme coin movement. Furthermore, Little Pepe's journey from meme concept to blockchain innovation is proving to be one of the most compelling tales of 2025. With Stage 7 going on and over $10 million raised, the project has already exceeded expectations. As the presale continues and new milestones are hit, $LILPEPE is proving that meme coins can evolve beyond jokes and speculation to offer true value to the crypto space. Investors looking for a next-gen meme project with real potential may just find what theyre looking for in Little Pepe. About Little Pepe Little Pepe is a next-gen Layer 2 blockchain designed to merge meme culture with high-speed, low-cost decentralized infrastructure. Built for scalability, security, and accessibility, Little Pepe supports EVM-compatible applications and is powered by means of the $LILPEPE token. The projects mission is to create a meme coin environment wherein utility meets virality, empowering users through cutting-edge technology and lightning-fast transactions. For more information: Website: https://littlepepe.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/littlepepetoken Twitter: https://x.com/littlepepetoken Contact Details: COO- James Stephen Email: media@littlepepe.com Disclaimer: This content is provided by Little Pepe. 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. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. 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/bee0236f-746e-4132-b142-0bb044c24f1d Chicago, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global solar pump market was valued at US$ 2.90 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 5.42 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period 20252033. The global solar pump market is currently undergoing a period of unprecedented expansion, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of agriculture and community water supply. Driven by a convergence of economic imperatives, environmental consciousness, and significant technological maturation, solar pumps have emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable development. This shift is not merely a trend but a structural transformation, moving energy-intensive water pumping operations away from volatile fossil fuels towards clean, reliable, and increasingly affordable solar power. Request Sample Pages: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/solar-pump-market As nations and communities worldwide grapple with the dual challenges of water scarcity and energy security, the solar pump market is proving to be a critical enabler of resilience and productivity, particularly in off-grid and rural regions. The compelling economic case, coupled with robust government support and continuous innovation, has created a fertile ground for market acceleration, promising a future where access to water is decoupled from grid dependency and carbon emissions. Key Findings in Solar Pump Market Market Forecast (2033) US$ 5.42 billion CAGR 6.80% Largest Region (2024) Asia Pacific (44%) By Motor Type AC (67%) By Product Submersible (54%) By Application Agriculture (61%) Top Drivers Strong government subsidies and financial support schemes drive market adoption. Significant long-term cost savings compared to traditional diesel-powered pumps. Increasing global shift towards clean, renewable energy for water security. Top Trends Integration of IoT for remote monitoring and smart water management. Innovative Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) financing models increasing market accessibility. Growing popularity of hybrid systems for enhanced reliability and flexibility. Top Challenges High initial investment cost remains a significant barrier for farmers. Dependence on weather conditions and sunlight for consistent pump operation. Limited solutions for handling harsh, saline, or sandy water conditions. Examining the Rapid Acceleration of Solar Pump Deployment and Widespread Global Adoption The installation across solar pump market is increasing at a rapid pace globally, with a strong focus on agricultural and community water supply sectors. A prime example of this momentum is India's PM-KUSUM scheme, under which over 540,499 standalone solar pumps had been installed as of October 2024. This aggressive deployment is part of a larger vision, as the scheme aims to add a total solar capacity of 34,800 MW by March 2026. Component-B of this landmark initiative specifically targets the installation of 1.4 million standalone solar agriculture pumps, a figure that slightly varies from another target for the same component, which is set at 1.3 million installations. Further illustrating the scale, Component-C of the scheme aims for the solarization of 3.5 million grid-connected agriculture pumps. The broader off-grid solar market reflects this dynamism; in 2024, GOGLA affiliates reported sales of nearly 2 million off-grid appliances, a category that includes solar water pumps, underscoring their growing integration into rural economies. A Deep Dive into Regional Market Hotspots and Leading Corporate Installation Footprints Analysis of regional deployment reveals significant concentrations of activity. Within India solar pump market, Maharashtra leads all states with 197,863 pumps installed, followed by Haryana, which has the second-highest number of installations at 136,572. Other key states contributing to the nation's goals include Rajasthan, with 85,635 solar pumps installed, Uttar Pradesh with 53,182, and Jharkhand with 21,522. Corporate players are pivotal in this expansion. Tata Power, a major force, added around 15,400 solar pumps in the third quarter of a recent fiscal year alone. In the same quarter, its subsidiary, Tata Power Solar Systems, installed approximately 12,000 pumps, bringing its total deployment to over 93,000. Shakti Pumps has demonstrated significant international reach, exporting 2,500 AC motor-based solar water pumps to East African countries in a single year and delivering a total of 8,600 AC-driven solutions to the region by early 2024. C.R.I. Pumps distributed 4,200 submersible solar pumps across rural parts of Asia in one year. Other notable deployments in the solar pump market include TATA Power Solar's 7,000 units for horticulture in India and another 4,200 installations in horticulture belts across Asia, Lorentz's deployment of 1,400 sub-10 HP pumps in Southeast Asian orchards, and Tata Power Solar's fitting of 900 lower-capacity pumps in remote regions. The market's vibrancy is further confirmed by Grundfos verifying 700 new incorporations for horticulture sites and sales in East Africa reaching 8,625 units in the first half of 2024. Case studies highlight their real-world impact: a Grundfos system in Malawi fills two 3,000-liter tanks in five hours and can pump over 10,000 liters per day, while a similar system in Australia transfers an average of 50,000 liters daily. Government Subsidies and Strategic Funding as a Major Catalyst for Market Growth Government support is arguably the most significant driver shaping the solar pump market, especially in developing nations. In India, the PM-KUSUM scheme provides central financial assistance (CFA) equivalent to 30% of the benchmark cost. State governments are mandated to provide at least another 30% subsidy, leaving the farmer to bear, at most, 40% of the cost. In many cases, financing options are available for up to 30% of the cost, and the total subsidy can reach as high as 60%. The state of Haryana offers a compelling example of an enhanced subsidy model, providing a 45% state subsidy on top of the central government's 30%, for a total of 75% off the pump's cost for the farmer. The financial commitment behind this is substantial; the PM-KUSUM scheme has a total central financial support of 34,422 crore (approximately US$ 4.1 billion). As of late 2024, of a total budget of INR 11,438 crore for Component B, INR 3,748.61 crore (33%) has been utilized. Maharashtra has received the largest share of these funds at 13.29 billion (about US$ 157.32 million), followed by Haryana with 8.84 billion (about US$ 104.57 million) and Rajasthan with 8.22 billion (about US$ 97.24 million). This model of public support is mirrored globally; Kenya's 2020 National Budget allocated US$ 35 million to expand household irrigation, boosting solar pump use, while a public-private partnership in Ethiopia offers a model where the farmer and IWMI each cover 25% of the cost, with a microfinance institution providing a 50% loan. A Comprehensive Analysis of Market Pricing, System Costs, and Proven Economic Viability The cost of solar pumps varies by capacity and region in the solar pump market, but the impact of subsidies on affordability is a universal theme. In India, the price of a 5HP solar water pump ranges from 2,85,000 to 3,80,000 (approximately US$ 3,400 to US$ 4,500) as of 2025. A 5HP DC submersible pump is priced at approximately Rs. 2,79,000 (US$ 3,340), while a 5HP AC surface pump costs around Rs. 2,52,000 (US$ 3,020). The power of subsidies is starkly evident in the case of a 1 HP solar submersible pump, which can cost around 1.2 lakh (US$ 1,440) but can drop to just 20,000 (US$ 240) after a 90% subsidy. Installation costs in the solar pump market are typically an additional 5-10% of the pump cost. In Kenya, the cost of submersible solar water pumps ranges from KES 15,000 to KES 95,000 (US$ 115 to US$ 730). Specific systems include a 1-inch pump for KSh 22,500 (US$ 170), a system with one 340W panel for Ksh 65,000 (US$ 500), and a larger system with two 340W panels for Ksh 85,000 (US$ 650). The annual maintenance cost is minimal, often around 1,000 to 2,000 (US$ 12 to US$ 24) in India. The economic superiority over fossil fuels is clear: a cost comparison found the annualized cost of a solar PV system was $1,263 versus $5,517 for a diesel generator. The unit cost of pumping was 3.58 US$ cents/m for solar, compared to a staggering 16.1 US$ cents/m for diesel, with some estimates suggesting farmers can save up to 50% in operational costs by switching. Technological Innovations Redefining Performance Benchmarks, Efficiency, and System Reliability in Pumps Continuous technological advancements are enhancing the efficiency, lifespan, and overall value proposition of the solar pump market. System components are built for longevity, with solar panels typically rated for 25 years and the pump itself expected to last between 10 and 20 years. The brushless motors used in many modern pumps have a rating of 20,000 hours, supporting a typical usage pattern of 6-8 hours per day. Efficiency benchmarks are consistently improving; studies have measured hydraulic efficiency as high as 48% for diaphragm pumps and 60% for helical pumps, with peak total system efficiency (from solar radiation to pumped water) reaching 5% and 7%, respectively. Premium components like the ECDRIVE DC brushless motors used in Lorentz pumps boast efficiencies of over 90% in the solar pump market. Performance is robust, with a 5HP pump requiring 3.7 kW of power, though a 4.56 kW solar panel array is advisable for optimal operation. Such a system can deliver a flow rate of 300 to 800 liters per minute. Even smaller systems are powerful; a Lorentz PS2-100 pump with a single 200 Wp module can deliver over 7,000 gallons per day and lift water up to 130 feet. While efficiency can drop by 25% or more in low-light, the integration of IoT-enabled remote monitoring systems (RMS) allows for real-time tracking of pump status, panel performance, and water flow, optimizing performance. Economic studies in Bangladesh and Namibia found the net present cost of a solar pump to be significantly lowerfrom one-tenth to one-fourththan a diesel alternative. Emerging Market Trends Spotlight Innovative Business Models and Creative New Financing Solutions The solar pump market is characterized by several key trends that are expanding its accessibility and functionality. The overarching global shift towards renewable energy sources is a primary driver for the entire ecosystem, including the solar pump inverter market. A significant trend is the integration of IoT and automation, enabling smart water management and remote operational control. To overcome the primary barrier of high upfront costs, innovative pay-as-you-go (PAYG) financing models are gaining prominence. SunCulture's "Lipa Pole Pole" PAYG model in Africa is a key example, making systems affordable for smallholder farmers. Three prominent business models have emerged for this segment across global solar pump market: Individual Purchase, often aided by subsidies; an Outgrower or Insurer Scheme, where a larger entity facilitates the purchase; and a Supplier Model with Bundled Financing. Technologically, there is a rising demand for AC-powered solar pumps due to their perceived durability and performance. Furthermore, hybrid solar pump systems, which can seamlessly switch to grid electricity or a generator, are gaining popularity as they offer enhanced reliability and operational flexibility, ensuring a constant water supply regardless of weather conditions. Tailor This Report to Your Specific Business Needs: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/solar-pump-market Untapped Regional Markets and Future Growth Trajectories for the Solar Pump Sector Looking forward, the solar pump market holds immense and largely untapped potential. The opportunity in Africa is particularly vast, where only 5% of cropland is currently irrigated, representing a massive growth frontier. While new regions are emerging, Asia-Pacific currently stands as the largest regional market for solar water pumps. The increasing demand for clean and potable water in remote areas for domestic use is a significant market driver, expanding the application beyond agriculture. This is fostering a trend towards community-owned and managed solar pump systems. The market is also seeing a move towards higher capacity pumps as technology improves and costs continue to decline. This evolution is supported by an increase in the number of local manufacturers and suppliers, which helps to further reduce costs and improve serviceability. Opportunities abound for applications beyond the farm, including the deployment of solar pumps at rural healthcare facilities and schools to provide a reliable water supply. A key technological opportunity for the future lies in the development of more robust and efficient pumps specifically designed to handle saline or sandy water conditions, which would unlock even more regions for sustainable water extraction. Global Solar Pump Market Major Players: AQUA Groups. C.R.I. Pumps Private Limited Alpex Solar Ltd Bright Solar Limited LORENTZ. Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited. Duke Plasto Technique Pvt Ltd. DANKOFF SOLAR Grundfos Pumps India Private Ltd. Franklin Electric Jakson Other Prominent Players Key Segmentation: By Type Up to 3HP Above 10 HP By Motor Type AC Pump DC Pump By Product Surface Suction Submersible Floating By Application Agricultural Drinking Water Municipal Engineering By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East Africa South America Speak with a Subject Matter Expert Before You Decide: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/expert-call/solar-pump-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global market research and advisory firm providing data-driven insights across industries such as technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and more. We publish multiple reports daily, equipping businesses with the intelligence they need to navigate market trends, emerging opportunities, competitive landscapes, and technological advancements. With a team of experienced business analysts, economists, and industry experts, we deliver accurate, in-depth, and actionable research tailored to meet the strategic needs of our clients. At Astute Analytica, our clients come first, and we are committed to delivering cost-effective, high-value research solutions that drive success in an evolving marketplace. Contact Us: Astute Analytica Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World) For Sales Enquiries: sales@astuteanalytica.com Website: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ Follow us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube San Diego, CA, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AVID Center (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a leader in college and career readiness programming, proudly announces the donation of GoSchoolBox - a customizable tutoring management system that allows districts to manage their tutoring systems with ease and efficiency. Long-time partner of AVID and GoSchoolBox, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), is a national leader in establishing an evidence-based high-impact tutoring program for students in the greatest need of accelerating outcomes. Since the launch of Accelerating Scholars in the fall semester of 2021, MNPS has provided high-impact tutoring to over 7,000 students with the help of over 2,000 tutors. MNPS was able to scale their tutoring with the use of GoSchoolBox as their tutorial management system. Dr. Adrienne Battle, the Superintendent at MNPS, commented on the donation of GoSchoolBox and AVIDs College and Career Readiness system as AVID prepares for its next 45 years of Proven Achievement. Lifelong Advantage: "For years, AVID has been central partners of our most important work as a district, and GoSchoolBox has been the backbone structure of our most innovative support for students. Nashville Public Schools is leading the nation in academic recovery following the pandemic among large districts, and I am thrilled that our strategic partners are uniting to sustain the momentum. Guided by the visionary leadership of Dr. Thuan Nguyen, and AVIDs esteemed Board of Directors, this announcement of the tutorial management system contribution represents a significant step forward which will benefit AVIDs membership and aid in accelerating our innovation. Dr. Nguyen stated, "We strive to accelerate the scalability of AVID in schools and districts, we are committed to ensuring quality and embracing student-centric technologies. GoSchoolBox assists in enhancing and sustaining student learning experiences. As AVID prepares for the 2025 professional learning opportunities and its 45th year of supporting student success, the excitement about the donation speaks to AVIDs commitment to closing the opportunity gap while expanding AVIDs reach. The co-founders of GoSchoolBox, Parsa Rezvani and Alejandro Mendoza, shared a joint statement, "We know that this donation will allow more districts to structure in-house, sustainable high impact tutoring programs and AVID is best suited to scale GoSchoolBoxs impact further!" In the coming months, AVID will share more details about what this donation means for the AVID community. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a national nonprofit that supports thousands of schools and educators and serves millions of students, preparing them for success in college, career, and life. Antwerp, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HR Legal, a well-regarded law firm in Belgium that focuses on employment law, recently received the Client Choice Award 2025. Based in Antwerp, this firm offers its expertise to both large companies and smaller businesses, both in Belgium and internally, covering various aspects of Belgian employment law. This award highlights HR Legal's exceptional client service and quality, setting them apart from their competitors. Nominations for the award come only from corporate counsel, ensuring that the most respected advisors are recognized. This shows the firm's strong commitment to providing real value for its clients. A major player and founder of HR Legal, employment lawyer Thomas De Jongh, is recognized for his practical approach to complex issues. His reputation in the legal community is strong, and he is seen as a leader in labor, employment, and benefits on the Lexology Index. Thomas is known for turning complex legal issues into clear strategies that benefit clients, showing his dedication to client care. The Client Choice Award 2025 acknowledges HR Legal's top-notch performance in labor and employment law. The employment law firm HR Legal has been meeting the award's strict criteria since it was established in 2022. The firm consistently adds value to clients by enhancing their legal strategies for workplace issues. Thomas comes recommended for being "a smart and extremely practical lawyer" who "demonstrates care, concern and dedication to his clients" when handling complex employment issues. HR Legal is proud of its clear communication style, avoiding legal jargon and focusing on the essentials. Their team brings a mix of perspectives, creating strong solutions to employment challenges. This approach not only sets them apart but also empowers the organizations they work with. More information about their services, such as drafting and reviewing employment contracts and policies, advising on termination procedures, and representing clients in legal disputes, can be found on their official website at HR Legal. Thomas emphasized the firm's commitment to quality: "The Client Choice Award 2025 highlights our dedication to nurturing genuine client relationships and underscores our belief in delivering transformative legal solutions. At HR Legal, we make sure that our counsel is rooted in practical application, giving clients the peace of mind to progress with confidence." The firm's founder also spoke about their mission-focused approach. "We don't just practice law; we breathe new life into it. By fostering an environment where transparency and diversity are paramount, we cultivate results that speak to the depth of commitment and expertise HR Legal offers to its clients." Those interested in HR Legal's services can find more details on their official website at HRLegal.be. For businesses needing help with Belgian employment law, HR Legal's services are robust and customized for each client. By championing transparency, diversity, and impactful legal practice, HR Legal demonstrates forward-thinking in the legal industry. ### For more information about HR Legal, contact the company here: HR Legal Thomas De Jongh +32 474 42 94 81 hello@hrlegal.be HR Legal Mechelsesteenweg 127 Antwerpen, Belgium 2018 Vancouver, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- All County Roofing in Vancouver WA has rolled out a fresh plan aimed at improving how they serve their customers and keeping satisfaction levels high. The focus is on growing their team and introducing advanced training programs to better meet the community's needs and provide high-quality service. Their extensive range of services includes roof repair, roof replacement, metal roofing, commercial roofing, roof inspection, and roof cleaning as detailed on their website. The company places great importance on serving the community and considers it the keystone of their operations. A spokesperson for All County Roofing explained, "By boosting our team's skills, we align with our pledge to deliver trustworthy roofing services to our customers. Growing our team allows us to handle increasing demands and serve a larger client base while maintaining top-notch quality in all our work." An essential part of this new plan involves engaging with the community. All County Roofing in Vancouver WA aims to partner with local organizations, making sure that their improvements not only help their team but also have a positive impact on the local economy. These partnerships are expected to strengthen community connections and create jobs through planned growth and fresh ideas. Acting as a dedicated Vancouver roofing contractor, the company has been proactive in refreshing its methods and embracing new technologies. These updates are intended to make things run more smoothly and boost efficiency. The roofing company is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest in roofing technologies and integrating eco-friendly practices. One of the eco-friendly solutions they specialize in is metal roofing, which is durable and energy-efficient. The new training programs are focused on enhancing technical skills and promoting safety at work. These programs aim to ensure the team is aware of the latest materials and techniques that boost roofing performance and safety. They seek to develop a versatile team that consistently delivers excellent roofing services. Additionally, regular roof inspections offered by All County Roofing are crucial for detecting potential issues early. The Roofing Company in Vancouver sees investing in their team as the same as investing in the community. They are optimistic that these improvements will cultivate a culture of excellence reflected in every project they complete. "Growing our team and honing our skills solidifies our role in the Vancouver community," a company leader stated. "We aim to deliver services that surpass our clients' expectations and also contribute to the economic growth of our area." By working with local groups, the company also plans to ramp up its eco-friendly practices. There is a strong focus on adopting green technologies and sustainable methods, indicating a long-term dedication to protecting the environment. All County Roofing places a priority on sustainability in their operations, demonstrating an effort to cut down their ecological impact and help create a healthier planet. Looking to the future, the company is hopeful about the benefits their new plan will bring. Focusing on staff development and community partnerships lays the groundwork for building relationships and encouraging sustainable progress in the region. In addition, services such as professional roof cleaning help maintain the condition and appearance of roofs, supporting the longevity of the investments in roofing. Through these efforts and with their status as a GAF Master Elite Certified Contractor, All County Roofing aims to solidify its reputation as a top Vancouver roofing contractor. The focus areas in their new plan reflect their goal to provide strong and dependable solutions that aid the growth and stability of the local area. For more information, visit their location at 4528 NE Valley View Ln, Vancouver, WA 98663 or the All County Roofing website. ### For more information about All County Roofing, contact the company here: All County Roofing Rod +1 360-369-0869 info@allcountyroof.com All County Roofing 4528 NE Valley View Ln Vancouver, WA 98663 Melbourne, Vic, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- That's Fencing, an Australian owned family business renowned for its expertise in timber fencing in Melbourne, proudly announces the achievement of its 70th 5-star review on Google. This milestone underscores the company's commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction in Melbourne and surrounding areas. That's Fencing website With over a decade of experience in the industry, That's Fencing has consistently delivered high-quality timber fencing solutions, earning the trust and admiration of its clients. The 70th 5-star review is a testament to the company's dedication to providing exceptional service and craftsmanship. "Reaching this milestone is a significant achievement for us," said Grant Kohler, the Director of That's Fencing. "It reflects our unwavering commitment to quality and the strong relationships we have built with our customers over the years." The company's Google Maps listing showcases the positive feedback and high ratings from satisfied customers who have experienced the superior service and quality that That's Fencing offers. As a leader in the timber fencing industry, That's Fencing continues to set the standard for excellence in Melbourne. The company attributes its success to its skilled team, innovative solutions, and a customer-centric approach that prioritizes the needs and preferences of each client. Looking ahead, That's Fencing remains committed to maintaining its reputation as the best timber fencing provider in Melbourne. The company is dedicated to further enhancing its services and expanding its reach to serve more communities with the same level of dedication and expertise. For more information about That's Fencing and its services, interested parties are encouraged to explore the company's website listing and read the glowing reviews from satisfied customers. About That's Fencing Thats Fencing is an Australian owned family business with over 10 years in the industry. We specialise in timber fencing in Melbourne and surrounding areas. Press inquiries That's Fencing https://www.thatsfencing.com.au/ Grant Kohler info@thatsfencing.com.au PO Box 283 Kerrimuir VIC 3129 Australia London, UK, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global financial ecosystem is undergoing a transformation, and Bitcoin cloud mining is at the heart of this shift. As traditional investment methods lose appeal and blockchain gains traction, EarnMining has emerged as a powerful, reliable, and scalable platform for investors aiming to build passive income through cryptocurrency mining. Introducing EarnMining: The Future of Hassle-Free Bitcoin Mining EarnMining is a cutting-edge cloud mining platform designed for users who seek a low-barrier, high-reward approach to cryptocurrency mining. Its completely online and requires no prior knowledge or mining hardware. Whether you're a beginner exploring digital assets or an advanced investor optimizing your portfolio, EarnMining provides a streamlined and transparent way to generate consistent BTC income. With Bitcoin prices staying consistently above $110,000, the demand for accessible mining solutions has surged. EarnMining capitalizes on this momentum by offering legally compliant, secure, and scalable infrastructure that allows users to participate in real-time mining operations from anywhere in the world. How to Start Mining with EarnMining Getting started is easy and requires just a few simple steps: Sign up at https://earnmining.com using your email or preferred wallet. Choose a mining plan based on your budget and income goals. Fund your account using BTC, ETH, USDT, or other accepted cryptocurrencies. Start earning immediately, with daily payouts and real-time performance updates. Withdraw your profits or reinvest to scale your earnings. The entire process is designed to be intuitive, fast, and user-friendly, removing the learning curve often associated with crypto mining. Flexible Mining Packages for Every Investor EarnMining offers a wide range of mining plans suitable for all levels of investors. Whether you're starting small or deploying a large investment, the platform provides flexible packages that offer competitive hash rates and predictable returns. Users can start earning from as little as $100, with scalable plans that can generate anywhere from $200 to over $3,500 in weekly income, depending on the investment size. Many experienced users have reinvested profits into higher-tier plans to accelerate earnings further. Key highlights of EarnMining packages include: Daily BTC payouts No hidden fees or maintenance costs Transparent performance reports Option to reinvest for compound growth Every plan is crafted to balance risk, return, and scalability, giving investors full control over their strategy. Security, Transparency, and Global Trust Security and trust are paramount in the crypto space. EarnMining has invested heavily in advanced security protocols to protect user data and funds. From SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to decentralized wallet options, the platform ensures that your assets and privacy are secure at all times. Additionally, all mining activities are verifiable, with real-time tracking available through a user-friendly dashboard. Users can observe hash rate performance, monitor income, and track mining progress 24/7. Transparency and accountability are at the core of EarnMinings operation. Regulatory Compliance and Market Readiness As global regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act begin to reshape the crypto industry, EarnMining stands out by operating within strict legal and compliance boundaries. The platform aligns its operations with current and emerging regulations, ensuring users can mine Bitcoin with confidence and legitimacy. This focus on legal compliance is especially appealing to institutional and long-term investors who prioritize sustainable, regulation-proof income streams in the crypto ecosystem. Conclusion: Earn Smarter with EarnMining Bitcoin cloud mining is no longer a niche opportunityits a powerful tool for wealth generation in the digital age. With EarnMining, anyone can take advantage of Bitcoins massive growth without getting caught up in the complexities of traditional mining. The platforms focus on accessibility, transparency, and profitability makes it a top choice for forward-thinking investors. As regulatory clarity brings more legitimacy to the market, EarnMining is perfectly positioned to help users capitalize on the evolving crypto economy. Official Website: https://earnmining.com App Download: https://earnmining.com/xml/index.html#/app Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Attachment ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After weeks of delay and inaction, Rogers Communications is finally returning to the bargaining table with striking Abbotsford technicians from United Steelworkers union (USW) Local 1944 tomorrow. While USW members are pleased to see Rogers agree to resume talks, they hope that this opportunity will be more than a performative gesture for executives and stakeholders and will lead to real progress and a fair agreement. Workers have been clear as Rogers last offer was overwhelmingly rejected, said Michael Phillips, USW Local 1994 President. The company needs to come to the table ready to move off their entrenched positions and bring forward a contract that respects the value of our members work. The striking technicians in Abbotsford are asking for equal treatment with their counterparts in Vancouver and Langley, where the work, responsibilities and customer expectations are identical. Its the same job, the same work and customers across Metro Vancouver pay the same, so its only fair that our technicians earn the same too, said Phillips. As the dispute enters the one-month mark, Rogers continues using managers, including some brought in from outside the province to perform the work of striking union members, a tactic that undermines the spirit of federal anti-scab legislation and meaningful collective bargaining. USW Local 1944 is pleased to see the federal NDP stepping up to address this issue, pledging to introduce an amendment to the legislation when Parliament resumes in September to close this loophole. This commitment sends a strong signal that the law must not allow employers to sidestep fair bargaining by deploying out-of-location managers as replacement workers. We welcome this support and call on Rogers to put the community and their customers first. Were ready to get back to work and continue providing the services our communities rely on. But that wont happen until Rogers comes to the table with real intent to bargain and reach a fair deal, said Phillips. The union is hopeful that tomorrows negotiations mark the beginning of meaningful movement toward resolving the strike and restoring services. USW Local 1944 represents approximately 4,000 telecommunications workers across Canada, including technicians, customer service agents, clerical staff and other frontline workers who keep the country connected. About the United Steelworkers The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean. Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the unions strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation including good wages, benefits and pensions. For more information: Michael Phillips, USW Local 1944 President, michael.phillips@usw1944.ca, 604-818-7466 Brett Barden, USW Communications, bbarden@usw.ca, 604-445-6956 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/22ea58d5-58be-438d-b334-dce8c342c343 Bentonville, Ark., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The inaugural class of 48 students at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) has embarked on their educational journey at the new medical school in Bentonville. AWSOM is focused on reshaping medical education with a four-year MD program enhanced with a whole-person approach. The students first week of class culminated in a White Coat Ceremony, a significant first milestone in their medical education. The White Coat Ceremony is a meaningful experience for every medical student, symbolizing the beginning of their journey into medicine, said Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, Founding Dean and CEO. This particular ceremony signifies the trust and responsibility that future physicians carry in treating patients. This moment is especially meaningful as it marks AWSOM's first class of students to join us in shaping the future of health care. Our curriculum brings together science, self-care, the humanities, and the arts to train physicians who are not only clinically excellent but also attuned to the full spectrum of human well-being, bringing empathy back into medicine. Philanthropist Alice Walton founded the School of Medicine in 2021 to improve health and well-being by creating a new pipeline of physicians. Based on her own health care experiences, she recognized the need for a whole-person approach and improved access to care in rural areas of the country. AWSOM will help medical students rise to the health challenges of the 21st century through a reimagination of American medical education that incorporates physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, said Walton. "I believe it's so important that we encourage the pursuit of medical education for promising students that we are waiving tuition for the first five cohorts. Our goal is to ensure that students have a transformative educational experience." Approximately one-third of AWSOMs inaugural class is from Arkansas and 21 percent from bordering states. The School received more than 2,000 applications for its first 48 spots. We are incredibly proud of the 48 students in our inaugural class, who share the same vision as our founder, said Yolangel Hernandez Suarez, MD, MBA, FACOG, Executive Vice Dean. These students have already made significant contributions to their communities and are ready to take the next step. They will be the doctors who care for us, our families, and our neighbors. They will deliver compassionate, expert care in a rapidly evolving health care landscape. Students began classes and orientation week on Monday, July 14. In addition to starting classes, students participated in community engagement activities across Northwest Arkansas, success sessions led by faculty and staff, and team-building activities with fellow students. AWSOMs 154,000 square-foot state-of-the-art medical education facility is situated on the Crystal Bridges Campus, home of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. Arkansas-based Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects designed the building, with rooftop park and landscape design by NYC-based design studio Office of Strategy + Design. It features four stories and contains learning halls, an art gallery, a library, clinical teaching spaces, administrative offices, a student lounge, covered bicycle parking, and recreation and wellness areas. Public spaces within the School will open on November 3, 2025. About the White Coat Ceremony Created by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 1993, white coat ceremonies mark the beginning of medical school for first-year students and are celebrated at institutions nationwide, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. About Alice L. Walton School of Medicine Founded in 2021, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is a nonprofit, four-year MD program enhancing traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The Schools culture embraces self-care to empower students to care for their own well-being as well as their patients. The Schools state-of-the-art medical education facility is on the Crystal Bridges Campus, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. The School has been granted preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. AUGA group, AB entity under restructuring (code 126264360, registered office at Konstitucijos pr. 21C, Vilnius, hereinafter referred to as the Company), by the initiative and decision of the Board, is convening a General meeting of shareholders on August 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., where the Companys shareholders will vote on the approval of the Companys draft restructuring plan, hereinafter referred to as the Meeting. The Meeting will be held at the conference room at the business center QUADRUM NORTH, address Konstitucijos ave. 21C, Vilnius. The registration of the shareholders begins at 10.00 a.m. Only those persons who will be shareholders of the Company at the close of the record date of the Meeting may participate and vote at the Meeting. The record date of the Meeting shall be 5th August 2025. Agenda of the Meeting: 1. Approval of the Companys draft restructuring plan Attached to this announcement is the restructuring plan prepared by the Company, which outlines economic, technical, organisational, and other measures to overcome the Companys financial difficulties. The goals of the restructuring plan (i.e. the settlement with creditors and the improvement of financial results at the group level) will be achieved through the following strategic actions: Separation, development and sale of the dairy segment through the establishment of a Sustainable Diary Farming Fund initiated by the Group Sale of Land-Holding Companies Separation of 11.5 thousand ha of consolidated crop farming agricultural business into the Raseiniai Region Crop Growing Fund Sale of Baltic Champs, UAB shares Following the implementation of these strategic actions, it is anticipated that the Company and its controlled entities (hereinafter referred to as the Group) will fulfil all financial obligations to external creditors by 2029. The new business model will not only ensure the preservation of the Groups activities but also enhance its financial results, safeguarding the interests of creditors, shareholders, and the Company itself. Proposed draft decisions of the Meeting are the following: 1. Approval of the Companys draft restructuring plan 1. To approve the Companys draft restructuring plan in accordance with the attached draft. 2. To authorise the CEO and the Board of the Company (with the right to sub-delegate) to execute the accompanying documents and annexes necessary to prepare and attach to the Companys draft restructuring plan, and to take any other actions and execute any other documents necessary for the filing of the Companys draft restructuring plan with the Court. Shareholders of the Company shall have a right to participate and vote at the Meeting personally or by power of attorney or represented by the person with whom an agreement on the transfer of voting rights is concluded. The total number of the Companys shares of EUR 0.29 par value each and the number of shares granting voting rights during the Meeting is the same and amounts to 233,803,368. ISIN code of the Companys shares is LT0000127466. A person attending the general meeting of shareholders and having a voting right must provide a persons identification document. A person who is not a shareholder must additionally provide a document confirming his/her right to vote at the general meeting of shareholders. Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the laws to authorise other (natural or legal) person to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders on his/her behalf. At the general meeting of shareholders an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her, unless the authorized persons rights are limited by the power of attorney or by laws. The authorized person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by laws. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by laws. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. Shareholder shall have the right to authorize through electronic communication channels another person (natural or legal) to participate and vote in the meeting on shareholders behalf. Such authorization shall not be approved by the notary public. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through electronic communication channels by e-mail info@auga.lt no later than until the last business day before the meeting. The power of attorney and notification shall be issued in writing. The power of attorney and notification to the Company shall be signed with the electronic signature but not the letter sent via e-mail. By submitting the notification to the Company, the shareholder shall include the internet address from which it would be possible to download free of charge software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder. A shareholder or a person authorised by him/her shall have a right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the general ballot paper. Form of the general ballot paper to vote in this meeting shall be provided together with publishing the last update to the notice not later than by 10 days prior to the general meeting date. Upon a shareholders request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the general meeting, shall send the general ballot paper by registered mail free of charge. The general ballot paper shall also be provided on the Companys website at www.auga.lt not later than by 10 days prior to the general meeting date. The filled-in general ballot paper and the document confirming the voting right (if any) must be submitted to the Company sending by registered mail or providing them against signature at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice and received by the Company not later than on the last business day until the meeting. The Company is not providing the possibility to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders through electronic means of communication. The shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders. Draft decisions on the proposed issues shall be submitted together with the proposal or, if the decisions do not need to be approved, explanations on each proposed issue of the general meeting of shareholders shall be presented. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented to the Company sending them by registered mail or providing it against signature at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. The agenda will be supplemented, if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the general meeting of shareholders. Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes at any time before the general meeting of shareholders or during the meeting shall have the right of proposing draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders. The proposed draft decisions must be presented in writing sending them by registered mail or providing them against signature at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the general meeting of shareholders to the Company in advance in writing, by providing the shareholders personal identification number and consent to process personal data personal identification number in the letter which should be sent to the Company by registered mail or delivered against signature. The Company undertakes to respond if questions are received not later than 3 business days before the general meeting of shareholders. Responses of a general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.auga.lt. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder, if the respective information is posted on the Companys website. The shareholders could get familiarised with the documents possessed by the Company related to the agenda of the meeting, including notification on convocation of the meeting, information about the total number of the Companys shares and the number of shares granting voting rights during the general meeting of shareholders, draft resolutions, and other documents to be submitted to the general meeting of shareholders as well as to get information regarding execution of the shareholders rights at AUGA group, RAB, at the address Konstitucijos ave. 21C, Vilnius, or on the Companys website at www.auga.lt. Contacts: CEO of AUGA group, AB under restructuring Elina Chodzkaite Barauskiene +370 5 233 5340 Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northisle Copper & Gold Inc (OTCQX:NTCPF), based in Vancouver, BC, focused on copper, gold, molybdenum and rhenium, today announced that Sam Lee, President & CEO, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on July 23, 2025. DATE: July 23 TIME: 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm ET LINK: REGISTER HERE Available for 1x1 meetings: July 23 - 29 This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . Recent Company Highlights Northisle Announces Upsize of Financing to C$35 Million; Wheaton Precious Metals to Invest C$5 Million Northisle Announces Near Surface Intercepts and Higher-Grade Intercepts at Depth at West Goodspeed on its North Island Project Northisle Commences Trading on the OTCQX Market Under the Symbol NTCPF Northisle Commences 2025 Drilling and Field Program About Northisle Copper & Gold Inc. Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. is a Vancouver-based company whose mission is to become Canadas leading sustainable mineral resource company for the future. Northisle, through its 100% owned subsidiary North Island Mining Corp., owns the North Island Project, which is one of the most promising copper and gold porphyry projects in Canada. The North Island Project is located near Port Hardy, British Columbia on a more than 34,000-hectare block of mineral titles 100% owned by Northisle on a belt stretching 50 kilometres northwest from the now closed Island Copper Mine operated by BHP Billiton. Since 2021, the Company has discovered two significant deposits, expanded resources, demonstrated the economic potential of the project, and is now focused on accelerating the advancement of this compelling project while exploring within this highly prospective land package. For more information on Northisle please visit the Companys website at www.northisle.ca. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: Northisle Copper & Gold Inc Nicholas Van Dyk Title: Chief Financial Officer Phone: (604) 335-3590 Email: info@northisle.ca Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com Livermore, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fito Plumbers, Inc. is proud to announce the expansion of its specialized sewer lateral replacement services to residents of San Leandro, California. As one of the few contractors in the region that meets San Leandro's rigorous licensing and insurance requirements, Fito Plumbers is uniquely positioned to serve homeowners facing complex sewer infrastructure challenges. San Leandro's commitment to quality infrastructure maintenance has created stringent contractor requirements that many plumbing companies cannot meet. The city requires contractors to carry $6 million in insurance coverage three times the $2 million requirement of most neighboring municipalities. This high bar has left many San Leandro residents with limited options for essential sewer lateral work. "We recognized that San Leandro homeowners were underserved in this critical area," said Rosy Lopez, GM at Fito Plumbers, Inc. "Our company already maintained the high insurance coverage and specialized expertise required by the city, so expanding our services to San Leandro was a natural fit." Fito Plumbers offers three specialized service categories designed to address the full spectrum of residential sewer infrastructure needs: Main Sewer Lateral Replacement - This comprehensive service replaces the entire sewer lateral from the property to the city main sewer connection. Using advanced trenchless technology, the process involves strategic excavation at two key points: a shallow 2-foot excavation near the home's foundation and a deeper 5-foot excavation at the street connection. The company handles all aspects of the project, including required lane closures, traffic control, asphalt cutting, and proper backfilling with appropriate materials. A new two-way clean-out is installed to ensure long-term maintenance accessibility. Crawlspace Drain Modernization - Recognizing that many San Leandro homes contain aging cast iron drainpipes, Fito Plumbers specializes in comprehensive crawlspace drain replacement. The service involves replacing deteriorated cast iron with modern ABS piping in various sizes (4", 3", 2", and 1"), properly hung and strapped for optimal performance. All existing drain connections including downstairs bathrooms, kitchens, laundry stations, and upstairs bathroom stacks are seamlessly integrated into the new system. Lower Lateral Replacement - For properties requiring targeted repairs, the company offers lower lateral replacement services focusing on the portion from the property line to the city main connection. This service utilizes the same trenchless technology and professional standards as full replacements but addresses specific problem areas more efficiently. All Fito Plumbers' sewer lateral projects utilize trenchless technology, minimizing disruption to landscaping and hardscaping while ensuring superior installation quality. The company takes full responsibility for compliance with San Leandro's municipal requirements, including proper permitting, traffic control, and restoration of all affected surfaces to original condition. "Our commitment goes beyond just meeting San Leandro's requirements," added Rosy Lopez. "We're dedicated to providing residents with long-lasting solutions that protect their property values and ensure reliable sewer service for years to come." The expansion into San Leandro represents Fito Plumbers' commitment to serving markets where homeowners have historically had limited contractor options. By maintaining the high insurance coverage and specialized expertise required by the city, the company is able to provide competitive pricing and reliable service in a market where many contractors cannot operate. San Leandro residents can expect the same high-quality service and attention to detail that has made Fito Plumbers a trusted name in residential plumbing throughout the region. https://youtu.be/0sUAJHZHcIE?si=6O6Mvu34BVnEBYsq To learn more, visit the Fito Plumbers website. ### For more information about Fito Plumbers, Inc., contact the company here: Fito Plumbers, Inc. Rosy Lopez (510) 586-0212 fitoplumbers@gmail.com 5210 Doolan Rd, Livermore, CA 94551 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raymond James recently welcomed financial advisor Robert Chanin to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) the firms employee advisor channel according to Gregg Stupinski, South Atlantic regional director for RJA. Based in Macon, Georgia, Chanin provides clients with comprehensive wealth management, specializing in high-net-worth clients. He arrives from Stifel, where he previously managed approximately $750 million in client assets. At this point in my career, aligning with Raymond James allows me to deliver a broader suite of capabilities to meet the increasingly complex needs of my high-net-worth clients, said Chanin. The firms extensive resources and planning infrastructure enhance my ability to provide the white glove service my clients expect. Chanin began his career in 1979, bringing over 45 years of industry experience to his role as managing director. His experience is backed by a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. Roberts decision to join Raymond James reflects the firms continued appeal to seasoned advisors seeking the freedom to serve their clients on their own terms, without compromising on resources or support, said Stupinski. His dedication to personalized wealth management aligns perfectly with our client-first culture, and we are proud to welcome him to our Macon branch. About Raymond James & Associates Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (RJA), member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, is an industry leader in financial planning and wealth management services for individuals, high-net-worth families, corporations and municipalities. RJA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), one of the nation's premier diversified financial services companies with advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $1.58 trillion as of May 31, 2025. Additional information is available at raymondjames.com. Uniondale, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rivkin Radler and Liberty Partners Group have entered into a strategic affiliation to enhance the services available to their respective clients. Combining Rivkin Radlers substantial and growing Health Services practice with Liberty Partners Groups deep ties and experience at both the federal and state levels of government, the affiliation will benefit both firms clients by offering them an outstanding team of attorneys and effective government engagement. Based in Washington, D.C., Liberty Partners Group is a leading government relations firm with nearly 20 years of success delivering strategic government relations and public affairs counsel to major corporations, industry associations, and non-profit organizations with interests before the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, Federal Agencies, and States. Liberty Partners bipartisan team includes former Senators Connie Mack (R-FL) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) among its seasoned lobbyists and former members of Congress. Now, more than ever, it is important for our clients to gain frontline access to the numerous agencies and congressional committees implementing and enforcing the significant federal changes that impact our healthcare system, said Evan Krinick, Rivkin Radlers managing partner. He added, We explored different options and concluded that partnering with Liberty Partners, a high-quality and well-respected bipartisan firm, would best serve our clients needs. We are excited to have this strategic relationship with Rivkin Radler and look forward to bringing additional value to their clients, said Andrew Woods, Liberty Partners founder and chairman. He added, Liberty Partners has had a longstanding relationship with Norton Travis, one of the senior members of Rivkins healthcare group, and we are honored to be working with him and Rivkin Radlers healthcare attorneys. Andrew and his team have achieved extraordinary successes for their clients. Over the past two decades, I have worked with them on numerous projects where their extensive relationships with members of Congress, HHS, CMS, and other federal agencies have provided invaluable assistance, said Norton Travis, of counsel to Rivkin Radlers healthcare group. Im confident that this relationship will provide significant support for our clients who are impacted by volatility in the healthcare industry and beyond, he added. Benjamin Malerba, co-chair of Rivkin Radlers Healthcare Group, remarked, We are excited to announce that, to kick off our affiliation with Liberty Partners, former Senator Debbie Stabenow, who until last year served as the senior senator from Michigan and as a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, will be the keynote speaker at our upcoming Health Law Forum in New York City on October 16th. We will also have a panel discussion featuring members of Liberty Partners Group, including Senator Stabenow and Andrew Woods, who will share their insights on the ever-changing federal healthcare landscape. NEWTOWN, Pa., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims regarding an incident at Cierant Corporation. Cierant Corporation learned of a data breach on or about December 10, 2024. If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, go HERE. About Cierant Corporation Cierant Corporation provides tools and services for personalized marketing across digital and print channels. What happened? On or about December 10, 2024, Cierant Corporation identified a security vulnerability on its network related to a third-party transfer tool, VLTrader. Following this discovery, the company launched an internal investigation and determined that an unauthorized individual had exploited the vulnerability to gain access to its systems. The incident may have resulted in the exposure of personal and medical information, including names, contact details, birth dates, treatment information, provider names, medical record identifiers, insurance details, and premium data. How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification concerning Cierant Corporation, you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised by the Cierant Corporation data breach. For more information, please contact: Marc H. Edelson, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2 Email: medelson@edelson-law.com Web: www.edelson-law.com About Edelson Lechtzin LLP Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft, and consumer fraud. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some New York, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The recent surge in XRPs price follows a series of bullish developmentsincluding the launch of futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the resolution of Ripples legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and a surge in institutional interest in digital assets. While some analysts expect a potential short-term retreat below the $3.5 level due to market consolidation, PFMCrypto experts argue that the overall uptrend remains solid, supported by improving fundamentals and growing global adoption. With both retail and institutional demand reaching multi-year highs, PFMCryptos AI-optimized, hardware-free mining platform makes passive XRP earnings more accessible than everno rigs or prior crypto experience required. Explore PFMCrypto XRP Mining Platform: https://pfmcrypto.net XRP Cloud Mining Is HereSimple, Smart, and Rewarding Historically known for powering cross-border payments, XRP now enters a new era of accessibility and utility through PFMCryptos latest innovation: fully remote cloud mining. Users can earn XRP daily via short-term mining contracts or use PFMCryptos AI engine to automatically switch between the most profitable assetsincluding BTC, ETH, DOGE, and USDCto ensure maximum returns regardless of market volatility. Available via both mobile and web, the platform supports global access and is designed to serve first-time users as well as professional crypto investors. Explore the PFMCrypto website or download the app today. Key Features of PFMCryptos XRP Cloud Mining Contracts: - Full XRP Integration: Deposit, mine, and withdraw XRP all in one seamless interface. - Multi-Coin Mining Support: Earn in BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, or BCH as preferred. - AI Revenue Optimization: Intelligent algorithms reallocate mining power to the highest-yielding assets. - 100% Remote Access: Cloud-based platformno rigs, no noise, no electricity bills. - Capital Protection: Principal is fully returned at contract maturity, helping reduce risk exposure. Mining Contracts for Every Budget and Strategy To welcome new users during this market upswing, PFMCrypto is offering a wide range of accessible contracts: $10 Contract 1 Day Earn $0.66 (Free with sign-up bonus) $100 Contract 2 Days Earn $3.00/day + $2 bonus $500 Contract 5 Days Earn $6.15/day $5,000 Contract 30 Days Earn $78.50/day $20,000 Contract 45 Days Earn $380.00/day Whether testing the platform or building a robust mining portfolio, users can enjoy consistent, low-risk earnings in XRP or other digital assets. Explore more XRP cloud contracts at: https://pfmcrypto.net Why PFMCryptos XRP Mining Stands Out? - No Hardware Required: Anyone can start mining XRPno tech skills or setup needed. - All-in-One Ecosystem: From deposit to withdrawal, everything happens within PFMCrypto. - Stable Income, Dynamic Strategy: Daily payouts with AI-powered rebalancing to maximize returns. - Flexible Mining Options: Mine XRP or automatically diversify into multiple coinsall within one plan. - Instant Setup: Get started from any browser or phone, securely and remotely. Get Started in 3 Simple Steps: 1. Sign Up Create an account and claim a $10 free mining contract . 2. Choose a Plan Select from flexible contracts lasting 1 to 60 days. 3. Start Earning Monitor profits daily and withdraw in the token of your choice. XRP Mining for a Digital Future: Since 2018, PFMCrypto has empowered millions worldwide to earn passive income through secure, cloud-based mining. With the introduction of XRP contractspaired with AI-powered optimizationusers can now mine one of the most in-demand assets without barriers. XRP has always been fast and efficient, said a PFMCrypto spokesperson. Now, it's also mineablesecurely, remotely, and profitably. With the crypto market heating up, were making sure everyday users can ride the next wave of growth without complexity. While XRPs recent price surge has captured global attention, short-term corrections below the $3.5 mark are still possible as the market absorbs gains. However, PFMCrypto offers a steady, intelligent path to earning daily crypto incomebuilt to perform through both rallies and retracements. Start mining XRP today at: https://pfmcrypto.net NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE: GNK) announced today that it will hold a conference call to discuss the Companys results for the second quarter of 2025 on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and include a slide presentation. The Company will issue financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 after the close of market trading. What: Second Quarter 2025 Conference Call When: Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time Link: https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I91061357 To access the call by phone, please register via the live call registration link above and you will be provided with dial-in instructions and details. Please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to ensure a prompt start to the call. The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay on the Companys website: http://www.gencoshipping.com. About Genco Shipping & Trading Limited Genco Shipping & Trading Limited is a U.S. based drybulk ship owning company focused on the seaborne transportation of commodities globally. We transport key cargoes such as iron ore, grain, steel products, bauxite, cement, nickel ore among other commodities along worldwide shipping routes. Our wholly owned high quality, modern fleet of dry cargo vessels consists of the larger Capesize (major bulk) and the medium-sized Ultramax and Supramax vessels (minor bulk) enabling us to carry a wide range of cargoes. Gencos fleet currently consists of 42 vessels with an average age of 12.6 years and an aggregate capacity of approximately 4,446,000 dwt. CONTACT: Peter Allen Chief Financial Officer Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (646) 443-8550 HIGHLIGHTS: The Company remains well on track to achieve the previously published short-term objective of discovering over 1Moz of M&I resources at a 50% higher grade compared to the Kone deposit as Indicated Resources for satellite deposits have already grown by 404koz to 924koz at 1.32 g/t Au with an additional 140koz at 1.09 g/t Au of Inferred Resources 2025 exploration programme increased from 90,000 to 120,000 meters, with 83,280 meters already drilled in H1-2025, focused on delineating higher-grade resources with the goal of supplementing production from the onset Mineralization confirmed at all 23 targets tested to date, up from 18 targets in 2024, out of a total of 52 identified Step-out and in-fill drilling is already underway at all 7 new higher-grade satellite deposits for which starter maiden resources were published in early 2025, showing a high conversion rate from Inferred to Indicated Resources Gbongogo South deposit: Indicated Resources increased by 74koz to 140koz at 1.26 g/t Au, with an additional 46koz at 1.28 g/t Au of Inferred Resources; further resource growth is expected as drilling remains ongoing Koban North deposit : Maiden Indicated Resource of 133koz at 1.07 g/t Au, with an additional 28koz at 0.90 g/t Au of Inferred Resources; further resource growth is also expected as drilling remains ongoing ANV deposit : An update to the previously published Indicated Resource of 57koz at 1.10 g/t Au and Inferred Resource of 31koz at 1.10 g/t Au is expected to be published in late Q3-2025 given the success of the ongoing drill programme Further exploration is also underway at the other 4 deposits for which starter maiden resources were delineated, with updated resources planned for year-end Exploration also progressed on the 6 targets which were advanced to pre-resource stage last year, with the goal of delineating starter resources to access the grade profiles in order to prioritize upcoming drill efforts Kone project construction continues to rapidly progress on-budget and well on-schedule ABIDJAN, Cote dIvoire, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montage Gold Corp. (Montage or the Company) (TSX: MAU, OTCQX: MAUTF) is pleased to announce that the results of its H1-2025 Kone exploration programme, in Cote dIvoire, continue to provide significant confidence in achieving its previously published short-term exploration target of discovering more than 1Moz of Measured and Indicated Resources, at a grade 50% higher than the Kone deposit, with the goal of further improving the production profile from the commencement of production in Q2-20271. Since the start of the year, a total of 83,280 meters have been drilled, already exceeding the 81,815 meters completed during the full year of 2024. Due to the ongoing successful results and drilling efficiency, the 2025 exploration programme has been increased from 90,000 meters to 120,000 meters, with a corresponding budget increase of US$4 million to US$18 million. Given the extensive land package encompassing over 52 identified targets, the approach undertaken is to systematically drill test best selected targets to confirm their potential and define starter resources to validate their grade profiles before undertaking larger step-out drilling campaigns. As such, 18 targets were drill tested last year, which successfully delineated starter resources for 7 higher grade satellite deposits, while another 6 targets were advanced to the pre-resource definition stage. Building on this success, the H1-2025 efforts have focused on three parallel tracks: infill and extension drilling of previously delineated starter deposits, advancing pre-resource targets toward maiden resource definition, and testing new targets. In total, 23 targets have been drill tested since the start of the year, with mineralization confirmed at all targets. In order to rapidly advance deposits to reserve status ahead of production commencing, an in-fill and step-out drilling programme commenced in early 2025 on the 7 starter resources delineated in 2024. The Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits were prioritized given their proximity to the haulage road already built. Drilling resulted in both the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits increasing in size while exhibiting a high rate of conversion from Inferred to Indicated Resources. In total, Indicated Resources increased by 207koz to 273koz at a grade of 1.16 g/t Au, with a further 74koz at a grade of 1.10 g/t Au of Inferred Resources, across both the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits. Both deposits are expected to continue to grow this year given the ongoing drill programme and drill results not yet incorporated in the current Mineral Resource Estimate. In addition, in-fill and step-out drilling at the ANV deposit is also expected to yield an updated, larger Indicated Resource estimate, in late Q3-2025. Furthermore, resource updates are expected for year-end for other targets such as Yere North, Lokolo Main, Sena and Diouma North, where drilling has been done in H1-2025. Since exploration began last year, Indicated Resources for higher grade satellite deposits has already grown by 404koz to 924koz at 1.32 g/t Au, with an additional 140koz at 1.09 g/t Au of Inferred Resources, with many more deposits expected to be further delineated. As such, the Company is well positioned to achieve the previously published short-term objective of discovering over 1Moz of M&I resources at above 1 g/t Au, representing a 50% higher grade than the Kone deposit1. Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage commented: We are very pleased with the progress being made to unlock value at our Kone project in Cote dIvoire through aggressive exploration, while construction continues to rapidly advance on-budget and well on-schedule. Todays exploration results, together with the continued delineation of Indicated Resources, reinforce the large-scale potential of the Kone project, with all 23 of the 52 identified targets drilled to date returning positive mineralized intercepts. These results provide significant confidence in achieving our previously published short-term objective of discovering at least 1 million ounces of Measured and Indicated Resources at a 50% higher grade compared to the Kone deposit, to be achieved prior to production commencing in Q2-2027. This would represent significant returns on our exploration investment and aligns with our strategic objective of boosting production from the commencement of production while maintaining an annual production of at least 300koz for more than 10 years. To support this goal, we are actively conducting step-out and in-fill drilling at several deposits where starter resources were delineated in 2024starting with Gbongogo South and Koban North due to their proximity to the planned haulage road, with the aim of rapidly advancing them to reserve status ahead of production commencing. Given the continued success of the program, we have upsized the 2025 exploration campaign from 90,000 meters to 120,000 meters, with 83,280 meters already drilled since the start of the yearmaking it one of the largest single-asset exploration programs globally. The progress achieved thus far well positions us to continue unlocking value and further build on the momentum generated to advance our strategy of creating a premier African gold producer and delivering value for all our stakeholders. Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage commented: We continue to be very excited about the exploration potential at our Kone project in Cote dIvoire given the ongoing success of the exploration programme. Our 2025 program is advancing along three parallel tracks: infill and extension drilling of previously delineated deposits, progressing pre-resource targets toward maiden resource status, and drill testing new targets. We are particularly pleased with the progress at the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits, which have shown a high conversion rate from Inferred to Indicated Resources while continuing to grow in size. This success validates our strategy of systematically drill testing the most prospective zones to confirm higher-grade potential and define starter resources before launching broader step-out campaigns. Once programmes at these deposits are completed, we look forward to applying the same approach to other deposits where starter resources were delineated last year. Within less than a year since our exploration efforts began, were proud to have increased Indicated Resources for our higher-grade satellite deposits by 404koz to 924koz at 1.32 g/t Au, with an additional 140koz at 1.09 g/t Au in Inferred Resourcesand we expect further growth as additional deposits are drilled. This underscores both the quality of our land package and the effectiveness of our exploration approach. ____________________ 1 For further information on the discovery target please refer to the Companys news release dated October 7, 2024, and for information regarding the Kone deposit please refer to the Updated Feasibility Study available on Montages website and on SEDAR+. See Technical Disclosure below for details. ABOUT THE EXPLORATION PROGRAMME The Kone project is endowed with significant exploration potential across a 1,318km2 existing land package where the Company has, to date, identified a total of 52 exploration targets across 7 mineralised trends, as shown in Figure 1 below. The Company has a further 458km2 of additional adjacent exploration properties currently under permit application, which would increase its total land package to 1,776km2. In total, 26 exploration targets are located within the permitted mining area within 3 major trends (Gbongogo-Korotou Trend, Lokolo Trend and Bafretou-Niondje Trend) which are located near the planned haul road, and host potential for higher grade discoveries. On the exploration permits, a further 26 targets have been identified across 4 major trends (Gbongogo-Korotou Trend, Sissedougou Trend, Yere Trend and TZ4 Trend), which also hosts the potential for higher grade mineralisation. Figure 1: Kone project geological trends and exploration target map The Company utilises its well-established and tested exploration methodology that is based on a systematic approach to prioritise exploration efforts by weighing geological prospectivity against potential operational and economic parameters along with strategic considerations. Given the extensive land package, the approach undertaken is to systematically drill test best selected targets to confirm their potential and define starter resources to validate their high-grade content before undertaking larger step-out drilling campaigns. As such, 18 targets were drill tested last year, which successfully delineated starter resources for 7 higher grade satellite deposits, while another 6 targets were advanced to the pre-resource definition stage. Building on this success, the 2025 efforts have focused on three parallel tracks: infill and extension drilling of previously delineated starter deposits, advancing pre-resource targets toward maiden resource definition, and testing new targets. In total, 23 targets have been drill tested since the start of the year, with mineralization confirmed at each. As detailed in Table 1 below, a total of 83,280 meters have been drilled in H1-2025, completed across 1,418 holes, which comprised 88 Diamond Drilling (DD) holes for 13,211 meters, 669 Reverse Circulation (RC) holes for 52,829 meters, 31 RC-DD for 6,088 meters, 295 Aircore holes for 8,758 meters, and 335 Auger holes for 2,395 meters. Priority was attributed to targets along the Gbongogo-Korotou Trend, given their proximity to the already identified Gbongogo Main deposit and its haulage road, with a total of 43,433 meters drilled. On this trend, the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits were prioritized, with respectively 11,951 meters and 11,894 meters drilled, which resulted in an increase in resource size while exhibiting a high rate of conversion from the Inferred to the Indicated Resource category, as detailed in the following section. In addition, exploration also progressed on the Sissedougou Trend, for which in-fill and step-out drilling at the ANV deposit is also expected to yield an updated, larger Indicated Resource estimate, in late Q3-2025. Furthermore, resource updates are expected for year-end for other targets such as Yere North, Lokolo Main, Sena and Diouma North, where drilling has been done in H1-2025. Table 1: 2025 drill programme meterage by trend and target to June 30, 2025 Trend Name Target Name Drilling (%) Kone Kone deposit; Petit Yao 3,102 m 4 % Gbongogo-Korotou Gbongogo Main; Gbongogo South; Diouma North; Koban North; Koban Main; Sena; Soman 1 &2; Gbongogo West; 43,433 m 53 % Lokolo Lokolo Main; Lokolo Main North; Lokolo South; Lokolo South 2; Lokolo NW; Lokolo West 9,481 m 11 % Bafretou-Niondje Bafretou 2 63 m 0.1 % Sissedougou ANV; ANIII; ANV West; ANV North; Kagon 19,463 m 23 % Yere Yere North, Yere Trend 5,668 m 7 % TZ TZ2; TZ4 2,070 m 2 % Total Meters Drilled 83,280 m 100 % Additionally, a pre-production drilling programme of approximately 56,000 meters has been launched earlier this year and is expected to be completed in Q3-2025. The programme is comprised of approximately 70% Grade Control (GC) and 30% Advanced Grade Control (AGC) drilling at the Kone and Gbongogo Main deposits, designed to better identify higher-grade blocks in the resource model ahead of the planned first gold pour. AGC is being conducted on a 50 x 50 meter centred grid followed by a 25 x 25 meter grid which aims to improve the accuracy of resource modelling for the first two years of production. The GC drilling is being conducted on a 12.5 x 12.5 meter grid to further improve the resource model definition for the first year of production. Preliminary assay results received to date have confirmed both the grade and continuity of the mineralized envelopes, while also highlighting the potential to delineate higher-grade zones within the Kone and Gbongogo Main deposits. Once drilling is completed in Q3-2025, full results will be integrated into the resource block model, and published in late 2025. MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE UPDATE Drilling during H1-2025 resulted in both the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits increasing in size, while exhibiting a high rate of conversion from the Inferred to the Indicated Resources category, as shown in Table 2 below. Both deposits are expected to continue to grow this year given the ongoing drill programme and drill results not yet incorporated in the updated Mineral Resource Estimate. Table 2: Gbongogo South and Koban North Mineral Resource Estimate Variance PREVIOUS RESOURCE ESTIMATE1 UPDATED RESOURCE ESTIMATE2 Resources shown Tonnage Grade Content Tonnage Grade Content Variance on a 100% basis (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Au koz) Gbongogo South Indicated Resources 1.7 1.20 66 3.4 1.26 140 +74 Inferred Resources 2.6 1.10 92 1.1 1.28 46 (46 ) Koban North Indicated Resources - - - 3.9 1.07 133 +133 Inferred Resources 3.9 0.90 113 1.0 0.90 28 (85 ) Total Indicated Resources 1.7 1.21 66 7.3 1.16 273 +207 Inferred Resources 6.5 1.00 205 2.1 1.10 74 (131 ) 1) Previous Mineral Resource Estimate as disclosed on April 8, 2025, available on Montages website and on SEDAR+. 2) These updated Mineral Resource estimates are reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The effective date of the Gbongogo South estimates is June 30, 2025, and for the Koban North estimate is May 31, 2025. The updated Mineral Resource estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101. The updated Mineral Resource estimates were prepared by Mr. Benoit Poupeau, a full-time consultant to Montage Gold, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Rounding errors are apparent. The updated Mineral Resource estimates are reported on a 100% basis and are constrained within optimal pit shells generated at a gold price of US$2,000/ounce. The estimates are at a gold cut-off grades of 0.50 g/t. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. No Measured Resources have been estimated. See Technical Disclosure below for details. Given the increases at the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits, the overall Kone project Mineral Resource Estimate, stands as 5.41Moz of Indicated Resources at a grade of 0.63 g/t Au and 650koz of Inferred Resources at a grade of 0.49 g/t Au, compared to the previous mineral resource estimate published in April 2025, as presented in Table 3 below. Since exploration began last year, Indicated Resources for higher grade satellite deposits has already grown by 404koz to 924koz at 1.32 g/t Au, with an additional 140koz at 1.09 g/t Au of Inferred Resources, and with many more deposits expected to be further delineated. As such, the Company is well positioned to achieve the previously published short-term objective of discovering over 1Moz of M&I resources at above 1 g/t Au, representing a 50% higher grade than the Kone deposit1. Table 3: Kone Project Mineral Resource Estimate Variance PREVIOUS RESOURCE ESTIMATE1 UPDATED RESOURCE ESTIMATE2 Resources shown Tonnage Grade Content Tonnage Grade Content Variance on a 100% basis (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Au koz) Kone deposit Indicated Resources 245 0.57 4,490 245 0.57 4,490 - Inferred Resources 37 0.43 510 37 0.43 510 - Satellite deposits (including Gbongogo Main) Indicated Resources 16 1.38 717 22 1.32 924 +207 Inferred Resources 8.4 1.00 271 4.0 1.09 140 (131 ) Total Indicated Resources 261 0.62 5,207 267 0.63 5,414 +207 Inferred Resources 45 0.54 781 41 0.49 650 (131 ) 1) Previous Mineral Resource Estimate as disclosed on April 8, 2025, available on Montages website and on SEDAR+. 2) Updated Mineral Resource Estimates (the Updated 2025 MRE) are reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Only the Koban North and Gbongogo South deposits have changed from the Previous Mineral Resource Estimate. The effective date of the Gbongogo South estimates is June 30, 2025, and for the Koban North estimate is May 31, 2025. All other deposits remain unchanged from their previous estimates and the effective date of those estimates is January 31, 2025, for all other satellite deposits and February 20, 2025 for Kone deposit. The Updated 2025 MRE follows the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101. The Updated 2025 MRE was prepared by Mr. Benoit Poupeau, a full-time consultant to Montage Gold, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Rounding errors are apparent. The Updated 2025 MRE is reported on a 100% basis and is constrained within optimal pit shells generated at a gold price of US$2,000/ounce. The estimates are reported at gold cut-off grades of 0.20 g/t (Kone), 0.50 g/t (Gbongogo, Koban North, Sena, Gbongogo South, Diouma North, and Lokolo Main), and 0.60 g/t (Yere North and ANV). Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. No Measured Resources have been estimated. See Technical Disclosure below for details. ABOUT THE GBONGOGO-KOROTOU TREND The Kone project hosts 7 known mineralised trends, including the Gbongogo-Korotou Trend, a highly prospective geological corridor approximately 15km in length, supported by regional structures and extensive soil anomalies. The trend is defined by a highly resistive, chargeable and magnetic corridor separating two lithologically contrasting meta-volcano sedimentary terranes - the western and the eastern domain respectively - both intruded by granitic and granodioritic bodies and juxtaposed over what is interpreted as a regional-scale, deep-seated structure. Drilling results and extensive soil anomalies confirm that this structural trend is highly prospective for gold mineralisation, supporting the identification of the 24 exploration targets discovered on the trend to date, as shown below in Figure 2 below. Figure 2: Gbongogo-Korotou Trend Exploration Targets and Geophysical Layers Resistivity (RDI cut 300m) VTEM high overlapped to chargeable and resistivity GAIP and ground mag high (red) The Gbongogo Main mineralised intrusive is interpreted to be associated with a VTEM resistivity high, as well as associated minor intrusives. Reprocessing of district scale airborne geophysics has assisted in the identification of additional geological features displaying similar resistivity signatures as the Gbongogo Main deposit. The aim of the geophysical interpretation was to identify other potential intrusive bodies within the sedimentary package along the main Gbongogo-Korotou structure and related NNE-splays. To date the Company has delineated Mineral Resources at 5 deposits on the trend: Gbongogo Main, Gbongogo South, Sena, Diouma North and Koban North. A further 19 exploration targets have been identified on the trend, 3 of which are ranked as pre-resource stage targets and are subject to ongoing drilling. All of the 9 drill tested targets in H1-2025 on the trend remain open at depth and along the strike. Significant portions of the trend contain high gold dispersed soil anomalies but remain poorly tested by drilling as illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 3: Gbongogo-Korotou Trend 3D model showing existing deposits, targets, soil sampling data and drilling data (cross section) GBONGOGO SOUTH DEPOSIT ON THE GBONGOGO-KOROTOU TREND Geology and mineralization Gbongogo South is situated along the centre of the well-defined, major north-south trending Gbongogo-Korotou structure that exceeds 15km in known length. The deposits structural and stratigraphic setting is comparable to that of Gbongogo Main deposit, defined by two primary stratigraphic domains: the first is a sequence of mafic volcanics, and the second a mixed group composed of volcano-clastics and sedimentary material. Within the target area, multiple amphibole-bearing gabbro intrusions are encountered, which are interpreted as having exploited the contact between the two domains. Figure 4: Gbongogo South Plan View showing optimal pit shell and drilling intercept highlights The Gbongogo South target has been defined across a more than 600-meter tested strike length. Gold mineralisation is preferentially hosted within the mafic volcanic unit. Mineralised zones occur as anastomosed sub-parallel lenses ranging from 2 meters to 20 meters wide, structurally controlled and related to brittle-ductile deformation. Generally, mineralisation dips moderately toward the west and features quartz tourmaline carbonate veins, silica, tourmaline and K-feldspar alteration. Disseminated fine pyrite is common within mineralised intervals. Increased veining is observed in the higher-grade zones. Drilling programme The 2025 drilling programme has confirmed the continuity of mineralization along strike and in particular to the south where the deposit remains open in the direction of the Diouma North deposit. Down-dip extensions also remain open with identified mineralization constrained by drill data at depth. A total of 11,951 meters has been drilled on the Gbongogo South deposit in 2025 for resource conversion and extensions. Infill drilling following the 2024 exploration programme has improved the confidence and continuity of geological data, with further increases to the Indicated Resource inventory expected. High grade ore shoots are clearly identified in the long section presented in Figure 5 and will be the subject of further step-out drilling. The high-grade zones identified immediately to the south of Gbongogo South are currently located outside of the Updated Gbongogo South MRE pit shell and are therefore expected to result in an overall increase of the resource. Notable intercepts from the 2025 drilling programme include the following: GBRC440: 7 meters at 10.29 g/t Au (including 1 meter at 28.09 g/t Au and 1 meter 31.11 g/t Au) GBRD461: 18 meters at 3.31 g/t Au GBRC440: 7 meters at 7.91 g/t Au (including 1 meter at 32.24 g/t Au and 1 meter at 18.26 g/t Au) GBRC468: 12 meters at 3.20 g/t (including 1 meter at 18.18 g/t Au) See Appendix B for full drill results. Figure 5: Gbongogo South gm/t long-section showing higher grade ore shoots Figure 6: Gbongogo South Cross-Section Gbongogo South Mineral Resource Estimate Table 4 presents the updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Gbongogo South deposit across a range of cut-off grades, with the estimate at a 0.50 g/t cut-off considered as the base case scenario. Table 4: Gbongogo South MRE by Cut-Off Grade Cut off INDICATED INFERRED Au g/t Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) 0.0 22.9 0.26 191 9.2 0.21 62 0.1 9.1 0.63 184 3.1 0.61 59 0.2 6.7 0.80 173 2.1 0.84 55 0.3 5.2 0.96 162 1.6 1.01 51 0.4 4.2 1.11 150 1.3 1.15 49 0.5 3.4 1.26 140 1.1 1.28 46 0.6 2.9 1.40 130 0.92 1.43 42 0.7 2.5 1.52 120 0.79 1.57 40 0.8 2.1 1.65 112 0.70 1.67 37 0.9 1.8 1.78 104 0.62 1.77 35 1.00 1.6 1.90 97 0.53 1.91 33 The Updated Gbongogo South Mineral Resource Estimate (the Updated Gbongogo South MRE) follows the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and has been completed in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The effective date of the Updated Gbongogo South MRE is June 30, 2025. The Updated Gbongogo South MRE is reported on a 100% basis and is constrained within optimal pit shells generated at a gold price of US$2,000/ounce. The estimates are at a gold cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Updated Gbongogo South MRE was prepared by Mr. Benoit Poupeau, a full-time consultant to Montage Gold, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The QP considers the estimates at 0.50 g/t cut-off representative for the base case or preferred scenario for the Gbongogo South deposit. The other estimates are included only to demonstrate the sensitivity of the MRE to changes in cut-off grade and are not the QPs estimate of the Mineral Resources. All estimates resulting from each of the cut-off grade scenarios meet the test of reasonable prospect of economic extraction. Rounding errors are apparent. No Measured Resources have been estimated. See Technical Disclosure below for details. KOBAN NORTH DEPOSIT ON THE GBONGOGO-KOROTOU TREND Geology and mineralization The Koban North target is located 5km north of the Gbongogo Main mineralised intrusive and within the eastern domain of the Gbongogo-Korotou Trend (volcano-sedimentary complex intruded by igneous rocks) and will benefit from the Gbongogo haul road. Koban North is interpreted as a 600-meter mineralized system related to a NNE splay of the main shear and associated with a quartz-diorite intrusive. The mineralised package at Koban North consists of a series of sub-parallel stacked lenses gently dipping toward the northwest, affected by intense NNE shearing and hydrothermal alteration, and associated with quartz-tourmaline veins and exhibiting silica, k-feldspar and pyrite alteration at the contract of the eastern and western domain. Gold mineralisation is hosted in both the eastern dioritic terrane and the western volcano-sedimentary terrane. Figure 7: Koban North Plan View showing optimal pit shell and drilling intercept highlights Drilling programme The 2025 drilling programme has confirmed the continuity of mineralization along strike and has identified multiple extensions to the southern and down-dip extents of the deposit. Mineralisation remains open to the north and south, indicating potential for additional resources along strike. A total of 11,894 meters has been drilled on the Koban North deposit in 2025 out of the total 43,433 meters attributed to the Gbongogo-Korotou Trend, focusing on in-fill and step-out drilling. Notable intercepts from the 2025 drilling programme include the following: KBNRC057: 5.0 meters at 7.68 g/t Au (including 1 meter at 30.51 g/t from 22 meters) KBNRC052: 7.0 meters at 4.38 g/t Au (including 1 meter at 14.3 g/t Au from 74 meters) KBNRC072: 10.0 meters at 2.67 g/t Au KBNRC091: 5.0 meters at 3.25 g/t and 14.0 meters at 2.28 g/t See Appendix B for full drill results. Mineralisation occurs in a series of sub-stacked lenses dipping towards the WNW. The higher-grade shoots identified to the SSW, as reflected in Figure 8, are a focus for further investigation given the continuity and extensions outside of the Updated Koban North MRE pit shell. Mineralisation also remains open along strike to the north and south, with step out drilling seeking to extend the Mineral Resource base. Mineralisation appears thicker and more consistent towards the footwall of the optimised pit shell, with higher grade packages generally more frequent to the ESE, as shown in Figure 9. Figure 8: Koban North gm/t long-section showing higher grade ore shoots Figure 9: Koban North Cross-Section Koban North Mineral Resource Estimate Table 5 presents the updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Koban North deposit across a range of cut-off grades, with the estimate at a 0.50 g/t cut-off considered as the base case scenario. Table 5: Koban North MRE by Cut-Off Grade Cut off INDICATED INFERRED Au g/t Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) 0.0 16.1 0.38 197 7.2 0.21 49 0.1 10.4 0.56 188 3.1 0.45 45 0.2 7.8 0.70 175 2.0 0.61 39 0.3 6.1 0.83 162 1.6 0.71 36 0.4 4.8 0.95 147 1.2 0.81 32 0.5 3.9 1.07 133 1.0 0.9 28 0.6 3.1 1.19 120 0.73 1.02 24 0.7 2.6 1.31 108 0.54 1.16 20 0.8 2.1 1.43 97 0.40 1.29 17 0.9 1.8 1.54 88 0.33 1.39 15 1.00 1.5 1.63 80 0.27 1.48 13 The Updated Koban North Mineral Resource Estimate (the Updated Koban North MRE) follows the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and has been completed in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The effective date of the Update Koban North MRE is May 31, 2025. The Updated Koban North MRE is reported on a 100% basis and is constrained within optimal pit shells generated at a gold price of US$2,000/ounce. The estimates are at a gold cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Updated Koban North MRE was prepared by Mr. Benoit Poupeau, a full-time consultant to Montage Gold, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The QP considers the estimates at 0.50 g/t cut-off representative for the base case or preferred scenario for the Koban North deposit. The other estimates are included only to demonstrate the sensitivity of the MRE to changes in cut-off grade and are not the QPs estimate of the Mineral Resources. All estimates resulting from each of the cut-off grade scenarios meet the test of reasonable prospect of economic extraction. Rounding errors are apparent. No Measured Resources have been estimated. See Technical Disclosure below for details. OTHER TARGETS ON THE GBONGOGO-KOROTOU TREND In addition to the successful results at the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits, the Gbongogo-Korotou trend hosts a further 22 deposits and exploration targets which continue to return high grade intercepts. Soman 1 & 2 : Pre-resource stage targets interpreted to sit on a NNE splay of the Gbongogo Main mineralised trend. Initial drilling returned notable intercepts of 14.0 meters at 1.00 g/t Au (SORC034) and 6.0 meters at 2.23 g/t Au (SORC022). : Pre-resource stage targets interpreted to sit on a NNE splay of the Gbongogo Main mineralised trend. Initial drilling returned notable intercepts of 14.0 meters at 1.00 g/t Au (SORC034) and 6.0 meters at 2.23 g/t Au (SORC022). Diouma North : A started resource was delineated in 2024 which confirmed the grade profile of the target and the size of the intrusive. : A started resource was delineated in 2024 which confirmed the grade profile of the target and the size of the intrusive. Sena: The limited drilling done in 2024 confirmed the grade profile of the target. Located on the main Gbongogo-Korotou trend and approximately 1.5km south of the Koban North deposit, the target remains subject to further step-out and infill drilling plans. The 2025 drilling results returned notable intercepts of 4.0m at 2.86 g/t (RSDRC301) and 8.0m at 3.26 g/t Au (RSDRC311). SISSEDOUGOU TREND A total of 19,463 meters were drilled on the Sissedougou Trend in H1-2025, with the majority of drilling focussed on the ANV deposit. Drilling results are encouraging and indicate potential extensions of the deposit, as shown in Figure 10. The Company expects to provide a Mineral Resource Estimate update for the ANV deposit in late Q3-2025. Figure 10: ANV deposit gm/t long-section showing higher grade ore shoots Additional drilling on the trend has yielded higher-grade results, with notable intercepts including 6.0 meters at 2.57 g/t Au (RSDRC176) and 6.0m at 2.40 g/t Au (RSDRC223) at the Kagon target, which are being followed-up. YERE TREND The Company drilled 5,668 meters on the Yere trend in H1-2025 and continues to evaluate multiple soil anomalies along a strike length exceeding 14km. Drilling in H1-2025 has returned notable higher-grade intercepts of 15.0 meters at 3.06 g/t Au (SDRC143) and 19.0 meters at 1.33 g/t Au (SDRC118). LOKOLO TREND The Company drilled 9,481 meters on the Lokolo trend in H1-2025. Notable intercepts include 5.0 meters at 1.30 g/t Au and 11.0 meters at 0.81 g/t Au at Lokolo NW, as well as 6.0 meters at 0.96 g/t at Lokolo South 1. METALURGICAL RESULTS Initial metallurgical testwork on Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits indicates the absence of deleterious elements, as well as the absence of refractory gold. Preliminary bottle roll tests indicate recoveries on average at 90%, with further metallurgical assessments in progress. NEXT STEPS The Company remains focused on advancing the Kone project construction, which remains on-schedule and on-budget, whilst simultaneously unlocking value through exploration. Following the Companys rapid progress on the 2025 exploration programme, the Company has upsized its 2025 exploration budget by US$4 million to US$18 million, increasing the total drill meterage from 90,000 to 120,000 meters. Key upcoming exploration catalysts include: Sissedougou Trend exploration update and an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the ANV deposit in late Q3-2025 Kone and Gbongogo Main deposits infill drilling and grade control results in late-2025 Ongoing results for the 2025 exploration programme across multiple deposits and targets End of Year Mineral Resources Estimates, including maiden resources on select advanced targets ABOUT MONTAGE GOLD Montage Gold Corp. (TSX: MAU) is a Canadian-listed company focused on becoming a premier African gold producer, with its flagship Kone project, located in Cote dIvoire, at the forefront. Based on the Updated Feasibility Study published in 2024 (the UFS), the Kone project has an estimated 16-year mine life and sizeable annual production of +300koz of gold over the first 8 years and is expected to enter production in Q2-2027. QUALIFIED PERSONS STATEMENT The scientific and technical contents of this press release have been verified and approved by Silvia Bottero, BSc, MSc, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101. Ms. Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage, is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), a member of the Geological Society of South Africa and a Member of AusIMM. The Qualified Person for the Updated 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate is Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who meets the requirements of NI 43-101 and is independent of Montage Gold Corp. Mr. Bosc is a member in good standing of the European Federation of Geologists (EuroGeol) and has sufficient relevant experience with the type of mineralization, deposit type, and activity undertaken to qualify as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Bosc did not directly participate in the fieldwork, but conducted a thorough review of the geological interpretation, drilling database, QA/QC results, and estimation methodology. In addition, he performed an independent peer review of the Koban North and Gbongogo South resource models, including checks on domain construction, variography, estimation parameters, and validation outputs. Mr. Remi Bosc concluded that the sample preparation, analytical procedures, and resource modelling processes implemented by Montage Gold are consistent with industry best practices and provide a sound basis for classification and reporting of Mineral Resources. Mr. Bosc accepts full professional responsibility for the Updated 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate presented in this press release. TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE Mineral Resource Estimates The Mineral Resource models for the Koban North and the Gbongogo South deposits were prepared by Mr. Benoit Poupeau, a full-time consultant to Montage Gold and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM), who meets the requirements of a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. The models were subsequently reviewed, validated, and approved by Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who is independent of Montage Gold. The 2025 Mineral Resource estimates (MRE) for the Koban North and the Gbongogo South deposits have been classified and reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) and the mineral resource classification standards adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Council in May 2014. The effective date of the estimate for Koban North is May 31, 2025 and for Gbongogo South is June 30, 2025. Gbongogo South The estimate is based on geological interpretation and sampling data provided by Montage Gold Corps exploration team as of May 2025. It is reported within an optimal pit shell generated using a gold price of US$2,000/oz and constrained by a topographic surface derived from a high-resolution LiDAR survey completed in December 2024. The drilling database supporting the estimate includes a total of 108 Reverse Circulation (RC) holes, 13 Diamond Drill (DD) holes and 20 Reverse Circulation with diamond tails (RD) holes, for a combined total of 18,468.55 meters. This includes historic drilling conducted by 3G-Mining, formerly SMCDI, (8 DD holes, 64 RC holes and 20 RD holes), Mankono Exploration (1 DD hole and 37 RC holes), Rangold Resources (4 DD holes and 7 RC holes). Mineral resources within mineralized wireframes were estimated using the Local Uniform Conditioning (LUC) method. One-meter downhole composites of gold assay grades from RC and diamond core formed the basis of the estimation. LUC is an advanced geostatistical method that builds upon the Uniform Conditioning (UC) approach. UC estimates the distribution of grades within large panels (e.g., 25 25 5 m) and predicts the proportion of material above a given cut-off. LUC refines this by locally allocating those proportions and grades to smaller Selective Mining Units (SMUs)in this case 5 5 5 mwhich better represent the likely scale of mining. This method supports a more realistic assessment of what can be selectively mined, even when the drill spacing is broader than the SMU size. At Gbongogo South, the average drill spacing is approximately 25 25 m, increasing to 100 100 m on the deposit margins, which limits direct estimation at SMU scale and justifies the use of LUC. Resource modelling was guided by mineralized envelopes constructed by the Montage exploration team, incorporating continuous composite intervals grading above 0.1 g/t Au. These domains are consistent with the geological understanding of the deposit. Surfaces representing the base of saprolite and top of fresh rock, interpreted from drill logs, were used to assign density values and to partition the model into weathering zones. Bulk densities were assigned based on 485 immersion measurements on wax-coated, oven-dried core samples collected by Montage personnel: Saprolite: 1.64 g/cm Saprock: 2.38 g/cm Fresh rock: 2.78 g/cm Koban North The estimate is based on geological interpretation and sampling data provided by Montage Gold Corps exploration team as of June 2025. It is reported within an optimal pit shell generated using a gold price of US$2,000/oz and constrained by a topographic surface derived from a high-resolution LiDAR survey completed in December 2024. The drilling database supporting the Koban North estimate includes a total of 36 Aircore (AC), 96 Reverse Circulation (RC), and 6 Diamond Drill (DD) holes, for a combined total of 12,742.2 meters. This includes historic drilling conducted by Randgold Resources Limited (RRL) (31 AC holes), Endeavour Mining (EDV) (3 RC holes), and Montage (MAU) (93 RC holes and 6 DD holes). Mineral resources within mineralized wireframes were estimated using the Local Uniform Conditioning (LUC) method, while areas outside these wireframes were estimated using inverse distance squared (ID) interpolation. One-meter downhole composites of gold assay grades from RC, diamond core, and minor Aircore drilling formed the basis of the estimation. LUC is an advanced geostatistical method that builds upon the Uniform Conditioning (UC) approach. UC estimates the distribution of grades within large panels (e.g., 20 20 5 m) and predicts the proportion of material above a given cut-off. LUC refines this by locally allocating those proportions and grades to smaller Selective Mining Units (SMUs)in this case 5 5 5 mwhich better represent the likely scale of mining. This method supports a more realistic assessment of what can be selectively mined, even when the drill spacing is broader than the SMU size. At Koban North, the average drill spacing is approximately 30 30 m, increasing to 100 100 m on the deposit margins, which limits direct estimation at SMU scale and justifies the use of LUC. Resource modelling was guided by mineralized envelopes constructed by the Montage exploration team, incorporating continuous composite intervals grading above 0.1 g/t Au. These domains are consistent with the geological understanding of the deposit. Surfaces representing the base of saprolite and top of fresh rock, interpreted from drill logs, were used to assign density values and to partition the model into weathering zones. Bulk densities were assigned based on 86 immersion measurements on wax-coated, oven-dried core samples collected by Montage personnel: Saprolite: 1.73 g/cm Saprock: 2.52 g/cm Fresh rock: 2.75 g/cm Leapfrog 2024.1 was used for data compilation, geological modelling, and composite coding. Isatis Neo 2024.12.1 was used for resource estimation, and the resulting block model was imported into Vulcan 2025 for pit optimization. Model validation included comparisons between estimated block grades and informing composites. This review involved visual inspection of sectional plots and swath plots across representative sections, which confirmed the robustness of the estimate with no significant inconsistencies. Pit Optimization Parameters To satisfy the requirement that Mineral Resources have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction, the reported resources are constrained within an optimal pit shell based on the following key parameters: Gold price: US$2,000/oz US$2,000/oz Combined royalties: 5% 5% Gold recovery: 90% 90% Slope angles: 35 (saprolite), 40 (saprock), 45 (fresh rock) 35 (saprolite), 40 (saprock), 45 (fresh rock) Mining cost: US$3.42/tonne US$3.42/tonne Processing (incl. G&A) cost: US$9.92/tonne US$9.92/tonne Haulage cost: US$9.20/tonne Sampling & Assaying - QA/QC All exploration work on the Koban North and the Gbongogo South deposits is designed and carried out under the supervision of Silvia Bottero, Executive Vice President, Exploration who conducted multiple site visits throughout 2025. Ms Bottero is a Professional Natural Scientist (SACNASP) and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Samples used in the resource estimate were derived from diamond drilling (DD) based on 1-meter composite intervals. Core samples were sawn in half using a diamond blade at the camp facilities and then shipped by road to the Bureau Veritas laboratory in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire. For reverse circulation (RC) and aircore drilling, 1-meter downhole intervals were collected from the cyclone and split using a three-tier riffle splitter. Approximately three kilograms of sample were collected per interval and also shipped to Bureau Veritas. All samples were crushed to 2 mm (80% passing), with a 1 kg split pulverized to 75 m (85% passing) and analysed by fire assay with a 50 g charge. Field duplicate samples are taken, and blanks and standards are inserted by Montage geologists into the sample sequence at a rate of one of each sample type per 25 samples. This ensures that there is a minimum 4% QA/QC sample insertion rate applied to each fire assay batch. The sampling and assaying are monitored and audited through analysis of these QA/QC samples by a consultant independent of Montage. QA/QC has been designed to be in line with industry best standards and to follow NI 43-101 standards and the interpretation reviewed by the Qualified Person. Individual batches are monitored for standard and blank failure during import to the database, whilst longer term QA/QC trends are monitored on a periodic basis by Jonathan Hunt, consultant independent of Montage and Chartered Geologist of the Geological Society of London. Procedures used to monitor the representativity of field sampling and the reproducibility and accuracy of sample preparation and assaying for the Koban North and Gbongogo South project (AC, RC, and DD drilling) align with good industry practices. Supporting information includes sample condition logs, recovered sample weights, core recovery measurements, and field duplicate assay results. The reliability of the sample preparation and analysis is further demonstrated by results from coarse blanks and certified reference materials. Results for exploration drillholes reported in this press release used the following parameters: 0.3 g/t Au cut off for samples, 0.5 g/t Au minimum value composite and 2.0-meter maximum interval dilution length. Composite intervals represent (apparent) downhole thickness. Including represents >10 g/t Au. Data Verification Data verification for the Koban North and the Gbongogo South deposits was carried out by Benoit Poupeau, an experienced resource geologist and Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM), who conducted multiple site visits throughout 2025. This work included verification of field sampling protocols, logging procedures, sample security, and assay workflows. The geologist reviewed the condition of RC, aircore, and diamond drill samples; assessed core recovery and sample weights; and confirmed the consistency of database entries against original field logs and assay certificates. The Qualified Person is Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who meets the requirements of NI 43-101 and is independent of Montage Gold Corp. Mr. Bosc did not directly participate in the fieldwork, but conducted a thorough review of the geological interpretation, drilling database, QA/QC results, and estimation methodology. In addition, he performed an independent peer review of the Koban North and Gbongogo South resource models, including checks on domain construction, variography, estimation parameters, and validation outputs. CONTACT INFORMATION For Investor Relations Inquiries: Jake Cain Strategy & Investor Relations Manager jcain@montagegold.com +44-7788-687-567 For Media Inquiries: John Vincic Oakstrom Advisors john@oakstrom.com +1-647-402-6375 For Regulatory Inquiries: Kathy Love Corporate Secretary klove@montagegold.com +1-604-512-2959 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, Forward-looking Statements). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute Forward-looking Statements. Words such as will, intends, proposed and expects or similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-looking Statements. Forward-looking Statements in this press release include statements related to the Companys mineral reserve and resource estimates; the timing and amount of future production from the Kone project; anticipated mining and processing methods of the Kone project; anticipated mine life of the Kone project; targeted improvements in the production profile; expected timing of commencement and completion of stated drill programs in 2025; results of the drill programs including targeted additions to the estimated mineral resources at the Kone project, and the timing thereof, including an updated larger estimate at the ANV deposit in Q3-2025, growth at the Gbongogo South and Koban North deposits and resource updates at the Yere North, Lokolo Main, Sena and Diouma North; the grade and quantity potential of exploration targets; the establishment of satellite deposits and the development of these deposits; the publishing of an updated resource block model in late 2025; expected recoveries and grades of the Kone project; timing in respect of the completion of construction, ; timing and amount of necessary financing related to the mining operations at the Kone project; expected additions to the land package at Kone; and timing for permits and concessions, including that the Company will receive all approvals necessary to complete construction of the project and conduct exploration. Forward-looking Statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There is no assurance that any economic satellite deposits will be discovered, and if discovered ever developed or mined. There can be no assurance that any Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from include uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral reserve and resource estimates and definitive feasibility studies, and in delineating new mineral reserve and resource estimates, including but not limited to, assumptions underlying the production estimates not being realized, incorrect cost assumptions, unexpected variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates being lower than expected, unexpected adverse changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, or expectations in that regard not being met, unexpected failures of plant, equipment or processes (including construction equipment), delays in or increased costs for the delivery of construction equipment and services, unexpected changes to availability of power or the power rates, failure to maintain permits and licenses, higher than expected interest or tax rates, adverse changes in project parameters, unanticipated delays and costs of consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks inherent in the Cote dIvoire, title risks, including failure to renew concessions, unanticipated commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, and other risk factors set forth in the Companys most recent Annual Information Form available at www.sedarplus.ca, under the heading Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Montage to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any Forward-looking Statement. Any Forward-looking Statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Appendix A: Kone project drillhole results for the 2025 drill programme to date PREVIOUS 2025 RESOURCE ESTIMATE1 UPDATED 2025 RESOURCE ESTIMATE2 Resources shown on a Tonnage Grade Content Tonnage Grade Content Variance 100% basis (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Au koz) Kone deposit Indicated Resources 245 0.57 4,490 245 0.57 4,490 - Inferred Resources 37 0.43 510 37 0.43 510 - Satellite deposits: Gbongogo Main deposit Indicated Resources 12 1.46 560 12 1.46 560 - Inferred Resources 0.07 0.89 2.0 0.07 0.89 2.0 - Gbongogo South deposit Indicated Resources 1.7 1.20 66 3.4 1.26 140 + 74 Inferred Resources 2.6 1.10 92 1.1 1.28 46 (46 ) Koban North deposit Indicated Resources - - - 3.9 1.07 133 + 133 Inferred Resources 3.9 0.90 113 1.0 0.90 28 (85 ) ANV (Sissedougou) deposit Indicated Resources 1.6 1.10 57 1.6 1.10 57 - Inferred Resources 0.88 1.10 31 0.88 1.10 31 - Yere North deposit Indicated Resources 0.19 1.05 6.4 0.19 1.05 6.4 - Inferred Resources 0.43 1.10 15 0.43 1.10 15 - Lokolo Main deposit Indicated Resources 0.30 1.61 16 0.30 1.61 16 - Inferred Resources 0.11 1.10 3.9 0.11 1.10 3.9 - Sena deposit Indicated Resources - - - - - - - Inferred Resources 0.42 1.00 14 0.42 1.00 14 - Diouma North deposit Indicated Resources 0.38 0.95 12 0.38 0.95 12 - Inferred Resources 0.01 1.00 0.3 0.01 1.00 0.3 - Sub-total Satellites deposits Indicated Resources 16 1.38 717 22 1.32 924 + 207 Inferred Resources 8.4 1.00 271 4.0 1.09 140 (131 ) Total Indicated Resources 261 0.62 5,207 267 0.63 5,414 + 207 Inferred Resources 45 0.54 781 41 0.49 650 (131 ) 1) Previous Mineral Resource Estimate as disclosed on April 8, 2025, available on Montages website and on SEDAR+. 2) Updated Mineral Resource Estimates (the Updated 2025 MRE) are reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Only the Koban North and Gbongogo South deposits have changed from the Previous Mineral Resource Estimate. The effective date of the Gbongogo South estimates is June 30, 2025, and for the Koban North estimate is May 31, 2025. All other deposits remain unchanged from their previous estimates and the effective date of those estimates is January 31, 2025, for all other satellite deposits and February 20, 2025 for Kone deposit. The Updated 2025 MRE follows the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101. The Updated 2025 MRE was prepared by Mr. Benoit Poupeau, a full-time consultant to Montage Gold, and reviewed and approved by Mr. Remi Bosc of Arethuse Geology, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Rounding errors are apparent. The Updated 2025 MRE is reported on a 100% basis and is constrained within optimal pit shells generated at a gold price of US$2,000/ounce. The estimates are reported at gold cut-off grades of 0.20 g/t (Kone), 0.50 g/t (Gbongogo, Koban North, Sena, Gbongogo South, Diouma North, and Lokolo Main), and 0.60 g/t (Yere North and ANV). Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. No Measured Resources have been estimated. See Technical Disclosure for details. Appendix B: Kone project drillhole results and select intercepts for the 2025 drill programme to date Target Hole ID Drill Type Collar Location Orientation Depth (m) From (m) To (m) Apparent Width1 (m) Grade Uncut (g/t Au) Comments (UTM Zone 29N) m E m N mRL Dip Azim ANV SDRC204 RC 782,550 1,014,378 425 -55 125 117 95 115 20.0 13.10 Incl. 1 m @ 76.57 g/t from 98m, Incl. 1 m @ 129.3 g/t from 99m, Incl. 1 m @ 13.01 g/t from 102m, Incl. 1 m @ 10.88 g/t from 109m SDRC193 RC 782,863 1,014,983 433 -55 125 85 2 22 20.0 6.53 Incl. 1 m @ 67.74 g/t from 6m, Incl. 1 m @ 26.8 g/t from 7m, Incl. 1 m @ 10.31 g/t from 8m SDRC204 RC 782,550 1,014,378 425 -55 125 117 49 78 29.0 3.55 Incl. 1 m @ 38.27 g/t from 67m, Incl. 1 m @ 43.04 g/t from 68m SDRC207 RC 782,504 1,014,407 426 -55 125 168 62 80 18.0 4.24 Incl. 1 m @ 38.82 g/t from 62m RSDRC134 RC 782,142 1,015,412 432 -55 90 60 13 21 8.0 8.13 Incl. 1 m @ 18.85 g/t from 13m, Incl. 1 m @ 11.46 g/t from 18m, Incl. 1 m @ 28.32 g/t from 19m SDRC207 RC 782,504 1,014,407 426 -55 125 168 83 97 14.0 4.24 Incl. 1 m @ 47.7 g/t from 95m SDRC183 RC 782,566 1,014,239 420 -55 125 72 69 72 3.0 15.84 Incl. 1 m @ 18.84 g/t from 69m, Incl. 1 m @ 12.54 g/t from 70m, Incl. 1 m @ 16.13 g/t from 71m SDRC207 RC 782,504 1,014,407 426 -55 125 168 124 135 11.0 4.16 Incl. 1 m @ 15.05 g/t from 125m SDRC173 RC 782,787 1,014,425 425 -55 125 110 56 64 8.0 5.25 Incl. 1 m @ 21.61 g/t from 61m SDRC210 RC 782,547 1,014,431 426 -55 125 108 38 59 21.0 1.93 ANV W RSDRC109 RC 783,733 1,017,009 411 -55 90 60 13 19 6.0 8.46 Incl. 1 m @ 12.73 g/t from 16m, Incl. 1 m @ 22.2 g/t from 17m, Incl. 1 m @ 11.97 g/t from 18m Gbongogo South GBRD472 RD 769,086 992,650 336 -55 90 242.91 145 160 15.0 1.84 GBRC440 RC 769,085 992,523 333 -55 90 120 107 114 7.0 10.29 Incl. 1 m @ 28.09 g/t from 110m, Incl. 1 m @ 31.11 g/t from 111m GBRD461 RD 769,159 992,877 343 -55 90 173.75 6 24 18.0 3.31 GBRC440 RC 769,085 992,523 333 -55 90 120 43 50 7.0 7.91 Incl. 1 m @ 32.24 g/t from 45m, Incl. 1 m @ 18.26 g/t from 46m GBRC468 RC 769,124 992,574 335 -55 90 182 153 165 12.0 3.20 Incl. 1 m @ 18.18 g/t from 153m GBRC409 RC 769,192 992,698 338 -55 90 140 123 133 10.0 2.38 GBRC408 RC 769,190 992,774 340 -55 90 150 40 47 7.0 3.12 Incl. 1 m @ 14.06 g/t from 45m GBRD450 RD 769,120 992,676 337 -55 90 212.5 137 146 9.1 2.21 GBRC411 RC 769,197 992,796 341 -55 90 140 62 70 8.0 2.28 Incl. 1 m @ 13.35 g/t from 63m GBDDH089 Core 769,066 992,703 335 -55 90 281.8 157 165 7.2 2.22 GBRC410 RC 769,195 992,721 339 -55 90 150 37 45 8.0 1.92 Kagon RSDRC181 RC 774,955 1,009,166 414 -55 305 50 36 44 8.0 18.46 Incl. 1 m @ 143.3 g/t from 37m RSDRC176 RC 774,754 1,008,821 417 -55 305 50 19 25 6.0 2.57 RSDRC223 RC 774,376 1,009,388 405 -55 305 50 19 25 6.0 2.40 Koban North KBNRC081 RC 770,083 1,000,688 399 -55 105 119 31 53 22.0 3.35 Incl. 1 m @ 11.88 g/t from 40m KBNDD013 Core 770,031 1,000,753 398 -55.1 105.1 182.6 84 102 18.0 2.44 KBNRC057 RC 770,002 1,000,472 395 -55 105 132 21 26 5.0 7.68 Incl. 1 m @ 30.51 g/t from 22m KBNRC091 RC 770,087 1,000,479 397 -55 105 70 43 57 14.0 2.28 Incl. 1 m @ 17.31 g/t from 47m KBNRC052 RC 770,012 1,000,422 393 -55 105 120 69 76 7.0 4.38 Incl. 1 m @ 14.3 g/t from 74m KBNRC092 RC 770,003 1,000,450 393 -55 105 130 81 100 19.0 1.60 KBNRC101 RC 770,053 1,000,359 394 -55 105 70 24 41 17.0 1.66 KBNRC057 RC 770,002 1,000,472 395 -55 105 132 79 106 27.0 1.04 KBNRC077 RC 770,101 1,000,733 399 -55 105 120 31 44 13.0 2.14 Koban North KBNRC072 RC 770,091 1,000,606 399 -55 105 96 42 52 10.0 2.67 KBNDD011 Core 769,940 1,000,467 392 -55 105 192.8 74 81 7.0 3.53 Incl. 1 m @ 16.59 g/t from 77m KBNDD015 Core 770,011 1,000,705 397 -55 105 170.65 55 64 9.0 2.59 Incl. 1 m @ 10.57 g/t from 63m KBNRC059 RC 770,076 1,000,458 399 -55 105 90 44 61 17.0 1.35 KBNRC076 RC 770,066 1,000,743 399 -55 105 119 62 68 6.0 3.62 KBNRC090 RC 770,027 1,000,497 395 -55 105 114 75 91 16.0 1.35 KBNRC064 RC 770,068 1,000,512 398 -55 105 120 47 60 13.0 1.56 KBNRC065 RC 770,101 1,000,502 400 -55 105 120 17 27 10.0 1.97 Sena RSDRC311 RC 769,614 996,532 360 -55 110 50 21 29 8.0 3.06 Incl. 1 m @ 20.74 g/t from 27m RSDRC299 RC 769,564 996,765 362 -55 110 50 10 23 13.0 0.96 Soman 1 SORC005 RC 770,234 993,999 340 -55 140 110 20 24 4.0 17.21 Incl. 1 m @ 51.26 g/t from 21m, Incl. 1 m @ 16.15 g/t from 22m SORC011 RC 770,302 994,583 352 -55 140 70 33 36 3.0 22.75 Incl. 1 m @ 25.51 g/t from 33m, Incl. 1 m @ 32.71 g/t from 34m, Incl. 1 m @ 10.03 g/t from 35m Soman 1 SORC003A RC 770,216 993,945 339 -55 140 110 10 19 9.0 4.26 Incl. 1 m @ 11.32 g/t from 14m GBDDH092 Core 770,186 993,981 340 -55 140 182.7 13 16 3.2 9.88 Incl. 0.6 m @ 11.19 g/t from 13.8m, Incl. 0.6 m @ 28.63 g/t from 14.4m SORC007 RC 770,217 994,019 341 -55 140 140 47 62 15.0 1.91 SORC027 RC 770,259 994,011 341 -55 140 90 5 16 11.0 1.94 SORC006 RC 770,226 993,965 341 -55 140 100 61 76 15.0 1.26 GBDDH092 Core 770,186 993,981 340 -55 140 182.7 52 55 2.7 6.26 Incl. 0.6 m @ 26.07 g/t from 53.4m SORC031 RC 770,278 994,113 345 -55 140 120 29 35 6.0 2.53 Incl. 1 m @ 10.66 g/t from 30m Soman 2 SORC014 RC 770,260 994,513 350 -55 140 60 18 21 3.0 6.56 Incl. 1 m @ 16.8 g/t from 18m SORC013 RC 770,265 994,545 352 -55 140 90 9 25 16.0 0.88 SORC022 RC 770,145 994,459 350 -55 140 120 21 27 6.0 2.24 SORC008 RC 770,250 994,649 354 -55 140 80 12 24 12.0 0.90 SORC023 RC 770,178 994,457 350 -55 140 100 25 33 8.0 0.99 SORC026 RC 770,270 994,582 353 -55 140 90 34 41 7.0 1.11 TZ2 SNRC036 RC 770,003 1,024,390 412 -55 250 75 35 44 9.0 3.15 Incl. 1 m @ 10.14 g/t from 41m SNRC034 RC 769,903 1,024,597 404 -55 250 90 9 12 3.0 9.13 Incl. 1 m @ 14.16 g/t from 10m, Incl. 1 m @ 12.77 g/t from 11m SNDDH003 Core 770,094 1,024,557 432 -55 250 154.7 112 118 6.4 3.66 Incl. 1 m @ 13.29 g/t from 113m SNRC037 RC 770,038 1,024,535 410 -55 250 110 48 59 11.0 1.35 SNRC036 RC 770,003 1,024,390 412 -55 250 75 52 55 3.0 4.42 Incl. 1 m @ 10.77 g/t from 52m SNRC032 RC 770,051 1,024,409 414 -55 250 115 74 78 4.0 3.06 SNRC034 RC 769,903 1,024,597 404 -55 250 90 70 75 5.0 2.44 SNRC039 RC 770,338 1,023,900 416 -55 250 102 29 33 4.0 3.03 Yere North SDRC227 RC 794,687 1,017,386 398 -50 305 90 4 25 21.0 1.07 SDRC245 RC 794,625 1,017,006 402 -50 305 81 2 9 7.0 2.44 SDDDH041 Core 794,821 1,017,236 397 -49.69 310.76 167.35 150 154 4.0 2.88 SDRC225 RC 794,763 1,017,455 398 -50 305 102 75 82 7.0 1.33 1 True widths not available. Full drill results are available by clicking here. Figures accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c247fb68-ae19-4425-a6f2-3fafcf295065 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5cfbf722-aa2c-4f09-84aa-4fc9a5ab26b0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/134ae2aa-2856-4a8d-8202-123a96ae39dc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2134b97a-dffc-4498-b49d-62c0caa60915 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5467a8f2-0db3-4fba-9bf9-43707e7e01b7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44fff02f-8b63-416a-bcc2-403142fed462 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e564e7ca-2d87-4877-9b63-e3a262b3ba7d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/803d34e5-411a-479c-acf1-86441833607e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/acadef91-e309-4114-956c-14fe8e4d26b6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ff42505e-83d9-4f6c-8539-92f480c013ea Appendix A and Appendix B are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5cee43aa-a6b6-4950-84ff-0dc068db0fca https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e14f03d4-17bf-47d0-a108-b0d22fb33c85 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. Oslo, Norway, 21 July 2025. Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published earlier today on 21 July 2025 by IDEX Biometrics ASA ("IDEX" or the "Company") regarding a contemplated underwritten private placement (the "Private Placement") of new shares in the Company (the "Offer Shares"), where Arctic Securities AS has acted as manager and bookrunner (the "Manager"). The Private Placement has been successfully completed, raising gross proceeds to the Company of NOK 30,000,000, through the issuance of 9,090,909 Offer Shares at a subscription price per Offer Share of NOK 3.30 (the "Offer Price"). The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for the Company's commercialization efforts in line with the new business strategy announced in March 2025 as well as for general corporate purposes. Altea AS, Pinchcliffe AS (closely associated company of the CEO and CFO, Anders Storbraten), Anders Storbraten, Charles Street International Ltd. (Robert Keith) and K-Konsult AS (closely associated company of the chairperson of the board of directors, Morten Opstad) (the "Underwriters") had, subject to customary conditions, accepted to be allocated Offer Shares that were not applied for during the Application Period (as defined herein) for up to NOK 30,000,000 pursuant to an underwriting agreement entered into with the Company (the "UWA"). An underwriting fee equal to 5% of the underwriting commitment by each Underwriter will be payable by the Company to each of the Underwriters in the form of a total of 454,542 new shares in the Company (the "Underwriting Shares"), subject to the approval and issuance of the Underwriting Shares by the EGM (as defined herein). The Private Placement was divided into two tranches: Tranche 1 ("Tranche 1") consisted of 4,731,594 Offer Shares, and the share capital increase related to Tranche 1 have been resolved by the board of directors (the "Board") pursuant to an authorization granted by the Company's general meeting held on 21 May 2025 (the "Authorization"). Tranche 2 ("Tranche 2") will consist of the number of Offer Shares that, together with the Tranche 1 shares, is necessary in order to raise gross proceeds of NOK 30 million. The issuance of Offer Shares in Tranche 2 remains subject to approval by an extraordinary general meeting, scheduled to be held on or about 14 August 2025 (the "EGM"). Applicants will receive a pro rata portion of shares from Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 based on their overall allocation in the Private Placement, with the exception of the Underwriters, which have agreed that the new shares it is allocated in the Private Placement will all be allocated in Tranche 2. The completion of Tranche 1 is otherwise subject to (i) the Share Lending Agreement and the UWA remaining in full force and effect ("Tranche 1 Conditions"). The completion of Tranche 2 is subject to (i) completion of Tranche 1, (ii) approval by the EGM and (iii) the Share Lending Agreement and the UWA remaining in full force and effect ("Tranche 2 Conditions"). Both the Tranche 1 Conditions and the Tranche 2 Conditions include the share capital increase pertaining to the issuance of the allocated Offer Shares under such tranche being validly registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises and the allocated Offer Shares being validly issued and registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository Euronext Securities Oslo ("VPS"). Completion of Tranche 1 is not conditional upon completion of Tranche 2, and acquisition of shares in Tranche 1 will remain final and binding and cannot be revoked or terminated by the respective applicants if Tranche 2 is not completed. The Board reserves the right to cancel, and/or modify the terms of the Private Placement, at any time and for any reason prior to delivery of the Offer Shares in Tranche 1, without or on short notice. The applicant acknowledges that Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 of the Private Placement will be cancelled if the relevant conditions for such tranches (or issuance) are not fulfilled, and may be cancelled by the Board in its sole discretion for any other reason whatsoever prior to delivery of the Offer Shares in Tranche 1. Neither the Manager nor the Company will be liable for any losses if the Private Placement is cancelled or modified, irrespective of the reason for such cancellation or modification. Following completion of Tranche 1, the Companys share capital will be NOK 52,095,850 divided into 52,095,850 shares, each with a par value of NOK 1.00. Following completion of Tranche 2 of the Private Placement and issuance of the Underwriting Shares, both subject to EGM approval, the Company's share capital will be NOK 56,909,707 divided into 56,909,707 shares, each with a par value of NOK 1.00. The Private Placement (Tranche 1 and Tranche 2) will be settled with existing and unencumbered shares in the Company that are already listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, pursuant to a share lending agreement entered into between the Company, the Manager and an existing shareholder (the "Share Lending Agreement"). The Share Lending Agreement will be settled with the new shares in the Company issued by the Board pursuant to the Authorization (as described above) and issued by the EGM, as applicable. Settlement of Tranche 1 of the Private Placement is expected to take place on a delivery versus payment basis on or about 24 July 2025. Settlement of Tranche 2 of the Private Placement is expected to take place on a delivery versus payment basis on or about 18 August 2025. The Board has considered the contemplated Private Placement in light of the equal treatment obligations under the Norwegian Securities Trading Act and Oslo Brs' Circular no. 2/2014 and deems that the Private Placement is in compliance with these requirements. The Board holds the view that it will be in the common interest of the Company and its shareholders to raise equity through a private placement, in view of the current market conditions and the growth opportunities currently available to the Company. A private placement enables the Company to raise capital in an efficient manner, and the Private Placement is structured to ensure that a market-based subscription price is achieved. Taking into consideration that the Private Placement was conducted as a publicly announced bookbuilding process and a market-based subscription price was achieved, the Board has concluded that a subsequent offering towards existing shareholders is not necessary. This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to MAR article 17 and section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange release was published by Kjell-Arne Besseberg, Chief Operating Officer, on 21 July 2025 at 23:15 CEST. About IDEX Biometrics ASA IDEX Biometrics ASA (OSE: IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market. Important information: This announcement is not and does not form a part of any offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities of the Company. The distribution of this announcement and other information may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or sent into any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. The securities referred to in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance with applicable U.S. state securities laws. The Company does not intend to register any part of the offering or its securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. Any sale in the United States of the securities mentioned in this announcement will be made solely to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. In any EEA Member State, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the EU Prospectus Regulation, i.e., only to investors who can receive the offer without an approved prospectus in such EEA Member State. The expression "EU Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation 2017/1129 as amended together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State. This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at persons in the United Kingdom that are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom this announcement may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only for relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Persons distributing this communication must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Matters discussed in this announcement may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "strategy", "intends", "estimate", "will", "may", "continue", "should" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control. Actual events may differ significantly from any anticipated development due to a number of factors, including without limitation, changes in investment levels and need for the Company's services, changes in the general economic, political and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operate, the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel, changes in the Company's ability to engage in commercially acceptable acquisitions and strategic investments, and changes in laws and regulation and the potential impact of legal proceedings and actions. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not provide any guarantees that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this announcement are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this announcement or any obligation to update or revise the statements in this announcement to reflect subsequent events. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this document. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review, update, confirm, or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this announcement. Neither the Manager nor any of their affiliates make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this announcement and none of them accepts any responsibility for the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to herein. This announcement is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment. It is not intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities in the Company. Neither the Manager nor any of their affiliates accept any liability arising from the use of this announcement. Godfrey, IL, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clearwave Fiber recently brought the Godfrey community together for a morning of creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning at the Brick Builders Bash, a family-friendly event held at Glazebrook Park. The celebration welcomed about 300 attendees and highlighted the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education through interactive and engaging activities. Clearwave Fiber has made a significant investment in Godfreys digital future through the ongoing expansion of its 100% fiber internet network. Launched at the end of 2022 to serve a few hundred homes and businesses, the network has rapidly grown to connect nearly 4,000 locations across the city. Expansion continues, and current efforts will extend the companys high-speed fiber internet to approximately 1,500 more homes and businesses in the coming months, ensuring even more residents have access to reliable, state-of-the-art connectivity and the opportunities it brings. The event featured a variety of attractions designed to inspire young minds, including interactive LEGO building stations, a collaborative build challenge to encourage teamwork and problem-solving, a creative building competition with prizes, a STEM-focused activity zone, refreshments and giveaways. Supporting STEM education is a natural extension of our mission to deliver 100% fiber internet. Both empower our communities through innovation, connection, and opportunity, said David Armistead, CEO of Clearwave Fiber. We believe great internet service is a necessitynot a luxuryand events like this bring our communities together, ensuring all families have access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. Were committed to investing in the future of our youth and the power of innovation. As part of the celebration, Clearwave Fiber presented a $1,000 donation to Lewis & Clark Community Colleges STEM program, reinforcing the companys commitment to supporting local youth. The college was honored to be part of the Brick Builders Bash. It was exciting to see so many community members of all ages interacting with each other and showing off their LEGO-building skills, said Tom Steinmann, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Clearwave Fibers support of Lewis & Clarks STEM program is very much appreciated. ABOUT CLEARWAVE FIBER Clearwave Fiber is an Internet service provider that operates a 100% Fiber network serving communities across the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. With an emphasis on exceptional customer care and community engagement, the fast-growing company delivers advanced telecommunications solutions, providing Fiber to business, enterprise and residential customers in Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Kansas. Clearwave Fiber employs more than 300 and is based in Savannah, Ga. Learn more at ClearwaveFiber.com, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Attachments London, United Kingdom, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JA Mining, a UK-registered cloud mining platform, has officially launched a new feature enabling users to earn daily returns through cloud miners based on major cryptocurrencies like XRP and Bitcoin. The upgrade reflects the companys commitment to making digital asset participation simple, efficient, and globally accessible. With momentum shifting toward structured digital asset investments, platforms offering daily returns and price-based upside are gaining attention. Among them, JA Mining, a global cloud mining service provider, is emerging as a preferred choice for investors seeking stable, low-risk crypto income. JA Mining supports investments in major cryptocurrencies such as XRP, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin, while all contracts are denominated in USD for transparency and predictability. Users earn fixed daily returns based on the selected contract terms, and at the end of the term, they may benefit additionally if the value of their deposited assets appreciates. Mining Contract Examples (Updated July 2025) LTC Classic Miner $200 | 2 Days | $7/day Total: $14 DOGE Innovative Miner $2,420 | 3 Days | $86.88/day Total: $260.63 DOGE Quality Choice $12,500 | 3 Days | $535/day Total: $1,605 BTC Intelligent Innovation $55,600 | 2 Days | $4,770/day Total: $9,540.96 BTC Efficient & Excellent $258,000 | 5 Days | $24,664.80/day Total: $123,324 For more plans, please visit the official website: https://jamining.com These earnings are automatically distributed on a daily basis via smart contract settlements. The system does not require hardware or technical skills from the user, making cloud mining with daily earnings accessible to a broader investor base. JA Mining has positioned itself at the intersection of compliance, automation, and accessibility. The platform operates internationally, integrating energy-efficient mining infrastructure and user-friendly dashboards that enable real-time earnings tracking. Investments can be made through web or mobile interfaces using XRP or other supported cryptocurrencies. JA Minings model of combining fixed returns with potential asset appreciation aligns with the market's growing preference for balanced and structured crypto exposure, the company stated in an official release. As institutional and retail interest in XRP and other digital assets grows, demand for simplified and transparent yield models will continue to rise. JA Minings approach reflects a broader industry shift: away from high-volatility speculation, and toward regulated, algorithmic income strategies that prioritize user stability. Start now, no need to wait: click to download the APP and register to get $100 to start 0 cost mining Media Contact: JA Mining info@jamining.com www.jamining.com Washington, DC, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed a Complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas challenging President Trumps unlawful attempt to impose widespread tariffs based on alleged emergency authority. He has cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but that statute authorizes emergency actions like economic sanctions and asset freezes to protect the United States from foreign threats. It does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. Representing FIREDISC, the nonprofit Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and Ryan Wholesale, NCLA asks the District Court to find jurisdiction to hear this lawsuit and issue summary judgment for Plaintiffs, setting aside the unlawful tariffs. FIREDISC manufactures and sells outdoor cooking products, purchasing supplies from sources in China that U.S. suppliers do not reasonably provide. GAMA represents the tabletop games industry in the U.S., with about 1,500 member companies. Hundreds of members nationwide rely on imports from China, Canada, Poland, Spain, Germany, and the U.K., all of which are subject to tariffs under Trump Administration executive orders issued since February. With over 80 percent of tabletop games made abroad, the tariffs threaten the entire industry. Ryan Wholesale manufactures timber trusses and other fine wood products, importing supplies from Italian sources that are not reasonably available in the U.S. The emergency tariffs will force FIREDISC, many GAMA members, and Ryan Wholesale to make higher tariff payments, driving up their costs and thus prices for their customers. Just as NCLA points out in the ongoing Simplified, et al. v. Trump lawsuitthe first-ever challenge to the emergency tariffsarticle I, 8 of the Constitution grants Congress sole authority to control tariffs, which legislators have done by passing detailed tariff statutes. The President cannot bypass those statutes by invoking emergency authority in another statute that does not mention tariffs. His attempt to use the IEEPA this way not only violates the law as written, but it also invites application of the Supreme Courts Major Questions Doctrine, which tells courts not to discern policies of vast economic and political significance in a law without explicit congressional authorization. If the IEEPA were held to permit this executive order, then the statute would run afoul of the nondelegation doctrine because it lacks an intelligible principle to limit or guide the Presidents discretion in imposing tariffs. NCLA released the following statements: These unlawful tariffs are a presidential power grab that usurps Congresss right to control tariffs and upsets the Constitutions separation of powers. They are especially crushing to small businessesincluding our clients in this case. The court should hold the tariffs unlawful and strike them down. Andrew Morris, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA The illegal tariffs continue to damage millions of people and businesses across the country unconstitutionally. The IEEPA gives the President no tariff power and is not a tariff statute. It is now up to the courts to stop them. John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA Someone gave the President very bad legal advice. No prior administration in the nearly 50-year history of the IEEPA thought that it empowered the President to impose tariffs unilaterally. By doing so now, this administration has revived the specter of taxation without representation over which the American Revolution was fought. Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA For more information visit the case page here. ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. ### SYDNEY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media.com, the worlds first and only social network built entirely on verified users and trusted content, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Australian Banking Associations (ABA) Annual Banking Conference taking place July 2324, 2025 at the International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICC) in Sydney. As an Event Sponsor of this important industry event, Media.com will play a visible role throughout the two-day program, where leaders from Australias banking sector, regulators, policymakers, and technology innovators gather to address the future of banking in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Media.com will host an interactive exhibition booth where attendees can experience live product demonstrations, learn about how Media.com protects consumers, and why Media.com is the trusted alternative for social networking. With an interest in fueling critical conversations and connections among attendees, the company is also hosting the conference coffee stand. According to the Australian governments 2024 National Anti-Scam Centre Report, the most reported contact method leading to financial loss was social media, and more Australians lost money via social media in 2024 than the year prior. These social platforms - where fake identities, bots, and anonymity reign - have become the primary vehicle for scammers targeting consumers and banks alike. However, Media.com offers a credible, secure social networking experience where every user is verified before they can join the network, create content or connect with others. This simple, powerful safeguard drastically reduces the risk of scams, impersonation, and misinformation - protecting users all while stabilizing the financial ecosystem. Becoming a sponsor of the ABAs flagship event was a strategic priority for us given the challenges the banking industry is facing from the misuse of social networks to target consumers, said James Mawhinney, Media.com founder and CEO. The ABA and its members have shown great leadership by prioritizing consumer protection, a mission that closely mirrors that of Media.coms which aims to restore public trust in online information and support the banking sectors immediate need for solutions that protect consumers from harm. This is why weve integrated the same best in class user verification technology on our network that banks use worldwide to verify customers, as we know the solution begins with accountability and transparency two of the principles embedded in Media.coms DNA. A Critical Call to Action By supporting the adoption of a verified network like Media.com, banks can help shield consumers from the social media-driven scams eroding trust and impacting financial stability. Banks can: Create verified profiles on Media.com to provide a safer digital touchpoint for customers to provide a safer digital touchpoint for customers Promote Media.com to their customers as a safe and trusted alternative to traditional social networks as a safe and trusted alternative to traditional social networks Lead a movement toward digital accountability and trust in Australias online banking landscape A stable, trusted banking environment is critical for the future of Australia, said Mawhinney. Weve built the infrastructure for safer online engagementone that not only protects consumers, but also helps reduce fraud, improve trust, and ultimately protect their bottom line. This isnt about competing with social mediaits about replacing whats broken with something better. This years ABA conference focuses on the difficulties and opportunities ahead for financial services, including consumer protection, regulatory shifts, sustainable finance, risk management, and the sectors broader digital transformation. Media.coms participation underscores its commitment to helping industries like banking embrace technologies that uphold user trust and safeguard information. Knowing how important consumer protection is, Media.coms commitment to trust, transparency, and innovation aligns with the values that underpin Australias banking sector. Launched in Beta in late 2024, Media.com is transforming social networking by verifying every user, ensuring all content is traceable to its source. This approach fosters a safer, more accountable digital spacefree from fake profiles, bots, and misinformationdesigned for people and businesses seeking meaningful, credible engagement online. With attendance from banking CEOs, regulators, and global thought leaders, the ABA conference offers Media.com a unique opportunity to demonstrate its impact, engage with decision-makers, and align with the collective vision for a stronger, more trusted digital future. About Media.com Media.com is a next-generation online social network designed for people who value trusted content and verified engagement. On the Media.com network, all user profiles are verified, which means every piece of content is traceable to its source, so users are accountable for their online engagement which boosts trust and credibility while reducing the risks of online harms. Media.com houses the best features of existing social networks all in one place, combining the best of each and empowering users to post, host and share their content from a trusted source. Media.com empowers users to showcase their personal or business brand using a Media Wall feature comprised of visual tiles and folders the user has control over to organize, categorize and manage their content in a highly visually impactful format. Media.com operates with a freemium business model free for individuals to join, set up a verified profile and post content through its Basic Plan. For businesses, organizations, associations and charities, Media.com offers affordable profile creation and publishing tools. By requiring identity verification, its all-in-one platform empowers users to create, host, and distribute content across text, video, audio, and moresafely and authentically. Headquartered in New York City, Media.com is currently in Beta and growing a global user base across 130+ countries. Find & Follow: Web | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube | TikTok Press Contact: For media inquiries or to book a product demo, please contact Laura Hall at Lhall@media.com or via WhatsApp at +1 917 544 6344 (New York, New York). This press release was published by a CLEAR Verified individual. Denver, Colorado, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIXA Miner , a global leader in automated and sustainable crypto mining infrastructure, has officially launched its Ethereum (ETH) cloud mining offering, designed to meet the growing demand for intelligent, secure, and compliant participation in the Ethereum ecosystem. The launch comes as Ethereum garners fresh attention across global markets, following a combination of regulatory clarity, increased institutional capital flows, and renewed public interest in digital assets. As of mid-July 2025, the price of Ethereum has surged past $3,775, marking an increase of more than 15% in the last seven days. This latest rally has been driven by several key catalysts, including the passage of the GENIUS Stablecoin Act by the U.S. House of Representatives and continued inflows into Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The convergence of legislative support and institutional adoption has sparked what many are calling a turning point in the maturity of Ethereum as a core blockchain infrastructure layer. The renewed spotlight on Ethereum signals a shift toward broader acceptance and real-world integration, said a spokesperson from AIXA Miners Blockchain Product Division. With our new ETH cloud mining contracts, we aim to empower users to engage with this ecosystem in a scalable, automated, and environmentally responsible waywithout the need to manage complex hardware or market risk. AIXA Miners Ethereum cloud mining solution enables users to earn daily ETH income through a secure and seamless contract-based process. Participants simply select a preferred mining tier, fund their contract, and begin receiving daily rewardsall backed by AIXA Miners proprietary AI-optimized mining engine and green-powered global infrastructure. The new ETH mining plans were developed with flexibility and user experience at the core. Whether participants are newcomers exploring Ethereum for the first time or seasoned investors seeking consistent passive income, AIXA Miner offers plan durations and capital thresholds to suit diverse profiles. The system operates through real-time smart contracts that automate all aspects of the mining processreward calculation, distribution, energy load balancing, and uptime management. Behind this offering is AIXA Miners commitment to clean energy and sustainability. All Ethereum mining contracts are powered by a distributed network of data centers running on renewable energy sources, including hydroelectric, solar, and wind. This infrastructure spans North America, Southeast Asia, and parts of South Americaregions selected for their grid stability, low-emission potential, and compatibility with energy-efficient GPU hardware. In line with its green blockchain framework, AIXA Miner ensures that every ETH mining contract includes transparency tools, allowing users to view energy source metrics, regional energy efficiency data, and carbon offset details. These insights help participants engage with the platform in a way that aligns with both personal financial goals and global environmental standards. Sustainability and transparency are more than just operational standardstheyre competitive advantages in todays market, the spokesperson added. We are proud to bring an Ethereum mining experience that delivers on performance, compliance, and accountability. AIXA Miners launch also coincides with the global celebration of Cryptocurrency Week, a coordinated industry effort to promote education, innovation, and participation in the digital asset space. With Ethereum playing a central role in DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications, cloud mining represents a valuable on-ramp for users looking to earn from the network without engaging in active trading. Unlike traditional Ethereum staking , which often requires minimum holding thresholds, locked capital, or technical validator setup, AIXA Miners solution provides an alternative model. Participants do not need to manage private keys or interact with smart contract code; instead, they benefit from a fully-managed, automated income stream through mining participation. The ETH cloud mining contracts are now live and available globally through AIXA Miners intuitive web and mobile platforms. Each contract includes a dedicated performance dashboard showing mining speed, reward accumulation, and environmental impactall updated in real time. As institutional engagement grows and regulatory frameworks become clearer, AIXA Miner remains committed to building user-first solutions that reflect the evolving nature of blockchain participation. This latest ETH launch further reinforces the companys mission to make sustainable, intelligent mining accessible to everyone, anywhere in the world. Media Contact: PR Division info@aixaminer.com https://aixaminer.com Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Participation in cloud mining involves risk and should be based on independent research. AIXA Miner does not provide investment advice or guarantee specific financial outcomes. Attachment Perth, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PERSEUS MINING DELIVERS ENCOURAGING DRILLING RESULTS FROM ITS CURRENT DRILL PROGRAM AT THE NYANZAGA GOLD PROJECT Perth, Western Australia/July 22, 2025/Perseus Mining Limited (ASX/TSX: PRU) is pleased to provide an update on ongoing resource definition drilling currently being conducted at its Nyanzaga Gold Project (NGP) in Tanzania and to announce some of the more significant drill results achieved since our last exploration announcement, dated December 5, 2024 (see release Confidence Boosting Infill Drilling at Nyanzaga Project). Below is a summary of the release. The full release with all drill hole data and results is available at www.perseusmining.com, www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au. The current drilling program has been designed to further inform and advance Perseuss proposed open pit mining scenario at NGP as detailed in the Feasibility Study update, released to the market on April 25, 2025 (see release Perseus Mining proceeds with development of the Nyanzaga Gold Project). Drill holes have been designed to infill existing drilling, collect additional information including metallurgical and geotechnical data and most importantly evaluate potential strike and depth extensions to the mineralisation. As of the end of June 2025, a total of 35,623 m of combined reverse circulation (RC) and diamond (DD) meters have been drilled into the Tusker and Kilimani deposits since the last update in December 2024 (refer Since acquiring the NGP in April 2025, Perseus has drilled a total of 58,609 m, with the majority of this being resource definition drilling into the Tusker and Kilimani deposits. Infill drilling was designed to improve the average drill spacing across the deposit from 40 m 40 m to a nominal drill pattern of 20 m 40 m and was completed across the main Tusker mineralisation and the adjacent Kilimani deposit. Drilling remains ongoing across both Tusker and Kilimani and continues to support the current mineralisation interpretation across both deposits. More significant drill hole data and related drill results results received from the recent drilling include: Tusker Deposit NYZRCDD1374C: 51 m @ 4.43 g/t gold from 269 m including 4 m @ 42.04 g/t gold from 274 m; NYZDD1389: 36 m @ 6.28 g/t gold from 292 m including 4 m @ 47.82 g/t gold from 314 m; NYZDD1390: 10 m @ 15.38 g/t gold from 264 m; NYZDD1490: 33 m @ 3.14 g/t gold from 275 m including 2 m @ 32.28 g/t gold from 161 m; 61 m @ 4.35 g/t gold from 235 m; NYZRCDD1347: 62 m @ 2.38 g/t gold from 432 m; NYZRCDD1351: 63 m @ 6.49 g/t gold from 435 m including 1 m @ 307.8 g/t gold from 438 m; 16 m @ 6.15 g/t gold from 501 m including 6 m @ 14.73 g/t gold from 511 m; NYZRCDD1372: 69 m @ 3.94 g/t gold from 335 m including 21 m @ 7.99 g/t gold from 375 m; NYZRCDD1373: 57 m @ 6.50 g/t gold from 203 m including 11 m @ 26.93 g/t gold from 208 m; NYZRCDD1397: 59 m @ 4.39 g/t gold from 442 m and 64 m @ 2.91 g/t gold from 660 m including 23 m @ 4.36 g/t gold from 695 m NYZRCDD1399: 54 m @ 9.69 g/t gold from 577 m including 2 m @ 118.3 g/t gold from 591 m and 5 m @ 20.15 g/t gold from 601 m; NYZRCDD1401: 23 m @ 20.87 g/t gold from 496 m; NYZRCDD1404: 46 m @ 3.15 g/t gold from 550 m including 11 m @ 9.81 g/t gold from 567 m; NYZRCDD1405: 52 m @ 3.01 g/t gold from 506 m; 81 m @ 4.00 g/t gold from 597 m including 8 m @ 16.74 g/t gold from 625 m; NYZRCDD1419: 52 m @ 3.17 g/t gold from 348 m; NYZRCDD1422: 84 m @ 3.24 g/t gold from 339 m including 11 m @ 9.15 g/t gold from 392 m; Kilimani DEposit NYZRC1424: 22 m @ 4.14 g/t gold from 47 m; NYZRC1471: 44 m @ 4.36 g/t gold from 0 m including 3 m @ 43.56 g/t gold from 25 m; Further geotechnical, metallurgical and sterilisation drilling programs are on-going or planned, and are scheduled to be completed by December 2025. The results of this work, together with other key activities, will be incorporated into an updated Ore Reserve statement that is to be released to the market in the March 2026 quarter. ASX/TSX CODE: PRU CAPITAL STRUCTURE: Ordinary shares: 1,353,975,467 Performance rights: 9,343,976 REGISTERED OFFICE: Level 2 437 Roberts Road Subiaco WA 6008 Telephone: +61 8 6144 1700 www.perseusmining.com DIRECTORS: Rick Menell Non-Executive Chairman Jeff Quartermaine Managing Director & CEO Amber Banfield Non-Executive Director Elissa Cornelius Non-Executive Director Dan Lougher Non-Executive Director John McGloin Non-Executive Director James Rutherford Non-Executive Director CONTACTS: Jeff Quartermaine Managing Director & CEO jeff.quartermaine@perseusmining.com Stephen Forman Investor Relations +61 484 036 681 stephen.forman@perseusmining.com Nathan Ryan Media +61 420 582 887 nathan.ryan@nwrcommunications.com.au Competent Person Statement: The information in this report and the attachments that relate to exploration drilling results at the Nyanzaga Gold Project is based on, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by Mr Glen Edwards, a Competent Person who is a Chartered Professional Geologist. Mr Edwards is the General Manager Exploration of the Company. Mr Edwards has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code 2012) and to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Mr Edwards consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. The information in this report that relates to the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve at Nyanzaga was updated by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Mining proceeds with development of the Nyanzaga Gold Project released on 28 April 2025. The Company confirms that all material assumptions underpinning those estimates and the production targets, or the forecast financial information derived therefrom, in that market release continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company further confirms that material assumptions underpinning the estimates of Ore Reserves described in Technical Report Nyanzaga Gold Project dated 10 June 2025 continue to apply. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information: This report contains forward-looking information which is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made by the Company regarding, among other things: the price of gold, continuing commercial production at the Yaoure Gold Mine, the Edikan Gold Mine and the Sissingue Gold Mine without any major disruption, development of a mine at Nyanzaga, the receipt of required governmental approvals, the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used by the Company. Although management believes that the assumptions made by the Company and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the actual market price of gold, the actual results of current exploration, the actual results of future exploration, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Perseus does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Attachment London, United Kingdom , July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new US stablecoin bill passed in July 2025 is further improving regulatory clarity and opening the door to institutional adoption. Ripples USD-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, is fully collateralized by cash and US Treasuries and issued on the XRP Ledger. For investors who hold a large amount of XRP, PBKMiner provides a safe, compliant and scalable way to convert their assets into a high-yield passive income source. Users do not need to sell their positions or bear the risk of currency price fluctuations. They only need to top up and purchase computing power contracts to automatically obtain stable income every day. How to make money through cloud mining? Traditional cryptocurrency mining requires high hardware investment, complex technical configuration and continuous electricity consumption, but now, cloud mining has completely changed all this. Users can easily participate in mining by simply renting remote computing power through an online platform. Against the backdrop of the continued rise in the global cryptocurrency market, PBKMiner officially launched the XRP mining new user incentive plan, with "zero threshold, high returns" as the core, to help new and old users easily participate in digital currency mining. The platform quickly became the focus of the industry with its innovative reward mechanism, flexible contract selection, and transparent profit model. XRP Cloud Mining Now AvailableEasy, Smart, and Profitable XRP has long been recognized for its role in cross-border payments and institutional financing, and now PBKMiner's latest innovation - user-friendly cloud mining, takes XRP to the next level. Users can mine XRP directly or take advantage of PBKMiner's intelligent AI engine, which automatically transfers mining power to the highest-yielding assets, including BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDC, and more. Earnings will be paid daily in the cryptocurrency of your choice, providing a reliable source of income regardless of market fluctuations. Whether you are a novice or an experienced investor, the PBKMiner platform allows you to earn continuous cryptocurrency income anytime, anywhere. Why does PBKMiner's XRP mining stand out? - Available to Everyone: No technical skills, no hardware, no complications just click to earn. - XRP Native: Handle XRP from deposits to withdrawals in one ecosystem. - Smart, Stable Returns: AI Mining Strategies Deliver Stable Yields Across Assets. - Built-in Flexibility: Choose to mine XRP or diversify into other top cryptocurrencies all from one contract. - Global Instant Access: Start mining securely from anywhere in the world via your browser or app. Start earning income in just three easy steps: 1. Sign up Create an account and get a $10 welcome bonus. 2. Choose a plan Choose a short-term or long-term contract (1-55 days available). 3. Start earning Track your daily rewards and withdraw them in your preferred token. Main features of PBKMiners XRP cloud mining contract - Full XRP Ecosystem Integration: Deposit, mine, and withdraw XRP seamlessly on the platform. - Multi-currency mining support: Earn XRP, BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, BCH, and more. - AI Revenue Optimization: Proprietary algorithms optimize mining allocations for peak profitability. - 100% Remote Access: No hardware required - fully accessible via the PBKMiner app or browser. - Capital Protection: All contracts return full principal at expiration, minimizing risk while maximizing potential. Flexible mining contracts to meet various budget needs PBKMiner offers a variety of XRP-based cloud mining contracts designed for flexibility, predictable income, and effective risk management: $10 contract - 1 day - earn $0.6 $100 contract - 2 days - earn $3.5 per day $500 contract - 5 days - earn $6.5 per day $5,000 contract - 30 days - earn $77.50 per day $30,000 contract - 50 days - earn $525.00 per day Whether you are investing for the first time or building a long-term portfolio, PBKMiner offers transparent, low-risk contracts that bring a steady daily XRP income. Click here to explore all XRP contracts. About PBKMiner Founded in 2019, PBKMiner represents a new generation of AI-driven cloud mining technology, with data, performance, and trust as pillars. The platform supports cloud mining of XRP, BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, and SOL. It has helped millions of users around the world earn passive crypto income through secure, AI-driven cloud mining. With the launch of XRP mining, the platform now combines retail-level accessibility with institutional-grade technology. Users can choose to mine XRP directly, or invest in the best performing digital assets - all in a secure, fully remote environment. A PBKMiner spokesperson said: "XRP has always been fast, efficient and scalable. Now, it can also be mined securely, remotely and profitably. We have removed all barriers so that anyone can participate in the future of XRP." The market may rise and fall, but your mining income can remain stable. Especially suitable for investors who seek sustainable long-term returns rather than speculative gains. For full details and participation options please visit: https://pbkminer.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 the 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. MEXICO CITY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR) (Volaris or the Company), the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) serving Mexico, the United States, Central and South America, today reports its unaudited financial results for the second quarter 20251. Second Quarter 2025 Highlights (All figures are reported in U.S. dollars and compared to 2Q 2024 unless otherwise noted) Net loss of $63 million. Loss per American Depositary Shares (ADS) of $55 cents. of $63 million. Loss per American Depositary Shares (ADS) of $55 cents. Total operating revenues of $693 million, a 5% decrease. of $693 million, a 5% decrease. Total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) decreased 12% to $7.80 cents. decreased 12% to $7.80 cents. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased by 9% to 8.9 billion. increased by 9% to 8.9 billion. Total operating expenses of $715 million, compared with $660 million in the previous year. of $715 million, compared with $660 million in the previous year. Total operating expenses per available seat mile (CASM) remained essentially flat at $8.05 cents. remained essentially flat at $8.05 cents. Average economic fuel cost decreased 14% to $2.46 per gallon. decreased 14% to $2.46 per gallon. CASM ex fuel increased 7% to $5.69 cents. increased 7% to $5.69 cents. EBITDAR of $194 million, a 26% decrease. of $194 million, a 26% decrease. EBITDAR margin was 27.9%, a decrease of 8.0 percentage points. was 27.9%, a decrease of 8.0 percentage points. Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $788 million, representing 26% of the last twelve months total operating revenue. totaled $788 million, representing 26% of the last twelve months total operating revenue. Net debt-to-LTM EBITDAR2 ratio stood at 2.9x, compared to 2.7x in the previous quarter. _____________________ 1 The financial information, unless otherwise indicated, is presented in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 2 Includes short-term investments. Enrique Beltranena, President & Chief Executive Officer, said: With improved visibility into second-half demand drivers and ongoing capacity discipline, we are reinstating our full-year guidance for EBITDAR margin, which we now expect in the range of 32% to 33%. Despite external geopolitical headwinds, our flexible business model and resilient cost structure enable us to moderate growth, remaining prudent and aligned with market trends. Going forward, our capacity decisions will remain anchored in two guiding priorities customer demand and sustained profitability, and we continue to see meaningful opportunities in our business model and our markets to generate long-term value. Second Quarter 2025 Consolidated Financial and Operating Highlights (All figures are reported in U.S. dollars and compared to 2Q 2024 unless otherwise noted) Second Quarter Consolidated Financial Highlights 2025 2024 Var. Total operating revenues (millions) 693 726 (4.5 %) TRASM (cents) 7.80 8.89 (12.2 %) ASMs (millions, scheduled & charter) 8,885 8,173 8.7 % Load Factor (scheduled, RPMs/ASMs) 82.4 % 85.5 % (3.1 pp) Passengers (thousands, scheduled & charter) 7,531 7,087 6.3 % Fleet (at the end of the period) 149 136 13 Total operating expenses (millions) 715 660 8.3 % CASM (cents) 8.05 8.08 (0.3 %) CASM ex fuel (cents) 5.69 5.33 6.7 % Adjusted CASM ex fuel (cents)3 5.11 4.86 5.2 % Operating (loss) income (EBIT) (millions) (22 ) 66 N/A % EBIT Margin (3.2 %) 9.1 % (12.3 pp) Net (loss) income (millions) (63 ) 10 N/A % Net (loss) income Margin (9.1 %) 1.4 % (10.6 pp) EBITDAR (millions) 194 261 (25.7 %) % EBITDAR Margin 27.9 % 35.9 % (8.0 pp) Net debt-to-LTM EBITDAR4 2.9x 2.9x - Reconciliation of CASM to Adjusted CASM ex fuel: Second Quarter Reconciliation of CASM 2025 2024 Var. CASM (cents) 8.05 8.08 (0.3 %) Fuel expense (2.36 ) (2.75 ) (14.4 %) CASM ex fuel 5.69 5.33 6.7 % Aircraft and engine variable lease expenses5 (0.63 ) (0.56 ) 13.4 % Sale and lease back gains 0.05 0.09 (40.9 %) Adjusted CASM ex fuel 5.11 4.86 5.2 % Note: Figures are rounded for convenience purposes. Further detail found in financial and operating indicators. 3 Excludes fuel expense, aircraft and engine variable lease expenses and sale and lease-back gains. 4 Includes short-term investments. 5 Aircraft redeliveries. Second Quarter 2025 (All figures are reported in U.S. dollars and compared to 2Q 2024 unless otherwise noted) Total operating revenues for the quarter amounted to $693 million, a 4.5% decrease, driven by lower unit revenues. Total capacity, in terms of available seat miles (ASMs), was 8.9 billion, representing an 8.7% increase. Booked passengers totaled 7.5 million, a 6.3% increase. Mexican domestic booked passengers increased 6.6%, while international booked passengers increased 5.2%. TRASM declined 12.2% to $7.80 cents, mainly driven by the depreciation of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar. Total operating revenue per passenger stood at $92, decreasing 10.2%. The average base fare per passenger stood at $38, a 23.2% decrease. The total ancillary revenue per passenger was $54, reflecting a 1.9% increase. Ancillary revenues accounted for 58.9% of total operating revenues. The load factor for the quarter reached 82.4%, representing a 3.1 percentage point decrease. Total operating expenses were $715 million, compared with $660 million in the previous year. CASM totaled $8.05 cents, a slight decline of 0.3%. The average economic fuel cost decreased by 14.0% to $2.46 per gallon. CASM ex fuel increased 6.7% to $5.69 cents, reflecting strong cost control despite flying fewer ASMs than planned during the quarter, as well as higher maintenance events and aircraft and engine variable lease expenses related to redelivery accruals for scheduled aircraft returns. Comprehensive financing result represented an expense of $65 million, compared with a $52 million expense in the same period of 2024. Income tax benefit was $24 million, compared with a $4 million expense registered in the second quarter of 2024. Net loss in the quarter was $63 million, with a loss per ADS of $55 cents. EBITDAR for the quarter was $194 million, a 25.7% decline. EBITDAR margin stood at 27.9%, down by 8.0 percentage points. Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Capital Allocation As of June 30, 2025, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $788 million, representing 26.1% of the last twelve months' total operating revenue. Net cash flow provided by operating activities was $136 million. Net cash flow used in investing and financing activities was $16 million and $197 million, respectively. The financial debt amounted to $742 million, reflecting an 8.4% decrease compared to the end of 2024, while total lease liabilities remained essentially flat at $3,057 million. Net debt-to-LTM EBITDAR6 ratio stood at 2.9x, compared to 2.7x in the previous quarter and 2.6x at the end of 2024. The average exchange rate for the period was Ps.19.54 per U.S. dollar, reflecting a depreciation of 13.6% of the Mexican peso. The end-of-period exchange rate stood at Ps.18.89 per U.S. dollar, compared with Ps. 20.32 per U.S. dollar at the end of the first quarter of 2025. ____________________ 6 Includes short-term investments. 2025 Updated Guidance For the full year 2025, the Company expects: Updated Guidance Prior Guidance Full Year 2025 Guidance ASM growth (YoY) ~7% 8% to 9% EBITDAR margin 32% to 33% - CAPEX (1) ~$250 million ~$250 million Average USD/MXN rate ~Ps. 19.65 - Average U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel price ~$2.10 - (1) CAPEX net of financed fleet predelivery payments. For the third quarter of 2025, the Company expects: 3Q25 3Q24 (2) 3Q25 Guidance ASM growth (YoY) ~6% -14.4% TRASM ~$8.6 cents $9.38 cents CASM ex fuel ~$5.5 cents $5.39 cents EBITDAR margin 32% to 33% 38.7% Average USD/MXN rate ~Ps. 19.00 Ps. 18.92 Average U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel price ~$2.20 $2.24 (2) For convenience purposes, actual reported figures for 3Q'24 are included. The full year and third quarter 2025 outlooks presented above include the compensation that Volaris expects to receive for the projected grounded aircraft resulting from the GTF engine inspections, in accordance with the Companys agreement with Pratt & Whitney. The Company's outlook is subject to unforeseen disruptions, macroeconomic factors, or other negative impacts that may affect its business and is based on several assumptions, including the foregoing, which are subject to change and may be outside the control of the Company and its management. The Company's expectations may change if actual results vary from these assumptions. There can be no assurances that Volaris will achieve these results. Fleet During the second quarter, Volaris retired one A319ceo aircraft and added four A320neos, and one A321neo to its fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft to 149. At the end of the quarter, Volaris fleet had an average age of 6.5 years and an average seating capacity of 198 passengers per aircraft. Of the total fleet, 63% of the aircraft are New Engine Option (NEO) models. Second Quarter First Quarter Total Fleet 2025 2024 Var. 2025 Var. CEO A319 1 3 (2) 2 (1) A320 44 42 2 44 - A321 10 10 - 10 - NEO A320 59 51 8 55 4 A321 35 30 5 34 1 Total aircraft at the end of the period 149 136 13 145 4 Investors are urged to carefully read the Companys periodic reports filed with or provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission, for additional information regarding the Company. Investor Relations Contact Ricardo Martinez / ir@volaris.com Media Contact Israel Alvarez / ialvarez@gcya.net Conference Call Details Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Time: 9:00 a.m. Mexico City / 11:00 a.m. New York (USA) (ET) Webcast link: Volaris Webcast (View the live webcast) Dial-in & Live Q&A link: Volaris Dial-in and Live Q&A Click on the call link and complete the online registration form. Upon registering you will receive the dial-in info and a unique PIN to join the call, as well as an email confirmation with the details. Select a method for joining the call: Dial-In: A dial-in number and unique PIN are displayed to connect directly from your phone. Call Me: Enter your phone number and click Call Me for an immediate callback from the system. About Volaris *Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. (Volaris or the Company) (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR) is an ultra-low-cost carrier, with point-to-point operations, serving Mexico, the United States, Central and South America. Volaris offers low base fares to build its market, providing quality service and extensive customer choice. Since the beginning of operations in March 2006, Volaris has increased its routes from 5 to more than 221 and its fleet from 4 to 151 aircraft. Volaris offers more than 500 daily flight segments on routes that connect 44 cities in Mexico and 29 cities in the United States, Central and South America, with one of the youngest fleets in Mexico. Volaris targets passengers who are visiting friends and relatives, cost-conscious business and leisure travelers in Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America. For more information, please visit ir.volaris.com. Volaris routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its investor relations website. The Company encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Volaris website regularly for important information about Volaris. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this release contain various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which represent the Company's expectations, beliefs, or projections concerning future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. When used in this release, the words "expects," intends, "estimates," predicts, "plans," "anticipates," "indicates," "believes," "forecast," "guidance," potential, "outlook," "may," continue, "will," "should," "seeks," "targets" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, statements describing the Company's objectives, plans or goals, or actions the Company may take in the future are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's outlook, the expectation of receiving certain compensation in connection with the GTF engine removals, and the anticipated execution of its business plan and focus on its 2025 priorities. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee or assurance of future performance or results. They will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or managements good faith belief as of that time concerning future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to several factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations, including the competitive environment in the airline industry, the Company's ability to keep costs low; changes in fuel costs, the impact of worldwide economic conditions on customer travel behavior; the Company's ability to generate non-ticket revenue; and government regulation. The Company's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings contain additional information concerning these and other factors. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable law. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Supplemental Information on Non-IFRS Measures We evaluate our financial performance by using various financial measures that are not performance measures under International Financial Reporting Standards (non-IFRS measures). These non-IFRS measures include CASM, CASM ex fuel, Adjusted CASM ex fuel, EBITDAR, Net debt-to-LTM EBITDAR, Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. We define CASM as total operating expenses by available seat mile. We define CASM ex fuel as total operating expenses by available seat mile, excluding fuel expense. We define Adjusted CASM ex fuel as total operating expenses by available seat mile, excluding fuel expense, aircraft and engine variable lease expenses and sale and lease back gains. We define EBITDAR as earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization, depreciation of right of use assets and aircraft and engine variable lease expenses. We define Net debt-to-LTM EBITDAR as Net debt divided by LTM EBITDAR. We define Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as the sum of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. These non-IFRS measures are provided as supplemental information to the financial information presented in this release that is calculated and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) because we believe that they, in conjunction with the IFRS financial information, provide useful information to managements, analysts and investors overall understanding of our operating performance. Because non-IFRS measures are not calculated in accordance with IFRS, they should not be considered superior to and are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related IFRS measures presented in this release and may not be the same as or comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies due to possible differences in the method of calculation and the items being adjusted. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission in their entirety for additional information regarding the Company and not to rely on any single financial measure. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Financial and Operating Indicators Unaudited (U.S. dollars, except otherwise indicated) Three months ended June 30, 2025 Three months ended June 30, 2024 Variance Total operating revenues (millions) 693 726 (4.5 %) Total operating expenses (millions) 715 660 8.3 % EBIT (millions) (22 ) 66 N/A EBIT margin (3.2 %) 9.1 % (12.3 pp) Depreciation and amortization (millions) 160 150 6.7 % Aircraft and engine variable lease expenses (millions) 56 45 24.4 % Net (loss) income (millions) (63 ) 10 N/A Net (loss) income margin (9.1 %) 1.4 % (10.6 pp) (Loss) earnings per share (1): Basic (0.06 ) 0.01 N/A Diluted (0.05 ) 0.01 N/A (Loss) earnings per ADS*: Basic (0.55 ) 0.09 N/A Diluted (0.54 ) 0.09 N/A Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 1,149,340,345 1,150,766,440 (0.1 %) Diluted 1,162,826,854 1,165,976,677 (0.3 %) Financial Indicators Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents) (2) 7.80 8.89 (12.2 %) Average base fare per passenger 38 49 (23.2 %) Total ancillary revenue per passenger (3) 54 53 1.9 % Total operating revenue per passenger 92 102 (10.2 %) Operating expenses per ASM (CASM) (cents) (2) 8.05 8.08 (0.3 %) CASM ex fuel (cents) (2) 5.69 5.33 6.7 % Adjusted CASM ex fuel (cents) (2) (4) 5.11 4.86 5.2 % Operating Indicators Available seat miles (ASMs) (millions) (2) 8,885 8,173 8.7 % Domestic 5,286 4,868 8.6 % International 3,599 3,305 8.9 % Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (millions) (2) 7,322 6,988 4.8 % Domestic 4,625 4,388 5.4 % International 2,696 2,600 3.7 % Load factor (5) 82.4 % 85.5 % (3.1 pp) Domestic 87.5 % 90.1 % (2.6 pp) International 74.9 % 78.7 % (3.8 pp) Booked passengers (thousands) (2) 7,531 7,087 6.3 % Domestic 5,675 5,324 6.6 % International 1,856 1,763 5.2 % Departures (2) 46,775 42,495 10.1 % Block hours (2) 118,450 109,638 8.0 % Aircraft at end of period 149 136 13 Average daily aircraft utilization (block hours) 13.24 13.05 1.4 % Fuel gallons accrued (millions) 84.90 77.93 9.0 % Average economic fuel cost per gallon (6) 2.46 2.86 (14.0 %) Average exchange rate 19.54 17.21 13.6 % Exchange rate at the end of the period 18.89 18.38 2.8 % *Each ADS represents ten CPOs and each CPO represents a financial interest in one Series A share (1) The basic and diluted loss or earnings per share are calculated in accordance with IAS 33. Basic loss or earnings per share is calculated by dividing net loss or earnings by the average number of shares outstanding (excluding treasury shares). Diluted loss or earnings per share is calculated by dividing net loss or earnings by the average number of shares outstanding adjusted for dilutive effects. (2) Includes scheduled and charter. (3) Includes Other passenger revenues and Non-passenger revenues. (4) Excludes fuel expense, aircraft and engine variable lease expenses and sale and lease-back gains. (5) Includes scheduled. (6) Excludes Non-creditable VAT. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Financial and Operating Indicators Unaudited (U.S. dollars, except otherwise indicated) Six months ended June 30, 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2024 Variance Total operating revenues (millions) 1,371 1,494 (8.2 %) Total operating expenses (millions) 1,403 1,324 6.0 % EBIT (millions) (32 ) 170 N/A EBIT margin (2.4 %) 11.4 % (13.7 pp) Depreciation and amortization (millions) 319 283 12.7 % Aircraft and engine variable lease expenses (millions) 110 42 >100.0% Net (loss) income (millions) (114 ) 44 N/A Net (loss) income margin (8.3 %) 2.9 % (11.3 pp) (Loss) earnings per share (1): Basic (0.10 ) 0.04 N/A Diluted (0.10 ) 0.04 N/A (Loss) earnings per ADS*: Basic (1.00 ) 0.38 N/A Diluted (0.98 ) 0.37 N/A Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 1,149,570,080 1,151,108,712 (0.1 %) Diluted 1,163,700,155 1,165,976,677 (0.2 %) Financial Indicators Total operating revenue per ASM (TRASM) (cents) (2) 7.78 9.12 (14.6 %) Average base fare per passenger 38 52 (26.1 %) Total ancillary revenue per passenger (3) 54 55 (2.6 %) Total operating revenue per passenger 92 107 (14.0 %) Operating expenses per ASM (CASM) (cents) (2) 7.97 8.08 (1.4 %) CASM ex fuel (cents) (2) 5.54 5.25 5.6 % Adjusted CASM ex fuel (cents) (2) (4) 4.99 5.09 (2.0 %) Operating Indicators Available seat miles (ASMs) (millions) (2) 17,622 16,390 7.5 % Domestic 10,394 9,636 7.9 % International 7,228 6,754 7.0 % Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (millions) (2) 14,784 14,134 4.6 % Domestic 9,161 8,717 5.1 % International 5,623 5,417 3.8 % Load factor (5) 83.9 % 86.2 % (2.3 pp) Domestic 88.1 % 90.5 % (2.3 pp) International 77.8 % 80.2 % (2.4 pp) Booked passengers (thousands) (2) 14,949 14,010 6.7 % Domestic 11,083 10,309 7.5 % International 3,865 3,702 4.4 % Departures (2) 91,352 82,923 10.2 % Block hours (2) 234,584 219,001 7.1 % Aircraft at end of period 149 136 13 Average daily aircraft utilization (block hours) 13.12 12.89 1.8 % Fuel gallons accrued (millions) 166.46 157.15 5.9 % Average economic fuel cost per gallon (6) 2.54 2.93 (13.3 %) Average exchange rate 19.98 17.10 16.8 % Exchange rate at the end of the period 18.89 18.38 2.8 % *Each ADS represents ten CPOs and each CPO represents a financial interest in one Series A share (1) The basic and diluted loss or earnings per share are calculated in accordance with IAS 33. Basic loss or earnings per share is calculated by dividing net loss or earnings by the average number of shares outstanding (excluding treasury shares). Diluted loss or earnings per share is calculated by dividing net loss or earnings by the average number of shares outstanding adjusted for dilutive effects. (2) Includes scheduled and charter. (3) Includes Other passenger revenues and Non-passenger revenues. (4) Excludes fuel expense, aircraft and engine variable lease expenses and sale and lease-back gains. (5) Includes scheduled. (6) Excludes Non-creditable VAT. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Operations Unaudited (In millions of U.S. dollars) Three months ended June 30, 2025 Three months ended June 30, 2024 Variance Operating revenues: Passenger revenues 655 693 (5.5 %) Fare revenues 285 349 (18.3 %) Other passenger revenues 370 344 7.6 % Non-passenger revenues 38 33 15.2 % Cargo 5 5 0.0 % Other non-passenger revenues 33 28 17.9 % Total operating revenues 693 726 (4.5 %) Other operating income (52 ) (48 ) 8.3 % Fuel expense 210 224 (6.3 %) Aircraft and engine variable lease expenses 56 45 24.4 % Salaries and benefits 109 99 10.1 % Landing, take-off and navigation expenses 133 117 13.7 % Sales, marketing and distribution expenses 37 32 15.6 % Maintenance expenses 33 11 >100.0% Depreciation and amortization 51 50 2.0 % Depreciation of right of use assets 109 100 9.0 % Other operating expenses 29 30 (3.3 %) Total operating expenses 715 660 8.3 % Operating (loss) income (22 ) 66 N/A Finance income 12 12 0.0 % Finance cost (77 ) (72 ) 6.9 % Exchange gain, net - 8 (100.0 %) Comprehensive financing result (65 ) (52 ) 25.0 % (Loss) income before income tax (87 ) 14 N/A Income tax benefit (expense) 24 (4 ) N/A Net (loss) income (63 ) 10 N/A Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Operations Unaudited (In millions of U.S. dollars) Six months ended June 30, 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2024 Variance Operating revenues: Passenger revenues 1,300 1,425 (8.8 %) Fare revenues 571 724 (21.1 %) Other passenger revenues 729 701 4.0 % Non-passenger revenues 71 69 2.9 % Cargo 10 11 (9.1 %) Other non-passenger revenues 61 58 5.2 % Total operating revenues 1,371 1,494 (8.2 %) Other operating income (103 ) (93 ) 10.8 % Fuel expense 427 464 (8.0 %) Aircraft and engine variable lease expenses 110 42 >100.0% Salaries and benefits 213 201 6.0 % Landing, take-off and navigation expenses 255 244 4.5 % Sales, marketing and distribution expenses 71 78 (9.0 %) Maintenance expenses 61 48 27.1 % Depreciation and amortization 103 85 21.2 % Depreciation of right of use assets 216 198 9.1 % Other operating expenses 50 57 (12.3 %) Total operating expenses 1,403 1,324 6.0 % Operating (loss) income (32 ) 170 N/A Finance income 24 24 0.0 % Finance cost (157 ) (134 ) 17.2 % Exchange gain, net 2 2 0.0 % Comprehensive financing result (131 ) (108 ) 21.3 % (Loss) income before income tax (163 ) 62 N/A Income tax benefit (expense) 49 (18 ) N/A Net (loss) income (114 ) 44 N/A Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Total Ancillary Revenue per Passenger The following table provides additional details about the components of total ancillary revenue for the quarter: Unaudited (In millions of U.S. dollars) Three months ended June 30, 2025 Three months ended June 30, 2024 Variance Other passenger revenues 370 344 7.6 % Non-passenger revenues 38 33 15.2 % Total ancillary revenues 408 377 8.2 % Booked passengers (thousands) (1) 7,531 7,087 6.3 % Total ancillary revenue per passenger 54 53 1.9 % (1) Includes scheduled and charter. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Total Ancillary Revenue per Passenger The following table provides additional details about the components of total ancillary revenue for the first half of the year: Unaudited (In millions of U.S. dollars) Six months ended June 30, 2025 Six months ended June 30, 2024 Variance Other passenger revenues 729 701 4.0 % Non-passenger revenues 71 69 2.9 % Total ancillary revenues 800 770 3.9 % Booked passengers (thousands) (1) 14,949 14,010 6.7 % Total ancillary revenue per passenger 54 55 (2.6 %) (1) Includes scheduled and charter. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (In millions of U.S. dollars) As of June 30, 2025 Unaudited As of December 31, 2024 Audited Assets Cash and cash equivalents 772 908 Short-term investments 16 46 Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments (1) 788 954 Accounts receivable, net 230 139 Inventories 16 17 Guarantee deposits 252 227 Derivative financial instruments 1 - Prepaid expenses and other current assets 49 45 Total current assets 1,336 1,382 Right of use assets 2,436 2,470 Rotable spare parts, furniture and equipment, net 1,012 1,070 Intangible assets, net 26 26 Derivatives financial instruments - - Deferred income taxes 365 286 Guarantee deposits 397 426 Other long-term assets 37 43 Total non-current assets 4,273 4,321 Total assets 5,609 5,703 Liabilities and equity Unearned transportation revenue 395 343 Accounts payable 179 164 Accrued liabilities 232 222 Other taxes and fees payable 285 274 Income taxes payable 5 29 Financial debt 302 284 Lease liabilities 419 391 Other liabilities 118 63 Total short-term liabilities 1,935 1,770 Financial debt 440 526 Accrued liabilities 8 8 Employee benefits 15 13 Deferred income taxes 15 18 Lease liabilities 2,638 2,670 Other liabilities 304 333 Total long-term liabilities 3,420 3,568 Total liabilities 5,355 5,338 Equity Capital stock 248 248 Treasury shares (13 ) (13 ) Contributions for future capital increases - - Legal reserve 17 17 Additional paid-in capital 285 283 Accumulated deficit (136 ) (22 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (147 ) (148 ) Total equity 254 365 Total liabilities and equity 5,609 5,703 (1) Unaudited non-GAAP measure. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Cash Flow Data Summary Unaudited (In millions of U.S. dollars) Three months ended June 30, 2025 Three months ended June 30, 2024 Net cash flow provided by operating activities 136 304 Net cash flow used in investing activities (16 ) (141 ) Net cash flow used in financing activities* (197 ) (149 ) (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (77 ) 14 Net foreign exchange differences 2 (8 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 847 752 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 772 758 *Includes aircraft rental payments of $148 million and $143 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. World's largest pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatite deposit confirmed at the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project, with a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("Caesium Zone MRE") of: Rigel Caesium Zone Indicated: 163,000 t at 10.25% Cs 2 O, 1.78% Li 2 O, and 646 ppm Ta 2 O 5 . Vega Caesium Zone Indicated: 530,000 t at 2.61% Cs 2 O, 2.23% Li 2 O, and 172 ppm Ta 2 O 5 . Inferred: 1,698,000 t at 2.40% Cs 2 O, 1.81% Li 2 O, and 245 ppm Ta 2 O 5 . Total contained caesium content of 30.5 kt Cs 2 O Indicated and 40.8 kt Cs 2 O Inferred, highlighting the scale and global significance of the discovery. Caesium resources in the Rigel and Vega zones are now included within the CV13 Pegmatite open-pit resource that forms part of the Company's consolidated MRE for the Project (including both the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites) ("Consolidated MRE") - that has been updated and restated as follows: Indicated: 108.0 Mt at 1.40% Li 2 O, 0.11% Cs 2 O, 166 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 66 ppm Ga. Inferred: 33.4 Mt at 1.33% Li 2 O, 0.21% Cs 2 O, 155 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 65 ppm Ga. Caesium is a high-value, rare, and critical mineral which is currently supply constrained with only limited sources supplying the global market 1 . A discovery of this size, grade, and scale has the potential to be a primary source of supply for the global market, including new and potentially growing applications in emerging next generation terrestrial solar panel applications where caesium has been found to play a vital role in significantly improving panel efficiency, stability, and life span. . A discovery of this size, grade, and scale has the potential to be a primary source of supply for the global market, including new and potentially growing applications in emerging next generation terrestrial solar panel applications where caesium has been found to play a vital role in significantly improving panel efficiency, stability, and life span. The Company has commenced evaluating options (including a scoping metallurgical program to test pollucite recovery using conventional X-ray ore sorting methods) to advance and incorporate the caesium opportunity at CV13 as a potential additional saleable product into the overall economic development of the Project - to follow completion of the lithium-only Feasibility Study on the CV5 Pegmatite. The Company remains on track to deliver a maiden Ore Reserve and Feasibility Study for lithium at the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite in CYQ3-2025. ________________________________ 1 Mineral deposits of pollucite-hosted caesium are extremely rare globally and represent the most fractionated component of LCT pegmatite systems, which are effectively the only primary and economic source of caesium globally. The Company is aware of only three previous pollucite-hosted caesium mines with Bikita in Zimbabwe and Sinclair in Western Australia now reportedly exhausted and Tanco in Manitoba, Canada, approaching the end of its mine-life. Darren L. Smith, Executive and Vice President of Exploration for the Company, comments: "At Shaakichiuwaanaan, we have now defined the largest reported occurrence of pollucite in the world - by a significant margin. To find a pollucite-hosted caesium deposit of this scale and grade is exceptionally rare, with only three deposits globally known to have produced this extremely high-value critical and strategic mineral." "The pegmatites of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project continue to demonstrate their unique, world-class nature for hosting abundant and varied critical minerals. With considerable Mineral Resources for lithium, tantalum, gallium, and now caesium defined - and a Feasibility Study for lithium at CV5 on schedule for completion this quarter - the Company is becoming increasingly well-positioned as an emerging critical minerals powerhouse to global markets." Ken Brinsden, President, CEO, and Managing Director, comments: "This is another feather in the cap of our technical team, led by Darren, with their hard work resulting in yet another world-class discovery at Shaakichiuwaanaan. What stands out is the sheer scale and grade of this caesium discovery, relative to anything that's been found before globally. It's also a reflection of the extraordinary geology of this deposit, which hosts lithium, tantalum, and now caesium - all high-value critical minerals - at world-class scale. Given the scale, grade, and proximity to the CV5 Pegmatite, the new caesium discovery at Rigel and Vega has already added further substantial value to the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project." "What is particularly exciting for investors is that the addressable market for caesium appears to be at a key inflexion point, with its ability to improve the efficiency and stability of next generation terrestrial solar technologies having the potential to drive a massive increase in global demand. Shaakichiuwaanaan stands to play a driving role in the growth of this exciting new market. As we finalize the maiden lithium-only Feasibility Study for the CV5 Pegmatite, we are excited to start work on unlocking the enormous potential of the caesium resource, now outlined to NI 43-101 and JORC standards, for our shareholders," added Mr. Brinsden. Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (THE "COMPANY" OR "PATRIOT") (TSX: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to announce a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for caesium (the "Caesium Zone MRE") at the Rigel and Vega zones at its 100%-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (the "Property" or "Project") located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec. The Rigel and Vega zones are hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite, which is located ~3 km west-southwest along geological trend of the CV5 Pegmatite that is accessible year-round by all-season road, and is situated ~13 km south of the all-weather Trans-Taiga Road and powerline corridor. The Company has now confirmed that the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project hosts the world's largest pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatite deposit (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Table 2) after declaring a maiden Caesium Zone MRE of: Rigel Caesium Zone Indicated: 163,000 t at 10.25% Cs 2 O, 1.78% Li 2 O, and 646 ppm Ta 2 O 5 . Vega Caesium Zone Indicated: 530,000 t at 2.61% Cs 2 O, 2.23% Li 2 O, and 172 ppm Ta 2 O 5 . Inferred: 1,698,000 t at 2.40% Cs 2 O, 1.81% Li 2 O, and 245 ppm Ta 2 O 5 . The Caesium Zone MRE for Rigel and Vega, hosted within the open-pit resource component of the CV13 Pegmatite - which forms part of the Company's Consolidated MRE for the Project (including both the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites) - has a total contained caesium metal content of 30.5 kt Cs 2 O Indicated and 40.8 kt Cs 2 O Inferred. The Rigel and Vega zones were interpreted using a 0.50% Cs 2 O grade constraint based on mineral processing analogues and mineralogical analysis supporting pollucite as the predominant Cs-bearing mineral present. Coincident with the pollucite-hosted caesium at Rigel and Vega is high-grade lithium and tantalum, present in the host minerals spodumene and tantalite, respectively, which may be co-recovered as separate concentrates. The footprint of caesium mineralization at Rigel has been traced over a general area of at least 200 m x 100 m and consists of a single, shallow dipping lens at a depth of ~50 m with a true thickness of <2 m to ~6 m. At the Vega Zone, the footprint of the caesium mineralization has been traced over a general area of at least 800 m x 250 m and consists of two proximal flat-lying lenses, at a depth of ~110 m, with a true thickness of <2 m and up to ~10 m and ~6 m, respectively (Figure 1, Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 21) . The Consolidated MRE2, which includes the Rigel and Vega caesium zones, was most recently announced on May 12, 2025; however, that has now been updated and restated herein this announcement with the inclusion of caesium reporting as part of the overall consolidated resources for the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites. The restatement of the Consolidated MRE also includes a minor adjustment to the tonnage and tantalum grade at the CV13 Pegmatite. The Consolidated MRE is as follows (Table 1). Indicated: 108.0 Mt at 1.40% Li 2 O, 0.11% Cs 2 O, 166 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 66 ppm Ga. O, 0.11% Cs O, 166 ppm Ta O , and 66 ppm Ga. Inferred: 33.4 Mt at 1.33% Li 2 O, 0.21% Cs 2 O, 155 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 65 ppm Ga. __________________________________ 2 The Consolidated MRE cut-off grade is variable depending on the mining method and pegmatite (0.40% Li2O open-pit, 0.60% Li2O underground CV5, and 0.70% Li2O underground CV13). A grade constraint of 0.50% Cs2O was used to model the Rigel and Vega caesium zones, which are entirely within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit mining shape. The Effective Date of the MREs is June 20, 2025 (through drill hole CV24-787). Mineral Resources are not Mineral or Ore Reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. ABOUT CAESIUM Mineral deposits of pollucite-hosted caesium are extremely rare globally and represent the most fractionated component of LCT pegmatite systems, which are effectively the only primary economic source of caesium globally. Economic deposits of caesium pegmatite are typically on a smaller scale of <10 kt to 350 kt in size compared to deposits of lithium pegmatite that typically range in the millions of tonnes in size (<10 Mt and rarely over 100 Mt). Globally, it is estimated only three (3) primary caesium mines have historically operated and all were pollucite hosted - Tanco (Canada), Bikita (Zimbabwe), and Sinclair (Australia). At Bikita and Sinclair, the pollucite resources are reportedly to have been exhausted in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Tanco is understood to be approaching the end of its mine-life with extraction from existing tailings piles and/or mine remnants being explored. At Sinclair3, the mine produced 18,629 tonnes of pollucite pegmatite ore grading 8.3% Cs 2 O for a contained metal content of 1,551 tonnes Cs 2 O. In comparison to the size of the interpreted caesium zones at Vega (~800 m x 250 m) and Rigel (~200 m x 100 m), the primary ore body at Sinclair was relatively small and measured ~60 m long, up to 20 m wide, and up to 10 m thick, and was situated at a depth~40 m from surface. The market for caesium compounds and metals is largely opaque because it is not publicly traded like copper or gold, but rather through bi-lateral and term contracts. Further, prices vary depending on its contained caesium form, purity and end-product use. Caesium carbonate (Cs 2 CO 3 99%) currently trades at approximately US$120/kg, however in its refined form caesium metal (Cs >99.5%), is a high value commodity comparable to gold and currently trades around US$2,540/oz (or ~US$81 per gram4) (excluding VAT, Price Sourcing - Shanghai Metal Markets). Caesium is currently supply constrained, with only limited sources supplying the global market. A discovery of this size, grade, and scale has the potential to be a primary source of supply for global markets. This includes existing applications for caesium in oil/gas drilling, medical imaging and now new and potentially growing applications in the terrestrial solar panel industry which has the potential to drive a significant increase in global demand. Caesium has been found to play a vital role in significantly improving next generation solar panel efficiency, stability, and life span through the application of perovskite crystal structures. _________________________________ 3 Management cautions that past results or discoveries on other mineral properties or mines owned by third parties (i.e., Tanco, Bikita, Sinclair) may not necessarily be indicative to the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties or the economic viability of any such mineralization. There can be no assurance that future exploration efforts will result in the identification of additional mineral resources or reserves, or that the estimate of mineral resources reported within will be economically extracted in the future. 4 Assumes conversion from troy ounce. NEXT STEPS With the maiden MRE for the Rigel and Vega caesium zones now completed, the Company is actively evaluating options to advance and incorporate the caesium opportunity at CV13 as a potential additional saleable product into the overall economic development of the Project - to follow completion of the lithium-only Feasibility Study on the CV5 Pegmatite. This includes completing various environmental baseline studies and additional drilling to further convert Inferred Resources to the Indicated category and in support of future development (e.g. geomechanical drill holes). Additionally, the Company has commenced industry engagement with end users of caesium as well as initiated a scoping metallurgical program targeting pollucite mineral recovery using conventional X-ray ore sorting methods, which will inform a more expansive test program that will also include subsequent recovery of spodumene (lithium) and tantalite (tantalum). The scoping metallurgical program is using mineralized drill core collected from the Vega Caesium Zone with subsequent testwork to expand to the Rigel Caesium Zone. In addition, the Company is also focused on completion of the remaining deliverables for its lithium-focused Feasibility Study on the CV5 Pegmatite. The Feasibility Study is well advanced and remains on schedule for completion in CYQ3-2025, with the Company recently announcing an update on its progress on March 18, 2025. ___________________________________ 5 Refer to news release dated April 9, 2025. MINERAL RESOURCE STATEMENT (NI 43-101) Table 1: Consolidated Mineral Resource Statement for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project. Conceptual Mining Constraint Pegmatite Classification Tonnes (t) Li 2 O (%) Cs 2 O (%) Ta 2 O 5 (ppm) Ga (ppm) Contained LCE (Mt) Open-Pit CV5 Indicated 97,757,000 1.39 0.09 163 66 3.35 Underground 4,071,000 1.08 0.06 186 66 0.11 Total 101,828,000 1.38 0.09 164 66 3.46 Open-Pit CV5 Inferred 5,745,000 1.16 0.09 163 61 0.17 Underground 8,153,000 1.24 0.07 136 60 0.25 Total 13,898,000 1.21 0.08 147 60 0.41 Open-Pit CV13 Indicated 5,996,000 1.89 0.60 201 76 0.28 Underground 167,000 0.85 0.06 132 60 0.00 Total 6,163,000 1.86 0.59 199 76 0.28 Open-Pit CV13 Inferred 18,020,000 1.44 0.32 168 70 0.64 Underground 1,462,000 1.05 0.08 75 55 0.04 Total 19,482,000 1.41 0.30 161 69 0.68 CV5 + CV13 Indicated 107,991,000 1.40 0.11 166 66 3.75 Inferred 33,380,000 1.33 0.21 155 65 1.09 Table 2: Mineral Resources at the Rigel and Vega Caesium Zones within the CV13 Pegmatite. Caesium Zone Classification Tonnes (t) Cs 2 O (%) Li 2 O (%) Ta 2 O 5 (ppm) Contained Cs 2 O (t) Rigel Indicated 163,000 10.25 1.78 646 16,708 Inferred - - - - - Vega Indicated 530,000 2.61 2.23 172 13,833 Inferred 1,698,000 2.40 1.81 245 40,752 Rigel + Vega Indicated 693,000 4.40 2.12 283 30,541 Inferred 1,698,000 2.40 1.81 245 40,752 Mineral Resources were prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the CIM Definition Standards (2014). Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, economic, or other relevant issues. The independent Competent Person (CP), as defined under JORC, and Qualified Person (QP), as defined by NI 43-101 for this resource estimate is Todd McCracken, P.Geo., Director - Mining & Geology - Central Canada, BBA Engineering Ltd. The Effective Date of the estimate is June 20, 2025 (through drill hole CV24-787). Estimation was completed using a combination of inverse distance squared (ID 2 ) and ordinary kriging (OK) for CV5 and inverse distance squared (ID2) for CV13 in Leapfrog Edge software with dynamic anisotropy search ellipse on specific domains. ) and ordinary kriging (OK) for CV5 and inverse distance squared (ID2) for CV13 in Leapfrog Edge software with dynamic anisotropy search ellipse on specific domains. Drill hole composites at 1 m in length. Block size is 10 m x 5 m x 5 m with sub-blocking. Both underground and open-pit conceptual mining shapes were applied as constraints to the Consolidated MRE Statement to demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. Cut-off grades for open-pit constrained resources are 0.40% Li 2 O for both CV5 and CV13, and for underground constrained resources are 0.60% Li 2 O for CV5 and 0.70% Li 2 O for CV13. Open-pit and underground Mineral Resource constraints are based on a long-term average spodumene concentrate price of US$1,500/tonne (6% basis FOB Becancour) and an exchange rate of 0.70 USD/CAD. O for both CV5 and CV13, and for underground constrained resources are 0.60% Li O for CV5 and 0.70% Li O for CV13. Open-pit and underground Mineral Resource constraints are based on a long-term average spodumene concentrate price of US$1,500/tonne (6% basis FOB Becancour) and an exchange rate of 0.70 USD/CAD. Mineral Resources for the Rigel and Vega zones are hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit conceptual mining shape and, therefore, are included within the Consolidated Mineral Resource Statement for CV5 and CV13 pegmatites. The Rigel and Vega zones were interpreted using a 0.50% Cs 2 O grade constraint based on mineral processing analogues and mineralogical analysis supporting pollucite as the predominant Cs-bearing mineral present. O grade constraint based on mineral processing analogues and mineralogical analysis supporting pollucite as the predominant Cs-bearing mineral present. Rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Conversion factors used: Li 2 O = Li x 2.153; LCE (i.e., Li 2 CO 3 ) = Li 2 O x 2.473, Ta 2 O 5 = Ta x 1.221, Cs 2 O = Cs x 1.0602 O = Li x 2.153; LCE (i.e., Li CO ) = Li O x 2.473, Ta O = Ta x 1.221, Cs O = Cs x 1.0602 Densities for pegmatite blocks (both CV5 & CV13) were estimated using a linear regression function (SG = 0.0674x (Li 2 O% + 0.81 x B 2 O 3 %) + 2.6202) derived from the specific gravity ("SG") field measurements and Li 2 O grade. Non-pegmatite blocks were assigned a fixed SG based on the field measurement median value of their respective lithology. SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS The following Table 3 and Figure 4 outline the corresponding tonnage and caesium grade at various cut-off grades for the Caesium Zone MREs, hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite and the Consolidated MRE. In addition to evaluating sensitivities to cut-off grades, this table can help relate the tonnage and grades at Shaakichiuwaanaan more directly to those calculated for peer deposits, which may have applied different cut-off grades to their resources. Table 3: Sensitivity Analysis for Caesium at the Rigel and Vega Zones. 1. This table should not be interpreted as a Mineral Resource. The data is presented to demonstrate the tonnage and grade sensitivity to various cut-off grades. The selected grade constraint for modelling the Rigel and Vega caesium zones was 0.50% Cs 2 O. 2. Errors may occur in totals due to rounding. GEOLOGICAL AND BLOCK MODELS The Rigel and Vega caesium zones have been geologically modelled using a 0.50% Cs 2 O grade constraint within the wider CV13 Pegmatite body (Figure 1). The grade constraint is supported by mineralogical analysis that confirms pollucite as the predominant caesium-bearing mineral above this threshold and which may be recoverable using well-understood mineral processing methods. These geological models acted as hard boundaries within the wider CV13 Pegmatite body for subsequent block modelling and resource estimation. Using the 0.5% Cs 2 O grade constraint, the footprint of caesium mineralization at Rigel has been traced over a general area of at least 200 m x 100 m and consists of a single, shallow dipping lens at a depth of ~50 m with a true thickness of <2 m to ~6 m. At the Vega Zone, the footprint of the caesium mineralization has been traced over a general area of at least 800 m x 250 m and consists of two proximal flat-lying lenses, at a depth of ~110 m, with a true thickness of <2 m and up to ~10 m and ~6 m, respectively The geological and block models, classification, and sections for the Rigel and Vega zones are presented in Figure 5 through Figure 10. Respective figures for the CV13 and CV5 pegmatites are presented in the Company's news release dated May 12, 2025, as well as Figure 11 to Figure 14 for ease of reference herein. Rigel and Vega Caesium Zones CV13 Pegmatite CV5 Pegmatite ASX LISTING RULE 5.8 As the Company is listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") as well as the Australian Securities Exchange (the "ASX"), there are two applicable regulatory bodies resulting in additional disclosure requirements. This MRE has been completed in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Additionally, in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.8 and the JORC 2012 reporting guidelines, a summary of the material information used to estimate the Mineral Resource for the Rigel and Vega caesium zones at the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project is detailed below. For additional information, please refer to JORC Table 1, Section 1, 2, and 3, as presented in Appendix 1 of this announcement. As the change in lithium, tantalum, and gallium Mineral Resources for the Consolidated MRE, which includes both the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites, is considered not a material change (as presented herein Table 1), the detailed summary, figures/diagrams, and technical parameters applied as presented in the original announcement dated May 12, 2025, remain current and are not duplicated below. MINERAL TITLE The Shaakichiuwaanaan Property is located approximately 220 km east of Radisson, QC, and 240 km north-northeast of Nemaska, QC. The northern border of the Property's primary claim grouping is located within approximately 6 km to the south of the Trans-Taiga Road and powerline infrastructure corridor (Figure 15). The La Grande-4 (LG4) hydroelectric dam complex is located approximately 40 km north-northeast of the Property. The CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite is located central to the Property, ~13 km south of KM-270 on the Trans-Taiga Road, and is accessible year-round by all-season road. The CV13 Spodumene Pegmatite is located ~3 km west-southwest of CV5. The Property is comprised of 463 Exclusive Exploration Rights ("EER") (formerly known as CDC mineral claims) that cover an area of approximately 23,710 ha. All claims are registered 100% in the name of Lithium Innova Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Patriot Battery Metals Inc. GEOLOGY AND GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION The Property overlies a large portion of the Lac Guyer Greenstone Belt, considered part of the larger La Grande River Greenstone Belt, and is dominated by volcanic rocks metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. Rocks of the Guyer Group (amphibolite, iron formation, intermediate to mafic volcanics, peridotite, pyroxenite, komatiite, as well as felsic volcanics) predominantly underly the Property (Figure 20). The amphibolite rocks that trend east-west (generally steeply south dipping) through this region are bordered to the north by the Magin Formation (conglomerate and wacke) and to the south by an assemblage of tonalite, granodiorite, and diorite, in addition to metasediments of the Marbot Group (conglomerate, wacke) in the areas proximal to the CV5 Spodumene Pegmatite. Several regional-scale Proterozoic gabbroic dykes also cut through portions of the Property (Lac Spirt Dykes, Senneterre Dykes). The lithium pegmatites on the Property are hosted predominantly within amphibolites, metasediments, and to a lesser extent ultramafic rocks. At the Property, caesium mineralization is observed to occur within lithium-caesium-tantalum ("LCT") pegmatites, which may be exposed at surface as both low and high relief landforms (i.e., outcrops) or present under shallow glacial till cover (Figure 16). To date, the LCT pegmatites at the Property have been observed to occur within a corridor of generally ~1 km in width that extends in a general east-west direction across the Property for at least 25 km - the 'CV Lithium Trend' - with significant areas of prospective trend that remain to be assessed (Figure 20). To date, nine (9) distinct lithium pegmatite clusters have been reported along the CV Lithium Trend at the Property - CV4, CV5, CV8, CV9, CV10, CV12, CV13, CV14, and CV15 (Figure 19). Of these clusters, CV5, CV12, and CV13 have documented pollucite hosted caesium mineralization from drill hole and/or channel sampling. Pollucite is an extremely rare mineral occurrence in LCT pegmatites and represents the most fractionated components of the system. The Consolidated MRE for the Project, which includes the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites, represents the core area of the trend. The CV5 and CV13 pegmatites are situated along the same geological trend, with approximate strike lengths of 4.6 km and 2.5 km, respectively - as defined by drilling to date and which remain open - and are separated by a distance of ~2.6 km (Figure 19). Consolidated MRE covers ~6.9 km of the ~7.1 km of defined pegmatite trend and remains open. The Consolidated MRE is described in detail, with respect to Li, Ta, and Ga, in news announcement dated May 12, 2025. The Rigel and Vega Caesium Zone MREs are hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite, therefore forming part of the Consolidated MRE for the Project, and are described in further detail herein. The LCT pegmatites at the Property, including CV5 and CV13, are very coarse-grained and off-white in appearance, with darker sections commonly composed of smoky quartz with occasional mica and tourmaline The Rigel and Vega caesium zones - nested entirely within the CV13 Pegmatite - are marked by significant occurrences pollucite-hosted caesium. The pollucite is typically centimetre to decimetre-metre scale, presenting as clear to whitish-grey in colour with common late-stage veining of white pollucite or spodumene, or purple lepidolite as well as common white flecks. It may be significantly more difficult to ascertain to the naked eye compared to spodumene (Figure 3, Figure 17, and Figure 18). The pollucite also commonly occurs with significant amounts of spodumene (lithium) and tantalite (tantalum). Using the 0.5% Cs 2 O grade constraint, the footprint of caesium mineralization at the Vega Caesium Zone has been traced over a general area of at least 800 m x 250 m and consists of two proximal flat-lying lenses, at a depth of ~110 m, with a true thickness of <2 m and up to ~10 m and ~6 m, respectively. At Rigel, the footprint of caesium mineralization has been traced over a general area of least 200 m x 100 m and consists of a single, shallow dipping lens at a depth of ~50 m with a true thickness of <2 m to ~6 m. The pollucite zones at Rigel and Vega are also coincident with moderate to high abundances of spodumene (lithium) and tantalite (tantalum). ________________________________ 6 See news release dated April 9, 2025. 7 See news release dated April 9, 2025. DRILLING TECHNIQUES AND CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA The Shaakichiuwaanaan database includes 801 diamond drill holes completed over the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 programs, for a collective total of 234,671 m, as well as outcrop channels totalling 800 m. Of these, the 32 holes totalling 7,808 m, completed over the 2022, 2023, and 2024 programs, as well as 7 m of channels, were used to support the Vega and Rigel Caesium Zone MRE and geological models. The Rigel MRE and geological models are supported by 6 diamond drill holes of NQ size totalling 1,228 m. The Vega MRE and geological models are supported by 26 diamond drill holes of NQ size totalling 6,580 m, and 7 m of channels. Each drill hole collar was surveyed with an RTK tool (Topcon GR5 or Trimble Zephyr 3) (Table 4). Downhole deviation surveys for each drill hole were completed with a Devico DeviGyro tool (2021 and 2024 holes), Reflex Gyro Sprint IQ tool (2022, 2023, and 2024 holes), Axis Champ Gyro (2023 and 2024 holes), or Reflex OMNI Gyro Sprint IQ (2024 holes). Survey shots were typically continuous at approximate 3-5 m intervals. The use of the gyro tool system negated potential deflection issues arising from minor but common pyrrhotite within the host rock units. All collar and downhole deviation data have been validated by the project geologists on site, and by the database lead. Drill core has not been oriented; however, downhole optical and acoustic televiewer surveys have been completed on multiple holes, at both CV5 and CV13, to assess overall structure. This data guided the current geological models supporting this Rigel and Vega MREs. At CV13, drill hole spacing is a combination of grid based (at ~100 m spacing) and fan based (Figure 21). Several collars are typically completed from the same pad at varied orientations targeting pegmatite pierce points of ~50 to 100 m spacing depending on the resource classification being targeted. Due to the varied orientation of the pegmatite bodies along strike at CV13, hole orientations vary widely with multiple holes often being completed from the same pad. At Rigel, drill hole pegmatite pierce points range from ~40 m to 80 m and at Vega range from ~50 to 100 m. Drill hole spacing and orientation at the Rigel and Vega zones within the CV13 Pegmatite is sufficient to support the geological models and resource classifications applied herein. All drill holes were completed by Fusion Forage Drilling Ltd. of Hawkesbury, ON. Procedures at the drill followed industry best practices with drill core placed in either 4 or 5 ft long, typically flat, square-bottom wooden boxes with the appropriate hole and box ID noted and block depth markers placed in the box. Core recovery typically exceeds 90%. Once full, the box was fibre taped shut with wooden lids at the drill and transported (helicopter or truck) to Mirage Lodge for processing. Channel sampling followed industry best practices with a 3 to 5 cm wide, saw-cut channel completed across the pegmatite outcrop as practical, perpendicular to the interpreted pegmatite strike. Samples were collected at ~0.5 to 1 m contiguous intervals with the channel bearing noted, and GPS coordinate collected at the start and end points of the channel. Channel samples were transported along the same route as drill core for processing at Mirage Lodge. SAMPLING AND SUB-SAMPLING TECHNIQUES Core sampling protocols meet industry standard practices. Upon receipt at the core shack at Mirage Lodge, all drill core is pieced together, oriented to maximum foliation, metre marked, geotechnically logged (TCR, RQD, ISRM, and Q-Method (since mid-winter 2023)), alteration logged, geologically logged (rock type), and sample logged on an individual sample basis. Wet and dry core box photos are also collected of all core drilled, regardless of perceived mineralization. Specific gravity ("SG") measurements of entire pegmatite samples were collected at systematic intervals (approximately 1 SG measurement every 4-5 m) using the water immersion method. SG measurements are also collected systematically from host rock samples (i.e., non-pegmatite). Core sampling was guided by rock type as determined during geological logging (i.e., by a geologist). All pegmatite intervals were sampled in their entirety, regardless of whether mineralization was noted or not (in order to ensure an unbiased sampling approach) in addition to ~1 to 3 m of sampling into the adjacent host rock (dependent on pegmatite interval length) to "bookend" the sampled pegmatite. The minimum individual sample length is typically 0.3-0.5 m and the maximum sample length is typically 2.0 m. Targeted individual pegmatite sample lengths are 1.0 to 1.5 m. All drill core was saw-cut, using an Almonte automatic core saw in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with one half-core collected for assay, and the other half-core remaining in the box for reference. Channels were geologically logged upon collection on an individual sample basis; however, were not geotechnically logged. Channel recovery was effectively 100%. The logging of drill core and channels was qualitative by nature, and included estimates of spodumene grain size, inclusions, and model mineral estimates. These logging practices meet or exceed current industry standard practices and are of appropriate detail to support a Mineral Resource estimation and disclosure herein. All core samples were bagged and sealed individually, and then placed in large supersacs for added security, palleted, and shipped by third party transport, or directly by representatives of the Company, to the designated sample preparation laboratory of SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS Canada") in either Lakefield, ON, Val-d'Or, QC, or Radisson, QC, in 2022, 2023, and 2024, being tracked during shipment along with chain of custody documentation. Upon arrival at the laboratory, the samples were cross-referenced with the shipping manifest to confirm all samples were accounted for and had not been tampered with. SAMPLE ANALYSIS METHOD AND QUALITY CONTROL Core samples collected from 2022 and 2023 drill holes were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Lakefield, ON for standard sample preparation (code PRP89) which included drying at 105C, crush to 75% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. Core samples collected from 2023 drill holes CV23-108 through 365 were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Val-d'Or, QC, for standard sample preparation (code PRP89). Core samples collected from 2024 drill holes were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in either Val-d'Or, QC, or Radisson, QC, for a sample preparation (code PRP90 special) which includes drying at 105C, crush to 90% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. All 2022, 2023, and 2024 (through drill hole CV24-787) core sample pulps were shipped by air to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50). SGS Canada is a commercial lab with the relevant accreditations (ISO 17025) and is independent of the Company. A Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the drill programs and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates (through hole CV23-190 only), at a rate of approximately 5% each. Additionally, analysis of pulp-split and coarse-split (through hole CV23-365 only) sample duplicates were completed to assess analytical precision at different stages of the laboratory preparation process, and external (secondary) laboratory pulp-split duplicates were prepared at the primary lab for subsequent check analysis and validation at a secondary lab (ALS Canada in 2022, 2023, and 2024). Channel samples collected were shipped to Val-d'Or, QC for standard sample preparation with the pulps shipped by air to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50). Overlimits for caesium, completed in Lakefield, ON, are requested when the analytical result exceeds the upper detection limit (10,000 ppm Cs) of the GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50 analytical packages. The overlimit package used for caesium is either GC_AAS49C - acid digestion for alkaline elements or GC_XRF76V - borate fusion XRF. Both caesium overlimit packages report Cs in %. A QAQC protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the channel programs and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches. CRITERIA USED FOR CLASSIFICATION The Consolidated MRE classification has been completed in accordance with the NI 43-101, JORC 2012, and CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves reporting guidelines. All reported Mineral Resources have been constrained by conceptual open-pit or underground mineable shapes to demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction ("RPEEE"). Blocks were classified as Indicated when drill spacing was 70 m or lower, blocks were estimated with at least 2 drill holes, and meeting the minimum estimation criteria parameters. Geological continuity and a minimum thickness of 2 m were mandatory, as well grade continuity demonstrated at the reported cut-off grade. Blocks were classified Inferred when drill spacing was between 70 m and 140 m and meeting the minimum estimation criteria parameters. Geological continuity and a minimum thickness of 2 m were also mandatory. There are no measured classified blocks. Pegmatite dykes or extension with lower level of information / confidence were also not classified. Classification shapes are created around contiguous blocks at the stated criteria with consideration for the selected mining method. The MRE appropriately reflects the view of the Competent Person. ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY Compositing was done every 1.0 m for the pegmatite and every 0.5 m for the caesium enriched zones. Unsampled intervals were assigned a grade of 0.0005% Li, 0.25 ppm Ta, and 0.05 ppm Cs. Capping was done after compositing. Based on the statistical analysis capping varies by lithological domain. For the CV13 Pegmatite dykes, it was determined that no capping was required for Li 2 O, but Ta 2 O 5 was capped at 3,000 ppm for 3 domains (CV13_100, CV13_101, and CV13_100C) and at 1,200 ppm for the remaining 20 domains. No capping was applied for Cs 2 O. Variography analysis did not yield a well-structured variogram. On CV13, Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5 , and Cs 2 O were estimated using ID2 in Leapfrog Edge. The twenty-three (23) different pegmatite domains were separated into 3 groups with the same orientation. Vega and Rigel were estimated according to the same criteria based on the zones in which they are enclosed. Different orientated search ellipsoids per group of domains were used to select data and interpolate Li 2 O and Ta 2 O 5 grades respectively in successively less restrictive passes. The ellipse sizes and anisotropies were based on the variography, drillhole spacing, and pegmatite geometry. The ellipsoid ranges of the first pass is 0.5 x 2nd structure, the second pass is one (1) x 2nd structure and the third pass is two (2) x 2nd structure. For the first and second pass interpolation a minimum of three (3) composites and a maximum of eight (8) composites with a minimum of two (2) holes were needed to interpolate. For the third pass a minimum of two (2) composites with a maximum of eight (8) without a minimum per hole was used. Variable search ellipse orientations (dynamic anisotropy) were used to interpolate the dykes. Spatial anisotropy of the dykes is respected during estimation using Leapfrog Edge's Variable Orientation tool. The search ellipse follows the trend of the central reference plane of each dyke. Parent cells of 10 m x 5 m x 5 m, subblocked four (4) times in each direction (for minimum subcells of 2.5 m in x, 1.25 m in y, and 1.25 m in z were used. Subblocks are triggered by the geological model. Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5 , and Cs 2 O grades are estimated on the parent cells and automatically populated to subblocks. The CV5 and CV13 block model is rotated around the Z axis (Leapfrog 340). Hard boundaries between all the pegmatite domains were used for all Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5 , and Cs 2 O estimates. For CV5, the MRE includes blocks within the pit shell above the cut-off grade of 0.40% Li 2 O or all blocks within underground mining shapes constructed with a 0.60% cut-off grade. For CV13, the MRE includes blocks within the pit shell above the cut-off grade of 0.40% Li 2 O and blocks under the cut-off grade of 0.40% Li 2 O, but above 0.5% Cs 2 O that are enclosed within the enriched caesium zones or all blocks within underground mining shapes constructed with a 0.70% Li 2 O cut-off grade. Validation of the block model was performed using Swath Plots, nearest neighbours grade estimates, global means comparisons, and by visual inspection in 3D and along plan views and cross-sections. CUT-OFF GRADE AND BASIS FOR SELECTION The cut-off grade ("COG") adopted for the CV13 Pegmatite is based on lithium at 0.40% Li 2 O for open-pit resources and 0.70% Li 2 O for underground resources. It has been determined based on operational cost estimates, primarily through benchmarking, for mining (open-pit and underground methods), tailings management, G&A, and concentrate transport costs from the mine site to Becancour, QC, as the base case. Process recovery assumed a Dense Media Separation ("DMS") only operation at approximately 70% average recovery into a 5.5% Li 2 O spodumene concentrate. A long-term average SC 6.0 spodumene concentrate price of US $1,500 was assumed with USD/CAD exchange rate of 0.70. A royalty of 2% was applied. Mineral Resources for the Rigel and Vega caesium zones are hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit conceptual mining shape, irrespective of lithium COG. A grade constraint of 0.50% Cs 2 O was used to model the Rigel and Vega caesium zones based on mineral processing analogues and mineralogical analysis supporting pollucite as the predominant Cs-bearing mineral present. MINING & METALLURGICAL METHODS AND PARAMETERS, AND OTHER MODIFYING FACTORS CONSIDERED Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, economic, or other relevant issues. The extraction scenario constraint retained for the MRE at the CV13 Spodumene Pegmatite is mainly open-pit. A pit slope of 45 was assumed, resulting in a strip ratio of 10 (waste to minable resource) at a revenue factor of 1. The Mineral Resources for the Vega and Rigel caesium zones are contained entirely within the open-pit conceptual mining shape used to determine the CV13 Pegmatite's MRE. The metallurgical assumptions for recovery of caesium at the Rigel and Vega caesium zones are supported by historical and active commercial operations at other pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatites globally. The flowsheets from these operations are viewed as reasonable analogues to a mineral processing flowsheet applicable to Rigel and Vega. These methods included crushing followed by x-ray ore sorting to recover the pollucite, with the tailings fractions further processed by a combination of dense media separation ("DMS"), flotation, magnetics, and gravity methods to recover additional pollucite as well as spodumene (lithium) and tantalite (tantalite). The Company has initiated a scoping x-ray ore sorting program as an initial step in evaluating pollucite recovery at the Project, which is anticipated to be completed later this year. Various mandates required for advancing the Rigel and Vega Caesium Zone MREs towards economic studies have been initiated, including but not limited to, environmental baseline, metallurgy, geomechanics, stakeholder engagement, and geochemical characterization. QUALIFIED/COMPETENT PERSON The information in this news release that relates to the Consolidated MRE for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project (CV5 and CV13 spodumene pegmatites, including the Caesium Zone MRE), as well as other relevant technical information for the Property, is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr. Todd McCracken, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and member in good standing with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec (OGQ) and with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Mr. McCracken has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. Mr. McCracken is Director - Mining & Geology - Central Canada, of BBA Engineering Ltd. and is independent of the Company. Mr. McCracken does not hold any securities in the Company. The information in this news release that relates to the mineral processing for the Consolidated MRE (including the Caesium Zone MRE) is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Ryan Cunningham, M.Eng., P.Eng., who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and member in good standing with the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec (OIQ). Mr. Cunningham has reviewed and approved the mineral processing technical information in this news release. Mr. Cunningham is a process engineer for Primero Group Americas Inc. and is independent of the Company. Mr. Cunningham does not hold any securities in the Company. Mr. McCracken and Mr. Cunningham have sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralization, type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as described by the JORC Code, 2012. Mr. McCracken and Mr. Cunningham consent to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Table 4: Attributes for drill holes and channels included in the Rigel and Vega caesium zones (CV13). Hole ID Hole Type Substrate Total Depth (m) Azimuth () Dip () Easting Northing Elevation (m) Core Size Caesium Zone CV23-198 DD Land 98.0 140 -80 565126.2 5928036.0 432.4 NQ Rigel CV23-191 DD Land 308.2 170 -45 565125.9 5928034.9 432.4 NQ Rigel CV23-204 DD Land 262.9 130 -80 565057.6 5927954.3 419.2 NQ Rigel CV23-207 DD Land 278.0 140 -45 565058.1 5927953.0 419.0 NQ Rigel CV23-255 DD Land 131.2 80 -45 564936.2 5927944.4 417.7 NQ Rigel CV23-271 DD Land 149.2 110 -75 565068.5 5927999.1 429.0 NQ Rigel CH23-069 TR Land 6.8 26 -36 565393.2 5928283.7 418.1 n/a Vega CV22-101 DD Land 245.1 140 -65 565795.1 5928473.5 382.7 NQ Vega CV23-311 DD Land 421.9 140 -45 565394.5 5928309.7 414.3 NQ Vega CV23-322 DD Land 404.1 140 -90 565393.9 5928310.4 414.9 NQ Vega CV23-348 DD Land 386.0 140 -90 565420.9 5928393.8 405.3 NQ Vega CV23-365 DD Land 322.9 140 -90 565551.9 5928455.4 394.9 NQ Vega CV24-470 DD Land 281.3 320 -80 565430.9 5928494.3 393.9 NQ Vega CV24-487 DD Land 308.1 140 -45 565807.6 5928565.2 378.9 NQ Vega CV24-492 DD Land 290.4 140 -45 565697.4 5928512.1 385.7 NQ Vega CV24-498 DD Land 218.0 140 -45 565467.1 5928559.6 387.9 NQ Vega CV24-507 DD Land 187.0 0 -90 565466.6 5928560.1 387.7 NQ Vega CV24-508 DD Land 152.0 140 -45 565710.4 5928599.6 382.2 NQ Vega CV24-510 DD Land 239.0 270 -55 565458.5 5928561.1 387.8 NQ Vega CV24-513 DD Land 171.2 320 -75 565707.2 5928604.4 381.9 NQ Vega CV24-519 DD Land 248.0 140 -45 565599.7 5928537.4 385.4 NQ Vega CV24-520 DD Land 243.7 320 -60 565459.7 5928564.3 387.4 NQ Vega CV24-524 DD Land 209.0 20 -60 565464.9 5928560.5 387.7 NQ Vega CV24-525 DD Land 161.0 320 -75 565596.8 5928540.8 385.1 NQ Vega CV24-571 DD Land 236.1 90 -65 565032.3 5928630.7 398.2 NQ Vega CV24-579 DD Land 215.0 0 -90 565031.7 5928630.6 398.2 NQ Vega CV24-582 DD Land 227.2 10 -65 565031.2 5928632.1 398.3 NQ Vega CV24-747 DD Land 281.0 20 -60 565266.8 5928409.4 412.5 NQ Vega CV24-754 DD Land 235.9 280 -65 565288.0 5928612.6 390.0 NQ Vega CV24-757 DD Land 305.3 70 -45 565269.4 5928408.3 412.8 NQ Vega CV24-761 DD Land 227.1 0 -90 565289.2 5928610.8 390.0 NQ Vega CV24-771 DD Land 164.3 0 -90 565267.5 5928407.2 413.1 NQ Vega CV24-773 DD Land 200.0 35 -55 565291.6 5928615.0 389.7 NQ Vega (1) Coordinate system NAD83 / UTM zone 18N; (2) DD = diamond drill, TR = channel; (3) DD azimuths and dips presented are those 'planned' and may vary off collar/downhole. APPENDIX 1 - JORC CODE 2012 TABLE 1 (ASX LISTING RULE 5.8.2) Section 1 - Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialized industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralization that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverized to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralization types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Core sampling protocols meet industry standard practices. Core sampling is guided by lithology as determined during geological logging (i.e., by a geologist). All pegmatite intervals are sampled in their entirety (half-core), regardless if spodumene mineralization is noted or not (in order to ensure an unbiased sampling approach) in addition to ~1 to 3 m of sampling into the adjacent host rock (dependent on pegmatite interval length) to "bookend" the sampled pegmatite. The minimum individual sample length is typically 0.5 m and the maximum sample length is typically 2.0 m. Targeted individual pegmatite sample lengths are 1.0 to 1.5 m. All drill core is oriented to maximum foliation prior to logging and sampling and is cut with a core saw into half-core pieces, with one half-core collected for assay, and the other half-core remaining in the box for reference. Core samples collected from 2022 and 2023 drill holes CV22-015 through CV23-107 were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in either Lakefield, ON for standard sample preparation (code PRP89) which included drying at 105C, crush to 75% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. Core samples collected from 2023 drill holes CV23-108 through 365 were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Val-d'Or, QC, for standard sample preparation (code PRP89). Core samples collected from 2024 drill holes were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Val-d'Or, QC, or Radisson, QC, for sample preparation (code PRP90 special) which included drying at 105C, crush to 90% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. All drill core sample pulps from 2022, 2023, and 2024 were shipped by air to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50). Channel sampling followed best industry practices with a 3 to 5 cm wide, saw-cut channel completed across the pegmatite outcrop as practical, perpendicular to the interpreted pegmatite strike. Samples were collected at ~0.5 to 1 m contiguous intervals with the channel bearing noted, and GPS coordinate collected at the start and end points of the channel. All channel samples collected were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Val-d'Or, QC, for standard preparation. Pulps were analyzed at SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC (2022, 2023, and 2024), for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish. Overlimits for caesium, completed in Lakefield, ON, are requested when the analytical result exceeds the upper detection limit (10,000 ppm Cs) of the GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50 analytical packages. The overlimit package used for caesium is either GC_AAS49C - acid digestion for alkaline elements or GC_XRF76V - borate fusion XRF. Both caesium overlimit packages report Cs in %. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). NQ size core diamond drilling was completed for all holes informing the Rigel and Vega Caesium Zone MREs. Core was not oriented. However, downhole OTV-ATV surveys were completed to various depths on multiple holes within the wider CV13 Pegmatite to assess overall structure. The sampling of continuous channels of outcrop, coupled with locational data at the same accuracy as drill hole locational data, allowed the channels to be treated as horizontal drill holes for the purposes of modelling and resource estimation. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximize sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. All drill core was geotechnically logged following industry standard practices, and include TCR, RQD, ISRM, and Q-Method (since mid-winter 2023). Core recovery typically exceeds 90%. Channel samples were not geotechnically logged. Channel recovery was effectively 100%. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Upon receipt at the core shack, all drill core is pieced together, oriented to maximum foliation, metre marked, geotechnically logged (including structure), alteration logged, geologically logged, and sample logged on an individual sample basis. Core box photos are also collected of all core drilled, regardless of perceived mineralization. Specific gravity measurements of pegmatite are also collected at systematic intervals for all pegmatite drill core using the water immersion method, as well as select host rock drill core. Channel samples were geologically logged upon collection on an individual sample basis. Channel samples were not geotechnically logged. The logging is qualitative by nature, and includes estimates of spodumene grain size, inclusions, and model mineral estimates. These logging practices meet or exceed current industry standard practices. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximize representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Drill core sampling follows industry best practices. Drill core was saw-cut with half-core sent for geochemical analysis and half-core remaining in the box for reference. The same side of the core was sampled to maintain representativeness. Channels were saw-cut with the full channel being sent for analysis at ~0.5 to 1.0 m sample intervals. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the material being assayed. A Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the drill programs and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates (through hole CV23-190 only), at a rate of approximately 5% each. Additionally, analysis of pulp-split and coarse-split (through hole CV23-365 only) sample duplicates were completed to assess analytical precision at different stages of the laboratory preparation process, and external (secondary) laboratory pulp-split duplicates were prepared at the primary lab for subsequent check analysis and validation at a secondary lab (ALS Canada in 2022, 2023, and 2024). All protocols employed are considered appropriate for the sample type and nature of mineralization and are considered the optimal approach for maintaining representativeness in sampling. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Core samples collected from 2022 and 2023 drill holes CV22-015 through CV23-107 were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in either Lakefield, ON for standard sample preparation (code PRP89) which included drying at 105C, crush to 75% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. Core samples collected from 2023 drill holes CV23-108 through 365 were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Val-d'Or, QC, for standard sample preparation (code PRP89). Core samples collected from 2024 drill holes were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Val-d'Or, QC, or Radisson, QC, for sample preparation (code PRP90 special) which included drying at 105C, crush to 90% passing 2 mm, riffle split 250 g, and pulverize 85% passing 75 microns. All drill core sample pulps from 2022, 2023, and 2024 were shipped by air to SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC, where the samples were homogenized and subsequently analyzed for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish (codes GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50). All channel samples collected were shipped to SGS Canada's laboratory in Lakefield, ON, or Val-d'Or, QC, for standard preparation. Pulps were analyzed at SGS Canada's laboratory in Burnaby, BC (2022, 2023, and 2024), for multi-element (including Li and Ta) using sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES/MS finish. Overlimits for caesium, completed in Lakefield, ON, are requested when the analytical result exceeds the upper detection limit (10,000 ppm Cs) of the GE_ICP91A50 and GE_IMS91A50 analytical packages. The overlimit package used for caesium is either GC_AAS49C - acid digestion for alkaline elements or GC_XRF76V - borate fusion XRF. Both caesium overlimit packages report Cs in %. The Company relies on both its internal QAQC protocols (systematic use of blanks, certified reference materials, and external checks), as well as the laboratory's internal QAQC. All protocols employed are considered appropriate for the sample type and nature of mineralization and are considered the optimal approach for maintaining representativeness in sampling. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. Intervals are reviewed and compiled by the VP Exploration and Project Managers prior to disclosure, including a review of the Company's internal QAQC sample analytical data. No twinned holes were completed. Data capture utilizes MX Deposit software whereby core logging data is entered directly into the software for storage, including direct import of laboratory analytical certificates as they are received. The Company employs various on-site and post QAQC protocols to ensure data integrity and accuracy. Adjustments to data include reporting lithium and tantalum in their oxide forms, as it is reported in elemental form in the assay certificates. Formulas used are Li 2 O = Li x 2.153, Ta 2 O 5 = Ta x 1.221, and Cs 2 O = Cs x 1.0602 Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Each drill hole collar and channel end points have been surveyed with a RTK Topcon GR-5 or RTK Trimble Zephyr 3. The coordinate system used is UTM NAD83 Zone 18. The Company completed a property-wide LiDAR and orthophoto survey in August 2022, which provides high-quality topographic control. The quality and accuracy of the topographic controls are considered adequate for advanced stage exploration and development, including Mineral Resource estimation. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. At CV13, drill hole spacing is a combination of grid based (at ~100 m spacing) and fan based with multiple holes collared from the same pad. Therefore, collar locations and hole orientations may vary widely, which reflect the varied orientation of the pegmatite body along strike. Pegmatite pierce points of ~50 (Indicated) to 100 m (Inferred) spacing are targeted. At Rigel, drill hole pegmatite pierce points range from ~40 m to 80 m and at Vega range from ~50 to 100 m. Based on the nature of the mineralization and continuity in geological modelling, the drill hole spacing is sufficient to support a MRE. Core sample lengths typically range from 0.5 to 2.0 m and average ~1.0 to 1.5 m. Sampling is continuous within all pegmatite encountered in the drill hole. Core samples are not composited upon collection or for analysis. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralized structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. No sampling bias is anticipated based on structure within the mineralized body. The principal mineralized bodies are relatively undeformed and very competent, although have meaningful structural control. At CV13, the principal pegmatite body has a varied strike and shallow northerly dip. The Rigel and Vega zones are hosted entirely within the CV13 Pegmatite. Using the 0.5% Cs 2 O grade constraint, the footprint of caesium mineralization at the Vega Zone has been traced over a general area of at least 800 m x 250 m and consists of two proximal flat-lying lenses, at a depth of ~110 m, with a true thickness of <2 m and up to ~10 m and ~6 m, respectively. At Rigel, the footprint of caesium mineralization has been traced over a general area of least 200 m x 100 m and consists of a single, shallow dipping lens at a depth of ~50 m with a true thickness of <2 m to ~6 m. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Samples were collected by Company staff or its consultants following project specific protocols governing sample collection and handling. Core samples were bagged, placed in large supersacs for added security, palleted, and shipped by third party transport, or directly by representatives of the Company, to the designated sample preparation laboratory (Lakefield, ON, in 2022 and 2023, Val-d'Or, QC, in 2023 and 2024, and Radisson in 2024) being tracked during shipment along with chain of custody documents. Upon arrival at the laboratory, the samples were cross-referenced with the shipping manifest to confirm all samples were accounted for. At the laboratory, sample bags were evaluated for tampering. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. A review of the sample procedures through the Company's 2024 winter drill program (through CV24-526) was completed by an independent Competent Person with respect to the MRE (CV5 & CV13 pegmatites) and deemed adequate and acceptable to industry best practices (discussed in a technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project, James Bay Region, Quebec, Canada" by Todd McCracken, P.Geo., Hugo Latulippe, P.Eng., Shane Ghouralal, P.Eng., MBA, and Luciano Piciacchia, P.Eng., Ph.D., of BBA Engineering Ltd., Ryan Cunningham, M.Eng., P.Eng., of Primero Group Americas Inc., and Nathalie Fortin, P.Eng., M.Env., of WSP Canada Inc., Effective Date of August 21, 2024, and Issue Date of September 12, 2024. Additionally, the Company continually reviews and evaluates its procedures in order to optimize and ensure compliance at all levels of sample data collection and handling. Section 2 - Reporting of Exploration Results Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (formerly called "Corvette") is comprised of 463 Exclusive Exploration Rights ("EER") (formerly known as CDC claims) located in the James Bay Region of Quebec, with Lithium Innova Inc. (wholly owned subsidiary of Patriot Battery Metals Inc.) being the registered title holder for all of the claims. The northern border of the Property's primary claim block is located within approximately 6 km to the south of the Trans-Taiga Road and powerline infrastructure corridor. The CV5 Pegmatite is accessible year-round by all-season road is situated approximately 13.5 km south of the regional and all-weather Trans-Taiga Road and powerline infrastructure. The CV13 Pegmatite is located approximately 3 km west-southwest of CV5. The Company holds 100% interest in the Property subject to various royalty obligations depending on original acquisition agreements. DG Resources Management holds a 2% NSR (no buyback) on 76 claims, D.B.A. Canadian Mining House holds a 2% NSR on 50 claims (half buyback for $2M), OR Royalties holds a sliding scale NSR of 1.5-3.5% on precious metals, and 2% on all other products, over 111 claims, and Azimut Exploration holds 2% NSR on 39 claims. The Rigel Caesium Zone is located on royalty free ground staked directly by the Company. The Vega Caesium Zone is subject to a 2% NSR (half buyback for $2M) held by D.B.A. Canadian Mining House. The Property does not overlap any atypically sensitive environmental areas or parks, or historical sites to the knowledge of the Company. There are no known hinderances to operating at the Property, apart from the goose harvesting season (typically mid-April to mid-May) where the communities request helicopter flying not be completed, and potentially wildfires depending on the season, scale, and location. Claim expiry dates range from January 2026 to November 2027. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. No core assay results from other parties are disclosed herein. The most recent independent Property review was a technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Project, James Bay Region, Quebec, Canada" by Todd McCracken, P.Geo., Hugo Latulippe, P.Eng., Shane Ghouralal, P.Eng., MBA, and Luciano Piciacchia, P.Eng., Ph.D., of BBA Engineering Ltd., Ryan Cunningham, M.Eng., P.Eng., of Primero Group Americas Inc., and Nathalie Fortin, P.Eng., M.Env., of WSP Canada Inc., Effective Date of August 21, 2024, and Issue Date of September 12, 2024. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralization. The Property overlies a large portion of the Lac Guyer Greenstone Belt, considered part of the larger La Grande River Greenstone Belt and is dominated by volcanic rocks metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. The claim block is dominantly host to rocks of the Guyer Group (amphibolite, iron formation, intermediate to mafic volcanics, peridotite, pyroxenite, komatiite, as well as felsic volcanics). The amphibolite rocks that trend east-west (generally steeply south dipping) through this region are bordered to the north by the Magin Formation (conglomerate and wacke) and to the south by an assemblage of tonalite, granodiorite, and diorite, in addition to metasediments of the Marbot Group (conglomerate, wacke). Several regional-scale Proterozoic gabbroic dykes also cut through portions of the Property (Lac Spirt Dykes, Senneterre Dykes). The geological setting is prospective for gold, silver, base metals, platinum group elements, and lithium over several different deposit styles including orogenic gold (Au), volcanogenic massive sulfide (Cu, Au, Ag), komatiite-ultramafic (Au, Ag, PGE, Ni, Cu, Co), and pegmatite (Li, Cs, Ta). Exploration of the Property has outlined three primary mineral exploration trends crossing dominantly east-west over large portions of the Property - Golden Trend (gold), Maven Trend (copper, gold, silver), and CV Trend (lithium, caesium, tantalum). The CV5 and CV13 spodumene pegmatites, including the Rigel and Vega zones, are situated within the CV Trend. The pegmatites at Shaakichiuwaanaan are categorized as LCT Pegmatites. Caesium mineralization at the Property is observed to occur within quartz-feldspar pegmatite, which may be exposed at surface as high relief 'whale-back' landforms. The pegmatite is often very coarse-grained and off-white in appearance, with darker sections commonly composed of mica and smoky quartz, and occasional tourmaline. The Vega and Rigel zones - nested entirely within the CV13 Pegmatite - are marked by significant occurrences pollucite-hosted caesium. The pollucite is typically centimetre to decimetre-metre scale, presenting as clear to whitish-grey in colour with common late-stage veining of white pollucite or spodumene, or purple lepidolite as well as common white flecks. The pollucite also commonly occurs with significant amounts of spodumene (lithium) and tantalite (tantalum). Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: o easting and northing of the drill hole collar o elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar o dip and azimuth of the hole o down hole length and interception depth o hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. Drill hole attribute information is included in a table herein. Drilling results have been previously released by the Company in accordance with disclosure obligations and are not reproduced herein. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Length weighted averages were used to calculate grade over width. No metal equivalents have been reported. Relationship between mineralization widths and i ntercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralization with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known'). At CV13, current interpretation supports a series of sub-parallel trending sills with a flat-lying to shallow northerly dip (collectively, the 'CV13 Spodumene Pegmatite'). Within the CV13 Pegmatite body are the Rigel and Vega zones, which follow the local trend of the wider pegmatite body. All reported widths are core length. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Please refer to the figures included herein as well as those posted on the Company's website. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Drilling results have been previously released by the Company in accordance with disclosure obligations and are not reproduced herein. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. The Company is currently completing site environmental work over the CV5 and CV13 pegmatite area. No endangered flora or fauna have been documented over the Property to date, and several sites have been identified as potentially suitable for mine infrastructure. Mineral Resources for the Rigel and Vega zones are hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit conceptual mining shape, irrespective of lithium COG. A grade constraint of 0.50% Cs 2 O has been used to model the Rigel and Vega caesium zones based on mineral processing analogues and mineralogical analysis supporting pollucite as the predominant Cs-bearing mineral present. Various mandates required for advancing the Rigel and Vega MREs towards economic studies have been initiated, including but not limited to, environmental baseline, metallurgy, geomechanics, stakeholder engagement, and geochemical characterization. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. The Company intends to continue drilling the pegmatites of the Shaakichiuwaanaan Property, including the CV5 Pegmatite, CV13 Pegmatite (including Rigel and Vega zones), CV12 Pegmatite, and related prospective corridors. Section 3 - Estimate and Reporting of Mineral Resources Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Database integrity Measures taken to ensure that data has not been corrupted by, for example, transcription or keying errors, between its initial collection and its use for Mineral Resource estimation purposes. Data validation procedures used. Data capture utilizes MX Deposit database software whereby core logging data is entered directly into the software for storage, including direct import of laboratory analytical certificates as they are received. Collar and downhole deviation surveys are also validated and stored in MX Deposit database software. The Company employs various on-site and post initial QAQC protocols to ensure data integrity and accuracy. Drill hole collar points were validated against LiDAR topographic data. The drill hole database was further validated by the independent Competent Person for the MRE, including missing sample intervals, overlapping intervals, and various missing data (survey, collar coordinates, assays, rock type, etc.) All the analytical certificates applicable to the Consolidated MRE were validated against the assays present in the database for Li, Cs, Ta, and Ga. No significant errors in the database were discovered. The database is considered validated and of high quality, and therefore sufficient to support the Caesium Zone MRE. Site visits Comment on any site visits undertaken by the Competent Person and the outcome of those visits. If no site visits have been undertaken indicate why this is the case. Todd McCracken (Competent Person) of BBA Engineering Ltd., completed site visits to the Property from April 7 to 11, 2023, and June 4 to 7, 2024. Core from various drill holes from CV5 and CV13 from the 2023 and 2024 drill program was viewed and core processing protocols reviewed with site geologists. Drilling was active during the 2023 site visit. Several of the CV13 pegmatite outcrops were visited, and various collar locations were visited and GPS coordinates checked against the database. Pulp samples were selected for check analysis from holes selected by the Competent Person. No significant issues were found with the protocols practiced on site. The Competent Person considers the QAQC and procedures adopted by the Company to be of a high standard. Geological interpretation Confidence in (or conversely, the uncertainty of) the geological interpretation of the mineral deposit. Nature of the data used and of any assumptions made. The effect, if any, of alternative interpretations on Mineral Resource estimation. The use of geology in guiding and controlling Mineral Resource estimation. The factors affecting continuity both of grade and geology. The CV13, Rigel, and Vega geological models were built in Leapfrog Geo using MX Deposit database, through an iterative and interpretive process by Project Geologists and VP Exploration, and validated by the Competent Person. The CV13 Pegmatite was geological modelled as veins for all of its lenses. The Rigel and Vega caesium zone models were built using a 0.50% Cs 2 O grade constraint within the wider CV13 Pegmatite body. A combination of implicit and explicit modelling methods was used, defined by geologically logged drill intersections, channel samples, and outcrop mapping, with external geological controls, including measured contact orientations, cross-sectional polylines, and surface polyline controls to ensure the model follows geological interpretation, validation, and reasonable extensions along trend and dip. The geological interpretation of CV13, Rigel, and Vega geological models are robust. Alternative interpretations are unlikely to materially alter the Caesium Zone MRE. Drilling density is the primary factor in assessing the interpreted continuity of both grade and geology. The current drill density is sufficient to support the Caesium Zone MRE. The controlling factors on mineralization are not fully understood but meaningful structural control is interpreted. Dimensions The extent and variability of the Mineral Resource expressed as length (along strike or otherwise), plan width, and depth below surface to the upper and lower limits of the Mineral Resource. The CV13 portion of the MRE includes multiple individual spodumene pegmatite dykes that have been modelled, with three appearing to be dominant. The pegmatite bodies are coincident with the apex of a regional structural flexure where the west arm trends ~290 and the east arm at ~230. Drilling to date indicates the east arm includes significantly more pegmatite stacking compared to the west, and also carries a significant amount of the overall CV13 Pegmatite tonnage and lithium grade, highlighted by the high-grade Vega Zone (lithium). The Rigel Caesium Zone is situated at the apex of the two CV13 Pegmatite's 2 arms. At Rigel, the footprint of caesium mineralization has been traced over a general area of least 200 m x 100 m and consists of a single, shallow dipping lens at a depth of ~50 m with a true thickness of <2 m to ~6 m. The Vega Caesium Zone is coincident with the Vega Lithium Zone situated at the CV13 Pegmatite's east arm. The caesium zone is effectively a sub-component of the wider lithium zone. Estimation and modelling techniques The nature and appropriateness of the estimation technique(s) applied and key assumptions, including treatment of extreme grade values, domaining, interpolation parameters and maximum distance of extrapolation from data points. If a computer assisted estimation method was chosen include a description of computer software and parameters used. The availability of check estimates, previous estimates and/or mine production records and whether the Mineral Resource estimate takes appropriate account of such data. The assumptions made regarding recovery of by-products. Estimation of deleterious elements or other non-grade variables of economic significance (eg sulphur for acid mine drainage characterisation). In the case of block model interpolation, the block size in relation to the average sample spacing and the search employed. Any assumptions behind modelling of selective mining units. Any assumptions about correlation between variables. Description of how the geological interpretation was used to control the resource estimates. Discussion of basis for using or not using grade cutting or capping. The process of validation, the checking process used, the comparison of model data to drill hole data, and use of reconciliation data if available. Compositing was done every 1.0 m for the pegmatite domains and every 0.5 m for the caesium enriched zones. Unsampled intervals were assigned a grade of 0.0005% Li, 0.25 ppm Ta, and 0.05 ppm Cs. Capping was done after compositing. Based on the statistical analysis capping varies by lithological domain. For CV13 zones, it was determined that no capping was required for Li 2 O and Cs 2 O, but Ta 2 O 5 was capped at 3,000 ppm for Vega, CV13_100 and CV13_100C, and at 1,200 ppm for all remaining domains. Variography was done both in Leapfrog Edge and Supervisor. At CV13, variography analysis did not yield a well-structured variogram. On CV13, Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5, and Cs 2 O were estimated using Inverse Distance Squared (ID2) in Leapfrog Edge. The twenty-three (23) different pegmatite domains were separated in 3 groups with the same orientation. Vega and Rigel were estimated according to the same criteria based on the zones in which they are enclosed. Three (3) different orientated search ellipsoids per group of domains were used to select data and interpolate Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5 , and Cs 2 O grades respectively in successively less restrictive passes. The ellipse sizes and anisotropies were based on the variography, drillhole spacing, and pegmatite geometry. For Li 2 O and Cs 2 O, the ellipsoids for CV13_100 group were 80 m x 45 m x 10 m, 160 m x 90 m x 20 m, and 320 m x 180 m x 40 m; for CV13_101 group the ellipsoids were 60 x 50 x 20, 120 x 100 x 40, and 240 x 200 x 80; and for the CV13_090 group, the ellipsoids were 60 x 35 x 10, 120 x 70 x 20, and 240 x 140 x 40. For Ta2O5 , the ellipsoids for CV13_100 group were 55 m x 35 m x 10 m, 110 m x 70 m x 20 m, and 220 m x 140 m x 40 m; for CV13_101 group the ellipsoids were 35 x 30 x 20, 70 x 60 x 40, and 140 x 120 x 80; and for the CV13_090 group, the ellipsoids were 50 x 60 x 10, 100 x 120 x 20, and 200 x 240 x 40. For the first and second pass interpolation a minimum of three (3) composites and a maximum of eight (8) composites with a minimum of two (2) holes were needed to interpolate. For the third pass a minimum of two (2) composites with a maximum of eight (8) without a minimum per hole was used. Variable search ellipse orientations (dynamic anisotropy) were used to interpolate the dykes. Spatial anisotropy of the dykes is respected during estimation using Leapfrog Edge's Variable Orientation tool. The search ellipse follows the trend of the central reference plane of each dyke. Parent cells of 10 m x 5 m x 5 m, subblocked four (4) times in each direction (for minimum subcells of 2.5 m in x, 1.25 m in y, and 1.25 m in z were used. Subblocks are triggered by the geological model. Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5 , and Cs 2 O grades are estimated on the parent cells and automatically populated to subblocks. The block model is rotated around the Z axis (Leapfrog 340). Hard boundaries between all the pegmatite domains were used for all Li 2 O, Ta 2 O 5 , and Cs 2 O estimates. Validation of the block model was performed using Swath Plots, nearest neighbours grade estimates, global means comparisons, and by visual inspection in 3D and along plan views and cross-sections. Moisture Whether the tonnages are estimated on a dry basis or with natural moisture, and the method of determination of the moisture content. Tonnages are reported on a dry basis. Cut-off parameters The basis of the adopted cut-off grade(s) or quality parameters applied. The Caesium Zone Mineral Resources are hosted within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit conceptual mining shape, irrespective of lithium COG. A grade constraint of 0.50% Cs 2 O has been used to model the Rigel and Vega caesium zones based on mineral processing analogues and mineralogical analysis supporting pollucite as the predominant Cs-bearing mineral present. For the CV13 Pegmatite, the open pit cut-off grade is 0.40% Li 2 O and determined based on operational cost estimates, primarily through benchmarking and an internal trade-off study, for mining ($5.47/t mined for minable resource, waste or overburden, processing ($14.91/t milled), tailings management ($3.45/t milled), G&A ($18.88/t milled), and concentrate transport costs ($226.74/t mine site to Becancour, QC). Process recovery assumed a Dense Media Separation (DMS) only operation at approximately 70% overall recovery based on processing recovery formula of Recovery % = 75% (1-e^(-1.995(Li 2 O Feed Grade %) ) )into a 5.5% Li 2 O spodumene concentrate. A long-term average SC6.0 spodumene concentrate price of US $1,500 was assumed with USD/CAD exchange rate of 0.70. A royalty of 2% was applied. Underground adopted cut-off grade for CV13 is 0.70% Li 2 O and determined based on the same parameters than the open pit with the addition of the underground mining cost estimated at $100/t considering a mining method that will be aligned with the shallow dip lenses. Mining factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible mining methods, minimum mining dimensions and internal (or, if applicable, external) mining dilution. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential mining methods, but the assumptions made regarding mining methods and parameters when estimating Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the mining assumptions made. Open-pit mining method is assumed with an overall pit slope ranging from 45 to 53 considering various sectors, single and double bench. No dilution or mining recovery has been considered. The underground mining method for CV13 has not been determined but the mining cost used is higher considering the shallow dip of the lenses in CV13. Stope dimensions considered are horizontal considering length of 15 m, 7.5 m in width and a minimum height of 3 m. The Caesium Zone Mineral Resources are reported as in-situ tonnes and grade. Metallurgical factors or assumptions The basis for assumptions or predictions regarding metallurgical amenability. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider potential metallurgical methods, but the assumptions regarding metallurgical treatment processes and parameters made when reporting Mineral Resources may not always be rigorous. Where this is the case, this should be reported with an explanation of the basis of the metallurgical assumptions made. For the overall CV13 Pegmatite, the processing assumptions are based on HLS and magnetic testing, which has produced 6+% Li 2 O spodumene concentrates at >70% recovery on drill core samples from both the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites and indicate DMS as a viable primary process approach for both CV5 and CV13. This is supported by several subsequent DMS tests on CV5 drill core, which returned a spodumene concentrate grading above 5.5% Li 2 O at recoveries consistently above 75% recovery. For the Mineral Resource conceptual mining shapes, based on a grade versus recovery curve of the test work completed to date, an average recovery of approximately 70% to produce a 5.5% Li 2 O spodumene concentrate was used. The metallurgical assumptions for recovery of caesium at the Rigel and Vega zones are supported by historical and active commercial operations at other caesium pegmatites globally. The flowsheets from these operations are viewed as reasonable analogues to a mineral processing flowsheet applicable to Rigel and Vega. These methods included crushing followed by x-ray ore sorting to recover the pollucite, with the tailings fractions further processed by a combination of dense media separation ("DMS"), flotation, magnetics, and gravity methods to recover additional pollucite as well as spodumene (lithium) and tantalite (tantalite). Environmental factors or assumptions Assumptions made regarding possible waste and process residue disposal options. It is always necessary as part of the process of determining reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction to consider the potential environmental impacts of the mining and processing operation. While at this stage the determination of potential environmental impacts, particularly for a greenfields project, may not always be well advanced, the status of early consideration of these potential environmental impacts should be reported. Where these aspects have not been considered this should be reported with an explanation of the environmental assumptions made. The CV13 Pegmatite, which includes the Rigel and Vega zones, is in the early stages of evaluation with this mineral resource estimate the first for caesium at the Vega and Rigel zones. A conventional tailings management facility and no material adverse environmental impediments are assumed. An environmental assessment is underway for the CV5 resource, which forms a component of the Consolidated MRE for the Project. A notice of project was submitted to the provincial regulator and environmental assessment guidelines were received. A Project description has been submitted to the federal regulator. Bulk density Whether assumed or determined. If assumed, the basis for the assumptions. If determined, the method used, whether wet or dry, the frequency of the measurements, the nature, size and representativeness of the samples. The bulk density for bulk material must have been measured by methods that adequately account for void spaces (vugs, porosity, etc), moisture and differences between rock and alteration zones within the deposit. Discuss assumptions for bulk density estimates used in the evaluation process of the different materials. Density of the pegmatite was estimated using a linear regression function derived from SG field measurements (1 sample every ~4.5 m) and Li 2 O grade. The regression function (SG= 0.0674 x (Li 2 O% +0.81 x B 2 O 3) + 2.6202) was used for all pegmatite blocks. Non-pegmatite blocks were assigned a fixed SG based on the field measurement median value (CV5: diabase = 2.89, amphibolite group = 2.99, metasediment 2.75, ultramafic = 2.94, overburden = 2.00 and CV13: amphibolite group = 3.01, metasediment 2.82, ultramafic = 3.02, overburden = 2.00). Classification The basis for the classification of the Mineral Resources into varying confidence categories. Whether appropriate account has been taken of all relevant factors (ie relative confidence in tonnage/grade estimations, reliability of input data, confidence in continuity of geology and metal values, quality, quantity and distribution of the data). Whether the result appropriately reflects the Competent Person's view of the deposit. The Caesium Zone MRE classification is in accordance with the JORC 2012 reporting guidelines. All reported Mineral Resources have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. All reported Mineral Resources have been constrained by conceptual open-pit mineable shapes to demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction ("RPEEE"). Blocks were classified as Indicated when 1.) demonstrated geological continuity and minimum thickness of 2 m, 2.) the drill spacing was 70 m or lower, estimated by a minimum of 2 drill holes, and meeting the minimum estimation criteria parameters, and 3.) grade continuity at the reported cut-off grade. Blocks were classified Inferred when drill spacing was between 70 m and 140 m and meeting the minimum estimation criteria parameters. Geological continuity and a minimum thickness of 2 m were also mandatory. There are no measured classified blocks. Pegmatite dykes or extension with lower level of information / confidence were also not classified. Classification shapes are created around contiguous blocks at the stated criteria with consideration for the selected mining method. The classification of the MRE is appropriate and reflects the view of Competent Person (Todd McCracken). Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of Mineral Resource estimates. The MRE has been reviewed internally by BBA Engineering Ltd. as part of its regular internal review process. There has been no external audit of the MRE. Discussion of relative accuracy/ confidence Where appropriate a statement of the relative accuracy and confidence level in the Mineral Resource estimate using an approach or procedure deemed appropriate by the Competent Person. For example, the application of statistical or geostatistical procedures to quantify the relative accuracy of the resource within stated confidence limits, or, if such an approach is not deemed appropriate, a qualitative discussion of the factors that could affect the relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate. The statement should specify whether it relates to global or local estimates, and, if local, state the relevant tonnages, which should be relevant to technical and economic evaluation. Documentation should include assumptions made and the procedures used. These statements of relative accuracy and confidence of the estimate should be compared with production data, where available. The Competent Person is of the opinion that the Consolidated MRE (CV5 and CV13 pegmatites, as well as that of the Caesium Zone MRE) appropriately considers modifying factors and have been estimated using industry best practices. The accuracy of the estimate within this Caesium Zone MRE is determined by yet not limited to; geological confidence including understanding the geology, deposit geometry, drill spacing. As always, changes in commodity price and exchange rate assumptions will have an impact on the optimal size of the conceptual mining open-pit shapes. Changes in current environmental or legal regulations may affect the operational parameters (cost, mitigation measures). The Caesium Zone MRE is constrained using open-pit mining shapes, and a mineralogical driven caesium grade constraint to satisfy reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. APPENDIX 2: MRE DETAILS AND SOURCES FOR DEPOSITS/PROJECTS NOTED IN FIGURE 2. ABOUT PATRIOT BATTERY METALS INC. Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its district-scale 100%-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (formerly known as Corvette) located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada, which is accessible year-round by all-season road and is proximal to regional powerline infrastructure. The Project hosts the world's largest8 pollucite-hosted caesium pegmatite Mineral Resource9 at the Rigel and Vega zones with 0.69 Mt at 4.40% Cs 2 O, Indicated, and 1.70 Mt at 2.40% Cs 2 O, Inferred. Additionally, the Project hosts a Consolidated Mineral Resource, which includes the Rigel and Vega caesium zones, totalling 108.0 Mt at 1.40% Li 2 O, 0.11% Cs 2 O, 166 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 66 ppm Ga, Indicated, and 33.4 Mt at 1.33% Li 2 O, 0.21% Cs 2 O, 155 ppm Ta 2 O 5 , and 65 ppm Ga, Inferred, and ranks as the largest lithium pegmatite resource in the Americas, and the 8th largest in the world. A Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") was announced for the CV5 Pegmatite (lithium) on August 21, 2024, and highlights Shaakichiuwaanaan as a potential North American lithium raw materials powerhouse. The PEA outlines the potential for a competitive and globally significant high-grade lithium project targeting up to ~800 ktpa spodumene concentrate using a simple Dense Media Separation ("DMS") only process flowsheet. For further information, please contact us at info@patriotbatterymetals.com or by calling +1 (604) 279-8709, or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com. Please also refer to the Company's continuous disclosure filings, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au, for available exploration data. This news release has been approved by, "KEN BRINSDEN" Kenneth Brinsden, President, CEO, & Managing Director Olivier Caza-Lapointe Head, Investor Relations - North America T: +1 (514) 913-5264 E: ocazalapointe@patriotbatterymetals.com _________________________________ 8 Determination based on Mineral Resource data, sourced through July 11, 2025, from corporate disclosure. 9 The Consolidated MRE cut-off grade is variable depending on the mining method and pegmatite (0.40% Li2O open-pit, 0.60% Li2O underground CV5, and 0.70% Li2O underground CV13). A grade constraint of 0.50% Cs2O was used to model the Rigel and Vega caesium zones, which are entirely within the CV13 Pegmatite's open-pit mining shape. The Effective Date of the MREs is June 20, 2025 (through drill hole CV24-787). Mineral Resources are not Mineral or Ore Reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of appl TORONTO, July 21, 2025 - Denison Mines Corp. ("Denison" or the "Company") (TSX: DML) (NYSE American: DNN) is pleased to announce that several significant new intercepts of shallow high-grade uranium mineralization have been discovered at the McClean South zone ("McClean South"), which is part of the Company's 22.5%-owned McClean Lake Joint Venture ("McClean Lake" or "MLJV") in northern Saskatchewan (see Figure 1). PDF Version Orano Canada Inc. ("Orano Canada"), the 77.5% owner and operator of the MLJV, completed a 6,400-metre exploration drilling program at McClean South during the first half of 2025. The drill program was highlighted by multiple notable high-grade intersections at the 8C mineralized pod: MCS-77 intersected 7.51% eU 3 O 8 over 5.4 metres from 165.7 to 171.1 metres (including 10.88% eU 3 O 8 over 3.7 metres), O over 5.4 metres from 165.7 to 171.1 metres (including 10.88% eU O over 3.7 metres), MCS-80 intersected 3.5% eU 3 O 8 over 11.2 metres from 156.7 to 167.9 metres (including 5.81% eU 3 O 8 over 6.5 metres), and O over 11.2 metres from 156.7 to 167.9 metres (including 5.81% eU O over 6.5 metres), and MCS-84 intersected 1.72% eU 3 O 8 over 20.6 metres from 150.6 to 170.7 metres (including 4.43% eU 3 O 8 over 4.0 metres) In total, fourteen of twenty-four completed drill holes from the program encountered significant intercepts of uranium mineralization and the results are interpreted to have confirmed and expanded the mineralized footprint of the 8C and 8W pods (see Figure 2 and 3). McClean South is located approximately 600 metres to the south of the McClean North deposit, where the MLJV recently commenced commercial mining using the joint venture's patented SABRE mining method. Chad Sorba, P.Geo., Denison's Vice President of Technical Services and Project Evaluation, commented "Earlier this year, in its effort to follow up on the discovery of the 8C pod at McClean South since the last drill program in 2022, Orano Canada carried out a successful exploration program that returned several meaningful additional high-grade intercepts, which are interpreted to have expanded the mineralized footprint of the 8C and 8W pods." David Cates, Denison's President & CEO, added "We congratulate and thank Orano Canada for its efforts to successfully advance the delineation and expansion of the high-grade mineralization at McClean South. With the nearby McClean North deposit recently entering production using the joint venture's SABRE mining method and Denison having made significant advancements in the de-risking of the In-Situ Recovery ('ISR') mining method in recent years, there is great potential for the MLJV to advance McClean South to potentially emerge as an economic new source of future feed to the McClean Lake mill." 2025 McClean South Exploration Highlights The objective of the exploration program at McClean South was to expand the existing footprint of high-grade mineralization with a focus on further assessing the 8C and 8W Pods. With uranium mineralization measuring greater than 0.05% eU (0.06% eU 3 O 8 ) intersected in 14 of 24 drill holes completed during the program, the results successfully expanded the footprint of the 8W and 8C pods and confirmed the continuity of mineralization. Results from the 8W pod were highlighted by the following: MCS-61 and MCS-64 confirmed mineralization in the sandstone near surface along the western edge of the 8W pod. MCS-61 intersected 0.15% eU 3 O 8 over 2.2 metres from 40.3 to 42.5 metres and MCS-64 intersected 0.21% eU 3 O 8 over 1.2 metres from 57.6 to 58.8 metres. The results of the holes discussed above and the balance of the mineralized intersections from the 2025 drill program are summarized in Table 1 below. Table 1 - 2025 McClean Lake Exploration Drilling - Mineralized Intersections Drill Hole Target area Orientation (azi/dip) From (m) To (m) Length (m)(1) % eU 3 O 8 (2) MCS-61 8W 345/-75 40.3 42.5 2.2 0.15 MCS-62 8C 345/-77 173.9 176.9 3.0 0.52 including - - 175.6 176.0 0.4 1.71 MCS-63 8W 330/-75 174.3 175.6 1.3 0.31 MCS-64 8W 330/-75 57.6 58.8 1.2 0.21 MCS-67A 8C 340/-70 172.0 174.9 2.9 0.28 MCS-67A - - 175.9 183.2 7.3 0.29 MCS-67A - - 183.7 187.3 3.6 0.62 including - - 185.6 186.8 1.2 1.58 MCS-71 8C 348/-80 168.5 169.7 1.2 0.18 MCS-74 8C 345/-80 153.8 156.3 2.5 0.14 MCS-74 8C - 157.2 164.7 7.5 0.24 MCS-74 8C - 165.7 168.5 2.8 0.31 MCS-76 8C 349/-80 173.8 175.2 1.4 0.15 MCS-77 8C 345/-80 165.7 171.1 5.4 7.51 including - - 166.5 170.2 3.7 10.88 MCS-78 8C 345/-83 164.4 166.4 2.0 0.41 including - - 165.5 166.0 0.5 1.08 MCS-79 8C 345/-78 164.2 170.1 5.9 0.75 including - - 167.2 168.8 1.6 1.51 MCS-80 8C 346/-80 156.7 167.9 11.2 3.50 including - - 158.6 165.1 6.5 5.81 MCS-81 8C 345/-77 168.2 169.8 1.6 0.32 MCS-84 8C 345/-90 150.1 170.7 20.6 1.72 including - - 153.9 157.9 4.0 2.70 including - - 166.0 170.0 4.0 4.43 Notes: (1) Lengths indicated represent the down-hole length of mineralized intersections; (2) Interval is composited above a cut-off grade of 0.05% eU, which corresponds to 0.06% eU 3 O 8 Radiometric Equivalent Grades, Sampling, Analysis and Data Verification Following the completion of a drill hole, the hole is radiometrically logged using a downhole slimline gamma probe, which collects continuous readings of radioactivity along the length of the drill hole. Probe results are then calibrated using an algorithm calculated from the comparison of probe results against geochemical analyses in the area. The gamma-log results provide an immediate radiometric equivalent uranium value (eU%, then converted to eU 3 O 8 %) for the hole, which, except in very high-grade zones, is reasonably accurate. The Company typically reports eU 3 O 8 , as a preliminary result and subsequently reports definitive assay grades following sampling and chemical analysis of the mineralized drill core. Assay sample intervals are generally 50 centimetres long, except where higher or lower grade mineralization boundaries fall within the interval. In that case, two 25-centimetre samples are collected. Flank samples of 1.0 metre are collected where mineralization is located. Systematic geochemistry samples are collected every 10 metres down the hole. All assayed core is split in half, with one half retained and the other sent to the SRC Geoanalytical Laboratory in Saskatoon for analysis. Control samples are routinely assayed with each batch of core samples analyzed. About McClean South 8C, 8E and 8W Pods The McClean South trend is located parallel to and approximately 600 metres south of the McClean North trend in the southwestern portion of the property (see Figure 1). The McClean South zone has been the subject of historic exploration drilling, resulting in the discovery and subsequent delineation of the 8W, 8C, and 8E pods, which are situated along a N70 to 80 trend near the McClean Lake granitic dome to the south (see Figure 2 and 3). Mineralization within the 8W, 8C and 8E pods is currently understood to be primarily hosted within the sandstone; however, it has been locally encountered within the basement of the 8W and 8C pods. The mineralization within the sandstone can extend upwards of 50 meters above the unconformity and has been identified near surface at the western edge of the 8W pod. No current resource estimate, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, exists for the mineralization identified to date at the McClean South pods. About McClean Lake The McClean Lake property is located on the eastern edge of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, approximately 750 kilometres north of Saskatoon. Denison holds a 22.5% ownership interest in the MLJV and the McClean Lake uranium mill, one of the world's largest uranium processing facilities. The mill has licensed annual production capacity of 24.0 million pounds U 3 O 8 and is currently operating under a 10-year license expiring in 2027. The mill is contracted to process the ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement (up to 18.0 million pounds U 3 O 8 per year). The MLJV is an unincorporated contractual arrangement between Orano Canada with a 77.5% interest and Denison with a 22.5% interest. Orano Canada is the operator of the project. McClean Lake consists of nine known uranium deposits: JEB; Sue A, B, C, D, E and F; McClean North; and McClean South. In 1995, the development of the McClean Lake project began. Mill construction commenced in 1995, and ore processing activities reached commercial production in November 1999. Mining operations commenced in 1996, and the following deposits have been mined out to date: JEB (1996 to 1997), Sue C (1997 to 2002), Sue A (2005 to 2006), Sue E (2005 to 2008) and Sue B (2007 to 2008). Production from the McClean North deposit, using the MLJV's patented SABRE mining method, commenced in 2025. About Denison Denison is a leading uranium mining, development, and exploration company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Denison has an effective 95% interest in its flagship Wheeler River Uranium Project, which is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure rich eastern portion of the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan. In mid-2023, the Phoenix feasibility study was completed for the Phoenix deposit as an ISR mining operation, and an update to the previously prepared 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study ('PFS') was completed for Wheeler River's Gryphon deposit as a conventional underground mining operation. Based on the respective studies, both deposits have the potential to be competitive with the lowest cost uranium mining operations in the world. Permitting efforts for the planned Phoenix ISR operation commenced in 2019 and several notable milestones were achieved in 2024 with the submission of federal licensing documents and the acceptance of the final form of the project's Environmental Impact Statement by the Province of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Denison's interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5% ownership interest in the MLJV, which includes unmined uranium deposits (with mining at the McClean North deposit via the MLJV's SABRE mining method having commenced in 2025) and the McClean Lake uranium mill (currently utilizing a portion of its licensed capacity to process the ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll milling agreement), plus a 25.17% interest in the Midwest Joint Venture Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits, and a 70.55% interest in the Tthe Heldeth Tue ('THT') and Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake Property. The Midwest Main, Midwest A, THT and Huskie deposits are located within 20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill. Taken together, Denison has direct ownership interests in properties covering ~384,000 hectares in the Athabasca Basin region. Additionally, through its 50% ownership of JCU (Canada) Exploration Company, Limited ('JCU'), Denison holds interests in various uranium project joint ventures in Canada, including the Millennium project (JCU, 30.099%), the Kiggavik project (JCU, 33.8118) and Christie Lake (JCU, 34.4508%). In 2024, Denison celebrated its 70th year in uranium mining, exploration, and development, which began in 1954 with Denison's first acquisition of mining claims in the Elliot Lake region of northern Ontario. Qualified Persons The technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Chad Sorba, P.Geo., Denison's Vice President Technical Services & Project Evaluation, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information', within the meaning of the applicable United States and Canadian legislation, concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates', or 'believes', or the negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur', 'be achieved' or 'has the potential to'. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the following: the interpretation of exploration results and expectations with respect thereto, including the interpretation of the results from the McClean Lake JV exploration program undertaken by Orano Canada, underlying assumptions and the McClean Lake JV's intentions with respect thereto; exploration plans and objectives; plans and objectives for ISR and SABRE mining by Denison and/or Orano Canada; and expectations regarding its joint venture ownership interests and the continuity of its agreements with its partners and third parties. Statements relating to 'mineral reserves' or 'mineral resources' are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the mineral reserves and mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For example, the modelling and assumptions upon which the interpretation of results are based may not be maintained after further testing or be representative of actual conditions. Denison believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be accurate and results may differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the factors discussed in Denison's Annual Information Form dated March 28, 2025 or subsequent quarterly financial reports under the heading 'Risk Factors'. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being exhaustive. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking information and the assumptions made with respect thereto speaks only as of the date of this news release. Denison does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news release to conform such information to actual results or to changes in Denison's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable legislation. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/denison-announces-additional-high-grade-uranium-mineralization-discovered-at-mcclean-south-302509358.html SOURCE Denison Mines Corp. SUDBURY, July 21, 2025 - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a property wide 1,000 line-km MobileMT electromagnetic geophysical ("EM") survey will commence during the last week of July at SPC Nickel's 100% owned district-scale Muskox Cu-Ni-PGM Project ("Muskox Project" or the "Project") in Nunavut, Canada. The helicopter-borne survey, to be conducted by Expert Geophysics Survey Inc. ("EGS"), will be instrumental in determining the overall three-dimensional shape and morphology of the Muskox Intrusion and for identifying both large conductive regions associated with the basal contact of the Muskox Intrusion and the extensive Keel Zone target, a Voisey's Bay analogue. The survey will be the first of its kind completed over the highly prospective Muskox Intrusion and the first airborne geophysical survey completed in over 20 years on the Project. Historical drill results underscore the exceptional mineral potential of the Muskox Intrusion, including: 7.50 metres @ 6.14% Cu, 2.76% Ni and 9.06 g/t PGM (Pt+Pd+Au) 1 by Silvermet Corporation in 2007 and by Silvermet Corporation in 2007 and 13.74 metres @ 5.04% Cu, 2.21% Ni and 5.63 g/t PGM2 by Equinox Resources Ltd. in 1987 The Keel Zone is interpreted to represent a dynamic geological environment, similar to the Ovoid deposit at the Voisey's Bay Mine, which the Company believes has excellent potential to host high-grade polymetallic (Cu-Ni-PGM) sulphide mineralization. The Keel Zone extends over a strike length of 40 km and represents the intersection point of the Muskox Feeder Dyke with the main Muskox Intrusion. Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "Muskox stands out as one of the last remaining district-scale, underexplored polymetallic systems in a Tier-1 jurisdiction. The scale of the intrusion, the intensity of the mineralization, and the diversity of metal content we're seeing - including copper, nickel, and PGMs - all point to the presence of a very large, highly fertile magmatic system. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of this exciting project. The program announced today builds on our previous work at Muskox and will, alongside our comprehensive proprietary database, contribute to a robust geological model that supports the potential for a globally significant polymetallic discovery in Canada's north." MobileMT Geophysical Survey Expert Geophysics Survey Inc. has been contracted to complete a 1,000 line-km MobileMT EM geophysical survey spanning the entire claim block covering the main Muskox Intrusion. The survey will be conducted at 200 metre line spacing in the southern half of the claim block and 500 metre spacing in the northern half. MobileMT uses naturally occurring electromagnetic fields in the frequency range of 25 Hz - 20,000 Hz to map the variations in the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. MobileMT is the most advanced generation of airborne audio-magnetotelluric survey that combines the latest achievements in electronics, advances of modern airborne system design, and sophisticated signal processing techniques. MobileMT is capable of delivering geoelectrical information from shallow to >1 km depth range with high spatial and resistivity resolution. The MobileMT system detects resistivity contrasts of geology structures and boundaries of any shape and in any direction due to total field (three-component) measurements. Shareholder Rights Offering - Update SPC Nickel reminds shareholders that the Company's ongoing rights offering (See news release here) closes on July 25, 2025, at 5:00 pm Toronto time. As a shareholder of record on June 24, 2025, you should have received a notice and subscription form from your broker or intermediary regarding your rights. If you hold your shares in a brokerage account and haven't received anything yet, we encourage you to reach out to your advisor or platform as soon as possible. Offering Terms Shareholders received 0.906482950 rights for each SPC Nickel share held; Each 1 right entitles the holder to purchase 1 common share at a price of $0.02; and Shareholders who fully exercise their rights may subscribe for additional shares under the Additional Subscription Privilege, subject to availability Key Dates to Remember Record Date: June 24, 2025 Rights Expiry Date: July 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) - this is the deadline to act Trading Period for Rights: June 24 - July 25, 2025 (until 12:00 p.m. Toronto time) on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SPC.RT The proceeds will be used to support ongoing exploration activities, including work at SPC Nickel's flagship Muskox Project. About the Muskox Intrusion Originally discovered in the 1950s by Inco, SPC Nickel's Muskox Project, located in Nunavut, Canada, represents one of the most prospective greenfield polymetallic nickel, copper, and PGM projects globally. The district-scale land package (470 km2) covers the majority of the Muskox Intrusion, a large, layered mafic-ultramafic body with striking geological similarities to some of the world's most significant nickel-copper-PGM deposits, such as the massive Norilsk-Talnakh deposit that contains in excess of 28.7 Mt of nickel and 48.9 Mt of copper3 (reserves and resources, as of January 1, 2025). The Muskox Intrusion is one of the largest and least deformed layered mafic to ultramafic bodies in the world. It was emplaced during a large magmatic event (Mackenzie Magmatic Event) in the Proterozoic by mantle plume volcanism related to the widespread Coppermine River Group flood basalts. The intrusion is broadly composed of two distinct, but related, components called the Main Muskox Intrusion and the Feeder Dyke, which combined are exposed over a length of 125 km, and range in width from 200-600 metres in the Feeder Dyke to 11 km in the Main Body of the intrusion. Previous exploration programs completed over a roughly 60-year period identified widespread high-grade polymetallic sulphide mineralization along the basal contact of the intrusion or in the adjacent footwall, similar to the Sudbury and Norilsk-Talnakh camps. Historical drill highlights from the Muskox Project include: 7.50 metres @ 6.14% Cu, 2.76% Ni and 9.06 g/t PGM (Pt+Pd+Au) 1 by Silvermet Corporation (2007) and by Silvermet Corporation (2007) and 13.74 metres @ 5.04% Cu, 2.21% Ni and 5.63 g/t PGM2 by Equinox Resources Ltd. (1987) These results, combined with an extensive footprint of magmatic sulfide mineralization, historical high-grade drill intercepts, untested geophysical targets and limited modern follow-up, underscore the Project's exceptional discovery potential. Reference Vivian, Gary (2007). Muskox Project, Nunavut, 2007 Drill and Geophysical Survey Program Annual Report for Prize Mining, Assessment report. 57 p., 8 data Appendices. Page, J.W., Culbert, R.R. and Martin, L.S. (1988). Geochemical, geophysical and diamond drill reports on the Muskox property, NWT. Equinox Resources Ltd. DIAND Assessment report 082562. 56 p., 3 data Appendices. Nornickel Annual Report 2024. Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. The historical information shown in this news release that was obtained from historical work reports filed by Equinox Resources Ltd. and Silvermet Corporation has not been independently verified by a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43 101. About SPC Nickel Corp. SPC Nickel is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for high-grade polymetallic Cu-Ni-PGM mineralization in Nunavut and within the world-class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its unique district-scale polymetallic Muskox Project in Nunavut where the team is conducting a field program during the summer of 2025. The Company is also advancing its 100%-owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp, which includes the West Graham Resource and the LKE Resource. SPC Nickel is committed to advancing high-potential polymetallic projects in Tier-1 jurisdictions across Canada with an emphasis on Nunavut and Sudbury. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of SPC Nickel. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, SPC Nickel expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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. SOURCE SPC Nickel Corp. North Vancouver, July 21, 2025 - Lion One Metals Ltd. (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an operations update and to report preliminary quarterly gold production from the Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji for the quarter ending June 30th, 2025. Highlights of Operations: Record mill utilization of 96% Record mill throughput of 33,726 tonnes Record capital development of 489 m Record operating development of 1,014 m Shrink stope development complete, production beginning Sustained increase in gold recoveries Preliminary Quarterly Production Results: 3,577 oz of gold sold 3,214 oz of gold recovered 81.6% recovery 3.6 g/t gold average head grade Total revenue of C$16,300,821 Lion One Metals sold approximately 3,577 oz of gold and 1,233 oz of silver during the three-month period ending June 30th, 2025. The average sale price for the quarter was C$4,541 per ounce of gold sold. Total revenue for the quarter was C$16,300,821, which represents a 24% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter (C$13,173,024), and a 77% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year (C$9,187,046). Gold revenue for the quarter was enhanced by higher gold prices, increased recoveries, and higher mill throughput, as well as the sale of additional gold recovered from the gold in circuit. Average head grade for the quarter was low due to the delayed completion of the mine ventilation project, which caused a delay in mine development in lower levels of the mine. This limited the Company's flexibility and opportunity to mine high grade material during the quarter as mine development recovered from the delay. Mill performance for the quarter was very strong, achieving record quarterly mill utilization of 96%. This resulted in a record 33,726 tonnes of mineralized material being processed through the mill, for an average throughput of approximately 371 tonnes per day for the quarter. With minimal down time for maintenance and repairs, the processing team was able to focus on debottlenecking efforts and improved carbon management, which in turn resulted in a sustained increase in gold recoveries at the end of the quarter. Gold recovery for the month of June was 84.1%, compared to an average of 80.3% over the previous 12 months at Tuvatu (Figure 1). With construction of the flotation circuit underway, gold recoveries are anticipated to increase to over 90% by the end of 2025 (see release dated March 20, 2025). Figure 1. Tuvatu Monthly Recovery, Last Six Months. Gold recoveries increased from a 12-month average of 80.3% to 84.1% in June 2025 because of debottlenecking efforts and improved carbon management at the mill. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/259381_5ef20fb714edb865_001full.jpg Mine development achieved record levels during the quarter with a total of 1,503 m of underground development completed. The arrival of new mining equipment during the quarter, as well as the completion of the mine ventilation project in early April enabled the mining team to increase the rate of underground development and to open more levels of the mine. The top three months of development at Tuvatu were all achieved during this past quarter, with a new record monthly development of 545 m achieved in May 2025. The average monthly mine development at Tuvatu for the 12 months preceding this quarter was 340.5 m (Figure 2). More new mining equipment is scheduled to arrive on site and undergo commissioning in July and August, which is expected to further increase the rate of development at Tuvatu. Notably, the development of the Company's first shrinkage stope is now complete, with production scheduled for July, August, and September. Drilling in the shrinkage stope has returned high grade intervals, such as 142.66 g/t Au over 2.2 m, 489.52 g/t Au over 0.4 m, 168.95 g/t Au over 0.5 m, and 156.55 g/t Au over 0.6 m (see news releases dated March 25, 2025 and May 12, 2025). Lion One CEO Ian Berzins stated: "With the Tuvatu gold mine still in the pilot plant stage of development, we have made great progress this quarter in laying the foundations for future success at Tuvatu. We have increased gold recoveries on the mill side and we have increased the rate of underground development on the mine side, both of which we expect to continue to improve moving forward. With production from the shrink stope coming online in July we anticipate this upcoming quarter to achieve even stronger results." Figure 2. Tuvatu Monthly Mine Development, Last Six Months. Record Capital and Operating Development was achieved during the quarter ending June 30th 2025. This was a result of the arrival of new mining equipment during the quarter as well as the completion of the mine ventilation project in early April 2025. Record mine development of 545 m was achieved in May 2025. This compares to average monthly mine development of 340.5 m during the preceding 12 months from April 2024 to March 2025. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/259381_5ef20fb714edb865_002full.jpg Qualified Persons Statement In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"), William J. Witte, P.Eng., Principal Advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Lion One Laboratories / QAQC Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical assay laboratory and its own fleet of diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods. Diamond drill core samples are logged by Lion One personnel on site. Exploration diamond drill core is split by Lion One personnel on site, with half core samples sent for analysis and the other half core remaining on site. Grade control diamond drill core is whole core assayed. Core samples are delivered to the Lion One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85% passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method, which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples. Duplicates of 5% of samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) but currently focuses on a suite of 26 important pathfinder elements with an aqua regia digest and ICP-OES finish. About Lion One Metals Limited Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Walter Berukoff, Chairman of the Board Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259381 Vancouver, July 21, 2025 - Lexston Mining Corp. (the "Company" or "Lexston") (CSE: LEXT) (OTC: LEXTF) (Frankfurt: W5G) is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated June 27, 2025, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement and raised gross proceeds of $625,235 through the issuance of 7,355,704 common shares at a price of $0.085 per share (the "Private Placement"). 589,118 of the total was issued as flow-through shares. The Company plans to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for exploration expenditures and general working capital. No finder's fees were paid in relation to the Private Placement. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a four-month statutory hold period until November 22, 2025. About Lexston Mining Corporation The Company is a Canadian mineral exploration company, focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects, with the objective to enhance value to all its stakeholders. The Company has a mineral exploration project in British Columbia, Canada. The Company (OTCQB: LEXTF) trades on the OTCQB Venture Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies. Companies are current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. Investors can find RealTime quotes and market information for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors LEXSTON MINING CORPORATION Jagdip Bal Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 928-8913 Email: info@lexston.ca The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. Forward-looking statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and are based on a number of estimates and/or assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain and volatile equity and capital markets, lack of available capital, actual results of exploration activities, environmental risks, future prices of base and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, objections by aboriginal people, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, obtaining consents of aboriginal people and other risks in the mining industry. These statements include but are not limited to obtaining financing, exploration permits, exploration of properties for minerals, liquidity of the common shares of the Company and future financings of the Company. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the acquisition of new properties, liquidity of the common shares of the Company, financings, the market valuing the Company in a manner not anticipated by management of the Company. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. The Company is presently an exploration stage company. Exploration is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks, requires substantial expenditures, and may not result in the discovery of mineral deposits that can be mined profitably. Furthermore, the Company currently has no reserves on its properties. As a result, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Next article: No dollar shortageISSER director urges traders to use banks, not black market Featured BOG: Treasury Bills oversubscribed for first time in 2 months Beatrice Laryea Business News Jul - 21 - 2025 , 11:19 Ghanas Treasury market saw a resurgence last week as the governments latest T-bill auction was oversubscribed for the first time in two months, according to the Bank of Ghana (BOG). Data released by the central bank on July 14 showed that investor bids totaled GH20.98 billionnearly double the governments target of GH5.44 billion, representing a 97.82 per cent oversubscription. The Treasury ultimately accepted GH10.64 billion in bids, enough to cover both its target and the upcoming maturities of GH5.24 billion. It said the strong turnout signals renewed investor confidence in short-term government securities after several weeks of sluggish demand in the T-bill market. Breaking down the results: 91-day bill: GH5.65 billion accepted from GH13.77 billion in bids 182-day bill: GH2.99 billion accepted from GH4.22 billion in bids 364-day bill: GH2.00 billion accepted from GH2.98 billion in bids Analysts attribute the shift in investor sentiment to the search for relatively higher returns after the Bank of Ghana slashed yields on its own BoG Bills, which were previously pegged at 27 percent. The recent surge in demand for Treasury bills is largely driven by renewed interest in short-term government securities, following the central banks policy rate cuts. Despite a sharp decline, T-bills continue to offer competitive yields. Auction results show that: GH5.65 billion of GH13.77 billion in bids were accepted for the 91-day bill GH2.99 billion of GH4.22 billion for the 182-day bill GH2.00 billion of GH2.98 billion for the 364-day bill Featured How the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality cost us our freedom - C.Y. Pitt writes C.Y. Pitt Opinion Jul - 21 - 2025 , 13:28 3 minutes read Somewhere around 1460, when the first Europeans (the Portuguese) touched down at Edina (Elmina) on the Gold Coast, the local Fante community was divided, concerning the real intentions of the strange white men. While some were ready to give the Portuguese land to build a local base, others no doubt warned that the strangers could not be trusted. But, as is common in Ghana to this day, the gullible pacifists, seeking to please the white strangers above their own interests, won. So land was generously granted to the Portuguese to build their fortified castle at Elmina, between 1478 and 1482. Well, the rest, as they say, is history. Over the next two centuries, unknown millions of locals were enslaved and shipped to the West Indies and the Americas, using the same castles and forts the natives had so naively allowed on their soil. An indicator of our dear ancestors' friendly disposition, is the fact that the Elmina Castle was the first permanent European structure on mainland Africa. Of the 49 slave forts and castles on the West African coast stretching from Senegal to the Cameroons, a staggering 43 are located in present-day Ghana alone. No other demographic in West Africa, was as naively welcoming and accommodating, as those living on the Gold Coast. Fact. This reveals a gullible, obliging softness by our ancestors, in seeking to please the foreigner, and thinking that the White strangers could have no ill intentions. Yet, the Europeans took advantage of our ancestors' hospitality in the worst possible way, enslaving and oppressing them for centuries. Fast forward to the present day, and we can detect our soft ancestors' direct descendants in our midst. They boast about our traditional hospitality to strangers, and are intolerant about any vigilant gatekeeping by the citizenry. Meanwhile, in their zeal to please foreigners, they remain clueless about the creeping threats to our national sovereignty. They have not learnt any lessons from our history, and how our blanket hospitality opened the doors to our gradual domination by colonizers. Incredibly, these 'sheeple' naively presume that even unruly foreigners with a global reputation for lawlessness and fraud, cannot possibly mean any harm in Ghana, though they have been driven out of several countries. Are we so gullible? Another immigrant demographic from the Far East, notorious for destroying our water bodies through mining, has incredibly been given the leeway to build large enclaves within Ghana, where their own language and home currency is exclusively used. Are we even serious as a nation? At a time when every serious country is placing strict limits on immigration, in order to keep out undesirables and protect national security, Ghana has left her borders wide open to every Tom, Dick and Harry. It beggars belief, that to some Ghanaians, this reckless negligence of the national interest, equates "hospitality". Yet, even the Bible makes it clear in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, that "There is a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing". Our leaders do not seem to have received the memo. Mind you, hospitality to strangers is actually a good thing. However, it must never come at the expense of our national security, and social stability. And both Eastern and Western nations understand this very well. Alas, it is 1478 all over again. We are still embracing every stranger, regardless of their ulterior motives, and giving them a piece of Ghana to build their exclusive enclaves. What could possibly go wrong, apart from the gradual loss of our national sovereignty? Featured Sale of family houses booms in parts of Accra Lydia Ezit Life Jul - 21 - 2025 , 11:34 5 minutes read The selling of family houses to corporate institutions, groups and individuals in many of the Ga communities has, in recent times, become a trend, rendering many young people homeless. The practice, according to some Ga traditional leaders, could be attributed to greed and protracted litigation among some families. They said some family members tend to secretly will family homes specifically to their children, and that had led to years of litigation. The Vice-President of the Otublohum Divisional Council Ga Traditional Area, Nii Amoo III, who shared his thoughts with The Mirror on the subject in Accra last Thursday, said considering the severity of some of the litigations, some of the families felt the best solution was to sell the houses and share the proceeds among family members. Communities A visit by The Mirror to Teshie-Nungua, Adabraka, La, Osu, Asylum Down and Kokomlemle in the past week revealed that the trend was very common in those communities. Nii Amoo III confirmed that the practice was on the increase in Adabraka, for instance, because a lot of businesses were springing up. In that regard, he was of the view that in a few years, Adabraka would become a commercial area like Okaishie in the Central Business District of Accra. Nii Amoo said Adabraka, which extended to Asylum Down, was very big and, therefore, the trend was widespread. He said it was the construction of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital that changed the name of that part of Adabraka to Asylum. While he admitted that the practice was a cause for concern, Nii Amoo also observed that many houses in Adabraka were being demolished and rebuilt as warehouses, pharmacies and banks. He said the subject had come up on various platforms for discussion, "but our hands are tied since we cannot meddle in such family affairs". Businesses are springing up in Adabraka "It is their family houses, and if they are selling or leasing them out, there is nothing traditional leaders can do," he stated. Nii Amoo III, who doubles as the Otublohum Dzasetse (kingmaker), took The Mirror through the nitty gritty of the transactions and said land in Adabraka, for instance, sold between GH200,000 and GH300,000 a plot. If there is a building on the land, then that is big money because some families sell such property in dollars," he said. New houses Although the sellers may have lost a home with all the most cherished history and family ties, he said many made very good use of the proceeds by building in newly developed communities such as Pokuase, Amasaman or Sapeiman. Nii Amoo III noted that the sale affected family history and traditions, and encouraged heads of families to be measured and tactful when making such decisions. "Think of the future of the unborn children, where you are going to have family meetings, child naming, marriage and funerals. As opinion leaders, we can only create awareness of its effect on the family," Nii Amoo said. A landlady at Adabraka, Madam Helena Lamptey Ferguson, attributed the decision to sell off family houses to what she described as "unworkable family misunderstandings". Court cases Madam Ferguson said there was a court case on house ownership in her family that had dragged on for over 30 years. She said the back and forth had persisted to the extent that those who filed the court case had even passed on. To Madam Ferguson, it was always best to sell for peace to reign. She expressed concern about abandoned family houses and noted that some were currently empty and in bad shape; hence, the urge to sell them off. Adabraka Manye Sharing her experience in an interview at her residence last Saturday, Adabraka Manye, Naa Korkor Aadzieoyi I, attributed the practice to greed and misunderstanding among families. She said her position was that if families wanted to sell their houses, they must sell portions, use the proceeds to rebuild the old structure and reunite the family. She said the sale of family houses had affected family meetings and other forms of reunion among Ga people, especially during the Homowo festival, because many have no place to meet as a family. Land is sold between GH200,000 and GH300,000 a plot in Adabraka "And when you allow the meetings to be held in your home, soon some will declare that house as their family house, and that is likely to bring misunderstandings between your children and other family members in future. So l encourage rotation of such family meetings. If we have the meeting at my house today, the next time we do it at another person's house," she explained. The queenmother said it was important for Ga chiefs to use this years Homowo festival to encourage as many people as possible to visit their family homes. She said they must also drum home the message that they must desist from selling family houses. Situation at Osu At Osu, for instance, checks by The Mirror showed that the practice was a bit different from what pertained in Adabraka. It was clear that families in Osu were not handing over their entire family houses to buyers. The Mirror gathered that families struck a deal with potential clients to demolish, rebuild and share or lease. A resident of Osu, Mr Humphrey Hammond, told The Mirror that " they can sell only the frontage of the house or let investors build half of the property into shops or rented apartments and then develop the other half for the family, so the family house will still be there in addition to making some money." Situation in Teshie In Teshie, many of the residents explained that selling family houses was not rampant. However, a resident, Nii Sowa, said some of the occupants of the Teshie-Nungua estates, who had lost their parents, usually sold off the family houses. Many residents in the respective communities who spoke to The Mirror also expressed grave concerns about the practice, saying the sale of family houses had affected child upbringing within Ga communities. To some of the residents, it had rendered them homeless, such that many begged others to use their compounds for social events like naming ceremonies and funerals. Writer's email:[email protected] NANJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- German auto giant BMW is set to establish its first information technology (IT) research and development center in China, marking a significant expansion of the company's digital capabilities, according to an agreement signed Friday. The new entity, BMW (Nanjing) Information Technology Co., Ltd., will be located in Nanjing's Jianye District, east China's Jiangsu Province, and operated as an independent legal entity. It will focus on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), industrial digital twins and intelligent manufacturing, BMW said. Once operational, the Nanjing center is set to be BMW's largest IT R&D hub in Asia. It is designed to strengthen the automaker's global production, sales, and after-sales systems through digital solutions rooted in China's rapidly evolving tech landscape. "China not only leads the world in the application of digital technologies, but also demonstrates remarkable vitality in building a thriving ecosystem for digital innovation," said Franz Decker, president and CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., during the signing ceremony with Nanjing's Jianye District government. "With the establishment of this new company, we are accelerating BMW's local digital core capabilities," Decker said. "By joining forces with China's innovation ecosystem, we aim to propel BMW Group's digital transformation both in China and globally." BMW has been increasingly integrating AI into its operations in China. In 2024, the automaker's proprietary AI tool "JoyCode" achieved a 30 percent assisted code generation rate, boosting delivery efficiency by the same margin -- a result the company said reflects the global value of Chinese innovation. The German company is also deepening collaborations with China's leading tech firms. It is co-developing advanced driver-assistance systems tailored to China's road conditions with autonomous driving startup Momenta, building a custom AI engine with Alibaba based on the Tongyi large language model and integrating DeepSeek's foundation models into BMW's AI-powered personal assistant. BMW said that these efforts are part of a broader push to establish a future-facing smart mobility ecosystem in China, spanning key technologies such as intelligent driving systems, smart cockpits and interactive AI. Local officials in Nanjing hailed the new BMW project as a "powerful engine" for boosting the city's software industry, which has reached a total output of over 860 billion yuan (about 120 billion U.S. dollars). The city is targeting a trillion-yuan software industry cluster in the near future. The new center will also serve as a talent hub. BMW said it will recruit and train globally minded digital professionals, and work closely with local governments, universities, research institutions and startups to drive open collaboration in AI, big data and smart connected vehicles. "We are moving into a new generation of cars and a new generation of solutions," Decker said. "China obviously is at the forefront of a lot of innovations in IT, and Nanjing is our gateway to this innovation here in China." Nanjing has long-standing economic ties with Germany. Data from the local commerce department showed that 304 German-funded projects, including those by Siemens and Bosch, have taken root in the city, with the actual use of foreign investment totaling 2.17 billion U.S. dollars. "We do believe that free trade is a basis for generating growth and prosperity all over the world," Decker said. "So, having China and Germany working together is the basis of having a successful development for both of them." "Cooperation is the key for future development," he added. Featured When war becomes tourism Kofi Akpabli Life Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:06 4 minutes read In 2022, a Canadian politician, Dominic Cardy, was on vacation in Ukraine. He visited sites that had experienced Russian bombings and been damaged, and he shared multiple images and videos on his personal X (Twitter) account. In 2021, British internet personality Miles Routledge visited Afghanistan during the Fall of Kabul, and has since returned multiple times. He was captured and detained by the Taliban for several months. He shared photos, livestreams, videos and stories from Afghanistan online, as well as later recounting his experiences in interviews and a book. Can a war lead to tourism boom? Not to be confused with Dark tourism, war tourism is recreational travel to active or former war zones for purposes of sightseeing or historical study. Reckless as it might sound, the phenomenon did not begin today. War artists and correspondents are considered to be the first war tourists. In 1653, Dutchman Willem van de Velde took to sea in a small boat to observe a naval battle between the Dutch and the English, making many sketches on the spot. During the Crimean War, tourists led by Mark Twain (one of my favourite men) visited the wrecked city of. Fanny Duberly, travelled with her husband to the Crimea in 1854 and stayed with him throughout his time there despite the protests of commanders such as Lord Lucan. As the only woman at the front line, she was the centre of much attention. This woman was told of planned attacks ahead of time, giving her the opportunity to be in a good position to witness them. The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the American Civil War. Expecting an easy Union victory, the wealthy elite of nearby Washington, including congressmen and their families, had come to picnic and watched the battle. When the Union army was driven back, the roads back to Washington were blocked by panicked civilians attempting to flee in their carriages. Thomas Cook began promoting tours to the battlefields of the Second Boer War before the conflict had ended. A variety of other travel agents advertised the easily accessible and picturesque battlefields of Tugela and Ladysmith. Groups of tourists also closely followed the Franco-Prussian War, visiting the battlefields shortly after the fighting was over. One of the first travel agents, Henry Gaze, created a tour which included the battlefield of Waterloo in 1854. Waterloo was visited by schoolboys and teachers for educational purposes. The rising popularity of Waterloo as a tourist attraction led to the appearance of numerous charlatans claiming to have participated in the battle. The guide also highlighted the booming trade in relics and souvenirs related to the engagement. Despite the criticism, war tourism continued to develop at the pace of the tourism industry in general. At the beginning of World War I, it became evident that following the end of the war, the related battlefields would attract considerable attention from potential tourists. Although instances of war tourism during the Great War have been documented, they remained limited due to opposition by the French authorities. In September 1934, 100,000 Catholic former servicemen from both sides of the conflict visited Lourdes in order to pray for peace. A large number of Anglican tourists also undertook tours to the battlefields of the Palestinian campaign. Greece, Turkey and Italy also became popular war tourism destinations. A large number of battlefield guides were produced by a variety of travel agencies, further fueling the rise of war tours. Following the end of World War II, former battlefields created new war tourist destinations. Saipan, as well as other battlefields of the Pacific, became a place of pilgrimage for Japanese veterans who reburied and erected monuments to their fallen comrades. As recently as 2008, former security professional Rick Sweeney formed War Zone Tours, while another of the companies operating in this market was begun by a former New York Times journalist, Nicholas Wood. Sweeney is part of a group of tour guides who take tourists to countries that have experienced or are mired in conflict. A tourist on a trip to Baghdad paid up to $40,000. The Syrian civil war attracted many adventure-seekers. According to retired Israel Defence Forces Colonel, Kobi Marom, who leads tours of the war zone across the Israeli border, tourists are interested in seeing the conflict and go "crazy" when they learn that they are probably being observed by Al-Qaeda militants. In Iran, students, members of the sij militia and interested people are routinely taken to the former battle sites of the IranIraq War, as the war is considered by the Iranian ruling regime a "holy defence" and an ideological pillar to the existence of the ruling Islamic Republic. The trips are organised by Basij, an offshoot of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which enlists the travellers normally in mosques, schools or universities. The trips, which are officially called "Tours for the Travellers of Light" are low-cost and are taken by bus under poor safety conditions. Since 2008, accidents involving the buses taking the "tourists" have killed at least 70 people. Crazy. But significant. Featured Dont give children under age 13 smartphones, new research says Analysis by Kara Alaimo/CNN Education Jul - 21 - 2025 , 14:55 6 minutes read Parents should limit their childrens use of smartphones and social media, according to new research. A study released Monday found that using smartphones before age 13 could damage kids mental health. Smartphone use by children younger than 13 was associated with suicidal thoughts, worse emotional regulation, lower self-worth and detachment from reality, especially among girls, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities. For every year before age 13 that a person acquired a smartphone, their mental health and well-being were likely to be lower, the study found. Thats likely because the kids who used smartphones before turning 13 accessed social media more and experienced sleep disruptions, cyberbullying and negative family relationships, according to the study. The data is based on self-reports in a survey of nearly 2 million people in 163 countries. The results were so stark that the researchers called for global restrictions to prevent children younger than 13 from using smartphones and social media. This calls for urgent action limiting access of children under 13 to smartphones as well as more nuanced regulation on the digital environment young people are exposed to, said lead study author Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist of Sapien Labs, the nonprofit that runs the survey. While previous research focused on how smartphone use is related to anxiety and depression, this survey looked at symptoms not commonly studied, including emotional regulation and self-worth, and found they are very significant, said Thiagarajan, who is based in Arlington, Virginia. The results were self-reported, which means they werent independently verified by researchers. In addition, the study cant pinpoint what types of smartphone use drove the results and cant account for how they might change as technologies evolve, Thiagarajan said. Hold off on social media until 16 Still, this research certainly has me convinced its a terrible idea to give kids smartphones before age 13. When I speak to parents in schools, parent groups and other community spaces, I suggest not letting kids use social media until age 16. Solid research out of the United Kingdom shows that using social media during puberty is associated with lower life-satisfaction a year later. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt also suggested waiting until age 16 to let kids use social media in his best-selling book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. While it may seem near impossible to hold off this long, it wont be if we talk to the parents of our kids friends and collectively agree not to allow our children to use social apps until this age. In all of my talks across the country as an expert on how social media affects women and girls, I have yet to meet a single parent or guardian who has said theyre excited for their kid to use social media. Instead, they worry their kids will be deprived of social opportunities if theyre not on social media. Thats why getting the parents of their friends involved is the key. The group Wait Until 8th has created a pledge parents can sign collectively promising not to let kids use smartphones until the end of eighth grade. Other groups have created similar pledges. Check to see if there is one in your community, and if not and it feels important to you, consider starting one, said Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at Princeton Psychotherapy Center in New Jersey who was not involved in the study. Even if people arent already talking about it, they may be relieved if you start the conversation. In addition, parents could seek schools for their children with stronger policies around smartphones on campus or push for better policies in their kids schools, Thiagarajan said. But the researchers warned that parents cant solve these problems individually without societal solutions. After all, even if I dont allow my daughters to use social media before age 16 and convince their friends parents to do the same, that wont stop them from being exposed to these apps by other kids on places like the school bus or after-school events. Thats why parents could also be a more active voice in the debates on regulation, Thiagarajan said. Check in with your kids If you have already let your child use a smartphone before age 13 or are just worried about the results, dont panic, Greenberg said. If you are concerned but dont notice any of these symptoms in your child, you can still talk to them to let them know that some people struggle with anxiety, low self-worth and intense emotions, she said. You can let them know that there is help available should they ever need it, and you can invite them to come to you if they are ever struggling or need support. If you do notice these symptoms in your child, find a licensed professional who can help, she said. Its OK to make changes What happens if your child already has a smartphone? You may feel stuck when you read things like this because you feel like you cant go back, Greenberg said. Thats not true. Dont be afraid to change course if you feel like what youve already done isnt working for your child or for your family, she said. Parents can think about options such as using parental controls, switching to a flip phone, or deleting apps or features, Greenberg said. Of course, kids may not react pleasantly to such a change, but dont let that stop you from acting if you think it would benefit them, she said. Parents can use this script, Greenberg suggested: When we first gave you your smartphone, there were things we didnt know about how it might impact you. There are a lot of scientists and doctors who are doing research on the effects smartphones are having on kids, and were learning a lot more than we knew before. We have to make some changes because we want to make sure that were doing the healthiest thing for you. If kids get upset, be sympathetic to their concerns, she said. Adults dont always respond in the most mature way when you take something away or ask them to change a habit, and we cant expect that our kids will either, Greenberg said. She suggested parents talk about your own struggles to get your smartphone use right as a way of (literally) connecting and acknowledging that its difficult for all of us to resist their pull. What can you do now that you know it could be quite dangerous to allow young kids to use smartphones? If your child doesnt yet have one, start talking to other parents in your community to collectively agree not to let your kids get them until theyre older. Keeping our kids away from smartphones could be one of the smartest decisions parents make. Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls And How We Can Take It Back was published in 2024. Featured 28-year-old woman murdered by boyfriend in Cape Town Beatrice Laryea Jul - 21 - 2025 , 13:11 1 minute read A 28-year-old woman has allegedly been murdered by her boyfriend at a community in Cape Town, South Africa. The incident occurred on Friday, July 11, 2025, and was brought to public attention by the advocacy group Women for Change in a statement released on Saturday, July 19. The group named the victim as Ayesha Unam Mamfanya, who they allege was brutally murdered by her boyfriend in the Gugulethu community of Cape Town. According to the group, Ayesha was severely beaten by her boyfriend and left unconscious. She was allegedly dropped off at a clinic, after which she was transferred to a hospital. Her family was only informed the following day, when they were told that Ayesha was on life support and in critical condition, the statement read. "She tragically succumbed to her injuries on 11 July 2025. According to her family, the couple had been dating for two years, and Ayesha had been living with his family." "It is alleged that there was a history of domestic violence, with neighbours reportedly hearing her screams. To date, the boyfriend is on the run, and no one has been arrested," the statement added. We are heartbroken over the loss of such a beautiful soul. Another sister was murdered. How many more until we declare GBV and femicide a National Disaster? Featured Accused persons in GPHA Marketing Manager's murder discharged for lack of evidence Benjamin Xornam Glover Jul - 21 - 2025 , 16:05 4 minutes read Mrs Josephine Tandoh Asante was the Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) at the Tema Port, when she was stabbed to death at dawn at the age of 49, at her Emefs Estate home on the Accra-Akosombo highway at dawn on January 13, 2019. She had returned from an end-of-year dinner organised by the GPHA at Community Six in Tema when she was attacked in her home and killed. Some suspects were picked up and arraigned in court for murder, but after six years, the Attorney-General's Department has concluded the accused persons cannot be linked to the murder and has therefore directed that they should be discharged. The A-G has discontinued the case, and this has displeased the family of the deceased, Graphic Online's Benjamin Xornam Glover reports from Tema. The decision followed a review of the evidence and legal arguments, leading to the conclusion that there was no material evidence linking the accused persons to the crime. The four accused persons, namely Richard Kwabena Kwakye, a.k.a. Kwabena Boateng, Dominic Owusu, Christian Adjei and Frederick Owusu Oppong, aka Kojo Owusu have subsequently been discharged by the District Magistrate Court in Tema presided over by Benedicta Antwi. They were discharged on Monday, July 21, 2025. When the case was called on Monday [July 21, 2025], the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Hilda Sarkodie informed the court that the Attorney General's office, which had been studying the docket, had concluded that the accused persons should be discharged due to lack of material evidence linking them to the crime. Reading out portions of the advice in open court, it said the AG office believed that mere suspicion was not enough to sustain a criminal charge, especially for a serious offense like murder. "I am of the opinion that suspects have been rounded up based on suspicions and not material evidence, linking them to the offence. Charging them with the serious offence like murder based on suspicion alone is not appropriate since mere suspicion is not enough to sustain a criminal offence. Nobody actually witnessed the offence being committed. There are too many doubts regarding who actually murdered the deceased. Based on the insufficient evidence on the docket, the suspects cannot be charged with the offence. You are to discharge them," the advisory from the AG's office was signed by a Principal State Attorney, Joshua Sackey. Based on this advice, the prosecution withdrew the charges against the suspects. The court after hearing the prayer proceeded to discharge the suspects. Reaction Some family members of the deceased in an interview after the court sitting, expressed outrage and disappointment over the handling of the case. The widower, Franklin Kwame Asante said despite a confession and video evidence, procured by the police, the AG's office claimed the evidence was insufficient and hence closing the case. "The suspects were videotaped, they confessed to the killing and somebody at the AG's office, says that there is no evidence? How do you sum it up? So the confession that he gave details of the murder doesn't matter? A brother of the deceased, Robert Asante said the family was determined to review the case and would seek legal advice. "We, the family, will go back and review this, but as he said, if you say insufficient evidence and it's taking us five years for you to realize insufficient evidence, there is a question mark on everything about this murder," he said. "We have requested for the court records and also the AG's advice. We will go back and see what options we have and then we will follow those options to its end." He added "That is the only way now that is left to us. The AG did not advise that they continue with investigations, which means that they are going to close this file, chuck it in the bin, and that is 's the end of Josephine Asante Tandoh. We will not take that.' Background Mrs Asante Yandoh was found dead on January 13, 2019 at her residence at EMEFS Estates near Afienya in the Greater Accra Region. She was said to have been attacked in her bedroom after returning from a staff party. According to initial police report, she was locked inside her room after the alleged murder incident. The body was discovered the following morning after occupants of the house found the keys to her bedroom on the compound. The assailant(s) did not take anything away. Writer's email [email protected] Featured Defence Ministry plans to cancel military intake after 210 unqualified cadets exposed Mohammed Ali Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:51 2 minutes read The Ministry of Defence has uncovered 210 unqualified candidates in recent admissions to the Ghana Military Academy and plans to cancel the intake entirely ahead of a new nationwide recruitment exercise in August 2025. Addressing a press conference dubbed Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 21, 2025, the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said an audit of Regular Career Courses 64 and 65, along with Short Service Course 62, revealed that 210 out of 452 candidatesrepresenting approximately 46 per centdid not meet the required eligibility criteria. Dr Boamah noted that 34 of the affected individuals are currently undergoing training under Course 64 and have been asked to fulfil all outstanding enlistment requirements. Those who fail to do so will be withdrawn from the programme. For Course 65 and Short Service Course 62, where training had not commenced, all affected candidates have been completely removed from the process. He further disclosed that 2,872 non-officer recruits, who completed all requirements under the last approved enlistment in October 2021including documentation, medical examinations and vettinghave still not begun training. He explained that the Army Recruits Training School, which has capacity to train between 900 and 1,500 recruits every six months, has not conducted any intake over the past 17 months. According to Dr Boamah, the prolonged delay means many of these applicants may no longer meet the current medical, fitness, or age requirements. Consequently, that intake has also been cancelled. A new nationwide recruitment exercise is expected to be launched in August 2025. Dr Boamah announced that a digital enlistment and recruitment portal would be introduced to improve the vetting process and minimise fraud. He warned the public not to pay anyone for assistance with enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces. Joining the Ghana Armed Forces under President Mahama will be based solely on merit, not money, Dr Boamah stressed. He urged the public to report any suspected recruitment fraud to the appropriate authorities. Featured Ghana is safe but our soldiers are working with broken toolsDefence Minister raises alarm over military equipment Mohammed Ali Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:24 3 minutes read The Ghana Armed Forces have made progress in reducing maritime piracy and protecting offshore oil installations despite operating with severely limited equipment, Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah has said. Speaking at a press conference dubbed "the Government Accountability Series" on Monday, July 21, 2025, Dr Boamah said all three branches of the Armed Forces, the Army, Navy and Air Force, were operating with outdated equipment, yet continued to deliver on core national security tasks. Like the Ghana Army, the Ghana Air Force and the Ghana Navy, all three services of the Ghana Armed Forces have many unserviceable assets. Armoured personnel carriers, ships and boats, aircraft, etc. Very, very unserviceable, Dr Boamah said. Despite these challenges, he noted that the Ghana Navy had achieved success in protecting the countrys maritime domain. Regular patrols are now in place to protect offshore oil and gas infrastructure, including the Jubilee and Sankofa oil fields, helping to ward off potential threats. Dr Boamah said the Navy had also improved security along the West Africa Gas Pipeline, reducing theft and acts of sabotage that could disrupt electricity supply. Within Ghanas ports, anchorage and harbour patrols have enabled the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to continue 24-hour operations, supporting trade and commerce. He said maritime crime, especially piracy, had declined due to targeted escort operations and the deployment of armed personnel aboard vessels. These measures, according to the minister, have kept sea routes safe and helped secure the countrys maritime economy. Dr Boamah acknowledged the poor condition of military hardware across all three services but said the government had approved plans to re-equip the Armed Forces. We therefore appreciate the governments decision to retool the Ghana Armed Forces, he stated. The Ghana Air Force, despite the state of its equipment, continues to conduct surveillance and airlift operations in support of national security. According to Dr Boamah, aerial reconnaissance missions have been conducted along the northern borders, while medical evacuation flights have been undertaken nationwide, albeit with limited aircraft. He said Ghana remained safe, stable, peaceful, and ready to experience a golden age under current security arrangements, although he admitted that areas such as Bawku and Alavanyo continued to require close attention due to ongoing tensions. Dr Boamah commended the service chiefs and men and women in uniform for their efforts under difficult conditions. He described their work as not only a duty; its a national covenant, and noted the urgent need to deliver the promised retooling programme to preserve Ghanas security readiness. The Armed Forces ability to operate effectively despite equipment shortfalls, he said, reflected the resolve of its personnel and the importance of continued investment in defence infrastructure. Next article: Ghana is safe but our soldiers are working with broken toolsDefence Minister raises alarm over military equipment Featured Blekusu coastline secured - President Mahama launches protection project Alberto Mario Noretti Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:25 4 minutes read The Blekusu Coastal Protection Project Phase II in the Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region has taken off in earnest, a project President John Dramani Mahama described as a comprehensive, resilient coastal protection venture. This is not merely symbolic, but rather a clear demonstration of what responsible leadership can do, when it cares, when it listens, when it acts, President John Dramani Mahama said at a durbar at Agavedzi last Saturday before the sod-cutting ceremony to mark the official commencement of the project. He said the government was committed to protecting communities, their livelihoods and their environment for future generations, irrespective of their location. President Mahama maintained that the project represented a resolve to defend coastal communities and preserve lives, homes and infrastructure. He pointed out that the ruthless tidal invasion was not peculiar to the Ketu South Municipality, saying similar tragedies occurred in other parts of the country and the government could not turn a blind eye to the phenomenon. Ghanas coastal stretch, President Mahama said, covered more than 550 kilometres, and the stretch was a critical asset for fishing, trading and tourism. However, the stretch was vulnerable to climate change and tidal wave invasions, he added. The second phase of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project is expected to bring relief to the communities of Blekusu, Agavedzi, Salakope, Amutinu and Adina. The President said the contractor, Amandi, had been tasked to complete the project in 48 months, with the construction of 37 armour rocks groynes and land reclamation to protect eight kilometres of the coastline. Groynes are coastal engineering structures built perpendicular to the shoreline, designed to trap sediments and reduce erosion. Community infrastructure President Mahama said in addition to the coastal protection project, which was being supervised by the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the government would incorporate community infrastructure to boost the livelihood of the people. They include a modern fish market, cold storage and processing facilities for the fisherfolk, designated places for drying and smoking fish, a car park and lorry station, and public sanitation facilities, as well as a waste collection system, he said. So, this is more than just a coastal protection work; it is a comprehensive, resilient initiative blending environmental protection with socio-economic infrastructure, President Mahama said. He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Work Housing, and Water Resources, the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the Ketu South Municipal Assembly, the project contractor and consultants, as well as the chiefs and people of the beneficiary communities to work together in unity with purpose for the success of the project. Let us uphold the values of accountability, transparency, and community engagement throughout the project implementation. I urge everyone, especially the youth, to take ownership of this project by respecting the construction zones and timelines, by avoiding harmful activities such as illegal sand winning, he added. Modern market for Aflao The President announced that plans were also underway to extend the coastal protection project to Aflao, adding that the construction of a modern market (Asigame) in Aflao was in the offing, with support from the Chinese government. The Minister of Works Housing, and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, gave an assurance that work on the project would progress smoothly and be completed within the scheduled time. The Member of Parliamen for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, said the project bore ample testimony to the governments firm stance to fulfil its promise to the people. The Paramount Chief of Some Traditional Area, Togbiga Adama III, said the dreadful tidal waves had also destroyed roads in the area and deprived the residents of potable water. He, therefore, appealed to President Mahama to intervene and bring relief to the people in those areas as well. Project brief In 2015, the then government of President Mahama commenced the construction of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project Phase 1. That comprised a 4.3-kilometre stretch involving the building of groynes to safeguard coastal communities of Azizadzi, Horvi and Blekusu from tidal wave impact and coastal erosion. Since then, other coastal communities have been exposed to the devastation of invading tidal waves, exacerbated by rising sea levels due to climate change and variability. That necessitated the urgent need for the commencement of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project Phase II. Featured Ghana Police to establish AI-powered crime fighting centre this year IGP Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Jul - 21 - 2025 , 08:57 4 minutes read The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has announced the Ghana Police Services plan to establish a Real-Time Crime Centre powered by artificial intelligence (AI) before the end of 2025. He explained that the initiative was part of a broader agenda to transform the service into a smart and citizen-focused institution aimed at enhancing proactive policing and deepening public engagment to meet the complex demands of 21st-century security challenges such as cybercrime, terrorism and urban violence. He made the announcement last Saturday, during the 2025 Conferral and Graduation Ceremony of the Accra Metropolitan University, where he was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Honoris Causa, in recognition of his distinguished public service and leadership in national security. He shared the honours with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, who also received an honorary doctorate for her contributions to digital innovation and inclusive development. The colourful ceremony brought together dignitaries from security services, government, academia and families of students. It featured the conferral of academic degrees, special awards and prizes, and addresses from recognised alumni and the valedictorian of the graduating class. Modern-day policing IGP Yohuno, while delivering his acceptance speech on the theme: The Evolving Role of the Ghana Police Service in a Modern Democratic Society, reflected on the institutions transformation from a colonial force to a democratic service, outlining how technology, community engagement, and accountability were reshaping the police service into a modern institution grounded in democratic values. He revealed that the upcoming Real-Time Crime Centre will integrate CCTV feeds, emergency call data, and AI-powered predictive analytics to detect crime patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and prevent crimes before they occur. A mobile app will enable citizens to report incidents, monitor case progress, and receive timely safety alerts. Human Rights Impact Assessments will be standard before large-scale operations to ensure policing strategies respect community rights and minimise unintended harm. he added. Women empowerment Mrs Obo-Nai dedicated the honour to women breaking barriers in STEM and leadership describing it as symbol of the possibilities when women push beyond both real and imagined boundaries. Sharing her journey from an all-female household to internships in construction and electronics, she championed inclusion, insisting innovation without inclusion is incomplete. She dedicated the award to women lighting the path for others, urging society to equip every girl with the confidence to question, to create new solutions, and to lead. Values, academic titles The Director for Legal Education and Appeals Court Judge, Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, urged graduates to embrace integrity, innovation and traditional and religious values as they navigated a rapidly evolving world. These principles rooted in sacred texts, proverbs, cultural traditions, customs and practices offer the best values to deal with today's problems. We shouldnt see the sea or the ocean or rivers as a pool of water. They are the habitats for deities who have been with the almighty God from generations, from the beginning of the world and if we recognise this, then we will not desecrate them with Galamsey, for example, he said. He also encouraged responsible use of technology, particularly AI, and challenged them to be principled leaders, reminding them that their actions would shape the countrys future and societal transformation. The Director-General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, cautioned against the misuse of academic titles, emphasising that titles such as Doctor and Professor must be earned through rigorous academic work and not honorary conferments drawing parallels with police ranksone cannot jump from constable to Commissioner. He said such titles carry academic weight and were regulated by law, warning the public to respect the integrity of academic ranks. VCs report The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Goski Alabi, presented a comprehensive report on the institutions progress, announcing the addition of eight new academic programmes, including PhDs in Leadership and Sustainable Governance, and Finance and Accounting. She mentioned improvements in infrastructure, including an integrated learning management system with AI tutoring, plagiarism detection, and proctoring tools. The university, she stated, was running three international projects, two funded by the EU, and had expanded its global presence with students from over 10 countries. She also appealed for private universities to be included in the governments free first-year tuition initiative. Next article: See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Monday, July 21, 2025 Featured NPP expands electoral college - Voters increase from 220,000 to 280,000 Samuel Duodu, Justice Agbenorsi & Joshua Bediako Koomson Jul - 21 - 2025 , 05:46 6 minutes read New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates at the party's highest decision-making conference have voted to expand the electoral college by 40 per cent. The vote has effectively expanded the partys electoral college, adding more than 60,000 polling station executives to the existing 220,000, enlarging the size of the voters to more than 280,000. This means all former Members of Parliament (MPs), former parliamentary candidates, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), card-holding former ministers and deputy ministers, as well as former regional, constituency and branch executives will participate in the election of the flag bearer in January 2026. However, delegates at the polling station, constituency and regional levels, who are now part of the enlarged electoral college, will not be eligible to vote in the January 2026 election when the party goes to elect a flag bearer for the 2028 general election. This is because the election of those officers will be done after March 2026, following the conclusion of the current tenure of the polling station, constituency and regional level executive. For instance, at the constituency and regional levels, the party currently has one officer in charge of elections or research whose tenure will expire in March 2026. This position has now been decoupled in the vote that expanded the electoral college, meaning that after March 2026, there will be two separate officers one for elections and another for researchenhancing the electoral college structure. No special delegates Additionally, there will not be a special delegates' conference to narrow down the number of candidates contesting for the flagbearer position to five in the event of multiple candidates. Instead, all candidates, regardless of the number, will be allowed to participate in the election of a flag bearer. Motions These reforms were among 56 motions presented for adoption to amend the partys constitution during the Extraordinary National Delegates Conference in Accra last Saturday. Voting was conducted by voice, with supporters of the motions shouting YES" and opponents responding NO. Two out of the 54 motions were rejected, including one that sought to redefine a youth in the party as a member not above the age of 35 years, thus maintaining the existing definition of youth as not above 40 years. The second motion, which proposed allowing constituencies to directly participate in compiling albums for polling station elections, was outrightly rejected by the delegates. In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Secretary to the Constitution Review Committee of the NPP, Iddi Muhayu-Deen, stated that the constitutional amendments were to reform and strengthen the partys internal processes. Following the conference's approval, he indicated that the committee's focus would shift to incorporating these changes into the constitution, marking a significant step forward for the NPP. This will set the stage for the upcoming presidential primaries scheduled for next year, ensuring a more inclusive and representative electoral process within the party, Mr Muhayu-Deen, who is also a legal practitioner, said. He added that the NPP planned to gradually transition to a one-member, one-vote system, with implementation targeted for the 2028 elections, once a robust foundational framework was established. A former National Chairman of the party, Peter Mac Manu, who is a proponent of the expunction from the party's constitution Article 13 (1) (9) on special delegates to prune down the number of flagbearer aspirants to five, expressed satisfaction with the conference's outcome. "It was good for various constituencies to meet their counterparts from other parts of the country. And the whole conference has been a successful one," he told the Daily Graphic. Mr Mac Manu said the conference's decisions would be compiled into a report, which would be used to amend the party's constitution. The amended constitution will then be signed by the National Chairman and the General Secretary, and copies will be sent to the Electoral Commission and distributed to party branches and constituencies. "There is going to be a report on it because there is a secretary who took notes on the motions, those that were accepted. So, we are going to compile them and bring them back for the General Secretary to put them in the form of a new amended version of the constitution," Mr Mac Manu explained. He added that the amended constitution would be implemented after the necessary procedures had been completed. Commendation For his part, a former Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, praised the party's leadership and delegates for their hard work and dedication for a successful conference. "The conference was very successful, even beyond the expectations of the delegates. Our wish was that it starts and ends successfully," he said. He said the amendments to the party's constitution would strengthen and consolidate democratic practices within the NPP, which would have a positive impact on the national platform. He specifically highlighted the addition of former MMDCEs, ministers, and other former party executives to the party's electoral college, saying it would help broaden participation and ensure that party members have a greater say in the selection of leaders. The former Bui Power Authoritys Board member under former President Akufo-Addo administration commended the NPP leadership for setting a precedent that other parties may follow. He said that the party's broad-based nature and commitment to democratic principles would help it regain the trust of Ghanaians and elect the right leaders. "I believe strongly that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) too will want to emulate it, and our party, the NPP, is a broad-based party. And all these go to demonstrate the fact that even though we lost the 2024 general election, we are very resolved and determined to do what is right and energise the base of the party and broaden the participation level of party members," he said. A former MP for Mion also in the Northern Region, Musah Abdul-Aziz Ayaba, said the decision by conference to shoot down the age limit for the position of youth organiser was in the right direction as he rallied people against it. He said with that exercise, the party was poised to recapture power in the 2028 general election. Mr Abdul-Aziz also hailed the decision to include former MPs as delegates. Background The nine-member Constitution Amendment Committee, led by Frank Davies, was formed by the National Council of the party to review and propose amendments to the party's constitution. The committee members include the Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei; MP for Ofoase Ayiribi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; a Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Dr Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, the Volta Regional Chairman of the NPP, and Makafui Woanyah. The rest are a former Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Diana Asonaba Dapaah; a former MP for Ablekuma Central, Ebenezer Nartey, and a medical officer, Dr Ekua Amoakoh. Mr Muhayu-Deen served as secretary to the committee. The committee's mandate included identifying provisions of the partys constitution that require amendments to give effect to the recommendations of the Mike Oquaye Election Review Committee; working on the recommendations of the 2021 Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, and receiving proposals for constitutional amendments from party members and identifiable groups. The committee was also tasked to categorise proposals under various Articles and Clauses for ease of reference, and make appropriate recommendations to guide the debate at the National Annual Delegates Conference. The committee's report was consequently tabled in amendment motions, which were the subject of the votes at the party's delegates conference last Saturday. Trade Minister rallies exporters behind 24-hour Economy Emmanuel Pacome Damalie Jul - 21 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has reaffirmed the governments commitment to transforming the countrys export landscape through policy reforms, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering focus on diversification. Speaking in Accra at a forum of exporters, the Trade Minister acknowledged the significant role exporters played in the countrys economic development and the urgent need to reduce over-reliance on a few primary commodities. Known as the Top Exporters Forum, last Fridays event at the Ghana Trade Hub brought together leading exporters and key stakeholders across the value chain for a dialogue aimed at addressing challenges in the sector and setting a renewed agenda for growth. From cocoa processors to manufacturers of iron, steel, textiles and chemicals, the forum recorded strong participation, with many contributors offering insights, raising critical concerns and proposing innovative solutions. Diversification According to the Ghana Statistical Service, while Ghanas total exports rose from $25.99 billion in 2023 to an estimated $28.5 billion in 2024, non-traditional exports (NTEs) declined, representing only 13.4 per cent of total exports, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman North, stated. She described the statistics as a wake-up call for urgent diversification. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare outlined the governments plan to explore more opportunities through bilateral and multilateral trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while also intensifying the implementation of national initiatives such as the Accelerated Export Development Programme and the 24-hour Economy Policy. This forum is not just about identifying challenges; it is about forging actionable solutions with clear timelines and measurable outputs, she emphasised. The Trade Minister assured participants of immediate follow-ups, particularly on issues of energy and taxation. She cited ongoing engagements with relevant agencies to reduce energy costs through time-of-use metering and to address concerns around gas pricing and tax burdens on exporters. Exporters must feel the impact of our 24-hour Economy policy, she said. Our goal is to make the cost of doing business cheaper and to encourage more exports. She further announced that a report from the forum would be submitted to President John Dramani Mahama today, with recommendations guiding future interventions. A working committee will be established to oversee the implementation and ensure continuity in government-stakeholder engagement. The minister ended by praising the private sectors commitment and pledged the governments continuous support to make Ghana a globally competitive, export-led economy. Your growth is Ghanas growth. Together, we will reposition Ghana as a diversified, resilient, and globally competitive export powerhouse, she declared. Exporters endorse The forum marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ghanas export agenda, one anchored on collaboration, innovation and strategic policy implementation. The over 50 top exporters who attended the important event expressed their utmost appreciation to President Mahama and the sector minister for bringing them together to chart a common path of progress. The Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, commended the government and the ministry for the timely organisation of the forum and expressed the hope that more such opportunities would be availed to Ghanaian businesses. He also called for economic diplomacy and trade shows abroad to help Ghanaian businesses access markets beyond the countrys borders. Featured Kwahu Tafo in mourning: Teen stabbed in neck by friend over alleged money dispute myjoyonline.com Jul - 21 - 2025 , 10:33 2 minutes read A quiet Kwahu Tafo community has been thrown into deep mourning following the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Isaac Kwasi Awuah Gorman, a final-year student of St. Joseph Technical Institute. The young student was allegedly stabbed to death by a close friend, identified as Stephen Opuni, popularly known as Sugar, during an altercation reportedly triggered by a money disagreement. Speaking to Adom News, Ebenezer Gorman, brother of the deceased, recounted the events that led to the tragedy and appealed for justice. My little nieces, who witnessed the incident, narrated the whole matter. According to them, Kwasi was with four of his friends. Suddenly, an altercation ensued over money, and they saw Akwasi hold his neck area and kept screaming that he had been stabbed. They were all students, he said in anguish. The tragedy is particularly difficult for the Gorman family, who say they had coexisted peacefully with both boys prior to the incident. Ataa Gorman, sister to the deceased, said the family is struggling to make sense of the sudden and violent turn of events. The body of Isaac Gorman has since been deposited at the mortuary, where an autopsy will be conducted to aid investigations and provide forensic clarity into the exact cause of death. Police in Kwahu Tafo acted swiftly to arrest the suspect, Sugar, who is currently in custody and assisting with investigations. Authorities have yet to disclose the formal charges but have assured the public of a thorough probe into the incident. The community is hoping that swift legal proceedings will deliver justice for the Gorman family. The tragic incident has also reignited concerns about youth violence and conflict resolution among teenagers, prompting calls for increased counselling and peer intervention strategies in schools. Next article: Thousands of army bullets unaccounted for after 2024 transferDefence Minister Featured Military to take charge of AwasoTakoradi and AccraKumasi road projects Mohammed Ali Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:38 2 minutes read The Ghana Armed Forces will lead the rehabilitation of the AwasoTakoradi bauxite corridor and participate in the construction of the AccraKumasi Expressway, as part of a renewed role in national infrastructure delivery. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 21, 2025, the Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said the military will apply its engineering expertise to fast-track work on key roads in partnership with relevant national institutions. Dr Boamah announced that the Armed Forces is collaborating with the Ghana Bauxite Company to reconstruct the 180-kilometre AwasoTakoradi road, which has suffered damage after years of heavy bauxite haulage. When work commences, this road project will once again demonstrate the militarys engineering expertise and long-standing role in supporting national development, Dr Boamah said. He also disclosed that the Defence Industries Holding Company (DIHOC), the commercial wing of the Armed Forces, will be directly involved in the execution of the GH6 billion AccraKumasi Expressway project. In the coming weeks, details of this partnership will be announced, along with a sod-cutting ceremony to mark the start of work, Dr Boamah added. The Defence Minister stated that the military's involvement is not limited to physical construction. He said it also reflects efforts to support a more resilient national economy. Who else can Ghanaians trust to execute road construction day and night within a 24-hour economy, if not the Ghana Armed Forces? he asked. Dr Boamah said DIHOC is being repositioned to support Ghanas industrial development, an agenda initially introduced by the late President John Evans Atta Mills and now being revived under President Mahama. He said the company would also help to create sustainable sources of funding for military operations and other national priorities. Next article: UNDP Ghana holds 5th Nimdie Series for MSMEs with a focus on innovation for competitive growth Featured Presidential jet heavily corroded, unfit for use but Mahama wont fly luxuryDefence Minister Mohammed Ali Jul - 21 - 2025 , 15:40 3 minutes read The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, says Ghanas presidential jet has been grounded due to extensive corrosion and remains unfit for service. Speaking at a press conference dubbed Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, (July 21, 2025), Dr Omane Boamah explained that the Falcon 900EX aircraft, acquired in 2010, has been out of use for several months owing to persistent structural issues discovered during maintenance. It is sad to note that for some time now, whenever the aircraft goes for either maintenance, repair, or overhaul, the date that is scheduled for its return to Ghana keeps changing, he said. According to Dr Boamah, independent technicians handling the repairs have confirmed that the jet is heavily corroded. He stressed that the diagnosis did not come from the Ghana Air Force but from third-party assessors abroad. The presidential jet is sick. It is heavily corroded, and this is not the Air Force itself saying it. These are third independent parties putting this out when it was sent away, he stated. Dr Boamah added that despite the jets condition, the Mahama administration would not fall back on the use of rented luxury aircraft for presidential travel. That does not in any way justify the hiring or renting of luxurious aircraft persistentlyno way, he said. President Mahamas government engages in austerity. He explained that any future decisions on presidential air travel would be linked to broader discussions on retooling the Ghana Armed Forces, and would be based strictly on necessity. When we are considering the air assets of the Air Force, Navy and Army, the right decisions will be taken so that we can make do with it, Dr Boamah said. He disclosed that a detailed assessment conducted by the military had placed the immediate logistical needs of the Armed Forces at around US$1 billion. A proposal to that effect has already been submitted to the National Security Council, and President John Dramani Mahama has begun steps to address some of the most urgent gaps. The prolonged absence of the Falcon jet has drawn public attention in recent months, particularly in light of past controversies surrounding presidential travel expenses. Dr Boamah did not give a timeline for the jets return. He said repair deadlines had been missed on several occasions, making it difficult to project a specific date. I dont want to put the date out because Ive been given too many dates, he said. We are hoping that this date that has been given, we will see the Falcon here in Ghana. The Minister said the government remains committed to prudent spending in the defence sector, even as operational pressures continue to mount. Previous article: Ghana is safe but our soldiers are working with broken toolsDefence Minister raises alarm over military equipment Featured Pupils abandon school for marijuana farms in Volta Region Chiefs raise alarm Alberto Mario Noretti Jul - 21 - 2025 , 11:33 2 minutes read Basic school learners in parts of the Volta Region are reportedly skipping school to work as labourers on marijuana plantations for meagre earnings, the President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs (VRHC), Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, has said. Describing the situation as alarming, he warned that the trend posed a dire threat to the future of the regions youth. Togbe Tepre Hodo, who is also the Paramount Chief of Anfoega, made this known at a general meeting of the VRHC held in Ho on Friday (July 18). According to him, young people were cultivating the illicit substance with impunity on plantations located in Vakpo and Wusuta in the North Dayi District, and in Gbefi in the Kpando Municipality. He said the plantations were spreading rapidly, adding that the region risked losing its normal young people sooner than expected. Some of the children are offered the substance to smoke on the farms, and once addiction sets in, they would definitely drift off course, Togbe Tepre Hodo cautioned. He noted that the Narcotics Control Commission Act only permitted the cultivation of a specific species of cannabis under licence for medicinal and industrial purposesnot for recreational use. Togbe Hodo therefore called on law enforcement agencies to take swift action to curb what he described as a menacing trend. When contacted, the Paramount Chief of Vakpo, Togbe Gbogbolulu V, corroborated the report and described the situation in Vakpo as being out of hand. The young marijuana farmers are now attacking us physically, and several complaints to the police have fallen on deaf ears, he told GraphicOnline. In February this year, Togbe Gbogbolulu had expressed concern over the increasing trend of youth cultivating marijuana in large quantities under the cover of darkness using torchlights. He noted that Vakpo was previously known for its high level of discipline and peacefulness. However, he said that calm order was now being replaced by fear and anxiety among residents, due to the fast-spreading use of marijuana and rising lawlessness among the youth. The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, who attended the VRHC meeting, reaffirmed the Volta Regional Coordinating Councils commitment to maintaining peace and security across the region. He assured that the Council would continue to collaborate closely with the House of Chiefs and keep them informed about major developmental initiatives of the government, while addressing the concerns of traditional authorities. Previous article: See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Rotary Club Accra Ridge gets new president Augustina Tawiah Jul - 21 - 2025 , 17:59 2 minutes read The Rotary Club of Accra Ridge has inaugurated Oppong Agyare Agyeman-Anane as its new President. Mr Agyeman-Anane, a dedicated Rotarian for over 13 years, has served the club in various capacities, including as Public Image Chair, Administrative Chair, and Membership Chair. At the district level, he has also served as a Communication Advocate for the WASH-USAID Project. His term as President is expected to end next year. At the inauguration ceremony held in Accra, the club announced plans to raise over GH300,000 to promote mental health awareness and support community-based projects in Accra and beyond. The initiative, which falls under the clubs Unite for Good theme, will focus on key activities such as completing the maternity block at the Mallam Atta Market, presenting blood donation awards to recipients from each of the 16 regions, and organising a medical screening exercise at Kotoso in the Kwahu East District. Teamwork and Service Mr Agyeman-Anane emphasised the importance of teamwork and active member participation. He encouraged Rotarians to support the Rotary Foundation by paying dues promptly, attending meetings and project events, and contributing positively to club activities. He also called for increased donations to the PolioPlus Fund to support global efforts towards polio eradication. The outgoing President, Efosa Aibangbee, highlighted achievements during his tenure, including growth in club membership and support for the Nii Amugi Cluster of Schools in Accra. He also noted significant progress on the Mallam Atta Delivery and Maternity Unit Clinic, which is nearing completion. The District Governor, Nana Yaa Pokua Siriboe, urged Rotarians and well-wishers to continue supporting the work of The Rotary Foundation. She expressed confidence that the new leadership team would build on the clubs achievements and continue to make a positive impact in society. Background Mr Agyeman-Anane was born in Koforidua in 1976. He attended Prempeh College, where he became a Senior School Prefect, and later graduated from Accra Polytechnic (now Accra Technical University) with an HND in Marketing in 2000. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Central University in 2003, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a Masters Degree in Development Communication, both from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He recently completed a second Masters Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at GIMPA. Featured Second batch of Blue Water Guard trainees to join anti-galamsey patrols this week Mohammed Ali Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:59 2 minutes read The government has deployed 453 personnel under the Blue Water Guard training programme to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Ghanas rivers and water bodies, as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining. A second group of 532 personnel is set to complete training this week, Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah has disclosed. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, July 21, 2025, Dr Boamah said the Ghana Navy trained the first batch of personnel at the Forward Operating Base at Ezinlibo. The second batch, which began training last month, is expected to graduate and join operations this week. Dr Boamah explained that the Blue Water Guard initiative is intended to monitor water bodies across the country, curb illegal mining activities, and support the restoration of Ghanas polluted rivers and streams. The Blue Water Guard initiative aims to establish 24-hour monitoring of Ghanas water bodies. It is a strategic intervention to tackle illegal mining activities, protect the environment, and restore Ghanas polluted water resources, he told the gathering. According to Dr Boamah, the programme is part of efforts to ensure that mining in Ghana is done responsibly and does not damage the countrys natural resources. He said the Ghana Armed Forces have also played a supporting role in the broader anti-galamsey operations. He noted that some forest reserves, previously inaccessible to forest guards, were recovered earlier this year through the intervention of the armed forces. The Navy, he added, has worked alongside land forces under Operation Halt II to confront illegal mining along River Ankobra in the Western and Western North regions. River patrols under Operation Oasis have also been conducted along the Volta River to help reduce illegal activity on the Black Volta. Dr Boamah said the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) followed a review of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal mining across the country. We are not out of the woods yet as a nation. But there is hope because there is political will at the very top, he said. The Blue Water Guard programme, launched on March 17, 2025, is intended to strengthen patrols and security along Ghanas inland waters and riverine zones. Featured See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 GraphicOnline Jul - 22 - 2025 , 03:27 2 minutes read The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that it will carry out planned maintenance works across five regions on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The exercise, which forms part of efforts to improve service delivery, is expected to result in power outages in dozens of communities between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm. In the Eastern Region, power supply will be interrupted between 8 am and 1 pm in Asesewa Township, Bukonor, Sekesua, Anyamoni, Dana, Akateng and nearby areas. ECG in a notice dated Friday, July 18, stated that it regrets any inconvenience caused to customers during the operation. Residents in the Tema Region will also be affected between 9 am and 4 pm. Areas earmarked for outages include Mobole, Otsebreku, Okushibiri, Apollonia, Jerusalem, Kubekro, Katamanso, Promised Land, Elegant Homes, Data Centre, Tema International School, Don Bosco, Bethlehem, Sebrepor, Emefs Estates, Coastal Estates, Goshen, Gbetsile and surrounding communities. The company again assured that the works are essential to enhancing reliability and urged affected residents to bear with them. The Greater Accra Region will experience one of the longest scheduled outages, from 9 am to 5 pm Areas to be affected include Agbogba, North Legon, DVLA Bohye, East Legon, American House, A&C Mall, Ghana Link, Legon Avenue, Ambassadorial Enclave, Mandela, SCC, Sunny Coast, Korkordjor, Kinshasha, Gbawe Gonse, Joma Agbozome, Shiabu, Gbegbeyise Beach Road and nearby locations. In the Volta Region, Hodzo and its surrounding communities will be without power between 9 am and 5 pm. The ECG notice, issued on Sunday, July 20, explained that the works are necessary for ongoing improvements in the region. Ashanti Region residents in parts of Kumasi and Offinso will also be affected from 9 am to 5 pm. Communities expected to experience the outages include Barekese Headworks, Kronum Cement, Heman, Amoaman, Netia, Asuofua, CONSAR Quarry, Adankwame, Adugama, Naachia Quarry, Barekese Town, Abira, Offinso, Namong, Kayera, Tutuase, Nsuotam, Kyerekrom, Boamang, Tetrem, Habitat, Ahenkro, Kwamang, Kodie, Akrofrom, Aduman, Aduamoah, Denase, Pampatia, KCG Company and surrounding areas. The ECG has urged residents in the affected regions to take the necessary precautions by switching off sensitive electrical appliances and preparing for the temporary disruption in power supply. The utility provider stressed that the maintenance work is critical for boosting system efficiency and ensuring long-term stability. ECG regrets the inconvenience that will arise out of this exercise, the company stated in each of the regional notices. It further advised customers to visit www.ecg.com.gh or follow its social media platforms for updates. Featured Thousands of army bullets unaccounted for after 2024 transferDefence Minister Mohammed Ali Jul - 21 - 2025 , 12:31 2 minutes read Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah has revealed that thousands of rounds of military ammunition transferred from the Ghana Armed Forces to the National Security Secretariat in 2024 have not been accounted for. Dr Boamah made the disclosure on Monday, July 21, 2025, during a briefing at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, where he addressed the state of national security. We have kept our nation safe and stable, notwithstanding the irregular transfer of thousands of rounds of military ammunition in 2024 from the Ghana Armed Forces to the National Security outfit ammunition, which has since not been accounted for, he told an audience that included senior military officers, journalists and guests. Dr Boamah did not provide further information on the nature of the transfer, the exact quantity of ammunition involved, or what measures are being taken to trace the missing rounds. He also did not elaborate on what made the transaction irregular or whether an investigation has been initiated. The Defence Ministers statement comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to re-equip the Armed Forces. He noted that the Army, Navy and Air Force are currently operating with unserviceable equipment, yet continue to carry out their core duties. He described accountability as the heartbeat of democracy and praised the resilience of the Armed Forces in maintaining national security under difficult conditions. The Ghana Armed Forces, he added, continue to uphold the countrys territorial integrity through coordinated operations, even as logistical and equipment constraints persist. UNDP Ghana holds 5th Nimdie Series for MSMEs with a focus on innovation for competitive growth GraphicOnline Jul - 21 - 2025 , 13:15 2 minutes read The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana hosted the fifth edition of the Nimdie Series, bringing together entrepreneurs and thought leaders to explore how Ghanaian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can stay competitive through innovation. Held virtually under the theme Product and Service Innovation: Staying Ahead in a Competitive Market, the session featured insights from Ekow Mensah, a seasoned social entrepreneur, and Ronald Tagoe, founder of customer engagement platform MNotify. Since being launched in 2024, the Nimdie Series has become an important knowledge-sharing platform that addresses the root challenges faced by MSMEs. It offers a mix of thought leadership, case studies, and real-world examples to help businesses scale with purpose. In the latest edition, social entrepreneur Ekow Mensah, introduced a framework for demand-driven business growth, while digital entrepreneur Ronald Tagoe shared how his company, MNotify, evolved from a campus bulk SMS service to a full customer engagement platform using AI-powered chatbots. These stories offered practical inspiration for MSMEs looking to innovate in product design, customer service, and business models. Beyond knowledge sharing, the Nimdie Series also serves as a springboard for deeper partnerships and policy discussions, positioning MSMEs to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and beyond. Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Head of Inclusive Growth and Accountable Governance Cluster at UNDP Ghana underscored the importance of the Nimdie Series and emphasized the critical role of innovation in strengthening Ghanaian MSMEs. With over 90% of businesses in Ghana fall within the MSME space, Innovation, whether through new products, improved services, or more efficient delivery models, is no longer optional. In todays highly competitive environment, it is a necessity for survival and growth. Many MSMEs do not make it past their third year, and a key reason is the lack of innovation. Thats why discussions like todays are vital, especially as we prepare our MSMEs to tap into larger markets such as the AfCFTA, Dr. Ampratwum added. As the series continues throughout the year, future sessions will tackle other critical areas such as digitalization, finance, and market accessensuring that MSMEs across Ghana are supported with the insights and partnerships they need to succeed. Next article: NPP on much stronger and united path after constitutional review - Bryan Acheampong Prosecute individuals culpable in electoral violence - Minister directs police Albert K. Salia Politics Jul - 21 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read Interior Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has directed the Ghana Police Service to prosecute individuals who engaged in violence in the 2020 and 2024 elections. He stated that the government did not condone violence in any form; therefore, the Ghana Police Service (GPS) needed to work diligently to address electoral violence in the country. He was addressing the 17th Regional Commanders Conference at the National Police Headquarters in Accra last Friday. The 17th Regional Commanders Conference was meant to review operational strategies and service performance, assessing the progress of the service and collectively addressing challenges in fulfilling the polices constitutional mandate. I take this opportunity to remind you of the electoral violence in 2020 and 2024. I have seen the report, and our expectation is nothing short of swift prosecution, Alhaji Mohammed-Muburak said. Akwatia by-election The Minister for the Interior reminded the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, of the upcoming Akwatia by-election and urged the police to put proactive measures in place to detect any violence that might rear its ugly head. "Ghana has enjoyed relatively peaceful elections since 1992. However, the recent violence in the Ablekuma North elections exposes certain weaknesses that we must address. You and your team must review all the evidence at your disposal and address those involved. Dont spare anyone," he said. As we are preparing for the upcoming by-election in Akwatia, I charge this conference to take a hard look at our electoral preparedness, he stated. Alhaji Mohammed-Muburak urged the police to ensure that our personnel are not only deployed in sufficient numbers but are adequately briefed and equipped with the needed resources to prevent and contain election-related violence. He urged the police to engage with the Electoral Commission, community leaders, and civil society actors to develop context-sensitive strategies that will enhance confidence in the electoral process. Let us seize this opportunity to redeem the lapses of the past and strengthen the legacy of Ghanaian democracy, he said. Context When he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series, Mr Mohammed-Muburak revealed that the IGP had formally submitted comprehensive reports on the violent incidents that marred Ghanas general elections in 2020 and 2024. He said the report marked a major step forward in the governments efforts to address electoral violence and restore confidence in the countrys democratic process. Police ready In his welcome address, Mr Yohunu reinforced the police service's willingness to fight all forms of crime. On the Ablekuma North electoral violence, he said the Service had taken swift action against the erring officer, who was currently facing internal disciplinary action. On the Akwatia by-election, the IGP stated that the Police Administration had already put plans in place to ensure that the Akwatia by-election is peaceful. Promotions Mr Yohuno said the Police Administration had started processes to address concerns of delayed promotions to ensure that every officers hard work and sacrifice were duly recognised, as well as lifting all arbitrary interdictions. Customers at the Sagaponack General Store, which reopened this year after a complete renovation. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux for New York Magazine In 1847, the Springs General Store a two-story Greek-revival farmhouse sitting near the East Hampton wetlands known as Pussys Pond opened its doors. Just about 100 years later, Jackson Pollock moved into a barn down the road and began to trade paintings for his groceries. In 2003, Kristi Hood, a chef from California, moved into the apartment upstairs with her family and started to run the store downstairs. Under Hoods stewardship, Springs General Store became the kind of place where real-estate brokers and carpenters rubbed elbows with summer visitors over breakfast sandwiches, and a launch point where residents could take kayaks out on a sliver of semi-public waterfront. It was a part of everyones everyday life, Hood says, but it was not a moneymaker. Hood managed for almost 17 years in a town where the cost of goods is inflated, year-round staff retention can be difficult, and would-be customers all but vanish in the winter months. In June 2019, the store was listed for sale, asking $2.9 million. In the fall of 2021, two brothers, Daniel and Evan Bennett, bought it. Now, nearly four years later, theyre still struggling to open its doors. The Bennetts grew up in Springs, in a farmhouse less than a mile away from the Pollock barn. The brothers come from a long line of Bennetts on the South Fork of Long Island: Their great, great grandfather, Myron Bennett, was a contractor who lived on Abrahams Path. Theyre veteran restaurateurs, but unlike their other pursuits theyre the owners of Bar Oliver in the city (and previously ran the hotspots Mimi and Babs), along with Amagansetts Doubles and its new location in Sag Harbor the Springs General Store, which they purchased with a silent investor, felt like a more personal endeavor, something that theyd dreamed of pursuing since childhood. We thought the town would think, Wow, we couldnt have picked or have hoped for anyone better to come in and redo it, right? Daniel says. Wrong. A year before the Bennetts bought Springs General Store, another historic general store went up for sale. Mindy Gray, a part-time resident, philanthropist, and wife of Blackstone president and COO Jonathan Gray, bought the Sagaponack General Store for $3.75 million. While the Sagaponack General Store is only about a dozen miles away from Springs, the community it serves is remarkably different: Sagaponacks full-time population is around 350 people, making it a sleepy village in one of the most expensive Zip Codes in America. In Springs, the full-time population is about 9,500. The two areas also belong to different townships and respond to different boards systems. The East Hampton Board, which serves 28,385 constituents and covers Springs, is colloquially known as the Town of No. The Sagaponack Village Board has a reputation for being less discerning. By late 2021, Gray was in the early stages of assembly, gathering period-specific antiques and hiring the architect Frank Greenwald to oversee renovations. Around the same time, Daniel was preparing for a preliminary site review with the East Hampton Planning Department. In a meeting he told the board he wanted to keep the store structure as it is and convert the kayak shed on the property into a retail wine shop. We set out to give the store a facelift, says Evan, who was wary of alienating a community that had resisted change in recent years. The preliminary meeting went well, and Daniel had separately received approval from the State Liquor Authority for his licenses. One is an off-premises license, which allows the store to sell wine and beer, and the other is an on-premises license, which allows customers to drink that wine and beer on the property. They cost around $15,000 each. Daniel also asked for a live-music allowance, seeking to legitimize a tradition of locals gathering on the porch on Sundays to play acoustic music, which started during Hoods ownership of the store. (They just started one Sunday and never stopped, Hood says.) But the mood around the project quickly started to change after the Bennetts posted their permits, and the East Hampton Star published the story Goodbye to Kayaks, Hello to Wine? The article included the Bennetts plans for the kayak shed, as well as allegations that Daniel and Evan were gifted the store by their father, John Bennett, a land-use lawyer who was acting as legal counsel to his sons and had an at-times confrontational reputation with the South Fork board systems. It was a smear campaign, Daniel says. The thrust of the article being that these rich kids from the city were going to get rid of your kayaks in exchange for liquor so that they can throw parties. Daniel, determined to mitigate souring public opinion, immediately contacted the Stars editor-in-chief asking for a correction. But by then it was already too late: Its like everyone picked up their pitchforks and torches and said Hell no, Daniel recalls. Its a small town and everyone pays attention, Hood says. Rumors of a nightclub began to circulate, and the general feeling in town toward the Bennett boys shifted. The store is an old lady To sit empty is to invite collapse. Meanwhile in Sagaponack, Gray approached the historic-review board with her own plans for renovation. It was pretty much smooth sailing, she recalls. You know people say things like, The village can be so tough, but the village has been my biggest champion. They have been so supportive, so incredibly understanding. While Gray began work on her store, Daniel stepped back and set out on a charm offensive heading to the local library, to the blacksmith shop, to the architectural historical center, shaking hands and reintroducing himself as the good guy, the local. It didnt work. That summer, a few months after the Star article, Daniel attended his second meeting with the planning department. He says it was immediately clear that the tenor of the conversation had shifted. Its one thing if its a wine shop where people go in, buy a bottle, and go off on their way, said Samuel Kramer, then-chairman of the planning board, at the meeting. Its another thing if the business is being structured around the idea of buy a bottle and sit down and drink it. After the meeting, the board laid out a new stipulation that the store must meet Americans With Disabilities Act compliance, an important but often steep expense. To meet the standards, the Springs General Store would need a ramp, a new bathroom, and rewiring. They also needed to resize the front door and offered to replace the septic system an undertaking that has led to the closure of many restaurants that cant afford the expense. The approximate cost for the changes was around $280,000, money that the Bennetts didnt have. In Sagaponack, Gray also had to meet ADA compliance and add a ramp. Additionally, for historic accuracy, her store was lifted with hydraulic jacks onto soap-slicked beams and slid slowly backward by 15 feet. (Gray also had to temporarily relocate the post office, which for almost 150 years shared a building with the Sagaponack General Store, to a trailer on the corner of Hedges Lane.) Given the scale of the work, its surprising just how little fanfare accompanied its completion. In Springs, Daniel complied with the planning departments stipulations, which required a new meeting with the Disabilities Advisory Board, which wouldnt happen for four more months, during which time the Bennetts expenses property tax, electric, the water bill continued to mount as the store remained unoccupied. The store is an old lady, Hood points out. To sit empty is to invite collapse. It was February 2023 after Daniel was able to present his ADA changes to the board, after the Architectural Review Board rejected those same plans, and after the fire marshal rejected the changes requested by the ARB when a pipe in the Springs General Store burst and flooded the entire first floor and basement. Suddenly, the Bennetts were facing a full gut renovation, likely millions of dollars worth of work, and God forbid anything happens to the wetlands, adds Evan. Because of the stores proximity to the wetlands, any plant, tree, or bush thats cut down or replanted needs whats called a Natural Resources Special Permit. And any new vegetation must be Indigenous. Daniel researched all permissible plant life to create a map with all new (but also old-in-the-right-ways) flora. He then learned that an NRSP can take up to a year and a half to arrive. Over in Sagaponack, after Grays team successfully moved the store back from the street, they started building their new foundation and restoring the historic porch out front. They used refurbished wood and repurposed post-office boxes to house candy and create shelves for artisanal goods. I want this store to be about nostalgia, says Gray, who also began hiring her team for the store: Daniel Eddy, of Brooklyns Winner, joined on to lead the food program; Gabby Green (who, coincidentally, once worked for the Bennetts at Doubles) as general manager; and Chris Kelly, who was appointed resident bee keeper to look after ten hives on the property. When Gray opened the store this April, it became an instant destination. The Star ran its opening story with the headline: The Sweet Smell of Nostalgia at Sagaponack General. In Springs, the town has at last approved of the Bennetts renovation plans and the ADA-compliant ramp. They like the new vegetation, as well as the new septic system. As far as the kayak shed is concerned, the brothers gave up their on-premises license, and the town approved the change to a wine store. After absorbing close to $1 million in expenses and after eight planning meetings, with visits to five different boards over three years, Daniel was finally able to apply for a building permit. Hes still awaiting approval. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Nokia may be looking to license its brand to a new smartphone maker Nokia and HMD Global started to part ways last year, which included de-listing Nokia-branded phones from hmd.com and replacing most with corresponding HMD-branded models. But the Nokia brand may live on in the phone world if the Finnish company finds another partner. On the Nokia sub-reddit, a Nokia Community Manager posted that the company is open to collaborating with a large scale mobile manufacturer. Of course, the words of a social media account manager dont carry much weight and Reddit isnt the best place to find a smartphone ODM. Nokia had licensed its brand in several different segments Streamview made TVs, RichGo made headphones (and other smartphone accessories), OFF Global made laptops. As you can probably tell from the use of past tense, those branding deals have also come to an end. HMD is not doing so well and recently announced that it will scale back its US operations. Nokia itself had to fend off rumors of trouble last year, reports came out that Samsung was looking at acquiring Nokias network business. The Finns were quick to deny those rumors, however, and we havent heard anything about it since. Nokia will publish its Q2 2025 results on Thursday. In Q1, it reported an operating profit of 156 million on net sales of 4.39 billion. Which company would you like to see pick up the Nokia brand for phones one of the established players or another startup like HMD? Source | Via (in Romanian) OnePlus is allegedly working on a small tablet with a flagship chipset, according to a new rumor from China's prolific Digital Chat Station. He says we should expect this device to be powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC, which is due to be unveiled in September. The tablet itself is said to be launching in the first half of next year, alongside the OnePlus 15T, the 6.3" successor to the OnePlus 13T. OnePlus Pad 3 So it's still a long wait for this one. The same source implies Oppo will launch its own version of the exact same tablet, and that wouldn't be a surprise at all, as the two sister brands have done stuff like this a lot when it comes to tablets. The tablet, in both OnePlus and Oppo iterations, is expected to come with an 8.8-inch screen. We'll let you know when we find out more about it. Source (in Chinese) Vice Speaker Tony Ada seeks to establish Guam as a free trade logistics zone, which he said would transform the island into a strategic logistics hub for U.S. exports to Asia. He asked House Natural Resources Committee chair Rep. Bruce Westerman and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Sen. Mike Lee to consider legislation designating Guam as a regional export and transshipment zone for U.S.-Asia trade. The federal government has been, and will continue to, invest billions on military infrastructure in Guam. A designation would maximize the return on investment on those endeavors by developing dual-use infrastructure that serves both military and commercial logistics, which we believe would be greatly appreciated by the appropriators and fiscal conservatives in Congress, Ada said in separate July 15 letters to Westerman and Lee. Guam lies within direct proximity to major Indo-Pacific markets including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and is outside the U.S. Customs Zone, making it an ideal jurisdiction for an export zone, the senator said. He said the proposed free trade logistics zone would enable goods to be routed through Guam for repackaging, value-added processing, and transshipment. This would enhance efficiency while reinforcing Americas regional trade capacity. We are talking about producing training and high skilled jobs in various industries, opportunities of federal investments in government owned infrastructure, an expansion of Guams role in U.S. trade, private investments, and a new tax base, he said. This is about creating sustainable development, but this legislation is just the starting point, and the work is far from over. The vice speaker introduced Bill 174-38 or the Guam Free Trade Zone Act of 2025. The bill would authorize the Guam Economic Development Authority to work with local and federal entities to initiate the process of designating FTLZs on the island, coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency to discuss rules for pre-clearances and bonded warehouses, establish tax incentives, as well as streamlined permitting and licensing to attract investors, and formulate a marketing plan. Guam is Americas front door to Asia, Ada said. This legislation begins what will be a lengthy but needed process which will eventually help diversify our economy. We need to leverage Guams location, existing federal investments, and our unique customs zone status to promote trade, investments, and job creation. Col. Ernest Govea, who assumed command of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in July 2023, handed over responsibilities to Col. Richard Marshall in a July 17 ceremony attended by Marines, local officials and members of the community. The change of command ceremony, held on base, recognized Goveas role in overseeing key developments at Camp Blaz, including infrastructure growth and ongoing integration with the local community. Marshall brings with him extensive operational and command experience across the Pacific theater. He emphasized his commitment to continuing the bases mission and strengthening relationships with the local community. Col. Govea set an exceptional standard, leading with vision and dedication to establish Camp Blaz as a strategically vital and operationally ready installation, Marshall said in a statement. It is an absolute honor to take command of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz at such a pivotal time. This unit represents the forward presence of the Marine Corps in the Indo-Pacific. Since his time at Camp Blaz, Govea has been instrumental in transforming the newest activated Marine Corps Base into a fully functioning command, Camp Blaz said in a release. His leadership has been pivotal in advancing construction initiatives, enhancing Marine readiness and morale, and ensuring that the base is fulfilling its strategic role within the Indo-Pacific, Camp Blaz added. Establishing Camp Blaz was more than just standing up a base-it was about laying a solid foundation for the future of our force in the Indo-Pacific, Govea said in a statement. Every milestone we reached was a testament to the dedication of our Marines, Sailors, and civilian counterparts, and watching Camp Blaz grow has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. In attendance were Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios and other dignitaries. Luxury brand Louis Vuittons iconic building in Tumon is being listed for sale for $4 million, providing potential buyers the opportunity to grab a prime real estate property. What makes this property attractive is the location and the workmanship that was put in to build the building for the price that is being asked for, Blue Pacific Realty principal broker Tom Clark told the Pacific Daily News. Clark said Louis Vuitton invested a substantial sum in designing and constructing the building for over $10 million. The two-story building sits on a fee simple property of 1,442 square meters, and was built in 2006. Prior to the pandemic, Louis Vuitton stopped using the building as a retail space and signs outside the building advised customers to visit the T Galleria by DFS instead for a Louis Vuitton boutique. Even before COVID-19, luxury brand shops were starting to pull out of Guam and the pandemic only made things worse. Guam used to be a destination for high-end brand shopping for Japanese and Korean tourists when those brands were not available in these Asian countries. As many of the luxury brands expanded to Japan, Korea and other countries, Guam started to lose its appeal as a luxury shopping destination. Clark, an expert in Guam real estate, said COVID-19 really had a devastating impact on tourism which, in turn, negatively impacted retail in the Tumon area. However, retail in general was already declining pre COVID, and I believe that it is a combination of these two factors (declining of luxury good sales and COVID) that is the cause of many closures of businesses, Clark said. I dont think it is a good sign for Guams economy, but we have been through similar downturns before, and eventually things recover. The main issue we have to deal with is the uncertainty of when a recovery will take place. Tumon Sands Plaza The Louis Vuitton building is the large retail building right next to Tumon Sands Plaza, which is an entirely separate property. Tumon Sands Plaza, which used to be a main hub for luxury retail stores, only has Chilis and Joinus restaurants as main tenants. Hawaii-based Steve Sombrero, president and principal owner of Cushman & Wakefield ChaneyBrooks, meanwhile, said his firm is not actively marketing the TSP for sale. In fact, we are seeking new tenants to fill the vacancies resulting from the global pandemic and lackluster visitor industry. We remain very hopeful that Guams visitor arrivals will soon return to pre-pandemic levels, he said. As asset managers for this property, it is our aim to make TSP the premier shopping and dining experience in Tumon. Others for sale There are other iconic properties being listed for sale in Tumon besides the Louis Vuitton building. At this point the Westin Hotel is the largest property on the market at this moment, but for a strictly retail operation, yes, I believe the LV building is the largest commercial retail property on the market at this time, Clark added. The 21-floor Westin Hotel in Tumon, which has 424 guest rooms and six villas, is also being listed, and Colliers International Group Inc. is the broker. In March this year, a federal judge approved the $33 million sale of Pacific Star Resort and Spa in Tumon to Georgia-based construction firm, Eastern Contractors Corp. Haiti - Colombia : Details on the training of Haitian military and police officers On July 28, 2025, Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H), will lead a delegation to Colombia to discuss cooperation, visit military training sites, and define the implementation timeline, among other things. This year, Pedro Sanchez, the Colombian Minister of Defense, confirmed that he plans to train at least 200 Haitian soldiers who, after three months of highly specialized training, will be ready for immediate deployment to Haiti. Training will then continue until a total of 1,000 soldiers is reached. The timeline will depend on the Haitian delegation's visit. The cost of training these 1,000 Haitian soldiers is estimated at approximately $2.5 million. Funding will be sought from friendly governments and international aid, and if not, Colombia will likely provide support. It should be recalled that the first agreement between the two Ministries of Defense was signed in January 2025 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44119-haiti-politic-brief-visit-of-colombian-president-gustavo-petro.html Based on our experience in Haiti, Minister Sanchez feels the urgency to act more quickly, not only in terms of training, but also in arms sales. He noted that there is already a company, Industria Militar (the Colombian arsenal), which already sells weapons to the Haitian government. Furthermore, this collaboration with Colombia also includes police training. On August 15, 2025, 25 police officers will arrive in Colombia for training in investigation, intelligence, and community policing. The training will last five weeks, followed by 25 additional police officers arriving during the next cycle, for a total of 50 officers. The costs will be covered by the Colombian Presidential Agency for International Cooperation. All training for the Haitian police and armed forces will take place in Colombia, as Haiti lacks the necessary infrastructure, technology, and instructors to deliver it. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44129-haiti-jacmel-joint-declaration-of-the-axes-of-cooperation-between-haiti-and-colombia.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44119-haiti-politic-brief-visit-of-colombian-president-gustavo-petro.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : Satisfactory results of the 2025 Baccalaureate exam The day after the baccalaureate exams closed, Yves Roblin, Director General of the Ministry of National Education, gave a satisfactory assessment of the final secondary school exams, which were completed "95.4% of registered candidates actually took the baccalaureate exams." Yves Roblin thanked all public institutions, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors' offices, primarily from the country's 18 jurisdictions, who provided their full support for the organization of these exams. He also expressed his appreciation for the work accomplished by the Ministry's relevant entities, which played a decisive role in the success of this major operation. According to Roblin, the exam texts were accessible to candidates regardless of the subject; they were consistent with the prescribed curricula and took into account the actual learning time students had during this school year. Yves Roblin paid special attention to the 19 candidates with physical, visual, or hearing impairments who took these exams. They were accommodated in one of the testing centers open in the Delmas School District. Miguel Fleurijean, Director of Secondary Education, highlighted certain functions of official exams, recalling that they lead to a diploma granting access to university, both in Haiti and abroad. Furthermore, they help identify certain problems that hinder the teaching and learning process. He also reviewed the quality of the texts administered during these exams, explaining that they are organized in the same way and have a standard comparable to those used in other countries in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. "For the 11 subjects considered, there were 430 standardized texts which, despite their differences, made it possible to assess the same cognitive level." This volume of texts strengthens the Ministry's ability to neutralize attempts at cheating. In recent years, we have gone from a single text per discipline administered at the same time nationwide to more than twenty texts per subject. In this sense, 24 texts were available for mathematics exams in the Departmental Directorate of Education of the West (DDEO). HL/ HaitiLibre TSMC will begin construction of four new chip factories later this year, which will be grouped together as "Fab 25" and will be able to produce 1.4-nanometer class processors from the end of 2028. The production facilities will be built in the middle of Taiwan in the so-called "Central Taiwan Science Park", explained the head of this industrial park on Friday at an anniversary event to mark the 22nd anniversary of this complex. Anzeige TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is currently starting mass production of 2-nanometer class chips, first for Apple and then for AMD and Intel. The company calls this process N2. However, the manufacturing processes will be converted and refined over the next few years, the global market leader explained in April of this year. TSMC's chip production plans until 2029 initially envisage an improvement of N2 in 1.6 nanometers with A16. With A14 for 2028, TSMC will further develop the transistor structure. Compared to N2, A14 should enable up to 15 percent more performance or 30 percent less power consumption. Fab 25 for A14 process to deliver in 2028 The new chip factories that have now been announced will be built for this A14 process, reports the Taipei Times. TSMC has leased the relevant land and the Central Taiwan Science Park officially handed it over to the company last month, said Maw-Shin Hsu, general manager of the industrial park. The expansion of the industrial park will be accompanied by the construction of retention basins and other structures to protect soil and water, Hsu added. TSMC's roadmap is to complete the high-risk production of A14 wafers by 2027 and start mass production by the end of 2028. The goal is to produce 50,000 wafers per month. However, due to the finer production technology, it is still unclear how many chips can actually be produced from one wafer. Four of eleven planned new TSMC chip factories TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei stated last week after the presentation of the latest quarterly figures that the company plans to build "eleven wafer fabs and four advanced packaging plants in Taiwan over the next few years". The four new A14 chip factories are likely to be among these eleven. In addition, the 2-nanometer factories in both Hsinchu in northwestern Taiwan and Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan will be expanded in several phases due to high demand. Anzeige The Central Taiwan Science Park near the city of Taichung currently covers a total area of 1,486 hectares. Around 53,000 people will work there in 2022, Taiwan News reported. According to the Taipei Times, TSMC generated just over 42 percent of this industrial park's turnover in 2021. With the four new chip factories, TSMC's share is likely to increase further. (fds) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. Jukka Kiesi , an environmental inspector for the City of Helsinki, said on Monday that no significant cyanobacterial presence has been recorded at the citys monitored beaches. He urged swimmers to take advantage of the clear water while conditions last. Helsinkis public beaches remain largely free of cyanobacteria, but officials say the situation may shift quickly due to changing weather conditions. The situation can change quickly depending on wind, rain, and currents, Kiesi said. According to the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), satellite monitoring has shown a growing presence of cyanobacteria in the Gulf of Finland. Sakari Vakeva, a Syke researcher, said on Monday that several islands in the region were already surrounded by visible blooms over the weekend. The highest concentrations have been found near western Hanko and within the Archipelago Sea National Park. Vakeva reported that cyanobacteria have also appeared around Santahamina and along the Vuosaari channel, as well as in the outer archipelago of Kirkkonummi, Espoo, Helsinki and Sipoo. Some instances have also occurred in inner archipelago areas. Boaters may encounter cyanobacteria as close as 500 metres off Helsinkis coastline, Vakeva said. Last week, Helsingin Sanomat reported on a large floating mass of cyanobacteria drifting across the Gulf of Finland. According to Vakeva, part of the recent satellite observations may be connected to that mass, which has slowly moved toward the Archipelago Sea. As of Monday morning, most bathing areas in the capital region had not recorded significant cyanobacterial blooms. Only Kivenlahti Beach in Espoo had a high presence. Minor blooms were observed at Veijarivuori, Laaksolahti, Klobben, Hanikka and Ruispelto beaches. Lifeguards report conditions each morning, and updates are made during the day if visible changes occur. Kiesi described the low levels of cyanobacteria in mid-July as unusual. Typically, peak bloom activity is expected during warmer, sunnier stretches of summer. Current conditions in coastal waters, including temperature and calm weather, remain suitable for bloom formation. Now is the time to go to the beach and swim, Kiesi said. Forecasting the movement of floating cyanobacterial masses remains difficult due to the influence of local currents, rainfall and wind. Vakeva noted that some blooms can also form independently in coastal waters, triggered by sunny weather and warm sea temperatures. Neighbouring beaches can have completely different situations. Some locations are simply more prone to formation than others, he said. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, often appear as greenish surface mats and can affect water quality, sometimes releasing toxins harmful to humans and animals. Authorities recommend avoiding swimming in visibly affected areas and ensuring that pets do not drink or swim in the water when blooms are present. The Finnish Environment Institute continues to update its monitoring data through satellite imagery and field reports. The agency publishes weekly updates on the cyanobacteria situation nationwide during the summer season. HT Speaking from New York at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Orpo said UN member states had only completed 35 percent of the 17 targets set out in the 2030 Agenda. He said Finland had reached 86 percent of its goals, making it the world leader for the fifth year in a row. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has said Finland remains the top-performing country in meeting the United Nations sustainable development goals, despite global delays in achieving them. The pandemic and global conflicts have slowed progress, Orpo told Yle by phone from the event, which is held annually to assess country-level performance. The 17 sustainable development goals include targets such as eradicating hunger and poverty, ensuring access to education and healthcare, and increasing the availability of clean water and energy. The UN adopted the agenda in 2015 with the aim of achieving the goals by 2030. Orpo is leading Finlands delegation at the two-day event, held on Monday and Tuesday, and is scheduled to present a voluntary national review of Finlands progress. The review highlights gender equality, education, health, and wellbeing as key factors behind Finlands results. According to the document, these areas have received sustained investment, allowing the country to advance where others have stalled. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has previously estimated that only 20 percent of participating countries remain on track to meet the goals by the deadline. A further 15 percent show moderate progress, while over one-third have stagnated or regressed. Orpo said the UN forum is focused on three main themes: ecological sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability. He added that this years session places additional emphasis on the global status of women and girls. Domestically, Finlands own climate and energy goals have met resistance within the government. Earlier this month, Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala of the National Coalition Party expressed support for a European Union climate proposal. Members of the Finns Party, part of the governing coalition, voiced opposition. Despite the division, Orpo told Yle that the government remains committed to the aims of its policy programme. Negotiations will continue in the autumn, he said. Its mainly a question of the methods used to reach the targets. I believe solutions will be found within the government. The government programme includes targets aligned with the UNs agenda, particularly in clean energy, social equity, and environmental protection. Finlands voluntary national review will be shared with other UN member states at the forum, which brings together leaders, policymakers and civil society groups to track development results and address shortcomings. HT The 125-metre vessel, built in Kaliningrad, Russia, was tracked by the Finnish Navy and the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District. It first entered the region on Friday and turned south by Sunday afternoon, after reaching as far north as the Bothnian Bay. The Indian Navys newly commissioned frigate INS Tamal has left Finnish territorial waters after a monitored journey through the Gulf of Finland and the Aland Sea. On Monday morning, the vessel was located in international waters north of Gotland, Sweden, according to Markus Malila, public affairs officer for the Finnish Navy. The frigates movements did not violate any maritime laws, and there is no suspicion of illegal activity. Malila said cooperation with Baltic Sea allies was routine in such cases. The reasons for the route remain speculative, Malila said. But current information gives no indication of unlawful behaviour. INS Tamals passage through Finnish territorial waters was classified as innocent passage, a term under international maritime law allowing transit without hostile intent. The Kvarken area, between Finland and Sweden, is narrow enough that large vessels often enter territorial waters of one of the two countries during transit. Naval News, a defence technology website, reported that INS Tamal was delivered to the Indian Navy by Russias Yantar shipyard earlier this month. The warship is considered heavily armed for its class and size. Its armaments include supersonic cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, an upgraded low-signature main gun, anti-submarine rocket launchers, torpedoes, decoy systems, and close-in weapon systems designed to intercept incoming threats. The Indian government has described Tamal as the last warship India will receive from a foreign shipbuilder. Russia has supplied India with 51 naval vessels over the past 60 years. Anadolu Agency reported earlier that the Tamal would stop at several ports during its journey to southern India to demonstrate its capabilities. HT Each year, thousands of claims are pushed through this fast-track court procedure, often without proper verification, leaving recipients vulnerable to sudden debt enforcement. A growing number of Finnish consumers are being targeted with unjustified or expired payment claims through summary civil cases, according to a new report by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA). Sami Asujamaa, who runs a property management firm, discovered funds missing from his companys account after the National Enforcement Authority Finland collected a payment for a fire inspection. The invoice, however, had nothing to do with his company. We never received the invoice or any explanation. The money just vanished, Asujamaa said. The original recipient of the bill was a defunct company, but the charge had been redirected to Asujamaas firm without inquiry. He contacted the enforcement authority, which told him it only executes payments and does not verify responsibility. Though he was later reimbursed, Asujamaa called the process alarming. Its worrying how easily payments can go into enforcement without checking whos liable. Summary civil cases are resolved in writing when there is no response from the defendant. In many cases, courts approve claims automatically, regardless of whether they are disputed, outdated, or unclear. Paula Hannula, head of unit at the FCCA, said this legal mechanism is widely misused. The court doesnt examine whether the claim is valid or expired. If the consumer doesnt respond, the court simply issues a judgment, Hannula said. The FCCAs report states that consumers are routinely hit with dubious claims involving vague subscriptions, inflated credit charges, or contested service bills. Debt collectors and companies are accused of knowingly using this process to bypass normal scrutiny. Legal costs often deter consumers from contesting these claims. Fear of being liable for the opposing sides legal fees prevents many from seeking a hearing. Some consumers may need legal advice just to understand if the claim is even valid, Hannula said. Those already in debt are especially likely to give up responding. The FCCA has called for changes to the law. It wants debt summonses to be more clearly worded so recipients understand the nature of the claim and whether it is already time-barred. The agency also wants courts to assess each claim more thoroughly and for court fees to be made more accessible. In all the cases where weve helped a consumer challenge a claim in court, the result has been in their favour, Hannula said. That shows how often these claims are unfounded. The report also recommends penalties for companies that misuse the summary claims process. Right now, there are no consequences if a business tries to push through a disputed claim, even if its clearly unjustified, Hannula said. HT The visit, confirmed on Monday by Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coincides with the 25th EUChina summit and marks 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two powers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will travel to Beijing on Thursday 24 July for high-level talks aimed at easing trade tensions between the EU and China. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet von der Leyen and Costa during the summit, which will be co-chaired by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. According to Costa, the summit provides an opportunity for direct and constructive dialogue on several sensitive issues. We seek dialogue, real engagement, and tangible progress. Our aim is a fair and balanced relationship that benefits both sides, Costa said in a statement released on Friday. Trade has been a persistent flashpoint between Brussels and Beijing. The EU has pressed China to remove barriers that limit market access for European firms and to ease export restrictions on critical raw materials, including rare earth metals. Von der Leyen said earlier this month that the EU is working to rebalance its ties with China and expects greater reciprocity in trade relations. In response, Chinas foreign ministry called on the EU to approach the relationship in a more objective and rational manner and to manage disputes constructively. The summit follows the EUs announcement last week of its 18th sanctions package against Russia, which includes measures targeting Russian oil revenues, banks, and military industries. Several Chinese companies and financial institutions are also named in the new sanctions over alleged support for Russian operations. China has denied any backing for Moscows war effort and criticised the EUs move, with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce warning that the sanctions will have serious negative consequences for bilateral economic relations. Other recent sources of friction include EU concerns over Chinese state subsidies for electric vehicles and wind power, and the handling of European user data by TikTok, whose parent company is based in China. Despite these tensions, the EU maintains that diplomatic engagement remains essential. The summit is expected to address trade policy, economic cooperation, climate targets, and geopolitical issues, including Chinas position on the war in Ukraine. HT CELEBRATING its 46th year, the Thames Traditional Boat Festival offers attractions on land, air and water this weekend. Featuring the largest fleet of Dunkirks Little Ships ever to attend the Trad, there will be the best of British boatbuilding and craftsmanship, alongside amphibious and military vehicles and aircraft. Paul Clerehughs pop-up Crooked Billet restaurant will serve food throughout the day and present live music each evening. There will also be veteran bicycles and tricycles, face-painting, a selection of vintage stalls, street food and a dog show. This years event is commemorating the heroes of Operation Dynamo. The Thames Traditional Boat Festival is in Fawley Meadows from today (Friday) until Sunday, July 20. For more information, email admin@tradboat festival.com or visit www.tradboat festival.com A DECISION of a national banking services provider to not open a hub in Henley has being called into question. Henley was turned down by Cash Access UK and LINK after applying to have a hub set up as the town has just one remaining branch, Nationwide in Market Place. The council has been campaigning since 2023 for a banking hub to serve residents who cant access internet services as five branches in the town have closed since 2019. In the town centre there are three points where residents can withdraw cash, at Sainsburys and inside WHSmith in Bell Street and the Post Office in Reading Road. Outside of the town centre, there are cash machines at the Shell petrol station and Tesco in Reading Road and at the Top Shops in Greys Road. Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo met with councillors in May to call for better banking facilities, including a LINK banking hub. LINK is the UKs cash machine network and has opened hubs where customers of all the main banks can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions. These hubs are operated by post office staff. In 2023, town centre manager Paul Carey told a council meeting that the possibility of getting a hub had been investigated but the likelihood of it happening was low. At a meeting of the town council on Tuesday last week, Paul Harrison, of Sonning Common, said he understood that towns with similar existing banking provisions to Henley had been approved for hubs. He said: I sent to Councillor Rory Hunt some pictures of a banking hub in Brixham, where they had a post office which had turned into a banking hub that went very well. In Warwick, they now have a new banking hub, even though they have a Coventry Building Society there. Im originally from that area and I have spoken to the manager of the building society, they have no intention of going. Town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward said that the banking hub providers had explained why Marlow, which already had a Nationwide Building Society open four days a week and a NatWest open five days a week, was approved for a banking hub while Henley wasnt. He said: They explained to us that part of the reason was down to the number of dates that the Nationwide was open. We have been investigating it further and unfortunately the situation is a little more complex, although we are pleased to see that there are now business banking deposit facilities in WHSmith but it is, I think, still far from ideal and still something that the council is pursuing. A COMEDIAN who describes himself as a queer Christian says he tries not to proselytise. Sam Williams says he is very excited to be performing a work in progress of his new show, Touch Me Not, when he comes to Honk! Henley at the Relais Henley next Wednesday. I really like coming to Henley because I used to row as a teenager so thats always quite nostalgic, says Sam. I came and froze my hands off at the Upper Thames head of the river race a couple of years in a row. Also, my sixth-form job was on the meat and fish counter at Waitrose in Maidenhead. My act is like watching someone whose first job was that, do stand-up. If any of their kids are doing Waitrose counter jobs then they can come and see where their kids will be in a decade. Now living in London, the 28-year-old self-described bisexual patron saint will be including some theology among the gags. The show has a very confessional register, he says. Im trying to explain, how does a queer person come to faith? Were kind of in a moment where a lot of young people are returning to faith, which I dont think is an entirely good thing. My show doesnt seek to answer the question of why are people doing that, its more a testimony to life events that I have gone through. I stopped being an atheist when I was 21 and I was baptised when I was 27. When I realised I was no longer an atheist, it took me six years from that point to go to a church. I guess the person Im really making this for is for who I was when I was 21, so that they dont feel so alone in that experience. I felt very isolated, I felt like what I was going through was like realising I was queer all over again. It was like, Oh, god, this is going to add some complications! Churches are becoming more open, according to Sam. Almost everyone is secular now. The church kind of lost everyone and a lot of the people who have remained or are going back in now are queer. Ive got a mate who is an Anglo-Catholic priest and he estimated that the percentage of people that were queer in his seminary were, he said, at least 50 per cent if not more. There has been a big drive in inclusivity, even in the Catholic Church, in recent times, with Pope Franciss tenure, where attitudes are changing. Rather than trying to drive up numbers, I think theological positions are being arrived at that lay bare the fact that has been true forever, which is that queer people are made like that. In secular terms, were made in infinitely diverse ways to make life more interesting. In divine terms, were all intricately woven by a loving creator. I didnt realise how historically queer so many really important figures throughout church history are. The show is not all about religion and belief. For Henley residents, theres a healthy contingent of anti-Maidenhead material that they will probably enjoy. There are some good, borderline illegal tourist tips for exploring the Brecon Beacons. Theres also an interaction with a very popular psychic medium, like a sort of folk hero from South Wales, so anyone that likes speaking to the dead will probably also enjoy that bit. Sam adds: I mean, this show is about how my being born again doesnt happen when I get baptised, but it actually happens when I get pegged for the first time by an Olympic champion figure-skater. This show balances exalting divine experience and much smuttier stuff than Ive ever written before. Ive often considered ministry and stuff but I also dont think Im really settled yet in a denomination. I just hope that it broadens peoples perspectives on who faith can be for, not in an evangelising way but just in a way that hopes to blow the cobwebs out of peoples notions of what church can look like. Also on the bill is Jessica Fostekew, with both comics doing previews of their shows before the Edinburgh Fringe. Jessica was the MC at one of the mixed bill gigs that I saw, that really made me want to do stand-up, adds Sam. She was emceeing and Olga Koch and Evelyn Mok and Catherine Bohart were on, at the End of the Road Festival in 2018. I absolutely loved her show, Silence of the Nans, about doing shows on a cruise ship and then Hench, that was nominated at the 2019 awards, that was brilliant as well. I think shes one of the best comedians in the country so its really cool to be able to do works in progress next to each other. l Sam Williams and Jessica Fostekew are at Honk! at the Relais Henley on Wednesday, July 23 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost from 11.55. For more information, visit linktr.ee/honkhot HOST club Upper Thames and Henley Rowing Club both enjoyed success at the three-day Henley Masters Regatta last weekend. With the addition of an extra days racing this year that ran from Friday to Sunday, racing included a record number of events, rowing clubs, countries and competitors and for the first-time mixed crew eights and quad scull races. More than 1,413 athletes in 438 crews, representing 172 rowing clubs from 14 countries, enjoyed racing over the 1,000m course from Temple Island and finishing at Upper Thames Rowing Club. The regatta included 81 separate events with crew average ages ranging from 36 years (Masters B), to over 80 years (Masters J). Upper Thames and Upper Thames composite crews won an impressive 15 events including: womens D coxed fours, open masters I quad scull, open masters F quad scull, open masters I double scull, womens masters E coxless four, womens masters D eighth, womens masters F double scull, womens B quad scull, womens masters F eight, open masters G coxless four, open masters B coxed four, womens masters C eight, mixed masters C quad scull, mixed masters C eight and mixed masters G quad scull. Meanwhile Henley Rowing Club delivered a dominant performance, securing double glory in the mens masters B and masters C double sculls categories. Both Henley crews showed grit and control as they powered their way through tough rounds to claim victory. Despite facing stiff opposition in every round, the crews maintained composure under pressure and saved their best for the finals where they left their competitors trailing. The masters B double of Mike Lambourn and Richard Ellera were relentless across the competition, seeing off formidable challenges from Tideway Scullers School and Rob Roy before overcoming Upper Thames in a thrilling final. Though earlier rounds were tightly fought, the Henley duo left nothing to chance in the deciding race, dictating the rhythm and denying Upper Thames any serious opportunity to respond. Meanwhile, the masters C double of John Gelling and Tom Jost mirrored their clubmates path to the podium. They emerged victorious after battling past Ross RC and then dispatching a strong challenge from Lagan Scullers Club from Ireland in their final showdown. Once again, a tight contest was expected but Henleys experience shone through when it mattered most. Speaking after the races, Henley Rowing Club committee member, Nick Friend, praised the crews. He said: To take home two titles in such competitive fields is a tremendous achievement. Both boats showed the hallmark Henley traits of precision, determination, and smart racing. Winners medals were presented on Saturday and Sunday afternoons by a team including Tom Buckley (Mayor of Henley), Miriam Luke MBE (Olympic rower and sculler), Tim Crooks (Olympic rower and sculler), Paul Stuart-Bennett (Upper Thames Rowing Club president) and Catherine McLaughlin (wife of HMR event secretary John McLaughlin from 2010 to 2014). The regatta is run by an amateur army of rowing enthusiasts, volunteers, umpires and local partners. Jon Thornber, Henley Masters Regatta chairman, thanked all involved for their hard work in making the regatta such a success. Despite the warm weather there were only three heat injuries over the three days, all of which were dealt with by the regattas medical team. A Delta Air Lines Connection pilot made an abrupt evasive turn to avoid a near miss with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber over North Dakota, then apologized to shaken passengers over the intercom, calling the military aircraft "kind of, sort of coming at us." The incident occurred on Friday as SkyWest Flight 3788, operating for Delta, approached Minot, North Dakota, around the same time a B-52 was conducting a flyover for the North Dakota State Fair, CNN reported. The regional jet had been cleared to land but was forced to perform a sudden go-around after the bomber unexpectedly appeared in its path. The pilot, whose voice was captured in a TikTok video, explained that no one had warned them about the incoming aircraft and that the large bomber's speed and angle prompted him to take defensive action. "Long story short, it was not fun," the pilot said, adding, "I do apologize for the aggressive maneuver." The passengers reportedly applauded the explanation, though one frequent flyer said the sharp turn felt like a U-turn in the sky. SkyWest and the Air Force have both launched investigations, while the FAA said it is working to collect information. A contractor, not the FAA itself, was staffing the control tower during the incident. The discrepancy in aircraft size and speed may have played a role as B-52 bombers can weigh nearly 500,000 pounds and fly at high subsonic speeds, compared to the Embraer 175's much smaller profile and slower cruising pace. Meanwhile, SkyWest has praised the pilot's quick judgment. Originally published on Latin Times The Democratic National Committee (DNC) faces mounting pressure as its Republican counterpart vastly outpaces its fundraising, despite a record-breaking start by embattled chair Ken Martin. According to newly filed Federal Election Commission reports, the DNC raised $8.6 million last month, bringing its cash on hand to $15.2 million, Huffpost reported. The number is just a fraction of what the Republican National Committee (RNC) has raised pulling in $16.2 million in June, bringing its account to a massive $80 million. Martin, the former Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair, has raised $50 million since taking the helm earlier this year a record for a new DNC leader. Still, concerns are growing in the shadow of the Republican's 5:1 financial advantage. The New York Times recently reported that Democratic officials have discussed the possibility of taking out a loan to cover operating costs ahead of the 2026 midterms. If Martin is feeling the heat, he hasn't let on publicly. "The DNC is breaking grassroots fundraising records, bringing on more volunteers than ever, and raising record-setting funds to beat Republicans," he said in a statement. "Democrats are back in the ring thanks to grassroots energy across all 50 states." But Martin's tenure has been marked by internal friction, including a high-profile clash with former Vice Chair David Hogg, a prominent progressive activist. With 2026 midterm elections approaching, and 2028 on the horizon, the DNC has ramped up its field efforts, hosting 138 town halls in Republican-held districts and mobilizing a volunteer base of 30,000. It remains to be seen how successful the Democrats will be in mobilizing wary voters, and if it will be enough to contend with the GOP's significant financial advantage. Originally published on Latin Times TRIBE Hotels, the design-driven brand for modern travellers, has landed in Phuket with the opening of TRIBE Phuket Patong. Marking the brand's first hotel on the island, the hotel delivers bold interiors, fresh energy, and essential comforts with high-end flair all at an accessible price point. Located in Phuket's popular tourist area of Patong, the hotel is a ten-minute stroll from the beach, vibrant nightlife, buzzing markets, and local attractions. TRIBE hotels celebrate stylish decor, thoughtful amenities, and a focus on practicality, ensuring that every detail enhances the guest experience. TRIBE Phuket Patong features bold designs that epitomise the layered heritage of Phuket's Sino-Portuguese architecture and local craft. Coastal and coral textures are interpreted into sleek and modern geometric forms that are rooted in the island's tropical surroundings. The hotel's 187 rooms are intelligently designed across five categories, from TRIBE Essential to spacious TRIBE Max Suites that feature a separate living and sleeping area. Prioritising innovative design and functionality, each room offers floor-to-ceiling windows; a private balcony; blackout curtain; a sofa; 55-inch smart television; Nespresso machine; a rain shower; and environmentally friendly Kevin Murphy amenities. TRIBE Phuket Patong's three dining experiences are thoughtfully designed for community connection. 3 Uncles & a Barman is a restaurant, cafe, and bar with a terrace, serving Thai, Italian, and Middle Eastern-inspired plates. Here days in paradise start with seriously good coffee and regional breakfast specialties, while the lazy evenings shift to artisanal sodas, craft beers, and a mix of curated playlists and live DJ sessions. Maska Indian Eatery delivers bold flavours with a brunch-to-late-night menu, from charcoal-grilled plates, signature curries, and aromatic biryanis to comforting Indian dishes paired with masala chai and modern Indian cocktails. Surrounded by tropical greenery, Shades Pool Bar is the perfect spot to enjoy refreshing spritzes and chilled beers with sharing bites, all set to a laid-back soundtrack, mellow grooves, and spontaneous DJ sets. The hotel's lobby is a round-the-clock communal social hub with spaces to work, play and hang out, featuring a Grab & Go counter with locally sourced quick bites and Phuket-brewed ale; a 24-hour Fitspace equipped with Technogym equipment; and a lifestyle retail space curated with TRIBE-branded merchandise and locally inspired essentials. Hotel website Accor, the largest hotel operator in New Zealand, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachael Nicholson as Director, Commercial - New Zealand and Fiji. Based in Auckland, Rachael joins the Group's regional commercial leadership team. A highly accomplished tourism executive, Rachael brings over 20 years of international experience across the hotel, airline, and cruise industries. She has built a strong reputation in sales, customer experience, commercial leadership, and strategic transformation, having worked across New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, North America, and Europe. Most recently, Rachael served as Group General Manager of Operations at Heritage Hotel Management, where she led the post-COVID recovery of a portfolio of ten properties. Her leadership focused on restoring operational performance, driving revenue growth, enhancing guest satisfaction, and accelerating digital transformation. Prior to this, Rachael spent 18 years with Air New Zealand in several senior roles. She played a key role in the airline's pandemic response and international relaunch, including the introduction of ultra-long-haul services to Chicago and New York, the development of global sales strategies, and the management of critical international partnerships. Rachael holds both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Canterbury and has contributed to academic publications including the Journal of Travel Research and Journal of Vacation Marketing. A dedicated advocate for the tourism industry, she is also a long-time mentor with the Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) program, supporting emerging industry talent. Rachael joins the Accor Pacific commercial team under the leadership of Anne Gill, Vice President Commercial Market Strategy & Performance - Pacific. The announcement follows Accor's 2025 Pacific Leaders Conference held on the Gold Coast, which brought together more than 350 senior leaders to shape the future of hospitality across the region. Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand's leading hotel operator, is proud to announce the appointment of a seasoned hospitality professional to lead a key properties in Nepal. Paul Sun will assume the role of General Manager at Annapurna Mountain Resort, The Centara Collection, Centara's debut property in Nepal. This strategic appointment supports Centara's expanding international portfolio and commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences around the world. As Centara prepares to enter the Nepalese market, the company welcomes Paul Sun as General Manager of Annapurna Mountain Resort, The Centara Collection, slated to open in August 2025. With over 20 years of international hotel management experience, Sun has a proven track record for enhancing guest satisfaction and financial performance, and is well-versed in pre-opening strategy, operational oversight, and driving innovationkey strengths for launching Centara's new venture. His recent roles include the pre-opening General Manager for InterContinental Colombo and the opening and successful post-pandemic relaunch of Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort in Sri Lanka. This appointment highlights Centara's strategic focus on cultivating high-impact leadership to support growth in emerging and established destinations. With deep regional expertise and a shared dedication to guest satisfaction, Sun will play a pivotal role in shaping operations, building team culture, and creating meaningful guest experiences in their respective market. Henri Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman of Club Med since 2002, has been ousted from his position at the head of the group by Fosun, its Chinese shareholder since 2015. This decision follows growing tensions between Giscard d'Estaing and its Chinese shareholder, culminating in the appointment of a new chairman without prior consultation with the group's ex-chairman. I take note of this appointment, and consequently I also take note of my de facto dismissal. As my corporate mandate has de facto come to an end, I am obliged to cease performing my duties as Chairman of Club Med. Henri Giscard d'Estaing He explained that this decision followed the appointment of a new chairman, whose name has not yet been revealed, without his agreement and without a transition period. I had made it clear to the management of Fosun that I was willing and anxious, if the conditions were right, to personally ensure the success of this transition by accompanying the future leader for six months in my role as Chairman. Henri Giscard d'Estaing This change in management comes after disagreements over the Group's governance and strategy, in particular over the plan to float Club Med on the stock market. Henri Giscard d'Estaing had already expressed his desire to see the group return to the Paris stock exchange in 2026. Despite his efforts, Fosun rejected this proposal. Today, this listing is more necessary than ever. Club Med needs international governance that respects its values and its French roots. And that's no longer the case today. Henri Giscard d'Estaing In response to the ousting, Fosun said in a statement that last year the group had launched a succession process in collaboration with Henri Giscard d'Estaing himself. The process is still ongoing and the decision on the finalisation of this process will be communicated in due course. Fosun However, Fosun's decision to appoint a new chairman without the involvement of the main person concerned was seen as an abrupt break. Henri Giscard d'Estaing's departure also comes after several successful years under his leadership. Under his tenure, Club Med saw its range of resorts expand internationally, and the group posted solid results, including an operating margin that quadrupled in ten years, despite the delicate management of the Chinese market. The vast majority of directors are based in Shanghai, have little international experience and don't speak English. They have little or no knowledge of Club Med's global reach and French roots. Henri Giscard d'Estaing This observation reflects the growing distance between the group's French management and its main shareholder. At a time when Fosun has taken steps to strengthen its control over Club Med's management, this decision marks a turning point in the group's history. Internal tensions, particularly around corporate governance and strategy, have led to a major change. However, Fosun reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the group's development: Club Med's French identity is at the heart of the group's values , it insisted. Henri Giscard d'Estaing concluded: I wish my successor every success and good luck. With his departure, a new page has been turned for Club Med, and the appointment of his successor, whose identity remains unknown for the moment, could well mark a significant change in the group's strategy. About Club Med Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding in activities especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites. Today, Club Med is the world's leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and active couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 95% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection that offers a selection of the brand's most exclusive resorts, villas, chalets, and yacht characterised by premium accommodations, exceptional hospitality and personalized services, exclusively beautiful locations, refined dining concepts and lounges, transformational experiences, and unique architecture and design elements. Present in 30 countries around the world, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employes (GEs), representing 110 nationalities. For more information, visit www.clubmed.us, call 1-800-Club-Med (1-800-258-2633), or contact a preferred travel professional. For an inside look at Club Med, follow Club Med on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. The role of revenue management is evolving fast. The days of focusing solely on room rates are behind us. Todays most successful hotels are thinking holistically monetizing every part of the guest journey, designing offers around guest needs, and running controlled experiments to refine their strategy. In a recent Matt Talks episode, Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, sat down with Henry Blackman, Director of Product GTM Strategy, to discuss how hotels should rethink revenue strategy. Blackmans philosophy is clear: numbers only ever really do one of three things. They go up, they go down, or they stay the same. You dont need perfect data before you act. Instead, hotels need to simplify decision-making, empathize with guests, and test ideas in controlled ways. Here are the key takeaways for revenue managers, GMs and hotel owners who want to move from traditional revenue management to total revenue strategy. Trust your data, but dont wait for perfection Many hoteliers hesitate to act because they dont fully trust their data. But data is a proxy for human behavior, and human behavior is never perfect. Instead of waiting for clean, flawless data, focus on identifying patterns and testing assumptions. Cross-check different data sources, build simple hypotheses, and act on the insights. For example, if you suspect business travelers are more likely to book early check-in, dont wait for a year of historical data. Test it for a month. Introduce early check-in at a discounted rate, measure conversion and profitability, and iterate. Action beats paralysis. Start with empathy, not revenue Revenue is the goal, but its not the starting point. The hotels seeing the strongest performance are the ones that deeply understand their guests. Instead of asking, what can we sell? they ask, what is this guest really here for? This requires moving beyond management meetings and engaging with guests directly. Frontline staff are often the best source of insights. Encourage them to ask open questions during check-in, log what guests care about into profiles, and share feedback regularly. Even small personal touches like recommending a local coffee spot to a repeat guest who loves a particular coffee type create outsized loyalty and higher spend. Technology can help too. Use review scraping tools, even ChatGPT, to understand what guests talk about positively or negatively. Interview regulars over coffee. Learn what drives their loyalty. And act on it. Upselling only works when its guest-centric A common hotel mistake is adding random upsell options to the booking flow and assuming theyll work. When they dont sell, teams conclude that upselling doesnt work. But the problem is rarely upselling itself its relevance. Be intentional and thoughtful by embedding relevant add-ons. A destination property might bundle spa treatments, while a business hotel could promote co-working space or express laundry. These upsells flow disproportionately to the bottom line because they use existing resources with minimal extra cost. One standout case is Puro Hotels in Poland. They segment guests by purpose of stay work, leisure, or transit and offer curated experiences that match those needs. Rooms are secondary in their booking flow. Experiences take center stage, and it works. Think beyond rooms Traditional revenue management is room-centric. But the most forward-thinking hotels are shifting to total revenue management. This means monetizing every space and service: parking, meeting rooms, bicycles, spa treatments and even early check-in. The most profitable upsells are those with minimal incremental cost. For instance, selling an empty upgraded room type or early check-in is far more profitable than breakfast, which requires food and staff. Revenue strategists need to focus on high-margin opportunities and track profitability, not just revenue. From revenue managers to revenue strategists The role of the revenue manager is changing. So what are the differences between traditional revenue managers and the new generation of revenue strategists? Broader scope: They consider total guest spend, not just room rates. They consider total guest spend, not just room rates. Guest-centric thinking: They empathize with guest motivations and segment by behavior. They empathize with guest motivations and segment by behavior. Data fluency: They use modern RMS tools, market data, and guest profiles, rather than relying only on historical room data. They use modern RMS tools, market data, and guest profiles, rather than relying only on historical room data. Cross-department influence: They work closely with housekeeping, F&B and front office to roll out revenue initiatives. They work closely with housekeeping, F&B and front office to roll out revenue initiatives. Testing mindset: They run structured experiments, measure results, and iterate. Keep experiments simple Experimentation doesnt have to be complex. In fact, it works best when its simple. Start with one experiment at a time. For example, test early arrival pricing at kiosks for two months. Measure conversion and profitability. Share results with department heads to build excitement before moving on to the next test. The key is to treat tests as controlled experiments with clear hypotheses, not random attempts. Theyre worth it not because you might sell some of the item youre testing, but because of the information you get out of it. Use psychological tactics There are two psychological principles that hotels can readily borrow from other industries: Framing: Present upsell options in a way that nudges behavior. For example, adding a high-priced extra large option, even if few buy it, can shift demand toward a more profitable mid-tier option. Scarcity and urgency: Phrases like only two rooms left at this price or offer valid for 30 minutes encourage faster decision-making. Hotels can also use sensory triggers. The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls in a lobby, for example, can drive impulse purchases without any sales pitch. (Im hungry just writing about it.) Simplify your upsell strategy Finally, dont underestimate the importance of simplicity. Offering 20 upsell options overwhelms guests and leads to no action. Focus on a few relevant, high-margin products at each stage of the guest journey. For example: Pre-arrival: early check-in, room upgrades early check-in, room upgrades Mid-stay: spa treatments, restaurant reservations spa treatments, restaurant reservations Departure: late check-out, airport transfers Too much choice leads to indecision. Simplification drives conversion. The future is solutions, not services Hospitality is moving from selling services to selling solutions. Revenue managers who embrace this shift who understand guest needs, monetize experiences and influence cross-departmental action will become revenue strategists. When guests win, hotels win too. Another important thing to remember: its a team effort. For example, you cant just add early arrival upsells into the system and think your jobs done. You need alignment across housekeeping, your front desk needs to be trained, and the right process must be put in place. If youre making revenue tests or changes, communicate it clearly with those who need to know. That said, the opportunity is clear. Start small. Test, learn and iterate. The hotels that master total revenue strategy will not just fill rooms theyll maximize the value of every stay. Want to optimize your hotels revenue with AI-powered pricing? Atomize, part of Mews, could boost your RevPAR by up to 35%. Discover Atomize About Mews Mews is the leading platform for the new era of hospitality. Powering over 12,500 customers across more than 85 countries, Mews Hospitality Cloud is designed to streamline operations for modern hoteliers, transform the guest experience and create more profitable businesses. Customers include BWH Hotels, Strawberry, The Social Hub and Airelles Collection. Mews was named Best PMS (2024, 2025) and listed among the Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) by Hotel Tech Report. Mews has raised $410 million from investors including Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik and Tiger Global to transform hospitality. www.mews.com Shaileen Jiwa - Image Credit Accor Queen Elizabeth 2 - Image Credit Accor Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, managed by Accor, has announced the appointment of Shaileen Jiwa as its new General Manager, effective June 2025. With more than two decades of global hospitality experience and a strong track record in operational excellence and people-centric leadership, Shaileen will lead the hotels next growth chapter as one of Dubais most iconic heritage destinations. Mark Sawkins, Vice President Operations, IMET, Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems at Accor, commented: We are delighted to welcome Shaileen to this landmark property. Her rich international experience and dedication to excellence make her the perfect fit to lead the Queen Elizabeth 2 into its next phase. As we continue to reimagine this iconic ship for todays travellers, her leadership will be instrumental in shaping guest experiences that honour the vessels storied past while embracing its future potential. Saeed Al Bannai, Executive Director of Corporate Support Services at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, added: The Queen Elizabeth 2 is a maritime treasure and a cultural symbol of Dubais commitment to preserving heritage while embracing innovation. We are confident that under Shaileens leadership, the QE2 will continue to flourish as a premier destination for travellers, events, and cultural exchange. We warmly welcome her and look forward to the ships continued success. Prior to joining the Queen Elizabeth 2, Shaileen was General Manager at MGallery Gem Forest Nairobi. Her career spans senior leadership roles at world-class properties, including Tribe and Trademark Hotels in Nairobi, the iconic Drake Hotel, and Canadas first Canopy by Hilton in Toronto. She is known for her dynamic leadership style, strategic vision, and ability to create unforgettable guest experiences, earning her a reputation for achieving results and fostering high-performing, inclusive teams. In her new role, Shaileen will oversee all operations of the Queen Elizabeth 2, a legendary ocean liner turned floating hotel that continues to welcome guests from around the world and reinforces its position as a leading hospitality, heritage, and events destination in Dubai. Shaileen Jiwa, General Manager of Queen Elizabeth 2, said: It is an honour and privilege to take the helm of this historic property. The Queen Elizabeth 2 is more than a hotel, its a destination with a legacy, a story, and global recognition. I look forward to working with an exceptional team to deliver memorable experiences, foster a culture of excellence, and continue building on the ships remarkable heritage while shaping its future. Sonesta Essential Hotels Baton Rouge Airport - Image Credit Sonesta HVS Brokerage & Advisory has finalized the sale of the 77-key Sonesta Essential Hotels Baton Rouge Airport to Brothers Hospitality LLC. HVS Brokerage & Advisory announced the sale of the Sonesta Essential Hotels Baton Rouge Airport, a 77-room property located at 2949 Varsity Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The hotel was purchased by Brothers Hospitality LLC, headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, from the previous owner, Hyde LLC, based in Baton Rouge. Constructed in 2000, the hotel is located near the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, making it a strategic location for transient travelers. The proximity to the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery provides a steady demand for extended-stay business. Other nearby demand drivers include Louisiana State University, Southern University and A&M College, as well as several local museums and hospitals. Additionally, the Raising Cane's River Center, which hosts various events throughout the year, contributes to weekend and group demand. The transaction was managed by HVS Brokerage & Advisory, with team members Matthew Omansky, Eric Guerrero, Andrew Frosch, James Rebullida, Matt Almy, and Daneen Godinet involved in the process. The sale was completed, with Brothers Hospitality LLC providing over 20% non-refundable earnest money on the first day of the purchase and sale agreement. The transaction was closed in under three weeks. The sale reflects current market conditions where distressed sales have become more common, and the brokerage aimed to ensure a smooth transaction process for the seller. Google Now Indexes Instagram Content: What This Means for Hotels & SEO Strategy - By Apollos Gause - Image Credit Unsplash+ It used to be that when someone searched for your business on Google, your Instagram pages wouldnt appear. Thats finally changing, as Instagram has decided to allow Google to display public posts, reels, and videos in external search results. This change opens a new path for organic reach and discoverability. With Instagram content now visible outside the app and directly in search results, it optimizes visibility for search-first intent. This latest move strengthens the connection between SEO and social media, creating new opportunities for businesses to reach their audiences. How does Instagram indexing benefit hotels? The ability to showcase real travel experiences through Instagram content enables hotels to connect more effectively with potential guests. When users can access this level of experiential content on search engines, hotels will experience numerous benefits: 1. Increase in search visibility through user-generated content As AI-generated content becomes more widespread, the demand for genuine and authentic content grows. AI-powered search engines now prioritize original and user-generated content (UGC). While travelers are often drawn to picture-perfect photos and videos when planning trips and booking hotels, they also seek real, unfiltered insights into a hotel. Travelers want to see authentic experiences to get a true sense of a potential hotel stay. This change makes Instagrams decision to allow Google to index posts, reels, and videos a significant turning point. 2. Expanding the audience Instagrams audience is growing rapidly. With Instagram posts now being indexed, this creates an opportunity for hotels to significantly grow their reach. For example, if someone searches for Best Rooftop Chicago, a captivating reel could easily catch their attention. Thats why engaging visual content is more important than ever for search rankings. 3. Boosts local SEO Using keywords in Instagram captions and hashtags helps users find relevant content. This means that when users make common searches like hotels near popular attractions or the best things to do in a specific neighborhood, properties have more chances to appear and rank higher. Tagging the hotels location and sharing authentic, local experiences increases engagement and helps people connect more directly with the hotels presence in the area. 4. Enhanced and trusted brand presence Honest reviews of visitors experiences boost user trust. It also strengthens your brand by increasing opportunities to build your propertys search visibility through posts, reels, and stories. Potential guests may feel more confident and at ease booking a stay when they can find engaging content about your hotel. How to optimize your Instagram content for SEO Since Google search engine indexing is more important than ever, brands must create social media content with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. Here are some key elements that can influence how and whether Google indexes an Instagram post in search results: Keep your Instagram account public: To begin with, hotels need to ensure that they not only have a public Instagram account but also opt in to the update. To begin with, hotels need to ensure that they not only have a public Instagram account but also opt in to the update. Use keyword-rich captions: Incorporate keywords organically into your captions. Consider your audiences needs when considering the keywords you target in your SEO strategy and naturally weave them into your captions. Incorporate keywords organically into your captions. Consider your audiences needs when considering the keywords you target in your SEO strategy and naturally weave them into your captions. Remember, hashtags are crucial: Hashtags work similarly to keywords; adding trending or niche hashtags that correspond with your audiences search queries further enhances discoverability. Hashtags work similarly to keywords; adding trending or niche hashtags that correspond with your audiences search queries further enhances discoverability. Optimize your alt tags: To improve search engine visibility and help search engines better understand the purpose of your content, include keywords naturally in the alt tags of your Instagram posts To improve search engine visibility and help search engines better understand the purpose of your content, include keywords naturally in the alt tags of your Instagram posts Engage the audience: Pose queries and respond to remarks to promote interactions. Use clear calls to action (e.g., Share your thoughts, Save this post for later). Stories or posts with high engagement levels indicate valuable and highly interactive content. Pose queries and respond to remarks to promote interactions. Use clear calls to action (e.g., Share your thoughts, Save this post for later). Stories or posts with high engagement levels indicate valuable and highly interactive content. Consider value-first content: In this new zero-click world, focus on content creation that provides value and information to your audience. In this new zero-click world, focus on content creation that provides value and information to your audience. Optimize your bio: Using relevant keywords, fully optimize your bio with accurate, consistent information across other digital channels. Using relevant keywords, fully optimize your bio with accurate, consistent information across other digital channels. Use analytics & insights: Track your insights on a regular basis to determine which content works best. Conclusion Instagrams decision to make its content searchable by Google will significantly impact the hospitality industry, where potential guests search for travel content online. Currently, visibility is essential; you need to appear where your audience is already looking. This feature creates a new opportunity for organic reach and discovery and offers hotels an excellent chance to combine social media and SEO through authentic storytelling. Hotels can boost their visibility on social media and search results by optimizing their Instagram content with the right hashtags, keywords, alt tags, and engagement techniques. Businesses that move quickly to align their social media strategies with search behavior will lead in visibility, trust, and bookings as social media and SEO become more interconnected. Apollos Gause - SEO & Growth Innovator. Connect with Apollos on LinkedIn. About Cendyn Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to Find, Book, Grow - driving revenue, maximizing profitability, and creating deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions. Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn has over 32,000 customers in more than 150 countries including brands Outrigger Hospitality, Hyatt, IHG, Aman Resorts & Hotels, Relais & Chateaux, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Coraltree Hospitality, and Onyx Hospitality Group - generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base with offices across the globe. To find out more, visit cendyn.com. Will Google Become the Next Big Online Travel Agency? - Image Credit Pexels Excerpt from Travel Weekly As artificial intelligence and immersive technologies evolve, Googles growing influence in the travel industry presents new opportunities and raises concerns. Adidos Andy Headington questions whether agents should be worried about how the search engine is evolving From AI trip planners to immersive search tools, Googles steady creep into the travel planning space has sparked growing concern that the tech giant might one day bypass the industry altogether and become the worlds most powerful online travel agent (OTA). So should agents be worried? For years, Google has walked a fine line between supporting the travel sector and threatening to disrupt it. It already offers flight and hotel search tools - and could feasibly push its own travel packages by pulling together itineraries via Gemini (Googles AI platform) and then allowing users to purchase directly through Google Pay. While many may moan about Googles global dominance, that lure of familiarity and simplicity keeps people coming back. However, there are several issues the search engine heavyweight faces with this approach. Firstly, travel is one of its most lucrative advertising streams. Giants like Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, Trip.com and Airbnb spend billions every year on Google Ads. If Google started directly selling flights, packages or cruises, it would be biting the hand that feeds it. That tension isnt just commercial its legal too. In the UK and across Europe, consumer protection laws such as the Package Travel Regulations are strict. If Google was to bundle flights and hotels through its Gemini AI or other tools, it could be seen as acting as the principal provider. That brings with it a host of obligations: issuing refunds, offering financial protection and handling customer complaints. And if Gemini starts favouring Googles travel products over that of third-party providers, this could step on the toes of competition laws. At a time when Google is already under scrutiny in the UK over search dominance, it wouldnt take much to spark an investigation. There are also technical and trust issues at play. Many travel suppliers Ryanair, for instance dont allow third parties to scrape or use their data. If Google cant guarantee the best prices or correct information, its recommendations risk falling flat. And of course, theres the human element. As we all know, booking a holiday is a high-value purchase, with emotional, logistical and sometimes legal complexity. Consumers still want reassurance, expertise and personalised advice. Thats where agents continue to shine. Click here to read complete article at Travel Weekly. Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel - Image Credit JLL The Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel, a prime 4-star property, is now on the market, offering investors a strategic location and promising growth potential. The Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel, a full-service 4-star establishment, is now available for purchase. Appointed as the exclusive selling agent, JLL is handling the sale of this 179-guestroom hotel. Situated in a rapidly expanding hotel market, the property is strategically located near Dublin Citys M1 and M50 motorways, providing easy access to both Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport. Property Overview Opened in 2006, the Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel features 179 spacious guestrooms, the Burnell Bar & Grill, and popular meeting spaces. The hotel also offers extensive secure parking and full air conditioning throughout. The property is offered for sale with the benefit of a long leasehold title, originally granted for a 475-year term at a nominal rent. The hotel has a well-established trading history and an improving net operating income (NOI), making it an attractive investment in a highly sought-after urban market. Investment Highlights The Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel is situated in a high-profile location at the entrance to the Northern Cross Business Campus. This area is a popular office and retail scheme that hosts major corporations such as Mylan, Aramark, and Experian. The hotel's proximity to Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport enhances its appeal to both business and leisure travelers. Built by Walls Construction, one of Ireland's leading building contractors, the hotel is a modern, purpose-built facility. It features 179 well-appointed guestrooms, a refurbished Burnell Bar & Grill, and the Walls Suite ballroom with a 250-person capacity. The property also includes extensive surface and underground car parking. Operational Details The Hilton Dublin Airport Hotel operates under a management agreement with Hilton, which is set to expire in 2025. The hotel has successfully capitalized on strong passenger traffic at Dublin Airport and the demand from Dublin City Centre. It is a profitable and well-managed business with exciting scope for further performance growth. The recent addition of 13 brand new keys further enhances its capacity and appeal. Market Context Dublin's hotel market has been experiencing significant growth, with RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) levels remaining strong. The recent 320 million runway extension at Dublin Airport is expected to further boost passenger traffic, benefiting nearby hotels like the Hilton Dublin Airport. The hotel's strategic location and established reputation make it a compelling investment opportunity for potential buyers. Inquire at JLL. Clark Art Family Artmaking Series WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. On select Thursdays this July and August, the Clark Art Institute presents a free series of family artmaking programs inspired by the sculptures of Isamu Noguchi. Check out the exhibition Isamu Noguchi: Landscapes of Time, and get inspired by Noguchi's floating lanterns, mini models, and sculptures of stone and steel. Drop by anytime between 14 pm to make your own light sculpture. Mix and match materials such as wire, reed, and rock to create a sculpture that can hold a little light. Bring home your "landscape of time" and see how your sculpture changes in different lighting. This series takes place on July 24 and 31 and August 7, 14, 21, and 28, from 14 pm on the Fernandez Terrace. Free. Rain cancels this event. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events. Family programs are supported by Allen & Company. July Ghost Tours at Ventfort Hall LENOX, Mass. Join Robert Oakes, author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires," who will lead tours through the rooms and halls of the historic estate sharing tales of its alleged hauntings. The tour will take place at 7 pm on Saturday, July 26. This is not an active investigation. Admission is $30 and minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are strongly recommended as tickets are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call 413-637-3206. Note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event. Robert Oakes is an author, teacher, storyteller, and performing songwriter. He has written three books, "The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires" (2023), "Ghosts of Northwestern New Jersey" (2022), and "Ghosts of the Berkshires" (2020), all published by Arcadia Publishing. Since 2010, Robert has led ghost storytelling experiences at historic locations in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, including Ventfort Hall and Edith Wharton's The Mount. He has also given talks and readings and led a writing workshop at Arrowhead, home of Herman Melville. He has appeared on Syfy's Ghost Hunters, Jeff Belanger's New England Legends series on PBS, and The Apple Seed show on BYUradio and has been featured in The Boston Globe, The Berkshire Eagle, and numerous other media outlets. iciHaiti - Sunrise Airways : Clarification Note "Sunrise Airways would like to clarify for everyone that it is not responsible for issuing airline licenses in Haiti. Therefore, it cannot authorize or block anyone. Only the OFNAC (National Office of Civil Aviation in Haiti) authorizes these licenses, provided the airline's application meets all requirements. We also want everyone to know that Sunrise Airways has no problem with competition. When Sunrise Airways was founded in 2012, the Haitian market included 8 international airlines and three local airlines. Sunrise Airways did not prevent other airlines from operating. Despite these difficult times, we have not given up and remain committed to serving the Haitian people, who need to travel constantly. We thank our customers for their trust and support !" About Sunrise Airways : Since 2012, Sunrise Airways has been developing a network aimed at connecting capitals and islands that share the same space and future in the Caribbean region. With 11 operational bases and more than 250 employees, Sunrise Airways transports more than 1.7 million passengers between 20 destinations in Haiti and the region, from Florida to Havana, Santiago, Holguin, Camaguey, Guadeloupe, Panama, Miami, Saint Maarten, and, since 2024, via its new network in the Eastern Caribbean, serving Antigua, Saint Kitts, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and many more, connecting the entire region. IH/ iciHaiti 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 Indias civil aviation minister has criticised Western media outlets for attributing blame in the Air India flight AI171 crash before the conclusion of an official investigation, calling such speculation premature and driven by vested interests. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu expressed full confidence in Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe into the 12 June crash in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people 241 out of 242 onboard and 19 on the ground making it the deadliest Indian aviation disaster in four decades. The comments come ahead of Indian prime minister Narendra Modis trip to the UK. He will be in London on Wednesday and Thursday where he is slated to hold meetings with Keir Starmer. The aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel in a residential area of Ahmedabad. Of those killed, 52 were British nationals. The sole survivor was another Briton, named Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. AAIB has made an appeal to all, especially Western media houses, which may have a vested interest in the kind of articles they are trying to publish. I believe in AAIB. I believe in the work that they are doing, he said, according to the Indian Express. open image in gallery Tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building ( Reuters ) The minister commended the AAIB for decoding the aircrafts black box domestically, describing it as a huge success, as previous incidents typically required the data to be sent abroad for analysis. He reiterated the governments commitment to aviation safety but insisted it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions before the final report is complete. Making any comments until the final report has come, I don't think it is a good exercise on behalf of anyone. We are also very cautious and studying the report thoroughly, and whatever necessary needs to be done in terms of safety, we are ready to do it, he said, reported the Hindustan Times. Mr Kinjarapus remarks came days after the AAIB publicly urged both the media and the public to refrain from spreading premature narratives about the crash. Its Director General, GVG Yugandhar, noted that the preliminary report aimed only to present early findings and did not apportion blame. He also criticised irresponsible reporting by international media, accusing them of selectively using unverified information to suggest pilot error. open image in gallery People console mother of Clive Kunder, co-pilot of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane, which crashed during take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad ( Reuters ) The preliminary report, released on 12 July, revealed that both fuel control switches of the Boeing 787-8s engines moved from run to cutoff within one second, moments after take-off, leading to an immediate loss of power. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel was cut off, to which the second replied that he had not done so. open image in gallery Father and mother of Sumeet Sabharwal, a pilot, who died when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft ( Reuters ) The document does not state who, if anyone, moved the switches, using the neutral term transitioned and offering no conclusions on intent or fault. It also notes no technical fault in the aircraft. However, some international reports implied pilot error, prompting backlash from Indias aviation fraternity. Captain CS Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), accused publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Reuters of misleading the public and publishing conclusions not based on factual content. The FIP has issued legal notices to both outlets demanding a public clarification and apology, and warned of further legal action if no statement is made. They are not the investigative body, said Captain Randhawa. How can you jump to these conclusions which are not part of the preliminary report of the AAIB? How can you blame the pilots? Earlier, the head of the US National Transportation Safety Board cautioned against initial reports about last months Air India crash. Investigations of this magnitude take time," NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said in a social media post on Friday. She called recent media reports on the crash premature and speculative, without providing any specifics about what exactly she was referring to. 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 British F-35B stealth fighter jet that had been grounded in India for over five weeks has finally taken off, according to officials. The jet departed for Darwin in Australia, an Indian official said. The F-35B fighter jet was on a routine sortie over the Indian Ocean last month when it came across bad weather roughly 100 nautical miles off the coast of India, forcing it to abandon plans to return to its aircraft carrier, the Royal Navys flagship HMS Prince of Wales. Instead, the pilot requested emergency landing clearance at Keralas Thiruvananthapuram airport. Earlier, an airport spokesperson told the BBC that the F-35B was expected to be moved out of its hangar on Monday, with its departure planned for Tuesday. We dont have any technical details, he added. A team of UK-based technicians, including experts from the aircrafts manufacturer, have successfully resolved a hydraulic snag that had grounded the jet, The Times of India reported. The planes unexpected stay in India has sparked a mixture of amusement in India as well as concern over the potential for its advanced technologies to be compromised. India does not have access to American F-35s itself, though this is something Donald Trump has suggested he could offer New Delhi as part of trade talks. Engineers from the HMS Prince of Wales were dispatched to inspect the jet shortly after it became stranded in Kerala. But when those initial repair efforts failed, Britain was forced to deploy a specialist team of 14 engineers to Thiruvananthapuram airport with advanced equipment to assess and fix the jet. The stranded British F-35B fighter jet ( X/UKDefenceIndia ) Footage from the time showed the aircraft being carefully towed into a hangar for further work. British officials said the UK engineers were carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process. On Monday, an airport official confirmed that the jet is confirmed to be airworthy and scheduled for departure. Speculation had earlier swirled in India that if repairs proved unsuccessful, the aircraft might have to be partially dismantled and flown out on a cargo plane. British officials had played down those concerns. Earlier, British officials also denied that they had any concerns about espionage and expressed gratitude to their Indian counterparts for safeguarding the jet. The F-35B Lightning, developed by US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, ranks among the most sophisticated fighter jets in the arsenals of Nato members and a handful of trusted allies. Equipped with cutting-edge sensors, mission systems, and stealth capabilities, the aircraft is designed to carry out operations in hostile airspace while remaining virtually invisible to enemy detection. Once the jet is finally flown out the MoD could be handed a hefty bill for its stay in India. Airport sources told The Times of India that the operator of Thiruvananthapuram International airport Adani Airport Holdings Limited (or AAHL), a subsidiary of the Adani Group is considering levying standard parking and hangar charges for the extended stay of the British jet. The Independent has reached out to AAHL for further comment. On Tuesday, The Hindu reported that the British authorities owe around Rs 500,000 (4,300) in parking fees for the fighter jet stranded at Thiruvananthapuram airport. The charges, roughly Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per day, accounts for the aircrafts size, duration of stay, and crew amenities, the outlet reported. Delhi-based company Bird Group will reportedly pay the fee on Britains behalf. Separately, hangar usage fees are set to be levied by AI Engineering Services Ltd, which owns and maintains the facility. 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 Prime minister Shigeru Ishibas political future hangs in the balance after his ruling coalition suffered a significant setback in Japans upper house elections, losing its majority and plunging the government into a rare state of divided control. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito won just 47 of the 125 contested seats in the House of Councillors, falling short of their pre-election target of 50 seats. The coalitions overall strength in the 248-member chamber has now dropped to 122 seats, down from 141 before the vote. The tightly contested elections were held on Sunday amid voters' frustration at the coalition over rising prices and the risk of Donald Trumps tariffs. However, Mr Ishiba has vowed not to quit in a series of televised remarks after the results were announced on Sunday evening. Mr Ishiba told reporters he would remain prime minister, citing a looming tariff deadline with the United States set to strain the world's fourth-largest economy. But said he "solemnly" accepts the "harsh result". open image in gallery Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) meets the media at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday Having already lost its majority in Japans more powerful lower house last year, this latest defeat further weakens the coalitions political influence. With this loss, the ruling alliance no longer holds a majority in either house of Japans bicameral parliament a scenario not seen in the countrys postwar political history. Analysts say his days in office may be numbered now as opposition parties are pledging to cut taxes and tighten immigration policies. "The political situation has become fluid and could lead to a leadership change or the reshuffling of the coalition in coming months, but prime minister Shigeru Ishiba will likely stay to complete the tariff negotiations with the US for now," said Oxford Economics' lead Japan economist Norihiro Yamaguchi. Adding to the economic anxiety, Mr Ishiba's lack of progress in averting tariffs set to be imposed by its biggest trading partner, the US, on 1 August appears to have frustrated some voters. open image in gallery Shigeru Ishiba, Japanese Prime Minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), places a red paper rose on the name of an elected candidate at the LDP headquarters, on the day of Upper House election ( via REUTERS ) "Had the ruling party resolved even one of these issues, it (their approval rate) would have gone up, but we didnt feel anything and it seems like the US would continue to push us around," Hideaki Matsuda, a 60-year-old company manager, said outside Tokyo's bustling Shinjuku station on Monday morning. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDPJ) finished second in Sundays election with 22 seats in the ballot. Its leader, Yoshihiko Noda, said he is considering submitting a vote of non-confidence in the Ishiba administration as the result showed it did not have voters' trust. Some of the votes also got divided with the far-right Sanseito party, which clocked the biggest gains of the night, adding 14 seats to one elected previously. Birthed on YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party broke into mainstream politics with its "Japanese First" campaign and warnings about a "silent invasion" of foreigners. 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 children of an elderly British couple imprisoned in Afghanistan have made an urgent public plea to the ruling Taliban government to release them before they die in custody. Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her husband Peter, 80, were arrested by the Taliban on 1 February when they were returning to their home in Bamyan province in central Afghanistan. They have spent five and a half months in detention without being charged and were held separately in a maximum-security prison until eight weeks ago. In a statement on Monday, UN human rights experts said the Reynolds couple was at risk of irreparable harm or even death without access to adequate medical care. The British couple was living in Afghanistan for the past 18 years, running education and training projects and decided to remain in the country even after the Talibans takeover in 2021. The four children, who live in the US and UK, have raised grave concerns about the health of their parents who suffer from a number of ailments. They said: "This is another urgent plea to the Taliban to release our parents before it is too late, and they die in their custody. "They have dedicated their lives to the people of Afghanistan for the last 18 years." open image in gallery Peter Reynolds and Barbie Reynolds married in Kabul in 1970 ( Supplied ) The siblings said they had written privately to the Taliban leadership twice, hoping that it would encourage the group to release their parents as they held off from making a public appeal during the last two months. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, said there has been no progress in their efforts to have their parents released from detention. Ms Entwistle said they had privately pleaded with the Taliban "to uphold their beliefs of compassion, mercy, fairness and human dignity", adding: "We do so again now publicly." "For the past two months, we have maintained a media blackout, hoping to demonstrate our intention to show respect to the Taliban, and 'trust the process'. "We are grateful to Doughty Street Chambers for liaising with the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. The last contact the children had with their parents was five weeks ago when their mother said their father's health was rapidly deteriorating. open image in gallery ( Family handouts/ The Independent ) A remote medical assessment conducted by a cardiologist revealed that Mr Reynolds may have suffered a stroke or a silent heart attack, the siblings said. They added that Mr Reynolds was suffering from a red, peeling, bleeding face, which could mean his skin cancer has relapsed. Their mothers condition was also getting worse as she continued to struggle with numbness in her feet due to anaemia, possibly from insufficient food in the maximum security prison, her children said. A medical assessment of Ms Reynolds noted that this created additional strain which could lead to heart failure. The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, marked their 55th wedding anniversary this week in detention. They were held up until eight weeks ago at the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in the capital, Kabul, their children said. There, the couple had access to phones and called their children every day from the prison yard. They were then transferred to the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), with the promise of release within two to three days, they said. Two further months have passed, with no sign of release. The children said their parents had better conditions at the GDI but still had no bed or furniture and slept on a mattress on the floor. open image in gallery Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been running Rebuild, an organisation that provides education and training programmes for businesses, government agencies and NGOs in Afghanistan for 18 years ( rebuildconsultants.com ) Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been held for over five months, including in a maximum-security facility for several months and later in underground cells, without sunlight, before being moved to above-ground cells last week at the General Directorate of Intelligence in Kabul. Their physical and mental health is deteriorating rapidly, five experts, who are part of a UN panel, said. The UN experts said they saw no reason why this older couple should be detained at all, and have requested an immediate review of the grounds of their detention. It is inhumane to keep them locked up in such degrading conditions and more worrying when their health is so fragile. We remind the Taliban that all persons deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity, and that conditions and locations of detention must take into account their age and health circumstances, they said. The psychological toll on their health from not knowing why they are being held or when they are to be released is cruel treatment. Officials from the UK Foreign Office were granted an exceptional visit to the couple last Thursday to check on their welfare, according to The Times. A spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of two British nationals who are detained in Afghanistan. The Taliban on Wednesday denied that it was violating the Reynolds human rights. They are in constant contact with their families, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said. Consular services are available. Efforts are underway to secure their release. These steps have not yet been completed. Their human rights are being respected. They are being given full access to treatment, contact and accommodation. 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 At least 31 people have been killed and more than 170 are injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into buildings at a school and college campus in the capital Dhaka. The F-7 BGI aircraft took off at 1.06pm local time and crashed roughly 12 minutes later in the Diabari area to the north of the capital, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR). The Bangladeshi military said the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction before coming down inside the school campus and immediately bursting into flames. It said an air force committee would be assembled to determine the exact cause of the crash. The pilot of the plane was identified as Flight Lieutenant Md Toukir Islam, who made every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location, the military said. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed into a two-storey building within the school, it added. The pilot and mostly the young students were among the victims in the crash at the schools building. The condition of two dozen injured people with severe burns remained critical at the hospital, the medical officials said on Monday night. On Tuesday, at least 78 people remained hospitalised. Videos posted to social media in the aftermath of the crash showed fire and smoke emanating from the scene as a crowd of students fled to open ground in panic. Later, a huge crowd of onlookers gathered on the top of buildings around the school to see the search and rescue operation. open image in gallery A F-7 BGI jet of Bangladesh Air Force ( Shadman Samee/Wikimedia ) Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government, said "necessary measures" would be taken to investigate the cause of the accident and "ensure all kinds of assistance". "This is a moment of deep sorrow for the nation. I wish the injured a speedy recovery and instruct all authorities, including the hospitals concerned, to deal with the situation with utmost importance," he said in a post on X. Bangladesh's health ministry said the victims have been admitted to seven different hospitals across Dhaka. A national day of mourning has been declared for Tuesday. Panicked parents and relatives were seen rushing to the site of the crash later on Monday. At a local hospital, some relatives were seen holding up boards with the names of the loved ones who they were trying to find. Others appealed to members of the public to make blood donations. open image in gallery A passenger airplane flies as onlookers watch a rescue operation after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery A close-up of the aircraft that crashed ( REUTERS ) "A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital," said Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where some victims were taken earlier. Details of the identities of other victims were not immediately available. A father described his feeling of helplessness while waiting to learn the fate of his daughter. "The plane crashed on the building where my daughter was. My wife called me, but I was praying so I could not pick up," Jewel, who goes by one name, said at the scene. "When I came here I saw there was a huge fire. There was a dead body of a child." Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, described the moments he heard a loud explosion as he came to pick up his children. "When I was picking [up] my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind... I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke," he told Reuters. open image in gallery People crowd a street as fire fighting trucks remain on standby outside a school where an Air Force training jet crashed in Dhaka on Monday 21 July 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images ) open image in gallery Bangladesh's fire service and security personnel conduct a search and rescue operation after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka ( AFP via Getty Images ) A spokesperson from Milestone School and College said the aircraft crashed near the school gate when classes were underway. The plane fell on the gate and crashed nearby. A class was in session where the plane crashed. The injured are being taken out one by one, the spokesperson said, according to BDnews24. open image in gallery Firemen check the wreckage of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday ( AP ) Bangladeshs F-7 is a modern variant of Chinas Chengdu F-7, itself modelled on the Soviet MiG-21. While considered outdated by global standards, it remains in service due to its cost-effectiveness and suitability for pilot training and limited combat roles. Its production ceased after China delivered the last of 16 units of F-7 BGIs to Bangladesh in 2013. 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 Pakistan has arrested 11 suspects after a video emerged on social media of a woman and a man being shot and killed for marrying against the wishes of their families, authorities said. The couple, who were not identified, were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council last month in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, in a so-called honour killing, according to provincial authorities, who investigated after the video went viral. On Monday, the provincial chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, said 11 suspects had been arrested, hours after he announced that the location and people in the video had been identified. A case has been registered against all those involved, Bugti said. In the video, which features people in a desert with some pickup trucks and SUVs, the woman is given a copy of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, and she then tells a man: "Come walk seven steps with me. After that, you can shoot me." The man then follows her for a few steps. Balochistan ( Getty/iStock ) A local police official said the woman did not cry or seek mercy. "You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that," the woman says in the regional Brahavi language, translated by the official. It was not clear what she meant by "nothing more than that". The man, who had followed her, then aimed a pistol at her as she turned her back to the shooter. The woman, wrapped in a shawl, stood still as shots were fired. She remained standing after two shots, delivered from close range, dropping to the ground after the third shot. That is followed by a series of gunshots. The footage then shows a bloodied man lying on the ground, close to the woman's body. Then, men are shown shooting at both bodies. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that in 2024, there were at least 405 "honour killings", criticising the authorities for failing to stamp out these crimes. Most victims are women, and the killings are usually carried out by relatives professing to defend their family's reputation, human rights groups say. Conservative families in many parts of Pakistan and India do not allow couples to marry against their wishes. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Multiple storms and a severe heatwave have swept across China, killing dozens, damaging infrastructure and disrupting travel as authorities brace for more heavy rain and rising temperatures. Typhoon Wipha made landfall in southern Guangdong province on Sunday evening, battering cities like Yangjiang, Zhanjiang and Maoming with winds of over 118kmph and dumping torrential rain that uprooted trees, triggered landslides and left thousands without power. The system also disrupted travel across the Pearl River Delta, grounding more than 900 flights in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Zhuhai. Hong Kong was briefly placed under its maximum typhoon warning as gusts exceeded 167kmph and scaffolding collapsed in parts of the city. Authorities reported 471 fallen trees and at least 26 injuries linked to the storm. Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon. By Sunday night, the typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm as it moved inland, but the threat of flooding and landslides persisted across southern China, including Guangxi and Hainan. open image in gallery Dark clouds gather and rough seas are seen in Victoria harbour as the typhoon signal number 10 is hoisted as Typhoon Wipha moves towards Hong Kong ( AFP via Getty Images ) Local forecasters warned that the system could re-intensify over the Gulf of Tonkin before making landfall in northern Vietnam. Meanwhile, torrential rain continued across parts of China already inundated by earlier storms. In July alone, flooding, landslides and storm surges have affected millions across coastal provinces, including Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi. A separate set of storms triggered flash floods in Henan and Gansu last week, where rivers burst their banks, buildings collapsed, and at least seven people were killed or reported missing. The Ministry of Emergency Management said Chinas first-half disaster toll included at least 307 people dead or missing, over 23 million affected residents, and more than $7.6bn in economic damage, with the bulk caused by weather-related events. While southern regions battled floods, other parts of China faced record-breaking heat. Temperatures soared to 46C in Xian this month, with surface readings exceeding 70C in some cities. open image in gallery A drone view shows buildings and roads are half submerged in floodwaters after heavy rainfalls, in Rongjiang county, Guizhou province, China ( via REUTERS ) Red alerts were issued in provinces including Shaanxi and Yunnan, prompting cooling shelters and curbs on outdoor work as electricity demand hit historic highs. The National Meteorological Centre has warned of continued extreme weather through July and August, Chinas typical peak season for typhoons and floods. Chen Min, Chinas vice-minister of water resources, warned at a news conference earlier this month that the global trend of climate warming is evident in China. In recent years, more frequent, intense and widespread extreme weather events have led to more abrupt, severe and abnormal disasters such as heavy rainfall, floods and droughts, he said. Meanwhile, monsoon continued to create mayhem in South Korea in the east and Indian subcontinent in the west. At least 18 people have died and 9 were missing after five days of record-breaking rain triggered flash floods and landslides in South Korea. Over 14,000 people have been evacuated nationwide, and the government has dispatched thousands of troops for recovery work. In Gapyeong, one man died after calling his wife to say his car was being swept away, while entire villages in Sancheong were buried in mudslides. In India, intense rainfall and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have killed at least 140 people since late June. Roads, bridges and homes have been swept away in mountain districts, with cloudbursts triggering deadly flash floods. In Nepal, a glacial lake outburst on the Chinese border on 8 July sent a wall of water downstream, destroying the Friendship Bridge, submerging vehicles, and killing at least nine people. Nineteen others remain missing. Pakistan has also suffered one of its deadliest monsoons since the devastating floods of 2022. More than 200 people have died, including dozens of children, and over 560 have been injured in rain-related incidents since June 26, with Punjab province the worst affected. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man has been found guilty of murdering a couple before dumping their remains in suitcases near Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of murdering civil partners Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, in July last year in their flat in Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush, west London. He then dumped their remains in suitcases near Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol. Mosquera, who was staying with the couple, decapitated and dismembered them, froze parts of their remains and put the rest in luggage, according to the prosecution. He is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed Alfonso, who suffered injuries to his torso, face and neck. Longworth was attacked with a hammer to the back of his head and his skull was shattered, jurors heard. Alfonso enjoyed extreme sex, and Mosquera, whom he met online years earlier, was part of that world, jurors heard. open image in gallery The remains were found by the Clifton Suspension Bridge in luggage ( Jonathan Brady/PA ) The 62-year-old was stabbed to death during a filmed session. The court was shown footage of Mosquera singing and dancing in the aftermath of the attack. Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said that Mosquera planned to hurl the suitcases over the bridge to dispose of the remains after the calculated and premeditated killings. Mosquera admitted to killing Alfonso but claimed it was manslaughter by reason of loss of control. He pleaded not guilty to murdering the men and instead insisted Alfonso killed Longworth. He alleged that he feared for his own life and believed he was going to be killed when he stabbed Alfonso. He claimed he thought that Alfonso would do to him what he claims he had already done to Longworth, adding he felt intimidated and threats had been made to his family in Colombia. His defence counsel suggested his actions after stabbing Alfonso, including singing and dancing, could be an outburst as he was overwhelmed by what had happened. The jury deliberated for five hours and three minutes before they unanimously found Mosquera guilty. open image in gallery Mosquera claimed that he felt intimidated and threats had been made to his family in Colombia ( Elizabeth Cook/PA ) The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan KC, said he would sentence Mosquera on 24 October after ordering a psychiatric report. I am not going to pass sentence on you today, although the only one I can pass on you is one of life imprisonment, he said. I am going to order a psychiatric report on you. It is in your interests to cooperate with the psychiatrist so that I can decide the minimum term you are going to serve. The judge then acknowledged the difficult nature of this case for jurors, thanking them personally: We put serious demands on jurors, in this case more than most. It went on much longer than the two weeks you were expecting. In this case, you have had to look at a very tough video. They were terrible, brutal events, and to read about it is a dreadful thing but to see it is really shocking. If you do want to seek help, then speak to the court staff above all, thank you. Detective chief inspector Ollie Stride of the Metropolitan Police described it as one of the most harrowing murder investigations he had ever dealt with. The senior investigating officer in the case told PA: I think certainly this is probably one of the most traumatic, harrowing murder investigations Ive dealt with by virtue of that video, and the fact that it took place during their sexual activity in their own home. 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 A string of violent protests has erupted outside a hotel in Essex that is believed to house asylum-seekers in what police condemned as mindless thuggery. More than 1,000 protesters attended demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel in Epping across 13, 17 and 20 July. The protests came after a 38-year-old asylum seeker was charged with sexual offences against a teenager and an adult in the town. Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, had arrived by boat just eight days before his arrest. He denies the charges. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said irresponsible behaviour at the protests, which left police officers and hotel workers injured, would not be tolerated, branding some protesters thugs and vandals. He added the force had made 10 arrests since the demonstrations, with five charged over violent disorder. Here is everything we know about the protests: open image in gallery Masked protesters attack and jump on police vans near the Bell Hotel on 17 July ( Ky Mo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock ) What happened at the protests? Protests on Sunday 20 July saw a large number of people gather outside the Bell Hotel, as an initially peaceful demonstration descended into violence with bottles and flares thrown. The events marked the third time in eight days that violent scenes unfolded outside the Bell Hotel, which is thought to be temporarily housing asylum seekers. Two security guards working the Bell Hotel were also attacked at a bus stop after the first protests on Sunday 13 July. The attack is being treated as a racist hate crime. Reports indicate that most of those in attendance at the initial protest were local people concerned about the arrest of Kebatu and the location of the asylum accommodation. Signs reading Protect Our Kids could be seen in the crowds during the initial hours when the protest was peaceful, with families in attendance with their children. Footage from the scenes after the second protest on Thursday 17 July shows rioters attacking police vans, with one man appearing to be struck by a vehicle that was attempting to navigate the crowds. Eight police officers were injured following what again started as a peaceful protest outside the hotel. open image in gallery Women hold a placard as they demonstrate peacefully near the Bell Hotel on 20 July ( Getty ) What sparked the protests? The events were organised in response to the arrest of Kebatu, who denies all charges and remains in custody. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence. On 10 July, Essex Police confirmed Kebatu had been arrested after being alerted to reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager. The initial protest on 13 July was sparked after Kebatu was charged. On Monday, a court heard Kebatu is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. What have the authorities said? Following the protests, Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which began peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle. For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery think again. Chief Constable Harrington told the media on Wednesday: Whos important to Essex Police the communities of Epping, and the right for everybody there to go about their business lawfully and peacefully. What its not about is allowing people to commit crime, to commit violence, or to disrupt those communities. The policing boss denied reports officers had been overwhelmed and outnumbered at the protest, insisting there was a robust policing operation in place. open image in gallery Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a stark warning to Keir Starmer, saying the UK faces a repeat of last years summer riots unless the government shows it can address peoples concerns ( PA Wire ) He also said it was not true that police had driven protesters to the site of the hotel, telling members of the press people came to the protest of their own volition. Chief Constable Harrington went on to urge people to comment responsibly on social media reports, saying online posts can have real consequences to the communities of Essex. On Tuesday, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a stark warning to Keir Starmer, saying the UK faces a repeat of last years summer riots unless the government shows it can address peoples concerns. She told the prime minister it was incumbent on the government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to peoples lives in their communities amid worries the country could see a repeat of the violence sparked in Southport. At the press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Harrington said police were aware of the plans, and that forces across the country were working together to prevent further unrest, adding they had learned a lot last summer. He also thanked those who had protested peacefully, adding many feel firmly about an issue that concerns them and have expressed that well. Epping Forest District Council has called on the Home Office to close asylum seeker hotels, including the Bell Hotel. Following the disruption, council leader Chris Whitbread repeated concerns that its location is entirely unsuitable. He also condemned the violence that has broken out there. open image in gallery Police protect the Bell Hotel in Epping on 20 July ( Getty ) Were the far-right involved? Experts from far-right research group Hope Not Hate say this series of gatherings, which began with largely peaceful intent, was co-opted by actors intent on causing violence. Several prominent members of the far right were in attendance, analysis by the groups Right Response Team found, with figurehead Tommy Robinson drawing attention to the initial protest. Footage and photography from the events show people with links to groups such as the British National Party (BNP), Britain First, Patriotic Alternative and neo-nazi group Blood & Honour all in attendance. The Bell Hotel has regularly attracted anti-migrant protests organised by groups such as these since 2020, Hope Not Hate explained, with actors capitalising on the recent concern to reignite racial tensions. Nick Lowles, CEO at Hope Not Hate, said: The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred, pushing what could have been a peaceful protest towards violent disorder. The individuals engaging in violence are not representative of the people of Epping, who are understandably angry following the assault of a local girl. Instead, they sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse. 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 Six people have been arrested after dozens of protesters gathered once again outside an Essex hotel believed to house asylum seekers. More than 100 demonstrators assembled outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday evening, with some chanting save our kids. The gathering escalated into what police described as mindless thuggery as participants injured a police officer and damaged a police vehicle. Bottles and smoke flares were later thrown towards police vans blocking the entrance to the hotel on the High Road. open image in gallery Protesters pictured near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on Sunday evening ( Yui Mok/PA Wire ) The force said a total of six people had been arrested and were taken into custody on Sunday evening. Essex Police announced before the protest that it would order demonstrators to remove face coverings when requested under section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Anyone who refuses to remove a face mask when asked to do so is likely to be arrested and could be imprisoned if convicted, the force said. The right to peaceful protest is protected by law and allows everyone freedom of expression, but this must be done respectfully and if there is a risk to public order, we will act appropriately, officers said. It said four individuals were arrested on were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with offences alleged to have happened during last Thursdays protest, which later turned violent. The fifth was arrested after an unmarked police car was damaged. open image in gallery ( Yui Mok/PA Wire ) Essex Police also said there were angry and violent scenes when a woman walked through the crowds outside the hotel. It said: Missiles were thrown at her and a number of individuals were shouting abuse and trying to reach the woman. Our officers walked alongside her until she left the scene in order to keep everyone on all sides safe and ensure no-one was hurt. open image in gallery Police officers escort a woman away from a demonstration for her own safety, after a protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. ( Yui Mok/PA Wire ) In an update at 11:15pm, police said all protesters had been dispersed. It comes after a man was charged with violent disorder and criminal damage on Sunday afternoon following previous clashes outside the hotel. open image in gallery Bottles and smoke flares were later thrown towards police vans blocking the entrance to the hotel ( Yui Mok/PA Wire ) Eight police officers were injured after what started as a peaceful protest on Thursday evening. Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, was arrested on Saturday, Essex Police said. The force said on Sunday that the CPS had authorised police to charge Silk with one count of violent disorder and one count of criminal damage. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Monday. Thursdays demonstration was one of a series of protests outside the hotel since 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with sexual assault after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Thursday. 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 As public outrage over sewage spills, rising bills and shareholder payouts reaches boiling point, a landmark review has called for a radical overhaul of how the water industry is regulated. The Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England Deputy Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, has recommended scrapping Ofwat entirely and replacing it, along with other regulators such as the Environment Agency and Natural England, with a single, powerful body. The current system is fragmented and overlapping, the report argues, and has failed to keep companies in check as infrastructure crumbled and pollution soared. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has said Ofwat is clearly failing and signalled he will act on the findings. But would a single super-regulator really fix the system, or just shuffle responsibilities without addressing deeper problems? Sir Jon has warned that bills will rise by nearly a third in the next five years, even with reform. Campaigners, meanwhile, continue to call for full public ownership, pointing to the 85bn paid out to shareholders since privatisation. So what needs to change? Should regulation be overhauled or the whole system taken back into public hands? And how do we make sure customers and the environment arent left paying the price? We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below well feature the most compelling responses and discuss the results in the coming days. All you have to do is sign up and register your details then you can take part in the debate. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen. 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 The government has announced it is launching a statutory inquiry into the violent policing at Orgreave during the infamous miners strike of 1984. Dubbed the Battle of Orgreave by historians, the event saw dozens of picketers and police injured in a morning clash with an estimated 14,000 participants. The inquiry will also look into the collapsed cases of the 95 miners accused of offences there, more than four decades after the events. Home secretary Yvette Cooper announced the inquiry having first informed campaigners last Thursday. She spoke from the site in Orgreave where the coking plant that was the target of the picketing was located. People have waited for answers for over 40 years, she said. The scale of the clashes, the injuries, the prosecutions, the discredited evidence, all of those things theres still so many unanswered questions. open image in gallery Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a statutory inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave ( PA ) I think the miners strike still has deep scars across coalfield communities, and the decisions made at that time the broadest decisions that were taken by the Thatcher government in the 1980s the scars can still be felt across the coalfields. Heres everything you need to know: What happened at the Battle of Orgreave? On 18 June 1984, one of the most brutal clashes in modern British policing history unfolded as workers organised by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) gathered to picket a South Yorkshire coking plant. The previous evening, NUM president Arthur Scargill addressed miners about plans for the following days picket. Around 2,000 miners were due to visit Orgreave, a major plant near Rotherham where coal was processed into coke to be used in British Steel factories. Picketers begin gathering as early as 4am on the hot day, and by 7am are being guided in their thousands by police to a nearby field. open image in gallery Mounted riot police at the miners' demonstration at Orgreave colliery, Yorkshire, where miners picketed the mine, 2nd June 1984. Soon afterwards, the 'Battle of Orgreave' took place ( Getty ) Here, an estimated 6,000 police officers have assembled, and are facing around 8,000 picketers. Many of the officers are equipped with truncheons, riot shields, or on horseback. Just after 8am, empty wagons begin arriving to pick up coke from the plant. Miners begin pushing towards police line, and police push back. At this point, picketers recall struggling to keep their footing or even breathe in the crush. A few minutes later, the police line opens up, and officers on horses carrying long truncheons advance on the miners. Two more charges like this would take place within the hour, as one senior officer is filmed advising the police: Bodies, not heads. The third charge is accompanied by snatch squads police with batons and short shields marking the first time this kind of unit had been deployed on the UK mainland. Miners that have not fled are dragged out of the crowd and pulled to the ground. One news report captures footage of a miner named Russell Broomhead being repeatedly hit in the head with a truncheon. open image in gallery National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) leader Arthur Scargill with picketing miners at Orgreave during the strike ( Getty ) Around 2,000 of the remaining miners are sent to another entrance to Orgreave, where there is another large field. Gates open at 10.15am, when around 30 lorries packed with coke leave the site. Pickets attempt to stop them, and more arrests are made, with allegations of more violence. It is during this final frenzy of activity that Mr Scargill is injured, claiming he had been hit by a police shield. He said: All I know is that these bastards rushed in and this guy hit me on the back of my head with a shield and I was out. Police deny that Mr Scargill was hit by a shield. The lorries get through, and police continue to attempt to disperse remaining picketers. The horse charges and snatch squad activity continues until around 1pm, when the majority of the violence subsides. What was the aftermath? Following the clash, South Yorkshire Police was accused by critics of having pre-planned the violence and overstating the unlawful behaviour of the striking miners. This criticism was also lodged against then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who said the Orgreave picketers had attempted to substitute the rule of the mob for the rule of law, adding that the strike action failed because of the magnificent police force well trained for carrying out their duties bravely and impartially. The following year, the prosecution against 95 of the picketers charged with riot, unlawful assembly and similar offences collapsed. All charges were dropped after their barristers repeatedly accused police officers of lying. open image in gallery Margaret Thatcher (pictured in 1984) said the Orgreave picketers were an example of mob rule ( PA ) Michael Mansfield KC, who represented several of the miners in court, called the event the worst example of a mass frame-up in this country this century. A number of lawsuits were subsequently brought against South Yorkshire Police for assault, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution. The force would later agree to pay 425,000 compensation and 100,000 in legal costs to 39 picketers in an out-of-court settlement. To this day, the police have not admitted any fault, and no officer has been disciplined for misconduct, Why has an inquiry been launched now? The subsequent 41 years have seen several calls for an official inquiry into the events. In 2012, the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) was launched following the success of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign in forcing an investigation into police conduct in that event. However, in 2015, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it would launch a formal investigation because too much time had passed. Prior to the July 2025 general election, the Labour Party led by Sir Keir Starmer promised to launch an inquiry into Orgreave should it secure victory. A year on from its election, the government has delivered on that promise. OTJC secretary, Kate Flannery, said: We have waited a long time for this day and this is really positive news. All these years of hard work by the OTJC and our many supporters has helped to influence this constructive announcement. open image in gallery Police in anti-riot gear clash with picketers next to the Orgreave coking plant near Rotherham in 1984 ( PA ) We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films The NUM president, Chris Kitchen, said: We are over the moon. Were hoping the inquiry will show that our dispute, which we believe was industrial, was political, orchestrated from No 10, or higher up the food chain towards No 10. We never came to this field to cause a riot or to deliberately lame people. I dont think that was the same for the police, who came tooled up, with a plan to injure us, and to try and get the public perception on their side and end the strike. A spokesperson for South Yorkshire police said: We will fully cooperate with the inquiry in a bid to help those affected find answers. 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 The Observer has apologised and taken down a cartoon portraying Zarah Sultana after the former Labour MP accused the publication of racism. The newspapers cartoon of the week depicted Ms Sultana on the front of a box of raisins in the style of the brand Sun-Maid as part of a mock invite to a Jeremy Corbyn party following news that the two were forming their own political party. Ms Sultana said of the caricature: Brownfacing a box of raisins and mocking my surname. Exactly what youd expect from a right-wing hack who is the daughter of an aristocrat and ex-Tory MP in reference to cartoonist Saffron Swire, daughter of Sir Hugo Swire. She later called the cartoon racist trash in a separate post. In response, a spokesperson from The Observer said on Monday: We are genuinely sorry for any offence caused and we are in the process of removing the cartoon. Ms Swires cartoon depicted Mr Corbyn dressed in a bright red jumpsuit with hammer and sickle decorations, in which the former labour leader said from a speech bubble: Lets paint the town red! As well as the depiction of Ms Sultana on the raisin box, there was a picture of Karl Marxs Das Kapital in the cartoon, with the slogan with goodie bags for the many (not the few). Ms Sultana responded to The Observers apology, calling it mealy-mouthed. She added it refuses to call it what it is: racism. It doesnt even have the decency to name me, let alone offer a direct apology, she continued. Supine journalism from The Observer, but sadly thats what weve come to expect from the mainstream media. Ms Sultana resigned from Labour earlier this month to form a political party with Mr Corbyn, which still has no name. Rumours suggested early on that the Islington North MP had not fully committed to join after he was initially quiet. Mr Corbyn broke his silence to declare: Real change is coming. One year on from the election, this Labour government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved. Poverty, inequality and war are not inevitable. Our country needs to change direction, now. Congratulations to Zarah Sultana on her principled decision to leave the Labour Party. I am delighted that she will help us build a real alternative. He added: The democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape. Discussions are ongoing and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve. Together, we can create something that is desperately missing from our broken political system: hope. Ms Sultana had the whip removed from her while she was a Labour MP last year after voting to scrap the two child benefit cap. 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 Protesters have taken to the sea in Weymouth over the sudden removal of floating sea rafts which had been in place for more than 40 years over health and safety concerns. The town council removed the two platforms due to safety concerns around blind spots to the RNLI lifeguards on duty, but the move has been accused of being a cost-cutting measure. Local residents have taken to the waters to protest against their removal and demand their return as soon as possible. Jade OBrien, who launched a petition to the council, said: For over 40 years the rafts have stood in these waters, providing safe recreation and cherished experiences for generations. open image in gallery Locals say the pontoons off Greenhill beach encouraged children to swim ( Weymouth Town Council ) Weymouth town council decided to remove these beloved rafts, citing safety concerns of blind spots to the lifeguard on duty. However, incidents have been rare, and Greenhill Beach has consistently maintained a strong safety record. It doesnt make sense. She continued: The rafts not only signify leisure but are integral to our community. They encourage children to exercise, learn to swim, and develop water confidence. By removing them, we are not only subtracting an element of enjoyment but also diminishing the vitality of Greenhill Beach. Nearly 4,000 people have signed a petition to restore the rafts, while the council have denied it forms part of a cost-cutting move. In a statement on their website, they said that the council had been informed on 10 July that RNLI would not include a platform or pontoon as part of their primary or secondary areas of operation, and so the rafts would not be considered as part of their immediate responsibilities. This was due to them creating a blind spot for the lifeguards which operate from the beach and therefore pose a risk to members of the public. As a result, the councils insurance providers confirmed they were unable to offer cover in the event of claim for incident or accident. A spokesperson for the council said: We remain committed to trying to find a way to get the rafts returned to Greenhill Beach. To do this we will continue to work with our partners and take advice on how we can achieve this. Our goal is to get the rafts back out in the sea as soon as possible, whilst ensuring that the councils legal health and safety obligations are met. 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 A Reform UK candidate beaten by a Green Party councillor in a bizarre name out of the hat-style draw after an election dead heat is fighting to overturn the result in the High Court. The election was decided at random after recounts left Liz Williams and Green candidate Hannah Robson tied on 889 votes in a rural Worcestershire election in May. Two ballot papers were placed in a box, and Mrs Robson's name was pulled out, securing victory for the Green candidate, who took her seat on the county council. But Mrs Williams is now challenging the result after launching an "election petition" at the High Court in London, claiming that what happened was not fair. As well as citing various alleged irregularities during the vote and count process, Mrs Williams says her defeat was on the equivalent of a "toss of a coin" and that the election should be declared void. At a preliminary hearing this week, Mrs Justice Yip said the petition, naming Green Party candidate Mrs Robson and deputy returning officer Vic Allison as respondents, will be decided at the High Court later this year. open image in gallery Greens candidate Hannah Robson ( Champion News ) The two women were rival candidates for the Littletons ward, which comprises three tiny villages, of Worcestershire County Council, when the unlikely dead heat occurred. According to Mrs Williams' petition, several counts resulted in the rivals being tied on 889 votes, with traditional party candidates behind. "The declared result was determined only by folding and placing two used election ballot papers into a ballot box and the deputy returning officer pulling one out," she says. "The petitioner believes this process was not carried out in accordance with due process of law, open to fraud and corruption and did not allow time for independent legal advice to be obtained when being pressured into accepting the process in principle. "I did not feel able to witness the entire process without obstruction, nor my concerns to be heard at the time. "I could not see the box for all of the preparation and was not included in that. "I did not agree to a third person shuffling the papers. Once in the ballot box, only the returning officer should have had their hand in the box." Footage posted online shows the returning officer putting his hand into a large black box and pulling out a slip of paper, before declaring her winner to cheers and applause in the counting room at Pershore Leisure Centre. Mrs Robson was declared to have won by 890 to 889 votes. open image in gallery Reform UK candidate Liz Williams ( Champion News ) Afterwards, she said: "I think I am still in shock and probably will be all weekend. This was just something - maybe next level. "I am feeling like I don't know whether to be sick or jump up in excitement. I have never seen something like this and I know the staff here hasn't either." Challenging the result, Mrs Williams says she wants, "a declaration that the said Hannah Robson was not elected by a due process of law, namely by the electorate as the Representation of Peoples Act 1983 provides; but by an equivalent of a 'toss of a coin' and therefore the election declaration be void." As well as complaints about the way the dead heat was decided, she complains of irregularities in the vote and count. Mrs Robson was not represented during the preliminary hearing this week, but Timothy Straker KC, representing the returning officer, said he would be applying to dismiss Mrs Williams' petition when the case comes back to court later this year. "It would be on the basis that the petition cannot proceed because, unfortunately, from the petitioner's point of view, it is out of time and the time cannot be extended," he said. As well as the winning candidate and the returning officer, Mrs Williams originally named local police and the council's chief executive in her petition. But the cases against them were struck out by Mrs Justice Yip, who said the rules only allow winning candidates and returning officers to be respondents to election petitions. Although very rare, it is not the first time a council election in the UK has ended in a dead heat between two candidates, leading to the winner being picked at random. In Blyth in 2007, the winner in one ward was chosen by the drawing of straws, while a candidate in Yorkshire in 2022 offered to play poker to decide the winner, before going on to draw straws too. Electoral Commission guidance to returning officers states: "When two or more candidates have the same number of votes, and the addition of a vote would entitle any of those candidates to be declared elected, you must decide between the candidates by lot. "Whichever candidate wins the lot is treated as though they had received an additional vote that enables them to be declared elected." Mrs Williams challenge to the Littletons election result is expected to go ahead at the High Court after September. 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 Foreign secretary David Lammy has joined other foreign ministers in condemning the Israeli government for depriving Gazans of human dignity. Mr Lammy and his counterparts from 24 other countries, including France, Australia and Canada, along with the European Unions commissioner for equality, urged the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid. They called for the war to end now and described proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called humanitarian city in Rafah as completely unacceptable. In a statement shared on Monday afternoon, the politicians said: The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. open image in gallery Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza ( AP ) They said it is horrifying that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid and that the Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Mr Lammy told the Commons later on Monday evening that ignoring calls from the UK and other nations for the war in Gaza to end is tarnishing greatly the reputation of Israel. He said it is a source of great regret that the conflict has not been brought to an end, in response to Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller. He added: That ignoring of the international community is tarnishing greatly the reputation of Israel. We continue, of course, to look at what further we may need to do as he would expect. But let me tell him, that I wish I could say too that, were we to recognise tomorrow, it would bring this war to an end. Im afraid, Im not sure that is the case. The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. In the statement, the countries say they strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the occupied Palestinian territories. The foreign ministers reiterated calls for the remaining people being held hostage by Hamas to be released and asked for all parties to protect civilians and uphold the obligations of international humanitarian law. They urged the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. open image in gallery Palestinians react to the killing of friends and relatives while waiting for aid trucks ( AP ) Earlier in July, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz laid out plans for the humanitarian city in Rafah, Gazas most southern city, which has been heavily damaged during the war. He reportedly said that the military would initially move 600,000 Palestinians there, with the aim of eventually transferring the whole population to Rafah. Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a humanitarian city are completely unacceptable, the foreign ministers said on Monday. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law. The signatories also pledged that they would be prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry has said that dozens of people were killed trying to access food aid over the weekend. 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 Ousted ministers will only receive payoffs if they have served in government for more than six months as Sir Keir Starmer overhauls his appointments watchdog. After repeat examples of ministers receiving payoffs after only serving short stints, the prime minister has tightened eligibility for severance payouts. He has also scrapped the Advisory Committee for Business Appointments (Acoba) as part of the shakeup, replacing it with a new Ethics and Integrity Commission created from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, who is driving through the reforms, said: This overhaul will mean there are stronger rules, fewer quangos and clearer lines of accountability. open image in gallery Michelle Donelan refused the offer of 17,000 in severance pay after a 36-hour stint as education secretary ( PA Wire ) "The Committee on Standards in Public Life has played an important role in the past three decades. These changes give it a new mandate for the future." But he added: "Whatever the institutional landscape, the public will in the end judge politicians and government by how they do their jobs and how they fulfil the principles of public service." Ministers are currently entitled to a severance payment equivalent to three months' salary when they leave office for any reason, regardless of how long they have been in the job. open image in gallery The PM faced calls to go further ( PA Wire ) The rule saw former minister Michelle Donelan reject the offer of 17,000 severance pay after her 36-hour tenure as education secretary. And the political turmoil at the heart of the Conservative government in 2022 cost taxpayers more than 3m in severance fees for ministers and advisers across three prime ministers. Sir Keirs shakeup would also have seen his own ministers Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, and Tulip Siddiq, a former Treasury minister, made ineligible for severance pay. Under Labours plans, ministers who leave office after a serious breach of the ministerial code or who have served less than six months will also now not get the payment. If they return to office within three months of leaving, they will also not receive their salary until the end of that three-month period. But critics called for the PM to go further, blocking ministers who are forced out in disgrace from receiving payouts altogether. open image in gallery Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden is overseeing the reforms (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire ) The Liberal Democrats said Sir Keirs change was the right step but that he must now go further - ban ministerial severance payouts altogether for disgraced former ministers, as well as stripping Liz Truss of her access to the ex-PM allowance fund of up to 125,000 per annum. The new Ethics and Integrity Commission will report annually to Sir Keir on the health of the standards system. It will be chaired by Doug Chalmers, a retired lieutenant general who chairs the current Standards Committee. The committee was set up in 1994 by then-prime minister Sir John Major, after his government was mired in accusations of "sleaze" following a series of parliamentary scandals. Sir John warned in a recent speech that a small group of politicians were increasingly breaking the rules, and suggested Acoba needed to be reformed. It has faced repeated allegations that it is toothless and unable to enforce its rules properly. Ministers have instead decided to scrap it and split its functions between the Civil Service Commission and the Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Under reforms to the business appointments rules, ex-ministers found to have breached them by taking on inappropriate jobs will now be asked to repay any severance pay they receive. 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 The defence secretary will call for a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine when he chairs a meeting of Kyivs allies on Monday. John Healey is set to argue that the West should again boost its military support for Ukraine in an effort to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Donald Trump has already threatened to impose very severe tariffs on Russia if it does not agree to a ceasefire by 2 September, 50 days on from the US presidents announcement that he would sell top-of-the-line weapons to Nato that could then be given to Ukraine. On Monday, Mr Healey will use a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) to back Mr Trumps proposal and pledge that the UK will play our full part in its success to bolster Ukraines immediate fight. Calling for more support from Western allies, he is expected to say: Alongside this, the US has started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or face crippling economic sanctions. As members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force Putin to the negotiating table. open image in gallery US president Donald Trump and Russia's president Vladimir Putin are seen during the G20 leaders summit in 2018 ( Reuters ) Monday will be the fourth time Mr Healey has chaired the UDCG, and the third occasion he has done so alongside German defence minister Boris Pistorius. The group, which brings together defence ministers and officials from Ukraines allies, was chaired by the US until Mr Trump came to power and began rowing back on American support for Kyiv and European security. Mr Healeys comments come as the Ministry of Defence confirmed the UK had sent 150 million worth of air defence missiles and artillery rounds to Ukraine in the past two months. The deliveries are part of a commitment to spend 700m on air defence and artillery ammunition for Ukraine this year, alongside other funding to provide more of the drones that have become key weapons in the war with Russia. The UK has delivered 50,000 drones to Ukraine in the last six months, with another 20,000 coming from a coalition of nations led by Britain and Latvia. Mondays UDCG is expected to see further commitments, with Germany and the UK agreeing to procure more air defence missiles using 170 million euros of funding from Berlin. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said it was right that the government continues to provide all possible support to Ukraine. He added: It is also important that we stand firm alongside the United States in reinforcing their 50-day deadline to ensure Putin is under maximum pressure to pursue peace. That means all of our allies playing their part, and following the PMs recent summit with Chancellor Merz, we hope that this 50-day drive will include German confirmation that it intends to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine. 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 Delta pilot was forced to make an aggressive maneuver to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber over North Dakota. Flight DL3788, an Embraer E175 Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines, was traveling from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Minot International Airport when it faced the close call during the 1.5-hour journey Friday night, Aviation Source News reported. The plane was in the latter stages of a descent when the USAF B-52 Stratofortress bomber from Minot Air Force Base (MIB) was spotted. In front of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, and so we continued, the jet pilot told passengers in an announcement later shared on social media. The pilot explained that the airplane was solely reliant on the control tower for instructions, but even their instructions werent clear. open image in gallery Tracking data showed the moment flight DL3788 was forced to turn away from the jet as it was inbound to Minot International Airport in North Dakota ( Flight Radar 24 ) I think he realised that the spacing wasnt going to work, and he said turn right, and I looked over and there was an airplane that was supposedly on the right-hand side, the pilot copntinued. He told passengers that initially, he thought the bomber was just a small airplane, but said he was forced to act hastily to avoid the jet. I looked over and saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us, he said. So, given his speed, it was a military [...] I dont know how fast they were going, but it was a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it, he said. So sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. open image in gallery The pilot explained to passengers that 'they didn't give us a heads up' leading to a dangerous close call ( Flight Radar 24 ) He added, I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up because the airport base does have radar, and nobody said, Hey, theres a B-52 in the pattern. Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, the pilot said as passengers applauded. In a statement to the New York Post, a SkyWest spokesperson said: SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident. The same day, another Delta Airlines flight was forced to turn back to its departing airport after one of the engines erupted into flames. The Delta flight 446 took off from Los Angeles International Airport but was forced to return and make a safe landing at around 2.10 p.m., said the Federal Aviation Administration. The Independent contacted Delta Airlines, the U.S. Air Force, and the FAA for comment. 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 Animal rescue volunteers made a shocking discovery at a home in south Los Angeles; more than 400 guinea pigs were being kept in a hoarder's home in "unsanitary and overcrowded" conditions. The rescue group, Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue, is asking for the public's help adopting or fostering the animals or for donations to fund their recovery and care. The owner of the home where the guinea pigs were found was facing eviction if she did not remove the animals from her house. A Los Angeles Animal Services coordinator emailed the SCGPR to alert them to the situation, hoping they could help. The coordinator believed the woman had approximately 200 guinea pigs in her home, but when volunteers arrived to collect the guinea pigs they found the real number was double the coordinator's estimate. Valerie Warren, chief executive and co-founder of SCGPR, told the Los Angeles Times that they were told the guinea pigs belonged to a previous tenant who moved out but left the animals behind. Guinea pigs rescues by the Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue. The volunteers at the organization found approximately 400 guinea pigs kept in "unsanitary" conditions at a home in south Los Angeles ( Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue ) They just continued to breed and breed and the rest of the people in the house were just overwhelmed, Warren, who visited the home, said. Some of the animals were found sick, injured, dehydrated, malnourished, or dead, but many others were found alive and in need of a home and care. The animals, which typically eat grass hay, vegetables, or animal pellets, were living primarily off of corn husks. Animal shelters are already struggling for space. After the pandemic, many people gave up pets they'd adopted during lock down. Now, the rescue has hundreds of guinea pigs to care for and it's taking steps to make sure they don't have any more to deal with by separating the male and female guinea pigs. Warren said the animals could number nearly 1,000 by November if they're allowed to continue breeding. This is a dire situation, she said. This is just a cycle thats not going to end until these guys are all taken in. In the meantime, it's unclear if the animals are actually going to be removed from the home. They were reportedly told that an LA Animal Services lieutenant visited the home and determined the animals were healthy and had proper food, water, and shelter a view the SCGPR does not share. They put out a press release asking the city to take action to protect the animals. We urge City officials and the animal welfare community to fully investigate this case and improve systemic response protocols. Shelter officials must be accountable if anything happens to these animals, the group said in a press statement. 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 Beloved World War II veteran and social media star Jake Larson, popularly known as Papa Jake on the internet, has died. He was 102. His death was confirmed by his granddaughter McKaela Larson in a TikTok post on Saturday, where she wrote: Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young. He went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end. I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all. You meant the world to him," she continued. "When the time is right, I will continue to share Papa Jake's stories and keep his memory alive. We appreciate all the kind words and posts. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest. Larson rose to unexpected fame in his late 90s as Papa Jake on his TikTok channel, where he shared personal stories of World War II and reflections on life. His catchphrase, Love you all the mostest, and with his honesty about the realities of war gained him more than 1.2 million followers. Born in Owatonna, Minnesota on 20 December 1922, Larson joined the Minnesota National Guard at 15 by lying about his age and claiming he was 18, according to NPR. In January 1952, he was deployed to Northern Ireland, and ended up part of the Allied troops on the beaches of German-occupied Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944. He survived machinegun fire and advanced to the bluffs overlooking the shoreline, later continuing through the brutal Battle of the Bulge. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star by the US Army and the French Legion of Honour. I dont think I was a hero. I was just like anybody else. We were all in this together, he told CNNs Christiane Amanpour in June 2024 on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, an interview for which the duo won an Emmy Award. I never thought Id be alive 75 years later, he told the New York Times in 2019, about being the only surviving member of his company. Im the luckiest guy in the world. He frequently visited Normandy for D-Day commemorations, where he embraced fellow veterans and mainland visitors alike. In 2023, Larson met British veteran Bill Gladden, then aged 99. I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Larson told Gladden at the memorable meeting, a year before the latters death, according to a report by CBS News. We are the lucky ones, Larson told the Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking at the graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive. Tributes to Larson have poured in worldwide. Normandys Overlord Museum wrote: Papa Jake was more than a soldier he was an extraordinary witness and a messenger of remembrance. Christiane Amanpour posted: So sorry to hear this. They really dont make them like Jake Larson anymore. The sacrifices he made with his Band of Brothers in WWII, and the joy he lived throughout his long life, offer an example to us all. RIP Every day with him was a blessing. He got to see both of my children graduate high school, he accomplished so much. The outpouring of support is unbelievable. We have had people from all around the world reach out to us. It's really, really amazing, Larsons grandson Mike told CBS News. 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 man who was pulled into an MRI machine in New York after he walked into the room wearing a large weight-training chain around his neck has died, according to the police. The man, 61, had entered the MRI room while a scan was underway Wednesday afternoon at the Nassau Open MRI. The machines strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain, according to a release from the Nassau County Police Department. He died on Thursday afternoon, but a police officer who answered the phone at the Nassau County police precinct where the MRI facility is located, said the department had not yet been given permission to release his name. The man was not supposed to be in the room, according to the police. His wife told News 12 Long Island in a recorded interview that she was undergoing an MRI on her knee when she asked the technician to get her husband to help her get off the table. She said she called out to him. Her husband was wearing a 20-pound (9kg) chain that he uses for weight training, an object theyd had a casual conversation about during a previous visit, according to the report. When he got close to her, she said the machine pulled him in. I said: Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off! she recalled, as tears ran down her face. She said the technician helped her try to pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible. She said he suffered a series of heart attacks after he was freed from the machine. Earlier, police said the man suffered a "medical episode" and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He was last described as being in critical condition, PIX11 reported. A 61-year-old man in New York was injured when he entered a room with an active MRI machine while wearing a metal chain around his neck. (stock image) ( AFP/Getty ) It wasnt the first New York death to result from an MRI machine. In 2001, a six-year-old child from Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRIs 10-ton electromagnet. In 2010, records filed in Westchester County revealed that the family settled a lawsuit for $2.9m. MRI machines are designed to find ailments in the body using powerful magnets. The magnets create a strong magnetic field which is used in scanning bodies. The machines can then produce an image of a person's soft tissue that allow doctors to look for abnormalities, like tumors, or damage to internal organs, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The magnetic field extends beyond the machine and exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects; it is strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room, the institute explains. This is why MRI technicians are thorough when making sure that patients have no metal on their person or inside their bodies before they are imaged using an MRI machine. "The static magnetic field of the MRI system is exceptionally strong. A 1.5 T magnet generates a magnetic that is approximately 21,000 greater than the earth's natural field," according to the University of California, San Francisco's Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. The department noted in a write-up about the potential hazards of MRI machines that magnetic metal objects "can become airborne projectiles". Even small objects like paper clips or hairpins can reach a terminal velocity of 40mph when pulled by an MRI's magnets. In addition to the potential dangers from flying metal, MRI machine magnets can also erase credit cards, destroy phones, and shut down pacemakers. The Independent has reached out to Nassau Open MRI for comments. 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 Go to any city in America, and its a good bet people will be talking about the transplants moving in. The new ideas and businesses and cultures they bring. The rents they push up. The errors they make while ordering bagels. In some places, like California, which struggled with population loss during the pandemic, rebounding population stats in recent years are even a source of bragging rights. So, what does the data actually tells about who is moving where? open image in gallery U-Haul data isnt an exact science, but it can point to trends about how people are moving across the country so far in 2025 ( AP ) This week, rental company U-Haul released its midyear migration trends report, compiling the top cities and states from which movers are packing up and striking out for somewhere new. Heres what you need to know about whos moving to Americas largest five cities. New York, New York open image in gallery Lady Liberty getting set to welcome the newest wave of gentrifiers to the city ( Getty/iStock ) New York, the countrys largest city, drew mainly from the Northeast, with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland making up the top five states sending new movers to the Big Apple. Unsurprisingly, these areas contained the out-of-state cities with the most transplants heading to New York. On this count, Philadelphia topped the list of U-Haul renters moving to New York, followed by residents of Central New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Boston, and New Haven. Los Angeles, California open image in gallery Not even the horror wildfires of the beginning of the year could stop new people wanting to move to the city of angels ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) A similar trend played out in Los Angeles, where recent emergencies including devastating wildfires at the beginning of the year and tense protests against federal immigration raids this summer have complicated life in a region already beset with a high cost of living. As Governor Gavin Newsom continues his alleged soft-launch of a 2028 presidential campaign, the California Democrat felt compelled to go on The Shawn Ryan Show podcast to push back against the California exodus myth. Residents of nearby states including large, high-growth areas in the Sunbelt still came marching in, with residents of Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and Oregon leading the way. Las Vegas, Vegas, Seattle, Portland, and Denver, meanwhile, were the top five metros sending people across state lines to L.A. so far this year. Chicago, Illinois open image in gallery Midwesterners are staying in the Midwest theyre just moving to Chicago ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In the Midwest, this strong regionality continued for the most part, with Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, and Ohio topping the list for transplants heading to the Windy City. Similarly, people from Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, and Dallas were most likely to move from out of state and into Chicago, according to the U-Haul data. Houston, Texas open image in gallery Beyonces hometown has Californians moving to it in droves ( Getty Images ) Houston, meanwhile, drew mostly from its Southern neighbors like Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma, though one cant fail to notice California ranked number four in the list of states U-Haul customers left behind to go to Texas. (Sorry Gavin!) As for cities, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, Baton Rouge, and Oklahoma City were most likely to be the starting point for out-of-staters heading to Houston. Phoenix, Arizona open image in gallery The heat of Phoenix is not enough to stop people from all over the country moving there ( Brandon Bell/Getty Images ) Last but not least, Phoenix drew residents from all around, with California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington state sending the most movers. Metro areas including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Seattle rounded out the list of out-of-state cities where U-Haul renters began their journeys to Phoenix. 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 huge wildfire burning in Oregon could swell to become a megafire after spreading over more than 95,000 acres. The Cram Fire, which is ablaze in the Treasure Valley near the city of Madras, is the largest wildfire to burn in the U.S. this year, and fire crews are continuing to tackle it more than a week on. The fire broke out July 13 and tore through central Oregon, prompting evacuations, threatening hundreds of buildings and destroying at least four homes, USA Today reports. open image in gallery Fire crews continue to tackle the Cram Fire, tearing across nearly 100,000 acres in Oregon ( Oregon State Fire Marshal ) Flames first ignited near Willowdale a remote neighborhood in Jefferson County situated 133 miles southeast of Portland and charred grasslands in the region, fire officials said. The cause of the blaze is unknown and remains under investigation, officials said. However, if the blaze grows to at least 100,000 acres, it would be classified as a megafire the first to strike in the U.S. this year, said National Interagency Fire Center spokesman Stanton Florea to NBC News. open image in gallery Oregon fire could swell to 'megafire' status if containment not reached ( Oregon State Fire Marshal ) Megafires were once considered a rare phenomenon, but in recent years, they have become increasingly common and are lasting longer. They are broadly defined by their size - 100,000 acres or more - though some experts say they must also have an unusually large impact on people and the environment. Over the last four decades, the average number of acres of forested land affected by wildfire annually in the U.S. has increased by 1,000 percent, says the National Geographic Society. Scientists have attributed the surge and frequency of wildfires to climate change. On Sunday night, fire officials said: Firefighters remain vigilant on the north end of the fire, continuing to monitor for any remaining heat. On the south end, crews are working to secure and connect fire lines in preparation for potential gusty winds from an approaching cold front. They advised that any smoke north of the city of Madras was coming from other fires in the region. open image in gallery The Cram Fire continues to burn at 73 containment, said fire officials Sunday night ( Watch Duty ) Roughly 35 miles from the Cram Fire, the Greely Heights fire burns across nearly 400 acres, while 25 miles north, just west of Simnasho in Wasco County, the Butte Creek Fire burns across 2,000 acres. On Sunday, the Warm Springs Police Department said that evacuation levels around the Butte Creek Fire had been downgraded to Level 1 Be ready in the Schoolie Flats Zone and the Island Zone. open image in gallery Two other fires continue to burn close to the Cram Fire (pictured), prompting evacuations across Oregon state ( Oregon State Fire Marshal ) A Level 1 warning alerts residents that there is no immediate danger, but conditions could change. Officials continue to advise people to remain aware and monitor official information sources. Residents should prepare a plan and supplies. In California, where wildfires raged through Los Angeles County in January, senators are growing increasingly concerned over President Trumps federal staffing cuts at the National Weather Service. In a stark letter obtained by The Los Angeles Times last week, both California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla pleaded to the Trump administration to reverse the workforce slashes, as California buckles up for peak wildfire season. 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 Vice President J.D. Vance is set to spend his summer vacation in a UK countryside hotspot beloved by A-list celebrities, according to reports. Vance will travel to the U.K. with his wife Usha and three young children, in mid-August to stay at a quaint rural cottage in the Cotswolds in the south west of England, before heading to Scotland for five days, The Telegraph reports. The Cotswolds is a quintessentially English hotspot that stretches across counties including Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, and has been compared to the Hamptons. It attracts an estimated 38 million visitors per year, as visitors flock for a countryside retreat. open image in gallery Vance and his family will stay in the Cotswolds a quintessentially English tourist spot ahead of President Trumps state visit in September ( KENNY HOLSTON/The New York Times ) Holiday cottages at the thriving spot can range from $900 to $3000 or more, for a weeks stay, with peak seasons and popular locations soaring prices even higher, reports Country Living magazine. Sources stressed to the British newspaper that Vances vacation itinerary had not been finalised. But a government source told the Telegraph: The ties run deep. Whatever any policy differences, the history, heritage, and appeal of the United Kingdom are a huge draw to the current administration unlike with their predecessors. The Vice President joins a plethora of other U.S. celebrities seeking a taste of rural England, with its honey-colored stone cottages and cobbled market streets. Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Taylor Swift are among the American celebrities who have also travelled to the idyllic spot while British A-listers, including David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant all have properties in the area. Vances reported overseas trip comes after a disastrous family trip closer to home earlier this month. open image in gallery The Vances's will stay in an idyllic holiday cottage in the Cotswolds, say reports. Though the final details of his itinerary are unconfirmed ( Getty Images ) When news dropped that the vice president was planning to head to Disney, protestors appeared in the hundreds outside the nearby Grand Californian Hotel. The following day Vance, his wife, Usha, and their two kids were spotted strolling through the California parks Bayou Country section. Other park goers complained that regular guests were experiencing delays and long lines because of the additional security and rides being shut down for the Vance family. The news of the trip follows the announcement of President Trumps state visit to the U.K, planned for September. open image in gallery Trump was presented with a letter from the King regarding his second state visit by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February (Carl Court/PA) ( PA Wire ) The Palace confirmed Trump will be hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle during his visit from September 17 to 19. Ahead of the trip, the President will visit Turnberry and Aberdeen in Scotland later this month. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump would meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on the visit between 25 to 29 July. 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 One of Jeffrey Epsteins accusers claimed she met Donald Trump in the convicted pedophiles New York office in what was described as a troubling encounter, according to a report. Artist Maria Farmer said she urged the FBI to look into people in the disgraced financiers social circle, including the president, after the alleged encounter in the 90s, she told The New York Times. Farmer and her younger sister Annie, who testified at Ghislaine Maxwells 2021 sex trafficking trial, have spoken publicly about their ordeal with Epstein before. But her account now sheds light on how the Epstein files could contain material that is embarrassing or politically problematic to the president, the Times reports. Farmers account is among the clearest indications yet of how Trump may appear in the Epstein files, the Times notes, though the White House disputed the alleged encounter. The president was never in [Epsteins] office, said White House communications director Steven Cheung. The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. It follows a turbulent few weeks for the Trump administration after MAGA outrage over the Epstein files boiled over last week. Despite campaigning on a promise to release the files, Trumps Justice Department announced in July that no further evidence in the case would be released, unleashing turmoil among the presidents MAGA supporter base. open image in gallery Artist Maria Farmer said she urged the FBI to look into people in Jeffrey Epsteins social circle, including Donald Trump, after the alleged encounter in the 90s. ( NBC News ) The president last week agreed to release select grand jury testimony of the case, which experts say is unlikely to produce much, if anything, to satisfy the publics appetite for new information about Epsteins crimes. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail awaiting a sex trafficking trial in August 2019. Farmer was in her mid-twenties when she claimed she met Trump in 1995, shortly after Epstein hired her to do artwork. One night, she received an unexpected call from Epstein, who requested she come by his offices in Manhattan. According to Farmers account to the Times, Trump was there and started to hover over her. Farmer said that she recalled feeling scared as Mr. Trump stared at her bare legs, the newspaper reported. Then Mr. Epstein entered the room, and she recalled him saying to Mr. Trump: No, no. Shes not here for you. Epstein and Trump then left the room, according to Farmer, and she claimed she heard Trump comment that he thought she was 16 years old. The White House disputed Farmers account. After the encounter, Farmer said she had no other alarming interactions with Trump, nor did she witness him engage in inappropriate conduct with any other girls or women. Farmer filed a lawsuit at the end of May alleging that the federal government failed to protect her and other victims of the convicted pedophile and his madam, Ghislaine Maxwell. open image in gallery Maria Farmer and her sister Annie were both sexually assaulted by Epstein and Maxwell in the 90s. Annie Farmer testified at Maxwells 2021 sex trafficking trial. ( US District Court for the Southe ) Farmer told the Times that she has long wondered how her complaints about Epstein between 1996 and 2006 were handled by law enforcement agencies. She told the newspaper that she raised Trumps name with authorities on two occasions because of the alleged encounter and because he seemed so close to Epstein. Trump has never been accused of any wrongdoing in the Epstein case. Farmer, who did not testify at Maxwells trial, was sexually assaulted by Epstein and his madam at his Ohio estate in 1996. Farmer later learned that her younger sister Annie, then 16, was molested by Maxwell and Epstein at his New Mexico ranch that same year. When Farmer discovered her sister had also been assaulted by Epstein and Maxwell, she reported the sex offender to the FBI. There is certainly more to know, Annie Farmer told The Independent in an interview last year. I dont know whether we will ever learn more about that but I dont think we know everything. The president has sought to distance himself from the sex offender, with whom he had a friendship from the late 80s until the early 2000s. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published the text of a note that was allegedly penned by Trump to Epstein as part of a 50th birthday card. The note itself was framed with the silhouette of a naked woman, with the contents alluding to a secret that Trump wrote the two men shared. Trump has denied having anything to do with the birthday card and is suing the Wall Street Journal for defamation, along with the papers owner Rupert Murdoch, the paper's parent companies Dow Jones and News Corp, and two Wall Street Journal reporters. Those affected by rape and sexual abuse can call Rainn for support on 800-656-HOPE (4673). If you are in the UK, you can call Rape Crisis on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. This story has been updated to include information about President Donald Trumps lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal 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 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly revoked the visa of a Brazilian Supreme Court judge who oversaw the prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro a man who President Donald Trump views as an ally. Bolsonaro is currently facing trial for his involvement in an alleged attempted coup to steal Brazil's 2022 election. Trump has likened the former president's attempted coup trial to his own Stormy Daniels hush-money trial, and called Bolsonaro's prosecution "unjust," according to the Daily Beast. I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you, Trump wrote in a letter he sent to Bolsonaro. This should end immediately! This week, Rubio revoked the visa for Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He also targeted the judge's allies in the court and their family members, revoking their visas "effective immediately." Rubio justified the move in a post on social media, accusing those targeted of censoring "protected expression." open image in gallery U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of a Brazilian judge and his family in response to the Brazilian prosecution of President Donald Trumps ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ( AFP via Getty Images ) @POTUS made clear that his administration will hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States, Rubio wrote on social media. Trump and his social media company, The Trump Media & Technology Group, sued de Moraes in February, accusing him of censoring conservatives on social media. Rubio's announcement came shortly after authorities in Brazil raided Bolsonaro's house and outfitted him with an ankle monitor. He has also been banned from contacting foreign officials. Rubio made clear his actions were in response to Brazil's moves to hold Bolsonaro accountable. open image in gallery U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of a Brazilian judge and his family in response to the Brazilian prosecution of President Donald Trumps ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ( REUTERS ) Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraess political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazils shores to target Americans, Rubio said. Bolsonaro himself has echoed Trump's favorite line when defending himself; he called his trial a "witch hunt." Trump has gone so far as to threaten anti-Bolsonaro Brazilians by threatening to levy a 50 percent tariff against the nation. Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a leftist who defeated Bolsonaro in 2022 condemned the Trump administration's targeting of Brazilian judges. "My solidarity and support to the ministers of the Supreme Federal Court affected by yet another arbitrary and completely baseless measure by the United States government," the Brazilian president wrote in a translated social media post. He further condemned the "interference by one country in another's justice system" as "unacceptable" and in violation of "the basic principles of respect and sovereignty between nations." 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 continued to call for the arrest of leading Democratic politicians on Truth Social, warning that California Sen. Adam Schiff is in Big Trouble and should be sent to prison. Perhaps seeking to shift the narrative away from the ongoing controversy over his past friendship with the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Trump reposted an AI video from TikTok of Barack Obama being arrested and jailed on his social media platform on Sunday. He followed that up with, among other things, a clip of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accusing Obama of manufacturing evidence to suggest that Russia helped him win the 2016 presidential election and a meme showing members of the 44th presidents administration posing for jailhouse mugshots. Then, late on Sunday, the president wrote of Schiff: Adam Shifty Schiff is in BIG TROUBLE! He falsified Loan Documents. He once said my son would go to prison on a SCAM that Schiff, along with other Crooked Dems, illegally manufactured in order to stage an actual coup. open image in gallery California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff is the latest target of Trumps wild claims ( AP ) My son did nothing wrong, knew nothing about the fictional story. It was an American Tragedy! Now Shifty should pay the price of prison for a real crime, not one made up by the corrupt accusers! Trumps gloating post followed up on his accusation last week that Schiff who, as chair of the House Intelligence Committee, led the first impeachment push against him during his first term and whom the Republican has loathed ever since engaged in mortgage fraud by dishonestly claiming a home in suburban Maryland was his primary residence. The president claimed to have been given the tip-off by the federally-backed lender Fannie Mae and added with glee: I always knew Adam Schiff was a Crook. The senator retaliated on X by denying any wrongdoing and commented: Since I led his first impeachment, Trump has repeatedly called for me to be arrested for treason. So in a way, I guess this is a bit of a letdown. And this baseless attempt at political retribution wont stop me from holding him accountable. Not by a long shot. This is just Donald Trumps latest attempt at political retaliation against his perceived enemies. So it is not a surprise, only how weak this false allegation turns out to be. And much as Trump may hope, this smear will not distract from his Epstein files problem. Schiffs press secretary Marisol Samayoa told CNN last year that her boss has claimed properties in both California and Maryland as his primary residences throughout his political career for mortgage purposes because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property. open image in gallery Schiff, interviewed by Stephen Colbert on The Late Show last week, has hit back at Trumps allegations ( The Late Show/CBS ) Schiff was a California congressman between 2001 and 2024 before he ran to succeed Laphonza Butler as a Golden State senator last year. He has kept a home in the north east for much of that time to serve as his base when Congress is in session, living there with his wife and sending his two children to Maryland public schools. The senator was given a further chance to respond when he appeared on CBSs just-cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday and said that Trumps regular threats to his enemies from law firms and universities to illegal immigrants are attempts to create a climate of fear and frighten people into submission. Speaking to camera to address the president directly, Schiff continued: Donald, p*** off. But, before you do, release the Epstein files. Close Trump on Epstein: 'Talk about Clinton, not Trump' 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 A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, says his client is unsure whether shell comply with a congressional subpoena to testify about his abuse of girls and whether others were involved. We have to make a decision about whether she will do that or not, her attorney David Oscar Markus told Politico. Thats been scheduled for the week of August 11th and we havent gotten back to them on whether well do that. The lawyers comments came after he and Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, where shes serving 20 years behind bars for her role in Epsteins scheme to sexually exploit girls, to discuss the Epstein case that has rattled the Trump administration for weeks. Maxwell had initiated the meetings and was granted a form of limited immunity to talk to the Justice Department, ABC News reported. Upon arriving in Scotland for a golfing trip, the president said: A lot of people asking me about pardons ... this is no time to be talking about pardons. The president, who has never been accused of wrongdoing in the Epstein case, has tried to distance himself from his former friend. House Democrats are now trying to get the so-called birthday book that has been at the center of recent fallout. In a letter to Epsteins estate, they asked for a complete, unredacted copy of the book by August 10. The Wall Street Journal first detailed a reported Trump letter in the book. Trump has sued the outlet for $10 billion over the report. 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 Multiple federal court judges have accused the Trump administration of deliberately defying court orders by being slow to respond, misrepresenting facts in filings, and not taking prompt action as President Donald Trump continues an unprecedented campaign to expand his executive authority. In an analysis of 165 court orders filed against the Trump administration, the Washington Post found that it was accused of resisting court orders in at least 57 of those cases approximately 34 percent. Since taking office, Trump has sought to implement his agenda as swiftly as possible, particularly in cases involving his immigration policies and attempts to drastically reduce the federal workforce. Despite multiple district court judges issuing temporary injunctions to stop the administration from deporting immigrants without due process or sending them to third countries theyve never been to, filings indicate the administration has continued its efforts. This has, most notably, occurred in the case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who was previously granted permission to remain in the U.S. by a court. The administration inadvertently sent Abrego Garcia to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, under accusations that he was a gang member. open image in gallery In approximately 34 percent of cases in which a federal judge ruled against the Trump administration, judges have accused lawyers for the government of defying orders ( Getty ) Multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, ordered the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, yet officials made no swift efforts leading to a judges admonishment. Defendants have failed to respond in good faith, and their refusal to do so can only be viewed as willful and intentional noncompliance, Judge Paula Xinis, appointed by former president Barack Obama, said after the administration failed to provide updates on how it was returning Abrego Garcia. It was just one of several immigration cases in which judges have raised concerns about the administration not following orders. In April, D.C. Judge James Boasberg, appointed by Obama, admonished the administration for willful disobedience of judicial orders after they did not comply with his order to turn around planes carrying dozens of people to a prison in El Salvador. The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote. Accusations against the administration have also occurred in cases involving the federal workforce. open image in gallery Trump has called judges who rule against him rogue and misrepresented them as liberal extremists seeking to stop him from implementing his agenda ( Reuters ) Also in April, Judge Amy Berman Jackson, appointed by Obama, raised significant grounds for concern that the administration was deliberately disobeying her order to keep more than 1,000 employees with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. There is reason to believe that the defendants simply spent the days immediately following the Circuits relaxation of the Order dressing their RIF in new clothes, and that they are thumbing their nose at both this Court and the Court of Appeals, Jackson wrote. In a statement from the White House, spokesperson Harrison Fields denied the Trump administration was defying court orders. The Presidents attorneys are working tirelessly to comply with every outrageous ruling issued by radical leftist judges. If not for the leadership of the Supreme Court, the Judicial Branch would collapse into a kangaroo court run by Democrat judges committed to trampling the Constitution. If the Washington Post were interested in a real story, it would write about the continued attempts to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court, Fields said. Courts can hold the administration accountable with contempt hearings for noncompliance but theyre traditionally slow to bring such action because many of the rulings are being appealed. Hearings in which a party is found noncompliant can result in fines or imprisonment. But the U.S. Marshal Service, a federal law enforcement agency tasked with serving as security for the federal judiciary, can serve subpoenas or warrants as well as make arrests when indicated by a court. But some experts raised concerns that, under Trumps authority, the Marshal Service would not carry-out those orders. Trump and his officials consistently lash out against judges who rule against them, misrepresenting them as Democratic and far-left extremists. A vast majority of the accusations have been brought by Democratic-appointed judges in immigration cases, but a handful of Republican appointees, including two judges tapped by Trump, have also either accused or raised questions about the administrations compliance. Jessica Roth, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Cardozo School of Law, told The Hill in April that it was deeply distressing to see lawyers for the government act this way. This is extremely unusual behavior, both from the administration and from the lawyers representing the administration in court, and its deeply distressing to see the behavior from these Department of Justice lawyers, which is not the norm for how Department of Justice lawyers conduct themselves in court, Roth told The Hill. The situation has been made more concerning by the fact that the Supreme Court has continued to allow the administration to seemingly circumvent court orders without ramifications. Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the White House's response. 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 Donald Trumps efforts to shift his bases focus away from the so-called Epstein Files fallout continued over the weekend as the president dove headfirst back into the culture war and leaned into his own favorite topic: the supposed Deep States efforts to persecute him. Ahead of a trip to Scotland this week, Trump is desperate to move the news cycle off of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and a declaration by the Justice Department that a list of the convicted pedophiles co-conspirators did not exist within the files of the DOJs investigation despite his dutiful Attorney General Pam Bondi having said she had such files sitting on my desk. What happened next was a wildfire that engulfed the presidents online MAGA base and even spread into the broader podcasting manosphere. As explanations from his supporters ranged from confusion to outright accusations of a cover-up, the president fumed privately and in a since-deleted Truth Social post that his PAST supporters refused to move on from the issue. Epstein was known to cultivate relationships with powerful men and institutions, and speculation has swirled online for years around whether any of those men (including Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Britains Prince Andrew) knew of his crimes or participated themselves during excursions to his private island or other properties. open image in gallery Donald Trump reignited battles with Barack Obama, Rosie O'Donnell and the Washington Commanders to distract from his Epstein files flop ( AFP via Getty Images ) No public evidence exists definitively linking anyone besides Epstein and his society-girl lover Ghislaine Maxwell to the crimes, though evidence of his close friendships with Trump and others is extensive. Epsteins death was ruled a suicide after he was found in a New York City jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, sparking further cries in MAGA circles of a mass conspiracy. On Thursday, the picture of that relationship between the president and a man who would later be found hanged in his jail cell awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors and women changed considerably. The Wall Street Journal, a Rupert Murdoch-owned publication, published an article revealing the stomach-churning contents of a supposed 50th birthday card Maxwell curated for her boyfriend in 2003. The card included messages from friends of Epstein including, according to the WSJ, Donald Trump. The paper reports that Maxwell collected a letter from Trump for the card, which alluded to a hidden secret shared by the two men, concluding with Trump allegedly wishing Epstein a happy birthday all done on top of a marker-drawn bawdy image of a naked woman. The White House and the president directly denied all parts of the Journals report, including the authenticity of the note. But the president also redoubled his efforts at misdirection, and launched a slew of new efforts to that aim. open image in gallery Trial evidence image shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and financier Jeffrey Epstein aboard his private jet. Epstein was found to have died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 -- during Trump's first term -- after being charged with child sex trafficking. Maxwell was later convicted of those crimes and is serving 20 years in prison. ( US District Court for the Southern District of New York ) First came the lawsuit against Murdoch and the Journal as well as other independent reporters who circulated the story. This was unquestionably where the president saw the most success in the immediate term: turning the issue into a Trump vs. the media fight provides a unifying bogeyman for the right. Supporters including Steve Bannon dialed back their calls for Trump to provide transparency as the reaction to the Journals reporting clarified that Democrats and Trumps critics see the issue as a political opportunity. Second was the resumption of Trumps war with Barack Obama, who more than any other Democrat has long held the presidents political focus. His entrance into national politics during the Obama era began with a racist campaign aimed at questioning the birthplace of the nations first Black president, and after his first election victory in 2016 Trump accused his predecessor of directing the FBI to spy on his campaign. Trump reignited those accusations this week, with the aid of Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence. Gabbard published a memo accusing the Obama administration of changing intelligence assessments to support political conclusions, but the crux of her own declaration was centered around a false conflation of the intelligence communitys (IC) conclusion that Russia had not attempted to hack directly into voting systems with what the IC actually did conclude: that Russia used bot farms and other means including materials stolen during the verified hack of the Democratic National Committees servers to influence public opinion. Not satisfied with picking one old fight, Trump picked two others. On Sunday, the president declared on Truth Social that he may attempt to gum up the approval process for the Washington Commanders stadium in the nations capital if the team did not return to its old name, abandoned for its racist connotations about Native Americans in 2020. He likely does not have any power to actually carry out that threat, given that federal funding isnt involved in the stadium deal. The same could be said about his resumption of hostilities with another nemesis: comedian Rosie ODonnell. Trump threatened in a separate Truth Social post to strip her citizenship, something the president legally cannot do. All of this is to say: Trump is throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks in a very obvious manner. On Monday, there were signs that many on the right were still unconvinced by the bluster. open image in gallery Donald Trump is seen at a party with Jeffrey Epstein in 1992. ( NBC News ) Sothe Democrats left all the files implicating themselves in Russia Gate but destroyed all the Epstein Files? one conservative influencer, Kelly McCarty, snidely asked on X. A number of Democrats have rallied behind a resolution with bipartisan support aimed at forcing the release of the DOJs entire investigation into Epstein. Those members were undeterred on Friday when Attorney General Pam Bondi moved to ask a court to unseal grand jury testimony regarding Maxwell and Epstein, which they note is just a small part of the evidence collected by federal law enforcement. It also remains the case that much of the uproar was fueled by the Trump White House itself. MAGA supporters and others in the chorus of voices calling for evidence including the client list to be released point to how right-wing influencers were summoned to the White House to receive phase 1 of The Epstein Files in February. Vice President JD Vance, before that, fueled the speculation in repeated appearances on Theo Vons podcast, including during the 2024 election. Months later, no one else has faced accountability for associations with Epstein and the extent of his crimes remains unknown to the public. 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 longtime produce manager at a renowned New York City gourmet store was summarily fired after 20-plus years of service for inadvertently eating a coworkers lunch, plunging him into a deep state of despair and prompting a scathing human rights lawsuit against his former employer. Israel Xicohtencatl, 42, has experienced profound shame and embarrassment, particularly given that his termination was witnessed by coworkers and became known throughout the workplace, damaging his professional reputation and standing in the community, according to the suit. It says potential employers have questioned the circumstances of [Xicohtencatls] termination, forcing him to repeatedly explain and relive the humiliating experience, further compounding his emotional distress. Xicohtencatl claims in court filings obtained by The Independent that he is not the first person to be dismissed over such an error by Citarella Gourmet Market, which opened in 1912 on Manhattans Upper West Side. Plaintiff is aware of at least one other colleague with similar tenure who was terminated for the minor infraction of drinking a soda that belonged to another employee, Xicohtencatls complaint states. open image in gallery An alleged lunchtime mistake went horribly wrong for one New York man and got him fired. Citarella Gourmet Market has been a mainstay on Manhattan's Upper West Side since 1912. Now, the shop's former produce manager is suing after getting fired for eating a coworker's lunch ( Creative Commons ) The chainlet, which ships nationwide, has since expanded to the Hamptons and Connecticut, and owner Joe Gurrera is well-regarded for his popular cookbook, Joe Knows Fish. Xicohtencatls situation is reminiscent of a 2017 case that made international headlines, when a German daycare worker was fired without notice for eating a chocolate bar belonging to a colleague. The 64-year-old woman, who had been employed by the facility for more than 30 years, took her employer to court, arguing that she should have been given a warning, instead of being let go. Following an extensive legal battle, a judge ordered the alleged chocolate thief reinstated, as she had replaced the $3 chocolate bar following the dust-up. Citarella owner Joe Gurrera did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Xicohtencatls nightmare began on May 28, 2025, when he accidentally grabbed and ate a bagged lunch that belonged to a colleague, according to his complaint, which was filed Wednesday in state court. Upon realizing his honest mistake, [Xicohtencatl] immediately sought to identify the owner of the lunch, offered a sincere apology, and proposed to purchase a replacement lunch for the affected coworker, the complaint states. But, despite Xicohtencatls immediate acknowledgment of the error and his offer to remedy the situation, he was immediately fired by Citarellas head of security a move formalized in a termination letter the following day, according to the complaint. This, the complaint alleges, was part of a systematic campaign [by Citarella] to terminate employees who have worked for the company for more than twenty (20) years, using minor infractions as pretextual reasons for termination. open image in gallery Citarella (East Hampton location seen here) is being sued under a pair of New York Human Rights Laws over the firing of Israel Xicohtencatl, who says he didn't realize the lunch he was eating didn't belong to him ( Getty Images ) Xicohtencatl was earning $25 an hour when he was let go, according to the complaint. This pattern suggests that [Citarella] is attempting to reduce labor costs by eliminating higher-paid, long-tenured employees who have earned higher wages and benefits through their years of service, the complaint argues. Defendants stated reason for termination accidentally eating the wrong lunch is pretextual and masks the true discriminatory motive. The complaint calls the severity of the punishment grossly disproportionate, and describes Xicohtencatl as a loyal employee. At the same time, it claims that younger employees who commit similar or more serious infractions are not subjected to immediate termination. The sudden and unjustified termination has caused Xicohtencatl severe emotional distress, humiliation and feelings of worthlessness after dedicating over two decades of his life to faithful service with Citarella, the complaint maintains. In the aftermath, Xicohtencatl has suffered from anxiety, depression and insomnia, according to the complaint, which says that the abrupt end to the Brooklyn residents career has left him feeling betrayed and discarded, as if his years of loyalty, dedication, and hard work meant nothing to his former employer. Without a stable daily work routine, Xicohtencatl is now bereft of the structure, social connections, and sense of accomplishment that his job provided for over 20 years, the complaint states. It says the firing has also stripped Xicohtencatl of his sense of purpose, and his self-esteem has been severely damaged causing him to question his abilities and worth. open image in gallery Xicohtencatl says he has been unable to find a new job since getting fired from Citarella over a fateful lunchtime mixup ( Getty Images ) Additionally, Xicohtencatls complaint contends he has been unable to find a new job, as questions inevitably arise during interviews about the circumstances of his ouster from Citarella. The gap in employment on his resume has added to Xicohtencatls troubles, as has his inability to use Citarella as a reference when seeking work, according to his complaint. The financial uncertainty and loss of steady income has created additional stress and anxiety for Plaintiff, who must now worry about meeting his basic living expenses and maintaining his standard of living, the complaint states. ... The prolonged job search has taken a toll on Plaintiff's mental health and self-confidence, creating a cycle where his emotional state affects his ability to present himself favorably to potential employers. Xicohtencatl has now lost faith in the fairness of the workplace, and has been robbed of the opportunity to retire with dignity on his own terms, the complaint goes on. Plaintiff continues to suffer ongoing emotional distress, including feelings of rejection, abandonment, and loss of dignity, which have persisted long after the initial termination and continue to affect his daily life and wellbeing, it concludes. Xicohtencatl is suing Citarella for age discrimination under the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws, claiming the company wants senior employees gone because they earn too much. He is seeking reinstatement, plus back pay and front pay, bonuses and other lost benefits, compensatory damages for emotional distress and punitive damages to be determined by a jury, plus attorneys fees. Citarella now has three weeks to file a response to Xicohtencatls claims. 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 Russia has launched fresh aerial strikes on Ukraine overnight, killing two people and injuring several others. Ukraines air force said Russia launched 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight, bringing the total number of strikes on the country this month to 5,402. In response, president Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraines allies to scale up production of air defence systems and interceptor drones to help protect against future attacks. Russias aerial attack on Ukraine is the latest in a streak of record-breaking aerial attacks over the past two months. Below, The Independent looks at how, and why, Russia has decided to target Ukraines cities with such devastating force. Attacks increased from June onwards Russias aerial strikes on Ukraine have massively increased since June, with intense peaks. Figures show that the six most concentrated attacks have taken place in the past month. Putins forces have launched 5,402 drones and missiles against Ukraine so far this month, with the pace of attacks surging sharply in recent weeks, according to figures from Ukraines air force. The deadliest single day came on 9 July, when Moscow fired 741 drones and missiles. This was followed by other intense barrages, including 623 on 12 July and 550 on 4 July. While the number of strikes dipped mid-month with just 35 reported on 18 July and 64 on 17 July, the pace has picked up again over the past week, with 330 weapons fired on Saturday and a further 450 on Sunday. In June alone, there were five instances where Russia sent over 400 drones and missiles in a night. Russia has been planning increase in strikes open image in gallery An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike ( REUTERS ) Federico Borsari, a Fellow with the Transatlantic Defence and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), has told The Independent that the Russian army are likely to have been planning an increase in strikes for at least a year. There were already signs that Russia was trying to increase its output in terms of assets and platforms that they could launch against Ukraine in 2024, he said, adding that the increase in drones is an attempt to make air raids more effective. Russia is trying to diversify its strike packages to make them more cost-effective and achieve a scale of destruction that is sufficient to destroy key military targets such as airfields. He added that, for more than three years, Russia was not very effective when it came to diminishing the production capacity of Ukraine at the industrial level. The Russian army had also failed to create a sense of panic and fear among the population in order to discredit the government and create the conditions for less efficacy on the front line, he said. Putin trying to induce panic with strikes open image in gallery People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian drone strike ( REUTERS ) Mr Borsari continued that Russia had been forced to be more tactical in its aims to increase damage against critical Ukrainian infrastructure, while also targeting its manpower. Russia is now also trying to focus on more strategic targets such as military enlistment offices, across different areas of Ukraine, he said. The attempt here is not just to destroy energy plants or other infrastructure, but also to instil fear and create a sense of panic among the population. So, increasing the psychological effects of this war on the Ukrainian population and at the same time discouraging people from basically going to enlistment offices. He said the psychological effects of the strikes could diminish the ability of the Ukrainian forces to recruit, adding: This is certainly an issue for Ukraine compared to Russia. Earlier this month, the city of Lutsk, in Ukraines north west, was hit by a Russian drone strike. Lutsk is home to airfields used by the Ukrainian army, with cargo planes and fighter jets routinely flying over the city. Analysis shows that while Moscow is increasing its drone output and ramping up the intensity of its attacks, they do not follow a consistent pattern. On 8 July, Russia fired 52 drones at Ukraine, followed by a record 550 the day after. The following day, it fired 322. Moscow taking on and off days approach to strikes Marcel Plichta, a former US Department of Defense analyst, suggested that Russia was staggering its large attacks with an on and off days approach. The on day you would have a really big and increasingly a record breaking attack and then on the off day you would have... like 100 drones or 61 drones, he explained. The benefit to the large attack is, in addition to the fact that it grabs headlines, its more likely to overwhelm Ukrainian air defence and damage the morale of the Ukrainian population. Its worse to try and shoot down 500 drones at once than it is 200 drones over two nights because you suddenly have to prioritise. You have to figure out where they all are and you need to respond to them. Thats a much more challenging situation. open image in gallery An Iranian Shahed exploding drone launched by Russia flies through the sky seconds before it struck buildings in Kyiv ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Both analysts added that the escalating aerial strikes indicated a ceasefire wasnt on the cards anytime soon, three years after Putin launched his brutal invasion of the country. Russia has demonstrated that theyre all in on the Shahed as a platform. Theyll tinker with it, theyll make improvements, and theyll introduce more complicated variants, but fundamentally they are all in on this idea of mass drone attacks to accompany their missiles, Mr Plichta said. Basically from now until the end of the conflict, youre going to see a growth in the number of Shaheds being used. Maybe patterns of their usage will change again, but this overall number used per week, per month, per year, is going to keep growing as Russia produces more and better Shaheds. He added: Ultimately the thing that stops Shaheds is a political end to the conflict, not necessarily a magic weapon that can shoot down interception rate or even striking production facilities. Mr Borsari echoed his sentiment, saying: Its clear that Russia is not interested in achieving a ceasefire, at least based on the conditions that the US and Ukraine were hoping for. 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 Two individuals, identified by Belgian authorities as members of the Israeli army, were questioned by police at a music festival in Belgium over allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The Federal Prosecutor's Office in Brussels confirmed the questioning in a statement on Monday. The Israeli Foreign Ministry, however, offered a different account, stating that an Israeli citizen and an Israeli soldier, both on vacation, were taken in for interrogation and released shortly afterwards. The ministry confirmed that Israeli authorities are "dealing with this issue and are in touch with the two." The discrepancy between the Belgian prosecutor's description of "two Israeli army members" and the Israeli Foreign Ministry's reference to "one civilian and one soldier" remains unclear. The current whereabouts of the two individuals who were questioned have not been immediately disclosed. The case was hailed as a turning point in the global pursuit of accountability by a Belgium-based group called the Hind Rajab Foundation, which has campaigned for the arrest of Israeli troops it accuses of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group was named for a young girl who Palestinians say was killed early in the war by Israeli fire as she and her family fled Gaza City. open image in gallery Smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Israel says its forces follow international law and try to avoid harming civilians, and that it investigates allegations of wrongdoing. In a written statement, the prosecutor's office said that the two army members who were in Belgium for the Tomorrowland festival were questioned after the office received legal complaints on Friday and Saturday from the Hind Rajab Foundation and another group. The prosecution office requested the questioning after an initial assessment of the complaints determined that it potentially had jurisdiction. The Hind Rajab foundation said it filed its complaints along with the rights group Global Legal Action Network. The decision to question the two Israelis was based on an article in Belgium's Code of Criminal Procedure that went into force last year and grants Belgian courts jurisdiction over acts overseas that are potentially governed by an international treaty, in this case the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1984 United Nations convention against torture, the prosecution statement said. In light of this potential jurisdiction, the Federal Prosecutors Office requested the police to locate and interrogate the two individuals named in the complaint. Following these interrogations, they were released, the statement said, without elaborating. It said it was not providing any further information at this stage of its investigation. open image in gallery Israeli soldiers with their tanks gather at a position near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, 01 January 2024 ( EPA ) The news in Belgium came as the U.N. food agency accused Israel of using tanks, snipers and other weapons to fire on a crowd of Palestinians seeking food aid, in what the territorys Health Ministry said was one of the deadliest days for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war. The death toll in war-ravaged Gaza has climbed to more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Its count doesnt distinguish between militants and civilians but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Since forming last year, the Hind Rajab Foundation has made dozens of complaints in more than 10 countries to arrest both low-level and high-ranking Israeli soldiers. We will continue to support the ongoing proceedings and call on Belgian authorities to pursue the investigation fully and independently, the group said in a statement. Justice must not stop here and we are committed to seeing it through. 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 We were just skeletons, walking. This is how Younis, 32, a father of four, described the death march to the Gaza aid convoy on Sunday when Israeli forces opened fire. Shortly after the food trucks arrived, a shell blew up a small crowd sending people flying through the air to the side of him. Then a bullet ripped through the air by his head. The gunfire was so intense that it was like they were aiming to drink our blood, he told The Independent, his voice still shaking. I feel like we've been put on a chicken farm and starved and killed. open image in gallery Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City ( Reuters ) Trapped under a mound of people some alive, some injured, some dead he managed to crawl free with a single kilo of flour, which later, in the scrum to safety, he had to drop. Since the morning, my children had woken me up crying Daddy I want to eat. These words burned my blood and made me go to danger. The UNs global hunger monitor has repeatedly warned that nearly all of Gazas 2.3 million population are teetering on the edge of famine. Accusing Hamas of stealing supplies to fuel its war, Israel has imposed sieges on Gaza, either fully restricting or significantly restricting aid into the tiny 25-mile long strip, as well as corralling people into areas. These are policies that legal experts have told The Independent would amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and even genocide in action something Israel denies. open image in gallery Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip ( Reuters ) On Sunday, the World Food Programme (WFP) said a rare convoy of 25 trucks carrying vital food assistance had been permitted to cross into northern Gaza. It was met with large crowds of civilians anxiously waiting to access desperately needed food supplies among them, Younis. As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire, the WFP said. The Palestinian health authorities said that at least 99 people were killed in what is believed to be the deadliest day yet for families seeking aid since the war began in October 2023 over 800 in total have been killed just trying to get food. The Israeli military has said it fired warning shots "to remove an immediate threat", but has questioned the death toll reported by the Palestinians. A day later on Monday Israel announced an expansion of its military operation against Hamas, announcing fresh forced evacuation orders for parts of Deir al-Balah, a southwestern area of Gaza mostly labeled as a safe zone and home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced during more than 21 months of war in Gaza, as well as several vital UN facilities, aid agency guesthouses, and clinics. open image in gallery Palestinians flee Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on Sunday, July 20, 2025, after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders ahead of expected operations in the area ( AP ) And so the situation in Gaza is so dire that even the foreign secretary David Lammy and his counterparts from 24 other nations said on Monday that the suffering of civilians has reached new depths, and told Israel that the war must end now. Belgiums King Philippe, who is rarely outspoken about this conflict, separately called it a disgrace to humanity and again called for an immediate end to this unbearable crisis. Instead, the escalation of killing and conflict is undermining attempts to broker even a temporary truce taking place in Qatar. As one official close to the negotiators told me: Whatever happens on the battlefield directly impacts what happens at the negotiating table. And right now Israel is escalating. open image in gallery David Lammy has urged Israel to agree an immediate ceasefire ( House of Commons ) On Monday, Israeli forces pushed into districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time, despite widespread international condemnation and even protests at home from the biggest group representing the families of those taken captive by Hamas militants during its attacks in October 2023. On the ground in Deir al-Balah, medics told The Independent they had scrambled to evacuate, trying to get patients to safety while having to abandon vital supplies. We were only able to extract around 50 per cent of our medical stock. The rest remains behind, says Maram Shurafa, medical programme officer for UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians, about the clinic where she works, which serves on average 320 people a day. Ms Shurafas own home is within the evacuation zone, but she couldnt do anything about it because she had to prioritise the patients. open image in gallery Smoke billows from Israeli bombardment as pictured from Deir el-Balah ( AFP/Getty ) The pressure was immense. We were still treating patients right up to the moment we shut the doors. Many people stood outside waiting for care, but we had to turn them away, she toldThe Independent . I felt lost, overwhelmed, and feared losing everything. UN officials meanwhile say despite the orders some offices now inside the evacuation area will stay open despite the obvious dangers. Tamara al-Rifae, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, says that Deir al-Balah had been considered one of the few zones where the UN and an other aid groups could set up shop, set up services. The UN will stay and deliver which means we will continue to seek the deconfliction of our the aid facilities she says, adding that across Gaza their facilities and shelters have been repeatedly hit. We will continue to ask the Israeli government to spare the UN. The toll is already very, very high. Over 325 UNRWA staff members have been killed. So we asked to be spared as per international humanitarian law. open image in gallery Palestinians gather as they seek aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel in Beit Laha ( Reuters ) Even in Israel the pressure is mounting on the Israeli government. The largest group representing the families of the hostages said they were shocked and alarmed by the push into Deir al-Balah. They demanded an audience with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the heads of the military to clearly explain why the offensive in the Deir al-Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk. Back in Gaza civilians pray for a ceasefire. I hope these are the last days of the war, says Ihab Abdullah, 43, displaced within Gaza City. We eagerly await a truce that will end the hunger and war we are living. We are dying of hunger and bombing." 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 Alaska Airlines has been forced to ground all its flights across its entire network following an undisclosed technical error that impacted its systems. The carrier confirmed the widespread disruption early on Monday. We are currently experiencing an IT outage that's impacting our operations, the Seattle-based airline said in a social media update We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop until the issue is resolved. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website showed a system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines at all airports, effective shortly before 3am on Monday. A subsequent FAA update clarified that the grounding applied to all Alaska mainline and Horizon aircraft, referring to the airline's subsidiary. An Alaska Airlines plane at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia ( Getty Images ) Customers were advised to check the status of their flights before travelling to airports. In September 2024, Alaska Airlines said it grounded its flights in Seattle briefly due to significant disruptions from an unspecified technology problem that was resolved within hours. Door plug incident Three passengers who sued Alaska Airlines and Boeing after a door plug fell out of their plane at 16,000 feet settled out of court in July. These passengers were on board Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland to Ontario, California on 5 January 2024 when a door plug suddenly flew off the Boeing 737 Max jet mid-air. They sued Alaska Airlines and Boeing for $1 billion in 2024 but settled out of court in July, according to KPTV. The lawsuit was dismissed on 7 July with prejudice, KPTV reported, which means they cannot refile the same lawsuit later. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed as part of the settlement agreement, their attorney said. In June, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled Boeing was at fault in the frightening incident. The agency said it found four bolts missing from the door plug, which caused it to slowly slide out of place for more than 100 flights until it finally fell off. 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 For the third time in 15 months, Alaska Airlines grounded planes due to a major IT crash. The carrier requested a system-wide ground stop for its aircraft and that of its subsidiary, Horizon Air, on Sunday evening, with services resuming about three hours later. The airline has remained tight-lipped about the causes of the system paralysis, but separately on Sunday, Microsoft flagged "active attacks" on server software used by businesses, Reuters reported. It added that Google and Palo Alto Networks have been warning that the "Scattered Spider" teen hacking group has an interest in the aviation sector. In June, Hawaiian Airlines and Canada's WestJet Airlines were hit by cyber attacks, and Australia's Qantas experienced a data breach earlier this month. Alaska has remained tight-lipped about the causes of the system paralysis ( Getty Images ) However, the cause of Alaska's outage could be internal. Alaska suffered a malfunction in its weight and balance calculation system in April 2024 that grounded the fleet. Then in September 2024, the carrier grounded flights in Seattle briefly due to "significant disruptions" from an unspecified technology problem that was resolved within hours. Cybersecurity expert Savva Pistolas, Technical Director at ADAS Ltd, told The Independent: "Even though a 'grounding of an entire fleet' sounds like it has to be a response to something huge the meticulous risk management requirements of aviation means that this can be caused by any number of things that might compromise the safety management system. "Whenever there's a single event that might compromise the safety of the fleet in theory the fleet can't take off. Its as simple as that and Im glad that it is." Alaska Airlines said on X at 3am EST: "Alaska Airlines has resolved its earlier IT outage and has resumed operations. "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and encourage guests to check your flight status before heading to the airport." In response, passengers complained about delays and a lack of customer service. X user Jack Gillin wrote: "Why haven't you answered my customer care calls? It's been more than four hours since I made my inquiry." Another complained: "Been on the phone on hold with your customer services for almost three hours and no one has picked up." Another revealed that after waiting for a flight for five hours, it was cancelled, with the airline unable to help with booking local accommodation. Passengers who experienced a delay are entitled to a rebooking on the same airline or a partner carrier at no additional cost. If the delay is longer than three hours, they are entitled to a meal or meal voucher and complimentary hotel stays for overnight delays. This is because IT outages have been deemed "controllable" by the US Department of Transportation. Airlines are not obliged to compensate passengers due to events outside their control, such as storms or bird strikes. The Independent has approached Alaska Airlines for comment. 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 Booking a trip to a Disney theme park can be a daunting experience even for seasoned Disney vacationers. The options for passes, restaurants, rides and hotels are seemingly infinite, and what's on offer continually changes. And then there's the terminology to get to grips with, from "Lightning Lanes" to "rope drop". Recognizing that it's all too easy for the Happiest Place on Earth to become one of the most confusing and frustrating, a cottage industry of planning and support agencies has emerged to offer Disney-goers a helping hand with the planning and booking and understanding what's worth doing and what isn't. "Mouse Counselors" is one such company, formed in 2008 by the husband-and-wife team of Phil and Bonnie Marino, who explain that their counselors are graduates of the College of Disney Knowledge (an online training program for Disney travel agents). There are caveats to bear in mind, as we explain, but Sebastian Garrido, from Mexico City, tellsThe Independent that this firm "was the very reason a recent trip to Walt Disney World did not end up being totally overwhelming". open image in gallery Mouse Counselors and Pixie Vacations are two firms that can help plan a VIP-style Disney trip ( David Roark, photographer ) So, how does the Mouse Counselors service work? First, the customer is sent a form to fill out that details the ride and restaurant options, with a weekly email explaining parts of the experience in more detail. Nearer the departure time, you'll have a Zoom review with your "Mouse Counselor", which is a chance to run through any outstanding questions. When you arrive at the park, you won't be armed with an itinerary as such, but if your counselor has done their job, youll know which rides you should aim for at rope drop early entrance for those staying at a Disney resort and which you should add to Lightning Lane multi and single passes. Mouse Counselors are also trained to reveal the rides for which a pass would be redundant, because they don't get booked up or have a very high capacity. The result should be a trip unscarred by soul-destroying queues. To add to the VIP vibe, Mouse Counselors aim to secure reservations at difficult-to-book restaurants. Sebastian, the digital marketing manager and copywriter at Vibe Adventures, said: "Mouse Counselors got us into Oga's Cantina and Space 220, the latter of which I had been attempting to book on my own unsuccessfully. It was all done for us." open image in gallery A vacationer revealed to The Independent how Mouse Counselors got him into the popular Space 220 restaurant ( Todd Anderson, photographer ) He added: "We didn't have to think about Genie+, Lightning Lanes, or dining reservations, they took care of everything and even made changes on the fly when weather disrupted our plans." Praise for Mouse Counselors was also posted to a dedicated Facebook page by a couple listed as Matt and Nicole, who said that counselor Tracey helped them learn, navigate and plan their trip. They added: "It was so comforting knowing that we didn't have to worry about reservation conflicts. She was able to help us book the restaurant reservations we had hoped for and sent us great information and tips to plan for our trip. It went perfectly!" Giving Disney-goers the feeling that they're being looked after by a personal butler is also what Pixie Vacations strives for. open image in gallery Mouse Counselors can help you skip the queues for rides. Pictured Tron ( Walt Disney World ) It's run by former Walt Disney World employee Steven Griswold and his wife and helps plan Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line vacations. Steven told The Independent: "We really focus on your particular family and what type of vacation you are looking for. Read more: Why are people so mad at Disney-obsessed adults? For example, if you have young kids you might be more interested in the Magic Kingdom and booking a Disney resort close to the Magic Kingdom that is on the monorail or walkable, so you can quickly get back to your resort for an afternoon nap instead of waiting for a bus and a travel time to and from the Magic Kingdom park." If all this sounds expensive, you're in for a shock, because neither Mouse Counselors nor Pixie Vacations charge a fee if you book with them. Instead, theyre paid a commission by Disney for each trip booked. open image in gallery Mouse Counselor fan Sebastian Garrido ( Sebastian Garrido ) Steven reveals: "We don't charge any fees, so booking with us at Pixie Vacations costs you no additional amount and you get our first-hand experience and tips from actually being in the parks. "We are not a call center paid to get as many people booked as possible and off the phone. "We work with you to learn about your vacation preferences and budget and then offer suggestions that fit your needs. "We are also always looking at what new offers there are and checking to see if a new special offer saves you money. If there are new discounts, we will move your reservation to the lower-priced offer. Read more: I worked on over 100 cruises... heres the reality from the surprising pay to the best and worst parts of the job "Disney will not move you to better deals without you knowing about the specific new offer and you calling them and waiting to talk to someone about changing your booking." Is the system too good to be true? Sebastian, 27, noted happily that he "didn't pay a cent over the cost of booking with Disney directly" and Pixie Vacations customer Michelle Thornton, from Georgia, told The Independent: "Pixie Vacations' services are free. But honestly, even if they weren't, I would still use them to book our Disney vacations. They're just that good." Despite this gushing praise, there is a warning to heed. While booking with travel services such as Mouse Counselors and Pixie Vacations is free, their usefulness does depend on how much money you spend, according to one customer, who told us: You should be prepared to stay at the resorts, buy lots of passes and go to the restaurants, which does bump up the cost of the trip substantially." A car dramatically crashed into a barn roof in Bohmte, Germany, on Saturday, injuring several people, including a seriously hurt seven-year-old boy. Police reported the vehicle veered off the road around 8pm, breaking through a hedge before striking the boy on a trampoline. It then careered into the barn roof, approximately three metres high. The boy sustained serious injuries, as did a 43-year-old woman, a passenger in the car. A 42-year-old man was driving, accompanied by their two sons, aged 11 and 12, and a 13-year-old passenger. The vehicle was later removed from the roof by crane and seized by police. Nigel Farage revealed Reform UKs plan to send British criminals to some of the worlds toughest prisons during a speech on Monday (21 July). The Reform UK leader unveiled plans that would seemingly mimic measures implemented by Donald Trump in America. The plans are part of the partys zero-tolerance approach to crime. Addressing media in London, Mr Farage said: If it means Ian Huntley has to go to El Salvador, so be it. Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. Huntley is currently serving a life sentence after he was found guilty of murdering school girls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in Soham in 2002. Michael OLeary blasts Governments smoke and mirrors infrastructure plans while growth capped at Dublin Airport Here is infrastructure that is built and paid for that they wont allow us to use, said Ryanair boss Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary (Brian Lawless/PA) Donal O'Donovan Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 09:22 Michael OLeary has criticised Government plans to unveil 100bn of new infrastructure spending this week while airlines cannot make full use of Dublin Airport. Electronic Frontier Foundation backs Booking.com in dogfight with airline Internet travel giant Booking.com is now being backed in its US legal battle against Ryanair by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group whose late co-founder was a lyricist for the Grateful Dead band. The Narrow Road to the Deep North, starring Ciaran Hinds and Jacob Elordi, tells the story of an adulterous Australian who became slave labour for the Japanese as they built the notorious Burma Railway Sunday night dramas used to be as unavoidable on the telly as the news. It was what you watched when you knew you hadnt done your homework, and that Monday was lurking just over the horizon. Theres been a bit of a falling off in the Sunday drama since then. The Narrow Road to the Deep North (BBC One) looks like filling that gap. In one way it is absolutely your traditional Sunday night drama: handsome hero just going into the army at the beginning of World War II. Beautiful women throwing themselves at the handsome hero, who also reads the Latin poets although in translation, I think. His future in-laws are filthy rich. What could go wrong? But The Narrow Road to the Deep North is also really shocking, because, although it opens with a scene showing killings in Syria horribly topical the handsome hero is a medical officer with an Australian platoon that is eventually taken prisoner by the Japanese. The Australian soldiers become slave labour for the Japanese as they build the notorious Burma Railway. The sufferings of the Australians are appalling: starvation, disease, beatings and torture. Survival seems almost impossible. One of the questions asked by the this series is: what happens to you if you manage to survive? The Narrow Road to the Deep North is told across three timelines. Ciaran Hinds plays Dorrigo Evans in old age. Hes a bit of a hero in Australia, because of his wartime experiences. Hes a respected if controversial surgeon. Hes a celebrity of sorts. Discussing what happened to Australians who were prisoners of war of the Japanese is simply impossible. Because you werent there, as he tells an uppity young woman journalist. But then there are a whole lot of things the old Dorrigo wont discuss like his ongoing adultery habit. Ciaran Hinds (centre) as an older Dorrigo Evans in The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Photo: BBC/Curio Pictures/Sony Pictures Television The second story is the development, before he enters his army service, of a passionate affair between Dorrigo and the beautiful Amy, even though he was engaged to the beautiful Ella at the time. The young Dorrigo is played by Jacob Elordi, who starred as Elvis in the film Priscilla and also as the ravishing young rich boy in Saltburn, so no wonder he is getting so much action. And the third story is the life of the slave labourers on the railway, in all their misery. It is alarming to see how thin the actors, and even the extras, have made themselves in order to play their roles as human skeletons. They went on a six-week weight-loss programme, apparently. Although Elordi, who reportedly underwent the same regime, still looks remarkably well. Hes pretty much the only Australian prisoner of war to keep his shirt on, whilst his fellow prisoners are pretty much naked and the picture of wretchedness. One thing that shines through here is the love that these beaten men showed each other, which is as clear as the horrors they had to endure. But however bad the actors look, it is safe to assume that no television programme can reproduce the real suffering. This is a true story, with real survivors. One of whom was Frank Pantridge, a doctor like the fictional Dorrigo but from Northern Ireland, who was imprisoned by the Japanese. His health was permanently affected due to his sufferings as a slave labourer on the Burma Railway. He later invented the portable defibrillator which at one time made Belfast the safest place in the world to have a heart attack. He has been called the father of emergency medicine. Another remarkable survivor was the artist Ronald Searle. He invented the anarchic St Trinians stories, and also illustrated the comic Molesworth series. Searle was a young British soldier taken captive by the Japanese. In the camp, after having worked for 16 hours per day, he drew his fellow soldiers and what they were enduring. In response, his Japanese captors broke his right hand. What they had failed to realise was that Searle was left-handed. He drew and drew he made his first St Trinians drawing whilst a prisoner and he hid his sketch books for safekeeping under the bedding of the prisoners who had contracted cholera. He eventually died aged 91. In Australia, the experiences of their troops at the hands of the Japanese naturally left a vivid scar. The series is based on the novel of the same name, which won the 2014 Booker prize. Its author Richard Flanagan, who is from Tasmania, had been partly inspired by the wartime captivity of his own father. This story is now fading from general memory, as the survivors have died. But there is another story, of the South Asian civilians who worked on the Burma Railway, amongst them Tamil and Malay people, who died at an even greater rate than the British and Australian soldiers. It remains to be seen whether the television version of The Narrow Road to the Deep North can live up to the history that gave birth to it. The different timelines can be confusing and this is a familiar viewer complaint at this stage some scenes are literally very dark. But it is a sincere retelling of a terrible story and well worth a watch. An easy fix tattoo artist offers to change digit in Cork fans premature ink Studio owner Darragh Murphy said the tattoo was only a bit of craic and offered to change the 25 to 26 The studio shared pictures of the Cork fan's tattoo on Facebook (Pic: Skint Tattoo Studio) Ralph Riegel Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 16:57 A hurling fan who got an 'All-Ireland Champions 2025' tattoo days before Cork were humbled by Tipperary at Croke Park has been offered the chance to change a digit as a vote of future confidence in his beloved Rebels. Dr Michelle Comber said the site was part of a wider community and had links with other parts of Ireland, Scotland and mainland Europe (Aengus McMahon/University of Galway/PA) A ringfort overlooking Galway Bay has been confirmed as a settlement for rulers and nobles in Irelands Early Medieval period, according to archaeologists. Rathgurreen Ringfort, in the Maree area of Co Galway, has been described as an impressive high-status settlement that could date anywhere from the 5th to 12th century AD. Serial handbag thief snatched bag containing 27k worth of cancer medication from elderly tourist Marese Craig (28) also stole a handbag from a mother who was tending to her baby in the neonatal ward of the Coombe Hospital The Criminal Courts of Justice. Stock image Fiona Ferguson Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 17:51 A serial handbag thief who stole luggage containing almost 30,000 of cancer medication from an elderly tourist has been jailed for six and half years. Boy claims the former Clare All-Star hit him repeatedly with a stick outside a hostel That is according to counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL who told a jury today that Mr Gilligan lost control on October 5th 2023 when he punished the boy for the damage being caused at the time to his Jamaica Inn hostel property in Sixmilebridge. What now after your Leaving Cert results? Heres how to plan your next steps whether you got top points or not Funeral mass of Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror photographer Mick ONeill hears how he was irreplaceable Many tributes were paid to Mr ONeill, who died in a road accident in Dublin 'Irish Daily Star' and 'Irish Mirror' photographer Mick O'Neill Maeve McTaggart Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 13:29 The funeral mass of award-winning Irish Daily Star and Irish Mirror photographer Mick ONeill, who died earlier this month in a motorbike accident, has heard how he was a special man, mentor and friend, who had a great effect on people. Michael D Higgins calls for EU to review aid delivery in Gaza as he slams forced displacement Gazas civil defence agency reports that 93 people were killed on Sunday when the IDF opened fire on people waiting for aid President Michael D. Higgins. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure Keith Kelly Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 19:35 President Michael D Higgins has called on the European Union to review the aid delivery process in the Gaza Strip after 93 people were reportedly killed by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) while queuing for food yesterday. Sinn Fein will fight Government line by line on its so called Triple Lock Bill, TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire has said. The General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 looks to reform Irelands Triple Lock, which requires a UN resolution as well as a vote of the Dail and Government approval to deploy Irish Troops. Wanted 1,000 Irish extras for WWII epic based on life of Hollywood movie legend Jimmy Stewart The film, which will be shot in Skibbereen, west Cork, is expected to focus on stars wartime service. The actor paused his career to enter the US army in 1940 James Stewart receives the Croix de Guerre with palm for exceptional service in France's liberation on May 19, 1945 in France. Photo: Getty Ralph Riegel Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 06:30 A World War II film inspired by the life of Hollywood legend James Stewart is to be shot on location in Ireland. Last summer, as Ireland went to the polls for the local and European elections, one man in Co Kerry prepared to engage in some good old-fashioned civic duty just not quite his civic duty, as it turned out. This unusual case of voter fraud first played out in a district court in Kenmare. But what initially seemed like a local matter has now become a national story, with Fine Gael senator Mike Kennelly using his speaking time in Leinster House to call for a thorough investigation. We had voter impersonation at Kenmare polling station at the local and European elections in June 2024, caught on CCTV I called for a thorough investigation into the facts of the incident last week, and we still need clarity about how this was quietly hushed up. It has made a mockery of our democracy. But how did the man pull off the voting fraud in the first place? Who put him up to it? How often does this kind of thing happen in Ireland, and what is his connection to the Kerry political dynasty of the Healy-Raes? Today, Tabitha Monahan is joined on The Indo Daily by Kerryman journalist Sinead Kelleher, and by Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent Fionnan Sheahan, to look at the details of this unusual case and to ask how one vote could go from a local court to the national parliament. Cork County Council has granted conditional permission for a 47-hectare solar farm between Rathcormac and Castlelyons in north-east Cork. The 10-year permission was granted to Amarenco Solar Rathcormac Limited. The proposed development site boundary encompasses four previously permitted solar farms. The development address is Corrin, Kill Saint Anne North, Clykeel North, Ballinvarrig East, Ballinvarrig West, Deerpark, Knockaduff, Kill Saint Anne South, Ballyarra, Mohera, Spuree, Castlelyons, Fermoy, Co. Cork. The development would consist of solar photovoltaic panels on ground-mounted frames, four single-storey transformer stations, four single-storey spare parts storage containers, a single-storey MV electrical kiosk, and a 38kV substation compound with a single-storey substation building. Also included in the works are underground electrical ducting, cabling and joint bays within the development site and within the L-1520-11, L1520-39, L-1518-0, L5789-0 and L-1517-0 public roads to connect the solar farm field parcels. In addition, the development would involve new entrances off the L-5720-11 and the L-5170-0, the upgrading of an existing agricultural entrance off the L-1520-11, internal access tracks, security fencing, CCTV, and landscaping. The solar panels would be arranged within a site area covering approximately 41.72 hectares while the site area within the public road is approximately 4.9 hectares. The total development area, including ancillary works, amounts to approximately 46.66 hectares. Amarenco was co-founded by the former Bord Gais Energy CEO John Mullins, who died in April. Last October the company announced it had won five solar projects under Irelands fourth Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction. The projects located in Midleton, Cobh, Timoleague, and Carrigaline in Cork and Ennistymon in Clare would generate almost 30 megawatts, the company said. Appeals against the Castlelyons solar farm approval can be made to An Bord Pleanala within four weeks of the planning authoritys decision. Opposition has been growing to proposed solar farm developments in County Cork. In June, members of Cork Communities Alliance for Change, an alliance of ten action groups around the county, staged a protest outside County Hall calling for better regulation of wind and solar projects. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Cork players from left: Ger Millerick, Seamus Lehane and Brian Hayes after the loss to Tipperary. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Cork senior hurling manager Pat Ryan has been praised for reigniting the belief and for bringing the excitement back to the county after capturing the league title and Munster championship this season. The Cork senior hurlers ultimately suffered a disappointing end to their season after a devastating second half display by Tipperary enabled them to secure a comfortable win against the Rebels in the All-Ireland final. Defeat in the All-Ireland final represented the second successive season Cork have tasted defeat at the final hurdle as they seek their first title since 2005. Sarsfields Hurling Club posted a lovely message of support for their club member Pat Ryan and all the players on the Cork senior hurling panel. Irrespective of yesterdays result, we at Sarsfields Hurling Club are immensely proud of what Pat Ryan has achieved with Cork hurling. He has reignited belief, brought excitement back to the county and lifted the spirits of the Cork people. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Pat, the entire squad and the management team for their unwavering dedication and commitment to the sport and to our county. Special mention to our own Sars contingent Paul, Jack, Cathal and Daniel. Your passion, dedication, hard work and pride have inspired us all, added the club. Various Cork politicians also paid tribute to the Cork hurlers for their successful season. cards visualization Taoiseach Micheal Martin posted on social media: Congratulations Tipperary on a very impressive All-Ireland final win. Cork can hold their heads high after a thrilling season that gave so much to so many. Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh O Laoghaire said the performances of the Cork hurlers will leave a big legacy in the county. While it is a very hard one to take, these hurlers have given us some tremendous memories over the last two years. "I have seen more young boys and girls around the city with hurleys this summer than I have for many years. Thats the true legacy of this team. The passion so many young people around Cork have picked up for hurling this summer especially. Well continue to support our hurlers on good days and bad, he added. Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central Jerry Buttimer said: Congrats to Tipperary. Thank you to our wonderful hurlers for a fantastic year. Parenting The first year after our daughter died of a brain tumour was hell on Earth but were starting to live again When Eva and Neil Arthur welcomed their twins Daithi and Nora in 2019, they were naturally over the moon. Capitals new Lord Mayor wants to see more investment and regeneration to help restore civic pride in the city Dublins new man in the Mansion House does not believe having a directly elected mayor would be an effective way to drive the type of change the city needs. Fine Gaels Ray McAdam was elected as the 358th Lord Mayor of Dublin on June 30, succeeding fellow councillor Emma Blain. During his 12-month term, he hopes to focus on regeneration, investment and restoring civic pride, but rejects the idea that a directly elected mayor for the capital is a better way to achieve such change. He believes local government works best through collaboration, and thinks a directly elected mayor with their own policy platform could stick a spanner in that machine. I dont believe a directly elected mayor would be effective for Dublin, Mr McAdam said. The best way to explain my view is that if you look at the current coalition we have in Dublin City Council, its made up of Fine Gael, the Greens, Fianna Fail and Labour. The leader of the largest party is Fine Gael, we would have the mayoralty for five years, as how a taoiseach would be elected. The deputy lord mayor would probably be two-and-a-half years to the Greens and Fianna Fail, because theyre the same number of seats. Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wants to restore civic pride in the city. Photo: Gerry Mooney Mr McAdam said the councils committee chairpeople would then be responsible for their respective departments, in much the same way as the national government functions. While the level of control afforded to the Lord Mayor under the current system is up for debate, Mr McAdam said it will not stop him trying to push for effective change. I need to make sure that I drive my own agenda. I want to keep that narrow and I need to keep it focused, he said. I have 12 months, 365 days, 52 weeks. I want to make every single day count. We are not good at maintaining things. And I make no apologies for saying it. We have to knock heads together, from the chief executive down. I have a very good working relationship with the chief executive, but this silo mentality needs to end. We are there to serve Dubliners. If we are going to install these structures, then we need to maintain them. I dont want to hear, its not our responsibility, or its environment or transport, or active travel. Just get it done. We need to do maintenance better in this city, and you can quote me on that As if to prove his point, Mr McAdam addresses the issue of broken bulbs all along the roadside of Dublins landmark Samuel Beckett Bridge, brought up by our photographer at the start of our meeting. We need to do maintenance better in this city, and you can quote me on that, he said. When youre driving across that bridge next week, those lights will be fixed. He also believes Dublin residents should contribute more to their local communities and areas, injecting a sense of civic pride back into the city. Dubliners expect their city to be maintained well and, my philosophy is, if were not looking after the city and maintaining the city well enough, we cant expect more of Dubliners, he said. We have a responsibility to show leadership. As a councillor for the north inner city since 2009, Mr McAdam knows all too well how urban decay can spread if left unchecked. During his inaugural address as Lord Mayor on June 30, he said: Lets treat dereliction as a civic emergency and respond with the ambition it demands. Lord Mayor Ray McAdam at the Mansion House in Dublin. Photo: Gerry Mooney As part of that drive, he wants to create a publicly accessible vacancy map of the city and use his experience on the councils urban regeneration working group to push the measures it is currently formulating. One of the expected key suggestions from the group, which will issue its final report in September, is the creation of a so-called special purpose vehicle (SPV) owned by the council for investment. He hopes this could drive regeneration projects in the vein of Limerick 2030. When you are in a housing supply crisis like were in, we need to be able to provide units or homes at scale, Mr McAdam said. Thats where I think the SPV provides Dublin City Council an opportunity. We have a number of streets, or a number of areas where we have now acquired direct properties. The housing department wanted to refurbish them for public housing use, but the time to get through design and planning and all of that was too cumbersome. The SPV, he said, would aim to streamline the process of turning an empty building into a usable site through a dedicated regeneration unit. The broader dereliction conversation is taking place against the backdrop of the so-called 10 big moves recommended in last years Dublin City Taskforce report, which aimed to revitalise the capital. Those measures, including 1,000 extra gardai, the revitalisation of OConnell Street and wide-ranging upgrades to council complexes and derelict sites across the city, have seen an initial injection of 114m under the Governments Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. But that pales in comparison with the measures overall projected price tag of up to 1bn. The Lord Mayor thinks October will hold more news on that front. With the upcoming budget, Im confident we will start to see the early indications of funding, but also the early allocations of funding, he said. I dont expect all of this funding in one year, I dont think anyone does. But I do expect a clear direction of travel. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Sex workers advocacy group in immediate danger of closing due to lack of funding Sex Workers Alliance Ireland believes the law in its current form is increasing the risks of vulnerable women working in this area Sex Workers Awareness training by SWAI with Teach Solais in Galway Edana Flynn Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 10:41 Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) are an organisation whose purpose is to support the rights of all sex workers. They also advocate for a harm reduction policy in relation to sex work and for sex workers to be given the same rights as all other workers. Transport for Ireland (TFI) on Monday blamed a technical issue" for a message on its website that said tickets for the extra/special trains to Dublin ahead of the All Ireland Final on Sunday were only available to purchase in person at the train station. This led to queues of dozens of people lining up at the train stations in Tralee and Killarney, only for them to be told that there were no tickets available to buy. In response to a query from The Kerryman, TFI said that from what they understand that the mistake appeared to be a technical issue with the Irish Rail website, stating that for normal services when tickets online are sold out, they are available for purchase at the station on day of travel. When they were loading the extra train time onto to website it unfortunately displayed this message despite there being no tickets available at stations." "Extra/special trains tickets are only available online for these services, and customers should not go to stations to purchase them, they added. It comes as extra morning and evening trains were supposed to be added and available to purchase online as of Monday morning to cater for for the high demand. Company fined 270k for breach of safety regulations after death of man in Kerry workplace Emotional scenes in court as family of Andrew Fleming hug driver of roller involved in tragic accident Friends and family paid tribute to Andrew Fleming on Facebook Sinead Kelleher Kerryman Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 06:30 A company fined 270,000 following a workplace accident that led to the death of Andrew Fleming (45) has acknowledged the judgement of the court and said that their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy. Sligos campaign to secure UNESCO World Heritage Site status for The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo has reached a key milestone, with a first formal Nomination Team meeting which took place on July 2. Chaired by Martin Lydon, Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, the Nomination Team convened to progress Irelands bid to inscribe The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo on the World Heritage List. Following a site visit to Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, the first official Nomination Team meeting was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Rosses Point, Sligo. The meeting brought together a cross-sectoral team of national and local stakeholders, including representation from the National Monuments Service, the Office of Public Works, Sligo County Council, Coillte, NPWS, Sligo Leader, Failte Ireland, Sligo Neolithic Landscapes group and the Farming Pillar. The Nomination Team will guide the preparation of a Nomination dossier and management plan for The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo. The bid aims to achieve global recognition for one of Europes most significant prehistoric landscapes. The World Heritage bid is led by Sligo County Council in partnership with the National Monuments Service (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) and the Office of Public Works, and a Memorandum of Understanding to progress the World Heritage bid has been signed by the parties. Sligo County Council will act as Lead Proponent for the World Heritage bid. In November 2024, Sligo County Council appointed Robert Hensey to the role of Project Coordinator for The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo World Heritage Tentative List Site. The World Heritage Site Nomination process, which will continue until 2030, will be guided by the recently appointed Dr. Carol Westrik, an experienced World Heritage expert from the Netherlands. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo was officially placed on Irelands World Heritage Tentative List in July 2022, an essential first step towards World Heritage inscription. From this point, work begins to secure local stakeholder engagement and support for the bid as well as preparing a preliminary assessment request, Nomination dossier and management plan for the site. Dating back over 5,000 years, the Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo includes renowned sites such as Carrowmore, Carrowkeel, and Knocknarea. It is a landscape of extraordinary international importance, and the Nomination process offers an opportunity not just to secure UNESCO status, but to deepen our understanding and protection of these unique prehistoric sites, in partnership with local communities. The bid is an opportunity to ensure the protection of Sligos remarkable and unique passage tomb landscape for future generations, with the support of landowners, the local community and the wider public. It is also about new opportunities, and heritage-led economic and social regeneration. UNESCO places great importance on the voice and support of landowners and local communities in shaping the Nomination bid. It is, at heart, a community-led, process. Public engagement will be a cornerstone of the Nomination bid, ensuring that key stakeholders and the community are actively involved throughout the Nomination journey. Over the next five years, Sligo County Council will engage with the whole community to see how together we can best protect, manage and celebrate this extraordinary Neolithic inheritance. If successful, the Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo would join Irelands existing World Heritage Sites Bru na Boinne and Sceilg Mhichil further highlighting Irelands exceptional archaeological and cultural legacy on the world stage. For more information please contact: Robert Hensey, Sligo County Council. Project Coordinator for The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo World Heritage Tentative List Site. rhensey@sligococo.ie The late Thomas 'Toss' Maher has been remembered as one of life's gentlemen following his passing over the weekend. A father of five who was the victim of an unprovoked and vicious attack outside a pub in a midlands town 18 months ago has passed away in hospital. For the second time, Wexford Credit Union will provide key support to the biggest event of the year in the county. Paddy Berry, Deputy Mayor Cllr Raymond Shannon, Martin Donovan (CEO, Wexford Credit Union), Eddie Taaffe (Chief Executive of Wexford County Council and Chairman of the Fleadh Executive Committee), Amy Walsh and David Maguire pictured at the launch of the main sponsors of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in the Wexford Credit Union Offices on Wednesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Deputy Mayor Cllr Raymond Shannon, Paddy Berry, Board Members, management and staff of Wexford Credit Union pictured at the launch of the main sponsors of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in the Wexford Credit Union Offices on Wednesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Amy Furlong, Paudi Berry, Madeleine Quirke, John Roche, Paddy Berry, Deputy Mayor Cllr Raymond Shannon, Philip O'Connor, Martin Donovan (CEO, Wexford Credit Union), Tom Doyle, Eddie Taaffe (Chief Executive of Wexford County Council and Chairman of the Fleadh Executive Committee), David Maguire were pictured at the launch of the main sponsors of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in the Wexford Credit Union Offices on Wednesday. Pic: Jim Campbell Wexford Credit Union have been unveiled as the main sponsors for Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2025, for the second year running. The official launch was celebrated at their town centre offices on Wednesday. Preparations for one of the largest week-long cultural festivals anywhere in the world is ramping up. Speaking about the sponsorship, Wexford Credit Unions CEO Martin Donovan said, Sponsoring the Fleadh is more than a partnership, its a celebration of who we are as a community. Were honoured to support an event that showcases the richness of Irish music, language and culture while bringing people together from across the country and beyond. To mark the launch, credit union colleagues were joined by members of the Fleadh Executive Committee, Deputy Mayor of Wexford Raymond Shannon and Wexford County Council CEO Eddie Taaffe, who met with talented musicians from Craobh Loch Garman CCE. Celebrating the launch, Wexford Credit Union unveiled a new line of Fleadh merchandise, designed with a Wexford twist and inspired by local humour. During the week, visitors to the credit union offices will experience live music sessions, in-branch giveaways and keep an eye out for behind-the-scenes social media content. Expressing their pride, Wexford Credit Union say, Join the session. Join the community. And join the craic with Wexford Credit Union. Wexford has countless miles of unique and stunning coastline which remains untouched and is renowned across the world for what we can offer to tourists and residents. The protection and maintenance of our coastline is crucial and Kilmore National School are leading that effort. The rural school has been recognised for promoting environmental awareness and action. Students took on a number of eco-friendly initiatives over the past school year, including organising beach clean ups at Ballyhealy Beach and hosting workshops on pollution and coastal erosion, demonstrating a commitment to the local environment. We want to make a difference, said sixth-class student Lily Murphy. The beach is a big part of our community, and were proud to help keep it clean for wildlife and future generations. And the effort didnt end there. Recently, a group of 22 students and five teachers travelled to France as part of an Erasmus+ programme funded by Leargas. The visit allowed students to share their experiences and exchange ideas with their French peers, who are tackling similar issues. This was an incredible opportunity for our students to see that environmental problems are global and that solutions come from teamwork and shared learning, said Claire Casey, who helped lead the project. In addition to becoming a European Blue School, only the fourth school on the island of Ireland to achieve this prestigious status the school was previously recognised as Wexfords cleanest school by Wexford County Council and has received its eight Green Flag with marine biodiversity being this years theme. Principal Micheal Martin said: Becoming a Blue School places Kilmore National on the European stage. Its a testament to our students hard work and their passion for protecting our coasts. Back at home, the schools Green Schools Committee continues to work with parents, local environmental groups, and Wexford County Council to raise awareness about marine litter and biodiversity. Independent councilllor Leonard Kelly congratulates Tom Harpur on being appointed a Peace Commissioner by the Department of Justice. Having been active in his local community of Wexford for quite some time now, Tom Harpur was delighted to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner by the Department of Justice. A committed volunteer the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Tom serves as a Home Visitation officer, support vulnerable individuals and families in Wexford with compassion and confidentiality. Outside of his volunteer work, Tom is extremely engaged in promoting mental wellbeing and is aiming to develop a local mindfulness and compassion-based project to benefit people of all backgrounds. The role of Peace Commissioner is an honorary appointment made by the Justice Minister. They witness signatures on documents, take statutory declarations and affirmations and perform other duties permitted by law. "This is a voluntary position, and I wont be charging for any services, Tom says. If you ever need a form signed or a declaration witnessed for something like a passport, social welfare, or other Irish documents, Ill do my best to help where I can by appointment. Delighted to take up the role and eager to get started, Tom can be contacted on 0871356861. The organisers of the Bray Air Display 2025 have urged visitors to the event to make their plans now, so they wont be left disappointed when the show takes over Bray Seafront on Saturday, August 2, with an action-packed programme for all ages. The day begins at noon with funfair and other stalls opening up. The first of the Bray Air Display acts will take to the skies from approximately 3.00pm, subject to weather and operational conditions. To facilitate the event, there will be a number of temporary road closures and traffic restrictions in place. Anyone travelling to Bray by car should take note of the official car parks which will be open early on the day, but the advice is to try and use public transport. Road closures: From early morning on Saturday, August 2, the following roads will be closed: Strand Road, Albert Avenue, Sidmonton Avenue, Convent Avenue, Seapoint Road, and Putland Road to the first junction on Newcourt Road. All access to Strand Road will be fully restricted from 10am, including for residents and businesses. No parking will be permitted on Strand Road from 7am, and illegally parked vehicles or those left overnight will be towed. Deliveries to businesses along Strand Road and adjoining roads must be completed before 10am. Parking: Event car parks open at 10 am, and pre-booking is mandatory. Attendees must book online in advance and are strongly advised to arrive before 2 pm, as parking is only guaranteed up to that time. The south car park (at Ardmore Rovers) is for traffic travelling from Wicklow/Wexford via the N11 and the north car park (Colaiste Raithin) is for those travelling from Dublin/North Leinster via the M50 or N11. A complimentary shuttle service will only run from the south car park to the event site, with the last pick-up at 7:30pm. All car parks will close at 8pm, and the event site will close at 10pm. Overnight parking is not permitted and will result in towing. Parking is pre-book only at brayairdisplay.com/parking2025/, and access is not guaranteed after 2pm. Public transport: Bray has a substantial public transport network, both north from Dublin and south from County Wicklow and Wexford. Visitors can travel by Bray Dar and the mainline Iarnrod Eireann rail network, which connects north to Connolly Station in Dublin city centre. Five bus companies also pass through Bray: Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland on behalf of Transport for Ireland, Bus Eireann, Finnegans Bray and St Kevins Bus Service to Glendalough. Bus Eireanns Route 131, which connects Wicklow Town and Bray, will operate as usual. However, there may be bus route diversions in place, including the L14 Palermo to Southern Cross Road route. Iarnrod Eireann will operate an extensive programme of additional DARTs to/from Bray on Saturday, August 2 but that bikes will not be permitted. Dublin Bus will provide enhanced services on route E1 from Dublin City Centre. To make travel easier for Luas customers, a shuttle bus service will operate from the Green Line at the Brides Glen stop. From there, spectators can easily access a shuttle bus service that will take them close to the event site in Bray. You can book a shuttle bus on brayairdisplay.com The Bray Air Display 2025 line-up (not in order of appearance and is subject to changes) includes: Aer Lingus Airbus A321XLR: Next-generation aircraft makes a show-stopping appearance AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers: Heart-stopping stunts and sky-high thrills as daredevils dance on the wings of flying biplanes Black Knights Parachute Team: Watch the skies open up with precision parachuting Eddie Goggins: The Flying Dentist returns with jaw-dropping solo aerobatics Emerald Airlines: Irelands regional airline showcasing skill and style Garda Air Support Unit: Eyes in the sky as you get to meet Irelands aerial policing powerhouse Irish Air Corps: A dynamic display from Irelands aerial guardians Irish Historic Flight Foundation: Stearman and Chipmunk aircraft evoke aviations golden age P-51 Mustang Marinell: Legendary WWII fighter brings speed, sound, and history to life Richard Goodwin: High-energy muscle biplane aerobatics like youve never seen before Search and Rescue display: A powerful tribute to the heroes safeguarding lives Spitfire: Iconic Battle of Britain star returns with thunderous grace Strikemaster: Feel the roar and rush of this classic military jet Team Raven: Precision formation aerobatics by seven Van RV8 aircraft In addition, the event team is honoured once again to welcome the Irish Defence Forces Naval Service, with one of their LE Fleet vessels anchored offshore, providing a majestic maritime backdrop. The official 2025 souvenir programme will be available as a free digital download closer to the event. Accessibility Visitors to Bray Air Display 2025 who require disabled and special needs access can be assured there are ample facilities available, including parking and accessible toilets. There is parking for disabled persons at the official car parks but the standard fee for parking applies to disabled parking and the Blue Badge scheme / European Parking Card does not apply. The South Event Car Park, at Ardmore Rovers, Ballywaltrim, is for traffic approaching from the south via N11 Wicklow/Wexford direction. A complimentary shuttle bus to the event will service the south car park ONLY and will start operating at 10am. The drop-off/pick up point is close to the event site and the last pick-up from the event site is at 7:30 pm sharp. The shuttle bus operator will provide safe and accessible access to all its passengers, regardless of their mobility difficulties, age or disabilities. The North Event Car Park, at Colaiste Raithin/Old Golf Club lands, is for traffic approaching from Dublin via M50 or N11. Spectators will have direct access to the event from these car parks via Bray Harbour. The event site is along Bray Seafront which is only a short distance away and organisers have assured wheelchair users that the event takes place on a relatively flat 1km long outdoor site that is wheelchair accessible. There is a drop-off point for disabled persons on Adelaide Road, Bray. You must have a valid European Parking Card prominently displayed in a visible position to access this road and drop off and it is advisable to arrive early to avoid congestion. Specific unisex wheelchair accessible toilets will be available at the event. Transport for Ireland has advised that spectators should try to use public transport to get to and from Bray, as traffic restrictions will be in place and disabled persons will only be able to access the drop-off point on Adelaide Road. Finally, for individuals with sensory needs, the organisers have advised that some of the vintage aircraft taking part are less noisy than the high-speed jets. However, the advice is to come prepared as unfortunately, the roar of the jets is unavoidable, it is part and parcel of the Bray Air Display. Some children wear ear protection, some do not. It is completely up to you. The roar of the jets along with large crowds may make some spectators, who are sensitive to noise distressed and perhaps increase their fears. Parental guidance is always advised. The draft document covers the period over the next five years up to the end of 2030, and outlines "a shared vision for protecting and restoring biodiversity across the county, with practical, locally informed actions proposed for the next five years. In 2019 the local authority became the first in Ireland to declare a biodiversity and climate-change emergency", after councillors were briefed by local students who participated in school strikes for climate action. The strategy aims to align with national priorities outlined in Ireland's fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan, which focuses on halting the loss of species, restoring ecosystems, building climate resilience and supporting community-based conservation initiatives. Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr Melanie Corrigan has encouraged members of the public to have their say. Wicklows natural landscapes, from its mountains and rivers to its hedgerows and coastline, are what make our county special. This plan is about safeguarding that richness and working together for the future. I encourage everyone to take a moment to read the plan and share their thoughts. The draft plan and supporting documents are available for review online, with hard copies available at Arklow, Bray and Greystones libraries, the Blessington Municipal District Office and County Buildings in Wicklow Town. You can also email your submission to the Senior Executive Officer at climatepolicy@wicklowcoco.ie or send it by post to the Senior Executive Officer at Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Station Road, Wicklow town, A67 FW96. Your submission needs to include your name and address, and, if applicable, the details of any organization, community group, or company you represent. The closing date for submissions or observations is 4pm on Monday, August 14. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme A Wicklow TD has told the Dail the N81 national road, which runs from Tallaght in west Dublin, through west Wicklow, into parts of Kildare and Carlow, remains the only national road out of the capital that has never been upgraded. Fine Gael TD Edward Timmins highlighted a range of studies which have identified the N81 as one of the most dangerous roads in the country. He outlined to the chamber that a preferred route option for an upgrade had been selected but was shelved in 2018 and called for its reinstatement in the upcoming National Development Plan (NDP). The N81 is the only national road out of Dublin that has never been upgraded, Timmins said. This needs to be put into the national development plan, NDP. I ask that it be considered for inclusion in the new NDP. In response, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said several safety measures have already been introduced or are in the process of being delivered. These include 400,000 in funding for a realignment project near Stratford-on-Slaney; appointment of technical advisers to progress the scheme through planning; traffic-calming works near Hollywood village; and smaller interventions at Blessington and Baltinglass. Deputy Chambers confirmed that further decisions regarding the N81s inclusion in the new NDP would be made by Transport Minister Darragh OBrien. Minister OBrien previously told Wicklow Sinn Fein TD John Brady that the N81 Tallaght to Hollywood upgrade was not included among the projects identified in the updated NPD that was published in 2021. As such, until a full review takes place, the advancement of the proposed scheme cannot be accommodated in the National Roads Programme. The scheme was not included in projects identified in 2019 for development during the 2018-2027 period of the NDP, meaning it will face delays until at least 2027. Meanwhile Baltinglass Municipal District Councillors have called on their fellow local representatives to lobby for the upgrading of the road along the preferred route. Speaking during the July monthly meeting of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Avril Cronin said the council need to fight the corner of the people in west Wicklow and ensure that the N81 gets back on the agenda. Sometimes it feels like we are fighting a losing battle here and I would hope that we have the support of management and that a submission has also been made in relation to that review. I along with Councillor Patsy Glennon are members of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and we put forward a submission to try and get the N81 back on the table. It's something that the six councillors in the Baltinglass Municipal District raised time and time again. Cllr Glennon echoed those sentiments calling on the council executive team to get behind it and get something moving on it. We get tired of listening about congestion on the N11. I know it is a big fact for lots of our colleagues here, but we don't seem to get fair traction for our problems out our side. In response, Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer OGorman said they will push for the upgrade to be included as part of the plan We have consulted with the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly. We are very happy to support the submission and delighted to have it included and we will push for that inclusion as well ourselves. It is important. The N81 is a national primary route on paper and on paper alone so changes need to happen to it. I think it is hugely important that the N81 is upgraded and brought to a standard that is reasonable, you know the same standard as the other national routes in the county. she added. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme An image of the protest action posted on social media by the Shut Down Leonardo campaign Three women have been charged under Britains Terrorism Act after a van was driven into the fence of a defence factory in Edinburgh. The incident happened at the Leonardo facility in Crewe Road North on Tuesday, and has been claimed by the Shut Down Leonardo campaign, which says the company supplies parts for Israeli F-35 jets. Tourists attracted to the beauty of Venice are prime targets for pickpockets. Photo: Getty As thousands of tourists surge into Venice in the summer months, so do the pickpockets who shadow the holidaymakers cruising down the Grand Canal or winding through the Lagoon Citys labyrinth of narrow alleys. A gust of wind blows Pope Leo XIV's mantle during prayers in Castel Gandolfo, where the pontiff appealed for peace in Gaza. Photo: Gregorio Borgia/AP Pope Leo XIV has condemned the barbarity of the Gaza war as dozens more Palestinians were killed queuing for aid yesterday. At least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food at locations across Gaza, the Health Ministry said, on the deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in 21 months of war. They executed him then called his wife to brag: Inside Sweida, the Syrian city ravaged by militias The area has been beset by clashes of Druze, Bedouin tribes, and Syrian and Israeli forces for over a week Bedouin fighters stand together in Sweida, Syria, following renewed fighting with Druze gunmen despite an announced truce. Photo: Reuters Iona Cleave Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Talat Amer, a surgeon at Sweida National Hospital in southern Syria, worked tirelessly for three days as bombs fell and the building came under siege from government and militia forces. Indian Cities Outpace Major Global Destinations in Tech Talent and Labor Index India is improving its status as a global tech talent hub, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi-NCR leading in both availability and quality of technology professionals, according to Colliers 2025 report. In the recently published Global Tech Markets: Top Talent Locations 2025 report by Colliers, India has emerged as a leading hub for technology talent. The report, released on July 10, 2025, evaluated more than 200 markets worldwide and found that Indian cities are leading in areas such as talent acquisition, talent density (measured per capita), and office space leasing. The report places strong emphasis on talent acquisition, examining the availability, quality, and age profile of tech professionals. It also considers other crucial factors, such as venture capital (VC) funding levels and tech talent demands. Talent clustering in Indias tech hubs Indian cities are attracting attention for their larger and younger talent pools. Bengaluru tops the list, with nearly double the number of tech professionals compared to Hyderabad, its closest peer. Other Indian metros like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Pune also feature in this global top tier. Regional Ranking of Cities in India Market Overall score Talent acquisition VC funding Labor index Bengaluru 3.4 4.5 2.3 5.0 Hyderabad 2.6 4.0 1.8 4.0 Pune 2.6 2.5 2.3 3.0 Chennai 2.2 2.5 1.8 3.5 Mumbai 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.5 Delhi NCR 1.9 3.0 2.5 3.0 This trend points to increasing clustering of tech talent availability and its shift toward India and the US as dominant hubs. However, some Indian tech entrepreneurs caution that AI is reshaping job roles and demand patterns. Cities that can deliver talent, cost, and ecosystem support, and professionals who can adapt to new jobs that AI would create, will survive this wave. Read more: Hiring Employees in India: A 2025 Guide for Global Businesses Rankings in APAC and globally Colliers has noted that Indias metropolitan cities are emerging as dominant players in the global technology talent landscape. According to the reports findings, six Indian citiesBengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi NCRnow rank among the top 10 tech hiring destinations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In the APAC regional rankings, Bengaluru outpaces traditional tech hubs like Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan), and Seoul (South Korea) in terms of workforce depth and quality. Hyderabad follows closely, scoring 4.0 in both the talent acquisition and labor index categories. Indian cities now account for 69 percent of the top tech talent hubs in APAC. Regional Ranking of Cities in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Market Overall score Talent acquisition VC funding Labor index Beijing 3.5 2.0 3.3 1.5 Bengaluru 3.4 4.5 2.3 5.0 Tokyo 3.2 1.5 3.0 1.5 Shanghai 3.0 2.0 3.8 1.5 Seoul 2.9 1.5 3.5 1.5 Shenzhen 2.8 1.0 3.5 1.0 Hangzhou 2.6 1.0 3.0 1.0 Hyderabad 2.6 4.0 1.8 4.0 Pune 2.6 2.5 2.3 3.0 Guangzhou 2.4 2.0 2.5 1.5 Globally, Bengaluru ranks just behind some of the worlds most established technology centers, including the San Francisco Bay Area and London. Ranking of Cities Globally Market Country Region Overall score Talent acquisition VC funding Labor index San Francisco Bay Area USA Americas 4.5 5.0 3.8 4.0 London UK EMEA 4.0 3.0 3.5 2.5 Seattle USA Americas 3.6 4.0 2.5 3.5 New York City USA Americas 3.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 Beijing China APAC 3.5 2.0 3.3 1.5 Bengaluru India APAC 3.4 4.5 2.3 5.0 Paris France EMEA 3.4 3.0 2.8 2.0 Boston USA Americas 3.3 2.5 2.5 3.0 Dublin Ireland EMEA 3.3 2.0 2.0 2.0 Tokyo Japan APAC 3.2 1.5 3.0 1.5 Source: Global Tech Markets: Top Talent Locations 2025, Colliers Indias major cities offer a unique combination of scale, skill diversity, and cost-efficiency. Bengaluru is home to the worlds largest number of data scientists, while Hyderabad is fast becoming a hub for cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) talent. Hiring trends and talent acquisitions Indias four citiesBengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, and Puneaccounted for 72 percent of all one-year hires made by the top 15 tech companies across the APAC region. Colliers report has noted that among non-Indian cities, only Singapore, Beijing, and Seoul made it to this high-performing category. In a comparative analysis of leading Indian cities based on four key parameters overall market score, talent acquisition, venture capital (VC) funding, and labor index Bengaluru leads across most categories. Open job postings are another indicator of market vitality that the report looks at. Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, and the Delhi NCR region, along with Singapore and Shanghai in China, have seen high volumes of job postings. Rising demand for young and skilled workers According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 62.5 percent of Indias population falls within the working-age group of 1559 years, making it one of the youngest countries in an aging global landscape. This demographic profile is a key driver of Indias expanding digital economy. The Colliers report highlights a notable shift in workforce composition within the tech sector: between 2014 and 2022, the share of employees under the age of 25 grew by 9 percenta rate 20 times higher than the all-industry average. Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR are emerging as preferred destinations for young digital professionals, enabling companies to build agile and future-ready workforces. Surge in office space leasing by tech firms In a separate report published by Colliers India on June 26, 2025, technology firms in India leased approximately 10.8 million square feet of conventional office space across the countrys top seven cities during the first half of 2025. This accounted for 40 percent of total leasing activity, reinforcing the tech sectors continued dominance in the commercial real estate market. Calendar year Commercial leasing by tech firms (in million sq ft) 2021 13.2 2022 17 2023 14.3 2024 16.6 H1 2025 10.8 Source: Colliers India Along with the rise in demand for traditional office spaces, demand for flexible workspaces continues to grow. Tech companies represented nearly 50 percent of total flexible workspace leasing during this period, reflecting a broader industry shift towards hybrid and agile work models. In response, real estate developers are prioritizing the development of Grade A office infrastructure, offering modern, scalable, and fully serviced environments tailored to the evolving needs of tech occupiers. Grade A office infrastructure refers to premium commercial office spaces that offer the highest standards in construction, location, amenities, and management. These offices are typically located in prime business districts and preferred by multinational corporations, tech firms, and GCCs due to their ability to enhance brand image, attract talent, and support advanced digital operations and hybrid work models. Indias GCC drives the tech talent growth Indias Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are evolving to become centers of innovation. In 2025 alone, tech GCCs leased 5.2 million sq ft of office space, 41 percent of total GCC leasing, largely in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR. These centers are emerging hubs for AI, cloud security, and platform engineering. Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are also ramping up efforts to attract multinational GCC investments. According to a 2025 HSBC report, India is expected to host 2,550 GCCs valued at US$110 billion by 2030, creating 2.5 million jobs in the process. Summary India is moving from being a low-cost support center to a tech talent hub of the global digital economy. India has a blend of a young, skilled workforce, competitive costs, and GCC-like innovation clusters. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi-NCR stand out for their talent density, infrastructure, and cost-effectiveness, while cities like Pune, Chennai, and Mumbai are growing due to their tech ecosystems. India can position itself as a reliable talent source and draw more investments by riding the wave of a skilled and vast workforce. One Piece chapter 1156 release date and time One Piece chapter 1156 release date and time #ONEPIECE1155 Imu gotta be the most stressed mf on the planet rn Nika returns after 800 years, Rockss son is coming for his head, Sabos fanning the flames of revolution, and Joy Boys Haki gets unleashed outta no where amidst allat pic.twitter.com/b7lEr9EkFG Soul (@Soul_StormOP) July 17, 2025 One Piece chapter 1156 release date and time as per different time zones Pacific Standard Time (PST): Sunday, August 3, 2025 8:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST): Sunday, August 3, 2025 11:00 AM British Summer Time (BST): Sunday, August 3, 2025 4:00 PM Central European Summer Time (CEST): Sunday, August 3, 2025 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST): Sunday, August 3, 2025 8:30 PM Philippine Standard Time (PST): Sunday, August 3, 2025 11:00 PM Japanese Standard Time (JST): Monday, August 4, 2025 12:00 AM Australia Central Time (ACT): Monday, August 4, 2025 12:30 AM Where to read One Piece chapter 1156? What to expect from One Piece chapter 1156? : Anticipation is building for One Piece chapter 1156, especially after the intense developments in the previous installment. Fans are curious about what surprises Eiichiro Oda has planned next. Whether youve been following the arc closely or are thinking of jumping back in, heres a brief guide on when and where you can read the next chapter online.One Piece chapter 1156 is scheduled to release at 12 am JST on Monday, August 4, 2025. However, most international readers will be able to access it on August 3, while a few, such as those in Japan, will get it online early Monday morning.Fans have three main ways to read the latest One Piece chapter 1156. Right after its release, it will be available for free on Viz Media's official website and Shueisha's Manga Plus platform. Alternatively, readers can access it via Shueishas Shonen Jump+ app, though this option requires a monthly subscription.As per speculation, One Piece chapter 1156 is anticipated to focus on the notorious Rocks Pirates, commanded by the powerful Xebec, as they make their way to Hachinosu. Their mission is to take control of the islands gold reserves and establish it as a pirate base. With various other factions also aiming for the same prize and the island being defended by dangerous criminals, fans can look forward to intense clashes and action-packed moments featuring the legendary pirate crew.Xebec may finally step into the spotlight, showcasing his fearsome sword-fighting skills and possibly revealing Devil Fruit powers, if he has any. This chapter could also provide crucial information about Davy Jones and the hidden treasure on Hachinosu, potentially connecting to the significant historical event known as the God Valley Incident. Such developments would not only add more depth to the lore but also link past mysteries to the current storyline. Facebook post after the crime draws public attention SUNSHINE STEWART MURDER SUSPECT - DEVEN YOUNG, 17, of Frankfort, Maine is believed to be the 17-year-old suspect that was arrested for the homicide of Sunshine Stewart. pic.twitter.com/aMOdNE9kDl Joseph Morris (@JosephMorrisYT) July 18, 2025 Investigators still searching for motive Here is a picture of 17-year old Deven Young who is charged with the murder of paddleboarder Sunshine Stewart in Maine. @LawCrimeNetworkpic.twitter.com/6di1lNl62N Chris Stewart (@CStewartNews) July 18, 2025 Remembering Sunny Stewart For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Seventeen-year-old Deven Young of Frankfort, Maine, has been charged with murder in the death of 48-year-old Sunshine Sunny Stewart. Stewart went missing on July 2 after going paddleboarding alone at Crawford Pond in Union. Her body was found in the early hours of July 3 on an island under unusual circumstances. The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner later confirmed that she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.Young was arrested on July 10, one week after the incident, and is currently being held at Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 22.What has caught public attention is Youngs social media activity following Stewarts death. On July 12 ten days after the incident Young reshared a photo originally taken by someone else. When someone commented asking how he was doing, Young replied, doing well.This Facebook post, made just two days after Stewarts body was found and two days before his arrest, is now raising questions as investigators continue to look into the motive. The comment thread has since become a focus point among those following the case.Police say Young had recently been staying with his family at the Mic Mac Family Campground in Union the same location where Stewart was a seasonal camper. While authorities have not yet disclosed the nature of their relationship or the motive behind the crime, court documents confirm that Young is charged with intentionally or knowingly causing Stewarts death.At present, it is unclear if he will be tried as an adult. Young turns 18 in September.Sunny Stewart was known to friends and her community as an adventurous, independent woman. She had worked as a fisherman, carpenter, bartender, and boat captain. Friends described her as a fearless personality who thrived in the outdoors and often taught paddleboarding.She was the glue of our group, said longtime friend Bethany Leach Parmley, who recalled Stewarts loyalty and spirited energy. A GoFundMe page has been set up in her memory as loved ones plan a memorial.With a suspect in custody and social media posts under scrutiny, investigators continue to piece together what led to Sunny Stewarts death. Trying to fly back to Austin from Seattle. Sea-Tac is a madhouse right now. Alaska Airlines ground stop. These crowds speak for themselves. pic.twitter.com/JzQ4YdHF11 Adam Bennett (@AdamBennettKVUE) July 21, 2025 Alaska Airlines still struggling with hardware disruptions It is unknown when the airline will go back to normal Currently bonding with my fellow airport captives. Big shoutout to Alaska Airlines for redefining grounded in service #alaskaair#flightsdelayedpic.twitter.com/Yr6q7Pw6wJ Sumit (@EpicBeanster) July 21, 2025 For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Alaska Airlines is still struggling to recover from a critical hardware failure in its data centers on Sunday July 20, which forced the airline service to ground all flights for around three hours, from 8 pm P.T to 11 pm P.T.As of Monday, July 21, per data from FlightAware, Seattle Airlines has cancelled 7%, or 66 of its scheduled flights, while another 12%, or 110 flights, have been delayed. Flight disruptions have also affected the Alaska Airlines subsidiary Horizon Air. These flight disruptions have led to increased crowding in airports as people try to make sense of their situation.In a statement, Alaska Airlines had this to say: Additional flight disruptions are likely as we reposition aircraft and crews throughout our network. The IT outage is not related to any other current events, and its not a cybersecurity event.Alaska Airlines continues to deal with the repercussions of the hardware failure that upturned its operations on Sunday. The airline has reported that the hardware component that malfunctioned was manufactured by a third party.The airline has clarified that the ongoing data center disruption is not the result of any wider cybersecurity breach, with the incident being unrelated to a Microsoft server attack that happened over the weekend, or the cybersecurity breach that occurred at its subsidiary, Hawaiian Airlines.Alaska Airlines has declined to get into specifics about what the hardware failure led to, beyond explaining that several core flight operations were impacted. The airline is working with the third-party vendor of the failed hardware component to figure out a solution.While the worst of Alaska Airliness disruptions occurred on Sunday, it is currently unknown when the airline will be able to fully resume regular operations. Aside from the additional flight disruptions that occurred on Monday, theres a strong possibility that further disruptions will continue throughout the coming week.Alaska Airlines has not provided a definitive timeline on when the airlines flights will resume operating as normal. In the interim, air travel passengers should expect further cancellations or delays as the airline works to resolve the overarching operational issues and get back on track. Social media clashes and a blocked handle Letters, accusations, and constitutional sparring Administrative deadlocks and the call for removal Political interpretation and the central governments role A new political chapter, but lingering questions Honble Vice-President & Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid tributes in the House today to former Members of Rajya Sabha: Shri C. Perumal Dr. K. Kasturirangan Shri Ronald Sapa Tlau Shri Nepaldev Bhattacharjee Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Shri Thennala G. pic.twitter.com/NUOKsJgMEw Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 21, 2025 For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Before stepping down as Vice President citing health reasons, Jagdeep Dhankhar made headlines during his three-year stint as West Bengal Governor largely due to a highly publicised and persistent feud with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. While Dhankhar urged political harmony shortly before his resignation, his earlier tenure was marked by one of the most visible Governor-Chief Minister confrontations in recent Indian politics.Tensions between Dhankhar and Banerjee escalated publicly when the Chief Minister blocked the Governor on Twitter. Dhankhar responded with a series of tweets criticising the state governments conduct. The editorial in the TMCs mouthpiece, titled Ter Paben (He Will Face the Consequence), reflected that the standoff was far from over. Dhankhar had actively used his official Twitter handle since assuming office in July 2019 to comment on various state matters, especially targeting the ruling TMC government.The strained relationship reached a critical point in November 2019 when both leaders exchanged official letters. Mamata Banerjee accused the Governor of provoking unrest and overstepping constitutional boundaries. Dhankhar countered, stating he had faced indignities and verbal attacks from ministers. Banerjee urged the Governor to help maintain peace instead of aggravating the situation through press briefings and tweets. The correspondence highlighted the power tussle between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna.Banerjee had long called for Dhankhars removal, citing difficulties caused by him in routine administrative functionsbe it delayed file clearances or repeated summoning of top bureaucrats. The Chief Minister alleged that these actions were aimed at undermining her authority. Despite these tensions, Dhankhar was elevated to the Vice Presidents office in 2022, ending his truncated three-year governorship that typically spans five years.TMC saw Dhankhars transfer to Delhi as a partial victory, although some leaders felt retaining him till the next assembly elections could have been politically useful to showcase BJPs alleged constitutional overreach. The central government, particularly Home Minister Amit Shah, reportedly informed Banerjee about Dhankhars nomination without prior consultationa move that the TMC criticised for bypassing established democratic protocols.While Dhankhar has since engaged with opposition forces as Vice President, the unresolved friction with the Bengal government remains a case study in Centre-state relations. TMCs decision on whether to support his nomination reportedly hinged on Mamata Banerjees strategy following her annual July 21 Shaheed Divas rally. Ultimately, Dhankhars nomination sailed through without a strong opposition challenge.Jagdeep Dhankhars years in West Bengal redefined the visibility and voice of a Governor in Indias political structure moving from a ceremonial role to an outspoken participant in governance. His feud with Mamata Banerjee was not just personal or politicalit became emblematic of deeper federal tensions. Uttarakhand has successfully grounded investments worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore, a landmark achievement celebrated at the "Uttarakhand Investment Utsav2025" held in Rudrapur on Monday. This major milestone comes just over a year after the state's Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2023 and signals a new era of industrial development and economic growth. The event saw the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who lauded Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhamis visionary leadership, transparent policies, and investor-first approach. Uttarakhand is making rapid strides in development, and todays milestone is a reflection of the double-engine governments strong coordination and intent, said Shah. Of the Rs. 3.5 lakh crore worth of MoUs signed during GIS 2023, more than Rs. 1 lakh crore have already materialised into grounded projectssetting a national benchmark for swift execution. The state government is actively supporting these investments with a streamlined single-window system, sector-specific reforms, and proactive facilitation. Chief Minister Dhami reaffirmed the state's commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking growth. We are not just attracting investment; we are grounding it with speed, efficiency, and accountability, he said. Highlighting the states focus areas, Dhami mentioned the upcoming policies on green industry, logistics, pharma, and the Rs. 200 crore venture capital fund for startups. The states Ease of Doing Business ranking has improved significantly, and authorities credited the rapid approvals, infrastructure readiness, and industrial-friendly climate for the same. Officials revealed that investment projects have led to employment generation across 14 districts, giving a major boost to local economies. The Investment Utsav also served as a platform for investors to share their experience and endorse Uttarakhand as a prime destination for business expansion. The investment climate here is dynamic, efficient, and highly cooperative. We feel confident in scaling up our operations, said one of the attending industrialists. With over Rs. 1 lakh crore already in execution, the Uttarakhand government aims to ground more projects in the coming months. The event concluded with a renewed call to industries to become a part of the states transformational journey towards becoming a key pillar in India's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. Point to ponder: Last week RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat advised 75 years as a retirement age for public figures. Jagdeep Dhankar will be 75 only next May! So why now on day 1 of the monsoon session does he resign? . Was health suddenly so bad (he was busily attending functions pic.twitter.com/8ofROlGOIU Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 21, 2025 Jagdeep Dhankhar was hospitalized for heart issues #BREAKING: Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar rushed to AIIMS after chest pain. Hes currently under observation. pic.twitter.com/3xjuJi1Zzd Vishal Kanojia Journalist (@Vishal0700) March 9, 2025 Jagdeep Dhankhar did not specify his health issue in his letter For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Indias Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar made national headlines on account of his resignation announcement on July 21. Dhankar cited health issues as his reason for stepping down, but declined to give specifics. The VPs resignation has led to a flurry of speculation regarding the outgoing Vice Presidents health history, and whether or not there were any other reasons behind Dhankhars resignation.However, Jagdeep Dhanhkars reasoning does seem to hold water when examining the outgoing VPs history of health crises. Specifically, his admittance into AIIMS for cardiac-related ailments, which occurred just a few weeks before he announced his resignation, as well as a fainting episode he had in Uttarakhand.Jagdeep Dhankhar was admitted to AIIMS on March 9, at around 2 am after complaining of chest pains and discomfort. Dhankhars was admitted to the medical institutions critical care unit, where he was closely monitored by a dedicated team of doctors. Dhankhars stint in AIIMS lasted for four days, with the hospitalization making the headlines. Several top Government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the VP during this time.While Dhankhar claimed to have made a full recovery after being discharged from AIIMS, concerns about his health would reignite after he fainted in Uttarakhand, while attending Kumaon Universitys Golden Jubilee event in June of this year.Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation letter did not get into specifics about what health concerns had prompted him to step down. Instead, Dhankar opted to thank the various people he worked with in the Indian Government, with his statement reading:I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy. It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in Indias remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nations history has been a true honor.With Jagdeep Dhankhars sudden resignation, efforts will soon be underway to anoint Indias next Vice President. The exact timeline of this process has not yet been made clear. Planning a family trip that keeps everyone happy? From kids and teens to parents and grandparents, finding something that ticks all the boxes can feel like solving a Rubiks Cube, blindfolded. But if Abu Dhabi is on your bucket list, youre done. This city blends fun, culture, and exciting experiences that bring all generations together. Whether its kayaking, bonding over traditional Emirati coffee, or sharing laughs in an art studio, these 8 experiences are designed to delight every age. Lets dive in! 1. TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi: A digital wonderland Enter a mesmerising world where art responds to your every move. Ripples of light, fluttering digital butterflies, and rain that parts as you walk. Created by Japans renowned art collective and situated in Saadiyat Cultural District, this immersive space blends technology, nature, and imagination into a stunning, interactive experience. Whether its kids running wild, parents soaking in the calm, theres no right or wrong way to explore this place. 2. Louvre Abu Dhabi: A cultural icon with a creative twist for kids Anarchitectural marvel, Louvre Abu Dhabi offers something for everyone in the family, from timeless masterpieces for art lovers to the playful Childrens Museum designed just for kids. While adults can explore global history through art and admire the fantastic architecture, little ones can dive into interactive exhibits, creative workshops, and hands-on learning in a space made just for them. Its a rare museum where every generation can enjoy a meaningful, enriching experience under one stunning dome. 3. Experience coffee and curious creatures: Boomah, The Owl Cafe Looking for a unique outing thats equal parts peaceful and fascinating? Boomah, The Owl Cafe in Al Seef Village Mall is just the spot. Sip coffee in a cozy forest-themed space while getting up close with ten majestic owls, each with fun fact cards and knowledgeable guides to make the experience kid-friendly and educational. Whether your little ones wide-eyed with wonder or Grandpas quietly impressed, this calm cafe brings nature, knowledge, and family time together in the sweetest way. 4. SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi: Marine magic for every generation From curious kids to wildlife-loving grandparents, SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is a full-day adventure. You can explore eight immersive realms, watch playful dolphin presentations, feed sea turtles, and come face-to-face with over 10,000 marine animals, including manta rays, sea lions, dugongs, and Arctic foxes. With hands-on encounters and behind-the-scenes glimpses into animal care, this place is a must-visit spot in Abu Dhabi. 5. Adrenark Adventure: High-energy fun for the whole fam Image credit: adrenark.com If your fam-jam loves a little action, Adrenark Adventure is Abu Dhabis ultimate indoor thrill zone. With multi-level go-karting, epic climbing walls, giant slides, rope courses, and even the wild Human Claw ride, theres something for kids, parents, and even grandparents to enjoy. Its all about safe, active fun where families can cheer each other on, laugh together, and create unforgettable memories. 6. Cultural Foundation: Where art, heritage & family come together Step into a space where UAE traditions meet modern creativity at the Cultural Foundation,an inspiring hub for families of all generations. You can explore interactive exhibitions, enjoy live performances, and dive into workshops that bring heritage, storytelling, and art to life. This cultural gem makes culture, learning and bonding beautifully timeless. 7. Al Mrzab: Dig into a family feast to remember Image credit: Visitabudhabi If youre craving a meal that feels like home, Al Mrzab Restaurant serves up authentic Emirati and Kuwaiti favourites in a warm, welcoming setting where families can dine at tables or relax on traditional floor cushions. From majboos and harees to mutabbaq and more, every bite tells a story, making it the perfect spot for kids to explore new tastes, parents to indulge, and grandparents to savour a slice of tradition. 8. Yas Waterworld: Splash, slide & soak up the fun Yas Waterworld is Abu Dhabis ultimate water playground. Following a recent expansion, choose from 60+ rides and slides, from the gravity-defying Liwa Loop to the record-breaking Dawwamma and the chill Al Raha River for laidback floaters. Little ones, teens, parents, and grandparents can all find their perfect splash zone, plus there are VIP cabanas, tasty bites, and frosty treats to keep everyone happy and sun-kissed. Its the kind of family day that ends with wet hair, big laughs, and can we come back tomorrow? vibes. So, from digital dreams to art and culture experiences and wild water rides, Abu Dhabi brings every generation closer through unforgettable shared experiences. Thats why we have to say: This summer in Abu Dhabi? Totally recommended for the whole family. Google Pixel 10 launch: Google Pixel 10 launch date in India Google Pixel event is official: August 20, just a few weeks before Apple. pic.twitter.com/DbyfMoo7MX Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 16, 2025 Google Pixel 10 specifications in India (Expected) Google Pixel 10 price in India (Expected) The Pixel 10 series launch is just around the corner, and its already generating buzz across the globe. As the successor to the Pixel 8 lineup, the Pixel 10 is expected to bring a refreshed design, smarter AI features, and Googles next-generation Tensor G5 chip.Industry leaks suggest that Google will announce two modelsPixel 10 and Pixel 10 Prowith enhanced camera setups, better display technology, and a more refined user experience. In India, the pricing is expected to remain aggressive, keeping in line with Googles push to gain market share.Heres everything we know so far about the Pixel 10 series specs, design, features, pricing, and launch timelinebased on reliable leaks, insider reports, and trends.The Pixel 10 series is now certain to ship in August, as Google has officially confirmed its release date forat the 'Made by Google' event. Google is anticipated to unveil four Pixel 10 series devices at the event, which will be held in New York: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.As with the Pixel 9 series from the previous year, this translates to four models.It features a 6.3inch Full HD+ OLED with a 120 Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and a notably bright displayboosting high brightness mode to 2,000 nits and peak to 3,000 nits. Under the hood, its powered by Googles new Tensor G5 chipset built on TSMCs 3 nm process, paired with 12 GB of RAM and either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage.The battery has been upgraded to 4,970 mAh, supporting 29 W wired and 15 W Qi2 wireless charging. Camera-wise, the Pixel 10 adds a 5 telephoto lens (10.8 MP), alongside a downgraded primary 48 MP (1/2.0) and ultrawide 12 MP setup, plus a 10.5 MP front camera; software boosts include new telemacro shots and gimballevel stabilization.The body measures roughly 152.8 72 8.6 mm (12 mm with camera bar), with an indisplay ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and constructed from aluminum and glass.The regular Pixel 10 costs 899 (about Rs 81,500) for 128GB and 999 (approximately Rs 90,600) for 256GB. With four storage options128GB for 1,099 (about Rs 99,500), 256GB at 1,199 (approximately Rs 1,08,500), 512GB at 1,329 (approximately Rs 1,20,200), and the maximum-out 1TB model at 1,589 (approximately Rs 1,44,200). If youve been following the K-pop side of X, youve probably read the ongoing rumours around HYBEs girl group KATSEYE. Fans are convinced that somethings off when it comes to member Manon. Some believe shes being deliberately sidelined from group activities, while others think she might be on her way out of the group altogether. While the entire situation remains rooted in rumours and speculation, heres a breakdown of whats unfolded so far and why fans believe Manon may be getting unfair treatment within KATSEYE. What's up with KATSEYE, and why do fans think Manon is being sidelined? BTS' label HYBE and Geffen Records global girl group KATSEYE, made up of Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae, has quickly risen to global fame since their 2024 debut. With bangers like Gnarly and Gabriella, the group has carved out a space that blends pop swagger with K-pop discipline. But their charm goes beyond the music. KATSEYE has become known for their carefree social media energy, chaotic live streams, and most of all, the close-knit bond they openly share. Fans express concern over Manon's absence from group activities| Credit: KATSEYE So when Manon began missing from several group activities, even if it was reportedly due to health reasons, fans couldnt help but take notice. KATSEYE fans question Manons absence from group events The conversation picked up steam earlier this week after a viral tweet pointed out Manons absence from several group promotions. Fans quickly compiled instances where she was either missing entirely or visibly sidelined, fuelling speculation. One major example is the groups billboard celebration for their Glossier partnership. While the other members posed together in front of the ad, Manon was notably missing, and her face on the billboard was partially covered by another member. The following day, Manon visited the billboard alone, sparking more questions. Many fans wondered why the group couldnt have waited just one more day for her to recover so they could appear together as a full unit. dreamiest collab, thank you Glossier!! billboard locations: Sunset Blvd & Alta Vista Melrose Ave & Harper Ave Venice Pacific Ave (between Windward Ave & Zephyr Ct) pic.twitter.com/vrpj0ekFg0 KATSEYE (@katseyeworld) May 24, 2025 Adding to the frustration, fans noticed that in the groups promotional video for their Monster High collaboration, where the members reacted to their custom dolls, Manon had barely any screen time. Unlike the others, she was given little to no solo focus or commentary, which only fuelled suspicions of her being sidelined. idk maybe im reaching but i smell an agenda being pushed. https://t.co/cAzQrjyWEm like a bag of takis ON STRIKE (@gtfo_jaronnn) July 19, 2025 Fans also pointed out that Manons individual photo was missing from KATSEYEs recent group interview with Hypebae, further fuelling concern that shes being excluded from key promotions. while were at it, hypebae didnt post a pic for manon pic.twitter.com/nWwjoA5HbF keni ON STRIKE (@somanon) July 19, 2025 When fans questioned Manon's absence, a Hypebae staff member shared, "To the EYEKONS: I am not in charge of what photos were sent for the article; they didn't send me a solo photo of Manon to be included, otherwise there would be one! I wouldn't purposely exclude her, guys." What's more concerning, per fans, is that the comment has now been deleted. Hypebae staff shares Manon's solo shot was not shared with them for the article about KATSEYE| Credit: Instagram For a growing number of fans, the signs are too frequent to ignore. Many are starting to suspect that Manonthe only Black member of KATSEYEis being pushed to the sidelines. With her absence showing up in promo after promo, some now fear she might be gearing up for an unexpected exit. So, is Manon leaving KATSEYE? So far, neither HYBE nor Geffen Records has addressed the speculation about Manons future in KATSEYE. Manon herself has stayed silent on social media. For now, the group still follows each other, but the silence is only adding to the unease. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist who recently made a splash in progressive politics after departing from the MSNBC network to found his own independent media platform, known as Zeteo. Since then, Mehdi has spearheaded numerous investigative journalism and advocacy efforts, most notably concerning the ongoing war in Gaza, which he has termed a genocide. Mehdi is also a staunch critic of the current Donald Trump administration, and has built up a reputation as a formidable debater. On July 20, he showcased his passion for debating once more by appearing on Jubilees Surrounded. Surrounded is a YouTube series where a public debater deliberately disadvantages themselves by pitting themselves against 20 people of opposing viewpoints, with Mehdi facing off against hardline Donald Trump supporters who were staunchly anti-immigrant and openly supported many of the president's most controversial policies. Mehdi would later post a highlight reel of the over 90-minute debate on his X account, which got a lot of reactions, with James Allan calling Mehdi a "National Treasure". You're a National Treasure Mehdi. James Allen (@xYOULLBEDEADx) July 20, 2025 Netizens rally around Mehdi after his Jubilee debate Mehdis highlight reel prompted a lot of responses on his X timeline, with many praising Mehdis debating skills and commending him on facing off against Americas radicalized right-wingers head on. User doomer_world called Mehdi an American hero, which he looked all too happy to hear. Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 20, 2025 User Nick Warren said that the others brought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight. They bought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight... Nick Warren (@nickawarren) July 20, 2025 User jocamp thanked Mehdi for everything. Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 20, 2025 User Rickey Williams commended Mehdi for taking hate and fascism full on, and said there was no barometer to gauge the amount of crazy among the 20 right-wingers. Words cannot express how much I appreciate you Mehdi, you took hate and fascism full on, there's no barometer to gauge the amount of crazy amongst those 20. Rickey Williams (@Sensiblelogic06) July 20, 2025 User whereisjarule_ stated that Mehdi was the best debater hed ever seen. Happy it's mehdi Hasan of all people going against them. He is the best debater I've ever seen! (@whereisjarule_) July 20, 2025 User thelefttake condemned the people Mehdi debated against, saying they should be put on a watchlist. There are multiple people in this video who should be placed on a watchlist. It's actually scary knowing they walk among us. thelefttake (@thelefttake) July 20, 2025 Not all responses to Mehdis debate were positive, however, with seasters jones saying that Mehdi shouldnt have given the fascists a platform. Had you never watched previous episodes? Just fascists getting crushed and acting like they won likely because they got to advertise/platform their hate. seasters jones. (@seastersjones) July 20, 2025 User Grounded Spaceman accused Mehdi of just talking over everyone. lolthis isnt the own you think it is. Id wager that you can win a debate fair and square over the normal person. But this is just you talking over ppl. Fast and loud doesnt win a debate dude Grounded Spaceman (@m10climber) July 20, 2025 User Landon Best said that Mehdi shouldnt call what he did a debate because none of the 20 reactionaries he talked to had any ideas worth seriously considering. Your #1 issue is calling this a debate when its not. Debate implies these ideas are in any way meant to be taken seriously. There is nothing serious about any of the 20 reactionaries you talked to. Landon Best (@Best4Liberty) July 20, 2025 However, Landon was met with pushback by ValorieThomas, who pointed out that everyone in the video knew what they signed up for, and genuinely considered themselves debaters. Its important to note that every person in that room knew what they were signed up for. Every person in there knew who would be sitting across the table. Everyone in that room thinks they are debaters with relevant, cogent ideas & arguments. ValerieThomas (@V_rainorshine) July 20, 2025 Mehdi Hasan has had a storied journalism career Before establishing his own media company, Mehdi Hasan spent a long time building his credentials as a journalist and activist. After doing a few stints on British networks such as ITV and BBC One, Mehdi rose to prominence as an anchor for Al Jazeera, following which he transitioned to MSNBC and hosted The Mehdi Hasan Show from 2020 to 2024. Aside from his work on Zeteo, Mehdi is also a regular columnist for The Guardian. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. In a shocking incident, a 77-year-old terminally ill newsagent has been unmasked as the mastermind behind a 52 million cocaine empire, drawing comparison to the TV series Breaking Bad. According to the Daily Mail, Michael Williamson secretly led a drug trafficking network that distributed over half a tonne of Class A drugs over a decade. His double life came to light in 2019 when police carried out raids at his Salford residence and his newsagent shop in Poynton, Cheshire, leading to his arrest. Terminally ill newsagent led double life as drug kingpin The report noted that during a police raid, officers uncovered 137,000 worth of cocaine, 33,000 in cash, and detailed records listing names, drug deals, and outstanding debts. Michael Williamson, who had no earlier criminal history and lived a solitary life, was convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs in January at Bolton Crown Court. Due to his terminal illness, Williamson was never sentenced and passed away earlier this month. Real-life 'Breaking Bad': Judge says newsagent was at the centre of a 52M drug empire According to the report, his descent into the criminal underworld has drawn comparison to the hit US series Breaking Bad, where the main character, Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer, turns to meth production. Judge Clarke, commenting in Williamson's absence, described him as being at the 'very heart' of the drug conspiracy. 77-year-old terminally ill British newsagent lived double life | Credit: X | @Indie5051 Striking similarities between Williamson and Walter White A source told The Sun that there were striking parallels between Williamson and Breaking Bad, saying, On the surface, he appeared to be just a shopkeeper, but behind the scenes, he was dealing a very different kind of powder than the lemon sherbets on his shelves. The investigation into the drug network also led to the convictions of three other individuals. Payden Candland, a former rugby league player aged 33, was sentenced to 19 years and nine months in prison. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Actor and influencer Uorfi Javed recently revealed on Instagram that she had her lip fillers dissolved after finding them very misplaced. In a short video, she documented the process and called out cosmetic procedures done by doctors without proper expertise. Her caption also noted how painful the process was and stressed the need to consult experienced professionals for cosmetic treatments. Lip fillers usually contain hyaluronic acid, a water-absorbing substance naturally found in the body. These injections are used to give shape, structure, and fullness to the lips. But what happens when things go wrong? What is lip filler dissolution and how is it done? When fillers are misplaced or the results are unsatisfactory, dermatologists can use an enzyme called hyaluronidase to dissolve them. This breaks down the hyaluronic acid in the filler and allows the body to excrete it naturally through the liver and kidneys. The treatment usually takes about 1015 minutes, and although there might be swelling, tenderness, or bruising, these symptoms typically fade in a few days. In some cases, multiple sessions may be required if complications are present. Ice packs or numbing creams can help reduce discomfort after the procedure. Lip fillers usually contain hyaluronic acid, a water-absorbing substance naturally found in the body | Credit: Freepik What can go wrong and why should you be cautious? Speaking on the matter, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, director and chief dermatologist, MedLinks group of clinics from Delhi told Indiatimes, Fillers should only be done by qualified dermatologists or plastic surgeons. Many people get them done at spas or unlicensed clinics for cheap, and thats risky. One of the most serious complications is vascular occlusion, where filler enters an artery and blocks blood flow to the skin, possibly causing permanent skin damage or, in rare cases, vision loss if it travels toward the eye. Other concerns include swelling after extraction and the need for accurate injection technique. An expert must know the anatomy and blood supply of the treated area to perform the procedure safely. New fashion ft. Urfi Javed pic.twitter.com/bHbdG2725I Ritikaa (@ritikuuuu) July 20, 2025 Dos and Donts before and after filler or dissolution Schedule it at least a week before any major event. Share your complete medical history, including any history of herpes or autoimmune disorders. Stay hydrated. Stop blood thinners like aspirin at least 3 days prior. After the procedure: Use an ice pack to ease swelling. Avoid touching or massaging the treated area. Dont wear makeup or lipstick for 24 hours. Eat soft foods for a day. Skip intense workouts, smoking, sauna, or steam for at least 48 hours. Avoid kissing for 24 hours. Stop smoking for 48 hours after the fillers Use painkillers or Arnica ointment if needed for bruising. Watch out for complications: Any whitening or pallor of the area Severe pain that increases every few hours Changes in vision Cold sores or herpes flare-ups (preventive medication may be prescribed) Cosmetic procedures should always be done by trained professionals. A few shortcuts can cause long-term risks and painful corrections. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Dog the Bounty Hunter is currently suffering from a personal tragedy following reports that his stepson, Gregory Zecca, accidentally shot and killed his 13-year-old step-grandson, Anthony. According to TMZ, the fatal incident took place in Naples, Florida, at their apartment on Saturday night, July 19, 2025. The family stated to TMZ, where Duane Chapman said, "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible, tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson. Duane Chapman, a.k.a. Dog the Bounty Hunter, is an American television star, bounty hunter, and former bail bondsman, known for the 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' show. But who is Gregory Zecca? Let's find out. Who is Gregory Zecca? Gregory Zecca is Dog the Bounty Hunter's stepson through his marriage to Francie, who had a previous relationship with Gregory. Francie and Dog got married after both of their former spouses had died. While Zecca is part of Dog's bounty hunting team, working alongside Lyssa, Dog's daughter. According to his Instagram bio, Zecca describes himself as a Father, Bounty Hunter, Podcaster, Small Business Owner, Adventurer. Moreover, his profile also indicates that he is 34 years old and is based in Parker, Colorado. He is also known for the Beyond the Bounty podcast, which is described as one that captures the 'incredible story of Greg Zecca, who was cast on Dog the Bounty Hunter's new show called 'Beware of Dog.' Dog the Bounty Hunters Stepson Involved in Shooting Incident | Credit: X | @CoffindafferFBI What happened in the shooting case? According to TMZ, the law enforcement officials confirmed that it was an 'isolated incident,' and no arrests have been made in the case so far. However, the investigation into the shooting is going on. On the other hand, Dog the Bounty Hunter and France issued a statement via a representative, saying, We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible, tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony, and asked for privacy at this time. Authorities in the Turkish-controlled north of Cyprus have arrested five elderly Greek Cypriots on espionage charges, a move the Greek Cypriot government is treating as a retaliatory act in a long-standing property dispute. The five were arrested late Saturday after visiting their properties in the village of Trikomo and were scheduled to appear before a local court on Sunday. The Greek Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mr. Theodoros Gkotsis, confirmed the arrests. The incident is widely seen as a response to recent legal actions taken by the Greek Cypriot government against individuals accused of illegally occupying properties in the north. Greek Cypriot authorities said they are taking diplomatic and legal measures and are coordinating with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus. The arrests have heightened tensions on the divided island and further complicated UN-led efforts to restart peace talks. Tensions have been high, with Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Ersin Tatar recently condemning the Greek Cypriot side's property-related arrests as terrorizing acts. iefimerida.gr Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his weekly address focused on public safety, highlighting the delivery of new firefighting vehicles and a new digital app to protect children online, while also warning of an approaching heatwave. Mr. Mitsotakis praised the "Aegis" program for recently delivering 164 new fire trucks to the Greek Fire Service and urged property owners to help prevent wildfires by clearing flammable materials from their lots. He also detailed the launch of "Kids Wallet," a Greek-developed parental control app. The initiative has prompted a European-wide proposal for a unified age verification system for minors, which is now being piloted in Greece and four other EU countries. Mr. Mitsotakis called it a significant step toward a safer digital world for children. The prime minister also touched on the economy, noting the recent approval of 15 strategic investment projects totaling over 2.4 billion euros. Other initiatives mentioned included cultural programs for young offenders and the opening of a vocational high school inside the Larissa penitentiary. iefimerida.gr With the remand of the former wife of the Berkeley professor, the apology process for the murder of the 43-year-old Polish man in early July in Agia Paraskevi has been completed on Monday. The woman denies any involvement in the criminal act committed by her 35-year-old partner and reportedly said she was shocked by his actions.#After a nearly 12-hour process, the investigator and the prosecutor have ordered the temporary detention of all five defendants in the case. iefimerida.gr The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has apprehended 62 suspected oil thieves and seized more than 350,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in multiple operations conducted across four states in the Niger Delta region. The four-day operation was part of a sustained effort to tackle oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and related criminal activities in the area. During the raids, several illegal bunkering sites were dismantled, and key supply chains used for illicit operations were disrupted. Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Division, revealed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Advertisement READ MORE: Detained Suspect In AAUA Students Murder Case Dies After Brief Illness Danjuma added that the operation, carried out in partnership with other security agencies, resulted in the destruction of 14 illegal refining sites. The statement read, These feats were achieved through various operations conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, with successes recorded across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states between 14 and 20 July 2025. The operations led to the arrest of 62 suspected economic saboteurs, the deactivation of 14 illegal refining sites, seizure of five boats, and the confiscation of over 350,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the joint operation area. In Rivers State, around an abandoned wellhead at Joinkrama 4 in Ahoada West Local Government Area, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites. Additionally, it said Six large ovens, reservoirs, and receivers containing approximately 300,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 21,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil were handled in line with the subsisting operational mandate. The statement also mentioned other items recovered from the site, including a generator set, a welding machine, and multiple shovels. It further stated, Similarly, around Obiafor in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (Rivers State), several illegal refining sites were dismantled. Three dug-out pits were discovered, two filled with over 5,700 litres of stolen crude and one containing unquantified stolen AGO. Additionally, two boats loaded with ten sacks of condensates were intercepted at the riverside in Obiafor. Troops also intercepted a Sienna vehicle with no registration number, loaded with 32 sacks filled with over 1,920 litres of stolen AGO, at Elele Town in Ikwerre LGA. Likewise, an illegal connection point was discovered, along with a dug-out pit filled with over 1,200 litres of condensate. Recovered items included three 150-metre-long hoses, eight metal drums, and several ovens set up for illicit refining. In Bayelsa State, around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, the statement said, Troops deactivated four illegal refining sites and four dug-out pits. Over 10,000 litres of stolen AGO were confiscated, and five cooking ovens were dismantled. Troops are also combing the creeks and rivulets to crack down on economic saboteurs. Relatedly, following a tip-off, troops projected force from Javel Sharp Sand Waterside to Gana Road in Sapele LGA of Delta State, where two suspected oil thieves were apprehended. They were arrested with two boats loaded with 30 cellophane bags filled with over 1,500 litres of illegally refined AGO. The Army also stated in Akwa Ibom State, Troops have continued to dominate the operational landscape, effectively denying criminal elements freedom of action. Maj Gen Emmanuel Emekah, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, praised the troops for their achievements. He encouraged them to maintain the momentum of their operations to continually prevent economic saboteurs from having any freedom of action. President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, describing him as more than a royal father to him. Tinubu said that the late monarch was a voice of truth whose passing has left a significant void in Nigerias traditional leadership. In a statement on Sunday via his X page, the President honoured the memory of Oba Sikiru on the eight day after his death. Advertisement He further praised the late monarchs legacy of service and integrity, highlighting his rare leadership qualities and unwavering dedication to his people. READ MORE: Paramount Ruler Of Ijebu Land, Awujale Dies At 91 Tinubu said: Last Sunday, within hours, I lost two men I held in the highest esteem: my dear predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, and Kabiyesi, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagba II, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who joined his ancestors after over 65 remarkable years on the throne. Kabiyesi was more than a royal father to me. He was a confidante, a guide, and a man of truth whose wisdom never failed to steady those who sought it. In over six decades on the throne, he ruled with rare dignity, candour, and courage, always putting the people first with an unmistakable sense of duty. I am in Ijebu-Ode today to honour his legacy at his eighth-day Fidau prayers. Oba Adetonas demise has left an enormous void within the traditional institutions in Yorubaland and Nigeria in general. His voice, leadership, and generosity will echo far beyond Ijebuland. Son of former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammed Babangida, has rejected his appointment as chairman of the Bank of Agriculture. Mr. Muhammed, in a letter dated July 21st, 2025, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, cited personal and professional reasons behind his decision. He also reaffirmed his support for President Tinubus administration towards national development. Advertisement Muhammed said: I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the honour of being considered and appointed as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture and Economic Development. After careful reflection and consultation, I have decided, with utmost respect to decline the appointment. READ MORE: Tinubu Appoints Babangidas Son, Others As Heads Of Govt Agencies This decision was not made lightly. It stems from a convergence of personal and commitment the position demands. Your Excellency, I remain fully committed to the vision of a prosperous and self-sufficient Nigeria under your leadership. I continue to hold your administration in the highest regard and stand ready to support national development in other ways where my expertise may be of service. Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, has criticised Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over his declaration that Labour Partys Peter Obi must obtain security clearance before entering the state. Metuhs reaction came in a statement issued on Sunday, where he described the governors stance as a direct affront to democracy and constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. His remarks followed Governor Okpebholos comment linking Obis recent visit to Benin where he donated 15 million to a nursing school with renewed violence in the state. Advertisement That man who says he has no shishi came and dropped 15 million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/senator-fadahunsi-resigns-from-pdp-over-post-election-crisis.html For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance, the governor had said while welcoming Marcus Onobun into the APC. Metuh condemned the statement, saying, I have been recuperating from a spinal procedure, but I just read the disturbing news that the elected Governor of Edo State has banned a fellow Nigerian from visiting his state. He further noted that similar incidents had occurred in other regions, warning that such practices were unconstitutional. These acts completely go against the bedrock of democratic governance and are antithetical to the inalienable right to freedom, irrespective of political beliefs, he added. Calling on President Tinubu, Metuh urged him to maintain the inclusive legacy of his Lagos governorship and speak out against such undemocratic actions. Let Nigeria truly belong to all citizens, he concluded. Former Adamawa APC governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani, has officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following what insiders describe as long-standing friction with the party leadership in the state. Binanis media aide, Maulud Usman, confirmed the defection on Sunday, noting that the former senator arrived Yola on Saturday and informed close friends and family about her quiet move to the ADC. Yes, she has joined the African Democratic Congress, Maulud . Advertisement It was a quiet declaration. Shell return soon for a public event to formally align with her new party. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/opposition-coalition-proves-nigeria-isnt-a-one-party-state-fashola.html The political scene in Adamawa was thrown into speculation on Sunday morning as reports of her defection flooded social media, but no official statement emerged until her media aide spoke out. Binani, who lost narrowly to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election, has reportedly faced marginalization within the APC, especially over the partys perceived preference for National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu. A source close to the former senator said, Binani has never been comfortable with Ribadus growing influence in the party. Its no secret that he wants to control the party ahead of 2027, either for himself or his loyalist. The defection, although done without fanfare, signals a major political shift in Adamawa politics. Maulud added, She made the declaration to a few family members and friends. No media was invited because it was intended to be a personal move for now. A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said that no current politician has the credentials or moral standing to inherit late President Muhammadu Buharis 12 million-strong vote-bank. Okechukwu made the statement on Sunday, during an interdenominational church service held in honour of Buhari in Abuja. He told journalists that Buharis legacy was rooted in his integrity and unmatched public service record. With the greatest respect to prominent politicians who expectedly want to inherit late President Buharis much-celebrated 12 million vote-bank, one wishes to submit that Buharis shoe is too big, Okechukwu said. Advertisement His uncommon humanity, integrity, and moral compass are antithetical to their aspirations. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/asuu-rejects-renaming-of-unimaid-after-buhari-demands-reversal.html He stressed that Buharis long service from military governor to Petroleum Trust Fund chairman and eventually president was without blemish. None of them throughout their public service has either the moral compass nor ever waged anti-graft war against primitive accumulation, he said. Okechukwu warned that some aspirants were trying to ride on the northern card to gain political leverage, forgetting that the northern electorate had proven to be more patriotic and sophisticated than many assume. The northern electorates voted Abiola in 1993 and even gave Tinubu more support in 2023 than the southern electorates, he said. He concluded by warning against attempts to scuttle the rotational presidency tradition, stating, Equity, justice, and fairness constitute the bedrock of our democracy. Edo State government has addressed the controversy between Governor Monday Okpebholo and former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi over his planned visit to the state. Recall that Governor Okpebholo had warned Mr. Obi to get a security clearance from the state government before entering the state. The Governors remark which was made on Friday while receiving defectors to ruling All Progressive Congress in the state, generated mixed reactions from Nigerians. Advertisement Reacting to the development on Sunday, Okpebholos Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, explained that the governor made the comment in line with official protocol. Ituah insisted that the Governor respect Obi and all Nigerians. He said: Where misunderstandings arise, it is the responsibility of leaders to clarify, not to condemn. And that is what this moment calls for, clarity. READ MORE: Withdraw Your Comments, Apologise To Nigerians LP Senators Tell Gov Okpebholo For Threatening Obi The governors comment was not an attack. It was a statement borne out of official protocol, not personal bias. Let this moment not divide us but deepen our resolve for understanding. Let it remind us that even in disagreement, we must preserve our common humanity. Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, has declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubus re-election bid in 2027 elections. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the traditional ruler openly made the announcement on Saturday during a condolence visit by First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to the family of the late President Muhammadu Buhari at Daura, Katsina State. It was gathered that Oluremi Tinubu led a delegation comprising wives of key political figures, including wife of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors, ministers, and military chiefs. Advertisement They offered heartfelt condolences to Aisha Buhari, wife of the former president and the extended Buhari family. READ MORE: Some Of Buharis Appointees Betrayed His Trust, Worsened Corruption Bagos Speaking over 2027 election, the Emir used the occasion to throw the full weight of his Emirate behind President Tinubus leadership, affirming Dauras loyalty and political alignment. He said: President Bola Tinubu remains our choice for 2027. We stand firmly with him and will continue to support his administration as it strives to deliver on its mandate to the Nigerian people. Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Bauchi State and the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Barrister Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, has officially resigned from the PDP. In a resignation letter dated Monday, and obtained by newsmen, Kashim expressed his gratitude to the PDP leadership and ward executives for the trust reposed in him during his time in the party. While he did not state his exact reasons for exiting the PDP, he hinted at a future political journey aimed at continuing his service to the people. Advertisement READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/were-strongly-with-senator-natasha-aisha-yesufu-declares-support.html I appreciate the opportunity the PDP gave me to serve and represent the party during the previous election cycle, he wrote. It has been a privilege to work with party leaders, members, and loyal supporters across the state. Kashim, who notably stepped down from the PDP gubernatorial race in 2023 to support the re-election of Governor Bala Mohammed, reaffirmed his solidarity with the governor. In solidarity with the Governor, I campaigned vigorously across Bauchi Local Government Area alongside him, he noted. I did so wholeheartedly, knowing how difficult it often is for incumbents seeking a second term. He further stated, Be that as it may, after due consideration, I wish to formally notify you that I have, effective the date of this letter, resigned my membership of the PDP. Explaining his next steps, Kashim added: I hope to explore other avenues to seek the mandate of our people and serve with commitment, passion, integrity, and above all, the fear of Allah (SWT). I remain committed to the development and progress of Bauchi State. Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), has warned the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, to withdraw his threat against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, or face legal consequences. Falanas response followed a controversial remark made by Okpebholo during a political rally held in Uromi, Esan North-East, on Saturday. The governor reportedly said Obi could not enter Edo State without notifying him, declaring that his safety could not be guaranteed without clearance. Advertisement Theres a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/ogun-workers-strike-persists-as-labour-rejects-gov-abioduns-proposal.html If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. Im not joking, Governor Okpebholo said during the rally. In a statement issued on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Falana condemned the remarks, describing them as unconstitutional and dangerous. The threat to Mr Peter Obis life by the so-called new sheriff in town contravenes Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, both of which guarantee the right to life, Falana stated. He further urged Governor Okpebholo to publicly retract the statement, issue an apology, and affirm Obis safety in Edo. Falana also advised Obi to seek redress in court if the threat is not withdrawn. Mr Obi should act with utmost urgency in view of the prevalence of mob justice and other forms of extrajudicial killings in the country, he added. Former actor, Kenneth Okonkwo has lambasted Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for warning that Peter Obi must seek clearance before visiting the state. Okonkwo described the comment by the governor on Monday, as a direct threat to Obis life and an insult on the entire Igbo race. He emphasised that no Nigerian citizen is required to obtain permission from a state governor before entering any part of the country, insisting such statements violate constitutional freedoms. Advertisement If a strand of hair falls from Peter Obi, then you will know he has kinsmen, Okonkwo warned, rejecting the governors never guarantee of safety if Obi failed to seek permission. He queried the governors logic: Does it mean that when he finishes as a governor, before he travels to any state in Nigeria, he would have to seek the permission of all the governors of that state? READ MORE: https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/pdp-will-bounce-back-without-atiku-others-senator-minority-leader.html Citing constitutional provisions, Okonkwo said even protests dont require prior approval. The law has even been made clear that you dont even need permission even when you want to embark on a peaceful protest That is offensive. He demanded a public apology from Governor Okpebholo and threatened legal action if none was offered: If the Governor does not apologize, I will be on his case. He further accused the governor of ethnic discrimination, stating, The Governor wouldnt have tried this with a leader from Hausa or a leader from Yoruba land He is petty and largely unintelligent. Despite political differences with Obi, Okonkwo affirmed Obis right to move freely without threats. He is entitled to his freedom but not to threaten his life. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the appointment of Dr. Sadiq Abubakar as Acting National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), questioning both the legality and procedure behind the move. In a letter signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the Commission faulted the authenticity of the notification sent by the partys National Secretary. The signature on the letter does not match the specimen signature in our records, she stated. Advertisement Furthermore, the letter does not meet the requirements of Article 1.3.1 of the Commissions Guidelines for Political Party Operations, 2022. The rejection follows a leadership crisis triggered by the suspension of the partys substantive Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, over allegations of financial misappropriation. Gabam, along with two other national officers Nze Nnadi Clarkson and Uchechukwu Chukwuma was accused by the SDPs National Working Committee (NWC) of mismanaging over 1 billion. According to the partys National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, Their financial recklessness endangered the survival of our party. We cannot fold our arms and watch individuals drag the name of the SDP in the mud. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/dont-enter-edo-without-my-permission-or-blame-yourself-if-anythinghapoens-to-you-gov-okpebholo-warns-peter-obi.html Gabam, in a press statement issued on Saturday, July 20, 2025, through his media aide, Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim, described the actions of the NWC as illegitimate. There was no quorum. The so-called NEC meeting was an unlawful gathering called by people with personal vendettas, he said. Let it be clear: I remain the National Chairman of this party, duly elected and constitutionally empowered. Gabam also accused Dr. Olu Agunloye, a founding leader of the party, of masterminding the plot. The SDP is not for sale. It is not for hijack. It is a movement of the people and it shall remain so, he declared. In response, members loyal to the acting chairman said they acted in line with the partys constitution. AVM Abubakar-Sadick Liman (retd), who chaired the disciplinary panel that probed Gabam and others, said, The findings were overwhelming. We recommended EFCC involvement because public funds are at stake. However, Gabams supporters labelled the panel a kangaroo committee. A senior party official from his camp, who requested anonymity, said, This is a politically motivated witch-hunt to remove Gabam because he refuses to be a puppet. Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has responded to her colleague Jim Iyke over controversial birthday message to her on Instagram. In a detailed Instagram post on Sunday, laced with humour, memories, and mild frustration, Jim Iyke jokingly accused Kate Henshaw of friend-zoning him in their youth. The 48-year-old actor expressed regret over being treated like a baby brother by Henshaw 25 years ago, revealing that he had tried to make romantic advances toward her when he was just 23. Advertisement READ MORE: Kate Henshaw Celebrates Birthday With Heartfelt Message, Stunning Photos He reflected on how Henshaw often looked after him with genuine concern, while he, at the time, privately harbored romantic and sexual thoughts about her. F**k you, on behalf of my 23 year old self for treating me like your baby brother when you knew all that time I wanted to hit that, he wrote. You kept manipulating my black a*s by always looking out for me. Giving me heads up at auditions. Sometimes, slipping a couple of bucks in my hands to make sure I got a meal or transport fare back to my cousins. Every time I stared in those dancing, beautiful eyes of yours, you knew I had imaginations that were far from friendly. Our love child would have been in his/her mid twenties now if you had let me experiment with my seed just a couple of times. What a gorgeous human we would have made together! Iyke confessed that when Henshaw, now 54, eventually gave him a chance, he was already too consumed by his own wildness and restlessness to make the most of it. He also made a light-hearted remark about Henshaw eventually marrying a white man, while acknowledging that their marriage brought forth a beautiful child. F**k you Kate. F**k you coz when you finally lemme hit it, I was at the apex of my singular wildness and restlessness. You knew I had a great heart, but I was just crazy and dumb, he added. I was overwhelmed with fame and too many voices in my ears, pointing me to wrong directions. You stopped looking out for me. Took everything I did literally, then ran off and married that Oyibo. Ill keep it a buck and say i didnt think much of it. But a gorgeous lovely baby came from that union. It did end in praise. I was so proud! F**k you Kate. F**k you on behalf of these young girls killing themselves and doing way too much trying to figure out how to keep up with you. Youve caused hysteria, depression, anxiety, admiration, love, hate; a spectrum of human sentiments! Poor darlings have had to bbl it, snatch it, tuck it, tie it, girdle it, needle it, botox it, pound it, laser it, sew it, bleach it, even voodoo that shit to no avail. Nature, commitment and sacrifice didnt create it. It cant be manufactured. Its a KATE HENSHAW world. Iyke noted that although their hectic schedules often keep them apart for long stretches, each time they reconnect brings him immense joy. The actor explained that his earlier bold and provocative words were just part of the playful and unique way he and Henshaw expressed their affection for each other. Iyke wrapped up his message with a heartfelt birthday wish, describing Henshaw as a phenomenal creature and a force of nature. My circle is miniscule. Sometimes, I dont see or hear you in years. Yet, its sheer joy and unbridled spirit everything i run into you at various corners of the world, he wrote. This f**k you is just because were Nigerians. We insult those we love!. Time, matter, space and energy got nothing on our journey. Ours is the Barometer. Happy Birthday my dearest KO. Youre a phenomenal creature. A force of nature. Your wild boy loves you. Henshaw responded warmly in the comments, reminiscing about their shared experiences and growth together throughout Nollywoods transformation over the years. JIMBO, you already know, the journey to today, decades, we trekked, we hustled, we put in the work and STILL do, she wrote. I got you whether we see everyday or every decade, thank you for always toning down your madness for me (inside joke). I love you Jimbo. SEE BELOW: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has urged political parties in Nigeria to prioritise ideology and structure over individual influence, stating that the absence of strong party philosophies is weakening Nigerias democracy. Speaking on Sunday during a televised programme on AIT, the Kogi Central senator lamented that political parties have lost their essence. Today, who is an APC member? Who is a PDP member? Who is a Labour Party member? Its hard to say because there is no clear party philosophy, she said. Advertisement Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that politicians now switch parties too easily due to the lack of guiding values within the political system. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/edo-govt-calls-for-unity-says-okpebholos-warning-not-an-attack-on-peter-obi.html It shouldnt be so, she insisted, adding that if parties were firmly rooted in ideology, such movement would be discouraged. She acknowledged her political strength in Kogi Central but emphasised that its not a good sign. Today, I am probably larger than the party in Kogi Central. That shouldnt be the case. A party should be stronger than any individual, she remarked. In response to a compliment by a community elder, Alhaji Badamasi, who hailed her as the face of political leadership in the area, she said: That means if I move to Zenith Party today, people in Kogi Central will follow. But thats not how it should be. The senator called on party leaders to return to the drawing board and define their values. I pray we get to a point where every political party is known for its beliefs, and those beliefs are seen in the lives of Nigerians, she added. She concluded that until political identities begin to reflect specific developmental agendas, governance in Nigeria would continue to lack direction and accountability. The Lagos State Government has impounded 10 articulated vehicles and heavy-duty trucks for flouting access restrictions on the Third Mainland Bridge. The enforcement was carried out by a special task force set up to monitor and enforce compliance with established regulations concerning restricted routes in the state. This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa. Advertisement READ MORE: Malaria Claims Life Of Sunday Olisehs Younger Brother The statement was issued through the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Taofiq Adebayo. Giwa explained that the enforcement action represents the governments unwavering commitment to public safety and strict adherence to traffic rules. According to him, the trucks were seized over the weekend, marking the beginning of a robust enforcement operation. This demonstrates the administrations commitment to regulatory order and the protection of lives and infrastructure, he said. He further explained that the clampdown followed several prior engagements with relevant stakeholders, widespread public awareness campaigns, and official notifications regarding the restrictions on the bridge. Giwa emphasized the strategic importance of the Third Mainland Bridge, which recently underwent significant rehabilitation works. Despite prior warnings, some drivers continue to disobey the law, endangering lives and the bridges integrity, he stated. He reiterated that the law prohibits articulated vehicles weighing more than nine tonnes from using the bridge. This restriction is backed by law, and violators will face strict penalties, he said. Giwa confirmed that LASTMA personnel would rigorously enforce the law without exception for any offenders. He added that the bridge, which serves as a major connection between Lagos Mainland and the Island, is now equipped with advanced surveillance infrastructure. These include high-definition speed cameras designed to track infractions and monitor compliance in real time, he added. Giwa also highlighted that the initiative aligns with the broader efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olus administration to improve road safety and encourage responsible driving practices across the state. The goal is to prevent bridge fatigue and ensure safe, efficient traffic movement, he said. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State Command, has arraigned a woman, Abigail Brains Timothy, for allegedly defrauding Pastor Adewusi Tibatope Samuel and other victims of 159,108,364.00 in a fraudulent visa scheme. Commands spokesperson, Tolulope Afolabi, in a statement on Saturday, stated that Timothy was arrested in Benin City after evading arrest in Lagos and relocating to Edo State. The suspect, Abigail Brains Timothy, allegedly deceived Pastor Adewusi by falsely claiming she could secure visas and work permits for 65 individuals introduced by the pastor, Afolabi stated. Advertisement READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/tinubu-honoured-buhari-didnt-exploit-his-death-for-politics-shehu-sani.html According to the NSCDC, Abigail received payments from the victims over time under the pretense of covering visa and permit fees. Following intelligence tracking and a formal complaint, she was apprehended and charged in a competent court in Ado Ekiti. The court has ordered her remand at the Correctional Centre pending the continuation of the trial, Afolabi added. The NSCDC emphasised its commitment to prosecuting all forms of economic crimes and urged Nigerians to report fraudulent agents. We advise the public to report suspected visa racketeers to relevant authorities instead of taking the law into their hands, said NSCDC State Commandant, Mr Toma Enya. He further reiterated that the NSCDC is open to resolving civil disputes peacefully through its trained Peace and Conflict Resolution experts. Peoples Democratic Partys lawmaker and Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, has expressed confidence that the opposition party will recover and come back stronger despite defection of political wigs to other parties. Recall that former presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and his 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa had defected to various political platforms, citing unending internal crisis. Reacting to the development on Sunday, Senator Moro, who is representing Benue South, during an interview on Sunday Channels Television, described the departure of Atiku and Okowa from the party as good riddance to bad rubbish. Advertisement He accused them of contributing to the internal crisis that rocked PDP following the 2023 general election, which saw the party lose its grip on the presidency. Moro said: Ive said this before, and I keep saying that the party, PDP, is not about one person. Its not about two persons. The party is about members of the party. And as people walk out, people walk in too READ MORE: Atiku Should Step Aside For Obi To Unseat Tinubu In 2027 Obidients Beg Coalition Group And so, if people who voluntarily join the party voluntarily decide to leave, there is nothing you can do about it. The reality on ground is that they have left. And so it is left for those of us who want to remain with the party, who are remaining with the party, to pick up the pieces and move on. See Video Here: https://www.facebook.com/channelsforum/videos/1255981196157934/?app=fbl Former presidential candidate of Africa Democratic Congres, Dumebi Kachikwu, has said that it is now clear to Peter Obi of Labour Party that the coalition group is packaging ex- vice president, Atiku Abubakar to be their flagbearer in 2027. Mr. Kachikwu noted that the likes of Obi and the rest of opposition members are now looking in other directions. Recall that the former governor of Anambra State had recently declared that he will be contesting for presidential election in 2027, and this further creates doubts about the survival or longevity of the coalition. Advertisement Kachikwu, speaking on Channels Television on Sunday, vowed that he would reclaim ADC. He said: Like Ive said, I warned, the whole ADC structure is being packaged for the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. READ MORE: Coalition Leaders Are After Personal Gains, Not Nigerians Well-being ADC Chieftain, Kachikwu And Im still warning people about whats happening. We can see whats happening within the coalition. Someone like Mr. Peter Obi now understands that that whole coalition was packaged for Atiku. From our understanding, what we are seeing now is that hes looking in other directions, you know, and other people who want to run, who are aspiring to run, now realize that the coalition was indeed no coalition. It was just a vehicle for ambition. But I still say this: the ADC will never be the vehicle for that ambition. See Video Here: https://www.facebook.com/channelsforum/videos/1677794219548719/?app=fbl No fewer than nine suspected motorcycle thieves have been apprehended by operatives of Kano State Police Command. In a statement shared via his Facebook page on Sunday by Spokesman for the state Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, noted that two persons, who attempted to buy the motorcycles from the culprits have been arrested. Kiyawa assured that more details regarding the arrest will be released to the public soon. Advertisement READ MORE: DSS Nabs Three Men, Three Women Returning From Hajj In Saudi Arabia At Kano Airport Over Alleged Links To Banditry The statement reads: #KukanKura: AKS Operation Kukan Kura Police have arrested 9 suspected motorcycle thieves and 2 buyers. 8 motorcycles were recovered from their possession. Some gunmen, suspected to be bandits have abducted four residents and looted several shops in Gyale village, Mansur District of Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State. In a statement by Spokesman for Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, disclosed that the incident occurred, on the 20th of July, 2025. Wakil reveal that the terrorists group gained access to Gyale village around 11:30 p.m. through the Yankari Game Reserve and looted five provision stores before abducting four residents. Advertisement He identified the victims as Tasiu Malam Yahaya (32), Hakilu Ubayo (15), Abdul Aziz Suleiman (28), and Rabiu Ganjua (16). The statement reads: On the 23.30.00 hours, a large number of bandits through Yankari Game Reserve, invaded Gyali village and ransacked five local provisions stores in the village. READ MORE: Insecurity: Bauchi Govt. Bans Farming, Grazing Around Airport Thereafter, they withdrew four people, namely Tasiu Malam Yahaya, 32 years old, Hakilu Ubayo, 15 years old, Abdul Aziz Suleiman, 28 years old, and Rabiu Ganjua, 16 years old, all of Gyale. They were the owners of the shops, taken to an unknown destination. On receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Banchi State Police Command, C.P. Sani Omolori-Aliyu, instructed D.P.O., Alkaleri, and other relevant state security agencies, such as the Vigilante Group and the Hunters Group, to lead a patrol, special hunters were deployed to the scene. The area is now calm, but our operatives are still combing the nearby bushes to locate and rescue the victims. We are hopeful of making arrests and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has advocated for the South-East to produce Nigerias next president in the 2027 election. According to him, doing so will promote fairness and equity. In a video message shared via his Instagram page on Monday, Edochie said, The next President of Nigeria should come from the South-East in fairness and equity. Thats just the truth and thats how it should be. Advertisement READ MORE: Losing Out On Big Brother Africa Launched My Acting Career Timini Egbuson The actors stance has taken many by surprise, as he has long been known as a strong supporter of the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, who has signaled his intention to run for a second term in 2027. Edochie has consistently defended the Tinubu administration, urging Nigerians to remain patient through the current economic challenges, assuring that the nation would soon reap the benefits of the governments reform policies. A Goliath crane, newly repainted in Hanwha's orange and its three-circles logo, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia. Read more Born and raised in Orange, Texas, David Kim is still a Cowboys fan. But hes now the key man in reviving a signature Philadelphia industry. As the CEO of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, the South Korean industrial giant that bought the South Philly shipyard for $100 million last winter, Kim is charged with bold expansion that could bring thousands of new jobs, and many robots, to the 118 acres of high-ceiling sheds and cranes where the Schuylkill meets the Delaware, and new sites nearby. Advertisement With global seas dominated by low-cost, China-built container and tanker ships and increasingly patrolled by Chinas growing Navy, that future depends in large part on U.S. government subsidies, orders, and rules, which despite President Donald Trumps plans and bipartisan support are still evolving. The yards future also hinges on finding reliable U.S. employees to train and earn up to $40 an hour, plus overtime, working in all weather, with sophisticated heating, hauling, and cutting tools and robots. The yard is 60% owned by Hanwhas Systems division, which builds military equipment for South Korea and the U.S., and 40% by Hanwhas Ocean division, which makes commercial ships. South Korea is Chinas main shipbuilding rival; other nations are far behind. The mix reflects the companys ambition to build both civilian U.S. ships, required for cargoes between U.S. ports under the federal Jones Act, as well as ships for the U.S. Navy, which shut the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on the site in 1996, but still employs thousands of civilian engineers and technicians in nearby offices. Under Aker, the Philly shipyards previous owner, employment fell nearly to zero and the yard prepared for bankruptcy in 2019. But in the last years of Akers ownership, new hiring was fueled by a contract to build five ships for the U.S. Maritime Administration, as well as contracts to build a rock-lifting ship, and a string of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships. The yard now employs 1,800, workers and contractors. Kim says Hanwha wants to add 3,000 over the next 10 years, even with all the new robots. Kim says Hanwha now has $1.7 billion in pending orders for the yard, enough to keep busy for at least the next few years. Kims team, bolstered by veterans from its South Korean yards who scrutinize Philly operations, is ramping up to build a lot faster. Kim is a former McKinsey & Co. partner who worked at Hewlett Packard and South Korea-based LG before joining Hanwha in 2017. Following a tour of the shipyard, Kim summed up ambitious growth plans and took questions from reporters. Questions and comments have been edited for clarity and brevity. How fast do you plan to grow? Philly has delivered 32 ships since 2004, half the total Jones Act ships built in the U.S. That is an average of 1 to 1.5 ships a year. We plan to go to 10 a year, with intensive capital investments. For example, we want to construct modern LNG carriers through expedited technology transfer from Hanwhas [South Korean yards]. That capacity does not exist in the U.S., but we can send people to learn to do that here, and build a whole new industry. In our Korean yard we build almost one ship a week. We have four Goliath cranes, and a team that keeps them running. What investments are you adding? Its automation. Its more robots. Immediately-available welding automation technology can increase productivity up to 30%. We are adding robots to carry the steel plates [some from the Cleveland-Cliffs plant in Coatesville]. The yard is laid out pretty well. Within the different shops, some areas can be laid out more efficiently. We have increased speeds [for some processes] already, in some cases by five times. We need to replace that crane right outside this office, it probably dates back to World War II. We want to use drones and input data by mobile devices. We want AI and virtual-reality training for vehicles and painting. We are using [the Navys former] Dry Dock 4. [Dry docks are used to assemble modular sections into ships.] With improvements we can handle more ships from that dry dock. And we are prepared to spend $300 million to $400 million just to bring back Dry Dock 5, which is currently [a wharf] for outfitting ships. The money will go for a [sea gate and pumps], and mostly for cranes and supporting shops. Isnt that a lot more than the $100 million you spent to buy the yard? We plan to spend much more this decade on capital expenses than was spent in the last 10 years. We are working on government subsidies, incentives, and grants. We have updated the Grand Block [the eight-story-high shop where ship sections are built, to be lifted by the big cranes, and joined to keels in the dry dock.] We may add a new manufacturing facility, at the submarine or surface level. Will you build Navy ships? We are in discussions with the Navy. Navy shipbuilding is in crisis. It is falling behind the Chinese Navy, falling behind schedule, and over budget. We want to build combat vessels. There can be different ways we get there. Auxiliary vessels, tankers, supply and support vessels, are close to what we do now. Its all part of our 10-year plan. Unmanned watercraft are possible. Can you fit all that on the current yard site? We are in discussions with PIDC [Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., the joint venture between the city and Philly Chamber of Commerce that recruits users for public land] for other spaces in the Navy Yard outside our fence. And we are looking at places outside the Navy Yard for supporting warehouses and facilities. Two other ex-Navy Yard dry docks are now controlled by your neighbor Rhoads Industries, which fabricates steel plates shipped to yards that build Navy submarines. Are you interested in that work? The Navys main need is for submarine work. There are modules [Rhoads] is not doing, that we could build. The Trump Administration set up a shipbuilding office, but its leaders have left. Will that slow your access to federal funds, and your building program? We started our investment before that existed. The fundamental [bipartisan support for shipbuilding subsidies] still exist. The rest is padding. There continues to be a need and desire to grow capacity. The Navy needs ships, and [commercial shippers] have to replace their own ships. The demand is there. In an early-morning heist, two thieves stole around 40 boxes of assorted meat products from a tractor trailer parked in a Bustleton lot Sunday, police said. Shortly after 3 a.m., the truck was parked in the lot behind a business on the 9700 block of Roosevelt Boulevard when the driver felt it shaking and looked around to see two men unloading meat from the vehicle, police said. Advertisement The thieves, police said, had broken into the back of the locked truck. Before police got to the scene at 3:15 a.m., the thieves fled in Nissans with around 40 boxes of Tyson brand meat products, police said. Eight boxes of meat products were recovered behind the nearby Lowes Home Improvement store, police said. No arrests have been made, and the estimated value of the stolen products was not known. The Sunday take is the latest in a string of cargo thefts over the years in Philadelphia, at least one of which had a six-figure estimated value. Last September, a crew of six thieves stole three large pallets of crabmeat worth $42,000 from a tractor trailer in South Philadelphia. Also last September, authorities stopped a trio of would-be thieves from stealing 1,600 pounds of meat from a tractor trailer in Holmesburg, part of an interstate law enforcement investigation dubbed Operation Beef Bandit. And last July, a group of thieves stole more than 40 crates of frozen meat worth about $15,000 from a tractor trailer in Southwest Philadelphia. In 2023, a crew of thieves stole more than 2 million dimes worth more than $200,000 from a Florida-bound truck that was parked in Northeast Philadelphia, authorities said. The truck had around $750,000 worth of coins, authorities said. A trial for the accused thieves is scheduled for August. Anyone with information on the Sunday theft is asked to call Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153 or to submit tips anonymously by calling or texting the departments tip line at 215-686-8477. Kiran Musunuru, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and genetics at Penns Perelman School of Medicine, studies how gene editing could be used to treat chronic health problems, like heart disease and high cholesterol. Read more What if a heart attack and lifetime of statin drugs could be avoided with a one-time, two-hour infusion? Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania cardiologist and leading gene-editing researcher, thinks its possible. Advertisement Musunuru cofounded Verve Therapeutics, a company developing a therapy that uses gene editing to essentially turn off one of the liver genes that produces LDL, or bad cholesterol. Eli Lilly in June announced plans to acquire Boston-based Verve for up to $1.3 billion. The deal is a sign that one of the largest pharmaceutical companies, known for its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, sees promise in genetic therapies like Verves. Musunuru is not employed by Verve, which he helped to found in 2018, but serves as a scientific adviser and has a financial stake in the company. At Penn, he remains deeply entrenched in advancing the science powering Verves therapy. The approach uses CRISPR, a gene-editing technology that allows scientists to alter DNA. It is named after a stretch of genetic code utilized Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. CRISPR works like a biological find-and-replace tool, and can be programmed to find a specific irregularity within a strand of DNA, then cut it out or replace the incorrect letter. Musunuru and colleagues at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia recently published the outcome of a landmark case in which they developed a custom CRISPR treatment for an infant, named Baby KJ, who was born with a rare metabolic disorder that prevented him from processing protein. READ MORE: CHOP and Penn treated an infant with a rare disease by editing his genes The Penn and CHOP team designed KJs CRISPR treatment to find and correct a genetic misspelling in a liver enzyme. Their success captured international attention for its potential to treat rare disorders. But Musunuru says CRISPRs potential is much broader. Heart disease has become a leading cause of death, and Musunuru thinks it could be addressed with a two-hour CRISPR infusion. Why are we waiting for someone to have a heart attack? he said. What if you give them a one-time treatment and their cholesterol levels are permanently lower? The Inquirer spoke to Musunuru about whats next for CRISPR technology. How could CRISPR be used for heart disease? The therapy embeds CRISPR components into lipid nanoparticles essentially tiny soap bubbles that are infused into the bloodstream. The nanoparticles also contain mRNA, a type of genetic molecule that acts as a GPS to guide the CRISPR components to their target, a liver gene that produces so-called bad LCL cholesterol. READ MORE: Penn scientists are honored for mRNA research used in COVID vaccines We give it a 20-letter address, the location in a cholesterol gene, Musunuru said. The nanoparticles are naturally absorbed by the liver, taking advantage of the livers job, which is to filter blood. Once in the liver, the CRISPR components are released and begin to search for their target cholesterol gene, and switch it off. In an early clinical study, a patient in his 20s with a severe high cholesterol condition saw his bad cholesterol rate drop by 60% and remain low for two years. Whats the benefit of a one-and-done treatment for high cholesterol? Statin medications are widely used to help control cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. But research has found that people who are prescribed the medication after a heart attack often dont stick with the drug, which must be taken daily. Whats more, the treatment could one day be given to people who are known to be at high risk of developing heart disease, potentially avoiding a heart attack. A two-hour infusion that eliminates the need for a daily medication could be especially beneficial in developing countries that lack access to healthcare or depend on outside sources to supply medications, since that supply can be unreliable. Whats next for Verve? Eli Lilly announced plans in June to acquire Verve for up to $1.3 billion. Musunuru said he hopes the pharmaceutical giants support will accelerate the development of Verves cholesterol drug. The drug is still years away from potentially becoming available. It needs more clinical testing to prove it is safe and effective, and must complete a rigorous regulatory approval process. How else could CRISPR be used? So far, researchers have had the most success using CRISPR to treat blood disorders (like sickle cell disease) or diseases associated with the liver. These are easy targets for CRISPR technology, since the therapies are infused into the bloodstream and are readily filtered by the liver. The first Food and Drug Administration-approved CRISPR therapy for sickle cell disease works by turning off a gene that causes red blood cells to become misshapen. Breast and ovarian cancers associated with BRCA gene mutations could be a potential next target. Researchers have found that ovarian cancer typically begins in the fallopian tubes, which are relatively accessible organs because they are closer to the bodys surface. Breast cancer often begins in breast ducts, also close enough to the surface of the body. Scientists are exploring whether a CRISPR solution injected directly into the fallopian tubes or breast ducts could potentially shut off the mutated gene before it causes cancer. People with BRCA gene mutations have such a high risk of developing cancer that many preemptively opt to have their breasts or ovaries removed. Being able to turn off the cancer-causing gene could dramatically reduce their risk and the need for such drastic preventive measures. Author Jo Piazza, a Fitler Square resident, loves to start her day with coffee from Rival Bros. Coffee Bar in Fitler Square. Her new book "Everyone is Lying to You" is out this summer. Read more Author Jo Piazza grew up in Bucks County and lived in New York and San Francisco before moving to Fitler Square, where she resides with her husband and three children. The prolific author released Sicilian Inheritance last year a murder mystery Piazza called her most Philly book yet. Advertisement This year, shes back with Everyone Is Lying to You. It is a juicy, insanely fun thriller, she said. A murder mystery set in the world of tradwife influencers. The main character lives in Philadelphia. Im just so sick of books based in New York. I have vowed to never write a character that lives in New York ever again, and its going to be all Philly, all the time from here on out, Piazza said. On July 22, Chestnut Streets Barnes & Noble will host a tradwife costume contest, along with an author talk with Piazza. When she is not on a book tour with her kids in tow, this is how Jo Piazza intends to spend a perfect Philly summer day. 7:30 a.m. I usually wake up without an alarm. In the summer, that means I wake up when my 2-year-old toddler does. 9:30 a.m. We walk or bike everywhere. I have a massive cargo bike that fits all three of my kids (the older ones are 5 and 8). I drop them off with either a caregiver, or my mom, who lives in a building with a pool. Which, I have to say, is a magical parenting hack if you can pull it off. This summer, I told my kids theyre not allowed to be bored. We dont do camps, just a lot of museums and exploring the city. We bought a bunch of museum memberships and practically live at the Franklin Institute and Academy of Natural Sciences. Or we go to a playground. Taney and Sister Cities are our favorites. After I drop them off, the day is mine to write. 10 a.m. I write about 1,500 to 2,000 words a day and I do it all over the city coffee shops, parks, restaurants. I always carry my laptop with me. Sometimes I even start writing on my phone. Mornings often start at Rival Bros in Fitler Square (its my local coffee shop), with a chocolate croissant and the first coffee of the day. I am pretty basic, just straight up black coffee, and then whatever white substance they have. Then I bounce around to write in different places. I do a lot of writing at Fitler Club. If its Saturday, I stop at the Rittenhouse farmers market to grab a bunch of flowers and heirloom tomatoes and peaches during the summer. Then Ill park myself at the La Colombe nearby and write from there for a while. Noon A yoga class with Matthew Shaw at Fitler Club, who is the best yoga instructor I have ever had. 2:30 p.m. If I hit writers block, I hop on my bike and ride the Schuylkill River Trail. 4 p.m. In the afternoon, I often stop by my favorite indie bookstore, Head House Books. Theres a warm, cozy chair in the corner right by the window, and I sit there to read for about an hour with whatever book I just picked up. 5 p.m. I try to do day dates with my husband, Nick, when I can. We recently wandered into Kalaya. You can walk in on weekdays without a reservation, but you better get there right when they open. It was as insanely delicious as everyone says. Were early birds when it comes to cocktails. Our neighborhood spot is Friday Saturday Sunday. Were at the bar by 5 p.m. Its the perfect date night for two people who want to be in bed by 8. Shout out to Paul MacDonald. Hes the best bartender, literally, in the country. 6:30 p.m. We often swing by Di Bruno Bros for some cheese and grab oysters from the Fitler Square location of Fishtown Seafood for snacks for home. On Fridays, the oysters are $1! We moved to Fitler Square because a bunch of my friends from college live here, and weve made so many close friends through our kids school. We have an open-door policy in the summer. Were like, Just come over. My house is going to be messy, and Im not going to clean it before you come. But I can make you a cheese plate and shuck some oysters in five minutes, and our kids can play in the basement and we can ignore them. 8:30 p.m. Putting my kids to bed is like an opera. But the best part about having all my friends at my house is I can just ask them to sit and have a glass of wine while I go up and put my kids to bed, but you better be out of my house soon after. In 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District carried out a $28.8 million beach replenishment project for Avalon and Stone Harbor. A similar project scheduled for 2025 has not been funded. Read more Congress typically allocates between $100 million and $200 million each year for beach replenishment initiatives projects that dredge sand from the ocean floor or other places and deposit it onto U.S. coastal beaches to combat erosion. This year, however, the federal budget earmarked zero dollars marking the first complete funding halt for such projects since 1996. Advertisement And its possible that zero might carry over into next year as Congress debates spending priorities. Already, two beach projects scheduled for the Jersey Shore in 2025, as well as projects in Maryland and Delaware, were canceled for lack of funding. This is the first time in 29 years this has happened, said Scott Wahl, the business administrator for Avalon. That means that Avalon will not get a hydraulic fill, said Wahl, referring to the process using large pipes to pump excavated sand from the ocean to nearby beaches. Youre looking at tens of millions of dollars. Periodic nourishment The Philadelphia office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for managing the projects in the Shore towns visited most heavily by Philadelphians and South Jersey. Steve Rochette, an Army Corps spokesperson, said the Philadelphia district had two projects eligible for funding in 2025 for periodic nourishment Avalon and Stone Harbor, and the north end of Ocean City. (Both were last nourished in 2023.) Ocean City, Md., was scheduled for a project in 2025, but received no funding, according to a list provided by the nonprofit American Coastal Coalition. Bethany, Rehoboth, and Dewey Beaches were also scheduled, but received no money. In 2026, Rochette said, other New Jersey projects are eligible for funding as the budget is being formed for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Those projects included one in Cape May, and a single project that includes work in Ocean City, Sea Isle City, and Strathmere. Communities in Maryland and Delaware are also scheduled for beach replenishments in 2026. READ MORE: How much sand has been brought in to battle erosion on New Jersey beaches? Enough to fill 62,000 Olympic swimming pools. Rochette said the Army Corps continues to monitor and survey beaches in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, whose districts represents southern New Jersey Shore towns, said in an emailed statement that he is advocating for renewed beach funding in 2026. At the same time, we are looking to make beach replenishment more sustainable, said Van Drew, a Republican. We are working on solutions to reduce the cost of replenishment and mitigate erosion. Van Drew does not sit on the House Appropriations Committee, which determines federal spending. The Army Corps is about halfway through a 50-year schedule of beach replenishment projects. Avalon as an example Typically, towns, states, and federal government partner to pay for beach replenishment projects. The Army Corps uses a formula to determine how much each must pay. But the federal government pays the overwhelming share. For example, the Army Corps paid Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, Ill., nearly $29 million in 2023 for the last dune and beach fill project in Avalon and Stone Harbor. The company dredged sand from Townsends Inlet in southern Sea Isle City, pumped it through pipes, and graded it onto engineered dunes and berms designed to protect the beaches from coastal storms. About 231,000 cubic yards of sand was placed in Avalon, and 464,000 cubic yards in Stone Harbor, effectively widening beaches between the base of the dunes and the water line. A similar project scheduled for this year wont happen. The cuts are already having an impact as erosion continues unabated. This year, without federal help, Avalon scraped 39,000 cubic yards of sand with heavy equipment at its own expense from the middle part of town where it tends to collect after storms. It trucked the sand to the north end, said Wahl, the Avalon administrator. Wahl said Avalon is lucky that it can sometimes tap its own beach. Other towns, he said, dont have enough beach, or sand. Wahl said individual towns and the state cant afford to tackle big beach replenishment projects. Without federal help, they wont get done, he said. Wahl and other Shore town officials know that beach replenishments are often criticized as taxpayer-funded gifts to wealthy communities. But he said the towns have a big economic impact on the state and so the beaches need protection. New Jersey does not break out tax revenue by region, but the Shore is a top generator. In 2024, visitors spent a record $50.6 billion in New Jersey, producing $5.4 billion in state and local tax revenues, reducing the tax burden by $1,545 per household in New Jersey, according to the states Division of Travel and Tourism. We look at the beach not as an expense, but rather as an investment that pays rich dividends for resiliency, recreation, and fuels the economic engine on both the state and federal levels, Wahl said. He said that keeping New Jerseys barrier islands from eroding is important environmentally. About one-third of Avalons beaches are protected nesting areas for shorebirds and migrating birds. That just snowballs Dan Ginolfi, executive director of the American Coastal Coalition, an advocacy group for beach communities, said Army Corps funding is vital because it has experts to determine where sand should be placed, design the projects, bid for contractors, and manage operations. Ginolfi said that cutting funds can create problems down the road. For example, advocates are currently pushing for funding in 2026 for projects that didnt get done in 2025. But those projects could have to compete against each other for limited money and time. Beach replenishments typically take place over winter and are timed for environmental reasons, such as bird migrations. So they are spaced accordingly. But there are only a small number of dredging companies capable of doing the work and they are mostly booked. Projects need to be scheduled not to bump into each other. If we cant get those projects done in a certain amount of time, Ginolfi said, it increases the demand on the dredgers. The cost of dredging is already sky-high, and that just snowballs to where beach nourishment gets very, very expensive. The American Coastal Coalition sent a letter in June to U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R., Tenn.), chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, asking for at least $200 million for Army Corps beach projects. Its just too expensive for any state or locality to carry on these projects on their own, Howard Marlowe, the coalitions founder, told The Inquirer. New Jersey could afford to do one or two projects on its own, but it cant afford to do all the ones that need to be done. Valley Forge National Park, shown in this file photo, is seeking a tenant for its Kennedy Supplee Mansion. The park plans to invest $10 million into rehabbing the building if a lease is secured. Read more Valley Forge National Historical Park is officially seeking a new tenant for a historic building that has sat vacant for nearly two decades. The National Park Service last week released a request for proposals to lease the Kennedy Supplee Mansion. The tenant would sign a 10-year lease for the 4.5-acre property on the parks eastern edge in King of Prussia, according to the document. If the park secures a tenant, it plans to invest $10 million of federal funds into rehabilitating the mansion. Advertisement The community loves Kennedy Supplee mansion and regularly asks what the future holds for the building, Pat Madden, the parks business manager, said in a statement. With this large National Park Service investment and a lease with a private-sector partner, the park and broader community have an opportunity to better preserve the building and add to the vitality of King of Prussia. The parcel could be occupied by a restaurant, retailer, coworking space, professional offices, or another use determined to be consistent with NPS [National Park Service] values, according to the requests for proposal, or RFP. The high-end Kennedy Supplee Mansion Restaurant operated on the site from 1986 to 2005, when it filed for bankruptcy, according to the park service. It has sat empty since then. The park has tried to lease the building in the past, Madden said. Whats different this time is the size of the investment the National Park Service is prepared to make to attract a lessee. If a new tenant is secured, its lease would begin around 2029, after the National Park Service rehabs the property with funds from the Great American Outdoors Act, which was enacted in 2020. Valley Forge is set to receive $32.5 million in total, according to the park. Built in 1852, the Victorian mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its architectural significance. The three-story building measures 8,800 square feet, while its split-level carriage house is about 600 square feet. The lease includes a 25-spot parking lot, as well as another 47-spot lot that is set to be reconfigured by PennDot by 2029. Located at 1050 Old Valley Forge Rd., the mansion sits off Pennsylvania Route 23 and is visible from U.S. Route 422. It is about half a mile from the parks visitor center. Potential tenants may submit proposals until 5 p.m. Sept. 12, according to the RFP, with a selection to be made four to six weeks later. When they come together, ambitious projects like this have few, if any, downsides, Madden said. A federal agent wears a badge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while standing outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York in June. Read more The United States has embarked on a historic purge of foreign nationals. We are spending a total of $170 billion, which includes $30 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements arrest and deportation efforts, and $45 billion in new ICE detention facilities, making ICE detention 62% larger than the entire federal prison system. Advertisement All this is being done in the name of protecting Americans from the crime wave wrought by immigrants. Except there is no such crime wave. Multiple analyses, including an exhaustive study from 1870 to 2020, have concluded that foreign nationals commit violent crimes at a lesser rate than native-born Americans. In 2022-2023, when the number of asylum-seekers coming across the southern border climbed to almost 1.5 million, violent crime rates were actually decreasing in Americas largest cities. So why are we spending $170 billion on immigration enforcement? Could we spend that money in a way that actually protects Americans, saves American lives? Lets answer the second question first. READ MORE: When the state uses more force to take down a Latino senator than a suspected assassin | In Conversation Every year, more than 10,000 people in America die in alcohol-related traffic accidents. That death rate repeats year after year after year about 100,000 Americans died in this manner between 2010 and 2019, one death every 42 minutes. The cost of lives and injuries drained the American economy of over $123 billion in 2020. What if we chose to direct much of the ICE funds toward really saving lives? Studies show that cracking down on immigrants has had little to no impact on protecting Americans. But if the ICE money were used to expand and modernize DUI enforcement programs nationwide, including frequent sobriety checkpoints and to fund broader implementation of in-vehicle alcohol detection systems, lives would be saved. We could provide substantial grants to states for alcohol abuse treatment and rehabilitation, as well as boost public transportation options to reduce reliance on driving after drinking. READ MORE: The Trump regime is arresting protesters now. This was the plan all along. | Will Bunch And we could launch targeted campaigns to change cultural attitudes toward drinking and driving, much like the successful campaigns that have made smoking less socially acceptable. These moves would result in lives being saved. There have been some high-visibility crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants, recently and notably the Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by an immigrant without legal status. There is no doubt that this was a horrific crime, but targeting an entire population of generally law-abiding people is not only improper, it is ineffective. By redirecting much of the money from ICE enforcement to DUI enforcement, we can save 10,000 Laken Rileys per year and still engage in reasonable immigration enforcement that reduces the risk of another and significantly rarer violent immigrant criminal episode. Why are we spending $170 billion dollars on immigration enforcement? Could we spend that money in a way that actually saves American lives? Yet, political leaders keep calling for immigration crackdowns to protect Americans from the worst of the worst. So why does the administration insist on spending enormous sums of money on immigration crackdowns? Vice President JD Vance recently addressed the conservative think tank, the Claremont Institute. In his remarks, he decried the diminishing social bonds that bring Americans together. He castigated the oft-stated value that our diversity is our strength. According to Vance, the goal of the administrations immigration policy is to reduce diversity so that Americans can return to an era where people were more similar, could more readily bond together, and form a unity of purpose, thus creating a unity of people. This is manufactured social adhesion a belief that somehow, if we reduce immigrants by permitting fewer to enter and removing many of them, America will be left with strong social bonding. Perhaps Vance is thinking of the 1950s, a time when there was a premium on conformity. It was also a time when gay people had to be in the closet, women were excluded from the workplace, and African Americans lived as second-class citizens. But, in Vances view, it was the best of times because the people hed call real Americans shared a common heritage and subscribed to our countrys founding myths without question. But what the Trump-Vance administration misses is the richness of our diversity and how our differences enhance our lives on a daily basis. From the array of new cuisines to the scientific discoveries made by those born elsewhere (35% of U.S. Nobel laureates are foreign born) to the values of those willing to toil in ways Americans wont, we are a profoundly better country for those who have come to add to the fabric of the American dream, a dream founded on ideas, not on the blood and soil that Vance invokes. I do not expect a shift in priorities to drunken driving enforcement. The tool of targeting the other (in this case, immigrants) is too useful for too many of those who seek power. But please, stop telling us immigration crackdowns are for public safety. The real goal is to crush the diversity of America. Steven A. Morley is a retired immigration judge who spent nearly a dozen years on the bench in Philadelphia Immigration Court. Donald Trumps return to the White House was fueled by his spreading endless lies and conspiracies. So, for those who believe in facts and the American Experiment, watching Trumps MAGA supporters finally turn on him over his administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files is the sweetest kind of schadenfreude. Advertisement But whether he survives yet another scandal misses the bigger point that the Epstein controversy has exposed: Trump doesnt care about anyone but himself not even his MAGA base. Up until now, Trump has managed to fool the faithful. But will they continue to swallow his snake oil? People are right to demand accountability. But lets get real about any fact-finding. After tens of thousands of lies, no one should expect the truth from Trump especially since he was friends with Epstein. Even if the full truth came out, would the MAGA base be able to tell facts from fiction? After all, Trump along with Fox News, Alex Jones, Facebook, Elon Musks X, and others has injected so much misinformation into the public square that many of the presidents supporters do not know what to believe. READ MORE: Of Trumps many motley appointments, Emil Bove may be the most worrisome of them all | Editorial Trump embraced and amplified fringe QAnon conspiracies, including that the U.S. government, media, and banks are controlled by Satan-worshipping pedophiles who run a global sex trafficking ring a fantastical farce that 25% of the GOP have bought into. But the Epstein case is about more than politics. It is an epic tragedy involving real lives. Vulnerable young girls were used and abused by Epstein and his rich and powerful friends, who walked away. Many in the MAGA World expected Trump would expose it all. After all, the day Epstein was found dead in his prison cell, Trump shared a social media post that linked his death to former President Bill Clinton. During his first administration, Trump promised to drain the swamp and expose the deep state. Didnt happen just like he didnt lock her up. Trumps second term is about retribution. He stocked his administration with unqualified lackeys who would do whatever he wanted. None of it is designed to help his MAGA supporters, but for Trump, its all part of the bread and circuses. Several promoted the Epstein conspiracy, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, a right-wing podcaster who somehow is now the deputy FBI director. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that Epsteins client list was sitting on my desk right now. The MAGA base was stoked. But earlier this month, Bondis U.S. Justice Department said Epstein did not maintain a client list, and no more files related to the investigation would be made public. The big Epstein reveal turned into Geraldo Rivera opening Al Capones empty vault. MAGA World exploded. Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson ripped the administrations handling of the case. Laura Loomer warned the Epstein case could consume Trumps presidency. Even normally supine House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the release of the Epstein files. Trump initially dismissed the backlash and told everyone to move on. But the die-hard faithful suddenly refused to follow their leader. READ MORE: Finger-pointing by Trump overlooks the real calamity of the Texas floods | Editorial Thats when Trump turned on his MAGA base, calling them stupid and foolish. In a rambling social media post, Trump wrote, I dont want their support anymore! For good measure, Trump sprinkled in his usual deflection points, calling the Epstein imbroglio a hoax and scam. When that failed, he turned to an old chestnut: Blame the Democrats. Its probably too much to ask, but the MAGA camp may want to reassess their support for Trump. An honest look will show that what the president has been selling has nothing to do with making America great again, now or ever. Trump managed to win in 2016 after he manipulated and misled millions of vulnerable people who were apprehensive about NAFTA, the 2008 global financial crisis, the opioid epidemic, social media, a Black man in the White House, and the prospect of a woman in charge. His administration was in constant chaos, alienated allies, mismanaged the pandemic, tried to overturn the 2020 election, and fueled an insurrection. Trump left office in disgrace and was rated one of the worst presidents in history. But the MAGA movements staunch support enabled Trump to escape impeachments, launch an insurrection, dodge criminal indictments, and return to office. In just a few months, Trump has cowed Republicans in Congress, strong-armed law firms, upended higher education, bullied billionaires, threatened judges, and tamed the media. Even the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court keeps rolling over for him. Many go along because they profit or are in power thanks to Trumps loyal supporters. They know the truth that the Constitution has been trampled, but would rather sell out American democracy for fear of standing up to an authoritarian. The Democrats deserve blame, as well. They lost many working-class voters to a tax-dodging billionaire who only cares about the rich and big businesses. Until Democrats figure out how to broaden their appeal, they will play the role of the Washington Generals. For now, the Epstein backlash is a problem of Trumps own making. It remains to be seen if he can still stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody without losing any supporters. Or perhaps Trump has finally shot himself in the foot. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave W. Sunday listen to a speech by Gov. Josh Shapiro at the Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg in January. Read more HARRISBURG Treasurer Stacy Garrity hasnt even announced her bid for Pennsylvania governor yet, and the punches have already begun. Two powerful labor union associations, the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and the Pennsylvania Laborers District Council both of which endorsed Garrity in her reelection bid for treasurer in November issued warnings earlier this month that if Garrity, a Republican, challenges their ally Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, they will never support her again. Advertisement We are unwavering in our support for our friend Governor Josh Shapiro and a bid to run on the Republican ticket for Governor against him will sever any relationship we ever maintained with the Treasurer, said the Pennsylvania Laborers District Council in an unsigned statement. The statements from influential union leaders were released as Republicans have begun to coalesce around Garrity as their favored candidate to take on Shapiro, who remains popular among a majority of Pennsylvanians, according to a Morning Consult poll released last week. Should Treasurer Garrity make the foolish decision to challenge our Governor, she will never again have the support of the Philadelphia Building Trades. Not even for county dog catcher, said Ryan Boyer, the head of the Philadelphia building trades, in a statement. Boyers statement crossed a line for the 10 female GOP state senators, including President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland), who rushed to Garritys defense and called on Shapiro to denounce the statement. A spokesperson for Shapiro declined to comment and has yet to weigh in on the controversy in the week since the statements release. It is clear the statement posted on Facebook was intended to bully Treasurer Stacy Garrity from getting into the race for Governor, but we know Stacy as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who doesnt scare easily and doesnt back down, the state Senate GOP women said in the statement. Ward, in an interview, went further: Boyers harsh comments were sexist and would not have been used against U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) if he was still considering a run for governor. (Meuser announced earlier this month he would not run for governor, after months of considering getting into the race and the promise of an endorsement from President Donald Trump.) You know, you hate to use that, gender, Ward said. But this obviously is. He didnt go after Congressman Meuser like he went after state Treasurer Garrity. Boyer rejected Wards claim, adding that his record supporting female candidates speaks for itself, such as his support for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia). He invited Ward to call him to have a conversation, in a very collegial manner, as our relationship has always been, he said. Both Parker and McClinton released individual statements in support of Boyer. In Parkers statement, she said she would not be the citys first female mayor if not for Boyers support, and she admires his unending advocacy for members of Philadelphias trade unions. The early brouhaha before Garrity even officially enters the race sets the stage for a messy gubernatorial election, where Shapiros allies are making their loyalty known to him while the Pennsylvania GOP hopes to take a better swing at the unusually popular first-term governor. Meanwhile, Shapiro will hope to deliver for down-ballot Democrats, in hopes of flipping several of Pennsylvanias congressional districts, including the two seats that Republicans flipped in 2024. Shapiro has not announced his own reelection campaign yet but appeared at a fundraiser in Nantucket, Mass., this weekend, where tickets cost from $1,000 to $10,000, according to a flier for the event. The statement from the Senate GOP women came together after Boyers statement was shared in a group chat among them. Ward said reading the statement made her blood pressure shoot up, adding that Shapiro should not accept one of his allies speaking about Garrity in this way before she even enters the race. Theyre terrified of getting a candidate that theyre going to have to actually run a race, Ward added, in reference to the 2022 election, where Shapiro won by nearly 15 percentage points over far-right State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin). Mastriano, for his part, is still considering running for governor again in 2026, and hopes to team up with Garrity in some way. But Boyer said his statement was not about Garritys gender, or fear. This is how he plays the political game and defends leaders who support Phillys building trades unions. There is no fear, Boyer said. I play full-throated politics. When I believe in someone, I believe in them. And I believe in Josh Shapiro. Boyer said he put out his statement because he wanted to tell Garrity up front that she would not be able to get the building trades endorsement again. And, he claimed, because she went back on her word. Garrity made assurances to other members of the building trades, when asked during the 2024 endorsement process for her treasurer bid, that she was not planning to run for governor, Boyer claimed. When you tell me something you said youre not going to do and then you do it, in North Philly, we call that a lie. I dont know what they call that in Harrisburg, Boyer added, noting that she made these comments to other members of the building trades and not directly to him. A spokesperson for Garrity rejected Boyers claim, and the people Garrity allegedly made these promises to could not be reached for comment Friday. That is blatantly false and interesting coming from someone who was singing her praises not too long ago, said Brittany Yanick, a spokesperson for Garrity, in reference to Boyers previous comments in an endorsement of Garrity in September 2024, in which he called her the real deal. Garrity would still need to formally secure the Pennsylvania GOP endorsement, which the state party plans to decide in September, and win the primary election next spring, depending if Mastriano or other contenders jump in the race. Top members of the state GOP and county chairs have publicly supported Garrity, and she is the favorite going into any state party endorsement convention. Garrity was reelected to a second term as the states top fiscal watchdog in November with 3.5 million votes, the highest total in Pennsylvania history for a state-level candidate, breaking a record previously held by Shapiro. Shapiro did Garrity a favor last year when he decided not to endorse in the treasurers race. Democratic nominee Erin McLelland had publicly criticized Shapiro while he was up for consideration to be Vice President Kamala Harris running mate. Shapiros choice not to endorse opened the door for labor unions and other Democratic groups that usually would not support a GOP candidate to endorse Garrity. Garrity herself has been complimentary to Shapiro over the years for their good working relationship, a tone that has shifted drastically in recent weeks as she gets closer to announcing a bid for governor. Angel Luis Rosado with Athlena Contracting Inc attempts to clear Caldera Road of trash as heavy machinery clear the area of garbage during the eight-day sanitation strike. Read more Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 have voted to approve the tentative contract agreement union leaders negotiated with Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration earlier this month, eliminating the possibility of a city worker strike resuming this year. According to results the union released Monday, 1,535 members voted to accept the deal roughly 64% of the votes cast while 838 voted against it. Two ballots were void. Voting took place over a week. Advertisement The vote ends one of the most dramatic moments in recent Philadelphia labor history, and decisions by union leaders are likely to be analyzed for years. Additionally, scenes from the eight-day strike with heaps of trash in Parker piles across the city are sure to be lasting images, and its unclear how the dispute will affect the mayors ability to enact her agenda, given that much of the citys workforce has so publicly butted heads with her administration. But the ratification of the contract means that DC 33 is legally prohibited from going on strike for at least the next three years, when a new deal must be negotiated. If Parker runs for and wins reelection, that would be during the start of her second term. DC 33 president Greg Boulware declined an interview request Monday, but said in a message posted to social media alongside the results: Thanks to every member who made their voice heard in the ratification vote. The results have been certified by the American Arbitration Association, and weve informed the City to start issuing bonuses. Together we made this happen, Boulware wrote. A spokesperson for Parker did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The vote took place over seven days from July 14 to July 20. Members were able to vote in-person at the AFSCME DC 33 headquarters in West Philadelphia. Members will now receive 3% annual wage increases for the next three years and a $1,500 bonus. The contract also establishes a fifth pay-scale step for most DC 33 members, and a third pay-scale step for school crossing guards in the union. The contract applies retroactively to July 1. If members had rejected the tentative agreement, the union and the administration would have headed back to the bargaining table, and workers would not have been able to benefit from the negotiated wage boosts. At that point, union leaders would have been authorized to call for the strike to resume, but they would not have been required to do so. Other key points of the contract include a continuation of the structure of how the city pays into DC 33s Health & Welfare fund. The administration this year sought a change allowing it to pay directly for the cost of claims, rather than making flat monthly contributions. The union wanted to preserve the structure and have the city increase its monthly contribution. The final deal instead preserves the status quo, with the city continuing to pay $1,500 per employee per month to the fund. Members will also be able to take six uncertified sick days (up from five) in a 12-month period before being placed on an excessive sick leave list. City employees in DC 33 will also be able to take four days of leave for the death of a close family member, and one day of leave in the event of the death of other family members. As members weighed in over the past week, Boulware did not make a recommendation to members about how to vote. He told reporters recently: Their ask to me was to go up, stand up and fight and try to get as much as we could get out of this and we did accomplish quite a bit but if they feel like its unsatisfactory to their needs, then they have that voice to be able to say so." The last time DC 33 members had to determine whether to accept a strike-ending deal was in 1986. On Aug. 3, 1986, only 300 of 12,884 members were present at the Civic Center to vote on the contract, according to newspaper accounts. It was ultimately approved, but many workers at that time were unhappy with the deal or how it was negotiated. Francis Ryan, a Rutgers University labor historian who has written a book on DC 33, said he wasnt surprised members voted to approve the deal, even if many were disappointed with the agreement that Boulware and Parker negotiated to end the strike. A lot of people dont like it, but I think its a realistic thing to do, Ryan said. DC 33 members, he said, werent voting on whether they liked the contract. Instead, it was a choice between accepting the contract or reentering negotiations and potentially going back out on strike a decision that might not enjoy as much public support as it did the first time. The momentum of the strike that we saw earlier in the month has gone away, he said. Its very difficult to get that momentum back right now. As RAA embarks on its next chapter under the Corporations Act with a modernised corporate governance structure and growing and diverse business, its imperative we have directors with the right skill set to help lead the organisation, she said. Im excited to join leading life and health insurer AIA Australia, with its depth of talent and a vision that resonates deeply," Looi said. "Over the last few weeks, Ive witnessed how AIA Australia is dedicated to helping Australians live healthier, longer, better lives. Im looking forward to helping AIA Australia deliver on its commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation. We know household budgets continue to come under pressure, which is why since forming government, weve taken decisive and immediate action on meaningful and targeted cost-of-living relief for Queenslanders who need it most, he said, as reported by ABC. Were investing in mitigation and resilience measures while our comprehensive plan to deliver safety where you live also puts downward pressure on insurance premiums. He drove her to a wooded area behind the office building, where he attempted to sexually assault her before stabbing her multiple times. Bates then removed a diamond ring from one of her fingers. Whites body was discovered later that day by a passerby. Investigators linked Bates to the crime through physical evidence, including bloodstained clothing and the stolen ring. He was arrested the following morning and confessed to the killing during police questioning. That statement later became the subject of legal challenges, though courts upheld its admissibility. Patriot Select Property and Casualty Insurance Co. received authorization to assume 20,000 multiperil policies around October 21. The company could take on up to 30,000 additional policies during assumption periods in October and November. In a separate order earlier this year, Patriot, along with Mangrove and Slide Insurance Co., was approved to remove more than 135,000 policies from Citizens. He said the appointments of Litterick, van Reyk and Galea position TMGX to support clients across the energy transition and that their experience in underwriting strategy will drive growth in the renewables portfolio. He added that all three are recognized in the renewable energy insurance market and are expected to shape the companys strategy going forward. The case made its way to the US Supreme Court, which in 2024 ruled that the NRA had a plausible First Amendment claim. But it sent the case back to the Second Circuit to decide whether Vullo could still be sued personally. In this latest ruling, the appeals court said no because the legal standards around this kind of regulator-industry interaction were too murky at the time. The operation will be led by Sophie DeCouto (pictured above), who takes on the role of CEO of Alcor USA. She brings deep experience in the excess and surplus (E&S) market. She also has a long-standing E&S specialist with extensive underwriting and leadership experience. A man who was pulled into an MRI machine in New York after he walked into the room wearing a large weight-training chain around his neck has died, according to police and his wife, who told a local television outlet that he waved goodbye before his body went limp. The man, 61, had entered an MRI room while a scan was underway Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI. The machines strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain around his neck, according to a release from the Nassau County Police Department. He died Thursday afternoon, but a police officer who answered the phone at the Nassau County police precinct where the MRI facility is located said the department had not yet been given permission to release the name Saturday. Adrienne Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island in a recorded interview that she was undergoing an MRI on her knee when she asked the technician to get her husband, Keith McAllister, to help her get off the table. She said she called out to him. She told News 12 that the technician summoned into the room her husband, who was wearing a 20-pound chain that he uses for weight training, an object theyd had a casual conversation about during a previous visit with comments like: Ooooooh, thats a big chain! When he got close to her, she said, at that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI. I said: Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off!' she recalled, as tears ran down her face. He went limp in my arms. She said the technician helped her try to pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible. He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp, Jones-McAllister told the TV outlet. Jones-McAllister told News 12 that McAllister suffered heart attacks after he was freed from the MRI machine. A person who answered the phone at Nassau Open MRI on Long Island declined to comment Friday. The phone number went unanswered on Saturday. It wasnt the first New York death to result from an MRI machine. In 2001, 6-year-old Michael Colombini of Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRIs 10-ton electromagnet. In 2010, records filed in Westchester County revealed that the family settled a lawsuit for $2.9 million. MRI machines employ a strong magnetic field that exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which says the units are strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A federal judge on Friday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trumps nearly $50 million lawsuit against the journalist Bob Woodward for publishing tapes from interviews for his 2020 best-seller Rage as an audiobook. The decision by U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan is a victory for Woodward, his publisher Simon & Schuster and its former owner Paramount Global. Woodward interviewed Trump 19 times between December 2019 and August 2020, and about 20% of Rage came from the interviews. The book was released in September 2020, while the audiobook The Trump Tapes, including Woodwards commentary, was released in October 2022. In a 59-page decision, Gardephe said Trump did not plausibly allege that he and Woodward intended to be joint authors of The Trump Tapes, saying Simon & Schuster credited Trump as a reader while crediting Woodward as the author. The judge, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, also said Trump did not show he had a copyright interest in his stand-alone responses to Woodwards questions. Gardephe also said federal copyright law preempted Trumps state law-based claims. He gave Trump until August 18 to amend his complaint a third time. A spokesperson for Trumps legal team said in a statement: In another biased action by a New York Court, this wrongful decision was issued without even affording President Trump the basic due process of a hearing. We will continue to ensure that those who commit wrongdoing against President Trump and all Americans are held accountable. Lawyers for Woodward, Simon & Schuster and Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comment. WALTER CRONKITE, BARBARA WALTERS CITED The defendants had argued that federal law barred Trump from copyrighting interviews conducted as part of his official duties, and that no president before him ever demanded royalties for publishing presidential interviews. They also called Woodward the sole architect and true author of the interviews, just as journalists like the late Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters were in interviews with other presidents. Woodward also said his interviews reflected classic news reporting that helped convey accurate information to the public, and thus amounted to fair use. Trump sued in January 2023, saying he told Woodward repeatedly that the interviews were meant solely for the book. Woodward said he never agreed to that restriction. The $49.98 million damages request was based on what Trumps lawyers called projected sales of 2 million audiobooks at $24.99 each. Paramount sold Simon & Schuster in October 2023 to private equity firm KKR KKR.N for $1.62 billion in cash. The case is Trump v Simon & Schuster Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-06883. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) Topics Lawsuits Singapore said on Friday that it was responding to cyberattacks on its critical infrastructure by an espionage group alleged by security experts to be linked to China. UNC3886 poses a serious threat to us, and has the potential to undermine our national security, Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said in a speech. It is going after high value strategic threat targets, vital infrastructure that delivers essential services. He did not give details of the attacks, citing security risks, nor of any consequences. Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant has described UNC3886 as a China-nexus espionage group that has attacked defense, technology and telecommunications organizations in the U.S. and Asia. Beijing routinely denies any allegations of cyberespionage, and says it opposes all forms of cyberattacks and is in fact a victim of such threats. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent after office hours. Singapores critical infrastructure sectors include energy, water, banking, finance, healthcare, transport, government, communication, media, as well as security and emergency services, according to the countrys cyber agency. Reuters earlier this week reported that the Taiwanese semiconductor industry and investment analysts had been targeted by Chinese-linked hackers as part of a string of cyber espionage campaigns. (Reporting by Jun Yuan Yong and Fanny Potkin in Singapore; editing by Mark Potter) Here are the details of the European Unions 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, approved on Friday and aimed at dealing further blows to Russias oil and energy industry. OIL PRICE CAP Central to the package is a lower price cap on Russian oil a move designed to shrink Moscows energy revenues without disrupting global markets by severing Russian supply entirely. The EU will impose a moving price cap on Russian crude at 15% below its average market price, EU diplomats said. Read more: EUs New Russia Sanctions Aim for More Effective Oil Price Cap That means a cap of roughly $47.60 per barrel at present, well below the $60 maximum that the Group of Seven major economies have tried to impose since December 2022. The new price cap will come into force on September 3 and a 90-day transition period will apply to existing contracts, the EU said in a press release. The measure aims to ban trade in Russian crude bought at a higher price by prohibiting shipping, insurance and reinsurance companies from handling tankers carrying such crude. The European Union and Britain have been pushing the G7 to lower the cap since a fall in oil futures made the $60 cap largely irrelevant. However, the United States has resisted, leaving the EU to move forward on its own, with limited power to enforce the measure because oil is largely traded in dollars, for which payment clearing is controlled by U.S. banks. SHADOW FLEET AND ENERGY TRADE The EU will no longer import any petroleum products made from Russian crude after a transitional period of six months, although the ban will not apply to imports from Norway, Britain, the U.S., Canada and Switzerland, EU diplomats said. The EU sanctions also targeted Indias Nayara oil refinery with Russias largest oil producer Rosneft as its main shareholder. The EU also agreed to end the Czech Republics exemption from the blocs existing ban on seaborne Russian crude oil imports, after the country fully switched to non-Russian supplies this year. An additional 105 vessels are banned from accessing EU ports and locks, or undertaking ship-to-ship transfers of oil an effort to shut down the so-called shadow fleet of older oil tankers used to transport Russian oil and circumvent sanctions. The EU also put sanctions on a private operator of an international flag registry, and an entity in the Russian LNG sector, the Council of the EU said in a press release, without naming them. In total, the EU has now imposed sanctions on more than 400 shadow fleet ships. NORD STREAM Transactions related to Russias Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea will be banned, including any provision of goods or services to these projects. FINANCIAL SECTOR The EU will ban all transactions with Russian financial institutions already excluded from the global financial messaging system SWIFT. The ban will include transactions with Russias sovereign wealth fund the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) as well as its investments. This aims to further restrict Russias access to international financial markets and foreign currency. EU countries also agreed to lower the threshold for imposing further sanctions on foreign financial and credit institutions that undermine the sanctions or support Russias war effort. EXPORT BANS, NEW BLACKLIST ENTRIES The EU will blacklist 26 new entities for circumventing sanctions, including seven in China, three in Hong Kong and four in Turkey, diplomats said. Certain chemicals, plastics and machinery have been added to the list of goods EU countries cannot export to Russia. DELAYED APPROVAL The package of sanctions on Russia is the EUs 18th since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Approval was held up for weeks by Slovakia and Malta. Slovakia had demanded guarantees against potential losses from a separate EU plan to ban imports of Russian gas by 2028, and dropped its veto after the EU offered Slovakia some guarantees earlier this week. (Reporting by Kate Abnett, Milan Strahm; editing by Kevin Liffey and Frances Kerry) AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Society Insurance, a mutual company based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Societys balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). Society provides business insurance for restaurants, bars, delis, cafes, gas stations and more. AM Best said the revised outlooks to negative from stable are based on underwriting losses that have been reported in five consecutive years, with heightened losses occurring in 2023 and 2024. Societys net underwriting losses peaked in 2023 driven by an increase in catastrophe events and large loss experience that continued into 2024, resulting in deterioration of the companys combined ratio and operating return metrics. T he combined ratio has been above breakeven in four of the past five years and now exceeds the composite average. Despite the unfavorable trend in recent years, the companys loss and loss adjustment expense ratios remain comparable with the composite and corrective actions are in place to improve results going forward. In resolving the negative outlook, AM Bests focus will be on the extent to which managements recent premium rate and other underwriting actions gain traction in the remainder of 2025 and early 2026 and lead to a sustainable trend of improved underwriting performance and internal capital generation. Societys very strong balance sheet is based on the companys strongest risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Balance sheet strength is further supported by a sound liquidity position, moderate underwriting leverage and a conservative investment risk profile. Surplus note issuance in 2025 has helped sustain risk-adjusted capitalization, tempered by an increase in financial leverage and debt servicing costs for the enterprise. The business profile reflects Societys long-standing agency relationships, industry trade association endorsements, and in-depth expertise in select business niches, AM Best said. Its specialty market/commercial book of business exposes results to frequent and severe weather-related events, large losses and competitive market pressures. Ongoing diversification into other states outside of its home state of Wisconsin has expanded its footprint. ERM is considered appropriate for its risk profile, commensurate with the complexity and scale of the company. Source: AM Best Topics Trends AM Best WTW appointed Dale Porfilio as senior director and head of personal and commercial lines business development in its insurance consulting & technology (ICT) business. Based in Chicago, Porfilio will be responsible for driving growth, market share and profitability in both personal and commercial insurance sectors. Porfilio most recently served as chief insurance officer at the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and president of the Insurance Research Council (IRC), leading the research and education activities. Porfilio previously served as senior vice president and corporate chief actuary for Genworth Financial. Porfilio played a vital role in advancing our mission, delivering trusted insights to members, policymakers, and the media, said Triple-I CEO Sean Kevelighan in a message on LinkedIn. From strengthening our research agenda to guiding our underwriting projections, his contributions have been instrumental in building value for our members and the industry at large. Aspen Appoints Welch Group Chief Underwriting Officer Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited appointed John Welch as group chief underwriting officer effective August 1. Welch has over 30 years of experience in executive roles across global players, including at AXA XL and XL Catlin Group, and originally joined Aspen as chief underwriting officer, reinsurance in June 2023. In his new role, he will be responsible for the oversight, development and execution of Aspens underwriting strategy across the group. Topics Commercial Lines Willis Towers Watson A California federal judge ruled on Thursday that three authors suing artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for copyright infringement can represent writers nationwide whose books Anthropic allegedly pirated to train its AI system. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said the authors can bring a class action on behalf of all U.S. writers whose works Anthropic allegedly downloaded from pirate libraries LibGen and PiLiMi to create a repository of millions of books in 2021 and 2022. Alsup said Anthropic may have illegally downloaded as many as 7 million books from the pirate websites, which could make it liable for billions of dollars in damages if the authors case is successful. An Anthropic spokesperson said the company was considering options to challenge the ruling and that the court failed to account for the difficulty of establishing copyright ownership millions of times over in a single lawsuit. An attorney for the authors declined to comment on the decision. Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber and Kirk Wallace Johnson sued Anthropic last year, arguing that the Amazon- and Alphabet-backed startup used their books without permission or compensation to teach its chatbot Claude to respond to human prompts. The case is one of several high-stakes lawsuits brought by authors, news outlets and other copyright owners against companies including OpenAI, Microsoft and Meta Platforms over their AI training. AI companies argue their systems make fair use of copyrighted material to create new, transformative content. Alsup determined in June that Anthropics AI training made fair use of authors works, but said the company still violated their rights by saving pirated copies of their books to a central library of all the books in the world that would not necessarily be used for AI training. Alsup said on Thursday the three authors could represent all writers whose books Anthropic allegedly downloaded from LibGen and PiLiMi, rejecting Anthropics argument that identifying all of the copyright-eligible works and their authors would be impractical. Topics Lawsuits Legislation President Donald Trumps choice to lead the nations top car safety regulator pledged to prioritize safety while at the same time making it easier for automakers to deploy-self driving cars. Jonathan Morrison, who was nominated by Trump on February 11 to be administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told lawmakers in a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee Wednesday that the agency he hopes to soon lead should craft self-driving rules that go beyond the current voluntary guidelines that were enacted under previous administrations. Current rules limit automakers to 2,500 test vehicles that dont meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, like having steering wheels and brake pedals. Prior Congressional proposals would have allowed carmakers to request as many 100,000 of these exemptions. Morrison said during the hearing that NHTSA cannot sit back and wait for problems to arrive with such developing technologies. Instead, he said, the agency must demonstrate strong leadership by taking proactive steps to put federal rules in place that would allow for the rapid deployment of autonomous vehicles. Realization of the mobility and safety benefits from AVs depends entirely upon on consumer trust, and that trust must be rooted in safety, said Morrison, whos currently a lawyer at Apple Inc. and formerly served as NHTSAs chief counsel under Trumps first administration. At the same time, Morrison indicated he doesnt want federal regulations for both traditional and self-driving cars to impose undue costs or design restrictions that hamper innovation. If he is confirmed by the Senate, he could lead several investigations into Tesla Inc.s cars and driver assistance technologies. Morrison told lawmakers he has heard in recent years from industry leaders whove complained about the lack of federal leadership in this space. The last thing automakers want to do is to spend billions and billions down a particular technological pathway and then having the federal government shut the door on that pathway, Morrison said. That has a major chilling effect on investment and thats something we have to avoid. Morrison could take over 73 federal probes into potentially defective cars and trucks that remain open after Trump took office in January, including eight active investigations involving Tesla. NHTSA is also expected to tackle federal rules for autonomous vehicles and repeal stringent fuel economy rules for carmakers, should Morrison be confirmed. Michael Brooks, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Auto Safety, which advocates for stringent regulations, noted that during Morrisons earlier tenure at NHTSA, the agency rolled back safety standards and halted probes of carmakers utilizing autonomous vehicle technology that were initiated by the Obama administration. We think it is reasonable to expect more of the same if Morrison is confirmed as NHTSA administrator, Brooks said in an email. Rosemary Shahan, president of the Sacramento, California-based Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety group, said she worked previously with Morrison when he was a lobbyist for the California New Car Dealers Association. Shahan said Morrison is very smart and knowledgeable about the auto industry and well-versed in the NHTSAs mandate. But she said how aggressive the agency will be toward auto regulation will ultimately come down to Trump. John Bozzella, president of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which lobbies for most major automakers such as Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Stellantis NV, Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., praised Trumps Morrison nomination in February. Bozzella said Morrison has the right background to lead the countrys top traffic safety regulator. The White House and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Photo: An autonomous self-driving taxi in Los Angeles. Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Auto Personal Auto Microsoft Corp. warned that hackers are actively targeting customers of its document management software SharePoint, with security researchers flagging the risk of potentially widespread breaches around the world. Vulnerabilities in the software have allowed hackers to access file systems and execute code, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned on Sunday. While Microsoft said over the weekend that it had released a new patch for customers to apply to their SharePoint servers to mitigate active attacks targeting on-premises servers, the company was still working to roll out others to address ongoing security flaws. Cybersecurity firms cautioned that a broad section of organizations may be affected by the breach. Tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of businesses and institutions worldwide use SharePoint in some fashion to store and collaborate on documents. Microsoft said hackers are specifically targeting clients running SharePoint servers from their own on-premise networks, as opposed to being hosted and managed by the tech firm. That could limit the impact to a subsection of customers. Silas Cutler, a researcher at Michigan-based cybersecurity firm Censys, estimated that more than 10,000 companies with SharePoint servers were at risk. The US had the largest number of those companies, followed by the Netherlands, the UK and Canada, he said. Its a dream for ransomware operators, he said. Microsoft has been trying to shore up its cybersecurity after a series of high-profile failures, hiring new executives from places like the US government and holding weekly meetings with senior executives to make its software more resilient. The companys tech has been subject to several widespread and damaging hacks in recent years, and a 2024 US government report described the companys security culture as in need of urgent reforms. Palo Alto Networks Inc. warned that the SharePoint exploits are real, in-the-wild, and pose a serious threat. Google Threat Intelligence Group said in an e-mailed statement it had observed hackers exploiting the vulnerability, adding it allows persistent, unauthenticated access and presents a significant risk to affected organizations. When theyre able to compromise the fortress that is SharePoint, everybody is kind of at their whim because that is one of the highest security protocols out there, said Gene Yu, CEO of Singapore-based cyber incident response firm Blackpanda. The Washington Post reported that the breach had affected US federal and state agencies, universities, energy companies and an Asian telecommunications company, citing state officials and private researchers. Researchers at Eye Security were first to identify the vulnerability, the company said. Eye Security said the vulnerability allows hackers to access SharePoint servers and steal keys that can let them impersonate users or services even after the server is patched. It said hackers can maintain access through backdoors or modified components that can survive updates and reboots of systems. Vaisha Bernard, chief hacker and co-owner of Eye Security, said his team identified a wave of attacks on Friday evening and a second wave on Saturday morning. The attacks, he said, were not targeted and instead were aimed at compromising as many victims as possible. After scanning about 8,000 SharePoint servers, Bernard said he has so far identified at least 50 that were successfully compromised. He declined to identify the identities of organizations that had been targeted, but said they included government agencies and private companies, including bigger multinationals. The victims were located in countries in North and South America, the European Union, South Africa, and Australia, he added. It was not clear who was behind the attacks, Bernard said, but my gut feeling says its one group behind them, due to similarities in the methods he observed during the attacks. A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment beyond the companys statement. Microsoft has faced a series of recent cyberattacks, warning in March that Chinese hackers were targeting remote management tools and cloud applications to spy on a range of companies and organizations in the US and abroad. The Cyber Safety Review Board, a White House-mandated group designed to examine major cyberattacks, said last year that Microsofts security culture was inadequate following the 2023 hack of the companys Exchange Online mailboxes. In that incident, hackers were able to breach 22 organizations and hundreds of individuals, including former US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Photo: Microsoft signage in New York. Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber More than two weeks after catastrophic July Fourth floods along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, authorities reported Saturday that nearly all of the people who had remained on the list of missing persons have been verified as safe. As recently as Monday, rescuers were still trying to find an estimated 101 people. But by Saturday, the official count of people missing had been lowered to three. The officials did not give an update to the total number of people who died because of the floods. On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott said the statewide death toll was 135. In a press release, the city of Kerrville wrote that many of the people missing had been located through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies. This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time, City Manager Dalton Rice said. Still, officials said that local, state, national and international search teams are continuing to conduct recovery operations. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said during a commissioners court meeting Monday that the search for missing people could take up to six months, but setting a time estimate is also difficult. How long is it going to take? I mean, who knows? Leitha said. Abbott said Monday most of those still considered missing were people who did not check into hotels or campsites. Abbott said many of those people were added to the list of people who havent been located after friends and family reported them missing. Those who are missing on this list, most of them, were more difficult to identify because there was no record of them logging in anywhere, Abbott said. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the countys top official, said during a county commissioners court meeting earlier Monday that local officials dont know the exact number of how many visitors who traveled to the Guadalupe for the holiday weekend had been caught in the flood. We dont know how many of them there are, Kelly said. Dont be discouraged when you hear that number, were doing the very best we can, but it is an unknown at this point. On Saturday, Kelly said he was grateful for the rescuers who have worked tirelessly over the past two weeks. To every member of law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency management, and supporting agencies thank you, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said. Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion have brought comfort and answers to so many. Recovery teams have been thoroughly scouring large debris piles for any people who were swept into the Guadalupe after it swelled in the pre-dawn hours July 4 following heavy rain. Those efforts were been hindered further by continued rain and flooding in areas already impacted by the initial floods, pausing searches across the Hill Country. The devastating flood is still one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Texas history. The 1900 hurricane in Galveston claimed over 8,000 lives and the 1921 San Antonio floods killed 215 people. A lower estimate in the number of people missing is not uncommon after mass casualty events. In the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, officials try to nail down who was near scenes of disaster, identify found remains and communicate across agencies. In the wake of intense wildfires in Hawaii in 2023, the estimated number of missing people at one point peaked at 3,000 people, however ultimately the number of those killed was 102. Initial post-disaster lags in communication have already affected flood search efforts: Travis County officials whittled down their missing persons count from 10 people to four after they realized some people were on both the lists of those missing and those who had been confirmed dead, according to a county spokesperson. As time goes on a clearer idea of who is unaccounted for should begin to appear, said Lucy Easthope, an international adviser on disaster recovery efforts. Certainly, by the end of the first month, youve got a good idea of what youre looking for, Easthope said. And sometimes in flooding, weve seen the Earth only yield its final death toll some months, and maybe even years, later. The high number of visitors to the river for the July 4 holiday may also prove another obstacle in nailing down an accurate number, as people along the river in RVs or who didnt check in to hotels may be unaccounted for. President Donald Trump cast doubt on the true number of those still missing during his visit in Kerrville on Friday. Theyre getting that count, but the count that they dont have is how many are still missing, with a lot of lives, a lot of young angels, Trump said. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/texas-flood-missing-update/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. Topics Texas Flood If wind mitigation and stronger homes are the paths to reducing insurance claims and bringing down insurance premiums in hurricane-prone areas, as a growing number of industry experts believe, then homeowners, builders and insurers may want to take a look at some homes rising in the Florida Panhandle. Theyre not the pricey, igloo-shaped windproof homes found in some beach areas, but are designed to be affordable with gables and a roomy front porch like most conventional homes. The houses have been built with reinforced concrete walls, heavier roof decking, more fasteners per foot, impact-resistant windows and doors anchored directly to the concrete, as well as standing-seam metal roofs designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. And the construction work is frequently and thoroughly inspected, more than what municipal building departments and state mitigation plans can offer, builders and inspectors say. I wont say theyre hurricane-proof but hurricane-resistant, said Darius Grimes, president of Disaster-Smart, a firm that audits and inspects homes built to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safetys famously stout FORTIFIED building standard. At one of the homes nearing completion in Pensacola, the exterior walls are thicker than most wood-frame structure walls. The construction is sort of the reverse of the better-known technique called insulated concrete forms, or ICF, which uses polystyrene foam blocks as forms for poured concrete. The new system, made by ConcreWallUSA, now known as Fortified Structural Solutions and based nearby in Panama City, Florida, has a polystyrene core with steel remesh and sprayed-on concrete on both sides. The approach is so new that some insurance carriers are still scratching their heads on how to classify it. Every carrier I talked to said to go ahead and write it as a masonry structure, and we may have to figure something out later, said Suzanne Pollard Spann, CEO of Legacy Insurance Brokers in Pensacola. Spann has obtained quotes from Olympus Insurance and others. And, despite some unfamiliarity with the new wall system, carriers do appear willing to provide significant premium discounts for the property, she noted. The Spring Street home near downtown Pensacola is about 1,500 square feet and is valued at about $400,000. The average quoted annual premium is about $1,600, Spann said. Comparable-sized homes in the neighborhood, built with conventional wood framing and shingle roofs, have seen HO premiums as high as $7,000 a year, Spann said. Besides wind-resistance, the Concre wall system also offers excellent fire resistance, triggering further premium credits on homeowner policies, Grimes pointed out. The idea of building rock-solid homes at an affordable price in a place that has seen its share of hurricanes is largely the brainchild of the Home Builders Association of West Florida. Spann served on the board in 2023 when the project began. This is my pet project because of what it can mean for our industry, Spann said. The homes builder is Amir Fooladi, of ParsCo builders, who was president of the local HBA in 2023. Its one of the first homes in Florida to be built with the ConcreWall system. Fooladi, Spann and the HBA worked with city officials and with the non-profit Habitat for Humanity to launch the project and at least two others like it. So far, more than 40 local and national companies have donated funds, labor and/or materials for the site. Once completed and sold to a Habitat family, any profits will go back to the Home Builders Association. I feel like this can be a model for all home builders associations, Fooladi said. Part of the reason behind building the concrete homes is to get an idea of the costs and the challenges involved in constructing houses to a stronger standard, Grimes said. But Fooladi said it is difficult to gauge the exact cost since so much material has been donated. According to estimates from the National Association of Home Builders, Reddit, and HomeGuide.com, concrete-walled structures can cost up to $250 per square foot to build about 50% more than conventional homes. The higher build cost will pay for itself in lower insurance premiums, reduced cooling expenses, and reduced repair costs, advocates say. Its not just the structural concrete that makes these types of houses so strong, Fooladi and Grimes explained. The building has to meet the IBHS FORTIFIED standards, which often require more wind-resistant material and building techniques than Floridas own vaunted building codes. While most building codes require roof-decking nails to be placed every 6 inches, the FORTIFIED certification requires nails every 4 inches, Grimes explained. But the biggest difference is that FORTIFIED-approved homes must be inspected more thoroughly and more often, then reinspected years later, he noted. Building codes are only as good as the local inspector, said Carl Schneider, a Gulf Coast insurance agent who is familiar with the Florida Panhandle and Alabama markets. FORTIFIED homes are way above the Florida building codes on that. He pointed to a recent study by the Alabama Department of Insurance and the University of Alabamas Center for Risk and Insurance Research that found that FORTIFIED-built homes fared significantly better in Hurriane Sally, which hit southern Alabama and northwest Florida in 2020. Insurance company payouts would have been about 75% less if all impacted homes in two coastal Alabama counties had been built to the standards, the study found. The FORTIFIED approach is spreading nationwide, and its about to become a little tougher for some contractors. Starting Nov. 1, all FORTIFIED-approved homes must be installed by FORTIFIED-certified roofing contractors, according to the IBHS. That means the contractor must complete IBHS training courses and follow a rigorous protocol when installing roofs and roof decking. Top photo: Darius Grimes at the house near downtown Pensacola. (Insurance Journal) Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane A central Florida man has been charged with shooting at and throwing Molotov cocktails into an insurance agency office in Lake Wales last spring. Lake Wales Police said Jason Roberts was tracked down last week in Jasper, Georgia, after surveillance footage showed a Toyota car in the vicinity of the Univista Insurance business before the incident. The vehicle belonged to a lab testing company for which Roberts was a courier at the time, police noted. It turns out that Roberts is the brother of a woman who owns a competing insurance agency just a few doors down in the same shopping strip as Univista, the police department said in a bulletin last week. A police official said the competing agency owner was reportedly unhappy about Univista moving into the shopping center, but she has not been charged, according to news reports. The damaged Univista Insurance agency on State Road 60 is managed by German Portillo, a licensed property/casualty agent appointed with six carriers, the Florida Department of Financial Services agent verification page shows. Portillo told Fox 13 TV news that the incident has scared away clients but that he wants to forgive the suspect. (Photo: Adobe Stock image) Topics Florida Law Enforcement Los Angeles County is looking for ways to make landlords keep rental units cooler. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors last week held an initial hearing on an ordinance to require rental units to maintain indoor temperatures at or below 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The proposal is intended to protect tenants from heat-related health risks. However, the ordinance as proposed doesnt take into account a buildings age, or its HVAC system. The ordinance doesnt require air conditioners be put into units. It also lets property owners use methods like cool roofs, insulation and shade, to reach the temperature threshold. A report in 2023 by the L.A. Department of Public Health, which the ordinance is partly based upon, lists ordinances in other cities as an example to follow, including Palm Springs, Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso Texas. The ordinance is set to go to a vote next month. If L.A. County supervisors approve the ordinance, it would go into effect in September, and it would apply to units in unincorporated county areas and cities that adopt the L.A. Countys new code. Topics Louisiana If you didnt know we recently had a heatwave, our internet activity will inform you pretty quickly. Part of my day job involves monitoring trends on social media and search engines. Last week, I noticed a spike on Google Trends with people searching for ways to treat sunburn as quickly as possible. Despite all the weather warnings and knowing we should stay in the shade and wear a high-factor SPF to protect our skin from cancer and accelerated signs of ageing, its likely many readers of this column will also have slipped up in the sunshine and are now sporting some painful patches. Theres no judgement here: in the minutes between a dip in the ocean and reapplying suncream, my shoulders got burned too last week. Sometimes we just arent quick enough to prevent it. So, if you were unlucky and have the red stripes to prove it, here are some tried-and-tested ways to treat your sunburn and have your skin looking and feeling healthy as quickly as possible. First steps As soon as you realise youre burning, get out of the sun. Drink plenty of water to ensure you dont become dehydrated (and remember, beer and alcohol will not hydrate you). To cool down your skin, dont use ice or an ice pack. Instead either hold a damp towel against your burn or have a cool shower or bath. Slather on an aftersun cream, such as aloe vera. Do not use petroleum jelly on sunburn as this can actually trap heat into the skin, making it worse. Keep your burned skin covered until it fully heals to protect it from direct sunlight and if you have any pain, you can take a painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Never pop any blisters that may form and do not scratch or try to remove peeling skin. Remember, severe sunburn is very serious and could lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Contact your GP if your temperature is high, if you feel dizzy or sick, or if you have a headache and muscle cramps. How long until it heals fully? As well as feeling painful and uncomfortable, you can feel quite self-conscious after suffering sunburn. Sunburned skin usually gets better after a week, but you can help it heal as fast as possible with a few extra steps, with most being quite intuitive. As mentioned above, moisturising sunburn immediately can help to soothe it, but continuing to moisturise the area liberally can also help it to heal and fade faster. The best moisturisers for sunburn and irritated skin are the simple, unscented ones. Many skincare brands make aqueous cream, a gentle emollient moisturiser that you can buy in a pharmacy for about 5. As well as hydrating the skin as a moisturiser, it can also be used as a cleanser. Another cream I swear by for sunburn is La Roche Posays Cicaplast Baume B5+, a repairing and soothing balm that helps to repair the skin barrier. I have used this on sunburn in the past and found it cleared up faster than usual. You can also mix aloe vera into your usual lotion for a moisturising boost for dry and sun-damaged skin. Hydration from the inside out is also key to healing. Continue to drink plenty of water while your skin recovers, around eight glasses a day. When we are properly hydrated, the bodys healing process quickens, shortening recovery time. It can also help to regulate a higher body temperature caused by sunburn. Another important consideration is knowing when to leave your sunburn alone. Ignore the itch and the urge to peel any flaking skin away the skin underneath is healing and needs that layer to stay in place for now. Constantly scratching at your sunburn will slow down your bodys healing and can also increase the risk of an infection, setting you back even further on the recovery timeline. Hannah Donelon explains early on in the opening episode how the idea for her eight-part series, Theres a Lot I Havent Asked, came about: The impetus for this series came from a summer holiday to Ireland with my mum and dad in August 2024 as we took to the road visiting family in Galway and Kerry. Mum and Dad began telling me stories from their youth; some hilarious, some weird, some unbelievable, and some sad. And I thought to myself, wow, there's a lot I haven't asked. The podcast series revolves around stories, scenes, and memories from the Irish diaspora in Manchester and the impact of its legacy on the present day. With original music composed and arranged by Michael McGoldrick, Donelon talked to 35 people over the course of just a month about their varied lives. Why Manchester in particular? Donelon explains: For two centuries and more, Manchester's story has been tied to Ireland. Since the city began its transformation into an industrial metropolis, the Irish have come, the large majority, to find work and have been enriching Mancunian cultural and social life in the process. The period of emigration we're looking at in this series is from around 1945 to 1975. Members of Press Photographers Ireland pay their final respects with a symbolic camera salute to the late Star and Irish Mirror photographer Michael (Mick) O'Neill at the Church of St Finians, River Valley, Swords, Dublin. Mick O'Neill was a cherished colleague and photographer, working for many years in Ireland and had won a recent award at the press photographers Ireland 2025. Read More Tributes paid to award-winning photographer after fatal crash The tanaiste and foreign ministers from 24 nations have together called for an end to the war in Gaza. Simon Harris issued a statement along with his fellow ministers, which said "the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths". The ministers said the Israeli governments aid delivery model is "dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity". "We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. The statement goes on to condemn the "continued detention" of hostages taken at the beginning of the war in October 2023 and calls for "their immediate and unconditional release". It adds negotiated ceasefire "offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families". "We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life-saving work safely and effectively. We call on all parties to protect civilians and uphold the obligations of international humanitarian law. Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a 'humanitarian city' are completely unacceptable. "Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law." The ministers said they would not support any forced displacement or changes to Palestinian borders and hit out at a settlement plan proposed by Israel. "We strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The E1 settlement plan announced by Israels Civil Administration, if implemented, would divide a Palestinian state in two, marking a flagrant breach of international law, and critically undermine the two-state solution. Meanwhile, settlement building across the West Bank including East Jerusalem has accelerated, while settler violence against Palestinians has soared. This must stop. "We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. Further bloodshed serves no purpose. We reaffirm our complete support to the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to achieve this. "We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region." Ministers from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK issued the joint statement. A Cork man who pleaded guilty to the possession of cocaine for sale or supply was selling the drugs on behalf of a well-known Bandon family, according to his solicitor. Court presenter Sergeant Eimear OConnell told Bandon District Court that a garda patrol was in the Castle Road area of Bandon, Co Cork, just after midnight on February 13, 2023. They observed an individual, identified as Adrian Dineen, aged 35 of Sunnyside, Kilbarry, Dunmanway, Co Cork, behaving in a suspicious manner. When Dineen was question he became nervous and he was searched. On his person gardai found a white substance in his wallet later identified as cocaine and deal bags of cocaine in his jacket pockets. The total value of cocaine recovered was 500. Dineen was also in possession of a mobile phone that showed evidence of drug dealing activity. When questioned Dineen admitted possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The court heard that Dineen had 29 previous convictions, including three for the possession of illegal drugs but none for sale or supply. Defence solicitor Eamonn Fleming said that his client had completely cleaned up his act since his arrest. He said that Dineen was now working full-time in a factory near Bandon and cycled the 12km to work every day come rain or shine. He added that Dineen was an active father to his two young children who were in the care of their maternal grandparents who he had a good relationship with and also paid maintenance. The court heard that Dinnen was drug-free for a year and a half and had attended counselling and underwent drug testing for work. Mr Fleming said that at the time of the offending Dineen was acting at the behest of a family from Bandon who were well-known to the court and involved in drug-dealing. Judge Joanne Carroll said that if Mr Flemings appraisal of Dineens progress was correct he could expect a positive outcome. She ordered a probation report and directed Dineen to take one random drug test at the direction of the Probation Service. She remanded him on continuing bail to appear again on November 7 for finalisation. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme A notorious Limerick crime family member and convicted killer charged with money laundering was living in a modest council house not in a palatial home overlooking Lough Derg. Richard Treacy, aged 37, of Downey St, Garryowen, Co Limerick, was claiming social welfare and there was no record of him ever working, the Special Criminal Court heard. Yet some 4,000 and Stg3,900 in cash was found stuffed in a sock drawer in his bedroom and more cash - 600 and 500 - was found in the kitchen during a search under warrant by gardai in June 2020. But he claimed some money had been given by his mother for house renovations, 600 was cash he had saved, and some 500 was from the dole, which he said he had collected the previous day. In total, some 100,000 was allegedly laundered through the house. But defence barrister Lorcan Connolly said that that this was over a period of seven years. Mr Connolly said: Its a relatively modest house, a council house in Limerick. Were not dealing with a palatial home overlooking Lough Derg. His mother acquired the house, renovation works were subsequently done and the defendant now lives there with his family, Mr Connolly said. But Detective Garda Ronan O'Reilly said that very minor works had been done to the house between 2014 to 2020. Det. Gda OReilly told the Special Criminal Court that Treacy had 10 previous convictions, including for manslaughter, for which he was jailed for six years. Other convictions included violent disorder and dangerous driving causing harm. He was convicted in 2007 of the manslaughter of Darren Coughlan, who was beaten to death in Limerick in 2005. Mr Coughlans brother John shot Mr Treacys brother Daniel in 2010 and was jailed for life for murder. Mr Treacy is the nephew of notorious Limerick crime boss and convicted drug dealer Christy Keane. Mr Treacy and his relatives had been involved in a feud with another family in Limerick city, and his previous conviction for manslaughter was a feud-related incident, Det. Gda OReilly said. However, defence counsel Mr Connolly took exception to a feud being mentioned in the hearing as he said it had no bearing on the case. Once this had been mentioned it would colour minds and interpretation of the case, Mr Connolly said. He called for an adjournment. But prosecuting barrister Fiona Murphy noted that nothing had been said which had not already been said in another court and the garda felt that giving some details on previous convictions was appropriate to give context. No evidence was given to link this case to other matters, she said. And the court was well able to draw clear blue line between those matters, she said. Justice Karen OConnor said that the matter of a feud does not form part of the three-judge courts consideration of the case. We do not believe it is necessary to recuse ourselves, Justice OConnor said. They were three very experienced judges and the court could continue, she said. Mr Treacy had now been nine years trouble-free and was a committed father who was very active in his childrens lives, the court heard. And he had pleaded guilty, saving the State time and resources, Mr Connolly noted. Mr Treacy was before the Special Criminal Court for an alleged money laundering offence relating to renovation work carried out at his home at Downey St, Garryowen, Co Limerick. He was charged that between January 1, 2014, and January 12, 2021, with knowing or being reckless as to whether renovation work carried out at his home address was the proceeds of criminal conduct, or did disguise the true source of the property. The offence is contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. He had pleaded guilty, with an acceptance that 100,000 had gone into a house renovation. Moneys are presumed to come from criminal conduct under the act, when they cant be explained, the court heard. Mr Treacy was remanded on continuing bail until October 20 for sentencing. Former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan lost it when he hit a then 12-year-old child multiple times with a stick, according to counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL. Ms Comerford told a jury at Ennis Circuit Court on Monday that Mr Gilligan lost control on October 5, 2023, when he punished the boy for the damage being caused at the time to his Jamaica Inn hostel property in Sixmilebridge. Ms Comerford was making her closing speech in the case where Mr Gilligan, aged 48 of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the assault causing harm with a stick of the boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5, 2023. Defence closing speech In his own closing speech, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL said in no way is Mr Gilligan trying to suggest that he was entitled to punish the boy as was suggested and said that the injuries sustained by the boy are clearly regrettable. Mr Whyms said that on the evening at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Mr Gilligan didnt know that he was dealing with a child and did not create this situation. He said that Mr Gilligan "was at the end of his tether" by the vandalism being done to a vacant property he was trying to sell. Putting forward the defence of reasonable force against the charge of assault causing harm, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan was at the Jamaica Inn hostel on the night of October 5 in the dark and believed that he was under siege. He said: Believing himself under threat and needing to protect himself and his property, Niall Gilligan needs to make an instant decision and so we are here." Mr Whyms, instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett, said: And Mr Gilligan, a family man who has young children and no previous convictions gives a clear story which hasnt changed and an entirely credible, fulsome account of what happened." Did Niall Gilligan use such force as was reasonable in the circumstances as he believed them to be and if he did then no offence was committed. In his prepared statement at Shannon Garda Station in February 2024 on the alleged assault, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan has given a perfectly plausible account in an otherwise impeccably accurate description of what occurred which placed the boys inside the building when he met them. On the medical evidence, Mr Whyms said: Nobody wants to see a child being injured and it would be much better if that didnt happen and the boy was injured in this case. There doesnt seem to be much room for argument that he was injured from the actions of Niall Gilligan. Mr Whyms said that a displaced fracture of a finger on the boys left hand is the only fracture in this case. He said There was mention of dislocated shoulders, broken tibias and broken wrists all over the evidence but none of those things happened." There is an undisplaced fracture of a finger - that is not a good thing to happen but that it is what happened. There were injuries and these were sustained in the incident but by and large, most were cleared up in the week and the last one was pretty well cleared up in two weeks." Mr Whyms said that the injuries dont look nice on the photographs - there is no getting away from that and injuries that are photographed immediately after dont look nice. Prosecution closing speech Earlier in her closing speech Ms Comerford, instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, told the jury: This is a story of a man who lost his cool. She said: Instead of picking up the boy after he slipped and bringing him out to his car and driving him home and telling his parents, he hit him and lost it and he was angry and frustrated. Ms Comerford said that the alleged assault in broad daylight is the action of a man who took out his anger and frustration on a child. There is no evidence that his injuries were caused by anything other than his interactions with Niall Gilligan. She said that Niall Gilligan lost control and punished the boy for the damage and inconvenience caused to his property on a morning when he had to clean up human faeces and urine from his property. Ms Comerford said that the evidence of the then 12-year-old boy and his friend is credible and can be relied upon to the high standard beyond reasonable doubt. She said that the boy of course he knew that it's not okay to explore a building without permission, to let off fire extinguishers, to remove keys so he would have access to the building again, but he was a 12-year-old child and he was exploring and knew that others had been there before. Ms Comerford said that the boy "thought Niall Gilligan would threaten him with a stick. He didnt think he was actually going to hit him, but he did and he kept hitting him. She told the jury: I would suggest to you that the boy was shocked and in disbelief that this could happen - that a grown man would hit a child and not once and not a clip around the ear and a kick up the backside followed by a drive home to tell his parents to say what the child had been up to. Ms Comerford said that the boy knew that Mr Gilligan was a big strong man who he never thought would viciously assault him. You will recall him saying he was so big and I was so little and Mr Gilligan was so big and the boy was so little. Highlighting the medical evidence, Ms Comerford said that the first medical report stated: Head injury, loss of consciousness, bowel incontinence, right shoulder injury query, right posterior elbow wound? left hand and wrist injury, left tibia wound exposure and maybe fracture. She said: In the later reports, there is a reference to an x-ray to his tibia and fibula which was suggestive of a non-displaced fracture and ultimately it doesnt appear that this was a fracture." Ms Comerford said that it is understandable when you look at the photos why there may have been a query on fractures when you look at the level of bruising sustained by the body of the boy. She said that the boy slipped outside the Jamaica Inn and was lying on his stomach and you can see clearly the marks on both buttocks, the wrist injury, the shoulder bruising, the arm injury and the bruising around the ribs and the gash to his shin bone when he was hit over and over again". She said: He lost consciousness for a while. He must have been hit multiple times in order to have sustained as many injuries as he did in the various locations you can see in the photos taken on the night and following day. The only evidence you have on how those injuries were caused is the boys video statement who said that he was hit with a stick a number of times before he was knocked out. The reason why he knew he was knocked out is that he didnt remember that he was dragged and also had incontinence He can be forgiven for thinking that he disclosed his shoulder when you see the extensive bruising all around his shoulder. Ms Comerford described Ms Gilligans prepared statement given to gardai at Shannon Garda Station in February 2024 as a self-serving fabricated story to justify an encounter with a 12-year-old child. She said that the account is purposefully vague and I dont think you can believe anything that Niall Gilligan says about how he came to assault the young boy. Ms Comerford said in his statement Mr Gilligan says he got entangled in the dark and they fell on top of each other. She said: Mr Gilligan didnt fall and get entangled with the boy. He beat him there and he knew it. He lost control, he was angry and frustrated and he needed to cover all angles and that is why he said that to the gardai. Ms Comerford told the jury that they should give greater weight to the evidence of the 12-year-old boy and his friend who allowed themselves to be subject to cross-examination from Mr Whyms on their evidence and withstood the cross-examination. Ms Comerford said that due to the level of force used by Mr Gilligan in the assault, the defence of self-defence should not be available to him. At the conclusion of the closing speeches Judge Francis Comerford commenced his charge to the jury. Judge Comerford said that he will continue his charge to the jury on Tuesday. When Judge Comerford completes his charge, the jury will then commence their deliberations. GPS-tagged bags of cocaine, floating into Denmarks beaches, are believed to be linked to a foiled plot by 10 men arrested in West Cork to collect drugs from a ship called the Cool Explorer. A rigid inflatable boat (Rib), carrying three 300 horsepower engines and large quantities of fuel, tried to meet a Panama-flagged ship called the Cool Explorer off the UK coast in March 2024, the State alleges. That ship, a legitimate cargo vessel carrying legitimate cargo, was also believed to have been carrying at least 850kg of cocaine with a street value of between 58m and 59m. That cocaine was later washed into beaches near the Danish town of Sjllands Odde. The foiled alleged drug trafficking operation was intercepted by Irish authorities and 10 men were arrested for conspiracy to import drugs. Seven of the 10 men have now pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court. They are Dutch national Kiumaars Ghabiri, aged 52, Spanish nationals Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, aged 45, of no fixed address, Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, aged 56, of no fixed address, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, aged 36, of Cadiz; Angel Serran Padilla, aged 40, of Malaga; Anuar Rahui Chairi, aged 42, of Marbella; and Serbian national Aleksander Milic, aged 28. Tessa White, prosecuting counsel for the State, said that an overview of the conspiracy would first be given at the Special Criminal Court for the seven mens sentence hearings. More detail will be heard on Tuesday. Inspector Joseph Young of Bandon Garda Station gave evidence in the Special Criminal Court on Monday. Investigation At a routine checkpoint at Gully outside Bandon on February 27, 2024, gardai stopped a vehicle with two individuals a foreign national and an Irish national. Gardai noticed one of the men was nervous and evasive and elected to carry out a search, and the men were subsequently brought to Bandon garda station, Insp Young said. A notepad was found in the vehicle, which contained an entry about a pier in Roscarbery in West Cork and a second pier called Dromadoon near Skibbereen. GPS coordinates for both were recorded. Six B&Bs were also noted, with the times of how long it would take to travel from each to the two piers. On March 12, 2024, gardai received reports of suspicious activity at Tragumna pier in West Cork. Tragumna is between the two piers, which had their names and GPS coordinates recorded in the notebook. Tragumna is about 6k south of Skibbereen town and 15k from Leap village, the court heard. An articulated truck had been seen reversing down the pier, and a campervan and other vehicles were observed operating suspiciously nearby, Insp Young said. Gardai were also monitoring two vehicles a black Land Rover Discovery vehicle and a white campervan initially seen outside a popular West Cork hotel. One man linked to the vehicles checked into the hotel on March 12 using a Rotterdam-based credit card. Gardai suspected a criminal enterprise was working to import drugs at this stage, Insp Young said. Some weeks earlier, the Panamanian flagged Cool Explorer refrigerated cargo vessel left Ecuador destined for St Petersburg, Russia, due to arrive on March 17, 2024. The ship was a legitimate cargo vessel carrying legitimate cargo, Insp Young said. The ship was to pass by Lands End in the south of the UK around March, 12, 2024. On March 14 15, the Cool Explorer passed an area of Denmark called Sjllands Odde on the northwestern tip of the main island of Zealand. Some 840kg of cocaine, worth an estimated 58m to 59m was discovered subsequently washed up on beaches in the area. GPS units were attached to the bags of cocaine, which matched the coordinates used by the Cool Explorer, the court heard. Juan Antonio Gallardo arriving at Midleton Courthouse, Co Cork, last year. Picture: Larry Cummins Activity in Cork Three vehicles were observed by gardai at Tragumna pier acting suspiciously after midnight on March 14. A campervan was observed leaving an Airbnb in the village of Leap and travelling towards Tragumna. The black Land Rover and the Bulgarian-registered blue Scalia articulated truck were also seen approaching the pier. At 5.10am, a black Rib was seen approaching the pier with people on board. The articulated truck had reversed down the pier just before the Ribs arrival. People alighted from three different vehicles, and then people from the rib and the pier began passing multiple hold all bags from the rib to the pier, Insp Young said. A trailer was then winched from the back of the articulated truck, and the Rib was loaded onto it. But the men had some difficulty with the manoeuvre, and the back of the boat and its engines were still sticking out of the back of the articulated truck after it was loaded. At 7.20am, the white campervan gardai had been watching was interdicted. Five Spaniards including four who have pleaded guilty Mr Ortega, Mr Chairi, Mr Barroso, Mr Padilla and one Serbian, Mr Milic were arrested from the vehicle. The rest of the 10 men were arrested minutes later at a second interdiction at Tragumna pier at 7.25am. The Rib was in the back of the Scania truck with the intention to rendezvous with the Cool Explorer, Ms White said. Insp Young agreed that this was for an at sea drop off. The rendezvous was to take place close to the UK, Ms White said. The articulated truck had Bulgarian plates and was registered to a company in Northern Ireland which had a sister company in Bulgaria. The campervan had been hired from a legitimate company in the Armagh area. It was driven south by one of the accused who said he was going to Cork and Kerry with family for the week. The Land Rover had been stolen some months earlier in the UK, and had fake number plates. A significant amount of high-end nautical clothing and nautical equipment and its receipts were seized from the vehicles and an AirBnB. It had been bought in a nautical shop in Cork city, a Decathlon in Belfast, and on the UK mainland. Dry suits and nautical technology, including thermal imaging binoculars, two-way radios, and Meridiam satellite phones, were seized. Some 50 devices were seized in total, including multiple phones. A high frequency detector, known as a boat detector to law enforcement, was also seized. Gary Delaney, a former naval officer, compiled a report on the Rib. It had three 300 horsepower Yamaha engines onboard and a very large quantity of fuel. Its control panels and radar dome which are generally white had been spray painted black or darkened, Insp Young said. While such a vessel would usually have lights to the front and rear only one was present and was not very visible. VHF radio would usually be found on board, but this was not present. No radar reflector had been fitted, something which is usually standard in a vessel of that type. The purpose of the Rib seemed to be detecting while not being detected, Mr Delaneys report noted. A Garmin GPS device was on the Ribs console, and two additional handheld Garmin devices were found in Leap, which were also examined by Mr Delaney. Aleksander Milic arriving at Midleton Courthouse, Co Cork, last year. Picture: Larry Cummins He found that the Rib had been at Tragumna pier around 5am on March 12, 2024, which tallied with reports of suspicious activity there that morning. Some 27 waypoints which record geographic coordinates to assist with navigation were found in the console of the Rib. The waypoints showed that the Rib had made a 985k journey in just under 48 hours. It showed a travel path towards the Cool Explorer and that it changed its course twice to seemingly intercept the Cool Explorers passage. This had been noted near Lizard Point off the south west coast of the UK, Ms White noted, where the RIB allegedly tried to meet the larger ship. But the boat then made its way back to Tragumna on March 14, the court heard. Sentence hearings, in front of Justice Karen OConnor, Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain, and Judge Marie Keane, are to continue at 10.30am tomorrow in the Special Criminal Court. But three men plan to contest the charge at trial. The only Irish national arrested as part of the operation, Sean Curran, aged 38, with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, is one of three men waiting for a trial date. He is on bail and is to appear again on Monday at the Special Criminal Court when a trial date may be set. Ali Ghasemi Mazidi, aged 50, with an address in the Netherlands, and Raul Tabares Garcia, aged 48, of Cadiz in Spain are to appear via videolink on Monday for a trial date. These three mens trials are expected to take some six to eight weeks. The 10 men are charged with conspiring with one another to import controlled drugs over 13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14, 2024, both dates inclusive. The alleged offence is contrary to Section 15 B(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Gardai arrested the 10 men in March last year during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in West Cork, where an off-road vehicle, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected drug smuggling operation. Tributes have been paid to the man who died in a house fire in Cork City on Monday. The deceased, named locally as Peter Lyall, aged 62, was described as a gentleman, and a gentle giant. Well known from his time as master brewer at The Franciscan Well bar and brewery in the city, he also helped found the underage section of Fr Mathews Basketball club. He died after fire ripped through the terraced home he shared with his partner, Anna, in the Ardcullen area of Hollyhill, on the citys northside. She escaped from the blaze. Shane Long, who founded The Franciscan Well bar and brewery, hired Mr Lyall as a glass collector 28 years ago, and watched him rise to become master brewer. If you had to have a photograph in the dictionary to define the word 'gentleman', it would be a photo of Peter, he said. He was a quiet man, he kept his own counsel, but he helped so many people over the years, and the only person that ever heard about it was the person he helped. He was just that type of person. When he started with us, I thought he might last a few weeks but he was with us for 28 years. He was just so loyal. Mary Crilly, of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, knew Mr Lyall well too. He was a gorgeous person. I was mad about him. We moved in (close to the bar) around 10 years ago and we were renovating a house there and I got to know him fairly early," she said. Because if I needed someone to lift something, Peter would be there. He was just lovely. The Well would have done a bit of fundraising for the Sexual Violence Centre and anything we wanted Peter was behind us. He was very special. The alarm was raised at around 12.42am on Monday and three units of Cork City Fire Brigade rushed to the scene. The house was well ablaze when they arrived, with flames and thick black smoke pouring from the property. Neighbours comforted the woman who escaped from the house, as firefighters tackled the blaze. A team of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the burning house and found Mr Lyall unconscious in an upstairs bedroom. They brought him outside and began resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The fire was brought under control quickly. The woman was removed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation, and for shock. The occupant of an adjoining house was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Mr Lyalls remains were removed to CUH to undergo a post mortem examination, and the house was sealed off for a garda forensic examination, with initial indications suggesting the fire started accidentally. Meanwhile, gardai in Cork have appealed for witnesses after a man in his late teens was killed when the car he was driving was in collision with a truck on the N71 road between Ballinhassig and Innishannon in Cork at around 7.15am on Monday. Anyone travelling in the area between 7am and 7.30am, and who has dash-cam footage, should contact Bandon Garda Station on (023) 8852200. An EU-wide survey published last month, found that overall, one in three Europeans surveyed were concerned that there were insufficient online protections for children and young people. Digging a little deeper, Irish people were more sanguine than the average European about how digital rights and principles were applied, with almost half of those questioned in Ireland (49%) being satisfied compared to a European average of 42%. And yet, for those who care for and work for and with children, and have seen the harms that can occur, it is crystal clear that the digital world carries far too many risks for children and young people. Regulating tech platforms to produce systems and material that do not harm children is an ongoing topic at both Irish government and regulator level, and at EU level too. Now, in this second half of July, some important advances have been made. After long deliberations, the European Commission issued guidelines on Monday, July 14, to a wide number of tech platforms setting out how they are to apply EU legislation particularly the Digital Services Act to better protect children and young people from engaging with illegal and harmful content online. While the Act was there already, these guidelines are more practical, more precise, with clearer emphasis on ensuring childrens human rights and equality are respected. They emphasise that platforms must identify how risky their content is to children, and then take practical and workable steps so that children dont access it. They will have to ensure that their recommender systems which control things like the For You function on apps is stricter for young people on the companys site. They must have practical, effective age assurance systems to stop children from accessing inappropriate content. In a nutshell, the privacy, safety and security of the child and their best interest is to be central to the platforms consideration. Meanwhile back at home, the second and final section of Coimisiun na Means Online Safety Code comes into effect today. This applies to a smaller number of companies but includes some of the largest social media companies, which have their European headquarters in Ireland. Those companies have had obligations under the first part of the Online Safety Code since last November which meant that they were obliged to take steps to protect children and young people from content which could "impair their physical mental or moral development". The second part of the code, going live today, puts specific obligations on companies to effectively prevent children from accessing adult-only content such as pornography and to have good parental control and flagging systems. While we would want to see the regulators playing a much stronger role in enforcing uniform, high safety standards, rather than each platform setting its own rules, these requirements will mean that there will be better protections for children and young people using these online platforms/services. At the end of the day, that is progress. While tech companies, for the most part, will say that they welcome fair regulation, there is some restiveness. Coimisiun na Mean, the Irish regulator, has had to issue a formal notice to X formerly Twitter - to say that its not satisfied with the information X has submitted about the protection of young people on its platform. And the same company is challenging the regulator about whether the entire code should apply to it at all. A step forward These regulatory changes come with few fireworks and clashing cymbals, but they need to be acknowledged. They are a step forward. They also need to be widely known. They will have to be monitored and implemented by Coimisiun na Mean but the rest of us caregivers, educators, child rights organisations and advocates - will also need to know whats there to highlight discrepancies, to complain about breaches, to require the tech platforms to be a bit more responsible for childrens safety. We will also have to continue to highlight that while technology is with us and brings great benefits to everyone including children and young people, tech platforms and those who are in the business of making sometimes extraordinary profits from selling their digital products and advertising to us, must do it in a way that is decent and fair. We will need to be a lot less complacent than the recent survey shows we have been about the welfare and rights of our children. And we will need to continue to insist that our government and our regulators continue to scrutinise the tech industry to ensure the safety and rights of children and young people in Ireland in this, our digital world. The United Nations has expressed concern about the Talibans arrest of Afghan women and girls for their alleged failure to comply with dress code restrictions. In May 2022, the Taliban government issued a decree calling for women to show only their eyes and recommending they wear a head-to-toe burqa. The Taliban, which returned to power in 2021, has cracked down on the way women dress and behave in public, notably through morality laws forbidding them to show their faces outside the home. The UN mission in Afghanistan said it was concerned by the arrest of numerous women and girls in Kabul between July 16 and 19, who authorities claimed had not followed instructions on wearing the hijab, or the Islamic headscarf. These incidents serve to further isolate women and girls, contribute to a climate of fear, and erode public trust, the mission added, without details including the number of arrests or the ages and where they have been held. The UN mission urged the Taliban government to rescind policies and practices that restrict women and girls human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the ban on education beyond sixth grade. A Taliban representative was not immediately available for comment. In January 2024, the countrys Vice and Virtue Ministry said it had arrested women in the Afghan capital for wearing bad hijab. A ministry spokesman, Abdul Ghafar Farooq, did not say how many women were arrested or what constituted bad hijab. The UN mission said at the time it was looking into claims of ill treatment of the women and extortion in exchange for their release. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and Nato forces. Since then, the Taliban administration has sought international recognition while enforcing its interpretation of Islamic law. In July, Russia became the only country to grant formal recognition. Elon Musks social media platform X has denied accusations from French prosecutors of alleged data tampering and fraud, calling them politically motivated. X was responding to an announcement earlier this month from the Paris prosecutors office, which said it was opening an investigation into the two alleged offences. Both offences involved an automated data processing system, according to prosecutors, who provided few details of the alleged wrongdoing. They are potentially punishable in France with a jail term of up to 10 years. The platform said French authorities were carrying out a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged fraudulent data extraction. X categorically denies these allegations, it said in a post from its Global Government Affairs account. French authorities have launched a politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged fraudulent data extraction. X categorically denies these allegations. This investigation, instigated by French politician Eric Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) July 21, 2025 The prosecutors office has said it acted on information that two people provided in January to its cyber crimes unit. One of them is a member of parliament, and the other is a senior official in a French government institution. It did not identify them or the institution. Prosecutors said the two people alleged suspected use of Xs algorithm for the purposes of foreign interference, without providing details. The platform said it remains in the dark about the the specific allegations. However, based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech. The Paris prosecutors office said that it has asked X to grant police investigators access to its algorithm, as part of the probe. The request was made in a letter last week, it said. It said that investigators are bound by confidentiality and that only those in charge of the investigation will have access. The office said it has not had a formal response from X. Israeli ground troops for the first time on Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages families said it was shocked and alarmed by the incursion, which was confirmed by an Israeli military official, and demanded answers from Israeli leaders. Smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks. The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gazas Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine. In the latest sign of international frustration, the United Kingdom, France and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a statement saying the war in Gaza must end now. They harshly criticised Israels restrictions on humanitarian aid and called for the release of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza. Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in Deir al-Balah during repeated waves of mass displacement in Gaza. Associated Press reporters heard explosions and saw smoke rising from parts of the city that were ordered evacuated on Sunday. The Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said it was the first time ground troops had operated in the area. A man living in the evacuation zone, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Israel dropped pamphlets at dawn ordering people to evacuate. Two hours later, tanks rolled into the area. He said his 62-year-old father, who had spent the night elsewhere, fled from house to house as Israeli forces moved in and saw them flattening structures with bulldozers and tanks. Both men managed to leave the evacuation zone. The military declined to say if it had ordered the evacuation of aid groups based in the city, saying only that it maintains continuous contact with them and facilitates their relocation when necessary. Israel has taken over large areas of Gaza and split the territory with corridors stretching from the border to the sea as it seeks to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. In response to the Deir al-Balah incursion, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum warned in its statement that the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didnt know what was at stake. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war and killed around 1,200 people. Less than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. 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. By Rob Geist Pinfold, Kings College London (The Conversation) Several days of bitter sectarian fighting in the south of Syria brought the fledgling government in Damascus dangerously close to direct conflict with Israel, after Israeli warplanes launched strikes against government buildings in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on July 16. The United Nations and a number of countries condemned the attacks, which the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said were escalatory airstrikes. Yet Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, triumphantly used the social media site X to post a video of a Syrian news anchor diving for cover during the strikes. Efforts to agree a ceasefire in the region have faltered and fighting between Druze and Bedouin militias in the southern Syrian province of Sweida is understood to have resumed. The BBC has reported that at least 600 people have been killed in the fighting so far. The violence was seemingly sparked by a petty crime. On July 11, a Bedouin gang allegedly kidnapped and robbed a Druze merchant and the road between Sweida and Damascus. This prompted a series of tit-for-tat sectarian kidnappings and killings. On July 14, Syrian security forces entered the province to restore order, only to be ambushed by Druze fighters. Reports of these fighters executing government forces caused outrage throughout the country. Syrias government then sent more troops, including tanks and heavy weapons. But as these reinforcements arrived, they were met by a new challenge: more deadly and prolific Israeli airstrikes against government forces. Weak central government This cycle of violence exemplifies the underlying cause of the recent conflict. Syrias interim central government lacks the credibility and capacity to exert its authority throughout the country. This is particularly true in Sweida, which has been de facto autonomous for many years. The overstretched Assad regime largely withdrew from the province, during the decade of civil war. When his regime fell, many of the local militias which had served as Sweidas de facto rulers were reluctant to surrender their weapons. The recent violence exemplifies why this is a problem. Absent a strong local state, Druze militias took it upon themselves to exact justice, allegedly leading them to attack innocent Bedouins. This led the Bedouins to mobilise in self-defence. There are reports of violence and summary executions on both sides and also by government troops. Syrias Druze have good reason not to trust the new regime in Damascus, given the latters jihadist roots and history of anti-Druze violence during the civil war. The Sweida Military Council (SMC), a Druze militia led by the Venezualan-born cleric, Hikmet al-Hiji, were hostile to the new government almost from the outset. Other Druze militias in Sweida and elsewhere, however, were in tentative negotiations with Damascus to integrate into government control. That would be a welcome and necessary step for creating trust in Syrias new administration and increasing its capacity and capability to rule throughout the country. But this process has now been derailed. Damascuss mass mobilisation of troops, tanks and heavy weapons was condemned by all Sweidas Druze factions, including those formerly close to the government. Some of these groups even fought the advancing security forces. After government troops withdrew as part of the most recent ceasefire agreement, the province has quickly returned to the same chaotic militia rule that first caused the violence. Bedouin militias have already rejected the ceasefire and resumed hostilities against their Druze rivals. Israels position The recent violence has not only exacerbated sectarian tensions throughout Syria, it has also disrupted the tentative Israel-Syria peace process. Just one week ago, observers speculated that Israel and Syria might normalise relations. That now looks increasingly unlikely. When the Assad regime fell in December 2024, Israel occupied swaths of Syrian territory and launched an unprecedented number of strikes throughout the country. Under heavy US pressure, though, Israel moderated its policies. It even began direct negotiations with Syrias new government. But as the conflict in southern Syria escalated, Jerusalem warned Damascus that a mass deployment of the states security forces within the province would cross a red line, because it would bring Syrian troops close to Israels borders. It would also endanger Syrias Druze, a community that Israels government have sworn to protect. But the fledgling Syrian government has said it aims to be an inclusive, centrally run rather than a federal state, so it has to bring Druze and other minorities, such as Syrias Kurds, into the fold and put an end to the sectarian clashes. Photo by Essa Mhmad on Unsplash By subsequently escalating its attacks, killing more members of the state security forces than since the Assad regime fell and humiliating the government by destroying its institutions in Damascus, Israel got the result it wanted. It did so, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, through forceful actions. The Israel prime minister told journalists on July 17 that: We have established a clear policy: the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus and the protection of our brothers, the Druze. Israel was faced with a choice: continue imposing its will on Syria militarily, or cooperate with the countrys new government. It has apparently chosen the former. The fact is that in Sweida, and elsewhere in the fractured country, Syria remains a state with too many guns, gangs, militias and powerful external interests vying for control. Its heterogeneous population increasingly distrust one another and rely on their own ethno-religious groups to fulfil the responsibilities that a weak and distrusted central government cannot. That distrust continues to flare into open violence in southern Syria. And it appears there is little the fragile central government can do about it. Rob Geist Pinfold, Lecturer in International Security, Kings College London This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an operations update and to report preliminary quarterly gold production from the Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji for the quarter ending June 30th, 2025. Highlights of Operations: Record mill utilization of 96% Record mill throughput of 33,726 tonnes Record capital development of 489 m Record operating development of 1,014 m Shrink stope development complete, production beginning Sustained increase in gold recoveries Preliminary Quarterly Production Results: 3,577 oz of gold sold 3,214 oz of gold recovered 81.6% recovery 3.6 g/t gold average head grade Total revenue of C$16,300,821 Lion One Metals sold approximately 3,577 oz of gold and 1,233 oz of silver during the three-month period ending June 30th, 2025. The average sale price for the quarter was C$4,541 per ounce of gold sold. Total revenue for the quarter was C$16,300,821, which represents a 24% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter (C$13,173,024), and a 77% increase in revenue compared to the same quarter last year (C$9,187,046). Gold revenue for the quarter was enhanced by higher gold prices, increased recoveries, and higher mill throughput, as well as the sale of additional gold recovered from the gold in circuit. Average head grade for the quarter was low due to the delayed completion of the mine ventilation project, which caused a delay in mine development in lower levels of the mine. This limited the Company's flexibility and opportunity to mine high grade material during the quarter as mine development recovered from the delay. Mill performance for the quarter was very strong, achieving record quarterly mill utilization of 96%. This resulted in a record 33,726 tonnes of mineralized material being processed through the mill, for an average throughput of approximately 371 tonnes per day for the quarter. With minimal down time for maintenance and repairs, the processing team was able to focus on debottlenecking efforts and improved carbon management, which in turn resulted in a sustained increase in gold recoveries at the end of the quarter. Gold recovery for the month of June was 84.1%, compared to an average of 80.3% over the previous 12 months at Tuvatu (Figure 1). With construction of the flotation circuit underway, gold recoveries are anticipated to increase to over 90% by the end of 2025 (see release dated March 20, 2025). Figure 1. Tuvatu Monthly Recovery, Last Six Months. Gold recoveries increased from a 12-month average of 80.3% to 84.1% in June 2025 because of debottlenecking efforts and improved carbon management at the mill. Mine development achieved record levels during the quarter with a total of 1,503 m of underground development completed. The arrival of new mining equipment during the quarter, as well as the completion of the mine ventilation project in early April enabled the mining team to increase the rate of underground development and to open more levels of the mine. The top three months of development at Tuvatu were all achieved during this past quarter, with a new record monthly development of 545 m achieved in May 2025. The average monthly mine development at Tuvatu for the 12 months preceding this quarter was 340.5 m (Figure 2). More new mining equipment is scheduled to arrive on site and undergo commissioning in July and August, which is expected to further increase the rate of development at Tuvatu. Notably, the development of the Company's first shrinkage stope is now complete, with production scheduled for July, August, and September. Drilling in the shrinkage stope has returned high grade intervals, such as 142.66 g/t Au over 2.2 m, 489.52 g/t Au over 0.4 m, 168.95 g/t Au over 0.5 m, and 156.55 g/t Au over 0.6 m (see news releases dated March 25, 2025 and May 12, 2025). Lion One CEO Ian Berzins stated: "With the Tuvatu gold mine still in the pilot plant stage of development, we have made great progress this quarter in laying the foundations for future success at Tuvatu. We have increased gold recoveries on the mill side and we have increased the rate of underground development on the mine side, both of which we expect to continue to improve moving forward. With production from the shrink stope coming online in July we anticipate this upcoming quarter to achieve even stronger results." Figure 2. Tuvatu Monthly Mine Development, Last Six Months. Record Capital and Operating Development was achieved during the quarter ending June 30th 2025. This was a result of the arrival of new mining equipment during the quarter as well as the completion of the mine ventilation project in early April 2025. Record mine development of 545 m was achieved in May 2025. This compares to average monthly mine development of 340.5 m during the preceding 12 months from April 2024 to March 2025. Qualified Persons Statement In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"), William J. Witte, P.Eng., Principal Advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Lion One Laboratories / QAQC Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical assay laboratory and its own fleet of diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods. Diamond drill core samples are logged by Lion One personnel on site. Exploration diamond drill core is split by Lion One personnel on site, with half core samples sent for analysis and the other half core remaining on site. Grade control diamond drill core is whole core assayed. Core samples are delivered to the Lion One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85% passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method, which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples. Duplicates of 5% of samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) but currently focuses on a suite of 26 important pathfinder elements with an aqua regia digest and ICP-OES finish. About Lion One Metals Limited Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Walter Berukoff, Chairman of the Board Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Vancouver, British Columbia - TheNewswire - July 21, 2025 Armory Mining Corp. (CSE: ARMY) (OTC: RMRYF) (FRA: 2JS) (the "Company" or "Armory") a resource exploration company focused on the discovery and development of minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an assignment agreement (the Assignment Agreement) with 1321968 BC Ltd. (1321968), Northex Capital Partners Inc. (Northex), and Tidal Gold Corp. (Tidal together with Northex, the Optionors) pursuant to which 1321968 agreed to assign to the Company an option (the Option) to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral claims located in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, which will form part of the Companys Riley Creek Project. 1321968 holds the Option pursuant to a property option agreement dated February 1, 2024 between 1321968 and the Optionors. The Riley Creek Project comprises four mineral claims located within the prospective Riley Creek epithermal gold property. These four mineral tenures host key mineral occurrences which are positioned along the regionally significant Rennell-Louscoone northwest trending fault system. The mineral claims are located slightly inland from Rennell Sound, near the west coast of Graham Island, Haida Gwaii in the Skeena Mining Division. The Riley Creek Project can be accessed by traveling along all-weather logging roads for approximately 25km from Daajing Giids. The closest airport is Sandspit Regional Airport which has regular service to Vancouver and is 45km to the southeast. The previous work on the Riley Creek Project area was completed in 2022, verifying high-grade antimony results documented in historic reports. Sample R-10011-JM was collected from an antimony (Sb)-quartz vein located to the east of the Courte Zone and contained overlimit antimony of >10,000ppm. At the time of the work, the focus was on evaluating the property for its gold potential, consequently, the high-grade antimony result was not followed up. According to the Annual Report to the Ministry of Mines published in 1942, Luke Watson's prospecting returned a sample containing 32.9% antimony in the same area as the Riley Creek Project. The three other mineral occurrences that sit within the acquired mineral claims are the Needles, Sol/Gumbo, and Rumpelstiltskin. The Needles occurrence (MINFILE No: 103F 006) is the northwestern most claim where a pervasive zone of propylitic alteration is defined over a 330 by 300m area. The zone also includes a 5- to 10-meter-wide mineralized northwest trending fault zone with a sample assaying 13.7 grams-per-tonne gold (Assessment Report 11533). The Sol/Gumbo (MINFILE No: 103F 001) is 1km to the east of Needles and contains little outcrop. However, soil sampling by previous operators returned values of up to 660 ppb gold, with anomalous antimony pathfinder elements gold and arsenic defined over a 1300m by 300m area. The central claim contains the Courte showing (MINFILE No: 103F 003) as described in the above paragraph and contains the highest-grade antimony results on the property. The Rumpelstiltskin zone is in the southeast end of the property (MINFILE No: 103F 060) is defined by a strong clay-carbonate-silica alteration zone in volcanic sandstones and tuffs with up to 4% sulphides reported. In this zone, surface samples have returned from 1.25 to 7.8 grams-per-tonne gold (George Cross Newsletter #94 May 17, 1982). The Riley Creek Project is underlain by volcanic and sedimentary strata of the Jurassic Yakoun Formation which has been intruded by a number of dacitic feldspar porphyry dykes of possible Tertiary age. The dykes occur along a major WNW-trending fault system which is part of the Rennell-Louscoone Fault Zone and is considered to have a genetic relationship with known alterations and mineralization in the Riley Creek area. There are a series of Jurassic-Cretaceous aged plutons that intruded the Mesozoic strata exposed along lower Riley Creek and the coast, at the mouth of Riley Creek. The primary exploration targets are areas of Sb-Au-As-Hg mineralization and associated hydrothermal alteration, veining, faulting, dykes and anomalous soil geochemistry (Sb, Au, As, Hg) that lie along the WNW-trending Riley Creek fault zone. The geological environment is indicative of a low sulphidation epithermal gold system or Carlin-like setting and is thought to be similar to the significant Harmony Gold Project located 22km to the NE which has a historical resource estimate containing over 3 million ounces of gold. The Riley Creek Project is now completely consolidated and the Company, upon closing of the Option transaction, will be well positioned to undertake high-impact exploration this year to evaluate the true potential of this low sulphidation epithermal antimony-gold project. Were pleased to add what we feel is fertile ground to the Riley Project, said Alex Klenman, CEO of the Company. The antimony values generated in historical work are compelling and were planning to begin systematic, phased exploration in the coming months. The well documented antimony shortage combined with critical metals status and its importance to the defense and security sectors makes this an impactful acquisition for Armory. We will continue to position the Company to benefit from the growing importance of this and other critical metals, continued Mr. Klenman. The Terms of the Assignment Agreement In consideration for the assignment of the Option, the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 10,100,000 common shares in the capital of the Company to the shareholders of 1321968 and the Optionors as indicated in the table below: Share Issuances No. of Shares: Issuable to: First Share Issuance(1) 500,000 500,000 8,000,000 Tidal Northex Shareholders of 1321968 Second Share Issuance(2) 200,000 200,000 100,000 Tidal Northex Shareholder of 1321968 Third Share Issuance(3) 250,000 250,000 100,000 Tidal Northex Shareholder of 1321968 Total: 10,100,000 Notes: Issuable within five (5) business days from receipt of approval of the Assignment Agreement from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the Exchange Acceptance Date), as required. Issuable on the later of: (i) five business days of the Exchange Acceptance Date; and (ii) July 30, 2025 or, if an equity capital raise with a minimum price per equity security of $0.05 and minimum gross proceeds of $500,000 is completed by the Company prior to July 30, 2025, then within three business days after the closing of such equity capital raise. Issuable on the later of: (i) five business days of the Exchange Acceptance Date; and (ii) February 1, 2026. All common shares of the Company issuable pursuant to the Assignment Agreement will be subject to a statutory four month hold from the date of issuance. To exercise the Option to acquire a 100% interest in the mineral claims comprising the Riley Creek Project, the Company is required to: (i) incur $50,000 of exploration expenditures on the project on or before October 31, 2025; and (ii) pay the Optionors an additional cash sum of $100,000 on or before October 31, 2026. If the Option is exercised, the Companys 100% interest in the Riley Project will be subject to a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty granted to the Optionors. The Company will maintain the right, at any time, to purchase 1.0% of the net smelter returns royalty (leaving the Optionors with a 1.0% net smelter returns royalty) for a one-time payment of $500,000. Qualified Person Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. All data in this news release is historical in nature and was not verified by the Company. The reader is cautioned that the historical results are based on prior data and reports prepared by previous property owners and other sources. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the work at the Riley Project, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work to verify the results. The reader is cautioned not to treat them, or any part of them, as current and that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to verify the results and that they may not form a reliable guide to future results. No independent QA/QC protocols are known for these samples and as such analytical results may be unreliable. Referenced nearby mining companies and deposits provide geologic context for the Riley Project, but are not indicative that the Riley Project hosts similar potential, size or grades of mineralization. No mineral resources have been estimated at the Riley Project and there is no assurance that further work will result in a mineral resource classification. Disposition of the Kaslo Silver Property The Company also announces that it has entered into an agreement (the Kaslo Agreement) with 2724898 Alberta Inc. (2724898), a private Alberta company, pursuant to which the Company has agreed to sell to 2724898 the Companys 100% interest in and to certain mineral claims located in west of Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada, known as the Kaslo Silver Project. The obligations underlying the existing 2.5% net smelter return royalty on the Kaslo Silver Project will also be assumed by and transferred to 2724898 as part of the sale. Pursuant to the Kaslo Agreement, as consideration for the purchase of the Kaslo Silver Project from the Company, 2724898 has agreed to pay $100,000 in cash (which amount has been received and was previously advanced by 2724898 to the Company as a loan) and issue 1,500,000 common shares of 2724898 at a deemed price of $0.20 per share to the Company. The shares of 2724898 received by the Company will be subject to voluntary resale restrictions such that 500,000 shares and 1,000,000 shares cannot be sold, assigned, transferred or pledged for a period of 12 months and 24 months, respectively, from the date that the shares or any equivalent securities exchanged for the shares are listed on a recognized stock exchange. The proposed transactions described in this news release remain subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (if required), and are expected to complete shortly. There are no guarantees that the proposed transactions will be completed as contemplated or at all. For additional information, please refer to the Companys public disclosure record available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. About Armory Mining Corp Armory Mining Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors. The Company controls an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina and a 100% interest in the Riley Creek antimony-gold project located in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Ammo antimony-gold project located in Nova Scotia. Contact Information Alex Klenman CEO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. Forward-looking statements: Certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Company completing the transactions contemplated by the Assignment Agreement and the Kaslo Agreement the Company being well positioned to undertake high-impact exploration this summer; and further exploration on the Riley Project. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as anticipates, anticipated expected intends will or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Highlights: Hole 1274-17-269-W1b intersected 20 metres of strong VMS style mineralization 80 metres beyond current resource boundary. Visual observations (refer to Figure 1) confirm the presence of copper stringers and mineralization in key growth corridors; assays pending. A total of six holes completed, and 4,829 metres drilled to date in Phase 3, with two rigs active and 15,171 metres remaining. London, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE: AMQ) (OTCQB: AMQFF) (FSE: FW0) ("Abitibi" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the progress of its ongoing Phase 3 drill program at the B26 Polymetallic Deposit in Quebec. Drilling has successfully intersected mineralization outside the current Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"), confirming expansion potential in multiple directions. The Company currently owns 50% of the B26 Deposit and retains the option to earn an additional 30% from SOQUEM Inc. ("SOQUEM"), a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec (see news release dated November 16, 2023). As of this release, six holes have been completed in Phase 3 and a total of 4,829 metres drilled to date (This includes the holes drilled prior to breakup). Two drill rigs remain active on site, testing high-priority expansion zones across the western, down-plunge, and southeastern extensions of the B26 mineralized system. "What's particularly exciting is the volume of high-grade mineralization sitting outside the current resource model," added Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals. "The holes being drilled in this phase 3 program have the potential to rapidly convert the open zones into a new phase of resource growth - and that's where a company value re-rating begins. It's also important to highlight that results from our Phase 2 drill program were not included in the recent resource update, underscoring the additional future upside for Abitibi Metals." Drilling Update at B26 Deposit: Abitibi has completed several key step-out holes designed to test the boundaries of the current resource model. Visual analysis of core indicates strong mineralization in multiple holes. Notable Highlights include: 1274-17-269-W1b: Intersected a mineralized zone approximately 80 metres beyond the existing MRE, representing a meaningful step-out and validating continued growth potential. This hole encountered a heavily mineralized interval of 6.6 metres from 993.0 within a broader 17.4-metre mineralized package between 982.2 and 999.6 metres downhole; assays are pending. 1274-17-269-W2b: Currently in progress, targeting an additional 80-metre step-out from hole 1274-24-338W1 in the eastern extension, aimed at following up on previously intersected mineralization 1274-25-368 : Currently in progress, targeting an additional 160-metre step-out from hole 1274-16-234 in the eastern extension, aimed at following up on previously intersected mineralization. 1274-25-367: Drilling has been completed with core processing in progress, targeting an additional 80-metre step-out from hole 1274-14-182 in the eastern extension, aimed at following up on previously intersected Figure 1: Copper stringers mineralization observed in Hole 1274-17-269W1b Figure 2: B26 Long Section with Holes Completed B26's Expansion Potential: With over 1.8 km of strike length and excellent vertical continuity, the 2024 mineral estimate of B26 outlines a global resource of 11.3MT @ 2.13% Cu Eq (indicated) & 7.2MT @ 2.21% Cu Eq (inferred). However, as the current drilling demonstrates, the system remains open in multiple directions, providing the opportunity to significantly grow current resources, positioning Abitibi Metals as one of the most compelling copper growth stories in Canada. Strategic Focus of Phase 3 Program: With up to 17,500 metres planned in Phase 3, drilling is focused on multiple targets as outlined in the recently released long section: Western Extension : Multiple holes are testing the western strike of high-grade Cu-Au lenses, targeting continuity up to several hundred metres beyond the current model. Eastern Extension: Six holes to test the eastern extension of the deposit in the vicinity of the N-S diabase dyke Down-Plunge Growth : Deeper drilling aims to extend the interpreted plunge of the Cu-Au system with potential additional high-grade lenses at depth. Southeastern Gravimetric Anomaly : A large untested geophysical target southeast of the main zone, situated along the plunge vector, is now being drilled and may represent a blind lens and have the potential for a massive extension of the mineralized system. Central Zone Step-Outs and Infill : Holes are designed to improve model confidence and continuity as well as testing lateral expansion potential in zones with prior high-grade hits (>2.0% CuEq). Branch Hole Strategy: Directional drilling technology is being used from existing collars to efficiently test multiple orientations around positive results, minimizing time and reducing drilling costs. All targets were selected based on 3D modelling of the updated 2024 resource, historical drilling, and advanced geophysical interpretations. Figure 3: B26 Deposit-Long Section Target Summary Collectively, these targets represent a critical step in unlocking the next phase of growth at B26. With the potential to significantly expand the strike length, depth, and overall mineralized footprint of the deposit, this phase of drilling could significantly enhance the scale, grade continuity, and long-term development potential of one of Quebec's most promising mineral deposits. Looking Ahead: Initial assay results from Phase 3 are expected in the coming month and will continue throughout the remainder of 2025. Abitibi Metals is fully funded to Q1, 2027, the Company has budgeted approximately 25,000 additional metres for Phase 4 drilling, to be strategically deployed in 2026 based on ongoing exploration success. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Louis Gariepy, P.Eng (OIQ #107538), VP Exploration of Abitibi Metals, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Abitibi Metals Corp: Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE: AMQ) is a Quebec-focused mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality base and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Abitibi's portfolio of strategic properties provides target-rich diversification and includes the option to earn 80% of the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Deposit, which hosts a resource estimate1 of 11.3MT @ 2.13% Cu Eq (Ind- 1.23% Cu, 1.27% Zn, 0.46 g/t Au and 31.9 g/t Ag) & 7.2MT @ 2.21% Cu Eq (Inf - 1.56% Cu, 0.17% Zn, 0.87 g/t Au and 7.4 g/t Ag), and the Beschefer Gold Project, where historical drilling has identified 4 historical intercepts with a metal factor of over 100 g/t gold highlighted by 55.63 g/t gold over 5.57 metres (BE13-038) and 13.07 g/t gold over 8.75 metres (BE12-014) amongst four modeled zones. About SOQUEM: SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, is dedicated to promoting the exploration, discovery and development of mining properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development of Quebec's mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research and strategic minerals to be well-positioned for the future. The Company also maintains an active presence on various social media platforms to keep stakeholders and the general public informed and encourages shareholders and interested parties to follow and engage with the Company through the following channels to stay updated with the latest news, industry insights, and corporate announcements: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbitibiMetals LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/abitibi-metals-corp-amq-c/ Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Note 1: Technical Report NI 43-101 Resource Estimation Update Project B26, Quebec, For Abitibi Metals Corp., By SGS Canada Inc., Yann Camus, ing., Olivier Vadnais-Leblanc, geo., SGS Canada - Geostat., Effective Date: November 1, 2024, Date of Report: February 26, 2025 Forward-looking statement: This news release contains certain statements, which may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information involves statements that are not based on historical information but rather relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments on the B26 Project or otherwise. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions, which are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control and many of which, regarding future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on the Company's behalf. Although Abitibi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. All factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Abitibi's forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," or variations of such words and phrases (including negative and grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "might" or "occur. Mineral exploration and development are highly speculative and are characterized by a number of significant inherent risks, which may result in the inability of the Company to successfully develop current or proposed projects for commercial, technical, political, regulatory or financial reasons, or if successfully developed, may not remain economically viable for their mine life owing to any of the foregoing reasons, among others. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in achieving commercial mineral production and the likelihood of success must be considered in light of the stage of operations. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Bayridge Resources Corp. (CSE: BYRG) (OTCQB: BYRRF) (FSE: O0K) ("Bayridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce mobilization of drill crews and equipment as part of the 2025 drill program on the Constellation uranium project (the "Project"). Highlights: This will be the maiden drill program and the first holes ever drilled at Constellation Drilling will focus initially on two conductors identified from the 2024 VTEM survey the 5km Brule Lake conductor (Area B) a northeast to north striking conductor striking across the heart of the property the 2.5km northeast to east striking North conductor (Area A) The helicopter supported program is budgeted for a minimum of 1,000 metres with holes ranging from 300 to 350 metres in length "Bayridge is eager to commence its maiden drill program at Constellation on two compelling conductor targets along the felsic gneiss - metasediment contact, ideal targets for basement hosted uranium," commented President & CEO, Saf Dhillon. "This program is fully funded from the existing treasury so it is all systems go," he continued. Figure 1. Constellation Location Ground Prospecting and Mapping Results Area A (North Corridor) Prospecting and mapping results within Area A highlight a priority trend that contains multiple samples with elevated uranium concentrations correlating with mapped structural trends. The maximum uranium value within this trend was 52.5 ppm and is hosted in pegmatites conformable to the regional structural fabric. Strong interpreted VTEM responses confirm the potential of the North Conductor (Figure 3). Area B (Brule Lake Conductor) Prospecting and mapping results within Area B are highlighted by the highest uranium concentration from the prospecting program on the Project with a value of 488 ppm. The host rock within this target area consists primarily of psammitic to pelitic gneisses exhibiting pervasive hematite alteration that is locally associated with thin quartz bands. The gneisses, conformable to the regional structural trend, were intruded by a radiometrically elevated granite intrusion. The prospecting results within this target area directly overlie an interpreted VTEM conductor anomaly. (Figure 3). Bayridge cautions investors that grab samples are select samples by their nature and may not necessarily be indicative of similar mineralization on the property. Figure 2 Constellation Phase I Priority Targets over Total Magnetics Figure 3 Constellation Phase I Priority Targets over VTEM TAU The Constellation property has favourable geology for basement-hosted unconformity-style uranium deposits. The regional geology and magnetics have defined structural lineaments trending NNW and ESE, which could represent structural conduits between the Archean granite inlier and graphitic metasediments that have been mapped on the property. These types of structural zones typically act as pathways for hydrothermal activity. Historical NE-trending conductors have also been outlined on the property but are under-explored and un-drilled. Strong EM conductors are proven targets associated with unconformity and basement-hosted uranium mineralization in and around the Athabasca Basin. Bayridge has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in Constellation through a series of cash payments, share issuances and exploration expenditures over the next 4 years. R. Tim Henneberry, P.Geo. (BC), and a Consultant and Advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. QA/QC All exploration rock samples from the program were hand delivered to the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories (SRC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, by TerraLogic Exploration Ltd. personnel. Both SRC and TerraLogic are independent of Bayridge Resources Corp. SRC prepared, processed, and conducted multi-element analysis by ICP-MS and ICP-OES using total (HF:NHO3:HClO4) and partial digestion (HNO3:HCl) as well as boron by fusion. All samples submitted were representative grab samples from outcrop or sub-crop exposures. SRC is an ISO/IEC 17025/2005 and Standards Council of Canada certified analytical laboratory. Blanks and standard reference materials were inserted into the sample stream at regular intervals by TerraLogic on in accordance with Bayridge's quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. Geochemical results were subject to verification procedures by qualified persons employed by TerraLogic prior to disclosure. About Bayridge Resources Corp. Bayridge Resources Corp. is a green energy company advancing its portfolio of Canadian uranium and lithium projects. The 1,337 ha Waterbury East project is located 25 km northeast of the Cigar Lake Mine in the northeastern Athabasca Basin region. Geophysical surveys have identified a 7km long conductivity corridor where mid-2000's drilling highlighted faulted and altered basement rock with local uranium enrichment. Large sections of this corridor remain untested. The 11,142 ha Constellation project is located 60 km south of the present-day Athabasca Basin edge in an area of significant exploration activity for basement hosted uranium. Historic airborne radiometric, electromagnetic, and magnetic surveys identified electromagnetic conductors associated with magnetic lows. The 4,413 ha Sharpe Lake project, located in the Red Lake Mining District of Northern Ontario, hosts peraluminous S-type muscovite bearing pegmatite bearing granites in contact with metasediments. Preliminary sampling has highlighted anomalous rare-element values, potentially indicative of lithium mineralization. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Forward-looking information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Company's exploration and drill campaign plans at Constellation, enhanced magnetic and electromagnetic anomalies at Constellation, undertaking drilling at Constellation without additional financing or dilution and potential uranium and lithium discovery for the Company's projects. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. VANCOUVER, BC, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Argenta Silver Corp. (TSXV: AGAG) (OTCQB: AGAGF) (FSE: T1K) ("Argenta" or the "Company") is pleased to report the first batch of assay results from its ongoing 2025 winter diamond drilling program at the 100% owned El Quevar Project in Salta Province, Argentina. The first drill holes completed by the Company on the El Quevar Project have delivered wide, high-grade silver intersections, and results from additional sampling of historic drill core confirms upside for resource expansion. Surface rock sampling from underexplored areas on the property have returned multiple high-grade silver results highlighting the growth potential of new mineralized zones. Highlights QVD-410 delivers 533 g/t Ag over 20.20 meters, including 1,320 g/t Ag over 4.00 m (which includes 3,549 g/t Ag over 1.00 m ), plus 484 g/t Ag over 5.00 m , and 805 g/t Ag over 3.20 m . including 1,320 g/t Ag over (which includes 3,549 g/t Ag over ), plus 484 g/t Ag over , and 805 g/t Ag over . QVD-409 validates continuity with 309 g/t Ag over 26.00 meters, including 713 g/t Ag over 8.25 m , which also includes 1,169 g/t Ag over 2.50 m , plus a shallow 1.00 m with 1.22 g/t Au. including 713 g/t Ag over , which also includes 1,169 g/t Ag over , plus a shallow with 1.22 g/t Au. QVD-408 step-out success: 112 g/t Ag over 19.20 meters , including 408 g/t Ag over 2.20 m and 105 g/t Ag over 7.00 m , extending the high-grade zone 50 m to the southeast. , including 408 g/t Ag over and 105 g/t Ag over Historic core sampling: new sampling of un-assayed historic drill core now assayed, returning up to 602 g/t Ag over 3.00 m including 882 g/t Ag over 1.00 m . 35 % of historical drilling (~ 38,000 m) has been cut and assayed, leaving some 66,000 m of core unanalyzed and available at a low cost for potential resource expansion. new sampling of un-assayed historic drill core now assayed, returning up to (~ 38,000 m) has been cut and assayed, leaving some 66,000 m of core unanalyzed and available at a low cost for potential resource expansion. Surface sampling exceeds analytical upper detection limit of 20,000 g/t Ag for a single rock grab sample, with additional surface rock grab samples of 16,145 g/t and 6,004 g/t Ag across the new Quevar South targets. *Intervals shown are core length. Estimated true widths vary between 60 to 85% of core reported length. Insufficient re-modelling and drill density on new data has been completed to calculate true width at this time. Joaquin Marias, CEO, President and Director of Argenta Silver Corp. commented: "The wait is over. While silver spot prices are on the verge of new record highs, our first batch of results is here, a true statement of El Quevar's potential to deliver unparalleled results. Since the company's inception, our approach has been laserfocused on creating sustainable value for our stakeholders. With assays returning 533 g/t Ag over 20.20 m in a drill intercept, a surface rock-chip sample topping 20,000 g/t Ag and legacy core that has been sampled for the first time returning positive high-grade silver results, we've only just begun to unlock the true potential of this highgrade silver system. Expect more results from the ongoing exploration program." 2025 Winter Drilling Program Results First Group of Results Drilling kicked off in late May as part of a fully funded 4,000 m winter campaign designed to confirm known highgrade zones, step out along strike, and test new targets. Assays from the first three drill holes have been received, with results for the remaining holes expected by mid-August and mid-September. Of the three holes with assays in hand: One stepout hole (QVD-408) extended the known mineralized footprint by 50 m to the southeast , an area previously untested by historical drilling which was recently highlighted by Argenta's technical team to have potential. This result supports followup drilling in upcoming programs and encourages the company to test the extensions of the current deposit for further step-outs. , an area previously untested by historical drilling which was recently highlighted by Argenta's technical team to have potential. This result supports followup drilling in upcoming programs and encourages the company to test the extensions of the current deposit for further step-outs. Two confirmation holes (QVD409 and QVD410) intersected multiple, broad highgrade silver intervals within the Yaxtche Deposit, providing fresh material to document alteration, lithology and the consistent highgrade silver character of the mineralization. Highlighted intercepts from these 3 drillholes* (see Table 1): QVD-408 [step-out drillhole to southeast of the Yaxtche deposit]: 112 g/t Ag over 19.20 m ; including 408 g/t Ag over 2.20 m , and 105 g/t Ag over 7.00 m ( which includes 2.00 m containing 0.30 g/t Au ), and 108 g/t Ag over 2.00 m . [step-out drillhole to southeast of the Yaxtche deposit]: ; including and which includes ), and . QVD-409 [confirmation hole]: 309 g/t Ag over 26.00 m ; including 244 g/t Ag over 2.00 m , and 180 g/t Ag over 2.10 m , and 461 g/t Ag over 14.75 m which includes 713 g/t Ag over 8.25 m with a shorter intercept of 2.50 m containing 1,169 g/t Ag. The hole also intercepted 1.22 g/t Au over 1.00 m at shallow depths from 22 to 23 m deep. [confirmation hole]: ; including , and , and which includes with a shorter intercept of The hole also intercepted at shallow depths from 22 to deep. QVD-410 [confirmation hole]: 533 g/t Ag over 20.20 m , including 1,320 g/t Ag over 4.00 m (which includes 1.00 m containing 3,549 g/t Ag), and including 484 g/t Ag over 5.00 m , and 805 g/t Ag over 3.20 m . *Intervals shown are core length. Estimated true widths vary between 60 to 85% of core reported length. Insufficient re-modelling and drill density on new data has been completed to calculate true width at this time. The results from the three drill holes received to date as well as the surface rock sampling validate the Company's existing resource model and underscore the untapped potential at El Quevar. They confirm the high-grade, pure silver character of the mineralization and reinforce the need of systematic exploration when less than 3% of the property has seen modern exploration. Table 1: 2025 Winter Drilling Program Assays (cut-off-100 g/t Ag) Hole ID From [m] To [m] Length* [m] Ag [g/t] Au [g/t] Pb [%] Zn [%] Cu [%] End Of Hole [m] QVD-408 89.80 109.00 19.20 112 0.06 0.08 0.02 0.19 208.50 including 89.80 92.00 2.20 408 0.03 0.12 0.09 0.67 including 96.00 103.00 7.00 105 0.10 0.07 0.02 0.22 including 107.00 109.00 2.00 108 0.05 0.16 0.02 0.14 QVD-409 20.00 46.00 26.00 309 0.06 0.23 0.00 0.06 160.50 including 20.00 22.00 2.00 244 0.02 0.62 0.00 0.00 including 26.00 28.10 2.10 180 0.01 0.58 0.01 0.01 including 31.25 46.00 14.75 461 0.01 0.07 0.00 0.10 which includes 32.25 40.50 8.25 713 0.01 0.04 0.00 0.18 which includes 38.00 40.50 2.50 1169 0.05 0.11 0.00 0.16 including 62.00 64.50 2.50 117 0.09 0.23 0.00 0.00 QVD-410 101.00 121.20 20.20 533 0.00 0.07 0.03 0.35 146.00 including 101.00 106.00 5.00 484 0.01 0.11 0.06 0.04 including 111.00 115.00 4.00 1320 0.01 0.08 0.03 1.28 which includes 114.00 115.00 1.00 3549 0.00 0.18 0.06 2.18 including 118.00 121.20 3.20 805 0.01 0.09 0.07 0.36 *Intervals shown are core length. Estimated true widths vary between 60 to 85% of core reported length. Insufficient re-modelling and drill density on new data has been completed to calculate true width at this time. 2025 Surface Sampling Results First 2025 Batch Surface exploration work started on January 3, 2025 (see news release of January 6, 2025), leading Argenta to submit approximately 1,000 soil samples and over 400 rock chip samples for laboratory analysis. Rock sampling primarily targeted the "Mani", "Andrea", "Rosa", and "Argentina" exploration areas. Soil samples were systematically collected using a grid pattern, with 200x200-meter and 100x100-meter spacing, and infill sampling at 50x50 meters to ensure comprehensive coverage of the Quevar South central zone. With numerous rock chip surface assays still pending from the laboratory, initial results already reveal multiple highgrade silver values. More than twenty rock chip samples returned grades above 150 g/t Ag, including several exceeding 1,000 g/t Ag. Notably: Sample 81701 [rock grab sample]: 6,004 g/t Ag [rock grab sample]: Sample 101128 [rock grab sample]: 16,145 g/t Ag [rock grab sample]: Sample 101125 [rock grab sample]: reached the analytical upper detection limit of 20,000 g/t Ag Although these high values do not reflect the deposit's average grade, they clearly demonstrate the strong potential of the El Quevar mineral system. Meanwhile, analytical results from the soil sample grid have revealed new areas with anomalous silver values, including soil samples reaching 147 g/t Ag and 296 g/t Ag. By integrating these results with historical data from previous operators, Argenta has identified multiple new areas with highly anomalous values in silver and pathfinder elements that will guide our technical team to define future drill targets. The findings from the expanded surface soil geochemistry program indicate the potential of a significantly larger mineralized system at El Quevar beyond the current resource. The well-defined silver zone demonstrates strong continuity, while newly identified gold anomalies reveal promising new exploration targets that were historically underexplored. Importantly, these zones have seen minimal drilling, representing substantial untested exploration potential. Historical Drill Core Sampling Results and Phase 1 Results Phase 1 of the 2025 Exploration Program at El Quevar (see news release from May 14, 2025) represented Argenta's first systematic evaluation of the project, targeting altered and mineralized structures with anomalous geochemical, spectral and geophysical signatures. The principal aim in the Quevar South area was to refine the geological model by reinterpreting and remodeling existing historical data, and then backing it up with new, systematically collected surface samples, detailed structural mapping and re-logging and validation of legacy core logs. These efforts have confirmed the strong potential for additional highgrade silver and gold mineralization in untested targets beyond the Yaxtche deposit. A key opportunity lies in the fact that only about 35 % of historical drilling (~ 38,000 m) has been cut and assayed, leaving some 66,000 m of core unanalyzed and available at a low cost for potential resource expansion. To kickstart this, Argenta sampled a portion of the unanalyzed Yaxtche drill holes (25 holes in total) and returned significant silver mineralization in five holes, with a standout intercept of 882 g/t Ag over 1.00 m and an average grade of roughly 226 g/t Ag across those samples. Particularly elevated silver grades were identified in the following drillholes: QVD-117 [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: 148 g/t Ag over 1.00 m , and 134 g/t Ag over 2.00 m , including 212 g/t Ag over 1.00 m ; both intercepts in oxide zone. [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: , and , including ; both intercepts in oxide zone. QVD-134 [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: 132 g/t Ag over 4.00 m ; in oxide zone. [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: ; in oxide zone. QVD-211 [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: 144 g/t Ag over 6.00 m ; including 214 g/t Ag over 2.00 m and 215 g/t Ag over 1.00 m . [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: ; including and . QVD-273 [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: 194 g/t Ag over 6.00 m , including 230 g/t Ag over 2.00 m , and 311 g/t Ag over 2.00 m . [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: , including , and . QVD-362 [additional sampling from historical drillhole]: 255 g/t Ag over 10.00 m , including 175 g/t Ag over 2.00 m , and 603 g/t Ag over 3.00 m which includes 882 g/t Ag over 1.00 m . *Intervals shown are core length. Estimated true widths vary between 60 to 85% of core reported length. Insufficient re-modelling and drill density on new data has been completed to calculate true width at this time. Webinar Please join CEO Joaquin Marias for a live webinar on Monday July 21st at 1pmET/10amPT. A live Q&A will follow an initial discussion. Register here to secure your spot: https://6ix.com/event/argenta-silver-drills-533-gt-silver-over-2020-meters About El Quevar Project The El Quevar Project is located in Salta, Argentina and spans an area of 57,000 hectares. The property remains underexplored with less than 3 % of the area covered with comprehensive exploration work. The property boasts exceptional infrastructure with over 60 km of internal roads, a fully owned, fully operational camp for 100 workers with multiple support buildings, and a railroad, gas pipeline and service road just 3 km from camp, while a highvoltage transmission line lies approximately 20 km from the exploration area. The robust infrastructure associated with the project provides a cost-effective platform to derisk and accelerate future drilling and development. The foundational Mineral Resource Estimate of the Yaxtche deposit boasts an indicated mineral resource of 45.3 million ounces of silver from 2.93 million tonnes grading 482 g/t Ag, and an inferred resource of 4.1 million ounces from 0.31 million tonnes grading 417 g/t Ag (1). The mineral resource area remains open at depth and in multiple directions, particularly to the southeast and northwest. One of the objectives of the 2025 Winter Drilling Program is to specifically target and expand these high-grade Yaxtche zones. The mineralization at the Yaxtche deposit is defined as a silver rich, high to intermediate-sulphidation epithermal system with associated gold. Mineralization is controlled by NW-SE and NE-SW fault structures and is mainly hosted in brecciated zones and dacite domes. Silver minerals at Yaxtche consist of complex silver sulphides, sulphosalts and native silver. These minerals are found within silicified breccias, commonly appearing as veinlets, stockworks, disseminations, and breccia fillings. QAQC Statement The Company adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines for exploration-related activities conducted on its property. Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures are overseen by a Qualified Person. All geochemical sample assay results from Argenta Silver have been independently monitored through a rigorous QA/QC protocol. This protocol includes the regular insertion of blind standard reference materials, blanks, and duplicates. The logging and sampling of the El Quevar drill core were completed at Argenta's core handling facilities in Salta, Argentina. Drill core was diamond-sawn on-site, and half drill-core samples were securely transported to Alex Stewart Laboratories' (ASI) sample preparation facilities in Jujuy, and forwarded to their facility in Mendoza, Argentina for analysis. The other half-core is retained on site for reference. Soil samples were prepared by drying and sieving to minus 80 mesh. Rock chip and diamond drill core samples were dried and then underwent 2 stage crushing to 80% passing minus 10 mesh before collecting a 600 gram split that was pulverized to 90% passing -140 mesh. A 200 gram split is sent for analysis and the remaining 400g is archived. All samples were analyzed for gold using a fire assay on a 50-gram sample with an AAS finish, and for 39 elements by 4 acid, ICP-OES on a 0.2-gram sample. Soils were also analyzed for mercury using cold vapor AA on a 0.2-gram. Overlimit silver was determined by a 50-gram fire assay with a gravimetric finish and over limit lead, zinc and copper were determined by ICP_OES using a mixture of highly oxidizing acids on a 0.2-gram sample. Qualified Person Rob van Egmond, P.Geo., a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Rob van Egmond, P.Geo. has visited the El Quevar Project and is not independent of the Company. (1) Refer to NI43-101 technical report with effective date of September 30, 2024, titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate of the El Quevar Project Salta Province, Argentina", posted on www.SEDAR.com under Argenta Silver Corp. About Argenta Silver Corp. Argenta Silver Corp. is a silver exploration company committed to (or- "focused on") advancing projects that support the global energy transition. Our mission is to create sustainable, long-term value for shareholders by acquiring and developing high-potential silver assets in mining-friendly jurisdictions across Latin America. Led by an experienced management team with deep expertise in exploration, finance, and project development, Argenta emphasizes responsible mining practices and is well-positioned to meet the rising demand for silver a critical metal in renewable energy and emerging technologies. On behalf of Argenta Silver Corp., "Joaquin Marias" President and Chief Executive Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information as defined by applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, as detailed in the Company's disclosure. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law. Forward Looking Information Certain statements and information herein contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the El Quevar project; potential for resource expansion and significantly larger mineralization beyond the current resource; further results from on-going exploration and evaluation of assays. Although management of the Company believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: exploration and development of the El Quevar project may not result in any commercially successful outcome for the Company; risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Vancouver, British Columbia TheNewswire - July 21, 2025: FinEx Metals Ltd. (TSX-V: FINX) ("FinEx" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on exploration activities at its flagship Ruoppa project, situated adjacent Agnico Eagles Kittila mine land position and in proximity to Rupert Resources Ikkari discovery in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in northern Finland. The Companys 2025 field season is focused on expanding the structural and geochemical understanding of the Ruoppa area through high-resolution magnetics, surface sampling, Top of Bedrock (ToB) drilling, trenching and diamond core drilling scheduled to commence in early August. Exploration Highlights Drone Magnetic Survey Completed: ~140 km of high-resolution aeromagnetic survey was flown to assist with geological interpretation and targeting; Soil Sampling Program Underway: ~500 samples will be collected across priority areas northeast of Ruoppa; Top-of-Bedrock Drilling Initiated: ~500 ToB samples will be collected with the goal of expanding and infilling the gold-in-soil anomaly at Ruoppa East; Trenching Program Underway: ~1,200 metres will be excavated to better understand geological structure, veining and lithological contacts; and Diamond Drilling Planned: a 2,500-metre inaugural diamond drill program is scheduled to commence on the Ruoppa East target in early August 2025 testing the zone of quartz veining that returned high-grade gold values from trenches dug in 2024. Tero Kosonen, Chairman and CEO of the Company, states: With our listing on the TSX Venture Exchange successfully completed, we are rapidly advancing the various exploration targets on the Ruoppa project with an aeromagnetic survey, geochemical sampling and trenching. The upcoming drill program marks a pivotal next step as we aim to translate that groundwork into discovery. This is a high-conviction exploration campaign and the team is working hard to execute a program designed to unlock the projects potential. High-Resolution Drone Magnetic Survey Completed FinEx recently completed a 3,080-line kilometre high-resolution drone magnetic survey covering approximately 140 square kilometres and the entirety of the Ruoppa gold project. The survey was flown with 50-metre line spacing and approximately 40 metres above ground level. This high-resolution magnetic dataset provides for detailed interpretation of geological structures including shear zones, faults and major lithological contacts which are typical controls on gold mineralization in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt and other greenstone belts worldwide. Structural Lineament Interpretation in Progress Building on the newly acquired drone magnetic data, FinEx is refining its regional structural interpretation to improve its understanding of the controls on mineralization. This work will be ongoing throughout July and August 2025. Soil Sampling Survey Advancing A regional geochemical soil sampling program is underway across priority areas northeast of the Ruoppa project area with the goal of identifying new areas of mineralisation. Approximately 500 samples are planned for this program. The results will be used in conjunction with the geophysical interpretation to develop additional drill targets. ToB Drill Program Underway In early July, FinEx commenced a ToB drill campaign focusing on extending and infilling the known gold-in-soil anomaly at Ruoppa East, specifically targeting extensions to the east and south. Additionally, the program will be used to generate new targets to the north of the Ruoppa East target (Figure 1). Figure 1. Ruoppa Gold Project ToB drilling and East Target locations. Up to 500 ToB samples are planned in total. These programs are a cost-effective method of targeting geologically prospective ground beneath a veneer of glacial till cover that remains untested by prior surface work or drilling (Figure 2). This ToB sampling methodology is widely used in Finland and has been used to make several discoveries including Ruppert Resources Ikkari deposit located approximately 53 km southeast of the Ruoppa project. Figure 2. Ongoing ToB (Top-of-Bedrock) sampling at the Ruoppa Gold Project. Trenching Program Underway In July, FinEx initiated a trenching campaign at Ruoppa East aimed at extending the principal target zone westward and southwestward. The program is designed to provide structural and lithological context, including information on vein continuity, geological contacts and structural orientations beneath the veneer of glacial till cover. Approximately 1,200 metres of trenching is currently being completed (Figures 3 and 4). Geological mapping and systematic sampling of the trenches are underway and will continue through mid-August. Channel sampling and/or continuous rock chip sampling will be conducted to support detailed geochemical and structural interpretation. Figure 3. Newly excavated trench at the Ruoppa East target area. Figure 4. Trench sampling at Ruoppa East. Diamond Drill Campaign FinEx is preparing to initiate its inaugural diamond drill program at the Ruoppa project, with drilling anticipated to commence in early August. The campaign will comprise approximately 2,500 metres of core drilling and is designed to test high-priority targets defined by earlier trenching and ToB drilling. Drilling will specifically focus on the Ruoppa East area which returned a series of high-grade gold targets that intermittently extend over approximately 2.7 km. High-grade rock grab samples from trenches include 52 samples that returned values greater than 1 g/t Au with the highest value returning 95.1 g/t Au, within a broad zone of orogenic quartz veining extending over approximately 250 m. This program marks a pivotal step in evaluating the potential of mineralized trends identified at surface and advancing the Ruoppa project through systematic, technically-driven exploration. For more information on the Ruoppa project, refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report dated April 14, 2025, as filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Stock Option Grant The Company has granted 2,030,000 incentive stock options (the Options) to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. Each Option is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.30 for a five-year term. 1,780,000 Options vest immediately and 250,000 Options will vest in 12 months. The Options are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About FinEx Metals Ltd. FinEx Metals Ltd. (TSX-V: FINX) is a gold-focused mineral exploration company with a portfolio of 100% owned, royalty free projects near existing mining operations in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in Finland. The Companys flagship Ruoppa project adjoins Agnico Eagles Kittila mine land position, the largest gold mine in Europe and in proximity to the land position that hosts Rupert Resources recent Ikkari discovery. For more information, please visit the Companys website at www.finexmetals.net. FinEx Metals is part of the NewQuest Capital Group, a discovery-driven investment group that builds value through the incubation and financing of mineral projects and companies. Further information about NewQuest can be found on the company website at www.nqcapitalgroup.com. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Petri Peltonen, MAusIMM(CP), EurGeol, a Qualified Person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Peltonen is not independent by reason of being a Contractor and Shareholder of the Company. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Tero Kosonen Chairman and Chief Executive Officer +1 (604) 681-9100 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For further information, please contact: Brennan Zerb Investor Relations Manager +1 (778) 867-5016 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the proposed listing on the TSX Venture Exchange, future capital expenditures, exploration activities and the specifications, targets, results, analyses, interpretations, benefits, costs and timing of them, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as pro forma, plans, expects, may, should, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, potential or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, including the Companys exploration plans and the proposed expenditures for exploration work thereon, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, the ability of the Company to obtain the required permits, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, the Companys limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated June 13, 2025 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2025) - Honey Badger Silver Inc. (TSXV: TUF) (OTCQB: HBEIF) ("Honey Badger" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has added a significant number of new claims to its 100%-owned Plata project in the Yukon. The Company's Executive Chairman, Chad Williams, commented, "We are very excited to have expanded the claim package at Plata to cover the multiple new geologic targets identified by our team. These targets are fertile potential discovery ground for 1) high-grade silver vein mineralization and 2) for "Snowline-style" intrusive-related silver-gold mineralization." The current program is focused on geologic mapping and sampling of new targets as discussed in a news release dated June 12, 2025 ("Honey Badger's Work Outlines New High-Grade and Rogue-Like targets at the Plata Project") as well as on evaluating the new targets overlain by the new claims. New Targets and Claims Ninety-five (95) claims covering 1985.50 hectares were recently staked. The map below shows the location of the new claims. The Plata property now comprises 465 claims covering a total area of 9,718.50 hectares. The new claims represent a 25.7% increase in the size of the property. The rationale behind staking these claims is: The main controlling structure for Plata mineralization appears to be northwest trending. The new claims will cover any potential extensions of targets in the northwest part of Plata, as discussed in the June 12, 2025, news release. There is a historical mineral showing called Keg (see map below) along strike to the northwest of the prior Plata claim boundary. Previous work at the Keg has disclosed high-grade grab samples ranging up to 223 g/t Ag, 3 g/t Au, 3.95% Zn, 2.19% Pb, and 0.42% Cu . The new claims cover the Keg occurrence. . The new claims cover the Keg occurrence. The new claims also cover two northwest trending Mayo suite intrusions which represent potential "Snowline-style" Reduced Intrusion Related Gold System (RIRGS) targets. Approximately 50% of the Mayo Suite intrusions in the region have gold mineralization. Among other examples, they host the Valley, Fort Knox, and Eagle Gold deposits. The two Mayo Suite intrusions on the new ground are located next to a very high government silt anomaly. The anomalies are above the 99.9 percentile threshold in silver (Ag), and above the 90 percentile threshold in gold (Au), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and tellurium (Te). Arsenic, antimony, and tellurium are commonly associated with RIRGS mineralization. Property Map About Plata Plata is located in east-central Yukon within the Tombstone Gold Belt and is a past producing high-grade silver property that produced about 290,000 ounces of silver (Ag) from small-scale mining of high-grade veins that are exposed at surface. Ore was mined and flown by fixed wing aircraft to Idaho for processing. Historical exploration at Plata has primarily focused on the outcropping high-grade silver veins. These are analogous to the rich Keno Hill Silver Mine in the Yukon, one of the highest-grade silver deposits in the world, now operated by Hecla Mining. While the analogy to Keno Hill remains valid, the Company has continued to develop its understanding of Plata as part of a larger "Snowline-style" mineralized system. Understanding how Plata might fit into a Reduced Intrusion Related Gold System (RIRGS) like Snowline Gold's Rogue and Valley deposits adds the potential for a large gold deposit in addition to the high-grade silver vein potential. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been approved by Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol (PG, FAusIMM), a director and technical advisor of the Company, who is a Qualified Person (QP) for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. About Honey Badger Silver Inc. Honey Badger Silver is a silver company. The company is led by a highly experienced leadership team with a track record of value creation backed by a skilled technical team. Our projects are located in areas with a long history of mining, including the Sunrise Lake project with a historic resource of 12.8 Moz of silver (and 201.3 million pounds of zinc) Indicated and 13.9 Moz of silver (and 247.8 million pounds of zinc) Inferred (1) located in the Northwest Territories and the Plata high grade silver project located 165 km east of Yukon's prolific Keno Hill and adjacent to Snowline Gold's Rogue discovery. The Company's Clear Lake Project in the Yukon Territory has a historic resource of 5.5 Moz of silver and 1.3 billion pounds of zinc (2). The Company also has a significant land holding at the Nanisivik Mine Area located in Nunavut, Canada that produced over 20 Moz of silver between 1976 and 2002 (3). A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the foregoing historical resources as current mineral resources, and the Company is not treating the estimates as current mineral resources. The historical resource estimates are provided solely for the purpose as an indication of the volume of mineralization that could be present. Additional work, including verification drilling / sampling, will be required to verify any of the historical estimates as a current mineral resources. (1) Sunrise Lake 2003 RPA historic resource: Indicated 1.522 million tonnes grading 262 grams/tonne silver, 6.0% zinc, 2.4% lead, 0.08% copper, and 0.67 grams/tonne gold and Inferred 2.555 million tonnes grading 169 grams/tonne silver, 4.4% zinc, 1.9% lead, 0.07% copper, and 0.51 grams/tonne gold. (2) Clear Lake 2010 SRK historic Resource: Inferred 7.76 million tonnes grading 22 grams/tonne silver, 7.6% zinc, and 1.08% lead. (3) Geological Survey of Canada, 2002-C22, "Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Zn-Pb-Ag Mineralization at the Nanisivik Mississippi Valley type Deposit, Northern Baffin Island, Nunavut; by Patterson and Powis."2) Clear Lake 2010 SRK historic Resource: Inferred 7.76 million tonnes grading 22 grams/tonne silver, 7.6% zinc, and 1.08% lead. (4) Carlson, G.G., 2010, "Technical Report Describing Exploration and Development at the Plata Project, located in the Mayo Mining District, East-Central Yukon", report prepared for Platoro West Holdings Inc. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Chad Williams, Executive Chairman For more information, please visit our website www.honeybadgersilver.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such assumptions and estimates were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Honey Badger to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Honey Badger's issuer profile. 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 timeframes 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. High-grade gold, copper, silver and tungsten assay results have been received for a further five holes from its ongoing drilling program designed to outline and expand the near surface zone of mineralization at the Apollo system with highlighted results as follows : 442.35 metres @ 2.16 g/t gold equivalent (1.18 g/t gold, 43 g/t silver, 0.21% copper and 0.05% WO 3 ) from surface (APC-125) including 68.05 metres @ 4.55 g/t gold equivalent. The hole bottomed while still in strong mineralization. 325.10 metres @ 2.03 g/t gold equivalent (0.98 g/t gold, 27 g/t silver, 0.47% copper, and 0.03% WO 3 ) from 8 metres below surface (APC-126) TORONTO, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results for five diamond drill holes designed to better outline and expand the shallow portion of gold-silver-copper-tungsten mineralization at the Apollo system ("Apollo"). Apollo, which begins at surface, is strongly mineralized over 1,200 vertical metres, is open at depth and is the most advanced discovery made to date within the Company's multi-target, Guayabales Project in Caldas, Colombia. The Company currently has ten drill rigs operating as part of its fully funded 70,000 metre drill program for 2025 with eight rigs operating at the Guayabales Project and two rigs turning at the San Antonio Project. Drilling at the Guayabales Project is focused on multiple objectives which include defining the shallow mineralization, expanding and identifying new high-grade sub-zones, expanding the high-grade Ramp Zone at depth and testing a series of Apollo look-alike gravity targets which were recently announced (see press release dated June 30, 2025). The first of two deep capacity drill rigs is now operating at site and is extending a previous step-out hole which failed to reach its intended depth when targeting the Ramp Zone. Once completed, this rig will begin drilling a new mother hole for a planned series of directional intercepts into the Ramp Zone. A second deep capacity rig, also designed to expand upon the high-grade Ramp Zone discovery, is expected to arrive at site in Q3, 2025. Approximately 131,500 metres of diamond drilling has been completed to date at the Guayabales Project, including 92,000 metres at Apollo. There are currently thirty-one drill holes in the lab with assay results for most of these holes expected in the near term. Ari Sussman, Executive Chairman commented: "Shallow drilling at Apollo continues to exceed expectations as we are expanding the near surface envelope of mineralization and improving upon both the grade and confidence in the model." "Deep drilling that is targeting the Ramp Zone is now underway with the arrival of our first large capacity rig to site. The deep capacity rig is almost finished extending a previous drilled hole which did not reach its intended depth due to the original rigs capacity. Visual inspection of this hole indicates that Ramp Zone style mineralization is being encountered and if assay results are favorable, the hole would extend the Ramp Zone by approximately 250 meters to the east of all prior drilling. Additionally, we are currently drill testing the ME, Knife and X gravity targets and soon plan to begin drilling at the Apollo South gravity target in hopes of making another major discovery before the end of 2025." Details (see Table 1 and Figures 1-3) Five drill holes drilled from Pad 22, Pad 23 and Pad 25 intersected high-grade gold, silver, copper and tungsten mineralization from at or near surface with results as follows: 442.35 metres @ 2.16 g/t gold equivalent from surface (APC-125) and bottoming in high-grade mineralization including: 68.05 metres @ 4.55 g/t gold equivalent from 3.10 metres 61.40 metres @ 3.46 g/t gold equivalent from 279.30 metres The intercept in hole APC-125 extended the mineralization to surface and improved the grade in this location within the Company's internal block model. 325.10 metres @ 2.03 g/t gold equivalent from 8.0 metres downhole (APC-126) including: 40.55 metres @ 3.21 g/t gold equivalent from 15.50 metres 72.15 metres @ 3.15 g/t gold equivalent from 99.65 metres 99.75 metres @ 2.09 g/t gold equivalent from 20.95 metres downhole including 22.45 metres @ 5.17 g/t gold equivalent (APC-124 drilled to the north from Pad 23). 95.85 metres @ 2.66 g/t gold equivalent from 30.80 metres downhole including 29.15 metres @ 3.99 g/t gold equivalent (APC-129 drilled to the northeast from Pad 25). 221.10 metres @ 1.33 g/t gold equivalent from 7.55 metres downhole including 20.25 metres @ 2.95 g/t gold equivalent from 31.90 metres downhole (APC-131 drilled to the north from Pad 25). Seventy percent of the drill program targeting the shallowest portion of Apollo has now been completed, with assays still pending for five holes and additional holes being drilled. To date, drill intercepts from the shallow program have expanded the volume of the shallow mineralized area by approximately 5 percent. Once the shallow drilling program has been completed, the average drill hole spacing will be 35 metres from surface to a vertical depth of 150 metres. Table 1: Assays Results for Drill Holes APC-124, APC-125, APC-126, APC-129 and APC-131 Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu % WO 3 % AuEq g/t* APC-124 20.95 120.70 99.75 1.30 16 0.27 0.07 2.09 Incl. 20.95 43.40 22.45 4.36 18 0.35 0.07 5.17 APC-125 0.00 442.35 442.35 1.18 43 0.21 0.05 2.16 Incl. 3.10 71.15 68.05 3.06 29 0.17 0.28 4.55 & Incl. 279.30 340.70 61.40 1.94 85 0.36 0.00 3.46 APC-126 8.00 333.10 325.10 0.98 27 0.47 0.03 2.03 Incl. 15.50 56.05 40.55 2.19 17 0.33 0.12 3.21 & Incl. 99.65 171.80 72.15 0.72 62 1.20 0.01 3.15 & Incl. 217.00 243.60 26.60 2.62 10 0.21 0.04 3.07 APC-129 30.80 126.65 95.85 0.76 55 0.52 0.15 2.66 Incl. 35.80 64.95 29.15 1.89 32 0.35 0.36 3.99 APC-131 7.55 228.65 221.10 0.71 14 0.28 0.02 1.33 Incl. 31.90 52.15 20.25 2.70 5 0.10 0.04 2.95 & Incl. 75.55 94.95 19.40 1.69 6 0.14 0.07 2.16 & Incl. 144.15 228.65 84.50 0.67 31 0.60 0.01 1.88 AuEq (g/t) is calculated as follows: (Au (g/t) x 0.97) + (Ag (g/t) x 0.015 x 0.85) + (Cu (%) x 1.44 x 0.95) + (WO 3 (%) x 4.84 x 0.72) utilizing metal prices of Au US$2,200/oz, Ag US$33/oz, Cu US$4.62/lb and WO 3 US$15.51/lb and recovery rates of 97% for Au, 85% for Ag, 95% for Cu and 72% for WO 3 . Recovery rate assumptions for metals are based on metallurgical results announced on October 17, 2023, April 11, 2024, and October 3, 2024. True widths are between 60%-100% of the total length and grades are uncut About Collective Mining Ltd. To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com. Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company has options to acquire 100% interests in two projects located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines. The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten Apollo system. The Company's objectives are to improve the overall grade of the Apollo system by systematically drill testing newly modeled potentially high-grade sub-zones, expand the Apollo system by stepping out along strike to the north and expanding the newly discovered high-grade Ramp Zone along strike and to depth and drill a series of less advanced or newly generated targets including Trap, the Knife and X. Additionally, the Company has launched its largest drilling campaign in history at the San Antonio Project as it hunts for a large bulk-tonnage porphyry system. Management, insiders, a strategic investor and close family and friends own 44.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on both the NYSE and TSX under the trading symbol "CNL". Qualified Person (QP) and NI43-101 Disclosure David J Reading is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same. Mr. Reading has an MSc in Economic Geology and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and of the Society of Economic Geology (SEG). Technical Information Samples were cut by Company personnel at Collective Mining's core facility in Caldas, Colombia. Diamond drill core was sawed and then sampled in maximum 2 metres intervals, stopping at geological boundaries. Drill hole core diameter is a mix of PQ, HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole. Core samples have been prepared and analyzed at ALS laboratory facilities in Medellin, Colombia and Lima, Peru. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. Crush rejects and pulps are kept and stored in a secured storage facility for future assay verification. No capping has been applied to sample composites. The Company utilizes a rigorous, industry-standard QA/QC program. Information Contact: Follow Executive Chairman Ari Sussman (@Ariski73) on X Follow Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on X, (Collective Mining) on LinkedIn, and (@collectivemining) on Instagram FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future recovery metal recovery rates; future growth potential of Collective; and future development plans. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events including the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, precious and base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated March 24, 2025. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The report was submitted to the government in June 2025, but only selected chapters have been made public so far, and what they reveal chills the blood of the reader as they show the extent of the ordeal Bangladeshs secret detainees went through: a damning second interim report by Bangladeshs Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has linked a widespread and systematic culture of torture to the enforced disappearances established during the tenure of the former Awami League government. Set up in August 2024 by the countrys interim administration, the Commission found that nearly every secret detention facility uncovered during its investigation had specialised interrogation rooms equipped with torture devices. Despite significant efforts to destroy evidence after 5 August, we were able to uncover traces consistent with survivor testimonies, including remnants of a rotating chair and a pulley system used to suspend people, the report notes, adding that at almost every destroyed location, remnants of soundproofing materials were found. This equipment was designed, it claimed, to muffle the victims' screams and prevent them from being heard beyond the rooms walls. I could even smell burning flesh After beatings, which the report stated were a ubiquitous form of abuse, the second most common form of torture was the administration of electric shocks. One survivor recalled having electric clips attached to his genitals: Whenever they put on the switch, I felt my limbs were burning. Sometimes, I could even smell burning flesh. The report stated that electric shock machines were used almost everywhere, including in abduction vehicles and that one soldier recalled his commander referring to the portable electric shock machine as a balls machine, crudely highlighting, the report noted, the area [of the body] where the shock would be administered. Other forms of torture included the use of the rotating chair, a device that spun victims at extreme speeds, often causing vomiting, urination, defecation, and loss of consciousness, and waterboarding. They started pouring water over a towel covering my face, said a 27-year-old detainee, quoted in the report. They poured a whole jug of water on my face. I was suffocating. Then they removed the towel and said, What were you doing? I said, Sir, what can I say? Please tell me why you brought me here. They said, That wont do. Put the towel back, pour water again. They did this three or four times, then asked others to take me away. Mir Ahmed bin Quasem, a lawyer who was secretly detained for eight years after being picked up by law enforcement authorities in August 2016 and released onto the streets of the capital city the day after the fall of the Awami League government on 6 August 2024, told Justice Info that his detention felt worse than death. I didn't see sunlight in eight years. I was blindfolded and handcuffed, I couldn't say when it was day or night. I didn't know what happened to my wife or family, my daughter or my mother. While I was in that cell with no light and not knowing anything, it felt like I had been buried alive. Two-thirds of the disappearances linked to state agencies The Commission recorded 1,772 cases of enforced disappearance between 2009 and 2024. Of these, 1,427 victims were eventually released, either into the criminal justice system or freed after extended periods in secret detention. However, 345 individuals remain unaccounted for. According to the report, 67% of these disappearances were linked to formal state agencies, particularly the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and specialized police units such as the Detective Branch and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit. The report does not explain who was responsible for the remaining 33 percent of the disappearances. Sanjida Islam, the coordinator of Mayer Dak (Mothers Call), an organisation of families of the disappeared, welcomed the report but criticised the focus of the Commission. Instead of focusing on the cases of those who remained disappeared, the Commission strategically shifted its focus toward those who returned from secret detention centre. While this may offer insight into patterns and perpetrators, it cannot come at the expense of the disappeared who never returned, she told Justice Info. This approach left many families who had provided exhaustive evidence, testimony and date feeling sidelined and unheard. The report also points to the involvement of the military intelligence agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), in some enforced disappearances, adding, however, that the military agency often used law enforcement agencies to carry out the pick-ups. Due to DGFIs limited operational capacity, it frequently relied on RAB intelligence for operational support when conducting abductions, the report states. After interrogation and torture, detainees were either returned to RAB or transferred to the Detective Branch, where many were subsequently executed extrajudicially or held under fabricated charges for extended periods. From a sample of 253 cases, the Commission found that victims were held for varying periods from one day to over five years, with a median detention length of 47 days. Fewer than half of these individuals were affiliated with opposition political parties, though the Commission noted that many were reluctant to talk about their political identity. Sheikh Hasina, prime facie responsible The five-member Commission also provides evidential support to the conclusion from its first earlier report, published in December 2024, that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was prime facie responsible for acts of enforced disappearances. It states that General Akbar, the former head of DGFI, informed the Commission that he had directly discussed the case of Humam Quader Chowdhury, a known victim () with Sheikh Hasina herself. In one case, a junior DGFI officer recalled hearing his director speak about a detainees fate in a way that made clear Sheikh Hasina was informed of him and had expressed an opinion on the matter, the report added. The commission report describes a three-tiered pyramid chain of command responsible for the enforced disappearances. At the top lies the strategic layer, occupied by key political figures, such as Sheikh Hasina, General Tariq Siddiqui, the Home Minister, and other senior officials, who held the authority to order abductions and extrajudicial killings, the report states. Below this is the executive layer, comprising senior Generals and high-ranking members of the police and other security forces. These individuals directly received instructions from the political leadership and, as such, could serve as vital witnesses to their involvement. At the base is the functional layer, made up of lower-ranking personnel within the security apparatus who carried out the operations under orders from above. In response to the report, Mohammad Ali Arafat, a former state minister of Information who now speaks for the Awami League, refuted the governments complicity. I can say with utmost confidence that there was no political directive or endorsement of any alleged torture, let alone a policy of torture, either from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or her cabinet, or the Awami League as a party, he told Justice Info. If any such crime was indeed committed, it would have taken place without the knowledge of the political leadership. He went on to blame the countrys security forces and intelligence agencies tied to the military and armed forces which, he said, have always acted with very little civilian oversight. It is possible that these facilities, if they existed at all, were run without the consent or knowledge of the political government by the officials of the security forces and intelligence agencies. Did the current army help accused officers escape? The report does suggest that the current army command was complicit in allowing six retired army officers escape arrest after the countrys International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) issued warrants against them in January 2025 for their role in enforced disappearances. Two months earlier, the Home ministry had agreed to revoke their passports and the army was told in advance about the issuance of the arrest warrants. Those who were within the country and residing in secured, well-known locations in January 2025, including inside the Dhaka cantonment, are now unavailable to the justice process, the report stated. This raises serious concerns, particularly given that their passports had been revoked, there appeared to be no alternative travel documents, and the military authorities had been informed in advance of the impending warrants. The implication is that, despite being within reach of enforcement mechanisms, these high-ranking officers were permitted to abscond. The report goes on to say that, this sequence of events has generated deep disquiet about the future of accountability efforts. Those within the security forces who genuinely wish to support this inquiry have privately expressed concern that if such senior figures are allowed to evade justice without consequence, then the institutional will to pursue accountability is perhaps fundamentally compromised. On 10 July 2025, the ICT-BD indicted Hasina for the offence of crimes against humanity relating to her role in the killings of hundreds of people by the countrys law enforcement authorities between 16 July and 5 August 2024, the day Hasina flew out to India. Also indicted on five charges are former Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, also believed to be in India and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun who has agreed to give evidence against his two co-defendants as a state witness in exchange for a reduced sentence. Bangladeshs interim government, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, sent a formal request to India for Hasinas extradition, but India has not responded. Hasina and Khan will be tried in absentia. Belgian authorities said on Monday that they had briefly held and questioned two Israeli citizens who attended an electronic music festival, after pro-Palestinian groups accused them of war crimes. Prosecutors said they received legal complaints alleging that two Israeli soldiers responsible for "serious violations of international humanitarian law" in Gaza were spotted at the Tomorrowland festival near the northern city of Antwerp last week. The federal prosecutor's office said it had "asked the police to locate the two people named in the complaint and to interview them". "Following these interviews, they were released," it said in a statement. The office said that it took action after concluding that Belgian courts have extraterritorial jurisdiction over alleged war crimes. "No further information will be given at this stage of the investigation," the office said. The pair have not been named. Last week, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgian pro-Palestinian organisation, said it had identified two Israeli soldiers "responsible for grave international crimes" in Gaza among the crowds at Tomorrowland. It claimed that a group of young Israeli men was seen at the festival waving a flag of the Givati Brigade, an Israeli military unit involved in the fighting in the Palestinian territory. HRF said it then filed a complaint with prosecutors in association with the Global Legal Action Network, a lawyers group specialising in human rights violations. On Monday it praised prosecutors for following up on it. "At a time when far too many governments remain silent, this action sends a clear message: credible evidence of international crimes must be met with legal response -- not political indifference," HRF said in a statement. One of the world's largest electronic music festivals, Tomorrowland draws music enthusiasts from all over the world. About 400,000 people are expected to attend the event this year over two weekends. Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza, where Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 58,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable. The Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Understanding Legal Disappearance and Family Rights in Post-Divorce Japan VANCOUVER, British Columbia In Japan, the phenomenon of disappeared fathers has reached a breaking point. Tens of thousands of fathers lose all contact with their children after divorce, many vanishing from the public record through legal identity changes, employment shifts, and domestic relocation. While media narratives often portray these disappearances as abandonment, the real picture is more complex: Japans legal system enforces sole custody after divorce, leaving many parentsespecially fatherswithout any legal recourse to maintain contact with their children. Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in lawful identity change and privacy relocation services, conducted a detailed interview with a Tokyo-based family court lawyer. This legal expert, who has represented dozens of fathers navigating Japans post-divorce system, sheds light on why legal disappearance is often a consequence of systemic failures, not personal negligence. This press release examines the Japanese legal structure, cultural pressures, and personal stories behind the rising numbers of fathers who effectively disappear after family court rulings. The Japanese Custody System: Sole Custody by Default Japan remains one of the few developed nations to mandate sole custody after divorce. According to Article 766 of the Civil Code, parental authority is typically awarded to only one parent following a divorce, with no formal joint custody options. This means: Non-custodial parents lose legal rights to make decisions for their children Visitation rights are often limited, informally arranged, and non-enforceable Family courts generally award custody to mothers, citing cultural traditions The Tokyo family lawyer interviewed by Amicus stated bluntly, Once a divorce is finalized in Japan, the father is usually erased from the childs legal life. Without formal joint custody or enforcement of visitation, many fathers find themselves with no pathway to meaningful parenthood. Case Study #1: The Tokyo Salesman Who Disappeared One of the lawyers clients, a former sales executive in Tokyo, attempted to maintain weekly contact with his two children after his divorce. Repeated interference from his ex-spouse, combined with unenforceable visitation agreements, drove him into isolation. After losing his job due to stress, he relocated to Okinawa, changed his name legally under Japans Koseki (family registry) laws, and cut off all contact, becoming another disappeared father. Interview: Why Fathers Choose Legal Disappearance In the interview, the family court lawyer explained the decision-making process of fathers who choose to disappear: Many of my clients try for years to remain involved, but the legal tools simply do not exist. After prolonged mental health decline, job instability, and social stigma, disappearance becomes a last resort, often tied to mental survival. Japans system doesnt give fathers the right to remain presentit pressures them to vanish quietly. Legal Pathways to Disappearance in Japan Japan offers several lawful avenues for those seeking privacy post-divorce: Legal name change through family court approval, especially after divorce Moving to distant prefectures, where address changes go unnoticed Changing employment industries, such as shifting from corporate work to fishing, agriculture, or seasonal labour For extreme cases, relocating abroad with new documentation, though emigration is rare Amicus International Consulting, which provides legal identity change services internationally, notes that while other countries associate legal disappearance with crime evasion, Japans cases overwhelmingly stem from family court-induced isolation. Case Study #2: From Salaryman to Farmer in Kyushu Another case involves a Tokyo salaryman who lost all visitation rights after being accused of domestic disturbance, without criminal charges or police reports. He relocated to Kyushu, adopted a new family name, and now operates a vegetable farm. His disappearance was not motivated by evasion, but by survival in a system that nullified his parental role. Statistics: How Widespread Is the Issue? The Ministry of Justice in Japan reported over 200,000 divorces in 2024 alone. More than 80% of custody cases awarded full parental authority to mothers. Less than 30% of divorced fathers have any form of consistent contact with their children five years post-divorce. Japan has no legal penalty for parental alienation, and enforcement of visitation rights remains a civilnot criminalmatter. The Mental Health Toll of Forced Disappearance Amicuss interview highlighted that most fathers who disappear experience severe psychological distress: Elevated rates of depression and anxiety disorders Increased suicidal ideation among non-custodial parents Loss of professional identity after prolonged legal battles A 2023 study from the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Tokyo found that divorced fathers in Japan are three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts compared to married fathers. Case Study #3: Disappearance Abroad In rare cases, fathers choose to disappear internationally. One of the lawyers clients, a former engineer, relocated to Thailand after a legal name change, severed ties with his previous employer, and started anew as a freelance consultant. For him, physical distance was the only solution to escape legal and social persecution. Are Legal Reforms Coming? The lawyer was pessimistic. Japans Parliament occasionally debates joint custody, but political will is limited. Cultural perceptions of post-divorce parenting remain unchanged. The courts view disappearance as a personal failure rather than a systemic consequence. However, activists are pushing for: Legal recognition of joint custody post-divorce Enforceable visitation rights with penalties for obstruction Acknowledgment of parental alienation as a human rights violation International Comparisons By comparison: France, Germany, and Canada enforce joint custody models The U.S. increasingly recognizes shared custody in most states Scandinavian countries uphold equal parental rights even after divorce Japan remains isolated with its sole custody and non-enforcement framework Amicus International Consulting emphasizes that the Japanese legal systems stance on custody creates unique pressures on non-custodial parents, often forcing them into legal disappearance. Conclusion: A Hidden Epidemic of Legal Disappearance Disappearance in Japan is not always about evasionit is about survival. Japans family court system creates conditions where fathers, and in rarer cases, mothers, see legal disappearance as their only remaining option to escape institutional rejection and personal despair. Amicus International Consulting continues to monitor global trends in legal identity change and advocates for reforms that support the human right to maintain family bonds post-divorce. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: [email protected] Website: www.amicusint.ca Follow Us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amicus-international-consulting Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/amicusint Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amicusint Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amicusint One person arrested after shooting incident at Oslo's shopping mall Xinhua) 09:24, July 21, 2025 OSLO, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian police on Sunday arrested a man in connection with a shooting incident at the Tveita Center shopping mall in eastern Oslo, which left one person seriously injured. At a press briefing, Knut Lutro of the Oslo Police District confirmed that the suspected shooter, a man in his late 20s, turned himself in at 1 pm local time on Sunday. "He is now in police custody and will be questioned as soon as practically possible," Lutro said, adding that the suspect is known to the police from previous incidents, resides in eastern Norway, and is not a Norwegian citizen. The shooting took place on Saturday afternoon after a confrontation between two groups escalated into violence. According to the police, a planned meeting at the shopping mall led to an argument in a cafe area, during which one person pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots. Witnesses reported hearing between four and six gunshots. The police said there were more than five people involved in the incident at the time, and investigations are ongoing to clarify each person's role. One man suffered gunshot wounds and remains hospitalized with serious injuries. The victim was briefly interviewed by police and is expected to provide further information later. "We have collected substantial video material from the scene and spoken to many witnesses," Lutro said. "Shooting in public spaces is completely unacceptable, and we are deploying all necessary resources to resolve this case." The Tveita Center, which has about 60 stores, was closed for the rest of Saturday following the shooting. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A 2025 Comprehensive Report on Legal Disappearance, Digital Surveillance, and Japans Evolving Relationship with Privacy VANCOUVER, British Columbia In Japan, the word Johatsu literally means evaporation, but culturally it symbolizes something much deepera deliberate disappearance from ones former life. For decades, the Johatsu phenomenon has served as a quiet escape from debt, domestic violence, workplace harassment, and social ostracism. Yet, in 2025, the age of high-tech surveillance, AI-powered identification systems, and nationwide digital recordkeeping is beginning to squeeze this longstanding cultural outlet. Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in legal identity change and personal privacy services, interviewed Japanese legal experts, relocation specialists, and privacy rights advocates to examine the uncertain future of the Johatsu phenomenon. This comprehensive report addresses one question in depth: In the face of facial recognition cameras, biometric borders, and government surveillance systems, can Japans culture of evasion survive? Johatsu: Japans Historical Tradition of Social Escape Johatsu refers to people who voluntarily vanish from society, often without violating any laws. Their motivations are varied but deeply human: Escaping the crushing weight of unpayable debt Fleeing from domestic violence with inadequate legal protections Disappearing after reputational damage or social humiliation Leaving behind exploitative corporate workplaces Evading social judgment after personal failure or divorce Unlike missing persons cases in the West, Japanese law views these disappearances through a neutral lens. Adults have the right to leave without notifying family or employers. Unless a crime is suspected, police do not intervene. Amicus International Consulting notes that clients around the world are increasingly looking to Japan as a case study in the phenomenon of lawful disappearance. In this nation, privacy rights still carry weight despite the advancement of a surveillance apparatus. A Technological Crossroads: Surveillance Threatens Traditional Disappearance The landscape of disappearance in Japan is undergoing rapid change. Over the last five years, Japan has accelerated the adoption of surveillance technology, creating unprecedented challenges for those attempting to evade detection. A legal analyst in Tokyo told Amicus, Facial recognition cameras are now common in public spaces, from train stations to convenience stores. The national ID system connects all banking, healthcare, and employment records. For anyone hoping to disappear in Tokyo, the walls are closing in. Key Surveillance Developments Since 2020: Nationwide deployment of AI facial recognition across metropolitan transit systems My Number system ties tax, banking, healthcare, and pension data under a single government identity Mandatory SIM card registration for mobile phone ownership Cross-referenced databases for welfare, employment, and medical services Automatic number plate recognition on national highways and toll roads These technologies threaten to turn Johatsu from a legal disappearance into an increasingly traceable one. Case Study #1: A Failed Urban Disappearance in 2024 A 37-year-old Tokyo salesman, after losing his job due to a workplace harassment scandal, attempted to disappear within the city. He changed his name, quit his apartment, and used a midnight moving company to relocate. Yet within six months, municipal authorities traced him via utility records and flagged his deregistration. Surveillance cameras linked his face to public footage after he applied for a new mobile phone. Facing administrative fines, he returned to formal life under duress. Hokkaido: The Last Outpost for Johatsu? Experts say Japans northern island, Hokkaido, remains the last central refuge for disappearing species that are protected by law. With vast land, small villages, and seasonal cash-based industries, individuals can still escape the digital dragnet. A Hokkaido-based sociologist told Amicus, Hokkaido offers a pressure valve. You can work in agriculture or fishing, avoid urban surveillance, and live semi-anonymously without constantly facing database crosschecks. In agricultural towns and remote coastal areas, low population density limits the effectiveness of surveillance coverage. Local employers often fail to conduct thorough identity checks, especially for short-term labourers. Case Study #2: Rebirth in Rural Japan After a messy divorce and loss of custody, a father from Osaka disappeared to Hokkaido. Through a legal name change and low-key relocation, he secured seasonal fishing work, obtained informal rental housing, and severed ties with his former life. Three years later, he remains untraceable to his former social circles, although he is legally compliant within his new prefecture. Legal Identity Change: A Rising Alternative to Physical Disappearance With surveillance systems tightening, more individuals are shifting from physical disappearance to lawful identity change. Japans Koseki family registry system allows: Legal name changes post-divorce Name changes following bankruptcy or severe personal hardship Re-registration in distant municipalities, creating physical and administrative distance from former records Legal identity change enables individuals to maintain access to healthcare, banking, and employment while shedding the social stigma attached to their old identities. A Tokyo-based attorney told Amicus, Johatsu is evolving. Its no longer about total disappearance but legal reinvention. More people change their names and relocate formally while erasing their old social footprint. Case Study #3: A Corporate Escape via Name Change A Tokyo financial worker endured years of overwork and public humiliation after being accused of professional misconduct. She legally changed her name post-bankruptcy, moved to Okinawa, and restarted her career in hospitality. By using formal legal channels, she avoided the risks of surveillance while clearing her social record. Surveillance Systems vs. Legal Loopholes: An Uneasy Balance Even in 2025, Japans surveillance systems will have limitations: My Number cards are not mandatory for every transaction; many small businesses still operate on cash Facial recognition systems focus on crime prevention, not civil identity checks Health and employment record cross-checks remain inconsistent in rural prefectures Name changes, while legally recorded, are not automatically linked to past reputational data in many private databases This allows a paradoxical system where urban anonymity is nearly impossible, but legal disappearance through structured channels remains viable. A Privacy Crisis in Tokyo and Osaka Amicuss research reveals that urban dwellers are disproportionately affected by the expansion of surveillance. Tokyo and Osaka residents report: Increased tracking through IC card public transport systems Intelligent surveillance in offices using biometric clock-in systems Difficulty obtaining unregistered employment Rising administrative penalties for prolonged deregistration A Tokyo relocation consultant noted, In urban areas, vanishing is close to impossible now without entering the criminal underground. Emerging Trends: Combining Legal Name Change with Strategic Relocation The most successful Johatsu in recent years follow a hybrid model: Initiate court-approved name change through proper legal channels Deregister and reregister in a rural prefecture such as Hokkaido, Tohoku, or Kyushu Take cash-based employment in agriculture or fisheries Minimize mobile phone and digital payment usage Refrain from using social media or linked digital platforms This method enables a lawful disappearance with reduced digital traceability, thereby avoiding legal penalties. Expert Commentary: The Cultural Endurance of Disappearance Despite the growth in surveillance, cultural experts believe Johatsu will persist. A professor at Hokkaido University told Amicus, Johatsu is ingrained in the Japanese psyche. Its a quiet protest against rigid societal expectations. As long as shame exists, the desire to disappear will remain, even if the methods must evolve. Future Legal Pressures: Will Disappearance Be Criminalized? There is growing political discourse around: Tighter enforcement of the My Number system Expanding penalties for unreported address changes Increased banking surveillance Proposed mandatory facial ID verification for high-value transactions However, Japans strong cultural respect for voluntary disappearance and personal autonomy presents legislative hurdles. Analysts suggest incremental changes rather than outright criminalization. Comparison With Global Trends Japan remains unique: France and Germany enforce strict residence registration and joint custody laws The United States links all legal employment to Social Security numbers and enforces child support obligations with great diligence. Scandinavian countries combine strong social welfare systems with traceable digital identities. Japan tolerates lawful vanishing in specific social contexts, even under surveillance. The Evolving Identity Industry An unexpected growth sector has emerged in Japans private services market: Anonymity consultants help individuals legally change identities Digital footprint erasure companies offer social media cleanup Relocation services coordinate name changes, address shifts, and employment transitions Amicus International Consulting reports an increase in Japanese inquiries for international relocation, particularly in jurisdictions with stronger privacy protections. Case Study #4: International Disappearance A former tech entrepreneur, after personal and professional disgrace in Tokyo, legally changed his name and obtained residency in Paraguay. Through lawful expatriation, he disconnected from Japanese financial and social systems while remaining compliant with international law. Conclusion: A Culture in Transition Johatsu culture faces undeniable threats from modern surveillance, but it is not vanishingit is adapting. With legal identity change, rural relocation, and evolving strategies, Japans evaporation phenomenon remains alive, though more complicated than before. Amicus International Consulting predicts Johatsu will transform into a hybrid of lawful disappearance, digital privacy management, and selective participation in modern systems. For those seeking peace, privacy, or personal reinvention, pathways still exist in Japan, but navigating them now requires more sophistication than ever before. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: [email protected] Website: www.amicusint.ca Follow Us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amicus-international-consulting Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/amicusint Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amicusint Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amicusint Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Alex Prezzo, a Form 4 dropout and self-taught mason, has unveiled his breathtaking multi-million shilling mansion in a colourful event attended by prominent politicians, among them Kalonzo Musyoka and Wavinya Ndeti. Born and raised in a humble background, Alex never had the privilege of attending college or formal technical training. Instead, he taught himself masonry by observing others on construction sites, gradually honing his craft to near perfection. Over the years, his skill, work ethic, and determination earned him loyal clients and big contracts. Kalonzo praised Alex for defying the odds and becoming a symbol of hope for the youth. Today, the Runda Ukambani Housing project was launched at Kamuuani, in Machakos County. This project is a dream come true for one of our own, Alex Prezzo. Alex, a young man who only studied up to Form Four, is a self-taught mason from a humble background. His grit, resilience, and vision are symbols of what young people can achieve when they dare to rise above circumstance. This is what hope looks like. We salute you. I was joined by Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu, former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka and other leaders, he tweeted. See photos of Alex's palatial residence. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Drama unfolded at an upmarket city suburb after a furious man was captured on camera snatching wigs off the heads of two city slay queens during a heated confrontation that quickly spiraled out of control. In the now-viral video, the young man can be seen yelling angrily while pointing fingers at the two ladies, who appeared equally agitated. Seconds later, in a shocking twist, he yanks off their wigs and walks away, leaving onlookers in disbelief. Kwendeni huko, he is heard saying as he moves towards his car. Eyewitnesses claim the altercation may have been sparked by a financial dispute, with some alleging the man had "sponsored" the ladies and was demanding repayment or an explanation for being "used and ghosted." Watch the video. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Senator Crystal Asige recently gave a stirring motivational talk at Treeside Special School, sharing the deeply personal journey of how she lost her sight - and found her purpose. My story is simple, though long, she began. I was born in Mombasa with full eyesight. But at 15, while in high school, I began losing my vision progressively. It wasn't until university in the UK, after a series of tests, that she was diagnosed with glaucoma - an incurable condition. Doctors told her she would be blind by 25. Her dreams were rooted in the performing arts, a field where vision seemed essential. I asked God why He would give me such passion for singing and performing, then take away my sight, she recalled. But even though my eyesight declined, my voice remained. Crystal encouraged students not to be defined by what they lack. For every disability, another ability is heightened, she said. Just like I use my voice for music and advocacy, you too have talents that can make an impact. A former Sol Generation artist, BBC contributor, and now a nominated Senator by ODM, Asige remains a fierce advocate for disability rights - living proof that even in loss, one can find powerful purpose. Watch the video below. "I wasnt born blind," Senator Crystal Asige narrates how she lost her sight! pic.twitter.com/8gR9M91YkS The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) July 19, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO, Mercy Mwangangi, had Kisumu residents and leaders in stitches after humorously reviving an old debt - their promise to help her find a husband. Appointed SHA CEO in April, Mercy took over from Robert Ingasira. But it was a moment from 2021 that stole the spotlight during her recent address in Kisumu. Back then, as Health Chief Administrative Secretary, she had joined Raila Odinga at a rally in Migori and cheekily asked locals to help her find a man from Luo land - a moment that went viral. Fast forward to this week, Mercy playfully reminded Governor Anyang Nyongo and the crowd: Kisumu owes me a debt. I came here with Baba looking for a husband, and I left empty-handed! She added, Maybe its because I hadnt paid dowry. Today, Ive brought it, and its SHA! Help me find my husband! Her witty remarks had the audience, including Health CS Aden Duale and PS Ouma Oluga, bursting with laughter. Beyond the humor, Mercy passionately urged Kenyans to enroll in SHA, emphasizing its importance for nationwide health coverage. Netizens have lauded Dr. Mwangangi for blending public service with charm - and just maybe, the right Luo suitor will finally shoot his shot. Watch the video below: The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Theres something about naturally curvy women that always captures mens attention - and a little-known Kisii beauty, Judy Kwamboka, is currently turning heads online. A viral video of her confidently flaunting her curves in a figure-hugging outfit has caused quite the stir on social media. In the clip, Judy casually struts her stuff, effortlessly showcasing her stunning nyash - and the gents are clearly mesmerized. The comments section is flooded with praise, cheeky remarks, and a whole lot of admiration. Some fans couldnt help but applaud the Kisii genes, joking that while others spend a fortune on surgery, Judy is serving body goals effortlessly - and naturally. Watch the video. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - President William Ruto has urged parents to take full responsibility for raising their children, emphasizing that neither the Government nor institutions like the church can substitute parental roles. Speaking during a church service at AIC Bomani in Machakos County on Sunday, Ruto described children as divine gifts who must be mentored within the family unit. Our children are a gift from God to our families and the nation. We must mentor them; parenting is a God-given responsibility, he said. Dont abdicate it to the church or the Government. Dont let your child be brought up by passers-by. The President warned parents against surrendering children to law enforcement, noting, Police are trained to kill criminals, not in parenting. I take time to parent my children, and so should everyone. Ruto's comments follow his July 9th directive to police to shoot looters in the leg during protests, a directive that attracted widespread condemnation, including from Rutos broad-based Government partner, Raila Odinga. Nationwide protests, largely youth-led, have intensified over the rising cost of living and police brutality. Rights groups, including KNCHR and Amnesty International Kenya, report over 40 deaths across recent demonstrations. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - In a powerful gesture of honor and appreciation, President William Ruto has gifted Bishop Benjamin Kalanzo of AIC Church Bomani, Machakos County, a brand-new Toyota Prado, recognizing his unwavering dedication to the church and his contributions to national unity and moral leadership. The event, held during a church function in Machakos County, was met with jubilant applause from congregants and local leaders alike. Bishop Kalanzo, visibly moved, thanked the President and pledged to continue serving with humility and purpose. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - Chaos broke out at Quitos Lounge located in Lodwar in the early hours of Sunday morning after unknown gunmen opened fire inside the club, sending terrified revelers running for their lives just moments before headline artists were set to perform in a jam-packed event. According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 3:30 am, when the gunmen reportedly stormed the premises and discharged multiple rounds. Screams filled the air as club-goers scrambled for safety, triggering a stampede that left a number of people injured and the club in disarray. In the aftermath of the chaos, Quitos Lounge suffered major financial losses as dozens of patrons fled the premises without settling their bills. Expensive bottles, shattered glass, and overturned furniture told the story of a night that was meant to be fun, but turned tragic. Security agencies quickly arrived at the scene and launched investigations into the shooting. No fatalities were reported, but several people sustained minor injuries during the stampede. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and police are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses as they work to identify and apprehend the culprits. Watch the video. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, July 20, 2025 - An undercover police officer has leaked CCTV footage showing infamous city gangster, Skyler, violently snatching a phone from an unsuspecting pedestrian along Juja Road, barely a week after being released from remand. In the footage, Skyler is seen approaching the victim while riding on a motorbike, before snatching her phone. He then speeds off, leaving the victim confused as she tries to run after him. Skyler had just been released from Industrial Area Remand Prison, where he was being held for the offense of preparation to commit a felony after being found with a knife. He was released after his fellow criminals bailed him out. He is now back to his criminal activities instead of reforming. Watch the footage. Undercover cop shares CCTV footage of notorious city gangster, SKYLER, snatching a phone along Juja Road pic.twitter.com/O4JLcxBANc DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) July 20, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST 1 of 1 Asense Interior Pioneers the Future of Luxury Home Interior Design in Bangalore 2025 khaskhabar.com: , 21 2025 1:41 PM Gordon Deegan Former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan lost it when he hit a then 12 year old child multiple times with a stick. That is according to counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL who told a jury at Ennis Circuit Court on Monday that Mr Gilligan lost control on October 5th 2023 when he punished the boy for the damage being caused at the time to his Jamaica Inn hostel property in Sixmilebridge. Ms Comerford was making her closing speech in the case where Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the assault causing harm with a stick of the then 12 year old at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023. In his own closing speech, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL said in no way is Mr Gilligan trying to suggest that he was entitled to punish the boy as was suggested and said that the injuries sustained by the boy are clearly regrettable. Mr Whyms said that on the evening at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Mr Gilligan didnt know that he was dealing with a child and did not create this situation. Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan "was at the end of his tether" by the vandalism being done to a vacant property he was trying to sell. Putting forward the defence of reasonable force against the charge of assault causing harm, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan was at the Jamaica Inn hostel on the night of October 5th in the dark and believed that he was under siege. He said: Believing himself under threat and needing to protect himself and his property, Niall Gilligan needs to make an instant decision and so we are here." Mr Whyms (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) said: And Mr Gilligan, a family man who has young children and no previous convictions gives a clear story which hast changed and an entirely credible, fulsome account of what happened." Mr Whyms said to the jury: Did Niall Gilligan use such force as was reasonable in the circumstances as he believed them to be and if he did then no offence was committed. In his prepared statement at Shannon Garda Station in February 2024 on the alleged assault, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan has given a perfectly plausible account in an otherwise impeccably accurate description of what occurred which placed the boys inside the building when he met them. On the medical evidence, Mr Whyms said: Nobody wants to see a child being injured and it would be much better if that didnt happen and the boy was injured in this case." He said: There doesnt seem to be much room for argument that he was injured from the actions of Niall Gilligan. Mr Whyms said that a displaced fracture of a finger on the boys left hand is the only fracture in this case. He said There was mention of dislocated shoulders, broken tibias and broken wrists all over the evidence but none of those things happened." There is an un-displaced fracture of a finger - that is not a good thing to happen but that it is what happened He said: There were injuries and there were sustained in the incident but by and large, most were cleared up in the week and the last one was pretty well cleared up in two weeks." Mr Whyms said that the injuries dont look nice on the photographs - there is no getting away from that and injuries that are photographed immediately after dont look nice. Earlier in her closing speech Ms Comerford (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told the jury: This is a story of a man who lost his cool. She said: Instead of picking up the boy after he slipped and bringing him out to his car and driving him home and telling his parents, he hit him and lost it and he was angry and frustrated. Ms Comerford said that the alleged assault in broad daylight is the action of a man who took out his anger and frustration on a child. There is no evidence that his injuries were caused by anything other than his interactions with Niall Gilligan. Ms Comerford said that Niall Gilligan lost control and punished the boy for the damage and inconvenience caused to his property on a morning when he had to clean up human faeces and urine from his property. Ms Comerford said that the evidence of the then 12 year old boy and his friend is credible and can be relied upon to the high standard beyond reasonable doubt. Ms Comerford said that the then 12 year old of course he knew that it not okay to explore a building without permission, to let off fire extinguishers, to remove keys so he would have access to the building again, but he was a 12 year old child and he was exploring and knew that others had been there before. Ms Comerford said that the boy "thought Niall Gilligan would threaten him with a stick. He didnt think he was actually going to hit him, but he did and he kept hitting him. She told the jury: I would suggest to you that the boy was shocked and in disbelief that this could happen - that a grown man would hit a child and not once and not a clip around the ear and a kick up the backside followed by a drive home to tell his parents to say what the child had been up to. Ms Comerford said that the boy knew that Mr Gilligan was a big strong man who he never thought would viciously assault him. She said: You will recall him saying he was so big and I was so little and Mr Gilligan was so big and the boy was so little. Highlighting the medical evidence, Ms Comerford said that the first medical report stated Head injury, loss of consciousness, bowel incontinence, right shoulder injury query, right posterior elbow wound? left hand and wrist injury, left tibia wound exposure and maybe fracture. She said: In the later reports, there is a reference to an X-ray to his tibia and fibula which was suggestive of a non-displaced fracture and ultimately it doesnt appear that this was a fracture." Ms Comerford said that it is understandable when you look at the photos why there may have been a query on fractures when you look at the level of bruising sustained by the body of the boy She said that the boy slipped outside the Jamaica Inn and was lying on his stomach and you can see clearly the marks on both buttocks, the wrist injury, the shoulder bruising, the arm injury and the bruising around the ribs and the gash to his shin bone when he was hit over and over again". She said: He lost consciousness for a while. He must have been hit multiple times in order to have sustained as many injuries as he did in the various locations you can see in the photos taken on the night and following day. She said: The only evidence you have on how those injuries were caused is the boys video statement who said that he was hit with a stick a number of times before he was knocked out. The reason why he knew he was knocked out is that he didnt remember that he was dragged and also had incontinence He can be forgiven for thinking that he disclosed his shoulder when you see the extensive bruising all around his shoulder. Ms Comerford described Ms Gilligans prepared statement given to gardai at Shannon Garda Station in February 2024 as a self-serving fabricated story to justify an encounter with a 12 year old child. Ms Comerford said that the account is purposefully vague and I dont think you can believe anything that Niall Gilligan says about how he came to assault the young boy. Ms Comerford said in his statement Mr Gilligan says he got entangled in the dark and they fell on top of each other. Ms Comerford said: Mr Gilligan didnt fall and get entangled with the boy. He beat him there and he knew it. He lost control, he was angry and frustrated and he needed to cover all angles and that is why he said that to the Gardai. Ms Comerford told the jury that they should give greater weight to the evidence of the 12 year old boy and his friend who allowed themselves to be subject to cross examination from Mr Whyms on their evidence and withstood the cross examination. Ms Comerford said that due to the level of force used by Mr Gilligan in the assault, the defence of self-defence should not be available to him. At the conclusion of the closing speeches Judge Francis Comerford commenced his charge to the jury. Judge Comerford said that he will continue his charge to the jury on Tuesday. When Judge Comerford completes his charge, the jury will then commence their deliberations. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Irelands new infrastructure plan will focus on the functionality of projects rather than award-winning designs, a junior minister has said. The Government is to unveil its revised National Development Plan on Tuesday, which outlines how 200 billion will be spent across various departments over the next 10 years. The plan, funded by taxpayers money, some of the 14 billion in Apple tax money and windfalls from sold state shares in AIB, is expected to focus on housing, energy, water and transport infrastructure. Minister of State Sean Canney said possible US tariffs still pose a major threat to efforts to upgrade Irelands infrastructure deficit. The Regional Independent TD, one of the several in the coalition government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, would not indicate what road projects would benefit from the plan, but suggested projects that are shovel-ready would be prioritised. Mr Canney told RTE Radio: The first five years, up to 2030, are critical for us. We have money in that space to actually get books done and infrastructure put in place water and sewerage to allow us to build their housing. He added: The biggest threat to everything we do, everything we plan, is, of course, the tariffs, where theyre going to land. I do accept the fact that in all things that we are planning, you have this cloud hanging over us, and nobody can predict what will come from the United States tomorrow or next week or whatever. He said he could not outline what specific projects would be funded, but said more road projects would be given the go-ahead in an attempt to spread economic activity across the country. He said the broad figures for each department would be announced on Tuesday. The reason were doing it that way, it gives departments the flexibility to look at the projects they have coming up, look at which projects are shovel-ready, and we can get them moving as quickly as possible, because in every department, there is an urgency to implement, rather than to be creating more strategies. In an apparent reference to the National Childrens Hospital, a state-of-the-art public infrastructure project which has been criticised for ballooning to a cost of 2.2 billion, he said there would be an emphasis on functionality. It is important that we deliver the projects, but also, and this is a key one, is that we deliver projects which are functional rather than being award-winning, especially in housing and in hospital infrastructure, we need buildings that will function. We dont need to see an architects ego going wild, are we to pay more money for something thats not adding to the functionality? I think most people would like to have a home thats comfortable and functional rather than have an award-winning housing estate from an architectural and aesthetic point of view. Among the main projects expected to be mentioned in the report is the long-awaited Metrolink, which is estimated to cost at least 9 billion, but the Government has been warned the cost could inflate to 23 billion. Sonya McLean A man who claimed he was acting in the capacity of a vigilante when he was caught with videos of child sex abuse will be sentenced later for possession and distribution of the material. Murilo Dos Santos (36) of North Circular Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of images of child sexual abuse, known in law as child pornography and to distribution of the material on dates between November 18th, 2020 and January 2021. He has no previous convictions. Detective Garda Donagh Mannix told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the then home of Dos Santos, in Christchurch in Dublin city, was searched in connection to an unrelated matter and his phone was seized as part of that investigation. The phone was subsequently analysed and 66 videos were found which were considered to be in contravention of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. Dos Santos shared various videos with six other people on dates between October 2020 and November 2020. Det Gda Mannix gave a description of one of these particularly graphic videos which involved a child estimated to be between six and 12 months old. The child was strapped down and unable to move in the footage. This video was five minutes long. The detective outlined further videos of children, most aged between eight and 12 years old, either involved in sexual activity with each other or sometimes sexual activity with an adult male. There were also more videos involving younger children, described by Det Gda Mannix as toddlers. Gardai also discovered that Dos Santos was using a sharing app which allowed him to share and receive links from others. The analysis showed that he was using one sharing app between September 2020 and October 2020. Det Gda Mannix said there were a number of files shared in this application, mainly videos which were of a similarly graphic nature to the others found on the defendant's phone. A Whatsapp account had also been created and gardai were able to recover conversations between Dos Santos and others, with Dos Santos sharing a link to a folder termed a MEGA folder. He also told the other users where he lived in Dublin, shared a photograph of his own face and suggested meeting up. Det Gda Mannix told Mr Cooney that a large number of videos were sent this time involving children between 10 and 14 years old, again engaged in sexual activity. The court heard extracts from conversations between various people and Dos Santos including him stating that he had more and they could be sent on later. Dos Santos also used a chat application for chat and file sharing. The court heard more extracts from conversations Dos Santos had on this app. The conversations included chat about what are you into? and what kind of stuff they could get and share before further videos of child abuse material was shared. Judge Orla Crowe considered documentation before the court, including refences on behalf of Dos Santos and acceded to a request from defending counsel, Dara Foynes SC, to adjourn the case to allow for the preparation of a report from a psychologist. The judge revoked Dos Santos bail and remanded him in custody until December 1, 2025 for sentence. Det Gda Mannix agreed with Ms Foynes that no one else who conversed with Dos Santos in these apps has been prosecuted. He further agreed that her client was easily identifiable in that he sent a photograph of himself and mentioned where he lived. It was accepted that no person engaging with Dos Santos shared such information. Det Gda Mannix agreed that this was a sub culture on the margins of what is deemed normal society. It was further accepted that at one point during his interview, Dos Santos suggested to gardai that he was accessing this material because he was acting in the capacity of a vigilante. It was acknowledged that he was teetering on the brink of serious self harm and that he has not come to any adverse garda attention since. Ms Foynes submitted that a report from a psychologist would be of assistance to the court in sentencing her client. She acknowledged that it was a very shocking offence that has weighed very heavily on my client, counsel said, before adding that Dos Santos had blocked his ears during some of the evidence in court, such was the level of his shame and remorse. Ms Foynes said it was an offence that is very difficult to comprehend adding that the sharing of such material in this sub-culture is heinous. She said Dos Santos has been in Ireland for 16 years and financially supports his mother. Gordon Deegan The State has concluded its case against former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan, where the 48-year-old is accused of assaulting a then 12-year-old boy with a stick in October 2023. At Ennis Circuit Court on Monday, counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL, instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, told the court that the State had concluded its evidence in the case. In the case, Mr Gilligan denies a charge of assault causing harm of a 12-year-old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge, on October 5th 2023. In court this morning, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL, instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett, called two witnesses on behalf of the defence. The first defence witness, a professional photographer, Martin Murphy, told the court that he took photos at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge on instruction of Niall Gilligan on October 5th 2024, one year on from the alleged assault on October 5th 2023. Mr Murphy took photos in the early evening from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the same time of the alleged assault in October 2023. Mr Murphy also went to the property to take more photos earlier this month, and copies of all of the photos were shown to the jury. Mr Murphy told the court that he has known "Niall since he was a young lad". The court was told that Mr Gilligan is a publican, auctioneer and a farmer who has cattle. Shannon-based builder provider, Flan O'Neill, gave evidence that he sold plywood on October 5th 2023, to Niall Gilligan. Mr O'Neill said that the plywood was cut to size as Mr Gilligan, who the jury has been told has no previous convictions, required the plywood due to broken windows at his Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge. Mr O'Neill said the cost of the plywood for Mr Gilligan was 36 including VAT. At the conclusion of Mr ONeills evidence, Mr Whyms told Judge Francis Comerford Thats the evidence in the case. Judge Comerford told the jury that they have now heard the evidence in the case, and they will shortly hear closing speeches from lawyers for each side. On Friday, the jury was also told that the then 12-year-old boy that Mr Gilligan is alleged to have assaulted sustained a fractured bone in his left hand. Medical reports from October 2023 show that the boy, on examination, also had a 2cm wound to his right forearm, a 2cm wound to his right shin, bruising to his right shoulder, while medics also believed that the boy lost consciousness briefly earlier on October 5th 2023. Mr Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024, and accompanied there by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett. Mr Gilligan denied any assault and said that on October 5th 2023, at the Jamaica Inn hostel: I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me in the conditions that prevailed. In a prepared statement, Mr Gilligan added: I acted in a reasonable manner to protect my property from destruction by fire and further damage. He said: I didnt know who or what was coming at me that night." He said: I feel sorry for the boy, but the fact is that if he and others hadnt broken into my property, lit a fire, stolen the keys and caused other damage, this incident would never have happened." The case continues before a jury of seven men and five women. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Orange-level weather warnings were in place for parts of Ireland on Monday morning after a night of heavy rain across the island. There were reports of localised flooding across parts of the island following a series of weather alerts on Sunday, with the unseasonably high rainfall into the start of the week. A status orange rain warning for Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow came into effect from midnight and expires at 2pm on Monday. Met Eireann said there would be persistent and heavy rain with a chance of thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Kildare is under a yellow-level rain warning for the same period. The warnings followed other alerts about thunderstorms in the east of the country and increased rain in the south-west. Met Eireann warned that the weather would bring widespread surface flooding, very difficult travelling conditions, lightning damage and very poor visibility in the worst-affected areas. Warning Updates Status Orange Rain & thunderstorm warning for Dublin, Louth & Meath Valid: 00:00 21/07/25 to 14:00 21/07/25 Status Yellow Rain warning for Kildare, Wicklow & Monaghan Valid: 00:00 21/07/25 to 14:00 21/07/25 Stay safe and updatedhttps://t.co/GYji547FKt pic.twitter.com/4r5XXhrTxp Met Eireann (@MetEireann) July 20, 2025 Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is expected to experience some of the worst of a heavy spell of rainfall on Sunday evening into Monday. Forecasters predict the region could see half a months worth of rain in less than a day. It comes as yellow-level rain warnings were put in place for the eastern counties of Northern Ireland, as well as several counties south of the border. The Northern Ireland warning applies for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday. A more intense amber-level warning was also put in place between 11pm on Sunday and 8pm on Monday. The Met Office warned that homes and businesses are likely to be flooded. The expected rainfall carries a risk of flooding, power cuts and dangerous driving conditions. Forecasters also warn there is a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads while fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. Simon Partridge, a forecaster with the UK Met Office, said: It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours. The region records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a months rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. A yellow-level thunderstorm warning was in place for the western half of Northern Ireland between midday and 8pm on Sunday. Flooding was already affecting routes in Fermanagh on Sunday evening, with the Marble Arch Road, Florencecourt, and Sligo Road, Enniskillen, both described as impassable by police. A PSNI spokeswoman said: Please take care when travelling, slow down, and exercise caution on affected roads. A well-known children's clothing brand has issued a recall on five of their products due to fears they may lead to strangulation and choking. Jainco UK Limited is carrying out a recall of four 'Miss' dresses as well as their knitted top, shorts and headband outfit set. These items were sold online by popular retailer Next Retail Limited. These items pose both a strangulation and choking hazard due to excessively long, decorative cords that do not comply with safety standards. READ MORE: Married farmer convicted of raping man twice led away to begin sentence The brand is Miss and the affected item numbers are F83773, F83782, F83775, F83781 and F85623. There are approximately 11 affected products in the Republic of Ireland. If you purchased one of these products, please discontinue use immediately and keep it out of the reach of children. If customers have given any of these items as a gift, please ask the recipient to dispose of the item safely. Please contact Next Ireland to arrange a refund. The Integrity published the following from Dr Melissa-Jade Gregan: Espiners latest investigation reveals what insiders have known for years: the alcohol industry is not just consulted on health policy its calling the shots. Emails released under the Official Information Act show that Ministry of Health officials are constantly communicating with alcohol lobbyists, sharing draft policy documents, and even inviting industry feedback on how public health money should be spent. In one case, officials paused work on reviewing drinking guidelines and scrubbed references to international standards from a government website at the request of an alcohol lobbyist. This is simply false. The lobbyist did not demand or request a review be paused. All that happened is they saw mention of it on a Health NZ website, and as they knew nothing about it, asked the MOH what was happening. The MOH got it removed from the Health NZ website for the very simple reason that policy reviews belong with MOH, not Health NZ. Health NZ was acting outside its remit, and was pulled into line. The industry was also given the draft plan for managing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and asked for feedback on the $16 million Alcohol Levy, money intended to reduce alcohol harm. The industry pays the levy. Only in academia would it be seen as a bad thing to ask the people who fund the levy, for their input on what it gets spent on. Ross Bell, a group manager in the Ministry of Healths Public Health Agency, is at the centre of this. Bell has shifted roles he was previously a long-serving head of the New Zealand Drug Foundation. In becoming a public servant, Bell has moved from being a staunch public health advocate to becoming an industry liaison, now in one of the most senior public health roles responsible for alcohol policy in New Zealand. While at the Drug Foundation, Bell argued that the liberalisation of alcohol regulations had revolutionised the alcohol industry and was behind New Zealands drinking problem as well as domestic violence, drink-drive deaths and youth suicide. See his proclamations such as: Lets face up to our drinking problem and Public encouraged to speak up on alcohol law reform. Bell also encouraged the public to make submissions on the Alcohol Reform Bill, saying: No doubt the Government is under a lot of pressure from industry lobbyists to leave things as they are and he argued that changing New Zealands approach to alcohol was more important than the industrys profit margins. Now, in his position as liaison with the alcohol lobby, Bells messaging appears to have fundamentally changed. The latest revelations paint a picture of Bell becoming captured by the alcohol lobbyists that hes been liaising with. This is a smear against a public servant, who cant defend themselves. So I will do so by pointing out the obvious. When Bell was at the Drug Foundation, he was a lobbyist. When he is a public servant at the Ministry of Health, his role is not to lobby for his personal views, but to drive a robust policy process, that of course includes consultation with stakeholders. Any public servant that doesnt consult stakeholders is doing a bad job. Rather than accept the blindingly obvious that Bell is simply now in a different role, the Integrity Institute paint him as somehow captured simply because he follows best practice on consulting with industry representatives in his area of policy. If he did not consult with stakeholders, he would be sacked by his bosses. Smearing public servants who cant respond is something you might expect an Integrity Institute to condemn if it was done by say politicians. But instead they are doing it themselves. The latest revelations show the generous level of access that alcohol lobbyists have to policymakers. Contrast this with the experience of public health advocates, who are largely denied the same opportunities. As my own research has shown, government-funded public health service providers are restricted by their contracts from engaging in anything that looks like political advocacy. Public health lobby groups that are not funded by taxpayers have no restrictions on lobbying. In fact they do it relentlessly. But the Auditor-General has said many times that taxpayer funded organisations must not be funded by the Government to lobby the Government. Again this is something you might expect an Integrity Institute to applaud not having Government funded lobbying. We must adopt clear, enforceable rules of engagement for entities who benefit from harm. Are big alcohol companies seriously going to recommend their hard-earned money is spent on something thatll reduce their profits? The author seems to think that reducing the profits of alcohol companies is the same as reducing harm from alcohol. I suspect many public health activists share that view, but it is fundamentally wrong of course. Off memory different groups representing the alcohol industry have advocated for confiscating cars from repeat drink drivers, heavier fines for drunken behaviour, spot fines for Police, alcohol interlocks for cars, alcohol education in schools etc. I know this as Curia does an annual poll for the NZ Alcohol Beverages Council where they ask NZers if they support such harm reduction measures (and the vast majority do). Harvard argues the government is in violation of the First Amendment. Trumps team frames the lawsuit as a contract dispute A LAOIS secondary school has announced the untimely death of a popular and highly regarded teacher. Portlaoise College confirmed the death of teacher Evangelin Durojaiye, in a tribute today that offered sympathies to her husband and children. Ms Durojaiye taught Spanish and History at the secondary school, having joined its staff only a year ago. Portlaoise College management said on social media: It is with profound sadness that we write to inform you of the untimely passing of our dear friend and colleague, Mrs Evangelin Durojaiye. Evangelin joined Portlaoise College last August as a teacher of Spanish and History and she also served as the class tutor for 1D. From her very first day, her warm personality and student-centred approach left a lasting impression on staff, students and parents alike. 'Always greeting others with a smile in the corridors, Evangelin brought a sense of joy and kindness to our school community. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.' The school added: 'At this difficult time, our thoughts are especially with her husband, James and their children. We extend our heartfelt condolences to them and to all who are grieving her loss. The college confirmed that Ms Durojaiye was laid to rest in the Phillippines on Monday 21 July. Management said: We are thinking of you all as Evangelin's funeral takes place today in the Philippines. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam.' James Cox Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Government performance 'quite low' says Ivan Yates Former minister Ivan Yates has said the Coalition Government's performance so far is "quite low". In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Mr Yates said Taoiseach Micheal Martin "has become a bit of a photo opportunity junkie" and Tanaiste Simon Harris "needs to think more strategically". "The report card for this government in the first six months is quite low, three out of 10. Good programme for government, good transactional arrangement in putting the government together, ensuring its longevity," said Mr Yates. "I think the government parties, both Simon Harris and Micheal Martin, had a pretty good election and post-election. "The speaking rights row was totally counterproductive for the Government. It was not a core issue. I think it was something that should have been anticipated, TDs simultaneously being in government and opposition was always going to be a touchstone for the Opposition. "It allowed the Opposition to get up a head of steam and that allowed the unity of the Opposition to have a cohesion, and also made the Dail chamber exceptionally attritional, which I think all contributed to a bad start for the Government. "The delay in setting up committees as well, I think that has been the worst period. The complete lack of government cohesion, from the appointment of a housing tsar to 'we're going to dismantle rent pressure zones... no we're not, we're going to double down on that', there were a lot of mixed messages." Mr Yates was a Fine Gael TD for Wexford during his political career and served as minister for agriculture from 1994 to 1997. Mr Yates said Mr Harris is "trying to reinvent himself and to find his niche for Fine Gael in a situation where there is a medium term risk that Fine Gael or Fianna Fail could cannabilise each other". He added: "I think Micheal Martin has become a bit of a photo opportunity junkie, there is a lack of depth. "For Simon Harris, with student fees and things like this, it seems the initial six months as leader and Taoiseach, he was so full of energy he was responding three times a day on every issue that moved, he is not that different nowadays and therefore is a bit distracted and trying to lead the news on different things. It makes him look less earnest and less heavyweight. I think he needs to think more strategically." Triple lock While the Dail is in its summer recess, debate over the removal of the triple lock is going on behind the scenes. Under the current system, Ireland cannot deploy any more than 12 Defence Forces peacekeepers overseas without a mission being approved by the UN Security Council or General Assembly, as well as approval by the Government and the Dail. Under draft legislation being advanced by the Government, it is proposed to remove the requirement of formal UN approval and replace it with a stipulation that the deployments are in accordance with the UN Charter. The Government argues that this will prevent the five permanent members of the Security Council Russia, China, the UK, the US and France from exercising their veto against Irish peacekeeping missions. The Irish Neutrality League and a number of opposition TDs have pledged a "robust challenge" to the changes. Sinn Fein has opposed it, and the party has proposed 111 amendments to the Bill to remove the triple lock, according to The Irish Times. The Oireachtas defence committe is to meet to discuss it this week. Presidential race Michael Healy-Rae has ruled himself out of the presidential race after speculation that he could make a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. Speaking on RTEs Saturday with Colm O Mongain, the Minister of State ruled himself out. It came after a BreakingNews.ie interview with former minister Ivan Yates, who said Mr Healy-Rae could be a "dark horse" in the presidential race. Mr Healy-Rae said he had a "very clear focus" on serving as a TD for Kerry. When asked about rumours of a run from Michael Flatley, Mr Healy-Rae said he is an excellent ambassador for our traditions of dance and music. He added: "Hes a person that I know personally, and hes a very, very nice gentleman. I wish him every good luck in every endeavour that he would ever had, but you can be sure of one thing, whatever name is going to be on that piece of paper, its not going to be me. Catherine Connolly and Mairead McGuinness are the declared candidates at this point. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has been heavily linked with a bid for the presidency. The Irish Daily Mail ran a poll today on how a race between Ms McGuinness and Ms McDonald would fare. It found Ms McGuinness leads Ms McDonald 55 per cent -45 per cent overall. McDonald leads among 18-34: 61 per cent to 39 per cent. Ms McGuinness leads among 65+: 81 per cent to 19 per cent. Abroad In the US, calls for the release of files on Jeffrey Epstein continue to be a headache for president Donald Trump. In the UK, the ruling Labour government is pushing ahead with changes to lower the voting age to 16 before the next British general election. TIMES STAFF WRITER You look around Joe Marinos place here, halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and there is no doubt he lives in the desert. There is sand everywhere. It isnt just that the sand has filled up his toolshed so that he cannot get inside it, or that it has settled so high around the big tree out back that he can now walk into the treehouse. The sand is in his house. On the windowsills, on the floors, in the cupboards, in the furniture, in the clothes hanging in the closet. Marino used to laugh about it. Now I cry and ask, Why me, Lord? Ive spent $10,000, easy, to try to keep the sand back, he said. Thats money that I was going to spend on my childrens education. A former neighbor, Marguerite Paduano, describes the sand as some inescapable monster from a B horror flick, slowly and methodically marching its way down the dry Mojave River and holding her mobile home hostage. Advertisement The sand has destroyed four videotape recorders, she said, and has gotten onto the tapes. And into the TV and into her expensive 35-millimeter cameras. And her kitchen appliances. Everything. She would shower at night and, if the wind was blowing, she would shower again in the morning, shake out her sheets and wash them before going to bed that night. Then she would clean out the grayish goop in the bottom of her washing machine. My mother is a semi-invalid and watches TV, and if she sits still for 20 minutes, we have to dust her off, Paduano said. The problem got so bad that she finally abandoned her property and moved to Victorville. Advertisement But the sand is not invading homes just a couple of hundred yards off to the side in either direction. Over there, the desert floor is compacted, covered with rock, brush and desert grasses. There are no sand dunes. Marinos, Paduanos and six other homes sit on a six-mile stretch along the riverbed. The homeowners say their properties have been blasted and blanketed with sand thanks to San Bernardino County road crews. From 1979 to 1991, county maintenance crews cleared sand that was building up on and beside Minneola Road, which crosses the river, and dumped it on the downwind, or east, side of the road in the Mojave River channel. Tons of it, year after year after year. Advertisement The deposited sand would blow away and more would be dumped in its place. Nobody at the county stopped to wonder where all that sand was going that they dumped there the previous time, Paduano said. What did they think, that the sandman came at night with a lot of little Baggies? The problem, residents say, was clear to them: The prevailing westerly wind blew that loose sand onto their properties on Newberry Road. Sand dunes six, eight, 10 feet tall have built up in their yards. Ponds and pastures are now one huge sandbox. Mary Case can walk onto the roof of her place by walking up the sand piled along the back of the house. Marino installed a $2,000 snow fence to try to protect his property; the fence is now buried. And the bulldozer he bought to keep his property clear of sand is now trapped in its own sand dune. The residents complained to county bureaucrats, who hired a sand expert to study their claims. He agreed there is a problem. Although accurate quantification is impossible, it seems clear that the relocation of sand at Minneola Road resulting from highway maintenance activities has contributed to sand encroachment in the vicinity of Newberry Road, said Ronald D. Tabler, the sand-and-snow expert from Niwot, Colo. The sand, he said, also presents a serious health hazard to residents. County officials realized that they had trouble. Their own expert said so. Marsha Turoci, a member of the County Board of Supervisors whose district includes Newberry Springs, saw for herself. Advertisement I was standing out there with tears rolling down my face, she said. I thought, oh my God, this cant be happening. This is a nightmare. The road crews stopped dumping the sand when the first complaints surfaced in 1991. But Turoci and other county officials were not ready to accept the entire blame. Other people--pipeline contractors working for utility companies, off-road enthusiasts, wood scavengers along the river bottom, you name it--are responsible for creating loose sand too, Turoci said. Our hearts go out to these people . . . but what can we do? We told them they probably would have to go to court because we couldnt really pinpoint who was to blame and where they could turn to for relief. So last September, the homeowners sued the county, demanding about $6 million in damages so they could pack up and leave. But the county filed a lawsuit of its own. The county is not exclusively to blame for this problem, its lawyer contended; other people share responsibility for this mess, too. The countys lawsuit asks that any liability be shared with many of the areas property owners, ranging from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, AT & T and Southern California Edison, to more than a dozen residents who draw water from the river basin. Advertisement Although the countys lawsuit does not explain why it wants to share the blame, lawyers involved say utilities are being blamed for unsettling the crusty surface of the desert floor by installing utility lines, and the residents are targeted for pumping too much water from beneath the riverbed, causing it to go even drier and sandier. The countys lawyer refused to discuss the case. But the countys lawsuit could have a staggering repercussion. For years, individual water users and public water agencies up and down the Mojave River--from Victorville to Daggett--have been sucking up water from beneath the Mojave water basin faster than it is being replenished. Recently, the city of Barstow and the Southern California Water Co. sued to try to force some water-use restrictions. After intensive settlement talks, a complex water rights pact is on the verge of approval. The agreement sets limits on how much water everyone can use and forces them to pay for extra consumption; the money will be used to buy imported water to replenish the basin. Attorneys say the counter-lawsuit by San Bernardino County jeopardizes that water-rights agreement because the parties may now be reluctant to legally acknowledge that they draw water from the basin. If the countys lawsuit moves forward, well object to the water rights adjudication and that agreement will just blow up, said Patrick Munoz, attorney for the Newberry Springs Community Services District. Were on the verge of solving a 20-year-old problem, teetering on who has right to water, and now were being blamed for causing blowing sand? Its nuts. Advertisement Turoci said she hopes that the countys lawsuit does not jeopardize the historic water rights agreement. She said the Board of Supervisors last week instructed its attorney to back off the small water users. In the meantime, the sand dunes continue to blow, and still more are headed toward the residents along Newberry Road. Only Paduano has moved, although she still owns her property here; the others cannot walk away from their mortgages, and they know that nobody will buy their properties. For Charlotte Mitchell, the worst is over--but the damage is done. She has lived on the family horse ranch since 1948, the home closest to the downwind side of Minneola Road. For years, she rented horses to for pleasure riding and had a brisk horse trading business. She flips through the photographs of the good old days, of lots of horses and lots of green pastureland. Now, outside her window, all she sees are corrals filled with sand. It got to her first, before heading east. Instead of a lawn mower, her version of yard equipment is a dump truck. In 40 years, we never had a sand problem, and weve been through drought and wind. Then this, she said. How can it be explained, except that its man-made? Advertisement Her son, James, lives next doOr and works for the railroad. Weve basically lost this place, he said. Its a living hell. I used to grow alfalfa on 40 acres, but my fields have been sandblasted. All my equipment is destroyed. The sand has ruined the magnetic switches in my irrigation equipment. This has been our home, he said. I was born here. And now were watching it be destroyed right in front of us. DEAR ERIC: My neighbors and clerks in our local grocery store know I hang out with Patty. Sometimes Patty and I shop together. Shes very friendly and gives each cashier and bagger a hug. As a former cashier myself, Ive told her not to do that. Also, shes worn the same outfit for more than a month and smells. Ive never seen her do laundry in our buildings laundry room. Two employees told me that the manager (who is very nice to me) is on the verge of kicking her out. She doesnt have a car, so itd be rough on her. Should I tell her its serious that she may not be allowed in there if she doesnt tone it down? Huggers Friend DEAR FRIEND: Yes. Its the helpful thing to do and it might lead to a conversation about what else is going on with Patty. The hugging may be a personality quirk, but not doing laundry for a month suggests that there is a problem in her life economic, emotional, mental or logistical thats keeping her from maintaining healthy habits. Talk to her about the store and then ask her, without judgment, if she needs help. Point out what youve noticed and, if need be, help her see how these things might be keeping her from the life she wants. If you find yourself out of your depth, offer to go with her to her doctor to talk about whats going on or bring a mutual friend. Your intervention could help Patty avoid something much worse. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.) 2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A man who authorities say was under the influence of heroin when his toddler son ingested a fatal dose of fentanyl in Allentown was sent to state prison Monday. Both parents of 22-month-old Johansy Suarez-Rivas have now been sentenced to state prison for failing to prevent the boy from finding and ingesting the drug that killed him, according to a news release Monday from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan. Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, 37, left Johansy in the care of his father, 34-year-old Jorge Suarez-Santiago of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the day Johansy died, the news release says. It says both parents were under the influence of heroin in the hours before the boy died on April 5, 2021. Johansy and two other children were left in Suarez-Santiagos care in Rivas-Rodriguezs apartment in the 100 block of North Eighth Street in Allentown, the release says. Lehigh County Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks on Monday sentenced Suarez-Santiago to serve five to 15 years in state prison. Rivas-Rodriguez received the same sentence in May. Suarez-Santiago pleaded guilty in March to involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and drug possession. Rivas-Rodriguez pleaded guilty in May to involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. The boy was taken from the apartment to St. Lukes Hospital-Sacred Heart Campus in Allentown because he was reportedly not breathing, the release says. He was pronounced dead at the hospital from fentanyl toxicity, the release says. Rivas-Rodriguez provided Suarez-Santiago with what she believed to be heroin prior to leaving Johansy in his care that day. She left the boy in his fathers care even though the father was visibly intoxicated, the release says. Often mixed into heroin, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin as an analgesic, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was investigated by Allentown police Detective Joseph Beiner and the Lehigh County Coroners Office and was prosecuted by District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. The new Netflix docuseries Amy Bradley Is Missing tells the chilling true story of a 23-year-old woman who went missing from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The three part docuseries, which hit Netflix on July 16, outlines several theories for what happened to Amy. After a night of partying with her brother, Brad, at the Rhapsody of the Seas nightclub, Amy made it back safely to her familys suite. Her father, Ron, saw her sleeping on the balcony just half an hour before she disappeared into thin air. READ MORE: Where is Amy Bradleys family now, 27 years after her disappearance? After a thorough search of the entire cruise ship, the captain informed Amys family that she was nowhere to be found on board. So, where did Amy go? One theory is that Amy could have jumped from the balcony of the ship or fallen overboard. Thats what Kirk Detweiler, who was the Rhapsody of the Seas cruise director when Amy was onboard, thinks happened. But not everyone is so sure. Amys body was never found, and there has been speculation that shes still alive somewhere. Ive kind of gotten to the point where I have to believe shes alive, the docs co-direcor Ari Mark said during an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. Were always so used to calculating odds. Well, the odds are this happened, and the statistics say. .. All of those things are true. But if were telling a remarkable story, I think theres just as much of a chance that theres a remarkable answer. The Bradleys noticed Amys absence as the ship was arriving in Curacao. When there was no conclusive evidence that Amy fell or jumped off the ship, the family went back to the Caribbean island to search for her there. A taxi driver approached Ron and claimed that he had seen Amy in distress on the island. In Amy Bradley is missing, Ron said the cab driver remembered Amy approaching his car and asking for directions to a payphone. He told Ron that Amy seemed frantic and walked in the opposite direction of where he told her to go. READ MORE: Where is Sherri Papini now? An update on the woman who allegedly faked her own kidnapping There have been other reported sightings of Amy. The summer after her disappearance, a man named David Carmichael told the FBI that he saw a woman who looked like Amy walking on a Curacao beach with a man who looked like the cruise ships bass player, Alistir Douglas, who was an initial suspect. Another man named Bill Hefner claimed that he was approached by a woman in a brothel in 1999 who said her name was Amy Bradley. The woman alleged that she was being held against her will because she owned men money for drugs. An anonymous source also sent the FBI a poster for a website promoting sex work which included a photo of a woman who looked like Amy. All the reported sightings could point to Amy being a victim of sex trafficking, although the theory has never been confirmed. READ MORE: Where is Rex Heuermann now? What to know about the alleged Gilgo Beach killer As for Alistir Douglas, Amy was seen talking and dancing with him on the ship the night she went missing. He denied having anything to do with her disappearance, but his daughter, Amica Douglas, isnt convinced of his innocence. Amica appeared in Amy Bradley Is Missing, claiming that her father acted strange after returning from the cruise Amy was on. What year did Amy Bradley go missing? Amy went missing on March 24, 1998, when she was 23. If she is alive today, she would be 51 years old. Amy Bradley Is Missing is available to stream on Netflix. You can also watch other corresponding coverage about Amy Lynn Bradleys disappearance on Hulu, Peacock, and Sing TV. Over the years, the case has been on several true crime TV shows, like Unsolved Mysteries and Americas Most Wanted, among other programs. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office is photographed June 28, 2018. Neil Blake File Photo | For MLive.com UPDATE: US immigration says it didnt deport 82-year-old Lehigh Valley man The Guatemalan government on Sunday denied that U.S. authorities deported a Chilean native to the Central American country. The Morning Call reported Luis Leon, 82, of Allentown a legal permanent resident of the United States who won asylum in 1987 ended up in Guatemala after being handcuffed in a Philadelphia immigration office, where he went to replace his lost green card. The news report relied on family accounts. The Morning Call reported Sunday that Leon was recovering from pneumonia in Guatemala and didnt plan to return to the United States, according to his granddaughter. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was looking into the circumstances, according to The Morning Call. ICE did not respond to questions from The Associated Press on Sunday. The Guatemalan Migration Institute said in a statement that it coordinates with ICE on all deportations from the United States and that no one matched Leons name, age or citizenship. Guatemala agreed in February to receive people deported from the United States who are from other Central American countries. Its agreement does not extend to Chileans. The Trump administration has embraced deporting people to countries other than their own, including El Salvador, South Sudan and, last week, the African kingdom of Eswatini. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Whether youre an all-out Disney fanatic or enjoy the nostalgia factor, the Vera Bradley x Disney Collection is a fun limited-edition collaboration thats officially on sale (AKA discounted). Featuring fan favorite characters like Tiana-coded purses, Tangled-themed bags, exclusive Mickey ears and quilted duffles, theres something for everyone. Disney Bancroft Backpack Mickey Mouse Kaleidoscope Lavender in Featherweight $150 $105 This Mickey Mouse patterned backpack is currently $45 off at Vera Bradley. Buy Now on Vera Bradley While the entire line isnt discounted, some best-selling pieces, like the Bancroft Backpack ($105, instead of $150) and the Mini Banbury Backpack ($70, instead of $100), are currently on sale for less. If youre standing in line at the theme park, youll want to utilize the Disney Mini Umbrella ($32, instead of $$5) when the Florida rain arrives. Go back to Corona Castle with the Lantern Knotted Handbag ($105, instead of $150). The Disney Baird Hipster Bag shows off Rapunzel tangled in her own hair on a sunflower-yellow leather style ($109, instead of $155). Other classic Vera Bradley styles, like the Disney Blake Crossbody ($98, instead of $140), get a whimsical twist with a Tiana etching on an olive-green leather number. The Disney Beignet Frame Bag ($95, instead of $135) is a nod to Tianas famous beignets. Or the Mini Original Tote redesigned with a Tiana Medallion print ($81, instead of $115). While the Springbrook Sling Crossbody has Tiana hugging her mother ($109, instead of $155). If youre less princess-inclined, there are plenty of colorful Mickey-patterned options ready to shop. Grab the colorful Mickey meadow stripe purse or the Lorman Sling Bag for your park day and then pack it all up at the end of your trip in the Disney Original Duffel. Seen similarly on the Disney Woodlark Tote, this eye-catching pattern captures the kaleidoscope of memories Disney helps create. Get cozy in the Button-Down Pajama Set and matching Disney Slippers, and then, in the morning, match your park bag to your ears with the Mickey Mouse Crossbody and Mickey Mouse Ear Headband. At the end of your Disney vacation, record your memories and review character autographs in the cute Travel Journal. The Vera Bradley x Disney collection sale items Shop all of the Disney Vera Bradley collection that is currently on sale below. The expansive collection features bright patterns, princesses, and best-selling styles, all decorated with the signature Disney twist we know and love. Plus, get free shipping when you spend $99. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is urging farmers in Laois, farmers families, and all those working in agriculture around Ireland to prioritise safety as Farm Safety Week 2025 begins. The HSA says Farm Safety Week is an important campaign that highlights the ongoing dangers faced in farming. This collaborative campaign, originally launched by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) in the UK and coordinated in Ireland by the IFA, brings together farming organisations from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England to focus on improving farm safety. The HSA says that, tragically, farming continues to account for a disproportionate number of workplace deaths. Many of these incidents are preventable, often involving vehicles, machinery, livestock and falls from height. So far this year, there have been 12 farming fatalities, the same amount as the total number of fatalities in farming in 2024. Of the 12, 5 (41%) of these fatalities involved vehicles. In 9 (75%) of the cases, the deceased was over 65 years of age. Ger Hartnett is Senior Inspector at the HSA. Each life that is lost in farming is a devastating reminder that safety must come first every day, on every farm. We must remind ourselves that there are 12 families this year mourning the loss of a loved one and we must collectively renew our commitment to prevent further family tragedies. Farm Safety Week is an opportunity to reflect, to change behaviour, and to take proper action that can save lives. We want to see a change in the attitude towards farm safety. Keep your vehicles and machinery well maintained. Plan all work activity. Rest when you feel tired, take a break. Know your limitations, he said. The HSA concluded by encouraging all those involved in farming to use this week to engage in meaningful conversations within families and communities about risk, responsibility, and prevention. For more information on farm safety guidance and resources, visit www.hsa.ie. The Laois man at the head of the Irish Road Haulage Association claims the RSA is massaging its figures by moving commercial vehicle testers to car testing. The Irish Road Haulage Association(IRHA) accused the Road Safety Authority(RSA) of massaging the driver testing figures by moving testers from articulated truck, bus and truck testing to car testing in order to reduce wait times for car driving tests whilst waiting times for commercial driving tests increase exponentially. They made their claims in separate letters to both Ministers Darragh OBrien and Sean Canney. Hauliers say that this has caused the waiting lists for driving tests for a car to fall by 10% between April and June 2025 but led to a significant increase in the wait times for truck (42%) and articulated truck (40%) between April and June 2025. It has also, they say, caused a backlog in the testing of bus drivers. Hauliers describe it as a crisis in the making for the commercial driving industry. According to IRHA President Ger Hyland, the RSA took the decision, under intense political pressure, to move their testing resources from commercial testing into car testing, rather than expand their testing capabilities overall. Mr Hyland described it as a dangerous game the RSA are playing which is effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul at a time when the haulage sector is desperately short on drivers. He said the actions of the RSA are stifling economic growth in rural Ireland by delaying the qualification of suitably qualified professional drivers who are desperately needed to support small and medium sized businesses across the country. Young Irish drivers who need a license to drive a bus, truck or HGV cannot get licenses because the RSA have all but stopped commercial testing to focus on car testing. They have pulled the wool over this government's eyes and instead of dealing with the high demand for testing, they decided to simply move the deck chairs around the Titanic. The Road Safety Authority said they had redeployed staff in order to train new testers but only after delivering record numbers of truck and bus tests in May of 2025. "The Road Safety Authority (RSA) remains fully committed to delivering fair and timely access to driving tests across all licence categories including commercial vehicles. In May 2025, we delivered record levels of Category C and D (truck and bus) tests in preparation for the release of our experienced staff from the service to support the training of our new recruits. This resulted in a reduction of testing staff to support the higher licence categories during the training period in June and July, the RSA stated. According to the RSA, this short-term adjustment is already delivering improvements in overall capacity. Once the new testers are fully deployed from early September, waiting times for all licence categories including commercial will stabilise and meet service-level agreements. At the end of June, 2,738 people were awaiting a truck or bus driving test. These individuals will be issued with an invitation in the coming weeks. There will be no reduction in testing for the higher categories in 2025 vs 2024, we expect to exceed our 2024 testing volumes, the RSA stated. They noted that in recent months, the IRHA expressed concern about long waiting times for car driving tests, warning of the 'safety risks' that delays were contributing to potentially more unaccompanied learner drivers sharing the road with professional HGV drivers. They say addressing that issue has been a national priority. The RSAs focus is on providing a high-capacity, sustainable and safety-led testing system that serves all road users commercial and private and supports Irelands broader economic and workforce needs," they concluded. Mr Hyland said driving school owners have said commercial driving testing has all but stopped" in the last two months. That means no new bus drivers, truck drivers, HGV drivers. We have young Irish people who want to drive for a living but cannot get a license so we are forced to bring in drivers from South Africa instead whilst young Irish people are forced to move abroad and drive there all because of the mismanagement of our testing system by the RSA. One HGV driving instructor in Kerry told us that he didnt have a scheduled commercial driving test in the Tralee centre since May and wasnt expecting one until at least August. He told of the devastating impact this was having on his business and how he had young drivers waiting since January for a commercial driving test to try and get a job, said Mr Hyland. Citing Central Statistics Office figures, Mr Hyland said that between April 2025 and June 2025, the RSA had significantly improved their performance for car and van testing, recording a 10% drop in the number of driving test applicants waiting at month end for a test. Over the same period, the number of applicants waiting for an articulated truck license test rose by 39.6% and the number of applicants waiting at month end for a category C truck license driving test rose by 42%, rising from 907 people waiting at the end of April 2025, to 1,289 people waiting for a truck driving test at the end of June 2025. The CSO figures also show that the driving test applicants scheduled for cars/light vans between April and June 2025 increased by 49.2% from 15,287 tests to 22,810 scheduled tests. In the same period the number of scheduled tests for category C trucks fell by 61.8% from 356 to 136 scheduled tests and those for articulated trucks (CE license) fell by 69% from 242 tests scheduled in April 2025 to just 75 tests scheduled in June 2025. Mr Hyland said that period coincides with a period where Minister Sean Canney met with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) leadership in the Department of Transport and gave them a deadline to return in two weeks with sustainable proposals to improve driving test wait times. He said the RSA know that the car testing figures are what will garner more media and political focus. That is why they moved their resources there, at the expense of the commercial driving sector. They just moved the driving test crisis from cars to commercial vehicles, leading to severe backlogs in the testing system for bus, HGV and truck drivers. These are the drivers we need to bring tourists around, deliver goods and keep our economy running. The RSA have learned nothing in the past six months and have demonstrated that their organisation is clearly not fit for purpose. READ ALSO: Laois farmers urged to prevent family tragedies The Irish Road Haulage Association have now called on the Minister to remove the driver testing system from the Road Safety Authority, before any more damage to the Irish economy is done, he concluded. The Leinster Express/Laois Live has contacted the RSA for comment. 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 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. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has confirmed that he is "thinking of increasing" the bonusses staff receive when they catch an oversized bag in the airport. The popular airline has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that workers receive a commission of 1.50 per each oversized bag they come across and charge. If a passengers bag is found to be too large, they must pay about 13 per kilo to be allowed on the flight. The Sunday World has reported that the commission is capped at approximately 80 a month per staff member. Mr O'Leary spoke on Newstalk's Breakfast Business show with host Joe Lynam about this controversial incentive. "Doesn't that make a very wealthy airline look a bit miserable?" Mr Lynam asked, to which the CEO stated that this is a policy he stands by and endorses "wholeheartedly." READ MORE: RIP: Man (60s) dies following early-morning house fire in Cork Mr O'Leary continued: "It is something I have been advocating for many years. We do repeated passenger surveys. Nothing p*sses our passengers off more than the one or two head-bangers who show up at our boarding gate with out-sized rucksacks, claiming they didn't know or they try to scam to get it on." The Ryanair CEO claims that 99.99% of passengers don't pay excess baggage fees and comply with the rules but Ryanair are "determined to eliminate and get rid of the irritating, tiny minority who refuse to obey by the rules." He stated that staff will continue to encourage and actively go after the small minority of passengers who, despite repeated warnings, keep showing up with out-sized bags. On this, the businessman said, "They will be paying and I am happy to reward our staff bonusses for that. Partly because its self-defeating. It gets rid of them and we are determined to get rid of these bags. If bonusses are the way forward then I'll happily pay the bonusses. In fact, I'm thinking of increasing the bonusses." Also on Breakfast Business, Mr O'Leary confessed that he is "so frustrated" with both Dublin Airport and the Government in regards to the lack of clarity on wanting the number of flights to be permanently increased at the airport. He also urged Taoiseach Micheal Martin to "get his finger out of his backside" and deal with the issue. A family of swans and cygnets remain under special care after an oil spill into a Portlaoise housing estate lake. They are among some 100 wild birds that were polluted in one of Kilminchy housing estate's wildlife rich drainage lakes, after an oil spill on Thursday evening, July 10. Kildare Wildlife Rescue who came to rescue the birds, say they cannot be returned until the lakes are clean. However as yet Laois County Council has not confirmed if it has found the source of the pollution. There is further concern for more wildlife in the third of Kilminchy's lakes. Despite barriers placed by Laois County Fire & Rescue Service, the pollution has entered the next lake. Kilminchy resident John Cowhig who alerted the authority to the oilspill, now reports that the lake is flowing with its oil into the second lake, which he claims was already polluted. "After the heavy rain on Monday night and yesterday the booms and pads at the weir of the second lake which were replaced by the fire brigade on Monday evening have been dislodged. "Waters last night were now flowing over the weir into the third lake. Some of the oil pads have also been washed through into the third lake," Mr Cowhig told the Leinster Express / Laois Live. Soakage pads floating in the third lake at Kilminchy. Photo: John Cowhig Kilbogget Park near Cabinteely. Meanwhile Bank of Ireland has apologised for polluting a Dublin lake, which the dedicated volunteers of Kildare Wildlife Rescue (KWR) also rescued a family of swans from this week, at Their rescue coordinator spoke to RTE Radio 1 on Friday at lunchtime. Kildare residents will be consulted about plans to lower speed limits. The introduction of the 60 km/h speed limit on rural local roads took place in February. READ NEXT New trees planned for this Kildare estate Cllr Claire ORourke asked about the 30 km/h speed limit, which will apply in urban areas. She asked, at a Kildare County Council meeting when more information will be available about this. KCC official Celina Barrett said the Department of Transport is currently finalising an update of the Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland. Ms Barrett says this is mandatory guidance on the issue. She also said changes will have to be authorised by government and it is expected that county councils will amend speed limits in urban areas by way of special speed limit bye-laws. These will have to be voted upon by the councillors. KCC will shortly commence a statutory public consultation process for amending the speed limits in urban housing estates, that are taken in charge. This is expected to start in July. The meeting was also told that it is planned to address the issue of providing new signs in residential areas so that drivers will be aware of new limits. Forecasters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have upgraded their warnings ahead of heavy rainfall on Sunday night into Monday. Northern Ireland is expected to experience some of the worst of a heavy spell of rainfall on Sunday evening into Monday. Forecasters predict the region could see half a months worth of rain in less than a day. It comes as yellow-level rain warnings were put in place for the eastern counties of Northern Ireland, as well as several counties south of the border. Amber weather warning issued Rain across south eastern Northern Ireland Sunday 2300 Monday 0800 Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/5AQefwTxMs Met Office (@metoffice) July 20, 2025 The Northern Ireland warning applies for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday. A more intense amber-level warning was also put in place between 11pm on Sunday and 8pm on Monday. The Met Office warned that homes and businesses are likely to be flooded. The expected rainfall carries a risk of flooding, power cuts and dangerous driving conditions. Forecasters also warn there is a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads while fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life. Simon Partridge, a forecaster with the UK Met Office, said: It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours. The region records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a months rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. A yellow-level thunderstorm warning was in place for the western half of Northern Ireland between midday and 8pm on Sunday. Flooding was already affecting routes in Fermanagh on Sunday evening, with the Marble Arch Road, Florencecourt, and Sligo Road, Enniskillen, both described as impassable by police. A PSNI spokeswoman said: Please take care when travelling, slow down, and exercise caution on affected roads. Warning Updates Status Orange Rain & thunderstorm warning for Dublin, Louth & MeathValid: 00:00 21/07/25 to 14:00 21/07/25 Status Yellow Rain warning for Kildare, Wicklow & MonaghanValid: 00:00 21/07/25 to 14:00 21/07/25 Stay safe and updatedhttps://t.co/GYji547FKt pic.twitter.com/4r5XXhrTxp Met Eireann (@MetEireann) July 20, 2025 The Republic of Irelands forecasting agency, Met Eireann, issued its own orange-level rain and thunderstorm warning for Dublin, Louth and Meath between midnight and 2pm on Monday. It said there would be widespread surface flooding, very difficult travelling conditions, lightning damage and very poor visibility. A yellow-level warning for Kildare, Wicklow and Monaghan applies for the same time frame. It said there will be spells of heavy rain with a chance of isolated thunderstorms, localised flooding, poor visability and difficult traffic conditions. It followed earlier thunderstorm warnings for Cork and Clare in the south-west of the country, which had both expired by 7pm on Sunday. A vintage Renault 4, a six-week creative road trip, and a performance that blends storytelling, visual art and rhythm tour de force rolls into The Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon this August as part of a nationwide cultural journey by artist Liliane Puthod and writer Ingrid Lyons. The project is both tribute and experiment a mapped adventure across Ireland that celebrates memory, movement, and the intersection of art and everyday life. At the wheel is Liliane Puthod, driving her late fathers Renault 4. Alongside her is writer and collaborator Ingrid Lyons. Together, they are transforming pit stops into performative moments. For the Leitrim leg, the duo partners with The Dock for a unique event on Saturday 2 August, from 24pm. The collaborative performance titled Completely Knocked Down draws inspiration from a curious industrial loophole in Irelands automotive past. During a time of high import taxes, cars were shipped to Ireland dismantled, or completely knocked down, then reassembled on arrival. This act of deconstruction and rebuilding forms the conceptual backbone of the performance. Inside The Dock, the artists weave together installation, narrative, and music to explore ideas of fragmentation, reconstruction, and cultural memory. They are joined by Drumsna native and renowned traditional artist Edwina Guckian, who contributes a live performance through rhythm, steps and refrains adding a local heartbeat to the evolving narrative. As objects gathered along the road become touchstones for stories and scenes, the performance reflects not just on movement, but on the pause. Outside, the Renault 4 undergoes its own ritual a car wash and clean-out, offering a quietly powerful act of catharsis, midway through the six-week tour. tour de force is more than a journey its an unfolding conversation about memory, heritage, and the art of making something new from what has been taken apart. READ MORE Leitrim TD urges Minister to stand up for family farms Irelands new infrastructure plan will focus on the functionality of projects rather than award-winning designs, a junior minister has said. The Government is to unveil its revised National Development Plan on Tuesday, which outlines how 200 billion euro will be spent across various departments over the next 10 years. The plan, funded by taxpayers money, some of the 14 billion euro in Apple tax money and windfalls from sold state shares in AIB, is expected to focus on housing, energy, water and transport infrastructure. Minister of State Sean Canney said possible US tariffs still pose a major threat to efforts to upgrade Irelands infrastructure deficit. The Regional Independent TD, one of the several in the coalition government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, would not indicate what road projects would benefit from the plan, but suggested projects that are shovel ready would be prioritised. Mr Canney told RTE Radio: The first five years, up to 2030, are critical for us. We have money in that space to actually get books done and infrastructure put in place water and sewerage to allow us to build their housing. He added: The biggest threat to everything we do, everything we plan is of course, the tariffs, where theyre going to land. I do accept the fact that in all things that we are planning, you have this could hanging over us and nobody can predict what will come from the United States tomorrow or next week or whatever. He said he could not outline what specific projects would be funded, but said more road projects would be given the go-ahead in an attempt to spread economic activity across the country. He said the broad figures for each department would be announced on Tuesday. The reason were doing it that way, it gives departments the flexibility to look at the projects they have coming up, look at which projects are shovel ready, and we can get them moving as quickly as possible, because in every department there is an urgency to implement, rather than to be creating more strategies. In an apparent reference to the National Childrens Hospital, a state-of-the-art public infrastructure project which has been criticised for ballooning to a cost of 2.2 billion euro, he said there would be an emphasis on functionality. It is important that we deliver the projects, but also, and this is a key one, is that we deliver projects which are functional rather than being award-winning, especially in housing and in hospital infrastructure, we need buildings that will function. We dont need to see an architects ego going wild, are we to pay more money for something thats not adding to the functionality? I think most people would like to have a home thats comfortable and functional rather than have an award-winning housing estate from an architectural and aesthetic point of view. Among the main projects expected to be mentioned in the report is the long-awaited Metrolink, which is estimated to cost at least nine billion euro but the Government has been warned the cost could inflate to 23 billion euro. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Montserrado County Senator and founder of CFRR, Abe Darius Dillon with the graduates post for a photo after the program. A RECRUITMENT firm which has a base in Limerick has won a major national award. Cregg has landed the prestigious title of Recruitment Firm of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Recognition Awards Ceremony. The firm has offices in Ballycummin near Raheen and is headquartered in Shannon Free Zone. Staff from the recruiter attended the awards ceremony at Clontarf Castle in Dublin. The event was designed to recognise achievement and innovation in Irish business in the last year. READ MORE: New report shows 178 Limerick pubs shut since 2005 in sharpest decline nationally Creggs managing director David Fitzgibbon said: It is our people who make the difference, and this recognition is proof that our client and candidate-centred approach is making a meaningful impact. He praised his colleagues, adding: We are extremely proud of the team we have built. Their commitment, loyalty and professionalism are what set us apart. When clients work with Cregg they know they are supported by individuals who understand the market, the people and the purpose behind every hire. This year, Cregg has launched its own podcast, to provide market insights industry commentary, and expert guidance for job seekers and employees. Cregg founder Edmund Jennings said: This recognition marks a very special moment for Cregg. What began over 30 years ago as a commitment to doing recruitment differently has grown into one of Irelands most respected names in the industry. Our teams values, consistency and innovation have brought us here today. I am incredibly proud of what we have built. Mr Fitzgibbon said looking forward, Creggs aims are to continue delivering recruitment solutions which support the growth, opportunity and long-term success for the people and businesses we serve. A number of other national firms with Limerick operations were honoured at the awards, among these ABP Foods, which has a hub in Rathkeale. MAYOR John Moran has admitted that his plans to close a key access point into Limerick city centre this year did not represent "good value for money". As revealed this Monday by Limerick Live, the directly elected first citizen scrapped plans to close the Crescent area at the top of O'Connell Street next month. The closure was to take place as part of Limerick's August Animations festival, aimed at transforming urban spaces into hubs for culture and community activity. READ MORE: Recruitment firm with base in Limerick wins major at national awards ceremony The closure at the Crescent was set to be a repeat of an initiative he led 12 months ago, which saw the area around the Daniel O'Connell Monument closed to all-bar emergency traffic. Back then, many city traders criticised the plan, claiming it led to a noticeable drop in footfall and sales during the summer period. When he initially announced the closure last month, Mayor Moran said: "Lets turn a quiet month into something fun and vibrant. It doesnt need to be complicated, grab a chair, enjoy a book or a takeaway outdoors, maybe even under the watchful eye of Daniel OConnell. If we make this work, next year will be even more ambitious. Limerick has a Different Kind of Energylets show the world what that really means. While council has confirmed there will be other activities in August, Mayor Moran confirmed his flagship proposal at the Crescent was off the table, describing the move as "a tactical retreat". "I know some people felt discommoded by removing traffic from one or two blocks in our city centre over the holiday period last year. However, on the other hand, we saw countless examples and images of a new-found joy on our streets and that was inspiring to all involved. It was those images of Limerick which travelled across the country and beyond. All over the world, studies record how over and over again when we open up our public spaces, people respond positively. Limerick is no exception," Mayor Moran wrote in a statement. However, he added earlier this month: "it became clear to me that delivering the programme I hoped to deliver this year, even with the much-increased budget, on a value-for-money basis compared to last year, was not feasible." "I could not convince myself that paying for what was then planned for this year, especially with the costs of increased manning of road closures was good value for money. In this context, I believed the more responsible choice, and one I was not afraid to make, was to step back and reassess how we might deliver differently and better in future years," he added. The directly elected mayor said he did not feel it right, with August just days away, to redesign something "scaled-back", which "might not deliver on expectations, but would also involve inconveniences and high costs of the extra road closures across Georgian Limerick and Irishtown. " "I realise though that a number of local acts and animations were already lined up and counting on this income. I have therefore agreed to reallocate the same budget as we allocated last year directly to our Festivals and Events team who will use this funding to supplement their other programming for other parts of the city centre this August. I will keep the additional unused funding for other city centre animations in the future," he added. Mayor Moran acknowledged some may be disappointed by the news, particularly those who might be able to travel away from Limerick for the holidays. "But make no mistake, like many others, I remain committed to the broader vision of a more animated, welcoming city centre. As our Public Realm and Transport Strategies near completion and the greening of Georgian Limerick planned in the Mayoral Programme is advanced, we will soon have clearer frameworks to support future events and street activations. "These will guide more ambitious proposals for summer 2026 and beyond. This is a mere tactical retreat from our ultimate ambition of making Limerick a better place. It is a pause to ensure we build something stronger. It will also allow us to continue the conversations that last summers pilot began as they allowed many of us to dream of a very different Limerick with a city centre we can all be proud of," he concluded. THE University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL), HSE Mid West, has become the fifth hospital in Ireland to implement the national Maternal & Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS). This is a significant advancement in the delivery of maternity, neonatology, and gynaecology care across the region. The MN-CMS went live at UMHL on Saturday, July 5 and on Monday, July 7, at the Ambulatory Gynaecology Unit at Nenagh Hospital, including menopause and fertility services. UMHL joins Cork University Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Kerry, the Rotunda Hospital, and the National Maternity Hospital in this national initiative. The MN-CMS electronic health record (EHR) replaces paper-based records enabling doctors, midwives, nurses, and allied health professionals to access up-to-date patient information instantly. This strengthens communication across hospital and community services, supporting safer, more coordinated care for women and newborns. READ NEXT: Anger as charge for parking at Limerick rail station almost doubles The key benefits of MN-CMS include enhanced patient safety through real-time access to clinical information and improved decision-making, streamlined, high-quality documentation that reduces duplication and ensures legibility, improved communication among multidisciplinary teams, ensuring seamless care across hospital and community settings, support for research, audit, and data-driven management at local and national levels, compliance with GDPR in protecting patient privacy while enabling secure information sharing. Dr Mendinaro Imcha, Clinical Director of Maternal & Child Health, HSE Mid West, stated; The MN-CMS is a major step forward in enhancing safe, coordinated, and evidence-based care across UMHL. It ensures a more seamless experience for women and families, with stronger communication and decision-making support for our teams. Eileen Ronan, Director of Midwifery at UMHL, added; The electronic system will help make the patient journey safer and easier, improving access to clear records for all involved in care. The national MN-CMS EHR project board was set up in 2007. Following detailed design in consultation with each of the countrys 19 maternity units, and appointment of the vendor, Cerner, in 2014, phased roll-out of the MN-CMS EHR began in 2016, continuing in line with the requirements of the National Woman and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP). The system will be deployed to the remaining 14 hospitals in the future phases. Fran Thompson, Chief Information Officer, HSE, said, The work undertaken by the team at UMHL has been exemplary. The clinical and management leadership combined with the staff dedication has ensured a very successful go live, thus improving and supporting safe digital healthcare. Digitally enabled and connected care as well as empowering patients to be a partner in their healthcare journey are key aims of our Digital for Care programme. The introduction of the MN-CMS EHR marks a key milestone in the HSEs commitment to delivering safe, integrated and person-centred care. Over the coming years the MN-CMS EHR will be extended to maternity hospitals nationwide as part of this transformative initiative. A MASSIVE clean-up operation is under way this Monday morning after a community was hit with flash-flooding which has been described as "unprecedented". Dromcollogher on the Cork-Limerick border was hit by two hours of severe downpours from around 7pm on Sunday night. The intense rain left the area under at least two-feet of water. READ MORE: Recruitment firm with base in Limerick wins major at national awards ceremony It left roads impassable for hours, homes damaged, and the evacuation of a local respite centre. Emergency services were deployed to the scene, with the incident sparking a call from council district leader, Cllr Michael Collins, for residents of some areas of the village to receive humanitarian aid. Access to the village was cut off on its three main arteries for most of Sunday night, from around 9pm. It's not clear how many homes are impacted at this stage, but sources have indicated it could be any number up to 20. "It's shocking," Cllr Collins said. "I came through Dromcollogher ytesterday from Cork around 4.15pm, and was thinking in my own head, the whole place was so quiet, calm and peaceful." "It was around 7pm last night the rain started, and it was just flash flooding for around two hours. The whole place was submerged. We have seen unprecedented levels of rain in a short period of time. The area just couldn't take it," the Fianna Fail man added. After council received calls to its out-of-hours number, an emergency operation swung into operation. Council's road teams were deployed to the village. They were joined by three fire crews from Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, and Rathkeale. Sandbags were distributed to protect local properties at risk. Local farmers provided additional support by supplying water pumps. "A coordinated pumping operation was established to lower water levels in the vicinity of the Dromcollogher Respite Centre," the council confirmed, adding the Civil Defence was also on hand to assist in the relocation of residents if necessary. "Water levels subsequently receded naturally and fire crews stood down around 2am," Limerick City and County Council confirmed in a statement. Staff remained in the area to continue to assess the situation. As of this Monday, all roads in the area are open. However, motorists are advised to proceed with caution. Anyone requiring further assistance or support can contact Limerick City and County Council at 061 556000. Cllr Collins said he contacted Intreo services this Monday. "I am trying to get Woodfield (one of the impacted streets) designated for humanitarian aid. People can apply for humanitairan aid, so it needs to be designated a problem area," he said. Limerick Live understands that temporary accommodation for impacted residents was not required due to the flood waters receding quickly. New Delhi: Back in 2015, Varun Khurana, then 35, sold his year-old grocery delivery startup, MyGreenBox, to what is now known as Blinkit. Back then, it went by the name Grofers. Khurana, a computer science graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, worked with Grofers for a year. Here, he learnt something interestingfresh fruits and vegetables were just 2% of sales but accounted for a fifth of consumer complaints. Thats too much trouble for too little business, one might think. Khurana thought otherwise. The problem appeared to him as a window of opportunity: to reduce wastage in the fresh produce supply chain and create value for both farmers and consumers. Besides, a farm-to-table fresh produce venture could be a high margin business. Because what farmers sell for 10 per kg is often sold to consumers at two to three times the farm-gate price. So why not give it a shot? Bypass the many intermediaries in the supply chain, work closely with farmers on quality improvement, and deliver the finest produce to consumers. A few years later, in early 2020, Khurana founded Otipy. Soon after, a pandemic-induced reset in consumer behaviour, fuelled a rush of venture capital. In less than two years, the startup raised an enviable $44.2 million from a flock of investors like WestBridge Capital, Inflection Point Ventures and SIG Venture Capital, among others. In 2021 and 2022, agri-tech (ag-tech) startups received nearly $2.2 billion in venture fundinga phase now reflectively seen as over-exuberance of speculative capital". The closure The name Otipy was chosen to convey a sense of genuineness and trust to consumersa play on one-time-passwords or OTPs that are required to authenticate financial transactions. At its peak, sometime in mid-2023, Otipy delivered 30,000 orders to consumer doorsteps every morning in Mumbai and the national capital region. Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, its annual revenue rose by 50%, from 115 crore to 172 crore. The cash burn, startup lingo for losses, fell by 60%, from 90 crore to 35 crore. Then, on 17 May 2025, quite abruptly, Otipy shut operations. It ran out of cash after a $10 million fundraise expected in February, from a new investor, a family office, did not come through. Existing investors were reluctant to infuse funds, wary of the growing footprint and popularity of quick commerce platforms, the likes of Zepto, Blinkit and Instamart, even though these did not specialize in perishables. Somewhere around June last year, our cash flow challenges started," Khurana wrote in an email sent to investors on 23 May. While I remain deeply committed to the company and would love to keep it going, continuing without fresh capital is simply not feasible," he added. I believe the changing funding environment and the impact of quick commerce also made it difficult to raise capital. While we brought down our burn to less than 2 crore a month, it was still more than what the market expects at this time," Khurana further wrote. It was not that consumers stopped ordering on its app, the founder told Mint over a phone call last week. It was the fear of quick commerce which triggered a turnaround in investor interest. Quick commerce offered consumers the convenience of super-fast, 10-minute deliveries, compared to the seemingly arduous task for an Otipy user to place an order before midnight and receive delivery the next morning. Khurana added that he is trying to raise funds to restart operations. Meanwhile, the entire senior leadership has left the company. Consumer complaints regarding unspent wallet balance have surfaced on social media. The founder said those will be refunded within 90 days from the date of shut down (17 May). View Full Image A screen grab showing Otipys response to a customer concern around wallet balance. The write-off Unless a miracle happens, its a write-off for us," said an advisor at a venture capital fund which was among the early investors in Otipy. The person did not want to be named.Varun did an impeccable job in turning the business around. The numbers speak for themselvesThere are businesses with worse economics which still get investor capital. It is difficult to rationalize certain outcomes," the person added. He said that while the $10 million round had to be led by a new investor, some of the existing investors were also not willing to participate. This meant significant additional responsibility for remaining shareholders. Some of us had already invested a large sum and did not want to be tied down to an investment which would require more capital calls in future," the person said. Some of us had already invested a large sum and did not want to be tied down to an investment. An investor A spokesperson from Inflection Point Ventures said it had sold part of its stake in 2022, at a valuation 3.5 times compared to its entry. So, it has recovered the invested capital and Otipy is not a complete write-off. Inflection Point Ventures was prepared to participate in the ($10 million) round, as we continued to believe in the founders visionit was growing steadily and inching toward profitability. The immediate reason for the closure was the unexpected withdrawal of a committed term sheet from a lead family office, which disrupted the entire fundraising round," the spokesperson added. Other lead investors in OtipyWestBridge Capital and SIG Venture Capitaldid not respond to queries from Mint. Fat cheques, big burn Otipy tried to crack the fresh produce value chain with multiple interventions. It offered consumers a wide choice, from regular and organic produce to lab-tested, low-pesticide residue fruits and vegetables. The company did not store unsold produce to ensure fresh supply the next day, yet, managed to limit wastage to less than 3% of sourced produce, the founder said. This was achieved by harvesting vegetables based on demand forecasts. It also built a traceable system, one where a consumers complaint could be traced back to the farm from where it cameto ensure quality. View Full Image In Otipys system, customer complaints could be traced back to the farm. Did the market not value any of it? We were operationally positive but were unable to recover corporate costs (of expensive human resources)," said a former top executive at Otipy who left the company in May and requested not to be named. The top leadership, about seven-eight people, would cost 70 lakh to a crore each, per annum. In the next tier were about 12-15 executives who were hired for 30-40 lakh each. These corporate costs accounted for an annual outgo of 18 crore (about half of its losses last fiscal year). The top leadership, about seven-eight people, would cost 70 lakh to a crore each, per annum. In the next tier were about 12-15 executives who were hired for 30-40 lakh each. The burn due to high corporate costs left little money for stuff like marketing campaigns," the person quoted above said. The former executive added that the emergence of quick commerce ate into Otipys share of the consumer basket, but some of its metrics were better. Otipys average order fulfillment cost was around 50 per delivery, a lower number compared to 90-110 spent by quick commerce players. At 60,000 orders per day, we would have turned cash positive. But the $10 million deal was called off at the last moment," the person said. The graveyard To be sure, Otipy is not the first company to go down in the perilous farm-to-fork game. Another direct-to-consumer (D2C) fresh produce startup, Fraazo, shut shop in 2022 after raising $48 million. Deep Rooted, which raised $25 million, according to numbers from Tracxn, folded up in March this year. Bigger questions have now surfaced: What do these closures signify for others? Will the toll be limited to D2C startups dealing in perishables? Also, will these recent shutdowns prolong the funding winter for ag-tech ventures? What about those trading in non-perishables like grains and farm inputs, whose raison detre was to modernize and extract value from Indias fragmented and supposedly inefficient agriculture supply chain? The grapevine is, many of these older startups are struggling with no clear path to profitability. IAS to Sabziwala Pravesh Sharma saw the informal actors up close, long before techies helming ag-techs did. A senior bureaucrat from the Indian Administrative Services posted in the agriculture ministry, Sharma opted to retire early to start Sabziwala in 2016, a startup which began its journey from Dwarka in Delhi. Leveraging his prior work with farmer producer companies, Sharma built a model where branded and pre-packed vegetables were supplied to neighbourhood kiranas, mom-and-pop grocery stores, who in turn sold it to their regular clientele. For the first time, customers were offered neatly packed, graded and sorted vegetables at a neighbourhood store. But unable to compete with the informal channels, Sabziwala pivoted to a B2B model. Under a new entity named Kamatan, it moved away from the kiranas to cater to bigger players like restaurants and retail chains. Sharma was quick to realize that the much-demonized minions running the supply chain were actually efficient on many counts. These small players have no overhead or storage costs, Sharma said. They are desperate to eke out a living. The push cart seller will sell at one price in the morning and keep changing rates till the last ounce is sold. Early in the day, when no organized retailer is even open, they will make a quarter of daily sales to people returning from a morning walk. The push cart seller will sell at one price in the morning and keep changing rates till the last ounce is sold. Early in the day, when no organized retailer is even open, they will make a quarter of daily sales to people returning from a morning walk. I dont see a success case in fresh produce in the near future. Of course, there are possibilities if one can access export markets or target premium buyers who are willing to pay more for low-chemical residue produce," said Sharma, now a director at Samunnati, a startup which provides working capital loans to farmer-run companies. Fresh attempts Despite the ongoing mayhem precipitated by quick commerce, a flurry of startups is trying to crack the fresh produce market, with both D2C and business-to-business (B2B) models. The list includes older ones set up between 2017 and 2020, like Vegrow, Pluckk, Superplum and Fresh From Farm, which have together raised nearly $130 million. Two D2C startups which were founded last year, Freshly and Origin Fresh, have raised some seed capital. One can still build a profitable venture in perishables, targeting a wallet share of 2,000-3,000 per month per consumer, argued Sumeet Seraf, founder of Equity360, a fundraising advisory. But it will need a razor-sharp focus on freshness and quality, to build consumer trust and recall. It wont work if investors are impatient and push founders to deliver quick growth, Seraf added. Seraf spoke of Origin Fresh, which has adopted a hybrid model, catering to both consumers and businesses like hotels and restaurants. Origin runs 15 physical stores and does app-based deliveries in Bengaluru and Chennai. View Full Image A screen grab from the website of Origin Fresh. (Website) Origin is a profitable business, Prashanth Vasan, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, claims. In 2024-25, it earned a modest revenue of 60 crore with an Ebidta of 10%. Ebidta is earning before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortizationa measure of business profitability after excluding certain expenses. Earlier this year, Origin Fresh raised a seed round of $1.3 million from Aeravti Ventures, Sattva family office and Botnar Foundation, a Swiss philanthropy. We want to be known among consumers as the specialist of the fruit and vegetable market," said Vasan. Vasan stressed upon a few things Origin is doing differently: frugal hires to run the show; grow at a steady (and not a breakneck) pace; limit wastage, and resist the temptation to sell items other than fresh producesuch as eggs, dairy and stapleswhich most end up doing, to increase the average order value (AOV). As a partner in a venture fund put it: Many D2C players are trying this strategy of ye bhi karke dekh lo (try adding more products and see if that works) to protect their AOVs from the jaws of quick commerce. Bear in the farm As of now, the once abuzz farm startup ecosystem is experiencing a protracted funding winter. A sense of bearishness seems to have taken hold. The numbers are telling. As per the India Impact Investment report, released in April, equity investments in agriculture startups witnessed a massive 54% decline, from $839 million in 2022 to $383 million in 2024. The report was published by the India Impact Investors Council (IIIC), an industry body encouraging private investment to generate social and environmental impact, not just financial returns. At $45 million, the largest deal last year was won not by any blue-eyed darling of the startup world, but a farmer producer company named Sahyadri. The company is now Indias largest exporter of grapes, supplying to exacting western buyers. It took Sahyadri close to 15 years to reach where it is today. View Full Image Farmer producer company Sahyadri raised $45 million in 2024, the largest ag-tech deal of the year. (Website) The funding slowdown can be seen as a correction after a period of over-exuberance, Emmanuel Murray, investment director at Caspian, a VC fund which invests both equity and debt capital, observed in the report quoted above. Murray advised investors who do not have a deep understanding of the sector, to take a cautious approach. Agriculture, he said, is better suited to impact funds with a longer-term outlook aligned with the sectors (slower) growth dynamics. Another sector report released earlier in 2025 by ThinkAg, a collaborative platform of entrepreneurs and investors, observed that the market suffered due to excess capital flows in 2021 and 2022, leaving many adrift when funding exited abruptly. The authors of the report calculated total ag-tech investments in 2024 at $412 million (a tad higher than the IIIC report), but a staggering slide from the $1.3 billion invested in 2021. The slowdown, the authors observed, is a sign of a mature market where discipline has replaced speculative funding. They hoped money will return selectively to companies that demonstrate strong financial return potential." Some say these reports are mere window-dressing of a forthcoming bloodbath. There are no visible success stories, either in trade of non-perishable commodities, or delivery of fresh produce to consumers. Money was raised when the iron was hot. And funds are now stuck, unable to make profitable exits," said the former head of a VC fund who did not want to be named. Truth has this habit of rearing its head, eventually. And it wont be a pleasing sight when more dead bodies are discovered," he prophesized. Whats next? Its been more than two months since Otipy shut operations. What are the chances of its revival? Varun Khurana, the founder-CEO, insists it is not the end of the story yet. There is still a critical mass of believers who think that Otipys business model is a viable one," Khurana said, adding, he is working through the leftovers to secure funding to get Otipy up and running again. View Full Image Varun Khurana, founder-CEO, Otipy. If that rare miracleas the investor quoted earlier in this piece put itreally happens, would he do anything differently? Yes, maybe a couple of things, Khurana said. He did not elaborate which ones. Between long pauses, which punctuated a series of telephonic conversations between Khurana and this reporter, one aspect was not clear. What is a founder of a startup, now 45, who sold two of his earlier companies in million dollar exits, more anxious aboutletting go of a brand that took the prime of his career to build, or salvaging his own legacy as a serial entrepreneur? Nearly three years after acquiring US-based Leanplum to power its global expansion, Peak XV Partners-backed software company CleverTap is grappling with integration challenges that have triggered top-level exits, layoffs, and liquidation of the acquired entity, multiple people told Mint. CleverTap confirmed the layoffs, executive exits, and Leanplums liquidation, but maintained that the restructuring had largely impacted the acquired entity. As part of our long-term growth strategy and consolidation efforts, we are liquidating our Bulgaria-based Leanplum entity. This means parting ways with all Sofia (Bulgaria) employees through a fair, legal, and respectful process," a CleverTap spokesperson said in response to Mints queries. These consolidation efforts have no impact on our customers, and they do not affect our employees in any other region." Nearly Leanplums entire Sofia-based engineering team, a key offshore cost center, was let go. There were about 100 Leanplum employees when they joined; 60-70 are gone now," said a person familiar with the matter. And another 40-50 people from CleverTap India were laid off too." Employees were told everything was stable just days before," said a second person. Then the entire team was shut out, citing a bad marriage." Also Read | Avanse Financial looks to raise $250 million in private round after shelving IPO Big bet gone sideways CleverTap, a customer engagement software provider, has raised over $182 million so far and was last valued at around $800 million in 2022, when it raised $105 million in Series D funding from CDPQ, IIFL Finance, Peak XV, and others. Leanplum had raised over $150 million in equity funding before clevertap acquired it, according to Tracxn. The company was founded in San Francisco, California by Sunil Thomas, Suresh Kondamudi, and Anand Jain in 2013. In 2022, CleverTap acquired San Francisco-based Leanplum in May 2022 aiming to scale globally with a presence across North America, Europe, Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. But the integration of Leanplum with CleverTap was rocky from the start, said the people mentioned earlier. Product overlaps werent resolved, sales funnel performance lagged, and Leanplums existing client base turned out to be a disappointment, they said. The so-called existing clients were gone. I dont think anything came out of it," said the first person quoted above. CleverTap said many of Leanplums customers have migrated to its systems. They are seeing strong results. Well work closely with the remaining customers to complete their upgrade to CleverTap by year-end," CleverTaps spokesperson added. To be sure, recent rapid growth in artificial intelligence and reduced spending by clients has posed challenges for software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies. According to data from Venture Intelligence, while funding for Indian SaaS startups slightly improved to $1.8 billion in 2024 from $1.3 billion in the year prior, it was much lower than the $4.4 billion raised in 2022. Also Read | Zoho sees India as fastest-growing market as enterprise deals accelerate Leadership churn and internal strain The Leanplum integration troubles apart, at least four senior executives have exited CleverTap in the past 3-4 months, multiple people said. Leanplum co-founder Momchil Kyurkchiev, who was named CleverTaps chief strategy officer following the acquisition; chief revenue officer Sidharth Pisharoti; chief operating officer and chief customer officer Abhishek Gupta; and vice president of finance and legal Sourabh Arora, among others, have called it quits, according to these people. They had hired expensive resources, and business growth couldnt keep up with the kind of salaries and seniority they brought in. The top deck is almost empty. People have either left or are mulling exits," said a third person aware of the development. CleverTap said it has since filled all key leadership roles. Leadership transitions, across levels and functions, are a natural part of any high-growth business. All other senior leadership roles have been filled, ensuring seamless continuity in leadership and execution," said the spokesperson. Ranjeet Walunj, who joined CleverTap in 2019 and previously served as senior vice president, was elevated to chief customer officer in April, according to the companys website. Earlier in November, CleverTaps global chief executive Sidharth Malik stepped down citing personal reasons, with cofounder Sunil Thomas returning as CEO. CleverTaps revenue growth has slowed sharply since the Leanplum acquisitionin 2023-24, its revenue rose 6.3% to 430.55 crore after growing at 46.3% in FY23. Profit slumped to 30.41 crore in FY24 and 30.45 crore in FY23 from 52.22 crore in FY22. CleverTap is yet to report its financials for FY25. Also Read | The worlds top two PE firms are scouting for secondary portfolio deals in India Groceries have caught up with food at Zomato and Blinkit parent Eternal, marking a turning point for the delivery giant that fetches anything from household essentials to cuisines of choice. Eternals quick-commerce arm Blinkit nearly equalled for the first time its once-mainstay food delivery business Zomato in net order value (NOV) excluding discountsin April-June, accounting for about 10,000 crore of the total 20,183 crore order value during the quarter, it said in an exchange filing on Monday detailing Q1 FY26 earnings. Quick commerce now makes for almost half of Eternals $10 billion annualized NOV, signaling a major shift in the companys growth engines. Also Read | Aditya Mangla appointed CEO of food delivery business at Eternal Bistro drives up food delivery losses Despite declaring in the Q4 FY25 earnings call that it saw no future for ultra-fast food delivery, Eternal has ramped up investments in Bistro, a 10-minute meal initiative under Blinkit. Losses at the food delivery business mounted during the quarter, driven by the company's investments in Bistro, which is a capex-heavy initiative. Although Bistro operates under the Blinkit brand, its financial impact is reflected in the food delivery segment in Zomatos reporting structurecontributing to the sharp drop in profitability for that segment in Q1 FY26. In Q1 FY26, Eternal reported a sharp 90% year-on-year drop in profit after tax to 25 crore, from 253 crore in the same quarter last year. This precipitous fall in profit was driven largely by Bistro-related investments and the upfront costs of transitioning Blinkit to an inventory-led model. The increase in quarterly losses (in the food delivery business) is largely on account of investments in the 10minute food delivery service Bistro, where the kitchen infrastructure is owned and operated by Blinkit... the company said in a shareholder letter. Despite the sharp fall in quarterly profit, Eternal's shares rose 5.4% to close at 271.2 apiece on the BSE on Monday, boosted by the company's strong quick-commerce performance and expectations of an uptick in the food business going forward, analysts said. In the food business, there's going to be acceleration in the medium term. They are going to see growth rates of more than 20%, which was earlier in the range of high teens. The other very big positive surprise was the performance of quick-commercegrowth rates have been slightly ahead of expectations. Margins have largely bottomed out in the quick-commerce business, we may not expect to see losses increasing significantly from here on if competitive intensity remains at these levels, said Karan Taurani, executive vice-president at Elara Capital. The company's renewed bet on ultra-fast meals comes despite Zomato shuttering its Quick and Everyday services last quartermodels that relied on restaurant aggregation and were deemed misaligned with long-term strategy due to poor customer experience and limited value. In contrast, Bistro is fully owned and operated by the company through Blinkit, with control over menus, kitchens, and deliverymarking a shift from aggregator to first-party food delivery. The company now operates 38 company-owned kitchens across Delhi-NCR and Bangalorea capex-heavy model that contributed significantly to rising losses this quarter. While customer-side traction is pretty strong, we need to work and find answers to making money in this business, the company said in its shareholder letter. For FY26, 150 crore in losses has been budgeted for Bistro, Nugget and Greening India initiatives. Bistro targets consumers seeking either affordable, home-style meals or quick, snackable food delivered in under 10 minutes. The companys food delivery business reported a 13% year-on-year rise in NOV to 8,967 crore, slowing from 27% jump recorded in the year-ago period. The companys management said that there has been a slight slowdown in the number of transacting customers and the number of app openings but demand was now returning. "In the first three weeks of the quarter, the year-on-year growth (on food delivery) sort of bottomed out, and we are now seeing better app openings from consumers, better resurrection rates. Early signs are why we think that we should see better growth from here on, but again still early in the quarter, said Kunal Swarup, head of corporate development, during the company's post earnings call. Quick commerce growth driven by depth, not breadth The Blinkit business continues to scale by deepening presence in existing markets rather than geographic expansion, said AlbinderDhindsa, chief executive officer (CEO), Blinkit. Most of our current growth is still coming from existing polygonseven this quarter, less than 5% came from newly launched areas. For example, Delhi, which is already well covered geographically, grew 70% year-on-year this quarter, he said during first-quarter earnings call on Monday. Blinkit now serves about 17 million monthly transacting customers (MTC), rapidly closing in on Zomatos food delivery base of 23 million. The overlap between the two customer cohorts remains low, indicating that food and quick commerce are serving distinct use cases, Dhindsa said. Despite the growth, tier-2 and tier-3 markets remain loss-making due to upfront infrastructure build-out and underutilized capacity. Our supply chain investment in tier-two and tier-three cities is more greenfield, and therefore in the short term, there is usually higher margin pressure in these cities. Were building out a brand new supply chain to be able to supply better, but sometimes the utilization is also worse off, Dhindsa explained. Moreover, Blinkit remains committed to ultra-fast (<15-minute) delivery and has no plans to introduce longer formats like Megasaver-style 3040 minute delivery, Dhindsa said, adding that the company doesnt see an opportunity in that segment, as extending delivery times would break the economics of Blinkit's current model. Inventory ownership impact on Hyperpure Over the next twothree quarters, Blinkit is transitioning from a marketplace model to owning its inventory. This shift will directly impact Hyperpure, as many of its non-restaurant B2B (business-to-business) buyers were sellers on the Blinkit platform. As a result, Hyperpures non-restaurant revenue will decline, though the restaurant-facing business will remain unaffected. Hyperpure is Eternal's separate B2B platform that supplies ingredients to restaurants. Some of these customers used to be on the Blinkit marketplace side. Now we are becoming their suppliers via our inventory, the management explained. The Graviss Group, the founders of Kwality Ice Creams and South Bombay landmarks such as Gaylords and the erstwhile Nataraj hotel, are embroiled in a familial dispute that is turning acrimonious. The fault lines run between Ravi Ghai, the son of Kwality Ice Creams founder I.K. Ghai, and his son Gaurav Ghai. The dispute involves shares ofGraviss Hospitality Ltd, the 300-crore market capitalization company that owns and operates the InterContinental Hotel on the citys iconic Marine Drive promenade. As part of a family settlement agreement signed in 2021 and a supplementary agreement signed in 2023, Ravi Ghai transferred all his stake in all the groups private companies to his son for a payment of 105 crore. Mint has seen a copy of these agreements. Ravi Ghai also received payments recently when the Graviss group exited a joint venture making non-dairy cream. In all, he received 235 crore net of taxes between 2021 and 2024. As per the family settlement agreement, the father, 83, was to hold on to 51% of the promoters stake in listed Graviss Hospitality Ltd and remain as the non-executive chairperson. He would receive monthly payments worth 1.5 crore a year as business expenses from the listed company. Upon his demise, his shares in the company were to be transferred to his son, Gaurav Ghai, who holds 49% of the promoters stake. In all, the promoters owned 74.92% of Graviss Hospitality as of 30 June. However, Ravi Ghai has refused to honour this agreement, his son Gaurav has alleged. This was due to the family settlement agreements failing to achieve their desired outcome of family harmony, said an email by Vimadalal & Co., former lawyers of Ravi GhaiMint has reviewed the email. Gaurav did not invite his father to his sons wedding in Dubai, causing him humiliation, alleged the email. Monthly payments from the listed company to the senior Ghai also stopped from March this year, the lawyer claimed. Citing these reasons, the father terminated the two family settlement agreements, the letter said. Subsequently, in May, the two camps agreed to appoint former Bombay High Court chief justice R.D. Dhanuka as an arbitrator to resolve their disputes, according to the letters between the lawyers of the two camps, which Mint has reviewed. However, the same month, Ravi Ghai filed a police complaint against his son and his family members, alleging that he was made to sign the 2023 supplement agreement without his explicit knowledge. In June, the senior Ghai emailed justice Dhanuka, alleging that Vimadalal had terminated the family settlement agreements and appointed justice Dhanuka as the arbitrator without his consent. The former high court chief justice has since recused himself from the matter. When contacted, Sandip Vimadalal, law firms proprietor, refused to comment citing that it was privileged communication between an attorney and their client. Meanwhile, Gaurav Ghai said after reviewing the family settlement agreements and conducting a preliminary enquiry, the Mumbai Police found no criminality and have dismissed the complaint filed by his father without filing any first information report (FIR). Also Read | Google faces EU antitrust fine as search result dispute heats up This is the last legacy asset that my grandfather I.K. Ghai bought. The last thing I want is for this to go away. I am fighting to protect my familys legacy," Gaurav Ghai said. In an emailed response to Mints queries, Ravi Ghai said, "I have categorically denied the existence and validity of any Supplemental Family Settlement Agreement allegedly dated 25.08.2023." He alleged that his signatures in the agreement had been forged. He also cast aspersions on the notary and attestation authorities who signed the agreements, saying he never visited a notarial authority. Ravi Ghai also disputed that he received 235 crore as part of the two family agreements. The senior Ghai, however, acknowledged the closure of his complaint by the Mumbai Police. He said he was aggrieved by the closure and now has approached the Bombay High Court with the same complaints he had lodged with the police. The disputed company represents about 5% of the revenues of the Graviss Group, Gaurav Ghai said. The groups main business is manufacturing ice creams and other food products. The group is the sole manufacturer and distributor of Baskin Robins in India. It also operates the Kwality brand outside India in markets like the Middle East and UK. Hindustan Unilever Ltd had acquired the Kwality brand from Ravi Ghai and his family in 1995. The consumer goods major sells Kwality Wall's branded ice cream in India. (Bloomberg) -- British Airways parent company IAG SA surged ahead of other passenger airlines last year to consume the most sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, according to a Bloomberg Green review of corporate filings from dozens of air carriers. The company acquired 55 million gallons of cleaner jet fuel, which is derived from lower-emitting sources such as used cooking oil and animal tallow. That number exceeded the amount used by all US passenger airlines combined. But the promising performance is overshadowed by a troubling reality for the industry: The shift to SAF is still minuscule, while growth in passenger air travel is drowning out any climate gains so far. For example, despite IAGs world-leading status, cleaner fuel accounted for only about 1.9% of its overall fuel consumption last year, and its emissions from fuel combustion still rose by 5%. Globally, SAF is expected to increase to 0.7% from 0.3% of aviation fuel this year. But the International Air Transport Association expects air travel to climb 6%, causing another jump in emissions. Were still at the very beginning of this market, said Daisy Robinson, a BloombergNEF analyst who focuses on renewable fuels. Its going to take some time. New rules are springing up in different parts of the world to spur more use of SAF, which costs at least twice as much as conventional jet fuel. Starting this year, the European Union and the UK require jet fuel to include at least 2% SAF. Other requirements have been enacted or planned in British Columbia, Brazil, Indonesia and Singapore. Such rules help protect first movers from being undercut on prices by competitors. As airlines, because of competition, were not great at doing this voluntarily, said Aaron Robinson, IAGs vice president for sustainable aviation fuels in the US. Mandates in different geographies can play a really important role in moving the whole aviation industry forward. In the US, where no mandates are planned and where President Donald Trumps recent tax bill reduced incentives for SAF, airlines have fallen behind the market leaders (despite some heavily advertising their pursuit of greener fuels). Alaska Air Group Inc. leapt to the front of US carriers last year by increasing its SAF usage more than tenfold to 0.68% of its fuel. Thats about double the percentage of several other big US airlines, including JetBlue Airways Corp., United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. Its nearly 10 times the percentage of American Airlines Group Inc., which used only 0.07% SAF. (When including cargo carriers, DHL Group led the world by using SAF for 3.52% of its jet fuel last year.) Businesses that spend a lot on corporate travel, such as tech firms and consulting companies, helped pay for more than half of Alaskas SAF last year. This enables companies such as Microsoft Corp. and Autodesk Inc. to claim a smaller carbon footprint. Microsoft shaved its emissions by 65,000 tons last year by helping cover the cost of greener fuels, including for some employee flights on Alaska. Its not clear, though, how many more companies will step up, especially given the high cost of cleaner jet fuel, compared with other options to rein in emissions. Ryan Spies, managing director of sustainability for Alaska, estimates that businesses pay between $150 to $300 for each ton of CO2 that they avoid through SAF purchases. By comparison, carbon offsets sold for an average of about $6.30 per ton last year, according to Ecosystem Marketplace (though many offset projects have delivered fewer climate benefits than advertised). This pool might not be that deep, Spies said. The only way to bring these [cost] numbers down is to invest in these technologies. Global SAF production continues to lurch forward at an uneven clip. While analysts say theres plenty of green fuel to hit the 2% mandates in Europe this year, vastly more will be needed for airlines to reach their widely held goals of 10% SAF by 2030. A couple of new plants began churning out cleaner fuels last year, including a large Texas facility from Diamond Green Diesel, which is a joint venture between Valero Energy Corp. and Darling Ingredients Inc. Meanwhile, World Energys first-in-the-country SAF plant in Paramount, California, has been shut down for months following the loss of financial backing from Air Products and Chemicals Inc. A World Energy spokesperson said theres no timetable for restarting the plant. Perhaps the biggest disappointment for airlines has been the retreat of oil giants, which previously trumpeted massive commitments in this area. BP Plc, for instance, said two years ago that it was pursuing five projects around the world that would produce 50,000 barrels of renewable fuels per day, with a focus on SAF. The oil major has since scaled back most of these plans amid a renewed focus on fossil fuels. BP didnt respond to requests for comment. We need to make sure that some of these bigger players are really investing in the new facilities, said Hemant Mistry, director of net zero transition for IATA. Theyre the ones who have the technical expertise, the experience, and they have the balance sheets, as well. Passenger air travel is expected to double by 2050, which will likely cause emissions to soar. While airlines are counting heavily on cleaner fuels to save the day IATA anticipates SAF could be 80% to 90% of the fuel supply by mid-century others are more pessimistic. BloombergNEF, for instance, predicts that scarce feedstocks and a lack of new plants will limit these cleaner fuels to about 7% of the industrys propellant by 2050. Considering these challenges, some in the industry are pushing it to shift its focus beyond SAF and to address the thorny issue of ever-rising passenger numbers. Limiting or even questioning growth, that is difficult for airlines, said Karel Bockstael, a former vice president of sustainability at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, who retired in 2022 after 32 years at the company. Bockstael last year co-founded the group Call Aviation to Action, which has the support of over 400 current and former aviation insiders, including from fuel producers, airports and airlines. Theyre urging the industry to set firm limits for its emissions and to support more aggressive policies to stay within these boundaries. This could include levies on frequent flyers or carbon taxes on jet fuel. Were not against the industry, we love it, we know all the benefits of it, said Bockstael. But if we do not have a strategy if we do not have a way out when planetary boundaries are forced upon us then we will have serious problems, and our industry will have a tragic hard landing. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Chinas top military body has ordered a sweeping overhaul to restore the credibility of political leaders as the commission faces its largest vacancy in years following a series of corruption scandals. The Central Military Commission issued regulations in recent days to comprehensively purge toxic influence and rebuild the image and credibility of political leaders, the official Peoples Liberation Army Daily reported Monday on its front page. The regulations direct political leaders to eradicate poison and eliminate malpractice, according to the report, which didnt elaborate. The term liudu, or widespread poison, is Communist Party parlance for serious offenses involving factions of corrupt officials. It previously applied to the cliques of former security chief Zhou Yongkang and ousted Chongqing party boss Bo Xilai. The directive comes as corruption scandals have engulfed the worlds largest military by active personnel. They have led to the downfall of two consecutive defense ministers and several officials with ties to the secretive Rocket Force. Former political commissar Miao Hua, who served on the elite Central Military Commission led by President Xi Jinping, was also removed from the CMC last month. CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong, also a Politburo member, has been absent from official events for months, though no public evidence of wrongdoing has emerged. If investigated, He would become the most senior sitting defense official probed since Zhao Ziyang was ousted in 1989 for supporting students during the pro-democracy movement. Separately, the Ministry of Defense recently removed a section for its leadership team from its website. Bloomberg News reported last year that the ministry quietly scrubbed disgraced former defense minister Li Shangfu from the list of top leaders on the site. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. China said the case of a Wells Fargo & Co. banker blocked from leaving the country was related to a criminal matter, escalating an episode that already underscored multinationals fears about the risks of operating in the nation. Ms. Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities and is subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday, adding that it was an individual judicial case. Pursuant to Chinas laws, with the case still under investigation, Ms. Mao cannot leave the country for the time being and has the obligation to cooperate with the investigation pursuant to Chinese laws, Guo said. We will protect her lawful rights and interests through an investigation. Wells Fargo recently suspended travel to China after Mao, one of its top trade financing bankers, was prohibited from leaving the country. The Atlanta-based managing director born in Shanghai was banned from departing China after entering in recent weeks, Bloomberg News reported last week, citing a person with knowledge of the situation. The bank has offices in Beijing and Shanghai to manage relationships with local clients in its corporate and investment banking business, as well as local branches in the two cities, according to its website. Well Fargo didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for comment sent outside of regular business hours in the US. Chinas use of exit bans has been a point of contention between Beijing and Washington. The US State Department has repeatedly advised citizens to reconsider travel to China based on what it called the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans. Separately, reports have appeared in the Washington Post and South China Morning Post that China has stopped an American citizen who works for the US Commerce Department from leaving the country for several months an episode that coincides with Beijing and Washington trying to arrange a leaders summit so they can address their differences on trade. The Chinese-American individual who works for the Patent and Trademark Office had traveled to meet relatives, the Washington Post reported, citing four people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive issue. Guo, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said he didnt have any information to share about the Commerce Department employee. China is a country upholding the rule of law, Guo said. We handle relevant cases in strict accordance with the law. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Malaysia will look into a report that fugitive Low Taek Jho, wanted in connection with the multibillion dollar collapse of state fund 1MDB, is living in China. The country has not received information on the whereabouts of Low, better known as Jho Low, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Saturday, state news agency Bernama reported. Anwar said he would need to check with the home ministry, which didnt respond to calls early Monday. Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, whose book Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World chronicled Lows role in the rise and fall of 1MDB, said in a recent YouTube video that he has been residing in Green Hills, an upscale neighborhood in Shanghai. The two former Wall Street Journal reporters said Low was using a forged Australian passport under the name Constantinos Achilles Veis. In the wake of the two reporters claims, Puad Zarkashi, a senior member of the ruling coalitions United Malays National Organisation, called on authorities to bring back the fugitive financier, Malaysiakini reported. Malaysia has been working for years to repatriate Low, who was first charged in absentia in 2018 by a local court with eight counts of money laundering. He was previously reported as having been in hiding in the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, and has publicly said he is innocent. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also accused Low of stealing $1.42 billion from three bond transactions that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. arranged for the Malaysian wealth fund, formally known as 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is in prison in connection with 1MDB, while ex-Goldman banker Tim Leissner was also sentenced to prison for his role. Some $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB. Low, who previously said he did consulting work for the fund, has been portrayed by some global investigators as the mastermind behind the scheme. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Mozambican President Daniel Chapo said he expects to soon conclude talks with TotalEnergies SE over the restart of a $20 billion natural-gas project that halted four years ago because of an Islamist-militant insurgency. Chapo recently met with Total Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne to discuss resuming the project that has the potential to transform the economy of one of the worlds poorest countries, he said in a July 19 interview. I was with Mr. Pouyanne two weeks ago and things are going well, Chapo said. In August, we will close our talks about when to restart the project, he said. Total halted work on Mozambique LNG, located in the northeastern Cabo Delgado province, evacuated workers and declared force majeure in 2021 after an escalation in attacks in the area by Islamic State-linked militants. The raids by the insurgents which have since prompted the deployment of troops by both Rwanda and, for a while, Mozambiques neighbors to assist drained momentum from the development of $50 billion worth of liquefied natural-gas projects, with Eni SpA and Exxon Mobil Corp. also developing plants. We have the small problem of jihad, terrorism, Chapo said. In an earlier interview with Bloomberg in Spain, the president said that the while the region is more stable than four years ago, it isnt heaven, but urged a restart nevertheless. Chapo was scheduled to meet Pouyanne in Maputo, Mozambiques capital, on July 10. Companies working on the construction of Totals plant have begun preparing to resume operations, according to people familiar with the matter, while Eni is said to have awarded a contract to Samsung Heavy Industries Co. to build its Coral North floating plant, adding to its $7 billion Coral South facility, which is already operational. The gas reserves discovered 15 years ago off Mozambiques northeastern coast are among the worlds biggest. Sign up here for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter, and subscribe to the Next Africa podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. --With assistance from Matthew Hill and Paul Burkhardt. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- The UK will abolish the water regulator Ofwat and set up a new watchdog with stronger powers to oversee the industry while enforcing environmental and drinking-water standards, following an independent review of the sector. The review by Jon Cunliffe a former Bank of England deputy governor comes after mounting public anger over sewage spills and rising water bills turned the sector into a hot-button issue. Ofwat, which scrutinizes the performance of private water companies, has been blamed for setting rules that allowed those firms to pile up debt while paying high dividends and neglecting crumbling infrastructure. Ofwat should be merged with the water functions of the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and parts of Natural England to form a single integrated water regulator for England, Cunliffe said in a 464-page report published on Monday. The new regulator should have strong enforcement powers to both supervise water companies and ensure they work in the public interest. Water companies have been allowed to profit at the expense of British people when they should have been investing, Environment Secretary Steve Reed told reporters on Monday, as he announced the abolition of Ofwat. A broken regulatory system let them get away with this. The report from Cunliffes Independent Water Commission also recommended stricter oversight of water company ownership and governance. We also propose giving the regulator the power to block material changes in control of water companies for example, where investors are not seen to be prioritizing the long-term interests of the company and its customers, the report said. Still, the review could be a boon for the industry, according to analysts at Barclays Plc. The sector is good value and this report, if adopted, should be seen as constructive for the sector as a whole, the analysts wrote in a note. UK water companies advanced following the review. Pennon Group Plc rose 1.3%, Severn Trent Plc gained 1.1% and United Utilities Group Plc climbed 1.2%. The execution of Cunliffes proposed reforms for the heavily indebted sector will depend on how enthusiastically they are implemented by the government. On Sunday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will set up a new office to investigate consumer complaints against water companies. The proposed water ombudsman would have binding legal powers to resolve disputes, unlike the current voluntary system. The poster child for everything thats gone wrong with the industry is Thames Water Utilities Ltd., which last week raised the possibility of a state rescue after spending months in talks with creditors to shore up funds. Britains biggest water and sewage company has come close to running out of money several times and last month KKR & Co. withdrew its bid to invest 4 billion ($5.4 billion) in the indebted firm. Reed said he hoped that Thames creditors would reach an agreement, making state intervention unnecessary. Renationalization of the sector isnt on the agenda, said Reed, adding that it would cost 100 billion ($135 billion) and deprive the National Health Service of essential funds. Cunliffe, who previously oversaw the clean-up of Britains banking system, spent nine months talking to everyone from water company chiefs to environmental campaigners about whats gone wrong with the current system. Cunliffe has called for greater scrutiny to ensure the industry attracts long-term investors happy with steady returns, as opposed to those wanting to make a quick profit before exiting. The Commission recognises that, in recent years, actual rates of return appear to have been out of line with levels of risk in the water sector, Cunliffe said in his final report. There are legitimate questions about whether companies have, in some cases, issued dividends at the expense of their own financial resilience. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks X said it wont accede to French authorities demands in a probe into alleged bias and manipulation of the social media platforms algorithm. X remains in the dark as to the specific allegations made against the platform, the company said in a post on its Global Government Affairs handle on Monday. X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech. Earlier in July, Paris prosecutors opened an investigation into suspected interference and fraudulent data extraction from an automatic data-processing system. The probe follows two reports from lawmaker Eric Bothorel and a high-level official at a French public institution alleging Xs algorithm was being used for foreign interference. X denies the allegations and said the probe stemmed from biased experts who have previously been involved in campaigns dedicated to getting users to quit X or demonstrate open hostility towards X. The involvement of these individuals raises serious concerns about the impartiality, fairness, and political motivations of the investigation, to put it charitably. A predetermined outcome is not a fair one, X said in the post. The company is also being investigated by the European Union over compliance with the blocs Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to tackle illegal content and disinformation and follow transparency rules. The EU is leading a global crackdown on harmful online content and disinformation thats sparked increasingly vocal responses from Musk, who has said such measures restrict free speech. --With assistance from Gaspard Sebag. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi: The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has green-lit a proposal to restructure the boards of NTPC subsidiaries THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) and North Eastern Electric Power Corp. Ltd (NEEPCO), making them leaner amid a push for hydropower projects along Indias eastern and north-western borders. In a communication dated 18 July to the union ministry of power, reviewed by Mint, DPE agreed with the ministry's proposal for having a non-executive chairperson and re-designation of the post of managing director on the board of NEEPCO and THDCIL. When implemented, the chairman and managing director of Indias largest power generation utility NTPC Ltd will not have operational control of these strategic hydropower firms and will serve as their non-executive chairman. The appointment of managing directors at THDC and NEEPCO would take place as per the guidelines of DPE, under the union ministry of finance, through the Public Enterprises Selection Board and Appointments Committee of the Union cabinet. Also read | India enhances security at hydropower plants amid escalating border tensions Currently, R.K. Vishnoi is the CMD of THDCIL, while the CMD of NTPC Gurdeep Singh holds additional charge as the CMD of NEEPCO. Further, DPE has suggested further changes to the boards in order to make them "leaner" and "improve efficiency, coordination, and decision-making" and asked the power ministry to come up with a revised proposal. The posts of directorsfinance, technical and personnelat THDC and NEEPCO would be abolished, but the director (finance) of NTPC will be present in all major board meetings concerning financial issues. Important post Director (Finance) is an important post for exercise of delegated powers under the Miniratna scheme. As per DPE guidelines the Government Directors, the Director Finance and the concerned Functional Director(s) must be present when major decisions are taken, especially when they pertain to investments, expenditure or organizational/capital restructuring. As the post of Director (Finance) for NEEPCO and THDCIL is proposed to be abolished, Director (Finance) of NTPC should remain present in meetings related to major decisions in all important financial matters delegated to the board of NEEPCO & THDCIL are taken, the communication said. Also read | India to fast-track hydropower plans on Pakistan-bound rivers THDC, a joint venture of NTPC and the government of Uttar Pradesh has key hydro projects in Uttarakhand including the Tehri, Koteshwar and Vishnugad Pipalkoti projects along with other renewable and thermal projects in other parts of the country. Established in July 1988 with the primary objective of developing, operating and maintaining the 2.4 GW Tehri Hydroelectric Project Complex, THDCIL currently has a 4.35 GW operational power generation capacity across energy sources. Initially, the equity of the company was held in the ratio of 75:25 between the government of India and government of Uttar Pradesh. As a strategic disinvestment, NTPC Ltd took over the Centre's share on 25 March 2020. As a result, THDCIL became a subsidiary of NTPC, with equity now held by NTPC Ltd and the government of Uttar Pradesh in the ratio of 74.496% and 25.504%. According to the company website, THDC India commenced commercial operation of Unit-I (660 MW) of Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant (2660 MW) and Unit-I (250 MW) of Tehri PSP (Pump Storage Plant) (4250 MW) in 2025. Also read | Captive hydropower gives Tata Power a leg up in race for pumped storage power NEECPO, incorporated in 1976 to plan, investigate, design, construct, generate, operate and maintain power stations in the north eastern region, operates six hydro, three thermal and one solar power plant with a combined installed capacity of 2.05 GW, spread across different states in the northeastern region. NEEPCO commissioned its largest Hydro Project Kameng HPS (600 MW) in the north-east region in 2020-21. Since March 2020, the company has become a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC. In March 2020, NTPC had acquired Centre's stake in both the companies for about 11,500 crore. The ministry of power had also suggested increasing the number of nominee directors of the government or NTPC to four from the current two. DPE, however, has suggested that the number should be at two. "As per DPE guidelines, the number of nominee directors should be restricted to maximum of two or should not exceed one-sixth of the actual strength of the Board. NTPC is represented through chairperson and director (finance) would also be there on all important financial matters. Accordingly, Nominee Directors of NTPC on the board of NEEPCO & THDCIL may be discontinued and the government nominee directors from government of India and respective state governments should be continued," it said in the notification. Also read | Hydropower: Let pump dams fill gaps in Indias clean energy supply Further, DPE, which comes under the ministry of finance has agreed on reducing the number of independent directors from the current eight to three, even lower than the number suggested by the power ministry at six. It noted that the number of non official part-time directors or independent directors should be at least one-third of the actual strength of the board. and for Miniratna companies, boards should have at least three non-functional directors. "As suggested above, NTPC would be represented through Chairperson. Director (Finance), NTPC must be present when major decisions are taken, especially when they pertain to investments, expenditure or organizational/capital restructuring. Nominee Directors of NTPC on the board of NEEPCO & THDCIL are suggested to be discontinued," it said. Call for reconsideration DPE in its notification said that the ministry of power, NEEPCO and THDCIL should reconsider this composition in the light of the existing DPE guidelines. "With regards to the current incumbents holding board positions, the Ministry may take such decisions as it deems appropriate. MoP is requested to submit a revised proposal as per suggestions given above," the notification said. Also read | Climate irony: Clean hydropower faces a dry patch As per the suggestions made by the DPE, the total strength of the board would be seven members, down from the current 14. The move comes at a time when the government is looking at enhancing the hydro power capacity in the country, more so in the border states. New Delhi: Watch and jewellery retailer Titan Co. Ltd on Monday said its acquiring a majority stake in Dubai-based jeweller Damas Llc (UAE) for $283 million, or 1.04 billion dirham, as it aims to expand its footprint in the Middle East and cater to a broader base of clientele beyond the Indian diaspora. Titan, via its fully owned arm Titan Holdings International, has entered a pact to buy a 67% stake in Damass holding company for its jewellery business in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from publicly listed Mannai Corp., headquartered in Qatar, according to a regulatory filing by Titan. The purpose of the deal is to acquire the entire jewellery business, including the brand Damas, held by Mannai in the GCC countries. As of 31 March, Tanishq operates 13 stores in GCC countries and two Mia by Tanishq outlets. Titans stock settled 1% higher at 3,433.30 on the BSE on Monday. Middle East expansion This move aims to expand Titans footprint in the Middle East, joining a league of other homegrown gold and diamond retailers with a presence in the Gulf. Damas Jewellery, founded in 1907, has a network of 146 stores across the six GCC countriesthe UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Damas houses a curated portfolio of in-house collections alongside high-end international jewellery labels. Damas reported a consolidated turnover of $394.47 million in FY24, according to regulatory filings made by Titan Co. Typically, Indian jewellery brands have expanded in these markets, drawn by demand from the Indian diaspora that continue to value jewellery purchases. Titan will, however, use the acquisition to focus on other nationalities and ethnicities. Titan Holdings will hold 67% of the equity share capital and voting rights in Damas and a path to acquire the balance 33% stake from Mannai after 31 December 2029, subject to conditions. The current Graff Monobrand franchise business of Damas will be discontinued before completion of the transaction, per a filing with the exchanges. Titan Co. already operates its Tanishq jewellery brand in the Miidle East, with stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Last fiscal, both Tanishq and Zoya expanded their global presence, opening stores in North America and GCC region primarily catering to the Indian diaspora. Its diamond brand Caratlane also opened its first international store in New Jersey, USA in FY25. After successfully establishing Tanishq in the GCC countries and the USA, our ambition for a global jewellery play is moving to the next stage. With the Damas acquisition, Titan Company is stepping out from its diaspora focus into other nationalities and ethnicities, C.K. Venkataraman, managing director of Titan, said. "The acquisition not only creates a significant new global opportunity for Titan, but also enhances Titan's overall position in the jewellery market in the GCC countries and brings in multiple synergy benefits in talent, retail networks and supply chain," he added. Analysts said the move could potentially offer the company a playbook to expand in international markets beyond its own brands. The deal makes a lot of sense said Harminder Sahni, managing director, and partner at Wazir Advisors. This could work as a model where they build more assets in the jewellery business overseas, he said. The Tata Group has the bandwidth and integration capabilities for such a move. The move is also interesting because it stresses on expanding beyond the existing and core consumer base of the Indian diaspora, he added. The Tata Group already operates a consumer goods business via Tata Consumer Products in overseas markets. The GCC region is exhibiting robust economic growth creating a demand for differentiated, high-quality offerings rooted in Arabian aesthetic and appealing to sophisticated clientele seeking unique, culturally resonant designs, the company said in its statement announcing the acquisition. To be sure, jewellers from south India have a well-established presence in the Middle East, with brands like Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas, Kalyan Jewellers having a significant presence in these markets. Mannai Corporation has business interests in the business-to-business segment based on trade and IT services. Damas, headquartered in Dubai, became a subsidiary of Mannai in 2012, and the time has come for investment in the next phase of its expansion in the region, said, Alekh Grewal, group chief executive officer, Mannai Corporation. Mannai will continue to own a minority stake in Damas for the next 4 years as the growth plans for Damas are taken forward. It is intended that the proceeds of the sale transaction will be deployed by Mannai to strengthen its resources in support of further expansion of its core trade and IT services businesses in addition to reducing the group debt, he said. Titan Company sells jewellery (Tanishq), watches, eyecare products, fragrances, accessories and Indian dress wear (Taneira) and women bags (IRTH). In FY25, the companys jewellery sales surpassed 50,000 crore for the first time, reflecting a 20% jump in yearly revenues. It reported 60,456 crore in revenue from operations (consolidated) for the full year, up 18% y-o-y. Mumbai: US-based short-seller Viceroy Research has disputed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachuds legal opinion on its allegations of financial misconduct and misrepresentation against Vedanta Group. Viceroy argued that Chandrachuds legal opinion did not answer questions raised by it with regards to dividend payments and alleged financial mismanagement at the mining and minerals conglomerate. Justice Chandrachuds opinion fails to refute, investigate, or even engage with a single substantive financial allegation in our reports, the short-seller said in a report on Monday, 21 July, its eighth note on Vedanta in 13 days. Vedanta has consistently denied Viceroys allegations, terming the accusations baseless. Justice Chandrachud in his legal opinion to Vedanta, which was made public on Friday, said Viceroys first report on billionaire Anil Agarwals group, published on 9 July, lacked credibility, and the researchers behind the report had dubious credentials. He said he relied on information shared by Vedanta to arrive at this opinion since Viceroys website had no information in this regard. The former Chief Justice also highlighted Viceroys interest in profiteering from a possible rout in Vedanta Resources commercial papers as a result of the short-sellers reports. He also said he suspected the timing of the report, coming just as India-listed Vedanta Ltd is headed for a demerger. In April, Viceroy Research took a short position on the bonds of Vedanta Resources Ltd, the London-based unlisted holding company of the Vedanta Group, according to Fraser Perring, founder of Viceroy Research, who didnt disclose the quantum of his firms exposure. Also Read | Five big concerns flagged by Viceroy Research in its 87-page report on Vedanta Viceroy argued that Chandrachuds legal opinion relied entirely on management representations without questioning, the short-seller said, adding that the opinion failed to dispute any of its findings, conclusions, or concerns. When faced with serious allegations backed by detailed financial evidence, the company responded not with transparency, but with a character assassination attempt dressed in legal language, the short-seller said in its latest report. Viceroy also claimed Vedanta had to pay for a legal opinion to defend its parent company against claims of stealing money or misusing the subsidiarys funds. Vedanta Resources holds a majority stake in India-listed Vedanta Ltd through several intermediaries. Hindustan Zinc Ltd is a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd. Justice Chandrachud declined to comment on the matter. He explained that his role was professional in nature and the opinion given was protected by professional privilege. It is inappropriate to discuss anything pertaining to it in the public realm, he said. Vedanta Group did not immediately reply to Mints emailed queries on Viceroy's rebuttal. Legal opinion of considerable credibility In his legal opinion, Justice Chandrachud said the transactions disclosed in financial statements and regulatory filings by Vedanta showed there was transparency and compliance with regulations. Such disclosures should be presumed legitimate unless there was clear evidence to prove otherwise, he opined. To this, Viceroy argued that mere disclosure did not confirm legality of the transactions. Justice Chandrachud also said Viceroy Researchs report contained serious allegations tarnishing the Vedanta Groups image and reputation. The report contains serious imputations such as ponzi scheme and parasite, which have caused harm to querists (here Vedanta Ltd) business and reputation, he said, adding that Vedanta was well placed to seek legal remedies under such circumstances. Former trial court judge Rishabh Gandhi said dismissing Chandrachuds report as just an opinion was reductive and misleading. A legal opinionan opinion rendered by a legal expert based on applicable law and the facts presentedwhen issued by a highly regarded authority like the former Chief Justice of India, carries considerable legal and institutional credibility, said Gandhi, who is also the founder of law firm Rishabh Gandhi & Advocates. Gandhi explained that most legal opinions are based on a detailed review of documents, statutory interpretation, and precedent, primarily to confirm legal compliance, and enforceability of corporate actions such as dividend declarations, inter-company transactions, or board resolutions. Gandhi, however, clarified that while Chandrachuds legal opinion likely affirmed the legal permissibility of Vedantas transactions and dividend policies under Indian corporate law, it did not address the broader concerns around financial prudence, related-party dynamics, or cash flow impact. If Vedanta wishes to credibly address Viceroys allegations and rebut the perception that the legal opinion is merely a public relations exercise, it would be prudentto commission an independent financial or forensic audit, Gandhi said. Viceroy has accused Vedanta Group of alleged financial misconduct and misrepresentation, making empty promises to shore up share prices, manipulating asset values, raising off-balance sheet loans, and corporate governance lapses, Mint reported on 9 July. At Vedanta's annual general meeting on 10 July, shareholders reposed their confidence in the company. Different investors have different concerns as they view things differently, said Shriram Subramanian, managing director of proxy advisory firm InGovern. Viceroy is a short seller and has a thesis and a short position. Other investors and stakeholders may have a different thesis. If investors were truly concerned about Viceroys allegations, Vedantas stock would have seen a sharp decline, which hasnt happened, he said. On 9 July, when Viceroy published its first report on the mining conglomerate, Vedanta Ltd shares declined as much as 8% intraday to 420.65 apiece before recouping some of the losses following a clarification from the company to settle at 441.30, down 3.29% on the NSE. Indias national auditor, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), has flagged several fiscal inconsistencies in the Union government's compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, including a substantial 21.3 trillion in unrealized tax revenues at the end of 2022-23. The CAG's latest report, presented in Parliament on Monday, comes at a time when the government has committed to reducing India's fiscal deficit to below 4.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025-26, as reiterated in recent medium-term fiscal policy statements. However, the audit observations suggest gaps in transparency and data consistency that may undermine its fiscal credibility. Also Read | Centre may restrict fiscal deficit to 4.2%-4.3% of GDP The CAGs Report No. 3 of 2025, which assesses compliance with the FRBM Act for the year 2022-23, was earlier presented in the Rajya Sabha on 4 April. The FRBM Act, enacted in 2003 to ensure inter-generational equity in fiscal management and maintain macroeconomic stability, mandates the CAG to carry out an annual compliance review. According to the report, the amount of tax revenue raised but not realized rose by 5.47 trillion in 2022-23 over the previous year to 21.30 trillion. Of the 5.47 trillion, a staggering 5.28 trillion is not under dispute (meaning it was collectable but had not been recovered), suggesting weak tax enforcement or inefficiencies in recovery processes. A query sent to the spokesperson of the finance ministry did not elicit a response till press time. The CAG audit report also pointed to inconsistencies in key fiscal indicators. For instance, the fiscal deficit figure published in the Union government finance accounts (UGFA) for 2022-23 was 17.56 trillion, while the budget at a glance (BAG) for 2024-25 cited a lower figure of 17.38 trilliona discrepancy of 18,000 crore. Similar variations were observed in statements on arrears of interest, loans and advances, and fiscal projections published in the half-yearly and medium-term fiscal policy statements, the CAG report highlighted. For loans given to State and Union Territory governments, the Receipt Budget shows arrears of 1,705.28 crore, whereas the UGFA records a significantly higher figure of 4,867.84 crore, indicating a variation of 3,162.56 crore. The MTFP and AFS for 2022-23 show slight differences in key fiscal indicatorsfiscal deficit was 16.61 trillion in the MTFP and 16.83 trillion in the AFS; revenue deficit was 9.90 trillion and 9.91 trillion, respectively; and primary deficit stood at 7.20 trillion and 7.27 trillion. The largest gap was in non-tax revenue estimates, with 2.70 trillion in the MTFP and 5.76 trillion in the AFS. Despite these shortcomings, the CAG report acknowledged positive signals on the debt front. Central government debt, which had peaked at 61.38% of GDP in 202-21 due to pandemic-related spending, declined to 57.93% by 2022-23. The CAG, in its report, noted that the pace of debt accumulation in recent years has been lower than GDP expansion, and the debt sustainability indicator for 2022-23 was positive. The ratio of interest payments to revenue receiptsan indicator of fiscal strainrose marginally to 35.35% in 2022-23, after declining from a peak of 38.66% in 2020-21. New Delhi: Indias most significant direct tax reform in over six decades moved a step closer to becoming law on Monday, as the Select Committee of the Lok Sabha submitted its report on the draft Income Tax Bill, 2025. The panel broadly endorsed the governments goal of simplifying the tax code, but recommended a series of changes to address potential ambiguities, safeguard taxpayer rights, and ensure regulatory continuity. The report, tabled by committee chairperson Baijayant Panda, a member of parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), comes a few months after the bill was introduced in Parliament in February by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The proposed law is intended to replace the Income Tax Act of 1961, which has served as the cornerstone of Indias direct tax regime for more than six decades. While expressing support for the bills intent to streamline tax administration, the 32-member panel flagged multiple concerns and technical inconsistencies that it said could dilute protections or increase the compliance burden if left unaddressed. Key concerns Among its core recommendations, the Committee called for clarifying several key definitionssuch as those of capital asset, infrastructure capital company, and parent companyto align them with current laws and remove outdated references. It urged harmonization of the definitions for micro and small enterprises with the MSMED Act, and pressed for more precise rules on various deductions, including those related to house property income, scientific research, and pension contributions. The panel identified a drafting anomaly in the rebate clause applicable to individuals earning above 12 lakh and recommended corrective language to avoid misinterpretation. To protect taxpayer rights and preserve discretion under the anti-avoidance regime, the Committee proposed reinstating the phrase in the circumstances of the case under the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR). It noted that the phrase had served as an important safeguard to ensure that tax enforcement under GAAR was context-sensitive and not excessive. The report also opposed the blanket disallowance of deductions for late filers and supported retaining flexibilities like deemed application for non-profits. It urged clearer rules for taxing religious and charitable trusts and anonymous donations to reduce ambiguity. In addition, the panel recommended that valid circulars, approvals, and exemptions under the existing Income Tax Act, 1961 be explicitly carried forward into the new regime. It also called for easing compliance requirements for non-residents and codifying standards related to valuer qualifications and jurisdictional limits. Relief for small taxpayers and non-residents The Committee flagged the risk of prosecution in cases where small taxpayers fall below the taxable threshold but are still required to file returns to claim refunds. The Committee observed that the current mandatory requirement to file a return solely for the purpose of claiming a refund could inadvertently lead to prosecution, particularly for small taxpayers whose income falls below the taxable threshold but from whom tax has been deducted at source, the report said. The Committee, therefore, recommendedto provide flexibility for allowing refund claims in cases where the return is not filed in due time, it added. For non-resident liaison offices, the Committee proposed extending the timeline for filing compliance statements from 60 days to eight months, citing the practical challenges faced by overseas entities in adhering to tight deadlines. Ensuring regulatory continuity The Committee emphasized the need for a clean but careful transition from the old law to the new regime. It recommended revising Clause 536which repeals the Income Tax Act, 1961to explicitly carry forward all valid rules, circulars, and approvals to prevent operational disruption. Other technical suggestions included reinstating the term Nil in clauses related to lower tax deduction certificates, prescribing clear qualifications for registered valuers, and correcting ambiguous language around deductions and refund eligibility. FinMin to review recommendations With the submission of the Select Committees report, the finance ministry will now examine the recommendations before finalizing the legislation for passage. Given the breadth of changes suggested, some revisions are expected before the bill becomes law. "The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill clearly states that as a result of amendments, the basic structure of the Income-tax Act, 1961 has been overburdened and language has become complex, increasing the cost of compliance for taxpayers and hampering the efficiency of direct-tax administration," Panda, the chairperson of the committee said in the report. Panda said the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, has been prepared to make the law concise, lucid and easy to read and understand. A team of US trade officials will visit India in August for the next round of talks for the proposed bilateral trade pact between the two nations, reported news agency PTI. "For the next round of talks, the US team will visit India in the second half of August," a PTIreport said, quoting an official. Last week, India and the US officials concluded the fifth round of trade talks in Washington. Rajesh Agrawal, India's chief negotiator and special secretary in the Department of Commerce, and Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, held the deliberations. In the fifth round of talks, issues related to agriculture and automobiles are learnt to have figured, reported PTI. Matters related to ways to deal with non-market economies, and SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) also came up for discussion. Also Read | US delegation's New Delhi visit set to boost trade talks as Trump tariffs loom New Delhi and Washington are looking at finalising an interim trade deal before August 1 deadline, which marks the end of the suspension period of Trump tariffs. The Trump administration has imposed 26 per cent tariffs on India. On April 2 this year, President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on the US trading partners. Removal of additional 26% tariff According to the report, New Delhi is seeking the removal of this additional tariff of 26 per cent. It is also seeking the easing of tariffs on steel and aluminium (50 per cent) and the auto sector (25 per cent). Certain farmers' associations have urged the government not to include any issues related to agriculture in the trade pact. India is also seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors, such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas, in the proposed trade pact. On the other hand, the US wants duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, especially electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, agri goods, dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 22 (ANI): Deepika Padukone has offered a glimpse into her adorable equation with her husband, actor Ranveer Singh. Taking to her Instagram story, Deepika shared a hilarious meme post about a husband-and-wife duo that has everyone's attention. "Me phoning my husband to ask his opinion about something I've already decided, but I want him to be involved in the decision in case something goes wrong," the meme read. The 'Piku' star tagged her husband in the story, adding smiling face emojis. The post joins the list of many memes that the actress often shares on Instagram. In a previous story, she revealed Ranveer Singh's phone habits with a hilarious picture that featured a pigeon walking erratically in the same place. The 'Dhurandhar' actor also makes sure to drop special mentions for his wife. He recently expressed pride, offering an emotional tribute to Deepika after she received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star couple recently entered a new phase of their lives as parents after welcoming their daughter, Dua, in September last year. "She is the Answer to our Prayers. Our hearts are filled with Love & Gratitude. Deepika & Ranveer," the couple wrote on Instagram. On the work front, Deepika Padukone recently joined Atlee's upcoming film with Allu Arjun in the lead. Backed by Sun Pictures, the film has been tentatively titled "AA22xA6." This marks the actress's first project with Allu Arjun, while it is her second with Atlee, as she previously worked with the director on 'Jawan,' which featured Shah Rukh Khan in the lead. Further details about the film are still unknown. Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh will be next seen in Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar.' The actor's first look was recently unveiled. Actor Shilpa Shirodkar has revealed that a rumour claiming she was shot dead during a film shoot in the 90s left her family in shock, only for it to later emerge that it was part of a films promotional strategy. In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Shilpa opened up about the fake report that circulated while she was filming Raghuveer (1995) in Kullu Manali with Suniel Shetty. There were no mobile phones then. I came back to my room and saw 20-25 missed calls. My parents were panicking. A newspaper headline said, Shilpa Shirodkar Shot Dead, she recalled. She later learned that the rumour was intentionally planted as a marketing gimmick. The producer told me it was a strategy. I was the last to find out. There were no PR teams back then. Thoda zyada ho gaya, but the film did well, so I wasnt really angry, she said. Raghuveer starred Suniel Shetty, Shilpa Shirodkar, Suresh Oberoi, Mohnish Bahl and others. Shilpa Shirodkar, sister of Namrata Shirodkar and sister-in-law of Mahesh Babu, recently appeared on Bigg Boss 18. Kevin Feige recently hinted at future recasting of Iron Man and Captain America, citing Bond and Superman. During a press roundtable at Marvel's headquarters in Burbank, California, for the upcoming Marvel film Fantastic Four, Feige addressed that they may, in the future, recast Iron Man and Captain America. Kevin Feige says Iron Man, Captain America may be recast in future Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has hinted at the possibility of recasting two of the Marvel Cinematic Universes most iconic roles Tony Stark/Iron Man and Steve Rogers/Captain America in future projects. Speaking about the evolving nature of long-running film franchises, Feige referenced the recent reshuffling in other major cinematic universes as precedent. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are now searching for a new James Bond, Feige said, referring to the new producers of the Bond franchise. David [Corenswet], the new Superman he was awesome. That will always be the case. Also Read | Marvel Studios Kevin Feige teases future of MCU Feige acknowledged the challenge of replacing beloved actors who have defined roles for a generation. I think its hard for anybody to do that when an actor has done such a great [job in a] role. How are they going to ever replace Sean Connery [as James Bond], right? While the Marvel boss was open about the potential future of Iron Man originally played by Robert Downey Jr. and Captain America played by Chris Evans he remained vague when asked about the return of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in their popular roles from the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). I think there is more fun to be had with both of those characters, but well see where, Feige remarked. Vapi, India [21 July 2025] A wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has entered into definitive agreements to invest USD 200 million for a ~3% stake in Micro Life Sciences Private Limited (Meril), one of Indias leading medical devices companies. This investment values Meril at an enterprise value of USD 6.6 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Post this investment, Meril will be backed by two globally recognized investors, ADIA and Warburg Pincus. Founded by the Bilakhia Group, Meril is a global innovator in medical technology (MedTech), with a strong focus on clinically advanced solutions across multiple specialties including Cardiovascular, Structural Heart, Orthopaedics, Endo-surgery, In-vitro Diagnostics and Surgical Robotics. Headquartered in Vapi, India, Meril operates state-of-the-art, vertically integrated, and globally certified manufacturing and R&D facilities, across a 100 acre sustainable MedTech campus. The company employs more than 13,000 people, has 35+ global subsidiaries, and serves healthcare systems in 150+ countries. Meril is committed to becoming the worlds leading MedTech company, powered 100% by green energy, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable innovation. Meril With a robust in-house global R&D ecosystem and a portfolio of 200+ technology platforms, Meril continues to lead in global clinical research and education. Breakthrough innovations such as the Myval Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) series, MyClip Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) system, and the MISSO Surgical Robotic System highlight Merils dedication to next-generation innovation. Through its 12+ global training academies, Meril empowers over 10,000 healthcare professionals annually. Sanjeev Bhatt, Senior Vice President Strategy, Meril said: This investment by ADIA reinforces confidence in Merils long term vision and global ambitions. This investment will enable us to accelerate growth, attract world-class talent, and further strengthen our R&D and clinical research efforts as we work towards improving the quality of human life through advanced healthcare solutions. About Meril Meril is a global medical technology company headquartered in Vapi, India. With a strong emphasis on innovation, Meril develops clinically meaningful products aimed at enhancing patient outcomes across cardiovascular, orthopaedic, diagnostic, Endo Surgery and robotic surgery domains. Founded by the Bilakhia Group, the company is committed to sustainability, quality, and global impact. For more information:https://www.merillife.com About Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) Established in 1976, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is a globally-diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi through a strategy focused on long-term value creation. For more information: https://www.adia.ae Media contact :media@merillife.com Note to readers: This article is part of Mints paid consumer connect Initiative. Mint assumes no editorial involvement or responsibility for errors, omissions, or content accuracy. The European Union thought it was on the verge of a deal with the U.S. to keep tariffs in check. Now it is readying a counterattack. U.S. officials told the EUs trade chief this past week that they expect President Trump to demand further concessions from the bloc to get an agreement, including a baseline tariff on most European goods that could be in the range of 15% or higher, according to people briefed on the talks. That was an unwelcome surprise for the EU, which had been working toward an agreement that would have kept baseline tariffs at 10%, already a tough concession for some of its 27 countries. The shift prompted Germany, Europes biggest economy and its largest exporter, which had previously been more dovish on U.S. retaliation, to swing closer to Frances more confrontational position, according to people close to the discussions. Now, EU member states are pressing the blocs executive body to prepare new and potent measures to hit back against U.S. companies, beyond retaliatory tariffs on goods, if a deal cant be reached by the Aug. 1 deadline set by Trump, the people said. All options are on the table," a German official said Friday. The official said there was still time to negotiate a deal but added, If they want war, they will get war." The push to increase potential countermeasures marks a turning point for the EU after months of negotiations to salvage the worlds biggest trading relationship. More than $5 billion of goods and services moves between the two economies every day, according to EU data. The European Commission, which is in charge of the blocs trade policy, said Sunday that it wants a negotiated, mutually beneficial agreement and remains deeply engaged in negotiations. If no satisfactory outcome is found, all options remain on the table, a spokesman said. On Sunday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with the EU. I am confident well get a deal done," Lutnick said on CBSs Face the Nation." And it will be great for America, because the president has the back of America." In the months since Trump took office, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic has flown to Washington half a dozen times. He has had multiple calls and texts with U.S. trade officials. And he has said Europe was willing to lower tariffs and buy tens of billions of dollars of U.S. energy products and advanced semiconductors. The bloc has little to show for his efforts. Earlier this month Trump threatened 30% tariffs on imports of most goods from the EU, up from the 20% the president first floated in April. Even German officials, who have pressed for a quick deal, no longer see an agreement with the U.S. as the most likely outcome, people familiar with the matter said. On Friday, Berlin signaled it could support the EU using its so-called anticoercion instrument, a legal tool that lets the bloc hit back at economic bullying with a range of restrictions on trade and investment. It has never been used before. EU officials view the tool as the blocs most powerful trade weapon, and a last resort. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who leads the EUs executive arm, said earlier this month that the instrument was created for emergencies and we are not there yet." That assessment could change. The commission is already preparing measures that could be introduced using the anticoercion instrument, people briefed on the matter said. After Sefcovics return from Washington, more member states now say they want the tool to be ready. European Union trade chief Maros Sefcovic has said that Europe was willing to reduce tariffs. The measures that are being readied include possible levies or other restrictions on U.S. digital services and curbs on American companies access to the blocs public procurement market, the people said. That would be in addition to measures the EU has already prepared. The EU earlier drew up two packages of tariffs targeting more than $100 billion of U.S. exports to the bloc, ranging from airplanes to peanut butter and whiskey, although they havent been put into effect. The second package still needs formal signoff from member states, but both could be activated quickly if needed, officials have said. European officials and member states still hope a deal is possible. The bloc doesnt plan to launch any retaliation before Trumps Aug. 1 deadline, and the preparation of measures that could be introduced using the anticoercion instrument doesnt necessarily mean the tool will be deployed. But they are gearing up for a possible fight that they acknowledge could have heavy costs for both sides in a commercial relationship that is valued at trillions of dollars. The deal the two sides were nearing earlier this month would have seen the EU offer to boost purchases of U.S. energy products and semiconductors and accept a 10% baseline tariff on most goods. Some elements were still being negotiated, people familiar with the talks said. Those factors included which sectors to exempt from the baseline tariff and what relief Europes car industry might get from the 25% tariffs it currently faces. Still, the commission was optimistic. While other U.S. trading partners had received letters outlining higher tariffs they would soon face, Sefcovic told lawmakers on July 9, our negotiations have spared the EU from facing higher tariffs." Three days later, Trump posted a letter on social media threatening the bloc with 30% duties starting Aug. 1. Sefcovic traveled to Washington this past week to try to understand whether a deal was still possible. While U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer suggested the 10% baseline tariff the two sides had negotiated still made sense, Lutnick suggested the levy would need to be higher, a European diplomat said. Sefcovic left his meetings with the understanding that the U.S. was pressing for a baseline tariff of 15% or more, people briefed on the matter said. Sefcovic was also told that U.S. tariffs on the blocs automotive sector were expected to stay at their current 25% level and pharmaceutical tariffs could be introduced at 100%, one of the people said. France and some other EU nations had long pushed for the EU to take a tougher stance against the U.S., while Germany had encouraged the bloc to seek a quick, preliminary deal with Trump. German leaders initially understood Trumps letter threatening 30% tariffs as a last-minute ploy to extract better conditions. They finally snapped after finding out about U.S. officials pressure this past week for the EU to accept higher baseline tariffs and no relief for its auto sector. The shift persuaded Berlin to open the door to retaliation, an official with knowledge of the situation said. Member states now need to determine how many more concessions they might be willing to make to get a deal, and which countermeasures to take if negotiations fail, an EU diplomat said Friday. All options will hurt," the diplomat said. Write to Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com and Bertrand Benoit at bertrand.benoit@wsj.com Each august the most powerful man in the world drops from view. President Xi Jinping will probably leave Beijing next week and join senior officials at the beach resort of Beidaihe, three hours east of the capital, for a summer retreat. Communist Party grandees have gathered in its villas since the days of Mao Zedong. Even so, extended absences can stir heady speculation outside China about the leaders grip on power. This years summer conclave will reflect Mr Xis stunning success in remaking the partys top ranks: the old guard are dead, senile or sidelined and loyalists reign. Chinas paramount leader appears to have no serious rivals; he guides the worlds second-biggest economy and its largest armed forces seemingly unchallenged. For world leaders access to him is imperative. In recent days he hosted the foreign ministers of India and Russia and held talks with Australias prime minister. And America has just insisted that the odds are high" of a meeting between Mr Xi and President Donald Trump later this year. Chinas elite politics remains a black box. If a leader were ever in trouble, outsiders might be the last to know. But analysts now whisper that Mr Xis governing style may be changing in subtle ways. Having originally strengthened a system of commissions in order to dominate the bureaucracy, he is dialling back. Certain commissions, which are a kind of committee run by Mr Xi, are convening less often. In others he is allowing trusted lieutenants to implement his agenda. And he is appearing in public less frequently. Yet far from challenging the authority of Chinas party chief, these developments may only enhance it. If a shift in style is under way, it would mark a striking change for a man who has ruthlessly centralised power since taking office in 2012. The number of officials under investigation has grown alongside Mr Xis own authority: a crackdown launched in April 2024 has led to 433,000 being probed. Recent purges in the armed forces have been remarkable. Several generals who once sat on the five-man Central Military Commission, the party organ which controls the armed forces and which is chaired by Mr Xi, are under investigation or have disappeared from view. The most recent seeming example, He Weidong, would be the highest-ranking military officer to fall since 1967. Leading a party of allies solves some problems, but Mr Xi appears wary that it can create new ones, too. Those chosen for their loyalty may lack experience, shy away from delivering bad news or see opportunities for graft. Mr Xi told the 24-member politburo on June 30th that the string of self-revolution must be tightened even further." Black and white and red all over After taking office Mr Xi wielded power through a host of party commissions that permitted him to sidestep the state bureaucracy and other vested interests. A powerful institutional weapon, they also allowed him to sideline officials not of his own choosing, such as the previous prime minister, Li Keqiang. Mr Xi has set up nearly a dozen commissions of his own, overseeing different areas of governance and steering his domestic agenda. But more often now hes sending written instructions to related meetings rather than attending, says Neil Thomas of the Asia Society, an American think-tank. The number of such meetings appears to be dropping, too. The most important commission, on economic reform, met 38 times in the first five years he was in charge. Since 2022 it has done so only six times and none has been publicly announced since August 2024. Its communiques are also shorter, which suggests it is making fewer decisions. Other commissions led by Mr Xi have similarly fallen off, notes Christopher Beddor of Gavekal Dragonomics, a research firm. In its meeting in June the Politburo created regulations (though it did not publish them) clarifying for the first time the responsibilities of party commissions, most of which are still chaired by Mr Xi. Tellingly, they must co-ordinate without overstepping and ensure implementation without overreaching," the meeting readout said. The new regulations are part of Mr Xis efforts to rule through rules", perhaps so that his agenda prevails even when he is not in the room, says Holly Snape of the University of Glasgow. All this appears part of a drive to ensure that the country answers to the party above all else, with Mr Xi at its head, and that there is no separation of powers. The other change in Mr Xis approach relates to delegation. He has begun awarding stewardship of some weighty commissions to underlings. Limiting the groups powers may make Mr Xi more comfortable handing over control of them, notes Victor Shih of the University of California, San Diego. In particular, he has placed his trust in Cai Qi, in effect his chief of staff, Li Qiang, the prime minister, and Ding Xuexiang, the deputy prime minister. Each was given a party commission to lead in early 2023. All sit at the apex of power on the politburos seven-man standing committee and Mr Xi broke convention in 2022 to promote them. They have strong ties to the top leader, but weak links with each other. Mr Cai is widely regarded by observers as Mr Xis most trusted adviser. He controls the scheduling, communication and security of the party leadership. Unusually, at the same time, he is in charge of the daily operations of the party centres hulking bureaucracy. Yet it is the often-overlooked Mr Li who seems to have gained most from the top leaders slow shedding of duties. Mr Li served as chief of staff to Mr Xi between 2004 and 2007, when Mr Xi was still a provincial governor on the rise. Mr Li has since regained some of the responsibilities that were stripped from his predecessor, including some say over economic policy. Mr Li also seems trusted: he went to the brics summit in Brazil in July in Mr Xis place. It was the leaders first absence from the gathering in 12 years. Mr Li also enjoys considerable clout within the state bureaucracy. New rules allow him to summon bureaucrats at will and hold study sessions on topics of his choosing. Mr Xi is the only other leader who has such latitude. Mr Li may have also benefited from an odd event in April, when two members of the politburo swapped jobs without explanation. The result is that one of Mr Lis old colleagues now oversees party personnel decisions ahead of the five-year party congress, which will meet in 2027 to decide key appointments for the next term of government. Delegating functions to loyalists, while failing to identify a successor (and hence potential rival), may be signs of a leader preparing to rule into old age. Mr Xi is 72 years old (his mother, Qi Xin, is 98). There are no indications that he will step aside when his third five-year term ends in 2027. In their twilight years, both Mao and Deng Xiaoping fragmented authority to ensure that subordinates served as counterweights to prevent any one gaining too much influence. They became oracle-like, pontificating on ideology from behind a curtain. Over time Mr Xi may come to shape such a systemone where ultimate power remains his, even in absentia. Thousands of hungry Palestinians amassed last Tuesday morning outside a barbed-wire fence surrounding the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid center here. The moment the gates cracked open, the crowd surged forward. American security contractors tried to keep control, but scores of men pushed through barricades and snatched boxes of food awaiting distribution. Others sprinted in behind them. Men on speeding motorcycles raced past the pedestrians to grab whatever food they could. Gunshots rang outit wasnt clear from where. Within about 15 minutes, all the food was gone. Chaotic scenes like that one, witnessed by a Wall Street Journal reporter, have plagued the new food-distribution system run by an Israeli-backed foundation known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Since the program began two months ago, hundreds of people have died and hundreds more have been wounded trying to get food from the four GHF sites, according to local health authorities. Israels military acknowledges opening fire on crowds that come too close to its troops. As the death toll has climbed, the United Nations, many humanitarian organizations and more than 20 governments have condemned the new approach, which supplanted a much larger U.N. effort. Israel said the new system is intended to prevent Hamas from diverting aid to fuel its operations. Anyone who hasnt witnessed the scene on the ground here might wonder how such violence could result from a food-distribution operation. The Journals observation of one mornings distribution effortfrom when it kicked off to when it was overrunreveals some reasons why the setup has been so beset with problems. For starters, GHF relies on the Israeli military nearby to provide security and keep its workers safe, which brings sometimes desperate Palestinian crowds into close proximity with troops. The U.N.s food-distribution points, by contrast, didnt usually have Israeli troops nearby. A second big problem is that the demand for food far outstrips GHFs current capacity, resulting in overwhelming numbers of people fighting to get their hands on scarce rations. Aid-related violence also has broken out far from GHF sites. On Sunday, dozens of Palestinians were killed or wounded as they sought aid passing into northern Gaza from Israel, according to local health authorities. The Israeli military said thousands of Gazans had gathered in the north of the Strip, and it fired warning shots" to remove a threat posed to soldiers. The military disputed the casualty numbers reported by Gazan authorities. There were no reported casualties at the GHF site on the outskirts of Khan Younis the day the Journal visited. GHF said its post-operation report for that Tuesday didnt show any shooting by its security contractors, though shots are audible on a video taken by the Journal. Israeli soldiers werent present at the site itself, though there was a tank nearby. But the next daylast Wednesdayat least 20 people were killed in a crush at the site, according to health authorities and GHF. GHF said its security contractors had pepper-sprayed people rushing the site that day. Ahmad Tareq al-Dahoudi was one of those trying to get food that day. I couldnt breathe from the smell," he recalled. I didnt get anything and ran away. There were lots of children, women and elderly people. I saw about 15 dead bodies." Israel Ziv, a retired Israeli general who once headed Israels Gaza division, said: The area is not stable, its under chaos. The threat of starvation under those conditions is so severe that theres no way you can create a stable system in unstable surroundings." Gunfire threat Israeli soldiers interviewed by the Journal said they have fired rifles, machine guns and even artillery when crowds veered off approved routes to GHF sites or took short cuts. Soldiers said shots are fired around crowds to ward them off, but also at times directly at people who move in their direction. Israels military said it tries to avoid using gunfire and reviews each incident to learn from them to reduce harm. Israeli military officials said troops have caused deaths, but some said that Palestinian authorities numbers are inflated. One Israeli reservist said in an interview he saw soldiers firing toward Gazans carrying white flags who veered off an approved route in mid-June. We have an unwritten rule that if you are worried and they get too close and you see that it could be something that puts you and your team at risk, you dont take that risk," he said. He said soldiers warned people not to come closer, but they continued. Once the crowds passed what the soldiers considered a red line, the soldiers opened fire. They are told to fire warning shots in the air or to shoot at peoples knees, but mistakes happen, he said. A GHF spokesperson said it has repeatedly asked the Israeli military to improve the safety of access routes to the sites, and that in recent weeks the military has taken steps to do so. Last month, the military said it would change the way it operates and add signs and fencing in hopes of minimizing friction with the population." During the Journals visit to the site outside Khan Younisa trip organized by Israels militarynone of that was evident, and troops made no effort to control crowds. Every day, our team shows up to do one thing: feed the people of Gaza," GHF said in a written statement. GHF is currently the only organization consistently delivering food to civilians in Gaza, and the heavy crowds at our distribution sites reflect that reality." Previously, food had been amassed by the U.N. and private charities and distributed primarily by the U.N. at about 400 sites in population centers around Gaza. The U.N. still brings in some food, but much less than before. The new aid plan was designed by a group of about a dozen Israeli reservists and businessmen who began meeting as early as December 2023 in an effort to sideline the U.N., according to people who took part in the discussions. It got a green light when a new defense minister, Israel Katz, was appointed and President Trump was elected in the U.S., a former senior military officer who helped design the plan said. Before the launch, some Israelis familiar with the plan warned senior officials the plan didnt include enough sites and they werent located properly, raising the potential for dangerous overcrowding and violence, according to documents reviewed by the Journal and one of the people who raised concerns. GHF, the foundation that runs the program, was incorporated in Delaware in February and currently is led by Johnnie Moore, an American businessman, evangelical Christian leader and former Trump campaign adviser. GHF has contracted Safe Reach Solutions, established in Wyoming in November, to provide security for the sites. It isnt clear how the program has been funded. Some countries and many humanitarian organizations have refused to work with it, crimping sources of international help. The U.S. State Department approved $30 million for GHF in June, but it has yet to be disbursed, a department spokesperson said. Israel launched the program after blocking food shipments into Gaza for 11 weeks, an embargo that ran down stockpiles and led to widespread concern about starvation. GHF operates mainly in southern Gaza and is meant to serve around one million people. Israel hopes to deprive Hamas of a source of income. But Israel doesnt know who is actually picking up the aid at its sites, and the restrictions it has put on food supplies is deepening its international isolation. The European Union has threatened to downgrade relations with Israel, largely over humanitarian aid. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have been accused in the International Criminal Court of using starvation as a weapon. The plan has become a public-relations disaster for international firms that advised on the project, including the Boston Consulting Group, which fired partners who worked on it. GHFs previous executive director, Jake Wood, a U.S. military veteran, quit just before the project launched. People carrying aid parcels near a refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Hunger crisis The entire population of Gaza faces shortages of food. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency said 10% of children screened at its sites were malnourished, and the World Food Program said tens of thousands need treatment related to malnourishment. GHF said its food boxes include things like flour, pasta, sugar, rice, cooking oil, beans, tuna, tea, cookies and potatoes. Palestinians said the handouts vary by the day and typically dont contain nutrients such as animal protein. Jameel al-Nahhal, a 21-year-old from Rafah who has sought food at GHF sites, said if he is lucky he comes away with flour, lentils and cooking oil. The crowds are huge, and the quantities are tiny," he said. I am responsible for my father, mother and sisters. The amount I bring back lasts a day or two, at most." Israel has said it plans to expand the number of distribution sites, but hasnt said when or where. GHFs four sites arent always open, and it can be hard for Palestinians to know which ones will have food. The operators try to control the crowds with fences and gates, but distribution is typically disorderly, and supplies vanish quickly, leading to melees. On the programs first day, tens of thousands of Gazans overran the Khan Younis site, flooding through a small opening after the gate collapsed and forcing the roughly 40 people working as security contractors on site to retreat. They stripped the site of everything, including fencing, lightbulbs and a generator, as the Israeli military and U.S. contractors watched from a shared situation room. After that, the Israeli military decided to enforce a red line about a mile away from the Khan Younis compound to prevent crowding at the entrance before trucks could be unloaded. Suddenly, the crowds of civilians moving through Gaza before dawn to reach the sites before they opened were running into Israeli forces tasked with holding them back. On Saturday, more than 20 Palestinians were killed on their way to aid sites, according to local health authorities. The Israeli military acknowledged opening fire around a kilometer away from an aid site. Some soldiers said in interviews that anyone who veered off the regular path toward the Israeli positioneither because they wanted to take a shortcut or got lostwas considered a threat and fired upon. At times, it put the crowds behind them in the line of fire, they said. When about fifteen hundred to two thousand people come through a very small entrance, and they are all stressed and pushing, it comes to warning shots. Or when they cross a certain boundary, it comes to warning shots," one of the soldiers said. Its an uncomfortable situation." GHF has repeatedly blamed Hamas for some of the violence. Last week, it said it had credible reason to believe" the stampede that led to the deaths on Wednesday had been sparked by Hamas-affiliated elements in the crowd. Hamas has repeatedly threatened Palestinians who cooperate with the plan with violence. Last month, GHF said Hamas militants attacked a busload of its Palestinian staff, killing at least eight. This month, GHF and the Israeli military said they suspected that Hamas militants had injured two American security staffers with grenades. In ongoing talks over a cease-fire, one of Hamass primary demands has been an end to the GHF program and a return to aid distribution via the U.N. and humanitarian organizations. Tension has mounted between GHF and the Israeli military, with each side blaming the other for the chaos. Last week, the military said it stopped enforcing its line around the distribution center near Khan Younis, where the stampede occurred. GHF said its security contractors would assume responsibility for crowd control close to the site. It isnt clear whether Israel has made similar changes at other sites. A video taken on Friday and geolocated by investigative group Bellingcat a few hundred yards from a separate GHF distribution site showed tanks and aid seekers fleeing as shots were heard. The military said it had fired warning shots to hold back individuals it perceived as a threat to its forces. GHF devised a plan to use flags to better signal whether a site was open or closed, so people would know when it is safe to approach. A red flag meant a site would stay closed, and a green flag meant it would be open. Last Tuesday, inside the makeshift military base near the distribution site, soldiers monitored a drone feed that showed tensions rising in the crowd outside the distribution center as aid workers began handing out boxes of food to people at the entrance. Throughout the process, the flag remained red. Write to Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com and Anat Peled at anat.peled@wsj.com Late last year, a leaked" HR email from wellness platform Yes Madam showed the company firing two employees for reporting high stress. The mail was a marketing stunt to promote stress relief services, but the backlash was instant and brutalIt was criticized as tone-deaf and insensitive for trivializing job loss and mental health, dealing a reputational blow to the company. This wasnt an isolated incident. Increasingly, Indian advertising is stumbling through an identity crisishyper-targeted and AI-optimized on the surface, emotionally hollow at the core. From ads served next to tragic news stories to brands defaulting to generic performance content, the industry seems stuck in a loop: efficient, but forgettable. Retail is moving towards intelligent, not just personalized. That includes empathy, not just efficiency," said Isabelle Allen, global head of consumer and retail at KPMG International. Consumers today expect brands not only to understand their habits but to reflect their values." Also Read | Outdoor advertising gains traction, diversifies commercial real estate revenue streams And yet, in a rush to optimize everything, emotional intelligence, the very thing that creates memorable brands, is becoming endangered. Sandeep Walunj, group chief marketing officer at Motilal Oswal, argues that financial marketing is one of the worst offenders. Were not just speaking to portfolios. Were speaking to fear, ambition, even guilt. But BFSI marketing has long buried that truth under numbers and charts. It needs to be more human." Even consumer brands that once built emotional moats are under pressure. The CMOs role today is no longer just creative. Its a business mandate," said Nikhil Rao, CMO of Mars Wrigley India. Youre expected to understand every leversales, trade, R&D. Thats important, but we also need to remember what builds long-term love for a brand." Raos team is trying to balance that tension: Even our 1 Boomer gum carries our brand story. We dont chase scale at the cost of quality or trust." But many marketers arent walking that line well. Asparsh Sinha, managing partner at an independent brand design and transformation consultancy Open Strategy & Design, puts it bluntly: When everything becomes a performance dashboard, brands risk becoming utilities instead of cultural actors. Data must be interpreted, not just applied." Also Read | Consumer brands set to write the playbook of rural influencer marketing Sinha believes the anxiety is visible in client briefs. Theyre not more functional, theyre just more nervous. Nervous about justifying spend. About defending quarterly outcomes. That fear pushes brands to play it safeand safe is forgettable." Vishesh Sahni, chief executive officer of White, a brand experience company, says cultural fluency is the new metric. We worked on H&Ms Sound of Style activation at Lollapalooza India 2025. It wasnt built for virality, it was built for resonance. Gen Z doesnt reward attention-seeking, they reward authenticity." He adds that building emotional equity is still non-negotiable for serious brands. Some of our most memorable briefs are the ones focused on building brand words, co-creating culture with audiences, and forging a sense of trust and intimacy. The challenge is meeting emotional resonance with rapid results and this is where data helps sharpen the storytelling." Saheb Singh, strategy director at independent advertising firm Agency09, warns that performance marketing is making all brand voices sound the same. Optimizing for clicks has come at the cost of emotional nuance. The soul is being traded for speed." He adds, We treat even a six-second short as a brand moment. Short-form doesnt have to be short-lived. But it cant be soulless." Singh also believes that younger marketers sometimes over-index on tools rather than people. Great marketing begins with empathy. Tools are powerful, but empathy is irreplaceable." A Deloitte whitepaper on the evolving CMO mindset highlights that brands are under pressure to deliver immediate value, but long-term relevance comes from human-centric design. More than 80% of leading CMOs are embedding emotional, cultural and societal relevance into brand decisions," the report notes. Human-centricity isnt just a talking pointits a measurable growth driver." The paper also warns against signal overload", where an over-reliance on data leads to chasing micro-metrics rather than macro impact. As one section notes, True brand leadership in the AI age will come from using automation to inform action, not dictate it." But as automation deepens, so does the risk of context collapse", a term used to describe ads appearing next to inappropriate content, or messaging that completely misreads the cultural moment. Programmatic ads placed next to videos about war, terror, or tragedy are a grim example. The machine didnt know better," one agency executive admitted. This is where the consequences become cultural. For Gen Z and younger millennials, tone-deafness isnt just cringe, but a dealbreaker. Empathy is a superpower," said one strategist. And right now, most brand playbooks feel like theyve forgotten how to use it." Some brands are trying to evolve. Theyre building diverse creative review teams. Theyre testing tone frameworks and running sentiment analysis pre-launch. But theres no AI tool for common sense. Or timing. Or taste. Equally concerning is the blurring line between transactional experiences and emotional cues. QR codes, shoppable videos and personalized coupon drops have their place, but when the creative layer vanishes, whats left is commerce without character. And that rarely builds long-term memory. AI can tell you who to talk to, when to talk to them and where to reach them. But it cant tell you how to make them care. That still takes emotional intelligence and a little bit of soul. In the age of full-funnel metrics, maybe its time to ask: Whats the one thing your brand will be remembered for: its CPM, or how it made someone feel? Because at the end of the day, reach without resonance is noise. And in advertising, noise doesnt convert. Emotion does. Mumbai: The countrys largest lender State Bank of India has raised 25,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) of its equity shares, making it the largest QIP executed in Indian capital markets. The board of the public sector bank announced the close of the QIP late Monday evening, and approved the issue and allotment of 30.6 crore shares at an issue price of 817 each. The QIP was subscribed 4.5 times, with 64.3% bids being made by foreign investors. Marquee long-term investors received around 88% of the final allocation, including 24% of the issue size getting placed with foreign long-term investors, the bank said in a release. This landmark equity raise is a vote of confidence in SBIs solid fundamentals, prudent risk management and digital-first growth agenda, SBI Chairman C.S. Setty was quoted as saying in the release. Also Read | SBI plans to raise 45,000 cr in mega fundraising drive in FY26 Capital raise The bank said it will use the proceeds from the share issue to augment its common equity tier-I (CET-1) capital buffer, which will improve to 11.50% from 10.81% as on March 31, 2025. This capital raise will support calibrated credit growth across retail, MSME and corporate segments, it added. Life Insurance Corp (LIC) of India had participated in SBI's QIP, acquiring 6.1 crore shares for 5,000 crore, the insurer informed the exchanges post market hours on Monday. LIC said it expects to receive the shares by 23 July and for them to be listed by 24 July. Post issue, the shareholding of the insurance company in SBI will rise to 9.49% of the paid-up capital of the bank from 9.21% earlier. The latest QIP is the first one for the bank since FY18, when it had raised 18,000 crore. The issue is part of SBIs mega fund-raising plan for FY26, Mint had reported on 16 July. Looking to beef up its capital ratios, the public sector bank is looking to tap both the debt and equity markets to raise up to 45,000 crore in FY26. Also Read | SBI personal loan July 2025: Check updated rates and processing fees SBI had announced its plan for a QIP in May, and the proposal was approved by its shareholders on 13 June. The issue opened for subscription on 16 July with a floor price of 811.05. Shares of the bank ended 0.2% higher today at 824.60 on the NSE. On the day of the launch of the QIP issue, SBI had also announced board approval to raise up to 20,000 crore through Basel III-compliant additional Tier-I (AT1) and Tier-II bonds, in one or more tranches. SBI was the largest issuer of bank bonds in FY25, raising a cumulative 27,500 crore. Of this, 5,000 crore through AT1 bonds and 22,500 crore through multiple tranches of tier-II bonds. With the estimated fundraising for FY26, the public sector lender is expected to be the largest bond issuer this year, as well, as per Mints report. Against the regulatory requirement of 12.1%, SBIs capital adequacy ratio, or risk buffer, was 14.25% at the end of March, slightly lower than 14.28% a year ago. The bank still lags peers like HDFC Bank (19.6%) and Bank of Baroda (17.2%), which is the likely cause for the ongoing fund-raising drive. SBI's consolidated common equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1) improved to 11.1% as of March this year from 10.3% as of March 2022, Moodys India said in a note earlier on Monday, adding that the banks plan to raise new equity capital and capital gains from the partial sale of its stake in YES Bank will help improve the CET1 ratio further, supporting its balance sheet buffers. The ratings agency said funding and liquidity will continue to be SBI's credit strengths, as the largest bank in India with 23% deposit market share, with most funding coming from retail deposits. In May 2025, SBI had announced that it plans to sell over 413 crore equity shares of YES Bank, or 13.19% stake, to Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) for 8,889 crore. SBI's strongest retail franchise amongst Indian banks, access to low-cost deposits, and sufficient holdings of liquid government securities support its funding and liquidity, Moodys said. The ratings agency upgraded SBIs Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA to baa3 from ba1, with a stable outlook on the ratings. The government's recent proposal to amend the norms for television ratings system in India, currently monopolized by Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc), encouraging big tech and other private entities to set up their own rating agencies could spark competition and help create more credible cross-platform audience measurement systems, experts said. The current system of measuring television rating points, which indicate the popularity of TV programmes and the time slot when most viewers tune in, is used by brands to place their advertisements for maximum impact. However, TRPs are restricted only to linear TVs, meaning they gauge viewerships only for cable TVs and direct-to-home, with no insight into streaming platforms or connected TVs, making it difficult for brands to make confident ad spend decisions. The ministry of information and broadcasting's (MIB) draft amendments to the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, released on 2 July, could democratise the rating system, leading to more credible measurement systems for OTT video streaming content, too. The draft amendments are open to public feedback until 1 August. Read more: Movie theatres are back to being prime drivers of Bollywood revenue as OTT cools This move could encourage third-party agencies or tech firms to develop or licence audience measurement tools for OTT. Currently, most OTT platforms rely on internal (and opaque) analytics. A policy push could incentivize competition, innovation, and transparency, leading to more credible and cross-platform metrics," Anupam Shukla, partner, Pioneer Legal said. Benefits for advertisers Until now, viewership of web shows and films have only been tracked informally by select media consulting firms and agencies, leading to an opaqueness around what works. Although streaming platforms themselves have such data, very few, with the exception of foreign players such as Netflix, release the same. In the rare cases that they do, there is no standard metric for viewership of OTT programmes, creating an obstacle for advertisers to bet on such content, if it is streamed for free. That could change, industry experts say, with the availability of granular and verifiable viewership data, offering targeted advertising solutions based on user demographics, behavioural insights, content preferences, and viewing habits. Currently, Barc is the sole ratings provider on TV and didnt track connected TVs or OTT platforms, Bharati Wukkadada, associate professor in data science and technology at Mumbai's KJ Somaiya Institute of Management pointed out. Further, OTT platforms in India use their own measurement metrics and reporting formats. The absence of uniform standards made it difficult to compare or consolidate viewership data across platforms. Major Indian OTT services preferred to keep viewership data confidential, treating it as a competitive advantage rather than sharing it with industry bodies or advertisers, Wukkadada said. While data for OTT platforms can be tracked even now, the accuracy of the metrics remains questionable, agreed Natasha Treasurywala, partner at law firm Desai & Diwanji. With the entry of more rating agencies including those owned by the OTT platforms themselves, competition will increase, and the data will become far more reliable and authentic, she said. Calling the MIB move a shift aimed at making audience viewership measurement more accurate, transparent, and representative, Gaurav Sahay, founder partner, Arthashastra Legal, said that the OTT sector currently operates outside the framework of any government-mandated audience measurement system. It relies instead on proprietary and opaque data analytics managed internally by streaming platforms. These data sets are rarely shared with advertisers or regulators in a standardized or verifiable format. This absence of uniform measurement hinders comparability, credibility, and cross-platform audience analysis. Though the proposal primarily focuses on linear television broadcasting, it can result in consequential bearing on OTT content," Sahay said. Read more: Old Indian films find revival on OTT platforms, thanks to social media, nostalgia cravings Precision viewership data enables advertisers to move beyond traditional impression-based models to outcome-based metrics such as click-through rates, conversions, and engagement duration, thereby justifying higher ad spends and improving return on investment. Access to credible, third-party audited data could bridge the trust deficit that often exists between OTT platforms and advertisers, leading to increased programmatic ad purchases and cross-platform campaigns that combine television, digital, and mobile viewership, the experts said. Further, from a regulatory standpoint, granular audience insights also assist in internal compliance with age-appropriate rating norms, language-specific targeting, and accurate content classification. However, there is a flipside to the government's move. A senior executive at a streaming platform pointed out that like TV, this could lead to multiple parties, including OTTs themselves, claiming to provide credible data that suits their interests. "Whom would the viewer trust in this case?" the executive asked. Moreover, for significant advertising, streaming content would actually have to prove to clock in significant eyeballs in mass-market areas, which remains a challenge. Yet, many see the possibility as a positive one for the industry. This data also supports fair market practices under competition, which can help platforms meet disclosure requirements under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, ASCI (Advertising Standards Council of India) guidelines, while ensuring alignment with IT Rules, 2021, and emerging privacy requirements under DPDPA (The Digital Personal Data Protection Act) frameworks," said Gaurav Gupta, founding partner at law firm Bridge Counsels. "Just as Barc ratings help shape buying decisions for television, independently verifiable OTT metrics would enable fair ad placement and unbiased audience segmentation. Ensuring transparent pricing through such metrics is also crucial to prevent potential claims of advertiser deception." Read more: Will ZEE5's new slate of content, regional push, and micro-drama help it win the OTT war? SINGORE, - Oil prices barely budged on Monday as traders eyed the impact of new European sanctions on Russian oil supply, rising output from Middle East producers and concerns about fuel outlook as tariffs weighed on global economic growth. Brent crude futures rose 5 cents to $69.33 a barrel by 0040 GMT after settling 0.35% higher on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $67.36 a barrel, up 2 cents, following a 0.30% gain in the previous session. The European Union approved on Friday the 18th package of sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, which also targeted India's Nayara Energy, an exporter of oil products refined from Russian crude. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia had built up a certain immunity to Western sanctions. Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil producer with a stake in Nayara, on Sunday criticised the sanctions as unjustified and illegal, saying the restrictions directly threatened India's energy security. Iran, another sanctioned oil producer, is due to hold nuclear talks in Istanbul with Britain, France and Germany on Friday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday. That follows warnings by the three European countries that a failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran. In the U.S., the number of operating oil rigs fell by two to 422 last week, the lowest since September 2021, Baker Hughes said on Friday. Separately, U.S. tariffs on imports from the European Union are set to kick in on August 1, although U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday he was confident the United States could secure a trade deal with the bloc. Anthem Biosciences IPO Listing: Anthem Biosciences shares are set to make their debut in the Indian stock market today. The initial public offering (IPO) of specialized fermentation-based APIs manufacturer received stellar demand during its subscription period, and Anthem Biosciences IPO listing date is today. The public issue was open from July 14 to July 16, and Anthem Biosciences IPO allotment date was July 17. Anthem Biosciences IPO listing date is today, 21 July 2025. Anthem Biosciences shares will be listed today on both the stock exchanges, BSE and NSE. Trading Members of the Exchange are hereby informed that effective from Monday, July 21, 2025, the equity shares of Anthem Biosciences Limited shall be listed and admitted to dealings on the Exchange in the list of B Group of Securities, a notice on the BSE said. Anthem Biosciences shares will be a part of Special Pre-open Session (SPOS) on Monday, July 21, 2025, it added, and the stock will be available for trading from 10:00 AM. Ahead of Anthem Biosciences IPO listing today, investors watch out for the trends in grey market premium (GMP) in order to gauge the estimated listing price of the shares. Anthem Biosciences IPO GMP today and analysts signal a strong debut of shares in the Indian stock market today. Heres what Anthem Biosciences IPO GMP indicates: Anthem Biosciences IPO GMP Today The trends for Anthem Biosciences shares in the unlisted market remains bullish with a strong grey market premium. According to stock market experts, Anthem Biosciences IPO GMP today is 177 per share. This indicates that Anthem Biosciences shares are available at a premium of 177 apiece in the grey market than their issue price of 570 per share. Anthem Biosciences IPO Listing Price Anthem Biosciences IPO GMP today signals that the estimated Anthem Biosciences share listing price would be 747 apiece, which is at a 31.05% premium to the IPO price of 570 per share. Analysts also expect Anthem Biosciences shares to list at a strong premium to its issue price on the stock exchanges. Anthem Biosciences is expected to make a strong debut on the stock exchanges. Given the robust investor demand during the IPO particularly from institutional investors, the shares suggest a potential listing in the range of 700 or higher, translating into a premium of around 2025%, said Mahesh M. Ojha, AVP - Research & Business Development, Hensex Securities Pvt. Ltd.. According to him, from a fundamentals perspective, a premium listing appears reasonable. Harshal Dasani Business Head, INVasset PMS, noted that over the weekend, Anthem Biosciences IPO GMP rose further to 165170, indicating a likely listing price of 735740, or a listing gain of approximately 29%. This level of interest reflects extraordinary investor conviction and places Anthem in an elite bracket of biotech listings in India. With no fresh issue component, there is zero dilution and no pressure to deploy new capital. If Q2 earnings keep pace and listing trends match market buzz, Anthem Biosciences could well position itself as the poster child of Indias biotech resurgence, said Dasani. Anthem Biosciences IPO Subscription Status, Key Details The bidding for the Anthem Biosciences IPO opened on Monday, July 14, and closed on Wednesday, July 16. The IPO allotment date was July 17, and the Anthem Biosciences IPO listing date is today, 21 July 2025. Anthem Biosciences shares will be listed on BSE and NSE. The 3,395.00-crore Anthem Biosciences IPO was entirely an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 5.96 crore equity shares, issued at a fixed IPO price band of 570 per share. Anthem Biosciences IPO was subscribed 63.86 times in total, as per the NSE subscription data. The retail portion was booked 5.64 times, while the Non Institutional Investors (NII) segment was subscribed 42.36 times. The Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) category received 182.65 times subscription. JM Financial is the book-running lead manager of the Anthem Biosciences IPO, while Kfin Technologies is the registrar for the issue. JSW Steel Ltds consolidated Ebitda jumped 38% year-on-year to 7,600 crore in Q1FY26, thanks to lower raw material costs, royalties and higher volumes. Ebitda per tonne rose 26% to 11,324 when overall revenue was little changed at 43,100 crore. Prices havent recovered fully. While blended realization at 64,500 per tonne is up about 4,700 from the lows in Q4FY25, it is about 8% down year-on-year. The Indian steel industry got a push after the imposition of safeguard duty in April, which led to a notable 34% sequential drop in imports in Q1. JSWs sales grew by 9% to 6.7 million tonnes, with domestic volumes up by 12%. The management expects sales to reach 29.2 mt in FY26, up 13% year-on-year, backed by strong domestic outlook. While prices moderated in July with lower construction activity, the outlook is better. Domestic steel prices bottomed out in mid-July and should recover post-monsoon," Nuvama Institutional Equities said in an 18 July report. It projects JSWs FY26 Ebitda growth at 47%, aided by higher volumes, prices and lower raw material costs. Among sectors, consumer appliances and automotive saw robust growth of 27% and 20%, possibly in anticipation of a sales pick-up in the upcoming festive season. Also, the US business reported positive Ebitda against a loss in the previous year, thanks to 18% volume growth and higher realization. Yet, with 4% contribution to total volumes, its impact on consolidated financials was limited. Expansion projects JSW is undertaking significant capital expenditure towards capacity expansion and backward integration projects to leverage strong domestic demand. The 5 million tonne per annum (mtpa) expansion at Vijayanagar will likely provide incremental Ebitda of about 1,500 per tonne with higher operational efficiency. Besides, the commissioning of three iron ore mines this year would help it achieve 40% raw material security against 36% in FY25. JSWs total domestic capacity is expected to reach 41.9 mtpa from the current 34.2 mtpa, with the commissioning of the Dolvi phase III expansion and other smaller projects by September 2027. The FY26 capex plan is 20,000 crore, up from 14,700 crore in FY25. Still, strong cash flows helped JSW reduce its net debt-to-Ebitda to 3.2x in Q1 from 3.34x in Q4FY25. Also Read | JSW Steel eyes a resurgence in overseas operations, lower costs in India in FY26 The stock trades at an enterprise value of 9.4x FY26 estimated Ebitda, near its five-year average, Bloomberg data shows. Post-monsoon price trends and a volume ramp-up should provide further cues for the stock. After a scathing interim order on US hedge fund Jane Street, capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) sought feedback from brokers last week on ways to deepen markets and promote products more suitable for retail investors who have lost fortunes trading weekly options, according to two brokers who requested anonymity. Sebi is not against derivatives trading, but does not want short-term frenzy to overcome retail investors judgement," said one of the brokers. The regulator wanted to gauge how the index futures segment could be made more liquid, and certain tax-related issues were also discussed. These discussions were exploratory in nature, and we expressed our views." Jane Street allegedly made unlawful gains worth 4,844 crore over 21 days between August 2023 and May 2025, according to a Sebi interim order on 3 July, by taking outsized and sometimes contrary positions on index and stock futures and options to mislead market participants. The lifting of the ban is under consideration, with Jane Street having deposited the 4,844 crore in escrow as per Sebi's direction. Also Read | Sebi resolves nearly 4,500 complaints via SCORES portal in Jun According to the brokers, the discussions last week covered both cash market and the derivatives segmentwhich comprise futures and options on indices like Nifty and Bank Nifty, as well as stock futures and optionsand the stock lending and borrowing (SLB) mechanism. Email sent to Sebi went unanswered. Derivatives street While retail/HNI and foreign institutional investors are the main players in index futures like Nifty and Bank Nifty, the turnover of these products lags far behind index optionsespecially after Jane Street was barred from accessing the marketdue to differential tax treatment and the risk of unlimited losses if markets move against traders. Index options are dominated by retail and proprietary traders like Jane Street because they are cheaper and more liquid than futures. For example, the notional turnover of index options was 669 times that of index futures in June, rising to 1,062 times in just 14 days of the current month, with Jane Streets absence partly reducing the turnover. A futures contract facilitates the purchase or sale of an underlying stock or index at a fixed price for delivery on a future date. An options contract, on the other hand, gives a buyer the right to buy or sell an underlier at a fixed price for delivery on a future date. The option seller has an obligation to give or take delivery of an underlier. A senior broking official attributed the relative popularity of options over futures partly to differential tax treatment. Securities transaction tax (STT) on futures applies to total contract value, while for index options it is levied on the premium, which is a comparatively smaller amount. Also Read | Sebi moots additional MF scheme after AUM tops 50k cr For instance, sale of a futures contract attracts STT of 0.02%, while options attract 0.1% on premium value. However, as the contract value of a Nifty futures contract is 18.78 lakh (75 shares at 25,033 per share), the STT payable is 375. On Nifty options, the premium of a 25,000 put was 122 per share, translating into a contract value of 9,150 (75122), with an STT of just 9.15. The cheaper transaction cost is one of the reasons for making options more popular than futures. Since tax rates are decided by the finance ministry, only the government can enact relief at Sebis request," he explained. The difference in tax treatment, combined with the risk of unlimited losses with futures in adverse market direction, tends to push retail more toward options than futures. For example, if a participant shorts a Nifty futures at 25,000 expecting it to fall to 24,800, but it rises to 25,200 instead, the loss would be 15,000 (20075), versus a maximum of 9,150 for a buyer of a 25,000 strike Nifty put expiring Thursday. Equity futures also see more participation in the first of the three rolling months, a matter that Sebi wishes to address, per the brokers. Liquidity is thus highest only in the active month. For example, July Nifty contracts had 183,184 contracts open, versus 67,263 for August and just 6,057 for September, per data from NSE, which has a 99.8% share in equity futures. Another broker agreed and said that futures volumes had declined further with Jane Streets departure. He added that his firm had suggested refurbishing the SLB mechanism to facilitate easier participation and liquidity". SLB allows participants to borrow stocks from investors to exploit arbitrage opportunities (price differences across the cash, futures, or options segments) or to simply sell a stock if one has a bearish view. Indian rules do not allow selling a stock without holding it; selling via borrowed stock under the SLB mechanism is allowed. Also Read | Sebi proposes review of categorisation of mutual fund schemes to avoid overlap Stock is borrowed by arbitrageurs and small traders from retail and HNIs in exchange for a 125% margin and monthly interest of 0.51%. Once the tenure ends, the stock is repurchased in the market and returned to the lender, or the arrangement is rolled over. The SLBs steep margin payment is one reason for lack of traction; the others are the cumbersome process, which precludes direct digital transactions and easy rollovers or exits," said the other broker. Until Sebi restructures the mechanism, it won't really pick up; this is what we suggested." Unlike the online buying or selling of shares or derivatives, SLB transactions still require calling a broker. Arbitrage opportunities or shorting possibilities are typically communicated by the broker. Ashish Nanda, president and head of digital business at Kotak Securities, a major SLB player, who was not aware of last weeks discussions, explained that SLBM is largely used by borrowers for naked shorting or when an arbitrage opportunity arises. Naked shorting isnt easy and is done mainly through the F&O segment," he said. Arbitrage opportunities are not always available, and not all stocks have a lending opportunity at all times. Unless liquidity improves, SLBM may not become a large segment." Angel Ones halo has dimmed in the latest reported quarter. The largest listed stock broking house in India reported a massive 60% year-on-year decline in profits in Q1FY26. While its client base expanded by 31% during the quarter, revenue tanked by 19%. Thanks to EBDAT margin compressing from 38% to 22%, EBDAT saw an even sharper fall of 54% year-on-year, and profit after tax (PAT) dropped from 293 crore to 115 crore. EBDAT stands for earnings before depreciation, amortization, and taxes. As one of the top five digital brokers in India, Angels performance raises questions about the overall industrys health. Are the latest quarters troubles unique to Angel, or do they signal industry-wide stress? What drove the shrinking top line? According to its investor presentation, Angel is engaged in broking, wealth management, asset management, mutual funds, credit, fixed deposits, and insurance. But a deeper look shows that more than 60% of its revenues come from brokerage, three-fourths of which are derived from the F&O segment. Another 30% comes from interest income, which expanded by 21% over the same quarter of the last fiscal year. On the other hand, the largest component of its revenuesbrokeragedeclined by almost 25% from 917 crore in Q1FY25 to 691 crore in Q1FY26. Within brokerage, cash and commodity brokerage have increased by 13% and 50% year-on-year. This is to say that once again, the largest component, F&O brokerage, is the culprit, having reported a 33% decline over Q1FY25. To drive the point home, consider this: F&O brokerage dropped by around 260 crore year-on-year, resulting in the 267 crore decline in overall revenues. Has the regulator played a role? Following the pandemic, the number of demat accounts exploded from just about 40 million as of March 2020 to 190 million in FY25. A bulk of this increased participation came from index option trading. The seemingly unceasing appeal of derivative trading among retail investors has kept the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on high alert. Since October 2024, the regulator has introduced several measures to curb speculative option trading. Also Read | Margin pain hits HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, but one of them has a bigger buffer It narrowed down on speculative expiry-day strategies as the home ground for most retail option traders. In response, it cut down the number of expiries from one every day to only one per exchange per week. It has also increased the option contract sizes and margin requirements to weed out smaller players. Upfront premium collection and intraday monitoring of position limits have also been mandated to track and control risk better. Still, the number of demat accounts has continued to increase, almost touching 200 million in Q1FY26. But the number of active clients on the National Stock Exchange had peaked at around 50 million in December and has fallen to 48 million since then. It is important to note that Angel One has gained ground during the period, with its share of the retail equity turnover expanding from 18.9% in Q1FY25 to 19.6% in Q1FY26. But the overall drop in trading volume has overshadowed the gains in market share. According to Zerodhas cofounder, brokers across the board have witnessed trading activity decline to the tune of 30% over the past one year. He highlighted the shallow nature of retail participation in Indian equities, which leaves volumes particularly vulnerable to market conditions and regulatory interventions. At Angel One, order volume crashed by 26% on-year in Q1FY26. Zerodha suffered the first degrowth in its business since it was founded 15 years ago. Why did Angels profits drop sharply? When revenues decline but sticky fixed costs like employee expenses persist, margins see some compression. This drop in operating leverage results in profits falling slightly more than revenues. Of the 16% points compression in Angels EBDAT margin from 38% to 22% over the past year, about 8% points can be explained by declining operating leverage. A rise in employee expenses may also have contributed. The rest has come from one-off items, primarily due to regulatory impact. The company had reported ancillary transaction income worth 112 crore in Q1FY25, which is to blame for the higher base and consequent year-on-year decline. No such ancillary transaction income came to the margins rescue in Q1FY26, because of Sebis true to label" regulation. Exchanges used to charge brokers based on the turnover they brought to the table, with higher turnover being rewarded with lower charges. On Angels books, this discount in charges showed up as additional income, labelled as ancillary transaction income". Also Read | Five largecap stocks seeing strong foreign investor interest Sebis true-to-label regulation requires exchanges to charge brokers uniformly, irrespective of their turnover. Result? No more expense-less" ancillary transaction income to boost Angels profitability. This regulation impacts all large brokers, typically discount brokers like Angel One and Zerodha. Such brokers used to pass on the low exchange charges as brokerage discounts to end consumers, including retail investors. This would bring in more customers and drive up trading volumes, which would trigger the virtuous cycle leading to higher turnover and lower exchange charges. This business model is now at risk with the true-to-label regulation. Medium-term outlook appears hazy According to reports, derivatives volumes in India stand at more than 400 times the volumes in cash markets. This is the highest in the world, and Jane Streets alleged scandal exposes the lacuna that arises as a result. Furthermore, Sebis regulations have curbed volumes over the last year, but they are still high compared to two years ago. This is to say that Sebi is not done yet. More regulatory intervention is in the works, and could affect trading volumes and brokers prospects further. This could be exacerbated by the second-order effect of Sebis true-to-label regulations. If the discount broking business model goes for a toss, it will have to be seen whether client acquisition keeps up with historical trends. Angel Ones gross client acquisition has dropped to 550,000 in June 2025, a 40% decline over the same month last year. The company has been spending more than 100 crore per quarter on the Indian Premier League (IPL) spends, trying to make up for lost traction. This trend in the largest listed broker could be extrapolated across the industry. While the reportedly conservative players like Zerodha may cut back to an extent, marketing expenses are likely to go up for discount brokers going forward, leading to further compression of margins. Entry of deep-pocketed players in the industry could make matters worse for the incumbents. That said, the diversification efforts are likely to soften the blow. At Angel One, several new businesses have taken flight. Loan distribution has already witnessed robust traction during the quarter, and the prospects appear promising for the distribution of FDs, wealth management, and AMC. These currently contribute only about 3% to the business revenues, but hold potential for growth. Increasing adoption of AI at nimble brokers which pride themselves on their fintech platforms, could also prove to be gamechangers. Keeping in mind the regulatory uncertainty and cautious market sentiment, which counteract the promise of diversification, brokerages have pegged Angel Ones target price at 2,700 apiece. This is at par with current levels. For more such analysis, read Profit Pulse. Ananya Roy is the founder of Credibull Capital, a Sebi-registered investment adviser. Disclosure: The author holds shares of some of the companies discussed. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions. (Bloomberg) -- Indonesias plan to issue its first Australian dollar-denominated debt next month has piqued investor interest, though questions mount on how itll fit into local managers portfolios. Australias sovereign Kangaroo market isnt large and Indonesias issuance is not aligned with the more well known supranational debt from developed markets, according to Betashares Capital Ltd. Funds may also be unable to hold the bonds due to Indonesias low investment grade credit rating, according to Jamieson Coote Bonds Pty. An EM kangaroo bond doesnt exactly fit neatly into the traditional Australian bond sectors, said Chamath de Silva, head of fixed income at Betashares in Sydney, who may buy the bond if it gets included in major indexes. That said, if the concession is attractive, Im sure local real money might be tempted. It points to a tricky debt sale should Indonesia follow through on its plan as it seeks to diversify funding sources and deepen ties with Canberra. It would be just the second emerging-market sovereign to issue Australian dollar debt in a market that typically sees developed issuers like the Canadian provinces and supranationals such as the European Investment Bank. The planned issuance comes as Kangaroo sales hit A$41 billion this year, on track to top a record A$61 billion worth of deals last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. It follows South Korea issuing an Australian dollar bond last year. To be sure, it may be attractive for global managers who are navigating turbulent markets amid concern over US fiscal spending and Treasuries. The gap between Indonesias 10-year dollar bond and its Treasury equivalent has narrowed since May as the government pledged to maintain its debt and deficit caps. The spread fell to its lowest this year last week after Bank Indonesia eased policy to help spur growth. Well be following the deal closely, said Joshua Rout, a portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton in Melbourne, who invests in Indonesian debt. Why wouldnt you invest in bonds from debt-conscious sovereigns issuing at a spread over US Treasuries at a time when US fiscal policy looks wildly unsustainable? The issuance is likely to be targeted at sovereign wealth funds and reserve managers rather than Australian funds seeing emerging-market exposure given liquidity may be low, said Prashant Newnaha, a senior Asia-pacific rates strategist at TD Securities in Singapore. But its clear there is a significant pool of Australian dollars to tap, he said. While Indonesias planned offer is interesting, it would not meet the rating requirement of a number of our portfolios, said James Wilson, a senior portfolio manager at Jamieson Coote in Melbourne. The Southeast Asian nation is ranked Baa2 at Moodys Ratings, the second lowest investment grade. --With assistance from Prima Wirayani. (Updates with comment from Franklin Templeton in eighth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON -Oil prices settled slightly lower on Monday as the latest European sanctions on Russian oil were expected to have minimal impact on supplies, but losses were curbed by investors weighing a potential drop in diesel supplies. Brent crude futures settled down 7 cents, or 0.1%, to $69.21 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $67.20. The European Union approved on Friday the 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, which also targeted India's Nayara Energy, an exporter of oil products refined from Russian crude. "The market right now thinks that supply will still make it to market in one way, shape or another. There is not too much concern," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital in New York. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia had built up a certain immunity to Western sanctions. The EU sanctions followed U.S. President Donald Trump's threats last week to impose sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Russia agrees to a peace deal within 50 days. ING analysts said the part of the package likely to have an effect is the EU import ban on refined products processed from Russian oil in third countries, though ING said that could prove difficult to monitor and enforce. Curbing some of crude's losses during afternoon trade on Monday were investor concerns around diesel supplies resulting from the sanctions package, analysts said. "As the day has gone on, the diesel crack spread started to firm quite a bit, suggesting that the market cannot ignore the fact that any disruptions in Russian oil supply could tighten supplies of diesel and that seems to be giving us a bit of support today," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group. Low-sulphur gasoil futures' premium to Brent crude closed on Monday at $26.31, up around 3%, and marking its highest close since February 2024. "We have a bit of room for error on the crude side, barrels can be shuffled around a bit, but it is harder to shuffle around tight supplies of diesel," Flynn added. Iran, another sanctioned oil producer, is due to hold nuclear talks with Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday. That follows warnings by the three European countries that a failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran. In the United States, the number of operating oil rigs fell by two to 422 last week, the lowest total since September 2021, Baker Hughes said on Friday. "Oil-focused drilling is expected to remain at subdued levels through the balance of the year," StoneX analyst Alex Hodes said in a note on Monday. "We arent anywhere close to prices that merit a significant pullback in investment though," Hodes added. U.S. tariffs on EU imports are set to kick in on August 1, though U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday he was confident the United States could secure a trade deal with the bloc. U.S. tariffs are potentially negative for oil demand and economic activity, Again Capital's Kilduff said. Some support may come from oil inventory data if it shows tight supply, said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore. Indian stock market benchmarksthe Sensex and the Nifty 50ended lower on Friday, 18 July, marking their third consecutive weekly decline. The Nifty 50 slipped below the key 25,000 level, signalling sustained pressure on the broader market. On the day, the Nifty fell 143 points (0.57%) to close at 24,968.40, while the Sensex dropped 502 points (0.61%) to settle at 81,757.73. Over the past three weeks, the Sensex has shed nearly 2,300 points, or close to 3%, with the Nifty 50 also down around 3% in the same period. Here are three midcap stocks to buy as recommended by Raja Venkatraman: METROBRAND (Cmp 1225.90) METROBRAND: Buy CMP and dips to 1200, stop 1180 target 1350-1400 Why its recommended: Metro Brands has entered a long-term partnership with Clarks as its exclusive retail and digital partner in India and neighboring countries. The prices have dipped into the cloud support and formed a rounding pattern. The long body bullish candle seen on Friday augurs well for the prices. This has led to an improvement in the sentiment. With prices holding firm we can consider going long. Key metrics: P/E: 95.57, 52-week high: 1430.10, Volume: 67.07K. Technical analysis: Support at 1130, resistance at 1500. Risk factors: Macroeconomic and political risks , cyberattacks and weak same-store sales. Buy at: CMP and dips to 1200. Target price: 1350-1400 in 1 month. Stop loss: 1180. DALBHARAT (Cmp 2251.80) DALBHARAT: Buy CMP and dips to 2210, stop 2190 target 2450-2550 Why its recommended: Dalmia Bharat Ltd. is a cement manufacturing company. The firm engages in the business of inter alia, manufacturing and selling of cement, and refractories and generating power. The stock has been consolidating at the TS & KS bands and forming rounding patterns and inching higher. Key metrics: P/E: 222.33, 52-week high: 2257.70 Volume: 580.40K Technical analysis: Support at 2100, resistance at 2700. Risk factors: Global economic slowdown, trade tensions, and specific challenges related to the power generation sector. Buy at: CMP and dips to 2210. Target price: 2450-2550 in 1 month. Stop loss: 2190. NATCOPHARMA (Cmp 1035.10) NATCOPHARMA: Buy at CMP and dips to 980, stop 950 target 1135-1165 Why its recommended: The counter has undergone some ranging action as moving steadily higher forming a higher high higher low since mid-May 2025. On a recovery it faced a value area resistance that kept halting the upmove forming higher high and higher lows holding the TS & KS Bands for the past few days around 980 has been overcome. With steady volumes building up within the bands one can look for an encouraging upmove in the coming days. Key metrics: P/E: 10.02, 52-week high: 1638, Volume: 1.51M. Technical analysis: Support at 900, resistance at 1190. Risk factors: High Product Concentration, USFDA Warning letter and Patent disputes and litigation Buy at: above 670 and dips to 980 Target price: 1135-1165 in 1 month. Stop loss: 950. Stocks to trade today, recommended by Trade Brains Portal: Tata Communication Ltd Current price: 1,764 Target price: 2,085 in16-24 months Stop-loss: 1,600 Why its recommended: Founded in 1986, Tata Communications Ltd., a part of the Tata Group, is a global digital ecosystem facilitator that supports the fast-expanding digital economy in over 190 countries and territories. Through a wide range of services, including next-generation connectivity, cloud and security solutions, collaboration tools, media services, IoT, and customer engagement platforms, the company drives digital transformation for businesses all over the world. Tata Communications links organizations to 80% of the top cloud providers globally, and it serves 300 of the Fortune 500 firms. Consolidated operating revenue in Q1 FY26 was 5,959.85 crore, up 6.5% YoY from 5,592.32 crore in Q1 FY25. For the first quarter of FY26, the company's profit after taxes was 190.14 crore. Over the past two years, the company has maintained its growth momentum, with digital revenues increasing 29.5%, from 4,500 crore in FY23 to 9,100 crore in FY25. In India and abroad, the business experienced strong year-over-year growth in the enterprise market segment. In FY25, international enterprise increased by up to 20% year over year, while Indian enterprise rose by 8.7% year over year. Regarding acquisitions, the business is putting cost-synergy initiatives into action. Although Switch and Kaleyra have been working on this for 24 and 18 months, respectively, they are both approaching the inflection point, and it is anticipated that the synergies will become apparent in the upcoming quarters. Also, the company board approved the Inter Group Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the purchase of Solutions Infini Technologies (India) Private Ltd (also known as "SI India") from Kaleyra S.P.A. for a total of 123.6 crore. The company is foraying into new segments like digital fabric tools and AI cloud. They already exist in very promising categories like CIS (Customer Interaction Suite), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and Unified Cloud Network (UCN). The need for sophisticated cybersecurity, scalable cloud infrastructure, and robust networks is rising significantly as a result of the industry's rapid adoption of AI. Tata Communications is in a strong position to take advantage of this chance by adding innovative solutions to its portfolio in important areas. Risk factors: The rivalry for Tata Communications is intensifying in a number of areas. System integrators are growing their managed service offerings, OEMs are venturing into the cybersecurity market, cloud providers are progressively branching out into telecom services, and specialized technology suppliers are going straight for business clients. At the same time, enterprise services are becoming more and more important to traditional telecom companies. The company may see pricing challenges and a drop in its margins if it can't keep its market leadership and effectively differentiate its services. Astral Ltd Current price: 1,507 Target price: 1,875 in 16-24 months Stop-loss: 1,320 Why its recommended: Established in 1996, Astral Ltd has grown to become a market leader in the building materials industry, known for its high-quality and innovative products. As of FY25, the company has 26 manufacturing facilities and a combined production capacity of 5,49,126 (MTPA). They serve millions of consumers with excellence and dependability through a strong network of 3,610+ distributors and 2.5+ lakh dealers. The company's product line includes eight high-growth product categories that make pipes and fittings, water tanks, adhesives and sealants, bathware, specialty valves, construction chemicals, and infrastructure products. Additionally, it has entered the paint, faucet, and sanitaryware industries. By exporting to more than 31 countries, Astral is also growing its global presence and providing high-quality products. The company's revenue for FY25 was 5,832.4 crore, up 3.4% year over year from 5,641.4 crore in FY24. Ebitda increased 2.8% YoY to 987.2 crore from 960.3 crore in FY24, with the net profit of 519 crore. Paints & adhesives business revenue climbed 9.1% YoY to 1636.1 crore, while their Plumbing business revenue grew by 1.3% to 4196.3 crore YoY. In the last five years, their revenue has grown at a CAGR of 16.5%, Ebitda has grown by 10.48% while PBT grew by 7.15%. The company has invested about 1,000 crore in new plant expansions in Hyderabad, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, and Kanpur during the past two years. In addition to expanding Dahej's capacity for more chemistries in the upcoming year, the company is starting a fully automated solvent cement plant, which is the pipe-joining chemical plant. With the acquisition of Al Aziz Plastics, the company looks forward to expanding its product portfolio in domestic and international markets. In the upcoming years, Astral hopes to achieve 15% to 20% paint revenue by concentrating on quality and innovation. Risk factors: Astral's main raw materials, which include UPVC, CPVC, PPR, and HDPE resins, are derived from crude oil by-products. The price of these raw materials is directly impacted by changes in the price of crude oil globally, which has an effect on Astral's production costs and profitability. Two stock recommendations by MarketSmith India for 21 July: Buy: Jubilant Pharmova Ltd (current price: 1,232) Why its recommended:Strong financial growth and profitability, leadership in radiopharma and specialty pharma, improving debt metric. Key metrics: P/E: 39.23, 52-week high: 1,309.90, volume: 66.42 crore Technical analysis: Cup with handle pattern breakout with above average volume Risk factors: Regulatory and quality risks, segmental and operational volatility. Buy at: 1,232 Target price: 1,390 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,170 Buy: Moil (current price: 382) Why its recommended: Market leadership in manganese ore, strong link to steel sector growth. Key metrics: P/E: 19.82, 52-week high: 588, volume: 45.51 crore Technical analysis: 50-DMA bounce Risk factors: High dependence on steel sector, commodity price volatility. Buy at: 382 Target price: 430 in two to three months Stop loss: 363 Top 3 stocks recommended by Ankush Bajaj for 21 July: Buy: SAIL Ltd Current Price: 136.45 Why its recommended: Despite the broader market sell-off, SAIL managed to close over 2% higher on Friday, showing strong relative strength. The stock has taken support at the 20-day moving average on the daily chart, and the daily RSI stands at 60, indicating bullish momentum. This resilience suggests that the uptrend may continue in the near term. Key metrics: Support taken at 20-DMA; strength seen despite weak market. Pattern: Bounce from moving average with strong candle formation. RSI: Daily RSI at 60 confirms upward momentum. Technical analysis: The chart indicates strong support and the potential for a move toward 145 in the short term. Risk factors: A breakdown below 132 would invalidate the setup and invite renewed selling. Buy at: 136.45 Target price: 145.00 Stop loss: 132.00 Buy: HDFC AMC Current Price: 5,590.00 Why its recommended: On the daily chart, HDFC AMC has formed a triangle breakout pattern, supported by a strong RSI reading of 74, indicating robust momentum. On lower timeframes, the stock is trading above all key moving averages, which further strengthens the bullish outlook. A continuation of this rally could lead to much higher levels. Key metrics: Triangle pattern breakout on daily chart with high RSI. Pattern: Bullish triangle breakout with volume support. RSI: Strong daily RSI at 74 signals momentum continuation. Technical analysis: The structure suggests an ongoing breakout with scope for further upside towards 5,680 and higher. Risk factors: A fall below 5,545 would negate the breakout and weaken the trend. Buy at: 5,590.00 Target price: 5,680.00 Stop loss: 5,545.00 Buy: Glenmark Pharma Current Price: 2,225.50 Why its recommended: Glenmark Pharma has formed abullish pennant pattern on the daily chart, indicating a continuation of its recent strong uptrend. The hourly RSI is trending higher at 59, showing that momentum is picking up again after recent profit booking. The stock made new highs recently, and this consolidation phase could lead to a fresh breakout toward lifetime highs. Key metrics: Bullish pennant breakout on the daily chart. Pattern: Pennant pattern with momentum re-emergence. RSI: Hourly RSI at 59 showing strength returning. Technical analysis: The price action suggests that the stock may be ready for another leg up towards 2,280, with potential to go even higher. Risk factors: A move below 2,194 would invalidate the bullish setup. Buy at: 2,225.50 Target price: 2,280.00 Stop loss: 2,194.00 Trade Brains Portal is a stock analysis platform. Its trade name is Dailyraven Technologies Pvt. Ltd, and its Sebi-registered research analyst registration number is INH000015729. Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441. Raja Venkatraman is the co-founder of NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. Its trade name is William ONeil India Pvt. Ltd, and its Sebi registration number is INH000015543. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. India's capital markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has allowed Jane Street to resume trading after the US high-frequency trading firm deposited 4,840 crore in an escrow account last week, according to the Sebi release on Monday, 21 July 2025. Upon compliance with the directions in clause 62.1 (creation of escrow account with a lien marked in favor of SEBI, for an amount of INR 4,843,57,70,168/-), the directions stipulated in clauses 62.2, 62.3, 62.4, 62.5, 62.7, 62.8 and 62.10 of the interim order shall cease to apply, said Sebi in the official statement. Also Read | Jane Streets deposit paves way for trading resumption In compliance with the interim order, a sum of 4,843.57 crore has been credited to an escrow account with a lien marked in favour of Sebi, the regulator said. Sebi also said that they have directed the stock exchanges to closely monitor any future dealings and positions of JS Group on an ongoing basis to ensure that there is no manipulative activities. "Jane Street has further requested Sebi that, following the creation of this escrow account in compliance with Sebi directions, certain conditional restrictions imposed under the interim order be lifted and that Sebi issue appropriate directions in this regard," the statement noted. "This request is currently under examination by Sebi in accordance with the directions of the interim order," it added. Also Read | Jane Street hires Khaitan in index manipulation case Why did Sebi ban Jane Street? Earlier this month, on July 3, Sebi had barred Jane Street from buying and selling stocks in the Indian stock market as it alleged the US-based firm of manipulating Nifty and Bank Nifty indices. Sebi alleged that Jane Street bought large quantities of constituents in the Bank Nifty index in the cash and futures markets to artificially support the index in morning trade, while simultaneously building large short positions in index options, which were exercised or allowed to expire later in the day. The regulator had directed Jane Street to deposit the said amount to be able to resume trading in the Indian stock market. According to media reports, Sebi was looking to expand its probe into Jane Street's activities in other bourses as well. By Jun Yuan Yong SINGORE, - Singapore's central bank will place S$1.1 billion with three asset managers as part of a S$5 billion programme to boost the stock market, it said on Monday, with more co-investments to be announced late this year. The move comes as part of an ongoing probe into the local stock market by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and a review group set up in August last year, with the aim of strengthening the way the market functions. The fund managers selected as part of Singapore's Equity Market Development Programme are Avanda Investment Management, JP Morgan Asset Management and Fullerton Fund Management, which is owned by Singapore's sovereign fund Temasek. MAS said it considered "a range of factors" when choosing the managers, including the "alignment of their proposed fund strategies with EQDP objectives" and their commitment to contribute to the growth of Singapore's asset management capabilities. It added that more than 100 global, regional and local asset managers have shown interest in receiving funds for co-investment under the development programme, and that it will review the submissions in batches to speed up the appointment of asset managers and the deployment of capital. In February, MAS and the Financial Sector Development Fund announced that the S$5 billion programme would invest in strategies managed by Singapore-based asset managers that "have a strong focus on Singapore listed equities and broaden investor participation beyond large-cap stocks", the central bank said. Since Singapore announced that it would set up the review group to revive the stock market in August last year, the benchmark Straits Times Index had gained 23.9% as of July 18. Indian stock market benchmarksthe Sensex and the Nifty 50ended lower on Friday, 18 July, extending losses for the third straight week. The Nifty 50 slipped below the key 25,000 mark, signalling continued pressure on the broader market. Over the past three weeks, the Sensex has shed nearly 2,300 points, or close to 3%, while the Nifty 50 has also declined by around 3%. On Friday, the Nifty 50 fell 143 points, or 0.57%, to close at 24,968.40, while the Sensex dropped 502 points, or 0.61%, to settle at 81,757.73. The broader market also came under pressure, with recent outperformers in the mid- and small-cap segments witnessing a sell-off. The BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices declined 0.62% and 0.64%, respectively. Top 3 stocks recommended by Ankush Bajaj for 21 July: Buy: SAIL Ltd Current Price: 136.45 Why its recommended: Despite the broader market sell-off, SAIL managed to close over 2% higher on Friday, showing strong relative strength. The stock has taken support at the 20-day moving average on the daily chart, and the daily RSI stands at 60, indicating bullish momentum. This resilience suggests that the uptrend may continue in the near term. Key metrics: Support taken at 20-DMA; strength seen despite weak market. Pattern: Bounce from moving average with strong candle formation. RSI: Daily RSI at 60 confirms upward momentum. Technical analysis: The chart indicates strong support and the potential for a move toward 145 in the short term. Risk factors: A breakdown below 132 would invalidate the setup and invite renewed selling. Buy at: 136.45 Target price: 145.00 Stop loss: 132.00 Buy: HDFC AMC Current Price: 5,590.00 Why its recommended: On the daily chart, HDFC AMC has formed a triangle breakout pattern, supported by a strong RSI reading of 74, indicating robust momentum. On lower timeframes, the stock is trading above all key moving averages, which further strengthens the bullish outlook. A continuation of this rally could lead to much higher levels. Key metrics: Triangle pattern breakout on daily chart with high RSI. Pattern: Bullish triangle breakout with volume support. RSI: Strong daily RSI at 74 signals momentum continuation. Technical analysis: The structure suggests an ongoing breakout with scope for further upside towards 5,680 and higher. Risk factors: A fall below 5,545 would negate the breakout and weaken the trend. Buy at: 5,590.00 Target price: 5,680.00 Stop loss: 5,545.00 Buy: Glenmark Pharma Current Price: 2,225.50 Why its recommended: Glenmark Pharma has formed abullish pennant pattern on the daily chart, indicating a continuation of its recent strong uptrend. The hourly RSI is trending higher at 59, showing that momentum is picking up again after recent profit booking. The stock made new highs recently, and this consolidation phase could lead to a fresh breakout toward lifetime highs. Key metrics: Bullish pennant breakout on the daily chart. Pattern: Pennant pattern with momentum re-emergence. RSI: Hourly RSI at 59 showing strength returning. Technical analysis: The price action suggests that the stock may be ready for another leg up towards 2,280, with potential to go even higher. Risk factors: A move below 2,194 would invalidate the bullish setup. Buy at: 2,225.50 Target price: 2,280.00 Stop loss: 2,194.00 Market Wrap 18 July Indian equity markets ended in the red on Friday, 18 July, as sustained selling across key sectors continued to weigh on investor sentiment. Despite brief recovery attemptsparticularly in select defensivesbroader market momentum remained weak, leading to a negative close across major indices. The Nifty 50 declined 143.05 points, or 0.57%, to settle at 24,968.40, while the BSE Sensex shed 501.51 points, or 0.61%, closing at 81,757.73. The Bank Nifty also ended lower, down 545.80 points, or 0.96%, at 56,283.00, as late-session buying failed to offset earlier losses in financial stocks. From a sectoral perspective, the tone remained largely cautious. The Banking index slipped 0.79%, Financial Services dropped 0.67%, and the Services index declined 0.59%all reflecting profit booking and a broader risk-off mood in high-beta segments. The Metal sector stood out with a modest gain of 0.37%, offering some support to an otherwise weak market. In stock-specific action, Wipro led the gainers with a 2.25% rise, followed by Bajaj Finance and Tata Steel, which gained 1.63% and 1.17%, respectivelysupported by sustained institutional inflows and strength in metals. However, the broader undertone remained bearish. Axis Bank fell sharply by 2.75%, Shriram Finance declined 1.67%, and Bharat Electronics Ltd. dropped 1.44%, reflecting investor caution in previously strong counters. Nifty Technical Analysis Daily & Hourly The Nifty ended Thursdays session on a weak note, closing at 24,968.40, down 143.05 points or 0.57 percent, marking a clear breakdown below the psychological 25,000 mark. This close below a key level indicates a further deterioration in short-term sentiment and suggests that the selling pressure may continue in the coming sessions. View Full Image (TradingView) Technically, the index is now trading below both the 20-day simple moving average, which stands at 25,318, and the 40-day exponential moving average at 25,038. This structure signals that the upside remains capped unless the index manages to reclaim these moving averages decisively. The hourly chart also shows continued weakness, with Nifty trading below its 20-hour simple moving average of 25,137 and the 40-hour EMA at 25,101. More importantly, the index has broken down from the lower end of a rising wedge pattern, which is a bearish technical formation. This breakdown projects a near-term downside towards the 24,700 level, and if that fails to hold, the next major support lies around 24,500. View Full Image (TradingView) Momentum indicators are reinforcing this bearish bias. The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) has slipped to 43, showing a weakening trend, while the hourly RSI has fallen to 30, indicating oversold conditions and persistent intraday selling pressure. The daily MACD remains in positive territory at 38, suggesting that the medium-term trend hasn't entirely flipped bearish, but the hourly MACD has plunged to 65, confirming strong short-term downside momentum. Options data also presents a clearly bearish setup. Total Call open interest stands at 13.61 crore compared to 8.15 crore on the Put side, leading to a net difference of 5.47 crore, indicating aggressive call writing. The highest Call open interest is at the 25,200 strike, with maximum additions at 25,100, reinforcing a strong resistance zone overhead. On the Put side, while the highest OI is at the 24,900 strike, the maximum additions were at 23,050, suggesting that traders are anticipating even lower levels. Intraday changes also support this bearish stance, with Call OI rising by 6.36 crore and Put OI increasing by just 3.08 crore, resulting in a net change of 3.28 crore. Additionally, India VIX rose by 1.33% to 11.39, indicating a slight rise in market volatility and nervousness among participants. Also Read | Indias IPO boom cools in 2025 In summary, as anticipated in earlier reports, Nifty has now closed below the 25,000 mark, which has triggered a fresh wave of weakness. The index is expected to test the next support around 24,700 on the hourly chart, where a brief pause or consolidation might occur. However, a failure to hold that level could open the doors for further decline towards 24,500. Unless the index reclaims at least 25,318 and then 25,700 levels convincingly, the broader market trend remains fragile and tilted to the downside. Traders are advised to stay cautious and avoid aggressive long positions until signs of a reversal emerge Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. The Song Remains the Same The first look for Aditya Dhars Dhurandhar, which dropped last week, is a surprisingly well-put-together Bollywood promo. The action is cut to the beat of Jogi, a 2003 track by UK producer Panjabi MC. This was a remix of an incredibly catchy 1995 Punjabi folk number called Na Dil De Pardesi Nu, composed by Charanjit Ahuja. Panjabi MC kept Muhammad Sadiq and Ranjit Kaurs playful vocals, adding a big beat and a few yells. The track appeared on the same album that gave the international hit Mundian To Bach Ke. The Dhurandhar version sounds essentially like Panjabi MCs, with some further mixing and tweaking by Shashwat Sachdev. The biggest addition is a rap by Hanumankind, who made a big splash last year with Big Dawgs. Sadiq and Kaurs original vocals can scarcely be improved, and are duly retained here as well. Uday Bhatia Letting Go Its impossible not to read Jhumpa Lahiris new short fiction, Jubilee (published recently in The New Yorker), as a fragment of autobiography. The unnamed first-person narrator revisits the year when Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her jubilee. Back in 1977, she, the narrator, then a girl of 10, spent three months in London, the city of her birth, with her parents and infant sister. Her memories of that time are light and innocent, but also heavy with a tragic awarenessof the past as well as future. Inspired by writer Mavis Gallant, Jubilee could have come from Lahiris Pulitzer-winning debut collection, The Interpreter of Maladies (2000). Its an elegy to loved ones, especially to mothers, crafted with the delicate reserve that Lahiri is synonymous with. Somak Ghoshal Marley for Babies We have a pile of baby books at home which my one-year-old used to pore over in awe, but now the awe only lasts a few seconds per book. The only book that holds her for longer is Marley Springs Ahead, a touch book about a dog that my sister fortunately saved after having her child over a decade ago. Between my childs love for animals and the bright colours and different textures, Marley is definitely her favourite book. We dont go anywhere without him. Unfortunately, there arent more available in India, so Im being ultra careful with this book. I am even softer on him after discovering he is the very Marley that Marley and Me was based on, and by the same author. Dakshayani Kumaramangalam Music to the Ears Most days, the internet looks like a slow-moving dystopia to me. So it feels rare (and precious) when a platforms new features make you go, I love the internet. The recent Spotify integrations with Instagram audio and, earlier, with SoundHound are exactly that kind of rare delight. As someone who needs a background score for almost every activity, Im constantly looking up songs on SoundHound or discovering their snippets on Instagram. The plan is always to add them to Spotify later, but later often never comes. These updates change that. With just a single tap, a song moves from a fleeting moment to a permanent spot in my Liked Songs playlist on the app. Now, Spotify tracks shared on Instagram Stories play audiono more just album artmaking sharing and discovering music feel that much more fluid. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on July 21 asked whether the government would take action against officers of Maharashtra ATS (Anti-Terror Squad) who investigated the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case of 2006 after the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the case. The Bombay High Court's judgement came nearly a decade after a special court awarded the convicts capital punishment and life sentences. Also Read | Bombay HC acquits all 12 accused in 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case 12 Muslim men were in Jail for 18 years for a crime they didn't commit. Their prime life is gone. 180 families who lost their loved ones, several injured no closure for them. Will the government take action against officers of Maharashtra ATS who investigated this case ? the Hyderabad MP asked in a post on X. A bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak observed that the prosecution has utterly failed in establishing the case beyond reasonable doubts, legal news website Bar and Bench reported. The court found the statements of nearly all prosecution witnesses unreliable. The court reportedly said there was no reason for taxi drivers or people inside to remember the accused after almost 100 days of the blast. Innocent people are sent to jail, and then, years later, when they are released from jail, there is no possibility for reconstruction of their lives. For last 17 years, these accused are in jail. They haven't stepped out even for a day. The majority of their prime life is gone. In such cases where there is a public outcry, the approach by police is always to first assume guilt and then go from there, Owaisi said in the post. What is the case? On the evening of July 11, 2006, bomb blasts took place at seven different places in the Mumbai local trains within just 11 minutes. In the incident, 189 people lost their lives in blasts, while more than 827 passengers were injured. Also Read | Insulting your husband in front of friends is cruelty, says Bombay HC The bombs were placed in first-class compartments of trains from Churchgate. They exploded near the stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali. A trial court in 2015 convicted 12 people in the blasts case. The chargesheet was filed in the case in November 2006. After this, in 2015, the trial court convicted 12 accused. Of these, 5 were sentenced to death, while 7 were given life imprisonment. Mumbai: Bajaj Finance Ltd managing director Anup Saha has quit citing personal reasons, just three months after his appointment, making longtime chief Rajeev Jain once again take over the reins at the non-bank financier. Saha, who had joined Bajaj Finance in 2017, was among the three names mentioned as contenders for the top job at private lender IndusInd Bank, according to media reports. The bank has been looking for a chief executive since its former head quit following a debacle around accounting practices for its derivative portfolio. The other two names, reportedly submitted by IndusInd Bank to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for approval, include soon-to-retire Axis Bank deputy managing director Rajiv Anand and Rahul Shukla, who is taking personal time off from his role at HDFC Bank. Also Read | Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Housing Finance share prices gain post their Q1 updates Mint recently reported that while the regulator usually seeks names six months in advance as part of the approval process, given the circumstances, it could expedite its vetting. If appointed to head IndusInd Bank, it would not be Sahas first role at a commercial bank. Prior to joining Bajaj Finance, Saha spent 14 years at ICICI Bank. He has led various businesses including credit cards, mortgages, auto loans and structured finance. Saha holds an engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA from IIM Lucknow. Saha did not respond to a call and a text message seeking comment. Also Read | Cooperative banks insist on credit scores for loan approvals; farmers up in arms In March, while announcing Sahas elevation as the managing director, Bajaj Finance had said that he ensures that Bajaj Finance remains at the forefront of the industry, consistently achieving shared success and benefiting all stakeholders. In a regulatory filing on Monday, Bajaj Finance said, Consequent to the resignation Anup Kumar Saha and in the interest of continuity of management, the board, pursuant to the recommendation of nomination and remuneration committee of the company and the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, has, in addition to Rajeev Jains existing powers and roles as executive vice-chairman of the company, vested him with the powers, roles and responsibilities of management of the company and re-designated him as vice-chairman and managing director of the company for the remainder of his term i.e. till 31 March 2028. A man recently shared on social media that a landlord in Bengaluru asked for a 23 lakh security deposit for a 4BHK rental flat. The post on X (formerly Twitter) went viral, and people were shocked. Many said the amount is crazy and unfair. It has started a big conversation online about how expensive renting a home in Bengaluru has become and why no one is stopping it. 23 lakh deposit? Is Bengaluru becoming too costly to live in? The tweet has made many people ask: How did things get this bad? A 23 lakh deposit is more than enough to buy a house in many towns across India. People online reacted with anger and jokes, calling the landlord greedy. But this is not just one case. It shows a bigger problem in Bengalurus housing system. As per Business Today, a large number of Bengaluru residents, especially those in the IT sector, spend over half of their salary on rent. One software engineer, Ray, stated that even after a 7.5 per cent pay raise, he is struggling to manage his expenses as his rent rose by 10 per cent. He warned, If this continues, someday my rent will be more than my salary. Users on social media confirmed similar struggles: for many, 50 per cent or more of their take-home pay goes straight into rent, leaving almost nothing for savings or other needs. Why is this happening? Bengaluru is growing fast. Many people move there for jobs, especially in IT and tech. There is a huge demand for houses. But there are no proper rules to control rent and deposits. So, landlords ask for whatever they want, sometimes very high amounts. They say its to protect their property, but for renters, it feels unfair and too much. Social media reacts: Bengaluru landlords are the greediest! The internet exploded after a user shared a screenshot of a Bengaluru landlord demanding 23 lakh as a security deposit for a 4BHK. Many users didnt hold back, calling it a sign of broken trust, unchecked greed, and a warning for the future. Yoshik K (@AskYoshik): The fact they don't get is that Bengaluru GDP has risen due to the rise in tech. Keep behaving like this and you'll soon see the downfall. He added, Sometimes, they wont even return your deposit. I had to send a legal notice to get mine back! India's coal imports in 2024-25 fell nearly 8% to 243.62 million tonnes, leading to foreign exchange savings of over 60,681.67 crore, said G. Kishan Reddy, the Union minister for coal and mines, on Monday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister noted that the imports stood at 264.53 million tonnes in 2023-24. During 2024-25, India imported 243.62 million tonnes of coal, compared to 264.53 million tonnes in 2023-24. Due to the reduction of around 20.91 million tonnes in coal imports, there has been a forex savings of around 60,681.67 crore during 2024-25 compared to 2023-24, Reddy said. Also Read | India eyes retired coal plants for nuclear use The fall in imports comes amid the rise in domestic production. Indias coal production reached 1.047 billion tonnes in the last fiscal year, nearly 5% higher than 997.83 million tonnes in 2023-24. The minister said most of the country's coal requirement is currently met through indigenous production and supplies. The ministry of coal has set an ambitious domestic coal production target of about 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30. The focus of the government is on increasing the domestic production of coal and reducing non-essential coal imports. The ministry of coal launched the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy in February 2024 to develop infrastructure for efficient coal evacuation, considering increased coal production projection by 2029-30," he said. Also Read | Coal India plans 19 new first mile connectivity projects in FY26 The minister also outlined steps taken by the Centre to increase domestic coal production. He noted that, in addition to regular reviews by the coal ministry to expedite the development of coal blocks, the government has taken several regulatory measures in the past few years, including the enactment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021. State-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) has adopted a number of measures to increase coal production, including the adoption of new and modern technologies like mass production technologies (MPT) with the deployment of continuous miners, longwalls, and highwalls wherever feasible, he said, adding that digital transformation has been implemented on apilot scale in seven of its mega mines. IBPS PO 2025: The registration process for the Probationary Officer/ Management Trainee (PO/MT) 2025 recruitment examination ends today, July 21. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) will close the online registration window after this date. Aspiring candidates must apply for IBPS PO 2025 at ibps.in before the deadline. The application process commenced on July 1, in accordance with the schedule released in the official notification. After closing the IBPS PO application process, the Banking Institute will conduct pre-examination training and release admit cards for preliminary examinations in August. The exact exam date will be released later. IBPS PO 2025: A total of 5208 vacancies are available in the IBPS PO 2025 recruitment. What's next after IBPS PO 2025 registration Given below are key dates to remember: IBPS PO Prelims exam will be conducted in August IBPS PO Prelims result will be declared in September Mains exam admit card will be released in September or October Mains exam is scheduled for October Mains result will be announced in November Personality test is slated for November or December The last round Interview will be done in December 2025 or January 2026 Provisional allotment list will come out in January or February next year IBPS PO 2025 vacancy details A total of 5208 vacancies are being offered by the following participating banks in the IBPS PO 2025 recruitment: Bank of Baroda: 1000 vacancies Bank of India: 700 vacancies Bank of Maharashtra: 1000 vacancies Central Bank of India: 5000 vacancies Canara Bank: 1000 vacancies Indian Bank: Not reported Indian Overseas Bank: 450 vacancies Punjab National Bank: 200 vacancies Punjab and Sind Bank: 358 vacancies UCO Bank: Not reported Union Bank of India: Not reported Also Read | Indian Army vacancy: NCC Special Entry Scheme registration window closes soon IBPS PO 2025 eligibility criteria The eligibility criteria requires that the applicants must be at least 20 and not more than 30 years of age. Besides a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, the candidate must have a healthy credit history when joining the participating banks. The Bombay High Court has reportedly acquited all 12 accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case of 2006. The Bombay High Court's judgement came nearly a decade after a special court awarded capital punishment and life sentences to the convicts. A bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak observed that "the prosecution has utterly failed in establishing the case beyond reasonable doubts". They said the evidence relied by the prosecution was not conclusive to convict the accused persons. Also Read | TADA court acquits 1993 Mumbai blasts case main accused Abdul Karim Tunda According to Bar and Bench, the court found the statements of nearly all prosecution witnesses unreliable. The court reportedly said there was no reason for taxi drivers or people inside to remember the accused after almost 100 days of the blast. "The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence their conviction is quashed and set aside," the high court said. Also Read | How Mumbai blasts changed the face of terror The bench said it refuses to confirm the death penalty imposed on five of the convicts and also the life imprisonment on the remaining seven, and acquitted them. The court said the accused shall be released from jail forthwith if not wanted in any other case. About the case The Bombay High Court's judgment came19 years after the terror attack shook the city's Western Railway network. On July 11, 2006, seven blasts ripped through Mumbai local trains at various locations on the western line, killing more than 180 persons and injuring several others. The chargesheet was filed in the case in November 2006. After this, in 2015, the trial court convicted 12 accused. Of these, 5 were sentenced to death, while seven were given life imprisonment. One of the twelve accused had passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19. After the HC's judgment was pronounced on Monday, the convicts, who were produced before the court via video conference from various jails across the state, thanked their lawyers. Kriit Somaiya asks state to approach SC Former BJP MP Kriit Somaiya urged the state government to approach the Supreme Court and appeal against the verdict. The decision given by the Mumbai High Court regarding the 2006 Mumbai bomb blasts has caused great sorrow and shock, he was quoted by ANI as saying. Grounded at Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since 14 June, the British Royal Navys F-35B may soon fly back, ANI reported. On Monday, the F-35B was seen being towed into a hangar at the airport. While there were reports it might depart the same day, the exact date of its departure has yet to be confirmed The report added that the F-35B fighter jet, en route from the UK to Australia, made an emergency landing in Kerala's Trivandrum following a hydraulic system fault. The jet's issues have been rectified, and NDTV reported that a final clearance has been given to fly on Tuesday. The F-35B fighter jet, part of the UK Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, was out on a routine sortie when it developed a snag and could not land on the ship. After the jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, the Indian Air Force provided all required support and assisted in the process, including refuelling. A technical team from the UK Royal Air Force arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on 5 July to repair the F-35 B jet; however, the fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft was parked at the airport's bay for many days. Later, the jet was moved to Air India hangar where a team from the UK were brought to repair the fighter jet. Built by Lockheed Martin, F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capabilities. After the F35B jet was parked on the tarmac and soaked by the Kerala monsoon rains, several images surfaced on social media, and people made memes out of them. The Kerala Tourism Department was the first to share an image of the aircraft on social media X with a humorous caption, "Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave". New Delhi: Vacant affordable homes built under a flagship government scheme has prompted the Centre to propose a temporary halt on new projects in some cities. Inadequate infrastructure including water, sanitation, sewerage, electricity and roads is seen as the key reason for people staying away from homes built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana's (PMAY) Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical. Also read | Affordable housing financiers become market darlings after RBI rate cut The housing and urban affairs ministry (MoHUA) in a recent meeting with several states including Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh discussed the issue that is affecting the government scheme to provide all-weather pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries. Low occupancy According to data provided by the ministry to Parliament in March, out of the 118 million houses sanctioned under PMAY, about 90 million have been completed and 87.5 million occupied. "The occupancy of completed AHP houses under PMAY-U is very low particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. States and union territories need to expedite the completion of houses, infrastructure work and allotment of completed AHP houses to the beneficiaries. MoHUA has raised concerns with states and noted that unoccupancy continues due to inadequate infrastructure in several states," said a person in the know of the developments. Also read | How affordable housing in India has become unaffordable Another person said that states have also been directed to ensure occupancy of completed houses under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical in a city before starting work on new projects under PMAY-2 in the same city. The Centre has been advising states to "identify and attach" beneficiaries under the AHP vertical in the initial phase of approval to avoid unoccupancy later stage. In order to ensure better occupancy under the PMAY (Urban)-2, the government has asked states to ensure that projects under the scheme should come with basic civic amenities like water, sanitation, roads and electricity, said the first person mentioned above. The Union cabinet in August last year approved PMAY-U 2.0, under which financial assistance is committed for 10 million urban poor and middle-class families through state government and union territories to build, buy or rent a house at an affordable cost in urban areas in five years. Four verticals The central government will provide assistance of up to 2.50 lakh per house under the scheme. PMAY-U, launched in June 2015, was revamped and launched as PMAY-U 2.0. The scheme has four verticals through which beneficiaries are supported -- 'Affordable Housing in Partnership' (AHP), Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC), Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS). Under AHP, financial assistance is provided to beneficiaries from the economically weaker section for owning houses being built with different partnerships by states, union territories, public or private agencies, while under BLC, financial assistance is provided to individual eligible families to construct new houses on their own vacant land, or land provided by the government. Also read | PMAY 2.0: What is it, how to apply for housing, know eligibility & more Queries sent to the union ministry of housing and urban affairs remained unanswered till press time. "Centre has stressed the need for a case-by-case approach for addressing the occupancy challenges and reasons may differ for different projects and cities. States have also been told to ensure sufficient budgetary allocations to expedite completion of non-started houses under PMAY-U," said the first person mentioned above. The ministry has suggested geo-tagging all sanctioned houses in a time-bound manner to monitor progress. The Centre has also suggested that old central or state government-funded houses that are unoccupied are allotted to eligible PMAY-U 2.0 beneficiaries. The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted search operations at multiple locations in connection with a money laundering case where an amulet seller from Meerut managed to build an empire worth over 100 crores. The probe agency conducted search operations at 15 locations in Balrampur, Lucknow, and Mumbai, related to a money laundering case against Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin Shah, his close associate Naveen Rohra, and others. Allegations against the former amulet seller include illegal conversion, use of foreign funds, and conspiring in activities that pose a potential threat to national security, an ED statement said. The searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA) 2002. During the search operations, various incriminating documents were recovered and seized, indicating the receipt of funds from abroad and their transfer to various individuals for acquiring immovable properties, the ED statement added. Another accused held in Chhangur Baba religious conversion syndicate case Just a day ago, the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested another accused in connection with the religious conversion syndicate allegedly led by Chhangur Baba. According to an ANI report, the accused, identified as Rajesh Kumar Upadhyay, was arrested on Saturday, officials said. The arrest comes days after Jalaluddin and his close aide, Naveen, the alleged masterminds of a covert network involved in religious conversions across Uttar Pradesh and beyond, were arrested from the state. According to UP Additional Director General (ADG) of Law and Order, Amitabh Yash, the gang operated for over 15 years and used a variety of manipulative tactics, including honey-trapping, administrative pressure, targeting minors, and enlisting influential individuals to facilitate conversions. "A significant amount of foreign funding has been traced to the gang," ADG Yash had told ANI earlier. Separate rate cards existed for different types of conversions, and the money was routed through nearly 40 bank accounts. The ATS is tracking the sources of these funds. Also Read | ED arrests Ramprastha Group directors in 1,100 crore money laundering case Also Read | ED summons Google, Meta in betting app money laundering case He further stated that any properties acquired using these funds would be seized and demolished as per legal provisions. "Chhangur Baba and his main associate, Neetu alias Nasreen, will be interrogated regarding their network, financial trail, and assets. The process to seize and demolish their illegally acquired properties has begun. All individuals against whom there is evidence have been arrested. Mohammed Ahmed is also named in the case, and further investigation is underway," he added. Who is Chhangur baba? Chhangur Baba, 78, also known as Jalaluddin Shah, is accused of targeting girls from several communities and even maintained a 'rate list' for conversions, officials said. Chhangur is a term generally used for someone with six fingers. Jalaluddin is also said to have six fingers. The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Enforcement Directorate for summoning advocates to give legal advice and for representing clients during investigations, saying that the agency was crossing all limits. The SC also called for guidelines on the matter. A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case to address the implications of such actions on the independence of the legal profession, news agency PTI reported. This comes in the wake of the ED summoning senior lawyers Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal. Even if it is wrong, the communication between a lawyer and the clients is privileged communication. How can notices be issued against them? There should be some guidelines, the CJI said. They (ED) are crossing all limits, he added. While responding to submissions that recent ED notices to legal professionals like senior advocate Datar could have a chilling effect on law practice, the CJI said, Guidelines should be framed." Attempts to malign institutions The issue has been taken up at the highest level and the probe agency has been asked not to issue notices to the lawyers for rendering legal services, Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the top court. Venkataramani early on in the hearing said he had a word with the ED officials and the summons to lawyers were wrong, PTI reported. Also Read | ED probes Meta, Google over Ads for illegal betting platforms Lawyers cannot be summoned for rendering legal opinions, Mehta agreed with Venkataramani. Mehta, however, said there were attempts to malign institutions by creating false narratives. China, Turkey example cited in top court Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh explained the issue with examples of China and Turkey by saying, "India should not be going the way of other countries which cracked down on the independence of the legal profession. My lords may set it down once and for all, because the European Commission on Human Rights also has something to say. In Turkey, the entire bar association was disbanded. China also has a similar issue, he added. Advocates stressed that summoning lawyers, especially for giving legal opinions, was setting a dangerous precedent. "Otherwise it will have a chilling effect on the whole justice delivery system. Lawyers will not be able to freely advise my lords," a lawyer said. One lawyer said, If this continues, it will deter lawyers from offering honest and independent advice. A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, painted in 1931 during his historic visit to London, has been sold for 152,800 (approximately 1.75 crore) at a Bonhams auction more than double its estimated price of 50,000 to 70,000. The painting, created by British artist Clare Leighton, is believed to be the only oil portrait for which Gandhi personally sat. According to Bonhams, it had never before been offered at auction and was the top lot in the "Travel and Exploration" sale held online between July 7 and 15. Rare 1931 Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi Fetches Over 152,000 at London Auction The portrait was completed during Gandhis attendance at the Second Round Table Conference in London, where he represented the Indian National Congress to discuss constitutional reforms for India. The artist, Clare Leighton, was introduced to Gandhi by political journalist Henry Noel Brailsford, a known supporter of the Indian independence movement. The artwork remained in Leightons personal collection until her death in 1989, after which it was passed on to her family. The portrait carries a complex history; Leightons family recalled that it may have been attacked with a knife by an RSS activist during a public exhibition in 1974. Documentation attached to the frame confirms the painting was restored that same year by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory. This is not the first time a portrait of Gandhi has fetched a significant price at auction. In 2017, a rare pencil portrait of Gandhi sold for 32,500 roughly four times its estimated value. An Indian woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her flat in the Rolla area of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Saturday morning. She has been identified as 29-year-old Athulya Sekhar, originally from Kollam in Kerala. Athulyas parents have alleged dowry harassment by her husband, Satheesh. Also Read | Delhi man killed by wife and lover, Instagram chat reveal murder plot They have filed a police complaint, alleging that Satheesh strangled Athulya, kicked her stomach and hit her head with a plate between 18 and 19 July, leading to her death. They also claimed that their daughter was repeatedly harassed for not bringing enough dowry at the time of her marriage in 2014. The parents said that they had given a bike and 43 sovereigns of gold in the marriage. On the basis of the complaint, Kerala police have registered a murder case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 against Satheesh. Also Read | Newlywed woman hacks husband to death after he insists on consummating marriage Athulyas father Rajashekharan Pillai alleged that Satheesh was an alcoholic and often became violent. Once when she was physically assaulted, I was planning to take her back home. But he would apologise and she forgave him, Rajashekharan said. Athulya leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter. According to media reports, Satheesh has denied involvement in Athulyas death and said he did not believe she would die by suicide. He too wanted to know what happened to his wife, he added. Athulyas death is mysterious Insisting that Athulyas death was suspicious, Rajashekharan said: I dont believe that my daughter will die by suicide. She shares a very intimate relationship with her daughter. Her death is mysterious. We have to find out what exactly happened to her. He is an alcoholic. He always gets violent. She bore all the torture for her. Earlier, such issues had also happened, and a case was filed with the police. We want to know what exactly happened to her. Her family has also released videos showing Athulya with visible injury marks and her husband appearing to lift a plastic stool to hit her. The tragic incident comes days after the death of another Kerala woman and her 16-month-old daughter in Sharjah. In an effort to prevent unauthorised individuals from misusing advocates' attire, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association has issued a notice banning clerks, litigants, and the general public from wearing black coats with white shirts and black trousers within the court premises, reported Bar and Bench. The notice also stated that any clerk, litigant, or member of the general public found wearing the advocate's attire will be presumed to be a tout. Also Read | Denver judge fines MyPillow lawyers over AI-generated fake citations It is hereby notified that no clerk, litigant, or member of the general public is permitted to wear a white shirt, black pants and black coat during their visit to the Court Complex. Anyone found violating the said notification shall be treated as a tout and appropriate action under law shall be initiated against the violator, including filing of formal complaint against such persons, the notice issued by the Bar Association Joint Secretary Anshu Mahajan said on 19 July. The Bar Association further said that the traditional black-and-white dress is a mark of professional identity exclusive to lawyers and should not be misused or imitated by unauthorised individuals. The development comes after concerns were raised over impersonation and unauthorised conduct in the court complex. The Bar Association has also asked advocates to ensure that their interns maintain decorum by wearing a proper uniform, including a black necktie, while strictly refraining from wearing the white neck band, associated with practising lawyers. ED crossing all limits: SC on agency summoning lawyers for giving legal advice The Supreme Court said on Monday that the Enforcement Directorate is crossing all limits. The Court expressed serious concern over the agency summoning advocates to offer legal advice or represent clients during investigations. Also Read | Lawyers Say New Evidence Challenges Trump on El Salvador Prisons It also called for guidelines on the matter. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case to address the implications of such actions on the independence of the legal profession. Heavy rain lashed parts of Mumbai, adding to the ongoing weather-related challenges in the city. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), more rainfall is expected over the next 48 hours, accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms. The continuous downpour has already led to waterlogging in several areas, causing severe traffic congestion on major routes. According to the data released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on July 19, the combined water stock in the seven reservoirs supplying Mumbai has reached 81.86% of their total capacity, totalling 11,84,796 million litres. Mumbai weather forecast The weather forecast for the week indicates that Mumbai will continue to experience rainfall. On Monday, skies are expected to remain cloudy with moderate showers during the day. Although conditions may feel slightly cooler, humidity will persist. Tuesday will likely bring more moderate rain under a generally overcast sky, with mild temperatures and steady humidity levels. Rain is set to continue on Wednesday, accompanied by consistent cloud cover and manageable temperatures. Showers are also expected on Thursday, with damp conditions prevailing, though no severe weather warnings have been issued. Many states and Union territories have seen normal rainfall, which means rainfall was within 19 per cent above or below the normal range. These include Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Goa, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Sikkim and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The monsoon is crucial for India's agriculture sector, which supports the livelihood of around 42 per cent of the population and contributes 18.2 per cent to the GDP. The Enforcement Directorate on Monday issued summons to actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda and Laskhmi Manchu for questioning pertaining to an online betting case, officials said. All four actors summoned by the probe agency have been accused of promoting illegal betting apps on social media platforms. Rana Daggubati has been summoned to appear for questioning on 23 July, Prakash Raj on 20 July, Vijay Deverakonda on 6 August, and Lakshmi Manchu on 13 August. The ED has taken cognisance of as many as five state police FIRs to register its case against these actors and a number of other celebrities and social media influencers, as reported by PTI. What is the case against them? The ED had earlier this month filed a money laundering case against 29 celebrities, including Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Deverakonda, and Manchu. The case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to a PTI report, the ED's action was initiated after observing that a diverse group of individuals promoted betting platforms, effectively encouraging users to engage in illegal online gambling. The report, quoting sources, also said that these outlets are alleged to have generated illicit funds worth crores of rupees through illegal betting and gambling. Also Read | ED probes Meta, Google over Ads for illegal betting platforms Sources also said that these celebrities are suspected to have endorsed online betting apps like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, Lotus365, etc., in lieu of getting celebrity or endorsement fees. Sources added that some of these "well-known" persons had earlier stated that they did not know the exact functioning of the apps and products dished out by them, and claimed they did not associate themselves with these platforms for any wrongdoing or illegal activity, like betting. Meta, Google officials to depose on July 28 Executives of tech giants Meta and Google did not depose before the ED as scheduled on Monday and have now been given fresh summons for 28 July in a money laundering case linked to promotion of "illegal" online betting and gambling platforms, official sources said. It is understood that the representatives of the two companies sought deferment of the 21 July summons, saying they need time to collect relevant information and documents before they present themselves for questioning and recording of their statements at the federal probe agency, PTI reported. Sources said the executives have been given a one-week extension and asked to depose on 28 July. The federal agency is probing multiple platforms hosting illegal betting and gambling links, including instances of advertisements placed for them on various Internet-based social media outlets and app stores. In a surprising move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday tendered his resignation from the post, on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Dhankhar sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, stating that he was stepping down with immediate effect to prioritise health care, and mentioned Article 67 (a) of the Constitution. To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution, reads Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation letter. Dhankhar, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, resigned hours after he presided over the first sitting of Rajya Sabha as chairperson during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that began on July 21. Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till 2027. Also Read | Full text of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation letter What is Article 67(a)? Article 67(a) of the Indian constitution allows the Vice President to resign voluntarily before the end of their five-year term by submitting a written resignation to the President. The article in question states that a Vice-President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office. Jagdeep Dhankhar had assumed the role of the Vice President in August 2022. As per the official term of five years, his tenure would have come to end in 2027. Dhankhar, however, by invoking Article 67(a), tendered his resignation two years before the end of tenure. Also Read | Jagdeep Dhankhar is not the first Vice President to resign midterm Dhankhar expresses gratitude Jagdeep Dhankhar, in his resignation letter, expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Union Cabinet of Ministers. He also said he felt proud to have been a part of India's development as an economic power and as a global entity. "As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharat's global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future," he said in the letter. Kapil Sibal reacts to Dhankhar's resignation Rajya Saba MP Kapil Sibal said he was saddened by Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, and recounted his experience of working with the Vice President. Sibal said he knew Jagdeep Dhankhar for 30-40 years, and described his personal rapport with the VP as warm and respectful, marked by legal camaraderie and shared moments at family events. Despite differing political views, Sibal said they maintained mutual respect, and Dhankhar often accommodated him generously in parliamentary proceedings. He wished Dhankhar good health and a long life. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin was rushed to Chennai's Apollo Hospital after he experienced mild giddiness during a morning walk. According to the hospital, the 72-year-old was admitted for evaluation and necessary diagnostic tests. Apollo Hospitals' medical services director Dr Anil BG issued a statement in this regard. The press release dated July 21 states that Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had mild giddiness during his routine morning walking. He has been admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai for evaluation of his symptoms and the necessary diagnostic tests are being done. Also Read | Karunanidhi's eldest son MK Muthu passes away at 77 in Chennai Earlier in the day, MK Stalin greeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as he turned 83 on Monday. In a post on X, he stated, "Warm birthday greetings to @INCIndia President Thiru @kharge avaru. You have been pivotal in strengthening #INDIA by standing firm against forces that seek to sow division and weaken our unity. Wishing you enduring resolve, good health, and wisdom as you continue to uphold the dignity and collective will of the people." Anwhar Raajhaa joins DMK A Hindustan Times report, quoting people familiar with the matter, said CM Stalin went to the hospital after attending a programme at Anna Arivalayam, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) headquarters in Chennai, where former All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) organising secretary A Anwhar Raajhaa joined the DMK. As Anwhar Raajhaa arrived at the DMK headquarters, the AIADMK expelled him from the party. Raajhaa, sceptical of the BJP, expressed concerns over the saffron party's growing influence in Tamil Nadu politics. Criticising the BJP, he alleged that the JP Nadda-led party's agenda is to destroy the AIADMK and then fight against the DMK. Udit Pradhan, the chief of Odisha's National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress party, has been arrested in connection with an alleged rape case of a 19-year-old in Bhubaneshwar after the victim filed a complaint. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Mancheswar Police Station. According to the police, the incident occurred on March 18 night when the accused allegedly slipped an intoxicating substance into the girls drink before committing the offence, PTI reported. The incident is reported to have taken place at a hotel in Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar. There has been an allegation by a girl student about giving an intoxicated substance in a drink and then of rape in a hotel against one Udit Pradhan. On the basis of the report submitted by the victim, FIR has been registered at the Mancheswar Police Station and the accused Udit Pradhan has been arrested, ANI quoted the police as saying. A PTI report citing police noted, The accused has been booked under various provisions, including rape and criminal intimidation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The woman also said that Pradhan warned her she would face serious trouble if she told anyone about the incident, the officer asserted. What does the complaint say? In her complaint, the student stated that she met two friends at Bhubaneswar's Master Canteen Chowk on March 18. While they were sitting and talking in a car, another man joined them. He presented himself as Udit Pradhan, the president of the Odisha unit of the NSUI. He sat next to me and touched me inappropriately. They then took me to a hotel, checked into a room, and started drinking. I don't drink, so I refused. Udit Pradhan offered me a glass of a cold drink. When I drank it, I started feeling dizzy and asked them to drop me home. I then passed out, NDTV quoted her as saying. She added, When I regained consciousness, I found Udit Pradhan lying next to me. I felt pain and realised something wrong had happened to me. He will be produced in the court on Monday afternoon," Bhubaneshwar DCP Jagmohan Meena told TOI Also Read | BJP Prabhu Chauhan's son booked on rape charges after promising marriage Twenty-five-year-old Samantha Kimene from Ireland's Tipperary died last weekend in Spain's Tenerife weeks after collapsing at work, reported People.com on Sunday, quoting the Irish Mirror. The report added that Kimene had collapsed at work three weeks ago and was taken to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with leukaemia and COVID-19. Her uncle Arturs Kimens, with whom she was living at the time, said that Kimene had begun treatment, but it was "too late." "She got the diagnosis too late. What happened was, they were just trying to do the treatment for her, and it was unsuccessful because her body couldn't take it," he told the Irish Mirror. "She had COVID as well and the virus, or whatever it was, spread through her organs and just... she passed away, unfortunately," he added. Arturs also stated that Kimene's mother Inese, and he were in Tenerife to make arrangements to repatriate her to Ireland. Kimene has had a chance to meet some of the friends his niece made in her new home while they were on the Spanish island of Tenerife. "All the people here that I met, that she was working with, they're in absolute devastation. They're devastated that shes gone, they cant believe it," Arturs Kimens said. He added, "And she meant everything to me. I loved her very much and Im going to miss her." GoFundMe fundraiser: He even had set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to support Kimene's family. "Please help us raise the funds to bring [her] body back to Ireland, back home for [the] funeral," he wrote. Until Saturday, the GoFundMe has raised more than $25,000. Paying tribute to Kimene, her employer, Paddy O'Kelly's Irish bar in Tenerife, posted a photo of the 25-year-old posing on a balcony in a black dress on Instagram. They wrote, "Its with a heavy heart that our colleague and friend, Sam, has sadly passed away. She was a valued part of our team and will be deeply missed." "A beautiful and kind human with the biggest smile," the message continued. "Were still in shock and heartbroken . Please keep her family in your thoughts during this difficult time." Paddy O'Kelly's directed people to her uncle's GoFundMe and also said the pub would be organizing a fundraiser of its own, added the People.com. Alaska Air Group Inc. resumed flight operations Monday after a major IT outage forced the temporary grounding of its entire fleet, including regional affiliate Horizon Air. The disruption, which lasted several hours, was caused by a failure at the airlines data centers. We're working to get our operations back on track today, the airline said in a statement AFP reported, after lifting the ground stop. The issue was traced to what the carrier described as a critical piece of multi-redundant hardware at its data centers. Dozens of flights cancelled The technical fault led to widespread cancellations and delays. As of midday Monday, 83 Alaska Air flights and 22 Horizon Air flights were canceled, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Since Sunday evening, we've had more than 150 flight cancellations, including 64 cancellations today, said the airline, which ranks as the fifth-largest U.S. carrier. Additional flight disruptions are likely as we reposition aircraft and crews. Issue not linked to cybersecurity The disruption began around 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday and lasted roughly three hours. While the timing coincided with Microsofts warning about active cyberattacks targeting business servers, Alaska Airlines ruled out foul play. Its not related to any other current events, and its not a cybersecurity event, the airline clarified, adding that it is working to replace the failed hardware. Safety not compromised Despite the widespread delays, Alaska Airlines emphasized that flight safety was never at risk. The safety of our flights was never compromised, the company said in a public update. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and warned it would take time to normalize operations: It will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal. Second major outage in a year This marks the second IT-related grounding for Alaska Air in just over a year. In April 2024, the carrier briefly suspended flights during a software update affecting systems used to calculate aircraft weight and balance. That incident occurred just months after a Boeing door plug blew out mid-flight, triggering heightened scrutiny of Alaska Airs operations and its fleet safety standards. Also Read | Air India flight catches fire after landing at Delhi airport, aircraft grounded US domestic carrier Alaska Airlines has resumed all operations after an IT outage caused temporary gounding of its entire fleet on 21 July (late 20 June US time), as per a Reuters report. The three hour disruption is the second time that the airline has halted operations in just over a year, it added. The company requested a system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights at around 8 p.m. Pacific on Sunday (0300 GMT on Monday) after it said that an outage impacted its systems, and lifted the ground stop by 11 p.m. Pacific, the carrier said. Alaska Airlines' ground stop: What happened? Earlier in the day, the airline had requested a ground stop for all its mainline aircraft, Reuters reported on 21 July (late 20 June US time), citing the status page of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company also requested ground stops of all Horizon Air flights, the regional subsidiary operating Alaska Airlines flights, the FAA's advisory notice showed, an AFP report said. The FAA status page also showed that Alaska's mainline aircraft's ground stop impacted all destinations but did not give a reason for the move. However, in its own update, Alaska Airlines said that it experienced an IT outage that is impacting our operations. It did not specify the nature of the outage or give out details. IT Outage: What has Alaska Airline said? In an emailed statement to Reuters, Alaska Air Group said: At approximately 8 PM Pacific on Sunday (0300 GMT on Monday), Alaska Airlines experienced an IT outage that's impacting our operations. We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights. The statement added that the airline expects residual impacts to its flight operations throughout the evening, but did not give more details, the report added. The US FAA website did not clarify the reason for the request and the FAA did not immediately respond to Reuters queries outside of business hours, the report added. About Alaska Air Group troubles According to its website, the US-based Alaska Air Group maintains an operational fleet of 238 Boeing 737 aircraft and 87 Embraer 175 aircraft. Earlier in June 2025, the Group-owned Hawaiian Airlines said that some of its IT systems were disrupted by a hack. Alaska Air Group said it was still determining the financial impact of the Hawaiian Airlines hack. In April 2024 too, Alaska grounded its entire fleet due to an issue with the system that calculates the weight and balance of its planes. Tech companies warn of hacking troubles: Related? The Reuters report noted that this development comes as tech majors such as Google and Palo Alto Networks have warned of the Scattered Spider hacking group's interest in the aviation sector. On July 20, Microsoft in a separate statement said there were active attacks on its server software used by government agencies and businesses, the report added. Alaska Air did not immediately respond to whether the outage was related to the Microsoft announcement. Former US President Barack Obama joined wife Michelle and brother-in-law Craig Robinson on a recent episode of the IMO podcast to share insights on raising emotionally intelligent boys and building inclusive communities for the next generation. The podcast featured a question from a new mother of a one-year-old son, asking how to raise emotionally competent men in a world that focuses heavily on empowering girls. What can we do to change the fact that we raise our girls and we love our boys? she asked. In response, Barack Obama offered candid reflections on raising boys to recognize and resist troubling online ideologies, and emphasised the importance of broader male role models. Obama: Boys need more than just one male role model Obama recalled his college days, crediting a gay professor as an influential figure in his development. I had a gay professor in college, who became one of my favourite professors, he said. He was a great guy and would call me out when I started saying stuff that was ignorant. You need that to show empathy and kindness. The former president stressed the need for boys to see different expressions of masculinity. Thats one of the things that I think a lot of times boys neednot just exposure to one guy, one dad, no matter how good the dad is. He cant be everything, Obama noted. You need that person in your friend group Obama argued that having LGBTQ friends helps men become better fathers and role models by fostering empathy and inclusiveness. You need that person in your friend group so that if you then have a boy who is gay or non-binary or whatever, they have somebody they can go, Okay, Im not alone in this, he said. That, I think, is creating that community. I know its corny, but thats what they need. Criticism of progressive messaging on boys While praising efforts to uplift girls, Obama critiqued progressives for overlooking boys. I will say, as quote-unquote progressives, Democrats, progressive parents, enlightened ones, weve made that mistake sometimes in terms of our rhetoric, he said. Were constantly talking about whats going on with the boys instead of whats right with them. And thats been a mistake. He added that people are beginning to recognise this imbalance. Many ways to be a man Obama also reflected on evolving ideas of masculinity, noting positive change among younger men while cautioning against abandoning all traditional values. Its promising that young men are starting to realize there are many different ways of being a good, strong, successful, happy man, he said. Still, he lamented that some of the good stuff from the old models, like chivalry, we just threw out. Also Read | Barack and Michelle Obama laugh off divorce rumors in first joint comments The Department of Justice has received, as per multiple reports, a criminal referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who alleges that the Obama administration engaged in a treasonous conspiracy to undermine Donald Trumps 2016 election win. Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama and his top intelligence team including former DNI James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, and FBI Director James Comey of orchestrating a treasonous conspiracy. Americans will finally learn the truth about how in 2016, intelligence was politicised and weaponised... to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Donald Trump, Gabbard wrote. Explosive claims against Obamas National Security Council Gabbards referral cites a December 9, 2016, meeting at the Obama White House, attended by Clapper, Brennan, Comey, and other top officials. According to her, Obama directed the Intelligence Community (IC) to craft a new intelligence assessment on Russian election interference. "The next day (December 9, 2016), top national security officials, including FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan and DNI James Clapper, gathered at the Obama White House to discuss Russia. Obama directed the IC to create a new intelligence assessment that detailed Russian election meddling, even though it would contradict multiple intelligence assessments released over the previous several months," Gabbard said in her statement. Leaked intel and media manipulation alleged Gabbard also accused Obama-era officials of orchestrating a media campaign to push the interference narrative. She claims classified details were leaked to major outlets to suggest that Russia hacked the election for Trumps benefit. Obama officials immediately leaned on their allies in the media to advance their falsehoods, she stated. Anonymous IC sources leaked classified information... asserting Russia had intervened to hack the election in Trumps favor. Call for full investigation and prosecution In her statement, Gabbard demanded that every person involved in this conspiracy be investigated and prosecuted by the DOJ. No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, she declared. The American peoples trust in our democratic republic depends on it. The man convicted of killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979 was awarded a new trial Monday as a federal appeals court overturned the guilty verdict in one of the nations most notorious missing child cases. Pedro Hernandez has been serving 25 years to life in prison since his 2017 conviction. He had been arrested in 2012 after a decadeslong, haunting search for answers in Etans disappearance on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop. The appeals court overturned the conviction because of an issue involving how the trial judge handled a jury note during Hernandez 2017 trial his second. His first trial ended in a jury deadlock in 2015. The ruling says that the judges concluded that the state trial courts instruction was not only clearly wrong but manifestly prejudicial The court ordered his release unless the state gives him a new trial within a reasonable period to be set by the lower court judge. Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney, said We are reviewing the decision. Harvey Fishbein, an attorney for Hernandez, declined to comment when reached Monday by phone. Hernandez was a teenager working at a convenience shop in Etans Manhattan neighborhood when the boy vanished. Hernandez, whos from Maple Shade, New Jersey, later confessed to choking Etan. But his lawyers said he was mentally ill and his confession was false. Etan was among the first missing children pictured on milk cartons. His case contributed to an era of fear among American families, making anxious parents more protective of kids who many once allowed to roam and play unsupervised in their neighborhoods. Through this painful and utterly horrific real-life story, we came to realize how easily our children could disappear, said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., a Democrat who made a 2009 campaign promise to revisit the case if elected. European Union and US negotiators are heading into another week of intensive talks, as they seek to clinch a trade deal by Aug. 1, when US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit most EU exports with 30% tariffs. Officials in Brussels are prepared to stomach an unbalanced agreement that favors the US if thats what is required to break the impasse before the deadline. But the two sides have yet to yield a decisive breakthrough despite an earlier round of negotiations in Washington last week, according to people familiar with the matter. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other Podcast Platforms. Because of that the EU is also stepping up preparations to retaliate in a scenario where there is no agreement. EU envoys are set to meet as early as this week to formulate a plan for measures to respond to a possible no-deal with Trump, whose tariff negotiating position is seen to have stiffened ahead of the deadline. The US is now seen pushing for a near-universal tariff on EU goods higher than 10%, with increasingly fewer exemptions limited to aviation, some medical devices and generic medicines, several spirits, and a specific set of manufacturing equipment that the US needs, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. A spokesperson for the European Commission, which handles trade matters for the bloc, said they had no comment to make on the ongoing negotiations. The two sides have also discussed a potential ceiling for some sectors, as well as quotas for steel and aluminum and a way to ring-fence supply chains from sources that oversupply the metals, the people said. The people cautioned that even if an agreement were reached it would need Trumps sign off and his position isnt clear. I am confident well get a deal done, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday. I think all these key countries will figure out it is better to open their markets to the United States of America than to pay a significant tariff. Lutnick added that he had spoken to European trade negotiators early Sunday. Trumps Letter The US president wrote to the EU earlier in the month, warning that the bloc would face a 30% tariff on most of its exports from Aug. 1. Alongside a universal levy, Trump has hit cars and auto parts with a 25% levy, and steel and aluminum with double that. Hes also threatened to target pharmaceuticals and semiconductors with new duties as early as next month, and recently announced a 50% levy on copper. In all, the EU estimates that US duties already cover 380 billion , or about 70%, of its exports to the US. Before Trumps letter, the EU had been hopeful it was edging toward an initial framework that would allow detailed discussions to continue on the basis of a universal rate of 10% on many of the blocs exports. The EU has been seeking wider exemptions than the US is offering, as well as looking to shield the bloc from future sectoral tariffs. While its long accepted that any agreement would be asymmetrical in favor of the US, the EU will assess the overall imbalance of any deal before deciding whether to pull the trigger on any re-balancing measures, Bloomberg previously reported. The level of pain that member states are prepared to accept varies, and some are open to higher tariff rates if enough exemptions are secured, the people said. Any agreement would also address non-tariff barriers, cooperation on economic security matters, digital trade consultations, and strategic purchases. Move Quickly With the prospects of a positive outcome dimming and the deadline looming, the EU is expected to start preparing a plan to move quickly if it cant reach a deal, said the people. Any decision to retaliate would likely need political sign-off from the blocs leaders because the stakes are so high, the people added. Countermeasures of any substance would likely provoke an even wider transatlantic trade rift, given Trumps warnings that retaliation against American interests will only invite tougher tactics from his administration. The bloc has already approved potential tariffs on 21 billion of US goods that could be quickly implemented in response to Trumps metals levies. They target politically-sensitive American states and include products such as soybeans from Louisiana, home to House Speaker Mike Johnson, other agricultural products, poultry, and motorcycles. The EU has also prepared a list of tariffs on an additional 72 billion of American products in response to Trumps so-called reciprocal levies and automotive duties. They would target industrial goods, including Boeing Co. aircraft, US-made cars, and bourbon whiskey. Its also working on potential measures that go beyond tariffs, such as export controls and restrictions on public procurement contracts. Anti-Coercion Tool Bloomberg reported last week that a growing number of EU member states want the bloc to activate its most powerful trade tool, the so-called anti-coercion instrument , against the US should the two sides fail to reach an acceptable agreement and Trump carries through with his tariff threats. The ACI would give officials broad powers to take retaliatory action. Those measures could include new taxes on US tech giants, or targeted curbs on US investments in the EU. They could also involve limiting access to certain parts of the EU market or restricting US firms from bidding for public contracts in Europe. The anti-coercion tool was designed primarily as a deterrent, and if needed, a way to respond to deliberate coercive actions from third countries that use trade measures as a means to pressure the sovereign policy choices of the 27-nation bloc or individual member states. The commission can propose the use of the ACI, but its up to member states to determine whether theres a coercion case and if it should be deployed. Throughout the process, the EU would seek to consult with the coercing party to find a resolution. Member states were briefed on the status of trade talks with the US on Friday. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Harvard University will urge a federal judge on Monday (July 21) to restore nearly $2.5 billion in canceled federal research grants and halt further efforts by the Trump administration to cut off funding. The hearing before US District Judge Allison Burroughs marks a pivotal moment in a mounting legal clash between the world-renowned university and the White House. Harvard, the countrys oldest university, says hundreds of critical research projects from cancer treatments to infectious disease control are now at risk. This case involves the Governments efforts to use the withholding of federal funding as leverage to gain control of academic decisionmaking at Harvard, the university stated in its lawsuit. All told, the tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the Government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institutions ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and innovative solutions. White House says schools must crack down on antisemitism The Trump administration argues the funding cuts are justified and not retaliatory. The Trump administration's proposition is simple and commonsense, said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields. Dont allow antisemitism and DEI to run your campus, don't break the law, and protect the civil liberties of all students. According to Fields, Harvard failed to comply with demands from a federal antisemitism task force in an April 11 letter that called for sweeping changes in governance, hiring, admissions, and academic programming. Harvard calls cuts retaliatory Harvard says it has taken meaningful steps to support Jewish and Israeli students, who faced what President Alan Garber called vicious and reprehensible treatment following the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. However, the school contends that the administrations demands extended well beyond concerns about antisemitism. The administrations efforts go far beyond addressing campus safety, Garber said, adding they are an unlawful attempt to regulate the intellectual conditions at Harvard by controlling who we hire and what we teach. Court clash over jurisdiction, academic freedom Judge Burroughs is being asked to declare the grant cancellations unlawful. The Trump administration, however, argues that Burroughs lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, asserting that grant contracts can be revoked if projects dont align with federal policy. In response, Harvard emphasised the human and national costs: The government fails to explain how the termination of funding for research to treat cancer, support veterans, and improve national security addresses antisemitism, the university said in court filings. Federal crackdown goes beyond research grants Research funding is just one front in a broader effort by the Trump administration to pressure the university. The administration has: Sought to bar international students from attending Harvard Threatened the schools accreditation Increased its endowment excise tax from 1.4% to 8% as part of Trumps budget bill Formally accused Harvard of tolerating antisemitism, a finding that could jeopardize all federal funding Garber warned that the cumulative financial impact could strip Harvard of nearly $1 billion annually, leading to layoffs and a hiring freeze. Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, claimed in a new interview that his father was taking the prescription sleep aid Ambien in the days leading up to his disastrous 2024 debate against Donald Trump a revelation not previously reported. Hes 81 years old. Hes tired as s--t. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, Hunter Biden said during a more than three-hour appearance on the Channel 5 YouTube show with host Andrew Callaghan. Hunter insisted the medication and an exhaustive travel schedule contributed to his father's faltering performance at the June 27 debate that ultimately led to Biden ending his re-election bid. Medical records dont list Ambien While Hunter claimed his father was on Ambien before the debate, the drug was not mentioned in any of Joe Bidens public medical records. A note released by Dr. Kevin OConnor following Bidens physical exam on February 28, 2024, listed six medications none of which included Ambien. Hunter did not specify how long the former president was on Ambien or who prescribed it. Inside the debate fallout Hunter provided his version of events leading up to the fateful debate, citing the president's grueling schedule and age as contributing factors. I know exactly what happened in that debate, Hunter said. He flew around the world basically the mileage that he could have flown around the world three times. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like hes a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every .... story that anybody wants to tell. During the televised showdown, Joe Biden appeared confused, struggled to articulate, and made multiple gaffes performance issues that set off a wave of Democratic panic and public calls for him to drop out of the race. Targeting Clooney, Carville, Axelrod In the same interview, Hunter lashed out at prominent Democrats who urged his father to step aside, including actor George Clooney, strategist James Carville, and former Obama adviser David Axelrod. Hunter Biden has denied any involvement with a bag of cocaine found in the White House in 2023, calling the accusation baseless during a recent interview with Channel 5, a YouTube channel hosted by Andrew Callaghan. I have been clean and sober since June of 2019. I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and Im incredibly proud of that, Hunter Biden said. He also dismissed the idea that he would bring drugs into one of the most secure buildings in the world. Why would I bring cocaine into the White House and stick it into a cubby outside of the situation room in the West Wing? he said. FBI reopened case citing public interest The interview follows a renewed push by the FBI to investigate high-profile unresolved cases. In May 2025, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that the bureau would reopen several investigations that garnered public interest, including the cocaine incident. Although the Secret Service conducted a months-long probe using advanced forensic techniques, the case was closed in July 2023 after investigators failed to identify a suspect. On July 12, the Secret Service received the FBIs laboratory results, which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons, the agency said in a statement. Trump speculates, Hunter responds President Donald Trump previously speculated in a media interview that the cocaine could belong to either Joe or Hunter, without presenting evidence. Hunter Biden, the younger son of former President Joe Biden, has been a frequent target of Republican scrutiny over his foreign business dealings, which he denied once again in the interview. Gun conviction and Presidential pardon In 2024, Hunter Biden was convicted on three federal felony gun charges tied to his 2018 firearm purchase while addicted to drugs. He was found guilty of lying on the application form and of illegally possessing a weapon for 11 days. Before leaving office, President Joe Biden issued a controversial pardon for his son, covering all potential federal crimes between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. The White House had previously stated President Biden would not use his pardon power to benefit his family. The decision marked a major reversal. On Bidens debate performance: Hes tired as shit Hunter Biden also addressed his fathers disastrous 2024 debate against Donald Trump, which eventually led to the then President withdrawing from the race after intense internal pressure from the Democratic Party. Hes 81 years old, hes tired as shit. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, Hunter said in the interview. He gets up on the stage and looks like hes a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every ... story that anybody wants to tell. In a freak accident, a former New York City official sustained second degree burns on her face after a Bath & Body Works candle exploded shortly after being lit. Renita Francois in her lawsuit against the bathing essentials brand said that the candle exploded, sending searing hot wax into her face and arms on January 19, 2023. How it all unfolded According to a New York Post report, Francois' life irrevocably changed since the incident, when a three-wick Sweater Weather candle exploded as she leaned in to take a whiff, sending a shockwave of fire and debris directly into her face, her lawsuit claimed. In her lawsuit, the 41-year-old woman said that the heat of the blast left her skin sizzling, singed off her eyebrows, melted her eyelashes, and left her face and arms seriously scarred. She called the pain instant, unrelenting, and beyond anything she had ever experienced. In her lawsuit filed against the company, the woman's husband said he witnessed his wife's face catch fire, crackle, and blister as molten wax burned her skin". Also Read | Its Goliath vs David as pharma giants take on skincare brands and influencers The mother of two was rushed to the emergency room but said the aftermath of the incident has fractured her confidence. The second-degree burns ignited an emotional and psychological battle, an assault on her self-perception, and a daily reminder of a tragedy that could have been prevented, she said in a Brooklyn Federal Court lawsuit against the retailer and the manufacturer, Premier Candle Corp. Allegations against Bath and Body Works According to the Post report, the candle, made in Canada, which sells for about $17 ( 1,500 approx) was manufactured with substandard materials, improper safety measures, and inadequate testing. The woman in her lawsuit said that this created an unreasonable risk of explosion and the candle was especially dangerous because chemical additives made the wax highly flammable. The woman further said that the company knew its candles could be dangerous as far back as 2016, when it was forced to recall some of its votives for documented cases of candle explosions, glass shattering, and injuries caused by molten wax and fire hazards. Francois was the executive director for the Mayor's Action Plan for Neighbourhood Safety under Mayor Bill de Blasio from July 2018 to April 2002, the Post said in its report. She was a frequent public speaker but now dreads stepping in front of a room. Before the explosion, Renita was bold, fearless, and effortless in commanding an audience. Today, she walks into public meetings, panel discussions, and leadership summits knowing that her scars speak before she does, she said in court papers. The woman is seeking unspecified damages. (Bloomberg) -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford renewed a call to buy Canadian-made everything to heap pressure on the US to negotiate a trade deal and lift tariffs. Ford, who leads Canadas biggest province and is hosting a meeting of premiers this week, said the country should lean into its status as Americas biggest customer. Prime Minister Mark Carney will make an appearance at the conference on Tuesday for a huddle with the provincial leaders. Carney is sending Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-US trade, to Washington this week to negotiate with US President Donald Trumps administration, which has threatened a 35% tariff on some Canadian goods if theres no deal by Trumps Aug. 1 deadline. But the president and his officials have sent mixed signals about whether they want to sign agreements or simply proceed with unilateral tariff rates on trading partners. Were encouraging all provinces and territories: start buying Canadian-made vehicles, start buying Canadian-made everything that will hurt more than anything at all, Ford told reporters on Monday as he arrived at Deerhurst Resort near Huntsville, a picturesque town at the heart of Ontarios Muskoka region. Canadians say theyre ramping up their boycott of US travel and products in response to the tariffs, according to the Bank of Canadas quarterly survey of households released Monday. About 55% of respondents said theyre spending less on vacations to US destinations, and roughly 63% said theyre pulling back on purchases of American goods. Were their number one customer. We buy more products from the US than Japan, China, Korea, the UK and France combined. So we are an economic powerhouse and we dont have to take a back seat to anyone, he said, adding he wants his province to begin making products such as steel beams used in construction and aluminum cans for soda and beer. Trump hiked tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum imports to 50% in June. Canadas steel industry has already cut jobs and seen shipments slashed. Carneys government announced a plan last week to curb imports of foreign steel to help domestic producers though one influential steel executive said it doesnt go nearly far enough. Fords government pledged C$1.3 billion ($950 million) in May to help manufacturers by beefing up a tax credit for Ontario-made products. The government says about 830,000 people in the province work in manufacturing, which represents about 10% of jobs. Tariffs Inevitable? Canadas premiers have largely struck a united front in the face of Trumps trade war, and their summer retreat is set to be dominated by discussions on how to increase trade between the provinces and advance major infrastructure projects, such as ports, to bolster the countrys economic independence. Carney and some provincial leaders appeared resigned to at least some level of tariffs on Canadian shipments to the US, despite the existing trade accord that Trump signed in his first term that largely allows tariff-free trade between the US, Mexico and Canada. The prime minister said last week theres little evidence Trump will cut a deal that completely drops tariffs. Arriving at the resort on Monday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she hopes sector-specific tariffs will be minimized as much as possible, while Quebecs Francois Legault said its too soon to say whether its inevitable that some tariffs remain. Well see what we can get on August 1st. Of course, the ideal situation would be no tariffs, Legault told reporters. Whatever the agreement is, he said, we need to have assurance that well keep this agreement for three, five years. We need to have an economy where the companies know whats happening in six months and 12 months from now. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The US State Department confirmed that a US Patent and Trademark Office employee has been barred from leaving China, and said officials were working to resolve the situation. The department said the employee was made subject to an exit ban while traveling in China in a personal capacity. We are tracking this case very closely and are engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, the department said. The statement confirmed earlier reports in the Washington Post and elsewhere that China had stopped the US citizen from departing for several months. The Post said the ban was put in place over an apparent failure to disclose on a visa application that he worked for the US government. Officials from Beijing and Washington including in the Commerce Department are negotiating a trade deal after President Donald Trump hit goods from China with heavy tariffs that he later paused. Trump also wants a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to sort through their problems, which touch on technology curbs, rare earths and the status of Taiwan. The Commerce Department employee, a veteran of the US Army, was detained when he arrived in the southwestern city of Chengdu in April, the South China Morning Post reported Sunday, citing a person familiar with the situation. He was being prevented from leaving China because his case was related to actions Beijing deemed harmful to national security, the newspaper reported, though the specifics couldnt be confirmed. Since the man arrived in Chengdu, he had also traveled to the Chinese capital with a US official, the newspaper reported. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A federal judge on Monday (July 21) raised serious concerns over the Trump administrations decision to withhold more than $2 billion in research funding from Harvard University, questioning whether the move violated constitutional protections. There are limits to what you can terminate, and why, and how, said US District Judge Allison Burroughs during a hearing in Boston. It seems to be your idea that you can terminate a contract even if the basis for termination is a constitutional violation. Judge Burroughs stopped short of issuing a formal ruling but signaled skepticism toward the governments rationale for the funding freeze. Justice Department defends decision Lawyers for the Justice Department argued that Harvard failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus, especially following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. They said the universitys inaction violated the Trump administrations policy aimed at combating antisemitism. Harvard should have read the fine print, said DOJ attorney Michael Velchik, asserting the administration had the right to terminate grants when institutions fail to align with federal priorities. Trump Administration targeted Harvard The funding freeze is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to reshape higher education. His administration targeted Harvard for what it called political bias, resistance to diversity program cuts, and alleged tolerance of antisemitism. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields issued a statement on Monday: We are confident that Harvard will eventually come around and support the Presidents vision, and through good-faith conversations and negotiations, a good deal is more than possible. Harvard and Professors fight back Harvard and a group of professors filed suit in April, challenging the legality and constitutionality of the funding freeze. Their lawyers asked the judge to resolve the matter without a full trial, seeking a summary judgment. They argue that the Trump administration retaliated against the university for refusing to cede control over academic governance and the free expression of students and faculty. Judge highlights irony in Governments position Burroughs, who disclosed during the hearing that she is Jewish, criticised the governments justification for the cuts. In some ways youre justifying the conduct on protecting Jews and upholding American values, but on the other hand taking steps that are antithetical to those things, she said. Burroughs said she has not yet made a decision on whether to release the frozen funds. The case could set a precedent for the extent to which federal funding can be used as leverage against academic institutions. As speculations grow over whether US President Donald Trump's name is mentioned in the "Epstein files", a New York Times (NYT) report has shared an account of Jeffrey Epstein's accuser that could put the president's ties to the sex offender under scrutiny. Trump had last week called for relevant grand jury testimony in the prosecution of Epstein to be publicly released, and has repeatedly dismissed any notion that he has something to hide. However, the latest NYT report makes another bombshell claim that accuser Maria Farmer's account is among the clearest indications yet of how Trump might have come to be named in the unreleased investigative files in the Epstein case. The NYT report came days after the Wall Street Journal's report on Trump's bawdy birthday greeting to Epstein caused flutters in American politics. The new bombshell claim In interviews over the past week about what she told the authorities, Maria Farmer said she had no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Epsteins associates. But she said she was alarmed by what she saw as Epsteins pattern of pursuing girls and young women while building friendships with prominent people, including Trump and President Bill Clinton. Farmer said she had raised Trump's name during her complaints in 1996 and 2006, not only because he seemed so close to Epstein but because of an encounter, which she has previously described publicly, that she said she had with Trump in Epsteins New York office. Encounter with Trump: 'Shes not here for you' Farmer said the encounter with Trump occurred in 1995 as she was preparing to work for Epstein. She was quoted by the NYT as saying that she told the authorities that late one night, Epstein unexpectedly called her to his offices in a luxury building in Manhattan, and she arrived in running shorts. Trump then arrived, wearing a business suit, and started to "hover over her", she said she told the authorities. Farmer claimed she recalled feeling scared as Trump stared at her bare legs. Then Epstein entered the room, and she recalled him saying to Trump: No, no. Shes not here for you. The two men left the room, and Farmer said she could hear Trump commenting that he thought Farmer was 16 years old, the NYT reported. After her encounter with Trump, Farmer said, she had no other alarming interactions with him, and did not see him engage in inappropriate conduct with girls or women. White House defends On Friday, the White House reportedly contested Farmers account and cited Trumps long-ago decision to end his friendship with Epstein. Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran Marxist leader VS Achuthanandan passed away on Monday, July 21. He was 101 years old. The veteran leader died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram while undergoing treatment following a cardiac arrest in June, said CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan. PM Modi pays tribute Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a tribute to VS Achuthanandan. Saddened by the passing of former Kerala CM Shri VS Achuthanandan Ji. He devoted many years of his life to public service and Kerala's progress. I recall our interactions when we both served as Chief Ministers of our respective states. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sad hour, PM Modi posted on X. PM Narendra Modi and VS Achuthanandan Fondly known as VS, Achuthanandan served as Keralas Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and was elected to the state assembly seven times, serving three terms as Leader of the Opposition. Also Read | Kerala ex-CM VS Achuthanandan hospitalised after cardiac arrest The former Kerala CM was a founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and a lifelong champion of workers' rights, land reforms, and social justice. VS' political career In 1964, Achuthanandan left the Communist Party of Indias (CPI) national council to become one of the founding members of the breakaway CPI(M), reported The Hindu. He served as the secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M) from 1980 to 1992. Elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1970, 1991, and 2001, he also served as Leader of the Opposition from 1992 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2005. In 2006, Achuthanandan won from the Malampuzha constituency and became the 20th Chief Minister of Kerala. According to Manorama Online, VS Achuthanandan has been away from active politics due to age-related ailments. Kerala's revolutionary sun Hailed as Keralas revolutionary sun by his followers, VS Achuthanandan turned 101 in October last year. Born on 20 October 1923, into a workers family in Punnapra, Alappuzha district, VS Achuthanandan studied up to the seventh standard before stepping into politics through trade union activism in the erstwhile Travancore. At least 20 people, mostly children, were killed and 171 were injured on Monday when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a college and school campus in Dhaka. A doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, while speaking to the media, said that over 50 people, including children and adults, were hospitalised with burn injuries. "A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital," Reuters quoted Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, as saying. The F-7 BGI aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka's northern area of Uttara, officials said. "Bangladesh Air Force's F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed in Uttara. The aircraft took off at 13:06 (0706 GMT)," Reuters quoted the military's public relations department as saying in a statement. Confirming the crash, the Bangladesh Armys public relations office issued a brief statement saying that the crashed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force. Apart from stating the death of one person and injuries to four others, no other details were provided in the statement. With the crowds watching from a distance, several videos showed the aftermath of the crash, where a big fire near a lawn emitting a thick plume of smoke into the sky could be seen. To douse the smoke and possible fire, firefighters sprayed water on the mangled remains of the plane. The jet damaged iron grills and created a gaping hole in the structure. What eyewitnesses say Describing the terrifying accident, Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, said, "When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind...I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke." Head of Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus, said "necessary measures" would be taken to investigate the cause of the accident. "The loss suffered by the Air Force...students, parents, teachers and staff, and others in this accident is irreparable," he said. (Bloomberg) -- Greece will establish two national marine parks in an effort to protect ocean wildlife, a move that could potentially strain ties with neighboring Turkey. The parks will be located in the Ionian Sea and in the Southern Cyclades, an island group in the Aegean Sea, west and east of the mainland, respectively. The Greek governments pledge to create a marine park in the Aegean Sea drew pushback from Turkey last year. The two countries have historically been at odds over sea borders and economic rights in parts of the eastern Mediterranean. These parks will be among the largest marine protected areas in the entire Mediterranean, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Monday in a statement. They will allow the country to meet its target of protecting 30% of its territorial waters by 2030, ahead of schedule, the premier added. The establishment of the two marine parks is meant to preserve ecosystems, restore balance and set a new standard for marine conservation, Mitsotakis said. Unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and Mediterranean, Turkeys Foreign Ministry said in a statement in response, adding that Ankara would announce its own projects aimed at protecting the environment in marine areas in the coming days. The area in the Aegean Sea hosts threatened wildlife plants and species and will cover almost 9,500 square kilometers. The park in the Ionian Sea will extend over 18,000 square kilometers and will include locations used by endangered animals like certain sea turtles. They will be vast sanctuaries for life beneath the waves, Mitsotakis said, adding that most importantly, inside these marine zones the hugely damaging practice of bottom trawling will be banned. (Adds Turkish statement in fifth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's fate hangs in the balance as his coalition loses majority in the upper house. The debacle comes after Ishiba's coalition lost control of the more powerful lower house in October. It will mark the first time in the LDP's 70-year history that it leads a coalition that does not control either house. Polls opened on Sunday in Japan, where half of the seats in its Upper House of Parliament were contested in the first national election since PM Ishiba took office last year. The election saw 125 seats in the 248-seat upper house contested. The ruling coalition has 75 uncontested seats. It needed to get to 125 to keep control of the chamber. Public broadcaster NHK projects it is unlikely to make significant gains. Ishiba said he solemnly accepted the harsh result. Asked whether he intended to stay on as prime minister and party leader, he said thats right. Stay tuned to this blog to get LIVE updates on Japan elections. (Bloomberg) -- Northern Vietnam is bracing for Tropical Cyclone Wipha, which may intensify to typhoon-strength before making landfall on Tuesday after tracking over the nations iconic Ha Long Bay. Wipha is currently near the port city of Beihai in Chinas Guangxi province, and the US Navys Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts the storm will gradually strengthen as it moves across the Gulf of Tonkin. The outer bands of the system are already bringing heavy rainfall to Vietnams capital of Hanoi. Gale-force winds lashed Hong Kong on Sunday as Wipha tracked to the south of the city at typhoon-strength, downing trees and leading to flight cancellations. The storm skirted the mainland Chinese coast before crossing near Yangjiang and moving inland on a westerly track toward Vietnam. Wipha has traversed relatively flat terrain, keeping the system together rather nicely as it heads into the Gulf of Tonkin, according to the JTWC. Warm waters will fuel its development, and Wipha will intensify at least to high-end tropical storm strength and potentially back to typhoon-strength prior to landfall in Vietnam, the JTWC said. Heavy downpours are forecast for Monday through Wednesday across northeast Vietnam, the Red River Delta, and parts of the North Central coast, with as much as 600 millimeters (24 inches) in some areas, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Vietnams weather agency warned of a high flooding risk in coastal areas on Tuesday afternoon, particularly in Hung Yen-Quang Ninh near the port city of Haiphong, with storm surges of nearly five meters in some locations. Conditions are also dangerous at sea for all types of vessels as the approaching storm triggers strong winds and high waves, the bureau added. Wipha developed as an area of low pressure in waters east of the Philippines last week, bringing heavy rain to the countrys north. The storm, known locally as Crising, has caused $3.8 million in damage to infrastructure and killed at least five people, the national disaster agency said on Monday. --With assistance from Neil Jerome Morales. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com In a tragic incident, a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft on Monday crashed onto a school campus in Dhakas northern Uttara area, PTI quoted the military and a fire official as saying. In the incident, one person was killed, while four other were injured. The report added that F-7 BGI aircraft crashed on a campus of the Milestone School and College in Dhakas Uttara area. Fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash in the videos circulating on the social media. Following the incident, fire and rescuers from the military arrived at the scene. A separate report by Jamuna TV stated that at least 13 people, including students, were injured in the crash. Confirming the crash, the Bangladesh Armys public relations office issued a brief statement saying that the downed F-7 BGI aircraft belonged to the Air Force. Apart from stating the death of one person died and four others were injured, no other details were provided. "The training aircraft crashed at the Milestone School and College in Diabari. Our team has recovered one body. The Air Force has rescued four people with injuries and taken them away," bdnews24 quoted Lima Khanam, duty officer at the Fire Service Central Control Room, as saying. The identity of the deceased is yet to be confirmed, and more details are awaited. Jaguar Crash in India: Earlier on while the pilots were on a routine training mission 9 July, two Indian Air Force pilots were killed in the Jaguar fighter bomber crash in Rajasthan's Churu district while the pilots were on a routine training mission. The pilots were identified as Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu, 31, and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh, 23. While Sindhu was from Haryana's Rohtak, Singh was from Pali In Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the crash of F-7 BGI aircraft arrived nearly a month after the Air India AI717 plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, where 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground were killed. Elon Musks social media platform X has accused French prosecutors of launching a "politically-motivated criminal investigation" that threatens free speech and violates legal norms. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, said it would not cooperate with the probe, denying all allegations of wrongdoing. X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech, the company posted via its Global Government Affairs account on Monday. Probe expanded to criminal investigation Earlier this month, Paris prosecutors escalated their preliminary probe into a full criminal investigation. The focus: suspected algorithmic bias and fraudulent data extraction by X. This move gives police sweeping powers, including conducting searches, wiretaps, and placing executives under surveillance. Authorities can now summon Musk or X executives for testimony. Should they refuse, judges may issue arrest warrants. X refuses access to algorithm and data Prosecutors sent a judicial request on July 19 asking for access to Xs recommendation algorithm and real-time data. X declined, asserting its legal right to do so. We refused the request as we have a legal right to do, X said. The Paris prosecutors office confirmed the request and stated that a secure channel was offered to protect data confidentiality. It has not yet received an official reply from the company. Refusal to comply could result in fines or charges of obstruction of justice. Organised crime allegation raises alarm X has also objected to the case being investigated under organized crime statutes, which could allow French authorities to wiretap the personal devices of X employees. The prosecutors office noted that the alleged offenses carry maximum penalties of up to 10 years in prison. Musks critique of Europe Musk, a former ally of Donald Trump, has repeatedly accused European governments of suppressing free expression. The dispute is likely to intensify transatlantic tensions over content regulation. Digital Services Act scrutiny The European Commission has been investigating X since late 2023 for suspected violations of the Digital Services Act, a law aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in digital platforms. Lawmakers and researchers draw fire X claims the case was instigated by French MP Eric Bothorel, who accused the platform of algorithm manipulation for foreign interference an allegation X called completely false. Bothorel defended the probe: France is committed to free speech but not without limits. The absence of responsibility and oversight endangers freedom just as much as prohibitions and censorship do, he said. X also criticised the involvement of researchers David Chavalarias and Maziyar Panahi, accusing them of hostility toward the platform. Panahi denied any involvement: My name was mentioned by mistake I will not hesitate to pursue legal action for defamation should I receive any form of hate speech, he said in an email. The term risk appetite(RA) gained currency after the 2008-09 financial crisis that began in the US. In 2013, the European Banking Authority (EBA) and Financial Stability Board (FSB) were the earliest regulators to include RA in formal regulatory asks. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its 2014 Master Circular on Basel III Capital Regulations articulated the need for banks to document their RAs clearly. Bank boards and their managements are expected to set risk limits and lay down the types of risk exposure they plan to take in pursuit of profits. This is to be formally documented as a Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) and monitored for any breach. It calls for an upfront resolve that the bank will not take certain types of risk and keep those taken within the ambit of its stated risk appetite. Since some forms of lending are highly profitable in times of an economic boom but can erode more capital than the profits made if and when the cycle turns, an RAS encourages thinking beyond the short-term. The act of stating what level of risk the banks board acknowledges as being borne by the business heightens the awareness of risks and ensures capital planning to cover them. To achieve their objectives, RAS limits and thresholds must be unambiguous, granular and quantitatively robust. However, that is often not the case. Also Read: Devina Mehra: Why investing in a bank often takes nerves of steel RAS as a neglected risk management tool: The actionability of a risk appetite statement has remained an issue. Globally and in India, only a few exemplar banks have well- designed, strategically relevant and definitive statements. In such cases, the RAS drives the strategic planning exercise. Further, enterprise-level thresholds cascade to the business-unit level, translating into growth projections, capital requirements and risk guard-rails for each unit. In contrast, at banks where the RAS serves only as a regulatory tick box, the strategy planning exercise rarely refers to the statement and business-unit level planning and risk-taking are not aligned with enterprise-level risk limits. At times, business unit heads are not even aware of how the enterprise-wide risk appetite applies to their operations. This leaves the board with limited control over the risks the bank actually ends up taking. Banks need impactful risk appetite statements. Lets focus on three aspects. Also Read: Banking on trust, losing billions: Indias bank fraud epidemic needs urgent answers Explicit quantitative thresholds: Lets take the capital adequacy ratio (CAR), a common metric of a capital cushion to absorb losses. RA thresholds are often set on these. Say, the regulatory minimum CAR is 12% of risk-weighted assets. A bank cannot have a business plan that will cause its CAR to fall below 12% in an adverse situation of loans going bad. If a hypothetical Bank XYZs CAR is 18%, to set a CAR threshold, it may take the average of the two (i.e. 15%) or review its historical CAR level and limit it to the average of that. Or it could take a number between its historically lowest CAR and its average. While this sounds comforting, such approaches lack economic rigour and risk relevance. Typically, for a healthy bank, the minimum capital to be held as directed by CAR regulation should be higher than its economic capital (EC), or the amount of equity required by the bank to cover a loss of 1-in-1000 odds, stylized as a once-in-1,000-years loss. Likewise, a bank could take multicycle loss data toadjusting for the fat-tail nature of credit lossesestimate the size of a 1-in-3 odds loss. If such an event reduces the capital cushion by a sum that hits the banks CAR by one percentage point, then an RA limit set at 13% implies a 1-in-3 chance of dropping below the 12% regulatory minimum. Such a choice suggests a very high risk appetite. What would a conservative bank with a lower risk appetite do? If a 1-in-20 shock (much less likely to happen) is estimated to hit the CAR by 4 percentage points, it could set an RAS threshold of 16%. Either way, for the RAS to work meaningfully, the bank must make an explicit choice. Also Read: Needed: A hard policy reset to make Indian banks shape up Risk-adjusted performance measures: The Risk Appetite Statements of banks often have return-on-asset (RoA) and return-on-equity (RoE) thresholds. But this does not allow the estimation of capital consumption at the business-unit level. For this to be done, banks must calculate return-on-economic-capital (RoEC). This would help in measuring the economic value added at the business-unit level and thus help both in improving capital allocation and ensuring that the RAS cascades through the bank. Stress testing: Bottom-up portfolio-wise stress tests should be carried out to estimate the sensitivity of the banks losses to relevant macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. This is critical to simulate and assess how a portfolio growth strategy will impact losses during a downturn. While banks perform stress tests to meet regulatory requirements, there is scant evidence that this exercise has been integrated with their RAS and strategic planning processes. Most banks perform static stress tests, with their capital sufficiency tested under the assumption of, say, an X% surge in bank-wide losses. Also Read: IndusInd saga: No escape from heightened bank vigilance Banks must shift from treating the RAS as a tick-box routine to using it as a steering wheel for their strategy in the context of risk control. Without a functional RAS, a banks board cannot properly supervise the risks being taken by business units in their rush to meet short-term targets. When stakeholders are hit by earning shocks or adverse disclosures, bank boards are often just as surprised as shareholders and the regulator. A well- designed Risk Appetite Statement could tackle this problem and result in markedly safer banking. The author is a quantitative risk management professional and a visiting faculty member of IIM Calcutta. The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Karnataka governments plea challenging a high court order that dismissed the criminal case against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. What is this? Dont politicise the matter. Fight your battles before the electorate, remarked a bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran. Surya was accused of spreading fake news regarding a farmers suicide in Haveri district, Karnataka. The bench dismissed the appeal of the state government and cautioned its against the politicisation of legal proceedings. The case originated from a post Surya shared on November 7, 2024, referencing reports from Kannada news portals that a farmer, Rudrappa Channappa Balikai, had committed suicide after learning his land was seized by the Waqf Board. The post was later deleted when it was revealed that the claim was baseless. Accusing BJP of planning to conduct a Bihar-like SIR exercise in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she will never allow it in the state. She was speaking at the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata. BJP planning to conduct SIR-like exercise in Bengal, will never allow it, she said at the rally. A special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is underway in Bihar, just before the state goes to elections for its Legislative Assembly. According to a PTI report, the West Bengal CM also said that the BJP and the Election Commission were conspiring against Bengal, and wanted to remove Bengalis from the voter list. Mamata attacks BJP over language The TMC supremo further accused the BJP of unleashing "linguistic terrorism" on Bengalis, asserting that the fight for identity and language will continue till the saffron party is defeated, both in the state and at the Centre. If linguistic profiling doesn't stop, the resistance movement will reach Delhi, she asserted, the CM asserted. The TMC supremo further hit out at the ruling party saying that our fight will continue till we oust BJP from the Centre. She also claimed that Bengalis were being harassed and put in detention camps in BJP-ruled states. Banerjee gave a clarion call to defeat the saffron party in West Bengal's 2026 assembly polls and eventually oust the BJP from power at the Centre, the PTI report added. There will be a language movement against the BJP's terrorism on the Bengali language... From July 27, the language movement will start in West Bengal in protest against attacks on Bengalis, Banerjee thundered before a massive turnout at the rally venue in central Kolkata. We have to win more seats in the 2026 assembly polls, and then march to Delhi to defeat the BJP, she added. Bengal CM hits out at BJP over NRC, women issues Sharpening her attacks against the BJP, the TMC chief's speech touched upon a wide range of issues from NRC notices in West Bengal to the targetting of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states. Banerjee also accused the BJP of putting Bengalis in detention camps. Attacking Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, she said, "He cannot handle his own state but is meddling in the affairs of West Bengal. I urge Sushmita Dev to organise a massive protest in Assam. We will all join." Banerjee said that West Bengal hosts around 1.5 crore migrants from other states, but they have never faced harassment. "We welcome people from all over India, but look at what the BJP is doing to Bengalis. Who gave the Assam government the right to send NRC notices to residents of Bengal?" she said. BJP should answer why women in states ruled by it are facing atrocities, Banerjee said, adding, we are against any form of atrocities against women, take immediate action against such incidents. Parliament Monsoon Session: The Lok Sabha was adjourned three times on Monday amid protests and sloganeering by the INDIA bloc members demanding a debate on the Pahalgam terror attack. The lower house will meet again at 4 pm. Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lok Sabha until 12 noon after opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) raised slogans as Question Hour commenced on the first day of the Monsoon Session. Also Read | Parliament Monsoon Session begins today on a stormy note Similar scenes were seen in Rajya Sabha, where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a debate on Operation Sindoor and US President Donald Trump's repeated claims over brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after four days of military action in May. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha convened at 11 AM today, after a break of over three and a half months for the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The proceedings began with paying tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the Air India AI-171 plane crash. Soon after the tributes, Speaker Om Birla allowed the beginning of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. The opposition members, however, began shouting slogans and protesting, demanding a debate on Operation Sindoor. Birla insisted that a debate over Operation Sindoor would take place after the Question Hour, but the protests continued. The government wants to answer every issue. The House should function. You have not come here to raise slogans. The House functions as per the rules and regulations. All the issues raised according to the rules will be discussed, Birla told the protesting members. All the issues raised according to the rules will be discussed. As the uproar continued, Birla adjourned the session till noon. The house reconvened again at 12 only to be adjourned again till 2 pm due to the protests. The House met again at 2 pm and was adjourned due to protests till 4 pm. The opposition INDIA bloc has insisted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak in the Parliament on Operation Sindoor and US President Donald Trumps repeated claims that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan. They have also demanded a discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. In Rajya Sabha, Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar admitted a motion seeking a debate on Operation Sindoor but said the time will be decided later. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha raised Trump's statements on Operation Sindoor. Union Minister JP Nadda, the leader of the Rajya Sabha, said the government has already agreed to debate Operation Sindoor. This is the first session of Parliament being held after Operation Sindoor, India's precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April. Congress Member of Parliament Randeep Singh Surjewala has given a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in the Monsoon Session of Parliament that begins today. "I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for July 21," Surjewala's notice reads. I hereby give notice under Rule 267... to discuss the concerns arising out of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam. That this House suspends Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and the businesses of the day to discuss the concerns arising out of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam and India's response through Operation Sindoor, it reads. The Parliament reconvenes today after a break of over three and a half months for the Monsoon Session, which will be held from July 21 to August 21. This will be the first session of Parliament after Operation Sindoor India's precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Parliament Monsoon Session: I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for July 21, Surjewala's notice reads. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have insisted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak on Operation Sindoor and US President Donald Trumps repeated claims that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan. They have also demanded a discussion on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Also Read | Parliament Monsoon Session begins today on a stormy note The Parliament will table 15 bills throughout the session, including discussing the Demands for Grants (Manipur) for the year 2025-26 and introducing, considering, and passing/returning the related Appropriation Bill. Additionally, a resolution seeking the approval of extending the President's rule in Manipur will also be tabled in the session. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has listed eight new Bills to be introduced in this session, in addition to taking up seven pending bills that were introduced earlier. The Trump administration will send additional immigration agents to New York, blaming the citys sanctuary policies for a shooting by an undocumented migrant that left an off-duty federal customs officer seriously wounded. The announcement, delivered by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from One World Trade Center on Monday, marked an escalation in the administrations efforts to assert federal control in Democratic-led cities that limit cooperation with immigration authorities. We have a city like New York City that continues to not honor detainers, and to release individuals that are committing crimes on our streets, Noem said. The shooting occurred Saturday night near the George Washington Bridge, where an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer was sitting with a friend along the Hudson River. Police said that two men approached on a scooter and one opened fire. The officer returned fire but was shot in the face and arm. A suspect, 21-year-old Miguel Mora, was also wounded and taken to a hospital. Noem said Mora, a Dominican national, entered the US illegally in 2023 and was under a deportation order issued in November. He had been arrested four times on charges including assault, grand larceny and armed robbery, and was wanted in cases in New York and Massachusetts. This didnt have to happen. It was because of sanctuary city policies and failed leadership, Noem said. Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Mora would be charged in Manhattan federal court. A second suspect was arrested on Monday, while the federal officer remains hospitalized and is expected to recover. New Yorks sanctuary laws, passed in 2014 and 2017, bar city agencies including police from carrying out most civil deportation actions unless the individual has been convicted of one or more of 170 serious crimes including homicide, rape and robbery within the past five years. Its one of several major US cities along with Los Angeles, Chicago and others that have adopted so-called sanctuary policies restricting local law enforcement from assisting in most federal immigration actions. The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on those jurisdictions even sending the California National Guard and Marines into LA arguing that such policies endanger public safety and undermine federal law. Mayor Eric Adams defended the citys approach Sunday, saying it follows state law. Here in New York City, our laws are clear on what we can do and what we cant do, Adams said. We will always coordinate with our partners going after dangerous individuals. The Trump administration sees the matter differently. Tom Homan, the administrations border czar, said the citys refusal to let federal officers to make jail-based arrests has forced US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct higher-risk operations in neighborhoods. You dont want to let us in the jails to arrest a bad guy in the safety and security of a jail, Homan said. You want to release him into the street, which makes it unsafe for the alien, because anything can happen in an on-street arrest. So what are we gonna do? he added. Were gonna put more agents in New York City to look for that bad guy. So sanctuary cities get exactly what they dont want: more agents in the community. The enforcement expansion is backed by $150 billion in new federal funding approved as part of a broader immigration and border security initiative. The package includes money to hire 10,000 additional officers and expand detention capacity nationwide. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Sweeping raids at Ukraines independent, anti-corruption agency sparked concern among Kyivs allies over the governments dedication to longstanding efforts to strengthen the rule of law. An unnamed employee of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, known as NABU, was detained in Kyiv under suspicion of spying for Russia, the Prosecutor Generals Office said Monday in a statement. He is accused of sending data on the identities of Ukrainian law enforcement officers to Russias intelligence services, it said. The head of a local office of the NABU in the eastern city of Dnipro was also detained as part of the sweep, according to law enforcement. At least 15 of NABUs detectives were also targeted in searches, some of which were allegedly linked to road traffic accidents and unrelated to Russia, according to the bureau. The searches were carried out without court orders, it said. The ambassadors from the Group of Seven nations have serious concerns about developments at NABU and intend to discuss them with Ukraines government leaders, according to a statement on the G-7s X account on Monday. The wave of detentions is likely to raise questions over Ukraines commitment to root out corruption at the time when President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is looking to convince Western allies to maintain their military support three-and-half years into Russias full-scale invasion of the country. The recent, coordinated actions by law enforcement point to an attempt by the authorities to undermine the independence of Ukraines anti-corruption institutions, Transparency International Ukraine said in a statement on its website. These actions appear aimed at forcibly extracting information and influencing investigations into top-level officials. The group said the alleged offenses attributed to the detectives are so broad and inconsistent that they indicate an ulterior motive behind the operation and called on Zelenskiy to publicly guarantee the independence of anti-corruption institutions. Ukraines Western backers have praised NABUs work. The bureau was set up in response to demands from Ukraines foreign donors and civil society a decade ago to investigate corruption among top officials, but has faced political attempts to weaken its position. An official at one Western embassy said they were closely watching developments around the NABU probe. In June, NABU named former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov a suspect in a corruption probe, making him the highest-level official in Zelenskiys government to be subject to a graft investigation. Chernyshov denied any wrongdoing. We emphasize that the risk of agents of influence from the aggressor state exists for any government body, NABU said in a statement. However, it cannot justify halting the work of the entire institution. Ukraine has faced a record numbers of drones and missiles from Russia in recent weeks. A barrage of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles including five hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were launched at Ukraine overnight, according to Kyivs Air Force. Russias latest bombardments coincide with an about-face in the US administration. President Donald Trump, who had for months belittled Ukraines wartime leader, turned his ire on Vladimir Putin after the Russian leaders refusal to entertain a ceasefire. Trump recently pledged to send fresh weapons to Kyiv that will be paid for by Ukraines NATO allies in Europe. This month, Ukraines State Bureau of Investigation accused Vitaliy Shabunin, the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, a civil society organization, of evading military service, raising concerns of possible political revenge. Separately, Ukraines Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office or SAPO said on Monday that the state security service, known as SBU, arrived at their premises to inspect compliance with state secrecy legislation. The visit was carried out without an official notice as required by law, the anti-graft prosecutors said. As a result of the inspection, the SBU got access to information about all the anti-graft agencies operational measures, raising risks that information about ongoing investigations could be leaked, prosecutors said. In a statement on Telegram, the SBU denied that it had full access to prosecutors data and stressed that its comprehensive inspection was in line with state laws. (Updates with G-7 statement in the fifth paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The Supreme Court on Monday raised concerns about the Enforcement Directorates handling of politically sensitive cases while affirming the Karnataka High Courts ruling to dismiss the case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs wife in the MUDA matter. Cautioning against the agency being used as a tool in political battles, a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai said, Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used? The bench comprising Chief Justice Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing the EDs appeal challenging a Karnataka High Court order that quashed proceedings in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case involving BM Parvati, wife of the Karnataka chief minister. Mr Raju (Additional Solicitor General S V Raju who was appearing for the ED), please dont compel us to open our mouths. Otherwise, we will be forced to make some harsh comments about the ED. Unfortunately, I have some experience in Maharashtra. Dont perpetuate this violence across the country. Let political battles be fought before the electorate. Why are you being used? the CJI said during the brief proceedings. The court dismissed the EDs appeal, upholding the Karnataka High Courts decision to quash the case. The MUDA scam revolves around the alleged irregularities in the allotment of compensatory sites. At the heart of the controversy is a 3.2-acre parcel of land that was gifted to CM Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi, by her brother Mallikarjunaswamy in 2010. After the acquisition of the land by Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), Parvathi sought compensation and was subsequently allocated 14 plots. These plots are reportedly worth more than the original piece of land. Opposition parties have alleged that the total value of the scam could potentially fall within the range of 3,000 crore to 4,000 crore. In Frances Provence region late last year, a group of men entered Chateau de Chausse, the 138-acre home and vineyard of Charles Cohen. While the New York real-estate tycoon was away, the men scoured the palatial house, taking high-priced artworks, furniture and Cohens collection of fine wines. They werent thieves. The men were following orders of the French court, and they seized hundreds of thousands of dollars of Cohens personal belongings in the chateau on behalf of Fortress Investment Group. Fortress says it was simply taking what it is owed. In 2022, the New York-based investment firm made a $535 million loan to Cohen Realty Enterprises as a way to consolidate his previous debt. Cohens collateral included a Manhattan office tower, the Le Meridien Dania Beach hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and four other properties, according to records from New York State Supreme Court, where Fortress is suing Cohen. But crucially, Cohen also personally guaranteed $187.2 million of that loan. That recourse" portion of the debt gave Fortress additional powers to go after Cohen personally if his business defaulted. Now, thats whats happening. Cohens business defaulted last year, and Fortress took control of most of the collateral. But the firm said that the value of those properties falls far short of what Cohen owes. Now the lender is trying to confiscate Cohens personal possessions. Fortress launched legal efforts to seize Cohens houses in Provence and Greenwich, Conn., according to New York court records. Fortress is also going after his 25 luxury automobiles including two Ferraris and other valuable belongings. Earlier this month, an Italian judge ruled that a 220-foot yacht couldnt leave the Port of Loano without court approval. The superyacht, valued at $49.6 million, is one of five yachts that Fortress is trying to seize from the real-estate mogul. Cohen transferred ownership of the yacht in Port of Loano to his wife last year, court records show. Each side accuses the other of impropriety. Fortress says Cohen improperly blocked the firms enforcement of his guarantee by transferring his yachts and other valuable assetsincluding his $20 million Greenwich home and Chateau de Chausseto family members, according to court records. Cohens net worth is nearly $2 billion, according to a financial statement that he filed with the court. He said the transfers were legitimate and made for estate and tax-planning purposes. A French court ruled in his favor on the Provence chateau. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Cohen said he is in the process of selling some properties to pay Fortress but needs more time to complete complicated deals. They keep pecking at us, like a bird would peck at something," he said in a February deposition about his negotiations with Fortress. Enough was never enough." Personal-recourse debt has a long, bruising history in commercial real estate. Developers often turn to personal guarantees because they would have no other way to obtain enough financing, and because they are convinced they can easily pay back their loans. They think if you hold on to a property long enough, the values are always going to justify the loan," said Mark Edelstein, chair of Morrison Foersters global real-estate group. Donald Trump famously used recourse loans to build his property empire in the 1980s, only to find himself on the brink of personal bankruptcy in the early 1990s because of these personal guarantees. Trump said during a TV appearance that in 1991 he pointed to a homeless person and said he is worth $900 million more than I am." Personal guarantees were also a big reason why New York developer Harry Macklowe faced near financial ruin during the 2008-09 financial crisis, after he took out a $1.2 billion bridge-equity loan from a group including Fortress with recourse contingencies. Macklowe said that the situation was resolved and is now old history." Cohen has used personal guarantees before, but said he has never had this kind of problem. His business is countersuing Fortress. His dust-up with the investment firm is one of the nastiest in commercial real estate for many years. Attorneys for Cohen say that Fortresss actions amount to improper harassment. The investment firm has put restraints on Cohens personal brokerage accounts, and on brokerage accounts held by his mother and sister. Cohen cannot withdraw money from his personal accounts without Fortresss approval. His familys lives are being disrupted," said Christopher Caffarone, Cohens attorney, at a court hearing in May. They are getting subpoenaed. They are getting deposed." Fortress subpoenaed Cohens family members because he transferred personal assets to them and because they are involved in running or financing his companies, a Fortress spokesman said. Fortress, an investment giant owned in part by Abu Dhabi government fund Mubadala Capital, said that it has a duty to its investors that include retirement and pension funds. Fortress is left with no choice but to begin enforcing its judgment against Cohens assets," the firm said, according to court records. Charless father and his two uncles went from selling cars to building what would become a real-estate empire, developing towers on Manhattans Third Avenue as the old elevated railway was dismantled. Charles became president of the company in 1983 and more than tripled it in size to 12 million square feet. Nowadays, Cohen, 73 years old, is a widely recognizable figure in New York real-estate circles, where he is known for his tailored suits and reflective stainless-steel glasses. He also has invested tens of millions of dollars in filmmaking. Cohens production firm has distributed more than 100 films including The Salesman," which won the Academy Award for best foreign language film in 2017. Cohen also purchased movie theaters in Europe and the U.S. Fortress and Cohens business relationship goes back decades. The investment giant has lent hundreds of millions of dollars to Cohen, and it financed many of his real-estate deals in the years leading up to the pandemic. Then during Covid-19, demand for office space plummeted. People also stopped going to the movies, upending Cohens movie-theater holdings. Other office-building owners at the time were conceding defeat, giving properties back to lenders. Cohen said he felt the market would rebound soon. He also felt emotionally attached to the properties, some which had been in his family for decades. The two sides agreed on a restructuring plan, which included the personal guarantee. But the market didnt rebound quickly. The two sides modified the 2022 loan four times but the properties werent able to generate enough cash to pay the debt service. In March 2024, Cohens business defaulted. Cohen said that he had a handshake agreement with Fortress for another extension, according to court records. But the firm said there was no such deal, and the state supreme court ruled for Fortress. Cohen says now he is selling properties to raise cash to meet his obligations to Fortress. Ive always been good at hanging on," Cohen said. Thats what weve always done and we will continue to do that." Microsoft has issued a warning regarding active attacks aimed at server applications employed by both government bodies and companies for sharing internal documents. The tech giant advised users to immediately apply the suggested security patches. The FBI confirmed on Sunday that it was aware of the attacks and was collaborating with both federal and private-sector partners, though it did not disclose further information. Microsoft, in an alert notified on Saturday, clarified that the vulnerabilities are limited to on-premises SharePoint servers used internally by organisations. The company confirmed that SharePoint Online, the cloud-based version included in Microsoft 365, was not affected by the attacks. According to The Washington Post, which first reported the hacks, unknown attackers recently took advantage of a software flaw to carry out an assault aimed at both US and global agencies and companies. Zero-day attack Experts cited by the newspaper described the incident as a "zero-day" attack, referring to its exploitation of a vulnerability that had not been previously identified. The attack potentially put tens of thousands of servers in jeopardy. Microsoft did not provide an immediate response when asked for comment. In the alert, the company explained that the vulnerability "allows an authorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network." Microsoft also shared guidance to help prevent further exploitation of the flaw. In a spoofing attack, a malicious actor can conceal their identity and impersonate a trusted individual, organisation, or website to deceive financial markets or government agencies. Also Read | Drive against company law breaches reveals many firms dont have an address On Sunday, Microsoft announced that it had released a security patch for the SharePoint Subscription Edition and urged customers to install it without delay. The company also noted that it is currently developing security updates for the 2016 and 2019 versions of SharePoint. Until those patches are available, Microsoft advised customers who are unable to activate the recommended malware protection to take their servers offline to minimise exposure to threats. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt does not believe that the AI industry is in the midst of a dot-com-style bubble. In fact, he argues that the current wave marks the beginning of a new industrial era. Since the public rollout of ChatGPT in late 2022, huge investments have been made in AI, with big tech companies rallying behind the technology and portraying it as the next big thing. Also Read | AI is dividing the fortunes of the Magnificent Seven However, critics of AI have drawn parallels with the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, and some, such as Torsten Slok, Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management, have warned that today's top AI stocks are even more overvalued than those in the dot-com era. Apart from Slok, Alibaba Group Chair Joe Tsai has also warned that US AI stocks are in a bubble. Eric Schmdt on why AI is not a bubble: Amid rising scepticism around AI, Schmidt who is also an investor in leading AI companies such as Anthropic and Perplexity highlights the increasing number of large data centres powered by Nvidia's chips to demonstrate that the AI industry is not experiencing a bubble. Also Read | Perplexity AI wants to pre-install Comet browser on your phone Speaking at the RAISE summit in Paris, Schmidt said, "So, if if you if you ask most of the executives in the industry, they will say the following. They'll say that we're in a period of overbuilding. They'll say that there will be over capacity in two or three years. And when you ask them, they'll say, "But I'll be fine and the other guys are going to lose all their money." So that's a classic bubble, right?" I personally don't know. Um, I've looked at this pretty hard because you have these massive data centers and Nvidia is quite happy to sell them all the chips, you know, and uh the real estate developers are used to borrowing money to build these things. I've never seen a situation where hardware capacity was not taken up by software. US tech giants Meta, X and LinkedIn have formally appealed against a groundbreaking VAT claim by Italy, setting the stage for what could become a defining legal battle over how digital services are taxed across the European Union. The Reuters report, citing four sources with direct knowledge of the matter, highlighted that the companies filed their appeals with Italys first-instance tax court in mid-July after failing to reach a settlement with Italian tax authorities. The case is notable not only for its scale but also because it represents the first instance in which Italy has taken Big Tech to full trial proceedings, diverging from previous negotiations that typically concluded with settlements. At the heart of the dispute lies Italys novel interpretation of value-added tax (VAT) rules. Authorities argue that the act of users registering for free access to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn should be considered taxable. The rationale is that in exchange for a membership account, users provide personal data, effectively constituting a transaction with economic value. Should the Italian courts uphold this interpretation, it could have sweeping implications for companies far beyond social media, potentially including airlines, retailers, publishers, and any other business that offers digital access in exchange for user data or profiling consent. The Italian Revenue Agency is seeking 887.6 million from Meta, 12.5 million from X, and approximately 140 million from LinkedIn. These claims were issued in March, with the companies response deadline passing in mid-July, prompting the formal appeals. Meta said in a statement to Reuters that it had cooperated fully with the authorities but strongly disagrees with the idea that providing access to online platforms to users should be subject to VAT. LinkedIn said it had "nothing to share at this time", while X has not responded to requests for comment. Notably, the report also revealed that Italy is preparing to request an advisory opinion from the European Commission. Questions are expected to be formally submitted by the Economy Ministry to the EUs VAT Committee, an independent, non-binding advisory body, by early November. A response could be forthcoming by spring 2026. Also Read | Italys Bridge to Nowhere Shows Defense-Boom Risks Though non-binding, a negative opinion from the committee could lead Italy to abandon the VAT claim and suspend related criminal investigations, insiders suggest. Legal experts warn that the implications of Italys approach, if endorsed, could ripple across the 27-nation EU, where VAT rules are broadly harmonised. It could rewrite the rulebook on what constitutes a taxable transaction in the digital economy, one tax adviser said. The broader dispute comes amid persistent tensions between US tech companies and European regulators. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Meta will not adjust its controversial "pay-or-consent" data model, despite growing scrutiny from Brussels. Separately, the Financial Times revealed the European Commission has paused one of its probes into Elon Musks platform X, reportedly in an effort to preserve momentum in ongoing transatlantic trade talks. A widespread cyberattack targeting Microsoft SharePoint server software has raised alarms among security agencies and businesses worldwide, with experts suggesting that a single threat actor may be behind the coordinated assault. Over the weekend, Microsoft issued a critical security alert warning of active attacks on on-premise SharePoint servers, widely used by organisations and government bodies to manage and share internal documents. Notably, the tech giant clarified that SharePoint Online, part of its Microsoft 365 cloud suite, was not affected by the exploit, which is being classified as a "zero-day" vulnerability, meaning it was previously unknown to cybersecurity professionals. Rafe Pilling, Director of Threat Intelligence at British cybersecurity firm Sophos, indicated that evidence pointed towards a single entity executing the campaign. Based on the consistency of the tradecraft seen across observed attacks, the campaign launched on Friday appears to be a single actor. However, it is possible that this will quickly change, Pilling noted. He highlighted the use of identical digital payloads across various targets as a significant indicator of a singular source. While Microsoft confirmed that it had released security updates to address the flaw, the company urged users to install the patches without delay. However, cybersecurity experts caution that remediation may require more than just patch deployment. Daniel Card, of the UK-based consultancy PwnDefend, warned that the scope of the attack suggested a broad level of compromise. The SharePoint incident appears to have created a broad level of compromise across a range of servers globally. Taking an assumed breach approach is wise, and it is also important to understand that just applying the patch is not all that is required here, he said. According to Shodan, a search engine that indexes internet-connected devices, over 8,000 SharePoint servers currently accessible online may have already been exposed to the exploit. These include systems belonging to prominent industrial companies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, auditors, and multiple U.S. state and international government organisations. The identity of the attacker remains unknown. Moreover, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) acknowledged the incident on Sunday, stating that it was working alongside both federal partners and private sector entities to assess the situation. Meanwhile, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre has yet to respond publicly. The Washington Post reported that unidentified cyber actors had recently leveraged the SharePoint vulnerability to target both American and international agencies, suggesting the campaign could have extensive geopolitical ramifications. After launching its Comet browser for Windows and Mac, Perplexity is taking its competition with Google Chrome to the next level by introducing its AI-powered browser on Android. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas confirmed to Reuters that the AI startup is in talks with smartphone makers to pre-install its Comet browser on devices. Currently, most smartphones ship with Google Chrome pre-installed, alongside an additional browser depending on the OEM, such as Samsung Internet on Samsung devices and the Internet app on OnePlus devices. Having Comet as a pre-installed browser could not only give the app recognition but also increase its stickiness among users. While AI is Comets biggest selling point, the browser itself is built on Chromium architecture, making it an easy swap for existing Chrome users. Its not easy to convince mobile OEMs to change the default browser to Comet from Chrome, Srinivas told Reuters about getting Comet pre-installed on smartphones. Earlier this year, Perplexitys Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko testified in the Google antitrust case, stating that the tech giant had blocked its efforts to make Perplexity the default assistant on Motorola devices despite an agreement between both companies. He described Googles contracts with smartphone makers as a gun to your head. Perplexity eventually managed to get its app pre-installed on Motorola devices, while Google Assistant remained the default assistant app. A Bloomberg report earlier this year stated that Perplexity is working with Samsung and Apple to potentially integrate its AI search capabilities into their assistants. Apple currently uses in-house infrastructure for Siri while routing complex queries to ChatGPT, whereas Samsung has relied heavily on Googles Gemini for its AI features. When asked about a release date for the Comet browser on Android during a recent AMA, Srinivas declined to give a timeline, saying, Team is sprinting. For iOS, he stated the app could be ready in the next 23 months. Currently, Comet is in beta and available only to Perplexitys paying customers on Windows and Mac, while free users can access the agentic browser through an invite list. County Longford farmers, farmers across the country and farmers families and all of those working in agriculture have been urged by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to prioritise safety as Farm Safety Week 2025 begins today (Monday, July 21). Farm Safety Week is an important campaign that highlights the ongoing dangers faced in farming. This collaborative campaign, originally launched by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) in the UK and coordinated in Ireland by the IFA, brings together farming organisations from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England to focus on improving farm safety. READ NEXT: 'The pub door was wide open' -South Longford publican fined for having 1.30am patrons Tragically, farming continues to account for a disproportionate number of workplace deaths. Many of these incidents are preventable, often involving vehicles, machinery, livestock and falls from height. So far this year, there have been 12 farming fatalities, the same amount as the total number of fatalities in farming in 2024. Of the 12, 5 (41%) of these fatalities involved vehicles. In 9 (75%) of the cases, the deceased was over 65 years of age. Ger Hartnett, Senior Inspector at the HSA, said, Each life that is lost in farming is a devastating reminder that safety must come first every day, on every farm. READ NEXT: Longford drug driver had 'no lights on vehicle' when he came to Garda attention "We must remind ourselves that there are 12 families this year mourning the loss of a loved one and we must collectively renew our commitment to prevent further family tragedies. "Farm Safety Week is an opportunity to reflect, to change behaviour, and to take proper action that can save lives. We want to see a change in the attitude towards farm safety, Hartnett added. Keep your vehicles and machinery well maintained. Plan all work activity. Rest when you feel tired, take a break. Know your limitations. The HSA is encouraging all those involved in farming to use this week to engage in meaningful conversations within families and communities about risk, responsibility, and prevention. For more information on farm safety guidance and resources, visit www.hsa.ie. A furious Bob Geldof threatened to storm out of Tony Blairs Commission for Africa warning it was in danger of becoming a laughable grotesque, according to newly-released government files. The Live Aid campaigner was instrumental in persuading Mr Blair to set up the commission to examine the problems of the continent ahead of a crucial summit of the G8 at Gleneagles in Scotland, which the UK was chairing. But official papers released to the National Archives in Kew, west London, show he was outraged when after just one meeting the commissioners were sent a document setting its emerging conclusions. In an angry letter to the commissions director of policy, the economist Sir Nick Stern, dated August 9 2004, he said it was impossible to have come to any conclusions it such a short period of time. The former rock star warned that he was not prepared to serve on a body which was simply there to push pre-determined government policy. To be clear, policy must be determined by the commission independently sitting and independently deliberating and concluding of its own volition. This distinction is vital. If I have got this wrong please inform me so I may tender my resignation, he wrote. More broadly, the whole notion of emerging solutions is laughable. If the solution to the misery of Africa can be concluded within a mere six week time span, it is a truly remarkable feat. How blind we must all have been these past years. The fact is that there are not and cannot as yet be any emerging conclusions. The commission will lose all credibility if it is not clearly seen to be an independent entity. If it seems to advance pre-determined government policy it will be correctly viewed as a laughable grotesque. Geldof went on to complain that the involvement of some of the commissioners including some of those from Africa appeared to have been minimal. Is it not the secretariats function, on behalf of the chair, to ensure that this is not the case? Or is this all some farcical political game played out at the expense of the wretchedly poor? If so, I aint playing. Sir Nicholas wrote back hurriedly to assure him the that the document was not an attempt pre-empt the commissions findings, and that the input from British politicians had been comparatively minor. Far from being an attempt to rush conclusions the paper is intended to to be a tool to help promote discussion and ensure a real interchange between commissioners at the second meeting in October, he wrote. I would be very keen to sit down and discuss these questions with you; perhaps we could meet for a drink as soon as we are both around? Geldofs reply is not recorded in the files, but he was sufficiently placated to carry on. After the Gleneagles summit the following year agreed to double aid to Africa and extend debt relief, he hailed it as mission accomplished. People who live in communities with higher levels of socio-economic disadvantage are less positive about immigration, research has found. A new Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) research paper examines the role that community context plays in understanding peoples attitudes towards immigration in Ireland. The research found that the share of migrants in a community and recent increases in migrants between 2011 and 2022 were not associated with attitudes towards immigration in Ireland overall. However, people living in more disadvantaged communities had more negative attitudes towards immigration, in particular, disadvantaged communities where there was an increase in migrants since 2011. The study is based on a large, representative survey of adults in Ireland looking at views on immigration, conducted in April 2023, matched with Census 2022 and additional data on the communities they live in. It follows a report published earlier in the year that analysed individual and household-level factors associated with attitudes to immigration, which found that education, financial strain, and optimism about the future were factors related to attitudes towards immigration. The latest research found that migrants are not more likely to live in disadvantaged communities, however, it also found that people in communities with higher levels of socio-economic disadvantage are less positive about immigration, even after accounting for their own financial situation. Disadvantage is captured by proportions of households headed by lone parents, unemployed, with low education, or semi or unskilled. The report found that an increase in the number of migrants living in the area since 2011 had a more negative effect on attitudes in disadvantaged communities. Living in a rural area was associated with more negative attitudes towards immigration, compared with living in an urban area. However, rural areas with high percentages of migrants had attitudes towards immigration that were very similar to those in urban areas. The report stated that this may reflect the importance of social contact with migrants for fostering more positive attitudes. The research also found that more segregated areas, where migrants live in clusters rather than evenly spread across the area, show more negative attitudes towards immigration. This also suggests that positive social contact with migrants in communities may facilitate understanding. The research investigated whether people living in areas with greater pressure on services such as health, housing and education held more negative attitudes towards immigration. Using indicators such as the number of GPs per household and housing affordability, high rents and high house prices, the ESRI said it found no evidence of a link. It also found that attitudes to immigration are not related to the proportion of Ukrainian refugees in peoples local area. Surprisingly, the proportion of asylum seekers in the community is linked to more positive attitudes to immigration overall, though only a small number of respondents had asylum seekers living in their local area. The research shows that community-level factors can give important insights into attitudes towards immigration. While some communities perceive immigration more negatively than others, positive social contact can play a key role in improving attitudes and therefore social cohesion. This has important implications for policies aimed at improving migrant integration, but also indicates that broader economic and social policies and factors, such as disadvantage, segregation, urban/rural settlement, play a key role in social cohesion and attitudes towards immigration, the report said. The findings about pressure on services indicate that it may not be direct local experiences that impact attitudes, but may instead be concern about pressure on services in Ireland as a whole. Report author Fran McGinnity said: This research shows that local communities can generate both obstacles to, but also opportunities for, social integration between non-migrants and migrants. Communities are spaces where migrants and non-migrants not only encounter each other but can also form lasting social ties. This could be as next-door neighbours, as parents of children going to the same school, or in community groups. This kind of positive social contact between migrants and non-migrants can go a long way to generating positive relations between groups as well as building stronger, more cohesive communities in the long run. Report co-author Keire Murphy said: This report gives important insight into what makes anti-immigrant sentiment more likely. Echoing international findings, socio-economic factors like community-level disadvantage seem to matter, implying that the broader social and economic context is important for attitudes towards immigration. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 21 2025 New York ranks 8th in Unemployment Claims Decrease vs. Same Week Last Year. New York is struggling with unemployment recently, with last weeks claims 15.35% higher than in the previous week but 15.19% lower than last year, according to WalletHubs updated rankings for the States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most. Unemployment Situation in New York (1=Best; 25=Avg.): Overall Rank for New York: 35 th 41 st Unemployment Claims Decrease vs. Previous Week 8 th Unemployment Claims Decrease vs. Same Week Last Year 21 st Cumulative Unemployment Claims in 2025 vs. Same Period Last Year 44th Unemployment Claims per 100,000 People in Labor Force To view the full report and your states rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-unemployment-claims/72730 Expert Commentary Do you think the hiring dynamic is currently tilted in favor of employees or employers? The hiring dynamic is currently tilted in favor of the employees in most cases, particularly those who are competent and high performers. The best recruits are already working or under contract, which puts them in a position to opt not to take up an offer that does not meet their needs and to strategically negotiate their future employment engagements. As a result, these employees may have one or multiple firms pursuing them for regular and/or temporary employment arrangements. Hence, the recent trend in talent acquisition puts equal weight on talent retention and on creating a win-win situation for both the employee and employer. Dr. Carolyn Wiley, PhD (UCLA), SPHR, SHRM-SCP, DipEmpLaw Professor, Roosevelt University It depends on the industry. For many industries that rely heavily on lower-paid workers, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find those workers. The combination of fewer teens working plus uncertainty regarding immigration has hit these sectors hard. Farm worker shortages are particularly concerning as this may have a direct impact on food prices and food waste. However, industries in the areas more affected by the take-up of AI are starting to show a slowdown in hiring for entry-level positions, making the job market particularly tight for recent college graduates and adding to great uncertainty regarding how best to train for white-collar jobs of the future. Joyce P. Jacobsen Professor, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Wesleyan University What are your predictions for the job market as we move forward during 2025 (job gains, hiring confidence, quit rates etc.)? I expect employers and employees to behave conservatively due to the unpredictability of the Trump administration on economic issues. The high degree of uncertainty around tariffs, federal funding, federal employment, etc. will likely make people risk adverse, with both employers and workers avoiding making changes. Jeff Rothstein, PhD Professor; Chair, Department of Sociology, Grand Valley State University Continued uncertainty regarding longer-term trends as the effects of widespread AI adoption and changes in AI tools continue. At this point, recent safe havens like learning to code seem less safe. The continued uncertainty regarding the levels and effects of tariffs on domestic industries and the slowdown in the tourist industry in the US are also keeping hirers cautious as they wait to see the full effects of the current federal administrations seesawing policies. Its hard to imagine consumer and employer confidence rising any time soon. The best-case scenario for the year is low but positive growth rather than a turn towards recession, but 2025 may well manage to do this as the full effects of the tariffs and other administrative policies may not become clear until after the holiday season, boding less well for 2026. Joyce P. Jacobsen Professor, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Wesleyan University Given the current circumstances, what trends do you expect to see in terms of unemployment in the foreseeable future? The trend I expect to see in terms of unemployment in the foreseeable future is a greater uptake. Employers contribute to unemployment insurance, to ensure access to these funds when needed. These days laid off employees are more likely to apply for it, and employees and employers have less stigma around it. Employees during the Pandemic and thereafter, found this benefit to be extremely helpful. I expect that more people will leverage unemployment funds as more layoffs occur and be less concerned about a negative impact on their future job prospects or opportunities. Dr. Carolyn Wiley, PhD (UCLA), SPHR, SHRM-SCP, DipEmpLaw Professor, Roosevelt University Unemployment rates, which have stayed in a reasonable range for some time now, have never fully reflected the state of the job market, and that continues to be the case. In particular, discouraged workers and underemployed workers, including the many workers who do not utilize fully their formal training, are not reflected. The current job market is less about high unemployment and more about structural issues, such as the mismatch between what skills employers are looking for and what skills potential workers have. The issue for many younger and even middle-aged workers is also the inability to find a single well-paying job with full benefits, leading more workers to hold multiple part-time positions and short-term gigs. Joyce P. Jacobsen Professor, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Wesleyan University Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 21 2025 Sudden Federal Action Threatens Early Childhood Education, Community Health Programs, Family Planning Clinics, Mental Health Services, Food Banks, and Other Lifeline Programs. New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the federal administration to stop its unlawful attempt to gut lifesaving health, education, and social service programs for low-income families. Earlier this month, in a chaotic reversal of decades of agency policy, the administration issued sweeping new directives barring many safety net programs from serving all residents, regardless of immigration status. The changes threaten access to core services such as Head Start, Meals on Wheels, child welfare programs, domestic violence shelters, housing assistance, mental health treatment, food banks, and community health centers. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to halt these policies and act quickly to prevent the collapse of some of the nations most vital public programs. For decades, states like New York have built health, education, and family support systems that serve anyone in need, said Attorney General James. These programs work because they are open, accessible, and grounded in compassion. Now, the federal government is pulling that foundation out from under us overnight, jeopardizing cancer screenings, early childhood education, primary care, and so much more. This is a baseless attack on some of our countrys most effective and inclusive public programs, and we will not let it stand. Starting on July 10, four federal agencies the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), Labor (DOL), and Justice (DOJ) issued a coordinated set of rules and guidance documents reinterpreting the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), a 1996 law governing access to public benefits. For nearly three decades, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, federal agencies interpreted PRWORA to allow states to offer a wide range of essential services without regard to immigration status. That changed abruptly with new notices issued under the presidents executive order, Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders. The new policies redefine broad swaths of federally funded programs as restricted federal public benefits, now subject to immigration verification. These rules took effect immediately or with little notice, bypassing public input and ignoring real-world consequences. The policies apply not just to undocumented immigrants, but also to some people with legal status, including student visa holders, temporary workers, and exchange visitors. In addition, the attorneys general warn that even U.S. citizens and lawful residents could be denied services, as many low-income individuals lack government-issued identification. Attorney General James and the coalition argue the policies are already causing significant disruption. The notices started to take effect almost immediately, and state programs face the risks of enforcement, endangering their federal funding. Providers, including those serving children, pregnant patients, refugees, and other vulnerable populations, are ill-equipped to implement the new policies under any timeline. Children in foster care, domestic violence survivors, people leaving homelessness, and many other vulnerable communities could lose access to some of their most critical supports. Although some charitable organizations remain exempt from the requirement to verify immigration status, states and their subgrantees are not. The attorneys general assert that in its rush to inflict harm on immigrant communities, the administration is poised to harm tens of thousands of low-income families, workers, and children, including U.S. citizens and lawful residents. In New York, the consequences are especially alarming: Community Health Centers: New Yorks 850 community health centers provide primary and preventative care to 2.4 million low-income residents, regardless of insurance or immigration status. These centers are often the only healthcare provider available in underserved communities. Without federal funding or reimbursement for treating patients whose status cannot be verified, many centers could be forced to close leaving entire communities without access to vaccines, mammograms, wellness exams, and chronic disease care. Title X Family Planning Clinics: Title X clinics provide low- or no-cost reproductive care, STI testing, cancer screenings, and wellness exams to over 300,000 New Yorkers each year. In 2024, the state received more than $11 million in Title X funding all of which may now be at risk unless clinics begin screening for verifying immigration status, a step providers call unworkable and deeply harmful. Anti-Poverty Programs: New York receives approximately $65 million annually through the Community Services Block Grant, which supports food, housing, utility assistance, and more. In 2023, the states Community Action Agencies served more than half a million New Yorkers, distributed 1.5 million boxes of food, and provided before- and after-school programs for over 200,000 students. Under the new rules, far fewer people will access these critical anti-poverty services either because they lack ID or because they fear immigration-related repercussions. Early Childhood Education: Head Start provides early education to 43,000 low-income children at nearly 1,000 sites statewide and receives approximately $700 million in federal funding. New Yorks Head Start providers warn that they may not have the ability or capacity to feasibly implement immigration screening. These programs are particularly fragile: when federal funding was temporarily frozen in January 2025, several centers shut down within days, forcing parents to miss work and threatening job stability. Behavioral Health: New York receives nearly $180 million annually in federal mental health and substance use block grant funding to support critical programs like crisis intervention teams, substance use disorder treatment, school-based mental health services, peer support networks, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, and jail diversion initiatives. These services are now at serious risk under the new federal rules. For many individuals with serious mental illness - including those experiencing homelessness - immigration status screening and documentation requirements may pose an insurmountable barrier to care. The New York Office of Mental Health also warns that these changes could severely undermine the state's mental health infrastructure and further worsen the nationwide youth mental health crisis. Adult Education Services: More than 80,000 New Yorkers use Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) each year to build literacy, earn high school equivalency diplomas, and gain career training. These programs are especially vital for new Americans and are essential to addressing workforce shortages. The administrations rules would exclude thousands of learners overnight and destabilize the entire system. Providers warn they cannot implement the new requirements without gutting their mission and ability to serve. The attorneys general argue that the federal government acted unlawfully by issuing sweeping new mandates without following the required rulemaking process, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. They also argue the administration grossly misread PRWORA, improperly applying it to entire programs rather than individual benefits, and generally failed to consider the sweeping and devastating impacts these changes would have on states. Finally, they assert the rules violate the Constitutions Spending Clause, which requires the federal government to provide clear and fair notice of any new conditions on funding before states accept those funds. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to declare the new rules unlawful, halt their implementation through preliminary and permanent injunctions, vacate the rules and restore long-standing practice, and prevent the federal government from using PRWORA as a pretext to dismantle core safety net programs in the future. Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 21 2025 Follows States Distraction-Free Schools Law for Bell-to-Bell Smartphone Restrictions in K-12 Schools Statewide. Governor Kathy Hochul today held a roundtable with New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Melinda Person, Capital Region school district administrators, teachers and other stakeholders to highlight their plans for implementing bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions when school resumes this fall. Capital Region school districts participating in todays discussion included the Albany City School District, Schenectady City School District, Utica City School District and East Greenbush Central School District all of whom have now finalized their distraction-free policy in advance of the States August 1 deadline. As Governor, my priority is ensuring every New York student receives a high-quality education, free from constant clicking and scrolling thats why Ive directed my team to commit every available resource for school districts to develop their distraction-free learning policies by the August 1 deadline, Governor Hochul said. Im encouraged by my discussion with Capital Region school districts that have already implemented their distraction-free policy, and I am confident that New York will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions on the first day of school. The Distraction-Free Schools law signed by Governor Hochul requires bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in K-12 school districts statewide, starting this fall for the 2025-2026 school year. As part of that law, public school districts statewide must finalize and publish their distraction-free policy by August 1. The Governor also recently launched a website with a policy FAQ, toolkit and other key information about the State law as a resource for districts as they finalize their policy. The Governor also recently highlighted that nearly 150 school districts across New York have already submitted their distraction-free policy. Governor Hochuls bell-to-bell policy creates a statewide standard for distraction-free schools in New York including: Prohibits unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from bell to bell), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students Secures $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy Prevents inequitable discipline Governor Hochuls policy allows authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans. New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, I want to thank Governor Hochul for championing this effort, and for trusting educators and communities to lead it. Were not banning connection; were restoring it. Human connection. Academic connection. The kind that only happens when students can look up from their phones and engage with the world and the people around them. Additionally, the Governors policy includes several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies. Governor Hochul pursued this initiative after engaging in a statewide listening tour with teachers, parents, and students. Her report More Learning, Less Scrolling: Creating Distraction-Free Schools underscores the following: Smartphones distract students and inhibit learning and creativity Phone-free environments do not compromise student safety Phone-free environments support the mental health of students and teachers Open communication and direct guidance for all stakeholders is key for successful implementation Schools must address any parent concerns about staying in contact with their children during the day An effective distraction-free policy must focus on the entire school day, rather than solely on time in the classroom Schools can strengthen their distraction-free environment by connecting more students with in-person engagement like clubs, sports, arts and other programming State Senator Patricia Fahy said, If kids are distracted in the classroom, they aren't learning, it's that simple. Right now, students spend more than 90 minutes each school day on their phones. With New York's new cellphone ban, students will be able to focus on what matters most--learning, building social relationships, and preparing themselves to enter a career or college. I want to thank Governor Hochul , my colleagues, and our teachers for getting this done this year and for investing in our students' success. Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, The Governor's initiative to create a distraction free learning environment for our children was a critical initiative in this year's budget and for good reason. Our students and teachers and staff are entitled to a distraction free environment for learning, and I commend the Governor for bringing this initiative to the Legislature after several months of meetings throughout the state of New York to make sure the right policy was considered and approved - and it was. Those in the education community and society at large will benefit for generations to come as this policy is fully implemented starting this fall. Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, Governor Hochuls initiative to create distraction-free schools is critically important, as it has the potential to improve student mental health and promote in-person connection. Todays roundtable offered administrators, teachers, and stakeholders a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and explore how this policy can be implemented successfully in each individual school for the upcoming year. Assemblymember Phil Steck said, Every time I talk with educators, I hear the same thing. Students are more distracted than ever, and their ability to connect face-to-face has taken a real hit. We cant ignore the impact constant phone use is having on learning and social development. Creating distraction-free schools is just common sense if we want kids focused in class and better prepared for life outside of it. Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, Students need to be focused in order to learn and distractions, like the use of smartphones during the school day, impede this. I applaud Governor Hochul for championing the importance of the Distraction-Free Schools law. Bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions will also promote increased face-to-face interaction and that will promote socialization. Parents should be communicating with their school districts to let them know their concerns and how they can stay connected with their kids as needed during the school day. Israeli paratroopers operating in Gaza in July 2025. (IDF) On July 20, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called on Gazans in the southwestern neighborhoods of the town of Deir al Balah to evacuate. The IDFs Arabic language spokesperson noted that the IDF would destroy terrorist infrastructure in the sector and expand military activity in an area it has not operated in before. Israeli media has interpreted this development as a prelude to expanded ground operations in the area. Deir al Balah is one of four towns that make up the central camps in Gaza, a region south of Gaza City that the IDF has never controlled during the 21-month war. Hamas has held hostages in the central camps in the past, and there is concern, including from the families of those still held captive, that an expanded operation there could threaten the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza. In June 2024, the IDF rescued four Israeli hostages from Nuseirat, another town in the central camps. The area is known as the central camps because the four localitiesDeir al Balah, Nuseirat, Bureij, and Maghaziare the names of four refugee camps established in central Gaza after 1948. The Israeli militarys focus on Deir al Balah comes a week and a half after it expanded operations into Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. On July 16, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited the territory and said, We already have operational control of 75% of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continue to clear and secure areas throughout the territory. In southern Gaza, the 188th Armored Brigade and the Golani Infantry Brigade, operating under the 36th Division, carved out a new corridor between eastern and western Khan Younis. The IDF refers to it as the Magen Oz Corridor. It is unclear whether the IDF intends to remain in this new area. The objective of Operation Gideons Chariots, which began in May, has been for the Israeli military to hold more parts of Gaza than in the past, when it would clear sectors and leave. On July 16, the IDF said the new corridor stretches 15 kilometers and is aimed at applying pressure on Hamas. The Israeli military may end up re-deploying as part of a ceasefire deal that has been in discussion throughout July. If there is a deal to release the hostagesit will be made possible first and foremost thanks to your combat. If an agreement is reached, we will pause and reposition along lines defined by the political echelon. If no deal is reached, my directive to Southern Command is to intensify and expand combat operations as much as possible, Lieutenant General Zamir said on July 16. He noted that Israel has eliminated 1,300 terrorists over the last several weeks while also suffering casualties, including three IDF soldiers killed on July 14. In other areas of Gaza, the Israeli military continues to conduct precision strikes on Hamas and other groups. For instance, the IDF said that it eliminated the deputy commander of Hamass Jabaliya Battalion on July 10. This battalion has been driven from northern Gazas Jabaliya neighborhood by the IDF several times over the course of war, only for it to return and operate there once again. The Israeli Nahal Brigade also expanded operations into the Daraj Tuffah neighborhood near Gaza City. On July 19, the IDF said it had eliminated the commander of Hamass Daraj Tuffah Battalion. The Times of Israel reported on July 21 that the Israeli military may draw down some reservist troops from Gaza amid rising fatigue, as the forces have been fighting for three months in the renewed campaign. On July 17, a shell struck the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City. I express my profound sadness regarding last Thursdays attack by the Israeli army on the Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which as you know killed three Christians and gravely wounded others, Pope Leo XIV said. The IDF said on July 18 that an initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret for the tragic incident in which stray ammunition accidentally struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation continues to distribute around two million meals a day to civilians via several distribution sites. Hamas-run health ministry officials continue to claim that Gazans have been killed near the humanitarian sites due to live fire from the IDF or others. The IDF has disputed these claims, arguing that live fire has only been used near people when necessary, not directed to harm them. 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). Former UFC fighter Diego Sanchez is once again at the center of controversy. This time, not for his exploits inside the octagon, but for an incident that could bring him significant legal consequences According to local reports, Sanchez was arrested in New Mexico after allegedly firing a gun from a moving vehicle. According to police reports, the incident allegedly occurred from a black Jeep Gladiator, from which several shots were heard while driving through a residential area. McGregor fails trying to break boxing machine with punch Diego Sanchez arrested in Albuquerque According to court records, officers were responding to an incident on Interstate I-40 in Albuquerque when they heard a gunshot from a vehicle driving in the area. It was later determined that the passenger in the car, a Jeep Gladiator, was Diego Sanchez. After the sound of the gunshot, authorities began a pursuit of the vehicle and managed to stop it shortly afterwards. Although Sanchez acknowledged that there was a gun inside the car, he denied having used it at any time. During the inspection of the vehicle, officers located three shell casings on the passenger side, as well as a pistol hidden in the back of the driver's seat. UFC and Diego Sanchez: From Octagon Legend to Conflict Known for his aggressive style and unwavering fighting spirit, Diego Sanchez was one of the most recognizable names in UFC's early history . He was the winner of the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and competed in multiple memorable fights during his professional career. was one of the most recognizable names in . He was the and competed in multiple memorable fights during his professional career. Although his record ended with 30 wins and 14 losses , what really set him apart was his ability to connect with the Latino audience in the United States and his total commitment in every fight. After officially retiring from MMA in 2021 , Diego Sanchez's life outside of the sport has been somewhat unstable, with several public appearances and personal problems. , what really set him apart was his ability to connect with the and his total commitment in every fight. After , outside of the sport has been somewhat unstable, with several public appearances and personal problems. The 43-year-old former UFC fighter is currently in custody and faces two charges: one for shooting from a moving vehicle, and another for reckless handling of a firearm. Diego Sanchez was, for many, a warrior of the octagon who left his mark for his bravery and passion. Today, his name is back in the news, but in a very different context. What happened in New Mexico is a reminder that life after sport also requires structure, support and direction. This incident could be a turning point in the life of the former champion. Although he is no longer an active figure in the sport, he remains an influential personality within the mixed martial arts community, especially among Latino fans and future generations of fighters. The incident also reopens the debate about mental health in retired athletes, a topic that has become more relevant in recent years in the world of professional sports. A Massachusetts biotechnology company is laying off nearly 500 employees, more than a third of its total workforce, as it faces pushback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on one of its treatments. Sarepta Therapeutics, which is headquartered in Cambridge and also has facilities in Andover and Bedford, will cut 493 people from its payroll, according to a Massachusetts Workers Adjustment Retraining Notice filed with the state on July 17, the day before the layoffs were scheduled to go into effect. In an announcement posted on the company website July 16, Sarepta leaders wrote that the company would undergo a strategic restructuring expected to save approximately $400 million annually. Faced with environmental changes, we have decided to act decisively, implementing a focused strategy to ensure Sarepta remains a vibrant, financially enduring, patient-centric organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with rare genetic diseases, CEO Doug Ingram said in the announcement. These changes will ensure we remain a financially strong and profitable organization built on a sharpened and focused strategy. Sarepta develops treatments for genetic diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The companys gene therapy Elevidys, which was developed to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was recently put under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after two patients receiving it died from liver failure earlier this year. Last month, Sarepta announced that it would cease shipments of the treatment for non-ambulatory patients, or those who cannot walk, while updating the label and developing enhanced safety measures. However, on Friday, the FDA announced that it was requesting the company cease shipments of the drug entirely, which Sarepta declined to do. In a statement, company officials said they had detected no new or changed safety signals among ambulatory patients that would indicate a need to stop shipments entirely. We recognize that the death of any patient is heartbreaking, they wrote. ELEVIDYS is the only approved gene therapy for individuals devastated by Duchenne, a rare, progressive and ultimately fatal disease. We are committed to working closely with the FDA to ensure that all decisions are grounded in science and the best interests of patients, considering the compelling need of these families to access disease-modifying therapy. Cindys Drive-In in Granby is more than just a restaurant with good food. Its a summertime happy place. Here, you can get what I consider to be the best dog in Massachusetts (as determined by our 2018 Best of Mass Hot Dogs contest). You also have a choice of more than 100 soft-serve flavors, from Funky Monkey and Fruity Pebbles to Tootsie Roll and Tutti Frutti. Heres the best part: Each one costs less than $5. Plus, sprinkles are free. A look around Cindy's Drive-In in Granby. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) Mass. Hidden Gems: Cindys Drive-In in Granby Now in its 30th year of operation, Cindys is a retro revelation. Cindys certainly celebrates its throwback 50s vibes. But I hesitate to call it nostalgic or suggest it brings visitors back to their childhood. Thats because it would imply that its atmosphere and appeal are relics of the past. Cindys Drive-In is a fantastic place to go today. You should abandon your pointless 2 p.m. Zoom meeting and drive there right now. The only downside is that you probably wont be the only one with that idea. Cindys is consistently packed in a way that makes you stop and go, Oh wow, people must love this place. But the line moves quickly. While Cindys has an insane amount of variety in its flavors, the whole operation is pretty streamlined. Once youre at the counter, it wont be long until your name is called from the frazzled old outdoor speaker. After that, its a matter of finding the perfect spot to eat, which can be an adventure in itself. The seating at Cindys is far from your normal restaurant setup. Its more like a chaotic jumble of picnic tables and playgrounds. When youre there, theres a good chance youll be amidst a joyous jamboree of juveniles who are running around enjoying the highlight of their week. On a related note: If I am there, Im also probably experiencing the highlight of my week. Even if social norms dictate that I probably shouldnt climb around the giant wooden monster truck and wooden train on the grounds, Im more than happy to enjoy it as part of the shady trees and pleasant breeze. A Duff Dog from Cindy's Drive-In in Granby. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) Whats good on the menu? Ice cream and hot dogs. I can (and will) continue to bloviate about the various little elements of color and atmosphere that make Cindys worth a drive out. But it really all comes down to those five words above. Back in 2018, I was a judge for our Best of Mass Hot Dogs contest. The best hot dog I had during that whole contest was from Cindys. What makes their dogs special are A) the long, snappy, delicious franks they use, and B) the way they beautifully grill their buns. The most popular order is the classic The Works with mustard, relish and onion. But I cant recommend the Duff Dog enough. It comes topped with grilled onions, barbecue sauce and (as weird as it sounds) a small line of mayonnaise. Other menu highlights include a simple but effective cheeseburger, grinders, chicken tenders and a few different spins on fries. But a trip to Cindys is incomplete without something sweet. Cindy's Drive-In owner Jeremiah Maloni smiles as he watches his team at work. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) Doing the classics just right Much of the ice cream menu at Cindys is built around classics and throwbacks. Youve got your milkshakes and dipped cones. There are plenty of sundae options and milkshakes. I dont typically go for soft-serve ice cream or sundaes. But I usually make an exception at Cindys. Thats because they go the extra mile with the little touches to make their ice cream stand out. They make their own vanilla extract and syrups in-house. Its the same thing for the brownies and apple crisp. Theres a fine line between old and classic. The difference is often in the little touches, the atmosphere, the care that goes into making it. Cindys Drive-In is a classic. A look around Cindy's Drive-In in Granby. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive) What to know when visiting Cindys Drive-In Cindys is best enjoyed on a sunny day where you can sit at a picnic table and enjoy your food and maybe let the kids run around a bit. The dining experience at Cindys is entirely outdoors. So if its cold or rainy, theres nowhere to sit inside. There used to be indoor seating at Cindys. But as the restaurant has expanded, they now use the entire interior space for food and ice cream service. Check them out: Website | Facebook | Instagram Whats the address? 455 E State St, Granby Whats the parking situation? Cindys Drive-In. has a full private parking lot with plenty of spaces. When are they open? Here are the listed business hours at the time of writing. Monday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. --- Mass. Hidden Gems is a series highlighting restaurants and other businesses across the Bay State that we think deserve more attention. You can check out the rest of the series here. Have a hidden gem that you think we should check out? Email nomalley@masslive.com your favorites. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor known to millions of television viewers as Theodore Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died in an apparent drowning. He was 54. Warner drowned off the coast of Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20, ABC News reported, citing Costa Rican National Police. The actors official cause of death was asphyxia, police told the outlet. Warner was said to have been caught by a high current. His body was discovered Sunday afternoon, ABC News reported. Born on Aug. 18, 1970 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Warner rose to fame for his role as Theodore Theo Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. Appearing in 197 episodes, Warner received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the series in 1986. Warners other notable television credits include Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines Sons of Anarchy, Ten Days in the Valley and The Resident. He also starred as A.C. Cowlings opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. on the critically acclaimed, award-winning FX series American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson in 2016. Warner made his feature film debut in the 1994 movie Drop Zone. He also appeared in 2008s Fools Gold opposite Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson and Donald Sutherland. Warner also co-starred in the independent films Restaurant with Adrien Brody, A Fare to Remember, The List with Wayne Brady. The actor also took parts in several stage productions including Freefall, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Guess Whos Coming to Dinner, Three Ways Home, and Cryin Shame, for which he received the NAACP Theater Award for Best Supporting Actor. Warner also received critical acclaim for his West Coast debut of his one-man theatrical production of Love and Other Social Issues. Warner had a successful career behind the camera as well. He was an executive producer for the PBS Kids series The Magic School Bus. He also produced directed and starred in the BET original series Reed Between the Lines opposite Tracee Ellis Ross. Warners other directing credits include All That, Keenan & Kel, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sesame Street and the AIDS awareness video Timeout: The Truth about HIV, AIDS, and YOU. The video, which starred Magic Johnson and Arsenio Hall, earned Warner the NAACP Key of Life Image Award. He also directed several short films including You Cant Hear Me and This Old Man, which was critically acclaimed. Warner was also a Grammy Award-winning musician and poet. He won Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song Jesus Children alongside Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway in 2015. He released four albums from 2003 to 2022. His fourth album, Hiding In The Plain View, was nominated for a Grammy for the inaugural Best Spoken Word Poetry Album. The ongoing crisis in Massachusetts prompted by the refusal of some private defense attorneys to take on new cases has left several hundred criminal cases on the brink of being dismissed, according to the states trial court system. With the so-called Lavallee protocol in place since early July, both the Boston Municipal Courts and District Courts in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties have been holding hearings for defendants held for more than seven days without lawyers. But now those courts will be responsible for holding hearings for out-of-custody defendants whose cases have been pending without lawyers for 45 days. Unlike those who have been held, the protocol calls for those cases to be dismissed. The first of the 45-day hearings is set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning via Zoom for defendants in the Boston Municipal Courts. The states trial court system estimates roughly 130 cases will be heard on Tuesday, followed by roughly 225 cases on the next hearing date, August 5. While no hearings have been scheduled for the district courts, the trial courts said 147 cases are expected to be heard at the first such hearing, followed by roughly 300 on the next date. Taken together, that means more than 800 criminal cases could be dismissed in the coming weeks. As of Friday, the Boston Municipal Courts had heard 36 cases of defendants held in custody for longer than a week without a lawyer. Of those 36, 15 were released from custody after a judge found the states public defender agency, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, had made a good faith effort to find them a lawyer and they were still unrepresented. In the district courts, 15 such cases were heard, and eight defendants were released from custody. More Lavallee hearings are scheduled for defendants in custody Wednesday morning in Boston Municipal Court, while hearings for the district courts will be held Thursday morning. The trial courts laid out the numbers in a motion asking Supreme Judicial Court Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt, who implemented the protocol, to modify her order to allow more than one judge to oversee Lavallee hearings. These numbers make it patently impossible for the Courts to conduct the 45-day hearings with only one judge, Assistant Attorney General Marina Pullerits wrote in the filing on behalf of the trial courts. While this is not the first time the Lavallee protocol has been instituted, it is the first time the situation has grown so dire that the courts have been forced to schedule 45-day hearings, as required by the protocol. All parties are now firmly in uncharted territory, Pullerits wrote. Private defense attorneys known as bar advocates represent about 80% of criminal defendants in Massachusetts who cant afford their own lawyers. But amid a dispute over the relatively low rates they are paid, the attorneys have largely refused to take on new cases since late May. By law, bar advocates make between $65 and $120 an hour in Massachusetts, depending on the type of case they are taking on. In New Hampshire, bar advocates make $125 an hour. They make $112 per hour in Rhode Island and $150 per hour in Maine. Melina Galanis Frattolin, 9, has been found dead, police said. Early Sunday, police issued an Amber Alert saying she had been abducted on Saturday in Lake George, N.Y. Courtesy State Police Ticonderoga, N.Y. A 9-year-old girl who was reported abducted Saturday evening in Upstate New York has been found dead with no indication of having been abducted, troopers said. The girl, Melina Frattolin, was found dead in the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County, according to a news release Sunday from Trooper Stephanie ONeil, a spokesperson for the State Police. Melina was originally reported abducted in Lake George and last seen in a van near Exit 22 (Lake George Village) on the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87). Thats about an hour south of where her body was found. Melinas father, Luciano Frattolin, called 911 at about 10 p.m. Saturday to report his daughter had possibly been abducted, ONeil said. An AMBER Alert was issued for Melina hours later at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. It said the child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death. The Warren County Sheriffs Office investigated the case before the State Police took over. Law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided, ONeil said. Multiple law enforcement agencies helped search for Melina, including the State Police, the Essex County Sheriffs Office and the Ticonderoga Police Department, as well as the state Department of Environmental Conservations officers and forest rangers. It was a DEC officer who found Melinas body during a grid search in the Ticonderoga area, according to a news release from James McCartney, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, the union that represents DEC officers. There is no indication that an abduction occurred, ONeil said, and there is no threat to the public. ONeil said officials plan to hold a news conference Monday to provide more information about the case. Melina and her father, 45, are both Candian nationals, ONeil said. The Canadian consulate in New York City did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a filled courtroom, the battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration continued on Monday as the two made arguments for a federal judge to rule in their favor without going to trial. Judge Allison D. Burroughs didnt make a ruling in court but said she will get an opinion out as soon as possible. Harvard is pushing for the decision to be made before September due to a deadline for paperwork related to grants. Several people were hospitalized after a flatbed truck crashed into a building in Devens on Monday, Massachusetts State Police said. At around 10:30 a.m., State Police learned of a truck slamming into a building at the Shriver Job Corps Center campus on Jackson Road in Devens, State Police spokesperson Tim McGuirk said in a short statement. Several people, including the operator of the truck, were transported to local hospitals with injuries, McGuirk wrote. No information was available on the severity of peoples injuries. State Police continue to investigate the truck crash. A popular barbecue chain that has restaurants across the globe is facing a lawsuit accusing it of overcharging, adding to existing backlash from franchisees and recent restaurant closures. Josef Francis Gregory, a franchise owner of Dickeys Barbecue Pit, filed a lawsuit on July 9 in Harris County Court in Texas, accusing the chain of hiring a firm that overcharged him for construction expenses. Gregory signed an agreement to begin Dickeys franchise in Nassau Bay, Texas in 2019, which gave him the rights to approve [or] veto the contractor performing the build-out and to approve or disapprove the work done on the build-out, according to court documents. Dickeys chose HDH Construction LLC of Caycee, South Carolina to perform the build-out of the location, which Gregory paid through financing with Dogwood State Bank in North Carolina, the document reads. The owner said he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the construction firm for the build-out but the job was never completed. After receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars of unearned and unapproved payments from [Dogwood State Bank], HDH abandoned the build-out of the restaurant with the build-out incomplete, the petition in the lawsuit reads. Gregory found the work done by HDH to be unwarranted, unapproved, and contrary to the agreement between him and the construction firm, and is seeking damages in excess of $1 million in the lawsuit. In a statement to MassLive, Dickeys wrote that the suit contains significant factual inaccuracies that compel us to clarify our position. The chain then defended its franchise agreement and support system and said that the company did not require Mr. Gregory to use Dogwood DSB as his lender or HDH Construction as his general contractor. The choice to engage with these or any other entities for financing and construction was his own. The franchise and loan agreements signed by Mr. Gregory explicitly detail the process for the build-out of his restaurant, including the terms for the disbursement of construction funds. These agreements place the responsibility and control over payment authorizations squarely with the franchisee, the statement reads. The allegation that funds were improperly disbursed by DSB is a matter between Mr. Gregory and the lender he selected. Dickeys is not a party to the financing agreement and has no authority to control or direct the disbursement of loan proceeds. Dickeys added that the company didnt act in a co-conspiratorial way with HDH, as they are independent companies with their own separate ownership and management." For over 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has been built on a foundation of integrity and a commitment to our family of franchisees, the company told MassLive. We are disappointed that Mr. Gregory has chosen to pursue this legal action without foundation. We remain confident that the legal process will affirm that Dickeys has honored all its contractual obligations. The barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by World War I veteran Travis Dickey, who opened the first Dickeys Barbecue Pit in Dallas, Texas, according to the restaurants website. The most popular foods on the chains menu are the Beef Brisket, Southern Pulled Pork and the St. Louis-style Ribs. Dickeys has 366 U.S. locations and another 19 international restaurants, bringing the total to 385, Restaurant Business reported. This total was calculated after the business shuttered 97 locations during its 2024 fiscal year and sold 106 locations to franchises. The company also faces struggles after the New York Times published a report which detailed how 37 current and former Dickeys franchisees were enticed to invest in Dickeys brand based on misleading financial information provided by the company. With public smoking more frowned upon than ever, some Beacon Hill lawmakers and their allies want to take what they believe is the logical next step by banning the next generation of Bay Staters from buying tobacco and nicotine products. Nicotine and tobacco products are highly addictive and the use of these products increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and other illnesses, Sen. Jason Lewis, D-5th Middlesex, whos shepherding a ban bill through the upper chamber, said in a statement. Lewiss bill, along with a companion House proposal sponsored by Reps. Tommy Vitolo, D-15th Norfolk, got an airing (pun entirely intended) before the Legislatures Joint Committee on Public Health last week. As its currently written, the legislation would bar anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, from buying cigarettes or nicotine pouches, such as Zyn. That cohort would turn 21 in 2027, the current legal age in Massachusetts, State House News Service reported. People born before 2006 who already use such products would still be able to buy them, the wire service reported. Isabel Tashie, a rising senior at Needham High School, told lawmakers that she knows countless peers and friends who use nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes. Some of her friends began using tobacco products as early as 12 years old. Tashie, a member of the anti-tobacco organization, The 84 Movement, a project of the state Department of Public Health, told lawmakers, according to the wire service. The advocacy group, created in 2007, takes its name from the 84% of Bay State high schoolers who didnt smoke when the organization launched, according to its website. As of 2023, 97% of [Massachusetts] high school youth do NOT smoke cigarettes, and 84% do NOT vape, the advocacy group asserted. The debate on Beacon Hill comes even as municipalities across the state take matters into their own hands. In 2020, Vittolos hometown of Brookline became the first municipality in the state to ban the sale of nicotine products to people born after Jan. 1, 2000. Local officials also fended off a court challenge. Other communities, such as Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester, have followed suit. But not everyone is on board, including one person who told lawmakers he found it ironic that the state allows recreational marijuana use for people aged 21 and older, but is looking to stub out tobacco use. You champion bodily autonomy and harm reduction on one side and then turn around and criminalize nicotine, Alexander Chouvelon told lawmakers, according to the wire service. Its inconsistent, its ideological, and it sends a mixed message. Its also Beacon Hill, which means its completely on-brand. The entrance to the Massachusetts House of Representatives chamber A hiring freeze for me, but not for thee Following Gov. Maura Healeys lead, the majority-Democrat state House has imposed a temporary hiring freeze. Given federal economic uncertainty, effective today, the House of Representatives is instituting a hiring freeze, with the exception of previously approved positions and backfills for legislative aides who are the sole aides to their member, Katherine Palmer, the Houses human resources director, wrote in a message to lawmakers, State House News Service reported. There is no similar freeze on the other side of the State House, a spokesperson for Senate President Karen E. Spilka, D-Middlesex/Norfolk, told the wire service. St. Monica-St. Augustine Catholic Church in Boston. Google Maps Street View What Catholic priests talk about when they talk politics Theres always been an intersection between faith and politics. With images of deportations and immigration raids on their parishioners TV screens nightly, Catholic clergy nationwide havent been shy about talking about it from the pulpit. Discussions about immigration outpaced discussions of any other political issue including abortion, health care, hunger and the environment according to new research by experts at UMass Boston. That shouldnt be too much of a surprise, according to UMass Boston sociology professor Evan Stewart and Ph.D. candidate Diane Beckman, since its right in line with Catholic social teaching. And many of those same clergy have called for compassion and care for migrants and the need to uphold human dignity and due process, regardless of someones immigration status, they wrote in an analysis published by The Conversation, a nonprofit and nonpartisan public affairs website. And based on 2022 data before the dawning of Trump 2.0, Catholic clergy talked about the issue more than other denominations when they talked politics from the pulpit, the analysis found. That made extrapolating to the current climate a challenge. But some patterns did emerge. We did find that Catholic leaders of congregations where the majority of worshipers are Hispanic were much more likely to talk about immigration, compared with leaders of non-Catholic Hispanic congregations and Catholic leaders of mostly white congregations, Stewart and Beckman wrote. Because Hispanic communities in the U.S. are facing the brunt of the immigration crackdown, this finding shows that Catholic leaders have been addressing the needs of their communities." So whats next? Beckman is furthering this research by conducting interviews with Catholics in Greater Boston. By asking church members to talk through their attitudes toward immigrants, we can learn more about how people make sense of complicated ethical questions, they wrote. An early morning view of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (John L. Micek/MassLive) Monday Numbers So far, the 2026 midterm contests arent terribly dramatic for the Bay States all-Democrat U.S. House delegation. But a lack of action doesnt mean they get a pass on campaign fundraising requirements. The numbers are in for all nine incumbent members of the House delegation. And its fair to say that theyre mostly swimming in cash like Uncle Scrooge McDuck used to backstroke through piles of gold coins in those old Disney cartoons. Heres a look, by the numbers, at the totals through June 30, based on U.S. Federal Elections Commission data. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District: Neal, of Springfield, is the top Democrat on the budget-writing House Ways & Means Committee. And that means he should be able to raise a ton of cash and he didnt disappoint. He had $3.9 million on hand at the end of June, after reporting total receipts of $782,495 and disbursements totaling $764,048, FEC records showed. U.S Rep. James P. McGovern, D-2nd District: The Worcester-area lawmaker had $321,660 on hand as of the end of June, according to his FEC filings. McGovern had total receipts of $166,719 and disbursements totaling $239,222, according to his FEC filing. U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District: Trahan, of Lowell, had $1.72 million in her campaign account at the end of June, her FEC filing showed. She reported total receipts of $550,454 and disbursements that clocked in at $278,193. U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District: The Newton lawmaker, frequently mentioned as a 2026 U.S. Senate contender, was sitting on an impressive $5.8 million at the end of June, his FEC filing showed. He reported receipts of $1.16 million and total disbursements of $277,436, records showed. U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District: As the No. 2 Democrat in the House, one of Clarks big jobs is to raise big bucks that she then showers on other Democrats. She had $1.7 million in her campaign account at the end of June, her FEC filing showed. Clark reported total receipts of $1.4 million for the first six months of the year and disbursements of $1.08 million, according to her campaign filing. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District: Moulton, of Salem, had nearly $2.2 million in his campaign coffers through the end of June, his FEC filing showed. The onetime White House hopeful had receipts of $748,595 and disbursements that totaled $406,544, records showed. Moulton picked up a primary challenger last week: Bethany Andres-Beck, a software engineer and Democratic activist, has thrown her hat into the ring, The Boston Globe reported. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District: Pressley, of Boston, had $125,104 on hand at the end of June. She reported receipts of $364,536 and disbursements of $357,653, her FEC filing showed. U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District: Lynch, of South Boston, who was recently passed over for a top leadership post, had $1.06 million on hand at the end of June, according to his FEC filing, with receipts totaling $214,249 and disbursements of $242,129. Plot twist: Patrick Roath, 38, an attorney and former Patrick administration aide whos also running for the seat, outraised Lynch, taking in a total of $287,691 through the end of June, records showed. Roath reported total disbursements of $64,086 and had $223,605 in his campaign account at the end of the most recent reporting period. U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-9th District: The South Shore and Cape and Islands lawmaker had $632,660 in his campaign coffers through the end of June, FEC records showed. He reported receipts of $140,630 and disbursements totaling $173,838, according to his campaign filing. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, talks politics and how Democrats can win in 2026 and beyond during an appearance before the New England Council in Boston on Monday, July 14, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive They Said It America has never been a country that gets it all right. Weve always been a country that believes that we might. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, makes the pitch for public service during an appearance before the New England Council in Boston last week. A view of the Massachusetts State House in Boston, looking across Beacon Street from the Boston Common. (John L. Micek/MassLive) Read more MassLive politics coverage Chicopee native announces candidacy for at-large city councilor position Mass. Gov Healeys popularity gets a bump in new poll as 2026 campaign heats up University Staff Association employees demand fair contracts from UMass Greater Boston lawmaker arrested for OUI near State House Boston housing crisis 2025: How Wu and Kraft plan to tackle affordability Quelle dommage: Republicans pounce on Healeys revelation she was in France (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) AP What Goes On Beachy foodies rejoice: The 13th Annual Cape Cod Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival returns to the Cape Cod Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 16. General admission runs $5 online in advance to $10 at the gate. There are also package deals whose prices rise accordingly depending on how boozy you want to get. Orders for those are online only. You can grab your tickets and find more info here. Rufus Du Sol performs at Ranch Arena during Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. Mike Krebs | MLive.com Turned up to 11 Aussie EDM legends Rufus du Sol play the XFinity Center in Mansfield on July 27 (tickets and more info here). Heres a whole playlist of trancey/dancey goodness from the band to get you through your Monday morning. Stanley Tucci arrives for the premiere of The Little Mermaid in London on Monday, May 15, 2023. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/Invision/AP) Your Monday long read Actor/author/midlife male style icon Stanley Tucci cements his National Treasure status with ... stay with me now ... an elevated tuna melt recipe that takes the diner staple to a sublime height. Im not going to give too much away here, but Ill just say the cheese choice is key. Click through to this Food and Wine story to learn more. And, of course, bon appetit. Thats it for today. As always, tips, comments and questions can be sent to jmicek@masslive.com. Have a good week, friends. While Monday is expected to have cooler temperatures and less humidity, dangerous heat is likely to return to Massachusetts this week. Temperatures will remain in the 70s on Monday with a low of 55 Monday night. Similar temperatures are expected on Tuesday. A warming trend begins Wednesday, with heat and humidity returning for Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service forecasters. Highs could reach 95 to 100 degrees and have dangerous Heat Indices on Friday. Forecasters are predicting it could feel like more than 105 degrees on Friday. When the heat index is this high, it can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, especially with prolonged exposure or physical activity. Massachusetts has reported nearly 30 people have died due to heat over the past decade, and the frequency of these deaths is increasing as the climate changes. For these people, heat was listed as either the main or contributing cause of death, including excessive natural heat, excessive heat of man-made origin or effects of heat and light. Two people died in June 2024 due to heat in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. But the numbers arent complete as death certificates dont always reflect the role heat played and it expands beyond Massachusetts, experts told the Associated Press. In 2023, more than 2,300 people died in the U.S. due to excessive heat, according to their death certificates, PBS reported. It was the highest number in 45 years, according to the AP. A government website warns that the most serious climate-related health hazards in Massachusetts result from an increased number of very hot summer days, increased precipitation leading to flooding, increased storm-related inland and coastal flooding and rising sea levels. Climate change is expected to increase the number of days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit each year, which may increase hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses, the website states. Climate change may also alter existing patterns of environmentally related diseases (e.g., asthma) and result in new health threats, such as tropical mosquito-borne illnesses. In 2005, there was an average of about nine days above 90 degrees. By 2030, Massachusetts is predicted to have more than 22 days above 90 degrees. By 2070, that number is expected to increase to more than 40 days. AMHERST Some community members are shocked, confused and calling for action over the reinstatement of a school counselor accused of misgendering LGBTQ students at the middle school and inappropriately bringing religion into the schools. Amherst-Regional Public Schools announced last week that Delinda Dykes, the Amherst Regional Middle School guidance counselor who was fired alongside two others in 2023, won her arbitration case against her termination and was reinstated to her position. Enlace de Familias on Main Street in Holyoke will host an event next month on how to seal housing records. (Dave Roback / The Republican, File) HOLYOKE A new clinic in Holyoke is giving renters a second chance by helping them seal old eviction records. Even if someone wasnt actually evicted, just having an initial filing on their record can make it hard to find housing. Mydalis Vera reading to herself from the book Survival and Beyond just before presenting her poem to the audience. (Staasi Heropoulos photo) Staasi Heropoulos NORTHAMPTON Mydalis Vera sat near the front of the room at the Northampton Center for the Arts, silently reading from the book Survival and Beyond. The anthology is a collection of essays and poems written by local survivors of domestic violence. Vera contributed a poem titled The House. A multi-million euro extension for a Castlebar secondary school has advanced to the next stage of the procurement process, according to Minister of State, Alan Dillon TD. Minister Dillon said: I am delighted to receive confirmation that the two-storey extension at St Geralds College in Castlebar has progressed with tenders being evaluated and finalised, with a contractor to be appointed shortly. The works at the school in the Mayo County town will include two general classrooms, a construction studies room, machine and preparation room on the first floor, while the second floor will have an additional two general classrooms, home economics room and textiles room. Each level will have a circulation link to the existing building as well as facilities for lockers, stairs and toilets. Minor upgrade works will also be completed to the existing building. He added: This project will provide enormous benefits to St Geralds campus in modernising its learning environment to cater for the growing needs of pupils in Castlebar and surrounding areas. Dillon concluded by saying: The project will significantly extend the capacity of the school which is badly needed. I want to commend principal Shaun Burke, his staff, students and Board of Management for their persistence in pushing for this project and look forward to it coming to fruition. READ MORE: Castlebar Celtic's FAI Cup crusade dashed by Longford Town Last Friday, July 18, a heartwarming celebration unfolded at the iconic Kylemore Abbey as family, friends, colleagues past and present, and members of the Benedictine Community gathered to honour a remarkable milestone: 50 years of dedicated service by Paddy Joe Joyce, Kylemores beloved maintenance operative. For half a century, Paddy Joe has been the quiet force behind the daily operations of the historic Connemara estate. From the days when Kylemore functioned as a boarding school and summer guesthouse, through its transformation into one of Irelands top visitor destinations, Paddy Joe has remained a steady and trusted presence, working closely alongside the Benedictine nuns every step of the way. READ MORE: Kilmeena trio brew up fantastic community spirit in West Mayo A native of the nearby seaside townland of Dawros, Paddy Joe is known not only for his incredible work ethic but for his characteristic West of Ireland humility. Speaking at the event, Paddy modestly remarked: I just get up and go about my day. But those who know him know better that his day might involve anything from repairing burst pipes to laying foundations for new buildings, from helping contractors navigate the sprawling Victorian estate to delivering post with a familiar smile and a bit of craic. Fridays celebration served as a touching tribute to the man who, for five decades, has gone above and beyond in quiet service, always obliging, always diligent. With no plans to hang up his tools just yet, Paddy Joes colleagues are grateful that his presence and his wisdom will continue to be part of daily life at Kylemore for the foreseeable future. TG4, in partnership with the Western Development Commission (WDC), is proud to announce the return of its acclaimed series 'Moving West' for a much-anticipated season 4, hosted by the beloved broadcaster Mary Kennedy. Produced by Dundara Television and Media, this year the spotlight shines on seven vibrant counties in the West and Northwest of Ireland that celebrate the rich tapestry of their heritage, the strength of their communities, and the bold innovation driving their future. Following three successful seasons, the series continues to highlight the people and projects shaping life across the West of Ireland, from community-driven initiatives and cultural preservation to pioneering rural enterprises and forward-thinking solutions to regional challenges. Moving West is grounded in the personal journeys of those who have chosen the West and are helping to shape it in return. Across the West and Northwest, communities are stepping up with passion, pride, and creativity to shape a vibrant future rooted in place, said Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission. We are proud to support a series that not only celebrates these incredible efforts but also inspires others to see the potential in their own localities. TG4 and the WDC are now inviting individuals, groups, organisations, and businesses from Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, and Clare to apply to be featured in season 4. READ MORE: Mayo TD confirms Progress on major extension for Castlebar school "We are especially interested in the stories of movers, those whove chosen to build a life here, bringing energy and perspective to our towns and communities. Whether you're: Revitalising your local heritage, Leading a community project, Driving innovation in a rural enterprise, or Building a better future through creativity and collaboration, "Your story matters and Moving West wants to help tell it. The focus of the series is on people who have moved and become integral parts of their local communities." This series is a heartfelt celebration of the people and places that make Irelands western counties so special, said Mary Kennedy. Im honoured to return as host and to share these uplifting stories of resilience, pride, and creativity. Enda Grace, Producer and Director of Moving West, said We are delighted to return with season 4. Every year were inspired by the people we meet, from returners discovering their roots to families starting fresh and entrepreneurs building something new. Were looking for stories that are personal, powerful and full of hope for what life in the West can be. You can apply by clicking the link here. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 15. This series is proudly supported by TG4, Western Development Commission and Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht with Dundara Media Productions, working together to amplify the voices and visions of Irelands western communities. READ MORE: Kylemore Abbey celebrates 50 years of service from maintenance veteran Disrupted care during the COVID-19 pandemic had intensified sadness and fear in children with long-term comorbidities. Trusted Source Comorbidities and emotions - unpacking the sentiments of pediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback: A large language model-driven study Go to source Trusted Source Integrated care is the key for reducing #emotionalstress in children with health challenges. It's time to bridge the gap and treat the whole child! #Child-mental-health #AI #Integrated-approach #Stress #Mental-well-being Advertisement The Silent Distress: Sadness and Fear Emerge from Digital Voices Advertisement How the Pandemic Amplified Agonies Advertisement The Urgent Need for Integrated Patient Support Comorbidities and emotions - unpacking the sentiments of pediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback: A large language model-driven study - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032725011942) According to a new study, children with several long-term health conditions experience serious emotional stress, even as they struggle with physical limitations of their ailments ().Research from the University of Plymouth usedto look at what nearly. The main aim is to understand, how therelated to their care.Using anonymous data sourced from the Care Opinion platform they found that of the narratives analyzed, almost. More than six out of ten negative comments were classed as being associated with sadness, with feelings of fear (at almost one in every six comments) also being prevalent.Children with conditions such as cancer asthma , chronic pain, and mental health conditions showed particularly high emotional distress, highlighting the emotional burden of managing multiple long-term health issues.Thewas also shown to, with patients expressing frustration with the healthcare systemAnd while just 6% of the comments were classed as positive, the study found that most of them related to effective communication, compassionate care, and successful treatment outcomes.The researchers say the study highlights the importance ofThis research was conceived and led by Professor of e-Health Shang-Ming Zhou, and its data analysis was implemented by MSc Data Science and Business Analytics student Temidayo (Israel) Oluwalade with support from Dr. Hossein Ahmadi in Plymouths Centre for Health Technology, Dr. Richard Sharpe with Cornwall Council, and Professor Lin Huo with Guangxi University.Professor Zhou, a recognised expert in the use of AI to analyse health data, said: To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to analyse the sentiments and emotions of paediatric patients using social media data. Our findings bring to light the deeply emotional journey patients with multiple long-term health issues go through, fills a critical gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals and agencies. It also highlights the disproportionate emotional burden faced by pediatric patients with multiple health issues and their caregivers during the COVID pandemic, showingIsrael Oluwalade, who graduated with a Distinction in 2024, added: As I worked through the dataset, I was particularly struck by how clearly childrens emotional responses aligned with specific comorbidity patterns for example,. What also surprised me most was the unexpectedly high frequency of satisfaction and amazement in posts referencing kind staff or successful treatment episodes. It reminded me howSource-Eurekalert Even five-day-old newborns show a clear preference for kindness over cruelty, hinting that morality may be hardwired in humans. Highlights: Newborns preferred watching animations with helpful behaviors over those with harmful ones Babies can perceive social interactions through high-contrast, repetitive visuals This may indicate an innate moral sensitivity, not shaped solely by experience Trusted Source Newborn babies show preference for kindness over cruelty Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Can #newborns recognize helpfulness at just 5 days old? We're wired for kindness before we even learn to speak! #kindness #medindia #mortality Can #newborns recognize helpfulness at just 5 days old? We're wired for kindness before we even learn to speak! #kindness #medindia #mortality Advertisement Newborn Eyes on Kindness Advertisement The Morality Compass On The Upper Hand Advertisement What Can Babies See? Simple shapes (balls and blocks) High contrast Clear directional movement Repetitive actions to build memory Wired for Kindness, Not Yet for Justice Kindness May Be Our First Language Newborn babies show preference for kindness over cruelty - (https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250716/Newborn-babies-show-preference-for-kindness-over-cruelty.aspx) Babies are born with all five senses: vision , hearing, smell, taste, and touch.. In a new study, researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Catania suggest that newborns, even in their first week of life, seem to favor kindness over cruelty ()!The researchers showed basic animated films to ninety babies. The first film featured a ball struggling to ascend a slope. It was then pushed upwards by another ball, indicating its helpful nature.In the second film, shown after the first, the opposite occurred: instead of helping, the second ball pushed the first one down the hill, preventing it from reaching the summit. Among the two animated films, the helpful scenario captured the infants attention for a longer period.In another set of video films, one ball moved towards another as if it were trying to get close or say hello. In the other video, the balls moved away, like they were avoiding each other. Again, the newborns spent more time watching the friendly, approaching action.Even though most people believe that newborn babies can't see well,of theclarified that infants can see well enough at close distances and, in contrast, when there is a repetition of movement, they can understand the concept, as in the study. These findings indicate that the baby is already familiar with good deeds soon after birth.Earlier experiments have shown that infants between the ages of 6 and 10 months can distinguish between good and bad characters. This clinical trial goes further by studying 5-day-old infants. It supports the theory that we do not evaluate social dynamics through experience, but rather that we are born with the ability, which is part of our evolutionary genetic code.Despite being newborns, these infants are already demonstrating signs of moral sensitivity, even in the absence of spoken language, facial recognition, or any social conditioning.Infants possess poor vision and therefore lack depth perception. However, they can focus on black-and-white patterns and respond to nearby movement. Thus, the researchers adapted the visuals accordingly:The presentation was designed to match newborns visual capabilities and elicit responses based on what they observed. Regions such as the posteriorand, respond to biological motion and social interaction in adults, and may also be functional in newborns.While this study suggests a preference for kindness, it doesn't mean babies understand fairness, justice, or empathy. Moral complexity comes later, shaped by environment, education, and experience.What were seeing here is the seed of moralitya simple, instinctual attraction to helpfulness over harm. This may serve as the biological foundation for moral learning as babies grow into children and adults.This study is a powerful reminder that we are born with an innate capacity to recognize goodness. In a world that often seems divided, the fact that even five-day-old babies prefer kindness gives hope. Before we learn to walk, talk, or reason, we may already be wired to connect, to care, and to choose kindness.This discovery reminds us that the instincts were born withto help, to comfort, to cooperateare not only natural but also essential to what makes us human!Source-Medindia The legendary origins of the submarine stretch back to 332 BC with a tale about Alexander the Great being lowered into the sea in a glass barrel to study fish. The submarine concept was thereafter consigned to the backwaters of history for some 1,800 years. It reappears with the publication in 1578 of Inventions or Devises by William Bourne, an English gunner turned innkeeper and mathematician. In this work, Bourne describes the principle of making a boat sink and rise again by changing the volume of the ship. If you contract the volume of the ship, it will sink; if you expand its volume, it will float upward. The exact process for doing this is not made clear, and contemporary materials and techniques precluded effective experiment. Early Submarines The Alexander legend and Bournes principle related more to the diving bell than a boat. The next step forward, conceptually, was to add some form of propulsion. The Dutchman Cornelius van Drebbel achieved this around 1620. His boat, Drebbel I, is probably the first working submarine. Basically an enclosed rowboat manned by 12 oarsmen, it probably had a sloping foredeck. This would have forced the boat under as forward momentum was applied, like the angled plane of a modern submarine. In 1636, a French priest, Marin Mersenne, added another piece to the jigsaw. He suggested that a submarine should be built of copper and be cylindrical in shape to better withstand increasing pressure at depth. Early designs for submarines, henceforth, generally adopted a porpoise-like form. Despite these early concepts and the Drebbel I prototype, it was more than 200 years before the French Navy launched the first true precursor of the modern submarine. In 1863, the Plongeur (Diver), which was powered by engines run on compressed air, became the first submarine that did not rely on human propulsion for momentum. Military possibilities of the Submarine It was not long before the military possibilities of a submerged boat began to be realised. As early as the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652- 1654), Louis de Son had built his 72ft-long Rotterdam Boat. This, in effect, was a semi-submerged battering-ram designed to approach an enemy warship unnoticed and punch a hole in its side. Once launched, though, it was unable to move. The American War of Independence provided further impetus in the form of David Bushnells Turtle. Water was pumped in and out of the skin of the boat to change its ballast, thus enabling the boat to sink and rise. This one-man boat was driven by hand-cranked propellers, one to provide vertical movement and another to provide horizontal drive. The Turtle became the first submarine to attack a ship, probably the HMS Eagle, in New York harbour in 1776. The attack failed, as Ezra Lee, the boats pilot, was unable to attach its armament, a 150lb-keg of gunpowder, to the enemy ships hull. Another American, Robert Fulton, attracted the attention of Napoleon in 1800 with his Nautilus. This submarine had a number of successful test dives, reaching a depth of 25ft and an underwater speed of 4 knots. It was driven by a hand-cranked propeller underwater, and by a sail when on the surface. Although it made a number of attacks on Royal Navy ships, they could always see the Nautilus coming and easily evaded it. Failure meant Fultons dismissal, and the Royal Navy, with the worlds largest fleet, breathed a sigh of relief. Submarine warfare did not develop further for 50 years. Then, the American Civil War (1861-1865) provided a major stimulus, particularly on the Confederate side. The Union had retained control of the US Navy, and its blockade of the South meant that the Confederacy was bound to search for ways to break it: the submarine was one of these. Several prototypes were built by both sides but these depended primarily on improvements to established technology rather than anything radically new. The most significant achievement was the destruction of the USS Housatonic in 1864, the first submarine victory. The oar-propelled CSS Hunley attacked the Housatonic with an explosive device on the end of a spar that was attached to its nose. Though the Hunley did not survive the attack, war beneath the waves had definitely begun. The Royal Navy and the modern submarine The real breakthrough, and the birth of the modern submarine, came courtesy of John Phillip Holland, towards the end of the 19th century. He became the first designer to successfully unite three new pieces of technology the electric motor, the electric battery, and the internal combustion engine to create the first recognisably modern submarine. The Admiraltys official position at the time was to give submarine development no encouragement. But it could not afford to ignore it completely, and, in October 1900, five Hollands were ordered with the purpose of testing the value of the submarine in the hands of our enemy. The Hollands were built under licence at Vickers yards in Barrow, which was to become the home of British submarine construction. The traditionalist view at the Admiralty thought of submarine warfare, in the words of Rear Admiral Wilson, as underhand, unfair, and damned un-English. Notwithstanding such views, the submarine gained a champion in Admiral Jacky Fisher. Having watched the five Hollands sink four warships in an exercise to defend Portsmouth Harbour, Fisher realised that naval warfare had changed. So, when he became First Sea Lord (1904-1910), he diverted 5% of the Navys shipbuilding budget, despite strong opposition, to the construction of submarines. From the beginning of Fishers tenure to the outbreak of the First World War, there was continual development of the submarine, from the Hollands through A to D classes. The D-class, with its decking and deck gun, represented a major change from the porpoise shape of earlier submarines, and introduced the form that would become familiar through two world wars. Submarines in World War Two Lulled into the belief that ASDIC made submarines irrelevant, the British Government, advised by the Admiralty, agreed in 1935 that the German Navy should be allowed the same tonnage of submarines as the Royal Navy. Captain, later Admiral, Donitz was ready with his submarine strategy. WWI experience implied that in a tonnage war, merchant ships could be sunk faster than they could be replaced. In order to achieve this, U-boats were to operate in Atlantic waters in wolf packs: seven or eight boats would shadow merchantmen across the sea, attack at night, and then submerge to escape, ready for the next attack. The strategy worked until mid-1943, when the Germans had lost 250 submarines and sunk over 3,000 Allied vessels. In May, the tide turned, with 42 U-boats sunk in that month alone, forcing Donitz to withdraw his fleet from the Atlantic. Even so, over the next two years they lost a further 520 submarines and sank only 200 ships. American aid, the convoy system, long-range air cover, and improvements in detection and anti-submarine weapons all had their effect. Having lost the Battle of the Atlantic, the Germans were forced to rethink. One result was the development of the snorkel, a breathing tube that meant the submarine could use its diesel engine whilst just below the surface, conserving battery power. It also made submarines less visible from the air, though the snorkel did leave a trailing wake, and it could be picked up on sonar. The standard U-boat had been the Type VII, of which more than 700 were built. They were around 200ft long, with a surface displacement of 760 tons, and a surface speed of 15 knots, equalling the speed of most surface ships. They had a dive time of 20 seconds to a maximum safe depth of 650ft, a range of over 8,700 miles, and could go seven or eight weeks without refuelling. Britains equivalent workhorse was the T-class. They were the first of the Navys boats to have their fuel tanks inside the hull, eradicating the problem of leaking fuel leaving surface trails. Whilst slightly smaller than the classes they replaced, they were an all-round improvement, and an all-welded hull meant they were stronger and able to dive deeper. The T-class performed sterling service in all naval theatres of war. HMS Truant, for example, sank enemy ships in home waters, in the Mediterranean, and in the Far East clocking up 81,000 tonnes of destruction in all. There was also success in the Far East for HMS Trenchant, which sank the Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara. Submarines during The Cold War Post WWII developments were dominated by the Cold War and the arms race between the US and the USSR. Changed political realities meant a different role for the submarine. The Royal Navys job ceased to be aimed at attacking surface shipping, and focused instead on the interception of Soviet submarines. The new Amphion class had been designed and introduced towards the end of WWII, but the submarines new role, and the development of increasingly sophisticated equipment, meant they were gradually refitted. They had already been given the Snort mast, a development of the German snorkel, and air-warning radar that worked whilst the submarine was underwater. Extra streamlining was introduced, which included the removal of the deck-gun; but perhaps the most important advances were in the complex array of sonar devices that were added to the boat. Nuclear Submarines The Americans had also been busy, and another German invention, the rocket, became one of the major areas of advance in submarine design. The USs experimentation with sub-launched missiles would lead to Polaris and Trident. They also went nuclear in the sense of having developed a suitable power-plant for a submarine. In 1955, USS Nautilus made the first nuclear-powered submarine patrol, all 323ft and 3,674 tons of it. It had a surface speed of 18 knots and a capability of reaching 23 knots submerged. The Nautilus also represented a radical shift in design. Capable of sustained underwater cruising, the Nautilus had returned to the streamlined, porpoise shape of the early pioneers, for there was now no need to spend long periods on the surface. It revolutionised naval warfare, for it combined the stealth and surprise of traditional submarines with a speed greater than their quarry. The British, too, developed nuclear-powered submarines, and Dreadnought, the Navys first example, went to sea in 1963. There were two strands to British design: one was the attack submarine, with responsibility for protecting Britains nuclear deterrent; the other was the Submerged Ship Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN), which carried Britains nuclear deterrent. The most famous of the latter was the Resolution Class HMS Conqueror, which sank the Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982, and remains the only nuclear submarine with an official kill. Such combined operations point the way to contemporary military strategy. As the Malta Convention of 1998 declared the Cold War over, so the role of the submarine has changed. It is no longer just anti-submarine work, but, in military terminology, Maritime Contributions to Joint Operations. This also includes the ability to launch special forces operations and undertake intelligence gathering but the Silent Service has always been capable of multi-tasking. Silent, submerged, and lethal, the submarine has changed the face of naval warfare. An incident involving an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress and a regional Delta airline passenger jet in North Dakota has now prompted multiple investigations after the bomber appeared near the plane's flight path and the commercial pilot was suddenly forced to evade the military aircraft. SkyWest flight 3788, operating Friday as a Delta connection between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Minot, North Dakota, "landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path," the regional airline said in an unsigned statement to Military.com on Monday. The aircraft the passenger jet encountered was allegedly a B-52 bomber. An Air Force spokesperson told Military.com they were aware of the incident and that a "B-52 assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening." Read Next: Naval Academy Superintendent, First Woman in Post, Replaced Early by Marine General The alleged incident was vividly detailed in a TikTok video that was widely circulated over the weekend showing the pilot of the SkyWest flight apologizing to the passengers aboard for the "aggressive maneuver." The situation comes nearly six months after a passenger plane collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. -- marking one of the deadliest commercial crashes in recent history -- and brought significant scrutiny to military aviation mishaps. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed in a statement to Military.com on Monday that it is also probing the circumstances of the incident. "The FAA is investigating the event involving SkyWest Airlines Flight 3788 at Minot International Airport on Friday, July 18," the FAA said. "Air traffic services were provided by the Minot air traffic control tower, which is run by a private company. These controllers are not FAA employees." The Air Force said it is "looking into the matter," and SkyWest added it is "investigating the event." Minot Air Force Base is home to the 5th Bomb Wing, which includes B-52s, and the 91st Missile Wing, which is one of three nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile units in the U.S. In the TikTok video of the alleged incident, the pilot described the incident to passengers and said "nobody told us" about the other aircraft. "So, sorry about the aggressive maneuver; it caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all," the pilot said in the video. "I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up, because the Air Force base does have radar and nobody said, 'Hey, there's also a B-52 in the pattern.'" Publicly available flight tracking radar showed the regional jet making a loop while approaching Minot. SkyWest did not immediately return a request for comment about the authenticity and accuracy of the video. Passenger Monica Green told CNN the flight was getting ready to land when she felt the plane suddenly move "like we did a U-turn." "I'm just happy with transparency from the pilot. It made me feel better that the pilot said something about it and made the consumers aware," Green told CNN. John Nance, an aviation expert and former pilot who was a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, told Military.com that "there's a lot to be sorted out here" when it comes to the incident, particularly as it relates to miscommunication. "If the tower did not know of the presence of the B-52 doing a fly-by, then we have a bit of a, no pun intended, Tower of Babel because the towers should have been informed about this," Nance said. "They should have been in contact with any other traffic, which specifically was the [regional jet], warning them about the B-52. And the B-52, for that matter, should have been in contact." Aircraft mishaps, including those involving military aircraft, are under heavy scrutiny and attention following the Jan. 29 crash between American Eagle Flight 5342, which was landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and a Black Hawk helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The collision led to the death of the three-person Black Hawk crew and all 64 aboard the plane. It was the worst commercial aviation crash in the U.S. in 16 years. The FAA closed the helicopter route used by Army helicopters for training following the crash. Investigations are ongoing into the collision, and family members and lawmakers are also raising questions regarding the helicopter's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B, and whether it potentially played a role. Nance said that, in addition to increased public awareness, there's also greater public education on aviation as a whole. "We do have a heightened public awareness both on that specific case and the broader case of air traffic and of the problem of air traffic control, in terms of number of controllers and any close calls that occur from that," Nance told Military.com. "At the same time, we have a rising level of sophistication of the general public about these things, which tends to suppress the hysteric side." Related: Families of Those Killed in Black Hawk Collision with Jet Want More 'Openness, Compassion' from Army NEW HAVEN, Conn. A federal judge in Massachusetts has issued a stay to prevent the U.S. government from deporting or moving a 36-year-old Afghan immigrant and former interpreter for the U.S. military whose lawyer says was detained Wednesday during a routine visit to a federal immigration office. The order requires 72 hours of notice before the man, whose family identified only as Zia out of concern for the safety of relatives in other countries, can be moved to another facility or taken out of the country, said the attorney, Lauren Cundick Petersen. Petersen said Zia fears for his safety should he return to Afghanistan. Zia, a married father of five, is employed and lives with his family in a New Haven suburb. "His employer is anxious to have him back," Petersen said. He was picked up Wednesday by agents believed to be with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, while visiting an immigration office in East Hartford. He was accompanied by an 80-year-old volunteer, during a routine appointment related to obtain a Green Card under a program designed to protect people who aided the U.S. military in Afghanistan, Petersen said. He then was moved to a government facility in Plymouth, Mass., she said. Zia "is terrified about a future in Afghanistan under the Taliban," Petersen said Wednesday while driving to Plymouth to meet with her client. When she spoke to him on the phone earlier, "he said, 'Kill me here in the U.S. Don't send me back to Afghanistan,'" she said. "He was just totally shaken. He told me he hasn't slept since he got there," Petersen said. "It is so surprising and so upsetting ... I don't think in all his interpreting for U.S. troops he was ever surrounded by guys in masks and shoved into a van." According to Petersen, "He was going to get his biometrics taken" at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in East Hartford, including fingerprints and digital photos, she said. She said she was surprised to see him detained because "a couple of hundred people probably go through this center" for similar reasons every day and his wife and five children had all been there for the same reason on Monday. "He remains in a lawful parole status at this time, until October 2026," Petersen said. ICE did not immediately respond to an email seeking more information or comment. Zia came to this country under the sponsorship of his brother, who was already here, under an immigration pathway "that is available to anyone in the world who USCIS deems to be at risk," Petersen said. The program "is a temporary permission," but he had applied to get a Green Card to remain under a program specifically designed for people who might be in danger because of past associations with the U.S. military, she said. After the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, Zia fled with family to Pakistan, where they lived as refugees, Petersen said. His brother filed the petition in 2021 for him to remain under the program for people who assisted U.S. troops, she said. Petersen is a former attorney for New Haven-based Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, or IRIS, who provided service to Zia's brother while she was at IRIS. But IRIS was not involved in bringing Zia and his family to the U.S., according to Petersen and IRIS Executive Director Maggie Mitchell Salem. "He was not an IRIS client," said Petersen. The volunteer who accompanied him to the USCIS office also is an IRIS volunteer, but went as a friend of the family, she said. "This was a very confusing apprehension. I truly did not see it coming," Petersen said. "I was completely shocked although probably less shocked than the client, and we're trying to sort it out." Petersen and the American Immigration Lawyer Association's New England AILA Habeas Project filed legal papers seeking a stay about 10:30 p.m. Thursday and the judge ruled and issued the stay about 11:30 p.m. "I'm headed there now to meet with him, to get him to sign a bunch of documents," Petersen said. "His family is not allowed to meet him for 10 days." She said he's doing OK, given the circumstances. IRIS' Salem said the organization "is offering support to (Petersen,) as she needs it. We had staff go visit the family yesterday." "If he is sent back, you're putting a mark on him," Salem said, adding that Zia "has legal status. He has no criminal convictions ... The key facts here are that there is absolutely no legal reason for ICE to detain him." The one thing she could find is that there is an executive order that states "that anyone who entered the country on or after Jan. 20, 2021 could have their status reviewed. ... I don't know if that is why ICE is detaining someone who is legally here," Salem said, but "this is the only reason that I can think of why he was detained." Zia's detainment originally came to light in a Facebook post by the daughter of the volunteer who was with him, who said she was "boiling, boiling mad ... This is wrong, inhumane and un-American," she wrote. 2025 the New Haven Register (New Haven, Conn.). Visit www.nhregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The mother of a 45-year-old man who was fatally shot by police in Odenville, Alabama, two years ago has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the deadly shooting. Gregory Don Bratcher, a decorated veteran with a documented history of PTSD, was killed July 15, 2023, when Odenville police responded to what was described as a possible domestic hostage situation at a home at 15705 Highway 411. The federal lawsuit was filed in Birmingham this week by attorneys James Michael Perry and Martin Weinberg on behalf of Bratcher's mother, Virigina Bratcher. The suit names as defendants Officer Jeffrey Eugene Linard II, Police Chief Glenn Walton, and the City of Odenville, and claims police had prior knowledge and experience with Bratcher's mental health issues. "Gregory's death was preventable and unnecessary," the suit states. "This case concerns misinformation and miscommunication, an officer's own internal biases resulting in excessive deadly force, and police department's failure to provide a lawfully required mental health service toa man threatening suicide on his own property," the suit reads. "As a result, Gregory's life was terminated without reasonable excuse or justification." Odenville city officials did not immediately return a request seeking comment. Police were called to the home about 7:16 p.m. that Saturday night. The police chief said at the time when they arrived, they secured the home and learned Bratcher had entered a wooded area behind the house. Walton said officers encountered the suspect and victim and immediately attempted to deescalate the situation. Police officers from Odenville, Moody, Springville, Argo, Margaret and Leeds, as well as the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office all responded to the scene. According to the lawsuit, Bratcher and his wife, Alma, were inside their apartment on his parents' property when they began arguing. Bratcher left the apartment and went to a mobile home on the same property where his son and his wife's daughter lived. His wife followed him there. While in the mobile home, Bratcher got a gun and walked toward an open field in the rear of the property, threatening to kill himself. One family member called 911, while others followed Bratcher and pleaded with him to not harm himself. Bratcher's wife's daughter told the dispatcher that the family had notified the VA Caregiver Assistance Program about Bratcher's mental health problems. A dispatcher notified police that a caller had reported a man had her mother at gunpoint, the suit states. The first officer who arrived on the scene located Bratcher and his wife in the field. Minutes later, Linard arrived. Body camera footage showed Bratcher with a gun in his right hand, held across his chest, pointed upward and over his shoulder toward the sky. His wife was pleading with him not to harm himself. The suit said Linard got out of his patrol vehicle with a military-style assault rifle equipped with a scope. "After exiting his patrol car, Linard flipped his hat backwards to make it easier to peer down his scope and aim his rifle," lawyers say in the court documents. Officers made verbal commands that could be heard over police scanners. Within seconds of the first officer's command to drop the weapon, the suit alleges, Linard aimed his rifle at Bratcher and fired a fatal shot. Bratcher, lawyers contend, never aimed his weapon at anyone or himself, and never appeared to be holding his wife hostage. The suit says Linard was communicating with dispatchers while responding to the scene and confused Bratcher with another Odenville resident who police had previously arrested. "Linard erred in confusing these two individuals," according to the lawsuit. "He made no effort to confirm Gregory's identity, and he failed to use any de-escalation techniques. Linard predetermined to resolve the situation immediately through deadly force." The suit states that previous encounters between Bratcher and Odenville police always ended peacefully. According to Bratcher's obituary, he served 17 years in the Alabama Army National Guard and was a sergeant when he was discharged. "His selflessness and unwavering dedication to his comrades and the mission served as a shining example of military excellence, and his presence will be sincerely missed," his obituary read. 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Space Force presence on the Space Coast is beginning to swell as one of its major units, STARCOM, had its first change-of-command ceremony since its headquarters moved from Colorado to Florida. Major Gen. James Smith on Friday became the third-ever commander of STARCOM, which stands for Space Training and Readiness Command, one of only three command units under the Space Force. He takes over for Maj. Gen. Timothy Sejba, who oversaw the command's initial steps as it began to take shape in Brevard County. "As I assume command, how fitting that I do so on the Space Coast, the home of the Eastern launch range and now home of STARCOM headquarters," Smith said while addressing Sejba during a ceremony at Patrick SFB. "You've created the foundation. You ensured the command is fueled and ready to be the liftoff point for our guardians. Like a launch, we now must accelerate the command, moving beyond the solid foundation of the path to a higher and ever more mission ready state." Smith accepted the ceremonial guidon, a symbolic pennant, from Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force Chief of Space Operations. "This command has been ever accelerating because of the evolution of technology across the space business, coupled with the surge of conflict around the globe, all while our adversaries continue to test our mettle with increasingly aggressive and sometimes irresponsible actions on orbit," Saltzman said. The Space Force was stood up as its own military branch in 2019, but falls under the Air Force in the same manner the Marines fall under the Department of the Navy. It now has about 15,000 service members, who are called guardians. STARCOM headquarters, which for now has just under 100 service members on site, will grow to more than 400 personnel on the Space Coast while one of its five deltas, similar to an Air Force wing, has also begun to set up shop at Patrick SFB. Space Delta 10: Doctrine and Wargaming is expected to grow to 150 more personnel in the next several years. The two groups share space with Space Launch Delta 45, which runs both Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but falls under the Space Operations Command of Space Force. Also at Patrick SFB is the Air Force Technical Applications Center, which oversees nuclear treaties around the world, and the Air Force 920th Rescue Wing. For Smith, the return to Patrick SFB is a homecoming. He and his wife were stationed there from 2012-2014, when he was an Air Force squadron commander with four children attending area elementary, middle and high schools before he transferred to the Pentagon. "We got to know the Space Coast and Brevard County quite well as we traversed the region weekly for any number of school, church and other activities. It was a great community in which to spend those two years," he said. "As we drove away, 11 years ago, I never thought we'd have the privilege to come back." While his personal life has changed dramatically, including recently becoming a grandfather, he said the professional changes are just as dramatic. "Who could have imagined in 2014 that I stand here today under the title guardian in a sharp and distinctive uniform, taking command of something we call a field command within a brand new military service? I'll guarantee those thoughts weren't anywhere in my head as we drove our Odyssey up I-95 toward the Pentagon," he said. "The world's a different place than it was then. We face peer and near-peer adversaries who challenged in new, complex and sophisticated ways. I definitely did not foresee how dramatically and rapidly the very character of warfare would evolve." He hammered home the demands of a world under constant surveillance, the threat of electronic warfare and the need for nations to rely on the "space domain, where threats to operations and missions are increasing exponentially." And he said he's driven to ensure his new command trains every member of the Space Force to face down that threat. "That's the heartbeat of STARCOM's mission. We exist to forge combat-credible space forces ready to fight and win the joint war," he said. "Fight hinges on our success, and we cannot and will not fail." 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Department of Veterans Affairs research into dementia, substance abuse, strokes and more continues to be disrupted by ongoing delays in federal hiring, senators warned in a recent letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins. The letter from a trio of Democratic senators coincides with warnings from researchers and others familiar with the situation that there is still effectively a hiring freeze on VA researchers. In their letter, the senators called on Collins to "build back VA research" after a series of "self-inflicted issues." Read Next: Additional Military Bases in New Jersey, Indiana Set to Host Migrant Detention Camps "To rebuild this cornerstone of the United States' medical research enterprise, you must rehire VA researchers whose terms were not extended due to the hiring freeze, address the backlog of research positions that were frozen but are now able to be hired again, coordinate with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to restore canceled grants for VA researchers, and allow researchers to publish their findings without the unprecedented step of preapproval by political appointees," the three senators wrote to the VA secretary. The letter, a copy of which was obtained exclusively by Military.com ahead of its public release, was written by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee; Patty Murray, D-Wash., the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. It is the latest alarm rung by lawmakers about the Trump administration's treatment of the VA's research program, which is celebrating its centennial this year and has been credited with numerous medical breakthroughs that have saved both veterans and the broader public. In February, lawmakers began warning that the administration's government-wide hiring freeze was having ripple effects on VA research because researchers with time-limited positions could not have their appointments extended even if their research project was still active. Typically, researchers are appointed to three-year "not to exceed" term limits, but their positions are usually renewed if their project is still active at the end of the term. After lawmaker pressure, the VA granted a 90-day reprieve from the hiring freeze for researchers. And in May, the department exempted numerous research positions from the hiring freeze. But researchers have recently told Congress that some VA research appointments are being delayed by the Office of Personnel and Management, which is essentially human resources for the federal government -- meaning a hiring freeze is still effectively in place. Specifically, "without compensation," or WOC, and "intergovernmental personnel," or IPA, positions, are being held up, a source familiar with the situation told Military.com. Researchers have also reached out to Congress with similar warnings, according to copies of the messages obtained by Military.com. Those positions, which are typically university researchers or other academic affiliates, represent about 90% of VA researchers, meaning delays in their hiring have an outsized effect on VA studies and clinical trials, the source said. If the hiring delays continue, studies could be stalled and recruitment for veterans to participate in clinical trials could be paused, the source and the messages to Congress said. Meanwhile, the original hiring freeze already disrupted several clinical trials and veterans' access to cutting-edge treatments, the Democratic senators said in their letter. For example, according to the letter, a clinical trial aimed at preventing dementia and heart disease turned veterans away from enrollment after a researcher's appointment was not renewed; a substance use disorder study and a study on predicting stroke were both paused after employees involved in the research were fired; and enrollment in clinical trials for advanced cancers was delayed. "Due to your hiring freeze, essential researchers whose terms were ending soon were shown the door and forced to abandon often lifesaving work, and their positions were unable to be backfilled," the senators wrote. "VA research staff nationwide are reporting a significant backlog in the hiring process for critical research employees who are finally, after months of waiting, no longer subject to your hiring freeze. Failure to swiftly address this backlog will put veterans' health at risk, decimate the morale of an already understaffed research workforce, and undercut one of VA's best recruiting tools." The VA did not provide a comment on the letter and the allegations of ongoing hiring delays by Military.com's deadline Monday. But officials have previously denied that hiring freezes have hampered VA research. "I think clinical trials are very important," Collins said at a Senate hearing in May, before noting the 90-day pause in the hiring freeze for researchers. The senators, though, warned of potentially "severe and long-lasting" consequences from hiring issues on VA research. "Scientific research takes years to build, and it cannot be treated like a spigot -- turned on and off at will to serve the Trump administration's efforts to balance the budget on the backs of veterans," they wrote. "You still have the chance to correct course by immediately rehiring wrongly terminated researchers, working with OPM to quickly address the backlog in research staff hiring, coordinating with other agencies to restore all grants revoked from VA researchers, and assuring current and future VA researchers that their research will not be subject to political review." Related: VA Research on Cancer, Suicide Prevention, Toxic Exposure at Risk from Federal Hiring Freeze Thousands of books and films have been made over the past 80 years celebrating the bravery of American servicemen during World War II. But what about the 25 American women pilots who also risked their lives serving in the Royal Air Force's Air Transport Auxiliary? Beginning in 1942, these professionally trained female pilots -- nicknamed "Atta-Girls," after their auxiliary's acronym (ATA) -- ferried new planes from factories in the United Kingdom to the front lines and flew badly damaged planes to air bases for repairs. They faced the threat of crashing in barely operable aircraft, extreme weather conditions and possible enemy fire, but they persevered. Today, only one of these Atta-Girls is still alive -- Carlsbad, Calif., resident Nancy Miller Stratford, who turned 106 on June 12. A new book about Stratford and her 24 colleagues was published in May titled "Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II." Author Becky Aikman will discuss her book on July 28 at Warwick's bookstore in La Jolla. Aikman recently answered some questions about her book, which she said was accomplished with some help from Stratford herself and the San Diego Air & Space Museum, which has the ATA pilots' service records and photos in its archives. Q.: You've written two previous books about indomitable women like the Atta-Girls ("Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives" and "Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge"). Is this a coincidence or do you love telling women's stories? A.: I do love telling stories about women who get out into the world to accomplish great things. Women of action, women who are trailblazers. Any pioneering achievement by anyone involves overcoming difficulties, but swimming against the tide of expectations for women adds an extra layer. Those who are willing to take that on make for great characters. Q.: How and when did you discover the story of the ATA pilots and what led you to decide this would be the subject for your latest book? A.: I was talking to my mother in 2019, telling her that I wanted to write a book about people who had accomplished something extraordinary but weren't widely known. She immediately said, You should write about the American women who flew in England during the war. I looked around and at first couldn't find anything written about such women. But my mother had been a young child at the time and distinctly remembered seeing them in a newsreel or article. I thought they were so noble and glamorous, she said. I wished I could do what they did. I finally found out that women weren't permitted to fly for the U.S. military during the war, but Great Britain was so desperate for help that it accepted foreign pilots and even women into the Air Transport Auxiliary of the Royal Air Force. Twenty-five American women bolted for Britain to serve in the ATA in 1942. They performed a dangerous job ferrying aircraft from factories to frontline air bases and returning damaged wrecks for repair. One in seven pilots died in crashes, usually due to faulty, untested aircraft or poor visibility in changeable weather. They were expected to fly up to 147 models of the world's most advanced aircraft, from fighters to bombers, on short notice with little training. I found the names of some American women who had served and set about trying to find out about them. A gentleman at a small museum devoted to ferry pilots in England echoed what my mother had said: I hope you don't try to fictionalize this. Nothing could be as exciting and glamorous as the reality. That sounded promising! Q.: Did you spend time in England doing research for your book? Were the San Diego Air & Space Museum archives helpful in your discovery process? A.: The first trip I made to begin my research was to the San Diego Air & Space Museum. I had seen that the papers of a pilot named Mary Zerbel (later Mary Zerbel Ford) were kept there. The librarian told me that no one had ever asked to see them before. But when I opened the files, she came alive to me. The file was full of news clippings. Mary had been quite celebrated before the war as the youngest woman flying instructor in the United States at the age of 19. During the war, she made headlines around the world when she married her fiance from home. They were the first Americans serving in the war zone to marry. She lived a life of romance and tragedy, as one newspaper said, but persevered through it all by flying whatever aircraft was thrown at her. After the war, a movie was made based on Mary's life starring Lana Turner. But at the bottom of the file, I found Mary's obituary from decades later. It was only three sentences in a small Idaho newspaper. It didn't even mention that she knew how to fly. I vowed then that I would try to get these pilots the recognition they deserved. Later, I traveled throughout the United States to meet the pilots' families, many of whom went into attics to find diaries and letters no one had seen before. I also spent time in England, finding records and speaking with experts. I visited the airfields where the pilots lived out their adventure, and the hotspots in London where they blew off steam. Q.: How many women served in the RAF's Air Transport Auxiliary? A.: There were 168 women who served in the Air Transport Auxiliary. Twenty-five of them were Americans. Based on their success, the United States later started the Women Air Force Service Pilots, known as the WASP, a similar organization that delivered aircraft within the United States. But the American ATA pilots were the first American women to fly military aircraft. Q.: How did you choose the nine women you profiled in "Spitfires" and how many were you able to speak with in person? A.: There was a real mix of women who served -- crop dusters and debutantes, college graduates and stunt performers in flying circuses. I selected women who reflected that variety. One was a member of the family of the Western Union fortune. She saw the war as an escape from the world of debutante balls and a chance to live as she pleased. Another was a crop duster who earned extra money performing a mock striptease in an air show, where she tossed items of clothing out of the cockpit as she flew overhead. And every level of society in between. I also chose those who had left behind the most information so I could really capture their personalities and individual stories. Many families went into their attics and pulled out diaries and letters that were full of drama and emotion. There were dire instances in the air when the pilots crashed or made spectacular saves. They also revealed intimate thoughts about their personal lives. They felt free to live like women of today, making their own choices, some of them unconventional for the time. Q.: How many did you speak with in person? A.: Only one pilot was still living when I began, and I was fortunate to meet her. She is the former Nancy Miller, now Nancy Miller Stratford, whose 106th birthday was June 12. She still regards her service in the war as the highlight of her life. She lives in Carlsbad, so that's another reason the area played an important role in my research. I asked her whether she was ever afraid. I would have been! She answered, No! I had a job to do! Q.: What common personality traits did you find among these women? A.: They all loved to fly. They loved the freedom they felt in the air, the adventure of being pioneers. They loved the challenge of performing a difficult job well. They even loved the danger -- it gave them a thrill. There were eight of them still serving at the end of the war. Many were apprehensive at the beginning, but by the end what they had in common was absolutely steady nerves. They encountered many crazy situations -- engine failure, sudden clouds, a propeller falling off high in the sky. They stayed calm, studied their options and made the best decisions they could to get on the ground in one piece. Q.: Besides the physical challenges they faced in their jobs flying and delivering aircraft, did these women experience sexism or discrimination? A.: They were focused on doing the job and brushed aside whatever sexism they faced. But they felt they didn't encounter much of that in Britain. The British were grateful that the Americans had a valuable skill and came to help in a time of dire need. The pilots received equal pay and flew the same aircraft the men did. It was harder for the WASP back home. A large segment of the public opposed the idea of women flying, so much so that the WASP were disbanded at the end of 1944, when the war was still raging. The ATA women flew to the end. Q.: What was it like for these women to have to return to traditional women's roles post-war, and were any of them able to fulfill their dreams to be full-time professional pilots? A.: After the war, it was tough for women who wanted to fly. The U.S. military still would not accept women pilots. Passenger airlines wouldn't hire them either. They were some of the most skilled pilots in the world, and yet there was no place for them. Some did manage to continue flying. One (Mary Zerbel Ford) formed a company with her husband to deliver dicey aircraft to private customers around the world. Another (Ann Wood) became the first woman vice president of a major airline (Pan Am). Nancy Miller was only the second woman in the United States to earn a commercial helicopter pilots' certification. She and her husband started the first helicopter charter company in Alaska. The pilots had to be resourceful and lucky to continue doing the work they loved. "Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II" by Becky Aikman (Bloomsbury, 2025; 368 pages) 2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump says he wants to hire 10,000 new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, but experts and the history of law enforcement hiring sprees suggest the process could be challenging, lengthy and possibly result in problematic hires. The massive funding bill signed into law this month by Trump earmarks about $170 billion for border and immigration enforcement, including tens of billions for new deportation agents and other personnel. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement to The Times, said that the agency will deliver on the president's hiring directive. "In June, our 2025 Career Expo successfully recruited 3,000 candidates and generated 1,000 tentative job offers -- nearly double the 564 from 2023," she wrote. "Our recruitment strategy includes targeted outreach, thorough vetting and partnerships with state and local law enforcement." During his first term, when Trump called for ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire 15,000 people collectively, a July 2017 report by the Homeland Security inspector general found significant setbacks. "Although DHS has established plans and initiated actions to begin an aggressive hiring surge, in recent years the Department and its components have encountered notable difficulties related to long hire times, proper allocation of staff, and the supply of human resources," the report states. The independent watchdog concluded that to meet the goal of 10,000 new immigration officers, ICE would need more than 500,000 applicants. For CBP to hire 5,000 new agents, it would need 750,000 applicants. It doesn't appear either goal was met. In 2017, ICE hired 371 deportation officers from more than 11,000 applications and took 173 days on average to finalize hires, the news outlet Government Executive reported. And Cronkite News reported that when Trump left office in 2021, Border Patrol had shrunk by more than 1,000 agents. "The mere mechanics of hiring that many people is challenging and takes time," said John Pfaff, a law professor at Fordham University who studies U.S. incarceration and has researched the hiring challenges ICE faces. When the initial version of the funding bill passed the House of Representatives, it laid out a target of at least 10,000 ICE officers, agents and support staff, specifying a minimum of 2,500 people in fiscal year 2025 and 1,875 people in each subsequent year through 2029. The legislation didn't outline specific hiring goals for Customs and Border Protection, the parent agency of Border Patrol, though Homeland Security said that, in addition to the 3,000 Border Patrol agents, the funding will also support the hiring of 3,000 more customs officers at ports of entry. The Senate modified the bill and on final passage, the law removed those hiring specifics, meaning ICE can use the funding for a variety of purposes. ICE has more than 20,000 law enforcement and support personnel. CBP has 60,000 employees, including about 19,000 Border Patrol agents. Studies on accelerated hiring efforts have found that, in some cases, contracts were poorly managed. Ten months into a 2018 contract with the professional services firm Accenture, by which point CBP had paid $13.6 million, the inspector general found that just two people had accepted job offers. Hiring thousands of employees would be an even bigger lift today, Pfaff said. He pointed to the fact that since 2020, police departments nationwide have also struggled to recruit and retain officers. Immigration officer pay is lower than rookie salaries at big-city law enforcement agencies, such as the New York Police Department. A job posting for a deportation officer offers a salary range of about $50,000 to $90,000. Pfaff compared that with NYPD, where officer salaries start at just over $60,000 and rise to more than $125,000 in less than six years. Another recruitment push resulted in a wave of high-profile corruption cases. During a Border Patrol hiring spree from 2006 to 2009, standards for hiring and training were lowered, about 8,000 agents were brought on. The Associated Press reported that the number of employees arrested for misconduct -- such as civil rights violations or off-duty crimes like domestic violence -- grew yearly between 2007 and 2012, reaching 336, or a 44% increase. More than 100 employees were arrested or charged with corruption, including taking bribes to smuggle drugs or people. A 2015 report from an internal audit by a CBP advisory council said that "arrests for corruption of CBP personnel far exceed, on a per capita basis, such arrests at other federal law enforcement agencies." Josiah Heyman, an anthropology professor who directs the University of Texas at El Paso's Center of Inter-American and Border Studies, studied the mid-2000s hiring spree. He said smuggling organizations have only gotten more sophisticated since then, as have security measures, so it's more valuable for smugglers to "buy someone off" instead of attempting to bring in people or drugs undetected. Beyond corruption, Heyman said he worries the drive to quickly increase Homeland Security staffing could lead to Americans being deported, as well as an increase of assault and abuse cases and deaths of detainees. "Getting 10,000 [new employees] means basically hiring the people who walk in the door because you're trying to hit your quota," he said. "Rapid, mass-hiring lends itself to mistakes and cutting corners." The recruitment issues at Border Patrol led to reforms, such as the Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010, which included mandatory polygraph testing for job applicants (though that requirement was not implemented for ICE applicants). The polygraph tests revealed some applicants had concerning backgrounds, including some believed to have links to organized crime. The reforms also slowed hiring as two-thirds of Border Patrol applicants began failing the polygraph exam by 2017, the Associated Press reported. If the government is not able to hit its hiring goals, it might turn to contractors, the U.S. military and local law enforcement to help carry out Trump's aggressive crackdown on immigration. It is likely to continue its expansion of the 287(g) program, which deputizes local law enforcement to function as deportation agents. Homeland Security said the new budget will fully fund the 287(g) program. Pfaff said that while using local police to make immigration arrests could help in the short term, many major cities and states, including California, have already banned the agreements or limited cooperation with ICE. Still, ProPublica reported that more than 500 law enforcement agencies have signed 287(g) agreements since January. Jason Houser, who was ICE's chief of staff under the Biden administration, said training new hires takes about a year and that classes are typically capped at 50 students. Houser said another short-term workaround for permanent staff could be the use of contractors. Most immigrant detainees are held in facilities that are run by private prison companies, including the Florida-based GEO Group and Tennessee-based CoreCivic. But those companies have a limited inventory of detention space. CBP could also use its funding to erect soft-sided, temporary facilities on military bases within the 100 miles of the U.S. boundary, in which CBP has authority to conduct immigration checkpoints and other enhanced enforcement activities. Houser said temporary facilities could be set up by October, and they could be staffed with National Guard or U.S. military personnel in administrative, nursing, food and sanitation roles. Federal law generally prohibits the military from arresting civilians. But Homeland Security officials have said military personnel have the authority to temporarily detain anyone who attacks an immigration agent until law enforcement can arrest them. But Houser worries that placing young service members, who aren't trained to conduct civil detention, in charge of those facilities will lead to people getting hurt. He also worries that without other countries agreeing to accept more deportees, the number of immigrants detained for months could quickly balloon. As of June 29, there were nearly 58,000 immigrants held in detention, according to TRAC, a nonpartisan data research organization. That's far beyond the congressionally approved 41,500 detention beds this fiscal year. "This is 9/11-style money," Houser said. "Think about the money in counterterrorism post-9/11. It turns the entire apparatus toward this goal. Everything in government is going to turn to where the money is, and that's the scary piece to me." 2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip The U.N. food agency accused Israel of using tanks, snipers and other weapons to fire on a crowd of Palestinians seeking food aid, in what the territory's Health Ministry said was one of the deadliest days for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war. The World Food Program in a statement Sunday condemned the violence that erupted in northern Gaza as Palestinians tried to reach a convoy of trucks carrying food. The Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 80 people were killed in the incident. The Israeli military has said it fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat, but has questioned the death toll reported by the Palestinians. The accusation by a major aid agency that has had generally good working relations with Israel builds on descriptions by witnesses and others, who also said Israel opened fire on the crowd. The bloodshed surrounding aid access highlights the increasingly precarious situation for people in Gaza who have been desperately seeking out food and other assistance, as the war that has roiled the region shows no signs of ending. Israel and Hamas are still engaged in ceasefire talks, but there appears to be no breakthrough and it's not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt. As the talks proceed, the death toll in the war-ravaged territory has climbed to more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Israel has meanwhile widened its evacuation orders for the territory to include an area that has been somewhat less hard-hit than others, indicating a new battleground may be opening up and squeezing Palestinians into ever tinier stretches of Gaza. WFP Condemns Violence at Food Distribution Points In northern Gaza on Sunday, the Health Ministry, witnesses and a U.N. official said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds who tried to get food from a 25-truck convoy that had entered the hard-hit area. The WFP statement, which said the crowd surrounding its convoy came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire, backs up those claims. The statement did not specify a death toll, saying only the incident resulted in the loss of countless lives. After Sunday's incident, a photographer cooperating with The Associated Press counted 31 bodies at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and 20 others in the courtyard of Sheikh Radwan clinic. These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation, it said, adding that the incident occurred despite assurances from Israeli authorities that aid delivery would improve. Part of those assurances, it said, was that armed forces would not be present nor engage along aid routes. Shootings near humanitarian missions, convoys and food distributions must stop immediately. The Israeli military declined to comment on the WFP claims. Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani posted on X Sunday that soldiers were told do not engage, do not shoot, and shared a video of troops near a crowd of Palestinians gathering around a truck as one soldier yells repeatedly, Do not shoot! The Associated Press could not immediately verify the video and it was not clear where it was filmed. Israel has not allowed international media to enter Gaza throughout the war, and the competing claims could not be independently verified. Sunday's incident comes as Palestinian access to aid in the territory has been greatly diminished, and seeking that aid has become perilous. A U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid system that has wrested some aid delivery from traditional providers like the U.N. has been wracked by violence and chaos as Palestinians heading toward its aid distribution sides have come under fire. The group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has said that the majority of the reported violence has not occurred at its sites. Violence Rages on in Gaza Gaza health officials said Monday at least 13 people, including two women and five children, were killed in Israeli strikes since the previous night. At least two people were killed Monday morning when crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks were shot at in the area of Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, according to Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa Hospital where the dead were taken. He said Israeli forces had opened fire. An Israeli strike overnight hit a tent in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, killing at least five people, according to the Health Ministry. The dead include two parents, two of their children and a relative, it said. Other strikes hit tents in the Muwasi area and a residential building in Gaza City, according to health officials. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates from populated areas. Gazas Health Ministry meanwhile said Israeli forces detained Dr. Marwan al-Hams, acting director of the strips field hospitals and the ministrys spokesman. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel Again Struck Rebels in Yemen The fighting in Gaza has triggered conflicts elsewhere in region, including between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is in solidarity with Palestinians. The Israeli military said it struck the Hodeidah port in Yemen on Monday morning, saying that the Houthis were rebuilding the port infrastructure. Israel said the Houthis used the port to receive weapons from Iran and launch missiles towards Israel. The Israeli military said it targeted the parts of the port used by the Houthis and accused the Houthis of using civilian infrastructure for militant purposes. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the targets included areas of the port that Israel had destroyed in previous strikes. The Houthis will pay heavy prices for launching missiles towards the state of Israel, Katz said. Israel last struck Hodeidah port two weeks ago. Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Jerusalem. BEIRUT A U.S. envoy doubled down on Washington's support for the new government in Syria, saying Monday there is no Plan B" to working with the current authorities to unite the country still reeling from a nearly 14-year civil war and now wracked by a new outbreak of sectarian violence. He took a critical tone toward Israels recent intervention in Syria, calling it poorly timed and saying that it complicated efforts to stabilize the region. Tom Barrack, who is ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and also has a short-term mandate in Lebanon, made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press during a visit to Beirut. He spoke following more than a week of clashes in the southern province of Sweida between militias of the Druze religious minority and local Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes. Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to restore order, but ended up siding with the Bedouins before withdrawing under a ceasefire agreement with Druze factions. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting, and some government fighters allegedly shot dead Druze civilians and burned and looted their houses. In the meantime, Israel intervened last week on behalf of the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority within Israel and often serve in its military. Israel launched dozens of strikes on convoys of government forces in Sweida and also struck the Syrian Ministry of Defense headquarters in central Damascus. Over the weekend, Barrack announced a ceasefire between Syria and Israel, without giving details. Syrian government forces have redeployed in Sweida to halt renewed clashes between the Druze and Bedouins, and civilians from both sides were set to be evacuated Monday. US Envoy Says Israeli Intervention Came at a Very Bad Time Barrack told the AP that the killing, the revenge, the massacres on both sides are intolerable, but that the current government of Syria, in my opinion, has conducted themselves as best they can as a nascent government with very few resources to address the multiplicity of issues that arise in trying to bring a diverse society together. Regarding Israel's strikes on Syria, Barrack said: The United States was not asked, nor did they participate in that decision, nor was it the United States responsibility in matters that Israel feels is for its own self-defense." However, he said that Israel's intervention "creates another very confusing chapter" and came at a very bad time." Prior to the conflict in Sweida, Israel and Syria had been engaging in talks over security matters, while the Trump administration had been pushing them to move toward a full normalization of diplomatic relations. When the latest fighting erupted, Israels view was that south of Damascus was this questionable zone, so that whatever happened militarily in that zone needed to be agreed upon and discussed with them, Barrack said. The new government (in Syria) coming in was not exactly of that belief. The ceasefire announced Saturday between Syria and Israel is a limited agreement addressing only the conflict in Sweida, he said. It does not address the broader issues between the two countries, including Israel's contention that the area south of Damascus should be a demilitarized zone. In the discussions leading up to the ceasefire, Barrack said both sides did the best they can to came to an agreement on specific questions related to the movement of Syrian forces and equipment from Damascus to Sweida. Whether you accept that Israel can intervene in a sovereign state is a different question, he said. He suggested that Israel would prefer to see Syria fragmented and divided rather than a strong central state in control of the country. "Strong nation states are a threat especially Arab states are viewed as a threat to Israel," he said. But in Syria, he said, I think all of the the minority communities are smart enough to say, were better off together, centralized. A Damascus Deal with Kurdish Forces Still in Play The violence in Sweida has deepened the distrust of minority religious and ethnic groups in Syria toward the new government in Damascus, led by Sunni Muslim former insurgents who unseated Syria's longtime autocratic ruler, Bashar Assad, in a lightning offensive in December. The attacks on Druze civilians followed the deaths of hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs earlier this year in sectarian revenge attacks on the Syrian coast. While interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has promised to protect minorities and punish those who target civilians, many feel his government has not done enough to stop such attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. At the same time, Damascus has been negotiating with the Kurdish forces that control much of northeast Syria to implement an agreement that would merge the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces with the new national army. Barrack, who spoke to SDF leader Mazloum Abdi over the weekend, said he does not believe the violence in Sweida will derail those talks and that there could be a breakthrough in the coming weeks. Neighboring Turkey, which wants to curtail the influence of Kurdish groups along its border and has tense relations with Israel, has offered to provide defense assistance to Syria. Barrack said the U.S. has no position on the prospect of a defense pact between Syria and Turkey. Its not in the U.S.s business or interest to tell any of the surrounding nations with each other what to do, he said. A view of a rusty looking Lake Angeline, located south of Ishpeming in Marquette County, is shown with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources boating access site visible along the far shoreline. Photo courtesy of Marquette County Sheriff's Office ISHPEMING, MI A normally crystal-clear fishing lake in Michigans Upper Peninsula is now red after a beaver dam broke last week. Conditions on Lake Angeline, near Ispheming in Marquette County, quickly changed on Thursday after a naturally occurring breach of a beaver dam. The water level rose, and incoming sediment caused the lake to turn a reddish-brown color. The beaver pond is now stable. Conditions on Lake Angeline are expected to recover naturally. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy investigated the incident. A breached beaver pond upstream of Lake Angeline in Marquette County is currently stable, and water levels are not expected to rise further in the lake. The public is able to safely access the lake for boating and fishing. Michigan DNR A beaver pond upstream of Lake Angeline drained early Thursday, causing the changes, investigators said. Recent significant rain events may have contributed to higher water levels, resulting in the breach of the aging beaver dam. The beaver pond is now stable, and water levels on Lake Angeline are not expected to rise any farther due to the breach. An upstream beaver pond breached and drained early Thursday, July 17, 2025, causing reddish sediment in the water and water level rise on Lake Angeline, south of Ishpeming, Mich. Photo courtesy of Marquette County Public access to the lake, including the partially submerged DNR boat launch, remains open. Residents and visitors can continue to safely access the lake for boating and fishing. There are no known safety or other concerns. No dead fish were observed during the investigation. However, the public is encouraged to report any observations of fish kills at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. A 59-year-old man is dead after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a deer over the weekend near the Michigan-Wisconsin border, authorities said. Around 9:55 p.m., dispatchers in Florence County, Wis., received a 911 call from a 59-year-old woman who had been a passenger on a motorcycle, according to a news release from the Florence County Sheriffs Office. She reported the bike had hit a deer on Menominee River Road in Florence, Wis. Deputies and Florence County EMS arrived at the scene at 10:04 p.m. Neither the driver nor the passenger was wearing a helmet when the crash happened, police said. The driver sustained severe head trauma and, despite lifesaving efforts, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries and was later released. Deputies were assisted on scene by the Florence Fire Department, Florence County EMS, Integrity Care Paramedics and the Florence County Coroner. Marinette County Sheriffs Office also assisted on scene with crash reconstruction. The crash is under investigation. The names of those involved have not been released. The new Taco Bell space is located at 4029 32nd Ave. in Hudsonville. (Photo/Jacob Hamilton) Jacob Hamilton HUDSONVILLE, MI - A shuttered restaurant space for tacos will see new life this fall in Hudsonville. Border Foods Inc., a Taco Bell franchisee, acquired the former Taco Johns property at 4029 32nd Ave. last month for a new Taco Bell location. Taco Johns closed its Hudsonville space next to Meijer last year, along with four other local locations. The acquisition, which wasnt publicly listed for sale, was spearheaded by Advantage Commercial Real Estate, which represents the Taco Bell franchisee, according to a July 18 news release. The new 2,227-square-foot location sits on 1.48 acres adjacent to Meijer. Taco Bell plans to do minor interior renovations to the site and open by Oct. 3. Mike Murray, senior vice president of Advantage Commercial Real Estate, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that Border Foods Inc. has been trying to get into the Hudsonville market for years. He said this marks the first Taco Bell location for the area. They are forecasting the volume is going to be above the national average just due to all the growth in Hudsonville, Murray said. Its a pretty easy location to get to on and off the highway for people traveling through that area. Border Foods Inc. employs more than 7,000 employees in over 250 restaurants across the upper Midwest, with over 60 of its restaurants being Taco Bell locations in West Michigan. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Zohran Mamdani is now suddenly vulnerable in his bid to become New York City's first overtly socialist mayor. The latest polling from Harris X, a highly reliable firm, suggests a race essentially tied among Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Silwa. According to Harris X, Mamdani (26 percent) is tied with Cuomo (23 percent) and Silwa (22 percent), all within the margin of error. Adams is at 13 percent and 15 percent of voters are undecided. The Harris X poll sampled 585 likely general election voters in New York City on July 7-8. The poll is notable in that it reflects big gains by GOP candidate Curtis Silwa and slippage among both Cuomo and the incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. While conventional wisdom holds that a Republican cannot win in New York City, the three-way fracturing of the Democratic vote among Mamdani, Cuomo, and Adams now makes a Silwa victory a possibility. Cuomo largely lost the Democratic Primary to Mamdani because of voter anger at his genocidal policy during the Pandemic, forcing COVID patients out of hospitals and into nursing homes where their disease spread to 6,000 people causing their death. Adams has never done well in polling and had to drop out of the Democratic primary as a result. His failure to rally significant support from black voters, despite being only the second African-American mayor in New York's history, shows his vulnerability. So Silwa has a chance. In the publicly funded race, Silwa is not likely to face the financial problems that normally hobble Republican candidates. His background as a crime fighter, the founder of Guardian Angels, a nonprofit crime prevention organization, make him an attractive candidate in a race where crime is the leading issue. On June 19, 1992, Silwa was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi in Manhattan. The taxi picked up Silwa near his home in the East Village, and a gunman hiding in the front passenger seat jumped up and fired several shots, hitting him in the groin and legs. The kidnapping was foiled when Silwa leaped from the front window of the moving cab and escaped. Silwa underwent surgery for internal injuries and leg wounds. Federal prosecutors eventually charged John A. Gotti, the son of Gambino crime family leader John Gotti, with attempted murder claiming that Gotti was angered by remarks Silwa had made about Gotti's father on his radio program. After three attempts to try him, on September 20, 2005, three separate juries could not agree to convict Gotti on any of the charges brought against him, and the charges were dropped. Jurors later told reporters they believed he had a role in Silwa's shooting.[25] Prosecutors declined to re-try Gotti and dismissed the charges against him. Mamdani has been dogged by charges of anti-semitism and recently was forced to "clarify" his remarks calling for a "global intifada against Jews." Liz Benjamin, a spokesperson for the Pro-Cuomo PAC Fix the City, said "When you strip away his Hollywood tinsel, what you realize is that Mr. Mamdani has repeatedly embraced the rhetoric of hate. It is far past time for him to disavow his own calls to 'globalize the intifada', which many understand is an invitation to violence." Mamdani's campaign has centered around socialist proposals such as free bus fares, no rent increases, legalized sex work, and a ban on immigration law enforcement in the City. While the Democratic base can still rally to Mamdani, his antagonism of the Jewish vote makes it less likely. Silwa can win. KALAMAZOO, MI Panda Express, known for its original orange chicken recipe, will soon be opening on Kalamazoos west side. The restaurant, which aims to be Michigans 50th Panda Express location, will open in a new 2,700-square-foot building now under construction at 4300 W. Main St. The fast-casual, American-Chinese eatery is being built on the site of a former Huntington Bank, which was demolished to make way for the restaurant. There is one existing Kalamazoo County Panda Express already, at 5811 S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage. The restaurant, being built on the north side of West Main, east of Advia Credit Union and west of Little Caesars, will feature a drive-thru and dine-in concept. Customers to the new Panda Express, being built at 4300 W. Main St. in Kalamazoo, Michigan, can expect to see a similar Panda Home design inside. The design concept is one that bridges the East and the West with red lanterns, a moon gate portal and vibrant Chinatown signs. Provided by Panda Express | Approach Marketing It is tentatively slated for a late October opening, pending any construction delays, said Brittany Rouse, with Panda Express new store opening team. Once open, this location will employ nearly 40 people and boast the latest Panda Home design, Rouse stated in an email to the Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive. Inside, customers will find a distinctly American Chinese design that bridges the East and the West with red lanterns, a moon gate portal and vibrant Chinatown signs. According to site plans submitted to the city in July 2024, the business will feature 35 parking spaces. RELATED: Panda Express eyes new restaurant in Kalamazoo This is an exciting project in the Westwood neighborhood and will be a great addition to the dining options Kalamazoo has to offer, Kalamazoo City Planner Emily Szymanski told the Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive previously. What the new Panda Express will look like at 4300 W. Main St. in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Once open, the location will employ nearly 40 people and boast the latest Panda Home design. Provided by Panda Express | Approach Marketing In addition to orange chicken, the fast-casual restaurant boasts American-Chinese originals such as honey sesame chicken breast, black pepper angus steak and honey walnut shrimp. Panda Express is also known for its Wok Smart dishes, balanced protein plates and items such as chow mein and spring rolls. The Panda Restaurant Group traces its origins to 1973 when Andrew Cherng and his father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng opened the Panda Inn in Pasadena, California. The first Panda Express was opened in 1983 in Glendale, California, by Andrew and his wife, Peggy Cherng. By 1993, there were over 100 locations nationwide. The restaurant concept, which went international in 2011, now has over 1,000 locations. In addition to the location coming to Kalamazoo, there is also a new location being built in Oakland County, Rouse said. For more information on Panda Express, visit pandaexpress.com. Hundreds gathered at Friendship Park in Battle Creek, Michigan, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, blocks away from Kelloggs Headquarters, to protest the use of artificial dyes and the preservative BHT in cereal. Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com Certain additives would be banned from foods at K-12 schools in Michigan under a bill that recently passed the state House. The legislation would align Michigan with a growing number of states considering and enacting bans on artificial food dyes, preservatives and other additives either statewide or in school foods over health concerns. The bill passed the House by a 58-47 vote on July 1, with nearly unanimous support from Republicans and opposition from Democrats. State Rep. Peter Herzberg, D-Westland, broke with his party by voting for the bill, and state Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, voted against it. It now awaits consideration in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The additives targeted by the legislation are brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and dyes Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Yellow 6. The proposed amendment to the states Food Law would ban public and nonpublic schools from providing, selling or making available any foods with the additives starting July 1, 2028. If we have taxpayer dollars that are going to funding foods in our schools, we should at least ensure that theyre nutritious and theyre not harming our childrens education and their development, said bill sponsor Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles. Democratic-led California was the first state to crack down on these additives, with Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 signing a bill to ban brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and Red Dye No. 3 in all foods in the state starting in 2027. Michigan is among at least 20 other states looking this year at bans on certain artificial dyes, preservatives and other additives, according to the New York Times. The Trump administration is also looking to crack down on additives in Americas food. The FDA revoked authorization for use of Red Dye No. 3 in foods earlier this year, citing data showing the ingredient causing cancer in male lab rats. In April, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined a plan to phase out eight synthetic dyes Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2. by the end of next year, ABC News reported. Hundreds gathered in Battle Creek last year to protest the use of artificial dyes by the WK Kellogg company in cereals. Heres a look at the additives being targeted in Michigan, what theyre used for and what concerns there are. Brominated vegetable oil had its regulation authorizing use in food revoked last year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with all foods containing the additive to be banned in August. According to the FDA, the emulsifier was used to keep citrus flavoring from floating to the top in some beverages. Few beverages contain the additive. An FDA study on rats suggested brominated vegetable oil acts as an endocrine disrupter and can affect the thyroid hormone, according to the New York Times. Potassium bromate is an additive used to improve dough in breads and other baked goods, according to Michigan State University. When the baked good is properly baked, little, if any, potassium bromate residue remains in the baked product. When given to rodents in large doses, the additive can harm DNA, cells and cause cancer, according to MSU. However, current research shows the additive doesnt cause harm in humans when consumed at normal levels in properly baked foods. Potassium bromate is currently under review by the FDA, which says it is working with the American Bakers Association to minimize residual bromate levels by improving baking technology and testing. Propylparaben is also under review by the FDA. Its a preservative used in cosmetics but also found in packaged baked goods like tortillas and pastries. According to the New York Times, research indicates that the preservative acts as an endocrine disrupter and affects male and female reproductive health. The targeted dyes are used in baked goods, snack foods, cereals, gelatins, confections, yogurt, beverages and more. After a review of human studies, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded research suggests artificial dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral effects, such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and restlessness, in sensitive children. Based on multiple streams of evidence, the (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act) synthetic food dyes cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in children, researchers with the office wrote. This week is starting out nice and summery - but then the heat comes and - and it will feel like it just keeps coming. A mini heatwave is in store for us later this week. And by Thursday, the feels like temperature could top 100 degrees. We Michiganders have northern constitutions, meaning our bodies have grown accustomed to handling colder weather. When heat waves hit, were built to wilt, and really hot weather can make us feel more uncomfortable than people who live in hotter climates. It can even make us feel sick. So we have to look ahead and plan to take care of ourselves in the heat. Children, older people and pets will need a careful eye when the outdoor temperatures soar. If youre working or doing activities outside, youll want to be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The mid-week period will feature hot and humid conditions as temperatures climb into the mid 90s and heat indices reach 100+ degrees on Thursday. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service Heres the statewide forecast roundup from Michigans National Weather Service offices: We should prepare for a significant heat wave developing Wednesday through Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach the 90s and heat indices potentially exceeding 100 degrees. The National Weather Service forecasts intense heat across Michigan, particularly in the Lower Peninsula, with temperatures climbing into the 90s on Wednesday and Thursday. The combination of high temperatures and humidity will create dangerous heat conditions, with heat indices potentially reaching 105 degrees. Residents are advised to take precautions such as staying hydrated, avoiding prolonged outdoor exposure, and checking on vulnerable individuals like elderly neighbors and those without air conditioning. The heat wave will be accompanied by increasing humidity, with dew points expected to rise into the 70s by Thursday. While the hottest conditions are anticipated in the Lower Peninsula, the Upper Peninsula will also experience warmer-than-normal temperatures. The heat is being driven by a strong high-pressure ridge building across the region. Looking ahead, the heat is expected to begin moderating Friday as a series of weather systems approach from the west. Shower and thunderstorm chances will increase late Thursday into the weekend, potentially providing some relief from the intense heat. However, temperatures are still forecast to remain warm, with highs in the 80s. 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. Varun Singh 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 Maruti now has 5,500 service touchpoints, plans to set up 500 new units in FY26 Varun Singh 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 1/9 Teenagers are often told to focus on school and wait their turn but these Indian teens didnt. Instead, they built companies worth millions while most of their peers were prepping for board exams. Whether through innovation, hustle, or sheer determination, they turned youthful ambition into serious business. Here are 8 inspiring young CEOs who made their first million before the age of 20. 2/9 TILAK MEHTA: At just 13, Tilak Mehta launched Papers N Parcels, a digital courier startup in Mumbai that offers same-day delivery through the citys iconic dabbawala network. The idea came from a personal need and quickly turned into a city-wide logistics solution. Today, the company is valued at over Rs 100 crore (approx. $12 million), and Tilak continues to juggle his academic responsibilities with entrepreneurial leadership. 3/9 ADVAIT THAKUR: Advait Thakur was only 12 when he founded Apex Infosys India, a tech firm offering AI-powered solutions and web services. A certified Google developer by his early teens, Advaits work spans across automation, digital marketing, and smart tech. His company crossed the $1 million mark, and he continues to expand its global footprint all while still in his teens. 4/9 SHRAVAN KUMARAN & SANJAY KUMARAN: Brothers Shravan and Sanjay Kumaran from Chennai launched GoDimensions at just 12 and 10, respectively. They started by developing mobile apps focused on productivity and education, and have released over 10 apps across platforms. With a growing valuation and partnerships, they became two of India's youngest tech entrepreneurs proving that age is no barrier to coding or CEO roles. 5/9 SREELAKSHMI SURESH: Sreelakshmi Suresh began designing websites at the age of 6 and started her first company, eDesign, by 10. Later, she founded TinyLogo, a firm offering digital branding services. With a client list ranging from schools to corporates, her ventures have collectively crossed the million-dollar mark. She remains a role model for young girls in tech and continues to innovate while studying. 6/9 HARSHWARDHANSINH ZALA: Harshwardhansinh Zala founded Aerobotics7 at 14, focusing on creating drones to detect and defuse landmines. His innovative product earned him a Rs 5 crore MoU with the Gujarat government and widespread acclaim. Harsh decided to focus fully on his mission, stepping away from traditional academics to build a company that's saving lives with smart tech. 7/9 RITESH AGARWAL: The most well-known name on this list, Ritesh Agarwal, launched OYO Rooms at just 17. What began as a simple idea to standardize budget stays grew into a global hospitality giant valued at over $9 billion at its peak. Backed by the Thiel Fellowship and a $100,000 grant, Ritesh became one of Indias youngest billionaires and a textbook case of teenage disruption. 8/9 AKHILENDRA SAHU: Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Akhilendra launched ASTNT Technologies at 16. The company offers web hosting, digital marketing, and news services. Known as one of Indias youngest serial entrepreneurs, he built his career through freelancing and YouTube tutorials. Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com. Saurav Pandey 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 Alia Bhatt and Payal Kapadia backed Difficult Daughters among official selections at 2025 Asian project market in Busan Vaishnavi Gavankar 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 Gayatri Rani 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 Blackpinks Lisas new Tattoo fuels speculation, BLINKs link it to her past love life Vaishnavi Gavankar 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 Jeethu Joseph threatened to send legal notice to Hindi makers of Drishyam 3; can't start before the Malayalam version Sarika 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. 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 Pawan Kalyan to quit acting, says "Don't know how many..." Palak Vij 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 Vaishnavi Gavankar 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 Palak Vij 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 Dinesh Unnikrishnan is Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday. Dinesh Unnikrishnan 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 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 HDFC Bank shares gain as profit grows 12%, but NIMs slip; should you buy, sell, or hold? Zoya Springwala 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 India Inc finds little to celebrate as early Q1FY26 results reveal tepid demand Lovisha Darad Lovisha is passionate about domestic and global equity market development. She writes stories exclusively on equities from a fundamental perspective, gathering insights from niche market gurus. Lovisha Darad 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 Paytm Q1 preview: Profit test for the turnaround stock of the year 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 Naina Sood 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 Shubhangi Mathur 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 GMR Airports planning to raise up to Rs 6,000 crore to refinance debt; may tap mutual funds Swaraj Singh Dhanjal 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 Anthem Biosciences Share Price Live: What's happening in SME segment? Check latest news This week is set to see heightened activity on the SME platforms, with five companies preparing to launch their IPOs. Savy Infra & Logistics and Swastika Castal are scheduled to open on Monday, July 21, 2025. Monarch Surveyors & Engineering Consultants will follow on Tuesday, July 22, while TSC India is set to hit the market on Wednesday, July 23. Patel Chem Specialities is expected to open its issue on Friday, July 25, 2025. In addition, two SME listings are on the horizonSpunweb Nonwoven is set to debut on the BSE SME platform on July 21, while Monika Alcobev will list on the NSE SME platform on July 23. This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer Alpha Desk 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 J Jagannath 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 Jane Street allowed to resume trading but will not trade in options: Reuters report J Jagannath 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 Jane Street likely to return to Indian markets after depositing Rs 4,844 crore in escrow: Report 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 In August 26 edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: It's silver's moment to shine, lucrative domestic manufacturing would stem fert... Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | How to keep calm and bank on New CEOs are driving stock surge across India Inc with a 75 percent success rate 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 Veer 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. 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 Stocks to Watch Today: RIL, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, JSW Steel, IDFC First Bank, Dr Reddys Labs, IRCON, Sona Comstar, Anthem Biosciences in focus on 21 July Sunil Matkar 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 Arindam Roy 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 Apollo Hospitals spin-off of digital-retail arm to unlock shareholder value; mid-teen revenue growth expected from FY27: MD Suneeta Reddy Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol. Viswanath Pilla 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 Rakesh Patil 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 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 Air India crash: Probe underway in transparent manner, we "stand with truth", says Rammohan Naidu Siddharth Chakravorty 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 Siddharth Chakravorty 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 Priyanjali Ghose 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 Surabhi Pandey 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. 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 Tamal Nandi 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 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 Crossing all limits: SC on ED summoning lawyers for legal advice, calls for framing guidelines Rewati Karan 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 Fight political battles outside court: SC to petitioner on plea for criminal contempt against Mamata Rewati Karan 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 'Have some decorum, he is still Justice Varma': CJI BR Gavai rebukes lawyer in Supreme Court 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 How Indian Army plans to adopt AI and what it means for future of warfare Armaan Bhatnagar 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 Rewati Karan 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 India's strategic road near China border to cut Army's travel time from 2 days to 12 hours Arindam Roy 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 Operation Sindoor to space achievements: Five big takeaways from PM Modi's address ahead of monsoon session Siddharth Chakravorty 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 'Is he your friend?': CJI Gavai rebukes lawyer over reference to Justice Varma amid probe plea 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 Kanhaiya Kumar says Opposition reluctant to protect their base vote: 'Will BJP stop saying Hindu-Muslim?' Parimal Peeyush 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 Parliament Session 2025 Live Updates: Civil Aviation minister Rammohan Naidu responds to question on Air India crash preliminary report Civil Aviation minister Rammohan Naidu responds to questions on Air India crash preliminary report. We will have all answers once the final report is placed..." "The investigation is being conducted in accordance with international protocols. If you look at the preliminary report, youll see that in the past, whenever a black box was even slightly damaged, we would send it abroad. However, for the first time, India has taken a stand to handle it independently. To reach a definitive conclusion, we must wait for the final report." "The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) follows a thorough, rule-based process and is completely unbiased. While many questions may arise and the Western media may push their own narratives, our approach is grounded in facts. We are committed to standing by the truth and uncovering exactly what happened," the civil aviation minister said. Monsoon session of Parliament: Kharge seeks clarity on Operation Sindoor, Nadda says govt ready for discussion Siddharth Chakravorty 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 No immediate cause for worry over Chinas dam on Brahmaputra: Himanta Sarma 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 Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On July 18, 2025, GAC International hosted two major events in Hong Kongthe grand opening of the Yuen Long showroom and the GAC HYPTEC HT Gala Dinner, according to a post on GAC International's WeChat account. The new moves signal a significant step forward in the company's "Hong Kong ACTION" initiative, which aims to expand both sales channels and brand presence across the region. Photo credit: GAC Group The new Yuen Long location marks GAC's eighth showroom in Hong Kong and serves as a strategic move under the initiative's "channel expansion" pillar. This addition strengthens GAC's citywide sales and service network, enhancing accessibility for local customers. Designed around the concept of blending technology with human-centered experiences, the Yuen Long showroom serves not only as a brand showcase but also as a commitment to delivering high-quality products and services. Located adjacent to the showroom is a dedicated delivery center, where GAC plans to complete deliveries of 300 AION V vehicles this year. The integrated showroom and instant delivery model aims to provide Hong Kong customers with a more efficient and premium new energy vehicle (NEV) ownership experience. Part of the broader "One GAC 2.0" global strategy, the "Hong Kong ACTION" plan encompasses five key areas: product lineup, sales channels, customer service, energy infrastructure, and mobility solutions. The launch of the Yuen Long showroom supports the goal of establishing a more comprehensive local network, aligning with GAC's previously announced target to add one service center and one showroom by 2025. Meanwhile, the HYPTEC HT Gala, targeting the high-end segment, showcases GAC's commitment to upgrading its product portfolio. From the unveiling of the "Hong Kong ACTION" initiative at the 2025 International Automobile & Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong) in June to the back-to-back rollouts in July, GAC is advancing its full-chain export model. Looking ahead, the company plans to further enhance its green mobility ecosystem through initiatives like charging infrastructure expansion and crossGreater Bay Area service integration, reaffirming its commitment to serving Hong Kong consumers with accessible and sustainable transportation solutions. Stranded in Thiruvananthapuram for 5 weeks, F-35B combat jet set to fly out of India tomorrow Surabhi Pandey 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 Student fees cover just a fraction of costs at DU, JNU and IIT-Delhi amid surging university deficits Ishaan Gera 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 Telangana CM to brief top Congress leaders on caste census on July 24 in Delhi 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 'We will challenge it in the Supreme Court': Devendra Fadnavis expresses shock over Bombay HC's decision on 2006 Mumbai blasts 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 Who was VS Achuthanandan? Former Kerala CM, CPI-M leader, voice of Opposition dies at 101 Rewati Karan 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 'Won't allow SIR in West Bengal': Mamata Banerjee sets tone for 2026 polls at Martyrs' Day rally, draws fire from BJP Parimal Peeyush 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 Pahalgam Attack: New opportunity and ongoing challenges as US labels TRF a terrorist outfit Namrata Agarwal 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 Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On July 18, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement with the authority of Jianye District in Nanjing, officially announcing the establishment of its wholly owned subsidiary, BMW (Nanjing) Information Technology Co., Ltd., according to a post on BMW China's WeChat account. The new entity becomes one of BMW Group's six global IT R&D centers, its first and only such facility in China, and the company's largest IT research base in Asia. Positioned as a cornerstone of BMW's digital transformation in China, the new center will enhance smart manufacturing capabilities and accelerate local development and production of BMW's next-generation models. Photo credit: BMW Group Previously operating as the Nanjing branch of LingYue Digital Information Technology Co., Ltd., BMW (Nanjing) Information Technology Co., Ltd. has been an integral part of BMW's digital innovation system in China since its inception in 2021. The transition to an independent entity will streamline decision-making, improve resource allocation, and increase operational efficiency. It will also attract top talent in critical areas such as artificial intelligence and software engineering, reinforcing BMW's future-facing digital competencies. Since its founding, the Nanjing facility has grown more than fourfold, now boasting over 600 digital professional talents with global expertise. Its technological capabilities span AI, Java, SAP, cloud computing, and big data. Notably, the company has developed its own AI-assisted development platform, "JoyCode," which enables 25%30% of code to be AI-generated, significantly boosting development speed and quality control. The Nanjing unit is also certified under both CMMI and TMMI frameworks and will adopt ISO software quality standards this year to further strengthen its technical foundation across BMW's value chain in China. The new company will play a crucial role in supporting the digital backbone of BMW's local production strategy. With the first Neue Klasse model scheduled to roll off the production line in Shenyang in 2026, the Nanjing subsidiary will deliver end-to-end digital solutions covering R&D, manufacturing, procurement, and logisticsenhancing production efficiency and ensuring premium quality standards for domestically built models. The founding of BMW (Nanjing) Information Technology Co., Ltd. marks a major step forward in BMW Group's broader strategy across digitalization, electrification, and sustainability. As one of BMWs global IT innovation hubs, the Nanjing company will continue advancing in frontier areas including AI and AI-assisted development, digital twins, smart manufacturing, and digital platforms. It is set to become a vital bridge linking China's innovation with BMW's global IT ecosystem. BMW is also laying the groundwork for a comprehensive smart ecosystem tailored to China in preparation for the localization of its Neue Klasse models. Strategic collaborations include co-developing driver assistance systems with Momenta to adapt to local road conditions, building a customized AI engine with Alibaba based on the Tongyi large language model, and integrating DeepSeek's AI into the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. These partnerships exemplify BMW's open and collaborative localization strategy and further shape its digital ecosystem in China. Ankita Sengupta 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 MC Science Desk Read the latest and trending science newsstay updated on NASA, ISRO, space missions, planets, asteroids, black holes, AI, quantum physics, galaxy discoveries, and more exciting breakthroughs. 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. 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 MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. 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. 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 Heres when Apple may launch its first foldable iPhone MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. 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. 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 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 Reshab Shaw 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 Microsoft warns of active attacks on its SharePoint software with over 10,000 organisations at risk MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. 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. 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 Photo Credit: MASN Baltimore Orioles color analyst Ben McDonald has been in the thoughts of countless Orioles fans after informing the fanbase of a recent incident where he fell 25 feet out of a deer stand while hunting on Thursday. But fortunately, according to McDonald who updated fans about his recovery process on Sunday, he will be returning to work next week if all goes to plan. In a post on social media on Friday from a hospital bed, McDonald explained how he had sustained a concussion and two cracked vertebrae, but was otherwise in good spirits and optimistic about his recovery. This is what a severe concussion looks like and sounds like! (I still dont remember anything) Apparently I fell out of a deer stand 25 feet up yesterday morning.Im fine and appreciate everyone checking on me. Very lucky.concussion and 2 cracked vertebras.Ill be back pic.twitter.com/uvczgV1uOq Ben McDonald (@realbenmcdonald) July 19, 2025 McDonald provided another update from his home on Sunday night, informing Orioles fans that he does still have one roadblock, a check-up with a neurologist, to ultimately be cleared to return to work. But if that meeting goes well, he plans to return to calling games next Friday when they play the Colorado Rockies. Additionally, McDonald shared his appreciation for all of the well wishes he has received from fans and colleagues alike. Howdy, howdy, said McDonald in his video posted on X Sunday. Man, Ill tell you what, I took a nasty fall, which a lot of yall know. I am fine, I want everybody to know that I am fine. Severe concussion, I guess. I still dont remember anything about it. A couple cracked vertebraes in my back that is going to heal fine. Honestly, the more I move around, the better I feel. Cant move around a whole lot, doctors orders, but I am moving around a little bit. Anyway, just wanted to hop on real quick and say thank you. So many texts messages I have not been able to answer yet. Doctor said to stay off the cellphone, so I have been pretty much doing that overall. A lot of comments on social media I have not gotten around to. But I just want everybody to know that I am fine. I am going to be okay. I have got one more checkup with a neurologist on Tuesday. If everything goes well, I will be back and behind the mic in bird land on Friday, which I am looking forward to. Anyway, thank you so much for reaching out. Thank you to everybody. Certainly scary. I dont know how scary it was because I dont remember a thing about it, to be honest with you. But I know I fell 25 feet out of a deer stand. I always wear a safety belt. And I encourage you to do the same thing. I always do when I was hunting. But for whatever reason, went up to pop the stand out and I ended up on my back. Lesson learned, so wear a safety belt. I got lucky, I am here talking about it. But I will from now on have a safety belt on at all times. Thank you all for reaching out.sorry I havent been able to text back yet or respond on social media like I would like.appreciate everyone checking on me.Ill be fine.still sore as hell but the Good Lord certainly had a hand in this.Im still here! Love you guys! pic.twitter.com/6vFA9vovkm Ben McDonald (@realbenmcdonald) July 21, 2025 McDonald is obviously one of the most beloved figures in the history of the Orioles organization, playing for the team from 1989 to 1995 before ultimately returning as a broadcaster. So it is quite obvious that Orioles fans want McDonald back as soon as possible. And thankfully, it sounds as if McDonald wont be forced to be out of the broadcast booth for all that long. MC Travel Desk Read the latest and trending travel news storiesstay updated on new destinations, travel trends, visa updates, and expert tips for your next adventure. Priyanka Roshan 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 Indians are choosing Australia, Japan and Singapore over Europe in 2025Heres why Priyanka Roshan 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 EU introduces new migration policy linking development aid to African cooperation The European Union has introduced a new immigration policy that could make development funding for African nations conditional on their efforts to prevent migration, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. This approach, rooted in the recently adopted EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, is framed by the EU as necessary cooperation to manage migration and combat human trafficking. However, the policy has drawn criticism from experts who warn it could be counterproductive, undermine the sovereignty of African nations, and fuel resentment. Critics argue the policy forces African governments into a choice between securing vital funding and policing their own citizens, potentially diverting resources from development to border enforcement and pushing migrants towards more dangerous routes. Abhinav Gupta 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. 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 'Bangladesh needs her now more than ever': Calls for Hasinas return grow louder as Dhaka turmoil escalates Abhinav Gupta 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 Dozens of Palestinians killed while seeking food in Gaza as Israeli troops open fire near aid sites 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 Armaan Bhatnagar 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 FBI wants Irans ambassador in Pakistan arrested: Why and how this puts Islamabad in a tight spot Abhinav Gupta 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 SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. If the Guinness Book of World Records had a category for "most pointlessly maddening government rule," the Transportation Security Administration would have nailed it long ago with its requirement that airline passengers remove their shoes during security screenings. Last week, after 19 years of forcing travelers to walk barefoot or in socks through airport metal detectors, the TSA announced that it was ending the rule. Our long national nightmare is over. The requirement was instituted by the TSA in August 2006, nearly five years after an Al Qaeda-trained radical, Richard Reid, tried to detonate explosives concealed in his shoe during an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. Reid's plot was unsuccessful. A flight attendant found him acting suspiciously, and several passengers quickly moved to restrain him. The flight was diverted to Boston, where Reid was arrested and charged with numerous criminal counts related to terrorism. He eventually pleaded guilty to most of them and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. He has been locked up ever since in the federal supermax prison in Colorado. Why the TSA waited five years after Reid's abortive shoe bombing to institute its shoes-off rule has never been clearly explained, but in all that time no one else has tried to take down a plane using explosive footwear. Nor have any passengers ever been caught with a shoe bomb in the nearly two decades after the rule went into effect. In other words, there has never been any evidence that making millions of travelers shed their shoes contributed to anyone's safety. It was all security theater a ritual that looked tough and felt serious but did nothing to actually make air travel more secure. And it perfectly epitomized the TSA's obsession with stopping bad things rather than bad people with screening for forbidden bottles of shampoo or corkscrews or lighters as if they posed deadly threats, instead of monitoring for behavior that represents a real threat to planes and their passengers. From the day it was created, the TSA has specialized in fighting the last war and in overreacting to one-time long shots. One Islamist radical tried to hide explosives in his shoes, so hundreds of millions of travelers had to start removing their shoes. Another would-be terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, attempted to hide a bomb in his underwear, so we all had to submit to full-body scans or (for several years) pat-downs. British officials learned of a plot to mix explosives in soft-drink bottles, so passengers were ordered to limit their liquids and gels to containers no bigger than 3.4 ounces. Terrorists based in Yemen hid two bombs inside printer cartridges and shipped them to addresses in Chicago whereupon TSA announced that "toner and ink cartridges over 16 ounces will be prohibited on passenger aircraft in both carry-on bags and checked bags." I often reflected in the years after 9/11 that if Osama bin Laden's terrorists had destroyed not four airliners on that terrible day but four crowded movie theaters, then Americans would have had to radically change the way they went to the movies advance reservations would have become mandatory, audiences would have had to get to the cineplex (with photo ID) two hours early, and X-ray equipment operated by a vast new federal bureaucracy, the Theater Security Administration, would have scanned everyone entering and leaving. But at airports there would be no interminable security lines, a box cutter in your carry-on wouldn't raise any eyebrows, and you could arrive for your flight 20 minutes before departure. We would still be as vulnerable to a hijacking-massacre as we actually were on 9/11 but almost no one would be thinking about that because the "last war" would have taken a different form. Former TSA administrator Kip Hawley conceded in 2012 that the agency remained obstinately reactive. An agent's job should be "to manage risk, not to enforce regulations," he wrote. But by and large agents "focused almost entirely on finding prohibited items." And even that they aren't very good at. The government's own "red team" tests in which undercover inspectors try to smuggle weapons or contraband through security have repeatedly shown that the TSA is easy to fool. In one 2015 investigation, for instance, agents got knives, guns, and mock explosives through checkpoints 67 out of 70 times a 95 percent failure rate. As Americans who travel abroad are aware, other countries never deemed it necessary to adopt the shoes-off rule. That includes countries in which the threat of terrorism is far more acute. In Israel, for example, security screening begins even before passengers enter the terminal, officials make a point of engaging in dialogue with almost everyone who's catching a plane, and travelers remain with their luggage until after the security check is completed. But nobody has to take their shoes off or remove their laptop from their bag to be scanned separately. Security agents there are watching for nervousness, inconsistencies, or suspicious behavior. They aren't preoccupied with confiscating bottled water or whether you're wearing a belt. The TSA's ritualized absurdities have come at a steep cost. They waste billions of dollars annually. They consume countless hours of passengers' time. They treat everyone like a potential terrorist. To prove that no one is exempt, they have gone to the extreme of patting down grandmothers in wheelchairs, babies wearing diapers, and former US vice presidents. Nearly a quarter-century after 9/11, there is no evidence that any of this has ever prevented a hijacking. "TSA has played next to no role in the biggest counterterrorism stories of the past two decades," journalist Darryl Campbell, who writes extensively about air travel and airline security, wrote in 2022. According to the think tank RAND, the overwhelming majority of terrorist plots including schemes to attack US airports or planes have been foiled by intelligence and security services. There hasn't been another 9/11, but not because blue-shirted agents made you take off your shoes and empty your pockets. It is widely agreed that the two most effective deterrents to another hijacking have nothing to do with airport checkpoints. One was a physical change: the locking and reinforcing of cockpit doors, so that no terrorist could ever again breach the cockpit during flight. The other was psychological. The passengers on 9/11's United Flight 93, by overpowering the terrorists and forcing them to crash the plane into a field, prevented a far greater catastrophe that day and thereby taught future travelers of the importance of fighting back. The end of the shoes-off rule is long overdue. But it's just one small retreat in a long war of make-believe. The TSA remains fixated on creating the illusion of security rather than actually providing it. If the agency truly wants to protect travelers, it should abandon its theater of confiscated water bottles and trampled dignity and learn to focus instead on what truly keeps passengers safe. But until that happens, we can at least keep our shoes on. It's a start. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission. (COMMENT, BELOW) 'Flames all around': Eyewitness recalls chaos after Bangladeshi fighter jet crashes into school campus 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 Inside the deadly Dhaka fighter jet crash: Why the Chinese aircraft is under scrutiny | Explained Abhinav Gupta 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 'Raped me in my sleep, said no one would...': Kate Knivetons chilling account of abuse in marriage with UK politician Abhinav Gupta 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 Trump invited Epstein as only guest to 1993 party for young women at Mar-a-Lago: Report Abhinav Gupta 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 Under the shadow of bombs: Iran agrees to talks with E3; can it de-escalate the nuclear crisis after US strikes? Abhinav Gupta 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 YAN XUE/FOR CHINA DAILY Global Times-On Sunday, Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia published an interview with Mignon Houston, deputy spokesperson for the US State Department. In the interview, the US official warned that Indo-Pacific countries should "be mindful and responsible when making decisions" on working with China. Although she acknowledged China's major role in the region, she simultaneously made groundless accusations that China was "fostering economic coercion, manipulation, dependency." She also encouraged countries to see the US as "an alternative for economic cooperation," claiming that it was important that "ASEAN countries are not dependent on one economy, not dependent on only one source." What the US refers to as the "Indo-Pacific" is essentially what people commonly call the "Asia-Pacific." Houston's remarks, devoid of any real substance, plainly reveal the US intention to maintain its strategic monopoly in the Asia-Pacific region. By exaggerating China's regional influence, she is in fact interfering with the legitimate right of China and Asia-Pacific countries to cooperate. Her narrative of the US as a mere "alternative" or "backup" partner to ASEAN is, in essence, a thinly veiled expression of Washington's desire to uphold its dominance in the region. The US implicitly coerces Asia-Pacific countries to take sides between the US and China, while using grandiose terms like "mindful" and "responsible" to disguise its intention to disrupt the region's established order, seeking justification for its so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy." Houston's accusations against China have seriously distorted the reality of China's cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries. As a US scholar once noted, some Lao passengers removed their shoes and left them on the platform before boarding the China-Laos Railway train - a customary practice before entering one's home in Laos - indicating Laotians clearly felt comfortable with the Chinese-funded and Chinese-built railway. Over the years, China's economic and trade cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries has significantly contributed to regional development and shared prosperity, while also playing a constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability - facts that are widely recognized. In contrast, while regional countries are eager for options like free trade agreements and people-to-people exchanges, Washington unfortunately presents a policy prescription of conflict and confrontation. While US officials repeatedly stress the need to avoid reliance on "only one source," what they are actually offering Asia-Pacific countries is a zero-sum single-answer question. Yet most countries in the region are unwilling to take sides. The prevailing sentiment is a desire for harmonious relations among nations and win-win cooperation. Two recent issues are indicative. First, the Pew Research Center in the US and the East Asia Forum in Australia both released research reports showing that the share of people with a favorable view of China in the Asia-Pacific region has increased, while the share with a favorable view of the US has declined. Second, during the NATO summit held in The Hague, Netherlands, from June 24 to 25, the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and Australia were all absent. This proves that the US so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy," characterized by economic decoupling, high-tech restrictions, military provocations and containment, with the core goal of countering China's growing influence, is not welcomed in the region. The Asia-Pacific region is currently a major driving force supporting the global economic growth, with economic growth in the region consistently leading the world. The region's "spaghetti-bowl" of trade agreements - referring to the intricate overlap of multiple trade pacts - has grown to over 370 separate agreements. Stability, cooperation, development, and prosperity are the key priorities pursued by the vast majority of countries in the region. In recent years, the US so-called "de-risking" strategy of "excluding" China from supply chains has forcibly cut the interconnected economic networks that countries in the Asia-Pacific have formed over many years, disrupting a pattern that benefits all parties involved. Regional countries all share a common preference for strategic autonomy, diplomatic diversification, and economic mutual benefit. What they least want to do is face the single-answer question that Washington imposes on them. No matter what packaging is used or what guise is adopted, the so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is essentially a strategy that creates division, incites confrontation, and undermines peace; ultimately, this strategy is destined to fail. In recent years, the US has continued to use individual Asia-Pacific countries as pawns to contain China, which, while causing some disruption to China, has also disrupted the rhythm of regional stability and development. However, one thing is clear: In the Asia-Pacific region, the appeal of accelerating the promotion of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and the high-quality implementation of RCEP for regional integration cooperation far exceeds that of arrangements like AUKUS and the Quad mechanism, which are filled with Cold War thinking, formed by Washington and its individual allies. The outdated Cold War script should not be replayed in the Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific region, which encompasses several major global economies, is the main engine of global economic growth and should continue to inject strong momentum into the resilience and innovation of global supply chains, rather than being pushed to the "crossroads" of camp confrontation, adding turbulence and crises to the world. Hopefully Washington will break free from the cognitive trap of zero-sum games as soon as possible, and work with China to add stability and development in the region, rather than pursuing decoupling which only harms others and itself. 'Was staring at her legs...': Epstein accuser recalls Trump encounter that may tie him to infamous files Armaan Bhatnagar 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 Why Donald Trumps name is surfacing again in the Epstein case: What Maria Farmers account reveals 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 Why flash floods are surging across the US this summer and how climate change is driving the deluge 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 Why Trumps ties to Jeffrey Epstein are under fresh scrutiny and what the FBI files may reveal 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 State Capitol In Sacramento View Photo California lawmakers want to limit public access to their addresses and phone numbers after two Minnesota lawmakers were shot, one fatally, in their homes last month. One proposal would ban journalists from accessing that information through candidates and public officials voter registration records, even though there is no indication the Minnesota shooter used those kinds of records to track down his victims. Officials voter registration data is already confidential to most of the public. It is available to a select few, including journalists. But AB 1392, authored by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins of La Mesa and sponsored by Secretary of State Shirley Webers office, would eliminate that carve-out and effectively block journalists access to politicians phone numbers, emails and home addresses and prior voter registration. This common-sense bill will protect public servants and their families, Sharp-Collins told lawmakers during a Tuesday Senate hearing. Stripping the public of vital information? But press freedom advocates say they doubt the measure would protect public officials from violence, arguing it would instead strip journalists of vital information they use to keep government officials in check. Journalists often use a politicians residential address to determine if they live in the district they represent and are eligible for office. Democracy is founded on the promise of trust but verify. We are not required to take the governments word for it, said David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, which advocates for public access to government documents and proceedings. We understand the concerns, but this should not deprive the press of its ability to do fundamental watchdog and accountability reporting. Sharp-Collins chief of staff Michael Lucien said she did not have time for an interview. Her office also did not respond to questions sent by CalMatters via text about how her measure would protect public officials, or whether she believed anyone had used information obtained from their voter registration to target them. State lawmakers have often cited security concerns in passing laws that limit public disclosure. Last year, they made it harder to access politicians phone numbers, home addresses and records about properties they own, all of which they are required to disclose in their economic interest statements. A 2022 law allowed California government workers and contractors to shield their addresses from the public if they fear violence. This year, as lawmakers pushed to reduce public access, they cited fear of violence when they sought to shield use-of-force reports by peace officers and to restrict data brokers from selling politicians personal information. Every single year, we see a number of attempts to limit the publics access to information and access to their lawmakers in person, said Brittney Barsotti, general counsel of the California News Publishers Association. (AB 1392) is just another attempt that is concerning. Timothy Cromartie, representing Webers office, said at a Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendment Committee hearing earlier this month that escalating threats to public officials make the measure an urgent necessity. He pointed to the slaying of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband last month, the arson on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros home in April, the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump last year and the 2022 hammer attack on former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband at their home. An earlier version of the measure only applied to state and federal officials. But at the suggestion of the Senate elections committee, it was expanded to apply to local elected officials and candidates for office and allow the secretary of states office to make the information private sooner. But critics doubt the proposal would help prevent tragedies like the Minnesota shootings, where the alleged suspect appeared to have obtained the lawmakers home addresses via people search sites instead of the voter roll. They argue that state law lays out a rigorous request process, where those qualified to receive the voter registration information must submit their names and contact information, explain the reason for their request and attest to their honesty under penalty of perjury. It seems highly unlikely at best that reporters or others able to take advantage of that carve out under those strict conditions are going to commit crimes with that information, Loy said. Loy said the information not only helps journalists fact check officials residency claims, but also allows reporters to identify politicians if they did things such as receiving a home as a gift from special interests, or leasing to or renting property from their major donors. A check on data brokers Another proposal inspired by the Minnesota tragedy, AB302 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan of San Ramon, sought to allow politicians to request businesses, including data brokers and media outlets, to take down or refrain from publishing their personal information, opening the organizations up to lawsuits and fines if they do not comply. An earlier version of the measure risked violating the First Amendment since it could chill and censor legitimate speech, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee analysis. The First Amendment Coalition and the Freedom of the Press Foundation opposed the effort, citing similar concerns, adding that newsrooms could be exposed to frivolous lawsuits simply because politicians do not like stories they publish. These demands and lawsuits will chill news outlets from reporting on matters of public concern, the groups said in a joint letter. The fact that news outlets will have to defend their reporting as relating to a matter of public concern, potentially through multiple appeals, will cause some to self-censor. Bauer-Kahan told CalMatters Monday that her intention was to discourage data brokers from selling politicians personal information. She has agreed to amend the measure to instead require the California Privacy Protection Agency to compile a list of politicians and request data brokers to delete their personal information. Thats not nearly as troubling as giving them a tool to be weaponized to silence legitimate reporting, Loy said. ___ This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. By YUE STELLA YU/CalMatters CalMatters Yves here. This post gives a cautiously negative finding on AI implementation in Germany. If one reads carefully, one can infer that a significant part of the survey population is in factory or related settings, such as logistics management, particularly given the comment on lower physical effort and reduction in time spent. We have pointed out that narrow, non-LLM applications of AI can be highly productive. But the US is rife with stories and even analyses of white collar workers experiencing reduced productivity thanks to AI, since they have to oversee the AI and correct its errors. A 2024 survey found a whopping 77% reported AI lowered their output. Of course, many establishments are not so careful and are willing to risk that they will have to eat AI liability or bear the cost of correcting its errors and so shove unchecked AI results out the door. In addition, survey respondents in Germany report no increase in anxiety about employment security as a result of the introduction of AI. The authors of the report below point out that this response may be due to very strong labor protections in Germany. This is not the case in the US, where employment at will dominates and the media regularly brays about how AI is coming for your job. An ADP survey earlier this year found that over 30% of US employees are worried about AI-created livelihood loss. This anxiety has to have a mental health impact, even if not large on average. By Osea Giuntella, Associate Professor of Economics University Of Pittsburgh, Luca Stella, Associate Professor of Economics University Of Milan, and Johannes Konig. Originally published at VoxEU Artificial intelligence may reduce the need for physically demanding tasks, but it could also erode job satisfaction, intensify cognitive load, and amplify anxiety. This column reports research on survey data from Germany, which finds no evidence that AI exposure has harmed workers mental health or subjective wellbeing. But looking at self-reported use of AI tools in the workplace, there are indications of declining life and job satisfaction. This suggests the need to expand current debates beyond AIs impact on employment, productivity and wages: if it transforms work in ways that affect stress, autonomy, purpose, or health, these dimensions must become central to technology policy and labour regulation. As governments and firms race to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the workplace, a crucial policy question has emerged: how will this new wave of automation affect the wellbeing of workers? While much of the academic and policy debate has focused on employment and productivity effects (e.g. Acemoglu et al. 2022, Brynjolfsson et al. 2025), there is a growing concern about the quality of work itself. AI may reduce the need for physically demanding tasks, but it could also erode job satisfaction, intensify cognitive load, and amplify anxiety. These risks are increasingly at the centre of public discourse and recent policy proposals including those around AI governance and worker protections. Recent VoxEU contributions have examined how AI is reshaping macroeconomic productivity (Cerutti et al. 2025), altering the structure of employment (Ilzetzki and Jain 2023) and creating tensions between innovation and regulation (Frey et al. 2025). But what remains less understood is how AI is affecting workers everyday personal experiences their health, job satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing. In recent work (Giuntella et al. 2025), we seek to address this gap using rich longitudinal survey data from Germany. Our central finding is cautiously optimistic: so far, there is no evidence that AI exposure has harmed workers mental health or subjective wellbeing. In fact, we observe small improvements in self-reported physical health and health satisfaction. But this picture changes when we look at self-reported use of AI tools in the workplace. Here, we find a modest but consistent decline in life and job satisfaction, suggesting that the way in which workers experience AI is as important as the tasks it automates. From Job Loss to Job Quality: Broadening the Lens Existing studies have documented the economic impact of AI from labour market polarisation to sectoral productivity shifts. Felten et al. (2021) and Bonfiglioli et al. (2025) show that AI adoption varies widely across occupations and geographies. Acemoglu et al. (2022) and Brynjolfsson et al. (2025) demonstrate that AI can displace certain roles while creating others. But as Gihleb et al. (2022) and Nazareno and Schiff (2021) argue, technological change also has profound implications for physical and mental health dimensions often missing from macroeconomic models. AI may differ from past automation waves. While industrial robots substituted for manual routine tasks, AI targets cognitive and communicative functions. It can enhance productivity and reduce tedious tasks, but it may also undermine workplace autonomy or increase cognitive demands. How these changes affect workers wellbeing is a question that deserves more attention. Measuring Exposure to AI We use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), a representative longitudinal dataset tracking workers health, satisfaction, and job characteristics over two decades (2000-20). Germany offers a particularly relevant case: it has a strong vocational training system, robust labour protections, and a gradually accelerating rate of AI adoption. To assess the impact of AI on workers wellbeing and health, we employ two complementary measures of AI exposure. Our primary measure, developed by Webb (2019), quantifies how susceptible an occupation is to AI, based on overlap between job tasks and AI-related patents. Our secondary measure is a self-reported exposure measure from the 2020 SOEP wave, where workers were asked how often they use AI-related systems (e.g. natural language processing, image recognition, or information evaluation) on the job. By restricting our sample to individuals who entered the labour market before 2010 (prior to the widespread adoption of AI in Germany), we limit the potential bias from sorting into occupations based on AI exposure. Evidence on AI Adoption and Workers Wellbeing Our findings diverge depending on how AI exposure is measured. Using the task-based exposure measure (Webb 2019), we find: (1) no significant change in life or job satisfaction after 2010 among AI-exposed workers; (2) no significant increase in economic anxiety or reported job insecurity; and (3) small but significant improvements in self-rated health and health satisfaction. These results are summarised in Figure 1. In particular, the physical health gains are consistent with a concurrent decline in the physical burden of jobs among AI-exposed workers. Figure 1 Impact of AI on workers wellbeing and health: Webb measure of AI We also find a slight decline in weekly working hours (approximately 30 minutes) without offsetting reductions in income or employment. Overall, these results suggest that AI may be reducing physical strain without compromising employment stability at least in the early years of adoption. But the picture changes when we consider self-reported exposure to AI systems. Workers who reported using AI tools in the workplace at least weekly were more likely to report declines in life and job satisfaction. These negative effects are relatively small in magnitude (about 0.05 standard deviations). The results of this analysis are presented in Figure 2. Figure 2 Impact of AI on workers wellbeing and health: SOEP-based measure of AI This divergence points to an important insight: how workers perceive and interact with AI tools may matter more for their wellbeing than how objectively exposed to AI their occupation is. This reasoning aligns with arguments made in De Vries and Erken (2023) that perception and adaptation shape AIs productivity potential and suggests that communication and workplace design are essential to successful AI integration. Early-Stage Caution Several caveats should be considered when interpreting our findings. First, our data extend only to 2020. Since then, the development of generative AI (e.g. large language models) has dramatically expanded the potential reach of AI into white-collar and creative domains. Second, our sample focuses on middle-aged and older workers who entered the labour market before AI diffusion began. Younger cohorts may experience AI adoption very differently particularly if it shapes their initial job experiences or career trajectories. Third, Germanys strong labour market institutions may have buffered the disruptive effects of AI. Thus, our findings may not generalise to countries with more flexible labour institutions. Conclusion and Policy Implications The AI transition is underway but its long-term implications remain uncertain. Early evidence from Germany suggests that AI can be integrated into the workplace without harming worker wellbeing and may even reduce physical job intensity. But subjective experience matters. If workers feel overwhelmed, deskilled or surveilled, the psychological costs of AI could emerge well before the economic ones. As the global AI policy agenda evolves from privacy and competition to skills and taxation labour and wellbeing should not be afterthoughts. As with previous industrial revolutions, it is not the technology itself, but the way it is implemented, governed and experienced that will shape its legacy. What Should Policymakers Take away From These Findings? First, our findings underline the need to expand the conversation beyond employment and wages. If AI transforms work in ways that affect stress, autonomy, purpose or health, these dimensions must become central to technology policy and labour regulation. As noted by Martin and Hauret (2022), job quality includes not just income but also working time, safety and wellbeing. Second, the evidence from Germany supports the idea that institutions matter. Works councils, co-determination, and employment protections may have helped Germany to integrate AI more smoothly, with fewer psychological costs to workers. Countries without such institutions may need to explore alternative safeguards whether through regulation, collective bargaining, or ethical design standards. Third, while fears of mass job loss may be overstated, concerns about degraded job quality are real and already observable. In this sense, policies that focus narrowly on reskilling or job matching may miss the broader human effects of AI integration. Finally, we need better data. The divergence between objective and self-reported exposure points to the need for richer task-level surveys and real-time indicators of AI use and worker outcomes. See original post for references Sen. Cory Booker introduces Pesticide Injury Accountability Act to hold chemical companies liable for health harms Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025 to hold agrochemical companies liable for health harms caused by their products, challenging industry-backed state laws that limit legal recourse. The bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to allow individuals to sue pesticide manufacturers in federal court if state laws prevent such lawsuits, while explicitly preserving the right to sue in state courts. The legislation specifically cites Bayer (maker of Roundup) and Syngenta (maker of paraquat) as companies that have used lobbying and legal tactics to avoid accountability for health risks, including links to cancer and Parkinsons disease. A coalition of 17 public health, environmental and consumer groups, including Moms Across America, Children's Health Defense and the Center for Food Safety, have endorsed the bill, calling it essential for protecting public health. Supporters argue the bill is necessary to stop corporations from manipulating laws to prioritize profits over safety and to prevent blanket immunity for industries with known health risks. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced new legislation that aims to hold agrochemical manufacturers accountable for the health consequences of their products , directly challenging a wave of state-level efforts seeking to limit corporate liability. The proposed bill, titled the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025, would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to explicitly preserve individuals' rights to sue pesticide manufacturers in federal court, even when state-level protections are eroded. The bill, introduced on July 17, counteracts industry-supported legislation pushed by Republican lawmakers, which would grant liability shields to companies like Bayer and Syngenta. Such shields would block lawsuits by individuals who allege they were harmed by exposure to products such as glyphosate or paraquat, a widely used herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease. A summary of the legislation specifically names Bayer, the maker of Roundup, and Syngenta, which manufactures paraquat, as examples of corporations that have evaded accountability through aggressive legal and lobbying tactics. Crucially, the bill states that it does not preempt state law. Meaning, it affirms individuals' rights to sue in state courts when permitted. However, if state-level avenues are blocked due to liability shields, the bill grants an alternative path by allowing plaintiffs to bring cases in federal court. (Related: Controversial Georgia bill grants immunity to pesticide makers as cancer lawsuits mount .) "Rather than providing a liability shield so that foreign corporations are allowed to poison the American people, Congress should instead pass the Pesticide Injury Accountability Act to ensure that these chemical companies can be held accountable in federal court for the harm caused by their toxic products," Booker said during the announcement of the bill. Growing coalition of public health rallies behind Booker's pesticide accountability bill A coalition of 17 public health, environmental and consumer advocacy organizations announced their endorsement shortly after Booker announced the bill. Supporters include prominent voices in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, who claimed the legislation is urgently needed to protect Americans from harmful agrochemicals and ensure that pesticide manufacturers can be held legally accountable for health damage caused by their products. Zen Honeycutt, Founding Executive Director of Moms Across America, called the corporate efforts to avoid legal responsibility "unconscionable." "It is unconscionable that corporations are pushing our elected officials to manipulate laws so that they can avoid accountability for safety and protect their profits over the health and safety of Americans. We must protect the American people from harm, especially from products that are proven to cause infertility, cancer, liver disease and many other negative health effects," Honeycutt said. Mary Holland, CEO of Children's Health Defense (CHD), also echoed a similar stance. "CHD opposes any liability shield for any industry that has a direct impact on the health of the American people. Granting blanket immunity to corporations who have a fiscal responsibility to their shareholders, and not a responsibility to consumer safety, is one of the most dangerous propositions imaginable. CHD sincerely thanks Senator Booker for his leadership in sponsoring this critical piece of legislation to protect the American people over corporations," Holland said. Other organizations, including the Center for Food Safety, the American Association for Justice, the National Family Farm Coalition, the Environmental Working Group and the American Regeneration also declared their strong backing of the bill. For more on environmental and human health protection, visit EPA.News. Watch Episode 426 of The HighWire with Del Bigtree discussing about pesticides, pills and politics. This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Latest FDA Pesticide Monitoring Report reveals that nearly 50% of food samples contain pesticide "residues." Pesticide manufacturers, EPA don't have to list most hazardous ingredients on pesticide labels, judge decides. Brain-damaging neurotoxic pesticide found in hundreds of foods: EPA allows pesticide lobby to dictate policy. Beekeepers: EPA is hiding pesticide files. Brain-damaging neurotoxic pesticide found in hundreds of foods: EPA allows pesticide lobby to dictate policy. Sources include: TheDefender.org Booker.senate.gov TheNewLede.org Brighteon.com VACCINE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX published BOGUS STUDY trying to debunk vaccine autism connection, but study was riddled with flaws Critics say the Danish study on aluminum in vaccines used flawed methodology by comparing children with similar aluminum exposures instead of comparing vaccinated versus unvaccinated children, weakening the ability to detect meaningful health risks like autism or autoimmune conditions. by comparing children with similar aluminum exposures instead of comparing vaccinated versus unvaccinated children, weakening the ability to detect meaningful health risks like autism or autoimmune conditions. Researchers excluded key data groups and tracked health outcomes only up to age 5 , potentially omitting late-onset diagnoses and early signs of aluminum-related harm; critics argue this underestimates risks and skews results toward no effect. , potentially omitting late-onset diagnoses and early signs of aluminum-related harm; critics argue this underestimates risks and skews results toward no effect. Over 34,000 children were excluded from the analysis for receiving implausible numbers of aluminum-containing vaccines before age 2raising concerns that the study deliberately omitted high-exposure cases most likely to show adverse effects. for receiving implausible numbers of aluminum-containing vaccines before age 2raising concerns that the study deliberately omitted high-exposure cases most likely to show adverse effects. Independent experts argue prior research contradicts the studys findings, pointing to evidence linking aluminum to neurotoxicity, immune dysregulation, and increased asthma risk, and calling for unbiased, biomarker-based studies to examine aluminums true impact on child health. Bogus study claiming no link between aluminum in vaccines and autism riddled with flaws, rendering the whole study meaningless A most-likely pharma-funded, faked and falsified study that was recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine claims there is no link between aluminum in vaccines and 50 negative health outcomes, including autism, asthma, and autoimmune disorders. While mainstream media outlets like NBC News touted the findings as reassuring evidence supporting vaccine safety, critics argue the study is deeply flawed and fails to properly investigate the true health effects of aluminum exposure. The study supposedly analyzed health records of approximately 1.2 million children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018. Researchers compared health outcomes based on the aluminum content in vaccines administered to these children. Heres the rub. Realistic critics such as Dr. Brian Hooker of Childrens Health Defense (CHD) and renowned aluminum researcher Dr. Chris Exley say the comparison was essentially meaningless. Instead of contrasting vaccinated versus unvaccinated children or those with high versus zero aluminum exposure, the study compared children who received vaccines with slightly different but still similar aluminum levels. The difference in exposure was just one milligram, which Hooker called insufficient to detect any real health disparities. The authors concluded there was no increased risk of autism, autoimmune conditions, asthma, or allergies associated with vaccine aluminum. Lead author Anders Hviid defended the study, stating that aluminum salts used in vaccines are not equivalent to elemental aluminum and asserting that the research provides robust evidence for vaccine safety. He also explained that a true control group of unvaccinated children was unfeasible due to their scarcity in Denmark. However, experts argue that key methodological choices severely weakened the studys credibility. James Lyons-Weiler, Ph.D., pointed out that researchers excluded children who showed early signs of aluminum-related health issues, like chronic illness before age two. He likened this to erasing the very evidence the study was supposed to detect. Additionally, more than 34,000 children were excluded from the study due to receiving what researchers called an implausible number of vaccine doses a red flag critics say was ignored instead of investigated. Another major criticism is the limited follow-up period. Researchers only tracked health outcomes until age five, despite the fact that many developmental and autoimmune disorders, including autism, are typically diagnosed after that age. This likely led to underreporting of health conditions. In fact, autism rates in the study were reported as 1 in 500, far lower than Denmarks national average, which suggests substantial under-diagnosis within the study timeframe. Critics also noted that the researchers did not test actual aluminum levels in childrens bodies using biomarkers like blood or hair samples. Instead, they assumed aluminum exposure based on vaccination records, without verifying whether the assumed doses were accurate or absorbed. These shortcomings stand in contrast to other studies linking aluminum adjuvants to neurotoxicity and immune dysregulation. For instance, a 2023 U.S. study found a 36% higher asthma risk in children who received over three milligrams of aluminum from vaccines. Dr. Exley and others suspect industry bias may have influenced the Danish study, especially as scrutiny of aluminum in vaccines grows under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Critics like Lyons-Weiler warn that studies designed to reassure rather than investigate are misleading the public. The public deserves honest science, not carefully crafted headlines, he said. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections that lead to autism, developmental disorders, infertility, turbo cancer and Long-Vax-Syndrome. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org ACPJournals.org NBCNews.com Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza struck amid conflict, raising concerns for civilians and Christian minority The Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City was damaged by Israeli tank shelling, resulting in three fatalities and multiple injuries, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who is in stable condition. The church had been serving as a refuge for civilians, including children with disabilities, highlighting the vulnerability of non-combatants amidst the conflict. The incident has raised international criticism, with leaders like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemning the attack. The attack has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for an immediate ceasefire. Pope Leo XIV expressed spiritual closeness to the affected community and called for dialogue and reconciliation to ensure enduring peace. The Israeli Foreign Ministry apologized for the damage and casualties, stating that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are investigating the incident. The IDF has promised to publish the results transparently, though this has done little to alleviate international concerns. The incident underscores the escalating violence in Gaza, with rising civilian casualties and the vulnerability of minority groups like Christians. The international community, including the UN and EU, is urging both sides to return to negotiations and protect civilians and religious sites. A Catholic church in Gaza City became the latest casualty of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several others including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. The Holy Family Catholic Church home to a small Catholic community of about 135 people had been serving as a refuge for civilians, including children with disabilities, seeking safety from the relentless Israeli strikes. Witnesses claim that the damage to the church was caused by Israeli tank shelling, a claim that has been met with an apology from Israeli officials. Romanelli, known for his close ties to the Vatican and his regular communications with the late Pope Francis, was injured in the attack but is reported to be in stable condition. The initial death toll was two, but a third person has since succumbed to injuries. Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, confirmed that both Christians and Muslims were among those affected by the attack. The incident has sparked a wave of international criticism. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Catholic, was quick to condemn the attack. "The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," she said. Her sentiments were echoed by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who called the strike a "serious act against a Christian place of worship." Both leaders have called for an immediate cessation of violence. Pope Leo XIV, the incumbent head of the Roman Catholic Church, expressed his spiritual closeness to the parish community and commended the souls of the deceased to the mercy of God. "I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire," the successor to the late Pope Francis said in a statement. "Only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace." Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the damage to the church and any civilian casualties. "The IDF is examining this incident, the circumstances of which are still unclear and the results of the investigation will be published transparently," the statement read. This apology, however, has done little to quell the growing international concern over the escalating violence in Gaza. Escalating violence and civilian casualties The attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church comes amid intensified Israeli strikes across Gaza, where civilian casualties continue to rise. On the same day, 22 people were reported killed, further fueling fears for the safety of the region's small Christian population. The incident has brought into sharp focus the vulnerability of civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict. (Related: Israeli strikes kill 88 Palestinians in 24 hours as Gaza faces catastrophic hunger crisis.) As the conflict rages on, calls for reconciliation have grown louder with the incident at the Holy Family Catholic Church underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The international community has a crucial role to play in bringing an end to the violence. The United Nations, the European Union and other international bodies have called for restraint and urged both sides to return to the negotiating table. The attack on the church has also prompted renewed calls for the protection of civilians and religious sites in conflict zones. In the end, the incident at the Holy Family Catholic Church is a sobering reminder of the need for compassion and understanding in the face of conflict. It is a call to action for all those who seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Watch the video below that talks about genocide in Gaza through the eyes of laughing Israeli soldiers. This video is from the Truth John 14:6 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Netanyahu backs controversial Gaza "humanitarian city" plan in Rafah. Humanitarian city or concentration camp? Controversy surrounds Israel's Rafah plan. From Famine to Farce: Gaza's 'Humanitarian' War Ensnares the World in Moral Quicksand. Sources include: VaticanNews.va TheNationalPulse.com X.com Brighteon.com White House declares Chinas death penalty pact and new federal law as tools against fentanyl epidemic China will sentence fentanyl traffickers to death under a renewed pact with President Donald Trump. The Halt All Lethal Trafficking Act mandates minimum 10-year prison terms for distributing 100+ grams of fentanyl. Over 450,000 Americans have died from synthetic opioid overdoses since 2015. Trump imposed 20% tariffs on China to penalize its role in fentanyl supply chains. Critics warn the law risks overincarceration and fails to address root causes of addiction. President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday at the White House that China will uphold an agreement with his administration to impose the death penalty on individuals manufacturing or distributing fentanyl into the U.S., while signing the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act (HALT Act). The legislation establishes mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentences for trafficking over 100 grams of fentanyl, a substance responsible for over 450,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. since 2015. The president linked the move to broader punitive measures, including 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, accusing Beijing of enabling the crisis through lax enforcement of precursor chemicals. Trump framed the actions as a moral imperative, stating, We will not rest until we end the overdose epidemic once and for all. The HALT Fentanyl Act: Stricter penalties for traffickers The bipartisan-supported HALT Act reclassifies all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 drugsdenoting no accepted medical useunder the Controlled Substances Act. Distributors of 100 grams or more (enough to kill 50,000, per DEA estimates) face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years. The law aims to close loopholes exploited by drug cartels, who alter fentanyl compounds to evade detection. Examples include carfentanil, 100 times stronger than fentanyl, which flourished as analogs escaped federal prohibitions. Symbolically, Trump surrounded himself with families of victims such as Anne Funder, whose son Weston died at 15 after unknowingly ingesting counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. You changed the narrative, Funder told Trump, acknowledging his administrations focus on punitive measures. Trade penalties and diplomatic accusations: Tariffs as a force multiplier Trumps threat of economic sanctions underscores his administrations push to hold China accountable. Since his 2025 re-inauguration, tariffs of 20% have been applied to all Chinese imports, with $billions in penalties cited as retribution for Beijings role in global fentanyl supply chains. The president cited an executive order he signed in 2017, which designated drug trafficking tribes and transnational networksincluding the Chinese Communist Partyas national security threats. While China banned two fentanyl precursors in July 2025 (post-meetings with U.S. officials), critics note prior assurances. A 2020 promise by China to restrict 80 fentanyl analogs was deemed ineffective by U.S. officials, who argue precursor chemicals continue flowing into Mexican cartels. They deliver much of the fentanyl some would say all of it, Trump stated, framing enforcement as overdue. A divided response: Incarceration vs. treatment solutions Opponents, like Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), argue the law prioritizes War on Drugs tactics over public health. This bill enables a political stunt, Markey declared, citing concerns it may disrupt addiction treatment research and exacerbate incarceration rates in marginalized communities. Overdose death rates have declined slightly, falling to 97,000 annually in 2024 from 113,000 in 2023, but deaths remain the top cause for Americans aged 18-44. Fentanyls sheer lethalityfatal doses often smaller than a grain of salthas politicized responses. While the White House emphasizes deterrence, detractors stress addressing addiction through medical treatment and reducing stigma. The Century Foundation warns the HALT Acts focus on supply-side restrictions distracts from proven harm reduction methods like overdose-reversal medication. Fentanyls decade-long toll and escalating diplomacy The crisis accelerated post-2016, when illicit fentanyl imports from China surged. Over 3,000 Americans were killed monthly last year, most blissfully unaware of fentanyls role in counterfeit pills (e.g., Adderall or Xanax). Early efforts included Trumps 2017 executive order targeting transnational crime networks, but critics say enforcement lapsed. By 2023, over 400,000 deaths were tied to illicit fentanyl since 2016, per the DEA. Chinas recent actions highlight diplomatic tensions. Earlier this year, it executed four Canadian dual citizens for drug offenses, spurring global outcry. Beijings adherence to the death penalty for fentanyl could signal a nod to Trumps tough on crime rhetoric, though experts question efficacy. A divergent roadmap for ending the opioid crisis As Trump lauds the HALT Act and Chinas death penalty pledge, the nation remains divided on the best path to address addiction. Proponents see the death penalty and stricter laws as necessary deterrents, while critics stress over-incarceration risks and the need for drug treatment expansion. The administrations policies blend law enforcement and symbolismbut whether the combination halts the deadliest overdose wave in U.S. history remains uncertain. One victims mother summed up the stakes: This is not just about saving lives its about honoring those weve lost. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com TheEpochTimes.com AlJazeera.com Childrens Hospital LA to close largest provider of gender procedures for children in the U.S. amid mounting legal and financial pressures Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) will permanently close its Center for Transyouth Health and Development on July 22, 2025, after over 30 years of providing gender-affirming care to transgender and gender-diverse youth. The hospital cited mounting legal, financial and political pressures, especially federal and state policy shifts, as making the program unsustainable. The closure follows a January 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump that banned federal support for gender transition procedures for minors, cut funding for related programs and directed legal action against providers. The recent Supreme Court decision in Doe v. Tennessee upheld a state ban on gender-affirming treatments for minors, further discouraging similar care nationwide. CHLA is working to transition care for current patients and has directed families in crisis to national support services such as the Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline. After more than 30 years as a national leader in transgender youth healthcare, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has announced it will permanently close its Center for Transyouth Health and Development on July 22. CHLA's center, the largest provider of gender procedures for youth identifying as transgender in the United States, has been offering transgender and gender-diverse youth care and their families since the early 1990s. But due to the escalating legal, financial and political pressures that have dramatically reshaped the landscape of gender-affirming care in the United States, the CHLA decided to close its program. In a statement released Friday, July 18, CHLA cited a "convergence of legal and financial pressures" as the primary reason for the closure. According to an internal memo obtained by Fox News, recent executive actions by President Donald Trump, coupled with proposed federal legislation and California's deepening budget crisis, have significantly undermined their ability to continue operations. "CHLA continues to face significant operational, legal and financial risks stemming from the shifting policy landscape at both the state and federal levels. Over the past several months, California's deepening budget crisis, President Trump's executive orders, proposed federal legislation and rulemaking and growing economic uncertainty have made the situation even more dire," the internal memo read. Staff members were already informed of the closure earlier this July and CHLA is now working to transition care for its current patients. CHLA closure follows Trump executive order, Supreme Court ruling on trans youth care The decision to shut down one of the nation's oldest and most prominent clinics serving transgender and gender-diverse youth comes after Trump barred federal support for gender transition procedures for individuals under the age of 19. (Related: NEW STUDY: Transgender (mutilation) surgery rates have tripled across all age groups from 2016 to 2019.) Trump's executive order, signed in January, declared such treatments, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries, "medically risky and potentially irreversible," and argued that many minors do not understand their long-term implications. The order banned federal insurance programs like Medicaid and Tricare from covering gender-affirming care for minors; directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue civil and potentially criminal action against providers of these treatments; and suspended federal funding for hospitals, universities and research institutions offering or studying such care, described as "chemical and surgical mutilation." Following the executive order, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a directive freezing federal grants, loans and other assistance linked to transgender programs, pending further administrative review. The hospital's decision was also influenced by the recent 6-3 decision of the Supreme Court in Doe v. Tennessee, which upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-related medical treatments for minors. The law prohibits healthcare providers from administering puberty blockers or hormone therapy to any minor for the purpose of "enabling a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor's sex." In other words, the combined weight of the executive order and the Supreme Court's decision has created a deeply hostile environment for providers of gender-affirming care, particularly those who rely on public funding or serve patients through Medicaid and other federal programs. Visit MedicalViolence.com for more news related to child mutilation and other "gender-affirming" treatments. Watch Chloe Cole recounting how she underwent gender-reaffirming surgery and regretted it after a year in this clip. This video is from the Liberty Station channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: MUTILATED TODDLERS: Biden administration pushing for age limits to be dropped from transgender surgery guidelines. U.K. government formally endorses medical child abuse by promoting transgender surgery for children under 16. Experts question long-term effects of breast mutilation surgery on quality of life of transgender youth. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com ThePrideLA.com Brighteon.com Health Ranger Report: Retired Col. Douglas Macgregor on geopolitics, energy and Americas future Retired Col. Douglas Macgregor asserts that American exceptionalism is a "fantasy," citing declining U.S. GDP share (<25 percent) and the rise of a multipolar world. Commends Secretary of State Marco Rubio's acknowledgment of this shift but stresses the need for adaptive strategies. While acknowledging President Donald Trump's past success in energy exports, Macgregor warns against overpromising due to "peak oil" constraints. Macgregor praises Trump's defunding of USAID, calling it a "CIA slush fund" for regime change. He also supports Trump's executive orders against DEI/"wokeism" but urges deeper institutional reforms to counter bureaucratic resistance. He estimates Ukrainian casualties at 1.2-1.5 million; criticizes Western aid for prolonging the war. Advocates cutting all U.S. aid to force negotiations, labeling the conflict a "European problem" where America lacks leverage over Russia. Macgregor ultimately warns against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's aggression toward Iran, advocating diplomacy to avoid regional war. Calls for militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border (troops, surveillance) and declaring war on drug cartels to combat trafficking and illegal immigration. Geopolitical expert Col. Douglas Macgregor (retired) joined the Health Ranger Mike Adams to dissect the current global landscape, offering a sobering perspective on America's role in a rapidly changing world. The discussion spanned topics from the shifting dynamics of international power to the pressing issues of energy policy, military strategy and the future of American sovereignty. Macgregor began by addressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent acknowledgment that the U.S. can no longer maintain its status as the world's unipolar dominant power. The decorated combat veteran echoed this sentiment, stating that the notion of American exceptionalism is a "fantasy" that has persisted within the Beltway despite clear evidence to the contrary. He pointed out that the U.S. share of global gross domestic product has dwindled to below 25 percent. Indeed, the world is becoming increasingly multipolar with other nations reclaiming their positions on the global stage. MacGregor commended Rubio for his honesty, but emphasized that recognizing this shift is only the first step. The real challenge lies in formulating a strategy that acknowledges America's diminished influence and seeks to navigate this new world order effectively. Trump's ambitions and the energy conundrum The conversation then shifted to President Donald Trump's ambitious plans, particularly in the energy sector. Macgregor acknowledged Trump's past success in making the U.S. a net energy exporter but cautioned against expecting a swift reversal of current policies. He highlighted the need for a realistic approach, emphasizing that the U.S. is at "peak oil" and that significant investments in exploration and development are necessary to regain energy abundance. (Related: MacGregor warns of economic and military decline, advocates for new national strategy.) Macgregor expressed strong support for Trump's decision to cut funding to the now-disbanded U.S. Agency for International Development. He described it as a "front for regime change" and a "slush fund" for the Central Intelligence Agency. The defense and foreign policy consultant condemned the agency's role in destabilizing foreign governments and emphasized the need to refocus American resources on domestic priorities. The discussion also touched on the Deep State, with Macgregor acknowledging the resistance Trump faces from entrenched bureaucracies. He expressed hope that Trump's recent executive orders such as those targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs and "wokeism" in the military are just the beginning of a broader effort to reform American institutions. Macgregor's take on geopolitics On the topic of Ukraine, Macgregor painted a grim picture. He estimated Ukrainian casualties between 1.2 million and 1.5 million and criticized the West's approach. Sanctions and military aid have only prolonged the conflict and exacerbated the suffering. He urged Trump to disengage from the conflict, emphasizing that the U.S. has no leverage over Russia and that the conflict is ultimately a European problem. Macgregor also advocated for a negotiated settlement, suggesting that the U.S. should withdraw all military personnel and aid from Ukraine. Such a move would force Russia to the negotiating table and could pave the way for a peace agreement that ensures Ukrainian neutrality. "Stop all of the aid. As soon as you stop the aid, the war will end and people will stop dying," Macgregor said. Turning to the Middle East, Macgregor expressed concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and its neighbors. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aggressive stance toward Iran, warning that a war would be disastrous for the region and for U.S. interests. Macgregor highlighted the shifting alliances in the region, noting Egypt's potential role in any conflict and the growing anti-Israeli sentiment among Arab populations. He emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution, urging the U.S. to avoid being drawn into another costly conflict. Finally, Macgregor addressed the issue of the U.S.-Mexico border and the threat posed by drug cartels. He advocated for a robust border security policy, suggesting the deployment of tens of thousands of troops and the use of advanced surveillance technology. Macgregor emphasized that securing the border is not just about immigration, but also about combating the influence of drug cartels within the United States. He called for a declaration of war against the cartels, arguing that a comprehensive approach is necessary to address the intertwined issues of drug trafficking and illegal immigration. His vision for American renewal emphasizes the need for a realistic understanding of the global landscape, a commitment to domestic priorities and a willingness to make difficult decisions to safeguard American sovereignty and prosperity. The path to a brighter future begins with a renewed commitment to America first. Follow Trump.news for more news about the Trump administration. Watch the full interview between Retired Col. Douglas MacGregor and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Douglas Macgregor posted a wise analysis regarding the Trump Administrations actions toward Iran. State Department: Trump believes a NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT can resolve Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia rejects Trumps ultimatum for 50-day ceasefire, insists on continued negotiations. Sources include: Brighteon.com DouglasMacgregor.com EU ministers back tougher asylum rules, including deportations to Afghanistan and Syria Germany and five other EU countries agreed on strict new asylum policy goals at a summit on July 18, held at Germany's Zugspitze mountain, including plans to resume deportations to Afghanistan and Syria. The deal includes deportations to conflict zones, third-country asylum processing, visa restrictions for uncooperative countries, increased use of drones and expanded EU funding for border enforcement. On the same day, Germany deported 81 Afghan nationals convicted of serious crimes the first such flight since 2024 and only the second since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The move follows rising domestic tensions and violent incidents involving rejected asylum seekers, prompting Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to adopt a harder stance on migration. Austria has already resumed deportations to Syria and the full EU bloc will debate the proposals further at a Justice and Home Affairs meeting in Copenhagen this week. Germany and five other EU nations have agreed to a set of stringent asylum policy goals, including controversial plans to resume deportations to Afghanistan and Syria. During a high-level summit held at Germanys highest mountain, the Zugspitze, on Friday, July 18, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, along with interior ministers from France, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, agreed to a set of stringent asylum policy goals. The new policy proposals, which must still be approved by EU authorities in Brussels, include plans to resume deportations to conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Syria; remove legal barriers to transferring rejected asylum seekers to third-country processing centers; expedite the rejection of asylum claims from migrants already granted protection elsewhere in the EU; impose visa restrictions on countries that refuse to accept deported nationals; leverage trade and development aid to enhance cooperation on returns; expand the use of drones and increase EU funding for border infrastructure and personnel and crack down on human smuggling and trafficking networks. (Related: German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announces reassessment of Syrian refugee protection status.) "We are all concerned that the overburdening of our countries by illegal migration is also contributing massively to the polarization of society. We want to push back this polarisation," Dobrindt said. This week, the debate is set to continue as the full 27-member bloc gathers in Copenhagen for an informal Justice and Home Affairs meeting. Germany resumes deportations to Afghanistan after four-year hiatus The declaration coincided with Germany's first deportation to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan since 2024 a group of convicted criminals forcibly returned under the new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. That same day, Germany deported 81 Afghan nationals convicted of serious crimes to Afghanistan, marking the country's first such operation since 2024 and only the second since the Taliban seized control in 2021. The deportation flight departed from Leipzig early Friday morning and was carried out with logistical assistance from Qatar, due to Germany's lack of formal diplomatic relations with the Taliban. The individuals aboard the flight were all rejected asylum-seekers who had been convicted of violent or otherwise serious offenses in Germany. "We have included plans for such an approach in our coalition treaty, and it has now been completed for the first time today," he told journalists at a press conference on Friday. The deportation policy is part of a broader push by Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Dobrindt's Christian Social Union (CSU) to expand deportations, including to conflict zones like Afghanistan and Syria. The CDU/CSU bloc has pushed for stricter asylum laws following a series of violent incidents involving rejected asylum seekers earlier this year, which intensified debate in the run-up to Germanys national elections in February. That push is being mirrored in other parts of Europe. Austria recently became the first EU member state to resume deportations to Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of a rebel-led government in Damascus late in 2024. Follow Migrants.news for more stories about illegal immigrants. Watch the video below that talks about Islamic terrorists saying "We love Israel" after taking out Syria's tyrants, the Assads. This video is from the Paul Davis UnCancelled channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Boatloads of illegal migrants making their way into Europe via Spain. U.K. and Italy agree to finance the repatriation of migrants attempting to reach Europe. All those migrants the globalists let into Europe are protesting FOR PALESTINE, prompting Henry Kissinger to declare: "Too many foreigners!" Syrian migrant taken into custody for deadly stabbing at German festival. Israel bombs Syrian military sites in warning to Turkey amid rising tensions. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com France24.com Euractiv.com Brighteon.com Health Ranger Report: Exploring the truth about the MYSTERIOUS DRONES with Timothy Alberino The drone problem persists post-Trump inauguration, exemplified by a Wyoming incident involving drones surveilling infrastructure, sparking legislative debate on countermeasures. Drones systematically monitor critical sites. The DoD's lack of clarity fuels speculation either ignorance or deliberate concealment of origins. Possible origins U.S. black projects, Chinese tech or extraterrestrial activity echoed by Alberino and UFO whistleblower Elizondo. AI-enabled drones (potentially autonomous/telepathically controlled) suggest Chinese involvement, given their rapid AI/drone advancements. Trump may reveal UFO/ET info, risking intelligence community backlash. Future warfare could involve AI robotics and super soldiers, necessitating ethical oversight amid optimism for transparency and decentralized AI. Author and researcher Timothy Alberino delved into the perplexing phenomenon of mysterious drones hovering over critical infrastructure and military bases in the U.S. on the "Health Ranger Report." The discussion, ranging from government transparency to the potential origins of these enigmatic objects, painted a picture of a world on the brink of monumental change, driven by technological advancements and the looming prospect of extraterrestrial disclosure. Alberino, a researcher and explorer, recounted a recent incident in Wyoming, where a state congresswoman witnessed a "mothership" deploying smaller drones to surveil a coal-fired power plant a critical piece of infrastructure. This incident, he noted, has prompted Wyoming lawmakers to consider legislation allowing their armed forces to shoot down these drones, underscoring the perceived threat they pose. (Related: Timothy Alberino and Mike Adams shed light on a growing concern: Are mysterious orbs over US bases a national security threat?) These drones are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern of surveillance over sensitive locations including military bases and airports. Alberino highlighted the Department of Defense's failure to provide a satisfactory explanation, suggesting two possibilities: either they are unaware of the drones' origins, or they know but are withholding information from the public. Meanwhile, Adams proposed a tripartite hypothesis to explain the drones' origins. They could be Deep State secret weapons, foreign technology (likely from China) or genuinely extraterrestrial. Alberino concurred, suggesting a combination of all three. He cited a conversation with UFO whistleblower Lou Elizondo, who also believed the phenomenon encompassed all three elements. The author of the bestselling book "Birthright" further elaborated on China's rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology, referencing the construction of drone-carrying vessels and their deployment in the Pacific Ocean. "What we're seeing is extremely advanced drone technology that's been developed by China," Alberino said. "Some of it, not all of it." He speculated that China's recent incursions into U.S. airspace, including the spy balloon incident, might be a prelude to the current drone activity, potentially serving as a show of force or a prelude to more aggressive actions. The AI factor: A new era of technological warfare The discussion then shifted to the role of artificial intelligence in developing these advanced technologies. Adams highlighted China's open-source AI model, DeepSeek R1, which he described as a formidable competitor to Western AI systems. He emphasized the potential of AI to revolutionize research and development, enabling the creation of exotic materials and propulsion systems that could explain the drones' capabilities. Alberino agreed, suggesting that AI could be integrated into these drones, making them autonomous and difficult to track. He also raised the possibility of telepathic control, referencing the work of Jacob Barber and his company, Skywatcher, which uses psionic operators to communicate with and potentially control alien craft. The two also discussed the geopolitical ramifications of disclosure. Alberino speculated that Trump's administration might be more inclined to reveal information about UFOs and extraterrestrial contact, given his history of challenging the status quo. He suggested that Trump's potential disclosure could be driven by a desire to leave a lasting legacy and his belief that the American people deserve to know the truth. However, Alberino also warned that such a disclosure could provoke a strong reaction from the intelligence community and the Deep State, who have historically been resistant to transparency. He posited that the real question is not how the public will react, but how these powerful entities will respond to the unveiling of truths they have long sought to conceal. The future of warfare: AI, robotics and the human race The conversation took a sobering turn as they discussed the future of warfare. Alberino highlighted the development of super soldier programs and AI-driven robotics, predicting that future battlefields will be dominated by transhumans and intelligent machines. He cited Russian President Vladimir Putin's concerns about the proliferation of these technologies, underscoring the potential for a new era of conflict. "It's super soldiers and robots that are fitted with artificial intelligence. And it is not like a future 100 years from now, this is a future in the next decade," Alberino stated. Adams echoed these sentiments, pointing to Google's involvement in providing advanced AI tools to Israel, which have been used to target civilians. He expressed concern about the weaponization of AI and its potential for abuse, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and oversight. Despite the challenges, both Alberino and Adams expressed a sense of optimism about the future. They agreed that humanity is at a pivotal moment, with the potential for both great peril and unprecedented opportunity. Alberino emphasized the importance of truth and transparency, while Adams highlighted the role of decentralized AI in empowering individuals and challenging entrenched power structures. In the end, the conversation left viewers with a profound sense of the monumental changes underway and the critical role each individual plays in shaping the future. As Alberino aptly put it, "We have turned the corner," and the path ahead is both daunting and exhilarating. Follow Unexplained.news for more news about mysterious drones and orbs. Watch the full interview between Timothy Alberino and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Timothy Alberino: Aliens are creating hybrids, integrating them into human society. Futurist John Petersen: The Great Reveal will BREAK THE SILENCE on UFOs and alien life. Health Ranger Report: Ashton Forbes discusses TELEPORTATION ORBS and their role in MH370 disappearance. Sources include: Brighteon.com TimothyAlberino.com Claire Robinson takes a critical look at GMOs in her book GMO Myths and Truths Claire Robinson's "GMO Myths and Truths: A Citizen's Guide to Genetically Modified Crops and Foods" exposes the biotech industry's unsupported promises (e.g., higher yields, reduced pesticides) and highlights the failure of GMOs to deliver these benefits, while mounting evidence reveals significant risks to health and ecosystems. Unlike traditional breeding, GM technology is imprecise and disruptive, often causing unintended mutations in plants. Regulatory reliance on "substantial equivalence" ignores altered nutrient profiles, allergens and toxins in GM crops (e.g., Brazil nut genes in GM soy). GM food safety studies are primarily industry-funded, with lax oversight. Agencies like the FDA ignore independent warnings, dismiss adverse effects (e.g., organ damage in animal studies) and block transparency, prioritizing corporate interests over public health. Herbicide-resistant GM crops have spawned superweeds and increased chemical use, while Bt crops face pest resistance. Cross-pollination contaminates non-GMO fields, harms biodiversity and jeopardizes organic farming, with irreversible ecological consequences. The book advocates for labeling and independent research to counter industry misinformation. True agricultural sustainability lies in ecological farming not corporate-controlled GMOs empowering citizens to make informed choices about food and health. Claire Robinson's "GMO Myths and Truths: A Citizen's Guide to Genetically Modified Crops and Foods" dismantles the widely promoted narrative that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a scientific triumph essential for feeding the world. Written as a citizen's guide, the book exposes flaws in the biotechnology industry's claims, challenges regulatory oversights and highlights the potential dangers of GMOs to health, agriculture and the environment. The authors began their work in 2010 after noticing a troubling disconnect. Despite decades of scientific debate raising concerns about GMOs, the public was being told opposition lacked credible evidence. Meanwhile, extravagant promises such as higher yields, sustainability and reduced pesticide use were being made without substantiation. Decades later, these promises remain unfulfilled and mounting evidence suggests GMOs may instead pose serious risks. One of the book's key arguments is that genetic engineering differs drastically from traditional breeding. Proponents often claim GM technology is precise and controlled but in reality, the process is highly unpredictable. Creating a GM crop involves forcibly inserting foreign genes into plant DNA using methods like bacterial infection or gene guns, which can disrupt the plant's biochemistry in unintended ways. The resulting mutations may lead to unknown health or environmental effects, yet these risks are dismissed under the flawed principle of "substantial equivalence" a regulatory loophole that assumes GM crops are nutritionally identical to non-GM varieties. In truth, studies show GM crops often have altered nutrient profiles, unexpected toxins or allergens, such as GM soy containing Brazil nut genes triggering allergic reactions. Regulatory failures further compound the problem. GM foods are primarily tested by the companies selling them, with minimal independent oversight. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for instance, relies on industry-funded studies while ignoring its own scientists' warnings about unique GMO risks. Long-term safety studies are rare, and when adverse effects like organ damage in rats fed GM maize are found, they are brushed aside as "not biologically significant." This lack of transparency and rigor raises ethical concerns, particularly since consumers and farmers are denied the right to make informed choices about GMO consumption. Environmental impacts are equally alarming. Herbicide-resistant GM crops, touted as reducing chemical use, have instead fueled a crisis of "superweeds" forcing farmers to apply ever-stronger herbicides. Similarly, Bt crops (engineered to produce insecticide) initially reduced pesticide spraying but now face resistant pests, pushing farmers back to chemical dependence. The ripple effects harm ecosystems. Pesticides decimate pollinators like bees, while soil health degrades due to monocropping and chemical overuse. Cross-pollination from GM crops also contaminates non-GMO fields, undermining organic farming and eroding biodiversity. Once released, GMOs cannot be recalled making their irreversible ecological consequences a gamble with no undo button. Human health risks add another layer of concern. Animal studies link GMOs to sterility, organ damage and immune disorders, though industry-funded researchers dismiss these findings. Meanwhile, rising rates of allergies and autoimmune diseases correlate with GMO proliferation, yet causation is difficult to prove due to stifled research. Whistleblowers allege that studies critical of GMOs are suppressed, while pro-GMO lobbying led by firms like Monsanto shapes policy through revolving-door relationships between regulators and agribusiness. Corporate resistance to labeling, despite 90 percent of Americans supporting it, fuels suspicion that the industry hides risks to protect profits. Robinson's book ultimately argues that GM crops are not the panacea claimed by biotech advocates. Their benefits yield increases, reduced chemicals and nutritional enhancements have consistently fallen short, while hidden costs proliferate. True agricultural sustainability lies not in corporate-controlled GM systems but in diversified, ecological farming that prioritizes long-term health over short-term profit. Transparency through policies like GMO labeling is vital to correcting industry misinformation and empowering citizens. "GMO Myths and Truths" serves as a rallying cry. Before embracing unproven technologies, society must demand science-driven accountability, ethical regulation and the right to know what's on our plates. The stakes for our health, environment and food sovereignty could not be higher. Watch this video about the book "GMO Myths and Truths: A Citizen's Guide to Genetically Modified Crops and Foods" by Claire Robinson. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com An asteroids ripple: How a cosmic strike reshaped the Grand Canyon A meteor impact 56,000 years ago at Arizonas Barringer Crater may have triggered a Grand Canyon landslide, forming a dam and paleolake. Researchers linked the impacts seismic waves to a massive cliff collapse via radiocarbon and luminescence dating of driftwood and cave sediments. Shockwaves from the cosmic collision, calculated as a M3.5 quake at the Grand Canyon, caused a landslide that dammed the Colorado River. Driftwood deposits in caves 150 feet above the river underscore the colossal scale of the ancient flooding event. The study bridges two previously unrelated events, showcasing the interconnectedness of Earths geological systems. Geologists have long marveled at the Grand Canyons haunting beauty, a landscape carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. Now, a landmark study reveals the rivers pathand possibly the canyon itselfmay have been dramatically altered by a catastrophic cosmic event. A meteor impact near present-day Flagstaff, Arizona, 56,000 years ago likely sent seismic tremors along 160 kilometers to the Grand Canyon, toppling a massive cliffside, damming the river and creating a lake that flooded the canyon to unparalleled depths. Published in Geology by a team led by University of New Mexico researchers Karl Karlstrom and Laurie Crossey, this discovery redefines the canyons dynamic history and highlights how ancient geological events remain intertwined across vast distances. The fateful coincidence: A cosmic chain reaction The story begins with Arizonas Barringer Crateror Meteor Crateras its culprit. Formed when a 40-meter-wide iron asteroid slammed into Earth, the craters origin has been dated to between 53,000 and 63,000 years ago. Prior research by co-author David Kring, a planetary scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, estimated the impact triggered a magnitude 5.4 earthquake near the crater itself. But new calculations show that even after traveling over 100 miles (160 km), the shockwaves retained enough force to generate a M3.5 quake at the Grand Canyona vibration sufficient to destabilize the canyons steep cliffs. Were talking about a rare confluence of events, Karlstrom said. The timing of the meteor impact aligns uncannily with the landslide-dam event right here in the canyon. The dam, hundreds of feet thick and nearly a mile wide, blocked the Colorado River near Nankoweap Canyon, creating a lake that stretched 65 miles (105 km) upstream. Water levels could have risen more than 150 feet (46 m), depositing driftwood high inside caves like Stantons Cave46 m above the river. Decoding driftwood: Clues from ancient caves The driftwoods origins had puzzled scientists since the 1960s, when University of New Mexico geologist Thor Karlstrom (Karls father) and his team uncovered layers of organic material in Stantons Cave. Early radiocarbon dating placed the wood at over 35,000 years old, but techniques available then had limits. Modern methods, including radiocarbon tests at Australian and New Zealand laboratories and luminescence dating of sediment samples by Tammy Rittenour at Utah State University, narrowed the timeframe to 55,250 2,440 years ago for the driftwood and 56,000 6,390 years ago for associated lake sediments. These findings align nearly perfectly with revised estimates of the Meteor Craters age, based on argon dating and quartz shock deformation studies by Kring. We had two independent datasets convergingthe impacts timeline and the flood evidence, said co-author Laura Crossey. The numbers kept whispering the same story. The team also found beaver tracks in Vaseys Paradise Cave, 37 meters above the river. Such high-elevation traces suggest beavers navigated waters generated by the paleolakea clue underscoring the lakes scale. The physics of impact: Calculating the seismic link Linking the meteor impact to the landslide required navigating complex transmission of energy via Earths crust. Kring, an expert in impact dynamics, modeled how the meteors punch transformed into surface waves. The rock composition between Meteor Crater and the Grand Canyon acts like a waveguide, he explained. The shockwaves, though greatly diminished over distance, transmitted enough force to weaken Grand Canyons preexisting tectonic fractures. This wasnt a direct hit, said Karlstrom. Its like cracking a window when you shake a whole building. The canyons cliffs were already on the edge of instability. The resulting landslidepart of the canyons Nankoweap Deltaleft behind 90-foot-thick debris at the dam site, later eroded as floodwaters breached the barrier. The lake itself may have persisted only a few centuries before sediment choked its flow. Paleolake legacy: Echoes of a transient landscape The dams short-lived existence doesnt diminish its significance. At its peak, the lakespanning modern-day Marble Canyonlikely dwarfed any recorded flooding in the region. Karlstrom noted it would require water 10 times greater than historical deluges to lift driftwood into Stantons Caves lofty niche. The waters also altered the canyons flora and fauna, offering a temporary niche for species like the extinct California condor, whose bone fragments were found among the driftwood. The studys cross-disciplinary approachcombining astrophysics, sedimentology and archaeologyspotlights the necessity of linking diverse datasets. Geology is full of detective stories, said Karlstrom. Here, weve woven together clues from space, rock and ancient organic matter to solve a 56,000-year-old puzzle. Implications for geology: Challenging assumptions The findings upend the notion that the Grand Canyons formation is primarily a slow, incremental process. This shows rapid, episodic eventslike impacts or landslidescan create dramatic shortfalls in geological timescales, Karlstrom said. The study also underscores why scientists must reassess assumptions about seemingly unrelated events. Previously, the Meteor Crater impact and Grand Canyon landmarks like the Nankoweap Delta were studied in isolation. Such insights matter today as climate change and urbanization expose humanitys vulnerability to extreme events. Landslide dams can form suddenly and have catastrophic consequences, said Crossey. This isnt just ancient historyits a reminder of Earths dynamic nature. The tale also ties back to the enduring impact of storytelling in science. Karlstroms father, Thor, died in 1998; his fieldwork laid the groundwork for a discovery he lived to see published. The Grand Canyon's cosmic blueprint The Grand Canyon, more than just a testament to millennia of erosion, now stands as a monument to interconnected cosmic and terrestrial forces. A single meteor strike 56,000 years ago set in motion a chain of effects rippling across the American Southwest. For a region celebrated for its geological grandeur, this study reminds us: natures script is rarely linear, and its most profound lessons often lie hidden, awaiting the right question or the right tool to draw them out. Sources for this article include: LiveScience.com News.UNM.edu Pubs.GeoScienceWorld.org Labour Party proposes voting reform to lower voting age to 16 across the United Kingdom The Labour Party has proposed lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 for all U.K.-wide elections, including general, local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner contests, aligning with practices in Scotland and Wales. The plan includes expanding accepted voter ID to include U.K.-issued bank cards and digital versions of driver's licences and veterans' cards via a new GOV app. A new digital certificate will be introduced to streamline registration, reduce paper use and improve processing times through updated tools for Electoral Registration Officers. Conservative MPs and the NSPCC oppose the reform, arguing it's inconsistent to let 16-year-olds vote while still legally classifying them as children, unable to marry, buy alcohol or stand for election. Opponents, including Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage, have accused Labour of "gerrymandering" and trying to rig the system, despite potential benefits to their own party from younger voter turnout. The Labour Party has unveiled plans to extend the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds in all U.K.-wide elections to modernize their electoral system and align it with devolved governments in Scotland and Wales. According to the proposed reform, voting age would be lowered from 18 to 16, granting younger citizens the right to vote in general elections, local government contests, mayoral races and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. To be eligible to vote under the proposal, individuals must be registered to vote; aged 16 or over on polling day; a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen; have the legal right to remain in the U.K. (or Channel Islands/Isle of Man); resident in the U.K. or registered as an overseas voter; not be legally excluded from voting and present valid identification. The Labour Party also plans to expand the list of accepted identification documents. Proposed new forms of valid ID include U.K.-issued bank cards and digital versions of driver's licenses and veterans' cards, all accessible through a newly developed GOV app. (Related: UK says voters need ID to ensure election integrity will Democrats call Brits racist?) Additionally, a digital Voter Authority Certificate will be introduced to streamline registration and reduce reliance on printed documents. Electoral registration officers will be equipped with updated tools to issue certificates digitally, supporting faster delivery and lowering operational costs. "For too long, public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline. We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in U.K. democracy, supporting our Plan for Change and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote. We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation, we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future," Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said during the announcement of the new voting legislation. Conservative MPs, child welfare advocates criticize proposed voting reform The proposed reform has drawn sharp criticism from Conservative MPs and child welfare advocates alike. For instance, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) noted that 16- and 17-year-olds are still considered children under both U.K. and international law. "Why does this Government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket, an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war or even stand in the elections they're voting in? Isn't the government's position on the age of majority just hopelessly confused?" Conservative MP Paul Holmes said in questioning the rationale. Another Conservative MP described the policy as "shameless gerrymandering," arguing that if Labour does not believe 16-year-olds are legal adults, they should not be shaping the future of the nation at the ballot box. Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, a vocal opponent of the measure, accused Labour of attempting to "rig the political system" while ironically acknowledging that his party could benefit from the expanded youth vote. "It's an attempt to rig the political system, but we intend to give them a nasty surprise. I don't think you should be able to vote in an election unless you're also eligible to be a candidate." Visit BigGovernment.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below about pro-immigrant leftist coalitions coming out with shocking victories in the U.K. and France elections. This video is from the Paul Davis UnCancelled channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Foreign ELECTION INTERFERENCE: U.K. Labour Party sending staff to U.S. to help Kamala Harris CHEAT. Breaking: UK Labour Party, Israeli government tried to interfere in 2024 U.S. Presidential election using front groups to censor Americans. British Labour government to ban "silent prayer" near abortion clinics. Legal group files complaint against UK nonprofit for interfering in American election. Election meddling? UK gov't-linked group is responsible for Google's demonetization of conservative sites. Sources include: YourNews.com Chroniclelive.co.uk Brighteon.com Pepsi looking to stop using diabetes-catapulting HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP since Trump encourages Coca-Cola to do the same with Coke PepsiCo may be on the verge of a significant shift in how it sweetens its junk science beverages. On July 17, CEO Ramon Laguarta hinted that the company is open to replacing high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with cane sugar in its beverages a potential industry-wide pivot that comes just one day after former President Donald Trump claimed Coca-Cola would soon be making the same switch. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta signaled the company may shift from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar in its beverages , following consumer preferences and echoing a recent announcement by former President Trump that Coca-Cola would do the same. , following consumer preferences and echoing a recent announcement by former President Trump that Coca-Cola would do the same. Laguarta emphasized PepsiCos broader move toward more natural ingredients , saying the company is prioritizing consumer demand for simpler, real-food products across both snacks and drinks. , saying the company is prioritizing consumer demand for simpler, real-food products across both snacks and drinks. PepsiCo plans to relaunch its Lays and Tostitos brands to highlight their lack of artificial colors and flavors , part of a wider initiative to replace canola and soybean oils with olive and avocado oils. , part of a wider initiative to replace canola and soybean oils with olive and avocado oils. While PepsiCo is expanding its Simply chip line, consumer engagement has been limited so far, raising questions about how the market will respond to upcoming rebranding efforts. Pepsi exec floats switch to sugar after Trump Coca-Cola announcement Laguartas comments came during an investor call, where he emphasized a consumer-driven approach to reformulating PepsiCos products. If the consumer is telling us that they prefer products that have sugar and they prefer products that have natural ingredients, we will give the consumer products that have sugar and have natural ingredients, he said. Laguarta noted this applied not only to beverages but also to the companys food products. The discussion was triggered by Trumps July 16 statement that Coca-Cola had agreed to shift back to using cane sugar in its drinks. While Coca-Cola has not confirmed a full-scale switch, a spokesperson acknowledged Trumps support and said the company would soon release details about new innovations in its product line. Although some Coke products already contain cane sugar, most of its sodas in the U.S. are still sweetened with HFCS a change that occurred in the 1980s for both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo due to cost efficiency. PepsiCos possible move signals a broader trend of companies responding to consumer demands for healthier, more natural ingredients. Laguarta highlighted this strategy across other PepsiCo brands, including Lays and Tostitos, which are being relaunched later this year to showcase the removal of artificial colors and flavors. He described the effort as an attempt to "elevate the real food perception of Lays," calling the basic potato chip made from just potatoes, oil, and salt one of the most natural snacks available. PepsiCo also announced it is moving away from commonly used seed oils like canola and soybean, opting instead for avocado and olive oils in certain products. This shift aligns with recommendations from some health advocates, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have called for the elimination of seed oils from processed foods. Earlier in April, PepsiCo committed to accelerating its phase-out of artificial colors, following an FDA ban on two synthetic dyes. By the end of 2025, Lays and Tostitos will be fully free of artificial coloring, building on efforts seen in PepsiCos Simply line, which already offers chips without artificial additives. However, consumer response to these changes has been mixed. Christian Greiner, a senior portfolio manager at F/m Investments, noted that the Simply brand extensions have not yet gained significant traction. Consumers have not engaged so far, he said, adding that upcoming quarters will reveal whether broader rebranding efforts will resonate. If both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola ultimately reformulate their flagship sodas to use cane sugar, the move could mark a pivotal shift in the American beverage landscape one potentially driven by changing consumer expectations and health-conscious trends. Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on more junk science food stuff that corporate America loads the grocery store shelves with to drive up chronic diseases and disorders so Big Pharma can take your money. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Infowars.com NYPost.com Bloomberg.com Post-surgery brain clots linked to migraine auras, new study reveals critical brain-heart connection Post-cardiac catheter ablation patients develop migraines with visual auras linked to brain emboli, not a heart puncture technique. Brain scans found emboli in visual cortex regions triggered a 12-fold higher risk of auras. Researchers debunked the transseptal puncture as the culprit; both ablation techniques had similar aura rates. Migraine auras after heart surgery may indicate risks for stroke and chronic neurological issues. Study underscores need for rigorous monitoring and long-term follow-up to assess embolis broader impact. When patients undergoing cardiac catheter ablation reported sudden migraines with visual aurasflashing lights, zigzag linesafter heart surgery, the medical community remained puzzled. Now, a landmark study published in Heart Rhythm has uncovered a potential culprit: tiny blood clots, or emboli, forming in the brain. The findings, led by Dr. Gregory Marcus at the University of California, San Francisco, suggest that these transient clotspreviously thought harmlessmay not only cause debilitating auras but also hint at broader cardiovascular risks. With 360,000 Americans undergoing catheter ablation annually to treat irregular heartbeats, the discovery could revolutionize how doctors monitor patients and understand migraine physiology. Why aura migraines warrant attention The Nurses Health Study, a decades-long epidemiological staple, first underscored the urgency of migraines with visual aura. It revealed that women experiencing these auras faced a doubled stroke risk, particularly those under 45. Yet, the mechanisms behind such risks have long eluded scientists. Traditionally, migraines were blamed on blood vessel constriction and dilation, but the new research adds a novel angle: emboli. "This study helps bridge a critical gap," said Dr. Marcus. "While weve known aura increases stroke risk in some contexts, linking it directly to emboli post-surgery could expand our understanding of the relationship between cerebral circulation and neurological symptoms." Traditional "classic" migraines involve vascular changes in the brain, but the post-surgery caseswhich often lack the subsequent headachehighlight that aura may arise independently through different pathways. The findings also align with earlier insights that aura sufferers are prone to asymptomatic emboli. The studys discovery: Brain lesions, not surgical technique, predict symptoms The trial randomized 120 patients with ventricular arrhythmias into two groups: some underwent transseptal puncture (a heart chamber puncture), while others used a retrograde approach. All participants received post-procedure MRIs and month-long symptom management. Results were striking: 16% of transseptal and 14% of retrograde approach patients reported visual auras post-surgeryno statistical difference between groups. Instead, MRI scans showed that participants with emboli in the visual cortex (occipital/parietal lobes) faced an 12-fold higher risk of auras, regardless of surgical method. "This challenges prior assumptions about the transseptal punctures role," said co-author Dr. Marcus. "It suggests emboli from burnt heart tissue debris, or procedural maneuvering, could directly affect brain regions processing vision." The study also echoes broader medical knowledge: About one-third of migraine sufferers experience aura, and these cases are more likely to progress to chronic migraines or develop associated health risks. The role of emboli: Beyond silent strangers to symptom triggers The emboli themselvesmicroscopic blood clots, air bubbles, or fat particleswere previously believed to vanish without consequences. However, this work flips that narrative. "Our brains might perceive these emboli as toxic attacks, sparking disabling auras," Dr. Marcus explained. The visual cortexs vulnerability may amplify symptoms due to its dense network of neurons. Yet, limitations remain. Dr. Andrew Lee, an independent ophthalmologist, noted the reliance on patient self-reporting and unmonitored naturally occurring heart holes (patent foramen ovale), which may also facilitate emboli. "These findings are tantalizing but require validation in diverse populations," Dr. Lee cautioned. "The link between emboli and chronic migraines outside surgery isnt yet clear." Clinical and research implications: Charting the path ahead For clinicians, the study raises immediate questions: Should post-ablation patients receive routine MRI scans to detect emboli? How might providers counsel patients about stroke risks? Dr. Marcus emphasized monitoring for chronic symptoms: "If these emboli recur or grow, they might signal heightened stroke or dementia risks. Long-term follow-ups are critical." The study also reshapes migraine research. If emboli can induce auras independent of classical vascular factors, scientists may uncover new therapies targeting circulation-related disruptions. A step toward precision medicine in migraine care As cardiologists and neurologists collaborate, the study underscores how interventional procedures shed light on migraines multifaceted biology. By demystifying post-surgery auras, researchers inch closer to predictingand potentially preventingmigraine-associated complications. "The bigger picture is this: migraines arent always just headaches," said Dr. Marcus. "They can be harbingers of systemic changes were only now beginning to trace." Sources for this article include: LiveScience.com ScienceDirect.com AmericanHeadacheSociety.org Gaza crisis: South Africa warns of unquestionable genocide in Gaza and global legal collapse South African International Relations Minister Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri labeled the situation in Gaza as "unquestionably a genocide" during a summit in Bogota, Colombia, on July 16, reflecting escalating global concern over the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Representatives from nearly two dozen countries, including Western nations, endorsed a set of six measures aimed at curbing Israel's military operations, including calls for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid access, indicating a growing international consensus on the need for urgent action. Phiri emphasized the importance of enforcing International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings and UN resolutions, warning that the credibility of the global legal system is at risk if these rulings are not upheld and urging swift action to prevent further devastation in Gaza. Phiri highlighted the need for more countries to join the Hague Group, a coalition committed to implementing the Genocide Convention and stressed that declarations of solidarity are meaningless without enforcement, criticizing states that support UN resolutions rhetorically but fail to act. The South African government's case filed with the ICJ in December 2023, alleging Israel's actions in Gaza are "genocidal in character," is seen as a significant test of the international community's commitment to upholding the Genocide Convention, with the ICJ's ruling expected to be a critical indicator of the court's ability to enforce its decisions amidst geopolitical pressures. South African International Relations Minister Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri declared the situation in Gaza as "unquestionably a genocide" during a two-day summit held in Bogota, Colombia, on July 16. The summit, attended by representatives from nearly two dozen countries, including several Western nations, underscored the escalating global concern over the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Phiri's remarks came on the heels of a joint declaration by participating countries, which endorsed a set of six measures aimed at curbing Israel's military operations in the region. The measures, which include calls for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, reflect a growing international consensus on the need for urgent action to address the crisis. Phiri emphasized the importance of enforcing International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings and United Nations resolutions, stating, "International law is only as good as the states who are able to implement it." He warned that the credibility of the global legal system is at risk if these rulings are not upheld. "By the time the ICJ issues a final ruling, there may be no Gaza to speak of," he cautioned, urging swift action to prevent further devastation. Phiri expressed hope that more countries would join the so-called Hague Group, a coalition of nations committed to implementing the Genocide Convention. He stressed the need for concrete action, saying, "Declarations of solidarity mean little without enforcement." He also criticized the "hypocrisy" of states that support UN resolutions rhetorically but fail to take meaningful action. The role of international law and global response The South African government's decision to file a case with the ICJ in December 2023, alleging that Israel's actions in Gaza are "genocidal in character," marks a significant development in the legal battle for justice. The case is seen as a test of the international community's commitment to upholding the principles of the Genocide Convention, which was established in the aftermath of the Holocaust to prevent future atrocities. The ICJ's ruling, expected in the coming months, will be closely watched by legal experts and human rights advocates around the world. It will also serve as a critical test of the court's ability to enforce its decisions in the face of geopolitical pressures. The involvement of Western nations such as Spain, Ireland and Norway in the Bogota summit is a sign of growing international pressure on Israel to change course. These countries have traditionally been more sympathetic to Israel's security concerns, but the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has prompted a reevaluation of their stance. Phiri acknowledged the significance of their participation, stating, "Their involvement signals a concerted effort and commitment." However, he also emphasized the need for these countries to back their words with action, saying, "Solidarity without enforcement is meaningless." His call for a "concerted effort" to implement the Genocide Convention and enforce ICJ rulings is a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. The international community must find a way to balance the need for justice with the imperative of preventing further bloodshed. The situation in Gaza has reached a critical juncture, with South Africa's warning of "unquestionable genocide" highlighting the urgency of the crisis. The international community faces a pivotal moment in its commitment to upholding international law and preventing further human suffering. As Phiri noted, the time for action is now, before it is too late to save Gaza and the principles of justice and human rights that underpin the global legal order. (Related: Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov: Israel is committing GENOCIDE in Gaza.) Watch the video below that talks about the West's active participation in Israel's genocide in Gaza. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Gaza food hubs are being used to carry out WAR CRIMES: Nearly 800 Palestinians DEAD from Israeli death traps. Global coalition of states announce "concrete steps" against Israel's genocide in Gaza. Former MEP condemns hypocritical EU for being "totally complicit" in Gaza genocide. Sources include: RT.com MenaFN.com Brighteon.com Trump administration grants ICE access to Medicaid records in sweeping data-sharing agreement The Trump administration authorized ICE to access personal data (names, addresses, Social Security numbers, etc.) of over 79 million Medicaid recipients, aiming to identify and deport undocumented immigrants. Privacy advocates and Democratic lawmakers warn this could deter vulnerable populations from seeking medical care, while supporters argue it prevents misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits. Legal challenges are underway, with 20 states suing over privacy violations. CMS staff and attorneys raised objections, citing ongoing litigation, but the agreement proceeded. Critics accuse the administration of turning health care administrators into immigration enforcers. ICE can only access records on weekdays until September 9 without direct downloads, but critics argue the policy undermines trust in public health programs, especially in states offering Medicaid to some noncitizens. The move aligns with the administration's aggressive deportation efforts, including workplace raids and arrests at sensitive locations. The long-term impactwhether reducing fraud or harming public healthremains uncertain. In a dramatic escalation of immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to access the personal data of more than 79 million Medicaid recipients. The agreement signed Monday, July 14, between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), grants ICE real-time access to federal databases containing names, addresses, birth dates, racial and ethnic data and Social Security numbers of Medicaid enrollees. Though not formally announced, internal documents confirm ICE will use the information to locate individuals suspected of living in the U.S. illegally. This marks a significant expansion of the administration's immigration crackdown, which has already set ambitious targets for arrests. Federal health officials defend the policy as a necessary measure to root out fraudulent Medicaid enrollment. But internal CMS emails reveal deep divisions among staff, with one official accusing leadership of attempting to turn health care administrators into immigration agents. CMS has remained silent on the agreement, declining to comment when pressed. DHS, however, framed the move as an effort to ensure Medicaid benefits are reserved for lawful residents. (Related: Blue states sue to shield immigrant Medicaid data from Trump deportation efforts.) Under the terms of the deal, ICE can access Medicaid records only on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. until Sept. 9 and cannot directly download files. Still, critics argue the mere existence of such an arrangement erodes trust in public health programs. Federal law already bars undocumented immigrants from standard Medicaid, though emergency care must be provided regardless of legal status. Seven states California, New York, Illinois, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota and Colorado have extended additional coverage to some migrants, funding it without federal dollars. The Trump administration, however, has pushed for access to enrollee data from these states, alleging misuse of taxpayer resources. Privacy issues, legal backlash and internal resistance Privacy advocates and Democratic lawmakers have sounded alarms, warning that allowing ICE to comb through health care records could have a chilling effect, particularly in states that expanded Medicaid coverage to migrants. Legal challenges are already mounting, with 20 states suing the federal government over alleged violations of medical privacy laws. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced plans to seek a court order blocking the data-sharing, arguing that fear of deportation could prevent families from seeking essential medical care. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 7. Internal CMS emails obtained by the Associated Press reveal legal concerns within the agency. One thread, titled "Hold DHS Access URGENT," shows attorneys urging a pause on the agreement due to ongoing litigation. Despite these objections, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly approved the data-sharing move. Congressional Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), have demanded an immediate halt to the policy, calling it a dangerous overreach that could harm public health. The Trump administration insists the measure is lawful and necessary to protect taxpayer dollars. A DHS spokesperson described it as an initiative to ensure illegal immigrants do not exploit Medicaid benefits meant for Americans. Yet critics argue the move is part of a broader strategy to intensify deportations. The administration has already increased workplace raids and arrests at sensitive locations like churches and courthouses, fueling fear in immigrant communities. With legal battles looming and ICE poised to act on the newly accessible data, the long-term implications remain uncertain. Will this deter fraud, as the administration claims? Or will it drive vulnerable populations away from medical care, exacerbating public health risks? Visit PrivacyWatch.news for more similar stories. Watch as President Donald Trump vows to remove waste, fraud and abuse from Medicaid in this clip. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump administration moves to share Medicaid data with DHS, faces legal and privacy backlash amid immigrant raids. ICE raids underway as Trump administration launches historic DEPORTATION operation. Trump directs ICE to arrest protesters who attack officers. Sources include: YourNews.com NBCNews.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com Tulsi Gabbard alleges Obama, Clinton committed treason in bombshell DNI report Treason Allegations: Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps DNI, accuses Obama, Clinton, and intelligence officials of a "years-long coup" against Trump, citing fabricated Russia collusion claims as treason. Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps DNI, accuses Obama, Clinton, and intelligence officials of a "years-long coup" against Trump, citing fabricated Russia collusion claims as treason. Declassified Evidence: New documents reveal Obama-era officials manipulated intelligence, weaponized the Steele dossier, and collaborated with foreign agencies (e.g., MI6) to undermine Trumps presidency. New documents reveal Obama-era officials manipulated intelligence, weaponized the Steele dossier, and collaborated with foreign agencies (e.g., MI6) to undermine Trumps presidency. Political Fallout: The allegations risk sparking civil unrest, with warnings of violent backlash in liberal cities if high-profile Democrats face prosecution over the scandal. The allegations risk sparking civil unrest, with warnings of violent backlash in liberal cities if high-profile Democrats face prosecution over the scandal. Deep State War: Gabbard exposes divisions within U.S. intelligence factions, alleging Biden continued Obamas policies to destabilize energy independence and inflame racial tensions. Gabbard exposes divisions within U.S. intelligence factions, alleging Biden continued Obamas policies to destabilize energy independence and inflame racial tensions. Global Hypocrisy: The report coincides with global tensions, highlighting Democratic elites (e.g., Bidens) taking Russian-linked money while accusing Trump of collusiona "staggering hypocrisy." In a seismic political revelation, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has publicly accused former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and top intelligence officials of orchestrating a "years-long coup" against Donald Trump during his first term. Citing newly declassified documents, Gabbard alleges the Obama administration knowingly fabricated the Russia collusion narrative to sabotage Trumps presidencyan act she labels treason. The Allegations Gabbard, appointed by Trump to oversee the U.S. intelligence apparatus, dropped the bombshell during a Fox News interview this weekend. "Theres no rational explanation for how [Robert] Mueller and [John] Durham missed the evidence of this seditious conspiracy," she stated, referring to the FBIs prior investigations that dismissed Trump-Russia collusion claims. The DNIs report, set for release next week, promises to detail how Obama-era officials manipulated intelligence to undermine Trump, including weaponizing the Steele dossier and collaborating with foreign agencies like MI6. "If you call this anything other than treason, youre lying to yourself," remarked one conservative analyst on Brighton Broadcast News. "These people subverted democracynow they must face the consequences." Implications and Fallout The accusations have electrified Trumps base while igniting fears of civil unrest. Sources close to the administration warn that prosecuting high-profile Democratsparticularly in liberal strongholds like California and New Yorkcould trigger violent backlash. "Blue cities will erupt," predicted commentator Mike Adams. "Martial law, military checkpointsthats the next step if Obama gets handcuffed." Gabbards move also escalates the long-simmering war within the "deep state." Once dismissed as conspiracy theory, the rift between Americas intelligence factionsneocons, Democrat loyalists, and Trump-aligned reformersnow spills into the open. Critics argue the Biden administration acted as Obamas "third term," continuing policies to destabilize U.S. energy independence and stoke racial divisions via Black Lives Matter. Global Context The DNIs report lands amid global turbulence: Trumps tariffs on the EU, a currency war weakening the euro, and escalating U.S.-Russia tensions. Gabbards allegations against Obama dovetail with claims that Democratic elitesincluding the Biden familyaccepted millions from Russian-linked entities while accusing Trump of collusion. "The hypocrisy is staggering," noted legal analyst Greg Hunter. Whats Next? Skeptics question whether the Department of Justice will act. "Pam Bondi [Trumps DOJ special counsel] couldnt even release the Epstein files," Adams noted, referencing another stalled accountability effort. Yet Gabbards status as a potential 2028 presidential candidate adds stakes: success could cement her as a GOP kingmaker, while failure may embolden the left. For now, Trumps base celebrates the reckoning. "Obamas birth certificate was fake. His presidency was fraudulent," declared one podcast host. "This isnt just justiceits survival." Watch the July 21 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Tulsi Gabbard alleges Obama, Clinton committed treason in bombshell DNI report. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: TRAITORS OF THE USA: Communist Barack Obama and his cohorts, Brennan, Clapper and Comey, could serve prison time for Russia Collusion HOAX Trump administration revokes Clinton-era rule that gives undocumented immigrants access to federal education funds DHS shuts down TSA watchlist program amid allegations of political targeting Sources include: Brighteon.com United Kingdom mulls ban on using crypto for POLITICAL DONATIONS Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden suggested prohibiting cryptocurrency political donations, citing concerns about tracing origins and ensuring transparency. His colleague Liam Byrne called existing finance rules a "Kremlin's charter" enabling opacity. London's push follows Reform UK's announcement of accepting Bitcoin donations, mirroring pro-crypto fundraising in the United States. Ireland banned crypto donations in 2022, while U.S. states like Michigan and Oregon enacted prohibitions. Critics warn crypto's anonymity facilitates foreign interference, dark money and threats to democracy. Spotlight on Corruption highlighted risks of "future political interference schemes" via untraceable funds. Cryptocurrencies challenge existing oversight as an unregulated, borderless system. McFadden stressed the need for laws to "keep up with technology," while campaigners demand stronger enforcement and donation caps. El Salvador's lack of oversight raises concerns about undisclosed influence, exemplifying broader struggles to balance financial innovation with democratic integrity. The debate remains unresolved amid calls for stricter rules versus innovation-friendly policies. In a digital age where cryptocurrency donations are reshaping political campaigns worldwide, the United Kingdom is grappling with the question of prohibiting them entirely. London has emerged as a central battleground in this struggle. Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden suggested during a joint hearing of the British Parliament's two chambers on Monday, July 14, that crypto donations should be banned. McFadden, a close ally of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labor Party, cited concerns about tracing the origins of crypto donations. "It's very important that we know who is providing the donation, are they properly registered, what are the bona fides of that donation," he told members of Parliament (MPs). McFadden's Labor colleague Liam Byrne went further. According to the MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, the U.K.'s existing party finance rules are a "Kremlin's charter" designed for opacity rather than openness. "We must root out the dark money, hidden money and foreign money," Byrne continued. The remarks by McFadden and Byrne follow an announcement by Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party this month that it would accept bitcoin donations, echoing U.S. President Donald Trump's pro-crypto fundraising. The 2024 U.S. election saw crypto firms pour $134 million into pro-crypto candidates. The Republic of Ireland had already taken action, banning all crypto political donations in 2022 to shield its democracy from foreign influence. Dark money in the digital age The clash over transparency versus financial innovation has reached a critical juncture with officials warning of untraceable funds, foreign interference and threats to democratic integrity. But at the heart of this debate is a fundamental tension. While blockchain technology promises financial sovereignty, its anonymity also makes it a potential tool for dark money. The British anti-corruption watchdog Spotlight on Corruption warned that crypto could facilitate "future political interference schemes" by foreign actors. Similar fears have driven U.S. states like Michigan and Oregon to prohibit crypto campaign donations, though California reversed its ban in 2022. Meanwhile, El Salvador faces criticism for lacking oversight in political funding, raising fears of undisclosed foreign or criminal influence. Under the leadership of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, the Central American nation made bitcoin legal tender in 2021 before revoking its status in February of this year. (Related: El Salvador revokes Bitcoin's status as legal tender to secure an IMF loan.) The issue isnt new; for decades, democracies have struggled with balancing free political participation against the risks of undisclosed donations. But cryptocurrencies introduce a novel challenge an unregulated, borderless financial system operating outside traditional banking scrutiny. McFadden acknowledged this, stating that legislation must keep up with the technology." British campaigners meanwhile argue for stronger enforcement, including restoring the Electoral Commissions authority to investigate breaches. One campaigner, Tom Brake of Unlock Democracy, warned that crypto poses a "clear and present danger" to democratic integrity. He urged automatic voter registration and caps on donations. As officials prepare new election security proposals, transparency advocates demand stricter rules. Yet with governments hesitant to stifle financial innovation, the battle over crypto's role in politics is far from settled. Watch this video explaining that the true value of Bitcoin lies in the freedom from tyranny it offers. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russia plans to ban crypto mining and trading regulator report. China's crypto ban forces Bitcoin miners to sell out or flee overseas. California regulator to investigate crypto companies for not disclosing risks of crypto lending activities. Sources include: CoinTelegraph.com TheGuardian.com CoinCentral.com Brighteon.com Utah governor blocks land purchase by Chinese state-owned company near Provo Airport On July 15 in Palmyra, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced Utah had blocked a land purchase near Provo Airport by Cirrus Aircraft, which is majority-owned by a Chinese state-owned defense contractor. The parent company, AVIC, is tied to China's military and appears on multiple U.S. federal watchlists. It is banned from federal contracts due to national security risks. The decision was made under Utah's 2024 law (HB 516), which prohibits land purchases by entities linked to foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Companies violating HB 516 must divest within one year or face state seizure of the property, with proceeds going to Utah's General Fund. Cox praised the Utah Legislature and Rep. Candice Pierucci for their role in passing the law, while emphasizing Utah's leadership in confronting foreign influence at the state level. Standing under the scorching summer sun in a dusty field beside an old barn, Gov. Spencer Cox has announced that Utah blocked a Chinese state-owned company from purchasing land near the Provo Airport due to national security concerns. Cox, joined by several state lawmakers in the rural farming community of Palmyra on July 15, revealed that the attempted buyer was Cirrus Aircraft, a well-known manufacturer of small private planes. Though Cirrus is a U.S.-based company with operations in Wisconsin, it has been majority-owned since 2011 by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) a firm that is "deeply tied to the Chinese military." (Related: Texas bans land purchases by foreign adversaries, targeting Chinese Communist Party.) "A restricted foreign entity under Utah law with deep military ties to the Chinese government, AVIC makes fighter jets, helicopters and drones for the Chinese military," he said during the press conference. "They appear on multiple U.S. federal watch lists and are banned from federal contracts, assistance and benefits due to serious national security concerns." Cirrus has not been accused of wrongdoing, but its parent company AVIC has been under increasing scrutiny. In 2020, U.S. officials labeled AVIC a potential national security threat, triggering sanctions that curb the influence of Chinese military-linked enterprises. "Utah is reaffirming a strong message that it's been sending for years," Cox said. "We will not allow adversarial foreign entities to buy up strategic land in our state." The land in question is located near the Provo Airport, a growing regional hub south of Salt Lake City. Cox declined to specify the exact plans of Cirrus for the site, but the governor noted the proposed investment involved "millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs." "And I don't care," Cox said. "We are not for sale." Cox praises Utah legislature for advancing HB 516 The decision was made under House Bill 516, a 2024 law that bans land acquisitions by companies tied to governments deemed "foreign adversaries," including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Under HB516, companies found in violation must divest their property holdings within one year or risk state seizure through the Division of Facilities Construction and Management. Any proceeds from the seizure would be redirected to Utah's General Fund. Cox praised the Utah Legislature for its leadership, highlighting Rep. Candice Pierucci as the sponsor of the original legislation. He also acknowledged Utah-based Strider Technologies for its role in advancing enforcement efforts nationwide. In turn, Pierucci stressed Utah's stance. "Utah has led the way in safeguarding our land and military assets. We were one of the first states to ban the Chinese Communist Party from owning land here," said Pierucci. "The work we've done not only advances Utah's interests but also sets a national example for how states can push back against the CCP's malign influence and protect our security. National security is no longer the exclusive domain of Washington it begins here at home, on our farms, in our schools and universities, across industry and with state and local policymakers." Visit NationalSecurity.news for more stories like this. Listen to Sen. John Thune (R-SD) as he warns about China's purchase of U.S. farmland in strategic locations. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Texas advances bill to block land sales to citizens and entities from hostile nations. Texas Senate approves new bill banning citizens of China and other hostile nations from owning large properties in the state. Private land stolen in Texas via secret eminent domain meetings of local water authority. Texas farmer battles BLM for three decades to win back his own land... finally prevails! BLM land grab now expanding to Texas; AG Abbott defiantly warns 'Come and Take It.' Sources include: YourNews.com Governor.Utah.gov UtahNewsDispatch.com Brighteon.com Could your allergies be protecting you? This large-scale study finds a surprising link between common allergies and reduced lung cancer risk, especially for men and those with allergic rhinitis. Review: Correlation between allergic diseases and lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Image Credit: crystal light / Shutterstock In a recent study published in Frontiers in Medicine, researchers examined the relationship between allergic diseases and the risk of developing lung cancer. Allergies and cancers are increasingly recognized as major health concerns in both developing and developed countries. Lung cancer is among the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with around 2.26 million cases reported in 2019. The number of lung cancer cases and deaths has increased by 26% and 20%, respectively, between 2010 and 2019. Meanwhile, lung cancer-attributable disability-adjusted life years increased by 16%. The relationship of allergic diseases with lung cancer risk The relationship of allergic diseases with lung cancer risk varies by the type of allergy. For instance, a history of asthma is associated with a higher lung cancer risk, whereas a history of allergic rhinitis (AR) or eczema may reduce the risk. Asthma, although an allergic disease, was intentionally excluded from this meta-analysis to ensure methodological homogeneity and avoid confounding, given its established association with an increased risk of lung cancer. According to one hypothesis, allergies may reduce the risk of lung cancer through increased immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated immune surveillance, which may help eliminate malignant cells in their early stages. Conversely, another hypothesis suggests that chronic immune stimulation may induce random mutations in rapidly dividing cells, thereby increasing the risk of cancer. The authors also note that allergic reactions may play a dual role, being detrimental at primary sites of inflammation but potentially protective at distant sites. An integrative hypothesis suggests that the interplay of immune surveillance, chronic inflammation, and immune skewing underlies the relationship between allergy and cancer. These hypotheses provide distinct insights into the complex relationship between allergies and cancer. Despite the increased interest, there is substantial uncertainty and contention about specific associations between AR, eczema, and lung cancer. The study and findings In the present study, researchers meta-analyzed the associations of AR and eczema with lung cancer risk. First, they conducted a systematic literature search on Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were case-control or cohort studies assessing the association between allergic diseases and lung cancer risk. Relevant data, including study design, geographic region, participant characteristics, and results, were extracted from the selected studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies and rate them as having low, moderate, or high quality. The associations between allergic diseases and the risk of lung cancer were assessed using random and fixed effects models. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I-squared statistic and chi-squared test. Sensitivity analyses indicated that no single study significantly influenced the overall effect size, supporting the robustness of the findings. The search protocol yielded 226 studies. Following deduplication, title/abstract screening, and full-text reviews, 10 studies were selected for the meta-analysis. Of these, eight were case-control studies and two were cohort studies, cumulatively encompassing over 3.8 million participants. Sample sizes ranged between 302 and 1.74 million individuals. AR and eczema diagnoses were made through serum IgE measurements or questionnaires. Lung cancer was diagnosed through pathological histology or by using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes, specifically ICD-9 or ICD-10. Three studies were rated as of moderate quality, and seven as of high quality. The meta-analysis indicated that allergic diseases were inversely associated with the risk of lung cancer. Despite significant heterogeneity among studies, sensitivity analyses revealed that no individual study had a substantial impact on the overall effect size. Further, subgroup analyses were performed by gender, allergy type, and geographic region. Overall, there was no significant association between eczema and the risk of lung cancer. By contrast, there was a negative correlation between AR and lung cancer risk. Specifically, allergic rhinitis was associated with 26% lower odds of lung cancer (OR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.640.86), and eczema showed no statistically significant association (OR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.511.06). Further, a negative association was observed between allergic diseases and lung cancer risk in males. Notably, there was a negative correlation between eczema and lung cancer risk in males. In females, a negative correlation was observed between allergic diseases and lung cancer risk, but there was no association between AR and lung cancer risk. In men, the odds ratio for allergic diseases and lung cancer was 0.56 (a 44% lower odds); in women, it was 0.71 (a 29% lower odds). Furthermore, seven studies conducted in the American continents found a negative correlation between AR and lung cancer risk, as well as no association between eczema and lung cancer risk. Conclusions In sum, the meta-analysis revealed that individuals with allergies had one-fourth lower odds of developing lung cancer than those without allergies. There was a significant inverse association between AR and lung cancer risk, especially in males and populations from the American continents. While there was no significant association between eczema and lung cancer risk overall, a negative association was observed in males. The studys limitations include a small sample size, limited generalizability due to the predominantly American continent-based participant population, and potential misclassification bias resulting from the reliance on self-reported diagnoses in most studies. Most included studies diagnosed allergies using questionnaires, which may introduce recall or diagnostic bias. Further studies are needed to uncover the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of this association. The authors highlight the need for future epidemiological research to clarify these relationships and inform risk assessment and prevention strategies. New research reveals that mind-body exercise, such as tai chi and yoga, surpasses other workouts in reversing frailty and enhancing daily function for seniors, offering a cost-effective strategy for healthier aging worldwide. Study: Mind-body training outperforms other physical activities in reducing frailty and enhancing quality of life in older adults: a network meta-analysis. Image Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in the Frontiers in Public Health, researchers compare the impact of mindbody, aerobic, strength, and mixed exercise programs on frailty, daily function, and quality of life (QoL) in older adults. Current estimates suggest that up to 25% of older adults live with frailty, which is characterized by declining strength, slowed gait, and poor endurance. As the global population continues to age, the prevalence of frailty will continue to rise and negatively impact the lives of community-dwelling older adults, particularly those residing in low- and middle-income countries. To date, numerous studies have confirmed the benefits associated with physical activity or regular exercise for building resilience to both prevent and reverse frailty. Despite these observations, it remains unclear whether certain physical activity modalities may be more effective in reducing frailty outcomes than others. To this end, the researchers of the current study compared the effects of mind-body training, aerobic training, strength training, and mixed physical activities on frailty, quality of life (QoL), and activities of daily living (ADLs). About the study The researchers of the current study reviewed a total of 35 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that collectively enrolled 2,905 community-dwelling adults, with a mean age of 72 years, 66% of whom were women. The median duration of the study interventions was 18 weeks with two- to seven-hour-long sessions. Frailty was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) or Fried phenotype, whereas ADL was quantified using the Barthel Index or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). QoL of the study participants was determined using standardized instruments including the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), SF-12, SF-8, and EuroQol-5 Dimension (Eq-5D). Study findings Mind-body training was associated with the most significant reduction in frailty as compared to controls, who exhibited the least improvement. Thereafter, mixed physical activity also improved frailty outcomes, whereas aerobic and strength training provided less significant improvements. Overall, mind-body training was considered to be 81% more effective in ameliorating frailty in older adults than all other interventions. Mind-body training also led to the most effective QoL improvements as compared to the other exercise interventions. Compared to aerobic training, aerobic training was associated with more significant improvements in ADLs in up to 74% of cases. Nevertheless, both mind-body training and mixed physical activity similarly improved ADLs, with a modest impact associated with strength training as compared to controls. The subgroup analyses demonstrated that the efficacy of community programs was similar to that associated with hospital interventions, which supports a shift in policy toward local delivery. Mind-body training sessions of 5060 minutes at least three times every week were associated with the greatest improvements. The observed improvements in frailty measurements persisted across continents, economic strata, and baseline fitness, which confirms the generalizability of this approach. Cost modeling indicated that each qualityadjusted life year (QALY) gained through mind-body training was onethird of the price of current pharmacological fallprevention programs. Taken together, exercise emerges as a lowrisk pathway to resilience in aging. Mind-body training emerged as most effective in alleviating frailty and enhancing overall quality of life, making it particularly suitable for severely frail individuals with restricted mobility. Conclusions Exercise modality is a key factor in determining the prescription of movement medicine for seniors. Mindbody training was associated with consistent and significant improvements in both frailty and QoL outcomes, whereas aerobic workouts are ideal for preserving daily independence. Importantly, mixed physical activity and strength training also offer complementary benefits. The effects of these exercise modalities exceed clinically meaningful levels, can be easily incorporated into community settings, and are considered both safe and costefficient. The study findings indicate that practitioners should prioritize one-hour sessions that incorporate both mindfulness and exertion with a frequency of at least three sessions each week. Policymakers can invest confidently in local mindbody sessions, while researchers are encouraged to continue assessing adherence, biological pathways, and costeffectiveness. "How does the brain distinguish glucose from the many nutrients absorbed in the gut?" In a groundbreaking study, a research team at KAIST has uncovered a gut-brain circuit that enables the brain to selectively recognize glucosebeyond simply registering total caloric intake. This discovery opens a new avenue for developing targeted strategies to control appetite and treat metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. On July 9, KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced that the research was led by Professor Greg S.B. Suh of the Department of Biological Sciences in collaboration with Professor Young-Gyun Park (BarNeuro), Professor Seung-Hee Lee (Department of Biological Sciences), and researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The team demonstrated that, in a state of hunger, animals are capable of detecting and preferentially selecting D-glucose in the gut via a specialized gut-brain circuit. While it has long been known that the gut transmits caloric information to the brain to regulate appetiteprimarily through suppressing hunger-related neurons in the hypothalamusthis study is the first to reveal a nutrient-specific neural pathway that allows the brain to detect glucose itself, not just general caloric content. Using a combination of optogenetics, neural imaging, and nutrient infusions, the researchers found that a subset of CRF neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus respond selectivelyand rapidlyto D-glucose introduced directly into the small intestine. These neurons did not respond, or responded inversely, to other nutrients like L-glucose, amino acids, or fats. Further mapping of the pathway showed that D-glucose signals are conveyed from the small intestine to the dorsolateral parabrachial nucleus (PBNdl) in the brainstem via the spinal cord, and then relayed to CRF neurons in the PVN. This is in contrast to signals from amino acids and fats, which travel to the brain via the vagus nerve. Inhibiting the activity of CRF neurons in fasting mice eliminated their natural preference for glucose, confirming the necessity of this circuit for glucose-specific nutrient selection. The study builds on Professor Suh's earlier work at NYU, where his team identified DH44 neurons in fruit flies that detect sugar in the gut. Inspired by the possibility that mammals might possess similar glucose-sensing neurons, the KAIST team launched this investigation. Dr. Jineun Kim (KAIST Ph.D., now at Caltech) played a leading role in the study, demonstrating that fasting mice preferred glucose over other nutrients delivered directly into the stomach and that CRF neurons responded in real time. Wongyo Jung (KAIST B.S., now a Ph.D. student at Caltech) contributed modeling and behavioral analyses, while Dr. Shinhye Kim uncovered the role of specific spinal neurons in transmitting nutrient signals from the gut to the brain. Drs. Kim and Kim noted, "This study began with a simple but fundamental question: How does the brain distinguish glucose from other nutrients absorbed in the gut? We've shown that spinal-based gut-brain circuits play a central role in maintaining energy balance and metabolic homeostasis." Professor Suh added, "By identifying a specialized gut-brain pathway for glucose sensing, this research opens up new therapeutic possibilities for metabolic diseases. Moving forward, we aim to investigate how similar circuits detect other essential nutrients, such as amino acids and fats, and how these systems interact." Ph.D. student Jineun Kim, Dr. Shinhye Kim, and student Wongyo Jung (co-first authors) contributed to this study, which was published online in the international journal Neuron on June 20, 2025. 13th High-Level Meeting between coast guards of India, Korea held in Delhi Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 00:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, July 21 (PTI) Top officers from the Indian and Korean coast guard forces held a key meeting in Delhi on Monday, seeking to boost cooperation in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue and pollution response. The defence ministry said this in a statement. Recommended Stories Both sides engaged in discussions to boost cooperation in Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), Pollution Response (PR), and Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), while reaffirming their commitment to share best practices and enhance interoperability under the 2006 MoU," it said. This was the 13th High-Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) in Delhi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The meeting was co-chaired by Paramesh Sivamani, Director General, ICG, and KIM Yong Jin, Commissioner General, KCG, who is currently leading a five-member delegation on an official visit to India from July 20-24, the ministry said. As part of the visit, the KCG delegation will travel to Mumbai from July 23-24 for an industrial visit to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and to an ICG patrol vessel, aimed at strengthening maritime industrial and operational linkages, it added. PTI KND AMJ AMJ First Published: July 22, 2025, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds 13th High-Level Meeting between coast guards of India, Korea held in Delhi Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bihar: EC shares list of people not found at addresses with political parties Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 20:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) As the the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihars electoral roll reaches a crucial stage, poll machinery in the state has met representatives of all the political parties to share detailed lists of the 29.62 lakh electors whose enumeration forms have not been received so far. It has also shared lists of the nearly 43.93 lakh electors who were not found at their addresses. Recommended Stories All the 12 major political parties have also been requested to connect with these remaining electors through their district presidents and nearly 1.5 lakh booth-level agents appointed by the parties. This is to ensure that the entire election machinery, including the political parties, works together in a mission mode so that no eligible elector is left out," the Election Commission said on Monday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The draft electoral rolls will be published on August 1. From August 1, any member of the public can file objections for any additions or deletions or rectification in the draft electoral rolls, the EC said. PTI NAB ARI First Published: July 21, 2025, 20:00 IST News agency-feeds Bihar: EC shares list of people not found at addresses with political parties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UK, Canada and 26 other countries say the war in Gaza must end now Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 03:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) London, Jul 22 (AP) Twenty-eight countries including Britain, Japan and a host of European nations issued a joint statement Monday saying the war in Gaza must end now" the latest sign of allies sharpening language as Israels isolation deepens. The foreign ministers of countries also including Australia and Canada said the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths." They condemned the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food." The statement described as horrifying" the recent deaths of over 800 Palestinians who were seeking aid, according to the figures released by Gazas Health Ministry and the UN human rights office. Recommended Stories The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the countries said. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." Israel and US reject the criticism Israels Foreign Ministry rejected the statement, saying it was disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas." It accused Hamas of prolonging the war by refusing to accept an Israeli-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire and hostage release. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein posted on X. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also rejected the statement from many of Americas closest allies, calling it disgusting" in a post on X and saying they should instead pressure the savages of Hamas." Germany was also notably absent from the statement. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X that he spoke with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Monday and expressed the greatest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Gaza as Israels offensive widens. He called on Israel to implement agreements with the EU to enable more humanitarian aid. A worsening humanitarian crisis Gazas population of more than 2 million Palestinians is a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Israels offensive has displaced some 90 per cent of the population, with many forced to flee multiple times. Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American group backed by Israel. Since its operations began in May, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in shootings by Israeli soldiers while heading to the sites, according to witnesses and health officials. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at those who approach its forces. Israels 21 months of war with Hamas have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, sparked worldwide protests and led to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has brushed off previous criticism Allies criticism about Israels actions has had little clear effect. In May, Britain, France and Canada issued a joint statement urging Netanyahus government to stop its military operations in Gaza and threatening concrete actions" if it didnt. Israel rejects criticism of its wartime conduct, saying its forces have acted lawfully and blaming civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in populated areas. It says it has allowed enough food in to sustain Gaza and accuses Hamas of siphoning off much of it. The United Nations says there is no evidence for widespread diversion of humanitarian aid. The new joint statement called for an immediate ceasefire, saying countries are prepared to take action to support a political pathway to peace in the region. Israel and Hamas have been engaged in ceasefire talks but there appears to be no breakthrough, and its not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed. Speaking to Parliament, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy thanked the US, Qatar and Egypt for their diplomatic efforts to try to end the war. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There is no military solution," Lammy said. The next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire." Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israels military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Its count doesnt distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. (AP) SKY SKY First Published: July 22, 2025, 03:00 IST News agency-feeds UK, Canada and 26 other countries say the war in Gaza must end now Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... UK prosecutors say rocks, eggs thrown at police during asylum hotel protests Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 23:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) London, Jul 21 (AP) Rocks and eggs were thrown at police as they tried to protect a hotel near London being used as accommodation for asylum seekers, prosecutors said Monday as a man arrested in connection with the incident appeared in court. More than 100 protesters some wearing British flags and releasing red, white and blue smoke gathered at the Bell Hotel, in Epping Forest, on Sunday as demonstrators gathered to vent their anger after a man was arrested in the area on suspicion of sexual assault. Recommended Stories Chanting save our kids" and send them home," the demonstration escalated, with projectiles thrown at police vans blocking the entrance. Officers escorted a counter-protester from the area after demonstrators surrounded her. A similar protest took place last Thursday. Disappointingly, we have seen yet another protest, which begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle," Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow of the Essex Police said in a statement on Monday. For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery, think again." The protests come amid escalating tensions over the rising number of asylum seekers who are being housed at government expense in hotels around the UK. Those pressures flared into days of rioting last month in Northern Ireland after two teenagers were arrested on charges of sexual assault. Violent anti-immigrant protests spread throughout the UK last summer after social media users spread misinformation about the identity of the person who attacked a dance class in the northwestern town of Southport, killing three young girls. The attacker was a 17-year-old who was born in the UK to parents from Rwanda and was not an asylum seeker, as had been rumoured. Prime Minister Keir Starmers government has acknowledged concerns about immigration and made tackling irregular migration a priority. As Parliament debated the unrest in Epping Forest on Monday, Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said there was no justification for the violence. Violent disorder is not a symptom, violent disorder is criminal," she said. Its thuggery, its attacks on our police officers. It should be prosecuted, and people should face the full consequences of the law." Prior to Sundays protests, local police had issued an order allowing them to force demonstrators to remove face coverings. They later ordered demonstrators to leave the area around the hotel. That dispersal order remained in effect until 4 am Monday. The demonstration came after eight police officers were injured on Thursday after a peaceful protest escalated into violence. Police blamed the violence on people from outside the community who arrived at the scene intent on causing trouble." At least nine people have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations, including the 33-year-old man who appeared at Southend Magistrates Court on Monday. He faces one charge of violent disorder and one charge of criminal damage related to the the unrest that broke out on Thursday. He was released on bail and is scheduled to return to court on August 18. Officers faced sustained attacks for over four hours" on Thursday, prosecutors said. The protests outside the hotel were triggered by the arrest of a 38-year-old asylum seeker who was charged with sexual assault after he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. The man, who denies the charges, was remanded into custody following a court appearance on July 10. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We dont take sides, we arrest criminals and we have a duty to ensure no-one is hurt plain and simple,"Anslow said. I know the people of Essex know what were about, so I know they wont believe the rubbish circulating online that is designed to do nothing more than inflame tensions and trouble." Epping Forest District Council, which provides local government services in the area, condemned the violence but said it had long opposed the central governments decision to use the Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers. We have consistently shared concerns with the Home Office that the Bell Hotel is an entirely unsuitable location for this facility and should close," the councils leader, Chris Whitbread, said in a statement last week. We continue to press Home Office officials for the immediate closure of the site and are encouraged that our local MPs are now actively supporting our call." (AP) GRS GRS First Published: July 21, 2025, 23:45 IST News agency-feeds UK prosecutors say rocks, eggs thrown at police during asylum hotel protests Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Weekly Horoscope, July 21 July 27, 2025: Big Changes Ahead For Cancer And Virgo Written By : GaneshaGrace Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 07:20 IST Weekly Horoscope, July 21-July 27, 2025: Ganesha says this week is going to be very auspicious for the people of Capricorn. Weekly Horoscope, July 21, 2025 July 27, 2025: Weekly horoscope by Chirag Daruwalla. (AI generated image) Weekly Horoscope, July 21 July 27, 2025: Curious about what the stars have aligned for you this week? From July 21 to July 27, 2025, the cosmic energies bring big shifts, challenges, and surprises across all zodiac signs. Aries may face pressure at work, Gemini could see breakthroughs in career and love, and Virgo may enjoy long-awaited success. Whether youre navigating relationships, finances, or health, these weekly insights by Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla will help you plan your week with clarity. Recommended Stories Aries Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says Aries natives may have to run around a lot this week to complete their planned tasks and strengthen their financial position. This week, you will have to work hard by believing more in karma than luck. Students preparing for exams and competitions will have to avoid laziness; otherwise, it will not be possible to achieve the desired results. In the middle of the week, you will go through mental stress due to a family problem. During this time, an elderly member of your family may remain ill. You may also have to face sudden land and building disputes. It will be better to resolve such issues through mutual discussion instead of taking them to court. Employed people may have to travel long or short distances in the latter half. During this time, you will have to avoid negligence in your work; otherwise, you may get scolded by the boss for mistakes. Aries natives will need to take care of the dignity of others while joking and laughing to maintain their love relationship. For a happy married life, respect the feelings of your spouse. Lucky Color: Maroon Lucky Number: 12 Taurus Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be a mixed bag for Taurus people. If you are involved in business, then you should avoid taking any big decisions in haste this week; otherwise, you may have to face a loss instead of a profit. Similarly, be very careful in buying and selling land and building, and money transactions. This week, along with wealth and property, you should also be very cautious about health. At the beginning of the week, you may fall prey to seasonal diseases. Due to which you will find yourself unable to complete your planned work. In such a situation, take care of your daily routine and food. In the latter part of the week, students preparing for exams and competitions may get distracted from studies. During this time, the youth will be seen wasting their time in fun and enjoyment. Any problem related to children will become the reason for your worry. Taurus people should try to be a little softer in their behavior to keep their love and marital relationship sweet. Do not behave with others in a way that you do not like for yourself. You will feel great relief at the end of the week when your career or business-related problem gets solved. Lucky Color: Red Lucky Number: 7 Gemini Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be very auspicious for the people of the Gemini zodiac. This week, you will get the desired success in whatever work you put your hands on, but keep in mind that you should not blindly trust anyone and take any big decision only after thinking carefully. If you were waiting for a change in job or promotion, then this wish of yours can be fulfilled this week. Both seniors and juniors will be kind in the workplace. You can get some good news from the side of children. Achievements related to children will become the reason for your respect. In the middle of the week, you can suddenly get a surprise gift from somewhere. During this time, the mind will be happy due to getting the desired thing. Auspicious functions will be completed at home. Your fame and reputation will increase in the workplace and family. The second half of the week is going to be very auspicious for the people associated with business. During this time, you can make a big deal, which will benefit you a lot, and your credibility in the market will increase. This week is favorable for love relationships. You will have good coordination with your love partner. Friendship with someone can turn into a love affair. Married life will remain happy. Lucky Color: Blue Lucky Number: 15 Cancer Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says Cancer natives will have to manage their money, time, and energy this week; otherwise, they may have to face unnecessary troubles. Students preparing for exams and competitions will need to work harder to get the desired results. If you are planning to do a job or a new business, then along with planning, you will have to make efforts in that direction. Nothing will be achieved by just being entangled in planning for the future. In the middle of the week, there will be tension in the mind due to domestic disputes. You will be sad if you do not get the support of your parents in any matter related to home and family. Keep yourself away from any dispute in the latter half of the week, and do not make the mistake of taking any shortcuts by getting influenced by anyone. During this time, if you ignore the rules and regulations, you may have to face unnecessary troubles and financial losses. If you are in a love relationship, respect the feelings of your love partner and try to solve any issue through dialogue; otherwise, even the already made matter can get spoiled. Your spouse and your well-wishing friends will support you in the difficult times of life. You may get the opportunity to visit a pilgrimage site in the latter part of the week. Lucky Color: Yellow Lucky Number: 5 Leo Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says people born under the Leo sign can see a big change in their lives this week. If any of your work was stuck somewhere for a long time, then this week it will be completed with the help of a friend or an influential person. Closeness with people associated with power and government will increase, and you will be able to take full advantage of them. There are chances of promotion for employed people. You can get a big responsibility in the workplace. If you are studying, then you can get an opportunity to learn some new knowledge or skills. Like the first half of the week, the second half is also going to be full of happiness and good fortune. You will get a favorable environment in the workplace in which you will be able to do your work in a better way. During this time, you may also have to go on a long-distance journey in connection with work. Unemployed people will get employment opportunities, while employed people will get sources of additional income. During this time, making new friends can also give you economic and social benefits. A recent friendship with someone can turn into a love affair. At the same time, the existing relationship will become stronger. At the end of the week, you will get opportunities to spend pleasant time with family. Lucky Color: Orange Lucky Number: 3 Virgo Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is good luck for Virgo natives. From the beginning of the week, you will get good news from different areas of life. Your long-awaited promotion or transfer wish may be fulfilled. Unmarried people may get their marriage fixed. People preparing for exams and competitions may achieve the desired success. During this time, you will be very much engaged in religious work, and you can also organize a religious event at home or in society. There are also chances of pilgrimage. If you were trying to establish your career or business abroad for a long time, then you may get great success in this direction during this time. All the obstacles in the way of higher education will be removed. Cases related to the court will be resolved. Family members will get full support. There will be more profit than expected in the business. Plans to expand the business will be seen to be fruitful. In the latter half of the week, you will benefit from a new friendship. Your respect in society will increase. Love relationships will deepen. Married life will remain happy. Lucky Color: Brown Lucky Number: 4 Libra Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says Libra natives will need to be very careful about their health and enemies this week. At the beginning of the week, you may have to face physical and mental problems due to seasonal or chronic illness, while your opponents and enemies can create all kinds of problems for you in your workplace and personal life. In such a situation, be very cautious during this time and do any work only after thinking. This week, drive carefully and take care of your luggage during travel; otherwise, there is a possibility of theft. In the middle of the week, with the help of a person of the opposite sex, you will be seen to be successful in bringing your life back on track, but do not lose your senses in the excitement of a little success; otherwise, you may have to suffer losses. In the latter half of the week, some big expenses may suddenly come up, due to which your budget may get a little disturbed. However, in this time of crisis, both your accumulated money and your well-wishers will be very useful. This week is a little unfavorable from the point of view of a love relationship. In such a situation, move forward in this direction only after thinking carefully. There may be an argument with your spouse about something. Lucky Color: Cream Lucky Number: 9 Scorpio Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says Scorpio natives will need to use their brains more than their hearts this week. If you take any step without thinking, you may have to face a lot of loss. From the beginning of the week, you will have to bear all kinds of expenses. You may spend a large amount of money on home repairs or on buying something related to comfort. This week, there will be an additional burden of work on employed people, due to which their personal lives may be affected. You may get physically tired due to working too hard. However, your friends, love partner, or spouse will prove to be very helpful in difficult times. Avoid arguing with people in the latter half of the week, and do not break the rules and laws; otherwise, you may also fall prey to any legal complications. Business people may have to compete fiercely with their competitors during this time. The time will also remain challenging for those doing commission and target-oriented work. Talking about love or marital relationships, it will remain normal with sweet and sour arguments. Lucky Color: Pink Lucky Number: 10 Sagittarius Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be very auspicious for Sagittarius people. From the beginning of the week, your planned work will be seen getting completed on time. Seniors will be kind to you in the workplace, while at home, you will get full support from your brothers and sisters. If any work related to the government is stuck, then it will be completed this week with the help of an influential person. The money stuck in the market of business people will come out, and they will be able to earn the desired profit in business. You will turn the situation in your favor on the strength of your hard work and efforts. Sagittarius people will be attracted to beautiful things this week, and you will spend a lot of money on decorating your house. In the latter half of the week, you will be able to find a solution to a big family problem by sitting together with your relatives. Disputes related to ancestral property will be resolved, while your officers in the workplace will be completely kind to you. New sources of income will be created. Accumulated wealth will increase. This week is going to be favorable for love affairs. You will spend a pleasant time with your love partner. Happiness will remain in married life. Lucky Color: Black Lucky Number: 1 Capricorn Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be very auspicious for the people of Capricorn. Whatever direction you try, you will get auspicious results and success in that direction. From the beginning of the week, you will have full enthusiasm and confidence towards work. You will be seen getting the proper benefits of hard work. There will be chances of growth and profit in business. You will breathe a sigh of relief when any major worry related to children goes away. In the middle of the week, your entire focus will be on getting things related to comfort and improving your lifestyle. For this, you can spend more money from your pocket. During this time, you may get an opportunity to participate in a religious or auspicious program. You can also organize something like this yourself. The respect of people associated with social service and politics will increase. Those working in this direction can get a big position. Most of the time of the youth will be spent having fun. Mutual trust will increase in a love relationship, and there will be opportunities to spend time happily with a loved partner. Health will be normal. Lucky Color: Purple Lucky Number: 6 Aquarius Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is going to be a little up and down for Aquarius people. This week, the person you help will be seen hurting you. In such a situation, make any decision or work very thoughtfully. Take full care that your hands do not get burnt while performing havan. Employed people may have to travel long or short distances in connection with work. The journey will be tiring, but will prove to increase new contacts and bring success in work. Some big expenses may suddenly come up in the middle of the week, due to which your budget may get a little disturbed. You may also have to borrow money from others. The latter half of the week can be a little relaxing as compared to the first half. During this time, you will work in the right direction by making good use of your time. As a result, you will get the desired results and benefits. The money stuck in the market will come out unexpectedly. Additional sources of income will be created for employed people. A loving partner will prove to be helpful in your difficult times. You will get opportunities to spend a happy time with the family. Lucky Color: White Lucky Number: 2 Pisces Weekly Horoscope Ganesha says this week is auspicious and fortunate for Pisces. You will get wealth, and pending work will be completed. You will be respected in business and job. You will get the full result of your hard work and efforts, and you will be able to get the desired benefits. You will come in contact with influential people. Interest in religious and spiritual work will increase. Auspicious works will be done in the family. Disputes related to wealth and property will be resolved through reconciliation. Unemployed people can get job offers. This time is going to be favorable for politicians. Their influence will increase within the society and the party. Penetration in the government will increase. In the latter part of the week, you are likely to get a lot of profit in business. There will be chances of an increase in the position and prestige of employed people in the workplace. Both seniors and juniors will be kind to you; as a result, you will move forward on the path of your progress. During this time, you can get a surprise gift from your spouse. While doing any big work, you will get special support from the in-laws. There will be compatibility in love affairs. Love relationships can turn into marriage. Married life will remain happy. Lucky Color: Grey Lucky Number: 11 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). About the Author Chirag Daruwalla Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, Tarot, Num... Read More Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, Tarot, Num... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:20 IST News astrology Weekly Horoscope, July 21 July 27, 2025: Big Changes Ahead For Cancer And Virgo Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Honda India Eyes 30 Pc Share In 2W Market, Sees Potential To Grow Sales Among Women Curated By : PTI Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 17:41 IST The company's arm, HMSI, sees huge potential to grow sales among female customers, who currently account for just about 10 per cent of the overall industry sales 2025 Honda Dio 125. (File photo) Jpanese auto major Honda is targeting a 30 per cent share in the Indian two-wheeler market by 2030, as it chases the goal to achieve half of global two-wheeler sales in the long term, according to a top official of the companys arm in India. The companys arm, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), sees huge potential to grow sales among female customers, who currently account for just about 10 per cent of the overall industry sales, HMSI President Tsutsumu Otani told PTI in an interview. Recommended Stories He also said that while the company sees a shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles in the two-wheeler segment in the long term, bottlenecks around charging infrastructure and electricity supplies are major impediments at present. Considering the Indian market size, we want to achieve 30 per cent share in India by 2030," Otani said when asked about the significance of the Indian market in Hondas overall long-term goal to garner 50 per cent of global two-wheeler sales. Currently, he said HMSI has a 27 per cent market share in the Indian market. Otani said that already in the ASEAN region, Honda has over 80 per cent market share. Earlier in January this year, Honda Motor Co announced that the industry-wide global motorcycle (two-wheeler) sales, currently at a scale of 50 million units, are projected to grow to 60 million units by 2030, including electric vehicles. The company has set a long-term target" for itself to capture a 50 per cent share of the global motorcycle market, including electric motorcycles. According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), the total two-wheeler retail sales in India stood at 1,88,77,812 units in FY25 compared to 1,75,27,115 units in FY24. HMSIs retail sales in FY25 were 47,89,283 units against 40,93,895 units in FY24. It was the number two player after Hero MotoCorp, which clocked 54,45,251 units in FY25 and 53,97,315 units in FY24. Otani noted that Honda sees huge potential to tap female customers to increase its two-wheeler sales in India with increasing women empowerment and many of them entering the workforce. In India, the overall two-wheeler usage is mostly male, with 90 per cent, and females just around 10 per cent. It means the potential for two-wheeler sales to grow among the female customers is huge," he said. When asked about the companys product pipeline programme for the Indian market to achieve the 2030 target, Otani declined to comment, but asserted that, being a global company, Honda has a range of products in its portfolio, which can be considered for India. Otani said the company will consider a wide range of technologies, including EVs and flex fuels, for the Indian market, considering the different consumer demands in different parts of the country. Honda had stated that it plans to introduce 30 electric models globally by 2030 to achieve the goal of increasing its global annual sales of electric motorcycle models to 4 million units by 2030. The company had also said it would strive to capture the largest market share in the electric two-wheeler segment in India, where it will begin operating a dedicated electric two-wheeler production plant in 2028. When asked if the company has finalised the location of the EV-only plant and investments for it, Otani said it has not been decided as yet. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said in the long term, the shift from ICE to electric vehicles will happen in India, but at present, the bottlenecks around charging infrastructure and electricity supplies are major impediments. . About the Author Shahrukh Shah Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more. You can also download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 17:41 IST News auto Honda India Eyes 30 Pc Share In 2W Market, Sees Potential To Grow Sales Among Women Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Meet Madhu Lunawat: First Indian Woman To Launch A Mutual Fund Business Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:51 IST Madhu Lunawat has become the first Indian woman to independently set up a mutual fund company Madhu Lunawat Who Is Madhu Lunawat? The Wealth Company, a part of the Pantomath Group, has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to launch its mutual fund business, marking a historic milestone as Indias first fund house founded by a woman. Madhu Lunawat: First Indian Woman to Set Up a Mutual Fund Recommended Stories The new asset management company is led by Madhu Lunawat, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Pantomath Group. She is now the first Indian woman to independently establish and receive Sebis approval for a fund house. While other fund houses exist currently around 46 only Edelweiss Mutual Fund is headed by a woman, with Radhika Gupta serving as MD & CEO. Before her entrepreneurial journey, Lunawat held leadership roles at Infosys, ASREC, and Edelweiss Group, where she served as CFO of Edelweiss ARC. This is not just a moment for me its a moment for every woman who wants to build, lead, and reshape the financial landscape," Lunawat told TOI. Were here to build something thats intelligent, long-term, and deeply aligned with the real needs of Indian investors," she added. The Wealth Company Mutual Fund: Indias Youngest AMC With Sebis Certificate of Registration granted on July 18, The Wealth Company officially enters the Rs 74.41 trillion mutual fund industry as The Wealth Company Mutual Fund. The company aims to blend private equity-style, data-intensive research with the accessibility needed by everyday retail investors. This bottom-up investment philosophy is designed to address real investor needs while maintaining simplicity and discipline. Focus on Tier-3 and Beyond: Democratizing Wealth Creation The Wealth Company Mutual Fund will focus significantly on Tier-3 and smaller towns, which are witnessing rising income levels and untapped investment potential. The AMC seeks to channel this capital toward structured, actively managed funds helping investors participate in Indias Viksit Bharat (Developed India) growth journey. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Wealth Companys entry into mutual funds is backed by its rapid success in the alternative investment space. Within a short period, it built a strong portfolio across equity and structured strategies, attracting marquee investors and delivering solid performance. This foundation will help bring both innovation and stability to its mutual fund offerings from the outset. Over the years, mutual funds have become one of the most trusted investment platforms for retail investors," said Lunawat, who now serves as Founder, MD and CEO of The Wealth Company Asset Management Holdings. Our entry into mutual funds is driven by a commitment to bring the same disciplined, data-driven philosophy from our alternative ventures to a broader retail base. We aim to offer high-quality, outcome-oriented products that truly empower Indian investors." About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 11:48 IST News business economy Meet Madhu Lunawat: First Indian Woman To Launch A Mutual Fund Business Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tata Capital IPO: Company Files Updated Confidential DRHP; Tata Investment Shares Surge 6.2% Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:31 IST Tata Capital IPO: Tata Sons is expected to offload up to 23 crore shares in the offer for sale (OFS), while International Finance Corporation (IFC) may sell 3.58 crore shares. Tata Capital IPO Likely To Launch Next Month Tata Capital IPO: Tata Capital has filed an updated confidential draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for its much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO), sparking a rally in Tata Investment Corporations shares. The stock rose as much as 6.25% in intraday trade on Monday, hitting a high of Rs 6,950 on the NSE, before paring some gains to trade 4.76% higher at Rs 6,857 around 1:25 noon. Investor sentiment turned bullish amid optimism that the Tata Capital IPO could unlock value and strengthen the Tata Groups presence in the listed financial services segment. The rally comes after two consecutive sessions of decline. Recommended Stories According to a report by NDTV Profit, Tata Sons is expected to offload up to 23 crore shares in the offer for sale (OFS), while International Finance Corporation (IFC) may sell 3.58 crore shares. The IPO will also include a fresh issue of up to 21 crore shares. The move is in line with the Reserve Bank of Indias directive requiring all upper layer non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to go public by September 2025. Tata Groups financial services firm Tata Capital has reported strong financial performance ahead of the listing. In the March 2025 quarter, the companys consolidated profit after tax (PAT) surged 31% year-on-year to Rs 1,000 crore, while revenue from operations jumped nearly 50% to Rs 7,478 crore. For the full FY25, PAT rose to Rs 3,655 crore from Rs 3,327 crore in FY24, and total revenues climbed to Rs 28,313 crore from Rs 18,175 crore. In April 2025, Tata Capital filed draft papers with markets regulator Sebi to launch its initial public offering. The draft papers for the $2-billion IPO was filed through a confidential pre-filing route. At this size, the company is expected to be valued around $11 billion. Tata Capital, identified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as an upper-layer non-banking finance company (NBFC), has already secured boards approval to proceed with the initial share sale. Notably, Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Capital, owns a 92.83 per cent stake in the company. If successful, this IPO will be the largest initial share sales in the countrys financial sector. It will also mark the Tata Groups second public market debut in recent years, following the listing of Tata Technologies in November 2023. This move is part of the companys efforts to comply with the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) listing requirements. As per the RBI mandate, upper-layer NBFCs are required to list on the stock exchange within three years of being designated as such. Tata Capital was categorised as an upper-layer NBFC in September 2022. Tata Capitals decision to opt for the confidential pre-filing route is part of a growing trend among Indian companies. This route allows companies to withhold public disclosure of details under the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) until later stages. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In March, edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah also opted for the confidential filing route. In 2024, food delivery giant Swiggy and supermart major Vishal Mega Mart floated their IPOs after making confidential filings. Earlier, online hotel aggregator OYO had taken the confidential filing route in 2023 but eventually did not proceed with its IPO. Tata Play, formerly known as Tata Sky, was the first company in India to utilise this option for an IPO in December 2022, and secured Sebis observation letter in April 2023. Although it later withdrew from the public issue. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:31 IST News business ipo Tata Capital IPO: Company Files Updated Confidential DRHP; Tata Investment Shares Surge 6.2% Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Sebi Allows Jane Street To Restart Trading: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 10:08 IST Following the deposit of Rs 4,843 crore, the restrictions imposed by Sebi's interim order are no longer applicable. Earlier this month, the markets regulator in an interim order had barred the Jane Street Group from participating in Indian securities markets. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Monday allowed Jane Street to restart trading after the US high-frequency trading firm deposited $567 million (Rs 4,843 crore), news agency Reuters has reported citing two sources aware of the matter. The regulator sent an email to the firm on Friday in which it said that following the deposit of the money the restrictions imposed by its interim order are no longer applicable, said the report citing the sources who declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to media. Recommended Stories Earlier this month, the markets regulator in an interim order had barred the Jane Street Group from participating in Indian securities markets. Sebi had banned the Jane Street entities from trading or accessing Indian markets, frozen an amount of Rs 4,843 crore, and given the group 21 days to respond or request a hearing. Jane Street could resume trading if an equivalent amount was deposited in an account that gives the regulator rights over the money until its investigation is complete, the Sebi order stated. The regulatory action came after an extensive investigation into alleged manipulation of the Indian stock market through index derivatives, particularly Bank Nifty options, which earned the company massive profits of over Rs 36,500 crore between January 2023 and March 2025. What Is Jane Street? Founded in 2000, Jane Street is a US-based leading global trading firm that operates as a proprietary trading company. Unlike hedge funds, Jane Street trades using its own capital. It has operations across the US, Europe, and Asia, specialising in high-frequency trading and algorithmic strategies. The firm has over 2,600 employees and is known for its sophisticated quantitative models and automated market-making systems. In India, it operated through four firms JSI Investments Pvt Ltd, JSI2 Investments Pvt Ltd, Jane Street Singapore Pte Ltd, and Jane Street Asia Trading Ltd. How Did Jane Street Earn Rs 36,500 Crore By Allegedly Tricking Indian Stock Markets? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Between January 2023 and March 2025, Jane Street entities made over Rs 43,289 crore in profits from index options, particularly Bank Nifty (BANKNIFTY) using various strategies that allegedly manipulated markets. These profits were partly offset by losses in other segments like stock futures and cash equity, resulting in a net gain of Rs 36,502 crore. In a 105-page order, Sebi highlighted two key manipulative strategies Intraday Index Manipulation Strategy and Extended Marking the Close Strategy. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 10:08 IST News business markets Sebi Allows Jane Street To Restart Trading: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Maharashtra CM Fadnavis 'Shocked' By Acquittals In 2006 Mumbai Blasts, To Move Top Court Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 19:56 IST Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the government will move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court acquittals in the 2006 Mumbai blasts case. Devendra Fadnavis said government will move Supreme Court in 2006 Mumbai blast case (PTI File Image) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday expressed shock" over the Bombay High Courts acquittal of all 12 people in relation to the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case, and said that the government will challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. The verdict of the Bombay High Court is very shocking and we will challenge it in the Supreme Court," he said. Recommended Stories Earlier today, the 12 persons, who were arrested in 2006 for their involvement in the July 11, 2006, serial train blasts, were acquitted by the High Court. The prosecution had claimed that the accused individuals belonged to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The trial court had in 2015 sent 5 accused to a death sentence and seven others to life imprisonment in connection with the case. A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak observed that the prosecution has utterly failed in establishing the case beyond a reasonable doubt". A series of powerful blasts had taken place in local trains in Mumbai during the evening rush hour on July 11, 2006. Seven blasts within a span of 11 minutes in the first-class compartments killed 189 people and left several others injured. Kamal Ansari from Bihar, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh from Mumbai, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui from Thane, Naveed Hussain Khan from Secunderabad, and Asif Khan from Jalgaon in Maharashtra were found guilty of planting the bombs and were given the death penalty. By law, the trial courts decision to give them the death sentence had to be confirmed by the High Court before it could be carried out. In 2015, the Maharashtra government approached the High Court to get this confirmation. At the same time, the five convicts also filed appeals to challenge the special courts ruling. One of the accused died in 2021 due to COVID-19. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In July 2024, the High Court set up a special bench led by Justice Kilor, which held regular hearings for almost six months. Five months ago, the court had finished hearing the case and reserved its judgment. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 19:29 IST News mumbai-news Maharashtra CM Fadnavis 'Shocked' By Acquittals In 2006 Mumbai Blasts, To Move Top Court Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbais Andheri Subway Shut Again: Why Every Time It Rains, It Pours Woes On The East-West Link Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 18, 2025, 12:27 IST Mumbai's Andheri Subway Shut Amid Heavy Rain: The flooding in the subway leaves auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers stuck, forcing motorists to take long detours via WEH or SV Road Follow us on: Mumbai's Andheri subway was shut at least 28 times during the monsoon in 2024. (PTI File) Mumbais Andheri Subway amid heavy rain: Mumbai woke up to flooding in several parts on Monday, thanks to the heavy overnight rain. As expected by any Mumbaiite, the first casualty was Andheri subway. The subway has been shut owing to flooding in neighbouring areas. Why does this happen every time it rains in Mumbai? Recommended Stories In 2024, the Andheri subway a crucial eastwest vehicular tunnel near Mogra Nullah was closed 28 times during the monsoon due to flooding, as reported by an MLA in August 2024. The flooding in the subway, which reaches even three-four feet at times, leaves auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers stuck, forcing motorists to take long detours via congested Western Express Highway or SV Road. Mumbai rain on Monday The weather department has issued a rain alert for Borivali, Malad, Kandivali, Goregaon, Thane, Andheri-Ghatkopar, BKC, Kurla, and Chembur on Monday. A yellow alert has been issued Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Latur and Beed for Monday. As per the prediction of the weather department, Mumbai is set for a rainy week. Moderate to heavy rain is likely from July 22 to 26. Partly cloudy skies and thunderstorms are expected on July 22, with warnings for lightning and strong winds. #WATCH | Heavy downpour in Mumbai affects commuters as they wade through waterlogged streets in the Andheri area of the city pic.twitter.com/QiwtqI9aK3 ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025 Five reasons why Andheri subway floods every time it rains 1. Location: The subway is built at a depressed, low-lying point between Andheri East and West. Rainwater from surrounding roads and areas naturally flows down into the subway, making it a catchment zone during even moderate rainfall. 2. Drainage System: The drainage capacity in the area is not sufficient to cope with the volume of water during heavy downpours. Stormwater drains often get clogged with plastic waste, silt, and debris, reducing their ability to channel water away quickly. 3. Pumping Response: Although dewatering pumps are installed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), they often fail to activate in time or operate at sub-optimal capacity.Manual intervention is sometimes required, which delays water removal. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 4. Heavy, Sudden Rainfall: Mumbai frequently experiences short, intense bursts of rain, dumping large volumes of water in a very short time. This overwhelms even functioning drainage systems, especially in bottleneck areas like the subway. 5. Poor Maintenance: Pre-monsoon desilting work is often delayed or incomplete, which leads to blockages during rains. Encroachments and roadside dumping further restrict flow. About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:55 IST News cities Mumbais Andheri Subway Shut Again: Why Every Time It Rains, It Pours Woes On The East-West Link Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy CS Degree = Tech Job Offer: Google Android Head Lists 5 Essential Skills You Really Need Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 10:24 IST A Computer Science degree isnt enough; Google Android Head Sameer Samat says engineers must master AI, teamwork, and user-focused thinking to thrive in todays tech world By following this advice, aspiring engineers can better prepare themselves for the evolving demands of the tech industry. (News18) A few decades ago, a BTech degree, particularly in Computer Science, held considerable prestige. However, the job market has undergone a significant transformation since then. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), engineers are now expected to cultivate not only technical knowledge but also creativity and a wider range of skills. Sameer Samat, Head of Android and Vice President of Google Play, has offered some valuable insights for aspiring engineers. Holding a senior position at Google, Samat emphasised that while formal education lays the groundwork, genuine success stems from continuous learning and innovation. With the tech industry evolving at an unprecedented pace, professionals must now develop expertise in areas such as AI, machine learning, and cloud computing. Recommended Stories Additionally, he emphasised the increasing importance of soft skills, such as teamwork and communication. According to Samat, a degree is merely the beginning; its the ability to lead and solve problems that sets truly exceptional engineers apart. Here are the key takeaways from his advice: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Look Beyond Your Degree: Samat encouraged engineers not to rely solely on their academic qualifications. He pointed out that a degree, while important, does not automatically lead to a successful career. He recommended that engineers develop practical technical skills alongside creativity and critical thinking. Emphasise Skills and Flexibility: Given the rapid changes within the technology sector, Samat urged engineers to stay updated with current trends. He highlighted the necessity of building skills in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud technologies, and maintaining a mindset thats open to learning and adaptation. Teamwork and Communication Are Vital: Technical ability on its own is no longer sufficient. Samat underlined the importance of being able to work collaboratively and communicate clearly. Engineers should be capable of explaining complex concepts in simpler terms and contributing effectively within a team environment. Prioritise the User: One of Samats key messages was to adopt a user-focused approach. He advised engineers to design products that meet real user needs, asserting that technology becomes truly impactful only when it solves actual problems. A deep understanding of user experience (UX) and user requirements is therefore essential. Googles Inclusive Strategy: Samat also shed light on Googles Android strategy, particularly its focus on emerging markets such as India. He shared that Google is working to increase access to technology by promoting affordable smartphones and developing locally relevant applications. This user-first, inclusive approach aims to bridge the digital divide across regions. By following this advice, aspiring engineers can better prepare themselves for the evolving demands of the tech industry; one that values not just academic credentials, but a blend of technical prowess, adaptability, and human-centric thinking. First Published: July 21, 2025, 10:03 IST News education-career CS Degree = Tech Job Offer: Google Android Head Lists 5 Essential Skills You Really Need Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Haryana Makes Gita Verse Recitation Compulsory In School Morning Prayers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:46 IST Haryana School Education Board has made Gita verse recitation compulsory in school prayers, aiming to instil values like discipline, focus and moral guidance. Students in Haryana schools will now recite Bhagavad Gita verses during daily morning prayers. (Representational Image/Getty) The Haryana School Education Board has asked all schools in the state to include the recitation of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita verses during their daily morning prayers. In a letter to school principals, the Boards Chairman said that reading these verses will help in the overall growth of students. The Board believes that the teachings of the Gita provide moral and spiritual lessons that can guide young minds. This step aims to teach values like discipline, responsibility, and concentration to schoolchildren. Recommended Stories The motive behind introducing the recitation of Bhagavad Gita verses to school prayer meetings is that children should learn from the spirituality and the knowledge that the scripture holds in abundance and follow them in their daily life to benefit society," Pawan Kumar, HSEB Chairman, said. We want to see a change in future generations that will become an example to the world and help India become the Vishwaguru, as PM Modi has also said. In olden times, people from all over the world used to come to India to gain spiritual knowledge. Indias spiritual knowledge is the best in the world," he added. The new rule will apply to both government and private schools that are part of the Haryana School Education Board (HSEB). Principals have been told to make sure that selected verses from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita are read regularly during morning assemblies. This step is part of the states ongoing efforts to bring cultural and value-based education into schools. While some teachers welcome the move for its moral teachings, others may question the use of religious texts in public education. ALSO READ: Sharda University Student Suicide: Victims Father Alleges Mental Pressure By Faculty top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Officials have said that the verses will be shared in a way that highlights their educational and philosophical meaning, not religious teachings. Schools in Haryana are expected to start following this rule from the next academic term. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 08:46 IST News education-career Haryana Makes Gita Verse Recitation Compulsory In School Morning Prayers Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Indian Army Agniveer Results 2025: Expected Date, Steps To Check At joinindianarmy.nic.in Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 13:00 IST Indian Army Agniveer 2025 Result is expected to be announced soon at joinindianarmy.nic.in. GD candidates should check the portal regularly for updates. Indian Army will announce Agniveer CEE 2025 results soon at joinindianarmy.nic.in. (Representative Image/ PTI) Indian Army Agniveer Results 2025: The Indian Army is expected to release the Agniveer CEE 2025 Result soon on its official website at joinindianarmy.nic.in. Candidates who appeared for the General Duty (GD) Common Entrance Exam (CEE) should keep an eye on the portal for any latest updates. As per reports, the results for the Indian Army Agniveer recruitment are likely to be announced between July 21 and 22, 2025. Recommended Stories The Indian Army shared a detailed notification explaining the result process. It reads: Candidates will be shortlisted based on the cut-off applied to the written exam results in proportion to the available vacancies. The Roll Numbers of qualified candidates will be published on the Join Indian Army website. These shortlisted candidates will receive a second admit card for the remaining recruitment process as per the Rally Schedule of their respective Army Recruiting Offices. The Phase II admit card can also be downloaded under the candidates login on the portal." This means that candidates who clear the CEE will move to the next round of the selection process, and their admit cards for Phase II will be made available soon after the result declaration. When Was The Agniveer CEE 2025 Exam Held? The Common Entrance Examination (CEE) for Agniveer 2025 was conducted between June 30 and July 10, 2025. For the General Duty (GD) category, the exam was held from June 30 to July 3, 2025. ALSO READ: IB ACIO Recruitment 2025: Application Begins For 3717 Posts; Salary Up To Rs 1,42,400 How To Check Indian Army Agniveer Result 2025? Once the result is announced, candidates can follow these steps to check their scores: Step 1: Visit the official Indian Army website at joinindianarmy.nic.in. Step 2: Click on the link that says Agniveer Results 2025 on the homepage. Step 3: Log in using your registration ID and password. Step 4: Your result will appear on the screen. Step 5: Download and save the PDF copy of the result. Step 6: Take a printout for future use. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Also See: Indian Army Agniveer Salary In 2025 Candidates are advised to keep checking the official website for timely updates. Shortlisted candidates will soon receive details about the next phase of the recruitment. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 09:05 IST News education-career Indian Army Agniveer Results 2025: Expected Date, Steps To Check At joinindianarmy.nic.in Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... What Is The 20-Day Short Hajj Package? Who Is Eligible & How To Apply? Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 13:08 IST Hajj 2026: The Haj Committee of India has announced a 20-day Short Hajj Package for 2026. Up to 10,000 pilgrims will be chosen by random ballot. Registration is open from July 7-31 The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam. (AP File) In a first, the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) has introduced a 20 day Short Hajj Package for 2026. According to reports, the package covers travel, minimum stay in Makkah and Madinah, and the core Hajj rituals in 20 days. Instead of the 40-45 day usual pilgrimage, the shorter package is aimed at offering pilgrims more flexibility while completing all obligatory rites. Recommended Stories Heres all you need to know. Hajj Pilgrimage: One Of 5 Key Pillars Of Islam The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam and holds deep spiritual and religious significance for Muslims. It is an obligation for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to perform it at least once in their lifetime. Hajj takes place annually during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage involves a series of sacred rituals over several days, such as circling the Kaaba (Tawaf), walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah (Sai), standing in prayer at the plain of Arafat (Wuquf), stoning symbolic pillars representing the devil, and sacrificing an animal to commemorate the obedience of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). These acts reflect humility, devotion, and submission to God. Hajj symbolizes equality, as pilgrims wear simple white garments (Ihram) that erase social and economic distinctions, uniting Muslims from all backgrounds. The 20-Day Short Hajj Package It is available to Indian pilgrims onlyup to 10,000 pilgrims will be selected via Qurrah (random ballot) at the time of application, if demand exceeds availability, according to TOI report. Operated From: Offered via select embarkation cities in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. The chosen option cannot be changed post submission. Who Is Offering Short Hajj Package? Examples of tour operators offering the package include: Talbiya Umrah Pvt Ltd lists both 20-day shifting and 20-day non-shifting packages starting around Rs 6.5 lakh per person. Dayare Harams Hajj Short Package (Shifting) spans 1920 days, with shared accommodation starting around Rs 6.95 lakh. Mubarak Travels Express Shifting is a 20-day package with 4-star hotels and VIP services, although at higher price points (Rs 1112 lakh). How Can Indians Register For Hajj 2026? Key Registration Dates July 7-July 31, 2025 (until 11:59 PM IST) Eligibility & Requirements: Valid passport: Must be a machine readable Indian passport, issued on or before July 31, 2025, and valid at least until December 31, 2026. Only those who have not previously performed Hajj with HCoI are eligible. Pilgrims aged 65 or above must be accompanied by a companion. Male aged 18-60 Female (if no Mehram) aged 45-60. How to Apply? Submit applications online only via: Haj Committee of India official portal at hajcommittee.gov.in or Haj Suvidha" mobile app. Create an account using valid personal, contact, and passport information. Required Documents Passport (first & last pages), recent passport-size photo, cancelled cheque or bank passbook in Cover Heads name, address proof (Aadhaar, election card, utility bill, etc.) Payment And Cancellation No processing fee charged during registration Keep Rs 1.5 lakh ready for the first installment of the pilgrimage package. Cancellations (except due to death or serious illness) lead to penalties and financial loss. Selection Process and Quotas HCoIs 2026 quota allows 175,025 pilgrims. While 70% is managed by HCoI, 30% is allotted to private Haj Group Organizers (HGOs). If applications exceed quota, priority is given in this order: Age 65+ Women under 65 without Mehram General category Seat allocation via computerized Qurrah (draw of lots) and waiting list formation Travel Logistics & Embarkation top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pilgrims must select two preferred embarkation points (EPs) from up to 20 Indian cities: e.g. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, etc. About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:53 IST News explainers What Is The 20-Day Short Hajj Package? Who Is Eligible & How To Apply? Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... How Indias Homegrown UPI Became The Worlds Top Real-Time Payments System Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:47 IST With over 640 million transactions a day, Indias UPI has now overtaken Visa in volume. In June 2025, it recorded 18.39 billion transactions worth Rs 24 lakh crore UPI is a real-time payment system that enables instant money transfers between bank accounts through a mobile application. Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched less than a decade ago, has now become the worlds most used real-time payment system. In its June 2025 report titled Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed that UPI now powers 85 per cent of Indias digital payments and nearly 60 per cent of global real-time digital transactions. UPI is processing over 640 million transactions every day, surpassing global giant Visa, which sees about 639 million daily. In June 2025, UPI recorded 18.39 billion transactions worth Rs 24 lakh crore, marking a 32 per cent year-on-year jump compared to June 2024. Recommended Stories So, whats the story behind this fintech phenomenon? How did a public digital infrastructure, created by a government-backed body, beat multinational corporations at their own game? Heres a deep dive into the rise of UPI. What Is UPI And How Does It Work? Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and made available to the public in August 2016. Built atop the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) infrastructure, UPI allows users to link multiple bank accounts into one mobile app, enabling instant fund transfers, peer-to-peer payments, merchant transactions, and even recurring bill payments. Unlike traditional card-based systems that involve intermediaries and longer settlement periods, UPI facilitates instant and direct bank-to-bank transactions, 247, including holidays. The key innovation lies in interoperability. UPI is not restricted to a particular bank or app. Whether using Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, or any other UPI-enabled application, users can transfer money across platforms without friction. The Genesis: Why Was UPI Launched? The seeds of UPI were sown in the years following Indias push for financial inclusion and digitisation. NPCI, a not-for-profit umbrella body promoted by the Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks Association, had already rolled out the IMPS system and RuPay cards. But a need was felt for a more scalable, flexible, and user-friendly payment system that could integrate multiple services into a single interface. The real push came post-2014, as the Digital India mission gained momentum and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) brought millions of Indians into the formal banking system. UPI emerged as the ideal next step to connect those bank accounts to a seamless digital payment ecosystem. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who was at the helm when UPI was conceptualised, had called it a revolution" for retail payments in India. Speaking at an event in 2016, he said, The country has the most sophisticated public payment infrastructure in the world, which can be accessible to anyone who enters the system." Pandemic Push And The UPI Boom While UPI was gaining steady traction in its early years, the Covid-19 pandemic acted as a major catalyst. With physical distancing, lockdowns, and a sudden aversion to cash handling, digital payments skyrocketed. UPI saw exponential growth between 2020 and 2022, reaching over 6 billion monthly transactions by late 2022. With zero cost to users, wide availability across urban and rural India, and support in multiple languages, UPI became the go-to for both consumers and small businesses. The governments push to promote QR code-based payments, especially through schemes like PM SVANidhi for street vendors, also brought millions of informal economy participants into the fold. By 2023, UPI had outpaced debit and credit card transactions in both volume and value, according to Reserve Bank of Indias Annual Report. The Numbers: UPIs Record-Breaking Growth As of June 2025: Daily transactions: Over 640 million Over 640 million Monthly transactions: 39 billion 39 billion Monthly transaction value: Rs 24 lakh crore Rs 24 lakh crore YOY growth: 32 per cent (June 2024 to June 2025) UPI powers over 85 per cent of Indias digital retail payments, and it is now accepted by over 500 million users. The NPCIs vision of open architecture and standardised APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) has allowed private players like PhonePe and Google Pay to thrive while keeping the underlying system neutral and publicly governed. Why UPI Succeeded Where Others Struggled Interoperability and Open Access The IMF report highlights interoperability as a key driver behind UPIs growth, noting that it supports the adoption of digital payments by increasing users freedom to choose their favourite app" and fosters an ecosystem where more providers join and improve, offering better features and security". Cost and Convenience UPIs meteoric rise was also driven by its zero-cost structure. Since January 2020, the Indian government has enforced a no Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) policy on UPI transactions, meaning merchants are not charged any fees, even for small-value or high-volume payments. The Finance Ministry has repeatedly clarified that there is no plan to impose MDR, calling reports to the contrary completely baseless and misleading". With no charges for consumers and no burden on merchants, UPI emerged as the most economical way to transact digitally across income levels and geographies. Its intuitive, multilingual user interfaces further helped it penetrate rural areas, tier-2 and tier-3 towns, and digitally underserved communities. Combined with low data usage, rapid onboarding via Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, and government-supported promotion drives, UPIs frictionless design made it the default payment mode for everything from street vendors to supermarkets. Strong Regulatory Backing Beyond cost advantages and interoperability, UPIs expansion has been actively enabled by targeted government schemes and RBI-led mandates aimed at reaching the informal and underserved segments of the economy. One key intervention was the PM SVANidhi scheme, launched in June 2020, which offers financial incentives to street vendors who adopt digital payments. By linking cashback rewards to UPI transactions, the scheme helped digitise payments in Indias vast informal sector. The Reserve Bank of India has also pushed for UPIs integration into feature phones through services like UPI 123Pay, allowing users without smartphones or internet access to make digital transactions using IVR and missed call systems. These innovations have expanded UPIs reach beyond urban centres. Such regulatory and policy measures, focused on inclusion, infrastructure, and behavioural nudges, have ensured UPIs adoption across a wide spectrum of Indias population. UPI Goes Global: From Singapore To France UPIs success story isnt confined to Indias borders. According to the IMF report, UPI is now live in seven countries: United Arab Emirates Singapore Bhutan Nepal Sri Lanka France Mauritius Its entry into France is particularly notable; it marks UPIs first step into Europe. Tourists and Indian expats can now make payments using Indian bank accounts in outlets accepting UPI, bypassing the need for currency exchange or international cards. The NPCI, via its international arm NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), has been proactively signing agreements with foreign governments and payment gateways. The UAEs Mashreq Bank and Singapores PayNow are among the first partners. What Lies Ahead For UPI? BRICS Pay Push India is advocating for UPI to be recognised as a standardised cross-border payment mechanism within the expanded BRICS bloc, which now includes six new member countries. According to the Press Information Bureau, the goal is to cut remittance costs, enable direct merchant settlements abroad, and strengthen Indias fintech leadership globally. Cross-Border Remittance Tech firm RS Software, working with NPCI, has announced plans to integrate UPI with bilateral payment systems in 10 countries, including the UAE, Singapore, and France. The aim is to reduce fees and settlement times in existing remittance corridors. Speed & Scale Improvements NPCI recently revamped its backend: as of June 16, 2025, transaction response times were cut from ~30 seconds to 1015 seconds, enhancing real-time reliability and enabling broader adoption. Final Word top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In just nine years, UPI has achieved what many multibillion-dollar payment giants couldnt in decadescreating a unified, inclusive, and globally scalable real-time payments network. With backing from the government, trust from users, and recognition from global institutions, UPIs journey from an Indian innovation to an international benchmark is nothing short of revolutionary. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:33 IST News explainers How Indias Homegrown UPI Became The Worlds Top Real-Time Payments System Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran Out Of IAEA: How Does The Global Watchdog Monitor Nuclear Sites? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 15:44 IST Iran Out Of IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguard toolkit includes physical surveillance, material tracking, data analytics and scientific sampling The IAEA safeguards toolkit is designed to detect proliferation activities early. (IAEA/X) In a world with multiple ongoing wars, the role of a nuclear watchdog like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) remains crucial. Iran recently announced that it has ended its cooperation with the IAEA. It removed the monitoring devices, including surveillance cameras, from centrifuge halls. This move followed the news by the IAEA that Irans enrichment activities are well outside of allowed levels. Iran now operates sophisticated uranium centrifuges, like models IR-6 and IR-9. Recommended Stories What exactly is the role of IAEA? Can countries opt out of it? What happens then? What does IAEA do? When a country seeks to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program, with a promise not to build a nuclear weapon, the global community verifies that stated intent via the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Once a country signs the treaty, IAEA provides continuous and technical proof that the countrys nuclear program is peaceful. The Associated Press reported that the IAEA ensures that countries operate their programs within the limits of non-proliferation agreements: low enrichment and no reactor misuse. Part of the agreement allows the IAEA to inspect nuclear-related sites, including unannounced surprise visits. These are not just log reviews. Inspectors know what should and should not be there. When the IAEA is not on site, cameras, tamper-revealing seals on equipment, and real-time radiation monitors are working full-time to gather or verify inside information about the programs activities. The Safeguards Analytical Laboratories consist of 2 specialized labs where experts analyse samples collected by IAEA safeguards inspectors from nuclear sites around the world. These labs play a key role in verifying State declarations.Here are 5 interesting facts about them! IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) July 19, 2025 What is the IAEA safeguards toolkit? The IAEA safeguards toolkit is designed to detect proliferation activities early. Much of the work is fairly technical. The safeguards toolkit combines physical surveillance, material tracking, data analytics, and scientific sampling. Inspectors are chemists, physicists, and nuclear engineers. They count spent fuel rods in a cooling pond. They check tamper seals on centrifuges. Often, the inspectors walk miles through hallways and corridors carrying heavy equipment. How does IAEA keep track of a nuclear program? According to the AP report, around the facilities, whether for uranium enrichment or plutonium processing, closed-circuit surveillance cameras monitor for undeclared materials or post-work activities. Seals around the facilities provide evidence that uranium gas cylinders have not been tampered with or that centrifuges operate at the declared levels. Beyond seals, online enrichment monitors allow inspectors to look inside centrifuges for any changes in the declared enrichment process. When the inspectors are on-site, they collect environmental swipes: samples of nuclear materials on surfaces, in dust, or in the air. These can reveal if uranium has been enriched to levels beyond those allowed by the agreement. Or if plutonium, which is not used in nuclear power plants, is being produced in a reactor. Swipes are precise. They can identify enrichment levels from a particle smaller than a speck of dust. But they take time, days, or weeks. Inspectors analyse the samples at the IAEAs laboratories using sophisticated equipment called mass spectrometers. In addition to physical samples, IAEA inspectors look at the logs of material inventories. They look for diversion of uranium or plutonium from normal process lines, just like accountants trace the flow of finances, except that their verification is supported by the ever-watching online monitors and radiation sensors. They also count items of interest and weigh them for additional verification of the logs. Beyond accounting for materials, IAEA inspectors verify that the facility matches the declared design. For example, if a country is expanding centrifuge halls to increase its enrichment capabilities, thats a red flag. Changes to the layout of material processing laboratories near nuclear reactors could be a sign that the program is preparing to produce unauthorized plutonium. In its 20th year, the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material has expanded the treaty to include nuclear smuggling and sabotage of nuclear facilities as crimes.Read on: https://t.co/n0S1DUvYda pic.twitter.com/7ZR0Kn85gR IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) July 14, 2025 Has IAEA ever spotted a violation? Thanks to the IAEA, the world learned in April 2021 about Iran pushing uranium enrichment from reactor-fuel-grade to near-weapons-grade levels. IAEA inspectors were able to verify that Iran was feeding uranium into a series of centrifuges designed to enrich the uranium from 5%, used for energy programs, to 60%, which is a step toward the 90% level used in nuclear weapons. What does removing IAEA access mean? Removing IAEA access means that the international community loses insight into how quickly Irans program can accumulate weapon-grade uranium, or how much it has produced. Also lost is information about whether the facility is undergoing changes for proliferation purposes. These processes are difficult to detect with external surveillance, like satellites, alone. An alternative to the uranium enrichment path for producing nuclear weapons material is plutonium. Plutonium cant be mined, it has to be produced in a nuclear reactor. Iran built a reactor capable of producing plutonium, the IR-40 Heavy Water Research Reactor at the Arak Nuclear Complex. Iran modified the Arak reactor under the now-defunct Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to make plutonium production less likely. During the June 2025 missile attacks, Israel targeted Araks facilities with the aim of eliminating the possibility of plutonium production. With IAEA access suspended, it wont be possible to see what happens inside the facility. Can the reactor be used for plutonium production? Although a lengthier process than the uranium enrichment path, plutonium provides a parallel path to uranium enrichment for developing nuclear weapons. The IAEAs Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre offers state-of-the-art nuclear security courses to help countries maintain the highest level of nuclear security. Watch this pic.twitter.com/wdV3FkGxrK IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) July 19, 2025 Has it ever been done in the past? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all North Korea expelled IAEA inspectors in 2009. Within a few years, they restarted activities related to uranium enrichment and plutonium production in the Yongbyon reactor. The international communitys information about North Koreas weapons program now relies solely on external methods: satellite images, radioactive particles like xenon airborne fingerprints of nuclear activities and seismic data. With AP Inputs 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 15:36 IST News explainers Iran Out Of IAEA: How Does The Global Watchdog Monitor Nuclear Sites? Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Marathi Signboards In Mumbai Explained: Are They Compulsory? Why Has BMC Issued Notices To 3,040 Shops? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 16:13 IST Marathi Signboards In Mumbai Explained: Is it compulsory for shops and commercial establishments to display nameplates in Marathi, written in Devanagari? All you need to know The BMC has issued fines to hundreds of establishments since 2023. (PTI File) Marathi Signboards In Mumbai Explained: Even as the Marathi language row heats up Maharashtra politics, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued notices to 3,040 shops and establishments who are yet to install Marathi signboards or display boards, according to reports. Is it legally compulsory for shops and commercial establishments to display their nameplates in Marathi, written in the Devanagari script? All you need to know. Recommended Stories Does the law make it compulsory to have Marathi signboards? Under Rule 35 of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018, every establishment must display its name in Marathi (Devanagari) on a signboard. Explained: Speak Marathi Like Maharashtrian: This Course Helps All, From Auto-Taxi Drivers To Bank Officers An amendment in 2022 extended this mandate to even small shops with fewer than 10 employees. It also specified that the Marathi text must be in a font size at least equal to any other language on the board. What the Bombay High Court, Supreme Court said on Marathi signboards The Bombay High Court upheld the rule in early 2022, declaring it a reasonable requirement": No other language or script is prohibited but name board of every establishment shall be in Marathi in Devanagari script." The Supreme Court refused to stay the law and ordered no coercive action until compliance. However, it gave two months for retailers to install Marathi boards by a late-2023 deadline. How does the BMC take action? Rule 35 of the Maharashtra Shops & Establishments Rules, 2018, as amended in 2022, is backed by Section 35 (and Section 36C) of the amended Act. Non-compliance invokes provisions under Section 29, permitting fines. The BMC has issued fines to hundreds of establishments since 2023. Similarly, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) also began fining non-compliant shops following the same state rules Heres how the process works: Inspections: The BMC deploys squads of ward-level inspectors who conduct spot checks on shops and commercial spaces across the cityup to 2,0003,000 shops inspected daily. Notices: Establishments found non-compliant receive an inspection report / legal notice under Sections 35 and 36A of the Act. This formally initiates the process. Response/Compliance Window: The shopkeeper is required to set up the Marathi signboard and submit proof of compliance to BMC or to the court, if the matter is sub-judice. Cases are either heard before the Bombay High Court or by the Deputy Commissioner (Special), as allowed by the Act. The authority then decides the imposed fine based on evidence and compliances. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Fine for non-compliance: The maximum fine is Rs 2,000 per employee working at the establishment (each day of violation), up to a cap of Rs 1 lakh per shop. Property tax doubling: From May 1, 2024/25 onwards, shops without compliant Marathi signage were subject to double property tax. Additionally, illuminated (glow sign") licences in non-Marathi script may be cancelled, with reinstatement fees ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:25 IST News explainers Marathi Signboards In Mumbai Explained: Are They Compulsory? Why Has BMC Issued Notices To 3,040 Shops? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mumbai Train Blasts Case Recap: 189 Deaths In 11 Minutes In 2006 To Acquittal Of 12 In 2025 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 16:15 IST 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case Recap: As Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted 12 5 sentenced to death and 7 to life by MCOCA court in 7/11 case, a look at the timeline The first bomb went off shortly after 6.20 pm in the Western Railway train from Churchgate to Borivali. (File) 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case Recap: Mumbai came to a standstill on July 11, 2006, as a series of powerful bombs went off in local trains during the evening rush hour. The seven blasts within a span of 11 minutes in the first-class compartments left 189 dead and several injured. Recommended Stories The first bomb went off around 6.20 pm on a Western Railway (WR) train from Churchgate to Borivali. The bomb exploded when the train was between Khar and Santacruz stations. Another bomb exploded at the same time in a local train between Bandra and Khar Road. Soon, five more explosions were reported at Jogeshwari, Mahim Junction, Mira Road-Bhayander, Matunga-Mahim Junction and Borivali. As the Bombay High Court on Monday quashed and set aside a special court order convicting 12 accused in the 7/11 train blasts case of 2006, a recap of the case: July 11, 2006: Between 6.20 pm and 6.35 pm, seven RDX bombs ripped the first-class compartments of Mumbai local trains. July 14, 2006: Terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Qahhar, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the bombings through an e-mail to a TV channel. July 17, 2006: The Mumbai forensic science laboratory said highly explosive RDX and ammonium nitrate were used for the bombings. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said the bombs were assembled in Chembur. July 18, 2006: A week after the blast, a memorial service was held in Mumbai to pay tribute to the victims. July 21, 2006: The police arrested three in connection with the blasts. November 2006: The ATS filed a chargesheet in which 13 of those subsequently arrested and 15 absconding were named as accused under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA). June 2007: Those who were accused in the 7/11 bombings moved the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutional validity of MCOCA. The following year, the SC ordered a stay on the trial. September 2008: Five Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives were arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch. Contradiction in the probe by the crime branch and the ATS started to show when the crime branch said IM carried out the bombings, while the ATS said Pakistani nationals planted the bombs. February 2009: Arrested leader of the Indian Mujahideen Sadiq Sheikh confessed to conducting the bombings in a news channel broadcast. February 2010: Lawyer Shahid Azmi, who defended some of the accused in the Mumbai blast case, was shot dead in his Mumbai office. August 2013: Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of IM, who was arrested from the Indo-Nepal border, claimed the 2006 bombings were carried out by IM in response to the 2002 Gujarat riots. August 2014: The court concluded the 7/11 trial but reserved its judgment. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all September 2015: The MCOCA court convicted 12 of the 13 arrested in the case. The court sentenced five convicts Kamal Ansari, Faisal Shaikh, Estesham Siddiqui, Naveed Khan and Asif Bashir Khan to death. Seven others Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Sajid Ansari, Majid Shafi, Dr Tanveer Ansari, Muzzammil Shaikh, Zamir Shaikh and Sohail Shaikh were sentenced to life imprisonment. The court acquitted one of the accused. July 21, 2025: Nineteen years on, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was hard to believe they committed the crime". About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 11:52 IST News india Mumbai Train Blasts Case Recap: 189 Deaths In 11 Minutes In 2006 To Acquittal Of 12 In 2025 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 2006 Train Blasts: Bombay HC Acquits All 12 Accused, Says 'Prosecution Failed To Prove Case' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 10:15 IST The trial court in 2015 sentenced five individuals to death and seven others to life sentences in connection with the seven blasts that killed over 180 people in Mumbai. Bombay High Court. (Image: File) 2006 Train Blasts: The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed and set aside a special court order convicting 12 accused in the 7/11 train blasts case of 2006. The trial court in 2015 sentenced five individuals to death and seven others to life sentences in connection with the seven coordinated blasts that killed over 180 people in Mumbai. Recommended Stories A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak observed that the prosecution has utterly failed in establishing the case beyond a reasonable doubt". On July 11, 2006, a series of blasts struck seven coaches of a suburban train in western Mumbai, killing 189 commuters and injuring 824. After more than eight years of proceedings, a special MCOCA court conducted the trial and delivered its verdict in October 2015. The convicts Kamal Ansari from Bihar, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh from Mumbai, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui from Thane, Naveed Hussain Khan from Secunderabad and Asif Khan from Jalgaon in Maharashtra were found guilty of planting the bombs and sentenced to death. Notably, the trial court order of death sentence, by law, needed confirmation by the HC before it was executed. In 2015, the Maharashtra government moved the High Court seeking confirmation of the death sentences awarded to five convicts. Meanwhile, the convicts also filed appeals challenging the special courts verdict. One of the accused had passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19. In July 2024, the high court formed a special bench led by Justice Kilor, which conducted regular hearings for nearly six months Five months ago, the high court had reserved the matter for judgment. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Senior advocates S Muralidhar, Yug Mohit Chaudhry, Nitya Ramakrishnan, and S Nagamuthu represented the accused, arguing that the prosecutions case was flawed and that the trial court had erred in convicting them. In contrast, special public prosecutor Raja Thakare, appearing for the State, defended the death sentences, asserting that the case qualified as one of the rarest of rare." First Published: July 21, 2025, 09:57 IST News india 2006 Train Blasts: Bombay HC Acquits All 12 Accused, Says 'Prosecution Failed To Prove Case' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'A Historic Correction': LG Manoj Sinha Says Indus Treaty Termination Boost For J&K Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 15:58 IST India had put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance on April 23, as a non-military strike on Pakistan, after the Pahalgam terror attack. J-K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha (File/ANI) Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha on Monday said that the termination of Indus Waters Treaty was a historic correction done by the Narendra Modi as an immediate diplomatic strike against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year. He said that the Treaty survived three major wars in the country, but the Centre decided that water and blood cannot flow together. Recommended Stories When the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, even after that, the country fought 3 big wars 1965, 1971, and 1999. Pakistan was the aggressor in all three wars. Even then, the country could not suspend the IWT. After the Pahalgam terror attack, the Modi Cabinet took the decision that water and blood cannot flow together, terror and talks cannot be held together," Sinha said while addressing an event. Termination of Indus Waters Treaty was a historic correction, and is a big boost for J&K," news agency PTI quoted him as saying. Earlier, he said that Pakistan has to face the consequences of its misdeeds against India. Pakistan is dependent on Indias water for its 16 million hectares of land cultivation. 237 million people are dependent on this treaty. In coming years, this will affect Pakistans economy. PM has said that Indian water will now help only India," news agency ANI quoted him as saying. In future, any terrorist act will be taken as a war on India. We are very close to achieving a terrorism-free J&K. The common Kashmiri is against this terrorism; Pakistan has killed many innocent Kashmiris," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A day after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, the government put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the Pahalgam attack. The operation went on for four days and was put on a pause only when Pakistan was brought on its knees and their DGMO requested a ceasefire on May 10. (With inputs from agencies) 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 Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 15:58 IST News india 'A Historic Correction': LG Manoj Sinha Says Indus Treaty Termination Boost For J&K Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... After Blood Money Rejection, Nimisha Priya Still Has 5 Possible Ways To Avoid Execution Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:50 IST India is offering Nimisha Priya free legal aid, consular access, and visa support, while sending experts to Yemen and applying diplomatic pressure via Iran and Gulf allies Originally scheduled to be hanged on July 16, Nimisha Priya's execution was postponed, and the next hearing is set for August 14. (News18 Hindi) In a major setback for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, the family of Yemeni murder victim Talal Abdo Mahdi has refused to accept blood money, demanding the death penalty instead. Nimisha Priyas case dates back to 2017 and has since progressed through the local court and Yemens Supreme Court, both of which upheld her death sentence. Originally scheduled to be hanged on July 16, the execution was postponed, and the next hearing is set for August 14. Efforts to secure blood money compensation continue, but with limited alternatives available, the situation remains dire. Recommended Stories What Are Nimisha Priyas Options? Under Yemeni Sharia law, one prominent way to avert the death penalty is through blood money. However, with the victims familys refusal, Nimisha Priya is now exploring other options: Presidential Pardon: The President of Yemen holds the constitutional power to grant pardons in such cases under special circumstances, although this is rare and often requires strong political, religious, or humanitarian arguments. The Indian government is actively pursuing this route through diplomatic pressure and humanitarian appeals. Legal Appeal: If a technical error in the legal process or evidence is discovered, a review petition can be filed in the appeal court, potentially overturning the case. The case can still be overturned through an appeal if it is proven that Nimisha acted in self-defense. In her case, it can be strongly argued that Mahdi, her local clinic partner in Yemen, was severely harassing and torturing her, leading to a decline in her mental health. Despite reporting the abuse to the police, she received no support. If it is established that the killing was not intentional but an act of self-defense, it could save her from the death penalty. Diplomatic And International Intervention: High-level talks between the Indian government and the Houthi government of Yemen, leveraging humanitarian grounds, are ongoing. Assistance from international bodies like the United Nations and the International Red Cross may also be sought, though success hinges on the Houthi rebels flexibility. Public And Media Pressure: Garnering widespread international support could exert pressure on the Houthi rebels and push the Yemen government or the victims family towards a resolution. Commutation Of Sentence: As a last resort, if blood money is rejected and the possibility of pardon is ruled out, efforts could focus on commuting the death penalty to life imprisonment. This would require robust humanitarian, medical, or diplomatic arguments. The Indian government is reportedly serious about this approach and has initiated diplomatic channels. What The Indian Government Is Doing The Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy are providing Nimisha Priya with legal assistance, visa support, and consular visits at no cost. A team, including legal experts and Sharia scholars, is being sent to Yemen. Additionally, diplomatic pressure is being applied through friendly countries in Iran and the Gulf. How Much Influence Does India Have On The Houthis? The Indian governments influence on the Houthi rebels is limited and indirect, but certain strategic and diplomatic channels still offer scope for dialogue or pressure. The Houthis, a Shia Zaydi rebel group, control large parts of northern and western Yemen and function as the de facto government in those areas. They are widely believed to be backed by Iran. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Can Iran Help? Given Irans strong influence over the Houthi rebels, its possible that India could leverage its cordial ties with Tehran to open a diplomatic channel and seek a resolution. However, it remains uncertain whether Iran views this as a priority issue and would be willing to intervene on Indias behalf. Location : Yemen First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:50 IST News india After Blood Money Rejection, Nimisha Priya Still Has 5 Possible Ways To Avoid Execution Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Army To Bear Education Expense Of Boy Who Gave Meals To Troops During Op Sindoor Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:13 IST India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam. Nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir were targeted in the operation. The ten-year-old had earlier said in May that he wants to become a 'fauji'. (Credits: IANS) The Indian Army will bear the education expense of a ten-year-old boy who supplied meals to the troops during Operation Sindoor in a Punjab village. Recommended Stories As the soldiers fought with the Pakistan Army, exchanging fire, Shvan Singh brought them water, ice, tea, milk, and lassi. Acknowledging the spirit and courage of the ten-year-old, the Indian Armys Golden Arrow Division has said it will sponsor Shvans education. On Saturday, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, also felicitated the boy during an event at Ferozepur Cantonment. The army stated that the story of Shavn serves as a reminder of the quiet heroes" across the country who deserve recognition and support. ALSO READ: 3 Apache Helicopters On Their Way To Jodhpur, Indian Army Induction Likely By July 22: Sources Earlier in May, Shavn, who hails from the Mamdot area of the Ferozepur district, said that he wants to join the Indian Army on growing up. I want to become a fauji when I grow up. I want to serve the country," he had said. His father had also spoken proudly about his son. We are proud of him. Even soldiers loved him." He said the class 4 student supplied the ration on his own without anyone asking him to do it. About Operation Sindoor India targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor. It was carried out on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead on April 22. Meanwhile, Pakistan launched an offensive against Indian military bases and resorted to shelling the border areas for the next three days following the operation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all First Published: July 21, 2025, 06:58 IST News india Army To Bear Education Expense Of Boy Who Gave Meals To Troops During Op Sindoor Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Bihar Electoral Roll Revision: 4% Coverage Left, Missing Voter Count Touches 44 Lakh Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 19:21 IST Bihar's SIR: Of the 43.92 lakh missing voters, 16.55 lakh are reported dead, 19.75 lakh have permanently shifted and 7.50 lakh were enrolled at multiple places A Booth Level Officer (BLO) hands over an enumeration form to an elderly voter as part of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. (PTI/X) With the deadline for the special intensive revision (SIR) ending on Friday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has almost finished the form collection stage with only four per cent forms left, the poll body announced on Monday. The ECI also said that the number of electors not found at their addresses so far has reached 43.92 lakh. Recommended Stories Of the 43.92 lakh missing voters, 16.55 lakh are reported dead, 19.75 lakh have permanently shifted and 7.50 lakh were enrolled at multiple places. A total of 11,484 voters are not traceable as of date. Out of the 7.90 crore total registered electors as on June 24 in Bihar, the poll body has collected enumeration forms from 7.16 crore, including 7.08 crore digitised forms. The poll body said 96.23% voters have been covered under the SIR drive, with forms pending for just 29.62 lakh voters. The ECI will publish the draft electoral roll on August 1 and for appearing in the list, voters need to submit the forms by July 25. From August 1, any member of the public can file objections for any additions, deletions or rectification in the draft electoral rolls, in accordance with the SIR order dated June 24. This objection window will remain open for a month. The ECI said that the poll officials have held meetings with the representatives of all political parties and have shared detailed lists of the 29.62 lakh electors with pending forms and 43.92 lakh missing voters. All the 12 major political parties have also been requested to connect with these remaining electors, through their District Presidents and nearly 1.5 lakh BLAs," the ECI said. This is to ensure that the entire election machinery, including the political parties, works together in a mission mode so that no eligible elector is left out from the draft Electoral Roll to be published on August 1, they added. All polling stations to have less than 1,200 electors The ECI announced that Bihar is the first Indian state to have all polling stations (PS) with less than 1,200 electors. A total of 12,817 new polling stations have been added in Bihar to prevent long queues at the polling stations. As per Bihar SIR order dated June 24, the earlier ceiling of 1,500 electors/PS had been revised to 1,200 electors/PS," the ECI said quoting the June 24 order. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The total number of PS in Bihar will go up to 90,712 from the earlier 77,895. This major achievement of Bihar is to be followed by other States/UTs," the ECI assured. The SIR drive is seen as a crucial step toward cleaning and strengthening Bihars electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 19:15 IST News india Bihar Electoral Roll Revision: 4% Coverage Left, Missing Voter Count Touches 44 Lakh Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Still A Judge': CJI Gavai Raps Advocate For Not Saying 'Justice' Yashwant Varma Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:35 IST CJI BR Gavai reprimanded advocate Mathews J Nedumpara for referring to Justice Yashwant Varma as only 'Varma' amid a case seeking an FIR against him. Justice Yashwant Varma (Image: X) Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Monday objected to advocate Mathews J Nedumpara addressing Justice Yashwant Varma, who is caught up in the controversy related to the discovery of cash notes at his official residence, as only Varma". CJI Gavai argued that Justice Varma was still a judge of the High Court, and that he had to be addressed as a Justice." Recommended Stories The development came after Nedumpara mentioned an urgent listing writ petition, seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Justice Varma. This is the third writ petition," Nedumpara said. You want it to be dismissed right now?" CJI Gavai asked in response. It is impossible to be dismissed. FIR has to be registered. Now Varma seems to be asking for that only. There has to be an FIR, an investigation," Nedumpara responded, referring to the writ petition filed by Justice Varma himself challenging the in-house proceedings. Is he your friend? He is still Justice Verma. How do you address him? Have some decorum. You are referring to a learned judge. He is still a judge of the court," CJI Gavai said, as he corrected Nedumpara. I dont think that greatness can apply to him. Matter has to be listed," Nedumpara responded. Dont dictate to the court," CJI Gavai shot back. In March this year, Nedumpara had filed a first writ petition, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court the same month, observing that the in-house inquiry proceedings were going on. He later filed another writ petition, after the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna forwarded the in-house inquiry report to the President and the Prime Minister. In May, the Supreme Court disposed of the said writ petition, asking Nedumpara to first approach the central government authorities for the FIR. A fire incident at Justice Varmas Lutyens Delhi residence in March, when he was a judge of the Delhi High Court, had led to the discovery of sacks of half-burnt cash in the outhouse. Justice Varma was subsequently repatriated to the Allahabad High Court, but no judicial work was assigned to him. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Though Justice Varma denied any wrongdoing, the inquiry panel has concluded that the judge and his family members had covert or active control over the storeroom, where the cash was found, proving his misconduct serious enough to seek his removal. ALSO READ | Unified Stand Of Parliament: Kiren Rijiju On Impeachment Motion Against Justice Varma About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:32 IST News india 'Still A Judge': CJI Gavai Raps Advocate For Not Saying 'Justice' Yashwant Varma Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Attempt To Twist Narrative': Poll Body Questions Pleas Against Bihar SIR In Supreme Court Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 21:18 IST The Election Commission of India defended the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, arguing in the Supreme Court that the petitions are premature and unreliable. The special revision is part of the ECs broader effort to ensure accuracy in the electoral rolls ahead of the elections to be held later this year. File pic/News18 The Election Commission of India on Monday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, which is hearing pleas challenging the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of upcoming state assembly elections. The poll body reiterated its objection to the maintainability of the writ petition and these petitions are premature and would not deserve any further consideration by the court. Recommended Stories It said that petitions were filed on the basis of newspaper articles and columns, and do not constitute reliable evidence on the facts stated there. A deliberate attempt has been made to twist the narrative against the SIR exercise and portray the Respondent in poor light." Most of the figures quoted by the Petitioners are dated and not contemporary. Full reports have not been annexed, the Petitioners have deliberately suppressed the fact that these reports do not present contemporary facts and figures, and thus cannot be relied upon," the Election Commission said. During the hearing on pleas against the SIR on July 10, the Supreme Court refused to stay the Election Commissions revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. However, the apex court asked the poll body to consider if Aadhaar, Voter ID and Ration Card can be included in the list of documents for verification during the SIR. The poll body said some of the Petitioners are MPs and MLAs from recognised political parties in the State of Bihar, and all these political parties are assisting in the SIR exercise by providing Booth Level Agents (BLAs). While some of the Petitioners are participating in the SIR and, at the same time, objecting here to the transparent exercise conducted by the ECI. These facts were within the knowledge of Petitioners but not disclosed before this Court, and have been deliberately suppressed." All political parties had appreciated the necessity and correctness of the exercise undertaken by the ECl and have been cooperating and participating towards the timely completion of the said exercise, it added. The EC further said that under the SIR exercise, the citizenship of an individual will not terminate on account of the fact that he/she is held ineligible for registration in the electoral rolls. For purposes of ensuring that an individual who claims a right to be entered in the electoral rolls is a citizen of India, the ERO is competent to issue a notice to the individual and require him to demonstrate his eligibility in terms The EC said that the contention that SIR is violative of Article 326 since the declaration form requires citizenship details is erroneous and misleading". The EC said there is no violation as no person is being discriminated against on the basis of race, caste, religion, or sex, nor is there unequal treatment given to persons otherwise equal and seeking to be enrolled. Persons whose names feature in the 2003 Electoral Roll have already undergone scrutiny through the previous intensive revision and remained an elector since then, and thus do not constitute the same class of persons whose names feature in the Electoral Roll of January top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 2025. Thus, no claim of violation of Article 14 can be made out. Each and every existing elector, other than migrants who are temporarily absent from the State of Bihar, is provided with their pre-filled Enumeration Forms at their homes, by BLOs, in person. Each and every existing elector has the same opportunity to provide all documents, including proof of eligibility to the BIO at their place of residence. No elector is put through any hardship in comparison to the persons mentioned above," read the affidavit. About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 21:13 IST News india 'Attempt To Twist Narrative': Poll Body Questions Pleas Against Bihar SIR In Supreme Court Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Google, Meta Given Fresh Summons After They Fail To Depose Before ED In Illegal Betting Apps Case Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 16:53 IST Official sources said the Enforcement Directorate has asked Google and Meta executives to appear before it on July 28 Google and Meta executives have been given a one-week extension and asked to depose on July 28. (Image for representation: AFP) Google and Meta were given fresh summons on Monday after the tech giants failed to depose before the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to promotion of illegal" online betting and gambling platforms. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now asked representatives of the companies to appear before it on July 28, official sources said. Recommended Stories According to the sources, it is understood that representatives of the two companies sought deferment of the July 21 summons, saying they need time to collect relevant information and documents before they present themselves for questioning and recording of their statements at the ED. The sources said the executives have been given a one-week extension and asked to depose on July 28. Once they do, their statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. There was no immediate response from the two companies. The ED is probing multiple platforms hosting illegal betting and gambling links, including instances of advertisements placed for them on various internet-based social media outlets and app stores. Google and Meta are understood to have been called by the ED to understand how such illegal platforms can place advertisements on their social media and communication links. Some actors, celebrities and sportspersons are also under the scanner of the agency in these cases, and they are also expected to depose before the ED. The ED has said illegal online betting and gambling platforms were cheating innocent people of their hard-earned money, and also laundering and evading taxes worth crores of rupees. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It is investigating more than a dozen big cases linked to illegal gambling and betting platforms across the country, including the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) app whose main promoters hail from Chhattisgarh. (With PTI inputs) 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 16:53 IST News india Google, Meta Given Fresh Summons After They Fail To Depose Before ED In Illegal Betting Apps Case Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Priyadarshinis Killer Was In Open Jail, How Can He Seek Release? Hemant Mattoo Speaks To News18 Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 07:00 IST Priyadarshini Mattoos brother Hemant expressed shock over leniency shown towards convict Santosh Singh, who has benefited from a reduced sentence and an open jail arrangement Santosh Singh, the convict in the rape and murder of Priyadarshini Mattoo. (File) In a deeply emotional and revealing conversation, Hemant Mattoo, brother of Priyadarshini Mattoo, shared his thoughts on the July 1 Delhi High Court directive to reconsider the rejection of a sentence review plea filed by Santosh Kumar Singh the man convicted of raping and murdering Priyadarshini in 1996. This isnt the first time the review board has rejected his plea. Hemant expressed his shock and disappointment over the legal leniency shown toward the convict, who has already benefited from a reduced sentence and an open jail arrangement. He strongly questioned the justice systems idea of reformation", emphasising the complete absence of remorse or acknowledgment from Singh or his family. Recommended Stories Hemant also opened up about the immense personal loss his family suffered due to the crime, saying that his father, mother and sister died prematurely" because of the crime committed by Singh. Edited excerpts: What was your first reaction when you heard the judgment on July 1? I was stunned and very disappointed. I couldnt believe that he received some leniency. The Supreme Court had already commuted his sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment. At that time, the impression was that life imprisonment" would mean decades in prison. Since then, I have been following the case closelyespecially alongside my father until he passed away in 2016. After the 2008 High Court judgment that convicted him, he was in prison. But after a few years, he was shifted to an open jail where he could leave during the day and return in the evening. What is your concern now? My concern is that he hasnt fully served the punishment he was supposed to. Considering the gravity of the crime and his past behaviour, its very concerning that he is getting leniency. Has he ever reached out? Has he ever shown remorse or contacted us? Did he or his family ever try to apologise? Never. Neither he nor his family has ever approached my parents or me to say even a single word acknowledging our suffering. I dont know what reformation" means in the justice system if theres no remorse, no apology, no acknowledgment. What has he done in jail that merits release? The lower court acquitted him, then the High Court convicted him in a strongly worded order, and the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment. Do you think the Indian judicial system helped you get justice? To some extent, yesuntil the High Court stage. The High Court took cognisance of the gravity of the case, his pattern of harassment and stalking, and the influence his father had on the police and other departments. The trial court didnt rely on circumstantial evidence and let him go. But the High Court did, and we were satisfied at that point. However, we were disappointed with the lower court earlier and even with the Supreme Court when it commuted his death sentence. Do you think this is a complete judicial process, and should he be given a chance to reform and live in society or you think he would be dangerous for society? I cant predict if he will be dangerous, but Ive never met him or spoken to him. What I know is he hasnt served the punishment he was supposed to. Hes a manipulative personhe was manipulating the system before the crime, after the crime, and even during the sentence. How many convicts are allowed into open jails? He hasnt even completed his life sentence. The recent order talks about of reformation". Whats your view? To me, reformation would mean that he or his family would come and acknowledge the pain caused to my family. My parents were alive till 2020. No one came forward. They act as if what happened was justified or irrelevant. Theres no remorse. They act like they can bend the system however they want. Weve been shown from the beginning that they simply dont care. Hypothetically, if he or his family came and sincerely apologised, would you be able to accept his premature release? I dont think so. This has gone too far. One incident destroyed my family. My father died prematurely. My mother passed away prematurely. My other sister also passed away. Three family members gone because of that one incident. I can never forgive him. He should have been hanged. Can you tell us about the challenges your family faced during this long legal journey? My father was the one who pursued the case. He faced huge challenges with the CBIone day they would say something encouraging, the next day something disappointing. My father believed Singhs father, then an IPS officer, was influencing the investigation. The CBIs stance kept shifting, probably under pressure. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Will you challenge the premature release if it happens? We are already doing that. Through friends and legal acquaintances in Delhi, we are submitting written responses to both the Delhi and Central governments. We are asking them to consider the case background, public sentiment, his dangerous behavioural pattern, and the high risk of repeat offending. He has never shown remorsehe may even come out with a revengeful mindset. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:00 IST News india Priyadarshinis Killer Was In Open Jail, How Can He Seek Release? Hemant Mattoo Speaks To News18 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Heavy Rain Batters Himachal: Orange Alert Issued For 7 Districts, MandiManali NH Blocked Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:16 IST The weather department has also issued flash floods warning for the Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts. Himachal Weather: Orange alert has been issued for Mandi, Solan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Sirmaur (PTI image used for representation) Heavy rain triggered landslides in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday night, leading to the closure of the MandiManali National Highway. The landslides have blocked a four-mile stretch of the MandiKullu section of the National Highway, including the area near Hotel Moon, bringing all vehicular traffic to a standstill. Recommended Stories The authorities have asked travellers to use the KattoulaKatindi route to travel from Mandi toward Kullu. Orange Alert Issued For Seven Districts The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for seven Himachal districts, including Mandi, Solan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Sirmaur. These areas have already been witnessing heavy downpours since last night, and the Meteorological Department has warned of continuous rain for the next five days across the state. According to the weather department, flash floods are likely to occur at isolated places in the Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts, said IMD. Light to moderate rain likely at many places, accompanied with light thunderstorms/lightning at isolated places and one or two spells of intense rain in Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts," said IMD. It also predicted light to moderate rain accompanied with light thunderstorm/lightning likely at isolated places in Lahaul-Spiti, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla and Kinnaur districts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Location : Himachal Pradesh, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 08:14 IST News india Heavy Rain Batters Himachal: Orange Alert Issued For 7 Districts, MandiManali NH Blocked Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'If Something Wrong Is Found...': Supreme Court Takes Note Of IIT, Sharda University Suicides Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 13:55 IST The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of student suicides at IIT Kharagpur and Sharda University, and warned of contempt proceedings if wrongdoing is found. Greater Noida: Congress activists raise slogans during a protest after a second-year student of Sharda University hanged herself in her hostel (Photo: PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday initiated suo motu proceedings of the recent student suicides reported at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and Sharda University. The Supreme Court also warned of initiating contempt proceedings if any wrongdoing or institutional failure is discovered during the probe in both cases. Recommended Stories The court appointed senior advocate Aparna Bhat as amicus curiae to assist in the matter. THE IIT KHARAGPUR STUDENT SUICIDE CASE A fourth-year B Tech student was found hanging in his hostel room on the IIT Kharagpur campus on July 18. Ritam Mondal (21), was a mechanical engineering student. The student, who hailed from Kolkata, had retired to his room after dinner on the night of July 17, and there was no abnormality in his behaviour, news agency PTI quoted one of his hostel mates as saying. The IIT KGP official said that, as repeated knocks on his door did not evoke any response, in the morning, police at the outpost on the campus, accompanied by institute security guards, broke open the door and found him hanging. A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by the institute, and an investigation was ongoing. THE SHARDA UNIVERSITY STUDENT SUICIDE CASE A second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student at Sharda University died by suicide in her hostel room on July 18. The student, a resident of Gurugram, Haryana, allegedly ended her life after facing sustained mental harassment from faculty members. The woman was discovered hanging in her hostel accommodation on the universitys Knowledge Park campus. A handwritten suicide note found in her room explicitly blamed two faculty members, identified as Mahender Sir and Shairg Maam, for causing her emotional distress and pushing her to take the extreme step. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A forensic team and senior police officials conducted a detailed investigation at the spot and collected evidence from the room. ALSO READ | Congress Student Leader Arrested For Allegedly Drugging, Raping 19-Year-Old In Odisha About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:26 IST News india 'If Something Wrong Is Found...': Supreme Court Takes Note Of IIT, Sharda University Suicides Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns As Vice President Of India To 'Prioritise Health Care' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 22:56 IST Dhankhar assumed the office of the Vice President of India in August 2022. He was admitted to AIIMS-Delhi for four days in March this year following cardiac-related ailments A formal election to fill the vacancy of the Vice President must be held within 60 days of the resignation.(Image: PTI/File) Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday resigned as the Vice President of India, citing health reasons. In his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, he stated: To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution." Recommended Stories 74-year-old Dhankhar said it has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in Indias remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nations history has been a true honour, he said. Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns: Whats Next, Wholl Chair Rajya Sabha, When Is The Next VP Election? Dhankhar assumed the office of the Vice President of India in August 2022. He was admitted to AIIMS-Delhi for four days in March this year following cardiac-related ailments. The Vice President also expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers. Prime Ministers cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office," he said. Dhankhar said that the warmth, trust and affection he has received from all the Members of Parliament would ever be cherished and embedded in his memory. Sources speaking to News18 said the Vice President arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan on short notice, without any prior appointment, and submitted his resignation to the President in the evening. Dhankhar presided over the Rajya Sabha as the Chairman on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament and addressed the House at length over the impeachment of High Court judge Yashwant Sinha. What Happens Now? A formal election to fill the vacancy of the Vice President must be held within 60 days of the resignation. The electorate comprises all members of both Houses of Parliament, using a proportional representation system via single transferable vote. As per the Constitution, in the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President, the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha steps in as the Acting Chairperson of the Upper House. Currently, that position is held by Harivansh Narayan Singh (appointed in August 2022), who will fulfil this role temporarily. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Born in 1951, Dhankhar was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha from Jhunjhunu Parliamentary Constituency in 1989. He also served as Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. Later, he got elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Kishangarh Constituency in Ajmer district in 1993-1998. Dhankhar also served as Governor of West Bengal from 30 July 2019 to 18 July 2022. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 First Published: July 21, 2025, 21:29 IST News india Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns As Vice President Of India To 'Prioritise Health Care' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... The News in Brief Monday, July 21, 2025 Elene Khoshtaria, a leader of the Coalition for Change, has called for the rejection of upcoming local elections in Georgia, labeling them a "legitimization spectacle" and urging both political actors and civil society to unite in a broader fight to dismantle what she described as a Russian-style regime.Speaking to Interpressnews during a protest held under the slogan "No to Russian Elections," Khoshtaria said the goal is to delegitimize the political system and push for truly free elections."Today we are seeing a loud statement from the political class, civil society, and our citizens - our main task is to delegitimize the system, dismantle it, and achieve truly free elections through this path," she said.Khoshtaria emphasized the importance of political unity and a principled refusal to cooperate with the current authorities. "The fight that will bring results depends, first and foremost, on the principled stance of the political class - to not cooperate with the regime and not grant it legitimacy."She also called for broad civic engagement to support political efforts. "Protest is extremely important - and it must build upon this principled political position, including through a strong, broad-based civic protest," she stated.Khoshtaria warned that Georgia risks losing past democratic gains and further drifting away from Europe. "We don't have much time left. what has only been preserved is thanks to the people's struggle. Otherwise, no one recognizes this government. That's why we must actively fight for the dismantling of the system," she said.Eight opposition parties that have pledged to boycott Georgia's October 4 local elections announced plans to organize "members of resistance" throughout the country to expand political mobilization at the local level.The announcement was made at a rally in front of the Parliament, where Levan Tsutskiridze, leader of the Freedom Square movement, read a joint statement on behalf of the parties. The goal, he said, is to "spread the political struggle in every city and village."The opposition parties accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of orchestrating what they call a "Russian special operation" disguised as elections."We, the 8 pro-Western forces, will not become accomplices of the regime in deceiving the citizens of Georgia," the statement read. "We will not participate in the Russian special operation of October 4."The parties said they will continue to pursue international isolation of the Georgian government, and push for a complete systemic reset of the country's political order. They reiterated their demand for free and fair parliamentary elections as the only legitimate political process.According to the statement, the parties have already taken steps including refusing parliamentary mandates and boycotting the recent investigative commission. They argue that peaceful resistance and non-cooperation are key strategies for dismantling what they call a "criminal regime.""In order for change to occur and bring results that will return us to the historical path, a systemic reset of Georgian politics is vital," the statement reads. Jagdeep Dhankhars 10 Sharpest Quotes That Stirred The Opposition Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 22:48 IST Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as Vice President of India due to health reasons. His tenure saw controversies and clashes with the Opposition. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar conducts proceedings in the House during the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi on July 21. (Image: Sansad TV/PTI) Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday resigned from his post as Vice President of India, citing health reasons and medical advice. This comes after he chaired the Rajya Sabhas first Monsoon session. In his resignation letter, Dhankhar expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Union Cabinet of Ministers. Jagdeep Dhankhar, born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana village, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, has traversed a remarkable path, rising from the Rajasthan Bar Council to become the Vice President of India. Recommended Stories Dhankhar was sworn in as Indias Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson in August 2022. His tenure began on a controversial note during the Winter Session of Parliament later that year, setting the stage for ongoing controversy surrounding his role as the Upper Houses leader. The relations between Dhankhar and the Opposition hit a low during the Parliaments Winter Session in 2023, when at least 146 MPs were suspended from both Houses during a protest demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Parliament security breach. Here are 10 instances when Dhankhars statement riled the opposition: In 2022, Dhankhar ignited a political controversy early in his term by criticising the Supreme Courts 2015 verdict that struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act. He described the judgment as a glaring instance" of severe compromise" of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the mandate of the people." Dhankhar, in his maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the winter session of Parliament on December 7, 2022, said, There is no parallel to such a development in democratic history where a duly legitimised constitutional prescription has been judicially undone. A glaring instance of severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the mandate of the people, of which this house and the Lok Sabha are custodians." In December 2022, Dhankhar said that Congress leader Sonia Gandhis statement that the government was trying to delegitimise the judiciary" was severely inappropriate and showed lack of faith in democracy." The observations are severely inappropriate, indicating a lack of faith in democracy, making this exceptional response unavoidable," he said. In December 2023, Dhankhar defended the suspension of several Upper House members, citing their extreme misconduct" and stating that the action was unavoidable." He emphasised that he had taken strong action to protect the temple of democracy" from sacrilege." In a letter to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Dhankhar voiced his anguish over the widespread perception of politicisation" of the issue of security breach in Parliament on December 13 instead of the display of collective concern" on the incident. In February 2024, Dhankhar criticised Congress MP Jairam Ramesh for his remarks against RLD chief Jayant Singh, stating that Rameshs behaviour was unbecoming of a member of the Upper House. The controversy arose after Dhankhar allowed Jayant Singh to speak about his grandfather, former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, being honoured with the Bharat Ratna, prompting protests from Congress members and a heated debate in the House. In March 2024, Dhankhar seemingly targeted the opposition, stating that individuals who once believed themselves to be above the law are now being held accountable, noting that some people take to the streets when legal action is initiated against them. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His remarks came before a rally by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protesting the alleged misuse of central agencies by the ruling BJP and the arrest of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal by the ED in a money laundering case related to the excise policy controversy. In July 2024, Dhankhar strongly criticised Congress leader P Chidambarams comments on the new criminal laws, calling them highly insulting" to Members of Parliament. During an event at the Indian Institute of Space and Technology, Dhankhar condemned Chidambarams remarks as derogatory, defamatory, and highly insulting" towards lawmakers. In July, Dhankhar criticised opposition MPs for walking out of the House while PM Narendra Modi was speaking, calling it a dangerous precedent." He expressed disappointment, stating that the opposition members had compromised their dignity and insulted the Constitution, rather than showing respect to him. The MPs walked out after Dhankhar initially refused Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, to intervene as Modi spoke. In June, Mallikarjun Kharge entered the Well of Rajya Sabha during a protest over paper leaks, prompting strong criticism from Jagdeep Dhankhar. Dhankhar condemned the action as unprecedented for someone in Kharges position and described it as a stain" on Parliament. In July 2024, Dhankhar revealed that he had been an admirer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the past 25 years, likening himself to Ekalavya," a devoted disciple. He praised the RSS, the ideological parent organisation of the BJP, and expressed regret for not joining it sooner. In September 2024, Dhankhar seemingly criticised Lok Sabhas LoP, Rahul Gandhi, stating that nothing is more reprehensible than someone in a constitutional position aligning with those who are enemies of the nation". This comes after Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to the United States in September, spoke of the condition of politics in India and said love, respect and humility" were missing. First Published: July 21, 2025, 22:38 IST News india Jagdeep Dhankhars 10 Sharpest Quotes That Stirred The Opposition Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:57 IST Shukla was among the four crew members who flew aboard SpaceX Dragon on June 25, leading Axiom Spaces fourth private spaceflight in collaboration with ISRO, NASA, as well as European Space Agency (ESA). Pic/ISRO All I need is just one tight hug" These heartfelt words from Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, seem enough to describe the emotion building quietly inside a modest home in Lucknow. After spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and nearly 35 days in post-mission rehabilitation in the US, Shubhanshu is expected to return to India on August 17. Recommended Stories Hes still in America Its been a year since I hugged him," his father told News18, his voice filled with anticipation. Shubhanshu, who was part of the international Axiom Mission 4, launched on June 25 and docked with the ISS the next day. His return capsule splashed down safely off the California coast on July 15. But the return to Earth is not the same as a return to life. He is still re-learning to walk, move, and function as his body adapts back to Earths gravity. Hes learning to walk again Walking is still a struggle," said his father. Every day, he practices for three to four hours. He has to walk slowly, and he gets dizzy if he overdoes it. Doctors say it will take 8 to 10 more days before hes fully recovered," his father said. Extended exposure to microgravity can weaken bones and muscles, disrupt balance, and alter cardiovascular function. Shubhanshu has been undergoing daily physiotherapy under medical supervision. In a recent social media post too, he wrote: Learning to walk again" Just as your body changes when you go into space, it changes again when you come back. Even walking straight becomes difficult. Balance weakens. These effects cause mental stress too but theyre all temporary. The body slowly finds its rhythm again," he wrote. A mother waits with food and emotion For his mother Asha Shukla, the countdown isnt to a landing capsule, but to the moment her son walks through the front door. He always says on video calls, Im fine, dont worry, but I can see the tiredness in his eyes. A mother knows," she said. To keep herself busy and hopeful she has taken refuge in her kitchen. Ive already started planning what to cook for him. His favourite dishes dal baati, kadhai paneer, matar pulao, kaju katli Im making everything. When he comes home, he shouldnt have to ask for anything," she said, with her eyes moist. Just watching him eat happily thats the moment Im living for," she said. A reunion that felt like home After landing, Shubhanshu briefly reunited with his wife Kamna and six-year-old son Kiaash in the US. Hugging Kamna and lifting Kiaash into his arms, he posted on Instagram: Space is magical. But reuniting with loved ones thats equally magical. When I hugged my family, it felt like I was truly home again." He urged others to cherish their own bonds: Find someone you love today and tell them. We often get too busy with life and forget how important our people are. Space missions are magical but its people who make them magical." Yoga in space a metaphor for balance A few days ago, Shubhanshu shared a video of himself performing yoga aboard the ISS. In the beginning, it was hard to stay still in microgravity. I just wanted to be centered, but even the tiniest movement would send me drifting," he wrote. Drawing parallels with daily life, he said, Staying still in space is an art just like finding peace in a fast-paced world. Sometimes, to run fast, you must first slow down." Homecoming: Lucknow or Bengaluru? Shubhanshu will land in India on August 17, though its not confirmed if he will directly come to Lucknow or stop first in Bengaluru, home to key Indian space institutions. If he doesnt come to Lucknow, well go to him," said his father. But I hope he walks through our front gate. Just one tight hug thats all I need," he added. The city waits for its hero But its not just the Shukla family counting down the days. Shubhanshus entire locality in Lucknow neighbours, childhood friends, schoolteachers is buzzing with excitement. Streets where he once cycled to school are now draped in tricolour buntings. Children carry tiny flags, and families discuss plans to welcome their astronaut" with flowers, garlands, and dhols. Many residents in the area still remember the humble, soft-spoken boy who once dreamed of space. Hes not just their son any more hes all of ours," said a local shopkeeper, adding, Weve never had anyone from here go that far, and now hes coming back." Even the city administration is considering a formal civic welcome, should he arrive in Lucknow. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all From the narrow lanes of his childhood to the vast silence of space, Shubhanshu Shuklas journey has come full circle. And as the countdown to August 17 continues, not just a family but an entire city waits to embrace their son, their astronaut, their pride. Maharashtra Signs 3 Pacts With Finland To Boost Youth Startups, Research, Training Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 03:27 IST Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced agreements with Finland and three partners to boost innovation, providing global exposure, training, and opportunities Before the MoUs were signed, a special workshop on 'Viksit Maharashtra Vision 2047' was held to outline how such global tie-ups will help transform the states economic landscape in the next two decades. (Image: News18) In a significant move toward transforming Maharashtra into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, the states skill development, employment and innovation minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced a series of crucial pacts with Finland and three other international partners. Signed on Monday in Mumbai, these agreements are expected to provide Maharashtras young entrepreneurs with global exposure and opportunities. The Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS), operating under the skill development department, inked the pacts with the Government of Finland, Global Access to Talent from India (GATI), Magic Billion, and Charcos Enterprises. These aim to create better avenues for placements, research, investments, and high-end training for the states youth. Recommended Stories Dr Eva Nilsson, ambassador of Finland to India, attended the signing ceremony along with senior officials including additional chief secretary Manisha Verma, MSInS Additional CEO Aman Mittal, vice chancellor of Ratan Tata Skill University Apoorva Palkar, and director of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training Madhavi Sardesai. Lodha highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, stressing on Maharashtras leading role. These agreements reflect the power of public-private partnerships (PPP) in skilling and innovation. This is not just paperwork its a doorway for Maharashtras youth to gain global knowledge, skills, and the confidence to build world-class startups," Lodha said. Under the agreements, both countries will work together to create more opportunities for startups, establish advanced training centres in Maharashtra using Finnish expertise, and jointly host startup summits, job fairs, and research exchange programmes. Special emphasis will be placed on technology transfer and industrial research, ensuring that startups can expand globally. Nilsson commended Maharashtras proactive approach and expressed confidence in the partnership. This collaboration will create new opportunities for startups and enable stronger knowledge exchange," the ambassador said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Verma said this is a significant milestone in Maharashtras Vision 2047. Our startups will now have a chance to make a mark globally and inspire other entrepreneurs to dream big," the official said. Before the agreements were signed, a special workshop on Viksit Maharashtra Vision 2047 was conducted to outline how such global partnerships will help transform the states economic landscape over the next two decades. 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 First Published: July 22, 2025, 03:27 IST News india Maharashtra Signs 3 Pacts With Finland To Boost Youth Startups, Research, Training Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... News18 Evening Digest: Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash, Mumbai Rains, Pakistan 'Honour' Killing & More Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 17:07 IST We are also covering: Nine Show-Cause Notices Issued To Air India In Last 6 Months Over Safety Violations, Says Government. Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash In todays evening digest, News18 brings you the latest update on Bangladesh plane crash that left 19 dead and over 100 injured, show cause notices to Air India, honour killing in Pakistan that caused major stir in the country and other top stories. Bangladesh Plane Crash: 19 Killed, Over 100 Injured After China-Made Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School Recommended Stories A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed into a school campus in northern Dhakas Uttara on Monday shortly after takeoff, killing at least 19 people while leaving over 100 injured, local media reported. Read More Air India Flight From Kochi Skids Off Runway While Landing In Mumbai, Aircraft Suffers Damage A major tragedy was averted after an Air India flight from Kochi suffered a runway excursion while landing at the Mumbai airport on Monday. The aircraft suffered damage in the incident. According to an official statement by the airline, the incident happened amid heavy rain in the city and other parts of the state. Read more VS Achuthanandan, Former Kerala CM And Veteran CPI(M) Leader, Passes Away Veteran communist leader and former Kerala chief minister, VS Achuthanandan, passed away at 101 on Monday. He was admitted to a private hospital at Thiruvanthapuram. Velikakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, popularly known as VS, was a mass leader and crowd puller of the CPIM. Even in his 90s, he had campaigned extensively across the state for his party and candidates. Read more Pakistan Honour Killing: Couple Shot Dead For Marrying By Choice, Killers Film Act A disturbing video showing a young couple being shot dead in Pakistan is going viral. As per the authorities, this is a case of honor killing; the newlyweds were killed for marrying without familys approval. The video is being widely circulated and has caused an uproar in the country. Read more Nine Show-Cause Notices Issued To Air India In Last 6 Months Over Safety Violations: Govt A total of nine show-cause notices have been issued to Air India in connection with five identified safety violations in the last six months, the government informed the Parliament on Monday. Enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation, Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State in the Civil Aviation Ministry, said in a written reply. Read more Saiyaara Actor Ahaan Panday Broke Karan Johars Heart? Director Gets Emotional As He Reviews Film As Saiyaara continues to charm audiences and break records, Karan Johar has joined the long list of Bollywood celebrities praising the film but his reaction is one of the most emotional yet. The filmmaker revealed that the film moved him to tears, not just for its story but for what it represents: the return of epic love stories to the big screen. Read more top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Confirmed! Star India All-Rounder Out Of England Series The BCCI on Monday confirmed that star allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the five-match Test series against England, after he suffered an injury over the weekend, days ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, which is a do-or-die encounter for India. Read more 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 17:05 IST News india News18 Evening Digest: Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash, Mumbai Rains, Pakistan 'Honour' Killing & More Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Not Hunger, But Hate: Kolkata ISKCON VP On Man Eating Chicken At Groups Restaurant In London Curated By : News18.com Edited By: News Desk Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 07:37 IST Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON's Kolkata (West Bengal) chapter, said the act was not driven by hunger, but by hate calculated, deliberate, and shameless. Man eats meat inside ISKCON's pure veg eatery in London | Image: X The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Kolkata on Monday condemned the incident at its Govindas vegetarian restaurant in London, where a man entered and consumed meat on the premises, sparking massive outrage. Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCONs Kolkata (West Bengal) chapter, said the act was not driven by hunger, but by hate calculated, deliberate, and shameless." Recommended Stories Just yesterday in London, a man walked into ISKCONs Govindas restaurant a place of pure, sattvic food pulled out meat he had brought from outside, and ate it in front of the devotees, filming himself. This wasnt hunger. This was hate calculated, deliberate, and shameless," Das told CNN-News18. He further slammed the targeted hate crimes" against the group on foreign soil, including the firing of over 30 bullets at the ISKCON temple in Utah and the hurling of eggs at the sacred Rathayatra procession in Toronto. What kind of world are we living in where temples are shot at, sacred processions are mocked, and restaurants serving sanctified food are insulted and yet, not a word is spoken in protest?" Das said. He further said that such incidents are not isolated but part of a growing pattern of disrespect, mockery, and attacks against Hindu spaces and sentiments in countries previously considered safe. I appeal to all right-thinking people across religions and countries to stand up against this growing wave of anti-Hindu hate. Lets not wait for another temple to be shot at, another festival to be attacked, or another restaurant to be mocked. Lets act now" Meat Inside ISKCON Eatery A young man of African descent in the UK entered an ISKCON-run vegetarian restaurant in London and asked if meat was available. After being informed that only vegetarian food was served, he reportedly took out a box of chicken from KFC and began eating it inside the premises. He also offered the non-vegetarian food to staff and other diners, causing visible discomfort. Subsequently, restaurant staff called security and escorted him out due to his disruptive behaviour. Horrendous. This African-British youth entered into ISKCONs Govinda restaurant knowingly that its pure Veg restaurant asked if theres meat available, then pulled out his KFC box and not only ate chicken (chewed like a ), but also offered others working/eating in pic.twitter.com/TtPJz9Jg7m Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) July 19, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incident, captured on video, triggered widespread outrage online, with many calling it a deliberate act of disrespect toward religious beliefs. Some users accused the individual of racism or religious intolerance, while others stressed the need for greater cultural sensitivity in public spaces. First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:29 IST News india Not Hunger, But Hate: Kolkata ISKCON VP On Man Eating Chicken At Groups Restaurant In London Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Congress Student Leader Arrested For Allegedly Drugging, Raping 19-Year-Old In Odisha Reported By : Edited By: Anushka Vats Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:34 IST According to the complaint filed by the victim, she was sexually assaulted in a hotel room in March. News18 Udit Pradhan, the president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), has been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 19-year-old engineering student in Bhubaneswar. Hours after his arrest, he was suspended from the position of NSUI chief. Recommended Stories The arrest comes after a complaint was filed by the student. The victim, in her complaint alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted in a hotel room in March. She told police that Pradhan had invited her for dinner and offered a cold drink, which she believes was spiked. He will be produced in court on Monday afternoon. He has reportedly been booked under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 including Section 64(1), Section 123, Section 296, Section 74, Section 351(2). Based on the complaint submitted by the student, an FIR was registered at the Mancheswar Police Station and the accused was arrested on Sunday," said a senior officer. According to the official, the woman in her complaint also accused Pradhan of threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the alleged incident, the officer said. The accused has been booked under various provisions, including rape and criminal intimidation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 09:56 IST News india Congress Student Leader Arrested For Allegedly Drugging, Raping 19-Year-Old In Odisha Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Nutan Sharma Name, AI Turban Scene: Centre Proposes Six Edits To 'Udaipur Files' Before Release Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:47 IST A committee led by the Central government, formed after the Delhi High Court's July 10 order, proposed six changes to the film "Udaipur Files" before it can be released Follow us on: 'Udaipur Files' in legal trouble | Image: X A screening committee led by the Central government, formed after the Delhi High Courts July 10 order, proposed six changes to the film Udaipur Files" before it can be released for public or commercial viewing, according to an official statement. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accepted the report submitted by the committee on July 19 and directed the producers of the upcoming film to make specific changes as directed in the order. Recommended Stories The committee advised that all references to the character named Nutan Sharma" be removed and replaced with a different name. It recommended deleting specific dialogues linked to the character, including one mentioning religious texts: maine toh wohi kaha hai jo unke dharma grantho mein likha hai" Further, the panel recommended that the producers remove a particular AI-generated scene resembling a Saudi Arabian-style turban in the film, according to the statement. It also asked the makers to remove a couple of dialogues: Hafiz: baluchi kabhi vafadaar nahi hota" and Makbool: baluchi ki" and arre kya baluchi kya afghai kya Hindustani kya Pakistani" Another change suggested was to replace the current disclaimer with the recommended version and add a voice-over to accompany it. Also, the committee directed makers to remove the credit frames that express thanks to specific individuals. A committee meeting was held on July 16 to hear all concerned parties, including lawyers for the petitioner in the Delhi High Court case, representatives for Mohammed Jawed, and the filmmakers, along with their legal counsel. The film was screened before the committee on July 17. A representative from the Ministry of External Affairs was also invited to review the film from the perspective of international law and foreign relations. Another meeting took place on July 19 at 11:00 am, during which the CEO of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was heard. After reviewing all inputs, the committee submitted its report to the Ministry, which was approved by the competent authority. Udaipur Files is based on the 2022 killing of Udaipur-based tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The accused reportedly carried out the act in response to a social media post supporting former BJP leader Nupur Sharma. The case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency and is currently under trial in a special NIA court in Jaipur. view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:37 IST News india Nutan Sharma Name, AI Turban Scene: Centre Proposes Six Edits To 'Udaipur Files' Before Release Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy 'She Knocked, Screaming In Pain': Odisha Local Recalls How He Rescued Teen Set On Fire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 07:59 IST A local of Odisha's Balanga said the girl, who was set ablaze by unknown persons, knocked on his door screaming for help. With his wifes assistance, he doused the flames on her. Puri: BJD workers during a gherao at a police station in protest after a 15-year-old girl was set on fire by unidentified persons in the district (Photo: PTI) The 15-year-old girl, who was undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after three miscreants set her ablaze in Odishas Puri district, was airlifted to Delhi on Sunday. Meanwhile, the man who saved her life after she was abducted and set ablaze, recounted how she knocked on his door with cries of save me, save me". Recommended Stories Dukshishyam Senapati, a resident of Balanga village, told the police that he could not believe his eyes when he opened the door after hearing the knocks and the screams. The girl was on fire and screaming in pain," Senapati told DGP YB Khurania, who visited the spot. The DGP and his team were recreating the sequence of events that unfolded in the nondescript village on the morning of July 19. It was around 8.30 am when the girl knocked on my door, screaming," Senapati said. With the help of my wife, I doused the fire and gave her water as she was very thirsty. Later, the women of my family changed her clothes," he added. Senapati said he learnt that three unknown men had set her on fire after the girl told him so, as he had asked her about what had happened. She said she was walking back home after meeting a friend when she was picked up by three men who arrived on motorcycles," Senapati told the police. The faces of the three men were half-covered, and they took her to a place near the Bhargavi riverbank. She could not tell their names. She could only say that they covered her face with a handkerchief and poured some substance before setting her on fire," he said. I did not insist much because she was trembling," he told the DGP. Senapati said the girl had told him that the accused had tied her hands when they abducted her. But, when she reached my place, her hands were free," he said. The local also said that the survivor told him the name of her father and the village where she came from, following which he contacted her family. I could not speak much to her as a large number of people assembled at our house," he said. Senapati said he also ran out of his house to look for the men involved in the crime, but could not find them. The girl told me that they escaped immediately after setting her on fire. The attackers might have thought that she would die on the spot, but the brave girl ran away and reached our house," he said. He also told the DGP that the ambulance arrived at his house late, forcing him to find an auto rickshaw to take the girl to the hospital. The ambulance came at the same time when we were taking her to the auto rickshaw. The girl stayed around 90 minutes at our place," he said. Senapati said the incident triggered panic in the village. Our children are hesitant to go outside alone. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits," he added. Before being airlifted, the girl, with 75 per cent burns, was on oxygen support in the ICU at the Department of Burn Centre at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The patient was taken to Delhi after AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Ashutosh Biswas told reporters that the patients condition was stable, her blood pressure improved, and it was safe to transfer her. As the victim was able to speak, the police recorded her statement on Saturday, in the presence of a magistrate at the ICU, adding that her statement is vital for the investigation. News agency PTI quoted sources and said that the police, during the last 36 hours, had interrogated at least 10 people, including some women and the victims family members. Preliminary police investigation revealed that three motorcycle-borne youths intercepted the teenager, forcibly took her to the banks of Bhargavi River near Bayabar village in Balanga police station area, poured an inflammable substance on her, and set her on fire. The miscreants fled the spot after the incident, police said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Local people doused the fire and took her to Pipili government hospital, from where she was taken to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and on Sunday, to AIIMS, Delhi. ALSO READ | Odisha Cops Trace Woman Buying Petrol Amid Probe Into Balasore Students Death About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:56 IST News india 'She Knocked, Screaming In Pain': Odisha Local Recalls How He Rescued Teen Set On Fire Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Odisha Student Attempted Self-Immolation As Her Complaint Was 'Not Validated': Cops Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:51 IST The student reportedly faced sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) and took the extreme step after her formal complaint went unanswered. Odisha college student set herself on fire over sexual harassment by teacher | Image: X The Odisha Police Crime Branch, probing the self-immolation death case of the Balasore college student, said that the 20-year-old woman had set herself on fire as her complaint of sexual harassment was not validated" by an internal enquiry committee of the institute. According to Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra, sleuths noticed inconsistencies or contradictions in what the witnesses said about the case. Recommended Stories The college authorities had taken action on her complaint, and an internal inquiry was conducted. But the inquiry team did not validate her complaint. Her extreme step was a reaction to the non-validation of her plaint," the director general of the crime branch told reporters on Sunday. On July 12, the 20-year-old female student immolated herself and died on the night of July 14. She had reportedly faced sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) and took the extreme step after her formal complaint and repeated pleas for help to the college principal went unanswered. The case is being investigated by the branchs Crime Against Women & Children Wing (CAW&CW), which took over the case from Balasore district police and began a probe on July 17. We have found inconsistencies between statements of witnesses to the internal complaints committee and police, and their posts on social media. They have given different views and opinions before and after the incident. A thorough analysis of every statement is necessary, and it will take time. A proper analysis is needed against digital evidence to reach a conclusion," the DG said. Mishra further added that the crime branch will ensure that no innocent person is held responsible for the death of the college student. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier, the local police had arrested two persons, Sahoo and the principal of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College Dillip Ghose. (With inputs from PTI) Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 08:51 IST News india Odisha Student Attempted Self-Immolation As Her Complaint Was 'Not Validated': Cops Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Our MPs Led Successful Campaign To Expose Pakistan': PM Modi Hails All-Party Delegations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:23 IST PM Modi said that the brutal massacre in Pahalgam had shocked the entire world at that time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: BJP/X) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Pahalgam attack shocked the entire world. He also added that setting aside the political differences, the MPs from all parties travelled the world to convey Indias stand on terrorism. Recommended Stories The brutal massacre in Pahalgam had shocked the entire world at that time. In that critical moment, setting aside political differences, representatives from most political parties travelled abroad in the national interest," he said while addressing the media ahead of the monsoon session. The Prime Minister also added that the MPs together led a successful campaign to expose Pakistan the mastermind behind terrorism on the global stage. He commended all the MPs who contributed to this effort in the spirit of national unity." Following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, seven all-party delegations were dispatched to 33 countries to convey Indias stance on terrorism and explain the objectives behind Operation Sindoor. Leaders from various political parties, including Shashi Tharoor, Sanjay Kumar Jha, Baijayant Jay Panda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and others, travelled across the globe to build international support and underscore Indias commitment to combating terrorism. Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor, who led one of the delegations, also faced criticism from Congress, which expressed support for the government. Amid a growing rift with the Congress, senior leader K. Muraleedharan said Shashi Tharoor would not be invited to any party event in Thiruvananthapuram until he changes his stance on national security. Muraleedharan claimed Tharoor was no longer one of us." The remarks followed Tharoors statement in Kochi, where he said nation comes first," defending his support for the armed forces and central government after recent events. He added that calls for unity on national security are often seen as party disloyalty, but he would stand his ground." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all First Published: July 21, 2025, 10:53 IST News india 'Our MPs Led Successful Campaign To Expose Pakistan': PM Modi Hails All-Party Delegations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Is Sabotage Angle Being Probed In Air India Crash? Govt Replies In Parliament Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 20:46 IST The government was asked a question in the Parliament whether sabotage angle into the Air India-171 crash is being investigated. Air India crash: Govt replies if sabotage angle is being probed (PTI File Image) Making it clear that every aspect is being investigated in connection with the Air India-171 crash case, the government indicated in the Parliament on Monday that no angle has been ruled out yet, including that of sabotage. In a written reply given in the Rajya Sabha to an unstarred question raised by YSRCP MP Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy on the first day of the Parliament Monsoon Session, the government said that the probe is underway from all angles that may have led to the crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed 241 on board. Recommended Stories Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state (a status of investigation of AI 171 crashed in Ahmedabad by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau?; (b) whether the investigation is also looking at the angle of sabotage?" the question asked. Responding to the question, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, wrote, Every aspect is being looked into for determining the probable cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to the accident." Earlier on Monday, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the Rajya Sabha regarding the ongoing probe into the Air India crash and said that the exact reasons for the crash will be revealed in the final report. Responding to the questions surrounding the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureaus (AAIB) preliminary findings, Naidu said that the ongoing probe is being conducted in line with international aviation protocols. This report cant address all the questions. What AAIB has done is to address what happened. For definite answers, we should wait for the final report. AAIB is investigating the matter transparently," he said. He also noted that it was for the first time that the black box was decoded in India. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Minister slammed the Western media narrative on the crash probe and said that the government stands by the truth. Western media is trying to give their own narrative. We have to stand by truth," he said. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 20:32 IST News india Is Sabotage Angle Being Probed In Air India Crash? Govt Replies In Parliament Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Red To Green Corridor': PM Reiterates Resolve To End Naxalism In Pre-Monsoon Session Address Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:33 IST PM Modi said India's security forces have progressing swiftly in eradicating Naxalism and also lauded political parties for exposing Pakistan's role in sponsoring terrorism. PM Modi addressing the media before the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted Indias achievements in bringing down Naxalism and exposing Pakistans terror-sponsoring activities during his address to the media ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Calling the Monsoon Session a celebration of victory, PM Modi lauded the strength and capability of Indias military power and how the Indian Armed Forces achieved 100% of its objectives during Operation Sindoor in May, where it struck nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Recommended Stories In the economic sector, when you all gave us the responsibility in 2014, the country was going through the stage of Fragile Five. Before 2014, we were at number ten in the global economy. Today, India is moving ahead at a fast pace towards becoming the third-largest economy of the world," he said. Red Corridor To Green Corridor The Prime Minister reiterated his resolve to eradicate Naxalism, stressing that Indian security forces are swiftly advancing in their goal to eradicate Naxalism from its roots. The country has long been a victim of various forms of violence whether it is terrorism or Naxalism. However, today, the reach of Naxalism is shrinking rapidly," he said. Many districts are free of Naxalism today. We are proud that the Indian constitution is emerging victorious against Naxalism. The red corridors are transforming into green growth zones." FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES HERE Exposed Pakistan PM Modi also said that the brutal atrocities against civilians during the Pahalgam terror attack had shocked the world and lauded representatives from most parties and various states for rising above party interests to prioritise national interest. They went to many countries and, with a united voice, ran a highly successful campaign to expose Pakistan, the sponsor of terrorism, on the global stage. I want to commend all those Members of Parliament and political parties who contributed to this effort in the spirit of national unity." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all PM Modis remarks on Operation Sindoor came as the issue is likely to be debated heavily during the upcoming parliamentary session. The Centre on Sunday accepted the Oppositions demands to hold discussions on Operation Sindoor and US President Donald Trumps claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Earlier, the opposition INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting, where they resolved to raise the issues of the Pahalgam terror attack, US President Donald Trumps repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar during the upcoming parliamentary session. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 10:50 IST News india 'Red To Green Corridor': PM Reiterates Resolve To End Naxalism In Pre-Monsoon Session Address Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SC Orders CBI Probe, Rs 50 Lakh Compensation In J&K Custodial Torture Case Of Police Constable Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 13:55 IST The Supreme Court also ordered the immediate arrest of the Jammu and Kashmir police officers found responsible for the abuse The Supreme Court of India (File) The Supreme Court on July 21 ordered a CBI investigation and Rs 50 lakh compensation to a Jammu & Kashmir police constable who alleged brutal custodial torture while in illegal detention. According to LiveLaw, the case was heard by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, where the appellant, a serving police constable, challenged the Jammu & Kashmir High Courts refusal to quash an FIR registered against him under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to commit suicide). Recommended Stories The constable told the Court he was subjected to inhuman and degrading torture during a six-day illegal detention from February 20 to 26, 2023, at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Kupwara, including mutilation of his private parts. Taking serious note of the alleged abuse and violation of fundamental rights, the top court not only directed the immediate arrest of the responsible police officers but also instructed the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to pay 50 lakh as compensation to the victim. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Emphasising the seriousness of the custodial abuse allegations, the Supreme Court also directed the CBI to conduct a broader investigation into systemic issues at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC), Kupwara, stressing the need to examine the underlying factors and institutional failures that enabled such violations to occur. The Court further directed that the police officers accused of carrying out the custodial torture be arrested without delay, within a period of one month, and instructed that the CBI complete its investigation within three months from the date of FIR registration. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:38 IST News india SC Orders CBI Probe, Rs 50 Lakh Compensation In J&K Custodial Torture Case Of Police Constable Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Dont Force Us To Say Something Harsh: SC Slams ED, Grants Relief To CM Siddaramaiahs Wife Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Abhro Banerjee Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:59 IST The apex court dismissed the Enforcement Directorates (ED) plea challenging the High Courts order, thereby granting relief to Parvathi in the ongoing investigation. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah In a sharp rebuke to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain its plea challenging the Karnataka High Courts order that quashed money laundering proceedings against Parvathi Siddaramaiah, wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Granting relief, the apex court upheld the High Courts decision and questioned the motives behind the EDs actions, remarking, Let political battles be fought amongst the electorate why are you being used for it?" Recommended Stories Chief Justice BR Gavai also cautioned the agency, saying, Dont force us to say something otherwise, well have to say something harsh about ED." Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs wife, BM Parvathi, had earlier decided to return the controversial 14 plots of land allocated to her by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). She stated that her husbands honour and dignity are far more important than property or wealth". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Chief Ministers wife, in a letter addressed to the MUDA commissioner, explained that she is returning the 14 plots of various sizes in Mysurus Vijayanagar Phases 3 and 4. These were given as compensation for 3 acres and 16 guntas in the village of Kesare (survey number 464), which had been illegally encroached upon. Nothing is more important than my husbands honour and dignity. I have never desired anything from a family that has held power for so many years," Parvathi wrote, clarifying that she acted of her own volition. She added that she had not consulted her husband, the Chief Minister, her MLA son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, or any family member before making this decision. About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 11:24 IST News india Dont Force Us To Say Something Harsh: SC Slams ED, Grants Relief To CM Siddaramaiahs Wife Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Science Takes A Bold Leap With Three-Parent Babies. Is India Ready For It? Written By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 13:05 IST Mitochondrial replacement therapy, a breakthrough IVF-based technique, gives families with a history of mitochondrial disorders a chance to have healthy biological children The idea of a baby carrying DNA from three individualshowever minimalchallenges traditional notions of lineage, identity, and parenthood. (Pixabay) The births were the result of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), a breakthrough IVF-based technique that gives families with a history of mitochondrial disorders a chance to have healthy biological children. In simple words, these disorders, which affect the energy-producing units in cells, can lead to unfortunate medical consequences like seizures, brain damage, deafness, blindness, and even early death. Recommended Stories With eight children now living examples of this breakthrough, the world is at a scientific and ethical crossroads. While science is fascinating, it is complex as well and, in this case, involves cultural implicationsespecially for a country like India. How Do Three People Make A Baby? Lets unpack how these so-called three-parent" babies are created. Mitochondrial DNA makes up a tiny fractionabout 0.1 per centof our total genetic code, but it plays an outsized role in powering organs such as the brain and heart. In MRT, a fertilised embryo created from the biological parents egg and sperm is transplanted into a healthy donor egg from which the nucleus has been removed. The nucleus, carrying the intended parents genetic material, is inserted into the donor egg, which contains healthy mitochondria. The resulting embryo thus carries nuclear DNA from the mother and father and mitochondrial DNA from the donorthree sources, one baby. As Dr Sonu Taxak, fertility & IVF specialist at Yellow Fertility Centre, explains, the baby carries DNA from three peoplenuclear DNA from both biological parents and a small amount (less than 1 per cent) of mitochondrial DNA from the donor. However, this doesnt affect the babys traits or appearance." This technique holds tremendous value for women carrying mitochondrial mutations who fear passing on debilitating or fatal disorders. Until now, they had no preventive options. Taxak calls it a revolutionary option" for women who carry mitochondrial mutations but still wish to have genetically related children without passing on the condition. Dr Asmita Mahajan, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at SL Raheja Hospital, told News18 that the technology is intended for children at high risk of inherited mitochondrial diseases, which can affect vital organs like heart, brain and so on, causing seizures, developmental delay, blindness, deafness, etc". Unlike gene editing, MRT does not manipulate traits like appearance or intelligence. It doesnt touch nuclear DNA, where such characteristics reside. Dr Sanjeev Galande, dean, School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, sees this as a milestone in embryo manipulation. This marks a significant advancement in the field of genetic manipulation of embryos, distinct from traditional gene therapies that involve directly editing DNA MRT presents a novel and seemingly safer alternative." Risks & Potential Like any emerging medical technique, MRT comes with uncertainties. For example, only 8 of 22 embryos treated in the UK resulted in live birthsa reminder that success rates are still evolving. Dr Galande, who is also an internationally recognised molecular biologist and founding director of the Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics at IISER Pune, elaborated further: Initial failure rates can be high However, with continued refinement and deeper understanding of the underlying biological processes, success rates are expected to improve." Mahajan from SL Raheja cautions that long-term risks are yet to be fully understood. The technology is still new, and long-term risks, such as autism or diabetes, are being debated." Yet, for families facing the certainty of passing on a fatal condition, the risk of inaction often outweighs that of experimental hope. Can India Catch Up? Indias top IVF centres have the medical expertise to replicate MRT. But that alone wont be enough. Dr Galande believes India currently lacks the necessary regulatory and ethical frameworks for MRT. New guidelines and legislation would need to be developed". Dr Kshitija Patil, consultant clinical geneticist, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, agrees. Indias ART and surrogacy laws do not cover germline modifications, and without updated guidelines from agencies like ICMR or DBT, clinical application remains a distant goal." Similarly, Taxak also highlights the urgency of tracking this globally. With a large population and rising awareness around genetic disorders, India should closely track such innovations. This could shape future fertility treatments, policy frameworks, and prenatal care standards." Ethics, Identity & Cultural Concerns top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The idea of a baby carrying DNA from three individualshowever minimalchallenges traditional notions of lineage, identity, and parenthood. In a country like India, where genetics and heritage carry cultural weight, such interventions may face resistance. Yet, mitochondrial donation doesnt alter appearance or personality; it prevents suffering. The ethical debate should not be about the number of genetic contributors, but about the intent to give a child a healthy start in life. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:03 IST News india Science Takes A Bold Leap With Three-Parent Babies. Is India Ready For It? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'He Is Not With Us': Congress Leader Muraleedharan Over Shashi Tharoor's 'Nation First' Remark Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:25 IST Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said that Shashi Tharoor will not be invited to any party events in Thiruvananthapuram unless he alters his stance on national security. File photo of Shashi Tharoor (PTI) Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan has said his party colleague Shashi Tharoor will not be invited to any party programme in Thiruvananthapuram till he changes his stance on the national security issue. Muraleedharans remark came as he responded to reporters on a question of Tharoor sticking to his stand on the issue of national security. Recommended Stories A day earlier, Tharoor had said that the nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. Reacting to Tharoors remark, Muraleedharan said that Tharoor, also a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, was no longer considered as one of us". He added that the partys national leadership would decide what action would be required against the Congress MP. Till he (Tharoor) changes his stance, we will not invite him to any party programme held in Thiruvananthapuram. He is not with us, so there is no question of him boycotting an event," Muraleedharan said. Shashi Tharoor, who led one of the multi-party delegations to world capitals to put forth Indias stance against terrorism, had said that a lot of people have been very critical of him because of his stand supporting the armed forces and the central government in connection with Indias response to Pakistan in the form of Operation Sindoor. But I will stand my ground, because I believe this is the right thing for the country," he had said at an event in Kochi on July 19. Tharoor had also said that when people like him call for cooperating with other parties in the interests of national security, their own parties feel that its disloyal to them, and that becomes a big problem. Earlier too, Muraleedharn had hit out at Tharoor over sharing of a survey suggesting he is United Democratic Fronts most preferred choice for chief minister, saying he should first decide which party he belongs to. The senior Congress leader had also attacked Tharoor following his article criticising Indira Gandhi over the Emergency appearing in a Malayalam daily. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Muraleedharan had urged the CWC member to choose a clear political path if he felt constrained within the Congress. ALSO READ | Bird Becoming A Parrot?: Congress MPs Veiled Dig At Shashi Tharoor Over Emergency Article About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:01 IST News india 'He Is Not With Us': Congress Leader Muraleedharan Over Shashi Tharoor's 'Nation First' Remark Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'She's Mine And Mine Alone': Husband Admits To Beating Kerala Woman Found Dead In UAE Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 17:05 IST Satheesh Sankar admitted to beating his wife, Athulya Shekhar, who was found dead in Sharjah. Athulya's family accused him of physical and emotional abuse. Kerala woman found dead in her flat in UAE (Photo: News18) Satheesh Sankar, husband of Kerala woman Athulya Shekhar, who was found dead in Sharjah, has reportedly admitted to beating her and justified the assault, saying he did it out of love". Athulya, who hails from Keralas Kollam district, has been living in the UAE for the past year. She was found dead on Saturday morning when she was scheduled to start a new job, Mathrubhumi reported. Athulyas husband, Satheesh Shankar, also works in the UAE. Recommended Stories Satheesh said he wont deny the claim that he did not beat his wife. I did when I was drunk. But I didnt do that every day," he said, as per The News Minutes report. Satheesh also alleged that her wife used to physically abuse him. When she got angry, she didnt know what to do She did it because she was angry, because she loved me," he said. Athulyas family has alleged that Satheesh used to torture her physically and emotionally. Meanwhile, Satheesh, who has been working as a site engineer at a private firm in Dubai, has been sacked from his job. The firm took the action after allegations levelled by Athulyas family. A murder case was registered in Kollam under the Dowry Prohibition Act based on the complaint by Athulyas mother. A First Information Report (FIR) in the case mentioned that Athulya was given a two-wheeler and gold as dowry during her marriage to Satheesh. The deceaseds mother also alleged that she was strangled, kicked in the stomach, and her head was hit by a plate, resulting in her death between July 18 and 19. The couple got married twelve years ago and has a daughter as well. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A similar case was reported last week, where a woman from Kerala died by suicide. She had alleged she was being tortured over dowry. Vipanchika Mani (33), a native of Kollam, allegedly killed her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Vybhavi, before taking her own life in their apartment in Sharjahs Al Nahda neighbourhood on July 8. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Location : Kochi [Cochin], India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 15:56 IST News india 'She's Mine And Mine Alone': Husband Admits To Beating Kerala Woman Found Dead In UAE Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tamil Nadu Girl Assaulted, Raped; She Fought And Helped Another Child To Escape Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 09:06 IST The suspect had arrived in the area by train and was loitering near the farms when he noticed the girl walking alone. Representative image for an assault (PTI) Police in Tiruvallur district have launched a search for an unidentified man accused of abducting and raping a schoolgirl near Gummidipoondi, along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border, on July 12. Despite being assaulted multiple times and raped by the suspect, the girl managed to escape and save another child who was approaching the same area. Recommended Stories According to police, the Class 4 student, who was living with her grandmother in a border village in Tamil Nadu, was returning home from school when she was forcibly taken to a mango grove by the suspect. Her parents reside in Andhra Pradesh. The minor was walking alone along a path between two mango farms, where large trees stood spaced apart and the ground was strewn with dry leaves. The area is also known to have snakes, police said. According to investigators, the suspect had arrived in the area by train and was loitering near the farms when he noticed the girl walking alone. He allegedly followed her, abducted her, and took her into one of the mango farms. There, he reportedly assaulted her multiple times, bit her in several places, and sexually assaulted her. When the girl attempted to flee, the suspect allegedly dragged her back and assaulted her again. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After escaping from the clutches of the suspect, she returned home and informed her grandmother, who took her to the Government General Hospital in Ponneri. She was later referred to the Government RSRM Lying-in Hospital in Royapuram for further treatment. Police are investigating, and efforts are on to trace the suspect. Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 08:54 IST News india Tamil Nadu Girl Assaulted, Raped; She Fought And Helped Another Child To Escape Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Did Jagdeep Dhankhar Resign As Vice President And What Did He Say In His Letter? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 22:40 IST Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his position on Monday. Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar speaks during a programme organised to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. (IMAGE: PTI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday stepped down from the second-highest office of the country, citing health reasons, effective immediately. Dhankhar, who is also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, said that he wants to abide by medical advice" and cited prioritising health as the reason behind his sudden resignation. Recommended Stories To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the constitution. I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency the Honble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure," Dhankhar said in a letter addressed to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns: Whats Next, Wholl Chair Rajya Sabha, When Is The Next VP Election? He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for cooperation. Dhankhar recalled his memories with the Parliamentarians and said that he would cherish them. I express my deep gratitude to the Honble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Ministers cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office. The warmth, trust, and affection I have received from all the Honble Members of Parliament would ever be cherished at and embedded in my memory. I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy," he wrote. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Dhankhar presided over the Rajya Sabha as the Chairman on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament and addressed the House at length over the impeachment of High Court judge Yashwant Sinha. Sources speaking to News18 said the Vice President arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan on short notice, without any prior appointment, and submitted his resignation to the President in the evening. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 21:58 IST News india Why Did Jagdeep Dhankhar Resign As Vice President And What Did He Say In His Letter? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Will Army Chief Asim Munir Be Next President Of Pakistan? Decoding What His Moves Mean For India Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 07:15 IST Will Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir soon dislodge President Asif Ali Zardari? Is this the beginning of a soft coup or just another conspiracy theory? Asim Munir has held every key post in Pakistan: DG ISI, DG Military Intelligence, Corps Commander, and now the Army Chief. (File) For a country that has been under military rule for half of its existence since 1947, talks of a military coup are not new. But when a Pakistani Army Chief gets to meet the US President even before the countrys Prime Minister, or when a former Prime Minister says the Army Chief is out to kill him, the rumours in the corridors of power are too loud to be ignored. Welcome to Pakistan, where its newly christened Field Marshall, Army Chief Asim Munir, spent two hours having lunch with US President Donald Trump in the White House last month. Now, Munir is going on a tour to Sri Lanka and Indonesia to meet the top leadership there sans his Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. Recommended Stories Thats not all, Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan is lodged in Adiala Jail and says that if anything happens to him, Munir must be held accountable. Is General Asim Munir eyeing full power in Islamabad? Will he soon dislodge President Asif Ali Zardari and become the President? Is this the beginning of a soft coup or just another conspiracy theory? PM Sharif responded: There is no plan, no desire to be the President on part of Munir." But Sharif also knows there are precedents. Munir became Field Marshal recently only the second time in history after Ayub Khan. Ayub, of course, went on to the become dictator-president. So, the talk in the region now is: Is Munir the next Ayub? Sharifs denial has only added more fuel to the fire. Why Asim Munir is powerful Munir has held every key post in Pakistan: DG ISI, DG Military Intelligence, Corps Commander, and now the Army Chief. Munir accompanied Pakistan PM Sharif on a string of high-level visits to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Iran, and Azerbaijan in May and June. But since then, his diplomacy tour is only about him. A Field Marshall portraying to all who really calls the shots in Pakistan. The Pakistani Military on July 10 issued a rare public statement on Munirs US trip, usually the domain of the countrys foreign ministry. The rare and exclusive luncheon at the White House with President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room and the Oval Room in June underlined why this was significant the US also realises that Munir is the one it needs to deal with. The Pakistan PM, interestingly, is still to meet Trump. Earlier, during the height of Operation Sindoor, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Munir to stand down, not PM Sharif. India watching closely top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A military-dominated Pakistan under Munir is not going to be good news for New Delhi. India sees Munir as the brain behind the Pahalgam terror attack. India sees him as the one who propagates the two-nation theory, calls Kashmir Pakistans jugular vein", and who underlines differences between Hindus and Muslims. Who, in short, is the face of Pakistans state-sponsored terror, when it comes to India. So is there a coup? How long will the civilian facade last? It may not happen, but the military under Munir will dominate from behind the scenes be it the elections, or foreign policy. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:15 IST News india Will Army Chief Asim Munir Be Next President Of Pakistan? Decoding What His Moves Mean For India Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... ALBANY The State Police is refusing to allow a Western New York-based trooper who is Sikh to grow his desired beard a targeted and exclusive violation of religious freedom and the law, according to a state lawmaker urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to remedy the situation. In a July 8 letter to Hochul obtained by The Buffalo News, Assembly Member David Weprin, D-Queens, informed the governor that State Police is violating a 2019 state law that bans employers from discriminating against employees because of their facial hair or religious attire. Weprin, who co-sponsored the law, reminded Hochul he brought the problem to her attention two years ago when the same officer Trooper Charanjot S. Tiwana, a 2018 State Police graduate assigned to Jamestown wanted to grow his facial hair for his 2022 wedding. State Police allowed Tiwana to grow a beard not to exceed one-half inch for the 28 days before his wedding on the condition he work desk duty in Canandaigua and wear business attire, according to people with knowledge of the situation. He was ordered to shave before his return to duty. Tiwana now continues to be barred from growing even marginal facial hair, pursuant to the tenets of his religious beliefs, Weprin told the governor. Charles W. Murphy, president of the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association and an Amherst resident, said in a statement that no state trooper should be forced to choose between their religion and career. Providing reasonable workplace accommodations for religious attire and grooming isnt just the right thing to do, its the law. Period, Murphy said in a statement. Our union stands behind Trooper Tiwana and joins in calls for the governor and State Police leadership to end this long-standing discriminatory campaign against a dedicated public servant and let him get back to focusing on the work he loves keeping New Yorkers safe. Matthew Janiszewski, a spokesperson for Hochul, said the governors top priority was to keep New Yorkers safe, including all state workers. Our office is reviewing the letter and follows all applicable state and federal laws related to workplace safety, he said. State Police spokesperson Beau Duffy said all troopers are required to wear, when necessary, gas masks approved by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to protect against airborne hazards. Duffy said both federal and state regulations require that wearers of gas masks to be clean shaven in areas where the mask seals against the skin. This ensures the respirator functions effectively and provides the necessary protection, Duffy said. While our grooming policy generally limits facial hair to mustaches, Members may request a religious or medical accommodation to grow facial hair beyond this restriction. However, there cannot be any hair growth in the areas where the respirator seals to the skin. Erin Hatton, a professor of sociology at the University at Buffalo, said while the requirement of gas masks to be fully sealed is standard practice, clear exceptions have been made to that rule in the New York City Police Department and other police departments for religious and other reasons. This is for clear, well-established, long documented religious reasons, so it is unclear why the police force is not allowing this exemption under law, Hatton said. At the very least, its surprising, she said, adding that the State Police decision at the very least, needs a more explanation and robust investigation and I think its pretty clear that it needs to change. State Sen. Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma, a former Erie County sheriff and State Police captain, said he understands why police departments have standards for grooming, tattoos and jewelry for safety, professionalism and discipline but said Tiwana should be protected by the 2019 law. Theres a religious exception. Its very clear, Gallivan said. It does not happen much at all. In this case, it seems that the State Police is not complying with the law and they should. Weprin told Hochul he believes the State Police is acting in bad faith in making the gas mask argument. We should be frank: Religious accommodations have been made in the New York State Police for other religions, and this discrimination appears targeted and exclusive, Weprin told the governor. The 2019 law, signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, made it an unlawful discriminatory practice for any employer to impose conditions on an employee to violate or forgo a sincerely held religious practice or wearing of any attire, clothing or facial hair in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion. The exception would be if the employer cannot accommodate the employee due to undue hardship on their business. The legislation passed the Senate 60-0 and Assembly 140-2. The lone votes against the bill were Assembly Members David DiPietro, R-East Aurora, and Christopher Friend, a Southern Tier Republican. Weprin, a member of the Assemblys Asian and Pacific American Task Force, sponsored the 2019 legislation after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City ordered Kevin Harrington, subway operator who is Sikh, to remove his turban and wear an MTA hat. When the worker objected on religious grounds, the MTA said the worker could wear the turban if he affixed an MTA badge to it. The worker objected, noting the turban was worn as part of a solemn religious duty and that the badge would be improper. It led to a seven-year court battle and settlement that allowed the worker and others to wear the head covering. Weprin told Hochul his district is home to the states largest number of Sikhs. He reminded Hochul of services they attended together at the Sikh Cultural Society in Queens, and spoke following an Iftar dinner, a fast-breaking feast during Ramadan for Muslims often hosted by non-Muslims such as Sikhs. You spoke eloquently about equality and inclusion and how New Yorks strength comes from its diversity, Weprin wrote Hochul. Youve often expressed your steadfast commitment to achieving a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable New York. If you truly hold these values and desires, I implore you to allow this Sikh Trooper to practice his religion freely and openly as is his right. No one should be forced to live in two worlds, to hide their religious identity at work, or to choose between their faith and serving their community. Will Take Necessary Steps: Dhankhar Confirms Receiving Notice For Justice Varma's Removal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 17:48 IST Parliament Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar confirmed receiving letter regarding the impeachment of High Court judge Yashwant Varma. Parliament Monsoon Session: RS Chairman says he received letter on Justice Varma's removal (Photo: YouTube/ Sansad TV) Parliament Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said that he has received a notice for the impeachment of High Court judge Yashwant Varma, and directed the Secretary General to take necessary steps in this direction". He said that a similar Motion was presented to the Lok Sabha Speaker, which was signed by more than 100 MPs. Recommended Stories This comes months after a large number of currency notes were recovered from the official residence of Justice Varma in the national capital in March. He was later transferred to the Allahabad High Court. As Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal took the floor of the Rajya Sabha to announce that 152 Lok Sabha MPs have submitted a similar resolution to the Speaker, the Rajya Sabha Chairman informed that he has received a Notice of Motion for the impeachment of the judge, which was signed by more than 50 MPs. I need to inform you that I have received Notice of Motionto constitute a statutory committee for the removal of Justice Yashwant VarmaThis (notice) has been received by me today. It has been signed by more than 50 members of the Council of States. Thus, it meets the numerical requirement of signing by members of Parliament for setting in motion the process of removal of a high court judgeSince the Law Minister is present here and has so indicated that a similar Motion has come to be presented by a requisite number of MPs of Lok Sabha more than 100, to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the provisions of Section 3(2) will come into effect and the Secretary-General will take necessary steps in this direction," Dhankhar said. #WATCH | Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar informs the House that a Notice of Motion for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, signed by 50 Rajya Sabha MPs, have been presented to him today. Law Minister Arjum Ram Meghwal says that about 152 Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/dPTalTsGLL ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025 A three-member committee to examine the Justice Varma case will be announced by Lok Sabha Speaker on the floor of the House, sources said. The Monsoon Session of the Parliament kicked off today, first since the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor. Lok Sabha witnessed ruckus by the Opposition, even though the Speaker stressed that the government was ready to hold discussion on any topic, including the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The House was adjourned multiple times, before getting finally adjourned for the day as it summoned at 4 pm. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rajya Sabha functioned smoothly, with debates and discussions held in the Upper House. Both Houses were adjourned for the day to meet again at 11 am tomorrow. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 17:47 IST News india Will Take Necessary Steps: Dhankhar Confirms Receiving Notice For Justice Varma's Removal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Heartburn, Nausea, Breathlessness: Cardiologists Explain The Hidden Cardiac Risk Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:14 IST Mild heartburn, nausea, and breathlessness are always attributed to digestive issues. But in some people, these might signal heart health issues. Cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms can mimic each other. Heartburn, nausea, or breathlessness is usually associated with an unsettled stomach or a stressful day. Maybe its the late-night meal, a skipped breakfast, or just a little anxiety. But cardiologists are sounding a quiet, critical alarm: these symptoms might be telling a different story, one about your heart. When symptoms like a hyper feeling in the mind, nausea, or breathlessness appear, they should never be brushed off," says Dr. Sunil Dwivedi, Consultant, Cardiology at Manipal Hospital, Millers Road, Bengaluru. No matter which part of the body they seem to arise from, they often signal something significant. These symptoms are commonly linked to the digestive system, and sometimes to the heart." Recommended Stories Thats what makes these symptoms particularly tricky. According to experts, cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms can mimic each other so closely, theyre often mistaken for one another, especially when the signs are subtle. Its a common misconception that heart problems always announce themselves with crushing chest pain or dramatic collapses. In reality, the signs can be whisper-soft and dangerously easy to miss. Light heartburn, nausea, and shortness of breath may be easily overlooked as either a mild digestive issue or stress reaction," explains Dr. Jajati Keshari Padhi, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneshwar. Especially when these feelings of discomfort occur soon after eating or during exercise." But for certain individuals, especially older adults, diabetics, and people with multiple health conditions, heart trouble may not present with textbook symptoms at all. Heart attacks in these groups often begin with something as subtle as mild heartburn, or sometimes just vomiting. In many elderly or immunocompromised patients, vomiting can be the only symptom." adds Dr. Dwivedi. One particularly deceptive symptom? Breathlessness. Its easy to chalk it up to poor fitness, anxiety, or even the weather, but in the context of heart disease, it can be a serious sign. Shortness of breath, often attributed to anxiety, can actually indicate congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease," warns Dr. Padhi. It may reflect the hearts reduced ability to pump blood, leading to fluid backup in the lungs." So, how does one tell the difference between a harmless bout of acidity and a potential cardiac warning? Even experienced professionals can struggle with that," Dr. Dwivedi admits. But what patients must understand is that these are not usual symptoms. If the discomfort feels different, if your regular acidity meds dont work, or the nausea seems unusual, dont wait. Seek help immediately." As Dr. Padhi puts it, Being famous and fabulous wont provide answers. Many cardiac patients dont show any signs until the condition becomes critical. By then, time becomes the enemy." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Early detection is key. Appropriate tests and evaluations can dramatically alter the course of treatment and recovery. While its true that not every case of heartburn or nausea is heart-related, the risk of ignoring the early, quieter signs can be life-threatening. Its always better to be careful. Getting checked early can help prevent serious heart problems," Dr. Padhi stresses. The advice is consistent: listen to your body. If symptoms like nausea, unexplained fatigue, breathlessness, lightheadedness, or a strange sense of pressure come on and dont resolve or worse, intensify, head straight to a tertiary care hospital, preferably to the emergency room. fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:14 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Heartburn, Nausea, Breathlessness: Cardiologists Explain The Hidden Cardiac Risk COOLinary Extravaganza In New Orleans Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 20:59 IST COOLinary New Orleans event puts a spotlight on the citys vibrant food scene offering multi-course, prix-fixe meals at celebrated restaurants across town Antoine's in New Orleans (Credit- Rebecca Todd) In New Orleans, food is more than just a culinary pleasure; it reflects the citys rich history and evolving culture. From beloved local favourites like beignets and gumbo to globally inspired dishes served at iconic restaurants; the city offers an unforgettable dining experience at every turn. COOLinary New Orleans event puts a spotlight on the citys vibrant food scene offering multi-course, prix-fixe meals at celebrated restaurants across town. This month-long event is the best time to explore the flavours of the city, reaffirming New Orleans as a top destination for food lovers everywhere. Experience mouth-watering menus at the following participating New Orleans restaurants all August. Recommended Stories Antoines Restaurant Antoines in the French Quarter offers traditional French Creole fare, as well as updated classics, in its beautiful and historic restaurant setting and 14 private dining rooms. Arnauds Restaurant Classic Creole cuisine with a charming French Quarter ambience featuring the traditional nostalgic main dining room or the lively jazz bistro with a strolling jazz trio. Experience the unique Mardi Gras Museum and James Beard-winning French 75 Bar. Atchafalaya Restaurant Atchafalaya is known as an establishment that embraces New Orleans culinary traditions while pushing boundaries with innovative food and a smart cocktail menu. Apolline Restaurant Located on historical Magazine Street, in beautiful uptown New Orleans, Apollines cuisine features local ingredients and global flavours in the perfect setting. Brennans For nearly seven decades, Brennans has charmed the palates and hearts of patrons with its splendid ambience, impeccable service, and authentic Creole cuisine. Masterful dishes like Bananas Foster and Eggs Hussarde are Brennans originals, and the restaurant today is a dazzling display of New Orleanss illustrious past persevering in the present. Brigtsens Restaurant Brigtsens offers modern Creole/Acadian cuisine served in a charming Victorian cottage by owners Frank and Marna Brigtsen. Commanders Palace Restaurant The quintessential New Orleans dining experience loved by locals and visitors alike, and recognised with James Beard awards for food and service, and Wine Spectators Grand Award, is a testament to Southern hospitality. Criollo Restaurant & Lounge Criollo is the Spanish word for Creole, and true to its name, Criollo presents an amalgamation of Spanish, Italian, French, Caribbean, and African cuisines. Fresh, local produce and a seasonal menu reflect an appreciation for contemporary culinary tastes. Crescent City Steaks Crescent City Steaks is one of the best steak houses in the city, serving a wide selection of delicious, well-prepared steaks. Their bacon-wrapped filet is a must for meat-lovers alike. Charlies Steak House Located in uptown New Orleans, Charlies is the oldest steak house in New Orleans, serving sizzling steaks since 1932. Cafe Normandie Cafe Normandie captures the national affinity for French culture sparked by WWII by preparing French-influenced cuisine in the beautiful space of the Higgins Hotel. Gautreaus Restaurant An upscale restaurant nestled in the heart of Uptown offering delicious French-Contemporary cuisine with favourites including Duck Confit, sauteed Red Snapper, and roasted duck and a changing, innovative wine list. GW Fins New Orleans premier, upscale seafood destination and locally owned, James Beard-nominated GW Fins is nationally celebrated for serving only the most pristine seafood at its seasonal peak with a menu that changes daily, created by acclaimed Executive Chef Michael Nelson. Gabrielle Restaurant Operating since 1992, Chef Greg Sonnier, a 2004 James Beard finalist, serves Louisiana Cajun and Creole-inspired cuisine at this fine dining neighbourhood restaurant. La Boca Steakhouse Independently owned New Orleans steakhouse inspired by the parilladas" of Argentina, La Boca offers the largest variety of cuts in the city. The wine list is purely Argentine and offers the widest selection of the best wines of that region. Lemoynes Landing- Enjoy good food with a view of the river in the backdrop of oldies, pop, and dance music at Lemoynes Landing. Nobu-Caesars New Orleans- Nobu is a universally celebrated Japanese restaurant recognised for pioneering a new style of Japanese cuisine. The menu features Chef Nobu Matsuhisas signature dishes, such as the Black Cod Miso and Rock Shrimp Tempura, as well as other unique dishes. Origen Bistro, LLC- Origen Bistro is an upscale Venezuelan cuisine in Bywater, serving fine wine, cocktails, and innovative creations by Chef Julio Machado in a warm atmosphere. Osteria Lupo- Osteria Lupo showcases Northern Italian cuisine with a variety of house-made pastas, roasted meats and vegetables from the wood-fired oven, seafood, and other regional specialities. Pigeon & Whale- P&W is a cocktail and oyster bar boasting the largest selection of oysters and caviar in New Orleans, unique takes on Coastal flavours, and craft cocktails focusing on Negronis. Rib Room- Located in the Omni Royal Orleans hotel in the heart of the French Quarter, Rib Room blends tradition and relevance, offering a fine dining experience for more than 60 years. Ralphs On the Park- Recognised by Bon Appetit, New York Times and the Washington Post for fine cuisine, Ralphs on the Park offers food fresh from local farms and waters, along with spectacular views of City Parks moss-draped oaks. Rizzutos Prime- Rizzutos Prime, located inside the New Orleans Hyatt Regency Hotel, offers an elegant private event space ideal for small gatherings up to 180 guests for a seated dinner or 250 guests for a reception-style event. Specialising in premium seafood, steaks, and classic Italian cuisine, Rizzutos Prime delivers a sophisticated dining experience in the heart of New Orleans. San Lorenzo & Paradise Lounge- Hotel Saint Vincents signature all-day restaurant, named for the patron saint of cooks, is an ode to coastal Italian cooking with regional New Orleans influences. The timeless design is grand, with lush modern touches and outdoor seating. Paradise Lounge, the hotels lobby bar, is an airy and sun-drenched space (with an outdoor porch patio) open to guests looking for an all-day destination with coffee, cocktails, and food. The Elysian Bar- Located in the citys Marigny neighbourhood within a renovated rectory, church and courtyard of Hotel Peter & Paul, The Elysian Bar is a beautiful public space, bar and restaurant for those who are looking to have an exceptional dining experience. The familiar yet elevated menu paired with a completely domestic wine list and a large menu of aperitivo and classic cocktails invites guests in for the perfect meal. The Pelican Club- Chef Richard Hughes offers a rich legacy of Louisiana cuisine with contemporary preparations of the finest fresh ingredients, including Gulf shrimp, Maine lobster, and Black Angus steaks in a clubby townhouse with paintings by local artists. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tujagues Restaurant- The second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, operating for more than 160 years, Tujagues has retained its reputation for providing an unforgettable dining experience. Zasu- In Mid-City, Chef Sue Zemanicks Zasu (James Beard Award-Best Chef: South 2013) explores new ways to inspire traditional favourites, creating a dining experience that is clean and light, but rich in experience. 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, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: July 21, 2025, 20:59 IST News lifestyle travel COOLinary Extravaganza In New Orleans Radhika Merchant And Anant Ambani's Swiss Getaway: Stylish Moments From Their Anniversary Vacation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:24 IST Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants Swiss holiday offered a stylish blend of love, leisure, and effortless vacation fashion. Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani's anniversary getaway was all things dreamy Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, the youngest couple in the Ambani family, recently marked their first wedding anniversary on July 12. The celebrations, however, didnt end there. New pictures from their romantic escape to Switzerland have surfaced online, giving fans a glimpse into their laid-back European holiday. A Glimpse Into Their Swiss Sojourn Recommended Stories On July 20, an Ambani fan page posted a short video capturing candid moments from Anant and Radhikas trip. The images show the couple enjoying the scenic Swiss outdoorsposing with admirers, taking selfies during casual outings, and relaxing aboard a yacht, all while looking effortlessly stylish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ambani Family (@ambani_update) Casual Chic for Mountain Strolls Radhika exuded vacation-ready elegance in a cream-toned co-ord set. Her look featured a peplum-style sleeveless top with front buttons, a split Mandarin collar, and a structured belt accentuating the waist. She teamed it with matching shorts, grey sneakers, lavender socks, delicate earrings, and a stylish handbag. Her slick ponytail and makeup-free glow completed the easy-going look. Anant coordinated in a classic navy blue polo T-shirt paired with matching shorts and chunky sneakers balancing comfort and cool with understated ease. Yacht Style With a Twist For their time at sea, Radhika switched to a more relaxed look, donning a black racerback tank top paired with acid-washed cargo jeans. The denim featured textured detailing that added an edgy flair, while her blush-toned cheeks and tied-back hair reflected her naturally radiant style. Celebrating Love, Ambani Style top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Switzerland getaway comes on the heels of their grand Mumbai wedding held on July 12, 2024. The nuptials were nothing short of opulent, drawing high-profile guests from the worlds of politics, business, and global royalty. The celebrations continued over the weekend, culminating in a lavish reception on July 14. From high fashion to heartfelt moments, Anant and Radhikas anniversary vacation was a blend of romance, style, and serenity in the heart of Europe. About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:24 IST News lifestyle travel Radhika Merchant And Anant Ambani's Swiss Getaway: Stylish Moments From Their Anniversary Vacation Where Movement Meets Mindfulness: Inside Shakti Mohans Soulful Escape To Queensland Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 13:41 IST Shakti Mohan recently travelled to Queensland, Australia. Her soulful escape included exploring its natural wonders, cosmopolitan cities, and the rich Indigenous heritage. Shakti's journey included Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Great Barrier Reef. For Shakti Mohan, movement has always been a form of expression, but her recent journey to Queensland, Australia, revealed a new rhythm entirely. Away from the spotlight and studio mirrors, the celebrated dancer and choreographer found herself immersed in something far more elemental: the quiet pulse of the rainforest, the salty breeze of untouched beaches, and the golden hush of a Queensland sunset. Queensland, Australia offers such a compelling mix, from peaceful coastal retreats and ancient rainforests to vibrant urban energy. This trip allowed me to reconnect with nature and experience Australia in a truly fresh and soulful way," Shakti shared, reflecting on a journey that blurred the lines between luxury, nature, and inner stillness. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shakti Mohan (@mohanshakti) Her travels spanned the urban vitality of Brisbane, the golden expanse of the Gold Coast, the laid-back charm of the Sunshine Coast, the marine wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, and the grounding calm of ancient rainforests. But it wasnt just the geography that made an impact; it was the emotional texture of each place. With every barefoot walk, silent gaze, and cultural encounter, Shaktis posts unfolded not as a travel diary but as a personal unravelling. In images and video captured mid-journey, shes seen with wind-tousled hair by the sea, still beneath the rainforest canopy, or laughing quietly with locals. Its a softer, more intimate portrait of the artist, one that reveals a side rarely seen on screen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What began as a collaboration with travel company JourneyLabel and Tourism and Events Queensland soon evolved into something more personal: a chance to pause, breathe, and move at natures pace. At JourneyLabel, we are drawn to destinations that leave a lasting impression. Queensland, Australias stunning beauty, diversity, and warm spirit align perfectly with what todays Indian traveller seeks," said Sufail Husain, Co-Founder, JourneyLabel. Its a privilege to partner with TEQ and collaborate with Shakti Mohan, who brings such grace and sincerity to the storytelling. We believe this journey will inspire others to travel deeper and dream bigger." As Shakti continues to share her journey on social media, her audience is tuning in not just for the scenic beauty, but for the feeling of presence, of peace, of purposeful travel. Through Shaktis eyes, Queensland becomes more than a destination. It becomes a mirror, a muse, and a moment of renewal. fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 13:41 IST News lifestyle travel Where Movement Meets Mindfulness: Inside Shakti Mohans Soulful Escape To Queensland OTT Shows: 5 Gripping Political Web Series You Shouldnt Miss Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:39 IST If you love political thrillers, watch these 5 gripping web series, packed with crime, corruption & conspiracies. Perfect for fans of intense drama Whether you're a fan of intense narratives or want to explore the darker side of politics, these web series on ZEE5 offer an exciting escape. (News18) If youre drawn to stories filled with intrigue, power struggles, and political conspiracies, these five political web series are a must-watch. Streaming on ZEE5, they delve into crime, corruption, and power, offering thrilling plots that have captivated audiences and boosted the profiles of their cast. Heres a closer look at some standout series you can binge this weekend. Recommended Stories Rangbaaz (IMDb Rating: 7.8): Inspired by true events, Rangbaaz explores the link between the criminal underworld and politics. It follows the journey of an ordinary man who becomes entangled in crime and power. Featuring a talented ensembleSaqib Saleem, Jimmy Sheirgill, Vineet Kumar Singh, Ravi Kishan, Ranvir Shorey, and Tigmanshu Dhuliathis series has released three successful seasons between 2018 and 2022. Its blend of political drama and gritty storytelling makes it a fan favourite. Naxalbari (IMDb Rating: 7.0): Naxalbari is a tense political thriller that centres on the Naxalite movement. It follows an STF agent investigating a violent uprising rooted in political unrest and social injustice. Released in 2020, the series stars Rajeev Khandelwal, Tina Dutta, and Aamir Ali. Directed by Partho Mitra, its nine gripping episodes are available now on ZEE5. Lalbazaar (IMDb Rating: 6.3): Set in Kolkata, Lalbazaar is a police procedural steeped in political drama. It follows a dedicated team of officers as they confront crime and navigate political interference. The series stars Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, and Rishitaa Bhatt. Combining suspense and realism, Lalbazaar offers a compelling look at law enforcement and power. Mafia (IMDb Rating: 6.6): Mafia is a psychological thriller with strong political undercurrents. Directed by Birsa Dasgupta, the series follows a reunion of friends with a dark past, gradually unveiling secrets and betrayals. Starring Namit Das, Anindita Bose, and Madhurima Roy, this eight-episode series, released in 2020, keeps you on edge with its twist-filled narrative. Chadarangam (IMDb Rating: 7.1): Chadarangam is a Telugu-language political thriller that portrays the murky world of power and manipulation. Written and directed by Raj Anantha and produced by Vishnu Manchu, it features Srikanth, Ravi Prakash, and Sunaina. With nine episodes, the series combines regional politics and high-stakes drama for a compelling watch. Whether youre a fan of intense narratives or want to explore the darker side of politics, these web series on ZEE5 offer an exciting escape. Perfect for a weekend binge! Prime Video, Stay updated with the latest web series on Netflix Hotstar & more ott platforms, new releases, reviews, top binge-worthy shows. Download the News18 App for all things OTT. First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:39 IST News movies web-series OTT Shows: 5 Gripping Political Web Series You Shouldnt Miss Finepoint | India Plays Hardball With ASEAN After $45 Billion Trade Disaster Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:58 IST India, facing a $45 billion trade deficit with ASEAN, is taking a tough standthreatening to exit the FTA unless core concerns are addressed. India may be considering terminating its trade pact with ASEAN. Nine rounds of negotiation, endless promises, but ASEAN still dodges our core demands on unfair trade practices and market access. With Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal calling out the bloc as Chinas B-Team," India stands at a crossroads: fix the imbalance, or walk away. If the tenth round of review talks is as ineffective as the rest, India may pick the second option. Recommended Stories India signed its landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which has ten members Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The pact was signed in 2009 with the promise of prosperity, not pain. Yet, today, the statistics tell a story starkly at odds with those early hopes: while trade rose to $123 billion, Indias trade deficit with ASEAN exploded from a manageable $5 billion in 2010-11 to a jaw-dropping $45 billion in 2024-25. This deficit is now in the same league as Indias $46 billion trade surplus with the United States which is being aggressively targeted by Trump with tariffs. And then there is the chronic deficit of almost $100 billion India faces with China. Plus, this is not the only bad deal that India is coping with. It also has FTAs with Japan and South Korea to fix. In a world rapidly hardening on trade, can India afford to play by old, one-sided rules? Obviously no, and recalibrating trade with ASEAN is right at the top on Indias list. From the outset, the ASEAN FTA was a gentlemans agreement" negotiated by the UPA government with a spirit of free trade and global integration, but lacking the hard-nosed pragmatism a deal of this scale demanded. The negotiators at the time overlooked the fact that the agreement left out Indias strongest suitservicesgiving away vital market access on goods, but securing no meaningful opening for Indian IT, consulting, or skilled labour. Worse, non-tariff barriers multiplied on Indias exports to ASEAN, even as the regions goods breezed, tariff-free, into Indian markets. The negotiation table saw further sleights of hand. ASEAN cleverly played an averaging trick to make the deal look fairer than it really was. For example, Singapore claimed it eliminated tariffs on 100 per cent of its products, but since it already had zero import duties, India gained nothing new. Countries like Cambodia (85 per cent tariff elimination), Brunei (81 per cent), and Laos (78 per cent) also made high commitments to tariff elimination, but they account for only a tiny share of Indias trade with ASEAN. Meanwhile, Indonesia, a major economy, removed tariffs on just 50.1 per cent of its tariff lines, and Vietnam on 69.7 per cent. When these figures were averaged together, along with Singapores inflated 100 per cent, the official ASEAN average jumped to 76.4 per cent giving the impression of big market openings. In reality, India opened up 74.2 per cent of its market to ASEAN goods, but mostly received high tariff cuts from ASEANs smallest economies, while the big players kept many barriers in place. As a result, Indian exporters struggled to access key ASEAN markets, while India faced a flood of duty-free goods from across Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, ASEAN found loopholes, twisting rules of origin to allow Chinese goods safe passage into Indias economy under ASEANs flag, turning the FTA into a backdoor for Beijings industrial might. No surprise, then, that Union Minister Piyush Goyal called the ASEAN bloc what everyones been whispering Chinas B-Team." As Goyal bluntly stated at the India Global Forum, Many of these countries are, practically, proxies for Chinese goods. We are not going to keep our doors open to such practices." This remark landed harshly on ASEAN, but it must be recognised that Indias grievance is genuine and its patience is running out. This lopsided deal hurts even more, given Indias ongoing struggle to tame its ballooning deficit with China, the very country whose shadow now looms over the ASEAN pact as well. Meanwhile, the United States under Trump, never shy about tough love, has slapped tariffs on partners including India over its own deficits, which are comparable in size to India-ASEANs gap. The winds of economic nationalism are intensifying globally, and the ASEAN trade deals moment of reckoning is looming. Since 2023, India has demanded a comprehensive review pushing back against what industry calls a one-way street." The results so far have been nine unproductive negotiation rounds with much rhetoric, but few genuine fixes. Negotiators are raising the fact that Indian companies utilise only 30-40% of the FTAs benefits," while ASEAN competitors exploit 65-70%, often through creative paperwork and weak checks on rules of origin. Indian exporters complain of mounting non-tariff barriers and quotas. Entire sectors from steel and chemicals to electronics, voice their frustration as duty-free imports batter domestic manufacturers and dilute investment, all while ASEAN members trap India in endless talks. This cannot go on. Moreover, with ASEAN in the middle of talks with China, its largest trade partner, to expand their FTA, the problem will only grow larger. ASEANs trade with China is growing fast, standing at around $982 billion in 2024 with a deficit of $190 billion pegged against Southeast Asia. Senior government and industry leaders now openly say, enough is enough. If the upcoming 10th review round delivers no real corrections on import barriers, rules of origin, or a fair shake for Indian services, India may invoke the termination clause: one written notice, and the FTA dies in 12 months. This should not be mistaken for sabre-rattling. The pressure on India is real, and walking away from the pact is a tangible option. This points to Indias growing reputation as a tough negotiator. Indias newfound confidence at the global trade negotiating table is unmistakable, as seen in its willingness to challenge partners both east and west. Nowhere is this more evident than in its tough, high-stakes talks with the United States, widely regarded as the hardest trade partner, where India has refused to be hurried or strong-armed into a deal that doesnt serve its national interest. The Modi government is also pushing back against Chinas economic tactics, battling for access to rare earths, confronting non-tariff barriers, and standing firm on restricting Chinese investments even as China pressures India to reopen its markets. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At the same time, India has already secured major wins, sealing a historic free trade deal with the UK this year and a powerful CEPA with the UAE in 2022, while actively negotiating with the European Union and Australia for stronger, more balanced agreements. All of this signals a shift: under Modi, India is not swayed by free trade idealism, but is recognised as a sharp, strategic negotiator that puts national interest front and centre, rewriting its trade playbook amidst a global churn in trade relations. Indias new approach is neither protectionist nor isolationist its simply pragmatic. It means playing by the rules, but ensuring those rules are fair. If ASEAN wants continued access to Indias booming market, it must show real progress on services, on imports, and on closing the loopholes. About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. First Published: July 21, 2025, 11:58 IST News opinion Finepoint | India Plays Hardball With ASEAN After $45 Billion Trade Disaster Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | History As Leftist Propaganda: How Distorians Still Dictate Bharats Past Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 15:39 IST Bharat, even after more than seven decades of its Independence, is still in search of a history thats truly its own. A social media debate had emerged over why NCERT textbooks cover Aurangzeb but offer little to no information on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The recent storm over changes in NCERTs history textbooks has reignited an old and unresolved debate: Who owns Bharats history, and who has the right to narrate it? Criticslargely from the academic and media establishmenthave slammed the revisions as politically motivated, accusing the government of saffronisation" and ideological distortion. But this outrage, however loud, sidesteps a deeper truth: For decades after Independence, Bharats historiographyparticularly what entered school curriculawas crafted not by a plurality of scholarly voices, but by a small coterie of Marxist and Nehruvian intellectuals who captured the countrys academic institutions and think tanks through political patronage and interference. Such was the stranglehold of Leftist historians such as Romila Thapar, Bipan Chandra, Irfan Habib, and RS Sharma that there was no space for historiography other than the one rooted in economic determinisma worldview that was dismissive of Bharats civilisational achievements and ethos. Recommended Stories This intellectual monopoly romanticised Islamic invaders, ignored indigenous resistance, and downplayed Bharats ancient (Sanatana) accomplishments. Babur was, thus, portrayed as a curious naturalist and a doting father (Nehru called him a renaissance prince"), Akbar as a liberal genius, and Aurangzeb as a misunderstood ruler. In contrast, Hindu figures like Krishnadeva Raya, Maharana Pratap, and Shivaji were relegated to the margins. Even native empires of repute such as Vijayanagar, Ahom, and Karkota were reduced to footnotes. The guiding ideology seemed to be: De-sacralise Bharatiya civilisation and sanctify its conquerors. The NCERT Controversy The latest controversy surrounding the NCERT textbook of Class VIII centres largely around Akbar, long celebrated as a liberal visionary. His policies of religious tolerance and Rajput alliances have always dominated textbook narratives. So, when the revised syllabus now includes unsavoury details such as the 1568 massacre at Chittorgarhwhere over 30,000 civilians were killed after the fort had already fallenits seen as an assault on his legacy. There is no denying Akbar was an able ruler, far ahead of many contemporaries, especially in the Islamic world. But glorification should not come at the cost of truth. The Chittorgarh massacre was not a battlefield tragedyit was an act of vengeance after a successful siege. To hide such acts is distortion; to justify them by citing plunders by Hindu rulers is lazy scholarship. A massacre is not just a plunder, and inventing false equivalences to cover up omissions is intellectual dishonesty. No historical figurehowever reveredshould be above scrutiny. If Akbar has been over-glorified, the Mughal dynasty as a whole has often been portrayed as the pinnacle of Bharatiya civilisation. This historical approach needs recalibration. Yes, the Mughals built a vast empire, set up uniform law and order machinery across the subcontinent, and promoted art and architecture. But they were also foreigners, as 17th-century French traveller Francois Bernier observed, who needed large standing armies even in peacetime to suppress dissent. Baburs own memoir, Baburnama, revels in violence against infidels", as it mentions how he would, after a battlefield, build a tower of infidels skulls". Jahangir, the lover-boy Salim of Mughal-e-Azam, ordered the killing of Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh guru, in the very first year of his reign. Shah Jahan, romanticised for building the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, Mumtaj Mahal, oversaw the construction of this monument of love" while famines ravaged the countryside. Such was the destitution at that time, as Abdul Hamid Lahori writes in his biography of Shah Jahan, that dogs flesh was sold for goats flesh and the pounded bones of the dead were mixed with flour and sold". As for Aurangzeb, he institutionalised bigotry by reviving jizya, banning Hindu festivals, and demolishing temples. These accounts arent fringethey come from the Mughals own court chronicles. To question this kind of lopsided narrative is not communalismits historiographical integrity. Slow and Cautious Reforms Despite media alarmism, the NCERT revisions are neither sweeping nor comprehensive. They are excruciatingly slow and excessively cautious, to the extent of appearing apologetic. The textbooks continue to uphold a worldview where invaders are humanised, native resistance is sidelined, and Bharatiya civilisational achievements are ignored, if not totally dismissed. Rather than boldly rewriting history with balance and authenticity, NCERT often appears hesitantfearful of pushback from entrenched guardians of the academia, of being branded communal and Islamophobic, and of challenging globally palatable secular, Leftist narratives. The outrage against textbook revisions is less about defending historical objectivity and more about resisting a long-overdue correction. For decades, history writing in the country has been filtered through a narrow ideological prismone that celebrated foreign invasions, concealed Islamic brutality, and undermined Sanatana ingenuity and fightback. Bharat, even after more than seven decades of its Independence, is still in search of a history thats truly its own. A history where Akbar is studied not as a saint, not as a villain, but as a ruler with his strengths and weaknesses intact. A history where the Mughal empire is examined for both its splendour and its savagery. And more importantly, a history that is truly Bharatiya in nature, after being rescued from the vice-like grip of Leftist historians, who in reality are distorians err, eminent distorians. The time has come to challenge these distoriansand expose their hollow intellectual halo. Only then will their iron grip be slackened. And Bharats history will be salvaged for good. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all PS: The Leftist intellectuals hijacked the history of Bharat in the 1960s by proposing to write from the peoples perspective". Romila Thapar, in fact, went a step ahead when she, in 1962, promised to come up with a new way of history writing that would let the readers know what the elephant keeper of the emperor Ashoka thought of his edicts" or what the lives and thoughts of the masons who built the Taj Mahal were. More than six decades later, Thapars grand promise remains unfulfilled. The Left-dominated history of Bharat is today stuck in a soulless, ideologically obsessed terrain where neither the story of the king nor the lives and thoughts of the masses are told effectively. The writer is the author of the book, Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharats History, published early this year by BluOne Ink publications. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Utpal Kumar Utpal Kumar is Opinion Editor, News18 and Firstpost. He can be reached at utpal.kumar@nw18.com. He tweets @utpal_kumar1 Utpal Kumar is Opinion Editor, News18 and Firstpost. He can be reached at utpal.kumar@nw18.com. He tweets @utpal_kumar1 First Published: July 21, 2025, 15:39 IST News opinion Opinion | History As Leftist Propaganda: How Distorians Still Dictate Bharats Past Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Rebirth Or Rebranding? Reincarnation Under Surveillance Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 19:58 IST Indias quiet support for Tibetan culture has provided refuge and continuity for the Dalai Lamas teachings, making Himalayan communities essential anchors in spiritual landscape The Dalai Lama is revered as the manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. (AP) The question of who will be recognised as the 15th reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is not merely a matter of religious traditionit is a litmus test for the global communitys commitment to spiritual freedom and cultural autonomy. At the epicentre of this issue lies a stark confrontation: between the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, rooted in centuries of spiritual wisdom, and the Peoples Republic of China, whose bureaucratic apparatus seeks to politicise reincarnation itself. Recommended Stories Chinas 2007 directives on the management of reincarnated lamasmandating state approval and invoking the archaic Golden Urn methodare not only a distortion of Tibetan religious practice but a calculated attempt to subjugate faith under authoritarian control. These measures, cloaked in the language of regulation, are instruments of ideological domination, designed to erode the spiritual sovereignty of Tibet and replace it with state-sanctioned orthodoxy. The Buddhist Renaissance, initiated in the wake of systemic religious restrictions, has unfolded within a contested ideological space, marked by fundamentally differing visions of religions role in contemporary Tibet. The institution of reincarnation (Tib. trulku, sprul sku) is one of the central concepts in not only the Buddhist but almost all Indic traditions with samsara, as the vicious cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This cycle, according to Buddhist doctrine, is ceaseless and infinite in duration, encompassing all sentient beings until they attain nirvana. Progression through this cycle is determined by ones moral conduct and karmic accumulation. As part of this cultural and religious synthesis, the concept of the trulkua consciously reincarnated spiritual masterbecame a hallmark of Tibetan Buddhism. During the Second Dissemination (phyi dar) of Buddhism in Tibet in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, a process of institutionalisation of Buddhism within Tibetan society and the emergence of distinct Tibetan Buddhist schools also bloomed. Unlike ordinary beings who are subject to involuntary rebirth within samsara, Tulkus are believed to be spiritually realised individuals who, having transcended the cycle of existence, choose to reincarnate voluntarily. Their return in physical form is seen as an act of compassion, intended to benefit sentient beings and further the Dharma. The three kayas thus are: Dharmakaya (Truth Body): The eternal, formless essence of the Buddha, representing ultimate reality and transcending both physical and spiritual dimensions. Sambhogakaya (Enjoyment Body): The celestial manifestation of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, perceptible only to advanced practitioners who have attained a high level of spiritual realization. Nirmanakaya (Emanation Body; Tib. trulku): The physical form through which Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appear in the human realm to guide sentient beings toward liberation. The most prominent and influential reincarnation lineages in the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism are the Dalai Lamas (ta lai bla ma) and the Panchen Lamas (pan chen bla ma). The Dalai Lama is revered as the manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the spiritual protector of the Tibetan people, while the Panchen Lama is regarded as the embodiment of Buddha Amitabha. The rise of the Gelug school in the 17th century represented a turning point in Tibetan religious and political history. Under the leadership of figures such as the Fifth Dalai Lama, the Gelug tradition consolidated power and became the dominant force in Tibetan Buddhism. With growing support from Mongol patrons and increasing centralization of authority in Lhasa, the school undertook an ambitious program of institutional expansion. As Gelug influence extended across the Tibetan plateau and beyond, this power shift brought about a dramatic increase in monastic construction. Dozenseventually hundredsof new monasteries were founded throughout Central Tibet, Amdo, Kham, and even parts of Mongolia and China. These institutions not only served religious functions but also became local centers of education, administration, and cultural life. Crucially, with the expansion of monastic infrastructure came the proliferation of tulku lineageshereditary reincarnations of spiritually accomplished lamas. Many of these tulkus were recognised within individual monasteries and functioned primarily at the local level, acting as spiritual leaders and ensuring continuity within their institutions. Though these lineages did not possess the sweeping authority of the Dalai or Panchen Lamas, they were deeply influential within their regional and sectarian contexts. This system also reflected a broader theological and political strategy: While this created a rich and intricate web of spiritual leadership, one in which the influence of most was localised, even as a few achieved pan-Tibetan recognition, like the authority of the Dalai and Panchen Lamas, whose influence extended as far as Mongolia. The conflict over the recognition of Tulkusreincarnate Tibetan Buddhist leadersreached a flashpoint in 1995, centering on the succession of the 10th Panchen Lama, who passed away in January 1989 at Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. The dispute intensified in May 1995, when the 14th Dalai Lama recognized Gendun Chokyi Nyima (b. 1989) as the 11th Panchen Lama. The 1995 abduction of Gendun Chokyi Nyima, the Dalai Lamas recognised 11th Panchen Lama, remains one of the most egregious violations of religious freedom in modern history. His disappearance, followed by the installation of a politically compliant proxy, Gyaltsen Norbu, underscores Beijings intent: to control not only the narrative of Tibetan Buddhism but its future leadership. It is noteworthy that a substantial number of Tibetansboth within Tibet and across the global diasporado not acknowledge him as a legitimate reincarnated tulku. This sentiment reflects long-standing concerns about the authenticity of religious appointments made or endorsed under political authority, rather than through traditional spiritual processes. China, as a one-party state led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), maintains an officially atheist stance. Historically, CCP leadership has often characterised religious belief as incompatible with Marxist-Leninist ideology. Famously, Mao Zedong once referred to religion as poison", a reflection of the partys foundational skepticism toward organized spiritual practice. Although the state now allows limited religious expression under strict regulatory frameworks, many observers note that such policies prioritize ideological conformity over genuine religious freedom. In China, thus Buddha Dhamma is often perceived less as a religious tradition and more as a cultural artifact. Chinas treatment of Buddhism reveals a stark contradiction. While the state elevates the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) as a legitimate voice in global religious forums, it simultaneously enacts policies that dismantle authentic Buddhist practiceparticularly in Tibetan regions. Monasteries are demolished, spiritual leaders are silenced, and reincarnation processes are manipulated to serve political ends. This dual strategylegitimising state-controlled Buddhism while suppressing independent religious expressionreflects a calculated erosion of religious freedom under the guise of cultural stewardship. Additionally, the Sinicisation of Buddha Dhamma by the Chinese state, under the guise of cultural integration, increasingly appears to be a calculated effort to subordinate a transnational spiritual tradition to the ideological apparatus of the Communist Party. While China asserts its sovereign right to shape religious expression within its borders, the systematic reinterpretation of Buddhist teachings to align with socialist core values and Xi Jinping Thought undermines the doctrinal integrity of the Dhamma and erodes its universal spiritual message. This politicized transformationframed as modernizationrisks reducing Buddha Dhamma to a tool of state propaganda, marginalizing authentic practice, and silencing centuries of pluralistic discourse. The complex interplay between state governance and Tibetan spiritual identity continues to evoke international concern and scholarly debate. It raises fundamental questions about cultural autonomy, spiritual legitimacy, and the appropriate role of political institutions in matters of faith. Should China attempt to replicate this maneuver with the Dalai Lamas succession, it will not only provoke spiritual outrage but geopolitical consequences. India, home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, stands at the crossroads of principle and pragmatism. Any reincarnation recognized on foreign soil would be a direct rebuke to Chinas claim of religious jurisdictiona move that could redefine the contours of Chinese diplomacy. In response, the Chinese government conducted its selection process in November 1995 at Lhasas Jokhang Temple, proclaiming Gyaltsen Norbu (b. 1990) as the state-sanctioned 11th Panchen Lama, who was formally enthroned the following month at Tashilhunpo. The Chinese appointed Panchen Lama is barely accepted by the people of Tibet who consider it compelling to attend his events; thus remaining largely unconvinced by his public engagements. There is an overwhelming resistance among the people of Tibet to accept the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama. Gendun Chokyi Nyima has remained disappeared since 1995 and is widely believed to be under state detention, where he continues to be regarded by most Tibetans as the rightful Panchen Lama. The Chinese governments unilateral appointment of its own Panchen Lama in 1995following the disappearance of Gendun Chokyi Nyima, the Dalai Lamas recognised successorwas not merely a breach of religious protocol. It was a calculated maneuver to assert ideological control over Tibetan Buddhism and undermine the spiritual agency of the Tibetan people. This act, condemned internationally, continues to reverberate as a symbol of Beijings disregard for religious freedom and cultural autonomy. The Panchen Lamas sacred role in identifying the next Dalai Lama makes this interference particularly glaring. By installing a state-sanctioned figure, China has positioned itself to manipulate the future of Tibetan spiritual leadershipa move widely viewed as an attempt to rewrite centuries-old traditions to suit political ends. Should Beijing replicate this strategy in selecting the 15th Dalai Lama, the consequences will be profound. Such a decision would not only deepen Tibetan resistance but also provoke diplomatic backlash from nations with historical and cultural ties to Tibetmost notably India, which hosts the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile. The international community must recognize this moment for what it is: a struggle not just over a religious figure, but over the right of a people to preserve their faith, identity, and history. To remain silent is to tacitly endorse the commodification of spirituality by a regime that views religion as a tool of control. Foremost among the stakeholders is the Gaden Phodrang, the institution established by the 14th Dalai Lama and based in Dharamshala, India. The Dalai Lama has declared that this trust will be the legitimate authority in determining his reincarnation. The Tibetan diaspora, spread across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and much of the Western world, plays a vital role in safeguarding the cultural and religious integrity of Tibetan Buddhism. Many members of the diaspora argue that the next Dalai Lama should be born outside Chinese influencepreferably in a free country where religious practice is not controlled. Their advocacy and support have encouraged the 14th Dalai Lama to outline clear principles for his succession, including the possibility that the institution may end if not viewed as meaningful by Tibetans themselves. The Chinese government claims authority over all Buddhist reincarnations under its jurisdiction, insisting on using the historical Golden Urn method to select the next Dalai Lama. However, many Tibetans inside China continue to revere the Dalai Lama and have sent private appeals urging him to ensure the continuation of the institution. Though public expression is tightly monitored, subtle forms of spiritual dissent endure, making Tibetans inside Tibet vulnerable stakeholders. Mongolia has a longstanding spiritual link with Tibet, rooted in the Cho-yon (patron-priest) relationship. Mongolian Buddhists largely follow the Gelug tradition, of which the Dalai Lama is the head. In recent years, the Dalai Lamas recognition of the 10th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu in Mongolia reaffirmed these connections. Mongolias spiritual infrastructure and historical reverence for Tibetan Buddhism make it a key stakeholdersome even speculate it could be a site for the 15th Dalai Lamas birth. The term Dalai Lama itself comes from the Mongolian word meaning Ocean of Wisdom. In 1578, Mongol ruler Altan Khan conferred the title upon Sonam Gyatso, the third leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. This retroactively made him the 3rd Dalai Lama, and the two previous leaders were posthumously recognized as the 1st and 2nd. In Russia, (three republicsKalmykia, Buryatia, and Tuva)form a distinct cluster of Tibetan Buddhist (Gelugpa) regions. Despite political challenges and restrictions on the Dalai Lamas visits, spiritual relations remain strong. These provinces have expressed support for his teachings, and some local leaders have voiced concern over external interference in the reincarnation process. The growing spiritual and cultural dialogue between Russian Buddhists and the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition has been further strengthened through the visits of esteemed masters such as Ling Rinpoche and Kundeling Rinpoche to Russia. These engagements represent a significant step in fostering deeper understanding and collaboration between the two communities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lastly, the Indian Himalayan region, encompassing areas like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, houses over a million Tibetan Buddhists who view the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader. Local leaders and monastic communities have voiced their support for a traditional reincarnation process. Indias quiet support for Tibetan culture has provided refuge and continuity for the Dalai Lamas teachings, making these Himalayan communities essential anchors in the spiritual landscape. Together, these stakeholders form a mosaic of belief, politics, and heritage. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama will be more than a spiritual eventit will be a referendum on the worlds willingness to confront authoritarianism in its most insidious form: the rewriting of sacred tradition to serve political ambition. Baishali Sarkar is Research Associate at International Buddhist Confederation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Baishali Sarkar Baishali Sarkar is Research Associate at International Buddhist Confederation. Baishali Sarkar is Research Associate at International Buddhist Confederation. First Published: July 21, 2025, 19:43 IST News opinion Opinion | Rebirth Or Rebranding? Reincarnation Under Surveillance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Will Brahmins Form Bedrock Of Support For Prashant Kishor In Bihar? Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 16:05 IST To be fair to Kishor, despite being born a Brahmin, he has not explicitly positioned Jan Suraaj as a Brahmin-centric party. Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor (Image: PTI/File) As poll fever gradually grips Bihar, political parties are gearing up for the campaign. The main rivals, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) (JDU), and some minor partners, and the INDI Alliance, primarily made up of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress with a few minor players, are in the process of preparing their strategies. Meanwhile, the newcomer Jan Suraaj Party is already pushing ahead with full vigour. Prashant Kishor, a notable poll manager turned politician and Jan Suraaj Partys founder is often compared to Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi politics, even though he dislikes the comparison. This label has stuck due to his intense criticism of failed political leadership, a tactic Kejriwal used effectively to gain power. Recommended Stories Although our constitution aims to create a casteless society, Indian politics remains dominated by caste. A progressive leader with broad societal appeal still needs a caste or community vote base to survive in Indias political landscape. A prime example is former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) founder Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal initially rose to prominence on an anti-corruption movement, but he managed to stay in power for almost 12 years with the support of the Bania caste, to which he belongs and which comprises six percent of Delhis voters. While the Banias voted for the BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, they shifted their support to Kejriwal in the 2015 and 2020 Delhi assembly polls. The Aam Aadmi Party could be removed from power in the 2025 assembly elections only if the Banias shift their support to the BJP. Prashant Kishor, who personally handled AAPs campaign and management during the 2020 polls and remotely controlled the 2025 polls through his company, understands this dynamic well. As Jan Suraajs leader in Bihar, Kishor emphasises moving beyond caste-based politics, focusing instead on governance, education, and employment. However, in a state where caste dynamics are deeply rooted, his upper-caste background, which he may not publicly acknowledge, limits his appeal among backward and marginalised communities. Rival parties emphasise his caste to consolidate their support bases, further complicating this perception. To be fair to Kishor, despite being born a Brahmin, he has not explicitly positioned Jan Suraaj as a Brahmin-centric party. Instead, he aims to build a broad-based coalition that transcends traditional caste alignments. This approach includes fielding candidates from diverse backgrounds, including Muslims, to appeal to a wider electorate. However, given the caste dynamics in Bihars politics, Kishor the strategist knows he needs a caste vote base to launch his party and gain broader support. This initial support in Bihar could best come from his own community in the post-Mandal era. One of the after-effects of Mandal politics in Bihar has been the marginalisation of Brahmins. Once a dominant community in Bihar politics, Brahmins, who provided five chief ministers to the state before the Mandal era, have lost prominence in all political parties. Given that Prashant Kishor is a Brahmin, the community might agree to be his partys vote foundation or continue supporting the BJP-JD (U) at the state level and candidates from their community from other parties at the local level. The Brahmin community in Bihar is at a crossroads. While their affiliation with parties like the BJP and JD(U) has provided a semblance of political inclusion, the promise of greater representation and development offered by Jan Suraaj presents a compelling alternative. They understand they have little space in the opposition alliance, where a recent statement by an RJD MLA indicated that Brahmins in politics today are on the back foot. Brahmins in Bihar constitute about 4 percent of the population, with three major sub-castes: Maithil, Kanyakubj-Saryupari, and Shakaldweepi. Maithils are predominantly in the north of Bihar, Kanyakubj are mainly in south Bihar and the Bhojpuri-speaking districts of north Bihar bordering Uttar Pradesh, while Shakaldweepi are fewer in number but spread across most districts with a major concentration in the Magadh region. There may be some smaller sub-castes as well. In a largely lawless state like Bihar, the Brahmins support for the BJP and JD(U) has provided them with a sense of security, albeit with limited representation. Shifting allegiance to a nascent party like Jan Suraaj would require assurance of tangible benefits and representation. Kishors focus on development and governance could resonate with Brahmins seeking a return to political relevance. His emphasis on systemic issues rather than caste-based mobilisation offers an alternative narrative that might attract educated and urban Brahmins disillusioned with traditional politics. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, elections in Bihar are won more in its villages than in its towns and cities. According to the caste census, 89 percent of Bihars population is rural. Only time will tell whether the Brahmin community will become the bedrock of Jan Suraajs support or continue their allegiance to established political entities. The writer is author and president, Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: July 21, 2025, 16:00 IST News opinion Opinion | Will Brahmins Form Bedrock Of Support For Prashant Kishor In Bihar? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 18:43 IST 1 / 5 Pension is the most critical financial support for senior citizens. After serving the country or state for a long time, every retired employee receives a fixed amount each month to help with their living expenses. Nowadays, not only government employees but also individuals working in private companies rely on their pensions after retirement. The pension system in India was introduced during the British period. 2 / 5 The history of pensions is more than 2,000 years old. According to historians, the pension system is first mentioned in the Roman Empire, initiated by Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC-14 AD). At that time, this system was started for soldiers. Soldiers who served for a long time in the Roman army were given land or money upon retirement, enabling them to live a respectable life even after their service ended. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 5 Within a few years, Indian soldiers and civil servants also began receiving pensions. Historians believe that the first pensions were given to British military officers, many of whom are still renowned today, such as Lord Cornwallis. It is not recorded who the first Indian pensioner was, but it is likely that one of the first individuals to retire from service was a sepoy or havildar who received a pension during British rule. 4 / 5 According to media reports, an ordinary soldier received a pension of Rs 4 to 7 per month, while a British officer received Rs 100 to 200 per month. Today these amounts seem very small, but at that time, Rs 1 could cover the expenses of an entire family for a month. Later, in 1889, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck introduced the first public pension for senior citizens over 70 years of age, transforming the pension from an honour to a right and forming the foundation of social security systems. ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:56 IST Heres all you need to know about the Agnipath scheme, which was launched in the year 2022. 1 / 9 The Indian Army is expected to release the Agniveer CEE 2025 Result soon on its official website - joinindianarmy.nic.in. (Image: AI-generated) 2 / 9 The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, 2022, was rolled out to recruit youth in the armed forces between the age of 17-and-a-half and 21 years for four years. (Image: AI-generated) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 9 It provides induction of the Agniveers into the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy for four years of service, including the training period. After four years, 25 per cent of Agniveers are permanently recruited in the Indian Army.(Image: AI-generated) 4 / 9 Agniveers are stipulated to earn a package of about Rs 4.76 lakh in the first year. It goes up to around 6.92 lakhs in the fourth year. (Image: AI-generated) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 9 Every Agniveer has to contribute 30 per cent of his monthly salary to the service fund. The same amount is contributed by the government as well. (Image: AI-generated) 6 / 9 Agniveers will have 30 per cent of their salary deducted as Seva Nidhi. This means that if an Agniveer earns Rs 30,000 he will obtain Rs 21,900 of the salary. (Image: AI-generated) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 9 In the next year, he will receive an amount of Rs 23,100 in hand and Rs 25,550 in the third year. The in-hand amount will turn out to be Rs 28,000 in the fourth year. (Image: AI-generated) 8 / 9 Agniveers have a non-contributory life insurance cover which amounts to Rs 48 lakhs. Along with these, an additional ex gratia amount of Rs 44 lakhs is dispensed in case of death during an Agniveers service. The family of the Agniveer will also receive the amount deposited as a service fund in such a scenario. (Image: AI-generated) ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:27 IST The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will begin NEET UG 2025 Round 1 counselling registration from today. Only candidates who have scored above the NEET UG cut-off are eligible to apply for this process. Heres the list of top 10 medical colleges in the country. 1 / 12 The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will begin NEET UG 2025 Round 1 counselling registration from today. Only candidates who have scored above the NEET UG cut-off are eligible to apply for this process. (File photo) 2 / 12 If youre aiming for a seat in a top medical college, it is mandatory to take part in the counselling to find out if you qualify for admission to your preferred college. Here are the top 10 medical colleges in India and their fees, as per NIRF rankings. (Image: AI-generated) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 12 At the top spot is Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The annual tuition fee is 6,075. (File photo) 4 / 12 On the second spot is Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Since it is a government-funded organisation, the fee is nominal. (Image: Instagram) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 12 Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore in Tamil Nadu is on the third spot. The first-year fee is around 41,895, while it costs around 50,000-1,00,000 per year in the subsequent years. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) 6 / 12 The National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, takes up the fourth position. Fees can range anywhere between 25,000-53,000/year based on the programme. (Image: NIMHANS) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 12 Puducherry's Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) is on the fifth spot. The first year fee is around 14,920, while in the subsequent years, it is approximately 6,770. (Image: JIPMER) 8 / 12 Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, takes up the sixth position. Since it is a government-funded organisation, the fee is nominal. (Image: SGPGIMS) ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 12 Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU (IMS-BHU) in Varanasi, UP, is on the seventh spot. Total tuition fees for MBBS is around 1.49 lakh. (File photo) 10 / 12 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, takes up the eighth position. Its MBBS fee structure is around 25 lakh per year. (Image: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham) ADVERTISEMENT 11 / 12 Kasturba Medical College (KMC) in Manipal, Karnataka, is on the ninth spot. Its first year fees is around 17.7 lakh, while it costs around 14-16 lakh each year subsequently. (Image: KMC) Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:50 IST A renewed spell of heavy monsoon rain has gripped Mumbai, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a short-term Orange Alert on Monday morning. 1 / 10 A renewed spell of heavy monsoon rain has gripped Mumbai, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a short-term Orange Alert on Monday morning. 2 / 10 The nowcast warning issued at 9:20 AM cautioned that moderate to heavy spells of rain are very likely to lash isolated parts of Mumbai and its suburbs over the next three to four hours, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 40 kilometres per hour. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 10 The alert comes amid an already active Yellow Alert window, with the IMD predicting moderate to heavy rainfall to persist through July 21, 22 and 23. 4 / 10 The department has also warned of possible localised flooding, traffic disruptions, and reduced visibility during intense spells, especially in the western and central suburbs. Mondays sharp escalation follows a night of continuous rain across South Mumbai and parts of the island city. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 10 As per the extended forecast, Mumbai is likely to remain under the influence of strong monsoonal currents at least till Thursday, with widespread rainfall and overcast skies dominating the citys weather pattern. 6 / 10 The most visible impact of Mondays morning showers was the closure of the Andheri Subway, which flooded once again after a spell of heavy rain. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 10 Traffic had to be diverted via Gokhale Bridge, and the BMC deployed pumps to clear the standing water. The subway had also been shut earlier this week due to similar conditions. 8 / 10 Other low-lying pockets including Sion, Chembur, Hindmata, Kurla and Dahisar reported light waterlogging by mid-morning. Civic teams were deployed across these areas, and the BMCs disaster control rooms were activated across all 24 wards. ADVERTISEMENT 9 / 10 The BMC and Mumbai Police have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rain, particularly in underpasses and known waterlogging hotspots. Commuters have been advised to carry umbrellas or rain gear, wear non-slip footwear, and avoid walking or driving through flooded streets. Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 19:07 IST 1 / 8 Cinema is a magical place. Obtaining opportunities on the silver screen is exceedingly challenging, and maintaining those opportunities is equally difficult. This applies to everyone, from leading actors to supporting ones. One such actor, who once acted alongside Ajith in the film Arrambam, is now working as a watchman. 2 / 8 His name is Savi Sidhu. Born in Lucknow, he moved to Chandigarh with aspirations of entering the modelling industry. However, he eventually returned to Lucknow to study law. During his studies, he joined the theatre industry to hone his acting skills. Driven by his passion for acting, he later boarded a train to Mumbai. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 8 Savi Sidhu debuted as an actor in Bollywood with the film Taaqat, released in 1995. His performance impressed director Anurag Kashyap, who offered him a lead role in the film 'Paanch'. Unfortunately, the film was never released. Despite this setback, Anurag Kashyap did not forget Savi Sidhu's talent. 4 / 8 Sidhu later played significant roles, such as Commissioner A.S. Samra in 'Black Friday' (2007) and Dileep's elder brother in 'Gulaal' (2009). Besides Kashyap's films, Sidhu also appeared in popular movies, including Patiala House (2011), D-Day (2013), and Nautanki Saala!, alongside Akshay Kumar. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 8 In Ajith's film 'Arrambam', released in 2013 and directed by Vishnuvardhan, Sidhu portrayed a member of a terrorist group. He also acted in films like 'Maska' (2020). Despite sharing the screen with big stars, his roles were often small. Although he gained recognition as an actor, he struggled to establish himself financially. 6 / 8 After the film 'Bewakoofiyaan', Savi Sidhu's opportunities in the film industry began to dwindle. By 2019, he was working as a watchman in a residential building in Lokhandwala. He tearfully explained his plight, revealing that he had lost his wife, parents, and mother-in-law in quick succession, leaving him isolated. ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 8 Devastated by personal sorrows and financial difficulties, Sidhu took up the watchman job out of necessity. He works to meet his basic needs, but even after working 12 hours a day, his salary is insufficient. Is Durga Angan Mamata Banerjees Answer to BJPs Jai Ma Kali Shift? Analysts Decode Speech Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 18:29 IST Mamata Banerjee asked, Why is it that you start remembering Ma Kali only during polls?" Bengal BJP President Shamik Bhattacharya questioned TMCs sudden love for Bengali TMC chief Mamata Banerjee addresses her supporters. (X) Following Chief Minister (CM) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjees speech at the Martyrs Day rally on Monday, political circles in Bengal are abuzz with speculation that the proposed Durga Angan is a direct counter to the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) recent shift toward invoking Bengali religious symbols like Jai Ma Kali and Jai Ma Durga in its campaign narrative. During her speech, Banerjee asked pointedly, Why is it that you suddenly start remembering Ma Kali and Ma Durga only during the elections? Ma Durga is our revered goddess, and Durga Puja has even received international recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Now listenjust as we developed Jagannath Dham, we will create Durga Angan so that people can visit and experience it throughout the year." Recommended Stories This statement has made one thing clear: Banerjee is planning to construct a permanent, temple-like complex dedicated to Ma Durga, where devotees and tourists can visit year-roundan ambitious move ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. BJPs shift from Jai Shri Ram to Matru Shakti Experts observing Bengals evolving political landscape say that the BJP, in its bid to connect more deeply with Bengali sentiments, has strategically shifted its religious rhetoricfrom Jai Shri Ram to symbols of Matru Shakti like Jai Ma Kali and Jai Ma Durga. TMC insiders believe Banerjee is not willing to let the BJP dominate this cultural-religious space. After promoting the Jagannath Temple project in Digha as an outreach to Hindu voters, she now seems focused on strengthening her connect with Bengals core religious identitycentered on Ma Durga. While some local Durga temples exist, the scale and visibility of Durga Angan suggest a much larger political and cultural plan. Observers believe that the 2026 Assembly elections will revolve around three major themes: Bengali identity (Asmita), the alleged inclusion of bogus voters, and religious polarisation. Symbols like Ram, Ma Kali, Ma Durga, and temple-building will become significant talking points. Political analysts say the Jagannath temple initiative reflected Banerjees attempt to reach out to Hindu voters amid accusations of minority appeasement. But Ma Durga and Ma Kaliiconic figures in Bengals spiritual consciousnessstrike a more emotional chord with the Bengali electorate. Durga Angan, therefore, is expected to be a key part of TMCs election strategy. We are ready to lay down our lives, but we will never accept @BJP4Indias attack on the Bengali language. Starting 27th July, protest rallies will be held every Saturday and Sunday, with the participation of people from all linguistic communities. If you come across any migrant pic.twitter.com/O84EZPdDTo All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 21, 2025 Mamata Banerjee launches Bengali language movement In a fresh political thrust, Banerjee has issued a clarion call for a Bengali Language Movement across the state beginning July 27. She has directed her MPs to stage a dharna outside Parliament in New Delhi to protest alleged discrimination against Bengali-speaking citizens. According to the TMC, several Bengali speakers are being branded as illegal immigrants and are receiving NRC notices. Mamata declared: If they arrest more Bengalis, we will take this fight to Delhi. There will be another Bhasha Andolan. They cant harass people just for speaking Bengali." TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee also announced that party MPs will begin delivering speeches in Bengali if necessary to assert linguistic rights. Mamata Banerjee threatens to gherao EC over SIR The Chief Minister also took aim at the Election Commission and raised alarms over the State Electoral Roll (SIR) issue, warning of voter list manipulation. She accused the BJP of winning in Maharashtra and Delhi by including bogus voters and deleting genuine ones. They have forcefully defeated the opposition in Maharashtra. In Bihar, they deleted names. If Bengal is next on their list, we will respond. Im known for my movements. If names are deleted here, I will take to the streets again," Banerjee declared. Abhishek Banerjee reinforced this sentiment, saying, The BJP is unleashing two Es Election Commission to control voters, and the Enforcement Directorate to silence opposition leaders." We are ready to lay down our lives, but we will never accept @BJP4Indias attack on the Bengali language. Starting 27th July, protest rallies will be held every Saturday and Sunday, with the participation of people from all linguistic communities. If you come across any migrant pic.twitter.com/O84EZPdDTo All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 21, 2025 Mamata Banerjee targets Assam, plans protest Taking a direct shot at Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Banerjee accused him of interfering in Bengals affairs while failing to govern his own state. She instructed TMC leader Sushmita Dev to organize a major protest in Assam, stating: You cant manage Assam, but youre meddling in Bengal. We will all join a protest there." BJP hits back: TMC compromising national security top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Responding sharply, Bengal BJP President Shamik Bhattacharya alleged that the TMC is compromising national security by enabling the entry of Rohingyas. He questioned the TMCs sudden love for Bengali language, citing the Daribhit incident: Where was their Bengali pride when students were shot for demanding Bengali teachers in Daribhit? They wont be in power next year." As Bengal moves closer to the 2026 polls, its clear that Bengali identity, religious symbolism, and electoral integrity will dominate the political narrative. Mamatas Durga Angan and her renewed push for linguistic rights are now central to the TMCs battle to retain powersetting the stage for a high-stakes ideological showdown. About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 18:28 IST News politics Is Durga Angan Mamata Banerjees Answer to BJPs Jai Ma Kali Shift? Analysts Decode Speech Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Wishes Pour In From Across The Political Spectrum As VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 23:12 IST Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as the Vice President of India on Monday evening, citing health reasons. Wishes poured in from across party lines following his resignation. Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as Vice President (File photo/PTI) Well wishes poured in from all sides of the political spectrum as Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar abruptly resigned from his position on Monday, citing health reasons. To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution. I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency the Honble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure," Dhankhar said in a letter addressed to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. Recommended Stories Wishes Pour In Congress MP Jairam Ramesh described his resignation as shocking" and inexplicable", and urged him to reconsider his decision. He also expressed apprehension that there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye". The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 PM today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 PM. No doubt Mr. Dhankar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye. This is not the time for speculation though. Mr. Dhankar took both the Government and the Opposition to task in equal measure," Jairam tweeted. He had fixed a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee tomorrow at 1 PM. He was also to make some major announcements related to the judiciary tomorrow. We wish him the best of health but also request him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to get Mr. Dhankar to change his mind. This will be in the nations interest. The farming community particularly will be greatly relieved," he added. The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 PM today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 PM.No doubt Mr. Dhankar has to give topmost Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 21, 2025 Congress Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram took to X and said, Vice President of India Mr Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned citing medical reasons. I wish him good health and a long life." Vice President of India Mr Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned citing medical reasons. I wish him good health and a long life P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 21, 2025 Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said he was saddened" to see him resigning from his post and wished him a healthy life. He also refrained from speculating causes behind the resignation and said that he was the most proactive" chairman of the Upper House. I wish him the best of health. I am, in a sense, saddened as I have very good relations with him. I hope he is healthy and has a long life. We may have differences in our political views. I am not going to speculate on his resignation, but he was the most proactive chairman of Rajya Sabha," he said. Shiv Sena UBT leader Anand Dubey expressed concerns on Dhankhars health and wished him well. The news of the Vice President resigning due to health reasons is concerning. We sincerely pray for his well-being. However, a question arises, today marked the first day of the Monsoon Session, and his resignation on the same day raises eyebrows. What is going on in this government? This decision came without proper consultation or discussion. If health was the concern, the resignation could have been submitted a few days before the session or even after," he said. Former Rajya Sabha MP and TMC leader Kunal Ghosh wished Dhankhar well. If its health, then I pray he should get well soon. Otherwise, Im curious, why he resigned?" the TMC leader posted on social media. Congress MP Imraan Masood pointed out that Dhankhar was in the Parliament the entire day and questioned the circumstances leading up to his resignation. He was in the Parliament House the entire day. What happened in just one hour that he had to resign? We pray that the Almighty give him a long and healthy life. I am not able to understand the reason," he said. CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar claimed that the former Vice President might be dissatisfied with some developments." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It is something quite unexpected, and we dont know what the reasons are. I dont think that the President of India will accept it. This might be an initial reaction from his side. He might be dissatisfied with some developments," he said. (With inputs from agencies) 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 22:56 IST News politics Wishes Pour In From Across The Political Spectrum As VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Kisan Putra' Jagdeep Dhankhar: From Mamata's Bete Noire To Vice-President's Chair Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 22:50 IST Jagdeep Dhankhar became Vice-President in August 2022 after his stint as the West Bengal governor, and is best remembered for his frequent run-ins with CM Mamata Banerjee Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar conducts proceedings in the House during the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi on July 21. (Image: Sansad TV/PTI) A day after Jagdeep Dhankhar called for bonhomie and mutual respect among political parties, he stepped down from the post of Vice-President citing health reasons. Only four months ago in March, the 74-year-old Dhankhar had been admitted to the AIIMS Delhi after experiencing uneasiness and chest pain. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said he wants to prioritise healthcare and abide by medical advice". Recommended Stories Dhankhar assumed the esteemed office in August 2022 when he was the West Bengal governor, and is best remembered for his frequent run-ins with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Having always positioned himself as an upholder of constitutional norms, he had a similarly eventful tenure as chairman of the Rajya Sabha with several verbal clashes with the opposition, which had moved a motion to impeach him. The motion was the first in independent India to remove a sitting VP, but was later rejected by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh. Described as kisan putra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was with him when he filed his nomination papers in 2022, he was the NDAs candidate and beat opposition pick Margaret Alva to become the second leader from Rajasthan after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to reach the high office. He has often claimed to be a reluctant politician" after he forayed into politics in 1989 on being elected to the Lok Sabha on Janata Dals ticket from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. He became a Union minister in 1990. From 1993 to 1998, he was a member of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from Kishangarh constituency. Dhankhar, like most Jat leaders from his time, was originally associated with Devi Lal and his political career began to surge when, as a young lawyer at that time, he was picked up by Lal as the opposition candidate in 1989 from Jhunjhunu parliamentary constituency then a Congress citadel and he won. He followed his mentor when he walked out of the VP Singh government and became a Union minister in 1990 in the minority government led by Chandrashekhar. Later, he joined the Congress when PV Narasimha Rao became the prime minister and Devi Lal was losing clout. But with the rise of Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan politics, Dhankhar shifted to the BJP and is said to have become close to Vasundhara Raje soon after. However, it was during a gap in his political career that he shifted focus to his legal calling for over a decade. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He started his career as an advocate in 1979 at the Bar Council of Rajasthan. He became a senior advocate, designated by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan in 1990. He was the senior-most designated senior advocate of the state till he became Bengals governor in 2019. He practised in the Supreme Court from 1990 and appeared in various high courts of India and has also served as the president of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association. Born in an agrarian household in a remote village in Rajasthans Jhunjhunu on May 18, 1951, Dhankhar completed his schooling at Sainik School, Chittorgarh; did his graduation in physics, and then pursued LLB from the University of Rajasthan. He is married to Sudesh Dhankhar since 1979 and the couple has a daughter. About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 22:06 IST News politics 'Kisan Putra' Jagdeep Dhankhar: From Mamata's Bete Noire To Vice-President's Chair Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Monsoon Session Opener Sees Govt Vs Opposition On Op Sindoor, Repeated Adjournments Follow Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 19:22 IST The Parliament Monsoon Session got off to a stormy start on Monday as the Lok Sabha witnessed a government vs Opposition showdown over Operation Sindoor. Parliament Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha sees repeated disruption by Opposition on Day 1 (PTI Image) The Monsoon Session of Parliament got off to a stormy start on Monday, as lawmakers from the Opposition benches created ruckus in the Lok Sabha, demanding a discussion on Operation Sindoor, despite assurance from the treasury benches to hold a comprehensive discussion on the subject. While the Rajya Sabha recorded routine debate and discussions and was adjourned at around 4.30 pm, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day soon after reassembling for the fourth time at 4 pm. Recommended Stories As soon as the House reconvened at 4 pm after the third adjournment, Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair, urged the MPs to let the House function to allow a bill on readjustment of Goa Assembly seats to be taken up. However, the Opposition continued to raise slogans, demanding discussion on Operation Sindoor. The House had earlier met at 2 pm after the second adjournment, when the Chair appealed to the Opposition to let the House function; however, the proceedings were adjourned till 4 pm due to continuous ruckus. Earlier in the day, Speaker Om Birla assured the Opposition MPs that the government wants to hold a comprehensive discussion on the topics raised by the Opposition and therefore they should take part in the Question Hour and Zero Hour at 11 am and 12 pm respectively. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also stood up in the House to assure the MPs that the government is ready to hold a long discussion on all issues that the Speaker gives a nod to. The government is ready to discuss any topic the opposition wants. Whatever time they need to discuss, the government is ready to answer all questions," Singh said in Lok Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also appealed to the Opposition to put forth their demand during a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which was scheduled at 2.30 pm in the day. The government is ready to reply to all the issues that the Speaker agrees to at the BAC meeting. But to raise slogans and not let the House function on the first day of the Monsoon session is unacceptable," Rijiju said in the House. As the Opposition MPs carried on with their protest in the Well of the House, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair at that moment, urged them to take their seats with an assurance that the Speaker would allow them to raise all matters that they intended to discuss. Pal also appealed to Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the lower house, to let Zero Hour function. I appeal to the leader of Opposition, I appeal to Rahul Gandhi to let the House take up Zero Hour. People of the country are watching the proceedings and seeing that the government is ready to discuss all issues, but the opposition does not want the House to function," he said. The Opposition members insisted soon after the obituary references at 11 am to take up a discussion on Operation Sindoor. Birla said that he was ready to allow the MPs to raise all issues, including Operation Sindoor, after the end of the Question Hour. I will allow you to raise all issues after Question Hour. The House will function according to rules and regulations. I cannot allow sloganeering and raising of placards," he said. Honourable members, this is Question Hour. We must try to maintain high parliamentary standards. We must try to fulfil the hopes and expectations of the people who have elected us and debate and discuss important issues of the country. Go outside the House for sloganeering. You want a discussion on Operation Sindoor, I will allow it after Question Hour. The government is ready to reply to all issues," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for running away" from discussion in the House. We want to run the House This is not the personal drawing room of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Everyone will have to stay within the rules. They are themselves running away from the discussion, because they are more interested in supporting Pakistan. They are more interested in helping the opposition forces of India. That is why they do not want to speak in the Parliament responsibly. They can hold discussions on any topic, it will be answered," the Union Minister said while speaking to news agency ANI. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 19:20 IST News politics Monsoon Session Opener Sees Govt Vs Opposition On Op Sindoor, Repeated Adjournments Follow Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opposition Wants PM Modi To Lead Op Sindoor Debate, But Here's Why Govt Prefers Rajnath Singh Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 21:27 IST The precedent was set during the Galwan Valley clashes on the Indo-China border in 2020 when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed Parliament Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha during the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi on July 21. (Image: Sansad TV/PTI) The opposition wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, but the Centre is insisting that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the charge as it was a military operation. The precedent was set during the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020 on the Indo-China border when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed Parliament. Similarly, during Operation Sindoor, Modi addressed the nation, but Singh delivered the official statement in Parliament. Recommended Stories Last year, after the political upheaval in Bangladesh when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India, it was Foreign Minister S Jaishankar who briefed both the Houses. In all-party meetings held before each Parliament session, Singh or JP Nadda typically chair them. On Monday, senior ministers met Modi in Parliament and appraised him of the oppositions demand of him making a statement on Operation Sindoor. He will be available in Parliament only next week when he returns from his foreign tour. The opposition has demanded that the Prime Minister should be present at all-party meetings and address Parliament on major issues. The Congress questioned why he was leaving for a four-day foreign tour this week when Parliament is in session and wants to discuss Operation Sindoor. The BJP views this as an attempt by the opposition parties to target Modi on every issue. The government wants to take a clear stand on US President Donald Trumps claims about the ceasefire" between India and Pakistan, as the PM did during his 35-minute phone call with Trump last month but is cautious not to affect the upcoming Indo-US trade deal. It is unclear when the discussion on Operation Sindoor will happen the opposition wants it next week when Modi returns. VIJAY UTSAV, SAYS PM MODI The PM set the tone for the monsoon session on Monday by suggesting that it should be celebrated as a Vijay Utsav given Operation Sindoors success. The opposition quickly responded. Yes, Operation Sindoor was a success and a response to terror activities from Pakistan soil. I was part of the all-party delegations that went abroad. However, you can only celebrate when you have the terrorists who carried out the attack. The closure for the families will come when these terrorists are killed or hanged. We havent yet found the terroristsand the true Vijay Utsav will be the day we do thatand also know the lapses," Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told News18. The BJP has questioned why the opposition believes Trumps claims over the countrys PM. Shiv Sena leader and NDA ally Milind Deora told News18 that the opposition should have faith in our Prime Minister over other state heads". BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Ravi Kishan said it is a victory session" for the government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We smashed Pakistan very badly and the world has seen it. I take pride in what my PM saysand I wont comment on what Trump has said," Kishan said. Congress MP Imran Masood said Modi should publicly contradict Trumps claims. We want our PM to look strong. We want the government to lay out facts," he said. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 21:26 IST News politics Opposition Wants PM Modi To Lead Op Sindoor Debate, But Here's Why Govt Prefers Rajnath Singh Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Our Eye And Heart': Veteran Communist VS Achuthanandan Dies At 101 Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 19:24 IST From a trade unionist to the CPI(M) secretary, VS Achuthanandan went on to become the chief minister of Kerala at the age of 83 CPI-M veteran leader VS Achuthanandan initiating a child into the world of letters at the 'Vidyarambham' ceremony, which marks the culmination of the nine-day Navratri festival, is considered an auspicious occasion for children being introduced to learning in Kerala. (Image: PTI) Received with great love and revolutionary slogans wherever he went, former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan was everyones favourite comrade. Youngsters called him their eye and heart", and though he rose from a life of intense struggle, his pro-people attitude made him a mass leader and a big crowd puller for the CPI(M). Anti-corruption icon, crusader for land and farmer rights, uncompromising stand on womens issues, a longstanding but now resolved feud with colleague Pinarayi Vijayan, and expelled from the Politburo for not toeing the party line and telling the truth there were many sides to Velikakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan and pivotal moments that shaped him as a leader not only dear to his peers but close to the hearts of the people of Kerala. Recommended Stories Achuthanandan, who died at the age of 101 at a private hospital in Thiruvanthapuram, was known to have lived a life full of struggles after he lost his mother at the tender age of four and then his father at 11. He started as a tailor and, later, worked at a coir factory. Achuthanandan began his political career at a young age by organising farmers, especially in Kuttanad area of Alappuzha district. From a trade unionist to the CPI(M) secretary, he went on to become the chief minister of Kerala. He was also subjected to severe police torture during the course of his political career. When he became the CM in 2006, he was 83 years old but age was never a hindrance for him. He was a skilled orator known for his peculiar singsong speech style. In his 90s, too, he campaigned extensively across the state for his party and candidates. A seven-time MLA, he held the position of opposition leader thrice in the state assembly. Some of the issues he took up include the Palmolive corruption case and Idamalayar case, in which former minister R Balakrishnapillai was jailed, making it the only one in Kerala where a former minister was convicted for corruption. He was one among 32 members who walked out of the CPI council in 1964 and formed the CPI(M), which has now lost all its founding members. He was admitted to the hospital on June 23 after a heart attack. But a stroke put him out of action five years ago. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Achuthanandans mortal remains will be taken to AKG Centre, where the public will be able to pay their respects. Later in the night, he will be taken to his residence in Thiruvanthapuram and his mortal remains will be kept at the secretariat durbar hall on Tuesday (July 22). After this, his remains will be taken to his hometown in Alappuzha in a procession from Thiruvanthapuram. His cremation will take place on July 23. About the Author Neethu Reghukumar Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported on floods ... Read More Neethu Reghukumar, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, has 12 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism. She covers politics, crime, health in Kerala, and has extensively reported on floods ... Read More Location : Thiruvananthapuram, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 19:24 IST News politics 'Our Eye And Heart': Veteran Communist VS Achuthanandan Dies At 101 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Parliament Gears Up For Stormy Monsoon Session As Debates Loom Over Op Sindoor, Electoral Roll Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:00 IST Parliament will also consider resolution seeking approval for extension of Presidents Rule in Manipur, which was imposed on February 13, under Article 356(1) of the Constitution. Parliament Monsoon Session to begin today. Representational pic/PTI The Monsoon Session of Parliament kicks off today, July 21, amid heightened political tension, as the Oppositions INDIA bloc prepares to launch a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government. Key flashpoints include the recent cross-border military operation, Operation Sindoor, and pressing domestic issues such as electoral roll revisions in Bihar. First Session Post Operation Sindoor Recommended Stories This marks the first parliamentary session following Operation Sindoor, Indias precision military response to terror camps in Pakistan. The operation was carried out after the devastating April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The Opposition is expected to demand a detailed explanation from the Prime Minister on the military action and its broader implications. Session Timeline The session is scheduled to run until August 21, 2025, with a planned adjournment from August 12 to 17 to accommodate Independence Day celebrations. In total, there will be 21 sittings over the span of 32 days. Legislative Agenda: 15 Bills on the Table Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju announced that the government intends to take up 17 items of business, including the introduction and passage of 15 bills. These include: Income Tax Bill, 2025 Introduced in February and currently under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 To update the 2017 state-specific GST Act. Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 Seeks to revise existing tax frameworks. Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025 Aims to include IIM Guwahati under the IIM Act, 2017. Additional maritime and infrastructure bills, such as the Coastal Shipping Bill, Merchant Shipping Bill, and Indian Ports Bill, as well as legal and cultural preservation bills like the Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics Bill and Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa Bill. Also expected is financial business related to Demands for Grants for Manipur (202526) and the accompanying Appropriation Bill. Opposition Demands PMs Direct Response The INDIA bloc is insisting that Prime Minister Modi personally address Parliament regarding Operation Sindoor. In addition, they have raised concerns over former US President Donald Trumps recent claims about brokering peace between India and Pakistan, calling for an official clarification. The Opposition also plans to spotlight the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging irregularities and voter deletions. Congress MP and Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, stressed the need for Modis accountability. Parliament is more important than travelling abroad," he said, referencing the Prime Ministers upcoming visit to the UK and Maldives from July 23 to 26. Key Topics Expected To Dominate Debates Beyond military and electoral concerns, the Opposition aims to bring up: Restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The April Pahalgam terror attack. Alleged irregularities in the Bihar voter revision process. Kiren Rijiju has maintained that while the government is open to discussions on any issue including Operation Sindoor debates must adhere to established rules and procedures. Final decisions on the schedule and content of discussions will be made by the Business Advisory Committees of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Presidents Rule in Manipur Parliament will also consider a resolution seeking approval for the extension of Presidents Rule in Manipur, which was imposed on February 13, 2025, under Article 356(1) of the Constitution. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:17 IST News politics Parliament Gears Up For Stormy Monsoon Session As Debates Loom Over Op Sindoor, Electoral Roll Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Monsoon Session Storm: Govt Says Ready To Debate Op Sindoor, Oppn Claims Not Allowed To Speak Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:58 IST Both Houses of the Parliament witnessed a massive ruckus as the opposition demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor. The government said it was willing to hold discussions. The Monsoon Session of the Parliament was off to a stormy start on Monday. (PTI) Parliament Monsoon Session: The Monsoon Session of the Parliament saw a tumultuous commencement on Monday as Operation Sindoor dominated discussions in both Houses. The opposition parties claimed that they were not allowed to speak, while the government reaffirmed its willingness for a discussion on the operation and accused the opposition of disrupting proceedings. The opposition raised slogans, demanding an immediate discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and the Operation Sindoor, instead of the question hour. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said in the Rajya Sabha that the opposition only wanted a discussion into the details of the operation and did not intend to politicise the issue. However, slogans continued in both Houses, disrupting parliamentary proceedings. Recommended Stories The Lok Sabha witnessed a massive ruckus as opposition parties demanded a debate and discussion on Operation Sindoor, causing the session to be adjourned twice today. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated the governments commitment towards discussion on Pahalgam and Op Sindoor. The government wants to answer on every issue. The House should function. You have not come here to raise slogans. The House functions as per the rules and regulations. All the issues raised according to the rules will be discussed," said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES HERE Not Allowed To Speak Speaking to reporters outside the House, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Defence Minister was allowed to speak, but opposition members are not being allowed to speak. This is a new approach. The convention states that if people from the government side can speak, then we should also be given space to speak. We wanted to say two words, but we were not allowed to do so," he added. In response, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and other BJP MPs slammed opposition parties for creating a ruckus on the first day of the parliament session and reiterated that the government is ready to discuss all concerns. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal took a shot at Rahul Gandhi, saying, Creating a ruckus in the House has become a habit for Congress. Rahul Gandhi himself doesnt remain in the House when a discussion is held on the questions raised by him." The Parliament is set to witness heated debates as the Opposition parties look to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, demanding accountability from the government, and to bring up the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. PM Modi Sets The Tone Before the Monsoon Session commenced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone for the parliamentary procedures with a brief address to the media, where he highlighted that the Indian military achieved all its objectives in neutralising terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The entire world has witnessed the strength of Indias armed forces," he added. During the Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, the Indian military achieved 100 per cent of its objectives." The operation was carried out after the devastating April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The Opposition is expected to demand a detailed explanation from the Prime Minister on the military action and its broader implications. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I firmly believe that when Parliament, in one voice, acknowledges and celebrates this victory, it will strengthen and encourage Indias armed forces even further," PM Modi said, while lauding all-party delegations for leading a successful campaign in exposing Pakistans role in sponsoring terrorism on the global stage. PM Modi hailed other parties for rising above party politics and contributing to the national interest after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. He also urged MPs to uphold the spirit of national unity in the House, stressing the need for collective alignment when it comes to the nations interests. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:40 IST News politics Monsoon Session Storm: Govt Says Ready To Debate Op Sindoor, Oppn Claims Not Allowed To Speak Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Mamata Banerjee Says Won't Allow SIR-Like Exercise In Bengal, BJP Reacts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 16:54 IST WB CM Mamata Banerjee accused BJP of planning a Bihar-like voter influence strategy in Bengal, criticised Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, and called for protests against BJP. Mamata Banerjee West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was planning to implement a strategy similar to Bihars Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, aiming to influence voters or manipulate outcomes. While addressing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Martyrs Day rally, the West Bengal CM said that she would not allow an SIR-like exercise in Bengal, Hindustan Times reported. Recommended Stories The Election Commission announced the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar on June 24, ahead of the states Assembly elections. This year, as the countdown to 2026 begins, Mamata Banerjee is expected to sharpen her political pitch once again ahead of the crucial poll battle. And, among key issues likely to dominate the states political narrative, and also her campaign, would be the threat" from across state lines the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, now tipped to be replicated in Bengal. The poll body on Thursday said that 94.68% of electors in Bihar had been covered under the SIR, which will end on July 25. The Opposition parties have raised concerns about the exercise, which is expected to extend to all states. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission were conspiring against Bengal" and claimed they were trying to remove Bengalis from the voter list. She called on TMC workers to organise protest rallies every weekend starting after July 27 against the BJPs attacks on Bengalis". BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya attacked Mamata Banerjee over her call for protests, questioning, What is she so afraid of?". In a post on X, the BJP leader said that she is now openly threatening to gherao the Election Commission if it dares to implement the Special Intensive Revision of the voter roll in the state. He said that in Bengal, the BJP has pointed out, duplicate voters alone number around 17 lakh, nearly three times more than in Bihar! Malviya claimed that if the SIR is implemented properly, and free and fair elections are held, it is game over for TMC." As usual, Mamata Banerjee is resorting to lies and fearmongering talking about detention camps and imaginary conspiracies," he added. The BJP leader further noted that it is the curse of Bengals people, especially its women, that will bring Mamata Banerjee down. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is now openly threatening to gherao the Election Commission if it dares to implement the Special Intensive Revision of voter roll in the state.What is she so afraid of? In Bihar, over 35 lakh fake votes, including names of the dead, pic.twitter.com/NPnTyFUtel Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 21, 2025 Meanwhile, the West Bengal CM took a jibe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, saying that he cannot properly handle his own state", adding that Himanta is meddling" in the affairs of Bengal. According to the Hindustan Times, she further questioned the Assam government on the NRC notices to a West Bengal farmer, asking, Who has authorised the BJP government in Assam to send NRC notices to residents of Bengal?" A 50-year-old farmer from Cooch Behar district in West Bengal received a notice from the Foreigners Tribunal in Assams Kamrup district, requiring the farmer to provide valid documents to prove he wasnt an illegal migrant or foreigner" The West Bengal CM also claimed that the BJP had unleashed terror" on Bengalis and their language, warning that their resistance would reach Delhi if this continues. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Mamata alleged that Bengalis in BJP-ruled states were facing harassment and vowed that the TMCs fight against the BJP would persist until it was removed from power at the Centre. Location : West Bengal, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 16:45 IST News politics Mamata Banerjee Says Won't Allow SIR-Like Exercise In Bengal, BJP Reacts Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Perplexity AI Wants To Become Your Default Web Browser On Smartphones, Will It Beat Chrome? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:52 IST Perplexity is ready to go after Google's Chrome and wants to get a pie of the smartphone browser market with a new plan. Comet wants a pie of Chrome's heavy share in the browser market Perplexity AI has made its mark thanks to the deal with Airtel thanks to the free AI Pro offer available for its prepaid and Wi-Fi users in India. Now, the company is looking to take on Google and Apple in a big way by making you switch from Chrome or Safari to its Comet browser. Yes, according to Reuters, Perplexity AI is looking to partner with phone brands to bring the Comet browser to more users or even have it pre-loaded on smartphones like Google offers its products. Recommended Stories More Battle For The Giants It looks like Perplexity is not fazed about its battle with giants like Google and Apple who have built their own ecosystem and user base by bundling their apps on devices and getting people hooked to these platforms. Comet is not a household name by any means, but the Airtel deal gives Perplexity more airtime and people will slowly start gaining interest in its web browser that goes beyond the regular stuff. The company has developed an AI-centric browser that can handle your tasks and even make you a multi-tasking champ with its ability to manage work with prompts. More importantly, reports claim that Apple executives have considered buying Perplexity AI to fuel their own ambitions and kickstart their stuttering AI journey. Comet is still limited to the higher-end Perplexity plan, and even then you have to be on the waitlist to join the new browser. Looking at the pace at which Perplexity is getting its deals done, well probably see Comet become available on phones and app stores in the next few months. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Perplexity AI free offer is applicable for all Airtel mobile, broadband and other services from the operator in the country. Perplexity Pro is a premium AI tier like ChatGPT Plus and Gemini AI Pro, offering a host of features and access to AI models like Claude and others. Airtel users can access Perplexity Pro AI subscription for one year without any extra charges and it comes bundled with their mobile or broadband plan. You just need to claim the offer available through its app and enjoy the AI service and all its features. About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More Get latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 08:52 IST News tech Perplexity AI Wants To Become Your Default Web Browser On Smartphones, Will It Beat Chrome? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Old Monk: Indias Best Rum Came From A Man Who Didnt Drink And Never Ran An Ad Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 11:17 IST Old Monk, Indias iconic rum, has built a loyal fanbase, thanks to its taste, mystery, and legacy. However, its maker never drank a single sip, choosing a teetotal life instead Old Monk is loved beyond India, with fans in over 50 countries who call it the smoothest rum ever. (News18) No bar in India feels complete without a bottle of Old Monk, the countrys most iconic rum. Convincing a dedicated Old Monk fan to switch to another brand is no easy task. Its loyal following is largely due to the fact that Old Monk has remained virtually unchanged since it was first introduced over seven decades ago. This consistency in taste and presentation has helped it become a staple in Indian households and beyond. A Taste That Stands The Test Of Time Recommended Stories Old Monk is celebrated for its distinctive, rich flavour. Around a decade ago, rumours spread on social media suggesting that Mohan Meakin Limited, the company behind Old Monk, would cease production. The speculation sparked concern among its devoted fans, prompting the company to publicly assure consumers that Old Monk was not being discontinued. In fact, it remains Indias most beloved rum and continues to enjoy widespread popularity. Interestingly, some believed the rumour to be a clever marketing tactic. However, the truth lies in a shift in promotional strategy. In 2012, Kapil Mohan, the then-chairman of Mohan Meakin, decided to stop actively marketing Old Monk. In an interview, he explained that he preferred the product to speak for itself and be shared through word of mouth. The Mystery Behind The Name The origin of the name Old Monk is still a topic of speculation. One theory suggests it comes from the wooden barrels used in rum-making, often stored in monasteries, hence the name. Another popular belief is that the rums deep, complex taste resembles the wisdom of an old man. The brands name, much like its recipe, remains shrouded in mystery, adding to its enduring charm. A Teetotalers Gift To The Rum World A surprising fact about Old Monk is that Kapil Mohan, the man who popularised the brand, never drank alcohol himself. A staunch teetotaller with a fondness for tea, he took over the family business after retiring from the army, following the death of his elder brother Ved Ratan Mohan, who originally created Old Monk. Though the brand was launched in the 1960s, it gained a distinct identity under Kapil Mohans leadership from 1973 onwards. Under his guidance, Old Monk grew in both national and international popularity, becoming the worlds best-selling dark rum by the year 2000. From Colonial Roots To Global Recognition Mohan Meakin Limited was formed shortly after Indian independence when MN Mohan, Kapil Mohans father, acquired a British-owned distillery. The company had originally been established in 1885 in Chamoli, Himachal Pradesh, by the father of infamous British officer General Dyer. Over the decades, Old Monks production soared, with sales at one point reaching 8 million bottles per day. However, the brand experienced a dip when Rakesh Mohan, Kapil Mohans nephew, sold the companys Lucknow facility to businessman Ponty Chadha, which reportedly affected distribution and sales. A Classic That Never Changed Old Monks enduring appeal lies in its consistency. Since 1954, its signature XXX rum has remained a best-seller. The brand also offers Supreme and Gold Reserve variants aged up to 12 years, yet the original seven-year-old chocolate-brown blend continues to be its most loved product. The shape of the bottle and its label design have also remained consistent, creating a sense of nostalgia and brand identity. Remarkably, Old Monk has never relied on advertising, instead building its enormous fanbase through reputation alone. Loved Across The Globe top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Old Monk isnt just cherished in India. The rum has a devoted following in over 50 countries, including the UK, USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, and the UAE. Many fans describe it as the smoothest rum theyve ever tasted, with the added bonus of rarely causing a hangover, making it a favourite for repeat enjoyment. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, 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! First Published: July 21, 2025, 11:17 IST News viral Old Monk: Indias Best Rum Came From A Man Who Didnt Drink And Never Ran An Ad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 93 Palestinians Killed As Israeli Forces Open Fire Near Aid Convoys, Says Gaza Agency Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 09:47 IST The attacks mark yet another bloody episode in the war-torn enclave where famine, displacement, and civilian casualties have become routine. Palestinians look at foodstuffs for sale at a makeshift market in the Mawasi area of Rafah. (AFP) At least 93 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded on Sunday after Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on crowds scrambling for humanitarian aid in multiple parts of Gaza, according to the territorys civil defence agency. The attacks mark yet another bloody episode in the war-torn enclave where famine, displacement, and civilian casualties have become routine. Mass Casualties Near Aid Points Recommended Stories The heaviest toll came in northern Gaza, where 80 people were reported dead as trucks carrying aid were mobbed by starving civilians. Nine others were killed near Rafah a southern city already reeling from earlier strikes while four more died in Khan Yunis, the civil defence agency told AFP. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that its 25-truck convoy was caught in the chaos, saying it encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire" soon after crossing into Gaza near Gaza City. Disputed Claims and Growing Alarm Israels military disputed the death toll, saying its soldiers fired only warning shots" in response to what it described as immediate threats. However, Palestinian eyewitnesses described the events as a massacre. The tanks were firing shells randomly Israeli snipers were shooting as if they were hunting animals in a forest," said Qasem Abu Khater, 36, who witnessed the carnage in Gaza City. With media restrictions and limited access, AFP said it could not independently verify the casualty figures or full details of the incidents. But humanitarian agencies expressed growing alarm over what they describe as a pattern of deadly attacks on civilians seeking aid. According to the UN, nearly 800 aid-seekers have been killed since late May, often along convoy routes. Church Hit, Pope Condemns Barbarity Sundays violence came days after an Israeli strike hit Gazas Holy Family Church, killing three people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret to Pope Leo XIV, calling the strike accidental. But Pope Leo, in his Angelus prayer, decried the barbarity" of war and slammed continued attacks on civilians and places of worship. In a rare move, Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited Gaza and held mass at the bombed church, highlighting the increasingly desperate conditions. Humanitarian Space Shrinking Rapidly With 87.8% of Gaza now under evacuation orders or militarised zones, more than 2.1 million civilians are confined to just 12% of the territory, the UNs humanitarian agency OCHA reported. Essential services have collapsed, and people are squeezed into fragmented zones" with no guarantee of food, shelter, or medical care. The Israeli army issued a new displacement order Sunday, warning residents in Deir el-Balah to evacuate ahead of imminent operations. Eyewitnesses described families fleeing with children on donkey carts and no clear destination. They threw leaflets at us We dont know where we are going. We dont have shelter or anything," a displaced resident told AFP. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all UN Official Expelled, Accused Of Lies In a separate development, Israel revoked the residency permit of Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN OCHA office in Israel, after he repeatedly criticised the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Whittall of spreading lies" about the war. About the Author Abhro Banerjee Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ... Read More First Published: July 21, 2025, 09:38 IST News world 93 Palestinians Killed As Israeli Forces Open Fire Near Aid Convoys, Says Gaza Agency Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'This Is Not Okay': Alaska Airlines Fleet Grounded Due To 'IT Outage', Passengers Stranded Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:54 IST The airline said it experienced an "IT Outage" that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop" for all flights. It was resolved, but not before leaving passengers stranded. All flights of Alaska Airlines were grounded briefly after an IT outage. (AFP) Alaska Airlines was hit by an IT outage" on Monday, forcing the airline to ground all aircraft till operations went back to normal. The airline apologised for the disruption and urged travellers to check their flight status. The airline said that around 11 pm ET (8:30 am Indian time), it experienced an IT Outage that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights." Horizon Air is the Alaska Air Groups subsidiary serving mainly the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Recommended Stories Alaska Airlines later resumed operations, saying that it will take some time for overall operations to get back to normal. The ground stop was lifted at 2 am (11:30 am IST), but not before leaving several passengers stranded. A ground stop is an air traffic control measure that restricts certain planes from taking off and requires them to remain on the ground, according to the FAA, causing potential travel disruptions and delays. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) status page showed all destinations affected by the halt of Alaskas mainline aircraft. We apologise for the inconvenience," Alaska Airlines said. As we reposition our aircraft and crews, there will most likely be residual impacts to our flights." Alaska Airlines has resolved its earlier IT outage and has resumed operations. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and encourage guests to check your flight status before heading to the airport. Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) July 21, 2025 Backlash From Passengers The ground stop drew a fierce backlash from passengers who were stranded for hours. This is brutal. Weve been sitting at the airport for two hours," wrote a user on X. Its 10:20 pm, people are tired, hungry, etc. This is not okay." Video from a passenger aboard a grounded flight at SeattleTacoma International Airport shows travellers waiting to deplane as a crew member is heard apologising on the PA system and calling it a very, very frustrating night". As soon as we landed, we moved to the middle traffic lane, and they let us know there was a malfunction in the computer system," Chris Fabregas, a passenger who had flown in from Nashville, told CNN. Last year, Alaska Airlines had experienced a similar IT outage that caused significant disruption to its operations, including delayed flights. Multiple users had complained that they were facing difficulties accessing its app and website. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The incident also comes more than a year after a door plug section of a newly delivered Boeing 737 Max 9 blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight between Portland, Oregon and Ontario, California in January last year, which caused several Boeing aircraft operated by US airlines to be grounded. (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 Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:54 IST News world 'This Is Not Okay': Alaska Airlines Fleet Grounded Due To 'IT Outage', Passengers Stranded Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 27 Killed, 78 Injured After Bangladesh Air Force Training Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 11:37 IST Bangladesh Plane Crash: The Bangladesh government has declared a one-day state mourning over the tragedy The jet crashed shortly after take off. (Pic: Video @defencealerts) Bangladesh Plane Crash: A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed into a school campus in northern Dhakas Uttara on Monday shortly after takeoff, killing at least 27 people while leaving 78people injured, local media reported. Among the deceased are 25 children, many of them under the age of 12, with extensive burn injuries. The Bangladesh government has declared a one-day state mourning over the countrys deadliest aviation disaster in decades, as per Daily Star. Recommended Stories So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot," said Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, adding that 78 people are being treated in different hospitals. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the Bangladesh interim government, expressed condolences over the plane crash, and this is a moment of profound pain for the nation. He also said the government will take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident. How Crash Happened? According to Bangladeshi news outlet Prothom Alo, the aircraft had departed at 1:06 pm, and the crash occurred soon after in a residential area of Uttara. Initial reports indicate that the F-7 BGI aircraft crashed onto the roof of the canteen at Milestone College. Earlier, it was reported that 171 people were injured after the crash, but the government on Tuesday said 78 people were being treated in hospitals. The plane fell on the gate and crashed nearby. Classes were in session when the plane crashed with students inside. The injured are being taken out one by one," Shah Bulbul, a Milestone School and College spokesman, was quoted as saying by bdnews24. Videos of the aftermath of the crash showed a big fire near a lawn emitting a thick plume of smoke into the sky, as crowds watched from a distance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Firefighters sprayed water on the mangled remains of the plane, which appeared to have rammed into the side of a building, damaging iron grills and creating a gaping hole in the structure, Reuters TV visuals showed. The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in Indias Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the worlds worst aviation disaster in a decade. 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 Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:25 IST News world 27 Killed, 78 Injured After Bangladesh Air Force Training Jet Crashes Into Dhaka School Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Disgrace To Humanity': Belgian King Denounces 'Humanitarian Abuses' In Gaza | Watch Curated By : Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 22:24 IST Belgium's King Philippe termed the Gaza bombings as a "disgrace to humanity." His rare political statement supports the UN's call to end the crisis. Belgian King Denounces 'Humanitarian Abuses' In Gaza (Credit-Reuters) Belgiums King Philippe reacted strongly to the bombings in Gaza. He described it as a disgrace to humanity" in a speech on the eve of Mondays national day. Philippes statement is gaining a lot of attention on social media as it is quite unusual to hear such direct statements from a monarch who avoids public politics. I add my voice to all those who denounce the serious humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs while trapped in their enclaves," his statement at his palace in Brussels was quoted by Reuters. Recommended Stories The current situation has gone on for far too long. It is a disgrace to all of humanity. We support the call by the United Nations Secretary-General to immediately end this unbearable crisis," he added. King of Belgium on Gaza:The current situation has gone on far too long. This is a disgrace to humanity." pic.twitter.com/kW6Ds5G8sB The Resonance (@Partisan_12) July 21, 2025 Philippes strong and clear public statement marked his first outspoken stance on a conflict. Belgiums federal government has been more reserved in its criticism regarding the Gaza conflict. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The kings role in Belgium is limited to offering advice, support, and warnings to the government, without engaging in political decision-making. Israel began its attack on Gaza after an October 2023 attack by Hamas-led fighters on Israeli towns, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken. Since then, Israeli forces have killed over 59,000 people in Gaza, according to health officials. Much of the area has been devastated, and Israel has restricted food and other supplies. Location : Brussels, Belgium First Published: July 21, 2025, 22:24 IST News world 'Disgrace To Humanity': Belgian King Denounces 'Humanitarian Abuses' In Gaza | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'If My Little Kids Are Away': Elon Musk Returns To 7-Day Workweek, Sleeping In Office Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 14:13 IST Elon Musk is back to a seven-day workweek, sleeping in the office due to pressures at Tesla, SpaceX, X, and new AI and government projects. He admits it's painful. Known for his extreme work ethic, the Tesla boss shared an old video reflecting on the toll such a work life has taken on him. Known for his extreme work ethic, the Tesla boss shared an old video reflecting on the toll such a work life has taken on him. (Image: AP/File) Billionaire businessman Elon Musk announced he has returned to a grueling schedule of working seven days a week and sleeping in the office. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk on Sunday described himself as being in wartime mode," a term he uses to signal periods of intense focus and nonstop effort during critical phases at his companies. Known for his extreme work ethic, the Tesla boss shared an old video reflecting on the toll such a work life has taken on him. Admitting the routine is painful and harmful, Musk said, No one should put these many hours into work. This is not good. This is very painful. It hurts my brain and my heart." Recommended Stories Back to working 7 days a week and sleeping in the office if my little kids are away https://t.co/77cc6sRCFZ Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 20, 2025 Notably, this is not the first time Musk has adopted such a demanding work schedule. In several interviews, the billionaire has admitted that he works relentlessly whenever required. In 2018 interview with CBS 60 Minutes, Musk had revealed he adopted a challenging task of working for 120 hours in a week during Teslas Model 3 production crisis. During that period also, he slept on the factory floor to lead by example, he said. Musks current return to this intense lifestyle comes amid mounting pressures at several ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, and new projects in AI and government reform. He recently claimed that his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) also followed a 120-hours workweek, far outpacing bureaucratic opponents" who work only 40 hours. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Musks relentless work style is not only restricted to him but to his employees as well. After acquiring Twitter in 2022, he demanded staff commit to long hours at high intensity" or face consequences. Reports surfaced that Twitters San Francisco office was converted into makeshift dormitoriesdubbed the Twitter Hotel"prompting an investigation by the citys Department of Building Inspection. Responding to the scrutiny, Musk had criticized the city authorities for their actions. So the city of SF attacks companies providing beds for tired employees instead of making sure kids are safe from fentanyl, he had tweeted in response. Throughout his career, Musks extreme dedication has been both praised and criticized, reflecting the high stakes and personal sacrifices behind his ambitious ventures. 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 Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: July 21, 2025, 14:13 IST News world 'If My Little Kids Are Away': Elon Musk Returns To 7-Day Workweek, Sleeping In Office Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'It Would Start When I Was Asleep': UK Politician's Wife Alleges Rape By Ex-Husband Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:16 IST When Kate married Andrew back in 2013, he was 'very personable', she revealed, also highlighting how the abuse continued for years. Kate Kniveton, a politician from the United Kingdom, alleged years of sexual assault by husband (Credits: Instagram) Kate Kniveton, a politician from the United Kingdom, who served as Burtons MP from 2019 to 2024, has opened up about the abuse she faced during her marriage. Recounting the horrific ordeal, she alleged that her husband and former MP, Andrew Griffiths, would sexually assault her while she was asleep. She also claimed that her ex-husband would scream at their newborn and, on one occasion, even told their newborn daughter to shut the f*** up" when she cried for a feed, according to a report by Metro. Recommended Stories Kate claimed that when she threatened to report him, he dismissed it, saying, Nobody would believe you." People dont think it can happen to professional middle-class people but domestic abuse has no boundaries, it can affect absolutely anybody. When I was elected, I made a promise to be an advocate for victims of domestic abuse. I am traumatised not just by the 10 years of abuse I experienced but the following five years where he continued to use the legal system to abuse me," she was quoted as saying. When Kate married Andrew back in 2013, he was very personable, charming and charismatic", she revealed, also highlighting how the abuse continued for years while it looked like a perfect" relationship from the outside. He was very personable, charming, and charismatic. In hindsight, I can see there were warning signs but I always put it down to him being under a lot of pressure," she said. For most people looking in from the outside, our relationship was perfect, but the abuse had been going on for several years. Every time I said I was going to go to the police, Im going to report you, hed always say, Nobody would believe you, Kate. Im the MP here. Ive got a great relationship with the police they all think Im the blue-eyed boy," she added. She further alleged that she was sexually assaulted by her husband while she slept. It would start when I was asleep Id wake up and he would have started having sex with meSometimes Id just think let it carry on but there would be other times when I would cry. And those times hed sometimes stop-not all times-but then hed be in a foul mood if he did. I remember hed be kicking me until he kicked me out of bed. And I would go into our spare room and barricade myself in another room for the night or leave the house," she claimed. Kate, who separated from her husband in 2018 after enduring years of abuse, recalled the breaking point in their relationship when she realised her newborn was also in serious danger. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A family court ruled that Andrew had raped and assaulted his wife in December 2021, three years after he resigned as small business minister after allegedly sending over 2,000 sexually explicit messages to two female constituents. Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:16 IST News world 'It Would Start When I Was Asleep': UK Politician's Wife Alleges Rape By Ex-Husband Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Japan PM Ishiba Vows To Stay On After His Coalition Loses Majority In Upper House Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 08:03 IST In a stunning rebuke, Ishiba's coalition lost its majority in the country's upper house amid frustration over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs. The future of Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba's leadership is uncertain after the upper house setback. (Reuters) Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he has no plans to quit after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the countrys upper house to a right-wing populist party, in a stunning rebuke that threw the future of his leadership into uncertainty. Having already lost its majority in Japans more powerful lower house in October last year, Ishibas coalition received a drubbing in the Upper House after his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito won only 47 of the 125 seats in a tightly-contested election on Sunday, short of the 50 needed for a majority. Recommended Stories Voters expressed frustration over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs, and turned to right-wing parties. The far-right Sanseito party won 14 seats, up from one seat, giving it a significant presence in the upper house, while the centre-right Democratic Party won 22. The centre-left main opposition Constitutional Democratic party won 37 seats. Harsh Result Speaking to the press after polls closed on Sunday, Ishiba said he solemnly" accepted the harsh result" but vowed to stay on to deal with trade negotiations, as Japan faces a tariff deadline of August 1 with the United States. Asked whether he intended to stay on as prime minister and party leader, he said: Thats right. Its a difficult situation, and we have to take it very humbly and seriously." However, the setback will weaken Ishibas position just days before the country needs to negotiate a deal with the Trump administration for reaching a trade deal to avoid punishing US tariffs. Three LDP PMs before Ishiba have resigned within two months after losing majority in the upper house. If Ishiba does go, it was unclear who might step up to replace him now that the government needs opposition support in both chambers to pass legislation. The embattled Prime Minister, who has never been popular within his own party, had struggled to inspire confidence as Japan reeled from a cost-of-living crisis and trade negotiations with the US under Donald Trump. Most voters are also unhappy with the string of political scandals that have dogged the LDP in recent years. Rising Frustration Among Voters Exit polls in Japan showed that opposition parties advocating for tax cuts and welfare spending have struck a chord with voters. Sanseito, which emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic by spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations, gained wider support among frustrated voters with its Japanese First" campaign. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The party has sought stricter rules and limits" on immigration, a ban on radical" gender policies, and a rethink on decarbonisation and vaccines. Last week, it was forced to deny any links to Russia after one of its candidates was interviewed by Russian state media. Despite delivering a setback to the LDP, the opposition is fragmented, and chances are slim that the parties can form an alternative government. However, pressure is growing on Ishiba to reach a trade deal with Trump to avoid US tariffs of 25% on August 1. 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 Location : Tokyo, Japan First Published: July 21, 2025, 07:54 IST News world Japan PM Ishiba Vows To Stay On After His Coalition Loses Majority In Upper House Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... You Can Only Shoot Me: Chilling Last Words Of Pakistan Woman Killed By Family For Honour Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:02 IST Police in southwestern Pakistan arrested 11 suspects after a viral video showed a couple murdered for marrying without family approval, sparking outrage in Balochistan. Couple Shot Dead For Marrying By Choice A disturbing video showing a young couple being shot dead in Pakistan is going viral. As per the authorities, this is a case of honor killing; the newlyweds were killed for marrying without familys approval. The video is being widely circulated and has caused an uproar in the country. Pakistan police have arrested 11 suspects in relation to the case. As per the local police, no family members came forward to report the incident. The couple has been identified as Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah, and the police also released names of some suspects. Recommended Stories The viral video was viewed by The Associated Press and the police confirmed the authenticity of the footage. The killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan, said Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. The video shows a man killing the young couple at close range in daylight in the presence of several onlookers. In the video, several men arrive in pickup trucks in a mountainous region, and a young woman, speaking the local language, says she is legally married. Come, walk seven steps with me, and then you can only shoot me," she was quoted by AP as saying. However, her context was not clear. The footage further shows a man following the woman and he shoots her three times before she collapses on the ground. He then shoots and kills her husband before another man takes out a gun and joins him in shooting the groom. The video ends with both victims lying bloodied on the ground. This was an honor killing in Balochistan, Pakistan, which is not an act of humanity but rather resembles Israeli brutality.This is totally against Islam. ISLAM says; If they truly love, then theres no bond better than Nikah. pic.twitter.com/iSg0x8uKGQ Ukht Irum Fatima (@Irum_Fatimaa) July 20, 2025 The incident has caused a stir in the country as honor killing cases are still common in Pakistan. After the video went viral, activists demands for justice and a stop to so-called honor killings have amplified. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The bravery shown by the slain woman is both humbling and remarkable, as she neither begged for her life nor showed any weakness," Farhatullah Babar, a Pakistani human rights activist, was quoted by AP. A tribal elder, Sardar Satakzai, ordered the couple killed after the brides brother complained she married without his consent, said police chief, Naveed Akhtar. Both were among the 11 arrested in a series of raids, and authorities were looking for nine more suspects, he said. Location : Pakistan First Published: July 21, 2025, 16:14 IST News world You Can Only Shoot Me: Chilling Last Words Of Pakistan Woman Killed By Family For Honour Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Russia Retaliates Against Ukraine Drone Barrage, Kills 2 In Latest Airstrikes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 16:38 IST Ukraine's drone attack on Russia led to a retaliatory strike with missiles and drones, killing two and injuring 15. Zelenskyy claimed the attack caused widespread damage. It is learnt the airstrikes has caused widespread damage and fire in several parts of the country. (Image: X/@ZelenskyyUa) A day after Ukraine launched a drone attack against Russia, the latter retaliated overnight with firing Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and drones towards it. The Russian attack claimed two lives and left at least 15 injured, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday. Russia reportedly targetted Ukrainian military and airfield sites with the latest airstrikes. It is learnt the airstrikes caused widespread damage and fire in several parts of the country. Recommended Stories President Zelenskyy in a recent post said that efforts were on to rescue people affected by the attack. Zelenskyy claimed over 420 drones and 20 missiles hit Ukraine till Monday morning. Taking to X, Zelenskyy wrote, Throughout the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones. The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning.(sic) Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities following the Russian attack. Damage has been reported in Kyiv and the region, as well as in the Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Attack drones were also intercepted over the Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, pic.twitter.com/wuNfaMwWk8 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 21, 2025 Accusing Russia of targetting civilians, Zelenskyy further wrote, Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region. 15 people have been injured, the youngest is a 12-year-old boy. Everyone is receiving assistance. Two people were killed in the attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones.(sic)" Russia launches group strike with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and drones, targeting Ukrainian military and airfield sites Defense MinistryAll targets hit Footage shows aftermath at Kiev military locations pic.twitter.com/zEMorvY6DW RT (@RT_com) July 21, 2025 A video capturing the aftermath of the attack at Kiev military locations has surfaced on social media platform X. In the video, plumes of smoke can be seen. The Ukrainian drone barrage on Moscow between Saturday and Sunday forced closure of major airports in the city, UK broadcaster BBC said in a report. The report added that the sustained drone attack campaign by the Ukrainians led to cancellation of over 140 flights. It also said that over 230 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russia since Saturday morning of which 27 were downed over the capital, citing data from the Russian defence ministry. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to move toward a peace settlement for Ukraine but Moscows main objective is to achieve its goals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television in a clip published on Sunday. Peskov said that the world was now accustomed to U.S. President Donald Trumps sometimes harsh" rhetoric but pointed out that Trump had also underscored in comments on Russia that he would continue to search for a peace deal. 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 Location : Kyiv, Ukraine First Published: July 21, 2025, 16:38 IST News world Russia Retaliates Against Ukraine Drone Barrage, Kills 2 In Latest Airstrikes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... When Bollywood Glitz Meets Fraud: How The Mukherjees Orchestrated A $4 Million Scam In Texas Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:13 IST Sidhartha Mukherjee and Sunita presented what appeared to be ironclad contracts, including forged invoices and signaturesclaiming fictitious deals with Dallas Housing Authority The couple would captivate audiences with Bollywood performances, creating an aura of credibility and class that made even the most skeptical attendees drop their guard. (X) In the upscale neighbourhoods of Plano, Texas, Sidhartha Sammy" Mukherjee and his wife Sunita stood out as the epitome of glamour in the local Indian-American community. Known for their Bollywood-style performances and high-society charity galas, the couple built a glittering reputation that dazzled hundredsincluding those who would soon become their victims and be defrauded of more than $4 million. According to CBS News Texas, the Mukherjees scheme hinged on their ability to win the trust of their victims. They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople. But they will take every single penny you have," said Terry Parvaga, a local resident who lost her entire $400,000 retirement nest egg to the Mukherjees promises of high returns through real estate investments. Recommended Stories Victims like Parvaga were drawn in at glamorous events and networking parties, where Sammy, born Sidhartha, spoke passionately about his business acumen and vast charity work. Their reputation was strengthened by appearances at community events and well-publicised fundraisers. A Times of India report said the couple would captivate audiences with Bollywood performances, creating an aura of credibility and class that made even the most skeptical attendees drop their guard. It was at these very gatherings, surrounded by the trappings of success and social proof, that the Mukherjees would pitch their cant-miss investment opportunities. One of the victims, while speaking to the media, said: He was so persuasive, so convincing. And he made you feel like you were part of something big." The Mukherjees ruse was elaborate. They presented investors with what appeared to be ironclad contracts and official documents, including forged invoices and signatureseven claiming fictitious deals with the Dallas Housing Authority, Hindustan Times reported. A victim group led by Seshu Madabushi said they had no reason" to doubt him. He looked successful, showed us all the paperwork, gave us regular updates, and even introduced us to other investors." The group collectively contributed over $128,000 to what turned out to be a non-existent real estate project named Roseland Estates. At first, everything seemed above board. Early investors even received supposed returns", paid out with money from newer victimsa classic Ponzi move. But as more and more people joined in and the payouts began to lag, suspicions grew. The Mukherjees reportedly continued to smooth over doubts with excuses, glitzy parties, and promises of even bigger projects in the pipeline. However, the facade began to crumble when the case caught the attention of Euless Police Detective Brian Brennan. The Financial Express reported that Brennan described Sammy Mukherjee as probably the most prolific fraudster Ive seententacles stretching in every direction". Initially, the cases were chalked up to civil disputes. Still, as the gravity of the scam became apparentwith total losses exceeding $4 million and more than 100 victimslocal police worked with the FBI to unravel the elaborate scheme, FE added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Mukherjees were finally arrested in June 2025 and held in an immigration detention facility. They now face serious charges, including first-degree felony theft, with authorities labeling the operation as one of the largest and most elaborate" frauds to hit the region in recent years, CBS News Texas said. For Planos Indian-American community and the many victims who trusted the Mukherjees, the fallout has been painful and sobering. I still cant believe it," said one investor. We all wanted to believe in their dream. We never saw the nightmare coming." About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S... Read More Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:13 IST News world When Bollywood Glitz Meets Fraud: How The Mukherjees Orchestrated A $4 Million Scam In Texas Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Ellen DeGeneres Relocated To UK? Comedian Reveals If Trump Was The Reason Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 18:52 IST The comedian revealed that she and her partner have permanently settled in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Beyond her personal life, DeGeneres also reflected on the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show Popular show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres has been away from the United States for a while. After months of speculation, she has now confirmed her relocation to the United Kingdom. On July 20, during an event hosted at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, England, DeGeneres opened up about her move and what led her to make the decision. It comes as no surprise that she, along with her wife Portia de Rossi, made the move following Donald Trumps re-election as US President. Speaking with broadcaster Richard Bacon, the comedian revealed that she and her partner have permanently settled in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. She initially moved to the UK in November, just a day before the US election. The results, she said, motivated her to stay permanently. She also expressed her relief about the decision, according to the BBC. Recommended Stories Its absolutely beautiful," she said. Were just not used to seeing this kind of beauty." Appreciating the natural surroundings, DeGeneres praised everything from the villages and towns to the architecture, calling it a simpler way of life." She added, We love it here. Portia flew her horses here, and I have chickensand we had sheep for about two weeks." Its not just the landscape that drew her in. DeGeneres also highlighted how the political climate in the UK feels more stable and welcoming, especially in contrast to the US under Trumps leadership. She voiced concerns over LGBTQ+ rights in America, revealing that she and de Rossi are even considering getting remarried in the UK. The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage," she said. Theyre trying to literally stop it from happening in the future and possibly reverse it." She described how unsettling it feels to live in a place where people cant be their true selves. I wish that we lived in a society where everybody could accept other people and their differences," she said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Beyond her personal life, DeGeneres also reflected on the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which concluded in 2022 after 19 seasons. The show faced backlash in its final years amid reports of a toxic work environmentclaims DeGeneres has previously addressed. Looking ahead, she said she will be more selective about her next projects. I want to have fun. I want to do something," she noted. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 18:52 IST News world Why Ellen DeGeneres Relocated To UK? Comedian Reveals If Trump Was The Reason Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'You Don't Get A Pass, You Get Justice': US House Foreign Affairs Panel Hails TRF Terror Tag Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:46 IST The panel also reiterated its criticism of global media coverage of the Pahalgam attack, accusing outlets of downplaying what it called a clear act of terrorism Designating TRF as Foreign Terrorist Organisation carries significant legal ramifications, including stringent financial sanctions. (AP Image) The US Republican Majority on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has welcomed the designation of Pakistan-based The Resistance Front (TRF) as a global terrorist outfit. The group, which the US designated as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) in its announcement, was labelled both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The Resistance Front is a foreign terrorist organization and deserves the designation," the committees official X handle posted. When you butcher civilians, you dont get a passyou get JUSTICE." Recommended Stories President Trump calls it like it is. The Resistance Front is a foreign terrorist organization and deserves the designation.When you butcher civilians, you dont get a passyou get JUSTICE. pic.twitter.com/herLQe8gas House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) July 19, 2025 The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, less than three months after the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where TRF claimed responsibility for the killing of 26 civilians. It was one of the deadliest attacks targeting civilians in the region in recent years. The Resistance Front first emerged in Kashmir in 2019, shortly after the abrogation of Article 370. It was widely seen as an attempt by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba to rebrand its operations under a new name to avoid global scrutiny. Since then, TRF has claimed responsibility for several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, many of which have targeted off-duty security personnel, civilians from outside the region, and minority communities. The FTO and SDGT designations trigger sweeping measures including financial sanctions, asset freezes, visa bans, and criminal penalties for those providing any form of material support to the group. TRF, the State Department noted, serves as a front for LeT, an internationally proscribed terror group, and operates to obscure the latters direct involvement in attacks. Indian authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over such proxy outfits being used to bypass global sanctions. On July 19, the committee also cited its earlier post from April 23, in which it had criticised international media coverage of the Pahalgam attack particularly a New York Times headline that read: At Least 24 Tourists Gunned Down by Militants in Kashmir." At the time, the committee had responded with a corrected graphic, replacing the word militants" with terrorists" in bold red, writing: Hey, @nytimes, we fixed it for you. This was a terrorist attack plain and simple. Whether its India or Israel, when it comes to terrorism, the NYT is removed from reality." Reposting that on July 19, the committee reaffirmed: It was a terrorist attack simple and straightforward." It was a terrorist attacksimple and straightforward. https://t.co/zfMMWFnPm8 House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) July 19, 2025 The House Foreign Affairs Committee is a permanent committee in the US House of Representatives. It handles bills and investigations related to Americas foreign relations. The latest US action is expected to bolster international scrutiny of Pakistan-based terror proxies, particularly at forums like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where the countrys counterterror commitments remain under watch. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India welcomed the US decision, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar describing it as a strong affirmation" of India-US counter-terror cooperation. Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRFa Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxyas a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for Terrorism. #OpSindoor," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X. 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 First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:46 IST News world 'You Don't Get A Pass, You Get Justice': US House Foreign Affairs Panel Hails TRF Terror Tag Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... News / Local by Staff Reporter No more than two dogs may be kept on a property measuring less than 2000m, and no more than four on properties larger than 2000m. Dogs must not be allowed to roam outside their premises without restraint. Dogs must be kept on properties that are securely fenced, walled, and gated. Hedges are not considered acceptable barriers. All dogs within the Council area must be vaccinated against rabies and licensed. The City of Bulawayo has issued an urgent directive to all dog owners following a spike in dog bite incidents caused by stray and unrestrained animals.In a public notice released on Sunday, 20 July 2025, and shared via the City of Bulawayo's official Facebook page, authorities announced the enforcement of a citywide "Tie-Up Order" effective from Monday, 21 July to Thursday, 31 July 2025. The operation will be carried out in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Department of Veterinary Field Services, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).During this period, any stray dogs found roaming the streets will be shot. Residents are urged to take immediate steps to secure their dogs in compliance with the Bulawayo (Dog Licensing and Control) by-laws.Key Regulations for Dog OwnersAccording to the notice:Residents with insecure premises are required to take corrective measures immediately, while those keeping more dogs than permitted are advised to surrender the excess animals to the SPCA located on Magazine Road, Thorngrove, by 5 May 2025.Appeal for Responsible Pet OwnershipThe City Council is also urging dog owners who can no longer provide proper care to voluntarily surrender their pets to the SPCA to avoid unnecessary suffering or potential penalties.In closing the notice, Acting Town Clerk M. Tshalebwa reiterated the city's commitment to public safety and urged residents to comply fully with the by-laws to prevent the destruction of animals and protect the general public.For further inquiries, residents may contact the City of Bulawayo's dog control department or the SPCA directly. The firm, which was busted by police last week for manufacturing alcoholic beverages in unhealthy conditions and without following regulations guiding the industry, had been doing it for a decade. It even boasted of supplying prime liquor brands with a special taste which the Zimbabwean people deserve. Mambo Beverages didnt even hide its operations and documented them on its official website. It teased its clients with promotional messages including Taste The Best Of The Best, Make Your Life Electric, and Experience The Challenge, Live Large. It challenged its clients to Let your taste buds enjoy a roller-coaster ride by giving them nothing but the best of spirits. It even claimed it was a firm which produced specially processed liquor (using) advanced techniques to keep the flavour. The company claimed in its promotional material online: This collection is the outcome of years of experience of Mambos blender, working, experimenting with different concentrations and flavours to give an electrifying experience. Passionate dream provide world-class alcoholic beverages. A great taste is what deserves the people of Zimbabwe. With this idea in mind we thought of producing the best in class alcoholic beverages which can even beat international standards. Now, its beverages, worth more than US$165,000, have been confiscated by the police after a raid on its premises last week. Its the latest raid in a blitz targeting companies and individuals involved in the manufacturing and distributing of alcoholic drinks without proper documents. Police noted unhealthy conditions when they raided Mambo Beverages, which was operating without proper documents, in Southerton, Harare. Its the latest raid in a blitz which has been going on for a number of months now. More than 30 suspects, who included directors and managers of Mambo Beverages, were arrested. Police have arrested more than 30 suspects in connection with manufacturing and distributing alcohol without proper documents, said national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi. Police investigations centred on establishing if these companies satisfy requirements, including health inspections and Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe tests. Police detectives noted with concern that Mambo Beverage had been operating for the past 10 years in which it failed to renew some documents, used ingredients that included ethanol and with unverified measure and quantities. Some of the used containers picked from the streets were being used to refill alcohol manufactured and distributed to various shops around the country. Herald When a Michigan family rescued a stray cat, they probably weren't expecting the feline's owner to be locatedin Germany. And yet that's what happened after the Oceana County Animal Friends took in the kitty and got it checked for a microchip, WZZM-13 reports. The rescue organization was able to contact Olga Heigis, the registered owner of the cat, who explained what had happened: The cat, named Trixie, went missing shortly before Heigis relocated from Michigan to Germanyin 2020. Heigis is now planning to fly back to the states to retrieve her long-lost animal companion. The 13-year-old step-grandson of television star Dog the Bounty Hunter was fatally shot by his father in a tragic accident, sources tell TMZ . Gregory Zecca, the son of the reality star's wife Francie from a previous marriage, was at his Florida apartment with his son, Anthony, when the shooting took place Saturday night, sources say. Police called the situation an "isolated incident" and said the investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made. Dog, real name Duane Chapman, starred in his original show with his then-wife, Beth Chapman, and other family members; she died in 2019, and he has said he and his current wife became close as they both grieved their late spouses. They wed in 2021, and Zecca has worked on his stepfather's bounty hunting team. "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony," Chapman and his wife said in a statement shared by the Hollywood Reporter. Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition failed Monday to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, further shaking the stability of his government as Japan faces challenges such as rising prices and high US tariffs, the AP reports. Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito, which needed to win 50 seats on top of the 75 seats they already have to retain their majority, won 47 seats. It was three seats short of a majority and a retreat of 19 seats from before the vote. The loss is another blow to Ishiba's coalition, making it a minority in both houses following its October defeat in the lower house election, and worsening Japan's political instability. It was the first time the LDP has lost a majority in both houses of parliament since the party's formation in 1955. Alaska Airlines on Sunday night requested a ground stop for its entire fleet of planes, the Federal Aviation Administration says in an advisory. The fifth-largest airline in the US, which as of April operated 238 planes plus another 45 under the Horizon Air brand, requested the stop for its aircraft as well as those belonging to its subsidiary, the New York Times reports. A problem with the airline's information technology systems is to blame, NBC News reports. "We requested a temporary, systemwide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved," the airline says in a statement. "There will be residual impacts to our operation throughout the evening." Alaska Airlines resumed operations early Monday after grounding all of its planes for about three hours. An IT outage late Sunday forced the airline to halt its entire fleet, as well as planes from subsidiary Horizon Air, for the second time in just over a year, per Reuters. About three hours later, the airline said operations had resumed, but that "it will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal," per the New York Times. It did not explain what caused the outage. The issue follows a string of hacks affecting airline IT systems, including last month's attack against Alaska Air Group-owned Hawaiian Airlines. News / National by Staff reporter China's recorded holdings of US Treasuries have fallen below those of the UK for the first time since the start of the century, underlining a shift in Beijing's management of its foreign reserves.The value of Treasuries held by Chinese investors, as recorded by US banks and custodians, fell to $765bn at the end of March, down from $784bn in the previous month. Those held by UK investors rose almost $30bn to $779bn, according to data published late on Friday.The crossover makes UK investors the second-largest foreign holders of US Treasuries, after Japan. It is the first time UK holdings have been higher than China's since October 2000 and is the latest sign that Beijing is seeking to diversify away from US assets."China has been selling slowly but steadily; this is a warning to the US," said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at Natixis. "The warning has been there for years, it's not sudden the US should have acted on this well before."The data will come as a cautionary signal for the US administration, following news that Moody's has followed Fitch and S&P in stripping the world's largest economy of its triple-A credit rating, citing its growing debt and deficit.Beijing has been gradually reducing its official holdings of US treasuries from a peak of more than $1.3tn in 2011, diversifying into other assets including US agency bonds and gold. Some of the fall in the value of China's holdings could also reflect market moves.Analysts believe China also holds a growing proportion of its US assets through third party custodians, including Euroclear in Belgium and Clearstream in Luxembourg, which obscures the true level of its holdings. Luxembourg's Treasury holdings by value were flat in March, while Belgium's increased by $7.4bn from February.China's enormous Treasury pile is the result of a multi-decade trade surplus with the US, which President Donald Trump is now seeking to reduce. But officials in the US administration have expressed concern over foreign selling of Treasuries, which pushes yields up and makes debt refinancing more expensive.The proportion of China's Treasury holdings that were in short term bills, the most liquid securities that can be most easily sold off in a crunch, hit its highest level in March since 2009."Based on the visible data, there is no doubt that China has shortened the maturity of its US portfolio," said Brad Setser, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former US Treasury official.The rise of the UK's recorded holdings does not reflect its own reserves. Rather, analysts said, it reflects London's role as a domicile for international capital.Holders in Europe include insurers, banks and custodians. Some hedge funds hold Treasury securities and arbitrage by selling futures or swaps, positions known colloquially as "basis trades".Setser said the UK number "likely [reflects] an increase in Treasuries held by global banks, the availability of custodial services in London and potentially some of the activity of hedge funds".Analysts said that the data, which only shows moves until the end of March, did not reflect any action taken by China after Trump's "liberation day" escalation of his trade war."It is possible that China could have made significant changes in its reserve management in the last six weeks that will only become clear with more time," said Setser. The New York Times has been digging into the decades-ago friendship between President Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, and its coverage suggests no criminal activity on Trump's part. But one story includes an interview with a woman who alleges an unpleasant encounter with Trump back in 1995. As the Times frames it, her recollection is an example of the type of thing that might be in the full investigative files of Epstein in regard to the president. Maria Farmer says Epstein, for whom she worked, called her into his luxury Manhattan building late one night. She arrived in running shorts and says Trump came in after her. From the story: Well, when you duct-tape a perishable fruit to a wall, call it art, and sell it for $6.2 million, there is just bound to be a hungry museum-goer around. When last we checked in on the previous iteration of the banana known as The Comedian by Italian artist and general rapscallion Maurizio Cattelan, it had sold for the above-mentioned rather-more-substantial-than-35-cents sum to crypto investor Justin Sun, and was promptly consumed by him. As ArtNet reports, it's happened again, this time when a visitor at the Pompidou museum in Metz, eastern France, swiped the banana from the wall and put it down the hatch on July 12. Note: As you can plainly see, Dr. Cook was the butt of many jokes, however he did one great thing for Fairbanks. Because of the local outrage of his false claim regarding Denali, Fairbanks Mens Igloo No. 4 of the Pioneers of Alaska was formed out of the defunct Yukon Order of Pioneers. This was part of the effort to fund the Sourdough Expedition, and they have been active ever since. This accredited History Nugget has been proudly brought to you by Fairbanks Mens Igloo No. 4 and Womens Igloo No. 8 of the Pioneers of Alaska who would like to remind you that you can learn more about the Pioneers of Alaska at pioneersofalaska.org. News / National by Staff reporter Three members of the renowned Sekusile Sitshikitsha traditional dance group lost their lives on Sunday in a tragic road traffic accident along the Gweru-Bulawayo highway. The group was returning home from Mutare after participating in the just-ended Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival held at the Mutare Showgrounds.Other members of the group sustained minor injuries in the accident and are currently recovering at home.Sekusile Sitshikitsha had been proudly representing Matabeleland North province at the prestigious cultural event, which celebrates Zimbabwe's rich traditional dance heritage.In a joint statement, the festival's sponsors Delta Corporation, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) expressed their profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the entire artistic community."The loss leaves an irreplaceable void in our artistic community," the statement read. "We also stand in solidarity with members of Sekusile Sitshikitsha dance group as they deal with the aftermath of this ordeal."The accident has cast a shadow over the traditional arts community, with many mourning the loss of passionate cultural ambassadors who had dedicated their lives to preserving and showcasing Zimbabwe's heritage through dance.Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced as families and the dance fraternity come to terms with the sudden tragedy. 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. TOKYO, Jul 21 (News On Japan) - The results of the House of Councillors election held on July 20th have been finalized, with the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito winning a combined total of 47 seats, falling short of the 50 needed for a majority in the upper chamber. The LDP secured 39 seats while Komeito won 8. Together, the coalition failed to reach the benchmark of 50 seats, resulting in the ruling bloc losing its majority in the House of Councillors. In the 32 single-member districts nationwide, the LDP was defeated in 18, winning only 14a disappointing outcome. Among opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition group, was unable to expand its presence, remaining at 22 seats. However, the Democratic Party for the People saw significant gains, increasing its seat count more than fourfold from 4 to 17. Similarly, Sanseito surged from 1 seat to 14. Despite the loss of the upper house majority, Prime Minister Ishiba has expressed his intention to remain in office. He is scheduled to hold a press conference on the afternoon of July 21st to outline his administrations future direction. Source: TBS HOKKAIDO, Jul 21 (News On Japan) - To tackle the growing issue of overtourism, authorities in Biei, Hokkaido, have banned parking around the scenic "Seven Stars Tree" for one month starting July 18th. Despite cloudy skies and a weekday schedule, large crowds of tourists continued to gather near the popular photo spot on July 18th. Some foreign visitors were even seen posing for pictures in the middle of the road. This time of year coincides with the wheat harvest in Biei, and parked tourist vehicles have been obstructing the passage of agricultural machinery, raising concerns among local farmers. In response to requests from the town, police introduced parking restrictions in 2024. The latest measures cover two segments of town roadstotaling about one kilometercentered around the Seven Stars Tree. The no-parking order will remain in effect through August 15th. Source: HBC Canadian owned and operated burger chain, A&W Canada, rallies support for MS Canada with the help of multiple CCMA and JUNO Award winner Jess Moskaluke VANCOUVER, BC, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - On August 21, A&W Canada is rallying the nation to support a cause close to Canadians' hearts on its annual Burgers to Beat MS Day a fundraiser for Canadians affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). For every Teen Burger sold on Burgers to Beat MS Day, A&W will donate $2 to MS Canada. Since its inception in 2008, the fundraiser has raised more than $21.7 million to support MS research, programs and services for Canadians affected by MS. A&W Burgers to Beat MS Day 2025 (CNW Group/A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.) As a Canadian owned-and-operated business, and the country's original burger chain since 1956, A&W prides itself on its Canadian roots and its commitment to supporting a cause close to Canadians. The country has one of the highest rates of MS in the world and is home to some of the world's leading MS researchers. Starting today, you can donate to MS Canada by rounding up any purchase at an A&W restaurant, donating in restaurants, online at BurgersToBeatMS.ca, through the A&W app, or by adding a donation when ordering A&W on the UberEats app. "As a proudly Canadian company, we're committed to supporting important causes that matter to Canadians," says Susan Senecal, President and CEO of A&W Canada. "Each year, A&W franchisees go above and beyond in their communities for Burgers to Beat MS Day with fundraising traditions like raffles, car shows and live music that bring the community together. We look forward to Canadians joining us again on August 21 as we help beat MS, one burger at a time." Rallying Support to Beat 'Canada's Disease' MS is a neurological disease affecting the central nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Over 90,000 Canadians live with the disease and approximately 12 people are diagnosed every day. Funds raised from this campaign help MS Canada continue offering programs that improve the quality of life of the MS community, and fund research aimed at answering the most challenging questions about MS. "Burgers to Beat MS has truly transformed lives across Canada since day one," says Dr. Pamela Valentine, President and CEO of MS Canada. "Every Canadian living with MS inspires our mission, and it's incredible partnerships like the one we have with A&W, that amplify our ability to make positive impact. The funds we raise together don't just support researchthey drive breakthroughs, expand access to vital support and wellness programs, and empower us to advocate for real, lasting change. Together, we're creating a brighter future for everyone affected by MS." Music That Makes a Difference This year, A&W is partnering with internationally celebrated and multi-platinum CCMA and JUNO-award winning Canadian country music artist Jess Moskaluke, who has a personal connection to MS. "My dad was one of the 90,000 Canadians living with MS, so my family and I understand the impact the disease can have on the individuals living with MS and those around them," says Jess Moskaluke. "I've always loved supporting local and partnering with A&W and MS Canada, and Burgers to Beat MS Day allows me to support a well-loved Canadian business while using my platform to raise critical awareness and funds for all Canadians affected by the disease." A Celebration in Saskatoon Ahead of Burgers to Beat MS Day, A&W and Jess Moskaluke will host a free public meet-and-greet event on Thursday, August 7th at an A&W in Saskatoon the birthplace of the Burgers to Beat MS campaign, and Jess's home province. When : Thursday, August 7 , 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. : , Where : A&W, 2512 8th Street East, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan , S7H 0V6 : A&W, 2512 8th Street East, , S7H 0V6 Details: Guests can meet Jess Moskaluke, take photos, receive an autograph, buy Teen Burgers, and enter to win tickets to her upcoming Saskatoon show on the Life For Me Tour. MS Canada representatives can provide information about MS and accept donations at the event. Burgers to Beat MS Day is a great opportunity to connect communities and is a powerful example of Canadians helping Canadians. Whether heading to a local restaurant in person, enjoying A&W via delivery, donating directly to the campaign online or at the Jess Moskaluke meet & greet event, everyone can come together on August 21st and beat MS one burger at a time. Susan Senecal, Pamela Valentine, Jess Moskaluke or an MS Canada Ambassador are available for interviews between July 21 and August 21. About A&W Canada A&W is proud to be a Canadian company 100% Canadian owned and operated, and one of the most trusted brands in the country. We believe in helping our customers take small, simple actions for the good of people and the planet. From serving 100% grass-fed beef, to offering reusables, and fundraising in support of Canadians living with multiple sclerosis, we strive to make a positive impact in all the communities we operate in across Canada. Home of Canada's Best Tasting Burgers, we serve Canadians coast to coast with over 1,070 restaurants across the country. For more information, please visit aw.ca. About MS Canada At MS Canada, we are inspired by the vision of a world free of multiple sclerosis. We focus on support, advocacy and research that will positively impact the lives of people living with, and affected by MS. For over 75 years, we have been a trusted connection for the MS community to valuable resources and programs needed on their unique MS journey. We advocate for policy change that removes barriers and improves the well-being of persons affected by MS in Canada. We invest in life-changing research that will advance treatment and care, enhance well-being, help to understand and halt disease progression, and ultimately prevent MS. For more information visit mscanada.ca About multiple sclerosis (MS) Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world. On average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed every day. MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 49. MS is a continuous disease process that progresses through different stages over time, and everyone experiences it differently as severity, symptoms and response to treatment can vary from one person to the next. The unpredictable, episodic yet progressive nature of MS makes it particularly challenging to maintain an adequate quality of life. About Jess Moskaluke Internationally acclaimed artist Jess Moskaluke continues to push boundaries in country music with her powerhouse vocals, pop-infused hooks, and fearless genre-blending. Her latest single, "I Ain't Country," follows the momentum of "Life For Me," marking a bold new chapter in her sound. As a trailblazer in Canadian country, she was the first female artist since Shania Twain to earn Canadian Platinum status with "Cheap Wine and Cigarettes," and has since collected numerous Gold certifications and chart-topping hits, including her first #1, "Country Girls." A 2017 JUNO Award winner and multi-time CCMA recipient, Moskaluke has graced global stages from the UK to Australia - where she earned her first #1 with "Go Get Er." Her 2021 album The Demos and its standout "Mapdot" led to her first national headlining tour, and she'll return to the road in fall 2025 for the Life For Me Tour. Offstage, she's a passionate advocate and mentor, supporting MS Canada and founding the Jess Moskaluke Youth Award to elevate emerging talent in Saskatchewan. Join the conversation and connect with the MS community online. Find MS Canada on X , Instagram or like our page on Facebook. SOURCE A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Erin O'Driscoll, Senior Account Manager, Strategic Objectives, [email protected], 647-232-6924 RICHMOND HILL, ON, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, Mazda Canada is pleased to announce that Amy Fleming, Senior Director & Chief Operating Officer, and Bryan Leaitch, Director, Sales Operation Strategy, have both earned a spot on Automotive News Canada's 2025 Canadians to Watch list. This honour highlights emerging leaders who are driving innovation, shaping the future of the automotive industry, and making a meaningful impact in their organizations. Amy Fleming, Senior Director, Chief Operating Officer of Mazda Canada (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.) Bryan Leaitch, Director, Sales Operations Strategy of Mazda Canada (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.) Amy and Bryan have been with Mazda Canada for 19 and 14 years respectively, during which they've held multiple leadership roles across key areas of the business. Last month, it was announced that Amy Fleming will assume the role of President & CEO of Mazda Canada on October 1, 2025, succeeding David Klan upon his retirement. Her recognition on this list underscores the organization's confidence in her proven leadership and clear strategic focus. "We are incredibly proud to have not just one, but two Mazda Canada executives recognized on this year's list," said David Klan, President & CEO of Mazda Canada. "Amy and Bryan are driving meaningful change through their visionary leadership, innovative thinking, and extensive industry knowledge - all grounded in a people-first philosophy that inspires teams and strengthens our culture. Their proven ability to deliver results, navigate change, and shape strategy has given them a deep understanding of the organization and its evolving priorities. This recognition is a well-deserved reflection of their achievements to date, and I am confident their impact will continue to grow, both within Mazda Canada and across the broader industry." About Mazda Canada Inc. Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 retail stores. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca. Follow @MazdaCanada on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads. About Automotive News Since 1925, Automotive News has been the primary source for news happening among automotive retailers, suppliers and manufacturers. Distinct from other publications in the field, Automotive News remains a fully subscriber-paid publication, a testament to the value it delivers to the reader. The award-winning weekly print edition, robust website, email newsletters, podcast and video broadcasts are backed by a global team of more than 65 editors and reporters. SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc. Sandra Lemaitre, Mazda Canada Inc., [email protected]; Krista Tzanopoulos, Mazda Canada Inc., [email protected] MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Medtech Canada, the national association representing the medical technology industry in Canada, released the following statement from President and CEO, Nicole DeKort, on the continued tariff and sanction threat facing Canada: "As negotiations continue between Canada and the United States on a trade agreement, Medtech Canada is calling on our federal government, provinces and territories, and the U.S. government to take a "Zero-for-Zero" approach to medical technologiesexempting these life-saving products from any tariffs or sanctions on either side of the border due to their critical role in enabling patient care and the continuity of care in both countries' health care systems. We commend the federal government for its current tariff relief on medical technologies and other health care products, and would urge the government to continue with this approach in any new trade agreement. If a renewed economic and security trade deal with the U.S. is not reached, then the current six-month relief on these products must be extended indefinitely. We also reiterate our call to provincial and territorial governments to immediately remove any procurement sanctions that restrict patient and clinician access to medical technologies. Tariffs and sanctions are not merely an economic issuethey are a public health risk. Patients, healthcare providers, and innovators depend on open, predictable, and fair trade in medical technologies to save and improve lives. Given the global humanitarian implications of tariffs on medical technologies, a zero-for-zero approach to tariffs is being advocated for globally through the Global Medical Technology Alliance (GMTA)i, a coalition of national and regional medtech associations (including Medtech Canada) representing the vast majority of the world's medical device, diagnostic, and digital health innovators. We call on the federal government, as well as our provincial and territorial leaders, to join this vital global effort to safeguard our health care systems and prioritize the health and well-being of patients. Patients must come firstalways." About Medtech Canada Medtech Canada is the national association representing the medical technology industry in Canada. The association advocates for achieving patient access to leading edge, innovative technology solutions that provide valuable outcomes. Medtech Canada members are committed to providing safe and innovative medical technologies that enhance the quality of patient care, improve patient access to health care, and help enable the sustainability of our health care system. The medical technology industry in Canada employs over 35,000 Canadians in approximately 1,500 facilities across the country. www.medtechcanada.org SOURCE Medtech Canada Gerry Frenette, Vice-President, Public and Member Relations, Medtech Canada - [email protected] PICKERING, ON, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - MTL Cannabis Corp. (CSE: MTLC) (OTCQX: MTLNF) ("MTL" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has filed the annual financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2025. Complete details may be found at www.sedarplus.ca. Full Year Consolidated Financial Highlights for MTL: Income Statement: Revenue of $105,239,109 , an increase of $22,175,221 , or 27%, compared to $83,063,888 in the prior year. , an increase of , or 27%, compared to in the prior year. Gross margin before fair value adjustments of 55%, an increase of 9%, compared to 46% in the prior year. Operating Income of $16,051,858 , an increase of $11,439,188 , or 248%, compared to $4,612,670 in the prior year. , an increase of , or 248%, compared to in the prior year. Net Income and Comprehensive Income of $6,826,256 , an increase of $4,376,733 , or 179%, compared to $2,449,523 in the prior year. , an increase of , or 179%, compared to in the prior year. EBITDA (1) of $21,722,218 , an increase of $12,495,154 , or 135%, compared to $9,227,064 in the prior year. of , an increase of , or 135%, compared to in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $20,266,508 , an increase of $7,622,341 , or 60%, compared to $12,644,167 in the prior year. (1) See "Non-IFRS financial measures" section for reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Statement of Cash Flows: Net cash inflows from operating activities of $18,230,108 , an increase of $4,499,228 , or 32%, compared to $13,780,880 in the prior year. , an increase of , or 32%, compared to in the prior year. Net cash used in investing activities of ($5,484,584) , an increase of ($3,273,646) , compared to ($2,210,938) in the prior year. , an increase of , compared to in the prior year. Net cash used in financing activities of ($8,416,701) , a decrease of $2,238,657 , compared to ($10,655,358) in the prior year. , a decrease of , compared to in the prior year. Overall net cash increased to $5,680,958 , an increase of $4,328,823 , or 320%, compared to $1,352,135 at the beginning of the fiscal year. Additionally, the company was able to demonstrate retained earnings of $5,705,091, an increase of $6,319,256, or 1029%, compared to an accumulated deficit of ($614,165) in the prior year. Management Commentary: "We've entered a new era at MTL as we move from building the foundation to achieving record-breaking results," said Michael Perron, CEO of MTL. "This achievement reflects the dedication of our people, the strength of our disciplined operating model, and our team's ability to execute at a high level. We have built a strong and scalable platform, and at the core of it all is an unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality products and services to our patients and customers. I am deeply grateful to the entire MTL team for making that possible." Richard Clement, Chair of the board of directors, commented "I am extremely proud of our team for their focus, determination, and the incredible efforts to help build the company to what it is today. We look forward to continuing to deliver strong results for our customers, patients, and shareholders." Non-IFRS financial measures In addition to results reported in accordance with IFRS, the Company uses certain non-IFRS financial measures as supplemental indicators of its financial and operating performance. These non-IFRS financial measures include Adjusted EBITDA. The Company believes these supplementary financial measures reflect the Company's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful period-to-period comparisons and analysis of trends in its business. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as income (loss) from continuing operations, as reported, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, financing costs, gains and losses on sale of marketable securities, interest and accretion, share-based payments, change in fair value of biological assets realized through inventory sold, and unrealized gains and losses on changes in fair value of biological assets. The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of the cash generating capacity of its business. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to assist with comparatives to other companies by eliminating variability resulting from differences in capital structures, management decisions related to resource allocation, and the impact of fair value adjustments on biological assets and inventory, which may be volatile on a period-to-period basis. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to net income (loss), cash flow from operating activities or other measures of financial performance defined under IFRS. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are intended to provide a proxy for the Company's operating cash flow and are widely used by industry analysts and investors to compare the Company to its competitors and derive expectations of the future financial performance of the Company. The Company's method of calculating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may differ from other companies and, accordingly, they may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. The table below provide a reconciliation of Net Income as reported under IFRS in the annual financial statements to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for each of the twelve-month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. 2025 2024 Net Income (loss) $6,826,256 $2,449,523 Income Tax Expense $1,828,172 ($662,739) Finance Expense $7,401,781 $3,490,433 Amortization & Depreciation $5,666,009 $3,949,847 EBITDA $21,722,218 $9,227,064 Share-Based Compensation $764,188 $61,777 Fair Value Adjustment on Sale of Inventory $5,577,289 $6,201,313 Fair Value Adjustment on Biological Assets ($7,797,187) ($2,845,987) Adjusted EBITDA $20,266,508 $12,644,167 About MTL Cannabis Corp. MTL Cannabis Corp. is the parent company of Montreal Medical Cannabis Inc. ("MTL Cannabis"), a licensed producer operating from a 57,000 sq. ft. licensed indoor grow facility in Pointe Claire, Quebec; Abba Medix Corp., a licensed producer in Pickering, Ontario that operates a leading medical cannabis marketplace; IsoCanMed Inc., a licensed producer in Louiseville, Quebec growing best-in-class indoor cannabis, in its 64,000 sq. ft. production facility; and Canada House Clinics Inc., operating clinics across Canada that work directly with primary care teams to provide specialized cannabinoid therapy services to patients suffering from simple and complex medical conditions. As a flower-first company built for the modern street, MTL Cannabis uses proprietary hydroponic growing methodologies supported by handcrafted techniques to produce products that are truly craft for the masses. MTL Cannabis focuses on craft quality cannabis products, including lines of dried flower, pre-rolls and hash marketed under the "MTL Cannabis", "Low Key by MTL" and "R'belle" brands for the Canadian market through nine distribution arrangements with various provincial cannabis distributors. MTL Cannabis has also developed several export channels for bulk and unbranded GACP quality cannabis. It is MTL's goal for Abba Medix Corp. to become the leading distributor of medical cannabis in Canada and for Canada House Clinics to be the leading Canadian provider of medical cannabis clinic services. For further information, please visit www.mtlcorp.ca/ or the Company's public filings at www.sedarplus.ca. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information. This press release contains forward- looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the Company's clinic, production and technology businesses, its future plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information in this news release include, the regulations related to cannabis use under the Cannabis Act (Canada); Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities and repay its outstanding indebtedness; level of competition; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; the ability to execute strategic plans; continued integration of business unit, expansion activities at all our operating locations; and the leveraging of cash flow from operations to accelerate growth and further improve the Company's balance sheet. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Listing Statement dated August 14, 2023 and its most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE MTL Cannabis Corp. For further information, please contact: Michael Perron, CEO, MTL Cannabis, 1-877-685-2266, [email protected] News / National by Staff reporter A Glen View woman has secured legal protection from her niece, whom she accused of wrecking her marriage and attempting to take over her matrimonial home.Sunday Sande approached the Harare Civil Court seeking relief after a bitter family feud, accusing her niece, Adijah Sande, of seducing her husband and moving into her marital home under the guise of being the new "lady of the house."Testifying before magistrate Ms Johanna Mukwesha, Sunday Sande told the court how she had taken in her niece following the death of her parents and supported her through school despite financial hardships."I took this girl in when her parents passed away. I took care of her and sent her to school with the little money I had," Sande said. "Now she dares to call herself my husband's wife."Sunday described her niece's actions as not only a personal betrayal but also a disgraceful erosion of family and cultural values. She alleged that Adijah, whom she labelled a known commercial sex worker in Glen View, had effectively turned her once peaceful home into a brothel."My home has become a disgrace. I can't even invite my churchmates or neighbours because there are always strange men coming in and going out. I am living like a squatter in my own house," Sande lamented.She further told the court that her niece's clients and associates frequently played loud music, drank alcohol, and caused disturbances deep into the night, leaving her feeling unsafe and humiliated in her own home.Adding to her anguish, Sande said her husband had openly declared his love for the niece and no longer provided for her or acknowledged her as his wife. "I don't know what charm this girl has used, but my husband no longer speaks to me, gives me money for groceries or bills, and now she is collecting rentals from tenants in the cottage," she said.Sunday also accused her niece of verbally and physically abusing her, recounting multiple occasions where she was insulted and assaulted during household disputes."She calls me old, useless, and finished. How can a niece disrespect her aunt like this?" she asked the court. "She even told me to pack my bags and leave her house in front of the tenants."In her defence, Adijah Sande claimed she was merely a victim of an already broken marriage and that her uncle had pursued her willingly after years of alleged emotional neglect by his wife."I'm not the problem. My uncle and aunt had been fighting for years before I came into the picture. He came to me because he found peace with me," Adijah said.She denied operating a brothel, insisting her friends were simply visitors and dismissed the claims of assault, alleging that her aunt was the one who often provoked and attacked her.However, magistrate Ms Mukwesha ruled in favour of Sunday Sande, granting her a protection order against her niece. The court warned Adijah to respect her aunt, to refrain from bringing strangers into the home, and to stop presenting herself as the legitimate wife of the house.The ruling brings temporary relief to Sunday Sande, though the underlying family tensions are likely to persist. SURREY, BC, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - In a delicious celebration of family, tradition, and fun, this Diwali, Nanak Foods and Nintendo of Canada invite Canadian families to gather around timeless Indian favourites like Rasmalai, Gulabjamun and Aloo Tikki, while creating unforgettable family moments with the magic of the Nintendo Switch 2 system. Nanak x Nintendo (CNW Group/Nanak) Diwali is a time for light, laughter, and meaningful connectiona celebration that brings families and friends together in the warmth of shared traditions. This festive season, by pairing delicious, ready-to-enjoy Nanak dishes with the joy of light-hearted competition and cooperative play on Nintendo Switch 2, this collaboration aims to celebrate the moments that bring us all together. Whether it's sharing the joy of playing with Mario and friends - available on Nintendo Switch 2, the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch - OLED Model, and Nintendo Switch Lite systems- or savouring the rich tastes of India, it's about celebrating the little moments and creating lasting family memories. To keep the fun going, from August 1 to October 31, 2025, Nanak Foods are giving Canadians the chance to win the new Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle*, so families can experience the magic of playing together. The system is home to a variety of exclusive games and Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of games, including Mario Kart Word, Donkey Kong Bananza and Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. Have family living abroad? No problem! With the addition of GameChat** on Nintendo Switch 2, players can talk like they are in the same room, even if they're miles apart. Whether sharing a victory or just waving hello with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, GameChat makes it feel like online friends are right there on the couch in your living room. Nintendo is not a sponsor, co-sponsor, or administrator of this contest. *Limited-time production through Fall 2025 (available while supplies last). ** Internet, Nintendo Switch Online membership and Nintendo Account required for online features, including GameChat. Compatible USB camera required for video features. Not available in all countries. Terms and GameChat requirements apply. support.nintendo.com. Games, systems, memberships and some accessories sold separately. Until March 31, 2026, GameChat can be used without a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat. About Nanak Foods Founded in 1997, Nanak Foods is North America's leading processor of traditional South Asian dairy-based foods. Specializing in paneer, ghee, yogurt, and a wide variety of ethnic appetizers and desserts, Nanak Foods operates CFIA-, FDA-, and EU-approved facilities that meet the highest standards of quality and food safety. Headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, with an additional production facility in Bellingham, Washington, Nanak brings the authentic taste of South Asia to households across the globe. Committed to innovation and community, Nanak is currently expanding in a new 300,000 sq.ft. state-of-the-art facility in South Surrey to enhance its product offerings and support continued growth. SOURCE Nanak Manan Buch, Manager - Marketing and Key Accounts, 604 594 9190 ext. 151, [email protected] National Alliance of Anti-nuclear Movements (NAAM) Press Release For Immediate Release Contact: S. P. Udayakumar, Ph.D. Mobile: 98656 83735 Email: spudayakumar[at]gmail.com Do Not Amend the Nuclear Laws Put Indians Interests First New Delhi, July 21, 2025: The Indian government, headed by the BJP that claims to be Indian nationalists should give utmost importance to the interests and well-being of Indian citizens. They should refrain from amending the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 in order to facilitate private companies participation in the construction and development of nuclear reactors in India, and to fetch foreign direct investments for the nuclear industry. According to Section 3 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, the Central Government alone has the power to produce, develop, use and dispose of atomic energy either by itself or through any authority or Corporation established by it or a Government company and carry out research into any matters connected therewith. If this particular stipulation is changed, it will pave the way for the entry of private players not just as equipment suppliers but also as operators of nuclear power plants and Small Modular Reactors. Having private companies as operators is rather dangerous given the unique nature of nuclear energy, emanation of fissile material, management of nuclear waste, and various threats posed to the overall safety and security of the common people. As far as the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, is concerned, it provides a mechanism for victims to claim compensation for damages caused by nuclear incidents, and creates a clear legal framework for dealing with nuclear liability in India. However, this act puts the entire onus of providing compensation on the operator of nuclear power plants and lets the supplier go scot-free. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) is the operator of all our reactors right now and this public utility will end up paying compensation to the public with their own tax money. And the right of recourse provisions allow the operator to seek compensation from the supplier only if such right is included in a written contract, or when a nuclear incident results as a consequence of an act of supplier or his employee, or from the act of commission or omission of an individual done with the intent to cause nuclear damage. All of this literally means there is hardly any possibility of getting any supplier liability at all. Even as it is, we are unhappy with the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, because it caps the total liability amount to 300 million SDRs (Special Drawing Rights). This works out to just about a paltry US$ 460 million (Rs. 3,910 crores) per accident. This paltry sum of $460 million is even less than the compensation amount of US$ 470 million given to the victims of Bhopal Gas Disaster way back in 1989, which was a gross under-assessment of liability even then. Further, the Act pegs the liability of the operator at Rs. 1,500 crores per incident, with the further proviso to lower it down to even paltrier Rs. 300 crores for spent-fuel reprocessing plant accidents. Even in case of an accident in a privately-operated nuclear power plant, the amount of liability exceeding the above cap will have to be paid by the Indian taxpayers. If the American, French, Russian and other suppliers are so confident about the quality, efficacy and safety of their nuclear technology, why are they insisting on getting our liability act diluted? If the ruling Indian nationalists are indeed bent upon protecting the interests and well-being of Indian citizens, why are they dancing to the tunes of foreign and Indian corporations and trying to meddle with the nuclear laws of the land? Why are they not insisting on unbridled supplier liability for all kinds of incidents and accidents in the nuclear power plants? Dont we all know the real and continuing costs of nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima? When all is said and done, nuclear power is not cheap, or safe, or clean, or green. It is definitely not the answer for our climate concerns as it produces dangerous wastes that will imperil our environment for 48,000 years. Polluted air is indeed a problem for us, but poisoning the Earth cannot be the answer for it. The Union government should not amend the existing nuclear laws without open, transparent and fair public consultations with the people of this country, whose health and well-being, safety and human rights, and life and futures are being systematically jeopardized. Prof. Achin Vanaik Dr. Soumya Dutta N. Subrahmanian A. Muthukrishnan S. R. Sarma S. P. Udayakumar Coordinators National Alliance of Anti-nuclear Movements (NAAM) New Delhi, July 21, 2025. News / National by Staff reporter Communities in both Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom are mourning the tragic loss of 19-year-old Christine Chido Benjamin, a Zimbabwean-born law student whose body was discovered in Manchester's River Irwell on Thursday, 17 July 2025.Christine, an ambitious and highly gifted young woman, was studying law with aspirations of becoming a barrister. A recipient of four scholarships, she had been hailed by many as a rising star with a bright future ahead.Her body was recovered by specialist divers after an overnight search near the Lowry Hotel, close to the Salford and Manchester border. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launched the search following reports shortly after midnight that someone had entered the river. Emergency services, including marine and underwater search teams, responded immediately, cordoning off the area near Blackfriars Road as the search operation unfolded.Christine's grieving mother recounted the events leading up to the devastating discovery. She revealed that her daughter had recently returned from a trip to Portugal appearing mentally unsettled. "She wasn't herself. She looked confused and lost," she said.According to her mother, Christine confided in hospital staff after her return that friends in Portugal had given her cannabis. Although she was treated and discharged, her mental health reportedly deteriorated further. Her mother described increasingly erratic behavior, including Christine speaking in the third person and making disjointed statements like, "I saw my daughter has fled." She also began wandering aimlessly between shops and restaurants.Fearing for her safety, the family sought police assistance. "At first, they refused to search for her," her mother claimed. "Then later, they called me and said they needed to talk. That's when they told me my daughter had been found dead."Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of death. Investigations remain ongoing as the family awaits further information to clarify the circumstances surrounding Christine's tragic passing.Christine's untimely death has sent shockwaves through the communities that knew and supported her. Friends and mentors remembered her as a courageous, determined young woman dedicated to her studies and to making a difference through the legal profession."She was a brilliant, driven young lady with so much potential," said one of her former teachers. "Her loss is immeasurable."As her family and friends mourn, they cling to the hope that forthcoming answers will bring them some measure of peace.Christine is survived by her heartbroken family, who now face the unimaginable task of laying to rest a daughter they believed was destined for greatness. News / Regional by Gideon Madzikatidze and Simbarashe Sithole Illegal settlements along the Limpopo River will be demolished, as they are hotspots for stock theft and other crimes. Police border patrols will be intensified to arrest livestock thieves and individuals carrying illegal firearms. Traditional leaders at village level are urged to help identify and report suspects in their communities without fear or favour. BEITBRIDGE - Zimbabwe's Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe, has raised alarm over the increasing cases of stock theft in the Beitbridge area, linking the rise to illegal squatters along the Limpopo River. The minister claims that these settlements are a hub for criminal activity and should be demolished.Speaking during a crime consultative meeting held over the weekend at Lutumba in Ward 15, Beitbridge East, Nguluvhe outlined a number of community concerns and proposed solutions to combat the surge in livestock theft."The gathering was necessitated by rising cases of stock theft in the area, where livestock production is a major economic activity at the household level," said Nguluvhe.The meeting, held on Saturday, 19 July 2025, was attended by local MPs, including Hon. T. Ndou, senior traditional leaders, police commanders, and other security personnel. Nguluvhe said the theft of goats was particularly rampant, with the stolen meat being sold in buckets in Beitbridge town and across the Limpopo River in South Africa.Nguluvhe emphasised that:He also encouraged collaboration between the community and key stakeholders to protect livestock and promote rural development. IBM Q2D Launches the IBM Global Entrance Test (GET), for Postgraduate Programs at Top Universities Across India for the 2025-26 Academic Year Bangalore (Karnataka) [India] Published : July 19, 2025 IBM Q2D launches the IBM Global Entrance Test for students who wish to pursue their postgraduate from top reputed universities across India for the academic year 2025-26. S-VYASA Deemed-to-be University, Bengaluru, is the first university in India, to execute this model of student engagement in partnership with IBM for their MBA, MCA and M.Sc Computer Science students. IBM Global Entrance Test (GET) IBM Global Entrance Test (GET) by IBM Q2D serves as the gateway for admission into IBM delivered postgraduate programs in MBA, MCA and M.Sc Computer Science. Students admitted through this entrance test would be enrolled into university programs integrated with IBM's future-ready curriculum, providing access to industry-driven content, innovation labs, IBM's digital badges, and real-world learning experiences with projects, internship & placement opportunities. The IBM Q2D Master's programs will be delivered at the S-VYASA Campus located within Sattva Global City Tech Park, Kengeri, Bengaluru. What is IBM Q2D (Quantum Quotient Decode)? IBM Q2D is an initiative from IBM designed to integrate real-world technology training into academic frameworks. Developed by IBM's top industry experts, Q2D combines cloud labs, AI-powered learning platforms, immersive bootcamps, live projects, and corporate mentorship, creating an ecosystem where students learn & get opportunity to function like employees - solving real-world industry problems from the classroom. Through this model, students gain access to: - Learn from IBM industry experts- Develop solutions for real-world issues- Upskill in English communication with Cambridge's global standards- Graduate with hands-on technical experience, not just theoretical knowledge- Opportunity to work on IBM Cloud environment & get experience on some of the best AI tools- Industry-Led Projects & Internship opportunities- Soft skills & Leadership Training- Global Certification Pathways- Placement Preparation & Industry Mentoring- Awarded with IBM Global badge for successful students Mr. Hari Rama Subramanian, Leader, Business Development & Academia Relationship at IBM, said, "IBM Q2D venture is pushing the boundaries of technical skills by equipping students at different levels with state-of-the-art infrastructure tools and emerging technologies to solve real-world challenges. From basic fundamentals to advancing materials science to enhancing AIML, Data science, cybersecurity, and IOT technologies and apply them across various domains. This program fosters a global community of innovators driving the next wave of technology breakthroughs" IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) is a global leader in technology and consulting with over a century of innovation. Operating in 170+ countries, IBM has been a pioneer in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. In India, IBM continues to lead in building digital skills, transforming education, and powering innovation across sectors. IBM has been providing curriculum-integrated deep-technical training and educational resources to students across the India/South Asia region, equipping the students with industry-relevant technology skills and knowledge through in-demand technology courseware, industry projects, lab practicals, case-studies, inter & intra university competitions and in-campus interactions with industry experts. S-VYASA Deemed-to-be University, Bengaluru, is the first university in India to execute this model of student engagement in partnership with IBM. With NAAC A+ accreditation and Category 1 status, located in a smart-tech environment within Sattva Global City, the university offers the perfect infrastructure, vision, and holistic ecosystem to host this transformative learning model. S-VYASA stands at the intersection of tradition and technology, making it the ideal launchpad for IBM Q2D in India. Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions A family doctor from Bergen County was arrested Friday after one of his patients told police he sexually assaulted her during an examination at a medical practice. Dr. Richard Bruce Tancer, 68, of Montville, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. Musella said the prosecutors office received information about a sexual assault that occurred earlier in the day at Family Medical Group in Little Ferry. An investigation revealed Tancer sexually assaulted a female patient during an examination at the facility, according to the prosecutors office. Tancer was arrested in Montville and taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a court hearing. Attorney information for Tancer was not listed in court or jail records on Monday. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. A group that created fraudulent electronic benefits cards then made purchases at a variety of ShopRite, Wawa, Target and other stores both in New Jersey and out of state, authorities allege. The 10 people tested the phony cards by making small purchases to confirm the PIN numbers worked before later buying cases of energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster and baby formula, according to an affidavit of complaint outlining a slew of charges. They later made larger bulk purchases, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said. A sample of a New Jersey Real ID act compliant drivers license is displayed by the TSA in Newark Liberty airport Wednesday afternoon. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission mobile unit is return to Asbury Park to help residents who want a Real ID drivers license. Online appointment booking for the mobile unit will open at noon on Tuesday, July 22, according to an announcement from the City of Asbury Park. Appointments are required and there are only a limited amount of spots. Appointments are available for Real ID for individuals not eligible for renewal within the next three months, to upgrade your standard license/ID to a Real ID or upgrade your commercial drivers license to a Real ID. Due to anticipated high demand, residents are encouraged to book as soon as possible once the scheduling system opens. Residents can schedule appointments through the official NJ MVC portal. The online scheduling system is provided directly by the state Motor Vehicle Commission. For those experiencing issues with the booking system or who have questions about available services, the N.J. MVC customer service line is available at 609-292-6500. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. Children practice writing in Head Start classroom. The program, which provides low income families with free child care and preschool, is no longer available to undocumented families. Albina Head Start Editors note: This story was originally published by NJ Spotlight News and shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and NJ Spotlight News. You can follow them on FacebookandTwitter (or X). A new Trump administration rule would ban undocumented families from participating in Head Start, the latest in a string of changes to Head Start amid deep cuts to federal education funding and an aggressive targeting of immigrants. New Jersey is home to at least 400,000 residents with undocumented immigration status and it is unclear exactly how many children and their families would be impacted by this latest move. Head Start has faced several challenges under the second Trump administration, but this is the worst yet as it directly impacts children, said Peter Rosario, CEO of La Casa de Don Pedro in Newark. This is just a targeted attack on children and thats inexcusable, he said. We could live with the adult problems, and they were painful. This is literally just targeting babies. Major consequences The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced recently that undocumented immigrants would no longer be permitted to participate in Head Start to ensure that taxpayer-funded program benefits intended for the American people are not diverted to subsidize illegal aliens. Undocumented families have benefited from the program since it was established 60 years ago as part of President Lyndon B. Johnsons war on poverty. Providers said the change would have sweeping consequences for families and communities with just a few weeks until the school year begins. Attempts to impose such a requirement threaten to create fear and confusion among all families who are focused on raising healthy children, ready to succeed in school and life, Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, said in a statement. For decades, Head Start has set low-income children on a path to success, stabilized families and boosted local economies, according to the Center for American Progress. Services, including preschool and child care, are available at no cost to children from low-income families. Early Head Start serves children from birth to age 3 and Head Start provides preschool for students ages 3 to 5. Head Start has never required documentation of immigration status to enroll in the program. Reinterpreting federal rules The Department of Health and Human Services announced the policy shift last week by rescinding a 1998 interpretation of a law that extended federal public benefits to undocumented residents. For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration, DHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 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. Preliminary analysis by the department estimates American citizens could receive as much as $374 million in additional Head Start services annually because of the change. The annual cost of the program is about $12 billion. Every dollar invested in Head Start and Early Head Start yields an estimated $7 in returns, according to the Center for American Progress. The department said it will issue further guidance to Head Start and other affected programs to ensure full implementation of the new eligibility restriction. New Jersey providers said they have yet to hear from the Office of Head Start and are waiting for official instructions before making any changes. Many providers do not know the immigration status of families who participate because the information has never been required to enroll in the program, said Bonnie Eggenburg, president of the New Jersey Head Start Association. This makes it hard to estimate how many families would be impacted, she said. La Casa de Don Pedro in Newark and many other providers across the state likely serve undocumented families, according to Rosario, the centers president and CEO. What next? La Casa de Don Pedro, which offers Head Start and Early Head Start, is telling families not to panic while they await further information. Three- and 4-year-olds who lose eligibility could enroll in Newarks Abbott preschool program, but there may not be other options for younger children, Rosario said. Proof of immigration status is not required to enroll in public school in the United States. If were going to have to start this [enrollment] process over again for all of our families, it would just be devastating as families are trying to figure out what to do in September, Rosario said. In addition to providing child care and early education, Head Start programs also provide support to families of children who are enrolled, such as helping them access other community resources. Parents in undocumented families could lose access to critical child care and other help if eligibility is restricted. With Head Start, families have a safe place for their children while they go to work, said Bob Grant, president of the board of directors for Head Start of Morris County. If theyre eligible for Head Start, they certainly cant afford private day care. Head Start retrenchment This spring, the Trump administration closed five Head Start regional offices, including the office in charge of New Jersey. For several months after the closure, providers had to direct their questions and concerns to the national Office of Head Start, whose employees were not as well-versed in the needs of providers and families in New Jersey. This month, most New Jersey providers received contact information for new program specialists and grants management specialists, Eggenburg said. Lillian Ramos, executive director of Passaic Family Head Start, said she is optimistic that communication will improve since meeting the new contacts. Were marching on with enrollment, accepting students, getting ready for the new year, Ramos said. The regional office closures and staff layoffs prompted a lawsuit from parent advocacy groups and a coalition of Head Start providers whose lawyer said, The administration is brazenly attempting to dismantle Head Start piece by piece in clear violation of the Constitution and congressional directives. The parents and providers requested to amend their complaint to challenge the directive banning undocumented immigrants from participating in Head Start. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcomand on Facebook atMosaicNJcomand on YouTube at@MosaicNJcom. An elected official in Erie, Pennsylvania who grew up in New Jersey said during a public meeting last week that he shot someone in the head in college and got away with it. I shot him in the head point blank this close, Erie City Council President Mel Witherspoon said, putting his hand up to his head. I stayed in jail one night. I never went to court. Since 2018, the Neptune Township school district has lost over $20 million in state aid, and it has been struggling to close the budget gap. Canva Illustration UPDATE: This story was updated Wednesday with additional information from the state Department of Education on Neptunes state funding. A Monmouth County town is blasting New Jersey education officials over deep school aid cuts, saying it was forced to impose a 25% tax hike on its residents. Neptune Township has lost more than $20 million in state aid since New Jersey revised its school funding formula in 2018. In one school year alone, the district saw a $4 million drop in aid, local officials said. Struggling to make up the multimillion-dollar budget gap, the district was forced to raise property taxes by $17 million the largest increase in the townships history, according to Mayor Robert Lane. Township officials blame the tax hike on the states funding formula. For more than fifteen years, Neptune Township has managed its municipal finances responsibly, Lane said in a statement Thursday. Yet we are now witnessing a crisis driven not by local mismanagement, but by state-level decisions that have decimated school funding. State officials disputed some of the townships funding numbers, saying the Neptune school districts state funding recently went up. The school district will receive more than $8.8 million in state funding for the upcoming school year, an increase of nearly $500,000 and the maximum 6% increase permitted by the state budget, a state Department of Education spokesperson said. State officials also disputed that the town was forced to raise property taxes by $17 million. Neptune applied to the states Tax Levy Incentive Aid program to raise school taxes by nearly $12.7 million, not $17 million, a state education spokesperson said. It is inaccurate to say this or any district was forced to participate. The districts locally-elected Board of Education opted to participate in this program, submitting an application to NJDOE requesting to increase its tax levy, the state spokesperson said. Neptunes mayor said the tax increase has placed an unbearable burden on residents in a township where the median household income is $96,827 slightly lower than the state average, according to the latest U.S. Census data. The township committee is calling on state officials to restore the millions in school funding to protect residents from future tax hikes. Theyre also urging the state to reverse the current school funding reform law, calling it outdated. Neptune families should not have to bear the weight of broken policies and an outdated funding formula, Lane said. New Jerseys school funding law, fully implemented for the first time last year, is meant to shift aid from overfunded districts to those that have been historically underfunded. But some school officials say the formula is unfair. To close budget gaps caused by steep aid cuts, districts have resorted to drastic measures including raising property taxes, laying off staff and closing schools. As the state rolls out the formula, officials in lower-income districts like Neptune say theyre no longer seeing the substantial aid increases they once relied on. Formerly known as Abbott districts, these low-income districts have been advised by the state to begin raising their local tax levies in anticipation of reduced state aid, school officials said. The Neptune Community, a community of hard working people who are not wealthy, but living sometimes paycheck to paycheck, have been faced over a very short period of time with steep tax levy increases, district officials wrote in a letter to state legislators. Neptune has also tried to make up for the loss of revenue by eliminating dozens of positions and cutting busing, field trips and mental health supports, according to the board of education. Staff salaries and benefits make up the largest share of the districts budget. Currently, about 543 full-time staff members are employed across the townships eight schools, officials said. Enrollment has also steadily declined since 2018, with the district losing a total of 500 students a drop that also affects how much state aid it receives. In Plainfield, a similar issue emerged earlier this year when the district proposed a 36% tax hike to close a budget gap. But after backlash from residents, board members scrapped the plan and instead voted to keep taxes flat for the seventh year in a row. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nyah Marshall may be reached at nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com One of three people who attacked and robbed a Brick man in the front of his home has been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in state prison. While Vongvichit Vatthanavong, 50, of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced Friday, authorities are still looking for his two associates more than two years after the Jan. 5, 2023 robbery. Vatthanavong will have to serve more than 10-and-a-half years before he is eligible for parole, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. Vatthanavong and two others one of whom was carrying a gun approached a man exiting his vehicle outside his Pershing Avenue home at about 12:20 a.m., authorities said. One of the robbers struck the victim in the head, knocking him to the ground. The trio made off with about $3,000 in cash, a watch, and a cell phone from the victim before fleeing. After a lengthy investigation, Vatthanavong voluntarily appeared at Brick police headquarters for questioning on Feb. 7, 2024. He was arrested and has been held at the Ocean County jail since. Vatthanavong has not told investigators who his partners in the robbery were, authorities said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville minced no words against his own party. But he offered Democrats a few words of advice as they eye the 2026 midterm elections quite literally, a few words. In an op-ed in The New York Times on Monday, Carville described the Democratic Party as in shambles, saying it is steamrolling toward a civilized civil war. While he argued that an identity reckoning is necessary, Carville believes that it is even more necessary to delay it. Constipated. Leaderless. Confused. A cracked-out clown car. Divided, Carville wrote in the op-ed. These are the words I hear my fellow Democrats using to describe our party as of late, he continued. Carville said that the official victory of self-declared democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor earlier this month should not be seen as an isolated event, but a representation of an undeniable fissure in our political soul. We are divided along generational lines: Candidates like Mr. Mamdani are impatient for an economic future that folks my age are skeptical can actually be delivered, Carville wrote. We are divided along ideological lines: A party that is historically allegiant to the state of Israel is at odds with a growing faction that will not look past the abuses in Palestine, he continued, adding, From Medicare for All purists to Affordable Care Act reformists, the list goes on and on. Carville noted that the only thing that can save us is what he referred to as an actual savior, pointing to the elections of former presidents Barack Obama in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 1992, a campaign which he helped lead. But he prefaced that a leader will not emerge until the day after the midterm elections next year, in November, which he signals the unofficial beginning of the 2028 presidential primary. Until then, Carville said, Democrats must gain as many House seats as possible in the midterms on a unified front. He urged them to take hold of one phrase as their core message. ...The midterms will, like all elections, be decided largely based on issues that affect Americans everyday lives. This time around, we dont have to run with a shred of nuance when it comes to kitchen table issues, Carville wrote. "We demand a repeal. A repeal of Mr. Trumps spending law is the one word that should define the midterms, he added. He specifically mentioned President Donald Trumps signature big, beautiful bill, which he signed into law earlier this month. He called it a steaming doggy nugget of epic proportion, pointing to a recent CNN poll which found that roughly six in 10 Americans oppose the GOPs budget megabill. Carville encouraged the party to focus their demands on three key areas: A repeal to protect Medicaid, a repeal to save the deficit and a repeal to end the endless wars. He raised a number of different concerns tied to the bill, including estimates about the slashing of around $1.1 trillion in spending from health care programs and an additional $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Weve never had a simpler, more unifying oppositional message, Carville wrote. He concluded: We demand a repeal. Onward to the midterms. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Hunter Biden, second from left, watches as President Joe Biden goes to his car after they attended mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) AP Hunter Biden tore into the Democratic Party and mega donor George Clooney in a profanity-laced rant released on Monday. Biden spoke with Channel 5 host Andrew Callaghan, where he slammed high-profile Democrats for their criticism of his father, former President Joe Biden. He criticized Clooney for his op-ed last year that called on Biden to drop out of the race. F--- him. F--- him. And everybody around him. I dont have to be f---ing nice. Number one, I agree with Quentin Tarantino. F---ing George Clooney is not a f---ing actor...Hes a brand, Biden said. What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f---ing life to the service of this country and decide that you George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full page ad in the f---ing New York Times? he added. He also slammed other top Democratic strategists who served in the former Clinton and Obama administrations. And James Carville, who hasnt won a race in 40 f---ing years, and David Axelrod, who had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama. And that was because of Barack Obama, not because of f---ng David Axelrod, Biden said. And David Plouffe and all of these guys in the Pod Save America, guys who were junior f---ing speech writers on Barack Obamas Senate staff, whove been dining out under the relationship with him for years, making millions of dollars. The Anita Dunns of the world, whos made $40, $50 million of the Democratic Party, he continued. Theyre all going to insert their judgment over a man who has figured out, unlike anybody else, how to get elected to the United States Senate over seven times, how to pass more legislation than any president in history, how to have a better midterm election than anybody in history, and how to garner more votes than any president that has ever won, he added. Tommy Vietor, a co-host of the Pod Save America podcast, responded to Bidens comments on social media platform X. Its good to see that Hunter has taken some time to process the election, look inward, and hold himself accountable for how his familys insular, dare I say arrogant at times, approach to politics led to this catastrophic outcome were all now living with, he wrote. It's good to see that Hunter has taken some time to process the election, look inward, and hold himself accountable for how his family's insular, dare I say arrogant at times, approach to politics led to this catastrophic outcome we're all now living with. https://t.co/yTSArRnVzb Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) July 21, 2025 Callaghan also asked Biden about CNN anchor Jake Tapper in the wake of his bombshell book, Original Sin, that alleged the Biden administration participated in a coverup of the former presidents decline. Biden said Tapper was completely irrelevant and criticized him for his falling ratings. I mean, his ratings just went to shit after he put the book out. You know, they did a two week infomercial for it. I mean, it was such a money grab, such a disservice to everybody that he serves with the journalism that he purports to take part in, Biden said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Chris Cuomo attends The Hollywood Reporter's annual Most Powerful People in Media cocktail reception on April 11, 2019, in New York. CNN fired Cuomo for the role he played in defense of his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he fought sexual harassment charges. CNN said Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, it was still investigating but additional information had come to light. Evan Agostini | Invision/AP NewsNations Chris Cuomo defended his shift in political reporting in a recent interview after being fired from his role with CNN in 2021. Cuomo slammed the two-party system as he explained his new approach to reporting in a recent podcast appearance with journalist Vicky Ward last week. He explained that as podcasts grow in popularity due to their hot takes, he is trying to sell reasonableness as a part of his NewsNation show. So the question becomes as well: What are you selling? And for me, the sell is reasonableness, and being against the two-party system, Cuomo said. My deal with NewsNation was, I am not a partisan, but I do hate them, and I want to bash the Democratic Party, and I want to bash the Republican Party, because they are part of a system that is killing our democracy. He then explained that he did not want to criticize both parties at CNN because he was part of policing the system. And I didnt say that at CNN because I didnt feel it as deeply, and I was part of policing the system. I dont want to police this. I want to say that system is killing us, he said. NEW: Chris Cuomo explains why his punditry has shifted going from CNN to NewsNation "My deal with NewsNation was: I am not a partisan but I do hate them. And I want to bash the Democratic Party. And I want to bash the Republican Party. Because they are part of a system pic.twitter.com/wLoozca4DY Jason Cohen (@JasonJournoDC) July 20, 2025 Cuomo then slammed Democrats for going after the Jeffrey Epstein files that have garnered national attention in recent weeks. President Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from the documents, resulting in mounting criticism from Democrats and Republicans. And of course the Democrats are going after the Epstein stuff now, of course they are, because its bad for Trump. They didnt give a f--- during the Biden administration, when they had the same material. Why? Because they dont give a s--- about Epstein. If its not a point of advantage against the other side, neither side cares, he said. He also explained that he does not always argue with his guests because it does not get him anywhere. So Im selling reasonableness. I have lawmakers on together. I have different perspectives on, and I test them, but I dont test them the way I used to. I dont have to prove that youre wrong. It doesnt get me anywhere. If youre a Trump supporter, OK, I could disprove everything that you said, and it doesnt make a bit of f---ing difference. It doesnt change one MAGA mind, and the left is never satisfied, Cuomo said. CNN fired Cuomo in 2021 after being investigated for trying to help his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, navigate sexual harassment allegations. His show, Cuomo, premiered on NewsNation in October 2022. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference after passage of the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accused President Donald Trump of running scared on Monday over his administrations refusal to release the documents connected to Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking case. Jeffries has joined a number of Democrats and Republicans demanding that the Trump administration release the files connected to Epsteins sex trafficking case. Jeffries highlighted Trumps previous ties with Epstein during a press conference on Monday. Lets be clear about the situation here. Jeffrey Epstein was a friend of Donald Trump. Jeffrey Epstein was arrested during the Trump administration. Jeffrey Epstein was detained during the Trump administration. Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide during the Trump administration, Jeffries said. Trump administration officials have said prior to arriving in Washington in positions of prominence, including at the FBI and the Department of Justice, that they were going to release the Epstein files. Trump administration officials are now in a position to release the Epstein files. Does any of that, in your view, have anything to do with President Joe Biden? he continued. He then suggested that the Trump administration was hiding something from Americans. Why do we think President Joe Biden or President Barack Obamas names are being invoked? Because Donald Trump is running scared. And the Trump administration is running scared. What are they hiding from the American people? Release the files so that the American people can make a decision on their own, this has nothing to do with a Democratic-led conspiracy theory, he added. Jeffries: Epstein was a friend of Trump.. Why do we think Bidens or Obama's names are being invoked? Because Donald Trump is running scared. What are they hiding from the American people? Release the files. pic.twitter.com/XiQTRY4Qdc Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2025 Jeffries dished out a new nickname for the president last week amid the Epstein fiasco. Democrats didnt put this into the public domain. Conspiracy theory provocateur-in-chief Donald Trump is the one, along with his extreme MAGA Republican associates, who put this whole thing into the public domain for years, and now they are reaping what they have sown, Jeffries said. Trump has tried to distance himself from the Epstein fiasco, telling the media and his own supporters to stop talking about the convicted sex offender. He lashed out at his own supporters last week and claimed that the scandal around the Epstein files was a hoax promoted by Democrats. Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this bullshit, hook, line, and sinker. They havent learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. The MAGA world meltdown began after the Justice Department released a memo earlier this month that concluded Epstein had no client list and committed suicide in his jail cell. The memo sparked outrage from Americans on both sides of the aisle, with many of Trumps supporters demanding to see the documents related to the case. The scandal intensified on Thursday after a bombshell Wall Street Journal report discovered that a card signed with Trumps name was sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003. The Journal reported that one of the letters was signed with Trumps name and a typewritten message that included an outline of a naked woman. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret," the letter concluded, according to The Journal. Trump denied writing the letter or drawing the picture in an interview with the Journal and in multiple social media posts last week. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan took on 20 far-right Republicans and he said he isnt sure whether he should laugh or cry. Hasan, the editor-in-chief and CEO of new media company Zeteo, was featured as a progressive in an episode released over the weekend on Jubilees Surrounded, a recurring series on the YouTube channel. The video was divided into segments by claims made by Hasan. He had to defend his statement, while conservatives had the chance to poke holes in his argument. Hasan made several accusations against President Donald Trump, including that he is pro-crime and pro-criminal, he defies the Constitution, and his plan in Gaza should be seen as ethnic cleansing. He also argued that immigrants are overall good for America. When asked about by a conservative about what makes a person pro-crime versus anti-crime, Hasan said that pro-criminal could describe someone who is soft on criminals, such as letting criminals leave prison or pardoning individuals who assaulted police officers. Hasan pointed to Trumps blanket pardons for over 1,500 people who were federally charged with crimes connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, including close to 600 who were charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. The Republican opponent called Jan. 6 a very special case and a climax point in history, and repeated that pardons that probably shouldnt have been given does not correlate with the president being pro-criminal. Another conservative asked why Hasan cares about whats happening in the United States if he is from England and his parents are from India despite Hasan being a U.S. citizen. I am happy that he released J6, in fact, so much so, that I was prepared to protest if he didnt, he continued. So when you say, Are you OK that he is pro-crime?... sure, because you know what, were changing the definition of what crime is, first and foremost. He said it is no longer a relevant conversation anymore, saying that the country is now engaged in tribal warfare. I am Native American. Whites are Native Americans, what are you talking about? he added later, to a round of applause from the other conservatives. The Republican continued: Youre in a room with juggernauts right now, OK. Im telling you right now, you are going to be blown open if you think that my position is hard-right. You have no idea what youre up against right now. Amid heated exchanges with Hasan, he called conservatives liberal to him, and added that neoconservatives and libertarians might as well be leftists. On whether Trump has stood in opposition to the Constitution, one conservative said he does not care if the president aligns, claiming that Were defending things in this country that shouldnt be defended. Quite frankly, if Trump is anti-Constitution, good, and I think he should go further, he said. When Hasan asked if the conservative is willing to amend the Constitution when its in your favor, he said absolutely. Asked if Democrats could do the same while in office, he said absolutely not. The conservative said that he believes in autocracy by those who are in line with Catholic teaching, and noted that he did not vote for Trump because he is not Catholic. Im for defending the traditional demographics of this country, which is majority white. It should stay that way, the conservative said, later adding that he is a fascist. When discussing immigration, a different Republican told Hasan that he should get the hell out after he referred to himself as an immigrant. I dont want you here, he said. When Hasan asked why, the conservative said: Because you come here and say all this bulls--- about how Americans are lazy, you push your left-wing politics. The series has featured other prominent political voices, such as far-right commentators Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro, and Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) warned on X that "The base will turn and theres no going back." (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is warning President Donald Trump of something he may fear most: MAGA may turn on you. In a post on X, Greene on Monday indirectly called on Trump and his administration to "take down every enemy of The People," adding that they must act on threats of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals. If not, Greene wrote, then The base will turn and theres no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies, Greene said. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else." If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People. If not. The base will turn and theres no going back. Dangling bits of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) July 21, 2025 Greenes post came amid political firestorms that have plagued MAGA world. Trump and other administration officials have been met with outrage and frustration from the presidents own supporters over their handling of the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files, after the Justice Department and FBI concluded in a memo that the disgraced financier did not keep a client list, blackmail public figures or was murdered in his jail cell in 2019. While many in his base of demanded for the release of the documents for years, Trump has recently lashed out at his supporters, claiming that he no longer wants the support of weaklings who are invested in the SCAM and Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. He has since launched a libel lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and its owners for at least $10 billion, after the newspaper reported last week that Trump wrote a letter that included a sexually suggestive drawing on a 2003 birthday greeting for Epstein. Meanwhile, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard declassified a series of documents on Friday, which she claimed showcased overwhelming evidence that officials in former President Barack Obamas administration had laid the groundwork for the years-long Trump-Russia collusion assessment after the 2016 election. She announced that she was turning over evidence to the Justice Department for criminal referral, though did not indicate whether she was referring any specific officials. Some Democrats have since framed her claims as baseless, including Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who is the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. It seems DNI Gabbard is unaware that the years-long Russia investigation carried out by the Senate Intelligence Committee reaffirmed that the Russian government directed extensive activity against U.S. election infrastructure ahead of the 2016 election, and that it used social media to conduct an information warfare campaign in order to benefit Donald Trump, Warner wrote in a statement. This conclusion was supported on a unanimous basis by every single Democrat and Republican on the committee. Greenes post was met with support from social media users, with one MAGA commentator writing that ARRESTS have to happen. Another user said: You better give Marjorie the meat you promised her, Donald. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Daniels poses at the premiere of a Netflix miniseries at the Tudum Theatre, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Actor Jeff Daniels did not hold back punches against President Donald Trump. In a new episode of MSNBC host Nicolle Wallaces The Best People podcast, Daniels reflected on how the Republican Party has changed under Trump arguing that former President Ronald Reagan has been left in the GOPs distant past. Weve lost decency, weve lost civility, weve lost respect for the rule of law. Lost it, Daniels said during an episode released on Monday. We have normalized verbal abuse on the internet. Weve normalized bullying, much as the woke generation tried to change that... its back. And along, out the window goes character, integrity. Daniels acknowledged that nobody has great things to say about politicians, but Americans should ideally elect the best of us, not the worst of us. Hes everything thats wrong, with not just America, but with being a human being, Daniels added. In what Daniels described as the collapse of the Republican Party, he said he still thinks about former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost all seven battleground states to Trump during the 2024 election. I think she wouldve been a good choice I dont care what they say," Daniels said. Daniels said that Harris would have fallen in line with former President Abraham Lincoln in assembling a team of rivals in her cabinet, pointing to how former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) would have been picked as Secretary of State. The new America that is diverse and treats everyone with equality and respect and dignity, you know kind of like Jesus did, were ready for that, Daniels said, adding that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could see it coming in helping confirm three conservative Supreme Court justices and hundreds of lower-court judges during his tenure as the GOP Senate leader. And now youre losing money. I hope youre losing tons of money, those of you who thought this would be OK. My question is, What are you guys going to do about it? Daniels added. On the topic of Trumps tariffs, Daniels said that the presidents policies will most likely be a breaking point for voters. You just got to go, Wait a minute, the grocery bill is what? One hundred and eighty bucks more? I cant get that car that we have to have unless I pay another eight grand? Who do I blame for that, who did I see about that? Daniels asked, before noting: One person. Wallace noted that decency could be seen as collateral damage over wanting a lower cost for eggs. When asked if it was ever about cheaper eggs, Daniels said it will be about their price at the end of the day. Did it go up or down? Because thats what, he told me he was going to lower the price of eggs or my grocery bill. I think that still matters, he continued. Daniels went on to call Trump a snake oil salesman, and said that people will see that. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Vice President JD Vance has been found at the center of a new theory. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Vice President JD Vance has been floated in a new theory tied to President Donald Trump. The Daily Mail reported over the weekend that Vance had made a secret trip to Rupert Murdochs Montana ranch last month. The outlet claimed that the vice president spoke with the media mogul, his son and media executive Lachlan Murdoch, and other Fox News executives. While the specifics of the conversation are unknown, it appeared to be brief, according to the Daily Mail. The report emerged as Trump sued Murdoch for libel on Friday, after The Wall Street Journal, owned by his News Corp, published a story last week which said that Trump had sent disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein a bawdy letter for his 50th birthday. The Journal described a sexually suggestive letter bearing Trumps name and a typewritten message in an outline of a naked woman in 2003. Trump, who is seeking damages of no less than $10 billion, has denied writing the letter and making the drawing. But the report came as he has faced mounting pressure from his own MAGA base for the Justice Department to release its investigative files about Epstein. Social media users were quick to tie Vances visit to Murdoch as a step to becoming Trumps successor though through alleged shady means. So JD Vance met with WSJ and Murdoch in secret. And someone then gave WSJ the book? Vance is preparing to take over, one user wrote on X. So JD Vance met with WSJ and Murdoch in secret. And someone then gave WSJ the book? Vance is preparing to take over. Pesach Lattin (@pesach_lattin) July 21, 2025 Another user said: J.D Vance made a secret trip to meet with Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch? He wasnt going there to shut down the Epstein stories. He was going to negotiate the Presidental succession coverage. Any MAGA who thinks Vance would never screw Trump doesnt know J.D. Vance. Someone baselessly alleged that Vance will be swapped in for Trump and the REAL power players take over. The fact Murdoch is going after Trump without flinching makes me think things are happening behind the scenes that are severely weakening Trumps grip on power, the user said. A different user said that the visit makes clear that Vance is plotting a coup. JD Vance is plotting a coup against Trump https://t.co/NXE1yTiAu0 Mykhailo Golub (@golub) July 20, 2025 My Sunday noon POV: JD Vance is preparing to take over the presidency. MAGA will collapse, a different user claimed. Vance quickly came to the defense of Trump after The Wall Street Journal published its report, which he called complete and utter bulls--- on X. Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump? Vance continued. In a separate post, Vance questioned whether the story would violate some rule of journalistic ethics if it was not shown to the victim of this hit piece. Trump also slammed the story after it was published, writing that he had told Murdoch that it was a Scam and that he shouldnt print this Fake Story. But he did, and now Im going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper, he added. Trump then posted that he is hoping to have Murdoch testify, saying it would be an interesting experience!!! The new report came amid of meltdown of Trumps most ardent supporters against his administration, after the Justice Department released a memo earlier this month that concluded Epstein did not keep a client list, blackmail public figures or was murdered in his jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019. The memo sparked outrage from Americans on both sides of the aisle, with many in MAGA world demanding to see the government documents related to the case. Trump has since attempted to distance himself, instructing his own supporters to stop talking about the convicted sex offender. In a Truth Social post last week, Trump lashed out at his own base, claiming that he no longer wants the support of those invested in what he called a Hoax. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Amy Bradley is Missing tells the horrific story of Amy Bradley, a woman who tragically went missing aboard the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas in 1998. The Netflix documentary has sparked a renewed interest in true crime documentaries, so if youve watch the special and are looking for similar stories, here are a few you might be interested in. Where to watch The Idaho College Murders In 2022, four students attending the University of Idaho were stabbed to death in their off-campus home in the middle of the night. On July 2, 2025, Bryan Christopher Kohberger pleaded guilty to all charges he faced in relation to the murders. The crime was shocking for its randomness and its depravity, and because of that, has become a national source of fascination. Philo is currently home to one of the best documentaries to explore the subject, The Idaho College Murders." You sign up for a free 7-day trial to watch. Philo (free trial) Philo offers a 7-day free trial Buy Now Where to watch Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty In 2021, Maggie Murdaugh and her 22-year-old son, Paul, were shot to death in their own home in South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh, Maggies husband and a lawyer from a prominent local family, was quickly arrested and charged with the killings. He was later convicted in 2023. Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty is a three-part look at the murders which delves into the complicated history of the Murdaugh family and the community in which they lived. It is also available on Philo. Where to watch Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery The story of Casey Anthony is perhaps one of the most famous crime stories in American history. Her daughter, Caylee Anthony, was found dead inside a laundry bag near Anthonys home in Orlando, Florida. The ensuing murder trial has long been a source of outrage, particularly directed at the not guilty verdict Casey Anthony received in relation to the murder itself. Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery picks apart the story of what exactly happened, and the events which led up to the extremely controversial trial. The docuseries is also available on Philo. Where to watch A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read In Canton, Massachusetts, on Jan. 29, 2022, Boston police officer John OKeefe was found unconscious of the front lawn of his friend, another police officer named Brian Albert who had since retired. OKeefe soon died, and his girlfriend, Karen Read, was hit with a host of charges related to the death, including manslaughter and motor vehicular manslaughter. Reads subsequent multiple trials resulted in her acquittal, and the media firestorm which emerged shifted from vilifying Read to depicting her as the victim of an elaborate framing. The story is complicated, but A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read does a great job examining its nuances. You can watch on HBO Max, which we recommend bundling with Hulu and Disney Plus for thousands of additional hours of content for almost the same price as the base subscription. Disney+ Hulu Bundle Get Disney+ and Hulu and Max together for one low price Buy Now Heres a look at the Amy Bradley is Missing documentary, in case you havent seen it yet: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joseph Rejent covers TV, writing about live television, streaming services and cord-cutting. He can be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 35 children in New Jersey is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Jacob Anthony Amaro | For Mosaic July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the diversity, achievements, and contributions of people with disabilities. It also marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990, which protects the rights of individuals with disabilities. Among the many disabilities recognized this month is autism, which is often misunderstood, says Dr. Malia Beckwith, a specialist in autism spectrum disorders at RWJ Barnabas Childrens Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, Union County. Experts say this is especially relevant in New Jersey, which has one of the highest autism prevalence rates in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 35 children in New Jersey is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Beckwith says autism diagnoses are up due to increased understanding and awareness among clinicians, teachers, and parents. Mosaic sat down with Beckwith to learn more about autism, how its diagnosed and what options caregivers have for those with ASD. Here is what she said: Q: What are the first signs of autism that parents and caregivers might notice? A: One of the earliest signs we look for is joint attention by around 18 months. Joint attention is when a child uses eye contact and facial expressions to direct someones attention for example, looking at an object and then back at their parent to communicate what they want. We also watch for early social reciprocity, like a baby babbling back when a parent talks to them, which starts as early as 6 to 8 months. Other important signs include appropriate eye contact and facial expressions that match the situation. Q: How is autism diagnosed? A: Diagnosing autism typically involves two main parts. The first is an in-depth interview with caregivers, and sometimes teachers or babysitters, to gather a full picture of the childs social skills, emotional understanding, and any repetitive or atypical behaviors like sensory issues, obsessions, or rituals. The second part is observing the child, often through play-based activities designed to elicit social and behavioral responses. Q: Once a child has been diagnosed with autism, what are some treatment options? A: For younger children, early intervention services through the state are essential, while school-aged children can access services through their school district, including an Individualized Education Program. Outside of school, families might seek behavioral therapies such as Applied Behavior Analysis or other approaches like floor time or cognitive behavioral therapy to help with behavior and emotional regulation. Another major part of treatment is working on communication skills. Speech therapy helps children develop these skills, whether that means expanding social conversation abilities for highly verbal children or teaching basic verbal communication for those with delays. Some may use sign language or picture-based communication systems alongside spoken words. Supporting communication is critical for their independence and emotional well-being, reducing the stress and anxiety that come with being unable to express their needs. Occupational therapy is also valuable. It supports fine motor skills, daily living tasks, and sensory processing issues, which are common in children with autism who may be over- or under-sensitive to certain sensory inputs. All these services together aim to help the child function better in daily life and thrive. Q: Can you speak to concerns that vaccines cause autism? We have decades of reputable, well-vetted, and replicated research showing no link between autism and vaccinations. Over the last 20 years, weve worked hard to prove through solid science that vaccines are not the cause of autism. Its harmful to keep revisiting this disproven idea. Q: Parents often blame themselves for their childs autism. How do you allay those fears in parents? We know that genetics can play a role in autismsome genetic abnormalities may increase risk. Genetic testing can help clarify this and support families in understanding the cause. However, in most cases, the exact reason isnt known. As a mom, I understand the feeling of guilt. Its natural and common. But the most valuable step is to shift focus toward how to support the child, the family, and themselves going forward. Q: Is there an experience in your career treating people with autism that has impacted you? A: Many of my patients dont verbally communicate, but technology has made a huge difference. Augmentative communication tools, like apps on an iPad, allow them to express themselves. Ive cared for kids who couldnt have a conversation before, and now at age 10, they use these tools to communicate clearly talking about things like what they want to eat or where they want to go. That understanding is key to how we treat and support them. Technology has really helped unlock new ways for these kids to connect and be heard. Q: What do you wish people understood about autism? A: While some individuals will always need significant assistance, many can thrive in jobs that match their strengths and interests. They can build relationships, marry, and have families. The diagnosis itself isnt the limit; what matters is the support, services and understanding provided afterward. Autism is labeled a disorder or disability because of its challenges; many individuals also have unique strengths some have incredible memories or excel with routines and completing specific tasks. As a society, we need to recognize these hidden strengths and understand that autism brings a mix of challenges and special abilities. Resources for caregivers: Ande Richards may be reached at arichards@njadvancemedia.com. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom. Aaron Judge and the Yankees were in the dumps earlier this month when the Blue Jays finished off a four-game sweep at Rogers Centre to take over first place in the AL East. The clubs will meet again in Toronto this week. AP ATLANTA It was just 2 weeks ago when Yankees manager Aaron Boone stood in the Rogers Centre visiting clubhouse and told his slumping ballclub that they were the best team in the American League after the Blue Jays swept them four games to take over first place in the AL East. Theyre returning to the scene of that Canadian crime this week in worse shape in the standings. 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. We dissent to changes to NASA's Technical Authority capacities that are driven by anything other than safety and mission assurance. The culture of organizational silence promoted at NASA over the last six months already represents a dangerous turn away from the lessons learned following the Columbia disaster. Changes to the system of Technical Authority, as suggested would be made in the June 25th NASA Town Hall, should be made only in the interests of improving safety, not in anticipation of future budget cuts. We dissent to the closing out of missions for which Congress has appropriated funding because it represents a permanent loss of capability to the United States both in space and on Earth. Once operational spacecraft are decommissioned, they cannot be turned back on. Additionally, cancelling missions in development threatens to end the next generation of crucial observations. We dissent to implementing indiscriminate cuts to NASA science and aeronautics research because this will leave the American people without the unique public good that NASA provides. Basic research in space science, aeronautics, and the stewardship of the Earth are inherently governmental functions that cannot and will not be taken up by the private sector. Furthermore, NASA has a nearly threefold return on investment in economic activity, and supports national security by ensuring the United States maintains its lead in science and technology. We dissent to NASA's non-strategic staffing reductions because they will jeopardize NASA's core mission. Thousands of NASA civil servant employees have already been terminated, resigned or retired early, taking with them highly specialized, irreplaceable knowledge crucial to carrying out NASA's mission. We dissent to canceling NASA participation in international missions because in doing so, NASA is abandoning America's allies. To date, 55 nations have signed on to the Artemis Accords, and withdrawing support from missions with our long-standing partners at the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and others threatens NASA's ability to lead the world in the future of space exploration. We dissent to the termination of NASA contracts and grants for reasons unrelated to performance because it weakens state and local economies across the country. Capriciously terminating contracts and grants reduces the number of private sector jobs associated with the space economy and discourages private entrepreneurship by negating competitive grant selection processes. We dissent to the elimination of programs aimed at developing and supporting NASA's workforce because it undermines the agency's power to innovate for the benefit of humanity. Cuts to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programming that have already been implemented directly conflict with the agency's core value of inclusion. Eliminating the Office of STEM Engagement would deliver a critical blow to the nation's future space economy workforce. Who We Are The signatories of this letter are current and former NASA employees from every NASA center and mission directorate. In addition to named signatories, we include anonymous signatories who share our concerns but choose not to be identified due to the culture of fear of retaliation cultivated by this administration. As a group of individuals from a diversity of nationalities, races, abilities, sexualities, and gender identities, we stand unified in support of NASA's core values: safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion. A Chinese man was recently sentenced to three years and three months in prison and fined 10,000 yuan ($1,400) for repeatedly spiking a colleagues drink with a truth serum to steal their work plans. Chinese media recently reported the strange case of a Shanghai man who ended up in prison for reportedly mixing a truth serum in a workmates drink on multiple occasions so he could find out his work plans. The man, surnamed Li, allegedly came across the truth serum during a business trip and was intrigued by the vendors claims that only a few drops could untangle anyones tongue and reveal all their secrets. Li bought the miracle product and decided to use it on his colleague, Wang, whose secrets he wanted to learn. Photo: Cristi Ursea/Unsplash On August 29, 2022, during a dinner with Wang, Li poured a few drops of the serum into his colleagues yellow wine and beer, causing him to feel dizzy and confused enough to seek medical attention over the next couple of days. However, Li didnt achieve his goal of learning Wangs work plans, so a few months later, on October 13, 2022, during another dinner, Li once again used the truth serum, once again mixing the substance with beer, causing his colleague to experience dizziness and vomiting. On November 22, Li used the truth serum for the third time, during another night on the town with Wang, causing him to seek medical attention after experiencing similar symptoms to those in their previous meetings. It was only then that Wang realized he had only experienced his symptoms after going out with his colleague and began to suspect foul play. Wang had his blood and urine tested, and the result came back positive for sedative components, specifically clonazepam and xylazine, both potent central nervous system depressants. He went to the police with the evidence, and when they raided Lis home, they found his mysterious truth serum, which turned out to contain both clonazepam and xylazine. Photo: Unsplash Confronted with the evidence, Li confessed to spiking his colleagues drink with the truth serum, hoping to learn his secret work plans. Recently, the Shanghai Jingan District Peoples Court found Li guilty of inducing drug use through deception and sentenced him to over three years in prison and the payment of a 10,000 yuan ($1,400) fine. Although neither Wangs work plans nor his current condition following the administration of the sedatives have been revealed, people online speculated that his plan must have been important if Li went to this much trouble to learn more about them. What kind of work plan requires this level of performance? Are we talking about a deal worth millions or tens of millions? one Weibo user wondered. William Bennett William Bennett, the nation's first drug czar and third Secretary of Education, has signed a $180K contract with Qatars DC embassy to help develop a communications strategy related to the Gulf States funding of US colleges. Qatar is the biggest foreign donor to US universities since 1986, shelling out $6.3B. Top US schools such as Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, Weill Cornell Medical Colleges, Northwestern University, Texas A&M University and Virginia Commonwealth University have established branch campuses in Qatar. Bennett will promote understanding of the funding decisions make by the Qatari government and the nature of the education curriculum, according to his FARA filing. As senior education advisor to the Embassy, the 82-year-old will make efforts to publicize the fact that Qatari higher education efforts do not support radical Islamicist movements or positions, and his engaging in publicized effortspotentially including communications to U.S. political office holderswould help dispel contrary notions." He will write op-eds, blogs on educational matters and make himself available for interviews or testimony before Congress. Bennett placed an opinion piece on Fox News last July that was titled An American education partnership in Qatar brings surprising benefits to the Middle East. OFFALY has the second highest pub closure rate in Ireland with 56 fewer pubs since 2005, while over 2,100 pubs have closed nationally. A new report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs in Ireland, with 2,119 - or one in four - closing their doors since 2005. The report, compiled by Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, shows that an average of 112 pubs stopped trading every year, with a further 600 to 1,000 closures estimated over the next decade. All 26 counties experienced declines in pub numbers over the 2005 to 2024 period. The highest decrease was in Limerick (-37.2%), followed by Offaly (-34.1%) Cork (-32.7%), Roscommon (-32.3%), Tipperary (-32.0%), Laois (-30.6%), Longford (-30.1%) and Westmeath (-30.0%). he lowest decrease was in Dublin with a drop of -1.7%, followed by Meath with a decrease of -9.5%. Wicklow had a decrease of 10.8% and all other counties saw a 13% or greater decrease. DIGI said the high cost of doing of business was a major contributory factor to the alarming rate of closures recorded by the report. It said that without immediate action by the Government many villages and small towns will soon lose their last remaining pub which would deal a devastating blow to the economic and social fabric of that community. DIGI has called for the Government to use the upcoming Budget to introduce a 10% cut in excise, which currently stands as the second highest in the European Union. Commenting on the report, author Professor Tony Foley said: This report reveals a pattern of pub closures across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland in recent years. The addition of profound economic uncertainty through US trade tariffs and reduced levels of inbound tourism further threaten the financial foundations of family-owned pubs across the country. In the absence of government intervention, we are likely to see a further 600 to 1,000 pubs close over the coming decade. Commenting on the report, DIGI secretary, Donall OKeeffe said: More than 100 pubs are closing every year in Ireland, due in large part to the high costs imposed by the State. Without immediate intervention, up to 1,000 more pubs will close for the last time, leaving their communities without a vital community and tourism hub. Once closed, such pubs rarely re-open. The Government could improve commercial viability overnight by cutting excise by 10%. With Irish consumption of alcohol having fallen to average EU levels, and likely to continue dropping, it is no longer justifiable that pubs should be faced with the second-highest excise rates in Europe. This is on top of a hefty 23% VAT rate. The time for the Government to act is now before it is too late. HOTELIERS from across the country recently met with TDs and Senators to discuss the key challenges facing Irish tourism and the necessary measures the Irish Hotels Federation is calling for to ensure the successful long-term development of Irelands largest indigenous industry, supporting over 270,000 livelihoods including 2,200 in Offaly. In the run up to Budget 2026, a key concern for hotels and guesthouses across Offaly is the exceptionally high operating costs that tourism and hospitality businesses are grappling with, a situation that is particularly challenging for regional businesses that are heavily reliant on food services. Matt OConnor, Vice President of the Irish Hotels Federation said: Tourism businesses are struggling to deal with ever-increasing operating costs and tighter margins. It is now essential that the Government tackles this head on and delivers targeted measures to enhance cost competitiveness and support business viability. This is at a time when Irish tourism is experiencing difficult headwinds on a number of fronts, including reduced tourism expenditure, economic challenges across our key source markets and increased political uncertainty internationally all of which pose a serious risk to our industry. M. OConnor notes that recent research by Failte Ireland* shows that 51% of tourism businesses have seen a decrease in revenues to date in 2025 compared with last year. Results indicate that overseas visitor spend, which typically accounts for 70% of tourism revenue, is a significant concern. This is particularly challenging for Food & Drink businesses, with 75% reporting a drop in overseas revenue so far this year. READ NEXT: Huge sadness in Tullamore at death of influential figure Outlining the key policy priorities for the industry, Mr OConnor stressed the importance of decisive action in the upcoming Budget: Key policy priorities for Budget 2026 A permanent restoration of the 9% VAT rate on hospitality food services. This is key to supporting the viability of our tourism food offering. A meaningful reduction in Employers PRSI for labour-intensive indigenous industries such as tourism and hospitality. Measures to tackle excessive business costs, which are amongst the highest in Europe, including insurance premiums and energy pass through charges. Increased investment in training, skills and development, leveraging the enormous un-tapped surpluses in the National Training Fund. Measures to support enhanced air access for Dublin and our regional airports. Increased funding for Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to support sectoral growth, marketing and development. More targeted measures to support sustainability initiatives within our sector in line with Irelands national climate action goals. Having these measures in place would go a long way towards ensuring the long-term success of Irelands tourism and hospitality industry. Tourism at a Glance As Irelands largest indigenous employer, a vibrant and thriving tourism and hospitality industry is vital for the countrys economic well-being: 270,000 livelihoods supported by Irish tourism & hospitality 69,000 people directly employed by Irish hotels & guesthouses Regional employment some 70% of tourism & hospitality jobs are outside of Dublin 10bn in revenue generated by tourism annually for the economy Over 2.9bn in taxes generated annually for the State by tourism-related activity READ NEXT: Jackpot now a massive 20,000 in Offaly community group's lotto AS part of its Summer Roadshow campaign, the GLT collaborated with Offaly County Council to promote the importance of proper litter disposal through fun education and awareness initiatives that highlight the negative environmental impacts of gum litter and draw awareness to the 150 gum litter fine. A collaboration between industry, government and local authorities, and funded by Mars Wrigley, this year marks the launch of the campaigns sixth cycle. GLT has seen gum litter reduce by almost 70% since 2007, via a sustained public engagement and education campaign. According to the latest National Litter Pollution Monitoring System data, gum now accounts for just 8.6% of all litter, continuing a downward trend in gum as a component of litter from 26.4% in 2006, and 9.1% in 2021, the end of the previous three-year cycle. However, according to the latest research 1 in 12 admit that they still drop their gum on the ground with men more than twice as likely to do so than women. This highlights the continued importance of the campaign. READ NEXT: Jackpot now a massive 20,000 in Offaly community group's lotto Welcoming the campaign back to Offaly, Caroline Clancy, Environmental Awareness Officer said: Offaly County Council is delighted to welcome the Gum Litter Taskforce back to Offaly. Its a great initiative that generates awareness of the negative impacts of gum litter in a fun and engaging way. As a Council, we are committed to working with campaigns such as GLT, that promote responsible litter disposal behaviours, and result in cleaner communities. Launching this years campaign, Minister of State with responsibility for Circular Economy, Alan Dillon praised the continued success of the initiative: Im delighted to kick off another year of the Gum Litter Taskforces Summer Roadshow. Since 2007, we have seen clear, measurable change on our streets thanks to the work of the Gum Litter Taskforce. The consistent fall in gum litter shows that education and collaboration are driving real results. This is exactly the kind of behavioural change we need to build a cleaner, greener Ireland. READ NEXT: Huge sadness in Tullamore at death of influential figure Avril Donlon, Gum Litter Campaign Manager at Food Drink Ireland, added: We are delighted to be kicking off another summer of interactive roadshows. Each year, we continue to see the positive impact this campaign is having on communities across the country. Its encouraging to know that our efforts are helping more people make the right choice when it comes to gum disposal. Anne Sheeran, Corporate Affairs Manager at Mars Wrigley, said: The Gum Litter Taskforce continues to prove whats possible through strong partnerships and community-focused messaging. By connecting with younger audiences and reinforcing positive behaviour, were not just cleaning up streets were helping to create a culture of personal responsibility. Mars Wrigley is proud to sponsor a campaign that plays such an important role in educating people about proper gum and litter disposal. This years Summer Roadshow will make 20 stops across 17 counties this Summer. The GLT campaign also includes a school roadshow (Bin It!) which will travel to primary and secondary schools across the country from October, and run an advertising campaign and website, where educational material at www.gumlittertaskforce.ie. Step into a journey of faith, history, and natural beauty as pilgrims gather for the Rahan to Clonmacnoise Ecumenical Pilgrimage. Set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Offalys ancient monastic heartland, this sacred walk invites participants to deepen their spiritual connection while exploring one of Irelands most storied landscapes. More than a pilgrimage, its a profound experience of shared tradition, reflection, and the enduring beauty of the Irish midlands. Join pilgrims for this event, set within the magnificent monastic landscape of Offaly. The walk offers a unique opportunity to connect with spirituality, heritage, and the stunning scenery of the region. On Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., pilgrims will gather at the starting point in the ancient Romanesque Church of St. Carthage, located in Rahan Demesne, Rahan, to commence this meaningful journey. During this in-person event, participants will explore the ancient path connecting Rahan and other historic sites to the sacred place of Clonmacnoise. As they walk together, they will be able to witness breathtaking landscapes, visit significant sites, and explore Ireland's rich spiritual heritage. Open to individuals of all faiths and backgrounds, this ecumenical pilgrimage promotes unity, reflection, and personal growth. Along the journey, pilgrims will have the opportunity to participate in prayer, reflection, and thoughtful discussions, nurturing a sense of community and understanding. Whether you are seeking a deeper connection with your spirituality or wish to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, the Rahan to Clonmacnoise Ecumenical Pilgrimage offers an unforgettable experience. Participants may wish to participate in the entire Pilgrimage or in a part of the journey that suits them. Alternatively, they are welcome to attend only the opening and closing services at St. Carthage Church, Rahan, and Temple Connor Church, Clonmacnoise. READ NEXT: Rekindling the age-old Irish tradition of crossroads dancing in Offaly Please note: Lunch tickets must be purchased before September 1 2025 Registration and bus tickets must be purchased by September 1 2025 For queries, please get in touch with the C.O.I. St. Carthages Church Heritage Interpreter, Anna Orman, at claraheritagesociety@email.com still from the film The Settlers (2025) (Image by Louis Theroux) Details DMCA The Celebration of Hatred: Burning Gaza Seen from the West Bank by John Hawkins I hate to admit it, but I have to: it's true. Over a long lifetime, I've learned a lot about humans -- through hate. Love is ephemeral, ethereal, and, ( I don't know, maybe it's me), elusive. But hatred is the real standard bearer of humankind. Do unto others before they do unto you is far more prevalent than the directive of Jesus to do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. It started with the first two humans born, brothers Cain and Abel over, they say, jealousy. Humans have been murderers and vics from the get-go. Even more so in the Land Promised by the Big Guy in the Sky to Abraham's descendants and followers. The concept of the Promised Land largely overlaps with the Land of Israel (Zion) or the Holy Land in a biblical/religious sense and with Canaan or Palestine in a secular/geographic sense, Wikipedia tells us. It is a controversial designation largely dependent on how valid you see the Torah as an arbiter of ownership. One interpretation, admittedly secular, is that the Promised Land belongs both to Israelis and Palestinians, and that who was there first thousands of years ago does not really matter in a modern world built on the concept of nation-states. Many observers of the Palestinian-Israeli atrocity exchanges over the years, seemingly broken up by a Nobel Peace Prize every once in a while (1950, 1978, 1994), as idf throwing the competing dogmatists a bone of new contentions, have stood behind a one-state solution (Palestinians and Israelis living as one democratic constituency) or a two-state solution (where Palestine and Israel each have their own separate sovereign states). I was preoccupied with these thoughts as I began watching yet another recent film exposing Israeli hatred for Palestinians and the desire to drive them out of the Promised Land, once and for all, now that Hamas had conveniently provided a pretext for gleeful carnage. British and American documentarian Louis Theroux's 2025 documentary The Settlers explores the ideological fervor, theological justification, and geopolitical consequences of the Israeli settler movement in the West Bank and Gaza. The film's core themes are religious nationalism, dehumanization of Palestinians, and colonial expansion, government complicity, and religious-messianic ethno-nationalism. Of the three, religious nationalism, upon which Israel is founded since 1949, is the sticking point to any resolution, if for no other reason than that ultra-Zionist Jews see themselves as the Chosen People and have declared no room in their plans for Arabs. Dehumanization and expansion are challengeable in courts of international justice. States based on religiohistorical mythopoesis invite the passions of insanity. America may have fucked up when its original Constitution left out the Bill of Rights and had to be forced in by the threats of signees, like George Mason and Patrick Henry, who refused to ratify unless the protections were included, but they were all sane enough to ensure that America was not built on religious nationalism. It is a Deist rather than a Theist constitution (our God is not meant to interfere with human affairs). Nevertheless, Americans derive their moral ethos from the Judeo-Christian tradition, in which God is an interfering agency. When the crazies arise from their swampy slumbers they bring with them the magical thinking of authoritative hermeneutics of divine purpose. Witness Washington and Jerusalem. Nietzsche described a world in which God is Dead. The Tree finally cut down. Wherein His Absence felt was, in the end, a something gained; a re-making of human being in his own likeness. Of the Juden Nietzsche once wrote: The whole problem of the Jews exists only in nation states, for here their energy and higher intelligence, their accumulated capital of spirit and will, gathered from generation to generation through a long schooling in suffering, must become so preponderant as to arouse mass envy and hatred. Does that make Nietzsche an antisemite? For putting two in the back of the Big Guy's head. The Settlers was a more polished piece than some of the other films I've watched -- No Other Land (2024), shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham; Gaza: Doctors Under Attack (2025), a suppressed forensic investigation into Israeli military attacks on hospitals in Gaza, and an examination of allegations of the targeting and abuse of doctors and healthcare workers in Gaza; and, Gaza: Journalists Under Fire (2025), which analyzes the record number of journalists targeted and murdered in their coverage of other carnage created by Israeli and American bombs in Gaza. No Other Land won an Oscar, but its co-director Hamdan Ballal was detained on his return home to the West Bank and beaten by Israeli security forces. Early in the film, Theroux explains his purpose for making the film, which is to speak with some of the ultra nationalist Zionists who see their illegal activity as a divine right. He wanted to try to understand the settler mentality. He drives to a settler jamboree on a hillside that looks out at still-smoking Gaza at the southern border with Israel. tu.be/kgwRc6Cf76U This had me pause and recall another facet of extremist Israeli fascism over the years. The desire to quash media coverage and free expression protests of Israeli treatment of Gazans. Remember Sderot? I asked myself. Back in July 2014, The Guardianhad photos of Israelis sitting on a hilltop overlooking the Palestinian village, looking as if they were watching the fireworks to the 1812 Overture. "One of these photographs depicted an old man, sitting alone, observing the conflict - and this is what particularly influenced the drawing," we're told. The cartoonist drew a lampooning version of the photo and the newspaper it appeared in -- The Australian -- was marauded by Jewish lawyer types. The editor who allowed it was fired. The cartoon was pulled. Bombing of Sderot as entertainement for Israelis (Image by News corp) Details DMCA There aren't many Jews in Australia (0.8% of the total Australian population), but they pack a punch. Just recently, when the outrages in Gaza became too much for some of the so-called leftists here, there were loud outraged protests against the inhumanity on display every day. Immediately, the few Jews here went to work and forced a bill before parliament to tighten antisemitism laws. The lobby wants "the government to withhold funding from universities that fail to reduce hatred against Jewish students, monitor media organisations to ensure accurate coverage, and screen visa applicants for antisemitic views." This is nuts. Then after that mind-bite it's back to viewing Theroux's pushy little film. Theroux poses a critical query to settlers: Why not pursue either a one-state solution with equal rights or a two-state solution guaranteeing Palestinian sovereignty? Seemingly for dramatic effect, or at least that's the way it turned out, viewers are introduced to Daniella Weiss, a prominent far-right Zionist settler Daniella Weiss who holds meetings of groups aiming to reoccupy the Gaza Strip. Weiss, who majored in literature and philosophy at university, has been pushing for illegal outposts in the West Bank, and has been involved in one killing of a Palestinian. Theroux asks her what her rallies and movement is about, and Weiss tells him (and us): We had a settlement movement organized this event in order to enhance the practical idea of establishing Jewish settlements in the entire Gaza Strip. We very much encourage and enable the population in Gaza to go to other countries. You will witness how Jews go to Gaza and Arabs disappear from Gaza. They lost the right to stay in this holy place. As Theroux gapes on, processing what she's said, she adds, "Please go. Thank you very much. It's now clear." But he doesn't just get pushed away; he's dogged, tenacious; he's pushy. Turns out she's even pushier. After he posits yet again the fantasy of Gazans and Israelis living as one in peace and harmony, she attempts to help him understand the dynamic between Palestinians and settlers by going up to him and shoving him; Theroux being the settler in this psychodrama. He says he won't push her back. She complains that the cameras aren't there when settlers are pushed. He says, "You think about tribalism" of your own people, of your own children first, to the exclusion [of] other people, of other children? That seems sociopathic." Soon, she ends the conversation, unable to get through to the documentarian, giving a threatening look, and saying, "I hope you push me back," before walking away. https://youtu.be/OIZi7oeDiaU This menacing look of implied threat had been played out in another scene in the film in which Israeli settlers attack Palestinians, the scene ending with a Palestinian being shot for little or no justification. Just moments before Theroux shows us ordinary olive harvesters being prevented -- arbitrary -- from picking the fruit and being forced to vacate the orchard. https://youtu.be/SfQDYJwHN1g On and on it goes. Theroux's documentary offers a sobering account of how religious entitlement, political complicity, and militarized ethnic nationalism coalesce into a settler movement that actively undermines any peaceful resolution. By posing the one-state/two-state question, he exposes the ideological rigidity of those who view Palestinian presence not as a political problem, but as a theological error to be corrected. The documentary underscores the human toll of this ideology-- especially in the visible, ongoing violence settlers inflict with near-total impunity. THE OZ LEGACY CONTINUES... Award-winning writer and theatre producer Kieron Knights invites readers to step back into the Land of Oz like they've never seen it In the complex and often daunting world of law, one name in Jodhpur has consistently emerged as a beacon of hope and a formidable advocate Children work on a puzzle during a preschool class. The federal government recently reversed a decades-long rule that allowed children 5 and younger, regardless of immigration status, to participate in Head Start. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Oregons Head Start programs are in flux after the federal government reversed a decades-long rule that allowed children 5 and younger, regardless of immigration status, to participate in the national early childhood care program that enrolls more than 12,000 Oregon children. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced changes to the Head Start program earlier this month as part of a broader shift in eligibility for benefits that he said had diverted hardworking Americans tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration. The rule undoes historical exemptions that allow immigrant families without permanent legal status access to some community-based benefits such as substance abuse programs, certain health care clinics and Title X family planning programs. The human services department estimates these changes will affect 115,000 children and families nationwide, according to a recent analysis. Oregon-specific numbers arent available because the states Head Start program doesnt collect information on immigration status. Nancy Perin, executive director of the Wilsonville-based Oregon Head Start Association, said the group is waiting to hear how the regulations will affect different Head Start programs, such as those tied to nonprofits, universities or public schools. Perins understanding of the National Head Start Act is that it guarantees children enrolled in the program can remain in it until they start kindergarten. One Oregon facility estimated about a third of the children who attend would be kicked out of the program should immigration status restrictions be implemented, Perin said. What does that mean now? What do we do about those kiddos? she said. Were just kind of in a flux. The new federal rules also spurred a multi-state coalition of Head Start providers that includes Oregon to update an April lawsuit it filed against the Health and Human Services Department over the closure of offices and restrictions against using funds for diversity, equity and inclusion. The group argues the most recent directive lacks clarity and guidance around implementation, with their amended complaint calling the new regulation yet another step in defendants attempt to hobble the Head Start program in defiance of Congress. Its going to affect generations to come, not just todays kids, not just tomorrows 5-year-olds, but there are people right now who are considering having them who are not going to have access to these supports, said Candice Williams, executive director of the statewide child care advocacy nonprofit Family Forward Oregon, which is among the lawsuits plaintiffs. Thats going to limit their ability to even engage in becoming parents. The department is challenging an interpretation of exemptions on immigration restrictions for certain benefits provided by the federal government, such as child care, some health care clinics, and preschool that dates to the 1990s. In a July 10 statement, the National Head Start Association said families havent been required to document their immigration status to enroll in the program in its six-decade history. Oregons child care shortage has been an issue lawmakers have tried to address for years. A 2023 report for Oregons Early Learning Division found that most Oregon counties are child care deserts. Of the more than 260,000 Oregon children aged 5 and younger, 63% had all their available parents out working jobs, according to the D.C-based nonprofit First Five Years Fund. A lack of care can lead to parents losing their jobs to take care of their kids, ultimately rippling into the economy by lowering the amount of time they have to work. In the federal lawsuit, Family Forward Oregon says that a child care provider it employs has been forced to take unpaid days off of work and was instructed they would receive reduced wages due to funding concerns. Another of the groups staff members informed them she would not attend a lobbying day in Washington, D.C., because of her familys mixed immigration status, Williams said. Were seeing our employees not be able to do their jobs, Williams said. Were seeing the Oregon families who participate in our leadership development not be able to show up for fear of retribution and retaliation. In a Friday statement, the two chairs of Oregons Legislative Child Care Caucus acknowledged fears those cuts and changes to Head Start eligibility have caused for families, child care providers and workers. The Oregon Legislature concluded this years legislative session with a budget that slashed $45 million in early childhood learning programs, a factor that the lawmakers said was causing stress in communities across Oregon. Reps. Hoa Nguyen, D-Portland, and Jules Walters, D-West Linn, the caucus chairs, said they would continue working to protect access to child care and investing state money in the system. Oregons future depends on the well-being of our youngest learners, and the people who nurture and teach them, they said. We are dedicated to advancing policies that reflect those values. -- Shaanth Kodialam Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. Loud joyful cheers and clapping could be heard as thousands of people lined up along Naito Parkway near the waterfront on Sunday for the 2025 Portland Pride Parade a festivity that some attendees said was more important than ever this year. The colorful parade was largely peaceful. Some of its participants energized onlookers, asking them to cheer loudly as they made their way through crowds of people of all ages. Love always wins, read one sign carried along the parade route. The rainbow sheep of the family, and Proud of my stripes, said others. Several dogs, a bunny and what appeared to be a duck participated in this years parade. Amanda Kundert said visibility is what made her go to the parade. She said she wasnt surprised by the large turnout, especially given the current political climate under the Trump administration. A lot of people are standing up and going Yeah, we are doing this in defiance, and we are going to support our community, said Kundert, who is homeless and staying at a queer dorm at the Bybee Lakes Hope Center. Its nice to see people coming out in force to show their love for the community. Pride Northwest organized the parade as part of its two-day Portland Pride Festival. The organizations first celebration was in 1976. Under the Trump administration, the federal government now recognizes only two sexes, female and male. It has banned transgender people from serving in the military, among other sweeping changes and reversals of prior policies. The administration also seeks to end gender-affirming care for transgender minors and teens under the age of 19. Trump did not issue a proclamation recognizing June as Pride month this year, nor did he do so in his first term, the Associated Press reported. Asked about whether the president would recognize the month, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: This president is very proud to be a president for all Americans regardless of race, religion or creed, making no mention of sexual orientation or gender identity. Jamie Solomon, a young adult, said theyve been attending pride parades in various cities since they were 12, but this year, they extra wanted to be at the Portland parade, due to the current administration hating everyone. It makes everyone less alone, Solomon said. Aaron Rider said the parade was more important this year because of current politics. He said its ridiculous to treat someone differently because of their sexual orientation and urged the community to continue to stand up for whats is right. We are all human, Rider said. Clark Labitan, who recently moved to Portland from San Diego, was surprised by the turnout. I like how the community supports the whole pride thing, Labitan said. Its very important to show support. - The Associated Press contributed to this report. Associate Professor Sam Logan poses for a portrait in his workspace at Oregon State University. High School Journalism Institute Sam Logan didnt know much about the body horror genre when he proposed teaching a class on it at Oregon State University. So the associate professor set off to write his first short story in the horror fiction subgenre, drawing from a time his finger swelled after he smashed it in a car door. Without giving too much away, his story involved a needle and blood. Logan hired an editor, who offered tough critiques. He welcomed them. I thrive in trying and doing, he said, and getting feedback and trying again. The 41-year-old brings the same mindset to his classroom. Logan said he values co-creation over traditional teaching doctrine not teaching down to students, but learning alongside them. That style represents his answer to two major forces pressing down on college campuses: anti-LGBTQ+ bias and artificial intelligence. LGBTQ+ authors have frequently written body horror to express themes of identity as well as body and gender dysmorphia. And in his other classes on punk music and Taylor Swift, Logan has students create zines, scrappy anti-establishment pamphlets crafted with anything at hand, as a way to learn a do-it-yourself creative philosophy. Associate Professor Sam Logans CD collection in his Oregon State University classroom. High School Journalism Institute A few years ago, Logan came up with Punk 101, a class that introduces students to punk music and zines and centers on BIPOC, queer and feminist artists, according to the course description. In Punk 101, the parameters for the zine assignment almost dont exist. One student, Lorelei, wrote about how cool the name is, he said. The zine ranked its various spellings and explored the names origins. His classroom in the Oregon State Womens Building basement is packed with evidence of his diverse interests: toy cars, posters, zines and vinyl records. On a recent day, hed pulled out his favorite Taylor Swift album, 1989 (Taylors Version), which he teaches as part of his class on the pop icon, Swifties Unite. Those students listen to Swifts discography, rank songs on a scale of 1 to 10, then watch and discuss footage from Swifts Eras Tour movie. Like the punk students, they also make zines. One students dove deep into the Cats movie that starred Swift, Logan said. Zines, he said, are a hands-on, experiential way to educate. They arent professionally made, but the different colors and language used represent each students individuality. Like most teachers, Logan faces challenges with the rising use of generative artificial intelligence. He said he sees students becoming less and less engaged. But he views tactile construction as a way to resist the lulling effects of AI. I dont believe that just because its here we have to adapt and use it, he said of the technology. Associate Professor Sam Logan demonstrates how he and his colleagues retrofit toy cars for the program Go Baby Go in his Oregon State University classroom. High School Journalism Institute In the spirit of his do-it-yourself attitude, Logan, who specializes in movement studies, learned how to fix up toy cars to help children with limited mobility through a national program called Go Baby Go. Logan expanded the program in Oregon, and when starting out, he had to learn new skills. Go Baby Go retrofits toy cars so the toddlers can move around. Logan had no idea how to work with electrical wires or other mechanics, he said, so he learned how to modify the cars. Logan said he enjoyed seeing drivers become little explorers for the first time. Back in Logans body horror course, students analyze short stories, many of them by queer authors, then set off to write their own. In the current political climate, Logan said, he believes in providing a space where queer students feel like its for them. Logan said he gives students three suggestions: One, draw on personal experience, like Logan did. Two, use identity, a common device among authors of the genre. Lastly, he recommends students use their major. A health major could write a medical horror story. All the while, he said, hes learning more and more about gender from his students. And theyre exploring unfamiliar corners of their identities. Logan said, I just want to push them to do something new. -- Kate DeWeese, Franklin High School -- Olivia Oldfield, Banks High School This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University, and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji. I was walking to my last class of the day when the blaring sirens went off. It was March 2024. The words get to a safe space immediately rang through the hallways as we went into a Level 3 lockdown, the highest. My friends and I looked at each other. My heart pounded against my chest. A lockdown drill usually comes with a warning. But this wasnt a drill. A 16-year-old student had been killed in a shooting at Bushs Pasture Park three short blocks away during South Salem High Schools lunch period. Two more local high schoolers were injured and hospitalized. We didnt know that was happening. Rumors floated around as we huddled, trapped in our weakly barricaded classrooms. And none of us knew how different our school environment would become. Over the next year, Salem-Keizer Public Schools heightened security at South Salem, installing weapons detectors and door alarms and tightening restrictions for leaving campus. We became the guinea pigs for the district. These changes have made my school feel less like a home and more like a prison. Some added safety measures were needed after the shooting. Yes, the weapons detectors make many people feel safer. Salem-Keizer sent out pre- and post-installation surveys about the detectors to the South Salem students and staff. About 50% of students and 75% of staff said they felt safer after the installation. However, some measures went too far. Even after the weapons detectors were installed, one-third of survey respondents said they didnt feel welcome at South Salem, while 40% were neutral. I also cant leave the building without setting off an alarm and risking a disciplinary referral. I cant go out during lunch unless I have access to a car. I dont feel welcome because I dont have a say in the choices that impact my daily life. District staff didnt tell students about these new security measures until days before most of the changes. This made my peers and me feel overlooked. The school boards two student representatives spoke at meetings about the security advancements, but its difficult to represent the more than 2,000 students who attend South. Students and staff have experienced a lot in the last year. Were all grieving, but we dont feel like we can speak up due to the lack of support in the Salem-Keizer community. After all, why would we say anything when we fear it will only lead to further changes and suppress us even more? Before anything else is added, I want to be able to say my opinion. I want more communication and compromise. I want to hear from Salem-Keizer officials. I want to feel like my title as a South Salem Saxon matters. Brennea Atchley-Roberts, South Salem High School This commentary was produced by a student reporter as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji. A coalition of 21 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administrations restrictions on social services for immigrants in the country illegally, including the federal preschool program Head Start, health clinics and adult education. Individual public benefits, such as food stamps and college financial aid, have been largely unavailable to people in the country without legal status, but the new rules and guidance from the administration curbed their access to community-level programs that receive federal money. The lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James argues the government failed to follow the rulemaking process and did not provide required notice on conditions placed on federal funds. It also argues the changes will create significant harm. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfields office said the chaotic implementation of the new rules are already causing disruptions. It said some Oregon Head Start programs will be forced to close due to the cost of implementing systems to verify immigration status. And instituting immigration status verification could cause delays for rent assistance and other aid from the states housing agency. The federal governments actions threaten the basic services that thousands of Oregonians rely on every day childcare, health care, housing, and more, said Attorney General Rayfield. These changes were issued with no notice, no legal justification, and no plan for how states are supposed to comply. The result is confusion, disruption, and the real possibility that families will lose access to the programs they depend on to survive. The rule changes rescinded a Clinton-era interpretation of federal laws on immigrants' access to services. The restrictions were announced jointly earlier this month by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Education Department, the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice. Implementing immigration documentation checks would place a significant burden on programs and in some cases would be unrealistic, the lawsuit said. The extra work would likely affect services provided by these programs to U.S. citizens, who are often from low-income backgrounds and depend on the services for health and education, the lawsuit said. Head Start, a federal preschool program that provides developmental therapy, child care and preschool to families who are homeless or in poverty, has not asked participants to verify their immigration status in the past. Some Head Start providers said they do not have the staff or resources to begin implementing such screening. It is likely that for some programs, the costs of compliance will be so high as to lead to the programs closure, the lawsuit said. Many Head Start programs are small entities that operate on razor-thin margins and are likely to close if facing a significant administrative burden. Other community-level programs affected by the rule change include mental health services in schools, crisis hotlines and substance use disorder treatment. -- The Associated Press The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. Malcolm Jamal Warner in a scene from the "Cosby Show." Corbis via Getty Images Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role at Theodore Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, is dead at the age of 54, TMZ is reporting. Citing a reliable source, TMZ reports Warner died as a result of an accidental drowning. People, citing a source, reports the actor was in Costa Rica on a family vacation when the drowning took place. Within minutes of the news, Theo was trending on social media. The Emmy-award winning actor was most recently hosting the podcast Not All Hood, and his latest episode dropped just 3 days ago. Warner is survived by his wife and daughter. He and Eddie Griffin starred in the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie from 1996 to 2000. He also starred in Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015. Other credits include Major Crimes, Suits and The Resident. He also voiced The Producer from 1994-1997 on The Magic School Bus. However, Warner is most remembered for his role as Bill Cosbys son in the Cosby Show. Warner was just 14 when the show premiered in 1984 and ran through 1992. He also won a Grammy winner for Best Traditional R&B Performance with the Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Lala Hathaway for the song Jesus Children in 2015. Mark Heim / The Alabama Media Group / Tribune News Service Renee Anderson, shown here on July 11, 2025, is a fierce champion of math students, particularly Black children, in Portland Public Schools. Last month, Anderson was honored by the Oregon Community Foundation for her four decades of work in Oregon education, alongside 12 other Black educators. Eddy Binford-Ross/The Oregonian Renee Anderson came home one day in fourth grade and announced that she planned to be a math educator someday. Her teacher used cans and string to introduce the idea of Pi the mathematical number that represents the distance around a circle divided by the distance across, which is always approximately 3.14. Anderson had proceeded to measure every circular thing she could find, only to discover that the rule of Pi worked out every time, like magic. Decades later, for her, math still is. Over an almost four-decade career in Oregon, Anderson was a fierce champion of math students, particularly Black children, in Portland Public Schools. She taught, mostly at Grant High School, and served as the first director of Oregons Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program. Even after her pandemic era retirement, she remained instrumental in the continued regrowth of the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators. Last month, Anderson was one of 13 longtime Black educators honored by the Oregon Community Foundation a philanthropic organization and the sixth largest community foundation in America for their contributions to education. She is a brilliant passionate leader in so many ways, said Marcy Bradley, Oregon Community Foundations chief community engagement and equity officer. She reached beyond the four walls of the classroom. At the core of her work, Anderson said, is a passionate belief that all students can learn and succeed, if they have people supporting and pushing them. We know all kids can learn math, Anderson said. Having somebody who believes that you can do it is a big thing and thats what I think is missing in schools for a lot of kids. Helping underrepresented math students Anderson moved to Portland in the 1980s to start and run a Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program, shorthanded as MESA, at Portland Public Schools. The program provides underrepresented students, many of them Black, opportunities to explore math and science, including through after school and summer sessions and field trips. Anderson had been running the MESA program at San Francisco State University when leadership from Portland Public Schools, in an effort to find educators who had experience teaching a diversity of children, came across her work. After months of pressure from district leadership, Anderson ultimately made the move to Portland. In Andersons decade at the helm, the MESA program blossomed to include 500 students. Today, it serves 700 children across 40 schools statewide. The program has changed lives, according to Elizabeth Stock, the current director of Oregon MESA. She created opportunities for young people, especially those historically left out of (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, to see new possibilities for themselves, Stock wrote of Andersons influence in an email. Her belief in their potential didnt just change classrooms, it changed life trajectories. Her legacy is deep, far-reaching and still growing. In the classroom After stepping back from directing MESA, Anderson spent the next two decades in the classroom, largely at Grant High School in Northeast Portland. Bryan Butcher Jr. was a student at Grant when Anderson taught there, before he went on to become an algebra teacher at Beaumont Middle School and win the 2025 Oregon Teacher of the Year award. Butcher never took a class with Anderson, but said her reputation for caring, while also instilling a sense of responsibility into students was well-known throughout the school, even among students who werent in her math classes. Shed be patient enough to work with you and navigate the system, but she had a standard, she told you youd be accountable, Butcher recalled. She was especially adept at helping students who were struggling. At Grant, Anderson and a couple of other teachers developed a program two periods of math for two years to help students who had not received adequate math education in middle school succeed in high school classes. While students werent thrilled, Anderson said, almost all of them came out of the program on track to complete their high school math requirements. Bradley said Anderson had a deep commitment to helping students who needed extra support, and would volunteer her time to help even non-Grant students learn. She would literally, for no money, spend hours helping the kids figure math out, Bradley said. These kids would come in thinking they were failures and they would leave knowing they were scholars. A devoted advocate When Anderson was leading MESA in the 1980s and 90s, she learned that many Black children in Portland Public Schools werent being placed in the higher level math classes because some counselors assumed that they werent ready for it, Anderson said. Its not that our kids could not learn math and science. Its that they figured our kids could not learn math and science, Anderson said. So Anderson began a concerted effort to make sure that parents knew what classes their children were supposed to be enrolled in and that counselors were actually enrolling them in those classes. After that, Anderson said math scores among Black students increased. It wasnt because all of a sudden they got smart. It was because they were letting them take the classes and they were getting support, Anderson said. As a teacher, Anderson knew that sometimes students didnt have a parent at home advocating for them. So she would take on that role, a task that put her at odds with administrators on occasion. Anderson remembers one student in her class who had attendance problems because her father was in jail and her grandmother was struggling with addiction. When I got her, I said, I need you to focus on one thing: getting to school every single day, Anderson said. One time the girl didnt show up to Andersons class, so Anderson said she headed downstairs during her planning period and asked the counselor to call the student. A vice principal overheard the conversation. This vice principal told me that I didnt understand Black kids, Anderson said. But if shes staying home with her grandmother, is she getting an education? An integral part of Oregon education to this day While Anderson hasnt taught in a classroom since 2020, she hasnt retired from Oregon education. Anderson has been working to help revitalize the Oregon Alliance for Black School Educators and rebuild a community of Black teachers. When Anderson first moved to Portland, she saw the city as a mecca for Black educators, with robust engagement and a variety of professional support from the alliance. But Anderson eventually left the alliance to spend more time with her kids and when it came back on her radar in 2012, she realized a lot of other Black educators had too. Anderson said the alliance lacked membership and wasnt providing Black educators with professional and community-building opportunities. Every time I went to a school, I checked in to see what black educators were at the schools, Anderson said. And morale was really low. Anderson and others made a concerted effort to rebuild the community, starting first with Black educator gatherings and, over the last decade, expanding to offer workshops, grants, mentorship and other resources. Butcher said that the consistency of Andersons involvement being present at conferences, checking in with individual teachers, sending emails has helped young Black educators like himself. Having someone like Ms. Anderson reminds you that you are not in this alone. This is what it feels like to have a community, Butcher said. Beyond the alliance, Anderson is the co-chair of the states African American/Black Student Success Advisory Group, on the board of the Multnomah Education Service District and continues to tutor students in need. I know all students can learn, because I saw it, Anderson said. We just have to figure out where to meet them. Eddy Binford-Ross covers education and local politics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. A year ago, when I told The Oregonian/OregonLive publisher John Maher that I planned to retire this summer, it seemed a long way away. Now, its here. Working in journalism for my entire career has been a privilege. Our newsroom is strong and well-positioned for the next tectonic shifts in the news business. They are inevitable. Artificial intelligence, for one thing, holds numerous promises and no shortage of perils. Weve seen glimpses of promising use cases (automated weather alerts, for instance) but also watched as other news organizations courted disaster. I am confident The Oregonian/OregonLives new editor, Laura Gunderson, and her leadership team will navigate the future with care and prudence. We know the best value our news organization can provide is unique, reliable, local reporting that readers can trust. If you value that, do me a favor: Subscribe to The Oregonian or OregonLive (or both!). To be sure, journalism will endure and, in the age of artificial intelligence, the actual intelligence we provide will be increasingly valuable. Its worth supporting. Every change weve made over the past several years (such as reducing print days to four) we have made with the goal of keeping our newsroom strong protecting the reporting and public service mission that is at our core. We have been able to grow our newsroom over the seven years I have been editor. We could not have done that without the support of thousands of paying subscribers. So, thank you. And thanks to so many of you who took the time to respond to this column or other coverage over the years. I appreciated the conversation with those who sincerely sought answers about how we do our work. Journalism is at its heart a human endeavor. We wont always get it right, but we count on you our readers to let us know when weve missed. We wont always agree. Many readers were unhappy when I ended reader comments on OregonLive and again when I canceled Dilbert. Thats OK. Theres plenty of room for civil disagreement. I was privileged to lead the newsroom during the coronavirus crisis, where we had to figure out how to leave the communal newsroom behind and work remotely, grappling with the same fears and uncertainties as our audience. We staffed more than 100 straight days of protests in 2020, and we covered historic wildfires throughout the state later that year. In this column, I have tried to highlight my passion for government transparency, public records and open meetings. Journalists fight for information for the public good. And we always will prioritize journalism that fits with our public service mission. We hold others accountable, so Ive tried to be transparent when we have fallen short. As I said, its a human endeavor and we will sometimes get it wrong. Weve adapted to new realities, such as launching our clean slate program in recognition of the long memory of Google, which didnt exist when I started my career. Our program to allow people to appeal for removal of old content reflects the technological changes around us. When I started, most people worked on electric typewriters. On the copy desk, where I began as an intern, we had the first rudimentary computers. People still smoked at their desks, and the newsroom was almost entirely male. Only about 15% of women in the US had a four-year college degree in 1983, the year I graduated from the University of Oregon. The Oregonian not only moved to computers but in the 1990s began focusing on digital delivery of news with the advent of OregonLive. Then, as audiences migrated to social media (Facebook became available to the public in 2006), we shifted there as well. Reporters who once used pen and notepad now carried cameras to capture video, dispatched stories from their smartphones direct to the web, and learned the nuances of search engines. People who embrace change, who thrive on change, will do well in journalism going forward. I continue to be impressed by the newer journalists I meet. The Oregonian/OregonLive is in good hands going forward. Gunderson will introduce herself further soon. She brings a deep understanding of Portland and Oregon to the role. Journalists tend to be always on duty. After 42 years in the newsroom, I will have to adjust to civilian life. Leaving the office the other day, I chased a plume of black smoke only to find a not-newsworthy small fire. Old habits will die hard. I leave behind the best newsroom, filled with people who are passionate about bringing you the news and uncovering the facts. We always hear more criticism than praise, but trust me when I say they deserve your praise and your support. So, yes, please subscribe. Last, Ive occasionally pulled back the curtain on newspapering, explaining our work or defining the lingo. So, heres one last bit. Reporters traditionally ended their articles with a symbol -- held over from telegraph days and then the hot-type era. The symbol signified the article had come to its end. Even after newspapers moved away from lead type, this endured as a universal signoff. Here, with my sincere appreciation for all of you, I end, according to tradition. -30- (Reach me at tbottomly@oregonian.com until Aug. 1, when I retire. Read about The Oregonian/OregonLives new editor, Laura Gunderson.) As a resident of Lincoln County, I am offended by any implication that our longtime legislator, Rep. David Gomberg, behaved improperly when securing funding to repair the road on which he and his neighbors live, ("Oregon lawmaker pushed to fix his road with wildfire recovery money," July 13). The Echo Mountain Fire Complex ravaged parts of the coast in 2020; Gomberg and his wife, Susan, were among the victims who had to flee their homes. Gomberg has worked tirelessly to find help for those who needed to restore homes, to repair septic systems and to avoid being taxed for houses that no longer exist, along with many other issues. Gomberg appropriately applied for funds to repair roads damaged by fire and restoration efforts. His wife assisted with cumbersome and complex paperwork. On several occasions, he consulted ethics experts to be sure that since he could share the benefit of the repaired road - his actions were proper and transparent. His Republican colleague, Sen. Dick Anderson, endorsed the project. The Oregonian/OregonLives four-page spread, complete with large, repetitive photos, suggests that Gomberg was engaged in something nefarious. Phrases like he wielded his position and access imply something improper. On the contrary, Gomberg has gone to the mat for his neighbors, which is characteristic of his vigorous, longstanding work for constituents. We are grateful and lucky to have him. A better public service would have been for the media to cover Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfields standing-room-onlytown hall, sponsored by Gomberg and attended by Anderson. It addressed efforts to resist overreach and corruption by our national government. Every elected official should emulate Gombergs commitment to serve. Susan Reese Painter, Newport To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Corvallis Housing First plans to build an affordable housing development, Third Street Commons, at a dilapidated hotel site. High School Journalism Institute In less than half a decade, Corvallis has attracted more than $200 million in affordable housing projects but despite the stunning surge in investment, homelessness is still on the rise. The projected value of all pending and completed affordable housing developments is $219 million, roughly double estimates from a year ago, according to a city spokesperson. These units are more than I ever was able to achieve in my 17-year career in the nonprofit sector, Corvallis housing manager Brigetta Olson said. This is like four years of wow. The citys Urban Renewal Agency, however, says Corvallis needs to build about 8,000 housing units to accommodate population growth over the next 20 years. So far, builders have completed 358 units over four projects, with three more complexes comprising 284 units in the development pipeline. Nevertheless, the number of houseless people increased from 420 to 566 in the last year, said Dan Easdale, a manager for the nonprofit Corvallis Housing First, citing a preliminary Point in Time count. The urban renewal agency approved a $190,000 tax reimbursement on June 5 for Wishcamper, a for-profit affordable housing developer, to provide gap funding to Willamette Crossing a $70 million, 160-unit property set to start construction in mid-August. Bret George, a partner at Wishcamper, said getting from planning to ground breaking for the Oregon 99 West project should take just over a year. The way the community interacts with the developer really can make or break a project, said George. This project might be the fastest (approval) Ive ever seen. Corvallis Housing First program manager Dan Easdale, left, and executive director Andrea Myhre hold a sign with a picture of the planned affordable housing development Third Street Commons. High School Journalism Institute A bit further down the bustling state highway, Corvallis Housing First is spearheading a 47-unit permanent supportive housing complex, Third Street Commons, which has been delayed due to possible soil contamination. The new goal is to start construction in September. Andrea Myhre, the executive director of the nonprofit, said she values working directly with residents as the leader of a small organization with only 15 staff members. Its both an awesome job and an extremely heart wrenching, stressful existence that we have, because were taking care of people that oftentimes dont have anybody else watching out for them, said Myhre. City officials are also supporting development of market rate housing: The Gordon Hotel, an $84 million complex with apartment and hotel units on the riverfront, broke ground in May, with Gerding Builders serving as general contractor. Ryan McAlister, president of Gerding Builders, says that affordable housing supports his employees. If they dont have a place to live, then I dont have a labor force, he said. Its really important that we have stable, affordable housing for the overall health of the state. Developers are building a market rate housing and hotel project, The Gordon Hotel, at a riverfront site in downtown Corvallis. High School Journalism Institute Alongside a raft of parking and zoning changes mandated by the state, Corvallis has streamlined its building code by hundreds of pages and no longer requires voter approval to annex land into the city. In addition, the citys construction excise tax funnels money to low-income housing projects and requires that the properties remain affordable for 60 years. The city has made strides in affordable housing but isnt producing the 400 units of housing per year it needs to meet state goals. In Corvallis, roughly 37% carry a severe rent burden meaning they spend more than 50% of their gross income on rent. Low or no-income college students likely exacerbate the number. Olson, the housing manager, said she has noted a shift in public opinion and policy in favor of affordable housing. We want to live in a community where everybody doesnt have to make the hard choices between food on the table and a roof over their head, said Olson. By the numbers: Here are the details on upcoming Corvallis affordable housing projects: South Town Community Land Trust Number of homes: 27 Estimated value: Not available Address: 525 to 585 S.E. Firefly Ave. Sunstone Apartments Number of units: 50 Estimated Value: $17.5 million Address: 1873 N.W. Division Place Willamette Crossing Number of units: 160 Estimated value: $72.5 million Address: 2416 S.E. 3rd St. Third Street Commons Number of units: 47 Estimated value: $23 million Address: 1480 S.W. 3rd St. Emmy McGill, Columbia River High School Appollonia Munoz, Riverside High School This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University, and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji. Twenty-six billion dollars. Thats the staggering price tag Gov. Glenn Youngkins own Department of Medical Assistance Services just placed on the Virginia impact of President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Over the next 14 years, this federal wealth redistribution bill will stretch Virginias budget, strain our hospitals, raise insurance premiums and harm many of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. For weeks, Youngkin has dismissed warnings from Democrats as exaggerated and made up. But now, with these sobering estimates coming from his own administration, denial is no longer an option. The damage may not be immediate, but it will be deep. The bill will reduce federal monies that hospitals can access to reimburse the cost of patient care. All will feel the squeeze, especially academic medical centers like the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University health systems, which face new limits on what they can charge for care. Rural hospitals already operating on razor-thin margins are at even greater risk. If Virginia acts quickly, federal grants could be used to reduce the pressure felt by rural hospitals. But the federal government need not award them, and the amounts available are not sufficient to replace the losses. If rural hospitals are forced to close, entire communities will be left without care while losing one of their most stable employers. A major goal of the Affordable Care Act was to reduce the number of uninsured Americans and it worked. Two factors explain the success: the expansion of Medicaid in 40 states (including Virginia in 2018, which immediately made 400,000 eligible for coverage) and the creation of health care exchanges supported by federal tax credits. These subsidies helped individuals who didnt qualify for Medicaid, lacked employer-sponsored coverage or couldnt afford private insurance purchase health plans at reduced rates. The impact in Virginia has been profound. The Virginia Health Care Foundation reports that the commonwealths nonelderly uninsured rate fell from 14.3% to 7.6% between 2013 and 2023. Trumps Big Beautiful Bill failed to extend vital tax credits, and many will expire at the end of the year. According to Virginias State Corporation Commission, that will cause health insurance premiums to spike by as much as 50% for some on the exchange. This will place enormous pressure on families and likely force many to drop coverage. The commission estimates over 100,000 Virginians will lose their insurance. We are already seeing the ripple effects of Trumps assault on the ACA. In early July, Aetna announced it would pull out of the ACA marketplace in Virginia and several other states next year. Its a clear warning: Trumps policies are sowing chaos in the insurance markets. And most experts agree this will mean higher premiums not just for those on the exchanges, but across the board. Finally, fewer Virginians will qualify for Medicaid, making it less likely they will get the care they need or pushing them toward more expensive emergency room visits. That leaves hospitals to absorb the cost of uncompensated care, or forces taxpayers to pick up the tab through transfers of state indigent care dollars to health systems. Instead of lobbying the administration to reduce the impacts of Trumps wealth redistribution bill, Youngkin insists that people who need services will receive them and instead accuses Democrats of extreme assumptions about the bills affects. Now, we can see estimates provided by his own staff, and they are not pretty. Meanwhile, Youngkin has been busy on Fox News, touting his dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and embracing all things Trump while ignoring the budgetary and human challenges about to hit the commonwealth. As unemployment claims rise in Northern Virginia following federal layoffs, the governors only visible response has been to peddle an online jobs portal. The Republican response from Youngkin, from candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has amounted to little more than Get over it. It didnt have to be this way. In 2017, Trump was also in the White House and working to destroy the Affordable Care Act. His attacks were disrupting the insurance marketplace; rates were rising, and insurers were pulling out of the exchanges. In August of that year, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it would stop offering individual health plans within Virginias ACA marketplace. Shortly after, Optima Insurance followed suit. Nearly 200,000 Virginians were at risk of losing coverage, and several counties faced the prospect of having no ACA provider at all. But here the comparison ends. Then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe intervened. He called, cajoled and pressured the companies to return. His efforts worked, and coverage options were returned for thousands of Virginians. At the federal level, leadership in both parties, including Sen. John McCains famous Senate vote, saved the ACA. Strong leadership matters. If Virginians think the state is spending too much on health care now, wait until next years budget when the real financial impact of this market disruption begins to take hold. As tax credits expire, premiums rise and people lose coverage, demand for state support will grow. But when that storm hits, Youngkins term will be over, and he likely will be spending more time in places like Iowa and South Carolina, cheerleading for the presidents agenda and quietly auditioning for a run of his own. It will be left to a new governor and General Assembly to pick up the pieces. Gold bars are for sale at a shop in Los Angeles in April 2025. (Jae C. Hong/File photo/Associated Press) AP An Eastern Oregon woman in her 60s lost $600,000 to scammers after she followed their instructions to buy gold bars and transfer their ownership to them, state officials said. Officials from the Oregon Department of Justice said they and the Union County Sheriffs Office intervened after the womans sister called the state agencys consumer protection hotline for help. Police were able to stop the woman from handing over another $300,000 worth in gold bars, officials said. The money she already lost amounted to most of her life savings, said state Justice Department officials, who are warning the public of this nationwide scam. According to the department, the scammers told the woman they were federal agents and that she needed to buy gold bars and give the bars to them for safekeeping in order to protect the money in her financial accounts from being frozen or hacked. The woman bought the bars, then met a courier, who picked them up in a parking lot. After the womans sister found out that the woman was planning on giving another $300,000 to the scammers, she called the hotline. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield described what happened as heartbreaking. The Justice Department says government agencies, banks or tech companies never ask people to buy gold or valuable metals and then transfer ownership. If something feels off, trust your gut, Rayfield said in a news release. It could save your life savings. Jenny Hansson, a spokesperson for the Justice Department, said a deputy met with the woman who bought the gold bars, spoke to one of the scammers on the phone while the woman was listening and was able to convince the woman that the scammer was not a federal agent. Hansson said another woman in eastern Oregon also apparently fell victim to a similar scam, in which she bought $60,000 in silver bars and then was tricked into handing them over. The Justice Department warns that scammers often try to instill panic in victims by stating that they must take action urgently. Officials recommend hanging up on people who call asking potential victims to withdraw or transfer money. People can report suspicious encounters to the Oregon Department of Justice Hotline at 877-877-9392, the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov or by filing a complaint at OregonConsumer.gov. Reporter Aimee Green can be reached at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. A rare, 1937 Art Moderne house designed by celebrated architect Roscoe Hemenway in Southwest Portland sold for $960,000, which was $11,000 more than the sellers asking price. On April 28, Jimi Hendrix of Neighbors Realty listed the three-level, stucco-covered house on Southwest Abernethy Street for $949,000. An offer was accepted June 16 and the transaction was completed July 10. Three competing offers drove the sale price up after the property was on the market for almost 50 days, Hendrix told The Oregonian/OregonLive. At this higher price point, its taking a tiny bit more time to find the right buyer in certain neighborhoods, she said. Folks are being a lot more particular about which homes they want to make an offer on. The new owner is a pastry chef, who appreciated the updated kitchens functionally and pantry, said Hendrix. The house with 2,617 square feet of living space has high ceilings and broad windows granting sweeping Mount Hood views. The living room with a stone fireplace has glass French doors that open to the flat backyard. The three bedrooms are on the second story, and two bonus spaces allow for work-from-home options. Upgrades since 2019 include new floors and a complete remodel of the kitchen, two bathrooms and a powder room. History of Art Moderne For a fleeting time in the 1930s and early 1940s, the streamlined look of airplanes, ocean liners and automobiles inspired Art Moderne architecture. Around 1937, Portland businessman and Optimist Club member Harvey S. Hudson hired Hemenway, later to be known for his 1940s and 1950s Colonial Revival mansions, to design a sleek, unique Moderne house on Hudsons 4,791-square-foot lot. Like the eras luxury passenger ships and aerodynamic Airstream trailers, air was intended to smoothly flow over the rectangular houses roofs and around its curved edges. The rounded-edged second-story balcony over the front door mimics the flying bridge of a 1930s ocean liner, wrote architectural historians William J. Hawkins and William F. Willingham in their authoritative book, Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950. Hawkins and Willingham devote a chapter of their book to the brief emergence of Modernistic/International architecture. They found only a handful of these houses in Portland, including the Hudson house, but said the quality can be compared to others built across the country in the styles heyday. During the Great Depression, fussy Art Deco was edited down to duplicate the airplanes and automobiles speeding into the future. The spare Moderne architecture typically employed white surfaces and pleasant surprises like porthole windows. It was the first architecture designed for electric lights. The Art Deco style emphasized skyscraper verticality, rich colors and geometric ornamentation, while Art Moderne employed horizontal lines, simpler, streamlined designs, and often materials like steel and aluminum, reflecting the machine age, according to historians. The brief Streamline Moderne-era survives mostly in commercial buildings. But the rare residence with a long, low horizontal silhouette showcases the early signs of what a stretching, 1950s ranch-style house would look like. Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastman. If 100,00 acres or more are burned, the Cram fire could be classified as a mega fire. Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Oregon Sheriff's Office New wildfires continue to spark in Oregon as the state barrels into peak fire season. The Burdoin, Butte Creek and Greeley Heights fires ignited over the weekend. Several other fires continue to burn, including the Cram fire, declared the largest wildfire in the country. Last week, Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency through the end of the year, noting that warm weather and drought are expected to worsen and extend Oregons wildfire season. Below is a roundup of Oregons largest and latest wildfires. The Cram fire The Cram fire in Jefferson and Wasco counties has expanded significantly since it sparked a week ago. About 95,748 acres have burned, according to Central Oregon Fire. If 100,00 acres or more are burned, the Cram fire could be classified as a mega fire. The good news: the fire is 73% contained, with cooler, calmer weather allowing firefighters to improve their control over the blaze. Minimal smoke is now being observed from the fires perimeter, officials said. Nightly operations are scanning for and putting out hotspots and flare-ups that could threaten containment lines. The wildfire has burned four homes and two other structures, according to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. Near the west side of the fires perimeter, east of Madras in the county, 435 residences remain threatened. Additional Level 2 (Get set) evacuation orders were issued in Jefferson County to the east of the fire. In Wasco County, all evacuation orders were downgraded to Level 1 (Be ready). The Burdoin fire The Burdoin fire burning on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge has grown to 10,730 acres and is 0% contained, fire officials said. It ignited Friday and since then has destroyed 14 homes and damaged 37, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. The fire is actively burning on both sides of the Klickitat River. The Klickitat County Sheriffs Office issued Level 3 (Go now) evacuation orders from the west corner of the fire near the Tracey Hill area to the east near Oliver Point. One firefighter has been injured, according to the Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team. No details about the injury have been released. The Butte Creek and Greeley Heights fires The Butte Creek fire, burning 30 miles northwest of Madras, also started Friday, this one on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation. It has grown to 2,000 acres and is 5% contained, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. No homes have been burned. Strong winds pushed the fire southeast, but crews have made progress in fighting the blaze, leading the evacuation order to be downgraded to Level 1 (Be ready), according to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Fire Management. As firefighters were battling the Butte Creek fire on Saturday, the Greeley Heights fire sparked just 20 miles south in Warm Springs, an unincorporated community on the reservation. The fire prompted Level 3 (Go now) evacuation orders to be issued near Mt. Jefferson Street. The Greeley Heights fire has burned 381 acres and is 0% contained, but fire crews were able to decrease fire activity in key areas, leading evacuation orders to be downgraded to Level 1 (Be ready), according to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Fire Management. The Warm Springs Police Department told people to remain aware of the fires and to prepare supplies and an escape plan in case conditions worsen. Other wildfires in the state Several other wildfires that were growing last week are now completely or somewhat contained. The Highland, Willow and Long Point fires were contained successfully over the weekend, fire officials said. Crews were able to increase containment of the Elk and Hagelstein fires in Klamath County, leading all evacuation orders to be lifted by the Klamath County Sheriffs Office. The Elk fire has burned 2,640 acres and is 88% contained; the Hagelstein fire has burned 672 acres and is 45% contained. Kimberly Cortez covers breaking news, public safety and more for The Oregonian/OregonLive. She can be reached at kcortez@oregonian.com Representatives from virtually every segment of the paper industry supply chain attend Paper Meets LIVE! Representatives from virtually every segment of the paper industry supply chain attend Paper Meets LIVE! Editor's note: PaperAge is the official media partner for Paper Meets LIVE! Your Whole Team Benefits from Paper Meets LIVE! July 21, 2025 - There's no better place to invest in your team's growth than Paper Meets LIVE! Whether you're developing rising stars or deepening relationships with key partners, maximize your visibility and impact by bringing multiple members of your organization. Paper Meets LIVE! 2025, co-hosted by AF&PA and NPTA, will take place Sept. 16-18 at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Representatives from virtually every segment of the paper industry supply chain attend this annual event. Attending can spark collaboration and connection, accelerate leadership development, and align your team around industry trends and opportunities. Already registered? Add additional team members to your registration now! Go to the Registration page to learn more. Emerging Leaders Workshop at Paper Meets LIVE! Thursday, September 18 | 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. ET At Paper Meets LIVE! 2025, don't miss the Emerging Leaders Workshop-a dynamic session built for up-and-coming professionals and those committed to building high-performing teams. Gain firsthand insight from Andrew Snyder of Clampitt Paper Company and Todd Knicely of Metsa Board Americas two professionals who advanced through the NPTA Emerging Leaders program to become respected voices in the industry. You'll also hear from Paul Biesiadecki of MATIV the 2025 Stanley O. Styles Industry Excellence Award recipient who brings a wealth of experience and perspective as a recognized leader in the field. Whether you're attending yourself or sending team members, this session offers unmatched value in leadership development. About AF&PA The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. About NPTA The National Paper Trade Association (NPTA), founded in 1903, serves fine paper merchants, suppliers, converters and service providers who serve the printing, publishing, catalog, direct mail, imaging, retail and corporate markets. The association actively supports the success of its member firms through the delivery of networking, education, advocacy and industry trends focused on the health of the paper distribution channel. SOURCE: NPTA Howard County is making use of a $12.6 million federal grant to expand its early childhood program, Head Start, to include more children. The county's Head Start program provider, the Community Action Council of Howard County, emphasized that the expansion will benefit more families beyond childcare. One mom, Lola Tanimowo, is very much aware of how much different the Head Start program can make. Howard County's Head Start Program Expansion She said that her daughter was able to get therapy through the Head Start program to address her speech delay. The mother added that her child was able to get into the program when she was only three years old, and now that she is in kindergarten, she no longer has any delays. Tanimowo was spotted outside the CAC's Dasher Green Early Childhood Education Center on Wednesday to join the celebration of the new federal grant. The funding would run for five years and assist in giving infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds with year-round, full-day classes starting next school year, according to CBS News. These kids will be served in the Bauder Education Center and the CLC. CAC president Tracy Broccolino said that the program has a "lifelong impact" on children and their families, adding that it promises a better future. Tanimowo added that without the help of the Head Start program, she would not have been able to further her own education at Howard Community College. She said that there is no end to learning, which is something she tells her children every day. $12.6 Million Funding The CAC is Howard County's anti-poverty organization that has been the sole provider of the Head Start program in the region since 1979. For decades now, it has helped children aged three to five and their families by providing early education, assigning social workers, access to its food bank, and other services, the Baltimore Sun reported. Broccolino revealed that since 2013, the organization has educated nearly 4,100 children across the county. She added that the community has also shown a need for infant and toddler care, which typically rivals the cost of housing. The organization is currently going through the enrollment process and will soon open its doors to the younger students starting in late August. The hiring process for employees of the new service is also ongoing. After this, the Early Head Start will become available for two-year-olds at the Bauder Education Center and at the Children's Learning Center at Howard Community College for infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds, as per MSN. It took a long time for Windows 11 and Wi-Fi 7 to finally come together. Devices with the new Wi-Fi standard have been available since the beginning of 2023, but Windows didnt support it until the latest 24H2 update. That said, the timing might be intentional. On one hand, Wi-Fi 7 becomes another reason to switch to Windows 11, especially since Windows 10, which will no longer receive updates after October, doesnt officially support the new standard. In addition, suitable hardware is now widely available: almost every current notebook and smartphone supports Wi-Fi 7, and routers with the standard exist in every price and equipment class. The new Wi-Fi standard improves connection speed and data transfer. This is reflected in Windows, where you will find new settings and information for Wi-Fi 7. We explain what you to look out for when making the switch and how you can better optimize your computer with Windows 11. Wi-Fi 7 support arrives with Windows 11 24H2 According to Microsoft, only Windows 11 from 24H2 onward officially supports the new Wi-Fi standard. If you want to use Wi-Fi 7 on a Windows PC, you should install the latest version of the system. Current notebooks with Wi-Fi 7 usually use a Wi-Fi card from Intel such as the BE200 or BE201. IDG The manufacturers of Wi-Fi adapters and modules also point this out. Intel, for example, mentions in the driver download for its BE200, BE201, and BE202 Wi-Fi 7 modules that Wi-Fi 7 features are only available starting with Windows 11 24H2. Prior to this Windows update, the manufacturer only guaranteed support for Wi-Fi 6E in the driver documentation for its Wi-Fi 7 hardware. In addition to the Windows 11 update, youll need an up-to-date driver for the Wi-Fi hardware in your computer. If you have a PC with an integrated Wi-Fi adapter on the motherboard, its best to obtain the driver from the motherboard manufacturer. If you have a notebook, the manufacturers website is the best place to go. If your notebook has an Intel Wi-Fi 7 module such as BE200, the quickest way to get the latest drivers is to visit the Intel support page for this product. This is because Windows 11 only supports basic Wi-Fi 7 functions after the update: the driver, on the other hand, tells the operating system which special features the built-in Wi-Fi hardware offers for example, which frequencies and channels it uses or in which form it supports the Wi-Fi 7 function Multi-Link Operation (MLO). For this reason, a built-in Wi-Fi card is only functional once the appropriate driver has been installed even if you have already installed the 24H2 update for Windows 11. Using Wi-Fi 7 on older Windows versions Provided you install the correct driver, Wi-Fi adapters for Wi-Fi 7 can also be used with older versions of Windows 11. In many cases, the operating system recognizes the hardware. However, it cannot utilize certain Wi-Fi 7 advantages without the appropriate Windows substructure. For example, notebooks with an Intel adapter can only establish a connection to a suitable Wi-Fi 7 router via the 6 GHz frequency with a 160 MHz channel, not with the 320 MHz channel, which is twice as fast. This corresponds to a Wi-Fi connection with the Wi-Fi 6E standard. The same applies to MLO: The notebook cannot establish several simultaneous connections to the router, although its Wi-Fi hardware is capable of this. Youll encounter the same restrictions if you want to use Wi-Fi 7 hardware under Windows 10 if the manufacturer driver can be installed at all. According to Microsoft, Windows 10 does not support Wi-Fi 7 and will no longer do so. You also shouldnt rely on the Wi-Fi connection information in the settings under Windows 10. The older operating system shows Wi-Fi 6 as the Wi-Fi protocol used even when connected via the 6 GHz frequency, although the standard does not support this frequency. The specification of the network channel used is also incorrect. The displayed connection speed (link rate) is correct, but corresponds to a connection with Wi-Fi 6E. Hardware for Wi-Fi 7 can also be installed and used under Windows 10, but only with the functions of the older Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi standard, as you can see in the Windows settings. IDG However, the incorrect information only reflects the view of the Windows client. In the router, you can check whether there is still a connection via Wi-Fi 7, at what link rate and on which channels it takes place. In a Fritzbox, use the overview under Home Network > Mesh, click on the pencil icon next to the Windows computer entry, and select Wi-Fi: There youll see all relevant information about this connection. However, even Windows 10 does not ensure optimum Wi-Fi security. From update 1903, the operating system supports WPA3, which is currently the best method. Can I use Wi-Fi 7? With just a few commands in Windows 11, you can check whether your system fulfills the requirements for Wi-Fi 7. First, you should determine which Windows version and update you have installed. To do this, enter the following command in the Windows search bar: winver The About Windows window will open, showing you the installed version and build number. For you to be able to use Wi-Fi 7, it must say Version 24H2. With the appropriate commands, the Windows command line reveals important information about the built-in Wi-Fi hardware: If you see 802.11be there, you know that your computer is capable of Wi-Fi 7. IDG You can use the command line to find out what the Wi-Fi hardware in your computer can do. To do this, open the command prompt and type the command: netsh wlan show drivers It provides an overview of the capabilities of the built-in Wi-Fi module. At the top is the product name and the manufacturer, under Version, youll find the version number of the installed driver. In the Supported Radio Types line, the entry 802.11be must appear on the far right. This is the official name for Wi-Fi 7. If you see this entry, you know that your Wi-Fi hardware can use the current standard. Therefore, the entry WPA3-Personal should also appear in the list of supported encryption methods, youll also see WPA3-Enterprise. WPA3 encryption is mandatory for a Wi-Fi connection via Wi-Fi 7 over 6 GHz. Unlike 2.4 and 5 GHz, the older WPA2 encryption method is no longer sufficient here. As Wi-Fi 7 is backwards compatible with older Wi-Fi standards, your computer still supports WPA2-Personal and possibly WPA2-Enterprise, both should appear in the list. Most Copilot Plus PCs with ARM Windows are also capable of Wi-Fi 7 and support MLO: they use Qualcomm Wi-Fi hardware such as the Fast Connect 7800 module. IDG Under Number of Supported Bands, you can see which Wi-Fi 7 frequencies your Wi-Fi hardware can use to transmit data. For the Wi-Fi module of a current notebook or PC, all three frequencies (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) should appear here. However, which frequencies you can actually use for a Wi-Fi 7 connection depends on the router to which your computer connects. Some Wi-Fi 7 routers, for example, do not use 6 GHz, which means 6 GHz transmission isnt possible, even if the computers Wi-Fi is capable of this frequency. Wi-Fi 7 details in Windows settings The Wi-Fi information in the Windows 11 settings is less detailed than in the command prompt, but its easier to access. To do this, you must first establish a Wi-Fi 7 connection to a suitable router on the computer. You can do this with the new Wi-Fi standard: Click on the circle icon to the left of the speaker icon in the Windows taskbar on the right. At the top left of the new window, the Wi-Fi icon should be highlighted in blue and the word Available should appear underneath it. If you click on the icon with the arrow pointing to the right, all Wi-Fi networks within the computers reception range will appear. Now select your network and click on Connect. Next, enter the Wi-Fi password. If its entered correctly, Connected, Secured will appear under the Wi-Fi name. To view the properties of this Wi-Fi connection, click on the small i in the circle at the top right. This will take you directly to the Network and Internet Wi-Fi menu in the Windows settings. Here you will recognize the entry Wi-Fi 7 in the Protocol line and know that you have established the connection via the new Wi-Fi standard. You already know most of the other details from the prompt. For example, the Security Type, which specifies the active encryption of the Wi-Fi connection, should say WPA3-Personal. Under Description, youll find the name of the Wi-Fi hardware in the computer and the installed Driver Version underneath. TP-Links Wi-Fi 7 PCIe network card TP-Link New for Wi-Fi 7 are the details in the following lines Network band (channel) and Aggregated connection speed (receive/transmit). The Wi-Fi frequency via which the Windows computer is connected to the router usually appears in the top line. In Windows 11 24H2, there are two frequencies here. For example, 5 GHz and 6 GHz plus the corresponding radio channels via which the router and Wi-Fi client are connected. This means that the router and Windows computer can handle multi-link operation (MLO), one of the most important new functions of Wi-Fi 7. If this looks different in your Windows settings, even though the operating system and drivers fulfill the requirements for Wi-Fi 7, check whether the router is set up correctly. For MLO to be active, it must use the same SSID and password for each frequency. If you see different settings for the different frequencies in the router menu, you should look for an option such as Enable MLO network. If you find it and switch it on, the router should automatically use one SSID and password for all frequencies. On some routers, MLO is missing from the installed firmware: updating to a current version may fix the problem. The Aggregated Connection Speed line in the Windows settings shows the link rate, which is the current connection speed between the router and client. It does not correspond with the actual Wi-Fi speed. This is because it includes not only the transfer rate of the usable data packets (net data rate), for example, video data when streaming, but also the management and backup data required for the connection (gross data rate). In addition, interference and errors occur during the transfer, meaning that the actual data rate is around 70 to 80 percent of the link rate, even under optimum conditions. The term aggregated connection speed suggests that the data only applies to Wi-Fi 7 and MLO because the router and client are connected via several frequencies and Windows therefore adds up the possible data rate. In Windows 11 24H2, however, this information is used for all network connections, including Ethernet. WLAN / Wi-Fi am Smartphone / Handy ausschalten Camilo Concha/Shutterstock With Wi-Fi 7, it depends on the MLO variant to which the router and Wi-Fi client are connected as to whether the link rate value is actually the sum of the two connections. In most cases, devices with MLO use the so-called multi-link single radio (MLSR). This involves parallel connections via two frequencies. However, data is only exchanged via one. Heres the advantage. In the event of transmission or range problems, the devices can very quickly switch to the more interference-free frequency and continue the transfer without interruption. Without MLO, the router must first de-register the client from one frequency using band steering and then connect it via the better one. The aggregated connection speed therefore only shows the link rate of the currently active connection, not the sum of the two frequencies. The situation can be different with the MLO variant Multi-Link Multi-Radio (MLMR). Here, the router and client can exchange data via both frequencies simultaneously. The actual data rate can then be higher than with one connection. In this case, youll see a higher link rate in the Windows settings, which adds together the values of the two connections. Many routers with Wi-Fi 7 support both MLO variants, but the Wi-Fi hardware in Windows computers usually only supports MLSR such as the BE200 and BE201 Wi-Fi modules from Intel that are often installed in notebooks. In order to use Wi-Fi 7 with MLO, the router and Wi-Fi client must use the new standard on all supported frequencies. However, this is not always the case. The Fritzbox 5690 Pro from AVM, for example, can only establish an MLO connection via 5 GHz and 6 GHz, as it uses the older Wi-Fi 6 standard via 2.4 GHz. Despite Wi-Fi 7, the Fritzbox 4690 does not support MLO at all. It only transmits via 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz and only uses Wi-Fi 6 via this frequency. Checking your router for Wi-Fi 7 and MLO support You can also check whether a connection with Wi-Fi 7 exists in the router menu. The easiest way to do this is with a Fritzbox with the new standard. Under Home Network > Mesh, you can recognize an MLO connection by the two dashed green lines that run between the router and client. In the Home Network Devices section, you will see MLO in the Properties column. Your router also shows Wi-Fi 7 connection detailsfor example, a Fritzbox displays the standard used and the MLO variant. IDG You can obtain additional information by clicking on the pencil icon next to a Wi-Fi client and selecting Wi-Fi. Under Wi-Fi connection, the entry Wi-Fi 7should appear after the Wi-Fi standard. Further down is the line MLO, where active should be entered, followed by the MLO variant in brackets. Youll usually see eMLSR for Enhanced Multi-Link Single-Radio. As this is MLO, the Fritzbox shows information on both active connections. You can choose between them at the top by clicking the button for 5 GHz or 6 GHz, for example. Under Data Rate, you will notice that a value is entered in the Current window for one frequency that corresponds approximately to the link rate that you see on the Windows client to which the router is connected via MLO. The other frequency, on the other hand, has a significantly lower value, such as 6 MBit/s. The band with the high data rate is currently being used for transmission. Theres also a connection on the other frequency, but only the small amount of administrative data required to maintain it is currently being transmitted. When you imagine personal data stolen on the internet, like your address, phone number, internet history, or even passwords, you probably think of hackers passing it to identity thieves. Maybe you think of cops getting their hands on it in less-than-legal ways, or maybe an insurance company spying on its customers. But apparently anyone can buy this data, from a U.S. company, for as little as $50. That company is Farnsworth Intelligence, an open-source intel startup from 23-year-old founder Aidan Raney. And its not being coy about what its doing. The companys primary consumer-level product is called Infostealers, and its hosted at Infostealers.info. (Yup, what a URL.) According to an expose from 404 Media, a simple purchase starting at fifty bucks can get you access to a searchable database of personal data from people all over the United States and the world. And this isnt just the usual stuff you could find on the various people pages sites, the somewhat scummy descendants of the Yellow Pages. No, this is information apparently sourced directly from data breaches, stolen from companies and services in ways that just about every country considers a crime. Theres a full suite of data available for perusing, up to and including the auto-fill addresses you stick into your browser so you dont have to type them into every new store. Farnsaworth Intelligences primary public-facing info search tool is called Infostealers.info. Farnsworth Intelligence But it goes even deeper. Farnsworth Intelligences more powerful Infostealer Data Platform product will serve up private data that includes usernames and passwords. Yes, again, the actual product is called Infostealer. This feature isnt available to just anyonebut it is available to anyone who can provide a compelling reason. The list of apparently legitimate use cases Farnsworth accepts includes private investigations, intelligence, journalism, law enforcement, cyber security, compliance, IP/brand protection. Theres no mention of a warrant necessary to access this stolen information. Farnsworths public-facing site seems almost gleefully eager to declare its ability to collect information via less-than-legitimate means. We are renown [sic] for our human intelligence capabilities, having successfully infiltrated a North Korean laptop farm through social engineering techniques and succesfully [sic] extracting intelligence that saved companies millions of dollars, declares a promo blurb. Farnsworth says this information can be used for corporate due diligence, enhanced background checks, and advanced asset searches. Exactly how Farnsworth procures its trillions of data points is not disclosed. Its easy enough to find stolen personal info, since hardly a week goes by without a database of millions of users making its way onto the dark web. And there are legitimate reasons for people to find and catalog those databases, like security companies alerting their customers when their passwords have been leaked. But brazenly selling stolen information on the open market, especially when there are so many companies, governments, and other state-level actors that can use it to do harm, seems incredibly callous. And its worth pointing out that evidence obtained illegally is generally inadmissible in a criminal prosecution. But that wouldnt stop, say, an abusive ex from tracking down their victims most recent address. There are plenty of other ways for illegally obtained information to be used to hurt people. Im sure I dont have to draw you a picture of why groups of vulnerable people who are already targeted wouldnt want it to be searchable by private investigators or government agents, with nothing more than a credit card. Im a technology journalist. I dont have the authority to declare behavior like this legal or illegal, and my employers lawyers would probably tackle me if I tried. But as a human being, I can point out that collecting private, stolen information, then selling it to anyone without a thought for what further damage it might cause, is the epitome of sociopathic greed. It would be illegal and unethical to sell stolen cell phones even if you didnt steal them yourself, and I dont see how this is any different, said Cooper Quintin of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. 404 Media requested comment from both Farnsworth Intelligence and its founder, and received no response. I highly recommend reading 404 Medias original report for the full scope of the situation. Melina Galanis Frattolin, 9, has been found dead, police said. Early Sunday, police issued an Amber Alert saying she had been abducted on Saturday in Lake George, N.Y. Courtesy State Police Ticonderoga, N.Y. The father of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead after being reported abducted Saturday evening in Upstate New York is now in custody, authorities said. Luciano Frattolin, 45, is being held in the Essex County Jail where he is awaiting arraignment, according to arrest records. Frattolins daughter Melina Frattolin was originally reported abducted Saturday in Lake George and last seen in a van near Exit 22 (Lake George Village) on the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87), according to a news release Sunday from Trooper Stephanie ONeil, a spokesperson for the State Police. She was later found dead in the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County, ONeil said. Thats about an hour north of where she was reported abducted. Luciano Frattolin had called 911 at about 10 p.m. Saturday to report his daughter had been abducted, ONeil said. An AMBER Alert was issued for Melina hours later at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. It said the child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death. The Warren County Sheriffs Office investigated the case before the State Police took over. Law enforcement identified inconsistencies in Luciano Frattolins account of events and the timeline he provided, ONeil said. A state Department of Environmental Conservations officer found Melinas body during a grid search in the Ticonderoga area, according to a news release from James McCartney, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, the union that represents DEC officers. There is no indication that an abduction occurred, ONeil said, and there is no threat to the public. ONeil said officials plan to hold a news conference Monday to provide more information about the case. Melina and her father, 45, are both Canadian nationals, ONeil said. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com CCTV: To follow up on the upcoming 25th China-EU Summit, what does China expect to achieve through the meeting? How does China view its current relations with the EU? Guo Jiakun: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic ties as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. As changes unseen in a century are accelerating in a turbulent world, and unilateralism and bullying practices have dealt a heavy blow to international order and rules, humanity once again stands at a critical juncture. China and the EU are two major forces in building a multipolar world, two big markets that support globalization, and two great civilizations that advocate cultural diversity. The upcoming China-EU Summit is of great significance and receives international attention. Over the past half a century, despite winds and rains, China-EU ties have grown more mature and stable, and become one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world. Bilateral cooperation has borne fruitful results, which gives a boost to each others development and progress, delivers tangibly for nearly two billion Chinese and EU people, greatly contributes to world peace and development, and sets an example of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization. Our annual trade volume has jumped from US$2.4 billion to US$785.8 billion. Two-way investment stock has grown from nearly zero to US$260 billion. People-to-people exchanges are more frequent, and effective coordination and cooperation is conducted in climate response and other areas. That said, the relationship does face some challenges. Some in the EU have played up the partner-competitor-rival characterization of bilateral relations, exaggerated specific economic and trade issues, and groundlessly accused China on the Ukraine issue, which causes unnecessary disruptions to bilateral relations. China, as always, believes that after 50 years of development, China-EU ties have accumulated enough experience and positivity, which enables the two sides to navigate difficulties and challenges in an ever-changing world. As the 25th China-EU Summit is around the corner, bilateral relations are at a critical juncture of building on the past achievements and opening up a new chapter. China hopes that the EU will work with China, view its relations with China from a comprehensive, dialectical and forward-looking perspective, draw experience and inspiration from bilateral relations over the past 50 years, follow the trend of the times, meet the expectations of the two peoples and the international community, pool consensus, rise above differences, jointly plan for the cooperation in the next 50 years, and open up a brighter future for the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Financial Times: European diplomats are saying that China is trying to use the UN80 reorganization of United Nations institutions to increase its influence over the UN, lobbying governments in the Global South to support its ideas. Some Europeans even say China is trying to colonize the UN. What is Chinas comment on this? Guo Jiakun: China attaches high importance to the UN80 Initiative launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. We support the UN in responding to the new circumstances and tasks, further reinforcing all parties commitment to multilateralism, improving its efficiency through reform, increasing its capability to address global challenges and better playing its role in international affairs. The reform needs full consultation and should take seriously the opinions of UN member states especially developing countries, and build a more just and equitable global governance system. As two major civilizations and forces, both China and the EU support multilateralism, openness and cooperation, and support the UNs central role and greater democracy in international relations. China stands ready to work with the EU to take the UNs 80th anniversary as an opportunity to further strengthen the UNs central role, enable the UN to function as it should, and provide confidence and driving force for multilateralism. The Paper: Media reports say that Wells Fargos banker named Mao Chenyue was blocked from leaving China in recent weeks. Whats Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: According to what weve learned, Ms. Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities and is subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law. Pursuant to Chinese laws, with the case still under investigation, Ms. Mao cannot leave the country for the time being and has an obligation to cooperate with the investigation. Anyone, Chinese and foreigners alike, should abide by Chinese laws in China. We will protect Ms. Maos lawful rights and interests during the investigation in accordance with the law. Let me stress that it is an individual judicial case. China will as always welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure their rights and interests in accordance with the law. The Australian: About the Australian prime ministers trip to China last week, it finished on Friday. What was the Chinese governments reaction to the trip? Guo Jiakun: Regarding the relevant events of Australian Prime Minister Albaneses visit to China, the Chinese side has put out readouts and you may refer to that. Let me say that during Prime Minister Albaneses visit here, the leaders of both sides reached important consensus on further deepening and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. China stands ready to work with the Australian side to strengthen the planning and design for cooperation in various sectors, enhance communication and exchanges at different levels and make greater effort for mutual benefit at a higher level that better serves the interests of both peoples. The Australian: During the trip, the prime minister had lunch after his official meeting with President Xi in the Great Hall. Now the Australian prime minister thought that was very significant, but I wonder what does the Chinese government think? Guo Jiakun: During Prime Minister Albaneses visit here, the Chinese side made relevant protocol arrangements for an official visit. I believe that every activity is significant and has contributed to advancing the steady growth of China-Australia relations. AFP: The Gaza civil defense agency said yesterday the Israeli forces killed at least 93 people who were trying to collect food and humanitarian aid. I just wondered if the Foreign Ministry would like to comment on this incident. Guo Jiakun: China is closely following what is happening in Gaza. We oppose and condemn all moves that harm civilians and violate international law. Civilians must not become the target of attacks, and the safety of international humanitarian workers must not be threatened. We call on parties to reach a ceasefire, realize deescalation, and alleviate the humanitarian crisis as soon as possible. Bloomberg: Multiple news outlets have reported that China has stopped an American citizen who works for the U.S. Commerce Department from leaving the nation over a failure to disclose that the person was working for the U.S. government on a visa application. Im wondering if the Foreign Ministry has any comment on this case. Guo Jiakun: I have no details to share. China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law. Kyodo News: Japans ruling coalition lost its majority in the recent elections to select members of the House of Councillors. What is Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: China noted relevant results. This is Japans internal affairs, and I have no specific comment. China and Japan are neighbors. The sound and steady growth of bilateral relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples. China stands ready to work with Japan to continue dialogue and communication at various levels and in multiple fields, enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences, jointly promote the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit in an all-round way, and build a constructive and stable relationship that meets the requirements of the new era. The Australian: Prime minister Albanese had meetings with Chinese leaders. About his election commitment to end the ownership by Chinese company of the port of Darwin, a subject Ive read you and your colleagues speak about before, he said that didnt come up directly in the meeting, although Premier Li didand in the public part of the meetingsspeak about the business environment and the treatment of Chinese investment in Australia. On the situation with the port of Darwin, is the Chinese government still concerned about that situation or are you at peace with it? Guo Jiakun: Let me stress that the Chinese company got the lease of Port Darwin through market means. The companys lawful rights and interests should be fully protected. Financial Times: Just regarding the U.S. Commerce Department employee who has received an exit ban in China. U.S. embassy has said that these exit bans damage bilateral relations. What is Chinas comment on that? Guo Jiakun: I have answered relevant question just now. Reuters: There have been several reports suggesting the Chinese and U.S. presidents would likely meet in the coming months. Are preparations for such a meeting underway? Can you reveal any more details? Also, are there any conditions under which China would like the U.S. to meet before such meeting takes place? Guo Jiakun: Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic role in guiding China-U.S. relations. On the specifics you mentioned, I have nothing to read out at the moment. Bloomberg: The EU sanctioned two Chinese banks and five companies on Friday as part of the latest round of sanctions against Russia. Im just wondering if you have any further comments on this specific case. Guo Jiakun: Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce made a response on this. Let me stress that China opposes any unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or the authorization of the UN Security Council. On the Ukraine crisis, China has been committed to promoting peace talks. We never provide lethal weapons to any party to the conflict, and strictly control the exports of dual-use items. The normal exchange and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies should not be disturbed or affected. We urge the EU to stop harming the lawful interests of Chinese companies without any factual basis. China will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies. The Australian: Next month, itll be one year since Ive been back in Beijing. That ended four years when there were no Australian correspondents from Australian media in China. Can you tell me is another Australian correspondent gonna be allowed to be based here? Guo Jiakun: We welcome you to return to Beijing and, as an Australian correspondent, report on Chinas foreign policy and relevant practice of Chinese modernization. We hope that you will help the Chinese and Australian people learn more about and have a better understanding of each other. We believe that as the China-Australia relations grow and develop, our media cooperation will also make progress. We look forward to welcoming more Australian correspondents to China. The Australian: On the last trip, the Australian prime minister went for a walk on the Shanghai Bund and was called a handsome boy. But on this trip there was no reference to the prime minister being a handsome boy. Has the government changed its assessment on prime ministers physiques? Guo Jiakun: Chinas stance on developing its ties with Australia is consistent and clear. We welcome Australian leaders to pay more visits to China and contribute to the bilateral cooperation in various fields. RIA Novosti: The Iranian foreign ministry announced earlier that Iran, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will hold talks on the Iranian nuclear issue in Istanbul on Friday, July 25 at the level of deputy foreign ministers. I wonder whats Chinas comments on this development around the Iranian nuclear issue? Guo Jiakun: The Iranian nuclear issue bears on the peace and security of the Middle East and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. China always advocates resolving the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully through political and diplomatic means. This is the only right way forward. We call on relevant parties to work in the same direction for bringing the issue back to the track of political settlement. A Lancaster man tried to set a 1800s-era monument ablaze over the weekend in the city square, police said. Francisco Rodriguez wrapped plastic bags around the heads of two statues at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Penn Square on Saturday, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Lancaster police. Rodriguez, 38, then used a lighter to try to burn two American flags within the monument, as well as a string hed wrapped around one of the statues, the affidavit said. Dylan Marlowe now has a story to tell that most country music stars wont be able to match, because the guy got kicked out of his own concert. Actually, to be fair, Marlowe had just finished his set over the weekend at the Country Jam in Eau Claire, Wisconsin when he settled back down in the front to see Jake Owens performance. The 28-year-old initially shared video of him getting taken away from the front, and wrote, Getting kicked out of a concert I just played. Got kicked out of our concert trying to watch Jake Owen. Good job, dude. Im a huge threat. Marlowe took that video down and replaced it with a longer video explaining what went down. I just want to hop on here and kinda clear the air a little bit of what I posted yesterday, he said in the TikTok post. I took the video down after sleeping on it and watching church this morning. I just decided that it wasnt fair for that festival to have this video blowing up about their festival when it was really just one bad apple in the whole thing. Marlowe explained that he and a friend who had All Access wristbands went to the front to watch Owen when a security guard told them they could not be there. Marlowe said the guard suggested he and his friend move to the pit to watch the show. If we go into the pit during the middle of the day, its probably going to cause a little bit of a scene because we had just gotten of the stage and were wearing the same clothes, he said. The last thing I want to do is make a scene during Jake Owens set because that, to me, is disrespectful. Marlowe said he and his friend moved to a different location when the guard approached again. We walk downstairs to where this guy continues to say, Hey, you gotta get the F outta here. You gotta get the F outta here. Youre not allowed to be down here either, Marlowe said. We had these passes, and we knew we were allowed to be there. These cops came up and I was like, Oh God. So we talk to these cops and were like, Hey guys. We had these passes. Not sure what the confusion is because we were told these are All Access passes. Were just trying to watch the set. Marlowe said the police told him that the security was their boss at the event. Im not going to paint it like I was this perfectly great dude who wasnt rude back to him after he was rude to me, Marlowe said. After that, there were definitely a few heated words exchanged with that guy, nothing crazy, but I feel like he was rude to me and I was rude back to him, and I shouldnt have been so I just wanted to clear things up. Thats where he grabbed my shirt, yanked me out, just wanted to clear the air a little bit to say to the festival, theres no hard feelings. We had a great time. To that due, I forgive you. Thats pretty much all I have to say. Parade reported that Marlowe played an hour-long set before he got the boot. Adam Weiner, of Philadelphia's Low Cut Connie, says his band's upcoming show in Wilkes-Barre has been cancelled for political reasons. Adam Weiner, the frontman for the popular Philly rock and soul band Low Cut Connie, made news earlier this year when he pulled out of a schedule March 19 concert at the Kennedy Center and ripped President Donald Trump. And on Monday politics and music apparently collided once more for Weiner, who posted a video to Facebook claiming that an upcoming show in Luzerne County has been cancelled by the promoters for political reasons. I need to speak to you about something that is so disappointing and upsetting, Weiner said in a video shared to his bands Facebook page. We just finished one of the best tours weve ever done. We crisscrossed the United States playing for so many beautiful people, amazing people, these beautiful diverse crowds full of joy at these shows. Were you at these shows? Let me know. Havent they been fabulous? Weve had people from all walks of life resilient people, tough cookies, finding joy at these shows in very, very difficult times. Then he said that the organizers of Fridays show in Wilkes-Barre have cancelled on theband. Why did they cancel the show? he said. They wont tell us, but they have indicated they have cancelled my show for political reasons. Now, let me give you a little bit of context. If youve been to a Low Cut Connie Show, you know that onstage, I speak about diversity. Weiner said he makes it a point to talk about the diversity of the crowd, and how diverse and beautiful the band is, and how diversity is beautiful and is as American as apple pie. And I will never stop using the word diversity, he said. I truly, truly believe in diversity. Its the American way. I also use the word inclusion. People dont like that word, but I will continue to use it because everyone is welcome at a Low Cut Connie show. Everyone. And inclusion and diversity should not be dirty words. And I will not stop using them or apologize for speaking about diversity and inclusion. We need to take those words back. Weiner then addressed a song he recently released called Living in the USA, that speaks to the terror, the fear, the unease so many people in the United States are experiencing right now because of these ICE raids that are absolutely inhumane and ani-American. I will not stop speaking about that, he said. For all these reasons, the organizers of this event feel that my show is too controversial. Its going to alienate people, and Ill be too polarizing, so they cancelled the show. I think its a cowardly choice. I think they made the wrong decision. Its a missed opportunity actually to demonstrate that we can actually do free public events where we bring people together. Weiner said that is what his band does. Ask people, the Low Cut Connie show is a place of acceptance, he continued. Everyone is welcome at the show. We want everyone to feel good. Its diverse. Theres people from all different backgrounds, races, genders, ideologies and everyone is welcome. Its inclusive. Its accepting. The fact that those principals of love and acceptance are controversial, it shows how far we have fallen in the United States, he added. Weiner reiterated that he would not stop speaking and singing about those core values. I am upset, he said. I think the organizers in Luzerne County made a wrong decision. They made a cowardly decision. Its a missed opportunity. We could have had a beautiful show this Friday. Artists like myself are losing work because of our principals, just like Stephen Colbert. Weiner then asked fans if they felt like his shows were a positive force, and to let him know if they want to see Low Cut Connie perform in their town. Let the organizers know that Low Cut Connie is open for business, and we are spreading love, acceptance and inclusion across this country, he said. Because we are now losing work and missing opportunities to bring people together. These are challenging times, he added. We all gotta be tough cookies. We all gotta stick together. We all need to support each other, and love each other and keep our eyes wide open. Weiner, who is the only full-time member of Low Cut Connie, announced in February that he would not play his March 19 show at the Kennedy Center after Trump took over. I was very excited to perform as part of this wonderful institutions Social Impact series, which emphasizes community, joy, justice and equity through the arts, Weiner wrote on the Low Cut Connie Instagram page back then. Upon hearing that this institution that has run non-partisan for 54 years is now chaired by President Trump himself and his regime, I decided I will not perform there. Our little rock n roll act stands for diversity, inclusion, and truth-telling, he continued. My extended Low Cut Connie community includes Black, white, gay, straight, transgender, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, atheist, and immigrant individuals all of whom are wonderful upstanding Americans. Many of these folks will be directly negatively affected by this Administrations policies and messaging. Weiner wrote that Trump has appointed a new board, not a single member of which has any arts experience whatsoever. Arts institutions are one area that should be immune from our corrosive political culture, he continued. I sincerely wish for Kennedy Center to return to a non-partisan community-building model of arts programming. Until that occurs, I wont perform there. Maybe my career will suffer from this decision, but my soul will be better for it. He closed by signing his name and writing, aka Low Cut Connie rock n roll artist from Philadelphia. The Wine School of Philadelphia has opened enrollment for its 2025 Summer Wine School, a condensed, high-impact training series designed to help wine professionals earn top-tier certifications without leaving their day jobs. Two core offerings headline this years program: the Accelerated Core Sommelier Program and the Advanced Italian Wine Specialist Certification, both accredited by the National Wine School. The Accelerated Core Sommelier Program offers a complete certification track covering wine theory, tasting methodology, and service techniques in just one week of evening classes. Its designed for sommeliers-in-training, hospitality staff, and retail professionals who want to improve their skills in a hurry. Also on the schedule is the Advanced Italian Wine Specialist Certification, a one-week intensive that goes deep into Italys premier wine regions and DOC/DOCG structures. This credential is nationally recognized and structured for working professionals seeking advanced specialization without the travel and downtime of traditional study formats. Throughout August, the wine school will also host member-exclusive tasting events and public classes focused on skill-building, networking, and sensory education, a press release said. We built Summer Wine School for people already in the industryor trying to break inwho need flexibility without compromising quality, said Keith Wallace, founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia. Our programs are practical, hands-on, and grounded in real-world wine trade experience. Founded in 2001, the Wine School of Philadelphia is one of the most respected independent wine education centers in the U.S. Its programsdeveloped in partnership with the National Wine Schoolare used by restaurants, distributors, and wine retailers across the country to train and credential staff. Seats are limited, and early registration is encouraged. Full program details and enrollment information can be found at this link. The invasive fire ant has a survival adaptation in the face of floodwaters that some find amazing while others find scary. (Getty Images) Getty Images/500px Nature can be extraordinary in its resilience. Take the survival adaptation of this insect, which is raising eyebrows across the Internet in expressions of both awe and horror. KXAN reports people in Austin, Texas, have been spotting weird, writhing balls floating atop floodwaters. These balls, the news station explains, are actually masses of fire ants, who link their legs and jaws together to float in the face of rising waters. Have you seen fire ant rafts in floodwaters? a KXAN X post asks, with an accompanying video. This one was drifting on Lake Travis. Ive done more than see them, reads a response. Ive run into them at night wading out to the ramp on my dock when the lake is rapidly rising. Sucks. They always do this when the water rises, writes another commenter. A nightmare. Its not gross! Its survival! exclaims another. I admire [their] ability to adapt. According to USA Today, these invasive, stinging bugs were accidentally imported from their native South America to the United States back in the 1910s. Australias National Fire Ant Eradication Program states that a fire ants sting can be painful, and cause redness and swelling along with a severe burning or fiery sensation. Unlike other insect stings, fire ant venom builds up in the body, the program explains. This means the more you, your pet or an animal is stung the greater the risk of an extreme reaction. In other words: If you see a floating red ball in a body of water any time soon, stay away, just in case. Oracle co-founder, CTO and Executive Chairman Larry Ellison speaks during a news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump on January 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. He has just been named as the second-richest person in the world. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Getty Images Talk about beating out the competition. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg has been dethroned as the second-richest person in the world. Now, taking over the coveted spot instead is Oracle founder Larry Ellison. According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, as of July 17, gains of over $60 billion this year has pushed Ellisons net worth worth up to $257 billion, blowing pass Zuckerbergs $247 billion. This is all due to surges in Oracle stock this summer, with Ellisons net worth scaling over $40 billion over three days last month. Ellison, who founded Oracle in 1977 and served as its CEO for 37 years, owns approximately 40% of the software company. At the top of the week, Oracle also announced plans for a $3 billion investment into AI and cloud infrastructure in Germany and the Netherlands over the next five years. This comes after the companys continued efforts in artificial intelligence, including its participation in President Trumps Project Stargate. In 2010, Ellison joined the Giving Pledge, started by Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett, in which he pledged to give a majority of his wealth to charitable causes in his lifetime. As for the tech billionaire who leads the list of the top 10 richest people in the world, that title belongs to Elon Musk. The CEO of Tesla remains as the top earner by over $100 billion even though he already $66.9 billion in losses in 2025. Other placements on the list of the worlds richest include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who placed third and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer as fourth. All four have seen their fortunes grow significantly since the current AI boom. Rounding out the list are Alphabet founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Louis Vuitton SE CEO Bernard Arnault, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Berkshire Hathaway CEO and Investor Warren Buffett. Dr. Mehmet Oz testifies during a confirmation hearing with the Senate Finance Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Oz is now President Donald Trumps administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/TNS) TNS By Alfred Lubrano, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) Rather than push people off Medicaid, President Donald Trumps so-called big, beautiful bill now law will move more people into the workforce, argued Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In a brief interview during a Friday visit to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, Oz countered criticisms that the newly passed legislation will deprive low-income people of Medicaid. It is my primary focus to make sure we dont have people accidentally pushed off the system, said Oz, an author, former surgeon, and television personality whose promotion of health advice and products has been criticized as misinformed and dangerous. Known to millions as Dr. Oz, he lost the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania to Democrat John Fetterman in his first foray into politics. Now, as a federal administrator, Oz has repeated the conservative talking point that Medicaid is currently weakened by waste, fraud, and abuse, a claim disputed by policy experts. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected in June that the changes to Medicaid under the legislation would result in roughly 8 million people being removed from Medicaid rolls. Oz didnt address that figure directly on Friday, saying instead that new federal regulations will motivate people to return to the workforce, not punish them. If youre able-bodied and able to work and youre not, on average youre spending 6.1 hours a day watching television or just hanging out so were saying, you oughta try to go to work, Oz said. However, of nondisabled adults under 65 who rely on Medicaid, 92% are either working, caring for a family member, managing an illness or disability, or attending school, according to KFF, a national nonprofit focusing on health issues formerly known as Kaiser Family Foundation. Hitting us over the head with the idea theres rampant fraud is a distraction and simply a way of justifying cuts to a desperately needed program, said Judith Levine, director of Temple Universitys Public Policy Lab. In the interview, Oz stressed that he believes Medicaid has drifted from its original purpose as delineated by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, a liberal advocate for government programs that help those in poverty. Oz quoted Humphrey, saying, The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped. After the interview, Oz participated in private roundtable discussions with South Jersey politicians and health professionals. 2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Alina Habba, the high-profile, controversial prosecutor and Donald Trumps former personal attorney, may see her tenure as the head of U.S. Attorneys office in New Jersey coming to an end. FILE/PHOTO AP Alina Habba, the high-profile, controversial prosecutor and Donald Trumps former personal attorney, may see her tenure as the head of U.S. Attorneys office in New Jersey coming to an end. The New York Times reports New Jerseys two U.S. Senators are calling her unfit for office. which will likely doom her Senate confirmation. Habba is a 2010 graduate of what is now known as Widener Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg. In the past several years, she represented Trump in two high profile civil cases the suit related to Trumps alleged sexual assault on the writer E. Jean Carroll and the suit by New York attorney general, Letitia James losing both. The Times interviewed 16 close observers of the U.S Attorneys office who said she has destroyed morale among the staff in less than four months on the job. Habba dropped a long-running bribery case against two excutives at an IT firm, disbanded the offices Civil Rights Division, boasted of her close contact with the White House and put up multiple framed pictures of herself in a conference room, according to the report. And just a month after being sworn in, Habba began to target New Jersey Democrats, first launching a probe of New Jerseys governor, Philip D. Murphy, and attorney general, Matthew Platkin, over a state directive that limits the way that police officers can cooperate with federal immigration agents, the Times reported. In May, an oversight visit by Democratic leaders to a detention center in Newark turned into a clash with federal agents, leading to the arrest of the citys mayor, Ras Baraka and New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. Charges were dropped against Baraka, but Habbas office is continuing to pursue assault charges against McIver. Habbas tenure under temporary status would end Tuesday. By Bill Barrow, The Associated Press WASHINGTON The Trump administration has released records of the FBIs surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureates family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination. The release involves more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. Kings family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, were given advance notice of the release and had their own teams reviewing the records ahead of the public disclosure. In a lengthy statement released Monday, the two living King children called their fathers case a captivating public curiosity for decades. But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that these files must be viewed within their full historical context. As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met an absence our family has endured for over 57 years, they wrote. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief. FILE - Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaks to thousands during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington. (AP Photo/File) AP Bernice King was 5 years old when her father was killed. Martin III was 10. President Donald Trump promised as a candidate to release files related to President John F. Kennedys 1963 assassination. When Trump took office in January, he signed an executive order to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with Robert F. Kennedys and Kings 1968 assassinations. The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April. Besides fulfilling the intent of his January executive order, the latest release serves as another alternative headline for Trump as he tries to mollify supporters angry over his administrations handling of records concerning the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019, during Trumps first presidency. Trump last Friday ordered the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony but stopped short of unsealing the entire case file. The King records, meanwhile, were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the sealing order ahead of its expiration date. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. FILE - Demonstrators walk to the courthouse behind the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery, Ala., March 17, 1965, to protest treatment of demonstrators by police during an attempted march. (AP Photo/File) AP The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. They, along with Kings family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, tapping their offices and phone lines with the aim of discrediting them and their movement. It has long been established that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others that he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoovers bureau wiretapped Kings telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to get information against him. He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the King children said in their statement. The intent of the governments COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. Kings reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement, they continued. These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo. FILE - The Rev. Ralph Abernathy, right, and Bishop Julian Smith, left, flank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during a civil rights march in Memphis, Tenn., March 28, 1968. (AP Photo/Jack Thornell, File) AP Opposition to King intensified even after the Civil Rights Movement compelled Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to enact the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Right Act of 1965. After those landmark victories, King turned much of his attention to economic justice and international peace. He was an outspoken critic of rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King argued that political rights alone were not enough in an uneven economy. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat. King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. Members of Kings family and others have questioned whether Ray acted alone or if he was even involved. Kings widow, Coretta Scott King, asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno directed the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department to take a new look. The Justice Department said it found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King. Story by Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA 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. HARRISBURG Amazon plans to spend $20 billion to build two data centers in Pennsylvania, a move that state officials say will generate thousands of jobs over the next decade and stoke considerable economic activity. But many key details, like the centers full impact on electricity supply and prices, and the amount of tax revenue the state will forfeit to Amazon, are still unknown. As part of a state law to incentivize data center development, Pennsylvania has approved a sales tax exemption for Amazon on key equipment that could potentially cost the state millions of dollars that otherwise would go toward education, health care, and other basic services. In a statement, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighted benefits, saying the deal will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for state and local governments. A data center is a sprawling collection of computer servers that perform essential functions of the online world, like processing and storing information. As tools like artificial intelligence, which requires a lot of processing power, rapidly advance, these centers are being built frequently and quickly nationwide. These centers require a lot of electrical power and water to cool their servers. One, slated to be built in Luzerne Countys Salem Township, will draw some of the electricity it needs from an existing nuclear power plant, the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. The rest of its power will come from the electrical grid. The other is planned for an industrial park on the site of what used to be a steel mill in Falls Township, Bucks County, and will, at least to start, draw all of its power from the grid. The centers could kick off further development by Amazon Web Services, the companys cloud computing subsidiary. An Amazon executive told the Associated Press that the company also plans to build a third data center north of Philadelphia. Heres the information we have about these massive projects and the accompanying pros and cons. What jobs are coming to Pennsylvania? When Shapiro and his team announced the deal in June, Department of Community & Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger said the two data centers would generate at least 1,250 high-paying, high-tech jobs as well as thousands of construction jobs. These estimates are squishy. Data centers are notorious for operating without much human labor. A 2,250-acre data center being built in Louisiana for Meta is estimated to bring just 500 permanent jobs after construction is over. Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog that tracks state and local subsidies, said that most permanent data center jobs are in security and landscaping, alongside a handful of technicians who monitor the facilities computers. Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, a group that represents tens of thousands of union workers, is closely involved in major projects that come to the commonwealth. He told Spotlight PA that Amazons initial $20 billion spending commitment probably guarantees five to seven years of development on each site, which translates to lots of good, long-term construction jobs. The company may opt to keep spending money to further develop those sites, he said, but that isnt guaranteed. I always tell everybody, always just plan for the best, but you never know they might get 12 buildings and then all of a sudden theres a shift in AI, Bair said. He stressed that he thinks the initial investment is still a really big deal. Thats a lot of economic activity for the state of Pennsylvania, he said. How will the centers impact state finances? The state will spend $10 million for targeted workforce development efforts, Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder said in an email the only direct financial investment in the project. Bonder said this will include programming at schools, community colleges, and union halls across Pennsylvania to expand [vocational and technical training], create new [career and technical education] classes, and build new training centers. But the true extent of what the data centers could cost the state is larger. Pennsylvania didnt offer a new, targeted incentive package to Amazon, but the tech giant has already been approved for a tax break that the commonwealth gives to companies that build data centers here. Under a state program passed into law in 2016 and expanded in 2021, companies that spend at least $75 million on a data center and create at least 25 new jobs are exempt from state sales taxes when they purchase equipment to operate servers, cooling systems, software, and more. The law requires neither the buyer nor the seller to report the cost of exempt transactions to the state. That means the exact cost is unknown. Still, the state estimates the lost tax revenue in budgets. But those estimates have varied depending on which administration is projecting the costs. According to Shapiros most recent budget proposal, the state is on track to lose $43 million in tax revenue to the data center credit this upcoming fiscal year. But when former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf made a multi-year projection of the programs costs in his 2022 budget pitch, he predicted the likely cost of the program in the 2025-26 fiscal year would be nearly $75 million. This cost reduction exists even though the program grew between Wolfs and Shapiros projections. According to the state Department of Revenue, 12 companies are certified to claim the exemption as of 2024, compared to just eight in 2022. Jeffrey Johnson, a spokesperson for the Department of Revenue, said the original projection was reduced after lower-than-expected use in early years. Dozens of other states have similar economic incentives for data centers, which have led to a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue. LeRoy of Good Jobs First said that when Pennsylvanias tax exemption first passed, the requirement to create at least 25 jobs and spend at least $75 million on building seemed like a high bar. At the time, he said, there were fewer large data centers. But as AI supercharges the development of server farms, a greater number of projects qualify, increasing the cost to the state, he said. This is clearly an industry that doesnt need help, LeRoy said. The biggest loss at the state level is the general fund, and you ask yourself what that means: Its [money that isnt being spent on] education and health care. At a minimum, LeRoy said, the legislature should ensure that beneficiaries report the real cost of the exemption, saying that mandating such disclosures is a baseline good-government issue. But those arguments dont have a lot of traction with leaders. Speaking to reporters in June, state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) argued that the exemption is not something I think we should mess with. Data centers, he added, are an economic investment that could have gone elsewhere, but is coming to Pennsylvania. What about energy prices? As the number of data centers grows nationwide, government agencies and private research groups are projecting significant increases in energy demand. A U.S. Department of Energy report released last year found that data centers ate up about 4.4% of total electricity nationwide in 2023, and projected that number would increase to between 6.7% and 12% by 2028. Energy consumption varies depending on the size of data centers, which are getting bigger, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group. The firm estimated that the average data center currently consumes around 40 megawatts, and that the number will likely grow to 60 megawatts by 2028. A gigawatt-sized center operating at peak demand would use an amount of energy comparable to a city of about 1.8 million people, CNBC noted in an analysis last year. Thats bigger than Philadelphia. Its still not clear how big the Amazon centers will be, which makes it difficult to assess how much energy theyll use. The Luzerne County facility will get part of its energy from an existing nuclear plant, thanks to a new power purchase agreement between the generator, Talen Energy, and Amazon. Bair, the Pennsylvania Building Trades president, expects the center to draw the rest of its power from the grid without disrupting reliability for nearby users. But, he added, if theyre going to truly develop these over the long term in the campuses, theyre going to need a substantial amount more. Bair said the Bucks County data center, which plans to get all its energy from the electric grid, is in a different position because there was plenty of power from the supplier, [so] what we were taking off did not in any way, shape, or form lower grid reliability or grid capacity in that area. However, if the Bucks data center keeps expanding, Amazon is planning to add generation so that the grid does stay reliable, he said. Right now, where theyre at, theyre good. As they build that campus out, would I look for a future power source in that area? Yeah. All of the lingering questions about Amazons plan create big concerns for lawmakers, as well as for advocates of clean energy and grid reliability. State Sen. Gene Yaw (R., Lycoming) broadly supports the Amazon data centers but said he wants to be sure they wont overload the grid, which could lead to a rise in energy prices for Pennsylvanians. What would best protect the interests of ordinary consumers, he said, is for data centers to build energy generators. Consumers would also benefit, he said, if data centers build new power plants using state tax credits such as a proposed credit for clean energy producers so at least part of that generated energy goes back to households. State Rep. Rob Matzie (D., Beaver) said he plans to introduce legislation that would create a regulatory framework for energy consumption by data centers, which he says will help ensure they dont overload the grid. The Amazon deal is a big deal, obviously, but at the same time, we have to keep in mind, we dont want rolling blackouts, Matzie told Spotlight PA. Jackson Morris, director of state power policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental nonprofit, is more critical. He said the deal between Talen Energy and Amazon to feed power from an existing nuclear facility into the data center essentially cannibalizes existing clean resources, as the zero-emission energy would be reserved for the data center instead of serving consumers. Morris worries that the rising energy demand from data centers will not only drive up consumer prices but also lead to utility companies leaning more heavily on high-emission power sources, like natural gas and coal. The reality is that the more demand you bring on without zero-emission supply, the more pollution were going to have and the higher prices everyones going to pay, Morris told Spotlight PA. But Joe Dominguez, CEO of electricity producer Constellation Energy, argued that the demand to meet higher computing capacity must be met. People often say, Look, all this power is going to data centers, and its almost like theres an image in someones mind thats going into a hole in the ground, Dominguez said at a recent news conference with Shapiro at Three Mile Island. The event was organized to promote the nuclear sites reopening to feed another data center, this one run by Microsoft. But you are all using it, right? Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA contributed reporting. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. An 82-year-old Pennsylvania man was secretly deported to Guatemala after he attempted to have his lost green card replaced. Neil Blake File Photo | For MLive.com Update: U.S. immigration says it didnt deport 82-year-old Pa. man An 82-year-old Pennsylvania man was secretly deported to Guatemala after he attempted to have his lost green card replaced, his family said. The Morning Call reported that Luis Leon, of Allentown, went with his wife on June 20 to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Philadelphia after losing his wallet, which held a card that confirmed his legal residency. Once there, his family said he was handcuffed and taken away without any explanation. His wife was then detained for 10 hours before being released into the care of her granddaughter. Leon was granted political asylum in the U.S. in 1987 after being tortured under Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochets regime. He worked in the U.S. in a leather manufacturing plant and raised a family before retiring, the Morning Call said. His family said he has never been accused of any crimes, or even gotten a parking ticket. His family said that no government official ever told them where or why he was taken. On July 9, a woman purporting to be an immigration lawyer called Leons wife saying that he had died while in detention, but did not offer many details. However, a contact was able to determine that Leon was still alive and had been taken first to Minnesota, then to Guatemala. It is unclear if Leon had a deportation hearing. Leon is currently recovering from pneumonia in a Guatemalan hospital and has no plans to return to Allentown, the Morning Call said. His family said he suffers from diabetes, a heart condition and high blood pressure. He was really bad, Leons granddaughter said to the news outlet. He was super skinny. Hes really traumatized right now. ICE told the outlet it was investigating the familys claims but did not provide any other information. The Guatemalan Institute of Migration, however, said that there was no person who matches the name, age and nationality mentioned by the media. Pa. lawmakers introduce a bil to bar ICE agents and other law enforcement from wearing masks or otherwise obscuring their identity. FILE FILE PHOTO AP A group of state House Democrats say they are poised to introduce a bill prohibiting any government agents or law enforcement officers from wearing masks or otherwise concealing their identities in Pennsylvania. The goal of the bill is to restore trust and public safety in government operations, the lawmakers said in a statement Monday. Trust and public safety are essential pillars of a secure community, the lawmakers said. When government agents and law enforcement conceal their faces and act without identification, it jeopardizes both of those pillars. The bill also would require law enforcement and other government agents to wear identifiable uniforms, clearly indicating their department, agency or affiliation. Critics say the use of masks not only undermines trust, but creates fear in communities and has opened the door to criminals impersonating ICE agents. The bills co-sponsorship memo cites as an example the recent assassination of a state lawmaker, Melissa Hortman, in Minnesota, where the shooter appeared at her house dressed as a police officer. Considering several high-profile and alarming incidents involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officers... the need for visual accountability in law enforcement operations has never been more urgent. Notice of the legislation comes as acting ICE director Tim Lyons said that he will continue to allow agents under his control to wear masks despite the controversy around them. Thats one of our biggest concerns. And Ive said it publicly before, Im not a proponent of the masks, Lyons told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday. However, if thats a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their family safe, then I will allow it. ICE sweeps have ramped up in Pennsylvania, especially in Philadelphia and its suburbs and in Pittsburgh. Late last week ICE agents raided a supermarket and a farmers market outside Philadelphia and detained dozens of people. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Ben Waxman, D-Philadelphia, says ICE has been active in his South Philadelphia district, which includes the famous Italian Market where many vendors are now from Mexico and Vietnam. And, Waxman said there have been reports of individuals impersonating ICE agents harassing food vendors. Waxman said he fears it could get worse. People could show up and say Im an ICE agent give me your money. Police released a drone photo showing the plane crash that killed one man. The photo shows emergency responders standing around the wreckage of a Piper PA-46 plane, a class of light, single-engine aircraft. The crash happened around 8 a.m. on Sunday morning. The plane was flown by Dr. Musaddiq Nazeeri, 58, of Lebanon, who was pronounced dead by the Lancaster County coroner at 8:51 a.m. Audio from the tower said he was headed to University Park Airport in Centre County, renamed in 2023 to State College Regional Airport. Nazeeri had an active pilots license at the private pilot level. He was certified to fly single engine airplanes and had his instrument rating, meaning he did training to be able to fly with only the instruments of a plane. Instrument rating training includes logging at least 50 hours of flight time as pilot in command and at least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an instructor. The rating means Nazeeri was certified to fly in low visibility conditions and was able to take off and land with only the planes instruments. National Weather Service archives show a five-mile visibility at 7:53 a.m. on Sunday. Under instrument flight rules, the plane wouldve been grounded if visibility was under three miles. The weather report also included broken clouds at two different altitudes and fog/mist. The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department is holding a press conference on the crash Monday afternoon. Nazeeri was the northeast chapter vice president of the Flying Physicians Association, a nonprofit focused on deepening understanding of aviation medicine and promoting human interest projects surrounding medicine and aviation. Nazeeri had an active medical license and was the founding member of Nazeeri Family Medicine in Lebanon. He practiced medicine in Lebanon since 2001. Dr. Nazeeri was not only a dedicated physician, but also a compassionate caregiver and the pillar of this practice, the practice posted on Facebook. His loss is immeasurable and felt deeply by all of us" Nazeeri completed his residency at Penn State. He earned his bachelors degree at the University of Michigan, his masters degree at the University of Oregon and his doctor of medicine at Wayne State University College of Medicine. By Jill Sunday Bartoli Some friends and I decided to read Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressas great book, How to Stand Up to a Dictator, and it seems so real to us today. From the crackdowns on dissent and protests, the targeting of those who stand up and speak the truth, the targeting of public, fact checked media to the propaganda of alternate, fact-free media, we live in a society that repeats blatant lies. At first, we thought that the dictator in the Philippines who rounded up supposed drug dealers and imprisoned or murdered them, and who targeted, threatened and debased journalists and legitimate news outlets was like nothing we had ever seen. But when the Speaker of the House in Minesota was murdered along with her husband, and when Gov. Josh Shapiros home was fire bombed, when immigrants who are citizens of the United States were imprisoned, tortured and abused, we saw clearly the similarities. The lies that are repeated daily in the United States, with no facts to back them, but plenty of media outlets to repeat them, have contaminated and corrupted our formerly civil, democratic society guided by the rule of law and our Constitution. Laws are flagrantly disregarded by the current administration, criminals are being pardoned, and nothing seems to matter except power and money. So, thank God and Lady Liberty for the will of our people to stand up, use their voices and fight back against unlawful dictatorship. In May we met at the square in Carlisle for National Law Day to proclaim that no one is above the law, and all citizens are protected by the rule of law. As local lawyer Rachel James put it, When people lose faith in the law, the result is chaos. We need to speak up against injustice, even when it is hard to embrace and honor our responsibility. On June 14 communities across the country gathered for No Kings Day a proclamation that we dont want self-aggrandizing, power hungry, would be kings ruling our country. In cities and towns across the country our citizens came out for No Kings Day to send a united message: We want a cemocracy, ruled by the people and for the people. Julys rally commemorating John Lewis and Making Good Trouble was another great opportunity to stand up and speak out together with friends and neighbors, and to make new friends. It has been great to know that there are so many of us who want our democracy back, and that we are a united front against the abuses to our rights. Who would have thought that three million citizens would come out across our country to say that we want truth, not lies. Writing about the war on people who are poor and unhoused, Pat LaMarche (July 12, Sentinel) spoke the truth about proposed legislation from State Sen. Greg Rothman, R-34 to forcibly remove encampments of unhoused people. SB780 punishes not only the unhoused, but also individuals and municipalities that allow those experiencing homelessness to exist on their property. There is a $250. fine per day, in addition to cash incentives for those who report on unhoused citizens (bounty hunters??). And this is our best legislative answer to the crisis in affordable housing, the increasing poverty of families from job loss and the need for livable wages? What happened to Lady Libertys Give me your tired, your poor. Or the Biblical (Matthew 25:45) condemnation to eternal punishment for not caring for the poor, hungry, and prisoned: As often as you neglected to do it [care] for one of the least of these my brethren, you neglected to do it to me. Other local truth tellers include Susan Spicka and Tim Potts, who continue to call out the fraud and abuse in cyber school administration. John Sigle, who recently asked, Whats happening to this country, to our respect for truth, integrity and the rule of law? And Eileen Grahams (July 12, Sentinel) question of what happened to loyalty to the greater good, and the need to stand up. At the end of her book, Maria Ressa writes, I refuse to live in a world like this. I demand better. We deserve better. It wont be easy. Youll feel like giving up, burying your head in the sand, but if you do that, youre helping to assure the destruction of our world, the manipulation of your children, the destruction of their values, and the ravaging of our earth. Choose to fight for the greater good. Now is the time to act. So yeslets stand up to dictators and speak out. Yes: lets make good trouble. Jill Sunday Bartoli is professor emerita at Elizabethtown College and a resident of Carlisle Pa. Story by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College A version of this story first appeared in Talk of the Town a daily newsletter from the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. BELLEFONTE After years of debate, Pennsylvanias near-total ban on Sunday hunting is off the books thanks to a bipartisan push, an unlikely political advocate, and a key policy shift from the states farm lobby. The new law, signed last week by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, gives the Pennsylvania Game Commission the authority to decide which Sundays to include when setting hunting season dates. It also includes penalties for hunters who trespass on private property. Supporters of the repeal credit its success to years of advocacy, along with new backing among farmers seeking relief from crop damage. However, some outdoor groups, citing safety concerns, are disappointed and hope the state agency will be vigilant about letting the public know which Sundays allow hunting. The ban, which dated back at least 200 years, made exceptions for hunting crows, coyotes, and foxes during open seasons. In 2019, lawmakers approved an update that permitted hunting on three Sundays each year, a move that eased some concerns, said Kevin Askew, executive director of Hunters United for Sunday Hunting. Those three Sundays allowed the politicians to see well, wait the sky didnt fall. Theres no doom and gloom here, he told Spotlight PA. Maybe there is something to having more Sundays. More momentum came when the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau reversed its longstanding opposition, helping clear the way to end one of the states remaining blue laws, which are rooted in the tradition of keeping one day for rest and religious observance. State Rep. Mandy Steele, a Democrat from a swing district in Allegheny County, wasnt an obvious champion of the cause. But she brought a fresh approach and worked to understand the longstanding roadblocks, Askew said. She actually wanted to solve the problem. Steele, who took up hunting in adulthood with her kids, said years of work by advocates and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle including state Sen. Dan Laughlin (R., Erie) helped lay the groundwork for the change that balances the needs and desires of hunters and farmers. Hunters were eager for more time in the woods, and farmers wanted one day when they didnt have to worry about trespassers or hunters knocking on their doors early in the morning asking for permission to shoot. Her role, she said, was to help those groups find common ground. We really just needed someone to unite everyone, Steele said. For years, hunting groups lobbied against the Sunday restriction. They called the ban discriminatory because other outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and horse riding are permitted seven days a week. Farmers, however, had long been skeptical. They worried about trespassing and other disruptions on their property. But when crop damage resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses, the farm bureau reversed its position in 2023. Mitchell Kurek, the farm bureaus state and local affairs specialist, told Spotlight PA that Sunday hunting isnt the end-all be-all solution, but its still an important step. Vince Phillips, a former lobbyist for the Pennsylvania State Grange an agricultural and rural advocacy organization that consistently opposed efforts to expand Sunday hunting said that shift was crucial. It outmuscled those against the change, he told Spotlight PA. During the bill signing, Shapiro called the repeal a smart change to an outdated law that better reflects the needs of todays hunters and said it could stoke an economic boon by creating more opportunities for hunters to spend time and money in rural areas. Still, not everyone is excited about the repeal. Hiking and horse riding organizations long argued that one hunting-free day per week lets people enjoy nature safely and without the sound of gunshots. Those concerns havent gone away, Brook Lenker, executive director of Keystone Trails Association, told Spotlight PA in an email. We are disappointed that the governor signed the Sunday hunting bill and hope that the PA Game Commission will assure there is broad public awareness about Sundays when hunting is occurring, he said. The law takes effect in early September. Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said during a news conference last week that the board is considering its options and will communicate with hunters ahead of the upcoming hunting year. All I can tell them as of today is to stay tuned and buy your hunting license, he said. SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results. The Chicago Cubs welcome the Kansas City Royals to Wrigley Field on Monday night for the opener of a three-game mid-week series. Game 1 is scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. ET (7:05 p.m. CT) with TV coverage on MLB Network and streaming on-demand. The Cubs are solid favorites in Mondays opener behind the arm of right-handed pitcher Ryan Brasier (0-0, 1.04 ERA), who is set to make his first start after 18 relief appearances. The Royals are expected to start lefty Noah Cameron, who is 3-4 with a 2.31 ERA this season and working on a 0.98 ERA so far in three July starts. Kansas City Royals at Chicago Cubs MLB matchup at a glance The Cubs are in a heated race for top position in the National League Central Division, and they enter the week tied with the Milwaukee Brewers with 59-40 records. Meanwhile, the Royals look to stay in American League playoff contention with a 48-52 mark that trails the Detroit Tigers by 12 games in the AL Central Division and 5.5 games behind the current AL Wild Card pace. Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals: Live Streaming Options FuboTV (free trial) - excellent viewer experience with a huge library of live sports; length of the free trial varies; the monthly rate after trial starts at $59.99. excellent viewer experience with a huge library of live sports; length of the free trial varies; the monthly rate after trial starts at $59.99. SlingTV (low intro rate) - half-price first month is perfect for those in the market for 1+ month of TV;.monthly plans start at $45.99 after the introductory offer. half-price first month is perfect for those in the market for 1+ month of TV;.monthly plans start at $45.99 after the introductory offer. DirecTV (free trial) - has the longest free trial in streaming with five days to try before you buy; first month after the free trial costs as low as $59.99. has the longest free trial in streaming with five days to try before you buy; first month after the free trial costs as low as $59.99. The Cubs and Royals are set for an 8:05 p.m. ET start on MLB Network. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate). Colombian operator WOM has secured approval for a proposed US$800 million reorganisation, staving off a potential bankruptcy. It now plans to continue developing 5G services and strengthening its operations in the country. The agreement was confirmed recently by almost 86% of the companys creditors with the power to vote. According to news resource BNamericas, Telecom Colombia, which operates as WOM, has recorded total assets of COP4.37 trillion (about US$1.1 billion) and liabilities of COP5.92 trillion (about US$1.48 billion). The confirmation of the agreement will allow the reorganisation of part of the liabilities within a period of ten years. WOM will have up to 18 years to settle obligations with ICT ministry Mintic; these include about COP1.5 trillion (US$373.4 million) in committed future payments for 20-year spectrum licenses. However, due to debt indexation, by 2043 this amount could have tripled. BNamericas notes that, as a priority, in 2026 WOM Colombia will pay 2,000 small business creditors to whom it owes under COP100 million pesos (a little under US$25,000). The agreement will also allow the company to fulfil its commitments relating to the deployment of 5G technology. Local press suggests planned investments of up to US$100 million in Colombia after the debt agreement. The deployment of networks could take up to six years. In January, we reported that the company will commence its 5G deployment in the countrys major cities during the second half of the year, over 18 months behind its competitors. Not only is it behind the other major operators in 5G rollout but, despite gains in recent years, it needs to target much higher market share than todays estimated 7% (about seven million subscribers) compared to leaders Claro (about 45%), Movistar (25%) and Tigo (18%). The proposed merger between Movistar and Tigo, creating a much stronger single operator, could also make things difficult. WOM has apparently asked to be allowed to share the networks already installed by its competitors while it completes the deployment of its own network. Nevertheless, recent news suggests that WOM is in better shape than it has been for some while. Again in January, we reported that the company had been acquired by SUR Holdings, a group of businesspeople and investors from the United States and the United Kingdom with experience in the telecommunications and technology. Investigative reporter Marilyn W. Thompson is a veteran investigative reporter and editor who works on the Projects team. She has authored or co-authored four non-fiction books. TECO Electric & Machinery, a Taiwan-headquartered business group, has announced that it has secured some significant data centre projects in Malaysia, marking its entry into the hyperscale data centre sector. One is in Selangor, a state on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The other is in Johor Bahru, a city at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a combined capacity of 178 MW, these two contracts have a total value exceeding MYR170 million (approximately US$40 million). The company describes these deals as a major milestone following its March acquisition of Malaysian mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering company NCL Energy, adding that, as Malaysia rapidly becomes a key data centre hub in Southeast Asia, these contract awards support TECO in broadening its footprint in the data centre infrastructure market. In Selangor, the TECO team will undertake a project in the Elmina Business Park which includes server room installations and the deployment of hyperscale fibre optic communication infrastructure. In Johor Bahru, the Sedenak Tech Park project will similarly focus on fibre optic solutions for hyperscale data centres. As major global tech giants accelerate the deployment of hyperscale data centres in Southeast Asia, TECO says it will continue to pursue opportunities for its full product portfolio to enter this market, further expanding its data centre business footprint. In addition to its progress in Malaysia, TECOs Intelligence Energy Business Group says it is currently executing a data centre MEP project in Singapore, which includes the installation of the worlds first 13,864-core hyperscale fibre optic cable. Founded in 1956 for motor production, TECO Electric & Machinery has evolved into a major business group, spanning heavy electric equipment, green energy electromechanical engineering, home appliances, information technology, communications, key electronic components, and various other diverse fields, with its business scope covering over 40 countries across five major continents Beyond its extensive engineering experience, TECO also manufactures and supplies core MEP products essential for data centre construction, including modular solutions such as high-efficiency motors, busways, generators, transformers, and switchboards. Its total installed capacity for data centre projects across Taiwan and Southeast Asia exceeds 700MW. Ruth Cronin covers local government, education and business in Horry County. She wrote for the Indiana Daily Student and interned for the Cincinnati Enquirer while attending Indiana University. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 23:30:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 570 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Alturas Minerals Corp. (the "Company") (TSX-V) is pleased to provide an update on the Lease agreement with Sociedad Contractual Minera Resguardo ("Minera Resguardo" or the "Optionor"), a Chilean mining exploration company, to lease and acquire 100% of its Resguardo Copper-Gold Project (the "Concessions" or "Resguardo"), located about 95 km northeast of Copiapo, in Region III of northern Chile, referred to as "RegiAn de Atacama".As disclosed in its January 17, 2025 Press Release, the Company did not fulfill its May 31, 2024, payment obligation with the Optionor, and the original Agreement has lapsed. The parties have reviewed the different alternatives to renew the agreement and concluded that it was not feasible to do so. Deposits initially made to Resguardo totaling $25,000 have been redirected to other general and administrative expenses related to other Alturas operating expenses in Chile.Alturas is currently in discussions with certain arms-length parties, to acquire interests in properties located in areas nearby the Resguardo property, at more advantageous terms.Conversion of Alturas debt with Officers and DirectorsThe Company is in the final stages of negotiations that would settle the outstanding debt Alturas has with officers and directors. The amount accrued as of March 31, 2025 is approximately $3.2 million (USD 2.2 million) out of which approximately $660,000 would be converted into shares of the Company and the remaining ($2.5 million) written off the books of Alturas. The transaction is subject to the approval of the TSXV.About Alturas MineralsAlturas is a Canadian corporation, and is the indirect parent of the Peruvian company, Alturas Minerals S.A. ("Alturas Peru") and of the Chilean company, Alturas Chile Limitada ("Alturas Chile"). Alturas had been exploring various mineral projects in Peru between January 2004 and 2020 and between 2012 and 2014 in Chile through its subsidiaries. After interrupting its exploration activities in Chile and Peru due to financial constraints, Alturas is now focusing on new business opportunities, including the initiation of mining operations in Chile.Qualified PersonScott Jobin-Bevans (PhD, PMP, P.Geo.), an independent qualified person ("QP") as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company. The QP as part of his involvement as Principal Geoscientist with Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc. has visited the Resguardo Copper Project and has completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Concessions, particularly regarding historical exploration, neighboring companies, and government geological work.ALTURAS MINERALS CORP."Miguel Cardozo" Chief Executive OfficerContact: Mario MirandaPhone: (416) 363-4900Alturas Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:ALT)NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Bolsa de Valores de Lima accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release may contain "forward-looking statements", which are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Investors are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and results. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities authorities.SOURCE: Alturas Minerals Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 22:16:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 697 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Black Iron Inc. ("Black Iron" or the "Company") (TSX:BKI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Porter as Chairman of the board of directors of the Company ("Board"). Mr. Porter has served as a director of the Company since 2010 and is a seasoned executive who has been responsible for operations, safety, health, sustainable development, communications and community relations across the mining and steel sectors for over 33 years. Mr. Porter previously served as Vice President Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness at the Rio Tinto/Mitsubishi owned Iron Ore Company of Canada from 1992 to 2008 and as Vice President Operations at Altas Specialty Steel - Rio Algom from 1978 to 1991.Mr. Porter's appoint follows the resignation of Mr. Bruce Humphrey as Chairman and a director of the Board following 15 years with the Company.Mr. Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated "I would like to thank Bruce for his years of dedication and guidance as we twice brought Black Iron's Shymanivske Iron ore project to the brink of construction, only twice to have Russia invade Ukraine upending our plans. With Dave taking over as Chairman, Black Iron's board, management and shareholders are in excellent hands as he is a critical thinker with extensive hands-on iron ore and steel industry experience." About Black IronBlack Iron is an iron ore exploration and development company, advancing its 100% owned Shymanivske Iron Ore Project located in Kryviy Rih, Ukraine. Full mineral resource details and projected project economics can be found in the NI 43-101 technical report entitled "(Amended) Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Re-scoped Shymanivske Iron Ore Deposit" published in March 2020 with an effective date of November 21, 2017 under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Project is surrounded by five other operating mines, including Metinvest's YuGOK and ArcelorMittal's iron ore complex. Please visit the Company's website at www.blackiron.com for more informationFor more information, please contact:Matt Simpson Chief Executive OfficerBlack Iron Inc. info@ blackiron.com Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, opinions and estimates of the date such statements are made based on information available to them at that time. Forward-looking information may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the appointment of directors. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the war in Ukraine; general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; other risks of the mining industry and the risks described in the annual information form of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company notes that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.SOURCE: Black Iron, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 20:33:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 478 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces an investigation into BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE:BRBR) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in BellRing, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit Why is BellRing being Investigated?BellRing operates in the convenient nutrition category. The Company's primary brands include Premier Protein and Dymatize, which offer ready-to-drink protein shakes and powders. During the relevant period, the Company stated that Premier Protein "hit an all-time high in household penetration" and that "demand remains strong." The Company also stated that its growth was "strong in all channels," driven by "distribution expansion, accelerating velocities and incremental promotional activity." In truth, the Company's sales growth during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary trade inventory loading at several key retailers, not sustainable end-consumer demand.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn May 5, 2025, after market hours, BellRing revealed that starting in Q2 2023, "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand," which would create a headwind to Q3 2025 growth. The Company also announced it was expanding promotions to boost sales and "offset [] third quarter reductions in retailer trade inventory levels." On this news, the price of BellRing stock fell $13.96 per share, or more than 18%, from $77.34 per share on May 5, 2025, to $63.38 per share on May 6, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit What Can You Do?If you invested in BellRing you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 14:01:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 507 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 /EonX Technologies Inc. (CSE:EONX), ("EonX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce another significant milestone in its global expansion plan, with the official opening of its USA headquarters.This expansion is underpinned by the Company's robust financial performance, highlighting 112% YoY growth in Gross Revenue ($23.8 million CAD) for the nine months ended 31 March 2025 (unaudited), sustaining five consecutive quarters of profitability and positive net profit after tax.This significant momentum, coupled with the recent deployment of the Company's Global Technology Solution (GTS) platform, cements the next exciting phase for EonX's international growth journey.The USA office will lead business development and partnership efforts, as EonX scales its enterprise-grade GTS payments and loyalty technology to service financial institutions, enterprise and SMB's in the USA.President & Group CEO of EonX, Andrew Kallen, said, "The establishment of our USA office is the long-awaited light at the end of our GTS development tunnel. We have been busy, and quietly patient, building a market-first solution set to positively disrupt business payments and revolutionize the loyalty landscape in the USA." In addition, Kallen said, "As a sign of our commitment in delivering tangible value to the market, to our customers, and to our shareholders, we are now laser focussed, equipped and ready to reward the underserved aB2B bill payments' industry in the USA." About EONXEonX is a financial technology company powering the next generation of Loyalty, Payments and eWallet solutions, whilst rewarding business and customers when engaging and transacting.On behalf of the board of directors ofEONX TECHNOLOGIES INC."Andrew Kallen" President & Group CEOFor more information about EonX please contact:Andrew KallenPresident & Group CEO EONX Technologies Inc.Telephone: +18036767776Email: investors@ eonx.com Website: www.eonx.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Notice regarding Forward Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's 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 as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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.SOURCE: EonX Technologies Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 20:34:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 603 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Hims & Hers, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/hims-hers-health-inc-class-action Investors have until August 25, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Hims & Hers securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Sookdeo v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-05315. A subsequent complaint alleging substantially similar claims was also filed and is captioned Yaghsizian v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-05321.Why was Hims & Hers Sued for Securities Fraud?Hims & Hers operates a telehealth platform that provides consumers with access to online consultations with licensed healthcare professionals, prescription medications, and a range of wellness products. On April 29, 2025, Hims & Hers and Novo Nordisk announced a "long-term collaboration" starting with the immediate sale of Novo Nordisk's popular weight loss drug Wegovy on the Hims & Hers platform. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide.As alleged, Hims & Hers touted and misrepresented to investors the nature of its partnership with Novo Nordisk, including asserting that under the terms of the agreement His & Hers could offer both Wegovy and compounded semaglutide to its customers. Hims & Hers also allegedly represented to investors that its sale of compounded semaglutide complied with FDA regulations.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced that it was terminating the partnership, "based on Hims & Hers deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk" and alleged that Hims & Hers "failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs." On this news, the price of Hims & Hers stock fell $22.24 per share, or more than 34%, from $64.22 per share on June 20, 2025 to $41.98 per share on June 23, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/hims-hers-health-inc-class-action What Can You Do?If you invested in Hims & Hers you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 23:00:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 944 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Verdun Windows and Doors has officially broken ground on a state-of-the-art,104,000asqaft manufacturing campusin Vars Industrial Park, representing one of the most significant private investments in Eastern Ontario's window and door industry in recent years.RUSSELL TOWNSHIP, ON / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Verdun Windows and Doors has officially broken ground on a state-of-the-art,104,000asqaft manufacturing campusin Vars Industrial Park, representing one of the most significant private investments in Eastern Ontario's window and door industry in recent years. With a price tag of nearly $30 million and support from a $1 million contribution by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, the project aims to expand Verdun's production capacity, introduce new product lines, and-most importantly-generate 150-200 new skilled jobs in the Ottawa area.For Verdun Windows and Doors, this isn't just about growing bigger-it's about growing smarter, greener, and more connected to the local economy. This investment reinforces the company's long-term vision of building strong, sustainable communities by manufacturing high-performance products and developing meaningful careers.A Groundbreaking Moment for Ottawa's Manufacturing SectorThe Vars facilitymarks a new chapter in Verdun Windows and Doors' over 40-year journey of Canadian craftsmanship. The company selected this site to expand its manufacturing capabilities, reduce supply chain dependency, and support its rapidly growing customer base. This modern campus will feature advanced equipment, enhanced R&D labs, and office space-creating a hub of innovation and productivity."This isn't just a factory-it's a cornerstone for the future of window manufacturing in our region," said Verdun's CEO during the groundbreaking event. "We're building locally because we believe strong communities start with strong supply chains." Prioritizing Local Employment and Long-Term CareersVerdun Windows and Doors is committed to hiring from within the region. The company is actively creating career opportunities in roles including CNC machine operation, quality assurance, logistics, maintenance, sales support, and administration. A major initiative includes partnerships with local colleges to launch internship and apprenticeship programs, equipping recent graduates with practical experience and direct access to full-time positions."Our focus is on long-term, meaningful employment," noted Verdun's HR Director. "This is not gig work-these are stable, skilled positions in an industry that's growing. And we're investing in training to make sure our employees are confident and capable on day one." The company plans to host a community job fair in late summer 2025, where interested applicants can tour the facility, interact with Verdun leadership, and apply for early training opportunities before the plant goes live. This forward-thinking approach ensures new employees will be well-prepared as production ramps up.Advanced Technology, Made for Canadian HomesThe new facilityis not only larger, but also smarter. Verdun will incorporate high-precision CNC machinery, automated profile fabrication, and real-time quality-control systems to support its proprietary RevoCella window line. These investments will increase production by 50% and reduce lead times for customers across Ottawa and beyond."Manufacturing locally gives us control, speed, and precision that overseas or third-party providers simply can't offer," said the company's Manufacturing Director. "It's about bringing world-class innovation back home-and producing windows designed for Canadian winters, right here in the Ottawa area." Built with Sustainability in MindIn line with Verdun's commitment to environmental stewardship, the new facility is engineered for low impact and high efficiency. It features rooftop solar panels, LED motion-sensitive lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, and rainwater harvesting systems. A zero-waste-to-landfill policy will be implemented, helping the company stay ahead of evolving environmental regulations and customer expectations."This is a facility where responsibility and performance go hand in hand," said Verdun's Sustainability Officer. "We're not just manufacturing products-we're building a greener future." This focus on sustainability is nothing new for Verdun Windows and Doors. The company earned ENERGY STARA Canada Special Recognition Awards in both 2023 and 2024 for its high-efficiency window designs and was most recently awarded HomeStars Best of the Best 2025 for customer satisfaction and product excellence.A Boost for Local Suppliers and Economic GrowthVerdun's expansionwill have ripple effects across Eastern Ontario's business ecosystem. The company intends to work closely with regional suppliers for materials and services including glass, aluminum extrusions, custom packaging, and industrial maintenance."By sourcing locally, we're speeding up production, reducing emissions, and strengthening our supply chain," explained the company's Procurement Manager. "It's a win for Verdun, a win for our partners, and a win for the environment." This collaborative model ensures the new facility benefits more than just Verdun-it stimulates job creation and resilience across the entire local manufacturing network.Community and Political SupportThe groundbreaking ceremony brought together stakeholders from all levels of government and the local community. Notable attendees included Mayor Mike Tarnowski, MPP StAphane Sarrazin, and MP Giovanna Mingarelli, who celebrated the project's long-term potential and the federal government's financial contribution."This investment is more than a building-it's a signal of confidence in the people and the potential of Russell Township," said Mayor Mike Tarnowski. "Verdun's expansion will bring families closer to opportunity and raise the bar for sustainable development in our region." MP Mingarelli added, "The Government of Canada is proud to support Verdun Windows and Doors through FedDev Ontario. Investments like this help rural communities flourish and grow stronger, greener economies." Revitalizing Neighborhoods and Local CommerceThe economic impact of Verdun's new facility is already being felt. Area businesses-from transportation to retail to childcare-have reported increases in activity. Real estate professionals are seeing rising interest in neighborhoods around the campus, with new buyers citing convenient access to long-term employment and amenities."This project is energizing our local economy in ways we hadn't anticipated," said o PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 10:00:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 969 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Why behind-the-scenes logistics, diagnostic accuracy, and ethical lab partnerships are essential to delivering truly patient-centered care, according to healthcare strategist Lee A. Tafoya.ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / In the ongoing conversation around patient-centered care, attention often gravitates toward physicians, electronic records, or bedside manner. However, Lee A. Tafoya, Business Development Executive at Midwest Innovation Laboratory, is urging healthcare professionals to look deeper into the infrastructure behind clinical decision-making. He believes that diagnostic laboratories, while rarely visible to the patient, are central to the quality of care being delivered."Lab work influences the majority of clinical decisions. If the system behind that data is not functioning at its best, the care delivered will inevitably fall short," says Tafoya.With a background spanning clinical nursing, research, and leadership, Tafoya offers a rare perspective. His experience includes roles in immunology trials, stem cell apheresis, nephrology, and hospice care. Now, in laboratory business development, he works directly with facilities to improve diagnostic logistics, service responsiveness, and provider partnerships. According to him, real change in patient care starts with strengthening these foundational systems.Laboratories as Clinical CollaboratorsDiagnostic laboratories often operate behind the scenes, yet their output informs nearly every medical intervention. From identifying infections to confirming chronic conditions, labs provide the data that physicians rely on to act confidently and quickly. Tafoya explains that the assumption of the lab as merely a supporting service undervalues its impact."When labs are treated like vendors rather than clinical collaborators, important opportunities are missed. A proactive lab can help with test selection, advise on turnaround strategies, and even flag broader trends in community health," he explains.In his current role, Tafoya works with private practices, nursing facility networks, and healthcare systems to develop service models that prioritize speed, accuracy, and relevance. He focuses not just on expanding laboratory reach but on increasing its strategic value. His work includes negotiating contracts, building targeted training programs, and supporting recovery efforts when service issues arise.Tafoya believes that involving lab partners earlier in the care planning process leads to better patient outcomes and greater efficiency across the board.Lessons from the BedsideTafoya's insights are shaped by a career that began in clinical care. As a Registered Nurse, he provided frontline services in home health, hemodialysis, and mental health. Later, he moved into clinical trials, coordinating research in pulmonology and immunology across multiple indications, including RSV, asthma, and COVID-19 prophylaxis. His work in hematology research achieved a 100 percent success rate in Dendreon stem cell procedures.His time at the bedside taught him where breakdowns commonly occur. Delays in lab processing, unclear communication, and inconsistent test accuracy were not administrative glitches; they were obstacles with direct consequences for patient health."I've seen firsthand how a delayed test result can postpone critical treatment. I've also seen how fast, well-coordinated lab work can change the trajectory of a patient's recovery," says Tafoya.These experiences inspired him to step into business development. He saw that influencing patient outcomes didn't have to stop at clinical care. Improving the systems that support providers could be just as impactful.Building Lab Partnerships Around Patient NeedsRather than promoting laboratory services based solely on cost or capacity, Tafoya focuses on alignment. He matches services to each organization's unique workflow and population needs. A rural nursing facility, for example, may require different pickup schedules or specialized testing panels than a suburban primary care clinic."The lab must fit into the provider's rhythm, not the other way around. When lab services adapt to the patient population and operational structure, the entire system becomes more efficient," he notes.He also emphasizes transparency, measurable service benchmarks, and frequent communication. These efforts transform the lab from an outsourced necessity into a trusted clinical partner.In many cases, Tafoya assists in addressing legacy issues, such as long turnaround times or repeated testing errors. By implementing root cause analysis and hands-on staff training, he works to rebuild trust between providers and their lab teams.Redefining Quality in the Value-Based EraAs healthcare continues to shift toward value-based care, the stakes for accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency are rising. Tafoya argues that labs should not be evaluated only on volume or price, but also on how they contribute to better patient outcomes and provider satisfaction."Healthcare leaders need to ask whether their lab partner is helping them meet their care goals. If they are not getting timely results, if the panels are not clinically useful, or if support is difficult to access, then the lab is holding back the entire organization," he explains.According to Tafoya, many executives focus on the more visible aspects of care while neglecting systemic gaps in diagnostic infrastructure. That oversight can limit everything from medication accuracy to the patient's trust in their provider.To fix this, he recommends a shift in how organizations engage with lab partners. Open communication, joint planning, and shared performance metrics can help bridge the gap between back-end systems and front-line care.Personal Commitment to Innovation and EquityBeyond his professional role, Tafoya has long committed himself to underserved populations. He has volunteered with International Medical Relief, supporting clinics for Venezuelan refugees and underserved communities across the United States. There, he applied many of the same principles he advocates today: thoughtful logistics, reliable diagnostics, and patient dignity."Volunteering in medical relief work helped reinforce that infrastructure matters. In environments with limited access to testing, diagnosis becomes guesswork. That has a cascading effect on the care people receive," he says.Whether working in high-tech laboratories or field-based clinics, Tafoya's approach remains grounded in compassion and clarity. He believes that no system can be truly patient-centered if it fails to include the diagnostic process in its vision.A Call to Action for Healthcare Decision-MakersTafoya Liberias Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has launched a collaborative initiative with the ECOWAS Commission for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization and the World Bank to deploy a second subsea cable connecting Liberia and four other West African countries. According to a ministry press release issued last week, the Second Submarine Cable Project is designed to provide essential connectivity for Liberia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The project is also intended to establish redundancy for the regions connectivity, as each of the five countries currently have only one international subsea connection via the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable. The ECOWAS Commissions Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) contracted telecoms consulting firm TACTIS to conduct a thorough feasibility study for the cable, which was completed on Friday. By deploying this second cable, the project will enhance the digital infrastructure of all five countries, ensuring reliable and resilient internet access for millions of citizens, the ministry said. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 23:30:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 506 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Clearbrook-Gonvick School DistrictCLEARBROOK, MINNESOTA / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / The Clearbrook-Gonvick School District ("Clearbrook-Gonvick") takes the security and privacy of their employees' and students' information seriously. As part of that commitment, Clearbrook-Gonvick is writing regarding a data privacy incident that may have affected the personal information of certain school community members.What HappenedOn October 17, 2024, Clearbrook-Gonvick became aware of a disruption in its school's computer network. Clearbrook-Gonvick took immediate action to secure its systems, which included taking parts of their network offline. Clearbrook-Gonvick retained outside cyber incident professionals to investigate the incident. As part of that investigation, Clearbrook-Gonvick learned that certain data was accessed or acquired from their network by an unauthorized actor between October 16 - 17, 2024. As a result, Clearbrook-Gonvick performed a detailed review of the contents of the impacted data to determine what was impacted and to whom that information relates. After a thorough investigation, on May 2, 2025, Clearbrook-Gonvick confirmed that certain personal information was contained in the data set.What Information Was InvolvedThe information involved varied by individual but may have included individuals' names, Social Security numbers, driver's license or state ID numbers, individual taxpayer identification numbers, financial account information, and student identification numbers.Individuals whose information was involved were notified on July 3, 2025 and July 11, 2025.What is Clearbrook-Gonvick Doing?Upon learning of the incident, Clearbrook-Gonvick took immediate steps to address it, including securing its systems and taking parts of its network offline. Clearbrook-Gonvick retained cyber incident professionals and notified federal law enforcement. Clearbrook-Gonvick is reviewing existing security policies and protections already in place on its network and adopting additional security to safeguard against evolving threats moving forward.Additionally, Clearbrook-Gonvick is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services, free of charge, to individuals whose Social Security numbers were involved through Kroll, a global leader in risk mitigation and response. Should individuals have any questions or concerns, they may contact Clearbook-Gonvick's dedicated assistance line with Kroll at 1-866-819-7412.What Impacted Individuals Can DoAs a general matter, one should remain vigilant by reviewing credit reports, financial account statements, and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also remind everyone that individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from the each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.Individuals can further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps to take to protect personal information by contacting the credit reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or state Attorneys General. The FTC also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. The FTC may be reached at 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261.For More InformationFor any further information, please contact Ryan Grow, Superintendent, at rgrow@ clearbrook-gonvick.k12.mn.us Contact InformationMatthew SmithCounselmatthew.smith@kennedyslaw.com 2679517196SOURCE: Clearbrook-Gonvick School District PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 20:35:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 515 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces an investigation into Olo Inc. (NYSE:OLO), its board of directors, its executive officers, and founder and current CEO Noah H. Glass for potential breaches of their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with the pending sale of Olo to Thoma Bravo Discover Fund IV, L.P. ("Thoma Bravo") for $10.25 per share.If you are a current shareholder of Olo, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/olo-inc-merger-investigation Why is Olo being Investigated?Olo is an open SaaS platform for restaurants that powers restaurant brands' on-demand digital commerce operations, enabling digital ordering, delivery, engagement, and payments. Olo common stock is divided into Class A and Class B shares. Class A shares are publicly traded, whereas Class B shares are not. Class B shares receive ten votes per share, while Class A shares receive only one vote. As of December 31, 2024, "directors and executive officers and their affiliates collectively beneficially owned, in the aggregate, shares representing approximately 82% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock." On July 3, 2025, Olo announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Thoma Bravo in an all-cash transaction valuing Olo at approximately $2 billion in equity value. Under the terms of the agreement, Olo shareholders will receive $10.25 per share in cash. The per-share purchase price purportedly represents a premium of 65% over Olo's unaffected share price of $6.20 as of April 30, 2025.BFA Law is investigating whether Olo's board of directors, its executive officers, and/or Glass breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with the merger.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/olo-inc-merger-investigation What Can You Do?If you are a current holder of Olo you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 03:45:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 481 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / July 20, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilJuly 22, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Organon & Co. (NYSE:OGN), if they purchased the Company's securities between November 3, 2022 and April 30, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Organon and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-ogn/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byJuly 22, 2025 .About the LawsuitsOrganon and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On March 10, 2025, pre-market, the Company announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, disclosing, among other things, that management had reset the Company's dividend payout, from $0.28 to $0.02, contradicting its prior statements assuring investors that the regular quarterly dividend was a number one priority and that the Company was committed to its capital allocation strategy through the aforementioned dividend. On this news, the price of Organon's shares fell more than 27%, from a closing market price of $12.93 per share on April 30, 2025, to $9.45 per share on May 1, 2025.The first-filed case is Hauser v. Organon & Co., et al., No. 25-cv-05322. A subsequent case, Lerner v. Organon & Co., et al., No. 25-cv-12983, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 20:36:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 558 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Reddit, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/reddit-inc-securities-fraud-class-action Investors have until August 18, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Reddit securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Tamraz, Jr. v. Reddit, Inc., at al., No. 25-cv-05144.Why was Reddit Sued for Securities Fraud?Reddit owns and operates the eponymous social news aggregation, forum, and social media platform. Reddit receives a significant portion of its user traffic from individuals seeking answers to questions using Google Search. The complaint alleges that Reddit misrepresented and downplayed the impact that Google's use of Artificial Intelligence ("AI") technology in Google's search results had on Reddit's user growth.In truth, Google's use of AI dented Reddit's user growth by eliminating the need for individuals to visit and click through to Reddit to get answers to their questions. Rather, the answers appeared through Google's AI search results.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn May 1, 2025, Reddit reported a significant slowdown in daily active user growth. On this news, the price of Reddit stock declined $4.96 per share, or more than 4%, from $118.79 per share on May 1, 2025, to $113.83 per share on May 2, 2025.Then, on May 21, 2025, Wall Street analyst Baird cut its Reddit stock price target over concerns that Google's AI capabilities are stifling Reddit's user growth. On this news, the price of Reddit stock fell $9.79 per share, or over 9%, from $105.64 per share on May 20, 2025, to $95.85 per share on May 21, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/reddit-inc-securities-fraud-class-action What Can You Do?If you invested in Reddit you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-21 20:35:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 294 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of National Grid plc ("National Grid plc") (NYSE:NGG) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.The United Kingdom's energy system operator, National Energy System Operator ("NESO"), published a report on July 1, 2025, summarizing the findings of its investigation into the March 20, 2025 fire that caused Heathrow Airport to shut down. NESO's report stated that the fire was caused by a known fault at an electrical substation owned by National Grid, which had been aware of the problem since 2018 but failed to fix it. Media outlets subsequently reported that Heathrow Airport was considering legal action against National Grid.Following this news, National Grid's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell over 5% on July 2, 2025. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.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)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Nollywood actor Jim Iyke did not get the bad boy title by chance. On screen, he may have perfected the art of portraying himself as the emotionally distant loverboy, but off-screen, Jim Iykes reputation as a heartbreaker precedes him. For instance, in 2018, the actor spoke of his dalliance with another July celebrant, Rita Dominic and why it didnt end in marriage. However, his fans have not seen the flip side of this actors love life. His alleged romances with other actresses read like a long list of applicants at an immigration recruitment exercise. On Sunday, the actor generated much commentary for his birthday post to actress Kate Henshaw. Last Saturday, Ms Henshaw marked her 54th birthday with a flurry of messages from her fans and colleagues. To celebrate their enduring friendship, the actor, 48, wrote a piece filled with expletives for his friend. Friend zone to hit zone In the lengthy birthday message, the actor uses adult language to chronicle his friendship with his industry colleague and what it could have been like if they had made different choices. The birthday message to Kate Henshaw may have been posted on Saturday, but by Monday, the actors bold, expletivelaced note is still sparking heated conversations online. What began as a tribute to his longtime colleague and friend has morphed into a viral debate about boundaries, nostalgia, and respect, with fans and fellow actors weighing in on whether the message was affectionate banter or a step too far. Fuck you, on behalf of my 23-year-old self, for treating me like your baby brother when you knew all that time I wanted to hit that. You kept manipulating my black ass by always looking out for me. Giving me a heads up at auditions. Sometimes, slipping a couple of bucks into my hands to ensure I got a meal or transport fare back to my cousins, the father of one wrote. According to him, every time he stared at Ms Henshaws dancing, beautiful eyes, he had imaginations far from friendly. Our love child would have been in their mid twenties now if you had let me experiment with my seed just a couple of times. What a gorgeous human we would have made together, he wrote. Continuing, Iyke detailed how he finally had intimate knowledge of Ms Henshaw, but it was too late. He said that when she finally let him hit it, a term for having sexual intercourse, he was at the apex of his singular wildness and restlessness. You knew I had a great heart, but I was just crazy and dumb. I was overwhelmed with fame and too many voices in my ears, pointing me in the wrong direction. You stopped looking out for me. Took everything I did literally, then ran off and married that Oyibo. Ill keep it a buck and say I didnt think much of it. But a gorgeous, lovely baby came from that union. It did end in praise. I was so proud, the actor wrote. More insidious messages Continuing in his birthday greeting, which reads more like a tirade, Iyke went ahead to deliver a message on behalf of the young girls killing themselves and doing way too much, trying to figure out how to keep up with her. Youve caused hysteria, depression, anxiety, admiration, love, hate; a spectrum of human sentiments! Poor darlings have had to bbl it, snatch it, tuck it, tie it, girdle it, needle it, botox it, pound it, laser it, sew it, bleach it, even voodoo that shit to no avail. Nature, commitment and sacrifice didnt create it. It cant be manufactured. Its a Kate Henshaw world. Reactions Although he tried to pass off his message as a peculiar trait of Nigerians known for insulting those they love, many did not buy it. This is despite the celebrants lighthearted disposition to the greetings. JIMBO, you already know, the journey to today, decades, we trekked, we hustled, we put in the work and STILL do.. Ill get you whether we see each other every day or every decade. Thank you for always toning down your madness for me. I love you, Jimbo, she wrote. However, actor Gideon Okeke did not have any of it. Describing Iykes message as a product of narcissistic effrontery, Its the narcissistic effrontery for me such a bonehead. I wonder who puts these people in check. Its this kinda rubbish behaviour that people condone, that gives other people the balls to be the actual pricks that they are in real life small Boy. Talk anyhow in public, he wrote on Instagram. Others suggest that the actor is only stirring controversy to draw attention to his soon-to-be-premiered movie, Sin. Reactions This controversial birthday post by Jim Iyke to Kate Henshaw on her birthday was intentional. A few weeks ago, Jim was in PH for some PR stunts ahead of the premier of his movie set for launch on the 24th of July on Amazon Prime. This post was intended to stir controversies pic.twitter.com/V9tAjGxZlm Comrade Phils (@comradephils) July 20, 2025 I can see that some people are already crying about Jim Iykes birthday post to Kate Henshaw. First of all, these guys have been friends for decades. You dont know the dynamics of their friendship. Kate didnt complain to you. Not everything requires your opinion. Mazi Olisaemeka C. (@OlisaOsega) July 20, 2025 jim iyke just practically told us he slept with kate henshaw, we didnt need to know that information at all. Prom Prom (@effizzzyy) July 20, 2025 Please refrain from making condescending remarks about Jim Iykes poetry message to Aunty Kate Henshaw. Back off, it is not for you dear Akunna, the shy gal. The message is a reflection of love, friendship, and beautiful memories. https://t.co/9RnnZY7LgE Nonyerem (@nonskylazz) July 20, 2025 That Jim Iykes birthday wish to Kate is highly disrespectful. I sincerely hope she doesnt find it funny, and no one else should either. It is weird to dismiss such reckless behavior as hes a madman. @Akunna (@oneshygirl_) July 20, 2025 A new assessment by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has exposed disturbing details about the plight of thousands of Nigerian children and young adults locked away in detention facilities across the country. The UN agency said many lack trial, legal representation, or hope for justice. The report, released on Monday, shows a picture of a broken juvenile justice system where children are routinely detained for petty offences, such as homelessness, or simply because no one is advocating for them. The only crime is often being poor or forgotten. This is not justice, UNICEF said. Widespread detention, few convictions The report draws on data collected between 2018 and 2022 and covers 87 adult custodial centres, 22 remand homes, and three borstal institutions. Researchers interviewed 1,279 detained children, young adults, law enforcement and judicial actors. Findings show that a staggering 133,906 children and young adults were in custody during the five-year period, 92 per cent of them held in adult custodial centres. Only 26 per cent had been convicted; the majority were awaiting trial or even basic reports on their cases. The problem, UNICEF said, is systemic. About 68 per cent of detainees did not have access to legal representation. Many had never appeared before a judge, and over 64 per cent said their trials were delayed due to missing case files, lack of witnesses, or the inability to pay bail. Petty crimes Despite the scale of detention, most of the offences were minor. In 17 states surveyed, 47 per cent of children in remand homes were detained for stealing or theft. Others were locked up for offences like wandering, trespassing, or being deemed beyond parental control. In some cases, children were detained for protection, rather than prosecution. The report also highlighted the troubling socioeconomic patterns among detainees. Many come from polygamous or large households, with limited parental education. Only 15 per cent had a parent with a university degree. Some respondents were as young as 11, and 1.7 per cent of those in adult custodial centres were under 16. Physical abuse The conditions in detention facilities, especially adult centres, were described as devastating. According to the report, cells were overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and lacked clean water and basic sanitation. Children often had to provide their own bedding and toiletries. Beyond environmental degradation, many detainees also reported abuse. Over 83 per cent had suffered physical abuse such as beating and slapping. More than half of the respondents said they had been tortured, but only 11 per cent reported it, mostly due to fear or the absence of complaint mechanisms. Sexual abuse and psychological trauma were also documented. Though 80 per cent of detainees said they had access to health personnel, 62 per cent complained the care was inadequate. Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and hopelessness were widespread. Legal aid The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), set up to assist indigent defendants, was found to be overstretched and under-resourced. Just 12 per cent of detained children surveyed had LACON representation, with another 12 per cent relying on Ministry of Justice officials. Also, the report indicates that only 0.7 per cent received support from NGOs. Oversight institutions like the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) were also found wanting. While most had visited correctional centres, fewer than half did so regularly, and over 70 per cent rated detention conditions for children as inadequate. Call to action UNICEF has called on Nigerian authorities to fully implement the Child Rights Act, which limits the detention of children to a last resort. The organisation also recommends diversion programmes, better infrastructure, and improved access to healthcare, education, and vocational training. They also urge better classification of detainees by age and offence, engagement of mental health professionals, and stronger justice sector data systems. Every child deserves safety, dignity, and justice. Nigeria must invest in alternatives to detention, ensure legal aid, and enforce the Child Rights Act in every state. A cell is no place for a child. #EndChildDetention #JusticeForChildren, it said. What is the child right act? The Child Rights Act (CRA) in Nigeria was enacted in 2003 to safeguard the rights and welfare of children, aligning with international standards like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It defines a child as anyone under 18 and aims to ensure their survival, development, and participation in society. The Act covers various aspects of a childs life, including the right to education, healthcare, and protection from abuse and exploitation. Despite the passage of the Act, not every child gets such rights in Nigeria. Nigeria and South Africa are Africas largest economies, and their development significantly impacts their regions and the continent as a whole. Updated forecasts by the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reveal the varying impact of the informal sector on both economies and their regions. South Africas informal sector accounts for 17 per cent of its labour force, significantly lower than Nigeria at 68 per cent and Africas average of 58 per cent. Our analysis shows how context-specific approaches to informality could contribute to inclusive economic growth and reduce unemployment. Compared to West Africa, Southern Africas development has been lacklustre when unemployment is used as a yardstick. According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) data, Southern Africa had the highest unemployment rate globally at 33.2 per cent in 2024. Eswatini, South Africa and Botswana rank first, second and fifth in the world regarding unemployment rates. With its poor-quality education and limited entrepreneurship, South Africas employment is particularly low, and inequality is exceptionally high. The Southern African region fares the worst globally on both unemployment and inequality. West Africa does better than other African regions in terms of employment, mainly because the ILOs employment definition includes people active in the informal sector, where livelihoods are fragile and uncertain. The ILO estimates unemployment in West Africa at just 2.9 per cent, whereas Central, East and North Africa have rates that are more than three times higher. The reason for West Africas low unemployment figures is that the region has one of the largest informal sectors in Africa. Southern Africa, by comparison, has a relatively smaller informal sector, which provides less of a cushion against unemployment than in other parts of the continent. The regions low employment levels are also linked to generally high levels of inequality. Southern Africas smaller informal sector is rooted in its historically extractive policies based on minerals and cheap labour. Also, countries in the region only recently transitioned to majority rule (South Africa was the latest, in 1994). With ruling parties heavily infused with socialist ideological models from several decades ago, governments offer little room for self-help and are often hostile to the private sector, most evident in Zimbabwe. As a result, economic emancipation has not yet taken place. Governments promise to provide for their citizens, but rarely do. Economic ideology is compounded by the centralised, monopoly structure of the South African economy, in particular. Big farming, retail and manufacturing limit informal and small business opportunities. As a result, organisations as diverse as South Africas Competition Commission, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have called for unlocking the potential of small businesses and entrepreneurship. AFI-ISS modelling shows that while development is generally associated with a gradual reduction in the informal sector both as a share of gross domestic product and regarding labour force participation South Africa is likely to experience an increase. This is primarily driven by the business-as-usual forecast of slow economic growth over the next decade, averaging 2.4 per cent. At low levels of development, the informal sector is generally much less productive than the formal sector, but the gap typically reduces as countries move up the income ladder. At higher levels of development, a large informal sector often reflects a determined effort to avoid regulation compared with being survival-oriented in countries with low levels of development. So, in some high-income countries, informal sector productivity could be similar to that in the formal sector. For example, in Russia, Italy, and Greece, where the illicit economy is large, informal sector productivity likely resembles that of the formal sector. Irrespective of the level of development, a large informal sector is costly for society and constrains sustainable development. Informal sector workers do not pay personal or company tax, but still require infrastructure and government services. However, this drag is somewhat balanced by the informal sectors absorption of people who would otherwise not earn any income. The ILO data on unemployment in Africa is therefore quite misleading without appropriate context. That is revealed in Afrobarometers 2021-2022 survey across 39 countries, in which many more youth aged 18 to 35 said unemployment should be their governments leading policy priority. This presents a counterintuitive but important insight: while informality is typically associated with poor working conditions, South Africa and Nigeria face opposite challenges in this regard. For South Africa, the formal sector is capital-intensive and not job-rich. It creates limited work opportunities, while the informal sector is too small to absorb the countrys large unemployed population. South Africa needs to allow an expansion of its informal sector as one of a host of measures to serve as a crucial safety net and offer some form of livelihood in the short term. In Nigeria, the informal sector is extremely large, hiding widespread underemployment and low productivity. Its size results from a complex combination of economic, institutional and structural factors. Although unemployment rates appear low, most jobs are precarious and unregistered. This weakens the states ability to collect taxes, regulate economic activity and provide quality services. The country has some of the lowest tax-to-GDP rates globally, with a large portion of its taxes not collected due to low government efficiency and corruption. As a result, Nigeria needs a determined effort to move large portions of its informal sector into the formal sector. This gradual process for example, through digital tax platforms and national ID systems is not easy for any government, and is particularly challenging given low levels of trust in government in Nigeria. Countries like Rwanda have pioneered digital business registration and simplified tax regimes to draw informal workers into the formal economy, possibly offering useful lessons. Should these divergent approaches, and other measures to enable rapid and inclusive growth, succeed, the South African economy could be 60 per cent larger in two decades, and that of Nigeria, 50 per cent larger. Realising this potential prosperity depends on context-specific, possibly uncomfortable approaches to human capital development, taxation and state-citizen trust. The informal sector is no peripheral issue; it is central to questions of state capacity, inclusion and the future of work. How governments respond and whether they can harness informality as a bridge rather than a barrier is crucial to building economic resilience. Jakkie Cilliers, Head, African Futures and Innovation, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, rejected former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bellos request for the release of his passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical care. Trial judge Emeka Nwite, who oversees Mr Bellos N80 billion money laundering trial, ruled that the former governor failed to present sufficient materials to justify his request. The ruling came just days after the FCT High Court in Abuja, where Mr Bello is also facing prosecution on N110 billion corruption charges, rejected the same application brought by the former governor. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Mr Bello in both courts, opposed the applications during the separate hearings. EFCC argued, among other grounds, that Mr Bello was flight risk, citing his attitude repeatedly snubbing a series of court summonses to appear for arraignment before he eventually surrendered months after. The passport was seized from him as part of the bail conditions granted him following his arraignment last year. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former governor had applied for the release of his travel document to enable him travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical attention. Mr Bellos counsel, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had argued that the applicant was a known hypertensive patient for about 15 years. Mr Daudu submitted two exhibits, which he argued constituted an expert report on the health status of Mr Bello. But EFCCs prosecution team, led by Kemi Pinheiro, a SAN, argued that the application was an abuse of court process. Mr Pinheiro urged the court to dismiss MrBellos application, arguing that the prayers were similar to the application before FCT High Court, and that the motion was technically incompetent as the sureties to the defendant were not informed. Ruling on Monday, Mr Nwite held that Exhibit B, which was the medical report credited to a doctor as the maker, was not signed, and as such, lacked any legal efficacy. He emphasised that an unsigned document carried no weight in law and is considered worthless. In other words, Exhibit B is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by the court. The defendant has failed to place sufficient material before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel. Consequently, this application is hereby refused, Mr Nwite ruled. Although the judge ultimately ruled against Mr Bello, he agreed with the defence team that the application was not an abuse of court process as suggested by the EFCC. On the issue of suretyship, the judge held that the matter before the court was Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Yahaya Bello, and not versus the sureties. The judge therefore aligned with Mr Daudus argument that the sureties ought not to be included in the application. The counsel to the complainant did not cite any section of the law that says sureties should be given notice or made a party in the motion on notice. The counsel did not cite any law, whether locally or internationally, to back his argument. On the abuse of process of court, it is the argument of the complainant that the instant application is incompetent and amounts to abuse of court process. It is not in dispute that the applicant is standing trial before this court and FCT High Court and it is not in dispute that the applicant was granted bail in this court on 13 December 2024 and at FCT High Court on 19 December 2024. The FCT High Court, in its ruling, said that the applicant must seek the leave of the court. Hence, this instant application does not amount to abuse of court process. It is also the fact that this court and the FCT High Court are courts of coordinate jurisdiction, the judge stated. The judge fixed 7 and 10 October, as well as 10 and 11 November for continuation of trial. Earlier rejection The FCT High Court in Abuja, where Mr Bello is being prosecuted on N110 billion fraud charges, rejected on Thursday, Mr Bellos foreign trip application. Rejecting the application, the judge, Maryanne Anenih, ruled that Mr Bellos passport was not in the courts custody. She said the court could not give what it did not have, therefore the application is void, not just premature but preemptive. There is nothing to indicate that his international passport is before this court. It is not before this court nor the registrar of the court, she ruled. Ms Anenih also noted that the court could have considered the submissions of the lawyers if the passport had been before the FCT High Court. She held that the application was rendered incompetent by the passport not being in the courts possession. The judge said that the application submitted by Mr Bello was misleading in its assumption that his passport was before the FCT High Court. She noted that it was needless to issue an order for the release of the passport since Mr Bello swore to an affidavit confirming that the passport was submitted at the Federal High Court as part of his bail conditions in the separate trial. The simple logic is that the passport cannot be with two different courts at the same time, Mrs Anenih said. Since the defendant admitted depositing same with the Federal High Court, there is no reason making any order here in regard to the application. Courts do not make orders in vain. This is not Mr Bellos first time receiving an unfavourable ruling since his arraignment before the court in November last year. In December 2024, about two weeks after his arraignment, Ms Anenih initially rejected Mr Bellos bail application and remanded him in the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. However, the court granted bail to Mr Bellos co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu. She held in her ruling that Mr Bellos bail application was incompetent having been filed as of when he was neither in custody nor his case before the court. While Mr Bellos bail application was filed on 22 November, he was only arrested by the EFCC on 26 November and arraigned before the court on 27 November. The EFCC only successfully arraigned him after failed attempts to arrest him, and a series of snubbed court summonses issued for his appearance in both the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court. About nine days after her initial rejection ruling, trial judge Anenih granted the new bail application filed by Mr Bello. Earlier this month, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted permission to Ali Bello, the accused nephew of Mr Bello to travel abroad for medical reasons. READ ALSO: Court orders temporal forfeiture of N1bn allegedly diverted by Ebonyi official Mr Bello, who is the Chief of Staff to the incumbent Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, has been facing prosecution before the court since 2022 on N3 billion fraud charges. The charges stemmed from his activities during the former Governor Bellos administration. Judge Obiora Egwuatu granted foreign trip permission to both Ali Bello, the first defendant, and Yakubu Adabenege, the third defendant. But while Mr Bello was granted permission to travel to the United Kingdom for medical reasons, Mr Adabenege got the courts approval to travel for religious purposes. Mr Adabenege had sought the courts permission to travel for Hajj in Saudi Arabia between 28 July and 27 August. (NAN) An air force jet crash in Bangladesh has led to the death of 19 people and left over a 100 others injured. The jet, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft, crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, an academic institution in Dhaka, the capital city, on Monday. The crash affected both adults and children. Footage of the scene shows a huge fire and a thick plume of smoke. According to the BBC, images from the scene also show dozens of emergency service workers sifting through the charred debris in search of survivors. Firefighters can be seen carrying a body away from the wreckage, while bystanders watch from a distance. More than 50 people, including children and adults, have been hospitalised with burns, according to a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. The Bangladeshi military confirmed the crash in a statement, revealing that a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft went down in Uttara after taking off at 8 a.m. local time (0706 GMT). The fire service said on social media that it had deployed nine units and six ambulances to the scene. READ ALSO: Another aircraft crash in India kills seven PREMIUM TIMES reports that Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladeshs interim government, said the authorities would take necessary steps to investigate the cause of the incident and provide all forms of assistance. This is a moment of deep sorrow for the nation. I wish the injured a speedy recovery and instruct all authorities, including the hospitals concerned, to deal with the situation with utmost importance, he said in a post on X. Bangladesh has declared Tuesday a national day of mourning, with the national flag to be flown at half-mast across the country. State-owned Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTLC) and Kenyas ICT Authority (ICTA) have implemented and launched a new terrestrial fibre link connecting Dar-Es-Salaam to Mombasa. For Tanzania which has international connectivity via three subsea cables in Dar es Salaam the new link provides the country with an alternate terrestrial route that provides extra resiliency by giving it e to Kenyas eight subsea cable links. This route ensures Tanzania remains digitally connected even in the event of issues with our marine landing stations in Dar es Salaam, said Jerry William Silaa, Tanzanias Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, in a statement during a launch ceremony on Friday at the Lunga Lunga/Horohoro border area. According to Tanzanias Daily News, Silaa also said that Tanzania is now digitally linked with six countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Mozambique, and that plans are underway to extend its national fibre network to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Meanwhile, a statement from Kenyas Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE) said the new link will boost digital connectivity across the East Africa region. At the launch ceremony, MICDE cabinet secretary William Kabogo Gitau said the fibre link will also boost cross-border trade, spur regional e-commerce and help bridge the digital divide beyond borders. Kabogo added that regional collaboration is instrumental for strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks that will govern the digital space and secure networks in both countries. The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has approved the demotion of a court registrar, Adamu Salisu, for forgery and falsification of affidavits of service. This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson for the Kano State judiciary, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim in Kano. He said that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the commissions 84th meeting held on Friday. Mr Jibo-Ibrahim said after deliberations, the commission demoted Mr Salisu from Grade Level 13 to Grade Level 12 and removed him from his position as registrar in charge of High Court No. 13. He was also issued a strong warning to desist from any further unethical conduct or influencing others to commit similar acts, failing which stricter sanctions including criminal prosecution will be taken against him, he added. The action, he said, was taken in line with the JSCs mandate to uphold integrity and discipline within the judicial arm of government. Salisu forged the signature of a bailiff and unlawfully signed documents as a Commissioner for Oaths. He admitted guilt and was found liable for gross misconduct, he said. He also said that Mr Yusuf Ayuba, a clerical assistant attached to High Court No. 8, Miller Road, was investigated by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC) and found to have absented himself from his duty post without justification for four months. READ ALSO: Court stops Aliyu from parading himself as Zamfara Assembly Speaker The commission demoted him from Grade Level 5 to Grade Level 4 as punishment for gross misconduct, Mr Jibo-brahim stated. He added that the sanctions were intended to serve as a deterrent to other staff and curb absenteeism within the judiciary staff. The commission reiterates its non- tolerance policy on misconduct and reaffirms its commitment to enforcing discipline, accountability and professional ethics across all cadres of the judiciary he said. (NAN) UNICEF has earmarked N1.5 billion in counter-funding to address the escalating malnutrition crisis in Sokoto State. The commitment comes as part of a high-level intervention by UNICEF, the European Union (EU), Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), and the Nigerian government, all advocating for urgent action and increased financial support to avert a worsening humanitarian situation. The intervention was disclosed during a visit to Governor Ahmed Aliyu by a delegation led by Nantewa Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The mission aims to galvanise support for tackling Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Sokoto, which has reached critical levels according to the latest Nutrition SMART survey. Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF Country Representative, acknowledged Sokotos commitment to combating the crisis during the courtesy visit, noting the states own allocation of N500 million. She emphasised the need for adopting local, sustainable strategies to address the nutritional needs of the states most vulnerable. Gautier Mignot, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, also commended Sokotos efforts and reiterated the EUs resolve to support vulnerable children, especially those facing life-threatening malnutrition. Mr Yilwatda, speaking during the visit, recalled his own childhood experience as an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), stressing the close link between malnutrition and insecurity. There can be no food security without peace, he said, urging the state to leverage its vast agricultural production to combat hunger. Mr Yilwatda lauded the collaboration between the state and humanitarian partners and emphasised the need for durable solutions rooted in local capacity. Responding, Governor Aliyu expressed appreciation to the development partners, particularly acknowledging UNICEFs substantial pledge, and vowed sustained political will to end malnutrition in Sokoto. The delegation also visited the Sokoto State Specialist Hospital, where they witnessed firsthand the severe toll SAM is taking on children and health workers. Stabilisation units supported by UNICEF and MSF are now overstretched, and fears are growing that the upcoming hunger season will worsen the situation. Health officials have warned that supplies of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)an essential treatment for malnourished childrenmay run out by September 2025. They called for the expansion of stabilisation centres, the establishment of new centres in rural areas, and the immediate clearance of over 30 containers of RUTF currently stuck at Nigerian ports. In response, the minister directed UNICEF and partners to submit a detailed report on the bottlenecks affecting RUTF importation. She vowed to work with relevant federal agencies to ensure swift resolution. This is no time for bureaucracy. We must act fast to save lives, Mr Yilwatda said. The delegation urged federal government intervention to unlock RUTF supply chains, increased state investment, and the use of local food sources. It also calls for stronger coordination among stakeholders to scale nutrition services and influence lasting policy change. The minister said a follow-up meeting with key agencies and humanitarian groups would be held to ensure the implementation of action plans, building on UNICEFs significant financial backing. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has responded to criticism about its new AI-powered registration portal, which has been plagued by technical issues and complaints from lawyers and businesses. PREMIUM TIMES had on Saturday reported how the new AI-powered registration portal has been plagued by technical issues, causing frustration and challenges for businesses in Nigeria. Lawyers who act as registration agents told this newspaper that the portal has been inaccessible for weeks, with customers unable to perform critical tasks, including the inability to conduct name searches, register business names, file post-incorporation documents, and submit annual returns. The situation, they said, has also raised concerns about the ease of doing business in Nigeria, with potential investors likely to be deterred by the commissions system issues. They expressed frustration with the commissions handling of the situation, citing a lack of transparency and communication about the issues and the timeline for resolution, speculating that the commissions actions may frustrate the system and justify the proposed fee hike scheduled to take effect in August. In a statement by its management on Sunday, CAC attributed some of the issues to glitches experienced by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal. The commission emphasised its commitment to delivering quality service and highlighted the measures it has taken to improve the portals performance. The CAC explained that it had explored an alternative technology solution to verify the myriad of data submitted along with applications due to the NIMC portal glitches. Additionally, the commission said it has forwarded a request for additional payment gateways to the appropriate authority to ensure real-time payments without obstacles. It is imperative to note that the commission has a collaboration/ integration on its portal with other stakeholders for the payment of services like remita and stamp duty payments, the statement said. In accordance with provisions of Data Protection Act, 2023, according to the commission, its newly deployed Intelligent Companies Registration Portal (ICRP), introduced additional security checks to amongst others prevent users from surrendering their access to third parties or operating multiple suspicious accounts. The ICRP it said requires that for each transaction with the CAC a One Time Passcode, OTP must be generated, and it goes straight to the email or phone number of the original account holder. The commission further emphasised that the new system is cost-effective, as customers no longer lose money on checking availability, adding that the innovation has ensured that customers only proceed to payment after securing the name. It noted that the ICRP has so far been speedily responding to applications as it now treats over 11,000 cases per day. Interestingly as of Friday 16 July, 8,000 name reservation requests were received and processed. This is no doubt a feat that hitherto requires a minimum of 2 weeks to complete. Worthy of note is that the commission receives a minimum of 3000 emails necessitating her automation to deliver quality service to its esteemed customers, CAC said. The commission said it is not unmindful of the fact that transition comes with challenges. With valuable feedback from stakeholders, we are sure of delivering a better-quality service. The CAC therefore wishes to state its unalloyed commitment to soon make the portal perform optimally as a champion of service delivery to the commendation of customers and stakeholders. The CAC had continuously pursued reforms that are customer-centric by emplacing processes and frameworks that would stand the test of time in service delivery, the statement said. Key concerns not addressed CAC, in its statement, failed to adequately address the concerns of users raised in PREMIUM TIMES report, with complaints continuing to mount. Speaking to this newspaper on Sunday evening, an Abuja-based lawyer, Yomi Ogunsanya, said the rejoinder is very watery, and failed to address key issues, like proposed increase due by 1 August, no timeline as to when it will be concluded and become optimal, failed payments, expired availabilities etc. Reacting to the CAC statement on X, an X user, S.O Umar said: The portal has not been working. Payments are not validating and previous work is inaccessible. Approval has been inconsistent and you are planning to increase the price by next month with this headache of a thing. You should test-run it properly before introducing the public. An X user, Eromosele Ighagbon, wrote: In your response, you did talk about payment made and duly confirmed and receipted by remita but not recognised by your portal. This may eventually lead to loss of funds and reputation damage to accredited agents. No mention was made of your inefficient help desk. Another X user, Henry Imahigbe, said: To download documents already processed is impossible with the new I-CRP. Each time I want to download it brings the 404 error message. And 7 days of grace to download is almost gone. Kindly address that aspect. A lawyer, Oge Obasi, said The post incorporation portal was inaccessible for close to 2 weeks after the ICRP was launched making filing impossible. When it became accessible, users are being slammed with queries to pay penalties for late filing, caused by the inaccessible portal. This is really unfair. An X user, HanifWali, said: This rejoinder is vague and verbose. It doesnt address the issues faced by legal practitioners. The issues are still unattended to. Toornie, an X user, wrote You havent answered the many questions that were raised. Sometimes, its better to keep quiet than reacting in a grossly dumb way. Payments not reflecting. Approval not granted. Denials without reasons. To mention a few. People are going through it with your platform. A security expert, Bright Echefu, has attributed the influx of terrorists into Nigeria to a prison break in Niger Republic, which led to the escape of several jihadist inmates from the facility. Mr Echefu, president and managing director of EIB Group, a Nigerian firm that manufactures advanced security equipment like drones and bombs, revealed that many of the escapees have migrated into Nigeria, adding more pressure on the countrys security forces. He disclosed this during a media tour of EIB Groups subsidiaries in Abuja on Friday, where he highlighted the silent but significant efforts of the Nigerian military in combating terrorism across the country. You wont believe the amount of successes that has been recorded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, but you know, they are very quiet about their things. If you look, if only you can go deep into finding out, if I tell you how many have been neutralised, youll be shocked. You will be shocked by the numbers. And again, you know, recently there was a jailbreak in the Niger Republic and a lot of elements from that side also have migrated into Nigeria, he said. On 10 July, several prisoners escaped from the Koutoukale prison, a heavily fortified correctional facility near Niamey, the Nigerien capital. The prison is known for holding jihadist fighters, including members of extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. In response to the breakout, Nigerien authorities imposed a curfew in surrounding volatile regions. Despite the measure, many of the fugitives are believed to have crossed the border into Nigeria, further complicating regional security challenges. Niger, alongside neighbouring countries Mali and Burkina Faso, all currently under military regimes have been grappling with increasing jihadist violence. The three nations recently severed military ties with France and have increasingly turned to Russia for support in fighting terrorism. The conflict has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced over three million people across the region. In response to the prison break, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Wednesday issued an alert to its border commands, particularly those along the NigeriaNiger Republic axis, over the possible infiltration of suspected terrorists who escaped from jail. As of now, there has been no official report confirming the arrest of any of the fleeing inmates. Nigerias silent war on terror Mr Echefu commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their resilience, stating that despite suffering considerable losses, they have recorded significant victories in neutralising terrorists, most of which go unreported. So you can understand that the pressure on the Armed Forces of Nigeria is quite heavy, but they are doing extremely very very well, extremely very well. Weve lost a lot of soldiers trying to save the country, do you understand? So a lot has gone into it. They are doing a lot, a whole lot. Im speaking from my experience, he said. Role of EIB Group The EIB Group plays a critical role in Nigerias anti-insurgency strategy by providing the military with sophisticated weapons and surveillance tools. The company designs and deploys combat drones from its Abuja facility to targeted locations in any parts of the country. Mr Echefu noted that the companys technology allows for precise targeting of insurgents, a situation that is capable of minimising collateral damage. So depending on what area of security Im talking about. Now, these elements we are referring to as threats have been there for a very long time. They are within us. Some of them are like living communities. You cant just go to a community and destroy everybody there because of one person. So what weve done or what is happening is that there are isolated peaks, isolated targets.You understand my point? And that process is an ongoing process compared to what it was in 2000 and lets say 2010, 2008, during the major Boko Haram activities. A lot has improved right now. Its just unfortunate that the military does not publicise what successes theyve recorded, he said. Deji Adeleke, a billionaire business magnate and chief executive officer of Pacific Holdings Limited, on Sunday announced the completion of his 1,250 megawatts power plant. He explained that the project is awaiting gas grid connection to start generating power. Speaking on Sunday in Ede, Osun State, at the 11th undergraduate and 7th postgraduate convocation ceremonies of Adeleke University, Mr Adeleke said the power plant, located at Ajebamidele, Ondo State will employ over 2,000 engineers and other associated workers. The power plant is ready, I am only waiting to be connected to the gas grid to start generating power. That plant will employ over 2,000 engineers and other associated workers, Punch newspaper quoted Mr Adeleke as saying. He emphasised the significance of the power plant, noting that it would have been impossible to build it without necessary partnerships, including with GE for turbine supply. Imagine if not because of my relationship, we are not able to get GE to supply the turbine to us, that means that the powerplant will not be built. That means the jobs will not be there. Nobody wants to come to a society where votes do not count, where the electorate do not have a say, he said. Nigeria, with a potential electricity generation capacity of over 12,000MW, struggles to dispatch less than 5,000MW, leaving over 200 million people grappling with inadequate power supply. The situation prompted Mr Adeleke to take action and contribute to the existing power generation by constructing the power plant which cost $2 billion. In July 2023, at Adeleke Universitys 9th graduation ceremony, Mr Adeleke emphasised the plants potential to improve local economies and drive development. At the time, he said looters invaded the power plant site to steal components of the turbine machines which cost $5 million and contributed to the delay in delivering the project for one year. Mr Adeleke also spoke about the importance of credible elections in attracting foreign investment. If we all insist on a free, fair and credible election other countries will respect us. Then we have an environment that can attract direct foreign investment that will create the jobs that we do badly need. Some of them who graduated four years ago, some of them are still on the street looking for jobs because nobody is investing. We do not understand that the way we conduct ourselves during our elections affects the ability of this country to attract foreign investors, he added. The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, in Bayelsa State, has been shut down by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) for nine days following a face-off between workers and the institutions management over deductions of union dues. Union leaders said the institution would remain shut down until the rector and the Governing Council Chairperson are removed to pave the way for the face-off to be resolved. NASU, on 11 July, shut down the institution over withheld June salary and non-remittance of four months dues paid by the union members. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aggrieved workers locked up the institutions liaison office in Yenagoa, the main campus at Ekowe and the rectors residence in Yenagoa. The polytechnic management released the June salary of NASU members on Thursday but failed to remit outstanding union dues. The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe chapter of NASU vowed that the institution would remain shut down until the check-off dues dispute is resolved. Etebu Ebifiye, the NASU chairperson at the polytechnic, told NAN that managements non-remittance of union dues breached labour laws and threatened industrial harmony. According to him, the non-deduction and remittance of union dues from members salaries was an existential threat to NASU at the polytechnic located on the bank of the River Nun in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. Mr Ebifiye said the rector directed the payment of the withheld salary without remitting check-off dues for June in addition to January, February, March and April 2025 which triggered an industrial action in the institution. He explained that although the rector had called for a truce to end the industrial action, only a reversal of the four months check-off dues and removal of the rector would make the workers shift ground and unlock the institution. We have been occupying the polytechnics liaison office in Yenagoa since 11 July. The rector had tried in vain to use force to disperse us by making a false report that we are vandalising the polytechnics facilities. Armed security men in four vans came to forcefully open the gates, but when they saw no sign of vandalism, they left. We cannot resort to vandalising property left in our care. It is our property and we are poised to protect and not vandalise. We have occupied this place and kept vigil here until the check-off dues are restored, we will go nowhere. The rector has called me, and I told him our stand. We are waiting for him to act, and we will unlock the gates, the labour leader said. Mr Ebifiye noted that NASU members were tacitly denied promotion as their appraisal forms were not endorsed. He said, The rector is not worker-friendly. He has demonstrated that he lacks the capacity to run the institution. What he did is an attempt to kill the union, and we will not succumb to his whims and caprices. We shall ensure that we fight till he is removed from office. He directed all the heads of departments and the deans that NASU members should not be appraised, a decision that affects the career progress of hundreds of our members As long as NASU members are excluded from the promotion, we will make sure that the promotion exercise doesnt hold here, Mr Ebifiye said. Polytechnic management speaks on dispute However, in his reaction, Nimizuo Pereseigha, the spokesperson of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, said the management remains committed to resolving the dispute peacefully through dialogue. He said the NASU leadership has been rebuffing moves by management to discuss and resolve the labour crisis. The management got reports from the workforce that some workers have their union dues remitted to unions they do not belong to. Some workers also got upgraded, for instance, from non-academic to academic cadre, and their union dues still go to NASU, whereas they now belong to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). To resolve this, the management asked the three unions we have here to have their members update their membership status and endorse consent forms. Out of three unions, ASUP, NASU and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), ASUP and SSANIP complied and submitted consent forms to validate their memberships, but NASU refused to comply. Consequently, management deducted union dues for the two unions that regularised the status of their members and for NASU members, 100 per cent of their salaries were paid without deduction of the two per cent union dues, Mr Pereseigha said. On the alleged exclusion of NASU members from promotion, Mr Pereseigha said that while the NASU members were on strike, the members of other unions completed and submitted their performance assessment forms only to turn back to blame the Rector, Lukman Adegoke for a process concluded while they were on strike. Mr Pereseigha said the management, as part of the efforts to resolve the dispute, has asked NASU members to fill and submit their appraisal forms to participate in the promotion exercise but they have yet to respond. The spokesperson said a reconciliation meeting has been scheduled to hold on Sunday evening, to chart a way out of the crisis. Nigerias long-running push for gender-inclusive governance gained renewed momentum on Monday as Womens rights advocates, political stakeholders and government officials gathered to demand swift passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill. The bill is a constitutional amendment aimed at increasing female representation in Nigerias legislatures. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the campaigns convener Osasu Igbinedion-Oguche, announced that the bill secured endorsements from both the Senate and House of Representatives leadership, the Nigerian Governors Forum, the Governors Spouses Forum including unprecedented support across region, religion, and political parties. Mrs Igbinedion-Oguche also disclosed that the campaign has mobilised more than 10 million Nigerians across the 36 states and the FCT, through what she described as the largest bipartisan grassroots coalition focused on a single constitutional reform in the countrys history. This campaign is more than a bill. Its a blueprint. Legislation does not pass by applause, it passes by pressure, precision, and presence, she said. This is not a womens issue. Its a national building imperative, because when countries invest in womens political leadership, they gain stronger economies, safer communities, and more resilient democracies. The bill, known as House Bill 1349, proposes 37 additional Senate seats, 37 in the House of Representatives, and three new seats per state across all 36 state assemblies, exclusively for women. It is expected to reach the floor of the National Assembly for a third reading in October, after which it will be transmitted to state assemblies and the President for assent. Representation is not a favour According to Mrs Igbinedion-Oguche, women currently hold less than five per cent of elective positions at the federal level. She said that such figures undermine the countrys democratic ideals and that deliberate measures are needed to close the gap. She also said the bill is designed to correct a historical injustice and build a stronger democracy. A nation that sidelines its women is negotiating with one hand tied behind its back, she said. We have done the math. The cost implication of passing this bill and adding new seats to accommodate women is less than one per cent of the national budget, and for that one per cent, what we gain is immeasurable: balanced governance, inclusive policies, and a reimagining of what leadership can look like. Also speaking, Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), stressed that the conversation should not be framed around merit, but around equity. Women have never lacked merit. What we have lacked is access, Ms Essiet said. Women will still contest for general seats, but the bill gives us a fighting chance. This is not about charity, its about fairness. She noted that women represent half of the countrys population and must be part of decision-making processes that affect everyone. She added that the bill will not limit women to reserved seats but instead create a more equitable environment that allows them to contest both reserved and general positions. Grassroots inclusion and political will Responding to concerns from journalists about whether the bill reflects the needs of grassroots women, Mrs Igbinedion-Oguche stressed that the campaign was built from the bottom up. We have structures in all 36 states and the FCT, with zonal coordinators engaging directly with market women, farmers, entrepreneurs. This bill is as much for them as it is for women in Abuja. She described recent zonal public hearings across the country six by the Senate and 12 by the House of Representatives as critical steps in embedding the bill within the ongoing constitutional review process. Also responding to concerns that the bill could inflate government costs, Mrs Igbinedion-Oguche clarified that the additional legislative seats would increase the national budget by only one per cent. One per cent is nothing compared to what we lose when women are excluded from governance. We cannot continue to leave half of our brains behind and expect to compete globally. Men backing the bill Joy Akut, Special Assistant on Youth and Women Affairs to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu noted that prominent male figures in Nigerias political leadership have publicly thrown their weight behind the legislation, describing it as both necessary and overdue. Ms Akut added that Mr Kalu, who also chairs the House Constitution Review Committee, is one of the supporters of the bill. She said the inclusion of women in legislative processes is not a favour but a constitutional necessity. We cannot continue to make laws that affect half of our population without their voices at the table. Only a woman can tell you where it hurts and this is about bringing women into the room where decisions are made. Elisha Attai, Regional Director of Civil Society Organisations, ECOWAS, also praised the growing visibility of male allies, saying, Its no longer men supporting women behind closed doors. They are now standing up and showing their faces. The leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, claims that she is unable to pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman. This is despite the fact the Nigerian Constitution does not discriminate against any gender when passing on Nigerian citizenship. The Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their parents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the childs birth. Ms Badenoch, however, said on Sunday that while many Nigerians are taking advantage of the UKs relatively easy citizenship acquisition process, it remains virtually impossible to obtain Nigerian citizenship. While speaking with CNNs Fareed Zakaria during an interview, the 45-year-old British politician said there was a need for the UK to tighten its citizenship and immigration policy. She used her childrens alleged inability to get Nigerian citizenship to illustrate the stark contrast between Nigerias approach and that of the UK. I have that (Nigerian) citizenship by virtue of my parents, but I cant give it to my children because Im a woman, she said. Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquiring British citizenship. We need to stop being naive, she added. Despite being born to Nigerian parents and migrating to the UK at the age of 16, Ms Badenoch has repeatedly criticised the UKs immigration policy, which she says makes it too easy for citizens of Nigeria and other countries to move to the UK. She has consistently called for stricter immigration controls. We are allowing our tolerance to be exploited. That is not right, she said in the CNN interview. Nigerians would not tolerate that. Thats not something that many countries would accept. There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries, she added. Reviewing Claim of Nigerian citizenship Ms Badenochs claim about Nigerias citizenship policy is at best inaccurate. Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution states that any person born outside Nigeria is automatically a citizen of Nigeria if either of their paparents is a Nigerian citizen at the time of the childs birth. This is regardless of whether that parent is the mother or the father. By this, a Nigerian-born mother can pass citizenship to her child, just like a Nigerian-born father can. ALSO READ: Kemi Badenoch proposes 15 years wait for immigrants seeking UK citizenship Ms Badenoch did not provide details of her efforts to get Nigerian passports for her three children. However, based on the constitutional provision, the children could only legally have been denied Nigerian citizenship if she had renounced her Nigerian citizenship before their birth. Ms Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, a Northern Irish bank official and politician. They got married in 2012. The Conservative Party leader said that if her party becomes the UKs ruling party, under her leadership, the UK would prioritise implementing stricter policies on citizenship acquisition and immigration. Its been too easy. It is basically a conveyor belt. We want people who want to come to the UK and be net contributors, not people who will immigrate and then need welfare and social housing. Thats not right because they havent paid into the system, she said. President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, describing him as a symbol of integrity, humility, and dedication to service. The president made the remarks during the eighth day prayer held for the late traditional ruler at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Sunday. The Awujale passed away on Sunday, 13 July, and was interred the following day in accordance with Islamic rites. According to a statement released by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised the late Awujales leadership, noting that he was a pride of the Yoruba race and left behind legacies worthy of emulation. Today marks a significant day in our nations history, particularly in the history of the Yoruba people. Nowhere will you find a better definition of our culture than in the life of the late Awujale, the president said. Mr Tinubu called on Nigerians to honour the late Awujales memory by embracing the values he represented. To honour this great man, we must be more united, bonded in the spirit he left behind, and appreciate his legacy, even in death, he said. He recalled the prayers and support he received from the late king during his tenure as governor of Lagos State and in the run-up to the 2023 election. I came to him for prayers before the election, and he gave me his blessings.I succeeded because of your support and the blessings of the late Awujale. I came to him; he blessed me and said, You will win that election, the president stated. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who also attended the prayer service, commended President Tinubu for his presence. He said it underscored the strong relationship between the president and the late Awujale. Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona was more than a monarch. He lived a full life of 91 years, with 65 years on the throne. His reign brought development not only to Ijebuland but across the Western region and Nigeria as a whole, he said. Other dignitaries in attendance included Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, and former Ogun State Governors Olusegun Osoba and Ibikunle Amosun. The ceremony was marked by prayers and reflections on the late kings life and legacy. Discord over burial persists Mr Tinubus tribute comes amid controversy surrounding the late traditional rulers burial, which was conducted according to Islamic rites. The late Awujale practiced Islam as a religion before his demise. He was also a staunch advocate for the burial of traditional rulers according to their faith rather than the traditional way. In 2020, he pushed for a bill that legally empowers traditional rulers to be installed and buried in accordance with their religious faith. Two years later, in 2022, Governor Abiodun signed the Ogun State Chieftaincy Bill into law. The bill, titled, Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and Traditional Council law of Ogun State, sought to curb fetish practices in the process of installing and burying traditional rulers in the state. The death of the late Awujale was a litmus test for the implementation of the bill, as he was buried according to his faith. However, traditionalists argue that traditional rulers installed through traditional means should be buried according to customary rites. They warn that any diversion from this could undermine Yoruba cultural practices. On Monday, tensions flared during the late Ajuwales burial when Adedire Adetona, the kings eldest son, barred the traditionalists from gaining access to the premises where the king was to be buried. After the incident, videos emerged online showing traditional rulers criticising the practice of burying kings according to Christian or Muslim rites. They called on kingmakers to make future candidates swear to uphold traditional customs and told traditional leaders who would not comply to vacate the throne. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) branch of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) has suspended their three-month long strike after receiving part-payment of their outstanding entitlements. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the association suspended the strike following the intervention of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. The doctors, alongside other employees under the commission, had withdrawn their services three months earlier over unresolved issues, including unpaid salaries, allowances, and poor working conditions. The associations chairman, Okoreaffia Ogbonnaya, confirmed this development on Sunday in a press statement. Three-Month Strike In a follow-up interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Ogbonnaya explained what triggered the strike, the toll it took on healthcare deliveries, and what could happen if the government fails to meet the doctors remaining demands by the end of the year. Mr Ogbonnaya said the doctors embarked on strike after months of unmet demands and deteriorating working conditions, particularly for doctors under the Area Council Service Commission who serve in primary healthcare centres. These doctors, who act as Medical Officers of Health (MOH), oversee clusters of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all Area Councils in the FCT. According to Mr Ogbonnaya, these officers had endured delayed salary payments, non-remittance of pension deductions, and the failure to implement the national minimum wage. The strike action was as a result of poor working conditions, non-remittance of pension deduction, and non-implementation of minimum wage for our members who work at the level of the primary healthcare centres which is administered by the Area councils through a central administration known as the Area council service commission, he explained. Despite several meetings with Area Council chairmen, Mr Ogbonnaya said the authorities remained unyielding. It was not until the intervention of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, that some progress was made, he said. Mr Ogbonnaya explained that the minister had to place a lien on the monthly allocation of the Area Councils from the FCTA in order to pay the doctors directly. Specifically, two months of salaries were paid along with the implementation of the national minimum wage, he said. He, however, said other critical allowances remain outstanding. These include wage awards, COVID-19 hazard allowances, and the backlog of pension deductions that have not been remitted to the appropriate pension administrators. Why the strike lasted for three months Mr Ogbonnaya explained that the prolonged strike was largely due to the lack of cooperation from the Area Council chairmen, who refused to take responsibility for the doctors unmet entitlements. Despite initial engagement and dialogue, there were no meaningful steps taken by the council authorities until the ministers direct intervention. The strike continued until two months of salaries were paid, with the inclusion of minimum wage implementation. Mr Ogbonnaya told PREMIUM TIMES that the strike disrupted healthcare delivery across the primary healthcare system in the FCT. All primary health facilities across the six Area Councils were affected. Services halted during the strike included antenatal care, immunisation, family planning, emergency response, general medical care at the community level, and even community sanitation initiatives, he said. What happens next? Although the strike has been suspended, Mr Ogbonnaya said the doctors are giving the Area Council chairmen until the start of the fourth quarter to clear all outstanding allowances. If this fails, he warned, the union may escalate the action to include doctors in secondary and tertiary facilities. Describing the suspension as an act of patriotism, Mr Ogbonnaya noted that many doctors have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite poor pay and difficult conditions, especially when compared to opportunities abroad. About NAGGMDP NAGGMDP is the largest affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), comprising general medical and dental officers employed across the three tiers of government. While the NMA includes doctors in both public and private sectors, NAGGMDP focuses on those in government service. In the FCT, the association consists of doctors working in federal, FCTA-managed, and Area Council-run facilities, including federal hospitals, secondary health centres, and primary healthcare centres in all six Area Councils. These are grouped into three divisions, Federal, State, and Area Council, and governed by a two-tier council structure: the FCT Officers Council (FCTOC), which oversees administration, and the FCT Expanded Council (FCTeC), which includes representatives from all arms of the union. The Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) has issued a new tariff to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited. MainPower is the electricity company in Enugu State which succeeded Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). Slashing of tariff EERC has now issued an order compelling MainPower to slash the electricity tariff in the South-eastern state. The order with the number: EERC/2025/003 was issued on Saturday and entitled Tariff Order for MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited 2025. The reviewed electricity cost for Band A is brought down from N209/ kWh (per kiloWatt) to N160/kWh. The new tariff would take effect from 1 August 2025, according to the EER. The regulatory commission said its decision was cost reflective, insisting that tariffs must reflect power generation subsidies by the federal government for the benefit of electricity consumers. The EER noted that it issued the order in compliance with the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023 which empowers the commission to regulate the activities of electricity companies in the state. Why we reduced electricity tariff- EER Speaking to reporters in Enugu on Saturday, the Chairperson of the EER, Chijioke Okonkwo, said the reduction in tariff followed the commissions review of MainPowers tariff and licence applications as the new subsidiary company that operates in Enugu State. We reviewed their entire costs, using our Tariff Methodology Regulations 2024, and the supporting Distribution Tariff Model to get an average price of N94. The price is low due to some reasons and including the fact the federal government is subsidising electricity generation cost which comes to a cost of about N45 out of the actual cost of N112 for Enugu State, Mr Okonkwo explained. That was how we came about the average tariff of N94 as cost reflective tariff at our level as a subnational electricity market. The chairperson said that the actual Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) cost of purchase made by Mainpower outside the federal governments subsidised power would trigger automatic tariff adjustment to accommodate the PPA price given that such power would not be subsidised. Breaking this across the various tariff bands means that Band A will be paying N160 while other Bands B, C, D, and E are frozen. Band A at N160 will help MainPower to manage the rate shock, and if the subsidy is removed, the savings will assist them in stabilising the tariff over a defined period of time. Nevertheless, at all times, the tariff will be cost reflective and will not require any state subsidy, he stated. Mr Okonkwo, however, said the new N160 Band A tariff could be difficult to sustain should the federal government remove the generation tariff subsidy currently being enjoyed by electricity consumers throughout the country, as tariffs would most likely rise. But until then, it is only right that Ndi Enugu Band A customers enjoy the reduced tariff effective August 1, 2025, he said. We will begin monitoring compliance Mr Okonkwo also announced that EERC had put in place monitoring and evaluation systems and guidelines to ensure MainPowers compliance with service commitments so that its customers do not pay more for less power. MainPower is obliged to publish daily on its website a rolling seven-day average daily hours of supply on each Bank A feeder no later than 9a.m. of the next day. Where MainPower fails to deliver on the committed level of service on Band A feeder for two consecutive days, MainPower shall report this to the commission within 24 hours, he said. Where MainPower fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder shall be automatically downgraded to the recorded level of supply. The chairperson assured that the commission was committed to working with industry developers, investors and customers to develop access and improve electricity services to Enugu people. This is a win for the establishment, he stated. Background In March 2023, the National Assembly passed 16 constitutional amendment bills, one of which had to do with devolution of powers to allow states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity. In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu assented to the electricity bill, which authorises states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity. The new electricity law repeals the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, signed by the then Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2005. With the new law, states would be able to issue licenses to private investors who can operate mini-grids and power plants, but such state licenses are not to extend to inter-state or transnational distribution of electricity. In the South-east, Enugu State was the first to seek regulatory oversight by enacting the Enugu State Electricity Law, 2023, which established EERC as an agency responsible for the distribution and regulation of power in the state. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission subsequently transferred the regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Enugu State to EER in April 2024. In exercise of regulatory powers, EERC, in October last year, licensed Mainpower Electricity Distribution Limited to replace the EEDC in distributing electricity in Enugu State. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Katsina State chapter, has threatened to strike over a purported federal government circular on salary adjustments for medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria. This was contained in a communique signed by Muhammadu Sani-Abubakar and Yahaya Salisu-Sodangi, the state NMA Chairman and Secretary, respectively and issued to reporters on Sunday in Katsina. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique followed their State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held in the State on Saturday. The NMA Katsina State branch expressed disappointment and unequivocal condemnation over the issue. Its grossly inadequate, misleading and a flagrant violation of the spirit and letter of agreements reached during the collective bargaining process between NMA and the government of Nigeria. We hereby reject national salaries, incomes and wages commissions (NSIWC) circular (SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646) dated 27 June 2025 on review of allowances for medical/dental officers in the Federal public service, It said. The association demands urgent government withdrawal action and fulfilment of all its demands. We cannot guarantee a non-disruption of health services if our demands are not met, the association warned. It expects the government to address their demands as outlined by the National Official Committee (NOC) on 2 July. It also noted that the healthcare sector is on the brink due to unfulfilled promises and poor welfare for doctors. The communique reads in part, NMA condemns the circular purportedly issued to address the consequential adjustment of allowances under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), for medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria. This is with the immense and urgent brain drain experienced across the nation and the debilitating effect of work burnout, our members are exposed to on a daily basis. The government ought to have improved the welfare, remuneration and social services that will boost the morale of the remaining doctors that have sacrificed to serve our dear fatherland. Instead, the silent and unfulfilled promises made by successive governments have pushed the healthcare sector to the brink. The biting economic crisis and reduction in purchasing power have made the income nothing to show for. The NMA noted that its members are dedicated and hardworking, and it is only right for the government to live up to its responsibilities of ensuring a healthier society. READ ALSO: FCT doctors suspend three month strike It further said that with the expiration of the 21-day grace period, they are solidly behind the NOC stance and decisions to embark on strike. We hereby expect that attention will be given to our demands as earlier released by the NOC. We cannot guarantee non-disruption in the health services rendered to the Nigerian people at the expiration of such, the communique stated. (NAN) Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State called for the creation of at least two additional states in the South-east, explaining that the move would help achieve regional balance. Mr Uzodinma, in a post via his X handle on Saturday, said he made the call while speaking in Owerri at the ongoing public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution. Top on my address was the call for the creation of two additional States in the South-east. This, I believe, is a matter of equity and a necessary step towards accelerating development in the region, he wrote. I emphasised the strategic consideration of at least one new state falling within the oil-producing axis to facilitate access to developmental resources and infrastructure. Rotational presidency, state police Mr Uzodinma also proposed that the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria should be integrated into the constitution. For lasting political balance, I proposed that the six geopolitical zones be constitutionally recognised in the zoning of the presidency, replacing the current North-South arrangement. This will foster national inclusion and ease political tensions during presidential elections, he said. The governor also stressed the need to create state police, which he said would help to address localised security threats and better safeguard citizens. I also advocated for a reinstatement of a vital democratic tradition, one practised in our early Republics, whereby any Nigerian born in a state or who has lived there for over 10 years, with good conduct, should be granted indigene status and its attendant benefits, he argued. Background South-east leaders have been demanding an additional state in the region. At present, there are 36 states in Nigeria. While the North-west geo-political zone has seven states, the North-east, North-central, South-south, and South-west have six states each. Only the South-east has five states. Meanwhile, at the moment, Nigerias National Assembly is currently considering bills for the creation of 31 new states in the country. The South-east, like others, has five such bills. Although state creation bills are frequently introduced in the National Assembly, no civilian government has created a new state in Nigeria. The states in the country were all created by different military administrations. Also, the South-east has repeatedly canvassed a rotational presidency to allow the region to produce the countrys president for the first time. Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Igbo-speaking people of the South-east had consistently asked to be allowed to take a shot at the presidency. READ ALSO: Group urges Nigerian governor to join APC After two dominant political parties in the country APC and the PDP failed to zone their presidential tickets to the region, hope was rekindled when Peter Obi emerged as a presidential candidate of the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 poll. However, Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, only came third in the presidential election won by Bola Tinubu of the APC. Although Mr Obi was not only the presidential candidate from the South-east at the time, he was perceived as a stronger candidate through whom the Igbo presidency ambition could be realised. The Plateau State Government has expressed doubts in soldiers deployed to parts of the state and demanded their withdrawal. This follows last weeks killing of 27 farmers in a state that has witnessed the killing of hundreds of people this year, allegedly by armed herders. In its statement, the Plateau government asked that the soldiers be replaced with Mobile Police Squads. The military and the police are federally controlled in Nigeria by the president of the country. The victims of the latest attack in Plateau, including men and women, were killed by gunmen in Bindi-Jebbu of the Tahoss community in Riyom Local Government Area. Reacting to the development through a statement by the special adviser to the governor on peace and security, Chris Kwaja, the government also asked the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, a general, to set up a special board of inquiry to investigate the recurring attacks focusing on the actions and inactions of the military personnel stationed in the areas. The state government also requested that the federal government support subnational initiatives, such as Operation Rainbow, addressing insecurity. This change in approach is necessary to ensure a more effective and responsive security strategy that prioritises fighting against asymmetrical warfare, which the MOPOL is conversant with, Mr Kwaja, a professor, wrote. Investigation of officers The government wondered how the 27 people were killed, despite the proximity of a military checkpoint, noting it made the tragic loss of life even more disturbing. The attack was avoidable, given the early warning signs and intelligence reports that indicated an imminent threat to lives, the government said. Therefore, it called for an investigation of the recurring attacks, focusing on the actions and inactions of the military personnel stationed in the areas. It said it is imperative to investigate the circumstances surrounding these attacks, particularly the claim that the military personnel stationed nearby failed to intervene effectively despite having prior knowledge of the threat. The investigation should aim to provide clarity on the circumstances leading to the tragic loss of life and hold those responsible accountable, with specific focus on command responsibility relating to the conduct of officers of the STF, under whose Areas of Responsibility (AoR) that such dastardly acts continue to occur in the state, the statement said. While we sympathise with the families of those affected, particularly those who lost their loved ones, we are calling on affected communities to remain vigilant at all times and uphold their responsibilities as law-abiding citizens, he said. READ ALSO: Police arraign 22 suspects over killing of wedding travellers in Plateau Support for Operation Rainbow The government also called for support of subnational security initiatives such as Operation Rainbow, a paramilitary organisation established in 2010. The statement noted the effectiveness of such a framework, citing the Civilian Joint Task Forces mobilised and armed under the supervision of the military in the North East to fight Boko Haram insurgents. The people of Nigeria deserve a safe and secure environment, and it is the responsibility of the federal government to guarantee such a right to life, by taking full responsibility to protect, it said. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to appoint ambassadors more than a year after recalling Nigerias 109 envoys from across the world. In a statement on Sunday, the party described the prolonged delay as a diplomatic embarrassment that has significantly weakened Nigerias global standing and left its citizens abroad vulnerable. PREMIUM TIMES reports that in September 2023, President Tinubu recalled all ambassadors, including 41 non-career and 42 career diplomats, without providing any specific reason. Since then, no replacements have been announced, effectively leaving Nigeria without formal high-level representation in several countries. Consuls-general and charges daffaires have been handling diplomatic functions, despite lacking the full authority and access of ambassadors, especially when it comes to high-level negotiations, political representation, and formal diplomatic ceremonies. According to the ADC, this vacuum has had serious and growing consequences, including worsening visa and consular disputes with countries such as the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Junior diplomats or charges daffaires cannot take the place of ambassadors, the opposition party said. They are limited in access and recognition, and their presence cannot command the respect or engagement required to protect Nigerias interests. The ADC also warned that if the Tinubu administration continues to stall on appointments, some host countries might reciprocate by downgrading their diplomatic presence in Nigeria to the level of charge daffaires. The statement also decried the current state of Nigerias foreign missions, describing them as a sorry symbol of a country that no longer takes itself seriously. While countries across the world are busy forming alliances, negotiating trade deals, and securing investment agreements for their nations, Nigeria is not even in the room. The rest of Africa asserts its presence in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, but Nigeria remains stuck in neutral, the party said. The public reaction of the Tinubu administration to the reported United States governments request to Nigeria to receive Venezuelan deportees is a major indication of the administrations diplomatic incompetence, which could have been avoided if we had an ambassador in Washington, the statement read. President Tinubu has not spoken on reasons for delaying the appointment of ambassadors. However, in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said the president has been occupied with economic reforms and other state matters, causing a delay in the appointments. Mr Tuggar, however, confirmed that his ministry forwarded ambassadorial nominations to the president a year ago. The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed the renewed controversy surrounding its ownership of 76 offshore oil wells, maintaining that the Supreme Court decision on the issue is final. In July 2012, the Supreme Court sealed Akwa Iboms ownership of the oil wells, dismissing the Cross River State Governments claims to them. However, recent reports attributed to the Cross River State Government suggested that the issue of ownership of the wells would be reviewed and that a political settlement was in the offing. In its reaction, the Government of Akwa Ibom State is firm that a decision made by the highest court in Nigeria is judgement in rem and cannot neither be appealed nor deliberated further. Addressing the issue on Arise News TV Sunday morning, the State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, urged the public to disregard any circulating claims or rumours, emphasising that the July 2012 Supreme Court ruling remains final and binding. This is a settled matter. The Supreme Court, in July 2012, ruled on this matter and placed a permanent seal on this conversation. That is the highest court of the land. Once the Supreme Court gives a ruling, it is final. This is not a matter we should even talk about. This is a matter that Akwa Ibom State did not even take to court. I mean it is sealed, he argued. Mr Umanah also took the opportunity to spotlight the progress recorded under Governor Umo Enos administration in Akwa Ibom, noting that the ARISE Agenda continues to deliver visible results across various sectors of the state. He highlighted achievements in education, agriculture, rural development, youth empowerment, security, micro, small and medium enterprises, and road infrastructure, noting that the ARISE Agenda is not just a policy, but a real experience for Akwa Ibom people as its impacts are being felt across the nook and crannies of the state. He gave further insight into the tourism sector, where Governor Eno is turning a ravine-ravaged community into a one-stop tourism and hospitality resort, the ARISE PARK in Uyo, the Marine Resort in Oron, the 5,000-seater International Convention Centre, and the Ibom Tropicana Hotel project are among indicators of the plans to make the state a tourism hub. He also harped on the initiatives to sustain the peace enjoyed in the state. The commissioner described Governor Eno, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and two other senators from the states recent visit to President Bola Tinubu as a strategic move to strengthen ties with the federal government and accelerate the states development. He said discussions during the visit focused on securing federal support for critical infrastructure projects in Akwa Ibom, including the Ibom Deep Seaport and other priority initiatives. Background It would be recalled that following discontent over the political solution to the oil wells by then-President Olusegun Obasanjos administration, the Cross Rivers State Government under Liyel Imoke sued the federal government and the Akwa Ibom State Government on grounds that some of the oil wells ceded to her by virtue of the agreement reached at a meeting called by former President Obasanjo in 2006 were not released. Cross River lost its status as a littoral state after the federal government ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008. The seven justices of the court headed by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dahiru Musdapher, in their ruling, submitted that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) was right in attributing the oil wells to Akwa Ibom at the inter-agencies meeting. Before delivering the lead judgement, the court dismissed Cross Rivers application, pointing out that the agreement which initially gave the state the rights to the 76 oil wells was frustrated by the handing over of Bakassi to Cameroon. Olufunmilola Adekeye held that the 13 per cent derivation revenue on the 76 oil wells between Akwa Ibom and Cross River must continue to be attributed to the state that has the maritime territory. Cross River State no longer has any maritime boundary, she said. READ ALSO: ADC criticises Tinubu over delay in ambassadorial appointments It is landlocked. The plaintiff, not being a littoral state and not having a maritime boundary, the 76 oil wells, which are the subject matter of the suit, which lie offshore and within a maritime territory, cannot be attributed to it. The plaintiff has no maritime territory since the cessation of Bakassi Peninsula, and the Cross River estuary, which used to be part of the state prior to August 2008. The present position of the plaintiff cannot be blamed on any government agency, particularly the National Boundary Commission and the RMAFC. The two statutory bodies must perform their statutory duties based on facts and realities to compile the indices for the payment of the derivation revenues to entitled states, she said. The Senate has for the umpteenth time said that there was no subsisting court order mandating it to recall the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, before the expiration of her suspension. Yemi Adaramodu, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Adaramodu said the clarification became necessary following circulating claims by the suspended senator that she intends to resume at the Senate on Tuesday. He said the suspended senator hinged her resolve to resume based on the misinterpretation of recent judgment delivered by Binta Nyako, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Mr Adaramodu said the Senate had, through his office, issued two public statements following the judgment and the subsequent release of the Certified True Copy of the enrolled order. He said the Senate, in both statements, made it unequivocally clear that the judgement did not contain any positive or mandatory order directing the upper chamber to recall Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan prior to the end of her suspension. He said the court, rather, gave a non-binding advisory urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive. The spokesperson said the court, however, explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the senators misconduct during plenary. Furthermore, the court found Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and imposed penalties, including a fine of N5 million payable to the federal government, and a mandatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page. Till date, these directives remain uncomplied with. It is, therefore, surprising and legally untenable that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist. Senate emphasises once more, there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber, Mr Adaramodu said. We advice the distinguished senator to refrain from any attempt to storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext, as doing so would not only be premature but also undermine the dignity of the Senate and violate due process. The senate, as a law-abiding institution, is committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of its proceedings, It will not tolerate the disruption of its proceedings, he said. Mr Adaramodu said Senate would at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending its standing orders, her recall, and communicate same to Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan. Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course, he said. (NAN) Information Technology expert, Hanson Johnson, has announced a N40 million scholarship fund as his 2025 birthday giveaway. Mr Johnson, the chief executive officer of Start Innovation Hub, a tech company based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, announced the scholarship in a post on his Facebook page. Established in 2014, Start Innovation Hub is an innovation and technology incubation company dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, driving innovation, and empowering startups to succeed in the fast-paced digital landscape. In another video, Mr Johnson said he had asked the people what he should do as a birthday giveaway, and that the people overwhelmingly voted for a scholarship and a slash in school fees at his tech centre. His birthday is on Tuesday, 22 July. Its my birthday month, and you asked, so Im delivering. Over 98 per cent of you voted for scholarships and discounts, and I heard you loud and clear. This July, Im thrilled to announce Ill be giving out N40 million in scholarships and discounts of up to N200,000 off service offerings, he said in a post on Facebook last week. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Johnson said he has slashed the school fees for the three main courses in his IT Hub. To celebrate his 2025 birthday, Mr Johnson slashed the school fees for Cybersecurity from N350,000 to N150,000. The same discount for Data Analysis, while Digital Marketing fee is reduced from N250,000 to N50,000. To enroll for the courses, Mr Hanson said he has created a link on the companys website for applicants to register, stressing that the offer is valid within his birthday month, July. Cybersecurity and Data Analysis are six-month courses, while Digital Marketing is three months, he told PREMIUM TIMES. Hurry now, the promo will end this July, said an explainer video posted on Facebook, calling for people to take advantage of the price slash in programmes offered in the tech centre. Speaking further, the IT expert said his company has for the past 11 years been at the forefront of building the capacity of tech talents in the Niger Delta region and connecting the people to meaningful jobs globally in the digital economy. Some of our graduates went ahead and co-founded tech startups, raising up to $2 million in funding. Some of them are now working in the USA, UK, Canada, and Germany, and in most big tech companies in Nigeria. Some of the partners of Start Innovation Hub have worked in several other companies, including PIND Foundation, Google, World Bank, and Meta (Facebook), Mr Johnson said. The tech company has graduated over 4,000 trainees who are now working in private and public corporations within and outside the country. Punch Newspaper last October reported that, in collaboration with Georgid Consulting and Crestsage Limited, the tech company trained 700 people in Digital Marketing, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity. The training was sponsored by the federal government and the World Bank, according to the newspaper. About Mr Johnson Mr Hansons LinkedIn profile indicates that between 2021 and 2023, Mr Johnson served on the board of Innovation Support Network as Ecosystem director, where he was responsible for ecosystem development programmes that kept hub members engaged and made their startups investment-ready. The IT expert has since 2010 contributed to the development of the technology ecosystem in Nigeria as a software engineer, ecosystem builder, manager, and mentor. In April 2018, he was part of the MADE II project as the National ICT Consultant, where he played a crucial role in designing the work plan and delivery model for Edo Innovation Cluster. Mr Johnson previously worked as Nigeria in-country analyst and facilitator consultant for DAI Inc, United Kingdom where he supported the UK-based Digital Access Teams (DFID, FCO, GCS and DCMS) from Government of the UK and the Prosperity Team in the UK High Commission in Nigeria during the Digital Access Programme diagnostic, scoping and engagement work on catalysing digital inclusion in Nigeria. In recognition of his contribution to talent development, the Akwa Ibom State Government, three years ago, honoured him with Akwa Ibom State Productivity Order of Merit Award in ICT. Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate and publisher of SaharaReporters, on Monday confronted a senior police officer during retired police officers protest in Abuja, accusing him of working for an Inspector-General of Police (IGP) he described as illegal. In a video posted to his Facebook page, Mr Sowore was seen interacting with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ahmed Lateef. Mr Lateef challenged Mr Sowore to identify, from footage on his phone, a plain-clothed officer allegedly involved in the theft of his Ray-Ban AI glasses during the protest. The response from the police officer, who introduced himself as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to IGP Kayode Egbetokun, prompted a sharp response from Mr Sowore. I am the PSO to the IGP, Mr Lateef introduced himself. Why are you a PSO to a person who is supposed to have retired? You are doing an illegal duty, Mr Sowore responded. In a separate post, Mr Sowore wrote: Being a Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to an illegal IGP of the Nigeria Police Force is nothing short of participating in an unlawful duty. I made this clear to this senior police officer today at the #PoliceProtest. We did not meet with illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun today, nor could we have. We do not recognise him as the legitimate Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sowore wrote on his Facebook page. Mr Sowore has consistently questioned the legitimacy of Mr Egbetokuns continued tenure, prompting the Nigerian police to file cybercrime charges against him in January. The police charged Mr Sowore with 17 counts of cybercrime offences for referring to the IGP, Mr Egbetokun, as illegal IGP in a post on his social media platforms. Mr Egbetokun, who was expected to have exited service having attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years in September 2024, secured an extended stay in office following a controversial alteration to the Nigeria Police Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu. The alteration allowed Mr Egbetokun to stay in office for up to four years as Nigerias police chief. Mr Sowore denied the cybercrime charges. Protest over police pensions Earlier that day, Mr Sowore led a mass demonstration to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. The protest, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, called for improved welfare and urgent reforms to the pension system for both serving and retired officers. Participants demanded the removal of police personnel from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as a death sentence. Protesters carried placards with messages such as Decent Salaries Now, Pensions for Police Officers, and End Police Slavery. PREMIUM TIMES observed that while the protesters were denied access to the Force Headquarters, they were escorted throughout by uniformed officers from the National Assembly. Mr Sowore claimed that officers assigned to monitor the demonstration appeared sympathetic, with some smiling and nodding in what he described as silent solidarity. He also accused an unidentified plain-clothed officer of stealing his glasses in what he alleged was an attempt to sabotage the protest. The struggle continues, he wrote, vowing that the protest would resume on 1 August. He also mocked the charges, describing them as ridiculous, and pointed out grammatical and typographical errors in the charge sheet including the misspelling of his first name as Omoleye and the misuse of insight instead of incite. These charges prove my point the man is both illegal and incompetent, Mr Sowore wrote on his Facebook page. Before his arraignment, Mr Sowore was detained by police in Abuja after honouring their invitation over a viral video in which he accused officers of extortion at a checkpoint in Ikeja, Lagos. He was held overnight after reportedly refusing stringent and illegal bail conditions imposed after interrogation. I am being held in custody until further notice, Mr Sowore said. The House of Representatives has launched a sweeping probe into the operations of 25 insurance companies over alleged financial infractions and non-remittance of statutory revenues to the federal government. The House Sub-Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, chaired by Kwamoti Laori (PDP, Adamawa State), is conducting the probe. At a hearing on Monday at the National Assembly, Mr Laori disclosed that the exercise was triggered by petitions alleging systemic breaches and non-compliance by the firms, which have collectively cost the federal government hundreds of billions of naira in unremitted funds. Mr Laori explained that each company had been served with details of its alleged liabilities and was expected to confirm or debunk the figures. According to him, the infractions stem from failure to remit revenues derived from compulsory insurance schemes, such as group life insurance for federal workers, and other policies where remittances are meant to be made to the federal purse. In a twist that could stall the investigation, the lawmaker disclosed that 17 affected companies have filed lawsuits challenging the committees summons and investigative powers. According to him, the firms have officially served the House court processes, and it was represented at the hearing by a legal practitioner, Abimbola Kayode. However, he has dismissed the development as a potential ploy to frustrate legislative oversight. Some of the companies ran to court and have served the House with a court process. It is for us and the House to sit down and look at the process. If it in no way goes to the basis of what we are doing here, we would definitely proceed, but if it does, then we have to wait for the decision of the court in respect of that, he stated. The lawmaker criticised the move, describing it as a deliberate attempt to obstruct legislative oversight and further expressing frustration over the attitude of some companies, which sent low-level representatives incapable of responding to the issues raised. He, however, insisted that only the Chief Operating Officers (COOs) of the indicted firms would be allowed to appear before the lawmakers. We have insisted that the Chief Operating Officers appear in person so that they can answer some of the questions. Like you can see, one of the COOs sent somebody who could not answer any of those allegations before the committee, and that is not good, he said. NAICOM under fire Mr Laori did not spare the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), accusing it of sleeping on its regulatory responsibilities. He said the commission is supposed to supervise the companies. If they were doing their job diligently, we wouldnt be sitting here discussing this today, he said. The committee, thereafter, indicated that the probe will continue, and any company found wanting may face sanctions or legislative recommendations for stronger enforcement mechanisms. The broad plan was to use Buharis persona as a bargaining chip with any new coalition of their choice. All those involved in this scheme are politically exposed persons who have used Buharis name in the last 12 years to put food on the table. Buharis death was not in their calculations at all, hence the failed attempt to play some sort of role at his funeral. A choreographed last photo-op would have come in handy in the political rumble-in-the-jungle ahead. President Buhari has gone the way of all mortals. Sai Baba is dead. Long live Mai Gaskiya! May Almighty Allah forgive him, accept his soul and take care of those he left behind. Amen. It had been quite a while since Nigeria experienced the magic of a man of mass following and un-monetised adulation until General Muhammadu Buhari was conscripted to enter the fray. We used to have the Azikiwes, Ahmadu Bellos, Awolowos, Aminu Kanos in the First Republic. But since the return to democracy in 1999, the single most vote-catching name was Muhammadu Buhari. The history of his contribution to governance in Nigeria is already being written, whether we like it or not. It is impossible to miss the attempt by many otherwise insignificant entities to appropriate the Buhari brand as soon as they learnt that he had died. As hunters say in these parts, so many kinds of machetes show up after the death of an elephant. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, an astute political tactician in his own right, has already signalled his intention to contest the presidency through any compliant contraption. Having joined the grand coalition in the ADC and resigned from the PDP, he has set his formidable machine in motion. A couple of his close allies have followed his lead. State Funeral The scramble to fly, drive, crawl or possibly be teleported to Daura, so as to be part of the historic photo-op at Buharis funeral was the number one priority of every notable politician. Eventually, the capacity of the Kaduna Airport was stretched but still many prominent politicians were left out, among them Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who could only access the town to pay his respects on the day after the burial. Watching the elaborate proceedings on television gave one a birds eye view of everything, better than physically attending the event. You could see that the Federal Government had sewn up the official arrangements with the decision to give Buhari a full state burial in which case many of those who wanted to be seen as the inheritors of the Buhari political estate were shut out because they had no role to play. Vice President Shettima, who had been the Federal Governments face in all matters concerning the funeral, even stayed back in Daura after the event. Remember that those who want to be described as members of Buharis political family, as distinguished from other members of the APC, have been struggling of late to distance themselves from the Tinubu administration, with the hope of inheriting Buharis famed 12 million captive votes in Northern Nigeria! 12 Million Votes That calculation must have informed Boss Mustaphas declaration during the launch of Garba Shehus book, According To The President: Lessons From A Presidential Spokesmans Experience, to the effect that Buhari would have won the presidency without the collaboration of Tinubus Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) and others in 2015. That narrative was intended to signal a split between the CPC wing of APC (some of whose members have already joined the ADC coalition) and the rest of the founding parties making up the party. The broad plan was to use Buharis persona as a bargaining chip with any new coalition of their choice. All those involved in this scheme are politically exposed persons who have used Buharis name in the last 12 years to put food on the table. Buharis death was not in their calculations at all, hence the failed attempt to play some sort of role at his funeral. A choreographed last photo-op would have come in handy in the political rumble-in-the-jungle ahead. Now that Buhari is dead and the plan to excise his original CPC group from APC has all but failed since they have had to join ADC as individuals, not as a faction of APC the political orphans have begun to mass around former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Somehow, PDP elements have transferred their political virus to ADC. The political rivalry that tore PDP apart in the last election cycle is back in full force with Atiku, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi angling for the presidential ticket of ADC. Deja vu? Atiku hopes to wear the toga of the anointed Northern candidate, now that Buhari is out of the picture. This is not totally unrealistic, considering how ethnicity and religion come into play in the run-up to elections. The calculation is that voters in the North will vote for an Atiku any day, rather than a Tinubu. Those who subscribe to that calculation also reckon that when push comes to shove, they will find a way to persuade Obi to accept the vice presidential position, so that they can benefit from Obis popularity in the South-East. None of the permutations that have filtered to me on this coalition has Obi as presidential candidate. I think that is absolutely presumptuous! Villagising Buhari Meanwhile, some self-styled Buharists have been busy reinventing their link to Buhari and how they joined hands to form the CPC before the merger that brought forth the APC. One of the loudest of those voices is that of Mr Buba Galadima, who told the story of how he and other northern politicians went to recruit Buhari to join politics in order to checkmate the Oodua Peoples Congress and prevent the Yoruba people from retaking Ilorin from the North. In this world of instant dissemination of information, there was an immediate media backlash in reaction to the revelation. Did Buhari enter politics to pursue an ethnic agenda? If that was true, why would he collaborate with the same Yoruba people to form a party and contest the 2015 presidential election? Or, does this disclosure explain Buharis perceived narrow-mindedness and alleged nepotism while in office? I just hope that all these veteran political schemers regaling us with sensational stories about their relationship with Buhari dont end up villagising the man that the Federal Government has just canonised as a nationalist, Mr Clean and a role model. Netizens list a number of potholes that those involved in the ongoing political resurginmento need to avoid if they must make a dent in the ballot returns. The lizard and the crocodile are different, they say. President Tinubu is not President Jonathan. Unlike Buhari, but like Atiku, Tinubu is a politician without a godfather and is self-financed. He won the 2023 APC primaries, even when the incumbent president didnt assist him. His political machine has made inroads into the South-East and South-South. Between now and 2027, there are still thousands of appointments to be made and it is predictable that those placements will be creatively made with electoral value in mind. Grow Up! To displace APC, the inheritor of the mantle must be a radically different entity. The only way any new party or political contraption can get the attention of Nigerians is to show that it is different in ideas and personnel. People want to know what your alternative to the removal of fuel subsidy is. What is your comprehensive plan for electricity? Where will you get the money for infrastructure? How will you cut down government spending, and by how much, year on year? What are the details of your health, education, restructuring and social service policies and the source of funding itemised programmes? Nobody will accept general manifestoes anymore. Those dragging Buharis name into their political dambe should let the man rest. He is not here to defend himself. Grow up. Answer your fathers name! Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021 Markets may be impersonal. But where they are allowed to function with few lets, they efficiently (better, at least, than all other competing ideological constructs) move resources to where and when economies can best use these. Efficient, though, they may be, the outcomes of markets may not necessarily be equitable. But neither is the distribution of talent and competence in any society. Governments may, therefore, tax and spend to compensate for market failures. In one of those banana republics in South America or was it a petrodollar state in Africa? I am not certain which it was, now. Truth, though is, what does it matter? The story is probably apocryphal, anyway. But one day, according to the one from whom I heard it told at a point-and-kill joint somewhere on Lagos Island, the head of a leading manufacturing company in that country approached that of a top bank to ask that the latter intervene on her companys behalf with the head of the countrys central bank. The penalty for falling foul of the monetary authorities a couple of years back, was that the manufacturer had been kicked out of the official market for foreign exchange. With a large company of external investors, and huge dollar debt service costs, the manufacturer had struggled to source foreign exchange from the higher-priced black market to meet its dividend and debt payout requirements. The plea, through the banker, a friend of the central bank president, was for pardon from the latter. Access to the official markets for foreign exchange would considerably push the manufacturers costs down. When it came, forgiveness was conditional, however, if the last raconteur of this tale is to be believed. The president of the central bank insisted on a commission (in the local currency) for welcoming the manufacturer back to the official market. Given how large the manufacturers annual need for foreign exchange was, the resulting baksheesh was ginormous. And pray tell, how could any of this have become public knowledge? The now excited (and probably inebriated, to start with) storyteller turned beetroot red in the face. Apparently, the windfall was divvied up three ways, instead of four. The central bank president got his share, as did the bank boss and his treasurer. All forgot, however, to share-in the treasurer for the manufacturing company. He it was who turned the story into a tale for speakeasy rumour mills. True or not, the problem with examples such as this in democracies such as ours, is that they take place away from the compliance regimes and requirements for transparent conduct, whose absence undermines good governance. These possibilities have other implications, by the way. The additional local currency paid by the manufacturer to the players in the financial services space is a cost that consumers get to bear if the manufacturer passes it on through higher prices. Absorbed on the manufacturers profit and loss account, it is revenue lost to government (from lower taxes), shareholders (shrunken dividends), and workers (stagnant wages). It is as if a tax were applied to an industry operative by a regulator, and the proceeds transferred to non-governmental individuals. Two threads from previous conversations around how best to fix the Nigerian economy still matter. The economys transition from a model based on the governments provision of goods and services to one based on private sector provision. And regulation of key industry sectors based on the principle of enhancing consumer welfare. Government will still need numbers in sectors like public health, education, internal security, and defence. Almost inevitably, the point is reached where the individuals in these parallel value chains make a pitch for some, if not all, of the powers of the state. The funds available to them, then, require larger performances if their need for conspicuous consumption is to be sated, however, temporarily. This undermining of the popular will is only the most obvious of the failings of systems of governance that entrust decisions on the economys resource allocation in the hands of individuals no matter how well-intended. Yet, the story of much of Asias economic growth is replete with examples of strongmen who undermined the popular will. Where is the catch? The bigger problem is with the extensive damage that episodes like the one with which this piece begins wreck on an economys efficiency. Markets may be impersonal. But where they are allowed to function with few lets, they efficiently (better, at least, than all other competing ideological constructs) move resources to where and when economies can best use these. Efficient, though, they may be, the outcomes of markets may not necessarily be equitable. But neither is the distribution of talent and competence in any society. Governments may, therefore, tax and spend to compensate for market failures. They may also democratise access to quality primary and secondary schooling to equalise whatever opportunities exist in their societies. But they may not support regimes that incentivise corruption and the sub-optimisation of the use of societys scarce resources. In deciding to remove the subsidies on petrol and domestic dollar access, which prevailed before it assumed office, the Tinubu administration appeared to get this logic. Only to fail in its application of the thinking to other spheres of the management of the economy. Two threads from previous conversations around how best to fix the Nigerian economy still matter. The economys transition from a model based on the governments provision of goods and services to one based on private sector provision. And regulation of key industry sectors based on the principle of enhancing consumer welfare. Government will still need numbers in sectors like public health, education, internal security, and defence. In other words, in those spheres where markets fail to deliver optimally. Elsewhere, with markets left to function properly, we could do with a much scaled down public sector presence. Uddin Ifeanyi, journalist manque and retired civil servant, can be reached @IfeanyiUddin. Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed deep appreciation to the people of Katsina State and well-wishers across the nation for their prayers and concern following a recent minor road incident he was involved in along the DauraKatsina road. In a short live video by the Governor yesterday at his residence after undergoing preliminary observations, he stated: Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Dear brothers and sisters of Katsina state and beyond, we are deeply grateful for all your prayers and concern. By the will of Allah, we were tested with a car accidentbut Alhamdulillah, we came out safe and unharmed. The Governor also stated that hes currently under observation regarding his health, just to make sure everything is fine, and by His grace, he is doing well. He further clarified: Im pleased to confirm that I remain in good health and high spirits. Once again, thank you for your heartfelt prayers. Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah, the Governor concluded. Governor Radda was on his way back from Daura to Katsina when the incident occurred, Sunday night. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the remand of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, Jubrin Buba, at the Kuje Correctional Centre after he failed to appear for trial in a certificate forgery case. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said in a statement Monday that it charged Mr Buba with six counts of forgery and making false statements to a public officer. According to the statement by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the defendant allegedly presented in February 2015 a forged Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree certificate in Public Administration purportedly issued by the University of Jos to secure employment with the NSCDC. The allegedly fake certificate was said to be dated 7 October 2009. He is also accused of forging a testimonial dated 25 September 2002, allegedly from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, which he submitted to the NSCDC in September 2006. The ICPC said Mr Bubas actions contravene section 366 of the Penal Code, which prohibits the use of forged documents as genuine. The agency said the offence is punishable under Section 364 of the same code, which prescribes a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment, depending on the nature and intent of the forgery. He is also charged under Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which makes it an offence to knowingly provide false information to a public officer in the course of official duties. The provision is aimed at preventing deception and maintaining the integrity of public service processes. Background Mr Buba was initially arraigned in 2022 before another judge, Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf, at the FCT High Court in Kubwa. After the prosecution called its witnesses, the defendant, through his defence lawyer, James Paul, filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution merely relied on photocopied exhibits. But the judge dismissed the no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him and ordered him to enter his defence. However, following Mr Akanbi-Yusufs elevation to the Court of Appeal, the case was reassigned to Ms Dogonyaro of FCT High Court in Apo for the trial to start afresh. The matter was first slated for re-arraignment on 22 January, but Mr Buba failed to appear in court despite receiving proper notice. His lawyer and surety were also absent. At the request of the ICPCs lawyer, Aniekan Ekong, the court issued a bench warrant for Mr Bubas arrest. It directed the surety to appear and show cause why the bail bond should not be forfeited to the federal government. The matter was adjourned until 4 March for arraignment. Remand order Mr Buba was eventually apprehended and re-arraigned on 26 June. Ms Dogonyaro revoked Mr Bubas earlier bail and ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further hearing. The court subsequently adjourned the matter until 27 and 28 October, for hearing. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State was involved in a car accident on Sunday along the DauraKatsina highway, the state government has announced. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the accident occurred while the governor was on official duty. The statement described the incident as a minor road accident and assured the public that the governor did not sustain any serious injuries. We are pleased to confirm that the Governor is in good health and stable condition, the statement read. Governor Radda remains in high spirits and expresses his gratitude to Almighty Allah for His protection, as well as Katsina citizens and well-wishers for their prayers and concern. Shortly after issuing the statement, Mr Mohammed posted a video of the governor on Facebook, in which Mr Radda, speaking in Hausa, confirmed he was hale and hearty but still undergoing treatment following the crash. He thanked supporters and members of the public for their prayers and good wishes. ALSO READ: Tinubu praises Katsina gov for hosting a befitting funeral of late President Buhari Governor Radda, a former director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), was elected governor of Katsina State in the 2023 general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He succeeded former Governor Aminu Bello Masari and has since focused his administration on security, youth empowerment, and economic revitalisation in the northwestern state. The full circumstances of the accident involving Governor Radda remain unclear, and it is not yet known how many vehicles were involved or whether any of the governors aides sustained injuries. The Katsina State Government has approved the extension of maternity leave for nursing mothers in the states civil service to four months and 10 days. The Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina, Abdullahi Aliyu-Turaji made this known in Katsina while receiving officials of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), on a courtesy visit. According to Mr Aliyu-Turaji, the decision was taken during the State Executive Council meeting. He explained that the extension from three months was considered in line with the Iddah, a compulsory period in which widows remain indoors after their husbands death. Also, the Secretary of the CS-SUNN Katsina chapter, AbdurRahman Abdullahi, said the visit was to advocate for government policy providing for six-month maternity leave for lactating mothers. According to him, it is also to advocate for increased funding and timely release of Child Nutrition Funds, especially the one-to-one matching grant for nutrition sensitive interventions. Thanks be to Almighty Allah that the Katsina government is thinking ahead, as it has been consistent in paying the agreed funds. Interestingly again, unknown to us, maternity leave has been extended from the earlier 3-months, to 4-months and 10-days. Therefore we really commend the government for this commitment, because it will encourage and support nursing mothers in the states workforce. The effort emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and ensuring a healthy start for infants, he said. Earlier at a breakfast meeting, Muna Nzelibe, the CS-SUNN Programme Officer, said that improved investment in nutrition is crucial for sustainable development, economic prosperity, and the well-being of Nigerians. According to him, with malnutrition affecting one in three people globally, and Nigeria having the second-highest number of stunted children, addressing this persistent public health concern has become even more urgent and important. Stunting, associated with poor brain development and reduced productivity in adulthood, is of great concern in Katsina. 65 per cent of children under five, are stunted, And 26.8 per cent underweight, while 6.7 per cent wasted, according to the NDHS 2023. Therefore, urgent concerted efforts are required to ensure these statistics improve. In recognition of these issues, the one-day breakfast meeting discussed the extension of paid maternity leave from three months to six months with full pay and raise awareness for the Child Nutrition Fund. Nzelibe said that the resolutions of the meeting included a call to the Katsina State primary health care agency, and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to ensure adequate funds for nutrition activities in the state. He urged stakeholders to work closely with the government to ensure the smooth implementation of the extended maternity leave policy. ALSO READ: Nigerian state extends maternity leave to six months To ensure job security and supportive workplace for working mothers, and ensure policies and interventions are designed with operational contextualisation in mind, to avoid abuse of the system To maintain synergy and engagement with the State House of Assembly on nutrition related issues, there should be adequate monitoring and evaluation of nutrition activities in the state including the six months paid maternity leave. NAN reports that the team also visited stakeholders, including the Coordinator of the Katsina States Community Development Programme, Dr Kamal Kabir, where he assured adequate support, especially in the nutrition aspect. The event was hosted by the CS-SUNN with support from UNICEF, and it brought together a diverse group of participants. (NAN) The Emir of Daura in Katsina State, Umar Faruq-Umar, says he endorsed President Bola Tinubu for reelection because of the honour the president did to his emirate and Katsina State by giving a befitting burial to his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari. The emir made the endorsement at his palace in Daura on Saturday while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian governors wives led by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu. The delegation was in Daura to condole with the family of the late former president. The delegation was received by the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, who led them to Daura for condolences. Sitting beside the governor and Mrs Tinubu, Mr Faruq-Umar thanked the president for the state burial accorded to Mr Buhari. Towards the end of his remarks, an elated monarch rose to his feet as he repeatedly mentioned the presidents name and endorsed him for a second term. I am thankful to President Bola Tinubu, a good person I have been with in the last 30 years. The world can testify to what the president did to this state and the Daura Emirate. I am 97 years old, I have never seen a befitting state burial and honour done by a president like what Tinubu has done to Muhammadu Buhari. He came in person, spent days mourning the late former president, declared a public holiday for him, approved a presidential jet for the conveyance of the corpse, and was up and doing throughout the period. Now, he sent the First Lady, the wife of the Vice President, and the governors wives. This respect and honour shown to us by the president will not be forgotten; we are going to reciprocate it. This is why in 2027 we are going for Tinubu, Mr Faruq-Umar said. The governor laughed, and the First Lady bowed from her seat as someone interpreted the statement to her. Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Tinubu emphasised that her presence was not merely ceremonial but a reflection of the profound personal loss felt by her family. We are not here today merely out of duty. We are here because this loss is deeply personal, she said. My husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has lost not just a former Head of State, but a trusted ally and friend of over 30 years. President Muhammadu Buhari was a man of integrity and discipline, who brought honour not only to Daura but to the entire nation. We pray that Almighty Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus. May He comfort the family and all those grieving this tremendous loss, Mrs Tinubu said. Mr Buhari died on Sunday at 82 in a London hospital. His remains were laid to rest in his residence in Daura on Tuesday. Stakeholders from northern Cross River State on Saturday at the House of Representatives public hearing on constitution review held in Calabar demanded the creation of Ogoja State. The stakeholders noted that the creation of an Ogoja state was long overdue, considering that Ogoja province was the only remaining one in the old South-Eastern region without a state. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the old South Eastern region comprises the present South-east and South-South geopolitical zones. According to some stakeholders at the zonal centre B of the constitution review held for Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, this is the auspicious time to right the historical wrong by creating Ogoja State. They said that no meaningful national restructuring would be completed without addressing the injustice of the Ogojas exclusion. They were also of the view that creating an Ogoja State would not be a favour but a constitutional right, moral obligation, and political necessity. Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, said that historically the agitation for states was initially limited to the demand for the Middle Belt state, the Midwest state and the Calabar-Ogoja Rivers state. But in answer to these demands, the nation proceeded to proliferate states so that the purpose for which the minority communities made these demands is completely defeated. Since then, the condition of the minorities has worsened and has never improved as they continue to suffer, he said. Mr Agabi, 79, lamented that the Ogoja people have suffered all forms of indignities, including a lack of electricity, access roads, water, and functional schools in almost all the villages. He said the minds of the young people have been brutalised even as the majority of the people live in squalor amid the opulence of their leaders. He added that the agitation for Ogoja state was not rooted in malice. It is made in good faith. Our ancestors, when they promulgated the Constitution, realised beforehand that a time like this would come. They knew that the conditions in our country will compel communities to make demands of the type that we now make, so they made provisions in the Constitution which you, Honourable Representatives of the people have come to implement and give effect to. This request is made in exercise of a right vested in the people by the Constitution. The exercise of state creation will forever go on until every community is able to take its own affairs into its own hands. Our greatest resources are the people, not oil, minerals, or agricultural produce. We are an intelligent people, resourceful resilient, hardworking and God-fearing. We are a humble and honest people. It is such a people that present this memorandum to you, he said. Similarly, Justice Eneji, Johnny Agim (SAN), Cletus Obun, and Lawrence Alobi, a retired police commissioner, decried the injustice against Ogoja people, whom they claimed have been denied a state for over 50 years. In the same vein, Solomon Ekam and Achi Bekomsom, a professor, noted that the people of old Ogoja Province, comprising Yala, Ogoja, Bekwarra, Obudu and Obanliku, Boki, Ikom and Etung, have consistently lamented injustice done to them and demanded equity, fairness, and inclusion into the nations scheme of things. A 28-year-old female university student has allegedly staged her kidnap in Anambra State, Nigerias South-east. The suspect, Chinecherem Nwaokoye, is a student at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said Ms Nwaokoye allegedly colluded with two other suspects- a male and a female- to carry out the self-kidnap to extort her family. The police spokesperson identified the two suspects as Chinecherem Okonkwo, 28, and Chinecherem Aronu, 30. He said police operatives have arrested all three suspects in connection with the incident. How the self-kidnap happened Mr Ikenga said Ms Nwaokoye contacted her family on 8 July and informed them that she was returning home from school. But she did not arrive, and her phone was switched off throughout the day. On Wednesday, 9 July 2025, her family received a call from an unknown male voice who claimed responsibility for her kidnap and demanded a ransom of N10 million. After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to N3 million and a part payment of N1 million was later paid into the victims bank account, the police spokesperson said. He said, upon receipt of a tip-off about the incident, police operatives from Rapid Response Squad stormed a lodge located at the temporary site of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and found the victim alive in the company of her male accomplice. I staged my kidnap to raise capital for my boyfriends business Mr Ikenga said, during interrogation, the three suspects confessed that they took part in the kidnap to extort Ms Nwaokoyes family. The spokesperson said Ms Nwaokoye, on her part, admitted that she masterminded her own kidnap. According to the statement, the undergraduate claimed she engaged in self-kidnapping to raise capital for her boyfriends proposed business. Road to court Mr Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered that the suspects be charged in court immediately. Mr Orutugu condemned the incident, describing it as a clear sign of deepening moral decay among some youths in Nigeria. The police chief warned that the command will not tolerate such criminal deception. He urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the activities and peer influence on their children. Kidnap for ransom Like other states in the South-east, cases of kidnap-for-ransom in Anambra State have increased in recent times. Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately. But cases of self-kidnap for ransom are not common. Meanwhile, kidnapping has been illegal in Nigeria since May 2022. The countrys authorities enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all forms of kidnapping. The Act prescribes a death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life. It was an amendment to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail term for kidnapping. The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnap victims. Several persons have been convicted of kidnapping across Nigeria. An Ikeja Special Offences Court, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping. The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the final forfeiture of $222,729.86 worth of digital assets (USDT) recovered from a group of Chinese nationals arrested for alleged cyberterrorism and internet fraud. The judge, Alexander Owoeye, who delivered the ruling on Monday, said the assets were part of the proceeds traced to a syndicate of 792 suspected cryptocurrency investment and romance scammers uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The final forfeiture order followed an application filed by the EFCC on 18 July, through their lawyer, Zeenat Atiku. Moving the application on Monday, Ms Atiku informed referenced an affidavit sworn to by EFCC investigator Muazu Abdulrahman, detailing how the syndicate operated through a Nigerian-registered company, Genting International Co. Limited with a Union Bank account. The account with number 0225100403 allegedly received over N2.26 billion between April and December 2024. Analysis of the account showed major inflows from two cryptocurrency vendors: Chukwuemeka Okeke and Alhassan Aminu Garba, Mr Abdulrahman stated in the affidavit. They confessed to receiving a total of USDT valued at $2,386,642 from the syndicate via peer-to-peer trading and identified wallet addresses used in the transactions. Mr Owoeye, in granting the EFCCs request, ruled: I have read the motion and attachments and found sufficient merit in the application. The forfeiture comes in the wake of the arrest and conviction of several members of the syndicate. Most were sentenced to one year in prison for cyberterrorism and internet fraud related to the elaborate crypto-based scam. Background Dubbed the largest cybercrime syndicate, EFCC on 10 December 2024, arrested a group of 792 suspects including Nigerians, Chinese, Arab and Filipino nationals involved in alleged cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams. They were arrested at a seven-storey building known as Big Leaf Building on No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. EFCCs Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed the development during a media briefing on 16 December 2024. Mr Olukoyede revealed that the syndicate had transformed the buildingdesigned to appear as a legitimate corporate facilityinto a hub for training Nigerians in romance and investment scams. The foreign nationals trained their Nigerian recruits to target victims online using fake identities across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram, he said. According to the EFCC, one floor alone housed 500 SIM cards from local telecom providers, while each Nigerian recruit was equipped with a desktop computer and mobile device. They were provided with scripts, foreign phone numbers, and fake personas, primarily impersonating women to lure victimsmostly from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europeinto romance scams or into investing through a fraudulent platform. Modus operandi The EFCC explained that the Nigerian accomplices were selected based on their computer literacy, especially typing speed. Those who passed an initial test were subjected to a two-week induction on impersonation tactics. Once they established contact and built trust with victims, the foreign syndicate leaders would take over the scam and block their Nigerian collaborators from further access to the chats, keeping them in the dark about ongoing transactions, he said. The Nigerian accomplices were neither given employment letters nor paid through official corporate channels. They were paid in cash or via third-party accounts, and many never met the actual ringleaders, Mr Olukoyede added. EFCC said it was collaborating with international partners to trace other accomplices and determine the full scope of the fraud, including links to foreign criminal networks. He also stressed that contrary to popular belief, many large-scale scams traced to Nigeria are masterminded by foreign nationals exploiting the countrys global reputation. Foreigners are taking advantage of our unfortunate image to conceal their operations. But this operation proves that Nigeria will not remain a haven for international fraudsters, he said. Also speaking at the briefing, acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Directorate, Michael Wetkas, called for greater media support in the fight against economic and financial crimes. Items recovered during the operation include desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, and vehicles. Multi-Platform Ecosystem | Regulated Access | Strategic Wealth Infrastructure ZURICH, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bancara, a new-generation global financial brokerage, has officially launched its full-service trading and investment platform bringing institutional-grade access, cross-border compliance, and long-term strategic tools to private clients, active investors, and regulated institutions. Bancara: Invest in Better Operating across key financial regions including Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. Bancara is built to serve clients who value not just performance, but permanence. The platform offers access to global financial markets, including currencies, shares, indices, commodities, and digital assets backed by robust execution infrastructure, global compliance alignment, and concierge-level support. "Bancara is built for those who measure wealth in decades, not quarters," said Elena Morris, Director of Global Communications at Bancara. "Our clients don't just need access to markets they need structure, insight, and stability. That's what we provide." A Unified Platform for Serious Investors Bancara integrates an ecosystem of proprietary and institutional-grade technologies under one secure, seamless interface. Clients can choose from or combine: BancaraX: All-in-one web and mobile trading platform MetaTrader 5: The gold standard for advanced traders and automation AutoBancara: Intelligent, algorithmic trading with real-time execution Cooma Social: Copy professional trades and learn from top performers TipRanks: Analyst-rated intelligence and data-driven market insights The platform supports both self-directed traders and institutional teams, with services such as multi-currency accounts, cross-border FX management, discretionary trade execution, and integrated reporting. Regulated. Respected. Ready for Scale. Bancara maintains full compliance with international AML/KYC standards, client fund protection protocols, and global regulatory alignment. Offices in Zurich, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Hong Kong deliver regional expertise while preserving seamless global service delivery. The company's four-tiered account structure (Advanced, Premium, Exclusive, VIP) is designed to meet clients at every stage of their financial journey with benefits ranging from educational resources to platinum-level mentoring, concierge services, and private market access. Not Just a Platform - A Philosophy Bancara's core principle, 'Invest in Better,' underscores its commitment to creating meaningful, multi-generational wealth strategies. The platform emphasizes: Transparent pricing with no hidden fees Dedicated Success Managers and Relationship Teams Regulated access across regions and asset classes Integrated concierge services for HNWIs and families "We're not competing with retail trading apps," Morris continued. "We're building infrastructure for disciplined investors, family offices, and institutions that demand discretion, intelligence, and long-term control." Now Onboarding New Clients Bancara is now accepting qualified private and institutional clients. Demo accounts, onboarding support, and personal consultations are available via www.bancara.com. About Bancara Bancara is a global financial brokerage and investment platform providing multi-asset trading, strategic insight, and concierge-level service to discerning clients worldwide. Built on regulated access, institutional-grade tools, and a long-term philosophy, Bancara serves private clients, professional traders, and institutions with clarity, trust, and performance. Media Contact: Elena Morris pr@bancara.com +1 (646) 506-4976 bancara.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735017/Bancara.jpg Installation of Mycronic SLX1 laser writer to boost productivity and diversify photomask offerings produced at Corbeil, France facility CORBEIL, France, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tekscend Photomask (formerly Toppan Photomask), the world's largest merchant photomask supplier for the semiconductor industry, has installed a state-of-the-art photomask laser writing system, the SLX1, at its Corbeil, France facility. This marks the first European deployment of the SLX1 system, manufactured by Swedish technology leader, Mycronic AB. The SLX1 Photomask Laser Writing System from Mycronic AB The new system represents a strategic investment by Tekscend in strengthening Europe's semiconductor ecosystem. By expanding its capacity, productivity, and technology mix, Tekscend is reaffirming its role as a critical enabler of chip manufacturing in Europe. The Corbeil site works alongside Tekscend's Advanced Mask Technology Center (AMTC) joint-venture facility in Dresden, Germany to deliver a full spectrum of photomask solutionsfrom standard technology laser-written masks to high-end eBeam technologies for cutting-edge nodes. "We stand by the mantra: 'No masks no chips!'," said Tekscend Europe President, Adrian Phillips. "This investment not only underscores our commitment to supporting our customers; it also reflects our dedication to advancing Europe's semiconductor ecosystem. We believe Europe's success depends on strong partnerships and this is an open invitation to work with us going forward." Boosting Capability and Resilience for the European Market The SLX1 brings faster writing speeds, improved quality, and greater manufacturing flexibility to Tekscend's Corbeil facility. With this addition, Tekscend is: Boosting plant productivity, particularly high-end laser capacity , while expanding the range of photomasks produced , while expanding the range of photomasks produced Securing and increasing capacity , enabling support for more complex mask designs , enabling support for more complex mask designs Ensuring operational continuity, by maintaining and increasing capacity while replacing end-of-life tools. Tekscend Photomask is the only photomask supplier actively investing in tool replacement to ensure continuous supply for European semiconductor manufacturers The SLX1 also contributes to diversifying Tekscend's European supply base for photomask manufacturing, complementing recent investments, such as the installation of an advanced Multi-Beam Mask Writer (MBMW) from IMS Nanofabrication at the AMTC, and Tekscend's collaboration with Mycronic, IMS Nanofabrication and Vistec advocating for supply chain support beyond wafer fabs and foundries in support of the EU Chips Act 2. "We are delighted by Tekscend's installation of the SLX1our first SLX installation in Europe," said Charlott Samuelsson, Senior Vice President Pattern Generators, Mycronic. "We are confident it will make a major contribution to the rising demand for photomasks from the semiconductor industry in Europe and across the world." A Longstanding Commitment to Europe's Semiconductor Future Tekscend has played a foundational role in supporting Europe's semiconductor supply chain, including the establishment of the AMTC joint venture with GLOBALFOUNDRIES in Dresden in 2002. Today, Tekscend remains the only photomask manufacturer with facilities in Europe, the US, and Asia, enabling seamless global support. About Tekscend Photomask Tekscend Photomask Corp. is the world's premier provider of photomasks for semiconductors. Headquartered in Tokyo, Tekscend leverages its worldwide customer service network and eight manufacturing facilities in key geographic locations to offer the world's most advanced photomask technology. Tekscend has also expanded into nanoimprint molds, waveguides and other nano-fabricated products. For more information, visit https://www.photomask.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2734444/Tekscend_Mycronic_SLX1.jpg Chapman Family Foundation and Google.org launch high-impact AI and entrepreneurship program DETROIT, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chapman Family Foundation, in partnership with Google.org, is launching AI in the D, a transformative initiative aimed at equipping high school students in Detroit with foundational artificial intelligence (AI) skills and entrepreneurial training. The one-day workshop, scheduled for July 23, 2025, at Fellowship Chapel (7707 Outer Dr W, Detroit, MI 48235), will serve over 100 students. Participants will receive access to laptops, instruction from expert facilitators, and compete for cash prizes by pitching original AI-driven business concepts. "AI in the D" is a transformative initiative aimed at equipping high school students in Detroit with foundational artificial intelligence (AI) skills and entrepreneurial training. "As AI technologies evolve rapidly, the digital divide is expanding," said Tamira Chapman, Founder of the Chapman Family Foundation. "Without early exposure and access, young Detroiters risk exclusion from the very economy shaping their future. AI in the D is our commitment to ensuring they're equipped to lead, not left behind." This program reflects a shared mission to drive equity and economic mobility. Winton Steward, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Midwest at Google, added, "At Google.org, we believe that investing in youth entrepreneurship and digital literacy builds long-term opportunity. We're proud to support the Chapman Family Foundation's vision and to help young people in Detroit innovate and thrive." Google.org's $200,000 grant to the Chapman Family Foundation builds on its ongoing commitment to Michigan. Since 2006, the organization has awarded more than $10 million to nonprofits across the state and worked to expand access to digital skills and workforce training. Its partnership with the Chapman Family Foundation will allow AI in the D to scale impact locally and serve as a model for national replication. As part of its broader digital equity efforts, the Chapman Family Foundation will continue to educate youth and also launch a companion AI literacy program for Detroit's senior citizens in August. Participation in AI in the D is free of charge and designed to eliminate barriers to entry. For more information, visit https://chapmanfamilyfdn.org/ About the Chapman Family Foundation The Chapman Family Foundation is a Detroit-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering at-risk youth and underserved communities. The organization's programming focuses on education, environmental stewardship, hunger and homelessness, and arts and culture. About Google.org Google.org is the philanthropic division of Google. Its efforts focus on expanding access to digital knowledge, fostering inclusive innovation, accelerating scientific progress, and supporting communities in crisis. SOURCE Chapman Family Foundation SHANGHAI, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boqii Holding Limited ("Boqii" or the "Company") (NYSE American: BQ), a leading pet-focused platform in China, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F (the "Annual Report") for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on July 21, 2025. The Annual Report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.boqii.com/ and on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov/. The Company will provide a hard copy of the Annual Report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders upon request. Requests should be directed to the Company's Investor Relations Department at [email protected]. About Boqii Holding Limited Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE American: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China. We are the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with our broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and our own private label, Yoken and Mocare, offered at competitive prices. Our online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and our flagship stores on third-party e-commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Our Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets. For investor inquiries, please contact: Boqii Holding Limited Investor Relations Tel: +86-21-6882-6051 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited EWTN to Launch Two Industry-Leading Divisions EWTN Studios and EWTN Digital Peter Gagnon named President of EWTN Studios and Sean Graber named President of EWTN Digital Move creates opportunities that build on EWTN history and advance forward-thinking vision. IRONDALE, Ala., July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EWTN Global Catholic Network Chairman and CEO Michael P. Warsaw announced a new organizational structure designed to enhance EWTN's faithfulness to its mission in the digital landscape and increased impact around content development and distribution. Under this new structure, EWTN will align its operations around two major divisions: EWTN Studios . EWTN Studios will expand on the EWTN legacy of developing the most impactful content in the Catholic space. It will continue to fulfill the organization's mission of producing compelling Catholic content while also lifting up other creatives alongside the EWTN team, doing so in a way that reflects the changed nature of media and radical way content production workflow and technology has evolved. . EWTN Studios will expand on the EWTN legacy of developing the most impactful content in the Catholic space. It will continue to fulfill the organization's mission of producing compelling Catholic content while also lifting up other creatives alongside the EWTN team, doing so in a way that reflects the changed nature of media and radical way content production workflow and technology has evolved. EWTN Digital. EWTN Digital will build the platforms to distribute EWTN Studios content and that of aligned creatives to serve new generations alongside the legacy EWTN audience. It will launch and manage a globally scaled streaming platform that will house the collection of the world's most beloved Catholic stories and personalities. "Under the leadership of our Foundress Mother Angelica, EWTN learned to constantly adopt new technology to reach souls. Just as our major network peers in secular media have done, this change in structure will allow EWTN to expand our content offerings and reach new audiences in the places where people now consume media, while remaining always anchored in the teachings of the Church," noted EWTN Chairman and CEO Michael P. Warsaw. The announcement also included the appointment of Peter Gagnon as President of the newly created EWTN Studios and Sean Graber as the President of EWTN Digital citing the new leadership as proven leaders in their fields distinctively qualified to lead EWTN to meet the challenges of the evolving media landscape. "In these new roles, Peter and Sean bring diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and legacies to the EWTN family.," said Warsaw. "They are the ideal choice to guide these important new initiatives at EWTN." A long-time leader at EWTN, Gagnon has been with the network for 32 years and pioneered initiatives in content production, global expansion, and multi-lingual offerings. With over a decade leading coverage of papal conclaves, jubilees, and world events for the Network, Peter has a tremendous understanding of the legacy of EWTN and is one of the few remaining team members that knew and worked with Mother Angelica. "EWTN began offering the Mass, the most essential expression of what EWTN exists to bring to the world," said Peter Gagnon, President of EWTN Studios. "And I am excited to embark on this pivotal moment in EWTN's history as we take the next steps in continuing Mother Angelica's mission to proclaim the truths of the faith to both our existing audience as well as a whole new generation of Catholics." With an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Graber's background in business strategy, digital transformation, and product management has already impacted the Network's digital infrastructure and schema. Joining EWTN after a global search in 2024, Sean's work with blue chip brands affirms EWTN's promise to bring to market the fruits of the changes Sean came to deliver as a critical part of the future of EWTN. "Mother Angelica was the original innovator, and it's humbling and exciting to continue her legacy by bringing EWTN's message to the next generation of Catholicsa message that has profoundly shaped my own faith life," said Sean Graber, President of EWTN Digital. "I'm thrilled by how this reorganization positions EWTN to reimagine Catholic media at such an inspiring moment for the Church, as many rediscover their faith and we celebrate the historic election of an American pope." With close to half a century in operation, EWTN has been a media partner of the cable television industry since its beginning alongside leaders like Comcast, Cox, and Direct TV. Its global footprint and physical legacy around the world informs the similar approach the apostolate will take in disrupting the streaming and content industry. The promise of more changes and developments was made by the long-time EWTN Chairman. "With continued trust in God's Providence, I am incredibly excited about this next era of EWTN's history. We will build new platforms that are best in class where our audiences can engage with our content as part of their daily faith journey. EWTN will continue to be present wherever souls thirsting for Truth are found," continued Warsaw. ABOUT EWTN and EWTN NEWS In its 45th year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. EWTN's 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 435 million television households in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., EWTN News operates multiple global news services, including Catholic News Agency, "The National Catholic Register" newspaper and digital platform, ACI Prensa in Spanish, ACI Digital in Portuguese, ACI Stampa in Italian, ACI Africa in English, French and Portuguese, ACI MENA in Arabic, CNA Deutsch in German and ChurchPop, a digital platform that creates content in several languages. It also produces numerous television news programs including EWTN News Nightly, EWTN Noticias, EWTN News In Depth, EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, The World Over, and Vaticano. SOURCE EWTN Global Catholic Network XUANCHENG, China, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Huasun Energy marks its fifth anniversary, celebrating a remarkable rise from ambitious startup to the world's leading manufacturer of ultra-high-efficiency heterojunction (HJT) solar products. In just five years, the company has established five manufacturing facilities across Xuancheng, Hefei, Wuxi, Dali, and Yinchuan across China, reaching 20 GW of production capacity with a fully integrated supply chain from ingots to modules. To date, Huasun has delivered over 13 GW of HJT products to more than 80 countries and regions worldwide. Huasun Energy marks its fifth anniversary in July 2025 as the worlds leading manufacturer of heterojunction solar products. Founded in 2020 amid a saturated PERC market, Huasun set its sights on HJT technology for its technical advantages and untapped potential. "I believed from the start that HJT would lead the next era of solar," said Jimmy Xu, Chairman of Huasun. "It offers the high efficiency, low degradation, and application flexibility that the world needs for sustainable energy." To meet growing demand across diverse environments, Huasun has introduced several product lines, including the Himalaya, Everest, and Kunlun series. Among these, the Himalaya G12-132 module stands out with a record-breaking 768.9 W in champion power and up to 730 W in deliverable output with corresponding 23.5% module efficiency. The G12-132 modules have been successfully deployed in utility-scale solar projects operating under extreme conditions such as marine and desert environments. With advanced encapsulation technology incorporating EVA, light conversion film, butyl adhesive, and a glass-glass design, they offer exceptional performance, durability, and long-term reliability. The new Kunlun series, featuring near-100% bifaciality, is designed for vertical photovoltaic (PV) applications such as farmland, transportation corridors, and building facades. In Europe, Huasun has partnered with leading companies like Next2Sun AG on nearly 100 MW of vertical PV projects across sectors including Agri-PV and solar fencing. These projects are praised for reducing snow and dust buildup, capturing reflected light, and minimizing land disruption. In its fifth year, Huasun has established a 100 MW pilot line for HJT-perovskite tandem cells, aiming to launch a next-generation module with over 800 W power and 25.75% efficiency by late 2026. With a foundation built on science, speed, and sustainability, Huasun remains at the forefront of solar innovationdelivering accessible, high-performance solutions to power a cleaner world. Website: www.huasunsolar.com Follow "HUASUN HJT" on LinkedIn for more heterojunction updates. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2734828/Huasun_Energy_marks_its_fifth_anniversary_in_July_2025_as_the_world_s_leading_manufacturer_of_hetero.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2393329/Huasun_Logo.jpg MONTREAL, July 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - SYDNEY, Australia July 21, 2025 Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Patriot") (TSX: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) is pleased to advise that Ken Brinsden, the Company's President, CEO and Managing Director, will host a live investor webinar tomorrow, Tuesday 22 July 2025 Australia/Monday 21 July 2025 Montreal to discuss the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for caesium announced today for the Rigel and Vega zones at its 100%-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan Property (the "Property" or "Project") located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec Mr Brinsden will update investors on the significance of this announcement and outline the significance of the caesium discovery, while also taking the opportunity to provide an update on the lithium-only Definitive Feasibility Study for CV5 Shaakichiuwaanaan and other upcoming milestones. Investors and shareholders will have the opportunity to submit live questions via the online Q&A webinar portal. Alternatively, questions can be submitted in advance via email to the Company's Investor Relations Manager Olivier Caza-Lapointe. Registration Details The webinar will commence at 8.00am Australian Western Standard Time / 10.00am Australian Eastern Standard Time (July 22) / 8.00pm Canadian Eastern Daylight Time (July 21) and will last approximately 45 minutes. Investors, shareholders and media can register to attend the webinar via the following link: https://www.bigmarker.com/read-corporate/patriot-battery-metals-0b862b2e67b3cfdceb94c8c3 A recording of the webinar will be released through Patriot's website and social media platforms for the benefit of investors in North American time zones. "KEN BRINSDEN" Kenneth Brinsden, President, CEO, & Managing Director Olivier Caza-Lapointe Head, Investor Relations North America T: +1 (514) 913-5264 E: [email protected] SOURCE Patriot Battery Metals Inc. On June 12 2025, the Chinese Embassy, on behalf of Chinese Government, has donated 1,150,000,000 old leones to National Public Health Agency (NPHA) to support its Mpox response. Chinese Ambassdor Wang Qing, Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, Honorable Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Charles Senessie, Honorable NPHA Executive Director, Prof. Foday Sahr, and many other senior officials and partners attended the handover ceremony. Ambassdor Wang Qing recalled the deep friendship China and SL bonded during fighting Ebola and COVID-19 pandemic, shared that China has been paying highly attention to the Mpox epidemic from January, has donated testing kits, assisted SL-China Friendship P3 Biosafety lab detected more than 2,000 positive cases which constitute more than 50% of all cases, and has China Medical Team actively conducting health education and providing medical care as much as they can. China will always stand hands in hands with SL people to fight those diseases, to build a global community of health for all. Minister Demby thanked for Chinas prompt support, emphasized solidarity is the key to fight the epidemic, declared that with rapid response and support from communities and partners, we can bend the curve of the Mpox epidemic in the near future. SAN ANTONIO, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Merit Coffee Company, a San Antonio-based roastery and cafe brand, demonstrated its commitment to community support by announcing a donation of $30,000 to aid flood relief efforts in Kerr County. The company achieved this significant contribution by donating 100% of the proceeds from all coffee sales made on Saturday, July 12 . This charitable initiative not only provided crucial funds for those affected by the floods but also resulted in Merit Coffee Company celebrating its highest single-day sales in its 16-year history, showcasing the generosity of its customers and the brand's strong connection with the community. Iced latte - Merit Coffee Merit Coffee operates 13 cafes across Texas , with locations in San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas, and has built a reputation for its dedication to craft, community, and quality. "What an amazing and heart-warming day we had last Saturday," said Bill Ellis, CEO of Merit Coffee. "Our loyal customers across the state, turned out in huge numbers to show support for the continuing flood relief efforts in Kerr County." "As a result of your efforts, Merit Coffee has made a donation in the amount of $30,000 to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. We hope that this contribution offers further assurance to those suffering from this tragedy that the hearts of Texans across the state are with them." Individuals seeking to support the ongoing relief efforts in Kerr County and the surrounding communities within the Texas Hill Country can make donations through the official donation page established by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. The secure online donation portal can be accessed via the following link: cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com . All contributions made through this platform will directly aid in providing assistance and resources to those affected in the region. Media Contact: Charlie Paulette, (210) 241-4663, [email protected] About Merit Coffee Founded in 2009 in San Antonio, Merit Coffee has grown from a single cafe and roastery into a beloved Texas brand known for sourcing and serving exceptional coffee. With 13 locations spanning San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas, Merit is committed to providing thoughtfully crafted coffee experiences in warm, welcoming spacesanchored by a deep focus on community and quality. For more information, visit meritcoffee.com. SOURCE Merit Coffee Valmet Oyj's press release, July 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. EEST ESPOO, Finland, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Valmet has received an order from Saica Group (Sociedad Anonima Industrias Celulosa Aragonesa) to supply a biomass boiler and flue gas cleaning system for Saica Group's plant in El Burgo de Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain. The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the second quarter 2025. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The boiler plant is scheduled to be handed over to Saica at the end of 2026. The boiler to be supplied is a Valmet BFB boiler that utilizes bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) technology. It is engineered to produce steam with a capacity exceeding 700,000 tonnes annually. By utilizing biomass as fuel, the BFB boiler will significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions, aligning with Saica's dedication to sustainability and circular economy principles. "This project is part of Saica Groups decarbonization plan, fully aligned with Saicas values: 'We Care, We Value, We Challenge'. It has been awarded with a PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) euro grant given to the company by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism. We rely on Valmet for this project due to their proven technology for biomass BFB boilers, and also because of the good cooperation and results achieved in previous projects. We expect this new partnership will bring success to this challenging project," says Juan Antonio Meler, Industrial Projects Director, Saica Group. "We are delighted to support Saica in their ambitious decarbonization project. This order underlines the importance of our advanced boiler technology in helping industries to transition towards more sustainable energy solutions. It is a testament to Valmet's expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions that meet our customers' needs," says Lauri Pehu-Lehtonen, Vice President, Energy and Circularity, Valmet. Delivery's technical information Valmet's scope of delivery includes a Valmet BFB Boiler along with auxiliary equipment and the boiler building, including erection, commissioning, and start-up. Additionally, Valmet will provide a flue gas cleaning system featuring a bag house filter. About the customer The Saica Group offers sustainable paper solutions for the manufacture of corrugated board and packaging, promoting circularity in waste management. It has more than 12,000 employees and a presence in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States. The group's turnover is 3,662 million euros (consolidated sales at 31 December 2024). VALMET Corporate Communications For further information, please contact: Lauri Pehu-Lehtonen, Vice President, Energy and Circularity, Pulp, Energy and Circularity Business Area, Valmet, tel. +358 50 4710 221 Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries. We are a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries. With our automation and flow control solutions, we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward every day. The company has more than 225 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement, sustainability, and renewal. Valmet's net sales in 2024 were approximately EUR 5.4 billion. Valmet's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki, and the head office is in Espoo, Finland. Follow us on valmet.com | X | X (IR) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram Processing of personal data This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com. https://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/valmet-to-deliver-biomass-boiler-and-flue-gas-cleaning-system-to-saica-group-in-spain,c4209389 Yesway joins 35,000 stores nationwide in celebrating first responders while raising funds for disaster relief FORT WORTH, Texas, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, July 24, the U.S. convenience store industry will unite for the seventh annual 24/7 Day , a nationwide celebration recognizing everyday heroesincluding first responders, EMTs, doctors, nurses, 9-1-1 professionals, and American Red Cross volunteerswho serve our communities around the clock. Yesway , one of the fastest-growing convenience store chains in the United States, with Yesway and Allsup's stores located in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, proudly announces its participation, joining convenience retailers and suppliers nationwide to honor first responders and raise funds for the American Red Cross. On NACS 24/7 Day 2025, these complimentary items are available to firefighters, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, Red Cross personnel, and 911 operators in uniform or with valid identification at Yesway and Allsup's stores as a token of gratitude for their continued service and dedication. This year, Yesway and Allsup's stores will show appreciation by offering: A free 30.4 oz Core Hydration water to all first responders on July 24 * * A free fountain drink of any size from July 21 to July 24 These complimentary items are available to firefighters, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, Red Cross personnel, and 911 operators in uniform or with valid identification as a token of gratitude for their continued service and dedication. "At Yesway, community support is central to our mission," said Tom Trkla, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Yesway. "We are honored to stand alongside the NACS Foundation and our industry peers in celebrating 24/7 Day. First responders are the lifeblood of the communities we serve, and this annual tradition is one meaningful way we can express our gratitude for their courage, commitment, and tireless efforts." This year's theme "We See You. We Thank You," speaks to the often-unheralded work that first responders dorunning toward disasters when others must evacuate or flee. The national 24/7 Day celebration raises awareness and recognizes these heroes from one of their largest supporters convenience store retailers and industry suppliers. Across the country, more than 90 convenience retailing companies and brands will honor first responders with unique offers, and the event will also raise awareness of, and donations for, the Red Cross. Convenience stores are vital hubs in every community: 93% of Americans live within 10 minutes of one. With more than 152,000 convenience stores nationwide, the industry cumulatively conducts 160 million transactions daily, sells 80% of the nation's fuel, and donates more than $1 billion a year to charitable causes. Emergencies occur every day, and the American Red Cross, supported by convenience industry partners like Yesway, plays a critical role in helping those affected: The Red Cross responds to an emergency every eight minutes Each year, it addresses an average of 65,000 disasters 95% of its disaster relief workforce are volunteers "We hope you will join us in supporting the heroes who are always here for us, helping others and giving so much of themselves in times of incredible need," said Nathan Measom, Director of Cause Marketing for the American Red Cross. "Our continued partnership with the NACS Foundation is one of the most critical ways we highlight the work done each year in communities across the United States, which is not often seen by the public. It's our honor to shine a light on these heroes and thank them for their incredible effort." "The 24/7 Day celebration was born from the realization of the deep connection between first responders and the convenience store community," said Stephanie Sikorski, Executive Director of the NACS Foundation. "We've heard too often that 'nothing good happens after zero-dark-thirty,' but our research shows that these small hours are when first responders and convenience stores unite across a range of efforts, from setting up for a disaster relief effort or simply getting a cup of coffee or healthy snack during a shift to keep energy high. We are proud to support these efforts, which keep our communities strong." *Offer valid only on Thursday, July 24, 2025. To find the Yesway or Allsup's store closest to you, please visit Yesway.com/locations or Allsups.com/allsups-locations , and to share stories and appreciation for hometown heroes and first responders on social media using the hashtag #247Day. Editor's note: Contact Erin Vadala, Warner Communications; (617) 669-1560; [email protected] to arrange interviews. High-resolution images and graphics are available upon request. About Yesway Yesway is one of the fastest-growing convenience store operators in the United States. Established in 2015, Yesway is a multi-branded platform headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, operating 444 stores across Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Yesway operates its portfolio primarily under two successful brands, Yesway and Allsup's, with sites that are differentiated through a leading foodservice offering featuring Allsup's famous deep-fried burrito and a wide variety of high-quality grocery items and private-label products. Yesway's geographic footprint consists of stores located in attractive rural and suburban markets across the Southwest and Midwest, where it is often the convenience retail destination of choice and effectively the local grocer. The Yesway team has a successful track record of growth through acquisitions and believes it is well-positioned to continue to solidify its market position and increase its store count. Yesway has received numerous industry awards for its growth initiatives, management team, loyalty program, and employees' contributions to the industry. To learn more about Yesway, visit www.yesway.com . About the NACS Foundation NACS Foundation is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of NACS, the global industry association dedicated to advancing convenience and fuel retailing. In partnership with fuel retail, convenience and suppliers across the U.S., the NACS Foundation propels brighter futures by unifying and amplifying the philanthropic and charitable activities of the industry in communities across America. To learn more, visit conveniencecares.org , or visit us on Facebook at @ TheNACSFoundation and X at @ NACS_Foundation . SOURCE Yesway BEIJING, July 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "Pure by Nature: The Art of Blanc de Chine", a major exhibition showcasing over 200 white porcelain masterpieces made in Dehua, east China's Fujian Province, opened Friday at the China Art Museum (Shanghai Art Museum), marking the largest Dehua porcelain exhibition in Shanghai in recent years and also a key cultural event of the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival. Photo shows that visitors gather around and enjoy the wonderful exhibits of Dehua white porcelain. Curated by Zhang Xiaoling, dean of the College of Fine Arts, East China Normal University, the exhibition systematically explores the historical legacy and contemporary innovation of Dehua porcelain through three distinct sections. The "vitality through innovation" section presents classic works by modern masters alongside comparative pieces, highlighting the evolution of this ceramic tradition. The "echoes of history" features a chronological display centered around an installation inspired by the "Taixing" shipwreck, exhibiting precious historical Dehua ceramics from Quanzhou Museum. The "vessels of the future" showcases experimental works that transcend traditional forms and subjects. Notable exhibits include the iconic Dehua porcelain tripod ("Shi Bo He Ding"), making its second trip to Shanghai after the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, and the groundbreaking polychrome sculpture "wish-fulfilling Buddha", celebrated for its extraordinary craftsmanship. Zhang Xiaoling emphasized that the exhibition reveals the spiritual essence of Dehua porcelain while examining its global significance through the lens of its historical role along the Maritime Silk Road. The show also explores its potential in contemporary cultural sectors. Through Dehua porcelain, the show presents a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese cultural values, explained Xiang Liping, curator at the China Art Museum. With centuries of porcelain-making tradition, Dehua white porcelain served as important cultural exports along ancient trade routes. Shanghai, a cradle of modern Chinese culture, has developed into a major hub for the marketing, research, and collection of Dehua white porcelain. During the opening ceremony, the museum launched a "painting on porcelain" public education initiative, featuring live demonstrations by five Dehua intangible cultural heritage masters. The exhibition period will include porcelain painting workshops, thematic lectures, expert-guided tours, and specially developed cultural merchandise. This collaborative exhibition between cultural institutions from Shanghai and Fujian represents a significant effort to promote the creative revitalization of China's outstanding traditional culture, aiming to deepen regional cultural exchange and enrich public cultural experiences. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/346690.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road Small businesses make up 98% of Australian companies but most hit a growth ceiling. Here are the six barriers holding them back. Acting as the engine room of the Australian economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 98% of all actively trading businesses in the country, employ millions of Australians, and play an essential role in innovation and job creation. Yet, despite their ambition, agility, and value to the economy, many find themselves hitting a ceiling when it comes to sustainable growth. This SME ceiling is rarely the result of a single flaw, more so its a culmination of operational, financial, and strategic challenges that collectively stifle scale. Working closely with businesses growing their operations across sectors, there are often recurring traps seen that hold these organisations back. While true that not all SMEs are looking to scale their businesses, those that are should understand that these challenges arent insurmountable. Australian businesses are ambitious and often punch far above their weight with streamlined direction and consistency, the next level of operations can be reached. Too much focus on revenue Many SMEs are fueled by the passion and competence of founders and early believers, with the first few years driven by winning work and generating revenue, but what gets a business off the ground doesnt always set it up for scale. Without mature operational systems like financial controls, enabling ICT, project management tools, and performance metrics, businesses cant grow sustainably. Its common for founders to delay investment in backend systems or governance, be it through not envisaging growth rate or opportunities early, or seeing them as unnecessary overheads. Without this structure, however, fast-growing businesses begin to fracture under their own weight. Client delivery suffers, employees burn out and the lifeblood of any SME, its cash flow, becomes increasingly difficult to manage. Introducing scalable systems early is crucial, with tools available to provide real-time visibility of your financials, workflows, and customer pipeline. If you dont know your numbers, you dont know your business. Lack of strategic financial planning Many SMEs operate with a just-in-time approach to finance, that is, only seeking external funding or expert advice when theyre in distress. Poor forecasting and an inability to meet financial obligations are two of the biggest reasons SMEs stagnate. Bank financing can be difficult to access without collateral, and private investment often requires a level of sophistication and planning many SMEs simply havent yet built, leading to missed opportunities to expand, invest in talent, or explore new markets. Business owners need to treat financial planning as a strategic function, not just a box to tick or a compliance task. Whether its scenario modelling, understanding working capital cycles, or raising capital to fuel growth, a strong focus towards financial planning is simply a non-negotiable. Bootstrapping may be ok for a few years, but ultimately for your sanity and businesss sustainment, access to structured financing options is essential. Overreliance on founders (and early employees) Building a team you can trust and empower to make decisions is a necessity in any functional business in the long-term. Any business founder will tell you there is no end to the hats they wear on a daily basis, from chief executive, to salesperson, marketer, and HR manager. This can work in the early days, but it creates a single point of failure where decisions are concentrated in few people, leaving no room for scale past these individuals. No organisation can succeed at scale relying on just one person, and no one person can function at their best when undertaking multiple roles outside their expertise. Therefore delegation and also hiring experts are two important considerations as your business is growing. External advisers or board members are great places to look to provide the governance and experience needed to scale. Delegation is one of the most difficult task for founders as they are personally and emotionally invested in their business. It is important to be clear about the direction and high-level processes of your business before you can effectively delegate. However, delegating doesnt mean stepping back, rather its working strategically in the role that your business really needs rather than getting bogged down in day-to-day operations. Not knowing when (or how) to say no Many SMEs struggle with boundaries, saying yes to every client request, taking on underpriced work, or expanding into areas outside their core capability. While a great way to win favour and business at the early stages of a business, in the long run this can lead to a scattered focus and stretched resources that dilute quality and profitability. The fear of missing out on revenue, especially after tough economic periods, can drive decision-making that feels right in the short term but begins to crack foundations in a way that often only becomes visible down the road. Businesses must realise that clarity is power. Define what your business does best and the type of clients you serve and stick to it. Weve seen first hand that businesses are increasingly searching for tailored solutions, no longer seeking one-size-fits-all approaches. Businesses that are able to deliver a high quality service, crafted specifically for the needs of their customers, will create a robust foundation that can be reliably built upon. Ignoring talent and culture Talent attraction and retention are often at the top of the challenges list for SMEs struggling to compete with the larger players in their sectors. Many cant match salary offers, and without strong workplace culture or development pathways, staff churn becomes a constant drag on productivity. Whats more, many SMEs undervalue the importance of formal HR practices, leading to inconsistent recruitment, unclear role definitions, and missed opportunities to build the kind of team needed for scale. Invest in your people. That doesnt always mean money, it can mean flexible work arrangements, clear career paths, or simply involving staff in decision-making. We are in a new era of employee expectations, one where the emotional salary can be weighed as much as the number on their paycheck. Investing in the culture of your organisation, beyond token free lunches, can give your business a distinct competitive advantage. Compliance overload and regulatory fatigue From tax compliance to data protection and workplace laws, SMEs face a heavy regulatory burden. Unlike larger enterprises with dedicated teams, small businesses are often left navigating complex requirements on their own. Falling behind can result in penalties or reputational damage that can take the legs out of any scaling endeavour before it begins. Where possible, automate compliance and outsource complexity. Whether its payroll, bookkeeping, or regulatory reporting, external support can be a growth enabler, freeing up internal time and reducing risk. If Australia wants its SME sector to grow beyond its current ceiling, support must extend beyond grants and lip service. Better access to capital, easier access to professional services and updated policies that remove red tape would go a long way in giving these organisations the assistance they need to change industries and continue to drive Australias economy. While each SME is different, the challenges they face are often surprisingly consistent. With the right planning and support, growth doesnt have to come at the cost of stability. https://anchoramconsulting.com/au Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Dinh Van Thuan, 40, shocked his family by announcing that he would quit his IT job at the peak of his career to become a farmer. As has been his habit for the past few years the Nam Dinh native begins his morning by checking on four swiftlet farms, three in Laos and one in his hometown, using AI-powered cameras and a remote management system that monitors temperature, humidity and sound. Technology still plays a role in the life of this former IT engineer, but now it helps him monitor birds on his farm. Earlier he had spent over six years working in HCMC. After getting married in 2013 he started a business in his hometown that focused on human resource training, programming training, website design, and selling products to foreign buyers. The business prospered, allowing him to change his life and provide for his parents, who worked as farmers making rice wine and raising pigs. Thuan (center, wearing black) and his tech business team in 2013. Photo by courtesy of Dinh Thuan But as success grew, so too did his feeling of suffocation. He says: "The work was too soulless and repetitive. I wanted to create something tangible, something useful to others." In 2017 Thuan began experimenting with agriculture by planting a medicinal herb, dinh lang, on 13 hectares of land he had bought for VND10 billion ($380,000). But the crop only survived two seasons before succumbing to pests and diseases, and Thuan lost more than VND1 billion. But he pressed on with his search for a new direction in agriculture, motivated by his dreams. Swiftlet farming grabbed his attention during a visit to Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh in 2019. After returning home he decided to give it a try, as Nam Dinhs proximity to the sea meant swiftlets were a relatively common sight. The first crucial step in attracting the birds was selecting the right audio recordings of bird calls. For two months Thuan obsessively listened to swiftlet sounds for analysis, much to the annoyance of his wife. Gradually he learned to distinguish between the calls of mother birds, chicks begging for food, navigational sounds, and mating calls. Using his IT knowledge, he processed and filtered numerous audio recordings to create a set of sounds specifically tailored to the local swiftlet population, with a high sound resolution quality at 320 kbps. After finalizing the audio set, he installed it in his swiftlet house and sat still all day observing the birds' reactions. If a sound failed to attract the birds or scared them away, he removed it from the playlist. His first 200-square-meter swiftlet house was ready in 2020. At first the birds nested regularly, but as winter came they died rapidly from the cold. "I was heartbroken. I loved the birds and realized I had been careless by copying a farming model from the south without making adjustments for the northern climate." He reached out to experts and experienced swiftlet farmers but to no avail, he says: "They advised me to give up because swiftlet farming is not viable in cold regions. I knew I could only rely on myself." He began studying how the birds reacted to different temperatures to study their survival limits. Vu Tien Duong, one of his employees, says admiringly: "When Thuan decides on something, he will follow through to the end. Sometimes he would spend an entire day, motionless, in the swiftlet house for observation. A slight movement could startle the birds into flying away." Thuan with outdoor hexagonal speakers for his swiftlet house in 2020. Photo courtesy of Dinh Thuan After two trial runs Thuan determined that the optimal temperature for swiftlets well-being was between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius. At temperatures below 20 degrees, the birds lose body heat and experience low blood pressure and fatigue, and become unable to forage. Thuan designed an automated system to control temperature, humidity and moisture inside the house during the various seasons. In 2022 his business generated revenues of VND4 billion, primarily from swiftlet farming. He decided to quit his IT career entirely and become a full-time farmer. Technology continues to be a key tool he uses, with applications ranging from managing cameras and remotely controlling the swiftlet houses to automating marketing and customer service. He is currently developing an integrated farm model with multiple layers: swiftlet farming in the air, aquaculture in the water, and medicinal herbs and fruit trees on the ground, combined with eco-tourism. Despite operating large businesses in both Vietnam and Laos, he employs only 10 workers. Duong, who only studied up to ninth grade, received training in programming when he worked at Thuans tech company. Nguyen Thanh Binh, former chairman of the Hai Dong Commune Farmers Association in Hai Hau District, says Thuan runs one of the best agricultural business models in the area. In 2024 Thuan was honored as one of Vietnam's outstanding farmers in the "Billionaire Farmer and Digital Transformation" category. He says: "I have not abandoned my profession. Ive just chosen to use technology to create real value in a world that can be touched by hand and felt with the heart." 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 New Delhi, July 20 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day official visit to the United Kingdom and Maldives from July 23 to 26, marking a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at bolstering strategic partnerships and regional cooperation. PM Modi's visit to the UK, scheduled for July 2324, comes at the invitation of British counterpart Keir Starmer and will be his fourth trip to the country. "During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties," said the Ministry of External Affairs in its press release. The discussions will also touch upon regional and global developments of mutual concern. The visit is expected to inject new momentum into the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with both leaders aiming to review progress and chart new areas of cooperation, including India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). PM Modi is also likely to call on King Charles III during his stay. In the second leg of the tour, PM Modi will undertake a state visit to Maldives from July 2526 at the invitation of Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. This marks PM Modi's third visit to the island nation and the first by any head of state or government during President Muizzu's tenure. "The two leaders will also take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a 'Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership', adopted during the State Visit of the President of Maldives to India in October 2024," said MEA. Significantly, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives on July 26. His visit underlines India's commitment to strengthening ties with its maritime neighbours under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. The leaders are expected to assess progress in key areas including infrastructure, defence cooperation, and economic connectivity. The high-profile diplomatic engagements aim to reinforce India's global outreach while reaffirming its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region and beyond. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Tehran, July 21 : Iran and the three European countries of France, Germany and Britain, collectively known as the E3, have agreed to resume negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program, a semi-official news agency reported. Quoting an "informed source" without giving the name, Tasnim said Iran and the E3 are holding consultations on the date and venue of the negotiations, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the report, the upcoming negotiations are expected to be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers. Iran and the E3 have held several rounds of talks covering Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of sanctions, among other issues, since September 2024. The three European countries have, over the past months, been threatening Iran with triggering the snapback mechanism, a clause in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers, that will allow the other parties to reimpose all international sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the agreement. Tehran has warned several times that it will react strongly against the E3 if the mechanism is triggered. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned on Sunday that Britain, France, and Germany (E3) should not undermine the credibility of the UN Security Council (UNSC) by triggering the snapback mechanism to reinstate sanctions on Tehran. In a post on X, Araghchi said the E3 lacks the "legal, political, and moral standing" to invoke the 2015 nuclear deal's provisions or the UNSC Resolution 2231, which permit the reimposition of international sanctions if Iran is found in non-compliance with the agreement. He noted that after the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018, Iran exhausted dispute resolution mechanisms before taking remedial measures, while the E3 failed to honor their commitments and even backed the US "maximum pressure" policy. "The E3 must refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work," Araghchi said, noting that Iran is ready for "meaningful diplomacy," but will resist hostile measures. Tokyo, July 21 : The coalition led by Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is certain to lose its majority in the House of Councillors following Sunday's election, public broadcaster NHK reported. The coalition of the LDP and Komeito is set to fall short of the 125 seats needed for a majority in the 248-seat upper house of parliament, Xinhua news agency reported quoting NHK. The House of Councillors is made up of 248 members with fixed six-year terms. Elections are held every three years, with half the seats up for election each time. In Sunday's vote, a total of 125 seats, including one to fill a vacancy, were up for grabs. Meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is expected to expand its seat count, while the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito look set to make significant gains, NHK projected. Despite the defeat, Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to stay on as Japan's prime minister, adding that the LDP must fulfill its responsibility as the ruling party. Ishiba told NHK that his party has so far secured enough seats to be the leading party in the upper house, and that he has to fulfill the pledges he made during the election campaign, such as wage hikes to counter rising prices. The embattled prime minister is expected to hold a press conference on Monday, while all major opposition parties have expressed reluctance to help the ruling bloc by forming an expanded coalition. In the October 2024 general election, the ruling coalition already lost its majority in the more powerful House of Representatives, or lower house, forcing Ishiba to form Japan's first minority government in over three decades. Damascus, July 21 : Syria's foreign affairs authorities blamed Druze militias for obstructing a humanitarian convoy bound for the southern province of Sweida. In a statement, the authorities said the convoy transporting medical supplies was blocked from entering Sweida for the second time in four days, accusing the Druze armed groups of imposing conditions on the aid's entry. Only a limited portion of the aid, accompanied by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, was allowed in, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the statement. "The deteriorating security situation is a direct result of ongoing Israeli intervention and the withdrawal of Syrian security forces," the statement said. "This has led to a loss of control, impeding efforts to provide essential services and meet basic needs." Emergency authorities chief Raed al-Saleh told state television earlier on Sunday that aid convoys have been waiting for days to enter Sweida but that "the complex security situation and the kidnapping of colleagues" have delayed deliveries. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the recent violent clashes between local Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal militias have left more than 1,000 dead. Earlier on Saturday, the Syrian authorities declared an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, marking a significant turning point in the deadly sectarian clashes in southern Syria, which prompted a recent Israeli intervention with massive airstrikes. In a statement issued Saturday, the Syrian authorities said the truce aimed to preserve national unity and ensure the safety of civilians amid "critical circumstances," describing the move as a national and humanitarian obligation. The authorities called on all parties to cease hostilities and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. Singapore has begun trialing a police patrol robot at Changi Airport Terminal 4 to assist with patrolling and offer officers a faster way to get around. The autonomous robot, named Gibson, is equipped with multiple cameras and sensors to navigate the environment, avoiding obstacles and people. Besides its patrol function, it also serves as a personal mobility device (PMD) to help officers cover long distances efficiently, as reported by The Straits Times. Developed by The Home Team Science and Technology Agency in collaboration with the A*Star Institute for Infocomm Research, Gibson has been in trial since early July. "Gibson was inspired by the concept of creating a buddy robot for our officers," Seah Qi Yan, an engineer at HTXs Robotics, Automation, and Unmanned Systems Center of Expertise, said. "They can use it as a PMD in their operations and transform it into an autonomous robot when not in use." Singapore's Changi airport. Photo from Pexels During a media demonstration on July 16, Gibson showcased its dual-mode operation. In autonomous mode, the robot uses cameras, 3D LiDAR, and Sonar technology to navigate and avoid obstacles, according to AsiaOne. It also features a "safety bubble" that stops the robot and sounds an alarm if someone gets too close. In ride-hailing mode, Gibson can autonomously travel to an officers location, enhancing operational convenience. Superintendent of Police Patrick Pang from the Airport Police Division said the robot will complement existing police patrols and improve police visibility at the airport. "The ride-hailing function makes it convenient for officers to summon Gibson without having to manually search for one. And with the autonomous mode, our officers do not have to worry about where to park, as it can resume its patrols without returning to a designated parking lot," Pang explained. Gibson is the second type of police robot at Changi Airport. The first patrol robots were introduced in April 2023 after five years of trials. Other robots are also deployed at the airport, FTN News reported. Toni the Robotic Bartender serves cocktails at the Lotte Duty Free stores in Terminals 2 and 3. PETER, a robocop patrolling the main entrance of Jewel, delivers traffic enforcement alerts to drivers who stop for too long. A hospitality robot on Level 5 serves sweets and bottled water, while mop robots on Level 1 handle cleaning tasks. New Delhi, July 21 : Actor Shabir Ahluwalia believes in doing "good work" and added that chasing constant visibility can make one become irrelevant. New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) Actor Shabir Ahluwalia believes in doing "good work" and added that chasing constant visibility can make one become irrelevant. Talking about how he keeps relevant if he's not doing constant projects on the screen, Shabir told IANS: "I believe in just doing good work when it comes. In trying to be relevant, you often become irrelevant." "And that can happen in any field. You could end up just trying to do things like 'Oh, I need to be seen,' 'I need to be doing projects with this person or that person.' I don't believe in that." Shabir said he believes in his conviction. The actor said: "I believe in doing work that I truly like, at my own pace. And whenever I do it, I know I'm going to try to bring out the best in myselfand in the project." He made his acting debut in 1999 with "Hip Hip Hurray". However, it was his acting prowess in shows such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat, Kahi To Milenge, Kkavyanjali, Kasamh Se, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Laagi Tujhse Lagan and Kayamath. The actor also featured in two films Shootout at Lokhandwala, which released in 2007, based on the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, a real-life gun battle between gangsters and the Mumbai Police. A year later, he was seen in Mission Istaanbul, an action thriller film based on an organisation Al Johara which bears a resemblance to Qatar-based news channel, which was criticized by the White House as being an outlet for terrorists. Shabir's latest work is Sony SAB's romantic-comedy, "Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil". The show, which also stars Ashi Singh, is a passionate, fun love tale set against the backdrop of a crazy household. It follows Kairi, a determined young woman raising her three siblings, clashes with Yug Sinha, a lawyer sceptical of women and scarred by his past. What begins as a fierce rivalry, with the two clashing at home and in court, soon turns into an unexpected journey of love, healing, and redefining family. New Delhi, July 21 : Television actress Ashi Singh, who made her small screen debut through the show "Secret Diaries: The Hidden Chapters" in 2015, feels that she needs to be visible and seen regularly. New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) Television actress Ashi Singh, who made her small screen debut through the show "Secret Diaries: The Hidden Chapters" in 2015, feels that she needs to be visible and seen regularly. Asked if she believes constantly taking up projects is necessary to stay relevant in today's time, Ashi told IANS: "At this stage, yeah, I do feel that I need to be visible to be seen regularly. But at the same time, I don't want to do things just for the sake of doing them. So, I use my Instagram for that, basically. I genuinely use it to stay connected." The actress, who has also worked in shows such Gumrah, Crime Patrol, and Savdhaan India, puts her social media to use, if she's not working on any project. "If I'm not working on any project, I become more active on Instagram so people can see me, and I can interact with those I couldn't connect with before. That's how I feel I can stay relevant. And even if I can't, maybe in a few months I'll take on a project that brings me back into the spotlight. So I don't stress too much about it." The actress is currently seen in Sony SAB's romantic-comedy, "Ufff Yeh Love Hai Mushkil". The show, which also stars Shabir Ahluwalia. It talks about Kairi, a determined young woman raising her three siblings, clashes with Yug Sinha, a lawyer sceptical of women and scarred by his past. What begins as a fierce rivalry, with the two clashing at home and in court, soon turns into an unexpected journey of love, healing, and redefining family. The actress had made a cameo appearance as the jailer's daughter in the 2017 film "Qaidi Band", directed by Habib Faisal. It featured newcomers Aadar Jain and Anya Singh in the lead roles. The film revolves around a group of seven innocent under-trials, who give a band performance in prison to get into the good books of the authorities and secure their acquittal. From 2017 to 2019, she played the lead role of Naina Agarwal in Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai opposite Randeep Rai. She played Yasmine in Aladdin Naam Toh Suna Hoga. She was then seen as Meet Hooda in Meet: Badlegi Duniya Ki Reet opposite Shagun Pandey. Ashi has also made her OTT debut with First Copy where she played Afreen opposite Munawar Faruqui. New Delhi, July 21 : As the Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed to all members to cooperate in ensuring the smooth functioning of the House, underlining its critical role in advancing inclusive development, social justice, and national interest. In a post on X, Birla wrote, "The fifth session (Monsoon Session) of the 18th Lok Sabha is commencing today. In this sacred temple of democracy, the collective role of all representatives is extremely important for the expression of public aspirations and the protection of national interests." He urged leaders across political parties to engage in constructive discussions and maintain a healthy democratic dialogue throughout the session, which is scheduled to run till August 21. "Before the Monsoon Session, I urge the leaders of all parties and honourable members to cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House, constructive discussions, and healthy democratic dialogue, so that we can take concrete steps toward inclusive development, social justice, and economic progress," he added. Expressing hope that the session will be productive, Birla said, "It is hoped that this Monsoon Session, dedicated to the dignity of democracy, the prestige of Parliament, and the priority of public welfare, will be meaningful and successful. Together, we will make significant contributions toward strengthening democratic consciousness, unity in diversity, and constitutional values." Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the reporters on the Parliament premises before the session officially begins. The session comes amid a politically charged atmosphere and is expected to be stormy, as the Opposition is geared up to raise several contentious issues, including the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. A day earlier, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also appealed for collaboration, emphasising that both the ruling and Opposition parties bear equal responsibility in ensuring the Parliament's smooth functioning. "Our political parties may have different ideologies, but it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the Parliament runs smoothly. The Opposition has a responsibility and the government has a responsibility too," Rijiju had said. Chennai, July 21 : As Chennai braces for the peak dengue season, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has intensified vector control and source reduction measures across the city following a sharp rise in dengue cases this year. From January to July 8, 2025, the city recorded 522 cases -- up from 381 during the same period in 2024. The civic body's vector control department has ramped up efforts, especially in high-incidence zones. Adyar emerged as the worst-affected area this year, reporting 111 cases, followed by Shollinganallur with 63. In June alone, over 23 tonnes of waste, including 2,690 kg of used tyres and 20,455 kg of water-holding containers like broken pots and drums, were cleared citywide to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. Notably, Adyar accounted for the highest waste removal at 3,596 kg. Officials noted that Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, breed in clean stagnant water often found inside homes. "Water collected inside unused tyres, broken containers, sunshades, and even refrigerator trays can serve as breeding spots," a vector control officer with the GCC said. Historically, Adyar has consistently reported the highest dengue cases in the city, with over 250 cases in both 2023 and 2024. In contrast, zones like Royapuram and Tondiarpet generally report fewer cases, averaging around 57 and 63 annually. However, public health experts caution that these numbers may reflect better disease reporting in some areas rather than actual incidence. Residents in low-reporting zones, such as Old Washermanpet, claim many cases go unnoticed. Dengue cases in Chennai typically surge between August and October, with the peak in September and October. This trend aligns with data from the World Health Organisation's 2020 Dengue Bulletin and studies by Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Public Health. Intermittent rains during the southwest monsoon are particularly conducive to breeding, while heavier northeast monsoon rains tend to wash away larvae. Dr T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, highlighted two major dengue outbreaks in Tamil Nadu -- in 2012 (13,204 cases) and in 2017 (23,294 cases). "We have around 10 days to act before the next breeding cycle begins," he warned, urging proactive vector control. While some residents blame ongoing infrastructure projects like the Metro Rail and stormwater drains for impeding vector control, officials maintain that efforts are ongoing. "We have 2,400 domestic breeding checkers inspecting over 500 homes each week year-round," a senior official said. "Fogging operations and penalties are enforced wherever dengue is reported. But public participation is crucial -- keeping one's surroundings clean is the most effective preventive measure." New Delhi, July 21 : Tech giant Microsoft has issued urgent security patch after observing "active attacks" on server software used by government agencies and businesses to share documents within organisations. According to Microsoft, the vulnerabilities apply only to SharePoint servers used within organisations. SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365, which is in the cloud, was not hit by the attacks, the organisation informed. "Microsoft is aware of active attacks targeting on-premises SharePoint Server customers by exploiting vulnerabilities partially addressed by the July Security Update," said the tech giant in ints security advisory. The company recommended security updates that customers should apply immediately. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also said it is aware of the attacks and is working closely with its federal and private-sector partners. The vulnerability is related to a case of remote code execution that arises due to the deserialization of untrusted data in on-premise versions of Microsoft SharePoint Server. Microsoft said the current published content is correct and that the previous inconsistency does not impact the company's guidance for customers. "After applying the latest security updates above or enabling AMSI, it is critical that customers rotate SharePoint server ASP.NET machine keys and restart IIS on all SharePoint servers," Microsoft said. "If you cannot enable AMSI, you will need to rotate your keys after you install the new security update," its added. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added 'CVE-2025-53770' vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to apply the fixes by July 21, 2025. "Microsoft has released security updates that fully protect customers using SharePoint Subscription Edition and SharePoint 2019 against the risks posed by CVE-2025-53770, and CVE-2025-53771. Customers should apply these updates immediately to ensure they're protected," said the company in its security update. Bhubaneswar, July 21 : Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya on Monday targeted the opposition BJD and Congress, accusing the opposition parties of shielding criminals. His statement came in the wake of the arrest of Udit Pradhan, the Odisha State President of Congressas student wing, on charges of raping a 19-year-old engineering student in Bhubaneswar. Amit Malviya, who is the BJP's IT cell chief, also blamed the BJD and Congress for the tragic death of a Balasore FM Autonomous College student following self-immolation over sexual harassment. He accused the opposition parties of engaging in a vile campaign of character assassination against the deceased FM college girl, forcing her to take the extreme step. "This comes close on the heels of another horrific case a" where student leaders from both BJD and Congress were complicit in driving the Balasore sexual assault victim to suicide through a vile campaign of character assassination," alleged Malviya on X on Monday. The senior BJP leader accused the BJD and Congress of shielding criminals. "How long will these parties shield predators in their ranks? How many more young women must suffer before there is accountability? Silence is complicity, " added Malviya. In a shocking development, the Commissionerate Police arrested Udit Pradhan, the president of Odisha Chhatra Congress (National Students Union of India), late Sunday night. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim, a case (419/25) was registered at the Mancheswar Police Station in Bhubaneswar. As per the complainant, the accused Pradhan took her to a hotel along with her friends on the pretext of going on an outing. The accused allegedly intoxicated the victim by mixing a substance in her drink before committing the assault in the hotel on March 18. The police have taken Pradhan into custody, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the details of the incident. Los Angeles, July 21 : Hollywood star Uma Thurman, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming project, The Old Guard 2, has opened up about the intense physical preparation she underwent for "Kill Bill." Los Angeles, July 21 (IANS) Hollywood star Uma Thurman, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming project, The Old Guard 2, has opened up about the intense physical preparation she underwent for "Kill Bill." The 55-year-old actress, renowned for her iconic role as The Bride in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol 1 and Vol 2, revealed that her return to action films this year came without time for full training. Thurman told The Sunday Times: "Fortunately I had put in hundreds of hours learning how to hold a sword (for Kill Bill 1 and 2)," she said. In her new action film The Old Guard 2, a sequel to the 2020 Netflix action hit, Thurman plays Discord, a 5,000-year-old immortal warrior who engages in an epic sword fight opposite Charlize Theron's character, Andromache, near a secret nuclear facility, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Thurman added about her Kill Bill muscle memory coming in handy during the shoot: "You may not be limber and strong. But if your brain has learnt how to memorise sequences of movements, you can get back in that zone." For Kill Bill, Thurman trained for eight hours a day across three months in preparation for the role. That experience, she said, proved invaluable when returning to the genre. Her character in The Old Guard 2 marks her first sword-wielding performance since Quentin Tarantino's films, and it has been more than two decades since she last performed choreographed combat on screen. Thurman's new film is directed by Victoria Mahoney and follows a group of age-old warriors with supernatural powers who fight to protect humanity. The original, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, was praised for its blend of grounded drama and stylised violence. Speaking about the appeal of The Old Guard, Thurman said: "I thought that first movie was really unusual, a superb female-led action film that had depth, drama and really beautiful, naturalistic acting." She also credited her co-star and producer Charlize Theron, 48, as a major draw for signing on. Thurman added: "Charlize is a miraculous performer, a very powerful individual and as charismatic in person as on screen. And I liked the idea of playing a supporting role to another actress who I thought had done really significant work in the drama/action field." Chennai, July 21 : In a major political development, former AIADMK Minister A. Anwhar Rajaa ended his long-standing association with the party on Monday and walked into the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, party sources said. Sources said that he is likely to formally join the DMK in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Rajaa, who served as Labour Minister in the J. Jayalalithaa-led Cabinet from 2006 to 2011, had been growing increasingly disillusioned with the AIADMK leadership, particularly over its revived alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Although, he had maintained a low profile in recent months, his move to the rival DMK sent shockwaves through the AIADMK camp, which has already been grappling with dwindling support from minority communities. In an apparent attempt at damage control, AIADMK sources confirmed that Rajaa was expelled from the party and stripped of his post and primary membership. However, there has been no official statement from AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on the matter so far. This is not the first time Rajaa has faced disciplinary action within the AIADMK. He was previously expelled on November 30, 2021, on charges of engaging in anti-party activities. The action followed his public endorsement of the then AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam's suggestion to readmit V.K. Sasikala -- Jayalalithaa's close aide -- into the party fold. Rajaa was readmitted to the AIADMK on August 4, 2023, after he submitted a formal apology to Palaniswami. His ideological discomfort with the BJP's growing influence in Tamil Nadu politics has been well documented. He was one of the first AIADMK leaders to voice concern over the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's push for a coalition government model in the state, insisting such an arrangement would not be feasible in a Dravidian political landscape. Rajaa also repeatedly spoke out against the BJP's power-sharing demands and ideological stance, further widening his rift with the AIADMK leadership. With this high-profile switch, the DMK gains a senior leader from the rival camp, while the AIADMK faces fresh challenges in retaining its support base among minorities ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. New Delhi, July 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Monday that Operation Sindoor marks a "Vijay Utsav (victory celebration)" for the country. He expressed hope that Parliament will discuss this successful military action, which will not only encourage the Indian Armed Forces but also inspire the citizens of India. Addressing the media ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, PM Modi hailed Operation Sindoor, and said, "This Monsoon Session is a 'Vijay Utsav'. The entire world has seen the strength of the Indian Armed Forces. The aim that the forces had established for the Operation Sindoor was 100 per cent achieved. The terrorists were neutralised right in their homes, within just 22 minutes, the operation brought them to the ground." "I announced it at an event in Bihar, and our Indian Armed Forces demonstrated their strength during this operation. The concept of 'Made in India', which represents a new facet of India's military power, has also captured global attention. Whenever I meet people from various countries, I notice a growing interest in Made in India weapons," he said. Expressing hope to discuss the success of Operation Sindoor in Parliament, PM Modi said, "When the House expresses its sentiments of victory of this 'Vijay Utsav' in one unified voice during this session, it will strengthen India's military power, encourage, inspire the countrymen of the country and give momentum to research, innovation and manufacturing in the defence sector, which in turn will gengerate employement opportunities for the youth." Recalling Indian astronaut Subhanshu Shukla's recent endeavour to the International Space Station, the Prime Minister said, "This Monsoon Session is a moment of immense pride for the nation. It symbolises a true celebration of victory for the country. And when I say this session is a celebration of national pride and triumph, I must highlight one of the most remarkable moments, the Indian Tricolour being unfurled for the first time at the International Space Station." "This is a proud moment for every Indian. This successful journey has ignited excitement and enthusiasm for science, technology, and innovation among the youth. All parliamentarians and citizens of India will come together with enthusiasm to celebrate the remarkable achievements that have reached new heights in space," he added. The Prime Minister also called the monsoon "a symbol of renewal and rejuvenation" and said that the weather across the country is "progressing very positively". "The reports indicate that the monsoon is favourable for agriculture, which in turn benefits the farmers' economy, the national economy and the rural economy," he said. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, July 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described the Monsoon Session of Parliament as a 'session of celebration' and referred to the hoisting of the national flag at the International Space Station (ISS) as a moment of immense pride and jubilation for the nation. PM Modi said this while addressing the media ahead of the beginning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. "India's flag being hoisted at the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time is a moment of pride for every citizen. There has been a renewed vigour and excitement in the country after India's successful sojourn in space," PM Modi said while lauding the Indian astronaut, Subhanshu Shukla's recent endeavours at the International Space Station. He further said that all Parliamentarians, along with countrymen, are proud of his feat and will continue to glorify it and added this will serve as an inspiration for the country's future space missions. The Prime Minister also spoke about Operation Sindoor, spotlighting how the Indian forces responded to a dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and pulverised a series of terror bases and hideouts in Pakistani territory within 22 minutes. "Under Operation Sindoor, the houses of the masters of terrorists were razed to the ground within 22 minutes," he said. PM Modi emphasised the growing respect for the Indian military's prowess, in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and also about the global interest in the 'Made in India' arsenal. "Indian military's prowess built on the foundation of Made in India defence capabilities is drawing the attention of global powers," he said. Prime Minister further stated that if the Parliament acknowledges and celebrates this victory in one voice, it will strengthen and encourage India's Armed Forces even further. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, July 21 : The holy month of Sawan witnessed a grand display of devotion on its second Somvaar, as millions of devotees thronged Lord Shiva temples across the country to offer holy water and seek blessings. From Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar to the ghats of Haridwar and the streets of Varanasi, the atmosphere was soaked in chants of "Bol Bam" and resonated with unwavering faith in Lord Shiva. In Deoghar, the world-renowned Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, witnessed an overwhelming influx of devotees. Lakhs of kanwariyas arrived after completing a 108-kilometre barefoot journey from Sultanganj, carrying holy water from the Ganga. As it was not just the second Monday of Sawan but also Ekadashi, the crowds swelled even further. Streets were filled with people in long queues stretching over 10 km since early in the morning. District authorities estimated that over three lakh devotees would offer holy water at the shrine today. The temple complex was beautifully decorated with flowers, echoing with chants of "Bol Bam," as the devotees performed jalabhishek using arghas. Local priest Lambodar Parihast noted the temple's spiritual grandeur and praised the administration for smooth arrangements. In Ballia, massive crowds gathered at the Baba Baleshwar Nath Temple. A local priest shared, "In Sawan, Lord Bholenath is everything to us -- our protector and guide. Everything we have is by His grace." A devotee added, "There is a huge crowd, but the darshan is happening on time. We are happy and blessed." At Dudheshwar Nath Mahadev Temple, a devotee said, "We come here every Monday. The arrangements are excellent, and darshan is happening smoothly today." Devotees also flocked to Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple, where temple priest Umashankar Bharti emphasised its spiritual significance, calling it a Swayambhu (self-manifested) and south-facing shrine. Kashi (Varanasi) witnessed divine fervour as thousands of kanwariyas arrived to offer water at the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Locals welcomed them with flower showers at the Godowlia crossing and even washed their feet, a gesture of deep reverence. The entire city turned saffron, soaked in chants and spiritual enthusiasm. In Haridwar, an ocean of devotees gathered to take a holy dip in the Ganga before performing jalabhishek at various Shiva temples. A surge of crowd was witnessed at Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, where worshippers patiently waited in long lines to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. In Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, a devotee visiting Shivalaya Temple said, "Sawan Mondays are very dear to Lord Shiva. It is believed that offering water to Him during this time brings us closer to Him." In Greater Noida, temples saw massive footfall from early morning, especially in Mubarakpur village, where devotees believe that prayers offered on the second Monday of Sawan remove all obstacles. "This is an ancient temple, and every year thousands of people come here with deep faith," said a local devotee. In West Delhi's Madipur village, the ancient Shiv temple also saw a huge crowd of worshippers from Delhi NCR and beyond. A devotee shared, "Those who come here with pure intentions have their wishes fulfilled. Baba blesses everyone who visits." Seoul, July 21 : South Korea's special counsel team said on Monday that it has summoned former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee to appear for questioning over allegations of election interference and other irregularities. Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team sent a summons to the Seoul Detention Centre, where Yoon is under arrest, to request his appearance as a suspect at 10 a.m. July 29, assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju said during a press briefing. The team also mailed a summons to Kim's residence to request her appearance as a suspect at 10 a.m. on August 6, he said. Kim is expected to be questioned about her alleged involvement in two different stock price manipulation schemes, her alleged acceptance of luxury goods from a shaman, and her alleged meddling in election nominations, according to a team official. Yoon is also suspected of interfering in nominations for elections, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier on July 19, a special counsel team had indicted former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of abuse of authority over his short-lived imposition of martial law. It marked Yoon's third indictment with detention following previous ones in January and in March related to his martial law declaration on December 3 and other power abuse charges. According to the team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk, Yoon is accused of violating the rights of Cabinet members during the martial law deliberation process, retroactively drafting the martial law declaration, ordering the deletion of records from encrypted phones and other offences. On Friday, a court dismissed Yoon Suk Yeol's petition against his arrest, keeping him in custody over his failed attempt to impose martial law. The Seoul Central District Court issued the ruling after concluding a hearing that reviewed the legality of Yoon's arrest and whether it should remain in place. Seoul, July 21 : South Korea's defence ministry said on Monday that it has suspended the head of the Drone Operations Command over suspicions that military drones were illegally dispatched to North Korea last year as part of preparations for former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law. Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, commander of the unit, was separated from his duties Monday pending suspension, the defence ministry said, a day after an arrest warrant was sought for him in connection with the investigation into Yoon's failed martial law bid last December. A special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk filed for the warrant for Kim, who has been in custody, on charges that include forging official documents. The investigation team suspects Yoon gave direct orders to the drone commander in October last year to dispatch drones to North Korea without reporting to the defence ministry or the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), aiming to provoke military provocations from North Korea to allegedly justify the martial law imposition. Kim has squarely denied his role, refuting any connection between the drone dispatch to the North and Yoon's martial law declaration and arguing that the drone dispatch proceeded legally under the JCS's orders as part of response measures to the North's balloon campaigns against the South. The Seoul Central District Court was set to hold a hearing on whether to grant the arrest warrant for Kim on Monday afternoon, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier on July 20, Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk's team detained the head of the Drone Operations Command and sought a warrant to formally arrest him over charges related to Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law attempt. Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae was detained without a warrant, a day after the special counsel team questioned him over charges of benefiting the enemy, drafting fabricated documents and power abuse. "We requested an arrest warrant for Commander Kim," the special counsel team had said in a notice to the press. "We requested the arrest warrant based on crimes we have verified so far, as there was reason to place him in custody." Bengaluru, July 21 : The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Directorate of Enforcement, which had challenged the Karnataka High Court's order quashing the ED notice issued to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi B.M., and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. Bengaluru, July 21 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Directorate of Enforcement, which had challenged the Karnataka High Courtas order quashing the ED notice issued to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi B.M., and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is the first accused in the case. Expressing displeasure while looking into the appeal, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai remarked that he, unfortunately, has some experience with such matters in Maharashtra. "Please do not force us to say something. Otherwise, we will have to make some very harsh remarks about the ED. Let political battles be fought among the electorate. Why are you allowing yourself to be used for this?" the bench questioned. The bench further stated, "We do not find any error in the reasoning adopted by the single judge. In light of the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we dismiss the petition. We should thank you, ASG, for helping us avoid making harsh comments." ASG S.V. Raju had submitted to the court that he would withdraw the petition and requested that this not be treated as a precedent. Reacting to the development, the Chief Ministeras Office stated that justice has prevailed and the EDas interference in the MUDA case has been brought to an end. The ED had issued notices to CM Siddaramaiahas wife, Parvathi B.M., and Minister Byrathi Suresh on alleged money laundering charges in connection with the MUDA scam. The Karnataka High Court on March 7 had set aside the Enforcement Directorate's summons to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi B.M. and Minister Byrathi Suresh in connection with the MUDA site allotment case. Justice M. Nagaprasanna delivered the verdict on petitions filed by Parvathi and Suresh challenging the ED's action. The summons had earlier been put on hold by the court on January 27. Parvathi's counsel had argued that the ED was conducting a parallel investigation despite the case already being probed by the Lokayukta police and a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Meanwhile, the Additional Solicitor General of India, Arvind Kamath, representing the ED, contended that Parvathi was the second accused in the predicate offence and had received proceeds of crime. Minister Suresh's counsel, Senior Advocate C.V. Nagesh, maintained that his client was not an accused in the case and therefore should not have been summoned. In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that 14 compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket Vijayanagar Layout 3rd and 4th stages in Mysuru city, which had a higher property value as compared to the location of her land, which had been "acquired" by MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout. Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in place of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts. It was alleged that CM Siddaramaiah misused his office as an Opposition leader, then as the Deputy Chief Minister and later as the Chief Minister to get the allotment of 14 sites. New Delhi, July 21 : As the Opposition members resorted to sloganeering and trooped into the well of the House in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal hit out at the Congress party, accusing it of disrupting parliamentary proceedings as a political strategy. "Creating chaos during the session has become a habit of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi himself does not sit in the session," Pal said, defending the Prime Minister's approach to parliamentary responsibility. His remarks come at a time when the Opposition INDIA bloc has demanded direct responses from the Prime Minister on several issues, including Operation Sindoor, the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, and matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to IANS, Pal emphasised that the Prime Minister has consistently fulfilled his responsibilities and only intervenes when appropriate. "The Prime Minister has been consistently responding and is once again appealing today for the smooth functioning of the Parliament... If a question is related to the Home Ministry, the Home Minister will answer; if it's about Parliamentary Affairs, the concerned minister will respond. And when the Prime Minister needs to speak, such as on the President's address, he does so," he said. On the Opposition's specific focus on Jammu and Kashmir, Pal highlighted the transformation the region has witnessed post the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. "Today's question regarding Jammu and Kashmir reflects how the situation under Articles 370 and 35A was viewed globally. Terrorist activities there have nearly ended. Earlier, stone-pelting incidents were common, but now the number of tourists is rising. Significant progress has been made in terms of peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections have been held on time, and the government is taking timely steps," he said. The BJP has maintained that it is committed to transparency and debate in Parliament, while also accusing the Opposition of stalling discussions for political mileage. With 21 sittings planned during this Monsoon Session, tensions remain high as the government aims to push key legislative business, while the Opposition continues to press for accountability from the top. Mandu : , July 21 (IANS) The Congress begun its two-day 'Nav Sankalp' camp in the town of Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, marking a significant step in its preparations for the 2028 Assembly elections. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to join the session virtually, contributing to discussions on organisational restructuring and caste census advocacy on the final and second day of the camp on Tuesday. The session will also synthesise insights from earlier group discussions. The camp was inaugurated with a flag hoisting ceremony led by State Congress In-charge Harish Chaudhary, State party President Jitu Patwari, and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, alongside the Congress Seva Dal team. The national anthem set the tone for the event, which saw the presence of senior party leaders and a ceremonial tribal welcome for attending legislators. The camp features 12 sessions designed to equip Congress legislators with strategic, ideological and communicative tools. Former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath was expected to address the gathering virtually on Monday, focusing on the economic roadmap for Madhya Pradesh. His session, titled "Future and Economic Policy of Madhya Pradesh," outlined challenges and opportunities in the state's development trajectory. Congress Media and Communication Department head Pawan Khera is scheduled to conduct a session on narrative-building and media strategy to emphasise the importance of framing the party's ideology effectively in the digital age and countering misinformation. Former Principal Secretary of the Assembly, Bhagwandev Israni, will speak on a tactical session on confronting the ruling BJP government in the state. He will give detail on how MLAs can leverage RTI queries, audit reports, and legislative procedures to expose governance failures. According to a Congress spokesperson, MLAs were divided into groups of ten for focused discussions. These groups, categorised by Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, and Other Backward Class representation, deliberated on constituency-specific issues and compiled strategic reports. The second day of the training session will begin with Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Ajay Maken addressing Congress' foundational principles, including constitutionalism, secularism, and inclusive development. He will also speak on reconnecting with social justice movements. Later, Congress Social Media Department head Supriya Shrinate will guide party MLAs on digital strategy. Her session will cover platform-specific tactics for social media platforms X and Facebook, short-form video creation, countering online trolling, and building a compelling digital persona. The camp, organised just days before the Monsoon session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, is seen as a critical moment for the Congress to consolidate its internal strategy and sharpen its public messaging. With participation from national leaders and subject experts, Congress aims to energise its legislative wing and lay the groundwork for a robust electoral campaign. Kolkata, July 21 : The guesthouse at Anandapur in the southern outskirts of Kolkata, from where four men related to the Patna hospital gangster murder case were arrested last week, was booked by a local woman, Alpana Das. Altogether, ten people were detained from different places on the same day last week, out of whom, finally, four were arrested and taken to Patna by Bihar Police. The remaining six, including Alpana, though, were released later but are under constant watch by the city police sleuths. Alpana was the lone woman among the ten people who were detained on the same day last week. Tauseef -- the prime accused in the Chandan Mishra murder case at Paras Hospital in Patna, his cousin Yousuf Khan alias Nishu, along with two associates, were arrested from the three-storey guest house, Green Edge Regency, in Anandpur area in a joint operation by Bihar Police and the special task force of West Bengal Police. An insider from the city police said that Alpana was known to Nishu Khan for quite some time. "Nishu Khan reportedly told Alpana that they were bringing her relative to Kolkata for treatment and had asked her to book a room in a guest house in Kolkata," the insider said. The police have found out that the woman did not know anything about the murder and was completely in the dark about the fact that Nishu was associated with the gangsters and that they had committed crimes in the past. Alpana had met Nishu through social media. According to the police, Alpana, who is from the Dum Dum area in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, was detained and later released as she did not have any direct connection with the Patna gangster murder. The four arrested were identified as the prime accused, Tauseef, his cousin Nishu, his caretaker Bhim Kumar, and a male nurse, Harsh Kumar. The four arrested were produced in an Alipore court on Sunday. The court allowed Bihar Police a 48-hour transit remand. Sources said that after committing the murder, they had left their arms in Patna before fleeing to Kolkata. Sources said they were also carrying forged medical documents as an alibi for Nishuas treatment if they were stopped anywhere on the highway. The gang members had checked into the Anandapur guesthouse on Friday afternoon after they could not get in touch with Tauseefas friend Ehsaan at Shukhobrishti Housing Complex in New Town or get an accommodation near Park Street in Kolkata. Moscow, July 21 : Russia is ready to move quickly towards a settlement on Ukraine, but the main objective is to achieve its goals, said the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible," Peskov told state television in an interview on Sunday. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy." "Our goals are clear, they are obvious, they do not change," he added. Russian officials have said repeatedly that any peace deal hinges on Ukraine withdrawing forces from four regions, renouncing its NATO bid and halting NATO troop deployments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his officials have proposed holding a new round of peace talks with Moscow this week. "Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire," he said in his evening address to the nation. On July 14, US President Donald Trump, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, said the United States will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO, and threatened "severe tariffs" targeting Russia if a ceasefire deal is not reached in 50 days, Xinhua news agency reported. Russia rejected Trump's 50-day ultimatum, dismissing the threat as unacceptable. Following the announcement, US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that President Trump's statements on supplying arms to Ukraine and the introduction of additional anti-Russian restrictions are likely to trigger a response from Russia, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also said he would impose "very severe tariffs" on Russia. Expressing his anger at Russia's President Vladimir Putin, he said, "My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night." "I felt we had a deal about four times between Russia and Ukraine, "but it just kept going on and on", said Trump, who tried to broker a deal. Vientiane/ Hanoi, July 21 : Vietnam and Laos brace for nature's fury on Monday, as Typhoon Wipha barrels in with a stormy entourage of torrential rains, fierce winds, and crackling thunderstorms set to sweep across the region. In Laos, the weather bureau has issued a warning of increased risk of flash floods and landslides as Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms across the country. As Typhoon Wipha weakens into a tropical storm near Vietnam between Monday and Tuesday, it is expected to affect northern and central parts of Laos, bringing light to moderate thunderstorms in most areas, along with heavy rain and strong winds in some central and southern parts, according to a report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Residents in low-lying areas and along riverbanks are urged to remain alert and prepare for several days of continuous heavy rain, which may trigger landslides, flash floods, and damage to lives and property. All citizens are encouraged to closely monitor official forecasts and warnings. Similarly, in Vietnam, northern and central localities have taken precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of Typhoon Wipha, which is forecast to make landfall in the country on Monday evening, Xinhua reported, quoting the Vietnam News Agency. Authorities in the affected areas have begun evacuating residents from high-risk zones, including river mouths, coastal areas, riverbanks, and locations prone to landslides. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed local administrations to enforce sea travel bans and suspend the operations of fishing, cargo and tourist vessels based on local conditions. He emphasised that no individuals should be allowed to remain on boats when the typhoon comes ashore. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has cancelled several domestic flights connecting to the northern port city of Hai Phong on Monday. East China's Fujian Province also activated a Level-IV flood control emergency response at 8 a.m. Monday, as Typhoon Wipha moves closer, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters. Guwahati, July 21 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Monday, asserted that the investment summit 'Advantage Assam', which was held in the state in February this year, is proving to be beneficial for attracting good number of investment projects here, government officials said. According to the Chief Minister, the Advantage Assam event was not just an investment summit, it was the foundation of Assam's transformation as a major multi-sector growth engine. Chief Minister Sarma said, "Taking forward the summit commitments, the #AssamCabinet approved land for Medanta Hospital & Lemon Tree Hotel in Guwahati." In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister announced the construction of a 500-bed super speciality Medanta Hospital and a 100-bed Women and Child Hospital in the heart of Guwahati. The initiative also includes the development of a five-star Lemon Tree Hotel, marking a strategic push to enhance both medical and leisure tourism in the city. "PROMISES IN MOTION," CM Sarma wrote, highlighting that these developments are not only infrastructural upgrades but also drivers of employment and economic growth. The projects are expected to draw a combined investment of over Rs 800 crore and generate more than 2,700 direct jobs. The Chief Minister emphasised that the new facilities will significantly improve access to advanced healthcare services in the region, particularly in specialised treatment and maternal care. Officials believe the convergence of premium healthcare and hospitality will position Guwahati as a regional hub for both domestic and international patients, while also catering to the growing demand for quality urban infrastructure in the state. The projects come as part of the state government's larger vision to transform Assam into an investment-friendly destination with modern amenities, employment opportunities, and improved public services. Earlier, CM Sarma said that the industrial landscape of Assam is set for a transformational shift, with the grand success of the investment summit -- Advantage Assam 2.0, which has attracted investments worth at least Rs 4.5 lakh crore. "Sectors like hydrocarbons, which is our forte, and mines and minerals have attracted the most investment. We are now focusing on making Assam a developed industrial state like it was in 1947. Assam was the first industrial state of the country," the Chief Minister added. The coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong province has become a model for advanced urban governance by blending technological innovation with heritage preservation, earning international recognition at the Global Mayors Dialogue Qingdao held over the weekend. The event brought together mayors from across China and eight other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Greece and Cambodia, under the theme of celebrating culture and tourism together. It featured discussions on marine tourism development, the revitalization of historic urban areas and cultural exchanges. Sok Phea, deputy governor of Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province, described Qingdao Port of the Shandong Port Group as one of the world's top ports. "The fact that it is a smart and green port makes it a strong model for us to learn from," he said, adding that Preah Sihanouk plans to adopt digital and sustainable solutions inspired by Qingdao to build a future-ready logistics and tourism hub. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, secretary to the state government of Lagos, Nigeria, expressed interest in Qingdao's manufacturing strengths and potential vocational education cooperation, calling it an effective pathway for Lagos to acquire advanced technologies and AI expertise. "International cooperation in culture and tourism is a key factor in strengthening connections and understanding among nations," said Vladimir Kukharev, chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee in Belarus. Such partnerships, he added, not only drive economic growth but also promote peace and friendship, helping to build a stable and harmonious society. Ren Gang, mayor of Qingdao, pledged to use the exchange platform to expand practical cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy, aiming to make local-level interactions more distinctive and impactful in strengthening international ties. Mumbai, July 21 : Actress Rashmika Mandanna has announced the launch of her fragrance brand, and said that for her, perfumes bring back special moments that might otherwise be forgotten. Called Dear Diary, her perfume brand is inspired by Rashmika's own life experiences and deeply personal reflections. "For me, fragrance is memory. I don't remember most things, or maybe it's just selective memory, but perfumes bring back special moments that might otherwise be forgotten. It's how I hold on to the people, places, and experiences that shaped who I am." She said with Dear Diary, she wanted to give everyone a way to carry their stories with them. "To connect, to feel comforted, to feel a warm hug, and to express who they are, unapologetically," said Rashmika. Rashmika also shared a video on social media talking about her new fragrance brand. She wrote in the caption: "This one's really really realllllyyyy close to my heart. It's not just a brand.. not just a perfume.. it's a piece of me. Scent has always been such an important part of my personal life.. and today I share that with you.." She added: "I am so grateful I get to do this.. I am so excited but also soooo nervous.. but I hope I have all your blessings to go ahead with this.." Ahead of the announcement, the actress had shared her excitement on social media. She dropped a video where she was heard saying, "Okay, I can't believe I am finally recording this. Like you know by now, I have been working on something very very very close to my heart- it's not just a project, it's something I've poured my love into for you- for every message, for every cheer, every bit of love you have sent my way for the years. This is me sharing a little piece of that with you." "I hope you feel it, I hope you love it - can't wait to share it with you. It's launching tomorrow, and I am very very very very excited about this and very nervous, and very grateful," she added. The post was captioned, "Been keeping something special to myself for a while now and trust me, it's not easy when all I want to do is share it with you Just a little longer" Colombo, July 21 : Twenty-one people were injured in a head-on collision between a private bus and a state-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus in Kegalle, Sabaragamuwa province in central Sri Lanka, on Monday morning, police said. The accident happened around 5 am, according to police. The injured are receiving treatment at two regional hospitals. Kegalle police have launched an investigation into the incident. In a similar incident on June 18, about 23 people were injured when a passenger bus collided with a container truck in Ratnapura district in south central Sri Lanka, according to police. Traffic on the Colombo-Ratnapura main road was disrupted for about an hour following the accident. All those injured were taken to a regional hospital. Local media reported that none of the victims is in serious condition. Further, according to Xinhua news agency, a total of 592 Sri Lankans have died in 565 fatal road accidents as of April 2 this year. Deputy Inspector General of Motor Traffic and Road Safety of Sri Lanka Police, Indika Hapugoda, had told the media that there were 594 fatal accidents, claiming 619 lives during the same period in 2024. He also noted that April tends to record a higher number of fatal road accidents due to multiple nationwide celebrations, with 204 deaths reported during the month in 2024 alone, adding that December is another month that typically sees a spike in road fatalities for similar reasons. Looking at annual figures, Hapugoda said 2,341 people died in 2,231 fatal road accidents in 2023, and the number rose in 2024, with 2,541 deaths recorded from 2,403 fatal accidents. He further highlighted that 7,127 people sustained serious injuries in fatal accidents in 2024, many of whom now face long-term medical treatment or permanent disabilities. Chandigarh, July 21 : Taking serious note of a disturbing complaint, the Haryana Human Rights Commission, on Monday, issued a strong directive in favour of an 82-year-old Arjan Dev Aggarwal and his 72-year-old wife Vijay Aggarwal, both residents of Sector-9 in Panchkula, who have accused their son and daughter-in-law of sustained mental harassment, neglect and coercion to transfer property. According to the complaint, despite being elderly and suffering from severe health conditions requiring multiple surgeries, the couple has been subjected to isolation, verbal abuse, and psychological trauma while living under the same roof with their son and daughter-in-law. The complainants allege they were threatened to move into an old-age home and were even falsely implicated in a domestic violence case. They had also filed an application for eviction under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, before the Senior Citizen Tribunal in Panchkula on January 18 but have received no relief till now. The commission said that under Section 4 of the Act, senior citizens are entitled to claim maintenance from their children; under Section 23 any property transferred on the condition of care, if not fulfilled, can be declared null and void; and also Section 24 makes it a punishable offence to abandon a senior citizen. Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, noted that such treatment is not only a violation of the 2007 Act but also a gross infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to live with dignity. He termed the conduct of the respondents as a clear case of abuse, neglect, and coercion. In light of the prima facie evidence of abuse against elderly persons, the commission has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula, Monika Gupta, to ensure immediate protection to the elderly couple through local police or other concerned authorities, expedite proceedings before the Senior Citizen Tribunal and provide necessary administrative assistance and submit an action-taken report to the commission before the next date of hearing. Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information and Public Relations Officer of the commission, told that the next hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 23 and copies of the commission's order have been sent to the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police of Panchkula, Sibash Kabiraj, as well as to the complainants for necessary compliance. Kabul, July 21 : Police set on fire more than half a tonne of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on Sunday, provincial police spokesman Assadullah Jamshid said Monday. The contraband, which included 130 kg of opium poppy, 480 kg of methamphetamine and 660 pieces of stimulant tablets, had been collected over the past two months and was burned publicly, the official added. Police won't allow anyone to produce, process or traffic illegal drugs, the official further said. Yesterday, Afghan security forces dismantled two drug processing labs and discovered more than 580 kg of illicit drugs in western Afghanistan's Farah province, the office of the Deputy Minister of Interior for Counter-Narcotics said in a statement. According to the statement, counter-narcotic police launched separate operations on the outskirts of the Bakwa district, where they destroyed two drug labs and confiscated 589 kg of illicit substances. Nine suspected drug smugglers were detained, Xinhua news agency reported. The Afghan interim government has stepped up its crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business. In a similar case, on July 8, the Afghanistan Police thwarted attempts to smuggle 43 kg of illegal opium type drugs and arrested two individuals on charges of involvement in the drug business in eastern Wardak province. The alleged drug traffickers were attempting to take the contraband, which was smuggled from the northern Balkh, onward to the western Farah province. They were intercepted by police in Wardak's provincial capital, Maidan Shar and drugs confiscated. Both the arrested men, after necessary investigation, would be handed over to the judiciary for further interrogation, the official further said. Further, police also launched operations to destroy hashish farms in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province. During search operations, police found 1500 kg of opium poppy from inside a tanker of liquid gas on July 5 and arrested a drug smuggler who was attempting to take the contraband out of Takhar province, the official said. Chennai, July 21 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Monday morning after experiencing mild giddiness. A medical bulletin issued by the hospital confirmed that the 72-year-old leader was undergoing diagnostic tests and evaluations. Dr Anil B.G., Director of Medical Services at Apollo Hospitals, stated, "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin had mild giddiness during his routine morning walking. He has been admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, for evaluation of his symptoms. Necessary diagnostic tests are being carried out." Sources in the DMK said the Chief Minister's condition was stable, but his scheduled programmes in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts would proceed after medical advice. More details and further updates from the Chief Minister's Office or Apollo Hospital were awaited. The medical team continued its evaluation. As per his itinerary, Chief Minister Stalin is expected to arrive in Coimbatore by flight on July 22. Upon arrival at the Coimbatore airport, he will be received by DMK party functionaries and volunteers. He will then travel by road to various locations in Tiruppur district, including Palladam and Udumalpet, where he is slated to attend multiple official events. On July 23, the Chief Minister will visit Pollachi in Coimbatore district to unveil the statues of three prominent leaders -- K. Kamaraj, V. Subramaniam, and G. Mahalingam -- who played instrumental roles in the development and completion of the Parambikulam and Aliyar irrigation projects. The unveiling ceremony will take place near the office of the Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department, on the Pollachi-Udumalpet road. The event will be attended by senior cabinet ministers, District Collector Pawan Kumar, and other top government officials. During the two-day visit, CM Stalin is also scheduled to inaugurate a number of government projects aimed at boosting development in the Tiruppur region. Jerusalem, July 21 : The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday claimed that it attacked and destroyed the military infrastructure of the Houthi regime in Yemen's port of Hodeidah. Taking to X, the IDF said, "Among the infrastructure targetted: engineering tools used to restore the port's infrastructure, fuel tanks, and vessels used for military activities and to exert force against the State of Israel and ships in the maritime area near the port, as well as additional terror infrastructure used by the Houthi terror regime". The Hodeidah port has been used by the Houthi regime for 'military' purposes, due to which it has had to face several attacks in the past. Along with carrying out terror operations against Israel as well as its allies, the port was also used to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, the IDF stated. The IDF claimed to have pinned down a number of attempts to rebuild the terror infrastructure at the port. "The IDF identified ongoing activity and attempts to restore terror infrastructure in the port by the Houthi terror regime's forces, and therefore, the components used to advance this activity were attacked," the statement mentioned. According to the IDF, the Houthi terror regime has, time and again, exploited the maritime region to conduct terror activities as well as exerted pressure on commercial, passing ships in the global shipping space. The targets that have been attacked, in and near the port, are allegedly very similar to the Houthi terror regime's military use of the civilian infrastructure, for the purpose of spreading terror. The IDF has also stated that it will continue to strike out any threats against Israel, including the Houthi terror regime. "The IDF will act with force against the repeated attacks by the Houthi terror regime against the citizens of the State of Israel and is determined to continue striking with force any threat to the State of Israel, in any area where it is required," it said. Mumbai, July 21 : Actor and former "Bigg Boss 16" contestant Shalin Bhanot recalled meeting Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, while having a conversation with Farah Khan. He also spoke about Salman Khan and tagged him as a "caring person". Mumbai, July 21 (IANS) Actor and former "Bigg Boss 16" contestant Shalin Bhanot recalled meeting Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, while having a conversation with Farah Khan. He also spoke about Salman Khan and tagged him as a "caring person". Shalin featured on Farah Khan's Youtube show, where the two discussed about the stars, Bigg Boss and gorged on soya chaap. While giving a house tour to Farah, Shalin showed a picture posing with SRK and said: "I take a lot of pride in this picture. It is with Shah Rukh sir I just wanted to meet Shah Rukh sir So, Morani bhai made me meet SRK sir in the JW Marriott." Shalin revealed at that time SRK was busy shooting for the 2016 film "Fan", which featured the superstar in a dual role as Aryan Khanna, a film star, and his obsessive fan and lookalike, Gaurav Chandna. "He was shooting at that time and he was crossing. He was shooting for Fan. He had a prosthetic at that time so this was the only day he didn't have any prosthetics," Shalin told Fara. Farah then spoke about seeing Shalin on "Bigg Boss 16." She said: "I thought that Shalin has grown up. But when I saw her in Bigg Boss. Two people can drive me crazy. One is Sajid. Because he is my brother since childhood. And in Bigg Boss, I thought of shaking up Shalin and asking him what he is doing. Two which, Shalin replied: "But ma'am, one thing happened in Bigg Boss. Sajid came into my life. He is my mentor. I call him BB." Farah said that Sajid Khan and Shalin "had a lot of fights in Bigg Boss". "And ma'am, you won't believe, since the day Bigg Boss ended I am telling you the truth. It doesn't happen once in a week or 10-15 days. That Sajid doesn't message me from the front. Sajid only says one thing 'You okay?' I say, yes, BB. BB is bade bhaiya," he said. Shalin and Farah then laughed about the viral hand gestures the actor used to do in Bigg Boss at the time of Weekend Ka Vaar in confusion. The actor recalled how the show's host Salman Khan still does it when he sees Shalin. "Salman sir was coming from a distance. And I was standing. And the moment he entered, he saw me and he was like (doing the hand gesture). I said, 'when do I do this?'" Farah said that Salman used to love doing that. Shalin replied: "And he still does. He still loves doing that. But Salman sir loves me a lot and he is such a caring person." New Delhi, July 21 : Eternal, the parent company of online food delivery platform Zomato, on Monday reported a massive 90 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 25 crore in Q1 FY26, compared to Rs 253 crore in the same quarter last fiscal (Q1 FY25). On the sequential basis (month-on-month), Zomato clocked 35.89 per cent drop in net profit, from Rs 39 crore in the Q4 FY25, according to its stock exchange filing. The Zomato and Blinkit operator registered revenue from operations at Rs 7,167 crore, up around 70 per cent from Rs 4,206 crore a year ago. On the profitability front, consolidated Adjusted EBITDA declined 42 per cent on-year to Rs 172 crore in Q1 FY26, "largely on account of the continuing investments in quick commerce and going-out", the company said in its shareholders' letter. It was "partly offset by the improvement in food delivery Adjusted EBITDA margin (as a percentage of NOV) to 5.0 per cent from 3.9 per cent a year ago, said Eternal. In its quick commerce business Blinkit, the margins improved from -2.4 per cent of net order value (NOV) in Q4 FY25 to -1.8 per cent despite continued investments in new store roll-outs and seasonal factors. "We added 243 net new (Blinkit) stores this quarter, taking our store count to 1,544 stores by the end of the quarter. We are on track to get to 2,000 stores by Dec 2025," said the company. The NOV of its B2C businesses grew 55 per cent YoY (16 per cent QoQ) to Rs 20,183 crore in Q1 FY26. "This was the first quarter where our quick commerce NOV exceeded food delivery NOV for the full quarter. On an annualised basis, we are now at almost $10 billion of annual NOV across our B2C businesses and quick commerce is now our largest B2C business contributing to almost half of this annualised NOV," said Eternal. Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal said that "the YoY growth is likely to bottom out now as we recover from the demand slowdown we started seeing in late 2024". "For FY26, it looks unlikely that the business will deliver a 20 per cent+ NOV growth but we should be north of 15 per cent and hopefully trending towards 20 per cent YoY growth in FY27," said Goyal. Going forward, the company will only be disclosing NOV (and will discontinue disclosing GOV), as "we believe that NOV is a better measure of growth in our B2C businesses including food delivery". Earlier this month, Eternal appointed Aditya Mangla as CEO of its food ordering and delivery business for a period of two years. "I am super excited to see how Aditya shapes the future of Zomato over the next two years, until it is time to hand over the baton to someone else," said Goyal in the shareholders' letter. New Delhi, July 21 : Congress celebrated the birthday of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday with a warm cake-cutting ceremony, where Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gathered with several party leaders to extend their greetings. The party shared the celebratory moments on social media, calling it a tribute to Kharge's lifelong dedication to public service. Posting from its official X handle, the Congress party wrote: "Warm birthday wishes to Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge! On this special day, LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi, along with senior party leaders, visited him to personally convey their heartfelt greetings. A moment of warmth and respect as we celebrate a life dedicated to public service." Kharge, who currently serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, received birthday greetings from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Best wishes to the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji on his birthday. Praying for his long and healthy life," PM Modi posted on X. Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi also took to the platform to express his admiration for Kharge's leadership. "Wishing Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji a very happy birthday! Your leadership, commitment, and dedication to the people of India inspire us all. May you be blessed with good health and happiness," he posted. Priyanka Gandhi also wished Kharge, calling him a guiding force. "Heartiest birthday wishes to the honourable President of the Indian National Congress and our guide, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji. Your commitment to the principles of our Constitution, democracy, and social justice, along with your leadership, is a source of inspiration for us all. I pray to God for your good health and long life." In the video, several senior party members were seen gathered around Kharge, who cut a cake and shared light-hearted moments with them. The Congress party described the event as a reflection of unity and mutual respect among its senior leadership. Kolkata, July 21 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will launch weekend protest programmes across the state starting July 27, in response to the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states. She described this protest programme as yet another "Bhasha Andolon" (Language Movement). Historically, "Bhasha Andolan" was a political movement in what was then East Pakistan, advocating for the recognition of Bangla as an official language of the country, which ultimately led to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation after erstwhile East Pakistan was liberated from Pakistan in 1971. "The weekend protests on every Saturday and Sunday will start throughout West Bengal from July 27 and will continue till the state Assembly elections next year. This will be another 'Bhasha Andolon'. We will not tolerate any attack on the Bengali language. We are getting information that Bengali-speaking people are selectively targeted, harassed, and detained in BJP-ruled states," the Chief Minister said while addressing Trinamool Congress's annual Martyrs' Day rally in central Kolkata on Monday afternoon.. Speaking on the occasion, she gave a call to Bengali-speaking people nationwide to participate in the protests from their respective places by speaking in the Bengali language to the maximum possible extent. "Organise protest programmes in your way against this attack on the Bengali language. Speak in Bangla as much as possible. Let us together take an oath to protect the language, which is the second most-spoken language in India and Asia and the fifth most-spoken language in the world," the Chief Minister said. She also cautioned the BJP that the second 'Bhasha Andolon' could not be suppressed by the use of force, and Trinamool Congress could not be stopped from leading the movement. "Trinamool Congress's asset is that the party is the product of spontaneous love of the people of Bengal. Those who think that by abusing me and Abhishek, they will finish Trinamool Congress are mistaken. They will not be able to finish us by unleashing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against us," the Chief Minister said. She also launched a scathing attack against the Union Government, accusing the latter of deliberately stopping payments under various centrally-sponsored schemes to the West Bengal government. "However, despite that, we are carrying on with those projects in West Bengal from our funds. This we are doing despite paucity of funds," the Chief Minister said. The photo released by Israel Defense Forces on May 19, 2025 shows Israeli troops during an operation in the Gaza Strip. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua) JERUSALEM, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Nearly two years into a multi-front conflict, Israel has made apparent military gains: crippling Hamas' infrastructure in Gaza, striking deep into Iran, and dealing blows to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Yet the country remains stuck in a prolonged war, with no clear exit strategy in sight. Analysts say that while Israel's military campaign has made some progress, the absence of a coherent political strategy has left its broader objectives undefined. The government's push to deepen ties with Arab states has come alongside a deliberate sidelining of the Palestinian issue, limiting prospects for long-term regional reconciliation. The war in Gaza has caused widespread destruction, decimated much of the enclave's infrastructure, and killed at least 58,895 people, according to Gaza-based health authorities. The humanitarian toll has drawn international concern, but shows little sign of prompting a shift in Israeli policy. Critics argue the war's continuation primarily serves the interests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, which includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties. Netanyahu, who is standing trial on corruption charges, has faced internal divisions and consistently poor polling. Recent surveys suggest his coalition partners would not win enough seats to form a government if elections were held today. "The coalition now is actually committed to continuing the war," said Roee Kibrik, head of research at Mitvim - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies. "Its survival depends on the war's continuation." People demonstrate in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 6, 2025, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) Kibrik said the government appears willing to pursue only limited hostage deals that would avoid ending the war. "If we analyze whether peace or diplomacy is possible under this government, the answer is no," he said. Talks are ongoing in Doha over a possible hostage deal with Hamas. Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was discussing the release of captives and a potential 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but blamed Hamas for not engaging seriously. Also on Friday, Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said in a televised address that Hamas had repeatedly offered to release all hostages as part of a comprehensive ceasefire deal, but Israel had rejected it. "If the enemy obstructs or withdraws from this round, as it has every time, we cannot guarantee a return to partial deals," he warned. Opposition leaders and families of hostages have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political survival. Demonstrators regularly hold signs reading "The war is killing the hostages," and describe the conflict as politically motivated to preserve Netanyahu's rule. "The current ruling coalition is focused on staying in power," said Eyal Zisser, vice rector of Tel Aviv University and a Middle East expert. "Early elections would be disastrous for all coalition members: every poll shows they would lose." To maintain the alliance, he said, Netanyahu must accommodate competing demands: far-right factions insist on continuing the war, while ultra-Orthodox parties seek expanded budgets and draft exemptions. Both Zisser and Kibrik believe that the government is not only avoiding diplomatic progress but actively undermining it. "There can be no Palestinian state," Zisser said, summarizing the coalition's position. "They oppose even granting autonomy." "Israel wants peace with Arab countries but is not prepared to give anything in return regarding the Palestinians," he pointed out. Genuine progress toward a two-state solution could unlock broad regional cooperation and opportunities, Kibrik said, "but with this government, that option is off the table." Editor: Zhang Zhou Patna, July 21 : A man was gunned down by two bike-borne assailants in Patna's Dulhin Bazar area on Monday, leaving the locality gripped by fear. The incident took place in Sabahawa village under Dulhin Bazar police station limits, when the victim, identified as Aditya Kumar, was attacked in broad daylight while people were busy with their daily routines. Aditya runs a security agency in Patna's Jakkanpur area. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers quietly reached the spot where Aditya was and shot him in his head and chest and swiftly fled from the crime scene. The eyewitnesses said they appeared to be sharpshooters and executed their plan without any argument or noise. There was no argument with the deceased before the shootout, the locals noted, adding that the attackers did not give Aditya any chance to react, and he was caught off guard. After the firing, he collapsed on the spot. His bike and licensed weapon were recovered from the scene. City SP (West Zone) of Patna, Bhanu Pratap Singh, reached the spot and launched an investigation to ascertain the motive and identify the attackers. "We have called for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team to collect the evidence from the crime scene. We are also scanning the CCTV cameras in the area to find some clues about the assailants. An FIR of murder under relevant sections of the BNS Act has been registered in Dulhin Bazar police station against unknown persons," Singh said. More details were awaited as investigation was underway. The incident has sparked fear in the area, with residents avoiding speaking openly about the attack. However, whispers of "old rivalry", "conspiracy", and "contract gangs" have surfaced in the locality. "This is not just another incident but an example of fearless crime, where the presence of law seems to exist only in name," said a local resident, reflecting the rising concern in Patna's streets. Mumbai, July 21 : Amid growing backlash from the Opposition, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) chief Ajit Pawar on Monday directed state NCP youth wing president Suraj Chavan to immediately resign, following his involvement in the assault on Chhava Sanghatana activists in Latur. Chavan and a group of party workers allegedly attacked activists of the Chhava Sanghatana, led by Vijaykumar Ghadge, on Sunday after they threw playing cards at NCP state president Sunil Tatkare in protest. The activists were demanding the resignation of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, who was recently seen playing cards in the state assembly premises -- a video that quickly went viral. They accused him of being apathetic toward the plight of farmers facing severe financial distress. Ajit Pawar, who was on a visit to Dharashiv and Solapur districts, spoke to Chavan over the phone and asked for an explanation before instructing him to step down. In a post on X, Pawar said, "An extremely serious and condemnable incident took place in Latur yesterday. I have given clear instructions to Suraj Chavan, the state president of the Nationalist Youth Congress, to immediately resign from his post. This strict action has been taken because behaviour that goes against the party's values will not be tolerated under any circumstances." He further emphasised that the incident involving NCP office-bearers and Chhava Sanghatana activists was unacceptable. "I firmly oppose any form of violence, uncivil behavior, or unparliamentary language. We respect the just demands and sentiments of every section of society. The NCP stands for democracy, equality, and fraternity as taught by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. I appeal to all my colleagues and party workers to uphold democratic values and practice non-violence in public life," Pawar said. Sunil Tatkare also distanced himself from Chavan's actions, stating that such behavior was unacceptable. In a video statement released on Monday morning, he apologized to the Chhava Sanghatana activists and invited them for a dialogue on farmers' issues. Despite the disciplinary action, the incident has triggered widespread condemnation. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP accused the Ajit Pawar faction of promoting violence to silence dissent. Party MLA and general secretary Rohit Pawar, in a post on X, said: "Farmers are under immense distress. If the Agriculture Minister is caught playing rummy during the Assembly session, outrage is only natural. Throwing cards at Tatkare Saheb was wrong, but what followed -- the brutal assault on protestors -- is even worse. Is this the message from the ruling coalition -- that questions will be answered with violence?" Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also slammed the ruling coalition. "The government is getting arrogant. Some beat people for complaining about food, others for raising farmers' issues. When questioned, they lash out with violence. Is there a different set of laws for the ruling party? This is lawlessness," he said. Even leaders from within the Ajit Pawar faction expressed concern. State NCP SP women's wing president Rohini Khadse said: "After Tatkare's press conference in Latur, Chhava Sanghatana activists came to express their grievances. Instead of listening, they were brutally assaulted. Such scenes were unheard of in Maharashtra. Now, we're witnessing a collapse of democratic norms." She added, in a sarcastic tone, "Thanks to the blessings of Tom, Dick, and Harry, Maharashtra is witnessing unprecedented chaos. Tomorrow, even people from UP and Bihar might say they don't want to see a Maharashtra-like situation in their states." Meanwhile, Latur's Vivekanand Police Station has registered an FIR against Suraj Chavan and nine others. Police have formed two teams to trace and detain the accused. New Delhi, July 21 : In a landmark decision, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said that all eligible prisoners of 70 years or above should get the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPM-JAY) as part of their right to life, an official said on Monday. The NHRC bench led by its member Priyank Kanoongo relied upon a Supreme Court order to conclude that imprisonment could not be a disqualifying factor for a 70-plus person to avail the benefits of the Central government-supported health scheme. In an order dated July 17, Kanoongo said, "A person under the custody of the State continues to enjoy the fundamental right to health, and it is the responsibility of the State to ensure proper healthcare for all inmates." The bench issued instructions to the Director General (Prisons), of all states/Union Territories to ensure that all eligible prisoners of 70 years or above should get the benefit of the healthcare in keeping with the spirit of the Vay Vandana card of ABPM-JAY. "The jail authorities shall facilitate all the eligible prisoners to enroll them on the portal of the said scheme, "Kanoongo, seeking an action taken report within four weeks." The order came during the hearing on a complaint filed by Rabindra Kumar on July 2. Earlier, the NHRC relied upon a Supreme Court decision in Sujata Mukunda Manerao vs State of Maharashtra, 2003, which said that providing for proper medical aid to inmates is a right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The NHRC order quoted the Supreme Court order as saying, "It is bounden duty of the State to look after health of the inmates in the jails since they cannot take treatment on their own and for the purpose of treatment, they are at the mercy of the hospital authorities. Proper medical aid to the inmates is a right available to them under Article 21 of the Constitution..." Maseru, July 21 : As part of his ongoing multi-nation official visit to the African continent, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Monday held discussions with Lesotho's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Lejone Mpotjoana on expanding multifaceted bilateral relationship. Earlier in the day, Margherita also met the vibrant Indian diaspora in the landlocked Southern African nation, appreciating their valuable contributions towards deepening people-to-people connections and cultural ties between the two countries. "Pleased to meet the vibrant Indian diaspora in Lesotho. Grateful for their warm welcome and their contributions in strengthening the people-to-people and cultural ties between India and Lesotho," Margherita posted on X. The MoS was on Sunday warmly received by Thabang Lekhela, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho, on his arrival in the city of Maseru of the African Kingdom. He reached Lesotho after concluding a successful visit to Eswatini. "Landed in Maseru city of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Warmly welcomed by Thabang Lekhela, Principal Secretary Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho. Looking forward to engaging the leadership to further strengthen bilateral relations," the Minister posted on X. During his stay in Lesotho, Margherita is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on King Letsie III and the Prime Minister Samuel Matekane. Besides Mpotjoana, he will also hold bilateral meetings with several key ministers, including those responsible for Information, communications, science, technology and Innovation, education and training, and labour and employment. "This Ministerial visit to Kingdom of Lesotho is being undertaken after a gap of 10 years following the first-ever Ministerial visit from India to Lesotho by Minister of State (IC) Culture, Tourism & MoS for Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, on 9 July 2015 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister to deliver invitations for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit to the leadership of the Government of Lesotho," said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ahead of Margheritaas visit. The MoS is also scheduled to visit South Africa starting July 23. The visit is part of India's broader diplomatic engagement with African nations and is aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation, exploring new avenues of partnership, and representing India at the upcoming G20 Development Ministerial Meetings (DMM) in South Africa. Thiruvananthapuram, July 21 : One of India's tallest and oldest living Communist leaders, V.S. Achuthanandan, passed away at a private hospital here on Monday at 3.20 p.m. He was 101. Affectionately known as "VS" by friends and adversaries alike, Achuthanandan was the last surviving member among the founding leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which was formed in 1964 following a split from the CPI. He, along with a group of comrades, had then walked out of the original Communist Party of India, marking a historic ideological shift. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan, addressing the media after the announcement of his death, outlined the funeral plans. "The body will be moved to the AKG Centre shortly, which was his political base for decades. It will then be taken to his residence in Thiruvananthapuram. On Tuesday morning, the body will be placed at the Secretariat Durbar Hall for the public to pay their respects. Later in the afternoon, it will be transported to his hometown in Alappuzha," he said. "On Wednesday, the mortal remains will be kept at the CPI(M) district office in Alappuzha, and the funeral will be held at the Valiyachudukad cremation ground," he added. Following the announcement of his death, CPI(M) party flags across the state were lowered to half-mast, and black flags were raised in mourning. Born on October 20, 1923, in Punnapra, Alappuzha, Achuthanandan lost his parents at a young age and dropped out of school in Class 7. Despite limited formal education, he rose through the ranks of the Communist movement -- from a tailoring apprentice and a trade union activist to becoming Kerala's Chief Minister and one of its most enduring political icons. His political journey gained momentum during the 1946 Punnapra-Vayalar uprising against the then Travancore Diwan, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer. His arrest during this period only strengthened his public appeal. He went on to serve as Alappuzha district secretary, and by 1957, had become a member of the CPI(M)'s state committee and secretariat. Achuthanandan contested his first election in 1965 but lost. He tasted victory two years later. However, a major turning point in his career came in 1996 when, despite being the CPI(M)'s projected Chief Ministerial face, he was denied the position following an unexpected defeat. His popularity soared when he served as Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2006. Known for his uncompromising stands on corruption, women's rights, and public welfare, he emerged as a mass leader, transcending party lines. But tensions with Pinarayi Vijayan, then state party secretary and now Chief Minister, cast a shadow on his political trajectory. In 2006, when the party initially denied him a ticket, statewide protests erupted. Bowing to public pressure, the CPI(M) reinstated him as a candidate. He led the Left Democratic Front to victory and assumed office as Chief Minister. However, the friction between VS and Vijayan continued. Both were suspended from the CPI(M) Politburo during their tenure. Vijayan was later reinstated, but Achuthanandan was not. In 2011, a similar outpouring of support from party workers ensured his candidature, and he returned as Leader of the Opposition. Although he led the LDF's campaign in the 2016 Assembly polls, the party chose Vijayan to head the government after their victory. As a conciliatory gesture, the Politburo appointed Achuthanandan as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission with cabinet rank. He held the post until January 2020, after which he retired from active public life due to health issues. Chief Minister Vijayan, who remains at the hospital, is expected to accompany Achuthanandan's body to the AKG Centre. Condolences have been pouring in from across the political spectrum, with leaders remembering VS as a principled, unwavering, and immensely popular figure -- a rare breed of politician who remained a people's man to the very end. Mumbai, July 21 : Popular television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee explored the historical gem, Rang Ghar in Sivasagar Town with her husband Shanwaz Shaikh, and son Joy. Mumbai, July 21 (IANS) Popular television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee explored the historical gem, Rang Ghar in Sivasagar Town with her husband Shanwaz Shaikh,A and son Joy. The 'Gopi Bahu' also treated the netizens with photos from the family outing. While some of the photos showed Devoleena posing solo in front of the Rang Ghar, she was accompanied by her husband and kid in the remaining pictures from the post. Shedding light on the historical significance of the place, she wrote on her Instagram, "Rang Ghar, Sivasagar a" Echoes of Royalty Amid Natureas Calm...A timeless monument from the 18th century, Rang Ghar is known as Asiaas oldest amphitheatre, where Ahom kings once cheered on traditional games and Bihu celebrations." Sharing her experience with her InstaFam, Devoleena added, "Exploring this historic gem with my little family felt like walking through living history a" surrounded by lush green fields, peaceful skies, and the spirit of Assamas royal past. Moments like these make travel truly meaningful. Grateful for the heritage, the stories, and the smiles we gathered here." Earlier this month, Devoleena paid a visit to the Kamakhya Temple in Assam with her family. Dropping sneak peeks of her visit to the famous temple on social media, she penned a heartfelt post reflecting on the deeply spiritual and emotional experience. aBlessed at the Shakti Peeth A divine day at the sacred Kamakhya Temple, where faith meets motherhood and love surrounds every step. Grateful for this spiritual moment as a family at one of Indiaas most powerful temples dedicated to Maa Kamakhya. #KamakhyaTemple," she penned. As part of their spiritual journey, Devoleena, Shanwaz, and Joy also sought blessings at the Balaji Temple in Guwahati. Providing the Insta Users an insight into the religious trip, she said, "Divine moments at the sacred Balaji Temple, Guwahati...Under the serene skies and the towering gopuram, we found peace, blessings, and gratitude as a family. A day to remember, a place that feels like home to the soul." Amaravati, July 21 : The Green Hydrogen Valley proposed by the government of Andhra Pradesh aspires to become India's green hydrogen capital by 2030, promoting the country's largest eco-system for production of green hydrogen and its derivatives in partnership with industry and academia. Amaravati, July 21 (IANS) The Green Hydrogen Valley proposed by the government of Andhra Pradesh aspires to become India's green hydrogen capital by 2030, promoting the countryas largest eco-system for production of green hydrogen and its derivatives in partnership with industry and academia. It also aims to accelerate domestic R and D and capacity building in green hydrogen technologies, including testing facilities. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday released Green Hydrogen Valley-Amaravati declaration The key targets under Green Hydrogen Valley include establishing Electrolyser manufacturing capacity of 2 GW by 2027 and 5 GW by 2029, 1.50 MMTPA Green Hydrogen production capacity by 2029, achieving cost reduction from Rs 460 per Kg to Rs 160-170 per Kg by 2029 and creation of transmission infrastructure (Green Energy Corridor) to evacuate 25 GW RE power by 2029. The declaration was finalised based on the deliberations at the Green Hydrogen Summit held last week here in association with the Government of Andhra Pradesh and NREDCAP. The summit focused on green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution; green hydrogen applications in industry, transport, and power generation; policy, standards, and capacity building for a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem. According to the declaration, by 2030 at least 60 per cent of all electrolyser components and storage solutions deployed in the state will be produced locally, reducing import dependency. At least three new production units for electrolyser and hydrogen storage manufacturing will be established, with a combined production capacity of at least 4-5 GW for electrolyser equipment. The Green Hydrogen Valley will establish skilling ecosystem, specialised research Hubs with dedicated green hydrogen research centres, create cross-disciplinary labs, encourage collaborations with premier institutes, promote Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to fund breakthrough projects, incentivise joint ventures between local start-ups and global hydrogen tech firms and facilitate knowledge exchange forums, workshops, and annual innovation summits. The Green Hydrogen Valley will establish Indiaas first Integrated Green Hydrogen Skilling Eco System in collaboration with reputed Universities and Institutions, to offer engineer upskilling and technician certifications a" training 200 specialists in the first year and 2,000 annually by 2030. The declaration says that the Green Hydrogen Valley will spearhead the creation of a robust start-up ecosystem in the green hydrogen sector. To catalyse innovation, the state will support start-ups working across the entire green hydrogen value chain. To catalyse innovation, the state will allocate Rs 500 crore over five years to support at least 50 start-ups working across the entire green hydrogen value chain. To support the development of green hydrogen technologies, the Government of Andhra Pradesh will promote world-class Research and Development (R and D) centres and advanced testing facilities involving SRM University-AP as the state nodal agency, to carry out advanced research in green hydrogen technologies, including the testing facilities, with active support from the Nationas Mission. The declaration noted that Andhra Pradesh is richly endowed with solar and wind energy potential, complemented by pumped hydro storage capacity, creating favourable conditions for large-scale development of green hydrogen. The stateas long coastline further strengthens its position by offering an ideal ecosystem for exporting green hydrogen and its derivatives to Southeast Asian countries. The state government established the first thematic centre under the World Economic Forumas Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) network in collaboration with WEFas Centre for Energy and Materials (CENMAT), which focuses on energy transition and green industries, driving innovation and sustainable growth in the region. Chandigarh, July 21 : Congress on Monday staged a protest in front of the Greater Mohali Development Area (GMADA) office in Mohali, terming it as "not land pooling, but land looting policy." Chandigarh, July 21 (IANS) Congress on Monday staged a protest in front of the Greater Mohali Development Area (GMADA) office in Mohali, terming it as "not land pooling, but land looting policy." Led by state unit President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, thousands of party workers gathered outside the office, raising slogans against the land pooling policy and seeking its immediate withdrawal. Addressing the protestors, Warring said it was a subtle ploy of the Aam Aadmi Party government to loot and rob the farmers of their precious land. "This is not land pooling, but land looting policy," he remarked, while asking who will hand over one acre of precious land for a thousand yards in return? Warring asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that he should have learnt from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's experience, who eventually had to "surrender" and withdraw the three farm laws under pressure from the farmers. "You should know, when it comes to his land, a farmer can do anything to protect it," he cautioned the government, while expressing solidarity and support of the Congress with the farmers in their fight against the policy. The party also submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, to the GMADA administrator, seeking immediate reversal of the policy. It said the policy will be environmentally and economically devastating and disastrous for Punjab. Later, talking to reporters, Warring defended his party's opposition to the land pooling policy, reiterating that it was only a "land looting" scheme conceived by AAP leaders. "What purpose does it serve?" he asked, while pointing out that there is no demand from anywhere. Replying to a question on Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar suggesting an Akali-BJP alliance, the Congress president said they (the Akalis and the BJP) were always together and had a subtle understanding. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mann urged the people not to be swayed away with the misleading propaganda of the Opposition. Addressing the gathering after disbursing developing grants of Rs 31.30 crore among 70 villages in the Dhuri assembly segment, the Chief Minister slammed the Opposition for hoodwinking facts to misinform the people about this scheme just for vested political interests. He categorically said there will be no forcible acquisition of land under the land pooling scheme, and it will benefit the farmers of the state. Mann said people are aware of the dubious character of these leaders who have backstabbed the Punjabis on several issues. --IANS vg/dan Chennai, July 21 : The makers of director, actor Dhanush's eagerly-awaited action entertainer, 'Idly Kadai', on Monday announced that the first single from the film would release on July 27 this year. Dawn Pictures, the production house producing the film, made the announcement on its timeline on X. It said, "Time to hit the drums, the celebration begins on 27th July. #IdlyKadai - First single loading. A @gvprakash Musical. Worldwide in Cinemas from October 1." Taking to his X timeline, Dhanush wrote, "Idli kadai first single update" and shared a poster that said, 'First single - A G V Prakash musical. The celebration begins on 27th July." The film has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs. It may be recalled that the unit of the film had wrapped up shooting in April this year. The unit completed the shooting of the film in Bangkok. Sources say the unit canned in Bangkok a crucial sequence, which required the presence of all the actors in the film. The makers of the film had initially announced that the film would hit screens worldwide on April 10 this year. However, they chose to postpone the release to October 1. Sources say Arun Vijay plays the antagonist in the film and that the face off between Dhanush and Arun Vijay will be something to look forward to in the film. The makers have also confirmed that Shalini Pandey will be playing a pivotal role in the film as was being speculated in some sections of the media. aIdly Kadaia, which will feature Dhanush and Nithya Menon in the lead, is being directed by Dhanush himself. The film, which is being jointly produced by Dhanushas Wunderbar films along with Dawn Pictures, has cinematography by Kiran Koushik and music by G V Prakash. --IANS Mkr/ Chandigarh, July 21 : Academician Ashim Kumar Ghosh was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Haryana, succeeding Bandaru Dattatraya, on Monday. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu, at a simple but dignified ceremony held at the Haryana Raj Bhavan here. Prof Ghosh, a distinguished academician and experienced political leader, served as the head of the Department of Political Science at a reputed college in Kolkata for nearly four decades. He has actively contributed to academic research and political discourse, having worked on University Grants Commission (UGC) and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) projects and authored several articles in prominent publications. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Also present on the occasion were the Governor's wife, Mitra Ghosh, Chief Minister's wife Suman Saini and members of the Governoras family. Ghoshas elevation as a governor is being seen as both an acknowledgement of his long political journey and a gesture of respect towards the older generation of BJP leaders who built the partyas foundations in West Bengal, where it long remained marginal. His tenure as the partyas state president, from 1999 to 2002, coincided with a period of modest growth and consolidation for the BJP in Bengal. Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Harvinder Kalyan, Cabinet Ministers Krishan Lal Panwar, Mahipal Dhanda, Arvind Sharma, Shyam Singh Rana, Ranbir Gangwa, Krishna Kumar Bedi and Shruti Chaudhary, Ministers of State Rajesh Nagar and Gaurav Gautam, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Secretary to Governor, Atul Dwivedi, a number of MLAs, Vice Chancellors of universities and senior officials were also present at the ceremony. Following the ceremony, Governor Ghosh personally greeted dignitaries and accepted felicitations. On this occasion, a special contingent of the Haryana Armed Police presented a guard of honour to the Governor. Kyivstar Group of Companies consists of five businesses and there will be more CEO The Kyivstar Group of Companies currently consists of five businesses, there will be more, and their management with the creation of supervisory boards is aimed at building a complementary system and maintaining the competitiveness and leadership position of each individual business, said Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov. "We do not integrate all these services into Kyivstar and do not manage them like a large Kyivstar," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. To understand the specifics of management, Komarov gave the example of the infrastructure company UTC (Ukraine Tower Company), which is 100% owned by Kyivstar. "We adhere to the principle of Arm's-Length-Based, and manage this business as a shareholder through a quasi-supervisory board... At the UTC supervisory board, we decided that if we seriously develop passive infrastructure and build a full-fledged player, the company should be capable of building towers not only for Kyivstar," explained the CEO of Kyivstar. According to him, as a result, UTC builds towers not only for Kyivstar. Komarov also emphasized that UTC's business is significantly different from the mobile operator's business and has a different economy: the level of investment, the terms of return on these investments and risks. "This is closer to real estate than to the telecom business," he added. The Kyivstar CEO noted that another example is Kyivstar.Tech, which is also managed through a quasi-supervisory board. "As for Helsi and Uklon, they have full-fledged supervisory boards. That is, we are not integrating these businesses, but leaving them as competitive businesses in their segment. Moreover, our task, as a strategic investor, is to preserve and strengthen their leadership positions," Komarov emphasized. He reported that a similar path is planned with Kyivstar-TV: "We want to separate the platform into a virtual structure in the near future so that it lives and develops as an independent project, based on its own goals, and not on the goals of the shareholders who invest in it." The CEO emphasized that Kyivstar is determined to implement the strategy of transformation into a digital operator. According to him, it has three important elements. The first is to maintain a more or less adequate level of business growth: telecom and digital, the second is to maintain an adequate level of margin, and the third is to increase the share of digital business. "We are exceeding the indicators that we declared last summer: then 15% [share of digital business in revenues] was announced for 2028, and now, especially with the acquisition of Uklon, we are striving to achieve a significantly higher share of revenues from digital services. And we are moving in this direction... As for 50%, this is an ambition for the next few years," the CEO said. As Komarov explained, the company plans to achieve a 50% share of digital business in three ways, the first of which is organic. "If the telecom business is growing by about 9-10% year on year, then the digital business in 2024 grew by 122%! Yes, then it was not as big as it is today with the purchase of Uklon, the development of Helsi, with the further penetration of KyivstarTV, but even this year, I think the growth will be much faster in the digital business," the CEO noted. According to him, the second way is to grow through acquisitions. The company has a strategy for the digital business segments in which it wants to be present. This strategy has its own logic for attracting clients and creating synergies between the different elements of the digital ecosystem. Komarov called the third way the opportunity to create new digital products within Kyivstar. He reported that B2B products will grow approximately twice this year, and the main drivers are cloud services and Big Data. As another example, he cited the company's participation in a joint project with the Ministry of Digital Transformation to develop a national large language model. In his opinion, this will develop the company's expertise to bring it to the level of one of the best in the field of artificial intelligence and will allow creating a competitive advantage for the development of products and processes: agents in various areas, modernization of the contact center. "We would like, for example, our company Kyivstar.Tech, which currently receives the lion's share of its income from Kyivstar, to increase its income from other clients every year," he added. Seoul, July 21 : South Korea President Lee Jae Myung on Monday instructed government officials to swiftly designate flood-stricken regions as special disaster zones to bolster rescue and recovery efforts, and provide support to affected residents, his office said. Lee made the call during a visit to Sancheong County, located about 300 kilometres southeast of Seoul, where 10 people have been confirmed dead, four remain missing and two others were seriously injured after a record downpour in the area. Torrential rains have triggered floods and landslides, leaving at least 18 people dead since last Wednesday, with the heaviest damage reported in southern regions, including Sancheong, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. During the visit, Lee directed Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung to mobilise all available resources and administrative support for the victims and promptly designate flood-stricken regions as special disaster zones, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters. Special disaster zones are entitled to government support for damage recovery and victims' relief, Yonhap news agency reported. Meanwhile, eighteen people in South Korea have been killed and nine others remain unaccounted for following heavy rains and landslides that began ravaging the country last week. The casualties as of 9 p.m. Sunday included 10 dead in the southern county of Sancheong, two in the northern county of Gapyeong and two in the western city of Seosan, according to the interior ministry. Four of the missing were reported in Sancheong, while another four were reported in Gapyeong. More than 14,000 people have taken shelter across 15 major cities and provinces since the heavy rains started last Wednesday. Property damage has been extensive, with 1,999 cases reported at public facilities and 2,238 cases reported at private facilities as of 6 p.m. Sunday. The state weather agency has forecast more rainfall through Monday morning in South Jeolla Province, South Gyeongsang Province and the southern island of Jeju. North Jeolla Province and North Gyeongsang Province are expected to see rainfall starting at 9 a.m., while the capital area and the Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces are forecast to receive rain in the afternoon. The government has lifted all heavy rain advisories and, on Sunday, lowered the warning level from "serious" to "attention." The South Korean Army has also deployed some 2,500 military personnel and equipment to areas hit hard by the recent torrential rain to help recovery work, the armed services said on Monday. A total of around 2,500 emergency personnel and 20 equipment have been deployed in the southwestern city of Gwangju, parts of the South Chungcheong Province and the South Gyeongsang Province since Thursday, according to the Army. The heavy rains and landslides that began last week have killed 18 people and left nine others missing so far, displacing more than 14,000 people across 15 major cities and provinces. The recovery efforts centred on overhauling houses and stores flooded from the rains, including removing soil and organising household items, the Army said, adding that it will continue to assist recovery efforts. New Delhi, July 21 : A special 5-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai is slated to hear on Tuesday the reference made by the President under Article 143 of the Constitution, seeking the Supreme Court's opinion as to whether timelines can be imposed on Governors to act on Bills in the absence of a constitutionally-prescribed time limit. As per the cause list published on the website of the apex court, the special Bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar, will take up the matter titled "In Re: Assent, Withholding or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and the President of India" for hearing on July 22. In the aftermath of the apex court verdict in the Tamil Nadu Bills case, President Droupadi Murmu, in May this year, had asked the top court to report its opinion on constitutional options available to a Governor when a Bill is presented to him under Article 200 of the Constitution. Earlier in April 2025, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, using its inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, resolved a standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R.N. Ravi over the delay in granting assent to Bills passed by the Assembly. It ruled that Governor Ravi's refusal to approve 10 Bills in Tamil Nadu was both "illegal and arbitrary" and set a three-month deadline for Presidential and gubernatorial approval of Bills passed by the legislature for a second time. "The President is required to take a decision on the Bills reserved for his consideration by the Governor within a period of three months from the date on which such reference is received," said a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan. If there is no decision within this time frame, states are entitled to file writ petitions seeking a writ of mandamus against the President, the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench clarified. The apex court used its extraordinary powers for the purpose of declaring the 10 withheld Bills as deemed to have been assented to on the date when they were presented to the Governor after being reconsidered by the state legislature. The top court held that once a Bill is returned, re-passed by the legislature, and presented again to the Governor, it is not open for the Governor to reserve it for the President's consideration. The judgment, apparently, brought Presidential actions under judicial review by favouring a three-month deadline for granting assent to Bills, promoting the President to make a reference under Article 143 of the Constitution. Article 143 provides that the President may invoke the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court on matters of public importance or constitutional interpretation. In the reference, President Murmu asked the apex court, "Is the Governor bound by the aid and advice tendered by the Council of Ministers while exercising all the options available with him when a Bill is presented before him under Article 200 of the Constitution of India?" Further, it questioned if the exercise of constitutional discretion by the Governor on Bills is justiciable, when Article 361 of the Constitution puts an absolute bar to judicial review in relation to gubernatorial actions. "In the absence of a constitutionally-prescribed timeline and the manner of exercise of powers by the President, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of discretion by the President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India?" the President asked the top court to consider and report its opinion thereon. New Delhi, July 21 : In a major clampdown on the cigarette smuggling racket in the national capital, the Delhi Police crime branch on Monday seized a huge cache of foreign brands worth over Rs 25 lakhs and also arrested four people, including two women from the Delhi-Noida Border. They were found to be smuggling prohibited foreign cigarettes in the capital and NCR region from Myanmar via Guwahati. The smugglers reportedly hired two women as decoys, with the intent to mislead the police. A total of 9,420 packets with over 1.8 lakh prohibited cigarettes of different international brands were recovered from their possession. A Mahindra Scorpio and another SUV were also impounded, used for smuggling prohibited cigarettes. The Crime Branch team apprehended four persons, namely Mukeem, Sameer, and two women, in a Scorpio N SUV car with a huge quantity of smuggled prohibited cigarettes. The police crackdown followed specific inputs, based on technical surveillance and human intelligence, over the smuggling of a huge cache of prohibited cigarettes to Delhi. Two men and two women were arrested at the Noida Delhi Border in a Mahindra Scorpio car, along with a huge quantity of prohibited foreign cigarettes, which were being smuggled from Myanmar. Upon inspection, it was found that the seized cigarette packets lacked the statutory health warnings as mandated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. As per market evaluation, the worth of the seized contraband stood at approximately Rs 25.76 lakhs. Following the arrest, the accused were subjected to intensive interrogation, during which they revealed that they smuggled prohibited cigarettes via Guwahati from Myanmar. "Among the huge cache of recovery, 5960 packets were of ESSE Light Company (Total 1,19,200 Prohibited Cigarettes) while 3,460 Packets were of Bension & Hedges Company (Total 69,200 Prohibited Cigarettes)," the Delhi Police shared in a statement. Two key accused, namely Mukeem and Sameer, belong to Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh. They are studied up to matriculation. The recovered Mahindra Scorpio vehicle belongs to Sameer, who received it in his marriage as a gift from his in-laws. One lady was married and separated from her husband, and is now living in Delhi with her parents. Another lady belongs to Lucknow and she is unmarried, and they both are known to each other as they worked at a Gurgaon office earlier. Both women were hired by the accused Mukeem for Rs 4000/- each. Bengaluru, July 21 : Karnataka BJP has welcomed the formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe Dharmasthala mass grave charges. However, the party has warned against spreading misinformation against the Hindu religious centre. Speaking at a press conference, Opposition Leader in the assembly, R. Ashoka, welcomed the state governmentas decision to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) regarding the case of hundreds of bodies allegedly found near Dharmasthala. However, he stated that spreading misinformation about the "Shri Manjunatha Swamy temple" in Dharmasthala is wrong. Ashoka noted that the state government has formed an SIT in response to an anonymous individualas claim of hundreds of bodies buried in the Dharmasthala area. He demanded an impartial investigation into the matter and emphasised that the probe should not aim to implicate anyone falsely. Ashoka pointed out that Dharmasthala, along with Tirupati, is a sacred centre of faith for millions of Hindus in South India. "A Muslim youth has been uploading videos on social media about Dharmasthala, and the Kerala government has intervened in the matter.: He remarked that the Kerala governmentas handling of temple-related issues, including the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, is well-known. He added that if any murder has occurred, the local police station would investigate, Ashoka stated. Ashoka said if hundreds of bodies were indeed found, their families would file complaints, and the government should clarify how many such cases have been filed. People die near religious centres like temples, churches, and mosques, and in such cases, the police conduct investigations. Ashoka questioned how someone could suddenly claim such knowledge after 20 years, stating that creating controversy to insult a religion is unacceptable. He clarified that this issue has no connection to Dharmasthalaas Shri Manjunatha Swamy temple, yet misinformation is repeatedly being spread about the religious centre. If an individual has done something wrong, accusations should be directed at that person, not an entire religious institution. The government should not assign additional responsibilities to the SIT, and the team should thoroughly investigate and ensure punishment for the guilty, Ashoka said. This matter pertains to individuals, not the Shri Manjunatha Swamy temple in Dharmasthala. No one should target the temple. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is a devout believer, and he should act with divine will. Speaking recklessly about the Dharmasthala temple is wrong, and such statements do not befit any minister, Ashoka added. Regarding the Greater Bengaluru issue, the court has directed the government to respond. However, no development work is being carried out. Garbage piles are everywhere, salaries in hospitals remain unpaid, and teachers in schools are being sacked, Ashoka stated. Instead of developing Bengaluru, the government is focusing on creating five municipal corporations. Taxes are being imposed on everything, and due to issues with e-Khata, property registrations are stalled, said Ashoka, accusing the government of forming these corporations to win through unfair means. He stated that the BJP will always oppose attempts to ruin Bengaluru and will raise this issue in the upcoming Assembly session. He said, as a result of the BJPas protests against the Mysuru Urban Development (MUDA) scam, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has returned the allotted sites, admitting his mistake. The BJP will not stop its fight against the MUDA scam, he added. Ahmedabad, July 21 : A Special CBI court on Monday sentenced a former railway official in Gujarat to 3 years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) with a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a case related to the offence of demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs 5,000. Ahmedabad, July 21 (IANS) A Special CBI court on Monday sentenced a former railway official in Gujarat to 3 yearsa rigorous imprisonment (RI) with a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a case related to the offence of demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs 5,000. The Special Judge sentenced Harish Kishore Gupta, the then Divisional Engineer (C), Bhavnagar Para, DRM Office, Western Railway, Bhavnagar, for demanding a bribe from a contractor. The CBI said the bribe was sought as a consideration for issuing a work order amounting to Rs 19.91 lakh and to consider the extension of time for the completion of the contract allotted to the contractor on March 10, 2010. Gupta was arrested on July 16 after searches were conducted at his residence and office. The CBI registered the case on July 15, 2010, on allegations that Gupta had demanded and accepted an illegal gratification of Rs 5,000 from the complainant contractor. After investigation, a chargesheet was filed on June 29, 2011, against Gupta for the offence of demanding and accepting illegal gratification and criminal misconduct committed by the accused public servant. In a separate case, the CBI arrested a Proclaimed Offender involved in a Rs 12.63 crore Syndicate Bank fraud case registered in 2009. Proclaimed offender Nasreen Taj was arrested on July 19 and produced before the Competent Court at Bengaluru, which remanded her to judicial custody for the purpose of further trial proceedings. The accused is presently undergoing trial, having remained absconding for a period of nearly seven years. The CBI narrowed down on Taj through the deployment of advanced technological tools and identity-tracking databases. The probe agency meticulously analysed the digital footprint of the absconding accused to ascertain her current identity and location. Supplemented by extensive field investigations and on-ground inquiries, the CBI team successfully located Taj in Bengaluru, where she was living under the false name of Salma. Taj had deliberately severed contact with her spouse, family members, and social network and frequently changed residences. She had misled the local residents as well as the employer about her real identity and had maintained minimal interaction with locals, further hindering efforts to trace her. Earlier, she had fraudulently availed a Temporary Overdraft (TOD) facility of up to Rs 120 lakh, along with farm loans amounting to Rs 55 lakhs from Syndicate Bank. The CBI said the proceeds from these farm loans were illicitly diverted by her towards the repayment of the TOD, instead of utilising it for agricultural development, as mandated under the terms of the sanction. New Delhi, July 21 : Dhirubhai, a resident of Ghaziabad's Loni, has caught the attention of pilgrims as well as the public with his unique Kanwar Yatra. Being an ardent Lord Shiva devotee, he is carrying 75 litres of Ganga water, each dedicated to 75 flagship schemes of the Modi government. Dhirubhai, speaking to IANS, voiced strong support for various welfare schemes launched by the Modi government and said that this was his way of showing support. "This is also to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 75th birthday. This is for strengthening the resolve of developed India," he said. Dhirubhai has inscribed 75 schemes of the Central government on the 75 cans of Gangajal. He collected Gangajal in 75 cans on July 17. He said that he wants to meet the Prime Minister after performing Jalabhishek at the Dudheshwar Nath temple in Ghaziabad. He hopes that he will get a chance to meet the Prime Minister at his residence. He travelled 40 kilometres on the first day. He is travelling 30-35 kilometres every day. He said that PM Modi's mother is not with him on his 75th birthday. PM also considers Ganga as his mother, so this is Maa Ganga's blessing for him. Dhirubhai got a cart made in Haridwar itself and got the names of different schemes written on it and posters pasted on it. The information and names of 75 big schemes of the Modi government are written on the back of this cart. On one side of the cart, there are pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Apart from this, there are pictures of surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor also. On the other side of the cart, a photo of PM Modi and Lord Shiva, along with the words 'A pot of Ganga water in the name of developed India', is gathering the attention of everyone. Moscow, July 21 : Russian forces launched an overnight group strike on Ukraine's military-industrial complex and the infrastructure of military airfields, the Russian Defence Ministry said Monday. The raid involved long-range high-precision weapons launched from air, land and sea-based platforms, including "Kinzhal" air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles and combat drones, the ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, Russia's air defence intercepted 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 23 in the Moscow Region, it added. Airports in Moscow introduced air restrictions in the early hours of Monday for flight safety reasons, which were subsequently lifted, according to Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. Downed drone debris caused a fire on the roof of the railway station in the village of Kamenolomni in the Rostov Region, and more than 50 trains were delayed, said Russian Railways, Xinhua news agency reported. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Sunday said that Russia is ready to move quickly towards a settlement on Ukraine, but the main objective is to achieve its goals. President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible," Peskov told state television in an interview on Sunday. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy." "Our goals are clear, they are obvious, they do not change," he added. Russian officials have said repeatedly that any peace deal hinges on Ukraine withdrawing forces from four regions, renouncing its NATO bid and halting NATO troop deployments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his officials have proposed holding a new round of peace talks with Moscow this week. "Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire," he said in his evening address to the nation. Russia rejected Trump's 50-day ultimatum, dismissing the threat as unacceptable. Copenhagen, July 21 : A man was killed with two others injured in a shooting in Denmark's capital of Copenhagen, local media reported on Monday, citing local police. A 32-year-old man was shot dead in the city's northwestern neighbourhood of Tingbjerg on Sunday, while two other men, aged 21 and 22, were injured in the incident but are expected to survive. As of Monday morning, no arrests had been made, the Copenhagen police told the Danish broadcaster DR. According to the police, the shooting occurred around 19:00 local time (1700 GMT) in the area known as Ruten in Tingbjerg. The police received several reports of gunfire and quickly responded to the scene. The two injured arrived at the hospital on their own for treatment, Xinhua news agency reported. Authorities have launched an investigation and are actively searching for the suspect, who was reportedly seen fleeing the scene. It remains unclear how the suspect left the area and whether a vehicle was used. The motive for the shooting is still unknown. Despite the suspect being at large, the police assured the public that there is no indication of ongoing danger to local residents. Last year, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had expressed deep concern over the recent surge in violent incidents in Copenhagen, many of which involved Swedish perpetrators. "The violent incidents in our streets must be stopped. It is completely unacceptable," Frederiksen told Ritzau news agency, an English-language Scandinavian news service based in Copenhagen, in August 2024. "This is not the Denmark that we want." To combat the rising violence, Frederiksen urged police to crack down on gangs and their activities. Denmark has already escalated border controls with Sweden due to the growing involvement of Swedish criminals in activities in Copenhagen. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard had said that the situation had become so critical that Danish police would "significantly increase controls at the border." The enhanced measures include more rigorous physical checks on cross-border trains and the deployment of additional cameras to scan license plates at border crossings between Denmark and Sweden. New Delhi, July 21 : The Supreme Court on Monday mulled formation of guidelines for probe agencies on issuing summons to legal professionals for providing legal opinions to clients or for representing them before judicial forums. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing the suo moto case, initiated on its own motion, titled "In Re: Summoning Advocates Who Give Legal Opinion Or Represent Parties During Investigation Of Cases And Related Issues". During the hearing, the CJI Gavai-led Bench expressed shock over the summoning of advocates, noting that communications with their clients is privileged and protected from disclosure. "How can lawyers be summoned like this? This is privileged communication," remarked the apex court. Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, the highest law officer of the Centre, submitted that after summons were issued to senior advocate Arvind Datar, he immediately told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials that it was wrong. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta also weighed in that lawyers cannot be summoned for professional advice. SG Mehta quoted an incident from Gujarat in which a lawyer allegedly guided a murder accused on how to destroy evidence. At this, the apex court remarked that a judgment already covered such exceptional cases. The CJI Gavai-led Bench eventually listed the matter for further hearing on July 29 for framing guidelines and said that it will appoint amicus curie on the next date of listing. In the meantime, it asked the parties assisting the court to file a comprehensive note. Previously, a 2-judge Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and N.K. Singh concurred with the contention that permitting the investigating agencies to summon advocates who are engaged in a case or who have advised parties not only impinged upon the rights of the advocates but also seriously threatened the autonomy of the legal profession. The Justice Viswanathan-led Bench was dealing with a plea of an advocate challenging the summons issued to him by the Gujarat Police, though he was neither an accused nor a material witness to the facts of the FIR or the agreement in dispute. Granting interim relief to the petitioner-advocate, the apex court had ordered that no coercive action would be taken against him in furtherance of the summons issued by the Assistant Police Commissioner. It also framed two questions for a detailed consideration and directed that the matter be placed for further directions before the Chief Justice of India (CJI). First, when an individual has an association with a case only as a lawyer advising the party, could the prosecuting agency directly summon the lawyer for questioning? And second, assuming that the police have a case that the role of the individual is not merely as a lawyer but something more, even then, should they be directly permitted to summon or should judicial oversight be prescribed for those exceptional criterion of cases. Stressing that the issue required redressal on a comprehensive basis, it had called for the assistance of the Attorney General of India, the Solicitor General, the Bar Council of India, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association in the matter. After the ED issued summons to senior advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal, the SCAORA (Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association) had urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and examine the legality and propriety of such summons issued to legal professionals for opinions rendered in good faith. In a letter, SCAORA President Vipin Nair requested the apex court to safeguard the constitutional and professional protections afforded to advocates and lay down appropriate guidelines to prevent any further erosion of the lawyer-client privilege. Mumbai, July 21 : The Maharashtra government on Monday signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to provide a Public Policy Certificate Course to the youth participating in the Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme. The Chief Minister asserted that this course with IIT will enhance the capabilities of the youth participating in the Fellowship Programme, and they will be able to work more effectively. On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary of Planning Department Rajagopal Devara and Director of 'IIT' Bombay Prof Shirish Kedare signed this MoU. CM Fadnavis said that the Chief Minister's Fellowship program has been continuously deepening and enriching since 2015. This program is being taken forward with prestigious institutions like IIT. This certificate course will be used to provide value addition to the youth in the fellowship through various ways, to gain knowledge along with work. This will add value to their careers. "The main objective of the Chief Minister's Fellowship Program is to provide an opportunity to academically competent and socially minded youth to work with the government. When young people working in different fields come to the government, the government gets a new idea, a new perspective, and this makes the functioning of the administration more effective," said the Chief Minister. He expressed his belief that this program will give the government a new perspective, new ideas will bring about changes in the system, and the youth will also get an opportunity to bring about positive changes in society. Additional Chief Secretary Rajgopal Devara said that the Chief Minister's Fellowship Program has been implemented since 2015. Earlier, the youth under the Chief Minister's Fellowship Program were appointed at the Mantralaya level. However, from this year, the fellowship program is being implemented at the district level, and they will get the opportunity to work with the District Collector and the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad at the field level. Also, the government will benefit from their knowledge while making policy decisions. The purpose of the certificate course is to provide knowledge of the tools and science necessary to understand and solve public development issues. IIT Bombay Director Prof Shirish Kedare said that the opportunity to participate in the fellowship program with the state government is significant. He informed that the curriculum will include a total of 20 days of live classroom training, 90 hours of online learning per year and interaction with senior professors, retired civil servants and experts from various fields at IIT Bombay. Metinvest B.V., the parent company of the international vertically integrated mining and metallurgical group of companies Metinvest, announced the receipt of an 11.5-year buyer's credit line for EUR23.6 million for its subsidiary Northern Mining and Processing Plant (Pivnichny GOK). According to a press release on Monday, the loan is provided by the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera. The sole arranger and lender is Deutsche Bank, which received legal support from the international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. The loan will be used to finance the purchase of equipment from the Finnish industrial manufacturer Metso Finland for the tailings thickening project at Pivnichny GOK. "This transaction represents a significant milestone for the group. It reflects our commitment to longterm investment in our Ukrainian operations, particularly Northern Iron Ore. Despite ongoing security challenges, we are dedicated to preserving and potentially enhancing operational capacity, supporting workforce and advancing the environmental sustainability of our flagship iron ore asset," said Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov. Deutsche Bank is proud to support our long-standing client, Metinvest, with this important financing arrangement, in partnership with Metso, and Finnvera, to support this strategic project. This transaction highlights the strategic importance of both Metinvest and Ukraine to Deutsche Bank and reflects our continued commitment to delivering tailored financing solutions in todays complex geopolitical environment, said Moritz Doernemann, Global Co-Head of Structured Trade & Export Finance of Deutsche Bank. We are pleased to have been able to support our client Deutsche Bank on this important deal. All stakeholders worked extremely well together to navigate the unique challenges presented by the transaction and to achieve a successful result, said David Milligan, partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. Hyderabad, July 21 : Amid protests by tribals in four districts of Telangana, the state government on Monday decided to keep in abeyance the order for creation of Kumram Bheem Tiger Conservation Reserve. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy took the decision to keep Government Order (GO) 49 in abeyance till further orders after three ministers submitted their report to him. Minister for Forest and Environment Konda Surekha said the decision was taken after taking into account the concerns of tribals. The decision was taken on a day when dawn-to-dusk bandh was being observed across Adilabad, Nirmal, Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts in protest against the GO. Buses were off the roads while commercial establishments, schools, cinema theatres and fuel stations remained shut in response to the call given by tribal group Tudum Debba. The tribal groups have alleged that the government is trying to keep tribals away from the forests. The state government on May 30, 2025, issued orders declaring the tiger corridor area connecting the Kawal Tiger Reserve in the State with the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve, as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The GO was issued to convert 1.49 lakh hectares across multiple forest ranges including Asifabad, Kerameri, Rebbena, Tiryani, Kagaznagar, Sirpur, Karjelli, Bejjur, and Penchikalpet into the Kumuram Bheem Tiger Conservation Reserve, as part of the extended Kawwal Tiger Corridor. However, with more than 330 villages affected, many tribal residents and local representatives expressed serious concerns regarding potential displacement and restrictions on their forest rights. Konda Surekha, along with Adilabad District In-charge Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and Panchayat Raj Minister Seethakka conducted a comprehensive review of the situation and submitted their findings and recommendations to the Chief Minister. On the direction of the Chief Minister, the Forest Department on Monday issued orders suspending the implementation of GO 49. Minister Konda Surekha said the government took a decision respecting the concerns raised by tribal communities and public representatives across several tribal areas. "The government is a people's government. We will never take any decision that harms the rights or livelihoods of Adivasis and tribal communities. The concerns of the local people have been heard, and action has been taken accordingly. The welfare of every citizen - especially our tribal brothers and sisters - remains our top priority," she said. The minister stated that Telangana government continues to prioritise inclusive development, ensuring that conservation efforts go hand-in-hand with the rights and well-being of indigenous communities. Mumbai, July 21 : AGI GreenPac Limited's net consolidated profit for the first quarter of the current financial year (Q1 FY26) stood at Rs 88.85, down 8 per cent sequentially, the company said in an exchange filing on Monday. The packaging products manufacturer had posted a profit of Rs 96.61 crore in the preceding quarter, i.e. January-March quarter (Q4 FY25). The company reported a marginal decline of over 2 per cent in its total income for the Q1 on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis as well. The total income for the quarter under review stood at Rs 721.16 crore, down by Rs 21 crore from Rs 742.06 crore of Q4 FY25. However, the company's total expenses declined to Rs 603.37 crore as compared to Rs 616 crore in the preceding quarter. Manufacturing of packaging products had been its major source of revenue during the quarter, contributing Rs 682.27 crore to the total revenue from operations value of Rs 687.66 crore. As per the exchange filing, the Board of the company has approved a strategic entry into the aluminium cans segment. The 65th Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of the Company will now be held on Friday, August 29, instead of September 19, the company said in an exchange filing. "Q1 FY26 has set a strong foundation for the year. We solidified our financial position and achieved significant efficiencies throughout our operations. As we progress, our focus remains sharp on executing with agility, strengthening our strategic relationships, and consistently delivering sustainable value to all our stakeholders," Sandip Somany, Chairman and Managing Director, AGI Greenpac Limited, said. "We are strategically entering the aluminium cans segment with the clear goal of becoming a top player in this market within a decade, solidifying AGI Greenpac as a truly comprehensive packaging solutions provider," he added further. For the new manufacturing plant in Uttar Pradesh, the company is investing approximately INR 1000 crore in two phases, the company said. Srinagar, July 21 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the designated court in J&K's Srinagar, and the court has taken cognisance of the prosecution complaint. Srinagar, July 21 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the designated court in J&Kas Srinagar, and the court has taken cognisance of the prosecution complaint. An ED press release said: aED Srinagar Zonal Office has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 before the Honable Special Court (PMLA), Srinagar against Mukti Nath Doley, Ex Branch manager, Canara Bank, Irfan Manzoor Darzi, Shah Nawaz Shah of M/s SMC tours and Travels, New Delhi, Md. Parwez Mughal of Raffal World, Srinagar, Md. Asaraf Dev of M/s Rafraf Tours and Travels, Budgam, Sayed Kaushar Niyazi of M/s Syed Tours and Travels, Srinagar, Rayees Manzoor Darzi of M/s Rayees Tour and Travels, Mudasir Nazir Wani of M/s Travel King, Irfan Rashid Khan of M/s JK Makkah Jewellers, Rajouri, Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar of M/s Nikha Ornaments, Srinagar, & Khalil Ahmad Mughal of M/s JK Gold Jewellery, Rajouri, in the case of Canara Bank Fraud in the state of Jammu & Kashmir on 18/07/2025. The Special Court has taken cognisance of the Prosecution Complaint. ED initiated an investigation on the input of FIR registered by Maisuma Police Station, Srinagar (J&K) against the above-named persons and others for causing loss to the tune of Rs. 5.59 Crore to Canara Bank, Budshah Chowk Branch, Srinagar (J&K). ED investigation revealed that during 2014, the abovenamed accused persons, along with the 26 other borrowers, in connivance with M N Doley, the erstwhile Branch Manager, Canara Bank, availed cash credit loans, totalling to the tune of Rs 30 crore in the names of non-existent proprietorship entities. This was done based on forged and fake documents, which were later siphoned off by the accused persons, after routing the loan proceeds through various bank accounts of other entities/persons. Ultimately, utilising the funds for personal benefits by the accused, such a misappropriation was contrary to its intended purpose of business loans. All the loans sanctioned by M N Dole were in the gross violation of bank policy, which later started to become NPAs since 2016. This caused huge losses (of loan Amount and interest thereof) to the public money, handled by Canara Bank, Budhsah Chowk, Srinagar (J&K). aDuring the investigation, it also came to light that significant portions of these loan proceeds were shared by Mukti Nath Doley, Shahnawaz Shah, Irfan Manzoor Darzi, and the other accused persons, for their benefits. Earlier in this case, immovable properties equivalent to Rs. 4.81 crore were attached, pertaining to Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar, Asaraf Dev, Sayed Kauser Niyazi and Khalil Ahmad Mughal. The ED said further investigation is still going on in the case. Chennai, July 21 : Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava was sworn in as the 54th Chief Justice of the Madras High Court at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Chennai, on Monday. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath of office to Justice Shrivastava, after Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam read out the warrant of appointment issued by the President of India. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who was scheduled to attend, gave the event a miss due to health concerns. Representing the state government, Legislative Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, Municipal Administration Minister K.N. Nehru, and Public Works Minister E.V. Velu extended their greetings to the new Chief Justice. Former AIADMK Ministers D. Jayakumar and C.Ve. Shanmugam also congratulated the Chief Justice on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Among those present were former Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam, judges of the Madras High Court, senior advocates, judicial officers, bureaucrats, and top police officials. Justice Shrivastava, a native of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, had been serving as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court since February 2024. He began his judicial career when he was elevated as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court in December 2009 and was later transferred to the Rajasthan High Court in October 2021. He served as Acting Chief Justice from August 2022 before being formally appointed as Chief Justice in February 2024. Born on March 6, 1964, into a family of lawyers and educators, Justice Shrivastava holds a science degree and later studied law at K.R. Law College, Bilaspur, where he graduated top of his class and received a gold medal. He was also a nominated member of the board of studies and academic council of Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya. After enrolling with the Madhya Pradesh Bar Council in 1987, he began his practice in Raigarh under the guidance of his uncle. He later shifted to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur, working alongside his elder brother, a senior constitutional law advocate. He served as standing counsel for the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Income Tax Department and handled cases spanning constitutional, labour, service, education, and election laws. Following the creation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, Justice Shrivastava moved to the newly established Chhattisgarh High Court, continuing to represent various institutions as standing counsel. He was designated a senior advocate in 2005 before being elevated to the judiciary in 2009. With a distinguished legal and judicial career spanning nearly four decades, Justice Shrivastava now assumes leadership of one of the oldest High Courts in India, bringing with him a wealth of experience in constitutional law and public service. Quetta, July 21 : A Baloch human rights organisation on Monday strongly condemned the abduction of four civilians by Pakistani security forces amid the ongoing wave of enforced disappearances across the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh. Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, mentioned that the victims include Muhammad Hussain, a farmer from Naseerabad district in Balochistan, who was taken from his home on July 5, and Zahid Ali, a rickshaw driver from Karachias Lyari area who was abducted on July 17. Additionally, Mesho, from Dera Bugti in Balochistan, was forcibly disappeared in broad daylight on July 19, while Paneeri Bugti, a farmer from Pat Feeder in Naseerabad district, was abducted on June 27 after being summoned to Sui Military Camp in Balochistan. "These acts are clear violations of human rights and international law. Paank denounces this systematic campaign of abductions and demands the immediate release of all disappeared persons," said the rights body. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) presented its Annual Report for 2024 on Sunday, documenting an alarming rise in human rights violations across Balochistan. The report revealed that over the course of the year, at least 830 individuals were forcibly disappeared, while 480 were extrajudicially killed. It further highlighted "a brutal and systematic crackdown on peaceful protestors, particularly those demanding justice for missing persons". "These figures include only reported and verified cases; the actual scale is likely higher due to media censorship, restricted access, and fear among victimsa families," the HRCB stated. The human rights body asserted that compared to 2023, when HRCB recorded 601 enforced disappearances and 525 killings, 2024 marked a sharp 38 per cent rise in enforced disappearances. However, the crisis has escalated further in 2025. In just the first six months, HRCB documented 814 enforced disappearances a" nearly equal to the entire total of 2024 a" and 365 killings, already accounting for over 75 per cent of the previous year's total. Raising concern, the HRCB stated that Pakistan's security forces and intelligence agencies operated with increasing impunity, and the alarming trend reflected "the deepening human rights emergency in Balochistan, with state violence accelerating year after year". "Victims included students, political activists, women, and children a" many abducted from their homes or public spaces without any legal process. In numerous instances, bodies were later found bearing signs of torture. Peaceful protests, particularly those calling for the recovery of missing persons, were met with live fire, arbitrary arrests, and criminal charges, further shrinking the civic space in Balochistan," read the HRCB report. New Delhi, July 21 : More than 34 crore people have got employment in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the Udyam and Udyam Assist portals since 2014, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi stated in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Minister of MSMEs said, in response to an MPas question on the floor of the House, that there was no shortage of money and workers of small enterprises, such as cobblers, have got financial assistance under various programmes such as the PMas Vishwakarma scheme. The government considers the MSME sector as the backbone of India's manufacturing and industrial growth and is focusing on strengthening this sector to promote inclusive growth. The government made a significant decision to revise the definition of MSMEs after 14 years, which eliminated the fear among MSMEs that they would lose government benefits if they grew. The number of MSMEs in the country has increased to over 6 crore, providing employment opportunities to crores. The definition of MSMEs has been further expanded to make it easier for them to get loans. PM Modi recently said that ten years ago, MSMEs received loans worth approximately Rs 12 lakh crore, which has now increased to around Rs 30 lakh crore. The Prime Minister announced that in the budget, the guarantee cover for MSME loans has been doubled to Rs 20 crore. Additionally, customised credit cards with a limit of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to meet working capital needs. Meanwhile, NITI Aayog has also released a detailed report for unlocking the immense potential of Indiaas MSMEs through systemic reforms in financing, skilling, innovation and market access. India's MSMEs can become a key driver of sustainable economic growth by focusing on targeted interventions, building stronger institutional collaborations and enhancing global competitiveness, the report states. One of the important findings of the report is the notable improvement in MSMEs' access to formal credit. Between 2020 and 2024, the share of micro and small enterprises accessing credit through scheduled banks rose from 14 per cent to 20 per cent, while medium enterprises saw an increase from 4 per cent to 9 per cent. Mumbai, July 21 : Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal on Monday lashed out at the Maharashtra government over the Agriculture Minister playing online rummy in the Assembly, and asked the Chief Minister to take strict action against the minister. "While six farmers commit suicide daily in the state, the state's Agriculture Minister was playing online rummy in the Assembly. This is an embarrassment to Maharashtra. The ministers have no awareness, and MLAs and officials have become thugs and goons, but the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers are unable to bring these arrogant people under control. Those who only take action against the opposition should show the guts to take strict action against the shameless Agriculture Minister and the hooligan office bearers," he said. While attacking the government, Sapkal said that after the clash in the Assembly building, the Chief Minister said the MLAs were arrogant, but not only MLAs, ministers and office bearers have become arrogant. "The Agriculture Minister sometimes calls the farmers beggars and sometimes insults them, saying that farmers' daughters get married from the loan waiver money, and meanwhile, this gentleman was sitting playing rummy in the Assembly. To protest against this incident, the Chhava organisation submitted a memorandum and a card set to NCP State President Sunil Tatkare in Latur, which is a way of protest. But the hooligans deployed by Ajit Pawar brutally beat those protesters; where does this arrogance come from?" he asked. "Power has gone to their heads, but such intoxication of power does not last long. This issue is now being protested, but what use is a hollow protest? Send the Agriculture Minister home and jail these arrogant street goons," demanded Sapkal. Sapkal said that Congress raised a serious allegation in the Assembly that some ministers and officials in the state have been caught in a honeytrap, but the Chief Minister denied it. "As usual, the Chief Minister blatantly lied. The threads of this honeytrap reach very close to the BJP. A photo of a person related to the honeytrap with a minister very close to the Chief Minister has come to light, which has deepened the seriousness of the case. The government is trying to suppress this issue, but a high-level inquiry into the honeytrap should be conducted," he added. Omkareshwar, July 21 : A tragic drowning incident marred the sacred observance of Sawan Monday at "Gaumukh Ghat" in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, as two young men were swept into deep waters while bathing in the Narmada river. Omkareshwar, July 21 (IANS) A tragic drowning incident marred the sacred observance of Sawan Monday at "Gaumukh Ghat" in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, as two young men were swept into deep waters while bathing in the Narmada river. The victims, identified as Vishal from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, and Pankaj (26), son of Kailash from Neemuch, had arrived with their families for pilgrimage and ritual bathing. The accident occurred around 11 am when both men ventured into a restricted section of the river. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), already stationed at the ghat, launched an immediate rescue operation. According to police officials, Vishal was pulled out safely, but Pankaj was recovered in critical condition and later declared dead at the hospital. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic and grief, with Pankaj's family members collapsing in shock. The incident has reignited concerns over safety at Omkareshwar's ghats, which have witnessed multiple drowning cases in recent weeks. Just four days earlier, on July 16, two brothers from Indore drowned at the Narmada-Kaveri Sangam Ghat. Their bodies were recovered only after an exhaustive three-day search. Despite repeated tragedies, locals say that no substantial safety measures have been implemented. Gaumukh Ghat, a popular site for ritual bathing, lacks basic infrastructure such as railings, depth markers, and designated safe zones. Warning boards are present, but enforcement is minimal. Sudden drop-offs in the riverbed and strong undercurrents make rescue operations difficult and often delayed, especially during peak pilgrimage days when crowds swell. Environmental studies have also flagged pollution and unmanaged wastewater discharge into the Narmada near Omkareshwar, further complicating the river's safety profile. Local residents and devotees have made oft-repeated demands for permanent security arrangements, including physical barriers, trained lifeguards, and stricter access control to hazardous zones. With the monsoon season drawing more pilgrims to the riverbanks, the urgency for administrative action has intensified. Indore, July 21 : IndiGo Airlines faced back-to-back technical challenges this week, raising fresh concerns over the operational reliability of its Airbus A321neo fleet. Flight 6E 813 operating from Goa to Indore was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday, after a suspected hydraulic malfunction in its wheel system triggered an undercarriage warning mid-air. The aircraft departed Goaas Dabolim Airport at 3:14 p.m. and was approaching Indore when the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control about the irregular hydraulic response linked to the landing gear. As a precaution, the plane circled Indoreas airspace seven to eight times while emergency response units were mobilised on the ground. Fire brigades, medical teams, and airport officials were deployed along the runway, anticipating a potentially hazardous landing. The aircraft touched down safely at 5:08 p.m., with all 140 passengers and crew members reported unharmed. This marks the second such scare within 24 hours for the carrier. On Sunday evening, flight 6E 6591 from Tirupati to Hyderabad encountered a separate technical snag shortly after take-off. According to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, the plane left Tirupati Airport at 7:42 p.m., but was forced to circle overhead before landing back at 8:34 p.m. That flight, also an A321neo and the last scheduled service from Tirupati to Hyderabad for the day, was cancelled. IndiGo has yet to offer a comprehensive statement regarding either incident. Aviation sources suggest both were precautionary manoeuvres prompted by cockpit alerts, not structural failures. However, the proximity of two mechanical alerts involving the same aircraft model has drawn attention from civil aviation authorities, who are expected to initiate a review of maintenance protocols and alert response strategies. Passengers on both flights have expressed relief over the crewas handling of the situations, while aviation observers await official explanations from the airline and regulators regarding any underlying causes or patterns behind the sudden malfunctions. Kolkata, July 21 : West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday that illegal infiltration in the state would be his main campaign line to counter Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement on the harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed Trinamool Congress's annual Martyrs ' Day rally in central Kolkata on Monday, while the Leader of the Opposition held a counter rally at Siliguri in Darjeeling district in North Bengal, which focused on the incident of the crime against women in the state. Adhikari alleged that the Chief Minister is banking on the "save Bengali" mission to protect the illegal Bangladesh infiltrators. He added that the BJP will highlight the same infiltration issue to counter the Chief Minister's new narrative of "Bengalis in Danger". "Trinamool Congress is directly indulging in anti-national activities by trying to protect these Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators, and I request the Election Commission of India to take action against the party for that. Trinamool Congress's registration as a political party should be cancelled immediately. Not a single Rohingya or Bangladeshi infiltrator should be on the voters' list. We cannot support their inclusion in the voters' list. Today, the Chief Minister had made it clear that her party could not survive without the support of these infiltrators," he alleged. He also said that he had accepted it as a mission and a challenge to make Mamata Banerjee the former West Bengal Chief Minister after the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls, and also said that the latter's excessive appeasement politics and support for illegal infiltrators will ultimately result in the end of the Trinamool Congress regime in West Bengal. Meanwhile, BJP's Information Technology Cell Chief and the party's central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, also claimed that the Trinamool Congress rally on Monday was a rally of Rohingya infiltrators and known criminals. "Mamata Banerjee, the self-styled "Queen of Thieves", addressed a rally today not of citizens, but of illegal Rohingya infiltrators and known criminals. This is not new. For years, Mamata has sheltered criminals and enabled illegal migrants, turning Bengal into a haven for lawlessness. While her rallies overflow with outsiders, real Bengalis, the sons and daughters of this soil, are ignored, humiliated, and left to suffer," Malviya wrote on X. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose personal sanctions against five people: three citizens of Ukraine and two citizens of the Russian Federation. The corresponding decree was signed and published on the president's website on Sunday. Sanctions were imposed against Tatyana Aksyonenko (a citizen of the Russian Federation), Hennadiy Balashov (Ukraine), Natalia Korolevska (Ukraine), Yulia Latynina (Russia), and Andriy Serebriansky (Ukraine). As the advisor to the President of Ukraine, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, told reporters, the sanctions were imposed for "participation in information campaigns aimed at undermining Ukraine's defense capabilities, promoting anti-Ukrainian narratives, and legitimizing armed aggression of the Russian Federation." He detailed that these are bloggers who justify the aggressor state and its actions, as well as hinder the defense of Ukraine and its people, thereby creating a threat to the national interests of Ukraine, as well as Russian military corporators and administrators of propaganda Telegram channels who spread messages of support for the occupation forces, glorify participants in the so-called "SMO" and justify the war crimes of the Russian Federation. Chennai, July 21 : In a tragic incident, a powerful explosion at a private firecracker manufacturing unit in Andiyapuram near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu claimed the lives of three workers, including two women, on Monday. Several others were seriously injured in the blast, which sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. The explosion occurred while workers were engaged in routine operations at the fireworks unit. According to eyewitnesses, firecrackers stored in one of the rooms suddenly ignited, triggering a chain reaction of explosions. The deafening sound could be heard several hundred meters away, causing panic among local residents. Fire and rescue teams from Sivakasi and nearby areas rushed to the spot and launched immediate firefighting and rescue operations. The flames were brought under control after a strenuous effort, and the injured workers were shifted to nearby government and private hospitals for treatment. Fire and emergency personnel worked through the debris in search of survivors, while police cordoned off the area to prevent further hazards. Local reports indicate that the three deceased workers were trapped inside the factory when the explosion occurred and could not be rescued in time. The cause of the explosion is yet to be officially determined. Police officials have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation. Preliminary findings suggest possible mishandling of volatile chemicals or negligence in safety protocols, but authorities are awaiting forensic reports. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed condolences to the bereaved families and announced a solatium of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Sivakasi, known as the firecracker capital of India, has a long history of such accidents due to the hazardous nature of the work and frequent lapses in safety enforcement. This incident once again raises concerns about the working conditions in firecracker factories and the urgent need for stringent regulatory oversight to prevent recurring tragedies in the region. Bhubaneswar, July 21 : The members of Odisha BJP Yuva Morcha on Monday staged protests in Bhubaneswar over the arrest of Odisha Chhatra Congress president Udit Pradhan on Sunday over the alleged sexual abuse of a 19-year-old engineering student. The BJP Yuva Morcha workers also burn effigies of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Bhakta Charan Das, alleging that the party of shielding Pradhan. "Udit Pradhan, who was arrested on serious charges including sexual harassment, attempt to murder, and other criminal offences, was made the State President of NSUI (Odisha) by the Congress leadership despite having multiple cases registered against him. He was earlier involved in a 2020 incident and again in 2024, where charges like IPC 307 (attempt to murder), 354 (assault on a woman), 341 (wrongful restraint), and several others were slapped against him," alleged Abhilash Panda, Odisha BJP Yuva Morcha president. He questioned how the Congress chose such a man as Pradhan was made the Congress's youth face in the state. Panda further accused that the Congress leaders have no moral ground to criticise the state BJP government over the women's atrocity issues. "The party which demands the resignation of Chief Ministers over crimes against women is now sheltering an accused with a history of violence, harassment, and criminal intimidation. This exposes the double standards of Congress on women's safety," added Panda. The ruling BJP, which has been on the backfoot since the tragic death of the Fakir Mohan Autonomous College's B.Ed student a few days ago, launched a blistering attack on the opposition Congress over Pradhan's arrest. BJP national spokesperson K.K. Sharma said, "I want to ask LoP Rahul Gandhi that you make big statements on women's dignity and have recently called for an Odisha Bandh over this issue. However, in today's rape incident, individuals directly or indirectly associated with your party have been implicated. Why are you silent now? What action will you take against those involved?" He further questioned LoP Rahul Gandhi's silence on Pradhan, asking what action the Congress party intends to take against the Odisha NSUI president, who stands accused of a heinous crime such as rape. He also alleged that recent reports over the FM college incident brought forth the Congress's student wing, NSUI's suspicious role behind the sexual harassment and self-immolation of the B.Ed student. "In this context, I want to ask LoP Rahul Gandhi how the student wing of the Congress party is connected to such heinous acts? What action will the Congress party take against such people? The people of the country want to know from LoP Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party," added Sharma. Amaravati, July 21 : With land availability becoming a serious issue in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, Andhra Pradesh is planning to develop electronics manufacturing hubs in Rayalaseema region. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu believes that areas like Sri City near Tirupati, Orvakal near Kurnool, Kopparthy, and Hindupur are well-suited for setting up electronics manufacturing industries. He stated that there is vast potential for electronic component manufacturing in these places in Rayalaseema and directed officials to attract investments for this region, which is close to Bengaluru and Chennai. During a review meeting on newly drafted Electronics Components Manufacturing Policy 4.0 at the Secretariat, he said Andhra Pradesh has a significant advantage in attracting investments in electronic manufacturing industries. He advised preparing an action plan to attract $50-100 billion investment in the electronics components manufacturing sector. The Chief Minister emphasised that the new policy should facilitate large-scale production and instructed officials to ensure the development of a conducive ecosystem alongside the establishment of industries. Officials informed the Chief Minister that the policy is designed to reduce electronics imports, boost domestic production, and focus on exports. They shared that last year, India imported electronic circuit boards worth $70 billion, highlighting the sector's immense demand. Chandrababu Naidu stressed that self-reliance in electronics and achieving 'Make in India' targets must be prioritised. He said Andhra Pradesh must launch large-scale manufacturing initiatives to meet international demand and also create its brand for these products. The CM also stated that the government will take steps to promote aspiring entrepreneurs, reiterating the coalition government's vision of aOne Family, One Entrepreneura. He noted that cities like Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati offer immense opportunities for setting up IT companies. Allocating space for 500 IT companies in these regions can generate large-scale employment, he said. Along with IT and ITeS firms in Visakhapatnam, manufacturing industries can be developed from Lepakshi to Orvakal. He also directed the establishment of co-working spaces in these areas. The CM instructed officials to ensure job opportunities increase in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and other cities in the state. He stressed the need to integrate the skill development portal with other platforms to enhance youth skills in line with future demands. He also recommended updating academic curricula to meet emerging educational needs, thereby creating opportunities at the state, national, and global levels. Patna, July 21 : A wave of mourning has gripped the Saran district after three members of a family tragically drowned in the Ganga during the immersion of the urn after Rudrabhishek on the occasion of Sawan Somwari. The incident took place at Mirpur Ghat under Dighwara police station limits. According to locals, a large crowd had gathered at the ghat for the immersion ceremony when the three victims went into deep water and were swept away by the strong current. On receiving information, the administration reached the spot promptly with divers, and after significant efforts, the bodies were recovered and taken to PHC Dighwara, where doctors declared them dead. The incident has left the entire village in grief, with the families inconsolable. The administration has initiated an investigation into the incident and appealed to the public to exercise caution while visiting riverbanks during the monsoon. In a separate incident in Patna on Monday, five children from Badi Patan Devi Colony went to Bhadra Ghat under Alamganj police station limits for a bath in the Ganga on Sawan Somwari when they were swept away by the strong current. SSB jawans managed to rescue three of the children safely, but two children remain missing. The missing have been identified as Shivam Kumar (16), son of Vakil Mahato, and Pawan Kumar (17), son of Ranjan Kumar, both residents of Badi Patan Devi Colony. Following the incident, three teams of the SDRF launched a rescue operation, which continued late into the evening. However, despite several hours of intensive search operations, the children remain untraceable. Alamganj police station SHO stated that the children were swept away while bathing, and as soon as the information was received, family members reached the spot while rescue operations were launched. The incident has led to chaos and despair among the families, with parents and relatives crying inconsolably as the search continues. New Delhi, July 21 : Jagdeep Dhankhar, the 14th Vice President of India, tendered his resignation on Monday, citing health reasons, becoming the first Vice President in Indian history to voluntarily step down before the completion of his five-year term. His resignation comes with two years still remaining in office. Dhankhar, who assumed office in August 2022 after a sweeping victory in the Vice-Presidential election, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, July 21. In his letter, he invoked Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution, which provides for the resignation of the Vice President. Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation will now trigger the constitutional process to elect a new Vice President of India, say experts. Since the Vice President also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the post cannot remain vacant for long, experts added. According to political observers, there is a strong likelihood that the election of Dhankhar's successor will be held soon, as mandated by the Constitution to ensure continuity in the functioning of the upper house of Parliament. Dhankhar had been hospitalised multiple times over the past year for health concerns, most recently in Nainital. The exact nature of his illness has not been disclosed. Born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana village, Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Jagdeep Dhankhar rose from humble beginnings as a "Kisan Putra" (farmer's son) to hold some of the highest constitutional offices in India. He completed his schooling at Sainik School, Chittorgarh, and graduated with a B.Sc. followed by an LLB from the University of Rajasthan. Dhankhar began his professional career as an advocate in 1979, becoming a Senior Advocate designated by the Rajasthan High Court in 1990. He practised in the Supreme Court of India and held the position of President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association. He entered politics in 1989 as a Lok Sabha MP from Jhunjhunu on a Janata Dal ticket. He was appointed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar government (1990-1991). From 1993 to 1998, he served as an MLA from Kishangarh in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. In July 2019, Dhankhar was appointed Governor of West Bengal, where he had a turbulent relationship with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. Jagdeep Dhankhar was named the NDA's candidate for Vice President on July 16, 2022, and formally filed his nomination on July 18. Supported by the BJP and its allies, Dhankhar won the August 6, 2022, election by a record margin, receiving 528 votes out of 710, defeating opposition candidate Margaret Alva, who secured only 182 votes. It was the largest winning margin in a Vice-Presidential race since 1992. Trinamool Congress had abstained from the vote. As Vice President, Dhankhar also served as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, where he presided over key legislative debates. As Dhankhar steps down, his legacy as a constitutional authority, legal luminary, and advocate for democratic procedures will continue to shape discussions around the role of the Vice Presidency in contemporary India. Full text of Vice President Dhankhar's resignation letter: Respected Rashtrapati ji, To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the constitution. I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency - the Hon'ble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure. I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office. The warmth, trust, and affection I have received from all the Hon'ble Members of Parliament would ever be cherished at and embedded in my memory. I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy. It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India's remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation's history has been a true honour. As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharat's global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future. Hyderabad, July 21 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have expressed grief over the passing of veteran Communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan. Telangana Chief Minister recalled that Achuthanandan, who rose through the ranks from labour movements to become a prominent public leader, rendered invaluable service to the progress of Kerala during his tenure as Chief Minister. Praying for his soul to rest in peace, the Chief Minister extended his condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also condoled the demise of Achutanandan. "I extend my deepest condolences on the passing of veteran communist leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri V. S. Achuthanandan. His long political journey, spanning over eight decades, reflects a steadfast commitment to his ideals and public service. May his soul rest in peace," Naidu said in a post on social media platform X. YSR Congress Party President and Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his condolences on the demise of the prominent Communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Velikkakattu Shankaran Achuthanandan. Jagan stated that Kerala's political sphere has lost a great leader with Achuthanandan's passing. He highlighted that Achuthanandan's courage, dedication, and love for the people will remain etched in their hearts forever. YS Jagan extended his heartfelt sympathies to Achuthanandan's family and admirers, praying for peace for the departed soul. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao has expressed grief over the death of Achuthanandan. He said in his condolence message that Achuthanandan worked honestly for the public good and stood as an exemplary leader and lived a very inspiring political life. The former minister said the services rendered by Achuthanandan as the leader of opposition for three terms and as the Chief Minister would go down in history. Rama Rao said that as the founder member of CPM, his struggle on behalf of people and his life stand as inspiration for many generations. The BRS leader conveyed his condolences to the family of Achutanandan and his followers. New Delhi, July 21 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday signalled a review of financial support schemes for the poor, the disabled and the elderly to weed out ineligible beneficiaries, an official said. After chairing a review meeting, CM Gupta announced that a process of giving digital ID cards to persons with disabilities will start soon. "Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive, and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly," she said. The CM said that all current welfare schemes will be reviewed to make sure only the truly deserving people get help, and those who are not eligible will be removed. The Chief Minister added that the previous government had cheated the disabled and the poor sections of society, but her government will not allow such misuse anymore. The meeting, chaired by the CM, was attended by senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The meeting focused on reviewing ongoing schemes designed to uplift economically and socially marginalised communities. The Chief Minister said that the government is not only providing financial assistance but also extending support in the form of rehabilitation, skill development, education, and other essential welfare services. The Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens scheme provides monthly financial aid to individuals aged 60 and above, especially those from SC/ST communities or economically weaker backgrounds. Depending on their age, eligible beneficiaries receive between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per month. Over four lakh senior citizens have already benefited from this initiative, which is designed to help them live with dignity. Another important initiative is the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), under which individuals with severe disabilities who are unable to support themselves are granted Rs 2,500 per month. So far, around 1.34 lakh people have received this support, aimed at promoting their social and economic empowerment. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS) offers one-time financial assistance of Rs 20,000 to families who have lost their primary breadwinner. Approximately 1,100 dependents have been supported through this scheme to help them cope with sudden financial hardship. The SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme focuses on rehabilitating individuals involved in begging. It provides essential services such as shelter, medical care, counselling, skill training, and livelihood opportunities to help them reintegrate into mainstream society with dignity and purpose. Patna, July 21 : Former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, reached the Bihar Assembly on Monday after the House proceedings ended, where he backed his mother Rabri Devi's statement urging Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to hand over the Chief Minister's post to his son Nishant Kumar. "I have been saying from the beginning that the youth should get a chance. Whatever my mother has said, she must have said it after careful consideration," Tej Pratap stated while interacting with the media outside the Bihar Assembly. Commenting on the law-and-order situation in Bihar, Tej Pratap said, "Crime is at its peak, and the government is completely inactive. No action is being taken." Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, Rabri Devi, had strongly criticised Nitish Kumar over the rising crime in Bihar, advising him to hand over the Chief Minister's post to his son Nishant Kumar if he is unable to control the situation. In recent weeks, incidents of crime in Patna and across Bihar have triggered questions on the government and the police, with the opposition intensifying its attack on the Nitish-led NDA government over the law-and-order situation. When asked about his electoral plans, Tej Pratap said, "Many people are speculating. Some say I will contest from Bakhtiyarpur, some from Mahaddipur. I have done a lot of work in Mahua, and I will contest from wherever there is public demand." He added, "Now it remains to be seen who forms the next government." Recently, Tej Pratap Yadav revealed his 12-year relationship with Anushka Yadav on social media, after which his father, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, expelled him from the party for six years and also disowned him from the family. Tej Pratap's appearance at the Assembly amid the ongoing monsoon session and his statements add to the evolving political drama in Bihar, as debates over leadership and youth representation gain traction ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. New Delhi, July 21 : Delhi Health and Family Welfare Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Monday that 30 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will be inaugurated this month. He added that by the end of August, 75 additional Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will be established and dedicated to the public. At a meeting with senior officials from the Health Department, along with representatives from PWD, MCD, DDA, and NDMC, Singh directed officials to identify vacant spaces in MCD community centres, banquet halls, unoccupied market shops, community centres, polyclinics, and unused areas in residential sites for setting up the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. He said the government has also prepared a comprehensive roadmap for opening these facilities in rural cluster development centres across the Capital. A total of 429 MCD sites have already been identified for this purpose, of which 98 have received a no-objection certificate. In total, feasibility assessments are being carried out at over 950 locations across Delhi. The Delhi government is committed to setting up 1,139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to ensure comprehensive, affordable, and accessible healthcare services for every citizen, he said. "From Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to medical colleges and government hospitals, the Delhi Government will ensure that there is no shortage of funds in delivering world-class healthcare services," added Singh. In another development, the Delhi government has taken a proactive step to ensure the welfare of DVB-ETBF (2002) pensioners under the Pension Trust by proposing an increase in the gratuity limit from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. The proposal was discussed in detail by the Power Department and has been submitted for consideration and ratification by the Board of Trustees. Powe Minister Ashish Sood said that the government remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of its retired employees and ensuring the timely resolution of all matters. He said that the financial implication of this increase is estimated at approximately Rs 16 crore for the period January 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and another Rs 15 crore for DA and future increments. Agartala, July 21 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Monday that the state's efforts to implement the National Education Policy and provide quality education are reflected in the results of the Class X and XII board exams conducted by the various central and state boards. Addressing a felicitation ceremony held at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan, organised by the School Education Department, the Chief Minister said that the government has given priority to the development of education in all areas, from villages to cities. Saha, who also holds the Secondary Education portfolio, felicitated those schools which have achieved 100 per cent pass percentage in this year's Madhyamik and Higher Secondary exams conducted by the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). "The government is allocating funds for the development of educational infrastructure, other facilities, and new schemes. The Education Department is working to provide quality education to students. Along with this, the government has taken the initiative to establish an Education Hub and a Health Hub in Tripura," he said. The Chief Minister said that through this initiative, a fair competition would be established among schools in the future. "Other schools would also be inspired by the success of these schools. The responsibility for the good or bad results of students in schools lies with the teachers. Now the government has given importance to the appointment of quality teachers. Teaching is a process where teachers also need proper training. For this, various policy guidelines have to be followed. The state government is recruiting quality teachers through the Teachers' Ability Test (TET) and the Teachers' Recruitment Board," said Saha. The Chief Minister emphatically said that quality education must be provided to students. Noting that Tripura is competing on various parameters at the all-India level, he said that the future of the state's students depends on the next generation. Now Thinker Labs and Smart Classes have started in schools in Tripura, the Chief Minister said, adding that many reforms are being made in the field of education constantly. "Technology has been integrated now. Artificial Intelligence has been added to various fields. Along with this, we have to come forward with innovative thinking. Those who have achieved 100 per cent success today have no room for complacency because we have to move forward further," he said. --IANS sc/dan By Akbar Novruz What started in 2023 as a media forum in freed Shusha has since turned into a robust diplomatic traditionone that combines national pride with strategic communication. This year, the Shusha Global Media Forum, in its third edition, made history by bringing together international journalists not just in Shusha but for the first time in Khankendia step that was as political as it was symbolic. The venue spoke volumes about the irreversible shifts in the region's political landscape, as well as Azerbaijan's increasing confidence in making its voice heard to the worldthis time, not from Baku, but from the very depths of its freed territories. Welcoming over 140 representatives from 52 nations, the Forum provided more than a venue for dialogueit was a statement. President Ilham Aliyev's direct communication with foreign media representatives was not merely a formality. His words, uttered against the backdrop of Garabagh's renaissance, were not just the voice of the state but the will of the Azerbaijani people. This openness and willingness to engage directly is what characterizes Azerbaijan's information diplomacy today. From permitting the world to observe the extent of the post-war devastation in Shusha and Khankendi, to making restoration efforts and civilian returns possible at a rapid pace, Azerbaijan has opened its doors wide. It has welcomed journalists to observe not only the outcomes of occupation, but also the strength of revival. As President Aliyev underscored, Azerbaijani media has also matured into an internationally engaged forcestrong enough not only to defend national narratives but to frame global discussion. These are vital evolutions, particularly in an age where misinformation is too often weaponized. The emergence of Armenia's well-funded lobbying industry and diasporic disinformation networks has made media war a new frontier in regional politics. But instead of retaliating behind closed doors, Azerbaijan is constructing an open information architectureone based on fact, transparency, and regular outreach. Significantly, the Forum was not confined to messaging. It delivered news of matters of long-standing geostrategic importance. The President spoke candidly on the peace talks with Armenia, underscoring that a true treaty is not merely a matter of diplomatic positioning, but of tangible legal reformparticularly with respect to Armenia's irredentist constitution, which still lays claim to Azerbaijani lands. In the absence of this amendment, Baku does not envision a durable peace. Further, President Aliyev's appeal for the official dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Groupnow redundant following the liberation of Garabaghindicates that international institutions, too, must adapt in tandem with regional realities. President's statements on the Zangezur corridor were imbued with additional weight. The corridor, which has been conceived as a linchpin of regional integration, is stalled due to Armenian inaction. As Azerbaijan has all but finished its part of the project, Armenia's reluctance to proceed risks its own future utility in trade and transit. The warning is also an opportunityan offer of cooperation and mutual prosperity, if Yerevan is willing to take it. "Zangezur corridor this is a question for the Armenian leadership. On our territory, there will be no operator, no lease, no rent. We do everything ourselves. What Armenia wants to do I dont know. They can do many things." Irredentist rhetoric has again emerged within Armenia, making its already tenuous political consensus even more complicated. However, these internal factors do not alter a basic reality: peace is feasible, yet it will be so only if political will trumps populist deflection. Azerbaijan, for its part, is no longer willing to wait. It has reasserted sovereignty, rebuilt its infrastructure, and invited the world to witness. The Shusha Forum has become another confirmation: information stability, foreign policy activity and media literacy are the result of targeted work and a strategic approach. In the era of digital transformations and information threats, Azerbaijan demonstrates an example of how professionalism, state thinking and loyalty to national interests become the key to victory not only on the battlefield, but also in the global information arena. By hosting the Forum in Khankendi, Baku has made an unmistakable statement: the information war is no longer waged in the dark, and the truth is no longer a victim of conflict. It is now a cornerstone of durable peace. Photo: SBU The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor General's Office have exposed Ruslan Maghamedrasulov, one of the heads of the interregional departments of National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) detectives, as conducting business in the Russian Federation. "According to the case materials, this high-ranking official, stationed in the city of Dnipro, coordinates the activities of the Bureau in the front-line regions of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia), while having contacts with representatives of the aggressor country and helping his father, an entrepreneur, conduct illegal trade with Russia," the SBU said in a telegram message on Monday. As the investigation established, he acted as an intermediary in the sale of his father's batches of technical hemp to the Russian Federation (Republic of Dagestan). Information is also being checked regarding Maghamedrasulov's contacts with Russian special services and the transfer of secret information to them, in particular regarding planned investigative actions. "According to the investigation, this high-ranking official of the Bureau was in close contact with the fugitive MP from the banned party Opposition Platform For Life Fedor Khrystenko, who is connected to the Russian special services and, as the investigation has established, has a significant influence on the activities of the NABU, which will be reported separately," the report says. During the pre-trial investigation, it was also established that Maghamedrasulov's father, Sentyabr Maghamedrasulov, has Russian citizenship, but the high-ranking NABU official did not indicate this fact when applying for access to state secrets, thereby violating the law. As for the suspect's mother, Irina Maghamedrasulova, she lives in Kyiv, but receives a pension from the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and publishes pro-Russian comments on social networks, in particular in groups with Z-symbols. The SBU has evidence that in conversations she actively supports Putin's war against Ukraine and justifies Russian war crimes. "Despite the fact that as one of the heads of the interregional department of NABU detectives, Ruslan Maghamedrasulov was supposed to be stationed in the city of Dnipro and be responsible for work in front-line regions, he was almost constantly in Kyiv, and also recently returned from an elite vacation on the island of Tenerife, where he spent several weeks," the special service said. The issue of reporting a high-ranking official of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau on suspicion under Article 111-2 (aiding an aggressor state) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is currently being resolved. Comprehensive measures are being taken to clarify all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Prosecutor General's Office is responsible for the procedural management. Earlier on Monday, NABU confirmed that its employees are being searched. "On July 21, NABU employees were subjected to investigative actions without court orders, which were carried out by employees of the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office. We are currently clarifying all the circumstances. Details will be provided later," the NABU reported. Citing sources in the SBU, it was reported that (the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office are conducting a special operation to neutralize Russian influence on NABU. Itanagar, July 21 : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday reviewed the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) with an estimated generation capacity of 11,000 MW. The Chief Minister in a post on X said: "Had a review meeting on the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) along with HDCM Shri Chowna Mein ji, Chief Secretary Shri Manish Kumar Gupta ji, and senior officers from the Hydro Power Department." "Encouraged to learn that villagers from Siang and Upper Siang districts are coming forward in support of conducting the Pre- Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR). I have directed the administration and the department to work in close coordination with the local tribe and ensure that their feedback is duly considered at every stage," Khandu said. Meanwhile, after a series of agitations and protests, people of Riga village in Siang district signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 11 for the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the proposed SUMP, which was declared as a 'National Project' by the Union government in 2008. 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 SUMP. The SUMP is a crucial initiative aimed at mitigating the impacts of downstream flooding in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh and other environmental issues. In another major push for hydropower development in Arunachal Pradesh, Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal has reviewed the final stages of the 2000 MW generation capacity Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project in Kamle district. According to a state government official, Agarwal assured central support for the critical infrastructure being developed at Dollungmukh, along the Arunachal-Assam border. The Union Power Secretary was accompanied by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) Rajendra Prasad Goyal and Director (Projects) Sanjay Kumar Singh. The high-level official team conducted an on-site assessment of India's largest hydroelectric project on Sunday, which is on the verge of being completed. The Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, which commenced the construction work in January 2005 after obtaining forest clearance in October 2004, faced multiple bottlenecks since its inception, causing a huge delay in commissioning the mega power plant. In January 2020, the cost of the giant power project, which was originally scheduled to be commissioned in December 2012, had escalated to over Rs 20,000 crore from the initial Rs 6,285 crore. Chennai, July 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over the phone on Monday and inquired about his health following his admission to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. A release from the state government confirmed that several national and regional leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, and leaders from alliance parties, also contacted Stalin to convey their wishes for a speedy recovery. Chief Minister Stalin was admitted to the hospital on Monday afternoon after experiencing mild giddiness during his routine morning walk. According to an official bulletin issued by Apollo Hospitals late Monday night, doctors have advised the Chief Minister to take three days of rest and undergo further diagnostic evaluations. However, the statement added that Stalin is expected to continue discharging his official duties from the hospital during his stay, indicating a likely extended period of hospitalisation. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Chief Minister's wife Durga Stalin, daughter Senthamarai, Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, and Health Minister Ma. Subramanian visited the hospital to check on Stalin. Speaking to the media after his visit, Duraimurugan reassured the public, stating, "The Chief Minister is fine. He could return home any time, even today." Before being hospitalised, Stalin had a busy schedule. He welcomed former AIADMK leader and ex-minister Anwar Raja, who officially joined the DMK at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam. He also held discussions with a delegation of CPI(M) leaders led by state secretary P. Shanmugam. Chief Minister Stalin was scheduled to embark on a two-day tour of Tirupur starting Tuesday. However, Information and Publicity Minister M.P. Saminathan announced that all scheduled events in Tirupur have been indefinitely postponed in light of the Chief Minister's health condition. Despite the Chief Minister's hospitalisation, Durga Stalin went ahead with her scheduled book release event on Monday evening, which served as an indication that there were no serious concerns regarding Stalin's health. Hospital sources maintain that Stalin is stable and responding well to medical advice, with routine evaluations underway. Further updates are expected in the coming days based on his recovery. Mumbai, July 21 : The State Bank of India on Monday announce the successful completion of the qualified institutional placement (QIP) of its equity shares, raising Rs 25,000 crore. The equity shares were priced at premium to floor price of Rs 811.05 per share. The capital will augment SBI's CET-1 buffer that will improve to 11.50 per cent from 10.81 per cent as on March 31, 2025, support calibrated credit growth across retail, MSME and corporate segments, the bank said in a statement. The book received robust demand and was oversubscribed 4.5 times, reflecting strong investor confidence in SBI's strategy and the outlook for India's banking sector. Foreign investors accounted for 64.3 per cent of total demand. Marquee long term investors received 88 per cent of the final allocation, including 24 per cent of the issue size placed with foreign long-term investors. "This landmark equity raise is a vote of confidence in SBI's solid fundamentals, prudent risk management and digital-first growth agenda. We are grateful to both domestic and international investors for their overwhelming support, which also speaks volumes about the current strength and future potential of the Indian economy," said C.S. Setty, Chairman, SBI. Earlier in May this year, SBI's board gave the go-ahead for raising equity capital of up to Rs 25,000 crore during FY26. The objective was to boost SBI's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio which will bolster the bank's financial health. SBI gave a dividend cheque of Rs 8,076.84 crore to the government for the financial year 2024-25. The public sector bank's net profit for the financial year 2024-25 shot up to Rs 70,901 crore. The bank is celebrating its 70th year of operations with a balance sheet that has soared to Rs 66 lakh crore and the number of its customers surging past a staggering 52 crore. IANS na/ Patna, July 21 : In the high-profile Paras Hospital shootout case, the Patna Civil Court on Monday granted a three-day police remand to Mohammad Taushif alias Badshah, the main accused in the murder of notorious criminal Chandan Mishra inside the Paras hospital premises. Three other accused - Nishu Khan alias Bhaijaan, Harsh Kumar, and Bhim Kumar - have been sent to 14-day judicial custody. All four accused were arrested from Kolkata on Sunday and brought back to Patna by road under heavy security around 11 AM on Monday. They were interrogated for several hours at the STF office in Patna police line before being produced in the Patna Civil Court around 4 PM. The case was heard in the ACGM-9 Court. Taushif has been remanded to police custody for three days for further interrogation. Advocate Rishikesh Narayan Singh confirmed, "All four accused were produced in the court, Taushif's remand has been approved, while the others have been sent to judicial custody." The Paras Hospital murder case has garnered significant attention in Bihar as it took place in broad daylight inside a hospital, raising serious concerns over security arrangements. Chandan Mishra, a notorious criminal from Buxar district, was shot dead in the incident on July 17. Police sources reveal that the conspiracy to kill him was hatched on the intervening night of July 13 and 14. Following a meticulous technical surveillance operation, the Bihar STF and SIT tracked and arrested the accused from a residential complex in Kolkata. The police are focusing on recovering the weapon used in the crime and the motorcycle involved in the incident during Taushif's remand. Interrogation is also underway to trace four other absconding accused connected to the case. STF and Patna Police are treating the matter with high priority, aiming to unravel the larger conspiracy and identify financiers and facilitators involved in the murder. Police officials indicated that Taushif has provided critical leads during preliminary interrogation; however, details are being withheld to protect the investigation's integrity. New Delhi, July 21 : The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of student suicides at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur (West Bengal) and Greater Noida's Sharda University, asking whether the educational institutes promptly reported the incidents to the police for the registration of FIRs. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan appointed senior advocate Aparna Bhatt as amicus curiae in the matter to gather details regarding the promptness of the registration of FIRs as mandated by an apex court judgment delivered in March this year. "In these two cases, if FIRs are not registered or if there is a delay and nothing has been done, be prepared. We will initiate contempt proceedings and direct them to be sent to civil prison," remarked the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench. In just seven months, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has witnessed four unnatural deaths. The latest case involved Ritam Mondal, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, whose body was discovered under mysterious circumstances in his hostel room on Friday. In a separate but similarly distressing incident, a second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student of Sharda University allegedly died by suicide late Friday night in the girls' hostel located at the university campus in Greater Noida's Knowledge Park. A suicide note was recovered from the student's room, in which she accused one male and one female faculty member of the university's dental department of mentally harassing her. Based on a complaint filed by the student's family, police registered an FIR against two faculty members identified in the suicide note as Mahender Sir and Shairg Ma'am under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to abetment of suicide. The tragic incident has sparked protests on campus and led to the arrest of both teachers. Earlier in May, the Supreme Court made strong remarks over the increasing number of such incidents in Rajasthan's Kota. The Justice Pardiwala-led Bench had questioned the Rajasthan government's inaction, stating, "Fourteen students have committed suicide in Kota so far this year. What are you doing about it as a state? Why are students committing suicide in Kota? Have you not given it any thought?" Following this, Rajasthan Police filed FIRs in two separate student suicide casesone at Kunhari Police Station and another at Mahavir Nagar Police Station. Jaipur, July 21 : After spending eight months in jail for slapping a Sub-Divisional Magistrate during polling in Deoli-Uniyara (November 2024), political leader Naresh Meena has launched his 'Jankranti Yatra' from Kamkheda Balaji Dham in Manoharthana, Jhalawar, on Monday. The yatra, aimed at protesting corruption and injustice, will cover 150 km and conclude on July 28 at Trikuta Mata Temple in Kota. During the launch, Naresh Meena fiercely criticised the government, saying, "Great men have sacrificed everything for the nation. What do I have? At most, they'll get my petrol pump shut." He alleged a widespread nexus of corruption in every department and warned that if the current situation continues, not only common people but even farmers and leaders would lose their land. Addressing the gathering, former minister Rajendra Gudha supported Meena, condemning the government's action and calling it an injustice. "What happened with Naresh Meena should never happen to any youth again," Gudha said. Referring to the recent violence in Samaravata village, he remarked, "The village is deserted now. That mob was the reaction to the mistreatment of women and children. It has sent a strong message." Gudha further warned the government that public unrest could rise if the system continued to silence dissenters. Quoting Chanakya, he said, "When the king becomes a businessman, the public becomes beggars." He alleged that all leaders have turned into businessmen, abandoning public welfare. The coordinator of the yatra, Sohag Meena, said around 300 workers are accompanying Naresh Meena. The first halt was at Harnavada, Baran district, and the march will continue through several villages before concluding in Kota. The yatra is being viewed as a political statement against what Meena and his supporters term as administrative high-handedness and systemic corruption. Mumbai, July 21 : Treatment will be provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to poor and needy patients in Maharashtra through crowdfunding and a tripartite agreement, said the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Monday. The patients will get the support of corporate companies, donors and hospitals, which will provide relief to thousands of patients. A tripartite agreement will soon be signed under the initiative of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to provide the benefit of expensive medical treatment to the needy and economically weak patients of the state. "For the first time in the state, crowdfunding for patients is being started from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Patients with serious and critical illnesses whose treatment cost exceeds Rs 10 lakhs will be eligible for crowdfunding. Such patients will have to submit an application through a separate portal created by the Chief Minister's Relief Fund cell. This portal will be operational within three months. At a time when the cost of treatment for patients is in crores, and there is a shortage of funds even after taking advantage of all the schemes, crowdfunding will become important," said the Chief Minister's Office in a release. "A regulatory mechanism will be set up for the screening of patients' eligibility and a transparent process. This facility will be a boon for needy patients in rural and urban areas. Chief Minister's Relief Fund, corporate companies/donors /NGOs, and hospitals will help in the treatment of patients," said Rameshwar Naik, Head of Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Charitable Hospital Help Cell. The Chief Minister's Medical Relief Fund has recently received the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) approval required to accept funds from abroad. This will allow it to accept direct financial assistance from foreign donors, institutions, and the fund under CSR from companies. The Chief Minister's Relief Fund Cell, Maharashtra, has become the first state in the country to receive FCRA certification. These foreign funds will be used for the treatment of needy patients," said the CMO. "The participation of charitable hospitals in this scheme is important. In return for tax concessions from the government, these hospitals have to reserve 10 per cent of their total beds free of cost for families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh. While 10 per cent of the beds are for families with an annual income of up to Rs 3.60 lakh for treatment at a concessional rate. Due to this arrangement, poor patients can get treatment from big hospitals. For application process or any other information and guidance, contact toll-free number 1800 123 2211," said the CMO. From January 1 to June 30, 2025, 14,651 patients were provided assistance worth Rs 128.66 crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund Cell. Further, from the Charitable Hospital Relief Cell, 2,32,265 patients were provided assistance worth Rs 165 crore between January 1 and May 31, 2025. Kolkata, July 21 : Two policemen, who were named as accused in Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) latest supplementary charge sheet in murder case of BJP worker, Abhijit Sarkar in the post-poll violence in the state after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election, on Monday approached a single-judge bench of Calcutta High Court with bail petitions. The two policemen who approached the single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh on Monday are the then lady sub-inspector of Narkeldanga Police Station, Ratna Sarkar, and a home guard, Dipankar Debnath. They also pleaded for a fast-track hearing in the matter. Justice Ghosh admitted the petition, and the matter will come up for hearing on Tuesday. Both Ratna Sarkar and Dipankar Debnath were remanded to judicial custody till July 31 by the special CBI court on July 18. On that day, the special court also remanded retired assistant commissioner of Kolkata police and the then officer in charge of Narkeldanga Police Station, Subhojit Sen, to judicial custody till July 31. However, Sen is yet to approach the Calcutta High Court with his bail petition. All of them were named as accused in the supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI in the case at the same special court in Kolkata earlier this month. While remanding them to judicial custody till July 31, the judge of the special court on July 18 observed that if a "protector" becomes the "killer", its negative impact on society is immense. Abhijit Sarkar, a BJP worker and a resident of the Kankurgachi area in North Kolkata, was killed in the post-poll violence on May 2, 2021, soon after the results of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections were declared, where Trinamool Congress bagged a landslide victory. On July 2 this year, CBI issued a statement and informed that a fresh supplementary charge sheet in the matter naming 18 additional accused persons was submitted to the special court. With the 18 additional accused persons being named in the fresh chargesheet, the total number of accused persons in the case rose to 38. Initially, the investigation into the matter was started by the homicide squad under the detective department of Kolkata Police, which in its chargesheet, named a total of 15 accused persons. Subsequently, following an order of the Calcutta High Court, the CBI took over the investigation by registering a case in August 2021 and in September 2021 filed a supplementary chargesheet against 20 accused persons, including the 15 previously charge-sheeted by the city police. Kolkata, July 21 : Maoist leader Azizul Haque died at a private hospital in Kolkata on Monday. He was 83. He was one of the prominent faces of the radical Maoist line initiated by another iconic Maoist leader, Late Charu Majumdar. In the late seventies, the radical faction led by Haque continued with its efforts to set up parallel governments in certain rural and tribal belts of both West Bengal and the then-undivided Bihar. Haque had spent almost 18 years behind bars due to his active involvement in the radical Maoist movements that shook pockets in eastern India in the seventies. He also penned a book on his life behind bars titled "Karagare Atharo Bochor (18 years in Prison). The book received critics' accolades and was long considered a valuable document of the Maoist movement during that period. However, he surprised many of the political observers in West Bengal when he openly supported the CPI(M)-led Left Front government's industrial drive at Singur in Hooghly district in 2006-2007. When the entire West Bengal was burning over the movement orchestrated by Trinamool Congress, backed by different Maoist groups, against land acquisition by the West Bengal government, Haque openly opposed the land acquisition movement. The Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, also expressed condolences over Haque's death. "I express my deep grief at the passing of veteran politician Azizul Haque. Azizul Haque was a fighter, a resolute leader. In his long political career, he never bowed his head. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and associates," the Chief Minister wrote on X. Kolkata, July 22 : West Bengal Police, on Monday, arrested eight Bangladeshi nationals from Murshidabad district who had entered the country illegally. At the same time, three individuals were also arrested for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of these Bangladeshi nationals. The arrests were made from two different locations. "Eight Bangladeshi nationals and three Indians who sheltered them have been arrested from two different locations," confirmed additional superintendent Lalbag, Raspreet Singh. The Bangladeshi nationals hailed from Chapai Nababganj and Rajshahi in Bangladesh, known as the hubs of fundamentalists Bangladeshi groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). According to him, at Lalgola in Murshidabad district, five Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian accomplices were arrested. "Acting on credible intelligence, Lalgola Police team conducted a raid at the residence of Jamirul Sheikh. The operation led to the arrest of five Bangladeshi nationals who have entered illegally," said the police officer. They have been identified as Sakirul Islam, Muhammad Serajul, Muhammad Samsul, Sakil Sheikh and Sanjit Karmakar. Additionally, two individuals identified as Jamirul Sheikh and Tofajul Sheikh were arrested for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of these Bangladeshi nationals. "A specific case has been registered under relevant sections. All arrested individuals will be produced before the lower court with a prayer for seven-day police custody to facilitate further investigation," said the district police official. At Raninagar in the same district, three Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian accomplice were arrested. "Acting on confidential source information, a team from Raninagar Police Station conducted a raid in the Puratan Digri area. The operation led to the arrest of three Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian citizen (who helped in the illegal entry)," said the district police official. Arrested Individuals were identified as Tarikul Islam alias Rakib Sheikh, Abdul Rahaman and Mohammad Saheb Ali, while the accomplice has been identified as Saddam Hossain alias Selim. Photo: https://t.me/dsns_telegram Ukraine should continue to scale up the production of drone interceptors, this is a decision that will allow us to defend ourselves from massive Russian attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. "Overnight, Russia launched more than 420 drones, more than 20 missiles, including ballistic missiles. There were waves of attacks all night and lasted until morning. In the morning, there were again Shahed UAVs launched against targets in Kharkiv region. During the shelling, mobile fire groups, army aviation, electronic warfare, Air Force soldiers, and interceptor drones worked. Many hits, but, unfortunately, not all. We must continue to scale up interceptors. This is a decision that will allow us to defend ourselves from massive attacks," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Monday. Zelenskyy said Russian shelling caused damage in Kyiv and Kyiv region, in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk regions, and there were downings of attack drones in Sumy, Khmelnytsky, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Kherson regions. "Russian strikes are always against humanity: a kindergarten, residential buildings, and other civilian infrastructure were burned in Kyiv. There is destruction of ordinary houses in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and the region," the President emphasized. He also added that as a result of the attacks, two people died and 15 were injured, including a 12-year-old boy. "I am grateful to everyone who is working in Ukraine and with Ukraine now to protect life - to increase weapons production, strengthen our air defense - and who continues to work on sanctions. Only real pressure on Russia can stop this aggression," Zelenskyy said. According to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of July 21, the Russian invaders attacked the territory of Ukraine with 450 air attack vehicles, including 426 Shahed strike UAVs and various types of simulator drones. In addition, the Russians used five Kh-47 M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, four Kalibr cruise missiles, one Iskander-K cruise missile, and 14 Kh-101 cruise missiles. The American Library Association has released its 2025 strategic plan, which the ALA Council voted to approve during last months Annual Conference in Philadelphia. In its vision statement, the association asserts, Libraries thrive so everyone can succeed. ALA 20252026 president Sam Helmick said the executive board initiated the strategic planning process last fall, mindful of the associations upcoming 150th-anniversary celebration in Chicago in 2026. Our home institutions have had to adjust to the global economic situation in an uncertain political era, Helmick told PW. This is a pivot point and an excellent chance to reconcile who we are, where were going, for the next 150 years. Helmick said the plan addresses national policy, library legislation, and local connections. While libraries serve as a cornerstone of democracy the world over, we operate within the circumstances were provided, they said. We grow and ebb and flow with the communities we serve. Along with Lisa Varga, associate executive director of the ALAs Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, Helmick was on the way to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development for a July 21 discussion of how libraries can drive economic opportunities in their regions. ALA interim executive director Leslie Burger, who will complete her term on July 31, said the document reflects the need to be nimble and represents likely a three-year plan, because things are changing with ALA and the world. In every challenge we face, from the national to state to county to local level, we want a more activist approach thats representing who we are as a professional association. Fundraising will be imperative to keeping the plan operational, Burger said, because if we can invest in our endowment, itll provide a bit of an insurance policy, some stability and funding, for whatever will happen with the federal government. Other objectives include developing partnerships with groups whose civic missions align with library priorities. We cant just be looking at other library partners, and we need to think about the larger world in which libraries are operating, Burger said, noting that the ALA is in conversation with the National Conference of County Association Executives and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Were energizing our relationships with traditional partners like the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, while exploring opportunities to extend our relationships with external organizations. In addition, the ALAs strategic plan aims to reimagine the conference experience for members and realign elements of the ALA governance structure to provide for more efficient decision-making, Burger said. With the phaseout of the midwinter LibLearnX, more attention will be devoted to the annual conference, she added, and to creating focused learning opportunities that may be online or in-person: We dont want to lose our active Emerging Leaders program [that met at LibLearnX], so we are going to reschedule that, change the calendar around, she added. What ALA needs to do is remain true to its goals and use that as foundational to what the association will do next, Burger said, noting librarianships core values of access, equity, intellectual freedom and privacy, public good, and sustainability. It is not a time to back off. Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com In February, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas decreed that he would end his governments pay to slay program in which the PA transfers reward money to Palestinian terrorists and their families. The PA invited the Trump administration to come to the West Bank in June to verify first-hand the PAs elimination of the program. It is now past June, but the U.S. still has an opportunity to ensure pay-to-slay is eliminated once and for all, setting the Palestinian government on a path towards a sustainable peace with Israel. The so-called Martyrs Fund was created in 2004 to compensate Palestinians who committed acts of terrorism against the State of Israel, and either died or were imprisoned as a result. The payments increase with the extremity of the violence, with terrorists and their families earning thousands of dollars, free healthcare, and guaranteed government jobs. Pay-to-slay consumes 8 percent of the PAs total budget at a cost of $300 million annually wasting money at a moment when the donor-driven PA budget suffers from a 172% deficit. However, the pay-to-slay program remains exceedingly popular with more than a 90 percent approval rating among the Palestinian public at a moment when Abbass own approval has hit rock bottom at 15 percent. Some may wonder why Abbas an 89 year old autocrat in the 20th year of a four year term would choose to take this seismic political risk by ending such a popular program, but his motives are clear: Abbas is desperate to propitiate the Trump administration, angling for a PA role in post-war Gaza. So will the PA really end its Martyrs slush fund and come into compliance with the U.S. law that demands a verifiable cessation of what amounts to sponsorship of terrorism? Perhaps: In March, the PA removed 1600 people from the pay-to-slay payroll. And in April, Abbass right hand man and Palestinian Vice President Hussein el Sheikh sent multiple letters to Secretary Rubio requesting him to send American inspectors after June 1st to verify PA termination of the program. Then again, perhaps not. In reality, the end of pay-to-slay is largely illusory, a feint by Abbas that would simply transfer payments to another entity, the Palestinian National Foundation for Economic Empowerment. Israel asserts this would be a shell organization, with its leadership hand-picked by Abbas. In addition, Abbas backtracked on his decree in an Arabic-language speech not long after his initial pronouncement, saying that the PA would continue its martyr payments even if we have only one cent left. So whats Abbass theory? President Trump wants the Hamas-Israel war to end. In turn, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas will not be replaced by Fatah, Abbass ruling party. Given Bibis vehement opposition, why would Abbas bother with his pay-to-slay play? Because Abbas believes he has a shot at ingratiating himself with Trump - perhaps enough to persuade the President to pressure the Israeli government into acquiescence. Nor is this the long shot some may suggest: There are few takers for a Gaza day after scenario; other than the PA, its not clear who plan B would be. Abbas understands that Donald Trump hopes to broker Israeli-Saudi normalization, a capstone to his first terms Abraham Accords. But the road to normalization runs through ending the war in Gaza. Since October 7th, the Saudis have been explicit that normalization with Israel will only happen once the conflict in Gaza winds down. And Saudi Arabia - along with Abraham Accords states Bahrain and the UAE - are pushing for the PA to replace Hamas and govern Gaza once the war is concluded. Given the nature of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the failure of the Palestinian Authority to meet not only U.S. demands, but the simplest requisites of good governance, is there any reason for hope this time around? The most direct course is for the United States to call Abbass bluff. The PA President has sent repeated letters to President Trump assuring him that the PA is ready to govern Gaza. A termination of pay-to-slay, verified by the Trump administration, could reassure the world that Ramallah is serious about reforms it has long been reluctant to undertake. Danielle Pletka is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Her writing on the Middle East has been published widely in outlets including The Washington Post and The National Review. Stephen Ailinger is a Government Relations Associate at the American Enterprise Institute. India, the biggest contributor to world demand for oil, will bring into effect in an overhaul of its drilling policy. Photograph: Liz Hampton/Reuters This comes after more than a year of preparation and will boost the exploration and development of Indias oil and gas sector along with increased participation by foreign drillers, a top government official close to the developments told Business Standard. Foreign drillers will be insured against any fiscal-policy changes, the bugbear that kept reputed overseas explorers like Exxon, Shell, and Chevron from participating in the countrys first nine drilling rounds, the official said. It is Indias make or break oil exploration policy to draw in foreign investors, with the government laying out the red carpet to oil majors, an industry official said. Crude oil production by private players declined by more than half in FY25 as against a record 12 million tonnes in FY14, according to the oil ministry data. The drilling rules, which elaborate on the recently amended Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, and also embrace renewable energy activities in oil areas, were first announced in April in draft form and then further changed this month based on industry feedback, the official said. He expects them to be written into the government gazette by the end of the month. These rules, which replace the outdated Petroleum Concession Rules, 1949, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 1959, were timed to precede the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Round X, Indias largest ever exploration and production bidding round, but they are still in time for drillers to place bids based on them. The official said that the main problem for Indias petroleum sector, considering that its geology is less lucrative than that of African and Latin American countries, was the frequent changes in tax and incentive policies. Until now, India has attracted bids only from state-run explorers Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India, apart from an odd bid or so from BP and Reliance Industries in the countrys ninth round. Chevron, Exxon, Shell and Occidental, among others, stayed away. Beginning next month, Indias biggest ever drilling-rule changes will see bids from these firms, the official said. We have spoken to all of them and tailored the rules to their needs, the official said. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said: It has never been easier, faster and more profitable to explore oil & gas in India. We look forward to constructive engagement to shape a modern, investor-friendly regime. The ministry did not say when the new rules would enter the gazette. These developments boost policy clarity and predictability and enhance investor confidence, said Kapil Garg, managing director, Oilmax Energy & Asian Energy Services, an oilfield services company. The new exploration data-sharing policy, which formalises licensing and public release of seismic and well data, will boost fresh exploration interest and reduce risks, and may improve success rates in underexplored basins. Energy security India, the worlds third-biggest oil consumer at 5.5 million barrels a day, imports 90 per cent of its crude oil needs, over half its gas consumption, and over 60 per cent of its liquefied petrol gas demand. In the last two years India was held hostage to international developments, over which it has no control, a senior trader at a state oil refiner said. For instance, United States President Donald Trumps support for a Bill that slaps a 500 per cent import tax on countries that buy Russian oil threatens over 40 per cent of its import of crude oil. BP, in a consortium with ONGC and Reliance Industries, was the only foreign bidder to win acreage in Indias ninth exploration round. The government has awarded 144 blocks under the countrys first eight OALP rounds, resulting in commitments of investment worth $3.4 billion and 14 discoveries. Indias oil production, including condensates, slid over 2 per cent to 28.7 million tons in FY25 from a year earlier; gas output dipped marginally to 36.1 billion cubic metres during the period. But oil use rose by 2 per cent and gas consumption by 6 per cent during the period. The 10th round will also allow explorers to use the underlying blocks to extract other minerals like critical minerals something Oil India is already doing in Rajasthan under the new rules. For the first time, the rules will permit operators to undertake integrated renewable and low-carbon projects including solar, wind, hydrogen, and geothermal energy in oilfield blocks if they meet safety standards and do not interfere in petroleum production. The rules will create an adjudicating authority, an office held by a person not below the rank of joint secretary, empowered to enforce compliance, resolve disputes, and impose penalties, the government official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi to London for the signing of the free trade agreement between India and the UK on July 24, an official said on Monday. IMAGE: Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds meets Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Photograph: Reuters The two countries announced the conclusion of the negotiations for the trade agreement on May 6. The trade pact proposes to remove taxes on the export of labour-intensive products such as leather, footwear and clothing, while making imports of whisky and cars from Britain cheaper, in a bid to double trade between the two economies to $120 billion by 2030. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives beginning Wednesday with an aim to shore up bilateral ties in areas of trade, investment and defence. The commerce minister will accompany the prime minister during the visit, the official said. The text of the agreement is generally signed by the commerce ministers from both countries. Once the free trade agreement is signed, it will require approval from the British Parliament and India's Cabinet before it can take effect. It will take about a year for implementation after the signing of the deal. The world's fifth and sixth-largest economies concluded the deal after three years of on-and-off negotiations. The pact lowers tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian goods to zero in the UK market while allowing Indian workers to travel to the UK for work without changing Britain's point-based immigration system. Taxes on export of Indian clothing, frozen prawns, jewellery and gems will be cut. And so will be the import of whisky and gin from the UK after the treaty halved the tariff to 75 per cent initially and to 40 per cent by the 10th year. Tariffs on automotive imports will go from over 100 per cent to 10 per cent under quotas on both sides, benefiting companies such as Tata-JLR. Indian goods that will enter the UK at zero duty include minerals, chemicals, gems and jewellery, plastic, rubber, wood, paper, textile, clothing, glass, ceramic, base metals, mechanical and electrical machinery, arms/ammunition, transport/auto, furniture, sports goods, animal products, and processed food. The two have also concluded the negotiations for the Double Contribution Convention Agreement, or social security pact. It would help avoid double contribution to social security funds by Indian professionals working for a limited period in Britain. However, the talks for the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) are still going on. Earlier, there were plans to conclude all three simultaneously. India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of the tariff lines (or product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade value offering huge opportunities for an increase in the bilateral trade between the two nations. On the services front, India will benefit in sectors such as IT/ITeS, finance, professional, and educational services. The FTA has eased mobility for professionals, including contractual service suppliers; business visitors; investors; intra-corporate transferees; partners and dependent children of intra-corporate transferees with right to work; and independent professionals like yoga instructors, musicians and chefs. Further, India has secured significant commitments on digitally delivered services such as architecture, engineering, computer-related and telecommunication services. The pact comes at a time when global trade is facing headwinds due to the imposition of tariffs by the US. The talks for the pact started in January 2022. Both sides held 14 rounds for the conclusion of the talks. In FTAs, two countries either eliminate or significantly reduce customs duties on maximum goods traded between them. They also ease norms for promoting trade in services and bilateral investments. India's exports to the UK rose by 12.6 per cent to $14.5 billion, while imports grew by 2.3 per cent to $8.6 billion in 2024-25. The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to $21.34 billion in 2023-24 from $20.36 billion in 2022-23. The Ministry of Education and Science has canceled canceled the norms regarding the minimum occupancy of distance classes and requirements for the education of internally displaced children. "Order No. 1112 has been canceled and some norms from Order No. 1115 (which were introduced by Order No. 1276) have been removed, regarding the minimum occupancy of distance classes and requirements for the education of internally displaced children (IDPs). These changes were made at the request of people's deputies and frontline communities," the ministry said in a statement. At the same time, it is noted that a number of provisions from these orders that are important for communities and the safety of children are preserved. "These norms will be officially enshrined in a separate regulatory document after consultations with the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada and deputies, and also approved in accordance with official procedures," the department added. In particular, according to the changes: the requirements for filling distance classes are the same as for full-time and mixed classes, so according to the law "On Complete General Secondary Education," a class can be opened with at least five students; schools can open distance learning classes regardless of the presence of a full line of parallels; IDP children can continue distance learning in their schools regardless of their place of residence. The norms remain unchanged, according to which: full-time and mixed forms of education (alternating online and face-to-face classes) are possible only if there is shelter in the educational institution or no more than 500 meters from it. Educational institutions working with children in temporarily occupied territories can continue to function even if it is impossible to open a single class there (Teachers of such institutions teach children in temporarily occupied territories (TOT) under pedagogical patronage) and children who are abroad will continue to be given the opportunity to study according to the full program in distance classes, as well as according to the shortened one - the Ukrainian studies component. For children in TOT, the opportunity to study in a distance classroom or under pedagogical patronage has been preserved - depending on the security situation. Think again. Not filing could cost you. Here's who must file, who should, and why it matters. What's more, the deadline to file your ITR has been extended till September 15, 2025 Kindly note that this illustration generated using Microsoft CoPilot has only been posted for representational purposes. Many believe income tax returns (ITRs) are only meant for salaried individuals or business owners. But in reality, filing may be legally required -- or surprisingly beneficial -- even for freelancers, retirees, students, or homemakers. Filing your income tax return in India raises two essential questions: Do you need to file at all, and if so, which form should you use? Ignoring either can lead to penalties, delayed refunds, or missed financial opportunities. Beginning today and through the week, we unpack the ten most-asked and most-searched ITR questions -- made crystal clear. Whether you're salaried, self-employed, retired, or a business owner, this five-part series lays out a clean, confident path to ITR filing. In this first part, we explain who is legally required to file, who should voluntarily file -- and why it makes sense to do so even when it's not mandatory. For the Financial Year 2024-2025 (Assessment Year 2025-2026), remember: the deadline for non-audit taxpayers has been extended to September 15, 2025 from July 31, 2025. Let's begin by asking the most important question: Do you really need to file an ITR this year? Who Really Needs to File an ITR in India? For many people, income tax return (ITR) filing feels like a technical, tedious government chore meant only for the wealthy. But filing an ITR is sometimes legally required -- and often beneficial even when it isn't. Here's how to know if you must file, why you may want to file anyway, and how it can affect your finances. When Is Filing ITR Mandatory? Legally, you have to file an ITR if in a financial year, if: Your total income before deductions ('gross total income') exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh for most individuals (Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens, Rs 5 lakh for those above 80 years). You hold any asset (including bank account) outside India or are a signing authority for any foreign account. You want to claim a refund for excess Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) or advance tax paid. You have earned from or invested in foreign companies (even if below the income threshold). Deposited amount exceeds Rs 1 crore in one or more current accounts, spent Rs 2 lakh or more on foreign travel, or Rs 1 lakh or more on electricity bills in a year. You received income as a non-resident (NRI), or your Indian income exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh in a year. Who Should Voluntarily File ITR? You can and should file even if not legally required, in cases where: You need income proof for a loan, credit card, visa, or certain legal processes. You want to claim a tax refund, such as on fixed deposit interest or multiple jobs. Filing shows financial discipline and can speed up your financial applications. Being able to show past ITRs can be vital for startups/business registrations. Benefits of Filing Even If Not Required: Serves as documented income proof for banks, embassies, or government agencies. Maintains a record with the tax department -- good for future queries and compliance. Helps in getting high-value policies (insurance, investments) where documented income is needed. Timely, voluntary filing avoids late fees or problems if your income rises unexpectedly. Who is Exempted? Those earning solely from agriculture (an amount below Rs 5,000). However, if agricultural income exceeds Rs 5,000 and your non-agricultural income crosses the basic exemption limit, filing is mandatory. Certain tax-exempt pensions, like disability pensions for armed forces personnel, may not require filing. Persons below the basic exemption threshold, with no qualifying financial activity for mandatory filing. Consequences of Non-Filing: Penalties: You could be charged a late fee or fine (up to Rs 5,000). Trouble with refunds: No return means no tax refund, even if owed. Ineligible for some government benefits or schemes. Deductions/discrepancies may go unchecked, causing unwanted future tax demands. Bottom Line: Whether you are a salaried professional, freelancer, student, or retiree, don't ignore ITR -- even if you think you don't need it. Filing keeps your finances clean, compliant, and ready for opportunities. Which ITR Form Should You Use? Choosing the correct ITR form is the first hurdle. The tax department provides multiple forms for different kinds of taxpayers and incomes. Selecting the wrong form can lead to rejection or unwanted scrutiny. The Main ITR Forms Form Who Should File Key Features ITR-1 Salaried, pensioners, interest only Gross income up to Rs 50 lakh, 1 house, no business ITR-2 Individuals, HUFs with capital gains Capital gains, >1 property, NRIs, no business ITR-3 Business owners, professionals Income from business, profession, partnerships ITR-4 Presumptive taxpayers (easy scheme) Business income up to Rs 50 lakh, simple return How to Choose: 1. Know Your Income Sources: Salary/pension only: Start with ITR-1. More than one property, capital gains, or foreign income: ITR-2. If you run a business, freelance, or are a partner in a firm: ITR-3. If you opted for simple presumptive taxation under Sections 44AD/44ADA/44AE: ITR-4. 2. Non-Resident? Most NRIs use ITR-2 or ITR-3 depending on other income types. 3. Any Special Cases? Income as a partner in a firm: ITR-3. Agricultural income over Rs 5,000: ITR-2 or ITR-3. Directors of companies with unlisted shares: ITR-2 or ITR-3. Common Pitfalls: Choosing ITR-1 with multiple properties or capital gains: This is incorrect; upgrade to ITR-2. Business income declared on ITR-1 or ITR-2: Only ITR-3/4 allows business income. Presumptive scheme confusion: Use ITR-4 only if eligible (check eligibility for Sections 44AD/44ADA). Instructions and Help: Each form comes with a government-issued 'instructions booklet.' Read the guide on the tax portal. If still unsure, reliable online services or a chartered accountant can help clarify. Why It Matters: Wrong form = return becomes 'defective' -- fixing this can be time-consuming. May delay your refund or flag your case for audit. Choosing the right form ensures quick, smooth processing. Make sure that you match your income streams and activities to the list above. When in doubt, it's safer to pick a more comprehensive form (ITR-2/3). Using the correct ITR form is the simplest way to avoid government notices and make your tax filing stress-free. Now that you know whether income tax return filing is a must for your situation -- and which form matches your income sources and activities, the next step is about gathering the right documents for a smooth, mistake-free filing experience. There is no guarantee that if we speak in only Indian languages, all our faults will be washed away and India will shine. questions Shyam G Menon. Illustrations: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Why does the Indian Right-Wing hate English? As per the 2011 census, the percentage of people capable of speaking English in India was 10.67 per cent of the country's total population. That's significant as share within the English-speaking world internationally. However, within India, it's a small number. Compared to English's 10.67 per cent share, the ability to speak Hindi was available with 57.09 per cent. It puzzles sometimes why much bigger numbers of people, comfortably entrenched in the ecosystems of their language, feel annoyed by India's 10 per cent capable of speaking English. One reason is that in India, the English-speaking lot is sometimes labelled an elite group because one's knowledge of English, has much to do with the type of school or college one went to and the quality of education received. Add to it, the perception in the political Right that this club of English-speaking types has a disproportionate role in the criticism the Right-Wing faces periodically despite it parking itself with the majority as defined by religion, community and a settled lifestyle with emphasis on making money. Attacking English is thus a nice, easy way to get back. In June 2025 when India's Home Minister Amit Shah courted media space afresh with his pronouncements on English -- that the time would come when those speaking the language would be ashamed of it -- I found myself saying: oh, here we go again. Uniquely, baiting English-speakers isn't an exclusively Right-Wing trait. Decades ago, when I was attending school in Kerala, we had a term for anyone who could speak English well -- such a person was called the ash-push sort. Ash-push referred to the impression struck in others by someone who spoke English; it positioned the speaker as a pseudo-foreigner or elite sort and yet, more likely as someone who handled well, a language that others struggled to speak fluently. Despite it being designed for ridicule, ash-push had a distinct undertone of envy. And what we are jealous of, we tend to demonise. So, being able to handle English well, rarely made one popular. On the other hand, if one could speak English and at the same time handle one's mother tongue well, that made one acceptably humble in India. And if someone who excelled in one's mother tongue could rile the English-speaking in their own language, it was cause for applause. Mainly because in popular imagination, it signified the majority gatecrashing an exclusive club. Indian films have often resorted to this imagery. Suddenly in an Indian language film, the hero bursts into English dialogue putting a set of elite critics in their place. None of the above is English's creation or English's fault. It is actually an outcome of the language having suffered the same trajectory, education at large suffered in India, namely -- become trapped in Indian society's pursuit of high status and stay accessible to those who can afford the access. Plus, there is the stigma of English being the language spoken by India's erstwhile coloniser. Speaking the same language has been construed to mean several things -- from being approving of the British to not being good enough to unleash India's potential, which some among us insist, responds mainly to traditional cues. It would be naive to assume that the British pushed for an English education in India, including the teaching of English, because of some great affection for their colony. The immediate requirement they hoped to address was the creation of an English-speaking intermediary class for purposes of governance. As was to be expected, this facility was availed most by the privileged communities; it's a stigma that followed modern education, especially education in English medium, into India's post-independence years. English became the second language of the ruling class and an aspiration for others to learn to make it to the ruling class. The Right-Wing's attack on English typically leverages the elitism surrounding the language in India. But what if one kept the elitism triggered by the Indian environment (especially its penchant for categorised society and premium attached to being part of elite circles) aside and dealt with English as the language and window to a different set of perspectives it is? The first recorded visits by English travelers to India happened around the late 16th century and early 17th century. On the Internet, a clutch of Englishmen -- among them Thomas Stephens, John Mildenhall and William Hawkins -- find mention as having reached India during this period. They represented a language, rather young by Indian standards, but spoken by a people participant in Europe's growing exploration of the world and more importantly, its drift into the Age of Renaissance, the looming ascent of science and scientific discovery and then, the Industrial Revolution. William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest ambassador of the English language, was alive when the first English travelers reached India. Shakespeare is unlikely to have counted for anything in India then. But what Europeans and the British therein were embarking on; that would have served as a sustained need to know English. As with learning any language, it would have been need-based (including as a means for the privileged classes to cozy up to the colonisers) and also fueled by curiosity for the angles resident in how strangers perceive us. While the Indian Right-Wing appears to have a good time ridiculing the elitism surrounding the usage of English in India, that last bit of how strangers see us and our customs, often gets their goat. Western society has its generous share of class divides and class-based discrimination. But India was unique in practising such divides for a long period of time and wiring it into society's foundations as an unavoidable, inherited entrapment from which there was no escape. Generations stayed trapped in suffocating social circumstances that had been established as their fate by caste. When I was in school and college, a Western perspective was seen as providing awareness of a larger world and motivating us to shed many of our social shackles. This was a popular line of reasoning, when outlining the benefits of an English education. That has since regressed and it is largely thanks to narratives manufactured to counter what was seen as Western education robbing Indians of the capacity to be proud of their culture and heritage. The Right-Wing has been active in this regard. The regression has solidified courtesy the ability of the Right-Wing (in no small measure due to its superior financial resources) to repeat its electoral success and acquire the dimension of being a permanent winner on the Indian electoral scene. Many years ago, the British as coloniser, had appeared similarly immovable. In India, inevitability I suppose, is a great teacher to elicit surrender and compliance. What stands out for me in this emergent approach is how politically incorrect it has become to question aspects of Indian culture one disagrees with. My own culture as an autocratic coloniser in my head -- that seems justified now. And it hurts because to my eyes, even as we are all born into one circumstance or the other, our journey and our choices remake us. I have always loved evolution and the idea of choice. Willingness to be part of faceless collectives, scares me for the level of respect for the individual it holds. While those opposing the political Right in India are often suspected of being Communist, those seeking greater respect for personal freedom and individual rights are stamped anarchist. I have felt that the political Right views English through the same prism as it views Communists and individualists (both of who they disapprove of). I have also felt that the dislike the Right-Wing has for the said two groups is carried on to the English language for its role as purveyor of western ideas / values and the education and perspective it signifies. Similar distrust graces the Right-Wing's approach to religions that reached India from the outside world and the cultures and linguistic ecosystems they spawned. Overall, the aversion is a denial of introspection, for sometimes what the outsider's perspective does, is to remind us of the need to introspect when we forget to. I think that's why contemporary Right-Wing politics is such a prickly pear. It feels most secure when nobody criticises it and it is on a roll casting a whole country in its self-image. And in that blessed Right-Wing portrait of India, the considerate punishment for anyone unlike the recommended norm, is to feel ashamed. Time to visit what Shah said. On June 20, 2025, The Hindu reported: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday (June 19, 2025) that those who speak English in India would 'soon feel ashamed' and that the creation of such a society was not far away. He added that without Indian languages, 'we cease to be truly Indian.' Mr Shah was heard making these comments at the launch of a book by former IAS officer Ashutosh Agnihotri. ANI had posted the video of the speech on its X handle, but later deleted it. Mr Shah was heard saying, 'In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed -- the creation of such a society is not far away.' The report further said: 'I believe that the languages of our country are the jewels of our culture. Without our languages, we cease to be truly Indian.' Mr Shah further said that 'our culture, our history, and our religion cannot be understood in foreign languages.' 'With self-respect, we will run our country in our own languages and lead the world too,' he added. I agree with Shah partly in his observation that India's culture, history and religion cannot be understood in foreign languages. I say partly because as the English-speaking (like this author) knows, they haven't totally missed knowing India due to information consumed in the English language. There are gaps and nuances, which only Indian languages can fill. Which is why, genuine scholarship does not discriminate between languages. All of them count for proper knowledge. However, for me, the key word in what the home minister said is 'ashamed'. He suggested that a time would come when those speaking in English would feel ashamed. Aside from the risk of not connecting while communicating (if the other person does not speak the same tongue) and the hazard of numerical superiority leveraged to bully minorities into feeling ashamed, I don't see any reason why anyone should feel ashamed of talking in a language of their choice. Indeed, I would argue that a sense of shame and the desire to compensate exists in the Right-Wing, which has a problem with English. While Shah's forecast of shame for English-speakers in India was reported in June, from several months before that incident, one of the highly tracked developments in Indian politics was where writer-diplomat-politician Shashi Tharoor may be headed. Tharoor has been the poster boy of English in India. Currently a member of the Congress party, the above said media curiosity surrounding Tharoor has been largely on account of -- what appears to be -- his dalliance with the political Right. There has been periodic approval for Tharoor, from the Right-Wing. If India's political Right is -- as Shah's comment indicates -- averse to the ecosystem of the English-speaking, why do they like Tharoor; why did the government want him on the team of parliamentarians that recently went overseas after Operation Sindoor? In the architecture of what Tharoor is today, how much of a role do we see English having played? Unlike Shah, the people I come across have a practical approach to the English language. In many countries at present, the political Right sees itself as true guardians of patriotism and nationhood. As this brand of politics grows, three realities have surfaced alongside. First, systems authored by the wave of globalisation on since the 1990s, have got checked; they are in retreat, perhaps temporarily. Second, this retreat is happening at exactly the time when the planet finds itself saddled with the highest human population yet. Currently, India is the world's most populous country. Human migration in search of opportunity, greener pastures and sometimes simply space to survive, is unstoppable. It has always happened. Today's scale of migration worries those zealously invested in identity-based nationhood. Notwithstanding globalisation paused or slowed, the search for space to live and prosper will continue. This means, there is no running away from the fact that the world is much bigger than what one's mother tongue alone can tackle. The world needs connecting languages and if some languages have already achieved required scale or learning it enhances chances of employment (example: Indian nurses learning German), practical minds will embrace that reality rather than battle it. Third with its multitude of cultures, languages and dialects, India is a microcosm of the world. Sub-nationalism exists and a genuine connecting language has to be one that does not provoke anyone's sub-nationalist cultural loyalties. English filled some of this space well in India because it belonged to no community from within the country. As did Hindi despite its Indian origin and its promotion by New Delhi sometimes sparking strong protests in Tamil Nadu. Hindi's spread was thanks to the largely unintrusive manner (and the purpose for which, it was used -- to communicate and get things done) in which the language gained currency in many non-Hindi-speaking states till India's emergent brand of Right-Wing politics made Hindi de facto ambassador of national identity. This has brought Hindi into direct competition with English, a language introduced to India by a former coloniser but one that finds traction in non-Hindi states as link language because it doesn't give the impression of one part of the country colonising another. Hindi and English had coexisted peacefully but given the Right-Wing's sense of security is never complete unless it paints a whole landscape in its colours, coexistence would seem traded for competition. Mother tongues are spared because the Right-Wing knows, it's a hornet's nest and they would be stung badly if they disturbed it. English is fair game. Here, we must pause and recall two minor details from the 2011 Census. First, the number of people speaking English as first language in India is just 0.02 per cent. The overall share of 10.67 per cent is reached by adding those speaking English as second and third language as well. It points to the share of the language's utilitarian, connecting quality in the overall number of people speaking English in India. Against this, out of the 57.09 per cent of the Indian population that speaks Hindi, as much as 43.63 per cent speak it as first language. At first glance, this would seem nothing. But if you recognise the universe of those speaking Hindi as first language as enormous compared to the same for English, then the numbers accepting Hindi as second and third language are hardly reflective of matching proportion. From being 43 times bigger in size as indicated by the share of population speaking Hindi as first language, Hindi ends up just about six times bigger than English when those using it as second and third language are also factored in. Not just that -- while the numbers using English as second language as per the 2011 Census, are the second biggest among the major languages after Hindi, in the category of those using it as third language, English tops (source: 2011 census details as available on Wikipedia (external link). Second, there is a vast area -- mostly in the center of India and to its north -- where (as per the 2011 Census), the percentage of English-speaking people is not as high as in some other places. These lands are home to a sizable chunk of India's population. It is also where the Indian Right-Wing has traditionally held strong, including in elections. So, if today, there is the observation in some quarters (particularly South India) that the Right-Wing promotes Hindi at the expense of English because that is directly helpful to its main constituency; it is an argument, which is hard to ignore. An associated question that crops up is -- which is more attractive to the non-Hindi-speaking lot looking for a connecting language: The scale and quality of world accessed by Hindi or the scale and quality of world accessed by English? I leave it to you to decide. From my side, I will merely share my personal experience. Years ago, when attending school in Kerala, Malayalam was taught with the intention that students should take pride in their mother tongue. One was expected to wrestle with literature beyond one's years likely because there was no other paradigm to showcase pride. Consequently, I found myself staring at complex lessons in the language and by the time I reached high school, I had grown tired of it. The language stopped being enjoyable. On the other hand, I loved English because expectations were less. Hindi fell in between and was reserved for use when one left Kerala and headed north. Needless to say, as time passed by, my comfort was most in English, wherein there was no pride attached and I happily read whatever I could lay my hands on. As for the familiarity with Hindi (not scholarship), it helped when I left Kerala and moved through Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh on work. At each of these places, I made friends. Bottomline -- whatever didn't put pressure on me and rested easy, I took along with me on my life's journey. Now in my senior years, almost retired and wanting to know Kerala better, I find myself more patient with Malayalam. There is a time for everything. To vagabonds like me (we are a minority), linguistic pride is a red flag because it hints of insularity and limiting imagination, while the vagabond-instinct favors moving on in search of wider world and interesting things. Problem is -- when has the political Right liked anything other than itself, leave alone vagabonds? Not to mention -- vagabonds who maybe secular or atheist or agnostic. If the Right-Wing had the ability and confidence to understand beyond its own self, would it have sought the crushing domination by hook or crook, it became known for? Finally, there is the question of whether dumping all faults on English and burning the language at the stake, will stop uncomfortable questions from rising. Late June in Thiruvananthapuram, I found myself in the audience at a talk (in English) by an eminent Malayali jurist on the longstanding problem of division by caste and how it impedes the principle of one humanity-one citizenship in India. One of the slides in the presentation listed the flurry of social reformers born in India in the 19th century. Given the talk was happening in Kerala, the names were mostly from the state. All the people in the list had questioned the caste system. They went on to speak against it and seek its dismantling (the disappearance of caste is yet to happen). Later, while chatting about the lecture, a friend and I noted that apart from a giant in the field like Dr B R Ambedkar, who studied overseas, most of the other names listed in the presentation didn't seem so strongly linked to an English education as to call them children of an English education. Their rebellion appeared rooted in their personal experience and awareness of the Indian environment. And the insights and wisdom they offered was remarkable. Simply put, one does not need English to be a rebel or a reformer in India. Honest observation would do to notice what's wrong. In other words, even if the English-speaking are snuffed out or shamed to extinction, the Indian environment and the Right-Wing therein, would still face questions. There is no guarantee that if we speak in only Indian languages, all our faults will be washed away and India will shine. I don't think the Right-Wing is unaware of any of the above. They know it quite well. Why then do they bully and belittle the English-speaking? I think it's click-bait and the best way to ensure a click -- that gateway to great visibility nowadays -- is to provoke and irritate. Not to mention, in the arena of politics, bullying the English-speaking probably gets applause from fans of the Right-Wing. The English-speaking huddled together in fright in the gladiators' pit. Caesar's thumb goes up or down? For some politicians and their parties, it's sport. Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'China could intentionally release excess water.' 'The North East is already flood-prone during the monsoon, and even a controlled release from Chinese dams (during the monsoon) could worsen flooding.' IMAGE: A ferry carrying passengers across the Brahmaputra in Assam. Photograph: ANI Photo While Pakistan promotes a narrative of China weaponising the Brahmaputra against India, mirroring India's leverage over the Indus, the hydrological realities tell a different story. Unlike the Indus, the majority of the Brahmaputra's water volume accumulates within India, not on the Tibetan plateau, Uttam Kumar Sinha -- Senior Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses and author of Indus Basin Uninterrupted (external link), published by Penguin Random House in 2021 -- tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff. His second book Trial by Water: Indus Basin and India-Pakistan Relations (external link) will be released in July by Penguin Random House India's advantage comes from significant rainfall and key tributaries located downstream of the Chinese border. However, this doesn't render India immune to Chinese actions. The primary threat isn't China turning off the tap, but rather the potential for deliberate and catastrophic water release. China's extensive dam-building, especially the planned 'super dam' in Medog county, raises significant concerns. The intentional release of water could exacerbate the North East's severe monsoon flooding. Furthermore, the construction of these dams in a seismically active zone poses a risk of accidental discharge from natural disasters. Beyond flooding, these dams trap nutrient-rich sediments, threatening the agricultural fertility and ecological balance of the Brahmaputra basin in India. To counter this, India must build internal resilience through its own water storage infrastructure and pursue diplomatic channels, presenting a united front against the upstream challenge posed by China's strategic projects, says Sinha. Many experts from Pakistan are promoting a narrative suggesting that China could leverage the Brahmaputra's waters against India, similar to how India has leveraged the Indus waters against Pakistan. In this context, can China realistically weaponise the Brahmaputra against India? It's true that China, like India in the Indus context, is an upper riparian State and holds what's often termed an 'upstream advantage.' But the comparison only goes so far. The hydrology of the Brahmaputra is fundamentally different from that of the Indus, and that changes the strategic equation. India, as the upper riparian on the Indus, has considerable control over the volume of water that reaches Pakistan. This control is shaped by geography -- high gradients, large snowmelt catchments, and rainfall patterns -- and is institutionally constrained by the Indus Waters Treaty. In contrast, China does not command the same level of hydrological control over the Brahmaputra. While the river originates in Tibet, the Tibetan plateau contributes a relatively modest share of its total flow. Most of the Brahmaputra's volume comes from rainfall and tributaries within India itself. That gives India a significant hydrological advantage, even though it is technically downstream. So while China can potentially build infrastructure that affects timing or short-term flows, the notion that it could withhold a vast amount of water to strategically pressure India does not hold up to scrutiny. The threat is more psychological than practical. Is the narrative being spread from the Pakistani side baseless? This narrative is less about facts and more about optics. It's part of a coordinated strategic messaging effort. Pakistan and China often operate in tandem, and this kind of rhetoric is designed to put India on the defensive -- reinforcing the idea of a close China-Pakistan axis and creating psychological pressure. But it's important to separate perception from reality. The truth is: India is not under the kind of hydrological pressure from China that Pakistan faces from India under the Indus system. That said, this doesn't mean China has no ability to cause harm. China is indeed building multiple dams upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo (the upper stretch of the Brahmaputra). While they describe these as 'run-of-the-river' projects -- which theoretically don't store large volumes of water -- there are broader concerns. India, too, builds similar projects on the Indus, as allowed under the Indus Waters Treaty. What changes the equation is the proposed 'super dam' near Medog, close to Arunachal Pradesh. This planned project aims to generate an enormous 60,000 megawatts (60 gigawatts) of electricity. Even if officially classified as non-storage, producing that much power implies holding back a considerable amount of water -- especially when multiple dams are stacked one after another. The cumulative storage could become significant. The greater threat, however, isn't that China will dry out India, but that it could release excess water -- deliberately or accidentally. The North East is already flood-prone during the monsoon, and even a controlled release from these dams (during the monsoon) could worsen flooding. Moreover, since this region is seismically active, there's also a real risk of accidental dam failure during an earthquake, which could cause devastating floods downstream. So, the Pakistani narrative oversimplifies the situation. While China does hold some leverage, it's not the same as India's position over Pakistan -- and the real risks are more about flooding than water scarcity. You mentioned that China doesn't control a large amount of the water that flows into India and that the hydrology is different. Could you elaborate for our readers on how the hydrology of the Brahmaputra differs from that of the Indus? Certainly -- and I'll put it in simple terms. But I want to remind you that I am not a hydrologist. The Yarlung Tsangpo -- the Brahmaputra river -- stretches around 2,800 kilometres. Of this, about 1,625 kilometres flow through Tibet (China), roughly 850 kilometres through India, and the final 300 kilometres through Bangladesh. At first glance, one might assume that since China hosts the longer segment, it must control more of the river's water. But that assumption doesn't hold up hydrologically. What truly matters is not the river's length (what length of the river is in which country), but where the water comes from -- and here, the picture flips. The Tibetan plateau receives relatively low rainfall compared to the lush, monsoon-fed catchments of India. The catchment receives significantly less snowmelt compared to the Indus Basin, where glacial contributions are far more substantial. Studies show that only about 15% of the Brahmaputra's total annual discharge originates in China, while nearly 85% comes from within Indian territory and neighbouring Bhutan. This is where the Brahmaputra fundamentally differs from the Indus. In the Indus system, India -- being upstream -- controls a significant share of the water before it reaches Pakistan. Geography, precipitation, and snowmelt patterns give India that leverage. But in the Brahmaputra's case, despite being downstream, India actually receives more water than China does, due to the way the river gathers its flow. So, unlike the Indus, where the upper riparian dominates water availability, the Brahmaputra is a rare case where the lower riparian -- India -- has the volume advantage. It's a reminder that when it comes to rivers, location isn't everything -- rainfall, terrain, and tributary networks often matter more. The mega-dam China is building that you spoke about... could the disruption of sediment flow by such Chinese infrastructure pose a serious long-term threat to the ecology of the Brahmaputra basin in India? Absolutely -- it's a major but often overlooked risk. One of the most critical ecological impacts of large upstream dams is their disruption of natural sediment flow. Himalayan rivers like the Brahmaputra carry enormous volumes of sediment -- rich in minerals and nutrients -- that are vital for replenishing the fertile floodplains of North East India. When a dam traps these sediments, two serious problems arise downstream. First, the river water that reaches India becomes 'clearer,' but ironically more dangerous. Sediment-laden water moves slower and is gentler. But when that sediment is removed, the water becomes faster and more erosive -- like a knife without its blunt edge. It starts scouring the riverbed and carving into the banks, leading to heightened erosion, unstable channels, and even the shifting of the river's course over time. Second, and just as important, is the loss of nutrients. Without regular deposits of sediment, the agricultural lands in Assam and other parts of the North East will suffer a gradual decline in soil fertility. This has long-term consequences for food security, rural livelihoods, and ecological stability in the basin. So yes, beyond the political and hydrological concerns, sediment trapping by China's planned mega-dam presents a serious ecological and economic threat for India -- one that will quietly unfold over decades if not addressed. Considering these concerns, what steps must India take internally -- through infrastructure, storage, or conservation -- to reduce our vulnerability to future upstream disruptions from China? These challenges are real and growing. First, it's important to recognise that India doesn't have a formal water-sharing treaty with China -- only a memorandum of understanding for seasonal data sharing during floods. This arrangement isn't legally binding and operates purely on goodwill. China has withheld such data in the past, reminding us that they control not just water, but critical information. Diplomatically, India can explore building a coalition of lower riparian States -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar -- to raise collective concerns. But the political traction of such a front is uncertain. The real solution lies in strengthening our internal resilience. India urgently needs a science-driven water strategy tailored to the Brahmaputra basin. This begins with detailed hydrological mapping and better monitoring of the river on our side. We need to build integrated water storage infrastructure -- especially in Arunachal Pradesh -- that can absorb sudden releases from upstream and retain water for the dry season. This doesn't mean just mega-dams; it requires a layered network of large, medium, and small-scale storage projects. Equally critical is modern flood management: Smart embankments, diversion channels, and inland navigation systems that can turn excess water into a resource rather than a threat. But all of this must be done sustainably, with local community involvement to ensure legitimacy and avoid internal friction. Above all, India must respond not with panic, but with preparedness. A united, forward-looking approach -- grounded in science, infrastructure, and regional diplomacy -- is our best bet against upstream risk. '5465 was over 17,000 feet -- our eyes were out of the sockets by the time we got to the top.' 'We had not eaten in 2-3 days and climbed in extremely difficult terrain.' 'I was there for 5-6 days, but had to be evacuated because I started vomiting blood.' IMAGE: Colonel R K Sharma in Kashmir. All photographs: Kind courtesy Colonel R K Sharma "The Pakistanis raised the white flag. In accordance with the code of war, we held our fire. "An officer approached us. He was in a panic. As commander of my company, I stepped forward to discuss the ground situation as per the norms of a flag meeting. "He told me they had suffered many casualties. I said your position is two kilometres behind. You have breached the line and come forward. "I told him you have pushed the war on us." One of the Indian Army's most decorated soldiers, Colonel R K Sharma, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal tells Rediff's Archana Masih how he and his men won the battle to recapture the highest peak in the Batalik range at 17,000 feet this month 26 years ago, during the Kargil War. "My order was to win 5465 and I was going to do it at any cost," the colonel says in a multi-part interview. Part 1 of the Interview: 'Everything Was Against Indian Forces, But We Won' IMAGE: With his band of brothers. How did you recapture 5203 and 5465 in the Batalik sector? It was a crucial victory in the Kargil War, but a very difficult and dangerous objective. We paid a heavy cost to achieve that objective. Captain Amol Kalia and his men lost their lives in the first attack. [Captain Kalia and 10 soldiers were killed in action. Despite grievous injuries, Captain Kalia bravely fought till his end. His body could be retrieved only 12 days later because the area was under constant enemy fire. He was awarded the Vir Chakra.] The second attack was launched by the Ladakh Scouts and 5 Paras. After the objective was achieved, we were tasked to hold that point because the enemy was present nearby. After 5203, our next task was to capture Point 5465, but we had to clear an area called 'Wall' to get to 5465. Wall was halfway from 5465. It was called 'Wall' because the Pakistanis had made a well-fortified wall of stones from where they took aim at us. The Indian troops received maximum fire from Wall. Therefore, we had to first capture Wall, then the Helmet area from where they fired rocket launchers. Only after clearing these intermediate points could we attack Point 5465. We captured it in 2, 3 days. We were 20 of us. Some soldiers had to stay back at these intermediate points to hold the ground after we had recaptured it. 5465 was a dominating point where the Pakistanis had stationed big guns. We could not move ahead till our men at the Wall did not fire at 5465. In war you have to employ tactics according to the ground situation, and we did that. I learnt from an earlier interview that a Pakistani officer raised the white flag. Our troops were firing at the Pakistani position from the Wall area. I had told my men to rain fire which resulted in several deaths on the enemy's side. There was absolute commotion among the enemy troops. They raised the white flag. In accordance with the code of war, we held our fire. A Pakistani officer approached us. He was in a panic. As commander of my company, I stepped forward to discuss the ground situation as per the norms of a flag meeting. He told me they had suffered many casualties. I told him that your position is two kilometres behind. You have breached the line and come forward. He said he had orders from his seniors to come to that position. He had climbed down to meet us and was in the line of fire of my men. If they tried to betray the ethics of the flag meeting and attacked me, my men stationed in the Wall area would have fired. He looked scared. I told him we were advancing to 5465 and if they fired, my men would rain hellfire on them. My task was to win 5465. I had to achieve the objective. I had told my commanding officer that I will either come back victorious or not return alive. IMAGE: On the way to Kargil. What if they had attacked you? My commanding officer's order was to win 5465 and I was going to do it at any cost. Soldiers are trained not be daunted by situations and this was one of them. When he raised the white flag I went without my weapon. Lance Naik Tula Ram, a brave soldier, told me not to go unarmed. I told him that since he had a long range weapon, he could shoot if anything happens to me. My unit was concerned about what if the Pakistanis captured me. The radio operator was relaying messages that the orders from the superiors were not to proceed. The radio operator was told that RK had to be brought back dead or alive because if a Pakistani had captured any Indian solider alive, it would be humiliation for our forces. But I knew he could not have captured me because he had climbed down to meet me, and my men had him in the line of fire. They would have rained fire on both of us and he would not have been able to take me alive. We met for 4-5 minutes and he said war is the deadliest thing. I told him you have pushed the war on us. IMAGE: Awarded the Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal, Colonel R K Sharma is popularly called the hat-trick soldier. What happened next? I had told my men that till the time I was dealing with the Pakistani officer they should continue their movement to 5465. By the time the flag meeting ended, my boys had reached the base of 5465. Then Lance Naik Tula Ram and I joined them at 5465. It had taken us a full day to get there. It was over 17,000 feet -- our eyes were out of the sockets by the time we got to the top. All of you must have been exhausted but exhilarated on achieving victory. We had not eaten in 2-3 days and climbed in extremely difficult terrain. There were 8 of us who reached the top and held it. I was there for 5-6 days, but had to be evacuated because I started vomiting blood. I was then brought down to brigade headquarter and replaced by Captain B K Singh. I had a severe stomach infection and was in hospital for a week. Last year I went to 5465 for the inauguration of the Khalubar memorial. I met the unit deployed there. There must be so many unsung heroes of the Kargil War whose bravery we do not know of. There were so many in 22 Grenadiers -- our battalion is called the 'bravest of the brave'. I know Colonel S S Pillai, a true soldier. I heard so many stories about him from others who served with him. e did many ops in Kashmir. [Colonel Pillai sacrificed his life in counter insurgency operation in J&K. He was killed in action on his birthday.] Major Ajit Singh from my own company fought in Khalubar. Out of 22 men, 12 were killed in action in achieving that victory. He was recommended for a Mahavir Chakra, but only two soldiers from that company got Sena Medals -- but faujis don't expect awards. They fight for the nation, not for awards. General V K Singh complimented you at the launch of your book Shoorveer by saying that a real warrior is one who ensures the safety of his men and achieves the objective at the same -- and you are one such warrior. Touch wood. I have spent most of my life in operational areas and have never had to call a home and convey this message. It is a blessing of God. I have never lost a man. 'At Keeladi, we have not come across any evidence for organised religion.' IMAGE: A beautifully crafted earthen pot unearthed at the Keeladi excavation site. All photographs: Kind courtesy Tamil Nadu department of archaeology Keeladi is a small town near Madurai where excavations have revealed evidence of an advanced urban civilisation dating back to at least the 6th century BCE. The site shows cultural links with the Indus Valley civilisation and challenges long held views about ancient South India. After initial excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India unearthed over 7,500 artefacts, a report was submitted but not accepted, leading to the lead archaeologist's transfer. Following a court order, the Tamil Nadu government took over the work and is now demanding official recognition and release of the Keeladi findings, which have sparked both historical and political debate. R Balakrishnan, a former civil servant of the Odisha cadre, is the author of Journey of a Civilization: Indus to Vaigai. "In the context of present India, an element of Harappan will be found in a majority of the population," R Balakrishnan tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier in the final part of a two-part interview: Part I of the Interview: What Does Keeladi Tell Us About Our Civilisation? Did it surprise you that the Keeladi excavation did not find any religious artefacts which makes the civilisation secular, modern, mature and very advanced? Not at all. To understand the foundational values, societal priorities and way life, one needs to have a glimpse of understanding ancient Tamil work, namely Tolkappiyam, and the literary corpus known as Sangam texts. God was one of the constituent elements of a specific landscape. There was no creator God who made this world. Life portrayed in the deepest layers of Sangam texts was very pragmatic, fun loving and materialistic. At Keeladi even after 10 sessions of excavations, we have not come across any evidence for organised religion or the artefacts associated with that. This is not to say society had no faith or belief system. But, certainly religion was certainly not the central concern of that society. The earliest layers of Sangam literature also indicates exactly that. South Indian civilisation was looked down as primitive all the time. Do you feel Keeladi changes the narrative? It was a baseless narrative. Such notions of superior-inferior -- primitive-civilised types of black and white binaries are not only outdated but also retrograde. I subscribe to the idea of India which is inclusive, diverse and plural even at the foundational levels. To be frank, we had no clues about the urban climax achieved in the Indus Valley till John Marshall came and announced it in 1924. We did not know the details about emperor Ashoka before 1837 when James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts used in Ashoka's inscriptions. IMAGE: Ancient pottery discovered at the Keeladi excavation site. You said southern archaeology suffered an institutional neglect all through. Do you think there is an effort to suppress the Keeladi findings also which puts Dravidian civilisation as old as the Indus Valley? I don't look at the delay and institutional resistance with reference to the Keeladi report in isolation, it marks a continuity indicating a sort of archaeological apathy. Hence, the delay and denial of the Keeladi report and findings are neither a shock nor a surprise. It has followed an expected pattern. Let me take the example of Adichanllur. The site was visited by Dr Jagor of Germany and explored in 1876. The first systematic excavation was done by Alexander Rea of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1904. That excavation revealed a variety of artifacts, including gold diadems, bronze and iron objects, and pottery. At that time, Harappa and Mohenjadoro were nowhere in the picture. And no one in Rajasthan and Haryana were searching for the Vedic Saraswati. After the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation, K N Dikshit, the director general of ASI, during his visit to the then Madras in the mid-1930s made a statement, 'a thorough investigation of the area in Tirunelveli district and the neighbouring regions such as the ancient sea port of Korkai will one day lead to the discovery of some site which would be contemporary with or a little later than that of the Indus civilisation'. What anticipation! But did any one listen? It took another 70 years for T Sathyamoorthy of the ASI to explore the site in 2004-2005. That is, exactly 100 years after Rea and 70 years after Dikshit's statement. But Satyamoorthy's report did not come through even after more than a decade. It required an order from the high court to send the samples from Adichanallur to the laboratory for carbon dating. It is strange why judicial intervention was called for in first place. In the meantime, T Satyamoorthy, the excavator, participated in a symposium on the Indus Valley and Tamil language, and drew parallel with Indus sites while discussing the findings at Keeladi. But it took another 13 years and a court order to extract the ASI report. The same story is now being repeated in Keeladi. It is a tragedy, to say the least. That is why I call it archaeological apathy, institutional neglect. IMAGE: A gold coin unearthed at the Keeladi excavation site. If the Indus Valley Civilisation and Dravidian Civilisation existed almost at the same time, what about the theory of people from that part moving to the south once the Indus Valley Civilisation collapsed? Would you say it was a wrong theory? I won't jump the gun. Ancient genomic studies throw much more reliable evidence now. In the context of present India, an element of Harappan will be found in a majority of the population. Migrations in the past were absolutely inevitable. The reason could be anything -- natural calamities and the search for a better life. People migrate even now carrying their language, identities and ideologies. It is a continuous process. I give more importance to the fact of migrations in the past than to the trajectories. But applying some important yardsticks such as high level of urbanism, maritime trade, level of knowledge about oceans, place of women in society, place of religion in day-to-day life, pastime activities, I put forth a reasonable suggestion that of all the classical texts of India, the ancient Sangam literary corpus, contain huge amount of carried forward memories of an urban past. Sangam texts are the legacy holders. It won't be out of context to remind that of all the hypotheses with reference to the linguistic affiliation of the Indus Valley population to the Dravidian hypothesis is considered as a more promising one. IMAGE: Several beads have been discovered at the Keeladi excavation site. Like Keeladi, the excavations in Pattanam, a trade port city in Kerala, also revealed almost similar results, a civilisation that was urbanised, a civilisation that was secular, modern and mature, and both belonged to the Sangam period. How do you compare the cultural and economic similarities of Pattanam and Keeladi? The findings from Pattanam are phenomenal. It is believed to be the site of the ancient Muziris, a major port city, and Sangam literature talks about merchants coming with gold from Rome, and going back with spices. The port was not on the sea but near the mouth of the river Periyar. It is a riverine port that opens to the sea. Sangam literature talks about the different methodologies used when ships enter the river from the sea at the port. In the Austrian National Library in Vienna, you can see the Muziris papyrus, a 2nd century CE tripartite trade document written in ancient Greek and signed between a trader in Pattanam and a financier from Alexandria. The ancient Tamil economy had twin capitals, an interior political capital and an economic capital which was a port city. The political capital of the Pandyas was Madurai while the economic capital was Korkai. For the Cheras, the political capital was Vanchi and the economic capital was Muziri Pattanam or Thondi. That's why I said the findings in Pattanam are phenomenal, as phenomenal as Keeladi. Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged four Maharashtra ministers and many government officials have been honey trapped, a claim contested by Maharashtra cabinet member Chandrashekhar Bawankule who asked him to make the evidence public. IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, party leaders Aditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut (second from right) along with supporters stage a protest against Maharashtra government mandating Hindi as the default third language in schools, in Mumbai, June 29, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo In a post on X, Raut claimed four young MPs of the then undivided Shiv Sena were honey-trapped due to which they switched sides and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He did not name anyone. "Four ministers and many officers have been honey trapped," Raut added without naming anyone. Last week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly that no case of blackmailing through honeytrap has come to light in the state. On Monday, Raut alleged Fadnavis lied in the House and that he knows four ministers were "honey trapped". Of the MPs who left the (undivided Shiv Sena), four were honey-trapped and they were pressured and got cleansed after joining hands with the BJP, Raut claimed while talking to reporters in New Delhi. Last week, Congress MLA Nana Patole demanded that the government make a formal statement in the assembly on an alleged "honeytrap" racket targeting state officials posted in Thane, Nashik and the Mantralaya (secretariat) in Mumbai. Patole claimed he had proof related to the allegations in a pen drive. Reacting to Raut's claims, senior BJP leader and state revenue minister Bawankule said, "He should not be afraid. If he has any material related to honeytrap claims, he must come forward and show it." "This is nothing but a poor attempt to stay in the limelight," Bawankule told reporters. The minister claimed that after losing power, leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi were indulging in spreading "outright lies" to mislead the public. "The MVA leaders could not even save their own MLAs and MPs. Now they are resorting to falsehoods," he said. Bawankule also refuted Raut's claim that a current state minister, allegedly involved in a Nashik "honeytrap" case, had travelled to Guwahati four days after several Shiv Sena leaders went to the Assam city during the 2022 rebellion which led to a split in the party. Echoing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' earlier remarks, Bawankule said, "If the Opposition has any proof, they should present it to the people. They should not fear anyone." 'Who tried engine relight?' 'If the first officer was the one flying at takeoff, the captain may have taken control immediately post-thrust loss.' 'But the AAIB report doesn't clarify any of this.' IMAGE: The tail of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building in Ahmedabad, June 12, 2025. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters Air India pilots are "deeply disturbed" and "demoralised" by what they claim is an ambiguous preliminary report that hints at pilot error while failing to account for known technical concerns, following last month's fatal crash of flight AI171 near Ahmedabad. Speaking to Business Standard, pilots criticised the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary findings -- released on Saturday, July 12, 2025 -- for using vague language and omitting key technical details. The report stated that both engine fuel control switches on the Boeing 787-8 'transitioned' from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' just three seconds after takeoff on June 12, resulting in a sudden dual-engine power loss. But it does not clarify whether the switches were moved manually, shifted due to mechanical failure, or activated by an electrical fault. These switches, located on the Boeing 787-8's throttle quadrant, stop fuel supply to the engines when moved to 'CUTOFF'. "Did someone move them by hand, or did the system interpret some error and act on its own?" asked one senior captain. The switches are spring-loaded and require a deliberate pull-and-turn motion, making accidental movement highly unlikely. "The likelihood of both failing together -- within one second -- is minuscule unless something seriously went wrong in the switch mechanism or aircraft electronics," said another pilot. Some questioned whether the switches "transitioned" physically or whether the aircraft's computers simply behaved as if they had, due to a fault. "The flight data recorder may be recording what the system did, not necessarily what the switches physically showed," one said, highlighting a key gap in the report. Another veteran pilot stated bluntly: "If both engines lost thrust simultaneously after takeoff, and the fuel cutoffs weren't commanded by the crew, we're all flying with a wing and a prayer." "Until they find the actual cause, it must be treated as a dual engine failure." The AAIB report includes a brief cockpit exchange: One pilot asks why the fuel was cut off; the other replies he did not do it. A Mayday call followed seconds later, before the aircraft plunged into a hostel compound belonging to the B J Medical College, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. One passenger survived. "In 30 seconds, that's all they said? Where are the standard callouts like V1, rotate, gear up, and positive rate? Why has that transcript not been included?" asked an Air India pilot, referring to mandatory verbal cues during takeoff that confirm speed milestones and aircraft configuration. These standard callouts serve as verbal checkpoints between pilots to ensure both are aligned during the most critical phase of flight. 'V1' marks the speed beyond which takeoff must continue even if there is a problem; 'rotate' is the moment when the aircraft's nose is lifted off the runway; 'positive rate' indicates that the plane is climbing safely; and 'gear up' instructs retraction of the landing gear. Several cockpit crew members criticised what they saw as "ambiguous language" and key omissions. There was no reference, they noted, to alerts from the Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitoring (EICAS) system, which logs warnings in real time. "If the switches were moved, or fuel flow was interrupted, surely there would've been engine shutdown alerts?" a pilot said. Also missing is any mention of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), a crash-survivable device meant to activate automatically. "Why did it not trigger?" a pilot asked. "If it didn't activate, either it was damaged, not functioning, or improperly installed," the pilot added. "We feel deeply disturbed and demoralised by the way this report has been issued, and by the conclusions the general public is drawing from it," one pilot said. Many Air India pilots pointed to a 2018 safety bulletin issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that had warned of potential malfunctions in the locking mechanism of fuel switches with the same part number (4TL837-3D) used on the Boeing 787. While the advisory was not mandatory, Air India confirmed it did not conduct the advised inspections. "It may have been advisory, but not acting on it was a lapse. Especially when the throttle quadrant on this plane was replaced twice -- once in 2019 and again in 2023. Why wasn't this checked?" a pilot asked. Pilots also raised concerns about the data captured by the Flight Data Recorder. "Did it log the switch position or the valve status downstream? If it's recording only electrical commands, even a momentary short circuit or power fluctuation could show up as a fuel cutoff event," one pilot explained. An experienced Dreamliner pilot at Air India also raised a technical theory: "Once the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploys after total power loss, only the captain's (left seat) display systems remain active. "If the first officer (right seat) was the one flying at takeoff, the captain may have taken control immediately post-thrust loss. "But again, the report doesn't clarify any of this: Who was flying when Mayday was called? Who tried engine relight?" The preliminary report has not issued any directive to planemaker Boeing and enginemaker GE. When asked about the concerns raised by pilots, Boeing reiterated the statement it had issued a day on July 12: '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 customers. 'We will defer to the AAIB to provide information about AI171, in adherence with the UN International Civil Aviation Organization protocol known as Annex 13.' In a statement on Sunday, July 12, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), which represents narrow-body fleet pilots at Air India, rejected speculation that the crew could have shut off the fuel deliberately. 'Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation is unacceptable and must be condemned. 'The crew acted in line with their training under extremely challenging conditions,' the association said. The ICPA also denounced the 'reckless and unfounded insinuation' circulating in some quarters, including foreign media which hinted at pilot suicide. 'There is absolutely no basis for such a claim. Pilots undergo extensive psychological screening, recurrent training, and operate under the highest safety standards,' it said. The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) has separately alleged that the investigation may be biased. 'The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias towards pilot error... we strongly object to this line of thought,' ALPA said, demanding that its representatives be allowed to observe the investigation process. Even former investigators have urged restraint. Aurobindo Handa, former chief of the AAIB who led probes into more than 100 crashes, including the Air India Express crash at Kozhikode airport in 2020, told PTI: 'It will be too premature to draw any conclusions, including the role of one of the pilots, from the preliminary report. 'We should allow the AAIB to complete its investigation in a fair, unbiased and transparent manner.' Handa said the focus now should be on why and how the fuel switches moved to CUTOFF. 'That's what the final report should establish,' he noted. With tensions running high, some Air India pilots say the preliminary findings have left them uneasy about operating the Dreamliner until more clarity is available. One senior captain said the airline should consider proactively inspecting the fuel control switches across the entire fleet rather than relying on selective checks, adding that caution should take precedence over convenience. Another pilot noted that the preliminary report raises unresolved technical questions and that any premature conclusions about crew error would be deeply unfortunate, especially if subsequent findings point to a mechanical or electronic fault. In a communication sent to pilots hours after the preliminary report was made public, Manish Uppal, senior vice-president for flight operations at Air India, acknowledged the tragedy and stressed the importance of learning from it. 'Preliminary investigation report has been officially released in the recent tragic accident involving our flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12. 'As aviation professionals, we understand top importance from every safety event is the learning to ensure safe skies,' Uppal said. He noted that the incident has deeply impacted the airline's pilot community and the broader aviation fraternity. 'The initial report gives the airline an initial insight. This is not the last word, but an important step in identifying factors and ensuring that all possible measures are taken to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring," he added. Uppal also said that pilots are trained to remain calm under pressure, to continuously learn, and to act decisively, and urged them to apply those values now. 'Together, we will reflect, react and rise more than before,' he said. Air India, he noted, will soon organise a dedicated session to collectively review the findings of the report. Key findings in AAIB's report 13:08:39 hours: Aircraft lifts off, engine fuel control switches turned off with a time gap of 1 second. The switches were turned on later. 13:09:05 hours: One of the pilots transmitted 'Mayday Mayday Mayday'. Air traffic controller enquired about call sign, but did not get response. At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions for B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Azizul Haque, firebrand poet, political thinker and one of the last towering leaders of India's Naxalite uprising, died in Kolkata on Monday, marking the end of a turbulent, blood-soaked chapter in Bengal's radical Left history that once shook the nation in the 1960s and '70s. IMAGE: Naxalbari uprising leader Azizul Haque (second from right) speaks during a protest in Kolkata, November 1, 2019. Photograph: ANI Photo He was 83. Haque, who was born in Howrah in 1942, belonged to the generation of Naxal leaders who believed that 'bonduker nol-i, khomotar utsa' (Political power flows out of the barrel of the gun), a doctrine popularised by their ideological mentor, Charu Mazumdar, who made the Mao Zedong's slogan popular in India in the Sixties and Seventies. A poet, political thinker and once the head of the CPI-ML's second central committee, Haque had long been battling illness and was admitted to ICU after a fall at home that left him with a fractured hand. He breathed his last at 2:28 pm, sources said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep condolences on X, describing Haque as a "fighter who never bowed down in his long political life". "I express my condolences at the passing of veteran politician Azizul Haque. Azizul Haque was a fighter, a resolute leader. In his long political career, he never bowed his head. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and associates," she posted on X. A close associate of Charu Mazumdar and Kanai Chatterjee, Haque was among the few leaders who kept the flame of the Naxalbari uprising alive long after it was crushed by the state. He was expelled from the CPI-M for endorsing Mazumdar's radical line, later co-founding the CPI-ML's Second Central Committee with Nishith Bhattacharya after the latter's death. Under their leadership, the faction tried to set up parallel revolutionary governments in parts of rural Bengal and Bihar during the late 1970s, before being expelled following a ceasefire accord with the West Bengal government. First arrested in the Parvathipuram conspiracy case in 1970 and was released in 1977. Haque spent nearly two decades in prison over his lifetime. His re-arrest in 1982 triggered outrage even within Bengal's ruling Left Front, with jail ministers Debabrata Bandopadhyay and Jatin Chakraborty recommending his parole after visiting him behind bars. His book Karagare Atharo Bochor (Eighteen Years in Jail) remains one of the most poignant firsthand accounts of Naxalite movement and ideological resilience in that era. Haque's writings, including Naxalbari: Tirish Bochor Aage ebong Pare, continued to challenge establishment thinking even as he gradually moved away from hardline Naxalism in his later years. Notably, he supported the CPI-M's industrialisation drive in Singur in 2006, distancing himself from many of his former comrades who opposed land acquisition. "Leftism is to walk against the current," he often said, and till the end, his pen remained active-contributing columns and essays to leading dailies and journals, always with a streak of rebellion. Azizul Haque's death is not just the passing of a political veteran, it is the quiet extinguishing of one of the last flames of Bengal's revolutionary Left. For many, July 21, 2025, will be remembered as the day a radical conscience bid farewell. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee tore into the Bharatiya Janata Party, branding it a 'Bangla-Birodhi' party, alleging that it wants to send Bengalis to detention camps. IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee with party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee lead a protest rally against the alleged torture of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states, in Kolkata, July 16, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo He also claimed that after the 2026 Bengal assembly polls, it is the BJP that will be electorally "sent to detention camps and wiped out" from the state. "The BJP wants to take Bengalis to detention camps. I want to tell them clearly, after the 2026 elections, it is you whom we will send to the detention camps," the TMC national general secretary said, addressing the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata. Claiming that the BJP is a Bangla-Birodhi party (anti-Bengal party), Banerjee alleged that it has consistently targeted Bengalis for speaking their mother tongue. "Just because we speak Bengali, we are being targeted. Why doesn't the BJP take action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his continuous attacks on the Bengali language? It shows their true colours," he asked. Banerjee said that if required, TMC MPs would speak in Bengali in Parliament in the ongoing session. "Let the BJP try to stop us. If needed, we will speak in Bengali inside Parliament during this session and see if they dare silence our voice," he said. "They won 77 seats last time. In 2026, we will bring them down and wipe them out electorally. From Diamond Harbour, I had predicted they would be reduced to under 50 seats, mark my words, it will happen," Banerjee said at the rally. The Diamond Harbour MP claimed that he does not go by predictions but by people's voices. "I don't make predictions. I analyse. I trust the people of Bengal and their sentiments. And this (central) government is torturing people," he alleged. Banerjee quipped, "Earlier they used to say 'Jai Shri Ram', now they are saying 'Jai Ma Durga', 'Jai Ma Kali'. Mark my words, in ten months, they will start saying 'Joy Bangla'." He credited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for first branding the BJP as 'Bangla-Birodhi' (anti-Bengal). "This was not a political slogan, it is the truth for the BJP," he added. The Enforcement Directorate is 'crossing all limits', the Supreme Court said on Monday as it expressed serious concern over the agency summoning advocates for offering legal advice or representing clients during investigations. Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo It also called for guidelines on the matter. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case to address the implications of such actions on the independence of the legal profession. This comes in the wake of the ED summoning senior lawyers Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal. "Even if it is wrong, the communication between a lawyer and the clients is privileged communication. How can notices be issued against them? There should be some guidelines," the CJI said. The CJI continued, "They (ED) are crossing all limits." While responding to submissions that recent ED notices to legal professionals like senior advocate Datar could have a chilling effect on law practice, the CJI said, "Guidelines should be framed." Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the issue was taken up at the highest level and the probe agency had been asked to not issue notices to the lawyers for rendering legal advice. Venkataramani early on in the hearing said he had a word with the ED officials and the summons to lawyers were wrong. "Lawyers cannot be summoned for rendering legal opinions," Mehta agreed with Venkataramani. Mehta, however, said there were attempts to malign institutions by creating false narratives. Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh illustrated on issue with China and Turkey, saying, "India should not be going the way of other countries which cracked down on the independence of the legal profession." He said, "My lords may set it down once and for all, because the European Commission on Human Rights also has something to say. In Turkey, the entire bar association was disbanded. China also has a similar issue." Advocates stressed that summoning lawyers, especially for giving legal opinions, was setting a dangerous precedent. "Otherwise it will have a chilling effect on the whole justice delivery system. Lawyers will not be able to freely advise my lords," a lawyer said. One lawyer said, "If this continues, it will deter lawyers from offering honest and independent advice." Even district court lawyers were facing undue harassment, the lawyer added. The CJI pointed out the court being surprised by reports it came across. Mehta, on the other hand, cautioned against forming opinions based on media narratives. "As far as general observations are concerned, sometimes misconstrued, depending upon individual cases. I am saying this, not the ED, there is a concerted effort to create a narrative against an institution. My lords may find in a few cases where there is overstepping," he said. The CJI countered, "We are finding this (overstepping by ED) in many cases, it is not like we are not finding." "We don't watch the news, haven't seen YouTube interviews. Only last week I managed to watch a few movies." When Mehta referred to politicians accused in scams, attempting to shape public opinion, the CJI said, "We said it, don't politicise this." "The moment I heard about Mr Datar, I immediately brought it to the notice of the highest executive," Mehta said. The CJI then referred to the cases, which he heard during the day, against West Bengal chief minister, wife of Karnataka CM and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya and asked the lawyers representing political persons, state government and the ED not to politicise the court. The CJI highlighted how the ED had been filing appeals even against well-reasoned orders only for the sake of filing them. Justice Chandran in agreement with the CJI said, "How do you say that these narratives will influence us if we do not see them at all? Narratives will go on all over, people might be concerned, but you cannot say that we have been influenced by it." The CJI said judgements were based on facts without being influenced by 'so called narratives'. The bench directed parties, including the SCBA to file comprehensive notes on the issue and allowed intervention applications. The matter would be heard on July 29. "Ultimately, we are all lawyers," the CJI said, stressing arguments in the courtroom should not be viewed adversarially. On June 20, the ED said it had directed its investigating officers not to issue summons to any advocate in money laundering investigations being carried out against their clients. An exception to this rule can only be made after "approval" by the agency's director, it added. The bar bodies urged the CJI to take suo motu cognisance of the matter. On June 25, the top court said allowing police or probe agencies to directly summon lawyers for advising clients would seriously undermine the autonomy of the legal profession and was a "direct threat" to the independence of justice administration. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has announced searches of 15 of its employees, and Bureau Director Semen Kryvonos has interrupted his visit to the UK and is returning to Ukraine, the NABU said on Telegram on Monday. "As of now, at least 70 searches of NABU employees have been conducted by agents of the State Security Service of Ukraine (PGO) and prosecutors. According to available information, investigative actions are being carried out without court orders," the report said. According to NABU, the grounds for these actions in the vast majority of cases are the participation of individuals in road accidents. However, some employees are accused of possible ties to the aggressor country. The agency notes that these facts are not interconnected. In addition, as reported, a planned inspection of the State Service for Special Communications, which covers the technical infrastructure of the NABU, is underway. In parallel, an unscheduled inspection of the state of protection of state secrets, initiated by the SBU, has been launched. It concerns NABU employees who have access to state secrets and are involved in covert investigative (detective) actions. As noted, based on the results of this inspection, the SBU may receive information about the planned operational measures and ongoing investigative actions of the NABU and the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO). "Disclosure of this information may disrupt ongoing investigative actions and investigations," the message states. In addition, according to the agency, during one of the searches, physical force was used against a NABU detective despite the absence of resistance on his part. The agency reported that it is conducting an internal inspection of the circumstances of the events and is clarifying the legal grounds for the actions, including the use of force against the employee. "At the time of the beginning of the above-mentioned actions, the NABU Director was on a business trip to the United Kingdom, where, in particular, a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs was scheduled. The Director decided to immediately interrupt the visit and return to Ukraine," the Bureau noted. At the same time, NABU emphasizes that the risk of the presence of agents of influence of the aggressor country remains relevant for any government body. "This cannot be a reason to stop the work of the entire institution," the Bureau said. A student was killed and five people were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy overnight rain hit a government school in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said. Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of the life of the young student. A large boulder rolled down onto the tin roof of the primary school in the Bhainch-Kalsian area and fell in a classroom, injuring several students. A student, Ehsan Ali (5), died, the officials said. They said four students -- Mohammad Safeer (7), Bilal Farooq (8), Aftab Ahmad (7) and Tobia Kausar (7) -- and a teacher were injured in the incident and are undergoing treatment at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital in Poonch. The teacher suffered minor injuries. In a post on X, LG Sinha condoled the student's death. 'The news of the death of a 5-year-old child due to the rockslide that crashed into Primary School, Kalsian, Poonch is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured children,' he said. Chief Minister Abdullah, in a post on X, extended his condolences to the bereaved family and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He said he has directed the administration to ensure proper treatment of the injured and to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident. Immediately after receiving information about the incident, Poonch Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal visited the district hospital and met the injured and their families, the officials said. He directed the medical team to provide the best possible treatment to the children. As immediate relief, Kundal disbursed financial assistance under the Red Cross Fund, providing Rs 1 lakh to the family of Ehsan Ali and Rs 50,000 each to the families of the injured children, according to the officials. He also assured the children's families of all possible assistance from the district administration. Nineteen years after seven train blasts here killed more than 180 persons, the Bombay high court on Monday acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was "hard to believe the accused committed the crime". IMAGE: A train passes by a damaged railway platform hit by the July 11, 2006, bomb blast in Mumbai. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters The court allowed the appeals filed by the accused challenging their conviction and sentences imposed on them by a special court in 2015. Of the 12, five had been sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment by the special court. One of the death row convicts died in 2021. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said his government will challenge the acquittal ruling in the Supreme Court even as he described the HC verdict as "shocking". "I will go through the entire (HC) order. I have discussed with the lawyers, and the high court verdict will be challenged in the Supreme Court," Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, told reporters. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi sought to know whether Maharashtra government would take action against Anti-Terrorism Squad officers who investigated the case. The HC judgement comes as a major embarrassment to the Maharashtra ATS which probed the case. The agency had claimed that the accused were members of the banned outfit Students' Islamic Movement of India and had hatched the conspiracy with Pakistani members of terror group Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Post-the verdict, the ATS, in a statement, said it will decide the future course of action after analysing the ruling and consulting the special public prosecutor. In a damning indictment of the prosecution's case, the HC declared all confessional statements of the accused as inadmissible suggesting 'copying'. Further eroding the credibility of the confessions, the court said the accused had established that torture was inflicted upon them to extort these confessional statements. A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak said the prosecution has failed to even bring on record the type of bombs used in the crime and that the evidence relied on by it was not conclusive to convict the accused. The bench refused to confirm the death penalties imposed on five of the 12 accused and dismissed the confirmation appeals filed by the state government. Punishing the actual perpetrator of a crime is a concrete and essential step toward curbing criminal activities, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring the safety and security of citizens, the HC said in its 671-page judgment. But creating a false appearance of having solved a case by presenting that the accused have been brought to justice gives a misleading sense of resolution, it added. This deceptive closure undermines public trust and falsely reassures society, while in reality, the true threat remains at large. Essentially, this is what the case at hand conveys, the bench said. The death row convicts were Kamal Ansari (now dead), Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan and Asif Khan. It had imposed life imprisonment on Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh, Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Suhail Mehmood Shaikh and Zameer Ahmed Rehman Shaikh. The witness statements and alleged recoveries made from the accused have no evidentiary value and hence cannot be held as conclusive for conviction, the HC said while quashing the conviction. Seven blasts ripped through Mumbai local trains at various locations on the western line on July 11, 2006, killing more than 180 persons and injuring several others. "The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe the accused committed the crime," the HC said. The HC said the accused shall be released from jail forthwith if not wanted in any other case. The bench drew an adverse inference on the prosecution for failing to examine important witnesses in the case and also for poor and improper sealing and maintenance of the recovered items - explosives and circuit boxes allegedly used to assemble the bombs. Discarding the confessional statements, HC said they seem to have been taken after torture was inflicted upon them and were incomplete and not truthful. It is well known that, in most cases, police are in the habit of extorting confessions by illegal and improper means, including torture, the HC said. The HC held as not credible and non-trustworthy the evidence given by witnesses. These include people who allegedly saw the accused plant the bombs or assemble them. The court noted that provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Syndicate would not apply to this case and that sanction was granted in a mechanical manner without application of mind. In the evening, two of the 12 persons acquitted by the HC were released from Nagpur Central Jail. They were Ehtesham Siddiqui, sentenced to death by a trial court in 2015, and Mohammad Ali, serving a life term, officials said. An official said Naveed Khan, also among the 12, will remain in jail as he is an undertrial in an attempt to murder case. Chirag Chauhan, a survivor of the blasts who is now wheelchair-bound and a practising CA, expressed dismay over the acquittal of all the accused, and said "Justice got killed". Gardening contractor Harish Powar, who has lived with the physical and emotional scars of the train bombings while waiting for closure, said the HC ruling is akin to rubbing salt into the wounds of the victims. The Ganga's rising water level is causing significant flooding in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh districts. In Sambhal, the water has reached 177.60 metres, affecting 36 villages. Local authorities have set up 16 flood control posts and identified 13 shelter homes, while preparations for relief kits are underway. In Prayagraj, flooding has inundated lower areas, including the iconic Bade Hanuman Mandir. The last major flood in the region occurred in 2010, and the authorities are on high alert. IMAGE: People wade through knee-length floodwater as the water level of the Ganga rises following continuous heavy rainfall in Patna on Sunday. All photographs: ANI Photo IMAGE: People with their belongings travel via boats as the Ganga water level increases in Patna. IMAGE: Water inundates residential areas as the Ganga water level increases in Patna, here and below. IMAGE: People with their belongings arrive on a boat to a safer place as the water level of the Ganga rises in Patna. IMAGE: Water reaches Patna's Daraganj area as the Ganga water levels rises. IMAGE: Water inundates Bakshi Bandh in Prayagraj as Ganga water levels rise. IMAGE: Water inundates Nakshi Bandh in Prayagraj as Ganga water levels rise. IMAGE: A view of the overflowing Ganga at Bakshi Bandh in Prayagraj. Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist leader VS Achuthanandan, one of India's most respected Communist figures and a key presence in Kerala's political history, died on Monday at the age of 101, CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan said. IMAGE: Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran CPM leader VS Achuthanandan. Photograph: Courtesy CPI-M on X The veteran leader passed away at 3.20 pm while undergoing treatment in the critical care unit of Pattom SUT Hospital, according to an official bulletin issued by the hospital. Achuthanandan had been receiving treatment since June 23, following a cardiac arrest. A founding member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Achuthanandan was a lifelong champion of workers' rights, land reforms, and social justice. He served as Kerala's chief minister from 2006 to 2011 and was elected to the state assembly seven times, serving three terms as Leader of the Opposition. Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Govindan said Achuthanandan's body would be shifted to the AKG Study and Research Centre in Thiruvananthapuram within an hour, where party workers and the public could pay their respects. Later on Monday night, the mortal remains will be taken to his house in Thiruvananthapuram. On Tuesday morning, the body will be kept at the Durbar Hall for the public to pay homage. Afterwards, the body will be transported to his hometown, Alappuzha, on Tuesday afternoon. "We expect to reach there by night," Govindan said, adding that people may gather along the way to catch a final glimpse of their beloved leader. After a brief stop at the party's district headquarters in Alappuzha, Achuthanandan's cremation will take place at the public crematorium in Alappuzha Valiya Chudukadu by Wednesday noon. Earlier in the day, following reports of his deteriorating health, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI-M leaders rushed to the hospital. Born on October 20, 1923, in Punnapra, a coastal village in Alappuzha district, Achuthanandan's early life was marked by hardship and poverty. He lost his mother at the age of four and his father while still in school, forcing him to abandon his studies after Class VII. He briefly worked in a textile shop and later as a labourer in a coir factory. His political journey began in the 1940s, inspired by legendary Communist leader P Krishna Pillai. In 1943, he represented Alappuzha at the Communist Party conference. During the 1946 Punnapra-Vayalar uprising, he went underground and was later arrested and severely beaten. Believed to be dead by the police, he was about to be buried in the forest when it was discovered he was still alive and taken to the hospital. Despite being tortured during the 1946 uprising, he returned to political activism. In 1956, he joined the party's state committee and steadily rose to hold key national positions. In 1964, he was among the 32 national council members who split from the Communist Party to form the CPI-M, a pivotal moment in Indian Left politics. He joined the party's central committee the same year and was inducted into the Politburo in 1985. Achuthanandan became known for his integrity, sharp speeches in colloquial Malayalam, and firm stance against corruption, land grabs, and misuse of power. Even in his later years, he remained immensely popular and widely respected for his dedication to ordinary people. He built a reputation as a straight-talking, no-nonsense leader who consistently raised his voice on public issues--from environmental protection to women's rights. At one point, he was removed from the Politburo for publicly criticising the party's official line. For Achuthanandan, ideology was not something he simply believed in--it was something he had lived through. When the Left Democratic Front returned to power, he was denied the Chief Minister's post. The party, citing internal decisions, accused him of a "factionalist mindset" and chose Pinarayi Vijayan instead. The relentless Communist who rose from the working class Achuthanandan, a staunch Marxist known for his sharp rhetoric, anti-corruption stance, and unwavering commitment to social justice, was India's first communist leader from a working-class background to rise to the office of chief minister. A founding figure in the CPI-M after the 1964 split in the undivided Communist Party, Achuthanandan's life in Kerala was defined by unrelenting struggle -- against the entrenched injustices of a caste and class-bound society, and against the creeping revisionism he saw within his own party. He died at the age of 101 on Monday. Whereas his peers -- EMS Namboodiripad, Jyoti Basu and EK Nayanar -- came from privileged, upper-caste families and were drawn to communism by its intellectual promise, Achuthanandan lived the inequality they fought. Achuthanandan, affectionately known as Comrade 'VS' by party colleagues and even political opponents, led a life so eventful that he was once presumed dead and prepared for burial after being assaulted by police during a pre-Independence struggle for workers' rights -- only to survive, defy his attackers, and rise to become one of Kerala's most towering political figures. On Monday, Achuthanandan died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. For over eight decades, he remained firmly on the side of workers, farmers and the poor-- his politics shaped by the fires of anti-colonial resistance, class struggle and the complicated, often turbulent path of the Indian Left. Born on October 20, 1923 at Punnapra village in Alappuzha district, and educated up to Class VII, Achuthanandan's political awakening began early. He entered public life through trade union activism and joined the State Congress in 1939, before embracing Marxism a year later by becoming a member of the Communist Party. His political career was not without its cost. During the British rule and the turbulent post-Independence years, he endured five and a half years in prison and spent four and a half years underground to evade arrest. In 1964, he was one of the 32 prominent leaders who broke away from the Communist Party of India to form the Communist Party of India-Marxist, or CPI-M, following an ideological rift. His role in this defining moment remains a cornerstone of the CPI-M's identity in Kerala. Achuthanandan served as the secretary of the CPI-M's Kerala State Committee from 1980 to 1992, helping to shape the party's strategy and mass base. He was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly four times in 1967, 1970, 1991, and 2001 and twice served as the Leader of the Opposition, first from 1992 to 1996, and again from 2001 until 2005. Despite setbacks, including intra-party disputes that defeated him in 1996 Assembly polls in his home turf Mararikulam which kept him from the chief minister's seat, VS remained a beloved and uncompromising leader of the Left. Achuthanandan's journey, starting as a helper in a tailoring shop, transformed into a string of relentless battles, both within and outside his party, championing people's causes until he rose to the position of chief minister in the state in 2006. As opposition leader, he led a strong campaign against land grabs and the real estate lobby, winning support from people across social and political backgrounds. A fierce organiser within the CPI-M, Achuthanandan was never afraid of a fight -- not just with political opponents, but often with rivals inside his own party. Notable among them is politburo member and present CM Pinarayi Vijayan. In the 1996 Kerala assembly elections, although the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front won, Achuthanandan lost in Mararikulam, a shock defeat in a constituency long seen as his stronghold. The loss was widely blamed on behind-the-scenes moves by his rivals within the Marxist party. Many political observers at the time wrote him off, saying his role in the party and in Kerala politics had come to an end, only to be proved wrong. He fought his way back, rebuilt his position within the party, and returned stronger and more popular than ever. Achuthanandan's deep popularity among the public often placed his party in a difficult position. Despite opposition from the powerful Kannur lobby in the party, led by Vijayan, the CPI-M was compelled to field him in the 2006 and 2011 assembly elections, thanks to strong grassroots support. He went on to lead the LDF government from 2006 to 2011, even as some within his own party continued efforts to sideline him. His time in office was marked by a tough stance on corruption, a push for transparency, and a focus on welfare schemes aimed at helping ordinary people. In the 2016 assembly elections, the CPI-M once again turned to Achuthanandan, presenting him as the face of its campaign. Despite his age, he travelled across the state with energy, delivering fiery speeches in his trademark style and rallying support for the Left. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday set the ruling alliance's tone for an expected discussion in Parliament's Monsoon session on Operation Sindoor, describing this sitting of parliamentarians as a "Vijay Utsav" and expressing confidence that MPs will articulate this sentiment in one voice. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media at the Parliament house complex, on the first day of Monsoon Session. Photograph: ANI on X In his customary remarks in Parliament complex before the session's start, Modi lauded a number of positive developments for the country and asserted that the Constitution is prevailing over bombs and guns. As naxalism's footprint shrinks fast, red zone is turning into green growth zone, he added. "This Monsoon session is a very proud session for the country. It is like a 'Vijay Utsav' (celebration of victory) for the nation. The world witnessed the capability of armed forces. They achieved their targets 100 percent," he said. He also noted that the Indian flag was unfurled recently at the International Space Station, a reference to Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian to set foot on the facility. The prime minister said economy was getting a boost from bountiful rains, while peace and progress have marked this decade amid low inflation and high growth. The water reservoir level has tripled compared to the past ten years, which will significantly benefit economy, he added. With the INDIA bloc uniting to demand a debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor and seizing on US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan to corner his government, Modi hailed the armed forces for meeting 100 per cent objectives of the military operation. He also lauded the multi-party delegations, which comprised MPs from different parties, that visited various parts of the world to convey India's position post-Operation Sindoor for their efforts in removing the veil from the face of the master of terrorists - Pakistan. "I want to praise all these MPs and parties for this work done in national interest," he said. Different political parties may have different agendas, Modi said, stressing that there must be unity of mind in matters of national interest. The Monsoon session is a 'Vijay Utsav' (victory celebration) as the might of India's military power and capability were manifested in Operation Sindoor, he said "In Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces achieved their objectives 100 per cent. The armed forces under 22 minutes pulverised the masters of terrorism in their homes and reduced their hideouts to rubble," Modi said. The military conflict with Pakistan also displayed the capability of "Made in India" weapons and has drawn the world's attention to them, he added Modi expressed confidence that during the session MPs in one voice and with a victorious spirit will articulate these feelings that will strengthen India's military capability, inspire people, and will also give a boost to the Made in India defence capabilities. The prime minister noted that the brutal massacre in Pahalgam, which had left 26 civilians dead, had shocked the entire world and drew global attention to terrorism and its epicentre. Amid intensified operation against left wing ultras, Modi said the red corridors are turning into green growth zones. "The country has been suffering from violent incidents from the start, be it terrorism or naxalism. But today naxalism and Maoism are shrinking at a fast rate in a big time. With the objective of uprooting naxalism, security forces are moving ahead with a new enthusiasm," he said. "I can say with pride that in the country, numerous districts have come out of the grip of naxalism and are breathing freely. Our Constitution is winning," Modi said. He also hailed the economic transformation in the last 11 years, saying that when his government took office India was part of the fragile five but was now moving forward towards becoming the third biggest global economy. Peace and development have moved ahead shoulder to shoulder in the last decade, Modi said. Before 2014, the prime minister said India grappled with double-digit inflation. The inflation rate is now hovering around 2 per cent, and citizens are experiencing relief and improved ease of living. The low inflation coupled with high growth reflects a strong and steady development journey, he said. Modi took office following the 10-year rule of the Congress-led UPA. That 25 crore people have grown out of poverty is widely recognised by global institutions, while initiatives like Digital India and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) are showcasing the country's emerging capabilities as global interest in its digital ecosystem is rapidly increasing, he said. He also hailed the International Labour Organisation's report that over 90 crore Indians are now covered under social security as a landmark accomplishment in social welfare, and also flagged the World Health Organisation declaring India free of trachoma, an eye disease, as a significant milestone in public health efforts. Twelve persons, arrested in 2006 for their involvement in the July 11, 2006 serial train blasts case, were acquitted by the Bombay high court on Monday. IMAGE: Two of the 12 men, convicted of planning several blasts on Mumbai local trains in 2006, escorted by police to a court in Mumbai, on September 30, 2015. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The prosecution had claimed the accused were members of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Following is a list of the accused who were convicted and on death row: Kamal Ahmed Ansari: Died in 2021 pending hearing of the appeal at the age of 50. Ansari was a resident of Madhubani district in Bihar and was accused of receiving arms training in Pakistan. He was also accused of planting the bomb that exploded at Matunga. Mohammed Faisal Rahman Shaikh: The 50-year-old accused from Mira Road in neighbouring Thane district was accused of being one of the main conspirators. As per prosecution, he had obtained money from Pakistan, assembled bombs and planted one of them in a train. Ehtesham Siddiqui: Aged 42, Siddiqui was accused of carrying out a recce of the trains and planting the bomb that went off at Mira-Bhayandar. Naveed Hussain Khan Rasheed: Aged 44, Rasheed, a call centre employee at the time, was accused of assembling bombs and planting one that exploded in a train at Bandra. He was a resident of Secunderabad and was arrested from there. Asif Khan Bashir Khan: The 52-year-old was accused of helping assemble the bombs and planting one that exploded at Borivali. A civil engineer, Khan was a resident of Jalgaon and accused to be a key member of SIMI. List of accused who were sentenced to life imprisonment: Tanveer Ahmed Ansari: Resident of Agripada in Mumbai, the 50-year-old was convicted for attending terror camps in Pakistan and also conducting a recce of the trains. Mohammed Shafi: Aged 46, Shafi was accused of running a hawala racket and procuring money from Pakistan for the blasts. Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam: The 55-year-old was charged with assembling bombs at his house in suburban Govandi with the help of Pakistanis who had sneaked into India. He was also accused of being a member of SIMI. Mohammed Sajid Ansari: The 47-year-old resident of Mira Road was accused of procuring timers for the bombs and helping assemble them. He was also accused of harbouring two Pakistani nationals. Muzammil Rahman Shaikh: The 40-year-old youngest accused in the case, a software engineer, was accused of getting trained in Pakistan and also conducting recce of the local trains. His brothers -- Faisal and Raahil -- are also accused in the case but were never caught. They were allegedly the main planners of the conspiracy. Suhail Mehmood Shaikh: Aged 55, Shaikh was accused of having taken arms training in Pakistan and also carrying out a recce of the trains to be targeted. Zameer Rehman Shaikh: The 50-year-old was accused of attending conspiracy meetings and also receiving training in Pakistan. Addressing a massive Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, Banerjee gave a clarion call to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2026 assembly elections and eventually oust it from power at the Centre, declaring, "If this linguistic profiling doesn't stop, our resistance movement will reach New Delhi." IMAGE: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrives to inspect the venue ahead of the grand gathering on July 21st to commemorate Martyrs' Day, at Dharmatala in Kolkata on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo "If needed, there will be another language movement against the BJP's terrorism on the Bengali language... From July 27, a movement will start in Bengal in protest against the attack on Bengalis, Bengali language and 'Bhasha santras' (linguistic terrorism)," she announced, positioning the campaign as a mass resistance to the alleged marginalisation of Bengali identity. "We must win more seats in the 2026 assembly polls and then march to Delhi to defeat the BJP," she said. Accusing the BJP of harassing Bengalis in states ruled by it, Banerjee alleged attempts to erase the identity of the community -- from NRC notices to exclusion of names from voter lists and even detention camps. "In 2019, they vandalised the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. They saw the results of that audacious act of insulting Bengali icons. Now, they have issued notifications to delete Bengali names from voter lists. In BJP-ruled states, Bengalis are being harassed and put in detention camps," she said. "I challenge the BJP -- let me see how many people they will put in jail." Banerjee also launched a frontal attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, stating, "He cannot handle his state but is meddling in the affairs of Bengal. I urge Sushmita Dev (Assam TMC leader) to organise a massive protest in that state. We will all join." "Who gave the Assam government the right to send NRC notices to residents of Bengal?" she asked. Noting that Bengal is home to nearly 1.5 crore migrants from other states, the CM said, "We welcome people from all over India, but look at what the BJP is doing to Bengalis." The TMC supremo also trained her guns at the Election Commission, accusing it of working in tandem with the BJP. "The BJP and the Election Commission are conspiring against Bengal. They want to do in Bengal what they did in Bihar through SIR. In Bihar, they have deleted names of 40 lakhs voters. If they try the same here, we will gherao them. We will never allow it," she asserted. Referring to the BJP's frequent rallies and marches to her residence and state secretariat, Banerjee warned of retaliation in the 'language that they understand'. "They (BJP) organise marches to my house and state secretariat. What will happen if TMC workers also organise a sit-in outside the homes of BJP leaders?" she asked. Whenever a Bengali is detained or harrased in BJP-ruled states, sit on dharna to express solidarity with them here, she urged her cadre. Hitting out at the saffron party's claims of championing democracy, she said, "BJP talks against Emergency, whereas they have imposed Super Emergency' in the country." Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee said, You say development will come to Bengal with change of guard. But, what have you done for the country's development in the last 11 years? Her sharp rebuke came in the backdrop of Modi's recent rally in West Bengal, where he had positioned the BJP as the only party that truly respects and protects Bengali asmita (pride), calling for an end to a regime of 'lies, lawlessness and loot.' "You are being controlled by the American President, and you dare to lecture us? When illegal immigrants were deported from the US, tied in shackles, mostly from Gujarat, what was the BJP doing then?" Banerjee asked, referring to the February deportation of Indians from the United States. Mocking Modi's attempts to connect with Bengali voters, she said, "You come to Bengal, speak in Bengali by watching a teleprompter, and think you can win our hearts? You couldn't even take PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir), but you are dreaming of Bengal!" Announcing a roadmap of protests, Banerjee said after July 27, rallies and marches will be held every weekend across Bengal against the BJP's 'attacks' on the Bengali language and community. On women's safety, she compared Bengal with BJP-ruled states, claiming 'BJP should first answer why women in their states are facing such atrocities. Bengal acts promptly in cases of violence.' "The BJP wants to erase our identity, language, culture and pride. But, I promise you, till the time we oust them from the Centre, our fight will continue," she concluded to a thunderous applause. The Odisha unit president of National Students' Union of India (NSUI), a wing of the Congress, was arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel here, police said on Monday. Photograph: @nsui/X The Odisha unit president of National Students' Union of India (NSUI), a wing of the Congress, was arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel in Bhubaneswar, police said on Monday. The incident occurred on March 18 but came to light on Sunday after the student lodged a complaint at the Mancheswar Police Station, alleging that accused Udit Pradhan mixed an intoxicating substance in her drinks and raped her in the hotel, a senior officer said. NSUI national president Varun Choudhary suspended its Odisha unit president with immediate effect and said the students' wing of the Congress maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based injustice. Based on the complaint submitted by the student, an FIR was registered at the Mancheswar Police Station and the accused was arrested on Sunday, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate additional commissioner (Zone-V) Biswaranjan Senapati said. The engineering student also accused Pradhan of threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the alleged incident, he said. I was silent due to the influence of Pradhan. However, as the women's allegations are now being attended to, I dared to lodge a complaint against him, the student said in her plaint. "The accused has been booked under various provisions, including rape and criminal intimidation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," another officer said. Pradhan's supporters, however, staged a demonstration before the Mancheswar Police Station, protesting against the arrest. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das on Monday constituted a six-member fact-finding team, headed by its vice-president Sasmita Behera, to probe into the allegations against Pradhan and meet the student. The panel will submit its report to the state Congress committee at the earliest, a party release said. The Opposition on Monday raised questions over Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation as the vice president, with the Congress saying that clearly, there is "far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye". IMAGE: Nominated Rajya Sabha MP C Sadanandan Master (right) greets Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar during Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, July 21, 2025. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab The Congress also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convince Dhankhar to change his mind. In a sudden move, Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday evening, citing medical reasons. He has sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he is stepping down with immediate effect. "The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 pm today (Monday) and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 pm," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. "No doubt Mr Dhankhar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye," he said. This is not the time for speculation though, Ramesh added. Dhankhar took both the government and the opposition to task in equal measure, he said. "He had fixed a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee tomorrow at 1 PM. He was also to make some major announcements related to the judiciary tomorrow," Ramesh said. "We wish him the best of health but also request him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to get Mr Dhankhar to change his mind. This will be in the nation's interest," the Congress leader said. The farming community, in particular, will be greatly relieved if Dhankhar changed his mind, he added. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram noted that Dhankhar has resigned citing "medical reasons", and wished him good health and a long life. Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar said the development is quite unexpected and "we don't know what the reasons are". "I don't think that the president of India will accept it. This might be an initial reaction from his side. He might be dissatisfied with some developments," Kumar said. Soon after Dhankhar resigned as the vice president, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal hailed him as a patriot and said since he has cited health reasons for his decision, it should be accepted and one should move forward. Reacting to the development, Sibal said Dhankhar has stated clearly that he has resigned on health grounds and there should not be further discussions on this. "We have to accept that and move forward. Personally, I did not feel nice. I had very good ties with him. There was no ill-feeling. He used to speak his mind and not keep things in his heart. Though our ideologies did not match, he never used to keep things in his heart. When I wanted to have more time to speak in the Rajya Sabha, he used to give me more time," the former Union minister said. "These were his good points. He is a nationalist and patriot. He wanted the opposition and the government to work together to enhance India's standing in the world," Sibal, a senior advocate, said. On Dhankhar's resignation, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan said, "I saw that the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar has submitted his resignation. He wrote to the president of India. He gave medical reasons for this. We can only pray that his health improves quickly...." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey said, "The news of the vice president resigning due to health reasons is concerning. We sincerely pray for his well-being. However, a question arises, today marked the first day of the Monsoon session, and his resignation on the same day raises eyebrows." "What is going on in this government? This decision came without proper consultation or discussion. If health was the concern, the resignation could have been submitted a few days before the session or even after," he said. In his letter to the president, Dhankhar said, "To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution." Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till 2027. He is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha and his resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Dhankhar had recently undergone angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. In his eventful tenure as the Rajya Sabha chairman, Dhankhar had several run-ins with the opposition, which had also moved a motion to impeach him. The motion, the first time ever in independent India to remove a vice president, was later rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh. A Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet crashed into a school building in Dhaka shortly after takeoff on Monday, killing at least 20 people, mostly children, and injuring 171, in one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country's recent history. IMAGE: Firefighters and army members work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft after it crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka on July 21, 2025. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters The F-7 BGI aircraft, a training fighter jet manufactured in China, crashed into the two-storey building of Milestone School and College at Diabari in Dhaka's Uttara area. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, was killed in the crash. According to an updated statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), 20 people, including the pilot, have died and 171 others injured. "All injured individuals are being promptly transported to the Combined Military Hospital and nearby hospitals for necessary treatment, with assistance from Air Force helicopters and ambulances," it said. The aircraft crashed due to a mechanical fault (the details of which will be informed after investigation) after taking off from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at 01:06 pm as part of a regular training, the statement said. It said that the chief of army staff and senior military officers rushed to the crash site where rescuers, including firefighters, army troops, police and elite Rapid Action Battalion, continued their rescue operations. A high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Bangladesh Air Force to determine the cause of the accident, the statement added. IMAGE: Rescue members carry the body of a victim. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters Brigadier General Zahed Kamal, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, earlier told reporters that the crash and the subsequent fire killed 19 people. At least 50 others were critically injured, he added. He said that rescuers recovered 19 bodies from the school compound alone while the rescue operation was underway. Earlier, Md Sayedur Rahman, the special assistant to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for the Health Ministry, said that injured people, mostly students, were being treated at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS). According to doctors, eight of the injured were in critical condition. "The number of injured people being brought to our facility is rising," a doctor at NIBPS told reporters. Fire service officials earlier said the jet crashed atop a four-storey building of the school with a big bang and immediately caught fire. According to the police, firefighting units, ambulances, and air force helicopters rushed to the scene soon after the crash. IMAGE: An ambulance passes near the crash spot. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters A teacher of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that security personnel were putting bodies in body bags to be taken to Dhaka's combined military hospital from the damaged building, which housed classes from one to seven. "Dozens of ambulances were carrying the wounded to nearby hospitals," she said. The National Burn Institute in the capital said they were treating 18 people, mostly students, some with critical conditions. The interim government has declared a one-day state mourning on July 22 when the national flag will be flown at half-mast across Bangladesh and its missions abroad. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed shock and sorrow over the casualties caused by the crash. "I am deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the heartbreaking accident involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet at the Milestone School and College campus," he said in a statement. Fahim Hossain, an eleventh-grade student, said that the jet crashed right in front of his eyes -- just 10 feet ahead of him. "It hit the ground floor of a two-storey building around 1:15 pm, where classes for the primary section were taking place," Fahim told The Daily Star. The plane crashed in front of the classrooms used by class 3 and class 4 students. Recounting the experience, a teacher who was injured in the incident said students were lining up to leave the school just as the final bell rang when the flames erupted. "There was no warning. Before we even understood what was happening, there were flames all around. Visibility dropped instantly. All I could see was fire, then smoke," the teacher said. "Both of my hands were burnt. I'm also experiencing breathing difficulties, and my face and ears are scorched." Witnesses said many wounded people were carried away by spontaneous volunteers and army troops from the crash site, even in rickshaws and tricycle vans. "We transported some of the injured with burns onto rickshaws and vans. Their clothes were ripped apart, torn, and some even were walking towards rescue vehicles with burn injuries on their bodies," said Nuruzzaman Mridha, a teacher of the school. The crash was one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Bangladesh in several decades, Bangla-language daily Prothom Alo reported. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul said that today's crash was "a great tragedy in our national life on an unprecedented scale". Three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh have been deployed at the crash site to assist the law enforcement and rescue operations, according to a BGB press release. Olena Zemlyana, Head of the Department of Legal Support of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, has been appointed Director General of the National Museum of History of Ukraine. "Today, July 21, Olena Zemlyana, a lawyer, specialist in cultural policy and cultural heritage protection, with many years of experience in the fields of culture, in particular in museum affairs and book publishing, has been appointed Director General of the National Museum of History of Ukraine," the Museum said in a statement. It is noted that before her appointment, Zemlyana headed the Department of Legal Support of the Ministry of Culture for almost five years. "During her work at the Ministry, she ensured the return to state ownership of monuments of national importance in Chernihiv, Kamianets-Podilsky, Kaniv, and Pereyaslav. Olena also joined the process of international judicial protection in the case of the return to Ukraine of the collections of Crimean museums, known as Scythian Gold," the Museum said. It is reported that in her new position, she will focus on the development of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine as a modern space for open dialogue and cultural self-identification, as well as on deepening the museum's research, educational, and international activities. As reported, in December 2024, Verkhovna Rada deputy Solomiya Bobrovska (Holos faction) stated that the director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Fedor Androschuk, went on a business trip abroad and did not return. Later, in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, Androschuk stated that there is a Swedish citizen, and that three months ago he submitted a resignation application because the Ministry of Culture was unable to extend his business trip. The Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and Patidar leaders in Gujarat have criticised Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray over his comments about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former Prime Minister Morarji Desai. IMAGE: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray. Photograph: @ShivSenaUBT_X/ANI Photo They have also demanded a ban on Thackeray's entry to Gujarat and a first information report (FIR) against him. Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday, the MNS chief said when migrants from Bihar were 'beaten up and driven away' in Gujarat, it did not become an issue, but a minor incident in Maharashtra became a national issue. He also referred to Morarji Desai and Sardar Patel's alleged anti-Marathi stand after independence. Over the past few weeks, MNS workers have been aggressively demanding that those living in Maharashtra learn Marathi. They have also assaulted a few shopkeepers for failing to respond in Marathi. Gujarat Congress' newly appointed president Amit Chavda on Sunday said making a statement against 'Sardar Saheb' was akin to throwing dust in front of the sun. "If you do politics on the soil of Gujarat, you will get an answer," he added. Aam Aadmi Party's state president Isudan Gadhvi said Gujaratis will never tolerate Thackeray's remarks. "Your politics is not working, so you are insulting not only the Gujarati people but also the leader of the entire country, Sardar Patel," he said. Gadhvi appealed to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president CR Paatil to get an FIR registered against Thackeray. "Sardar Patel united 565 princely states and created a united India. When Sardar Patel passed away, he had only Rs 261 in his account. Yet, some Maharashtra leaders are trying to further their political agenda by using derogatory language for such a great personality," he said. Patidar leader Manoj Panara submitted a petition to the police in Morbi city, demanding a sedition case against Thackeray and a ban on his entry to Gujarat. "We strongly condemn the comments he made about Sardar Saheb and former PM Morarji Desai. In the coming days, we will knock on the doors of courts and offices and take legal action against him," he said. Patidar leader Alpesh Kathiria said Thackeray has no right to insult national icons. Sardar Patel Group president Lalji Patel and Patidar Yuva Sangh led by Manoj Panara have also condemned Thackeray's statements. Panara has demanded that the MNS chief, whose mentality he termed 'narrow', be banned from entering Gujarat. Lalji Patel alleged Thackeray has always been anti-Gujarati. "He will never become a national leader unless he changes his stance against people from other states," Lalji Patel added. In a sudden move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening resigned from his post citing medical reasons. IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo He has sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he was stepping down with immediate effect. 'To prioritise healthcare and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,' Dhankhar said in his letter to the President. Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till 2027. He is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and his resignation came on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. In March this year, Dhankhar had undergone an angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. In his eventful tenure as chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the Opposition, which had also moved a motion to impeach him. The motion to remove him, the first time ever in independent India to remove a sitting Vice President, was later rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh. Dhankhar is the third Vice President after V V Giri and R Venkataraman to resign during their tenure. Giri and Venkataraman had resigned from the post to contest the presidential elections. Dhankhar's abrupt resignation follows a day of surprising development in the Rajya Sabha for the government, as an Opposition-sponsored notice for a motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma was submitted to him and he mentioned it in the House. The development came as a jolt to the ruling alliance, which had sponsored a similar notice in the Lok Sabha and taken the Opposition on board. He was the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's candidate in the election for Vice President in 2022. In his resignation letter, Dhankhar thanked President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the council of ministers and all MPs for extending support to him during his tenure. 'I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency the Hon'ble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure. 'I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office,' he said in his letter to the President. 'The warmth, trust, and affection I have received from all the Hon'ble Members of Parliament would ever be cherished at and embedded in my memory,' he said. Dhankhar also said that he is deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights he has gained as Vice President in India's democracy. 'It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India's remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation's history has been a true honour. 'As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharat's global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future,' he said. Born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, he claimed to be the son of a farmer who rose to the second highest Constitutional position in the country. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's abrupt resignation on Monday evening has opened the contest for his successor. IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar (left) receives warm welcome from Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, in the presence of state Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, in Shimla, June 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance enjoying a majority in the electorate, which includes the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it was taken by surprise by Dhankhar's decision to quit. It is likely to consider the probable names in the coming days. One of the governors, as Dhankhar was of West Bengal before taking the vice president's office, or a seasoned organisational leader or one of the Union ministers -- the BJP has a large pool of leaders to choose from for the position. Dhankhar's predecessor was M Venkaiah Naidu, a former Bharatiya Janata Party president who was in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was tapped by the party for the key constitutional position in 2017. "We are still processing it. But I believe the party will choose someone who is a solid choice and is non-controversial," a BJP leader said, suggesting that a veteran party hand might be the preferred option. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, a Janata Dal-United MP, is also being seen as a probable candidate as he has been serving in the position since 2020 and enjoys the government's trust. Dhankhar's three-year tenure was marked by his frequent run-ins with opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha but his voluble commentary, often on contentious issues, left the government less than amused at times. In a sudden move, Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday evening, citing medical reasons. He has sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he is stepping down with immediate effect. "To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution," Dhankhar said in his letter to the president. Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till 2027. He was also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha and his resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Dhankhar's abrupt resignation followed a day of surprising developments in the Rajya Sabha for the government, as an opposition-sponsored notice for a motion to remove Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma was submitted to him and he mentioned it in the House. The development came as a jolt to the ruling alliance, which had sponsored a similar notice in the Lok Sabha and taken the opposition on board. Dhankhar was the NDA's candidate in the election for the vice president, who is also the ex-officio Chair of the Rajya Sabha, in 2022. 'Dialogue and discussion, not conflict, are the way forward.' 'Internal fighting strengthens our enemies and provides material to divide us.' IMAGE: Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh called on then vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar at the vice president's enclave in New Delhi on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Photograph: @VPIndia X/ANI Photo Hours before posting his resignation on X, these are some of the remarks Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar made in the House on Monday: "Hon'ble members, I need to inform you that I have received notice of motion...to constitute a statutory committee for removal of Justice Yashwant Varma...This has been received by me today. It is signed by more than 50 members of the Council of States, and thus it meets the numerical requirement of signing by Members of Parliament for setting in motion a process for removal of a high court judge. "I direct the secretary general to find out whether a similar motion has been moved in the House of People, the Lok Sabha, and this is being done for the purpose that under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 the procedure is different, if a motion is presented in one House or if the motion is presented on the same day in both the houses. "If the motion is presented in the two houses on different dates, then the motion which is presented in the House first, that alone is taken into consideration and the second motion gets non-jurisdictional. "But if the motion is presented in both the Houses on the same day, then the provisions are different. If the motion is presented only in one House, then the presiding officer of that House has the competence to consider the motion and either admit or reject it. "But if a motion is presented on the same day in both the houses, then the provisions are different. "Then the right of the Speaker or the Chairman to admit or reject the motion is not there. Then the motions become property of the House. I would invite your attention in that behalf to Section 3(2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. "If the motion is admitted, the Speaker, or as the case may be, Chairman, shall keep the motion pending and constitute as soon as may be for the purpose of making an investigation into the grounds on which the removal of a judge is prayed for, a committee consisting of three members of whom one shall be chosen from among the chief justice and other judges of the Supreme Court, one shall be chosen from among the chief justices of the high courts, and one shall be a person who is in the opinion of the Speaker or, as the case may be, Chairman a distinguished jurist... "Coming to a motion that has been presented in both the Houses on the same day, it says, provided that where notice of a motion referred to in subsection 1 are given on the same day in both the Houses of Parliament, then no committee shall be constituted unless the motion has been admitted in both the Houses, and where such motion has been admitted in both Houses, the committee shall be constituted jointly by the Speaker and the Chairman. "Since the provisions are different, I have directed the secretary-general to update whether such a motion has also been moved in the House of the People...the Secretary-General will take necessary steps in this direction." Earlier in the morning, soon after the start of the Monsoon Session, the chairman had made the following remarks: "A thriving democracy cannot sustain constant acrimony. Political tension must be reduced, as confrontation is not the essence of politics. While political parties may pursue the same goals through different approaches, no one in India opposes the nation's interests. "I urge all political parties to foster bonhomie and mutual respect, avoiding unbecoming language or personal attacks against leaders on television or elsewhere. Such behaviour contradicts our civilisational essence. "Dialogue and discussion, not conflict, are the way forward. Internal fighting strengthens our enemies and provides material to divide us. "India's historical strength lies in discourse, dialogue, and deliberation, which should guide our Parliament. "I urge all political parties, ruling and Opposition, to engage in constructive politics for Bharat's greater progress. With your cooperation and active participation, I am confident that this Monsoon Session will be productive and meaningful." Glimpses from around the world that will make you smile and cry. Ganpati Bappa Morya! IMAGE: Devotees with Lord Ganesha's idol leave for Surat from Mumbai ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. Photograph: ANI Photo Hunger Claims Innocence Caution: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised. IMAGE: Palestinian mother Alaa Al-Najjar mourns her three-month-old baby Yehia, who died due to malnutrition amid a hunger crisis, at the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Hatem Khaled/Reuters Aid Turns Fatal Caution: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised. IMAGE: The mother of Hesham Ifsifis, who was killed in Israeli fire while seeking aid near a distribution point, mourns over his body at the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Photograph: Hussam Al-Masri/Reuters Innocence Under Fire Caution: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised. IMAGE: A child sits on a cart with a casualty transported after Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire near an aid center in Khan Younis. Photograph: Hatem Khaled/Reuters Hope in Chaos IMAGE: Palestinians gather for aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, amid a hunger crisis, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Protest for Freedom IMAGE: A protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, near the US consulate in Tel Aviv, Israel, here and below. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters Father-Son Moment IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar greets son Nishant Kumar on his birthday in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo Naidu Seeks Blessings IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu pays a visit to Kanchi Peethadhipati Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swami in Tirupati. Photograph: @AndhraPradeshCM/X/ANI Photo Floral Love at Durgiana IMAGE: A man adorns his wife with flowers during their visit to the Durgiana temple in Amritsar during the month of Sawan. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: A newly married couple rings the temple bell during their visit to the Durgiana temple. Photograph: ANI Photo Thirty Years Later IMAGE: Lotuses begin blooming after 30 years at the Wular Lake in Bandipora, Kashmir. Photograph: ANI Photo Feeding the Tall IMAGE: A visitor feeds a giraffe with pellets at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Photograph: Thomas Mukoyav/Reuters Lazy Giants of Nairobi IMAGE: White rhinos rest near a dam in the Nairobi national park. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues of Ukraine (in the Ramstein format) is taking place online on Monday, July 21, under the leadership of the United Kingdom and Germany. More than 50 partners of Ukraine joined the meeting, including the NATO Secretary General, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and the US Secretary of Defense, as well as dozens of Alliance and partner countries. Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, for whom this is his first time participating in Ramstein. Also present alongside him is Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, who until recently was the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Jonathan Holway, a suspect in a number of gas station robberies in 2023, was in court on Monday asking to be transferred to New Hampshire to face charges there. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 69F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. Tracey Flenner took this photo of a vehicle involved in a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Route 9 in Chesterfield, N.H. on Sunday. Chloe Learey is the executive director of Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro and serves as the steering committee chair of the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance and the vice chair of the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Board. She is also on the board of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. The opinions expressed by columnists and op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. VMware has fundamentally altered its development strategy, shifting from aggressive two-year major release cycles to a more measured three-year cadence while extending support lifecycles, a strategic retreat that reflects mounting enterprise resistance to forced upgrades amid dramatic cost increases. The company announced that VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, now generally available, will be supported for six years instead of the previous five, with minor releases spaced nine months apart rather than every six months. In response to customer feedback, were modifying the support model and release cadence starting with VCF 9.0, VMware said in a statement. The company added that these changes will provide more predictable release dates, offer longer support periods and provide more flexibility to better fit into customer update windows. The slower pace represents a significant philosophical shift for a company that has historically pushed rapid innovation cycles. CIOs are treating the current 24-36 month period as critical for platform strategy decisions, said Sanchit Vir Gogia, chief analyst and CEO at Greyhound Research. The extended timelines arrive as enterprises face license cost increases of up to 500 per cent and a hard deadline to migrate from VCF 8 support ending in October 2027. Enterprise fatigue drives strategic shift The cadence change acknowledges what industry analysts call upgrade fatigue among enterprise customers struggling with Broadcoms licensing overhaul. Since the acquisition, starting in 2025, Broadcom requires customers to license a minimum of 72 cores per order, regardless of actual needs, while bundling previously separate products into comprehensive subscription packages. This shift in approach comes as enterprises face unprecedented pressure to make platform decisions quickly. Most CIOs are advancing structured pilots in 2025, knowing that decisions made after early 2026 may result in rushed execution or forced renewals, Gogia noted. Vendor-enforced term rigidity and SKU bundling are limiting room for negotiation, triggering earlier replatforming evaluations than in previous refresh cycles. Former Ingram Micro NZ managing director Jason Langley has officially broken cover on his new role as managing director designate of Oracle New Zealand. Its a real privilege to step into this role and help shape the next chapter for Oracle in Aotearoa, Langley posted on LinkedIn this morning. Theres strong momentum behind Oracle globally, and here in New Zealand were seeing that come to life through wonderful partnerships, like the one we enjoy with TEAM Cloud New Zealand, who are delivering sovereign, hyperscale cloud services, powered by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, for customers including Inland Revenue NZ. Current managing director John Eastman posted that after more than 17 years at Oracle, he had decided to step back from fulltime work and would be retiring from Oracle in January 2026. Until then, Im focused on setting us up for continued growth in New Zealand and ensuring a smooth transition as I hand over the reins to the very capable Jason Langley, he wrote. Langley said one of the factors that attracted him to Oracle was how the company was uniquely positioning itself as a multicloud enabler, giving its customers choice and meeting them where they were in their digital transformation journey. Also uniquely appealing is how Oracle is bringing AI to the data, embedding it across every layer of the stack from infrastructure to applications making it easier for organisations to unlock the value of their data, streamline operations and move faster, he wrote. Langley said he would be working closely with Eastman to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition. Hes built a strong foundation here, and Im looking forward to learning from him and to working alongside our incredible team, customers and partners, Langley wrote. Thanks to everyone at Oracle for the warm welcome. Im excited for whats ahead. Eastman described his time at Oracle as an incredible journey, working alongside a passionate team, amazing customers and partners to help shape Oracles presence in New Zealand. Kyiv was hit early on July 21 by a massive Russian strike. At least one person was killed in the attack, according to authorities. Officials said 426 drones and 24 missiles were used in the assault on the Ukrainian capital. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service spoke to residents in the aftermath of the attack. KYIV -- Russia launched hundreds of drones and more than two dozen missiles in a massive attack on Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people, including one in the capital, Kyiv, which came under fire a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed holding a fresh round of peace talks. Over the weekend, Zelenskyy offered to hold new peace talks with Moscow this week, as international partners prepared to send more weapons to Ukraine through NATO, following an agreement with US President Donald Trump The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia fired 426 Shahed-type drones, five Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and 19 cruise missiles at various locations around Kyiv and other parts of the country. Just under half of the drones and all but one of the missiles were destroyed or jammed, it added. "Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities," Zelenskyy said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that one person was killed in the Ukrainian capital, and two were wounded in the overnight attack. "In the Darnytskiy district, one person was hospitalized. [...] In the Shevchenkivskiy district, where fire gutted two floors of a residential high-rise apartment building, one person required medical assistance at the site, " Klitschko said. The attack also destroyed the entrance of the Lukyanivska subway station in Kyiv, which has been used as a shelter during air attacks. The station had to be closed. Photo Gallery: A Kyiv Subway Station Was Just Damaged By Russian Strikes -- For The Sixth Time Kyiv's central Lukyanivska subway station was hit by a Russian drone early on July 21 and is now closed for repairs. It marks the sixth time the busy station has been damaged by strikes since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a Friend Share on LinkedIn In the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv called the attack the largest on the city since the beginning of Russia's the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Russia claims it is not targeting civilian infrastructure with its air strikes. Ukrainian authorities and international agencies, such as the United Nations and the European Union, have accused Russia of intentionally targeting civilians, in what they say amounts to war crimes. Two rounds of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in May and early June secured large-scale prisoner swaps and deals to return the bodies of slain soldiers. But they made no breakthrough in achieving a cease-fire to potentially end the military conflict that began with Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. US President Donald Trump, voicing frustration over the lack of progress, gave Moscow a 50-day deadline last week to agree to a cease-fire or face tougher sanctions. Zelenskyy said Rustem Umerov, the newly appointed head of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council, had sent Moscow the offer to hold the meeting in the coming week, but did not provide further details. The Kremlin said it welcomes new talks, but that the "most important thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear, obvious, they have not changed." It also has insisted that any peace agreement sees Ukraine cede control and withdraw from four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022, but never fully captured. Kyiv must also renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces -- demands Ukraine and its Western allies have flatly rejected. Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ The newly appointed Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal thanked the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his introduction to the Defense Ministry team and emphasized that he plans to intensify the work of the ministry in three key areas. "First of all, providing military personnel with everything they need. Weapons, clothing, ammunition, food, medical and psychological support. Special emphasis on the timeliness and completeness of financial support," Shmyhal wrote in the Telegram channel. He highlighted the provision of weapons to the army as the second area. "Our goal is to fulfill the tasks set for the ministry by the President of Ukraine. There should be more Ukrainian weapons at the front. In the area of special attention are new technological solutions: UAVs, in particular, interceptor drones, fiber-optic drones, FPV drones, Deep Strike, robotic complexes, a missile program, Ukrainian ballistics and much more. The key aspect is integration with partners. The Ukrainian and European defense industry must form a single ecosystem. We will expand the circle of partners within the Danish model, we will develop coalitions of capabilities," the minister said. The third direction, he called the construction of an effective system that will allow for quick, flexible and effective decisions, and tracking the key performance indicators (KPIs) of each employee. "Currently, more than 60% of state budget expenditures go to the security and defense sector. Financial resources must be spent with maximum efficiency to strengthen Ukraine," he noted. "There is an enormous amount of work ahead. Every decision and its successful implementation means saving people's lives, strengthening Ukraine and bleeding the enemy, bringing peace closer for millions of Ukrainians," Shmyhal summarized. KYIV -- Russian air strikes targeted several Ukrainian cities early on July 22, leaving one child dead and at least two dozen injured a day ahead of a fresh round of peace talks expected in Turkey. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address late on July 21 that preparations for another prisoner exchange with Russia, along with the peace talks planned for July 23, were under way. Two days earlier, Zelenskyy said he had sent Moscow an offer to hold a new round of talks in the coming week after negotiations between the countries last month made no progress toward ending the ongoing war. The Kremlin has yet to confirm the date or location for the next round of talks, saying only that it was waiting for more details while adding that the two sides still held "diametrically opposed" positions on ways to end the long, deadly conflict. If the sides do meet in Turkey, it would be the first face-to-face gathering in seven weeks. The Turkish government said the talks will be held in Istanbul. "There is our draft memorandum -- there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 21. The Kremlin has said it welcomes new talks but that the "most important thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear, obvious. They have not changed." It also has insisted that any peace agreement sees Ukraine cede control and withdraw from four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. Kyiv must also renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces -- demands Ukraine and its Western allies have flatly rejected. Russian state news agency TASS quoted an unnamed source as acknowledging the next round of talks was likely to be in Turkey but could be held on July 24 or 25. US President Donald Trump in recent weeks has voiced frustration over the lack of progress on a cease-fire and last week gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a deal or face tougher sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned down calls from Zelenskyy to meet him in person and has often questioned the elected Ukrainian leaders legitimacy. Previous rounds of talks were held in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2. Those talks led to prisoner swaps and the exchange of remains of fallen soldiers but no apparent movement on a potential cease-fire. Meanwhile, during the night of July 21-22, Russia struck the Ukrainian regions of Sumy in the northeast, Odesa in the south, and Kramatorsk in the east. According to Oleksandr Honcharenko, the head of the Kramatorsk military administration, a boy born in 2015 was killed and five others wounded when a Russian glide bomb struck an apartment building. The city of Sumy also saw several wounded when five apartment buildings caught fire during an air attack, while more than 20 drones attacked the coastal city of Odesa, leaving more than a dozen casualties, including a child. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Russia claims it is not targeting civilian infrastructure with its air strikes. Ukrainian authorities and international agencies, such as the United Nations and the European Union, have accused Russia of intentionally targeting civilians, in what they say amounts to war crimes. A US proposal to place the proposed Zangezur Corridor -- a critical link between Azerbaijan and its Naxcivan exclave via southern Armenia -- under American management has deepened fault lines in the South Caucasus and stirred unease in Iran. At stake is not just regional connectivity but the geopolitical order along Irans sensitive northern frontier. For Iran, the 43-kilometer corridor through Armenia's Syunik Province cuts to the core of its strategic calculations. Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, warned that the plan would deprive Iran of its natural land access to the South Caucasus through Armenia, placing it at the mercy of a route controlled by Azerbaijan or other international actors. Speaking to RFE/RL, he called the corridor the last nail in the coffin, a step toward what some observers term Irans geopolitical suffocation. If Baku gains control or foreign management is introduced, Iran would lose leverage over its northward trade. Iran would be almost exclusively reliant on Azerbaijan for trade not only with the South Caucasus, but also with Russia and Europe, Azizi noted, warning of a serious blow to Irans geoeconomic standing. He added that sidelining Irans route through Armenia could also reduce its role in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, weakening its value as a partner to Beijing. Security And Regional Order Tehrans main concern is clear: the corridor could expand Turkish influence and, now, bring a direct US presence. The biggest concern in Iran is that such a corridor would, once and for all, end any prospects for Iran's involvement inEast-West transport, Azizi said. A US-managed route heightens these anxieties by placing American interests directly on Irans northern border. This shift comes as Russias leverage in the South Caucasus erodes amid the war in Ukraine and shifting power dynamics since the Second Karabakh War. Iran, once content to defer to Moscow, now finds its buffer under threat. With limited strategic options, Tehran is engaging all major actors while seeking closer political and security cooperation with Armenia. According to Azizi, Irans official statements and military drills it has held in the area since 2021 are less about confrontation than signaling unwillingness to accept unfettered foreign presence on its borders. Control, Transit, And Sovereignty The US proposal has been met cautiously in Yerevan and Baku. Azerbaijan views the corridor as a vital transport link to Naxcivan and part of postwar integration. Armenia fears it could threaten its sovereignty and insists any route remain under Armenian control, wary that true corridor status could mean surrendering authority. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is adamant that there is no desire for any third party involvement, said Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan. For Baku, the corridor is about unimpeded access to Naxcivan; any foreign supervision -- American, European, or Russian -- is unacceptable. A Real Proposal Or Just A Stunt? For Washington, the project highlights an attempt to exploit a rare power vacuum in the region as Russian influence wanes amid a souring of relations between Moscow and both Baku and Yerevan. Giragosian voiced skepticism about the plan: I don't take the proposal very seriouslyskepticism better defines the view in both Baku and Yerevan. He called it a reckless real estate deal and questioned whether Washington grasps the regions complexities. It's more about pursuing a [Nobel] Peace Prize for President Donald Trump...without any real preparation and little potential for follow through. Russias management of Armenias railway networks and Western sanctions also raise feasibility issues. It would make it complicated, becausea US private company going in and managing road and rail while it's Russian owned or managed, Giragosian said. For Tehran, the corridor debate reflects deeper anxieties about encirclement, isolation, and loss of leverage. Irans options to counter any project are limited, constrained by recent setbacks in the Middle East and last months conflict with Israel. Tehran hopes for renewed Russian resistance to a Western presence, but shifting power dynamics leave Iran with diminishing influence. Meanwhile, both Armenia and Azerbaijan remain wary of surrendering control or sovereignty, clinging to their own visions of what the corridor should be. Ultimately, the Zangezur Corridor has become less a route of transit than a flashpoint where competing visions of sovereignty, influence, and regional order collide. Shmyhal at Ramstein calls for urgent purchase of US weapons for Ukraine, especially Patriot systems and missiles Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ At the 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense (in the Ramstein format), Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal called on partners to urgently purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine, especially Patriot systems and PAC-3 missiles. "Today I want to take this opportunity to ask you, our partners and allies, for further support. My first request concerns the urgent purchase of American weapons for Ukraine. Air defense, especially Patriot and PAC-3 missiles, together with ammunition, are extremely important for us," he said at the Rammstein meeting. The minister stressed that the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence remains a key platform for coordinating international military assistance to Ukraine, and Russian terror continues, so it is necessary to strengthen Ukraine's air defence. "I ask the United States to make these weapons available for purchase, and our European partners to provide all the necessary funding for their purchase," the defense minister urged. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Ireland is prepared to take further action to bring about a ceasefire in the Middle East, the Tanaiste has said. Simon Harris is one of 26 signatories to a joint statement on Monday which calls for an end to the war in Gaza. Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. He said Israel must immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently enable the UN to do life-saving work safely and effectively in the region, adding that Hamas must also release all hostages immediately. The letter is signed by the foreign ministers of the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Tents sheltering displaced Palestinians amid war-damaged infrastructure in Gaza City. Photo: Jehad Alshrafi/AP. It is also signed by the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. It states that Israel must comply with obligations under international humanitarian law. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. The ministers added: The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since October 7 2023 continue to suffer terribly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families. It says that proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a humanitarian city are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law. The ministers also oppose steps for demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including proposals for accelerated settlements in the West Bank. The authors conclude: We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region. Plans to carry out alterations and erect an extension to a womans monastery chapel in South Roscommon have been lodged with Roscommon County Council. The Orthodox Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring, located at Raghrabeg, Shannonbridge, Co Roscommon, are seeking permission to carry out the works. The plans also include the installation of a secondary waste water treatment unit with polishing filter along with all ancillary site works. The Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring is a womens monastery established in 2019 by the Romanian Orthodox Church. On its website, the church states the monastery is open to anyone, of any nationality, language, race, or age and the language used during the services will be, depending on the congregation, Romanian and English, with some Greek, Russian, and even Irish. The website outlines that the monastery is home to two nuns and welcomes pilgrims throughout the year, subject to availability of places. County planners are due to make a decision on the development by September 8th. A public meeting over fears of flooding to lands due to bog rewetting planned by Bord na Mona is to take place tomorrow evening, Tuesday, in Ballyleague. Its understood that thirty farmers between Ballyleague and Strokestown are claiming that their lands will flood due to the planned rewetting of adjacent bogs by the semi-state company. Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly, who has written to the Bord na Mona CEO over the matter, explained that exterior drains around the perimeter of the bogs are full of silt, and farmers want them cleaned out now before they flood in winter. Farmers are not opposed to the bog rewetting but want this work first completed on these Bord na Mona drains. There are about two hundred hectares of lands and a hundred hectares of bog in question. The public meeting tomorrow evening is primarily aimed at landowners around Mount Dillon and Erenagh. The meeting takes place tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. in St Faithleachs GAA clubhouse in Ballyleague. Fiona Ferguson A serial handbag thief who stole luggage containing almost 30,000 of cancer medication from an elderly tourist has been jailed for six and a half years. Marese Craig (28), described by her own lawyers as a nuisance for plaguing businesses and tourists, also stole a handbag containing holy medals from a mother minding her baby at a neonatal intensive care unit at a Dublin city centre hospital. Craig appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a multitude of theft offences spanning 10 bills of indictment. She has 191 previous convictions, including 18 burglaries, nine robberies, 102 thefts and 16 deception offences. She also has convictions for drugs and public order offences. The court heard Craigs offences were fuelled by a need to get money to buy drugs. She was readily identified on CCTV following most of the offences. She made admissions and expressed regret. Craig, of Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to thefts, burglaries and possession of stolen bank cards at locations across the city centre on dates between 2022 and 2024. Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Orla Crowe made reference to what she felt were the two more serious offences committed by Craig, including the theft of the handbag from a mother who was tending to her baby in the neonatal ward, and the theft of the American tourists bag. Judge Crowe said these thefts were particularly egregious while acknowledging that Craig had been upset by the fact that the mans medication was in the bag she stole. The judge said that Craig didnt know the contents of any bag she took during her spate of offending, so she has to live with the consequences of the fact that some of those bags may contain items which are of particular importance to the owner. Judge Crowe took into account the fact that Craig was a drug addict and has since expressed remorse for her crimes. She imposed consecutive sentences totalling seven-and-a-half years before she suspended the final 12 months of that term on strict conditions, including that Craig engage with the Probation Service for 18 months following her release from prison. Judge Crowe described Craigs offending as deplorable but said the court wished to give her some sort of opportunity to re-enter society in a constructive way. An investigating garda told Aoife OLeary BL, prosecuting, that a 75-year-old American tourist on a long-planned trip to Ireland arrived at a city centre hotel on May 13th, 2024, when he noticed one of his bags was missing. The bag contained 27,000 worth of cancer and other medication, an iPad and a CPAP machine. Some of the medication was later discovered scattered nearby. His son was able to bring him a fresh supply, and he could continue his holiday. Craig was identified from CCTV footage, arrested and interviewed. The court heard she felt bad when the contents were explained to her, and her emotions got the better of her. She said she had not realised what was inside. She made admissions and apologised. In April 2024, Craig gained access to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Coombe Hospital and stole a handbag belonging to a mother who had left it unattended while she went to care for her child. The bag contained her purse, bank cards, holy medals and vouchers. The woman became aware her bag was missing when notifications appeared on her phone that her cards were being tapped at nearby shops. Craig was identified on CCTV using the card in shops. In March 2023, Craig distracted staff at a city centre restaurant while a co-accused went inside and grabbed cash totalling 2,200 from the manager, who was counting it. Craig had asked to use the toilet prior to this and spotted the woman counting cash as she walked around. On another occasion, Craig was attempting to use cards at a store, and when they were declined, she used the opportunity to grab 470 from the till. Many of the remaining thefts involved Craig gaining access to staff areas of businesses and restaurants and stealing personal items and bags from staff lockers. She also took handbags from people in restaurants and cafes while they ate their meals. The victims were at a loss of thousands of euros, wallets, bank cards, cash and personal items. Keith Spencer BL, defending, said in these offences, Craigs aim was to offend undisturbed, avoiding detection and confrontation. He said she was not vigilant in avoiding detection long-term, and is clearly visible on CCTV of the thefts and is sometimes looking directly into the camera. Mr Spencer said Craig knows what a nuisance she has been to the city centre and society. He said she had plagued businesses and tourists visiting the city, making it a negative experience for many. He said Craig has had her own share of negative experience. He outlined how the death of her brother had caused a relapse into drug use, and the offences were committed in a bid for money or items to convert to money for drugs. He said that when she was not offending, she was procuring drugs. Mr Spencer said Craig had become involved in petty theft at a young age and began abusing substances. He said when she began using crack cocaine, it had a devastating effect on her life. He said that after release from a previous sentence, she started working in a hairdresser, but her brothers death had sent her back into the vicious cycle of drug addiction. He said her mother is supportive and will be there to assist her on her release. He said his client is embarrassed by her situation and wants to be a good role model for younger members of her family. Counsel said she is capable of learning and aspired to a qualification in hairdressing. She wishes to live a different life to the chaotic one she currently has. She has not had drug treatment in the past. Activism of public representatives, spirit of administrative cooperation sets example: Speaker He especially thanked those senior members who enriched this House with their experience, speeches and commitment. Patna: Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, while wishing all the members and media personnel on the first day of the monsoon session, said in his opening address that this 510th session will start from today, July 21, and will continue till July 25. There will be five meetings in it. This session is not only the last link of the five-year constitutional provision, but it is also an opportunity to evaluate the joint efforts, policies, and decisions taken in public interest by all of us. This opportunity gives us a chance to introspect to what extent we have worked in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Bihar in the last five years. During this period, the Bihar Legislative Assembly made many efforts to improve the quality of governance by passing many important bills. We worked dedicatedly to improve the lives of farmers, workers, women, youth, backward classes and deprived communities. Detailed discussions and legislative decisions were taken in the Legislative Assembly on topics like education, health, infrastructure, digital governance, skill development and women empowerment. Advertisement He said that during the global pandemic of Covid-19, our House supported the State Government in taking necessary policy decisions to protect the lives of the people. In times of crisis, the activism of our public representatives and the spirit of administrative cooperation became a true example of the people. All members, we should also remember that differences are the soul of democracy, but rising above differences of opinion, we have given priority to public interest. This reflects the maturity and tradition of the House. During this tenure, we have tried to make the proceedings of the House more transparent and technically strong. Measures like e-Vidhan system, digital database and online availability of sessional proceedings have been initiated to reduce the distance between the public and the public representatives. Now that we are going to move towards a new journey, I thank all the members for their contribution. Despite differences, the dignity and discipline with which work was done in this House has been inspiring. He especially thanked those senior members who enriched this House with their experience, speeches and commitment. During the upcoming elections, I appeal to all political parties and candidates to follow democratic norms, ensure peaceful and fair elections, and keep the trust of the people paramount. Advertisement Finally, I express my gratitude to the people of Bihar, whose faith keeps this institution alive. I hope that the upcoming Legislative Assembly will be even more active, vigilant, and responsible. Our responsibility is not only law-making, but also the protection of public trust. "With these words, I once again wish you all the best for this session and hope that in this session too I will get your full cooperation in running the House and this session will also be filled with dignity, decorum and purposeful discussions as before. Jalandhar Accident News: 4-year-old girl dies after being hit by SD Public School Bus Police arrived to investigate the matter, recording the statements of the family Punjab Jalandhar SD Public School Bus Accident Latest News: In a shocking incident, a 4-year-old girl died after being hit by a bus of the SD Public School located in Adampur, Jalandhar Rural. The deceased has been identified as a 4-year-old Kirat, daughter of Inderjit Singh, a resident of Udesian. Advertisement It has been reported that when the girl started getting off the school bus, she came under the bus due to the bus driver's mistake. The injured girl in this incident was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment, where the doctors declared the girl dead. In-charge of Adampur police station, Hardev Preet Singh, said that further action is being taken after recording the statements of the family. (For more news apart from Punjab Jalandhar SD Public School Bus Accident Latest News, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Photo: https://t.me/SBUkr/ The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) have exposed the FSB's agent penetration into the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the SBU press service reports. "As a result of complex measures, an employee of the Central Office of NABU, who works in the elite, closed unit D-2 and spied for the Russian special service, was detained in Kyiv," the message posted on the Telegram channel states. As the investigation established, the agents subversive activities were coordinated by traitor Dmytro Ivantsov, deputy head of Yanukovychs security, who in February 2014 helped the fugitive president move to Russia, but he himself remained in Crimea, joined the ranks of the occupiers and was recruited by the FSB. The SBU has documented at least 60 instances of the transfer of restricted information to the former deputy head of Yanukovychs security by the defendant. "Among other things, the mole used to collect for the FSB identification data on Ukrainian security forces and other citizens against whom the enemy was planning terrorist attacks and special information operations. In order to obtain personal information on potential targets, the suspect used closed databases of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. For each completed task, the agent received money from the curator, which was deposited on his bank card," the report states. It is noted that SBU employees had previously informed NABU management about possible risks in relation to the said employee. However, the department's management did not take any response measures, and the defendant then continued to work in his position and tried to destroy evidence of illegal activity. Subsequently, after thoroughly documenting the "mole's" crimes, the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office detained him. His phone and computer equipment, which he used to contact his curator, were confiscated. Now the Russian agent has been notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 111 (high treason) and Part 3 of Article 362 (unauthorized actions with information processed in electronic computers, automated systems, computer networks or stored on media containing such information, committed by a person who has the right to access it) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The offender faces imprisonment for up to 15 years. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann slams opposition for misleading people on Land Pooling Scheme CM Mann describes scheme as progressive and pro-farmers Dhuri (Sangrur): Terming the new and progressive land pooling scheme as pro-farmer and development-oriented, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday urged the people of the state not to get swayed away with the misleading propaganda of the opposition on this ambitious scheme. Addressing the gathering after disbursing the grants worth Rs 31.30 crore to 70 villages of Dhuri assembly segment for development works, the Chief Minister slammed the opposition for hoodwinking the facts to misinform the people about this scheme just for vested political interests. He categorically said that there will be no forcible acquisition of land under the new and progressive Land Pooling scheme of the state and it will immensely benefit the farmers of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that people are aware of the dubious character of these leaders who have backstabbed the Punjabis on several issues. Advertisement The Chief Minister said that the land pooling is aimed at creating a perennial source of income for the farmers and making them an active partner in growth and progress of the state. He said that no forcible acquisition of land will be done in the state and only those farmers who will agree under the policy will give their land. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as per the policy the farmers will get commercial and residential plots in the scheme. The Chief Minister said that the commercial property in the planned colonies to be carved out in this land pooling scheme will be a permanent asset for the farmers for their income. He said that the state governments new Land Pooling Policy is aimed at giving impetus to the overall growth of the state adding that this scheme will benefit every common man by giving a major fillip to the overall development of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured everyone that no land will be forcibly taken and that all development on acquired land will proceed in a legal and transparent manner. Envisioning that the Yudh Nasehyan Virudh will act as a catalyst to wipe out the blot of drugs from the state, the Chief Minister said that under the campaign the state government has already broken the backbone of the drugs. He said that the big fishes involved in drug trade have already been put behind the bars and people can have their glance in Nabha Jail. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this crackdown against drugs will continue in the coming days too till this menace is completely wiped out from the state. Advertisement The Chief Minister said that the public money has been distributed to panchayats for the judicious use to give fillip to the development of the segment. He said that none of the previous governments had ever bothered to release such a huge amount of money for the welfare of the people and holistic development of the villages. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there is no shortage of funds with the state government to give impetus to the development of the villages. The Chief Minister said that during earlier regimes the funds were allocated on paper and subsequently the work was also done on paper only. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now all the villages of the Dhuri assembly segment will be developed as model villages. He asked the Panchayats to ensure quality development work in the villages for which regular monitoring by them should be done. The Chief Minister said that it is the bounden duty of the state government to ensure the well being of the people and give fillip to development of the villages. He said that the previous governments never bothered about making any effort to save the groundwater and the farmers at the tail ends, on this land of five rivers, never got water. Bhagwant Singh Mann said after assuming charge the AAP government has revived 15947 water courses in the state due to which water has reached at the tail ends even in remotest villages. Advertisement Likewise, the Chief Minister said that his government has provided free power to households after which 90% of them are getting free power. He said that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened across the state where more than three crore patients have got free treatment. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has given government jobs to more than 55,000 youth completely on the basis of merit. The Chief Minister said that till now 18 Toll plazas have been closed in the state adding that with the closing of these toll plazas Rs 64 lakh is being saved from the pocket of the common man in Punjab daily. He said that Punjab has launched the countrys first dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force (Road Safety Force) to enhance highway safety and it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that fatality rate in road accidents has decreased by more than 48% since its launch. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the force has specially recruited and trained personnel, including women, and is equipped with 144 modern vehicles. The Chief Minister said that the force has been working very effectively adding that several states and even the Government of India have commended this initiative. Highlighting another major welfare initiative, he said that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country will be launched by the state government on October 2 to provide cashless medical treatment up to a10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann proudly stated that Punjab is the first Indian state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage, which will significantly ease the financial burden on the public while ensuring quality health services. Advertisement The Chief Minister said that this historic move is aimed at providing universal health care to all the families of the state adding that more such steps will be taken in the coming times too. He said that the state government has passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025, to give impetus to the rural games particularly Bullock cart Race and others, which were held in every nook and corner of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that cattle have been integral parts of the agrarian economy of the state and the Punjabi farmers have since ages nurtured the cattle as their kids. The Chief Minister said that the Punjabis have always loved games like Bullock cart and one such race of Kila Raipur was acclaimed world over. He said that this bill will be instrumental in further popularizing such games across the state in the coming times without harming the animals. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that special focus will be laid on protecting the animals and any sort of cruelty against them will not be allowed. Romanian Presidents Visit to Germany President Nicusor Dan paid his first formal visit to Germany, currently Romania's largest trading partner and most important foreign investor Nicusor Dan visited Germany Roxana Vasile, 21.07.2025, 14:00 Romania and Germany signed a joint action plan in Berlin at the end of last week, focusing on security and economic policies, cooperation at the European Union and NATO level, support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and Romanias accession to the OECD. The event took place in the presence of President Nicusor Dan and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during the Romanian head of states official visit to Germany. President Dan said: Romania and Germany have a long history of partnership. More than history and the number of years, I believe that we are bound by certain values. And based on these values, today, through the action plan we have signed, we have outlined the directions in which our future cooperation will take place. We discussed the economic area at length, as the Chancellor said. Germany is Romanias main trading partner, and we want this economic cooperation to develop in the coming years. In particular, we discussed the opportunities that exist for the defense industry in this new context in which we find ourselves. We discussed the possibility of collaborating within the European Unions SAFE program. We discussed Romanias cooperation with Germany and the support Germany has given it in various international structures, including the OECD, which, as you know, Romania wants to join at the end of next year. We discussed the war in Ukraine and the possibility for us and our partners, on the one hand, to help Ukraine and, on the other hand, through economic pressure and military support for Ukraine, to bring Russia to the negotiating table. The Romanian president announced that advanced negotiations are underway between Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer, and the Romarm factory in Medias, central Romania, for a joint venture in ammunition production. Also in Berlin, Nicusor Dan held talks with his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, focusing on deepening Romanian-German dialogue and cooperation and continuing bilateral cooperation within the European Union and NATO. The official program included meetings with German businesspeople and representatives of the Romanian community in Germany. There are over 1 million Romanians living and working there, making them the largest minority in this country that comes from a European Union member state. Nicusor Dan acknowledged that there are many things that the Romanian state still needs to improve in its relationship with the diaspora. There is not more than one Romania, and all those who work honestly across the border are a calling card for their mother country. And the state is responsible for its citizens, said President Nicusor Dan in Berlin. (MI) Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYA.L,RY4C.DE), an Irish airline company, on Monday reported a surge in net profit for the first quarter, helped by increased revenue driven by higher traffic and fares. For the three-month period to June 30, the Group posted a net income of 819.9 million euros, or 0.7659 euro per share, higher than 360 million euros, or 0.3145 euro per share, in the same period last year. Pre-tax income was 930.2 million euros as against the prior year's 400.8 million euros. Operating profit surged to 913.3 million euros from 365.7 million euros a year ago. The number of passengers stood at 55.5 million, higher than 57.9 million in 2024, while Load factor remained unchanged at 94%, compared with last year's 94%. Total operating revenue was 4.337 billion euros, up from 3.626 billion euros in the previous year, helped by increased Scheduled revenue. Scheduled revenues increased to 2.943 billion euros from last year's 2.328 billion euros as traffic grew 4% to 57.9 million passengers, with average 21% higher fares of around 51 euros. The first-quarter fares benefitted from a full Easter holiday in April and weak prior-year comparisons. Looking ahead, Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair Group, said: "It remains too early to provide meaningful FY26 PAT guidance. We do, however, cautiously expect to recover almost all of last years 7% full-year fare decline, which should lead to reasonable net profit growth in FY26. The final FY26 outcome remains heavily exposed to adverse external developments, incl. the risk of tariff wars, macro-economic shocks, conflict escalation in the Middle East and Ukraine and European ATC strikes, mismanagement & short staffing." In addition, this summer the airline expects to operate over 2,600 routes, including 160 new routes, and projects strong S.25 travel demand across the company's network. Further, Ryanair noted that its fiscal 2026 traffic is on track to grow just 3% to 206 million passengers due to heavily delayed Boeing deliveries. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have issued a Joint Statement of formal rejection by the United States of the 2024 International Heath Regulations Amendments by the World Health Organization. The amended IHR would give the WHO the ability to order global lockdowns, travel restrictions, or any other measures it sees fit to respond to nebulous "potential public risks." These regulations are set to become binding if not rejected, regardless of the United States' withdrawal from the WHO. "The proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations open the door to the kind of narrative management, propaganda, and censorship that we saw during the COVID pandemic," Secretary Kennedy said. "The United States can cooperate with other nations without jeopardizing our civil liberties, without undermining our Constitution, and without ceding away America's treasured sovereignty."* Secretary Kennedy also released a video explaining the action to the American people. "Terminology throughout the amendments to the 2024 International Health Regulations is vague and broad, risking WHO-coordinated international responses that focus on political issues like solidarity, rather than rapid and effective actions," Secretary Rubio said. "Our Agencies have been and will continue to be clear: we will put Americans first in all our actions and we will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans' speech, privacy, or personal liberties." On June 1, 2024, the World Health Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the WHO, adopted a revised version of the International Health Regulations through a rushed process lacking sufficient debate and public input. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000 illegal aliens in 2025 alone, according to the Department of Homeland Security. This is one of the achievements that the Department of Homeland Security has accomplished in the first six months under the Trump Administration, it said in a press release. "DHS has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe". Declaring a national emergency at the southern border was one of the many things President Donald Trump did on Day one of his second term.? Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations has located more than 10,000 unaccompanied children during this period. Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border migration through Panama's Darien Gap is down 99 percent, DHS said. With $46.5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill, the Trump administration is finishing the border wall. DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill. The bill has allocated $4.1 billion to hire 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents. Seventy percent of the illegal aliens that ICE arrested are criminals with criminal charges or convictions. ICE has targeted to deport as many as 1 million illegal aliens per year. CBP and ICE began wide scale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California in June. The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the country, DHS said. So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the CBP Home app to self-deport. ? Secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year. DHS alleged that the program, under the guise of national security, was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies. 8-2-22 For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Iceland's industrial producer prices logged a renewed decline in June amid cheaper costs in the metal industry, figures from Statistics Iceland showed on Monday. The industrial producer price index dropped 1.5 percent yearly in June, reversing a 0.3 percent increase in May. Further, this was the first decrease since April 2024. Prices in the metal industry fell sharply by 13.4 percent from last year, while the price growth in marine products eased to 10.3 percent from 12.1 percent. The price index for exported products fell 4.7 percent, while those for domestic industries grew by 6.2 percent. On a monthly basis, producer prices decreased 0.6 percent, slower than the 2.3 percent fall in May. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is co-chairing the 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues for Ukraine (in the Ramstein format) with his British counterpart John Healy, confirmed continued military support for Ukraine, in particular with regard to stepping up efforts to strengthen air defense. "Germany will provide additional air defense systems and much-needed ammunition. In addition, I agree with Pete Hegseth, whom I met during my trip to Washington last week, that Germany will facilitate the delivery of five urgently needed Patriot systems as soon as possible. How we can achieve this, we will agree in close cooperation and in a spirit of mutual trust between partners in the coming days," he said, opening the Ramstein format meeting. Pistorius noted that Germany and its partners will also contribute to these efforts with resources that Berlin is mobilizing as part of the air defense reinforcement efforts. The Minister thanked Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Norway for their significant contribution to this. "Only a few weeks after the relaunch of the initiative, there are already signs that we can significantly surpass the successes of last year," he said. SASUF group photo Rhodes University is one of the 37 universities in the South AfricaSweden University Forum (SASUF) set to receive a significant boost as part of a R25 million funding injection. This comes courtesy of the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) and South Africas National Research Foundation (NRF), marking the launch of a new funding phase: SASUF+, running from August 2025 to August 2028. SASUF promotes deep, strategic collaborations in research and innovation. The new phase builds on existing ties, sharpening the focus on shared global and local challenges through a truly glocal approach. Among the exciting aspects of this third phase of the programme are: the commitment to collaboration across academia, industry and civil society; an increased focus on intra-African collaboration and enhanced opportunities for student mobility said Orla Quinlan, Director of Global Engagement, whose division coordinates all Rhodes University staff and student engagement with SASUF. Opportunities to engage, apply for funding, and participate in upcoming events will open in September 2025 We are deeply grateful for the generous funding provided through STINT and the NRF, which will substantially enhance our collaborative initiatives and strengthen our strategic partnerships. This vital support affirms our shared commitment to addressing some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing humanity through impactful, high-quality research and innovation, said Professor Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University. These urgent challenges climate change, global health crises, socio-economic inequality, and technological upheaval are, as Prof Mabizela notes, multifaceted, interconnected, and simultaneously local and global in nature. They cannot be resolved in isolation. Addressing them requires sustained intellectual cooperation, interdisciplinary engagement, and meaningful collaboration across institutions, sectors, and national boundaries, he said. SASUF+ will drive research across four thematic areas: Sustainable Health Green Transition Migration and Urbanisation Democracy, Social Justice, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems These themes will anchor new Work Packages (WP) throughout the three-year phase. STINTs Strategic Grants are designed to support pioneering projects that advance integrated internationalisation. The NRF, meanwhile, continues its core mission of supporting research, human capacity development, and research infrastructure. The funding decisions were announced on 23 June 2025. This grant positions us to make a meaningful contribution to the generation of knowledge, the development of sustainable solutions, and the pursuit of a more just and equitable global future, Professor Mabizela concluded. Find out more: https://www.sasuf.org/partneruniversities Renault Kwid has been a popular product in many markets including India. Currently in its 1st Gen facelifted avatar, Renault Kwid has been a notable offering at the entry-level crossover segment. Now, there is an electric version brewing in the background and is also being tested in India with heavy camouflage. But it has been spied without camouflage for the first time in Brazil. Lets take a closer look. 2026 Renault Kwid EV Renault Kwid EV is a generalised term and as it is known by many names globally. In China, it is called Renault City K-ZE. It is called Renault Kwid E-Tech in Brazil. In Europe, it is called Dacia Spring Electric. There are off-springs of Renault City K-ZE in China like Venucia e30, Aeolus EX1, Fengshen EX1, Dongfeng EV EX1 Pro and Dongfeng EX1 Nano Box. Leaving aside the Chinese versions, we have 2024 Dacia Spring (Electric removed from name) with a new generation body and styling. There was never a Renault version of this vehicle spied until now. In Brazil, Renault will replace older Kwid E-Tech with Renault E-Kwid, which is a generational upgrade for Brazilian market and is expected to launch in India too. As per a report by Autos Segredos dated June 15 2025, Renault is reportedly stocking up next-gen E-Kwid units in Brazil ahead of the launch expected to happen in 2nd half of 2025. These units are reportedly imported into Brazil from the companys manufacturing facilities in China. These are the first ever examples of next gen E-Kwid with Renault badging. Same is expected to launch in India as testing has already begun. Everything looks the same, except for Renault logo replacing Dacia logo, a similar transition happened with Duster. It features Renaults newer logo too, which is noteworthy. What to expect? Expected features include LED DRLs, halogen headlights that could be housed in projector units, 14-inch steelies, body cladding, a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, auto climate control, cruise control, manually dimming IRVM and other features. It is interesting to see how many of these features will be removed for Brazil and India. One can expect 2026 Renault Kwid EV to borrow a similar powertrain as Dacia Spring. Which is a 26.8 kWh unit that powers either a 45 bhp motor or a 65 bhp motor, depending on variants. Promised range (WLTP) is around 305 km on a single charge in Urban cycle and 225 km (ELTP combined. Source News photography exhibition featuring China-Mexico exchanges kicks off in Mexico City Xinhua) 09:28, July 21, 2025 MEXICO CITY, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A news photo exhibition, co-organized by Xinhua News Agency and the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, kicked off here on Friday. The event, held in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and attended by more than 100 guests from various sectors in Mexico, highlighted key moments in China-Mexico and China-Latin America exchanges, providing a panoramic view of the development of China-Latin America relations and the historical milestones in the process of Chinese modernization. In his speech, President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico over half a century ago, especially since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, political mutual trust between the two countries has deepened, and friendly exchanges in various fields have been strengthened. The tree of friendship between China and Mexico has flourished, bearing rich fruit and bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries, he said. As the two countries move forward together, Xinhua News Agency and its Mexican branches have faithfully recorded touching stories of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between China and Mexico with pens and lenses, presenting to the world the profound friendship of the people of the two countries who understand each other and stand together through thick and thin, he added. Dolores Padierna, vice president of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, said this exhibition, through the lenses of Xinhua journalists, showcases the rapid development of China's society and economy and the vitality of Chinese culture on the global stage. The images not only document the practice of the one-China principle, but also present the genuine interaction of mutual appreciation between the two major civilizations of Mexico and China, said Padierna. As an important witness and participant in the bilateral exchanges, Xinhua has played an active role in promoting cooperation and people-to-people bonds between the two countries, she added. Chen Daojiang, Chinese Ambassador to Mexico, said that the vastness of the Pacific Ocean has never hindered the communication between the people of China and Mexico. These photos are the witnesses of political mutual trust, the footnote of economic complementarity, the outcome of cultural integration, and above all, the most direct and touching expressions of people-to-people friendship, the ambassador noted. They are like mirrors, reflecting the historical development of the bilateral relations, Chen added. Lidia de la Vega, president of the Culture and Film Commission of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, said Mexico and China have enjoyed longstanding friendship and adhered to mutual respect and open dialogue. The exhibition has built a "visual bridge" for the two countries, which will help deepen the understanding, cooperation and friendship between the two sides, she said. Raymundo Vazquez, president of the Mexico-China Friendship Group of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, believes that the photographs record touching moments and life experiences in human history, which show vivid stories of the friendly exchanges between Mexico and China, and reflect the shared feelings and friendship of the human society. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The 4th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) International Investment and Trade Exhibition was held in Qingdao, China, drawing participation from 26 countries across the SCO communityincluding member states, observers, and dialogue partners, Azernews reports. Azerbaijan was prominently represented through a national pavilion organized by the countrys trade mission in China. The pavilion featured a dedicated section titled the Pomegranate corner, where visitors were introduced to Azerbaijans rich pomegranate culture and product range. Demonstrations and sales of various Made in Azerbaijan goods were also carried out, with Azerbaijani representatives engaging in negotiations with potential buyers and importers. During the Economic and Trade Promotion Conference held as part of the exhibition, Natig Khalilov from Azerbaijans trade mission delivered a comprehensive presentation on the countrys economic outlook. He highlighted Azerbaijans favorable macroeconomic indicators, investor-friendly business environment, and ongoing trade and investment initiatives. Khalilov also emphasized the growing potential for expanded cooperation between China and Azerbaijan in various economic sectors. British Defence Secretary John Healy has called for a 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine while chairing a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine Defence (in the Ramstein format). "In parallel with the new agreement, which is to ensure that Ukraine is equipped to defend itself, President Trump has also started a countdown 50 days for Putin to agree to peace or face devastating economic sanctions. And as members of this Contact Group, we must also step up in those 50 days to provide Ukraine with weapons on the battlefield and help pressure Putin to the negotiating table," he said at the opening of the meeting on Monday. Healy also announced that he and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had agreed to a partnership to provide Ukraine with critical air defence missiles. He also stressed that the UK would provide Ukraine with an additional EUR 40 million as part of NATOs Comprehensive Assistance Package. As reported, the 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues for Ukraine (in the Ramstein format) will be held online on Monday, July 21, under the leadership of the United Kingdom and Germany. The meeting was to be joined by the NATO Secretary General, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and the US Secretary of Defense, as well as dozens of Alliance countries and partners. The Chief Coordinator of German Military Assistance to Ukraine, Chief of the Planning Staff at the German Ministry of Defense, Major General Christian Freuding, during his visit to Kyiv on July 14 announced that the next meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues for Ukraine (in the Ramstein format)"will be held within the next 10 days in online mode. The previous meeting in the Ramstein format was held on June 4. Physicists from Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University have demonstrated the emergence of a Higgs echo in niobium superconductors. Their discovery provides insight into quantum behaviors that could be used for next-generation quantum sensing and computing technologies. Superconductors are materials that carry electricity without resistance. Within these superconductors are collective vibrations known as Higgs modes. A Higgs mode is a quantum phenomenon that occurs when its electron potential fluctuates in a similar way to a Higgs boson. They appear when a material is undergoing a superconducting phase transition. Observing these vibrations has been a long-time challenge for scientists because they exist for a very short time. They also have complex interactions with quasiparticles, which are electron-like excitations that emerge from the breakdown of superconductivity. However, using advanced terahertz (THz) spectroscopy techniques, the research team discovered a novel type of quantum echo, called the Higgs echo, in superconducting niobium materials used in quantum computing circuits. Unlike conventional echoes observed in atoms or semiconductors, the Higgs echo arises from a complex interaction between the Higgs modes and quasiparticles, leading to unusual signals with distinct characteristics, said Dr. Jigang Wang, a researcher at Ames National Laboratory. The Higgs echo can remember and reveal hidden quantum pathways within the material. By using precisely timed pulses of THz radiation, the authors were able to observe these echoes. Using these THz radiation pulses, they can also use the echoes to encode, store, and retrieve quantum information embedded within this superconducting material. This research demonstrates the ability to control and observe quantum coherence in superconductors and paves the way for potential new methods of quantum information storage and processing. Understanding and controlling these unique quantum echoes brings us a step closer to practical quantum computing and advanced quantum sensing technologies, Dr. Wang said. A paper describing the discovery was published June 25 in the journal Science Advances. _____ Chuankun Huang et al. 2025. Discovery of an unconventional quantum echo by interference of Higgs coherence. Science Advances 11 (26); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ads8740 A medieval literary puzzle which has stumped scholars including M.R. James for 130 years has finally been solved. Cambridge scholars now believe the Song of Wade, a long lost treasure of English culture, was a chivalric romance not a monster-filled epic. The discovery solves the most famous mystery in Chaucer's writings and provides rare evidence of a medieval preacher referencing pop culture in a sermon. The breakthrough, detailed on July 15 in The Review of English Studies, involved working out that the manuscript refers to 'wolves' not 'elves', as scholars previously assumed. Dr James Wade and Dr Seb Falk, colleagues at Girton College, Cambridge, argue that the only surviving fragment of the Song of Wade, first discovered by M.R. James in Cambridge in 1896, has been "radically misunderstood" for the last 130 years. "Changing elves to wolves makes a massive difference," Seb Falk said. "It shifts this legend away from monsters and giants into the human battles of chivalric rivals." James Wade said: "It wasn't clear why Chaucer mentioned Wade in the context of courtly intrigue. Our discovery makes much more sense of this." "Here we have a late-12th-century sermon deploying a meme from the hit romantic story of the day," Seb Falk said. "This is very early evidence of a preacher weaving pop culture into a sermon to keep his audience hooked." "Many church leaders worried about the themes of chivalric romances - adultery, bloodshed, and other scandalous topics - so it's surprising to see a preacher dropping such "adult content" into a sermon,"said James Wade. For the first time, the researchers have identified the great late-medieval writer Alexander Neckam (1157-1217) as the most likely author of the Humiliamini sermon. The 800-year-old document is part of MS 255, a Peterhouse Cambridge collection of medieval sermons. Discoveries made 130 years apart In 1896, M. R. James was looking through Latin sermons from Peterhouse's library in Cambridge when he was surprised to find passages written in English. He consulted another Cambridge scholar, Israel Gollancz, and together they announced that these were verses from a lost 12th-century romantic poem which they called the Song of Wade. M. R. James promised further comment but this never came. Nearly 130 years passed with no new evidence coming to light. Several scholars have attempted to work out the meaning of the sermon's Wade quotation and speculated on what the full legend might have been like. "Lots of very smart people have torn their hair out over the spelling, punctuation, literal translation, meaning, and context of a few lines of text," said James Wade. James Wade and Seb Falk argue that three words have been misread by scholars, because of misleading errors made by a scribe who transcribed the sermon. Most problematically, the letters 'y' and 'w' became muddled. Correcting these and other errors transforms the translated text from: 'Some are elves and some are adders; some are sprites that dwell by waters: there is no man, but Hildebrand only.' to: 'Thus they can say, with Wade: 'Some are wolves and some are adders; some are sea-snakes that dwell by the water. There is no man at all but Hildebrand.' Hildebrand was Wade's supposed father. While some folk-legends and epics refer to Hildebrand as a giant, if the Wade legend was a chivalric romance, as this study argues, Hildebrand was probably understood to be a normal man. Chaucer and Wade The Song of Wade was hugely popular throughout the Middle Ages. For several centuries, its central character remained a major romance hero, among other famous knights such as Lancelot and Gawain. Chaucer twice evoked Wade in the middle of this period, in the late 1300s, but these references have baffled generations of Chaucer scholars. At a crucial moment in Troilus and Criseyde, Pandarus tells the 'tale of Wade' to Criseyde after supper. Today's study argues that the Wade legend served Pandarus because he not only needed to keep Criseyde around late, but also to stir her passions. By showing that Wade was a chivalric romance, Chaucer's reference makes much more sense. In 'The Merchant's Tale', Chaucer's main character, January, a 60-year-old knight, refers to Wade's boat when arguing that it is better to marry young women than old. The fact that his audience would have understood the reference in the context of chivalric romance, rather than folk tales or epics, is significant, the researchers argue. "This reveals a characteristically Chaucerian irony at the heart of his allusion to Wade's boat," said James Wade. The sermon To make sense of the fragment, the researchers gave more attention to the Humiliamini sermon in its entirety than scholars have previously. "The sermon itself is really interesting," said Seb Falk. "It's a creative experiment at a critical moment when preachers were trying to make their sermons more accessible and captivating." "I once went to a wedding where the vicar, hoping to appeal to an audience who he figured didn't often go to church, quoted the Black Eyed Peas' song 'Where is the Love?' in an obvious attempt to seem cool. Our medieval preacher was trying something similar to grab attention and sound relevant." The sermon offers a lesson in humility, a central concern of medieval theologians, but does so in unusual ways. It focuses on a debased Adam and compares human behaviours to animal traits. It presents powerful men who become like wolves because they plunder what doesn't belong to them. And it compares the actions of cunning, deceitful and rapacious people to those of adders or water-snakes. "This sermon still resonates today," James Wade says. "It warns that it's us, humans, who pose the biggest threat, not monsters." The preacher brings in a second topical reference to underline this point, telling the story of a real-life knight and crusader named Hugh of Gournay, who switched sides four times between England and France. The story doesn't appear in any other surviving source, but the way the preacher tells it, he must have known his listeners would recognise it. "It's a bold image," said Seb Falk: "the repentant Hugh wrapping a noose around his neck and throwing himself on the mercy of the French king is a powerful and really fresh symbol of chivalric humility." The researchers noticed multiple similarities in the arguments and writing style of Alexander Neckam, leading them to believe that he probably wrote the sermon. But whether Neckam himself or an acolyte, the author must have been familiar with Wade and confident that his intended audience would get the reference. Seb Falk said: "This sermon demonstrates new scholarship, rhetorical sophistication, and inventiveness, and it has strategic aims. It's the ideal vehicle for the Wade quotation which served an important purpose." Seb Falk is a scholar of medieval history and history of science. James Wade is a scholar of English literature from the Middle Ages forward. Both are Fellows at Girton College, Cambridge. Extract from the new translation of the sermon referring to Wade: 'Dear [brothers], as to the fact that he says, 'humble yourselves', etc. - it could be considered that humility which is against the mighty hand of God is of a particular kind. For there are three kinds of humility: the humility of guilt; the humility of punishment; and the humility of penance. Now, by the humility of guilt our first parent [Adam] was so humbled that, although he was made master of the whole world before his sins and ruled over everything that was in the world, after his sin, on the other hand, he could not even defend himself from a worthless worm, that is, from a flea or louse. He who was similar to God before sin, was made dissimilar through sin; since 'by this poison a rose is sometimes turned into spikenard.' Thus Adam was, from a human, made as if he was non-human; not only Adam, but almost everyone becomes as if non-humans. Thus they can say, with Wade: 'Some are wolves and some are adders; Some are sea-snakes that dwell by the water. There is no man at all but Hildebrand.' Similarly, today some are wolves, such as powerful tyrants, who if they can justly take the things of those subject to them, take them; but if not, [do so] by any means. Some imitate serpents, of which there are three kinds. Others become lions, like the proud ones whom God opposes; enough has been said of pride in the art of preaching. Others are foxes, such as cunning detractors and flatterers who speak with a double heart, who have honey in their mouth but bile in their heart. Others are gluttons like pigs, of whom the prophet says 'their throats are open graves'; and thus each is judged similarly. Indeed, this humility is bad and perverse.' The first German-funded Ukrainian long-range weapons will be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the next few days, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is co-chairing the 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues for Ukraine (in the Ramstein format). "To protect the skies over Ukraine, we must support the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their offensive actions aimed at weakening Russia's air combat capabilities. That is why we are financing the comprehensive acquisition of Ukrainian-made long-range unmanned aerial vehicles," he said, opening the Ramstein format meeting. Pistorius stressed that these systems have already proven their effectiveness on the battlefield, destroying Russian aircraft, drones and missiles. "The first German-funded systems will be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the next few days and will be ready for immediate use. And we are going to further strengthen this potential by providing additional investments and organizing close technical cooperation between the German and Ukrainian defense industries," the minister said. In addition, together with British friends, Germany will "as soon as possible" provide 220,000 35 mm caliber cartridges for the Gepard anti-aircraft system, which will be financed by Germany. According to Pistorius, "this is a clear signal to Putin: prolonging the war will cost more and more." "Our duty, colleagues, and our obligation is to actively support our Ukrainian friends in this regard," the German Defense Minister said. Separately, he noted that "Putin is pursuing his military program with brutal determination and is not interested in real negotiations." "In the morning he talks about peace, and in the evening he launches drones and missiles at Ukrainian citizens and civilians. Putin wants to buy time with this cynical game. He believes that his war machine will ultimately win, but he is mistaken," Pistorius said. He called on allies to "stop this war machine by joining forces to support Ukraine with all our might." "First of all, this requires us to urgently strengthen Ukraine's air defenses," the minister stressed. The 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense (in the Ramstein format) is taking place online on Monday, July 21, under the leadership of the United Kingdom and Germany. More than 50 of Ukraine's partners joined the meeting, including the NATO Secretary General, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and the U.S. Secretary of Defense, as well as dozens of Alliance and partner countries. Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, for whom this is the first time participating in Ramstein. Also present alongside him is Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, who until recently was the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Also present are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov. Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ Ukraine needs $6 billion to close this year's arms procurement deficit, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said at the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (in the Ramstein format). "Ukraine needs $6 billion to close this year's procurement deficit. This will allow us to create more FPV drones to hold the front line, more interceptor drones to counter attacks by Shaheds, and additional deep strike weapons to turn the war back to Russia," he said at the meeting in the Ramstein format. Shmyhal also stressed the need to prepare for 2026 and called on partners to allocate funds for Ukraine in their 2026 budgets. "Secure loans are another critical source of funding for next year, and we need to ensure that Ukraine is included in this program," he noted. The 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is taking place online on Monday, July 21, under the leadership of the United Kingdom and Germany. More than 50 of Ukraine's partners joined the meeting, including the NATO Secretary General, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and the US Secretary of Defense, as well as dozens of Alliance and partner countries. Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, for whom this is the first time participating in Ramstein. In addition, present next to him is Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, who until recently was the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Also present are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Hnatov. Photo: https://t.me/s/svyrydenkoy/ Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko discussed with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot the issues of weapons, finances, reconstruction and sanctions against the Russian Federation. "We talked substantively - about weapons, finances, reconstruction, sanctions. French colleagues saw how Kyiv lives after the night attacks. And this very well strengthens the conversation about drones, air defense and fighter jets. We need them right now. So one of the topics is increasing military aid and transition to joint production in Ukraine," Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram following the meeting in Kyiv. According to her, Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev signed two declarations with the French side. In particular, the first is on the creation of a new fund for EUR200 million to support critical infrastructure and the economy from 2026. "Last year, demand for the first program exceeded its budget three times - applications for 750 million with 200 available. This is a good signal: Ukrainian and French businesses see joint projects," she wrote. The second declaration is on the preparation of an intergovernmental agreement on strategic projects: defense, energy, digitalization, critical minerals. "We are talking not only about investments, but also about cooperation, technologies, and access to European markets," Svyrydenko emphasized. Separately, the parties discussed the financing of the drone program in 2025, in particular, options are being sought to accelerate procurement and activate other sources of financing. "And another important aspect is sanctions. The French side shared its thoughts on possible approaches to forming new packages. In particular, on a more flexible format tied to specific goals and time frames," the prime minister wrote. Kelly Kellis is the new Disability Network Southwest Michigan President and CEO. Konjoh Konjoh, volunteer receptionist at Disability Network Southwest Michigan Happy faces were everywhere at last years celebration of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Shmyhal holds his first talk with his British counterpart after being appointed defense minister Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal has held his first telephone conversation since his appointment with UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healy. "We coordinated further steps before the next meeting in the Rammstein format. We discussed Ukraine's key needs, in particular strengthening air defense, as well as developing joint defense projects. We agreed to coordinate joint steps weekly," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel following the conversation. He also thanked the UK for its continued support and readiness to further develop close cooperation. Investors' focus over the coming week is expected to be on two things, corporate earnings in the US and the fast-approaching 1 August deadline for reaching trade deals with the White House. Alphabet and Tesla will be the first out of the block from amongst the so-called Magnificent Seven, with their earnings, on Wednesday. Earlier that same session, markets will be waiting on the release of a raft of purchasing managers' surveys covering manufacturing and services activity in the euro area, UK and US in July. Also of considerable interest will be the European Central Bank's rate-setting meeting on Thursday, although no change in rates is anticipated. On home shores meanwhile, Friday will bring with it the latest monthly readings on UK consumer confidence and retail sales. Worth noting too, Fed chief Jerome Powell will take to the podium on Tuesday, whilst central bankers in Beijing are due to meet on Monday. Monday 21 July FINALS Assura, Defence Holdings INTERIMS Mony Group Q1 Ryanair Holdings (CDI) TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.(DI), Allergy Therapeutics, Portmeirion Group, CREO MEDICAL GROUP, Aeorema Communications, AOTI, INC. (DI), Midwich Group AGMs Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd., Spiritus Mundi ANNUAL REPORT Accsys Technologies, Defence Holdings DRILLING REPORT Tertiary Minerals FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Pharos Energy Tuesday 22 July FINALS TheWorks.Co.Uk INTERIMS Me Group International TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Evoke (DI), Compass Group, Kier Group, Luceco AGMs B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI), GB Group, Fuller Smith & Turner, Surface Transforms, Mitie Group, Edinburgh Inv Trust, Ashoka Whiteoak Emerging, Markets Trust EGMs B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) GMs Ashington Innovation UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00) Wednesday 22 July FINALS Van Elle Holdings INTERIMS Breedon Group Q2 PensionBee Group TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Wetherspoon (J.D.) AGMs Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Inv Trust, Tissue Regenix Group, Symphony Environmental Technologies, Fulcrum Metals, JPMorgan European Discovery Trust, Octopus AIM VCT, Norcros, TR Property Inv Trust, VP, Record, Mindflair FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Worldwide Healthcare Trust, Atalaya Mining Copper, S.A. (CDI) INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Spirent Communications SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Spirent Communications INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00) Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00) Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30) Thursday 24 July FINALS Iomart Group, IG Group Holdings, Metir, Severfield INTERIMS Centrica, Nokia OYJ, Primary Health Properties, Lloyds Banking Group, Howden Joinery Group, RELX plc, Reach Q1 Wizz Air Holdings TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS AJ Bell, BT Group, Vodafone Group AGMs Halma, Challenger Energy Group, Firering Strategic Minerals (DI), Inspiration Healthcare Group, DP Poland, Discoverie Group, Aminex (CDI), Cmc Markets, Xtract Resources, Tatton Asset Management, Emmerson NPV, Pennon Group, Beowulf Mining, Tate & Lyle, Fidelity China Special Situations GMs Cobra Resources, Aptamer Group FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE SSE, Facilities by ADF, Pennon Group, Bloomsbury Publishing, Celebrus Technologies, Creightons, Telecom Plus, Elixirr International, Touchstar, QinetiQ Group, Calnex Solutions FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Fuller Smith & Turner, Sirius Real Estate Ltd. INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE Maven Income & Growth 3 VCT, Invesco Global Equity Income Trust, Bankers Inv Trust, Henderson Far East Income Ltd., Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, International Biotech Trust, Maven Income & Growth VCT, Foresight Solar Fund Limited, Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited, Synectics, Maven Income and Growth VCT 5, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Limited Npv INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Tribal Group QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Thor Explorations Ltd (DI), M Winkworth, Supermarket Income Reit, Tufton Assets Limited Npv, City of London Inv Trust QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE Brunner Inv Trust INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00) Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30) Continuing Claims (US) (13:30) New Homes Sales (US) (15:00) Friday 25 July INTERIMS Rightmove, Jupiter Fund Management Q1 Airtel Africa TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Taylor Maritime Limited NPV AGMs Atome, Steppe Cement Ltd, Power Metal Resources, Bezant Resources, Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited NPV FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE RS Group, Vertu Motors, Skillcast Group, Ecora Resources, Premier Foods, Record, Anpario, Bisichi, 3i Group, S&U, Serica Energy, Airtel Africa, Land Securities Group, Value and Indexed Property Income Trust, Bytes Technology Group, British Land Company, Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust, Big Yellow Group, B.P. Marsh & Partners INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Gooch & Housego, Henderson High Income Trust, Barings Emerging Emea Opportunities, Invesco Asia Dragon Trust, Hollywood Bowl Group, Franklin Global Trust, Hargreave Hale AIM VCT, Residential Secure Income, British Smaller Companies VCT, Paragon Banking Group, Warehouse Reit, AVI Global Trust, The Character Group QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE Patria Private Equity Trust, Real Estate Credit Investments Ltd UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS GFK Consumer Confidence (00:01) Retail Sales (07:00) INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS M3 Money Supply (EU) (09:00) IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00) IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00) IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00) Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30) London Stock Exchange Group is weighing whether to launch 24-hour trading as bourses race to extend access to stocks amid growing demand from small investors active outside normal business hours. The group is looking into the practicalities of increasing its trading hours, according to people familiar with the situation, from the technology required to regulatory implications. Financial Times One of the Independent Water Commissions most important recommendations is the creation of a new integrated water regulator for the sector in England, and a single water regulator in Wales. These new body would replace Ofwat, the criticised regulator which the Guardian reported on Friday was to be abolished. The new integrated regulator in England would combine the functions of Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, as well as taking on the water functions from the Environment Agency and Natural England. The Guardian The countrys largest property search website has halved its prediction for how much house prices will rise this year, with more homes up for sale than at any point in the last decade. Rightmove, the first port of call for most would-be homebuyers, had previously estimated that UK house prices would rise, on average, by 4 per cent in 2025 but it has now cut this halfway through the year to 2 per cent. Its data shows that the number of homes on the market is at its highest since 2015 and it is this high level of seller competition [that] is limiting price growth. Sellers who are too punchy with their asking prices risk getting lost among the competition, it warned. The Times The fate of The Telegraph is to be decided this week in a contentious House of Lords vote on foreign state shareholdings. The Government is pressing ahead on Tuesday with legislation to allow the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to retain a passive stake of up to 15pc. Easing an outright ban on foreign powers investing in newspapers is viewed as crucial to unlocking a 500m takeover of The Telegraph by RedBird Capital, an American private equity firm. A previous bid, majority-funded by the UAE, was blocked last year following a cross-party outcry over press freedom. The Telegraph Sir Keir Starmers government is seeking a way out of a clash with the Trump administration over the UKs demand that Apple provide it with access to secure customer data, two senior British officials have told the Financial Times. The officials both said the Home Office, which ordered the tech giant in January to grant access to its most secure cloud storage system, would probably have to retreat in the face of pressure from senior leaders in Washington, including vice-president JD Vance. Financial Times Manufacturers will press ministers today to resurrect plans for a high-speed rail line reaching Leeds and Manchester as part of a large strategic investment to get lorries off Britains roads and cut emissions. Business lobby group Make UK and Barclays Corporate Bank said research showed companies believe the move would significantly increase passenger numbers and free up capacity for rail freight on existing lines. The Guardian Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Ltd. (Tata AIA) is excited to announce that it has once again secured the highest number of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) members in India for the third consecutive year, while achieving an impressive #4 global ranking. With a record 2,871 MDRT qualifiers, this milestone reflects an 11% growth from the previous year, showcasing the rising calibre and unwavering dedication of Tata AIAs advisors. This remarkable achievement underscores Tata AIA's commitment to delivering best-in-class financial advice, powered by the expertise of its MDRT-qualified advisors, ensuring that consumers receive exceptional service and guidance. What truly sets Tata AIA apart is its deep commitment to diversity and inclusion. With an all-time high of 1,343 female MDRT members, Tata AIA has secured the #7 position globally among the Top 25 Companies by Female Membership. The 8.5% growth in female MDRT qualifiers highlights Tata AIA's continuous efforts to empower women within the financial sector, ensuring that consumers benefit from expert, world-class financial advice delivered by a diverse team of advisors. What Does This Mean for You? MDRT The Gold Standard in Financial Advice Being an MDRT member is considered the ultimate benchmark for life insurance and financial services professionals worldwide. These advisors demonstrate the highest level of professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct, and an unwavering commitment to delivering excellent service. When you choose a Tata AIA advisor, you are assured of receiving the best financial advice tailored to your unique needs, helping you protect your present and secure your future. MDRT Advisors: Helping You Achieve Your Financial Goals Tata AIA's MDRT-qualified advisors go beyond selling life insurance. They leverage their expertise to guide you in making informed decisions that align with your long-term financial objectives. Whether its planning for retirement, securing your familys future, or making the most of your investments, you will receive comprehensive, trusted advice thats rooted in experience and dedication. Providing Career Opportunities: The Best Place to Be an MDRT Advisor Tata AIA is committed to creating rewarding career opportunities for individuals passionate about making a difference. By promoting the MDRT qualification, Tata AIA offers a clear career path for aspiring financial advisors. Through its Premier Agency model, Tata AIA selects and nurtures top talent, providing them with comprehensive training, career progression, and extensive digital support. This investment in people not only strengthens the companys network of advisors but also ensures that individuals seeking a meaningful, impactful career in financial services can find success. Tata AIAs robust support system gives advisors the tools to achieve MDRT status, which means higher earning potential and a rewarding career helping people secure their financial futures. Amit Dave, Chief Distribution Officer - Proprietary Business, Allied Channels and Agency Sales, Tata AIA, said, It is truly an honour to be ranked #4 globally in the MDRT rankings and to continue leading the industry in India. This milestone is a testament to the success of our Premier Agency model and the relentless commitment of our advisors. The MDRT qualification is not just a personal achievement for our advisors; it represents the trust and confidence our consumers place in Tata AIA, knowing they are receiving world-class financial advice. How MDRTs Drive Business Results at Tata AIA MDRT-qualified advisors provide a distinct advantage to life insurers, offering expert guidance that leads to more satisfied consumers and higher retention for the brand. At Tata AIA, our MDRT advisors have been pivotal in delivering exceptional service, fostering a loyal customer base. For FY 2024-25, Tata AIA ranked top in four out of five Persistency cohorts, including the crucial 13th-month persistency, a key measure of consumer loyalty and long-term financial health. Persistency tracks the percentage of consumer who renew their policies, reflecting trust in our services. MDRT-qualified advisors drive this high persistency by offering personalized advice, understanding client needs, and providing continuous support, ensuring consumers remain confident in their decision to stay with Tata AIA. NEW YORK An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was shot in a Manhattan park on Saturday following an apparent robbery gone wrong, New York City police and federal officials said. The 42-year-old officer was in stable condition Sunday and expected to survive. There was no indication that he was targeted because of his employment, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The officer, who was not in uniform, had been sitting with a woman in a park beneath the George Washington Bridge when two men approached on a moped just before midnight. The passenger got off and approached the officer, who realized he was being robbed and drew his service weapon, Tisch said. The two exchanged gunfire and the off-duty officer was shot in the face and arm. The perpetrator was injured before he and the moped driver rode off, police said. A person of interest, identified as Miguel Mora, a 21-year-old undocumented immigrant with an extensive criminal past, was taken into custody after arriving at a Bronx hospital with gunshot wounds to the groin and leg, Tisch said. It was unknown if Mora had an attorney. The police commissioner said Moras injuries were consistent with what was seen on surveillance video of the shooting shared by the Department of Homeland Security. The search for his alleged accomplice continued Sunday. Mora entered the country illegally through Arizona in 2023 and had two prior arrests for domestic violence in New York. He was wanted in New York to face accusations of robbery and felony assault, and in Massachusetts over a stolen weapons case, Tisch said. In a social media post Sunday afternoon, President Donald Trump seized on the shooting as evidence of Democrats failures to secure the border. The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage, Trump added. The shooting comes as federal officials warn of a surge of attacks on agents carrying out Trumps mass deportation agenda. As enforcement efforts have ramped up in recent months, many officers have chosen to cover their faces with the goal of avoiding harassment in public and online. On Sunday, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, said he would allow agents to continue covering their faces as a safety measure. If thats a tool that the men and women of ICE that keeps themselves and their families safe, then I will allow it, Lyons said. Police are investigating a shooting that happened on Thompson Street in Stapleton on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 48-year-old man was shot twice in Stapleton on Sunday afternoon, according to police. Around 4 p.m., the man was shot once in the left leg and once in the right arm on Thompson Street, according to a spokesperson for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The victim was rushed by EMS in stable condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, the spokesperson said. There have been no arrests yet and the only immediate description is that the shooter was a male, according to police. The investigation remains ongoing, and the police are still looking into the circumstances that led up to the shooting. Police are investigating a shooting that happened on Thompson Street in Stapleton on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo) A significant number of police officers had the mid-block of Thompson Street, between Wright Street and Bay Street, cordoned off Sunday afternoon. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, reported on the refusal of the Bahamas to allow tankers of the Russian shadow fleet to sail under their flag. "The Bahamas are officially depriving the Russian tanker fleet of its flag. This is a blow not only to the sanction circumvention schemes, but also to the entire Russian economy, which is based on shadow oil and gas flows. The Russian Federation tried to hide its presence in world waters under foreign flags, fictitious owners. But even these loopholes are being closed," Yermak wrote on Telegram on Monday. He noted that large-scale pressure on Russian logistics continues and will continue to increase. "Together with our partners, we are doing everything to ensure that Russian tankers financing the war are isolated. This is another front in our common struggle," Yermak added. A grand jury has indicted a Cumberland County man after cops said he stashed his cousins dead body in a closet and continued collecting the mans benefits to pay his own bills. Steven M. Blankenship, 58, of Fairfield Township, was indicted last week for second-degree desecrating human remains, third-degree charges of theft by deception and fraudulent use of a credit card, and fourth-degree tampering with evidence. In addition to stealing his dead cousins benefits, Blankenship is also accused of using the mans credit card. Blankenships public defender did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In April, New Jersey State Police troopers responded to Tips Trailer Park in Fairfield in Cumberland County for a well-being check at a residence, but no one answered the door, according to court documents. As they walked to the rear of the trailer, they noticed a strong odor consistent with decomposition, police said, and they kicked in the door to investigate. In a rear bedroom closet, troopers found the body of Michael Blankenship, who had lived in the residence. His body was wrapped in three layers of plastic, the closet door knob had been removed and the door was sealed with electrical tape, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges. Troopers found a handwritten note near the kitchen indicating the man died July 27, 2024, from dementia-related causes. The note, which police said was believed to be written by Steven Blankenship, described how the defendant left the dead mans body on the floor for two days before sealing him in the closet. It also stated that the defendant continued paying bills using his cousins income because of his own physical and financial decline, police said. Steven Blankenship hid his cousins death in order to receive the mans Department of Labor benefits and stole nearly $14,000 from the state over the course of eight months, police said. Hes also accused of using his cousins credit card to get cash and purchase items. Police recovered a manila folder labeled Life Insurance Policy and numerous financial documents in the residence, according to the affidavit. A witness interviewed by police claimed the defendant had a history of impersonating Michael Blankenship for financial gain and to avoid law enforcement. Blankenship is jailed pending future court appearances, according to jail and court records. The sunrise around the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge as pictured from Fort Wadsworth Sept. 3, 2024. U.S. News & World Report has ranked New York City 19th on the list of the top 25 cities in the United States for quality of life. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. When people think of New York City, they often picture the fast pace and towering skyscrapers, but it has also earned recognition for its livability in a recent ranking. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the city 19th on the list of the top 25 cities in the United States for quality of life in 2025-2026. While the city is known for its high cost of living, New York stood out among hundreds of U.S. cities thanks to its access to educational resources, public transportation, and cultural experiences. For millions of residents, its these very features that make the city a uniquely fulfilling place to live. A major factor behind New Yorks ranking is its health-care system. According to U.S. News & World Report, New York City is the top spot for quality health care, with many leading hospitals in the area. Living in New York means being surrounded by world-class museums, theaters, parks, and restaurants from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Broadway to Central Park and vibrant neighborhoods filled with shops and diverse cuisine. Despite its high cost of living, the city offers much in return, including top-rated public schools and a reliable public transportation system that keeps everything within reach, according to the ranking. Many families choose to stay in the city because of its walkability, educational options, and access to parks and activities. New York ranked alongside other high-performing cities like Boston, Dallas, and Houston. Brookline, Massachusetts, claimed the number one spot on the list after being praised for its safety, education systems, and strong job markets. Jose Ramirez-Garofalo is an ecologist and the current president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, Staten Island's largest environmental conservation organization. The group is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025. He is shown in the borough's Mt. Loretto Unique Area, a result of the group's efforts. (Advance/SILive.com| Jan Somma-Hammel) (Advance/SILive.com| Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. From radical tree huggers to trained ecologists collaborating with the government to influence environmental policy, Protectors of Pine Oak Woods has evolved in the 50 years since its inception. And though the groups priorities have changed through the decades, the primary goal remains the same: Protect Staten Islands natural ecology and educate residents about its impact, members say. In the beginning, we were litigious, we were out protesting, and that has kind of changed over the decades and weve turned into an organization that primarily does its work behind the scenes said Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, of Fort Wadsworth, a biologist, ecologist, the groups president since 2024 and a member since 2017. And thats not to say that those other pieces of advocacy arent important. Its just that weve changed in the sense that we would rather now come to solutions that are more balanced. Finding the balance on Staten Island amid a diversity of political opinions is paramount, Ramirez-Garofalo said. The problems have only gotten more difficult, but ultimately were still seeing success and thats really important he said. The late Richard Dick Buegler, along with Brooklynites Ed Milanese and Joe Fernicola, incorporated Protectors in 1975 to pursue Environmental Bond Act funds and establish state parks. In 1980, Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, in Charleston, the boroughs only state park, was the first result of those efforts. A map shows the seven sites on Staten Island the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods has prioritized for conservation. The group hopes to use state funding acquired through a $4.2 billion New York state environmental bond act passed in 2022. (Courtesy of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods) (Courtesy of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods) The 265-acre preserve sits in the boroughs southwest corner and combines wetlands and woodlands. It faced commercial and residential development when the men joined forces to convince the community and government of its value. It is also packed with pine and oak trees inspiring the groups name. Since then, through the leadership of only four presidents and an active 19-member board, the volunteer environmental organization has played a big role in protecting many other open spaces enjoyed by Staten Islanders daily including Staten Island Greenbelt, the Mount Loretto Unique Area, Blue Heron Park, the Goodhue Woods and the Bloomingdale Woods. Were so lucky that in the 1970s we had a group of people that had the foresight to take this initiative,' said Ramirez-Garofalo. At the time, streets were strewn with litter, and it was a time when not everyone appreciated the environment he said. Protectors evolution has produced good results, said Elaine Croteau, of New Springville, a current board member who has dedicated more than 20 years to its goals. I really think weve always managed to change for the better she said. Weve accepted change, and, as we all know, change is not an easy thing to accept. Protectors has grown from a handful of members to now more than 1,000. Funded through sponsorships and membership fees, it comprises educators, naturalists, environmentalists, birders, hikers, bikers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Protectors hosts free themed nature walks, hikes and workshops, maintains trails and hosts community cleanups. This year, in honor of the anniversary, it is hosting a major fundraising campaign to continue its conservation work. In this photo from 2000, Richard "Dick" Buegler, the late founder of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, tells a gathering in South Beach about the danger of building "right up to, and almost in, the wetlands." (Staten Island Advance) The group has battled vocally with city, state and local officials for the Islands fair share of state funding to protect green spaces from development. Preserving bluebelt corridors, wetlands and other open spaces along the shoreline creates habitats for wildlife and provides flooding mitigation, Ramirez-Garofalo said. The group also has partnered with other organizations, such as the Staten Island Greenbelt Natural Area Land Trust, and the New York City Bird Alliance. The Alliance credits it with partnering to ensure protection of 94 wooded acres at Pouch Camp, Sea View. The Protectors of Pine Oak Woods played host to a Forest Restoration Workshop in the Egbertville Ravine in 2014. There, volunteers met beside Meisner Road and followed the stream along Rockland Avenue to clean up trash. (Staten Island Advance) Critical youth The effort to support the Islands diverse wildlife population depends largely on educating todays youth, the groups leadership says, and even protected lands could someday be at risk. Today, Ramirez-Garofalo, a PhD student at Rutgers University and the son of National Park Service rangers, proudly boasts of a close working relationship with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, city Department of Environmental Protection and Parks Department, and elected officials. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said she looks forward to continuing that work. Through their advocacy and education, they have raised awareness and inspired a lasting appreciation of Staten Island,' said the senator, a Democrat representing the North Shore and southern Brooklyn. We greatly appreciate their dedication to preserving the beauty of our parkland and open spaces." Hillel Lofaso, the second president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, is credited with getting the group's administration organized during his tenure from 2006 to 2012. (Advance/SILive.com | Hilton Flores) (Advance/SILive.com | Hilton Flores) Past presidents That new structured leadership of the group, and the development of relationships with officials was formed by immediate past presidents Hillel Lofaso and Cliff Hagen, Ramirez-Garofalo said. Lofaso, who served two terms as president, from 2006 to 2012, said he was drawn in by Bueglers Greenbelt walks, which are really outdoor labs in environmental science. After taking on many roles, he saw the need to reframe the organization into one where future leaders are nurtured and encouraged to lead. And he focused on doing just that during his tenure, he said. Hagen noted the collaboration fostered with Borough Hall, especially with Borough Presidents James Oddo and Vito Fossella, and specifically with former Deputy Borough President Ed Burke. Sandra Mechanic leads the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods monthly Moonrise/Sunset walk at Mt. Moses in this photo from 2008. (Staten Island Advance/SILive.com | Bill Lyons) Indeed, the group recently wrote to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul seeking assistance acquiring seven ecologically valuable properties on the Island using funding from the 2022 $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act." That letter was signed by all of the Islands City Council and Assembly members, senators, Borough President Vito Fossella and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. Several of Staten Islands high-priority efforts center around conservation of privately owned land or augmenting existing parks by city land purchase, said Ramirez-Garofalo. Those include 32 acres of Arden Heights Woods wedged between state and city land; North Bloomingdale Wetlands Corridor, adjacent to Bloomingdale Park; Glossy Ibis Park, Mariners Harbor; Tennyson Drive, four acres in a coastal flood zone near Nelson Avenue in Great Kills; Serpentine Ridge in Stapleton, Tappens Creek Bluebelt, 53 acres along Tappen Creek, which flows out of Clay Pit Ponds, and Outerbridge Ponds, Charleston. Its a bi-partisan priority,' he said. We always had this rep for being crazy tree huggers, and it was always the way it was being marketed he said. Ultimately, we are tree huggers and thats important but Protectors has matured into something different. Publicly, politically, we were outliers Hagen said of the year 2000, when he joined the group. We were pushing back against development on Staten Island. Protectors is the reason Staten Island is known as the Borough of Parks, Hagen said. Successes include the prevention of Blue Heron Park from becoming an offramp to route 440, and protecting Mount Loretto from development. We were successful, yet ostracized, because of our efforts Hagen said. Hagen was appointed by then-Borough President James Oddo to a working group within the Department of City Planning, which oversaw Special Districts on Staten Island, enabling the group a voice in what areas would be protected from development. We had a seat at the table,' he recalled. Fast forward to the election of Vito Fossella in 2022. He and other Staten Island elected officials worked with the group to assemble the current wish list for the Island, a way to get the boroughs piece of the recently passed Environmental Bond Act. Jose Ramirez-Garofalo identified Cunningham Pond in the Mt. Loretto Unique Area in Staten Island to the Advance/SILive.com as a beautiful ecosystem saved by the group from development. (Advance/SILive.com| Jan Somma-Hammel) (Advance/SILive.com| Jan Somma-Hammel) Through the decades, though, the group often found itself battling developers of popular stores and restaurants, youth sports-field proponents and even the New York City Parks Department. Now an ally of the Protectors, the city agency and the group butted heads when the creation of playing fields in Bloomingdale Park in 2003 threatened lands its members would prefer stay untouched. Today, mediation takes the place of full-on opposition, Ramirez-Garofalo said. Even though I might not personally agree with what ultimately happens, Im still much more satisfied than I would be had we not tried to negotiate a solution to some of our most pressing issues he said. Paul Lederer and John Luisi listen to Cliff Hagen, of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, point out some of the natural features of Crooke's Point in 2011. (Staten Island Advance) The 51-year-old assistant chief was electrocuted when he exited his truck at the scene of a crash on Route 30 in Hancock, New York. Google Maps A veteran firefighter from Delaware County in New York was killed Thursday night while responding to a crash involving downed power lines, according to New York Upstate and state officials. Assistant Chief Jason McGlone of the East Branch Fire Department, died after being electrocuted at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Route 30 in Hancock. The fatality occurred around 9:30 p.m. when a vehicle struck a utility pole, causing a low-hanging electrical wire to touch the top of the 51-year-olds fire truck. When he exited the vehicle and touched the metal door, he was fatally electrocuted, a State Police spokesperson told the outlet. McGlone was pronounced dead at the scene. In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted McGlones 25 years of service within East Branch, including 15 years as an assistant chief, which embodied the courage, commitment and selflessness that define New Yorks volunteer firefighters. Just weeks ago, we mourned the loss of one of New Yorks bravest. Today, we grieve again over the loss of Assistant Chief Jason McGlone of the East Branch Fire Department, who tragically lost his life while responding to a motor vehicle accident, Hochul said. My heart is with his loved ones, his fellow firefighters and the entire East Branch community during this difficult time. He represented the very best of what New Yorkers give to their communities in the name of public safety. According to recent data from the NYC Health Department, the West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in multiple Staten Island communities. NYC Health Department STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been detected across New York City, with Staten Island accounting for the majority of recent cases, according to data from the New York City Health Department. Of the 141 positive mosquito results citywide in 2025, approximately 47% or 66 came from Staten Island, according to the 2025 positive results summary. The Health Department collected the samples to monitor the spread of the virus. In the past two weeks, mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus were detected in nine of 12 Staten Island ZIP codes, according to recent trap data. The most widespread activity was reported in ZIP code 10314, where positive samples were found on five different dates. Those positive samples came from Bloomfield, Bulls Head, Chelsea, Greenridge, New Springville, Westerleigh and Willowbrook. Other areas which registered positive tests include: The 10305 ZIP code area, where the virus was detected in Dongan Hills, Arrochar, and Grasmere, on July 8, 14, and 15. The 10312 ZIP code area, where the virus was detected in Eltingville and Annadale on July 1, 8, and 15. The 10304, 10306, and 10307 ZIP code areas. Each had one detection on July 15, affecting the Dongan Hills, Midland Beach and Richmond Valley areas. The 10303 ZIP code area, where the virus was detected in Arlington on July 10. The 10308 ZIP code area, where the virus was detected in Great Kills on July 8. The 10310 ZIP code area, were the virus was detected in Port Richmond on July 11. The last positive results were taken on Tuesday, July 15. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation. Although no human cases have been reported so far, officials warn that West Nile virus can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Residents are urged to take precautions by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves when outdoors, and eliminating standing water around their homes to reduce mosquito breeding. Hunter Biden has shockingly claimed that his father, then-President Joe Biden, was on the sedative-hypnotic sleep drug Ambien during his disastrous June 2024 debate with Donald Trump. Biden performed so poorly during the debate that he eventually dropped out of the 2024 presidential election in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. I know exactly what happened in that debate, Hunter Biden old YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan in an interview released on the anniversary of President Biden ending his re-election bid. He flew around the world, the younger Biden said, per the New York Post. Hes 81 years old. Hes tired. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep and he gets up on the stage and looks like a deer in the headlights. Ambien, a brand name for the drug zolpidem tartrate, is a widely prescribed sleep aid. A note released by Dr. Kevin OConnor following Bidens physical exam that February makes note of six medications that the former president was taking at the time, but Ambien is not among them. The federal National Library of Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health, describes zolpidem as a hypnotic and a sedative-hypnotic. Complex sleep behaviors can occur after using zolpidem, such as sleep-driving, sleep-walking, and engaging in activities while not fully awake, the librarys website states. These actions can lead to serious harm to the individual or others and, in some cases, be fatal. Additionally, other complex behaviors like making phone calls, engaging in sexual activity, or preparing and consuming food have been reported. Patients typically have no recollection of these events. The website also states, Changes in behavior and abnormal thinking have been reported after zolpidem administration. The people at ballparks arent the only ones having fun with the apparent Coldplay affair reveal. California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted his own version of the viral clip of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR officer Kristin Cabot being caught on the Coldplay kiss cam except instead of Byron and Cabot, it includes the heads of President Donald Trump and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein superimposed on the pair. Epstein, superimposed on Byron, ducks down out of sight as Trump remains on screen in place of Cabot. The video was posted to TikTok Saturday and has since garnered over 1.5 million likes and more than 18,000 comments. The reference to Trump and Epstein comes as the president is under fire on both sides of the aisle for not releasing details surrounding Epsteins sex-trafficking case. The president had been friendly with Epstein many years ago, and the Wall Street Journal recently published an article that described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper claims bore Trumps name and was included in a 2003 album compiled for Epsteins 50th birthday. Trump has denied making the letter and has since filed a lawsuit against the outlet. This came after Trump in recent days has berated as weaklings supporters vying for more records from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political support from those who have stoked claims of a coverup in the case to protect wealthy friends of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking of underage girls. Trumps ties to Epstein have been well-documented, though the president has not been accused of misconduct in connection with their social relationship. The Associated Press contributed to this piece. 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! Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ Ukrainian and German Defense Ministers Denys Shmyhal and Boris Pistorius discussed Ukraine's financial and military needs, including strengthening air defense and expanding local drone production. "We discussed urgent financial and military needs, including strengthening air defense and expanding drone production in Ukraine," Shmyhal said in Telegram following a phone conversation with Pistorius on Monday. He also expressed hope for Germany's support for Ukraine's involvement in the European SAFE project, which is an important tool for ensuring security in Europe. Shmyhal said that during his conversation with Pistorius, he thanked Germany and him personally for supporting Ukraine. "I emphasized that Ukraine appreciates the Minister's personal involvement in strengthening our defense capabilities." As reported, in April 2025, the European Union countries agreed to create the Security Action For Europe (SAFE) defense instrument. Within the framework of the SAFE defense initiative, the European Commission plans to raise up to EUR 150 billion on the capital markets to help EU member states quickly and significantly increase investments in Europe's defense potential. These funds will be distributed among interested member states on the basis of national plans. Ukraine will also be able to join joint procurement, and procurement can be carried out at domestic defense industry enterprises. Regional airports across Australia are turning into gateways for international travel as new routes and more competition create options for travel-hungry consumers. This month, the total number of passenger seats on offer from regional airports (on a weekly basis) rose from 18,887 a year ago to 20,145. Its a rise of 6 per cent in the winter school holiday travel months, according to aviation analytics company Cirium, as more flights to New Zealand, Bali and the South Pacific drive up the traffic. A sunny day at Cairns Airport, where regional travel to international destinations is growing. Credit: Cairns Airport Australians remain keen to head overseas despite cost-of-living pressures, with travel now firmly embedded in household budgets, Australian Airports Association chief Simon Westaway said. The move towards regional departures for international flights to Asia, New Zealand and the South Pacific is driven by frustration with crowded metro hubs, rising demand for overseas travel and the availability of services on smaller commercial aircraft that can fly longer distances. With proud Marrickville resident Anthony Albanese in The Lodge, Sydneys inner west has become the centre of Australias political universe. Its also the centre of one of the more pressing political issues of our time how to build more housing in a central part of Sydney that has historically been pathologically opposed to development. The area is full of progressive Labor-Greens voters fully supportive of high-density, affordable housing in every suburb barring their own. Its the kind of place where people read Ezra Kleins Abundance book for fun. Little surprise then that there are a multitude of views around how best to build, baby, build among influential Labor figures in the PMs own backyard. The Assassin Superficially at least, The Assassin has a lot in common with The Day of the Jackal. A professional killer attempting to juggle domestic life with the nuts and bolts of blood and guts. A secret past that threatens to catch up with our antihero. A vow to quit the old life, but a past that keeps dragging them back in. Tonally, though, The Assassin is a very different beast. Created by English brothers Harry and Jack Williams, it has much more in common with their Australian-set The Tourist. It is manic, improbable, full of coincidences and overlapping character arcs and plot lines. It strives to marry comedy, action and drama, and gets the balance right some of the time, but not always. Julie (Keeley Hawes) in The Assassin. At the heart of everything is Keeley Hawes as Julie, a would-be retired assassin. We first meet her sprawled out on a deckchair on a beach in Greece, an empty whiskey bottle in her lap. Is she having too much fun, or simply trying to drown her sorrows? Turns out, a bit of both. It will go a long way to assisting the people that are being affected most harshly through this algal bloom, but also critically, we can turn our minds to how we better prepare for these types of events into the future, Malinauskas said. Loading The first reports of a foamy scum covering the ocean and dead marine life washed up on beaches came from the Fleurieu Peninsula in March, and Great Southern Reef Foundation co-founder Stefan Andrews said there were reports it extended as far south as the Victorian border. In the past few weeks it has spread into urban areas around Adelaide and the Spencer Gulf with fears it could disrupt the winter cuttlefish aggregation for winter egg laying near Whyalla. Andrews said great swaths of the ocean are giant dead zones with neon-green water and floating carcasses, with at least 450 marine species affected in the past month, according to citizen science reports. Whats really disturbing when youre underwater is you see all these fish and everything that have died on the bottom, but there are no decomposers, no crabs and molluscs that usually you would find on dead fish carcasses eating away and recycling those nutrients, Andrews said. Theres just this gross, slimy mould, a sort of slime, thats forming over those fish and the algae itself will feed on, engulfing the decomposing fish that have already suffered and died from the algae bloom, so its further fuelling itself through the dead things, which just really shocking to see. Andrews said it needed to be framed as a national issue because it was affecting marine biodiversity on the Great Southern Reef, which stretched all the way from NSW to Western Australia, and was a consequence of national issues such as climate change and Murray River flooding. Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the bloom should be declared a national disaster. Climate change doesnt care about bureaucracy it will continue to wreak havoc on our environment and communities until we take it seriously, Hanson-Young said. If the rules need fixing, so this catastrophe can be acknowledged as the disaster it is, then lets get them fixed. The government has the power to act, and they should. Dr Christopher Keneally, a microbial ecologist from the University of Adelaide, said the bloom was affecting the internationally significant Coorong wetlands, and even the Port River, where limited flushing meant the impacts could linger for months. He pointed out that prevailing currents could carry it to Western Australia or Victoria. Whether we label this a national disaster is a legal decision, but scientifically, the scale, potential cross-jurisdictional reach and multi-year legacy effects are on par with the bushfires and floods that routinely trigger federal interventions, Keneally said. A national declaration might unlock co-ordinated monitoring, emergency support for fisheries and wildlife rescue, and the rapid mobilisation of Australias research capability. The South Australian Department of Environment and Water said credible explanations for the bloom included the marine heatwave that started in September 2024, the 2022-23 flood of the Murray River washing extra nutrients into the sea, and an unprecedented cold-water upwelling over summer that brought nutrient-rich water to the surface. Similar blooms around the world have lasted from a week to several months, depending on wind, rain and ocean temperatures, the department said in an update posted late last week. Nothing can be done naturally to dilute or dissipate the bloom. The state environment department said sea surface temperatures had decreased in shallow coastal and gulf waters, but deeper continental shelf waters including around Kangaroo Island and southern Yorke Peninsula were still experiencing moderate to strong marine heatwave conditions of 1 to 2 degrees above average. Earlier in the outbreak, there was hope the bloom would disperse in winter as the water temperature dropped and cold fronts brought in storms to blow it away. However, photographer Narelle Autio, who has been documenting the environmental disaster and publishing on the @ChilliOctopus Instagram account, said the storms a few weeks ago blew the bloom up the gulf where it was stuck moving from side to side. The death of marine life has come in waves, Autio said first thousands and thousands of cuttlefish, then big fiddler rays and Port Jackson sharks, then worms and different types of fish, then dolphins and sharks, and then bivalve shells like razor fish and cockles. Umerov at Rammstein: Ukraine no longer just a recipient of aid, were now full participant in joint production Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of aid, we are now a full-fledged participant in joint production, said Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at his latest meeting in the Ramstein format. During his speech, Umerov noted that he was participating in the 14th and final meeting at Ramstein since becoming Minister of Defense in September 2023. "Over the last two years, we have done more than just defense efforts. We have created a unified coalition. We have launched joint production, invited your defense companies to Ukraine, and brought our companies to your countries. This is an investment in both the security of the present and the prosperity of the future," he emphasized. Umerov called on partners to trust the new Minister of Defense, former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who has "strength and experience." "Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of aid, we are now a full participant in joint production. Over the past two years, we have invested more than $20 billion in our own defense industry. Today, almost 40% of the front's needs are covered by domestic production, and 95% of the drones used at the front are made in Ukraine," the NSDC Secretary reported. He noted that in 2025, international security assistance to Ukraine reached a record $43 billion, the highest figure since the start of the full-scale invasion. Together with partners, Ukraine created nine functional coalitions, began transferring F-16 and Mirage aircraft, invited a coalition of drones, which gave us a technological advantage on the battlefield. Umerov separately emphasized that, thanks to the Danish model, partners directly invested in Ukrainian defense enterprises for the first time, investing more than $4 billion. "Together with our allies, we have already implemented more than 20 joint projects. Many others are in the implementation stage and will yield results very soon," he announced. "I want you to never forget one thing - our soldiers in the trenches rely on your support. Every shell, every vehicle, every missile sends a message to our troops - you are not alone," the former defense minister urged. The 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence (Ramstein format) is taking place online on Monday 21 July, led by the UK and Germany. More than 50 partners of Ukraine have joined the meeting, including the NATO Secretary General, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the US Secretary of Defense, as well as dozens of Alliance countries and partners. Ukraine is represented by Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, who is participating in Rammstein for the first time. Next to him is the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, who until recently was the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Also present are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov. Advertisement Review Eating outNewtown Why this perpetually busy restaurant is one of Sydneys most meaningful dining experiences Cafe Paci might have the look and feel of a bistro, but the food tells a more complex story. Myffy Rigby July 22, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles 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 / 10 Cafe Pacis central curved bar, where guests can sit for dinner or drinks. Jessica Hromas 2 / 10 A spread of crab blini with hollandaise, chips, steak Diane and Skull Island prawns with black pepper butter (clockwise from left). Jessica Hromas 3 / 10 The carrot sorbet with yoghurt mousse and licorice cake is one of Cafe Pacis signature dishes. Jessica Hromas 4 / 10 Passionfruit pain perdu (French toast) with salted caramel. Jessica Hromas 5 / 10 The industrial-styled dining room features ornately curved tables and long banquettes. Jessica Hromas 6 / 10 Skull Island prawns with black pepper butter, lime and chives. Jessica Hromas 7 / 10 The wine list was assembled by Italian wine importer Giorgio De Maria. Jessica Hromas 8 / 10 The specials menu is handwritten on a mirror. Jessica Hromas 9 / 10 Cafe Paci opened on King Street in Newtown in late 2019. Jessica Hromas 10 / 10 Black Angus steak with Diane sauce. Jessica Hromas Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat Good Food hat 16.5 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ Pasi Petanen has spent a lifetime preparing food that defies his surroundings, and his little Newtown restaurant doesnt buck the trend. Its a culmination of his long haul as head chef of Mark Bests divisive, now-closed three-hat restaurant Marque. His love of French culinary expressionist Pierre Gagnaire. His passion for the Finnish flavours he grew up with. The long room, with its peacock-blue accents, bentwood chairs and mirrored walls with specials scrawled across them, is dominated by the bar and open kitchen. If you came in cold, you would be forgiven for assuming a menu of French onion soup and duck confit. The specials menu is handwritten on a mirror. Jessica Hromas Advertisement Instead, have a devilled egg, inspired by Petanens time cooking alongside O Tama Carey at her Darlinghurst restaurant, Lankan Filling Station. The devil bit is a mix of coriander, chilli, salt, pepper and turmeric, all toasted until close to burnt, then whipped with egg yolks and caramelised butter. Garnishing it with trout roe feels like some sort of egg-on-egg Finnish in-joke. Im into it. The chef and his team have been running this iteration of Cafe Paci on the north end of King Street for the past six years. Good Food gave it a full-page review and one hat when it opened, but the restaurant has evolved and matured since 2019. You might also recall the original Cafe Paci in Darlinghurst, built on the remains of late-night Mexican party bar Cafe Pacifico. It was unapologetically itself, from the entirely grey fitout (the walls, floors, tables and chairs were all painted Taubmans Iron Age) to the groundbreaking menu. Skull Island prawns with black pepper butter, lime and chives. Jessica Hromas A few iterations from that original carte are still available today. Try a soft rye taco, filled with thinly sliced ox tongue, char-grilled until the meat is almost candied around the edges, and finished with chopped egg and a sauerkraut that can only be described as delicate. (If thats a word you can use to describe fermented cabbage.) Advertisement Dark rye bread is painted in sticky, bittersweet molasses and served with a side of salty, house-churned butter. Save a little of that bread for any leftover black pepper butter smothering sweet, juicy Skull Island prawns. Petanen spends a lot of time working around the edges of dishes, taking crisp/caramel/ruffled/candied right to the brink. A wildly buttery blini is somehow light and fluffy despite itself, with just the right amount of crisp batter bits. Generous shreds of mud crab sit on top of the pancake, all covered in an aerated Hollandaise sauce. Black Angus steak with Diane sauce. Jessica Hromas Theres plenty of fun to be had on the wine list, but try a Lonkero. Its a gin and grapefruit soda loved by Fins for post-sauna rehydration, but equally good in a restaurant setting accompanied by a delicate Abrolhos Islands scallop, defrilled and nestled in thin layers of pressed potato, fried until crisp and golden, then spritzed in salt and vinegar. The pacing here is fast. No ones rushing you, but theres a certain rigour all the same. Id describe the service style as sprinting with care. And in this setting, it makes sense. Its a perpetually busy place, where the dominant vibe is one of industry. Advertisement Petanens cooking is balance in all the right places. While the menu mostly transcends classic bistro dining, there are dishes that embrace it wholeheartedly. See the steak Diane in all its old-school brasserie glory. Plump slices of charred Black Angus scotch fillet are served medium-rare and bathing in the tangy, savoury sauce, straight from the Escoffier playbook. On the side, a perfectly dressed green salad and very good chips (skin on, salty, gnarled like an old mans hand). The carrot sorbet with yoghurt mousse and licorice cake is one of Cafe Pacis signatures. Jessica Hromas Petanens cooking is balance in all the right places. Deep savour and great length of flavour when you want it, and lightness when its needed. His signature dessert embodies that, starting with a base of licorice cake, then a carrot sorbet, all hidden under a blanket of aerated yoghurt. Classicists might stick to the pain perdu a thick, custardy slice of fried brioche covered in chocolate caramel and finished with a scoop of passionfruit gelato so light its almost like iced milk. Or there are soft shavings of bright mandarin granita topped with coconut Chantilly cream the fine-dining version of a Streets Splice. Advertisement Cafe Paci has always been a place to eat delicious food. But over the past few years its become a smarter, more meaningful experience. A ride always worth taking, whether youre a rye-curious first-timer or a die-hard regular. The low-down Atmosphere: Lively, fast-paced and fun, where diner happiness is the priority Go-to dishes: Crab blini ($30); steak Diane ($68); Skull Island prawns with black pepper butter ($45); pain perdu ($18) Drinks: A strong cocktail offering along with a treasure trove of local and international wine and sake Cost: About $180 for two, excluding drinks 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 Private health insurers have called for a full ban on the implantation of spinal cord stimulators following findings that almost a quarter of patients receiving the expensive devices need revision surgery, most within 18 months. The call for a ban comes as a law firm investigates a class action against the makers of the devices. A spinal cord stimulator. Credit: Paul Harris Thousands of Australians have received spinal cord stimulators, which are sold as a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain. An investigation by The Age in 2022 revealed they are harming a large number of people, some left incontinent or unable to walk. A newly elected Labor MP has reflected on how Pauline Hansons infamous comment that Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians as influential in his path to politics. Hanson made the comment in her 1996 maiden speech to parliament as the then-member for Oxley. Anthony Albanese on the hustings with new Labor MP Gabriel Ng during the election campaign. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen For the first time, I felt there were some in the population, maybe a sizeable number, who considered me less Australian because of my race, said Gabrielle Ng, who is of Chinese-Singaporean descent and represents the multicultural seat of Menzies in Melbournes north-east. I raise Miss Hansons ... speech not to elicit sympathy, but to remind all of us in this house, if we needed any reminding, that what we do in this place matters. Not only in the legislation we pass, but in the words we speak. We have one of the most powerful platforms in the nation, and I urge all of us in this parliament to turn away from opportunistic division and embrace and tell the story of modern Australia as it is. Australias handling of refugees this century has been problematic to some, shameful to others, but next November we will reach a milestone that is not only cause for celebration but a reflection of our best selves. Refugee Council of Australia chief executive Paul Power says the 1 million mark is expected to be reached in November after the Department of Home Affairs declaration in June that Australia had accepted more than 985,000 refugees since World War II. Paul Power, chief executive of the Refugee Council of Australia. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen It is an achievement that would make many countries proud, but Australia has accepted refugees from the earliest days of European settlement as people fled homelands with the aim of finding a better life. The first refugees, Lutherans fleeing religious intolerance in Prussia, arrived in South Australia in 1839, just a handful of years after it became the first colony established specifically as a free settlement. Others from the Continent followed and after Federation, refugees continued to arrive as unassisted migrants, provided they met restrictions imposed by the Immigration (Restriction) Act 1901, the cornerstone of the White Australia Policy. Between 1933 and 1939, more than 7000 Jews fleeing Nazi Germany were settled. Its believed his tip-offs led to the commission seizing weapons, hundreds of kilos of drugs and millions of dollars in cash. The supergrass, at great risk to his life, provided accurate and first-class information on the activities of Sydneys criminal milieu between 2004 and 2014. Once upon a time, the two were, shall we say, a happy couple. It was a marriage made in law enforcement heaven or underworld hell, depending on which side of the coin you looked at. On the one side is a supergrass, known only as SG. On the other is the powerful and secretive NSW Crime Commission, set up to fight organised crime, in particular the drug trade. At the centre of it all are two protagonists. Its a crime story with all the ingredients: lawyers, guns, money and, of course, drugs. That secrecy exists is generally accepted; that it is not excessive has simply been assumed. Secrecy is a necessary evil. In Australia today, it is more evil than necessary. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Its said that justice delayed is justice denied. If so, SG versus the NSW Crime Commission looks like a textbook case because it started in the Supreme Court in 2015. A decade down the track, its still going, with no end in sight. For its part, the commission denies all this it says it never had a contract with SG, and it owes him nothing, not a brass razoo. The Herald has been told that, after one such alleged breach, he came within seconds of being murdered on a beach but was saved when a woman walking her dog came between him and the would-be assassin. Worse, he also says that the commission revealed his identity to some of the very crooks on whom he was informing, endangering his life. Its believed hes asking for well in excess of $1 million. Its all about money. SG is suing the crime commission for breach of contract, claiming they havent paid him the cash they promised for all his information. But, like many relationships, it turned sour. In a bitter divorce battle, the supergrass and the crime commission are at each others throats in the NSW Supreme Court. From those, the Herald has pieced together much of the saga. Nevertheless, in the past 10 years, as the case has made its way through the Supreme Court in fits and starts, Justice Stephen Rothman, who is hearing the matter, has issued a number of publicly available judgments. Given we dont know which individuals have been mentioned because its all secret this presents something of a conundrum. For instance, I am not allowed to identify any individual mentioned in the proceedings other than lawyers. For all that, you wont have read much about this case, if anything, because it is shrouded in secrecy. Many details are the subject of suppression orders. The combined legal costs for both sides are unknown but may well be heading towards the amount that SG is claiming. Such is the length of the case that three of the barristers who have represented SG over the years have moved on to higher things. Penny Wass, SC, and Robert Newlinds, SC, are now District Court judges. Guy Parker, SC, is a judge on the Supreme Court. Is it worried SG might have unfavourable information about senior officers? Several questions arise. Is the commission afraid of what SG or other witnesses might say about its past conduct, or indeed the existence of a contract? And when a Supreme Court ruling about its secrecy provisions went against the crime commission, it went to the government of the day and had the secrecy legislation amended in its favour. It tried to stop SGs well-known solicitor, John Laxon, from representing him. It tried to stop him from instructing certain barristers. At the very start, it sought to have the case thrown out as an abuse of process. It failed. It raises serious questions about the conduct and accountability of the NSW Crime Commission, which has fought tooth and nail to stop SG from having his day in court. It all started in 2003 when a senior crime commission officer approached SG. Its around this time, according to SG, he was offered a contract. It turns out, after giving it some thought, he was. Would he be willing to assist the commission as a human source in other words, to be an informer? From what we can glean from judgments so far, it started in 2003 when a senior crime commission officer approached SG to have a bit of a chat. Is it concerned that if SGs identity was revealed to the underworld, as he alleges, that it may reveal incompetence, or worse, and further damage the commissions reputation? One thing which is not in dispute is that SG a colourful figure with, shall we say, a chequered history worked for the commission. As Justice Stephen Rothman said: In about late 2004, SG agreed to assist the commission by continuing to mix in the criminal underworld and by fostering relationships of trust, so as to garner information that would then be provided to the commission for consideration. SG was a source for about 10 years until approximately 2014. He was paid $500 a week expenses for his car, phone and beer to mingle with some of Sydneys best-known and most dangerous criminals. It appears he was more of an undercover operative than a run-of-the-mill informant and criminals would no doubt label him a dog. The commission obviously saw him, given his length of service, as a unique and valuable asset. Whatever you think of him, it was a dangerous life. The crime commission is an immensely powerful law enforcement agency. It holds secret hearings and can compel witnesses to answer questions and produce documents. If they refuse, they can be jailed. It has the power to seize and confiscate assets such as real estate, luxury cars, cash and jewellery. At this point, I should reveal that I first met SG a few times in the 1980s. I didnt see him after that for many years until, one day, I spotted him in an inner west pub. He was halfway out the door when I called his name and we spoke briefly, but he didnt want to linger or chat, which I thought at the time was a little odd. He seemed a bit edgy. Now I know why. He was working undercover for the crime commission. I only raise my knowledge of him in the context of him being paid $500 a week. For SG, that would have been a pittance, which, to this old reporters way of thinking, gives some weight to his claim that he was promised a lot more than that. I dont think he was risking his life for the fun of it. Exactly how much money he was promised is not clear, but law enforcement officials familiar with these things told the Herald it might have been a percentage of the cash seized as a result of his tip-offs. Loading For instance, if the crime commission discovered $4 million in the home of a drug trafficker fingered by SG, he might get 2.5 per cent a tidy $100,000. This is where the dispute arises when SG and the commission formed their partnership in 2004 there may well have been promises made, but there was nothing on paper there was no prenup. SG didnt make written records. Rothman accepted that this was for obvious reasons it was far too dangerous for him to have those sort of records lying about. Leaking like a sieve It appears that around this time, the commission itself was not considered all that secure. One former law enforcement officer is on record as saying it leaked like a sieve. It was certainly not entirely trusted by its law enforcement partners, the NSW and the Australian Federal Police. A case in point is the decision by the crime commission in 2005 to allow the sale of six to seven kilograms of cocaine in what was supposed to be a controlled operation. As I wrote when I broke that story in 2006, it was far from controlled the cocaine made its way onto the streets of Sydney. The AFP pulled out of the operation, believing it to be illegal. The case went all the way up to the High Court, where in 2008 it was revealed that the commission had allowed between 70,000 and 100,000 units of cocaine to be sold on the streets of Sydney. The crime commission argued before six judges of the High Court that this was not a problem cocaine, it suggested, would not necessarily seriously endanger the lives of end users. It was an argument which, not surprisingly, was rejected by the High Court. It pointed out the bleeding obvious that the importation, supply and possession of cocaine was prohibited by law for the very fact that it was likely to endanger health and safety. At the time, I quoted a drug and alcohol expert who said that in 2003 alone cocaine had been a factor in 15 deaths. The commissions cavalier approach didnt seem to bother NSW politicians one bit. If anyone knows about the commissions cowboy tactics and involvement in other criminal activity, its SG. Not only what its officers did, but also what its officers did not do with information provided by him about some of Sydneys biggest drug traffickers. Were judges misled about the level of criminality of some of those appearing before them for sentence? It is believed SGs tip-offs led to the NSW Crime Commission seizing hundreds of kilograms of drugs. Credit: Kate Geraghty/Arsena Villanueva We dont know but Id reckon SG might have a bit to say about it. So was there a contract? In his judgments, Justice Stephen Rothman identified the commission officer who first spoke to SG in 2003 only by the initials JG. According to Rothmans judgments, JG plays a significant role in this story it appears he is prepared to corroborate SGs version of events, but may now be prevented by the secrecy laws from doing so. This brings us back to the commissions efforts to keep SG and his potentially embarrassing or damaging testimony about the operations of the crime commission out of court. When he lodged his claim for breach of contract in July 2015, SG alleged the contract was made on behalf of the commission by one of its senior officers. In 2016, the commission tried to have the claim summarily dismissed. It told Rothman the claim was an abuse of process because it was in breach of the commissions secrecy provisions. It alleged a former officer of the commission had provided confidential information to SG and thus his court action depended upon an illegality he was in possession of secret information he was not supposed to have. It was a breach of the secrecy provisions in section 80 of its act. But in November 2016, Rothman ruled against the commission SGs claim could go ahead. He said the NSW Crime Commission was established as a corporation and where it acted in its corporate capacity, as distinct from its investigative capacity, the secrecy provisions of section 80 did not apply. By way of example, he said if the commission were to enter into a leasing agreement with a landlord and a dispute arose, it would not be illegal for the landlord to seek or produce documents relating to the terms of the contract for the lease. Referring to SG, he said the commission was not able to hide behind the secrecy provisions and prevent SG from obtaining documents which might relate to any contract. In other words, SG had a case to argue. He said the evidence of an officer of the commission identified only as JG could arguably corroborate SGs claim that a contract was entered into. The crime commission was not happy. In 2017, it appealed to the NSW Court of Appeal and lost. Loading The commission was not finished. Further argument and another judgment ensued, but because of suppression orders it cant be reported. In late 2022, in the dying days of the Liberal state government, new legislation including the amendment of the Crime Commission Act 2012 was passed by NSW parliament. It changed the section 80 secrecy provisions relating to the commissions corporate activities. On one view, the changes negated the 2016 ruling by Rothman. It appears the judge was unimpressed by this development. In a judgment delivered in July 2023, he said section 80 had been amended to take account of his earlier ruling. He said the changes created a significant difficulty. First there was a fundamental unfairness that SG could not see relevant material and so does not have the ability to test any claim made by the commission. The unfairness, he said, had been deliberately created by the legislature. Id put it another way. To mix a few metaphors, it looks to me like the crime commission has pulled a card from the bottom of the pack, and not just moved the goalposts but locked SG and his legal team in the change rooms. The NSW Crime Commission disagrees. I sent a series of questions to the commission asking about the changes to the secrecy legislation in 2022 and whether it was a specific attempt to stop a witness from giving evidence in favour of SG. I received an automated response saying the media officer would be out of the office until January 2026. Somehow, in the context of the snail-like pace of the case, this seemed apt. SG says he gave up information on Sydneys criminal milieu between 2004 and 2014 before fleeing overseas. Credit: Wolter Peeters/Arsena Villanueva To be fair, the commission subsequently responded by saying it regarded itself as a model litigant and that the legislative amendments do not stop any witness giving evidence. The amendments were designed to address vulnerabilities in the legislation that had the potential to compromise the personal safety of commission witnesses and sources, as well as reveal sensitive law enforcement methodology. For his own safety, SG is now, as Rothman puts it, in exile overseas, whereabouts unknown. I asked his solicitor, John Laxon, for a comment on the long-running saga. He said: Everyone accepts the need for secrecy provisions to protect the crime commission from the crooks. What we do not accept is using those same secrecy provisions to protect the crime commission when they act like crooks. We just want a fair fight for a man who did the commissions bidding and put his life in danger for them. Without question, their actions put his life at risk. Loading Its believed the case will be listed for yet another hearing this year. The quote at the top of this story comes from a 1972 book called Secrecy, which railed against the ingrained habit of the political system to keep its citizens in the dark and the debilitating effect on the open, democratic process. It was written by a young whippersnapper Jim Spigelman who went on to do rather well for himself. From 1998 to 2011, James Spigelman was the Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court. Just quietly, between you, me and the gatepost, I reckon young Jim knew a thing or two. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter. Liverpool Councils former chief executive John Ajaka allegedly directed a senior council bureaucrat to use creative accounting to find $25 million in the councils draft budget, an inquiry has heard. The NSW Office of Local Governments public inquiry into Liverpool City Council is examining councillors conduct, as well as the organisations handling of finances, property purchases, staff employment and more than $150 million in state government grants for infrastructure projects. Liverpool City Councils director of corporate services Farooq Portelli provides evidence at the inquiry on Thursday. Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig announced the inquiry last July after a report detailed serious allegations of dysfunction and maladministration at the council in south-west Sydney. Weeks earlier, the council had ousted Ajaka, the former president of the NSW Legislative Council and the councils 10th chief executive in eight years, after a falling out with Mayor Ned Mannoun. The e-scooters and e-bikes once owned by banned company Beam Mobility are returning to Brisbane streets, but not as you might expect, as the global micromobility hire company merges with one of its key competitors. Neuron Mobility announced it had merged its Australian operations with Beam, and expected to return 700 purple albeit rebranded and refurbished e-scooters to Brisbane streets. After years of competing head to head, were delighted to bring together the strengths of both companies under the Neuron banner, Neuron Australia and New Zealand general manager Jayden Bryant said. Purple scooters are returning to Brisbane streets after ousted Beam Mobility merged with Neuron Mobility. Credit: Neuron Mobility The former Beam vehicles are refitted with Neuron proprietary technology and safety features, sport orange branding and accents, and are bookable through the Neuron app. Complications with a once in a generation under-river infrastructure project are forcing officials to dump millions of litres of raw sewage and stormwater directly into the Brisbane River. A total of 540 megalitres has been discharged in the past 18 months and the practice is set to continue for months, if not years. The problem stems from the $210 million Bulimba-Hamilton Siphon Renewal Program. The project involves restoring a tunnel built between 1948 and 1954, used to transport sewage from a catchment of about 150,000 residents on Brisbanes southside to the Luggage Point Resource Recovery Centre on the north, for processing. A flight evaluation check has gone tragically wrong after a light plane crashed in a fireball, killing two people. Investigators said a pilot and an external flight examiner were undergoing an instrument proficiency check before tragedy struck west of Brisbane on Sunday. The twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406 aircraft owned by Aero Logistics crashed into a grassy area at Devon Park near Oakey about 3pm, killing the two people on board. Investigators rushed to the scene to try and piece together how Australias 11th fatal plane crash this year occurred. Shareholders of a for-profit childcare chain where accused childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown allegedly sexually assaulted children are demanding answers from the company about its handling of the scandal. The case against Brown and his co-accused, Michael Wilson, will return to court briefly on Tuesday, while investors in the publicly listed G8 Education are demanding a meeting with the companys management after this masthead revealed G8 may have misled the stock market about what it knew and when. Investors are demanding answers over what G8 Education knew about alleged childcare abuser Joshua Brown. Credit: Marija Ercegovac The charges against Brown plunged the state into its most serious childcare safety crisis when they were publicly revealed on July 1. More than 2000 children who had attended any of the 24 daycares where the 26-year-old had worked since 2017 have been recommended for testing for sexually transmitted infections, and pressure continues to mount over the failure of state oversight authorities and childcare operators who employed Brown over the years to act on red flags about his behaviour. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Kyiv, during which the parties discussed a number of issues, in particular the need for air defense. We discussed defense support, particularly with air defense assets, training for our warriors, and the outcomes of the Ramstein meetings. We are ready to expand joint defense production. There is a decision by French companies to begin manufacturing drones in Ukraine and this is highly valuable. We also addressed sanctions against Russia and Ukraines EU accession talks, Zelenskyy said on X Monday. The President thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and Barrot for their support, and he also thanked the country for the Mirage aircraft. According to the press service of the head of state, during the meeting he welcomed the adoption of the 18th package of EU sanctions against the Russian Federation, in particular the reduction of the maximum price for Russian oil. "We need to continue our efforts to help you protect the Ukrainian people and increase pressure on Russia to achieve a ceasefire so that genuine peace talks can begin that will lead to a just and sustainable peace," Barrot said. WA billionaire builder Len Buckeridges widow Siok Puay Tootsie Koh has bought a $5.5 million sprawling estate east of Perth in a receivership deal. The 143-hectare private retreat-turned-tourist destination on Toodyay Road in Gidgegannup was auctioned off in March, with the new owner only revealed today. Le Lake Retreat in Gidgegannup. Credit: EPS Known as Le Lake Retreat, the picturesque grounds include 10 hectares of lakes, a three-bedroom lakeside cabin, beaches, jetties, landscaped semi-formal and ornamental gardens featuring 12 gazebos, multiple waterfalls, and a plethora of sculptures and artworks sourced from a UK studio. Nestled between two of the lakes, the parterre pays homage to the 15th century gardens of the French Renaissance, with the manicured formal lawns, intricate, low, clipped hedging, waterfall and cascading stream inspired by the Rothschild Gardens at Lake Como. It last sold for $7.7 million in 2019. Effective Property Solutions head of property investments Ollie Salimi said the property which also includes an office, sheds and equipment was originally owned by Perth-based shopping centre magnate Michael Coleman. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has sought to downplay a rift with the Trump administration after Australia joined a coalition of 28 nations calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and condemning Israel over the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians seeking aid. Australias strongest criticism yet of Israels conduct in the war drew a sharp rebuke from the United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who labelled the joint statement disgusting and said it was irrational to blame Israel for the failure to secure a ceasefire. Palestinians gather to collect humanitarian aid from a distribution point in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. Credit: Bloomberg As pro-Palestinian protesters were evicted from Parliament House in Canberra on the opening of the new term of parliament, Wong said the government was seeking to channel the real distress that Australians feel about what theyre seeing in Gaza. We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now, the countries wrote in the United Kingdom-led statement. Advertisement InspirationLondon Controversies aside, this remains one of the greatest museums on Earth David Whitley July 22, 2025 5:00am Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles 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 This article is part of Travellers Destination Guide to London. See all stories . Seven wonders of the British Museum, London Containing vast collections of treasures from the ancient world, the British Museum in London is a prodigious source of education and wow moments. The museums Great Court. Enter the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos The Mausoleum of Halikarnassos the giant ornamental tomb created for King Maussollos of Karia, south-west Turkey was one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Advertisement These days, significant sections of the 40-metre-tall, 2300-year-old mausoleum are inside Room 21 of the British Museum. These include the Amazon frieze, depicting Herakles and Theseus battling with the Amazon women, the massive statue of Maussollos and most photo-friendly of all one of the giant marble horses from the tomb roof. Say hi to Ramesses II Face of the ancients statue of Ramesses II. For many visitors, the Egyptian collection is the British Museums highlight. There are several rooms of mummies on the first floor, but the most striking single piece is the partially damaged 2.7-metre statue of Pharoah Ramesses II in Room 4. Originally from the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses II in Thebes, where the lower part of the statue is still in situ, this grey-pink granite behemoth was carved from one block of stone, then transported on sleds overland before being taken on a purpose-built boat along the River Nile. Gain enlightenment from the Rosetta Stone Advertisement The unassuming Rosetta Stone changed world history. The most important item in the Egyptian collection, however, is the Rosetta Stone. Discovered in 1799 by Napoleons invading army, the stone was originally part of a stela recording a priests decree in 196BC. Crucially, the decree was written in three languages Greek, the everyday Demotic script and the sacred hieroglyphics. This proved to be the key to translating hieroglyphics, making sense of monuments and temples across the land and unlocking thousands of years of ancient Egyptian history. Hang out with Hoa Hakananaia Hoa Hakananaia... the people of Rapa Nui want it back. The Living and Dying section of the museum includes some striking hollow log coffins from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, but the giant centrepiece is Hoa Hakananaia one of the stone moai from Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Its unusual in that its made from basalt rather than softer volcanic rock, and is thought to be one of the most spiritually important moai. Signage explains the moai were raised in honour of important deified ancestors and embodied their spirits. Unsurprisingly, the people of Rapa Nui want it back. Advertisement Understand the Parthenon Sculptures Sculptures that form part of the Parthenon Marbles, in the British Museum. Getty Images The Greeks, not unjustifiably, think the Parthenon Sculptures should be back in Athens. Nevertheless, the extraordinary artworks that once adorned the largest Greek temple ever created are organised as they would have been before the Ottomans severely damaged the Parthenon in 1687. Signs explain the stories told on the friezes and pediments such as the drunken centaurs trying to kidnap the Lapith women at a wedding and explore the artistry of the Gods on the West Pediment being arranged in different poses to fit the triangle shape. Gaze up at the Great Court roof The Lion of Knidos in the Great Court. Advertisement Its not just the artefact collection that makes the British Museum spectacular the architecture does too. The building is a neoclassical masterpiece, but the hub is the Great Court. Opened in the year 2000, after a radical redesign by Norman Foster, it comes with a mesmerising glass roof of endlessly overlapping arcs. Theres plenty on display under that roof, too including the seven-tonne Lion of Knidos taken from a 2200-year-old clifftop tomb in Turkey, and Haida totem poles from Canada. Fall in love with the Lewis Chessmen Small wonders Lewis chess set. Related Article Britain Londons must-see historic attraction will still surprise you Not every wonder in the British Museum is giant. The Lewis Chessmen are small and almost cartoonishly pudgy but symbolic of how games and ideas spread across the world. Carved from walrus ivory in the 12th century, probably in Norway, these 78 personality-packed chess pieces were found on the Scottish island of Lewis one of the furthest outposts of the medieval world. The rooks are the most distinctive biting their shield like berserkers in a Norse saga. Advertisement See Britishmuseum.org. The writer was a guest of Visit Britain. See (VisitBritain.com) Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: London Britain David Whitley is a writer based in Sheffield, England, who has made it his mission to cover as much of Australia as possible. He has a taste for unusual experiences and oddities with a great story behind them. As far as Davids concerned, happiness is nosily ambling around a history-packed city or driving punishing distances through the middle of nowhere on a big road trip. He is also probably the only person to have been to Liechtenstein and the Cook Islands in the same week. Traveller Guides Dhaka: A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school in the capital shortly after take-off, catching fire and killing the pilot and dozens of other people, mostly students, officials said. At least 27 people were killed, Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for health ministry, told reporters on Tuesday afternoon AEST. Rescue teams search for survivors after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed onto a school campus. Credit: AP Another 171 students were rescued with injuries from a smouldering two-storey building, officials said, including many with burns who were whisked away in helicopters, motorised rickshaws and the arms of firefighters and parents. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a technical malfunction moments after takeoff just after 5pm on Monday AEST. The pilot attempted to divert the plane to a less populated area before crashing into the campus of Milestone School and College, according to a statement from the military. Law enforcement agencies have not accused Trump of any wrongdoing related to Epstein, and he has never been identified as a target of any associated investigation. Last week, Trump called for relevant grand jury testimony in the prosecution of Epstein to be made public, and he has repeatedly dismissed any notion that he has something to hide. Even if that testimony is released, it is unlikely to shed much light on the relationship between the two men, which did not figure prominently in Epsteins criminal cases. Trump and his future wife, Melania, with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000. Credit: Getty Images Farmer said she had long wondered how law enforcement agencies handled her complaints in 1996 and 2006. And she said she had been wondering in particular whether federal authorities did anything with her concerns about Trump. She said she had raised his name both times, not only because he seemed so close to Epstein but because of an encounter, which she has previously described publicly, that she said she had with Trump in Epsteins New York office. Shes not here for you The encounter with Trump, Farmer said, occurred in 1995 as she was preparing to work for Epstein. She said she told the authorities that late one night, Epstein unexpectedly called her to his offices in a luxury building in Manhattan, and she arrived in running shorts. Trump then arrived, wearing a business suit, and started to hover over her, she said she told the authorities. Loading Farmer said she recalled feeling scared as Trump stared at her bare legs. Then Epstein entered the room, and she recalled him saying to Trump: No, no. Shes not here for you. The two men left the room, and Farmer said she could hear Trump commenting that he thought Farmer was 16 years old. After her encounter with Trump, Farmer said, she had no other alarming interactions with him, and did not see him engage in inappropriate conduct with girls or women. The White House on Friday night contested Farmers account and cited Trumps long-ago decision to end his friendship with Epstein. The president was never in his office, White House communications director Steven Cheung said, referring to Epstein. The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. Reports to law enforcement Farmer, an artist, worked for Epstein in 1995 and 1996, initially to acquire art on his behalf but then later to oversee the comings and goings of girls, young women and celebrities at the front entrance of his Upper East Side townhouse. In 1996, Farmer said she went to stay at Epsteins estate in Ohio in a complex developed by Leslie Wexner, chief executive of the company that owned Victorias Secret. Epstein and Maxwell came that summer. Farmer said that after she was asked to give Epstein a foot massage, he and Maxwell violently groped her until she fled the room and barricaded herself in another part of the building. Farmer was an artist who did work on nude figures, and she also reported that partially nude photos she had of her two younger sisters were missing from a storage lockbox. Loading Over the years, Farmer has been attacked by people who questioned whether she could be trusted. She was not called to testify when Maxwell was prosecuted and convicted in 2021 of conspiring with Epstein to sexually exploit and abuse girls. (Her sister Annie did testify in the case about how Maxwell had massaged her bare chest after she had been invited to Epsteins estate in New Mexico.) But Farmers mother said she remembered hearing about the Trump encounter around the time it occurred in 1996, and that Maria Farmer had first gone to the FBI that year. Annie Farmer also said she remembered Maria sharing that she had told the FBI about Epstein and powerful people like Trump and Clinton. In her first interviews with The New York Times in 2019, Maria Farmer said that before she spoke to the FBI, she first spoke to the 6th Precinct of the New York Police Department. Police records show that she had done that in August 1996. Law enforcement agencies have not released records of any FBI report Farmer made in 1996, but handwritten notes from the interview agents did with her a decade later match her account, including that 6th precinct told MF to call FBI. The portions of those FBI records that have been released do not mention Trump, but much of the account remains redacted. The FBI did not respond to a request for comment. Unclear follow-up Epstein was indicted in 2006 and later pleaded guilty to two felony charges, including soliciting a minor, in a deal that avoided federal charges. In 2019, he was charged again, accused of trafficking dozens of girls, some as young as 14, and engaging in sex acts with them. He was later found dead in a jail cell, and officials have said he hanged himself. It is unclear whether federal investigators pursued a deeper examination of Trumps relationship with Epstein or whether the authorities documented what Farmer said she told them about Trump. Loading Trumps friendship with Epstein has been captured in videos of them partying together and comments the men have made, and his name appears in some previously released case records, including Epsteins flight logs. Trump was quoted in 2002 as calling Epstein a terrific guy. He has since said that he is not a fan of Epstein, and has emphasised that he broke with him two decades ago. In recent years, Trumps allies have pressed for further release of federal files related to Epstein. But after initially promising full disclosure, Attorney-General Pam Bondi suddenly backtracked this month, saying a review of the case found nothing to indicate that anyone else should be charged. PHILIPSBURG:--- Theres been some talk lately criticizing the use of LNG (liquefied natural gas) in ships. Some say its not a real solution for cleaner oceans and skies. But what many of these articles dont say is just as important as what they do. Lets break it down simply so everyone in Sint Maarten can understand what LNG really will mean for us, our air, our port, and a financial boost to our economy. LNG Means Cleaner Air, Right Now! When ships use LNG instead of diesel, the difference is immediate and powerful. LNG cuts: Harmful sulfur gases by 99% Dangerous nitrogen oxides (NO ) by 85% Dirty soot and particles by 95%1 That means cleaner air around our coastlines and ports where people live, work, and where tourists arrive. Better air means fewer health problems, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues. For a small island that depends heavily on tourism and hospitality, this is not just good news; its essential. LNG Helps Fight Climate ChangeEven With Its Flaws Some people bring up a concern called methane slip, which is when small amounts of methane leak during LNG use. Yes, this is a real issue, but the industry is already fixing it with better engines and technologies. Modern studies show slip averages about 3.8%, but improvements are lowering this2. Even with some slip, LNG still produces 2030% less CO than conventional marine fuels over its full life cycle3. That means it helps reduce greenhouse gases now, while we continue working toward zeroemission technologies like hydrogen or electric power. Waiting for perfect solutions means doing nothing now and thats not an option for an island already seeing the effects of climate change. LNG Meets Global Rulesand Saves Money Doing It In 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced strict rules limiting sulfur emissions from ships. Many vessels had to install expensive scrubbers to comply. LNG-fueled ships naturally meet these standards without the need for add-ons4. Even better, LNG engines are bio-LNG and e-LNG ready, meaning they can switch to renewable LNG blends in the future with minimal modification5. That flexibility makes LNG a smart investment both now and going forward. Ports Around the World Are Already Switching Some say theres not enough infrastructure for LNG. That used to be truebut not anymore. As of this year, 185 ports worldwide offer LNG bunkering, a 50% increase since 20206. Even closer to home, the Caribbean is preparing. Aruba and other nearby ports are investing in LNG ready facilities7. Globally, more than 1,300 LNG-capable vessels are either operating or on order8. Sint Maarten can and should be part of this movement. LNG Is a Bridge to a Cleaner Future, Not a Step Back Lets be honest: LNG is not perfect. But in 2025, we need real solutions not just dreams. Hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia are promising, but theyre expensive, hard to store, and not widely available yet9. LNG is here. It works. And it can cut emissions today while giving us time to develop better technologies for tomorrow. Choosing LNG doesnt mean giving up on greener options. It means taking smart, science-based steps right now. The Bottom Line: Lets Leadnot Follow Some critics seem more interested in pointing fingers than finding solutions. Some may even have hidden agendas pushing opinions that serve other countries or corporationsnot the people of Sint Maarten. But we know whats at stake: Our economy Our childrens future Our leadership in the Caribbean MP Lacroes is quoted saying: LNG is not the final answer, but its a smart, safe, and necessary step forward. Lets not let perfect be the enemy of good. Real progress is being proposed for our country, our health, and our people. Its time we stand behind it. Footnotes & Sources PHILIPSBURG:--- When the backbone of a nation's infrastructure falls silent, people notice. NV GEBE, Sint Maarten's lifeline for electricity and water, has been unusually quiet under its new leadership, and that silence is growing louder than any press release ever could. The new temporary/transition manager, Thomas Roggendorf, issued a carefully worded press release last week that promised transparency and stability, yet raised more questions than answers. It is now seventy (70) working days into his tenure, which is ample time to establish a vision. While local media still receive polite yet firm rejections, the exclusive and costly interview with USA Today remains unpublished and inaccessible to the Sint Maarten public. This selective silence speaks volumes. Why prioritize foreign press over local media? What transformations are being planned? Most critically, what does this lack of transparency mean for NV GEBE's dedicated workforcethe same employees who kept services running through cyberattacks, generator failures, and constant leadership changes? My approach has always been straightforward; I seek to uphold the principle of good governance, which includes transparency and accountability. That same principle guides my examination of NV GEBEs current trajectory. I ask the tough questions, push for accountability, and focus on practical solutions that prioritize the peoples well-being. Roggendorfs stated priorities to upgrade aging infrastructure and transition to renewable energy are necessary, but such transitions often come with unspoken consequences. Corporate language like "modernization" and "operational efficiency," when left unexplained, historically precedes difficult decisions that impact employees. Without clear communication, workers are left to wonder: Will their years of dedication be honored, or will they become collateral damage in the name of progress? NV GEBEs workforce has endured multiple management changes, prolonged outages, and cyberattacksyet they persevered. Now, amid vague corporate terminology and a lack of local engagement, they face uncertainty. While no layoffs have been announced, the absence of clear assurances is troubling. When leadership prioritizes overseas media over local media outlets and responds to workforce concerns with jargon rather than clarity, it erodes trust rather than building it. Heres what I know from my short time in Parliament: Sint Maarten thrives on transparency and withers under secrecy. NV GEBE is not a private corporation; it is a public utility funded by and accountable to the people it serves. Avoiding local scrutiny while courting international attention doesnt signal confidence; it fuels skepticism. Some will ask, "But what about when your party governed?" My answer is simple: leadership is about solving problems to stay on course to meet our goals, not re-litigating the past. Every administration inherits both progress and challenges. Im here now not to fight old battles but to learn from them and push for solutions based on facts. You cant steer a country forward while only focusing on the rearview mirror. This isn't about resisting progress - it's about shaping it responsibly. The transition to renewable energy and infrastructure upgrades must happen, but how we get there matters just as much as the destination. True progress protects both the public's interest and the workers who make service possible. Here's how concerns can be turned into concrete action: Foster Accountability - NV GEBE's leadership is replacing vague promises with measurable transparency goals, starting with monthly public reports on infrastructure projects and workforce planning. Local First Communication - Major announcements should debut through local media channels, with international outreach following, not preceding, community disclosure. Workforce Partnership - Modernization plans should be developed in consultation with employees and unions, with retraining programs established before any role transitions begin. Sunlight as Policy - Implement regular public forums where leadership answers direct questions from both consumers and employees about NV GEBE's direction. The path forward becomes clear when we recognize that transparency and progress aren't competing priorities; they're mutually reinforcing. Accountability measures don't slow modernization; they ensure it happens right the first time. Workforce protections don't hinder efficiency; they preserve the institutional knowledge that makes efficiency possible. This is my commitment, NV GEBE's developments will have my unwavering and full attention. Every major decision made, every delayed disclosure, and every consequence on workers and consumers will be closely monitored. Because when livelihoods hang in the balance, "trust the process" simply isnt good enough; we need to see the process, clearly and transparently. To NV GEBE's workforce: your resilience has not gone unnoticed. To the public: Your right to transparency will not go unenforced. And to the new leadership: sunlight is not just coming, it is already breaking through. Darryl York Member of Parliament Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting on the development, production and procurement of drones; tomorrow the government is to make the relevant decisions. Government officials, the National Security and Defense Council, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Office team are working together. We analyzed all areas related to the drones we need, with particular emphasis on interceptor drones. There were reports on each truly effective development we will contract as many as possible. Tomorrow, Government officials must adopt the relevant decisions, Zelenskyy said on X following the meeting. The announced volumes of drone supplies for our Ukraine's Defense Forces will strengthen the protection of our positions on the front and support normal life in cities and villages. Responsibility for fulfilling the contracts is personal, the President noted. He also said that Ukraine is working on scaling up deep strikes. New twist in EU-China patents standoff at WTO Geneva, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 The European Union has obtained a mostly favourable ruling in one of its ongoing trade disputes with China over intellectual property, according to a decision published by the WTO Monday. Brussels first brought its case against China to the World Trade Organization three years ago, charging that Beijing was preventing European tech companies from using foreign courts to defend their patents. A panel of WTO experts set up in December 2022 to examine the case issued a ruling last April rejecting most of Brussels' claims, and saying it had not demonstrated that China's actions violated the global trade organisation's rules on intellectual property. But an arbitration body created as an alternative to WTO's moribund appellate system has now largely reversed that ruling. "The arbitrators disagreed with the Panel's interpretation," a Geneva-based trade official, who asked not to be identified, said, explaining the decision. The arbitrators, the official said, "found that the main measure at issue - which empowered Chinese courts to prohibit patent holders from enforcing their patent rights in jurisdictions outside of China in the context of patent litigation in China - was inconsistent with TRIPS obligations concerning those patent rights". TRIPS, or the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, sets minimum standards for IP protection among member states. Washington brought the WTO's own Appellate Body to a grinding halt in December 2019 through years of blocking the appointment of new judges. This has left many rulings by the WTO's lower Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) hanging, with dozens of dispute panel ruling so far appealed "into the void". In the meantime, nearly 30 WTO members, including the European Union and China -- but not the United States -- have developed an alternative appellate process allowing some cases move forward. The ruling published Monday was the second to date by the so-called Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). In their conclusion, the arbitrators said WTO members were obligated to implement the TRIPS agreement "without frustrating the functioning of the systems of protection and enforcement of IP rights implemented by other Members in their respective territories". "Accordingly, we recommend that China bring into conformity with the TRIPS Agreement those measures found in this (decision), and in the Panel Report as modified by this (decision), to be inconsistent with that Agreement," they said. Iran confirms fresh nuclear talks with European powers: state media Berlin, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Iran confirmed fresh talks with European powers to be held on Friday in Istanbul, the country's state media reported, the first since the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago. Iranian diplomats will meet counterparts from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, after the trio warned that sanctions could be reimposed on Tehran if it does return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme. Western nations and Israel have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied. "In response to the request of European countries, Iran has agreed to hold a new round of talks," said foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai, as quoted by state TV on Monday. The subject of the talks will be Iran's nuclear programme, it added. A German diplomatic source had told AFP on Sunday the E3 were in contact with Tehran and said "Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon". "That is why Germany, France and the United Kingdom are continuing to work intensively in the E3 format to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear programme," the source said. Israel launched on June 13 a wave of surprise strikes on its regional nemesis, targeting key military and nuclear facilities. The United States launched its own set of strikes against Iran's nuclear programme on June 22, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz. - Kremlin meeting - Iran and the United States had held several rounds of nuclear negotiations through Omani mediators before Israel launched its 12-day war against Iran. However, US President Donald Trump's decision to join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities effectively ended the talks. The E3 countries last met with Iranian representatives in Geneva on June 21 -- just one day before the US strikes. Also Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a surprise meeting in the Kremlin with Ali Larijani, top adviser to Iran's supreme leader on nuclear issues. Larijani "conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear programme", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the unannounced meeting. Putin had expressed Russia's "well-known positions on how to stabilise the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear programme", he added. Moscow has a cordial relationship with Iran's clerical leadership and provides crucial backing for Tehran but did not swing forcefully behind its partner even after the United States joined Israel's bombing campaign. - Snapback mechanism - Iran and world powers struck a deal in 2015 called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed significant restrictions on Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. But the hard-won deal began to unravel in 2018, during Trump's first presidency, when the United States walked away from it and reimposed sanctions on Iran. European countries have in recent days threatened to trigger the deal's "snapback" mechanism, which allows the reimposition of sanctions in the event of non-compliance by Iran. After a call with his European counterparts on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Western allies had "absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds" for reactivating the snapback sanctions. He elaborated in a post to social media Sunday. "Through their actions and statements, including providing political and material support to the recent unprovoked and illegal military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US... the E3 have relinquished their role as 'Participants' in the JCPOA," said Araghchi. That made any attempt to reinstate the terminated UN Security Council resolutions "null and void", he added. "Iran has shown that it is capable of defeating any delusional 'dirty work' but has always been prepared to reciprocate meaningful diplomacy in good faith," Araghchi wrote. However, the German source said Sunday that "if no solution is reached over the summer, snapback remains an option for the E3". Ali Velayati, an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said last week there would be no new nuclear talks with the United States if they were conditioned on Tehran abandoning its uranium enrichment activities. burs-sbk/jj/tc/mtp Iran accuses Europeans of not respecting 2015 nuclear deal Tehran, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Tehran on Monday accused Britain, France and Germany of failing to respect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, after they threatened to reimpose sanctions over its atomic programme. The 2015 deal, reached between Iran and the UN Security Council's permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. But it unravelled when the United States in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term as president, unilaterally withdrew from the accord and reimposed sweeping sanctions. The Europeans had pledged continued support for the deal, but the mechanism intended to offset US sanctions never materialised effectively and many Western firms were forced to exit Iran, which has since faced a deepening economic crisis. "The European parties have been at fault and negligent in implementing" the nuclear agreement, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far beyond the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 accord. That is a short step from the 90 percent required for a nuclear weapon. In recent weeks, France, Britain and Germany have threatened to trigger the UN snapback mechanism to reimpose sanctions on Tehran, accusing Iran of breaching its nuclear commitments. Using this clause "is meaningless, unjustifiable and immoral", Baqaei told a news conference, arguing that Iran only began distancing itself from the agreement in response to Western non-compliance. "Iran's reduction of its commitments was carried out in accordance with the provisions outlined in the agreement," the foreign ministry spokesman added. Greece to create new marine reserves to protect underwater wildlife Athens, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday said that his government was creating two new protected marine areas, fulfilling a promise he made at a United Nations conference on the oceans in June. The new protected areas -- in the Ionian Sea and in the Southern Cyclades in the Aegean Sea -- would be "among the largest marine protected areas in the entire Mediterranean", he said in a video message in English. The prime minister said that the "hugely damaging practice of bottom trawling" by commercial fishing boats would be banned within the new marine reserves and in all Greece's marine protected areas by 2030, making it the first country in Europe to take such a significant step in preservation. Fishing is generally allowed in protected marine areas worldwide, even by trawlers which scrape the seabed with a huge funnel-shaped net, to devastating effect. Mitsotakis said that he had "made a promise to honour (Greece's) unique marine heritage" at last month's UN Oceans Conference in southern France, "and to protect it for generations to come". "Today I am delivering on that promise with the establishment of two new marine national parks... because when we protect our ocean, we protect our own future." Greece is located in the eastern Mediterranean and has around 13,600 kilometres (8,450 miles) of coastline and hundreds of islands. Greece, Brazil and Spain all used the UN conference in Nice, to announce new protected marine reserves and measures to ban bottom trawling, in order to better protect marine wildlife. Mitsotakis said that the size of the new Greek marine reserves "will enable us to achieve the goal of protecting 30 percent of our territorial waters by 2030". He said that the government would work with "local communities, local fishermen, scientists (and) global partners (to) make these parks examples of what is possible". - The oceans are 'life itself' - In May, Athens banned bottom trawling in the waters of the Fournoi Korseon island chain in the Aegean to protect recently discovered coral reefs that are exceptionally rich in marine wildlife. Neighbouring Turkey, whose western coast is close to the Aegean islands, responded to Monday's announcement by criticising such "unilateral action". "International maritime law encourages cooperation between the coastal states of these seas, including on environmental issues," the foreign ministry in Ankara said. It said that Turkey was willing to cooperate with Greece and would soon announce its own plans to protect maritime areas. Greece and Turkey, both members of NATO, have historical disputes over maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea. They signed an agreement in 2023 aimed at easing tensions. Mitsotakis said that "Ocean", a new documentary by British natural history broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, had inspired Greece to accelerate efforts to protect life below the waves. "Ocean", which features spectacular footage of undersea habitats and marine life, emphasises the importance of healthy seas for tackling climate change and the current sweeping loss of wild species across the planet. Mitsotakis said "Ocean" showed that the sea was "not just beautiful scenery". "It is life itself. Delicate. Powerful. And under threat." US authorities probing airliner's close call with B-52 bomber Washington, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 US aviation regulators said Monday they are investigating a recent close call in which a passenger plane took emergency action to avoid a mid-air collision with a US military bomber. A Delta flight operated by SkyWest took off Friday from Minneapolis and was approaching the city of Minot, North Dakota when the pilot rapidly rerouted after seeing another aircraft nearing from the right. "I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it," the pilot told passengers, according to recorded audio of the commercial pilot "Sorry about the aggressive maneuver," he said. "This is not normal at all." The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that US officials are "investigating the event involving SkyWest Airlines Flight 3788 at Minot International Airport on Friday, July 18. SkyWest said it has also begun a probe. The flight was cleared for approach by the tower "but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path," the carrier said in a statement reported by US media. The US Air Force did not provide specifics about the near miss but confirmed in a statement reported by the Washington Post that a B-52 bomber was performing a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair, which took place in Minot. The northern city, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the Canada border, is home to a commercial airport and a US Air Force base. In the video, posted to Instagram and verified by Storyful, the SkyWest pilot told passengers that "nobody told us" about the other plane. He said the Minot tower, which does not use radar -- a common situation in smaller, more remote airfields in the United States -- offered guidance that could have put the passenger jet in jeopardy. "He said 'Turn right.' I said there's an airplane over there. And he says 'Turn left,'" the pilot said. The passenger who recorded the video, Monica Green, said she was "sick to my stomach" about the near miss. Green, quoted by NBC News, said she felt the jet take a hard turn and then "I just remember the plane going, like, sideways... and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass" with no visible skyline. The incident comes less than six months after a US Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet approaching Washington's Reagan National Airport, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. The disaster prompted federal authorities and Congress to review coordination between military and civilian aircraft flying in the same airspace. Romania to buy Israeli air defence systems for over 2 bn euros Bucharest, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Romania announced Monday it has signed a deal with an Israeli company to buy six anti-aircraft systems, as the NATO member and Ukraine neighbour looks to boost its defence posture. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Romania has gained in strategic importance and exposure to defence risks, with Russian drone fragments regularly falling on its soil. Under a framework agreement signed with Israeli defence company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems last week, Romania is set to purchase six integrated Shorad-Vshorad anti-aircraft systems for more than two billion euros ($2.3 billion). Israel's Iron Dome air defence system is one of Rafael's best-known products. According to the deal, three further contracts will need to be signed under the framework agreement, which runs for seven years. The procurement deal, which was rubber-stamped by Romania's parliament in 2020, "aims to equip the army with advanced weapon systems designed to protect against air threats, including drones and cruise missiles", the eastern European country's defence ministry said in a statement. In a recent interview on public television, Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu likened the anti-aircraft systems to "the Iron Dome... when the Iranians attack", saying "that's Shorad-Vshorad and it protects Tel Aviv". In 2024, Romania signed a deal with the United States to purchase 32 F-35 fighter jets for an estimated $6.5 billion. The Black Sea nation has been striving for years to bolster its defence forces and replace its ageing Soviet-era equipment. Germany, Norway vow to step up North Atlantic surveillance Berlin, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 NATO allies Germany and Norway agreed on Monday to step up surveillance against maritime and airborne "threats" in the northern Atlantic region amid high tensions with Russia over the Ukraine war. "Germany and Norway aim to ensure stability and security in maritime areas, including in the High North," said a joint statement released as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Berlin. The two countries also reaffirmed their "unwavering support for Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity against Russia's continued war of aggression." Berlin and Oslo said that "the North Atlantic, including the strategically crucial Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) and Bear gaps and adjacent waters, and the North and Baltic Seas, are crucial for both Norwegian and German security." This, they said, was why their armed forces trained and patrolled the seas together and "cooperate closely under NATO's Regional Plans", the statement added. During the Cold War, NATO kept close watch of the so-called GIUK gap, the key passageway for Soviet submarines and naval vessels from Arctic bases to enter the Atlantic Ocean. Germany and Norway said they would strengthen their "surveillance and control over these strategic areas to counter potential threats, including maritime and airborne activities." They also said that their cooperation in the North Atlantic and North Sea would include "enhanced protection of critical underwater infrastructure". Ahead of new talks, Iran blames Europeans for nuclear deal collapse Tehran, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Tehran blamed European powers on Monday for the failure of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, accusing them of breaking commitments ahead of renewed talks in Istanbul with Britain, France and Germany. The 2015 agreement -- reached between Iran and UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany -- imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, it unravelled in 2018 when the United States, during Donald Trump's first term as president, unilaterally withdrew and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Though Europe pledged continued support, a mechanism intended to offset US sanctions never effectively materialised, forcing many Western firms to exit Iran and deepening its economic crisis. "Iran holds the European parties responsible for negligence in implementing the agreement," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei ahead of Friday's talks in Istanbul with Britain, France and Germany on the deal's future. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan spoke by phone Monday to discuss the talks, Fidan's office said, confirming the date had been set for Friday. Iran will also host a trilateral meeting Tuesday with Chinese and Russian representatives to discuss the nuclear issue and potential sanctions. The Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing would "continue to play a constructive role in pushing relevant sides to restart dialogue and negotiations, and reach a solution that takes in account the legitimate concerns of all parties". In recent weeks, the three European powers have threatened to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran, accusing it of breaching its nuclear commitments. Germany said the Istanbul talks would be at the expert level, with the European trio, or E3, working "flat out" to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution. "If no solution is reached by the end of August... the snapback also remains an option for the E3," said its foreign ministry spokesman, Martin Giese. A clause in the 2015 agreement allows for UN sanctions on Iran to be reimposed through a "snapback" mechanism in the event of non-compliance. However, the agreement expires in October, leaving a tight deadline. - 'No intention of speaking with America' - The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far beyond the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 accord. That is a short step from the 90 percent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon. Using the snapback clause was "meaningless, unjustifiable and immoral", Baqaei told a news conference, arguing that Iran only began distancing itself from the agreement in response to Western non-compliance. "Iran's reduction of its commitments was carried out in accordance with the provisions outlined in the agreement," he said. Western powers -- led by the United States and backed by Israel -- have long accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied this, insisting its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production. Tehran and Washington had held five rounds of nuclear talks starting in April, but a planned meeting on June 15 was cancelled after Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering a 12-day conflict. "At this stage, we have no intention of speaking with America," Baqaei said Monday. Israel launched a wave of surprise strikes on its regional nemesis on June 13, targeting key military and nuclear facilities. The United States launched its own strikes against Iran's nuclear programme on June 22, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz. US withdrawing 700 Marines from Los Angeles: Pentagon Washington, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 The 700 US Marines in Los Angeles are being withdrawn, ending a contentious deployment of the troops in the city, the Pentagon announced on Monday. President Donald Trump ordered thousands of National Guard and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles last month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps -- a move opposed by city leaders and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth "has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. "Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law," he added. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also announced the withdrawal of the Marines in a post on X, saying it was "another win" for the city and that the presence of the troops was "an unnecessary deployment." The removal of the Marines comes after the Pentagon said last week that Hegseth had ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard personnel from Los Angeles, roughly halving the deployment of those troops in the city. As a so-called "sanctuary city" with hundreds of thousands of undocumented people, Los Angeles has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration since the Republican returned to office in January. After immigration enforcement raids spurred unrest and protests last month, Trump -- who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest -- dispatched the National Guard and Marines to quell the disruption. It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor. wd/ksb US promises Philippine president to ramp up deterrence on China Washington, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Top US officials promised President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on Monday that Washington will defend its longtime ally and ramp up military resources aimed at deterring an assertive China. Marcos will meet Tuesday with President Donald Trump, who has rattled many European allies by demanding they pay more to be protected as part of NATO. Both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have both identified China as a top threat, stated their commitment to the seven-decade treaty with the Philippines as they held separate meetings with Marcos on Monday. "Together we remain committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty. And this pact extends to armed attacks on our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard anywhere in the Pacific, including the South China Sea," Hegseth told Marcos. Noting growing US defense spending, Hegseth said that the two countries "must forge a strong shield of real deterrence for peace, ensuring the long-term security and prosperity for our nations." "We do not seek confrontation, but we are and will be ready and resolute," Hegseth said. Marcos welcomed US support, noting the "changing political geopolitical forces and the political developments around our part of the world." China and the Philippines have engaged in a series of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Since his election in 2022, Marcos has boosted cooperation between the former US colony and the United States, both under Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden. According to the Agency's mid-2025 report, 310 applications were received last year for inventions, utility models, and industrial designs, compared to 302 in 2023. The breakdown includes: 204 invention applications (up from 201) 69 utility model applications (up from 67) 37 industrial design applications (up from 34) Additionally, 39 applications were submitted to the Eurasian Patent Office, while 7 invention applications were filed under the PCT international patent system, marking a 12% rise in international patent outreach compared to the previous year. The number of patents officially granted also rose notably. In 2024, a total of 185 patents were registered in the State Register, an increase from 151 in 2023. These included: 128 patents for inventions (up from 103) 43 patents for utility models (up from 36) 14 patents for industrial designs (up from 12) Overall, patent activity grew by 22%, reflecting not only increased innovation and research output but also a stronger legal framework supporting intellectual property in Azerbaijan. The actions of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) against detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the unscheduled inspection of compliance with state secrets by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) signal the authorities' desire to destroy the independence of anti-corruption agencies and use force to obtain information and influence investigations into top officials, Transparency International Ukraine said in a statement. "Transparency International Ukraine publicly declares the inadmissibility of pressure on anti-corruption bodies... Official information in the public space indicates that the main goal of these actions was a general desire to influence the activities of the NABU and the SAPO," the Transparency International said on its Telegram channel on Monday. The statement notes that the essence of the offenses charged against the NABU detectives indicates "a different goal than the declared one," and the scale and planned nature of the operation do not allow us to speak about the urgency of the searches. In particular, the suspicions from the State Bureau of Investigations in cases of road accidents in 2021 and 2023 "do not resemble the usual procedure of pretrial investigation, but are a targeted action to rehabilitate any cases that can be found on NABU employees." It is also indicated that conducting an unscheduled check of compliance with state secrets of the SAPO without prior notification to the management is a violation and creates a risk of compromising anti-corruption investigations in general. "The SBU's possible access to the materials of all covert investigative actions and special operations could lead to the disruption of existing cases, including those involving top officials," Transparency International said. The organization said the campaign by the SBU, the PGO, and the SBI "violates a number of norms of Ukrainian law and signals a desire to compromise the work of anti-corruption institutions." "Transparency International Ukraine emphasizes that such actions are especially harmful to our country during a war, as they destroy the stability of institutions that ensure the integrity and development of the state. We call on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to publicly guarantee the independence of anti-corruption bodies and demand that the State Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office stop the illegal pressure," the statement reads. The actions of the SBU, the PGO, and the SBI were also sharply criticized by the public organization "Anti-Corruption Action Center" and the anti-corruption center "Mezha" (Border). Head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center Vitaliy Shabunin, who was remanded in custody by Pechersky District Court of Kyiv until August 20 in the form of a personal bond on July 15, expressed his belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "is building a corrupt autocracy in which individuals like Chernyshov and Mindich can steal and not be punished for it, and Zelenskyy himself can be re-elected without any problems." "To do this, we need to purge critics and whistleblowers (for example, me and the Anti-Corruption Action Center), then destroy the NABU/SAPO and curtail free media," he said on Telegram on Monday. At the same time, the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center suggested that suspicions about "moles" in the NABU may be not unfounded. "Could there have been hostile rats inside NABU? It's possible (we'll look at the evidence in court), but something suggests that there won't be open sessions. Let me remind you that there were enough traitors in the SBU itself... Today's attack by Bankova on SAPO/NABU is not about fighting external rats. It's about protecting internal rats," Shabunin said. Head of the Mezha center Martyna Bohuslavets also believes that the reason for the investigative actions against NABU detectives and the SAPO inspection are the cases against representatives and entourage of the current government, which these anti-corruption agencies are investigating. "Today, the President's Office, through the SBU, received access to 658 criminal cases that are being investigated by the NABU. But what's even worse is that Bankova received access not only to already opened criminal cases. But also to those materials where suspicions were only being prepared. So there they are. They will no longer be there. Because now they will warn all their own people," Bohuslavets said on Facebook. According to her, the President's Office received access to all the secret special operations that were planned by the NABU and the SAPO, and "this is a step to stop all future cases of top-level corruption of officials and block the work of the NABU and the SAPO." "This is an attempt to take control of the NABU and the SAPO by the President's Office. We are already communicating with international partners about this. They are asking us about all this and they are in wild shock from such impudence and what happened today," Bohuslavets said. As reported, the NABU confirmed in the morning that 15 of its employees are being searched. According to them, the reasons for these actions in the vast majority of cases are the involvement of individuals in road accidents. Later, three NABU employees were reported to be suspected of committing road accidents that resulted in injuries to the victims. The Commissions report is not totally without merit. Given the narrow framing he was handed by DEFRA, Sir Jon does put forward some sensible steps (how could he not, when starting from a system as broken as this?). Calls for a comprehensive national strategy is essential. Regional water system planning authorities would help democratise decision making in the industry - however these must have power over the water companies, or they risk becoming little more than talking shops. And new powers to secure long term, low risk investors are necessary to avoid a resurgence of profiteering. But can the failed profit-hungry model of the current industry deliver the restoration of our waters? We arent convinced. Because the bottom line is that for the sewage scandal to end, we must also see an end to a system driven by profit. He said: Theres definitely times when Im running on fumes and Ive got nothing. Weve been doing this for 43 years or something. And you know, our performance is really physical. I try to stay in the best shape I can. But for me, emotionally, the whole thing is, Im doing this to be of service. On her wedding day, Lucia breaks under the pressure and, offstage, she murders Arturo before joining what should be the marriage celebrations. What follows is 20 minutes of the most exquisite bel canto (beautiful singing) as we watch and hear her lose her mind. Her so-called Mad Scene is hardly an act of redemption. Torture, perhaps? Its certainly a trial for the singer who takes the role. Is it a form of resistance or simply another objectification, Woman as Other? Whatever, it is utterly convincing even while we know its unseemly to represent madness this way. Photo: https://president.gov.ua/ It is necessary to support the search for funding for the production of Ukrainian drones, as well as for air defense, at the embassy level, as much as possible, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We must continue to develop everything that adds strength to Ukraine in this very way. Right now, the key focus is drones all types of drones. We have a significant funding shortage. We have it thats a fact. At all levels both in direct relations with countries and through joint formats, including priority ones like Ramstein and the Coalition of the Willing we are seeking additional funding everywhere. At the embassy level, this must be supported to the fullest. And you must also be active politically, through the media, frankly, however you can on the issue of air defenses for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said during his address to participants of the annual meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine entitled "From the power of diplomacy to the diplomacy of power." The President also called on diplomats to contact the head of Naftogaz, Serhiy Koretsky, through Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, if their country has the necessary capacity to implement the arbitration decision. Naftogaz has won arbitration cases against Russia and against Gazprom. The total amount currently stands at approximately $6.9 billion, which would make a significant difference right now if we could direct such a large sum of money to our defense, Zelenskyy added. In addition, he called for maximum promotion of increased sanctions against the Russian Federation and to correct the fact that not all packages of sanctions of the European Union have been synchronized even in European countries that are not members of the EU, and also to pay attention to the sanctions track in relations with the United States. We have concrete agreements with the President of the United States regarding air defenses, regarding Ukrainian drones for America, regarding economic cooperation and investments. We must implement all of these. And its a challenge to implement all of these, the President noted. He also instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to prepare a real list of steps on the timing of the possible launch of the Special Tribunal on the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The President also announced personnel changes in the European direction. According to him, the fourth priority is the dynamics of the negotiations. Currently, our representatives are preparing at least one more prisoner exchange with Russia and NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov has proposed to the Russian side a new meeting of representatives in Turkiye. The agenda is clear for us the return of prisoners, the return of children abducted by Russia, and preparation for the leaders meeting, Zelenskyy added. He called on ambassadors to inform their host countries about the need for precisely this kind of negotiating approach, precisely this kind of agenda, and to provide Ukraine with the necessary political support. The fifth priority is to determine the circle of countries with which the relevant procedures for multiple citizenship will be opened. I planned to start with the countries hosting the largest Ukrainian populations now primarily Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic states. Next, there will be the relevant consultations with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and with Mr. Speaker. I believe we will hold all these consultations and have the list of countries ready, Zelenskyy stressed. Daniels decision might have felt far-fetched to many viewers. Would anyone in their right mind really fly 10,000 miles for someone who might not even be interested? Actually, quite possibly. Because for me and my boyfriend, the parallels with our own love story were too striking to ignore: 18 months ago it was me sitting on that 24-hour flight from Gatwick to Sydney, wondering whether Id really have the courage to tell my friend of 13 years how I really felt. Sure, the setting might have been a little different the riverbank in Melbourne, not Bondi Beach; and an old university friend, not a childhood sweetheart but the circumstances were largely the same. Two people living on opposite sides of the world. A history of dancing around each other, one of us always in another relationship. Unfinished business. Not to give away too many spoilers, but we now live together in Australia. The most unexpected thing of all? Weve met half a dozen couples out here whove done exactly the same thing. Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue Thinking he was a lost tourist, Cunningham stopped to see if he was okay. A few metres away from the defendant, on the bridge approach, there was another suitcase, a large silver trunk. The defendant said he was from Colombia and that the suitcase contained car parts. And can he dispel the widespread view that he is not setting the policy he would choose, but that he is instead being reined in by No 10s desire not to upset President Trump, by acting more boldly. He said: There is no credible basis on which it can be asserted that the purpose of this activity is not designed to influence the government, or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause. The Foreign Office will on Wednesday impose the first wave of sanctions on people trafficking gangs and their enablers, such as financiers, fake passport suppliers, corrupt police officers and public officials, as well as firms selling the equipment used to make the journey from France to the UK. There were the usual far right thugs, but equally, what about Antifa? Why are Antifa allowed to go to these demonstrations, to wear balaclavas, to not be identified, to do gestures of them shooting at members of the public... Germany and USA close to concluding agreement on supply of Patriot systems to Ukraine media Photo: https://www.bloomberg.com Germany and the United States are finalizing preparations for a deal that will allow Kyiv to transfer two Patriot air defense missile systems from Berlin's stockpiles, which will then be replenished by Washington, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources. "According to the agency's interlocutors, German and American officials intend to finally agree on the remaining issues regarding the Patriot deal, including the timing of the replacement of depleted stocks," Bloomberg reports. An official statement could come later this week, agency sources said. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday that "Germany will facilitate the rapid provision of five urgently needed Patriot systems." "How we can achieve this, we will agree in close cooperation and in a spirit of mutual trust between partners in the coming days," he said, opening the Ramstein meeting. Germany previously provided Ukraine with three Patriot systems. Berlin has seven left in its stockpiles, so Germany is only willing to give Ukraine a few more if the US guarantees their rapid replacement. In a statement on Monday, Lord Beamish said the committee has agreed that, once it has considered the requested material, it will conduct an inquiry into the intelligence communitys role and activity in connection with the loss of data relating to Arap applicants in February 2022. Head of the Mezha anti-corruption center Martyna Bohuslavets believes that the reason for investigative actions against the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) are cases against representatives and entourage of the current government. "Today, the President's Office through the SBU received access to 658 criminal cases that are being investigated by NABU... But what's even worse is that Bankova received access not only to already opened criminal cases. But also to those materials where suspicions were only being prepared. So there they are. Now there will be none. Because now they will warn all their own people," Bohuslavets said on Facebook. According to her, the President's Office received access to all secret special operations planned by the NABU and SAPO, and "this is a step to stop all future cases of top-level corruption of officials and block the work of the NABU and SAPO." Political strategist, Head of the Center for Political Intelligence Oleh Posternak said the NABU and its employees are not untouchable and privileged, and if law enforcement officers have reason to believe that they worked for Russia, "this is a huge blow to the reputation of this institution." "Obviously, it needs a complete reboot and audit," he said. Lawyer, financier, PhD in Politics, Executive Director of the International Association of Small Communities Oleksiy Buriachenko called the investigative actions "a forced opening of cans in the NABU." "If a law enforcement agency does not strive for self-purification, it will be purged somehow," he said on Facebook, adding that he would be interested in following the reaction of "our grant structures" and supporters of the political opposition in this context. MP from the European Solidarity party Volodymyr Ariev said the key reason for the mass searches in the NABU and SAPO without court warrants pursues two goals: "the first is to gain access to all information about anti-corruption investigations into Zelenskyy's government officials; the second is to undermine trust in anti-corruption agencies and make them incompetent in general." "The rollback of reforms and the curtailment of democracy stem from a sense of impunity... Absolute power corrupts absolutely. It has been proven wherever possible. Sole power without checks and balances will always become a dictatorship," he said on Facebook. MP from the Holos faction Yaroslav Zhelezniak commented on the investigative actions as follows: "Instead of rebooting the BES, the NABU will be unloaded." He also believes that the SBU came to the SAPO under the pretext of checking compliance with state secrets and received access to all their investigations and operational measures. "This, frankly, was very much expected," he said on Facebook. He also reposted the opinion of editor-in-chief of the Our Money (Nashi Hroshi) project Oleksiy Shalaisky, who believes that the SBU applied against the NABU the scheme that it tested on entrepreneurs: "accusations of treason for any economic relations with Russian counterparties, or rather, not for relations, but for the theoretical possibility of such relations." "This scheme was born because the Criminal Code does not clearly describe whether such economic relations are a crime, and if so, what the punishment should be. Therefore, the SBU independently came up with the idea that this is treason, and began to use this extremely serious article for all such cases. It is clear that with such an extralegal interpretation, the investigation has no chance in court. But the logic of the scheme is not to transfer the case to court, but to obtain the right to conduct searches, interrogations, seizures and, at the same time, raise a wave of black PR against the client," Shalaisky said. He also expressed his belief that the specific case against NABU "was not launched for the triumph of justice, but for the sake of the mercantile interests of the investigation, because hundreds of entrepreneurs have gone the same way." "Only the legislator can resolve this situation by clearly defining what constitutes treason in the economy and what does not. The Supreme Court could do this, but such cases do not reach it," Shalaisky said. Entrepreneur, co-founder of the Mykhailivsky Club analytical platform Vladyslav Olenchenko said 70 searches of 15 NABU employees are a large-scale operational measures, and believes that this may be related to the threat to Ukraine's national security from the United States. "In general, this entire anti-corruption infrastructure was created by the U.S. deep state to solve the problem of control by the political elite in Ukraine. With the arrival of Trump, such control poses a direct threat to Ukraine's national security, obviously. Unfortunately, the FSB is also solving a similar problem, and the control of the political elite in Ukraine by the Kremlin poses an even greater threat," Olenchenko said on Facebook. "I wonder if, in addition to FSB agents, they will find at least one agent of other countries' special services in NABU?", he said. Head of the Ukrainian Security Club, NGO Foundation for the Promotion of Democracy Yuriy Honcharenko said he has questions about the work of both NABU and SAPO, as well as the SBU, SBI and the prosecutor's office. "Since those who conduct searches today are no less concerned than those they search, I believe that there is a real risk that the situation will be used to build the power vertical of the dictatorship. NABU and SAPO need to be restarted, but the same applies to the State Bureau of Investigations and the State Security Service of Ukraine. The latter has wonderful heroes who weave webs, and departments that 'do not see' Russian agents in the rear," Honcharenko said on Facebook. As reported, NABU confirmed in the morning that 15 of its employees are being searched. According to them, the grounds for these actions in the vast majority of cases are the participation of individuals in road accidents. Later, three NABU employees were reported suspected of committing road accidents that resulted in the injuries of the victims. New recruitment of participants in micro-entrepreneurship support program kicked off Ukrainian Red Cross Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has launched a new recruitment of participants for the micro-entrepreneurship support program. New enrolment opens for micro-entrepreneurship support programme. For the second consecutive year, the Ukrainian Red Cross is supporting vulnerable people in developing and rebuilding their own businesses through the Reboot programme , URCS said on Facebook Monday. The program is being implemented in Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy regions and Kyiv city. Households whose owners are vulnerable categories of the population aged 18 to 65 years old can become participants in the competition. The training format is offline. The Ukrainian Red Cross implements this program in partnership with the Red Crosses of Spain, Denmark and Switzerland. The reward for the best business ideas is funding of up to UAH 100,000. At the first stage, the payment is 50% of the microgrant amount, at the second stage, if the terms of the business plan are successfully fulfilled, 50% of the microgrant. The number of grants is limited. Sectors for financing are agriculture, manufacturing, services, and trade. Original forms and copies of documents for participation in the Reboot program can be submitted until August 15, 2025. For participation and for information about the Reboot program, please contact the Ukrainian Red Cross hotline: 0 800 332 656 or visit the website. Aviation is an essential force in the country's security and response capacity, supporting national defense and our credible presence within the North Atlantic Alliance, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Sunday at a ceremony held in Bucharest, marking Romanian Aviation and Air Force Day. The head of the executive, who celebrates his name day on Sunday (the feat of Saint Elijah the Prophet, editor's note), attended the military and religious ceremony held in memory of aviation heroes at the Monument to Air Heroes in the Aviators' Square in Bucharest. "Aviation is an essential force in the country's security and response capability, supporting national defense and our credible presence within the North Atlantic Alliance. We have people who do their job every day, in uniform or in civilian clothes, in flight, in aircraft hangars, in command centers, or in aviation schools. They work with discipline, perseverance, and responsibility in a system that needs consistent investment, modern equipment, and a clear framework for development," emphasized Ilie Bolojan. According to him, modernizing the fleet, developing aviation infrastructure, and retaining qualified personnel are priorities that the government will support in the coming years. The prime minister pointed out that NATO membership represents "a guarantee and a responsibility," but "Romania is not simply a beneficiary of the security provided by the North Atlantic Alliance." "Romanian aircraft patrol in cooperation with allies, participate in international exercises, and contribute directly to regional security," said Ilie Bolojan. The premier thanked all those who keep this important national defense structure functioning with tenacity, discretion, and professionalism. "It is an honor for me to join you on this festive day at the event dedicated to our country's aviation. Happy birthday to Romanian Aviation and Air Force. I assure you of my personal respect and the support of the Romanian Government. May God protect Romania," said prime minister Bolojan. Romanian Aviation and Air Force Day is celebrated every year on July 20, on the feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet, the spiritual protector of pilots. As of 21 July 2025, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) will put into circulation, for numismatic purposes, a gold coin to mark 200 years since the birth of Elena Cuza. The coin has the face value of 100 lei, it is round shaped, measures 21 mm in diameter and weights 6.452 grams, according to a press release of the BNR, The coin shows the 'Alexandru Ioan Cuza' Palace in Ruginoasa on the observe, the inscription 'ROMANIA' in an arc, the face value '100 LEI', the coat of arms of Romania and the year of issue '2025'. On the reverse, there is the portrait and name of Elena Cuza, as well as her birth and death years '1825' and '1909'. The gold coins are housed in transparent plastic capsules and are accompanied by booklets featuring a presentation of the numismatic issue and certificates of authenticity in Romanian, English and French. The certificates of authenticity bear the signatures of the Governor and the Chief Cashier of the National Bank of Romania. The maximum mintage is 1,000 gold coins. The selling price for the gold coin, including the booklet and the certificate of authenticity, is lei 5,300.00, VAT excluded. The gold coins to mark 200 years since the birth of Elena Cuza are legal tender on the territory of Romania. The coins are put into circulation, for numismatic purposes, through the regional branches of the National Bank of Romania in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Iasi and Timisoara. Information on how to purchase the coins can be found on the National Bank of Romania's website, in the Numismatics section https://www.bnr.ro/en/2471-numismatics. Over 40 German defense, security, energy, industry and retail companies participating in a roundtable meeting organized in Berlin with President Nicusor Dan attending said they were interested in vetting Romania's capacity to attract investments and intensify Romania - Germany economic relations. According to a release from the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania), the Romanian-German business community welcomes the reform efforts initiated and planned by the Bucharest government, emphasizing that the strategic directions, especially in the areas of defense and security, industry and innovation, energy and green tech, as well as the measures adopted, must stimulate economic growth.Furthermore, they argue that future public policies, as an integrant of the state's urgently required structural reform, must reflect a long-term strategic vision for Romania."There is already an extensive German presence in Romania and we feel a growing interest in continuing this commitment, in areas such as digital transformation, energy and manufacturing. Our members appreciate not only the economic conditions, but also the constructive collaboration with the Romanian authorities. Romania is an increasingly sought-after destination for sustainable, technology-oriented investments," said the head of AHK Romania."It's already evident that Romania is playing an increasingly important role in coordinating aid and logistics services for Ukraine. The regions around the cities of Iasi, Constanta, Braila-Galati, Suceava or Botosani are turning into important centers for European rebuild activities," said Sebastian Metz, AHK Romania's CEO, who acted as moderator of the round table meeting.President Nicusor Dan's visit to Germany shortly after taking office once again underlines the importance of bilateral economic relations, the German business community considers.Germany is Romania's No. 1 trading partner and the most important foreign investor, with bilateral trade exceeding 42 billion euros. Also, more than 10,000 companies with German capital are active in Romania, with German investments standing at over 17 billion euros. The National Defense Ministry's General Directorate for Armaments, through National Corporation Romtehnica SA, and Israel's defense tech company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd signed on July 18 the framework agreement for the acquisition of SHORAD-VSHORAD anti-aircraft systems, a deal worth over EUR 2 billion, the National Defense Ministry said in a release. The framework agreement provides for the signing of three subsequent contracts for the purchase of six integrated SHORAD-VSHORAD anti-aircraft systems, of a training and education system, a simulation system for the verification and assessment of VSHORAD operators, six SHORAD and six VSHORAD systems, including ammunition, training and logistical support.The framework agreement spans 7 years, with the first two VSHORAD systems to be delivered within 3 years of the signing of the first subsequent contract.The purchase, for which the Parliament's prior approval was obtained, as per the specific legislation, was perfected in a restricted bidding procedure that stipulated as a requirement the international acquisition, with the obligation of integration with the national defense industry through technological and industrial cooperation. Sybiha announces start of new format of cooperation between Ukraine and Benelux, announces introduction of position of ambassador to UNESCO Photo: MFA of Ukraine On the first day of the annual meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine 2025, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced the beginning of a new format of cooperation between Ukraine and Benelux, and announced the introduction of the position of ambassador to UNESCO. As reported on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sybiha announced the beginning of a new format of cooperation Ukraine - Benelux, which will unite Ukraine with Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The first ministerial meeting in the new format will take place in the near future. "It is very important that our diplomacy corresponds to the new place of our state in the world. A state that is respected for its strength and determination. We do not wait for invitations. We create equal formats and initiatives. We offer recipes and invite others to go with us. Ukraine-Southeastern Europe, Ukraine-Nordic-Baltic Eight, Ukraine-Romania-Moldova, Lublin Triangle, Weimar+," he noted. The minister also announced the introduction of the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to UNESCO. "One of the goals of the Russian aggressor is the Ukrainian cultural heritage. We must protect and restore it. Ukraine must be represented in the governing bodies of UNESCO. And today, in the presence of my friend and colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the support and activities of UNESCO, as well as for assistance in restoring our cultural heritage," the head of the MFA emphasized. Sybiha noted the importance of synchronizing sanction policy with international partners. "We are doing important 'homework'. At the end of June - beginning of July, we synchronized sanction packages from the thirteenth to the seventeenth with the EU. We will soon implement the eighteenth. We also initiated changes to the legislation to harmonize the sanction pressure," the minister noted. Sybiha also reported that a number of memoranda and documents are planned to be signed on the sidelines of the meeting, which will contribute to the expansion of the network of partnerships and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ukrainian diplomatic service. The importance of the F-16 Training Center in Romania, which supports the training of both Romanian pilots and those from allied and partner states, was highlighted during the meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, the Ministry of National Defense announced on Monday. According to a release from the Ministry of National Defense sent to AGERPRES, Minister Ionut Mosteanu participated on Monday in the 29th meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, chaired by the British Secretary of Defense, John Healey, and the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, in an online format. The meeting was also attended by the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte.According to the Ministry of Defense, the importance of the F-16 Training Center in Romania was emphasized, which supports both the training of Romanian pilots and those from allied and partner states, including Ukraine, contributing to increasing interoperability and strengthening the air defense posture on NATO's Eastern Flank."The Contact Group for Ukraine remains an essential platform for international dialogue and coordination, aimed at supporting Ukraine's defense capacity and regional stability in the context of current security challenges," the release added. The radar surveillance systems of the Ministry of National Defence signaled, on Sunday night into Monday, around 3:00 a.m., aerial targets that flew on different flight paths in Ukrainian airspace, north of the border with Romania, near the Maramures-Suceava area. According to a press release from the Ministry of National Defence sent to AGERPRES on Monday, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that they took steps to move military aircraft from airfields in western Ukraine after the Russian Federation launched massive attacks on Ukrainian airport infrastructure. As a result of this situation, the Ministry of National Defence informed the structures coordinating civil air traffic to monitor the situation in an integrated manner. At the same time, two Romanian F-16 aircraft took off at around 3:30 a.m., from the 86th Air Base "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociornita" (Borcea Air Base, Calarasi County, editor's note) to conduct aerial reconnaissance missions, and at around 05:00 a.m., two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the Italian Air Force, stationed at the 57th Air Base "Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" (Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base), were ordered to take off. "During operations carried out between 3:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., 12 Ukrainian air targets were detected flying in Ukrainian airspace, north of the border with Romania. Four of these unintentionally entered our country's airspace for a few minutes, in the areas of Sighetu Marmaiei and Vicovu de Sus, without posing a real threat to national security, human life, or Romanian property," the Ministry of National Defence informs. After completing their missions, the Romanian Air Force's F-16 aircraft landed at the Borcea Air Base at around 6:00 a.m., and the Italian Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft landed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base at around 7:00 a.m. "The Ministry of National Defence is constantly monitoring national and regional airspace, in close cooperation with NATO allies, to ensure Romania's security and territorial integrity. Although our country is not directly targeted, the fighting in Ukraine, in the vicinity of our national territory, as well as the attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, require measures to protect Romanian citizens and national infrastructure. The measures are being implemented gradually and are adapted to the category and nature of the threat in order to prevent extensive damage, in accordance with the measures established by CSAT [Romanian Supreme Council of National Defence], and the leadership of the institutions in the national defence, public order, and national security system," says the Ministry of National Defence. Romania is also actively involved in allied efforts to deter aggression and defend the territory and population of the alliance, in accordance with its international commitments. President Nicusor Dan said on Monday that NATO, the EU and the UK all confirm that Russia is engaging in cyber attacks, manipulation and disinformation in European states, and emphasized that the Romanian state must provide new evidence as to what happened in the November 2024 presidential vote, as new intelligence emerges. "I urge those who still doubt Russia's interference in the November 2024 presidential election in Romania to read the statements below. The attempts to involve foreign state forces in the Romanian elections in the previous months were for the first time condemned in official statements by NATO and the European Union. NATO, the EU and the United Kingdom confirm that Russia is waging cyber attacks, manipulation and disinformation in European states, including Romania, including in electoral campaigns. It's obvious that the Romanian state must provide new evidence, as it discovers it, and should have prevented what happened in November 2024," Nicusor Dan wrote on Facebook.President Dan references several statements released in recent days by international institutions, specifically at: https://shorturl.at/uxt7s; https://shorturl.at/hvju3; https://shorturl.at/Kh9jf; https://shorturl.at/aDzDe . Romania, the Republic of Moldova, the North Carolina National Guard, and U.S. Army Europe and Africa will kick off next month Fire Shield 25 - the 10-th iteration of the Moldovan-led defensive training exercise held at the Military Training Base of the Moldovan National Army from August 4 - 14, U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced in a release. Roughly 300 soldiers from Moldova and Romania, and 120 U.S. Army Soldiers will participate in the exercise. The troops will strengthen their partnership with joint training cultural events such as traditional patch exchanges, through distinguished leader integration and in a closing ceremony on August 14th, the release notes, adding that Fire Shield is an annual exercise between the Moldovan National Army and the North Carolina National Guard, and this year's iteration will focus on enhancing staff processes, building readiness and strengthening the professional partnership between service members. Romanian Aviation and Air Force Day was celebrated on Sunday, July 20, at the Monument to the Heroes of the Air in the Aviators' Square. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Deputy Prime Minister Ionut Mosteanu, Minister of National Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu, and head of the Department for Emergency Situations Raed Arafat participated in the military and religious ceremony with wreath laying in memory of aviation heroes. Military aircraft belonging to the Romanian Air Force, namely F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-130 Hercules, C-27J Spartan, AN-30, IAK-52, IAR-330, and IAR-99, as well as EC-135 SMURD and S-70M BlackHawk helicopters and a Learjet 75 aircraft belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, SA-365 Dauphin helicopters belonging to the Romanian Intelligence Service, a Boeing 737 TAROM aircraft and Extra 300 aircraft belonging to the Romanian Aeroclub, as well as Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft belonging to the Italian Air Force will perform in the ceremony. Romanian Aviation and Air Force Day is celebrated every year on July 20, on the feast of St. Elijah the Thesvite, the patron saint of pilots. The Ministry of Environment is working on a complex package of measures to solve the bear problem, with the legislative bill to be launched into public debate, the Minister of Environment, Waters and Forestry Diana Buzoianu said on Monday. "So far we have looked at two extremes. The discussion around bears has been very polarized and is being used as a weapon to somehow increase one extreme. Whether we are talking about the idea that we do not touch any bears in a country where we have between 10,000 and 12,000 bears from the preliminary data obtained by counting bears, or whether we are talking about the other extreme, in which hunters must come and take all the bears in Romania, both extremes, in fact, have only led to tragedies, to deaths that could have been prevented, and the job of the Ministry of Environment is, on the one hand, to protect people's lives, and on the other hand, to protect a treasure that we all have reason to be proud of, a biodiversity that is unique at a European level. This means that we must manage bears in such a way that we have no more tragedies of this kind. That means a complex package of measures that we are working on, which will not be adopted until after the parliamentary recess. Being a legislative bill, it will be launched into public debate", the environment minister said in a press conference.According to the environment minister, even where we see cases of good practice in communities that "have managed to avoid this clash between people and bears", these are complex measures that were put into practice "maybe in a year or two". Germany and USA close to concluding agreement on supply of Patriot systems to Ukraine Germany and the United States are finalizing preparations for a deal that will allow Kyiv to transfer two Patriot air defense missile systems from Berlin's stockpiles, which will then be replenished by Washington, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources. "According to the agency's interlocutors, German and American officials intend to finally agree on the remaining issues regarding the Patriot deal, including the timing of the replacement of depleted stocks," Bloomberg reports. An official statement could come later this week, agency sources said. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday that "Germany will facilitate the rapid provision of five urgently needed Patriot systems." "How we can achieve this, we will agree in close cooperation and in a spirit of mutual trust between partners in the coming days," he said, opening the Ramstein meeting. Germany previously provided Ukraine with three Patriot systems. Berlin has seven left in its stockpiles, so Germany is only willing to give Ukraine a few more if the US guarantees their rapid replacement. An F-22 Raptor assigned to the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing trains during the Resolute Force Pacific exercise near Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, July 17, 2025. (Tala Hunt/U.S. Air Force) The Air Force is testing a key warfighting concept this month as part of its largest contingency response exercise in the Indo-Pacific, deploying more than 400 aircraft and 12,000 personnel to more than 50 locations across the region. Resolute Force Pacific, which began July 10 and runs through Aug. 8, is designed to evaluate the services agile combat employment strategy, which emphasizes rapid deployment, flexible basing and dispersal operations. The concept aims to shift operations from large, centralized air bases to smaller, more agile clusters that are harder for adversaries to target. This combined force highlights the exercises emphasis on joint and multinational interoperability and its significance for regional security, Pacific Air Forces said Friday in an unsigned email. Interoperability is a term the military uses to describe the ability of a countrys armed forces to use anothers training methods and equipment. The command described Resolute Force Pacific as a demonstration of its ability to rapidly disperse thousands of servicemembers and associated equipment across the region to defend the United States, ally and partner nations, and their interests in the Pacific, according to a July 8 release. Members of the 35th Air Expeditionary Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan, board a C-130H Hercules during the Resolute Force Pacific exercise at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 16, 2025. (Jarrett Smith/U.S. Air Force) Two F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters fly side by side during Resolute Force Pacific training near Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 15, 2025. (Brittany Russell/U.S. Air Force) Airmen with the 374th Air Expeditionary Wing process deploying personnel during the Resolute Force Pacific exercise at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 9, 2025. (Alexzandra Gracey/U.S.Air Force) The exercise involves personnel and aircraft from the U.S. and partner nations, with operations spanning more than 3,000 miles, the release said. Its part of the Air Forces Department-Level Exercise series and includes participation by other U.S. military branches, Air Mobility Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. Aircraft deployed to various Pacific locations throughout the week. F-35A Lightning II fighters arrived at Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan to support the 35th Air Expeditionary Wing, which was stood up for the exercise, and KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46A Pegasus tankers flew into Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo. On Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, F-22 Raptors with the 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, operated from an austere runway, a core scenario from ACE. Additional operations took place in Hawaii, Guam and international airspace, according to PACAF. The command said the exercise is not a response to any current events or conflicts, according to a July 3 email. The Air Force has promoted ACE as a way to increase survivability and operational flexibility in the Indo-Pacific, where fixed bases could be vulnerable to long-range missile threats. An Air Force F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., lands at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, July 16, 2025. (Nathaniel Jackson/U.S. Air Force) On July 12, two F-15EX Eagle IIs with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., arrived at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, for short-term training. Thirty-six F-15EXs are scheduled to be permanently stationed at Kadena next spring. Both F-15EXs are also participating in Resolute Force Pacific, the 18th Wing said in a Friday news release. They departed Okinawa on Sunday, it wrote in an unsigned email Monday. A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, flies a mission in support of Red Flag-Nellis 25-2 in this file photo from Nellis AFB, Nevada, March 13, 2025. (Samantha Krolikowski/U.S. Air Force) A passenger jet landing in North Dakota performed a go-around to avoid colliding with an Air Force B-52, according to the commercial pilots comments posted to social media and the airline involved in the incident. SkyWest Flight 3788, acting as a Delta connection between Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, was cleared by the tower for landing on Friday, the airline said in a statement. But the pilot performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path, said SkyWest, which is investigating the incident. Air Force officials did not provide details of the incident, but they did say that a B-52 bomber was performing a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair, which took place in Minot, home to a commercial airport and an Air Force base. The commercial pilot explained to his passengers that the B-52 appeared to be on a converging course, according to a video posted to Instagram and verified by Storyful. He apologized for making an aggressive maneuver to avoid a midair collision, adding that nobody told us about the other aircraft. Flight tracking data reviewed by The Washington Post showed the flight on descent make a sharp right turn near the airport, then climb in altitude as it circled around to land. Flight tracking data showed the B-52 performing ellipses in the area around the same time. This is not normal at all, the pilot said. Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it. The passengers applauded once his announcement finished. The Air Force did not immediately respond to questions about the location and altitude of the B-52 during the incident and whether the base had coordinated its flyover with the airport. We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter, the service said in a statement. Monica Green, the passenger who recorded the pilot speaking, told NBC News that the incident left her shaken. I just remember the plane going, like, sideways and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass, like you werent seeing the skyline anymore, she said. An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet in January near Reagan National Airport, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. That disaster prompted lawmakers and federal agencies to review coordination between military and civilian aircraft operating in the same airspace. Soldiers stand outside U.S. Army Europe headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Jan. 13, 2020. Later that year, the command assembled a group of former officers to study Russia's military actions. The command published a report on July 21, 2025, detailing how Russia has fought its war in Ukraine. (Stephen Perez/U.S. Army) STUTTGART, Germany The U.S. Army in Europe on Monday published a 357-page chronicle of Russian fighting in Ukraine intended to help commanders understand how the Kremlin wages war. Covering the conflict from February 2022 to July 2024, the report, titled How Russia Fights, is the result of a yearslong effort by a team of former American officers brought out of retirement. The report delves into all aspects of the conflict, ranging from Russias command and control practices to ground force maneuvers and the emergence of small drones on the battlefield. It also issues a broader warning that the Russian invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 werent isolated events. Conceptually, this war is far bigger than Ukraine at least for Russia, the authors wrote. Russia sees itself in a global conflict with the West, of which Ukraine is but one theater. Neither success nor failure in Ukraine will alter Russias global calculus. The report was compiled by a group of retired, Russian-speaking Army foreign area officers assembled in 2020 by then-U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander Gen. Christopher Cavoli to rebuild Cold War-era Russia expertise. Calling themselves the Troika, the team initially designed a training program for Army leaders to fill a Russia knowledge gap. With the full-scale invasion in 2022, their work gained new urgency. The Troika watched with rapt attention, the advisers wrote in the opening to their collection of Russia insights. We were anxious to see how well our curriculum held up in a real Russian large-scale combat operation. Many assumptions turned out to be correct, but there were some surprises, they said. The advisers scoured open-source, unclassified Russian and Ukrainian reporting and social media to make regular reports to Cavoli and his command team. Russian honor guardsmen participate in a military ceremony in Moscow on June 24, 2020. U.S. Army Europe and Africa released a report titled "How Russia Fights" on July 21, 2025, examining Russias war in Ukraine between February 2022 and June 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry) Known as Troika Observations, the often-daily insights were sent out to more than 3,300 military officials, including some of the most senior military and civilian leaders in the Defense Department. We filtered these raw observations through more than 200 years of collective (Russia) experience and accumulated wisdom working the Russia problem set, the group wrote. The new report distills those observations from the first two-plus years of the war. More reports are expected. Several former officers co-authored the work, including retired Col. Ted Donnelly, who served as the reports managing editor. The Troika emphasized that the wars beginnings go back to Russias 2014 invasion and subsequent annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. A lack of attention to the 2014-2022 period, they said, is one reason some pundits wrongly predicted Ukraine would collapse quickly in 2022. Those who were surprised by Russias poor performance in the winter and spring of 2022 were ignoring the fact that after Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Russian indirect actions in the Donbas (region in eastern Ukraine) largely failed, the Troika wrote. They ignored the fact that Ukraine largely blunted repeated Russian conventional offensives from 2014 to 2022. They were oblivious to Ukraine building Europes most powerful ground force (not an exaggeration), numbering 28 maneuver brigades. But while Russia suffered major setbacks early, conditions have shifted. In a 2023 observation, the Troika wrote that after 9 years, this is a war of attrition, and Russia is winning. Such a war suits Russia wellRussia has nearly 3.5 times the population of Ukraine and has not had trouble raising additional forces, the document stated. The mobilization process has been ugly to American eyes, but it worked. The report highlights Russias willingness to absorb huge casualty numbers for small battlefield gains. Although to American eyes repeated human-wave frontal attacks look senseless, even criminal, they have been effective, the Troika wrote. For example, Russia had about 10,000 of its troops killed, wounded or missing in action in its campaign to seize the small town of Soledar, which had a pre-2022 population of just 10,000, the authors wrote. Among the surprises during the war has been the scale of death Russian leaders were willing to tolerate. In 2023, Ukraines then-top commander, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said he had underestimated that willingness, adding that in any other country such casualties would have stopped the war. Circumstances have continued to change since the reports cutoff in mid-2024. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed for a peace deal, but those efforts have stalled. In recent weeks, Trump has taken a tougher stance on Russia and said the United States will send weapons back into Ukraine via NATO, which will foot the bill. Whether negotiations are possible in the near term remains unclear. In the meantime, the report warns, Russia will continue to adapt. Often, Russian learning proceeds at a slower pace than one might expect, the authors wrote. Many adaptations seem counterintuitive or incomprehensible to U.S. observers, because they are Russian solutions, and the Russians are different. Nonetheless, they are adaptations, the report continues. We should not underestimate (Russias) ability to overcome. A Marine stands guard at a federal area in Los Angeles on July 12, 2025. (Andrew Whistler/U.S. Marine Corps) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed 700 Marines sent to Los Angeles more than five weeks ago to help quell immigration protests to return to their California duty station, the Pentagon said Monday. Stability has returned to the city, allowing for the Marines from Twentynine Palms, Calif., to leave the mission of protecting federal assets in the greater Los Angeles area, said Sean Parnell, Pentagon spokesman. The troops are part of the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment. The departure of the Marines, who arrived June 9, leaves roughly 2,000 California National Guard members on federal orders in the city about half of what was authorized by President Donald Trump in early June. All troops were authorized to remain for up to 60 days. Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law. Were deeply grateful for their service, and for the strength and professionalism they brought to this mission, Parnell said in a statement. Last week, Hegseth approved 2,000 National Guard members to leave the L.A. mission. Parnell also attributed that drawdown to improved stability in the city. Troops were deployed to L.A. on June 7 after thousands of people began to protest near a downtown federal building over immigration raids at businesses across the city. Trump said the troops were necessary to keep the city from burning but local and state officials argued the military inflamed the situation. While the Marines have been primarily stationed as security outside of federal buildings, the National Guard troops have gone with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to provide a safe perimeter as the federal officers arrested people. Roughly 90 Guard members with Humvees on July 7 supported federal agents as they swept MacArthur Park in LA. Another 300 were sent to assist in a raid of an illegal marijuana farm in Riverside County. Earlier this month, the Defense Department approved 150 Guard members to leave Los Angeles and return to their full-time jobs as part of a state wildfire prevention team. Saudi Arabia launches 5th package of assistance for prosthetics for Ukrainians in Poland for $3.5 mln Saudi Arabia launched the fifth package of assistance for prosthetics for Ukrainians in Poland, the total cost of the program is $3.5 million. As reported by the Ukraine in Arabic information resource, the project for prosthetics for Ukrainians is being implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Support Center. The fifth package lasted from July 14 to 21. At this stage, prosthetic limbs were installed in 20 Ukrainians. In addition, the necessary measurements of the limbs were carried out to launch the next stage and post-prosthetic rehabilitation and training for participants in the previous stages of the project were carried out. It is noted that the project uses the latest Direct Socket prosthetic technology of its kind. "The aim of the project is to provide prosthetic limbs to those who lost them as a result of the war, which will help improve their quality of life and restore mobility," Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Ukraine Mohammed Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Barakah said. The prosthetics project is a continuation of the humanitarian assistance provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ukraine and included food, medicines, and power generators. The first stage of the Saudi Humanitarian Support Program for Ukraine began in September 2024. The fifth stage has now been implemented. Two more stages of the project will be implemented by the end of 2025, the statement reads. Some 115 prosthetic limbs were provided in the previous stages, and 43 qualified medical volunteers participated in the project (seven in the fifth stage). In total, the project involves installing 137 prostheses. It is noted that the project for prosthetics for Ukrainians is part of the humanitarian aid program provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to alleviate the suffering of amputees around the world. During the visit of Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to Kyiv in February 2023, Saudi Arabia announced various humanitarian aid packages to Ukraine in the amount of $410 million. Jillian Reiff adopted Rufus in 2016. After he died in April, she and her daughter stumbled upon an adoption post about another dog, Ziggy, on Facebook. They recently discovered through a DNA test that Ziggy is Rufus father. Shown here, Reiff and Rufus. (Jillian Reiff) Jillian Reiff and her husband had an ongoing debate about their new rescue dog, Ziggy. Ziggys appearance and personality are similar to those of their late dog, Rufus, who died a few days before they brought Ziggy home in early April. Reiff thought Ziggy was the same breed mix as Rufus rat terrier Chihuahua while her husband wasnt convinced. So to settle the debate, Reiff submitted a DNA test for Ziggy, just as she had done for Rufus. But when the results came in June 26, she was so shocked, Reiff stood up and screamed. I had a verbal outburst, said Reiff, who lives in San Francisco. The DNA test confirmed that Ziggy was not just the same mixed breed as Rufus. He was Rufus father. Im still so flabbergasted, Reiff said. Rufus joined Reiffs family in 2016, after she and her husband adopted him from the San Francisco SPCA. At the time, Reiff and her husband then her boyfriend had just moved in together. Rufus carried her engagement ring around his neck when her husband proposed and was in their wedding photos. When Reiff was pregnant with their first child, Rufus regularly curled up by her belly. That dog was like my soul dog, said Reiff, who has two children, Maya, 6, and Ben, 4. He was the most social dog ever, loved meeting people, being the center of attention, she said. But at home, when the kids came, that was his true meaning for being here. He took his job as protector so very seriously. Rufus died unexpectedly in April. Although he was a senior dog around 16 years old he still acted like a puppy, even at the end of his life, Reiff said. But one day, out of nowhere, Rufus stopped acting like himself, and his family learned he had a ruptured gallbladder. Given his age and the nature of that condition, there were no options, Reiff said. The family took the loss hard. The same night, April 5, Reiff and her daughter were scrolling through the social media pages of local shelters. We always look at dogs on social media dogs that need fosters, dogs that are up for adoption, said Reiff, who has long been active in the rescue community. She has fostered dozens of pups over the years, including 18 since Christmas. Maya paused when she saw a dog on Muttville Senior Dog Rescues Facebook page, as he looked strikingly similar to Rufus. She showed Reiff. When I looked at the phone, I thought she had just gotten into my photo album, Reiff said. I could pull out a thousand pictures of Rufus that look exactly like the one that was on Ziggys adoption page. Reiff felt she wasnt ready to bring home another dog, but she couldnt get Ziggys face out of her mind. I emailed Muttville and was like, I need to meet this dog, Reiff said. Sure enough, Reiff went to the San Francisco shelter to meet Ziggy on April 9, and we adopted him within 10 minutes of meeting him, she said. Reiff quickly realized that Ziggy acted like Rufus. Theyre both just very, very easygoing, very happy, very gentle and child-friendly, she said. They also have similar quirks. Both of them talk and kind of warble and make these really ridiculous nondog-sounding noises to communicate, Reiff said. I used to think it was the most unique thing that Rufus did. Like Rufus, Ziggy also sits up on his hind legs, sleeps on his back and, despite having many dog beds in their home, inexplicably rests in spots that look uncomfortable, including in the garage. Still, she had no expectation that Ziggy, who is thought to be about 16, could be related to Rufus let alone be his father. Reiff often tests the DNA of her dogs including fosters to gain clarity on their breeds and health. When she saw that Embark, a dog DNA company, was having a sale, she decided it was time to test Ziggy. She had tested Rufus using Embark as well. A side-by-side comparison of Rufus and Ziggy. (Jillian Reiff) A screenshot of Ziggys Embark DNA results, indicating Rufus is his son. (Jillian Reiff) Reiff swabbed Ziggys cheeks and sent back his saliva in a test tube. When the results came in, it showed Ziggys two primary breeds, and there was another tab right next to it that said Relatives, Reiff said. I had never seen the relatives tab pop up I was like, Maybe theres a long-lost cousin. She clicked on it and saw that Rufus profile was labeled as child match. It showed they had 68% shared DNA. Reiff could not believe her eyes the two dogs were adopted nine years apart from different shelters. Its hard for me to make sense of it, Reiff said. I keep thinking, if my daughter hadnt seen that picture at that exact moment, the algorithm of Facebook probably would have panned her another dog and I would have never seen that dog. The discovery was initially bittersweet for Reiffs husband. The first realization and emotion that he had was to say, Im so happy, but Im also just so sad that there was this very small window where if we had seen this Muttville posting even 24 hours earlier, they could have been reunited, Reiff said. Before long, though, they began to see Ziggys familial connection to Rufus as something to help them through their grief. In three months, he basically made us feel like he was here with Rufus the entire time, Reiff said. Muttville Senior Dog Rescue shared the discovery on social media, and people were stunned. The story was first reported by San Franciscos ABC7. Nothing has blown me away as much as this story, said Sherri Franklin, who founded the rescue for senior dogs in 2007. It is truly serendipitous, kismet. The universe works in mysterious ways. Here is a family whos grieving and now has its second chance at a soulmate dog, she continued. We all wish for that when our animal passes away. In a statement, Embark called it a DNA discovery that defied all odds. Ziggy arrived at Muttville a few months ago, after he was found as a stray in March. Since discovering Ziggys relation to Rufus, Reiff has looked into Ziggys background, and all she has found was a medical record at the SPCA dated a few weeks after they adopted Rufus. Rufus had been adopted and surrendered by several other families. Reiff is still trying to figure out whether Rufus and Ziggy were in the same home at some point or whether they overlapped at the shelter. Or possibly neither. Were trying so hard to untangle this, and we keep hitting dead ends to connect that first part of their lives and what happened, she said. In any case, Reiff said she is grateful for the unexpected twist that has helped her family heal. Its more than a good ending, she said. Its the craziest ending you could possibly script. Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, Italy, features a variety of paintings, sculptures, antiquities and other art created over the centuries. It is housed in the former Banco di Napoli building on Via Toledo in the city's Quartieri Spagnoli neighborhood. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) In a country rich in art and history, its not hard to find a museum in nearly every Italian city with a sizable collection that can keep an enthusiast busy for at least half a day. That sort of time investment is not necessary at Gallerie dItalia Naples. The museums carefully curated trove of works by some of Italys most renowned artists is easily viewed in a couple of hours. Located in the Quartieri Spagnoli neighborhood, the Naples museum is one of four under the Gallerie dItalia umbrella, including galleries in Milan, Turin and Vicenza. All told, a combined 35,000 works of art have been put on public view by banking group Intesa Sanpaolo at the four museums, according to the Gallerie dItalia website. The permanent collection at the Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, Italy, contains paintings and sculptures that represent an anthology of Naples art from the beginning of the 17th century to the first decades of the 20th century. It includes one of the museum's largest paintings, "Tobias Restores his Father's Eyesight," painted by Hendrick de Somer around 1632. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) The Naples museums permanent collection is housed on the second floor. It features paintings, drawings, sculptures and other art that offer an anthology of painting in the city from the beginning of the 17th century to the first decades of the 20th century. Among its treasures is The Martyrdom of St. Ursula, thought to be the last work completed by Michelangelo Merisi, more popularly known as Caravaggio, before he died shortly after leaving Naples in 1610. Recently, the depiction of the fourth-century saints slaying, with Caravaggio himself appearing in a cameo, was on loan for a review of his works in Rome. It will return to the gallery soon. Caravaggios influence on the Neapolitan art scene is evident in much of the early part of the collection, including Samson and Delilah by Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, who in 1616 became the first woman to gain membership to the Academy of the Arts of Drawing. Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, Italy, features a variety of paintings, sculptures, antiquities and other art created over the centuries. It is housed in the former Banco di Napoli building on Via Toledo in the city's Quartieri Spagnoli neighborhood. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) Gentileschis portrayal of the biblical story shows a sleeping Samson whose hair has been cut by Delilah. The intensity of the gaze between Delilah and her handmaiden in acknowledging the deed is mesmerizing. Those and other paintings in the collection are arranged in a series of small, intimate galleries with benches where viewers can sit and ponder the works, which span from the beginnings of figurative art in Naples in 1600s to the view and landscape movement of the 18th and 19th centuries. Artists represented include Louis Finson, Bernardo Cavallino, Battistello Caracciolo and Francesco Guarini. The exhibition ends with the sculptures and drawings of Vincenzo Gemito, a Naples-born sculptor, artist and draftsman known for his realistic portrayals of street youths. A collection of more than 500 Greek vases and other artifacts made from between the sixth and third centuries B.C. is on display at the Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, Italy. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) The display showcases the evolution of Gemitos work from the terra cotta heads of children to portraits of individuals in bronze. The bronze Head of a Philosopher is particularly stunning for its detail. Up on the third floor is a collection of more than 500 Greek vases and other antiquities dating from between the sixth and third centuries B.C., including frescoes found in Pompeii and Ercolano. Nearby, contemporary art lovers will find a series of galleries showing a selection of 20th-century artworks. Titled The Vitality of Time, the exhibition includes pieces by Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Piero Manzoni, Mario Schifano, Jannis Kounellis and Sol LeWitt, among other artists. Particularly interesting are two works by Michelangelo Pistoletto, Girl Walking and Man Repairing a Lorry, created with tissue paper on mirrored steel. Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, Italy, features a variety of paintings, sculptures, antiquities and other art created over the centuries, including a large display of bronze and terra cotta sculptures and drawings from the Italian artist Vincenzo Gemito. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) The exhibition is capped by the presidents lounge, a display of wood paneling and furniture that is an ode to the restored buildings history as the former home to Banco di Napoli. A ground-floor cafe offers coffee, drinks and snacks, and there also is a bar and restaurant on the top floor with a view of the Bay of Naples. With its thoughtfully organized collections and changing exhibits, Gallerie dItalia Naples is an easy, enjoyable way to get a good introduction to Italian art without being overwhelmed. "Samson and Delilah" by Italian Baroque painter Artemesia Gentileschi is part of the permanent collection at the Gallerie d'Italia in Naples, Italy. The artwork is thought to have been painted in 1630. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes) Gallerie dItalia Naples Address: Via Toledo 177, Naples, Italy. Metro line 1 (Toledo station) Cost: 7 euros; free on the first Sunday of each month Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Information: +39 800 167 619, gallerieditalia.com/it/napoli A U.S. Marine runs past the terminal at Cloncurry Airport during Talisman Sabre training in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) CLONCURRY, Australia U.S. Marines and Australian soldiers pushed deep into the Outback in recent days to practice seizing remote airstrips, part of preparations for potential operations across the vast Indo-Pacific. The training is part of Talisman Sabre, a biennial multinational exercise that began July 13 and runs through Aug. 4. More than 35,000 personnel from 19 nations are participating this year. Since the exercise began, the Marines and Australian troops have captured airstrips at Timber Creek and Nackeroo in the Northern Territory, and at Cloncurry in Queensland, said Capt. Johnny Fischer, a spokesman for the 2,500-strong Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. The airstrips are standing in for island facilities that the Marines could be tasked with seizing in a future contingency, Fischer told Stars and Stripes in Cloncurry on Sunday. MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363, based in Hawaii, have flown Marines and Australian troops to their objectives. A recreational vehicle equipped with high-tech communications gear served as the command-and-control center during a 1,000-mile journey from Darwin to Cloncurry, Fischer said. A five-vehicle convoy carrying 20 Marines, including cyber defenders, arrived near each airstrip ahead of the simulated raids. Australian army Maj. Jamie Frisby, left, and U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Max Burke pose during Talisman Sabre training at Cloncurry Airport in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) The first runway seized was at Timber Creek, 376 miles south of Darwin. Troops then moved on to the Nackeroo airstrip at Bradshaw Field Training Area. In May 2024, the Australian Defence Department announced the completion of upgrades at Nackeroo, including a runway extension and parking for aircraft, including Ospreys and C-17A Globemaster IIIs. The work is a major part of a $486 million package of upgrades to Northern Territory training areas and ranges, according to the departments website. Separately, the U.S. Army on July 15 struck a maritime target with an SM-6 missile launched from the Bradshaw area marking the first live fire by a Typhon launch system in the Western Pacific. Marines helped ensure the surrounding airspace was clear, Fischer said. On Friday, the Marines and Australians conducted another airborne raid to seize Cloncurry using Ospreys. Marine air traffic controllers took up positions beside the runway, and support personnel established a forward arming and refueling point, while additional Marines arrived Sunday on a KC-130J Super Hercules to assume control of the airport. Australian troops then departed for Shoalwater Bay Training Area on Queenslands east coast. Flying deep into the Outback was a new experience for many Marines, said Capt. Kendall Weigand, a KC-130J pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153, also based in Hawaii. Its wide open, wild terrain thats unique to Australia, he told Stars and Stripes after landing at Cloncurry. We dropped into a canyon and saw a herd of wild horses. We were hoping for kangaroos. U.S. Marines arrive at Cloncurry Airport during the Talisman Sabre exercise in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) The arriving Marines encountered minimal resistance in the exercise scenario, said their commander, 1st Lt. Max Burke of 2nd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. Only small sporadic fire teams are whats expected, he said. Maj. Jamie Frisby, commander of the Australian troops at the airport, recommended a local bakery to the newly arrived Marines. Theyre bringing the pies to us, he said. Demonstrators call for the impeachment of then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the front gates of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 4, 2024. (David Choi/Stars and Stripes) South Korean soldiers who refused to obey unlawful orders during former President Yoon Suk Yeols martial law attempt last year could receive early promotions, according to the Ministry of National Defense. The military last week launched a closer look at the actions of soldiers on duty after Yoons short-lived martial law decree late Dec. 3 and early Dec. 4, a Defense Ministry spokesman said Friday at a news conference in Seoul. Roughly 200 soldiers many of them from special forces units were deployed to the National Assembly building in the capital after Yoons edict that night. Some troops blocked the buildings entrance as lawmakers attempted to convene and vote to overturn Yoons order. Yoon, who faces trial on charges of insurrection and abuse of authority, has denied deploying troops to prevent lawmakers from reversing the martial law. His attorneys have said the troops were deployed as a precautionary measure and to instill order. Service members who are found to have performed their duties as soldiers without following improper orders could receive commendations, the spokesman said. Enlisted soldiers may receive early promotions or an unspecified reward; junior officers may receive a commendation in their personnel files, according to the spokesman. The investigation seeks to recognize soldiers who contributed to protect people by not following illegal orders and will not promote disobedience within the ranks, he added. Evidence of the soldiers actions will be examined, the spokesman said, adding that the investigation may take up to one month. A ministry spokesman reached by phone Monday declined to elaborate on the investigation. Some South Korean government officials speak to the media on condition of anonymity. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, is seen visiting Ukrainian soldiers who were training on the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system at a military training ground on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Mecklenburg, Germany. (Jens Buttner, Pool, Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Britain and Germany are set to pledge new air defense systems for Ukraine as the U.K. government pushes for a 50-day drive to arm Kyiv and bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Defense Secretary John Healey will make the announcement on Monday when he chairs a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group along with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, according to a statement released by the U.K. Ministry of Defense. The ministry confirmed the U.K. had sent $201 million of air defense and artillery to Ukraine in the past two months, and said further commitments will be announced during the contact group meeting. They include an agreement between Britain and Germany to procure more air defense ammunition, using $198 million of funding from Berlin. The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump last week promised more weapons for Ukraine and threatened 100% secondary tariffs on Russia unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire within 50 days. He said NATO member states will pay for the weapons. Trump has spent several months unsuccessfully trying to cajole Moscow into halting its offensive in Ukraine and negotiate a peace deal. Instead, Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, including on Kyiv and in areas relatively unscathed earlier in the more than three-year conflict. As members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force Putin to the negotiating table, Healey will say, according to the ministrys statement. James Cartlidge, who shadows Healey for the opposition Conservative Party, said in a statement that its also important that we stand firm alongside the United States in reinforcing their 50-day deadline to ensure Putin is under maximum pressure to pursue peace. That means all of our allies playing their part. The UDCG is an alliance of nations providing military support to Ukraine. Created by the U.S. during the Biden administration, the group is now chaired by the U.K. and Germany after Trump declared he was scaling back American support for Ukraine and European security. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A bus stop is seen damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 21, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months hours before Britain and Germany chaired a meeting Monday to discuss U.S. President Donald Trumps plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons. The drone and missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraines capital, killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The deadly assault underscored the urgency of Ukraines need for further Western military aid, especially in air defense, a week after Trump said deliveries would arrive in Ukraine within days. A drone struck the entrance to a subway station in Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi district where people had taken cover. Videos posted on social media showed the station platform engulfed by smoke, with dozens inside. The heaviest strikes hit the citys Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday for talks with Zelenskyy, visited some of the damaged area. Zelenskyy and Barrot spoke about expanding defense cooperation, including a decision by French companies to start manufacturing drones in Ukraine, and advancing Ukraines path toward European Union membership, the Ukrainian leader said on social media. Western defense chiefs meet on Ukraine The virtual meeting of high-level military officials was led by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO leader Mark Rutte, as well as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, attended the so-called Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. Moscow has intensified its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate as Russian drone production expands. Ukraines new Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal urged allies to speed up deliveries of American air defense systems under the plan put forward by Trump. I request the U.S. to make these weapons available for purchase, and our European partners to extend all the needed financing for their procurement, Shmyhal, who until recently served as prime minister, told the meeting. Trumps arms plan, announced a week ago, involves European nations sending American weapons, including Patriot air defense missile systems, to Ukraine via NATO either from existing stockpiles or buying and donating new ones. In an shift of tone toward Russia, Trump last week gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions. At Mondays meeting, Healey was expected to urge Ukraines Western partners to launch a 50-day drive to get Kyiv the weapons it needs to fight Russias bigger army and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, the U.K. government said in a statement. NATOs Grynkewich told The Associated Press on Thursday that preparations are underway for weapons transfers to Ukraine while U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said he couldnt give a time frame. European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius visited Washington on Monday ahead of talks with U.S. officials about European defense and support for Ukraine. Kubilius told reporters he welcomed Trump taking a harder line on Putin, calling it a new opening in how we can support Ukraine. If you combine American economic power and European economic power we are something like 20 times Russias power, he said. We need political will. Kyiv wants American-made Patriot missile systems Germany has said it offered to finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and raised the possibility of supplying systems it already owns and having them replaced by the U.S. But delivery could take time, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested, because they have to be transported, they have to be set up; that is not a question of hours, it is a question of days, perhaps weeks. Other Patriot systems could come thanks to Switzerland, whose defense ministry said Thursday it was informed by the U.S. Defense Department that it will reprioritize the delivery of five previously ordered systems to support Ukraine. While Ukraine waits for Patriots, a senior NATO official said the alliance is still coordinating the delivery of other military aid such as ammunition and artillery rounds which includes aid from the U.S. that was briefly paused. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. In a video address, Zelenskyy said another round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations was planned for Wednesday. He said he discussed the preparations with Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian team in the previous two rounds, but didnt give further details. The previous negotiations were held in Istanbul, and Russian media reports said it would likely remain the host city. The talks in May and June led to a series of exchanges of prisoners of war but produced no other agreements. Ukraine fires drones at Moscow The overnight Russian barrage of Kyiv began shortly after midnight and continued until around 6 a.m. Residents were kept awake by machine-gun fire, buzzing drone engines and multiple loud explosions. It was the first major attack on Kyiv since Trumps special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in the city last Monday. Russia halted strikes during his visit. Russias Ministry of Defense said its attack used drones and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. It said the barrage successfully targeted airfield infrastructure and Ukraines military-industrial complex. Ukraines air force said Russia launched 426 Shahed and decoy drones overnight and on Monday, as well as 24 missiles of various types. It said 200 drones were intercepted with 203 more jammed or lost from radars. Ukraine, meanwhile, continued to deploy its domestically produced long-range drones. Russias Ministry of Defense said its forces shot down 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, almost a third of them destroyed close to the Russian capital. Twenty-three drones were shot down in the Moscow region, the ministry said, 15 of which were intercepted over the city itself. Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London; David Klepper in Washington; Geir Moulson in Berlin and Stephen McGrath in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report. President Donald Trump said July 20, 2025, that he will try to save more than two dozen Afghans facing expulsion from the United Arab Emirates and return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. (White House) More than two dozen Afghans who assisted the U.S. military during 20 years of war and were stranded in the United Arab Emirates while awaiting stateside resettlement now have President Donald Trump backing their bid. Addressing a recent report that the UAE had struck a deal to turn over the 30 refugees to Afghanistans Taliban rulers, Trump posted Sunday on his Truth Social platform that he would try to save them. Theyre among hundreds of Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war with the Taliban and remain abroad while waiting for legal entry to the United States. The Trump administration broadly suspended refugee resettlement in January. Reuters on Monday reported that the Emirati government had already begun returning refugees to Afghanistan, citing an internal State Department message. Still, Trumps statement has bolstered the hopes of veterans groups working to secure safe passage to the U.S. for the Afghans in the UAE and other places, including 1,500 Afghans being held at a former military base in Qatar known as Camp As Saylilyah. At least 200 of the people held in Qatar are family of active-duty American service members. His words could mean the difference between life and death for the brave Afghan men, women and children currently stuck in the UAE, in Qatar and elsewhere around the world, said Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and president of the group #AfghanEvac. Trumps comments come against the backdrop of a wider trend of forced repatriation of Afghans. Pakistan earlier this year began expelling tens of thousands of Afghan refugees. In Iran, more than 1 million people have voluntarily gone back or been forced to return to Afghanistan since January, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. Many Afghans worked as interpreters and translators for the U.S. or fought alongside American soldiers during the war, putting them and their families at increased risk of retaliation from the Taliban. Following the chaotic American withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 after the Taliban return to power, the U.S. set up channels to allow eligible Afghans to seek new lives in the U.S. through the granting of special immigrant visas and refugee status. Since 2021, the U.S. has resettled more than 190,000 Afghans as part of Operation Enduring Welcome, according to White House figures. Veterans groups have criticized administration efforts to curtail the program, such as closing the State Department office that coordinates Afghan relocation efforts, eliminating funding for Operation Enduring Welcome in its 2026 budget proposal and ending temporary protected status for Afghans in the U.S. David Mazzarella, shown left in this undated photo, died on July 17, 2025, in Falls Church, Va., due to complications from a fall. Mazzarella, 87, served as editor for several news publications in the course of his 45-year career, including USA Today and Stars and Stripes, where he also served as ombudsman. (Stars and Stripes) Former Stars and Stripes editor David Mazzarella, whose newspaper career spanned 45 years as a reporter, editor and executive, died Thursday from complications of a fall, his obituary said. Mazzarella, 87, served as both editorial director and ombudsman for Stars and Stripes from 2000-2009. Prior to that, he spent five years as the editor of USA Today. Daves commitment to Stars and Stripes was profound, publisher Max Lederer said in a statement Monday. He served two terms as its congressionally directed Ombudsman, and in a critical moment, stepped in as Editorial Director during a personnel crisis. As ombudsman, Mazzarella raised awareness about the complexities faced by a First Amendment news organization operating within the U.S. government, Lederer said. David Mazzarella, seen in this undated photo, died July 17, 2025, in Falls Church, Va., as a result of complications from a fall, according to his obituary. Mazzarella, 87, was the editor at several news publications, including USA Today and Stars and Stripes, where he also served two stints as ombudsman. (Stars and Stripes) And during his time as editorial director, he stabilized operations and championed Stars and Stripes foundational principles of fair, impartial, and objective journalism, Lederer said. His lasting legacy will be felt for decades to come, and his absence is deeply felt, Lederer said. Between 2001 and 2007, Mazzarella held the top editor position at Stripes, leading a team of reporters and editors during a period when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dominated the news. That meant frequently sending journalists into combat zones to cover troops in action. Mazzarella also did two stints as ombudsman for the paper, before and after serving as editorial director. As the ombudsman, he was responsible for ensuring Stars and Stripes operated free from outside pressure or interference from military officials. My tenure as editorial director lasted longer than anticipated, Mazzarella said in 2006 after announcing his retirement. But it has been one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs I have ever held because of the important role the newspaper plays in the lives of Americas service members, particularly those in harms way in the Middle East. David Mazzarella, seen here in this undated photo, died July 17, 2025, at age 87 as a result of complications from a fall, according to his obituary. During his 45-year journalism career, he worked as editor for several news publications, including USA Today and Stars and Stripes, where he also twice served as ombudsman. (Stars and Stripes) Mazzarella, who was born in Newark, N.J., got his journalism start as a 19-year-old reporter at the weekly Cape May County Gazette, according to his obituary. After graduating from Rutgers University, he joined The Associated Press at its Newark bureau in 1962, earning $84 a week. He later worked for the AP in Rome, covering everything from the Vatican to political and natural disasters, his obituary said. After numerous other overseas assignments, he joined the Gannett News Service in Washington. He later led other daily New Jersey newspapers as editor. In 1994, Mazzarella became the top editor at USA Today, holding that position until 1999. He is survived by his wife, Christine Wells, a former senior vice president of the Freedom Forum, according to his obituary. He also is survived by three daughters from his first marriage, Laura Mazzarella, Julie Geredien and Lilianna Mazzarella; and his two grandchildren, Sarah and Max Eichorn. Europe's defence potential is weaker today than it was 30 years ago and needs to be strengthened, said Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken. "During the Cold War we were much stronger. Today our armed forces are really too weak. Especially in Western Europe, and they need to be strengthened. There are too many gaps in the capabilities we need. That's why 2% of GDP for a strategic approach is the plan we really need to strengthen our army and defense," Francken said in an interview with RTBF television. When asked whether Europe is ready to defend itself in the event of an attack by an enemy, the minister gave a clarifying answer: "Absolutely. But we are weaker than we were 30 years ago." Asked "if tomorrow the situation gets out of control in Ukraine or elsewhere, is Europe ready to go to war? Will we be ready to react to the situation?" Francken said: "That would be difficult. But what would be the scenario? We always have to be careful at this level. We are part of an alliance, NATO, a nuclear alliance. It is a very strong alliance, supported by the Americans, the Canadians and Turkey, for example. So we are not alone." According to him, "the geopolitical situation is very complex at the moment." The minister mentioned "hybrid threats, cyber attacks, threats in the North Sea and critical infrastructure that Russia is monitoring." In this regard, Francken said that it is necessary to remain vigilant and invest in strengthening the armed forces of European states. "And this is what Belgium is doing now," the Belgian defense minister explained. Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, said the victim wants to remain anonymous but had no issue with the defendant being named A 63-year-old has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a teenager in a Dublin laneway. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto, of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines was found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last May of sexually assaulting the 18-year-old on October 26, 2022. Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, said the victim wants to remain anonymous but had no issue with the defendant being named. Reading his victim impact statement to the court, the injured party said he had just left secondary school and turned 18 at the time of the assault. I was forever changed after that, he said. Im 21. I wont get to be 18 againand time waits for no one. Ill never get that time back, he added. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto. Photo: Collins He said he hoped he could get closure and move on with my life and thanked gardai for getting him through a gruelling trial. Garda Liam OMeara told the court he was on duty at Rathmines Garda Station when the teenager made an allegation that he had been sexually assaulted. The injured party said he was halfway down a lane and was wearing a set of headphones, listening to music when two females passed by. One of the females stopped at the top of the lane and beckoned in his direction. He was not sure if he was being called because he had his headphones in. The injured party said Otto almost immediately cupped his penis through his trousers. He asked Otto to back away. He moved away but Otto offered to give him oral sex and he declined. At this point the injured party took out his mobile phone and recorded some of the incident. There was another attempt to touch him and he told Otto to go away, the court heard. The injured party said he was in shock. He called his father who was unable to attend, but his mother came to the garda station. Gardai identified Otto from CCTV of the lane and a warrant was issued. Otto was arrested and detained in the usual fashion and was interviewed on two occasions. Otto said it was the injured party who carried out the assault and took a trial date. The court heard Otto has one previous for assault causing harm on April 27, 2019 and received a suspended sentence on October 20, 2020. Boiling water was thrown over the injured party who had rejected Ottos advances. The court heard Otto is a male transitioning into a female. Judge Codd asked if the transition was complete. Gda OMeara told the judge the transition was not complete. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto at a previous court date Pieter LeVert BL, defending, told the court Otto accepted the verdict of the jury in full. He said his client is 63 and is originally from the Philippines and left school early to work. He said his client owned and operated a salon in the Philippines. Otto came to Ireland in 2011 to work in a salon of a girl from the Philippines. Counsel said difficulties with Ottos vocal cords caused his client to have no voice. Having stopped working as a result of that and suffering severe financial difficulties, Otto began working on the streets. Mr LeVert said his client was a victim of a robbery and then attempted suicide. A document from Ruhama, an NGO providing support to sex workers, which Otto first contacted in March 2014, was handed into court. A document was also handed in about attendance at adult education services and a hairdressing course. Counsel said Otto is biologically male and has been transitioning for a number of years having had a breast augmentation and using a hormonal patch three times a week. Otto has diabetes and there has been great caution because of that. He said there were a number of letters from the National Gender Service who provide psychological services. Mr LeVert handed in two newspaper articles dated February 10, 2025 and May 30, 2025 written by journalist Conor Gallagher, saying there was still no formal model of how to deal with transgender prisoners and where they should be housed. Counsel said the article states these people are currently held in the E wing of Limerick Prison where they are typically held up to 23 hours a day in their cells. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto What weight has this evidence? Its a newspaper article? remarked Judge Pauline Codd. Mr LeVert asked the court to take account of the issues around trans prisoners, that Otto was a foreign national with no family here and his clients acceptance of the jurys verdict. The judge asked what level of English Otto had and counsel said an interpreter was used for the trial however none was used for the sentencing hearing yesterday. Judge Codd noted Otto, who was 58 at the time of the offence, identified as female but is biologically male. The judge said that it created a difficulty in terms of sentencing as Otto has not yet received a gender recognition certificate. The judge noted the injured party believed the person was a woman and when Otto asked him for assistance and so the complainant approached the accused. She noted Otto had claimed to be the victim and the case was fully defended. Judge Codd said the attempt to blacken the injured partys character was unnecessary and egregious. The judge noted the victim gave a moving account of how the assault affected him - that he should be having a good time with his friends and feels like his life is being held up. Judge Codd noted it was clear from his demeanour that the injured party found the court process distressing. A sexual assault of a young person, albeit on a lower scale as it occurred over the victims clothing, can result in psychological harm, said the judge. The issue of deterrence arose, said the judge, noting there was a previous assault causing harm conviction for throwing boiling water over a person who had rejected Ottos advances. In mitigation, the judge noted Otto grew up under difficult circumstances and there was evidence in that regard from Ruhama. However she said these are cases where the victim feels rightly outraged by being violated in this manner. The judge also noted there was no guilty plea to save the victim the trauma of giving evidence. Judge Codd said although there was no violence, the actions of the accused amounted to a gross violation of his bodily integrity. The touching was aggravated by the lewd language that was used and that the victim was a person who was much younger. The court heard Otto has not expressed remorse but accepted the verdict of the jury. The previous conviction for assault causing harm was not the same type of offence but it related to rejected advances, the judge noted. Judge Codd said Otto was now placed onto the Sexual Offenders Register. She said the court has a letter from Ruhama, where they received personal support. She said Otto was a person undergoing transition and that it is difficult where their gender identity does not align with their biological sex. Judge Codd noted Otto was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offence and imposed a three-year jail term. Ronaldo Otto, aka Samantha Otto News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd Stephen Mooney (53) was today sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of his 43-year-old wife A dad-of-two who inadvertently recorded the moment he stabbed his wife to death told paramedics and gardai at the scene that the deceased was having an affair and he "freaked out" after seeing "something on her phone about sex", a court has heard. Stephen Mooney (53) was today sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of his 43-year-old wife Anna Mooney (nee Shuplikova). At the hearing, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family and their two children. Mooney pleaded guilty to his wife's murder earlier this year after gardai hacked into his phone and discovered video footage of the build-up to the murder and an audio recording of the murder itself. Outlining the evidence, Det Sgt Basil Grimes told prosecutor Desmond Dockery SC that Mooney called emergency services at 1.09am on June 15, 2023. He reported that a person had been stabbed at his home on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 and when asked who did it, he replied: "I did." A Dublin Fire Brigade officer was first on the scene and found Mooney kneeling over his wife's lifeless body, speaking to emergency services on the phone. She had a knife lodged in her chest. The defendant told the paramedic: "I've killed her... She's my wife. This has been going on for years. I'm really sorry, she's been having an affair." A garda who arrived a short time later took a note of Mooney saying: "She's having an affair, it got out of control, I tried to save her, everyones' lives are ruined." He added: "It's awful, I'm sorry to put you through this. I saw something on her phone about sex and everything else and freaked out." He later said: "There is no suspect. I am the guilty one. There's nothing worth this." Det Gda Jeanette O'Neill carried out a technical exam of the home and found blood pooling on a couch and blood spatter on the wall immediately behind it. Ms Mooney was lying on her back on the kitchen floor when paramedics arrived. Pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collis said the stab wound to Ms Mooney's chest tracked to 13.3cm and pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity. The knife that had been lodged in her chest had a 16cm single-edged blade and a wooden handle. There were further stab wounds to the lower left side of her back, the left upper arm and further incised wounds to her left hand and arm. She had "quite a considerable amount" of alcohol in her system. The pathologist concluded that death was caused by multiple sharp force injuries. Det Gda Grimes said that weeks before Mooney was due to go on trial this year, gardai accessed his phone for the first time using updated software that allows phones to be hacked even when they are protected by a password or pincode. Analysis of the phone uncovered a 90-minute video clip which included footage of the murder, he said. He said Mooney can be seen leaving the room where the murder happens and returning with the murder weapon. The moment when Ms Mooney died happened off-camera, he said, but the audio records "all events leading to her death". Det Gda Grimes said the video then goes quiet before Mr Mooney can be seen returning to the kitchen where he drinks three glasses of water and runs water over his hands while making the 999 call. The detective said it appears that Mooney himself had set the phone to record in an elevated position with a view of the kitchen table. Detectives believe that Mooney set it up that way to record his wife entering her pin number into her own phone so that he could then take her phone and find out who she was contacting. The recording was still running when Mooney attacked his wife. The detective confirmed that Mooney has worked as an estate agent and has no previous convictions. Under cross-examination, he agreed with defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that Ms Mooney moved to Ireland from Ukraine in 2004 and the pair married in 2005. They have two children together. Det Gda Grimes agreed that the investigation had confirmed that Ms Mooney was having a relationship with a man in Germany. Neither of the Mooney children were in court for today's hearing but Ms Mooney's brother, Anton Shuplikova, listened to the proceedings from Ukraine using a video-link and an interpreter. Following the detective's evidence, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family. "I am truly sorry for what happened that night," he said. "It is the burden I go to bed with every night and wake up with every day." "I loved Anna. I want to say sorry to Anton and his extended family." He finished by saying: "I wish to apologise to my kids for the terrible suffering I have caused everybody. I hope one day everybody will be able to forgive me." Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. He said that while the family did not make a victim impact statement, from the evidence and the nature of the offence, he understands the "huge damage and trauma that has been caused". He said he has no discretion in sentencing and Mooney's future will be determined by a parole board. Stephen and Anna Mooney had two children Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza (29) also told custom officials when he was stopped at Dublin Airport that he had heard Irish beer was good A drugs mule who claimed he was visiting Ireland because he was a big fan of Conor McGregor and he liked the look of Irish pubs in the movies has been jailed for importing cocaine. Anthony Matheus Rosas De Souza (29) also told custom officials when he was stopped at Dublin Airport that he had heard Irish beer was good and that he was planning to meet up with a woman he had connected with on Tinder. He later admitted that he had been forced to transport the drugs from Brazil because he owed money to a loan shark. His mother was threatened and he was told that if he brought the suitcase into Ireland his debt would be written off. De Souza, who is originally from the Amazon region of Brazil, has been on remand in custody since his arrest at the airport. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cocaine at Terminal One, Dublin Airport on November 1, 2024. He has no previous convictions. Garda Andrew Fay told Simon Donagh BL, prosecuting, that the suitcase was X-rayed after De Souza was spotted acting evasively and suspiciously. Six packages of cocaine, weighing 2.88 kilogrammes and with an estimated street value of 201,600 were found concealed in the lining of the luggage. Gda Fay agreed with Aisling Ginger-Quinn BL, defending, that her client said he owed money to loan sharks and was approached by others who told him if he did this favour his debt would be forgiven. He was provided with the flight but got no further payment for bringing the drugs to Dublin. Gda Fay accepted that De Souza was acting as a drugs mule. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that De Souza was deliberately acting as a drug mule and brought drugs into this country. She said the courts see day in and day out, the wreckage, chaos and havoc caused by the drug trade in this country and noted it was people like De Souza playing a key component in the trading of drugs that facilitate this. She acknowledged that De Souza will be serving a sentence away from his supportive family before she set a headline sentence of four years and six months. Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of three years which she backdated to when De Souza first went into custody last November. Dublin Airport Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Jamie Moss, Meadowview, Ballyfermot, D10 appeared before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court today where he pleaded guilty to two offences A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to having a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in his possession in west Dublin last year. Jamie Moss, Meadowview, Ballyfermot, D10 appeared before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court today where he pleaded guilty to two offences. He was arraigned before the court and replied guilty to the charge that on February 16, 2024 at Old Navan Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 in Dublin he had in his possession and control a 9mm Makarov calibre semi-automatic pistol in such circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession or under control for a lawful purpose. On the same date, at the same address, he pleaded guilty to having in his possession a 9mm makarov Sellier and Bellot round of ammunition in such circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it in his possession or under control for a lawful purpose. A barrister for the State told the court that a sentence hearing for a co-accused is listed for October 20 this year and said the matters can be joined together. She said Mr Moss is currently on bail and there was no issue with that continuing. Carol Doherty BL, for Moss, asked that a probation report be prepared in respect of her client, who is a young man who has just finished his education. Ms Justice Karen OConnor directed that a probation report be prepared and remanded Moss on continuing bail to October 20 for sentencing. In June this year, co-accused Sarah Jane Byrne (27) pleaded guilty to five offences. Byrne pleaded guilty that on 16 February 2024 at Old Navan Road in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 she had in her possession or under control a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference she did not have them for a lawful purpose. On the same date, at her home address, she pleaded guilty to similar charges relating to possession of 27 rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition, a 12-gauge "over and under" sawn-off Beretta shotgun, and a Tokarev submachine gun. Jamie Moss Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st AFU General Staff confirms that Ukrainian troops carried out several strikes on enemy in Belgorod region yesterday Photo: https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/ The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that Ukrainian military forces carried out several strikes on the enemy in Belgorod region of the Russian Federation on July 20. "On July 20, the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a number of successful strikes against the enemy in various locations, continuing to focus efforts on weakening the military potential of the Russian Federation. Long-range fire weapons successfully destroyed the Russian S-300P anti-aircraft missile system in Belgorod region (Russian Federation), which significantly reduced the coverage area of Russian long-range air defense systems in the region," the Telegram channel said on Monday. In the same area, the General Staff notes, our troops also struck the Nebo-M radar complex, which critically affected its functionality and simultaneously reduced the operational capabilities of the neighboring 5N66M Big Bird radar station. Such coordinated strikes significantly weaken the Russian air defense system, reducing the enemys ability to cover its troops and infrastructure and facilitating operations by Ukrainian units. The two friends have been sentenced to 24-and-a-half years in prison for their plot TWO men have been jailed in England after collecting 50 kilos of cocaine from an aircraft that flew onto Ireland after delivering the drugs in the UK. Gardai and customs officers were waiting for the light aeroplane when it landed in Waterford after dropping of the drugs cache at an airfield in Northamptonshire in February 2022. Last week two men Richard Farmer (39) and his friend Blaine Harvey (39) were jailed after their plan to import 4 million worth of the drug was foiled by the UKs National Crime Agency. Two friends have been sentenced to 24-and-a-half years in prison for their plot to pick up a haul of cocaine from a light aircraft and sell it around the UK. Friends Richard Farmer (Left) and Blaine Harvey (Right) (Image: National Crime Agency) NCA officers had Farmer under surveillance when he drove to the aircraft at Deenethorpe Airfield in Corby, Northamptonshire. A black wheeled suitcase was brought from the plane and placed into Farmer's car at the edge of the runway. When Farmer left the airfield, the car was stopped by police who discovered 50 brown taped packages were found within the suitcase. Evidence was phone on his phone which linked him to his co-conspirator. Blaine Harvey, 39, of Nunts Lane, Coventry. Harvey appeared to be waiting away from the airfield to meet Farmer after the cocaine had been collected. It was later established that Harvey was to help Farmer move the drugs around various areas across England. Harvey was arrested at his home the following month on 7 April 2022. Seized drugs Both denied the plot to import 50kg of cocaine but were convicted on 16 July 2025 after an eight-day at Northampton Crown Court. Last week Farmer was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Harvey was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison. The plane, which had arrived in the UK from Belgium, continued its journey to Ireland. On arrival, three men from Sweden and Lithuania were arrested by the Garda and extradited to Sweden where they have since been convicted of drugs offences. NCA Branch Commander Lydia Bloomfield said: "This is a significant haul of Class A drugs brought in on a private plane in the hopes of avoiding detection. Farmer and Harvey were working together under an organised crime group to deal them on our streets with little regard for anything but their profit. "These convictions will disrupt the upstream organised crime group behind this smuggling and we will continue to work to stop those who attempt to bring drugs into the country from overseas. "With thanks to our policing partners in Northamptonshire, Ireland and Sweden, we have taken a large quantity of dangerous drugs out of circulation." Gardai previously stated how they had arrested three men at Waterford Airport on the morning of Wednesday, 23rd February 2022. The operation was carried out in co-operation with Interpol and the National Crime Agency. The three men were arrested after disembarking from an aircraft which had arrived from Belgium via an airfield in the United Kingdom midlands. In a press release at time Gardai stated: Upon arrival to Ireland at approximately 11am on the 23rd February 2022, the plane was met and searched by Waterford Gardai, personnel from Revenue and Customs and also a Customs dog. A number of mobile phones and 9,000 in cash was seized. Three males on board were arrested for alleged offences under 72 Criminal Justice Act 2006 and detained under section 50 Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda Stations in the South East. Following further enquiries and liaison with the UK National Crime Agency, Interpol and Swedish Police, the identities of a Lithuanian Male in his 30s and 2 Swedish males in their 50s were confirmed. The three men were remanded in custody after being re-arrested on the foot of European Arrest Warrants. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Ten men were arrested by gardai in March last year during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in west Cork A rigid inflatable boat tried and failed to rendezvous with a ship off the south coast in an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of drugs into the country before a number of vehicles were intercepted by gardai at Tragumna Pier in Cork following a tip off from a member of the public, a court has heard. Ten men were arrested by gardai in March last year during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in west Cork, where a jeep, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected drug smuggling operation. After gardai intercepted the vehicles they discovered a large quantity of nautical equipment including satellite phones, GPS devices, radios and control panels and wetsuits. The court heard that the ship the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was attempting to rendezvous with, passed an area in Denmark in Mid-March. 840 kilos of cocaine valued at between 58 and 59 million was subsequently found washed up in the area. Five men - Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz (45) of no fixed abode but from Spain; Anuar Rahui Chairi (42) of Malaga in Spain; and Aleksandar Milic (27) with an address in Belgrade in Serbia; Kiumaars Ghabiri (52) with an address in Rotterdam in the Netherlands have previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to import drugs. At the Special Criminal Court yesterday two co-accused - Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega (36) of Cadiz and Angel Serran Padilla (40) of Malaga -pleaded guilty to a charge that they conspired with their co-accused to do an act in the State that constitutes a serious offence, namely the importation of controlled drugs in excess of 13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14 2024, both dates inclusive, within the State. The offence is contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Inspector Joseph Young gave evidence to Tessa White BL that on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 gardai were conducting a checkpoint at Gully in Bandon, Co Cork and stopped two men an Irish national and a foreign national in a car. Gardai noted the men were nervous and evasive and decided to carry out a search which led to the two men being brought to Bandon Garda Station. During the course of the search, a notepad was found in the vehicle with coordinates for Dromadoon Pier and Rosscarbery Pier as well as details for six Airbnb and rental properties. On March 12, 2024 gardai received confidential information about suspicious activity at Tragumna pier. A member of the public observed what he believed to be suspicious activity when he saw an articulated truck reversing down and a camper van and other vehicles including a black Land Rover and a white transit van about 50 metres away. Inspector Young said Tragumna pier is located between the two piers referenced in the note found in the car and is located about 8km south of Skibereen town and 15km from the village of Leap. A number of vehicles, including a blue Scania articulated truck, a black Land Rover discovery jeep and a campervan were identified as being of interest. The jeep and the campervan were observed at a hotel in the area. An operation was put in place to monitor the vehicles, a property rented on Airbnb and a number of people coming and going. Enquiries were ongoing in what was a large-scale operation both nationally and internationally and the suspicion at that point was of a criminal enterprise of drugs importation. Inspector Young said a ship known as the Cool Explorer a legitimate ship with legitimate cargo - had left Ecuador some weeks earlier. He said the ship was a Panama flagged vessel and was due to arrive at its intended destination of St Petersburg in Russia on March 17. In the course of its route, the ship was to pass within 30 nautical miles of Lands End in the UK around March 12. Inspector Young said on March 14, going into March 15, the ship passed an area in Denmark known as Sjaellands Odde. 840 kilos of cocaine valued at between 58 and 59 million was subsequently found washed up in the area. The coordinates of the cocaine matched the coordinates being used by the Cool Explorer in its voyage. On March 14, 2024, shortly after midnight, the campervan was observed leaving an Airbnb rental near Leap and entering the Tragumna area. At around 5am the Land Rover and articulated truck also appeared at the slipway at Tragumna and ten minutes later a black rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was observed. The people from the RIB and those on the pier who had alighted from the three vehicles interacted and a number of holdall bags were transferred from the RIB to the pier. There was an attempt to put the boat onto the trailer and then back into the truck but there appeared to be some difficulty with the manoeuvre and as a consequence the engine and the back of the RIB were still sticking out of the trailer. The campervan left the pier just before a quarter to seven and the articulated truck moved up the slipway slightly but remained at the site. At 7.20am, an interdiction was carried out on the white camper van and five of the defendants - Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, Aleksander Milic, Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, Angel Serran Padilla and Anuar Rahui Chairi and one other man were detained, and the vehicle was seized. A further intervention took place at the pier where the articulated truck and trailer and the black Land Rover were still in place and a number of arrests were made at that location also. Ms White said it is the prosecution's case that the intention was that the RIB would rendezvous with the Cool Explorer. Inspector Young said the investigation teams belief was that a rendezvous or what is known as a sea drop off would occur. He said the campervan, which was hired in the Armagh area, had a GPS tracker and had been driven from the north of Ireland to the south. He said the Land Rover had been stolen in Glasgow the previous December and was fitted with false registration plates. The Scania truck which transported the RIB had Bulgarian plates and belonged to a company in Northern Ireland which had a sister company in Bulgaria. He said Mr Curran was employed by this company as a truck driver. A large number of items of nautical equipment were found in the campervan and in an Airbnb rental. A significant number of dry suits and wet suits and a quantity of electronic devices were also seized along with more than 30 mobile phones including satellite phones. Inspector Young told the court that satellite phones can operate independent of any land masses so are capable of working at sea. Other items included GPS devices, radios and control panels, a high frequency detector and binoculars. Former Naval Officer Gary Delany, acting in a consultancy role, examined the RIB and found it was fitted with three 300 horsepower engines and a large amount of fuel. He noted the central control panel and the Garmin radar dome had all been painted black and there was only one light on the RIB itself that wasnt very visible. No radar reflector was fitted which would be standard for a vessel of this type. His description was that it was for the purposes of detecting but not being detected, Inspector Young said. A Garmin GPS on the console of the RIB and two GPS from the campervan were seized and Mr Delaney established from those that the RIB had been at the pier at 5am on the morning in question. He confirmed that the intention was to rendezvous with the Cool Explorer that morning. Inspector Young said the devices on the console contained 27 waypoints. He said waypoints can be an intended destination or a place you have been and can be input of traversing or travelling in that direction. He said the waypoints of the RIB and the entirety of its journey spanning 985km over the course of just under 48 hours showed an attempt to travel towards the path of the Cool Explorer. He said it changed course on two occasions in an effort to interdict the passage of the ship. He said when the RIB was about 50km from Lizard Point in the UK it turned back. At that point it was still some 100km away from the position of the Cool Explorer. The sentencing hearing continues today. Earlier today, counsel for three other co-accused, Ali Ghasemi Mazidi (50), with an address in the Netherlands; Sean Curran (37), with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh and Raul Tabares Garcia (48), of Cadiz in Spain said their clients were seeking trial dates. Ms Justice Karen OConnor said the court would list the matter for mention on Monday, July 28 with a view to listing a trial date at that time. Ten men were arrested in west Cork after anti-drug operation Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, killed civil partners Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, on July 8 last year in their flat in Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush, west London A man has been found guilty of murdering two men and dumping their remains in suitcases near Clifton Suspension Bridge. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, killed civil partners Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, on July 8 last year in their flat in Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush, west London. Mosquera, who was also staying with the couple, decapitated and dismembered them, froze parts of their remains and brought the rest in suitcases to Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, according to the prosecution. He is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed Mr Alfonso, who suffered injuries to his torso, face and neck, while Mr Longworth was attacked with a hammer to the back of his head and his skull shattered, jurors at Woolwich Crown Court heard. Paul Longworth, left, and Albert Alfonso, right, were killed by Yostin Andres Mosquera (Metropolitan Police/PA) Mr Alfonso enjoyed extreme sex and Mosquera, a Colombian national whom he met online years earlier, was part of that world, jurors heard. Mr Alfonso was stabbed to death during a filmed session, with footage shown in court recording Mosquera singing and dancing in the aftermath of the attack. Mosqueras plan was to hurl the suitcases over the bridge to dispose of the remains after the calculated and premeditated killings, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said. Mosquera admitted killing Mr Alfonso but claimed it was manslaughter by reason of loss of control. He pleaded not guilty to murdering both men and insisted Mr Alfonso killed Mr Longworth. It took a jury five hours and three minutes to unanimously find Mosquera guilty. He had told the jury he feared for his own life and believed he was about to be killed when he stabbed Mr Alfonso. Forensic officers at an address in Shepherds Bush, west London, after human remains were found in two suitcases near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol (Jonathan Brady/PA) The defendant claimed that he thought Mr Alfonso would do to him what he claims he had already done to Mr Longworth, he felt intimidated and threats had been made to his family in Colombia. Mosqueras actions after stabbing Mr Alfonso, including singing and dancing, could have been an outburst as he had been overwhelmed by all that had happened to him, his defence counsel suggested. The judge, Mr Justice Bennathan KC, said he would sentence Mosquera on October 24. He said: I am not going to pass sentence on you today although the only one I can pass on you is one of life imprisonment. I am going to order a psychiatric report on you. It is in your interests to cooperate with the psychiatrist so that I can decide the minimum term you are going to serve. Court artist drawing of Yostin Andres Mosquera (right) (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Samuel McCrea admitted being involved in the incident at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny on June 23rd, 2024 along with a group of other males. A man who assaulted the night manager at a Co Donegal hotel has paid his victim 750 in what a Judge called "an expensive night out." Samuel McCrea admitted being involved in the incident at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny on June 23rd, 2024 along with a group of other males. The 23-year-old was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on the day where details of the incident were given to Judge Eiteain Cunningham. The accused was one of a large number of males in a room at the Clanree Hotel when staff went to deal with a noise complaint. McCrea and others who were not booked into the hotel were asked to leave at around 3.45am. As McCrea left, he struck Mr Charlie Harkin on the face. Mr Harkins glasses, valued at 189, were broken in the incident and the victim sustained bruising to his nose. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said McCrea, of Tattygare Road, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, was fully contrite when he sobered up. McCrea, who has no previous convictions, was charged with criminal damage and also with assaulting Mr Harkin. Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for McCrea, said his client had returned to what he described as a house party in the hotel when matters got out of hand. He said his client, an apprentice mechanic, engaged in a drunken stupor tussle, but wished to recompense Mr Harkin. Mr Gallagher said McCreas family are rather annoyed by the incident. Judge Cunningham told the court on the day that McCrea would have to compensate Mr Harkin. It isnt acceptable that someone who is going on foot of a noise complaint should be subjected to that, Judge Cunningham said. It simply is not acceptable. Judge Cunningham said she would take into account the fact that McCrea has no previous, that he pleaded guilty and the mitigation proffered by his solicitor. It strikes me that this incident arose out of Mr McCrea simply drinking far too much and not being able to handle it, Judge Cunningham said. The entire incident should have been avoided. The injured party was simply doing his job. On the charge of assaulting Mr Harkin, McCrea was convicted and directed to pay 750 to his victim while the criminal damage charge was marked as taken into consideration. An expensive night out, Judge Cunningham remarked. At today's adjourned sitting of the court, Judge Cunningham was told that the compensation had been paid to Mr Harkin. Samuel McCrea when he attended a special sitting of Donegal District Court. (North West Newspix) Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Boy claims the former Clare All-Star hit him repeatedly with a stick outside a hostel The State has concluded its case against former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan. The 48-year-old is accused of assaulting a then 12-year-old boy with a stick in October 2023. At Ennis Circuit Court today, counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL, instructed by state solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, told the court that the State had concluded its evidence in the case. In the case, Mr Gilligan denies a charge of assault causing harm of a 12-year-old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge, on October 5, 2023. In court this morning, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL, instructed by solicitor Daragh Hassett, called two witnesses on behalf of the defence. The first defence witness, professional photographer Martin Murphy, told the court that he took photos at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge on instruction of Niall Gilligan on October 5, 2024 one year on from the alleged assault. Niall Gilligan outside Ennis Circuit Court Mr Murphy took photos in the early evening from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, the same time of the alleged assault in October 2023. Mr Murphy also went to the property to take more photos earlier this month and copies of all of the photos were shown to the jury. Mr Murphy told the court that he knew Niall since he was a young lad. The court was told that Mr Gilligan is a publican, auctioneer and a farmer who has cattle. Shannon-based builder provider Flan O'Neill gave evidence that he sold plywood on October 5, 2023 to Mr Gilligan. Mr ONeill said that the plywood was cut to size, as Mr Gilligan who the jury has been told has no previous convictions required the plywood due to broken windows at his Jamaica Inn hostel. Mr ONeill said the cost of the plywood for Mr Gilligan was 36 including Vat. At the conclusion of Mr ONeills evidence, Mr Whyms told Judge Francis Comerford thats the evidence in the case. Judge Comerford told the jury that they have now heard the evidence in the case and they will shortly hear closing speeches from lawyers for each side. On Friday, the jury was told that the then 12-year-old boy that Mr Gilligan is alleged to have assaulted sustained a fractured bone in his left hand. Medical reports from October 2023 show that the boy, on examination, also had a 2cm wound to his right forearm, a 2cm wound to his right shin and bruising to his right shoulder, while medics also believed that the boy lost consciousness briefly earlier on October 5, 2023. I didnt know who or what was coming at me that night Mr Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault at Shannon garda station on February 19, 2024 and accompanied there by his solicitor. Mr Gilligan denied any assault and said: I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me in the conditions that prevailed. In a prepared statement, Mr Gilligan added: I acted in a reasonable manner to protect my property from destruction by fire and further damage. I didnt know who or what was coming at me that night. I feel sorry for the boy, but the fact is that if he and others hadnt broken into my property, lit a fire, stole the keys and caused other damage, this incident would never have happened, he added. The case continues before a jury of seven men and five women. Former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan at Ennis court Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st In Northern Ireland, individuals can legally possess firearms, including handguns, for personal protection under specific circumstances Government negotiators have dismissed UVF demands for senior members to be issued with personal protection weapons. The outlandish request is believed to have been dismissed out of hand as a condition for the terror group to finally transition away from paramilitary activity. The UVF have been locked in discussions with government negotiators for a number of years and are understood to be nearing a position where they can announce their disbandment. Early obstacles included demands for immunity from prosecution for historical conflict-related crimes. The contentious Legacy Act has virtually removed any likelihood of prosecution, even should the Labour government honour its manifesto commitment and repeal the act. Twenty-seven years after the Good Friday Agreement secured peace, there is no legal framework for decommissioning, leaving negotiators tying to find a verifiable way to show weapons have been put beyond use. Armed UVF men on the streets of Belfast during the Troubles There is an acceptance that any form of decommissioning will only be windrow dressing in any deal to stand down access to weaponry doesnt present any difficulty for criminal gangs. The streets are awash with guns, the sticking point for the UVF are weapons that might have a forensic history linking them to past crimes. But its is their demand for leading paramilitary figures to be allowed to carry personal protection weapons (PPW) that has raised eyebrows. In Northern Ireland, individuals can legally possess firearms, including handguns, for personal protection under specific circumstances. The final arbiter is the PSNI who grant firearms certificates for personal protection if theres a real and immediate risk to the applicants life. Police must be happy a gun is deemed a necessary and proportionate measure. Applicants must demonstrate a good reason and undergo thorough checks, including medical and law enforcement records. The latter would appear to rule out anyone with a paramilitary history. PPWs were commonplace during the conflict, with public figures including politicians, members of the judiciary and members of the civil service being given a handgun. There has been precedents with a number of leading paramilitary figures allowed to carry PPWs. There has been speculation that the UVF was ready to make a declaration as early as this autumn. Optimism was dampened when it emerged they had demanded to be allowed to retain an armed force of around 240 men, in their words, to protect the upper echelons of the terror group. The Sunday World understands they have now modified their demands and scaled them down to a call for a small number of PPWs to be issued which would mean UVF paramilitaries legally carrying guns. Security sources have told us the proposal is a non-starter. It would be unthinkable to strike a deal that would legally put guns in the hands of terrorists, theyre gong to have to find a way round that, one said. Loyalist sources have told us there is anger at the top of the UVF that bargaining positions are finding their way into the public domain. John Bunter Graham One source, who has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the UVF, said only a handful of people from Chief of Staff John Bunter Graham down would have any knowledge of the content of discussions with British government representatives. As previously reported, it is known that a sizeable number of UVF members and sections of the UDA have been negotiating a pathway out of the paramilitaries, but do not represent the entirety of the organisations. They are believed to be close to agreeing the terms of their transition but their priority in discussions has been to maintain the flow of public money into community-based jobs, many of which are occupied by paramilitary members, and immunity from prosecution for historical crimes. In February it was announced that the British and Irish governments were to jointly appoint an Independent Expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment. This will include examining what could be in scope of such a formal process. Lord Alderdice, the former Alliance Party leader who was chair of the Independent Monitoring Commission, said talks about loyalist transition should stop. A halt should be called, and you cant call a halt now sooner than today, he said. There comes a point when you have to say no, this hasnt been delivered. The Sunday World understands a sticking point in discussions are calls for the UVF to be de-proscribed so that the name can continue to be used legally at memorial and other events. And also in the naming of veterans clubs, the complication being that those who will continue to use the UVF name as a cover for their involvement in drugs and other crimes. UVF gunman Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Dubliner who testified against Gerry The Monk Hutch is expected to be joined abroad by family members following his imminent release Jonathan Dowdall is expected to be 'spirited away' to begin a new life overseas Former Sinn Fein councillor turned state witness Jonathan Dowdall is planning his move overseas as he enters the Witness Security Programme in the coming months. The Sunday World understands that Dowdall, who testified against Gerry The Monk Hutch, was recently removed from Limerick Prison to finalise details and documentation before his imminent release. It is believed gardai needed to take photos of him for travel purposes. Sources said Dowdall, whose official release date is late October, could be spirited away from the prison at any stage from now on as specialist gardai complete plans for his new life overseas. The details of how and when the 44-year-old Dubliner will leave Ireland are known by only a small number of officers to ensure the safety of Dowdall and his family. A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said it does not comment on individual cases. Prison bosses will be given minimal notice about when gardai decide Dowdall is to relocated. One source said he could be released in September, a few weeks early, but another said it will all be decided at the last minute. Dowdall and his father, Patrick, tortured and waterboarded a man in 2015 Dowdall is nearing the end of the sentence he received for his role in the murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel, Dublin, in February 2016. He was due to go on trial alongside Hutch, but the murder charge against was dropped when he pleaded guilty to facilitating the killing and agreed to testify against Hutch. Dowdall gave evidence during the trial at the Special Criminal Court, and Hutch walked free when he was found not guilty. In 2022, one day before Hutchs trial began, Dowdall was sentenced to four years in prison for facilitating the murder. Dowdall has been in jail since 2017. He and his father, Patrick, tortured and waterboarded a man in 2015 in a dispute over a motorbike. The father and son admitted falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him. He was told his fingers would be pulled off one-by-one with pliers. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. Photo: PA People who enter witness relocation for their own protection are often set up with new lives and jobs in Australia or Canada. The family of Limerick publican Roy Collins, who was murdered by members of the Dundon gang, entered witness relocation, but returned in 2019 after 10 years overseas. Latest figures show that in 2023, the State budgeted nearly 1.2m for the programme, but it needed a supplement of 1m more. The Witness Security Programme was set up in 1997 to combat attempts to prevent the normal functioning of the criminal justice system, including threats of violence and intimidation of witnesses. It was introduced after the murder of Sunday Independent journalist Veronica Guerin, but has been openly criticised by judges and a former justice minister. Charles Bowden and Russell Warren testified as protected witnesses against John Gilligan over the murder of Ms Guerin, of which Gilligan was ultimately acquitted. Both witnesses were later relocated under assumed identities. In another case in 2011, a Crumlin man who testified against four former criminal associates became a state witness and entered the programme with members of his family. A contract was placed on the life of Joseph OBrien after he gave evidence in the murder trial of John Champagne Carroll. OBrien, his girlfriend and family except one of his sisters, who declined to participate left Ireland following the trial. The State accepted the witness played a role in Carrolls murder. Jonathan Dowdall is expected to be 'spirited away' to begin a new life overseas Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st A needless and cruel loss of life Tributes pour in following death of truly wonderful family man The late Thomas 'Toss' Maher has been remembered as one of life's gentlemen following his passing over the weekend. A father of five who was the victim of an unprovoked and vicious attack outside a pub in a midlands town 18 months ago has passed away in hospital. Thomas (Toss) Maher sustained a catastrophic brain injury, effectively rendering him a prisoner in his own body after he was violently assaulted during the early hours of January 7 in Mullingar last year. His attacker, Paul Earley, of Donearl House, Meedin, Tyrellspass in Co Westmeath was jailed for seven years barely three months ago after it was revealed the 60-year-old carpenter had consumed up to 11 pints before landing the fateful blow on the much loved taxi driver. Paul Earley Mr Maher, a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court heard, had gone out that night for his "usual few quiet pints" but never came home. Earley, the court heard, was not known to Mr Maher when the latter informed a bar manager in Clarkes Bar on Patrick Street that the father of three had poked or pushed him in the ribs. The court was told that after talking to the manager Earley said sorry to his victim, who accepted his apology. The court heard Mr Maher left the pub shortly before 1.30am only to be followed by the accused and assaulted a matter of seconds later. The late Thomas 'Toss' Maher has been remembered as one of life's gentlemen following his passing over the weekend. CCTV footage showed Earley pushing or headbutting Mr Maher, who fell to the ground and hit his head. At Earleys sentencing hearing, it was revealed how Mr Maher would require lifelong care in a high-dependency nursing home. Judge Keenan Johnson described it as an "unprovoked and vicious assault" which had left Mr Maher "a prisoner in his own body". Tributes have continued to pour in for Thomas 'Toss' Maher ahead of his funeral mass in Mullingar today (Monday). A little over three months on from that hearing during where Earley was jailed for seven years and harrowing victim impact statements were delivered by Mr Maher's wife, Tina, and their adult children, details emerged over the weekend of the well respected Mullingar mans passing. A death notice on RIP.ie told of the unmistakeable void that his heartbroken family were now facing into. He will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his heartbroken wife and best friend Tina, his cherished children Lisa (Robbie), Dean Leah), Thomas (Kim), Deanna (Calem) and Dylan (Chloe), his adored grandchildren, sister, brother, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends, the post read. Those sentiments have been echoed by a flood of tributes which have been paid to the late Mr Maher. One local woman described the events of the past 72 hours and turmoil the wider Maher family have endured in the 18 months since as something which could, and should, have been avoided. So very sad, she wrote. A needless and cruel loss of life, after months of suffering and agony for both Toss and his loved ones. Others chose to hone in on Mr Mahers kindly and warm disposition, traits that were illustrated in his roles both as a taxi driver and as a security worker in Mullingars Midland Regional Hospital. Toss definitely was one kind soul, read one tribute. He will be remembered fondly by many people for his gentle nature and many acts of kindness. Perhaps the most heart-rending appraisal of Mr Mahers infectious persona and the ensuing sense of devastation his death had brought, came courtesy of a tribute from a locally based family. Our hearts break for you and your precious family, they said. What youve all endured is unimaginable, and so deeply unfair. Since that terrible night, you all stood by Toss with courage (that) no words can truly honour. May you find comfort in each other, and in knowing Toss is finally at peace. Mr Mahers funeral mass takes place in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar this morning (Monday) at 11am followed by cremation at in Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. The late Thomas 'Toss' Maher has been remembered as one of life's gentlemen following his passing over the weekend. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st He died on Thursday afternoon A man died after being pulled into an MRI scanning machine by a heavy metal weight training chain he was wearing around his neck. The man (61) had entered an MRI room while a scan was under way on Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI. The machines strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain around his neck, according to a release from the Nassau County Police Department. He died on Thursday afternoon. Adrienne Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island in a recorded interview that she was undergoing an MRI on her knee when she asked the technician to get her husband, Keith McAllister, to help her get off the table. She said she called out to him. She told News 12 that the technician summoned her husband into the room. He was was wearing a 20-pound (9kg) chain that he uses for weight training, an object theyd had a casual conversation about during a previous visit with comments like: Ooooooh, thats a big chain! When he got close to her, she said, at that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI. I said: 'Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off! she recalled, as tears ran down her face. He went limp in my arms. She said the technician helped her try to pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible. He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp, Jones-McAllister told the TV outlet. Jones-McAllister told News 12 that McAllister suffered heart attacks after he was freed from the MRI machine. It wasn't the first New York death to result from an MRI machine. In 2001, 6-year-old Michael Colombini of Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRIs 10-ton electromagnet. In 2010, records filed in Westchester County revealed that the family settled a lawsuit for $2.9 million. Magnetic resonance imaging machines employ a strong magnetic field that exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which says the units are strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room. MRI machine. Photo: Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st The projects included the construction of a new acute mental health unit at Hutt Valley Hospital, seismic strengthening of the Parliamentary Library, and long-awaited upgrades to SH76 Brougham St in Christchurch . On Sunday, Luxon joined Minister for Economic Growth Nicola Willis and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop at Drury near Aucklands southern border, where the population was forecast to swell over the next few decades, to launch an infrastructure update showing $6 billion of Government-funded construction due to get under way before the end of the year. The Opposition has dismissed the Governments infrastructure announcement as a public relations stunt, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the projects will create thousands of jobs and improve the nations productivity. The projects would create thousands of jobs and lift productivity by getting people and freight to their destinations quickly and safely, Bishop said. But Green Party infrastructure spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter said spending billions of dollars on roading projects would not solve the countrys productivity crisis. Theyre trying to distract from the fact their actions cancelling heaps of projects has led to a crisis in the construction industry here in Aotearoa, where last month almost a third of business liquidations were construction companies. The coalition Government has cancelled far more projects than any other government that Im aware of. They cancelled the ferries, theyve cancelled lots of public house builds, and other decisions theyve made to cut public spending have led to a longer and deeper recession. This is really a Government trying to govern with PR stunts and slogans, and no real commitment to solving the challenges were facing. Green Party infrastructure spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter. Photo / New Zealand Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell A majority of New Zealanders wanted to take action on climate change, so getting off fossil fuels and on to more sustainable transport was a win-win that would do more for productivity, she said. Willis said the projects due to get under way included new roads, hospitals, schools, high-tech laboratories and other government buildings. That means spades in the ground, jobs throughout the country and a stronger economy. Improving New Zealands infrastructure was critical to growing the economy and helping with the cost of living, Willis said. Luxon said the Government was on the side of the Kiwis who need roads to get to their jobs at the crack of dawn, deliver essential goods like food and get their kids to school. He said the Government would partner with the private sector where it made sense. Were obviously doing a huge amount of investment ourselves as government, but its a combination of both of those things. Labours infrastructure spokesman Kieran McAnulty characterised the announcement as nothing more than a distraction. Just this morning... the Associate Housing Minister [Tama Potaka] finally admitted the Governments policies have contributed to an unprecedented rise in homelessness and the best distraction they can come up with is an announcement of an announcement - I think that speaks volumes, McAnulty said. Theres nothing new in todays announcement. People knew that was happening, and some of it was actually started under the previous government. What the infrastructure sector actually want is certainty ... because weve already lost 15,000 workers in construction, many of them have gone to Australia, and every week weve got civil construction firms going under because of the lack of work. Labour's infrastructure spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. Photo / NZME photograph by Mark Mitchell Todays re-announcement isnt going to help any of those people. It would have been preferable for the Government to announce new work, or bring projects and maintenance work forward to give firms confidence and certainty, so they can either keep their workers or attract them back. References to private investment and collaboration rang hollow, McAnulty said. Weve been hearing the Government talking about public-private partnerships since the day they came in we still havent seen any of them signed or under way. Id like to see the Gvernment actually come up with something tangible. Announcing things and making a big deal about things that they already had been announced or under way under the previous government is not going to give people the certainty they want. Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett welcomed the announcement, which he said came at a time when the industry was bleeding capability. Nick Leggett, Infrastructure NZ chief executive. Photo / Supplied An Infrastructure New Zealand survey found 65% of firms had reduced staff over the past 12 months, and nearly half had lost workers to overseas markets. New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and we need our skilled workforce here to close it. He said the country has a perennial problem with start-stops when it comes to building infrastructure, and he wanted to see a more bipartisan approach. Leggett acknowledged the projects announced were not new, but said the industry associations focus was on the increase in projects under way by December this year, compared to last year. And were hopeful that in December of 2026, therell be even more work. Weve got very skilled, professional people in different parts across the infrastructure industry that are keen to get their teeth into those projects announced today, some of them, of course, have been paused or cancelled previously. But the point is theyre going to be in the market quickly. He wanted to see more work on smoothing out the infrastructure pipeline. What we need to do is get agreed on what the pipeline looks like and never have the kind of stops weve seen in the last decade or so that pause or cancel projects. Our economy needs this stimulus, and it needs these projects so people can get health and education results and be able to move around on transport projects that actually get built rather than just get argued over. The full list of projects due to get under way this year includes: Hutt Valley Te Whare Ahuru Acute Mental Health Unit, Wellington Kidz First and McIndoe Building Recladding, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland Linear Accelerators Replacement, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland Dunedin Hospital Sterile Services Unit, Dunedin Plant Health & Environment Capability Laboratory, Auckland Plant Health & Environment Capability Laboratory, Auckland Papakura District Court Interim Courthouse, Auckland Waihoehoe Road Upgrade, Auckland SH22 (Drury) Corridor Upgrade - interim works, Auckland SH29 Tauriko - Omanawa Bridge - Bay of Plenty SH1 Otaki to north of Levin, Horowhenua SH2 Melling Interchange, Wellington SH76 Brougham Street, Canterbury Rolleston Access Improvements - Package 1, Canterbury Parliamentary Library - south building and underground carpark seismic strengthening & rebuild, Wellington School property projects across the country, including classrooms, upgrades, redevelopments, learning support satellite classrooms, administration blocks and gymnasiums The Government said there was also a small number of significant projects which could not be named for a range of commercial reasons, but were included in the $6b total. -RNZ By Qabil Ashirov On July 21, at the Baku Military Court, the injured party ??hla Tal?bova testified during the trial, stating that she was deported from her ancestral lands in Armenia in 1988. She said that her family settled in the Shusha district and later moved to Khojaly because her husband worked there. According to Azernews, she recounted that when the pressure against Azerbaijanis began, a stone was thrown at a bus, causing a shard of glass to injure her 10-day-old baby's eye. She described the difficulties faced during the Khojaly genocide on the night of February 25-26, 1992, explaining that they barely managed to escape into the forest, where they stayed for two days before reaching Aghdam. During the genocide, her father-in-law and mother-in-law were held hostage for seven days. Additionally, other relatives were taken hostage, and some remain missing. My children suffered severe trauma. After returning to Baku, my daughter would compare stars to rockets. Whenever she saw a star in the sky, she would say, Mom, they are firing rockets, let's go..., she added. It should be noted that the trial of citizens of the Republic of Armenia continues in connection with crimes committed as a result of Armenias military aggression, including crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, violations of war laws and customs, terrorism, financing terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and many other crimes. Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first meeting of the renewed composition of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), the decision of the NSDC introduced a real moratorium on business inspections by public agencies. "The decision of the NSDC introduced a real moratorium on business inspections by public agencies and in general on any interference of government structures in business activities. The moratorium provides the necessary basis for the full implementation of the necessary decisions for the sake of economic security and the analysis of relevant practices," the president said on the Telegram channel following the results of the meeting. Zelenskyy also set the task of directing more internal forces in Ukraine to the development and growth of the economy, and "therefore, the growth of production, the growth of jobs that can support our defense and the stability of Ukraine." "We need to significantly scale up investments in Ukraine and the implementation of our joint projects with partners. In particular, this concerns the localization of production in Ukraine," the president said. He stressed the need for rapid implementation of support for Ukrainian business and cooperation between partners with Ukraine. "We need tangible economic results in the next six months," the head of state said. His lawyers say he was a child when he offended and should have been dealt with as such by the courts. Now lawyers are arguing before the Supreme Court about whether he should have been sentenced as a youth, based on his age when he first offended, or as a grown man when he was convicted at the age of 21. A 15-year-old who raped a teen before going on to sexually assault two women a few years later was found guilty and sent to prison for just over three years. This article deals with sexual offending against three young women and may be distressing for some readers. But lawyers for the Crown say he turned out to be a repeat sexual offender with no remorse, who assaulted two more young women when he was 18. The outcome of the case could determine if he will be sent back to prison he is currently out on bail or if he receives a community-based sentence and rehabilitation. Name and details suppressed The young mans name, personal details, and the identities of his victims are all suppressed. The rape victim was older than him. One of the other two women he went on to offend against several years later was older, the other younger. His first victim had consumed alcohol and drugs before the young man, at that time just 15 years old, gave her sleeping pills. She was unable to stay alert, and he raped her. The offending against the other two women happened when he was 18. The women each awoke to find him sexually assaulting them. The offences came to light later on and the young man, by then an adult, was charged in respect of all three women at the same time - one charge of rape and two of unlawful sexual connection. Found guilty by jury of rape He admitted the lesser sexual connection charges on the morning his trial was due to begin and was found guilty of the rape by a jury two days later. He was 21 years old when convicted, and was sentenced in a district court to three years and four months in prison after the judge took the rape as the most serious and lead offence. He is now appealing against that sentence. The young man's case will be heard in the Supreme Court in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell His lawyers, Letizea Ord and Emily Blincoe, say that if he had been charged with rape close to the time he committed it, he would probably have been dealt with in the youth justice system, for offenders aged 17 and under. The emphasis in the Youth Court is on rehabilitation. In their submissions his lawyers say it was highly unlikely that he would have been sent to prison had he been dealt with there. They say that the two charges of unlawful sexual connection, which would have been dealt with in an adult court, would not have attracted a sentence of imprisonment on their own. They also say that the community would be safer if he were dealt with outside the prison system, with specialist treatment, because no targeted youth sexual offender programmes are available behind bars. Ord and Blincoe argue that New Zealand is an outlier in how it deals with offences committed by minors but uncovered later. In England and Wales, an offenders age at conviction is specified in law, but sentencing guidelines are based on the outcome that was likely to have been applied at the date of the offence, and prison is a last resort. The Australian states take a similar approach, and Canada has a law which says that youth justice legislation applies to all offending committed under the age of 18, regardless of when charges are laid. However, the Crown Law Office said New Zealand law did not support sentencing outcomes in such cases that disregarded the legislation and methodology of the adult courts in favour of the processes governing the intensely specialised Youth Court. The appeal also requires the [Supreme] Court to engage with an artificial factual scenario: to treat [the appellant] as though he was still 15 years old for the purpose of sentencing, the Crown submissions to the court said. That ignores the reality of the case before the court: a 22-year-old repeat sexual violation offender who denied any wrongdoing and remained unremorseful at sentencing. One who, up until the time this court granted him bail, had taken no steps towards rehabilitation. The young man has so far spent 13 months in custody. He has engaged in rehabilitation since being bailed. The Supreme Court will begin hearing his case on Tuesday. SEXUAL HARM Where to get help: If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: Call 0800 044 334 Text 4334 Email support@safetotalk.nz For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list. Ric Stevens spent many years working for the former New Zealand Press Association news agency, including as a political reporter at Parliament, before holding senior positions at various daily newspapers. He joined NZMEs Open Justice team in 2022 and is based in Hawkes Bay. His writing in the crime and justice sphere is informed by four years of front-line experience as a probation officer. Three people have been injured in a crash in Bay of Plenty. Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Thornton Beach Rd and West Bank Rd about 10.20am. Hato Hone St John said one rapid response unit, two ambulances, one helicopter, and one operations manager attended the scene. Three patients, two in serious condition and one in moderate condition, were transported to Whakatane Hospital by road. Police said the road is slightly blocked, and traffic management is in place. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays. Employers may need to be ready to face up to some uncomfortable discussions about employee pay, employment experts say. On Wednesday night, Labour MP Camilla Belichs Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill passed its second reading, with National voting alongside the three opposition parties. The bill would ensure that pay secrecy clauses, which prevent employees from discussing their salaries with colleagues, would no longer be enforceable, meaning employers could not take legal action, if an employee talked about pay. Simon Schofield, a professional teaching fellow in University of Auckland law school, said it would be a positive move. The underlying reason for the bill is to ensure that people who are discriminated against have the ability to see where they sit relative to other employees doing the same work and allows them to discuss that. He said some employers may have to deal with challenging situations, justifying why certain people were paid a certain rate compared to others. Those questions may be uncomfortable for an employer to answer, but I dont think that means an employee should be dismissed for having those discussions. If someone isnt feeling that theyre getting paid well compared to their peers, theyll often just leave the employment relationship, but by ensuring that people can have these discussions, it puts the onus on employers to justify some of their decisions around pay, which sometimes can have elements of unconscious bias involved and that feeds into the gender pay gap. Hesketh Henry partner Alison Maelzer said remuneration was slightly taboo, so people might be reluctant to talk about it anyway. Its awkward both ways, she said. If you find out youre being paid less than the person youre talking to or if youre being paid more than the person youre talking to, either way, it opens up all kinds of a can of worms. She said, if the bill passed, salaries could become a water cooler conversation for a while. It might be prompting people to ask their colleagues a question they might not have done otherwise. Duncan Cotterill partner Alastair Espie said he saw people getting into trouble over pay disclosure very infrequently. Its an issue that is often difficult for employers to prove, so concerns about employees talking about their salary will often go unaddressed or be dealt with through more informal channels. Maelzer said she had been an employment lawyer for more than 20 years and had not been on either side of such a matter. Perhaps employers are reluctant to take disciplinary action, because it could open up a can of worms related to the reasons why the employee is sharing salary details. She said agreements often contained a clause that made the terms of employment confidential. The way it would be in there is not a specific clause, but when youre defining confidential information, client information, marketing strategy or whatever, youd also include the terms of your employment in that list. She said the bill would not prevent employers doing that, but would prevent them taking action against an employee for remuneration disclosure. Schofield said action had been taken against employees who disclosed their pay. Employers are entitled to treat pay as confidential information, therefore because theres been a breach of that confidential information employers may think theyre entitled to dismiss an employee for that disclosure. RNZ Settled weather is set to persist through the week over New Zealand as a high-pressure system sits over the country. After wetter conditions over the past few weeks, some may welcome the return of calmer, drier weather. This week is a great time to enjoy outdoor activities, especially while some are still busy at school, as clear skies and light winds are expected for most regions, said MetService meteorologist Oscar Shiviti. The fine weather this week does come with a downside of cold, frosty mornings. The clear skies and calm conditions from the high-pressure system, allow for temperatures to drop overnight, particularly in inland areas. Monday was especially chilly, with Christchurch recording its coldest July temperature so far at -3.8C, and Taumarunui reaching its lowest temperature of the year at -3.6C. These frosty starts are expected to continue throughout the week, especially in the Mackenzie District as well as in Otago, which may experience the coldest mornings, with possible fog. Twizel drops to -5C on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, while inland parts of Dunedin wake up to a frosty -3C. While the coldest temperatures will be in the South Island, frosty conditions are expected widely across the North Island too, even parts of the Auckland region could wake up to a touch of frost on Tuesday morning. A forecast weather map for Wednesday, June 23. Image / MetService Although most of the country will stay dry, there are still areas that could see rain. The east of the North Island, such as Tairawhiti Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, sees cloudier and showery conditions through to Wednesday night due to southeasterly winds bringing moisture in from the ocean. Later in the week, a front is expected to approach from the Tasman Sea, meaning a chance of a shower in the southwest of the South Island for Thursday afternoon. Showers and rain should become more pronounced in Fiordland by Friday as the front arrives. Tony Bryant Benalmadena Monday, 21 July 2025, 10:33 Share The municipal library in Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmadena, has added Ukrainian books to its other languages section, which now includes books in thirteen different languages in addition to Spanish. The town hall said the library has incorporated around one hundred Ukrainian books, thanks to the close collaboration between library users, staff and the council. This initiative, which includes children's and adult's books, was proposed by an active library user, Anikina Khrystyna, with the collaboration of the Ukrainian consulate in Malaga, who suggested creating a collection through donations from Ukrainians living in Benalmadena and other parts of the province of Malaga. Culture councillor Jesica Trujillo explained that since 2011, the Benalmadena library network has held the recognition of intercultural libraries, awarded by the Andalusian regional government - a distinction granted to only four libraries in the province of Malaga. The other languages' section of our library is particularly noteworthy, housing materials in English, French, German, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, Arabic, Polish, Italian, Dutch, Russian and Ukrainian, the councillor said. Trujillo added that this is a free and essential service for residents from other countries who play a prominent role in our library network. She added that books borrowed from the foreign language section typically account for around ten per cent of the library's total annual loans. This figure reflects the number of foreign readers registered in the Benalmadena library network, which currently stands at 10,923 users - representing just over 27 per cent of all registered readers in the network. Juan Cano Malaga Monday, 21 July 2025, 13:27 Share A man, 32, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, 16 July, after plainclothes Local Police officers caught him groping a young foreign tourist in Malaga city centre. The incident happened at around 1am, while the police were monitoring the streets of the city centre. They noticed the suspicious behaviour of a man of Moroccan origin and decided to check what his intentions were. As they were walking behind him, they saw that he was following a group of young women. According to the police statement, when he reached them, he touched one of them on the buttocks. The 20-year-old Dutch woman turned around and reproached him. He tried to flee, but was detained by the police. The foreign tourist told the officers that she did not know the man and that she was going to file a complaint against him. The perpetrator has already been brought before the courts. Juan Cano Malaga Monday, 21 July 2025, 09:52 Share A young man was rescued at sea, while apparently crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, after the passengers on a sailboat spotted him while they were on their way to the Balearic Islands. The incident happened on 16 July after the person in the water was spotted about 20 kilometres off the coast of Malaga, south of Benalmadena. It just so happens that 16 July is the day of La Virgen del Carmen - the patron saint of the sea. Celebrations on this date increase boat traffic, which turned out to be a lucky turn of events for the young man. At first, the sailboat's pasengers thought that what they saw on the surface of the water was a fish or a bird, but the view from the binoculars revealed that it was a person. The people on board the sailboat pulled him on board. He was wearing a wetsuit and had an inflatable ring and flippers with him. They alerted Spain's maritime rescue service The rescued man was given dry clothes, water, blankets and a warm drink, but he spent the whole time on the boat covered with the blanket. "He hardly spoke," said witnesses. The man was finally transferred to Malaga port where he was reported to be in a stable condition. Pilar Martinez Malaga Monday, 21 July 2025, 11:05 | Updated 11:58h. Share It's a fact: the Costa del Sol is receiving fewer tourists this year. The figures collated until May are red and this is the last month for which official data has been made available so far. Even international tourism has not been able to combat the cooling of the national sector and the pace of arrivals to this popular destination has slowed down. The holiday rental sector has experienced a drop of 2.2% in the first half of the year, more pronounced and consistent since March, when the lowest figure was recorded - 57%. Given that this is tourism's first decline since the Covid-19 pandemic, the current situation is causing concern. The strong summer months do not offer relief, as the downward trend continues to appear in forecasts. This July, bookings have dropped by 11.7% compared to the same month last year. Decline in international tourism The drop in numbers in Malaga province's main tourist hotspots has contributed to an overall decline in visitors and overnight stays across all types of tourist accommodation from January to May. These figures are mainly due to a sharp decline in Spanish tourists, which maintains itself as a trend. However, there has also been a slight drop in international tourism. In fact, national tourism now accounts for only 25% of all visitors, which means that 75% must be supplied by foreign tourists. While accommodation prices continue rising, the average number of nights booked between January and June this year went down. This is a symptom of the cooling of international tourism, which has started to be noticed. President of the association of hotel and business owners of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos) Jose Luque confirms that there is "some concern" in the hotel sector and says that the current forecasts for the whole of July are lower than figures recorded last year. The national market is not picking up According to a Turismo Costa del Sol report, several international markets are experiencing a decline in addition to the domestic market, which has dropped by 15.6% in the first five months of the year: Germany, down 3.5%; France, down 7.4%; the US, down 7%; Poland, with a 5.9% drop in visitors; Sweden, down 16.9%; Finland, down 0.3%; Denmark, down 2.3%; and Norway, with a 3.9% decrease. These figures stand in contrast to the same period last year, when only tourist arrivals from Denmark were negative. According to the report, eight of the main international markets are on a downward curve. Geopolitical instability One of the main factors that contribute to this downward trend in international tourism is the global geopolitical instability. The decisions made by Trump's administration can explain the cooling of the US market, but it would be more difficult to find a justification for the decrease in arrivals from Poland and Sweden, for example. As hotel managers state, "uncertainty is the worst travelling companion" and there are multiple factors at the moment capable of destabilising people when it comes to making decisions: Trump's tariff war threats, the escalation of armed conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Spain's own political instability. Household economy In addition, travel is a priority, but not an essential consumer good, which means that it depends very much on each family's economy. Saving is more important than spending for many people this year. Given that tourist accommodation prices have not stopped rising, it is not surprising that the sector would be suffering, even though the latest price increases have been minimal. According to a study by Cuaderno de Informacion Economica de Funcas, one in three Spanish households report that their economic situation has worsened since 2019. Increasing supply with weakening demand Another key element that is taking a toll is the strong increase in tourist supply on the coast when demand is showing signs of weakness. Up to May, the volume of accommodation places in the Andalusian tourism register (RTA), had increased by 12.4%, bringing the province's tourist capacity to 685,425. This population increase is further highlighting the province's infrastructure problems, which are evident in frequent traffic jams across many parts of the road network, also worsened by the high cost of motorway tolls during the summer. Carlota Fominaya Madrid Monday, 21 July 2025, 13:04 | Updated 13:29h. Share Contrary to popular belief, drowning is not a noisy, visible event. "We wait for someone to cry out for help when drowning, but it is often a quick, silent and difficult to detect process, which in most cases takes less than two minutes. That's the same amount of time it takes to answer a phone call, brush your teeth or see a couple of posts on social media," warned Roberto Barcala, coordinator of the SEMES-Socorrismo group. A child drowns silently: without screaming, crying or asking for help. "You can hardly hear the splashing," said rescue training expert Luis Miguel Pascual Gomez, adding that such a tragedy "has a tremendous impact on the family". Most child drowning incidents are the result of a lack of supervision. The drowning figures this year is Spain are worrying. So far, 20 minors have lost their lives, ten of them in June. Four were under the age of three, two were between four and ten and five were between 11 and 17. When we add adult drownings, June becomes the deadliest month in the last decade, with a total of 73 deaths. Behind the accidents Drowning "is the second cause of accidental death in children between five and 18 years of age at a global level", only behind road traffic accidents. However, it doesn't receive enough attention and there is still a lack of prevention and information campaigns. It is very easy to say that drowning is the result of imprudence, but this would be ignorant. "People are aware that bathing with a red flag is not allowed, but they don't know what a rip current is," said Pascual Gomez. According to him, raising awareness of the importance of adult supervision is key when it comes to preventing child deaths. A high risk group are children between one and four years of age due to the fake perception that parents can relax when the child starts walking and extends their range of movement abilities. However, toddlers are not able go look after themselves properly in the water and it is important that they remain within arm's reach of an adult at all times. In addition, floating devices such as inflatable mattresses and floats cannot guarantee safety and prevent drowning. The only safe device is the lifejacket, but even then should the parent or supervisor stay close. Guardians should not rely solely on lifeguards at beaches and swimming pools. Moreover, most incidents happen in private swimming pools. Public swimming pools also contribute to fatal figures due to the perception that they serve as 'nurseries' where supervisors can relax. Pascual Gomez has reminded parents that lifeguards are not babysitters and that their eyes should always be on their children. Carlos Hidalgo Madrid Monday, 21 July 2025, 16:05 Share A 21-year-old Moroccan man was arrested on 16 July after allegedly violently assaulting a woman, 48, on the street in Parla, a municipality of the Madrid region in Spain. The attack happened in broad daylight and videos of the incident show how the man beat and kicked the woman in order to rob her. Residents of the area around Avenida de la Ronda were woken up at around 7am to the victim's screams. Videos of the incident show her struggling and resisting as she was lying on the ground, trying to prevent her bag from being stolen by the young man. The attacker is even seen violently stomping on her head. Witnesses can be heard shouting at him to let her go. Some even grabbed pots and pans to create a commotion in an effort to stop him, while others called the emergency services. Eventually, the mugger fled the scene and left the woman crying on the street. Later that morning, the police identified and arrested him. He was charged with another robbery with violence, which he committed shortly after the incident, this time targeting a 78-year-old woman. He appeared before the court the following day and jailed without bail. The Parla Plan Some months ago, the local delegation of the central government launched the Parla Plan, which aims to address and fight increasing criminality in the town. According to the latest reports of the Ministry of the Interior, it is the town where all types of crime are growing. Robbery with violence and intimidation ranks the highest, having increased from 275 known offences in 2023 to 415 in the past year. To some extent, the police attribute this rise to squatting, which is prevalent in the municipality. There are three residential developments of some 800 dwellings, a good number of which have been broken into. They are located on Calle Toledo 15, Calle Fuenlabrada 74 and Calle Fuente Arenosa 1. While the problem with the first two is in the process of getting resolved, the latter building "has practically been taken over". The police state that many of the offenders in the town live exactly on that address, which is also a popular drug-dealing hub, and officers often go immediately there when they receive a crime report, knowing that they might catch the suspect upon arrival. Meeting with Russian side in Turkey planned for Wednesday Zelenskyy A meeting with the Russian side in Turkey is planned for Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a meeting with National Security and Defense Council Secretary (NSDC) Rustem Umerov. "Today I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparation of the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Monday. He announced more details on Tuesday. In Torre Pacheco in the Spanish region of Murcia, the centre of a spiral of violence against immigrants, fuelled by far-right racist groups, 60% of babies born have at least one foreign parent. These children, like another 100,000 born in Spain in 2023, have not had to leave home as their parents did, but they are still regarded as immigrants, in this case, second-generation immigrants. On average they represent 30% of the total number of births. They already accounted for just over 20% in 2007 and barely 4.5% back in 1996, the first year for such information to be collated. In some provinces in Spain, these births account for almost half the total birth rate, with Girona (47.9%), Lleida (46.3%) and Tarragona (44.1%) leading the statistics. Barcelona is sixth. These percentages show a west-east divide across Spain: one with more babies born to foreigners (father or mother) and the other where their proportion of births is low, especially in Jaen and Badajoz, which are below 10%. Alejandro Portes, professor emeritus of sociology at Princeton University and the University of Miami, and Rosa Aparicio Gomez, professor and researcher at the Instituto Universitario Ortega y Gasset in Madrid, refer to second-generation immigrants as "young people born in Spain to foreign parents or brought to the country before the age of 12." Using their own definitions presented in their 2013 research report, 'longitudinal research on the second generation', published by the Elcano Royal Institute (a major think tank in Spain on global, social affairs), they explain that, while "adult immigrants constitute an unstable population", the children - born in Spain or brought to the country at an early age - "tend to put down roots and stay" becoming 'the new Spanish' citizens." Thus, "their situation, achievements and attitudes can modify and set a new tone for the cities and regions where they are concentrated." "Adult immigrants constitute an unstable population - here today and gone tomorrow. However, children - born in Spain or brought to the country at an early age - tend to put down roots and stay." Alejandro Portes and Rosa Aparicio Researchers of second-generation immigrants A similar picture emerges for foreigners under 12 years of age in Spain. In 1998, the figure was one in every 100 children up to that age. The jump was exponential within a decade: one in every ten. However, since the beginning of this century, the proportion has stagnated with a resulting slowdown in that increase: children of at least one immigrant parent accounted for 12.3% in 2022, the latest year available from the ongoing census statistics. This translates to more than 600,000 under-12s in that last data-collection year. Following Portes and Aparicio's definition, there are at least three million second-generation immigrants in Spain. Firstly, there are over 600,000 under-12s (631,139) of foreign nationality (the so-called "1.5 generation"). Then there are at least 2.2 million babies born to foreign parents in the last three decades, between 1996 and 2023 (the second generation itself). Of the latter, half (1.1 million babies) were born from 2012 onwards. Moreover, this does not include the most recent numbers as they are not available in this level of detail in the statistics. Proper solutions, not short-term 'fixes' A week after various extremist groups called for a "hunt for immigrants" in Torre Pacheco following the alleged assault of a local resident by a North African person now locked up, this municipality in Murcia has become the epicentre of a public order crisis, but also of a debate on the social agenda about how to address the immigration phenomenon. "We need people to feel safe and find the right solutions, not just patch over the problem. We have to analyse why this has happened and look for solutions," said Nabil Moreno, president of the local Al Manar Islamic community. "If there are four conflicts that are bothering our communities, we must speak with social workers, who are always closer to the people," said Moreno. Rocio de Meer, MP and spokesperson for Vox's social and demographic policies, said in early July that it was necessary to "take into account the second generation" in a speech in which she advocated a process of "remigration", alluding to the fact that "it is extraordinarily difficult for them to adapt to our customs and habits." Words that she later sought to qualify further. Portes and Aparicio, in their 2013 paper, argued that the study's results "do not support negative or alarming conclusions about second-generation integration." They also argued that the differences with the children of Spanish parents "are diminishing over time." In Torre Pacheco 30% of its 38,000 residents are foreigners - 11.6% is the national average - and it is one of the towns with a population of over 10,000 inhabitants with a high proportion of babies born to a father or mother of another nationality: 168 in 2023, equating to 60% of all births there. It is among the 25 towns with the highest percentage, with Oropesa del Mar, Adeje and Hospitalet de Llobregat topping the list. In those three places, three quarters of the babies born in that year had at least one foreign parent. Furthermore, 97 children under the age of 12 also reside there, almost a quarter (23.3%) of the total. The Moroccan population in Torre Pacheco, now a target of extremist groups, is driving second-generation births in the municipality. In 2023, 119 babies were born there to Moroccan parents, 43.1% of the total. It is the eighth municipality with a 10k-plus population with the highest proportion of births to at least one of the parents being Moroccan, with Manlleu (Barcelona) leading the way at 53.9%. It is also among the top 20 municipalities in terms of Moroccan immigrants under the age of 12 (17.55%), just before they enter secondary education (ESO). "The main barrier is the language," said Antonio Vicente, head of Sabina Mora secondary school in Roldan. He is not referring to the pupils, 68% of whom are of Moroccan origin, but to "the adults." He sees the need for "a language immersion programme for the entire municipality." For Osama Alalo, owner of an employment agency, it is a priority for the town hall to establish "a genuine dialogue with the Moroccan community, creating bonds of trust and, once and for all, treating them as authentic Pacheco locals." Many have been in the municipality for decades, with at least 6,448 babies being born to foreign parents since 1996, making them second- or third-generation immigrants. "Torre Pacheco town hall has to move to establish a genuine dialogue with the Moroccan community, creating bonds of trust and, once and for all, treating them as authentic Pacheco locals." Osama Alalo Employment agency business owner Still, is calling them second-generation immigrants a misnomer? "Some studies suggest that the term 'second generation of immigrants' serves to create a symbolic boundary between the immigrant group and their offspring, on the one hand, and the locals, on the other," said Nasara Cabrera Abu, sociology professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She is also a director at the university's vice-rectorate for internationalisation and cooperation, publishing a study on 'Second generations of foreign origin'. In this document she argues that one cannot ignore "the normally pejorative connotation that the term 'immigrant' implies." Children born here never actually migrated and this, she muses, makes one wonder "when an immigrant ceases to be an immigrant." These figures help us understand the reality of these "new Spaniards" on the basis of the INE's micro-data from the ongoing registering of Spanish citizens and birth statistics. However, there are some inconsistencies here: since this analysis is based on foreign nationality, it does not include the children of immigrants who previously obtained Spanish nationality or of those who arrived before the age of 12 and also became nationals, among others. In contrast, if we were to count only their places of birth, that provides fewer years of data to explore population trends as this information is available only with microdata from 2007 and would be sensitive to the cases of Spanish citizens who only settled abroad for a short time. Even taking these issues into account, the data shows that the presence of second-generation immigrants is an increasingly important reality in Spain today. Ticonderoga, N.Y. The father of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead after being reported abducted Saturday evening in Upstate New York has been charged with her murder, authorities said. Melina Frattolins body was found in the shallow portion of a pond in the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County, troopers said. Her father, Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse, a spokesperson for state police said during a news conference Monday morning. Frattolin killed the girl between 7:40 p.m. and 9:12 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area off of State Route 74, State Police wrote in a criminal complaint filed in Ticonderoga Town Court. He hid her body under a log in a waterway, Troopers wrote. He is set to be arraigned in Ticonderoga town court and is being held in the Essex County Jail, troopers said. Melina was originally reported abducted in Lake George on Saturday and last seen in a van near Exit 22 (Lake George Village) on the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87). Thats about an hour south of where her body was found. On July 11, Luciano Frattolin and Melina both residents of Montreal, Quebec legally entered the United States for a vacation, troopers said. They were expected to return to Canada on Sunday, and Melina was to be returned to her mother in Montreal, where she lived full time, troopers said. Melinas mother and Luciano Frattolin have been estranged since 2019, they said. Melina was seen with her father on video surveillance in Saratoga Springs, troopers said. About an hour later, Melina spoke to her mother on the phone and told her she and her father were driving back to Canada, they said. Troopers said Melinas mother had no concerns for her daughters safety while she was with her father. Her mother knew that he was taking her on a trip to the United States, they said. Melina appeared to be in good health and showed no signs of distress, troopers said. Investigators believe that sometime after her phone call with her mother and before Luciano Frattolin called 911 on Saturday she was killed and her body left in a remote area, where it was later found by law enforcement, they said. Initial reports from Luciano Frattolin of a suspicious white van in the area Melina was reported to have been abducted were also proven to be untrue, troopers said. Troopers said Luciano Frattolin has no criminal history or a history of domestic violence. Luciano Frattolin had called 911 at about 10 p.m. Saturday to report his daughter had been abducted, ONeil said. An AMBER Alert was issued for Melina at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. It said the child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death. The Warren County Sheriffs Office investigated the case before the State Police took over. Law enforcement identified inconsistencies in Luciano Frattolins account of events and the timeline he provided, according to Trooper Stephanie ONeil, a spokesperson for the State Police. A state Department of Environmental Conservation officer found Melinas body during a grid search in the Ticonderoga area, according to a news release from James McCartney, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, the union that represents DEC officers. There is no indication that an abduction occurred, ONeil said, and there is no threat to the public. Troopers are awaiting autopsy reports to determine Melinas cause of death. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Ticonderoga, N.Y. The father of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead after being reported abducted Saturday evening in Upstate New York is now in custody, authorities said. Luciano Frattolin, 45, is being held in the Essex County Jail where he is awaiting arraignment, according to arrest records. Frattolins daughter Melina Frattolin was originally reported abducted Saturday in Lake George and last seen in a van near Exit 22 (Lake George Village) on the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87), according to a news release Sunday from Trooper Stephanie ONeil, a spokesperson for the State Police. She was later found dead in the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County, ONeil said. Thats about an hour north of where she was reported abducted. Luciano Frattolin had called 911 at about 10 p.m. Saturday to report his daughter had been abducted, ONeil said. An AMBER Alert was issued for Melina hours later at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. It said the child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death. The Warren County Sheriffs Office investigated the case before the State Police took over. Law enforcement identified inconsistencies in Luciano Frattolins account of events and the timeline he provided, ONeil said. A state Department of Environmental Conservations officer found Melinas body during a grid search in the Ticonderoga area, according to a news release from James McCartney, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, the union that represents DEC officers. There is no indication that an abduction occurred, ONeil said, and there is no threat to the public. ONeil said officials plan to hold a news conference Monday to provide more information about the case. Melina and her father, 45, are both Canadian nationals, ONeil said. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Faced with mounting criticism over high energy costs, Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers two years ago ordered state utility regulators to expand the bill discount program for low-income customers to more New York residents. Now the state Public Service Commission has done that. In a unanimous vote last week, the PSC loosened the income restrictions on who qualifies for reduced monthly bills. It adds as many as 1.6 million new households to the discount program. Shmyhal on Rammstein: Free world on the side of Ukraine and peace Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ The decisions of the 29th regular meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (in the Rammstein format) indicate that the free world is on the side of Ukraine and peace, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal following the meeting. "During the meeting in the Rammstein format, we received an important signal: the free world is on the side of Ukraine and peace. Together with our partners, we focused on the main thing - strengthening the defense potential of the Ukrainian army. This is already the 29th meeting in the format, which remains a key platform for coordinating international assistance," he wrote on Telegram. Shmyhal listed the key decisions of the partners. 1. The United States is initiating a new mechanism together with NATO, which will allow European countries to purchase American weapons for Ukraine. The Europeans have already declared their readiness to join the financing. They discussed the specific mechanism of this initiative. Germany will join the initiative to transfer five Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, which should soon arrive in Ukraine. 2. Germany is transferring over 200,000 shells for the Gepard systems and is also financing the purchase of Ukrainian long-range drones. 3. Canada will continue to participate in financing the Ukrainian defense industry through the Danish model and is allocating CAD 20 million for the maintenance of Ukrainian tanks. 4. The Netherlands is providing EUR 200 million for interceptor drones and EUR 125 million for servicing F-16 aircraft. 5. Norway will allocate EUR 1 billion in total for the purchase of drones in 2025, of which EUR 400 million will be for purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry. 6. Sweden is preparing a new package with air defense systems, artillery and equipment. Shmyhal noted that today's Ramstein, which was organized by British Defense Minister John Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, brought together 52 countries and organizations. Among the participants are NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commander of the US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich, and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. The Ukrainian delegation included Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrsky, Chief of the General Staff Major General Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, First Deputy Minister of Defense Serhiy Boyev and other representatives of the security and defense sector. "I sincerely thank every country that supports Ukraine within the Rammstein format. I am especially grateful to the United States, the initiator of the creation of this platform in April 2022, as well as the United Kingdom and Germany for their leadership in the Contact Group," Shmyhal emphasized. The 29th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence (in the Ramstein format) was held online on Monday, July 21, under the leadership of the UK and Germany. Machine learning adoption is taking over Yahoo Japan as the company is now requiring all of its employees to use generative AI as part of their workflow to increase their efficiency. There are as many as 11,000 employees under Yahoo Japan's operations, and the company wants all of them to adopt generative AI and integrate it into their daily tasks and assignments. Moreover, the company also has a massive goal in the next three years as it plans to double its workers' productivity by 2028. Yahoo Japan Requires All 11,000 Workers to Use Gen AI TechRadar shared a report saying that Yahoo Japan is now mandating that all of its 11,000 employees start using generative AI and utilizing its capabilities, features, and more to improve their workflow. The company wants its employees to integrate generative AI into their daily tasks and operations, with all of its staff told to use the available technologies and tools leveraged for their improvements. This new shift towards Yahoo Japan's workflow focuses on optimizing their operations and output to "higher-level thinking and communication," focusing on tasking AI to lead the groundwork on their tasks. 'Double' Productivity by 2028 with Generative AI The company wants to double its productivity by 2028 with this massive adoption of generative AI, focusing on continued innovation for its developments as well as services available. Initially, the company will focus on implementing a 30% use of generative AI, centering on areas including searching, routine documentation, and drafting. There are already several AI tools that it has developed, including SeekAI, which helps to manage tasks for expense claims and data search with available prompt templates. AI tools are set to become a standard over at Yahoo Japan and focus on key work areas they target, including competitive analysis, expense management, meeting documentation, and research. Generative AI and Its Integration into Work Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai previously claimed that while AI had a bad notion of replacing jobs, it would not do so in the long run. Instead, he claimed that it would create more opportunities for the human workforce. Additionally, an AI SaaS innovator and product leader, Rupesh Thakkar, also claimed that AI-human collaboration has been something that was happening behind the scenes already before the boom in AI's popularity. The advanced technology has since powered workplaces at its early iterations, and given its newfound generative capabilities, it is expected to power more of the workplace and improve the performance of employees and companies. In this age of AI, prompt engineering is now one of the most sought-after tech skills, particularly when using powerful chatbots like Anthropic's Claude. While it sounds as easy as a question typed out, creating an effective prompt is an art form that needs to be clear, structured, and purposeful. Anthropic, the company behind Claude, has published an in-depth Prompt Engineering Overview to assist users in honing their prompting capabilities and gaining the most precise, useful responses from AI. Getting Into Claude's Mindset Before typing a single word, Anthropic urges users to change their mental model. Claude, they say, should be viewed as "a brilliant but very new employee with amnesia." It's smart, fast, and capable, but it forgets everything between sessions and follows instructions literally. According to Business Insider, if you want to succeed, you need to set the stage clearly: know what you want, who the audience is, and what success looks like. Claude even comes with a built-in prompt generator to get you started brainstorming your first draft. Read more: WeTransfer Clarifies AI Policy After Backlash Over Terms of Service Update Be Explicit, Clear, and Structured Vagueness is your enemy when it comes to AI prompting. Claude doesn't figure out style, tone, or purpose unless you spell them out. Anthropic suggests clarifying to whom the response is addressed (e.g., "high school students," "corporate executives"). The same goes for clarifying what the purpose is. If you want to inform or persuade, write it down. You should also remember to create your directions in bullet form or as a series of numbers. Use Examples to Set Expectations One of the strongest tricks that Anthropic suggests is to demonstrate and simply don't just explain. The ChatGPT rival states that providing Claude with nice examples, referred to as multi-shot prompting, can really boost its outputs. No matter whether you're requesting blog introductions, financial summaries, or bits of code, including two or three examples guarantees Claude is emulating the tone and style you need. This also minimizes inconsistencies and applies formatting conventions. Prompt Step-by-Step Thought Another very effective technique is referred to as Chain-of-Thought (CoT) prompting. This is where you instruct Claude to think through its reasoning step by step instead of racing ahead to the final answer. By doing things more slowly, Claude creates more accurate, reflective answers. It's particularly helpful on complicated jobs such as analysis, planning, or debugging. Assign Claude a Role Claude works better when it knows its role. This technique, known as role prompting, can significantly improve outcomes. You can tell it to be a writer, a digital artist, a personal trainer, or anyone. It establishes the role, tone, depth, and expectations immediately, aside from being useful in professions that demand special language or form. Minimize AI Hallucinations Chatbots built with AI tend to fabricate facts, referred to as hallucinations. To try to defeat it, Anthropic recommends that you enable Claude to answer "I don't know" when unsure. It's important to cross-check answers by asking Claude to fact-check itself once it has produced an answer. Don't forget to request it to quote assertions with links or source quotes. While these prompts are good for daily use, Anthropic silently tightens usage limits for Claude Code, according to TechCrunch. Some users said that usage limits are no longer accurate. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday to participate in a conference of ambassadors, inspected Ukrainian-made weapons samples in the premises of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine agency correspondent, Barrot was shown samples of products manufactured in Ukraine, in particular the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle Aist 100M2, Aist-100, X-8 multicopter, Bulava kamikaze drone, Vampire and Sokol UAVs. The minister was also presented with the TerMIT and RATEL M ground robotic complexes, and the Kvertus AD anti-drone gun. In addition, a model of the Ukrainian self-propelled gun Bohdana is located in the Foreign Ministry. The Guardians: A short video honoring Chinese military's service (People's Daily App) 08:30, July 21, 2025 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (19311945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese military has released a short video titled "The Guardians" to showcase the dedication of its soldiers in safeguarding their homeland, ensuring everyday peace and promoting global harmony. Chinese soldiers are deserving of our trust. The Chinese military serves as the guardians of all we hold dear. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) One day, God willing, theyll make a film about the filming of Paul Thomas Andersons Phantom Thread (2017). This might be a documentary or a drama, a Shakespearean tragedy or a frantic farce, but it would take us behind the scenes at a central London townhouse to show how a great actor lost the will to go on. The shoot was too long, the conditions too stressful and the pure thrill of performing simply wasnt there any more. On completing his role as the society dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, Daniel Day-Lewis announced that he was calling it quits. I need to believe in the value of what Im doing, the then 60-year-old actor explained. And just lately, he added, that had not been the case. On learning of the death of the US president Calvin Coolidge, Dorothy Parker famously remarked, How can they tell? Its tempting to ask the same question of Day-Lewiss retirement, given how infrequently he appeared on-screen in the latter part of his career. Hes made a mere seven films since the turn of the century and reputedly considered his future at the end of each one. Hes the most fragile, ambivalent, unstarry movie star of them all. Perversely, of course, thats part of his mystique. If we cant have a new Day-Lewis film this summer, we can at least have an old one, unearthed and reissued. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) casts him as Johnny, a peroxide neofascist punk whos redeemed by the love of a good man (in this case, Omar, an Anglo-Asian schoolmate). This was the young actors big breakthrough role, landing in UK cinemas just ahead of his turn in Merchant-Ivorys A Room with a View (1985). Here, hes third-billed on the cast, blending in with the brickwork; a component part as opposed to the headline player. Directed by Stephen Frears from a script by Hanif Kureishi, My Beautiful Laundrette is a rough, ready (and yes, slightly stagey) account of immigrant dreams in Thatcher-era south London. Viewed from todays vantage, its a fascinating timepiece. Frearss film spotlights a bygone Britain of donkey jackets, metal dustbins and candy-striped shop awnings. But it also shows the poignant lost world of a pre-stardom Day-Lewis. The actor knows how the public sees him: as a mad bastard (his words), away with the fairies and at the mercy of method acting to the point where his preparation is almost as legendary as the performance itself. The man obstinately stays in character, tries to become who hes playing. So he remained in a wheelchair while making My Left Foot (1989), lived on prison rations during the filming of In the Name of the Father (1993) and skinned animals in the woods for The Last of the Mohicans (1992). Its a process thats paid dividends: hes won an unprecedented three Best Actor Oscars (for My Left Foot, 2007s There Will Be Blood and 2012s Lincoln). But he concedes that it can make him painful company a burden for both his family at home and the long-suffering crew on the set. Imagine working flat-out through the day on Martin Scorseses Gangs of New York (2002) and then having to sit in the canteen next to glassy-eyed Bill the Butcher. I met Day-Lewis once years ago, and he was thoughtful and friendly and didnt seem mad at all. He explained that he accepted so few roles because he never wanted to feel that he was going through the motions and working only out of habit. He also said that remaining in character helped him maintain focus throughout the staccato stop-start rhythm of the typical movie set. That way there isnt the rupture every time the camera stops, every time you become aware of the cables and the anoraks and hear the sound of the walkie-talkies. It was probably pure self-delusion, he admitted, but the technique worked for him. Im wondering if Phantom Thread was the breaking point: the production that pushed him beyond his natural limit. Anderson and Day-Lewiss second collaboration (after There Will Be Blood) charted the dark 1950s-set romance-cum-power struggle of a controlling designer and a lowly foreign-born waitress (Vicky Krieps). The film is claustrophobic; the shoot was as well. In March 2017, the crew moved into 3 Fitzroy Square for an invisible shoot, which involved the house doubling as a stage-set, digs and storage space. On previous jobs, Day-Lewis had been able to keep the production at arms length. Here he found himself stuck being finicky Reynolds Woodcock in perpetual sweaty close-up for week after week, both on-screen and off. The shoot was awful, he remarked, a logistical nightmare, while his persona kept grating on everyones nerves. Its hard to work with a crew that really hates you, he said. If there is a lesson to be taken from this tale of actorly woe, its that no method remains foolproof and everyone has their limit. Even when theyre a genius. Even when they have three Academy Awards on the shelf. The ideal for Day-Lewis has always been flow state, full immersion, the ongoing bliss of uninterrupted creativity. In Phantom Threads townhouse, though, he suddenly couldnt see past the camera tracks and cables and the irritated crew members. The role was a triumph; it secured him another Oscar nomination. But crucially fatally he no longer believed it himself. Daniel Day-Lewis and Gordon Warnecke star in My Beautiful Laundrette ( Channel 4/Kobal/Shutterstock ) Its the fate of famous actors that even retirement risks being regarded as another performance of sorts, the equivalent of a teasing dramatic pause. Day-Lewis, it should be noted, hasnt especially helped himself in this regard. He retired once before, between 1997 and 2001, and recently broke this latest vow to appear in a film made by his 26-year-old son. The forthcoming Anemone is billed as an ensemble family drama, set in the UK. It casts Day-Lewis alongside Sean Bean and Samantha Morton. Conceivably, it makes him a component part again, just as he was four decades back in My Beautiful Laundrette. Its an actors prerogative to change their mind. Day-Lewis can retire and un-retire just as often as he likes. All the same, its likely that Anemone will turn out to be a quiet last gasp as opposed to the start of a renaissance. The film might be good or it might be bad, but until its released and probably after that, too Ill continue to regard Phantom Thread as Day-Lewiss real final bow. It might even count as his ultimate screen role: the one that trapped him and broke him and returned him to the real world. Reynolds Woodcock winds up sick and needy, a prisoner in his London townhouse. Day-Lewis was luckier. He was able to get out and go home. My Beautiful Laundrette is back in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 1 August 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 Alexander Skarsgard has revealed he almost gave up on his acting career while still in his teens. The 48-year-old Murderbot star became famous in his home country of Sweden at the age of 13 when he starred in the 1989 television film Hunden som log (The Dog That Smiled). Speaking on the latest episode of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd, Skarsgard said he didnt enjoy the experience. It was a 50-minute-long TV movie, but this was back in the 1980s, so we only had like two channels in Sweden, way before cable," explained the actor. So if something was on, the whole country would watch it. I was 13 and suddenly just because of that one little thing, I was recognized. Yeah. I became a star. Skarsgard said he was already uncomfortable with the bohemian lifestyle of his father, fellow actor Stellan Skarsgard. Alexander Skarsgard at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 ( Getty ) A Swedish star was born, joked the Legend of Tarzan star. And for someone who's longing for a father in a gray suit, driving a gray Saab to the gray office, it was rough. I didn't like being recognized. I didn't like going to school and kids at school being like, I saw the movie. Rather than reveling in the newfound attention, Skarsgard said he found it disconcerting. My confidence was just down the drain, he continued. I remember being 13, 14, and if a girl showed a little bit of interest in me, I was like, She's just a fan of the movie. That's it. It just crushed me. I was like, This is terrible. And I've done one 50-minute made-for-TV movie. I don't want to keep doing this. Skarsgard said the experience was so troubling for him he decided to give up acting entirely. I retired. he said. Threw in the towel at 13. He added: I wanted to be popular as well, but I wanted to earn it. I didnt feel like I earned it if someone had seen me on television. Then Id be like, Well, you're into the character that I play in the movie. You're not into me. It wasn't a difficult decision because again, I was like, I don't want be an actor anyways, I just want to drive a Saab. So I just kind of stopped doing it. Skarsgard did not return to acting for over a decade, when he went to an audition while visiting his father in the United States. That led to him making his Hollywood debut with a small role in the 2001 comedy Zoolander, and hes since become a star of television and film in projects including Succession and 2022's The Northman. Earlier this month, Skarsgards father Stellan reflected on his own early years in the industry, recalling that the late director Ingmar Bergman was a Nazi who was the only person I know who cried when Hitler died. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Country star Morgan Wallen poked fun at the Coldplay concert scandal at his own show over the weekend. Wallen addressed the crowd inn Glendale, Arizona, just days after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was seen in a loving embrace with the head of the companys HR department on the kiss cam during a Coldplay concert. Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think youre safe here, Wallen said with a shrug during a Friday night performance. Video of the moment shared online showed Wallen, 32, continuing: I dont condone cheating anymore. Wallens comments come days after the viral video showed Byron and his companys Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot awkwardly jumping out of each others arms as they flashed up on a Jumbotron during Coldplays show in Boston Wednesday night. Morgan Wallen addressed the Coldplay 'kiss cam' scandal at his latest concert telling fans they were safe at his show. ( Getty ) Byron, who had his arms wrapped around Cabots waist from behind, quickly let her go as his HR chief covered her face with her hands. He then crouched down, trying to hide from the camera. Oh, what...either theyre having an affair or theyre just very shy, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin quipped as the pair ran away from where they were standing. Byron has since resigned and a company official reportedly told Axios that Cabot has also been put on leave pending an investigation. As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met, the companys statement released Saturday read. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO. Wallen hasnt been without his own controversies. Most recently, he was seen leaving the Saturday Night Live stage prematurely after serving as the musical guest during an April show. Wallen quickly walked off the stage as the credits began to roll, rather than sticking around to talk to and congratulate the cast members until the broadcast ended, as most guests tend to do. After the episode had aired, Wallen shared a photo on his Instagram Story showing a private jet on a runway, along with the caption: Get me to Gods country. In the aftermath, it emerged that Wallen had refused to take part in a sketch about New York City, and he also started selling merch bearing the slogan: Get me to Gods country. The following week, Colin Jost joked about Wallens swift exit during Weekend Update. In May, Wallen played down the incident. Asked if SNL had made him mad, he responded: No. I was ready to go home. Id been there all week. 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 Ellen DeGeneres has said that she moved to the UK with her wife Portia de Rossi because of Donald Trumps election victory. The former talk show host, 67, travelled to the Cotswolds with de Rossi in November last year, shortly before Trump was elected as US president for a second term. During a live conversation with broadcaster Richard Bacon in Cheltenham on Sunday, DeGeneres replied in the affirmative when asked if she moved to the UK because of Americas choice of leader. Yes. We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, He got in. And were like, Were staying here, she said, according to The Guardian. After her long-running talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in 2022 following allegations of a toxic workplace environment, DeGeneres went on a final comedy tour around the US, which ended in August that year. Shortly after that the couple bought what DeGeneres described as a part-time house in the Cotswolds where they intended to spend around four months a year. Ellen DeGeneres has confirmed that she moved to the UK with her wife Portia de Rossi because of Donald Trump ( Getty Images ) After Trumps re-election, however, that plan turned permanent. DeGeneres said the house itself is absolutely beautiful, adding that they saw snow there this winter for the first time since her move. Were just not used to seeing this kind of beauty. The villages and the towns and the architecture everything you see is charming and its just a simpler way of life. Its clean. Everything here is just better the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here, she said. She added that she and de Rossi may get married again in England. The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage, she said. Theyre trying to literally stop it from happening in the future and possibly reverse it, referring to a June vote by southern Baptists to endorse a ban on gay marriage. Portia and I are already looking into it, and if they do that, were going to get married here. I wish we were at a place where it was not scary for people to be who they are. I wish that we lived in a society where everybody could accept other people and their differences. So until were there, I think theres a hard place to say we have huge progress. She also addressed the allegations that the environment on her talk show was toxic, saying: No matter what, any article that came up, it was like, Shes mean, and its like, how do I deal with this without sounding like a victim or poor me or complaining? Its as simple as, Im a direct person, and Im very blunt, and I guess sometimes that means that... I'm mean? Over the weekend, DeGeneres took to Instagram to show her support for Rosie ODonnell, after Trump claimed ODonnell was a Threat to Humanity, and he was giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. Good for you @rosie, DeGeneres wrote in the caption of her post. ODonnell, who moved to Ireland earlier this year, fired back at Trump, calling him King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan, a reference to a much-hated, sadistic and authoritarian character from Game of Thrones. In a TikTok video shared in March, ODonnell hinted that she chose to move because Trump became president for a second term. 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, the Now & Then star had said at the time. Referring to America under Trump, she added: It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well. 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 Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died. He was 54. Warner starred in the beloved family sitcom from 1984 to 1992, and went on to headline Malcolm & Eddie with comedian Eddie Griffin from 1996 to 2000. More recently, he appeared in Sons of Anarchy, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story and The Resident. ABC News reports that Warner drowned during a family vacation in Costa Rica on Sunday, according to Costa Rican National Police. His official cause of death was asphyxia, after he was caught by a strong current while swimming off Cocles, a beach in Limon, on the countrys Atlantic coast. A representative for Warner confirmed the news to The Independent. In a post on Instagram, Griffin paid tribute to Warner as my big little brother. Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on August 18, 1970. He pursued acting from a young age and graduated from New Yorks Professional Children's School. At the age of 13 he auditioned for the role of Theo, the only son of Bill Cosbys Heathcliff Huxtable, on the final day of a nationwide search. He was chosen for the part by Cosby himself. open image in gallery The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who has died aged 54, at the Hollywood Palladium in February 2023 ( Getty ) Earlier this year, he reflected on the difficulty of always being associated with his breakout role on the Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford podcast. Per Yahoo, he said his wife, who he never publicly named for privacy reasons, got on him for trying to distance himself from Theo, as if Theo was a bad thing. He continued: Ive always wanted it to be separate... and theres this narrative that I hate being called Theo..., before admitting that this was true and he disliked being asked to sign autographs as Theo. He added: Im always gonna be Malcolm much longer than Theo. Although to some people Ill be Theo forever, and I cant help that. open image in gallery The cast of The Cosby Show: (clockwise from top left) Tempestt Bledsoe, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Phylicia Rashad, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Bill Cosby ( Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock ) During his time on The Cosby Show, Warner became a well-known public figure and made regular guest appearances elsewhere. He hosted Saturday Night Live in 1986, at the age of 16, and also appeared in Sesame Street and in several television specials. Warner reprised the role of Theo in the spin-off series A Different World, which ran from 1988 to 1989. Until 1994 Warner was in a relationship with his Cosby Show co-star Michelle Thomas, who played his onscreen girlfriend Justine. The pair remained close and he was at her bedside when she died from a rare form of cancer in 1998 at the age of 30. open image in gallery Warner starring as AJ The Raptor Austin in medical drama The Resident ( 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock ) More recently, Warner has made appearances on comedies including Community and Key & Peele, and starred opposite Tracee Ellis Ross in the 2011 sitcom Reed Between the Lines. From 2018 to 2023 he starred in the Fox medical drama The Resident. Warner was also a musician and performance poet who released his debut album, The Miles Long Mixtape, in 2003. In 2015 Jesus Children, his collaboration with Robert Glasper and Lalah Hathaway, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance. His final screen credits came in four episodes of the procedural 9-1-1 last year. Warner is survived by his wife and daughter. 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 Chris Martin has done his best to make sure there would not be another incident with a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert. On Saturday night, Martin and his band performed at the Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, which was Coldplays first concert since Astronomers CEO Andy Bryon was and his companys Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, awkwardly jumped out of each others arms as they flashed up on a kiss cam during the bands show in at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts on Wednesday night. During Saturdays rendition of the bands Music of the Spheres World Tour, Martin made sure to let the audience know when the cameras would be coming out, just in case they may have needed to prepare. We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd, Martin told the stadium in a fan-recorded clip. How we're gonna do that is we're gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. The bands frontman then grinned and told fans, So please, if you haven't done your makeup, do your makeup now. How we're gonna do that is we're gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen, Martin explained to the crowd on Saturday ( Getty Images ) The fan later wrote on X that no couples were shown during the jumbotron portion of the concert. The comment came after Wednesdays viral clip, shared on TikTok by user @instaagrace, where Martin can be heard saying, Oh, look at these two as the camera panned over to Byron and Cabot. Byron, who had his arms wrapped around Cabot, quickly let her go as his coworker covered her face with her hands, and he crouched down, trying to hide from the camera. Oh, what...either theyre having an affair or theyre just very shy, Martin quipped as the pair ran away from where they were standing. Following the release of the clip, Byron tendered his resignation on Saturday. As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met, the companys statement released Saturday reads. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO. Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. Were continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems, the press release concluded. A company official also reportedly told Axios that Cabot has also been put on leave pending their internal investigation. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice As World Breastfeeding Week 2025 approaches (August 1-7), the celebration is seen as an opportunity to highlight breastfeeding while promoting health for both babies and mothers. The seven-day celebration is observed in more than 170 countries, making it one of the most common health awareness campaigns globally. For new mums, breastfeeding is often person-dependent and based on individual experience. With so many things happening at the beginning of motherhood, we spoke with three breastfeeding mums to share their experiences and tips with new mothers who may also decide to breastfeed. Focus on what works for you and your baby Courtnay Osborne-Walker, 28, who has been breastfeeding for just over three years, says to follow a schedule that works for you and your baby, not what anyone else is doing. Every baby is different, every mother is different and every parenting style is different, says London-based Osborne-Walker. Its good to approach it with an open mind and not have a fixed idea of what your breastfeeding journey is going to look like. Osborne-Walker also adds if you are finding it hard physically, mentally or if its painful to seek advice. There is a lot of breastfeeding support out there so try utilise as much support as you can before you give up. Also feel free to ask people for support, especially if you have a really small chid getting someone to prop your arm up with a pillow or to make sure a glass of water is within arm distance of you can really help, she says. The mum-of-one also advised to try different positions when breastfeeding as every baby is different. In the beginning, I found the side lying position didnt work very well because she was newborn and it was almost like she was a bit too small to do that. However, now that she is bigger, thats our preferred position so it just changes as she changes. Lastly, dont listen or be pressured by any external noise when it comes to your breastfeeding journey, Osborne-Walker says. If you want to carry on breastfeeding, carry on and if you dont, then dont. Make the decision based on you and your baby and not due to the pressures of other people, judgement or society. Prepare in advance New mum to her seven-week-old baby, Elspeth Roe says being prepared with items like nipple cream is a huge help at the beginning. At the beginning I found it really tough, however I wanted to carry on doing it for me and her both, Roe, 26, says. Now I love it and it is such a nice experience, but I would say to make sure you have all your comfort things with you, such as breast pads so you arent leaking everywhere. It was a massive shock to me the amount of milk that comes out and I was going through so many nursing bras because I wasnt prepared at the beginning. You can also get breast masks to help soothe yourself and also make sure you are regularly pumping to keep the flow going. I would also remind new mums that its the biggest reward and its also so much cheaper than preparing and buying bottles. If it hurts, there is something wrong Larissa Hazell advises new mums that pain is not normal. This is from a personal experience, says the 33-year-old mum from Essex. I already knew the saying that if it hurts, something is wrong, as I learnt it during hypnobirthing training, and when it came to my little one, it was hurting me. I remember sitting on the bed and being in floods of tears to my husband and saying, if it hurts, then this is what I have to do and thats just the way its going to be for me. Hazell then recalls her husband reminding her of what they were both told multiple times, if it hurts, theres something wrong, which prompted them to call their midwife and ask for an appointment with the breastfeeding consultant at the hospital. After going to hospital, we realised the latch was not correct and from that tiny little change it completely transformed how my son was feeding and the pain instantly went. So if it is painful, its usually because there is something just not quite right with how the baby is latching and you can get some support from breastfeeding support groups. Hazell who has now been breastfeeding for three and a half years, also suggests when it comes to seeking support, Reaching out to somebody whos niche is in breastfeeding can completely transform the experience and journey. Japan's ruling coalition certain to lose majority in upper house: NHK Xinhua) 08:44, July 21, 2025 TOKYO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The coalition led by Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is certain to lose its majority in the House of Councillors following Sunday's election, public broadcaster NHK reported. NHK said that the coalition of the LDP and Komeito is set to fall short of the 125 seats needed for a majority in the 248-seat upper house of parliament. The House of Councillors is made up of 248 members with fixed six-year terms. Elections are held every three years, with half the seats up for election each time. In Sunday's vote, a total of 125 seats, including one to fill a vacancy, were up for grabs. Meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is expected to expand its seat count, while the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito look set to make significant gains, NHK projected. Despite the defeat, Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to stay on as Japan's prime minister, adding that the LDP must fulfill its responsibility as the ruling party. Ishiba told NHK that his party has so far secured enough seats to be the leading party in the upper house, and that he has to fulfill the pledges he made during the election campaign, such as wage hikes to counter rising prices. The embattled prime minister is expected to hold a press conference on Monday, while all major opposition parties have expressed reluctance to help the ruling bloc by forming an expanded coalition. In the October 2024 general election, the ruling coalition already lost its majority in the more powerful House of Representatives, or lower house, forcing Ishiba to form Japan's first minority government in over three decades. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hayfever sufferers are set to benefit from a new treatment that will provide long-term relief for their symptoms. It has been recommended as an option on the NHS for people whose hayfever symptoms persist even after taking antihistamines or using nasal sprays, by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Betula verrucosa, sold under the brand name Itulazax 12 SQ-Bet and made by Alk-Abello, is an under-the-tongue immunotherapy tablet that contains birch pollen extract. The drug trains the immune system to tolerate tree pollen over three years of daily use. Severe tree pollen allergies can cause debilitating symptoms for some people during the spring and summer months, including fatigue, breathing difficulties, inflamed sinuses, itchy, watery eyes, and vision changes. Trials show the tablet can significantly reduce the symptoms of severe hayfever by changing how the body responds to allergens. The immunotherapy works by gradually increasing the bodys tolerance to tree pollen through controlled daily exposure to small amounts of pollen. Before being given the tablets, patients will require skin prick or blood tests to confirm an allergy to birch tree pollen. Nice estimates that about 27,000 people in England are expected to benefit from the recommendation. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: This treatment will help improve peoples quality of life. Trials show the tablet can significantly reduce the symptoms of severe hayfever by changing how the body responds to allergens ( Alamy/PA ) Severe tree pollen allergies trap people indoors during beautiful weather and disrupt their work, education and family life. The daily tablet offers genuine long-term relief rather than just managing symptoms. According to Allergy UK, birch pollen allergy is estimated to affect about 25% of hayfever sufferers. Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, said: Many people dont realise how awful it is having an itchy, runny nose, sneezing episodes or itchy, irritated eyes in the pollen season. We frequently hear from people who avoid time outdoors, keep doors and windows shut, check pollen counts and try and minimise any exposure, which takes a significant toll on their physical and emotional wellbeing. Nices recommendation is so important because it provides a genuine opportunity for people to manage the root cause of their pollen allergy, offering the chance to break free from this burden and enjoy a better quality of life. Emil Stage Olsen, general manager UK and Republic of Ireland at ALK, added: We welcome this positive Nice recommendation, which is another meaningful advancement for the UK allergy community. Our focus is now on working closely with the NHS to ensure eligible patients can benefit from this first-in-class immunotherapy. The NHS in England will provide the treatment within three months of Nice publishing its final guidance. Professor Meghana Pandit, co-medical director at NHS England, welcomed the announcement. She said: This innovative treatment, which will soon be rolled out on the NHS, enables patients to build up tolerance to birch tree pollen within their immune system, rather than just treating the symptoms and we hope this will give many a new lease of life, allowing people to spend time enjoying being outside, without the discomfort allergies can bring. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hepatitis, a widespread global infection, is often shrouded in misinformation and myths. Many mistakenly believe it can be transmitted through everyday interactions like sharing utensils, hugging, or kissing, or that it is an inherited condition. Ahead of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, Dr Yiannis Kallis, a consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist at Nuffield Health St Bartholomews Hospital, is addressing these misconceptions. He aims to clarify the various types of hepatitis, detailing their causes, treatments, and how they differ. open image in gallery Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver ( Alamy/PA ) What is hepatitis? Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver with a virus, explains Kallis. There are five different types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A through to E. Some cause an acute but transient infection; others may cause a chronic, persistent infection over many years and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. What causes them? Hepatitis A and hepatitis E are spread via the oral route, explains Kallis. This means that they can be caught by drinking contaminated water or by eating infected food, much like a type of food poisoning or gastroenteritis. These viruses are more prevalent in the developing world, but they can also, rarely, be acquired in the UK. However, hepatitis B, C and D (called delta) are acquired through contact with contaminated blood. open image in gallery Hepatitis B is passed through contaminated blood ( PA ) For example, through blood transfusion, sharing needles, the use of poorly sterilised medical/dental equipment, or at childbirth, says Kallis. These are termed the blood-borne viruses. Hepatitis B and delta may also be spread through sexual contact. What are some of the biggest misconceptions about hepatitis? The blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B, C and delta) are very unlikely to be caught by holding hands, kissing, sharing cutlery etc, clarifies Kallis. This is a misconception. It is also uncommon for hepatitis C to be caught through sex. What are some signs of hepatitis? Most people who catch a chronic viral hepatitis have no symptoms when they first acquire the virus and are unaware that they have it, says Kallis. This is especially the case if it is transmitted at childbirth or in childhood, which is the commonest time to catch chronic hepatitis B or C. Some forms of viral hepatitis, if acquired as an adult, will cause jaundice and other general symptoms of feeling unwell, he adds. open image in gallery Jaundice - the yellowing of the skin and eyes - and other general symptoms of feeling unwell are symptoms of hepatitis B and C Jaundice is a yellow discolouration of the eyes and skin and is usually accompanied by very dark-coloured urine, says Kallis. If anyone becomes jaundiced, they should seek medical attention. The other sign of having a chronic viral hepatitis ( B or C) may be a persistent abnormality of some of the liver blood tests. This is sometimes found by chance or during a general health check-up, says Kallis. If someone has persistently abnormal liver blood tests, they should see their GP or a liver specialist to ensure that this is properly investigated. Can hepatitis lead to serious complications if left untreated? Hepatitis A and hepatitis E generally only cause a transient illness from which the liver function fully recovers, and the virus is cleared, says Kallis. But, there are a few rare exceptions to this. Chronic hepatitis B, C or delta can lead to the development of cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure over many years, notes Kallis. Hepatitis delta can only occur in people who also have hepatitis B infection. Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading cause of death due to liver disease globally and in some countries is a leading cause of cancer. Can hepatitis be prevented? Careful food hygiene and only drinking clean water are ways to reduce the risk of hepatitis A or E infection, particularly whilst travelling within the developing world, says Kallis. There are also vaccines available for certain types of hepatitis. There are effective vaccines against hepatitis A and B infection, but there is no specific vaccines for hepatitis C, D or E, says Kallis. But the transmission of blood-borne viruses can be prevented by not sharing needles among people who inject recreational drugs and sexual transmission risk can be minimised by the use of barrier methods such as condoms. Can hepatitis is treated? Hepatitis A and E are normally transient, self-limiting viruses that the body can clear with a full recovery, says Kallis. There is highly effective and very well-tolerated treatment to cure chronic hepatitis C infection, which involves taking a course of tablet medications for a few weeks. Cure rates are greater than 90 per cent. Unfortunately, there are currently no treatments that can cure hepatitis B. However, there are very safe and effective medications that can treat hepatitis B, control the infection, and reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer, says Kallis. These medications are only available through specialist liver clinics and need to be taken long-term. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Health officials are urging hundreds of thousands of young people to get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), after it was discovered that more than 418,000 children have left school without protection in the past three years. The HPV vaccine, routinely offered to boys and girls in Year 8, is a critical tool in the UK's fight to eliminate cervical cancer, with 13 high-risk HPV types responsible for 99.7 per cent of cases. Beyond cervical cancer, the jab also provides defence against genital warts and specific head and neck cancers, including those affecting the mouth or throat. In a new push to boost uptake, GP practices across England will now invite 16 to 25-year-olds who did not receive the vaccine during their school years. NHS England data underscores the significant number of young adults who remain unprotected, highlighting a continuing public health concern. Dr Amanda Doyle, national director of primary care and community services, said: This vaccine is hugely important in our fight to eradicate cervical cancer but it isnt just for girls and women its also vital for boys and men to get vaccinated to protect themselves against cancers of the mouth, throat or genitals, while preventing spreading the HPV infection to sexual partners who could then develop cervical cancer. Too many lives are lost to cervical cancer so the hard work of NHS staff across the country in vaccinating and screening as many people as possible will help us to meet our ambition of wiping out this disease. Encouraging progress has been made recently in increasing uptake but we know there is much more to do. So if youre eligible for a HPV vaccination or are the parent of a child who is eligible, but didnt get the vaccine at school when they had the chance, I would urge you to come forward when your GP contacts you. Only a single dose is required and it could save you or your childs life. open image in gallery Beyond cervical cancer, the HPV jab also provides defence against genital warts and specific head and neck cancers, including those affecting the mouth or throat Data shows that in the 2023/24 academic year, some 76.7 per cent of girls and 71.2 per cent of boys aged 14 to 15 were vaccinated against HPV by Year 10. Uptake in Year 8 increased to 72.9 per cent among girls and 67.7 per cent among boys, from 71.3 per cent and 65.2 per cent respectively a year earlier. The health service will aim to boost uptake among girls to 90 per cent as part of plans to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. It will also aim to increase the number of women attending cervical cancer screening appointments. Public health minister Ashley Dalton said the vaccine is our most powerful tool in our fight to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 but said there is a long way to go. Thousands of young people are still unvaccinated and vulnerable to this disease which is so easily prevented, she added. Last month, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned young women in some parts of England are at greater risk of cervical cancer because not enough children are getting the jab. Analysis by the agency showed inequalities in vaccine uptake in some regions by Year 10, HPV coverage in girls was lowest in London (64.9 per cent) and highest in the South East (82.7 per cent). Among boys, it was also lowest in London (58.9 per cent) and highest in the South East (77.3 per cent). open image in gallery More than 418,000 children have left school with no protection against human papillomavirus (HPV) in the last three years Meanwhile, at local authority level, Year 10 vaccination levels in girls ranged from 38.7 per cent (Lambeth in London) to 97.6 per cent (Northumberland). Among boys, it ranged from 28.2 per cent (Lambeth in London) to 92.2 per cent (West Berkshire). Dr Sharif Ismail, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic, leaving many, many thousands across the country at greater risk of HPV-related cancers. This is a real concern as each HPV vaccine, now just a single dose offered in schools, gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers, which includes cervical, genital, mouth and throat cancers. This new catch-up campaign is a really important opportunity for us to make sure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection. 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 Want to improve the quality of your sleep? Taking a yoga class or some other form of gentle exercise can make a major difference. Researchers say yoga, Tai Chi, walking, and jogging may be the best types of exercise to improve sleep quality and ease insomnia. Insomnia, or an inability to fall asleep, affects some 25 to 30 million Americans. "Insomnia can impact everyday life and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases [like heart disease and stroke] and Alzheimer's and exercise is nature's sleeping pill," Dr. Zhijun Bu, the lead author of the study and master student at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, told ABC News. Bu and fellow researchers say that their findings back the use of exercise as a primary treatment strategy for poor sleep patterns. Comparing the results of 22 relevant randomized clinical trials involving 1,348 participants and 13 different treatments to ease insomnia, they assessed and scored their effectiveness, including factors such as sleep quality and insomnia severity, the percentage of time asleep when in bed, the number of times people woke up after going to sleep, and the time it took to fall asleep. open image in gallery Researchers say that yoga and other exercises could be an effective treatment for insomnia. The condition impacts tens of millions of Americans ( AFP via Getty Images ) The programs analyzed in the study ranged in length from a month to 26 weeks and seven were exercised-based. The exercises evaluated also included aerobic plus strength exercise, strength training alone, aerobic exercise combined with therapy, and mixed aerobic exercises. The non-exercise-related approaches were cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, acupuncture and massage, nothing, Ayurveda medicine, and existing treatment for the issue. The durations of those approaches ranged from six to 26 weeks. The researchers said that cognitive behavioral therapy, which is commonly called psychotherapy, is likely to result in a large increase in total sleep time and may improve sleep efficiency and shorten the amount of time spent awake after falling asleep. But, exercise also showed promising outcomes. Practicing yoga, for example, likely results in a large increase in total sleep time of nearly two hours, improve sleep efficiency by nearly 15 percent, reduce the amount of time spent awake after falling asleep by nearly an hour, and shorten the time it takes to fall asleep by around half an hour. Going for a walk or jog could result in a large reduction in insomnia severity and Tai Chi may increase total sleep time by more than 50 minutes, reduce time spent awake after falling asleep by over half an hour, and shorten the time it takes to fall asleep by around 25 minutes. Tai Chi performed better on all assessed outcomes than existing treatments for up to two years. open image in gallery Tai Chi may increase your total sleep time by nearly an hour, the meta analysis found. Yoga likely results in an increase in total sleep time of nearly two hours ( Getty Images for National Counci ) The analysis was published recently in the online journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine. The authors said the explanation for their findings was likely tied to biology. Yoga focuses on controlled breathing and body awareness. Tai Chi also emphasizes breath control and relaxation and has been shown to decrease sympathetic nervous system activity. Walking or jogging may improve sleep by increasing energy expenditure, curbing cortisol production, boosting secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin, and enhancing the amount of deep sleep. "Our research shows people of all ages and genders can observe the sleep benefits of exercise," Bu said. "We hope our findings can lead to further changes within public health." 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 power boat crashed into the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage to the historic vessel turned tourist destination before its captain fled the area. San Diego authorities said the collision occurred just before 2 p.m. Friday near the Embarcadero. The boat struck the hull of the USS Midway, a decommissioned aircraft carrier that now serves as a museum, Fox 5 San Diego reported. The crash was captured on the San Diego webcam, which offers livestream views of the citys downtown from multiple vantage points. Footage shows the small, private ship coasting into the historic museum, which authorities said caused at least $100,000 in damage. Harbor Police said the captain of the private ship then fled the area, but was later found and arrested. A boat crashed into the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California, causing $100,000 in damages. ( San Diego Web Cam ) The unnamed captain is facing charges of hit-and-run, but is also suspected of operating a boat under the influence, authorities said. No injuries were reported in the crash. The incident remains under investigation. The USS Midway Museum, which houses an extensive collection of aircrafts that were mainly built in Southern California, remained open to the public following the incident. The ship , named after the 1942 Battle of Midway, was commissioned just after World War II, playing key roles in the Cold War and Vietnam War before later being deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Storm in 1990. There, it served as the flagship for naval airforces in the Gulf and launched more than 3,000 combat missions with no losses, according to the museums website. The ship was then decommissioned in 1992. It was the United States longest-serving aircraft carrier, from 1945 to 1992, before it was turned into a museum in 2004. 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 9-year-old girl whose disappearance triggered an Amber Alert has been found dead in New York. On Sunday, an Amber Alert was issued for Melina Frattolin after she went missing. She was found dead hours later in Ticonderoga, New York, according to New York State Police. Luciano Frattolin, 45, the girl's father, reported his daughter missing to Warren County officials just before 10pm the previous evening, according to state police. He reportedly insinuated to police that the girl may have been abducted in the Lake George area. Warren County Sheriff's deputies followed up with Frattolin, and "identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided," according to the state's report. In the Amber Alert, Melina was said to have been "in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death." Melina Frattolin, aged 9, was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York on July 20 hours after her father reported her missing and suggested she had been abducted. Police later determined no abduction had taken place, and noted "inconsistencies" in her father's account of her disappearance ( New York State Police ) A search began that involved multiple local and state agencies, and hours later the girl's body was discovered 35 miles away from the spot where her father said he'd last seen her. Authorities, at the time working the case as a child abduction, determined that the kidnapping story they'd been told by her father was incorrect. "Due to jurisdictional considerations, the Warren County Sheriffs Office has turned the investigation over to the New York State Police," the agency said in a statement. "At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public." Frattolin and his daughter are both Canadian residents. Police have not arrested a suspect as of this report. No cause of death has been determined, and there are no further details at the time of this report regarding his discovery. Law enforcement told reporters that an update on their investigation would be made available sometime on Monday. 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 federal appeals court said Monday that Pedro Hernandez, the man convicted of killing six-year-old Etan Patz in 1979, should either be retried or released, overturning his guilty verdict. Hernandez, 64, has been in a New York state prison since 2017, serving 25 years-to-life imprisonment sentence for Patzs kidnapping and murder. Hernandez was arrested in 2012 after a decades-long, haunting search for answers in Etans disappearance, which happened on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in New York City. Patzs body has never been found. His disappearance became an infamous case in the United States, raising parents fears about child safety and launching the missing childrens movement. Patz was one of the first missing children to be featured on a milk carton. Hernandez, who was 18 at the time of Patzs disappearance, confessed to kidnapping and murdering the boy after hours of police interrogation in 2012. open image in gallery Etan Patz disappeared in 1979 in the Soho neighborhood of New York City, on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop ( AP ) Lawyers for Hernandez had appealed his conviction, saying the court had given improper instructions to the jury at the time. On Monday, a three-judge panel in New York City sided with Hernandez, saying the trial courts instructions prejudiced the verdict. The appeals court said the trial judge gave a clearly wrong and manifestly prejudicial response to a jury note during Hernandezs 2017 trial his second. His first trial ended in a jury deadlock in 2015. His lawyers said he was innocent. The court ordered Hernandezs release unless the 64-year-old gets a new trial within a reasonable period. Etan was a first grader who always wanted to do everything that adults did, his mother, Julie Patz, told jurors in 2017. So on the morning of May 25, 1979, she agreed the boy could walk by himself to the school bus stop a block and a half away. She walked him downstairs, watched him walk part of the way and never saw him again. open image in gallery Pedro Hernandez appears in Manhattan criminal court with his attorney, Harvey Fishbein, in November 2012 ( AP ) For decades, Etans parents kept the same apartment and even phone number in case he might try to reach them. Etans case spurred a huge search and an enduring, far-flung investigation. But no trace of him was ever found. A civil court declared him dead in 2001. Hernandez was a teenager working at a convenience shop in Etans downtown Manhattan neighborhood when the boy vanished. Police met him while canvassing the area but didnt suspect him until they got a 2012 tip that hed made remarks years earlier about having killed a child in New York, not mentioning Etans name. Hernandez then told police hed lured Etan into the stores basement by promising the boy a soda, then choked him because something just took over me. He said he put Etan, still alive, in a box and left it with curbside trash. Hernandezs lawyers said he was innocent and his confession was false, spurred by a mental illness that makes him confuse reality with imagination. He also has a very low IQ. During jury deliberations at his last trial, jurors were held up by the confession Hernandez gave. In a note from jurors, they asked the judge to clarify whether if they found his confession before being Mirandized not voluntary, it meant they had to disregard his later confessions. The judge responded, No. But the three-judge panel in New York said that contradicted clearly established federal law and ultimately this error was not harmless. A spokesperson with the Manhattan district attorneys office told the New York Times. that it is reviewing the decision." The advocacy of Stanley and Julie Patz, Etans parents, helped establish a national missing-children hotline and made it easier for law enforcement agencies to share information about such cases. The May 25 anniversary of Etans disappearance became National Missing Childrens Day. With reporting from 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 Luciano Frattolin, a 45-year-old from Canada, reported his young daughter missing Saturday to the New York State Police, triggering an AMBER Alert and a massive law enforcement response. A day later, nine-year-old Melina Frattolin was found dead. Now, police have charged Luciano with her murder, alleging that he fabricated the story around her kidnapping. Heres what we know about the case: open image in gallery Melina Frattolin was found dead on Sunday afternoon after her father reported her missing ( New York State Police ) When was Melina reported missing? Melina was first reported missing by her father on Saturday evening just before 10 p.m. in Warren County, New York. Luciano called 911 and told dispatchers she was abducted by a driver in a white van at a rest stop off Interstate 87 near Lake George. New York State Police issued an AMBER Alert shortly afterward. Melina was described as 5-feet tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing light colored shorts, a black-and-white striped shirt and white Adidas sneakers, according to the alert. At the time, troopers warned Melina was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death. Multiple agencies searched for Melina Authorities launched a multi-agency investigation to search for Melina. The State Police sent in K-9 and aviation units. The Warren County Sheriffs Office, Essex County Sheriffs Office, Ticonderoga Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Forest Rangers also joined the search. On Sunday afternoon, police found Melina dead in shallow water in Ticonderoga, New York, about 15 miles from where her father reported her missing. Luciano was suspected of visiting the area before the alleged murder, State Police Captain Robert McConnell said Monday morning. Police say there were inconsistencies in the fathers story State Police say Melina was not abducted after discovering inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided. McConnell claims Luciano fabricated his story. We focused our search area on Ticonderoga based on inconsistencies in his initial account as well as some technology available to law enforcement, McConnell said. State Police confirmed Sunday there was no indication that an abduction occurred and there is no threat to the public. Melinas father is facing charges open image in gallery Luciano Frattolin has been arrested and charged in connection to his nine-year-old daughter's death ( Essex County Sheriff's Office ) Luciano is now being held at the Essex County Jail. He has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of human corpse, McConnell said. Luciano has no prior criminal history, according to McConnell. The 45-year-old is set to be arraigned Monday. Why were Luciano and Melina in the U.S.? Luciano and Melina came to the U.S. from Canada for a vacation on July 11, according to McConnell. The pair visited Connecticut and New York, including New York City. They were expected to return Sunday, when Melinas body was found. Melinas mother knew about the vacation and had no concerns about her daughters safety, McConnell said. Luciano and Melinas mother have been estranged since 2019, according to McConnell. Melina lives with her mother full-time and sees Luciano for visits. 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 man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto has agreed to a plea deal that takes the death penalty off the table. Stephan Sterns, the former boyfriend of Sotos mother, appeared in a Florida courtroom Monday where he pleaded no contest in the death of the teenager and guilty to the 60 sex abuse charges connected to the case. The bombshell plea deal hearing came just a day before Sterns was scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday for the sex abuse charges. He faced the death penalty in his murder trial scheduled for September, but prosecutors agreed to remove it as part of the double plea agreement. open image in gallery Stephan Sterns is facing 60 new child sexual abuse charges in relation to Madeline Sotos case ( Osceola County Sheriff's Office ) Sterns had previously pleaded not guilty to raping and murdering Madeline, who was the daughter of Sterns former girlfriend, Jenn Soto. While searching for the girl, investigators said they uncovered images on Sterns phone and Google Drive that showed him raping the teen. Madeline was reported missing on February 26, 2024, a day after her 13th birthday, when she didnt show up to Hunters Creek Middle School. More than 50 law enforcement officers spent the days following Madelines disappearance searching for her in the nearby woods. open image in gallery Madeline Soto was found dead four days after she disappeared ( Supplied ) Madeline's body was eventually found amongst the trees near Hickory Tree Road in Osceola County on March 1, a few days after she was reported missing. On February 28, two days after Madeline disappeared, the sheriffs office announced it had arrested Sterns, following the discovery of disturbing images on his phone, which he had tried to delete. These photos and videos were criminal and sexual in nature, the office said. On March 4, another arrest warrant was issued for Sterns, alleging he had been abusing Madeline since 2022, when she was just 11 years old. 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 Texas police have charged a man with kidnapping and assault after shocking new footage appears to show him dragging a woman into a home against her will. Harris County police arrested 22-year-old Jose Armando Carcamo-Perdomo last week, local outlet ABC 7 reports. Prosecutors claim Carcamo held a woman in a Houston-area home for nearly a week against her will. A nearby neighbors surveillance camera captured footage shows a man in a pink shirt picking up the woman and carrying her into a home as she kicks her feet in an attempt to escape. Police say that man is Carcamo. "She tried to leave, but this defendant carried her back inside the residence without her consent," a Harris County judge said. "He tied her up and then sexually assaulted her." Prosecutors say the woman was trapped in a room inside the house for at least five days and did not have food or water. open image in gallery Surveillance footage shows a man carrying a woman into a Texas home as she kicks and attempts to escape. Police say that man is Jose Armando Carcamo-Perdomo, who has since been charged with kidnapping and assault ( Surveillance video ) The sheriffs office believes the kidnapping may have been part of a larger human smuggling and sex trafficking ring, Click 2 Houston reports. Carcamo is from Honduras and entered the U.S. illegally, the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday. Carcamo maintains he is innocent, his attorney told Click 2 Houston. Our client, Mr. Jose Carcamo, is shocked by the serious allegations brought forth against him and firmly maintains his complete innocence, the attorney said. He fully expects that the evidence will ultimately clear his name. We remind the public that under the United States Constitution, every individual is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the right to due process, and a fair trial, the attorney continued. We expect law enforcement, the State of Texas, and the judicial system to honor these fundamental rights without prejudice or assumption. The neighbor who captured the surveillance footage says he called 911 after realizing what happened. "As soon as I drove out of the fence at work, I called 911 to report a possible child abduction," the neighbor told ABC 7. open image in gallery Police say Jose Armando Carcamo-Perdomo held a woman in a Texas home for at least five days without access to food or water ( Surveillance video ) When police arrived at the home, they found the woman locked inside a closet. Harris County Lt. John Klafka said that Carcamo claimed he didnt know anything about the woman, according to Click 2 Houston. He knew there was someone in the house, but he claimed to have never seen her or said it was a woman that lived there but didnt know her, didnt see her, has never had any interactions with her," Klafka said. The woman told police she was a masseuse in New York when she was offered a position in Houston that paid more. She was then given transportation to the area, but Klafka said Carcamo didnt drive her. When the woman arrived, she had her Chinese passport taken from her, Klafka said. She was then tied up and sexually assaulted by the suspect. After her escape attempt, she was locked in a closet with a board screwed into it to keep it shut. Investigators believe there may be both more suspects and victims involved. He obviously is not the one that drove her from New York," Klafka said. So theres that, hes not the person that drove her from the first location in Houston. And, we know theres other people involved. open image in gallery Jose Armando Carcamo-Perdomo maintains he is innocent and did not kidnap anyone, his attorney said ( Harris County Sheriff's Office ) This is a very traumatic event. You know, youre in a foreign country. You were brought from one giant city to another thats halfway across the country south, he added, said. And she has no friends, no family. Nobody is here for her. So weve got to do everything we can to ensure that she can trust us to do our jobs and find the rest of the people that are involved in this. Klafka said the woman did not know Carcamo before the alleged kidnapping. The neighbor told ABC 7 hes angry with himself for not picking up on the alleged kidnapping sooner. He hopes his report makes a bigger difference with other people maybe, other victims. Hainan's homegrown durian industry blossoms People's Daily Online) 10:15, July 21, 2025 Photo shows a durian tree laden with durians in the Yucai Ecological Zone, Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) "This year's domestically grown durians are expected to reach 2,000 tonnes," said Lang Haibo, deputy general manager of Hainan Youqi Agricultural Company, amid the scorching July sunshine at the lush durian plantation in the Yucai Ecological Zone, Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. When the company's research team first "tested the waters" by planting the first batch of durian seedlings in the ecological zone in 2018, they faced a daunting reality: a mortality rate exceeding 40 percent in the first year. "This 570-mu (38-hectare) base is our earliest plantation," Lang said, adding that the trial cultivation process proved extraordinarily challenging due to problems such as soil compaction, pest and disease management, and water-fertilizer ratios. Photo shows a durian base in Mingshan village in the Yucai Ecological Zone, Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) Thanks to the collective efforts of researchers, these obstacles were eventually overcome one by one. In 2023, China's first home-grown durians entered the market. Intelligent monitoring systems now provide real-time water and fertilizer management, while drones patrol to assess growth conditions. These precision management achievements have yielded impressive results: in 2025, about 4,000 mu of the company's more than 14,000 mu of durians will be ready for harvest, with an expected output of 2,000 tonnes. In 2024, Mingshan village in the ecological zone utilized over 3 million yuan ($417,612.09) in rural revitalization funds to establish a cooperative partnership with the company. Photo shows a bird's-eye view of a durian base in the Yucai Ecological Zone, Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) "More than 500 durian trees on over 50 mu of land will begin bearing fruit after four years, which is expected to generate about 2 million yuan in annual revenue for the village collective," said Cai Jun, head of the resident working team and first secretary of the village. Managing these durian trees requires manpower, providing an additional income channel for the village's previously impoverished households and residents. Chen Hongqing, a formerly impoverished resident, now can earn 160 yuan per day tending to durian trees. Since its launch in March 2024, the village's durian cultivation project has created a total of 95 job opportunities for villagers and paid out over 160,000 yuan in wages. Photo shows a view of a training session in a durian base in the Yucai Ecological Zone, Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (People's Daily Online/Meng Fansheng) "In the future, we plan to incorporate local landscapes and folk customs to develop durian-themed rural tourism and promote integrated agriculture, culture, and tourism to further boost rural revitalization," Cai said as he stood next to the thriving trees. "Our planned durian cultivation area spans about 100,000 mu. Currently, our first durian deep-processing production line has entered the testing phase and is expected to begin formal operation by late July," Lang said, adding that the plant will directly provide nearly 100 jobs, enabling more local villagers to find work close to home. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Explore Dong villages in SW China's Guizhou People's Daily Online) 16:39, July 21, 2025 Aerial photo shows sunset in Zhaoxing Dong village in Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian) In mid-July, several Dong ethnic villages in Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, have entered peak tourism season. In Huanggang Dong village, the wooden houses are neatly arranged, creating a stunning scene set against the backdrop of mountains and forests. In Zhaoxing village, the beautiful scenery and immersive cultural experiences continue to attract crowds of visitors eager to explore local Dong traditions. Liping has been actively tapping into the market value and industrial potential of ethnic culture. Centered on its cultural roots, the county is opening new paths for development, promoting integration, and building a model of "cultural tourism integration plus intangible cultural heritage preservation plus ecological economy." The goal is to drive coordinated development between rural revitalization and the county's overall economy. In 2024, Liping county received 6.62 million tourist visits, up 14 percent year on year. In the same year, its comprehensive tourism revenue reached 7.3 billion yuan (about $1.02 billion), up 18 percent year on year. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The billionaire family controlling Puig Brands may weigh options including buying its stock to revive the Spanish beauty-products groups sagging shares, its chief executive officer said. Shares of Puig, owner of brands like Jean Paul Gaultier and make-up label Charlotte Tilbury, had tumbled more than 34 per cent since its splashy listing as Europes biggest IPO in 2024. They rose as much as 2 per cent in Madrid on Monday. Puig chief Marc Puig says the companys going to stick to doing what it does best creating and selling fragrances as it looks to revive its fortunes. Credit: Getty Over time well consider whether or not it makes sense to make any moves to help investors who have invested in the stock achieve the value they believe it deserves, Marc Puig said in an interview, referring to a possible family-led stock purchase or ways to increase the liquidity of its shares. No moves are planned in the short term. The Puigs are among Europes wealthiest families. They own Exea Empresarial, which controls 74 per cent of Puigs capital and 93 per cent of its voting rights. The familys fortune has shrunk about 19 per cent from just before the shares began trading to $US9.7 billion ($14.9 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The decline stemmed largely from the drop in the companys stock. Prisons are often considered hidden, closed-off places areas defined by how removed they are from everyday life. Most will go their entire lives not seeing the inside of one, perhaps fearing them or the people inside. This is not the case for Tyson Tuala, a former prison guard stationed at the soon-to-be closed Port Phillip Prison. After working at the maximum-security jail for nearly four years, Tuala learnt every facet of the prison experience, including the yellow line, a metaphorical and literal boundary between guards and inmates. This divide was rarely crossed; however, Tuala became one of the few who managed to. Tyson Tuala knows the prison system better than most. Now, hes bringing it to the stage. Credit: Chris Hopkins Now president of Melbourne-based Maori association Nga Matai Purua Inc., Tuala knew he wanted to share his story, along with those of the inmates he guarded, to lift the curtain on the prison system. But it wasnt until he met Alaine Beek, founder of Essence Theatre Productions, that he discovered the best way to do so. Together, they created The Yellow Line, a stage play based on Tualas real-life experience of attempting to teach a group of disinterested inmates the haka. Thats due to Section 229 of the Local Government Act clause (6): A councillor who is no longer stood down under subsection (1) is entitled to their allowance, including any allowance previously withheld under subsection (4), unless the councillor is convicted of the offence. Agirtan, a tax manager, pointed out at the time that her court-ordered donation was tax-deductible. We sought comment from her but didnt hear back. The council confirmed the back payment. And while she was suspended from the council, nothing could suspend her from social media during that period, which included a reference to her critics sucking each other off in the comments on the City of Kingston post. Positively Trumpian in its eloquence. Back to the benches A mere 11 weeks after the May 3 election, federal parliament has returned. Everyone wanted to put their feet up after that gruelling election campaign, we guess. Or hike the Great Wall of China. The pollies slowly began to trickle back to Canberra, and on Sunday night, CBDs spies spotted Labor frontbenchers Murray Watt, Jenny McAllister and Tim Ayres enjoying a pre-sitting dinner at the restaurant Compa in the Canberra Centre. Expect more of that. During the downtime, CBD brought you several updates about the great staffer exodus, and had some sport at the expense of the PMs chief of staff, Tim Gartrell, for what we thought was his weirdly school-prefect attitude to his underlings oversharing happy snaps with the prime minister on social media. Obligations under the ministerial staff code of blah blah blah, you understand. We live in a Zoomer generation after all. If it is not posted on LinkedIn, did you even have a job? But maybe he had a point: word has reached CBD of a former staffer whose profile on the romantic-encounter social media site Hinge once included a selfie with the prime minister. Anthony Aphrodisiac Albanese. Somehow we dont think so. PvOs Hollow State The period following a federal election brings the inevitable flurry of political tomes by our various pundits. Last month, CBD revealed that formidable columnist Niki Savva would be releasing a new book, appropriately titled Earthquake, just in time to send seismic rumbles through various Liberal Party Christmases. Journalist and academic Peter van Onselen in full flight at the National Press Club in 2022. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Also getting in on the act is University of Western Australia politics professor and Daily Mail Australia political editor Peter van Onselen. His new book, The Hollow State: Power Without Purpose in Australian Politics, is due for an October release by niche right-leaning press Wilkinson Publishing. It feels a slight step down from Hachette, which published PvOs 2021 book on Scott Morrison, but then again, PvOs own recent career arc has been a little chaotic. He went from The Australian and Sky News to Network Ten and The Project before joining Daily Mail Australia last year. Van Onselen has been a pundit whose notable career highlights included instances of being prominently wrong (his kisses of death were the stuff of legend), but even we were amused to find this 2022 headline: Does Peter van Onselen have the kiss of death? How political guru predicted the future of Australian politics in a single photo ... and got it VERY wrong published in, er, Daily Mail Australia. He quit as Network Tens political editor in 2023, and was then successfully sued by his former employer for breaching a non-disparagement clause in his redundancy agreement (an agreement under which he trousered $165,000) by writing an article in The Australian calling the broadcaster the minnow of Australian television. Loading To be fair, he was technically right about that one, as Tens ratings and financial performance has shown, but in our experience the negative commentary in The Australian about Ten used to be inversely proportionate to how much of the network was owned by The Australians boss of bosses, Lachlan Murdoch. PvO told us his new book was some years in the making, a lament at the hollowing out of modern politics by those on both sides of the aisle that he hoped would be half-scholarly, half-populist. Police believe the arson attack that claimed the life of burlesque performer Katie Tangey was ordered by Kazem Kaz Hamad, the tobacco kingpin in exile. Six months after the deadly firebombing that killed Tangey, police have announced a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Katie Tangey performing. The 27-year-old was killed in a targeted arson attack on January 16. Credit: Facebook The 27-year-old became the first innocent bystander to die in Victorias so-called tobacco wars when killed in a house fire in Dover Street, Truganina, about 2.30am on January 16. Tangey, who had been house sitting for her brother while he was on his honeymoon, called triple zero to say the home was engulfed in fire. When Alex White learnt that a man who worked for the same childcare company where he sent his son had been charged with child sexual abuse, he demanded answers. However, finding out the specific centres and dates the man worked, and whether his child had crossed paths with the abuser, was an uphill battle. Alex White learnt that an abuser attended his sons daycare through the media. Hes calling for greater transparency. Credit: Wolter Peeters In Victoria, thousands of parents were told their children may have been exposed to sexually transmitted diseases while attending daycare centres where Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown worked. Meanwhile, parents who sent their children to an early childcare centre in Sydney where a worker was last week charged with seven counts of using a child to make abusive material remain in the dark. I really think a stand needs to be taken, she said. If we say we wont do anything because we dont want to create martyrs, then were not stopping it from happening. She also said support for Muslim Australians after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks was stronger than the support for Jewish Australians today. I know that Jewish Australians, as well as Australians from all different backgrounds, were very quick to ensure that Muslims didnt feel that they were being treated differently because of what had happened on September 11. After [the 2019 mosque attacks in] Christchurch, we all stood shoulder to shoulder outside the [State] Library, and we all spoke in support of the Muslim community, and that we never wanted to see actions like that here and yet its happening ... It has to be stopped. Dessau said the Jewish community was afraid, and the way to reassure them was for police and political leaders to be doing what needs to be done to stop antisemitic behaviour. Islamophobia and racism against Arab Australians were linked as factors behind the 2005 Cronulla riots. Credit: Andrew Meares The community feels let down for the very reasons that youve just pointed out so eloquently that in other instances, these things have been stopped right at the source, and they should have been here too, she said. In an interview with Mitchell 10 days after the September 11 attacks, transcripts show then-prime minister John Howard sought to stress that the international response was not a reaction against Muslims. I want to emphasise that Islamic Australians, Australians of Arab descent, should not be marginalised and generically pursued and criticised and vilified as a result of what has happened, Howard said. However, multiple studies have shown a rise in Islamophobia in Australia since 2001. Islamophobia and racism against Arab Australians have been linked as factors behind the 2005 Cronulla riots. In 2021, the Australian Humans Rights Commission released a report into the stories of Muslim Australians and said consultations with community members noted a distinct shift in attitudes since 2001. Loading In short, attitudes shifted from racialised discrimination, vilification and hate to intolerances based on people being Muslim. Participants described that after this time, anti-Muslim attitudes often revealed a misunderstanding of Islam and stereotyped Muslim people as terrorists and extremists, the report found. A study published by the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, also in 2021, found anti-terror legislation had led to feelings of an over-surveillance of Muslims, which led to this community feeling untrusted. Earlier this month, Premier Jacinta Allan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned an arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue and a protest at central-city Israeli restaurant Miznon on the same weekend. An anti-hate taskforce was set up to address the attacks and rising antisemitism. Loading Police have charged people in relation to both incidents. They also charged a man in relation to last years firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbournes south-east last week after The Age reported that the investigation had stalled. Meanwhile, on ABC Radio on Monday, Monash University vice chancellor Sharon Pickering said freedom of peaceful protest was absolute, but her organisation would not let antisemitism, Islamophobia or other forms of hate cross over. Asked about the difference between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government, Pickering said her doctoral work was based in Northern Ireland before the Good Friday Agreement and that conflict was a difficult and messy space. People are able to make valid and reasonable criticism without crossing a line into, in this case, antisemitism, or in relation to any other hatred, she said. We are sophisticated organisations at universities, we can make good and proper and fair judgements that are both reasonable within the context of the university and also, what we would say, as passing the pub test. Australias antisemitism special envoy Jillian Segal last week released a landmark report that recommended stripping funding from universities, charities and cultural institutions that fail to combat antisemitism. Pickering said her university had everything in place to maintain academic freedom and freedom of expression while addressing antisemitism. An Ascot Vale couple cut their price hopes to sell a three-bedroom, corner-positioned apartment with penthouse proportions after auction this Saturday. Jellis Craig Kensington selling agent Tom Donnelley said the home at 205/2 Mascona Street, guided at $900,000 to $990,000, had a reserve of $1 million. The auction had two registered bidders, but only one took part. It was passed in on a genuine bid of $925,000, said Donnelley, who added it sold for $960,000 after private negotiations. The buyers are relocating from overseas to be closer to their kids, he said. Donnelley said the couples adult children were on-site for the auction and had them on the phone throughout. The vendors are looking for a lifestyle change and to be closer to their grandkids. Andrew Bosworth, chief technology officer at Meta, and Bob McGrew, former executive at OpenAI and Palantir, are sworn in after being commissioned as lieutenant colonels in the U.S. Army Reserve Detachment 201. Tech companies are going to war. This isnt a metaphor. After years of avoiding public links to the military-industrial complex, Big Tech has taken to the hills. Donald Trumps return to the White House has been the final push for many companies to stop being wary of signing contracts with the military. Beyond the tech magnates connection with the U.S. president, showcased at his inauguration ceremony, Trump wants to invest a trillion dollars by 2026 to modernize the armed forces, which, in his view, involves introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into defense. Thats music to the ears of Silicon Valley giants, who have seen that the Republican magnate means business. OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Elon Musks AI company xAI have each landed contracts worth up to $200 million to foment advanced AI capabilities within the Department of Defense. Tech companies hiring Pentagon officials is nothing new. Meta has recently spearheaded efforts in this direction, according to Forbes, to help sell its virtual reality and AI services to the federal government. Whats less common is the reverse hiring process. In June, the U.S. army announced the appointment of four reserve lieutenant colonels to its new Detachment 201, also known as the Executive Innovation Corps, tasked with fusing cutting-edge technological expertise with military innovation. Those chosen are Adam Bosworth, Metas chief technology officer and a close confidant of Mark Zuckerberg; Kevin Weil, OpenAIs product manager; Shyam Sankar, Palantirs chief technology officer; and Bob McGrew, a former executive at Palantir and OpenAI. The fact that there are Big Tech executives in military fatigues is both symbolic and indicative of the times were living in. The lines between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon are rapidly blurring. The courtship has been constant for some time. In February, Google removed the restriction on developing weapons or tools for mass surveillance from its code of conduct. Microsoft acknowledged in May that, since the start of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, it has sold advanced AI technology and cloud computing services to the Israeli army. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, won another $200 million contract in June to provide its generative AI tools to the Pentagon. The company also changed its usage policy in January 2024 to remove the ban on using its technology for military and war tasks: now, national security use cases that align with our mission are permitted. Back in December, the company announced a partnership with Anduril, a military technology startup that has formed a consortium with Palantir to enter defense tenders. A Ranger participates in the IVAS Capability Set 4 tropical weather testing in Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, in March 2021. Courtney Bacon (ARMY) In November, Meta revealed that it had given the green light to make its AI models available to military contractors Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen Hamilton. Scale AI, the company in which Meta will invest $14.3 billion and whose founder, Alexandr Wang, has been hired for its general AI research division, has been chosen by the Pentagon to conduct testing and evaluation of the large language models that the military will use. In May of this month, the company announced an agreement with Anduril to develop virtual and mixed reality headsets for soldiers. The economy of genocide The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, describes in a report how corporate technology, cloud service providers, and arms companies are deeply intertwined in what she calls an economy of genocide. According to the report, Microsoft, HP, IBM, Google, and Amazon, among others, are implicated in surveillance technologies deployed there. IBM has contributed to the governments collection and use of biometric databases of Palestinians, while Microsoft and Palantir, as well as Google and Amazon, provide cloud services and support for the Israeli government and military systems. Albanese has been sanctioned by the U.S. for her whistleblowing. From the perspective of the history of technology, I would say there is a continuity. Our Western concept of modern technology has its genesis in the military or security sphere, says Lorena Jaume-Palasi, an expert in ethics and legal philosophy applied to technology. The internet was conceived as a secure communications system for the armed forces. Before taking us to our destinations, GPS guided missiles and submarines. And there are countless examples like these. Then theres the question of size. Eight of the worlds 10 largest companies by market capitalization are technology companies, and American: Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Broadcom (semiconductor manufacturers), and Tesla. Only two, Saudi Aramco and Berkshire Hathaway, are involved in other businesses. It would be rash to underestimate the influence of the worlds most powerful industry. They have managed, for example, to have the development of increasingly powerful AI considered a matter of national security, even though it is driven by profit and harms the environment. Trump himself has said on several occasions that American companies must beat China in the AI arms race. We argue that this is simply a cover for these companies to concentrate even more power and funding, says Heidy Khlaaf, chief AI scientist at the AI Now Institute, a research center focused on the societal consequences of AI. Presenting themselves as protagonists of a quasi-civilizational crusade protects tech companies from regulatory friction, branding any call for accountability as a detriment to national interests. And it allows them to position themselves not only as too big, but also as too strategically important to fail, reads a recent AI Now Institute report. However, the fact that large commercial technology corporations handle national security issues can cause problems. Building on top of widely available foundation models, like Metas Llama or OpenAIs GPT-4, also introduces cybersecurity vulnerabilities, creating vectors through which hostile nation-states and rogue actors can hack into and harm the systems our national security apparatus relies on, Khlaaf recently wrote in a New York Times op-ed. These systems can be manipulated by poisoning the data they are trained with. AI companies have been able to circumvent the military standards that defense systems must follow, promoting an unfounded narrative of an AI arms race, the engineer explains to EL PAIS. National security remains a key force shaping policymaking around AI, and is used by companies in the sector both to avoid regulations and to attract investment. Employee protests Khlaaf notes that these corporations are able to do business with the military sector thanks to all of us. The personally identifiable information used to train models allows AI to be used for military purposes, such as in ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) capabilities, as this data allows systems to monitor and target specific populations, she emphasizes. Ultimately, whether or not we are users of AI tools, our data makes it possible for AI to be used for military and surveillance purposes without our consent. People protesting against Google's Project Nimbus contract with Israel and artificial intelligence for warfare in San Francisco. Kristin Cato / Alamy Stock Photo (Alamy Stock Photo) The new direction of large technology companies is generating internal contradictions. Some employees have organized protests or even resigned over their companies ties to the military sector. Among the most recent episodes are the protests in April of last year by Google employees at the multinationals headquarters in New York, Sunnyvale (California), San Francisco, and Seattle. The reason: the so-called Nimbus project, a contract worth approximately $1.2 billion to provide cloud solutions to the Israeli government and its armed forces. These protests resulted in 28 dismissals. More recently, in April of this year, Microsoft fired two employees who publicly complained about the supply of AI to Israel. In February, five other employees were ejected from a meeting at the companys Redmond headquarters with CEO Satya Nadella for protesting contracts to provide artificial intelligence and cloud computing services to the Israeli military. Western democratic values are under threat, Google DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis told Axios shortly after his parent company changed the companys code of conduct to accommodate military-related activities. We have a duty to be able to help with what we are uniquely qualified and positioned to do. The Nobel Prize winner in chemistry cited the development of defenses against AI-powered cyberattacks and biological attacks as an example. Ive said on several occasions that Im against autonomous weapons, but some countries are building them. Thats simply a reality. For Raquel Jorge, of Spains Elcano Royal Institute, the explanation for the change in direction of technology companies lies in the new defense context. There have always been wars in the world, but its been a while since one directly affected U.S. national security interests. On the one hand, we have the war in Ukraine since 2022 and the war in Gaza since last year. On the other, Donald Trumps return to the White House, who has promised increases in defense spending and is demanding more resources from NATO allies, she explains. All of this means that the defense context is now very incremental, which makes it easier for technology companies, which were previously very careful with their narrative in this area, to feel more comfortable talking about it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last Tuesday and Wednesday found 60 per cent of Americans think the government is hiding details about Epsteins death, including 55 per cent of Republicans. And 69 per cent said the federal government was hiding details about Epsteins clients, including 62 per cent of Republicans. The belief that others took part in Epsteins abuse of minors was especially prominent among some of the presidents strongest supporters, who believed Trump would expose the corruption upon retaking office. The Justice Departments announcement this month that there were no more files from Epsteins case that warranted release caused intense anger among those people and among some MAGA influencers. At least among prominent MAGA figures, however, the Journal article has triggered a now-familiar reaction causing Trumps fractured base to quickly rally around him as a victim. That has quieted much of the recent MAGA frustration. At least for now. This is primarily a within-MAGA problem, Whit Ayres, a long-time Republican pollster, said of the Epstein situation. The vast majority of Americans dont spend every waking moment wondering what happened to Epstein. Loading The other group of Americans among whom the Epstein case could pose a problem for Trump, however, are the less-partisan, more disengaged, occasional voters among whom Trump did extremely well during the 2024 campaign. Even before the Epstein case, Trump had been losing ground among such voters. A characteristic quality of such voters is disaffection with the political system and suspicion that it favours the wealthy and well connected. The Epstein case plays into those voters existing feelings and could cause some who have supported Trump to lose faith in him. Democrats have tried to capitalise on that, seizing on the issue and calling for the Trump administration to release files about the Epstein case. At least so far, however, not many voters have been closely tuned in to news about the case, although online search traffic has increased sharply in recent days. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted over the past week found that a relatively small share of voters, two in 10, said they were following news about the Epstein files very closely. Top right-wing commentators over the past week issued negative predictions, some dire, about Republicans losing down-ballot seats in next years midterm elections. Some long-time MAGA supporters felt betrayed that Trump was not sufficiently going after the so-called deep state, they warned, while other newcomers to the movement, including young men who were not previously politically active, would simply be disenchanted and not bother to show up again to the polls. Former Trump aide Steve Bannon and other prominent right-wing commentators on Friday were still calling for the administration to release more files on Jeffrey Epstein. Credit: AP By the end of the week, most of those warnings from prominent Trump supporters had quieted, replaced by solidarity behind the president. Among those recently sounding the alarm was Steve Bannon, Trumps former adviser who hosts a daily talk show popular with Trumps MAGA supporters. Bannon and other prominent right-wing commentators on Friday were still calling for the administration to release more files on Epstein, and to appoint a special counsel which the White House has said Trump will not do. But they directed their chief ire at a familiar enemy: the news media. This time, it was towards Murdoch, the owner of The Wall Street Journal and a number of other conservative-leaning news outlets, including Fox News. Bannon has long argued that Murdoch, despite his conservative credentials, was out to take down Trump politically. Loading MAGA is now united, because they can see theres a common enemy. They see exactly what the reality is its the deep state, with their media partners, led by Murdoch, thats out to destroy Trump, Bannon told The Washington Post, framing the saga as a conspiracy against the president, rather than about the White Houses decision-making on Epstein. And thats been obvious from the beginning. Prominent conservatives were quick to mock the allegations raised against Trump, posting their own stick-figure drawings of women as a nod to the Journals reporting that Trumps 50th birthday card to Epstein included an apparent hand-drawn outline of a naked woman. Trump allies and even one recent high-profile enemy, Elon Musk also quickly dismissed the alleged text included in the card, saying it did not sound like something Trump would write. Trump and his White House advisers have expressed annoyance for much of the past two weeks at the continued focus on Epstein. Fresh off a July 4 signing of Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, which the White House has touted as the fulfilment of some of Trumps campaign promises, the president and his team have wanted to talk about anything else. I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Countrys history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success-starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. By Thursday night, that aggravation had turned to anger, with Trump vowing to sue Murdoch and the Journal over the reporting on a letter he said was fake. Loading While Trump and his administration have insisted that the general public is not concerned about Epstein or their review of documents related to him, recent polling shows that voters across the spectrum question his handling of the case. The Reuters/Ipsos poll found 54 per cent of Americans disapproved of how Trump was handling the issue, while just 17 per cent approved. Republicans were split on Trumps handling of the issue, with 35 per cent approving, 30 per cent disapproving and 35 per cent unsure or not answering the question. President Trump is the proud leader of the MAGA movement and currently has record-high support among Republicans, White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said in a statement, adding that Trump is quickly delivering on promises, and describing America as the hottest country ever as a result. White House officials in recent days have repeatedly touted a recent CNN poll that shows Trumps approval rating notching up slightly among Republicans. The same survey, however, shows just over 60 per cent of all voters opposing Trumps new spending bill. I dont know that hes worried about the general electorate at all at this point, Ayres said, adding that the latest news story about Trump and Epstein seems to help Trump with his base, because it creates a typical enemy. But it doesnt resolve the fundamental issue of the Epstein files, Ayres continued, and what they will or will not release to the public. The Washington Post Los Viagras have several Colombians, says Lupe Mora, 72, sitting in a dilapidated office in the town hall of La Ruana, a small, hot, lemon-growing town in the state of Michoacan. Three bodyguards armed with Mexican army rifles are stationed outside the office. Two years ago, Lupes brother, Hipolito Mora, was murdered at the age of 68 a couple of blocks from here as he was leaving his house one morning. More than 1,000 bullets were fired by 25 Los Viagras hitmen, the same ones who have been sowing terror in this area, known as Tierra Caliente, for years and who now, like the rest of the groups in the region, also have reinforcements in the shape of former Colombian soldiers hired as mercenaries. EL PAIS has reconstructed how these criminals operate through nearly a dozen sources in Mexico and Colombia and with exclusive information from investigations that prove the operation of this lethal alliance and the limited cooperation from Bogota to try to stop it. In his La Ruana office, Mora continues to provide details about the Colombian mercenaries roaming the area. They run around here hurting the people with drones, explosives, and hitmen, he explains as the breeze from a fan stirs his gray hair. Since Hipolitos murder, he has carried on the social activism of his brother, who took up arms against criminal organizations along with other farmers a decade ago. It was at the beginning of the so-called war on drugs, the strategy of sending the military from their barracks to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the cartels. Violence spiraled out of control, and the world looked at Mexico in amazement. Were worse off than before, with more shootouts, extortion, kidnappings. And now with the Colombians explosives, Lupe continues. He himself suffered these attacks shortly after his brothers death. One afternoon, while holding a rally in a town square, he first heard the sound of a drone. Then, the explosion of an object on the roof, leaving a hole above his head. It left us quite stunned, thank goodness there was a roof, he says, looking up. The residents of La Ruana are also aware of the explosives and the Colombian mercenaries. They remember, for example, the case of a father and son who died when a mine exploded while they were picking lemons in a town, Santa Ana Amatlan, less than half an hour away. Its those damn Colombians. Theyre bloodthirsty, theyre here for what theyre here for, says another farmer on the side of the towns dusty main road. A little further ahead, there are blockades with sandbags. They serve as checkpoints for both the army and criminal groups. The farmer says its common to see soldiers withdraw from their posts when things get ugly and prefers not to give his name: We dont want to end up floating in a canal, he says. Another woman, who also doesnt want to give her name, claims she has seen the Colombians, and that they can be distinguished by their manner of speech and because they are always armed. They come out at night, always in groups, and they go out to kill and extort. Guadalupe 'Lupe' Mora, head of the La Ruana district, on July 8. Juan Jose Estrada Serafin Mexican authorities have been aware of the presence of former Colombian military personnel for at least 15 years, but it has accelerated recently. They are prevalent in the triangle of death formed by three central-western border states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Michoacan. But also to the north, in Chihuahua, Durango, and Sinaloa: the prized routes of the Mexican Pacific to the United States. They are recruited by Los Viagras, yes, but also by the Carteles Unidos, Santa Rosa, La Familia Michoacana, and, of course, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the largest and most bloodthirsty criminal organization in Latin America, if not the world: an army of hitmen that, according to authorities estimates, exceeds 20,000 members. Many of the 2,000 or 3,000 Colombian mercenaries recruited in Mexico, according to the same estimates, are part of this cartel. Michoacan is one of the epicenters of this informal war, especially the towns bordering Jalisco, such as La Ruana and Los Reyes, the areas this newspaper visited during the second week of July. On this frontier, the CJNG has been waging a fierce battle with other criminal groups for years for territorial control. The clandestine recruitment of retired Colombian soldiers, highly valued for their skilled training, goes back a long way: from fighting with paramilitaries in Sudan to the assassination of Jovenel Moise in Haiti, to the war in Ukraine. Their most recent assignment is to work for Mexican cartels, with the mission of training hitmen or manufacturing explosives. From the reconstruction this newspaper has been able to make based on a dozen sources in Mexico and Colombia all of whom request anonymity for security reasons and exclusive documents, the organizational and economic strength required to bring them in, the limited support Mexico receives from Colombia to curb this scourge, and the inefficiency of the previous administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who opted for a clearly failed strategy to curb the violence that his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, is now trying to reverse at full speed, are evident Recruitment through social networks and travel agencies The job is for a cartel, at least 40,000 Mexican pesos; in Colombian pesos, thats 10 million a month. The minimum commitment is four months. The job is guarding the plaza (the local crime cell), ensuring no one interferes, and cleaning up those who do. Doing what the area command tells you to. Any questions? This is how the job postings are advertised in a chain of messages to which this newspaper has had access. The recruitment of Colombian mercenaries the vast majority of whom are aged between 22 and 42 is done openly and through social media and messaging services like WhatsApp. Oh, well, well do it. I was in Ukraine, I havent been to Mexico before, one person in the same group responds. My friend, the company is providing the fares. The only thing you need to bring is the taxi fare, the bus fare, and the food. The company is providing everything, okay? Its 48,000 pesos a month, with no food or sleeping allowance. Its a cartel, reads another conversation. Recruitment, in any case, is far from spontaneous and goes beyond word of mouth. Mercenaries also rely on advice from some Colombian travel agencies. They explain to them what they should wear, tell them to take a carry-on bag, and what to say if they are detained by immigration authorities. Colombians do not need a visa to enter Mexico if they are traveling for tourism the reason given by most, according to the sources consulted although quite a few, when they run into trouble, admit they have come to work with the cartels. Nearly 2,000 Colombians arrive in Mexico every day. The vast majority enter through an airport. More than 1,700 have been turned away since October 1, 2024 when Sheinbaum took office and Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch took charge of a new strategy to combat crime, the new presidents primary hallmark. Some of those rejected have criminal records, and authorities have convincing evidence that many will join a cartel if allowed to enter Mexico. The most frequently used routes are those from Bogota to Mexico City, both to the international airport (AICM) and the new Felipe Angeles Airport (AIFA), and to Cancun. There is also another route, both inbound and outbound, from Europe: through Madrid, many coming from Poland after having fought in Ukraine. Colombian mercenaries, fighting for Ukraine, during a military exercise on August 15, 2023 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Global Images Ukraine Several of the sources consulted agree that Mexican cartels, especially the CJNG, recruit Colombian mercenaries for their combat experience, that is, to train their hitmen in the use of military weapons, such as AK-47s, AR-15 rifles, and grenade launchers; in the manufacture of explosives; and in the placement of anti-personnel mines. They actively operate in defense of the [criminal] groups, in the protection and maintenance of the towns, says one of the sources. Another is more forceful: The Colombians introduced a more warlike approach, with greater organization. Mexican drug traffickers are more of an Im a tough guy culture; Colombians are more strategic. These people dont come to live here; most of them are ghosts. The problem is that they get paid better than in Europe, they stay for four months, and then they come back, the same source asserts. This phenomenon is exacerbating the lethality of organized crime in Mexico, already high due to the supply of military weapons to the cartels, 74% of which comes from illegal arms trafficking from the U.S. Official figures from recent years reflect the epidemic of violence. The highest peak was in 2019, when an average of more than 94 murders were recorded daily. Since then, the numbers have stabilized, with some undulations, at a very high level. Last year closed with more than 80 murders per day. The mercenary phenomenon, which is importing war practices such as explosive drones or anti-personnel mines, only qualitatively increases the threat of horror. Through WhatsApp, former Colombian soldiers share photos and communicate constantly in groups with dozens of members. Gentlemen, good evening, blessings, please stay home, no one on the streets, the government is raging all over town, reads one of the messages this newspaper has had access to. A mine went off, the cows set it off, but there are children nearby. Talk to the rancher and tell him not to send them there so theres no accident, states another. Colombia has one of the best-trained armies in the world, with extensive experience in counterinsurgency, a result of the endless war against guerrillas and illegal armed groups in the country. The level of training of the Colombian Armed Forces is very high and almost comparable to that of the United States, explains Andres Macias, a member of the UN Working Group on mercenaries. Elementos de la Guardia Nacional recorren la comunidad indigena de Capacuaro, cerca de un centro de adiestramiento para mercenarios, el 7 de julio. Juan Jose Estrada Serafin Carlos Manso revisa ropa abandonada por los mercenarios en el centro de adiestramiento encontrado en una huerta de aguacates. Juan Jose Estrada Serafin El predio de agricultores fue convertido en un campamento del crimen organizado Juan Jose Estrada Serafin El campamento se encontraba ubicado en Uruapan, la capital del aguacate michoacano. Juan Jose Estrada Serafin Policias resguardan el terreno donde se encontraba el campamento. Juan Jose Estrada Serafin Even with all this experience, thousands of soldiers retire after 20 years of service to face an uncertain future. Their retirement benefits are only about $650 a month, quite low compared to the salaries offered by mercenary networks and companies abroad or, in this case, by Mexican cartels, which can exceed $2,500, according to authorities investigations. El Guicho wants you dead On May 27, eight members of the Mexican army were killed in the municipality of Los Reyes, Michoacan, by a landmine planted by organized crime. Two days later, a military operation arrested 17 people, 12 of whom were Colombians: 10 of them were retired military personnel, most of whom had served for 20 years. The following were also seized: 15 AK-47 magazines; three AR-15 magazines; two Barrett magazines; and 941 rounds of ammunition of various calibers. Los Reyes is a forested town that relies on avocados, which grow almost autonomously due to the ideal altitude and humidity. On the other side of the hill, the slope descends to reach the first town in Jalisco: La Loma. With barely a few hundred inhabitants, it is another of the war zones. The day everything went wrong in La Loma, a group of about 10 Colombian hitmen entered the afternoon Mass armed, and Father Jose Luis Segura threw them out of the church. They didnt take it well and, upon leaving, told him to be careful, that from now on they would be watching what he preached. The next day, a shootout broke out over several hours at the door of the same church. After that, they delivered a message: El Guicho wants you dead. Father Segura left after the threat from the town boss. During the three years he spent there, he saw how the situation was increasingly festering. The open war between the CJNG and a galaxy of small local gangs, associated under the Carteles Unidos umbrella, is causing a rift in social ties, to the point where some parishioners interrupt him during his homily to scold him for speaking ill of this or that group. Criminal customs are stronger than Catholic ones, the priest says in a cafe in Apatzingan, about four hours by car from the town he had to flee. The capital of Tierra Caliente is, for now, a refuge for this 64-year-old veteran priest, who has had to take a few months off due to the horror and panic it all caused. He says it was common to see corpses floating in the towns stream, or bodies hanging from bridges. And the tip of the iceberg, for him, are the Colombian mercenaries. They use force differently; theyre more brutal. Since they come without family or any ties, they can do whatever they want. Father Jose Luis Segura Barragan in Apatzingan, this July. Juan Jose Estrada Serafin Mexican authorities have sought support from their Colombian counterparts in the intelligence and security services, seeking assistance and a commitment that goes beyond good intentions, knowing that halting the flow of Colombians into Mexico is more than a migration issue, its a political one. However, according to information this newspaper has had access to, assistance has been virtually nonexistent. The prevailing feeling is that this is not a priority for Colombia. Gustavo Petros government is facing its final year with a rampant security crisis, where its commitment to total peace with the various guerrilla groups and organized crime has been shattered, giving way to a proliferation of violence. Only after the arrest of the 12 Colombians in Los Reyes, accused of murdering eight Mexican soldiers, did Petro declare that mercenary activity must be prohibited and punishable by severe prison terms. Paramilitary training in an avocado orchard As he turns left, the mayors bodyguard adjusts his rifle between his legs and places his hand a little closer to the trigger. The patrol car has just left the highway and is moving along a narrow dirt road. The first drops of a light mid-afternoon rain are falling. The sun has begun to set, and the avocado forest is turning with each step into a dense, menacing, green labyrinth. Behind them are two more National Guard pickup trucks, each carrying three armed soldiers. From the passenger seat of the patrol car leading the way, the mayor gives an order over the internal radio: Everyone be alert because they may be here again. A month ago, a similar operation found an avocado orchard stuffed with high-caliber ammunition, AK-47 and AK-50 assault rifles, and military clothing bearing the CJNG logo. A farmers property had been converted into an organized crime training camp. When the police arrived, no one was there; they managed to escape through the green maze. We couldnt catch them because theyre organized; they see you with drones, recalled Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, the avocado capital of Michoacan, upon arriving at the exact location. Avocados are a business that generates some $3 billion a year and is another of the juicy profits organized crime is fighting over. Although no arrests were made, videos of the camp were found on the cell phone of a suspect detained a day earlier. While the National Guard soldiers verified that everything was deserted, Manzo himself showed the videos to the EL PAIS journalists accompanying him to demonstrate that the locations match. A recruit doing push-ups in front of the shack used as a kitchen. Another group practicing target practice next to some fertilizer sacks. The mayor also asserts that this camp, where remnants of military balaclavas and magazine holsters still remain, housed Colombian mercenaries. A cartel training camp in Uruapan, Michoacan. The state government denies that such training camps exist in its territory. But the mayor insists: We have evidence and complaints from citizens warning us of more places like this in the area. These are armed groups with war material. We have to be very brave to restore order. This is very precarious in the hottest areas of Mexico, where the mercenary phenomenon is turning a seemingly endless spiral of violence into an increasingly lethal one. With reporting from Diego Stacey in Bogota Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition App-based cab drivers launch own fare system Business Reporter : The drivers have started charging a minimum fare of Rs 100 for first 3 km and a distance-based charge of Rs 25 per km for AC cabs and Rs 21 per km for non-AC cabs from the passengers Defying the on-line fare systems of Ola, Uber, and Rapido, the agitating cab drivers operating under these platforms in the city on Sunday launched their own pricing system. The drivers have started charging a minimum fare of Rs 100 for the first 3 km and a distance-based charge of Rs 25 per km for AC cabs and Rs 21 per km for non-AC cabs from the passengers. Deepak Sane, President of Vidarbha App-based Taxi Union, confirmed the development saying that there was no other option left for the agitating drivers. All the 4000-5000 cab drivers in Nagpur have decided to follow this new pricing system from Sunday morning, he said. Deepak Bhandarkar, one of the drivers, said, This system is being followed by the Ola, Uber, and Rapido cab drivers in Pune. We are collecting justified fare from the passengers and they are also paying us without any hesitation, he said. Interestingly, if the passengers refuse to pay as per the new system, the drivers cancel the booking. One of the passengers, requesting not to disclose his identity, told The Hitavada that he had to pay Rs 125 on account of taxi fare for a distance of about 5 km. Even as the mobile app was displaying Rs 87 fare, the driver insisted on paying as per their new system. Bhandarkar said that the drivers will follow the new fare pricing system. Our leaders are negotiating with the Government agencies and other concerned authorities. We are expecting some favourable outcome in the coming days. Till then the passengers will have to follow this new system, he said. Bhandarkar further said that the agitation of the drivers is still going on. In fact, the drivers have decided to launch fast-unto-death from Tuesday or Wednesday. A group of cab drivers from various parts of the State will meet in Mumbai on July 15 to decide the date for starting fast-unto-death. For the past couple of years, the cab drivers have been agitating. On many occasions, they met the District Administration but nothing has happened. However, on this occasion, they appear more aggressive. On July 18, cab drivers observed total bandh across the State in support of their various demands. They want the Government to intervene and fix the rates with the help of Regional Transport Offices. At present, the companies are fixing the rates unilaterally. The drivers also want rollback of the Maharashtra Governments decision to introduce e-bike taxis and withdrawal of the rule of blocking IDs without proper investigation of complaints. Bhupesh Baghel meets son in ED office; leaves for New Delhi Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel entering the Enforcement Directorate office situated at Subhash Stadium on Sunday. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel along with his family members met his son Chaitanya Baghel at the office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) situated at Subhash Stadium in the State Capital on Sunday. Bhupesh Baghel was allowed to meet only for around 30 minutes. Talking to mediapersons on Sunday after the meeting his son, Baghel said, My son is being unnecessarily implicated in the alleged liquor scam. We will continue to fight. Former Chief Minister Baghel said that after my son Chaitanyas arrest, the first call had come from Rahul Gandhi and then from Priyanka Gandhi. After meeting his son, he said that if Chaitanyas grandfather was alive today, he would have been happy because he has been going to jail on many issues. He alleged that those, who have recorded their statements are also being pressurised to take his and his sons names. It may be mentioned that Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested on July 18 by ED on charges of money laundering in connection with the alleged Rs 2,161-crore liquor scam. Chaitanay Baghel was subsequently produced before a special court under PMLA in Raipur and remanded in ED custody for five days. Later, Baghel left Raipur for New Delhi by a regular flight on Sunday evening. Exclusive Interview Lifestyle changes at pre-diabetic stage lowers risk of heart ailments Dr Yugal Kishor Mishra, Cardiac Vascular Surgeon By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla : From a remote village to national capitals top notch tertiary care hospital, Dr Yugal Kishores name is among the countrys renowned cardiac surgeons. His inclination to community services and simple nature easily connects him with patients and their caretakers. He feels half of the pain can be healed with doctors compassionate behaviour. From great human touch to highly advanced procedures like robotic surgeries, Dr Yugal Kishor Mishra is known to give comprehensive treatment to his patients. Who has performed more than 32K surgeries successfully He is willing to give his services to people of teh State who cannot visit Delhi. Angiography is not the only method to ascertain blockage, TMT, Stress Echo, CT Angio, stress thallium and other means are also available If you can dream it, you can do it.....this is what implied to a small town boy Yugal. He lost his mother when he was only six months old and used to help his uncle who was a Vaidya (traditional Ayurvedic medicine practitioner, who treats patients with traditional medical systems and herbs). He assisted his uncle in making paper packaging of prescribed medicines to their patients. Influenced with the respect, his uncle got in lieu of his clinical practices, Yugal Kishore at the age of six started dreaming to become a doctor. Later, he moved to Rewa from a small Jhanjhbari village in Maihar tehsil, Satna district, where his brother was working and his brother was instrumental in ensuring his school education. With every passing year, his determination cemented. While talking to The Hitavada, he did not miss to attribute another main source of his inspiration to a column from medico professionals published in Periodical name Kadambini and give way ahead to the impressionable Yugal Kishors mind after which he came to know about cardiac stream and was determined to become a cardiac surgeon at the age of 12-13. Dr Yugal Kishor Mishra gave medical exam and got selected. Since then his thrust to add higher degrees in his curriculum vita continue and he did PHD from a Moscow based institute. Although there was no campus selection procedure officially but a test was conducted by a Delhi-based institute and in view of his excellent performance, an accomplished cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Naresh Trehan, founder of the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre in Delhi (now part of Fortis Escorts) saw this young mans answersheet and immediately offered him to join formers institute. This is how he got the place in the Escort Hospitals experts roster and began an inning in National Capital. Later his verticle carrier journey goes to Manipal Hospital Delhi and currently, Dr Mishra is the Chief of Clinical Services and Head of Cardiac Sciences at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, Delhi. When asked if he plans to come to your home state Madhya Pradesh or Manipal group is going to start its one of its wing here? He says, Expansion plan is in process. Talks of tie up in Pune and in Raipur a project is going on. Definitely, I will come to Bhopal also in future but as of now nothing can be said about the timings. I use to do OPD here as my roots belong here. Since I am born here, I have a bonding with the State. At first stage, I am also giving consultancy here. I use to come here and see patients. During an informal talk, he explained about nuances of heart, liver and blood pressure issues in a very simple and organic way. Giving a ray of hope to pre-diabetic people, he says if a person changes his/her lifestyle and eating habits progression of diabetic condition can significantly delay. Although in medical science there is little or negligible scope of reversible conditions like diabetic but it can be averted to a greater extent if proper preventive and precautionary routine is being adopted fatty liver happens in pre-diabetic patients. It has been seen that with a slight symptom of panic attack and sweating, most of the hospitals jump to the conclusion of possibility of blockage and expressed urgency to go for angiography to confirm presence of blockage in any artery, he said there are several other ways if there is no angina pain to ascertain possibility of blockage like treadmill test (TMT), Stress Echo, CT angiography, stress. Nobody knows why coronary artery disease happened. Best is TMT it has 60-70 percentage reliability. Angiography is gold stage. If someone with family history of heart disease. But it can be said those who has heart disease history. They need to be vigilant and go for test at the age of 35-40 years. He/she should go for investigation. If there is problem in TMT then he/she should go for further test. Risk factors must also be considered. If a person has high BP then he should not go for stress. Angiography is being considered as golden since it gives explicit picture. Depends up on patients condition and symptoms other methods can be opted. It is not advisable to go only for angiography if first times person complaints of sweating or any other uneasiness. In emergency angiography can be done but to rush for angiography and jump to conclusions without considering other factors, it is not advisable. Now every second person after the age of 40-50 years suffers from blood pressure. They visit doctors and starts Beta Blocker. It has been found some of the patients stop to take medicine on grounds of low BP or feeling lethargic etc. No doubt, there are side effects of Beta Blocker, what you have to say on this? Is there any substitute available for this component? To this Dr Mishra says, There are many types of Beta Blocker. It brings HR down to 6-70. Some people are short tempered or highly aggressive in nature some have high BP problem. Doctors try to keep heart rate under control in both the conditions. For example, Vasoprolal is good for high BP issue while Metoprolol works well in case of heart rate control, lowers your blood pressure. Doctor should decide as per the patients condition. Metoprolol is a type of medicine called a beta blocker. Like other beta blockers, metoprolol works by changing the way your body responds to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart. It slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. Bisoprolol is a beta blocker medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure. If you have high blood pressure, taking bisoprolol helps prevent future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Bisoprolol is also used to prevent chest pain caused by angina. Beta Blocker medication primarily used for heart conditions and it works in three ways - first used on patients with aggressive behaviour. It promises in reducing the frequency and intensity of such behaviour in some individuals. Second to control BP used on patients with hypertension issue and third in heart disease cases angina. How it works suppose this patient has HR 100 they have high energy consumption. Beta blocker brings down to 60-70 HR and it also lowers down energy consumption and heart wont beat vigorously and it will prevent angina. Meta drastically lowers down heart rate while Bisoprolal impacts on blood pressure more aggresively as compared to Metaprolol. Doctor need to pick the medicine as per patients complaint. Patients are advised to take the medications only after consulting the specialist. FAKE ITC CLAIMS OF IN APRIL-JUNE GST officers arrest 53 persons 3,558 fake firms uncovered NEW DELHI : GST officers have uncovered fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims of Rs 15,851 crore in the April-June quarter of current fiscal, a 29 per cent jump over the year-ago period, even though the number of fake firms detection was less Year-over-Year, officials said. The total number of fake firms detected by Central and State GST officers during the first quarter of FY26 stood at 3,558, less than 3,840 such entities detected in the same quarter of FY25. Panel of State Finance Ministers, chaired by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, is currently studying tax evasion in specific sectors and looking at ways to check Input Tax Credit (ITC) fraud. On an average, about 1,200 fake firms are getting detected every month. The number of fake firm detection in the April-June period is less compared to last year, which shows that the drive against fake GST registration has worked, an official said. As per the data of the fake firms and ITC frauds detected by Central and State GST officers during the June quarter of FY26, Rs 15,851 crore worth ITC was found to have been fraudulently passed involving 3,558 fake firms. During the period, 53 persons have been arrested by GST officers and Rs 659 crore recovered. In the Q1 of FY25 , GST officers had detected Rs 12,304 crore fake ITC involving 3,840 fake firms. Rs 549 crore was recovered and 26 persons were arrested. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, ITC refers to the taxes paid by businesses on purchases from suppliers. This tax can be claimed as a credit or deduction at the time of paying the final output tax. Dealing with fake ITC has been a major challenge for the GST administration as unscrupulous elements were creating fake firms just to claim ITC and defraud the exchequer. During 2024-25, GST officers have detected 25,009 fake firms involved in fraudulently passing input tax credit (ITC) worth Rs 61,545 crore. GST officers have carried out two pan-India drive against fake registration under Goods and Services Tax (GST). In the first drive against fake registration between May 16, 2023, and July 15, 2023, a total of 21,791 entities having GST registration were discovered to be non-existent. An amount of Rs 24,010 crore of suspected tax evasion was detected during the first special drive last year. In the second drive between April 16 and October 30, 2024, GST officers have detected about 18,000 fake companies registered under GST, which have been involved in tax evasion of about Rs 25,000 crore, To deal with this, the GST registration process has been made stringent with checks on risky applicants. While non-risky businesses are to be granted GST registration within 7 days, physical verification and Aadhaar authentication are mandatory for those those applicants who are flagged as risky by data analytics. As a measure to track down the masterminds, the GST Act provides for punishment for wrongly availed ITC, suspension or cancellation of registration of taxpayers involved in fake ITC cases; blocking of ITC in electronic credit ledger; and provisional attachment of property/bank accounts, etc. For the recovery of Government dues. Govt committed to destroying network radicalising youth Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha presents a cheque to a runner-up specially-abled participant during the J&K Polices Pedal Through Paradise Cycle Race, in Srinagar on Sunday. (PTI) SRINAGAR : JAMMU and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday asked the people of the Union Territory to wage a war against terrorism unitedly, while underlining his resolve to eliminate the ecosystem fuelling terror. We must unite and wage a war against terrorism, its eco-system and drug addiction. It is my firm resolve to eliminate the ecosystem fuelling terrorism, and destroy the entire network responsible for radicalising youth, supplying weapons, funding, targeting, and assisting terrorists, Sinha said. He was addressing the flag-in ceremony of cycle race Pedal Through Paradise organised by J&K Police. He said Pedal Through Paradise is not just a sporting event, but a symbol of new Jammu and Kashmir. It sends a powerful message to youth to choose the path of progress over violence and drug addiction. I urge them to contribute towards building a terrorism-free, drug-free and fit J&K, the LG said. He said J&K Police stands as a testament to selfless service, duty and sacrifice. Its legacy is written by blood of its brave personnel, whose ultimate sacrifices have strengthened national unity, established peace, inspired new hope and propelled J&K towards an era of peace and prosperity, he added. He commended the police for the initiative, saying it aims to nurture new dreams, instil new strength and create new aspirations in the lives of our youth. Sinha said in the last five-six years, J&K Police has contributed a lot in establishing peace, strengthening national unity, and in creating new dreams for the people. We do not believe in buying peace, but in establishing peace, he said, adding a vow has been taken in the last few years that innocents will not be touched, but guilty will not be spared. The LG said the police have a crucial role in destroying the support system of terrorists be it financial or logistical. It is not just the terrorist who needs to be dealt with, but also the entire machinery that facilitates terror, he said. Referring to transformation in Jammu and Kashmir over the last few years, the LG said the vision of Naya (new) Jammu and Kashmir is not just a slogan as some people criticise. I want to remind them the picture before five-six years, they will understand the difference between the old and new J&K. In the new J&K, pens have replaced stones in the hands of youth. Schools and colleges remain open year-round in the new J&K. In the new J&K, hartal and bandh calendars have been replaced by the calendars of national and international events, he said. In the new J&K, our youth are achieving new milestones in innovation and research. Our youth are focussing on start ups in new J&K and starting their business ventures. In the new J&K, slogans of separatism are not raised, they have been replaced by the fusion of factories and new vibes of life, Sinha added. He said the people are now living life on their own terms without any fear or pressure. There is night life like Delhi and Mumbai, and families spend time till late night in places like Lal Chowk, and Jhelum River Front. In the new J&K, the citizens now do not have to go to Jammu, Chandigarh or Delhi to watch cinema. These are not small changes, it is the dawn of a new era for J&K, he said. Pointing to the violence in Kashmir in the last few decades, the LG said Pakistani terrorists have spilled blood of innocent citizens of J&K, and many families lost their loved ones to terrorism. In some homes, only elderly parents remain after their sons were brutally killed. Thousands were killed at the behest of Pakistan. But in most cases, not even FIRs were registered, he said. Sinha said thousands remained silent because of the fear of terror ecosystem. We have started a process to change that situation. The civil and police administration have started an initiative to provide justice to those families. On July 13, 40 terror victim families in Baramulla were provided with Government job appointment letters. It is an irony for J&K that jobs were provided to terrorists or those linked to terror, but those youth or families who were victims of Pakistani terrorism were left to fend for themselves. But, now their empowerment is being ensured. This process of delivering justice will continue in the coming days, he added. Historic push to transform Chhattisgarh into a skill hub CM Sai being felicitated with a memento at the function. Staff Reporter BHILAI, The Chief Minister was addressing the valedictory ceremony of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025 held at Rungta University in Bhilai on Sunday Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the state government is relentlessly working towards the goal of Viksit Bharat Viksit Chhattisgarh, and that active participation of every section of society is essential to realize this vision. The Chief Minister was addressing the valedictory ceremony of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025 held at Rungta University in Bhilai on Sunday. CM Sai said that this event will be etched in golden letters in history. The Gold Book of World Records team has officially certified the training of 8,183 participants conducted within a week and handed over the certificate to the institution. He extended his congratulations to the Rungta University management for organising this remarkable initiative free of cost and reiterated the state governments firm commitment to empowering the youth with skills and self-reliance. Sharing key updates from the states New Industrial Policy, he said the policy has created targeted employment opportunities for the youth. Notably, industries that provide employment to more than 1,000 local youth are eligible for special subsidies. Additional incentives have been earmarked for establishing industries in backward regions such as Bastar and Surguja. The valedictory ceremony of the World Youth Skill Festival 2025, held at Rungta University, marked a historic step towards establishing Chhattisgarh as a leading skill hub. Online training imparted to 8,183 youth across various skill domains. 25 selected participants were felicitated with commendation certificates by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Also a MoU was signed between Harvard and Cambridge Universities. The World Book of Records officially certified the highest number of skill trainings conducted in a single week. On this occasion, MP Vijay Baghel and MLA Rikesh Sen also addressed the gathering and praised the state government and the university for organizing such a forward-thinking event. Chancellor Santosh Rungta delivered the welcome address and briefed the audience about the universitys ongoing activities. He affirmed that the university is fully aligned with the state governments vision and is consistently working to position Chhattisgarh as a global skill hub. The event was graced by Commissioner SN Rathore, Inspector General RG Garg, Collector Abhijeet Singh, along with professors, domain experts, faculty members, and a large number of students from Rungta University. Kedar Kashyap criticises Baghel, Congress for Double Standards Staff Reporter Raipur, Chhattisgarh Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap has accused former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel of making false claims against the BJP government, stating that Congress and Baghel often say one thing but do the opposite. Their double standards are clear to everyone, Kashyap said. People realize they are both dishonest and shameless. Addressing a press conference Kashyap claimed that Baghels government, during its five-year term, turned Chhattisgarh into a hub for corruption. Whether it was the liquor scam, coal scam, rice scam, Gothan scam, or the PSC scam, they misused state money and stole from the state. Thats why many of their people are now facing jail, he said. Kashyap said that Congress and Bhupesh Baghel had questioned coal allocation and tree cutting. He pointed out that when the Congress high command put pressure on them, Baghel gave in, which he had written in letters. Bhupesh Baghel himself once said there would be no more coal deals, and people in Chhattisgarh should stop using ACs and turn off electricity, Kashyap recalled. Have you turned off the AC and electricity at the Rajiv Bhavan as per your own words? You should answer that. The minister also elaborated on how coal was given out for personal gain when Bhupesh Baghel was Chief Minister. He alleged of giving a coal block in the state to Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan. He also highlighted that even during the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leaders had made it easier to get coal blocks. Quoting documents Kashyap claimed that in 2010, the UPA government said Hasdeo Arandh was a no zone area. He claimed that the then Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, later declared the entire area a core area,. Today, these same people talk big about forests, Kashyap criticized. This is the real face of Congress leaders who claim to care about forests. He added that on June 23, 2011, the Congress government at the Centre suggested opening the Tara Prasad coal block. When Congress was in power in Rajasthan, Adani operated two large mines, Gare Pelma Sector-2 and the KK Extension Plant. Kashyap challenged Baghel, saying that as Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel recommended environmental clearance on October 16, 2019. If Bhupesh Baghel has forgotten, I will give him his recommendations with the exact dates, Kashyap stated. He also mentioned the Gare Pelma Sector-2 open cast mine agreement from March 31, 2021, and the forest clearance recommendations (Stage 1 and Stage 2) made by the Congress government under Baghel on April 19, 2022, and January 23, 2023. The minister stressed that Bhupesh Baghels involvement in coal approvals was widely reported and is clear to everyone. He accused Congress of sacrificing the state and the country to protect its own people. On one hand, Congress gives out coal mines, and on the other, it illegally approves them. When they are in opposition, to benefit themselves they propose economic blockades. Such actions hurt the people of Chhattisgarh and will damage states economy, trade, and jobs, he warned. Kashyap said they dont care about the results. They want the whole system to crash because of these economic blockades, leading to chaos and violence, he claimed. Kashyap challenged Bhupesh Baghel asking will the former CM apologize for Congresss past decisions. He accused Congress of harming the people to save itself, stating their deception is obvious. He said that public saw his politics of accusation and elected Vishnu Deo Sai as Chief Minister who cares for the welfare of the people. My UPSC interview was on Mar 21, 1977 NEW DELHI : The day Emergency was lifted, recalls Jaishankar EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday reminisced about his entry into the civil services, saying his UPSC interview in Delhi took place on March 21, 1977 -- the day the Emergency was lifted. (1977) Election results were coming from the previous day... The sense of the defeat of the Emergency rule was coming into understanding. In a way, that is what got me through the interview, he said in his address at an event here. Walking down memory lane, Jaishankar, then 22, said he had returned from the interview with two key takeaways -- the significance of communication under pressure and that important people may be living in a bubble. In his address to a gathering of the fresh batch of entrants to the civil services, the EAM termed the UPSC examination akin to an Agni Pariksha (trial by fire), and said it is a very unique testing system in the world to select candidates for the services. The real challenge is the interview, Jaishankar said, and cited his own UPSC interview that took place 48 years ago. My interview was on March 21, 1977. That was the day the Emergency was revoked. Revoked! So, I go in for an interview at Shahjahan Road... First person that morning, recalls Jaishankar, now 70. Nearly a month ago, the Modi Government marked the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, with events held across the country to recall what its leaders called a dark chapter in Indian democracy. The 21-month Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975 and lifted on March 21, 1977. The Janata Party, a coalition of opposition leaders, emerged victorious in the 1977 elections, handing a defeat to Indira Gandhi, and Morarji Desai became the prime minister. Jaishankar said, in the interview, he was asked about what had happened in the 1977 elections. Citing his association with JNU as a student and his subject of political science, the EAM reminisced, I was lucky. We had taken part in the 1977 election campaign. We had all gone there and worked for the defeat of the Emergency, Jaishankar said. So, in response, I forgot I was in an interview, and at that moment, my communication skills somehow came together, he added. Jaishankar, a veteran diplomat who earlier served as Foreign Secretary and has widely travelled, said at that time, to explain to people who were quite connected, sympathetic to the Government, what had happened, without offending them, was actually quite a challenge. And, the second thing he said, he learned that day, of this Lutyens bubble. These people were really shocked, they could not believe that this election result had happened, whereas for us, the ordinary students, we could see that there was a wave against the Emergency, the EAM recalled of the interview experience. From that day, he said he learned how to communicate under pressure and to do it without offending people. How do you persuade, how do you explain. This was one carry-away. The second carry-away was that important people may be living in a bubble and not realising what is happening in the country, the Union Minister said. And, people in the field, because students like him who were part of the campaigns, and had visited places such as Muzaffarnagar, we had picked up a sense on the ground, but, people sitting in Delhi, with all the information from all the systems, somehow they missed it, he said. In his address, he also asked what the barometer is to assess a successful democracy, saying it is not by voting record or voting percentage. To me, a successful democracy is when opportunity is given to the entire society; that is when democracy is working. They have the right to express themselves, but it is not a few people, on behalf of the whole society... Expressing themselves, Jaishankar said, without elaborating. He exhorted the gathering of successful UPSC candidates to remember that they are all entering into a service. This Amrit Kaal of 25 years is your era. Your era, because you will have to work, you will have to deliver, and you will be the beneficiaries of this era, you will be the leaders of this era, the EAM said. He urged them all to contribute to the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. I want you to think 20 years ahead... When we move towards the journey of Viksit Bharat, what will be your contribution? And, the mindset that you have to bring to realise that dream of making a developed nation, he added. He emphasised that good governance is also related to national security. To new entrants to the civil services, he emphasised that representing India abroad, representing India before the world, is the greatest privilege, the greatest honour that any Indian can have. The EAM said he had no doubt that by 2030, we will become number 3, economically. But, moving to number 2 and eventually up, will be a big deal, and it will be tough, and will need big, national efforts. In the next 20 years of your service, you have to know that big changes will be coming. The coming era will be of AI, drones, space and EV and green hydrogen, he asserted. The external affairs minister said in the Indo-Pacific region, Our capabilities should be such that whatever challenges come, India is ready to step forward and assume responsibility, we call it a first responder. How do you prepare India to be a first responder?. Joint Russian-Iranian naval exercises have commenced in the Caspian Sea on July 21, signaling a continued effort by both nations to bolster regional maritime security and strengthen bilateral military cooperation, Azernews reports. According to Iranian media outlet Tasnim, the three-day drills involve the Iranian Army Navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Russian Navy, with observers from other Caspian littoral states also in attendance. The primary objectives of the exercises are to enhance maritime security, promote interoperability between naval forces, and demonstrate the strategic coordination between Moscow and Tehran in a region increasingly shaped by shifting geopolitical currents. Jose Adolfo Macias, better known as Fito, didnt spend even a full month locked up in La Roca, the maximum-security prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Twenty-five days after being transferred there, a joint police and military operation went into his cell on Sunday, July 20, handcuffed him and put him on a U.S. Department of Justice plane. At 2:00 p.m., the flight took off for the United States with one of Ecuadors most feared drug traffickers on board. Fito, leader of Los Chonerosone of the countrys most powerful criminal organizationsfaces seven counts of drug trafficking and gun smuggling in a Brooklyn federal court that could result in up to 50 years in prison. His extradition marks an unprecedented turn in Ecuadorian politics, as he is the first local drug kingpin to be handed over to U.S. justice. The process was as swift as it was surprising. On June 25, Macias was recaptured in a bunker in a house a few meters from the coast of Manabi, a province that has become a sanctuary and battleground for drug traffickers. Just two weeks later, he signed his voluntary consent to be extradited, in an attempt to escape being assassinated by one of his many enemies. On Friday, July 18, the president of the National Court of Justice approved Fitos extradition, after receiving guarantees from the United States that he would not be subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment, nor sentenced to the death penalty or life imprisonment, sentences not provided for in Ecuadorian law. President Daniel Noboa had the final say. On his desk lay the decision that would mark a turning point in the fight against organized crime in Ecuador. Noboas government had a strong interest in extraditing the man who became the most visible face of drug-related impunity in the country. His escape in January 2024 from the Guayaquil Regional Prison not only exposed the cracks in the prison system but also unleashed a wave of brutal violence inside and outside prisons. The scenes of chaos forced the government to take the unprecedented step of declaring an internal armed conflict and handing over control of security to the Armed Forces. On Monday, Jose Adolfo Macias will appear before the Eastern District Court of New York, the same one that sentenced Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the former leader of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel and with ties to Ecuadorian drug trafficking. Fitos criminal organization, Los Choneros, is believed to be capable of shipping tons of cocaine to the United States, laundering money on a continental scale, and mobilizing arsenals with almost military-like logistics. His trial is raising expectations in Ecuador over the potential revelations that could emerge from the Brooklyn courtroom. Fito is no ordinary criminal; he belongs to the old school that dates back to the 1990s, when the gangs still operated with almost artisanal codes. His testimony in a U.S. court could drag in powerful figures and reveal the invisible threads that have linked the State and the mafias for decades. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Nurses strike Over 50% surgeries postponed in GMCH Nurses agitating outside GMCH on Sunday. (Pic by Satish Raut) Staff Reporter : Services at IGGMCH remain unaffected Surgeries affected in GMCH Of the daily 180 minor procedures, only 80 conducted Of the major 75 surgeries, 50 were held n Of the planned surgeries not a single one is held The strike called by Maharashtra Rajya Paricharika Sanghatna had a mixed effect on the two major tertiary care hospitals--Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH). While IGGMCH remained unaffected, in GMCH, around 50% surgeries were postponed. Of the four unions of nurses, only one called the strike to press their demands. The strike by nurses entered third day and the services in the hospital are getting hampered. In GMCH, daily 180 minor and 75 major surgeries take place, including the planned ones. The minor surgeries have come down to 80, while of the major procedures, 45 to 50 have been conducted. The major procedures remaining are the planned ones. GMCH administration admitted that the nurses strike surely affected the regular services. One doctor, on condition of anonymity, said, Number of nurses is already low and hospital administration has become habituated to functioning with those many nurses. Secondly, in our set-up, less responsibility has been bestowed upon the nurses. GMCH lags in nurse-patient ratio All the GMCHs are not adhering to the nurse:patient ratio. In General Ward, one nurse is required for three beds, while in ICU, one nurse takes care of only one patient. Shockingly, in most GMCHs, one nurse works in the whole ICU of minimum 30 beds. The hospital struggles when that lone nurse too goes on leave. Association pursues for creation of posts Staff Reporter Maharashtra State Nurses Association is constantly pursuing regular creation of posts at various levels of nurses, 100% permanent recruitment and 100% promotion in line with the increasing population in the State, and this demand of nurses has been ignored at the Government level for years, which is very unfortunate. Nurses, who are considered the backbone of patient care, are always neglected. Nurses have to protest every time to draw the Governments attention to this serious issue. This issue has been raised umpteen times. This is causing anger among nurses. Therefore, the salary errors of employees working as head nurses, nurses, and curriculum directors should be eliminated, and 100% permanent recruitment should be started immediately by cancelling the contractual recruitment of nurses. More than 50% of the vacant posts to be filled by promotion should be filled by promotion immediately, it demanded. Nicaraguan government workers during the May 1st celebration in Managua. Presidencia de Nicaragua Nicaragua leaders Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo presided over the 46th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution on July 19, in Managuas Plaza de la Fe square, in one of the most foreign-inspired celebrations in living memory. In the absence of any prominent international guests, including the notable absence of the heads of state of Cuba and Venezuela, the Sandinista leader devoted much of his speech to praising China and Russia, while advocating for the dissolution of the United Nations and virulently attacking Europe. In his 81-minute address, Ortega ordered the redoubling of revolutionary vigilance to capture and prosecute traitors in the Central American country. It was a speech that largely put to sleep the thousands of public workers, armed forces and special guests who attended the Sandinista celebration, but it also served to expose an Ortega whose speech was increasingly slow and stumbling, in keeping with his 79 years of age. Instead of presenting a national agenda or addressing the repression his regime maintains against any critical voice, a president accused of crimes against humanity showered praise on Beijing and Moscow. The two most prominent figures on the flower-decked stage were Ma Hui, vice minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; and Anna Yurievna Kuznetsova, deputy speaker of the Moscow State Duma. Both were low-profile officials within the Moscow and communist establishment. A family walks past the flags of Nicaragua and the Sandinista National Liberation Front during the celebration of the 46th anniversary of the Sandinista popular revolution in Managua. STR (EFE) Ortegas speech was disorganized and riddled with vague historical references. He referenced the era of Napoleon, ranting against the French, and moved on to Nicaraguas independence in 1821 and Simon Bolivars struggle for liberation. The leader invoked Mao Zedong and the Red Army as sources of inspiration for the Sandinista Front. He attributed the defeat of Nazism to China and Russia and accused Europe of continuing to commit colonial crimes under the auspices of NATO. At the same time, he extolled a supposed national peace while 54 people remain imprisoned for political reasons and a sustained crackdown on dissidents persists in the country. Just as it appeared that his slow-burning tirade might be coming to a close, Ortega issued a threat that, despite being a reality for years now, reaffirmed the terror that Nicaraguans live under in their own neighborhoods: the political surveillance and harassment faced by anyone who disagrees with the Sandinista regime, and who is often betrayed by their own neighbors. Thats why we must always keep up with all the tasks we have to accomplish: study, preparation, work, and various activities, without neglecting the place, the neighborhood where were working, without neglecting our revolutionary vigilance, Ortega stated, ordering the redoubling of a practice that dates back to the first Sandinista regime in Nicaragua in the 1980s. And that way, there will be no room for terrorists, conspirators, traitors, because they will know that as soon as they are discovered, they will be captured and prosecuted, said the president. Rosario and Daniel Ortega during an official event in 2019. Alfredo Zuniga (AP) Since 2023, the Nicaraguan Police have activated a new political surveillance structure in the neighborhoods to ensure peace. Officers coordinate with coordinators of the Citizen Power Council (CPC), the Sandinista officials who dominate the localities. The initiative was part of the ironclad police state imposed by the Ortega-Murillo regime since late 2018, when it crushed the rebellion that began in April of that same year with bullets. On July 19, Ortega made it clear that he was redoubling his efforts to deepen the practice. In Nicaragua, raids against individuals considered opponents of the regime continue unabated. The latest major incident occurred a few months ago, culminating in the capture of retired General Alvaro Baltodano, one of the most influential figures in the Sandinista economic and military circles in recent years. Subsequently, some 20 retired military officers were arrested, thanks in part to intelligence gathered through this surveillance system used by the intelligence directorates of the Army and Police, and coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior. The relationship with Trump One of the most ambiguous passages of the speech was his reference to Donald Trumps anti-immigration policies. Ortega mentioned the separation of migrant families and the labor shortage in the United States, but completely avoided naming the Republican president, who is primarily responsible for the current tightening of deportations. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, the Trump administration has intensified the deportation of migrants to unprecedented levels. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data, 30,000 immigrants were arrested and 18,000 deported in June alone. Nicaragua is among the top destinations: 22 flights carrying 2,527 Nicaraguans have been sent back to Managua in just six months. ICE agents escort migrants onto a deportation flight in January 2025 in El Paso, Texas. CONTACTO via Europa Press (CONTACTO via Europa Press) Despite this, Ortega made no reference to these flights or directly questioned Trump. He simply said that migrants are the ones who do the hardest work and that American companies are complaining. The omission of Trumps name contrasted with his constant attacks on Europe, which he accused of racism, colonialism, and crimes against the Palestinian people. Consulted last week by the media outlet Divergentes, the U.S. State Department stated that there is no formal bilateral agreement with the Ortega-Murillo regime for the latter to accept deportees. There is no agreement. The Nicaraguan regime has the responsibility to promptly accept the return of its citizens residing illegally in the United States. The Murillo-Ortega dictatorship understands the consequences of not fulfilling this responsibility, said an official from the department headed by Marco Rubio. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Cupid is no longer called Cupid. Now its called Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Badoo, Hinge... Dating apps have shaken up the way emotional and romantic connections are made around the world, as well as the dynamics that accompany these new ways of relating. Along with matches, blocks, sparks, and superlikes, new words are emerging that describe very specific behaviors: ghosting, when a flirt suddenly and forever disappears; breadcrumbing, when someone shows intermittent signs of interest but without commitment or emotional responsibility; or zombieing, when the ghost re-establishes contact as if nothing had happened. Although these are not phenomena exclusive to the virtual world, they do seem to occur there more frequently, according to the experts consulted. All of these concepts reflect attitudes and behaviors that can impact mental and sexual health, both for the person who practices them and for the person who suffers from them. One study warns, for example, that breadcrumbing causes sufferers to experience greater life dissatisfaction and loneliness, and can jeopardize their future relationships. There is also research that points to the harmful effect of ghosting on self-esteem, and it has been reported that around 7% of the information shared on these platforms is false, primarily to make it more interesting. But these lies can erode trust and alter the way people relate to each other. Scientific evidence about the bitter side of relationships on dating apps is still trickling in, but it has coincided with the emergence of certain signs of weariness among users of these platforms. After a decade of resounding success one study estimates that 40% of Spaniards have used apps to meet other people virtual cupids have lost thousands of paying users, and their parent companies have suffered stock market declines. Francisca Molero, director of the Ibero-American Institute of Sexology and a clinical sexologist at the Clinica Maxima in Barcelona, also sees this in her practice. Theres a growing sense of weariness. They dont want to enter into that vortex of meeting people every week, having to have sex on the first date, and everyone else going for the same thing. People are getting tired, she says. Sexologist Ignasi Puig Rodas believes that the sense of speed, the ability to overcome the barriers of face-to-face dating, and the perception of abundance that characterize these apps there are many profiles to choose from are leading to more superficial relationships and a certain cruelty in dealing with people. One of the complaints people have is that they want authenticity and only see superficial things, explains this expert, who is a member of the Catalan Society of Sexology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Catalonia. Interface of dating apps, such as Grindr and Tinder. Gianluca Battista These online romance businesses have been navigating a sea of ambivalence: on the one hand, theyve facilitated sexual relationships, but theyve also revealed behaviors and attitudes that can take their toll on health. The ease with which unrealistic self-narratives are constructed and the loss of spontaneity especially with the arrival of chatbots that act as virtual love assistants and help curate the best responses for flirting have further distorted the dynamics on these dating apps, and no one is sure now whats true and what isnt. And with good reason: a Forbes survey found that one in five people lie about their age, 14% lie about their income or hobbies, and 13% lie about their job, their dating history, or their marital status. Theres an idea that people always lie, and you already have a certain barrier, which makes it difficult to establish lasting relationships, Molero says. The emotional imprint of ghosting Science and the public have also named and brought attention to other behavioral dynamics that, beyond lying, can distort relationships. Regarding ghosting, for example, Molero explains that people take it badly because they dont understand what happened. You even wonder what you did wrong. Its terrifying not understanding whats happening. It creates a feeling of chaos and uncertainty that can affect future relationships, she emphasizes. Some people even have to go through a kind of grieving process, she explains. These disappearances without a trace are relatively common. Research in the United States estimates that up to one in five respondents has experienced it, and between 10% and 30% have actually engaged in the behavior. The range is wide. In Spain, a survey of more than 600 people found that 20% had experienced or initiated ghosting; and around a third reported having experienced breadcrumbing or having practiced it in the past year. That study revealed that dating app use spurs both behaviors, and the researchers also found that they were more common among the LGBTQ+ community. Regarding the motivations behind ghosting, Raul Navarro, professor of social psychology at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and lead author of the research, asserts that there are gender differences. Women, for example, resort to this practice more often when interactions take on more aggressive overtones or they see a risk of an unpleasant situation occurring, he explains. But there are also those who make this decision unilaterally, perhaps as a justification mechanism, thinking that the other person wont be happy with them and wanting to spare them what will happen next. All of these are ways of avoiding direct confrontation, Navarro points out. Emotional manipulation strategies The behavior of giving away crumbs of interest, with a like or a sporadic comment to keep someones attention, the expert says, has shades of an emotional manipulation strategy, the consequences of which are usually more serious. Its a strategy of: I want you to pay attention to me, I want you to flatter me. It has also been seen to be related to narcissism, explains Navarro. And he points out that it has also been linked to insecure attachment: These are people who need to establish bonds and, sometimes, they want excessive attention, but then they dont feel comfortable with that closeness and they distance themselves. In this case, its not with the intention of causing harm, and this avoidant attachment can work for the person who practices it because of their inability to establish healthy relationships. Screenshot of the process of opening a Tinder profile. Gianluca Battista The worst part, of course, is for those who suffer from it: they may come to believe that the same thing could happen to them in future relationships. And its also linked to emotional loneliness and the inability to establish strong social bonds, the scientist adds. Along the same lines, Molero describes breadcrumbing as the most toxic thing there is and the most addictive. He explains: Its the ambivalence: giving you crumbs so you dont lose interest, but that ends up creating a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Its very distressing. Battle for attention Alex Garcia Alaman, a member of the Clinical Psychology Section of the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia, agrees that the functioning of the app itself also plays a key role behind many of these dynamics. The expert, who wrote a doctoral thesis related to the creation of Tinder profiles, emphasizes that these apps, which are marketed as a quick way to flirt with an almost endless supply of profiles, have become a kind of filtering process, and people arent aware of how much time theyll have to invest in each match. Behind ghosting, one may believe theyre being mistreated and rejected, but what may be happening is that theyre not being paid attention to. Not because someone wants to mistreat them, but because they dont want to invest time [in that person]. And its cheaper to say nothing. And the same thing happens with breadcrumbing, he points out: What may be behind it is a person who hasnt decided where theyre going to focus their attention. In any case, that rain of micro-disappointments that people suffer when they dont find what theyre looking for ends up taking its toll on self-esteem, to the point of causing people to think poorly of themselves. It also magnifies feelings of loneliness and encourages depersonalization, leading to cynicism and the belief that everyone is lying, says Garcia Alama: And those are the three dimensions of burnout. If you dont know someone or dont treat it as a game, everyone ends up burned out in the long run. All in all, and despite their drawbacks or the weariness theyre causing among users, virtual cupids dont seem as though theyre going to die anytime soon, the psychologist believes: Theyre the lesser of two evils. People would rather go out, pursue hobbies, and interact there, but they dont have the time. Dating apps are a response to the lack of free time, and people will end up coming back because they have no other choice. Even if they come back filled with apathy, cynicism, and hopelessness, he assumes: Itll be like going into a nightclub and finding 90% of the people in a bad mood. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Gallacher Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 136.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,601 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 923 shares during the quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $500,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ACN. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,351,683,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Accenture by 30,256.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,421,519 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,067,651,000 after acquiring an additional 3,410,248 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Accenture by 22.8% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,175,518 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,283,225,000 after acquiring an additional 2,260,740 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its stake in Accenture by 16.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 12,295,748 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,325,526,000 after acquiring an additional 1,770,024 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in Accenture by 10.7% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,582,344 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,667,393,000 after acquiring an additional 732,769 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.14% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Accenture news, CEO Mauro Macchi sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.34, for a total value of $141,170.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 2,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at $644,582.22. The trade was a 17.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Angela Beatty sold 203 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.34, for a total value of $57,315.02. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 5,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,482,002.66. This represents a 3.72% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 5,454 shares of company stock worth $1,646,780 over the last ninety days. 0.02% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ACN has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler cut their target price on Accenture from $364.00 to $355.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Accenture from $349.00 to $353.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, June 16th. Benchmark reissued a mixed rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Friday, June 20th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Finally, Argus set a $370.00 price objective on Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Accenture currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $365.43. Get Our Latest Report on ACN Accenture Stock Performance Shares of NYSE ACN opened at $282.37 on Monday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $306.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $324.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 1.46. Accenture PLC has a one year low of $273.19 and a one year high of $398.35. The company has a market capitalization of $176.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.29. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, June 20th. The information technology services provider reported $3.49 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.17. Accenture had a return on equity of 26.55% and a net margin of 11.61%. The firm had revenue of $17.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.13 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Accenture Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 10th will be given a $1.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 10th. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.10%. Accentures dividend payout ratio is currently 47.13%. Accenture Profile (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE:AB Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the five analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $38.00. AB has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on AllianceBernstein from $41.00 to $38.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Wall Street Zen raised AllianceBernstein from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, May 10th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on AllianceBernstein from $37.50 to $34.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Barclays lifted their target price on AllianceBernstein from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded AllianceBernstein from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $42.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Get AllianceBernstein alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on AllianceBernstein AllianceBernstein Stock Performance AllianceBernstein stock opened at $41.23 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $40.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $38.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.56 billion, a PE ratio of 11.08, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.82. AllianceBernstein has a 52 week low of $30.57 and a 52 week high of $41.99. AllianceBernstein (NYSE:AB Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The asset manager reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $838.21 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $859.36 million. AllianceBernstein had a return on equity of 18.27% and a net margin of 9.44%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.73 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that AllianceBernstein will post 3.58 earnings per share for the current year. AllianceBernstein Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 5th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.76%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 5th. AllianceBernsteins payout ratio is 86.02%. Insider Buying and Selling In other AllianceBernstein news, Director Charles G.T. Stonehill sold 5,000 shares of AllianceBernstein stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.18, for a total transaction of $205,900.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 20,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $861,609.14. The trade was a 19.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Daniel G. Kaye sold 4,825 shares of AllianceBernstein stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.80, for a total value of $196,860.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 39,877 shares in the company, valued at $1,626,981.60. The trade was a 10.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Chelsea Counsel Co. boosted its holdings in shares of AllianceBernstein by 807.9% in the 2nd quarter. Chelsea Counsel Co. now owns 95,330 shares of the asset managers stock worth $3,892,000 after acquiring an additional 84,830 shares in the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AllianceBernstein by 66.5% in the 2nd quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 9,923 shares of the asset managers stock worth $405,000 after acquiring an additional 3,965 shares in the last quarter. FCG Investment Co acquired a new position in shares of AllianceBernstein in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $362,000. Northside Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of AllianceBernstein in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $556,000. Finally, CHICAGO TRUST Co NA acquired a new position in shares of AllianceBernstein in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $245,000. 19.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About AllianceBernstein (Get Free Report AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm is a related adviser The firm manages separate client focused portfolios for its clients. The firm primarily invests in common and preferred stocks, warrants and convertible securities, government and corporate fxed-income securities, commodities, currencies, real estate-related assets and infation-protected securities. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for AllianceBernstein Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AllianceBernstein and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AMG National Trust Bank grew its position in shares of Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report) by 18.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,877 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock after buying an additional 1,387 shares during the quarter. AMG National Trust Banks holdings in Uber Technologies were worth $647,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Noble Wealth Management PBC purchased a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Kozak & Associates Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 155.9% in the 1st quarter. Kozak & Associates Inc. now owns 366 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 305.1% in the 1st quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 397 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 306.0% in the 1st quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 406 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.24% of the companys stock. Get Uber Technologies alerts: Uber Technologies Trading Up 0.1% Shares of UBER stock opened at $90.57 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $189.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.84 and a fifty-two week high of $97.72. The firms 50 day moving average price is $89.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.82. Insider Buying and Selling Uber Technologies ( NYSE:UBER Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.33. The company had revenue of $11.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.61 billion. Uber Technologies had a net margin of 27.07% and a return on equity of 66.46%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.32) earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 2.54 EPS for the current year. In other Uber Technologies news, insider Jill Hazelbaker sold 34,884 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.03, for a total transaction of $3,001,070.52. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 102,135 shares in the company, valued at $8,786,674.05. The trade was a 25.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah sold 2,750 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total transaction of $261,250.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 21,975 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,087,625. The trade was a 11.12% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 40,384 shares of company stock worth $3,496,071 in the last quarter. Insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on UBER shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $82.00 price target on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Monday, May 5th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. They set a buy rating and a $110.00 target price for the company. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Uber Technologies from $92.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group restated a hold rating and set a $84.00 target price (down from $90.00) on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Friday, June 27th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Uber Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $97.63. Get Our Latest Research Report on Uber Technologies Uber Technologies Company Profile (Free Report) Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UBER? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp lessened its holdings in Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL Free Report) by 10.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 13,319 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,536 shares during the quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corps holdings in Xylem were worth $1,591,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of XYL. Valley National Advisers Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Xylem by 84.9% in the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 220 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Perkins Coie Trust Co bought a new stake in Xylem in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. bought a new stake in Xylem in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. increased its position in Xylem by 52.0% in the 1st quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 266 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Xylem in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.96% of the companys stock. Get Xylem alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have commented on XYL. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Xylem from $149.00 to $146.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Raymond James Financial raised Xylem to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Xylem from $143.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and issued a $152.00 price objective (up previously from $137.00) on shares of Xylem in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Xylem from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Xylem has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $146.29. Xylem Stock Up 0.2% Shares of NYSE:XYL opened at $132.68 on Monday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $127.92 and its 200-day moving average price is $123.13. Xylem Inc. has a 12-month low of $100.47 and a 12-month high of $143.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Xylem (NYSE:XYL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The industrial products company reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.08. Xylem had a return on equity of 10.12% and a net margin of 10.54%. The firm had revenue of $2.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.04 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.90 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Xylem Inc. will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current year. Xylem Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 29th were issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 29th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.21%. Xylems dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.01%. About Xylem (Free Report) Xylem Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and servicing of engineered products and solutions worldwide. It operates through four segments: Water Infrastructure, Applied Water, Measurement & Control Solutions, and Integrated Solutions and Services. The Water Infrastructure segment offers products, including water, storm water, and wastewater pumps; controls and systems; filtration, disinfection, and biological treatment equipment; and mobile dewatering equipment and rental services under the ADI, Flygt, Godwin, Sanitaire, Magneto, Neptune Benson, Ionpure, Leopold, Wedeco, and Xylem Vue brands. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XYL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Xylem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xylem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by analysts at Bank of America from $83.00 to $84.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an underperform rating on the financial services providers stock. Bank of Americas target price indicates a potential downside of 12.38% from the companys previous close. A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday. Citigroup reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $102.00 price objective on Charles Schwab and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $100.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic raised Charles Schwab from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $65.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $97.50. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Charles Schwab Charles Schwab Trading Up 3.0% NYSE:SCHW opened at $95.87 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $89.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.15. The company has a market capitalization of $174.19 billion, a PE ratio of 25.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. Charles Schwab has a 52-week low of $61.15 and a 52-week high of $97.50. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 19.73% and a net margin of 33.68%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.73 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Charles Schwab will post 4.22 EPS for the current year. Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab In related news, insider Jonathan M. Craig sold 47,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.46, for a total value of $4,201,850.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Paul V. Woolway sold 10,129 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.01, for a total value of $911,711.29. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 39,154 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,524,251.54. The trade was a 20.55% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 116,313 shares of company stock worth $10,264,091 over the last ninety days. 6.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Charles Schwab A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SCHW. Pine Haven Investment Counsel Inc raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Pine Haven Investment Counsel Inc now owns 41,793 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,813,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Traveka Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 2,841 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $259,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Bank of Stockton raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Stockton now owns 10,593 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $967,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,986 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares during the period. Finally, HM Payson & Co. raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 19,271 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,509,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock. About Charles Schwab (Get 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 Stories 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. Loader Please wait while your request is being verified... Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by stock analysts at Citigroup from $57.00 to $60.00 in a research note issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the banks stock. Citigroups price target would suggest a potential upside of 22.08% from the companys previous close. Several other research analysts have also recently commented on CFG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $49.00 to $43.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $55.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Cowen assumed coverage on Citizens Financial Group in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Evercore ISI upgraded Citizens Financial Group from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $48.00 to $55.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, DA Davidson boosted their price objective on Citizens Financial Group from $49.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Citizens Financial Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $51.05. Get Citizens Financial Group alerts: View Our Latest Report on Citizens Financial Group Citizens Financial Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE CFG traded up $0.57 on Monday, hitting $49.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,089,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,828,278. Citizens Financial Group has a 12-month low of $32.60 and a 12-month high of $49.68. The company has a market capitalization of $21.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $43.05 and a 200-day moving average of $42.41. Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The bank reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.01 billion. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 6.94% and a net margin of 13.26%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.82 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Citizens Financial Group will post 3.92 EPS for the current year. Citizens Financial Group declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Friday, June 13th that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the bank to purchase up to 8.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Citizens Financial Group A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CFG. Salzhauer Michael grew its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 1,034.7% in the 4th quarter. Salzhauer Michael now owns 179,301 shares of the banks stock valued at $7,846,000 after buying an additional 163,500 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 16.6% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 16,957 shares of the banks stock valued at $742,000 after buying an additional 2,415 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 24.7% in the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 13,768 shares of the banks stock valued at $602,000 after buying an additional 2,730 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC grew its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 43.7% in the 4th quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 41,768 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,828,000 after buying an additional 12,698 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 223,731 shares of the banks stock valued at $9,790,000 after buying an additional 7,534 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.90% of the companys stock. About Citizens Financial Group (Get Free Report) Citizens Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Citizens Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citizens Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG Get Free Report) is one of 15 public companies in the BLDG PRD WOOD industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare West Fraser Timber to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, profitability and institutional ownership. Dividends West Fraser Timber pays an annual dividend of $1.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. West Fraser Timber pays out -752.9% 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. West Fraser Timber has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Get West Fraser Timber alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares West Fraser Timber and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio West Fraser Timber $6.17 billion -$5.00 million -437.76 West Fraser Timber Competitors $4.93 billion $297.37 million -13.06 Risk and Volatility West Fraser Timber has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its competitors. West Fraser Timber is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. West Fraser Timber has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its stock price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, West Fraser Timbers competitors have a beta of 1.43, suggesting that their average stock price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for West Fraser Timber and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score West Fraser Timber 0 1 4 0 2.80 West Fraser Timber Competitors 193 1163 1101 48 2.40 West Fraser Timber currently has a consensus price target of $100.40, indicating a potential upside of 34.91%. As a group, BLDG PRD WOOD companies have a potential upside of 23.11%. Given West Fraser Timbers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe West Fraser Timber is more favorable than its competitors. Profitability This table compares West Fraser Timber and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets West Fraser Timber 0.03% 0.99% 0.78% West Fraser Timber Competitors 7.65% 10.27% 6.04% Institutional and Insider Ownership 40.2% of West Fraser Timber shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.9% of shares of all BLDG PRD WOOD companies are held by institutional investors. 1.8% of West Fraser Timber shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.4% of shares of all BLDG PRD WOOD companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary West Fraser Timber competitors beat West Fraser Timber on 10 of the 15 factors compared. West Fraser Timber Company Profile (Get Free Report) West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., a diversified wood products company, engages in manufacturing, selling, marketing, and distributing lumber, engineered wood products, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, and other residuals and renewable energy. It offers spruce-pine-fir, douglas fir-larch, hem-fir, and southern yellow pine lumber, treated wood products, medium density fiberboard panels and plywood, oriented strand board, and laminated veneer lumber wood products, as well as particleboards. The company also provides northern bleached softwood Kraft pulp and bleached chemical thermo-mechanical pulp used to produce various paper products, including printing and writing papers, paperboard products, tissue and towel products, and a variety of other paper grades. Further, it offers bioproducts, including bioenergy and biomaterial. Its products are used in home construction, repair and remodeling, papers, tissue, and box materials, and industrial applications. The company sells its products to major retail chains, contractor supply yards, and wholesalers, as well as industrial customers for further processing or as components for other products in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for West Fraser Timber Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Fraser Timber and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Profitability This table compares Conrad Industries and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Conrad Industries 4.28% 16.87% 9.38% Conrad Industries Competitors -410.20% -70.19% -13.98% Valuation and Earnings This table compares Conrad Industries and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Conrad Industries alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Conrad Industries $303.41 million $11.23 million -57.79 Conrad Industries Competitors $18.81 billion $730.78 million 9.49 Conrad Industries rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Conrad Industries. Conrad Industries is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Volatility & Risk Institutional & Insider Ownership Conrad Industries has a beta of 0.53, meaning that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Conrad Industries rivals have a beta of 1.20, meaning that their average stock price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. 0.6% of Conrad Industries shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 53.5% of shares of all AEROSP/DEFENSE companies are held by institutional investors. 31.5% of Conrad Industries shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 10.3% of shares of all AEROSP/DEFENSE companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Dividends Conrad Industries pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.0%. Conrad Industries pays out -117.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, AEROSP/DEFENSE companies pay a dividend yield of 1.6% and pay out 39.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Conrad Industries is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Summary Conrad Industries beats its rivals on 6 of the 11 factors compared. Conrad Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Conrad Industries, Inc. engages in the construction, conversion, and repair of various steel and aluminum marine vessels in the United States. The company builds harbor tugs; specialty barges, such as crane, deck, ABS class, dry bulk cargo, aggregate, and well stim barges; inland tank, LPG inland tank, LPG pressure, LPG tank, and DS tank barges; and offshore support vessels, including liftboats, crew boats, offshore supply vessels, and offshore tugs, as well as other support equipment, such as deck and crane barges. It also builds inland pushboats comprising inland towboats, inland river push boats, and towboats; and ferries, which consist of passenger, and passenger and vehicle ferries. In addition, the company offers repairs and conversions, including electrical, mechanical, propulsion, and hull repairs to large-scale conversions of ships and barges; and engages in the fabrication of modular components for offshore floating production, storage, and offloading vessels, as well as drilling rigs. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Morgan City, Louisiana. Receive News & Ratings for Conrad Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Conrad Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) and Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC Get Free Report) are both large-cap aerospace companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, dividends, risk and analyst recommendations. Insider & Institutional Ownership 74.8% of GE Aerospace shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 83.4% of Northrop Grumman shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of GE Aerospace shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Northrop Grumman shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get GE Aerospace alerts: Volatility and Risk GE Aerospace has a beta of 1.37, indicating that its share price is 37% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Northrop Grumman has a beta of 0.15, indicating that its share price is 85% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GE Aerospace 0 1 10 0 2.91 Northrop Grumman 0 8 7 1 2.56 This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for GE Aerospace and Northrop Grumman, as reported by MarketBeat. GE Aerospace currently has a consensus target price of $240.33, indicating a potential downside of 9.10%. Northrop Grumman has a consensus target price of $550.00, indicating a potential upside of 5.68%. Given Northrop Grummans higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Northrop Grumman is more favorable than GE Aerospace. Dividends GE Aerospace pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Northrop Grumman pays an annual dividend of $9.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. GE Aerospace pays out 20.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Northrop Grumman pays out 36.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. GE Aerospace has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years and Northrop Grumman has increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years. Northrop Grumman is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth. Profitability This table compares GE Aerospace and Northrop Grummans net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GE Aerospace 18.64% 31.32% 4.86% Northrop Grumman 9.19% 25.46% 7.79% Valuation & Earnings This table compares GE Aerospace and Northrop Grummans revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GE Aerospace $38.70 billion 7.29 $6.56 billion $7.17 36.88 Northrop Grumman $41.03 billion 1.83 $4.17 billion $25.34 20.54 GE Aerospace has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GE Aerospace, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. About GE Aerospace (Get Free Report) GE Aerospace (also known as General Electric) is a company that specializes in providing aerospace products and services. It operates through two reportable segments: Commercial Engines and Services and Defense and Propulsion Technologies. It offers jet and turboprop engines, as well as integrated systems for commercial, military, business, and general aviation aircraft. GE demerged into GE Vernova, GE Aerospace, and GE Healthcare. About Northrop Grumman (Get Free Report) Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The companys Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems. Its Defense Systems segment designs, develops, integrates, and produces tactical weapons and missile defense solutions, and provides sustainment, modernization, and training services for manned and unmanned aircraft and electronics systems. It also offers integrated, all-domain command, and control battle management systems, precision strike weapons; high speed air-breathing and hypersonic systems; high-performance gun systems, ammunition, precision munitions and advanced fuzes; aircraft and mission systems logistics support, sustainment, operations and modernization; and warfighter training services. The companys Mission Systems segment offers command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; radar, electro-optical/infrared and acoustic sensors; electronic warfare systems; advanced communications and network systems; cyber solutions; intelligence processing systems; navigation; and maritime power, propulsion, and payload launch systems. Its Space Systems segment offers satellites, spacecraft systems, subsystems, sensors, and payloads; ground systems; missile defense systems and interceptors; launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; and strategic missiles. Northrop Grumman Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Falls Church, Virginia. Receive News & Ratings for GE Aerospace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GE Aerospace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CNH Industrial (NYSE:CNH Get Free Report) and Titan International (NYSE:TWI Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, profitability, risk and institutional ownership. Volatility and Risk CNH Industrial has a beta of 1.5, indicating that its share price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Titan International has a beta of 2.03, indicating that its share price is 103% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get CNH Industrial alerts: Profitability This table compares CNH Industrial and Titan Internationals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CNH Industrial 5.53% 14.32% 2.56% Titan International -0.83% -0.05% -0.02% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CNH Industrial 0 6 8 1 2.67 Titan International 0 0 2 1 3.33 This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for CNH Industrial and Titan International, as provided by MarketBeat.com. CNH Industrial presently has a consensus target price of $14.88, suggesting a potential upside of 15.34%. Titan International has a consensus target price of $11.00, suggesting a potential upside of 19.18%. Given Titan Internationals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Titan International is more favorable than CNH Industrial. Valuation and Earnings This table compares CNH Industrial and Titan Internationals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CNH Industrial $19.84 billion 0.81 $1.25 billion $0.82 15.74 Titan International $1.85 billion 0.32 -$5.56 million ($0.21) -43.95 CNH Industrial has higher revenue and earnings than Titan International. Titan International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than CNH Industrial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Insider & Institutional Ownership 59.9% of CNH Industrial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.4% of Titan International shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of CNH Industrial shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 32.5% of Titan International shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary CNH Industrial beats Titan International on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About CNH Industrial (Get Free Report) CNH Industrial NV is an equipment and services company, which develops, manufactures and sells specialized machines and services for the farming and construction industries, and supplies replacement parts and accessories. It operates through the following operating segments: Agriculture, Construction, and Financial Services. The Agriculture segment designs, manufactures, and distributes a full line of farm machinery and implements, including two-wheel and four-wheel drive tractors, crawler tractors, combines, grape and sugar cane harvesters, hay and forage equipment, planting and seeding equipment, soil preparation and cultivation implements and material handling equipment. The Construction segment comprises of a full line of construction equipment including excavators, crawler dozers, graders, wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders, and compact track loaders. The Financial Services segment offers retail note and lease financing to end-use customers for the purchase of new and used agricultural and construction equipment and components. The company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. About Titan International (Get Free Report) Titan International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells wheels, tires, and undercarriage systems and components for off-highway vehicles in the United States and internationally. The company operates in Agricultural, Earthmoving/Construction, and Consumer segments. It offers wheels, tires, and undercarriage systems and components for various agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines, skidders, plows, planters, and irrigation equipment. The company also offers wheels, tires, and undercarriage systems and components for off-the-road earthmoving, mining, military, construction, and forestry equipment, including skid steers, aerial lifts, cranes, graders and levelers, scrapers, self-propelled shovel loaders, articulated dump trucks, load transporters, haul trucks, backhoe loaders, crawler tractors, lattice cranes, shovels, and hydraulic excavators. In addition, it provides bias and light truck tires; and products for ATVs, rock climbers, and turf applications, as well as specialty products and train brakes. It sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers, as well as to the aftermarket through independent distributors, equipment dealers, and its distribution centers. Titan International, Inc. was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in West Chicago, Illinois. Receive News & Ratings for CNH Industrial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CNH Industrial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC cut its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 3.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 71,043 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,212 shares during the period. HighPoint Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,175,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the companys stock worth $926,000 after buying an additional 6,954 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 32.3% during the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,670 shares of the companys stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 1,385 shares in the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $83,000. Virtu Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 41,834 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,187,000 after acquiring an additional 1,848 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Plancorp LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 7,657 shares of the companys stock valued at $400,000 after acquiring an additional 701 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MO opened at $58.32 on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $59.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $56.87. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $47.57 and a 52-week high of $61.26. The company has a market cap of $98.23 billion, a PE ratio of 9.75, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group Announces Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a net margin of 43.09% and a negative return on equity of 295.44%. The firm had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.15 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 68.34%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set an underperform rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. Needham & Company LLC upgraded shares of Altria Group to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup increased their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Altria Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $59.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $56.75. Get Our Latest Research Report on MO About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) will likely be releasing its Q2 2025 earnings data before the market opens on Tuesday, July 22nd. Analysts expect Invesco to post earnings of $0.38 per share and revenue of $1.09 billion for the quarter. Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The asset manager reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. Invesco had a net margin of 13.14% and a return on equity of 8.94%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.33 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Invesco to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $2 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Invesco alerts: Invesco Price Performance Shares of NYSE:IVZ opened at $19.94 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $8.92 billion, a PE ratio of 15.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.48. The firms fifty day moving average is $15.52 and its 200-day moving average is $15.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.37. Invesco has a 52 week low of $11.60 and a 52 week high of $20.05. Invesco Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th were issued a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 14th. This is a positive change from Invescos previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. Invescos payout ratio is 67.20%. A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on IVZ shares. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of Invesco from $19.00 to $18.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Invesco from $19.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Invesco from $16.25 to $16.75 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Invesco from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Invesco from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Invesco has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.65. View Our Latest Research Report on Invesco Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its stake in Invesco by 7.2% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 35,767 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $543,000 after purchasing an additional 2,393 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Invesco in the first quarter valued at $563,000. Woodline Partners LP increased its position in shares of Invesco by 40.2% during the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 37,850 shares of the asset managers stock worth $574,000 after acquiring an additional 10,859 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in shares of Invesco by 1.2% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,046,667 shares of the asset managers stock worth $15,878,000 after acquiring an additional 12,685 shares in the last quarter. 66.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Invesco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lauterbach Financial Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 3.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,104 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 567 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil comprises approximately 1.3% of Lauterbach Financial Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Lauterbach Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $2,153,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in XOM. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $6,936,737,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 14,242.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 9,457,554 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,124,787,000 after purchasing an additional 9,391,614 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 35,662,602 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,836,226,000 after purchasing an additional 4,140,046 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 46,017,358 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,950,087,000 after purchasing an additional 2,998,892 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $240,653,000. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Stock Down 3.4% XOM stock opened at $107.87 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The companys 50 day moving average is $108.66 and its 200 day moving average is $108.98. The stock has a market cap of $464.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.50. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 1-year low of $97.80 and a 1-year high of $126.34. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend 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. The company had revenue of $83.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $86.11 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 9.49% and a return on equity of 12.06%. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was up .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.06 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.52%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $120.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $131.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $125.42. Get Our Latest Stock Report on XOM Exxon Mobil 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. Read More 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. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc. increased its position in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Free Report) by 218.9% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,761 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 6,700 shares during the quarter. SPDR Gold Shares comprises 1.1% of Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc.s holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $2,812,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp bought a new stake in SPDR Gold Shares in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Columbia River Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in SPDR Gold Shares in the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. HWG Holdings LP bought a new stake in SPDR Gold Shares in the first quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in SPDR Gold Shares in the first quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Finally, American National Bank & Trust lifted its position in SPDR Gold Shares by 189.4% in the first quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 191 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 42.19% of the companys stock. Get SPDR Gold Shares alerts: SPDR Gold Shares Stock Performance Shares of GLD stock opened at $308.39 on Monday. SPDR Gold Shares has a fifty-two week low of $217.52 and a fifty-two week high of $317.63. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $306.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $286.34. The company has a market capitalization of $101.98 billion, a P/E ratio of -32.43 and a beta of 0.15. About SPDR Gold Shares SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Gold Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Gold Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc. reduced its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 1.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,795 shares of the companys stock after selling 32 shares during the quarter. Peregrine Asset Advisers Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $2,308,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Garner Asset Management Corp boosted 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 acquiring an additional 12 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 9,597 shares of the companys stock worth $7,409,000 after acquiring an additional 1,730 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,136,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 1,610 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,243,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 64,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,993,000 after buying an additional 2,568 shares in the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 1.3% Shares of LLY stock opened at $771.78 on Monday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $677.09 and a 12-month high of $972.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $767.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $800.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $731.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.40. Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.64 by ($1.30). Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.67% and a return on equity of 85.51%. The business had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.58 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 45.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 48.82%. Analysts Set New Price Targets LLY has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. HSBC lowered Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their target price for the company from $892.00 to $888.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $1,135.00 target price (up from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $975.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,012.56. View Our Latest 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. Featured Articles 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. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 7.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,489 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 858 shares during the period. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $316,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Clarity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Gould Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 97.2% in the 4th quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares during the period. North Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Bernard Wealth Management Corp. acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Horizon Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. 68.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Pfizer alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently weighed in on PFE. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Pfizer from $36.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $24.00 price target on the stock. Redburn Atlantic decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wolfe Research boosted their price target on Pfizer from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $28.55. Pfizer Price Performance Pfizer stock opened at $24.46 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $20.92 and a one year high of $31.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $139.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.72, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.58. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $24.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $24.71. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $13.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.33% and a net margin of 12.62%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.82 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, July 25th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.03%. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 124.64%. Pfizer Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the twelve ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $186.73. PM has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Philip Morris International from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Needham & Company LLC initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. They set a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $220.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $220.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Get Philip Morris International alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on PM Philip Morris International Trading Down 0.2% Shares of Philip Morris International stock opened at $178.75 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $278.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.51. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $178.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $159.09. Philip Morris International has a 12 month low of $106.76 and a 12 month high of $186.69. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $1.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.08. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 122.40% and a net margin of 8.43%. The business had revenue of $9.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.50 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Philip Morris International will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 27th were paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.02%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 111.34%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Philip Morris International A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. PFS Partners LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 24.8% during the second quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 292 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 0.4% during the first quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,087 shares of the companys stock worth $2,236,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. TBH Global Asset Management LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 0.9% during the first quarter. TBH Global Asset Management LLC now owns 6,932 shares of the companys stock worth $1,100,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the second quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC now owns 5,666 shares of the companys stock worth $1,032,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NFP Retirement Inc. increased its position in Philip Morris International by 2.5% during the first quarter. NFP Retirement Inc. now owns 2,589 shares of the companys stock worth $411,000 after buying an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Philip Morris International (Get Free Report Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Power Co. of Canada (TSE:POW Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$55.38. A number of brokerages have recently commented on POW. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$52.00 to C$54.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. CIBC lowered shares of Power Co. of Canada from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a C$55.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$61.00 to C$57.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Power Co. of Canada to a moderate buy rating and set a C$57.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Power Co. of Canada from C$55.00 to C$56.00 in a report on Monday, April 21st. Get Power Co. of Canada alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on POW Power Co. of Canada Stock Up 1.6% Power Co. of Canada Company Profile Shares of POW stock opened at C$54.30 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$52.20 and a 200-day moving average price of C$49.43. Power Co. of Canada has a 52 week low of C$36.08 and a 52 week high of C$54.31. The firm has a market capitalization of C$34.71 billion, a PE ratio of 15.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.09. (Get Free Report Power Corporation of Canada, an international management and holding company, offers financial services in North America, Europe, and Asia. It operates through Lifeco, IGM Financial, and GBL segments. The company offers life, health and dental, disability, critical illness, and creditor insurance; accidental death and dismemberment; retirement savings and income and annuity products; and life assurance, pension, and investment products to individuals and small business owners. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Power Co. of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Power Co. of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 3.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 101,695 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 3,536 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $7,961,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter worth $1,455,000. Graham Capital Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 248.3% during the 4th quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 112,376 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,317,000 after buying an additional 80,112 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 163,007 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $12,760,000 after buying an additional 11,505 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 17.2% in the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 199,687 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $15,631,000 after purchasing an additional 29,255 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 14.3% in the 1st quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 146,392 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,460,000 after purchasing an additional 18,280 shares during the last quarter. 84.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Performance Shares of SCHW opened at $95.87 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $89.44 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.15. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 12-month low of $61.15 and a 12-month high of $97.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $174.19 billion, a PE ratio of 25.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 19.73% and a net margin of 33.68%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.73 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th were paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.13%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 32.73%. Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab In related news, insider Jonathan M. Craig sold 47,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.46, for a total transaction of $4,201,850.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 10,176 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 three months, insiders have sold 116,313 shares of company stock valued at $10,264,091. Corporate insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth SCHW has been the subject of several analyst reports. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Charles Schwab from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their target price for the company from $65.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Charles Schwab from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 16th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup restated an outperform rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Monday, July 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $95.60. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Charles Schwab Charles Schwab Company Profile (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. Private Advisor Group LLC cut its stake in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 0.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 23,526 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 110 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $6,222,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 236.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,507,219 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $844,854,000 after acquiring an additional 2,466,098 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $560,918,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 31,132.9% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,203,481 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $582,733,000 after acquiring an additional 2,196,426 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 153.8% during the 4th quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,497,339 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $360,694,000 after acquiring an additional 907,266 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 12.3% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,329,232 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $801,979,000 after acquiring an additional 364,379 shares during the period. 82.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Travelers Companies In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Maria Olivo sold 36,199 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.20, for a total value of $9,925,765.80. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 118,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at $32,387,407.20. This trade represents a 23.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Avrohom J. Kess sold 23,434 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.93, for a total transaction of $6,419,275.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly 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 sold 163,869 shares of company stock valued at $44,868,201 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.46% of the companys stock. Travelers Companies Stock Performance NYSE TRV opened at $265.77 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $203.21 and a 1 year high of $277.83. The firms fifty day moving average price is $265.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $256.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $59.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 0.51. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The insurance provider reported $6.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.52 by $2.99. The firm had revenue of $11.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.02 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 10.97% and a return on equity of 18.68%. The businesss revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.51 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 EPS for the current year. Travelers Companies Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be given a dividend of $1.10 per share. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 10th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is 19.46%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have weighed in on TRV. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $265.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $264.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. HSBC downgraded shares of Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $270.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Monday, March 24th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $270.00 to $267.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $288.00 to $296.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $274.61. Read Our Latest Report on Travelers Companies Travelers Companies Company 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. See Also 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. Private Advisor Group LLC trimmed its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 37.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 71,451 shares of the companys stock after selling 41,878 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $7,145,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Breakwater Investment Management bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 9,900.0% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 400 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Woodside Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF in the 1st quarter worth $40,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Trading Up 14.4% Shares of BATS EFG opened at $109.98 on Monday. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $88.66 and a 12 month high of $112.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.93 billion, a PE ratio of 24.98 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $109.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $104.20. About iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). 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. Ceconomy (OTCMKTS:MTTRY Get Free Report) is one of 47 publicly-traded companies in the CONSM PD MISC DIS industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Ceconomy to related businesses based on the strength of its risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends and analyst recommendations. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Ceconomy and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat. Get Ceconomy alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ceconomy 0 0 0 1 4.00 Ceconomy Competitors 118 922 1004 29 2.46 As a group, CONSM PD MISC DIS companies have a potential upside of 21.64%. Given Ceconomys peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ceconomy has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ceconomy 0.54% 30.49% 1.64% Ceconomy Competitors 0.03% 1.22% 0.51% Risk & Volatility This table compares Ceconomy and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Ceconomy has a beta of 1.41, indicating that its share price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ceconomys peers have a beta of -0.51, indicating that their average share price is 151% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Ceconomy and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Ceconomy $24.34 billion $82.44 million 16.51 Ceconomy Competitors $2.84 billion $82.79 million 3.69 Ceconomy has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Ceconomy 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 & Institutional Ownership 42.0% of shares of all CONSM PD MISC DIS companies are held by institutional investors. 19.4% of shares of all CONSM PD MISC DIS companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Ceconomy beats its peers on 8 of the 13 factors compared. Ceconomy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Ceconomy AG, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the consumer electronics retail business. It operates stores under the MediaMarkt and Saturn brands. The company offers professional assistance for the installation, connection, and troubleshooting of electronic devices at home under the Deutsche Technikberatung brand. It operates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary, as well as in Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe. Ceconomy AG is based in Dusseldorf, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Ceconomy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ceconomy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Free Report) is expected to be announcing its Q2 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Tuesday, July 22nd. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $3.75 per share and revenue of $6.31 billion for the quarter. Sherwin-Williams has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.650-12.050 EPS. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 71.86% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firm had revenue of $5.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.42 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.17 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Sherwin-Williams to post $12 EPS for the current fiscal year and $13 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Sherwin-Williams Stock Down 0.0% Shares of SHW stock opened at $339.88 on Monday. Sherwin-Williams has a 1-year low of $308.84 and a 1-year high of $400.42. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $349.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $348.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.45. The company has a market cap of $85.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 1.18. Sherwin-Williams Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $0.79 per share. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio is currently 29.87%. Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $398.00 to $410.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Citigroup lowered shares of Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $405.00 to $385.00 in a research note on Friday, June 13th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $289.00 to $296.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $410.00 to $420.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $405.00 to $385.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $391.94. Read Our Latest Research Report on Sherwin-Williams Institutional Trading of Sherwin-Williams A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Sherwin-Williams stock. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report) by 11.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 6,236 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 626 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLCs holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $2,178,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.67% of the companys stock. About Sherwin-Williams (Get Free Report) The Sherwin-Williams Company engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coating, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sherwin-Williams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sherwin-Williams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its holdings in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report) by 16.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 102,663 shares of the aircraft producers stock after purchasing an additional 14,459 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Boeing were worth $17,509,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. American National Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of Boeing by 474.1% in the 1st quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 155 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 60.2% in the 4th quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 173 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Boeing by 167.2% in the 4th quarter. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC now owns 179 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the period. Solstein Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Boeing during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Boeing in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 64.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Boeing alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have issued reports on BA shares. Benchmark dropped their price objective on Boeing from $250.00 to $215.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Boeing from $200.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday. Melius upgraded shares of Boeing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Boeing from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Susquehanna reaffirmed a positive rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Monday, July 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Boeing currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $221.55. Boeing Price Performance Shares of NYSE:BA opened at $229.49 on Monday. The Boeing Company has a one year low of $128.88 and a one year high of $233.61. The company has a market cap of $173.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -12.81 and a beta of 1.41. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $210.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $184.87. Boeing (NYSE:BA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The aircraft producer reported ($0.49) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($1.39) by $0.90. The firm had revenue of $19.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.57 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($1.13) earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity In related news, EVP David Christopher Raymond sold 3,899 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.01, for a total value of $729,151.99. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 42,513 shares in the company, valued at $7,950,356.13. This represents a 8.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Brendan J. Nelson sold 640 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $206.28, for a total transaction of $132,019.20. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 13,258 shares in the company, valued at $2,734,860.24. This trade represents a 4.60% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 7,744 shares of company stock valued at $1,511,370 over the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Boeing Profile (Free Report) The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Global Services segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Boeing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boeing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arrow Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO Free Report) by 0.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 217,197 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 642 shares during the period. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF comprises 12.5% of Arrow Financial Corps investment portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Arrow Financial Corps holdings in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF were worth $111,620,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $14,232,829,000. California Public Employees Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $9,202,879,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 32,517,360 shares of the companys stock valued at $17,520,679,000 after buying an additional 2,516,003 shares during the period. Capstone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,250,896,000. Finally, Trans Canada Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $764,130,000. Get Vanguard S&P 500 ETF alerts: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Stock Performance Shares of VOO stock opened at $578.60 on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $554.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $536.22. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has a one year low of $442.80 and a one year high of $578.70. The firm has a market cap of $695.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.97 and a beta of 1.00. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Profile Vanguard 500 Index Fund (the Fund) is an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The Fund offers four classes of shares: Investor Shares, Admiral Shares, Signal Shares, and Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Shares. The Fund seeks to track the investment performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index, an unmanaged benchmark representing the United States large-capitalization stocks. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VOO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WT Wealth Management raised its stake in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA Free Report) by 25.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 46,437 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 9,361 shares during the quarter. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF comprises 1.8% of WT Wealth Managements holdings, making the stock its 20th largest position. WT Wealth Management owned 0.12% of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF worth $5,412,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Get Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF alerts: Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Trading Down 0.1% NYSEARCA PPA opened at $146.36 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.91 and a beta of 0.98. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $136.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $124.15. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has a 1 year low of $100.39 and a 1 year high of $148.15. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Profile PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the SPADE Defense Index (the Index). The Index is designed to identify a group of companies involved in the development, manufacturing, operations and support of the United States defense, homeland security and aerospace operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Economist Therese Turner-Jones says more accessible financial reportinglike a simplified peoples budgetcould help Bahamians understand how taxes are used and why they matter. You voted: Civil society organizations urged Malawi's government, led by President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, not to appeal the ruling and to reform other laws that restrict free expression. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid) Lusaka, July 21, 2025The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the Malawi Constitutional Courts landmark July 16 ruling striking down section 200 of the penal code criminalizing defamation. Malawis Constitutional Court has taken a monumental step towards protecting press freedom and affirmed that criticism and dissent are essential to democracy by ruling criminal defamation to be unconstitutional, said Muthoki Mumo, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in Nairobi. Authorities should immediately comply with the judgment, and other laws that may unduly restrict the work of journalists must also be reformed. In a unanimous decision, three constitutional court justices ruled that the defamation law was a disproportionate and unjustifiable limitation on constitutional freedom, according to a summary of the judgment reviewed by CPJ. The ruling follows social media influencer and activist Joshua Chisa Mbeles 2022 legal challenge of criminal defamation charges for his remarks about a military official. In its decision, the court ordered that no further prosecutions on criminal defamation charges be brought under the law. The Malawian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa and other civil society organizations urged the government not to appeal the ruling and to reform other laws that restrict free expression. Section 60 of Malawis penal code criminalizes publishing false news, with penalties of fines or up to two years in jail, and the 2016 Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act makes unauthorized transmitting data or information punishable by a fine of 2,000,000 Malawian kwacha (USD $1,153) and a 5-year imprisonment. In 2022, Malawi amended its Protected Flag, Emblems, and Names Act of 1967, to decriminalize insults against the president but retained prison time for those convicted of insults to flags or protected emblems. Malawi Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda did not respond to CPJs calls or text messages for comment on the courts decision. MOGADISHU, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has warned local businesses and individuals to stop any dealings with al-Shabab, amid heightened efforts to deny the terror group's access to regional and international financial networks. NISA said it is closely monitoring the financial activities and assets of terrorist networks, especially of the militants who force locals to pay illegal levy (zakat), which it described as a form of extortion. "Anyone who pays zakat is guilty of terrorist financing crimes as stipulated in the laws of the country, and international regulations concerning the prevention and combating of terrorist financing," NISA said in a statement released in Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, Sunday evening. It warned that offenders will face immediate legal action in accordance with national legislation and administrative decisions. "Businesspeople and citizens should know that providing funds to extremist groups is a serious criminal offense," NISA said. "Security agencies urge the public to report any information or pressure related to such collections to the appropriate authorities without delay." Al-Shabab usually relies on forced taxation, extortion, and kidnappings as part of its strategy to fund its terror activities. Soon after being elected in May 2022, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" against the militants, including efforts to weaken al-Shabab's influence, capabilities, and defeat them not only militarily but also financially. NISA's statement came one day after the country's National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism reported major progress in dismantling financial networks used by al-Shabab to exploit citizens and businesses through extortion and illegal collections. The committee said that in the first six months of this year, the government deactivated 575 mobile phone numbers used by al-Shabab for intimidation, threats, and extortion, froze 21 bank accounts linked to terror financing activities, and shut down 88 merchant accounts used to collect or launder extorted funds. Why Indias declining consumption inequality deserves recognition ! | Soumya Kanti Ghosh and Falguni Sinha The recent decline in Indias consumption-based Gini coefficientfrom 28.8 in 201112 to 25.5 in 202223, as reported by the World Bankhas prompted considerable scrutiny, particularly when juxtaposed with income-based estimates from the World Inequality Database (WID), which peg Indias Gini at an ostensibly alarming 62 in 2023. Reconciling this apparent dissonance necessi- tates a closer interrogation of the underlying metrics, data sources, and conceptual frameworks. What follows is a reasoned engagement with the criti- cismone that distinguishes methodological in- compatibilities from substantive economic realities, and highlights the perils of conflating fundamentally distinct measures of inequality. At the core of this divergence is a critical con- ceptual distinction : the difference between consump- tion inequality and income inequality. In a country like Indiacharacterised by a large informal workforce, extensive in-kind transfers, and a rapidly expanding welfare architectureincome is often volatile, under reported, or difficult to capture comprehensively. Con- sumption, by contrast, tends to be smoother over time and more reflective of actual living standards. The World Banks Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) adopts this logic, using either disposable income or consumption expenditure depending on National context. Firstly, it is worth pointing out that the World Bank in its paper titled The World Banks New Inequality Indicator gives a way of converting consumption Gini to income Gini and vice versa. The Bank estimated that the average ratio of income-to-consumption Gini coefficients across 84 country-years where data was available for both is 1.13. Applying this directly to India's consumption-based Gini of 25.5 yields an approximate income Gini of 28.8. This still places India at 12th, even under income-equivalent assumptions. This simple approximation gives a way of comparing welfare types within PIP database. This raises a pertinent question: why has this not been more widely acknowledged ? The answer perhaps lies in the tendency to selectively emphasise outlier estimates. When the simple approximation given is used for comparison across nations, Indias inequality even when mea- sured in income terms is significantly lower than United States and UK. Among the 48 Nations where welfare approach is consumption based, India ranks 3rd. India's consumption-based Gini coefficient of 25.5 in PIP database is also internationally striking. Chinas consumption Gini, forinstance, stands at 35.7, according to the same database and using the same welfare concept. This 10-point difference is signi- ficant. Secondly, Why is the impact of large-scale social welfare schemes conspicuously absent from the criticism?"In a country like India, where large-scale social welfare programmes such as subsidized food, LPG, housing, rural employment, health insurance, and direct cash transfershave significantly boosted the living standards of the poor, consumption will inevitably be higher and more equitably distributed than income. These forms of public provisioning raise welfare especially in rural and informal segments. In BE 2025, the Union Governments spending on be- neficiary schemes amounts to Rs 7.1 lakh crore, and states together add another Rs 7.4 lakh crore. This totals nearly Rs 14.5 lakh crore. According to PLFS data, the average monthly earning by regular salaried worker is approx. Rs 21000 and approx. Rs 14000 for self-employed. The average earning per day by casual labourer is Rs 433. Using these approximations and accounting for dependency assuming a family of four, this translates to an income of Rs 65000 per capita. Assuming 80% of the total beneficiary schemes reaches bottom 50%,this translates into Rs 15000 per year/per person accounting for leakages and overlaps through direct and indirect benefits. This uplift of approx. 20% in effective resources translates into consumption. Thus, even under these conservative assumptions, this significantly compresses effective inequality.These interventions have also led to a dramatic fall in poverty, with the extreme poverty rate dropping from 16.2% in 201112 to 2.3% in 202223. At the lower-middle- income line of $3.65/day, poverty fell from 61.8% to 28.1%. Before accepting WID's estimates at face value, shouldnt we ask what exactly they are measuring? Coming onto the WID database, their benchmark income concept is:"Pre-tax, post-replacement national income"that is, before taxes and transfers, except for social insurance components like pensions and unemployment benefits. (To be contd) Growing voice for a popular Govt Is a roadmap in place ? | Will the return of a popular Government take Manipur anywhere nearer to a state of normalcy ? This question is relevant in the context of the growing talks doing the round that something new, read on the political front, may be expected in August. The next month is still a few good days away and given the topsy turvy world associated with politics, anything may happen, but the question whether the State political leaderships have been able to work out a roadmap to normalcy still remains to be answered. The focus of the political leaders appears to be fixated on the question of when the present Presidents Rule regime will come to an end rather than spelling out anything that could be read and understood as a roadmap to take Manipur to the path of normalcy. Or will it be a question of giving a more forceful boost to the Delhi dialogue that has been ongoing with members of civil society organisations of both sides sitting down with officials of the Union Home Ministry ? A step that ideally should have been taken up way back, say in 2023 itself, but better late than never and it remains to be seen if the return of a popularly elected Government will be able to give further boost to the Delhi sponsored and hosted talks. And this is where the question of whether the return of a popular Government will be able to do anything given the fact that there was such a Government for close to two years when Manipur literally burnt. It also stands that the Manipur of February 2025 may not necessarily be the same of the Manipur of July or August of 2025 and there might have been changes or political developments that could have been worked out, points that cannot be spelt out in the present context. The benefits of doubt may be given to the political leaders and political parties backing the call for the return of a popular Government, but it is important that for such a situation to sound positive for the people, a roadmap, acceptable to all should be worked out, however tentatively it may be. Other than the task of taking Manipur to normalcy, the State Government will have to deal with the voice of protest that has been rung out by the Foothills Naga Co-ordination Committee (FNCC), against the purported infamous Tiger-German Road that seeks to connect Kangpokpi with Churachandpur crossing through what they say are lands of the Nagas. Is Raj Bhavan aware of the situation and the current that runs beneath, especially in the backdrop of the assault of the chief of Konsakhul village by Kuki militants in April this year. This came even as the Naga community erupted in protest after a Rongmei woman was assaulted by Kuki militants at the same village in January this year. The emerging pattern must be clear or made clear to Raj Bhavan and a report reflecting this reality must be sent to Delhi. Land grab, distorting history etc are all reasons for the stiff opposition put up by the FNCC against the coming up of the so called Tiger-German Road, for there is no guarantee that the same road would one day be claimed as the ancestral land of the Kuki-Chin-Zo community. The innate ties that the Nagas have with the land passed down to them through the generations, dating back to thousands of years, should be respected. This is where timely intervention of Raj Bhavan is called for. All indications that not everything is fine with Manipur and even as demands for the installation or return of a popular Government have been raised from different directions, it should not be forgotten that addressing the points raised by FNCC should also concern all political parties for it could well be a tinder box. On paper a road connecting Churachandpur with Kangpokpi sounds good but this is on paper and the real reason why a sense of urgency to make such a road should be studied and understood. This is where it needs to be studied why the drug trail seems to have shifted to States neighbouring Manipur. There was a reason why the War on Drugs campaign was launched by the then BJP led Government at Imphal. And why news of drugs being seized on the Moreh route have dropped drastically in the last two years. Connect the dots and the pattern that emerges should not be missed. This is important. YANGON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Around 20 people were trapped after a jade mine collapsed in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, a police official told Xinhua. The incident occurred on Monday morning when a wall of a jade mine in Hpakant township collapsed. "Two bodies have been recovered so far, and rescue efforts are underway," a local rescue official said. The death toll from the mine collapse could exceed 10, with several nearby houses destroyed, the rescue official said. Former state Congress president in West Bengal and former five-time Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, on Sunday, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over harassment, humiliation, and physical torture being allegedly faced by Bengali-speaking migrant workers in two BJP-ruled states, Odisha and Maharashtra. Chowdhurys letter to the Prime Minister comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already started a full-fledged campaign against the BJP on the same issue. Advertisement In his letter, the former state Congress president referred to some purported incident of Bengali-speaking migrant workers being wrongfully targeted due to their linguistic identity after being mistaken for Bangladeshi nationals. Advertisement In his letter, Chowdhury also requested the Prime Minister to direct different Union ministries like Home Affairs, Labour & Employment to ensure the protection of the fundamental rights and dignity of these inter-state migrant labourers. Given the facts relating to targeted harassment, humiliation, and torture on the poor and innocent Bengali-speaking people working as labourers in Odisha, Maharashtra and other states are being subjected to, I would earnestly request you to intervene for protecting these poor and innocent people from the suffering they are being subjected to, the letter from Chowdhury to the Prime Minister read. He also pointed out that the contributions of the Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal who were working in other states were immense in regard to the revenues of those state governments. He also said that such treatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers just because of the similarities in their physical appearances and accent of the language they speak to that of Bangladeshis was not acceptable. The Kolkata Police, on Sunday, announced major restrictions on vehicular traffic movements in and around Kolkata amid the Trinamool Congresss annual Martyrs Day rally scheduled for July 21. A traffic advisory notification issued by Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma informed that there will be restrictions on several roads from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 21. Advertisement Traffic will be controlled on Amherst Street, Bidhan Sarani, and College Street. Traffic will also be controlled on BB Ganguly Street, Bentinck Street, the statement issued by the City Police Commissioner read. Advertisement The list also includes Brabourne Road, Strand Road, New City Road, and Rabindra Sarani, where vehicular traffic movement will be restricted. The Kolkata Police also informed that no goods vehicles will enter the city from dawn. The police also declared no parking zones on Cathedral Road, Lovers Lane, Hospital Road, Casuarina Avenue, and Hastings Crossing to avoid traffic congestion. The Calcutta High Court had ordered traffic control on July 21 and had directed Kolkata Police to ensure that there is no traffic congestion in central Kolkata and within a five-kilometre radius of the rally venue from 9 am to 11 am. According to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, traffic movement will be controlled in the city in compliance with the courts order. Meanwhile, special surveillance will be kept at the entrance of the city. Additional traffic police personnel and RAF forces will be kept at important intersections of the city. The police have also made tight security arrangements in a bid to avoid any untoward incident. Drone cameras will be used to monitor the traffic situation. Several kiosks have been set up to help those who would take part in the political event or those common people facing difficulties in commuting. The Trinamool Congress holds its annual Martyrs Day rally in Kolkata on July 21. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee addresses a public meeting during the rally to commemorate the 13 people who were killed during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress, then led by Mamata Banerjee, on July 21, 1993. A trial court in Kolkata, on Saturday, granted an interim bail to the accused in connection with the case of rape of a woman within the campus of the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) earlier this month. As hinted by IANS earlier in the day, the counsels representing the accused said that the victim woman was not cooperating in the process of investigation, which exactly happened at the trial court. Advertisement The counsel of the accused, a second-year student of IIM-C, on Saturday, argued on three instances of non-cooperation by the victim refusal to appear at the trial court thrice this week to get her confidential statement recorded in font of a judicial magistrate, her refusal to get media-legal examination conducted and her refusal to submit to the investigating officials the clothes that she was wearing during the alleged event of rape. Advertisement The counsel of the accused highlighted all these instances in support of his plea for granting bail to his client, which the judge of the lower court ultimately accepted. The public prosecutor, in his counter-argument, claimed that the event of her failure to turn up in the lower court to get her confidential statement recorded in front of a judicial magistrate was due to her shattered mental state after the event of rape. The current terms of the police custody of the accused ended on Saturday, following which he was presented at the trial court. The public prosecutor sought his judicial custody and said that if necessary the state might seek another round of police custody for the accused. However, the judge did not accept the argument of the public prosecutor and finally granted an interim bail to the accused against a personal bail-bond of Rs 50,000. At the same time, the court imposed some restrictions on accused movement during the interim bail period. A joint team of Patna Police and Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police, on Saturday, detained five more accused in connection with the murder of a gangster at a Patna hospital in Bihar. The detention of these five accused is in addition to the detention of five others who were detained by the same joint team. Advertisement While the morning detection was from a housing complex at New Town in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, those who were detained were from a guest house at Anandapur area in the southern outskirts of Kolkata. Advertisement The five detained are suspected to have played a role in the murder of the Patna gangster, an insider in the city police said. He also said that the additional five who had been detained on Saturday were tracked through CCTV footage of the traffic movements. As per information accessed by the investigators so far, all ten detained persons from Kolkata were directly involved in the murder of Chandan Kumar alias Chandan Mishra, a murder convict who was out on medical parole. He was shot dead by five armed assailants inside the ICU of a private hospital in Patna on Thursday. Mishra was lodged at Beur Jail in Patna and had gone to the hospital for treatment on parole. At least 24 cases were pending against Chandan in several police stations of Buxar district, and he was serving a sentence in one of those cases. According to the police, Mishra was killed a day before he was scheduled to be released from the hospital. The hospital shooting raised serious questions on the law and order situation in the Bihar capital, which had been in the negative headlines in the recent past over multiple cases of murder in the past few weeks. Among those killed are businessmen Gopal Khemka, BJP leader Surendra Kewat, and lawyer Jitendra Mahato. The National Security Guard (NSG) conducted a full-scale joint counter-hijack and counter-terrorist exercise at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) in Kolkata. The exercise, conducted on the intervening night of July 18-19, was meticulously planned and coordinated with various airport stakeholders and security agencies to evaluate preparedness in the event of a complex security threat, said NSCBI sources. Advertisement As part of the counter-hijack drill, a simulated hijack scenario involving an A320 aircraft with crew and 75 dummy passengers was initiated at 21.34 hours on July 18 when the air traffic control (ATC) received an emergency call from the hijacked aircraft. The aerodrome committee was immediately convened, and the aircraft was positioned at the isolation bay for containment, said an NSCBI insider. Advertisement As part of the initial exercise, the quick response teams of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) cordoned off the aircraft while officers from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) got engaged in negotiations with the hijackers to de-escalate the situation. Upon failure of negotiations, the NSG Counter Hijack Task Force (CHTF) launched a coordinated operation to storm the aircraft. The operation resulted in the successful rescue of all dummy passengers and crew, and the elimination of the simulated hijackers. This phase of the exercise concluded at 02.15 hours on July 19, the NSCBI insider said. Simultaneously, he added, a counter-terrorist exercise was initiated at around 21.00 hours on July 18, simulating an armed terrorist attack on AAI operational offices, where 12 staff members were taken hostage, and the buildings power supply was disabled. As part of that exercise, the Special Task Force (STF) commandos of West Bengal Police cordoned off the area and attempted entry but encountered heavy resistance and simulated casualties. Following the conclusion of the hijack scenario, the NSG Task Force was deployed to handle the hostage crisis. After a detailed briefing from the STF, the NSG team executed a coordinated tactical operation, neutralised six simulated terrorists, and successfully rescued all hostages. This operation concluded at 04.25 hours on July 19, the NSCBI insider said.. According to him, those exercises were aimed at validating response mechanisms, inter-agency coordination, and crisis management protocols in high-stakes scenarios involving civil aviation security. The participation and coordination among AAI, CISF, ATC, Airlines, State Police, IB, MHA, and NSG ensured the overall success of the exercise. The Patna Police, on Sunday, have shown as arrested four of the ten people, who were detained from two different places in Kolkata in connection with the murder of a gangster, Chandan Mishra, in a Patna hospital recently. The four shown as arrested on Sunday by Patna Police include one of the prime accused, Tauseef a.k.a. Badshah, his associate Nishu Khan, and two others. Advertisement Ten people were detained from two different places in Kolkata, namely New Town in the northern outskirts of Kolkata and Anandapur in the southern outskirts of the city, on Saturday, following joint operations by Patna Police and the sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police. Advertisement The detained persons were taken to Patna on Saturday night. Sources from Kolkata Police said that the murder of Chandan Kumar alias Chandan Mishra was a result of his rivalry with another Bihar-based gangster, Sheroo, who is presently lodged in a correctional home in West Bengals Purulia district. It is suspected that Sheroo had masterminded the murder from the Purulia prison and hired Tauseef alias Badshah and his team as contract killers for the murder. As per information accessed by the investigators so far, the ten detained people from Kolkata were directly involved in the murder of Chandan Kumar alias Chandan Mishra, a murder convict who was out on medical parole. Mishra was shot dead by five armed assailants inside the ICU of a private hospital in Patna on July 17. He was lodged at Beur Jail in Patna and had gone to the hospital for treatment on parole. At least 24 cases were pending against Mishra in several police stations of the Buxar district in Bihar. He was serving a sentence in one of those cases. According to the police, Mishra was killed a day before he was scheduled to be released from the hospital. JERUSALEM/SANAA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it attacked Houthi military targets in Hodeidah port in northwestern Yemen on Monday. According to the statement, the IDF struck and dismantled military infrastructure, including engineering vehicles used to re-establish the port's infrastructure, fuel containers, vessels used for military activities and force against Israel, and against vessels in the maritime zone adjacent to the port, and additional Houthi infrastructure. "The targets struck demonstrate how the Houthi terrorist regime utilizes civilian infrastructure for military and terrorist purposes," the statement read, alleging that the port has been used to transfer weapons from the Iranian government. In a separate statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF "vigorously enforces any attempt to restore terrorist infrastructures that were attacked in the past," adding that "the Houthis will pay a heavy price for the missiles they fired at Israel." Earlier in the day, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting facilities in the Hodeidah port. The strikes rocked the city, with fire and smoke that could be seen several miles from the port, local residents told Xinhua over the phone. Ambulances were seen rushing to the port. The Houthi authorities have yet to report casualties. According to workers at the port and eyewitnesses, the strikes targeted Houthi-controlled boats, naval vessels, fuel containers, and engineering vehicles working to rebuild infrastructure in the port. The Houthi TV said the fresh Israeli airstrikes targeted the same previous targets, including the infrastructure of the port that previous Israeli airstrikes had struck. Citing unnamed Houthi officials, the Houthi TV said the Israeli airstrikes "would not stop the group from targeting Israeli cities, Ben Gurion Airport, ports, and Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea." Trinamool Congress is making all-out efforts to unite the opposition bloc INDIAs allies in raising a cohesive opposition to the Special Intensive Review (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI), which started in Bihar and is scheduled in West Bengal soon. Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee said this in his address at the virtual meeting of all the INDIA bloc allies on Saturday, sources in Trinamool Congress said. Advertisement In his address, party sources said, Banerjee said, 40 lakh voters were added between the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the Maharashtra Assembly elections to ensure the BJPs victory. Advertisement Our general secretary pointed out that after playing the same tricks now in Bihar, the next target is West Bengal, which is going for Assembly elections next year. He pointed out that an orchestrated attempt is underway to delete the names of genuine voters in West Bengal from the voters list. Thereafter, he stressed the unity of the INDIA bloc allies to raise a cohesive opposition to the special intensive review, said a senior leader of the party. According to him, in the meeting, Banerjee also suggested that all the INDIA bloc allies should raise questions regarding the recent Pahalgam incident of tourists being killed by terrorists. Banerjee argued that when it was clear that intelligence failure was the main reason behind the ghastly massacre, why the Union government extended the tenure of the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, the Trinamool Congress leader said. He also stressed that all the INDIA bloc allies should raise the question on the floor of the Parliament on why Indians had to depend on US President Donald Trumps social media account to get updates on the tensions between India and Pakistan in the post-Pahalgam scenario. He also said that the opposition allies should raise the question of why Pegasus software is being used against the opposition when the same could have been used to curb terrorism. Indias petroleum product exports worth USD 15 billion to the European Union (EU) may be at risk as Brussels moves to restrict imports of Russian crude oil refined in third countries, economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. A central component of the package is a ban on the import of refined petroleum products made from Russian crude and exported via third countries, excluding only a select few allies like the US, the UK, Canada, and Switzerland, it added. Advertisement This measure will hurt nations such as India, Turkey, and the UAE, which have been refining Russian crude and selling diesel, petrol, and jet fuel to Europe, it said. Advertisement Notably, the 18th package of sanctions by the 27-nation EU included a set of measures largely aimed at curbing the revenues of Russias oil and energy sector, such as an import ban on refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil and coming from any third country. Speaking on the development, GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said, Indias USD 5 billion exports of petroleum products to the EU are at risk. The EUs new sanctions ban imports of refined petroleum made from Russian crude via third countries like India. Although India continues to engage in legitimate trade with Russia, the political optics of such transactions are shifting in Western capitals. As energy ties deepen, India will have to walk a fine line between economic pragmatism and geopolitical pressure, he added. Notably, the Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently said India is taking steady, confident steps towards oil self-sufficiency, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, the country is securing its energy future, step by step. Taking it to social media platform X, the minister said, While 1 million square km offshore area is now open for oilfield exploration, 99 per cent of No-Go areas have been cleared. It is to be highlighted that India exported USD 19.2 billion worth of petroleum products to the EU in FY24, but this dropped by 27.1 per cent to USD 15 billion in 2024-25, as per the GTRI data. It added that India imported USD 50.3 billion of crude oil from Russia in FY2025, over a third of its total USD 143.1 billion crude bills. The Delhi government will soon roll out a drainage master-plan with regard to improving the entire network of drains in the city. This plan will be aimed at stepping up the entire citys drain network as per the current and future needs, involving all the basins. Advertisement According to official reports, Delhi has three major drainage basins, that include Najafgarh, Barapullah and Trans-Yamuna, and the upcoming plan will cover all of them. Advertisement The drainage system of the city has not been overhauled since a very long time, and now requires repair and upgrade at several points. According to the water minister, the plan will include repair of existing drains that need attention, and also construction of new ones in those areas where there is a need. The government has plans to strictly not allow outflow of sewage in the storm drains, and only treated sewage of acceptable quality in accordance with the concerned pollution monitoring agency will be permitted to be released in them. Recently, the Delhi government began the survey of citys drains using drones, an initiative to assess the situation of the untreated waste that is added to the large drains by these smaller ones. The initiative is also a part of Yamuna cleaning, and is aimed to bring out the status of the untreated waste being pumped into the bigger drains that finally empty out into the river. Minister Parvesh Verma had said there are around 300 such sub-drains across the city, that finally empty into the 22 large drains, ultimately adding to Yamunas pollution. The bigger drains of the city include Shahdara drain, Najafgarh drain (Sahibi river), supplementary drains and others, that finally discharge into the Yamuna. The survey will also reveal about and identify those faulty mix ups of sewer lines and the storm water drains and accordingly repair those points to prevent the extra pollution which is added to the storm water channels. The Garhwal Patti Khatli Samajik Vikas Mandal organized a Meritorious Student Felicitation Ceremony at Diva (Durga) Mandir, Kidwai Nagar, (East) New Delhi. The event held on Sunday, July 20, honored students belonging to Patti Khatli and residing in the Delhi-NCR region, who achieved outstanding academic performance in classes 10 and 12 during the 202425 session. Advertisement The event also featured various competitions for younger participants. Advertisement A drawing competition was conducted for students of classes 1-5, and a quiz competition was held for students of classes 6-12. Students participated in these events with great enthusiasm and zeal. The ceremony was graced by Mr. Piyush Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, and Ms. Tanuja Joshi, Managing Director, Venu Eye Institute, as distinguished guests, enhancing the dignity of the event. The program was organized with the support of NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation). Addressing the event, Piyush Singh stated: There is no substitute for hard work, and knowledge is the greatest wealth. At the conclusion of the program, Mr. Rajesh Pokhriyal, President, Mr. Ishwar Singh Rawat, General Secretary, along with all the office bearers of the Mandal, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the students, parents, guests, and contributors for making the event a success. In a move aimed to benefit thousands of employees under the Delhi Vidyut Board, the Delhi Government has proposed an increase in the gratuity limit for Employees Terminal Benefit Fund (2002) pensioners from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. The decision is going to benefit around 500 pensioners immediately. In a statement issued by the Office of the Minister of Education, Home and Power Department, Delhi Government, it was stated that the Government of NCT of Delhi has taken a proactive step to ensure the welfare of DVB-ETBF (2002) pensioners under the Pension Trust by proposing the increase. The proposal was discussed in detail by the Power Department and has been submitted for consideration and ratification by the Board of Trustees. Advertisement Delhis Minister of Power, Ashish Sood, stated that the Government of NCT of Delhi remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of its retired employees and ensures timely resolution of all matters. Advertisement Speaking about the financial implication of this increase, Sood said that it is estimated to cost approximately Rs 16 crore for the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.03.2025, and another Rs 15 crore for DA and future increments. The proposed enhancement aligns with endorsements from the Government of Indias Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare. This move reflects the governments ongoing commitment to improving the financial security and dignity of retired employees, the statement read further. Eileen Fulton, the actress who became a household name for her role as Lisa Miller in the long-running soap opera As the World Turns, has passed away at the age of 91. She died on Monday in Asheville, North Carolina, after battling health issues for some time. Her passing was confirmed through an obituary shared by a local funeral home. Advertisement Eileen Fulton first stepped into the shoes of Lisa Miller in 1960, when As the World Turns was at the height of its popularity. She continued playing the role for an incredible 50 years, staying on the show until it ended in 2010. Advertisement Lisa Miller was one of daytime televisions first bad girls. At a time when most female characters were portrayed as soft-spoken or obedient, Lisa stood out. She was bold, scheming, and often stirred up trouble, which made her both loved and hated by fans. During her time on the show, Lisa Miller married eight times and was part of countless dramatic storylines. Despite all the drama, the character remained at the center of the show, earning Fulton a loyal fan base. Fultons contributions to television didnt go unnoticed. In 1998, she was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame. Later, in 2004, she received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her for her decades of work in daytime drama. While she was best known for her soap opera role, Fulton also had a vibrant career outside of television. She performed in stage productions, including the Broadway play Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf and the long-running off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks. She also sang in cabaret shows in New York and Los Angeles. Fulton was also a writer. She published two autobiographies, How My World Turns in 1970 and As My World Still Turns in 1995, to share stories from her life and career. In addition, she wrote six murder mystery novels during the 1980s, proving her talent went far beyond acting. In 2019, Fulton officially retired and settled in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She spent her final years there, away from the spotlight. Eileen Fulton is survived by her brother, Charles Furman McLarty, her niece, Katherine Morris, and her sister-in-law, Chris Page McLarty. A tragedy has shaken the family of Duane Dog Chapman, known to many as Dog the Bounty Hunter. On Saturday, July 19, his stepson Gregory Zecca accidentally shot his own 13-year-old son, Anthony, leading to the boys untimely death. The incident happened in an apartment in Naples, Florida, around 8 p.m. local time. According to TMZ, local police were called to the scene after a report of a shooting. Authorities described the case as an isolated incident and confirmed that no arrests have been made yet. Advertisement While the details of how the accident occurred are still unclear, the family says it was a tragic mistake. Advertisement Dog Chapman, 72, and his wife Francie Chapman shared a statement with TMZ through a family spokesperson. They said, We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible, tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony. Gregory Zecca is Francie Chapmans son from her previous marriage. Francie and Dog married in 2021. Their relationship grew after both lost their spouses. Dogs wife, Beth Chapman, passed away from cancer in 2019 at the age of 51, while Francie was also mourning the death of her husband at the time. Zecca reportedly works closely with Dog on his bounty hunting team. The two have been involved in hunting fugitives together as part of Dogs well-known career. This event adds to the complicated family history of Duane Chapman. Over the years, Dog has had 13 children with multiple partners. His first child, Christopher, is from his relationship with Debbie White. He shares sons Duane Lee II and Leland with his first wife, Fonda Sue Darnell. With his second wife, Anne Tegnell, he has Wesley, James Robert, and Zebadiah, who passed away in infancy. With his third wife, Lyssa Rae Brittain, he had three more children: Tucker, Lyssa, and Barbara. Barbara died in a car accident in 2006, just one day before Dogs wedding to Beth. Dog also has three children with his late wife Beth: daughters Bonnie and Cecily, and son Garry. In 2023, Dog revealed that he had recently discovered another son, Jon, bringing his total number of children to 13. One of Indias top music directors Anirudh Ravichander on Sunday announced that his Hukum Chennai concert that was to be held on July 26 at Thiruvidanthai had now been postponed due to an overwhelming demand for tickets and the limitations in accommodating more audience at the current venue. Taking to his X timeline to make the announcement, Anirudh wrote,Dear Hukum Family, Due to the incredible love and overwhelming demand, the Hukum Chennai concert scheduled for July 26 at Thiruvidanthai is being postponed. Thank you so much for your love and patience. Well be back soon bigger, better, and louder! Advertisement The ace music director also put out a poster that read, Due to overwhelming ticket demand and limitations in accommodating more audience at the current venue, the Hukum Chennai concert scheduled for 26th July at Thiruvidanthai is being postponed. Advertisement The note further said, To welcome all fans and deliver a seamless, high-quality experience including smooth entry and exit and enhanced production we are shifting to a different venue on a new date, which will be announced soon. All ticket holders will receive refund to their original payment method from District by Zomato within 7-10 working days. Stating that they sincerely regretted the inconvenience, the organisers of the concert thanked audiences for their incredible support. Well be back bigger, better, and louder, they said. For the unaware, Anirudh announced that he would be performing in concerts in various cities across the world as part of his Hukum World Tour in 2024. The music director began the tour with a concert at the Coca Cola arena in Dubai in February last year. After several concerts across the globe, the tour was to conclude with a grand finale in Chennai. It may be recalled that when the booking counters were opened for the final concert in Chennai, the tickets got sold out in less than 45 minutes. Senior Kerala Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Monday launched a scathing attack on Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, declaring that state unit leaders will not cooperate with him in the upcoming local body elections following the latters criticism of former PM Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi. Muraleedharan, while speaking to a news agency in Thiruvananthapuram, said that the high command will take the final decision on Tharoors future in the Congress party but the state unit has decided not to cooperate with him. Advertisement He accused Tharoor of always opposing Rahul Gandhis statements and attacking Indira Gandhi. Advertisement The final authority will be the Congress high command, which will decide whether to take action against him or allow him to remain in the party. We are not ready to cooperate with him in Kerala because he always keeps attacking the Congress and Indira Gandhi, Muraleedharan said. He continued: In the last one year, PM Modi did not say a single word about Sanjay Gandhi, but he(Tharoor) accused Sanjay Gandhi. He always opposes Rahul Gandhis statement. Muraleedharan also expressed disappointment over Tharoors performance in Kerala and claimed that he was no longer visiting his parliamentary constituency. We are upset with his performance in Kerala. He is no longer coming to his parliamentary constituency. We have decided that we will not cooperate with him in the upcoming local body elections. We will follow the instructions given by the high command, he added. In an article published in a Malayalam daily on Emergency, Tharoor had accused Indira Gandhis son Sanjay Gandhi of carrying out forced vasectomy campaigns and using coercion and violence to meet arbitrary targets. In the article, Tharoor explicitly mentioned the forced vasectomy campaigns led by Gandhis son, Sanjay, and concentrated in poorer and rural areas, where coercion and violence were used to meet arbitrary targets. He further highlighted the slum demolitions, carried out with ruthless efficiency in urban centers like New Delhi, rendered thousands homeless, with little to no concern for their welfare. The Congress MP, who was part of the governments delegation on Operation Sindoor, has admitted his differences with the party leadership. While the central leadership of the Congress has not openly spoken against Tharoor, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, when asked about an article by Tharoor praising PM Modi, had said that for some, Modi comes first and the country later. For our party, the country comes first, but for some others, Modi comes first and the country later, Kharge said at a press conference last month when asked about Tharoors article. A series of meetings are taking place here within the organizational set up of BJP on who should be the new partys president in Uttar Pradesh. An important meeting of the saffron party was held at the chief ministers residence on Monday in which incumbent BJP state chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and Organization Minister Dharampal Singh were present. Advertisement BJP sources here said the meeting of the three top leaders of the state is considered important in many ways. Advertisement Speculations about the appointment of a new state president have been going on for quite some time. According to the BJP sources, during the meeting, the appointment of the new state president and the possible cabinet expansion were discussed. The meeting lasted for about half an hour, after which Dharampal Singh and the BJP state president returned to the party office. According to sources, Bhupendra Chaudhary is scheduled to visit Delhi on Tuesday. It is believed that the organization minister can accompany him. They hinted that this week is going to be very important in so far as Uttar Pradesh politics is concerned. It is worth noting here that a day earlier; Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJPs National President JP Nadda in Delhi. The meeting at the chief ministers residence was followed by his Delhi visit. In this context, the upcoming visit of the state president to Delhi is being considered very crucial. Meanwhile, hunt is on for a new state president in Uttar Pradesh. Many big names are in this race. The candidature of former state president Keshav Prasad Maurya is considered to be the strongest. Meanwhile, on the occasion of Hariyali Teej in Lucknow, the picture of Keshav Prasad Maurya with the state BJP state president has gone viral on social media. Brajesh Pathak and his wife can also be seen in the picture. Many kinds of speculations are doing the rounds about this picture too. BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- As China and the United States navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, a senior Chinese scholar has emphasized that cooperation remains the most appropriate and sensible path for the world's two largest economies. "Looking back at the history of China-U.S. exchanges since the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, we are deeply convinced that peace is the cornerstone of bilateral ties, cooperation is the most correct choice for the two nations to get along, and mutual benefit is the essential feature of their exchanges," said Wang Junwei, director of the Academic and Editorial Committee of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at a press conference on Monday. 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. "Eighty years ago, China and the United States stood side by side against a common enemy, writing a magnificent chapter in the defense of peace and justice and making significant contributions to the global victory over fascism," Wang said. The American "Flying Tigers" assisted Chinese forces in resisting Japanese aggression and joined in the perilous task of opening the "Hump" air route for transporting emergency supplies during the war, while Chinese soldiers and civilians risked their lives to rescue U.S. pilots, including Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle. Wang highlighted the profound historical bonds forged during a pivotal moment in the 20th century, noting that the Chinese people remain deeply grateful for the support offered by the American people during the war. Wang noted that the camaraderie formed through the trials of war laid a strong foundation for a lasting friendship. Although China-U.S. relations have experienced fluctuations, he stressed that the overall trajectory since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979 has been one of steady progress. "When diplomatic ties were formally established in 1979, the two countries saw fewer than 100,000 visits between their peoples, and bilateral trade was valued at just 2.45 billion U.S. dollars," he said. "In 2024, people-to-people exchanges exceeded 2 million, and trade volume surpassed 680 billion U.S. dollars. It's clear that the relationship has delivered tangible benefits to people from both sides." "History is today's mirror," he said. "Today, China-U.S. relations stand at another key juncture. As founding members of the United Nations (UN) and permanent members of the UN Security Council, both countries have a shared responsibility to safeguard the hard-won outcomes of World War II." He called on both nations to uphold the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. "Only by doing so," Wang concluded, "can we build our shared planet into a peaceful, amicable and harmonious global home." V S Achuthanandan, the icon of Communist movement in the country and former Kerala chief minister, passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here on Monday. He was admitted to the hospital on June 23 following a cardiac attack. He had withdrawn from public appearance following a mild stroke in 2019. Advertisement VS, as he was popularly known, began his political career as a trade union worker. He was also part of the historic Punnapra- Vayalar struggles. He was the most popular leader among the CPl-M leaders in Kerala. Advertisement A founding leader of the CPI-M, he turned 101 last October. VS was the last of the 32 leaders, who walked out of the CPI national council meeting in 1964, to form the CPIM. He served as the chief minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. The Indian Dental Association (IDA) on Monday appealed to Union Labour Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to approve the establishment of an Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) medical and dental college in Jammu. In a joint statement, IDA Jammu president Dr Nipun Gupta and Secretary Dr Vibha Raina expressed surprise and disappointment that Jammu the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir has been left out of ESICs recent expansion plans, despite the announcement of 30 new medical and dental colleges across the country. Advertisement During its 194th meeting held on October 8, 2024, the ESIC had approved the establishment of 10 new medical colleges. This was followed by a decision on April 22, 2025, to open 20 additional colleges, as part of the central governments plan to create 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years a key commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address in 2024. Advertisement The IDA Jammu leaders highlighted that Prime Minister Modi, in a recent address on June 6, 2025, described Jammu & Kashmir as the crown jewel of India and reiterated the governments focus on driving economic growth, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing security in the Union Territory. Following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed significant industrial growth. According to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, investment proposals worth nearly Rs 60,000 crore are currently under consideration in the UT. Of this, projects worth Rs 10,000 crore are already operational, Rs 15,000 crore are in various stages of execution, and the remaining Rs 25,000 crore are expected to be launched within the year. Given this surge in industrial activity, growing population, and rising demand for quality healthcare and education, the IDA Jammu unit has strongly advocated for the approval of an ESIC medical and dental college in the region. The association pointed out that the existing ESIC Model Hospital in Bari Brahmana could be upgraded to serve as the foundation for the proposed college. This, they said, would not only enhance local healthcare infrastructure but also create employment opportunities and allow local students to pursue higher education in medicine and dentistry, including postgraduate specialisations, without leaving the region. The establishment of an ESIC medical and dental college in Jammu will align with the Prime Ministers vision of inclusive development and help bridge critical gaps in medical education and healthcare access in Jammu & Kashmir, the IDA leaders stated. Two villagers were brutally killed with sharp weapons by suspected Maoists in south Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district. Officials say the heightened security pressure has led to desperation among Maoist cadres, prompting them to target unarmed civilians. According to police, a group of four to five armed Maoists entered the village of Chhutwai late Sunday night and attacked 55-year-old Kawasi Joga, a resident of Chhutwai, and 50-year-old Manglu Kursam, from the nearby village of Bade Tarem. Advertisement Both victims were killed on the spot. The assailants fled towards the forest immediately after the attack. Advertisement Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Gavarna, speaking to The Statesman, confirmed the incident and said, Multiple police teams have been dispatched for a search operation in the area. Security forces are conducting intensive combing operations to track down those responsible. The killings are believed to be an act of retaliation by Maoists aiming to instill fear among local villagers, especially at a time when large-scale anti-Naxal operations are underway across the Bastar division. So far this year, nearly 27 people have lost their lives to Maoist violence in the Bastar region, which spans seven districts, including Bijapur. The latest killings come just days after a 16-year-old tribal boy was seriously injured in a pressure IED blast allegedly triggered by Maoists on July 20 in Kondapadgu village. The boy had reportedly stepped on the explosive while grazing cattle in the forest. Security forces believe that as Maoist influence wanes in several pockets of Bastar, they are resorting to sporadic but brutal attacks to reassert their presence. This is a clear attempt to create panic and demonstrate their continued control over remote areas, a senior police official said. Local authorities have intensified patrols, and additional reinforcements have been sent to the region. As of Monday afternoon, the search for the attackers was ongoing, and no arrests had been reported so far. The Monsoon Session of Parliament got off to a rocky start today, as the Opposition demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The heated protests led to the Rajya Sabha being adjourned twice and the Lok Sabha being adjourned thrice before being finally adjourned for the day at 4 PM without transacting any constructive business. The Opposition, led by the Congress, insisted on a discussion on Operation Sindoor, Indias precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. Advertisement Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 12 noon initially. Later, they were adjourned again till 2 PM. The Lok Sabha faced yet another adjournment till 4 PM, after which it was finally adjourned for the day. Advertisement Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to the Opposition to raise their demands at the Business Advisory Committee meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the Opposition of a discussion on all issues agreed upon by the Speaker. Operation Sindoor refers to Indias military response following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Opposition demands Prime Minister Narendra Modi address Parliament on this matter. The Monsoon Session is slated to run until August 21, with a break from August 12 to August 18 for Independence Day celebrations. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi, while addressing media persons ahead of the Monsoon Session, described the session as a celebration of victory, highlighting Indias military prowess and developmental accomplishments. He also lauded the success of Operation Sindoor. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who also made a statement at the start of the session, urged all political parties to foster bonhomie and mutual respect, avoiding unbecoming language or personal attacks against leaders on television or elsewhere. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also appealed for cooperation among all political parties for the smooth functioning of the House during the Monsoon Session. Birla emphasized the importance of reducing disruptions in House proceedings to ensure issues faced by people can be raised effectively. Moreover, the Rajya Sabha settled down after it reassembled at 2 PM and took up for consideration and passing the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, seeking to replace the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856 and provide a legal framework for issuance of bills of lading. The bill was finally passed comfortably in the Upper House. In a significant development, 145 members of the Lok Sabha and 63 Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha submitted a memorandum seeking the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The notice cites Articles 124, 217, and 218 of the Constitution and follows the discovery of burnt currency notes at Justice Varmas residence. MPs across party lines signed the memorandum, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, BJPs Anurag Thakur, and NCP(SP)s Supriya Sule. Amid rising tensions within the Congress party, senior leader and former Union Minister K. Muraleedharan on Sunday declared that Shashi Tharoor would no longer be invited to any party programme in Thiruvananthapuram unless he alters his stance on key national security issues. His remarks have further exposed the widening rift between Tharoor and the partys Kerala leadership. Advertisement Speaking to reporters, Muraleedharan said, Till he (Tharoor) changes his stance, we will not invite him to any party programme held in Thiruvananthapuram. He is not with us, so there is no question of him boycotting an event. Advertisement The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member was, according to Muraleedharan, no longer considered one of us. The senior leaders statement comes at a critical juncture, with the Congress and the INDIA bloc preparing to confront the Modi government in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. They are expected to highlight what they term a security lapse in the Pahalgam terror attacks and question the outcomes of the governments high-profile Operation Sindoor. Tharoor, who had led an all-party delegation to the Americas as part of Operation Sindoor, had earlier said at a public event in Kochi that national interest must come before partisan politics. We must always put the country first. Political parties exist to make countries better, he said. Tharoors position including expressions of support for the armed forces and the central government on national security has drawn sharp criticism from within his own party. Many have attacked me for putting the nation first. But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing to do for the country, Tharoor asserted, defending his stand. However, his remarks have not gone down well with senior Congress leaders, including Muraleedharan, who recently criticised Tharoor for sharing a survey that projected him as the most preferred Chief Ministerial face of the UDF. He should first decide which party he belongs to, Muraleedharan retorted. Adding to the tensions, Tharoors recent article criticising the late Indira Gandhis handling of the Emergency in a Malayalam daily had also sparked backlash within party ranks. Calling for clarity, Muraleedharan said, If he feels constrained within the Congress, he should choose a clear political path. The feud has now become a full-blown internal crisis, raising questions about Tharoors future in the party and further complicating Congresss unity efforts in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. A day after his arrest on rape charge, the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, suspended Udit Pradhan, president of the student wing of the Congress party. A statement issued by the NSUI read: In view of recent developments, the NSUI Odisha State President has been suspended with immediate effect, pending investigation. Advertisement The student wing of the Congress reaffirmed its commitment to zero-tolerance policy toward gender-based injustice and its unwavering commitment to accountability and justice. Advertisement Pradhan was arrested by the Mancheswar Police on Sunday night after he was accused of rape by a young woman in a complaint she lodged against him with the police. Meanwhile, the BJP Yuva Morcha lashed out at Congress, accusing it of double standards. The party that targets the BJP-led state government over crimes involving women has now been thoroughly exposed by the sexual escapades of its own leader. A leader of Congresss frontal organisation, the president of student Congress, is now behind bars in a rape case. This exposes the moral standard of the Congress, alleged BJP Yuva Morcha president Abhilash Panda. Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Monday gave a notice under Rule 267, demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the Monsoon Session, Kharge raised the issues of absconding Pahalgam attack terrorists and US President Donald Trumps repeated claims that he forced India to ceasefire with Pakistan using trade. Advertisement I have given notice under Rule 267 on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Till today, the terrorists have not been caught or neutralised. All parties extended unconditional support to the government. The government should inform us about what has happened. The LG of J&K had made a statement that there was an intelligence failure, Kharge said. Advertisement The Congress chief further raised serious concerns over Trumps claim, saying it is an insult to the nation that an outsider is making such claims. US President Trump has claimed 24 times that the ceasefire happened only due to his intervention. It is an insult to the nation that an outsider is making such claims, he added. Responding to Kharge, Union Minister JP Nadda said that the government is ready for discussion on Operation Sindoor in the House. The proceedings in the upper house were adjourned till noon amid ruckus by the Opposition MPs, who were demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam attack. Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM amid opposition ruckus after being adjourned till noon earlier. The proceedings were adjourned amid the Opposition demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam attack. As soon as the House met for the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged the MPs to follow parliamentary procedures and asked them to take their seats for the proceedings to begin. You should give notice, and whatever the issue is, it will be discussed after the Question Hour. The House should function on the first day, and there should be a good discussion. I will give proper time and opportunity to every MP, he said. However, the members from the Opposition benches started demanding a discussion on the attack, leading to an uproar and subsequent adjournment. Earlier, members observed a minute of silence for the families of Air India crash victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep shock and sadness over a tragic air crash in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where many young students lost their lives. At least nineteen people were killed today, and over 100 others were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhakas Uttara area. Advertisement In a post on handle X, Modi conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the swift recovery of those injured. Advertisement Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured, said PM Modi, asserting, India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance. India and Bangladesh share strong cultural and bilateral ties, with cooperation in areas like connectivity and commerce. A pilgrim was killed, and six others, including two women, were injured when a massive landslide struck at Banganga on the old trek route to the Vaishnodevi cave shrine in the Reasi district of Jammu on Monday. Army troops have launched a rescue operation. Troops of the Indian Army were assisting the civil authorities in the relief and rescue operations. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is chairman of the Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, is monitoring the situation. The landslide was triggered by heavy rains that lashed the town of Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine atop the Trikuta hills, officials said. Advertisement The incident occurred around 8.50 am at Gulshan Ka Langar near Banganga, the starting point for the yatra, where mostly pony riders gather along the old track. Advertisement A rescue operation was launched immediately, and the trapped pilgrims were rescued and evacuated to the hospital at Katra, the officials said. The rescue operation was underway when the last reports came in. The injured from different states have been identified as Rajinder Bhalla (70) Yamuna Nagar in Haryana; Leela Raikwar (56) Lalitpur in UP; K Radha (66) and Upan Radha (70), both from Chennai; Nikhil Thakur (26) Tirki; Suresh Kumar (66) Pimpri, Pune in Maharashtra; and Vicky Sharma (37) Dhanori, Katra. The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army wrote on X, In response to a landslide in the general area of Katra, troops of White Knight Corps were swiftly mobilised to assist in relief and rescue operations in collaboration with civil authorities. Immediate support was provided to the affected locals, showcasing the Indian Armys unwavering commitment to the people. Rescue and support operations were currently in progress, the Army said. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the tragic landslide incident at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in which a devotee lost his life and a few others were injured. The Lieutenant Governor is closely monitoring the situation. He has directed the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to provide the best possible medical care and support to the injured pilgrims. The LG wrote on X, I am deeply saddened by the tragic landslide incident at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in which a devotee unfortunately lost his life. Directed the Shrine Board to provide the best possible medical care and support to the injured pilgrims. Im constantly monitoring the situation. To protect children aged zero to five years from the dangers of diarrhea, the Yogi Adityanath government has launched a comprehensive Stop Diarrhea Campaign across Uttar Pradesh. Running until July 31, the campaign aims to generate widespread public awareness through a variety of interactive and educational activities. Advertisement Awareness is being promoted via mobile vans equipped with posters, banners, and audiovisual messages that highlight the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of diarrhea. These vehicles are reaching local streets and neighborhoods to engage directly with the public. Advertisement Competitions are being organized among schoolchildren to promote awareness at the grassroots level. Wall paintings and ORS-Zinc corners have been set up in public spaces, and private hospitals are actively participating in the initiative. This years campaign is themed: Prevention of Diarrhea, Cleanliness, and Self-Care with ORS. The objective is not only to prevent diarrhea in children but also to promote the use of ORS and zinc tablets, while fostering a culture of health awareness at the community level. To further strengthen the campaign, voluntary organizations such as Population Services International (PSI) India and Kenvue have partnered with the state health department. PSI India has launched a special awareness drive titled Diarrhea Se Darr Nahi to support the mission. In the first phase, PSI India has initiated the campaign in seven districts: Firozabad, Mathura, Moradabad, Badaun, Unnao, Gonda, and Shravasti. ORS and Zinc corners have been set up at health centers, and private hospitals and clinics are being encouraged to do the same and report diarrhea cases promptly. Meanwhile, public outreach through mobile awareness vehicles continues, along with signature campaigns, wall paintings, and information kiosks at bus stops, railway stations, and other public areas. The message is clear: Dont fear diarrheaact promptly. At the first sign of diarrhea, parents are advised to give children ORS solution and zinc tablets immediately. Frontline health workers have also been trained to provide accurate information and timely guidance to families. Dr Pinky Joval, Director of the National Health Mission, emphasized on Monday that diarrhea remains a major public health concern, especially for vulnerable populations and children under five. It continues to be a leading cause of illness and death. According to her, prevention is the cornerstone of diarrhea management. She stated, Key preventive measures include access to clean drinking water, improved sanitation, and proper handwashing with soap, exclusive breastfeeding, adequate nutrition, and timely vaccination. She further stressed that alongside these steps, administering ORS and zinc at the first signs of illness is essential for fast recovery and preventing fatalities. The campaign, therefore, aims not only to treat but also to prevent diarrhea through a combination of awareness, accessibility, and action. Notably, the Stop Diarrhea Campaign is conducted annually across Uttar Pradesh to address the challenges of preventing, treating, and managing diarrhea. Continuing this tradition, the campaign is being implemented state-wide from June 16 to July 31 this year. In preparation, ASHA workers compiled a detailed list of children under the age of five in each village. Families with young children were sensitized about the importance of ORS and zinc, and ORS packets were distributed to ensure a quick response during emergencies. Dr Milind Vardhan, General Manager of the Child Health Program under the National Health Mission, Uttar Pradesh, emphasized that diarrhea continues to be a leading cause of death among children aged zero to five years, even though it is entirely preventable and treatable. He explained that if a child experiences three or more loose stools in a day, it should be considered a case of diarrhea. In such situations, the child should be immediately given an ORS solution to prevent dehydration, and the family should seek medical attention at the nearest health center. He also advised administering zinc tablets according to the childs age and for the prescribed duration. While ORS restores lost fluids, zinc helps shorten the duration of diarrhea and strengthens the immune system. He further recommended that breastfeeding should continue during episodes of diarrhea, as mothers milk provides essential nutrients and immunity. Mr Mukesh Sharma, Executive Director of PSI India, highlighted the increased risk of diarrhea during the monsoon season, primarily due to contaminated water, poor hygiene, improper disposal of childrens faeces, and open defecation. He stressed the importance of maintaining hygiene, particularly handwashing with soap and clean water after using the toilet or handling childrens stool, and before cooking or feeding children. By Alimat Aliyeva Poland is in the final stages of negotiations to acquire a stake in ICEYE, a Finnish aerospace company known for providing satellite imagery to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to The Financial Times, citing company CEO Rafa? Modrzewski, Azernews reports. Warsaw is close to finalizing a deal to become a shareholder in ICEYE, Modrzewski said, though he declined to disclose the size of the proposed investment. He did confirm, however, that the funding would add to the $550 million already raised by the company from private and institutional investors. The potential investment highlights Polands increasing interest in space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities a critical asset in the modern battlefield, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine. ICEYE specializes in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, which can capture high-resolution images of the Earths surface regardless of weather or lighting conditions a key advantage in military and disaster response operations. The company has earned global attention for its contributions to Ukrainian battlefield awareness, providing near real-time imagery to support tactical and strategic decision-making. Polands investment will be funneled through the countrys National Development Bank, as part of a broader strategy to develop its space and defense industries. In May, the Polish Ministry of Defense signed a $230 million deal to acquire six ICEYE satellites, strengthening its own reconnaissance capabilities. According to Modrzewski, ICEYE plans to scale its manufacturing capacity by at least four times over the next few years, driven by surging demand for its compact, high-performance satellites from both defense and commercial clients. Analysts say Polands growing involvement with ICEYE not only supports Ukraine but also signals Warsaws intent to become a regional leader in space-based surveillance and defense technology. With geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe unlikely to ease anytime soon, satellite intelligence has become a vital strategic asset. Beyond defense, ICEYEs satellites are also used for environmental monitoring, disaster response, and infrastructure tracking meaning Polands stake could offer both military and civilian benefits in the long term. This is about more than just investment, one European defense expert noted. Its about positioning Poland at the forefront of a space-based intelligence future one thats unfolding much faster than anyone expected. BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council announced the appointment of several new officials on Monday. Xie Yuansheng was appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Ling Zhifeng was named vice minister of the Ministry of Public Security. Liu Jianqiao was appointed deputy head of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Zhao Jianheng was named vice president of the China Academy of Engineering Physics. VS Achuthanandan, the iconic figure of the Communist movement in India and former Chief Minister of Kerala, passed away on Monday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He had been admitted on June 23 following a cardiac arrest. Achuthanandan had withdrawn from public life after suffering a mild stroke in 2019. Popularly known as VS, he began his political journey as a trade union activist and was part of the historic PunnapraVayalar struggles. Among the most popular leaders of the CPI(M) in Kerala, VS was a founding member of the party. He turned 101 last October and was the last surviving member of the 32 leaders who walked out of the CPI National Council meeting in 1964 to form the CPI(M). Advertisement Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, fondly known as Comrade VS, was a charismatic and deeply committed mass leader who inspired and was inspired by the people he represented. He played a pivotal role in strengthening the Communist movement in Kerala from the grassroots and was often hailed as the Fidel Castro of Kerala. Advertisement The life of VS Achuthanandan is an inseparable part of Keralas social and political history. Born on October 20, 1923, in Punnapra in Keralas Alappuzha district, VSs journey in politics is a story of struggle, resilience, and transformation. He lost his mother at the age of four and his father at eleven. Forced to discontinue his education after Class 7, he began working in a tailoring shop with his elder brother to support his family. At 17, he joined the Communist Party and became a delegate to the Communist Party Congress in 1943. In 1946, he actively participated in the PunnapraVayalar uprising, following which he was imprisoned and subjected to brutal torture. A seven-time legislator and the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala, VS served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly for three terms. He became Chief Minister in 2006 at the age of 84, nearly seven decades after joining the Communist Party. His tenure was marked by bold initiatives, including the historic Munnar eviction drive against illegal encroachments, undertaken despite resistance from within his own cabinet. Often perceived as one of the most ideologically rigid Communist leaders, VS played a crucial role in shaping and strengthening the Left movement in Kerala. His political and legal confrontations with leaders like R Balakrishna Pillai, PK Kunhalikutty, and Vellappally Natesan reflected his unyielding commitment to political integrity and public accountability. In his later years, as the CPI(M) shifted towards a more centrist, liberal position, VS found himself increasingly isolated within the party. Many of his close associates and supporters moved away as the party embraced new political realities. Yet, through sheer resilience, he remained a towering and respected figure in Keralas political landscape. A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhakas Uttara area on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring several others, many of them critically. The F-7 BJI trainer aircraft, reportedly on a solo training sortie, crashed into the school building that housed playgroup classes. The crash occurred moments after the classes had ended and students were leaving for their homes. Advertisement Among the deceased and injured are school kids, their parents who had come to pick them up, and several teachers. Advertisement The pilot, identified as Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, also died in the crash. Local media reported that the pilot was attempting his first solo mission after completing a dual training session earlier in the day. Emergency response teams, including the Military Rescue Brigade, fire services, Civil Defence, and police, rushed to the scene, and launched the rescue operation. Disturbing visuals shared on social media showed several injured being pulled from the wreckage site. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals, including the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where many of them remain in critical condition. The Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced that the bodies will be handed over to their families as soon as possible. The loss suffered by the Air Force, students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation, he said in a condolence message shared by his office on X. He directed all the authorities concerned, including hospitals, to address the situation with the utmost priority. The government will take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure all forms of assistance, he added. Meanwhile, authorities have released the emergency contact numbers to assist the families searching for their missing kids and relatives. The helpline numbers are Military Rescue Brigade 01769024202; CMH Burn Unit 01769016019; CMH Emergency 01769013311; Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute Hotline 01949043697; school administration 01814774132. Heavy clashes broke out between Druze fighters and the interim government-aligned Bedouin tribal forces in the countryside of Sweida, southern Syria, further threatening a fragile ceasefire in the region, activists reported. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said large reinforcements from tribal fighters gathered in the villages of Bustan, Dama, and Najran, amid signs of preparations to storm neighboring Druze-populated areas, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement Fierce fighting erupted in the towns of Areeqa and Umm al-Zeitoun along the Damascus-Sweida highway, during which tribal gunmen reportedly burned homes and looted properties. The violence led to the closure of two key roads, further escalating tensions in the already volatile area. Advertisement An anticipated prisoner exchange between the two sides was called off after mortar shells, allegedly launched from tribal positions, landed near the site of the scheduled handover. The observatory reported that at least 1,120 people have been killed since the fighting began on July 13, including over 100 civilians and dozens of government troops. Earlier on Saturday, the Syrian authorities declared an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, marking a significant turning point in the deadly sectarian clashes in southern Syria, which prompted a recent Israeli intervention with massive airstrikes. In a statement issued Saturday, the Syrian authorities said the truce aimed to preserve national unity and ensure the safety of civilians amid critical circumstances, describing the move as a national and humanitarian obligation. The authorities called on all parties to cease hostilities and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, Xinhua news agency reported. It vowed to restore state control of the southern province of Sweida, facilitate the return of displaced civilians, and re-establish law and order, warning that any violation of the ceasefire would be treated as a breach of national sovereignty, subject to legal consequences. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recovering at home after being diagnosed with intestinal inflammation caused by spoiled food, his office announced on Sunday. He was examined overnight by Prof. Alon Hershko of Jerusalems Hadassah-Ein Kerem Medical and is receiving treatment with intravenous fluids for dehydration. His condition is described as good. Following doctors orders, Netanyahu will rest at home for the next three days while continuing to conduct state affairs. The incident up follows a series of health issues for Netanyahu, 75, including a routine colonoscopy in May and prostate surgery in December. Both times, Justice Minister Yariv Levin served as acting Prime Minister while Netanyahu was sedated. In March, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery under full anesthesia and later missed work due to the flu. In 2023, he had a pacemaker implanted after doctors diagnosed a long-standing heart conduction problem. That surgery came days after he was hospitalized for dehydration, though doctors later linked the incident to an undiagnosed heart issue. Netanyahus most recent public medical report, issued in January 2023, described him as in a completely normal state of health, with no signs of arrhythmia and the pacemaker functioning properly. The document, however, was not an official government health report but rather a summary compiled by his personal medical team. Advertisement Despite government protocols urging prime ministers to release annual health summaries, Netanyahu issued no such report between 2016 and 2023, and none has been released this year. Those protocols are not legally binding, and he cannot be compelled to disclose his medical history. Following the prostate surgery, Netanyahu made headlines when he left the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center over the objections of his doctors to personally cast his vote over the Trapped Profits Law. It passed by a vote of 59-58. Netanyahu was accompanied by his physician, Dr. Zvi Berkowitz in the Knesset plenum. Advertisement Nine terrorists were killed and eight others arrested during a joint operation in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the last four days, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said on Sunday. The ISPR said in a statement that the intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces along with the paramilitary force and the counter-terrorism department of police in Malakand district of the province. Advertisement During the operation, security forces surrounded and effectively engaged the terrorists location, and after multiple intense fire exchanges, nine terrorists were killed, while eight others were apprehended, said the ISPR statement. Advertisement Earlier today, four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistans southwest Balochistan province, the military said. The security forces conducted the operation in Kalat district of the province on the reported presence of terrorists, the ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. According to the ISPR, a huge cache of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces in the area, Xinhua news agency reported. Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate the presence of other terrorists from the area, it added. The military said the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country. In a similar incident on June 16, five terrorists were killed during operations in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said. The security forces conducted two separate operations in Peshawar and North Waziristan districts of the province on the reported presence of terrorists, the ISPR, the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. During an intelligence-based operation in Peshawar district, four terrorists were killed after an intense exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces, said the ISPR statement. Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in North Waziristan, and in ensuing fire exchange, one more terrorist was neutralised by the security forces, it added. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a deadly bomb blast that killed a senior Pakistani Army officer in Quetta on Saturday evening, The Balochistan Post reported. According to initial reports, a magnetic IED explosion targeted a vehicle near the citys Jinnah Road area, resulting in the death of Major Anwar Kakar, an active-duty officer associated with the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) cell of the Pakistan Armys 12 Corps. The Balochistan Post reported that Major Anwar was a native of Pishin, a Pashtun-majority district in Balochistan, and the son of Haji Akbar Kakar. CCTV footage reviewed after the incident shows two motorcyclists discreetly attaching a magnetic explosive device to the vehicle, which detonated shortly afterwards, killing the officer on the spot. The Balochistan Post reported that no other casualties were confirmed at the time of reporting. Advertisement Major Anwar had served for more than a decade in the Pakistan Army and was reportedly involved in major counter-insurgency operations against Baloch pro-independence armed factions across the province. Notably, he had previously sustained injuries in the BLAs high-profile Zerpahazag attack in 2019, when four suicide attackers from the Majeed Brigade laid siege to the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar for nearly 24 hours, The Balochistan Post reported. Advertisement In a brief statement released late Saturday night, the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying its Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) as the unit behind the operation. The BLA stated that the attack was based on precise intelligence gathered by its internal unit, Zirab, and promised to release a detailed report of the mission in the coming days, The Balochistan Post reported. This latest incident underscores the persistent volatility in Balochistan, where Baloch nationalist insurgent groups have repeatedly targeted security forces in their decades-long struggle against the Pakistani state, The Balochistan Post reported. Prince Al-Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, famously known as the Saudi Sleeping Prince, passed away at the age of 36 after being in a coma for two decades. He had been in a coma since 2005, following a severe car accident in London while he was studying at a military academy. He was 15 at the time. Advertisement Post the accident, he was moved to King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, where he remained on life support for 20 years. His father, Prince Khaled bin Talal Al Saud, nephew of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, refused to withdraw life support, with faith in the divine and hope that his son might recover. Advertisement As reported by Gulf News, Prince Al-Waleed was born in April 1990 and was the eldest son of Prince Khaled, a senior member of the Saudi royal family. The princes death at a specialist medical facility in Riyadh has resulted in heartfelt messages being shared across the nation and beyond. The hashtag #SleepingPrince trended widely on social media, as thousands paid tribute to what many described as a story of faith, resilience, and a deep bond between a father and his son, who never gave up until the very end. The funeral took place on Sunday, 20 July, at one of Riyadhs oldest and most prominent mosques, where prayers were offered. JINAN, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A China-Senegal international training course on the full peanut industry chain was held in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. Launched on July 6, the 15-day program brought together 14 Senegalese participants, including researchers, government officials and entrepreneurs. The course focused on sharing China's experience in peanut cultivation, including water-saving techniques, pest and disease control and field management. "We have been impressed by this training course, which strengthened our confidence in upgrading the peanut full industry chain in Senegal," said Ibrahima Sarr, director of the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA). Although Senegal is a major peanut-producing country in West Africa -- thanks to its vast land and abundant peanut germplasm resources -- local yields remain low and quality is unstable due to drought, inefficient farming practices, and pests and diseases. Progress in peanut processing also remains limited, said Aliou Faye, a specialist at ISRA. As a leading player in China's peanut industry, Shandong ranks second nationwide in peanut planting area and leads the country in processing and export volumes. According to Song Jinghua, head of the Shandong Peanut Research Institute (SPRI), the institute boasts strong research capabilities and has developed several high-quality peanut varieties. China has long maintained agricultural cooperation with Senegal and provided tangible support to local communities in the African country. According to Ibrahima Sory Sylla, Senegalese ambassador to China, the long-standing partnership between SPRI and ISRA dates back to 1988. In the following year, Senegal introduced a high-yield, drought-resistant peanut variety developed by SPRI, which has since become one of the major varieties cultivated in the country. In recent years, Senegalese ministers of agriculture, ambassadors to China, and even presidents have visited Shandong on multiple occasions to promote cooperation in agricultural science and technology. "By advancing the transformation and upgrading of the peanut industry chain, Senegal can promote its local peanut industry, spur the growth of e-commerce and other sectors, and thereby create more job opportunities," Sarr said. At a time when bitcoin prices have hit a record high, a security breach at one of India's largest crypto exchange has led to fraudsters draining around $44 million, although customer assets don't seem to have been affected. This news comes a year after a hack at another crypto exchange WazirX. The hack at WazirX in July 2024 had led to a massive $230 million loss in investor funds. Recent reports have indicated that victims of that hack are still awaiting payouts. Over the weekend, crypto platform CoinDCX confirmed there had been a security breach and it had affected an internal operational account. "One of our internal operational accounts, used solely for liquidity provisioning on a partner exchange, was compromised due to a sophisticated server breach," the company said. It said that the incident was swiftly contained by isolating the affected account and that no customer assets were affected. "Customers assets at CoinDCX are held in segregated cold wallets, protected by multi-layer custody and offline security controls," it said. Sumit Gupta, the co-founder and CEO of CoinDCX, also assured that customer funds were "100 per cent safe." Trading and withdrawals were also running normally, he claimed. The company informed that withdrawals below 5 lakh would reflect in a customer's account within five hours, while withdrawals above 5 lakh will be processed within 72 hours. The incident was isolated and has no impact on customers' portfolio access or operations. What really happened? CoinDCX says its security systems detected an incident involving unauthorised access to one of its accounts on a partner exchange, leading to a financial exposure of around $44 million. The attacker accessed the account used for operational liquidity provisioning by penetrating its liquidity infrastructure. What CoinDCX did? The crypto exchange says the affected infrastructure has been isolated. CoinDCX said it has activated a full-scale response in coordination with external cybersecurity and forensics experts and global cybersecurity experts. "The incident has been formally reported to CERT-In, and we are actively working with leading blockchain forensics firms and ecosystem partners to trace the attacker and recover assets," it said. A recovery bounty programme will be launching soon to engage the cybersecurity community, said Gupta. The company has stressed that it maintains a "robust" reserve system to absorb such incidents and this reserve is being used to fully cover the loss. A US delegation will visit India in August for the sixth round of negotiations regarding the proposed bilateral trade deal between New Delhi and Washington, an official said on Monday. India's chief negotiator and special secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal and Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch held the deliberations. Despite protracted discussions from July 14 to 17, the fifth round of negotiations saw no results. ALSO READ | 'Another deal is coming, maybe': Donald Trump hints at trade agreement with India as August 1 deadline looms Both sides aim to finalise an interim trade deal before August 1, which marks the end of the suspension period of Trump tariffs imposed on dozens of countries, including India (26 per cent), as per a PTI report. On April 2 this year, US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, typically in the range of 20-35 per cent. The implementation of the tariffs was immediately suspended for 90 days till July 9a deadline that was later extended to August 1as America negotiatiates trade deals with various countries. Issues related to agriculture and automobiles were part of the agenda in the fifth round of negotiations. Matters related to ways to deal with non-market economies, and SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) also came up in the discussion. India continues to remain steadfast against US demands for duty concessions on agricultural and dairy products. Notably, New Delhi has so far not conceded (on the tariff front) to any of its trading partners for a free trade agreement in the dairy sector. Certain farmers' associations have also urged the government not to include any issues related to agriculture in the trade pact. India currently seeks the removal of the 26 per cent tariff, as well as a relaxation of Trump's separate tariffs on steel and aluminium (50 per cent) and the auto sector (25 per cent). India has also reserved its right under WTO (World Trade Organisation) norms to impose retaliatory duties on these. New Delhi also seeks duty concessions for labour-intensive sectorssuch as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananasin the proposed trade pact. The US, however, insists on duty concessions for certain industrial goods, automobiles (especially electric vehicles), wines, petrochemical products, agri goods, dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops. The two countries are looking to conclude talks for the first tranche of the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) this year. Before that, they are looking for an interim trade pact. India's merchandise exports to the US rose 22.8 per cent to $25.51 billion in the April-June quarter this fiscal year, while imports rose 11.68 per cent to $12.86 billion. More than a month after a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala owing to a technical glitch, the repairs have been completed, and the combat aircraft will take off from Kerala on Tuesday. F-35B Lightning II, worth over $110 million and known to be one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, made an emergency landing on June 14. According to media reports, the team of technicians from the UK repaired the glitch in the aircraft's hydraulic system. ALSO READ: After Akash Prime triumph, India flexes its nuclear muscles with Prithvi-II, Agni-I missiles According to a Malayala Manorama report, the fighter jet was moved out from the airport's hangar on Monday, using a special vehicle. Further inspections of the aircraft will be conducted after it is parked in Bay 4. A military transport aircraft from Britain is expected to arrive in Kerala on Tuesday to take back the 14-member expert team that came a few weeks ago to rectify the fighter jet's defect. The equipment brought to fix the defect in the aircraft's hydraulic system will also be taken back. Air India will receive nearly Rs 8 lakh as rent for providing airport and hangar facilities for the fighter jet, reports Manorama. The combined amount of the parking fee for aircraft halted at the airport and the landing charges for aircraft that disembarked must be paid to the airport operators, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. The advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets of Pakistan, which participated in the Royal International Air Tattoo or RIAT, one of the largest military airshows in the world, bagged an award. Jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), the JF-17 is a single-engine multi-role combat aircraft which first flew in 2003. Pakistan claims to have used JF-17 in the recent conflict with India. According to media reports, the fighter jet received 'Spirit of the Meet Trophy' award for its "striking livery and the incredible journey from Pakistan with non-stop air-to-air refuelling." Besides, Pakistan Air Force's transport aircraft C-130H Hercules bagged 'Concours d'Elegance' trophy for the best-maintained and most aesthetically presented aircraft at the event. ALSO READ: Finally, UK fighter jet F-35B to say goodbye to Kerala after paying Rs 8 lakh in parking fee There were as many as 224 participating aircraft from 27 different nations at the event, that was attended by over 1,75,000 people. These awards were given in recognition of the aircrafts excellent flying and technical skills, PTV has been quoted as saying, adding that "This success has honoured Pakistans aviation sector on an international level." The aircraft's combat-proven capabilities and operational excellence have garnered significant global attention, making its appearance at RIAT a highly anticipated highlight in the aerospace and defence community, PAF had said in a statement. Meanwhile, the event saw a second historic flight in as many years with the iconic Royal Air Force Red Arrows displaying on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for the very first time. RIAT 2025, which took place from July 18 to 20, has been running for over 50 years and powers the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The Indian Army announced on Sunday that it will bear the study expenses of Shvan Singh, who supported the forces who were battling Pakistan Army gunfire in a Punjab village during Operation Sindoor. Shvan Singh had run errands for the soldiers posted in Tara Wali village and supplied small meals to them. As the fierce gun battle was underway with the Pakistan Army, the little boy supplied water, ice, tea, milk, and lassi to the soldiers. According to the boy's father, he did all these without being asked. In recognition of the boy's courage and enthusiasm, the Indian Army's Golden Arrow Division has committed to fully sponsor his education. The Indian Army said Shvan's story serves as a reminder of the "quiet heroes" across the country who deserve recognition and support. ALSO READ: Is Pakistan abandoning Rahim Yar Khan airbase, 'destroyed' by India during Operation Sindoor? During a ceremony at Ferozepur Cantonment on Saturday, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar felicitated the boy. Shvan Singh, whose village lies in Mamdot area of Ferozepur district, has already expressed his desire to join the Indian Army when he grows up. "I want to become a 'fauji' when I grow up. I want to serve the country," the boy had said in May. "We are proud of him. Even soldiers loved him," his father was quoted as saying. There have been various reports of people claiming to have experienced adverse health effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine shots. However, there are studies that are still ongoing to understand if the vaccine affected people. One such research from Turkey studied he effect of Pfizer vaccine shot on the corneal endothelium, which is a single layer of cells that forms the innermost layer of the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye. Also Read | What is chronic venous insufficiency that gave Donald Trump swollen ankles, bruised hands? As per the study, changes in corneal endothelium occur in the short term after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Experts have also called for close monitoring of the endothelium in individuals with a low endothelial count or who have had a corneal graft. For the purpose of the study, the eyes of 64 patients were evaluated and the time interval between pre- and post-vaccination examinations was nearly two and a half months. All the patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination, after which experts made a conclusion. Also Read | Cane sugar vs High-Fructose corn syrup: Will Trump's push for replacement make it a healthier choice? The study is published in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology. According to Financial Express, the researchers found that while participants didnt experience any noticeable vision loss, there were some measurable changes in their corneal health. These included a slight thickening of the cornea, a decrease in the number of endothelial cells (which help keep the cornea clear), and changes in cell structure. Also Read | Glutathione & Collagen: Experts debunk the hype behind popular beauty supplements In an unprecedented move, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case on Monday. The court also acquitted five who were sentenced to death in the case. A special bench of the High Court comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak acquitted all accused in the case, noting the evidence provided by the prosecution wasn't sufficient to convict them. The bench said the prosecution "utterly failed" in proving charges against the accused. "The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside," the High Court said. The judgment comes 19 years after the terror attack that shook Mumbai's Western Railway network. Over 180 people lost their lives in the attack, and close to 900 suffered injuries. Seven bombs exploded in suburban trains on the Western Railway line in 2006. The special bench noted that the statements of nearly all prosecution witnesses were unreliable and that investigators failed to identify the type of bomb used for the blasts, Bar and Bench reported. On the recovery of evidence such as bombs, guns, maps etc, the Court observed the recovery was immaterial and not important to the case, Bar and Bench reported. A special court for hearing matters pertaining to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act convicted all 12 accused in the case in 2015. The special court sentenced seven to life imprisonment and five to death. Those sentenced to death included Kamal Ansari, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan and Asif Khan; all were held guilty of planting the bombs, the publication reported. One of the accused, Kamal Ansari, succumbed to Covid-19 in 2021 in Nagpur prison. HOHHOT, July 21 (Xinhua) -- As passengers disembarked from their two-hour flight from Beijing to Manzhouli, they were greeted by a refreshing breeze from the Hulunbuir Grassland that made many make a loud wow. The city in northeastern Inner Mongolia, which borders Russia, is about 10 degrees Celsius cooler than the capital. "It feels so comfortable here," said a woman surnamed Liu, breathing in Manzhouli's fresh and cool evening air as she started a week-long trip with her family in Inner Mongolia, a region known for its vast grasslands and forests. Liu is part of a growing wave of "heat-escaping tourists" -- urban dwellers seeking temporary relief from the hot climate in the country's sweltering cities. Following the hottest June on record, much of China has entered July under unrelenting heat. Provinces like Shaanxi, Sichuan, Henan, and Hubei have seen temperatures soar past 40 degrees Celsius. In cities such as northwest China's Xi'an and central China's Wuhan, even nighttime low temperatures hovered near 30 degrees Celsius, making the heat an around-the-clock challenge. In response, many are opting to travel north and west in search of a cooler climate, fueling a sharp increase in demand for so-called "heat-escaping travel." According to Tianjin Airlines, flights from China's southern and central cities to cooler northern and western destinations are operating at over 90-percent capacity this month. Data from traveling platforms also echoed the shift. Fliggy noted rising bookings from heat-affected areas to cooler destinations like Kunming, Harbin, Dalian, Lanzhou, and Hohhot, many of which boast daytime highs between 20 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius, even during the peak of summer. In Dalian, a coastal city in Liaoning Province, hotels reported robust business. "We expect full bookings every night after July 15," said Huang Binbin, marketing director at Hengli Hotel, adding that the bookings made by travelers from heat-caught cities are rising. Drawing on long-term data from weather stations across the country, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has released 16 "heat-escaping routes" tailored to summer comfort. The routes highlight areas with cool temperatures and low humidity, ranging from the pine forests of Heilongjiang to the highland pastures of Xizang. Climate resources are a core element of tourism development, said Xiong Shaoyuan, deputy director of the CMA. He noted that transforming meteorological landscapes and climatic endowments into tourism resources is emerging as a new avenue to stimulate regional economies by harnessing ecological advantages. With an average summer temperature at around 20 degrees Celsius, Inner Mongolia has become a standout heat-escaping destination. The region recently hosted a conference on climate tourism to pool wisdom to make such travels more appealing. To offer travelers more personalized, diverse, and memorable vacation experiences, summer destinations across the country are broadening their offerings. They're going beyond traditional sightseeing to include immersive experiences focused on wellness, outdoor sports, and ethnic culture. In northeast China's Jilin Province, a resort at Changbai Mountain has launched a new canyon adventure park featuring glass bridge walks, via ferrata experience and other adrenaline-pumping attractions to woo more young tourists. Meanwhile, in Erguna, the northernmost city in Inner Mongolia, music festivals set amid golden canola fields and wetland rafting experiences invite visitors to explore nature in refreshing new ways. "Here is truly a summer retreat," said Wang Qian, who recently spent six days visiting three different cities in Inner Mongolia. "Not just from the heat, but from the hustle of urban life as well." Enditem (Mao Yuyang, Xu Jiaqi, Yang Siyu, Hong Chuxi, Lyu Jinkai, Yu Shiying and Yu Yiran also contributed to the story.) The death of Velikkakath Sankaran Achuthanandan, who is fondly called VS, marks the end of an era in the political history of Kerala. He breathed his last at the state capital on Monday. V.S. Achuthanandan's birthday falls on the same month the anniversary of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising is observed. The former Kerala chief minister was born on October 20, 1923, while the 1946 agitation occurred from October 24 to 26. Interestingly, it was after the Punnapra-Vayalar anniversary in October 2019 that the veteran CPI(M) leader fell ill and bid farewell to public life. ALSO READ | V.S. Achuthanandan, the quintessential Communist and champion of the masses, passes away Achuthanandan was very much part of this uprising against C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, then-Prime Minister (Diwan) of erstwhile Travancore princely state. Named after the places where the agitation began and ended, it was the Punnapra-Vayalar that made Achuthanandan a staunch communist. CP's police tried to suppress the agitation but angry workers stormed the police camp in Punnapra on October 24, 1946. The police gunned down 29 people. Two days later, on the 26th, the workers demolished the wooden bridge in Mararikulam to stop the Travancore army from proceeding to Vayalar. Six of these workers were shot dead. On October 27, the army massacred more than a thousand agitators in Punnapra and Vayalar. ALSO READ: V.S. and the 'Vettinirathal' saga: How Achuthanandan singled-handedly decimated CITU lobby in CPIM's 1998 Palakkad conference Achuthanandan, who was just 23, was instrumental in inspiring the workers to continue their fight. Police launched a manhunt for him and later arrested him from a beedi labourer's house in Poonjar, Kottayam, on October 28. Travancore police brutally tortured him in the lock-up. They beat him up with lathis and stabbed him with a rifle bayonet. They thought he was dead and asked fellow prisoners to bury him. However, the inmates later realised he was alive and brought him to hospital. Achuthanandan later went in hiding and remained so until India became independent. The uprising moulded him into a working-class leader in Alappuzha and soon he was noticed by none other that P. Krishna Pillai, one of the founders of Communist Party of India. Pillai tasked him with organising farmers in the Kuttanad region where they fought against low wages and caste discrimination. After the formation of the state of Kerala in 1956, Achuthanandan, as district secretary, was instrumental in bagging maximum seats in the assembly election from Alappuzha. He was one of the 32 communist leaders who walked out of the national executive of the CPI in 1964, splitting the party forever. He served as the Kerala chief minister from 2006 to 2011 and was the opposition leader for 15 years. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu stated in Rajya Sabha that the probe into the Ahmedabad Air India crash is progressing in an unbiased manner and urged people to avoid speculations until the probe concludes. The minister's statement comes amid speculations that pilots' error could have caused the crash. The monsoon session of Parliament commenced on Monday. Addressing Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Naidu said, "We want to stand with truth, not anything else." The civil aviation minister dismissed speculations over the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and urged the public and media to wait until the probe concludes. The Union minister said the probe is progressing in an unbiased manner. "AAIB follows a definitive, rule-based process, totally unbiased in probing the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash," the minister said. Making any comments until the final report has come, I don't think it is a good exercise on behalf of anyone. We are also very cautious and studying the report thoroughly, and whatever necessary needs to be done in terms of safety, we are ready to do it, the minister told the upper house. "I have seen multiple articles not only by the Indian media but also by the Western media trying to promote their own viewpoint. The way we are seeing the investigation is through facts," the minister stressed. The London-bound Air India flight crashed soon after it took off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12. The AAIB published its preliminary report on the probe on July 12. The investigators said fuel cutoff switches to both engines of AI171 Boeing Dreamliner were activated soon after the flight took off. Though fuel supply was restored, the aircraft failed to recover its speed, leading to the crash. A leader of the Congress partys students wing was arrested in Odisha in connection with the alleged rape of a 19-year-old girl in Bhubaneswar. Udit Pradhan, the Odisha unit president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), was arrested on Sunday based on the girls complaint. According to reports, the incident took place on March 18 but came to light on Sunday after the girlan engineering studentapproached the Mancheswar Police Station. In her complaint, the girl alleged that Pradhan mixed an intoxicating substance in her drinks and raped her in a hotel in the capital city. The girl also accused the NSUI leader of threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the alleged incident. "The accused has been booked under various provisions, including rape and criminal intimidation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," a police officer told PTI news agency. Meanwhile, NSUI national president Varun Choudhary issued a statement, saying Pradhan has been suspended from his position with immediate effect. NSUI maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based injustice and is unwavering in its commitment to accountability and justice, he said. The move, however, didnt stop the BJP from launching a scathing attack on the opposition party. Shameful but not surprising, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said in a post on X. Malviya raked up the Balasore sexual assault case and alleged that the student leaders of both Congress and BJD were complicit in driving the victim to suicide through a vile campaign of character assassination. "How long will these parties shield predators in their ranks? How many more young women must suffer before there is accountability?Silence is complicity, he further said. A Special Investigation Team will probe the death of Athulya Shekhar, 30, a woman from Kerala's Kollam district who allegedly died by suicide in Sharjah, the UAE. The woman was found dead in her apartment along with her 18-month-old daughter in the Rolla area, Sharjah, on Saturday, which also happened to be her birthday and the day she was supposed to start her new job. Her husband, Satheesh Sivasankara Pillai from Karunagappally, Kollam, has been fired from his job as site engineer at a private company in Dubai, Gulf News reported. He was booked for murder by Kerala Police following a complaint lodged by Athulyas mother, Thulasibhai. Her mother has alleged that he kicked her daughter in the stomach and hit her with a plate, which eventually led to her death. Athulya had approached the Sharjah police in the past with allegations of abuse from her husband. The couple got married in 2014, and police reports say that the abuse began shortly after. The couple has a 10-year-old daughter who lives in Kollam with Athulyas parents. The bodies of both Athulya and her daughter were discovered by her sister and brother-in-law, who also reside in Sharjah. Her family and friends have claimed that she suffered years of mental and physical abuse due to her husband and his family demanding dowry. Satheesh has maintained that he had no role in her death. But Athulyas family maintains suspicion that their daughter did not die by suicide. The family also released videos that showed Athulya with injuries and footage of her husband trying to hit her with a stool. Satheesh has admitted to physically assaulting Athulya in the past in a statement to the media. This incident comes less than a month after the death of another Kerala woman and her toddler daughter in the UAE. Vipanchika, 32, and her one-year-old daughter were found dead in her Sharjah apartment on July 8. In a suicide note, the woman said her husband Nitheesh Valiyaveettil, his sister Neethu Benny, and their father Mohanan were responsible for her death. Vipanchika had also named dowry demands and racial abuse from her in-laws as reasons for her suicide. According to the complaint lodged by Vipanchika's mother, Shyamala, to Kundara Police, she was harassed over dowry and humiliated over her appearance. She also alleged that her granddaughter, Vybhavi, was physically harmed after Vipanchika opposed her husband's relationships with other women. Police have said that the case was registered under sections 85 (cruelty by a husband or his relatives towards a woman) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The protocol department of the Kerala government issued a circular announcing a holiday in the state on Tuesday, July 22. This is to mourn the death of former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan. ALSO READ: How Punnapra-Vayalar uprising made V.S. Achuthanandan a staunch communist The circular said that the holiday will apply to all state government offices, all educational institutions including professional colleges, public sector undertakings, statutory bodies, autonomous institutions, and institutions covered under the Negotiable Instruments Act throughout the State. Former Kerala CM and veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader V.S. Achuthanandan breathed his last today at the Sree Uthradom Thirunal Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 101, and was admitted following a cardiac arrest on June 23.#vsachuthanandan #obituary #kerala pic.twitter.com/4zbgopQh2i THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) July 21, 2025 Additionally, the state will observe a period of mourning for three days, until July 24. During this period, the national flag on all government buildings shall be flown at half-mast throughout the state. ALSO READ: VS and the 'Vettinirathal' saga: How Achuthanandan singled-handedly decimated CITU lobby in CPI(M)'s 1998 Palakkad conference Achuthanandan will be cremated with full state honours in his hometown of Alappuzha on July 23, Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of Achuthanandan. "Saddened by the passing of former Kerala CM Shri VS Achuthanandan Ji. He devoted many years of his life to public service and Kerala's progress. I recall our interactions when we both served as Chief Ministers of our respective states. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this sad hour." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin paid tribute to the former Kerala CM, saying, "Comrade V S Achuthanandan leaves behind a revolutionary legacy deeply etched in Kerala's political conscience." Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin has been admitted to the Apollo hospital at Greams Road in Chennai on Monday. The chief minister during the routine morning walk experienced a brief episode of mild giddiness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan and other leaders spoke to the chief minister and wished him speedy recovery. His son Udayanidhi reportedly visited the CM for the second time on Monday night. In an official medical bulletin, Dr. Anil B.G. the director of medical services of Apollo hospitals said that the chief minister was brought to the hospital for a evaluation of his symptoms and the necessary diagnostic tests are being done. A press release released by Apollo Hospitals said Stalin will continue discharging his dutes in official capacity from the hospital during his stay. Stalin, apparently goes for a brisk morning walk everyday and completes atleast 3.5 to 4 kms everyday at the Theosophical society in Tamil Nadu. On Monday, despite his hospitalisation, Stalin paid tribute to former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan who passed away in the evening. In a social media post, Stalin wrote: "Comrade V S Achuthanandan leaves behind a revolutionary legacy deeply etched in Kerala's political conscience." Calling him a beloved mass leader, Stalin said he embodied principled politics and the spirit of public service. Due to his inability to attend the funeral, Stalin deputed Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Rescources, S Regupathy, to pay homage to the late Kerala leader. With inputs from Lakshmi Subramanian As the fate of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse on death row for the murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mahdi, remains in limbo, the victims family has raised allegations of fraud against Samuel Jerome, an Indian social worker in Yemen who had long served as the sole link for the Nimisha Priya International Action Councilwhich is attempting to save the nurse from capital punishment. Nimisha Priyas execution was initially scheduled for July 16, but last-minute efforts led to a postponement. Following this, conflicting narratives have emerged regarding how the postponement came about. Jerome claimed that the change in execution date was made possible with the help of Sheikh Abdul Nahya, whom he described as a community leader from the tribe to which the Mahdi family belongs. He had earlier claimed that he presented several offers to the victims familyincluding $1 million as blood money and assistance for Talal Abdo Mahdis brother to relocate to the UAE or Saudi Arabia. However, Abdel Fattah Mahdi, the brother of the murdered Yemeni man, raised allegations that Jerome collected large sums of money in the name of negotiations but had never met the family nor contacted them via phone or message. Abdel Fattah further claimed that the only time he met Jerome was after the President of the Houthi-controlled Supreme Political Council approved the execution order. He wrote: He came to me congratulating, his face full of joy, saying: A thousand congratulations! Nimisha Priyas mother has been in Yemen since April 2024 in a last-ditch effort to save her daughter. She had nominated Jerome to negotiate with the Mahdi family. However, Advocate Subhash Chandran, who represents the legal wing of the Nimisha Priya Action Council, refuted Jeromes claims that it was his efforts that led to the postponement. According to Chandran, the delay was primarily due to the intervention of Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, a Muslim cleric and general secretary of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, who shares a personal and spiritual relationship with Yemeni Sufi leaders actively involved in the mediation process. Chandran noted that no genuine negotiations had taken place with the Mahdi family prior to Kanthapurams intervention. He also raised concerns that Jerome refused to disclose how $40,000, handed over via the Indian Embassy in Riyadh for negotiations, was spent. Chandran said there has been no clear feedback on the utilization of the funds, and he is unaware if any portion of it reached the Mahdi family. Chandran had also claimed that ever since questions were raised about these funds, Jerome has not been communicating or associating with the Action Council. Now, Abdel Fattah has also publicly alleged that Jerome continues to collect donations in the name of negotiations. Notably, Abdel Fattah continues to remain firmly opposed to any negotiation. "We reaffirm once again that our right to the implementation of the retribution sentence is not a favour granted by anyone, nor a privilege given at times and withheld at others. Retribution is God's decreea divine obligation that does not expire with time and is not subject to negotiation. Justice that is delayed is not justice," he posted on social media. THE WEEK has reached out to Samuel Jerome, currently in Yemen, for a response to the allegations against him. A reply is awaited. Opposition MPs have moved adjournment motions in both houses of Parliament, seeking discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and security lapses that led to the attack. The monsoon session of Parliament will begin on Monday. Indicating both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may witness strong protests from opposition benches on Monday, MPs of opposition parties have moved motions seeking suspension of house business and discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack. During an all-party meeting on Sunday, opposition leaders had demanded discussion on various issues including Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam terror attack, electoral roll revision in Bihar and Manipur violence. Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore, has given adjourment notice to discuss Pahalgam terror attack. In his notice, Tagore sought discussion on glaring security lapses that led to the Pahalgam terror attack, the questionable foreign policy handling in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the recent claim by the US President that five Indian fighter jets were shot down during recent India-Pakistan conflict and lack of response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issues. In Rajya Sabha, CPI MP Sandosh Kumar sought a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack, suspending zero hour and other business of the house for the day. According to the government, 21 sittings spread over 32 days has been scheduled during the monsoon session. The session, which begins on July 21, will conclude on August 21. Both houses will break between August 12 and 18 to facilitate Independence Day celebrations. The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious concern over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issuing summons to senior advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal for legal opinions rendered in the course of their professional duties. A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, hearing the matter suo motu said, How can lawyers be summoned like this? This is privileged communication. We were shocked. The summons, since withdrawn, were issued during the EDs probe into the issuance of Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) valued at over Rs 250 crore by Care Health Insurance to former Religare Enterprises chairperson Rashmi Saluja. Datar had offered a legal opinion supporting the ESOP grant, while Venugopal acted as Advocate-on-Record. Reacting swiftly, the ED issued a circular barring its field officers from summoning advocates without prior approval from the agencys Director, citing Section 132 of the Income Tax Act and other protections for legal professionals. During a brief hearing, CJI said, We are contemplating laying down guidelines. We saw two such matters today. Dont politicise the courtroom. Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh told the bench, In Turkey, the entire bar was disbanded. We cannot go that way. Attorney General R. Venkataramani also condemned the EDs action. I told the ED what they did was wrong, he said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta concurred that lawyers cannot be summoned for giving professional advice, but warned of a growing tendency to create media-driven narratives against institutions. If I am a politician in a Rs 3,000 crore scam, narratives cant be built through interviews, he said, while still supporting the need to protect lawyer-client communication. The CJI, however, dismissed the concern that the judiciary was vulnerable to such outside narratives. Tell us in which judgment were we influenced by narratives, he asked pointedly. Justice Chandran reinforced, You cannot say we will be influenced by such narratives. The Court said it would appoint an amicus curiae and asked stakeholders to file a comprehensive note in the case. The matter will next be heard on July 29, when the court may formalize guidelines to protect legal privilege in the face of investigative scrutiny. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on Monday, saying he has to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice. The resignation was submitted in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution. This comes months after Dhankhar was admitted to AIIMS-Delhi for four days in March due to heart issues. Dhankhar thanked President Droupadi Murmu for her "unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship". He also expressed his gratitide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the council of ministers and MPs Hon'ble Vice President, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankar Ji resigns. pic.twitter.com/O81ugqUxNG Pranav Mahajan (@pranavmahajan) July 21, 2025 "It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India's remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation's history has been a true honour," he stated. Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was Vice President since 2022, previously served as the governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. He was also Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar ministry from 1990 to 1991. He had worked with Janata Dal and the Congress before joining the BJP in 2003. While resigning, Dhankhar said he is "filled with pride in Bharat's global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future." NANJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-nine sinologists from 31 countries shared their views with Chinese writers on the exchanges of Chinese and foreign literature on Monday, with an aim to boost international literature exchanges and further expand the reach of Chinese culture. Among them, 15 were honored as "friends of Chinese literature" for their contributions to globally promoting Chinese literature through translation, who came at a seminar on literature translation that opened Monday in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, east China. Zhang Hongsen, chairman of the Chinese Writers Association that hosted the gathering, made a speech. He said that over the past 15 years since the inauguration of the seminar, there had been an increase in sinologists and translators who pay attention to and appreciate Chinese literature, signaling the flourishing growth of Chinese literature. Belen Cuadra Mora, a Spanish translator who uses the Chinese name Bai Lan, has 20 years of experience in translation. She credited translation as the foundation of cooperation and a key to human progress. "Without translation, there would not be exchanges of thoughts, trade, and diplomacy, let alone world literature," she said. International sinologists attending the gathering will also engage in literature-related activities including panel discussions, bookstore tours, and themed salons, according to the organizer. Former Kerala CM and veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader V.S. Achuthanandan breathed his last today at the Sree Uthradom Thirunal Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 101, and was admitted following a cardiac arrest on June 23. His blood pressure had dropped around 11am, and was on ventilator support and undergoing dialysis. Achuthanandan was confirmed dead at 3.20pm. A towering figure in Kerala politics, Achuthanandan was battling age-related health problems in recent years and was away from public life following a stroke in 2019. He served as the Kerala chief minister from 2006 to 2011, and as the leader of the opposition in the assembly for a record 15 years over three terms in the 1990s and early 2000s. A seven-time MLA, Achuthanandan contested 10 elections, losing only three. (File) V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurates DYFI Samara Sagaram meeting at the beach in Kozhikode | P. Musthafa VS, as he was popularly known, was the only surviving founding member of the CPI(M), which was formed in 1964 after the historic split in the undivided Communist party. Early life and Communist beginnings Born on October 20, 1923 in Punnapra, Alappuzha, Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan lost his parents early in life mother at four, and father at 11. He dropped out of school while in class 7, and started doing odd jobs at tailoring shops and coir factories. It was the legendary Communist leader, P. Krishna Pillai, who saw the spark in a young Achuthanandan, and sent him to Kuttanad to understand the problems of the farmers and work among them in the 1940s. Already a trade union leader, he mobilised the farmers and urged them to demand fair wages, and fought for their rights. ALSO READ: How Punnapra-Vayalar uprising made V.S. Achuthanandan a staunch Communist The popular Punnapra-Vayalar uprising in 1946, against the Travancore Diwan C.P. Ramaswami Iyers bid to self-rule, saw Achuthanandan taking an active role in mobilising the farmers. He was arrested in Poonjar and was subjected to custodial torture, which steeled his resolve to fight for the masses. Rise in electoral politics He worked his way up in the undivided Communist Party of India, from being the Alappuzha district secretary to a state committee member and to becoming a state secretariat member in 1957. (File) Former chief minister of Kerala E.M.S. Namboodiripad (centre) with Achuthanandan (in the background) Achuthanandan was one of the 32 Communists who walked out of the CPI in 1964 to form the CPI(M). He was made the partys state secretary in 1980 and became a member of the Polit Bureau (PB) in 1985. He dabbled in electoral politics for the first time in 1965, contesting from the Ambalapuzha assembly constituency in Alappuzha. Though he lost by over 2,000 votes, he won back the seat two years later. Despite a shocking defeat in Mararikulam constituency in 1996 which is often attributed to factionalism within the party Achuthanandan continued to be a crowd favourite and a champion of the masses. (File) V.S. Achuthanandan being sworn in as chief minister by Governor R.L. Bhatia at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, in 2006 ALSO READ: V.S. and the 'Vettinirathal' saga: How Achuthanandan singled-handedly decimated CITU lobby in CPIM's 1998 Palakkad conference He was an active crusader against land-grabbing, encroachment and corruption, be it his famous trek Mathikettanshola to protest against forest encroachment, or the Edamalayar case, which resulted in the conviction of former minister R. Balakrishna Pillai, or his anti-encroachment drive in Munnar. Achuthanandans stint as the Kerala chief minister saw the party consolidating its position among the weaker sections of the society, while making strides in the states IT infrastructure with the expansion of Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and the IT park in Kozhikode, and development of container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam. Known for his wit and for his hard stances on issues, which often was not in line with the partys official stance, Achuthanandan had more admirers than haters. With his death, the party, state and the nation has lost one of their tallest political figures. Kerala's opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan paid tribute to Achuthanandan, saying that he gave a new face to opposition politics. "Whether in power or in opposition, V.S. always maintained the spirit of resistance. It often seemed like he relished being in the opposition, even while in power." The Congress leader said that Achuthanandan stood at the forefront of struggles for environmental protection. "V.S. was an active participant in various agitations across Kerala, including the one against Coca-Cola, which sought to protect nature and resist water exploitation. "In and outside the Assembly, V.S. wielded a sharp tongue. Not just his political opponents, even leaders from within his own party felt the sting of his words. He became Chief Minister after earning significant public support," said Satheeshan. In Kerala politics, 'vettinirathal' (literally translates to cut down) refers to one shocking episode from the 1998 Palakkad conference and it remains one of the key turning points during the 101 years in the life of former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. He passed away on July 21, 2025. It all started with the CPI(M)'s 1987 decision pushed by former CM EMS Namboodiripad that the party should fight elections cutting any links with "communal" parties, referring to its then LDF ally, All-India Muslim League, a splinter group of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). ALSO READ | V.S. Achuthanandan, the quintessential Communist and champion of the masses, passes away The strategy was met with resistance from the party's trade union CITU as they were opposed to treating IUML as a communal party like the BJP. However, the move paid off as the LDF won the assembly elections in 1987. However, the Left lost the 1991 assembly elections to the Congress-led UDF and CITU lobby saw this as the right time to seek a renewed discussion on cosying up to the IUML. The then CPI(M) state secretary, Achuthanandan, and his camp resisted the move, asserting that the party should stick to EMS's strategy. ALSO READ | How Punnapra-Vayalar uprising made V.S. Achuthanandan a staunch communist The friction between the VS camp and the CITU lobby grew worse and both sides began functioning independently despite the party leadership publicly denying infighting in its rank and file. Amid the factionalism, Achuthanandan lost the state secretary elections twice, putting an end to his tenure in the post that lasted from 1980 to 1992. Achuthanandan was the clear candidate to take over as Kerala CM if LDF came to power in 1996. However, when the results came, CPI(M) swept the elections, but Achuthanandan lost to the Congress in the communist-dominated constituency in Alappuzha. Even Congress's P.J. Francis, who defeated the CM probable by 1,965 votes, was surprised by the results as he was prepared to lose the election for a third time. An internal probe by the party revealed that Achuthanandan's campaign managers worked with the CITU leaders to ensure his defeat. The communist stalwart vowed to ensure the complete decimation of the CITU lobby in the party. In the 1998 Alappuzha district elections of the party, the VS camp ensured that none of the CITU leaders got inducted into the 45-member district panel. He did not stop there. Achuthanandan's "unkindest cut" came during the party's 1998 Palakkad state conference. Senior CITU leaders M.M. Lawrence, K.N. Ravendranath, V.B. Cherian, Appukkuttan Valikkunnu and O. Bharathan were voted out from the CPI(M) state committee in a well-calculated coup orchestrated by Achuthanandan. Key leaders who helped Achuthanandan in the coup were Pinarayi Vijayan, M.A. Baby and Thomas Isaac. As a mark of gratitude, the veteran leader helped Vijayan assume the post of CPI(M) state secretary. However, the younger leader turned against the former, with his faction plotting a similar coup against Achuthanandan's loyalists. At the Malappuram conference, 21 Achuthanandan loyalists were defeated by Vijayan's side. However, despite the Kannur faction pushing for a ban on Achuthanandan from contesting in the 2006 assembly elections, the party was forced to field him amid outrage against Vijayan over the SNC-Lavalin bribery case. Even after retiring from active politics in 2019, Achuthanandan remained popular. The love of the masses for their beloved comrade is sure to stay long after his demise. With a stormy monsoon session of the Parliament ahead, the DMK MPs are all set to voice concerns about the Election Commission of Indias special intensive electoral roll revision in Bihar. While no other opposition party, except the RJD in Bihar, has been voicing against the electoral revision, the DMK has decided to take it forward as elections are fast approaching in Tamil Nadu. On July 17, a batch of DMK MPs, led by Rajya Sabha MP N.R. Elango, called on the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, urging the ECI to accept Aadhaar and the PDS family card issued by the state as documents of proof for date of birth and residence for voter list revision. A day later, this was again resolved at the partys MPs' meeting on July 19, ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament. We are not opposing the voter list revision as such. As per the constitutional powers, the ECI is empowered to do the electoral revision. We are only against ECIs present methodology for voter list revision. This doesnt stop with Bihar, or is not an issue in Bihar alone. We are speaking for the whole of India, DMK MP, N.R. Elango told THE WEEK. Referring to the Supreme Court order in the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Elango told THE WEEK that the DMKs demand is that the ECI should accept Aadhar and the family card issued by the state governments as sufficient documents to prove the place of residence and the date of birth. The methodology or the means to achieve the voter revision is the problem. Now, the ECI has given only 30 days for providing proof of birth. But we have said that the ECI should give ample time for this, and why proof of citizenship for this is our question, asks Elango. Incidentally, the DMK fears that the ECI voter list revision, which is underway in Bihar, could soon be replicated in Tamil Nadu, which is all set to go for polls in 2026. Sources say that the names of at least 25,000 Rohingya Muslims and a few lakh Sri Lankan Tamils, who are part of the voter list, will stand removed once the revision comes to Tamil Nadu. These voters contribute to a percentage of those who vote for the Dravidian majors like the DMK and the AIADMK. Also, the core voters of the DMK are in their late 40s and early 50s, born before 1980s, may not have proper proof of citizenship, like the birth certificate as mandated by the ECI. If birth certificates are made as the mandatory proof of birth, the DMK might stand to lose a chunk of its major voters. On the other hand, the migrant labourers from other states, who are living in Tamil Nadu, could be added to the list, which could prove detrimental for the DMK voter base. However, the ECI has not responded to the representation made by the DMK, saying the matter is subjudice. In an order based on a petition filed by the opposition parties, the Supreme Court had asked the ECI to consider Aadhaar, voter ID card and ration card as documents of proof during the SIR. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for July 28. The Amarnath Yatra has been witnessing a strong participation despite recent security concerns, with over three lakh pilgrims already performing darshan at the holy cave shrine. The massive turnout of devotees has given rise to hopes that this years pilgrimage could surpass the figures of 4.5 lakh and 5.12 lakh in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 39-day yatra started on July 3 and will conclude on August 9. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed joy over the massive turnout. In a post on X, LG Sinha said, By the grace of Baba Amarnath Ji, the holy pilgrimage has surpassed the 3 lakh mark today. This sacred journey is a deeply enriching experience. May Babas blessings bring peace, strength and fulfilment to all. Har Har Mahadev. By the grace of Baba Amarnath Ji, the holy pilgrimage has surpassed the 3 lakh mark today. This sacred journey is a deeply enriching experience. May Babas blessings bring peace, strength and fulfilment to all. Har Har Mahadev! Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) July 20, 2025 This years yatra holds particular significance in the wake of the April 22 terror attack near Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists and led to heightened security concerns. Pahalgam is one of the two main base camps for the pilgrimage, making safety a top priority for both devotees and authorities. In response, the administration has rolled out a tech-driven, multi-layered security grid for the pilgrimage. This includes RFID tracking of pilgrims, drone surveillance over key stretches, facial recognition cameras, and integrated command-and-control centres for real-time monitoring. Over 500 security bunkers have been installed across the route, and thousands of troops from CRPF, Army, and the J&K Police have been deployed to secure both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. Specialised mountain rescue teams, quick response squads, and medical emergency units have also been stationed at high-altitude points to ensure the safety and smooth movement of pilgrims. The conclusion of yatra will coincide with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals. With continued favourable weather and improved infrastructure, officials are hopeful that this years pilgrimage will be both peaceful and record-breaking. Tour operators are hopeful that an impressive response to the yatra will help restore tourist confidence that was shaken by the Pahalgam terror attack. The monsoon session of Parliament begins today, and the INDIA bloc is gearing up for discussions on Operation Sindoor, electoral roll revision in Bihar, and US President Donald Trump's claims of stopping the India-Pakistan conflict. While the Centre has signalled it is ready to discuss Operation Sindoor in Parliament, it has not commented on whether discussions will be held on other issues raised by the Opposition. The Centre convened an all-party meeting on Sunday and held discussions on issues to be discussed during the upcoming session. The Congress has demanded discussions on Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trump's claims of "stopping" the India-Pakistan conflict, intensive electoral roll revision in poll-bound Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and the Manipur issue. The Congress has been demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi should visit Manipur. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who attended the all-party meeting on behalf of the party, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement in parliament on US President Donald Trump's claims and the Pahalgam terror attack. "It's incumbent on PM Modi to give a statement in Parliament on the key issues raised by the Congress at the all-party meeting," Gogoi said. After the meeting, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government is ready to discuss Operation Sindoor in Parliament. "There are several issues on which the parties have opined that they should be discussed in the Parliament. We are ready for discussions with an open heart. We work as per rules and tradition and hold these in great value. So, we will discuss every issue, but as per rules and tradition," Rijiju said. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar urged all parties to engage in meaningful discussions. In the wake of some Iranian clerics issuing fatwas against US President Donald Trump, a campaign has emerged within the country to raise funds as a reward for targeting the latter, argue two analysts. Behnam Ben Taleblu and Saeed Ghasseminejad, analysts with the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, state that as long as the regime lives, the threat to Trump will continue. If the clerics within the Islamic Republic survive, they will hunt Trump just like they did to writer Salman Rushdie, according to the analysts. In an opinion piece that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Taleblu, director of the Iran Programme, and Ghasseminejad, senior advisor with the foundation, state that some clerics in Iran, including those appointed by Khamenei to lead Friday prayer institutions, have issued fatwas calling for Trump's assassination. There is a campaign within Iran to raise funds as a reward for whoever carries out his assassination, they state, adding that this was reminiscent of the campaign to place a bounty for the assassination of British writer Salman Rushdie by the Iranian "15 Khordad" Foundation, based on a fatwa from Khomeini. The duo recalled the views of the founder of the Iranian regime, Ruhollah Khomeini, on the United States in the early years after the 1979 revolution. Khomeini explicitly stated that the slogan "Death to America" meant killing the US president. This was confirmed by his successor, the current Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who said: "Death to America means death to Trump," they said, referring to a speech Khamenei delivered to Iranian Air Force commanders in February 2019. The analysts also referred to statements made by Mohammad Javad Larijani, a close associate of the Iranian regime, on a television program broadcast on July 8. "Last week, Mohammad Javad Larijani, a former senior advisor to Khamenei, said that Trump had done something (referring to the attack on the Iranian regime's nuclear facilities) that prevented him from sunbathing at Mar-a-Lago. Larijani added sarcastically that while Trump was sunbathing in Florida, a small drone could hit him in the stomach. Taleblu and Ghasseminejad argue that despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's statement during an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson that Tehran was not seeking to assassinate Trump, the calls for the US Presidents assassination have only increased among political and religious officials in the Iranian regime following the 12-day war with Israel. Terms such as 'warrior,' 'corrupter on earth,' 'warring infidel," and 'blood-shedder' are used to refer to Trump; all serve to justify his killing under Islamic law, they said. "If Khamenei and his loyalist clerics survive or outlive the Trump administration, Trump could face a fate similar to that of Salman Rushdie, where the Iranian regime's death fatwa will pursue him anywhere in the world," the analysts said, referring to a clerics statement that "Khamenei has many followers in America and Europe, and they will implement the order to fight Trump." Rushdie was attacked in 2022, some 34 years after Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his death, and after the latter's death. Tensions between Christian groups and the Israeli government are deepening after US Ambassador Mike Huckabee issued a sharp warning over Israels treatment of Evangelical organisations. In a letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, Huckabee criticised the Israeli Visa Department for halting clergy visas and launching sweeping investigations into Evangelical Christian groups, accusing the ministry of arbitrarily withdrawing recognition from institutions that have long operated in Israel. As of the beginning of 2025, the Visa Department ceased honouring the recommendations of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and has initiated an independent investigation into each of the Evangelical organisations, Huckabee wrote. Among the groups affected are the Baptist Convention of Israel, Christian Missionary Alliance and Assemblies of God, all of which have deep historical roots in Israel, some dating back to before 1948. None, according to Huckabee, have received new A3 clergy visas this year. Major academic institutions, including the Anglican School, IBEX from Masters University, University of the Holyland and Jerusalem University College, have also been stripped of their religious status for visa purposes. This has forced them to seek B1 Foreign Expert visas insteada category designed for for-profit enterprises, requiring high annual fees and a salary benchmark far above what religious institutions can typically afford. Huckabee, himself a prominent Evangelical and long-time supporter of Israel, warned of serious consequences if the policy remains unchanged. It would be very unfortunate that our Embassy would have to publicly announce throughout the United States that the State of Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organisations and their representatives, he wrote. He went on to suggest that the US could reconsider visa treatment for Israeli citizens and urge American Christians to rethink both tourism and financial support for Israel. At the heart of Huckabees frustration lies the perception that Evangelical Christiansamong Israels most vocal supporters globallyare being sidelined. The Evangelical Christian community is perhaps the strongest and most faithful and fervent supporter of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, he said. He cited the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ) as a prime example, noting its role in shifting diplomatic positions in favour of Israel, promoting immigration and supporting humanitarian causes. The current visa clampdown is unfolding against a backdrop of growing concern within the US over Israels handling of Christian sites and communities, especially in the West Bank and Gaza. Huckabee travelled to the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank on July 19, expressing solidarity after an arson attack damaged the ruins of the Byzantine-era Church of Saint George. Residents blamed the attack on Israeli settlers, but Israeli authorities have remained silent. It doesn't matter whether it's a mosque, a church, a synagogue, Huckabee told reporters. It's unacceptable to commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship. He called the attacks criminal and terrorist acts and demanded prosecutions, signalling a rare break from his traditionally unwavering support for Israels settlement policies. Huckabees condemnation follows a similarly strong reaction to the death of Palestinian-American Saif Musallet, who was allegedly beaten to death by settlers near Ramallah. While he stopped short of calling it systemic, his remarks represented an unusual rebuke of settler violence from a figure known for defending Israels right to expand in the West Bank. The Trump administration has so far backed Huckabees stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly reprimanded by President Donald Trump following the killing of three civilians in Gazas only Catholic church during an IDF strike. The attack, which took place at the Holy Family Catholic Church, left several others injured, including the parish priest who had once received daily calls from the late Pope Francis. Netanyahus office later issued a statement of regret, seemingly under pressure from Washington. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo spoke with Netanyahu on July 18 to underline the need to protect places of worship. The Pope again expressed his concern for the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose heartbreaking price is paid especially by children, the elderly and the sick, a Vatican statement read. In a rare move, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, visited the besieged enclave to offer solidarity with the Catholic community. The statement from the Latin Patriarchate said the trip reflected the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches in the Holy Land and their growing alarm over the safety and dignity of Christian life in the region. Huckabee, usually a fierce defender of Israel, made clear that the accumulating grievancesfrom visa denials to unchecked violencecould no longer be ignored. Surely this is not the relationship the State of Israel wishes to have with its best partner and friend on the planet, he wrote. Amid reports that Iran has agreed to hold talks with the UK, France, and Germany over its nuclear programme, a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was seen rushing to Moscow on an unannounced trip to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters about Ali Larijanis meeting with President Putin. While Peskov said Larijani and Putin assessed the tense situation in the region and the conflict over Irans nuclear programme, the visit, which came an hour after Iran agreed to hold talks with the European countries, holds significance. Many believe Larijani's sudden trip to Moscow is part of Irans intensive diplomatic efforts to rally Russian support, especially in the wake of the non-committal stance adopted by Putin during the recent Iran-Israel war. There were reports that Putin encouraged Iran to accept a deal with the United States to completely halt uranium enrichment despite Tehrans stance that it will not give up its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. There are also speculations that Larijani was carrying a message from Khamenei to Putin. A week ago, an Iranian newspaper reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchis letter to Vladimir Putin contained a message of complaint from Khamenei, possibly about Russias stance. However, the newspaper later denied the report, writing that the statements about the content of the letter lacked the necessary accuracy and truthfulness. However, there could be other discreet reasons for Larijanis visit. There were earlier reports that the advisor had made several secret visits to Russia with the aim of strengthening Iran's military and defense capabilities, particularly in the nuclear field. He held behind-the-scenes talks with senior Russian officials to secure Moscow's support for Iran's nuclear programme and air defense systems. The choice of Larijani is also interesting as he enjoys close ties with Iranian regime officials and is known for his ability to push matters forward. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into an educational institute in Dhaka on Monday, claiming one life. Several people are believed to have suffered injuries in the incident. A #Bangladesh Air Force plane crashed near Milestone College, Uttara. Rescue operations are underway. #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/rmkwMLCvhR Sabria Chowdhury Balland (@SabriaCBalland) July 21, 2025 The plane reportedly crashed at Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara area and caught fire around 1:00 PM, Bangladeshi media reports said. The aircraft went down near the college's temporary campus area, they added. It was an F-7 BGI (701) model of the Bangladesh Air Force that was involved in the incident, Jamuna TV said in a report. Flight Lieutenant Taukir Islam Sagar was identified as the solo pilot on board the plane, it added. Reports on social media indicate that several civilians were injured in the plane crash. They are seen being rescued and rushed to hospital by first responders. As many as 28 people have been admitted so far at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute of Dhaka Medical College. Most of the injured are students, Prothom Alo reported quoting hospital officials. Four others were taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) by an air force helicopter, the report added. ALSO READ | Bangladesh plane crash: Milestone college students walking out with burn injuries, many feared stuck | 5 Latest updates The fire service said that upon receiving the information, eight fire and rescue units were rushed to Milestone School and College from Uttara, Tongi, Pallabi, Kurmitola, Mirpur, and Purbachal fire stations, Jamuna TV reported. Rescue operations are still underway. "F-7 BGI (701)" refers to a specific variant of the Chinese F-7 fighter jets. In 2022, China had reportedly given 36 F-7 BGIs to Dhaka, reports showed. Sixteen F-7BGIs of the Bangladesh Air Force entered service in 2013. The Bangladeshi Air Force currently operates FT-7MB Airguards, and F-7BG and F-7BGI interceptors, Wikipedia said. The Pakistan Senate issued a ruling last week abolishing the death penalty for the public stripping of women. The ruling body also dropped the death penalty for harboring hijackers, replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment for these crimes. According to Pakistan lawmakers, these reforms have been adopted in a bid to align Pakistans laws with international human rights standards, especially under the European Unions Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade agreement with the EU. One of the criteria of the trade agreement is to ensure death penalty is reserved only for the most serious crimes. Under existing law, Section 354-A allows for capital punishment or life imprisonment for anyone who assaults and strips a woman in public, while Section 402-C applies the same punishment to individuals who knowingly harbor hijackers. The route to the reforms was not easy, as the opposition PTI said that stripping a woman in public is no less severe than murder. PTI Senator Barrister Syed Ali Zafar argued that stripping a woman in public is no less severe than murder, insisting that removing the death penalty weakens deterrence. The Balochistan Awami Party was also against the reforms. The softening of punishment could embolden offenders, especially when the conviction rate in such cases remains alarmingly low. This is not right. This is not going to help the country or its women, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri warned. However, the move was welcomed by rights activists. Publicly stripping women of their clothes is one of the most heinous crimes and must be met with the harshest punishment, Mahnaz Rahman, womans rights activist and former executive director of the Aurat Foundation, told Arab News. While we strongly advocate for severe punishments for such acts, we do not support the death penalty for any crime, including this one. PHNOM PENH, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported products worth 2.4 billion U.S. dollars to the European Union (EU) market in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 20.6 percent from 1.99 billion dollars, said an official report on Monday. The EU market accounted for 16.3 percent of the kingdom's total export volume of 14.7 billion dollars during the January-June period this year, said the report compiled by the Ministry of Commerce. Cambodia's top five export destinations in the EU are Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, the report added. "Main products Cambodia exported to EU were apparels, textiles, shoes, travel goods, bags, bicycles, car tires, and some electronic devices as well as potential agricultural produce such as rice, rubber, cashew nuts, casava starch, bananas and longans," Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and spokesperson Penn Sovicheat told Xinhua. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian country recorded a total import of 375.6 million dollars from the EU in the first half of this year, down 20 percent from 470 million dollars over the same period last year, according to the report. Main goods Cambodia imported from the EU were machinery, home appliances, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, pearls and precious stones, textiles, and electrical items, among others. US Senator Lindsay Graham has issued a stern warning to countries that buy oil from Russia, including India, that US President Donald Trump will crush your economy. Grahams threat comes just days after Trump said he would impose a 100% pc tariff on countries that import Russian products, mainly oil. Graham, in an interview with Fox News, specifically named India. "Trump is going to impose tariffs on people who buy Russian oil: China, India, and Brazil. These three countries buy about 80% of the cheap Russian oil, and they continue to keep the Russian war machine running. Trump will impose 100% tariffs on these countries to punish them for helping Putin. Soon they will be at the deciding point and will have to choose between the American economy and their help to Putin, and I think they will choose the American economy, he said. Graham then threw in a piece of advice to India. Here's what I would tell China, India, and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, were going to tear up the hell out of you and were going to crush your economy, because what youre doing is blood money, he said. India is the largest buyer of Russian oil, accounting for 38% of the crude oil that India imports. In April 2025, India's crude imports from Russia reached nearly 2 million barrels per day, marking a two-year high. The US President gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a deadline of 50 days for Russia to end the war, to avoid tariffs. Russia responded to the announcement, calling it a "theatrical ultimatum," but India said it wasnt worried about the tariff as it could diversify its sources. Graham also took on Putin directly in the interview. "Putin, your turn is coming. Donald Trump is the 'Scott Scheffler' of American politics and diplomacy, and he's going to kick your ass, Graham said. Chinese monk Xuanzang, who travelled between China and India, is one of history's most well-known figures. His remarkable journey altered the intellectual and spiritual landscape of South and East Asia and laid the foundation for two of India's first and most enduring cultural bridges to China: cultural. Outside the orbit of religious endeavour, Xuanzang excelled in a variety of arenas: philosophy, translation, diplomacy, ethnography, and cultural ambassadorship. His travels and research united two ancient cultures long lost to the passage of time, in a bond of respect and understanding that is felt in modern debates regarding global politics and mass culture. It was the conviction of Xuanzang himself, rather than the imprimatur of an empire, that determined him to walk this path. Bypassing treacherous mountains, deserts, and war-torn kingdoms, he made the journey away from China in secret around 627 CE, openly defying the early travel proscriptions laid down by the Tang dynasty. His reputation as a scholar and seeker of truth was established before he reached India. He was received in India with the respect due an honoured guest, not a foreigner. Scholarship, diplomacy, and dialogue were characteristics of his long sojourn, which took almost a decade and a half. Buddhist ruler Harsha Vardhana, who controlled most of northern India, was one of his most significant sponsors. He visited royal courts and took part in vigorous intellectual discussions with scholars of various traditions like Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. What made Xuanzang different from other travellers was the fact that he was both a monk and a diplomat. To cross the cultures, he drew upon the deep knowledge he had of the philosophical traditions both of Confucianism and Buddhism. He was not merely an observer but an interlocutor of cultures. He gave the Indian subcontinent a human face to Chinese readers and rulers through the fact that he was there, and through the extensive writings he produced upon coming to China. Even in the modern age of official diplomatic missions and international organisations, that level of intercultural mediation is exceptional. Generations of Central Asian and Chinese pilgrims were enthralled with the travels of Xuanzang to India, which held more than personal importance. He gave a spiritual and intellectual map to the pilgrims for generations to follow with his long, descriptive, arduous sojourn. Symbolic of the chivalric quest for knowledge and truth, the risky undertaking of the journey was undertaken in an age both physically hazardous for travel, as well as politically. Chinese scholars and monks, such as Yijing (635-713), were inspired by Xuanzang's journey and travelled to Southeast Asia as well as to India. Their paths came to be culturally well-trodden roads that provided the conduit for the transmission of the scriptures, ideas, and religious practices as he traversed Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Gangetic plain. In addition to that, his travel account, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, was a handbook not just for monks but for kings, mapmakers, and historians. Outside the walls of Chinese monasteries, the vivid accounts of Indian towns, temples, customs, weather, languages, and people gave India a living presence. Contemporary archaeological research has been influenced by this book, which remains the most complete description of 7th-century India. By any standards of historical importance, the return of Xuanzang to China in 645 with over 600 Sanskrit manuscripts was a colossal success. Rather than accumulating information, he succeeded in transforming it. He first collaborated with Chinese scholars and monks over the next two decades to translate seventy-five of the works into Chinese. The subject matter spanned topics from logic and metaphysics to grammar and medicine. Chinese Buddhism, in particular the Faxiang school that he also founded, was profoundly shaped by the translations he made of core Mahayana Buddhist scriptures such as the Yogacarabhumi Sastra and the scriptures of the Prajnaparamita. Xuanzang's translations gained significance even in India, a fact often overlooked. Ironically, the Chinese versions, saved by him and others, formed the basis for reconstructing or recovering these works in India and beyond. His actions then helped avoid the likely loss of a common heritage. In addition, the translations of Xuanzang provided a standard against which other scholarship was measured, so thorough and accurate were they. To ensure that biased interpretations common in cross-cultural translations were avoided, he included commentaries and glossaries with the primary works on many occasions. Comparative philosophy, which is what we know today, had in Xuanzang an early ancestor. Xuanzang's travelogues and personal accounts depict the tolerant, pluralistic nature of ancient India in a way that scholarly knowledge cannot fully capture. He travelled through many kingdoms with their specific language, faith, and conventions, but he was taken in with open doors and high regard by nearly all of them. His accounts always portray the hospitableness of the ancient people, which is the exact opposite of the most commonly given picture of ancient countries being isolated and intolerable today. Among India's numerous ethnic groups, he noted, religious debates took place peacefully in public squares. Intellectual diversity was not just tolerated but cherished, and monarchs supported a variety of religious establishments. The university at Nalanda, where for several years he had studied, was a classic expression of this cosmopolitan ethos. With the facility for accommodating a significant number of students from Asia and foreign professors, Nalanda became a centre of global intellectual exchange and religious dialogue. This openness to foreign knowledge and traditions exemplifies India's cultural identity: a nation welcoming the 'other' as enrichment, not threat. That the welcome Xuanzang received was so enthusiastic that he was integrated seamlessly into Indian intellectual circles is proof of the subcontinent's inherent hospitality and curiosity. The life of Xuanzang is a template for how cultural diplomacy at its finest might function. He was not an emissary of state power nor an agent of empire, but a seeker, a mediator, a bridge-builder. During the prevailing atmosphere of cultural misunderstanding and geopolitical unease today between India and China, the memory of Xuanzang demonstrates the power of respectful dialogue in fostering strong intellectual and spiritual bonds. Prof Siddharth Singh is vice chancellor, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara. Nicosia, Jul 20 (AP) Turkish Cypriots on Sunday celebrated Turkiye's military invasion of Cyprus that cleaved the island nation along ethnic lines 51 years ago. Turkiye's president reaffirmed his full backing for a controversial peace deal that envisions the establishment of two separate states. It's a proposal that the majority Greek Cypriots in the island's internationally recognised southern part reject out of hand. It would formalise Cyprus' partition and give Turkiye a permanent foothold they see as a bid for control of the entire, strategically situated country and its offshore hydrocarbon wealth. Our support for (Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar's) vision for a two-state solution is absolute, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in remarks to a crowd during celebrations that culminated with a military parade. It was scheduled this year for the evening to avoid the worst of the scorching mid-summer's heat. It is time for the international community to come to terms with the facts on the ground, Erdogan added, urging the international community to establish diplomatic and economic relations with the breakaway state in Cyprus' northern third that Turkish Cypriots declared in 1983. Turkiye's invasion came in the immediate aftermath of a coup staged by Athens junta-backed supporters of uniting Cyprus with Greece. Currently, only Turkiye recognises the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and maintains 35,000 troops in the north. Erdogan's renewed support for a two-state deal came just days after Tatar, the island's Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, the foreign ministers of guarantor' powers Greece and Turkiye, and Britain's minister of state for Europe gathered at UN headquarters in New York for meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to end an eight-year moratorium on formal peace negotiations. The meeting achieved little in the way of a return to fully fledged negotiations as Tatar insisted on recognition for the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state as a prerequisite. The meeting did, however, achieve some progress on a number of confidence-building measures such the exchange of cultural artifacts and the setting up of an advisory committee on civil society. Guterres said he'll meet again with Tatar and Christodoulides in September and hold another wider meeting after a Turkish Cypriot leadership election in October in which Tatar is running on a two-state platform. Turkiye and the Turkish Cypriots insist a two-state deal is the only way forward because decades of UN-mediated peace talks based on a UN Security Council endorsed framework of reunifying Cyprus as a federation no longer had any meaning. That switch came after the last big push for a peace accord in the summer of 2017. It fell through on what Greek Cypriots said was a Turkish and Turkish Cypriot insistence on keeping a permanent Turkish troop presence on the island and enshrining military intervention rights for Turkiye as part of any deal. Greek Cypriots also rejected a demand for blanket veto powers for the minority Turkish Cypriots on all government decisions. In the south where Greek Cypriots commemorated the invasion with solemn memorials to the war dead, Christodoulides said the international community gives no support to a two-state deal. He said Turkiye's continuing occupation of European territory subverts its ambitions for closer European Union ties and undermines the role it wishes to play in the region. (AP) GRS GRS Ecuador on Sunday extradited to the United States the leader of a violent Ecuadorian gang who relied on hitmen, bribes and military weapons to do business. Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, whose nickname is Fito, escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and was recaptured late June. In April, a U.S. Attorney indicted him in New York City on charges he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. Macias was removed from the La Roca Detention Center under the custody of the National Police and Armed Forces for the appropriate proceedings in the context of an extradition process, Ecuadors government agency responsible for overseeing prisons, SNAI, said in a message sent to journalists. Details of the handover were not specified. A photograph released by SNAI showed Macias wearing a T-shirt, shorts, a bulletproof vest and helmet. Several police officers were guarding him at an undisclosed location. The Ecuadorian will appear Monday before Brooklyns federal court where he will plead not guilty, Macias lawyer Alexei Schacht told The Associated Press via email. After that, he will be detained in a prison yet to be determined, Schacht added. The extradition decision came after the United States sent a document to Ecuador offering guarantees for the respect of the rights of the 45-year-old criminal leader. Since 2020, Macias has led Los Choneros, a criminal organization that emerged in the 1990s. The gang employed people to buy firearms and ammunition in the United States and smuggle them into Ecuador, according to Aprils indictment. Cocaine would flow into the United States with the help of Mexican cartels. Together, the groups controlled key cocaine trafficking routes through Ecuador, violently targeting law enforcement, politicians, lawyers and civilians who stood in the way. Macias escaped from a Guayaquil prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, organized crime, and murder. He was recaptured a year and a half later on the countrys central coast. Macias has cultivated a cult status among fellow gang members and the public in his home country. While behind bars in 2023, he released a video addressed to the Ecuadorian people while flanked by armed men. He also threw parties in prison, where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters for cockfighting matches. Macias is the first Ecuadorian to be extradited to the U.S. from Ecuador, prison authorities said. Two other Ecuadorian drug traffickers have previously been handed over to the United States but from Colombia, where they were arrested. (AP) A serious crash just outside Camp SCHI in Hawley, Pennsylvania, sent a dozen counselors and staff members to the hospital Sunday night including two who were airlifted by medevac but, bchasdei Hashem, no life-threatening injuries were reported. The accident occurred around 9:45 PM when a passenger van transporting Camp SCHI staff from a quick trip to a nearby Walmart struck a tree . The van driver had swerved to avoid a deer that darted across the road, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported 12 individuals to various local and regional hospitals. Two staff members were flown by medevac to Scranton Medical Center out of caution for more serious injuries. As of Monday morning, eight of the patients had already been released, while four others remain hospitalized in stable condition, with injuries including broken bones. Catskills Hatzolah, although outside the camps region, was contacted during the emergency and provided critical remote support, helping guide Camp SCHI staff through the tense and frightening moments that followed the accident. Camp SCHI is the summer program of the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI), a Lakewood-based institution serving children with a wide range of disabilities, including autism and Down syndrome. The camp builds on the therapeutic and educational work done at SCHI during the school year, helping students gain independence and continue their development in a supportive environment. It also offers families of children with disabilities a much-needed respite. (YWN Wold Headquarters NYC) A fire at Irans oldest and largest refinery in the southwest killed one person, state media reported Sunday. A leaky pump in an under-repair unit at Abadan refinery caused the fire on Saturday, killing a worker, according to the state-owned IRAN newspaper. Firefighters put out the blaze in two hours and operations remained unaffected, the report said. Irans deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad, confirmed Sunday that some workers were also injured, media outlets said. Abadan oil refinery, some 670 kilometers (nearly 416 miles) from the capital Tehran, began its operation in 1912. It is the biggest in the Islamic Republic, producing about 25% of the countrys fuel with more than 5,200,000 barrels of oil refined daily. Several fires have broken out across Iran over the past week at residential and commercial buildings, with authorities saying gas leaks and electrical short-circuiting were to blame. Iran is one of the worlds major producers of oil, though sanctions by Western countries have limited its sales. (AP) An eruption of violence in Syria this week entangled government forces, Bedouin tribes, the Druze religious minority and neighboring Israel, and highlighted just how combustible the country remains seven months after its longtime authoritarian leader was toppled. The Druze and other minorities increasingly mistrust Syrias central government. It is run by a man once affiliated with al-Qaida, though he has pledged to protect Syrias diverse ethnic and religious groups since helping to oust Bashar Assad after a nearly 14-year civil war. The sectarian turbulence within Syria threatens to shake-up postwar alliances and exacerbate regional tensions, experts say. It could also potentially draw the country closer to Turkey and away from Israel, with whom it has been quietly engaging since Assads fall, with encouragement from the Trump administration. The spark for this weeks violence Deadly clashes broke out last Sunday in the southern province of Sweida between Druze militias and local Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes. Government forces intervened, ostensibly to restore order, but ended up trying to wrest control of Sweida from the Druze factions that control it. Hundreds were killed in the fighting, and some government fighters allegedly executed Druze civilians and burned and looted their houses. Driven by concerns about security and domestic politics, Israel intervened on behalf of the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority within Israel and often serve in its military. Israeli warplanes bombarded the Syrian Defense Ministrys headquarters in central Damascus and struck near the presidential palace. It was an apparent warning to the countrys interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led Islamist rebels that overthrew Assad but has since preached coexistence and sought ties with the West. The Israeli army also struck government forces in Sweida. By Wednesday, a truce had been mediated that allowed Druze factions and clerics to maintain security in Sweida as government forces pulled out although fighting persisted between Druze and Bedouin forces. Early Saturday, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack announced a separate ceasefire had been brokered between Israel and Syria. Worsening ties with minorities This past weeks clashes arent the first instance of sectarian violence in Syria since the fall of Assad. A few months after Assad fled and after a transition that initially was mostly peaceful, government forces and pro-Assad armed groups clashed on Syrias coast. That spurred sectarian attacks that killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority to which Assad belongs. Those killings left other minority groups, including the Druze in the south, and the Kurds in the northeast, wary that the countrys new leaders would protect them. Violence is only part of the problem. Syrias minority groups only have been given what many see as token representation in the interim government, according to Bassam Alahmad, executive director of Syrians for Truth and Justice, a civil society organization. Its a transitional period. We should have a dialogue, and they (the minorities) should feel that theyre a real part of the state, Alahmad said. Instead, with the incursion into Sweida, the new authorities have sent a message that they would use military force to control every part of Syria, he said. Bashar Assad tried this way, and it failed, he added. On the other hand, supporters of the new government fear that its decision to back down in Sweida could signal to other minorities that its OK to demand their own autonomous regions, which would fragment and weaken the country. If Damascus cedes security control of Sweida to the Druze, of course everyone else is going to demand the same thing, said Abdel Hakim al-Masri, a former official in the Turkish-backed regional government in Syrias northwest before Assads fall. This is what we are afraid of, he said. A rapprochement with Israel may be derailed Before this weeks flare-up between Israel and Syria, and despite a long history of suspicion between the two countries, the Trump administration had been pushing their leaders toward normalizing relations meaning that Syria would formally recognize Israel and establish diplomatic relations, or at least enter into some limited agreement on security matters. Syrian officials have acknowledged holding indirect talks with Israel, but defusing decades of tension was never going to be easy. After Assads fall, Israeli forces seized control of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in Syria and carried out airstrikes on military sites in what Israeli officials said was a move to create a demilitarized zone south of Damascus. Syria could be drawn closer to Turkey During Syrias civil war, the U.S. was allied with Kurdish forces in the countrys northeast in their fight against the Islamic State militant group. But since Assads fall, the U.S. has begun gradually pulling its forces out of Syria and has encouraged the Kurds to integrate their forces with those of the new authorities in Damascus. To that end, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces agreed in March to a landmark deal that would merge them with the national army. But implementation has stalled. A major sticking point has been whether the SDF would remain as a cohesive unit in the new army or be dissolved completely. Khalifa said the conflict in Sweida is definitely going to complicate those talks. Not only are the Kurds mistrustful of government forces after their attacks on Alawite and Druze minorities, but now they also view them as looking weak. Lets be frank, the government came out of this looking defeated, Khalifa said. Its possible that the Kurds, like the Druze, might look to Israel for support, but Turkey is unlikely to stand by idly if they do, Khalifa said. The Turkish government considers the SDF a terrorist organization because of its association with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a long-running insurgency in Turkey. For that reason, it has long wanted to curtail the groups influence just across its border. (AP) Maj. Gen (res.) Gershon HaCohen, the officer who oversaw Israels withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, stated in a recent interview with Kan News that if the disengagement hadnt taken place, the October 7 massacre wouldnt have happened. Hacohen said that the evacuation of Gush Katif created the conditions that led to October 7th. One of the factors was the abandonment of the Philadelphi Corridor that led to a flood of rockets from Iran and Libya. We left the Philadelphi Corridor, which enabled the entry of proper weapons, long-range rockets, he said. It turned into a strategic threat because every time we wanted to enter Beit Hanoun for five minutes, they would aim rockets at Tel Aviv. It enabled them to build a proper army. It wasnt terror cells anymore; it was battalions, companies, and brigades. The second thing that happened is that leaving all the yishuvim of Gush Katif, which bisected the Gaza Strip, harmed the operational deployment within the Strip. From the moment the disengagement was created, Gaza became a binary space of the literal idea of them there and us here. The third thing is that after the disengagement, Hamas managed to take power and eliminate the grip of the Palestinian Authority. From that moment they created an army with companies, battalions, brigades, and a control and command system. We created a threat of a de facto army in Gaza, a de facto state that is located on the border of Nachal Oz, a five-minute drive away. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Israeli planes and drones carried out a series of airstrikes in the rural area of western Sweida, in southern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported overnight Sunday. It was also reported that Israeli helicopters flew over Sweida and provided assistance to residents, against the backdrop of reports that security forces withdrew from the area. The IDF confirmed that Israel delivered aid and medical equipment to the Druze city of Sweida overnight Sunday. According to the report, aid was delivered in coordination with the US, which coordinated with the Syrian regime. The aid was delivered to Sweidas only hospital, which was attacked by the Bedouins, who brutally executed the entire medical staff and severely damaged the building. Meanwhile, the ceasefire announced over the weekend appears to be holding, with no reports of further clashes. The Saudi Al-Hadath television channel reported that women and children taken captive in clashes in Sweida will soon be released. The channel quoted a security commander named Ahmed al-Dalti, who announced that the release of families held by the factions in Sweida will take place in the coming hours. He added that their safe return will be ensured as part of the states commitment to protect all its citizens and preserve the unity of the national fabric. The Observatory reported on Sunday that the number of fatalities in the clashes over the past week has risen to at least 1,120, most of them Druze residents of Sweida who were killed during the fighting. For the time being, Syrian army forces have been deployed at the eastern entrance to the city in order to prevent Bedouin tribal fighters from approaching the area. According to reports, calm has been maintained in the area in recent hours, while a humanitarian aid convoy of the Red Cross made its way to the city. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) VIENTIANE, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Military delegations from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam convened here to discuss and finalize plans for the 2025 trilateral joint disaster relief exercise. The joint exercise focused on search, rescue, and humanitarian assistance in response to natural disasters, according to a Lao People's Army News report on Monday. During the session, the delegations engaged in in-depth discussions on operational procedures, coordination strategies, and logistical arrangements. Key topics covered included cross-border travel facilitation, training schedules, and the deployment of personnel, vehicles, and equipment. Beyond disaster preparedness, the joint exercise aims to promote solidarity, cooperation, and enduring friendship among the armed forces of the three countries, contributing to regional peace and stability. The Likud party is holding elections for the position of the chairman of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday, party chairman Ofir Katz announced to party members early Monday afternoon. The announcement came after Likud members placed heavy pressure on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to oust Edelstein from his position in the wake of the coalition crisis caused by his changes to the Chareidi draft law, Ynet reported. Likud MK Chanoch Milvitzky, who last week spoke in defense of the Chareidi community, submitted his candidacy on Monday afternoon to replace Edelstein. Shortly later, Likud MK Nissim Vaturi also submitted his candidacy. According to the report, in light of the statements against Edelstein by Likud members in recent days who called for his ouster, it is believed that Milvitzky will win a majority in a vote to replace Edelstein. In order to replace a sitting committee chairman, the candidate must be approved by the party, and a vote is then held by the committee. In recent days, many Likud members have spoken out against Edelstein, stressing that he is acting out of ulterior motives and must be removed from his position. Last week, Likud Minister Miri Regev slammed Edelstein in an interview with Ynet: In the end, the draft law will pass. Everyone understands that there needs to be a draft law. Even the Chareidim understand thatthey reached agreements with Edelstein before the attack in Iran, and he did not stand by the agreed framework. He decided to harden his positions and add all sorts of aspects that were not coordinated beforehand. She added: The chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee understands the security challenges facing the State of Israel, but Edelstein has ulterior motives that cause him not to want to pass the draft law. In my opinion, it is solely due to ulterior motives. Culture Minister Miki Zohar said on Galey Yisrael that Edelstein must pass a draft law, adding that agreements were reached with him, and if he doesnt carry through, there will be no choice but to replace him. We have two more days left in the session, and if he doesnt do it, we will need to begin the next Knesset session with a new committee chairman. It should be noted that the Chareidi parties clarified on Monday that replacing Edelstein will not bring them back to the government. Even establishing another committee or a bypass track around Edelstein will not bring us back. We will return if there is a draft law ready for a vote and nothing else, they emphasized. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) The Israeli Air Force launched an attack on the Hodeidah port in Yemen on Monday at about noon. In a first, the attack was carried out by drones instead of fighter jets. The strikes targeted areas of the port that the Houthis were attempting to rebuild after they were struck in previous Israeli attacks. The attack came after continued missile launches by the Houthis at Israel in past weeks, with the latest missile launched on Friday night. Since the IDF last attacked Yemen on July 7, the Houthis have launched about 10 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel. BChasdei Hashem, they were all intercepted by Israels air defense forces and did not cause any damage or injuries. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed the reports, stating that the IDF is currently attacking terror targets of the Houthi terror regime in the port of Hodeidah and is forcefully enforcing any attempt to rebuild the terror infrastructure that was attacked in the past. As I have clarified, the law of Yemen is the same as the law of Tehran. The Houthis will pay a heavy price for firing missiles at the State of Israel. We will continue to act at any time and in any place to protect the State of Israel. Shortly after the strikes were reported, the IDF also issued a statement confirming the attack. The IDF struck and dismantled military infrastructure belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime at the Hodeidah port, the statement said. Among the military infrastructure struck were engineering vehicles used to reestablish the ports infrastructure, fuel containers, naval vessels used for military activities against the State of Israel and vessels in the maritime zone adjacent to the port, and additional terror infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime. The port has been used, among other things, to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are then used by the Houthi terrorist regime to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and its allies. The IDF has identified the continuous efforts and actions of the Houthi terrorist regime to reestablish terrorist infrastructure at the port, and as such, the components used to advance these efforts were struck. The Houthi terrorist regime exploits the maritime zone for the use of force and to carry out terrorist attacks against passing vessels and global maritime trade. The targets struck demonstrate how the Houthi terrorist regime utilizes civilian infrastructure for military and terrorist purposes. The IDF will operate decisively against the repeated attacks of the Houthi terrorist regime against Israeli civilians and remains determined to continue operating against any threat posed to the civilians of the State of Israel, wherever it is required. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Defense Minister Yisrael Katz wrote a post on X in response to criticism by the US over Israels strikes in Syria to deter the massacre of Druze in the city of Sweida in southern Syria. Israels attacks on regime targets in Suweida and Damascus were the only way to stop the massacre of Druze in Syria, the brothers of our Druze brothers in Israel, he wrote. Those who criticize the attacks are not well-versed in the facts. The governments policy in Syria, including the presence of the IDF in Hermon and the security zone and the protection of the Druze, is correct and responsible, reflecting strength and mutual responsibility, he concluded. Axios reported over the weekend that US officials were furious about Israels strikes in Syria, saying that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is undermining President Donald Trumps regional strategy in Syria and Gaza. However, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack seemed to tone down the criticism in an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, conceding that the clashes, which took place near the Israeli/Syrian border, posed security issues for Israel The United States was not asked, nor did they participate in that decision, nor was it the United States responsibility in matters that Israel feels is for its own self-defense, he said. However, he said that Israels intervention creates another very confusing chapter and came at a very bad time. When the clashes erupted, Israels view was that south of Damascus was this questionable zone, so that whatever happened militarily in that zone needed to be agreed upon and discussed with them, Barrack said. The new government (in Syria) coming in was not exactly of that belief. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Israelisa civilian and an IDF soldierwere detained briefly by Belgian authorities while on vacation and questioned before being released. The incident, which occurred during a music festival, stemmed from allegations leveled by an anti-Israel group, prompting a response from Israeli officials. The Foreign Ministry and the IDF handled the matter and are in contact with the two, the ministry said in a statement, declining to provide further details on the cause of the detention. According to Belgiums public broadcaster RTBF, citing the federal prosecutors office, the two Israelis were questioned after the Hind Rajab Foundation, an anti-Israel organization, filed a complaint accusing them of grave international crimes, including war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip. The report noted that Belgian police acted under a 2024 amendment to the Belgian Code of Criminal Procedure, which granted authorities jurisdiction to pursue such allegations. The men were detained, questioned, and subsequently released, RTBF reported. The Israeli Foreign Ministry did not comment on the specifics of the allegations or the status of any ongoing investigations. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An Israeli soldier was killed Monday during combat operations in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the IDF announced. The soldier was identified as Staff Sgt. Amit Cohen, 19, of Holon, who served in the Golani Brigades 13th Battalion. According to a preliminary IDF investigation, Cohen was killed when Israeli munitions detonated inside a building during an operation. The blast also seriously injured an officer from the same battalion. The IDF said the incident remains under investigation as military officials work to determine the exact cause of the explosion. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Shares of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AXL Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $6.43. Several research firms have recently issued reports on AXL. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 8th. UBS Group upgraded shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $4.50 to $7.00 in a report on Monday, July 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing from $8.00 to $7.50 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 19th. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $5.00 target price on shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Get American Axle & Manufacturing alerts: View Our Latest Report on American Axle & Manufacturing Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Axle & Manufacturing American Axle & Manufacturing Stock Performance A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing by 825.6% in the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 6,979 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 6,225 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in the 4th quarter valued at about $51,000. Ethic Inc. bought a new stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in the 4th quarter valued at about $59,000. Ground Swell Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in the 4th quarter valued at about $61,000. Finally, Golden State Equity Partners bought a new stake in shares of American Axle & Manufacturing in the 1st quarter valued at about $61,000. Institutional investors own 91.41% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE:AXL opened at $4.55 on Wednesday. American Axle & Manufacturing has a 52 week low of $3.00 and a 52 week high of $7.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $539.91 million, a P/E ratio of 26.76 and a beta of 1.54. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.38. American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:AXL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 2nd. The auto parts company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.43 billion. American Axle & Manufacturing had a net margin of 0.36% and a return on equity of 8.70%. The businesss revenue was down 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.18 EPS. On average, analysts expect that American Axle & Manufacturing will post 0.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. American Axle & Manufacturing Company Profile (Get Free Report American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc engages in the manufacture, engineering, design, and validation of driveline systems and related components. It operates through the Driveline and Metal Forming segments. The Driveline segment consists of axles, drive shafts, power transfer units, rear drive modules, and electric and hybrid driveline products and systems for light trucks, service utility vehicles, crossover vehicles, passenger cars, and commercial vehicles. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for American Axle & Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Axle & Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the five ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $107.45. Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Itau BBA Securities upgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $102.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $112.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Fomento Economico Mexicano Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Down 0.9% Fomento Economico Mexicano stock opened at $99.40 on Wednesday. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a fifty-two week low of $81.08 and a fifty-two week high of $119.18. The stock has a market cap of $35.56 billion, a PE ratio of 22.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 0.65. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $103.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $97.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.64. Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.52 by ($0.07). Fomento Economico Mexicano had a return on equity of 7.86% and a net margin of 3.98%. The firm had revenue of $9.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $194.75 billion. Research analysts predict that Fomento Economico Mexicano will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 17th will be paid a $1.3625 dividend. This represents a yield of 2%. This is a boost from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous dividend of $0.73. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 17th. Fomento Economico Mexicanos payout ratio is presently 49.44%. Institutional Trading of Fomento Economico Mexicano Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 41.4% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 369 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Alpine Bank Wealth Management bought a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 1st quarter worth approximately $46,000. Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 1st quarter worth approximately $51,000. Institutional investors own 61.00% of the companys stock. Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile (Get Free Report Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new stake in MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE:MTG Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,334 shares of the insurance providers stock, valued at approximately $33,000. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in MGIC Investment by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 122,419 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,034,000 after buying an additional 5,875 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in MGIC Investment by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 22,112 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $548,000 after buying an additional 421 shares during the period. Edgestream Partners L.P. raised its holdings in MGIC Investment by 121.5% during the 1st quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 218,829 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $5,423,000 after buying an additional 120,055 shares during the period. MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in MGIC Investment during the 1st quarter worth approximately $594,000. Finally, A&I Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in MGIC Investment by 40.6% during the 1st quarter. A&I Financial Services LLC now owns 26,946 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $668,000 after buying an additional 7,786 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 95.58% of the companys stock. Get MGIC Investment alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Paula C. Maggio sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.49, for a total value of $529,800.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 157,395 shares in the company, valued at $4,169,393.55. This represents a 11.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.41% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have commented on MTG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of MGIC Investment from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Compass Point reissued a neutral rating and issued a $28.00 target price (up previously from $27.00) on shares of MGIC Investment in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on MGIC Investment from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MGIC Investment presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $26.88. Get Our Latest Report on MTG MGIC Investment Stock Performance MGIC Investment stock opened at $25.20 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $26.64 and a 200-day moving average of $25.12. MGIC Investment Corporation has a 1 year low of $21.94 and a 1 year high of $28.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The company has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.89. MGIC Investment (NYSE:MTG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The insurance provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.09. MGIC Investment had a return on equity of 14.96% and a net margin of 63.49%. The company had revenue of $306.23 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $306.66 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.65 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that MGIC Investment Corporation will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current year. MGIC Investment announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, April 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $750.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the insurance provider to purchase up to 12.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. MGIC Investment Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 8th were issued a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 8th. MGIC Investments payout ratio is presently 17.28%. MGIC Investment Company Profile (Free Report) MGIC Investment Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides private mortgage insurance, other mortgage credit risk management solutions, and ancillary services to lenders and government sponsored entities in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The company offers primary mortgage insurance that provides mortgage default protection on individual loans, as well as covers unpaid loan principal, delinquent interest, and various expenses associated with the default and subsequent foreclosure. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for MGIC Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MGIC Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its holdings in Thomson Reuters Co. (NYSE:TRI Free Report) (TSE:TRI) by 772.2% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 157 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc.s holdings in Thomson Reuters were worth $27,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of TRI. Investment Management Corp VA ADV bought a new position in Thomson Reuters in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its position in Thomson Reuters by 41.3% in the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 236 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its position in Thomson Reuters by 25.7% in the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 411 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its position in Thomson Reuters by 42.8% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 484 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. raised its position in Thomson Reuters by 1,008.9% in the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 621 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $107,000 after purchasing an additional 565 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 17.31% of the companys stock. Get Thomson Reuters alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TRI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Thomson Reuters from $187.00 to $213.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, June 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Thomson Reuters from $177.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Thomson Reuters from $182.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Thomson Reuters from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on Thomson Reuters in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. They set a neutral rating and a $180.00 target price for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $187.30. Thomson Reuters Trading Up 0.0% NYSE TRI opened at $209.29 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $197.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $181.22. The company has a market capitalization of $94.30 billion, a PE ratio of 42.80, a P/E/G ratio of 5.67 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Thomson Reuters Co. has a 12 month low of $150.01 and a 12 month high of $218.42. Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI Get Free Report) (TSE:TRI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The business services provider reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. Thomson Reuters had a return on equity of 14.62% and a net margin of 30.45%. The firms revenue was up .8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.11 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Thomson Reuters Co. will post 3.89 EPS for the current year. Thomson Reuters Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were issued a $0.595 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $2.38 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.14%. Thomson Reuterss dividend payout ratio is presently 49.69%. Thomson Reuters Company Profile (Free Report) Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thomson Reuters Co. (NYSE:TRI Free Report) (TSE:TRI). Receive News & Ratings for Thomson Reuters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thomson Reuters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wiluna Mining Co. Limited (ASX:WMX Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Monday, July 21st, MarketIndexAU Dividends reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 28th will be paid a dividend of 0.002 per share on Thursday, August 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 13th. Wiluna Mining Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.83. Get Wiluna Mining alerts: Wiluna Mining Company Profile (Get Free Report) Recommended Stories Blackham Resources Limited explores for and develops gold properties in Australia. It holds 100% interests in the Matilda-Wiluna gold operation located in Australia. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in West Perth, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Wiluna Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wiluna Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China's commemoration of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is not to incite hatred, but to inspire the global pursuit of peace, a senior Chinese scholar said on Monday. "This triumph crushed Japanese militarists' colonial ambitions against China," said Wang Junwei, director of the Academic and Editorial Committee of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. "It also ended China's national humiliation from repeated defeats to foreign aggression in modern times," he added at a press conference. "The victory restored China's standing as a major country, earning its people the respect from peace-loving nations," Wang stated. "Critically, it fortified the Chinese people's resolve for national independence, freedom and liberation," the scholar told the media. He noted that victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression marked a historic turning point for the Chinese nation, transforming its journey from enduring significant crises to achieving great rejuvenation, and that this event is considered an integral part of the World Anti-Fascist War. "By condemning and exposing the aggressor's brutal atrocities and serious catastrophes brought to the humanity, we work jointly to prevent the recurrence of such historical tragedies, securing peaceful progress for all peoples," Wang said. China has designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day to commemorate the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept. 2, 1945. To mark the 80th anniversary of this victory, the country will hold a military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3, along with ceremonies to confer medals, international seminars and other memorial activities. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was fought from 1931 to 1945. It was the first major conflict and the longest-running campaign in the World Anti-Fascist War. The war resulted in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties. Profitability This table compares Innovative Designs and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Innovative Designs 16.04% 24.97% 21.29% Innovative Designs Competitors 3.32% -34.41% 5.65% Institutional & Insider Ownership 65.8% of shares of all TEXTILE APPAREL companies are owned by institutional investors. 24.4% of Innovative Designs shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 19.3% of shares of all TEXTILE APPAREL companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Innovative Designs alerts: Risk and Volatility Innovative Designs has a beta of -3.12, indicating that its stock price is 412% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Innovative Designs peers have a beta of 0.87, indicating that their average stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Innovative Designs $1.38 million $100,000.00 12.39 Innovative Designs Competitors $6.37 billion $620.41 million 7.34 This table compares Innovative Designs and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Innovative Designs peers have higher revenue and earnings than Innovative Designs. Innovative Designs 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 Innovative Designs beats its peers on 5 of the 9 factors compared. Innovative Designs Company Profile (Get Free Report) Innovative Designs, Inc. engages in manufacture and marketing of cold weather recreational and industrial clothing products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Apparel and House Wrap. It offers arctic armor line products, including jackets, bibs, and gloves for ice fisherman, snowmobilers, utility workers, oil/gas pipeline workers, railroad workers, construction workers, ski resort workers, and police and first responders; and house wrap that provides barrier protection and moisture vapor transmission and insulation for the building construction industry. In addition, it offers INSULTEX material in bulk to non-competing customers; products that restore the waterproof character of the outer side of its arctic armor clothing; and cold weather headgears and base insulation clothing products. The company primarily sells its products through independent sales agents, agencies, retailers, and distributors, as well as through website. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Receive News & Ratings for Innovative Designs Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Innovative Designs and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dividends U-Haul pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. U-Haul pays out 11.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, TRANS SERVICES companies pay a dividend yield of 3.0% and pay out 46.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Profitability This table compares U-Haul and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get U-Haul alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets U-Haul 6.30% 4.80% 1.79% U-Haul Competitors 2.85% -6.69% 2.80% Institutional and Insider Ownership 35.7% of U-Haul shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 55.5% of shares of all TRANS SERVICES companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.4% of shares of all TRANS SERVICES companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio U-Haul $5.83 billion $367.09 million 31.65 U-Haul Competitors $6.81 billion $184.70 million 13.73 This table compares U-Haul and its rivals revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. U-Hauls rivals have higher revenue, but lower earnings than U-Haul. U-Haul is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. About U-Haul (Get Free Report) AMERCO operates as a do-it-yourself moving and storage operator for household and commercial goods in the United States and Canada. The company's Moving and Storage segment rents trucks, trailers, portable moving and storage units, specialty rental items, and self-storage spaces primarily to the household movers; and sells moving supplies, towing accessories, and propane. It also provides uhaul.com, an online marketplace that connects consumers to independent Moving Help service providers and independent self-storage affiliates; auto transport and tow dolly options to transport vehicles; and specialty boxes for dishes, computers, flat screen television, and sensitive electronic equipment, as well as tapes, security locks, and packing supplies. This segment rents its products and services through a network of approximately 2,100 company operated retail moving stores and 21,100 independent U-Haul dealers. As of March 31, 2022, it had a rental fleet of approximately 186,000 trucks, 128,000 trailers, and 46,000 towing devices; and 1,844 self-storage locations with approximately 876,000 rentable storage units. The company's Property and Casualty Insurance segment offers loss adjusting and claims handling services. It also provides moving and storage protection packages, such as Safemove and Safetow packages, which offer moving and towing customers with a damage waiver, cargo protection, and medical and life insurance coverage; Safestor that protects storage customers from loss on their goods in storage; Safestor Mobile, which protects customers stored belongings; and Safemove Plus, which provides rental customers with a layer of primary liability protection. The company's Life Insurance segment provides life and health insurance products primarily to the senior market through the direct writing and reinsuring of life insurance, medicare supplement, and annuity policies. AMERCO was founded in 1945 and is based in Reno, Nevada. Receive News & Ratings for U-Haul Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U-Haul and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GW&K Investment Management LLC trimmed its stake in EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE:EGP Free Report) by 0.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 307,488 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 508 shares during the period. GW&K Investment Management LLC owned about 0.59% of EastGroup Properties worth $54,164,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cohen & Steers Inc. grew its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 141.6% in the 4th quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 2,855,920 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $458,347,000 after buying an additional 1,673,663 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 234.7% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,222,064 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $215,267,000 after buying an additional 856,971 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of EastGroup Properties in the 4th quarter valued at about $100,579,000. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 91.3% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 811,196 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $130,189,000 after buying an additional 387,134 shares during the period. Finally, T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 24.0% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,413,716 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $226,888,000 after buying an additional 273,217 shares during the period. 92.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get EastGroup Properties alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets EGP has been the subject of several research reports. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on EastGroup Properties from $175.00 to $172.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $189.00 to $183.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of EastGroup Properties from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, April 27th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $179.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $180.00 to $177.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, EastGroup Properties currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $190.00. EastGroup Properties Stock Up 1.7% EastGroup Properties stock opened at $165.13 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $169.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $169.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. EastGroup Properties, Inc. has a 1-year low of $137.67 and a 1-year high of $192.61. EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.11 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $174.45 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $169.67 million. EastGroup Properties had a net margin of 34.60% and a return on equity of 7.41%. The firms revenue was up 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.98 EPS. On average, analysts predict that EastGroup Properties, Inc. will post 8.94 earnings per share for the current year. EastGroup Properties Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were given a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. EastGroup Propertiess dividend payout ratio is currently 122.54%. EastGroup Properties Company Profile (Free Report) EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for EastGroup Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EastGroup Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (NYSE:ASR Get Free Report) is one of 45 publicly-traded companies in the TRANS SERVICES industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, institutional ownership, dividends and earnings. Institutional and Insider Ownership 10.6% of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 55.5% of shares of all TRANS SERVICES companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.4% of shares of all TRANS SERVICES companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste alerts: Profitability This table compares Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste 50.07% 25.70% 19.01% Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Competitors 2.85% -6.69% 2.80% Risk & Volatility Dividends Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste has a beta of 0.74, suggesting that its share price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Grupo Aeroportuario del Surestes rivals have a beta of 0.94, suggesting that their average share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste pays an annual dividend of $23.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.4%. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste pays out 87.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, TRANS SERVICES companies pay a dividend yield of 3.0% and pay out 46.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste 0 2 0 0 2.00 Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Competitors 365 1338 1515 90 2.40 Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste presently has a consensus target price of $310.00, suggesting a potential downside of 0.35%. As a group, TRANS SERVICES companies have a potential downside of 0.98%. Given Grupo Aeroportuario del Surestes higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste is more favorable than its rivals. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste $1.72 billion $743.97 million 11.72 Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Competitors $6.81 billion $184.70 million 13.73 Grupo Aeroportuario del Surestes rivals have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste rivals beat Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Company Profile (Get Free Report) Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. holds concessions to operate, maintain, and develop airports in the southeast region of Mexico. The company operates airports that are located in the cities of Cancun, Cozumel, Merida, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Villahermosa, Tapachula, and Minatitlan. It provides aeronautical services, which include passenger, aircraft landing and parking, passenger walkway, and airport security services. The company also offers non-aeronautical services, such as leasing of space at its airports to retailers, restaurants, airlines, and other commercial tenants; catering, handling, and ground transportation services, as well as engages in the various commercial operations. In addition, it holds concessions to operate the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and various airports in Colombia, including the Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellin, the Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in Rionegro, the Los Garzones Airport in Monteria, the Antonio Roldan Betancourt Airport in Carepa, the El Carano Airport in Quibdo, and the Las Brujas Airport in Corozal. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 1776 Wealth LLC cut its position in Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC Free Report) by 7.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,170 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 400 shares during the quarter. 1776 Wealth LLCs holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $1,206,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of VMC. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vulcan Materials by 11.7% in the 1st quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,174 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $533,000 after buying an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 21.2% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 13,091 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $3,054,000 after purchasing an additional 2,286 shares during the last quarter. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. now owns 3,742 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $873,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 18.0% in the 1st quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 7,117 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,660,000 after purchasing an additional 1,086 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its position in Vulcan Materials by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 10,151 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,369,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares during the last quarter. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Vulcan Materials alerts: Vulcan Materials Trading Up 0.6% Shares of Vulcan Materials stock traded up $1.49 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $268.09. The stock had a trading volume of 21,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 986,986. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $265.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $256.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a current ratio of 2.42, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. Vulcan Materials Company has a 1 year low of $215.08 and a 1 year high of $298.31. Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The construction company reported $1.00 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.64 billion. Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 12.91% and a net margin of 12.50%. The companys revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.80 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials Company will post 8.69 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 14th. Vulcan Materialss payout ratio is currently 27.80%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In VMC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Raymond James Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $295.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Argus upgraded shares of Vulcan Materials to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $287.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Loop Capital cut their price target on Vulcan Materials from $325.00 to $320.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $273.00 to $303.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vulcan Materials currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $302.91. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on VMC Insider Transactions at Vulcan Materials In other Vulcan Materials news, SVP David P. Clement sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $270.00, for a total transaction of $405,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 2,832 shares in the company, valued at $764,640. This represents a 34.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.61% of the stock is owned by insiders. Vulcan Materials Profile (Free Report) Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The company provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vulcan Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vulcan Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Van Strum & Towne Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 4.1% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 16,392 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 700 shares during the period. Van Strum & Towne Inc.s holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $1,000,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 137.5% during the first quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 475 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. bought a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb during the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. 76.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Bristol Myers Squibb In related news, EVP Samit Hirawat acquired 4,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 25th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $47.58 per share, with a total value of $202,215.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 83,513 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,973,548.54. The trade was a 5.36% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock. Bristol Myers Squibb Trading Down 0.5% NYSE BMY traded down $0.25 on Monday, reaching $47.11. The stock had a trading volume of 574,751 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,718,357. The firm has a market capitalization of $95.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.60, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.65. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 12-month low of $41.90 and a 12-month high of $63.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $47.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $52.89. Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $11.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.77 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 87.62% and a net margin of 11.38%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($4.40) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.26%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 92.88%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have weighed in on BMY shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and set a $55.00 price objective (down from $67.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Piper Sandler started coverage on Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $65.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Bristol Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. UBS Group lowered their price target on Bristol Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $54.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, June 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $57.69. Read Our Latest Report on Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb Company Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SSAB (OTCMKTS:SSAAY Get Free Report) is one of 27 publicly-traded companies in the STEEL PRODUCERS industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare SSAB to similar businesses based on the strength of its earnings, risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends and valuation. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for SSAB and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat. Get SSAB alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SSAB 0 2 0 0 2.00 SSAB Competitors 434 1550 1658 59 2.36 As a group, STEEL PRODUCERS companies have a potential upside of 5.12%. Given SSABs competitors stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe SSAB has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Dividends Insider & Institutional Ownership SSAB pays an annual dividend of $0.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. SSAB pays out 39.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, STEEL PRODUCERS companies pay a dividend yield of 2.3% and pay out 83.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. SSAB is clearly a better dividend stock than its competitors, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. 53.3% of shares of all STEEL PRODUCERS companies are held by institutional investors. 5.3% of shares of all STEEL PRODUCERS companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility & Risk SSAB has a beta of 1.29, meaning that its stock price is 29% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SSABs competitors have a beta of 1.26, meaning that their average stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares SSAB and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SSAB 4.99% 7.30% 4.68% SSAB Competitors 2.01% 0.96% 1.37% Valuation and Earnings This table compares SSAB and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio SSAB $9.78 billion $617.08 million 14.61 SSAB Competitors $2,930.02 billion $280.11 million 21.58 SSABs competitors have higher revenue, but lower earnings than SSAB. SSAB is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary SSAB competitors beat SSAB on 8 of the 15 factors compared. About SSAB (Get Free Report) SSAB AB (publ) produces and sells steel products in Sweden, Finland, Rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. It operates through five segments: SSAB Special Steels, SSAB Europe, SSAB Americas, Tibnor, and Ruukki Construction. The SSAB Special Steels segment offers quenched and tempered steels, and advanced high-strength steel products for steel and plate production. The SSAB Europe segment provides strip, heavy plate, and tubular products. The SSAB Americas segment sells heavy plates for steel and plate production. The Tibnor segment distributes a range of steel and non-ferrous metals in the Nordics and Baltics. The Ruukki Construction segment produces and sells energy-efficient building and construction solutions. It markets its steel products under the Strenx, Hardox, Docol, GreenCoat, Toolox, Armox, Duroxite, SSAB AM, SSAB Boron, SSAB Domex, SSAB Form, SSAB Laser, SSAB Weathering, Cor-Ten, and SSAB Multisteel brands. The company's products are used by customers in the heavy transport, construction and infrastructure, industrial applications, construction machinery, energy, and material handling markets. SSAB AB (publ) was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Receive News & Ratings for SSAB Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SSAB and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC Get Free Report) had its price target upped by research analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from $295.00 to $305.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the railroad operators stock. Sanford C. Bernsteins price objective would indicate a potential upside of 10.11% from the companys previous close. NSC has been the subject of several other research reports. Barclays decreased their target price on Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Susquehanna reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $260.00 target price (up previously from $250.00) on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. TD Cowen raised Norfolk Southern from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $263.00 to $323.00 in a research report on Monday. Baird R W raised shares of Norfolk Southern to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $269.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $278.25. Get Norfolk Southern alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Norfolk Southern Norfolk Southern Price Performance Norfolk Southern stock opened at $277.00 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $62.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.92, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.31. Norfolk Southern has a 1 year low of $201.63 and a 1 year high of $281.35. The business has a 50-day moving average of $252.39 and a 200-day moving average of $241.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.72 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 27.40% and a return on equity of 19.65%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.49 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern will post 13 EPS for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norfolk Southern Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,321,359 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $4,813,114,000 after purchasing an additional 232,195 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 31.5% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,319,010 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $2,680,910,000 after purchasing an additional 2,710,930 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,694,573 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,098,472,000 after purchasing an additional 113,648 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 3.4% during the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,159,070 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $983,161,000 after acquiring an additional 138,678 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. increased its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 0.7% during the first quarter. EdgePoint Investment Group Inc. now owns 3,998,335 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $947,006,000 after buying an additional 29,753 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the companys stock. Norfolk Southern Company Profile (Get Free Report) Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals consist of sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Norfolk Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Norfolk Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OneAscent Wealth Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 13.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,423 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,200 shares during the period. OneAscent Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $533,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. lifted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. now owns 3,241 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $233,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. Summit Wealth & Retirement Planning Inc. raised its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Summit Wealth & Retirement Planning Inc. now owns 3,362 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $241,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the period. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 5.9% in the first quarter. RD Lewis Holdings Inc. now owns 6,318 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $466,000 after buying an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 43.6% in the first quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 289,883 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $20,811,000 after acquiring an additional 88,077 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Alliance LLC grew its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1.8% in the first quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 10,883 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes WFC has been the topic of several research reports. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $91.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $87.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $83.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.39. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of WFC opened at $80.67 on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1 year low of $50.15 and a 1 year high of $83.95. The company has a market cap of $262.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $77.14 and a 200-day moving average of $74.24. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $20.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.83 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 16.82%. The firms revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.33 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.98%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is currently 27.40%. Wells Fargo & Company declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, April 29th that permits the company to repurchase $40.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to purchase up to 17.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Wells Fargo & Company Profile (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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). 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. Peterson Wealth Services reduced its position in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 3.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,656 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 134 shares during the quarter. Peterson Wealth Services holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $286,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. William Allan Corp raised its position in Charles Schwab by 8.4% during the first quarter. William Allan Corp now owns 54,155 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,239,000 after acquiring an additional 4,219 shares in the last quarter. Summit Wealth & Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new stake in Charles Schwab during the first quarter worth $240,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its position in Charles Schwab by 172.6% during the first quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 3,239,897 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $253,619,000 after acquiring an additional 2,051,273 shares in the last quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC raised its position in Charles Schwab by 2.4% during the first quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC now owns 29,141 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,281,000 after acquiring an additional 690 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Alliance LLC raised its position in Charles Schwab by 67.7% during the first quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 13,441 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,052,000 after acquiring an additional 5,425 shares in the last quarter. 84.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Trading Up 3.0% Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $95.87 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $174.19 billion, a PE ratio of 25.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The firms 50 day moving average is $89.44 and its 200 day moving average is $82.15. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 1 year low of $61.15 and a 1 year high of $97.50. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.68% and a return on equity of 19.73%. The firms revenue was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.73 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.73%. Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In related news, insider Nigel J. Murtagh sold 20,872 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.01, for a total transaction of $1,878,688.72. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 58,999 shares in the company, valued at $5,310,499.99. This trade represents a 26.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 8,647 shares of Charles Schwab 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 sale, the director owned 105,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,303,891.24. This represents a 7.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 116,313 shares of company stock worth $10,264,091 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have issued reports on SCHW. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $100.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $102.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 16th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $117.00 price target (up from $83.00) on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Charles Schwab from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the stock from $65.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $97.50. View Our Latest Research Report on SCHW 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 Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). 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. China's State Council Information Office holds a press conference on the achievements in strengthening the country's transport sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The total length of China's operating high-speed rail tracks has expanded 10,000 km from 2021 to 2024, a transport official said on Monday. China's total operational length of railway lines reached 162,000 km in the period, Minister of Transport Liu Wei said at a press conference. Liu Wei, Chinese minister of transport, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, Song Zhiyong, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and An Lusheng, deputy head of the National Railway Administration, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on the achievements in accelerating building up China's strength in transport during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Liu Wei, Chinese minister of transport, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, Song Zhiyong, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and An Lusheng, deputy head of the National Railway Administration, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on the achievements in accelerating building up China's strength in transport during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Liu Wei, Chinese minister of transport, answers questions during a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. The State Council Information Office (SCIO) held a press conference on the achievements in accelerating building up China's strength in transport during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Journalists raise their hands to ask questions at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. Liu Wei, Chinese minister of transport, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, Song Zhiyong, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and An Lusheng, deputy head of the National Railway Administration, attended a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on the achievements in accelerating building up China's strength in transport during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) A journalist asks questions at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. Liu Wei, Chinese minister of transport, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, Song Zhiyong, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and An Lusheng, deputy head of the National Railway Administration, attended a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on the achievements in accelerating building up China's strength in transport during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing on Monday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Profitability This table compares Friedman Industries and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Friedman Industries 1.37% 4.70% 2.80% Friedman Industries Competitors -10.62% -7.23% 2.13% Earnings & Valuation This table compares Friedman Industries and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Friedman Industries alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Friedman Industries $444.60 million $6.09 million 18.12 Friedman Industries Competitors $2.04 billion $107.10 million 13.72 Friedman Industries rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Friedman Industries. Friedman Industries is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Insider and Institutional Ownership Dividends 33.3% of Friedman Industries shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 57.2% of shares of all METAL PROC&FABR companies are owned by institutional investors. 4.6% of Friedman Industries shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 12.0% of shares of all METAL PROC&FABR companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Friedman Industries pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Friedman Industries pays out 18.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, METAL PROC&FABR companies pay a dividend yield of 1.6% and pay out 39.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Friedman Industries has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Volatility and Risk Friedman Industries has a beta of 1.48, indicating that its share price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Friedman Industries rivals have a beta of 1.00, indicating that their average share price is 0% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Friedman Industries beats its rivals on 6 of the 11 factors compared. Friedman Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Friedman Industries, Incorporated engages in steel processing, pipe manufacturing and processing, and the steel and pipe distribution businesses the United States. It operates in two segments, Coil and Tubular. The Coil segment is involved in the conversion of steel coils into flat sheet and plate steel cut to customer specifications and reselling steel coils. This segment also processes customer-owned coils on a fee basis. The company sells coil products and processing services to approximately 200 customers located primarily in the midwestern, southwestern and southeastern regions of the United States. Its principal customers for these products and services are steel distributors and customers manufacturing steel products, such as steel buildings, railroad cars, barges, tanks and containers, trailers, component parts and other fabricated steel products. The Tubular segment manufactures line and oil country pipes, as well as pipes for structural applications. This segment sells its tubular products principally to steel and pipe distributors through its own sales force. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Longview, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Friedman Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Friedman Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. decreased its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 7.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 649 shares of the companys stock after selling 49 shares during the period. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $536,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of LLY. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 103,831.6% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 14,866,380 shares of the companys stock worth $12,278,292,000 after acquiring an additional 14,852,076 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the 4th quarter worth about $8,407,908,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 19.0% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,625,925 shares of the companys stock worth $9,747,214,000 after acquiring an additional 2,012,129 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 23.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,730,758 shares of the companys stock worth $6,740,272,000 after acquiring an additional 1,645,222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 16.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,757,511 shares of the companys stock worth $8,304,811,000 after acquiring an additional 1,493,673 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $771.78 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $731.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 62.80, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $767.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $800.17. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $677.09 and a 52 week high of $972.53. Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 business had revenue of $12.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.58 EPS. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.82%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have issued reports on LLY. Erste Group Bank cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, June 5th. HSBC lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and decreased their price target for the company from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $936.00 to $942.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $1,012.56. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (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. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Free Report) by 17.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,825 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,907 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF accounts for about 15.7% of PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc.s holdings, making the stock its biggest holding. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $29,682,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Windsor Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 100.0% in 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 last quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Lord & Richards Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Sellwood Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Investment Counsel Co. of Nevada acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 70.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Performance Shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF stock opened at $630.67 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $635.46 billion, a PE ratio of 25.10 and a beta of 1.00. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $606.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is $585.82. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 1 year low of $484.00 and a 1 year high of $632.58. About iShares Core S&P 500 ETF 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. Read More 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. WNY Asset Management LLC cut its stake in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 5.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,432 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 386 shares during the period. WNY Asset Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $503,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in SCHW. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,289,544,000. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 354.5% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 11,005,881 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $814,545,000 after acquiring an additional 8,584,173 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 69.4% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 9,700,013 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $717,898,000 after acquiring an additional 3,974,940 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 742.0% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 4,181,202 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $309,451,000 after acquiring an additional 3,684,640 shares during the period. Finally, PointState Capital LP bought a new position in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth $237,280,000. 84.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Securities raised their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. William Blair downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $99.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Friday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.60. Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab In other Charles Schwab news, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 8,647 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.06, for a total value of $761,454.82. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 105,654 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,303,891.24. The trade was a 7.57% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Nigel J. Murtagh sold 20,872 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.01, for a total transaction of $1,878,688.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 58,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,310,499.99. The trade was a 26.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 116,313 shares of company stock worth $10,264,091 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Stock Up 3.0% Shares of SCHW stock opened at $95.87 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 1 year low of $61.15 and a 1 year high of $97.50. The firms fifty day moving average price is $89.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $82.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $174.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.77, a PEG ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.93. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.68% and a return on equity of 19.73%. The company had revenue of $5.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.73 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 EPS for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 32.73%. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). 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. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 2.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 67,443 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after buying an additional 1,758 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing comprises approximately 1.0% of Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $11,196,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of TSM. Accredited Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. City Holding Co. raised its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 238.0% during the 1st quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 169 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the period. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc raised its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 289.4% during the 4th quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 183 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Nemes Rush Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1,810.0% in the 4th quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 191 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. Finally, Signature Resources Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 138.8% in the 1st quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 191 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Down 2.1% Shares of TSM opened at $240.40 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $212.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $193.65. The company has a market cap of $1.25 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.29. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a one year low of $133.57 and a one year high of $248.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 2.18. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.34. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 42.91% and a return on equity of 34.53%. The firm had revenue of $30.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $28.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.48 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 44.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be paid a $0.6499 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.08%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is 28.16%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TSM has been the topic of several recent research reports. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $270.00 price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Susquehanna set a $265.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $240.00 price target (up from $215.00) on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $258.33. Get Our Latest Stock Report on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. International Land Alliance (OTCMKTS:ILAL Get Free Report) and Marcus & Millichap (NYSE:MMI Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, profitability, risk, valuation and analyst recommendations. Insider & Institutional Ownership 62.8% of Marcus & Millichap shares are held by institutional investors. 16.2% of International Land Alliance shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 39.2% of Marcus & Millichap shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get International Land Alliance alerts: Profitability This table compares International Land Alliance and Marcus & Millichaps net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets International Land Alliance -43.94% -10.72% -5.10% Marcus & Millichap -0.95% -1.09% -0.82% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score International Land Alliance 0 0 0 0 0.00 Marcus & Millichap 1 2 0 0 1.67 This is a breakdown of current recommendations for International Land Alliance and Marcus & Millichap, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Marcus & Millichap has a consensus price target of $30.00, suggesting a potential downside of 3.98%. Given Marcus & Millichaps stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Marcus & Millichap is more favorable than International Land Alliance. Risk and Volatility International Land Alliance has a beta of -0.78, indicating that its share price is 178% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Marcus & Millichap has a beta of 1.23, indicating that its share price is 23% more volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation and Earnings This table compares International Land Alliance and Marcus & Millichaps revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio International Land Alliance $8.10 million 2.00 $3.05 million N/A N/A Marcus & Millichap $711.99 million 1.71 -$12.36 million ($0.17) -183.79 International Land Alliance has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Marcus & Millichap. Summary Marcus & Millichap beats International Land Alliance on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About International Land Alliance (Get Free Report) International Land Alliance, Inc. operates as a residential land development company with target properties located primarily in the Baja California, Northern region of Mexico, and Southern California. Its principal activities include purchasing properties; obtaining zoning and other entitlements required to subdivide the properties into residential and commercial building lots; securing financing for the purchase of the lots; enhance the properties' infrastructure and amenities; and selling the plots to homebuyers, retirees, investors, and commercial developers. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. About Marcus & Millichap (Get Free Report) Marcus & Millichap, Inc. engages in the provision of investment real estate brokerage services. It specializes in commercial real estate investment sales, property financing, research, and advisory services. The company was founded by George M. Marcus and William A. Millichap in 1971 and is headquartered in Calabasas, CA. Receive News & Ratings for International Land Alliance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Land Alliance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mayville Engineering (NYSE:MEC Get Free Report) and Magnera (NYSE:MAGN Get Free Report) are both small-cap construction companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and institutional ownership. Insider and Institutional Ownership 45.4% of Mayville Engineering shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 76.9% of Magnera shares are held by institutional investors. 7.2% of Mayville Engineering shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.3% of Magnera shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Mayville Engineering alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Mayville Engineering and Magnera, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mayville Engineering 0 2 2 0 2.50 Magnera 0 2 0 0 2.00 Risk & Volatility Mayville Engineering currently has a consensus price target of $21.33, suggesting a potential upside of 38.21%. Magnera has a consensus price target of $17.50, suggesting a potential upside of 33.69%. Given Mayville Engineerings stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Mayville Engineering is more favorable than Magnera. Mayville Engineering has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Magnera has a beta of 1.65, suggesting that its share price is 65% more volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Mayville Engineering and Magneras revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Mayville Engineering $581.60 million 0.54 $25.97 million $1.08 14.29 Magnera $332.10 million 1.40 -$15.25 million ($11.94) -1.10 Mayville Engineering has higher revenue and earnings than Magnera. Magnera is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mayville Engineering, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares Mayville Engineering and Magneras net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mayville Engineering 4.09% 9.30% 4.93% Magnera -6.06% -10.88% -4.00% Summary Mayville Engineering beats Magnera on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Mayville Engineering (Get Free Report) Mayville Engineering Company, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, design, prototyping and tooling, fabrication, aluminum extrusion, coating, and assembling of aftermarket components in the United States. It also supplies engineered components to original equipment manufacturers. The company serves heavy and medium duty commercial vehicles, construction and access equipment, powersports, agriculture, military, and other end markets. Mayville Engineering Company, Inc. was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. About Magnera (Get Free Report) Magneras purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. By continuously co-creating and innovating with our partners, we develop original material solutions that make a brighter future possible. With a breadth of technologies and a passion for what we create, Magneras solutions propel our customers goals forward and solve end-users problems, every day. Receive News & Ratings for Mayville Engineering Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mayville Engineering and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American Express (NYSE:AXP) was downgraded by analysts at DZ Bank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Monday, Marketbeat reports. Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Bank of America raised shares of American Express from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $325.00 to $274.00 in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of American Express from $249.00 to $297.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of American Express from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $327.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $307.68. Get American Express alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on AXP American Express Stock Down 2.2% Shares of NYSE:AXP opened at $308.38 on Monday. American Express has a 52 week low of $220.43 and a 52 week high of $329.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a current ratio of 1.71. The company has a market capitalization of $216.05 billion, a PE ratio of 21.64, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $304.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $291.04. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.86 by $0.22. American Express had a net margin of 14.78% and a return on equity of 32.87%. The firm had revenue of $17.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.49 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that American Express will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Transactions at American Express In other news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 9,450 shares of American Express stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.50, for a total value of $2,603,475.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 9,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,590,251. This trade represents a 50.13% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 3,019 shares of American Express stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.66, for a total transaction of $799,008.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 10,919 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,889,822.54. This trade represents a 21.66% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of American Express A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in American Express in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,785,867,000. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in American Express in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,454,667,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main lifted its stake in American Express by 463.3% in the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,357,487 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $1,293,259,000 after purchasing an additional 3,583,959 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in American Express by 13.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 18,025,562 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $4,849,777,000 after purchasing an additional 2,168,445 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in American Express by 27,625.2% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,162,846 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $581,914,000 after purchasing an additional 2,155,045 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock. American Express Company Profile (Get Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Van Strum & Towne Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 21.2% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 9,990 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,750 shares during the period. Van Strum & Towne Inc.s holdings in American Express were worth $2,688,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AXP. Norges Bank bought a new position in American Express during the 4th quarter worth about $1,785,867,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its holdings in American Express by 463.3% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 4,357,487 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,293,259,000 after purchasing an additional 3,583,959 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in American Express by 27,625.2% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,162,846 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $581,914,000 after purchasing an additional 2,155,045 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 186.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 2,986,710 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $886,426,000 after acquiring an additional 1,943,463 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 346.2% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,021,873 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $600,072,000 after acquiring an additional 1,568,747 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock. Get American Express alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 9,450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.50, for a total transaction of $2,603,475.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 9,402 shares in the company, valued at $2,590,251. This trade represents a 50.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 3,019 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.66, for a total value of $799,008.54. Following the transaction, the insider owned 10,919 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,889,822.54. This trade represents a 21.66% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AXP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Truist Financial raised their price objective on American Express from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $327.00 price objective on American Express in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of American Express from $250.00 to $311.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Express has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $307.68. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on American Express American Express Stock Performance AXP stock traded down $2.30 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $305.65. 178,083 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,831,255. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $304.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $291.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $214.14 billion, a PE ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.25. American Express Company has a 1-year low of $220.43 and a 1-year high of $329.14. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.86 by $0.22. American Express had a return on equity of 32.87% and a net margin of 14.78%. The business had revenue of $17.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.49 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year. American Express Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.07%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.02%. American Express Company Profile (Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express Company (NYSE:AXP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Profitability This table compares Haverty Furniture Companies and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Haverty Furniture Companies N/A N/A N/A Haverty Furniture Companies Competitors 6.52% 33.77% 8.67% Dividends Haverty Furniture Companies pays an annual dividend of $1.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.7%. Haverty Furniture Companies pays out 95.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, RETAIL HOME FRN companies pay a dividend yield of 2.5% and pay out 49.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get Haverty Furniture Companies alerts: Risk and Volatility Haverty Furniture Companies has a beta of 1.17, indicating that its share price is 17% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Haverty Furniture Companies competitors have a beta of 1.46, indicating that their average share price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Haverty Furniture Companies $722.90 million N/A 16.77 Haverty Furniture Companies Competitors $26.22 billion $2.36 billion 16.91 This table compares Haverty Furniture Companies and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Haverty Furniture Companies competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Haverty Furniture Companies. Haverty Furniture Companies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.8% of Haverty Furniture Companies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 67.1% of shares of all RETAIL HOME FRN companies are held by institutional investors. 8.1% of Haverty Furniture Companies shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 5.0% of shares of all RETAIL HOME FRN companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Haverty Furniture Companies competitors beat Haverty Furniture Companies on 8 of the 10 factors compared. Haverty Furniture Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report) Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of residential furniture and accessories in the United States. The company offers furniture merchandise under the Havertys brand name. It also provides custom upholstery products and eclectic looks; and mattress product lines under the Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, and Serta names, as well as private label Skye name. The company sells home furnishings through its retail stores, as well as through its Website. As of February 23, 2021, it operated 120 showrooms in 16 states in the Southern and Midwestern regions. Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. was founded in 1885 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for Haverty Furniture Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Haverty Furniture Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce on Monday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the European Union's (EU) decision to include Chinese companies and financial institutions in its 18th round of sanctions against Russia. Responding to a media inquiry, the spokesperson said the EU had disregarded China's multiple representations and objections by unilaterally including Chinese companies in its sanctions list and imposing penalties on two Chinese financial institutions based on groundless accusations. The spokesperson emphasized that China consistently opposes unilateral sanctions that lack basis in international law and authorization from the United Nations Security Council. The EU's actions contradict the consensus reached between Chinese and EU leaders, and will seriously undermine China-EU economic and trade ties as well as financial cooperation, the spokesperson added. China urges the EU to immediately cease its erroneous practice of including Chinese enterprises and financial institutions in its sanctions list, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that China will take necessary measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and financial institutions. Cosan (NYSE:CSAN Get Free Report) is one of 75 publicly-traded companies in the Other Alt Energy industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Cosan to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, earnings and institutional ownership. Risk and Volatility Cosan has a beta of 1.09, suggesting that its share price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cosans peers have a beta of -71.88, suggesting that their average share price is 7,288% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Cosan alerts: Dividends Cosan pays an annual dividend of $0.31 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.4%. Cosan pays out 23.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Other Alt Energy companies pay a dividend yield of 1.1% and pay out 54.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Cosan is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Cosan -25.77% -24.39% -7.53% Cosan Competitors -41.99% -24.92% -4.00% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Cosan and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares Cosan and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Cosan $8.15 billion -$1.75 billion 3.16 Cosan Competitors $3.59 billion $321.70 million 5.80 Cosan has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Cosan is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Cosan and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Cosan 0 0 1 1 3.50 Cosan Competitors 263 991 1657 56 2.51 Cosan presently has a consensus target price of $19.00, suggesting a potential upside of 355.09%. As a group, Other Alt Energy companies have a potential downside of 1.86%. Given Cosans stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Cosan is more favorable than its peers. Insider and Institutional Ownership 43.5% of shares of all Other Alt Energy companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.7% of shares of all Other Alt Energy companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Summary Cosan beats its peers on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Cosan Company Profile (Get Free Report) Cosan S.A. engages in the fuel distribution business. It operates through Raizen, Compass, Moove, Rumo, and Radar segments. The companys Raizen segment engages in the production, commercialization, origination, and trading of ethanol, bioenergy, renewable sources, and sugar; trading and resale of electricity; and distribution and commercialization of fuels and lubricants. Its Compass segment distributes piped natural gas to industrial, residential, commercial, automotive, and cogeneration customers; and develops infrastructure projects in a regasification terminal, offshore gas pipeline, and thermal generation projects utilizing natural gas, as well as commercialization of electricity and natural gas. The companys Moove segment produces and distributes lubricants under the Comma brand. Its Rumo segment provides logistics services for rail transportation, port storage, and loading of goods, including grains and sugar; and leases locomotives, wagons, and another railroad equipment, as well as operates containers. The companys Radar segment manages agricultural property. It operates in Brazil, England, France, Spain and Portugal, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay, the United States, Asia, and internationally. Cosan S.A. was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Receive News & Ratings for Cosan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cosan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walker & Dunlop (NYSE:WD Get Free Report) and Rocket Companies (NYSE:RKT Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and earnings. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Walker & Dunlop and Rocket Companies, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Walker & Dunlop alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Walker & Dunlop 0 1 1 1 3.00 Rocket Companies 2 9 1 0 1.92 Walker & Dunlop presently has a consensus price target of $102.50, indicating a potential upside of 39.28%. Rocket Companies has a consensus price target of $14.46, indicating a potential downside of 4.54%. Given Walker & Dunlops stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Walker & Dunlop is more favorable than Rocket Companies. Insider & Institutional Ownership Earnings and Valuation 81.0% of Walker & Dunlop shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.6% of Rocket Companies shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.7% of Walker & Dunlop shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 92.6% of Rocket Companies shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. This table compares Walker & Dunlop and Rocket Companiess gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Walker & Dunlop $1.13 billion 2.21 $108.17 million $2.92 25.20 Rocket Companies $5.10 billion 5.94 $29.37 million ($0.03) -504.87 Walker & Dunlop has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Rocket Companies. Rocket Companies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Walker & Dunlop, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility and Risk Walker & Dunlop has a beta of 1.54, suggesting that its share price is 54% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Rocket Companies has a beta of 2.28, suggesting that its share price is 128% more volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Walker & Dunlop and Rocket Companies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Walker & Dunlop 8.68% 8.99% 3.56% Rocket Companies 0.06% 3.61% 1.27% Summary Walker & Dunlop beats Rocket Companies on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Walker & Dunlop (Get Free Report) Walker & Dunlop, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial real estate and finance services. It operates through the following segments: Capital Markets, Servicing and Asset Management, and Corporate. The Capital Markets segment offers a comprehensive range of commercial real estate finance products to customers. The Servicing and Asset Management segment includes servicing and asset-managing and managing third-party capital investments. The Corporate segment consists primarily of the companys treasury operations and other corporate-level activities. The company was founded by Oliver Walker and Laird Dunlop in 1937 and is headquartered in Bethesda, MD. About Rocket Companies (Get Free Report) Rocket Companies, Inc., a fintech holding company, provides mortgage lending, title and settlement services, and other financial technology services in the United States and Canada. It operates through two segments, Direct to Consumer and Partner Network. The companys solutions include Rocket Mortgage, a mortgage lender; Amrock that provides title insurance, property valuation, and settlement services; Rocket Homes, a home search platform and real estate agent referral network, which offers technology-enabled services to support the home buying and selling experience; and Rocket Loans, an online-based personal loans business. It also offers Core Digital Media, a online marketing platform in the mortgage and personal financial product sectors; Rocket Money, a personal finance app that helps clients manage every aspect of their financial lives; Lendesk, a software services company that provides a point of sale system for mortgage professionals and a loan origination system for private lenders; Rock Connections, a sales and support platform specializing in contact center services; and Rocket Innovation Studio that recruits and mentors top technology talent. In addition, the company originates, closes, sells, and services agency-conforming loans. Rocket Companies, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The company operates as a subsidiary of Rock Holdings Inc. Receive News & Ratings for Walker & Dunlop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walker & Dunlop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. raised its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 8.2% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,241 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 246 shares during the period. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $233,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Secured Retirement Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $408,000. RKL Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 166.4% in the 1st quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,185 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $588,000 after purchasing an additional 5,113 shares in the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 651,808 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $45,783,000 after purchasing an additional 70,104 shares in the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 30.5% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,926,423 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $353,668,000 after acquiring an additional 1,152,181 shares in the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Dbs Bank raised Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen raised Wells Fargo & Company from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $91.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an overweight rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $80.39. Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $80.64 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $262.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $50.15 and a 1-year high of $83.95. The businesss 50 day moving average is $77.14 and its 200-day moving average is $74.24. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $20.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.83 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 16.82%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.33 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 27.40%. Wells Fargo & Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, April 29th that authorizes the company to buyback $40.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 17.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). 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. Arrow Financial Corp lessened its holdings in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 30.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,738 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 5,883 shares during the quarter. Arrow Financial Corps holdings in Visa were worth $4,814,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of V. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. increased its stake in shares of Visa by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 5,504 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $1,931,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Visa by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLC now owns 2,341 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $820,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Visa by 5.0% during the first quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 1,332 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $467,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Horizon Investment Services LLC raised its position in shares of Visa by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Horizon Investment Services LLC now owns 17,038 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $5,971,000 after purchasing an additional 1,197 shares during the period. Finally, Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Visa by 2.2% in the first quarter. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 61,882 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $21,687,000 after purchasing an additional 1,315 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.15% of the companys stock. Get Visa alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently weighed in on V. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Visa in a report on Monday, June 2nd. They set a buy rating for the company. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of Visa from $383.00 to $384.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Macquarie reduced their target price on shares of Visa from $400.00 to $380.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Visa from $395.00 to $405.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, Mizuho upgraded shares of Visa from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $359.00 to $425.00 in a report on Thursday, June 5th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $375.52. Visa Stock Performance Shares of V stock opened at $350.25 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $356.82 and a 200 day moving average of $344.02. Visa Inc. has a 52 week low of $252.70 and a 52 week high of $375.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $646.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.20, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The credit-card processor reported $2.76 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $9.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.57 billion. Visa had a return on equity of 56.28% and a net margin of 52.86%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.51 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Visa Inc. will post 11.3 earnings per share for the current year. Visa Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 13th were issued a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 13th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.67%. Visas payout ratio is 23.72%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,630 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.82, for a total value of $3,053,466.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 537 shares in the company, valued at approximately $190,001.34. This trade represents a 94.14% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Julie B. Rottenberg sold 2,575 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $345.58, for a total value of $889,868.50. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 11,925 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,121,041.50. The trade was a 17.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 101,108 shares of company stock worth $36,771,200. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Visa Profile (Free Report) Visa Inc operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, and click to pay services; Visa Direct, a solution that facilitates the delivery of funds to eligible cards, deposit accounts, and digital wallets; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solution, a cross-border consumer payments solution; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value-added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NVIDIA, Accenture, Globant, SK Telecom, and Super League Enterprise are the five Metaverse stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Metaverse stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that develop, supply or enable the hardware, software and platforms powering immersive virtual and augmented reality environments. Investing in them offers exposure to the emerging ecosystem of digital worldsencompassing VR/AR headsets, 3D content creation, blockchain-based assets and virtual real estatewhere users interact, work and play in blended physical-digital spaces. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Metaverse stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: NVIDIA (NVDA) NVIDIA Corporation provides graphics and compute and networking solutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The Graphics segment offers GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms; Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics; virtual GPU or vGPU software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing; automotive platforms for infotainment systems; and Omniverse software for building and operating metaverse and 3D internet applications. Shares of NVDA stock traded up $0.20 on Monday, reaching $172.61. 73,874,107 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 263,218,172. The company has a quick ratio of 2.96, a current ratio of 3.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. NVIDIA has a 1-year low of $86.62 and a 1-year high of $174.25. The stock has a market cap of $4.21 trillion, a P/E ratio of 55.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 2.13. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $146.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $129.81. Read Our Latest Research Report on NVDA Accenture (ACN) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Shares of ACN traded up $0.86 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $283.30. The stock had a trading volume of 995,677 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,902,569. The company has a quick ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $306.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $324.37. Accenture has a fifty-two week low of $273.19 and a fifty-two week high of $398.35. The company has a market cap of $177.44 billion, a PE ratio of 22.55, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 1.29. Read Our Latest Research Report on ACN Globant (GLOB) Globant S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides technology services worldwide. It provides digital solutions comprising blockchain, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence, digital experience and performance, code, Internet of Things, metaverse, and engineering and testing; and enterprise technology solutions and services, such as Agile organization, Cultural Hacking, process optimization services, as well as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Oracle, SalesForce, SAP, and ServiceNow technology solutions. NYSE:GLOB traded up $1.42 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $85.76. 525,764 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 746,763. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The company has a market capitalization of $3.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.20. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $97.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $136.77. Globant has a one year low of $82.39 and a one year high of $238.32. Read Our Latest Research Report on GLOB SK Telecom (SKM) SK Telecom Co., Ltd. provides wireless telecommunication services in South Korea. The company operates through three segments: Cellular Services, Fixed-Line Telecommunications Services, and Other Businesses. The Cellular Services segment offers wireless voice and data transmission, Internet of Things solutions, platform, cloud, smart factory solutions, subscription, advertising and curated shopping under T Deal brand name, and metaverse platform-based services, as well as sells wireless devices. Shares of NYSE SKM traded up $0.31 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $22.46. The company had a trading volume of 93,835 shares, compared to its average volume of 317,431. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $21.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.86. SK Telecom has a 12 month low of $19.84 and a 12 month high of $24.58. The firm has a market cap of $8.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.28, a PEG ratio of 10.77 and a beta of 0.64. Read Our Latest Research Report on SKM Super League Enterprise (SLE) Super League Enterprise, Inc. creates and publishes content and media solutions across immersive platforms in the United States and internationally. The company offers access to audiences who gather in immersive digital spaces to socialize, play, explore, collaborate, shop, learn, and create. It also provides a range of development, distribution, monetization, and optimization capabilities designed to engage users through dynamic and energized programs. Shares of SLE stock traded up $1.02 on Monday, reaching $5.61. The stock had a trading volume of 180,957 shares, compared to its average volume of 55,094. Super League Enterprise has a 12 month low of $3.91 and a 12 month high of $65.60. The firms 50-day moving average is $5.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $13.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.96 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.08 and a beta of 1.71. Read Our Latest Research Report on SLE Featured Articles Ivanhoe Mines (OTCMKTS:IVPAF Get Free Report) is one of 103 publicly-traded companies in the MINING MISC industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Ivanhoe Mines to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and earnings. Insider & Institutional Ownership 35.1% of shares of all MINING MISC companies are owned by institutional investors. 10.0% of shares of all MINING MISC companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Ivanhoe Mines alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Ivanhoe Mines and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ivanhoe Mines 0 1 0 5 3.67 Ivanhoe Mines Competitors 617 1695 3331 142 2.52 Earnings and Valuation As a group, MINING MISC companies have a potential upside of 8.19%. Given Ivanhoe Mines competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ivanhoe Mines has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. This table compares Ivanhoe Mines and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Ivanhoe Mines N/A N/A 16.72 Ivanhoe Mines Competitors $8.53 billion $464.40 million -2.56 Ivanhoe Mines competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Ivanhoe Mines. Ivanhoe Mines 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. Profitability This table compares Ivanhoe Mines and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ivanhoe Mines N/A N/A N/A Ivanhoe Mines Competitors -976.52% -12.62% -5.25% Summary Ivanhoe Mines beats its competitors on 6 of the 11 factors compared. About Ivanhoe Mines (Get Free Report) Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. engages in the mining, development, and exploration of minerals and precious metals primarily in Africa. It explores for platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold, rhodium, zinc, silver, germanium, and lead deposits. The company's projects include the Platreef project located in the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; the Kipushi project located in Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Kamoa-Kakula project located within the Central African Copperbelt. It also holds a 100% interest in the Western Foreland exploration project covering an area of approximately 2,407 square kilometers located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company was formerly known as Ivanplats Limited and changed its name to Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. in August 2013. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Ivanhoe Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ivanhoe Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rayonier Advanced Materials (NYSE:RYAM Get Free Report) and Suzano (NYSE:SUZ Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability and risk. Institutional and Insider Ownership 68.6% of Rayonier Advanced Materials shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 2.6% of Suzano shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.4% of Rayonier Advanced Materials shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Rayonier Advanced Materials alerts: Profitability This table compares Rayonier Advanced Materials and Suzanos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Rayonier Advanced Materials -4.38% -4.71% -1.58% Suzano -2.43% -3.08% -0.75% Risk and Volatility Valuation & Earnings Rayonier Advanced Materials has a beta of 2.46, suggesting that its share price is 146% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Suzano has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Rayonier Advanced Materials and Suzanos gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Rayonier Advanced Materials $1.63 billion 0.18 -$38.71 million ($1.06) -4.16 Suzano $8.79 billion 1.39 -$1.31 billion ($0.14) -65.75 Rayonier Advanced Materials has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Suzano. Suzano is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Rayonier Advanced Materials, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Rayonier Advanced Materials and Suzano, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Rayonier Advanced Materials 0 0 1 0 3.00 Suzano 0 0 1 1 3.50 Rayonier Advanced Materials currently has a consensus price target of $6.00, indicating a potential upside of 36.21%. Given Rayonier Advanced Materials higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Rayonier Advanced Materials is more favorable than Suzano. Summary Suzano beats Rayonier Advanced Materials on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Rayonier Advanced Materials (Get Free Report) Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. manufactures and sells cellulose specialty products in the United States, China, Latin America, Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, other Asian countries, and internationally. It operates through High Purity Cellulose, Paperboard, and High-Yield Pulp segments. The companys products include cellulose specialties, which are natural polymers that are used as raw materials to manufacture a range of consumer-oriented products, such as liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cigarette filters, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints, and lacquers. It also offers commodity products, such as commodity viscose pulp used in woven applications, including rayon textiles for clothing and other fabrics, as well as in non-woven applications comprising baby wipes, cosmetic and personal wipes, industrial wipes, and mattress ticking; and absorbent materials consisting of fluff fibers that are used as an absorbent medium in disposable baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, incontinence pads, convalescent bed pads, industrial towels and wipes, and non-woven fabrics. In addition, the company provides paperboards for packaging, printing documents, brochures, promotional materials, paperback books and catalog covers, file folders, tags, and lottery tickets; and high-yield pulps to produces hardwood aspen, maple, and birch species for paperboard, packaging, printing and writing papers, and various other paper products. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. About Suzano (Get Free Report) Suzano S.A. produces and sells eucalyptus pulp and paper products in Brazil and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paper segments. The company offers coated and uncoated printing and writing papers, paperboards, tissue papers, and market and fluff pulps; and lignin. It also engages in the research, development, and production of biofuel; operation of port terminals; power generation and distribution business; commercialization of equipment and parts; industrialization, commercialization, and exporting of pulp and standing wood; road freight transport; biotechnology research and development; and commercialization of paper and computer materials. In addition, the company is involved in the business office, production packaging, and financial fundraising activities; research, development, production, commercialization, and distribution of wood-based textile fibers, yarns, and filaments produced from cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose; and research and development of wood raw materials for the textile industry. Suzano S.A. was formerly known as Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A. and changed its name to Suzano S.A. in April 2019. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Salvador, Brazil. Receive News & Ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rayonier Advanced Materials and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, Vistra, GE Vernova, and Constellation Energy are the five Solar stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Solar stocks are shares of publicly traded companies involved in the solar energy industry, including those that manufacture photovoltaic panels, develop utility-scale solar farms, or provide related services and technologies. Investing in solar stocks exposes shareholders to the growth and risks of the renewable energy sector, where factors like government incentives, technological advances, and energy prices can all impact returns. Over time, solar stocks have attracted attention as global demand for clean energy continues to rise. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Solar stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Tesla (TSLA) Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells electric vehicles, and energy generation and storage systems in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Automotive, and Energy Generation and Storage. The Automotive segment offers electric vehicles, as well as sells automotive regulatory credits; and non-warranty after-sales vehicle, used vehicles, body shop and parts, supercharging, retail merchandise, and vehicle insurance services. Tesla stock traded up $10.24 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $329.65. The companys stock had a trading volume of 93,904,102 shares, compared to its average volume of 98,929,970. Tesla has a 12-month low of $182.00 and a 12-month high of $488.54. The company has a market capitalization of $1.06 trillion, a P/E ratio of 181.13, a PEG ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 2.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a current ratio of 2.00. The firms fifty day moving average price is $326.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $316.70. Read Our Latest Research Report on TSLA Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) Berkshire Hathaway Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility businesses worldwide. The company provides property, casualty, life, accident, and health insurance and reinsurance; and operates railroad systems in North America. It also generates, transmits, stores, and distributes electricity from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal sources; operates natural gas distribution and storage facilities, interstate pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and compressor and meter stations; and holds interest in coal mining assets. NYSE:BRK.B traded up $0.49 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $473.89. The stock had a trading volume of 3,997,922 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,418,906. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $491.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $494.95. Berkshire Hathaway has a one year low of $406.11 and a one year high of $542.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.02 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.83. Read Our Latest Research Report on BRK.B Vistra (VST) Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across states in the United States and the District of Columbia. Shares of NYSE VST traded up $11.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $193.04. 6,414,225 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,118,667. Vistra has a 52 week low of $66.50 and a 52 week high of $200.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.50 billion, a PE ratio of 30.35, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.26. The companys 50 day moving average price is $175.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $152.70. Read Our Latest Research Report on VST GE Vernova (GEV) GE Vernova LLC, an energy business company, generates electricity. It operates under three segments: Power, Wind, and Electrification. The Power segments generates and sells electricity through hydro, gas, nuclear, and steam power. Wind segment engages in the manufacturing and sale of wind turbine blades; and Electrification segment provides grid solutions, power conversion, solar, and storage solutions. GE Vernova stock traded up $4.85 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $575.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,051,713 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,299,435. The stock has a market cap of $156.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 82.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.33 and a beta of 1.86. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $493.30 and a 200-day moving average price of $397.90. GE Vernova has a 12 month low of $150.01 and a 12 month high of $581.27. Read Our Latest Research Report on GEV Constellation Energy (CEG) Constellation Energy Corporation generates and sells electricity in the United States. It operates through five segments: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New York, ERCOT, and Other Power Regions. The company sells natural gas, energy-related products, and sustainable solutions. It has approximately 33,094 megawatts of generating capacity consisting of nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas, and hydroelectric assets. Constellation Energy stock traded up $13.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $321.42. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,530,815 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,631,327. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.47 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market cap of $100.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $305.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $270.67. Constellation Energy has a 12 month low of $155.60 and a 12 month high of $352.00. Read Our Latest Research Report on CEG Further Reading WASHINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- When U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Elon Musk in June and called for cutting federal ties with his companies, many dismissed it as political posturing. But behind the scenes, the Trump administration quietly launched a sweeping review of federal contracts with Musk's businesses -- particularly SpaceX. What it found, however, was just how deeply embedded Musk's aerospace empire had become in U.S. government operations. WHY DID TRUMP TRY TO CUT SPACEX TIES? The feud erupted after Musk sharply criticized Trump's signature tax-and-spending plan -- dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill" -- warning that it could "bankrupt America." Musk even threatened to form a new political party in protest. Trump fired back on his social media platform, Truth Social, accusing Musk of being the most heavily subsidized businessman in history and calling for the termination of his federal contracts. According to The Wall Street Journal, the General Services Administration (GSA) swiftly directed multiple agencies -- including NASA and the Department of Defense -- to compile detailed "scorecards" of all current SpaceX contracts to assess whether alternatives existed and if taxpayer dollars could be saved. WHAT DID CONTRACT REVIEW REVEAL? Rather than justify Trump's push to sever ties, the review made the opposite case: the government's relationship with SpaceX was not only defensible -- it was essential. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal and DailyMail.com, the contracts under scrutiny were largely deemed critical to U.S. national security and space operations. SpaceX's dominance in launch capabilities and its leadership in low-Earth orbit satellite infrastructure meant few, if any, viable substitutes existed. Alternative providers, including Boeing and Blue Origin, were reportedly still plagued by delays and technical hurdles, making them ill-equipped to match SpaceX's launch cadence or reliability. As The Daily Beast quoted one senior defense analyst, "There's no replacing SpaceX. You just do not have the capacity in our other launch options." HOW DEPENDENT IS GOV'T ON SPACEX? Extremely. SpaceX has received at least 21 billion U.S. dollars in federal payments to date, with an additional 13 billion dollars in awards in the pipeline, according to The Daily Beast. These contracts span satellite deployments, defense communications via the Starlink constellation, and cargo and crew missions for NASA. In May, SpaceX launched an upgraded GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force. A month earlier, it secured a 5.9-billion-dollar Pentagon contract for 28 national security missions -- by far the largest share of launches awarded. Blue Origin, by comparison, received just seven. NASA also remains reliant on SpaceX's Crew Dragon -- the only U.S.-certified vehicle capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station. WSJ reported that NASA officials grew concerned when Musk, amid his spat with Trump, briefly threatened to decommission the system. WHY CAN'T GOV'T REPLACE MUSK? For now, it simply can't. According to The Daily Beast, SpaceX currently accounts for 83 percent of all global satellite launches, and is the only player that can combine affordability, speed and proven technology at scale. Even as the Trump administration tried to assess alternatives, the conclusion was inescapable: canceling SpaceX contracts would jeopardize critical defense and space missions. As WSJ reported, the GSA's own contract "scorecards" showed no other vendor could match SpaceX's pricing or execution in most cases. And it's not just rockets. Musk's AI venture, xAI, also landed a controversial 200-million-dollar Pentagon contract to develop AI tools for military use -- despite public scrutiny after its Grok chatbot drew criticism for erratic behavior. WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT TRUMP AND MUSK? The clash marks a striking reversal in what was once a cooperative partnership. Musk had previously served as head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, a role focused on cutting wasteful spending. But the alliance frayed over policy disagreements -- and reportedly, over Musk's criticisms of Trump's handling of the Epstein case. Despite Trump's public condemnation, SpaceX has continued to thrive. During the review process, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell reportedly held quiet meetings with White House officials to reaffirm the company's role in U.S. strategic infrastructure. While political tensions may have intensified, the government's reliance on Musk's companies appears largely unchanged. CAN U.S. AFFORD TO DITCH SPACEX? Not anytime soon. Though rivals like Blue Origin are gaining traction, none have the launch cadence, operational record, or scale of SpaceX. While concerns over market concentration persist, industry analysts note that SpaceX remains a crucial partner for U.S. space operations. As one analyst put it, even the most heated political fights must eventually yield to the unforgiving realities of physics, budgets -- and orbital mechanics. For our most loyal readers we want to reiterate an important message that's often overlooked amid our constant wave of news regarding violence, corruption and controversy: Kansas City is home to so many good people doing wonderful, selfless good deeds for the community. Here are just a few examples that don't even begin to scratch the surface . . . Content creator makes school supply wishlist webpage for Kansas City teachers, over 450 sign up Over 450 Kansas City-area teachers have added their Amazon wishlists for their classrooms to a webpage a local content creator made to help teachers out as they head back to school. Cross Pollination: Wonderscope exhibit helps kids appreciate insects Interactive learning concept sponsored by local pest management company Hickman Mills, other KC-area school districts gear up for school year with hiring events Hickman Mills School District joins other Kansas City-area schools hosting job fairs this month, with teaching positions in science, math and special education among the highest priorities. Habitat for Humanity starts building 14 affordable homes in Olathe Habitat for Humanity has already accepted the first homeowner for the workforce housing project at 159th Street and Black Bob Road. Overland Park quilters collect supplies to help Missouri prisoners create quilts for kids A group of OP quilters is sending tons of quilting supplies to a prison in Licking, MO, who quilt blankets for kids. Independence Pizza Ranch holding fundraiser for infant with rare liver disease An Independence family says their 8-month-old is fighting for her life and needs a new liver. Olathe leadership club with 100% graduation rate builds up students by building bikes The Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club returned home last week from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., where they participated in an event focused on youth and future culture. Combat Pilot Flys High at KCPD Simecek served four years in the Air Force as a Security Forces Specialist before joining the Platte County Sheriffs Office. While there, he earned his degree in Criminal Justice from Missouri Western State University. However, after almost four years at Platte County, Simecek joined KCPD, his land of opportunity. Community Blood Center: Urgent need for Type O donors The Community Blood Center says hospitals' supply of Type O blood is dangerously low across Kansas and Missouri. Popular Free Writing Classes Return in August Nearly 500 Library patrons attended free writing classes during the 2024-2025 school year. Those classes are back in August. Photos: Make48's Women in STEM at KCAI Photo by Shea McGraw Make48 hosted a Women in STEM event at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) where seven teams are, according to the Make48 website, challenged to "build a physical prototype , create a sales sheet, produce a one-minute marketing video and pitch their big idea to a panel of judges" to compete for a spot a nationals... Augustinian Sisters participate in 5K as part of Fiesta kickoff - The Leaven Catholic Newspaper The 5K was started by the late Paul Griego, a member of Our Lady Guadalupe Parish in Topeka. Developing . . . BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has woven a more integrated and multidimensional transport network, making sweeping progress that has enhanced connectivity and underpinned economic growth. By the end of 2024, six out of 17 major transport targets set in the plan had been achieved ahead of schedule, including expressway and urban rail lengths, access to express parcel delivery in villages, and the share of new energy buses in urban public transport, Minister of Transport Liu Wei told a press conference on Monday. The remaining targets are expected to be achieved by the end of this year, the minister added. Liu noted that over the past five years, China's transport sector has achieved "historic progress," with over 90 percent of the core framework of the national comprehensive transport network already in place. Behind this progress is robust investment. From 2021 to 2024, fixed-asset investment in transport totaled 15.2 trillion yuan (about 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars), a 23.3 percent increase from the previous cycle. INTEGRATED CONNECTIVITY Stretching across land, sea and sky, China's transport networks have evolved into vital arteries powering the country's modernization. By the end of 2024, China's railway network had reached 162,000 km in total operating length, an increase of about 16,000 km from the end of 2020. Of this, high-speed rail expanded by 10,000 km to exceed 48,000 km, covering 97 percent of cities with populations over 500,000. Highways stretched to 5.49 million km, up 290,000 km from five years earlier. Expressways accounted for 191,000 km, covering 99 percent of cities with a population of over 200,000. Certified civil airports increased to 263 by the end of 2024, 22 more than in 2020, Liu said, adding that air services now cover over 91 percent of the country's population. In urban commuting, a diversified public transport system has provided strong support for daily mobility. Each day, about 100 million urban trips are made by rail, 100 million by bus, and 100 million by taxis and ride-hailing services. These figures highlight the capacity and vitality of China's urban transport system, Liu said. Smart tools like online ticketing and digital payments have made travel more efficient and accessible, Liu said, adding that over 80 hub cities support air-rail intermodal transport. BRIDGING GAPS Improved transport and logistics are enhancing access across rural and less-developed areas, bringing services, markets and new opportunities within reach. As of end-2024, rural roads reached 4.64 million km, and over 30,000 townships and 500,000 administrative villages have been connected by paved roads, Liu said. "The last mile of rural roads is now accessible by cars," the minister said, adding that rural roads are fueling the growth of new industries and tourism, creating local jobs, and raising farmers' incomes. Express delivery services have also played an increasingly important role in narrowing gaps. China has built a three-tier logistics system linking counties, townships and villages, turning rural delivery weak points into engines of consumption and growth, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, said at the press conference. In 2024, express delivery volumes in central and western China rose by 30 percent and 34 percent, respectively, outpacing the national average, Zhao noted. In regions such as Qinghai and Gansu, newly launched mail and courier processing centers have significantly improved handling capacity, enhancing logistics infrastructure in western China, he added. GLOBAL LINKS China has expanded its global transport network over the past years, boosting connectivity and driving cross-border trade and cooperation. The China-Europe freight trains have carried out over 110,000 trips, and nearly 10,000 sea-rail intermodal trains were operated annually along the new western land-sea corridor, Liu said. Since its launch over three years ago, the China-Laos Railway has transported 13.9 million tonnes of cargo across more than 3,000 product categories, accelerating the delivery of a wider range of Southeast Asian agricultural products to Chinese consumers. China's global air freight is also on the rise. Driven by booming e-commerce, international air cargo volume reached nearly 9 million tonnes in 2024, up 32.8 percent over 2020. China has been pushing for greater connectivity through the alignment of rules and regulations. It has signed over 270 bilateral and multilateral transport agreements covering rail, road, sea, air and postal sectors, according to Liu. China has also used international cooperation projects to deliver tangible benefits to local communities. For example, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has created over 74,000 jobs in Kenya, with a localization rate exceeding 90 percent and more than 2,800 railway professionals trained, Liu said. Looking ahead, China will accelerate the building of a strong transportation network through deeper integration, enhanced safety, smart upgrades and green transformation to support the country's modernization drive, Liu added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. A false statement on behalf of Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev on Russian-Azerbaijani relations has been disseminated in a number of social networks, Trend reports via Media Development Agency. This statement, prepared by imitating the image of the official website of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and containing fabricated statements, is an example of gross information manipulation aimed at misleading public opinion. We call on the public to trust only information provided by official sources and remind that information expressing the official position of the state can be obtained from official sources, as well as from the country's news agencies and other professional media. We call on citizens of Azerbaijan, journalists, and public activists to always be principled in response to such situations and to be vigilant in a situation when fake and disinformation campaigns become rampant, the statement reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Today marks the 150th anniversary of the Azerbaijani national press, Trend reports. The founder, editor, and proofreader of the newspaper that made a powerful impact across the Caucasus in the late 19th century was Hasan bey Zardabi a pioneering figure in Azerbaijans enlightenment movement and a natural scientist. Prominent intellectuals such as Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, Seyid Azim Shirvani, Najaf bey Vazirov, Asgar Agha Gorani, and others also played a key role in shaping this publication. Although only 56 issues of Akinchi were published between July 22, 1875, and September 1877, the newspaper had a profound influence on the emergence and development of Azerbaijans national press. Dedicated primarily to educational content, Akinchi quickly gained popularity among both intellectuals and the general public. However, its run was short-lived. The Tsarist authorities, alarmed by its impact on public awareness and engagement in political life, eventually shut it down. Despite this, leading thinkers of the time used Akinchi as a platform to promote democratic and enlightenment ideas, contributing significantly to the countrys intellectual and cultural development. Since then, the Azerbaijani press has gone through periods of decline and revival, consistently reflecting societys perspective on key developments. The growth of the national media is closely tied to the name of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. His return to power in 1993 at the strong urging of the people opened a new chapter for the press in Azerbaijan. In 1998, Heydar Aliyev abolished state censorship, laying the foundation for freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan a move that gave major momentum to the countrys media sector. Heydar Aliyevs commitment to supporting the press and journalists has been carried forward by President Ilham Aliyev. Today, freedom of expression and media is fully guaranteed in Azerbaijan. Its no coincidence that the country now has a wide range of newspapers and magazines, along with a growing digital media landscape. The advancement of modern information technologies has integrated Azerbaijani media into the global information network. In March 2009, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree establishing the State Support Fund for Mass Media under the Presidential Administration. The goal of the fund was to foster an environment of free thought, speech, and information, and to provide support for media outlets that serve the public interest. The modern era has also made it necessary to improve the legal framework surrounding media. With rapid globalization in the media space, updating legislation became a timely and strategic move. At President Ilham Aliyevs direction, comprehensive work was carried out to reform media legislation. As a result, a new law titled On Media was drafted. Under a decree signed on January 12, 2021 On Deepening Reforms in the Media Sector in the Republic of Azerbaijan the Media Development Agency (MEDIA) was established, replacing the previous State Support Fund. This new agency is expected to accelerate and strengthen media reforms in the country. Azerbaijans commitment to the press is also evident in its support for journalists: from celebrating media anniversaries and providing financial assistance to outlets, to improving journalists social protection and housing conditions. The Azerbaijani media played a vital role in both the First and Second Karabakh Wars, fulfilling its responsibilities with professionalism and courage. During the 44-day Patriotic War, the media stood at the forefront of the information battle, countering enemy propaganda and delivering the truth about Azerbaijan to both domestic and international audiences. That mission continues today in the post-war period. The media plays an active role in broadcasting every statement and declaration made by President Ilham Aliyev the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief about the now-resolved Karabakh conflict and the realities in the liberated territories. During and after the 44-day war, journalists made significant contributions to telling Azerbaijans story to the world. Their professionalism, dedication, and swift reporting helped expose Armenian war crimes and convey the truth about the conflict. President Ilham Aliyev himself played a leading role in this effort, giving more than 30 interviews to international media outlets during the war a crucial factor in ensuring global awareness of Azerbaijans realities. Even today, in the ongoing information war, Azerbaijani journalists continue to distinguish themselves with their patriotism and professionalism. During the war, many reported directly from the front lines, while also participating in national mobilization efforts. Several journalists were awarded medals for their service during the Karabakh battles a powerful reflection of the countrys respect and trust in its media professionals. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to King Philippe of the Belgians, Trend reports. "Your Majesty, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and, through you, to all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Belgium," the letter reads. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has signed a decree awarding a group of media professionals in recognition of their contributions to the development of national press, Trend reports. The full text of the decree of the head of state can be found at the link. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The speech by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, at the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum on the topic Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI in Khankendi, and his responses to journalists' questions, have captured the focus of global media attention. For instance, China's Xinhua News Agency published an article titled Azerbaijani president hails high level of mutual trust with China. Quoting President Ilham Aliyev, the publication noted that Azerbaijan and China have adopted and signed two major documents. Last year, it was the Declaration on Strategic Partnership; this year, the Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The article also noted that Baku supported President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road initiative from the beginning, and that the corresponding transport and logistics infrastructure has already been prepared in Azerbaijan. Chinese outlets including Sina, Guangcha, 163.com, and others also highlighted the significance of the agreement between Azerbaijan and China on mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports. The document was signed in April during President Ilham Aliyevs state visit to China. It was noted that this agreement will help strengthen people-to-people ties and foster connections among students and entrepreneurs from both countries. The publications also quoted President Ilham Aliyevs remarks regarding Azerbaijans position on Taiwan. Azerbaijan has always openly stated that it supports the position of the People's Republic of China on Taiwan and on other issues. Our position, the One China policy, is well known to both the Chinese leadership and the Chinese people, the head of state was quoted as saying. Japanese media also widely covered President Ilham Aliyevs speech at the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum. Outlets and platforms such as Tokyo-np, Newseveryday, Sankei Shimbun, Newspick, Okinawatimes, 47News, Net Nihonkai, and others published articles quoting the head of states comments on the AZAL aircraft incident, noting that the Russian side had provided no clear explanation regarding the event. French and Hungarian media also published content covering President Ilham Aliyevs speech. Articles on French platforms Euronews and RFI, as well as Hungarian news portals Economx.hu, Liner.hu, and Hvg.hu, focused particularly on the AZAL aircraft incident and Bakus official position regarding the preparation of documentation for submission to international judicial bodies. Indian portals such as Hindustan Times, Firstpost, and Tourguidence also focused on President Ilham Aliyevs comments on the AZAL aircraft crash and the deaths of 38 passengers in the tragedy. Vietnamese newspapers and news sites, including Vietnam Plus, VnExpress, Lao Dong, PLO.vn, VO.vn, and Bao Nghe An, quoted President Ilham Aliyevs statements on the normalization of relations and the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Chilean news platforms such as El Periodista, El Vinotinto, Inoticias, and others included President Ilham Aliyevs comments on the peace agreement with Armenia, the opening of the Zangezur Corridor, and Bakus climate agenda and renewable energy initiatives. "As far as our contribution to the global climate agenda is concerned, I would say that Azerbaijan is an ecologically friendly country. We do not use coal or fuel oil to produce electricity. We rely only on hydropower and natural gas, and more recently, on solar energy. By the way, our green agenda is very ambitious. By 2030, based on already signed investment contracts, we will have a minimum of six gigawatts of green energy, including solar, wind, and hydro, the media outlets quoted President Ilham Aliyev. Swiss SWI outlet focused on President Ilham Aliyevs comments about the AZAL aircraft crash. In its article, citing President Ilham Aliyev, the edition noted that Azerbaijan intends to file a case in international court against Russia in connection with the crash of the AZAL passenger plane. The Pakistani Islamabad Post published the full text of President Ilham Aliyevs speech during the meeting with participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum. An article published by the Philippine News Agency emphasized that on July 19, President Ilham Aliyev met with participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, which brought together over 150 representatives of foreign media at the newly opened Congress Center in Khankendi. "This year, the forum is held under the theme Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI, bringing together international journalists, media managers, and policymakers to discuss current challenges and opportunities in global media and digital communications, the article stated. In Bauhinia Magazine (Hong Kong), attention was given to President Ilham Aliyevs remarks on relations with China. The outlet noted that the head of state highly praised the level of cooperation between the two countries. La Radio del Sur (Venezuela) also quoted President Ilham Aliyevs comments on the AZAL aircraft crash. The article pointed out that Baku insists on compensation for the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the crash. An article by NewTalk (Taiwan) stated that Azerbaijan demands official acknowledgment of guilt from Moscow, accountability for those responsible, compensation for the victims families and the injured, and reimbursement for the destroyed aircraft. The Jordan News Agency (Jordan) paid particular attention to the significance of the media forum. Speaking at the forum, President Ilham Aliyev noted that hosting such an event underscores the need for open discussions, the article stated. Materials published by Sharjah 24 and Emirates News Agency WAM (UAE) emphasized that the forum aims to address the impact of digital transformation on media, the growing role of modern technology in content creation and distribution, and the importance of media literacy for access to accurate and reliable information. During the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of timely responses to the rapid development of technology, noting the increasing role of artificial intelligence in all areas, especially media. The head of state also touched on regional and international relations of Azerbaijan, foreign policy, and international cooperation, the articles noted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. On July 21, an open court hearing continued in the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia, including Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. They stand accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes - including the preparation and conduct of aggressive war - genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, the forcible seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses stemming from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan. The hearing, held at the Baku Military Court under the presidency of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that each defendant was provided with an interpreter in their preferred language and defense counsel. The session was attended by the accused, their legal representatives, several victims, their legal successors or representatives, and state prosecutors. Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the members of the judicial panel, prosecutors, interpreters, and others to victims participating for the first time, explaining their rights and obligations under the law. Victim Kanan Isayev testified that he received a shrapnel wound due to the provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces in the Fuzuli district during the April battles in 2016. Victim Safar Hajiyev reported receiving a gunshot wound due to a fire opened by the Armenian armed forces while serving in the military in 2011. Responding to a question from Tarana Mammadova, the public prosecutor, Hajiyev mentioned that the incident occurred during the ceasefire violation by the Armenian armed forces. Vladislav Alimov reported sustaining a closed head injury during the battles in Shusha in 1992, when was captured by the Armenian armed forces and brought to Khankendi. He was released from captivity and handed over to the Azerbaijani side on October 6. Vagif Ganbarov testified that he was captured in 1993 during battles with the Armenian armed forces in Kalbajar, taken to Yerevan and held in the Armenian State Security Service. Later, he was taken to the city of Gumru and held there. In captivity, he was committed to torture. Responding to a question from Vusal Aliyev, Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General, he noted that he was handed over to Azerbaijan on May 12, 1995. In response to a question from the lawyer of the accused Bako Sahakyan, V. Ganbarov stated that he worked at the Deep Water Jackets Factory prior to being deployed. Aghasafar Shukurov emphasized that he was captured on February 14, 1994, after sustaining a closed head injury during the battles in the Kalbajar district. He was initially held in Kalbajar for a short time, then transferred to the pre-trial detention center in Khankendi, and later to the Shusha prison, where he endured hars conditions. He was released on June 8, 1995. Responding to a question from Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, A. Shukurov said that while in captivity, all Azerbaijanis - civilians and military personnel - were beaten. "Like the others, I endured regular beatings and torture. They beat me with the rifle butt, a shovel, a rebar, a baton. They broke every teeth in my mouth," he said. Victim Shahla Talibova testified that she was expelled from her ancestral home in Armenia in 1988, and resettled in Shusha due to her husbands job in Khojaly. Victim Shahla Talibova testified that in 1988 they were deported from their ancestral homeland in Armenia, resettled in the Shusha district, and moved there because her husband worked in Khojaly. Talibova recalled that her 10-day-old baby suffered an eye injury when a stone was thrown at their bus amid the onset of violence against Azerbaijanis. She described the events of the Khojaly genocide on February 2526, 1992, recounting how she and her family escaped and hid in the forest for two days before managing to reach Aghdam. She added that several of her relatives were taken captive by Armenian forces, while others went missing. Talibova said her children continue to suffer from severe psychological trauma as a result of those events. Yegana Ibrahimova mentioned that when Armenian armed forces launched their attack on Kalbajar in May 1993, she was leaving the area in a KamAZ truck. The vehicle was fired upon by Armenian armed forces near an area called Tunnel. At that time, there were about 40 people in the KamAZ truk, including five of Y.Ibrahimova's relatives. During the attack, 15-year-old Y.Ibrahimova, along with her father, mother, and brothers, were injured. She was hit by eight bullets with, while her her 14-year-old brothers Mushfig was hit by 8 bullets. Her father Nadir Aliyev, mother Nushaba Aliyeva, and 11-year-old brother Tural Aliyev were burned to death in the car, their bodies remain missing. She, along with her brother Mushfig, were taken hostage. Some of the hostages, including Y. Ibrahimova, were held in the Heyval village. During her captivity, she was also detained in Khankendi and Khojaly. Responding to questions from State Prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, Y. Ibrahimova underscored that in 1994 she was first taken to Armenia for a prisoner exchange, then transferred to the Rostov region of Russia, and subsequently released. In his testimony, Hasan Gojayev mentioned that he was captured by Armenian armed forces during the battles naear Kalbajar on the night of February 12-13, 1994 and taken to the village of Susuz, where he and other Azerbaijani prisoners were subjected to torture and being hung by their feet. His leg was frozen badly, as a result of the torture both his legs were amputated by the Armenians. Gojayev was held in Shusha and Khankendi, and handed over to the Azerbaijani side on March 26. In response to a question from the accused David Manukyan, H. Gojayev said that both of his legs are currently prosthetic. Rafig Ismayilov testified he was captured on August 24, 1993, during fierce battles in Fuzuli, receiving 6 bullet wounds. He added that while he was wounded, Armenian soldiers beat him and kicked him in the places where he had been shot. Responding to questions from Nasir Bayramov, head of the Prosecutor General's Department for State Prosecution, Ismayilov stressed that he escaped captivity on September 4 that year in an Armenian armed forces "Niva". Victim Elshan Talibov testified that on May 29, 1990, he was taken hostage by Armenians in the Aliaghali village of Aghdam, along with his fellow villagers Nuru Jafarov and Ziyad Jafarov. They were beaten during their captivity, and their money and belongings were confiscated. Five days later, they were handed over to the Azerbaijani side in exchange for 55 head of cattle. Huseyn Aliyev underscore that on February 1, 1995, while on military service, he was taken prisoner by the Armenian armed forces servicemen in Tartar after getting lost in foggy weather. He was handed over to the Azerbaijani side 1 year and 4 months later. Ramal Hajiyev testified that he was captured by the Armenian armed forces in the Abdurrahmanli village of Fuzuli district, in foggy weather on October 15, 2000. He was released on January 14, 2001. In her testimony, Sahida Alakbarova underlined that she was born in the city of Khojaly and lived there until the night of February 25-26, 1992. During the genocide, she was taken hostage in a place called Garagaya and held at the Asgaran Police Department. After the city was occupied, her house and all her belongings were seized by the occupiers. Bakhtiyar Shabiyev recounted being captured by the Armenian armed forces in Lachin during the war in 1993. In captivity, he was held in Yerevan, being committed to beatings and torture during that time. He was released in May 1994. Iltizam Abishov testified that he was taken hostage during the genocide while he was an IDP from Khojaly and brought to the Asgaran police station. After a week of beatings and torture, he was released. Ilgar Abishov confirmed the statements of his brother Iltizam Abishov, who testified before him. In his testimony, Ilham Aghamaliyev mentioned that he was taken captured by the Armenian armed forces in May 1993. First, he was taken to Basarkecher, then to Yerevan. He was endured torture and beatings. Two years later, he was released and repatriated to Azerbaijan. In their testimonies, Javid Muzaffarzade, Anar Aliyev, Munasib Mirzayev, and Allahverdi Jabbarov stated that they were captured in different areas. Elgun Alakbarov testified that in 2021, while working as a tractor driver at a cotton factory in Tartar, he was injured after driving over an anti-tank mine planted by Armenian armed forces. In his testimony, Vasif Guliyev mentioned that he was injured in 2020 during the 44-day war when a shell fired by the Armenian armed forces landed into his backyard in the Gapanli village in the Tartar district,. Polad Ismayilov testified that on April 2, 2024, he stepped on a mine while grazing animals in the Chayli village in the Tartar district. During the incident, he, along with his fellow countrymen Arzuman Tagizade and Elmin Baghirov, were wounded. Sabuhi Bakhshaliyev testified that during the 44-day war in 2020, on September 28, he sustained a shrapnel wound when a shell struck his home in the Eskipara village in Tartar district, destroying the house and killing his livestock. Khayal Babayev underlined that in April 2021, he was injured in Sugovushan during demining operations following the explosion of a landmine planted by Armenian armed forces. Ferman Mehdiyev emphasized that in February 2005, he was wounded when Armenian armed forces shelled the Qapanli village of the Tartar district, where he lived. Vusal Abbasov testified that he sustained severe injuries from a mortar explosion fired by Armenian forces during the April battles in 2016. He is currently classified as an individual with a second-degree disability. Fizuli Mammadov said that he was severely wounded by artillery fire from Armenian armed forces while burying his aunt, who died on October 15, 2020, at the cemetery in Tartar during the 44-day war. In his testimony, Rashad Guluyev mentioned that he was injured on October 16, 2020, during the 44-day war, when a shell fired by Armenian forces exploded in Barda. Ganbar Asadov noted that he sustained serious injuries when a shell hit the district center as while e was traveling in an ambulance as a staff member of the Tartar District Central Hospital. Agha Suleymanov reported being injured on October 14, 2020, when Armenian armed forces shelled the Duyarli village in the Tartar district, where he lived. Mushfig Farajov testified that two artillery shells hit his house in Tartar on October 9, 2020. Vagif Akbarov mentioned that while working on demining operations as an ANAMA employee, he was injured in a mine explosion in Aghdam on December 5, 2023, resulting in the amputation of part of his right leg. Mamed Ahmadov said that he was injured on April 2, 2016, when the Shikharkh village in Tartar district, where he lived, was targeted by artillery. Yashar Mammadov confirmed witnessing the Aghdaban massacre during the night of April 78, 1992. He said the village of 130 homes was set ablaze, and innocent civilians lost their lives. Aladdin Mammadov underscored that during the April battles in 2016, a shell hit the Garaaghaji village in Tartar district, where he lived, causing damage to his house. Kamal Aliyev testified that he left 14-room house behind during the occupation of Lachin in 1993, adding that on April 2, 2016, a shell struck the village of Shikharkh, causing his house to burn down. The victims also responded to questions from the accused, their defense lawyers, and their representatives. The trial is scheduled to continue on July 24. Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian stateincluding the aforementioned criminal associationon the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others. The following individualsArayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayanare being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and other articles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. On July 21, in Astana, in the new administrative building of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the meetings of the Senior Officials Committee and the Special Working Group were held, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. Within the framework of the Committee meeting, an exchange of views took place on the main areas of interaction between the CICA member states. In this context, the active work of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the CICA chairmanship on the topic "A Stronger CICA: Digitalization, Connectivity and Sustainable Development in Asia" was noted, and the initiatives being implemented aimed at practical results were positively assessed by the member states. Achievements in the implementation of the priorities of the chairmanship on institutional strengthening of CICA, increasing the effectiveness of sectoral cooperation and confidence building measures, as well as CICA interaction with international organizations were reviewed. The steps taken by Azerbaijan over the past 7 months within the framework of the CICA chairmanship were highly appreciated. The annual review of confidence building measures in the environmental area was considered at the event. Member States presented information on the steps taken in the field of sustainable development and environmental protection in the CICA space. The historic results achieved by Azerbaijan during its chairmanship at COP29 were noted. During the meeting of the Committee, relevant decisions were also made on the establishment of the Women's Council and the organization of the CICA Financial Summit at the initiative of the chairmanship. In addition, an exchange of views took place on other issues of mutual interest in the CICA space. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. A commission has been established to ensure the security of critical information infrastructure, Trend reports, citing the State Security Service and the Special Communication and Information Security State Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Comprehensive measures are being taken to ensure the security of critical information infrastructure in order to implement the tasks arising from the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, decrees of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In accordance with the requirements of relevant regulatory legal acts a joint commission consisting of relevant employees of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Special Communication and Information Security State Service (SCISSS) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been established to systematically, timely and continuously organize the verification of compliance with general and special rules on the security of critical information infrastructure by state bodies. Taking into account the threats to state and public security that the deficiencies identified by the Commission may pose, an assessment of the measures to be taken by critical information infrastructure entities to eliminate them will be conducted. The commission will also prepare periodic reports and information on the results of the work done and, whether circumstances that may lead to a violation of the security of critical information infrastructure facilities are identified, the issue of taking urgent measures will be raised. According to Decree No.1315 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated April 17th 2021, the functions of the authorized body in ensuring the security of critical information infrastructure, including combating cyber threats, are performed by the SSS and in relation to state bodies, public legal entities established on behalf of the state and legal entities owned by the state, the SSS performs these functions jointly with SCISSS," the statement reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The third and final day of the III Global Media Forum was held in the historic city of Shusha, Trends special correspondent reports. Centered on the theme "Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI", the forum, which began on July 19, concluded today, capping three days of dialogue on the evolving challenges and opportunities in the media landscape. The final day featured panel discussions addressing media literacy, information security, and the impact of social networks on public trust. The forum brought together around 140 participants from 52 countries, including delegates from more than 30 news agencies, 7 international organizations, and nearly 80 media institutions. The Head of Communications and Advocacy at the Office of the Director General of the African Union Development Agency, Zipporah Maubane, stated that media literacy plays a key role in combating misinformation in the digital age. According to her, media literacy is not only the responsibility of journalists, but also of private and public sector leaders, he said. Because these are the people who often become active participants in online platforms. The main thing is that both managers and ordinary citizens, especially those from rural areas, should have at least a basic level of media literacy and be able to distinguish misinformation from reliable information, She emphasized. Maubane noted that the speed of information dissemination on the Internet requires organizations to be able to respond quickly to crises: If, for example, the head of a company does not understand the dynamics of Internet media, it can lead to serious reputational losses, She said. Jaffar Hasnain, anchor and correspondent for TRT World, noted that journalism is a demanding activity that requires a high level of attention to detail and facts. In today's social media-dominated world, he said, improving media literacy and the ability to distinguish accurate information from fake information is more important than ever. "Journalism is not just reporting. It is fact-checking, cross-checking, and quoting reliable sources. That is why, as professionals, we have to explain to the public how the media industry works," he emphasized. Hasnain added that a true journalist must go through all stages of verification before publishing any story. "Yes, you can have a phone and call yourself a journalist. But journalism is a much more complex and important field. It is a complex and important process that requires an understanding of how the media environment functions," he said. Claus Strunz, CEO of Euronews, stated that the gap between machine and human perception is both a challenge and an opportunity for journalism. According to him, for years, conflicts in the post-Soviet space, including in the South Caucasus, have been covered through a Western prism. "The machine knows all these reports and reflects only one side. We, journalists, are obliged to understand this mechanism - this is our main task: to fill in the gaps and present a more complete picture," he emphasized. Strunz added that despite the rapid development of technology and algorithms, the main factor in the media space is still a human being. "Information is reliable only if there is a person behind it - a journalist with a face, a name, and responsibility. It is this factor that will determine the competitiveness and trust of the audience in the next 5, 10, 15 years," he said. The official also stated that they are currently focused on the implementation of automated translation, and it is not an easy task. According to him, the integration of artificial intelligence into the work of the newsroom should be done gradually and thoughtfully, starting with the main areas. "Right now we are focused on translation, and it's quite a challenge. Given that Euronews operates in 12 languages, translation has ceased to be an auxiliary function and has become the centerpiece of our activities," he explained. The CEO emphasized that the careful and thoughtful use of technology comes with a responsibility to both viewers and the team: "If we move too fast, we can make mistakes. But moving too slowly is also risky. We are trying to find the right rhythm, because every step affects people, causes emotions, and doubts. And that's only natural, because doubt is the basis of real innovation," said Strunz. SHANGHAI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai recorded approximately 3.12 million inbound tourist visits by foreign-passport holders in the first half of 2025, up 53.3 percent year on year, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism on Monday. Sustained momentum came from key Asian markets, led by the Republic of Korea with 424,000 trips, up 130.7 percent, Thailand with 254,000 trips, up 140 percent, and Japan with 291,000 trips, up 58.5 percent. Long-haul sources like the United States, Russia and Australia also posted robust increases. Foreign tourists cite China's visa facilitation policies and improved services, clean cities, efficient transport, and creative souvenirs, as well as Shanghai's newly opened Legoland Resort, the city's cosmopolitan atmosphere, diverse attractions, and modern infrastructure as key draws. To consolidate its position as China's premier entry destination, Shanghai launched "This is Shanghai." This tourism promotion initiative features promotional films with "city ambassadors," a "cultural passport" guidebook, and curated experiential routes -- all aimed at boosting interactive engagement for global travelers. City officials emphasized ongoing efforts to integrate "first-stop cultural exposure" with immersive storytelling, positioning Shanghai as a world-class tourism hub with global appeal. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 21. Media literacy is essential to countering disinformation in the digital age, said Zipporah Maubane, Head of Communications and Advocacy at the African Union Development Agency, Trend's special correspondent reports. Speaking at the 3rd Global Media Forum in Shusha, Maubane noted that media literacy is not just the responsibility of journalists, but also of leaders in both the public and private sectors, as they are often active participants on online platforms. It is important that both leaders and everyday citizens, especially those in rural areas, possess a basic level of media literacy and understand how to distinguish disinformation from credible information, she emphasized. Maubane also noted that the rapid spread of online content demands that organizations know how to respond to crises quickly. If, for example, a company executive does not understand the dynamics of online media, it can lead to serious reputational damage, she added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The rhythmic gymnastics group team has returned to Azerbaijan, where they were warmly welcomed at the airport by representatives of the federation, young gymnasts, and family members, Trend reports. The Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation announced that the senior group team, which competed at the 32nd Summer World University Games in Germany, came back with three medals. The team - made up of Gullu Aghalarzade, Leman Alimuradova, Darya Sorokina, Yelizaveta Luzan, and Kamilla Aliyeva - won two golds and one silver across different routines. This marks the first-ever medal success for Azerbaijans rhythmic gymnastics group in team competitions at a Universiade. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 21. Dialogue with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, made a deep impression on journalists, the Member of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists Ricardas Lapaitis told Trend on the sidelines of the 3rd Global Media Forum in Shusha. Ricardas Lapaitis highly assessed the results of the forum, especially noting the importance of the journalists' meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to him, the frankness of the head of state made a deep impression on him. "As a journalist and as a person, I was touched by President Ilham Aliyev's answers. I hear such frank answers from heads of state very rarely. Especially when President Ilham Aliyev stated that never agree to occupation. This applies to everyone who fights for a just cause," he emphasized. The official also noted that for the first time in more than 30 years, he returned to Khojaly, where he witnessed the tragic events in 1992. At that time, he worked in the region together with foreign journalists. "I was an eyewitness to the genocide of Azerbaijanis. We were traveling through Khankendi, Shusha, and Asgharan. I saw the other side of the Gargarchay River, from where people were trying to leave that night. It became clear to me that there was not a single exaggeration in the stories of the survivors. Perhaps they could not even convey the full horror," the journalist remarked. He stated that the Second Karabakh War was an example of transition to a new level of combat operations. "Azerbaijan liberated a huge territory in 44 days. You were the first to show how modern wars are fought," Lapaitis added. The journalist also touched upon the topic of AI in the context of modern media and armed conflicts, emphasizing that no technology will replace human beings on the front line. "Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, but it will not replace military journalists. We are the ones who travel to hot spots and risk our lives. However, of course, humanity must create clear defense mechanisms to ensure that machines are not above humans," he said. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 21. TikTok is the platform of the future, where the key factor is not the number of followers, but the idea itself, said Serguei Sokolov, Director of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs Department of TikTok (ByteDance) for Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Mongolia, Trend reports. Speaking at the III Shusha Global Media Forum, Sokolov noted that TikTok offers a fundamentally new model of digital communication, different from traditional social networks. On TikTok, reach depends not on the number of followers, but on content quality. You might not have a single follower, yet your video can be seen by millions. This is a fundamental difference between the new media ecosystem and the classic model, he emphasized. He also noted that the platform is becoming an important tool not only for content creators and brands but also for politicians, government bodies, and media aiming to reach the younger generation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The opening of the "Carpet Weaving Training Center for the Development of Traditional Afghan Crafts" took place in Kabul with the participation of Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Ilham Mammadov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The project, which aims to increase employment and preserve traditional Afghan crafts, was implemented with the financial support of the Azerbaijan International Development Assistance Agency (AIDA) operating under the Foreign Ministry, as well as with the partnership of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Representative Office in Afghanistan and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Afghanistan. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security of Afghanistan Alhaj Mavlavi thanked Azerbaijan and the OIC on behalf of his country, and stressed that the project will serve to protect, promote, and develop Afghan handicrafts. The OIC Representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Saeed al-Ayyash, noted that the vocational school established with the support of the Azerbaijani side will support low-income Afghan families, as well as that the project makes a special contribution to solidarity among the OIC member states. Ambassador Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan has already implemented several projects in Afghanistan, and said that such initiatives are planned to be continued. Speaking about the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, as well as the importance of solidarity within the OIC, the speakers noted that Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the OIC Summit of Heads of State and Government in 2026 is of particular importance. The training center consists of four workshops and is equipped with 20 carpet weaving looms, necessary tools, and a year's supply of raw materials. It's planned to train 80 women at the same time in the center. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. AzerGold will produce a new commemorative coin dedicated to Lachin city, Trend reports citing AzerGold. The company noted that the new coin collection will be unveiled to the public soon. Lachin district, including the town of Lachin, was liberated from occupation on December 1, 2020, after the end of the Second Karabakh War. However, the town itself, as well as two villages, Zabukh and Sus, were not under full Azerbaijani control at that time. These districts were handed over to Azerbaijan on August 26, 2023, after the end of the anti-terrorist measures. "AzerGold" Closed Joint-Stock Company, often referred to as AzerGold CJSC, is a state-owned enterprise in Azerbaijan that focuses on the study, exploration, development, and management of precious and non-ferrous metal ore deposits. It was established in 2015 and is involved in various aspects of the mining industry, including research, extraction, processing, and sale of these metals. AzerGold also plays a role in modernizing the industry's material and technical base and implementing new technologies. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences to Bangladesh over the fatal crash of a military plane in Dhaka, the statement of Azerbaijani MFA on a social media post said, Trend reports. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic crash of a training aircraft belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force in Dhaka. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Bangladesh," the ministry stated in a post shared on its social media account. Meanwhile, the aircraft crashed on the premises of Milestone College in Dhaka, killing 19 people, including the pilot, and injuring 164 others. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. As previously reported, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on awarding media representatives for services in the development of the national press in Azerbaijan Among the awarded media representatives, in particular, are employees of Trend News Agency and Day.Az. Thus, Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency Jamila Ojagova was awarded the Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency Elchin Aloglu was awarded the honorary title Honored Journalist for special merits in the development of the national press in Azerbaijan, and the editor of Day.Az news portal Aytemiz Mammadova, and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Trend News Agency Leyla Abdullayeva were awarded the Taraggi medal. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. From July 21 to August 2, Riga will host a high-level international training session focused on enhancing knowledge and skills related to cultural heritage protection in the face of disasters, extreme weather events, and complex emergencies, Trend reports. The program is organized by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Latvia as part of the READY project, launched earlier this year. More than 24 cultural heritage professionals from 20 countries will gather in Riga for this intensive two-week training led by experts in heritage and risk management. Participants will develop practical skills in risk assessment, emergency preparedness planning, first aid for heritage, and strategies for protecting both cultural collections and living heritage during crisis scenarios. "Cultural heritage is essential to national identity. Its vital that we see real, coordinated actionboth locally and internationallyto protect and preserve it. Latvia is proud to contribute to Europes collective resilience by hosting this group of leading experts," Latvian Minister of Culture Agnese Lace emphasized. The training curriculum was designed by top-level international specialists, including professionals from cultural institutions, academic and research bodies, civil protection agencies, NGOs, and global organizations. The READY project also focuses on community-based disaster risk management, recognizing the critical role of local knowledge and traditions in both preparation and recovery. The READY initiative is a 38-month project funded by the European Union through its Creative Europe program. It is led by ICCROM under the umbrella of its First Aid and Resilience for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAR) initiative, with contributions from partners in Latvia, Ukraine, France, Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Italy, and Belgium. Azerbaijan's tea throughput declines in 1H2025 Azerbaijans tea production declined slightly in the first half of the year, dropping to around 5,700 tons. While exports remained modest, the country imported over 7,000 tons of tea to meet domestic demand. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register KABUL, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Police set on fire more than half a ton of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on Sunday, provincial police spokesman Assadullah Jamshid said Monday. The contraband, which included 130 kg of opium poppy, 480 kg of methamphetamine and 660 pieces of stimulant tablets, had been collected over the past two months and was burned publicly, the official added. Police won't allow anyone to produce, process or traffic illegal drugs, the official further said. In a similar drive against illicit drugs, the Ministry of Interior Affairs reported arresting 32 drug smugglers and the discovery of 10 kg of illegal drugs in their possession in some provinces last week. Iran advances rail development with strategic agreements with local firms Irans railway authority has signed agreements with two local companies to purchase around 130 new passenger cars and refurbish about 140 others. The total investment in the project is estimated at nearly $150 million. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Iran is increasingly interested in expanding passenger transportation by rail with its neighboring countries, said Jabbar Ali Zakeri, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Executive Director of the Railways Company of Iran, Trend reports. Speaking at a signing ceremony in Tehran regarding memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for the purchase and repair of passenger railcars, Zakeri noted that Irans rail tourism sector is on the rise. This growth can lead to increased revenues for passenger railway companies. In addition to revenue, activity in the tourism sector will also attract significant public interest, he said. Zakeri noted that a passenger train between the Iranian capital Tehran and the Turkish capital Ankara is expected to be launched within the next two months. He added that after a five-year suspension, the Tehran-Van passenger train has recently resumed operations. He further stated that a preliminary agreement has been reached on launching a Tehran-Herat passenger train connecting Iran and Afghanistan as early as next month. The deputy minister also said that consultations have begun on establishing passenger train service to Mary in Turkmenistan and Dushanbe in Tajikistan. Iran Railways signed two MoUs with local companies on July 20 in Tehran to allocate 88.2 trillion rials (about $153 million) for the purchase of 130 new passenger wagons and the repair of 140 existing ones. ---- Follow the author on X: @BaghishovElnur Iran set to import passenger wagons from China as tech issues near resolution Iran is set to begin importing passenger wagons from China soon, with only a few technical issues left to resolve. Earlier this year, Iran signed billion-dollar memoranda to add over six hundred wagons to its rail network, aiming to import around three hundred wagons this year. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Photo: Information portal of the First Vice-President of Iran BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Iran continues to prioritize the role of railways in freight and passenger transportation through joint commission meetings with all neighboring countries, said Farzaneh Sadegh, the countrys Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Trend reports. Speaking at a signing ceremony held today in Tehran for memoranda of understanding (MoUs) related to the purchase and repair of passenger railcars, Sadegh noted that Iran is actively working to strengthen railway cooperation with neighboring countries, including Turkmenistan, Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. All such efforts are aimed at ensuring stable and ongoing investment in the railway sector. Sadegh emphasized that using Irans railway network for freight and passenger services not only builds trust with neighboring countries and strengthens bilateral relations but also contributes to national development. All our neighbors recognize the cost-effectiveness of the Iranian route, she said. The Iranian minister also announced that by the end of the country's current railway development plan, which runs through the year 2029, 500 locomotives and 900 passenger wagons are expected to be added to Irans railway fleet. She stressed the need to boost cooperation with the private sector to accelerate this process. To note, Iran Railways signed two MoUs with local companies on July 20 in Tehran to allocate 88.2 trillion rials (about $153 million) for the purchase of 130 new passenger wagons and the repair of 140 existing ones. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, July 21. Tajikistan increased agricultural exports to over 90,000 tons in the first half of 2025, Trend reports via the Ministry of Agriculture. A total of 90,280 tons of agricultural products were exported between January and June 2025, exceeding last years volume by 13,156 tons. Tajikistans agricultural goods were shipped to 26 countries, with 89 percent going to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the remaining 11 percent to non-CIS nations. The Sughd region was the primary export hub, accounting for 80,000 tons of total outbound agricultural shipments. This was followed by the Khatlon region with 5,200 tons, the city of Tursunzade with 4,600 tons, Dushanbe with 189 tons, and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region with 66 tons. The increase reflects Tajikistans efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and expand its presence in foreign markets through improved logistics and trade partnerships. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Azerbaijan exported non-oil products worth $19.3 million to Uzbekistan in the period from January through May 2025. The data obtained by Trend from the country's State Customs Committee shows that this figure is $9.3 million, or 1.9 times more than the same period of 2024. Over the first 5 months of this year, Azerbaijan's non-oil exports to Uzbekistan amounted to 1.37 percent of total exports. Thus, in the reporting period, Uzbekistan ranked 10th among the countries that purchased the most non-oil products from Azerbaijan. At the same time, the volume of trade operations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan from January through May 2025 amounted to $214.8 million. According to the report, this equals $145.8 million, or 3.1 times more than the indicator for the same months of 2024. During the reporting period, trade turnover with Uzbekistan amounted to 1.16 percent of Azerbaijan's total trade turnover. Azerbaijan exported products worth $19.7 million to Uzbekistan from January through May of this year. This is about $9 million, or 1.8 times more than for the same period of 2024. In addition, Azerbaijan carried out import operations worth $195.1 million from Uzbekistan in the period from January through May 2025, which is an increase of $136.9 million or 3.3 times compared to the previous year. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 21. Air China, Chinas national carrier, has launched regular Beijing-Tashkent-Beijing flights, marking its entry into the Uzbekistan market, Trend reports. On July 19th, the airlines inaugural flight landed at Tashkent International Airport. The crew and passengers aboard the modern Boeing 737 were welcomed with a traditional water salute and flowers. We are delighted to offer direct flights between the capitals of China and Uzbekistan. We believe this route will play a key role in enhancing trade, tourism, and cultural ties. Air China is not just about transporting passengers; its about opening new horizons, connecting people, cities, and opportunities. We are committed to reliability, comfort, and high service standards at every stage of the flight, said a company representative. We are pleased to welcome Air China as a new partner at Tashkent Airport. We are confident that this route will be in high demand among passengers. Our team has ensured that all necessary conditions for providing high-quality service on this route are in place, emphasized Umid Khamraev, First Deputy Director of Uzbekistan Airports Handling. The flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Founded in 1988, Air China is the largest airline in China and the official flag carrier of the country. It is a member of the Star Alliance and is based at Beijing Capital International Airport. Iran sees increase in product imports from Tajikistan Irans imports from Tajikistan surged significantly in both value and volume, reflecting a targeted increase in key goods like cotton and silk fabrics despite a broader national decline in non-oil imports. This trend underscores Tajikistans growing role as an important trade partner amid Irans strategic import restrictions. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 21. Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations during a meeting between Afghan Ambassador Fazl Mohammad Saber and Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Qurbanov in Ashgabat, Trend reports, citing the Afghan Embassy. The talks covered a wide spectrum of cooperation, with a focus on political dialogue, economic engagement, and strategic connectivity. Central to the discussions were major infrastructure projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and ongoing railway development initiatives. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) was also addressed as part of broader energy cooperation efforts. The two sides discussed steps to facilitate trade and improve services for Afghan citizens residing in Turkmenistan. Both officials expressed appreciation for the current level of cooperation and emphasized their readiness to further expand the partnership across all priority areas. BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Mao Chenyue, a senior executive of the U.S. bank Wells Fargo, cannot leave China temporarily as she is involved in a criminal case currently under investigation in China. Addressing a daily press briefing, Guo Jiakun, the spokesperson, said Mao is currently subject to exit restrictions issued by Chinese law enforcement authorities. According to Chinese laws, while the case remains under investigation, Mao is unable to leave China, and she is obligated to cooperate with the investigation, Guo said. "All individuals in China, whether Chinese or foreign nationals, must abide by Chinese laws," he said, adding that the Chinese side will protect her lawful rights during the investigation in accordance with the law. "I would like to stress that this is an isolated judicial case. China will, as always, welcome people from other countries to travel and do business in China, and protect their lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law," Guo added. Irans non-oil export trade with Kyrgyzstan sees downturn Irans non-oil exports to Kyrgyzstan declined notably in the first quarter of the Iranian year, with both value and volume falling by nearly 20% and 7%, respectively, reflecting broader downward trends in Irans overall non-oil export sector. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Irans product imports from Kyrgyzstan experience steep decline Irans imports from Kyrgyzstan dropped sharply in the first quarter of the Iranian year, with product value falling 28.6% and weight down 46.6% year-on-year. Overall non-oil imports also declined by 11.7% in value and 4.35% in weight, reflecting Tehrans focus on essential goods and restrictions on domestically produced items. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Ljiljana Lovric, along with a delegation, met with the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by His Excellency Abdulaziz Alsakran, Deputy Governor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for International Relations, Trend reports. During the meeting, it was noted that there are no open issues between the two countries, with mutual respect and appreciation prevailing. However, economic cooperation is not at the level desired by either side. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a trade surplus with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but its share in the total foreign trade exchange is below 0.5%. The Saudi Arabian delegation informed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is high on their priority list and presented planned steps. Special emphasis was placed on the formation of a Bilateral Council for Economic Cooperation, in which the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH was invited to actively participate. The meeting concluded with an agreement to intensify cooperation between the two countries and to restart the procedure for signing an agreement on the promotion and protection of investments, in accordance with new regulations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Azerbaijans SOFAZ expands footprint in private equity funds The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) boosted its investments in private equity funds to 3.8 billion manat ($2.24 billion) by the end of last year. This represents a 668 million manat ($393 million) or 21.3% rise compared to 2023. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Investments of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) in real estate funds amounted to 4.56 billion manat ($2.68 billion) by the end of last year. The data obtained by Trend from SOFAZ shows that this figure rose by 382 million manat ($224.7 million) or 9.1 percent compared to the previous year (4.18 billion manat or $2.46 billion). Established in 1999 with assets amounting to $271 million at the time, SOFAZ is an extrabudgetary fund that operates as a distinct legal entity, independent of the government or central bank. SOFAZ protects and judiciously administers energy-derived revenues for current and forthcoming generations. A fundamental principle of SOFAZ is transparency. During this era, the Fund has evolved institutionally and attained international recognition as an asset management organization. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 21. OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al-Ghais has confirmed his participation in Kazakhstan Energy Week 2025, which will take place in Astana on October 2-4, 2025, Trend reports. I am pleased to contribute to this prestigious event and participate in the plenary session, Al-Ghais emphasized. Kazakhstan Energy Week 2025 is one of the largest energy events in Central Asia and the Caspian region. The forum traditionally brings together world leaders, representatives of international organizations, and heads of global and regional energy companies to discuss key industry trends, challenges, and future prospects. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 21. Akhadbek Khaydarov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, conducted a working visit to Georgia, participating in a series of high-level meetings and discussions focused on budgetary, fiscal, and customs policy and administration, Trend reports. During the visit, Deputy Minister Khaydarov met with Georgias Deputy Ministers of Finance, Mamuka Baratashvili and Yekaterine Gunsadze, as well as Paata Kiladze, First Deputy Director of the Georgian Revenue Service. The discussions focused on Georgias reforms in tax and customs policy and administration, with particular emphasis on medium- and long-term strategic approaches, their effectiveness, and outcomes. The Uzbek delegation studied Georgias methodologies for evaluating the effectiveness of tax and customs incentives, the implementation of digital technologies, enhancements to the value-added tax system, risk-based tax control and audit mechanisms, and the introduction of a unified treasury account for budget tax revenues. Comparative analyses were conducted to assess these practices alongside Uzbekistans ongoing reforms in the same areas. Furthermore, the delegation engaged with Georgian customs officials to exchange insights on recent customs administration reforms, digitalization initiatives, border control procedures, vehicle clearance processes, and risk management and targeting systems. The visitors also observed firsthand the operations at the "Sadakhlo" border customs post and the "Tbilisi" customs clearance zone. The visit concluded with a mutual agreement to strengthen cooperation between Georgias Ministry of Finance and Uzbekistans relevant ministries and agencies. This collaboration will focus on fiscal policy formulation, macroeconomic forecasting, the provision of government services to businesses, and the enhancement of tax and customs administration. Meanwhile, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Georgia reached $325.7 million in 2024, reflecting a remarkable 3.7-fold increase compared to 2017 ($89.1 million). This growth underscores the expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 21. Shavkat Umurzakov, Mayor of Tashkent region, held a meeting with Li Tao, Chairman of Chongqing Guangtian Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. (China), at the Tashkent City Administration to discuss the implementation of major investment projects in the capital, Trend reports. Thanks to the consistent policy of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at fostering a favorable investment climate, Tashkent continues to attract growing interest from leading international investors. Chongqing Guangtian Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., a company with extensive experience in large-scale urban development, expressed its readiness to invest in the infrastructure development of Tashkent. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to continue their cooperation through specific working formats and to begin in-depth discussions on the proposed initiatives. Founded in 2001, Chongqing Guangtian Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. has delivered large-scale residential and commercial real estate projects across China, with a total developed area exceeding 5 million square meters. The company currently employs over 3,000 professionals and operates within a mature, vertically integrated corporate structure. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The development of the multimodal transport corridor ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistanAfghanistan is gaining particular significance amidst ongoing geopolitical instability and disruptions in global supply chains. At the heart of this strategic initiative lies the personal role of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, under whose leadership the country is pursuing a focused and consistent policy to advance its transport and logistics interests. At the 17th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Khankendi, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to create new routes in the face of global logistics disruptions. Given the breakdowns in global transport chains, it is extremely important to establish new alternative logistics routes, stated the head of state, thereby highlighting the priority of the transport agenda for Tashkent. Despite being landlocked, Uzbekistan, under Mirziyoyevs leadership, is confidently leveraging its geographic location to become a key logistics hub connecting East and West, North and South. This strategy aligns with the broader concept of the Middle Corridor project, within which Uzbekistan is actively working to strengthen infrastructural ties with China, CIS countries, Southern Europe, and India. According to the UN, global freight demand is expected to triple by 2050, lending long-term relevance to Uzbekistan's initiatives. Since 2024, the development of the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistanAfghanistan corridor has gained momentum. In the pilot phase, hundreds of containers have already been transported, mostly toward Afghanistan. By the end of 2025, regular freight flows of 3,000 to 5,000 TEU per year are expected, with a target of reaching 30,000 to 50,000 TEU by 2030, a representative of Uzbekistans Ministry of Transport said in an exclusive interview with Trend agency. The route envisions road delivery of goods from the railway station in Kashgar (China) to Osh (Kyrgyzstan), followed by rail transport through Uzbekistan to Afghanistan. To increase the route's competitiveness, Uzbekistan has provided a 70 percent discount on rail tariffs, while Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan have offered additional preferences of up to 50 percent. However, the project faces several challenges. One of the main issues remains the lack of experience among private sector players in organizing multimodal transportation. Moreover, the absence of harmonized customs and transit regulations between the countries leads to frequent delays and increased costs. The security situation in the Afghan section of the route is also a matter of concern due to persistent instability. The countries still have a long way to go in automating processes and simplifying interactions to improve transport efficiency, the ministry representative added. The accelerated progress of the corridor would not have been possible without the direct political leadership and foreign economic engagement of President Mirziyoyev. He prioritizes transport diplomacy and expanding the country's infrastructure links. The presidential agenda is not limited to domestic reforms but is actively presented on regional and international platforms from the ECO to the SCO and the UN. Uzbekistans initiatives are increasingly supported by partners, reflecting growing trust in the country as a transport hub. The corridor holds strategic importance for strengthening trade and economic ties between Central and South Asian countries and China. It opens up new markets, diversifies routes, and reduces dependence on congested and vulnerable directions. Additionally, investment in logistics contributes to job creation and economic growth. Cooperation with leading Chinese logistics operators further confirms Tashkents serious approach. Joint work will not only improve transport efficiency but also attract investment in the development of modern logistics infrastructure. Special attention is being given to creating logistics hubs and introducing digital services for cargo tracking, noted a source from the Ministry of Transport. Memoranda have been signed with China COSCO Shipping Logistics Co., Ltd., Sinotrans Limited, and China Railway International Multimodal Transport Co., Ltd. These companies will be involved in digitizing logistics processes, simplifying customs procedures, and developing rail routes. At the same time, pilot multimodal shipments involving Afghan operators have been launched, allowing practical testing of logistics schemes. As part of the agreements, pilot multimodal transport involving Afghan logistics operators has already begun. These projects will serve as a platform for route testing and logistics scheme development, expanding opportunities for regional transport cooperation, the source added. Negotiations are also underway with international financial institutions to attract funding for building multimodal terminals and modernizing border checkpoints. This will enhance the corridors resilience and attractiveness to investors. The project is transitioning from its pilot phase to regular operations, indicating the presence of a strategic plan and political will. Given the signed agreements, participation of international companies, and support from financial institutions, a systematic approach to implementation is evident. As the head of state noted: We are open to cooperation and ready to become a reliable partner in creating new transport corridors and integration projects. Thus, under President Mirziyoyev's leadership, Uzbekistan is not merely participating in the creation of a new route but is emerging as its key initiator and coordinator. This underscores the presidents involvement in implementing strategic initiatives and a focused policy to strengthen the countrys transport and logistics potential. Uzbekistans tourist flow to Vietnam experiences strong uptick Photo: National Statistics Committee Uzbekistan has seen a remarkable surge in travel to Vietnam during the first five months of 2025, with tourism driving the majority of the increase. According to official statistics, the number of Uzbek visitors to Vietnam has more than tripled compared to last year. This article breaks down the travel purposes and highlights the growing connection between the two countries. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register SYDNEY, July 21 (Xinhua) -- An Australian-led study has uncovered hidden bony structures beneath the scales of Australia's iconic monitor lizards, shedding new light on reptile adaptation and evolution. The research represents the first large-scale global analysis of the "chainmail," known as osteoderms, in lizards and snakes, according to a statement from Australia's Museums Victoria on Monday. Using advanced micro-CT scanning, researchers from Australia, Europe, and the United States examined nearly 2,000 reptile specimens, some over 120 years old, said the study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society in London. The study discovered osteoderms in 29 previously undocumented Australo-Papuan monitor lizard species, marking a fivefold increase in known cases, said the study's lead author Roy Ebel from Museums Victoria Research Institute and the Australian National University. Osteoderms, familiar in crocodiles, armadillos and some dinosaurs, but rare in lizards, are now known to occur in nearly half of all lizard species, an 85 percent increase over previous estimates, suggesting roles beyond protection, including heat regulation, mobility and calcium storage, researchers said. The discovery was made possible by museum collections, where non-invasive scans of specimens revealed hidden evolutionary discoveries, the study showed. The findings raise new questions about how monitor lizards adapted to Australia's challenging landscapes, with researchers suggesting osteoderms evolved as a response to these environmental pressures. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 21. Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia have taken a major step toward deepening their economic relations with the launch of a bilateral business forum in Bishkek, held during the official visit of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce. Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tolkunai Taalaibekova, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the event as a practical milestone in the development of trade and investment relations between the two countries. The forum served as a platform for business-to-business meetings across a range of sectors, including IT, agro-industry, food processing, logistics, and tourism. A key outcome of the event was the signing of an agreement establishing the Kyrgyz-Mongolian Business Council, designed to institutionalize regular business dialogue and cooperation. With shared nomadic traditions and a growing interest in cultural and economic ties, the two countries plan to capitalize on opportunities provided by Kyrgyzstans National Development Program until 2030. In particular, projects in agriculture, industrial development, and digital innovation were highlighted as promising areas for partnership. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 21. Kazakhstan and Georgia are set to deepen energy cooperation with a strong focus on boosting connectivity along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), Trend reports via Kazakhstan's government. This intention was confirmed at a meeting in Astana between Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov and Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili, held as part of the visit of the Georgian delegation. Akkenzhenov congratulated Kvrivishvili on her recent appointment and expressed confidence that economic ties between the two countries will be revitalized under her leadership. The ministers underscored that energy cooperation remains a pillar of bilateral economic resilience and a strategic enabler for regional integration. Highlighting the strategic relevance of Georgias transit infrastructure for Kazakhstans energy exports, Akkenzhenov said: We highly value the reliability and stability of Georgia's transport infrastructure. In 2024, 1.4 million tons of Kazakh oil were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and this year we plan to increase this volume to 1.5 million tons. The meeting also covered the operations and future development of Kazakh-owned assets in Georgia, such as the Batumi Sea Port and Batumi Oil Terminal, which were recognized as vital hubs for regional energy logistics. Special attention was devoted to new synergies in green energy. The ministers discussed linking Kazakhstans trans-Caspian energy corridor initiative, developed jointly with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, with Georgias Black Sea undersea cable project. Both sides confirmed their shared ambition to establish an integrated energy bridge connecting Central Asia with Europe via the Middle Corridor. Following the talks, Kazakhstan and Georgia agreed to maintain a proactive dialogue to enhance energy transport efficiency and regional energy security. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Montenegros Minister of Tourism, Simonida Kordic, met with Albanias Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi, to discuss strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, Trend reports citing the Montenegrin government website. During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged information on current trends in the tourism sector in both countries, as well as on priorities and plans for further development. Special focus was placed on opportunities for cooperation on projects of mutual interest, particularly in the Prokletije region, with an emphasis on hiking tourism, as well as on joint activities related to Lake Skadar. Kumbaro highlighted that a significant number of tourists visiting Albania also travel to Montenegro, and vice versa, which presents an opportunity to extend tourists' stay in the region. She added that Albanian travel agencies actively promote excursions to Montenegro, contributing to the joint promotion of both destinations. Kordic referred to Montenegros chairmanship of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for Europe, emphasizing that the countries of the region can also actively cooperate within UNWTO bodies. The two ministers agreed on the importance of further diversifying the tourism offer, with a particular emphasis on cultural heritage and event tourism. They also stressed the need to resolve visa issues for distant markets, which would further encourage the growth of tourist arrivals in the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 21. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh held high-level talks in Bishkek today, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation, Trend reports, citing President Japarov's office. The meeting took place as part of Khurelsukhs state visit to Kyrgyzstan, during which the two leaders reviewed key areas of political, economic, and cultural engagement. During the discussions, both sides underscored their shared historical heritage, rooted in nomadic traditions and mutual respect for spiritual and cultural values. President Japarov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia are united by centuries-old bonds that continue to shape their strategic partnership. He highlighted that the nations' common identityreflected in symbols like the yurt, felt, and oral epicshas cultivated a unique foundation of trust in their interstate relations. "Our modern dialogue is built on this solid cultural groundopen, equal, and mutually respectful," Japarov said. "Mongolia is a key foreign policy partner for Kyrgyzstan, and I believe this visit will catalyze a deeper political dialogue, broader trade and economic ties, and enriched cultural and humanitarian exchange." President Khurelsukh, for his part, called the visit an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past 30 years since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. He emphasized Kyrgyzstan's importance as a strategic partner in Central Asia and a regional bridge, noting that bilateral relations have grown more dynamic in recent years, especially in trade and economic collaboration. Khurelsukh welcomed the intensification of political dialogue and voiced confidence that the current state visit would yield new agreements to strengthen the legal framework of cooperation and expand joint efforts in agriculture, culture, and science. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 21. A wide-ranging package of bilateral documents was signed today following high-level talks between President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz president. The centerpiece of the agreements was the signing of a Joint Declaration on the establishment of a comprehensive partnership between the two countries, reflecting a shared intent to elevate cooperation across multiple sectors. The sides formalized arrangements in key areas including legal cooperation, agriculture, digital development, science, culture, and education. Among the notable accords were an Extradition Treaty, an agreement on mutual recognition of national driving licenses, and a cooperation program between the foreign ministries for the years 20262027. Sectoral cooperation will also expand through memoranda on wool processing, digital innovation, cultural exchange, strategic studies, and joint academic research. Agreements were also reached between the national academies of science and broadcasting corporations of both countries. The scope of signed documents reflects the growing momentum in Kyrgyz-Mongolian relations, as both sides seek to institutionalize deeper collaboration built on historical and cultural affinity. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, July 21. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to pay a state visit to Tajikistan in October 2025, Trend reports via the Tajik Ministry of Justice. The upcoming visit is expected to reinforce strategic relations between the two countries, building on high-level discussions held during the Tajik presidents visit to Moscow in March. That meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and humanitarian cooperation, and concluded with the signing of new agreements. Putins last visit to Dushanbe took place in June 2022 and was categorized as a working trip. This time, the Russian leader will not only engage in bilateral talks but also attend the Council of CIS Heads of State meeting, which will be hosted in the Tajik capital. Photo: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Tajikistan ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 21. Ji Shumin, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Turkmenistan, has arrived in Ashgabat to assume his duties, Trend reports via Turkmenistan's MFA. He was welcomed at Ashgabat International Airport by officials from Turkmenistans Foreign Ministry and senior staff of the Chinese Embassy. Ji Shumin, accompanied by his wife, emphasized that it is a great honor for him to lead Chinas diplomatic mission in Turkmenistan. The ambassador underscored the strength of the China-Turkmenistan comprehensive strategic partnership, which he said continues to thrive under the leadership of the two countries presidents. He also expressed readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation, advance humanitarian exchanges, and contribute to building a closer community with a shared future. Turkmen officials warmly received the new ambassador and reaffirmed Turkmenistans commitment to enhancing cooperation with China, pledging full support for Ji Shumin in his diplomatic mission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. A powerful gas explosion in the city of Rasht, located in Irans northern Gilan province, has led to the collapse of a two-story building, Trend reports. According to Mashreq News, citing Shahram Momeni, head of the Rasht municipality's fire department, the explosion occurred on Bahonar Street and completely destroyed the structure, which housed a jewelry store, a foreign language school, and a gaming club. At least 18 people were injured in the incident, Momeni said. Rescue teams are continuing search and rescue operations to pull survivors from the rubble. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The efforts by three European countries (the UK, France, and Germany) to reinstate the UNSCs lifted sanctions against Iran lack any legal basis, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the EUs High Representative Kaja Kallas, and members of the Security Council, Trend reports. Araghchi emphasized that statements and actions by E3 constitute flagrant violations of their obligations under UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015), the JCPOA, and international law as a whole. He further noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran formally triggered the DRM under Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA on 10 May 2018, following the unlawful withdrawal of the United States from the agreement and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions. While Iran was entitled to immediately cease compliance, it acted in good faith, postponing its remedial measures to allow the E3/EU time to meet their obligations. The failure to do so, particularly regarding normal banking and financial channels, was already jeopardizing the deal's viability. Iran's letters repeatedly cited cases where the E3 effectively harmonized their policies with those of the U.S. "maximum pressure" campaign, rather than fulfilling independent obligations. On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. In 2020, Iran announced that it would no longer be bound by restrictions outlined in the nuclear agreement. The snapback mechanism is based on Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to these provisions, if one party complains that another has violated the agreement and resolution efforts fail, the issue can be brought before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). If the UNSC accepts the complaint, international sanctions against Iran can be reinstated, and the Security Council members may authorize military operations against Iran. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Iran currently has no plans to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear program, Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson of Iran's Foreign Ministry Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on July 21, Trend reports. According to him, Iran is currently negotiating with the European side. At the same time, Iran believes that diplomacy is an opportunity to reach an agreement between the countries. Baghaei stated that US President Donald Trump's announcement of striking Iran's nuclear facilities itself shows that an illegal step has been taken against Iran. All this will be used as documentation by Iran. The United States' insistence on proposing and passing UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to eliminate Iran's peaceful nuclear program makes it easier to prove the illegality of the attack on Iran. On the morning of June 13, Israel launched an airstrike against Iran. The strikes resulted in the deaths of a large number of high-ranking military officers, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior officials. On the evening of the same day, Iran responded to Israel with Operation Right Promise III: hundreds of ballistic missiles, drones were launched at many locations, including Tel Aviv, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction. The US launched military airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. It is noted that the airstrikes destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities. On the evening of June 23, Iran launched airstrikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar. On June 24, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the Israeli government, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran. Iran's Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement noting that the attacks had stopped. On April 12, 19, 26, April 11, May 11, and May 23, the fifth round of indirect talks on Iran's nuclear program was held between Iran and the US. The indirect discussions were mediated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Oman, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, and a US delegation led by US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th rounds of the talks were held in Oman's capital, Muscat, while the 2nd and 5th rounds were held in Rome, Italy. KABUL, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan interim government has signed an agreement with a Qatari company to facilitate the deployment of Afghan workers to Qatar, said a statement of the interim administration's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs on Monday. Under the agreement, the Afghan side will initially send 700 workers, the statement said, adding that the agreement aims to provide job opportunities for Afghan citizens abroad. Highlighting the agreement, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Samihullah Ibrahim said that the date for registration of eligible laborers would be announced soon, and the workers should register with genuine companies to escape forgery. Although there are no official statistics about the number of jobless people in Afghanistan, the rate of unemployment is high in the post-war country, as hundreds of people in search of work reportedly leave their homeland daily. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The consultations on Iran's nuclear program will be held tomorrow in Tehran at the level of officials of the Foreign Ministries of Iran, Russia, and China, the spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference held in Tehran on July 21, Trend reports. According to him, Russia and China are parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and can play their role in any process in the UN Security Council. Baghaei stated that there is bound to be an exchange of views between the three countries as consultations continue. Legally and logically, there is no reason to reimpose sanctions lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. In 2020, Iran announced that it would no longer be bound by restrictions outlined in the nuclear agreement. The snapback mechanism is based on Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to these provisions, if one party complains that another has violated the agreement and resolution efforts fail, the issue can be brought before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). If the UNSC accepts the complaint, international sanctions against Iran can be reinstated, and the Security Council members may authorize military operations against Iran. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Iran will spare no effort to use all mechanisms to protect its rights, the spokesperson of Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on July 21, commenting on the meeting in Istanbul at the level of deputy foreign ministers of Iran and 3 European countries, Trend reports. According to him, Iran will hold talks with three European countries (the UK, France, and Germany) at the level of deputy foreign ministers. Baghaei noted that reports that Iran is accepting uranium enrichment below 1 percent do not reflect the truth. Regarding the timing of the introduction of the' Snapback 'mechanism that provides for the restoration of UN Security Council sanctions, Iran's position in this regard remains unchanged. The implementation of the Snapback mechanism is a step that will not be justified. Iran, under the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan, has been reducing its commitments in stages in case the warring parties fail to fulfill their obligations. European countries did not even condemn the attack on Iran and directed the issue against it," he noted. On January 16, 2016, the JCPOA came into force between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions on Iran starting from November 2018. In 2020, Iran announced that it would no longer be bound by restrictions outlined in the nuclear agreement. The snapback mechanism is based on Articles 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to these provisions, if one party complains that another has violated the agreement and resolution efforts fail, the issue can be brought before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). If the UNSC accepts the complaint, international sanctions against Iran can be reinstated, and the Security Council members may authorize military operations against Iran. On the morning of June 13, Israel launched an airstrike against Iran. The strikes resulted in the deaths of a large number of high-ranking military officers, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior officials. On the evening of the same day, Iran responded to Israel with Operation Right Promise III: hundreds of ballistic missiles, drones were launched at many locations, including Tel Aviv, causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction. The US launched military airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. It is noted that the airstrikes destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities. On the evening of June 23, Iran launched airstrikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar. On June 24, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the Israeli government, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran. Iran's Supreme National Security Council also issued a statement noting that the attacks had stopped. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to visit Pakistan in the coming weeks, said Esmail Baghaei, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Trend reports. Speaking at a press conference held in Tehran, Baghaei emphasized the visits significance given Pakistans status as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its key role in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He added that Iran values its relations with Pakistan and continues to pursue a strategy aimed at strengthening ties with neighboring countries and the region as a whole. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. The Zangazur Corridor will be beneficial not only for Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkiye but for the entire region, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports. Speaking to journalists aboard his plane returning from a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Erdogan emphasized the corridor's geopolitical and economic significance. This corridor is not only important for Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkiye but also for other countries in the region. We see this route as a highly significant geoeconomic matter. As a matter of fact, it will connect geographies beyond our regions borders and stimulate trade, he said. The Turkish President expressed hope that the corridor would become a symbol of agreement rather than dispute. As regional countries, I believe we can resolve this issue through consensus. President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to Zangazur. He wants the corridor to be completed and utilized promptly for the benefit of both Azerbaijan and the region. I am confident that we will jointly address the related matters, Erdogan added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Economists have foreseen Malaysia's near-term export outlook to be clouded by U.S. tariff uncertainties, despite the country's exports growing by 3.8 percent year-on-year in the first half. UOB Global Economics and Markets Research said in a note last Friday that Malaysia's near-term export outlook remains clouded by ongoing global trade and tariff policy uncertainties, geopolitical risks, and evolving domestic policy reforms. "The fourth month of contraction in imports of intermediate goods and sluggish business sentiment also presage weaker manufacturing and export activities in the foreseeable future," said the research house. In the meantime, it maintained Malaysia's 2025 full-year export growth forecast at 3.8 percent while closely monitoring external developments, particularly U.S. tariffs and potential retaliation from major economies. MBSB Research also said in a note that it forecasts Malaysia's export growth to moderate to 2 percent in 2025, reflecting a more cautious outlook amid ongoing trade uncertainties. "Ahead of the Aug. 25 tariff deadline, export growth may pick up due to front-loading activities, though the boost could be limited," said the research house. According to MBSB, Malaysia's 25 percent tariff, while currently under negotiation, is higher than those of Indonesia and Vietnam, posing a risk to Malaysia's export competitiveness to the United States. It opined that a more favorable outcome from the ongoing trade negotiations could help preserve Malaysia's competitive position. "Softer demand from key partners, however, continues to pose downside risks to Malaysia's trade outlook, while sustained import growth may narrow the trade balance temporarily in the near term," it said. In particular, it noted that continued weakness in mining exports will remain a drag to overall exports, in contrast to the increased exports of electrical and electronics (E&E) and palm oil. "Ongoing efforts to diversify export markets and strengthen bilateral trade ties are expected to cushion tariff impacts on trade with the United States," it said. "We expect Malaysia's growth will continue to be supported by resilient domestic consumption," it added. Meanwhile, Maybank Investment Bank said in a note on Monday that Malaysia's latest external trade data showed the crosscurrents of domestic tailwinds -- especially an investment upcycle -- and external headwinds, amid the overhangs in U.S.-Malaysia trade talks and tariffs risks. "Malaysia's external trade outlook is dependent on the outcome of U.S.-Malaysia trade negotiations ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, when the country-specific 25 percent reciprocal tariff kicks in, plus the overhangs in product-specific tariffs by the United States, especially on semiconductors," said the research house. 12 Muslims acquitted in 2006 Mumbai train blasts case after 20 years in jail As many as 12 highly qualified Muslims accused in 2006 Mumbai train blasts case were Monday July 21, 2025 acquitted by the Bombay High Court as the prosecution failed to prove charges against them Monday July 21, 2025 7:03 PM , ummid.com News Network Mumbai: As many as 12 highly qualified Muslims accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case were Monday July 21, 2025 acquitted by the Bombay High Court as the prosecution failed to prove charges against them. The 12 Muslims, who included doctors, engineers and graduates, will walk free after almost 20 long years in jail as the High Court set aside their conviction by the lower court. As many as 189 people were killed and 824 others were injured when a series of blasts hit the suburban local trains in Mumbai during the rush hours on July 11, 2006. Bombs planted in 7 trains on Western Railway Line exploded one after the other in a span of 11 minutes. A Trial Court had convicted the 12 accused, sentencing 5 of them to death and the others to life imprisonment in 2015. Who are the 12 men acquitted in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case? The 5 sentenced to death were Kamal Ansari from Bihar, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh from Mumbai, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui from Thane, Naveed Hussain Khan from Secunderabad and Asif Khan from Jalgaon in Maharashtra. Kamal Ansari had died in Nagpur Jail during COVID-19. The 7 who were sent to life imprisonment were Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh, Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Suhail Mehmood Shaikh and Zameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Shaikh. One of the accused, Wahid Shaikh, was acquitted by the Trial Court after spending nine years in jail. The Bombay High Court bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak while setting aside their conviction noted that the prosecution "utterly failed" to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside," the bench said. The court said the accused shall be released from jail if they are not wanted in any other case. Muslims jailed for no crimes Commenting on the acquittal of the 12 Muslims, Hyderabad MP and President AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi said 12 Muslims languished in jails for the crimes they had not committed. During this period, some of them lost their parents while one accused lost his wife, Owaisi said. 12 Muslim men where in jail for 18 years for a crime they didn't commit Their prime life is gone, 180 families who lost their loved ones, several injured. No closure for them Will the government take action against officers of Maharashtra ATS who investigated this case? Owaisi asked. "Innocent people are sent to jail and then years later when they are released there is no possibility for reconstruction of their lives. From last 17 years these accused are in jail. They haven't stepped out even for a day. The majority of their prime life is gone. "In such cases where there is a public outcry, the approach by police is always to first assume guilt and then go from there. Police officers take press conferences in such cases, and the way the media covers the case, it kind of decides the guilt of a person. In many such terror cases, investigating agencies have failed us miserably", Owaisi wrote on social media platform X quoting from the submission of Justice S. Muralidhar, former Orissa High Court Chief Justice and now senior lawyer, who appeared for some of the Muslims framed in the case. Relatives relieved, victims shocked Meanwhile, the relatives of the Muslims who were acquitted today, are relieved after the Bombay High Court verdict. Talking to media, they said they expected the same verdict from the Trial Court in 2015 as there were no evidence against the Muslims and they were framed. "We were moved to tears with joy. We had hoped for such a verdict back in 2015, but it didnt come in our favor then as it has today. All the accused have been acquitted of all charges. This was a completely fabricated case. Our brother was innocent...", Zameer Shaikhs brother, told news agency IANS. Jamiat Ulema, the organisation which provided legal aid to Muslims framed in the 26/7 Mumbai train blasts case, said they believed about their innocence from the day one. "After studying the case details, our lawyers had said there were no evidence against the Muslim youths arrested in the case. They were all innocents and framed in the case. Hence, we expected their acquittal by the Trial Court. Unfortunately it didn't happen. But the Bombay HC verdict today is as per our expectations", Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra President Maulana Haleemullah Qasmi said. The family members of those killed in the blasts and those injured, on the other hand are shattered and shocked. "I want to ask the High Court why it didnt uphold the verdict of the lower court. We are very saddened that all 12 accused have been acquitted of all charges", Mumbai blasts victim, Hansraj Kanojia, told PTI. Another victim, Chirag Chitle while reacting to the Bombay High Courts verdict to acquit all 12 accused in the case, said, I do not agree with the verdict. It took 19 years to reach this point..." 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 Handala begins final leg of its journey to Gaza Hanzalah, () or Handala, the new aid ship launched by Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), Sunday July 20, 2025 began the final leg of its journey to Gaza from Gallipoli in Italy Monday July 21, 2025 1:49 PM , ummid.com News Network Gallipoli (Italy): Hanzalah, () or Handala, the new aid ship launched by Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), Sunday July 20, 2025 began the final leg of its journey to Gaza from Gallipoli in Italy. The latest Gaza aid ship, Handala, had started its mission from the Sicily port on July 13, 2025 . Handala was the target of two deeply alarming incidents that appear to be deliberate sabotage intended to obstruct our mission and harm our crew Just hours before launching, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said. Sabotage Attempts The organisers and activists on board found a rope tightly wound around the boats propeller on the night of July 19 or early morning July 20. The organisers while calling in an attempt to stop the flotilla from sailing forward, said, "This could not have occurred through normal use or by accident. It was a direct threat to the safety of our vessel and its ability to sail." In the second incident on the same day, the organisers found the truck sent to deliver fresh water to the Gaza aid ship for washing and cooking on the journey, carried not water, but sulfuric acid. "It (acid) splashed on a crew members leg, causing chemical burns. Another crew member who smelled the substance and opened the container sustained burns to his hand", the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said. The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza condemned the sabotage attempts and called on the international community to guarantee the vessels safe passage and prevent any acts of Israeli piracy. The Handala flotilla, packed with medical and humanitarian aid aimed at challenging the illegal blockade of Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IFD). The Handala aid flotilla has been launched more than a month after Madleen flotilla was illegally seized by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IDF) few kms from Gaza. Why Handala? The Madleen aid ship was named after the first Palestinian fisherwman Madleen Kulab. On the other hand, Handala or Hanzala has been named after the Palestinian caricature Handalaa barefoot refugee child who turned his back on injustice and vowed not to turn around until Palestine is free, the coalition said. The character was created in 1969 by political cartoonist Naji al-Ali, and first took its current form in 1973. Handala became the signature of Naji al-Ali's cartoons and remains an iconic symbol of Palestinian identity and defiance. The Handala aid flotilla is dedicated to the children of Gaza. The boat carries his spirit, and that of every child in Gaza who has been denied safety, dignity, and joy, the coalition said. Dedicated to Gaza Children In 2023 and 2024, Handala sailed to ports across Europe and the UK, breaking through the media blockade, engaging the public, and building solidarity through press events, art installations, and political education in every port it visited. The children of Gazawho make up over half the populationhave been living under a brutal blockade and siege for their entire lives. Since October 2023, over 50,000 have been killed or injured, tens of thousands orphaned, and nearly a million forcibly displaced and homeless. All now face famine, disease, and trauma few of us can imagine. This mission is for them, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said. Who are aboard Handala aid ship? Chris Smalls, founder of Amazons first U.S. labor union, has announced he will join the journey aboard the Handala aid ship. Handala will make a stop at Gallipoli in southeastern Italy, where two members of the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI), Gabrielle Cathala and Emma Fourreau, have announced to join the latest Gaza flotilla. This is a mission for the children in Gaza, to break the humanitarian blockade and to break the summer silence on the genocide, said Cathala, who is set to board the boat on July 18. Also onboard the Hanzalah aid flotilla is 70-year-old Vigdis Bjorvand, a Palestine activist since 1978. Besides them a number of activists, lawyers, doctors, social justice activists and journalists are also sailing towards Gaza onboard the Hanzalah Gaza aid flotilla. "We are not governments. We are people taking action where institutions have failed", those onboard said. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has partnered with Forensic Architecture and equipped the Handala with an advanced tracking system. "This technology plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of those on board, maintaining transparency about the vessels location, and holding potential aggressors accountable for their actions", the coalition said. [All images provided by Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Israeli Airstrike on Catholic Church in Gaza and Muslim Leadership The leadership of the Muslim world has been reduced to mere statements and symbolic meetings, and their deafening silence has not only emboldened Israel but has also exposed its cowardice and apathy on the global stage Monday July 21, 2025 10:52 AM , Khursheed Alam Dawood Qasmi Attack on Gazas Catholic Church Gaza has been drenched in blood for the past 21 months. The deadly weapons supplied to the Zionist state of Israel by the United States have affected every individual in Gaza. Thousands have been martyred, while million have been injured or left disabled. This devastation continues in blatant disregard of international law and the rules of war. Amid this relentless aggression, Israeli attacks have targeted places of worship and sacred spaces long regarded as symbols of peace, spirituality and refuge. Such actions not only constitute war crimes; but also present a grave test for the conscience of humanity. In a recent attack, the well-known Catholic Church in eastern Gaza: the Church of the Holy Family (Al-Aailatul Muqaddasah) was subjected to a merciless airstrike. The bombing not only plunged Gazas Christian community into mourning, but also shook the conscience of humanitarian circles across the globe. Details of the Attack The latest incident of the brutal assault occurred on 17th July 2025, when the Israeli Air Force targeted a well-known and historic Catholic church in eastern Gaza known as the Holy Family Church (Al-Aailatul Muqaddasah). This devastating attack struck at a center of worship that holds not only deep religious significance but also represents hope, protection and spiritual support for Gazas besieged Christian community. The bombing resulted in the deaths of three elderly Palestinian and left at least ten others severely injured, including the churchs pastor, Father Jibril Romanelli. According to Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gazas Civil Defense Department, the deceased have been identified as 60-year-old Saad Salama and 80-year-old Fumia Iyad. In a statement filled with grief and anger, Mahmoud Basal said: The occupying Israeli forces spare neither Muslims nor Christians. They show no respect for the sanctity of a Masjid or the dignity of a church. Their sole target is the Palestinian people, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. The office of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem also confirmed the attack, reporting significant damage to the church. As the only Catholic place of worship in besieged Gaza, the Holy Family Church serves not only as a site for religious gatherings; but also stands as a symbol of survival and resilience for the Christian community. Statements from the Vatican and Christian Leaders This is not the first time that Israel has targeted churches in Gaza. Historic sites such as the Holy Family Church and St. Porphyrius Church have repeatedly come under Israeli bombardment. These churches have served for centuries as centers of worship, community gathering and refuge for the local Christian population. The recent attack sparked a strong response from the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church, expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing it as a heartbreaking and inhumane act. He called on the international community to ensure an immediate ceasefire and prioritize the protection of civilians. The Popes statement conveyed deep sympathy for Gazas innocent civilians and underscored the critical importance of safeguarding religious sites. His words resonated not only with Christians worldwide; but also stirred the conscience of humanity at large. Emergency Visit by Christian Leaders to Gaza Just one day after the attack, two senior Christian religious leaders from Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierre-Battista Bitassala (Roman Catholic Patriarch) and Patriarch Theophilus III (Greek Orthodox Patriarch), led a joint ecclesiastical delegation on an emergency visit to Gaza. This gesture was not only a testament to their deep humanitarian concern but also a powerful symbol of tangible solidarity with the oppressed. During their visit, the leaders toured the Al-Ahli Hospital, where they met with wounded patients and visited wards treating both Muslim and Christian individuals side by side. Their presence carried a clear message: standing against oppression and injustice is not merely a religious duty but a call of the human conscience. At the occasion, Cardinal Pierre-Battista Bitassala spoke with heartfelt yet measured words: All residents of Gaza, regardless of their religion or background, are entitled to equal human dignity. Targeting places of worship is utterly unacceptable. We call on the international community to intervene immediately and halt these inhumane attacks. By transcending religious boundaries to speak of fundamental human rights, his statement elevated the issue from a purely religious standpoint to a universal human appeal. Patriarch Theophilus III also strongly defended justice and human values in his statement, saying: We have not come here only for Christians; but for every human being suffering under oppression. What is happening in Gaza is not only a violation of humanity but a blatant breach of international law. His words underscored that the tragedy in Gaza is not merely a conflict of a single nation or religion, but a shared wound of all humanity, where silence itself becomes a crime. United Nations Condemns Attack United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack. During a press briefing, his spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay stated: Attacks on places of worship are unacceptable. Civilians seeking refuge in these locations must be afforded full respect, protection and access to necessary services. Gaza has already suffered immense loss of life. An immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages are now imperative. U.S. Response: Another Example of Double Standards Immediately following the attack on the church, a conversation took place between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shortly afterward, the White House issued a surprising statement declaring, Israel is a habitual perpetrator of these attacks. While the wording was striking, the statement starkly contrasts with the historical stance of U.S. policy. On one hand, there is criticism of Israel; on the other, decades of unwavering support for its military actions and human rights violations. This duplicity has transformed the United States from an impartial mediator into a biased accomplice in this crisis. History shows that despite repeated Israeli military operations, desecration of Al-Aqsa Masjid and the deaths of innocent civilians, the U.S. has frequently vetoed or remained silent on United Nations resolutions condemning Israel. In this context, the recent statement does not represent any principled position. Where is Muslim Leadership? It is a bitter and heartbreaking reality that nearly all major Masjids in Gaza have been destroyed under relentless Israeli bombardment. There is no safe shelter for children, no sanctuary for the elderly. Yet, despite this horrific situation, not a single head of state from the Muslim world has set foot in Gaza, nor has any high-ranking envoy visited to express solidarity or compassion. There have been no formal condolences and no forceful stance on international platforms. The leadership of the Muslim world has been reduced to mere statements and symbolic meetings. It appears they are even incapable of offering words of comfort to the wounded hearts of Palestines martyrs. This deafening silence has not only emboldened Israel; but has also exposed the Muslim leaderships cowardice and apathy on the global stage. The oppressed Muslims and Christians of Gaza are suffering the dual agony of Israeli aggression and the indifference of the Muslim Ummah. It is a tragedy so stark that even history will bow its head in shame. Abu Ubaidahs Statement, a Wake-Up Call to the Ummahs Conscience In light of the ongoing assault on Gaza, Abu Ubaidah, the spokesperson for Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, issued a powerful and emotionally charged statement. He declared: We do not absolve anyone of responsibility for the blood being shed in Gaza. Every individual, institution or government that had the capacity to act but chose silence is complicit in this crime, each one according to its influence and ability. According to him, the enemy carried out this massacre with full confidence that no one would stand in its way; because it knew that the leaders of the Muslim world would choose silence as their policy. He added bitterly: Those from whom we had hope have now abandoned their oppressed brothers. In the same statement, Abu Ubaidah delivered a deeply emotional warning to the Muslim Ummah: On the Day of Judgment, we will file our case against you. These words are not merely the declaration of a military spokesman, they are a profound knock on the conscience of the entire Muslim world. This is a moment that demands not only reflection on what we have done, but also on the far greater question: What have we failed to do? Oppression Has Crossed All Limits The Israeli attack on Gazas Church of the Holy Family is not merely an assault on a place of worship, it is a blatant violation of humanity, religious freedom and international law. Just as Masjids have been ruthlessly targeted, churches too have now come under the fire of Israeli aggression. This attack signals a grim reality: brutality, intolerance and tyranny have surpassed all boundaries. In Gaza today, not only Muslims but also the Christian minority are enduring relentless bombardment, forced displacement and the desecration of their sacred spaces. Israeli aggression is no longer confined to a single religion or community, it has become a full-scale human catastrophe. And yet, global institutions remain passive, issuing nothing more than formal statements. Amid this destruction, the apathy, criminal silence and practical failure of the Muslim worlds leadership is even more alarming. Repeated declarations, conference resolutions and condemnations cannot heal the wounds of Gazas innocent victims. The time has come for the world, especially the Muslim Ummah, to awaken from its slumber. Against oppression, we need more than words. Courageous, coordinated and concrete action is now essential. We must replace silence with a voice, inaction with resistance and apathy with a rekindled conscience so that some real path to peace, safety and justice may emerge for Gazas innocent children, women and elderly. Otherwise, let it be remembered! History will not forgive us, and future generations will never pardon our crime of silence. 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 UK, France, 23 other countries ask Israel to end Gaza war now In another diplomatic setback for Israel, as many as 25 countries have urged Israel to immediately end the Gaza war and allow humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory Monday July 21, 2025 10:38 PM , ummid.com News Network London: In another diplomatic setback for Israel, as many as 25 countries have urged Israel to immediately end the Gaza war and allow humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory. We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now, the foreign ministers of the 25 countries said in a joint statement. The signatories included the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management has also endorsed the call. Drip Feeding The countries, many of them seen as close allies of Israel, termed the Israeli aid distribution with the help of the United States drip feeding and condemned the killings of Palestinians at aid site. The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food, the statement said. The foreign ministers of the 25 countries also asked Israel to respect the international humanitarian law and allow aid for the Palestinians starving in Gaza. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, they said. The foreign ministers in their statement also called for ceasefire to bring the Israeli captives in Hamas custody home. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing the captives home and ending the agony of their families, they said. We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, the ministers said. Forced Displacement of Palestinians unacceptable In a direct reference to Trump and Netanyahu plan, the foreign ministers said the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land will not be accepted. They also said any move to change the demography of the Palestinian land will be against international laws. Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a humanitarian city are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law, they said. We strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The E1 settlement plan announced by Israels Civil Administration, if implemented, would divide a Palestinian state in two, marking a flagrant breach of international law and critically undermine the two-state solution, the ministers said. The foreign ministers of the 25 countries in their joint statement also expressed their concern of illegal settlements and violence of settlers in the West Bank. Settlement building across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has accelerated while settler violence against Palestinians has soared. This must stop, the ministers said. The statement comes about a week before the United Nations plans to hold a high level international conference to discuss two state solutions for Palestine. The conference, to be held at UN headquarters in New York, is co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. KIEV, July 21 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and 11 others injured in a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's capital and the western region of Ivano-Frankivsk early Monday, said Ukrainian authorities. In Kiev, the attack affected seven districts, leaving one person dead and seven injured, including a child, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kiev City Military Administration. The raids damaged residential and commercial buildings, along with a kindergarten, warehouses, garages and vehicles, the National Police reported. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the entrance to the Lukyanivska metro station in the city center was also destroyed. Meanwhile, the State Emergency Service reported that four people, including a child, were injured in the strikes on the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, which caused damage to residential buildings, garages, as well as production and storage facilities. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 426 combat and decoy drones and 24 cruise and hypersonic missiles in the overnight raids on Ukraine. As of 9:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), it reported, the air defense system intercepted all 24 missiles and 403 drones. However, 23 combat drones hit 3 locations and debris from other drones fell on 12 sites. QUITO, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian authorities on Sunday extradited Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, alias "Fito," the country's main drug trafficker and leader of the organized crime group Los Choneros, to the United States, after his capture on June 25 in the western province of Manabi. "Adolfo Macias, alias 'Fito', was taken out of La Roca Prison under the custody of the National Police and Armed Forces for the purposes of an extradition proceeding," Ecuador's national prison administration agency, SNAI, told local media. His handover came a day before he was scheduled to appear in Brooklyn federal court in New York, where he was indicted in April on seven drug and weapons charges. If convicted, he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, according to U.S. authorities. On July 11, "Fito" agreed to be extradited after Ecuador's National Court of Justice received a formal request from the United States. According to the indictment, "Fito"-led Los Choneros, in alliance with Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, controlled key cocaine trafficking routes through Ecuador. He also operated a large-scale network for shipping and distributing tons of cocaine from South America through Central America and Mexico to the United States and elsewhere. Last year, "Fito" escaped from a prison in Ecuador where he was serving a 34-year sentence for organized crime, drug trafficking and murder. University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel has informed the UW Board of Trustees he will step down from his position as president when his contract expires June 30, 2026. Seidel shared his plans with the board now to allow ample time for a thoughtful, inclusive search for the universitys next president and to assist in a smooth and seamless leadership transition. Serving as president of the University of Wyoming has been a tremendous honor for me, Seidel says. It has been a great privilege to work on behalf of our students, our university community and our state. Im deeply proud of all weve accomplished together during the past five years. Seidel became UWs 28th president July 1, 2020. During his tenure, UW has enjoyed numerous advancements and pivotal achievements, among them: -- Status as a Carnegie R1 Research and Carnegie Engaged university. -- Launch of a School of Computing. -- An academic reorganization supporting efficiencies and thematic synergies in several colleges. -- Helping to create the Wyoming Innovation Partnership with Wyomings community colleges and the governors office. -- Campuswide principles and programs regarding freedom of expression. -- Launch of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. -- Creation of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH (Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality) Institute . -- New initiatives for student, faculty and dean support, with increases in student retention and success rates, creation of numerous professorships and endowed chairs, and UWs first four endowed deanships. Kermit Brown, chairman of the UW Board of Trustees, expresses appreciation for all that Seidel has done to guide UW. We deeply appreciate President Seidels commitment to this university, Brown says. He has moved us forward in innumerable ways, and we are grateful for his leadership and dedication. We look forward to his support and assistance in our transition to new leadership. I thank President Seidel for his commitment to making UW one of the finest universities in the country, Gov. Mark Gordon says. He has led through significant challenges with a forward-looking vision and a steadfast commitment to the universitys future. He has moved the university forward, and I especially appreciate his leadership in establishing the Wyoming Innovation Partnership, which has strengthened higher education and workforce development. We will continue to work together with the trustees in the next year to ensure that UW continues to thrive. I wish him well in his future endeavors." Seidel says he is fully committed to building on the foundation he has laid. In the coming year, I look forward to continuing our work along with the Board of Trustees, the leadership team, our faculty, staff and students -- as well as our alumni, donors and partners across Wyoming -- to build momentum for UWs next chapter, Seidel says. Student success and faculty excellence will remain as key priorities for UW and Seidel. Rob Godby, chair of UWs Faculty Senate, welcomes the opportunity to help UW in its transition to new leadership. We thank President Seidel for all he has done to advance the university, Godby says. We look forward to working with the president and the administration to best position UW for its future. The Board of Trustees will establish a search process for UWs next president. Details of the search process will be announced as they are determined. Four University of Wyoming graduates will be honored by the UW Alumni Association (UWAA) and the Office of the President for their professional achievements and support of the university during UWs Homecoming Monday-Saturday, Sept. 29-Oct. 4, which is sponsored by UniWyo Federal Credit Union. Maggie Scarlett, Lynne Simpson and Don Snyder are the recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, while Greg Dyekman is the 2025 Medallion Service Award recipient. We are genuinely excited to highlight these outstanding alumni at Homecoming this year, says Jack Tennant, UWAA executive director. Each honoree showcases the best of UW and sets a great example for our students and fellow alumni. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have achieved excellence in their profession; appreciate the impact of their UW education; and are people of integrity, stature and demonstrated ability. The Medallion Service Award recognizes outstanding service to the university. The award honors alumni or friends of UW who have unselfishly given of their time, talent and support. The UW tradition of Distinguished Alumni and Medallion Service awards has a long and notable history. In 1953, the first Distinguished Alumni Award went to U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Emory Land, who helped design the submarine during World War I. Those who have received awards since then are a whos who across the globe. Maggie Scarlett Maggie Scarlett Scarlett has led a remarkable lifetime of service, leadership and unwavering dedication to UW and the state that shaped her. Born in Cody and deeply rooted in Wyomings heritage, Scarletts story is one of lifelong commitment to Riding for the Brand -- a phrase she lives by. Since they settled in Wyoming in the late 1800s, her family has a rich history as ranchers, farmers, small-business owners and educators in Wyoming. Scarlett earned her bachelors degree in speech-language and hearing sciences from UW in 1963 and, later, a masters degree from Colorado State University. Her decades-long career as a speech-language pathologist brought life-changing support to children and families across the rural West. Scarletts professional path also included key roles in Wyomings business world, serving in leadership at United Bancorporation of Wyoming, the states largest financial institution at the time, and Webster Motors. But her most enduring legacy may be her work in the arts. A founding member of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Scarlett has been a passionate advocate for cultural institutions at the local and national level -- including appointments to the boards of the UW Art Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In 2002, she was a presidential appointment at the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Her philanthropic leadership at UW has transformed the student experience, with support for endowed faculty chairs, critical funding and infrastructure improvements. She and her husband, Dick, have established the Maggie Scarlett Summer Speaker Series and the Maggie and Dick Scarlett Excellence Fund in Speech-Language Pathology. For Scarlett, it all comes back to her roots. Wyoming and the University of Wyoming have provided us with a foundation for so much of what we have been able to accomplish, she says. Maggie and Dick have three children and eight grandchildren, marking the fourth generation of Cowboys in the family. Lynne Simpson Lynne Simpson Simpsons passion for the arts and humanities has spanned over five decades of impact as a visionary arts leader, grant writer, educator and advocate for Wyomings aging population. Simpsons career defies convention and spans theater, public service, education and community development. A Cody native, she began her journey on the East Coast, studying theater in New York City while working on Wall Street. After a 13-day courtship, she returned home, marrying longtime partner Pete Simpson and beginning a life of service and storytelling across Wyoming. Wherever the Simpsons lived -- whether it be Jackson, Casper, Sheridan or Laramie -- Lynne ignited creative opportunities. These included launching Jacksons famous Walk Festival Hall with a production of Mame, to directing award-winning productions in Sheridan, to producing Oliver at a local childrens home, which involved all 100 residents and the surrounding community. Later in life, she earned three degrees from UW and launched The Wyoming Project, a touring educational theater program. Simpson brought that same passion to aging services when, as director for senior services for Albany County, the first Wellness Center for Seniors was founded with its Wellness and Lifelong Learning Center. She spoke on this initiative at the National Conference on Aging. She believes in public and private investments supporting a shared vision. Her unique ability to build partnerships has secured over $1 million in grants by uniting city, county, state, federal and private support. Now retired, she continues to inspire through creativity workshops for seniors in Cody. The arts are a necessary part of blessing and developing our humanness, Simpson says. Lynne and Petes three children also are accomplished artists and performers and are the projects that matter the most to them. Don Snyder Don Snyder Snyder has spent a lifetime of defying expectations, leading with vision and transforming communities -- from international banking to the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Snyders journey began working on the family farm near Aberdeen, S.D., and continued through Jackson Hole, where long hours on road crews and in tire shops convinced him to aim higher. Told by a high school counselor that he wasnt college material, Snyder proved otherwise, transferring to UW from Sheridan College; earning a degree in business administration with honors; and landing on the deans list. Immediately after UW, Snyder joined United California Bank and quickly rose through the ranks. I was going to work harder than the person in front of me, the person behind me, the person to my left and the person to the right, he says. Snyder spent the next 18 years opening branches in Asia and managing operations during the Latin American debt crisis. True to his mantra, he achieved his goal of becoming president and CEO of First Interstate Bank of Nevada before the age of 40. Beyond banking, Snyder has been a champion of education and the arts at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV). As a member of UNLVs Foundation Board and a supporter of the UNLV School of Business, he has guided fundraising efforts, student scholarships and industry-academia partnerships. He also helped shape the Smith Center for the Performing Arts through fundraising, design guidance and board-level input. When Las Vegass historic Fremont Street faced decline, Snyder spearheaded a bold revitalization effort. Despite skeptics and the complexities of uniting rival casino owners, he led the creation of the Fremont Street Experience -- a landmark public-private partnership that reimagined downtown Las Vegas and became a blueprint for urban transformation. Throughout his life, Snyder has turned doubt into fuel, obstacles into opportunities and ideas into reality. Greg Dyekman Greg Dyekman Dyekmans lifelong commitment to others has touched nearly every corner of campus and the state of Wyoming. Dyekmans dedication to service was sparked as a 13-year-old cleaning the stands at Cheyenne Frontier Days with his Boy Scout troop, an early experience that planted the seed for a lifetime of giving back. A proud Eagle Scout and lifelong leader in the scouting community, Dyekman has spent over 30 years involved with the local Boy Scouts council board and has chaired the Scout Committee for Cheyennes Kiwanis pancake breakfast for more than two decades. Hes organized high-profile fundraising events, including one for President Gerald Ford, a fellow Eagle Scout. After graduating from UW with an accounting degree in 1977 and a law degree in 1980, Dyekman returned to Cheynne to practice with Dray, Thomson & Dyekman. He quickly became a trusted adviser to nonprofits across Wyoming. He has served on countless boards, offering legal and financial guidance and taking on leadership and fundraising roles wherever needed. His connection to UW deepened in the mid-1990s through a chance encounter with then-Wyoming Secretary of State Thyra Thomson. From that moment forward, Dyekman became one of the universitys most dedicated champions, chairing the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors for six years; helping found the College of Law Advisory Board; and serving on both the UW Foundation Board and the College of Business Advisory Board. Dyekmans service is matched by his generosity. He has given more than $2.4 million to the university, including a transformational $500,000 gift to support the UW debate program, honoring the activity that shaped his own academic and professional journey. His additional gifts support law faculty and student enrichment through the Debate/Forensics Excellence Fund and the Dyekman Law Professorship, among others. Whether in the courtroom, the boardroom or the community, Dyekman lives the Scout Oath to help other people at all times. HANOI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is considering granting long-term visa exemptions of up to five years to selected foreign nationals deemed key contributors to the country's socio-economic development, Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday. Under the proposal by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, eligible foreigners would be allowed to stay for up to 90 days per entry, a significant increase from the current limit of 45 days. The exemption would apply to individuals invited by senior leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the state, and the government, as well as chief executive officers, scientists, university professors, researchers, engineers, and highly skilled information technology personnel. The policy aims to attract high-level foreign expertise in priority sectors such as semiconductors, digital technology, science, and creative industries, according to the ministry. The World Health Organization said Monday its facilities in Gaza had come under Israeli attack, echoing calls from Western countries for an immediate ceasefire as Israel expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Israeli military had entered the UN agency's staff residence, forced women and children to evacuate on foot, and handcuffed, stripped and interrogated male staff at gunpoint. Earlier, more than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war, saying suffering there had "reached new depths". After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gaza's more than two million people, Israeli allies Britain, France, Australia, Canada and 21 other countries, plus the EU, said in a joint statement that the war "must end now". "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths," the signatories added, urging a negotiated ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants and the free flow of much-needed aid. Tedros, who also condemned an attack on the WHO's main warehouse in Deir el-Balah, echoed that call: "A ceasefire is not just necessary, it is overdue," he said on X. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the countries' statement, saying any international pressure should be on Hamas, while US ambassador Mike Huckabee called the joint letter "disgusting". Key mediator Egypt, however, endorsed the message. The Western plea came with Deir el-Balah under intense shelling on Monday, after Israel's military the day before had ordered residents to leave, warning of imminent action in an area where it had not previously operated. Between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area when the evacuation order was issued, according to initial estimates from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA. Deir el-Balah resident Abdullah Abu Saleem, 48, told AFP on Monday that "during the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake". He said this was "due to artillery shelling in the south-central part of Deir el-Balah and the southeastern area". "We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation," he added. - 'Extremely critical' - In their statement, the Western countries also denounced Israel's aid delivery model in Gaza, saying it was "dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity". The UN has recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade. "We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food," the statement said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned through his spokesman the "accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions", noting "the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition". In Deir el-Balah, AFP images showed plumes of dark smoke billowing into the sky. The spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, Mahmud Bassal, told AFP it had "received calls from several families trapped in the Al-Baraka area of Deir el-Balah due to shelling by Israeli tanks". The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. Since the start of the war, nearly all of Gaza's population has been displaced at least once by repeated Israeli evacuation orders. According to OCHA, the latest order means that 87.8 percent of the territory is now under evacuation orders or within Israeli militarised zones. Hamdi Abu Mughseeb, 50, told AFP that he and his family had fled northwards from their tent south of Deir el-Balah at dawn following a night of intense shelling. "There is no safe place anywhere in the Gaza Strip," he said. "I don't know where we can go." Mai Elawawda, communications officer in Gaza for the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, said the situation was "extremely critical", describing shelling "all around our office." - 'Shocked and alarmed' - The families of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel said they were "shocked and alarmed" by reports of evacuation orders for parts of Deir el-Balah. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded political and military authorities "clearly explain why the offensive in the Deir el-Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk". Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Civil defence spokesman Bassal reported at least 15 people killed by Israeli forces across Gaza on Monday. 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. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,029 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Hamas's 2023 attack, which sparked the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. bur-az-acc/dcp/smw/jhb/gv Strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake at 102 km depth 21 Jul 16:44 UTC: First to report: VolcanoDiscovery after 3 minutes. 21 Jul 16:47: Now using data updates from GFZ ... [show all] ... 21 Jul 16:48: Now using data updates from EMSC 21 Jul 16:49: Epicenter location corrected by 1.6 km (1 mi) towards SE. 21 Jul 16:53: Epicenter location corrected by 8.6 km (5.3 mi) towards N. 21 Jul 16:54: Magnitude recalculated from 5.8 to 5.7. 21 Jul 16:56: Magnitude recalculated from 5.7 to 5.9. 21 Jul 16:56: Epicenter location corrected by 4.2 km (2.6 mi) towards NNE. 21 Jul 16:58: Magnitude recalculated from 5.9 to 5.8. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 73.00 to 101.90 km (from 45 to 63 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 11 km (7 mi) towards S. 21 Jul 16:58: Now using data updates from USGS Update Mon, 21 Jul 2025, 16:48 Moderate yet deep 5.8 quake hits near Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea The quake hit at an intermediate depth of 110. km beneath the epicenter near Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, early morning on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025, at 2:41 am local time. The strength of the earthquake may have been tempered by its relative great depth below the surface, which makes it feel weaker in absolute terms. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report. Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter. Weak shaking might have been felt in Kainantu (pop. 8,500) located 93 km from the epicenter, Lae (pop. 76,300) 103 km away, Madang (pop. 27,400) 116 km away, and Goroka (pop. 18,500) 136 km away. VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you're in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either Papua New Guinea was shaken near Madang, Madang Province, by an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 only 7 minutes ago, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported.The quake hit at an intermediate depth of 110. km beneath the epicenter near Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, early morning on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025, at 2:41 am local time. The strength of the earthquake may have been tempered by its relative great depth below the surface, which makes it feel weaker in absolute terms. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.Weak shaking might have been felt in Kainantu (pop. 8,500) located 93 km from the epicenter, Lae (pop. 76,300) 103 km away, Madang (pop. 27,400) 116 km away, and Goroka (pop. 18,500) 136 km away.VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you're in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either online or via our mobile app . This will help us provide more first-hand updates to anyone around the globe who wants to know more about this quake. Download the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app and get one of the fastest seismic alerts online: Android | iOS and get one of the fastest seismic alerts online: Earthquake details Date & time Jul 21, 2025 16:41:08 UTC - Local time at epicenter Tuesday, Jul 22, 2025, at 02:41 am (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10) Status confirmed (manually revised) Magnitude 5.8 Depth 102 km Epicenter latitude / longitude 5.9114S / 146.6033E Madang Province, Papua New Guinea Seismic antipode 5.9114N / 33.397W Quality 103 seismic stations Shaking intensity IV Light shaking near epicenter Felt 37 reports Primary data source USGS (United States Geological Survey) Nearest volcano Long Island (84 km / 52 mi) Weather at epicenter at time of quake Broken Clouds 24.6C (76 F), humidity: 83%, wind: 1 m/s (3 kts) from WNW Estimated seismic energy released 3.2 x 1013 joules (8.78 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 7558 tons of TNT or 0.5 atomic bombs!) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 5.8 | about seismic energy [ show map ] [ smaller ] [ bigger ] Quake possibly felt by 2.7 million people According to preliminary estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake might have been felt by over 2.7 million people across Papua New Guinea . For most people (73.9%), the quake might only have felt as barely noticeable or weak shaking if at all (intensities I-III). Approx. 700,000 people were in areas with According to preliminary estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake might have been felt by over 2.7 million people across. For most people (73.9%), the quake might only have felt as barely noticeable or weak shaking if at all (intensities I-III). Approx. 700,000 people were in areas with light shaking (intensity IV), the highest intensity this quake likely produced over inhabited areas. MMI Level Shaking (2,720,200 in total) (2,720,200 in total) Possible damage I Not felt None II Very weak (0.25%) 6,743 None III Weak (73.66%) 2,003,800 Probably none IV Light (26.09%) 709,700 None or minor only V Moderate Minor VI Strong Minor to Moderate VII Very strong Moderate VIII Severe Significant IX Violent Heavy X Extreme Catastrophic Estimated number of people exposed to shaking from the earthquake by intensity (data coverage corresponding to attached map) Map of expected ground shaking intensity according to the MMI scale (shakemap, source: USGS) Map with population density (from white to black) in the area around the quake's epicenter (source: USGS) Alert level for this earthquake: Level GREEN Based on seismic and statistical models, USGS estimates that the risk of fatalities and damage from this earthquake is low. The main factors that contribute to this evaluation are: The maximum expected ground shaking from this quake was unlikely to reach dangerous levels over populated areas; it should not have surpassed intensity IV ( Light ) on the MMI scale significantly. ) on the MMI scale significantly. A large number of people was exposed to shaking from the quake, but only to weak intensities. The quake occurred relatively deep under the surface (102 km or 63 mi depth). This significantly weakened the shaking on the ground of this quake if compared to a magnitude 5.8 event at shallower depth. shaking (intensity IV), the highest intensity this quake likely produced over inhabited areas.Based on seismic and statistical models, USGS estimates that. The main factors that contribute to this evaluation are: Comment Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unreinforced brick masonry construction. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake 52 km west of this event struck this region on October 13, 1993 (UTC), with estimated population exposures of 286,000 at intensity VII and 30,000 at intensity VIII, resulting in a reported 60 fatalities. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses. Source: USGS Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Expected fatalities The risk of fatalities from this quake is considered low and classified as Level The risk of fatalities from this quake is considered low and classified as Level GREEN , the lowest on a color scale from Green (low) to Red (very high). USGS estimates that there is a 65.3% chance that there are no direct fatalities as effect of shaking and a 30.2% chance that between 1 and 10 fatalities occurred. The likelihood that there are more than 100 fatalities is less than 1%. Expected economic damage The economic impact of this earthquake is expected to be minimal or small (Level , the lowest on a color scale from Green (low) to Red (very high). USGS estimates that there is a 65.3% chance that there areas effect of shaking and a 30.2% chance that between 1 and 10 fatalities occurred. The likelihood that there are more than 100 fatalities is less than 1%.The economic impact of this earthquake is expected to be minimal or small (Level GREEN ). Only light damage if any should have occurred. USGS calculates an 65.3% chance of total economic loss in the range of 0-1 million US Dollars and a 30.2% risk of losses between 1 and 10 million US Dollars. Total economic loss from this quake is not likely to surpass 10 million US Dollars (less than 1% chance). ). Only light damage if any should have occurred. USGS calculates an 65.3% chance of total economic loss in the range of 0-1 million US Dollars and a 30.2% risk of losses between 1 and 10 million US Dollars. Total economic loss from this quake is not likely to surpass 10 million US Dollars (less than 1% chance). Ground shaking from this quake Map of estimated ground shaking (source:USGS) Ground accelleration map for this quake Map of estimated ground accelleration (source:USGS) Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in Papua New Guinea User-reports for this quake (38) felt in up to approx. 170400 km (106249 mi) distance. The majority of reports came from Lae (17 reports), a town with 76,000 inhabitants in Morobe Province in 100 km (62 mi) distance southeast of the epicenter, Papua New Guinea, Madang (8 reports), a town with 27,000 inhabitants in 119 km (74 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter, and Port Moresby (4 reports) (401 km or 249 mi to the south), the capital of Papua New Guinea and Australia . Out of these, 37 people indicated they felt it. The quake was reported to have beenThe majority of reports came from, a town with 76,000 inhabitants in Morobe Province in 100 km (62 mi) distance southeast of the epicenter,, a town with 27,000 inhabitants in 119 km (74 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter, and(401 km or 249 mi to the south), the capital of Papua New Guinea with 280,000 inhabitants in National Capital District. See the list of places where most people reported this quake further below. User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Translate Madang urban llg, Madang Province / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Shook house enough to get everyone out for safety. | 5 users found this interesting. Lae (401.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : The house literally shook for like 5 to 10 seconds | 4 users found this interesting. Lae City Morove Province Papua New Guinea (95.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 30-60 s : Was woken up by a violent shaking | 4 users found this interesting. Goroka (150.7 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : The quake woke me up and the shaking seemed to go for a fairly long time. It was long shaking that caused the house to make lots of noise, but no damage. | 2 users found this interesting. Madang Town (116.9 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s The vibration came light and then it suddenly shook for 3 seconds and stopped.it was rather heavy even people woke up from their sleep | 3 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s Morobe Province, Houn Gulf District, Busanim Stati (100.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Just shaking.. I usually don't feel earthquakes at night but hos one was felt | 3 users found this interesting. Goroka (100.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Started slow then intensified after 5_10 seconds. | 3 users found this interesting. Lae (77.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Estimated M4.5 shaking for almost 2 minute's approximately | 3 users found this interesting. Lae Morobe Province Papua New Guinea (100.9 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Scared a little | 3 users found this interesting. Lae (98.9 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I was sleeping but it was strong enough to wake me up. | 2 users found this interesting. Lae (102.1 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Windows rattled, doors clapped, | 2 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Wabag, Enga Province / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Yes light tremor | One user found this interesting. K92. Mining Camp / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Light to start then escalating to the sideways noisy at end | One user found this interesting. Port Moresby, National Capital District (401.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : No | One user found this interesting. Madang (100.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Moderate shaking | One user found this interesting. Madang (118.6 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : The building I slept in shake once but hard. | One user found this interesting. K92. Mining Camp / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Light to start then escalating to the sideways noisy at end | One user found this interesting. Lae east taraka (401.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Vibration | One user found this interesting. Goroka (100.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 minutes : A great shake | One user found this interesting. madang, mareg island (117.4 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / very short big shaking | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / very short Madang (421.2 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s Lae (100.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Lae / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Ukarumpa (92.7 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 20-30 s (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 20-30 s Madang, PNG (118 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s Lae, Morobe Province (99.8 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) Lae City, Malaita Street (100.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : I was fast asleep but opened my eyes with head still on the pillow and was going to call out who are shaking the house Madang Papua New Guinea n (117.6 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s Mildas,Madang Urban (401.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 15-20 s Madang (136 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s Lae (100.7 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s Show more Show more List of cities/places with most reports Place Distance from epicenter Average reported Shaking Intensity Nr. of reports Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (Pop.: 76,255) 100 km (62 mi) SE of epicenter IV: Light shaking 17 Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (Pop.: 27,419) 119 km (74 mi) NW of epicenter IV: Light shaking 8 Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea (Pop.: 283,733) 401 km (249 mi) S of epicenter V: Moderate shaking 4 Kainantu, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (Pop.: 8,509) 92 km (57 mi) SW of epicenter VI: Strong shaking 3 Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (Pop.: 18,503) 136 km (84 mi) W of epicenter V: Moderate shaking 2 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Pop.: 5,231,147) 3,146 km (1,955 mi) S of epicenter IV: Light shaking 2 Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea (Pop.: 18,230) 421 km (262 mi) NW of epicenter III: Weak shaking 1 Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (38 in total) could be used for statistics. What is Intensity and the Mercalli Intensity Scale? The amount of shaking that occurs on the surface due to an earthquake is called the intensity. It is commonly measured on the so-called Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) ranging from 1 (not felt) to 10 (extreme shaking), and given in Roman numerals as I,II,...IX, X, and often displayed with color codes ranging from light blue to dark red. Earthquake intensity depends mainly on the magnitude and depth of the quake as well as the distance from the epicenter: The further away, the less shaking intensity occurs. Read more about the MMI scale! The amount of shaking that occurs on the surface due to an earthquake is called the intensity. It is commonly measured on the so-called Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) ranging from 1 (not felt) to 10 (extreme shaking), and given in Roman numerals as I,II,...IX, X, and often displayed with color codes ranging from light blue to dark red.Earthquake intensity depends mainly on the magnitude and depth of the quake as well as the distance from the epicenter: The further away, the less shaking intensity occurs. Number of reports by intensity Shaking intensity Number of reports Min-Max distance from epicenter (*) Average distance (*) I: Not felt 1 401401 km (249249 mi) 401 km (249 mi) II: Very weak shaking 1 100100 km (6262 mi) 100 km (62 mi) III: Weak shaking 5 96421 km (59261 mi) 167 km (104 mi) IV: Light shaking 12 99118 km (6173 mi) 106 km (66 mi) V: Moderate shaking 7 78118 km (4874 mi) 104 km (65 mi) VI: Strong shaking 3 68100 km (4262 mi) 87 km (54 mi) Notes (*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated. Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (38 in total) could be used for geographic statistics. further below. Compare Quake Data Data for the same earthquake as reported by different agencies The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision. Mag Depth Time GMT 2025-07-21 Epicenter Agency 5.8 102 km 63 mi 6.3 km 16:41:08.735 91 km ENE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea Epicenter uncertainty: 6.9 km USGS (United States Geological Survey) 5.86 118 km 73 mi 1.3 km 16:41:11.1 0.13s Papua New Guinea Region 5 km (3.1 mi) epicenter difference with USGS Epicenter uncertainty: 4 km GFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences) 5.8 106 km 66 mi 16:41:10 Papua New Guinea Region 4.8 km (3 mi) epicenter difference with USGS RaspberryShake (RaspberryShake) 5.9 85 km 53 mi 16:41:05 Papua New Guinea Region 40 km (25 mi) epicenter difference with USGS BMKG (Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia) 5.34 0.25 97 km 60 mi 7.7 km 16:41:09.415 0.75s Event of magnitude 5.3, near of Port Moresby 8.6 km (5.4 mi) epicenter difference with USGS Epicenter uncertainty: 4.1 km RENASS (Reseau National de Surveillance Sismique (ReNaSS)) 5.8 114 km 71 mi 16:41:10.36 0.33s EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G. 4.1 km (2.6 mi) epicenter difference with USGS Epicenter uncertainty: 4 km EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre) 5.8 102 km 63 mi 16:41:08 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G. 0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with USGS IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) 5.7 0.2 105 km 66 mi 16:41:09.455 Papua New Guinea [Land] 9.2 km (5.7 mi) epicenter difference with USGS Epicenter uncertainty: 8 km INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) 5.9 100 km 62 mi 2.7 km 16:41:09.216 0.26s Papua New Guinea Region 8.6 km (5.4 mi) epicenter difference with USGS Epicenter uncertainty: 3.1 km GeoAu (Geoscience Australia ) Aftershocks for this quake No aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section. What are aftershocks? Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock. [More info] Aftershocks are typically at least one order of magnitude smaller than the main shock. Their size and frequency decreases with time. What about this quake? Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 63 km2 (24 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 14 km (9 mi). [More info] Aftershocks for this quake can be expected to occur during the days and few weeks following the quake at or near the same fault, at distances of up to approx. two times the length of the rupture zone, or in this case 28 km (17 mi). The often broadly linear arrangement of aftershock epicenters encompasses the rupture zone of the main shock ( Aftershocks for this quake can be expected to occur during the days and few weeks following the quake at or near the same fault, at distances of up to approx. two times the length of the rupture zone, or in this case 28 km (17 mi). The often broadly linear arrangement of aftershock epicenters encompasses the rupture zone of the main shock ( see map below ). Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known asthat occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likelyas a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 14 km (9 mi). Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake) Date and Time GMT Mag Depth Distance Region Details Jul 22, 2025 02:41 am (Port Moresby) 4 weeks ago - felt 5.8 102 km 0 km - This quake 119 km SE of Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea Main Shock (this quake) More Map of aftershocks No aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section. Strike action could lead to delays or flight cancellations. Air travellers in Italy face disruption to flights on Saturday 26 July due to strike action by airport ground staff including baggage handlers and security workers. The four-hour strike, scheduled from 13.00 to 17.00, is expected to result in flight delays and cancellations. The industrial action has been called by several trade unions for various reasons relating to employment contracts and working conditions. Seperately, pilots and cabin crews from Spanish budget airline Volotea are also set to strike at the same time on Saturday, from 13.00 to 17.00. Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC has published information on its website about strikes and flights that are guaranteed. For official information about upcoming strikes in Italy see the transport ministry website. Photo credit: BalkansCat / Shutterstock.com. SEOUL, July 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export fell in the first 20 days of July due to weaker demand from the United States and Japan, customs office data showed Monday. Outbound shipment slipped 2.2 percent from a year earlier to 36.07 billion U.S. dollars during the July 1-July 20 period, according to Korea Customs Service. Export to the United States and Japan decreased 2.1 percent and 5.8 percent each, but those to the European Union, Vietnam and India increased in single digits. Matteotti was assassinated by Fascists in 1924. The vandalism of a marble plaque dedicated to slain Italian socialist and Mussolini critic Giacomo Matteotti sparked outrage from across Italy's political spectrum on Monday. The memorial is located on Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia near where Matteotti was abducted in 1924 before being assassinated by Fascists in a killing that shook Mussolini's regime. Culture minister Alessandro Giuli, a member of premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition, visited the site on Monday to inspect the damage and express his outrage. "This act of vandalism is a serious act, which strikes a place of shared civil memory" - Giuli said in a statement - "Incidents of this kind must not be underestimated: respect for one of the founding figures of Italian democratic consciousness is a duty that involves everyone." Antonio Tajani, deputy Italian premier and leader of the centre-right Forza Italia party, also expressed outrage over the vandalisation of the plaque in memory of "an Italian who fell for our common freedom". Rome's centre-left mayor Roberto Gualtieri condemned the "cowardly and unacceptable act" which he described as "an affront to the memory of one of the most shining symbols of anti-fascism and our democracy", adding that the city would restore the plaque immediately. Background Speaking in parliament on 30 May 1924, Matteotti alleged that the Fascists had rigged the results of the general election held the previous month, and condemned the violence they used to gain votes. Less than two weeks later, on 10 June 1924, the 39-year-old Matteotti was abducted from outside his Rome residence, beaten violently and killed by a group of Fascists. His body was not discovered until 16 August, buried in a shallow grave near Riano, north of the capital. The so-called Matteotti Crisis initially threatened to bring down the Fascist regime however Mussolini and his government survived and the king was unwilling to dismiss him. Ultimately Mussolini assumed responsibility for the assassination, dissolving parliament and assuming dictatorial powers in a totalitarian Fascist regime. Last year, on the centenary of his abduction and murder, Italy's president Sergio Mattarella laid a wreath at the memorial to Matteotti, hailing him as a "martyr of democracy". A century after the speech that led to his assassination, Matteotti was remembered in parliament by prime minister Meloni, leader of the right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party, who described him as "a free and courageous man killed by Fascist thugs for his ideas." Rome landmark records more than five million tourists in the first half of this year. Visitors to the Trevi Fountain could soon be charged 2 to see the iconic Rome landmark as a contentious plan by the city council to introduce an entry fee steps up a gear. Rome could start charging tourists to see the Baroque monument from September - Corriere della Sera newspaper reports - one year after the plan was first mooted by the city's tourism councillor Alessandro Onorato. The entry fee would not apply to Rome residents and the project has the support of the capital's mayor Roberto Gualtieri who has described it as "a very concrete idea". Late last year, following the completion of maintenance works, the city introduced a trial queuing system at the famed fountain. The 18th-century monument is open to 400 visitors at a time, from 09.00 until 21.00 every day except on Monday and Friday when it opens at 11.00 to allow for the collection of coins, with open access after 21.00. Unlike the Pantheon, where Italy's culture ministry introduced a 5 entry fee in 2023, the Trevi Fountain is under the jurisdiction of the Italian capital. The fountain has registered more than 5.3 million visitors in the first six months of this year, Corriere della Sera reports. If this trend continues, the number of visitors could approach 11 million by the end of this year, pointing to a potential treasure chest of around 20 million for the city. Photo credit: Preto Perola / Shutterstock.com. Fiona Magennis A convicted killer previously jailed for feud-related offences who has never had a job spent 100,000 carrying out grandiose renovations on his family home in Limerick, a court has heard. A sentencing hearing for Richard Treacy (36) of Downey St, Garryowen, heard on Monday that the house where the defendant lived with his partner and two children was purchased by another in 2014, and various renovation works were carried out over a number of years. Lawyers for Treacy today objected to the term feud being used by a prosecuting garda in relation to the defendants previous convictions. Treacys defence counsel, Lorcan Connolly SC, suggested the detective garda had gone off-piste and that this was done in an effort to colour the judges view of his client. He made an application for the three-judge panel to recuse themselves and for another panel to be introduced, but this was rejected by presiding judge Ms Justice Karen OConnor, who said the judges were all very experienced and were not of the view that there was a problem in them continuing. Treacy previously pleaded guilty that he, between January 1st, 2014 and January 12th, 2021, knowing or being reckless as to whether renovation work carried out at his home address was the proceeds of criminal conduct, did disguise the true source of the property. The offence is contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Detective Garda Ronan OReilly told prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC that on June 17th, 2020, gardai searched the house at Garryowen and found 3,900 of sterling and 4,000 in a sock drawer of the bedroom. Two further quantities of cash were found in a kitchen cupboard. Treacy told gardai in a voluntary memorandum that another person was the registered owner of the house and that renovation works were carried out on the property. He said a family member gave him the 4,000 for an extension on the house. No explanation was given for the sterling, and Treacy said the two quantities, amounting to over 1,000, found in the kitchen were from savings and his dole money. Garda OReilly said Social Welfare and Revenue were contacted in relation to Treacys work history and confirmed there was no record of the accused ever having been employed. There was evidence of some claims that had been attributed to Treacy from a number of court actions. He confirmed to counsel that a guilty plea was entered by Treacy on the first day of the trial, which had been expected to last two weeks, and it was accepted that 100,000 was spent on renovating the house. Det Gda OReilly said Treacy resides at the property in question with his partner and children. He told the court Treacy has ten previous convictions, including for manslaughter, dangerous driving causing serious harm and violent disorder. Treacy also has previous convictions for careless driving and public order offences. Referencing the violent disorder offence, Det Gda OReilly said the defendant and some of his relations got involved in a violent disorder incident with a feuding other family in the city. Regarding the manslaughter conviction, Garda OReilly said this was another feud-related incident. He said the deceased was a relation of a high-end criminal in the city. Lorcan Connolly SC, for Treacy, said this additional information was unnecessary. He said Treacys last conviction was nine years ago and highlighted that this coincided with the arrival of his children. In cross-examination, Garda OReilly agreed with counsel that the subject matter on the indictment was in relation to the renovation and the works were done over a number of years. He confirmed that no charges were brought in relation to the sums of money found in the house. Mr Connolly said his client resides at the property in question with his partner and two children. He said his client has an active role in his childrens upbringing and has been a positive influence in their lives. He asked the court to consider the amount of money involved relative to other cases and to the passage of time involved, spanning a period of some seven years. He said the house was a relatively modest home in a council estate and was not like other cases involving a palatial home overlooking a scenic view. A period of nine years has elapsed in which Treacy has been trouble-free, he said. Mr Connolly said he was taken aback by the fact that Det Gda OReilly had mentioned the word feud in relation to his clients previous convictions. He said this was done off the gardas own bat. He said prosecuting counsel had carefully led the garda through his evidence, but Det Gda OReilly had gone off-piste by mentioning feuds. He suggested the only reason for this was to colour the courts view of his client. He made an application for the three-judge panel to recuse themselves and for another panel to be introduced. Ms Murphy said the evidence and the basis the plea was entered on was that monies had been paid for renovations on a home in the city centre, making it grandiose. She said no evidence has been given in relation to those monies other than in circumstances where Treacy has been on social welfare. She said there was no evidence of him ever earning a living and that, bar some civil claims, there was no explanation for those monies. She said nothing had been said that wasnt true, and Det Gda OReilly had simply placed context on Treacys previous convictions. Ms Murphy said there was no evidence in relation to the plea before the court that linked it to the other matters. Ms Justice OConnor said the three-judge panel were not prepared to recuse themselves and did not believe it was necessary to do so. She said the panel are all very experienced and were not of the view that there was any problem in continuing. Mr Connolly said one of the key factors when it comes to a money laundering offence is the amount involved. He said this wasnt a standard case where gardai found 100,000 or 200,000 in a shoebox. He said his clients plea of guilty was valuable to the court and handed in a number of testimonials on Treacys behalf. Ms Justice OConnor adjourned the matter to October 20th for finalisation. David Raleigh A married farmer from County Cork was sentenced to a total of 19 years in jail for raping another man twice, but he will serve less than ten years for just one of the offences. Thomas Tossy Nyhan, 60, Crookstown, Co Cork, was sentenced to 11.5 years with the final year suspended, for raping the man, in April 2019. Nyhan, who has four children, received a second sentence of 8.5 years for raping the man, in January 2011. The rapes occurred at a location in Limerick, the court heard. As both sentences are to run concurrent to each other, Nyhan will only serve part of the longest sentence. The sentences were backdated to June 23rd last when Nyhan first entered custody. He has no previous convictions. Nyhan had contested two counts of anal rape of the victim, but he was unanimously convicted by a jury of both rapes, following an 11-day trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, last May. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring had previously lifted reporting restrictions last May allowing Nyhan be named. The judge also directed that the victim was entitled to his anonymity and ordered that he not be identified. The victim told the trial that the rapes were so painful they were like barbed wire inside him. The victim wrote in a victim impact statement that, there were "not words strong enough to capture the pain" he had suffered. "He (Nyhan) raped me twice. This was not a moment of confusion. It was cold, calculated and violent he knew what he was doing and eight years later he did it again," the man said. "This is what he chose. This is who he is. I trusted him and told him about my trauma and vulnerabilities and he controlled, degraded and violated me in the most horrific way." The man said that Nyhan spoke about his own children during one of the rapes, which the victim described as "twisted and inhumane". He said he disclosed the second rape to his GP in 2019, because, he said, he could not hold the weight of his abuse any longer". Later he told Gardai he had also been raped by Nyhan in 2011. The man told how he continues to feel like he is being watched and feels "trapped" by feelings of being "constantly sick with anxiety". I am a ghost of the man I used to be. I am broken, alone. I have no one, because my barriers are always up," the man said. "He (Nyhan) is a rapist and that will follow him for the rest of his life and it should." The victim encouraged others similarly affected by sexual crimes to seek help and try and bring the perpetrators to justice: Please hear this standing up and speaking out is one of the most hardest things but it is powerful and life-changing. Previously, the victim asked Ms Justice Ring to impose a sentence on Nyhan that reflected his crimes: Let it say this matters we matter. Please show what I lost matters. What he did Matters. The man thanked the jury "for listening and for believing me that has meant more to me than you will ever know". When questioned by Gardai in May 2019, Nyhan accepted sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim, yet he denied raping him. The prosecution case was presented in court by senior counsel Fionnuala OSullivan, barrister Lily Buckley, who were instructed by Aoife OHalloran, Chief State Solicitors Office, after an investigation by Gardai attached to the National Garda Protective Services Bureau, (NGPSB), at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick City, which deals solely with sexual crimes. During the trial, and under cross-examination by Nyhans barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, the victim agreed that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011. The victim described as lies, unfounded claims by Nyhan that he had asked the farmer for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhans crotch a number of times and removed his own clothes to have sex with Nyhan. The victim told Mr Nicholas: I told him (Nyhan) to stop, I didnt like it. When asked by the barrister what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied: I was just scared, I just froze. The victim described as bullshit further unfounded claims by Nyhan, put by the barrister, that the victim had been in possession of a knife at the time and that Nyhan was afraid hed harm himself, and that Nyhan pretended to go along with sex. The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and thrust himself into the victim telling him he loved him, despite the victims pleas No. The victim told the court Nyhans denials were lies. It was like barbed wire ... it was like hell, like something burning you, the victim said, breaking down in tears. Nyhans wife, Mary Nyhan, supported her husband to court every day of his trial and throughout the criminal proceedings. Before he was being led away to prison today, members of Nyhans family cried, roared and hugged him. Judge Ring said evidence accepted by the jury was that, during one of the rapes, Nyhan used a shoelace tied around his own penis in an effort to make it erect as he suffered with erectile dysfunction after he had cancer. Nyhan complained it (his penis) wasn't working, and the victim described that he then kissed (the victims) balls. Nyhan said he would pay him and left 150, the judge said. "Nyhan then proceeded to masturbate while sitting on the bed and ejaculated onto the floor next to the bed. Nyhan then left. The victim spoke about washing with really cold water and going outside to burn the money. DNA Swabs taken by forensic Gardai of a stain at the scene of the 2019 rape matched Nyhans DNA profile. The judge said Nyhan had told the victim that he couldn't have sex with his wife. Nyhan said to the victim if he had sex with him he could go home and have sex with his wife. He then took the victim into a bedroom, took off his pants and had anal intercourse. Commenting on Nyhan, the judge said: He is a man without prior criminal convictions, and to all intents and purposes lived the quiet, hardworking life of a farmer. The judge said Nyhan, who was represented by Mark Nicholas SC, Liam Carroll BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan, had acted in a serious and sinister fashion. It is clear that Nyhan knew that the victim had not told anyone of the 2011 rape, and thus he had the confidence to rape again in 2019, assuming that the victim would stay silent again, the judge said. In mitigation, the judge took into consideration Nyhans age, no previous convictions, health difficulties and that he has been a hard-working family man. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Director David Hennessy, alongside actors Brenda Giles and Sean Upton were honoured with a Mayoral Reception this week in recognition of their production of Myrtle Theatre Company's, Up Down Boy, by Sue Shields. 'Up Down Boy' tells the story of Jack (Sean Upton), who has Down Syndrome, and his mother Kate (Brenda Giles), as Jack prepares to head off to college. This production, by the David Hennessy Musical and Dramatic Society was performed at St Patricks Gateway Centre, and, in December, featured on RTEs Nationwide. The play was met with resounding acclaim. 'Updown Boy' was originally produced by Myrtle Theatre Company. At this years Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards, David Hennessy won Best Director, whilst Sean and Brenda took home Best Male Actor and Best Female Actor accolades. Speaking at this weeks reception, News & Star Arts Correspondent Pat McEvoy, described the play as brave, magical and truly extraordinary. Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Seamus Ryan presenting a scroll to Sean Upton, in recognition of him winning best male in an amateur drama. Photo: Joe Evans Commending the three recipients, Mayor of Waterford City and County Seamus Ryan said, David, your vision and leadership as director shaped a production that was both moving and powerful. You continue to be a driving force in theatre in Waterford, and your contribution is widely respected and appreciated. Sean and Brenda, your performances brought depth and humanity to the stage. The recognition you have received is well deserved, and it is a reminder of the calibre of talent we are so fortunate to have here in our local arts scene. Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Seamus Ryan presenting a scroll to Brenda Giles, in recognition of her winning best female in an amateur drama for her role in 'Up Down Boy'. Photo: Joe Evans Sean, whose performance as Jack was both captivating and inspiring, said that playing the role was a very rewarding experience. I was very proud to represent people with different abilities on such an important and successful production. As I have said before, you should never judge a book by its cover. Brenda Giles, who brought her vulnerability and grace to the character of Kate, said at the reception that the role was the most challenging thing Ive ever done, but also the most special. It will stay in my heart forever and I know for so many other people it will as well. Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Seamus Ryan presenting a scroll to David Hennessy, in recognition of him winning best director for 'Up Down Boy'. Photo: Joe Evans Director David Hennessy added: This play tells the story of a young man with down syndrome, and is based on the life of Nathan Bessell, who starred in the original Myrtle Theatre Company production. Today, we celebrate that story and its place in the centre." David dedicated the honour to writer of 'Up Down Boy', Sue Shields, who sadly passed away shortly before this version of the play was produced. Waterford City and County Council wishes to advise the public that a number of road closures will be in effect from Thursday, July 31 until Monday, August 4, to facilitate the Waterford Spraoi Festival. The closures are being made under Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993 and will affect several streets in Waterford city. Motorists and residents are asked to please take note of the affected routes and plan accordingly. The closed roads and times are: Thursday, July 31 until Monday, August 4 - OConnell St. (Hanover St. to Gladstone St.) 6pm Thursday 11pm Monday; Gladstone St. 6pm Thursday 1am Monday; Sergeants Lane: 6pm Thursday 1am Monday; Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3 - The Mall 7pm Friday 11.45pm Sunday; Mall Lane 7pm Friday 11.45pm Sunday; Saturday, August 2 - Henrietta St. 12 midday 6pm; Lady Lane (Bakehouse Lane to Michael St.) 2pm 3.30pm and 4.30pm 6pm; Sunday, August 3 - Henrietta St. 12 midday 6pm; Lady Lane (Bakehouse Lane to Michael St.) 1.30pm 3pm and 4pm 5.30pm; Johnstown - 8.30pm 10pm; Parnell St. 8.30pm 10.30pm; Parade Quay 9pm 11.30pm; Custom House Quay 9pm 11.30pm. The Waterford Spraoi Festival promises a vibrant line-up of events and performances, and these road closures are essential to ensure the safety and success of the festival. The Council apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks the public for their understanding and cooperation. A Waterford man (50s) has pleaded guilty to 20 charges of sexual abuse of a young child. The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, with the final nine months suspended. The abuse is understood to have occurred on a regular basis from the period of late 2018 until mid-2021. The man was a trusted adult figure in the child's life. The child told his parents about the abuse in mid-2024. He was doing homework on 'Good Touch/ Bad Touch', a program designed to teach children how to discern inappropriate behaviour. The child became upset and told his father about the abuse he had suffered. The child's parents reported the abuse to the Gardai and the boy underwent a specialist interview with a specially-trained member of An Garda Siochana. The man was arrested and detained by Gardai in June 2024 and declined to comment. The court heard that he had once told a woman that he was a paedophile. According to the witness evidence of Garda Detective Seamus Halpin, the man said: "If he saw a 10 year old boy, he'd want him." The man had no previous convictions. The court heard that he was married and had children of his own, but is now estranged from his family. He offered the victim and his family compensation. The offer was declined. The child read out his victim impact statement in person accompanied by his parents. He began by saying that he wanted to share his experience and the impact that it had on him. He said: "I was a scared, confused and embarrassed young boy who had little idea of what was going on and how to act on it. I also felt violated and upset and as if it couldn't get worse I was made to feel like I couldn't tell the people I trust and love the most. As I got older and started realising more and more how wrong this was, I eventually could no longer carry this weight by myself and finally told my father, which leads me to the present day." He spoke about the anxiety, pain, stress and nightmares he has suffered in the years since the abuse and how his family struggle. He said that while he may never be able to gain back the trust he once had for people, he hoped that by coming forward 'that less people can be hurt by crimes like these'. A damaged store is seen following a conflict between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal militants in Sweida city, southern Syria, July 17, 2025. A ceasefire agreement brokered in southern Syria has brought a fragile calm to Sweida province after eight days of intense fighting, with human rights groups reporting the full implementation of the deal on Monday. (Str/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A ceasefire agreement brokered in southern Syria has brought a fragile calm to Sweida province after eight days of intense fighting, with human rights groups reporting the full implementation of the deal on Monday. However, the truce has triggered a wave of displacement, with over 2,000 Arab Sunni Bedouin families fleeing from Sweida to neighboring Daraa province, according to official statistics. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the U.S.-backed agreement, announced on Saturday, ended clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal militants that began on July 13 and left more than 1,120 people dead, including civilians, government troops, and local fighters. Among the dead were at least 194 individuals reportedly executed in extrajudicial killings. According to the social affairs authorities, a total of 2,068 displaced families have taken refuge across towns and villages in Daraa. The displaced are identified as Arab Sunni Bedouins who fled Sweida during the fighting, with many citing fear of sectarian reprisals and forced eviction. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that evacuees were allowed to leave only with the clothes on their backs. "They took us out with nothing, no money, no belongings," said one man who had arrived in Daraa from Shahba city in Sweida. The ceasefire, reportedly backed by a U.S.-mediated agreement between Syria and Israel, stipulates the withdrawal of all armed tribal fighters and government security forces from Sweida, as well as the creation of a UN-led fact-finding mission to investigate the recent violence. It also includes arrangements for humanitarian aid deliveries and future prisoner exchanges. Despite the cessation of hostilities, human rights advocates have raised alarm over the displacement pattern. Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman called the move a "demographic shift" reminiscent of earlier wartime displacements in Syria and demanded Damascus release the full terms of the ceasefire agreement. With Sweida calm for now, attention is turning to whether displaced families will be allowed to return and whether the ceasefire can hold amid deep sectarian divisions and simmering tensions. Burned vehicles are seen following a conflict between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal militants on the streets of Sweida city, southern Syria, July 17, 2025. A ceasefire agreement brokered in southern Syria has brought a fragile calm to Sweida province after eight days of intense fighting, with human rights groups reporting the full implementation of the deal on Monday. (Str/Xinhua) Book is an eccentric antiquarian bookshop owner who is also adept at solving mysteries. He draws on his encyclopaedic literary knowledge to help figure out motives, methods and the psychology behind all manner of crimes. Many a fictional detective has an extracurricular talent that feeds into their work; Sherlock Holmes and his violin; Inspector Morse and his crossword skills; Columbos fluency in several languages. Book regularly helps out the local police, led by the affable Inspector Bliss (Elliot Levey), and if anybody queries his involvement, he tells them he has a letter from Churchill. (A bit like Doctor Whos psychic paper, the mere mention of it seems to satisfy anybody who asks). Bookish is set in London in 1946, a less common setting for period drama; Gatiss, a long-time detective fan (as well as Sherlock he has adapted several of Agatha Christies Poirot stories for British TV, and starred in the series Marple), has said its a favourite time period of his, given the state of the world: women suddenly empowered (although expected to return to their kitchens), lots of weapons brought back by soldiers, a radical government, and a sense of hope. But no shortage of criminal activity. Gatiss with his wife Trottie (Polly Walker). Credit: Max We first meet Book when a young man, Jack (Connor Finch), freshly released from prison, shows up for a job hes been given at the bookshop. Jack moves in with Book and his wife Trottie (Bridgertons Polly Walker), who runs a specialty wallpaper shop next door to the bookshop. Gabriel and Trottie seem very much in love but they have a secret: theirs is a lavender marriage, the term given to a marriage where one or both parties are gay, when such a thing is illegal. The pair have long been best friends, having met as children, and Trottie is aware of Books proclivities, which must be kept secret. Especially from the police he spends so much time with. Jack is initially daunted by both Book and his books (all of which are catalogued in a manner as oddball as the man himself), and understandably baffled that the local coppers defer to Book on criminal matters. But he soon comes around and learns that he hasnt been taken in by the couple by coincidence. More than two decades ago, actor Keeley Hawes and I met on the set of David Wolstencrofts television spy thriller Spooks. That series, about a group of intelligence officers working in Section D of the British spy agency MI5, was hailed for the way it upended the established espionage genre. Since the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953, that franchise had defined the way stories about spies and assassins were told. But if Spooks gave the genre its light and shade, the new thriller series, The Assassin, flips the script again, in favour of something more resembling a rollercoaster. Freddie Highmore and Keeley Hawes in The Assassin. Credit: Two Brothers/All3Media The Assassin feels a bit like the opposite of Bond in every way, Hawes explains, when we reconnect to talk about the new series. Julie is a kind of anti-hero. Obviously when we meet her as a young woman shes obviously been very, very good at her job. But even then, shes this person whos a bit sort of worn down with it. She is real in a way that James Bond is not, Hawes adds. And I think even though theyre so different, both of those shows would appeal to the same sort of person who loves a high-octane show. A lawsuit brought on behalf of Australian cattle farmers who exported to Indonesia over a decade ago has been criticised for moving at a glacial pace. The class action was brought in October 2014 by farmers who allege they lost income after then-Labor senator Joe Ludwig banned live cattle exports to Indonesia in June 2011. The government had reacted to public outcry after an ABC Four Corners program showed graphic footage of cattle being inhumanely slaughtered. At a brief hearing on Monday, Federal Court Justice Tom Thawley criticised the lawsuits slow pace. It has taken an inordinate amount of time for these proceedings to be heard, he told lawyers representing both the class action and Ludwig. The parties have carried on at a glacial pace for years. In June 2020, Justice Steven Rares found Ludwig committed misfeasance in public office by suspending the export of live cattle to Indonesia for six months from June 2011. An additional 88,000 head of live cattle would have been sent to Indonesia in 2011 if the minister had acted properly, the court found. In a June judgment, Justice Thawley limited the potential compensation farmers could receive over the then-senators unlawful order. On Monday, class action barrister Patrick Holmes said his clients were still considering whether to appeal the June decision. Settlement talks are ongoing. AAP Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip: At least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food at locations across Gaza on Sunday, the territorys Health Ministry said, on the deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in more than 21 months of war. There was new alarm as Israels military issued evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organisations trying to distribute aid are located. The bodies of Palestinians who were killed while attempting to access aid trucks entering northern Gaza are brought to a clinic in Gaza City on Sunday, Credit: AP One group said several offices were told to evacuate immediately. There was no immediate Israeli comment. The largest death toll was in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire. People often become what they scorn. Donald Trump has become the deep state. He is the keeper of the secrets. He is the one stealing away peoples liberties. He is the one weaponizing government and protecting the ruling class. US President Donald Trump has launched a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. Credit: AP With Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump deputised wolf packs to root around in Americans personal information. He got Republicans to give Stephen Miller his own army. Trump manipulates government to hurt his perceived enemies. He obscures rather than reveals, pushing aside reporters who ask penetrating questions in favour of Pravda-like partisans who take his side. Trumps supporters thought he would shed light on shady elites protecting their own money and power. Now MAGA is reckoning with the fact that Trump is the shady elite, shielding information about Jeffrey Epstein. This photo taken on June 13, 2025 shows the Quanhu Park charging station equipped with ultra-fast liquid-cooled chargers in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua) GUIYANG, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Nestled in the hills of Guizhou, a mountainous province in southwest China, a new generation charging station is elevating the experience for electric vehicle (EV) owners. The Quanhu Park station in the provincial capital of Guiyang, covering over 3,900 square meters, has 130 charging bays that offer charging speeds of nearly "one-kilometer-per-second." This advancement comes as China faces mounting infrastructure demands from its rapidly growing EV fleet. National data shows a charging market still dominated by low-power units, with fast charging underrepresented and ultra-fast technology only beginning to emerge. In July, four central government departments jointly released a roadmap aiming to build over 100,000 high-power charging points nationwide by the end of 2027 to achieve substantial upgrades in service capacity and tech innovation. Co-developed by Hubei Shanxin energy technology group and China Southern Power Grid's Guizhou EV service company, the Quanhu Park station represents Guizhou's first liquid-cooled integrated facility combining ultra-fast charging, solar power, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy exchange. "Our aim is to match the refueling efficiency of petrol vehicles, ultimately boosting premium EV adoption," said Lin Xiaolan, a director at Shanxin Energy, highlighting the station's multi-functional design as the template for future infrastructure. Equipped with 20 ultra-fast liquid-cooled chargers with a maximum power of 600 kW, 100 fast chargers with a maximum power of 250 kW, and 10 bidirectional V2G units of 20 kW, the station can serve 120 vehicles simultaneously with rapid charging. An intelligent system displays real-time operational data and manages energy flows across charging, solar power generation, and battery storage subsystems. Station manager Shi Jihong noted that charging between midnight and 8 a.m. -- the period of lowest electricity rates -- caters primarily to ride-hailing drivers and taxi drivers that favor low-cost charging. "This is the premier charging experience," said Che Zhong, a ride-hailing service driver, praising the environment and minimal queuing. It only takes 50 minutes of charging to get enough electricity for a day. China Southern Power Grid's Guizhou EV service plans comprehensive ultra-fast coverage across Guizhou's urban centers and widespread fast-charging availability in county-level areas, steadily weaving a network that promises seamless EV operation even in one of the country's most mountainous regions. Electric vehicles are charged at the Quanhu Park station equipped with ultra-fast liquid-cooled chargers in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 13, 2025. (Xinhua) This photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows a sightseeing train in Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) People visit the Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 18, 2025. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) People visit the Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 18, 2025. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows a view of the paddy fields in Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) This photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows an organic paddy field in Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 18, 2025. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows a view of the Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) Visitors taking cable cars enjoy scenery of the paddy fields in Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 18, 2025. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows a view of the paddy fields in Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows a view of the Guangdong Village, Helong City, northeast China's Jilin Province. Guangdong, a border village in Jilin Province of northeast China, received over 200,000 visits in 2024, accumulating an income of over 1 million yuan (about 139,317 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Shao Zedong) LHASA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Yu Wenhao, project manager of an intelligent monitoring platform of the Tangbei area of Sanjiangyuan National Park, can still vividly recall the hurdles he faced while building a monitoring station right at the headwaters of the Yangtze River. Last October, Yu and his 20-member team trekked to the remote glaciers of Mount Geladaindong in the city of Nagqu, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, to erect a 15-meter-high monitoring tower at an altitude exceeding 5,300 meters. "The journey was only about 120 km, however, it took us two days to reach the site. There were no roads!" Yu recalled. "With approval from local authorities, we braved the freezing cold, following experienced local guides to minimize our impact on the fragile plateau ecosystem." The monitoring station is one of the 14 across the vast region, scattered in the Tangbei (areas under the administration of Xizang north of the Tanggula Range) area of the Sanjiangyuan National Park, as well as the Serling Co and Changtang national nature reserves. Established in 2021 as part of China's first batch of national parks, the 190,700-square-km Sanjiangyuan National Park sits on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at an average elevation of over 4,700 meters. The Sanjiangyuan region, a typical representative of the alpine ecosystem, serves as an alpine biological germplasm bank, making it a crucial ecological security barrier in China. The Tangbei area spans 48,700 square km, accounting for roughly 25.54 percent of the park's total area. Since 2023, Nagqu has been developing a high-tech monitoring platform integrating satellites, drones, and ground sensors for real-time ecological tracking, according to Wang Mingqing, Party Secretary of the forestry and grassland bureau of Nagqu City. So far, 14 stations, including the latest one that Yu's team established in October 2024, have enabled long-term, automated monitoring of wildlife, glaciers, rivers, wetlands, and ecological restoration efforts across Xizang. "Nowadays, we continuously upgrade the platform with AI algorithms to improve wildlife identification accuracy," Yu said. Beyond technology, Yu highlighted growing local conservation awareness. He was deeply moved by affluent young herders volunteering to assist construction in challenging conditions, reflecting a shared commitment to conservation. Today, over 6,000 former park residents serve as ecological rangers, transitioning from resource users to protectors. "Thanks to advanced technology, local residents' engagement, as well as the intensive support from the country, wildlife populations in Tangbei are steadily rising," Wang said. Namdrol, 48, a herder from Maqu Township, Nagqu, joined in an environmental protection team of the headwaters of Yangtze River in 2016. Over the years, Namdrol and his team have voluntarily organized river cleanups, rescued trapped wildlife, and intervened to prevent environmentally harmful activities. "We conduct five to six inspection tours every month, covering over 40 km each time. Given the extreme fragility of this ecosystem, where any damage could be irreversible, strengthening ecological protection is absolutely critical," he said. Xizang has always prioritized eco-environmental conservation and attached great importance to the conservation of the ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It prioritizes eco-environmental conservation and green development, and strives to continuously improve eco-environmental governance and protect biodiversity on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Xizang has emerged as one of the regions with the healthiest ecosystems in the world. Official statistics show that Xizang has established 47 nature reserves of all kinds, covering 412,200 square km. The region has also rolled out an eco-compensation system to increase the income of farmers and herders and strengthen their awareness of conservation. From 2016 to 2024, an average of 516,000 jobs for eco-environmental protection were created annually, providing an annual per capita income of 3,500 yuan (about 489.5 U.S. dollars). COMMUNITY NOTES: NORTH MAYO - WESTERN PEOPLE (JULY 22 EDITION) Huge numbers gathered in the Church of Christ the King, Knockmore on Monday last for the 11am Requiem Mass for the late Dickie Nallon and to bid a fond farewell to a special member of the community. Dickie passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, July 3, surrounded by his beloved family who cared for him so lovingly during his final illness. Dickie was born on Ballymacredmond to parents Richard and Kate Nallon was a member of a family of three. He married the love of his life Mary and they reared a family of four, a family that they were so proud of. During the homily at his funeral Mass he was remembered as a special husband, father and grandfather, a person of great faith and love for the outdoor life. At the beginning of his Mass many symbols from his life were brought to the Altar and amongst them was a rosary beads, a symbol of Dickie s love for Our Lady. Family photo signifying his love for family and relatives, a miniature saw and sod of turf a symbol of the love Dickie had for working in the bog and cutting timber, a dog ornament signifying his love for dogs and animals, a map of Ireland, Dickie travelled every county in Ireland to fairs, marts, and funerals. Along this journey Dickie made lifelong friends. A dealing stick as no task was complete without it in hand. A music CD, Dickie enjoyed nothing better than listening to music on his travels, it was his companion, while also keeping up to date with Mid-West radio. And lastly a photo of Dickie s cherished mare Bally Fair Deal who competed so successfully for many years, this brought great pride and joy to him and his family. Dickie was privileged to see her having her first foal in recent weeks. Those symbols were to sum up the treasured memories of his life, a life well lived and a life lived to the full. Dickie was pre-deceased by his parents Richard and Kate and in very recent years by his two beloved sisters Annie and Mary. He is survived by his treasured wife Mary (of 58 yesrs), his son Richie, daughters Maria, Angela and Sharon, his beloved nine grandchildren, daughter-in- law, sons-in-law, nephews and nieces, relatives and many friends. May he now rest in peace in his final resting place in Ballinahaglish Cemetery. COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (JULY 22 EDITION) The team at Gilligans Bar in Claremorris has presented an extraordinary donation of 25,220, raised through a series of heartfelt fundraising events in memory of Martin Gilligan. The proceeds will go directly towards supporting vital palliative care services across Mayo and Roscommon. The fundraising efforts included a lively Table Quiz Night and a well-attended Coffee Morning, both hosted at Gilligans Bar. The centrepiece of the initiative was the Croagh Patrick Emergency Services Climb, held on June 7th, which brought together members of the Irish Air Corps, An Garda Siochana, Mayo Fire Service, Search and Rescue teams, paramedics, nurses, as well as Martins family and friends. The climb was a powerful tribute, with participants united in remembrance and solidarity, honouring Martins memory in an inspiring show of strength and community spirit. Organisers extended sincere thanks to Olive, Lorraine, Paul, and the wider Gilligan family, along with everyone at the bar and all who contributed or took part in any way. The outstanding generosity of the Claremorris community will help ensure continued support for individuals and families in need of palliative care services throughout the region. OSLO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A man was killed with two others injured in a shooting on Sunday in Denmark's capital of Copenhagen, local media reported, citing police. A 32-year-old man was shot dead in the city's northwestern neighborhood of Tingbjerg, while two other men, aged 21 and 22, were injured in the incident but are expected to survive. As of Monday morning, no arrests had been made, the Copenhagen police told the Danish broadcaster DR. According to the police, the shooting occurred around 19:00 local time (1700 GMT) in the area known as Ruten in Tingbjerg. The police received several reports of gunfire and quickly responded to the scene. The two injured arrived at the hospital on their own for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation and are actively searching for the suspect, who was reportedly seen fleeing the scene. It remains unclear how the suspect left the area and whether a vehicle was used. The motive for the shooting is still unknown. Despite the suspect being at large, the police assured the public that there is no indication of ongoing danger to local residents. Palestinians mourn for victims who were killed during an Israeli airstrike at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 59,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, WHO's Gaza-based authorities said on Monday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) GAZA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 59,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Monday. In a press statement, the health authorities said that a total of 59,029 Palestinians have been killed and 142,135 others injured in the ongoing Israeli military operations. The health authorities added that 8,196 fatalities and 30,094 injuries were recorded since March 18, reflecting a surge in hostilities in recent weeks. According to the latest update, 134 bodies were transferred to Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours. Additionally, 1,155 people sustained various injuries due to continued airstrikes and shelling during the period, the authorities said, warning of a potential rise in the figure as many victims were still trapped beneath the rubble. Both local and international humanitarian organizations have voiced growing alarm over what they described as the "rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation," and the failure of aid mechanisms to ensure safe and effective delivery. "There is an urgent need to establish secure humanitarian corridors and guarantee the safety of civilians attempting to access life-saving supplies," said a joint statement from NGOs operating in the Gaza Strip. Medical sources in Gaza also warned that hospitals and health centers across the enclave are operating under extreme pressure and facing severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel, in addition to ongoing power outages, which pose serious risks to thousands of patients, especially those in critical condition and newborns relying on incubators powered by electricity. The United Nations and several regional organizations have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of internationally monitored aid routes, but efforts toward a durable humanitarian solution have yet to yield results. Palestinians mourn for victims who were killed during an Israeli airstrike at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 59,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, WHO's Gaza-based authorities said on Monday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn for victims who were killed during an Israeli airstrike at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 59,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, WHO's Gaza-based authorities said on Monday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians mourn for victims who were killed during an Israeli airstrike at the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 59,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, WHO's Gaza-based authorities said on Monday. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) HANOI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Northern and central localities of Vietnam have taken precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of Typhoon Wipha, which is forecast to make landfall in the country on Monday evening, Vietnam News Agency reported. Authorities in the affected areas have begun evacuating residents from high-risk zones, including river mouths, coastal areas, riverbanks, and locations prone to landslides. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed local administrations to enforce sea travel bans and suspend the operations of fishing, cargo and tourist vessels based on local conditions. He emphasized that no individuals should be allowed to remain on boats when the typhoon comes ashore. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has canceled several domestic flights connecting to the northern port city of Hai Phong on Monday. PARIS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Stephane Maquaire has been appointed as the new president and chief executive officer of Club Med Holding, succeeding Henri Giscard d'Estaing, the company's board of directors announced Monday. According to a press release issued by Club Med, a company specializing in all-inclusive resort services, a key criterion in the succession process was the continued pursuit of the Group's international expansion strategy while preserving its French roots and long-standing core values. Maquaire is expected to build on the current strategy while guiding the company to seize new opportunities in a fast-evolving travel and hospitality landscape, the company stated. For his part, Maquaire said that he was honoured by the opportunity to lead the renowned Club Med into its next chapter of success. In 2015, Chinese conglomerate Fosun completed the acquisition of Club Med, which at the time was facing operational challenges. Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has described the investment as a positive development not only for the Chinese investor, but also for the French tourism sector. Since the acquisition, Club Med has grown rapidly and now operates over 70 resort villages in approximately 40 countries. Describing him as a leader with deep experience in the consumer sector and a remarkable international track record, Xiaoliang Xu, co-CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of Club Med Holding, said Maquaire is ideally positioned to accelerate Club Med's momentum and write the next chapter of its extraordinary story. Club Med has also seen significant growth in China. According to Fosun, China became the company's second-largest source market in 2024, with 310,000 visitors recorded across its 11 resorts in the country. A homeless man pushes a shopping cart full of his belongings across an intersection in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong] The Los Angeles Times has uncritically touted a report claiming a 4 percent decline in homelessness in Los Angeles County in 2025, heralding it as proof that the citys decades-long housing disaster is finally improving. This headline is designed to cover up the brutal reality faced by tens of thousands of unhoused workers and families and shield the criminal negligence of politicians who preside over one of the richest cities in the worlda city that houses 56 billionaires amid a growing sea of tents and human misery. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authoritys (LAHSA) latest annual report, the county saw a 4 percent overall drop in homelessness, marking the second consecutive year of decline. The Times dutifully amplifies this propaganda line, highlighting a supposed 10 percent decrease in people living on the streets. These figures rest on a flimsy foundation: a narrow, point-in-time count conducted over just a few days in February that measures only what is visible on the streets, while ignoring the government policies displacing and erasing the homeless from public view. Behind this decline is a brutal crackdown ordered by the state and city governmentsan operation of sweeps, tent removals, and relocation of unhoused people to overcrowded, inadequate shelters or simply out of sight. California Governor Gavin Newsoms July 25, 2024 executive order targeting so-called dangerous homeless encampments initiated a campaign to clear tens of thousands from their makeshift homes across Los Angeles County. The policy is backed by over $24 billion redirected to this purpose, including converting hotels into temporary shelters under programs like Inside Safe and Pathway Home, which the report praises despite these initiatives having permanently housed a mere 1,449 people countywide. The ostensible reduction in unsheltered homelessness is a displacement campaign designed to conceal the true scale of the problem from public view and craft a false narrative of progress. More than 60,000 people entered homelessness in 2024 alone, a figure that dwarfs the paltry number permanently housed by state and city programs. It is an exercise in damage control designed to pacify growing public anger and justify the grotesque spending priorities of a ruling class that prioritizes billionaires over the working poor. This cynical operation is not limited to Newsom. The entire ruling class apparatusfrom the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Karen Bass to the citys homelessness authority and the corporate mediahas lined up behind this effort to whitewash the crisis. Trumps big beautiful austerity bill will only deepen the crisis nationwide. Slashing social programs and housing funds, it will drive millions more into homelessness and create conditions of social catastrophe. Almost simultaneously, Newsom signed Californias 202526 budget, an assault on workers and immigrant families that will have devastating consequences. Rather than addressing the root causes of homelessnessthe skyrocketing cost of housing, wage stagnation, widespread poverty and inadequate mental health servicesthese officials have doubled down on punitive tactics aimed at removing visible homelessness. Mayor Bass, echoing Newsoms stance, has not objected to City Council cuts to critical programs like Inside Safe, prioritizing enforcement and encampment clearances over long-term housing solutions. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously in March to dismantle LAHSA, the agency responsible for producing the rosy report. Citing audits of mismanagement, the council redirected hundreds of millions of dollars to private contractors, advancing a privatization agenda that is neither new nor benign. The move was about creating lucrative profit opportunities for private companies with little accountability or oversight. This will commodify homelessness itself, outsourcing the management of encampment sweeps, temporary housing and other measures to contractors motivated by profit, not public welfare. Alongside this, Los Angeles Countys interim housing authority, LACAHSA, has pursued creative financial strategies under interim CEO Ryan Johnson, including asset restructuring and real estate deals that further embed homelessness within the speculative housing market. Johnsons abrupt resignation exposed the true aim of these efforts: to transform homelessness into a financialized commodity that benefits investors, not the vulnerable people it claims to help. The credibility of LAHSAs 2025 report is further undermined by serious methodological flaws. The annual point-in-time (PIT) count, the backbone of these statistics, was delayed due to wildfires and experienced lower volunteer turnout. The 2024 baseline upon which 2025s decline is measured, suffered from widespread technical failures and undercounting. Investigations by local outlets like LAist revealed that in the 2025 report more than 2,300 observationsmostly in Los Angeles properwere excluded without clear explanation or reconciliation, calling into question the accuracy of the data. LAist further revealed that in the days leading up to the reports release, LAHSA quietly revised data to remove 437 sheltered individuals from the tallylowering the citys total homeless population to 43,699. The changes increased the citys reported decline in homelessness from 2.5 to 3.4 percent. Moreover, a RAND Corporation study found that while visible encampments might have declined, many unhoused people have moved to more concealed living situations, sleeping without tents or vehicles, making them harder to count and more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. These shifts do not indicate progress, but displacementan intentional consequence of Newsoms aggressive sweeps and the criminalization of homelessness. Federal Judge David O. Carter, known for his oversight of homelessness-related litigation, blasted LAHSAs early release of the data as political gamesmanship, further eroding public trust. Community groups, nonprofits, business owners, and even some elected officials voiced skepticism. Councilmember John Lee criticized the reports data integrity, and nonprofits like LA CAN and the Inner City Law Center decried the manipulation of data to fit political agendas. Nithya Raman, chair of the City Councils Housing and Homelessness Committee and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), exemplified the duplicity of the political establishment. She praised the significant decrease in unsheltered homelessness and expressed support for programs like Inside Safe. Raman cynically invoked gender-based violence, stating, When youre unsheltered, youre the victim of assault, crime, sexual assault. Women are extraordinarily unsafe. This is a textbook example of the politics of the DSA, which routinely deploys #MeToo and identity-based rhetoric to mask the class character of social policy. While women on the streets do face horrific violence, the root cause is not a lack of gender discourse but the capitalist system, which treats housing as a commodity and human lives as disposable. Raman uses such language not to challenge that system, but to provide a progressive cover for its operations. She and other DSA politicians attempt to repackage austerity and displacement in the language of safety, equity, and inclusion. Significantly, at the end of June, Raman was one of four DSA-affiliated City Council members who voted to declare a fiscal emergency in Los Angelesan act that serves as a green light for budget cuts, layoffs, and service reductions. Raman and her DSA allies justified the June fiscal emergency by placing the burden on workers to protect billionaire wealth. This is no aberration: it typifies the DSAs role as a left cover for the Democratic Partys policies of austerity, using the language of feminism, racial justice, and equity to uphold capitalist rule. Los Angeles is among the top 10 cities worldwide with the largest billionaire population, yet tens of thousands of people live without shelter, enduring daily violence, illness, and despair. The glaring contradiction between extreme wealth and destitution reflects a system based on private ownership of all means of production. This crisis can only worsen through PR stunts, privatization or brutal sweeps. What is required is a fundamental transformation of society itself: the socialist reorganization of social resources. This includes affordable housing for all, the end of profit-driven displacement, the expansion of publicly funded mental health and social services, and the guarantee of decent living conditions. The capitalist politicians and billionaires who dominate Los Angeles will never willingly provide this, as their wealth depends on the exploitation of the working class. For the past week the German newspaper and media world has been dominated by controversies on the failure of the German parliament to elect three federal Constitutional Court judges on July 11. Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf on July 15 with Markus Lanz [Photo by ZDF (Screenshot)] The media articles speculate whether the failed election damaged the governing coalition and undermined the authority and functionality of a constitutional body that is also our highest court (President Frank-Walter Steinmeier); whether the promise of strong leadership by the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz is crumbling (Der Spiegel); whether the professionalism of the federal government and governing factions has suffered a downright botched loss (Kursbuch); or whether too much transparency in the election of judges can also lead to a loss of trust (Der Spiegel again). All of these comments, however, completely ignore the crucial lesson from the failed judicial election: It demonstrates the extent to which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is already sitting at the governments cabinet table. It makes clear that Merzs breach of taboo on January 29, when the CDU/CSU and AfD jointly passed an anti-immigration motion in the Bundestag, was neither a slip-up nor a misunderstanding. The far-right and, in part, fascist AfD is being systematically used to drive official politics to the right. The migration policy of Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) bears all the hallmarks of the AfD; the AfD was the first party to call for an increase in military spending to 5 percent of GDP, which has become the official policy of NATO and the German government; and now the AfD is also setting the tone in the selection of judges to the countrys highest court. The planned election of three new constitutional judges was removed from the Bundestags agenda at short notice last Friday because, following a smear campaign by far-right media and the AfD, several dozen CDU/CSU MPs were no longer willing to vote for the SPDs proposed candidate, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, even though the CDU/CSU leadership had already approved the proposal. The campaign was initiated by, among others, Julian Reichelt, former editor-in-chief of the Bild newspaper, who now publishes the far-right media outlet Nius. After the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on June 30 that the governing coalition had agreed on three candidatesFrauke Brosius-Gersdorf and Ann-Katrin Kaufhold, nominated by the SPD, and Gunter Spinner, supported by the CDU/CSUReichelt demanded that Brosius-Gersdorf must be stopped! According to research by Der Spiegel, Reichelt relied on the AfD-friendly platform Apollo News, which accused the constitutional law professor of supporting abortions and mandatory vaccination. In the following 10 days, Nius published more than 20 hate articles about Brosius-Gersdorf. The storm soon reached hurricane force. AfD leader Alice Weidel reposted Reichelt. AfD MP Beatrix von Storch claimed on X that Brosius-Gersdorf was a left-wing radical activist who essentially advocates abortion up to the ninth month. The far-right weekly Junge Freiheit also supported the campaign. Eventually, Bild, Neue Zurcher Zeitung and Welt all joined in. In the CDU, the ultra-right Brandenburg MP Saskia Ludwig declared Brosius-Gersdorf unelectable because she allegedly supports mandatory vaccination. Several CDU members of the Bundestag anonymously signalled their opposition to the candidate in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Tens of thousands of posts against the candidate appeared on X. According to the advisory network polisphere, which analyzed 40,000 posts, the initial focus was primarily on Brosius-Gersdorfs stance on a ban on the AfD, which she supports under certain conditions, and then on her views on abortion. Members of the Bundestag were inundated with emails. The anti-abortion platform 1000plus alone, which provided a corresponding reading tool, sent out 38,000 automated emails against Brosius-Gersdorfs election. The Catholic Church also got involved. Bamberg Archbishop Herwig Gossl described the nomination of a judge who denies the right to life of unborn people as a domestic political scandal and a low point of intolerance and contempt for humanity. He later backtracked, claiming he had been misinformed. The candidate herself received suspicious mail and threats, including those directed at her family and staff, whom she advised to stop working in their professorial offices. The allegations against Brosius-Gersdorf were largely fabricated. She is an established professor of public law with a long academic career and currently teaches at the University of Potsdam. Her views, according to Der Spiegel, are in the legal mainstream. She holds partly liberal positions, especially on issues of family law and equal rights, and partly reactionary onesfor example, when she rejects a basic pension on the grounds that it eliminates the difference for low wages and advocates raising the retirement age above 67. Her stance on abortion would not change current practice. Under current law, abortions are illegal but exempt from punishment during the first three months if the pregnant woman undergoes counselling beforehand. To resolve this contradiction, Brosius-Gersdorf wants to legalize abortions in the first three months. Her controversial statement: Human dignity and the protection of life are legally decoupled refers to this context. If human dignity, which is inviolable according to the German Constitution, were granted to an embryonic cell, abortion would be illegal from the day of fertilization. Brosius-Gersdorf, on the other hand, supports protection of life from the third month onwards. Nevertheless, her opponents accused her of wanting to make late abortions up to the ninth month exempt from punishment and of chopping up babies in the womb. AfD MP Beatrix von Storch accused her in the Bundestag of believing that a human beings dignity doesnt apply until theyre born. Brosius-Gersdorf addressed these slanders in a written statement and with an appearance on the Markus Lanzs TV program. However, this, too, was used to accuse her of violating her duty of neutrality as a future judge. Although the defamatory nature of the allegations and their right-wing extremist origins are now widely known, calls for the law professor to withdraw her candidacy are mounting. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) suggested last Friday she withdraw. Ms. Brosius-Gersdorf is certainly thinking about how to handle this situation, he told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. As a candidate for a position on the Constitutional Court, one hardly has the intention of further promoting polarization in society. Elevating such a person to office would be the wrong response. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is keeping all options open. At a federal press conference, he described the criticism of Brosius-Gersdorf as unacceptable, irrelevant, and in some cases insulting and derogatory. However, he declined to commit to voting for her after the summer recess and also raised the possibility of another candidate. The SPD is still committed to Brosius-Gersdorf. But anyone familiar with the party knows that this could change in the coming weeks in the interest of coalition consensus. So far, the established parties have always endeavored to elect the 16 judges of the Federal Constitutional Court by consensus so as not to jeopardize its authority and supposed neutrality. The court wields enormous power. It can declare majority decisions of the Bundestag unconstitutional and thus create its own law; it is the sole authority able to ban political parties; it regulates disputes between the federal and state governments; and is the highest court in all legal matters. The judges are elected by a two-thirds majority, half by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat, and remain in office for a maximum of twelve years or until they reach the age of 68. The election is prepared by a twelve-member electoral committee, which includes representatives from all parliamentary groups and meets in private. If the nomination is submitted to the Bundestag, the necessary majorities are generally guaranteed. In addition to experienced judges and legal scholars, prominent politicians, such as former Saarland Minister-President Peter Muller (CDU), have also been elected as constitutional judges. However, the Federal Constitutional Court has not yet experienced political polarization, as in the US, where the Supreme Court is now dominated by a Trump-friendly, fascist majority. The controversy surrounding Brosius-Gersdorf shows that this period is over. The massive rearmament and war policy that lies at the heart of the Merz governments policies, and the associated attacks on social benefits, pensions, wages, and jobs, require rearmament and a shift to the right of the entire state apparatusthe judiciary, the police, the intelligence services, and the government. The AfD is being used to effect this shift to the right. Currently, it remains outside the government because its entry would trigger massive protests. But that could change if the coalition crisis deepens. On January 29, Merz signaled his willingness to cooperate with the AfD when the CDU/CSU voted jointly with the AfD for the anti-immigration motion. The SPD, which fully supports the governments domestic and foreign rearmament program, offers no opposition. It fears any movement from below far more than the AfD. It is responding to its own decline and the rise of the far-right by calling for an AfD ban, which would only strengthen the most repressive forces in the state apparatus and serve as a pretext for the suppression of any left-wing opposition to capitalist rule. The only way to stop the rise of the AfD and the rightward shift in the state apparatus is to build an international socialist movement among the working class and youth that combines the struggle against war, militarism, social cuts, and dictatorship with the struggle against capitalism and for a socialist society. Tell the WSWS what conditions are like in your factory! Fill out the form below; all submissions will be kept anonymous. A frontend loader piles up the steer manure as the pen is cleaned out at the JBS feed lot west of Greeley in Kersey, Colorado. [AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski] Salima Jandali, a former worker at the JBS beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging a prolonged history of safety failures at the plant. She says that she was viciously retaliated against and eventually ultimately forced out of the company for bringing the violations to the attention of management. The suit was filed in the midst of repeated occurrences of gruesome workplace injuries across the US and internationally. Last week, an unnamed worker was killed in an industrial meatgrinder at the Tinas Burrito plant in southern California. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File committees is calling for full investigations into all these incidents and for workers to take full control of safety procedures to prevent such incidents from happening again. Jandali, a 31-year-old native of Morocco, was responsible for training new employees on safety procedures at the plant. I just want to show the world how corrupt they are, and hopefully this is going to raise awareness so people know the truth about whats going on in there, she said in announcing the lawsuit. Jandalis suit alleges the companys total indifference to safety training. They [JBS] didnt want to complete the classes for new employees, and the retaliation began when I started speaking out, Jandali said. The complaint she filed with the federal government states the company continually prioritized production over worker safety. She said she was repeatedly harassed by management over her insistence on following mandatory safety protocols, and that her locker and personal property were vandalized on several occasions. She also claims that her work boots and hard hat were hidden by management, preventing her from accompanying new hires to the processing floor. This happened at least 25 times according to Jandalis complaint. JBS then falsely claimed that Jandali never filed paperwork to take time off to see her father while he was undergoing surgery, using this to fire her. After her employment was reinstated following a union grievance, Jandali returned to find many of her files deleted along with years of emails. The complaint further said that JBS supervisors routinely put production employees to work on the floor when they had not completed all required safety training. It continued, Many production employees were non-English speakers who needed interpreters to understand and and complete the trainings, and which were never provided to them. Due in part to language issues, many of the workers were not even aware that safety training was taking place. Jandali was instructed by management to falsify training records for employees who had not attended their assigned sessions. Ms. Jandali objected and explained that production employees were suffering serious injuries, including losing limbs, and safety protocols needed to be followed, however, her concerns were completely ignored. Employees were even prevented from taking bathroom breaks to keep pace with the increased demand, she says. One worker even urinated in her pants on the production line, according to a September 2024 report filed with the Equal Opportunity Commission. The allegations in Greeley shed light on one of the most exploitative industries in America, with some of the highest injury rates. But they also follow a long pattern of malign neglect of basic safety procedures at JBS in particular. In 2020, the plant pressured workers to take their shifts even while sick during the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, six workers died at the JBS facility, with more than 200 workers testing positive for the virus at one point. This was also the direct result of president Trump issuing an executive order during the final year of his first term to keep meat processing plants open during the height of the pandemic. However, the bureaucrats of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union refused to take any action to protect lives at this or other meatpacking facilities across the US. At a Tyson pork plant in Iowa, they even worked out an attendance bonus with management, which was taking bets on how many workers would fall ill. The Greeley plant was shut down twice in 2020, once for only two weeks due to an order by local authorities, and the second time over the summer due to a wildcat strike, where workers took matters into their own hands. In 2021, a worker at the facility lost an arm after it got stuck in a conveyor belt. Also in 2021, a worker died after falling into a vat of chemicals used in processing animal hides. The worker, Bryan Duerst aged 55, had been installing a paddle wheel over the vat when his head was struck, causing him to fall into the vat. The subsequent OSHA investigation resulted in a mere $58,709 in fines for the multi-billion dollar company. JBS Foods, which is headquartered in Greeley and operates its plant there under the name Swift Beef Company, also paid a $5.5 million settlement in 2021 for discriminating against Muslim, Somali and black employees. Later, in 2023, Packers Sanitation Services, a vendor for the JBS plant, was fined $1.5 million for employing minors, including four minors at the Greeley plant despite the hazardous conditions present. Moreover, last September an HR manager at the Greeley plant, Edmond Ebah, was accused of trafficking Haitian immigrants to work there, receiving kickbacks totaling $17,000. The workers had been sent to a motel with up to 8 workers sharing the same room and then later to small home where as many as 40 people resided at a time. And recently, JBS Foods was also recently fined more than $280 million by the Department of Justice for participation in a bribery scheme related to the acquisition of Pilgrims Pride, one of the largest meat producers in the US and also the company making the largest single donation of $5 million to Trumps second term inaugural committee. The speed of work is so high that many workers report that they are unable to open their hands after clutching meat hooks for hours at a time with no breaks. Having to continuously operate meat hooks and knives at high speed for hours at a time, accidental stabbings and slashings at the plant are also extremely common. Workers losing fingers is also common. Dahir Omar, a representative from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, said the Greeley plant regularly operates at speeds up to 430 heads of cattle per hour, well over the recommended rate. Never in my life have I seen line speeds like this, Omar said. However, the UFCW has not mobilized a single job action in defense of either worker safety or in defense of the immigrant workforce against Trumps ICE crackdown. The horrific issues reported at the Greeley plant are endemic of conditions present in not only meat packing, but in industries throughout the US and internationally which are being transformed into industrial slaughter houses. It follows near constant reports of gruesome worker injuries and deaths under conditions where even the most minimal safety procedures and protocols are being completely abandoned. This must be opposed through the self-organization of the working class. As the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees declared in a recent statement: The IWA-RFC calls for the formation of rank-and-file committees in every factory, warehouse, plant and industrial facility, in the US and internationally. These committees must be democratically controlled by workers themselves, independent of the corporatist trade unions, and committed to defending the lives and interests of the working class. ...This must be done in practice through mobilizing the power of the working class, independent of both parties and management lackeys in the unions, in a fight for workers control. The major industries must be put under public ownership, run by workers themselves to meet human needsnot to enrich billionaires. This means replacing the dictatorship of the corporations with democratic workers control. It means abolishing the system that sends teenagers into meat grinders and then covers up the evidence. A billboard featuring a photo of President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein is shown Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps] More evidence is coming to light of the desperate efforts by the Trump White House to suppress any investigation into the connections between Trump and convicted sex-trafficker and billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Associated Press reported Saturday that Vice President JD Vance traveled to Montana last Tuesday for a meeting with media billionaire Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan, who heads both Fox News and News Corp, and executives of Fox News, the right-wing cable network that has been a political mainstay for Trumps fascist MAGA political movement. Vance reportedly arrived in Butte, Montana, near the Murdoch family estate in Dillon, around 2:30 p.m. local time, or 4:30 Eastern time. He left a few hours later, according to flight records for the movements of Air Force Two, his official plane. This means that Vance was meeting the Murdochs and their top aides just as the Wall Street Journal, the flagship of News Corp., was preparing a major expose on Trumps links to Epstein. That same evening, Journal reporters spoke with Trump directly about their story, which revealed that Trump contributed a salacious letter and drawing to a 50th birthday book for Epstein that was compiled by his then-partner and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is now serving a 20-year prison term for her role in facilitating Epsteins trafficking of under-age girls to powerful and wealthy men. There is little doubt that Vance was dispatched by Trump to make a final plea to the Murdochs to block the publication of the damning report. When this failed, Trump threatened the Journal reporters over the phone that he would sue the newspaper and seek to put it out of business. After the report was posted on the Journals website Thursday evening, Trumps lawyers then filed a suit Friday seeking $10 billion in damages. The Associated Press report follows the revelation Friday by Democratic Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin that hundreds of FBI employees were assigned to review the bureaus massive files on the Epstein investigation, searching for any mention of Trump. In letters to Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, Durbin wrote: According to information my office received, the FBI was pressured to put approximately 1,000 personnel in its Information Management Division (IMD) on 24-hour shifts to review approximately 100,000 Epstein-related records in order to produce more documents that could then be released on an arbitrarily short deadline This effort, which reportedly took place from March 14 through the end of March, was haphazardly supplemented by hundreds of FBI New York Field Office personnel, many of whom lacked the expertise to identify statutorily-protected information regarding child victims and child witnesses or properly handle FOIA requests My office was told that these personnel were instructed to flag any records in which President Trump was mentioned. Note the timing of this review: It followed only weeks after Bondis declaration on Fox News that Epsteins client list was on her desk for review. Last week, after the Justice Department issued a statement declaring that there was no client list, Bondi tried to walk back her earlier statement, saying that she was referring to the Epstein file as a whole, not a list of customers for Epsteins sex-trafficking operation, which abused at least 1,000 girls. The Justice Department statement also claimed that Epsteins death in prison in August 2019 was undoubtedly a suicide, and that the department had no further information to make public on the case, even though not a single perpetrator of sexual abuse of minors has been prosecuted, other than Maxwell, whose main role was as a procurer and supplier. The attempt to put an end to the Epstein case has had an explosive effect, at least initially, in Trumps fascist milieu. Trump issued a series of diatribes on social media, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, denouncing his own supporters for demanding greater transparency on the Epstein case. His most absurd claim was that the Epstein files had been created by Obama, Clinton, Biden and other Democrats, although he and his fascist acolytes have been peddling the opposite storythat Clinton and the Democrats were the principal clientele being serviced by Epsteinfor a number of years. In the end, the most damaging and persuasive material may be uncovered through the investigation into Epsteins financial affairs, which were extensive and connected him to many of the most powerful US financial institutions and an array of billionaires. Epstein made his own fortune managing the personal wealth of Leslie Wexner, founder-owner of The Limited, the giant holding company for clothing stores and lines like Victorias Secret. According to Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee: Treasurys Epstein file details 4,725 wire transfers adding up to nearly $1.1 billion flowing in and out of just ONE of Epsteins bank accounts. If you ask me, thats 4,725 potential lines of investigation right there. Hundreds of millions more flowed through other accountsthats even more to investigate. The file shows Epstein used multiple Russian banks, which are now under sanctions, to process payments related to sex trafficking. Again, these are all potential leads the Department of Justice ought to be digging into. This is about years and years of international sex trafficking. None of this is a hoax. None of it is a scam. Its insulting to the intelligence of the American people when Trump and Bondi say theres nothing here to investigate. According to an initial account by the New York Times, Senate investigators found that after Epsteins second arrest on sex-trafficking charges, in July 2019, filings by four big banks flagged more than $1.5 billion in transactionsincluding thousands of wire transfers for the purchase and sale of artwork for rich friends, fees paid to Mr. Epstein by wealthy individuals, and payments to numerous women A few transactions red-flagged were for as much as $100 million. The Times identified the banks as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, and Deutsche Bank. It is significant that the Biden administration did nothing to pursue the Epstein issue during its four years in office. This demonstrates the bipartisan desire to cover up the extent of the sex-trafficking operation and protect the hundreds of members of the financial oligarchy who were implicated as Epsteins clients, and the abusers of the young girls he made available to them. TEHRAN, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Iranian and Russian naval forces launched a joint maritime drill in the Caspian Sea on Monday, Tasnim news agency reported. The three-day exercise, CASAREX2025, is hosted by Iran's Northern Fleet, and includes vessels from both navies. Representatives from several Caspian littoral states attended as observers. Mohsen Razzaqi, spokesman of the exercise, said the drill features onshore and offshore phases, its objectives including promoting cooperation and coordination among littoral states, and ensuring the safety of commercial vessels. He added that the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which operates independently of the regular navy, and the Iranian police were also taking part in the drill. On social media July 17, the British band Massive Attack announced the formation of an alliance of musicians opposed to the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the systematic efforts by pro-Zionist organizations to suppress criticism of the massive crime. Massive Attack [Photo by Platonova Alina / CC BY 3.0 Other artists who indicated support for Ethical Syndicate Palestine include veteran musician Brian Eno, Kneecap, Fontaines D.C. and Garbage. The Irish band Kneecap, who have been outspoken about Israels homicidal campaign and come under attack as a result, added in their post: End threats and censorship against artists who speak out against the genocide in Palestine. Speak out. Stand up. We are the majority. Eno, Garbage and Fontaines D.C. shared the message about an anti-genocide alliance on Instagram. Massive Attack, originally formed in 1988 in Bristol, consists at present of Robert Del Naja and Grantley Evan Marshall, both founding members of the group. In their statement, the band declared The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description. We write as artists whove chosen to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there & the role of the UK government in facilitating it. They go on to explain that as a result of their expressions of conscience, Massive Attack has been subject to various acts of intimidation, via organized bodies such as UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI) designed solely to censor & silence artists from speaking their hearts and minds. Hip hop trio Kneecap perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. [AP Photo/Scott A Garfitt] The UKLFI is a far-right Zionist organization, which, as the WSWS has explained, has been in the forefront in the use of lawfare in Britain to suppress opposition to the Gaza genocide and slander opposition to the mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians as antisemitism. The UKLFI and CAA [Campaign Against Antisemitism] have brought a raft of lawsuits to stifle free speech, chill public debate and intimidate Palestinian solidarity activists. Those targeted include, among others, academics, doctors, students and charity organisations. The Massive Attack statement on Instagram continues: Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we wont stand by and allow other artistsparticularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerabilityto be threatened into silence or career cancellation. In this spirit, we encourage artists whove been placed in this position, or those who now wish to use their platforms to talk about Palestine, but are concerned about industrial or legal repercussions, to contact us. The Scottish daily newspaper The National, reporting on the support of Garbage for the Ethical Syndicate Palestine, notes that the band have joined a growing coalition of artists standing against what they describe as organised intimidation by pro-Israel groups within the music industry. The National goes on to point out The crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in UK music has escalated in recent months. Bob Vylan were dropped by their agents and investigated by police after chanting death to the IDF at Glastonbury. Meanwhile, Kneecap member Liam O hAnnaidh, AKA Mo Chara, is facing prosecution under the Terrorism Act after allegedly holding a Hezbollah flag on stage. Despite mounting pressures, more musiciansmany previously seen as apoliticalare breaking their silence. In May, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds raised a Palestinian flag during a concert in Milan, joining a chorus of international dissent. Bob Vylan at the the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. [Photo-BBC] As the Middle East Eye observed: The incident caused outrage amongst the British media and political establishment and was the subject of an investigation by Avon and Somerset police. Manchester's Radar Festival cancelled a performance by the pair but organisers said that the decision was out of their hands. The band also had shows cancelled in Europe and their visas for a US tour cancelled in response to the furore. The UKLFI had its hand in a number of these acts of intimidation. According to the Guardian, the Zionist outfit reported the band Bob Vylan to the police for leading the chant in Glastonbury. It also reported the BBC for broadcasting the set. Bob Vylan have subsequently had several scheduled appearances cancelled after the UKLFI sent letters. Mo Chara of Kneecap was charged with a terrorism offence, accused of displaying a flag at a gig in support of the banned organisation Hezbollah after being reported to the police by UKLFI. Kneecap also had gigs cancelled after interventions by UKLFI. A documentary exposing the activities of the UKLFI has just been released by the political campaign group Led By Donkeys. The group asserts that UK Lawyers for Israel Ltd has tried to silence various voices supporting Palestine. Their charitable wing has made public statements rejecting international law. The WSWS has pointed out that the UKLFI has targeted professional regulators bombarding them with vexatious complaints aimed at harassing and silencing Palestinian rights advocates and using the same tactics as those set out by the Israeli government for combating the BDS movement. It refuses to accept international law that deems Israels occupation of West Bank illegal and refers to it as Judea and Samaria. In the Led By Donkeys video, Jewish activist Em Hilton argues that The weaponisation of antisemitism is not only an egregious attack on Palestine advocacy, civil liberties and human rightsit also hurts the fight against antisemitism. It makes it harder for us to identify true antisemitism when it happens and creates scepticism about whether anti-Jewish racism even still exists, or is just a political tool. The action taken by Massive Attack is welcome. There are many political questions to be discussed and worked through, but the organization of an alliance of artists to oppose Zionist lies and attacks and the horrifying genocide in Gaza is a step forward. Musicians and artists all over the world, as well as wide layers of the population, have a stake in this development. The bodies of Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel are brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday, July 20, 2025. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi] Israel is escalating its genocide in Gaza, unleashing a daily onslaught of killing against a defenseless population. One horrific atrocity follows another, as the Netanyahu government, with the full backing of the imperialist powers, accelerates its efforts to starve, terrorize and annihilate the Palestinian people. On Sunday, at least 115 Palestinians were killed, including 92 in two separate massacres targeting crowds seeking humanitarian aid. The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that in one of these massacres, 67 people were killed in Northern Gaza. It reported, The occupation army ordered the civilians to approach aid trucks with their hands raiseda clear sign of surrenderand then opened fire on them without provocation. Amidst talks of a supposed ceasefire, the massacres are unrelenting. They included, over the past 10 days: On July 10, an Israeli strike on a civilian area outside Project HOPEs health clinic in Deir al Balah killed 15 people, including nine children and four women, and injured 30 others. On July 11, an Israeli airstrike killed three people and injured several more at Gazas only Catholic church. On July 11, 10 Palestinians were killed and 60 injured near a food distribution site in northwestern Rafah; the next day, 31 of 132 wounded received at the Red Cross Field Hospital died from their injuries. Between July 10 and 13, at least four journalists were killed in separate Israeli attacks, including one targeted while checking on his home and another along with his pregnant wife and three children in an internally displaced persons tent. On July 14, an Israeli strike on a residential building sheltering displaced people in Tal al Hawa killed 12 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 30 more. On July 16, 21 people were killed, including 15 from suffocation and stampede, at a militarized aid distribution site in southern Khan Younis. Israel and the US have created an entity known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has constructed aid corridors that are in reality killing fieldsdeliberately constructed zones of entrapment, monitored and targeted by Israeli drones and snipers. Nearly 1,000 aid seekers have been killed and more than 6,000 wounded at the sites since the end of May. The massacre of aid seekers is directly connected to a deliberate campaign of starvation. Gazas Health Ministry reported that 18 people died of starvation within a 24-hour period, reflecting a sharp intensification of hunger under Israels near-total blockade of food, water and electricity. Over the weekend, Israel also announced a new ground offensive in central Gaza and issued fresh evacuation orders. The Israeli government is carrying out a plan to force the population of Gaza into a vast concentration camp over the ruins of Rafah, in preparation for their eventual expulsion to other countries. The Israeli state is a criminal enterpriseand this is increasingly how it is seen by workers and youth around the world. The genocide is the culmination of Zionisms reactionary logic. Founded on the premise of creating a religious-exclusive state through the displacement of the Palestinian population, Zionism has reached its terminal stage: a final solution to the Palestinian problem. The Gaza genocide has triggered an enormous outpouring of global opposition. Millions have taken part in mass protests over 21 months up until now. However, these demonstrationswhile expressing deeply felt and legitimate moral outragehave lacked a clear political perspective. Certain critical conclusions must now be drawn. First, the fight against the genocide is inseparable from the fight against imperialism. The genocide in Gaza cannot be understood in isolation. It is a component part of an expanding global imperialist war and the endless crossing of red lines. In the Middle East, the US and Israel bombed Iran in June, while Israel carried out new missile strikes on Syria just last week. Also last week, the Trump administration announced it would resume massive arms shipments to Ukraine, deepening the now three-year-old US-NATO war against Russia. In the Pacific, nearly 40,000 troops from the US, Australia, and 17 other countries have launched the largest-ever joint military exercises across the Australian continent, in a dress rehearsal for war against China. The same imperialist powers that launched wars against Iraq, Yugoslavia, and other countries on the basis of false and lying claims of ethnic cleansing or weapons of mass destruction are now fully backing Israel as it openly carries out genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. The imperialists legitimize every war crime because it sets a precedent for even greater crimes in the future, including the use of nuclear weapons. And they support the genocide because it is central to their strategy for reshaping the Middle East as a critical theater in their broader plans for global war. As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz bluntly admitted last month, in relation to the bombing of Iran, Israel is carrying out their dirty work. Second, the fight against imperialism must be based on the working class, the great revolutionary force in society. The global war being waged by the imperialist powers is inseparably connected to a war on the working class in every country. These same governments are carrying out a ferocious assault on the social rights and living standards of workers at homeslashing wages, gutting public services, dismantling social programs and imposing wave after wave of layoffs and austerity. This social counterrevolution has now entered a new stage. In the United States, the Trump administration is moving systematically to dismantle public education and to destroy what remains of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Every major capitalist power is following a similar course, responding to the deepening crisis of the system by seeking to impose the full burden of militarism and economic breakdown onto the backs of the working class. The only way to end the genocide and the broader war of which it is a part is through the massive expansion of the class struggle in every country. It is a fundamental premise of Marxism that the fight against war must be a war against ones own ruling class. Amidst unprecedented levels of social inequality, millions of workers are seeking to enter into struggle and break free from the control of the corporatist, nationalist and pro-war trade union bureaucracies. Third, the fight against war must be developed as an international movement against capitalism and for socialism. The genocide in Gaza is the product of a global system that subordinates all human needs to the profit interests of the financial oligarchy. A new strategy is neededone that bases the fight against the Gaza genocide on the industrial and political mobilization of the international working class. Workers all over the world are being drawn into struggle against the same ruling class that is sponsoring mass murder in Gaza. The World Socialist Web Site, the International Committee of the Fourth International and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties call for the building of a new anti-war movement based on international socialism. It must be anti-capitalist and socialist, fighting to abolish the dictatorship of finance capital and put an end to the profit system that is the root cause of war. It must be completely independent of all capitalist parties and their political agents. And it must be international, uniting workers in every country in a common struggle to put an end to the imperialist system. We urge all workers and young people who agree with this program to take up this fight. Take up the fight for rank-and-file control! Join the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee by filling out the form below. A municipal sanitation worker collects trash in Philadelphia, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. The omicron variant is sickening so many sanitation workers around the U.S. that waste collection in Philadelphia and other cities has been delayed or suspended. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) After ending the powerful eight-day strike earlier this month with a widely hated backroom deal that fell far short of workers demands, AFSCME District Council 33 has now angered members further by failing to pay out promised strike stipends. Meanwhile, tension is spreading beyond the blue-collar ranks, as white-collar city workers represented by AFSCME District Council 47 prepare to begin their own vote this week on a nearly identical agreement. DC 47s TA was announced last week to pre-empt a then-ongoing strike ratification vote for the 3,000 white-collar workers. Rather than risk blue-collar and white-collar city workers pressing for strike action together, the two AFSCME councils have done everything in their power to restrain and break workers determination to unify and expand their struggle against the Democratic city governments poverty demands. An internal email sent to DC 47 members last week confirmed that 76 percent of the unions members had voted to go on strike. On Friday, DC 33 union officials released a memo acknowledging that many never received strike pay, stating, We understand the frustration around strike stipend disbursements, and we want you to know were working hard to get things right. DC 33 leaders tried to blame their failure to pay workers their already low $200 strike payments by explaining that funds are issued based on sign-in sheets provided by your strike captains. Unfortunately, several sheets were damaged by rain during the early days of the strike, and others have not yet been turned in. Earlier this month, union leaders abruptly shut down the strike just as momentum was building, agreeing to a tentative contract that offers only a modest 9 percent raise over three yearsonly 1 percent improved from the citys original offerwhile conceding to residency requirements and allowing millions in health fund cuts. I went down there [to the union headquarters] 2 days straight and still no check, stated one worker on the unions Facebook page. Another worker wrote, You have a strike fund. Everyone should have gotten $600. And if not that, at least give EVERYONE 200. Yall splitting hairs and people are struggling. And another worker wrote, 100% guarantee that the union leadership, who make six figure salaries, were paid in full during the strike. In response to the unions attempt to justify splitting hairs, other workers jumped into the conversation: if you dont know how to properly manage funds to support your members, maybe you should stop taking our money for dues! Why do you think people went on strike? Because theyre struggling! If the union couldnt come through with $200 by payday, they should have told members that from the start so they could plan accordingly. The union didnt communicate until people went down to the union hall to pick up checks that dont exist. Were beyond the time for patience imo. And *everyone* who didnt go to work and gave up a paycheck participated in the strike, even if our union doesnt think that solidarity is worth $200. Another worker said, After sweltering heat, rain, two people almost dying, one person arrested, one attacked and me personally getting thrown middle fingers and swears, WE have been through enough to have earned at a minimum the $200. Other workers told the World Socialist Web Site, [DC 33] didnt communicate anything to us on the picket line. It seemed to me like the only communication going on was between the President [Greg Boulware] and the mayor [Democrat Cherelle Parker]. The worker added, I remember thinking, Thats an unusual relationship! The Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee, formed among city workers during the strike, denounced DC 33s miserably low $200 strike stipends in its founding statement, calling for the strike to be expanded and pay lifted to $750 per week, leveraging the AFSCME unions millions in assets to support their struggle. The committee has said the more power we showed, the more AFSCME gave away. Thats because the apparatus was never on our side. The union officials deliberately sabotaged us because they are joined at the hip with the same Democratic administration were fighting against. The failure to distribute strike stipends comes as DC 33 members wrap up a seven-day voting period on the tentative agreement pushed by the union leadership, sparking renewed opposition over the concessions made in the deal. It occurs as Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) workers are facing a doomsday budget that threatens to cut their workforce by thousands. In August, the contract for 14,000 Philadelphia public school teachers will also expire. They have already voted in June for a strike if no contract is offered. How can SEPTA say they are going to cut service in half without also cutting half the workers? said a SEPTA station cleaner and member of Transport Workers Union Local 234 to the WSWS. We are on a one-year extension of our contract that ends in November, said another. That only means that we will face the same problem of striking in November as the DC 33 and 47 strikers. The TWU ignored the SEPTA workers strike vote last year as they were seeking to strike along with DC 33, which also had its contract extended in 2024. All strikes work better if there is solidarity, said the Philadelphia transit worker. Instead we have the unions on one day each saying they are doing this, but not together, and on another day saying now we are doing that. We need to be acting together. I agree with the idea of a general strike, the worker said, expressing support for the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committees demand to build a movement of city workers and educators to strike as one. Masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents escort a detained immigrant into an elevator after he exited an immigration courtroom, June 17, 2025, in New York. [AP Photo/Olga Fedorova] Last week, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be given access to the personal records of 79 million people enrolled in Medicaid in order to facilitate the ongoing mass deportation operation. This is a major attack on the democratic and privacy rights of the entire working class. According to the AP, the agreement between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), overseen by Secretary Kristi Noem, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), led by television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, will provide ICE agents with the ability to locate aliens across the country by cross-referencing personal health, medical and location data. The database to which ICE is seeking access has names, birth dates, ethnic and racial information, as well as Social Security numbers for all people enrolled in Medicaid. The AP reported that ICE will use the CMS data to allow ICE to receive identity and location information on aliens identified by ICE. Private information, including Social Security numbers, will be in the hands not only of fascistic ICE officials, but there is a real possibility it will end up in the hands of private companies that have facilitated the rise of Trump and growth of fascism in the US such as Palantir. Palantir is currently led by pro-genocide Zionist CEO Alex Karp, while major Trump and Republican Party donor Peter Thiel is on the board of Palantir and serves at its chairman. Thiel called for Trumps election at the 2016 Republican National Convention and has donated millions to Trump and other far-right candidates, including Vice President JD Vance. Thiels support for Trump has been paid back in kind with generous government contracts. In 2014, Palantir became the primary data analytics provider for ICE through the creation of the Investigative Case Management System (ICM). After an initial $41 million contract, ICE renewed its agreement with Palantir to expand and develop ICM for another five years for $90 million. The ICM system collates data from several federal, state and private databases to build dossiers used to plan raids and kidnappings. Prior to last weeks announcement, ICM databases already had access to enormous amounts of private data, including Department of Motor Vehicle drivers license databases, the FBIs National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and IRS tax data. Importantly, the latest agreement follows an April 2025 contract in which ICE awarded Palantir another $30 million to develop the Immigration Lifecyle Operating System or ImmigrationOS. The contract says the system will provide near real-time visibility on people self-deporting from the US. The system would allegedly allow ICE agents to prioritize and locate visa overstays for removal. The integration of Medicaid records into the immigration police state apparatus will also serve as a deterrent for those who might otherwise apply for Medicaid benefits they rightly deserve and are entitled to. In an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation Sunday morning, acting ICE director Todd Lyons claimed that nearly 150,000 people have been deported by ICE this year. In response to mass anger among broad layers of the population towards the ongoing kidnapping operations, Lyons complained that a sharp increase in rhetoric from election officials was responsible for growing anger at the immigration Gestapos activities. Lyons promised ICE would continue the practice of collateral arrests, meaning immigration police will target friends and family members during raids. He also defended ICE agents wearing masks while kidnapping workers and community members. Im not a proponent of the masks, he said. However, if thats a tool for the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their families safe, then I will allow it. Pennsylvania grandfather deported after losing green card Among the roughly 150,000 human beings who have been deported this year is Luis Leon, an 82-year-old grandfather from Allentown, Pennsylvania, born in Chile. In 1987, Leon was granted political asylum in the United States after having been tortured by the US-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet. Despite being legally allowed to remain in the US, as he has for nearly 40 years, Leon was secretly deported to Guatemala last month after he attempted to obtain a new green card in Philadelphia after losing his wallet. Leon is not a citizen of Guatemala. Yet, according to his family members, he was deported to the country some time after June 20. A relative of Leons from Chile confirmed to family members this past Friday that Leon was sent to a detention center in Minnesota before being deported to Guatemala. In a thoroughly criminal operation, first reported by the Morning Call, Leon, a beloved family and community member, was handcuffed by ICE agents at the Philadelphia office when he and his wife went there to get a replacement green card. Family members told the Morning Call that upon arrival at the station, ICE officers handcuffed Leon and took him away without explanation. Leons wife said she was also held by agents for 10 hours until Leons granddaughter was able to come and secure her release. Family members said that after Leon was taken they were given no update on his whereabouts. For many days after receiving a bizarre phone call from an unknown woman, Leons family thought he was dead. On July 9, the unknown caller told Leons wife that he had died. The same woman had previously called the family after Leon was detained purporting to be an immigration lawyer. Anxiety over Leons whereabouts and health were compounded by the fact that his name never appeared in the ICE Locator database. Natly, one of Leons grandchildren, is flying to the hospital in Guatemala where Leon is currently located. While he is known as the neighborhood handyman, he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and has a heart condition. Family members stressed that Leon is in the country legally and has never committed a crime. The Morning Call noted that a search of court records confirmed this assertion. US citizen and veteran speaks out after being held without charges for three days by immigration police Following a militarized July 10 immigration raid on a marijuana farm in California that left one worker, Jaime Alanis Garcia, dead, George Retes Jr., a 25-year-old US Army veteran and father of two who was detained illegally for three days, is speaking out. In an interview with CNN Sunday, Retes detailed his horrific experience after he was kidnapped and held without charges by immigration agents. Retes recalled to CNN that he told agents, I was a US citizen. That I worked there, that I was trying to go to work. I mentioned that I was a veteran, I told them all these things, that I wasnt a part of the protest. Im not there to fight them, I was just trying to get to work. Retes continued, They didnt care. They all just started yelling at me and started getting hostile. Even though Retes was trying to leave the scene, masked and militarized agents surrounded his vehicle, smashed the window and dragged him out. He was doused with pepper spray despite posing no threat and not having been a target. Retes said that after he was kidnapped by ICE, he was told nothing and was not allowed access to an attorney. They didnt let me call anyone. They didnt let me talk to a lawyer, they didnt even let me shower when I was covered in tear gas, he said, adding, My body was burning. Retes was put on suicide watch because he was upset that agents would not release him to allow him to attend his daughters third birthday. Its hard, if Im being honest, he said. I will never get that chance, to know that I wasnt there, wasnt able to get her a gift. So its a terrible feeling. Retes said that even though he was a veteran, That shouldnt matter. it shouldnt matter if I am a citizen or not. Or the color of my skin. No one should be treated that way at all. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concluded a six-day visit to China last Friday. The trip featured a meeting with President Xi Jinping and a behind closed doors banquet with the Chinese leader, as well as other high-level engagements including conferences with Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji of the National Peoples Congress. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, July 15, 2025 [Photo: X/@AlboMP] The visit has been hailed as a success by Albaneses supporters, and even as a diplomatic masterstroke. In reality, the trip had a rather desperate character, aimed at shoring up economic and trade ties with China, upon which Australia is heavily dependent, amid the global headwinds of geopolitical upheavals and US President Trumps trade war. Albanese told the press that there was no relationship between Australias heavy reliance on trade with China, and its military-strategic alliance with the US. The two could be separated, he claimed, while repeatedly referencing the importance of balance. The circumstances of the trip underscored the completely unviable character of that perspective and the objective crisis of Australian capitalism. Amid a further escalation of the US-led plans for war with China, the clear message from the Trump administration is that the time for such balancing acts is over. On the eve of Albaneses departure, the Trump administration leaked to the press demands that Australia, along with Japan, commit its military assets, in advance, to a US war with China over Taiwan. That attempt to blow-up Albaneses visit followed earlier US demands that Australia immediately lift its military spending from around 2 to 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Albaneses visit also coincided with the beginning of Talisman Sabre military exercises in Australia. This years iteration of the biennial US-Australian war games is the largest yet, involving 19 countries, including all the major imperialist powers, and advanced weaponry, such as long-range missiles. It has the character of a dress rehearsal for an aggressive US-led war against China, a fact that was openly acknowledged by the Wall Street Journal. Notwithstanding its unusual length, the trip was conspicuous for the limited character of the discussions and the lack of any concrete agreements. Albanese reportedly expressed concern to Xi over Chinas live-fire naval exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand in February. The military drills, which occurred in international waters and were thus legal, were the subject of a hysterical beat-up from US-aligned commentators in the Australian press. Albanese also raised the plight of Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-Australian author imprisoned in China on espionage charges. Yangs murky case has also been used by the national-security establishment to accuse China of human rights and legal abuses. But there were many topics that Albanese avoided. He claimed that the US demands for a commitment that Australia would participate in war with China had not come up in his discussion with Xi, and he dodged the issue when it was repeatedly raised by reporters. Taiwan also reportedly was not canvassed, under conditions where the US overturning of the status quo and its tacit promotion of Taiwanese separatism is the central flashpoint for a potential war. Xi and the Chinese leadership also seem to have held back on their concerns over Australias aggressive participation in the anti-China build-up. They reportedly did not raise with Albanese his governments cancellation of a lease for the Port of Darwin held by a Chinese company. The unprecedented move was based on national-security legislation. The termination of the lease, on the grounds that the Chinese company had ties to the Beijing regime, has far broader implications. Given the scope of the Chinese governments oversight and control, virtually every Chinese corporation or businessmen could be branded as state-connected, jeopardising any Chinese investment in Australia. To the extent that there was a focus to the trip, it was on the trade ties. Albanese was accompanied by a substantial business delegation, including some of the countrys top iron ore magnates. Iron ore represents by far our largest export by value, and overwhelmingly it comes here to China, he declared. In the 2023-24 financial year, iron ore accounted for 21 percent of Australian exports, with over 80 percent of it being shipped to China. That country is also a top market for Australias other major exports, including coal, other minerals and natural gas. China accounted for 32 percent of Australian exports in the year, compared with just 12 percent to Japan, in second place, and 6 percent to the US in fourth. Australia accounts for around 60 percent of Chinas iron ore imports, with Brazil making up another 20 percent. The mineral is crucial to steel production and thus impacts virtually all areas of industry. Over the past year, however, China has signalled its intention to derisk its iron ore imports by diversifying their sources. Chinese firms are constructing a 12 million-tonne iron ore processing plant in Sierra Leone, while similar moves are underway or foreshadowed in other African countries including Guinea, Liberia, Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville. Geraldine Slattery, the president of BHP Australia, who was among the business contingent that accompanied Albanese, told the Australian Financial Review: [M]arket dynamics, driven by new ore supply from West Africa, peak or falling steel output and plans by Beijing to move from coal-fired to electric arc steel furnaces and, ultimately, hydrogen, had put miners on notice. Albanese and the mining company officials have touted proposals for Australia to collaborate with China on the production of green steel, which is purportedly more environmentally friendly due to the use of decarbonisation processes. There is clearly an anxiety about the implications of a Chinese turn away from Australia as the premier supplier of iron ore. Already, the slump in commodity prices has hit the revenues of the mining companies, with flow-on impacts for the federal budget, which is expected to be in deficit for the decade. Notwithstanding the attempts to present green steel and similar initiatives as the wave of the future, Albanese came up with virtually nothing by way of concrete agreements. A review of the China Australia Free Trade Agreement is planned. The Chinese are to promote tourism to Australia, including with television advertisements. And a Policy Dialogue on Steel Decarbonisation is to take place. Despite the modest character of the visit, it was the subject of a hostile campaign by sections of the national-security establishment and the press. The Murdoch-owned Australian ran a stream of commentary, accusing Albanese of being soft on China and of being taken in by Xis supposed charm offensive. They lambasted the fact that Albanese, having been reelected in May, had met with the Chinese leader before being able to secure a face-to-face discussion with Trump. These statements were made by figures with close ties to the US and Australia state establishments. The clear message was that even limited diplomatic engagement with China is no longer permissible. But Australian capitalism confronts an objective crisis. There is no ready alternative to its heavy dependence on trade with China. While the US impost on Australian exports under Trumps reciprocal tariffs regime is relatively low, at 10 percent, tariffs on pharmaceutical goods and aluminium could have a vast impact. Australia, moreover, is exposed indirectly, as any slowdown in China, the central target of Trumps economic war, threatens a major reduction in demand for Australian exports. In its first term, Albaneses Labor government went a substantial distance to completing Australias transformation into a frontline state for war with China, including with a vast expansion of US basing facilities. The integration is such that Labors Defence Minister Richard Marles publicly acknowledged earlier this year that Australia would be automatically involved in any US-led conflict with China. Even more is being demanded, as demonstrated by the public insistence of the Trump administration for an explicit commitment to participate in such a war, and the drumbeat for an increase to military spending. The claims, promoted by Labor during the election, that Australia was an exception to the deepening global upheavals, and could somehow stand aside from them, continue to be exposed as a fraud. 25 years ago: Concorde plane crash near Paris kills 113, injures 6 On July 25, 2000 the Concorde jet designated as Air France Flight 4590 crashed two minutes after takeoff from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on its scheduled flight to New York City. The planes engine caught fire after it ran over debris leftover from a previous flight. The planes tires immediately exploded, with the velocity of the plane sending tire shrapnel into the engine. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but the plane collided into the Hotelissmo hotel in Gonesse. All 109 passengers and crew died, along with another four people killed at the crash site. Eyewitnesses said the collision sounded like an enormous bomb detonation. People rushed to the crash site to find survivors, but the fire and billowing smoke prevented initial rescue efforts. People interviewed after the tragedy said the pilot saved hundreds of lives by steering the plane away from the towns center. A Shell store manager told the media, The pilot knew what was going on. He was a pilot who saved the lives of the people of Gonesse. A British Airways Concorde jet [Photo by Eduard Marmet collection / CC BY-SA 3.0 The trip from Paris to New York was chartered by a German cruise company named Deilmann. Ninety-six passengers from Germany, one from Australia, two from Denmark, and one American died on board. The four who died on the ground were immigrant hotel workers from Algeria, Mauritius and Poland. The Concorde series was an Anglo-French supersonic airliner built by the British Aircraft Corporation and Sud Aviation. The first commercial flights began in 1976. Three years later, the manufacturers performed a design modification after a tire burst. Over its 27 years of operation, Concorde experienced approximately 70 incidents involving tires or wheels, seven of which resulted in significant aircraft damage or posed a serious safety risk. Several days before the crash, British Airways uncovered several small cracks in the wings of all seven Concordes in its fleet. On July 24, British Airways grounded a Concorde that had a growing number of cracks. For the ruling classes in London and Paris, the plane had been a source of national pride as the only supersonic commercial jet in existence. Attempts by the United States and the USSR to manufacture their own supersonic commercial planes had been abandoned. The plane was used mostly by the wealthy, who could afford the much more costly tickets for the speedy flighttypically 10 times more expensive than a regular transatlantic ticket. Concordes could make the Paris-to-New York trip in just 3.5 hours, as opposed to the 8 hours required for a typical commercial jet. 50 years ago: Military triumvirate takes power in Portugal On July 25, 1975, executive power in Portugal was consolidated into a three-man military directorate. This triumvirate consisted of President Francisco da Costa Gomes, Prime Minister Vasco Goncalves and chief of the special military forces Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho. The decision was the frantic and reactionary response of the Stalinist-oriented military leaders to block the period of the Carnation Revolution known as the Verao Quente, or Hot Summer, from developing into a movement for workers power. Francisco da Costa Gomes In the months following the end of the fascist Estado Novo government, throughout Portugal workers committees were established in many major factories, workplaces and in some areas of the countryside. By the summer of 1975 the committees had developed into powerful organizations and had begun putting forward the demand for the nationalization of the major industries and the large agrarian estates. In several instances the workers began setting this into motion by throwing out factory and estate owners and taking direct control over industries. Radio Renascenca, a Catholic Church-run radio station that encouraged anti-communist thugs to attack workers, was seized by workers committees and shut down. The conditions and demands for a socialist revolution were well advanced. However the committee leadership, under the influence of the Stalinist Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), kept the workers organizations subordinated to the provisional government. But the revolutionary strivings of the working class set the committees and the provisional government on a direct collision course. The immediate trigger for the provisional governments collapse was the Republica affair. Republica was a prominent Lisbon newspaper financially backed by the middle class Socialist Party (PS). In May 1975, the papers workers committee seized control of the newsroom, throwing out the PS-aligned editorial staff. The Socialist Party demanded that the military-led provisional government act against the committee and restore the editors to their posts. However, the majority of the military leadership in the government belonged to the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), which was itself aligned with the PCP. Fearing the revolutionary explosion brewing, the MFA allowed the committee to remain in control of the paper so long as it, and other committees, remained subordinate to the military government and did not take up an independent struggle for state power. In response, on July 17, Socialist Party leader Mario Soares officially withdrew the PS from the provisional government. Soares claimed that since the PS won the largest vote in the April constituent assembly election, his party was given a mandate to rule and the ousting of its editors from Republica could not be tolerated by the government. The logic of the revolutionary situation called for the seizure of state power by the workers committees themselves and the establishment of a workers government. The decision to form the triumvirate was a desperate maneuver to block any such move. This was backed by the Stalininists of the PCP, whose line was that the MFA, not the workers committees, was the revolutionary force. 75 years ago: US forces massacre up to 400 civilians in No Gun Ri, Korea On July 26, 1950, soldiers from the United States Armys 1st Cavalry Division murdered hundreds of South Korean civilians near the village of No Gun Ri (Nogeun-ri), in one of the earliest large-scale massacres of the Korean War. Eyewitness testimonies of the attack describe indiscriminate killing of unarmed civilians, who posed no threat to the US troops and were seeking cover underneath a tunnel beneath a railroad bridge. Chung Koo-Hak, who was seven years old at the time, told journalists in 1999 that American soldiers kept shooting at babies, women and disabled people for three days. US veterans from the Korean War reported that their superior officers ordered them to open fire upon the refugees, with one captain reportedly saying, lets get rid of all of them. The twin-underpass railroad bridge at No Gun Ri, South Korea, photographed in 1960. A decade earlier, during the early stages of the Korean War, the US military killed hundreds of South Korean refugees beneath and around this bridge [Photo by NNo Gun Ri International Peace Foundation / CC BY-SA 3.0 The estimated number of victims varies by source. A 2005 South Korean government inquest officially certified 163 named victims who were killed, acknowledging that many more unnamed people were likely killed. Survivors of the massacre, however, estimate that the true death toll is up to 400 civilians. For decades afterwards, United States and South Korean governments systematically covered up the massacre, rejecting compensation claims and petitions filed by the survivors. The story received international attention in 1999, when several US veterans gave interviews to the Associated Press testifying that they had either participated in or witnessed the mass killing. The subsequent investigation by the US Army was a whitewash that did not even bother to try to count the number of people killed and maintained that there were no orders given by officers to fire on civilians. Far from an aberration, the No Gun Ri massacre was the first of many war crimes which the US military carried out during the Korean War. The US Air Force commander at the time, General Curtis LeMay, later proudly claimed that US warplanes during the three-year war burned down every town in North Korea and killed approximately twenty percent of the population of Korea as direct casualties of war, or from starvation and exposure. 100 years ago: British imperialism defines Palestinian citizenship On July 24, 1925, the British government, acting under the Mandate for Palestine granted to it in 1920 by the League of Nations, issued the Palestinian Citizenship Order 1925, which defined who was a citizen of Palestine, and, according to British imperialism, who was a Palestinian. Palestinian citizenship applied to Turkish subjects habitually resident in the territory of Palestine upon the 1st day of August, 1925, to children of a Palestinian father, and to some categories of residents living abroad. Residents could opt to keep Turkish citizenship or apply for citizenship in another country. The vast majority of Turkish citizens in Palestine were culturally Arab and spoke Arabic, whether they were Christians, Druze or Muslims or belonged to other confessions. The order did not refer to religion or ethnicity and did not apply to residents of the Emirate of Transjordan (modern Jordan,) which was a British protectorate. A British passport for Mandate Palestine Since Zionist settlers in Palestine were not necessarily Turkish citizens and often remained citizens of the countries from which they had emigrated, the order did provide for the naturalization of immigrants as long as they met certain criteria: that they had lived for period in Palestine for at least two years, that they were of good character, that they had knowledge of English, Arabic, or Hebrew and that they showed an intention to reside in Palestine. In this way, the order accommodated Zionist immigration that had been accepted by British imperialism in the 1917 Balfour Declaration. Over the following decades, with the growth of the Palestinian nationalist movement and opposition to Zionist colonization, the British put restrictions on Jewish immigration, although it continued illegally, particularly during and after the Nazi Holocaust. The British had come into possession of Palestine as a result of the defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I in 1918 and an arrangement to divide up the Middle Eastern Ottoman provinces with French imperialism in the secret 1917 Sykes-Picot agreement. The League of Nations rubber-stamped British rule with the mandate. The original evolution of hominins (modern humans and their evolutionary ancestors since the split with other great apes) took place in Africa about 7 million years ago, based on the fossil record. Beginning about two million years ago, various members of the genus Homo migrated out of Africa into Eurasia and, ultimately the rest of the world. These migrations gave rise to several different populations, including Neanderthals, in Europe and the Middle East and Denisovans in parts of Asia, which have been classified as separate speciesHomo neanderthalensis and Homo (species name not settled), respectively, as opposed to fully modern humans, Homo sapiens, who first appeared in Africa about 300,000 years ago. Comparison of modern human and Neanderthal skulls [Photo: Cleveland Museum of Natural History] These older populations eventually disappeared, apparently having been supplanted by the fully modern humans in a final migration out of Africa at about 50,000 years ago. A longstanding question has been what happened to the earlier migrants? Why do they appear to have vanished and been replaced by the late arrivals, leaving only one species of humans alive today? A number of theories have been proposed, generally envisioning various forms of more or less forceful extermination of the older occupants. New research provides a more nuanced explanation. One explanation is that modern humans were superior in some wayperhaps greater mental capacity and/or more advanced technologyas compared to the older, already resident Eurasian populations. Neanderthals, for example, whose physical remains were first discovered in 1829, had long been caricatured as semi-ape-like, brutish and intellectually limited in part due to a more robust build than modern humans. This supposed superiority of modern humans was extrapolated to support the idea that they caused the extinction of Neanderthals by pushing them into marginal environments and/or direct physical violence. This explanation appeared consistent with 19th century imperialist ideology. However, it was based on speculation, without substantiating evidence. More recent research has shown that, in fact, Neanderthals had a fairly sophisticated technology (including a recently discovered, industrial-scale fat-rendering facility) and that they were well adapted to the peri-glacial environment of the northern hemisphere during the Pleistocene (ice age). Furthermore, genetic research has shown that current populations in Europe and parts of Asia have small amounts of Neanderthal DNA (1-4 percent). Similarly, some contemporary Asian populations have traces of Denisovan DNA. Research published last year found traces of modern human DNA, specifically the Y or male sex chromosome, in Neanderthal fossils dating back between 200,000 and 250,000 years ago, apparently the result of an early migration. Another wave of African migrants left a genetic trace between 120,000 and 100,000 years ago. This suggests that there were multiple migrations by modern H. sapiens out of Africa during that time span. Nevertheless, these Africans migrants did not overwhelm the indigenous Eurasian populations the way the more recent migrations did. Why the difference? Further complicating the issue, the finding of shared DNA brings into question the idea that these three populationsmodern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovanswere separate species. The established definition of a biological species rests on genetic isolation. That is, if members of different populations cannot mate to produce viable, reproductively functional offspring then there is no gene flow between them, and they will evolve in separate directions. This is usually the result of geographic separation resulting in a combination of random genetic drift and evolutionary adaptation to differing environments. Over time these genetic differences become sufficient to prevent successful mating between members of the separate populations. The fact that modern, non-African human populations carry small amounts of Neanderthal and/or Denisovan DNA demonstrates that full genetic isolation had not taken place and that at least to some extent, these populations made love, not war and were, therefore, members of the same species, at most representing various subspecies. The discovery of a childs fossil which appears to have a mixture of Neanderthal and modern human characteristics lends weight to the view of cross mating. An example of a Neanderthal/Denisovan hybrid has also been identified. In addition, recently reported research based on data from Tinshemet Cave in central Israel appears to demonstrate that during some of the Middle Paleolithic, at approximately 110,000 years ago, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens lived side by side and shared tools, daily practices and burial customs. This evidence poses the question of why current human populations are predominantly descended from the latest out of Africa migration, with only minor traces of the earlier Eurasian populations among the current inhabitants, rather than the result of a more equal ancestry. Recently published research, (Major expansion in the human niche preceded out of Africa dispersal, Nature, 18 June 2025) proposes a new theory as to why the later immigrants from Africa overwhelmed and/or supplanted the pre-existing human populations of Eurasia. This new theory contends that, while hominins originally evolved on the East African savannah millions of years ago and were adapted to that environment, by several thousand years ago Homo sapiens in Africa had spread out to other environments, developing a range of knowledge, cultural practices, and technology that permitted them to successfully inhabit a range of settings. By reviewing a large sample of well-dated archaeological sites from across Africa and evaluating them for their environmental settings, the researchers found that, the human niche began to expand substantially from 70 ka [thousand years ago] and that this expansion was driven by humans increasing their use of diverse habitat types, from forests to arid deserts. They concluded that, humans dispersing out of Africa after 50 ka were equipped with a distinctive ecological flexibility among hominins as they encountered climatically challenging habitats, providing a key mechanism for their adaptive success. A second wave of ecological expansion is observed starting at approximately 29 ka. By which time, humans occupied all African regions and ecosystems, with terminal Pleistocene societies engaging with a range of new behaviours, including semi-sedentism, evidence of persistent macroscale social networking and increased territoriality and interpersonal violence. A species niche is the biological and physical environment to which it is adapted. The proposed interpretation contends that by having developed the cultural flexibility to successfully inhabit a variety of environments in Africa by 70 ka, the modern humans were able to adapt to a wide range of geographic settings when they migrated into Eurasia. The inference is that by contrast Neanderthals and Denisovans were well adapted to only a limited number of relatively narrow ecological niches that had existed during the more stable, earlier portions of the Pleistocene glacial period, which was buffered by the deviation-dampening effect of massive glaciers. This effect causing a condition known as Pleistocene equability, which was drawing to a close. By contrast, the Late Pleistocene (roughly 129,000 to 11,700 years ago) was characterized by dramatic climate fluctuations and significant environmental changes. This period saw alternating cold glacial periods and warmer interstadials, leading to shifts in vegetation, animal distributions, and human populations. Consequently, the newly arrived modern humans, having adapted to various environments in Africa, were more able to inhabit the increasingly variable environment, and therefore, could spread more widely across the Eurasian landscape, resulting in larger populations, overwhelming the indigenous people with sheer numbers. Whether there were any violent physical confrontations between the resident and immigrant populations is unknown, though this cannot be excluded, but the genetic information suggests at least some degree of friendly interactions. It is significant that, by whatever mechanism fully modern Homo sapiens came to overwhelmingly dominate the gene pool of the current human population, this new evidence reaffirms that we are all, ultimately, Africans of relatively recent origin. This understanding is especially important at a time when racism and xenophobia are being employed in the drive for fascism. Another significant observation is the importance for the scientific study of human origins of the availability of substantial, representative databases. Both in the cited study of modern human migration and a recent study of the origins of social inequality, databases encompassing large numbers of archaeological sites were key to the derivation of new, well documented interpretations. The Trump administrations vendetta against science in general, including archaeology, will have a devastating impact on future research. Canadas New Democratic Party (NDP) announced earlier this month that it will be holding a seven month-long leadership contest that will officially kick off this September and conclude at the partys convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in March 2026. The aim of the lengthy campaignalready effectively under wayis to resuscitate the social-democratic party as a trap for the working class after its historic debacle in the April 28 federal election. Already only the fourth-largest party in parliament, the NDP saw its share of the popular vote reduced by two-thirds and won just 7 seats, five less than needed to secure official party status. Having finished third in his own Vancouver-area riding, Jagmeet Singh, federal NDP leader since 2017, announced he was stepping down on election night. The NDPs worst-ever resultby both seat total and vote sharein its more than 60-year history is the product of the partys evolution over the past four decades into an openly right-wing, bourgeois party virtually indistinguishable from its Liberal and Conservative rivals. Like social democratic parties in all of the major imperialist centres, the NDP abandoned from the 1980s onwards even the most limited association with reformist policies aimed at improving the social position of the working-class. The party served with its trade union sponsors as a key mechanism for suppressing the class struggle and propping up big business federal and Ontario Liberal governments committed to capitalist austerity and imperialist war. The now ex-NDP leader Jagmeet Singh with Justin Trudeau [Photo: You Tube] Over the past decade, the NDP served as a pivotal source of political and parliamentary support for Justin Trudeaus Liberal government. After the Liberals were reduced to a minority government in 2019, the NDP propped it up in parliament, backing major bailouts for corporations at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ruling class profits-before-lives pandemic policy. For two-and-a-half years beginning in March 2022, the NDP kept the Liberals in power through a confidence and supply agreement. It was aimed, to use Singhs words, at creating political stability as the Trudeau government played a leading role in the US/NATO war on Russia, supported the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza, and carried out a massive assault on the working class, banning strikes without even the democratic fig leaf of back-to-work legislation. Throughout this period, the NDP worked in tandem with its union allies to diffuse a major upsurge of the class struggle, which saw strikes sweep across all regions and sectors of the economy between late 2021 and December 2024. The muzzling of the working class by the unions and the NDPs complicity in imposing savage right-wing policies of austerity and war facilitated a sharp shift to the right in bourgeois politics. With the far-right demagogue and Tory leader Pierre Poilievre riding high in the polls, and the fascist-minded US President Donald Trump threatening to take over Canada as the 51st state, the Liberals under former central banker Mark Carney got the chance to posture as defenders of working people in the spring election campaign. This fraud was enabled by the unions and NDP, which continued to promote the Liberals as a progressive alternative to the Conservatives, while joining enthusiastically in the din of Canadian nationalist tub-thumping that Carney and the Liberals exploited. The end result was a sharp reversal in the polls, with the Liberals overturning a more than 20-percentage-point deficit just months before election day to win another minority government. The election saw the NDP hemorrhage support to both the Liberals and Conservatives. The NDP lost seats in traditional working class strongholds, including a Tory Blue Sweep in Windsor, Ontario, the historic heart of the auto industry in Canada. The NDPs role over the past four decades as a vicious opponent of the working class and an enforcer of right-wing, pro-corporate policies finds consummate expression in those who have led it. Singh, a lawyer and political nobody, emerged as party leader in 2017 with the full backing of the party apparatus and trade unions. Thomas Mulcair, his predecessor, was a former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister who ran such a right-wing campaign during the 2015 election that Trudeau could pose as the real progressive alternative to hard-right Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Jack Layton, Mulcairs predecessor, oversaw the removal of even a token reference to socialism from the NDPs party program and was a key architect of the union/NDP/Liberal alliance which, since the late 1990s, has harnessed working-class opposition to the ruling-class onslaught on social and democratic rights to the big business Liberal Party. The vast majority of workers no longer have any expectation that the NDP will fight for their interests. A poll by the Angus Reid Institute published in June found that just 13 percent of Canadians would definitely consider supporting the party in a future federal election. In other words, the party retains support only among a small minority, largely comprised of trade union bureaucrats and middle-class professionals, who see its rotten political record and ever more fervent embrace of identity politics as the defence of their own privileged social position. The NDP leadership and its trade union sponsors intend to select as Singhs successor someone determined to continue along the same right-wing path with only the most cosmetic changes in policy and messaging. In a July 10 statement the NDP Federal Council announced that leadership candidates must submit a $100,000 fee to be recognized, and declared that there will be strong regulations over third parties intervening in the race to combat the purported threat of foreign interference. The onerous entry fee is more than triple the $30,000 required in the 2017 race, and is intended to block so-called frivolousi.e., more left-wingcandidates. Further restricting the fieldand exposing the partys contempt for democratic rights and promotion of right-wing identity politicspotential candidates must collect 500 signatures from party members, with at least half from female-identified members, and 100 from other equity-seeking groups, which includes Indigenous, LGBTQ, those with disabilities and racial minorities. In addition to the leadership race, the party has launched a review and renewal to consult with party members on the results of the 2025 election. Our party has both an opportunity and a responsibility to reflect on its workto critically assess the 2025 election campaign so we can build on what was successful and better understand what wasnt, with the goal of coming back stronger and better for the next campaign, declared former federal NDP candidate Emilie Taman, who will oversee this process. Elements on the so-called left of the NDP pushed for a longer leadership race in order to refurbish the partys role as a safety valve to trap leftward-moving workers within the suffocating framework of electoral politics. Libby Davies, a long-term NDP member of parliament who began her political career in Stalinist Communist Party-aligned activist groups in Vancouver, wrote a piece for the Toronto Star hailing the example of Democratic Party politician Zohran Mamdani. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani ran in the Democratic primary for New York mayor on a platform of free buses, a rent freeze and taxing the rich. While he attracted considerable support from workers and young people who find such promises appealing and are open to a socialist alternative, Mamdani and the DSA advanced this left posture in order to bind radicalized workers and youth to the Democratic Partyone of American imperialisms twin parties of war and social reaction. Mamdanis subsequent appeals for cooperation with billionaires and the political and business establishments underscore that his socialism poses no threat to the powers that be, but aims to provide their system of ruthless class exploitation, attacks on democratic and social rights, and imperialist war with a veneer of credibility. Davies wrote of Mamdani, His success is a potent reminder that theres a hunger out there for what the NDP has to offer. But we need time to find the right person to lead us out of the desert and into the realm of political power and purpose. This statement combines a flat-out lie with political double-talk. Those attracted to Mamdanis promises were motivated by left-wing and socialist convictions, the exact opposite of the NDPs pro-capitalist and imperialist program. Regardless of who leads Canadas social democrats, it is this program alone that the NDP has to offer. As for the realm of political power and purpose, the NDP has shown time and again that for the social democrats, this means holding the balance of power in parliament to prop up a Liberal government, while using their ties with the union bureaucracy outside of parliament to keep workers on a tight political leash. NDP Foreign Affairs critic Heather McPherson and other NDP MPs joined the bellicose "Stand with Ukraine" mobilization mounted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress as the NATO instigated war broke out in early 2022. [Photo: Heather McPherson/Facebook] While they have yet to officially announce their intention to stand in the leadership race, NDP MP Heather McPherson and film-maker, journalist and university professor Avi Lewis are being promoted in the media as the frontrunners. McPherson has represented an Edmonton, Alberta riding since 2019 and for the past four years has served as the NDPs Foreign Affairs critic. McPherson has championed the war on Russia and, while shedding crocodile tears over the Gaza genocide, served as a leading member of the NDP caucus as it provided the Trudeau government with its parliamentary majority. She has repeatedly appeared at events sponsored by the far-right Ukrainian Canadian Congress, including most recently in February at an event demanding an escalation of the war now in its third year. Lewis has been floated as a potential outsider candidate who could reinvigorate the party. He has long been involved in NDP politics, having co-authored the 2016 Leap Manifesto with his wife, pseudo-left activist and author Naomi Klein. The document, which was largely ignored by the party establishment, was aimed at giving the NDP a left cover in relation to climate change and environmentalism, while maintaining its staunch support for capitalism and Canadian nationalism. Far from an outsider, Lewis is the ultimate NDP insider. He is the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis and the grandson of David Lewis, who led the federal NDP from 1971-75 and was one of principals in forging the political alliance between the social-democratic Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and the union bureaucracy that led to the NDPs launch in 1961. Others on the list of potential candidates include: former MP Peter Julian, NDP House leader under Singh; Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan, who has made her name through Indigenous identity politics; Alexandre Boulerice, the lone NDP MP from Quebec; and Nathan Cullen, a former parliamentarian and current member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The Globe and Mail has also floated International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada President Rob Ashton as a potential candidate. Ashton, president of the ILWU since 2016, proved his utility to the capitalist ruling class in 2023 by striking a militant pose as he bowed to Liberal government strike breaking efforts, sending 7,400 Canadian West Coast dockworkers back to work and forcing through a sellout contract after a powerful nearly two-week walkout. Writer and activist Yves Engler speaking about his book exposing Canadian imperialism in Africa, "Canada in Africa: 300 years of aid and exploitation" [Photo: Yves Engler/Facebook] Journalist and anti-war activist Yves Engler announced on July 7 that he had accepted the NDP Socialist Caucuss nomination to run for party leader, and will do so under the slogan Eco-socialism or Extinction. In his campaign launch announcement Engler admitted his leadership bid is a longshot, adding that the more realistic objective is to drive the debate away from the mushy middle. The so-called Socialist Caucus, led by Barry Weisleder, who doubles as head of the anti-Trotskyist Socialist Action, promotes the illusion that through such a pressure campaign the NDP can be taken back to its socialist roots. The Socialist Caucus has long been tolerated as a faction within the NDP which can be used to give the party a left tinge when it has been felt necessary. Its Pabloite perspective, epitomized in its selection of Engler as its candidate, is yet another trap for the working class. Notwithstanding his often sharp and valuable exposures of Canadian imperialisms crimes around the world, Engler is a dyed-in-the-wool Canadian nationalist and opponent of the independent political mobilization of the working class . He calls for a more independent Canadian foreign policy, i.e., for Ottawa to assert its predatory interests more independently of Washington. The NDP was founded not as a vehicle to fight for socialism, but as an instrument of the trade union bureaucracy, with the explicit purpose of diverting working-class militancy into safe parliamentary channels and attempts to humanize capitalist exploitation. The partys political traditions lie not in socialism but in social-democracya current that has consistently supported imperialist war, defended the capitalist state, and betrayed the working class since 1914. These are not fighters for the working class, let alone socialism, but rather labour lieutenants of capital, reliable enforcers of capitalist rule cloaked in progressive rhetoric. The record of the party when in office underscores this rolemost notoriously, the Rae NDP government in Ontario of the 1990s, which imposed sweeping austerity measures, wage freezes, and social spending cuts in service to Canadian capital. The NDP is not a workers party, but a capitalist electoral apparatus rooted in the interests of the national labor bureaucracy and sections of the petty-bourgeoisie. It cannot be pressured into representing the working class because it was never intended to serve its interests and wage class struggle. Its function is to smother working-class militancy and preserve bourgeois rule by spreading illusions about democratic reform. Workers and young people, including those initially enthused by Mamdanis campaign, looking for a way to fight back against the assault on jobs and living standards by the ruling class, the destruction of social services, and the turn to authoritarianism and war will not find any way forward within or in the environs of the NDP. The working class must make a decisive political break from the NDP, the union bureaucracy and all forms of national reformism. What is needed is the building of an independent, revolutionary, internationalist socialist party committed to the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of workers power. This perspective is embodied in the Socialist Equality Party (Canada), the Canadian section of the ICFI, which workers and youth must join and build to provide the necessary political leadership for the impending revolutionary struggles against capitalist barbarism. Taiwans huge annual Han Kuang military exercises, which concluded last week, doubled in length from five to ten days and were far more extensive in scope. The war games involved not only live-fire exercises that included newly-arrived US weaponry. They also were associated with civilian urban resilience drills in many cities and counties. The army, navy and air force were boosted by the mobilisation of 22,000 reservistsup from 14,500 last year. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, centre, inspects a live-fire shooting training in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Thursday, July 10, 2025. [AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying] The shift in focus and extent reflected demands from Washington to boost military spending and adopt a porcupine strategy that would inflict maximum damage and casualties in the event of a supposed Chinese invasion. Drawing on the experiences of the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, the US has insisted that Taiwan purchase drones, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and other weaponry designed to transform the island into a deadly trap for Chinese forces. The Trump administration is already waging an economic war against China, which it regards as the chief threat to its global hegemony, and is preparing for military conflict against Beijing. In a warmongering speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last month, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denounced aggression by Communist China and demanded that US allies in Asia boost military spending and prepare for an imminent war with China over Taiwan. In reality, just as it actively provoked Russia into invading Ukraine, the US under both Biden and Trump has sought to goad China into using its military to take over Taiwan. Formally, the US still abides by the One China policyde facto recognising Beijing as the legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan. Washington has been systemically undermining that policy by dispensing with associated diplomatic protocols, arming Taiwan with offensive weapons and stationing US troops on the island. It knows full well that China has long warned that it would answer with force any attempt by Taipei to declare formal independence. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), is known for his hardline view that Taiwan is an independent country. In the lead-up to the Han Kuang war games, he provocatively delivered a series of 10 speeches across the island to justify his claim. In office for just over a year, Lai has insisted on boosting military spending. Speaking on the final day of the military exercises, he declared that there is no other choice but to be prepared. He added: We must actively and comprehensively promote whole-of-society defence resilience, so that everyone understands that national defence is everyones responsibility. Taiwans defence ministry described the war games as designed to respond to a potential 2027 Chinese invasionan echo of Hegseths unsubstantiated claim in Singapore last month that Chinese President Xi Jinping was preparing to invade Taiwan by 2027. Taiwans military exercises were themselves significant. These were large-scale, realistic combat drills, as Lai told his audience, with the first of the armys new US-made M1A2 Abrams battle tanks on display. The HIMARS units that began arriving in May were also used during the drills. With a range of about 300 kilometres, the rockets could strike military bases and targets on the Chinese mainland across the Taiwan Strait. In the past, the exercises were designed to display the militarys major weapon systems and offer reassurance that Chinese forces could not invade. This years drills were based on a scenario in which a Chinese amphibious landing was successful and involved smaller, more mobile weaponry. Taiwanese troops practised the defence of critical infrastructure and protecting the centre of the capital Taipei. The unstated aim was to bog Chinese troops down in a land war, at least for long enough for the US to respond. More significant, however, was the scope and compulsory nature of the civilian exercises. These included air raid drills, which in one case involved supermarket shoppers being herded into a basement car park and the transformation of a school hall into a makeshift wartime hospital. Some drills involved how to suppress protests if food and other supplies run short. An official told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that taxi drivers are being trained to become a volunteer wartime police force. The Taiwan Times reported on an air raid drill in which all vehicles were required to stop and pedestrians were ordered to seek shelter and follow directions from officials. Passengers were not allowed to exit rail stations. Those who did not comply faced possible fines of $NT30,000-150,000 (about $US1,000-5,000). This resort to large fines points to significant opposition to the scare campaign and attempts to whip up Taiwanese patriotism. The BBC cited a poll last October by the government-linked Institute for National Defence and Security Research, which found that more than 60 percent of Taiwanese do not believe China will invade in the next five years. Lai, however, is determined to undermine and suppress any opposition. The Financial Times (FT) reported in March that a Chinese resident of Taiwan was being expelled for advocating on social media for its annexation by Beijing. According to Taiwans intelligence agency, 64 people were prosecuted last year on charges related to spying for Chinathree times the figure of three years ago. The FT article highlighted Lais announcement that he planned to reinstitute military courts, supposedly to counter Chinese infiltration of the armed forces. It noted that such a measure was likely to be highly controversial given that the Kuomintang (KMT) dictatorship of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek had ruled through martial law for nearly 40 years. Following the overthrow of the nationalist KMT regime in the 1949 Chinese Revolution, Chiang Kai-shek, his military forces and wealthy Chinese retreated to Taiwan with the assistance of the US military. Until 1979, when the US established diplomatic relations with Beijing, it backed the KMTs claim to be the legitimate government in exile of all China. From 1979, Washington ended diplomatic ties, as well as its military alliance, with Taipei and withdrew all US troops. The DPP rose to prominence amid mass opposition to the KMT regime in the late 1980s which resulted in the first direct presidential election in 1996. It won the presidency for the first time in 2000. While the DPP has based itself on Taiwanese nationalism, the KMT has sought a rapprochement with its former enemy, the Chinese Communist Party, and advocated closer ties with China amid the capitalist restoration in China and the opening up of lucrative investment opportunities. Currently, the KMT and its allies hold a majority in the Legislative Yuan or parliament and are thus able to block Lais legislation. In response, Lai and the DPP are waging an unprecedented recall campaign against 31 KMT lawmakers. If successful in ousting them in fresh elections, this would end KMT control of the Yuan. At a pro-recall rally last weekend, campaigners openly voiced their intent to remove pro-China lawmakers. The whipping up of anti-China xenophobia to establish DPP parliamentary control is a warning that new anti-democratic measures are being prepared to crack down on opposition to the preparations for war. This goes hand-in-hand with the recent war games. Washington plans to transform Taiwan into an Asian Ukraine as a means of triggering a conflict, destabilising China and subordinating it to the economic and strategic interests of US imperialism. Rally at the Arts West Building at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 [Photo: X/@binarythis] Last month, the University of Melbourne expelled two students and suspended two others for participating in a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus. The disciplinary action came amid a deepening assault on democratic rights by the federal Labor government of Anthony Albanese, aimed at outlawing all opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, which Australian imperialism has fully supported. In October 2024, students staged a sit-in at the office of Professor Steven Prawer, who heads the universitys collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, an institution that trains IDF personnel. The protesters peacefully requested an end to this partnership, displayed a Palestinian flag, and put up stickers declaring, Antisemitism is a crime, anti-Zionism is a duty and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. The university responded in an authoritarian fashion. One expelled student attended the sit-in for merely 10 minutes without engaging in any sanctionable actions, yet the disciplinary committee ruled this constituted harassment and intimidation. The revelation that Melbourne University tracks students through Wi-Fi surveillance exposes the police-state infrastructure being deployed against dissent. Anti-war and anti-capitalist sentiment is surging internationally, particularly amongst young people. The Melbourne University expulsions express the deep fear of the Australian ruling elite towards this radicalisation and its potential to link up with a broader movement of the working class. The International Youth and Students for Social Equalitys club at the university has been campaigning among students on campus over the past weeks in opposition to these attacks. Students interviewed by the IYSSE expressed their outrage over the expulsions and connected them to the global assault on democratic rights. Lily, who is studying ancient world history, said: I think what were seeing is the mobilisation of anti-bigotry policies, which are then used by the university and government to control narratives, especially about the genocide in Gaza. Antisemitism is the one thats being used at the moment, but other things as well could be used soon to criminalise protesters. It sets a very dangerous precedent: the policies are meant to keep students safe from discrimination, but theyre being used for the opposite. On Gaza, she said: This is clearly a genocide. Theres nothing that can be said against that. The Australian government is behind it, thats the case for most western governments. This is unequivocal support for barbaric policies in the Middle East. Islamophobia is used to justify any amount of atrocities committed against people throughout the region. Alan, a law student, said the expulsion of students was linked to attempts by governments internationally to shut down opposition to war and anti-immigrant policies, particularly in the US. He said the Trump administrations deployment of the military against protests in Los Angeles was part of a plan to overthrow the US constitution and establish dictatorship. Trump is attempting to use a false assessment of events, that this is an invasion and an insurrection, so that he could misuse the Insurrection Act, overturn the constitution and establish a police state. He has already subverted the Supreme Court with his own judges. Hazel, an international student from China doing computer science, said: This is all about opposition to war, right? I have no experience of war myself, but I think war is a disaster. People need to live in peace, while war hurts people physically and mentally. Axel said: Its horrible. I think its a sign of the systematic silencing of students voices. Students have always been at the forefront of social movements. The university should respect that, and also recognise that these are important human rights issues that deserve to be raised and dont deserve to be subject to punishment like this. Theres talk of the universitys investment or involvement in various industries that are active in Israel. I also think universities have always been resistant to students raising their voices and causing what they would call disruptions. I dont think university administrators are these progressive actors that maybe people often think they are. Theyre often forced to act like that by students. And were seeing now another case of pushback: it happened in the 60s and 70s, and its happening now. So their suppression of opposition is related to the basic institution of universities, and its also related to their specific alignment with interests involved in Israel. On Labors active support for the genocide, Axel said: Its horrible and cowardly. During apartheid in South Africa, a lot of governments did take a stance against it. This today is an instance where one of the most demonised peoples on earth, Arabic people, often Muslim people, are the ones being oppressed. Our government has not stood up to this. IYSSE campaigners fought to clarify among students that the Australian governments support for genocide was not an aberration, but inseparable from Australias growing integration into US imperialist war plans. That includes preparations for a catastrophic conflict with China in this region. This underscores the futility of individual protests and moral appeals to the very capitalist government complicit in the genocide. The only way to stop the genocide and the broader threat of world war, the IYSSE insisted, is through a political struggle against Labor and its imperialist allies in a socialist movement uniting students with the international working classthe only social force capable of ending war by overthrowing the capitalist system that produces it. At online meetings held by its different clubs around Australia, the IYSSE successfully passed a resolution to mobilise opposition to the universitys attacks. It reads as follows: The International Youth and Students for Social Equality strongly opposes the disciplinary measures by the University of Melbourne against four students, two of whom were expelled and two suspended, for their involvement in a pro-Palestine protest on campus. University managements decision marks a further shift to outlaw political free speech on the campuses and in society more broadly. It is connected to the Anthony Albanese Labor governments assault on basic democratic rights, under the fraudulent pretext of combating antisemitism. Labor, along with all the major capitalist powers from the United States to Europe, has fully supported the US-Israeli genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza and the destructive rampage throughout the Middle East, which directly threatens world war. Faced with growing mass anti-war sentiment among workers and youth, the Australian government and its imperialist allies are moving towards dictatorial forms of rule. The IYSSE calls on all students, staff and those who defend civil liberties to oppose this attack, as part of a larger campaign to build a global anti-war movement. We also encourage other student clubs to join the IYSSE in passing resolutions opposing the disciplinary actions levelled against anti-genocide students, and call on your members to join the campaign against the attack on free speech on campuses around the country. LONDON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Monday condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza and criticized Israel's aid distribution model as "inhumane," following the Britain's endorsement of a joint international statement urging an end to the conflict. "I utterly condemn the killing of civilians seeking to meet their basic needs," Lammy told Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. "The Israeli government must answer what possible military justification can there be for strikes that have killed desperate, starving children," he said. While reaffirming his support for Israel's right to security and existence, Lammy warned that the country's current actions were "doing untold damage to Israel's standing in the world and undermining its long-term security." Lammy described Israel's newly implemented aid delivery system in Gaza as "inhumane, dangerous, and depriving Gazans of human dignity." He added that it "contradicts long-established humanitarian principles" by forcing civilians, children among them, to "scramble unsafely for the essentials of life." He also cited proposals made by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, which reportedly included driving Gaza's entire population into Rafah and detaining Palestinians unless they emigrate. "This is a cruel vision that must never come to pass," Lammy said. Earlier on Monday, Britain joined 25 other nations in a joint statement condemning the ongoing civilian suffering in Gaza and urging Israel to meet its obligations under international humanitarian law. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths," the statement read. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food." "It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable," it added. Lammy also announced that Britain would provide an additional 40 million pounds (54 million U.S. dollars) in humanitarian assistance to Gaza this year, including 7.5 million pounds for UK-Med, a British charity delivering medical aid on the ground. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 59,000 since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Monday. (1 pound = 1.35 U.S. dollar) NEED TO KNOW On the July 20 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, Darcey was focused on appearing more conservative for Georgis family as they prepared to travel to Bulgaria Though she was determined to tone down her look, Georgi feared she was not taking the trip seriously and urged her to hide her "big cleavage, your super shoes and your short skirt" Tensions hit a breaking point as Georgi ultimately confessed, I'm worried [about] what my family and friends [are] going to think about her and what [theyre] going to think about me too, because she's my wife" Darcey toned her style down ahead of her trip to meet Georgis family in Bulgaria, but he still worried she was not taking the trip seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the July 20 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, Darcey spent her final days before the trip doing whatever she could to appear more conservative for Georgis family from getting new clothes to swapping out her old, long lashes for new, shorter ones. First, Darcey went shopping with her friend Roxy, who is also from Bulgaria, as she looked for some more appropriate clothing to wear on her upcoming trip. But some of the outfits Darcey liked, according to Roxy at least, still were not conservative enough for the culture in Bulgaria including one black jumpsuit she tried on. I like this one! Darcey exclaimed as she exited the dressing room. It feels conservative enough where it respects the family and the culture. However, Roxy disagreed. You want to earn their respect, she explained. Or theyre going to send you back to America. TLC Darcey's friend Roxy offers some Bulgarian fashion advice Darcey's friend Roxy offers some Bulgarian fashion advice In a confessional, Darcey revealed she is scared, nervous and anxious ahead of the trip. I dont know if his family is going to approve of me and accept me, she explained. Its a lot of pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roxy said when she first met her partners parents, it took a few trips until I earned their respect. The first visit, she added, was probably the hardest one. Roxy also suggested Darcey tone down her nails and remove her long eyelashes ahead of the trip. Darcey protested a bit, but ultimately agreed. She hoped that by toning down her look, she would show Georgi that she was putting in the effort to look a little bit more conservative. But, she admitted in a confessional, it's definitely out of my comfort zone. Darcey wound up pleased with the shorter lashes, which she received the next day. She suggested it felt like a good compromise, and hoped Georgi would feel the same. I hope this is enough of a make-under for Georgi and his family because I love myself, I honor myself, and Ill only compromise so much, she explained in a confessional. And if Georgi keeps pushing at it, it's going to affect our relationship because I'm not going to open up with a man that doesn't give me the respect I deserve. TLC Darcey checks out her new, shorter lashes Darcey checks out her new, shorter lashes During her lash appointment, Darcey said both she and Georgi need to put more time into celebrating each other in the marriage. I feel like this is the perfect moment in time to really just embrace our marriage [and] our love life, Darcey said in a confessional. Of course, I want to dress very respectfully for Georgi's family, but they're not going to be with us the whole time. So I want to pack some sexy things! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But back at home, as they packed for the trip, Georgi did not seem thrilled with some of the outfits Darcey had put together. Your boobs [are] out, he stated as Darcey showed him the outfit she planned to wear on the plane. Im going to have a jacket on the airplane! Darcey protested as she donned a white fur coat, which she felt covered everything it needed to. She argued that she had toned herself down a lot, and pointed out her new lashes. But Georgi did not notice much of a difference, and seemed annoyed with his wife. Thank you Darcey, thank you for listening to me with [these] natural looking eyelashes, he said in a confessional. I'm 100% sure my parents, they're not going to notice your big cleavage, your super shoes and your short skirt. TLC Darcey shows Georgi her outfit for the plane ride to Bulgaria Darcey shows Georgi her outfit for the plane ride to Bulgaria Whats the big deal? Darcey asked her husband, who noted this is not the first time he has told her how to dress appropriately for the trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont respect what I say! Georgi argued back, suggesting that people in Bulgaria might think she was a prostitute or a w--- based on her outfits. Darcey disagreed, but Georgi insisted she was being disrespectful. You dont really care about this trip, and thats why Im upset Georgi told his wife. In a confessional, Georgi said he was feeling overwhelmed about this trip. I'm worried [about] what my family and friends [are] going to think about her and what [theyre] going to think about me too, because she's my wife, Georgi explained. Darcey tried to smooth things over. I dont want you to feel nervous! she said before giving her husband a hug. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want you to care, Georgi said, to which Darcey replied, I do care! She then said I love you in Bulgarian before they shared a quick kiss. TLC Darcey and Gerogi share a kiss after arguing about their trip Darcey and Gerogi share a kiss after arguing about their trip Darcey and Georgi then headed for the airport and boarded their plane to Bulgaria. In an interview before taking flight, Darcey acknowledged that the trip means everything to her husband. I want to give love, Darcey explained. Im a giver and want them to feel my love, that I care for their son, that Ive always had his back and I just want to feel the same in return. 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. 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TLC. Read the original article on People Two men vanished from Ulisa Chavers life over the course of different decades one in the 1990s, the other in the mid-2000s. But as viewers learn in a new episode of Snapped, airing Sundays at 7/6c on Oxygen, Virginia investigators finally found that the two disappearances had a number of things in common especially Ulisa herself. After Reginal Cody Bowles, Ulisas live-in boyfriend, stopped showing up to family gatherings from 2006 onward, Ulisa persuaded his adult family members that the freedom-loving motorcycle enthusiast had simply followed his heart toward an off-the-grid lifestyle out west. But with pressure mounting from Bowles family for answers, they finally turned to the police for help, uncovering Ulisas slowly-spun web of deception. The strange disappearance of Cody Bowles Ulisa Chavers and Cody Bowles were together for 12 years as a couple, living on rural land in Louisa County, Virginia. Each had been married before, but they never officially tied the knot during their shared time together. Nonetheless, Codys family seemed happy to accept Ulisa into their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I liked her, said Codys son Lee, who eventually made the fateful phone call to police that alerted them to his fathers disappearance, on Snapped. She had a lot of stories. They ended up purchasing a property in Louisa County just to have more land around them and kind of to get away from things. For more true crime news: Man Tells Friend He Committed Two Brutal Rapes and Murders: "I Was Just in a State of Shock" Teen Is Arrested in Connection With Murder of Paddleboarder What to Know About the Colorado Dentist Accused of Poisoning Wife with Laced Protein Shakes Codys family was accustomed to seeing him mostly on special occasions, so his absence from a 2006 Thanksgiving gathering didnt immediately arouse their alarm. But two more years passed with no further contact from Cody only vague and implausible answers from Ulisa about where he had gone, and why. Cody Bowles featured on Snapped Season 35, Episode 15 Ulisa said that he went out and met some people at the Sturgis Bike Rally, and basically stayed out there near Butte, Montana, and they were in a gang, said Howard Porter, a former Louisa County Sheriffs lieutenant. They were living off the grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that he hated the federal government; he hated law enforcement, kind of painting him as a sovereign citizen and an outlaw biker, added Louisa County Sheriff Donald Lowe. That explanation failed to satisfy investigators, but they lacked probable cause to accuse Ulisa of any crime. Their suspicions were only heightened after learning that Cody had a surgically-implanted pacemaker that required him to rely on a steady regimen of medication, and that no evidence existed that he had been filling his prescriptions, or that he'd even used his own bank account that he and Ulisa shared. We couldn't find any activity on his bank account other than her drawing money out of it, said Lowe. "We were searching all over the country for him, and it got to the point to where I said to Lieutenant Porter, Call Social Security. Cut off his Social Security, and he'll come to us. He might be upset, but he'll come to us. Police close in on Ulisa Chavers deadly secret Working alongside Social Security officials, investigators indeed halted Bowles monthly payments and sought warrants to search Ulisas phone records and the couples property. In early 2009 more than two years since anyone but Ulisa had last seen Cody she told investigators he had recently paid a visit to spend Christmas with her, and produced a deceptive digital photograph that seemed to show the two of them together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You could tell that that was an old picture, but it looked like it was a picture of a picture, said Lowe. And it wasn't a very good job. The moment that I seen that picture and realized that she was going through the trouble of furnishing a picture of a picture, added Lee, I was like, All right, now she's creating evidence. She's covering something up. With a warrant to search the couples property, investigators deployed a cadaver dog and soon homed in on a well in the backyard. As investigators retrieved Codys decomposed body from the well, Ulisa waited inside the house with Carlton Johnson Jr., a former special agent with the Virginia State Police. Only then did she decide to admit that Cody never left for Montana and that she had disposed of his body by herself. Chavers stopped short of confessing to playing an active role in her boyfriends death, claiming only that he had died of natural causes. Coupled with her ongoing collection of Bowles Social Security payments, police were able to charge her with multiple counts of embezzlement, as well as with improper disposal of a dead body. A darker truth revealed: Ulisa Chavers first victim Ulisa Chavers featured on Snapped Season 35, Episode 15 The case took a darker turn after investigators interviewed Ulisas adult daughter from a previous marriage, who happened to live close by. To their surprise, they learned that Ulisas former husband, Clint Chavers, had died under mysterious circumstances in 1994, and that Ulisa had lied to her daughter for years about how his body had been taken away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search at the Chavers former home 60 miles away unearthed Clint Chavers dead body, buried in a makeshift grave. A forensic anthropologist determined that fragments of his skull indicated he had sustained either a gunshot wound or a significant blow to the head, according to Lowe, leading police to charge her with her former husbands murder. Followup forensics on Cody Bowles body, meanwhile, revealed lethal levels of benztropine a drug commonly used to treat Parkinsons disease, and one especially incompatible with Codys heart condition. I started researching and talking to experts and toxicologists, recalled prosecutor Rusty McGuire. And they said a person with a defibrillator and a pacemaker should not be taking benztropine. It actually slows your heart down. Facing charges in two murder cases, Chavers agreed to a plea deal rather than risk facing a trial. She was sentenced to 43 years in prison and remained incarcerated until she passed away in 2021 at the age of 73. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unfortunate how he had to die, said Lee. He had no idea that the enemy that was going to kill him was within his own house. Police believe that Chavers motive for murder stemmed from her determination not to lose her steady supply of money. Not only had she collected Social Security payments on two missing persons after their deaths, she also faced the prospect of losing control of the property she shared with Bowles. I think her motive to kill Cody was financial, said Porter. He was talking about making his sons the beneficiary and executor of [his] estate. That's going to cut her off financially. She was nicknamed Black Widow, reflected McGuire. Whatever she touched seemed to die. ANKARA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday voiced strong opposition to any division of Syrian territory, following the end of heavy clashes in the country's south, Turkish media reported. "We firmly oppose any fragmentation of Syrian territory," the Turkish leader told media aboard his presidential plane, reaffirming Turkiye's support for Syria's interim government, Hurriyet Daily News reported. He accused Israel of attempting to exploit tensions in Syria's southern Sweida province as a pretext to invade the country, warning that Israel's actions threaten regional stability. "The bigger strategic problem is Israel's attempt to occupy the region using this conflict as an excuse," the semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying. Erdogan also revealed diplomatic contacts with Damascus. He said Turkiye's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Defense Minister Yasar Guler are engaged in talks with their counterparts. A ceasefire announced on Saturday has brought a fragile calm to Sweida province after eight days of intense fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups, with human rights groups reporting the full implementation of the deal on Monday. The conflict left more than 1,120 people dead, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence also triggered mass displacement, with over 2,000 Bedouin families fleeing to neighboring Daraa province, official figures showed. Late-night talk shows are enormous totems on the US media landscape so news that CBS is axing its version after more than 30-years has sent shockwaves across the industry. Stephen Colbert is bidding farewell to 'The Late Show' after the network confirmed the programme will wrap up next May, triggering a wave of support from fellow hosts, with many calling the decision both shocking and sad. Im just as shocked as everyone, said Jimmy Fallon, adding that Colbert is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. Fallon posted on Instagram that he had hoped to ride this out with him for years to come, and joked that his friends and family would now need a new 11:30pm routine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seth Meyers echoed the sentiment, calling Colbert an even better person than he is a comedian. Im going to miss having him on TV every night, he added, before teasing that Colbert can no longer use the excuse that hes too busy to hang out. Jimmy Fallon, left, Stephen Colbert, center, and Seth Meyers, right. - AP Photo 'Last Week Tonight' host John Oliver called the news terrible and very, very, very sad, saying hed always loved both Stephen and the show. Its incredibly sad, he said during an appearance in Erie, Pennsylvania. Late-night shows mean a lot to me, not just because I work in them, but because even growing up in England, I would watch Lettermans show, which of course was Stephens show, and think about what a glamorous world that was," he remembered, adding that he was "partly excited to see what theyre going to do for the next 10 months." Jimmy Kimmel kept it short and sweet Love you Stephen while Andy Cohen told interviewers it was a very sad day for CBS and described the network as turning off the lights after the news. But not everyone was mourning. US president Donald Trump a long-time target of Colberts monologues took to Truth Social to say, I absolutely love that Colbert was fired. Colbert, 61, told his audience last week at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York that hed only just been informed of the decision. Next year will be our last season, he said. Its the end of 'The Late Show' on CBS. Im not being replaced. This is all just going away. The crowd responded with groans and boos. Yeah, I share your feelings, Colbert replied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS insists the cancellation was purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night and that it had nothing to do with content or performance. In a joint statement, senior executives called the show a staple of the nations zeitgeist. Still, the timing raised eyebrows. The news came just three days after Colbert criticised the legal settlement between Donald Trump and Paramount Global, CBSs parent company, regarding a long-running dispute over a 60 Minutes segment. Two US senators have since called for transparency on the matter, questioning whether the shows end is really about the bottom line. The Ed Sullivan theatre, where 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is filmed. - Yuki Iwamura/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved. Colbert took over 'The Late Show' in 2015, following David Lettermans retirement. Over nearly a decade, he transformed the programme into one of the most politically pointed and consistently sharp voices on American television regularly skewering Trump and other political figures with satirical precision. Now, with 10 months left, fans and fellow comedians alike are watching closely to see how Colbert plans to wrap things up. As Oliver put it: That man will not stop. Dust off your deepest V-necks UK glam rock legends The Darkness are making their glorious return to Australia in February 2026. Fresh off their Permission To Land 20th anniversary world tour and still riding high off the release of their eighth studio album Dreams On Toast, the band will be bringing their nostalgic and sequin-spangled rock n roll theatrics to ten cities around the country, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, Fremantle, Frankston and Melbourne. The Darkness Rock and Roll Party Cowboy Expect a set stacked with all the hits you know and love from the feelsy glam balladry of Love Is Only A Feeling to the eternal lung-busting rock anthem I Believe In A Thing Called Love alongside fresh bangers from their latest record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In true Darkness fashion, this wont be just another rock gig itll be a sparkly, sweat-drenched celebration of everything loud, ridiculous and fabulous about rock music. Think: soaring falsettos, double-neck guitar shredding, leopard print everything, and at least one moment where Justin Hawkins kicks higher than seems humanly possible. Feel free to peep all the dates and details down below. The Darkness Dreams On Toast 2026 Tour Dates With special guests TBA Fri 20 Feb The Tivoli, Brisbane Sat 21 Feb Miami Marketta, Gold Coast Sun 22 Feb Bar On The Hill, Newcastle Wed 25 Feb Waves, Wollongong Fri 27 Feb Enmore Theatre, Sydney Sat 28 Feb Hindley Street, Adelaide Sun 1 Mar Odeon, Hobart Wed 4 Mar Metropolis, Fremantle FrI 6 Mar Pier Bandroom, Frankston Sat 7 Mar Forum, Melbourne Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exclusive Early Bird Fan Presale: Wednesday, 23rd July at 12PM AEST via SBM Presents General On Sale: Monday, 28th July at 12PM AEST via SBM Presents Further Reading AC/DC Expand 2025 Australian Tour With Second (And Final) Shows In All Cities For Fans Of: The Darkness | Introducing: Sydneys Big Red Fire Truck The Darkness On Their Story-Driven New Record, Easter Is Cancelled The post The Darkness Announce Dreams On Toast 2026 Australian Tour appeared first on Music Feeds. One of the most memorable aspects of the 1997 I Know What You Did Last Summer is its location, a North Carolina fishing town called Southport where the vengeful killer tries to pick off cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Ryan Phillippe, and Sarah Michelle Gellar one by one. Vividly conceived by production designer Gary Wissner, Southport provided a unique and richly detailed environment for the original movies action, and its spirit remained central to the 1998 sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer even though most of that movie moved the horror to an island in the Bahamas. For the latest installment in the franchise also titled I Know What You Did Last Summer co-writer and director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson wanted to pay tribute to Southports role in the story while taking it in new directions. The bedrock to this story is the gentrification of Southport, which underwent this glow-up and is a very different place now, Robinson told IndieWires Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. In Robinsons conception, Southport had to reinvent itself after the murder spree of the original film meaning that its no longer a working class fishing community but an idyllic resort town. More from IndieWire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This transformation plays a key role in causing the films villain to snap, and it also enables Robinson to come up with a new color palette for the movie, replacing the first films occasionally dreary grays with eye-popping whites, blues, and pastels. That meant choosing a different location than the North Carolina towns where the first movie shot. I felt that going back to the same place 27 years later it would just look the same, Robinson said. We wanted to reimagine the world and have it feel different from the original movie. With that in mind, the filmmakers chose to double North Carolina in Sydney, Australia, a decision partly made because of tax credits but primarily due to the areas natural beauty. Its this idyllic, idealized seaside 4th of July town, Robinson said of the Southport recreated in Sydney, and Sydney was a really good double. Robinson noted that even in the original film some material was shot in Northern California, including the scene where the road accident that sets the story in motion occurs. Nothing looks like that in North Carolina, Robinson said. But Sydney does look like the intersection between Northern California and North Carolina, so there are some ways that made it harder and some ways that made it a lot easier to marry the look of the original movie to this one and create this new world. I Know What You Did Last Summer is now playing in theaters. To hear the full Jennifer Kaytin Robinson interview and make sure you dont miss a single episode of Filmmaker Toolkit, subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. There are a few things that probably spring to mind when you think of French beautythat perfect no-makeup makeup look, baby bangs and, of course, a French mani. Naturally, when Kylie Jenner went to France, she put her own spin on the classic clean, French girl aesthetic. Jenner took to her Instagram Stories to share some snaps from her vacation in France, including a selfie that showed off how she chose to interpret French beauty. In the selfie, Jenner wore a simple white tank top and rocked a flawless no-makeup look. She wore her long brown hair in casual loose waves around her shoulders. But the main star of the show was her nails. Instagram/Kylie Jenner Jenner went sans makeup Jenner went sans makeup Jenner held up her hand for the camera, revealing her almond-shaped French manicurewith a Jenner twist. Instead of rocking a classic iteration of the nail staple trend, Jenner switched things up, adding sparkly silver studs to her nails. She accessorized with an assortment of silver rings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenner's spotty French mani makes perfect sense. After all, a few weeks ago, she wrote on Instagram that she was having a "polka dot summer" in a caption that accompanied an image of herself in a vintage polka dot set by Ralph Lauren. She's also rocked a number of spotted bikinis in recent months. Instagram/Kylie Jenner French chic with a modern twist French chic with a modern twist Jenner has been spending much of the summer soaking up the sun in Europe alongside her sister, Kendall. A few weeks ago, the pair made their way to Venice for the much-publicized wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. From their, they set off for Tuscany, before heading to Saint-Tropez in France where they were spotted taking a spontaneous dip in the ocean in their clothes after a patio lunch. Kylie Jenner/Instagram Jenner in an animal print bikini Jenner in an animal print bikini Read the original article on InStyle Malcolm-Jamal Warner was "very proud" of his iconic role on The Cosby Show, but often acknowledged that the show's legacy was changed due to the allegations made against its star, Bill Cosby. Warner died on July 20 at the age of 54, with a source confirming to PEOPLE that the actor was in Costa Rica on a family vacation and drowned while swimming. The actor was best known for playing Theo Huxtable, the only son of Cosby's character, Heathcliff Huxtable, in the sitcom from 1984 to 1992. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, more than 60 women came forward with varying allegations against Cosby, 88. He was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault following Andrea Constand testifying that he had drugged and sexually assaulted her in his Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, home in 2004. Sentenced to three to 10 years, Cosby served more than two years of that sentence before his conviction was overturned in 2021 due to a judge finding that an agreement he'd made with a previous prosecutor voided his case. However, five more women later accused him of sexual assault. Cosby's defense has denied all allegations made against him. Over the years, Warner has spoken publicly about Cosby in the wake of the allegations. Shortly after the allegations against Cosby became public in 2015, Warner called them "painful," adding that Cosby was one of his mentors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hes one of my mentors, and hes been very influential and played a big role in my life as a friend and mentor, Warner told Billboard at the time. Just as its painful to hear any woman talk about sexual assault, whether true or not, its just as painful to watch my friend and mentor go through this. Warner added:I cant really speak on any of the allegations because obviously, I was not there. The Bill Cosby I know has been great to me and great for a lot of people...What hes done for comedy and television has been legendary and history-making. What hes done for the black community and education has been invaluable. Thats the Bill Cosby I know. I cant speak on the other stuff. Alamy Bill Cosby (left) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner on 'The Cosby Show' Bill Cosby (left) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner on 'The Cosby Show' In 2023, Warner told PEOPLE of the show's legacy: "I know I can speak for all the cast when I say The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of." "We share a unique experience that keeps us lovingly bonded no matter how much time goes between seeing or hearing from each other," he added at the time. At the time, he also acknowledged the impact on the show amid the allegations made against Cosby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now, I'm still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on first and foremost, Black culture but also American culture," Warner said. In a separate interview with journalist Jemele Hill in 2023, Warner speculated that his fellow cast members might be "making a killing" today, if it weren't for the Cosby allegations. Acknowledging a recent uptick in show reboots, Warner said, "We could have made a lot of money. Fuller House, they're doing their thing.The Conners, man, we'd be making a killing right now." Asked by Hill if he was "resentful" because "one person impacted you guys' lives and the way this show was seen," Warner responded: No. Not resentment ... I get how this business works, for one. And just that whole situation is so layered, man." "I cant defend him or his actions at all. But I also cant throw him under the bus completely," Warner added. "Because I have an understanding of all the layers. Its so complex and its so many shades of gray, that most people will never get. There is the piece of the financial hit that we all took but also it hasn't really affected my career." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner added that he and his team "set up this life after the show so my life would not have to be dependent upon that show or dependent upon Theo." Alberto Rodriguez/Variety/Getty; Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warner (left) and Bill Cosby Malcolm-Jamal Warner (left) and Bill Cosby Following the success of The Cosby Show, Warner went on to star in several projects, including sitcom Malcolm & Eddie alongside Eddie Griffin from 1996-2000. Warner was also well known for his role as Alex Reed on Reed Between the Lines, which he starred in alongside Tracee Ellis Ross from 2011 to 2015. Even with the success he saw outside the show, though, Warner told Hill "it truly sucked to watch the ship go down the way it went down." "I understand why some people can't watch the show but the show is the show," he added in his interview with Hill. "This was such a timeless show. It's an iconic show. An important show. The effect that it had on Black people worldwide can never be taken away, right?. There's still so much to be proud of in terms of that legacy. But at the same time, I had moved on a long time ago." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: "Even if none of this went down, we probably still wouldn't have done a reboot. Because even like what Mr. Cosby said, we said everything that we had to say. So I don't know that that lane would have even been a viable lane regardless." Warner also reflected on Cosby's work ethic as recently as May 2025, during an appearance on Melyssa Ford's Hot & Bothered podcast. During the episode, Warner said of Cosby: "He would work Monday through Thursday on the show, hop on a plane and do stand-up Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, then be back to work first thing Monday." This is while having the number one show in the world. And I watched that and it made me understand when you are hot, thats when you grind," he said. "So, in the times where things arent so hot, I got my chips stacked, I dont have to go out and make desperate acting choices cause I gotta pay my bills." "I really learned a lot from watching him and Ive also learned a lot like the way the show has affected people, its affected me in a lot of ways too," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Warner is survived by a wife and daughter, whose identities he opted to keep private. Read the original article on People Actor and poet Malcolm Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," has died. He was 54 years old. According to media reports, Warner drowned while swimming near Cocles beach in Limon, Costa Rica. ABC News reports the actor was formally identified by police. Warner played the son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, played by Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad, on the hit NBC sitcom "The Cosby Show", set in Brooklyn Heights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to eight seasons on the hit NBC sitcom as the son of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable, Warner was also known for his role as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie" and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama "The Resident" from 2018 to 2023. Warner is survived by his wife and daughter. Malcolm-Jamal Warner was 'steeped in poetry in the womb' Warner was nominated for a 2023 Grammy award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for his "Hiding in Plain View." He appeared on New York City Public Radio's All of It with Allison Stewart to talk about his album in 2022. When asked about his first memory of poetry, Warner said he has been around poetry "his entire life," and that his father attended Lincoln University because poet and activist Langston Hughes had done the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was steeped in poetry in the womb," Warner laughed on the interview. The actor made an appearance on a symbolic rendition of Stevie Wonder's Jesus Children of America in 2015, a tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting in Connecticut. Warner's contribution was a "thought-provoking slice of spoken word poetry." Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends "The Village" press junket during SCAD aTVfest 2019 at Four Seasons Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Season 2 of 'Not All Hood' podcast opened with conversation on legacy Warner's podcast "Not All Hood" had debuted its second season in June welcoming his The Cosby Show co-star Keshia Knight Pulliam as a special guest. Co-host Candace Kelly asked Warner what it was like on set for the final taping of The Cosby Show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After wiping away tears, Warner noted that he and his fellow cast members were ready to move on. But he started crying when he saw Knight Pulliam, who had started on the show when she was only 4 years old, start to cry. Knight Pulliam said Warner was stuck with her "for life." Warner and Knight Pulliam reflected on their journey as child stars and the importance of filtering out negative energies, staying grounded and grateful. "Gratitude begets gratitude," Warner said. Contributing: USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Malcolm-Jamal Warner talked gratitude, legacy on recent podcast It took 40 years, but Pee-wee's bike is now at the Alamo. Just not the basement. The Alamo announced last week it had acquired and would display the iconic bike from the 1985 Tim Burton film, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. The San Antonio landmark plays a key role in the film chronicling Pee-wee Herman's search for his stolen bicycle when a devious fortuneteller tells him the bike is located in the Alamo's basement. Pee-wee, played by the late Paul Reubens, learns the Alamo doesn't have a basement, but hasn't stopped tourists from tongue-in-cheek inquiries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's the most common question our guest services team hears is, Where is the basement at the Alamo?' said Jonathan Huhn, senior communications director for the Alamo Trust, Inc., the nonprofit organization that oversees the Alamo's operations. It's an iconic piece of Alamo pop-culture history. The red-and-white bike or as Pee-wee calls it in the movie, the best bike in the whole world" is adorned with streamers on the handlebars and a lion emblem at the front. Huhn said it was acquired from an auction in Los Angeles. The bike will serve as a centerpiece in the Mays Family Legacy Gallery, which examines the the Alamos cultural impact, part of a new visitor center and museum slated to open in fall 2027. It will join other pop culture items including memorabilia from the 1960 movie about the Alamo that starred John Wayne. It's really a pop culture bridge" that will bring people to learn about the Alamo's history, Huhn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But before then, the bike will go on display for a limited time at the Ralston Family Collections Center. The Alamo also plans to host a free public screening of Pee-wee's Big Adventure in Plaza de Valero. More details about dates for the display and the screening will be released later. Unlike the Alamo, the building where Pee-wee's bike will eventually be located does have a basement. But, before you ask, that's not where the bike will be. Sitting on an Athens park bench with their skateboards, with pigeons scouring the ground for food at their feet, the cousins at the heart of To a Land Unknown scan their surroundings for their next target. They need money, badly. They need a purse to steal. Palestinian refugees, Chatila and his younger cousin Reda have been stranded here a while. Chatilas wife and 2-year-old son, stuck in their own limbo in a Lebanese refugee camp, live with uncertain hopes of meeting up with the cousins in Germany. This is the universal lament and staggering human cost of refugee displacement, dramatized in Danish-Palestinian filmmaker Mahdi Fleifels tense, coolly heartbreaking debut narrative feature. To a Land Unknown focuses on these loving, sometimes hating cousins, who dream of opening a cafe in their chosen land unknown. Realizing this dream will require a series of anxious gambles and bargains with their lives, and the lives of others. Its an existence balanced between what is and what must be, as another refugee says, quoting Praise for the High Shadow by Mahmoud Darwish. Thats the poetry; Fleifels film favors well-paced if slightly schematic prose, though the actors are more than good enough to keep you with these people every fraught minute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a movie of many deadlines. The first is the two weeks that the cagey, quietly ruthless Chatila has to secure fake passports for himself and the softer-hearted addict Reda. Early in the story, the cousins encounter 13-year-old Malik (Mohammad Alsurafa), a Gazan refugee whose human trafficker, he tells the men, dumped him in Greece instead of reuniting him with his mother, now living in Italy. Everyone in To a Land Unknown seeks some distant shore they can call home, with the promise of reminding them, in some way, of three simple words heard at the very end of the story: the old neighborhood. Chatilas the emergent protagonist in the script by Fyzal Boulifa, Jason McColgan and director Fleifel, and in the compelling, un-showy performance by Mahmoud Bakri, the storys escalating tensions never feel actor-engineered. Cousin Reda, whom Chatila patronizes one minute and loves like a brother the next, may well be the biggest obstacle to a further shore. Aram Sabbah makes this sweet, lost soul a dimensional presence. Much of To a Land Unknown deals with the cousins entry into human trafficking, by way of the hard-drinking Greek national Tatiana (Angeliki Papoulia, Dogtooth) who becomes Chatilas lover. Shes lured, with a promise of pay, into posing as the orphans mother, accompanying him to Italy. Its a long shot. But it might get the cousins where theyre headed, in Germany (a proper European nation, argues Chatila). There are only so many ways To a Land Unknown can conclude its storytelling business and not sell itself short, along with the omnipresent refugee crisis stories we live every minute on this planet. Yet the co-writer and director, who earliest years in a Lebanese refugee camp are the subject of his 2012 documentary A World Not Ours, knows where hes going. The focus tightens ever more effectively on two ordinary men, searching, yearning, stealing, surviving however and if they can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'TO A LAND UNKNOWN' (In Arabic, Greek and English with English subtitles) 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (language, sexuality, some violence) Running time: 1:45 How to watch: Now in theaters NEED TO KNOW Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are best known for their reality shows, 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On The couple married on July 21, 1984, and have welcomed 19 children Today, their children continue to share updates on social media Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have been through a lot of ups and downs during their 41 years of marriage. The couple originally came to fame when their TLC reality show, 19 Kids & Counting, premiered in 2008. Not only are Jim Bob and Michelle known for their oversized brood of 19 children all of whom have names starting with the letter "J" but also for their devotion to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). Duggar Family/Instagram Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar pose for a photo together in November 2019. Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar pose for a photo together in November 2019. The Duggars' journey began with their wedding on July 21, 1984, and the subsequent birth of their first child, Joshua Duggar, in 1988. Over the next several decades, they expanded their family with 18 more children. Jim Bob and Michelle's youngest child, Josie Duggar, was born in 2009. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 19 Kids and Counting ended in 2015 amid claims that their son Josh had molested multiple girls, including his sisters, but a spinoff, Counting On, ran from 2015 to 2021. The series ended in 2021 amid Josh's arrest for receiving and possessing child pornography. In 2022, he was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. Jim Bob was also embroiled in his son's scandals in 2015 as police reports at the time indicated the father of 19 knew about Josh's alleged molestation for months before seeking help. In a statement at the time, Jim Bob and Michelle said, Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong." The couple were never charged in the case. Now, 10 years after the cancellation of 19 Kids and Counting and 41 years into the Duggars' marriage, here's everything to know about Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's lives now. Where are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar living now? The Duggar Family/Instagram Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. The Duggars continue to live in Arkansas, where they have been residing for many years, and where 19 Kids and Counting was set. The couple live in a large compound which features multiple homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Duggars noted in a 2020 episode of Counting On that while their children are allowed to leave the compound at age 18, many choose to stick around for various reasons. In a home tour given by Michelle in May 2011, she talked about how the property expanded over the years, saying, The house grew, from two of them to three of them! It worked out perfectly. What are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar doing for work? The Duggar Family/Instagram Jeremiah Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar, Michelle Duggar, and Joseph Duggar. Jeremiah Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar, Michelle Duggar, and Joseph Duggar. Jim Bob and Michelle have kept busy with various ventures following the end of 19 Kids and Counting. Jim Bob, a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, made a political comeback attempt in 2021 when he announced his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate. However, his campaign was unsuccessful. The father of 19 posted a statement on his Facebook shortly after losing, writing, "Whoever wins the Republican primary will have my support and prayer for victory as he faces a Democrat opponent on February 8." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside his political activities, Jim Bob has remained involved in the real estate industry both he and Michelle hold real estate agent licenses. The Duggars have been known for their house flipping endeavors, purchasing, renovating and selling properties for profit. In February 2020, the pair sold a home in Springdale, Ark., for $1.38 million after purchasing it for just $230,000 in 2014. In January 2025, Jinger told PEOPLE that her dad "really taught us to have a hard work ethic" because of how he worked. "He took on so many jobs. The car business, the towing business. He would do real estate," she said. "He tried to do all the things. He had multiple jobs he was juggling for so many years." Beyond real estate, the duo have written books and given a myriad of public speeches over the years, sharing their experiences and insights on family life, faith and personal growth. Jim Bob and Michelle are also still very involved with the IBLP. Do Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have relationships with their children? The Duggar Family/Instagram Johannah Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Jordyn-Grace Duggar, and Jana Duggar. Johannah Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Jordyn-Grace Duggar, and Jana Duggar. While Jim Bob and Michelle maintain relationships with many of their children, there are a few notable exceptions. Their relationship with their daughter Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, remains strained. Jill and Derick have been vocal about their estrangement, citing control issues and financial disputes as major factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jill has shared in interviews and her books that she had to seek therapy to deal with the emotional toll of her family's dynamics. In September 2023, Jill told Vanity Fair, There's limited contact with my dad. We've had to draw some pretty strict boundaries just for our own health and well-being. Despite these tensions, Jim Bob and Michelle did attend the memorial service for Jill's stillborn daughter, Isla Marie, in April 2024, as seen in photos from the event. Jill and Derick appeared to spend time with her parents while celebrating Christmas in December 2024, though Derick later clarified in an Instagram comment that this "doesnt mean everything is all hunky dorey." Still, Jill did give Jim Bob a rare shout-out on Instagram in honor of Father's Day 2025, writing that he "kept things exciting and adventurous growing up." The Duggar Family/Instagram Jim Bob Duggar. Jim Bob Duggar. A few of Jim Bob and Michelles children have moved on from their traditional upbringings as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her 2022 memoir, The Hope We Hold, daughter Jinger Duggar reflected on her journey away from some of the teachings of the IBLP. She expressed concern about how her parents might perceive her choices, particularly her decision to start wearing pants, which was against the modesty guidelines she was raised with. Jinger shared in the book, I felt emotional as I worried that my parents would think I didnt appreciate how I was raised. She also told PEOPLE in January 2023 that Fear was a huge part of [her] childhood." While not a child of theirs, Jim Bobs niece, Amy Duggar King, who was known as Cousin Amy on 19 Kids and Counting, has no contact with her uncle and aunt. While Amy had often been seen as the "rebel" of the family due to her more liberal lifestyle and views, she has maintained a connection with some of her cousins. Amy openly criticized some of the Duggar familys beliefs and practices in the Shiny Happy People documentary. How many grandchildren do Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have? The Duggar Family/Instagram Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar with their grandson Mason. Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar with their grandson Mason. Its no secret that the Duggars have a large and ever-expanding family, now including at least 32 grandchildren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their eldest son, Josh, has seven children with his wife, Anna: Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella and Madyson. Jill has three sons with her husband, Derrick, named Israel, Samuel and Frederick, while Jessa Duggar has five children with her husband, Ben Seewald. Jinger, now living in California, has three kids with her husband, Jeremy Vuolo. Joy-Anna Duggar has welcomed three children with her husband, Austin Forsyth, named Gideon, Evelyn and Gunner, while Joseph Duggar, along with his wife Kendra Duggar, have at least four children. Additionally, Josiah Duggar has three kids, named Bella, Daisy and Ezra, with his wife, Lauren Duggar, while John-David Duggar and his wife, Abbie Duggar, have two children named Grace and Charlie. Jedidah Duggar shares four children with his wife Katey Nakatsu. Jed's twin Jeremiah also has three children with his wife Hannah. Read the original article on People If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. The story of Bianca Rudolphs mysterious death on a Zambian safari with her husband as reported in the 2022 Rolling Stone feature, Before the Dentist Knows Your Dead is coming to the small screen. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new three-part docuseries, titled Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari, will follow writer Matt Sullivans reporting of Rudolphs death, her rich dentist husband, Larry, and the ensuing international murder investigation. Biancas death was ruled an accident by Zambian authorities, but Larrys mistress(/hygienist) and other secrets raise suspicions from those in the U.S. After Larry is forced to choose between his wife of 34 years, Bianca, and his mistress, one of them is found dead in Larrys safari cabin in Zambia, the docuseries synopsis states. The local authorities rule it an accident, but back in the U.S., suspicions mount. As investigators dig deeper, they uncover decades of salacious patterns in Larrys personal and professional dealings, including affairs, fraud, and more. But the question remains: could this apparent egomaniac commit murder? And if so, does the FBI have the evidence to prove it? The docuseries also builds on Sullivans Rolling Stone feature with the outcome of following criminal proceedings and additional interviews with characters involved. The new interviews include an eclectic cast of characters, including Larrys former business partner, Millirons daughter, the Rudolphs insurance broker, FBI agents close to the case, the former U.S. ambassador to Zambia, and more. Members of Safari Club International and several of Larrys former dental office employees also speak out, painting a disturbing picture of the man at the center of this shocking case. How to Watch Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari Online Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari will be available to stream on Hulu. Plans start at $9.99 a month, but you can get a 30-day free trial here to watch the series for free. Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari Release Date Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari releases on July 21. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BEIRUT, July 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack underscored here on Monday Washington's diplomatic efforts to support Lebanon's sovereignty and peace process, noting that it cannot force Israel to do anything. "The U.S. has no business in trying to compel Israel to do anything," Barrack told reporters at a press conference following his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The U.S. envoy, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy for Syria, arrived in Beirut on Sunday for his third visit since June to meet with senior officials and political and religious figures. Barrack said that although a ceasefire agreement had come into effect between Lebanon and Israel, it had not succeeded. He acknowledged that there are reasons for its failure and that addressing those reasons is a collective effort currently underway. He said the U.S. efforts are aimed at leveraging diplomatic influence to help bring the conflict to a peaceful resolution. The U.S. envoy said the disarmament of Hezbollah is "a deeply internal matter," noting that Washington is ready to work with the Lebanese government to explore ways of providing support. Also on Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday presented U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack with a draft memorandum outlining Lebanon's commitments since the ceasefire with Israel, which came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024. According to Lebanon's presidency, the memorandum reaffirms Lebanon's intention to assert full state authority across its territory through its armed forces, limit the possession of weapons exclusively to the Lebanese military, and ensure that decisions on war and peace remain under the jurisdiction of Lebanon's constitutional institutions. The statement added that this process will take place in parallel with the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty along all its international borders, the initiation of reconstruction efforts, and the launch of economic recovery. Despite the U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire agreement, which called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the Israeli army has occasionally carried out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they are meant to eliminate Hezbollah "threats." Israel has also maintained a presence at five key positions in the Lebanese border region, despite a Feb. 18 deadline for complete withdrawal. If you want an exemption on this year's taxes in Delaware because of a new value from the reassessment, you might not have missed out just yet. Earlier this year, Wilmington Mayor John Carney announced an update to the eligibility requirements for city seniors and people with disabilities for tax exemptions. Eligibility expanded to any Wilmington resident with a disability and to people over the age of 65 who: Are the sole owner and occupant of a property whose income in 2024 was $15,000 or less. Occupy the property with a spouse and have a combined income in 2024 of $19,000 or less. Occupy and co-own the property with someone other than your spouse and your income in 2024 was $15,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DELAWARE REASSESSMENTS: How residents are faring with home sales, ongoing appeals and more Those applications are still open, too. If applying for a 100% exemption, that deadline passed on May 16. Revenue from construction, such as this Hudson Management-owned hotel along Route 1, will keep Sussex County property taxes at the level theyve been at for a quarter-century. But if an application is submitted by Oct. 3, the exemption could be 75%. If applied for by Jan. 2, 2026, then it's 50%. Applications will still be accepted until March 6, 2026, for a 25% tax exemption. The maximum exemption is $40,500 of assessed property value on the city tax bill. Applications are found on Wilmington's city website or right here. WILMINGTON 2026 TAX RATE Carney announces tax relief plan for Wilmington residents, especially seniors What other tax breaks exist? Most other tax break application deadlines for this year's tax bill have passed, but applications can be applied toward the next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also a state school tax credit for people who are 65 or older, but that deadline, April 30 annually, passed. If applied for now, it will apply to next year's school tax bill. It covers 50% or $500 of the school tax bill of a primary residence. New Castle County exemptions In New Castle County, property owners looking for an exemption who haven't applied for one yet have pretty much missed the boat for this year's bill. The deadline for those property tax exemptions was June 1; however, if you apply now, it may apply to next year's bill. It generally applies to people with disabilities and who are 65 years or older and have lived in Delaware for at least 10 years. The applicants income does not exceed $65,000 per year or, if the applicant is married, the spouses combined income does not exceed $65,000 per year, the county application says. Kent County exemptions Kent County's 65 or older and disability tax exemption for county and school taxes deadline has also passed, but can be applied for every year until April 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are similar income limits for this one, with the required adjusted gross annual income not exceeding $18,000; combined income for applicant and spouse not exceeding $24,750, the county Levy Court's website says. TAXES CHANGING IN NEW CASTLE: Delaware schools take reassessment boosts Dover's senior tax exemption for city taxes, which applies to residents 60 and older, has also finished and needs to be filed before March 1 annually. The income requirements for that exemption are $18,240 if you are single or $25,537 for a couple. Sussex County exemptions The only remaining exemption in Sussex County is a property tax subsidy for people whose income does not exceed $15,800 for single, or $20,000 if married, and who have liquid assets with a total value of $15,000 or less. That subsidy must be applied for every year and only applies to $16,000 of assessed value on the county tax bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exemption for county and school taxes for up to $229,000 of assessed value for people who are 65 and older or people with disabilities in Sussex County was due by April 30. Applicants need to be five-year residents of the county and income other than Social Security cannot exceed $6,000 for single, or $7,500 if married. Email any questions or experiences regarding the 2025 Delaware property tax reassessment to Shane Brennan at slbrennan@delawareonline.com This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware property tax exemptions: Who's eligibe, how and when to apply Greece doesn't even crack the top 20 most popular countries for American expats, according to data from World Population Review. And that feels like a mistake, considering the European nation is filled with stunning mountains, historic cities, and seaside towns. But nothing quite compares to the beauty of the Greek Islands, which make for a picture-perfect retirement destination. While there are around 100 inhabited islands in the archipelago, there's one particular island that International Living says is heads and shoulders above the rest as the ultimate place to spend your golden years. In late June, the website dedicated to helping expats find their perfect home abroad shared its list of the six best Greek islands for retirement. And the list comes from one very knowledgeable source: Lynn Roulo, an American expat now living in Athens, Greece. According to Roulo, her top pick for retirees looking for a top-notch spot to spend their golden years is the largest island in Greece, Crete, as it "combines the best of Greek island living with practical advantages like top-notch healthcare, reliable accessibility, major universities, and solid infrastructure." Paul McKenzie/Getty Images An older couple walking through an olive grove in Crete. An older couple walking through an olive grove in Crete. The island, home to about 600,000 people, is like a mini-country in its own right. As Roulo noted, it stretches on for 3,260 square miles, punctuated by small cities, quaint towns with white-washed buildings and blue roofs, and country farms in its rolling hillsides. "Whether you prefer urban energy, peaceful seaside villages, or quiet mountain retreats, you'll find it here, all within a few hours' drive," Roulo added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Travel + Leisure previously shared, Crete is an excellent place for those who love history, thanks to sites like the Palace of Knossos, the island's most iconic archaeological site. "Crete's most famous archaeological site is the great Minoan Palace of Knossos, the oldest, largest, and most elaborate of these sites," Peter Sommer of Peter Sommer Travels shared. "In its wide courts, shaded colonnades, and intricate arrangements of room after room, floor after floor, one can really come to grips with a civilization from far back in the Bronze Age, and grapple with questions that are still hotly debated what did these palaces look like, what were they for, who lived in them, and how did they function?" And it's a fantastic place for those who love the outdoors, with destinations like Samaria Gorge, which will take you on a 10-mile hike through Crete's White Mountains. And naturally, there are plenty of beaches to relax on, including the famed Elafonissi Beach, known for its pink sand created by millions of crushed seashells. Roulo added that the island is also well-connected to the rest of the world, thanks to its two international airports (Heraklion and Chania) and ferry ports. Healthcare is also relatively accessible thanks to the University General Hospital of Heraklion. Crete also "has large supermarkets and chain stores, including Lidl, and starting in 2025, Heraklion will be home to a newly opened IKEA," Roulo said. Other spots to make Roulo's list include Corfu, Syros, Naxos, Rhodes, and Evia. As for how you can make the leap to the Aegean nation, the best option may be the Greece Retirement Visa, otherwise known as the Greece FIP visa, which offers temporary residency to non-EU citizens that can show passive earnings of at least 3,500 (about $4,100) per month, according to Lincoln Global Partners. See more about the visa process and start your application at migration.gov.gr. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure If your travel experience has been lacking so far on your 2025 bucket list, its time to start planning some incredible trips around the globe. Whether youre retired or still inching toward it, now can be a great time to visit destinations youve always wanted to experience. Read Next: Im a Travel Expert: 3 Cheap Destinations Baby Boomers Are Heading To For You: 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth Doni Belau, founder of Girls Guide to the World, a women-only travel company, and Kendra Guild, vice president of North America at Solos, a travel company that arranges group trips for solo vacationers, shared some of their top picks for baby boomers to travel outside the United States to in 2025. So, whether you are doing some independent luxury travel, are planning a girls-only trip or just want some money-saving guidance, theyve got you covered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what they had to say, along with some travel tips to save money on your trip. Puglia, Italy The heel of the boot of Italy is a remarkable destination with fabulous food, charming seaside towns, 1000-year-old olive groves and white-washed hillside villages, Belau said. If you go in the shoulder season March to May and October to November you wont see the crowds you do in Venice, Rome or Tuscany. Opting to stay in a vacation rental can help you save money, she said. You can cook in on fresh market finds every other night, she said. You will, however, want a car to travel easily to the far corners of this region. Check Out: 6 US Cities Where You Can Still Enjoy a Luxury Vacation for Cheap Thailand Visiting Thailand can offer a lot of bang for your buck, Belau said. For example, she said you can stay in a four- or five-star hotel for a fraction of the price of a similar accommodation in the U.S. or Europe, allowing you to stay longer and see more on your trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you start in Bangkok, but then head off the beaten path i.e., not to Phuket or other popular islands youll get a lot more for your money, she said. Sukhothai in Central Thailand is the ideal place to soak in the history of Thailand. Belau said her travel company, Girls Guide, is excited to travel to the River Kwai region for an in-depth nature encounter and to stay in floating hotel rooms. The Float House has rates around $300 a night, which is not cheap, but its a far cry from what youd pay in the Caribbean or the Maldives to stay on the water, she added. Albania Albania is an increasingly popular travel destination for a variety of compelling reasons across both affordability and stunning natural scenery, Guild said. The country boasts diverse landscapes, from beautiful beaches along the Ionian and Adriatic Seas to the rugged mountains of the Albanian Alps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that the countrys affordability can allow you to enjoy the best of the Adriatic Sea at a significantly lower price than neighboring Greece. Additionally, she said walking and/or soft active travel has become an upward trend for boomers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Right after the pandemic, there was a significant rise in hiking clubs and other outdoor activities in the boomer demo, combined with an increasing desire overall to get away from crowds, she said. This really gave way to the off-the-beaten-path walking tours like Albania and a few other European walking destinations that we include in our portfolio. Norway, Iceland or Finland If you enjoy stargazing, Guild suggested embarking on a trip that will allow you to view the night sky in its finest glory. 2025 is set to be one of the last prime years in the current solar cycle to witness the Northern Lights at their most vibrant, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With solar activity reaching its peak, auroras will be brighter and more frequent, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this natural spectacle in destinations like Norway, Iceland or Finland. Egypt and the Grand Egyptian Museum The highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum finally opened on Oct. 16, 2024, Guild said. The museum took over 20 years to build and is now home to some of the worlds greatest ancient treasures. A treasure trove for history buffs, she said its the largest archaeological museum complex in the world, home to more than 100,000 artifacts. For the first time ever, King Tuts entire treasure collection will be on display, according to Guild. Egypt is on many baby boomers bucket lists, and now is an ideal time to visit. Final Take To GO: How To Save Money on Travel The bottom line is that you can make any average trip into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Whether its exploring foreign lands or sailing on a working vessel, you can make the most of your retirement and newfound life of leisure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something Ive personally always wanted to do is to sail across the Atlantic or Pacific on a working vessel, Belau said. This is the ultimate anti-cruise, and its far more affordable. Youll get to hang out with the crew, learn how the ship works and get a feel for what life on the high seas is really like, she noted. A number of companies offer this. If youre an AARP member, you can enjoy a host of travel benefits. This includes car rentals, cruises, flights and vacation packages, hotels and resorts, rails and tours, and travel planning. For example, AARP members can get up to 35% off base rental car rates at Budget. You can also get up to 10% off the best available rate and late checkout until 2 p.m. when available at Hilton hotels. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Travel Expert: 5 Top Destinations for Boomers Worth the Money If you've eaten at a Chinese restaurant in the U.S. any time in the past few decades, odds are good that you've seen (or tasted) General Tso's chicken. It typically consists of heavily battered and deep-fried bites of chicken tossed in a sauce that is sweet, salty, sour, and a little bit spicy. If you know a thing or two about traditional Chinese cooking, you may not be surprised to learn that General Tso's chicken is a Chinese-American dish not commonly eaten in China. However, you may be surprised to learn that the meal does actually have roots leading back to Hunan cuisine, and the name even comes from a real general. The modern American form may be hardly recognizable to its inventor, but it is one on a long list of dishes that few realize were invented in the U.S. or at least changed enough to be considered unique. This world-famous Chinese-American dish was first produced in Taiwan by a Hunanese chef named Peng Chang-kuei. While his training was in Hunanese cuisine, this particular dish was first made to suit the tastes of a visiting American admiral. Despite the desire to appeal to the admiral's American palate, the original dish largely stuck to Hunanese technique and tradition, which includes not mixing sweet and savory flavors, so the original dish was quite different from its modern Chinese takeout form. That said, given that the dish began as an attempt to wow one American, perhaps it should be of little surprise that in the following decades it came to dominate the menus of restaurants across the United States. Read more: 13 Chinese Restaurant Chains, Ranked Worst To Best The Origin Of Chef Peng And General Tso's Chicken Wok being held over a strong flame - Maria Korneeva/Getty Images Chef Peng Chang-kuei was born in 1919 to a poor family in Changsha, the capital of Hunan. He began his culinary career early, as an apprentice to a famous chef of the time, and his hard work led him steadily up the ladder. By the end of World War II, he was in charge of the banquets for the Chinese Nationalist Party. It was in this role that he first concocted this now-famous dish, General Tso's chicken, during a three-day banquet for the state visit of Admiral Arthur W. Radford in December 1954. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first iteration of General Tso's chicken was pieces of chicken that were first fried, then sauteed with garlic, ginger, and chilies. The flavors were traditionally Hunanese: salty, sour, and spicy, with none of the modern sweetness. Peng named the dish for General Tso Tsung-tang (also sometimes spelled Zuo Zong-tang), a famous commander from Hunan Province best known for maintaining order with military campaigns against several rebel groups during the time of the Qing dynasty. At the time that he invented the dish, the chef did more than just the Chinese Nationalist Party banquets. He was also a very famous chef in Taiwan and operated a restaurant in Taipei called the Mandarin. But despite his fame, the quality of the dish, and its auspicious name, General Tso's chicken did not catch on in Taiwan. It wasn't until it made the trip halfway around the world to New York City that it found both fame and its final form. How The U.S. Palate Changed General Tso's Chicken Street in New York City's Chinatown - Lewis Tse/Shutterstock In 1973, Peng moved to the U.S. and opened a Hunan restaurant called Uncle Peng's Hunan Yuan in New York City. But, as it turned out, his signature dish had preceded him. A New York City chef by the name of Tsung Ting Wang opened his Hunan-style restaurant, Hunam, in 1972. On the menu was his own take on General Tso's chicken, a recipe he borrowed from Peng. But Wang knew his way around the American palate, so he didn't just copy the recipe; he transformed it. He turned a dish with traditional Hunan flavors into something that would appeal to the American masses by thickening the batter and sweetening the sauce and clearly he did it well. In perhaps the most unexpected twist of this culinary saga, General Tso's chicken has made its way back to Hunan province, where some restaurants have added it to their menus as a traditional Hunanese dish. While it is not nearly as popular there as it is in Chinese-American restaurants, clearly there is some magic to a dish that can seemingly find a home just about anywhere. These days, you can find just about anything you want done in the style of General Tso's chicken. There is the Chinese-American takeout classic General Tso's chicken recipe, but you can also experience General Tso's baked tofu or General Tso's chicken wings. Heck, we even have a recipe for General Tso's cauliflower. Read the original article on Tasting Table. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A woman is facing charges, and a man was taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Baton Rouge on Monday, July 21. The stabbing happened in the 2600 block of Lula Avenue just after 1 a.m., according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. BRPD said a man was attacked multiple times during a domestic violence situation. Authorities confirmed the man was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keyera Harris, 29, was charged with attempted second-degree murder and domestic abuse battery in connection with the incident. Keyera Harris, 29 Juvenile seriously injured in 4-wheeler crash in Addis 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. CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) One person was airlifted with serious injuries after a crash in Cedar City Monday morning, according to Cedar City Police. At around 7:30 a.m. on July 21, officers responded to a crash on SR-56 at Airport Rd. According to Officer Justin Ludlow, Cedar City Police, a white Nissan SUV was heading westbound on SR-56 and ran a red light. At the same time, a maroon Lincoln sedan was turning northbound onto Airport Rd. from SR-56. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nissan SUV was reportedly launched into a ditch, trapping the driver inside. Police, along with Cedar City fire personnel, extricated the individual. Life Flight also responded, and the person was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries. Their current condition is unknown, according to Ludlow. The driver of the Lincoln sedan was uninjured. The highway was closed after the crash but has since reopened. 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. WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56) Investigators in Winchester are asking the public to help identify a person after an ATM was tampered with multiple times over the weekend. According to a July 20 Facebook post from the Winchester Police Department, an ATM was tampered with on Saturday afternoon, which prompted a high alert in the area for patrol officers. Around 5 a.m. on Sunday, department officials said the same ATM alarm went off again. Police responded, finding a vehicle believed to belong to those who were tampering with it. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An attempt to pull the vehicle over failed, and after a short chase, authorities said the car crashed into a fence near Thoroughbred Plaza, and two people ran away. Xavier Betancourt, 24, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested and lodged in the Clark County Detention Center on Sunday. charged with: Rear license plate not illuminated Improper display of registration plates No operators license First-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle Reckless driving First-degree wanton endangerment Second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot Resisting arrest Officers are searching for the passenger in Betancourts car. Officers are searching for the passenger in a vehicle in connection with an ATM tampering investigation. A photo of him was captured by using security camera footage. (Winchester Police Department) Anyone with information that could help Winchester police find the passenger is asked to call the department at (859) 745-7403. 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. WOOD RIVER, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities in northern Wisconsin released information about an incident where a 10-year-old girl died after getting hit by a vehicle. According to the Burnett County Sheriffs Office, on July 20, around 11:50 a.m., a call came in reporting a 10-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle. The reported incident happened in the Burnett Dairy Cooperative parking lot in Wood River Township. Police in Wisconsin looking for missing 22-year-old woman last seen walking at 3 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say the girl was airlifted to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The identity of the girl was not released. The driver was identified as an 85-year-old from Grantsburg. The incident is under investigation, but the sheriffs office said it appears to be accidental. Burnett County is in the northwest part of Wisconsin near the border of Minnesota. One dead in Wisconsin following crash involving motorcycle and deer No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this story if more details are released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GAZA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Gaza's health authorities said on Monday that a senior official was detained by Israeli special forces disguised in civilian clothing near a field hospital in southern Gaza. In a press statement, the health authorities said Marwan Al-Hams, director of Abu Youssef Al-Najjar Hospital and head of Gaza's field hospital operations, was detained while on his way to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) field hospital in the city of Rafah. According to the statement, Israeli forces opened fire on the ambulance transporting Al-Hams, killing one of his companions and injuring two others, including the driver. Palestinian journalist Tamer Al-Zaanin was also killed in the incident. The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza condemned the abduction and the use of force, describing it as "a grave violation of international humanitarian law." It called on the ICRC to "take a clear and firm stance" on the matter. "Targeting medical personnel during the performance of their humanitarian duties constitutes a blatant breach of the Geneva Conventions," the Gaza media office said, urging the international community to intervene and ensure the protection of Gaza's healthcare sector. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military over the incident. The detention comes amid escalating tensions in southern Gaza, where Israeli forces have been conducting frequent military operations, prompting growing concern from international organizations over the safety of humanitarian and medical personnel. Whether served in a sandwich, as a topping on pizza, as a glazed holiday entree, or as a side for a hearty breakfast, there are so many ways to eat ham. However, like any animal product, ham can become potentially dangerous if contaminated with certain bacteria or if incorrectly stored. Behind this popular protein lies an unfortunate history of alarming food safety incidents which resulted in several nationwide product recalls. These product recalls occurred for a variety of reasons including packaging errors, mislabeling, and even serious outbreaks like Listeria and Salmonella. Because of the potential danger, companies were left with no choice but to pull these items from grocery stores around the country. In this article, we're revisiting 12 of the most devastating ham recalls to ever rock the grocery industry. Each case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of food safety protocols and the dangers that can lie in a grocery aisle. Read more: 14 Healthiest Store-Bought Hot Dogs, Ranked Sliced Prosciutto Product Recalled After Failing To Be Inspected By United States Officials A man carves a slice of meat off the leg of a pig - Studio Nut / Shutterstock One of the more recent major ham recalls happened in April of 2024, when ConSup North America Inc. had to recall one of their popular ham products. The item in question was their sliced prosciutto ham, which was produced in Germany before being shipped to the United States. The reason for this recall was due to the fact that the ConSup North America Inc. prosciutto ham was imported "without the benefit of equivalent inspection," which is necessary to receive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the issue was discovered by Germany's Federal Office of Consumer Protection and notified to FSIS, the recall was made. Nearly 86,000 pounds of the ready-to-eat sliced prosciutto ham was recalled, with the affected product being the 5.29-ounce plastic packages containing Stockmeyer Prosciutto Product of Germany produced between September 2023 and March 2024. Thankfully, no customers reported any health issues from the recalled products. In the end, only 6,193 products were recovered. Listeria Contamination Leads To Millions Of Pounds Of Alexander & Hornung Ham And Pepperoni Being Recalled A piece of pepperoni on a wood board with three slices cut off - Westend61 / Getty Images Of all the reasons a product can be recalled, a Listeria outbreak is one of the most serious. In December of 2021, a staggering 2,320,774 pounds of Alexander & Hornung fully cooked ham and pepperoni products were recalled after a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak was discovered by the company. Shortly after samples of the product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, the FSIS was informed, and the ham was recalled. Major national grocery stores including Albertsons had to pull the product from its shelves. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause disease and is usually found in areas with unsanitary food production. Once an area is contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes, it can be difficult to contain the spread and to make sure the area is safe for food production again. Once contracted, Listeriosis can give people fevers, muscle aches, nausea, and stomach pain. Children, pregnant people, the elderly, and those who have weakened immune systems can be especially vulnerable to Listeriosis, and extreme cases can lead to death. Thankfully, no customers who purchased this product reported any illness after consumption. There was 1,399,545 pounds of the products recovered from this recall. Package Labeling Error Forces Morrilton Packing Co. To Recall Boneless Ham Products a boneless ham on plate with basil and fries and pickles - from my point of view / Shutterstock Not all recalls happen because of an issue within the product; in some cases it's an issue with packaging that makes it a danger to customers. In December of 2015, Morrilton Packing Co.. was left with no other option but to recall around 12,146 pounds of their boneless ham product after it was discovered that the product's packaging had a mistake on its label. According to the FSIS, the 8 to 9-pound single boneless ham product with the label Cedar Falls Brand Boneless Hickory Smoked Honey Cured Ham failed to show that they contained soy on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soy allergy is one of the more common allergies in the United States, with around 0.4% of children having the allergy. Failing to add this allergen on the label could lead to someone unintentionally ingesting it, which can be potentially dangerous for allergic individuals. This labelling issue was discovered by the plant after they did an internal review of the labels, and the problem was quickly communicated to the FSIS. While 12,146 pounds were recalled in the state of Arkansas, only 1,808 pounds of the ham product was able to be recovered. Black Forest Ham Recalled After Customers Spot Major Labeling Error A skillet with Black Forest Ham on a wood table - Vladimir Mironov / Getty Images Black Forest Ham is one of the most popular store-bought sliced ham options you can buy, but it's only desirable if you actually know what you're consuming. In June of 2018, Land O'Frost, Inc. had to recall some of their Premium Black Forest Ham products after a major packaging issue was discovered. The product in question was the 1 pound Land O'Frost Premium Old World Style Black Forest Ham in plastic resealable bags. While the front of the plastic packaging correctly labeled that it was containing Black Forest Ham, the back of the packaging was completely inaccurate and was mislabeled as containing Honey Smoked Turkey Breast instead. And so, 4,944 pounds of the product had to be recalled after a customer found the issue and complained. At the time of the recall, these products were already shipped to grocery stores in Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. And 1,219 pounds of the products were recalled, but thankfully no illness was reported from customers. Failure To Inspect Imported Ham Leads To Over 11,000 Pounds Recalled A large glazed ham on a plate with rosemary and lemons surrounding it - Foodgraphy39 / Shutterstock The USDA and the FSIS take their role in protecting American consumers very seriously, and a big part of that is making sure imported products are carefully inspected and approved before making it on grocery store shelves. This process includes a careful inspection of the meat product as well as the label to make sure everything is accurate and up to USDA and FSIS standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October of 2023, Olymel, a company based in Quebec, Canada had to recall 11,016 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products after the company failed to present it for re-inspection into the United States. The product in question was their 12 pound Extra Lean Celebrity 96% Fat Free Imported Ham Water Added which were inspected by Canadian authorities but not by the FSIS. After FSIS surveillance discovered the problem, the product was recalled from grocery locations in California. While only 859 pounds of the product were recovered, thankfully no illness was reported from customers. Salmonella Outbreak Discovered In Celebrity Brand Ham Incites Urgent Recall A pile of sliced ham on a wood board with olives, a fork, and rosemary nearby - Vladimir Mironov / Getty Images Unfortunately, failing to inspect their Extra Lean Celebrity 96% Fat Free Imported Ham Water Added in 2023 is not the only scandal that has rocked the Olymel company. In April of 2021, the company faced another major issue when they discovered a Salmonella Enteritidis contamination of one of their ready-to-eat ham products. The product in question was their 12 pound Celebrity Extra Lean Imported Ham 98% Fat Free product. The Salmonella contamination was discovered during a routine sample collection of the imported ham product by the FSIS and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). After samples of the product tested positive for Salmonella, 6,804 pounds of the ham were recalled. Salmonella, or salmonellosis, is a bacterial disease that hits the intestines. Once infected, Salmonella can give people fevers, stomach pains, and stomach illness. In severe cases, salmonella can become life-threatening, especially for children, the elderly, and those with vulnerable immune systems. Thankfully, no illnesses were reported. Deli Ham Recall Issued After Plastic Was Found Inside Packaging By Customers A person holds a package of sliced ham in front of a larger display of the meat - rafa jodar / Shutterstock In February of 2019, a truly unfortunate mistake in a product's packaging led to a significant recall for the Sahlen Packing Company. In this recall, the problem wasn't with the ham, but with an unwanted item found within the packaging. According to the FSIS announcement, it was discovered that select packages of the Market 32 By Price Chopper Black Forest Ham were "contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically plastic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue was discovered after an establishment carrying the ham discovered the plastic inside the item. The items affected were sold in grocery retail locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Thankfully, no customers were hurt or affected by this issue. A total of 13,224 pounds of the ham product were recalled, but only 7,865 pounds were recovered. This incident is one of the more unique ham recalls in history, and it certainly isn't one that the Sahlen Packing Company will forget anytime soon. Over 89,000 Pounds Of Johnston County Ham Recalled Due To Listeria Contamination A close-up on some sliced ham on a wood board - Alessio Orru / Shutterstock Johnston County Hams based out of North Carolina was rocked with a major recall when it was discovered that several variations of their ready-to-eat ham products were potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Around 89,096 pounds of the ham products were recalled due to the incident, making this recall particularly notable. The affected products included 7 to 8 pound packages of Johnston County Hams, Inc. Country Style Fully Cooked Boneless Deli Ham, Ole Fashioned Sugar Cured (The Old Dominion Brand Hams Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham), Padows Hams & Deli, Inc. Fully Cooked Country Ham Boneless Glazed with Brown Sugar, Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham Less Salt Distributed By: Valley Country Hams LLC, and Goodnight Brothers Country Ham Boneless Fully Cooked. These varying products were recalled from states including Maryland, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia. This recall came to be after one person became ill with listeriosis in September of 2018. In total, the FSIS was able to link four related illnesses, including the death of one consumer in Virginia. In the wake of this tragedy, all retailers were informed to throw out all affected ham and clean all kitchens and slicers that may have come into contact. Failure To Declare Malted Barley On Packaging Leads To Recall Of Hahn Brothers Ham Several slices of ham on a wood plank surrounded by tomatoes and salt - Tetiana Chernykova / Shutterstock In August of 2017, a massive 115,773 pounds of ham products had to be recalled after a dangerous mislabeling error was discovered. Hahn Brothers, Inc., based out of Maryland, had to issue a recall after it was discovered that barley was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging of Lou's Garrett Valley Natural, All Natural black forest seasoned uncured ham nugget, Fully Cooked Wood Smoked product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue was discovered when a customer complained after they realized the product labeled barley as an ingredient on the Hahn Brothers website, but failed to label it on the packaging label on the product. Barley is a semi-common allergy that is especially prevalent in children. Failing to label this allergen could lead to severe reactions if ingested by an allergic person. Thankfully, no reports of any reactions were given to the FSIS. Despite the large number of product that was recalled, only 2,142 pounds were able to be recovered. Deli Meat Ham Pulled From Florida And Georgia After Listeria Discovery A display of Boar's Head meat and cheese products - Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Boar's Head is one of the most popular deli meat brands on the market, with fans loving the delicious variety of Boar's Head deli meat options available. Spanning five generations, Boar's Head aims to provide quality deli meat at a great value for customers in the United States, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, and Panama. However, even this established company has faced some major tribulations over the years, including some notably (and sadly deadly) Listeria outbreaks. In July of 2024, Boar's Head was forced to recall 1,305 pounds of their Grab and Go Wedge Ham and their Grab and Go Smokemaster Black Forest Ham. The reason for the recall was due to the exposure of Listeria monocytogenes to these products. This recall affected retail locations in Florida and Georgia. While this was not one of the biggest ham recalls in history, it did gain notability due to the high profile that Boar's Head has. Gusto Packing Recalls Over 67,000 Pounds Of Spiral Ham Due To Listeria Concerns A spiral cut ham served on a table with deviled eggs and orange juice - Elena Veselova / Shutterstock In January of 2014, Gusto Packaging, based in Illinois, was left with no other option than to recall 67,113 pounds of ham after a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak became apparent. The recall affected three products: the iCentrella Signature, Hardwood Hickory Smoked, Spiral Sliced Ham with Natural Juices, the iAmish Valley, Fully Cooked, Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham, and the iRipple Creek Farms, Fully Cooked, Ready To Eat, Hickory Smoked, Spiral Sliced Ham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These products were exported to Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Canada. According to the FSIS, Gusto Packaging reported the error after routine sampling discovered the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. While the company meant to hold all affected products in frozen storage, an error led to some of the ham products being shipped out anyways. Consuming Listeria contaminated food can be potentially fatal for vulnerable groups, which made this recall very serious. 18,997 pounds of the product were recovered from this recall. Sara Lee Salmonella Outbreak Causes Ham Recall A person grabbing a pack of deli meat from a freezer - Grace Cary / Getty Images While all of the other recalls on this list were targeted toward ham products, this particular recall affected more than one kind of deli meat. In July of 2001, Sara Lee Foods had to recall 13,600 pounds of their sliced ham products (also sliced beef was recalled), after a salmonella contamination was discovered in the processing facility. The recall affected five products, including the Sara Lee Brown Sugar Ham in 8-ounce packages. According to the FSIS, this salmonella contamination led to the illness of at least one customer. Salmonella can be incredibly dangerous for vulnerable groups, making this a high priority Class 1 recall. Like the other recalls on this list, this situation was a sobering reminder of the potential dangers that could be hidden in your favorite ham products. While these recalls are rare, they do reinforce the importance of organizations like the USDA and the FSIS in keeping American consumers as safe and healthy as possible. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. Read the original article on The Daily Meal. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A juvenile has been arrested after stealing a car and leading police on a high-speed chase, all with a 15-month-old baby in the back seat. The St. Clair County Sheriffs Office says an SUV was stolen from a gas station around 9 p.m. last Thursday in Port Huron. The vehicle was eventually spotted by a neighboring police agency on I-94. Sign up for the News 8 daily newsletter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect refused to stop for police. News 8 affiliate Mid-Michigan Now reported the driver exceeded 100 miles per hour at one point during the chase. Dashcam video provided by the SCCSO shows the driver eventually lose control while swerving into a parking lot in Chesterfield and strike a truck, ending the chase. St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King commended his team and the coordination between multiple departments. Great work by deputies, officers and Central Dispatch today, King said in a social media post. When a child is involved, situations are certainly more heightened and we are all grateful the child was unharmed in this instance. Police did not reveal the identity of the suspect. The SCCSO only referred to them as a juvenile with a lengthy criminal history. 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 WOODTV.com. A 16-year-old boy is dead after being pulled from a Framingham pond on Sunday. According to Framingham police, on July 20, officers and Framingham fire responded to a report of a drowning at Learneds Pond. Upon arrival, EMS began immediate search and rescue, and a dive team member located a 16-year-old male and pulled him from the water. Life-saving measures were initiated on scene and en route to MetroWest Medical Center-Framingham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The male was pronounced dead at a Boston-area hospital. The identity of the individual is being withheld. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, said Acting Police Chief Sean Riley. Our officers and first responders did everything they could, and our thoughts remain with everyone impacted by this tragedy, Riley added. We want to thank our firefighters, police officers, EMS crews, and mutual aid partners, said Framingham Fire Chief Michael Dutcher. No further information is being released at this time. 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 PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) is investigating a shooting that left a teenage boy seriously hurt in the early hours of Monday morning. PGPD said a 17-year-old boy was shot at about 2 a.m. in the Landover area. He sought help at an Exxon gas station in the 7100 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway and was taken to the hospital. Man found fatally shot inside car in Prince Georges County, police investigating Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Monday at 11 a.m., he was in critical, but stable condition. Police noted that the shooting itself happened in the 1800 block of Cedarwood Court. Detectives were still working to determine what led up to the shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to the Prince Georges County Crime Solvers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON, BELGRADE, Serbia, and DHAKA, Bangladesh -- At least 31 people were killed and 78 were injured when a Bangladeshi air force jet crashed on a school in the capital Dhaka on Monday, officials said. Among the victims were at least 29 children, according to a Tuesday statement from the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) of the Bangladesh Armed Forces said. The aircraft crashed on the grounds of the Milestone School and College, in the city's northern Uttara neighborhood, close to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The rescue operation is still ongoing," Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, the director of the ISPR, told ABC News. "It will take some more time. All injured or dead have been taken to four different hospitals." Abdul Goni/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Bangladeshi emergency and security personnel are pictured at the site of a plane crash in Dhaka on July 21, 2025. The single-seater, Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff after experiencing a "mechanical failure," Chowdhury said. The pilot -- Flt. Lt. Md Towkir Islam -- "made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas," Chowdhury said. "Despite his best efforts, the aircraft tragically crashed." Islam died from his injuries as he was being taken to hospital, Chowdhury added. "It was a training mission, part of regular training, not a bigger exercise," Chowdhury said. He added that the ISPR does not know yet if the aircraft had any prior technical issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chowdhury said the rescue operation at the impact site is ongoing. "There may still be people inside," he said. "We are not yet sure if everyone is out of the building. The smoke and heat are very high." A senior teacher at the school told ABC News that around 4,000 students study at the center. "But when the incident happened, around 1,000 students were present in the campus," the teacher said. The plane crashed next to the school's cafeteria. ABC News' Salman Saeed contributed to this report. At least 19 people have died after an Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. Children are among the victims of the crash at Milestone School and College, according to Reuters, with the confirmed number of fatalities expected to rise. One of the deceased is the pilot of the F-7 BGI aircraft, Associated Press reported. More than 100 people, many of them students, were also injured in the crash, which occurred in Dhakas northern Uttara area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bangladesh Air Forces F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed in Uttara. The aircraft took off at 13:06 [02:06 ET], the countrys military said in a statement. Parents and families of Milestone School and College students gather at the college campus looking for their children after a Bangladesh Air Force F7 aircraft crashed into the building / Salahuddin Ahmed/Drik/Getty Images The plane went down shortly after takeoff and caught fire, sending huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the air. The cause of the crash is not yet known. A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14, and 40, were admitted to the hospital, said Bidhan Sarker, head of the burns unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where dozens of victims were taken, according to Reuters. Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, described how parents were picking up their children at the school gate when the plane came crashing down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I heard an explosion, Tarik told Reuters. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke. The death toll is expected to rise as a search and rescue operation continues at the crash site. / Abdul Goni/AFP via Getty Images Images from the scene show emergency responders desperately searching for survivors in the rubble of the crash site. Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the interim government in Bangladesh, vowed that a full investigation would be conducted, while expressing his deep grief and sorrow for the victims of the tragedy. The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable, Yunus said in a statement. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government will take necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident and ensure all forms of assistance. Bangladesh will observe a national day of mourning on Tuesday to honor the victims of the crash, according to the BBC. The incident comes just one month after an Air India jet en route to Londons Gatwick Airport crashed into a medical college hostel in the city of Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and a further 19 on the ground. A cargo ship lying at the bottom of the sea off the Belgian coast has been fitted with a new treasure chest: a stash of rare flat oysters. Molluscs have mostly disappeared from the North Sea due to human activity, including overfishing. Now, a Belgian project is trying to reintroduce it in a move scientists believe will help boost other marine species. "We have to bring them back because they are essential elements in our marine ecosystems," Vicky Stratigaki, an engineer working on the restoration project, told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In mid-July, a load of 200,000 oyster larvae attached to biodegradable materials was deposited about 100 feet under the sea in the ship's hull. The environmental project, named Belreefs, aims to turn the wreckage into a biodiversity sanctuary. Flat oysters form reefs that purify water and that other sea animals, from fish to algae, use as breeding and feeding grounds, explained Stratigaki. "There is a lot of predation in the sea, it's a wild environment," she said, with about 30,000 of the oyster larvae expected to survive their first year at sea. "Then they will start reproducing, extending the reef and also supporting the biodiversity of the reef." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The laying of the oyster stash is the culmination of two years' work for the Belgian government project, which is supported by European Union funding. "Until around the 1850s, the North Sea and the European waters were full of these oyster reefs," Stratigaki explained. Then overfishing, the spreading of an imported parasite called Bonamia and "climatic adverse effects" caused them to disappear, she said. The 1906 wreckage, located about 20 miles off the coastal city of Ostend, was selected to house the pilot as fishing and other disruptive activities are banned around it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In Belgium every wreck that is for more than one hundred years on the sea bottom gets protected automatically as cultural heritage, because it's nice for divers to go there," said Merel Oeyen, a marine environment expert at the Belgian ministry of health. "It's also a hot spot for biodiversity." A 2023 paper published in BioScience found that shipwrecks provide important ecological resources for a wide variety of organisms, from tiny microbes to large marine creatures. "Small fish and mobile crustaceans often find shelter in the crevices of the sunken material, and larger baitfish and predators use shipwrecks as feeding grounds and rest stops as they swim from one place to another," according to NOAA, which helped conduct the study. However, scientists also warned shipwreck can also cause damage to existing marine life in the area, or carry harmful cargo, such as oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the study's author, Avery Paxton, said shipwrecks can have "second lives" as homes to a variety of marine life. "A ship's transformation from an in-service vessel into a thriving metropolis for marine life has a fairy-tale quality to it," Paxton said in an article published by The Washington Post after the study was released. What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett JOHNSTOWN, Pa. As the 48th anniversary of the 1977 Johnstown Flood is commemorated this weekend, thoughts are also with the victims of the recent flooding in central Texas. More than 140 fatalities have been confirmed from that disaster, with approximately 100 people still missing. One of the worst tragedies of the Texas flooding is that at least two dozen campers and counselors died at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls summer camp at the confluence of the South Fork Guadalupe River and Cypress Creek. That loss of life has gotten operators of some camps in the local region thinking about safety at their own properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barbara Sauers | Scenes of Texas flooding evoke memories of Johnstown in 1977 Hearing about and watching the aftermath of the catastrophic flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas has brought back many memories of what it was like to go through something equally catastrophic Johnstowns 1977 Flood. Brandon Jones, director of operations at Outdoor Odyssey, located in Boswell, said there is constant worry when youve got other peoples children that youre taking care of. These things that happen, they make you look at other parts of your safety and what else do you need to make sure kids are safe, Jones said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some tragedy, like that happened at Camp Mystic, that should open your eyes to not just what would happen if a flood came through, but that makes me think: What would happen if you had a tornado? If you had other types of violent storm warnings? It makes us think about our planning and safety in different ways. I think thats what it does for us. PHOTO GALLERY | 1977 Johnstown Flood The flash flooding in Texas was caused by fast-moving water, including when the Guadalupe River rose 20 to 30 feet in a few hours near Camp Mystic July 4. Similarly, a storm dumped almost 12 inches of rain onto Johnstown on July 19-20, 1977. Rivers and creeks rose and rushed, damaging property and killing more than 80 people. It was the citys most recent major flood, following the St. Patricks Day Flood of 1936 and the historic 1889 Flood that killed more than 2,200 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know in the Johnstown area, when water comes, sometimes it doesnt have anywhere to go, Jones said. You cant do anything about it, but you have to react to things as quick as possible. When you hear those warnings, you have to take it seriously. Couple hundred kids Outdoor Odyssey offers various youth camps, along with activities for children, Camp Cadet participants, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps members, college students and veterans. About 75% of the activities involve overnight stays, according to Jones. It is located near South Fork Bens Creek, but higher up on a hill. When we get serious rain, we get hit with water in buildings and through campsites and stuff like that, Jones said. Its like a nuisance. It can be something that damages property, and we have some low-lying areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we dont worry as much about people. The problem that we have when we have a couple hundred kids, lets say or less, or more, or whatever on camp, it really comes from the danger of lightning that comes with those storms, heavy winds that can get trees going. Sweeping folks away Likewise, Camp Seph Mack, located in Penn Run, Indiana County, is near water the Yellow Creek State Park lake but also at a higher elevation. Its up on a hill, said Mike Daniher, director of field services for Laurel Highlands Council: Scouting America, which operates the camp. Its elevated away from the water, No. 1. No. 2, its a lake, so we dont have to worry about strong currents, flow of water sweeping folks away, unlike what youve seen at Camp Mystic, where it was along a river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, precautions in accordance with scoutings National Camp Accreditation Program are in place to deal with water-related dangers. Obviously, if flooding was being experienced near the lake areas, then what we would do is we would move the campers to higher ground, up to our dining hall, which is really at a very high point of the property, Daniher said. They would be alerted. We have an emergency alert siren in the camp. BEIRUT, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A member of the Lebanese Hezbollah group was killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a motorcycle in a border town in southern Lebanon, according to official and security sources in Lebanon. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that "a hostile drone" targeted a motorcycle in the town of al-Tiri in the southern border region, killing the motorcycle's driver. A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that the person killed was a Hezbollah member named Mohammad Fadi Shaaito, from the same town. Hezbollah mourned Shaaito in a statement, saying he "was martyred on the path to Jerusalem," without providing further details. A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, brokered by U.S. and French, has been in place since late November last year, putting an end to hostilities between the two triggered by the war in Gaza. Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah "threats," and maintains its presence at five key points along the Lebanese border area. Georgia U.S. Reps. Andrew Clyde and Rich McCormick introduced new legislation in Congress to change how fees are used for maintenance projects. The Lanier Parks Local Access Act would let local partners who manage recreation sites at various U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites use fees collected from other locations to fund projects. Current federal law requires fees collected at certain sites stay in use only at those locations, which the congressmen said limits how they can be used, and what they can do to serve the various parts of Lake Lanier. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Lake Lanier was built by USACE in the 1950s and has 76 recreation areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those, 37 are Corps-operated parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas and the Lake Lanier Islands. TRENDING STORIES: The other sites at Lake Lanier are leased to local governments and other organizations. In a statement on the legislation he and McCormick introduced, Rep. Clyde said expanding how the fees can be used, and where, would be a simple solution to keep Lake Laniers parks open, safe and well-maintained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive long fought to protect Lake Lanier, including against misguided efforts to rename the lake as well as recent temporary closures of parks and boat ramps, Clyde said. Expanding local governments authority over user fees provides a strong incentive for cities and counties to lease recreational sites from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, therefore ensuring more areas remain open. The release from the congressmen said that current law allows local governments to keep user fees they collect, but only if the funds are used at the park they were collected. As a result, the congressmens announcement says it creates problems for day use parks that dont charge fees, so local governments are less likely to manage the sites due to lack of funding for upkeep. The legislative proposal would change this by giving local partners to use the fees for any park or facility in the project site, instead, giving them more flexibility for management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud to join Rep. Clyde in supporting the Lanier Parks Local Access Act, a commonsense piece of legislation that empowers local governments with the flexibility they need to effectively manage and maintain public recreation sites, McCormick said. This bill ensures that user fees work smarter, not harder, to keep our parks accessible, safe, and clean. The bill will impact all local government managing recreation sites or facility at USACE projects, not just Lake Lanier, according to the announcement. However, the legislation is named for Lake Lanier because the location is the most-visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project in the United States. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] NEED TO KNOW A toddler has died after experiencing complications during a dental surgery in North Carolina Ermias Mitchell was allegedly transported to a local hospital without his parents present, and died before they could reach him The North Carolina Dental Board has said it will "fully investigate" the incident, which they said occurred at the "independently accredited surgery center" A 2-year-old boy has died after experiencing complications during a dental surgery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ermias Mitchell went into the surgery at Valleygate Dental Surgery Center in Greensboro, N.C., on the morning of Thursday, July 17, according to NBC affiliates WRAL and CBS affiliate WBTV. "He was all good this morning, nothing was wrong," David Mitchell, Ermiass dad, told WRAL. A short time after he went into surgery, nurses allegedly came out and told his parents that the childs lung had collapsed. The parents learned about their sons condition as he was already being transported to the hospital, Spectrum News 1 reported. His family couldnt even be by his side when he needed us there, David told the outlet. Gofundme Er'mias Mitchell, who died after experiencing complications from a dental surgery Er'mias Mitchell, who died after experiencing complications from a dental surgery Ermias had allegedly died by the time his family reached the hospital. His parents still have many questions about what happened, and David has accused the surgery center of not giving his family proper treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant get life back, once its gone. You cant. That was our last time. Our last time seeing him was us giving him off to them, David told Spectrum News 1. He went into that room and then us seeing him in the hospital on the bed, dead. David described Ermias to WXII as a happy and healthy child who loved dinosaurs. He was also described in a GoFundMe campaign as a joyful, loving childfull of life, laughter, and endless curiosity. 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. Constance McCrae, who organized the online fundraiser, said Ermias was David and Sharde Sherrills only child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David described his son to WXII as the best child on this planet. He also said Ermias was his moms miracle baby. According to Spectrum News 1, Ermias mom was previously told she couldnt have children and experienced complications during her pregnancy. It's like a life is stolen from her, and we don't know what to do, David said, per WRAL. Gofundme Er'mias Mitchell, who died after experiencing complications during a dental surgery Er'mias Mitchell, who died after experiencing complications during a dental surgery Ermias family is now awaiting results from the childs autopsy, according to Spectrum News 1. In a statement, the Valleygate Dental Surgery Center said that complications during oral surgeries are rare but can occur unexpectedly. Our thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time, the statement said, according to WRAL. The health and well-being of every patient is our highest priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They continued, Our staff includes an array of highly experienced and board-certified physician anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and nurses. Our professionals are dedicated to providing a caring, nurturing environment where comfort, dental health, and safety are of primary importance. Valleygate Dental Surgery Center did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Additionally, the North Carolina Dental Board said in a separate statement that it will fully investigate the circumstances surrounding Ermias death. "First, the Dental Board joins with all who mourn the death of ErMias Mitchell and, though strangers to his family, we are deeply saddened by this tragic news, the board said, according to WXII. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also noted that Valleygate Dental Surgery Center is an independently accredited surgery center utilizing the services of both medical and dental professionals and is not licensed, certified, or accredited by the NC Dental Board. Early indications are that the Dental Boards investigation will focus on whether this death occurred as a result of sedation administered by a medical provider (over which the Dental Board has no jurisdiction) or was the result of improper dental treatment which, of course, is within our jurisdiction, the board concluded. Read the original article on People COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The annual tradition of the Ohio State Fair returns to Columbus July 23 to Aug. 3. For 12 days, enjoy a variety of new food, rides, games, attractions, and more at the Ohio Expo Center. Below is what to know before you go this year, including whats new, ticket information, parking and more. Whats new this year? The Barnyard This new attraction will feature pig races and a petting zoo, showcasing more than 50 animals from around the world. Chainsaw Carver Watch professionals use chainsaws to create and transform a piece of wood into artwork. Cincinnati Circus Company Check out amazing acts from aerial performers who will be suspended 30 feet above with silks, hoops and trapeze. The show will be located at the south end of the Mountain Dew Midway. KIDZ BOP : July 23 at 6:30 p.m. Foreigner : July 24 at 7 p.m. Warren Zeiders with Hailey Whitters : July 25 at 7:30 p.m. Morris Day with ConFunkShun : July 26 at 7 p.m. All-Ohio State Fair band and youth choir (FREE) : July 27 at 1 p.m. Lets Sing Taylor An Unofficial Tribute Show (FREE) : July 27 at 7 p.m. Tauren Wells with Josiah Queen : July 28 at 7 p.m. Sixteen Candles (FREE) : July 29 at 1 p.m. Leanne Morgan : July 29 at 7 p.m. T-Pain with DJ Montay : July 30 at 7 p.m. Quinn XCII with Chelsea Cutler : July 31 at 7 p.m. AJR with Valley : Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Trace Adkins with Alex Miller : Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. Sale of Champions livestock auction (FREE): Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. (Courtesy Photo/Ohio State Fair) Tickets Advance sale: $8 Adults (13-59): $12 Kids (6-12): $10 Senior (60 and up): $10 Kids under 5 years old are free Parking Parking at the fair will be $10. Anyone can purchase parking with admission or upon arrival at the fair. Reserved parking is not available to the general public. NBC4 Family Discount Day on July 28 Adults will be admitted for the kids admission of $10. Kids 12 and under will be free all day. Purchase ride-all-day wristbands for $20 until 5 p.m. For additional details, visit the Ohio State Fairs website. 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. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A Knoxville man was charged with vehicular homicide after a crash on Western Avenue Sunday, the Knoxville Police Department said. Around 1:30 a.m., KPD officers responded to a crash at the intersection of Western Avenue and Keith Avenue. After investigating, they found that Kevin Zaragoza, 21, had been speeding and crashed into a Nissan Altima, KPD said. The Altimas passenger, a 78-year-old woman, died at the scene, while the driver, a 58-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with injuries that appeared non-life-threatening. Woman charged with vehicular homicide after fatal crash on Northshore Drive Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, Zaragoza appeared to be intoxicated. Witnesses said he had been speeding before the crash. According to court records, Zaragoza told police that he was drunk and that he had been drinking in the Oak Ridge area prior to the crash. He was treated for injuries at a hospital before being booked at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility on charges including the following: Vehicular homicide Vehicular assault Driving under the influence Reckless endangerment deadly weapon involved The crash is being investigated by KPD crash reconstruction personnel, KPD said. Court records showed that KPD officers saw Zaragozas vehicle speeding before the crash and had activated their emergency equipment. They attempted to pull out and stop him but then heard the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eternal Life Harvest Center holds community outreach in Montgomery Village This follows another fatal crash on Saturday where a Knoxville woman was charged with vehicular homicide driver intoxication. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A man died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 in Newport News late Sunday night. Around 11:53 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to a crash on I-64 East, west of Oyster Point Road, according to a release. The driver, 21-year-old Rishard Bernard Brummell Harvey of Hampton, was traveling on the interstate in a 2010 Chrysler Sebring when he ran off the roadway, according to police. He struck an attenuator, a device designed to absorb the impact of a collision, and continued into the construction area, hitting a parked excavator, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vehicle caught fire and became fully engulfed, trapping the Harvey inside, according to police. He died at the scene. The construction area was not active at the time of the crash, according to the release. At this time, its unknown what caused the crash. No other information has been released. July 20 (UPI) -- A 21-year-old undocumented migrant with an extensive criminal history is in police custody following a robbery-turned-shooting of an off-duty Border Patrol agent in New York City, officials said Sunday. Miguel Mora is in police custody at Lincoln Hospital, where he underwent surgery following the exchange of gunfire late Saturday with the unidentified Border Patrol agent in Riverside, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters during a Sunday afternoon press conference. The suspect sustained gunshot wounds to the groin and leg. The press conference was held at Harlem Hospital, where the 42-year-old Border Patrol agent was recovering from his injuries. He was shot in the face and forearm, and is expected to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Join us for a briefing about the shooting of an off-duty federal officer last night in Upper Manhattan: https://t.co/y1aYbTv4am Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) July 20, 2025 The incident occurred at about 11:53 p.m. Saturday. Authorities said the border agent and a friend were sitting on rocks along the waterside, when two males riding a scooter neared. The passenger got off and approached the officer, producing a firearm. Tisch told reporters that upon realizing he was being robbed, the Border Patrol agent drew his own service weapon. "The perp fired first, and an exchange of gunfire followed," she said, before the suspects fled the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 12:18 a.m. Sunday, Mora arrived at BronxCare Health System with wounds matching those sustained by the suspect seen in CCTV footage of the shooting, she said. He was in police custody but had not been formally arrested at the time of the Sunday afternoon press conference. Authorities are still looking for the alleged accomplice who is accused of driving the scooter. Tisch said Mora illegally entered the United States via Arizona from Mexico in 2023. She said he has two prior arrests for domestic violence in New York and an active warrant for failing to appear in court in one of those cases. He was also wanted in the state for robbery in December and felony assault with a stabbing in January, with both those alleged crimes occurrring in the Bronx. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mora was also wanted in Massachusetts in connection to the February robbery of firearms from a pawn shop. Authorities said the Border Patrol agent does not appear to have been targeted due to his profession. The firearm used to shoot the Border Patrol agent has yet to be recovered, authorities said. "In less than one year, he has inflicted violence in our city, and once he is charged for last night's crimes, we will be able to add attempted murder to his rap sheet," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. Three more countries have joined the original 25 nations that released a joint statement this week calling for the immediate end of the war in Gaza and accusing Israel of not allowing sufficient aid in, demanding it must do so to comply with international humanitarian law. "We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now," the original statement, released on July 21, began. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity." "The Israeli Governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," the statement further said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the conflict, Israel has maintained they are sending enough aid into Gaza but international aid organizations have repeatedly said there is not enough aid, and the United Nations has reported conditions of malnutrition inside of Gaza. The statement was initially signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. The foreign ministers of Greece, Malta and Cyprus have now also signed the statement as of July 22. Hatem Khaled/Reuters - PHOTO: Palestinian mother Alaa Al-Najjar mourns her three-month-old baby Yehia, who died due to malnutrition amid a hunger crisis, according to medics, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip July 20, 2025. The call to action was released Monday following an incident Sunday in which at least 81 Palestinians were killed and another 150 were injured while trying to gain access to food, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, which said the majority of those killed were gathered near the Zikim border between Gaza and Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that its troops fired near crowds "in order to remove an immediate threat posed to them," though it wasn't specific. A review is ongoing, but "preliminary review indicates that the reported number of casualties does not align with existing information," according to the IDF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health reported that hospitals in the Gaza Strip had recorded the deaths of 15 people, including four children, due to famine and malnutrition over the past 24 hours. That brings the total number of deaths from famine and malnutrition since the war began to 101, which includes 80 children, according to the health ministry. Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement on X Monday in response to the initial announcement that Israel "rejects" the then-25-nation joint statement "as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas." "All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it," Marmorstein's statement said. MORE: Dozens of Palestinians killed while seeking aid, Gaza health officials say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement further said that while there is a "concrete proposal for a ceasefire deal," Hamas "stubbornly refuses to accept it." "The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamass role and responsibility for the situation." Marmorstein said. "Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides." "At these sensitive moments in the ongoing negotiations, it is better to avoid statements of this kind," the Marmorstein statement concluded. Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters - PHOTO: Palestinians gather as they carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, amid a hunger crisis, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip July 20, 2025. MORE: More than 30 killed at controversial foundation's aid distribution sites in Gaza: Health officials Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Monday called the initial joint statement "disgusting" in a post on X. "25 nations put pressure on @Israel instead of savages of Hamas! Gaza suffers for 1 reason: Hamas rejects EVERY proposal. Blaming Israel is irrational," the post said. At least 875 people have been killed in Gaza while trying to get food aid in recent weeks, according to the United Nations. "It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid," the joint statement said. It also condemned Hamas for refusing to release the remaining Israeli hostages. "The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023 continue to suffer terribly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release," the statement said. "A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families." Mahmoud Issa/Reuters - PHOTO: Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, July 21, 2025. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Monday that he is "appalled by the accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," Guterres said in part, adding that he "condemns the ongoing violence, including the shooting, killing, and injuring of people attempting to get food for their families." "Civilians must be protected and respected, and they must never be targeted. The population in Gaza remains gravely undersupplied with the basic necessities of life," Guterres' statement said. MORE: Doctor details Gaza famine: 'We're not asking for miracles. We're asking for food' With the joint statement, the 28 signatory countries further called on the Israeli government to "immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively," and for "all parties to protect civilians and uphold the obligations of international humanitarian law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire," the statement continued. "Further bloodshed serves no purpose. We reaffirm our complete support to the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to achieve this." "We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region," the statement concluded. Khamis Al-rifi/Reuters - PHOTO: Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City July 21, 2025. On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV also renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. "I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict," the pope said during Sunday Angelus prayer from his summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, according to the Associated Press. Twenty-five nations, including Britain, Canada and Japan, issued a joint statement on Monday with "a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now." The statement by the U.S. allies and partners across the globe and published online by the U.K. government condemns Israel's tightly-controlled aid distribution method, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U.S.-backed government of the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children." "It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid," said the statement, which was published after one of the deadliest days for aid seekers during the 21-month war in Gaza. Health officials in the Hamas-run enclave said more than 80 people were killed trying to access emergency food supplies on Sunday alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the U.K., the nations that signed the joint statement were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Nuseirat, central Gaza, July 20, 2025. / Credit: Ramadan Abed/REUTERS "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the statement says. "The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." The war in Gaza was sparked by the Hamas-orchestrated terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken as hostages. Most of those captives have since been released, but Netanyahu said earlier this month that 50 remain in Gaza, including 20 he said were still alive. "The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023 continue to suffer terribly," the 25 nations said in the statement. "We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel does not allow foreign journalists into Gaza to report on the war, making it impossible to independently verify figures provided by the Palestinian enclave's Hamas-run health ministry and other agencies. The Israeli government rejects these numbers as falsely inflated, but the United Nations says the ministry's figure of more than 59,000 people being killed in total since the war started is the most credible information available. In a statement shared on social media, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said Israel rejected the joint international statement, "as is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas." CBS News' own team inside Gaza has spoken with medical workers and family members of aid seekers who say Israeli forces have routinely opened fire on people near food distribution sites since at least the end of May, when a new, controversial, U.S.- and Israeli-backed organization started operating a handful of "humanitarian hubs" in the enclave. The deaths reported on Sunday, near a convoy of aid trucks operated by the U.N.'s World Food Program, were not linked to the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is run by an evangelical preacher who worked previously as an adviser to President Trump. But Palestinian authorities say most of the aid seekers killed by Israeli forces over the last month and a half were trying to access GHF hubs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GHF director Rev. Johnnie Moore told CBS News earlier this month that while he didn't "want to diminish these reports" about killings near GHF hubs, "we can't control what happens outside our distribution sites." He repeated his previous calls which have been echoed by the White House for the United Nations and its humanitarian agencies to join the GHF's efforts to feed people in Gaza. None of the established humanitarian agencies that have worked for decades in Gaza have agreed to work with the GHF, saying it forces already-displaced Palestinians to trek for miles to reach its hubs and that it violates basic humanitarian principles. The Trump administration announced its first public support for the GHF in early July: $30 million in funding. A Palestinian man injured near food distribution at a center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel, is carried into Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, July 19, 2025. / Credit: Mariam Dagga/AP In a statement on Monday, COGAT, the Israeli military agency in charge of affairs in the Palestinian territories, said: "Israel acts in accordance with international law and is leading efforts to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza in coordination with the international organizations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has blamed Hamas for all deaths in Gaza since the war began, accusing it of using civilians as human shields and of seizing aid materials for its own use, both of which the group long designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel and the European Union denies doing. Pope Leo XIV also renewed his call over the weekend for "an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict" in Gaza. Netanyahu has said repeatedly that the war will continue until Hamas is rendered impotent militarily and politically, and all the hostages are returned. The international outcry and mounting demands for an immediate ceasefire come at a time when there's little to suggest any imminent breakthrough in ongoing negotiations for a truce. They come instead as Israel says it is again expanding its ground war in Gaza, forcing thousands of Palestinians to once again flee for safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel warns of new ground operation in central Gaza On Sunday, Israel widened its evacuation orders for Gaza to include an area that has been somewhat less hard-hit than others, indicating a new battleground may be opening up and squeezing Palestinians into ever tinier areas. In an Arabic language social media post published Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces warned that it was operating "with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure" in the central city of Deir al-Balah, "as it expands its activities in this region to operate in an area it has not operated in before." "For your safety, evacuate the area immediately and move south," the IDF said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N.'s humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area under the new evacuation order, and families were seen carrying what few items they could on donkey carts, bicycles and even dragging sleds behind them as they headed south. Palestinians are seen moving toward areas believed to be safer, carrying their belongings, after an evacuation warning by the Israeli army in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, July 20, 2025. / Credit: Stringer/Anadolu/Getty Deir el-Balah resident Abdullah Abu Saleem, 48, told the French news agency AFP that "during the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake," which he attributed to "artillery shelling in the south-central part of Deir el-Balah and the southeastern area." "We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation in Deir el-Balah, and the central camps where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering," he told AFP. The Israeli military did not provide immediate comment on the operations, but the GLZ Radio network, which is funded by the Israeli government and affiliated directly with the IDF, reported Monday that soldiers had, "for the first time since the start of the war," entered Deir al-Balah on the ground. GLZ said a single combat brigade, "including engineering and armor forces, have recently entered a maneuver in the southern Deir al-Balah area in the central camps in the Gaza Strip. The attacks were preceded by air and artillery strikes during the night and morning, and in the afternoon the forces went into action." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announced expansion of ground operations drew a quick statement of concern from the group that represents the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza the precise whereabouts of whom remain unknown. "The families demand that the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Chief of Staff, and IDF Spokesperson appear before them and the Israeli public this evening to clearly explain why the offensive in the Deir al-Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk," the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement. "As of this moment, we have received no official, organized updates or satisfactory answers on this matter. The people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didn't know what was at stake." What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett The company building a new Nissan Stadium in Nashville is offering a $250,000 reward in connection to a rope tied like a noose found hanging from a ceiling at the construction site on July 17. Tennessee Builders Alliance, a coalition of Nissan Stadium builders, is offering the reward "for information that leads us to the (person or persons) responsible," company spokesperson Chris McFadden said. "We want people to feel safe, to feel they are respected and if something is counter to that we are going to react strongly," McFadden continued. Construction continues on the new Nissan Stadium, future home of the Tennessee Titans, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. There was no new information on the investigation as of early afternoon on July 21, according to the Nashville Police Department's public affairs office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee Home Builders will pay out the reward upon conviction of the person or persons responsible. The company will work with law enforcement on the value of information provided, McFadden said. Approximately 1,400 workers are at the Nissan Stadium construction site per day. Tennessee Builders Alliance sent workers home and contacted police after finding the rope tied like a noose. Work continued the morning of July 21, after an informational session that included anti-hate discussions, McFadden said. Counseling services to all workers and additional anti-bias training for every person on site are being provided, according to the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're standing up and sending a clear message that we will not accept hate and bias on our site," McFadden said. Construction on the future Tennessee Titans home stadium broke ground in February 2024. Completion is estimated for February 2027. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com . This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: $250K reward offered after 'noose' found at new Nissan Stadium site HAMLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Leaders say a popular trail at Ludington State Park will get a major upgrade thanks to a $3.5 million reconstruction project. The 0.5-mile Skyline Trail winds along a wooded ridge, offering views of the lake and the dunes from an elevated boardwalk. According to the Friends of Ludington State Park, leaders previously hoped to rebuild the trail during the wide-ranging enhancement project that closed much of the park for nearly a year but at the time, funding wasnt available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After construction, Ludington State Park will reopen early Now, it is. Work is slated to get underway this fall and wrap up in 2026, the group and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Monday in a release. The Skyline Trail at Ludington State Park. (Courtesy Michigan DNR and Friends of Ludington State Park) The reconstruction project will help ensure the trail meets todays safety and construction standards. According to the Friends of Ludington State Park, the work involves lifting the entire trail another 3 to 8 feet, which will let sand move under it. The new bridge will use metal uprights that screw into the ground a more long-lasting alternative to wooden posts and will be safer and more sturdy, the group said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were excited to see this long-anticipated project moving forward, said Jim Gallie, park manager at Ludington State Park, in a statement. The Skyline Trail is a treasure, and thanks to the dedication of the parks friends group, were one step closer to ensuring it remains a part of the park experience for years to come. How accessible are Lake Michigans beaches? The Friends of Ludington State Park will raise 10% of the total cost of the project up to $350,000 while the DNR will use dedicated capital outlay funds to cover the rest, according to the release. This is the most ambitious project in our 33-year history. But we believe in it and our community, said Patrick OHare, president of the Friends of Ludington State Park. With $50,000 from Friends of Ludington State Park and $212,000 from donors, we are steadily climbing toward our goal of $350,000. 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 WOODTV.com. HUYE, Rwanda, July 21 (Xinhua) -- African agricultural experts and farmers have commended the impact of Juncao technology, a Chinese innovation increasingly used for mushroom production and livestock feed across the continent. Developed in China, Juncao -- a hybrid grass -- is a multifunctional agricultural resource initially introduced for mushroom cultivation. It has since proven effective in addressing food security, income generation, and environmental challenges. Innocent Shayamano, chief agriculture extension specialist and project coordinator from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, said the technology is playing a transformative role in Zimbabwe's rural communities. "This technology can transform lives. It aligns with our national development agenda, particularly Vision 2030, which aims to improve rural household incomes," Shayamano told Xinhua on the sidelines of a workshop on Juncao technology in Huye District, southern Rwanda. The July 16-23 workshop at the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center, co-hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University of China, focuses on the use of Juncao technology for mushroom farming, livestock feed and environmental protection. It brought together agricultural officers, educators and development experts from across Africa. Shayamano, attending the workshop for the second time, was joined by five Zimbabwean farmers seeking to deepen their understanding of Juncao-based mushroom farming. He noted that while Zimbabwean farmers have traditionally used cotton waste for mushroom cultivation, the rising cost and declining availability of cotton have made it less sustainable. In contrast, Juncao grass, with a yield of over 200 tonnes per hectare, provides a cost-effective alternative. "With climate change affecting livestock feed availability in dry regions, Juncao grass also offers a timely solution for fodder," Shayamano said. "That's why we are working to scale this technology across more farming communities." He said that the Zimbabwean participants would return home as lead trainers, tasked with sharing their knowledge and skills and encouraging wider adoption of the technology. Zimbabwe and Rwanda are among several African countries integrating Juncao into their agricultural practices. Abbas Ahmad Umar, a Nigerian farmer attending the workshop for the first time, described Juncao as a "grass of grace" due to its versatility. "We use it to grow mushrooms, feed livestock, and even prevent soil erosion. When I return to Nigeria, I hope to raise awareness about Juncao, especially among youth and women," he said. Umar expressed confidence that Juncao's multifunctionality could help alleviate poverty and support sustainable farming across Africa. "Mushroom farming has many benefits, and I plan to apply what I've learned and eventually train others in my country," he added. A 63-year-old man in England has learned the truth about his birth parents after he was dropped off with a nanny as a 3-month-old baby and never picked up. During a recent episode of the U.K. television show Long Lost Family: Born Without a Trace, a man named Chris discussed being left with a nanny on the morning of July 20, 1962 at a location near Kings Cross in London. The nanny ended up calling the police that evening after nobody showed up to take the infant home. Chris wondered on the show, Was the man who dropped me off my father? Was it an uncle or my mothers father? My mother was I taken against her wishes or did she decide it was best?" Wall To Wall Productions Christopher Thorne discovered the truth about his family on 'Long Lost Family.' Christopher Thorne discovered the truth about his family on 'Long Lost Family.' "Why at that age and not a day old? Why wait three months, you know? You got one of the biggest stations in the country on the doorstep, so I could actually come from anywhere, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris, who grew up in Camden, north London, after he was adopted as a baby by a couple named Jean and Arthur Thorne, said he learned he was adopted when he was 10 years old. However, he didn't discover exactly how he'd been left until years later, after he became a dad himself. Wall To Wall Productions Christopher Thorne as a child. Christopher Thorne as a child. The child was placed with a [nanny] who advertised her services in a newspaper. As the child was not collected the police were informed. It is likely that there is no birth certificate and there is no birth certificate on file," the adoption file stated. Chris ended up taking a DNA test in 2021, and the results showed that he was "100% Irish," despite his wife Paula and two young sons, whom he lives with in Northumberland, describing him as a "proud Englishman." Wall To Wall Productions Christopher Thorne with 'Long Lost Family' searcher Davina McCall. Christopher Thorne with 'Long Lost Family' searcher Davina McCall. The show's research team discovered who Chris' birth parents were after months of investigating, learning that his birth mother had sadly died, while his birth father was still alive. However, researchers noted that it had been difficult to ask the elderly man questions, stating that it's not known if he's aware of what happened all those years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team discovered that Chris' birth parents weren't married at the time and were both very young when he was born, noting that having children before marriage in the '60s in Ireland could have resulted in rejection from a person's family and community. The couple did eventually end up getting married, and Chris learned on the show that he has full siblings, with some being ready to meet him despite being shocked at the news at first. He also questioned whether the man who dropped him off at the nanny's home was his father, stating it could have been an uncle or a family friend. Chris was shown a photo of his birth parents, and saw the resemblance between him and them. Despite being left, Chris remained positive on the show and said he'd "go as far to say it's worked out the best for everyone." 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. Chris, who ended up heading to Ireland for the first time to meet some of his siblings, insisted of his birth parents, "Because, you know, they stayed together. They've had children. I've lived in a fantastic family, so everyone's a winner, do you know what I mean? Really pleased. They seem lovely. Really are. Full of fun. Laughter. I think we'll get there," he added after getting together with some of his siblings. Read the original article on People SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (WTNH) Three people were arrested Saturday in connection with a multi-year drug trafficking and distribution investigation in South Windsor, police said. Authorities said they found that Pascious Mink, 34, of Enfield, allegedly used commercial businesses to distribute the drugs illegally. The drugs included cocaine and fentanyl, and the distribution of oxycodone. Driver who failed a sobriety test charged in two-vehicle crash in Meriden Sonia Rodriguez, 46, of Hartford. South Windsor PD Pascious Mink, 34, of Enfield. Photo: South Windsor PD Tony Broaden, 42, of Enfield. Photo: South Windsor PD The East Central Narcotics Task Force executed state search and seizure warrants at Kenco Spirits as well as two residential properties tied to the investigation, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, authorities seized two firearms, a high-capacity drum magazine, ammunition, and over 1,000 oxycodone pills. They also seized Xanax and other controlled substances, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and MDMA, all allegedly packaged for street-level distribution, and more than $25,000 in cash, police said. Mink, considered the alleged leader of the drug trafficking operation, was charged with criminal possession of firearms, operating a drug factory and numerous counts of possession with intent to distribute. Mink was held on a $750,000 bond. Tony Broaden, 42, of Enfield, was charged with the sale of narcotics and possession with intent to distribute. He was held on a $400,000 bond. Sonia Rodriguez, 46, of Hartford, was charged with possession with intent to distribute. She was released on a $10,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday. The investigation remains 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 WTNH.com. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) 22 individuals were recently sent to federal prison for their roles in a massive operation that involved methamphetamine, money laundering, and cocaine trafficking. The release from the Department of Justice states that the operation was responsible for hundreds of pounds of methamphetamines being trafficked from the southwest border to Indianapolis. Three of the 22 individuals arrested were Terre Haute natives. 36-year-old Juliann Magallanez was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamines, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Magallanez will serve 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. 50-year-old John Whiffing was arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, landing him a 14-year sentence in prison and five years of supervised release. Lastly, 34-year-old Dillon Smith was arrested for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, earning him a sentence of 17 years and six months in prison and five years of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOJ, DEA announce large drug bust According to court records, a man named Isaias Gonzalez-Torres was the Indianapolis-based ringleader for a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into Indianapolis and nearby Seymour, Columbus, and Terre Haute, Indiana. The investigation resulted in the retrieval of 82 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,750 fentanyl pills, a kilogram of cocaine, and nine firearms. According to the release, Gonzalez-Torres and one of the other defendants based in Indianapolis would work together to coordinate large shipments of illegal narcotics from a man named Edeer Avila in Mexico, Martin Felix-Garcia in Arizona, and others. The DTO would use a system of drug couriers and secret mail parcels to transport the drugs across the country to be distributed in rural communities in the Southern District of Indiana. Once the drugs arrived in Indianapolis, the DTO utilized multiple stash houses to break down and store the drugs for further distribution. The release also states that between October of 2021 and March of 2022, the defendants and other conspirators laundered $3,586,092 by depositing it into Candy Medina-Corcoles Bank of America account. Deposits were made into the account in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Once the money was in the account, conspirators would remove funds and transfer the proceeds to bank accounts in Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court Records state that between January 2020 and April 2022, the defendants also laundered $291,116.08 through 324 wire transfers from Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona, and Mexico. This case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers, said Greg OBrien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. Without these TFOs, small rural towns wouldnt have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice. Others arrested in the incident were: Jeami Waleska Sevilla Luna, 30 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 8 years, 10 months imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Martin Felix-Garcia, 36 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 25 years imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Isaias Gonzalez-Torres, 34 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 24 years, 4 months imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Erlin Lucero-Asencio, 33 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances Illegal Alien Found in the United States 27 years imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Abel Ayala-Garcia, 34 Columbus, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 24.5 years imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Victor Vazquez-Hernandez, 42 Seymour, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 10 years, 7 months imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Eduardo Rodriguez, 29 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 14 years, 8 months imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Andrew Calix-Maldonado, 30 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 11 years, 3 months imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Julio Vicente-Guox, 36 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 11 years, 3 months imprisonment 2 years of supervised release Luis Daniel Hernandez, 27 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 9 years imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Jendry Medina, 23 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 9 years, 2 months of imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Abner Rodas-Abelardez, 39 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 5 years, 10 months imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Kenia Acosta, 41 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 9 years imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Allison Perdue, 27 Seymour, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 9 years imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Eulalia Murillo-Resura, 34 Indianapolis, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 7 years, 3 months imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Nathan Lee, 31 Columbus, IN Distribution of methamphetamine 10 years imprisonment 5 years of supervised release Emilio Landa-Lagunes, 27 Seymour, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 6 years imprisonment 3 years of supervised release Claudio Garcia-Morales, 38 Columbus, IN Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine 3 years, 10 months imprisonment 2 years of supervised release Candy Medina-Corcoles, 27 California Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments 4 years, 8 months imprisonment 2 years of supervised release Edeer Avila of Mexico has not been arrested and is considered a fugitive. He is wanted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. 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. LaGRANGE, Ga. (WRBL) The Troup County Sheriffs Office announced on Monday that 32 people were taken into custody following a joint undercover operation that involved its narcotics division, the Coweta County Sheriffs Office, the Troup County Marshals Office, the Haralson County Sheriffs Office, and the LaGrange Police Department. The undercover operation targeted human trafficking in Troup County, according to the sheriffs office. By utilizing technology, investigators identified the suspects involved in the prostitution and human trafficking industry and took them into custody once they violated the state law through a two-day operation that took place on July 16 to 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All suspects were arrested without incident and transported to the Troup County Jail, according to the sheriffs office. The 32 suspects, who were taken into custody will face charges that range from prostitution to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The sheriffs office says the investigation revealed that the victims of the human trafficking operation were also possible sex traffickers. Those cases still remain under investigation with possible state or federal charges pending, according to the sheriffs office. The Troup County Sheriffs Office remains absolutely unwavering in our commitment to fighting human trafficking and dismantling the criminal networks that exploit the vulnerable. These 32 arrests are not just numbers they represent our ongoing effort to target those who profit from and participate in this kind of exploitation, said Capt. Nathan Taylor, with the narcotics division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, we will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone involved in human trafficking and related offenses. Our message is clear: Troup County will not be a safe haven for traffickers or those who support this vile industry. The list of suspects who are facing charges in the operation are: Charles Smith, 61 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Linzie Downey, 33 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Tyree Townes, 20 / M, Hephzibah, GA Pandering Nithin Kumar, 25 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Desmond McMillan, 25 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Demetrius Thompson, 36 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Demerius Bartlett, 29 / M, Columbus, GA Pimping Kandice Bartlett, 42 / F, Columbus, GA Prostitution Alex Martinez, 54 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Patrick Thomas, 28 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Eric Gamble, 52 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Jeff Wright, 54 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Charlie Denson, 39 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Joshua Kirkendoll, 42 / M, LaGrange, GA Possession of Methamphetamine, Pandering Sierra Hartman, 25 / F, Montgomery, AL Prostitution, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamine Christopher James, 45 / M, Franklin, GA Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Pandering, Probation Violation Mark Gray, 31 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering James Logan, 40 / M, Pine Mountain, GA Pandering Demetrius Talley, 51 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Jazmon Griggs, 41 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Jarvis Goode, 39 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Romel Maycock, 43 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Jaquarium Jackson, 32 / M, Lanett, AL Pandering Trinity Mealor, 49 / M, Franklin, GA Pandering Sade Garrison, 26 / F, Columbus, GA Prostitution Ulysses Stenson, 35 / M, LaGrange, GA Pandering Brandy Gillette, 51 / F, St. Petersburg, FL Pimping Melissa Quillen, 38 / F, Augusta, GA Pimping Crystal Cox, 41 / F, Phenix City, AL Prostitution Brandon Smith, 41 / M, Atlanta, GA Possession of Cocaine, Pimping Marquita Nelson, 33 / F, Atlanta, GA Possession of Cocaine Kierra Martin, 37 / F, Austell, GA Possession of Cocaine, Prostitution Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEED TO KNOW A 4-year-old girl has died after a palm tree fell on her while she was playing in a backyard in the city of Darwin in Australia The incident happened on Saturday, July 19, according to local police An 11-year-old boy was also injured A 4-year-old girl has died after a palm tree fell on her while she was playing in a backyard in Australia. On Saturday, July 19, the Northern Territory Police Force shared in a statement that the little girl and an 11-year-old boy had been hurt at a home in Tiwi in the Australian city of Darwin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Northern Territory Police Force are investigating after 4-year-old child died in Tiwi this afternoon, the release read. Around 1:55pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that a 4-year-old female was struck by a falling palm tree at an address in Tiwi while playing in the yard. DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty The Emergency & Trauma Centre at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin, Australia The Emergency & Trauma Centre at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin, Australia Authorities added, Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital; however, she was pronounced deceased prior to arrival. An 11-year-old male was also struck by the palm tree and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the statement continued. The incident is not believed to be suspicious. Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner. 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Getty A Northern Territory Police vehicle A Northern Territory Police vehicle According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), police previously said the girl who died was 7 years old but later confirmed she was 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Northern Territory has previously experienced cases of falling trees causing death, per the outlet. In 2013, a council worker died after being struck by a palm tree. "For a person to be in exactly the wrong spot at exactly the right time, is really rare," arborist Ben Kenyon told ABC. Quite often, it is a bit of a freak event. "[My] thoughts go out to the family for sure it's tragic, he said. He added, "A fungi getting into the trunk of a tree in the Top End [area] can kill it within three to 12 months a very similar fungi in a similar tree in the southern states may take five to 10 years." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenyon continued, "It's just far, far quicker with the growth rates that you have and the humidity and the style of tree that you have in the Top End." Read the original article on People PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Four people have admitted in federal court to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars using credit card skimming devices between May 2023 and February 2024, acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced Monday. Six defendants were accused last July of withdrawing more than $300,000 from victims accounts. Prosecutors said the group accessed data from more than 15,000 cards across several states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Investigators said the skimming devices were primarily placed on ATMs and self-checkout stations at retail stores to collect shoppers credit and debit card data. That information was then used to create counterfeit cards to withdraw cash or make purchases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACKGROUND: 6 accused of stealing $300K+ through card skimming scheme Skimmers were first discovered at Bank Newport branches in Bristol and Warren, and at Westerly Community Credit Union (WCCU). WCCU reported more than $117,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from 20 accounts in just a few hours in December 2023. Surveillance image capture of three suspects installing skimmers at a self-checkout terminal Security footage of two suspects putting skimming device on a store register In Rhode Island alone, more than 200 debit cards were compromised at two banks, resulting in about $280,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from 67 accounts, according to Miron Bloom. The four defendants who pleaded guilty are: Robby Vicson Codreanu, 21, of the United Kingdom Isabela Ignat Codreanu, 24, of Romania Armando Ion Codreanu, 24, of Ireland Nicolas Longin Codreanu, 23, of Ireland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each pleaded guilty to: Conspiracy to commit access device fraud Producing, using and trafficking in counterfeit access devices Accessing 15 or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices Access device making equipment Nicolas and Armando Codreanu also pleaded guilty to possessing access devices issued to another person. All four are scheduled to be sentenced in October. The other two people involvedIonut Zamfir, 38, and Mila Ciuciu, 21, both from Romaniaare awaiting trial. Prosecutors said all six suspects are in the United States illegally. 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: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking 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 WPRI.com. OAK CREEK, Wis. (WFRV) Multiple injuries, an ambulance ride for someone highly intoxicated, and a brief police pursuit of a fleeing motorcycle all stemmed from a 60-person bar fight Sunday evening in Wisconsin, authorities say. According to a release from the Oak Creek Police Department, officers responded at 5:04 p.m. to the Route 41 Bar and Grill at 8900 South 27th Street for reports of a large physical fight involving about 60 people. Upon the arrival of the police, two 32-year-old men were said to have been physically assaulted and were evaluated on the scene for minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accidental shooting in Oneida leaves one juvenile hurt One person, a 23-year-old man, was taken by ambulance to the hospital due to, as officers state, being in a highly intoxicated state. A motorcycle was also seen leaving the bar as police started to arrive. A Franklin officer attempted to stop the motorcycle, but it took off, leading to a brief pursuit that was later terminated. Officers say it is unknown if the motorcyclist was involved in the reported fight. At this time, no other information is available, and the Oak Creek Police Department is continuing to investigate the bar fight, while the Franklin Police Department continues to investigate the fleeing motorcyclist. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) 614 Restaurant Week is back in Columbus offering discounts from local restaurants for foodies to try. The annual event is happening now through Saturday with more than 150 restaurants showcasing menu favorites and new items for a discounted price. The special offerings include three-course meals ranging from $15 to $50. List: New foods at the Ohio State Fair Several restaurants across central Ohio are participating with a variety of menu options from burgers, pizza and specialty desserts to crab, pasta and other entree favorites. Many businesses are also offering carryout specials as well during the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 614 Restaurant Week is also partnering with Columbus Humane, raising funds for the nonprofit organization through a special giveaway. For each entry, $0.25 will be donated to Columbus Humane, up to $5,000. To view the full list of participating restaurants, 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. TROUT RUN, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Pennsylvania is tapping into a federal program to aid flood recovery efforts from a weather disaster last summer. Lycoming County is among nine counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania that were walloped last August by Tropical Storm Debby. Taking a historical trip back to WWII in one local borough Communities like Trout Run were hit hard. The Shapiro administration says its using more than $6,000,000 to repair and improve creeks and streams to prevent future flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency provided 25% matching funds to receive the rest of the money through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Arizona is a quirky place. Whether it's due to our Wild West history, unusual weather or unique residents, there are a lot of places that could only exist in Arizona. World Atlas, a geography website, recently named historic mining community Bisbee the quirkiest town in Arizona, taking the title largely for its history, retro vibe and unusual events. But Arizona is home to a lot more than one quirky city. In that spirit, World Atlas named six other eclectic towns you must visit around the Grand Canyon State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the towns that made the list and all the eccentricities you can see when you visit. Jerome The "wickedest town in the West" makes a great case for its title as one of the quirkiest cities in Arizona. Nestled upon the side of a mountain, you can take in Jerome by learning about its history, including the violence and tragedy that plagued it. You can also check out its artsy shops, like the world's largest kaleidoscope store Nellie Bly Kaledioscopes or a glass blowing studio. Bisbee Bisbee was once the largest town in Arizona with mines that produced 8 billion pounds of copper over a century. These days the town is a lot smaller and quieter, with mine carts transporting tourists into the once bustling caverns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These days, you can tour the historic downtown, visit Lowell or travel deep into the earth on a mine tour. You can also celebrate turkey vultures at an unusual annual event. Winslow Winslow was recently named the most charming small town in Arizona, but it's not without its own quirks, too. The Eagles put Winslow on the map with their 1970s hit "Take It Easy." Though decades have passed, tourists can visit Standin on the Corner Park to pay homage to songwriters Glen Frey and Jackson Browne. While you're in town, visit Meteor Crater, Homolovi State Park and La Posada Hotel. Tombstone This southern Arizona town is known for its Wild West history that is showcased in museums, tours and live re-enactments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You should check out the Bird Cage Theater to see the historic bullet holes, visit the Boothill Graveyard to read the macabre headstones and tour the Good Enough Mine, according to World Atlas. The site also recommends visiting in October during the town's Helldorado Days. Oracle Just north of Tucson, Oracle has something no other town does Biosphere 2. The facility designed to be a closed ecological system intended to simulate different ecosystems and provide insights into how they function. Visitors can tour a rainforest, ocean and savannah without having to leave the state. World Atlas also recommends checking out the Acadia Ranch Museum, which was once a tuberculosis sanitorium and post office, and Peppersauce Cave. Arcosanti Arcosanti is an artist collective created by Italian-born architect Paolo Soleri in 1970. The community about an hour north of Phoenix is a remarkable feat of architecture. It's off the beaten path, and the signs are easy to miss. And the buildings were designed with the environment in mind, so they blend in perfectly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement World Atlas recommends touring the bronze bell foundry, solar towers and concrete domes. You can also plan to stay overnight to take in the dark skies and home-grown meals. Clarkdale Clarkdale may not be the most widely known town in the Verde Valley, but it certainly does have character. The town was designed as an upscale town for Jerome miners and their families with underground sewers and utilities and paved streets. These days, visitors can catch the Verde Canyon Railroad, enjoy the Verde River and explore Tuzigoot National Monument. Arizona Republic reporter Tiffany Acosta contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 7 'quirky' Arizona towns that are ideal travel destinations NOUAKCHOTT, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Relations between Mauritania and China have steadily developed since diplomatic ties were established on July 19, 1965, and are now at their best point in history, Yarbane Kharrachi, an adviser to the minister of higher education and scientific research, has said. In an opinion piece published Sunday on the Arab-language online news portal elfikr.net, Kharrachi, also president of the Association of Mauritanian Alumni of Chinese Universities, noted that the Mauritania-China friendship has become a model for South-South cooperation. From the outset, bilateral ties have been built on mutual respect, solidarity, non-interference, and win-win cooperation, gradually expanding across key sectors and injecting sustained momentum into Mauritania's development, the author said. Over the past six decades, Mauritania and China have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and have maintained a consistent position on major international affairs, Kharrachi said. "It is a relationship that was not merely a matter of diplomatic protocols, but rather was and still is a living pulse flowing through the arteries of the two countries, manifested in giant projects, starting with the Friendship Port and ending with the Friendship Bridge, passing through hospitals and roads that have facilitated the lives of Mauritanian citizens," he said. "These projects are not just concrete structures, but living testaments to China's commitment to supporting Mauritania on its path to progress and prosperity," Kharrachi said. China, now Mauritania's largest trading partner, was also considered one of the largest donor and investor countries in Mauritania, having implemented around 100 projects in various fields over the past 40 years, he said. "Its presence in the national economy has become strong, given its importance and direct impact on the lives of every Mauritanian citizen. The COVID-19 pandemic is not far off, as China has proven to be the best friend in times of need," Kharrachi said. In recent years, he said, bilateral relations have entered a fast track, yielding remarkable results. The two sides signed a cooperation plan for jointly building the Belt and Road, and Mauritania formally joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The relationship has since been upgraded to a strategic partnership. Mauritania's signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation further indicates that Mauritania-China relations are embracing unprecedented opportunities for growth, Kharrachi said. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has opened broader space for cooperation, he said, noting that currently, bilateral cooperation is advancing in three key directions: -- Aligning development strategies by leveraging Mauritania's geographic strengths to promote the building of an Africa-China community with a shared future; -- Expanding digital economy cooperation through the "Digital Silk Road," enabling win-win outcomes in cross-border e-commerce, smart ports, and remote education; -- Deepening green development cooperation, including multilateral partnerships in clean energy, environmental protection, and mineral value chains, to help Africa tackle climate change and energy transition. Mauritania and China have broad prospects for cooperation in renewable energy development and green infrastructure, which can help enhance energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, drive regional industrialization and agricultural modernization, Kharrachi said. "Trilateral Mauritanian-Arab-Chinese cooperation to develop renewable energy and value chains in the mining industry in Mauritania could create a significant opportunity to enhance energy access in sub-Saharan Africa and create the necessary conditions for industrial transformation and agricultural modernization in the sub-region," he said. "This would lay the foundation for building a closer, multifaceted Africa-China community with a shared destiny in the new era," Kharrachi added. The roughly 700 active-duty Marines who deployed to Los Angeles earlier this summer following protests against immigration policies will head home, the Pentagon said Monday. "With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary [of Defense] has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. CNN was first to report the Marines were being sent home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division arrived in the L.A. area in June joining members of the California National Guard President Trump federalized to protect federal property and personnel in the wake of protests and at times, violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement. The deployment of active-duty troops to city streets within the United States is rare, as is federalizing a state's National Guard despite objections from the state's governor. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, said the military presence was not necessary to respond to protests and could inflame the situation. Newsom sued over the National Guard deployment, arguing that Mr. Trump had "unlawfully bypassed" Newsom by sending in federal troops. When asked what the bar is that determines whether to deploy active-duty Marines, President Trump told reporters in early June, "The bar is what I think it is. I mean, if we see danger to our country and to our citizens, uh, we'll be very, very strong in terms of law and order." Last week, the Pentagon released about 2,000 of the 4,000 members of the National Guard in L.A. With the Marines headed home, there are still about 2,000 guardsmen in the L.A. area to protect federal property and personnel as they conduct law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The immigration protests largely dissipated since June, although the ICE raids have continued. What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The largest road project proposal in North Carolina history is coming up against some neighborhood opposition. NCDOT is planning to add express lanes to 11 miles of I-77 South from Charlotte to the South Carolina border, potentially widening the highway into parts of the Wesley Heights neighborhood of Charlotte. Im thinking about pollution, Im thinking about noise and Im thinking about my property value, said Emily Sutton, who lives close to the interstate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says proximity to Uptown is a major draw of the area, and she and her neighbors are gearing up to fight to keep that. I-77 already comes between the Wesley Heights neighborhood and Uptown. Shannon Hughes, the president of the Wesley Heights Community Association, says hes concerned with the potential impacts of increasing that barrier. We think there should be other alternatives that could include using bypasses or looking at a small segment of Charlotte going underground, Hughes said. DOT officials say their goal with the project is to minimize the effects on residents, businesses, and the environment, while relieving congestion on I-77. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 160,000 cars a day pass through some sections. Officials say adding express lanes will help with that traffic and reduce crashes. Improving safety is a number one priority for NCDOT, said Brett Canipe, NCDOTs western deputy chief engineer. Anytime you have a congested corridor, youre going to have additional accidents. A key component of the project will be to improve safety by being able to modernize interchanges and connections throughout the corridor. Sutton says the proposal only benefits people passing through Charlotte and doesnt consider residents. Carly Swanson, NCDOTs director of innovative delivery says locals have asked for express lanes in transportation studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projects estimated to cost $3.2 billion and be completed several years from now. Weve worked very hard the last 20 years trying to get this neighborhood close and cohesive, and we finally achieved that, Hughes said. Things like this deteriorate our morale. Potential designs will be unveiled this fall, when the public can give their feedback. For more information, visit the NCDOT website 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 Queen City News. An Indiana man was tragically killed when a tree suddenly fell on him as he was celebrating his 77th birthday with his wife whom he had pushed out of harms way mere moments before his death. Doug Pendleton and his wife, Linda, were visiting a car show and the Studebaker National Museum, a car museum in South Bend, Indiana, when a tree suddenly fell on him, killing him instantly. The tree collapsed near a historic restaurant and toward the couple. Its unclear what caused the large tree to collapse into the road. "Doug, obviously out of the corner of his eyes, saw the tree coming over and told me to run, (and) according to a witness, pushed me out of the way," his wife, Linda, told 13News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While his quick thinking saved Lindas life, she was still injured in the tragic accident. I have a broken neck. I have a total of five cervical fractures. Some have been fused. I have a cracked sternum and a lot of bruises up and down my body, and I am a very fortunate person, Linda said. Doug Pendleton and his wife, Linda, were visiting a car show and car museum in South Bend, Indiana, over the weekend when a tree fell on him, instantly killing him. (Linda Pendleton/WTHR) Though grateful she survived, she is now without her beloved husband, a car fanatic and wine lover. The pair owned a wine store called Grapevine Cottage in Zionsville, Indiana, about 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis. "One of the things we have always done is write wine reviews," Linda said. Linda said her husband, known as The Wine Guy around town, loved his job more than anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His customers were fun. It was just a happy place to be," Linda said. Linda says she and her family plan to keep Grapevine Cottage open to honor her husbands legacy. In a statement, the couples hometown wrote they were heartbroken to learn of Doug Pendletons death. Doug Pendleton was more than just the Wine Guy. He ran one of Zionsvilles most successful and prominent businesses for over 25 years, said Mayor John Stehr. His Grapevine Cottage attracted visitors to Zionsville from far and wide, who were always met with a smile and great advice. Doug will be missed by so many friends and customers. Nasal Narcan, used to reverse an overdose, stock the inside of Milwaukee County's first harm reduction vending machine. (Photo | Isiah Holmes) Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is proposing to utilize over $9 million in opioid settlement funds to support seven initiatives aimed at expanding treatment and reducing opioid use disorder. Crowley said in a statement that his administration continues to deploy opioid settlement dollars across Milwaukee County. These upstream investments are proving to be effective, Crowley said, but we know theres more work to do in expanding substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Milwaukee County Board Committee on Finance unanimously approved Crowleys proposal during a meeting Thursday. Next week, the full county board will vote on whether to approve the plan. The projects, proposed for the 2026-28 fiscal years, include providing outreach to older adults with disabilities through door-to-door canvasing and funding community-based organizations which partner with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Providing more staffing to the medical examiners office, funding residential room and board programs for people struggling with addiction and enhancing the countys publicly available data analysis of the overdose crisis are among the other proposed initiatives. Through these proven initiatives and by working together, we will keep leading the way to change the lives of individuals affected by substance use disorder and reduce the likelihood of overdose-related fatalities in our community because lives depend on it, Crowley said in a statement. Shakita LaGrant-McClain, executive director of DHHS, said the funding will allow the department to continue the life-saving work that began with the initial round of opioid settlement fundsWe are seeing promising trends and look forward to continuing our prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery work, including ensuring residents have access to harm reduction supplies, targeted community outreach, and collaboration with community partners. A publicly available dashboard illustrates the toll the overdose epidemic has taken on Milwaukee County. It provides information on both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, which communities are most impacted, how much anti-overdose Naloxone has been utilized, and more. Across Milwaukee County, over 4,500 people have lost their lives to an overdose between 2016 and 2024. The deaths peaked in 2022, which saw 674 people lose their lives to an overdose. Non-fatal overdoses are even more common; more than 5,400 occurred during 2022. There have been 1,061 non-fatal overdoses so far this year and 124 people have died of an overdose in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data shows that so far this year, 14% of fatal overdoses have been people between 55-59 years old and 11% were 60-64. People aged 35-39 made up 13% of the fatal overdoses this year. The lowest percentages came from young people 15-29 years old, and much older people aged 75-85 years or more. Over 18 years, Milwaukee County will receive a total of $111 million in opioid settlement funds. So far, $34 million has been allocated across three cohorts of funded projects focused on breaking cycles of addiction, advancing racial equality and improving community health. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A 9-year-old Canadian tourist was found dead in upstate New York Sunday afternoon hours after an apparently bogus kidnapping report from her father, cops said. Melina Galanis Frattolins body was recovered in Ticonderoga, New York roughly 30 miles from Lake George, where her father originally reported she was last seen. Melina Galanis Frattolin was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York. New York State Police Authorities had issued an Amber Alert citing her imminent danger of being harmed or killed earlier Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there was apparently no real abduction during the entire ordeal, authorities said. Melinas father, Luciano Frattolin, 45, called the Warren County Sheriffs Office at 9:58 p.m. Saturday to report his daughters disappearance, noting a possible abduction, according to police. Luciano Frattolin is a resident of Canada, as was his daughter, according to the New York State Police. While the sheriffs office was leading the investigation, authorities found inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided, according to the state police. The investigation was soon turned over to the state police due to jurisdictional considerations. Police issued an Amber Alert for Melina around four hours after she was reported missing. New York State Police The state police determined there was no indication of an abduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday morning, the state police issued an Amber Alert for Melina around four hours after she was reported missing along with a description. It was canceled at 4:18 p.m. The child was taken under circumstances that lead police to believe that they are in imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death, the alert read. The circumstances of her abduction were not immediately released and the suspect was listed as unknown in the statement from the state police. No suspect or arrest has been announced, but the state police said there is no present threat to the public. The state police will be holding a media event related to Melinas death and disappearance on Monday. The Canadian father accused of murdering his 9-year-old daughter while on vacation in upstate New York was reportedly the founder of a coffee company and touted his relationship with his daughter on its website. Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with murder and concealment of a corpse after New York State Police said he murdered his daughter, Melina, and dumped her body in a remote area. Authorities said that Frattolin, who was visiting the Lake George area in upstate New York from Montreal, Canada with Melina, reported his daughter missing on July 19. The next day, an Amber Alert was put out after police said Frattolin believed his daughter had been abducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But later on July 20, Melina's body was found and police said they found "inconsistencies" in Frattolin's story. The Associated Press, WRGB and The Montreal Gazette reported, citing the company's website, that Frattolin was listed as the founder of Gambella Coffee. The company's website has subsequently been taken down. Related: Dad's Kidnapping Claim Triggered Amber Alert for 9-Year-Old Girl. Now He's Charged with Murder WRGB reported that Frattolin's bio page on Gambella's now-defunct website said he "spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful daughter Melina." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the light of his life, she is the inspiration for well, everything," the page reportedly said. "His pursuits for building a more equitable and just world are deeply guided by his determination that she will not have to endure the same social injustices that he encountered throughout his childhood." The reported page also mentioned that Melina taught Frattolin how to let go of his "rigid tendencies." 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. State police said that Frattolin and Melina had legally entered the United States while on vacation, and that they were expected to return to Canada on July 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frattolin and his wife, Melina's mother, have been separated for several years, state police said, noting that the girl's mother maintained custody. The AP reported that Frattolin appeared in court on Monday, July 21 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Read the original article on People ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene man accused of uploading several videos of child pornography to social media has been sentenced to probation. Kevin Boehnlein received a 10-year probation sentence last week after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography with Intent to Promote charge in connection to the allegations. Court documents state the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children began investigating a cyber tip in December 2021 that identified an IP address, email address, and Kik screenname that further investigation showed was connected Boehnleins fiance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This IP address had been uploading videos to social media that depicted children between the ages of 6 to 9 engaging in sexual activity. When detectives went to execute a search warrant at Boehnleins home, the documents state they found his fiance in a back bedroom holding a methamphetamine pipe with methamphetamine present. The documents also state the Boehnlein initially denied any knowledge of the child pornography but, eventually admitted that due to trauma he experienced as a child, he recently began looking at child pornography. Boehnlein was also ordered to do 240 hours of community service and pay a $3,000 fine as part of his plea agreement. He will have to register as a sex offender as well. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Washington Lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia asked a federal judge overseeing his criminal case to put off his release from custody for 30 days if the judge rejects a Justice Department bid to keep him in confinement while awaiting a trial. Abrego Garcica's lawyers said in a filing that the 30-day pause in issuing a release order would give him time to evaluate his legal options in response to likely efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to deport him. "We have been advised by the government that if the court denies the government's motion for revocation, the defendant would be transferred to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security ('DHS'), and DHS would begin removal proceedings," they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department does not object to the request, and Abrego Garcia's legal team said that the delay would not affect their ability to come up with a proposed schedule leading up to his criminal trial. A federal grand jury in Tennessee indicted Abrego Garcia in late May on two counts of human smuggling. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts. A trial in his case is set to begin in January. Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign, but his removal gained headlines after a federal immigration official acknowledged it was an administrative error. An immigration judge had granted Abrego Garcia a withholding of removal in 2019, which prevented DHS from deporting him to his home country of El Salvador because he was likely to face persecution by local gangs. Abrego Garcia, who has lived in Maryland after coming to the U.S. illegally in 2011, and his wife filed a civil lawsuit against the Trump administration in March challenging his removal, and a federal judge in Maryland ordered the government to facilitate his return to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After weeks of back-and-forth and his case reaching the Supreme Court Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in early June that Abrego Garcia had been released from Salvadoran custody and brought back to the U.S. to face criminal charges stemming from his alleged participation in a scheme to smuggle undocumented migrants into the country. A federal magistrate judge last month ordered Abrego Garcia's release from federal law enforcement custody while he awaits a trial, but that raised concerns that he would be swiftly detained by immigration agents and possibly deported. The Justice Department appealed that decision and asked a U.S. district judge to revoke the release order. The judge overseeing the criminal case, Waverly Crenshaw, held a hearing last week on the government's motion but has not yet ruled on whether to grant it. If Crenshaw denies the bid, it would give the green-light for Abrego Garcia to be released from criminal custody. But the prospect that Abrego Garcia would then swiftly be detained by the Department of Homeland Security for removal proceedings has created a new tangle for the courts to unravel. He has remained in the custody of U.S. Marshals as the legal proceedings have continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the ongoing civil case in Maryland, the federal judge is considering a separate request from Abrego Garcia's lawyers to return him to Maryland immediately after he is released from confinement in the criminal proceedings that are ongoing in Tennessee. They also asked the judge to bar the Trump administration from removing Abrego Garcia from the U.S. The judge in Maryland has not yet ruled on Abrego Garcia's requests. Trump reacts to DOJ reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer on Jeffrey Epstein files Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal pioneer, dies at age 76 Doctor who supplied actor Matthew Perry with ketamine pleads guilty Mistakenly deported man Kilmar Abrego Garcia is asking a Tennessee-based federal judge to delay any ruling to release him by 30 days as his legal team seeks clarity on the Trump administrations plans to deport him. Attorneys for Abrego Garcia said the delay was needed given the uncertainty of the outcome of any removal proceedings. The Department of Justice has not objected to the request. Abrego Garcia spent weeks imprisoned in El Salvador after being deported due to an administrative error despite a 2019 order from an immigration judge barring him from being returned to his home country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for the Justice Department said if Abrego Garcia were to be released, he would be picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Though Abrego Garcia cannot be deported to El Salvador, he could be sent to another country that agrees to take him, and the Trump administration has sought such arrangements with countries such as South Sudan. Abrego Garcia is fighting in two courts to bar his deportation, including the Maryland federal court where his family first sought his return from a Salvadoran prison. Its unusual for those facing charges to fight their release from prison a sign of the uncertainty facing Abrego Garcia as the Justice Department argues they have little control or insight into how immigration authorities would handle his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S. as the Trump administration announced they would bring human trafficking charges against the man stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee where he was seen driving other men without luggage. A ruling is expected shortly in Maryland, where Judge Paula Xinis has been asked to bar the Trump administration from deporting Abrego Garcia. In an attempt to stave off Xinis from taking any action, government attorneys agreed to abide by certain procedures before deporting him to a third country. But Abrego Garcias lawyers said those guarantees dont alleviate their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It leaves open the critical question of whether my client will receive effective notice and an opportunity to be heard in a court before he is removed to an as-yet unidentified third country, attorney Jonathan Cooper said at a hearing in Xiniss court room earlier this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VIENTIANE, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The weather bureau of Laos has issued a warning of increased risk of flash floods and landslides as Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms across the country. As Typhoon Wipha weakens into a tropical storm near Vietnam between Monday and Tuesday, it is expected to affect northern and central parts of Laos, bringing light to moderate thunderstorms in most areas, along with heavy rain and strong winds in some central and southern parts, according to a report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Residents in low-lying areas and along riverbanks, are urged to remain alert and prepare for several days of continuous heavy rain, which may trigger landslides, flash floods, and damage to lives and property. All citizens are encouraged to closely monitor official forecasts and warnings. Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorneys on Monday asked a federal judge for a 30-day stay if he is ordered released from custody while awaiting trial. The lawyers said their request comes after they were advised by the government that if released, the Department of Homeland Security would begin removal proceedings for the accused MS-13 gang member. MORE: Judge to rule by next week on Abrego Garcia's detention as he awaits trial Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Given the uncertainty of the outcome of any removal proceedings, Mr. Abrego respectfully requests that, should the Court deny the government's motion for revocation, the issuance of an order releasing Mr. Abrego be delayed for 30 days to allow Mr. Abrego to evaluate his options and determine whether additional relief is necessary," his lawyers wrote. Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native, was deported in March to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison -- despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation to that country due to fear of persecution -- after the Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which he denies. Mark Schiefelbein/AP - PHOTO: Supporters of Kilmar Abrego Garcia rally outside of the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., where a hearing was scheduled to be held on returning him to Maryland, July 7, 2025. He was brought back to the U.S. last month to face charges in Tennessee of allegedly transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S. while he was living in Maryland. He has pleaded not guilty. Last week, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. said he anticipates making a decision Monday on whether Abrego Garcia should be released pending trial. The attorneys said in Monday's filing that the government does not oppose their request for a stay. After one of the most controversial Cannes Lions in history, other ad industry awards shows are tightening their protocols around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in awards submissions. The One Club for Creativity, the Clio Awards, and D&AD told ADWEEK they are reviewing their guidelines around AI ahead of opening for submissions later this year. The Effie Awards, which as of last year are also owned by Cannes Lions' parent company, Informa, declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Clio Awards, which open for entries in September, are "evaluating next steps for how to advance our process" for entries and jury code of conduct in response to the Cannes controversies and the growing use of AI, said Sheena Bermingham, executive director of communications. The One Club for Creativity, which operates awards including The One Show and ADC Awards, is "tightening our protocols to address AI-edited submissions and false efficacy claims," CEO Kevin Swanepoel said. This includes adjusting client verification letters so that both clients and agencies must specifically affirm the accuracy of facts and metrics presented in the case study. More tools and verification measures are under development and will be announced when The One Show opens for entries in September, Swanepoel said. Swanepoel maintained that these measures arent meant to add an extra burden for judges, whom the One Club wants to stay "focused on celebrating the best in creativity, while ensuring that strong systems are in place behind the scenes to protect the integrity of the work being honored," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do not expect [judges] to act as AI auditors or fact checkers," Swanepoel added. D&AD, meanwhile, has for the past two years required entrants full disclosure on how AI was used in the final creative work. For the year ahead, it will widen that disclosure to include both the creative process and submission materials. The London-based organization is also evaluating verification tools for awards submissions that will be used alongside existing human checks, said chief operating officer Donal Keenan. But given the increasing reliance on AI search, which "remains unproven," the organization is taking a "cautious, considered approach" to selecting fact-checking tools, he added. D&AD will update its approved verification tools and announce a new entrant sign-off process "to strengthen accountability" ahead of the awards opening for entries in November. A String of Scandals This year's Cannes Lions-long considered the industry's most prestigious awards-was marred by scandals that led to withdrawn Lions, executive departures, and client backlash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cannes Lions revoked the Grand Prix and two additional Lions for DDB agency DM9's campaign for Whirlpool Consul after finding it included AI-manipulated footage from a CNN Brasil broadcast. DM9 apologized, and its co-president and chief creative officer Icaro Doria stepped down. Meanwhile, LePub took disciplinary action against employees responsible for presenting misleading and unverified results in a case study film without client approval in a Bronze Lion-winning campaign for New Balance and Sao Paulo FC. Work from Gut Amsterdam, Talented India, and FCB India also came under scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting results or overstating agency contributions in their submissions. In response to the controversies, Cannes introduced new global integrity standards that are set to take effect for 2026 submissions. They include a dual-layer fact-checking system using AI and human review; mandatory senior sign-offs on entries from both agency and client; clear rules around synthetic media; and a new Integrity Council to oversee escalated cases. Agencies found to have submitted deliberately misleading work may face a ban of up to three years. One of the things that makes me feel most patriotic and such feelings do not come easily, trust me is that I live on Terf Island. Baffled Americans who have swallowed the Kool-Aid and recite things like Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary people are valid, while living in a country that chops the breasts off disturbed young women, look at the likes of me and my friends, who want kids left alone, and think it is us who have the problem. For them we are some kind of monsters. We, the Terfs of Terf Island (a misguidedly derogatory nickname that reflects the UKs important role as the centre of gender-critical feminism), want to protect the rights of women and children. And with support we are slowly turning the pernicious gender juggernaut round in just about every area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant remember the first time I was called a Terf. It was meant as an insult (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). Originally, the only bit that I felt applied to me was feminist. I did not want to exclude trans people; I am not that radical. But I am tired. Its been a long old battle trying to explain that ideology should not trump biology. TERF: Tired of Explaining Reality to F---wits. To be labelled a Terf was an attempt to shut bolshie women down. Thousands of people pass through Soho on a London Trans+ Pride march from the Wellington Arch on July 9 2022 - Mark Kerrison / Alamy Stock Photo Now, a new book, Terf Island, by Sex Matters campaigner Fiona McAnena, reflects the struggle by looking at the social history of the resistance to gender ideology. Its out on August 1, and is well worth a read. As the book highlights, our basic objections were (and still are) to men in womens spaces, men in womens sports, the medicalisation and sterilisation of children, and the erasure of the word women from language so that we became people with cervixes or gestational carriers. The idea that sex itself was changeable and just an undefined feeling in your head? We didnt buy any of this and we were seen as old, redundant, out of touch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why wouldnt a bunch of awkward, often middle-aged women (which included lesbians) just go along with the shiny new creed where no one was born male or female anymore and everyone could be everything on a whim, the trans activists must have wondered. How mega exciting! (And how profitable for big pharma, big medicine, big shrinkery.) Who would not want to be modern and sexually ambiguous? As for stuff like rights and spaces and protections for women and safeguarding for children who cares? That was from the dark days, before rainbow lanyards and flags. Yet Terfs just would not get with the programme. We committed the biggest sin of all. We simply did not believe that a man in a wig and stockings could be a woman. Whats more, we organised and held gatherings supported by the advocacy group Womans Place. Networks were created. The Lesbian and Gay Alliance was formed. Court cases where women had been discriminated against for their gender-critical beliefs were won. Bit by bit, Terf Island was countering the ultra-effective lobbying of Stonewall, which had wormed its way into many public sector bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Scotland, Sturgeons push to allow gender self-ID fell apart after we saw where that could lead Isla Bryson, a rapist in a female prison. Since then, Labour, having idiotically signed up to the SNPs self-ID cause, has been coming round. We have had the Sullivan Review, the Cass review and the Supreme Court ruling, all seeking to improve data collection, policy making and definitions around sex and gender, rooted in biological fact. Ive been maligned for years as a Terf, so excuse me while I celebrate the victories of grassroots groups of busy women against much of the establishment. Other European countries, Australia and, whisper it, some Americans are now paying attention to our push-back, particularly on puberty blockers and gender medicine. Trumps slogan at the election Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you tapped into the unease many were already feeling. But cult thinking is hard to give up. Tim Roca, the Labour MP for Macclesfield, does not appear to have got the memo that his party has accepted that the word woman means biological woman. He found the Supreme Court judgment very depressing, even though it simply clarified the law. He described transphobes as swivel-eyed and not very well people. Its going to be very hard for these people to row back. One-hit wonder Kate Nash has recorded a song that rambles on and then addresses people like me as germs. (Exclusionary, regressive, misogynist (germ, germ)/Yeah, youre not rad at all.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A young posh duo called the Lambrini Girls perform a muddled ditty with the chorus Shut your stupid f---ing mouth you stupid f---ing Terf / Theres a reason your kids arent returning your calls, Carol. I am afraid these people may think they are rad and out-there, but they are missing what is going on. You know, in the world? The slow-motion car-crash of the tribunal of Sandie Peggie, who was cleared of misconduct after NHS Fife suspended her when she complained about having to share a changing room with Dr Beth Upton, a transgender medic, is revealing what happens when an organisation panders to the whims of a trans-identifying male. We end up with a nurse suspended for wanting to change in private. The Peggie case is covering NHS Fife in gender woo-woo that it cant shake off. It has beclowned itself by putting gender ideology above common sense. This is the level of insanity that Terfs have stood against for years now. But its changing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What did you do in the gender wars, Grandma? Say it out loud: I stood with the women of Terf Island. 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 heat dome that has hovered over tens of millions of people in the South and Midwest this week is now spreading into parts of the Northeast on Thursday, according to the Weather Channel. A heat dome is a high-pressure bubble in the upper levels of the atmosphere that traps hot air and sun radiation underneath it. The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit focused on climate change advocacy and education, compares heat domes to putting a lid on a hot pot; the lid keeps the hot air from leaving the pot and keeps the contents of the pot hot for a longer time. While late July usually is the hottest time of the year for most of the U.S., AccuWeather reports these temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the historical average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Extreme Heat Watch advisory alert, which warns dangerous heat is possible, was issued for West Virginia on Thursday. An Extreme Heat Warning alert, which warns dangerous heat is happening or about to happen, was sent to areas in Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York on Wednesday. Some of these extreme heat warnings were sent to major cities like Boston, Detroit, New York City and Washington, D.C., where temperatures will reach the mid-90s by Friday, the Weather Channel reported. However, temperatures in these areas are expected to drop over the weekend. Parts of the Midwest and the South will still be in temperatures near or above 100 degrees through the rest of the weekend, and potentially into the middle of next week. Florida, which has been experiencing hot and muggy conditions across the state all week, will continue to experience high temperatures in the upper 80s to lower 90s on Thursday and Friday, according to Florida Disaster, a division of the states Department of Emergency Management. The states heat index values will be particularly high on the western side of the Florida Panhandle, compared to the rest of the state. (The National Weather Service (NWS) heat index is a calculator that estimates what outdoor temperatures feel like to the human body.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts cannot determine exactly when the heat dome will end. Heat domes take a long time to break down, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist at the NWSs Weather Prediction Center, told Scientific American, so the extreme heat is expected to last through the rest of the week for some areas. 'Corn sweat' drives up humidity in the Midwest As heat index values in the Midwest peaked this week because of the heat dome, high humidity levels have contributed to corn sweat in these areas. Corn sweat is a colloquial nickname for evapotranspiration, which is when plants, like corn stalks, release water vapor into the air and essentially turn it into additional humidity that can drive up humidity levels and heat index numbers in the area, according to the Weather Channel. Today's weather term is "corn sweat". Yes, it's a real thing, and it's likely to become more noticeable into next week. Did you know that 1 acre of corn gives off about 3,000-4,000 gallons of water each day? Here's a little more about the transpiration process. pic.twitter.com/1k9S2gbG9Z NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) July 20, 2023 This mostly affects people in the Midwest, with residents in Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky experiencing heat index numbers in triple-digits because of the corn sweat, the Washington Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The corn sweat has also affected these areas dew points, which correlate to how much moisture is in the air, NWS explains. The higher the dew point, the more muggy and wet the air will feel. A dew point minimum of 75 equates to an extreme humidity level and feels oppressive, like a tropical rainforest, according to the Washington Post. In areas affected by the corn sweat, such as southern Missouri, the dew point is at 88. Northeast, Midwest also warned about severe thunderstorms AccuWeather meteorologists alerted on Wednesday that severe thunderstorms are expected to move across the Midwest before hitting the Northeast in the next few days. These storms carry the potential for high winds and hail, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The worst of the storms are expected to hit throughout Thursday afternoon and evening, mostly affecting cities like Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, before shifting into the Northeast on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its rare to see precipitation happen within a heat dome, severe thunderstorms are likely to form around its edges, often called the ring of fire. "In the world of meteorology, the ring of fire deals with thunderstorms along the northern edges of strong upper-levels high, AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. Oftentimes, this setup produces severe thunderstorms along the northern edges of the heat. How to stay safe in extreme heat Extreme heat is the deadliest type of weather in the U.S., even more so than tornadoes, flooding or hurricanes, according to research by the NWS. Prolonged extreme heat, as is expected in the heat dome this week, is especially dangerous for people who do not have access to air-conditioning or who spend a lot of time outdoors. If you live in a place that will be affected by the heat dome, heres what to do to help protect yourself: A disparate coalition of groups banded together to fend off a wildly unpopular provision in a rare show of unity that crossed traditional partisan lines. As WyoFile reported, Wyoming is a state that is rightly proud of its breathtaking natural beauty and will go great lengths to protect it. A proposed mass sell-off of public lands as part of the recently passed spending bill was met with fierce local opposition in the Equality State. The measure, proposed by Utah Senator Mike Lee, was ostensibly aimed at making housing more affordable, but few were convinced by that argument. Addi Jenkins, executive director of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance, one of several groups opposing the initiative, said, "It's one of the first times I've seen businesses and individuals come across party lines and unite. It's moving to see something still connects us all." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Businesses, conservationists, and Native American groups collaborated to pressure state representatives to repeal the initiative. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the State Capitol while the Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund sent over 23,000 letters to state officials, and 115 businesses lent their signatures to a petition to the state's senators. In the wake of such widespread and fierce opposition, Lee backed down and removed the provision from the bill. The victory underscores the efficacy of local action. It serves as a potent reminder that, despite the divisive rhetoric in the current media landscape, protecting public lands is a unifying message that polls extremely well. Similar efforts have been successful in other states, such as Florida and Montana. The article's comments expressed relief that the proposed sale of public lands won't happen. One worried reader said, "Blessed be you all for saving our public lands! This has been worrying me for weeks. I've been sick with grief." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another emphasized how much the lands mean to the people, saying that "access to public lands is the heart and lungs of every person who lives in Wyoming." Others emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant against any future attempts. "People, don't breath [sic] a sigh of relief, for this issue was not put to bed. It will pop it's [sic] ugly head up again, not only at the Federal level, but right here in our own state legislature. Think carefully about who you vote for," one commenter wisely counseled. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) LGBTQ+ calls made to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifelines will reroute to its general hotline after the Trump Administration ended the call option Thursday. In a statement one month prior to the termination, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, said, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the Press 3 option, to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option. Were going to have to hopefully level up the training as much as possible and really focus on how do we prepare these mental health professionals to be inundated with calls that are now going to go back into the general queue, said Dr. Byron Green-Calisch, board of directors president of St. Pete Pride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was established in 2020 under President Trumps first administration. According to administration, the Press 3 option was established two years later as a pilot program under a government agreement with a third party, The Trevor Project. Adolescents and young adults under the age of 25 who would call 988 would be able to press 3 to be routed to LGBTQ+ specialized counselors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023 and 20% did attempt to die by suicide. Dr. Calisch told News Channel 8 the difference in receiving targeted assistance lies in understanding which provides swiftness in meeting needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to have providers need or have to ask questions about why this very specific issue is as large as it is, or in the space of triaging, we want to be as quickly as we can to get people to help that they need, and that culturally informed provider is going to be able to cut straight through these issues to get to the heart of the problems, Calisch said. Unfortunately, all of the mental health providers are not culturally informed [as] it is not a part of the basic curricula that is, that allows for people to get licensed across the country. Calls made to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the Tampa Bay area are routed to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. We do expect an increase [in calls] and we are prepared for that increase, said Clara Reynolds, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay president and CEO. We maintain that database right here in our community. We have over 4,000 different resources that we can connect individuals to, no matter what their crisis is, no matter how big or how small, were the ones that can connect people to the right service at the right 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 WFLA. (Screenshot from Governors Office X video that accompanied vetoes issued on July 2, 2025.) At a virtual press conference Monday organized by North Carolinians Against Gun Violence and Everytown for Gun Safety, advocates urged state lawmakers to uphold Gov. Josh Steins veto of a bill allowing so-called constitutional carry. Senate Bill 50 would allow North Carolinians above the age of 18 to carry concealed, loaded handguns without a permit, a change from the current system that requires background checks, safety training, and live-fire training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his veto message on June 20, Stein said the measure would make the state less safe and undermine responsible gun ownership. We can and should protect the right to bear arms without recklessly endangering law enforcement officers and our people, he wrote. States that removed concealed carry permit requirements saw on average, between 1999 and 2021, a 27% increase in gun homicides within three years of the change, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. Weyling White, mayor of Ahoskie, is a board member of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence. He said the group gathered Monday because the safety of its communities is on the line across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last thing North Carolina needs right now is a step backward on public safety, White said. As a mayor, I think about the people in my town, here in the hospital, and I know that they are the ones who will bear the consequences o this bill. Students Demand Action volunteer Daelyn Edge attends Duke University. A lifelong North Carolinian, she grew up in rural, agriculture-based Sampson County. Over the past year, shes grown to call Durham home. While its very different from her hometown, shes found similarities in the consequences of the legislation. Owning firearms is a way of life in rural areas, and I support the right to responsible gun ownership, Edge said. However, Senate Bill 50 is destructive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Charles Blackwood of Orange County said he has always been an advocate for the Second Amendment. He said the permitting process enhances that constitutional right. This bill is counterproductive to public safety, it places North Carolinians in danger, and leaders from both parties have recognized this, Blackwood said. Lawmakers are expected to return to Raleigh the week of July 28 to consider some of the vetoes Stein has issued this year. A three-fifths vote is necessary in both houses of the legislature to override a veto. Republicans have a 30-20 majority in the Senate and a 71-49 majority in the House one shy of three-fifths. Senate Bill 50 was approved 26-18 in the Senate and 59-48 in the House. Several members were excused from voting in both bodies and two Republicans voted no in the House. (Photo: Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner) Last week, the State Board of Elections launched an ambitious effort to get 103,000 voters to add missing information to their registration record a NC DMV (drivers license) number or the last four digits of their Social Security number or a declaration that they have neither document. The board says it will not purge a voters registration if they dont provide the information, but it will require them to fill out extra paperwork and vote with a provisional ballot that may or may not count. That ambiguity and extra burden will cause many to just walk away without voting and its a good reason to help people remove themselves from the boards list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who are these voters and how can you help? Briefly, the affected voters are disproportionately young, Black, and vote Democratic although nearly half of them have not voted in the past 10 years. A large majority registered when they were in their teens or twenties and provided minimal information at the time which is why theyre on the boards list. Statewide, white registered voters outnumber non-whites by more than two to one, but voters of color actually outnumber whites on this list. And the partisan tilt among those on the list who have cast ballots is about 60%-40% in favor of Democrats, quite different from the states purple hue. The full list of 103,000 voters is on the State Boards website at this link its searchable by name and can be filtered by county or downloaded. Names will be deleted as voters provide ID info or county election staff find a number in another document, such as an absentee ballot application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affected voters should contact their county board of elections listed here to provide information in person or by mail, or re-register online if they have a DMV ID (best option: open this link, scroll to bottom and Continue as Guest). Voters still on the list in early August will get a mailing from the board. You can help by widely publicizing this website page with the searchable list and action steps: www.ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair. Check the list for family and friends, and promote the website on social media. More than 27,000 of the 103,000 were among the 60,000 early voters in 2024 who NC Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin tried to disqualify by claiming they had incomplete registrations. (The other 33,000 Griffin-challenged voters gave an ID number when they registered but the number didnt verify as theirs for various reasons, mostly data glitches and administrative error. That group and thousands of similar voters will be asked for an ID number in a later board mailing.) The State Board says the missing information is required by state law and the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), but many registration forms failed to make that clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actually, as county election officials attest, state law says the identity number must be requested but it is not required. If the number is missing or doesnt verify, the voter can complete their registration by presenting one of the identification documents specified in HAVA when they first vote (for example, a photo ID or a utility bill, bank statement or government document with their name and address). All 60,000 voters challenged by Jefferson Griffin provided a HAVA document when they first voted, which made their registration legal. Biased Republican state judges ignored that fact, but a federal judge finally quashed Griffins attempt to rewrite the rules in place for the 2024 election. Going forward, the State Board of Elections says it will require voters who come to the polls with a missing ID number to furnish one and vote with a provisional ballot that may not count unless the number verifies. In a busy election, that means waiting in a second line for a clerk to explain a multi-part form to fill out and a ballot that may be canceled. Too many people will just leave, frustrated and effectively disenfranchised. Hopefully, a judge will soon eliminate the boards new provisional ballot requirement, especially because everyone must now present a type of HAVA ID to vote, namely a photo ID. Whether voters provide an ID number that verifies or not, theyre also providing a HAVA document at the polls, which resolves any identification issue. Let them vote a regular ballot as the law specifies. [Editors note: Halls analysis of the list of 103,000 voters is based on matching it with other data files from the State Board of Elections.] COLOMBO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-one people were injured in a head-on collision between a private bus and a state-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus in Kegalle, Sabaragamuwa province in central Sri Lanka, on Monday morning, police said. The accident happened around 5 a.m., according to police. The injured are receiving treatment at two regional hospitals. Kegalle police have launched an investigation into the incident. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 21 that Ukraine will focus on three key issues in the proposed third round of direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul. "The agenda from our side is clear: the return of prisoners of war, the return of children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a leaders' meeting," Zelensky wrote on X. "It is clear to all that truly effective talks can only take place at the level of national leaders." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky's comments come after he announced on July 19 that Ukraine had proposed resuming talks, with newly-appointed National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov offering a new meeting to Russian representatives. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on July 21 that Moscow supports holding a third round but said no date had been agreed. "There are no changes on the Russian side in the negotiating group," Peskov said. The Russian delegation remains headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. Top officials such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov continue to be absent from the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last round of talks took place on June 2 in Istanbul, following a May 16 meeting after a years-long freeze. Since March, Ukraine has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, in a call backed by the U.S. Russia rejected the ceasefire in both rounds of talks in Turkey, instead pushing for a 23 day "truce" for the retrieval of dead bodies. No deal has been reached. Zelensky has consistently supported face-to-face negotiations and pushed for a leaders' summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, by contrast, has avoided in-person participation. Turkey remains one of the only countries with open lines to both Kyiv and Moscow. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on June 26 that Ankara is working to organize a Zelensky-Putin meeting with the possible participation of U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov reiterated on July 20 that Russia's goals remain unchanged and are to be achieved "on the battlefield," despite Trump warning on July 14 that he would impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless it agrees to end the war within 50 days. Read also: Russias largest and most secret drone factory showcased in Kremlin-media propaganda video Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The CEO of an AI company made international headlines last week after a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert caught him having an affair with no, we are not kidding his company's head of human resources. Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, technically the outfit's "chief people officer," couldn't have looked more guilty, awkwardly attempting to hide their faces and duck out of the frame as they realized they were on full view of the stadium. The optics of the aired affair turned out to be a little too much for Astronomer, a buzzword-heavy data ops company that boasts in inscrutable marketing materials that it "empowers data teams to bring mission-critical software, analytics, and AI to life." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Case in point, the company announced in a LinkedIn post that Byron has "tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted." "Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met," the statement reads. According to the company's website, Cabot remains at the company, though it's being reported that she's currently on leave. "The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO," the statement reads. "While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But not without a golden parachute; Axios reports that on his way out the door, Byron negotiated an exit package. In other words, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin turned out to be right on the money: this was a genuine scandal, not some enormous PR stunt. "Oh, look at these two," an endeared Martin told a crowd of tens of thousands of fans. "Oh, what... either theyre having an affair or theyre just very shy." The news comes after Astronomer announced that Byron had been placed on leave as the board of directors launched an investigation. Experts and internet commentators alike have since pointed out that if Byron and Cabot had simply played along, without acting incredibly guilty on the Jumbotron, it's likely that nobody would be talking about them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They probably would have got away with it if they hadnt reacted," New York University clinical associate professor Alison Taylor told the Associated Press. Apart from causing an executive shakeup and an extraordinary amount of second-hand embarrassment the hilarious clip of Byron and Cabot getting caught red-handed served as a refreshing distraction from a devastating, non-stop tidal wave of terrible news. "I'm pretty sure the Astronomy CEO and his side piece have done something no politician could ever do," one X user tweeted. Unite America." More on the affair: CEO of AI Company Caught Having Affair on Jumbotron at Coldplay Concert Researchers have stumbled upon a massive MAGA botnet of hundreds of accounts on Elon Musk's social media platform and right-wing echo chamber X-formerly-Twitter. As NBC News reports, the accounts use AI to automatically generate responses that flatter people sharing common conservative talking points that support president Donald Trump and his inner circle, giving a false impression that they have more popular support than they actually do. But the Trump administration's perplexing handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has proven too much for the AI powering the botnet to handle, causing the automated accounts to make contradictory statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on your perspective, it's either a hilarious glitch or a surreal mirror of the situation playing out in the actual political sphere, in which immense chaos is unfolding among the president's human supporters as they grapple with his dismissal of an issue they care deeply about. The situation blew up earlier this month when president Trump repeatedly tried to downplay the purported "client list" of the late sex criminal, an extensive backpedaling effort that severely strained relations with his most ardent MAGA supporters. The enormous degree of cognitive dissonance is anything but coincidental. After all, Trump officials had spent years fueling conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's crimes and death. Trump himself ran on the promise of releasing the "Epstein files." Trump has even gone as far as calling his supporters "stupid" and "foolish" for believing in what he's now calling a "SCAM" by Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The botnet tracked by researchers for NBC was similarly caught on the wrong foot. Following attorney general Pam Bondi's announcement that there was no "client list" despite previously claiming that it was "sitting on my desk right now" some bots called for her to be held accountable. However, other bots in the net sang a totally different tune, with one bot insisting that Bondi "comes out clean as the DOJ confirms no Epstein client list found, while reaffirming his death by suicide." To experts, the tribulations of the botnet are echoing a growing divide among Trump's supporters. "This split reaction mimics the organic reaction among supporters of Trumps second administration," social media analytics company Alethea head of investigations Shawn Eib told NBC. "Its possible that the behavior of these automated accounts is influenced by content posted from prominent influencers, and this shift is reflective of the general change in tenor among many of Trumps supporters." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put simply, confusion leads to chaos, whether you're a right-wing pundit with a human brain or an AI trained on their missives. How effective the cabal of AI-powered bots on X is remains unclear at best. For one, their largely pro-Trump posts don't get many views. "Theyre not really there to get engagement," Clemson Universitys Media Forensics Hub director Darren Linvill told NBC News. "Theyre there to just be occasionally seen in those replies." At the same time, these bots essentially seem to have been caught because their incompetent creators made sloppy mistakes; it seems likely that more competent bad actors are running better-designed AI-powered botnets that are evading detection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides demonstrating how the Epstein crisis is driving a massive wedge in Trump's supporters, the investigation also highlights how X-formerly-Twitter has quickly turned into a bot-infested swamp of disinformation and how deeply AI slop has penetrated the political process. Trump himself even posted an obviously AI-generated video last week: of former president Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office, a fate that he's presumably trying to avoid himself. More on the Epstein crisis: The Trump Administration Reportedly Has Extensive Logs of Epstein Money Transfers, Refuses to Release Them The pilot of a civilian passenger jet made a sharp and abrupt maneuver just prior to landing at a North Dakota airport to avoid an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber that was performing a low-level pass over a nearby fairgrounds. The civilian jet dove out of its landing pattern down to roughly 500 feet off the ground to avoid the Air Force bomber, according to flight tracking data and an announcement made by the flights pilot to passengers which has circulated on social media. Air Force officials released a statement insisting the military jet was following instructions from local air traffic controllers when the incident occurred. The B-52, the Air Force said, had been approved by local air traffic controllers to make a pre-arranged fly-by of the North Dakota State Fairgrounds as the civilian flight approached the airport to land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident, which occurred on the evening of Friday, July 18, happened as the civilian airplane, an Embraer E175 flying as SkyWest flight 3788, was in its approach to Minots airport. The airport is adjacent to the city of Minot, 13 miles south of the Air Force Base of the same name. As the plane descended toward the airport, the pilot spotted the B-52 approaching on what appeared to be a collision course. The SkyWest pilot dove the airplane away from the military jet, flying a loop before landing without further incident. A video of the pilots debrief to the planes passengers was posted to social media, including the r/Aviation subreddit. In it the pilot calmly explains to passengers what happened and why he took a sharp turn. For those of you on the righthand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, so we continued and theres no radar here, so the tower does everything visually, the pilot said. The pilot noted the speed of the incoming plane, making it a military aircraft, and said the best thing to do to avoid a collision was to make a turn. He apologized for the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up, the pilot continued. Because the airport base does have radar, and nobody said hey, theres also a B52 in the pattern. Minot Air Force Base is home to the 5th Bomb Wing, which operates 26 B-52 Stratofortresses. An Air Force spokesperson said in a statement that the service is looking into the matter. We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening, the statement said. In a statement posted on July 22, Minot Air Force Base said that a B-52 doing a flyover at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Over the course of 40 minutes the bomber crew was in contact with Minot Approach and the Minot International Airports air traffic control tower. At 7:43 p.m., the Air Force said, the B-52 crew was told to contact the civilian airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover, the Air Force said. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration told Task & Purpose it is investigating the incident. Top Stories This Week News Army bids farewell to laundry specialists Army bids farewell to laundry specialists By Patty Nieberg News The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks By Matt White News Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate generals dad Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate generals dad By Matt White SkyWest, which operated the regional connector flight for Delta Air Lines, said that the incident is under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path, SkyWests statement said. The close call at Minot is the latest aviation near miss this year. In March, a Delta flight leaving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. came close to an inbound Air Force T-38. Air traffic controllers were able to instruct the pilots of the aircraft on new headings in order to avoid a collision. That incident came only two months after a fatal collision over the Potomac River near the same airport. In January, an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane, killing all three soldiers on the helicopter and the 64 people on the plane. Update: 7/22/2025; This story was updated with a new statement from Minot Air Force Base on July 22. The U.S. Air Force and commercial airline SkyWest Airlines are trying to learn more about a July 18 incident in which a North Dakota-based B-52 Stratofortress may have had a near miss with a passenger plane. SkyWest said in a statement to Air Force Times that its flight 3788 was flying from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, on Friday evening. Air traffic controllers cleared flight 3788 to approach Minot International Airport for a landing when another aircraft became visible in their flight path, SkyWest said. The commercial plane aborted the landing and circled above the airport, before landing safely at the airport, the airlines statement said. SkyWest said the company is now investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Air Force spokesperson confirmed a B-52 from Minot Air Force Base held a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair that evening, but stopped short of confirming the near miss happened or saying an investigation was underway. We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport, the spokesperson said. We are currently looking into the matter. A video of the aftermath, recorded by a passenger identified as Monica Green and later circulated by multiple news outlets, shows the pilot explaining to passengers over the planes intercom system what had just happened. He [the air traffic controller] said turn right, the pilot can be heard saying. I said, Theres an airplane over there. And he says, turn left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when the pilot saw the other airplane was kind of coming on a converging course with us, he told passengers. The pilot said the other plane was a military aircraft that was flying a lot faster than us, and I felt it was the safest thing to do, to turn behind it. Sorry about the aggressive maneuver, the pilot said. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for understanding. Passengers can be heard applauding after the pilot concluded by saying, Not a fun day at work. The New York Times reported that Green said the plane veered dramatically to the right, so sharply that she was looking at cornfields out of the window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times also reported that the pilot wondered why Minot Air Force Base didnt give us a heads up, and nobody said, Hey, theres also a B-52 in the pattern. This near miss occurred six months after a deadly midair collision over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger aircraft, which killed 67 people. And on May 1, just a few months after that fatal crash, another Army Black Hawks path in the D.C. airspace forced two passenger jets to change course and fly around Reagan National, raising further alarms. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Low-flying aircraft will be operating in Lancaster County today. According to the Manheim Borough Police Department, low-flying aircraft will be operating in the Manheim Borough and Rapho Township areas on Tuesday, July 22, as part of a joint exercise between the Pennsylvania State Police and the Manheim Borough Police Department. Police said training will take place during the midmorning hours of the day. Residents may see aircraft flying low in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Livestream Alerts This is a training event and there is no threat to police safety. Anyone with questions can contact Manheim Borough Police Chief Jason Riggle at J.riggle@manheimpolice.org or 717-665-2481. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Voters at Alabama A&M University pass a voting sign after voting at Elmore Gym during Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz for Alabama Reflector) Reilly McDerment, the newly appointed Democratic county chair for Blount County, has his work cut out for him. President Donald Trump, a Republican, got over 90% of the vote in the county last year. Only three counties Marion, Winston and Cleburne supported Trump by a larger margin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years earlier, the county gave Republican U.S. Sen. Katie Britt 90% of the vote. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, won with nearly 95%. On a state level, Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden; former Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview; former Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Arab; Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, and Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, all have won elections to represent parts of the county unopposed since at least 2012. Blount County is a very particular county, McDerment said in an interview. We were one of the most Trump-ian counties in the last election. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX But McDerments appointment also represents a significant achievement for Alabamas Democratic Party: the establishment of a county chair in each of the states 67 counties. Its a milestone for a party that has faced challenges with disorganization at the local and state levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope and believe that people will be fed up, because theres a lot of goodness in people around here, and we just have to give them an option, because currently they dont have one, McDerment said. The effort to organize began after the election of Randy Kelly as state party chair and Ben Harris as vice chair for county affairs in 2022. Harris, who also serves as a Mobile County chair, said they wanted a chair in every county in Alabama so that they can start electing Democrats on a local level. He said that this is a long-term strategy and a long-term effort, and its a part of building the party. Its a matter of building kind of brick by brick, day by day, and were going to do it, Harris said. Susan McKenney, chair of the Alabama Democratic County Chairs Association and chair for Marshall County, said that local organization and having Democrats running in local races is critical. She said the association has been working on this initiative for three and a half years, recruiting, training the county chairs and ensuring that all chairs are aware of their duties and how to perform them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The counties are the most important part of the puzzle here. This is where the rubber meets the road, McKenney said. For years, the partys grassroots efforts have been described as fragmented. U.S. Army veteran Linda Turner, the chair for Houston County, remembered attending Democratic meetings where all (she) heard was how bad the state party was and how unorganized it was. Everybody was waiting for somebody else to do the work. She said that before the efforts to establish a chair in every county, organizing happened only in the more populated cities like Huntsville, Mobile and Birmingham, and everybody else was twisting their thumb because there nobody knew where to go or what to say. Turner said that while Georgias county party organization took 10 years to activate all its counties, partly due to having over 100 counties, the effort to organize the association in Alabama was due to having a void in the state party, leaving people want(ing) to know where the Democratic Party was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was something that needed to happen, she said. Because we really hadnt had a Democratic county party in every county in probably decades. For McDerment, the decision to get involved stemmed from a deep concern for fundamental rights being stripped from immigrants, adding that if you strip due process from one group of people in this country, and due process is the method by which you determine whether or not someones even a citizen, then you dont have due process for anybody in this country. Were treating people poorly and were dismantling the legal foundation of this country, he said. You cant call people off, put them in a camp just snatch them off the streets. Thats Nazi stuff. Harris said that county chairs will be building out the partys infrastructure from the bottom-up. They are providing training sessions for chairs in different regions of the state, teaching them how to recruit candidates, how to fundraise and to discuss strategies that work best in their counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our county party leaders are out in the community. Theyre out at events that are important in the community. Theyre involved in recruiting candidates. Theyre going to city council meetings and school board meetings and county commission meetings where issues are that are important or being argued, and theyre meeting people who are interested in those things, Harris said. McDerment, who has not been involved in politics prior to becoming county chair, said that the current political climate energized him to to get involved, saying that his motivation is a sign of how things are right now, and he believes that people might start to change their minds once they see the effects of Trumps tariffs and policy on immigration on a local level. I believe in my heart of hearts that people can be motivated to change their minds when theyre confronted with something that just doesnt work, and in this case, randomly tariffing imports from all of our greatest economic partners is not something that ever worked, McDerment. MaKayla Phifer, an advocate with VOCAL (Victims of Crime and Leniency), testifies before the Board of Pardons and Paroles during a hearing in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. The parole board finalized new guidelines to determine an applicant's fitness for release last week. (Stew Milne for Alabama ReflectorReflector) The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles finalized new parole guidelines on Thursday after allowing the public to review and comment on them for the past several weeks. The finalized version, announced Friday, is nearly identical to one that the parole board made available for comment at the end of May. The major changes involve an increase in weights given the severity of the original offense for parole applicants and more consideration of applicants behavior, both positive and negative, while incarcerated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board said in a statement that the new weight on the original offense would better capture offenses that are classified as sexual and/or violent crimes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The adopted guidelines reinforce Alabama Code giving full discretion of parole decisions to the Board and further clarify how the Board may use the guidelines as a tool in conjunction with all other factors that go into the parole decision-making process, the parole board said in a statement on Friday. The guidelines also ensure weighted factors receive proper measurement in light of the statutory requirements and represent a sufficient scope for each factor. Additionally, the revised guidelines align with the Boards and Bureaus commitments to rehabilitation. The statement from the board said the guidelines place more emphasis on disciplinary violations while incarcerated. Additional consideration will also be given to those who finished an educational program, such as obtaining a GED or completing a vocational program while incarcerated in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For each applicants final scoring on the Boards guidelines, a neutral category was added to account for cases that are evenly balanced, the parole board said. A neutral baseline score calls for the Boards decision to be guided by other factors in its comprehensive review of the inmates file and information provided at the time of the hearing. Parole applicants will also be able to submit video statements to the board. The video complements an inmates Institutional Parole Officers (IPO) Report, which is compiled by an IPO prior to a parole hearing, the parole board said. Parole guidelines are non-binding recommendations that use a point system to determine whether a person should be granted parole. The more points an applicant accumulates, the less likely they are to be recommended for parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guidelines consider several factors, from the underlying offense to behavior while incarcerated and the quality of the re-entry plan that people submit to help reduce recidivism. Many criminal justice reform organizations that weighed in on the guidelines recommended that they give more consideration to applicants behavior in prison and less on the original offense. Each of the suggestions offered are measures rooted in peer-reviewed scholarship proven to have direct correlation to improved recidivation and public safety outcomes benefitting the general community, ADOC staff, as well as parole applicants, said Jerome Dees, policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a statement on Friday. We hope that moving forward, the newly constituted Board will look to data-driven factors to inform their decisions which will ultimately impact all Alabamians. In the end, not many of the groups recommendations were included in the finalized version. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We appreciate the thorough review and consideration of our comments, and at least the guidelines now take into account completion of educational programming, said Carla Crowder, executive director of Alabama Appleseed, in a statement on Friday. However, we are extremely disappointed that these guidelines place all the responsibility upon incarcerated people to prepare their own reentry plans or else be penalized by these guidelines. Yet, the statewide reentry commission has determined its almost impossible to do so based on gaps in services inside ADOC. The state just continues to punish people for institutional failures and thats wrong. The deadline for adopting the new parole guidelines was 2022, and legislators became increasingly frustrated over the last year over the delays. A provision put in the 2026 General Fund budget earlier this year made the boards funding next year contingent on the adoption of the guidelines. The parole board said in the news release that it will continue to review the guidelines every three years per state statute. Regardless, criminal justice reform groups remain disappointed with the finalized version. This cannot be what the legislature had in mind when it called for a review of the guidelines, said Lauren Faraino, a civil rights attorney, in a statement. In any other area of public life, we would never accept a scoring system this flawed, this slanted, and this untethered from results. No one would trust a health care policy, an education rating, or a business decision that relied purely on the gut instincts of a single lifetime prosecutor. Yet thats exactly what were doing here. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen delivers his inaugural address during inauguration ceremonies at the Alabama State Capitol on Jan. 16, 2023 in Montgomery, Alabama. Allen asked state officials on July 21, 2025, to return political contributions received from Edwin Brant Frost IV, a Georgia man accused of a $140 million Ponzi scheme. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen on Monday called for those who received political contributions from a Georgia man accused of running a $140 million Ponzi scheme to return them. At least three elected Alabama Republican officials over the last four years received contributions from Edwin Brant Frost IV, an investor whose family is influential in the Georgia Republican Party, and his investment entities, which have been accused of raising funds through fraudulent means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I take allegations of financial fraud seriously, especially when that fraud bleeds into campaign finance. I encourage any Alabamians who have been involved to cooperate fully with law enforcement, including the SEC and our Alabama Securities Commission, to ensure that the victims who have been misled may be made whole, Allen said. The Alabama Secretary of States Office oversees campaign finance reporting but does not have the power to investigate or prosecute alleged violations of the law or compel the return of contributions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia alleged that Frost and his associated investment firms raised at least $140 million between 2014 and 2025 through fraudulent means. The lawsuit further alleges that Frost used $570,000 of the misappropriated money for political donations. According to campaign finance records, Frost, members of his family or his businesses made at least $132,000 in contributions to Alabama politicians and political action committees (PACs). Former Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, now the Alabama state auditor and a candidate for Secretary of State; Rep. Ben Harrison, R-Elkmont; and Alabama State Board of Education member Allen Long were among the Alabama politicians who accepted contributions either from Frost or one of his various investment firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sorrell and his PAC, Alabama Christian Citizens, collectively received at least $71,000 in contributions from the Frost family and their investment entities. Hours after being contacted for a comment, he claimed in a written statement that he was among the 300 people who fell victim to the scheme. According to campaign finance records, Alabama Christian Citizens, Sorrells PAC, made a loan of $29,000 to First Liberty Building & Loan, one of Frosts companies, in April 2024. According to Alabama election law, a PAC may issue a loan for the purpose of influencing the result of an election. Sorrell, as well as Harrison, who received over $21,000 in donations from Brant in 2022, stated that they would make efforts to return the funds in their statements last week. Long, a conservative member of the Alabama State Board of Education who received a $40,000 donation from First National Investments in December 2023, an unusually high amount in ALBOE campaigns, did not return a request for comment last week. Another message was left on Monday. Other recipients of Frosts political contributions include Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who last received a donation from Frost in 2019, according to campaign finance records in that state; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado. JAKARTA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday expressed deep concern over massive losses inflicted by fraudulent practices in the country's rice trade. He said he had received reports indicating that so-called food cartels had manipulated both rice prices and supply, resulting in annual losses of up to 100 trillion rupiahs (around 6.1 billion U.S. dollars). The profits were in the hands of only a few large business groups. "The loss is not just a matter of numbers, but concerns the fate of our farmers, consumers, and national stability. Therefore, we must take firm action to stop these lame and harmful practices," Prabowo said during the launching ceremony of village cooperatives in Klaten regency, Central Java, according to the Presidential Secretariat Office. "This is very detrimental to the country, especially when the government is working hard to secure income through taxes and excise," he added. Prabowo said that the current situation highlights serious inequality in the food sector. While farmers continue to receive low prices, millers and large-scale distributors are reaping double profits. NEED TO KNOW An Alabama teacher was arrested on July 18 on allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a minor student at North River Christian Academy Sarah Huggins Logan was charged with one count of a school employee engaging in a sex act after the parents of a female student informed the Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Office about the alleged relationship Authorities are concerned that other students might have been targeted in a similar manner and are encouraging any other victims to come forward An Alabama teacher was arrested and charged on allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a minor student. The revelation comes amid alleged concerns that other students were targeted by the educator in a similar manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, July 18, North River Christian Academy, a K5-12 school, confirmed that "a former employee" had been arrested by local law enforcement in a statement shared on Facebook. The suspect was identified as teacher Sarah Huggins Logan, 35, by local outlets ABC 33/40, CBS 42, WVTM 13 and WBRC. She was charged with one count of a school employee engaging in a sex act. According to reporting, additional charges are expected. Google Maps North River Christian Academy North River Christian Academy "We were made aware of the allegation earlier in the week and notified the appropriate state and local authorities. We have cooperated completely with the responsible agencies," North River Christian Academy's statement on the matter read. It continued: "Our first concern is for the health and welfare of our students, staff, and families. Please respect the privacy of all these parties. Contributing to rumors and suspicions profits no one and contributes only to the hardships experienced by those impacted." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, July 16, the Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Office was informed by the parents of an underage female at the school that the student had been involved in a sexual relationship with Huggins, according to ABC 33/40, CBS 42, WVTM 13 and WBRC. The investigation was handed off to the Violent Crimes Unit Sexual Assault Section. A warrant was issued for Logan's arrest after investigators conducted interviews and examined evidence. Logan is no longer employed at North River Christian Academy. The age and identity of the student have not been released. Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Stock image of a Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office car Stock image of a Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office car Per the local reports, there are concerns that Logan had additional victims. Authorities are encouraging anyone allegedly involved in a similar relationship to come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North River Christian Academy described the case as "heart rending for all involved" in their statement. "This includes especially the families directly impacted. We have prayed for them and encouraged our entire school family to hold them up in their personal prayers. This situation is easy for no one; there are only degrees of difficulty. 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. They concluded, writing, "We have received an outpouring of encouragement and support from many in the extended school family. We, the Charger Family, will weather this storm together." PEOPLE has contacted North River Christian Academy and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office for any updates on the case. Read the original article on People By Rajesh Kumar Singh and David Shepardson CHICAGO (Reuters) -Alaska Airlines warned of more flight disruptions on Monday after an unexpected failure of a critical piece of hardware at its data centers late Sunday forced it to halt all flights for about three hours. The Seattle-based airline had canceled 66 or 7% of its scheduled flights on Monday, while 110, or 12%, of its scheduled flights were delayed as of 10:45 a.m. ET, according to data from FlightAware. Its subsidiary Horizon Air was also dealing with flight disruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Sunday evening, the airline has had more than 150 flight cancellations as the outage prompted it to request a system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights at around 8 p.m. PT on Sunday. Its operations resumed around 11 p.m. PT. "Additional flight disruptions are likely as we reposition aircraft and crews throughout our network," Alaska said in a statement. "The IT outage is not related to any other current events, and it's not a cybersecurity event." The company said a critical piece of hardware at its data centers, manufactured by a third-party, experienced an unexpected failure. It impacted several of its key systems, necessitating a ground stop to keep aircraft in position, Alaska added. "We are currently working with our vendor to replace the hardware equipment at the data center," it said, without specifying the location. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago and David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis) Alaska Airlines brought its entire fleet to a stop Sunday night after a major tech failure shut down internal systems. The airline told Fox News Digital the issue hit around 8 p.m. Pacific. Not long after, Alaska called for a full ground stop on all flights including Horizon Air. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the halt on its site, listing all destinations as affected. We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop until the issue is resolved, an Alaska spokesperson said. We apologize to our guests for this inconvenience. The airlines website showed a red banner warning travelers about system issues and advising them to check flight info before heading to the airport. Flights Frozen, No Timeline Theres no estimate for when things will return to normal. Alaska said delays will stretch through the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline has more than 300 planes in service. Full fleet groundings are rare unless dispatch or scheduling tools go down completely. The outage hit hardest on the West Coast. At Seattle-Tacoma International, Alaskas main hub, passengers reported sitting on planes or stuck at gates with little information. As of late Sunday, the company hadnt said what caused the crash. This story is developing. The Dallas Express will post updates as they come in. Alaska Airlines lifts ground stop, passengers experience lingering delays after tech failure A system-wide ground stop affecting Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights was lifted late Sunday night after an IT outage disrupted operations across the country, the airline said. However, passengers continued to experience cancellations and delays into Monday morning. The technical issue began around 8 p.m. Pacific Time and led the airline to temporarily ground all flights operated by Alaska and its regional partner Horizon Air. The ground stop remained in place for approximately three hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 11 p.m. Pacific, the ground stop has been lifted, and our operations have resumed, Alaska Airlines said in an updated statement. It will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal. The airline warned that travelers may still experience delays or cancellations as crews and aircraft are repositioned. Passengers with upcoming flights were urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the ground stop Sunday evening via its status page but did not provide further information. Alaska Airlines has not released details about the specific cause of the IT failure. At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on July 20, we experienced an IT outage that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights. As of 11 p.m. Pacific, the ground stop has been lifted, and our operations have resumed. As we reposition Alaska Airlines News (@AlaskaAirNews) July 21, 2025 On Monday morning, KIRO 7s Brooke Griffin spoke to multiple passengers at SEA Airport who were continuing to struggle with delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just want answers, said Charles, who was trying to get home to Florida. Weve been here since 6 p.m. [Sunday], theyre now telling us were leaving Tuesday night at 11:59 [p.m.]. Theyre not giving us anything... theres no hotels, theres no nothing. They want us to stay here for two more days. At one point, Alaska Airlines made an announcement to waiting travelers at SEA, All flights are full. Take what you can get. If you dont get on the flight we give you, you may not get another. Alaska Airlines released the following statement Monday morning: Were working to get our operations back on track today at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air after a significant IT outage Sunday night resulted in a system-wide ground stop of flights, which was lifted at 11 p.m. Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A critical piece of multi-redundant hardware at our data centers, manufactured by a third-party, experienced an unexpected failure. When that happened, it impacted several of our key systems that enable us to run various operations, necessitating the implementation of a ground stop to keep aircraft in position. The safety of our flights was never compromised. Since Sunday evening, weve had more than 150 flight cancellations, including 64 cancellations today. Additional flight disruptions are likely as we reposition aircraft and crews throughout our network. The IT outage is not related to any other current events, and its not connected to the recent cybersecurity incident at Hawaiian Airlines. We are currently working with our vendor to replace the hardware equipment at the data center. We appreciate the patience of our guests whose travel plans have been disrupted. Were working to get them to their destinations as quickly as we can. Before heading to the airport, we encourage flyers to check their flight status." Alaska Airlines on Sunday briefly asked to ground its entire fleet of aircraft. The airlines said it experienced an IT outage that was affecting its operations. It lifted the ground stop and resumed operations a few hours later. Alaska Airlines asked to ground its entire fleet of aircraft on Sunday because of an IT outage, before reversing the action a few hours later. The Federal Aviation Administration said in an advisory on Sunday evening that Alaska Airlines had requested a "ground stop on all Alaska mainline aircraft." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, Alaska Airlines experienced an IT outage that's impacting our operations," an Alaska Airlines representative said in a statement to BI. "We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved," the statement said. The airline told BI in a subsequent statement that it removed the ground stop and resumed operations at 11 p.m. PST. "As we reposition our aircraft and crews, there will most likely be residual impacts to our flights. It will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal," it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company did not respond to BI's query about how many flights would be affected or whether any ongoing flights were interrupted. Per its website, Alaska Airlines has a fleet of 238 Boeing 737 aircraft and 87 Embraer 175 aircraft. "We are experiencing issues with our IT systems. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to resolve the issues," a notice posted at the top of the airline's website said early Monday. According to checks by BI at 2:12 a.m. E.T. on Monday, it had removed the notice. Representatives for the FAA did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider By Gursimran Mehar and Shivani Tanna (Reuters) -U.S. carrier Alaska Airlines resumed operations late on Sunday after briefly grounding all of its flights for about three hours due to an IT outage, marking the second time it has halted its fleet in just over a year. The company requested a system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights at around 8 p.m. Pacific on Sunday (0300 GMT on Monday) after it said that an outage impacted its systems, and lifted the ground stop by 11 p.m. Pacific, the carrier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As we reposition our aircraft and crews, there will most likely be residual impacts to our flights. It will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal," the Seattle-based company said. Alaska did not immediately specify the nature of the IT outage. In April 2024, Alaska grounded its entire fleet due to an issue with the system that calculates the weight and balance of its planes. Alaska Air Group maintains an operational fleet of 238 Boeing 737 aircraft, and 87 Embraer 175 aircraft, according to its website. In June, Alaska Air Group-owned Hawaiian Airlines said some of its IT systems were disrupted by a hack. Alaska Air Group said it was still determining the financial impact of that event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news of Alaska's IT issues comes at a time when tech companies Google and Palo Alto Networks have warned of the "Scattered Spider" hacking group's interest in the aviation sector. Canada's WestJet Airlines was struck by an unspecified cyber incident in June, while Australia's Qantas experienced a data breach in July where a cyber hacker accessed the personal information of millions of customers. But those incidents did not affect flying operations. Separately, Microsoft said on Sunday that there were "active attacks" on its server software used by government agencies and businesses. Alaska did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on whether the outage was related to the Microsoft announcement. (Reporting by Gursimran Kaur and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Jamie Freed and Kate Mayberry) Alaska Airlines on Sunday, July 20 grounded all of its flights over a tech issue, but resumed its flights shortly after in the early hours of July 21, 2025. However, the IT issue that caused the delays for travelers could end up causing more issues in the near future, according to Reuters. The Washington-based airline with over 300 aircraft shortly after resuming flights announced the failure of a critical piece of hardware at its data center that caused the original groundings could continue to cause problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The failure originally caused Alaska Airlines to ground all its flights for about three hours. "We are currently experiencing an IT outage that's impacting our operations. We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop until the issue is resolved," the airline posted on X. "We sincerely apologize to our guests for this inconvenience." An Alaska Airlines jet taxis at San Francisco International Airport on June 04, 2025 in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Alaska Airlines after announcing the ground stop had been lifted made another post on July 21 stating it was still working on fully restoring its operations. "Were working to get our operations back on track today at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air after a significant IT outage Sunday night resulted in a system-wide ground stop of flights," the airline posted. "We appreciate the patience of our guests whose travel plans have been disrupted. Were working to get them to their destinations as quickly as we can. Before heading to the airport, we encourage flyers to check their flight status." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline, founded in 1932, operates a fleet of Boeing and Embraer aircraft, with 238 Boeing 737 jets and 87 smaller Embraer 175 jets, according to the Alaska Airlines website. The airline's smaller Embraer aircraft are all operated via contract through SkyWest Airlines and Horizon Airlines. Alaska Airlines also operates five cargo versions of the Boeing 737, though it's unclear if the IT issue impact its freight operations as well. Related: Airline Forced To Ground All Flights Due to Tech Issue Alaska Airlines Warns Even More Flights Could Be Delayed Due to Tech Issue first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 TIRANA, Albania (AP) An Albanian court on Monday started the trial on corruption charges of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party. The trial for Berisha, 80, at the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, which covers cases involving senior officials and politicians, also includes his son-in-law and three other people. In October 2023, prosecutors put Berisha under investigation for allegedly abusing his post to help his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi, privatize public land to build 17 apartment buildings in the capital, Tirana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2024 Berisha was formally charged with corruption in connection with a property deal. He has denied the charges, describing them as political repression ordered by Prime Minister Edi Rama of the left-wing Socialist Party. On Monday, Berisha reported to the prosecutor's office, as required every two weeks, but said he did not go to the court where he was represented by his lawyers. My presence or not is set from my lawyers and naturally in line with the laws, he told journalists. That is a session where my lawyers will present their claims. Berisha was prime minister from 2005-2013 and served as president from 1992-1997. He was re-elected as a lawmaker for the center-right conservative Democratic Party in the 2024 parliamentary elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States government in May 2021 and the United Kingdom in July 2022 barred Berisha and close family members from entering their countries because of his alleged involvement in corruption. Corruption remains a top issue that has continuously negatively affected Albania since the fall of the communist regime in 1990. Beside Berisha, former President Ilir Meta and members of Berishas opposition coalition have also been detained and investigated on corruption charges. Both say the charges are politically motivated, accusing the government of corruption. In October last year, Tirana started full membership negotiations with Brussels on aligning with the European Union on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption. Albania aims to join the bloc by 2030, according to Rama. NEW DELHI, July 21 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and three others injured Monday in an explosion at a firecracker factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police said. The blast took place near Sivakasi area of Virudhunagar district, about 540 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. According to police, the victims were working in the factory. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Albuquerque city leaders came together Monday to announce a new executive order. Mayor Tim Keller signed the policy, which looks to help the immigrant population in the city. Protesters gather outside Walmart of recent ICE arrest The city says the order reaffirms its commitment to support the citys immigrant community. Among other things, the new order reaffirms that no city department, agency or employee should use city resources to assist in federal civil immigration enforcement. It prohibits city staff from supporting secret ICE activity in public facilities, requires departments to report ICE activity at city facilities to the Mayors office, and commits to prosecuting people who impersonate ICE agents. We are safer as a community when people feel safe to engage in community and engage with our police department. This is the fundamental basis with our connection between public safety and our immigrant-friendly policy, which is that no one should be afraid to call the police, Keller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martinez said, Can we collectively say take off the masks, take off the damn masks. What are they afraid of? On Amazon, you can get this jacket says ICE Border Patrol for thirty bucks, you can get the hat for another fifteen. Thats how easy it is to become one of these imposter thugs that are going around our community, terrorizing our families. According to the mayor, Albuquerque has a population of 50,000 immigrants. Three Albuquerque City Councilors sent this statement in response: These executive orders are nothing more than dangerous political theater by the Mayor. If a resolution comes before the Council to codify orders that interfere with federal law enforcements pursuit of criminals, we will introduce an amendment requiring that federal authorities be given access to the Prisoner Booking Center the location all criminals are taken when arrested. Mayor Keller specifically prohibited federal law enforcement access to this location when he took office. Public safety should never be compromised for political posturing. The people of Albuquerque are tired of this Mayor playing games while violent criminals roam our streets and terrorize our neighborhoods. We will not stand by and allow this administration to continue undermining the safety of our city. Councilor Dan Lewis, Councilor Renee Grout, Councilor Dan Champine Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) If you enjoy strolling the streets of Old Town, a walk in August could bring an opporunity to enjoy the sights and to save some money. The Old Town Boutique Community hosts its 16th Annual Sidewalk Sale, boasting end -of-summer deals at dozens of independent boutiques. Savannah Bananas surprise fan at Alexandria Dunkin Donuts The Old Town Boutique District is an area that features more than 30 different business that sell a variety of items in many categories, including home decor, fashion, jewelry, beauty, childrens apparel, home, food, wine, and gifts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sidewalk sale takes place on August 9 throughout the area. Youll find the list of participating 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The New York Times reported Sunday that Alina Habba, appointed by President Donald Trump as the interim U.S. attorney for the district of New Jersey, has shattered morale to the point that many prosecutors are looking to leave. But Habba might beat them out the door. With Senate confirmation for a full term appearing unlikely and district judges reviewing a possible extension, Habba already has said goodbye, the Times reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps former defense attorney admitted in a staff meeting last week that she was unlikely to be appointed by the judges and offered an emotional, pre-emptive farewell, according to NYT. That would mean her tenure could end Tuesday. At least according to the Times report, it would be good riddance for the outspoken lawyer who has been a high-profile defender of Trump in court (she represented him on the losing end of two lawsuits brought by writer E. Jean Carroll) and on conservative media. While in the U.S. attorneys office, Habba boasted of her access to the White House despite claiming she is not political, sources told the newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors have chafed at her availability to defense lawyers, the Times wrote, evidenced by her reported meeting with attorneys for a man again convicted of investment fraud after Trump commuted a previous sentence. The problem? Habba did not include prosecutors in the meeting. Her dissolution of the Civil Rights Division also rankled many, and her vanity was on full display in a conference room that featured three pictures of her even though the space is named for crimefighter Frederick B. Lacey, according to the Times. Habba, who was previously appointed by Trump to serve as counselor to the president, also faces her own potential courtroom drama. She was sued by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation after his appearance May 9 to protest an immigration detention center in Newark. I didnt go there to break any laws, I didnt break any laws, he said. I was there as the mayor of the city, exercising my right and duty as an elected official, you know, supporting our congresspeople, preparing for a press conference that was supposed to happen there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She eventually dropped the charges. HuffPost reached out to her office for comment. Alina Habba has already said goodbye to the U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey. via Associated Press Related... The U.S. government recently announced the opening of a massive immigrant detention facility built deep within the Florida Everglades that's been dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a media briefing that "there is only one road leading in ... and the only way out is a one-way flight." For some taking in her remarks, the moment felt dystopian. According to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the facility is surrounded by swamps and alligators and is equipped with more than 200 security cameras, 8,500 meters of barbed wire and a security force of 400 personnel. Accounts from some of the first detainees at the facility have shed light on the inhumane conditions. They've described limited access to water and fresh air, saying they received only one meal a day and that the lights are on 24/7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apparently designed to be an immigration deterrence and a display of cruelty, Alligator Alcatraz is much more than infrastructure. It is visual policy aimed to stage terror as a message while making Trump's authoritarian and fascist politics a material reality. Contributing to this fascist visual apparatus, AI-generated images of alligators wearing Immigration and Customs Enforcement hats have circulated widely on social media. Some have questioned whether these images were satire or state propaganda. In a moment of growing right-wing rhetoric and support for anti-immigrant violence, understanding how visual regimes operate, and what they attempt to normalize, is important. Surveillance and deterrence technologies used along the U.S.-Mexico border for decades were intentionally designed to restrict the movement of undocumented migrants. According to Human Rights Watch, this has resulted in more than 10,000 deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 1994, the U.S. Border Patrol has been accused of directing migrants away from urban crossings along the southern border, intentionally funneling them into harsh and inhospitable terrain like the Sonora Desert. The desert serves as a deterrent to prevent immigrants from reaching their destiny. American theorist Jasbir Puar's concept of debility is useful in making sense of the strategic process whereby the state works not to kill, but to weaken, as a form of slow violence that wears people down over time. The desired outcome is deterrence. On the southern U.S. border, severe dehydration and kidney failure can be outcomes of this debilitating process, potentially resulting in disability or death. Infrastructures of violence Sarah Lopez, a built environment historian and migration scholar in the U.S., describes the architecture of migrant immobilization as existing on a continuum with prison design. She's highlighted the increasingly punitive conditions of immigration detention facilities, such as small dark cells or the absence of natural light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French architect and writer Leopold Lambert explains that architecture isn't just about buildings, but about how space is used to organize and control people. He coined and developed the term weaponized architecture to describe how spaces are designed to serve the political goals of those in power. Colonialism, capitalism and modernity are closely connected, and architecture has played a key role in making them possible. Alligator Alcatraz sits at the intersection of all three, intentionally created to invoke danger and isolation. In other words, it's cruel by design. As Leavitt put it, the facility is "isolated and surrounded by dangerous wildlife and unforgiving terrain." The Trump administration has essentially transformed land into infrastructure and migrants into disposable threats. Terrorizing the marginalized State-sanctioned "unforgiving terrains" are not new, and the use of alligators to terrorize people of color isn't new either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grotesque history of Black children being used as "alligator bait" in Jim Crow-era imagery is well-documented. So when Trump publicly fantasized about alligators eating immigrants trying to escape the new detention center, it came as no surprise to those familiar with the long racist visual history linking alligators to representations of Black people. This logic is redeployed in the form of a racial terror that is made visible, marketable and even humorous in mainstream political discourse. Visuality and migration "Visuality" is a key term in the field of visual and cultural studies, originally coined by Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle and reintroduced in the early 2000s by American cultural theorist Nicholas Mirzoeff. It can be understood as the socially, historically and culturally constructed ways of seeing and understanding the visual world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visual systems have historically been used to justify western imperial and colonial rule by controlling how people see and understand the world. While Alligator Alcatraz is a brand-new detention facility, it draws from a longer visual and spatial history of domination. The AI-generated images of alligators wearing ICE hats can be seen as part of a broader visual system that makes racialized violence seem normal, justified and even funny. In this absurd transformation, the alligator is reimagined as a legitimate symbol of border enforcement. Migrant death by water The spectacle of Alligator Alcatraz, with its swampy inhospitable landscape, cannot be divorced from the long visual history of migrant death by water that's relied on the circulation of images to provoke outrage -- and sometimes state action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Examples include the iconic image of Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian child whose lifeless body washed ashore in Turkey in 2015, and the devastating photo of Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez and his 2-year-old daughter who both drowned crossing the Rio Grande in 2019. These images sparked global concern, but they also reinforced the idea that migrant lives only matter when they end in death -- as if borders only become visible when they cause deaths. Alligator Alcatraz was built in eight days. The fact that a detention camp - or what some have called a concentration camp -- can be assembled almost overnight, while basic human needs like clean drinking water or emergency warning systems go unmet for years, speaks volumes about where political will and government priorities lie. Marycarmen Lara Villanueva is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely those of the author. Ambassador Huckabee blames Hamas for the impasse in the hostage deal, calls for an investigation in the case of the American Palestinian killed near Sinjil, and praises the US-Israel partnership. Sitting confidently in his comfortable office within the grounds of the symbolic Jerusalem Embassy, the former Arkansas governor and current US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is dressed meticulously for the role, confident in the position President Trump has selected for him. The United States-Israel Ambassadorship has placed Mike Huckabee in the hot seat of international and local politics. He enjoys one of the busiest Ambassadorships, tying him to some of the most historic events with quickly turning news cycles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With ease and warmth, the American envoy and Baptist pastor runs through the litany of historic events in an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with The Media Line's Felice Friedson, covering the 12-day war with Iran, to the most recent ceasefire with Syria, and the pending hostage deal with Hamas. Describing his journey to becoming an ambassador, Mike Huckabee was candid about the weight of the role. "I knew it was going to be intense," he said. "I've been coming to Israel for 52 years ... over 100 times. So it's not that I'm shocked by most of what's happened." Still, stepping into the ambassador role during overlapping conflicts, the war in Gaza and the brief but fierce 12-day war with Iran, has been anything but symbolic. "It's certainly not been a ceremonial position," he added. "But I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." Ambassador Huckabee recounted how the role came to him just days after the election. "The phone rang ... it was President Trump. He doesn't askhe tells," Ambassador Huckabee said, grinning. "He said, 'You're going to be my ambassador to Israel. You're going to go. You're going to be great." Trump, he joked, didn't miss the chance to say, "'You're not as great as your daughter (Sarah)you'll never be as great as herbut you're going to go.'" Ambassador Mike Huckabee in his office at American Embassy in Jerusalem. (credit: Courtesy) Within half an hour, the news was public. Ambassador Huckabee scrambled to reach his wife, who was volunteering in Oklahoma at the time. "I think I caught her about six minutes before it hit Fox News," he said. "Good thing I did, or I might not have survived not telling her first." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discussion with The Media Line then focuses on the rapid-fire nature of Ambassador Huckabee's role, and questions reflect the wide range of issues that have arisen and still linger. Ambassador Huckabee emphasizes the firm partnership the United States has with Israel, citing the closeness of the leaders, but also speaks of the hurt many in the evangelical Christian community feel, burdened by the challenges Israel's Interior Ministry poses. Teachers and pastors who want to work in the Jewish State often face exorbitant visa fees and other obstacles to secure entry. Frustration over visa practices for Christian evangelical groups visiting Israel In a strongly worded letter to Israel's Interior Minister Moshe Arbel last week, Ambassador Huckabee expressed deep frustration that prior discussions on the issue had failed to resolve what he called a "simple" matter of restoring long-standing visa practices to Christian evangelical groups visiting Israel. Speaking to The Media Line, Ambassador Huckabee sharply criticized the recent bureaucratic hurdles Christian organizations face in obtaining visas to Israel, expressing his deep disappointment, asking, "Why do you hurt your friends? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Why would Israel want to do something that was very detrimental to their best friends? ... We weren't asking for special treatment. Just don't rock the boat." Ambassador Huckabee explained that before he arrived in Israel in January, the process suddenly changed. Visas were no longer approved based on the religious committee's recommendations but were denied outright, triggering costly and bureaucratic investigations, sometimes requiring a much more expensive visa. However, he expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved soon at higher levels of government. Ambassador Huckabee has called for an investigation into violent attacks that have erupted recently in the West Bank, most notably, resulting in the killing of American Palestinian Sayfollah Musallet. The ambassador met with the family of the young man who was killed and expressed the need for an investigation into the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An American citizen was murdered. It is an act of crime and terror ... We need to find out what happenedfor his family's sake, but also for the sake of the relationships that exist in that part of Israel." Turning to the International scene, Ambassador Huckabee opened with a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes military coordination between the United States and Israel during the war with Iran. While he remained cautious about revealing classified details, he described the level of cooperation as historic. "The extraordinary level of cooperation between the two countries is one for the books," he said. "The relationship afterwards has only been enhanced exponentially. Both militaries carried out a level of precision that you just have never seen." He emphasized the miraculous nature of the operation with no combat fatalities, no aircraft losses, and an unmatched level of operational success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You step back and you look at that in the context of hundreds of ballistic missiles being fired, and you simply say God must have put his hand on this whole process." In response to questions about negotiations with Qatar and the image of unity between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ambassador Huckabee was clear in countering media narratives of division. "The cooperation is intense out of necessity, but it's also intense out of choice," he stressed. "These are two people who like each other." He laid the blame for the impasse in hostage talks squarely on Hamas. "Everybody wants it to end except Hamas," Ambassador Huckabee stated. "To leave Hamas there rewards them ...It would be the equivalent of saying to the Nazis at the end of World War II, yeah, you can stay." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the onset of war, speculation swirled about Iran's remaining military capacity and its nuclear ambitions. Ambassador Huckabee unequivocally asserted that Iran's military had been "severely crippled." "They decimated Iran's ability to defend their airspace ... Even in 12 days of intense fighting, you're not going to eliminate every threat, but they made major, major damage." He warned that a second round of military action was possible if Iran failed to grasp the message. "If they didn't get that message through these 12 days, I'm not sure they ever will." Asked about the Yemen-based Houthis' threat in the Red Sea, Ambassador Huckabee cautioned against further provocations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Take a look at your sponsor ... do you see a future for yourselves continuing to attack US assets?" he warned. "How does your future look if you keep sending ballistic missiles down on top of civilians?" Ambassador Huckabee spoke passionately about the tragedy of Gaza's squandered potential under Hamas. "Gaza could have been Singapore. Hamas turned it into Haiti," he told The Media Line, lamenting the misuse of billions in aid. "They built a tunnel system to kill Jews that's larger than the London Underground." Trump's proposition for Gaza He explained how President Donald Trump's provocative proposal to rebuild Gaza as a luxury resort galvanized global discussion. He emphasized that President Trump consciously employs the tactic of causing a stir to get major players to discuss and take action on urgent issues, such as a post-war plan for Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ambassador Huckabee remarked, "That's the genius of the president." He added, "I tell people all the time people don't get it ... He says something just to throw it out there but what he's doing he's prompting a level of discussion that would not have even started had he not thrown something out there." "He doesn't mind pulling the pin and rolling the grenade in the room to see who runs for the door." Although some Gazans express discontent with both Hamas and Israel, and indicate a preference for Fatah rulers, Ambassador Huckabee expressed skepticism. "That particular government (Fatah) is not working real well for the people in Judea and Samaria. I'm not sure why it would work in Gaza." Syria's new regime The ambassador discussed the shocking killing of Druze in Syria and President Trump's unexpected overture to President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He preempted Syria from joining with the Russians, the Chinese, or the Iranians ...That new government wasn't strong enough to stand up itself ... and President Trump gave them a partner." Ambassador Huckabee saw a glimmer of hope in the regional response to the Druze massacre, praising Israel's protective stance. "The Druze are a very important part of Israeli society ... To their credit, Israelis are not going to let them just get slaughtered." In defense of Netanyahu Ambassador Huckabee defended Prime Minister Netanyahu, drawing a parallel to former President Trump's legal challenges. "If you cannot defeat your political opponent at the ballot box, you try to tie him up in court and drain him ... Is this really the time?" His appearance at the Prime Minister's court hearing, he admitted with a smile, may have disrupted proceedings slightly, but carried a message of solidarity. Reinvigorating the Abraham Accords remains high on Huckabee's ambassadorial agenda. "We could see a total realignment in the Middle East ... Countries that once had guns aimed at Israel now having trade deals and airplanes of tourists." Ambassador Huckabee continued, "Whether he (Trump) will ever get the Nobel Peace Prize or be respected and recognized for it, I don't know that he even cares because he'll have history on his side." He particularly praised the UAE for continuing flights to Israel even after October 7, describing their commitment as "remarkable." Ambassador Huckabee explained, "Most people don't understand that on October 7, they were flying 17 flights between the UAE and Israel, and on October 8, they flew 17 flights, and every day since until aerospace was shut down, they continued to fly flights." He continued, "Now when the American carrier suspended and all the Europeans did, the one airline that continued to honor its pact of coming to Israel was the UAE. I hope every Israeli gives them a standing ovation for their cooperation and the level of commitment to the agreement and its process. I salute them." When asked about his "wish-list" as ambassador, Huckabee listed three goals: expanding the Abraham Accords, "advancing long-term peace in Judea and Samaria," andmost personallyseeing all hostages returned. "This pin I wearI want to take it off, throw it away, and never see it again That's the day I'll cherish and savor." When The Media Line asked Ambassador Huckabee what he thinks about when he goes home at night, and what he has taken away from his experience so far as ambassador to Israel, he responded, "Life in the Middle East is complicated, but I knew that coming in ... I think what I go home with every day is a sense of satisfaction that I am blessed beyond description to have been sent by the President to be in a challenging but incredibly important role for my country that I love and cherish, and to be part of a relationship, not with a friend or an ally, but with a partner." He added, "We have a lot of allies. We only really have one partner, and to be the ambassador of the United States of America, to salute that flag that's out there on our lawn, and then to be able to represent us to our partner is an incredible honor and privilege." NEED TO KNOW Justin Todd Henry, 35, of Maine, reportedly died on July 18 after falling from the 10th floor of the Astra Condo hotel in Thailand The American tourist had been on vacation with his Ukrainian girlfriend, 26, per Associated Press The AP indicates that local police believe the fall was an "accident," though they are investigating whether or not the couple were arguing ahead of the fall A 35-year-old American tourist has died after falling from a hotel balcony in Thailand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Associated Press (AP), Justin Todd Henry, 35, of Maine, was on vacation with his Ukrainian girlfriend, 26, when he fell from the 10th floor of Chiang Mais Astra Condo hotel on July 18. His body was discovered on the ground at around 10 p.m. local time. Per AP, he had been drinking beer and smoking cannabis before the incident took place. Viral Press Emergency responders in Thailand Emergency responders in Thailand Henry, who died at the scene, was reportedly lying on his back on the street with a "visibly broken leg" when police found him. AP also notes that reports that his girlfriend was in a state of "extreme shock" at the time of the incident. On July 18, at around 10:00 pm, the duty officer at Mueang Chiang Mai station received a report from the Nakornping Radio Center that a foreign national had fallen from a height, Police Colonel Pratchya Thitsala, superintendent of the Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station, said per AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police added, For this case, we can rule out the involvement of a third party. We checked the security cameras, and they showed that he was with his girlfriend. Only the two of them entered the room together. His girlfriend is around 26 years old and is a Ukrainian national. She was in a state of extreme shock, with weakness in her limbs, Thitsala said, according to the outlet. She was taken to Suan Dok Hospital. We will wait for her condition to improve before conducting an interview. Viral Press Astra Condo in Chiang Mai Astra Condo in Chiang Mai 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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Authorities said there were "no signs of a struggle," adding that the fall appeared to be an "accident." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are not sure yet whether there was any argument between them," police continued, as noted by the news service. "We will have to wait for the girlfriend to recover before interrogating her about this. Google Maps Astra Condo in Chiang Mai Astra Condo in Chiang Mai According to AP, locals reported seeing Henry buying beer from a convenience store before returning to his room. There were also reports of shouting shortly before the accident. Rescue volunteer Thanakorn Wongnang noted to the AP that Henry's partner indicated they were on vacation and were planning to marry when they returned home. simonlong/Getty Chiang Mai, Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand Henrys last update on his Facebook page was that he had moved to Ko Samui in November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His brother Ryan Liam Henry paid an emotional tribute following his passing on the social media site. I love you so much, bro. Im still in disbelief that youre gone it doesnt feel real. Our trip to Portugal will forever be one of the most unforgettable moments of my life, his caption read. I replay those memories all the time, and Ill never stop cherishing them. I wish I could give you one more hug, hear your laugh again, and tell you just how much you mean to me. He continued, Youll always be with me, in everything I do. I promise to honor your memory every day and keep your spirit alive through the love you gave so freely. Until we meet again I miss you more than words can say. PEOPLE has contacted Thailand Tourist Police and Astra Condo for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Read the original article on People If President Donald Trump had his way, the press would stop talking about his administrations handling of files related to his former friend, the late pedophile and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Rather, hed wish that they would talk about his One Big, Beautiful Bill or his policies related to immigration. But a series of new polls show that Americans do not approve of at least one of those core policies Trumps efforts to deport swaths of immigrants from the country. CBS News released a survey on Sunday that showed 51 percent of Americans think the Trump administration is focused too much on deporting immigrants who are in the United States illegally. The same number of Americans also disapprove of Trumps program to find and deport migrants in the country illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll surveyed 2,343 adults in the United States between July 16 and July 18, with a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points. In addition to those bad numbers on immigration, a slight majority of 52 percent said that the Trump administration is trying to deport more people than they thought it would, and 56 percent of U.S. adults said that the administration is prioritizing deporting people who are not dangerous criminals. President Donald Trump listens as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of "Alligator Alcatraz," a new facility to detain migrants in the United States. (AP) And a whopping 64 percent of Americans say that Hispanic people in the United States are subjected more to immigration and deportation searches from Immigration and Customs Enforcement than other races and ethnicities. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump talked frequently about enacting a mass deportation program to remove immigrants unlawfully in the country. Shortly after winning the presidency, he said that the plan would have no price tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His One Big, Beautiful Bill would send $178 billion toward immigration enforcement and $30 billion to ICE specifically throughout the next decade. The White House also hopes to hire 10,000 new ICE agents to help with deportation. But lest the Trump administration brush off this poll as an outlier or fake news, a new poll from CNN conducted by SSRS showed similar results. This one surveyed 1,057 respondents between July 10 and July 13, with a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. That survey showed that 55 percent of Americans thought that the Trump administration had gone too far in deporting migrants living in the United States illegally, up from 45 percent in February. And a slight majority of Americans at 53 percent say that the efforts have not made the United States safer. The shift in public opinion shows that Trump has lost what was once considered his biggest asset. In 2024, many voters elected Trump partially out of frustration at the Biden administrations seemingly lax approach to the influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact Joe Biden tasked Kamala Harris with handling the root causes of migration from Latin America saddled her the administrations least popular policy. And even ancestrally Democratic and majority-Hispanic counties along the US-Mexico border such as the Rio Grande Valley in Texas revolted and voted for Republicans, sometimes for the first time in decades. But many Americans have not taken too kindly to the Trump administrations crackdown on immigrants. In response to protests of ICE raids in Los Angeles, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard without the consent of the governor, which 59 percent of Americans oppose. Americans also seem to support protests against the administration, with 55 percent of them calling protests against the administrations deportation policies are justified. In terms of what concerns them, 47 percent of Americans are more worried about the government going too far in cracking down on protests, compared with 38 percent who fear the protests will get out of control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Americans dont seem to like the specifics of Trumps anti-immigration policies, with 53 percent of respondents opposing increasing the budget for ICE by billions of dollars, 59 percent opposing an attempt to end birthright citizenship, 57 percent opposing building new detention facilities to detain up to 100,000 undocumented immigrants. Trumps dropping numbers on immigration are a warning sign going into the 2026 midterms, especially considering that many Americans already disapprove of his across-the-board reciprocal tariffs and Americans who have heard of it disapprove of the massive cuts to social safety nets in the One Big, Beautiful Bill. This nosedive could easily signal trouble for him as he seeks to accomplish what has long been a goal of right-wing ideologues for whom Trump has been the ideal vessel. Spotify, the world's market leader in audio streaming, is facing renewed criticism from artists and listeners. This time, the issue goes beyond the platform's small artist payouts and involves an emerging topic: AI. The Swedish streaming giant is facing calls to introduce a label for AI-generated music after it emerged that a new band was entirely created by software. The Velvet Sundown, whose songs have millions of streams on Spotify, is among a rise in so-called "AI slop" on the streaming giant, and has sparked a debate on the use of AI in music. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spotify rival Deezer in June announced an AI tagging system to clearly label AI-generated songs as such. Meanwhile, Spotify has also received backlash from some users after its co-founder and chief executive Daniel Ek announced investments in German defence company Helsing in June. The firm says it aims to use artificial intelligence to influence military decisions and "make our forces more effective." AI war investments, a controversial podcast and tiny royalties The investment in AI-powered warfare drove several musicians, including indie band Deerhoof, to pull work from Spotify. "Daniel Ek is a warmonger who pays artists poverty wages," said the United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) artist rights group, which campaigns for fair artist wages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ek, in a statement announcing the defence investment, argues "there is an urgent need for investments in advanced technologies that ensure (Europe's) strategic autonomy and security readiness." While current criticism of the Sweden-based company centres on the topic of AI, motivations for boycotting Spotify have varied widely over the years. Artists have long condemned low per-stream royalties on the platform, claiming only world-famous acts with millions of streams can make a living from streaming payouts. The UK's Parliament found that one artist would need to generate 3,000 streams on Spotify to make one hour of minimum wage. This would mean 6 million streams a year to make a minimum-wage annual salary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the pandemic, Spotify was also at the centre of criticism over accusations of false information on the world's most streamed podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience. The show was accused of sowing mistrust in official health advice at a time when the spread of the coronavirus was killing tens of thousands of people. Health care workers also took issue with his airing of what they said were unproven theories related to the pandemic. The alternatives: Bandcamp, Deezer, Amazon and Apple For those considering switching to a rival audio streaming platform, here is an overview of some of the biggest alternatives: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amazon Music Unlimited : Amazon's streaming platform offers a vast catalogue with high-quality audio options and seamless integration with Alexa devices. Prime members often receive discounts, making it a cost-effective choice for existing Amazon users. Mind you, Amazon Music, and Apple for that matter, are using a similar model to that of Spotify to calculate royalties paid out per streams to rights holders, which has been criticized for benefiting bigger labels and artists who generate the most streams. Apple Music and Apple Music Classical : Apple Music excels with curated playlists, exclusive releases and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem. Apple Music Classical is designed specifically for classical music lovers, offering detailed metadata and tailored recommendations that Spotify lacks. Bandcamp : This platform focuses on supporting independent artists by allowing fans to directly purchase and stream music, often at higher artist revenue shares than Spotify or other services. It's the go-to platform for discovering underground, niche and emerging musicians. Deezer : Deezer stands out for its user-friendly interface, personalized playlists and broad device compatibility, as well as lossless HiFi audio streaming. It also recently announced it was labeling AI-generated music and excluding these tracks from algorithms. Idagio : Idagio specializes exclusively in classical music, providing advanced search tools by composer, work or ensemble. It's ideal for classical fans seeking a tailored experience not available on Spotify. Napster: Napster offers a straightforward, ad-free experience with a strong focus on playlists and music discovery. It also offers lossless audio with a simple interface and relatively high artist payouts compared to Spotify. Qobuz : Qobuz is a French platform known for its high-resolution, lossless audio streaming and extensive liner notes for audiophiles, as well as reviews and downloads. It appeals to listeners who value sound quality and detailed album information. SoundcloudGo+ : Soundcloud Go+ provides access to the world's largest catalogue of independent music, remixes and emerging artists. It's a top choice for discovering new talent and music not found on Spotify and is often preferred by DJs. Tidal : Tidal emphasizes artist ownership, high-fidelity sound and exclusive content, including videos and early album releases. It's renowned for higher artist payouts and lossless streaming compared to Spotify. YouTube Music Premium: YouTube Music Premium leverages YouTube's massive video and music library, offering unique integrations like official tracks, live performances and remixes. It's ideal for those who enjoy both music and video content in one place. For major Spotify rivals like Amazon, Apple, Deezer and Tidal, the music catalogues, with around 100 million tracks, largely overlap. For some users, it will be the design, usability, recommendation features and playlist management that makes the biggest difference. Alternatively, for users motivated to leave Spotify due to its small artist payouts, some services like Tidal and Bandcamp will be preferred for their special artist remuneration programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A free trial month is standard for almost all music streaming services. Music streaming subscriptions are generally cancellable on a monthly basis unless a discounted annual contract has been signed. At present, an individual subscription with streaming platforms almost universally costs $10-12 or 10-12 per month. This typically includes options to stream and save songs for offline use on four to six devices. Students pay only around half that price per month for an individual subscription with many providers. A family subscription with up to six user accounts and live streams is available for 15 to 20 per month, depending on the platform. The disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley is being examined anew in a Netflix series called Amy Bradley Is Missing. In 1998, Bradley, then 23, went on a family cruise with her parents, Ron and Iva, and her brother Brad. The family was staying in the same cabin. One night, as the ship sailed from Aruba to Curacao, Bradley disappeared. She was captured on video dancing with a bass player named Alister "Yellow" Douglas. He admits dancing with, and talking to, Bradley, but denies any connection to her disappearance, although a witness claimed to have seen Bradley and Douglas around 6 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's crucial because her family last saw her sitting on a balcony in their cabin around 5:30 a.m. At 6 a.m., she was gone, the ship docked in the port of Curacao, and she vanished into thin air. Over the years, many theories have emerged. Some believe Bradley jumped or fell overboard from that balcony, a theory buttressed by the fact that a table was pushed against the railing wall, according to the documentary. However, over the years, a series of strange sightings have led to the persistent belief that it's possible that Bradley is still alive, and that she may have either left the ship voluntarily (possibly to get drugs, according to the documentary) or was human trafficked. Those sightings spanned a time period of about nine years, and they centered on Curacao and Barbados, but also Aruba. "Amy Lynn Bradley, while on a family cruise to the Caribbean, went missing from the Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines ship Rhapsody of the Seas. On Saturday, March 21, 1998, the vessel departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, and traveled to its first port of call, the island of Aruba," the FBI says on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On Monday, March 23, 1998, Rhapsody of the Seas departed Aruba and was traveling in international waters to its next island port of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. During the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 24, 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley went missing. The vessel later departed Curacao and continued on to the island of St. Martin (Sint Maarten) and further traveled to St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, before returning to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, March 28, 1998." Here's a list of the main sightings of Amy Lynn Bradley over the years, along with a timeline. The 6 a.m. sighting: March 24, 1998 On the morning she disappeared, a cruise ship passenger claimed she saw Amy going up an elevator with a bass player named Alister Douglas, who is a central figure in the case. She then claimed that he walked alone past her, according to the documentary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness said this happened at 6 a.m., which is critical; it would mean that Amy left her family's cabin alive, rather than falling or jumping overboard from the balcony where a family member last saw her shortly before that time. Douglas, who was seen on video dancing with Amy the night before she vanished, has denied having anything to do with Bradley's disappearance and said in a recent interview that he was back in his room at that time. Related: Alister Douglas Today: Where Is the Amy Bradley Cruise Ship Entertainer Now? The cab driver sighting: March 1998 According to the documentary, a cab driver told the Bradleys that he had seen Bradley in Curacao. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the Bradleys returned to Curacao to search for Amy, a Curacao cab driver approached them," the Amy Bradley missing website says. (That's the website that the documentary says experts used to document a pattern of IP addresses visiting it on holidays from the Caribbean.) "He claimed he had seen Amy when the ship was docking. He said he recognized her green eyes, which had been clearly described in the reward poster. The cab driver claimed that Amy was running through the parking lot looking for a phone. He also claimed that he had seen Amy in other locations on the island." The David Carmichael Sighting: August 1998 David Carmichael is a Canadian tourist who said he saw Amy on a beach in Curacao in August of 1998, a few months after she went missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the documentary, what's particularly compelling about Carmichael's sighting is that he claims the woman he saw had a Tasmanian devil tattoo - just like Bradley. There were men with her. "If he (one of the men) had not stared at me, I would have forgotten everything, but I can't," Carmichael said on the series. "I think about this every day. There isn't a day goes by when I don't." The Bill Hefner Sighting: January 1999 According to the documentary, another sighting was reported years later, but supposedly occurred in January 1999. A Naval officer named Bill Hefner came forward years later and indicated he met a woman who said she was Amy Bradley at a bar in Curacao, which is where the cruise ship was docking the day Amy disappeared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She told me she got off that ship and she left on her own, 'cause she was going to score drugs," he said in the documentary. "She said, 'Well, me and my brother were partying, and I went ashore to get drugs, and now I'm stuck here with these guys.' " Investigators didn't turn up anything after Hefner's report because he took so long to report the sighting due to concerns about his career. According to the Amy Bradley missing website, "Hefner was sitting in the bar area and noticed two women sitting together at a table. One woman was Caucasian and the other was Hispanic. The Caucasian woman walked over to him and told him that her name was Amy Bradley and she needed help." The website continues, "Hefner did not recognize that she was a missing person, but he did recognize that she was an American. He told her to go to the ship that was docked five minutes away. Amy made another attempt to tell him that he didn't understand, her name was Amy Bradley and she needed help. Two men then approached Amy and sent her upstairs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bar has since burned down, and Hefner passed polygraphs, the website says. The Judy Maurer Sighting: March 2005 A tourist named Judy Mauer reported another sighting of Bradley. She was on a different cruise with her husband when she encountered a woman she thought was Bradley in a restroom in Bridgeport, Barbados. She said the woman was being controlled by three men. She contacted authorities after seeing a photo of Bradley on television. Maurer said in the documentary that the woman said her name was Amy and she was from Virginia. That girl is being forced to do something," she told her husband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Amy Bradley missing website says, "Amy was seen in Bridgetown, Barbados on March 1, 2005. The witness encountered Amy in the bathroom of a Broad Street department store, but Amy was actually seen three times that day. Amy was seen with four 'handlers.' They were initially seen standing in the cash register line at the Del Sol store on Broad Street, in a department store restroom, and walking on the sidewalk a block away from Broad Street. The witness described Amy as walking with the four men completely surrounding her." The website includes sketches of the woman Maurer saw and one of the men with her. The adult website photo: 2005 Also in 2005, according to the documentary, the Bradleys were anonymously sent a series of photos showing a woman posing on an adult website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documentary says that a forensic analyst concluded the photos matched the dimensions of Bradley's face, although her hairstyle and makeup were different. The official Amy Bradley missing website has the photos and says, "From 2002 until 2008, Amys photograph appeared on the website for an escort resort in Venezuela." "A complete forensic evaluation was done to determine if the photographs were Amy Bradley. The forensic evaluation was done by Wesley Neville, a well known and highly respected certified forensic artist at International Association for Identification, in Fredericksburg, Virginia," the website says. It includes a graphic showing the different dimensions studied in that analysis. The Aruba sighting: January 2007 The Amy Bradley website also lists another sighting not detailed in the Netflix series. Four men "were seen having dinner at The Mill Restaurant, in Aruba. Amy Bradley was with them," the website alleges. Related: Alister Douglas Today: Where Is the Amy Bradley Cruise Ship Entertainer Now? Amy Lynn Bradley Sightings: Full List With Timeline first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 20, 2025 BUDAPEST, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Hungary and Serbia will construct a new oil pipeline between the two countries to enhance energy security and preserve the results of Hungary's utility cost reduction measures, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Monday. Speaking after talks with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin and Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic, Szijjarto said the pipeline could be operational as early as 2027. The project will involve the construction of approximately 180 kilometers of new pipeline within Hungarian territory and is expected to have an annual capacity of up to five million tons. Szijjarto criticized recent decisions by the European Union, stating that they threaten to undermine the continent's energy security by aiming to eliminate Russian oil and gas imports. "They want us to stop using Russian oil and gas altogether. They want to shut down transport routes. The result is clear across Europe: people now pay multiple times more for energy than in other parts of the world," he said. He said Hungary remains committed to maintaining affordable energy for households and believes that expanding infrastructure and diversifying supply sources are essential to stabilizing prices across Europe. By Shivam Patel and Aftab Ahmed NEW DELHI (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's lunch meeting with Pakistan's military chief prompted a private diplomatic protest from India in a warning to Washington about risks to their bilateral ties while New Delhi is recalibrating relations with China as a hedge, officials and analysts said. The meeting and other tensions in the U.S.-India relationship, after decades of flourishing ties, have cast a shadow in trade negotiations, they said, as Trump's administration weighs tariffs against one of its major partners in the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India blames Pakistan, especially its military establishment, for supporting what it calls cross-border terrorism and has told the U.S. it is sending the wrong signals by wooing Field Marshal Asim Munir, three senior Indian government officials directly aware of the matter told Reuters. It has created a sore spot that will hamper relations going forward, they said. Pakistan denies accusations that it supports militants who attack Indian targets and that New Delhi has provided no evidence that it is involved. U.S.-India ties have strengthened in the past two decades despite minor hiccups, at least partly because both countries seek to counter China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current problems are different, said Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based senior fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation think tank. "The frequency and intensity with which the U.S. is engaging with Pakistan, and seemingly not taking Indian concerns into account, especially after India's recent conflict with Pakistan, has contributed to a bit of a bilateral malaise." "The concern this time around is that one of the triggers for broader tensions, that being Trump's unpredictability, is extending into the trade realm with his approach to tariffs," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office and India's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The foreign ministry has previously said that it had "taken note" of the Trump-Munir meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A U.S. official said they do not comment on private diplomatic communications and that the United States enjoys strong relationships with both India and Pakistan. "These relationships stand on their own merits, and we do not compare our bilateral relationships with one another," the U.S. official said. LUNCH AT THE WHITE HOUSE The U.S. seems to have taken a different tack on Pakistan after a brief conflict broke out between the nuclear-armed rivals in May when India launched strikes on what it called terrorist targets across the border in response to a deadly attack on tourists from the majority Hindu community in Indian Kashmir the previous month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After four days of aerial dogfights, missile and drone attacks, the two sides agreed to a cease-fire. Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan have skirmished regularly and fought three full-scale wars since independence in 1947, two of them over the disputed Kashmir region. A few weeks after the May fighting, Trump hosted Munir for lunch at the White House, a major boost in ties with the country, which had largely languished under Trump's first term and Joe Biden. It was the first time a U.S. president had hosted the head of Pakistan's army, considered the most powerful man in the country, at the White House unaccompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials. Indian leaders have said Munir's view of India and Pakistan is steeped in religion. "Tourists were murdered in front of their families after ascertaining their faith," Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in May, referring to the Kashmir attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To understand that, you've got to also see...you have a Pakistani leadership, especially their army chief, who is driven by an extreme religious outlook". Pakistan says it is Modi who is driven by religious extremism, and that his brand of Hindu nationalism has trampled on the rights of India's large Muslim minority. Modi and the Indian government say they do not discriminate against minorities. Munir's meeting in the White House added to India's chagrin over Trump's repeated insistence that he averted nuclear war between the two nations by threatening to stop trade negotiations with them. The comment drew a sharp response from Modi, who told Trump that the ceasefire was achieved through talks between army commanders of the two nations, and not U.S. mediation. In the days following his June 18 meeting with Munir, people from Modi's office and India's national security adviser's office made separate calls to their U.S. counterparts to register a protest, two of the officials said. The protest has not been previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have communicated to the U.S. our position on cross-border terrorism, which is a red line for us," said a senior Indian official. "These are difficult times ... Trump's inability to understand our concerns does create some wrinkle in ties," he added, seeking anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Trump and Munir discussed continuation of a counter-terrorism collaboration, under which the U.S. has previously provided weapons to Pakistan, a non-NATO U.S. ally, and talked about ways to further strengthen ties, a Pakistani readout of the meeting said. That raised concern in New Delhi that any arms Pakistan receives from the U.S. could be turned on India if the neighbours end up in conflict again, two of the officials said. HARDER STANCE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite what used to be public displays of bonhomie between Trump and Modi, India has been taking a slightly harder stance against the U.S. in recent weeks, while trade discussions have also slowed, the Indian officials and an Indian industry lobbyist said. Modi declined an invitation from Trump to visit Washington after the G7 meeting in Canada in June. Earlier this month, New Delhi proposed retaliatory duties against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization, showing trade talks were not going as smoothly as they were before the India-Pakistan clashes. India, like other nations, is trying to figure out a way to deal with Trump and is recalibrating ties with China as a hedge, said Harsh Pant, foreign policy head at India's Observer Research Foundation think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Certainly there is an outreach to China," he said. "And I think it is mutual...China is also reaching out". Last week, India's Jaishankar made his first visit to Beijing since a deadly 2020 border clash between Indian and Chinese troops. India is also making moves to ease restrictions on investments from China that were imposed following the 2020 clash. The thaw comes despite India's prickly relations with China and Beijing's close ties and military support to Pakistan. But New Delhi's concern about Trump's own engagement with China, which has ranged from conciliatory to confrontational, appears to have contributed to its shift in stance on Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With an unpredictable dealmaker in the White House, New Delhi cannot rule out Sino-U.S. rapprochement," said Christopher Clary, an associate professor of political science at the University at Albany, New York. "India is troubled by Chinese help to Pakistan and growing Chinese influence elsewhere in India's near abroad, such as Bangladesh. Yet New Delhi has largely concluded that it should respond to creeping Chinese influence by focusing its pressures on its nearest neighbours and not on China." (Reporting by Shivam Patel, Aftab Ahmed and Aditya Kalra in New Delhi, and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Professor Andrew Saint, who has died aged 78, was one of the most distinguished architectural historians of his generation, and proved to be an inspired general editor of the multi-volume Survey of London. The Survey had been founded by CR Ashbee in 1894 with the objective of recording the historic fabric of the capital. Ashbee got together with friends to record old buildings within 20 miles of Aldgate pump. He thought they might do it in 10 years or so, Saint told The Daily Telegraph in 2008. In fact, the series, which currently runs to 53 volumes, remains an ongoing project, with earlier volumes available free online. If you have six or seven feet of shelf space spare, I should if I were you give up expensive shop-bought coffee for a year or two and buy the whole series, enthused the Telegraphs Christopher Howse. While admitting that he did not share all of Saints views Professor Saint jumps with enthusiasm for Finsbury Health Centre, designed in 1938 by Berthold Lubetkin, best known for the penguin pool at London Zoo. I cant see it myself Howse declared that if anything can convince me of its worth, its the Survey of London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saint argued that somewhere between the blinkered tradition of judging buildings by appearance alone and a perspective of such social breadth as to allow no focus at all, a fuller, richer history of modern architecture will, with the benefit of study and hindsight, emerge. This fuller, richer history was his achievement. Saint at St Johns Gate, Clerkenwell - Martin Pope A committed but undogmatic socialist, Saint admired the work of the generation of architects who rebuilt Britain after the Second World War; his 1987 book on postwar school building was, perhaps, his finest achievement. But he first came to prominence at the age of 30 with his landmark study of Richard Norman Shaw, the Victorian architect responsible for New Scotland Yard, the Piccadilly Hotel on Regent Street and a number of great houses, of which Cragside in Northumberland, built for Lord Armstrong and now the property of the National Trust, is the best known. The book won the unstinted praise of critics including John Betjeman and was republished in a revised edition in 2010. Saints other books included studies of the history of the architectural profession and of the relationship between architecture and engineering, as well as an incisive account of the development of late Victorian London. He was co-editor of a history of St Pauls Cathedral (2004) and published many articles on 19th- and 20th-century architecture in learned journals. A major history of Waterloo Bridge is due to appear this autumn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew John Saint was born in Shrewsbury on St Andrews Day 1946, the son of the Reverend AJM (Max) Saint and his wife Elisabeth, nee Butterfield. After a career which included the headmastership of a school in Burma, from where he escaped on the eve of the Japanese occupation, Max Saint was appointed vicar of St Philip and St James, Oxford, a notable work of the Victorian architect GE Street. Andrew was one of two sons of the couple; his elder brother, Nicholas, suffered from severe epilepsy and died aged 16. Andrew was educated at Christs Hospital in Sussex and Balliol College, Oxford, followed by the Warburg Institute in London. When asked where he had spent the summer of love in 1967, he responded in the library. He never gained a doctorate and was proud of the fact. Saint wrote on the relationship between architecture and engineering In 1971 he took up a lectureship at the University of Essex, remaining there until 1974, when he began his association with the Survey of London as architectural editor. At that time the Survey was published by the London County Council, and later by its successor, the Greater London Council. The abolition of the GLC in 1986 by Margaret Thatchers government appalled Saint, who was subsequently employed as a historian by English Heritage, the newly constituted organisation assuming many of the functions of the GLC. His enthusiasm for the architecture of London of all periods was reflected in a volume on the city he co-wrote with Elain Harwood in 1991. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major change in direction came in 1995, when Saint was appointed to a chair in the department of architecture at Cambridge University. He held the post for over a decade but continued to live in his beloved London and eschewed the possibility of a college fellowship. He enjoyed teaching and inspiring a new generation of architectural historians, but disliked the committee work involved, wasting time that could have been devoted to teaching or research. In 2006 the general editorship of the Survey of London became vacant, and Saint gave up his Cambridge chair to take it. The Survey had survived the demise of the GLC, coming under the wing first of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments and English Heritage and, from 2013, of University College London. For Saint, his appointment to the Survey was the beginning of the happiest and most productive phase of his life. He injected a new energy into the project, inspired by the progressive social ideals of Ashbee. A colleague wrote that he saw the Survey not only as a work of reference but as a social instrument. Two volumes on Battersea appeared in 2013; he was the editor of one of the volumes and contributed extensively to both (Battersea, a bastion of socialism in the early 20th century, with John Burns leading the local branch of the Social Democratic Federation, had a strong appeal for Saint, who was a passionate South Londoner). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West End had previously been neglected by the Survey, but Saint was the moving force behind the two volumes on South-East Marylebone published in 2017, securing funding from the Howard de Walden Estate and contributing extensively to the texts. His account of the church of All Saints, Margaret Street, was a particular highlight. Saints volume on Oxford Street (2020): a wonderful enterprise of a very English kind A volume on Oxford Street, appearing in 2020, was entirely his work. It won critical acclaim as a wonderful enterprise of a very English kind for its detailed and evocative account of Britains most famous shopping street. The volume sold out and is now virtually unobtainable. Saint relinquished the editorship of the Survey in 2019, with eight volumes published, but continued to write extensively on London a history of the parish of St Giles in the Fields, written in collaboration with Rebecca Preston, appeared in 2024. He was also a major contributor to a series of books on Victorian architecture and design published by the Victorian Society. While teaching at Essex University Saint met Ellen Leopold, an American graduate of Radcliffe College and Yale University and a political radical, with whom he formed a close relationship. The couple never married but settled in a house in Kentish Town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They became parents, but the relationship foundered and Ellen Leopold took their daughters with her to the United States. Saint eventually found happiness with Ida Jager, whom he met in 1996 on a Victorian Society summer-school outing. The couple maintained a close partnership, though Jager continued to live in the Netherlands. Saint was a scholar and writer who wore his deep learning lightly. A conversation could quickly turn from matters architectural or literary to more frivolous topics. He had a wide circle of friends, many of them with interests far removed from his own, and he was, one friend recalls, always interested in what made people tick. He was an accomplished cellist, but his working life allowed little time for practice his cello ended up in the attic of his house in Kennington. He was a generous host and a lively companion on pub crawls. He preferred beer to any wine and was an active member of a small group of enthusiasts whose tours of London churches always ended up in a pub. Andrew Saint is survived by his three daughters. Andrew Saint, born November 30 1946, died July 16 2025 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. HARPURSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Animal Adventure Park & Preserve located in Harpursville is hosting a hero appreciation weekend for local heroes. On July 25th through the 27th Animal Adventure Park is hosting a weekend long celebration of local heroes and the work they do within the community. Admission will be free to police, military, fire, doctors, nurses, medics and dispatchers with the proof of employment through a badge or ID. The admission is good for both parks, which are open from 10 AM 5 PM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information about the park visit www.VisitAAP.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 WIVT - News 34. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A Northern Virginia woman is facing felony charges after her dispute with a parking enforcement officer over a ticket in D.C. escalated. Just after 3 p.m. on June 25, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was called to a theft taking place in the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. MPD learned that a D.C. Parking Enforcement Officer noticed a black Toyota Corolla with Virginia tags was in violation of D.C. parking regulations. The officer told the driver to move, but they refused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer then wrote a ticket using a D.C. Parking Enforcement-issued Samsung phone and placed the ticket on the Toyotas windshield. Van, truck set on fire in suspected arson near Glenmont Center, officials say Thats when court documents claim 29-year-old Maylin Carranza Garcia of Annandale approached the woman and said, Why you giving my girl a ticket? The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) noted Carranza Garcia is the drivers sister. The sister began arguing with the officer, and Carranza Garcia snatched the Samsung out of the womans hand, placing it in her pocket. The Parking Enforcement Officer started recording Carranza Garcia, capturing her and her sister as they continued arguing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman sent the footage to MPD, during which she says, Someone took my government equipment. Court documents said Carranza Garcia responded, I got it. She was arrested the day after the incident, and officers noted they also found the womans parking enforcement device. The USAO said Carranza Garcia was indicted on felony charges of robbery and retaliating against a government official. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. No doubt its a Sunday scorcher, and what better way to beat the heat than an ice cream, or two, at the annual Tampa Bay Ice Cream Festival at the St. Pete Pier. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, and with 30 different vendor trucks, there was no shortage of perfectly cold, sweet options. Were going to expect about 30 ice cream trucks and about 10 food vendors with all different sorts of ice cream, foods, anything that you want, we probably have it here today, said St. Pete Pier events manager Caitlin Ferkile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vendors tell us the festival has grown over the years, so they know to stock up because when the weather is this hot, demand is high. Originally, it was 20 ice cream vendors, Italian ice vendors and we were up on the splash pad, it was very small and intimate. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, everybody ran out of ice and ice cream, said Susan Wagenman with Uncle Louie G Italian Ice. This year, she says theyre beyond prepared. We are locked and loaded, we are stocked up, said Wagenman. With ice cream, food trucks, bounce houses, and more, this free, family-friendly event is more than an outing; its a competition where your taste buds get the final say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So we have judges choice and peoples choice. So we have a team of judges going around tasting all of the ice cream, and then the people, you can text and vote for which ice cream truck you think is the best, and then they get to go home with these, said Ferkile. Its no coincidence that today is National Ice Cream Day. Visitors today were clearly happy to join in on the delicious celebration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WINTERSET, Iowa Early this last week, the Johnson family told WHO 13 News about their legal action taken against Davis Custom Homes, and on Sunday, another family shared their experience with the company. Adam Ray had a conversation years ago with his father about buying land and building a dream home for his wife, his father, and himself to stay in. After signing a contract with Davis Custom Homes in September, and construction work starting in December, everything was going smoothly. Everything was going fine at that point. You know, there was a few hiccups, but they made them right at the time, said Adam Ray, who currently lives in Polk City with his wife Leah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was nothing that seemed wrong about the progress of their home construction until the couple discovered several mechanic liens placed on their property. So I called the owner, Ken Davis, and he said no, they have the right to do this, thats how they protect themselves, said Adam. So, are you going to pay that? Hes like yeah Ill get it paid. A lien is placed on properties by subcontractors when a payment has not been made for the work that was completed. They had like a certain date set for when things were to be happening, said Leah Ray. We were following along with what they were actually doing and it started not lining up very well. So that kind of started freaking me out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adam and Leah had already signed off on the transfer of funds from the bank to Davis Custom Homes for the work. Once Adam heard from a few more unpaid subcontractors and saw the unfinished work himself, he knew something was wrong. I mean, Im just rotating calls through just to get a hold of somebody: text messages, nothing, nothing, nothing, said Adam, explaining how Davis Custom Homes ghosted him when he was inquiring about unpaid subcontractors. And then that Saturday, I finally called the police. Adam and Leah filed a report on July 12 with the Polk City Police Department, and the department got back to them, informing the couple that the case had been upgraded from civil to criminal. The officer cited possible misappropriation of funds and fraud. The Rays have shared all financial information with the department and shared information with the Iowa Attorney Generals Office. The couple is in a Facebook group with more homeowners who have the same issue with Davis Custom Homes, an unfinished construction project, and families left in debt for work they have already paid for. The group all shared information with the Attorney Generals Office, as they try to manage what comes next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sickening, heartbreaking, said Leah when describing what it is like for her to be standing in her unfinished home. I mean it was probably a over a couple million dollars that is involved in all of this. And they (Davis Custom Homes) think theyre just going to up and walk away with it. Im hoping the bank will help us out, you know, help us finish the home. If they dont I dont know what the future holds. I mean, we are going to have to foreclose on it, which really sucks, its not something we want to do, said Adam. But when we cant afford a $1.2 million house, otherwise we would have asked for that money upfront for that. The $1.2 million number is Adams estimation of the worth of the property, fixes that need to happen on some of the work, the construction that is left remaining, and the money that still needs to be paid out to subcontractors for work completed. Adam and Leah were supposed to move in last week. The Iowa Attorney Generals Office urges anyone that believes their contractor committed consumer fraud to reach out to the office to report. 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. The front of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Bronx campaign office was defaced with red paint and a sign accusing her of funding genocide in Gaza, police said Monday. The vandalism was reported to cops in a 12:43 a.m. Monday 911 call. Red paint was splattered across the front of her office on Herschell St. near Westchester Ave. in Westchester Square. A sign made with read paint read, AOC FUNDS GENOCIDE IN GAZA, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops have made no arrests Last week, the Democratic congresswoman, who has been critical of U.S. support of Israel, voted against an amendment to cut aid to Israels defense. On Saturday, she said on X that she voted against the amendment because it cuts off Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs New York office has been vandalised after she voted against cutting US funding for Israel. The outside of the Left-wing congresswomans office in the Bronx was smeared in red paint on Sunday, and a sign reading AOC funds genocide in Gaza in red letters was displayed on the shutters outside. Ms Ocasio-Cortez, a long-time critic of Israel and the war in Gaza, angered many of her supporters on Friday when she broke with her progressive allies to vote against an amendment cutting millions of dollars in aid for Israels missile defence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group calling itself the Boogie Down Liberation Front has taken responsibility for the graffiti. The Bronx is sick and tired of people like AOC and [New York congressman] Ritchie Torres using us as a stepping stone for their own political careers, the organisation said in a statement. The Bronx stands with the people of Palestine and we denounce the hypocrisy of AOC who voted to fund Israels ongoing genocide and starvation campaign in Gaza. Fk AOC! AOCs office is smeared in red paint - CBS Marjorie Taylor Greene, the firebrand Georgia congresswoman, had proposed the amendment to the defence department appropriations bill cutting $500 million from Israels Iron Dome, arguing that unlike the US, Israel seems to have their defence and debt under control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure only attracted six votes in support, two of them from Ms Ocasio-Cortezs Left-wing grouping known as the Squad, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. In a post on social media on Saturday, the congresswoman argued the amendment would have failed to stop the war in Gaza while depriving Israel of a means of defending itself. Marjorie Taylor Greenes amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it, she said. A sign reading AOC funds genocide in Gaza is displayed on the shutters - CBS What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end. That is a simple and clear difference of opinion that has long been established. I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza. Ms Ocasio-Cortez was mocked last month for calling herself a Bronx girl despite having grown up some 30 miles north in Yorktown, Westchester County. Im a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully, she wrote on social media, referring to Donald Trump, the US president, who was born in Queens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congresswoman has since claimed she grew up between the Bronx and Yorktown and that the experience deeply shaped her views on inequality. 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. Update: The Clark County Coroners Office identified the man as 32-year-old Romeo Bobo-Pyles. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) An apparent murder-suicide in the east Las Vegas valley left a man and a woman dead early Sunday morning, according to Metro police. Around 12:30 a.m., Metro dispatch received a report of a shooting in the 6500 block of Boulder Highway near East Russell Road. When officers arrived, they found a man and a woman inside an apartment suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the man was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to Metro police. Detectives determined that the couple was arguing when the man shot his girlfriend and then shot himself, police said. Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555, or at crimestoppersofnv.com. Help is available via the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and the Domestic Violence Resource Center at 775-329-4150. 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. VLADIVOSTOK, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian government will allocate nearly 180 billion rubles (about 2.3 billion U.S. dollars) over the next three years to upgrade border checkpoints across the country, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Monday. Speaking during a visit to the Kanikurgan automobile border checkpoint in the Amur Region, Mishustin emphasized that the investment will support the construction, repair and technical re-equipment of border facilities using advanced digital and technological solutions. "A large-scale effort is underway nationwide to improve cross-border logistics," Mishustin said. "As part of the current three-year federal budget cycle, we will direct nearly 180 billion rubles to develop and modernize border checkpoints." He added that more than a quarter of the country's existing checkpoints are set to be upgraded over the next five years. "These are priority locations in terms of current and projected trade flows," Mishustin noted. "In the Far Eastern Federal District alone, over 30 checkpoints are scheduled for upgrade." JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Applications will soon open for grants from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund (MOSTF), which will be supported by $12 million in funding appropriated during the 2025 Legislative Special Session. Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced the applications will be available starting August 1, 2025, with a deadline of September 19, 2025. MOSTF has awarded more than $37.6 million in funding to support 80 conservation and outdoor recreation projects throughout Mississippi since 2022. Mississippi Lottery sees two $100,000 wins with Powerball Power Play option Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our state is blessed with outdoor opportunities unlike any other, and these natural assets are worth protecting and investing infor both our residents and the many visitors who enjoy our great state, said Reeves. MOSTFs funding is used to assist state agencies, counties and municipalities, and non-governmental organizations with projects statewide that enhance the states natural resources and the recreation it provides. Only state agencies, municipalities, and non-government organizations are eligible to apply. Applications can be submitted online. Interested applicants should visit the MOSTF Website to review the Notice to Applicants and the Application Scoring Criteria. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. George Washington was a Founding Father of the United States, the nations first president, and a commander of the Continental Army, leading the patriots to victory against the British Army. However, a lesser-known fact about our first president was that he also served as a commander during the French and Indian War. A recent article in Popular Mechanics outlines the timeline of a friendly-fire incident that occurred in 1758, when a young Col. George Washington led 500 men to fight against a French raid on what is now Fort Ligonier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troops led by Col. George Mercer were also sent to aid the British in defense of the fort. An excerpt from a biography, The Life of General Washington, written by Washingtons friend, Col. David Humphreys, tells of the deadly incident. But it being near dusk and the intelligence not having been fully disseminated among Colonel Mercers Corps, and they taking us, for the enemy, who had retreated, approaching in another direction, commenced a heavy fire upon the relieving party, which drew fire in return. The excerpt reads. Fourteen men were killed and many were wounded, records show, before Washington rode his horse into the middle of the fray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biography tells that Washington was never in more imminent danger by being between two fires, knocking up with his sword the presented pieces. Major George Washington gives direction to a soldier during his mission to the French commander. Historical/Getty Images Using drones, metal detectors, and computer-aided mapping, archaeologists in Pennsylvania have found the site of the friendly-fire incident described in the biography, The New York Times reported. The site, a grassy field located a few miles from Fort Ligonier on private land, yielded items such as musket balls, nails, and buttons. The Times reported that the items were scattered in patterns that match up with, and add detail to, the historical record." Military veterans were also brought in to help unfold the secrets of the battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Burns, an archaeologist at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, told The Times, These folks have been in firefights and understand what its like to be isolated in an area where the enemy has the upper hand. Related: Archaeologists Accidentally Discover 1880s Shipwreck in Wisconsin River Archaeologists Discover Historic George Washington Battlefield first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 20, 2025 The Roman Empire built 73 miles of wall to fortify its northern border in Great Britain. In AD 122, the Emperor Hadrian ordered its construction, and it remained the empire's border fortification for almost 300 years, according to English Heritage. So it's not surprising that Roman artifacts are being unearthed at Hadrian's Wall. However, the latest artifacts are a bit unusual. They do illuminate the lifestyle of the Roman soldiers who manned the wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archaeologists have unearthed multiple pairs of very large shoes. That's according to a July 2 press release from Vindolanda Charitable Trust that documented the discovery. How large? According to CNN, eight of the 34 shoes are a US mens size 13.5. The average Roman shoes unearthed near the site before were a men's size 8. CNN reported that "the soles of the shoes from both sites are made from thick layers of cowhide leather held together with iron hobnails." The owners are not clear, as the Romans brought soldiers from all over their Empire to Hadrian's Wall, but the size of the shoes indicates the wearers were likely "exceptionally tall," CNN reported. "With a collection of around 5,000 ancient leather shoes uncovered at Roman Vindolanda, the Vindolanda Charitable Trust has gained an amazing insight into the men, women and children who occupied this northern outpost from these very personal items of clothing," the release says. "The collection includes tiny baby booties, elaborate summer sandals and marching boots. These ancient artefacts captivate the imagination about the sort of people who wore them nearly 2,000 years ago," it notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This year the Trusts archaeologists, supported by teams of volunteers from across the world, have been excavating the northern defensive ditches of the Fort. When the semi-anaerobic low oxygen deposits within the ditches were reached, the first of 32 shoes were uncovered," it notes. But there was something strange about this shoe discovery: The size. "It soon became apparent that some of these shoes were very large. The first exceptionally large shoe was reported in the teams Magna Dig Diary on 21st May. At 32cm (UK size 13/14) the leather shoe sole attracted a lot of attention, its length ranking it as one of the largest in the Trusts collection," the release says. "As news spread of this giant single shoe, the team continued to discover more ancient shoes, several more of them being of an exceptional size. Eight shoes from Magna are now recorded as 30cm or over in length and this includes one which holds the current record for being the Trusts largest shoe at 32.6cm long. From the shoes uncovered to date at Magna 25% are classed as xx-large (30cm+)," it says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In comparison, of the shoes uncovered at Vindolanda, and of which the size can be determined, only 0.4% of shoes are in the same category, with the average shoe size being a smaller 24-26cm in length," the release says. Dr. Elizabeth Greene, Associate Professor at the University of Western Ontario and Vindolandas shoe specialist, measured the shoes and said in the release: I think there is something very different going on here at Magna, even from this small sample uncovered it is clear that these shoes are much larger on average than most of the Vindolanda collection. Related: Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History Archaeologists Make Strange Roman Discovery at Hadrian's Wall first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 20, 2025 SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) The area of 1620 Shelburne Road, northbound, is now open. The area was previously closed around 12:35 p.m. due to a motor vehicle crash. South Burlington police and firefighters worked together at the scene. Authorities thanked everyone for their patience. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Illustration courtesy of Gravel & Grit) EDITORS NOTE: Gravel & Grit is a newsletter published on Substack by opponents of the planned 3,000-bed state prison in Franklin County. While highly opinionated, the newsletter regularly digs up public records related to the prison project. The Advocate is republishing a lightly edited recent newsletter with permission. For at least the last two decades, Arkansas has been touted as a conservatively run, fiscally responsible state we have a balanced budget via annual adjustments to the Revenue Stabilization Act and generally run a surplus that, although recently dwindling, at least isnt a deficit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately for the state and all its taxpayers, the current administration is hell bent on building (or at least trying to build) a mega prison through a process and at a location that are all but laughably bad. As we recently reported, not only did the state start the project without sufficient funding, but we also now know that the expenses being reimbursed for this project arent exactly what you might expect. Alcohol, first-class travel & valet in duplicate Arkansas taxpayers are footing the bill not just for [consultant] Vanirs management fees and extensive travel, but for first-class flights, luxury hotels, and even alcohol sometimes twice via duplicate expense reports. These arent padded costs to be expected in the normal course of business; theyre violations of Arkansas law and policy, and its taken the Department of Corrections almost a year to catch on and push back. On July 14th, Department of Corrections Chief Financial Officer, Chad Brown, issued a formal memo to Vanir, highlighting several egregious billing practices: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alcohol charged to the state despite an explicit prohibition under Arkansas travel policy. First-class airfare billed to taxpayers, with no justification other than comfort. Hotel rates exceeding allowed nightly maximums, with ADC begrudgingly agreeing to reimburse at a flat $200 per night for these specific invoices but warning Vanir not to do it again. Valet services, hotel points, and duplicate receipts all impermissible, all submitted for reimbursement. This is more than just a few honest mistakes. This is 10 months worth of invoices expected to be paid by hardworking Arkansans to California-based consultants flying first-class into our state, expensing boozy steakhouse dinners, tacking on valet parking and hotel reward points, then billing us for it in duplicate. All while working on a prison project that the legislature has refused to fund five times. Receipts submitted by Vanir Construction Management to the Arkansas Department of Corrections . But hey, at least youre tipping 20% Money please Theres a difference between responsible oversight and a blank check and based on the invoices and internal memos weve reviewed, its clear that the State is handing California-based Vanir the latter. Unfortunately, it appears we were correct when we wrote about the rationale for our inherent distrust of Vanir. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take Invoice 180726 for January 2025. Vanir charged the state: $1,119.18 for a single airfare by Project Director Michael Beaber. $1,063.57 for Project Manager Luann Salados lodgingmore than five times the federal per diem for some regions of Arkansas. $580.41 for a business meal by Principal-in-Charge Codi Newsom, submitted with no itemized detail. Or the one she asked for the alcohol and desserts to be crossed out, so they dont see it. Valet services, duplicate mileage receipts, and multiple upgrades clearly flagged by Department of Corrections memo as violations of policy. Or look at Invoice 180674 for December 2024. Vanir billed: $915.95 for one employees airfare. $567.84 for Beabers hotel stay. Over $400 in valet and parking fees, and another $378.36 in rental car charges in the same invoice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, Vanir has billed you a total of $46,916.89. And the expense reports read less like travel for work and more like a lavish weekend getaway on the States dimeall for a project only one person in this state actually wants in its current iteration. Arkansas paying a premium, getting nothing in return Not only are you paying Vanir to jet set around the country living large, but it also seems like the only thing theyre capable of doing is missing deadlines, increasing the ultimate cost of the project, fabricating excuses, refusing to meet with lawmakers, and kicking the can down the road. Excerpt from Vanir letter to Arkansas officials regarding prison project targets. Surprising to no one, the deadline was flubbed and, just like that, more money comes out of your pocket. This kind of waste wouldnt be happening if: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We lived the Arkansas First mantra as much as the administration preaches it. Do we not have an Arkansas company capable of doing this work? Are our state agencies too incompetent to undertake a capital project on their own? It appears our government thinks so. We werent rushing forward with a massive prison project in Franklin County thats deeply unpopular, likely unlawful, has yet to be properly studied, and perhaps most importantly, still lacks legislative funding. Weve now burned through nearly $400k in five months and put ourselves on the hook for over $75m more for Vanir to do little more than twiddle their thumbs and sip champagneand were only barely getting started. Remember, theres not even a plan for this thing yet. Backbone. Anyone. At a time when rural counties are struggling to keep hospitals open and Arkansans are breaking their backs to keep food on the table, our government is hemorrhaging public funds on valet parking and Merlot. Or was it Reisling and Malbec? There are rumblings, some not so subtle, that the powers that be are growing increasingly displeased with the Franklin County location and Vanirs conduct. Unsurprising, given that everyone involved with this project disaster looks more foolish by the day. If the Board of Corrections can muster the courage, it has yet another opportunity to take control of this fiasco at its next meeting on August 1st. And, while they cant stop at merely asking questions without taking action, they can certainly start by asking why the people of Arkansas are paying a premium for consultants to live like queens while our communities are left footing the bill. WICKES, Ark. A Grannis police officer shot and killed a 65-year-old man during an eviction-related confrontation Saturday night, prompting an investigation by the Arkansas State Police. Darrin Laudermilk was pronounced dead at the scene on County Road 14 after reportedly firing a pistol at the officer, who was responding to an assistance request at the residence around 10:30 p.m. The officer returned fire, striking Laudermilk. Four injured in Little Rock apartment shooting; suspect charged Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Polk County Sheriffs Office requested the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division to investigate the shooting. Laudermilks body will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an official determination of the manner and cause of death. Special agents will prepare an investigative file for the Polk County Prosecutor, who will determine whether the lethal use of force was consistent with Arkansas 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 KARK. ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) A Perquimans County man was taken to the hospital after being shot by an Elizabeth City Police officer Sunday afternoon. An Elizabeth City Police Department officer arrived in the area of Hughes Boulevard and Halstead Boulevard around 12:40 p.m. for a report of a subject armed with a weapon. Upon arrival, the officer encountered a 32-year-old Perquimans County man, who was in possession of a firearm, according to officials. The officer fired his weapon and the man was struck, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was taken to Albemarle Medical Center and subsequently taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment. The condition of the man is unknown. The officer, a veteran of the Elizabeth City Police Department for over 20 years, has been placed on paid administrative lead, pending the outcome of an investigation. Raj Patel, a manager at the Eagle Mart just across the street from the incident, told 10 On Your Side he heard the shots being fired and says when he looked outside, he saw a man with his hands up. All of a sudden, I just heard a couple gunshots like fireworks, said Patel. So, I just looked out of the window, and I saw a guy on the ground, and I dont know who was in front of him, but he was just looking at him, and that guy had his hands up like he dont want to do anything. It was very rapid. It was just rapid. Thats why before I could understand everything, it was all done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another witness who wished to remain anonymous says they saw everything unfold as they were leaving Patels gas station. I was walking back to my car and I heard gunshots, said the witness. I looked up and somebody had just gotten pulled over. And to me, it looked like the man was holding a weapon and it looked like he was trying to shoot at the officer. The witness says they believe they saw the suspect sustain an injury to the face. Once he was on the ground, I saw his hands up, said the witness. To me, it looked like a portion of his face was, it was bad. I mean, dont think he could say anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both witnesses say the experience has left them shaken. Of course, Im a little bit shaken because Ive never seen gunshots like this anywhere in my lifetime, said Patel. It was very scary. It made me feel very unsafe, said the anonymous witness. To know, that something like that can happen just while youre out and about, kind of just doing your normal everyday activities. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has assumed control of the investigation, which is active and 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 WAVY.com. NEED TO KNOW The new interim CEO of Astronomer released a statement in the aftermath of the Coldplay concert kiss cam drama The drama began after a couple went viral for their reaction to being caught on camera together during a Coldplay concert, leading frontman Chris Martin to joke that they might be having an "affair" Hours after Astronomer announced that they had "initiated a formal investigation," they announced that CEO Andy Byron had been put on leave and went on to announce his resignation the following day The new interim CEO of Astronomer released a statement addressing the drama surrounding the viral Coldplay concert kiss cam, which resulted in Andy Byron's resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Over the weekend, I stepped into the role of Interim CEO at Astronomer, a company that Ive proudly poured my entire professional life into helping build," Pete DeJoy wrote in a statement shared by the company on Monday, July 21. "Over the past few years, our business has experienced incredible growth. What was once a mission to help companies with Apache Airflow has turned into so much more," he continued, before going on to address the viral spotlight the company found themselves under over the past week. "The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companieslet alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI worldever encounter," he continued without going into additional specifics. "The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name." The saga began after a couple went viral for their reaction to being caught on camera together during a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts last week. After apparently realizing that they were on the kiss cam, the woman covered her face as the man ducked down out of sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their reactions prompted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to joke that they might be having an affair and the footage quickly blew up online as various online accounts and social media users purported to identify the couple and share details of their personal lives. In the company first statement following the public debacle, Astronomer announced that they had "initiated a formal investigation into this matter." Although the tech company did not explicitly confirm the identities of anybody in the video at the time, they reported that statements made about "other employees" being present at the concert and featured in the video were incorrect. Just hours later, the tech company confirmed that Byron had been put on leave and by the next day, the company announced his resignation. 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 his new statement, titled "Moving Forward at Astronomer," DeJoy stressed that the company has "never shied away from challenges." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "From starting a software company in Cincinnati, Ohio, to keeping the lights on through the collapse of the bank that held all our cash, to scaling from 30 to 300 people during a global pandemic that demanded we do it all without ever being in the same room. And yet, were still here," he wrote. "Im stepping into this role with a wholehearted commitment to taking care of our people and delivering for our customers. Astronomers foundation remains strong, built around the thriving Apache Airflow community. Our opportunity to build a DataOps platform for the age of AI remains massive. And our story is very much still being written," he continued. "To our team: thank you for your resilience & commitment to building something great. And to our community and customers: thank you for your trust. We wont let you down." Byron has not responded to PEOPLE's previous messages seeking comment. Efforts to reach the woman in the footage were previously unsuccessful. Read the original article on People Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a job center sign in Manchester, Britain. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua) For the first time in the 15-year history of the FSB's quarterly Small Business Index, more small businesses expect to shrink or close over the next 12 months than those that expect to expand. "That's more than alarming for the economy and for communities across Britain where these hard-working businesses operate," she said, noting that small businesses currently provide more than 16 million jobs in Britain-over half of all private sector employment. LONDON, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Britain's job market continues to show clear signs of weakening, with unemployment rising and recruitment stagnating amid escalating labor costs and external economic pressures. Experts have warned that uncertainty stemming from U.S. tariffs is further exacerbating the situation. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday revealed that the country's unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over stood at 4.7 percent during the March-May period of 2025. This marks a notable increase both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter, pushing the rate to its highest level in nearly four years. The ONS figures also showed job vacancies climbing to new highs, indicating that despite a growing number of unemployed individuals, businesses are still struggling to fill positions. "The government's tax rises, a higher minimum wage and the U.S. trade war are hitting the jobs market," Financial Times reported. David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), told Xinhua that steep increases in national insurance contributions and the national living wage weigh heavily on the latest employment data. "BCC research shows that recruitment remains challenging, and businesses cite labor costs as the biggest pressure," Bharier said. "This mounting financial pressure, alongside pervasive skills shortages, remains a massive challenge for business, presenting big risks to investment and productivity." A woman walks past the Bank of England in London, Britain, on April 13, 2022. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) According to Bharier, the BCC's most recent economic forecast suggests hiring will remain subdued and the unemployment rate is expected to stay largely static. "We currently forecast a rate of 4.6 percent at the end of 2027," he said. Tina McKenzie, policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), stressed that the latest trends paint a worrying picture for Britain's small business sector. "New FSB research has found that twice as many small businesses shed staff in the second quarter of 2025-20 percent-than increased their employee numbers," she said. For the first time in the 15-year history of the FSB's quarterly Small Business Index, more small businesses expect to shrink or close over the next 12 months than those that expect to expand. "That's more than alarming for the economy and for communities across Britain where these hard-working businesses operate," she said, noting that small businesses currently provide more than 16 million jobs in Britain-over half of all private sector employment. Experts also believe the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs is contributing to the negative data and will continue to influence Britain's job market and economy in the long term, despite the existence of a trade agreement. William Bain, head of policy at the BCC, said their April survey revealed that 62 percent of firms exporting to the U.S. had been affected by rising costs and order book pressures caused by higher U.S. tariffs, a sentiment that aligns with the rising unemployment figures reported by the ONS. David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, noted that U.S. tariffs are impacting Britain's export-driven sectors and, in turn, the job market. This photo taken on June 22, 2023 shows a construction site in Liverpool, Britain. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua) "Even though Britain has got this deal with Trump on tariffs, the tariffs are still going up from 2.5 percent to 10 percent. It may not be 25 percent, but it's still going to affect exports from Britain and therefore hit economic growth," Bailey said, adding that this uncertainty for British firms, combined with the government's "mistake" of raising national insurance contributions alongside the higher minimum wage, has contributed to the sluggish employment situation. TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) The Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) is hosting a free half-day U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Roundtable Lender Training. The session aims to provide guidance to lenders and banking professionals on SBA programs and processes. Texas Craft Brewers Guild program, Brew City, adds Marshall SBA representatives from Little Rock and Dallas-Fort Worth District Offices will address updates to SBA Standard Operating Procedure, borrower documentation requirements, debt refinance guidelines, screen-outs that can delay approvals, property information considerations, lender involvement best practices, and the SBA 504 program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), the Northeast Texas Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and ATCOGs Economic Development Program leadership will provide other updates. Texarkana Arts District welcomes vintage trolley bus addition Presenters include Deputy Director of U.S. Small Business Administration Arkansas District Office Jerry Talbert and SBA Dallas-Fort Worth District Office Lender Relations Specialist Kristy Couch. The event will take place on Thursday, August 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at ATCOG in Texarkana, Texas. There is no cost to participate, but advance registration is required by Friday, August 8. Registered attendees will be provided a complimentary networking lunch. 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. Atlanta police recruits get in argument at bar; 1 accused of firing gun Four police recruits got into an argument with security at a nightclub in East Point, and one of the recruits is accused of firing a gun. Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes reported all four have been fired and are now under investigation following the incident at The U Bar on Camp Creek Parkway. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2 is working to find out what led up to the argument that ended with gunfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Atlanta police said the department holds its members to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and conduct both on and off duty. That includes the four police recruits who were hanging out at U Bar in East Point over the weekend. A spokesperson said they fired the recruits for not meeting department standards, and now theres an internal investigation into what happened. The Atlanta Police Department has learned that the recruits were asked to leave the business and became involved in a dispute with a member of the establishments security team, during which one recruit discharged a firearm, the spokesperson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 2 is working to learn more about the recruits. APD has not released their names. APD did confirm that the recruits had not yet completed their training to become officers. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The attorney who will decide Brady Kisers fate following a child abuse recommendation has addressed the news development. According to a report published by Phoenix, Arizonas 12news on Thursday, July 17, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell spoke publicly about Chandler Police Departments Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady, which was announced two days prior. Brady and his influencer wife Emilie Kiser lost their three-year-old son Trigg in May, with the Chandler Police Department confirming to Us Weekly on May 18 that the child died after being found unconscious in the familys backyard pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell told reporters, per the outlet, that her office is in the process of reviewing the child abuse referral, which was announced via an X statement that also confirmed the end of Chandler Police Departments investigations. Emilie Kisers Husband Brady Kiser Recommended for Child Abuse Charge After 3-Year-Old Son Triggs Death People need to understand that not every tragedy is a crime, Mitchell added. My heart goes out to the situation. But there's a difference between civil negligence where someone can be sued and criminal negligence. The attorney continued, In this case, criminal negligence means that the person fails to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will happen. The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe. Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images The outlet noted that Mitchell declined to further comment on the case or provide a timeline on when official charges may be filed. She did add, however, that the high-profile nature of the case did not impact Chandler Police Departments decision to recommend a felony charge against Brady. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official July 15 statement detailed that the police had come to the conclusion, following a thorough review of the evidence. The shock development came after USA Today reported on search warrants obtained in June that revealed Brady was home alone caring for Trigg and the couples other son Teddy, 3 months, while Emilie was not at home on May 12. Todd and Julie Chrisleys Bank Fraud and Tax Evasion Case: Everything We Know The outlet reported at the time that, per the obtained warrant information, Brady claimed to have noticed Trigg playing near the familys pool which was not uncommon. The father then alleged that he was soon distracted by Teddy, which caused him to lose sight of Trigg for three to five minutes. The warrants detailed that Brady said he then found Trigg floating in the pool before he jumped in to attempt a retrieval before calling 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Us confirmed in May that Trigg passed away on May 18 after being pulled from a pool on May 12. Emilie addressed pool safety in a now-deleted May 2024 TikTok, revealing that she and Brady were planning on doing a pool fence because our backyard is pretty big, at the time. In the warrant information obtained by USA Today, Brady had noted that the pool was fitted with a protective cover. Attorney General Matt Platkin speaks during a news conference on Oct. 24, 2024, in Trenton about voter protections. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) A South Jersey state senators accusations that Attorney General Matthew Platkin is using his office to pursue political vendettas are outrageous, totally ridiculous, and wrong, Platkin said Monday. I think we know his politics and frankly, you know, I wish the folks in Trenton Democrat and Republican would spend more time focused on how they improve the lives of peoples families and less time attacking people who are trying to help them, Platkin told the New Jersey Monitor Monday after an unrelated event in Newark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Platkin and the state senator in question, James Beach, are both Democrats, but Beach is an ally of South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross, whom Platkin indicted on since-dismissed racketeering charges last year. Beach, who represents Camden County, last week sent a letter to Senate President Nick Scutari asking for legislative hearings in the fall on what Beach called Platkins gross mismanagement and overtly political behavior. Beach said the Norcross indictment is an example of Platkins longstanding obsession with South Jersey politics and particularly Camden County. A Superior Court judge dismissed the indictment in February and Platkins office is appealing. Sen. James Beach wrote a letter to the Senate president last week asking for legislative hearings focused on Attorney General Matt Platkin. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) The Attorney General has repeatedly claimed, including as recently as his Budget Committee testimony in April, that his actions are neither political nor inappropriate, Beach wrote in the letter. There is, however, mounting evidence to the contrary and it is incumbent upon us, in our oversight capacity, to expose the truth. We owe it to the New Jersey taxpayers who are footing the bill for his malfeasance. Beach is a sponsor of new bipartisan legislation to remove state police from Platkins oversight. Beach accused Platkin of retaliating against the legislation earlier this month by moving to intervene in an unrelated lawsuit in a way that targets the Camden County Democratic Organization, which Beach chairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should all be alarmed by Mr. Platkins repeated use of tax-payer funded government resources to attack political enemies and his lack of consideration for the impact on the reputations and economic well-being of those targeted. It is precisely what we condemn against President Trump, Beach wrote. Beach did not respond to a request for further comment. Platkin said Monday that Beach should name his time and place. Platkin has been the target of attacks from both sides of the aisle, and there has been speculation about what his political future looks like beyond the Murphy administration. Gov. Phil Murphy steps down in January after two terms, and his successor will likely appoint a new attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Assembly Republicans introduced an impeachment resolution targeting Platkin that said he has violated the public trust. Republicans have griped about the numerous lawsuits Platkin has filed and joined targeting Trump administration orders and policies. Platkins critics have also noted that a state appellate court ruled against Platkins takeover of the Paterson Police Department in 2023 (that case is now in the hands of the New Jersey Supreme Court). SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX An Arizona attorney is currently reviewing the recommended child abuse charge against Brady Kiser, and recently spoke out about the weight of her decision. On July 15, the Chandler Police Department (CPD) publicly announced that the investigation into the death of Emilie and Brady Kiser's 3-year-old son, Trigg, was completed. The local authorities also shared that investigators recommended that Brady be tried for a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse. Their conclusions came nearly two months after the toddler drowned in the family's backyard pool on May 12; Trigg died six days later, local authorities confirmed to PEOPLE at the time. It was later revealed that Brady was watching their infant son, Theodore, when Trigg fell into the water. Emilie Kiser/Instagram Brady Kiser with son Trigg. Brady Kiser with son Trigg. Per warrant applications obtained by USA Today, Brady told local authorities that he lost sight of the older child for three to five minutes before discovering him floating in the pool. Emilie was out with friends when the incident occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a report by Arizona outlet 12news, Maricopa County prosecutor Rachel Mitchell addressed the potential child abuse charges shortly after the CPD's recommendations. At a monthly press conference, Mitchell confirmed her office is now assessing the referral. People need to understand that not every tragedy is a crime, Mitchell said, per the outlet. My heart goes out to the situation. But there's a difference between civil negligence where someone can be sued and criminal negligence. The outlet noted that Mitchell declined to comment on any specific evidence related to the case, nor did she provide a timeline for when her office would decide whether or not to file formal charges. 12news reported that during the press conference, Mitchell read from an Arizona state statute that detailed the extensive process of filing child abuse charges. Prosecutors must prove criminal negligence beyond a reasonable doubt, meaning the defendant failed "to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the result will happen," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The risk must be of such nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe, added Mitchell during the press conference, per the Arizona news site. She also expressed her belief that the CPD's felony charge referral was not influenced by the case's high-profile nature. Emilie Kiser/Instagram Emilie Kiser, husband Brady Kiser and their son Trigg. Emilie Kiser, husband Brady Kiser and their son Trigg. Due to Emilies significant platform as an influencer, she filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, May 27, in Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County to keep records about Trigg's death out of public view, according to court documents. Her lawyer said the family "desperately want to grieve in private, but sadly, the public will not let them," adding that Trigg's death "has become a media frenzy." The court ruled in Emilie's favor on a separate motion she filed to keep her personal declaration private. The order which was granted on June 3 gave Kiser temporary confidentiality on both her declaration and her larger request for privacy while the court reviews evidence to make a final ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, July 9, the CPD and Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner requested an exception to the ruling in order to exchange records and documents with each other, as a result of attempting to conclude their investigations. Read the original article on People Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorneys are now asking that he stay in jail to avoid deportation, a court filing from July 20 shows. While defense attorneys say Abrego Garcia has a right to be let out of jail, they say immigration authorities plan to apprehend him and begin deportation proceedings if he is released. In the July 20 filing, defense attorneys request that Judge Waverly Crenshaw delay issuing any order to release Abrego Garcia from jail for at least 30 days. They say the monthlong delay gives Abrego Garcia time to "evaluate his options and determine whether additional relief is necessary." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The request is the latest move in the case of Abrego Garcia, who was illegally deported to El Salvador by the U.S. government in March and brought back in June to face criminal charges in Tennessee. He's accused of driving undocumented immigrants around the country as part of an immigrant smuggling operation. Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his immigration attorney has called the case an "abuse of power." Abrego Garcia's attorneys indicated in the filing that government officials told them Abrego Garcia would transfer to Department of Homeland Security custody after a release from jail, at which point DHS would begin removal proceedings against him. Starting removal proceedings does not mean Abrego Garcia would necessarily be deported right away. His attorneys made their request "given the uncertainty of the outcome of any removal proceedings," the July 20 filing states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether the defense attorneys' request is moot depends on whether Crenshaw finds Abrego Garcia can be released from jail in the first place. Federal prosecutors have argued Abrego Garcia should remain behind bars before his trial on criminal human smuggling charges in Nashville, and attorneys are waiting on Crenshaw's ruling which he said would likely come this week. Abrego Garcia's criminal defense is led by New York attorney Sean Hecker. More: Kilmar Abrego Garcia hearing in Nashville ends without a ruling. What happens next? More: How a routine traffic stop in TN exploded into human smuggling charges for Kilmar Abrego Garcia 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: Abrego Garcia's attorneys ask he stay in jail to avoid deportation Aurora will likely stay part of a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers looking at the impact of removing its downtown dams. The state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers previously recommended the removal of nine dams along the Fox River, including the two in downtown Aurora, for environmental reasons. But following concerns and questions from many of the communities that would be impacted, including Aurora, the Corps said last year that it would be taking another look at those recommendations to more broadly study the effects of dam removal. Mayor John Laesch is set to send a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers letting the agency know Aurora wants to stay part of the study. The letter does not commit the city to either remove or keep the dams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the Aurora City Council has yet to formally vote on approving the letter that will happen at a meeting on Tuesday evening it is on the meetings consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote and without much discussion. The letter was also unanimously recommended for approval by the Aurora City Councils Infrastructure and Technology Committee on July 7. At that meeting, Brian Witkowski of the Engineering Department said the study will not cost the city anything. However, if the city decides to not go forward with the study, then it would be responsible for the maintenance cost of both downtown dams, whereas right now it only pays for one, he said. The dams in Aurora are on both sides of Stolp Island, which forms the core of downtown Aurora. The city already owns the dam on the west side, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources owns the dam on the east side. If the city backs out of the study, the east side dams ownership would transfer to the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Aurora does decide to remove the dams based on the results of the study, it would not need to pay for it, according to Witkowski. The Chicago Tribune reported last year that the Army Corps would pay up to 65% of the cost to remove Fox River dams, with the state paying the rest. Aurora officials previously had several concerns about the effects of removing the citys two dams, according to previous Beacon-News reporting. Those concerns included impacts to RiverEdge Park and the nearby Blues Island, to the citys water treatment plant river intake and to work planned for the New York Street Bridge in 2026 or 2027, among others. Laesch told The Beacon-News that the Public Works Department is no longer worried about the potential impact to the water treatment plant, but that the city would probably still need to take a closer look in the future. When Aurora eventually needs to make the decision to remove the dams or not, the city will be contacting other communities which have already had theirs removed to get feedback, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers previous draft report recommended removal of dams in Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, Aurora and Montgomery. The dam in Carpentersville was removed in late 2024, and the village is now facing a multimillion- dollar project to bury water and sewer lines below the Fox River because of lowered water levels, according to recent reporting from the Elgin Courier-News. However, the Friends of the Fox River, an organization in favor of the dam removals, has called the Carpentersville dam removal major progress towards freeing the Fox River, according to the organizations website. Under its Frequently Asked Dam Questions webpage, Board Member Art Malm writes that the Fox is a river once again, now sleek and clean after the dam removal. The Chicago Tribune reported last year that the Army Corps and states recommendation to remove the dams was made to improve water quality and habitat, plus reduce flooding risk, by restoring the river to its natural state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has already removed about 30 dams on rivers throughout the state in recent years because these low-head dams create a dangerous backwash that sucks victims underwater, according to the Chicago Tribune. And while environmental groups have taken similar positions, saying that dam removal will restore wildlife along the river and protect people from drowning, local groups have been started to oppose removing the dams, the Tribunes reporting showed. For example, the Fox River Preservation Society in St. Charles argues that the dams themselves have formed habitats, so already support wildlife, and also support recreational activities such as boating and water sports. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers further study is set to consider how removal of the dams would impact water levels and what sediments might be released, according to the Chicago Tribune. Final recommendations are expected this year. rsmith@chicagotribune.com AUSTIN (KXAN) A couple hundred Austin firefighters showed up at City Hall Monday to urge city council to prioritize public safety in its upcoming budget, and specifically raised concerns about a proposal to eliminate a staffing requirement. In 2018, Austin City Council approved an ordinance that requires a four-person staffing minimum in all responding fire vehicles. Due to significant constraints in the budget this year, city financial staff is proposing eliminating that standard in some cases. Band-Aid budget: Council members concerned proposed budget cuts too much from community needs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four-person staffing standard has been critical for Austins firefighters before the ordinance was written and must continue to not only be supported by the city but permanently backed into the budget, Austin Firefighters Association President Chief Bob Nicks said in a news release. Four-person staffing ensures more safety, faster response, and efficiency. In a statement, City Manager TC Broadnax made a distinction between different types of firefighting apparatus, saying the new staffing proposal would only impact engines which carry water tanks and hoses. It would not impact ladder trucks (equipped with an extendable ladder for operating at elevated heights), quints (trucks that can perform the roles of both an engine and ladder truck) and rescues (carries specialized equipment for rescue operations beyond firefighting, such as tools for vehicle extrications, hazardous materials response and water rescues). This adjustment will allow the City of Austin to staff appropriately, making the best use of taxpayer dollars, while maintaining the Austin Fire Departments exceptional level of service and ensuring firefighters can reduce work-week hours to improve their work/life balance and emotional and physical wellbeing, Broadnax said. The Austin Firefighters Association is urging the city to prioritize public safety funding during its budget discussions (KXAN photo/Tim Holcomb) The Austin Firefighters Association is urging the city to prioritize public safety funding during its budget discussions (KXAN photo/Tim Holcomb) The Austin Firefighters Association is urging the city to prioritize public safety funding during its budget discussions (KXAN photo/Tim Holcomb) Austin city manager proposes $6B+ budget, as mayor floats tax rate change Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly was also present at the event Monday. He too, is warning about the dangers of changing minimum staffing levels. Cutting corners on firefighter staffing has deadly consequences, said an IAFF news release. Kelly just returned from Fall River, Massachusetts, where a massive fire at an assisted living facility claimed the lives of 10 of its residents. Following this tragedy, Fall River agreed to increase firefighter staffing. As I always have, I appreciate the firefighters letting the public and council know their position, including on budget and safety issues. I deeply appreciate their opinion, their input, and all they do for our community. Weve just started the budget process with the managers base proposal last week, and I understand the unions disagreement with the manager. The next few weeks will offer the opportunity to evaluate this recommendation, as well as numerous others, and make final determinations. The council and I are looking at all aspects of the budget and the managers proposal in a very difficult budget year. However, I feel confident that we will end up with a balanced budget that emphasizes and protects public safety and, importantly, protects the safety of our firefighters. I believe well get to the right place in a tough budget time. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson Budget presentation During the budget presentation last week, city financial staff said staffing changes have been done at the police department. The staffing changes that have been done in police and the recommendation for fire, these are things that we looked at were very aware of, how can we make adjustments, how can we balance the budget without reducing service levels to the community? said Kerri Lang, Austins budget department director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin City Council Member Krista Laine questioned that proposal, asking staff to explain the impact reducing staff could have on emergency response. The staffing model is the best solution that we have at the table right now to make sure that every fire station, every unit is still staffed with trained firefighters and personnel to respond to these emergency fire and medical calls, Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker responded in part. Baker noted that the fire department is desperately trying to avoid browning or blacking out fire stations meaning temporarily not staffing a station or closing one altogether. Baker also said the proposed change would mean Austin doesnt meet the recommended national standard for the number of personnel in a unit, in the vehicles that have three firefighters instead of four, but Austin would still meet the recommended standard for the number of people at a scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its really important to, and particularly in this time with so much revenue and cost constraint, to right-size our response, but its also critically important not to sacrifice what we have to have happen, which is effective response, Laine said. She said if the city goes down this path, she wants to see regular data ensuring that response remains effective. Baker sent KXAN a written response Monday which said, in-part: AFD will continue to staff ladders, quints, and rescue trucks with four firefighters. Engines will be staffed with a minimum of three and sometimes four if enough staff are availableAFD will continue to send eight units to a structure fire; equivalent to 26 firefighters, less than the 32 firefighters currently sent, but still far above the National Fire Protection Associations standard of 16-17 firefighters. The proposal is not set in stone; the city still has to work through a robust budget process. Because of difficult budget cuts like this one, Austin leaders will discuss a possible tax rate election in their Audit and Finance Committee meeting Tuesday. Watson spoke with KXAN last week about that possibility, and the process of deciding whether or not its necessary: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can find more information about the budget proposal 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. TOWNSVILLE, Australia A first tranche of second-hand M1A1 AIM Abrams main battle tanks reached Ukrainian soil last week after being donated by the Australian government. The U.S.-built tanks, still painted in their AusCam camouflage scheme, had been loaded onto a commercial cargo ship in Geelong, Australia, in early May before beginning the long trek to the war-torn nation of Ukraine. Accompanied by Australian tank crewmen, the armored behemoths arrived in an unidentified port in Europe, possibly Poland, before being serviced for delivery to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australias Department of Defence then said on July 19, Ukraine has now taken possession of the majority of these tanks, with delivery of the final tranche to occur in the coming months. Australia pledged to give Kyiv 49 Abrams tanks that it recently retired. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraines ambassador to Australia, commented on X that this powerful gesture of solidarity is more than military support its a lifeline, a message that were not alone in our darkest hour. Valued at approximately A$245 million around US$160 million this gift comprises part of A$1.5 billion in assistance that Australia has promised since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Abrams were modified for Ukrainian requirements before being shipped, with Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy noting that these modified M1A1 Abrams tanks will deliver more firepower and more mobility to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The M1A1 Abrams became available after the Australian Army started receiving batches of new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks. Canberra ordered 75 of the latest Abrams variant in 2022. Incidentally, the newer version of the tanks is enjoying a thorough workout in the ongoing Exercise Talisman Sabre, starting in Australia on July 13. One activity, demonstrating interoperability between Australia and the U.S., saw four M1A2 Abrams and an M88A2 recovery vehicle craned aboard an American landing craft. This activity took place in Townsville on July 19, with the U.S. Army landing craft USAV Paulus Hook moving the armored vehicles south to Gladstone port. Asked about the importance of Australia rehearsing such amphibious movements, Lt. Eugene Lynch who is a troop commander from D Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the Australian Army told Defense News: Its extremely important. Our focus is on the Indo-Pacific region, and our near region is characterized by archipelagos and the littoral environment. So, its absolutely essential to our ability to project force into the region for defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynch said the M1A2 SEPv3 represented a significant upgrade over the M1A1, and Australian tankers were therefore extremely excited to get their hands on the new kit. We know its the best, he enthused. Asked whether tanks had become less relevant on contemporary battlefields, Lynch immediately alluded to Ukraine. I think that the production runs in every single tank factory on Earth would disagree. When a tank shows up on the battlefield, its the highest-priority target. LOS ANGELES (AP) Police investigating a crash outside a Los Angeles nightclub that injured at least 36 people asked for help Monday to find the man they suspect of shooting the driver. A vehicle rammed into a crowd of people outside the Vermont Hollywood venue early Saturday along a busy boulevard in East Hollywood, leading bystanders to attack the driver, authorities said. The driver was later found to have been shot in the lower back, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles police released surveillance photos Monday from cameras near the crash showing a man with a goatee wearing a blue Dodgers jacket and a light blue jersey with the number 5." Officials are asking for help in identifying him. The driver was identified Sunday as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez. He is expected to face a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon. A phone number for Ramirez could not be found in an online database search and the public defenders office has not responded to requests for comment on whether one of its attorneys is representing him. The Vermont Hollywood nightclub was hosting a reggae hip-hop event Friday night, according to its calendar. People were leaving at the end of the event when the car crashed into them, the venue said online. We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue, the Vermont Hollywood club said. "We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the person responsible for this horrific act is held fully accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramirez's car came to a stop after colliding with several food carts, which became lodged underneath the vehicle, police said. Injuries ranged from minor pain to serious fractures and lacerations, and some people were briefly trapped beneath the vehicle, police said. Ramirez has a criminal history that includes an aggravated battery conviction for a 2019 attack on a Black man who worked at a Whole Foods grocery store in Laguna Beach, California. In that same case, he was also convicted of a civil rights misdemeanor, and the assault was considered a hate crime, because he told police that he hated Black people. But a California appeals court in 2021 said he made that statement after invoking his Fifth Amendment rights, and only the battery conviction was allowed to stand. Ramirez was released from custody after more than two years in jail and prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramirez has proved to be violent to strangers and family alike and clearly has a lack of concern for the safety of others, Orange County prosecutors said in a court filing at the time. He also pleaded guilty in 2014 to battery and a gang-related charge, and in 2021 to domestic violence, records show. A 2024 drunken driving case and 2022 domestic violence charge were pending at the time of the nightclub crash, according to records. ___ Associated Press reporter Ed White contributed from Detroit. MOSCOW, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready to move quickly toward a settlement on Ukraine, but the main objective is to achieve its goals, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible," Peskov told state television in an interview. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy." "Our goals are clear, they are obvious, they do not change," he added. Russian officials have said repeatedly that any peace deal hinges on Ukraine withdrawing forces from four regions, renouncing its NATO bid and halting NATO troop deployments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his officials have proposed holding a new round of peace talks with Moscow this week. "Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire," he said in his evening address to the nation. On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, said the United States will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO, and threatened "severe tariffs" targeting Russia if a ceasefire deal is not reached in 50 days. Russia rejected Trump's 50-day ultimatum, dismissing the threat as unacceptable. An AutoZone store was broken into and looted during what was described as a street takeover in Los Angeles Historic South-Central neighborhood early Monday morning. Officers responded to a possible burglary call at the store near West Vernon Avenue and Main Street around 1:15 a.m., a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed. Video showed the front doors were left open with shattered glass lying on the sidewalk, and merchandise and debris were strewn across the parking lot and inside the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LAPD officers were seen entering the auto parts store with guns drawn in case any suspects remained inside. No arrests or injuries were immediately reported, according to the spokesperson. The caller also told police the suspects had broken in during a street takeover; however, the spokesperson was unable to confirm any details about the takeover. Looters left merchandise and debris outside a Los Angeles Auto Zone on July 21, 2025. (OnScene.TV) A burglary report was taken, but the value of any merchandise or cash taken from the store had not been determined. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced that his country is preparing to file lawsuits in international courts against Russia regarding the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 plane crash near Aktau on 25 December last year. The plane was en route from Baku to Grozny and crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on the Caspian Sea, killing 38 people. Aliyev said on Saturday that even though the circumstances of the incident are "as clear as day", Azerbaijan has received no meaningful response from Russia, seven months after the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aliyev claimed that Azerbaijan has a clear understanding of what happened to the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane, "we know what happened, and we can prove it. And we know that Russian officials know what happened," Aliyev said speaking to media at a press event moderated by Jane Witherspoon, Euronews Bureau Chief in the Middle East. "The question is: why do they not do what any neighbour would do? Our requests or demands are absolutely natural: Admit that this accident was their fault," he remarked. Aliyev noted that the Azerbaijani prosecutor general has sent requests to the head of Russias Investigative Committee, and has thus far only been informed that "the investigation is ongoing." He described this stance as counterproductive and reaffirmed Bakus intention to seek international justice. Azerbaijan has therefore informed Russia of its preparation of a dossier for a corresponding lawsuit, said Aliyev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Referring to the investigation into the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash, which claimed 239 victims in 2014 and whose subsequent inquiry has lasted over a decade, he said "We are ready to wait ten years, but justice must win. And unfortunately, the situation, which is currently in limbo, does not contribute to the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan." Aliyev lays out Azerbaijan's demands Azerbaijan's demands, according to Aliyev, are a guilty plea from Russia, prosecution of those responsible for downing the plane, payment of compensation to the families of the victims and compensation for damages suffered by AZAL. On 4 February, a preliminary official report released by the Azerbaijani government showed that the plane had indeed been shot down by a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system. Azerbaijani government sources exclusively confirmed to Euronews as early as 26 December that a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the plane to crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aliyev's statement comes just hours after he reiterated Baku's unwavering support to Ukraine. "Azerbaijan unequivocally supports Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty, and internationally recognised borders," the Azerbaijani leader said in a statement as reported by local media. Back 2 School: Bus inspections are a vital step to prep for new year in Marietta All the buses for Marietta City Schools are getting a good looking-over before hitting the road for the first day of school next Friday, Aug. 1. They check the stop sign. They check the wheels, tires, lug nuts, Hunter Burgener said. The Georgia Department of Public Safety is inspecting all 98 of the districts school buses. They look at our paperwork. They look at the buses. They go over it with a fine-tooth comb to make sure its safe for our kiddos, Marietta City School District transportation director Kim Ellis told Channel 2 Cobb Bureau Chief Michele Newell. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The state checks brakes, lights, mirrors, stop arms and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They check the back eight-way system, which is the driver system so everybody knows that the bus is coming to a stop to pick students up, Burgener said. If the state discovers any problems, they will take the bus out of service. We will get a report. We have an X amount of time until the Department of Public Safety signs off on it. We are not allowed to run the school buses, Ellis said. The district says its technicians work on the school buses throughout the year to keep them safe. Our technicians, I believe with my whole heart, are the best in the state of Georgia, and so we also have a great inspection each year, Ellis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday is the last round of bus inspections for the Marietta City Schools. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Trump administrations dramatic strike at U.S. education research had been underway for months before Mark Warschauer learned that his own work would become a casualty. The renowned education professor at the University of California, Irvine, had spent years studying how the newest technologies can be used to improve English language instruction. His latest efforts, funded through the National Science Foundation, aimed to create a series of bilingual Spanish-English e-books that would use artificial intelligence to guide young readers through each text and prompt them with questions. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter But in the last week of April, he learned that the supporting grant for the project had been cancelled, along with hundreds of others issued by NSFs education division, at the direction of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. The substantial majority of the cuts, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, targeted education studies like those conducted at Irvines Digital Learning Lab, which Warschauer directs. The professor grew more concerned as he considered the possible consequences of DOGEs moves. He spent the last few years helping design programs that fostered parent-child reading within families of English learners, even partnering with PBS Kids on a set of AI-powered videos that measurably improved students science knowledge. The results had been impressive. But without federal dollars, they couldnt realistically be sustained, let alone expanded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I could go from having a well-funded research lab one that supported a lot of graduate students and post-docs, and had a very ambitious research agenda to pretty much drying up in a few years and needing to lay off everyone working for me, Warschauer reflected. Related After Gutting Staff, Education Department Remains Quiet on Future of NAEP Test His worries have echoed throughout the nations sprawling education research infrastructure since February, when the administration severed scores of contracts through the Institute of Education Sciences, the principal knowledge-gathering body within the U.S. Department of Education. Within weeks, further announcements were made of mass layoffs totalling half the departments manpower, including roughly 90 percent of the IES staff. Questions even arose around the future of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the only coast-to-coast benchmark of student achievement. Mark Warschauer Several experts told The 74 that the diminution of both staffing and resources leaves the core functions of K12 research in doubt. Reduced support for the What Works Clearinghouse, an online library promoting evidence-based practices in education, could leave district leaders unequipped to navigate the billion-dollar world of school-based products and services. Deferred updates to long-running data sets may prove a serious hindrance to experts investigating key questions like school choice and early literacy. Uncertain employment conditions have already driven established professionals from the field, even while interrupting the early-career trajectories of the next generation of scholars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the motivations cited for the campaign is the charge that Washington has too often funded activist researchers promoting woke ideological content. Warschauer said that while his professional interests resulted partially from his past service as an ESL teacher, he rejected the precepts of critical theory and simply wanted to pursue better learning outcomes for struggling kids. My research is about having high standards of education for our poor, our underserved, and those who are not succeeding, and helping them succeed better, he said. To me, thats not a woke agenda; its something that, until the last five years, every Republican politician in the country has agreed with. Related In Rulings Aftermath, Some See Beginning of the End for Department of Education The administration has tweaked some aspects of its strategy, bringing in new leaders to oversee the future of the departments research efforts and reviving a portion of the contracts it had halted. But especially following last weeks Supreme Court ruling, which formally authorized the widespread reductions in force while other litigation is being considered, many now believe the end is in sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cara Jackson served as president of the Association of Education Finance and Policy, one of the foremost professional organizations for education researchers, when the unwinding began. The consortium is now pursuing legal action against the administration, alleging that its actions violate laws governing how federal agencies may behave. She fears that, whatever the outcome of that litigation, the attempt to sweep aside decades of systems and collaborations between government, universities, and private actors will severely limit Americas insights into what, and whether, its children are actually learning. The biggest thing that frustrates me is that we paid a lot of money for these practice guides to be created, and they're not going to go into the world now. Cara Jackson, former president, Association of Education Finance and Policy The entire time IES has existed, it has done a lot to advance the field and the quality of research that is being produced, she said. It just feels like were going back into the dark ages. A retreat from what works Jacksons own life was upended by the events of the last few months. She was laid off in March when her employer, the research and consulting company Abt Global, significantly scaled back its work in education evaluations. Abt is part of the archipelago of private firms that have long partnered with the federal government, many of which saw multi-year, eight-figure contracts terminated by IES this winter. The commitments ranged widely in size and focus from a $430,000 commitment to collect responses to a school crime survey to a $43 million bid to implement programs preparing disabled students for success after high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of Jacksons time was spent developing the What Works Clearinghouses line of Practice Guides, which distill the findings of complex social science into digestible recommendations for classroom teachers and district leaders. Thirty of the guides have been published since 2007, with several more in the pipeline earlier this year including proposals for texts on chronic absenteeism and student behavior problems, two of the biggest issues facing schools in the post-COVID era. In March, President Trump signed an executive order authorizing all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education. (Getty Images) Those projects may be indefinitely postponed, if not scuppered entirely, by both the reduction of the Institutes contracts and harrowing of its workforce. The biggest thing that frustrates me as a taxpayer is that we paid a lot of money for these practice guides to be created, and theyre not going to go into the world now because they got abruptly stopped, Jackson said. Betsy Wolf, a research scientist who was among the throngs of departing IES employees, had been working on a project that attempted to apply the findings from cognitive science to inform STEM teachers. She said she was pessimistic about the prospects of reconstituting the work that had already been done into some future product, especially in the absence of so many staffers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We lost computer access, and we couldnt even email people externally, Wolf recalled. As far as Im aware, the department didnt get back any of the stuff it paid for. And you couldnt just get someone in to pick it back up because it may not even exist right now. The department didn't get back any of the stuff it paid for. Betsy Wolf, former research scientist, Institute of Education Sciences The Clearinghouse is not without critics, including prominent commentators who have argued that its guides dont offer suggestions in language that teachers can easily understand. Others have alleged that past publications have misinterpreted research findings or classified programs incorrectly. But the need for stronger evidence in teaching methods has been highlighted over the past few years by a series of controversies related to shoddy or questionable instruction. Families in San Francisco have fiercely resisted a proposal that would delay the teaching of algebra I until the ninth grade to address achievement gaps a move that didnt achieve its stated goals, a later analysis found while districts around the country have spent billions of dollars on reading curricula derived from the discredited whole language theory of literacy. Related Trump Cuts Research Lab That Helped Nurture Mississippi Miracle Some observers fret that progress may be threatened in areas where K12 leaders have used existing research to dramatically improve outcomes. In February, the department eliminated over $300 million in contracts with 10 Regional Education Labs, including one that partnered with Mississippi to lead a dramatic improvement in the states persistently low reading performance. [The Trump administration later backtracked on those cuts as part of a broader reversal, according to a June legal filing: Though not required by the court, the department announced that it would rehire several dozen employees and restart roughly one-fifth of the contracts that had previously been suspended.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elizabeth Tipton is a statistician at Northwestern University who also serves as the director of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness, another professional organization suing the administration over its cuts. If anything, she said, Washington should endeavor to strengthen the powers of agencies like IES to more strictly regulate a marketplace for school materials and technology that often provide no value. Without an entity to function in the manner of the Food and Drug Administration, the world of K12 products resembles that of herbal supplements, she argued. I dont understand how its woke, I dont understand why its inefficient, I dont understand why DOGE would be against it, I just dont understand the argument, Tipton said. Its actually good for kids to understand what works and to invest in that science. Lost data As it evaluates various policies and classroom interventions, the government also collects huge troves of data on students backgrounds, the kinds of schooling they access, and their success both during and after their time as students. The progress of those long-running data sets, mostly housed within the 158-year-old National Center for Education Statistics, have also been stalled by the events of the last few months. We were about to get a look at students in the first post-pandemic class of kindergartners. You cannot have a story like that in the future if we dont have that data. Rachel Dinkes, Knowledge Alliance Rachel Dinkes is the president and CEO of the Knowledge Alliance, the industry group representing private research organizations like Abt Global, the American Institutes for Research, and the Educational Testing Service. In an interview, she sketched out an uncertain future for some of the biggest education research undertakings of the last few decades Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We heard Sec. McMahon say that her plan is to unwind the mission of the Department of Education, Dinkes said. That leads to serious questions about where these research programs will turn to. A career statistician and research analyst, she ticked off a laundry list of data collections affected by the Trump administrations cuts. A pilot program to design new student assessments part of states bargain with Washington to enjoy more autonomy after the end of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2015 was at the center of a $3.6 million contract that was scrapped after more than five years of work. Over $48 million in funding for the latest iteration of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, which examines how college students finance their education, was also tossed; the insights generated by the survey would have very likely informed future legislation on student borrowing and federal aid, Dinkes said. Related Study Finds Preschool Programs Reserved for Children from Low-Income Families Not as Effective as Universal Programs that Include Higher-Income Families But perhaps the biggest hit delivered to NCES data came with the sweeping cut to the Early Child Longitudinal Study program, which has conducted four major, ongoing studies of children from the earliest years of schooling. The latest addition to the initiative was designed to track the progress of the kindergarten class of 202223, a cohort that absorbed much of the social and academic stresses of the COVID era. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were about to get a look at students in the first post-pandemic class of kindergartners and see what they can do, Dinkes said. You cannot have a story like that in the future if we dont have that data. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that her departments final mission is to shutter itself. (Getty Images) A spokesman for the department did not respond to a request for comment on the possible effects of Trumps flurry of cuts. But McMahon has stated publicly that her agencys dismantling was necessary, pointing to its time in existence as an era of stagnation and decline in student achievement. [In fact, long-term scores in math and literacy have been on an upward trajectory since the departments creation in 1980, though the learning loss inflicted by COVID erased much of that progress.] Mark Chin, a professor of education policy at Vanderbilt University, intended to use his schools access to ECLS files to assess the impact of school choice programs. Much of the current empirical work on charter or voucher policies is built on information gathered by school districts or state education agencies, which typically identify student demographics, special education status, and socioeconomic status. But the federal data incorporates far richer observations on household structure and parent engagement, including live interviews and survey responses with caregivers. If you've got results, but you can't put them out there, it's not being seen by policymakers who really need that information. Mark Chin, Vanderbilt University With the benefit of that perspective, Chin had hoped to offer a more detailed investigation of the possible differences between families who participate in choice schemes versus those who simply attend their district public schools.That work is currently stalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So too, he added, are countless papers constructed through the use of federal resources, which are usually submitted to department staffers for a once-over before they are released in order to assure both quality control and protect student privacy. The mass layoffs in March could prevent some valuable discoveries from finding their way to the public square. In order for this research to become public, it needs to be reviewed by IES, he said. Given the state of IESs staffing, thats basically not feasible. If youve got results, but you cant put them out there, its not being seen by policymakers who really need that information. Theyre never coming back As spring has turned to summer, a few promising signs have emerged for scholars whose research was affected by the wave of cuts. At the end of June, UC Irvines Warschauer was notified that his grants from the National Science Foundation had been reinstated. The reversal was achieved through a class action lawsuit filed by six UC professors who alleged that grants previously awarded through the NSF, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Environmental Protection Agency had been unlawfully slashed. A district judge issued an injunction requiring the funds to be restored, though the ruling can be appealed in a higher court. In an email, Warschauer said he was thrilled with the result, while observing that it would almost certainly be harder to gain future support than it was to revive existing grants. This doesnt make me any more optimistic about new grant opportunities those are easier (and more justifiable) to control than cancelling grants that people already have, he wrote. So the bottom line is that the future of educational research is still very much in jeopardy. Under McMahons leadership, the Department of Education has taken some steps that have the potential to solidify its future support for research. In an interview with The 74s Greg Toppo, the secretary vowed to keep in place the NAEP exam. A veteran IES staffer has been named the acting commissioner of NCES, and respected researcher Amber Northern was tapped to serve as McMahons senior advisor. Related NAEP Absolutely Needs to Stay, Linda McMahon Says. The Department? Not So Much But even with the dust still settling after months of firings, the toll on the department has already been huge. IESs headcount now numbers fewer than 20 employees, while NCES has reportedly been reduced to just three. Last Mondays Supreme Court ruling allowed the president to implement those layoffs, rejecting a lower courts motion to block them. Other legal challenges to prior cuts havent made headway yet. In June, a district court judge denied AEFPs request for an injunction that would have temporarily required the administration to bring back terminated employees and renew canceled contracts. It will take months, if not longer, for the various strands of litigation to be resolved. Related Legal Scorecard: How is the Trump Education Juggernaut Faring in Court? In the meantime, human resources appear to be just as imperiled as financial ones. With federal subsidies still largely up in the air, and job prospects for graduates decidedly hazy, several major universities have rescinded PhD admissions over the next semester. Some departments within Vanderbilts prestigious Peabody College of Education and Human Development are taking new doctoral candidates, but Chins academic bailiwick of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations has paused acceptances for now. Chin described the PhD students as the lifeblood of his program, lamenting the potential damage to the future of the field. They support our research projects, theyre coming up with new ideas, theyre presenting their own work, he said. Right now, we have some junior scholars in our department who dont have PhD advisees yet. Among current professionals, the outlook is no brighter. The job market is now glutted with laid off researchers from both the public and private sectors, and with little near-term optimism for more funding, many potential employers are leaning more toward cutting existing overhead rather than picking talent up off the sidelines. Elizabeth Tipton Northwesterns Tipton said she was aware of multiple professional contacts who had already left the field for better-paying jobs in other industries where their technical skills are highly valued. Each one, she added, should be seen as a voided investment representing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in past doctoral scholarships and research grants. You see someone get a job, and youre happy that theyre no longer in this terrible situation, she said. But now theyre getting jobs in insurance, tech, or random other fields. And you realize that theyre going to get paid more, and theyre never coming back. A church in Baldwin was vandalized with hateful messages. According to Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman, anti-Catholic and antisemitic messages were left at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church. This holy place, meant for prayer, community, and the merciful presence of God has been violated in a deeply painful way, said Bishop Eckman. A statue at the church has been covered with a tarp. Eckman is calling for the community to know they are not alone during this stressful situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the faithful who feel shaken, and to all in our wider community, know that your pain is shared, and my prayers are with you for comfort and healing, Eckman said. Eckman said the FBI is leading the investigation. Channel 11 has reached out to FBI Pittsburgh for more information and is waiting to hear back. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into school in Dhaka, killing at least 1, fire official says. DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) A Bangladesh air force training aircraft crashed into a school in the nation's capital Monday afternoon, killing the pilot and 26 other people, most of whom were students, officials said. The crash caused a fire that left the two-story building in Dhaka smoldering. Officials said 171 people, mostly students and many with burns, were rescued and taken from the scene in helicopters, ambulances, motorized rickshaws and in the arms of firefighters and parents. Twenty deaths were reported initially, and seven died of their injuries overnight, authorities said Tuesday morning. Doctors said late Monday that the condition of about two dozen injured remained critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, 78 people, mostly students, remained hospitalized. Twenty bodies have been handed over to their families. Some of the charred bodies were beyond recognition and they might need DNA tests for matching. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialized burn hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher who rescued more than 20 students from the burning school, died from severe burn injuries, her colleague Tanzina Tanu said. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a technical malfunction moments after takeoff at 1:06 p.m., and the pilot attempted to divert the plane to a less populated area before crashing into the campus of Milestone School and College, according to a statement from the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it remained unclear how the pilot died: whether he was inside the jet or ejected himself before it hit the building. The military did not provide any details on that. Many relatives waited overnight at a specialized burn hospital for bodies of their loved ones. Around midnight, Mohammed Abdur Rahim was looking for his cousin Afia Akter in a hospital. We could not find my cousin. She is missing. Doctors here have asked us to go to other hospitals, he told The Associated Press. Students said the schools buildings trembled violently, followed by a big explosion that sent them running for safety. A desperate scene soon unfolded at the crash site, as panicked relatives searched for loved ones. Screams filled the air at a nearby hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Milestone school is in Dhakas Uttara neighborhood, about an 11-kilometer (7-mile) drive from the A.K. Khandaker air force base. The school is in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. The pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam, made every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location, the military said, adding that it would investigate the cause of the crash. Local media said it was the pilots solo flight as he was completing his training course. It is the deadliest plane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government announced a day of mourning Tuesday, with flags to fly at half-staff across the country. Mosammat Sagorika, who scored four goals Monday to defeat Nepal in an under 20 womens South Asian soccer championship match, dedicated the countrys win to the crash victims. Many people have died, and many are injured. So, we all are sad," the 17-year-old Sagorika told reporters. Bangladeshi cricket all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and other leading cricketers also expressed their shock. At the crash site Monday afternoon, a father sprinted with his daughter cradled in his arms. A mother cried out, having found her younger child, but desperately searched for her older one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another father described his feeling of helplessness while waiting to learn the fate of his daughter. The plane crashed on the building where my daughter was. My wife called me, but I was praying so I could not pick up," Jewel, who goes by one name, said at the scene. When I came here I saw there was a huge fire. There was a dead body of a child. Luckily, his daughter was safe, he said, but he saw many other children suffering from burns. Students also scrambled to see what had happened. We fought with the crowd and the soldiers to get close to the crash site in our school, said Estiak Elahi Khan, who is in the 11th grade. "What I saw I can't describe that ... that's terrible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital said more than 60 students, many between the ages of 12 and 16, were transferred to a special hospital for burn victims. By Monday evening, rescuers continued to scour the debris, searching for bodies. A crane was being used to remove debris. Bangladeshs interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, also pledged an investigation, and he expressed his deep sorrow over the heartbreaking accident. He called it a moment of deep national grief. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed shock and sadness. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families, Modi said in a post on X. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, said by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary grades through high school. I was terrified watching videos on TV, the 16-year-old said. My God! Its my school. ___ Associated Press journalists Al-emrun Garjon and Rafiqul Islam Mithu contributed to the report. A Bangladesh air force training jet has crashed into a school campus, killing at least 19 people. Heres the latest we know: What happened during the Bangladesh plane crash? Bangladesh Air Forces F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed in Uttara. The aircraft took off at 13:06 [07:06 GMT], the Bangladesh militarys public relations team said. Local media reported that the plane crashed at about 1:30pm. Videos emerged of the aftermath of the crash, showing a fire, as well as plumes of thick smoke rising into the sky as people watched from a distance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash marks the deadliest aviation incident in Bangladesh since the 1984 crash of a plane travelling from Chattogram to Dhaka killed all 49 people on board. Last month, an Air India passenger plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Indias Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board as well as 19 people on the ground. This incident marked the worlds worst aviation disaster in a decade. (Al Jazeera) Where did the plane crash? The plane crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, a private school in the northern Dhaka neighbourhood of Uttara. Footage shared online after the crash showed the point where the aircraft had crashed into the side of a building, leaving a gaping hole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the crash, students were taking tests or attending regular classes. How big is this school? According to the information available on the schools website, there are 6,000 enrolled students at Milestones. What kind of plane was it? The F-7 BGI is a light, multi-role fighter aircraft manufactured by the Chinese Chengdu Corporation. Multi-role fighter aircraft are built to perform several roles in combat, including air-to-air combat, aerial bombing, reconnaissance, and suppression of air defences. The BGI was billed as the most advanced F-7 when Bangladesh bought 36 of them in 2022. It had been upgraded according to Bangladeshs specifications. The Bangladesh Air Forces F-7 BGI [Bangladesh Air Force] What do we know about the victims? At least 19 people have died and more than 100 have been injured, based on data from multiple hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have not released details about those who have died or are injured. A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital, Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, told the Reuters news agency. What do the rescue efforts look like? More than 50 people, including children, were admitted to the hospital with burn injuries following the crash, a doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery told reporters. An emergency hotline has been set up at the institute, Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladeshs interim government, wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local media reported that several of the injured were transported to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) through air force helicopters. The army, air force, police and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), a paramilitary border security force, are working together on rescue efforts, local media reported. Eight units of the fire service are working to contain the fire, the Dhaka Tribune reported. What is the latest situation on the ground? Yunus said the government is taking all necessary measures in the aftermath of the crash. He posted on his X account that the bodies of those who can be identified will be returned to their families as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those whose identities cannot be immediately confirmed will undergo DNA testing, after which their remains will also be released to their families. In another post, Yunus shared the emergency contacts of different rescue departments regarding missing school students. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Laketa Smith, founder of A Bella LaFemme Society, a local grassroots organization, discusses the importance of staying prepared throughout hurricane season. In case an emergency arises, its good to already have your emergency kit put together. Dont wait until a tropical storm or hurricane is just a couple of days away from reaching your area to realize you are not prepared. Smith says you should pack enough food, water, toiletries, clothes, medicine, and pet items for at least seven to 10 days. Planning to evacuate for at least a week will make sure youre prepared instead of packing for only two to three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the items needed to have a sufficient kit can be found at dollar stores, hardware stores, and major retailers. A Bella LaFemme Society is inviting the public to take their survey so they can get a better understanding of the publics needs when it comes to disaster readiness. The survey can be found here. Invest 94L has low chances for tropical development 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. BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo is welcoming another red panda to its exhibits, according to a press release. 11-month-old red panda joins Beardsley Zoo Pilatus, a one-year-old male red panda, is coming to Bridgeport from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He made the journey north as a part of the Red Panda Species Survival Plan, a nationwide conservation effort. Photo credit: Scott Vincent We are absolutely delighted to welcome Pilatus to our Zoo family, Jim Wharton, CEO of Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo, said. Red pandas are an endangered species, and his arrival represents not only an exciting addition to our animal residents, but also our continued commitment to wildlife conservation and education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pilatus is joining Ponya, another red panda who came to the zoo in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman in Beijing on Monday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the two sides had always respected each other, treated each other as equals and cooperated in a mutually beneficial manner, adding that their high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has achieved fruitful results. Noting this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Croatia, Wang urged both sides to enhance exchanges at all levels, increase mutual understanding and mutual trust, continue to firmly respect and support each other, strengthen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Croatia's development strategies, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Wang said that cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) is an important part of China-EU relations. He added that China is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with Croatia based on the principles of openness, transparency and mutual benefit, urging both sides to enhance multilateral coordination and cooperation, adhere to multilateralism and free trade to jointly address global challenges. Noting this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, Wang said that a stable, healthy and positively developing China-EU relationship is in line with the fundamental interests and common aspirations of both sides, adding that China hopes Croatia will continue to play a constructive role in promoting China-EU cooperation. Radman said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries over 30 years ago, both sides have advanced cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and bilateral relations have maintained a sound development. He said that the government of Croatia adheres to the one-China policy, believing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Croatia looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China, strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and other fields, and welcomes more Chinese citizens to visit Croatia. Noting that China is an indispensable and important economic and trade partner of Europe, Radman said that Croatia supports the EU and China in resolving specific differences through constructive dialogue and promoting the sustained and stable development of EU-China relations. China-CEEC cooperation is a beneficial platform for promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two sides. Croatia is willing to continue to actively support and participate in the cooperation. Croatia attaches great importance to and appreciates the key role played by China in promoting world peace and is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China, he added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman in Beijing, capital of China, July 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Hundreds of Bedouin civilians were evacuated from Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Monday as part of a U.S.-backed truce meant to end days of bloodshed in southern Syria, state media and witnesses said. With hundreds reported killed, the violence in the southern province of Sweida has posed a major test for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, drawing Israeli airstrikes last week and deepening fissures in a country fractured by 14 years of war. A ceasefire took hold on Sunday as interior ministry security forces deployed on Sweida's outskirts. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said on Sunday the truce would allow for the release of hostages and detainees held by the sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fighting began a week ago, pitting Druze fighters who distrust the Islamist-led government against Sunni Muslim Bedouin. Damascus sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against Druze. Sharaa has blamed the violence on "outlaw groups" and promised to protect the rights of Druze - a minority group whose faith is deemed heretical by some hardline Muslims. Calling the Druze a fundamental part of Syria's national fabric, Sharaa has vowed to hold to account those who committed violations against them. Details of last week's violence are still emerging. Ali al-Huraym, a 56-year-old Bedouin man, said six members of his extended family had been killed by Druze fighters in an attack on the town of Shahba, 15 km (10 miles) north of Sweida, on Thursday. Speaking to Reuters at a school sheltering displaced Bedouin in Daraa province, he said Druze elders had assured them they would be safe in Shahba, but the attacking Druze faction had ignored their instructions. He accused the Druze faction of trying to drive Sunni tribes from the area, without identifying it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salem al-Mahdi, 60, another Bedouin displaced from Shahba with his family, told Reuters he saw six bodies in one home there, and the town had been hit with weapons including mortars. Speaking to Reuters by phone, Luna Albassit, a Druze activist in Shahba, said the situation after so much bloodshed remained tense despite the end to clashes. "People were killed in the streets, in their homes, they were humiliated and it was in the name of the state," she said, referring to attacks by government-aligned forces. Reuters could not independently verify the accounts. In Sweida, footage released by local news outlet Suwayda 24 on Sunday showed what appeared to be numerous body bags in the grounds outside the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian Network for Human Rights said at least 558 people had been killed in violence in Sweida province since July 13. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported more than 1,000 killed. US ENVOY On Monday morning, ambulances, trucks and buses ferried hundreds of Bedouin civilians including women, children and wounded people out of Sweida to nearby displacement camps, Reuters footage showed. The initial batch included some 300 Bedouins, and a second group of about 550 civilians will be evacuated within the next 24 hours if the situation remains calm, said Shoaib Asfour, a member of the Syrian security forces overseeing the evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next phase would see the evacuation of Bedouin fighters detained by Druze militias and the transfer of bodies of Bedouins killed in the fighting, Asfour said. Syria's state news agency said a total of 1,500 Bedouins would be evacuated from Sweida city. Citing Ahmed al-Dalati, head of Syria's internal security forces in Sweida, state media said those forces would also facilitate the return to Sweida of others displaced from it. According to the United Nations, at least 93,000 people have been uprooted by the fighting. The U.N. said on Sunday that humanitarian convoys with medical supplies had been waiting to enter Sweida for two days but were not granted access. It said only a convoy of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been allowed to enter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing the goal of protecting the Druze and keeping southern Syria demilitarized, Israel attacked government forces last week in the south and struck the defence ministry in Damascus. Washington, which has expressed support for Damascus since Sharaa met U.S. President Donald Trump in May, said it did not approve of Israel's strikes. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said on Monday the Syrian government needed to be held accountable. "They also need to be given the responsibility that they're there to do," he said, speaking on a visit to Beirut. (Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi in Syria, Maya Gebeily, Jana Choukeir and Laila Bassam in Beirut, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay in Ankara; Writing by Maya Gebeily and Tom Perry, Editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean) Fighting erupted a week ago between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin. Syrian troops sent to intervene were drawn in and accused of widespread abuses against the Druze. Hundreds of Bedouin civilians were evacuated from Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Monday as part of a US-backed truce meant to end days of bloodshed in southern Syria, state media and witnesses said. With hundreds reported killed, the violence in the southern province of Sweida has posed a major test for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, drawing Israeli airstrikes last week and deepening fissures in a country fractured by 14 years of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A ceasefire took hold on Sunday as security forces from the interior ministry deployed on the outskirts of Sweida. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said on Sunday that the truce would allow for the release of hostages and detainees held by the sides. The fighting began a week ago, pitting Druze fighters who distrust the Islamist-led government against Sunni Muslim Bedouin. Damascus sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against Druze. Sharaa has blamed the violence on "outlaw groups" and promised to protect the rights of Druze - a minority group whose faith is deemed heretical by some hardline Muslims. Calling the Druze a fundamental part of Syria's national fabric, Sharaa has vowed to hold to account those who committed violations against them. Syrian government security forces stand near an earth barrier that they created as a buffer during their deployment in Busra al-Harir in Syria's southern Daraa province on July 21, 2025. (credit: BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images) Details of last week's violence are still emerging. Ali al-Huraym, a 56-year-old Bedouin man, said six members of his extended family had been killed by Druze fighters in an attack on the town of Shahba, 15 km (10 miles) north of Sweida, on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Reuters at a school sheltering displaced Bedouin in Daraa province, he said Druze elders had assured them they would be safe in Shahba, but the attacking Druze faction had ignored their instructions. He accused the Druze faction of trying to drive Sunni tribes from the area, without identifying it. Salem al-Mahdi, 60, anotherBedouin displaced from Shahba with his family, told Reuters he saw six bodies in one home there, and the town had been hit with weapons including mortars. Speaking to Reuters by phone, Luna Albassit, a Druze activist in Shahba, said the situation after so much bloodshed remained tense despite the end to clashes. People killed in the streets in the name of the state "People were killed in the streets, in their homes, they were humiliated, and it was in the name of the state," she said, referring to attacks by government-aligned forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters could not independently verify the accounts. In Sweida, footage released by local news outlet Suwayda 24 on Sunday showed what appeared to be numerous body bags in the grounds outside the hospital. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said at least 558 people had been killed in violence in Sweida province since July 13. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported more than 1,000 killed. US Envoy On Monday morning, ambulances, trucks, and buses ferried hundreds of Bedouin civilians, including women, children, and wounded people, out of Sweida to nearby displacement camps, Reuters footage showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial batch included some 300 Bedouins, and a second group of about 550 civilians will be evacuated within the next 24 hours if the situation remains calm, said Shoaib Asfour, a member of the Syrian security forces overseeing the evacuation. The next phase would see the evacuation of Bedouin fighters detained by Druze militias and the transfer of bodies of Bedouins killed in the fighting, Asfour said. Syria's state news agency said a total of 1,500 Bedouins would be evacuated from Sweida city. Citing Ahmed al-Dalati, head of Syria's internal security forces in Sweida, state media said those forces would also facilitate the return to Sweida of others displaced from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the United Nations, at least 93,000 people have been uprooted by the fighting. The UN said on Sunday that humanitarian convoys with medical supplies had been waiting to enter Sweida for two days but were not granted access. It said only a convoy of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been allowed to enter. Citing the goal of protecting the Druze and keeping southern Syria demilitarized, Israel attacked government forces last week in the south and struck the defense ministry in Damascus. Washington, which has expressed support for Damascus since Sharaa met US President Donald Trump in May, said it did not approve of Israel's strikes. US envoy Tom Barrack said on Monday the Syrian government needed to be held accountable. "They also need to be given the responsibility that they're there to do," he said, speaking on a visit to Beirut. Around 1,500 Bedouins are set to be evacuated from the conflict-hit province of Sweida, following a deal brokered by the Syrian government. Local officials told dpa that an initial group of about 350 people, mostly women, children and the wounded, has already been transported to neighbouring Daraa province. Further convoys are expected in the coming days. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighting erupted on July 13 in Sweida between Druze factions and the Bedouins, who are Sunni Muslims, has killed at least 1,120 people. The dead include 531 from Sweida, 373 security personnel, 15 killed in Israeli airstrikes and nearly 200 executed in field killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Druze are a religious minority that emerged from Shia Islam who live mainly in Syria, but also in Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. The state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA) showed images of families boarding buses and trucks for the journey. The evacuation follows a week of intense fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin clans, the latter supported by Damascus and allied groups. In Sweida city, home to roughly 400,000 Druze, many families became trapped in areas surrounded by gunmen. Authorities claim escape corridors were available, but heavy clashes have left hundreds still stranded. Photos circulating in recent days showed displaced Bedouin families huddled in harsh desert terrain, some with women and children sitting on bare rocks under the blazing sun. Temperatures in the region have topped 30 degrees Celsius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observers view the forced removal of Bedouins as a concession to the Druze militias, with Damascus appearing to bow to local pressure to calm hostilities. "This step is crucial to defuse the crisis and reduce inter-tribal tensions," said Ahmed al-Dalati, Sweida's internal security chief. Around 1,500 Bedouins are set to be evacuated from the conflict-hit province of Sweida, following a deal brokered by the Syrian government. Local officials told dpa that an initial group of about 350 people, mostly women, children and the wounded, has already been transported to neighbouring Daraa province. Further convoys are expected in the coming days. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighting erupted on July 13 in Sweida between Druze factions and the Bedouins, who are Sunni Muslims, has killed at least 1,120 people. The dead include 531 from Sweida, 373 security personnel, 15 killed in Israeli airstrikes and nearly 200 executed in field killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Druze are a religious minority that emerged from Shia Islam who live mainly in Syria, but also in Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. The state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA) showed images of families boarding buses and trucks for the journey. The evacuation follows a week of intense fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin clans, the latter supported by Damascus and allied groups. In Sweida city, home to roughly 400,000 Druze, many families became trapped in areas surrounded by gunmen. Authorities claim escape corridors were available, but heavy clashes have left hundreds still stranded. Photos circulating in recent days showed displaced Bedouin families huddled in harsh desert terrain, some with women and children sitting on bare rocks under the blazing sun. Temperatures in the region have topped 30 degrees Celsius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observers view the forced removal of Bedouins as a concession to the Druze militias, with Damascus appearing to bow to local pressure to calm hostilities. "This step is crucial to defuse the crisis and reduce inter-tribal tensions," said Ahmed al-Dalati, Sweida's internal security chief. A ceasefire reportedly came into effect Sunday afternoon, with large combat zones cordoned off. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 128,000 people have been displaced. The Sweida evacuations mark the first state-backed forced displacement in Syria since President Bashar al-Assad's fall from power in December. BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Belgium's King Philippe described abuses in Gaza as a "disgrace to humanity" in a speech on the eve of Monday's national day, unusually direct remarks on international affairs from a monarch who traditionally avoids public politics. "I add my voice to all those who denounce the serious humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs while trapped in their enclaves," he said speaking at his palace in Brussels. "The current situation has gone on for far too long. It is a disgrace to all of humanity. We support the call by the United Nations Secretary-General to immediately end this unbearable crisis." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the first time Philippe has spoken out so strongly and unambiguously about a conflict in public. Belgium's federal government has been more reserved in its criticism of the conflict in Gaza. The king's role in Belgium is limited to giving advice, support, and warnings to the government without making any political decisions. Israel launched its assault on Gaza following an October 2023 attack on Israeli towns by Hamas-led fighters who killed 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 59,000 people in Gaza, according to health officials there. Much of the territory has been laid to waste and Israel has restricted food and other supplies. Israel denies that its forces commit abuses in Gaza and says restrictions on supplies are needed to prevent aid from being diverted by militants. (Reporting by Yiming Woo, Charlotte Van CampenhoutEditing by Peter Graff) PARIS Belgium will buy more F-35s, a third frigate and spend billions of euros on air defense as part of an updated strategic plan approved by the government on Friday, with the country seeking to fix capability gaps after decades of being one of NATOs lowest spenders on defense. Belgiums military requires a thorough transformation to create a force fit to deter and for high-intensity warfare rather than expeditionary missions, Defence Minister Theo Francken wrote in a foreword to the 100-plus-page Strategic Vision 2025 report . In addition to more hardware, the plan calls for raising the number of military personnel by around a third by 2034. A country like Belgium can only remain free and sovereign by aligning itself with loyal and powerful partners, Francken said. And we can only count on their loyalty if we are prepared to show solidarity in their defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Belgian government earlier this year agreed to lift defense spending to 2% of GDP, for a budget of 12.8 billion (US$14.9 billion) in 2025, breaking with decades lingering at the bottom of NATOs defense-spending tables. The country allocated an estimated 1.29% of GDP to defense in 2024, with only Spain doing worse. As part of the strategic plan published on Friday, Belgium is budgeting 34.8 billion in capacity commitments for 2026-2034, with 24.7 billion of the funds to be spent over the period. Through concrete commitments, the government aims to restore the countrys diplomatic credibility, Francken said. Its against this backdrop that this new strategic vision has been approved by the government. The current defense budget cant patch all the gaps left by years of under-investment, and Belgium will focus on priority areas, according to the report. Those include making its medium motorized brigade fully operational, creating layered air defenses, building up ammo supplies to ensure readiness, adding air-combat capability and expanding maritime surface-combat capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planned purchases include an additional 11 F-35 fighters for a budget of 1.67 billion, with orders planned next year. Belgium has already ordered 34 of the jets, with eight delivered so far and the entire fleet expected to be operational early 2031. High-intensity operations and new threats such as drones and hypersonic missiles make strengthening the air force component absolutely necessary, while the war in Ukraine has demonstrated the need for air power to avoid a stalemate, according to the report. Belgium currently lacks any ground-based missile defense, and will buy 10 NASAMS systems from Kongsberg for 2 billion, with orders in 2026, as a first step to gradually building up an anti-air capability. The aim will be to defend the entire territory, with a focus on sensitive infrastructure, according to the plan Belgium is home to Europes second-busiest port in Antwerp as well as NATO headquarters in Brussels. The government also intends to buy three long-range air-defense systems, with a budget of 2 billion and a first commitment planned in 2029. For the long-range systems, full interoperability with the air-defense capacities of the Netherlands must absolutely be guaranteed. While the report didnt go into details, Belgiums northern neighbor operates the U.S. Patriot system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget plans over the period also include 13.9 billion for the countrys land motorized capability, of which 6 billion are for combat maneuver. Belgium says its committed to providing NATO with a motorized medium brigade, a motorized light brigade and a joint motorized medium-combat reconnaissance battalion together with Luxembourg. The medium brigade will have around 7,800 troops and 2,700 vehicles of various types, with the goal of being able to field the completed brigade in 2030, particularly in a NATO context. To bolster the naval component of the armed forces, Belgium plans to buy a third anti-submarine warfare frigate, for a budget of 1.3 billion. Belgium and the Netherlands each ordered two ASW frigates from Damen in 2023, with the Netherlands saying last year it would double its order as part of increased defense spending . The country also plans to order a third MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone in 2027 for a budget of 254 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Belgian government in April agreed to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP in 2025 and maintain that level through to 2033, before an increase to 2.5%. After the NATO meeting in June, where allies agreed on core defense spending of 3.5%, the government will study the modalities of a potential increase, Francken said. Based on the current plans and economic outlook, Belgian defense spending would rise gradually to 16.5 billion in 2033 before a jump to 21.3 billion in 2034, according to the strategy report. Belgiums strategic goals for 2035 are to prepare for a high-intensity military conflict in a context of collective defense, protect its territory and to anticipate future warfare, according to the report. The government goal is to increase military personnel to 29,000 by the end of 2029 and rising to 34,500 personnel by the end of 2034, from 26,200 troops at the start of this year, while also more than tripling the number of civilian defense staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belgium additionally plans to expand its reserve force five-fold to 12,800 by the end of the planning period, as well as introduce a voluntary military service year for young adults in 2026, following the example of the Dutch service-year program started in 2023. Francken said the threat of war is now greater than at any time during the Cold War, and Belgium lacks readiness in all areas, including a population that is insufficiently informed and aware of the reality of military threats. The U.S. pivot to Asia means Europe is forced to assume a certain level of strategic autonomy, and Belgium argues for developing a European defense pillar within NATO, according to Francken. An end to the war in Ukraine could prompt Russia to test the solidarity of NATO, for example by invading a Baltic country or through a targeted missile attack on an alliance member, the latter of which could include Belgium, the strategy report said. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) Two representatives from across the country held a town hall in Greenville called Benefits over Billionaires. Californias Rep. Ro Khanna and Illinoiss Rep. Jonathan Jackson have teamed up with local faith leaders to talk with South Carolina residents and discuss the effects of the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill in Congress, including the cuts to Medicaid. The event promoted Black voter education and registration leading up to the 2026 midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event was held at the Mountain View Baptist Church on Cagle Street from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The town hall included a Q&A with Rep. Ro Khanna, as well as discussions and remarks from local leaders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada announced a recall of approximately 5.2 million above-ground swimming pools on Monday due to a drowning hazard. The pools, sold by Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup, are 48 inches or taller and have compression straps that can serve as footholds, allowing young children to access the water unattended. The recall only applies to pools that have a compression strap passing over the vertical support legs. The CPSC reported nine children, aged 22 months to 3 years, drowned between 2007 and 2022 in these pools in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Three additional incidents involved children accessing the pools via the compression strap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further deaths have been reported in Canada, where 266,000 pools were sold. The recalled pools, manufactured in China, were sold from 2002 to 2025 at retailers including Walmart, Target, Lowes, Costco, and Amazon, with prices ranging from $400 to over $1,000. The CPSC advises consumers to contact Bestway, Intex, or Polygroup for a free repair kit, which includes a rope to replace the compression strap. The recall number is 25-393. Consumers should ensure that children cannot access the pools without supervision and should drain them until repairs are made. For more information, please contact the manufacturer directly using the consumer contact information provided on the CPSC website. As the number of Texas measles cases tied to a West Texas outbreak slows to a trickle, South Plains public health director Zach Holbrooks remembers the call from a colleague in an adjacent county six months ago that would change both his and the states entire 2025. Katherine was the first person to let me know there was a case, said Holbrooks, referring to Lubbocks public health director, Katherine Wells. A Mennonite child from Seminoles Gaines County one of four counties under Holbrooks charge had been hospitalized in Lubbock with measles. So thats what got the communication rolling between me and Katherine and the state. From that first case reported on Jan. 29, the outbreak in West Texas would make up the largest single cluster of measles cases since the virus was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, killing two and spreading to multiple states. As of this week, 762 people have been infected, shattering the previous U.S. record from 2019, when an outbreak among the Orthodox Jewish community in New York City resulted in 649 cases. Nationwide, the United States is suffering its worst measles outbreak in nearly three decades with the West Texas outbreak making up more than half of the 1,309 cases nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its been more than a month since a new case has been reported in Gaines County, cases traced back to West Texas continue to be reported across the state in East Texas Lamar and Fannin counties, where this week saw the addition of nine new cases. Technically, Gaines and Lubbock counties are no longer considered active outbreak counties. The spread here seems to have run its course. They either got the vaccine, the booster or the real thing, said Dr. Wendell Parkey, chief of staff of Seminole Memorial Hospital. But as the region catches its breath and wait for the entire outbreak to end, health professionals like Holbrooks, Wells and Parkey, as well as the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), have all been considering what worked and what could be improved after working the first real infectious disease test, post COVID-19. Their answers included better reporting of cases at the patient level, more help with streamlining the testing process at the start and surprisingly, a more balanced treatment approach that was not solely fixated on vaccination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday, DSHS has spent more than $10.6 million in outreach, testing and resource support to the region. How the West Texas outbreak posed significant challenges After that first fateful phone call in late January between Wells and Holbrooks, the two looked not to the 2019 New York City outbreak as a guide in how to respond, but to an outbreak that occurred five years earlier, in Ohio. They both pored over a New England Journal of Medicine article that detailed how that 2014 outbreak impacted a largely unvaccinated Amish population but was mostly contained from spreading. In that case, two unvaccinated men who had traveled to the Philippines to perform relief work had returned to their community with measles. Eventually the outbreak would spread to 383 residents over nine counties before being declared over four months later. Like the West Texas outbreak, about 90% of those infected in Ohio were unvaccinated. I kind of wanted to just wrap my mind around how long, what kind of response are we going to be looking at? Holbrooks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surprisingly, the bulk of the spread in Texas occurred in a four month period, also. That timespan and the fact that Ohios involved a branch of Anabaptists, a 16th century Christian movement that believes strongly in separation of church and state, was helpful to Holbrooks. He grew up in Seminole, home to a large population of Mennonites, also a part of the Anabaptist denomination. Both Amish and Mennonite communities have no formal opposition to vaccination but many of their followers are unvaccinated, prompting Holbrooks to immediately seek out community leaders to help spread the word about the outbreak and that vaccination was the best weapon to keep measles from spreading. While the Ohio outbreak seemed a better comparison than the New York one because it occurred outside a large metro area, there were sharp differences between the 2014 cluster and that in Gaines, underscoring the unique challenges Texas health officials and beyond were up against. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Ohio, most measles cases were located in areas that reported an overall 95% vaccination, enough to ensure herd immunity. More importantly, the Ohio outbreak had occurred before the coronavirus pandemic, years before vaccination fatigue from a global pandemic set in. By comparison, Gaines Countys vaccination rate had dropped far below the herd immunity level, to 82% and the number of seventh graders who had filed a conscientious exemption for at least one vaccination with local schools, had grown from 2% in 2014, long before COVID-19,of seventh graders had a vaccination exemption. In 2024, it was nearly 20%. The Texas outbreak also involved a more mobile population. Seminole in Gaines County is located 35 miles from New Mexico and involved a largely unvaccinated population that traveled often long distances: to Mennonite communities in Mexico and Canada as well as those located in northeastern Texas. Their penchant for traveling made it harder for public officials to contain the spread, which eventually would lead to cases in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Illinois, Colorado and Mexico. Undercounting of measles cases To better track the spread and stop it, the state has worked with local providers and health departments to carefully document exactly how many measles infections occur. To do that, public health officials rely on local providers and hospitals to inform them when there is a case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, that number is likely an undercount because it is based on patients treated, not those who ride out the virus from their homes. Statistically, up to three measles cases per every 1,000 measles results in death. Gaines had two deaths, which would indicate the number of infections were far greater than the 441 reported. Not everybody who gets sick goes to the hospital, Holbrooks said. Among the more popular places for infected Mennonites to seek out health care was with Lubbock physician Ben Edwards, who treated hundreds of patients in a temporary clinic in Seminole. The Mennonites skepticism of mainstream medicine elevated Edwards who denounced vaccines and promoted vitamin A and budesonide, something more commonly used to treat asthma, as alternative prevention and treatment options to a medical hero for the religious community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the local hospital in Seminole regularly reported to Holbrooks office every measles patient it treated, information from local providers, such as Edwards, was tougher to come by. It was frustrating, Holbrooks said. Reporting cases quickly to local health authorities helps them respond more quickly to keep disease from spreading, as well as to keep cases from becoming more serious where hospitalization is necessary. Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune through a public information request hint at how Holbrooks office had to spend extra time retrieving that information from Edwards, who like all physicians are to report immediately to local or regional health officials measles cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen multiple news reports indicating that your clinic in Seminole has treated upwards of 300 individuals for measles in Gaines County, Holbrooks wrote Edwards in an April 14 letter, three months after the first measles case. After reviewing our records, we have not received any corresponding case reports from your office. Eventually Holbrooks office received a list of patient names and their dates of birth but few other details. Edward apologized for the lateness, attributing it to a communication error with a community translator who was assisting him with patients. She and I had a miscommunication, as I had instructed her to send that list to the local health authority but she thought I had sent it, Edwards told the Tribune. Once I was made aware of this oversight, it was immediately corrected. Lessons learned Public health officials measles messaging focused on getting the word out on vaccination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once he reached out to community leaders, Holbrooks worked to get public health messaging aired in both English and the Mennonites dialect of informal or Low German. Holbrooks had wanted to put more vaccination and field clinics closer to the Mennonites but quickly saw that doing so would attract too much attention. News of the outbreak brought a sudden influx of national reporters to tiny Seminole, forcing many locals to shy away from pop-up vaccination clinics where TV cameras and photographers were stationed. Eventually, Seminole health workers moved to a drive-through vaccination clinic through their local show barn, a local livestock exhibition facility used by youth groups, allowing more privacy for those interested in obtaining a measles-mumps-rubella or MMR vaccine. Even 75 miles north in Lubbock, Wells, the citys public health director, found that public vaccination spots, while often a hallmark of back-to-school events in August, were not as big a draw in the larger city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both she and Holbrooks recognized later that focusing on vaccination from the start could have sent a message that vaccines were the only option for treatment, possibly dissuading more susceptible residents or those with milder measles cases from asking questions or getting more help. We should have one more of a treatment clinic [model] and had more boots on the ground, working with churches to engage better with the Mennonite community, Wells said. These vaccine clinics could have been made less clinical and paired with other options, such as checking oxygen levels and passing out Pedialyte to help infected patients stay hydrated. Such an approach could have invited more visitors and conversation, resulting in better triaging of residents and letting them know to seek more help from the local hospitals, Wells said. We should have found a way to set up something that was free, kind of caring for people with measles, not saying youre like this infectious person, Wells said. From inside Seminole Memorial Hospital, Parkey said his facility was fending for itself as measles cases began arriving in force in February and March. He would have liked more outreach to the private medical care sector from state and local public health officials. We couldnt stop seeing people. Someone could [have] come out and talk to us, Parkey said, adding that his experience with public health during COVID was similar. No one talked to me. He wished he had more help with offering faster test results to patients. Most hospitals either contracted with local testing labs or sent patient samples for testing in the states lab in Austin. Parkey said the emphasis at the start of the outbreak on vaccines didnt change minds, especially among his Mennonite patients and he believes it may have hardened the vaccine skepticism of many. In both measles-related deaths, anti-vaccine outfits like Childrens Health Defense stoked doubt about whether the virus was the cause of the childrens fatalities or if it was something else. The groups founder, current U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came to Seminole after the death of a second child and met with Mennonite families. Although Kennedy is no longer with the group, his history of false statements about vaccines together with that personal visit reinforced for many the view that the government should stay out of individual health decisions particularly related to vaccines. Anywhere you have a bunch of people who dont believe in vaccines, youre going to see it, he said of downplaying measles. Wells admits that one of the lessons from COVID is that public health officials had a hard time learning to bend and pivot quickly in reaction to both the ever-morphing virus and the growing knowledge about who was at the greatest risk. By not communicating effectively and immediately when restrictions and advice changed, the public felt a constant whiplash of conflicting information and quickly began tuning out medical updates and vaccination alerts. As the number of measles cases began to taper in April and May, so did the messaging, a sign perhaps that public health is learning to pivot more quickly to a communitys reaction to an outbreak. Vaccination was and is still touted as the best preventive measure against becoming infected by local and state public health officials. But, by early April, three days after Kennedys Seminole visit, the state health agency posted guidance about vitamin A dosage in response to requests from infected residents for ways to ease symptoms. We kind of shifted to harm reduction, said Chris Van Deusen, spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services. We always want to give the message thats going to do the most good to people. If that means vaccination messaging takes a back seat, then we have to adapt. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 1315. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay gives an exclusive interview to Xinhua in Izmir, Turkiye, on July 7,2025. Turkiye's Aegean city of Izmir is pitching itself as a strategic partner for Chinese investors, offering climate-focused urban projects and incentives designed to attract international capital, Mayor Cemil Tugay has said.(Izmir Metropolitan Municipality/Handout via Xinhua) IZMIR, Turkiye, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's Aegean city of Izmir is pitching itself as a strategic partner for Chinese investors, offering climate-focused urban projects and incentives designed to attract international capital, Mayor Cemil Tugay has said. Izmir is one of 112 European cities selected under the European Union (EU)'s Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, with the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. As part of this effort, the city has developed an investment portfolio built around 10 key thematic areas, comprising 34 projects. The total investment amounts to approximately 20.1 billion euros (approximately 23.3 billion U.S. dollars), Tugay said in a recent interview. "I believe this portfolio offers a long-term investment environment for Chinese firms that creates both environmental and social impact," he said. Tugay also highlighted that Izmir provides a wide range of benefits, including tax exemptions, state-of-the-art infrastructure, R&D support, and streamlined export procedures. "Integrating Chinese companies' corporate social responsibility projects within this framework will not only improve the quality of life for residents but also send a strong message about our shared future," he emphasized. "For example, collaborations in areas such as nature-based education, green schoolyards, sustainable food initiatives, or social programs aimed at enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals in the city could be meaningful." In addition to economic collaboration, Izmir aims to strengthen mutual cultural promotion and thematic tourism projects, another key objective highlighted by Tugay. He emphasized the city's goal to increase the number of tourists from China by developing cultural tourism initiatives centered on the historical and cultural traces of the Silk Road. "As part of this effort, improving guidance services and infrastructure for Chinese tourists, along with joint promotional campaigns focused on gastronomic routes and thermal health tourism, are among our top priorities," Tugay said. The mayor said the city welcomed Chinese investors, companies, and people to Izmir -- not only as a destination for investment and trade but as a city where deep cultural ties and long-term partnerships can thrive. An aerial drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows the Port of Izmir, in Izmir, Turkiye. Turkiye's Aegean city of Izmir is pitching itself as a strategic partner for Chinese investors, offering climate-focused urban projects and incentives designed to attract international capital, Mayor Cemil Tugay has said. (Izmir Metropolitan Municipality/Handout via Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows the Port of Izmir in Izmir, Turkiye. Turkiye's Aegean city of Izmir is pitching itself as a strategic partner for Chinese investors, offering climate-focused urban projects and incentives designed to attract international capital, Mayor Cemil Tugay has said. (Izmir Metropolitan Municipality/Handout via Xinhua) Once a little meatpacking company formed in Virginia in 1936, Smithfield grew into one of the largest food producers in the United States. Specializing in pork, Smithfield helped elevate and popularize the Virginia ham and assisted in making bacon a key player in the classic American breakfast, along with processing all kinds of pork, pork-based breakfast meats, deli meats, and more. While Smithfield became a household name as a purveyor of fine and special meat products, it no longer makes a lot of those flagship products. The last genuine Smithfield ham is on display in a Virginia museum, for example, and a lot of its offerings, such as its staple American hot dog, is made by a Chinese company. But that stuff isn't even controversial in the long run; those are just the results of business decisions, made to stay competitive and relevant in the ever-contracting and increasingly global corporate food culture. Smithfield's practices, power, and company culture, however, have led to a shockingly high number and variety of scandals and controversies. Here are all the times that Smithfield has made headlines -- and not for the quality or deliciousness of its ham, bacon, and sandwich meats -- and invited scrutiny and government investigation. Read more: 7 Costco Meats You Should Buy And 5 You Should Avoid Smithfield Didn't Improve Its Animal Welfare Practices Pigs in crates with piglets - Jacqueline Nix/Getty Images Seemingly listening and responding to criticism from animal rights and food watchdog organizations, Smithfield declared in 2007 that it would stop using an animal growth method called gestation crates. As the world's largest pork processor in the world, Smithfield would have changed the industry standard once it completed its planned and announced phase out of the concept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cited by the Humane Society as particularly brutal to mother pigs, gestation crates consist of fencing placed around pregnant pigs that have been confined to areas about the size of their own bodies, fully limiting movement. Animal welfare groups praised the move, both at its outset and in 2018 when Smithfield Foods announced that it had almost entirely eliminated gestation crates in favor of a more hospitable farming environment where pigs could move around somewhat. The only hogs subjected to such conditions at that point, Smithfield said, were those awaiting insemination. But according to Direct Action Everywhere, which placed spies at multiple Smithfield-run pig farms in North Carolina from 2017 through 2018, Smithfield had lied. It was still readily and frequently using gestation crates, particularly to keep pregnant hogs and hogs that had recently delivered babies. Smithfield promised to launch an investigation into the matter, while also saying in a statement that the pigs in crates DxE reps saw and photographed were actually in slightly different crates, or weren't actually pregnant. Smithfield Was Accused Of Using Child Labor Kid carrying a pig on a farm - Krit Of Studio Omg/Getty Images Fast food has a child labor problem, and the industrial food production sector just might, too. Smithfield Packaged Meats is a division of Smithfield Foods, and it operates a production facility in St. James, Minnesota. The state's Department of Labor and Industry launched an investigation into the plant's labor practices, and discovered multiple objective violations of strict state laws regarding the employment of workers under the age of 18, committed over a two-year period. The analysis discovered that between April 2021 and April 2023, the facility utilized 11 minors, aged 14 to 17, three of whom started working for Smithfield at 14. Nine of those 11 underage workers served on shifts past the latest times allowed by state law, and all 11 were subject to work that made them more likely to suffer bodily injury. Smithfield denied any knowledge of the St. James plant illegally hiring children and violating labor laws. However, it did agree to be more conscientious of such legal stipulations in the future and paid a $2 million settlement to the state of Minnesota without having to admit any fault. Smithfield Engaged In Price-Fixing Package of Smithfield bacon - Scott Olson/Getty Images "Supply and demand" is probably the most basic tenet of economics: If a product is plentiful, it's harder to charge a premium for it. Rare things are by their nature scarce, and can command a higher price. Smithfield Foods controls a large percentage of the pork market in the United States, and the company was alleged to have colluded with other major players in its sector to limit supply in order to drive up demand, and then prices on its products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suits at the supplier, restaurant, and consumer level all sought to prove that Smithfield had behaved in such a manner between 2009 and 2022. It had produced plenty of pork, and had the capacity to produce enough to meet even the high demand of the general U.S. market, but it had consciously and deliberately held back a large amount of product from distribution so it could claim scarcity with clients and charge them more. Smithfield never admitted culpability, but settled all of the suits with giant payouts. It paid out $83 million to plaintiffs in the direct purchase and ingredient supplier case, $42 million to restaurant supply companies, and $75 million in a class-action consumer case. Smithfield Allegedly Generates A Lot Of Pollution A bunch of pigs on a farm - ArtbyPixel/Shutterstock Abiding by environmental law isn't just a legal requirement for large companies that make and process things, it's also terrific for a conglomerate's reputation and public image. It's a very marketable notion to be viewed by the world as a good company, one that's doing right in terms of ecology and environmental factors. In the 2020s, Smithfield Foods told the world that even though it variously slaughters millions of hogs each year to acquire the raw materials for a variety of pork products of various levels of processing, it operated in a fashion that was generally healthy for the planet, specifically undertaking measures with an eye toward resource sustainability. In 2021, Food and Water Watch, Pennsylvania Farmers Union, and other food industry and consumer interest groups filed a 47-page complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that Smithfield's positive environmental record and sustainability claims were patently false. Accusing the pork company of misleading customers and potential customers with mistruths, the complaint pointed out that Smithfield is potentially the U.S.'s third-biggest source of water pollution, and that in 2019 alone it was cited for environmental law violations on 66 separate occasions. Smithfield Faced A Record Fine For Pollution In The 1990s Two pigs on a pig farm - BushAlex/Shutterstock In August 1997, Smithfield Foods, by way of two wholly-owned divisions, set a new corporate record in the United States -- but not in a good way. The U.S. District Court, out of Norfolk, Virginia, issued a $12.6 million fine against the corporate entity, the largest ever ordered due for violating the Clean Water Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smithfield Packing Company and Gwaltney of Smithfield both operate pig slaughtering and processing facilities in the town of Smithfield, Virginia. Those meat factories feature in-house treatment operations to manage the tremendous waste created in meat processing. In May 1997, a court determined that the companies didn't employ proper pollution-reduction technology for at least five years, and therefore expelled tremendous amounts of waste and wastewater into the nearby Pagan River, James River, and Chesapeake Bay. Samples of the water detected significant levels of coliform, a bacteria that can make people get very sick, and which is found in the intestinal waste and feces of animals like pigs. Altogether, Smithfield-owned companies were found to have exceeded dumping limits for coliform, phosphorus, and other dangerous substances. The company was also guilty of faking documents and getting rid of unflattering water quality test results. Smithfield Had To Recall About 11,000 Pounds Of Pepperoni Margherita-branded salami - Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Smithfield Foods does business through a number of other names, including the Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation, which operates numerous subsidiaries, including Nebraska-based Margherita Meats. In December 2021, that division was subject to a deli meat recall that affected millions of potential customers when the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced an issue with the company's pepperoni. The U.S. Department of Defense conducted a regular safety test on a sample of Margherita Meats' ready to eat and packed pepperoni, and it came up positive for Bacillus cereus, a foodborne illness that presents with a series of particularly egregious symptoms. The toxins made by the microorganism can lead to vomiting and diarrhea in those who eat contaminated food, and it's especially hard on the immune-compromised. Smithfield, along with the FSIS recalled 8-ounce size shrink-wrapped containers of unsliced product labeled Margherita Pepperoni produced under a single lot code in June 2021. No illnesses were reported to Smithfield or the government by the time that the recall was announced, six months after the meat entered distribution, but 10,900 pounds of the processed meat had to go back to Margherita. Smithfield Recalled 93 Tons Of Pre-Cooked Bacon Boxes of Smithfield fully cooked bacon - Scott Olson/Getty Images Smithfield Foods is the parent company of Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation, which provides supermarkets around the country with fully packed, sealed, and preserved meat-based items, like bacon that has already been cooked and processed into a shelf-stable and ready-to-eat form. One of those products is bacon crumbles, and it's all the same stuff no matter whose name is on the label, be it Golden Crisp Patrick Cudahy Precooked Bacon Topping, Smithfield Precooked Bacon Topping, or Member's Mark Fully Cooked Bacon Crumbles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May 2022, Smithfield recalled five different permutations of its bacon bits and crumbles, all sold in five-pound packages and all produced around the same times and in the same facility. After one customer called the company to let them know about the discovery of a metallic object in one of its products, Smithfield recalled a grand total of 185,000 pounds of bacon topping, all of it processed between February 21 and February 23, 2022, and March 3 to March 5, 2022. The bacon had made its way into grocery stores in 18 states in every region of the contiguous U.S. Fortunately, at the time of the recall, no injuries from the accidental consumption of metal had been relayed to Smithfield or the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Smithfield Slaughterhouses Were So Smelly That The Courts Got Involved Hog farm manure storage lagoon - Terah vdMeer/Shutterstock Large-scale hog farming operations generated a tremendous volume of effluent, or hog urine and feces. In eastern North Carolina, a significant hotbed of hog farming on facilities operated by Smithfield Foods subsidiary Murphy-Brown and other companies, lawyers in 2013 began building cases regarding the nuisance and health concerns associated with the lagoons where the effluent is stored awaiting conversion to fertilizer. Attorneys would eventually file 26 lawsuits involving 500 plaintiffs who lived nearby Smithfield farms seeking financial damages to make up for the odors they endured from waste and hog carcasses, as well as nausea, headache, and insect and buzzard investigations. "We've said from the beginning that we believe these lawsuits are without merit," Smithfield Foods corporate affairs director Don Butler told the News and Observer. "Nobody's arguing that there's not odors associated with livestock production, but it is a safe and manageable system with negligible odors when properly managed." One of the largest cases resulted in a $473.5 million judgment in 2018 against Smithfield operations, with the state of North Carolina capping at $94 million going to six pig farm neighbors. Another case resulted in residents who lived near hog-farming facilities receiving anywhere from $100 to $75,000 in retributive payments, while a judge in Raleigh tossed out another due to a lack of evidence that the nuisance was so great as to justify Smithfield having to make financial amends. Smithfield Was Implicated In A Human Trafficking Scandal A farmer tends to pigs in a barn - Narong Khueankaew/Shutterstock Circle Four Farms in Utah is among Smithfield Foods' most prolific farming operations. From 2005 to 2007, it contracted with Global Horizons to find workers, and that recruiter brought in a group of rice field workers from rural Thailand, lured to the U.S. with promises of employment at a wage that would elevate them out of subsistence-level farming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laced with predatory actions, the whole thing was a scam at worst, or, as it was called by an investigation by the U.S. federal government, a human trafficking operation. Global Horizons, on behalf of Smithfield, told the Thai laborers that they'd be paid $69,660 over the span of three years, but they first had to pay an exorbitant recruitment fee of $14,516. Once they arrived in the U.S., Global Horizons confiscated passports, preventing their free movements or returning to Thailand. And while they were paid the contracted amounts at first, many noticed that Global Horizons stopped paying them, or ceased transferring their paychecks to their families in Thailand. Often, they were made to sleep in rooms with security guards posted outside without proper heating or cooling, making for brutally hot summers and frigid winters. The employees say they also were not fed enough, and resorted to trapping birds to cook and feed themselves. "We were slaves," one former employee told the Deseret News. Coronavirus Majorly Impacted Smithfield Operations Smithfield Sioux Falls entry arch - Ken Wolter/Shutterstock Some businesses did just fine amidst COVID-19, while others economically suffered due to shutdown orders and shifting consumer habits. Smithfield Foods continued to procure and produce meat products for homebound Americans through its network of plants, including large units in South Dakota and Wisconsin. Those plants reportedly didn't institute distancing rules or other safety measures to protect its employees from the spread of the very virulent virus in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2020. By mid-April, the Smithfield site in Sioux Falls was the single biggest COVID-19 infection zone in the U.S. Without a stay-at-home order yet in place, 644 employees and 135 of their closest contacts were discovered to have caught the virus. That made up half of all South Dakota infections at that point, while one of those workers became the first person in South Dakota to die from COVID-19. Over in the Patrick Cudahy plant, a Smithfield-run meat processor in Cudahy, Wisconsin, the pandemic hit hard in March 2020. In the wake of an outbreak, management didn't offer masks or protective gear or allow workers to not work in close proximity to one another and strongly discouraged self-quarantining by those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, statistics about the rapid infection rate were reportedly hidden by Smithfield representatives. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout. The 30 students entering the WWAMI program this year pose for a group photo during orientation at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. The 30 students represent the biggest cohort in Alaska's WWAMI program, which enables prospective physicians to start their medical educations at UAA and complete their degrees at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. New Alaska WWAMI classes begin their programs in July of each year. (Photo provided by the University of Washington) A record 30 students have started their medical education this month in a special multistate collaborative program, the University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Washington announced. The 30 students this month entered the WWAMI program, named after the first letters of the states that participate through universities: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The program allows students to begin their medical education at universities in their home states at UAA, in the case of Alaska and complete their work toward medical degrees at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WWAMI program offers Alaskas only in-state education toward a medical degree. There is no medical school in Alaska. Students in the program typically spend their first 18 months taking classes and doing training work at UAA before moving onto studies at University of Washington. There are other options, including an option to complete the entire program in Alaska. The milestone of 30 Alaska students starting their WWAMI education marks a turnaround in fortunes for the program. In 2019, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed entirely eliminating state funding for the Alaska portion of the WWAMI partnership. At the time, he characterized WWAMI as a waste of state money. Three years later, Dunleavy took the opposite position. He proposed expanding WWAMI funding so that the program could expand from 20 students from each cohort year, which was the enrollment at the time, to 30 per cohort year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature in 2023 approved a funding increase that allowed 25 students to start the WWAMI program last year and 30 this year. The WWAMI programs history dates back to 1971, when nine students enrolled in preliminary courses at the University of Alaska Fairbanks arranged in partnership with the University of Washington. They then completed their education in Seattle. Montana and Idaho entered the program in 1972, and Wyoming entered it in 1996, according to a history compiled by UAA. Alaska WWAMI relocated from UAF to UAA in 1989. This article has been updated to include that there is an option to complete the program inside Alaska. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BOSTON (SHNS) In public schools and summer camps across Massachusetts, students cannot use sunscreen without a doctors note. Ive personally had to look at a student in the eyes and refuse them sunscreen on field day because they did not have a permission slip and doctors orders, Katie Labadia, a mother of four from Scituate, told the Joint Committee on Education on Monday. Labadia said it was no quick task to get physician notes for each of her four children to be allowed to bring sunscreen to school and apply it themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, my pediatrician had to write, not email, a prescription for sunscreen, including the brand and ingredients. Then my children had to demonstrate in front of the school nurse how to carry and use sunscreen on themselves. And finally, that satisfied the current statewide protocol around applying sunscreen that took multiple weeks to schedule and complete, she said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug, and therefore so do almost all schools. Similarly to how students need to go to the nurses office if they want ibuprofen, they also cannot bring their own bottle of sunscreen to school without a doctors permission, and even then must visit the nurse to use it. This was the case across the country until states individually began changing their laws. Now, 29 states have passed laws to explicitly allow students to carry and apply their own sun protectant, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Utah and Washington. The committee here heard testimony Monday on legislation (S 334 / H 619 / H 600) that would eliminate the burdensome restrictions on students and campers using sunscreen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The movement has been led by parents and dermatologists. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood will double your risk of melanoma in the future, and five regular sunburns will double your risk of melanoma, said Dr. Abigail Waldman, a skin cancer surgeon at Brigham and Womens Hospital who testified in support of the bill on behalf of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Association. She continued, Chronic sun exposure, UV exposure, tanning all also increase your risk of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers in the future. So I think most of us would not send our kids out today without proper UV protection. Waldman said that the ultraviolet radiation (UV) index in May and June, when kids are still at school and going outside for recess, is as high on average as it was Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Health Organizations UV index high for Monday, July 21, was 8 on a scale of 11+, which falls into the very high category and indicates a very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Deb Girard, executive director of Impact Melanoma, called the bill common sense. Were not talking about a high risk drug, she said, adding that the bill allows for reasonable guidelines, such as parental permission and non-aerosol forms only of sunscreen. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and much of the damage begins in childhood. Lets give our kids the tools they need to stay healthy, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation has been filed since at least 2017, with various sponsors in the House and Sen. Julian Cyr of Provincetown as its lead champion in the Senate. The Senate version of bill has been consistently sent to dead-end study orders, without ever receiving a favorable report from the Education Committee. Asked why the bill hasnt been able to get momentum on Beacon Hill, Cyr replied that he hopes for traction this session. Im walking outside right now, and particularly in warmer months, I always wear SPF, particularly on my face, as most people should, Cyr told the News Service in a phone call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know how important it is for young people and all walks of life to get outside and spend time in nature and recess, he said. So sunscreen application just seems like a basic health and safety measure that should be available to our students, so thats why this is a common sense bill, and something Im hoping well finally get a little traction on. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In the 2019 legislative session, the first after Hurricane Harvey destroyed thousands of homes and killed more than 80 people in the Houston area, Texas lawmakers promised to shore up the state's emergency infrastructure. One proposal both chambers resoundingly approved, House Bill 3022, would have let Texans sign up to receive local emergency alerts while obtaining or renewing a driver's license. Cities and counties could then contract with the Department of Public Safety to obtain the sign-up data for their warning systems. Local entities have historically struggled to secure voluntary sign-ups for these systems, which include WarnCentralTexas, and lawmakers believed the bill would help fix that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill died on Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. In a veto statement, the Republican governor said he appreciated the authors good intentions but that localities would be better positioned to collect constituents contact information. To ensure that the local emergency warning systems use data that is accurate, updated, and used appropriately, local governmentsnot the Stateshould be in charge of gathering and managing this type of data, Abbott wrote on June 15, 2019. Now, after flash floods earlier this month killed at least 135 Texans in the Hill Country, the bills original authors are hoping Abbott will give the proposal a second look. They say the legislation could have helped warnings reach more people, potentially saving lives during disasters over the past six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts who spoke with the American-Statesman agree that the proposal is worth revisiting. One life lost that could've been saved is a tragedy, said Timothy Sellnow, a Clemson University professor who researches crisis and risk communication. A system in place that saves one life is worthwhile. The Texas Legislature is convening for a 30-day special session beginning Monday, and Abbott has added improvements to early warning systems and emergency communications to the agenda. Austin Democratic state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, who was the Travis County judge when the original bill was filed, has refiled the bill as Senate Bill 25 this session. She reintroduced a bill similar to HB 3022 in 2023, but it never received a hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the opt-in system would have been especially useful in the unincorporated areas of Travis County that were hardest-hit by deadly flooding July 5. We have some areas of terrain that are super tricky to serve, so you're not likely to get a firefighter showing up at your door to warn you, Eckhardt said. State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Missouri City Democrat who coauthored the 2019 bill, also told the Statesman hell try again. The veto really does show that our state has not done everything that we can to keep our citizens safe, Reynolds said. Texas response is always hopes and prayers, and I just don't think that is sufficient. Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, reads a proclamation at the 4th Annual Texas HBCU Democracy Schools Conference at Huston-Tillotson University Friday April 4, 2025. Students from HBCUs across Texas gathered at the conference to network and attend events about civic engagement. How the bill would work The idea for the 2019 proposal came from a Fort Bend County commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Hurricane Harvey, former commissioner Ken DeMerchant found residents were inundated with conflicting messages, consumed false information online or received delayed warnings. In search of a solution, the suburban Houston-area county purchased a system to send texts, emails and robocalls during emergencies. But they faced a problem: it didn't have any of the residents' information, DeMerchant said in a 2019 legislative hearing. At DeMerchants request, Fort Bend County Republican state Rep. Rick Miller proposed HB 3022, which would require drivers license applications to include a checkbox for emergency alert opt-ins. Its potential cost to the state was estimated to be negligible in multiple analyses by the Legislative Budget Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was such a no-brainer, said Miller, the bills primary author, who is now a Sugarland City Council member. It was hard to accept that (Abbott) would veto something as simple and useful as that could have been. Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, who sponsored the measure, did not respond to the Statesmans request for comment. Keri Stephens, a University of Texas professor who studies mobile communication, said the variations in warning systems between regions could complicate statewide signups. My big fear would be that you set peoples' expectations that there is a system in their local area and there might not be, she said. Upton County sheriff deputies do search and recovery work on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Ingram, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, after the Fourth of July flood. Boosting emergency preparedness Many cities and counties operate their own warning systems. For Austin residents, that system is WarnCentralTexas, which covers 10 counties in the Capital Area Council of Governments region. In Kerr County, its CodeRED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents can voluntarily opt in to receive text, call or email alerts. Local governments can also contract with service providers to obtain the phone numbers of people within their jurisdictions. Martin Ritchey testified in favor of HB 3022 when it was proposed in 2019. Hes worked extensively on WarnCentralTexas as the homeland security director for CAPCOG, which runs the system. He said only about 8 percent of residents have signed up voluntarily for WarnCentralTexas alerts. After years of outreach and investment in contracts with cell phone providers, officials have built a database of roughly 1.6 million numbers, covering about 75% of the capital-area population in total. But Ritchey said HB 3022 would have increased that reach further. We would have had more contacts in the system, and, by virtue of having those contacts, we would have had folks notified about these hazards, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ritchey also noted that many local governments dont have the money or resources that the state has to build up their lists. In contrast to these opt-in systems, the Federal Emergency Management Agency uses its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System to send National Weather Service warnings, Amber Alerts and other emergency notifications via mobile carrier. IPAWS alerts reach all cell phones within a certain distance of a targeted cell phone tower, regardless of whether their owners have signed up to receive them, and local governments can also use this system to reach people in their jurisdiction. In part because IPAWS alerts are loud and not affected by do not disturb settings, they are considered the gold standard in emergencies, Sellnow said. Yet systems like WARNCentralTexas are useful because they let officials tailor warnings to home addresses, making them more precise than IPAWS alerts, Ritchey said. They also reach people regardless of whether theyre at home, potentially allowing them to prepare or to warn friends and relatives who may be in danger. Jessica Powell assists her mother and sister, Robin and Wren Bates, in recovering belongings on Monday, July 7, 2025, after a weekend flash flood ravaged homes in Leander, Texas. Furthermore, people who opt into these alert systems are more likely to heed the warnings they receive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even a terse message at least puts them on high alert, and, in our experience, makes them more ready to respond, Sellnow said. Jeannette Sutton, a professor at the University at Albany and an expert on alerts and warnings, said that the sign-up mechanism in the bill would have made it significantly easier and cheaper for local governments to solicit phone numbers. Sutton added that with higher participation in an opt-in system, emergency managers could use that channel for less urgent alerts and conserve IPAWS alerts for the most high-risk situations. It is another tool to reach people when they're in danger, and we need all the tools that we can get right now, she said. Limitations to phone-based warning systems Its difficult to know what difference the sign-up mechanism in HB 3022 would have made in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cell service is already spotty in the mostly-rural Hill Country, and disasters can further disrupt wireless networks. Officials have focused on the need for sirens in Kerr County, where the rapidly-rising Guadalupe River swept away campers, some of whom did not have cell phones with them. Texas state agencies thrice denied the countys requests to fund such a system, Hearst Newspapers reported. In the Austin area, even people who received alerts from the weather service or Travis County say they werent sufficiently warned about the impending danger. Some didnt understand the seriousness of the floods, and others received text messages more than an hour after waters had receded, the Statesman reported. Experts stressed that text-based warning systems should be used in conjunction with other tools and preventative measures. Opt-in systems are most effective when paired with instruction about disasters and how to respond to warnings, Sellnow said, making education a crucial responsibility of local governments. People unfamiliar with certain disasters such as out-of-town visitors caught in the Hill Country flooding may be at higher risk during emergencies. And finally, theres the problem of alert fatigue. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice told NBC News he didnt hear the early morning flood warning because he had silenced his cell phones weather alerts, and a recent study shows Texans turn off phone alerts more than residents of any other state. As Texas considers changes, Eckhardt said officials should also rethink how alerts are used. We need to take a look at how were utilizing these alerts and only use them for truly property- and life-threatening circumstances, she said. And also, we need to educate our population to understand the warnings. Abbott declined to specify whether he would consider a similar bill during the special session. However, his spokesperson, Andrew Mahaleris, said the governor looks forward to working with the Legislature in the upcoming special session to improve early warning systems and strengthen emergency communications in flood-prone areas. In the meantime, Ritchey is urging people to keep their alerts on and to sign up for local warning systems. You could be the only one receiving that emergency information to protect your family and people that you're around, Ritchey said. So I would encourage people to think more broadly about what these messages may mean for them and for those around them. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Could a bill Abbott vetoed in 2019 have saved lives in Texas floods? UPDATE: Johnson City Police arrest woman in connection with Binghamton Police Chief Joe Zikuskis suspension. 44-year-old Susan Rice is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, trespassing and harassment. JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Binghamton Police Chief Joe Zikuski has been placed on administrative leave after being present at an altercation that took place in Johnson City on Friday night. The dispute involved Zikuskis girlfriend and her neighbors on Ackley Avenue. Zikuski was off duty at the time and can be seen in a video taken by the neighbors trying to remove his girlfriend from the situation. During the confrontation, the woman can be heard yelling, We are the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fight started as a verbal argument, before escalating when Zikuskis girlfriend went on the neighbors porch and began to physically attack them. One of the neighbors can be heard in the video saying he is a minor. Johnson City Police responded to the incident. Chief Zikuski has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending a review into factors surrounding the incident. Assistant Chief John Ryan will serve as Acting Police Chief. Mayor Jared Kraham issued a statement yesterday announcing the suspension and saying that J.C. Police are handling the investigation and will be filing charges against the woman. Kraham says that despite the fact that the woman is not a city employee, he is troubled by the fact that she suggested that she was above the law because of her relationship with the Police Chief. GoFundMe started for Owego ICE detainee 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 WIVT - News 34. Microplastics, about the size of a grain of rice, have been found in Oregon waterways, and have been shown to cause damage to human and animal cells. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) The average human brain now contains enough tiny plastic fragments to equal the weight of a plastic spoon, a 50% increase in the past decade. Those sobering statistics, included in a February study from researchers at the University of New Mexico, spurred a bipartisan, bicameral and bicoastal congressional team to introduce legislation Thursday to require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to study the health impacts of microplastics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum and Sen. Jeff Merkley, both Oregon Democrats, and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Greg Steube, both Florida Republicans, introduced the Microplastics Safety Act. Bynum told the Capital Chronicle its an example of the type of low-hanging fruit she aims to tackle as a first-term congresswoman in the minority party. U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat who represents Oregons 5th Congressional District, sits for a portrait at her new office in Oregon City on Jan. 28, 2025. (Photo by Rian Dundon/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The (Trump) administration has indicated an interest in making America healthy again, so this was the perfect opportunity to marry the interests of Oregonians with the interests of the administration, Bynum said. The three-page bill would require Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to identify the major causes of microplastic exposure and study the impact of exposure to microplastics on childrens health, hormones, cancer, chronic illness and reproductive health. Kennedy would need to submit a report to Congress within a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott, the chairman of the U.S. Senates Special Committee on Aging, said in a statement that he was especially concerned about the long-term harm microplastics pose to older Americans. The University of New Mexico study found a clear correlation between people diagnosed with dementia and plastic brain tissue from dementia patients had up to 10 times as much plastic than brain tissue from others but it couldnt determine a causal link. The Microplastics Safety Act is a critical step toward understanding the full scope of these risks, Scott said. As exposure continues to grow through food, water, air, and everyday products, this legislation will help ensure were guided by sound science to protect public health and our next generation. Merkley added that microplastics threaten human health and the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of us have been taught the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Too often, the reality for plastics is really the three Bs buried, burned, and borne out to sea as dangerous chemicals are seeping into our soil, air, and water, he said in a statement. Bynum said its not a coincidence that the bills first four sponsors hail from coastal states: People who live near the coast, or by rivers or lakes, are more likely to see large plastic washing up on beaches. This is a real issue that people can see every day in their communities, and theyre also probably a lot more focused on making sure that those waterways and those areas of recreation and areas where we are harvesting our food, are clean, are safe to eat and are not environmentally contaminated, she said. She also hopes that a federal study will help more people understand the reasoning behind policies like Oregons laws to phase out the use of plastic bags, straws and disposable tableware. As a state representative, Bynum voted for 2019 laws to ban single-use plastic grocery bags and prohibit restaurants from giving plastic straws to customers who dont ask for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics decried those bans as virtue signaling and symptoms of a nanny state government. Bynum said she hopes that having more information and research from the federal government will help more people see the value of limiting plastic, similar to how the Food and Drug Administration provides guidance on how much water to drink or what constitutes a healthy balance of protein and vegetables. She said it may be hard to trust the results of a report from a department led by Kennedy, whose stances on vaccines and fluoride in drinking water have alarmed scientists and public health officials. But Bynum said that isnt a reason to stop trying to help improve health and welfare. Ultimately, I think it is important for us to ask the question about what microplastics are doing to our bodies and to our environment, and we should continue pushing on that, whoevers in charge of the administration, she said. Like the SC Daily Gazette, Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. The latest appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis, state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, was sworn into office amid questions about his prospects of winning next year's election because his selection was opposed by President Trump. Ingoglia, an ally of DeSantis, dismissed the idea that he would prove short-term in the $140,000-a-year Florida Cabinet post. The former state senator said he was confident that Republican primary voters would choose him next year over Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who Trump has endorsed for CFO. Theres going to be plenty of time to campaign, Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican, said after taking the oath of office July 21 in a ceremony in the Capitols Cabinet meeting room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know two things in politics: The voters will not reward you unless you do a good job, and the second thing is, usually, like 99% of the time, in the Republican primary, the more conservative candidate wins, he added. Although Gruters is hardly a moderate, he did, like Trump, support the recreational marijuana measure on last years ballot, which failed to win the backing of at least 60% of voters. DeSantis and Ingoglia were opposed and the governor spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money against it. GOP battle brewing for CFO Gruters has been a longtime Trump ally and campaign leader in Florida and recently brought on the presidents co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, and Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, for his CFO campaign. LaCivita labeled Ingoglia a never Trumper. Gruters and Ingoglia are both former Florida Republican Party chairs. But while Gruters was deeply in the Trump camp, Ingoglia backed DeSantis in his failed 2024 presidential bid, setting the stage for a divisive GOP primary next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for now, Ingoglia said he is setting his sights on filling the CFO post, vacated since the April election to Congress of Panama Citys Jimmy Patronis, who had served since 2017. Ingoglia said that among his first tasks would be to get rolling audits of local governments, which were approved by the GOP-dominated Legislature in a state-level version of the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He said it was important to make sure were spending responsibly at the local level. Ingoglia, who critics once dismissed as a lackey of the insurance industry, pledged he would make sure that were holding insurance companies accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said rate increases have been more modest lately in Florida but that when it comes to paying claims, if theyre slow-rolling stuff, were going to have conversations with them. Ingoglia's critics don't expect a watchdog House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa doubts that Ingoglia will be much of a watchdog as CFO, a job that oversees the states finances and regulates the insurance industry. Ron DeSantis is appointing a Tallahassee politician more loyal to him than to the people, Driskell said. I believe Blaise Ingoglia will talk tough but continue the tradition of giving the insurance companies everything they ask for. Ingoglia, 54, owns homebuilding company Hartland Homes, and lists his net worth at $28.3 million on his most recent financial disclosure. Ingoglia, a New York native, had been in the Legislature since 2014 and is a ranked poker player with more than $400,000 in winnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serving in both the House and Senate, hes been a DeSantis loyalist. How to get ahead in Florida government? Be a DeSantis loyalist Ingoglia sided with the governor on immigration and redistricting, breaking ranks with legislative Republican leadership. Ingoglia also spearheaded legislation that made it more difficult for public sector unions to operate and guided the governors election law changes, imposing tighter restrictions on ballot drop boxes and absentee voting. Hes been a fighter, every time theres been a fight hes run towards the fire and hes done what he told the voters hed do, DeSantis said of Ingoglia at the swearing-in. Is bond back? Once rivals, Trump and DeSantis deepen bond with shared targeting of undocumented migrants Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump-DeSantis' long strange trip DeSantis-Trump relationship? It's complicated DeSantis has now appointed two of the states three Cabinet officers. Attorney General James Uthmeier, who had been the governors chief of staff and presidential campaign manager, was picked to succeed fellow Republican Ashley Moody, who DeSantis named to the U.S. Senate. She replaced Marco Rubio, now Trumps secretary of state and national security adviser. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is the only member of the elected Florida Cabinet who was actually put there by voters. Another vacancy at the top of state government, the post of lieutenant governor, also played into the Ingoglia ceremony. Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, who DeSantis named president of Florida International University, was in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And working the crowd of well-wishers and lobbyists for the insurance and banking industry at the event was Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, widely expected to soon be named lieutenant governor by DeSantis. Collins could be positioned as a DeSantis-backed candidate for governor next year possibly setting up another GOP primary fight with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, who Trump has endorsed as Floridas next governor. Lets not put the cart before the horse, Collins said when asked if hed run for governor. Theres a lot of things that have to happen, none of those I have a say in right now. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Blaise Ingoglia sworn-in as CFO, with Trump-fueled fight looming Residents and management representatives of Forest View Mobile Park Home in Blue Island agreed to meet late this week to discuss options for residents as the city demands the mobile park home be shut down. A group of mobile home park residents, who rent their trailers or land, said Thursday they want to keep the park zoned as residential and find new management, but the city said the park is not zoned for residential purposes. Some residents started receiving 5-day eviction notices and immediate possession orders July 12, and resident Joe Cervantes said the property managements attorney said only 10 residential units out of more than 66 are up to date on rent payment and qualify for housing assistance, which residents protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cervantes said he hopes to prove more residents have paid rent before the meeting. He said many residents told him they have proof they are up to date on rent or, if they havent paid, its because they dont trust management. What the majority of the surveys have been saying is that (the park manager) has been taking cash from them and promising them that the trailer they moved into would get work done on it, and they moved into these crappy homes that probably should have never been moved into, Cervantes said. The planned meeting is part of a larger legal battle between the city and Forest View Mobile Home Park Inc., Mer-Car Corporation, Chicago Title Land Trust and Steven Dukatt, president Mer-Car Corporation. The city sued the defendants in August 2024 after it issued the property 12 citations for violating city code, including unlawful operation of a mobile home park without a license, failure to have plumbing, electrical and heating installations in line with city code and failure to dispose garbage so that the park has become a nuisance and menace to health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city also alleged its Police Department had been called to Forest View 184 times over a time period of about 5 1/2 months in 2024, for things like criminal damage to property, suicide and domestic violence. The city also alleged the Fire Department has been called on 29 occasions to assist with fires, drug overdoses, medical traumas, domestic violence injuries, animal bites and other medical emergencies. In April, both the property management and the city agreed in a consent decree that the citations would be dropped if management agreed to certain terms, but the city alleges management did not meet any of its terms by the June deadline. Representatives for the propertys management agreed in the decree to remediate the property, including demolishing vacant mobile homes, relocating squatters, keeping the property buildings secure and maintaining waste disposal and lawn maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The management also agreed to market the property for sale to a purchaser that would use it for commercial or industrial purposes more consistent with the current condition of the property and will facilitate the rehoming of trailer park residents by June 3. The decree also said management, at closing, would pay the city current water use charges, with a maximum amount due being $350,000. The city returned to court in June, stating the defendants violated the decree, and a judge subsequently required management to respond to the citys claims by Aug. 21. Management was also ordered to pay the city $350,000, as stated in the consent decree, by July 17. Blue Island Administrator Thomas Wogan said the city received the payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wogan said the property owners must take responsibility for a situation of their own making and pay the residents rehousing costs. The involved parties are also now required to meet with the residents lawyer, which is also slated to occur this week. Wogan said Friday the meeting was still being scheduled. Nothing has been finalized but if the management and residents have a meeting and request the citys presence, we will attend, Wogan said. Cervantes said Friday residents are willing to do whatever they can to have a voice in next steps and is working to gather residents to share their stories at the meeting. There are a lot of residents who are anxious to know what is going to happen next and who do we pay August rent to, Cervantes said. BARCELONA, Spain, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The future prospects for tourism between China and Spain are bright, as the number of people travelling in both directions continues to rise, Maria Llinares, representative in Beijing for the Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespana), said on Monday. According to the representative, Spain welcomed 647,801 Chinese tourists in 2024, an increase of about 66 percent compared to the previous year, while 157,000 Spaniards visited China, marking a recovery of over 90 percent of the pre-pandemic figure. In an interview with Xinhua on Monday, Llinares pointed out that visitor numbers in 2025 have already surpassed those recorded during the same period in 2019, before tourism between the two countries came to a halt during the pandemic. "The outlook is positive," Llinares said, adding that the continued evolution of the sector will depend on the performance of economy, connectivity, and how well Spain adapts to the increasingly demanding Chinese market in terms of tourism marketing. Regarding connectivity, Turespana reports that the number of direct flights between China and Spain has significantly increased this summer, nearly doubling the 2019 level. For Llinares, the surge in connectivity is one of the main factors behind the strong performance of Chinese tourism to Spain, but she also emphasized the importance of sustained tourism marketing efforts to reinforce Spain's position as a preferred destination. Max Holloway added another epic chapter to his storied MMA career Saturday night, successfully defending his BMF title with a unanimous decision victory over longtime rival Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 318 in Louisiana. The 33-year-old from Waianae, delivered a vintage performance, avenging two prior losses to Poirier and becoming the first fighter in UFC history to defend the prestigious BMF belt. This sport is about moments, Holloway said following the bout. Im glad I got this one. Now we see what happens next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What could be next is a rematch with Ilia Topuria, the current lightweight champion and the only fighter to knock Holloway out. Topuria has taunted Holloway with a replica BMF belt ever since their featherweight title bout in 2024, which the Georgian won. Since then, Topuria vacated the featherweight title and claimed gold at 155 pounds. If its Ilia, its Ilia, Holloway said. The guy he just beat [Charles] Oliveira, and Ive got history with a bunch of the top guys at lightweight. There are a lot of fun fights for me there. UFC President Dana White praised Holloways performance and momentum. I think hes in a great position right now, White said. Hes got the BMF title. Hes ranked No. 4 in the world. Anything is possible for Max right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked whether Topuria deserves a true BMF title shot after his antics, Holloway didnt hold back. For sure, he said. But come on, walking around with a BMF belt that wasnt on the line? Thats crazy. You dont see Islam [Makhachev] walking around with a belt after beating [Alexander] Volkanovski twice. Get over it, brother. After successfully defending BMF title with a unanimous decision win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 318, what's next for "Blessed"? It appears that a shot at redemption against lightweight champ Ilia Topuria has traction https://t.co/env1s66SWF #UFC #UFCHawaii #HawaiiMMA pic.twitter.com/OVZxJMrL2p Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) July 20, 2025 With the win, Holloway continues to cement his legacy: He now owns 23 career UFC victories, second-most in company history behind Jim Miller. His 8 hours, 27 minutes, and 43 seconds of UFC fight time trails only Rafael dos Anjos (8:43:19). Holloway has landed 3,655 significant strikes in UFC competition, the most ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes also the all-time leader in total strikes landed (3,907). His 17 UFC fights with 100 or more significant strikes is a record; no other fighter has more than 10. For now, Blessed is back on top, and fans are already clamoring for the next ride on the Blessed Express. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing took over responsibility for many of Iowa's licensing boards in July 2023. (Photo illustration via Getty Images; logo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) Iowa regulators have suspended the license of a Veterans Affairs respiratory therapist fired for incompetence and hostile and aggressive behavior. Last November, the Iowa Board of Respiratory Care charged George Iannetta with professional incompetence and making misleading or untrue representations in the practice of his profession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board alleged that in February 2024, Iannetta filed an application to renew his Iowa license and answered no to a question asking whether he had ever been investigated or sanctioned by a licensing board. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Federal records indicate that prior to making his application, Iannetta worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for several years, earning an annual salary of up to $95,383. The board alleges that after renewing Iannettas Iowa license, it received a letter from Dr. Brett Rusch, executive director of the White River Junction Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Vermont, alerting the board to disciplinary action it had taken against Iannetta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter reported the VA had conducted an investigation and concluded there was substantial evidence that Iannetta so significantly failed to meet generally accepted standards of clinical practice as to raise reasonable concern for the safety of patients. The letter allegedly stated that conclusion had been reached based on significant treatment and diagnostic errors by Iannetta. A board investigator then contacted an employee in charge of credentialing at the VA. That individual allegedly confirmed that prior to Iannettas resignation from the VA, he faced permanent removal from the VA due to conduct that occurred throughout 2023. Nothing is worse than a rat! According to the board, its investigator then obtained a copy of the charges Veterans Affairs had imposed against Iannetta, which included failure to cooperate with an agency investigation; failure to enter required notes in patients medical records; delaying the entry of notes in medical record; being absent without leave; failure to carry out a supervisors instruction; using disrespectful language with coworkers; conduct unbecoming a federal employee; inappropriate conduct in a patient-care area; and inappropriate and unsolicited touching of a female colleague. The charges were tied to allegations that Iannetta placed his hands on the shoulders of a coworker and rubbed them; had failed to enter medical notes into 39 different patients medical charts, which may have caused the patients harm; had engaged in a verbal altercation with a coworker who was fearful that Iannetta was going to hit her and summoned the VA police; had changed clothes in a common office area, resulting in a female colleague seeing him with his pants down; had changed his clothes while in an office in front of a female coworker; and had once referred to a coworker as a rat while adding, I hate a rat. Nothing is worse than a rat! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Iowa board, the VA decided to fire Iannetta, concluding he had engaged in workplace bullying and disruptive workplace behaviors and had displayed highly emotional and chaotic behaviors, heated outbursts, gross insubordination (and) lack of accountability for his inappropriate behavior. The Iowa board alleges its investigator emailed Iannetta several times, seeking his input on the VAs findings. In response, the board says, Iannetta asked the investigator to send him the VA report, stating he didnt know the specific nature of the allegations that had been made against him, and asserting that he was unaware of any disciplinary actions taken against him. After presiding over a board hearing on the matter last month, Administrative Law Judge Rachel Morgan ordered that Iannettas Iowa license be suspended indefinitely for a period of at least one year. In her decision, Morgan wrote that there was significant evidence that Iannetta engaged in professional incompetency and that he had engaged in repeated hostile and aggressive behavior toward his supervisors and coworkers. The order stipulates that before his Iowa license can be reinstated, Iannetta must undergo a psychological evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment. In addition, he must complete 15 hours in anger-management training and complete 15 hours of continuing-education training in ethics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by the Iowa Capital Dispatch whether hed like to comment on the case, Iannetta said only, I have many comments. However, I doubt there are enough words allocated to your article to accommodate them. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Michigan state Rep. Peter Herzberg (D-Westland) listens to service workers speaking in support of legislation to preserve tipped wage and limit the expansion of paid sick leave in the Michigan House Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses on Jan. 14, 2025. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) The Michigan Board of State Canvassers at their meeting on Friday cleared a recall petition against state Rep. Peter Herzberg (D-Westland), finding the grievances listed in the petition to be sufficiently clear and factual. At issue is Herzbergs March 18 vote against a Republican-led effort in the state House of Representatives to lower the states income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.05%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 4170, which passed the House with bipartisan support, was put forth by Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson). In a statement Schmaltz said the effort was aimed at giving Michiganders a tax break, returning the rate to that of the 2023 tax year. The bill currently sits in the Democratic-led Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The 2023 tax cut was triggered by a surplus in state funds, with a 2015 law signed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, which ties the income tax to the states general fund. While Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a legal opinion explaining that the cut would only apply to the 2023 tax year, Snyder later told the Michigan Advance the cut was intended to be permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the board finding the petition sufficient, the sponsor, Keith Butkovich is cleared to begin circulating petitions for Herzbergs recall. In order for a recall election to be approved Butkovich must collect signatures equal to 25% of the number of votes cast for all candidates for governor in the 2022 election. Those signatures must be collected within a 60-day period. Herzbergs office said he had no comment to offer at this time. On Sunday, a ferry boat caught fire in Indonesia, forcing hundreds of passengers to launch themselves overboard in hopes of escaping the inferno. The figures are still trickling in, but according to initial reports, five people have died including a pregnant woman. The boat, the KM Barcelona V-A, was traveling from Melonguane to Manado in Indonesias North Sulawesi Province when the flames erupted. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. And some 280 passengers were on the boat at the time. Footage from the incident shows the harrowing scenes; see below. According to a local news outlet, one passenger who jumped from the burning vessel spent an hour bobbing in the ocean before rescue crews arrived. The passenger said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was eating with the family of the Head of the Talaud Criminal Investigation Unit when suddenly flames of smoke entered the ship's bridge. We immediately jumped into the sea. We are now on Serei Island in North Minahasa with around 50 survivors. Some of the victims were immediately picked up by ambulance. Related: Boat Capsizes in Mentawai Islands, 10 People Missing (Video) This incident comes off the heels of other recent boating accidents in Indonesia. The week before, a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized in the Mentawai Islands, one of surfing's premier destinations. A frantic search ensued after, with officials reporting: The boat carried 18 people; eight of them managed to swim ashore with life vests and reached Sikakap Village. Some of the victims were seen floating on the surface, but the team couldnt reach them in time, and they eventually disappeared from sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And before that, in June, a boat carrying tourists and locals capsized off Bali when it was struck by a wave. Scenes from that incident showed passengers frantically rushing to exit the vessel, before other boats arrived to assist in the rescue. Many such cases of boat chaos in Indo of late. Related: Wave Capsizes Boat in Bali, Tourists Panic to Escape (Video) Boat Catches Fire in Indonesia, Passengers Jump for Their Lives (Video) first appeared on Surfer on Jul 21, 2025 COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A trio of species that were once a rare sight in Ohio are making a comeback. Bald eagles, bobcats and black bears are all seeing their populations rise in the Buckeye State, according to data from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Bald eagle nest census shows soaring population The ODNRs Division of Wildlife conducted a bald eagle nest census earlier this month, tallying the number of active nests defined as having eggs, eaglets or an incubating eagle present in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is Ohio seeing more summer downpours than usual? The 2025 census confirmed the presence of 964 nests across 87 of Ohios 88 counties. This represents a 36% increase from the 707 nests counted in the last statewide census in 2020. Ottawa County saw the highest number of nests, with 112, followed by Sandusky County (61), Erie County (40), Seneca County (36) and Wyandot County (31). The counties with the most nests, unsurprisingly, all have abundant wetlands or rivers, as bald eagles primarily eat fish. In 1974, bald eagles were added to Ohios endangered species list, as their population dwindled nationwide largely due to the widespread use of DDT, a pesticide that led to reproductive failure by weakening eggshells. The bird was listed as federally endangered in 1978 and by 1979, there were only four nesting pairs in Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the nationwide ban of DDT in 1972, along with the introduction of a variety of legal protections and reintroduction programs for bald eagles, the species was delisted as federally endangered in 2007. Recent study names Ohio as the best state for sports lovers The bald eagle was also removed from the states endangered species list in 2012, following conservation efforts between the Division of Wildlife, Ohio zoos, wildlife rehabilitation facilities and landowners, according to the ODNR. The bald eagle is one of Ohios great conservation success stories, said Mary Mertz, director of the ODNR. The eagles remarkable comeback over the last few decades, both in Ohio and nationwide, proves how much we can accomplish when we conserve and protect habitat. Ohios only native wild cat is making a comeback The Buckeye State is seeing another success story unfold with bobcats. Once widespread in Ohio, the wild felines became locally extinct in the mid-1800s due to extensive deforestation and unregulated hunting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning in the 1850s, occasional reports of bobcats surfaced, but prior to 2000, there were never more than five sightings confirmed by the ODNR in a given year, said Lindsey Krusling, a communications specialist with the Division of Wildlife. Historic Columbus building with French bistro sold for $2 million In the early 2000s, sightings began to steadily rise, and since 2019, the division has confirmed over 500 reports annually. The confirmed sightings have spanned 86 of Ohios 88 counties. In 2024, there were 777 sightings, according to the departments most recent data. Ohio saw 586 sightings in 2022 and 748 sightings in 2023, according to Krusling. (Photo courtesy/Ohio Department of Natural Resources) Reports of bobcats are most common in southern areas of the state between September and January, according to Krusling. This time period coincides with when young bobcats begin dispersing from their mothers in the fall, and when their breeding season starts in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krusling attributed the bobcats rising population in Ohio to habitat restoration, as forested areas are currently expanding in the eastern United States. Nonprofit says federal proposal would gut key programs for Ohioans with disabilities Bobcats, they are very cryptic species, where they are mostly nocturnal, they dont like to be seen, so they prefer those forested areas, Krusling said. As we have kind of reestablished our forest here in Ohio, that has caused a dramatic increase for them. Black bear sightings on the rise Like bobcats, black bears experienced a significant population decline in Ohio in the mid-1800s due to habitat loss and hunting. By the 1850s, they were considered locally extinct, according to the ODNR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although black bears are still considered endangered in Ohio, the state is witnessing a significant increase in confirmed sightings. In 2024, there were 210 confirmed sightings in Ohio. In 1993, when the ODNR started monitoring sightings, there were only nine confirmed black bear reports. Every year, pretty much, we are seeing an increase in sightings of black bears in Ohio, Krusling said in a recent interview. Black bears are most commonly seen in Ohio in eastern forested areas of the state in late May through early July, according to the ODNR. This time frame largely lines up with the species breeding season. USDA cites Columbus Zoo for failure of door that resulted in lions death Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most black bear sightings in Ohio are of young male bears roaming large distances in search of females, who tend to establish a territory and stay there. Males are unlikely to stay in an area long-term unless a female bear is present. In just the past few years, the state department has begun to see adult females with cubs another indicator of a growing population, according to Krusling. She again pointed to habitat restoration as a reason for the growing population. Its an indicator that we are definitely on the right track and we are restoring a lot of our habitat and then the states around us are doing the same thing, Krusling said. We arent reintroducing them They are returning on their own. So its showing that we do have a lot more habitat for them here in Ohio than we did previously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A mans body was found near a forest road in Skamania County in Washington state over the weekend in what local deputies are describing as suspicious circumstances. Officials with the Skamania County Sheriffs Office said they set out to find the man after receiving a missing persons report. On Sunday, deputies said they found the body near the U.S. Forest Service 42 Road. Portland man who accidentally shot friend while cleaning gun sent to prison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of his death has yet to be announced. Officers said there is no current threat to the public. An investigation remains 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 KOIN.com. QUINLAN The Boles Middle School Junior Beta Club brought home some high honors from the National Junior Beta Convention held late last month in Orlando, continuing their winning streak for the second consecutive year. Alex Kilmer placed second in the poetry competition, showcasing his literary talents among students from across the country. In the Meeting of the Minds event, the team of Eli Pare, Jayleen Munoz, Alice Grove and Ty Poindexter earned eighth place out of 100 teams. The competition tested students critical thinking and collaboration skills as they responded to a timed challenge with only three minutes to complete it. The schools musicology team comprising the same four students also qualified for Nationals, though they did not advance to the live round in Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This marks only the second time Boles Middle School has competed at the national level, following last years trip to Savannah, Georgia. Club members are already preparing for the 20252026 state convention, with this years theme set as Wired for Success. Those interested in supporting the Junior Beta Club can contact Mrs. Kay Nimmo at knimmo@bolesonline.com. The National Beta Club promotes academic achievement, character, leadership and service among students in grades 4 through 12 across the United States. With the citys preliminary election closing in, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu holds a nearly 30-point lead over her nearest challenger, according to a new poll. Wu leads philanthropist and community activist Josh Kraft 59%-29% in the new Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll out Monday. Both are running as Democrats. Two more candidates, Robert Capucci and Domingos DaRosa, are polling at 0.8% and 2.8%, respectively, with 6.6% of respondents still undecided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll of 500 likely voters was conducted between July 13 and July 16, with a margin of error of 4.4%. With super PACs supporting the two candidates blitzing the airwaves and voters devices with advertisements, public interest in the race appears high. Nine in 10 respondents said they are either very or somewhat likely to vote in the September preliminary election. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64.6%) said they strongly or somewhat approve of Wus job performance as she runs for another term in City Hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a race where affordability issues have taken center stage, voters put housing (26%) and the economy and jobs (17.2%) at the top of their priorities list for the fall campaign. Wu and Kraft butted heads last week over the high price of housing in the city during a candidates forum hosted by the Massachusetts Affordable Homeownership Alliance, MassLive previously reported. The two candidates shared their respective visions and plans to reduce housing costs. Both candidates agreed that housing is too expensive in the city, but they disagreed on the most effective ways to tackle the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two-thirds of respondents (65.2%) said theyd like to see the city tackle the issue by imposing some form of rent stabilization. Nearly 3 in 10 (28%) respectively also said theyd like to see the city ease zoning rules and pump public money into stalled projects. Kraft has also focused on quality of life issues in the city, such as crime and bike lanes. When it comes to the latter, half of the polls respondents (50.2%) said the lanes have made it slower and less convenient to get around. Just shy of 3 in 10 respondents said the lanes had no impact on their ability to get around the city. More on Boston's 2025 race for mayor Read the original article on MassLive. As of June, the U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.1%, similar to what the country's seen over the past year. Thats some help, but Hernandez had planned to work three more years to pay off her house. The company pledged to continue providing pay and benefits to impacted workers for 60 days, adding it would work through additional terms of a separation package over the following weeks. The newer facilities include two in Wisconsin and one in Kansas. Johnsonville expects to create about 100 new jobs by the end of its third quarter between the two Wisconsin locations. It plans to demolish the Momence facility by the end of the year and transfer its assets to other facilities. In a statement to ABC7 news, Johnsonville wrote that, "We made the difficult decision after evaluating how best to optimize our operations network to address current and future growth. This decision was based on optimizing our operations across our other newer facilities." "When I was out there a couple weeks ago, the plant manager talked about over $1 million worth of equipment that had recently been installed," Tim Nugent, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, said. "If they're investing in infrastructure, it means that they made plans to stay around for a while." Momence mayor Charles Steele said he only got a 15-minute heads-up from the company. Other local leaders were blindsided too. Among those affected was Lupe Hernandez, who worked there for 25 years and told ABC7 News, Its like they didnt even care about us, you know? [The] same day?" Employees were called to a meeting in a nearby town, Kankakee, where Johnsonvilles CEO delivered the shocking news: The Momence facility was closing, effective immediately. 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 Originally built in 1962 and run by Johnsonville Foods as a sausage manufacturer since 1995, it was a gut punch to a tight-knit community that has worked at the facility for over six decades. 274 people found themselves jobless after the Momence Packing Company in Illinois abruptly shut its doors on June 2. Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Story Continues Jobs continue to be added 147,000 positions in June and weekly unemployment benefits have shown a slight improvement. Jobless claims for the week ending July 12 came in at 221,000, down 7,000 from the previous weeks revised level of 228,000. This means slightly fewer people made claims than was expected. Nevertheless, those numbers are still significant. And for every American impacted by a surprising layoff or shutdown, the risk of falling into consumer debt traps significantly increases. Without a consistent paycheck, people often rely on credit cards or loans to meet basic expenses. U.S. credit card debt topped $1.18 trillion in Q1 2025. And for those nearing retirement age, losing a long-held job can spark financial crises involving mortgage payments, dwindling savings and health care expenses. Hernandez is an example of one such Johnsonville worker, as she was banking on several more years of work to finish paying her mortgage. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead What affected workers can do Tighten your budget One action worth taking right off the bat is to assess all of your monthly costs and how these fit in with your new monthly budget. Try to identify any regular payments that drive down your monthly spending power, or areas where you can cut costs. If youre paying into insurance, a little bit of shopping around could give your budget a boost. For instance, OfficialCarInsurance.com helps you switch to a more affordable auto insurance option within minutes. Simply provide some information about yourself and your vehicle, then compare quotes from trusted brands like Progressive, Allstate and GEICO. Some offers are even as low as $29 per month depending on factors like the make and model of your car and your driving history. Many providers allow you to switch policies even when they arent up for renewal, just make sure to check that there arent any hidden fees. For home owners, OfficialHomeInsurance.com can help you find great rates to protect your home. All it takes is two minutes for them to comb through over 200 insurers for free to find the best deal in your area. The process can be done entirely online too. Reassess retirement and debt strategy If youve been laid off, and are close to retirement, you may have to delay it until your financial situation has stabilized. This can take a lot of time, effort and attention. If youve already been investing for retirement, taking some of the mental load off of managing your retirement investments may be a good idea. Thats where automatic investment tools like Acorns come into play. Purchases made on your linked credit or debit card are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar and put into a smart investment portfolio of ETFs. That way, every dollar you spend goes automatically towards your investments, which could also help you get a handle on your debt. Even better, Acorns gives new members a $20 bonus investment on sign-up when you set up a recurring payment. Rebuild financial resilience This type of emergency situation raises awareness for just how important a rainy day fund is. You can start small such as with $25 a week and eventually build a better buffer. To do so, it can help to have a crystal-clear view of your finances so you know exactly how much you can put away. This is where budgeting platforms like Monarch Money come in. The app gives you a top-down perspective on all of your income, debt and investments when you link your accounts. In a post-employment situation, this can help you keep track of essential line items like severance or other unemployment benefits. The best part? Monarch Money is offering a 7-day free trial so you can see if it helps with planning for that better buffer. If you decided that the platform is right for you, they are also offering 50% off with code MONARCHVIP if you sign up for a yearly subscription. Dont be afraid to reach out for help While youre getting your accounts in order, its just as important to remember to reach out for help in the short term. Hernandez was given 60 days of pay and benefits following her termination, but not everyone gets even that much. Make sure to apply for unemployment benefits immediately and file claims to reduce income gaps as much as possible. Its also a good idea to tap into any state-specific resources that might be able to paper over the difference. Finally, make sure to look into career centers and community colleges for resume development workshops. If, like Hernandez, youve spent a chunk of your life with one employer, its important to get up-to-date advice on the job market. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Russell and Linda Callahan have bounced around from rental to rental over the past two decades. But its not because they keep switching jobs or moving for work, its because they could only get away with not paying rent for so long at each place. As NBC 10 Boston reported, the couple was recently indicted in Worcester Superior Court on 28 criminal counts for allegedly scamming landlords over the last 20 years. Not only did they fail to pay rent, but they also lied and forged documents to get approved for the properties they moved into. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I trusted them," a former landlord told NBC 10 Boston. Now, the couple faces jail time for taking money they were entitled to. When criminal behavior catches up to you The Callahans have earned a reputation as "professional tenants." They've scammed landlords across Massachusetts by forging pay stubs, submitting fake credit reports and bouncing security deposit checks. In total, the couple defrauded landlords out of more than $100,000, according to NBC 10 Boston. Over the past 20 years, they've been evicted more than 20 times. Among their victims are a single mom, a couple saving to start a family and a veteran who was deployed overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sitanshu Sinha and his wife, Shilpi Gupta, rented their Shrewsbury property to the couple in 2023 after receiving fake documents. When the Callahans' rent checks kept bouncing, the landlords had to take $30,000 out of their kids' college savings to cover the costs of evictions. "It was financially very stressful for us," Gupta said. The Callahans pleaded not guilty and were released on $2,500 bail to home confinement. But it's unclear as to what "home" means, since they've been ordered to stay away from their most recent rental a Worcester property they've lived in since April, where they owe more than $17,000 in unpaid rent. Their next court date is scheduled for August 20. Read more: Americans are revenge saving to survive but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Heres how to quickly earn 280% more on your cash What landlords can learn from this Its common to hear about tenants being scammed by fake rental listings, but landlords can just as easily fall victim to dishonest renters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scammers like the Callahans often target small, independent landlords who may not have the same tools or experience as big property management firms. And its oftens these "mom and pop" landlords who can least afford to absorb the financial hit when a tenant doesnt pay. If you're a landlord, it's important to vet each applicant thoroughly. Start by running a full credit and background check after verifying a valid form of ID. Because drivers licenses can be easy to fake, you may want to ask for a Real ID or passport. Dont just glance at a few pay stubs. Those can be forged, too, or the tenant may have lost their job since those payments were made. Always contact the employer directly to confirm their employment status and dont use the phone number the applicant provides. Look it up yourself. You might also consider requesting a recent W-2 or tax return to get a better picture of the applicants finances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When collecting upfront payments like first month's rent or a security deposit, ask for a bank or cashiers check instead of a personal check. Personal checks can bounce, while bank checks are guaranteed by the issuing bank. Certified checks are another option. While technically personal checks, certified checks have been verified and funds are usually frozen by the bank until theyre cashed. It's also a good idea to brush up on local landlord-tenant laws, including your states eviction process. Rules can vary depending on where you live, so knowing your rights ahead of time can save you headaches later. Finally, make sure you have a financial cushion in place so youre not relying on a tenants rent to cover your mortgage. Whether its an emergency fund or liquid investments, its crucial to have a backup plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a tenant stops paying rent, your ability to pay your own bills could take a hit, and that could lead to credit damage or worse. Even tenants who arent trying to scam you can fall on hard times. Protect yourself so a missed payment doesnt turn into a long-term financial setback. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Both drivers involved in a February crash in Horry County that left three people dead and four people injured contributed to the collision, according to a report from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The crash happened on Feb. 24 along Highway 17 Bypass near Wood Thrush Drive, Cpl. David Jones said. The Horry County Coroners Office identified the three who were killed as Maria Eduarda Lucas De Souza, 6, Jean Carlos Porfirio de Aquino, 26, and Kamyla Lucas de Aquino, 30. The family of three had recently moved to Horry County from Massachusetts. Jean and Kamyla were originally from Brazil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jean Carlos Porfirio de Aquino was traveling west in his 2022 Kia across Highway 17 Bypass and failed to yield to a stop sign, the report shows. His Kia was then struck by a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, driven by Michael Nesmith, who was allegedly under the influence and going 98 mph in a 55 mph zone. News13 has asked the highway patrol if Nesmith is facing charges. Count on us for updates. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read 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 WBTW. Bournemouth has been voted the best beach in the UK, with holidaymakers praising its miles of sand and attractions including a zipline. A survey of 70,000 people found other popular beaches include Bamburgh in the North East, Brighton in East Sussex, St Ives and Newquay in Cornwall, and Llandudno in Wales. Half of those surveyed by hotel chain Travelodge said they plan to visit a beach during the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost two-thirds of respondents said they enjoy walking along a beach, one in five make sure they buy fish and chips, while the biggest bugbears include litter, expensive parking and lack of toilets. The top 10 beaches were named as Bournemouth, Bamburgh, Brighton, Scarborough, Blackpool Pleasure, Llandudno West Shore, St Ives, Weymouth, Whitby and Blackpool Sands. A 15-year-old boy was sentenced on Monday to two years in prison by the Vienna Regional Court for planning an attack on Vienna's Westbahnhof (West Station). Part of the sentence was suspended. The verdict is not yet legally binding and can be appealed. The young Islamic State supporter was remorseful and confessed during the trial. "I always own up to my mistakes," he said, according to the APA news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect intended to cause a bloodbath either with a pistol or a bomb, the prosecutor said. He was arrested in February following tips from the German Federal Criminal Police Office. The act was planned for this Vienna summer, according to the indictment. The prosecutor described it as a "sad textbook example of online radicalization." The pupil listened to sermons by well-known Islamic State figures and consumed a large amount of propaganda material from the terrorist militia in a short time, which he also shared. This is how the authorities became aware of him. One plan involved stabbing a police officer, seizing his service pistol and shooting, the indictment said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A motive was said to be experiences of bullying at school, where he was reportedly teased as the smallest in the class and locked in the toilet. During a house search, instructions for preparing explosive material were also secured, which investigators believed was intended to serve as a detonator for a bomb. SHIRLEY, N.Y. (PIX11) A 16-year-old boy was among 13 people arrested at an allegedly unauthorized fight club on Long Island Sunday, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Police officers responded to a home on Frances Landau Place in Shirley around 6 p.m. for a report of shots fired. When they arrived, a scuffle broke out between people attending the alleged fight club event, according to authorities. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said one of the attendees pulled out a blank firing gun, shooting a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old. The victims were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities. Police said 25-year-old Devine Brown was charged with assault, menacing, prohibited use of a weapon and unlawful assembly. In addition, 12 others were given appearance tickets: Unidentified boy, 16 Jason Alvarez, 18, of Riverhead Henry Thompson, 18, of Moriches Lorenzo Whyte, 18, of Shirley Tariq Nix, 20, of Mastic Kyron Deer, 18, of Coram Thomas Zuzierla, 18, of Mastic Malachi Leftenant, 19, of Shirley Devin Black, 20, of Mastic Beach Alejandro Hightower, 20, of Holbrook Jehsiah Williams, 23, of Mastic Honest Thompson, 19, of Middle Island More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752. In June, two 19-year-olds were arrested at a fight club event in Melville. Police said over 70 people showed up to the event, advertised on social media, at Walt Whitman Park. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her 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 PIX11. (Corrects both dates mentioned in the third paragraph to July from June) By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized an investigation into the alleged use of privileged information on foreign exchange transactions before the announcement of the 50% U.S. tariff on all Brazilian imports in July, according to a Monday court filing. On Saturday, the solicitor general's office, known as AGU, had requested Supreme Court authorization to look into the trades after a news report suggested a significant volume of Brazilian reals were sold in anticipation of the tariff announcement, which could suggest insider trading. The news report was based on a chart posted by Spencer T. Hakimian, founder at New York-based hedge fund Tolou Capital Management, that showed how the Brazilian real moved on July 9, when Trump announced a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil. He told Reuters on July 10 that he had no further data or information to back his comments. Tolou manages $82 million in a global macro hedge fund strategy. "I am very happy to see Brazil looking into something suspicious. I wish the U.S. would be responsible enough to do the same," Hakimian said, after learning about the probe. The new probe is part of the investigation into the use of international tariffs to coerce Brazil's court system to drop the case against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 presidential elections. Brazil's attorney general is investigating Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of the former president, over allegations that he courted interference by Trump. The crisis also prompted Brazil's Supreme Court to issue new restrictive measures against the former president, such as wearing an electronic ankle monitor. (By Lisandra Paraguassu and Maria Carolina Marcello; additional reporting by Carolina Mandl in New York; writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Stephen Coates) Brazils former president Jair Bolsonaro is on trial for allegedly attempting to overturn his 2022 election loss with a coup plot. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL / AFP via Getty Images Related: Hillary Clinton Just Hit On One Of Donald Trump's Biggest Insecurities With Three Words After Bolsonaro lost the election, his supporters stormed Brazils Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace. TON MOLINA / AFP via Getty Images Sound familiar? SERGIO LIMA / AFP via Getty Images It's kind of like Brazil's version of Jan. 6. NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: A Picture Of Donald Trump's Face Being Two Completely Different Colors Is Going Viral For Obvious Reasons Sooo, Brazils Supreme Court has raided Bolsonaros home, put him on an ankle monitor, and banned him from social media and foreign contacts. Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images Meeeeeanwhile, Trump has been defending Bolsonaro on Truth Social, posting a letter saying, "Ill be watching the WITCH HUNT of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters, very closely. The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil Its called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!" Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Related: JD Vances Old Epstein Tweets Are Coming Back To Haunt Him In A Big Way Trump also posted a letter to current Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and calling the trial of Bolsonaro a "Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!" Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Now that you have the backstory, Brazil's president was interviewed by CNN about all of this, and his message to the American people is going viral: Brazilian president: "I'd like to say something to the American people; If Trump was Brazilian and did what he did at the Capitol, he'd be on trial in Brazil for violating the Constitution. He would be arrested if he had done that." pic.twitter.com/2S0otZjKzA Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) July 19, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN/Ronxyz00/Twitter: @Ronxyz00 "I want to say something to the American people: If Trump was Brazilian and if he did what happened at Capitol Hill, hed also be on trial in Brazil. And possibly he would have violated the Constitution. According to the justices, he would also be arrested if he had done that here in Brazil." Related: He Told People That?: Jon Stewart Was Seriously Shocked By What A Report Is Saying Elon Musk Revealed To People Close To Him People in the replies are saying some sort of version of this: "America is not a serious country anymore." This person commented, "We're a joke to the rest of the planet. We're like the parent in the grocery store who will never discipline their child who is screaming and throwing literal shit at other customers." Another person shared this picture: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this person asked, "Can we deport trump to Brazil and put him in trial there instead?" Also in In the News: "My Generation Will Never Forgive You": 25 Of The Very Best And Very True Political Tweets From The Last Week Also in In the News: AOC Just Tweeted What So Many Are Thinking After Trump's Sudden 180 On The Epstein Files Also in In the News: People Are Howling At This New Portrait Of Donald Trump In The Colorado State Capitol After He Complained About The Old One Read it on BuzzFeed.com By Luciana Magalhaes and Ricardo Brito SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil's Supreme Court threatened to order former President Jair Bolsonaro's arrest unless his lawyers explain within 24 hours why he breached restrictions on his use of social media, a decision showed on Monday evening. The order summoning Bolsonaro's lawyers was issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case in which Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours. Moraes had on Friday ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media, among other measures - which were later upheld by a court panel - over allegations he courted the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump, who tied steep new tariffs on Brazilian goods to what he called a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. In an interview with Reuters on Friday, Bolsonaro described Moraes' decision to prohibit his social media use as "cowardice," and said he intended to continue engaging with the press to ensure his voice was heard. On Monday, Moraes said Bolsonaro breached the Supreme Court order when speaking with journalists earlier in the day, following a meeting with allies in the Brazilian Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment, which marked the first time Bolsonaro publicly showed his ankle bracelet, came hours after Moraes issued a clarification of Friday's ruling, which stated that Bolsonaro's use of social media included use through third parties. Moraes in his decision attached screenshots of several posts on social media, including on news outlets, that showed Bolsonaro "displaying the electronic monitoring device, delivering a speech to be displayed on digital platforms." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week called Moraes' court orders a "political witch hunt", responding on Friday with immediate visa revocations for "Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members." The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro adds to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEBATE OVER THE DECISION Hours before summoning Bolsonaro's lawyers, Moraes had issued a ruling that raised questions about whether the right-wing leader was allowed to talk to journalists. "Obviously, the broadcasting, re-broadcasting, or dissemination of audio, video, or transcripts of interviews on any third-party social media platform is prohibited," the judge said, in a clarification of Friday's ruling. The measure sparked debate in Brazil regarding the ruling's range. Bolsonaro on Monday canceled an interview with a news outlet that would have been broadcast live on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The prohibition is that he communicates on social media; it is not a prohibition against third parties speaking about him, whether to praise or criticize," said Ivar Hartmann, a law professor at Sao Paulo business school Insper. He added that, in his view, interviews are permissible, provided they are not intended to circumvent the legal limitations, such as giving an interview to a supporter. But Vera Chemim, a Sao Paulo-based constitutional lawyer, said she believed the former leader is on shaky ground, noting that interviews, while not explicitly mentioned in the court order, could still be used to justify Bolsonaro's arrest. "Bolsonaro is now completely silenced," she said. "Any misstep could lead to a preventive arrest." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court declined to comment or elaborate on the specifics of that decision. A spokesperson for Bolsonaro also declined to comment, but the former president has always denied any wrongdoing. (Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes in Sao Paulo and Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; additional reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Writing by Andre Romani; Editing by Manuela Andreoni, Rod Nickel and Stephen Coates) The mother of Breonna Taylor is heartbroken and angry at the governments recommendation of a single-day sentence for the former cop who blindly fired 10 shots into her daughters home during a botched narcotics raid in 2020. The Department of Justice announced last week that Brett Hankison, a former Louisville Metro Police Department detective, shouldnt serve jail time for his involvement in Taylors death. Hankison is set to be sentenced in Louisville Monday afternoon. In a sentencing memo filed July 16, the DOJ said that because the officer wasnt responsible for her death, and has a clean record otherwise, Hankison shouldnt face jail time for Taylors death. Instead, the DOJ recommended a one-day sentence and three years of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Hankison faces a maximum life sentence, the DOJ said the reduction is sufficient, but not greater than necessary. In November, a jury convicted Hankison of deprivation of rights under color of law. The government respects the jurys verdict, which will almost certainly ensure that defendant Hankison never serves as a law enforcement officer again and will also likely ensure that he never legally possesses a firearm again, the memo said. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. In a statement, attorneys for Taylors family said the sentence reduction is a blatant betrayal of the jurys decision and sets a dangerous precedent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a police officer is found guilty of violating someones constitutional rights, there must be real accountability and justice. Recommending just one day in prison sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity, the statement said. Mondays sentencing will determine whats next for Hankison, but he will serve no jail time if the judge follows the DOJs recommendation. His booking and initial court appearance would count toward the one day sentence. Hankison discharged 10 shots into Taylors apartment during the 2020 raid, but none of those shots hit Taylor. Meanwhile, charges against the two police officers who killed Taylor, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, were dropped last August. Taylors murder sparked a wave of Black Lives Matter protests across the country in 2020. Hankison was fired from the Louisville Metro police department in June 2020, and the family reached a settlement with the city of Louisville in September 2020. The post Breonna Taylors family heartbroken over 1-day sentence appeared first on Salon.com. Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power has signed agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with international partners to develop a green hydrogen and renewable energy export value chain between Saudi Arabia and Europe. These collaborations are part of Saudi Arabia's commitment to enhancing global logistics connectivity through its India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor (IMEC) initiative, due to its location connecting east and west. ACWA Power formalised partnerships during the Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Export Workshop held in late July 2025 and supervised by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy. The company signed a multi-party MoU with European entities Edison, TotalEnergies Renewables, Zhero Europe and Energie Baden-Wurttemberg (EnBW). The MoU focuses on assessing market demand for large-scale renewable energy projects aimed at exporting electricity to Europe. The workshop also saw individual MoUs signed with Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano (CESI) and high-voltage direct current technology and cable providers such as Prysmian, GE Vernova, Siemens Energy and Hitachi. These agreements seek to establish advanced energy transmission corridors to improve supply reliability and optimise cross-border energy infrastructure efficiency. A joint development agreement was signed with EnBW for phase one of the Yanbu green hydrogen hub, which is set for commercial operations by 2030. The hub is envisioned as an integrated facility producing its electricity from renewable sources. It will include desalination plants to support hydrogen electrolysis and ammonia conversion processes, along with a dedicated export terminal. These developments align with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by promoting global energy security and supporting sustainable energy transitions. In mid-July 2025, Saudi Arabia's state-owned power procurement company, Principal Buyer, signed agreements totalling SR31bn ($8.3bn) with a consortium led by ACWA Power. These agreements are aimed at developing seven new solar and wind power projects with a combined capacity of 15GW. "ACWA Power agrees renewable energy exports to Europe" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. A federal judge sentenced Mario Stewart, a retired police sergeant in Mount Vernon, New York, to six months in prison and six months of home confinement for repeatedly tasing a restrained 20-year-old man who was experiencing a health crisis. Prosecutors say that while the man's hands were cuffed behind his back and his legs were in a restraint bag, Stewart tased him at least seven times in two minutes. The incident took place in 2019, but Stewart remained on the job until he retired in 2023. U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas emphasized the need to "send a clear message" to law enforcement about adhering to rules, saying Mount Vernon residents should not fear victimization by officers. Stewart pleaded guilty in January to depriving an individual of his civil rights, violating the department's Taser policy that prohibits punitive or coercive use on secured prisoners other than as a last resort. The post Brickbat: Pretty Tied Up appeared first on Reason.com. For the second time in a month, the luxury train operator Belmond has pulled the plug on the inaugural run of the newest addition to its fleet, the Britannic Explorer. The new train which costs from 11,000 per double cabin for a three-day trip had been due to journey to Wales via the west of England and the Cotswolds, departing from London Victoria at 3.45pm today. But late last night passengers were informed that with a heavy heart the company had decided to cancel the journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Train cancellations and severe delays? In Britain? Well, yes, even for this most well-heeled operator running a trip which, ironically, was designed to showcase the very best of modern England and Wales. A journey on Belmonds Britannic Explorer costs from 11,000 per double cabin for a three-day trip The latest cancellation followed tests over the weekend which revealed technical issues relating to the door mechanism. Despite the dedicated efforts of our engineering team, the issue could not be resolved in time, and as a result, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel todays trip, said Belmonds Sabrina Panizza. There was a sense of deja vu about the announcement, which came two weeks after the trains first planned launch a three-day journey to Cornwall scheduled to depart on July 4 was similarly cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company had hoped that the issues would have been smoothed out in time for the Wales departure but in the end pulled the plug on it with just hours to go. This decision was not taken lightly, an email to passengers late Sunday night stated. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused. With passengers drawn from, in addition to Britain, a range of countries in Europe, Asia and North America, the costs of compensation are likely to be high. The Observation Car, offering banquettes and panoramic views Ms Panizza said that all affected guests had been issued with a full refund. On top of that, they had been offered a complimentary journey on board the Britannic Explorer either later this year or in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are [also] covering any related expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation including arranging immediate alternative accommodation, she said. Although a new launch date was not immediately set, Ms Panizza said the train will be officially fully operational this summer, with the exact date to be confirmed closer to the time. Over the past 40 years, Belmond has acquired a well-earned reputation for providing train journeys at the most luxurious end of the spectrum, particularly with its flagship Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE). This reputation was cemented in the 2025 Telegraph Travel Awards when the company which is owned by the French luxury goods giant LVMH was named best rail holiday company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the VSOE, Belmond operates the Eastern & Oriental Express in Malaysia, the Hiram Bingham and Andean Explorer in Peru and the Royal Scotsman in Scotland. What the Britannic Explorer will offer (when it finally leaves the station) Feeding on the growth in demand for slower, more mindful but also extremely luxurious train travel, the company decided to branch out this year with a new train the Britannic Explorer which for the first time would offer this kind of top-end experience on routes in England and Wales. Three routes were devised aimed at celebrating some of the countries most scenic regions: Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) in Wales; the Cornish Riviera; and the Lake District (including the glorious stretch of track between Settle and Carlisle). The train itself represents a brand new departure, a totally revamped version of the Grand Hibernian train operated by Belmond in Ireland between 2016 and 2021. Design company Albion Nord has created sophisticated and playful interiors - Britannic Explorer Rather than recreating the classic look and feel of the Hercule Poirot-style VSOE, the new train, largely a creation of the London-based Albion Nord designers, combines a modern feel with vintage elements drawing on the natural world and the creative forces (and materials) of the areas it travels through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aim has been to create a feeling of contemporary nostalgia in expansive suites and grand suites (all with private bathroom) and dining spaces inspired by the herbs and flowers used in British cooking. The meals themselves have been masterminded by Michelin-accoladed British chef Simon Rogan drawing heavily on his farm-to-fork culinary ethos and reflecting local specialities and artisan suppliers en route. The menu is prepared under the guidance of Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan The social hub of the train is the Observation Car, an expansive, stylish space which comes complete with armchairs, banquettes and a bar backlit with amber glass discs inspired by the timeless charm of Victorian apothecaries. The new train promises to deliver an extremely luxurious version of rail travel Off-train, the trips have been designed to incorporate visits to galleries, rugged hikes and wild swims, yoga sessions by the sea and a range of gastronomic experiences coupled with the opportunity to learn how to pull a pint in a Cotswolds pub. Were offering some unique experiences, things people cant do themselves just driving up to these places, said Gary Franklin, Belmonds senior vice-president, trains & cruises. We are showcasing a modern England with incredible artisans, artists and produce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A modern England with severe train delays too... 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 United Kingdom announced in June 2025 that it intends to buy an initial batch of a dozen conventional take-off and landing F-35A Lightning IIs from Lockheed Martin to operate alongside its currently in-service force of short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs. While the F-35As are being purchased primarily to fulfil a training role, a major increase in British capability is presented by the F-35As ability to join the NATO nuclear weapons sharing mission, as the F-35A can carry U.S.-owned B61-12 nuclear bombs. The development writes the latest chapter in the story of unprecedented interoperability between a growing pool of F-35 users in Europe. The UK will purchase 12 new F-35A fighter jets and join NATOs dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission in a major boost for national security, the UK Ministry of Defense announced. The ministry described this as the biggest strengthening of the UKs nuclear posture in a generation, complementing the UKs existing sea-borne deterrent. You can read our full story on the acquisition here. An interoperable fleet of F-35s across Europe carries significant benefits to the United Kingdom, NATO and its constituent air arms, and not just in a nuclear role. The UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and the United States, all currently operate F-35s in the European theater. Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, Greece, and Poland have also selected the F-35. F-35As from the 48th Fighter Wing engaged in Exercise Ramstein Flag in 2025. USAF Accompanying this expanding fleet of F-35s is a supply chain and maintenance network thats spreading across Europe. Cameri in Italy is a European depot-level maintenance and upgrade facility, as well as being the sole European final assembly line for the aircraft. Front-line maintenance for individual users and a joint supply chain across operators means the entire program benefits from a dispersed, common and robust support network across Europe, which would be hugely beneficial in a wartime scenario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Lockheed Martin, when you include U.S. aircraft, by the 2030s more than 700 F-35s will be stationed on the European continent, with an overarching aspiration for these aircraft to present a potent deterrent, primed to assemble as a cohesive warfighting team if needed. Each Lightning II is effectively an advanced electronic intelligence collection platform, able to soak up swathes of valuable emissions data from around the battlespace and across multiple domains. The value of F-35s collecting and sharing that intelligence data within the aircrafts cloud-based support system cannot be understated. This is especially true in a coalition environment, when this information can be rapidly distributed and exploited across the joint F-35 force. The Joint Strike Fighter familys ability to securely communicate amongst themselves via a proprietary data link that is very difficult to intercept and jam is also a critical advantage. All this combined with common training and a universal tactical playbook, work as massive force multipliers for an already formidable European F-35 cadre. British F-35Bs at RAF Marham. Jamie Hunter The F-35 is built to be interoperable and thats through the advanced data links and the fusion technology. So for me, as more countries get F-35s, what that does is exponentially increase our combat mass, retired former Royal Air Force F-35 Wing Commander Stew Campbell told TWZ. Being truly interoperable, seeing each other on the same screens, sharing information across the formation, all trained to the exact same tactics, is something we havent seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campbell commanded the famous No 617 Squadron Dambusters until he retired in 2024. The F-35 gives the UK that night one [combat mission] capability with an advanced 5th-generation multi-role fighter with its amazing array of sensors and capabilities. The two things that really stand head and shoulders above anything else fielded is the stealth capability and that sensor fusion. The ability to interoperate with all the other F-35 nations means that we can increase our combat mass on night one of a conflict. The key element that I utterly loved about operating the F-35 is the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, which is incredibly simple to operate to the point that you can just point the jet and the radar does its thing, very, very well. Theres a phenomenal array of sensors in the F-35 that can manage the battlespace, and target and direct the fight. Expanding on the benefit of the interoperable fleet of NATO F-35s in Europe using standardized tactics, Campbell said: I flew a mission from RAF Marham where I briefed in a completely unclassified environment with a Norwegian F-35 pilot. We flew our F-35Bs up from Marham with an air-to-air refueling tanker, met the wingmen from Norway, didnt go into any sort of marshal, we just turned into a wall formation of Norwegian and UK F-35s together and flowed straight into a simulated aerial fight. Thats what an F-35 team can do! With increasing numbers of F-35s in Europe, we will all fight together. Nations could easily slot an eight-ship of F-35s into a huge overall F-35 package. Night flying aboard British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. Lockheed Martin Exercising these partnering opportunities between F-35 nations has expanded beyond Europe and onto the global stage. A byproduct of the British Carrier Strike Group that not many people realize and indeed surprised me is that it has allowed us to fly joint missions with Norwegian, Italian, Dutch, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Japanese, Australian, and Israeli F-35s, says Campbell. I have seen partner nation F-35s work seamlessly together, and over time we are getting better and better at integrating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The F-35Bs of the Royal Air Forces No 617 Squadron and 809 Naval Air Squadron are the operational figureheads of the British Carrier Strike Group, which can fly from the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers. With regard to the aircraft carriers and the carrier strike group, in autumn 2023 we deployed on Operation Firedrake, which marked the first time we fully operated the F-35 in the high north with a carrier, and the strike group was passed over to NATO command. It reflected the kind of maturity of the strike group being handed over to NATO to dictate what we did and illustrated our overt commitment to NATO since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Campbell explains. Probably the capstone event during my time on No 617 Squadron was the participation in Exercise Northern Edge in Alaska in 2023. That was the first time non-U.S. combat air was invited to take part in that exercise, and it was almost entirely 5th-generation based. From a UK point of view, it demonstrated our position within the program and the partner nations, alongside the U.S. and Australia. The exercise demonstrated the reach of the Royal Air Force. We took eight F-35s, two Voyager tankers, and an A400M support aircraft, over 8,000 miles from home base as we deployed to Eielson AFB, and the exercise was utterly invaluable in terms of exposure for the British F-35 team. We flew in that huge Alaskan airspace, flying on what is one of the USAFs most important exercises for operational testing. An F-35B engaged in flight-testing aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Lockheed Martin In the final part of Campbells command, the Dambusters took part in Operation Masterer, the UKs contribution to the quick reaction alert (QRA) mission at Keflavik in Iceland, again under the authority of NATO. It marked the first time the UK had ever used the F-35B for QRA, explains Campbell. This effectively unlocked an option for defense in the UK where we do not plan to routinely use the F-35 for QRA in the short and medium term, but we proved we could do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We smashed every timeline and NATO accredited us a day earlier than expected. Iceland is the one country in NATO that doesnt have a standing defense force, but strategically its a very important part of the world. So you know, I think youre flexing the F-35 to do that, another string to your bow and unlocking the capability for the UK. European operators are constantly evolving how they use F-35s, and are now able to securely feed data into different national command and control ecosystems. Recent exercises in Europe led by the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works team demonstrated the F-35s ability to integrate with different national systems on a whole new level via the Skunk Works Open Systems Gateway. This connectivity is designed to make the F-35 a force multiplier thats able to provide improved decision making in detecting and defeating threats across air, land, and maritime domains. Dutch F-35As participating in Exercise Ramstein Flag in 2025. USAF The RAF conducted a demonstration in December 2024 under an effort known as Project DEIMOS, where an F-35 shared data with a non-U.S. command and control system. This effort was followed by the huge pan-European NATO exercise Ramstein Flag in April 2025, where live classified data-sharing was conducted between a Dutch F-35 in flight and a Dutch command and control system. In this example, targeting data was transmitted from an F-35 to a ground-based rocket artillery unit, which then engaged that ground target and simulated a successful engagement. This kind of data sharing between airborne and ground-based platforms is a significant evolution of aircraft being used to identify targets on the ground, in this case with a seamless sensor-to-shooter relationship that can be scaled across ground and naval units. The advanced passive sensors of the F-35 allow them to spot, categorize, and geolocate all sorts of emitters, including air defense and artillery radar systems. They can also use their radars and electro-optical systems to detect, investigate and target objects of interest, as well. The aircraft can swiftly send that information to other aircraft and units on the ground or at sea to enhance their picture of the battlespace and identify potential threats, and then cue remote fires if required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond combat capabilities, industrial involvement in this global program is distributed amongst partners. The particularly strong British links with the F-35 program stems from the UK being the only Tier 1 partner in the system design and development stage for the aircraft. That status means that the UK has the largest industrial participation of any partner nation in the global F-35 program. According to data supplied by Lockheed Martin, 835 British companies support the F-35, with over 100 of them being Tier 1 suppliers including BAE Systems, which Lockheed Martin says is an essential part of the F-35 partner team, working alongside Northrop Grumman and RTX. Lockheed Martin states that at its peak in the 2030s, the F-35 program will sustain more than 20,000 jobs in the UK and by 2046, the F-35 program will have created an estimated 45.2 billion of value to the UK economy. An F-35B of No 617 Squadron at RAF Marham. Jamie Hunter That initial investment was, for me, a phenomenal decision, says Campbell. It secured long-lasting manufacturing partnerships with the U.S. and having that relationship from the start led to our participation in exercises like Red Flag that we did in January 2020, right through to Northern Edge in the spring of 2023. Without these invites, we would struggle to train to that same high level in Europe or to expose our pilots and senior leadership to where we need to go with this aircraft. Campbell also cites benefits such as exchange postings with U.S. forces that have enabled the British F-35 team to learn faster with a free flow of information and experience between the various services. No 617 Squadron has had a U.S. Marine Corps exchange pilot, Royal Australian Air Force exchange pilot, and our Operational Conversion Unit has had Marine Corps and USAF F-35 pilots. Theres also enormous benefit with our guys going out on exchange posts in Australia and America, then bringing that experience back to the UK. Our relationship with the U.S. gives us access to range airspace and exercises. Moreover, our Operational Evaluation Unit at Edwards AFB in California enables our aircraft to be tested at the highest level. This means the UK can be at the forefront of upgrades to the F-35, giving us clear sight of the future path for this aircraft. Contact the editor: Tyler@twz.com LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Two brothers are walking across the country to raise awareness for kids in foster care. Davon Woods (Right) and Tavon Woods (Left) (Credit: Davon Woods) Davon Woods (Left) and Tavon Woods (Right) (Credit: Davon Woods) Davon and Tavon Woods, former foster kids themselves, are walking 10 miles in every U.S. state to highlight opportunities available to foster kids, as well as looking to expose the challenges they face. The brothers accomplished their Michigan steps on Tuesday in Lansing. The two returned to Michigan to record a podcast in Jackson on Sunday after receiving an outpouring of community support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brothers are from South Carolina and say that they are grateful to receive support so far from home. Were from South Carolina, so its like to be able to get that so much that much love and support from a place that were not even from. It goes to tell you that were at least doing something right, said Davon. A lot of kids in foster care feel like they dont have a voice. So were the voice for the voiceless, even adults. So, just sharing our story and hopes to inspire kids all over the world, added Tavon. The two spend several weeks each summer traveling the U.S. and have completed 28 states thus far. 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 WLNS 6 News. A Broward County animal shelter has temporarily halted taking in stray cats, aiming to prevent the spread of a potentially fatal feline disease. A spokesperson for Broward County Animal Care, the countys official shelter, said there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus among the 170 cats in the shelter but that at least two cats tested positive for the disease earlier this month. Were asking the community to come in and adopt and foster cats and dogs, said Zachary Rinkins, the shelters spokesperson. That just gives them an opportunity to remain healthy and have a second chance, so thats our focus at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rinkins said the shelter recently was over its capacity for 120 cats. Feline panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper, is highly contagious and attacks a cats cells in its lymph nodes, bone marrow and intestines, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The virus is more common among kittens and can be spread through a cats feces and body fluid and bedding, cages and food and water bowls. Rinkins said one cat tested positive on July 7, followed by another cat on July 11. The Broward shelter also will be indefinitely pausing its services that involve retrieving stray cats, neutering and caring for them and returning them to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rinkins said the shelter has implemented a number of quarantine measures that will be in place until its been at least two weeks from the last positive case. The infected cats were restricted from the public and other animals, and shelter workers who handle the cats use personal protective equipment. Its highly contagious, Rinkins said. So were making sure that were extra clean. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, infected cats may die suddenly. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Feline distemper is more common in the summertime, according to a news release written by the shelter. Seasonal upticks demand aggressive action, shelter director Doug Brightwell said in a statement. These temporary changes are part of our proactive approach to ensure the well-being of the cats in our care and to prevent any further spread of this serious disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, there have been 10 cases of the virus since mid-May, but the shelter is continuing to accept cats, according to spokesperson Jan Steele. Were lucky to have multiple rooms and kennels that are separated, Steele said. So for us its business as usual even though were in the midst of kitten season. As of last week, Steele said the shelter had 199 cats. Since March 2022, El Salvador has lived under a continuous state of emergency in which fundamental constitutional rights have been suspended as part of President Nayib Bukeles so-called war on gangs. In that time, detentions have surged: Nearly 2 percent of the adult population has been arrested, and most of those individuals are being held in pretrial detention with little hope of a speedy judicial process. The state of exception was wildly popular when Bukele first imposed it, and more than three years later, a majority of the population continues to support it today. While journalists and analysts point to other factors, including backroom deals that Bukele negotiated with gang leaders, much of the Salvadoran population views Bukele and his hardline policies as responsible for improving security and reducing gang violence across the country. More recently, however, what began as an anti-gang crackdown has metastasized into a systematic campaign targeting anyone who questions Bukeles increasingly authoritarian rule. Unfortunately, Bukele is following a pattern seen before in Latin America: A leader dismantles democracy while popular in order to hold onto it once that support is gone. Alberto Fujimori in Peru in the 1990s and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela in the 2000s are examples of democratically elected leaders with authoritarian tendencies who used their early popularity to undermine democratic values, often with the support of a majority of the population. Then, as they became less popular, the abuses increased. And the institutions that previously could have checked their power had been dismantled or captured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bukele is still in the popular phase of that pattern, but his recent moves suggest he intends to act quickly to remove any pockets of dissent that might cause problems later should popular sentiment turn against him. Last year he used a captured judiciary to secure reelection despite a constitutional prohibition on consecutive terms in office. And his partyNuevas Ideas, or New Ideasalready controls the legislature. So, he does not fear any institutional threats to his power. Instead, his goal has been to eliminate civil society organizations and independent journalists who legally question his moves and report on ongoing corruption within his government. Those sorts of critiques threaten to chip away at Bukeles image, particularly as El Salvadors economic situation lags that of its neighbors and continues to face challenges. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. On May 20, the Legislative Assembly passed a Foreign Agents Law that slaps a 30 percent tax on every foreign donation received by domestic Salvadoran NGOs and media outlets. Groups that fail to register risk criminal prosecution. The measure chokes off the finances of watchdog organizations, with the Washington Office on Latin America, or WOLA, warning that the tax amounts to de facto confiscation. A similar law passed in Nicaragua under President Daniel Ortega has led to the shutdown of thousands of NGOs in the country, facilitating Ortegas efforts to further consolidate his authoritarian control. Bukele seems to be following a similar script. Bukeles repression of NGOs goes far beyond that bureaucratic move. Ruth Lopez, a lawyer and top official at the NGO Cristosal, was arrested in May on embezzlement charges that lack any supporting evidence. Constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya was detained on money laundering charges days after calling Bukele a dictator on television. Environmental defender Alejandro Henriquez was detained after a protest in May and continues to be held. Community leader and evangelical pastor Jose Angel Perez was detained after the same protest. Both Henriquez and Perez as well as Lopez have been declared prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. If Bukele has an Achilles heel, it is El Salvadors economy. While the Salvadoran population has applauded the improved security in the country, a majority feel the economy is not growing enough. The consequences of Bukeles repression are already visible. This past week, Cristosal was forced to relocate its entire staff to Guatemala and Honduras, citing criminal persecution within El Salvador. The organizations director, Noah Bullock, said his staff had been trailed by police and visited at night by security forces as part of a new wave of repression in the country. Cristosal has been a vital source of information for those outside El Salvador to monitor and understand the deteriorating conditions of democracy there. The NGO will continue its work documenting prison conditions, torture and illegal detentions while in exile, but that work is obviously harder to carry out from outside the countrys borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cristosals exit from El Salvador follows the exit of journalists from El Faro, the top investigative media site in Central America. For months, its reporters had faced threats from the Salvadoran government due to their hard-hitting reporting about Bukeles negotiations with gangs and his administrations ongoing corruption. As El Faros personnel left the country, Bukeles security agents allegedly attempted to plant drugs in the reporters luggage as a way to frame them for crimes. At least one reason Bukele is moving against Salvadoran civil society now is that he has an ally in the White House: U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear that his administration, which has reduced the State Departments reporting on human rights abuses in general, will not criticize Bukele. And it has cut U.S. government funding to NGOs across the world, including those in El Salvador, putting a big hit on those organizations operating budgets. Even as those funds are cut for NGOs, they have flowed for El Salvadors prisons, as Bukele has agreed to allow the Trump administration to deport third-country nationals from the U.S. to El Salvador. Just last week, Bukele allowed over 200 Venezuelans who had been held in his flagship maximum security prison as part of that deal to be returned to their home country in exchange for 10 U.S. citizens and permanent residents held hostage in Venezuelan prisons by President Nicolas Maduro. Bukeles close cooperation with the Trump administration on every aspect of the prisoner exchange demonstrates just how close the two governments areand the influence Trump could have if he cared to exercise it to protect Salvadoran civil society. If Bukele has an Achilles heel, it is El Salvadors economy. While the Salvadoran population has applauded the improved security in the country, a majority feel the economy is not growing enough. Objectively speaking, they have a point: It is among the slowest-growing economies in Central America. While remittances, which account for about a quarter of El Salvadors GDP, were up in the first quarter of this year, the conditions that caused that bump appear to be temporary and could be vulnerable to the secondary impact of Trumps policies in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, in 2021, Bukele not only made Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador but had the Central Bank purchase tens of millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency as reserve assets. The move caused alarm among investors over El Salvadors economic stability, and in December 2024, Bukeles government agreed to limit further purchases in order to gain the International Monetary Funds approval of a $1.4 billion loan. But after Bukele recently declared on social media that his government had continued to make those purchases, El Salvadors Central Bank was forced to walk back his claims in a letter to the IMF, clarifying that it has not been purchasing new Bitcoin, but rather shuffling its holdings around various crypto wallets. That means Bukele has been lying to either the IMF or the Bitcoin enthusiasts who have backed his government with their investments. Whichever one it is will eventually catch on and stop funding him. More importantly, none of the recent authoritarian moves by Bukele will convince foreign investors that the country is a safe place to invest their money. A president who can detain every critic can also cancel contracts and seize property from private companies. When El Salvadors economy falls further, Bukeles popularity will slide. The question will then be whether his repression has advanced far enough that he can maintain control without the majority support he has enjoyed up until now. The history of authoritarians in Latin America, who often hold onto power long after their popularity has run out, suggests hell be able to. That sometimes ends badly for the president; it always ends poorly for the country and its people. James Bosworth is the founder of Hxagon, a firm that does political risk analysis and bespoke research in emerging and frontier markets, as well as a global fellow at the Wilson Centers Latin America Program. He has two decades of experience analyzing politics, economics and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. The post Bukele Is Using a Familiar Pattern to Dismantle El Salvadors Democracy appeared first on World Politics Review. SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities say a bullet casing found in the trash of a Smyrna residence helped them link a man and woman to a shooting on Interstate 24 that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old driver. The shooting was reported at 7:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-24 near mile marker 64 on Saturday, July 12. PREVIOUS | 2 charged after driver killed in shooting following road rage situation on I-24 in Rutherford County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to officials, Noah Taylor, 22, was shot on his way to work while driving toward Nashville on I-24 near Waldron Road. On Sunday, July 13, law enforcement announced Taylor had died from his injuries. Then, on July 18, the same day as Taylors funeral, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office announced they had made two arrests in connection with the 22-year-olds death. Tennessee Highway Patrol increasing number of troopers on interstate to watch for road rage Deputies said 40-year-old LaTashia McGowan and 41-year-old Glenn Branson, both from Smyrna, were charged with second-degree murder. Glenn Branson (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office) LaTashia McGowan (Courtesy: Rutherford County Sheriffs Office) Now, arrest affidavits obtained by News 2 reveal how authorities were able to connect the duo to the deadly road rage situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrest affidavit states that detectives determined that multiple rounds were fired from a dark-colored 2025 Infinity QX60, which was registered to McGowan. In addition, the court records detailed that her significant otheridentified as Bransonwas traveling on I-24 when the murder occurred. I-24 deadly shooting victim laid to rest; suspects in custody In the paperwork, authorities reported an item found in the couples residence helped lead to their arrest. During the examination of trash surrendered for removal by Branson, a fired cartridge casing was located inside trash. This fired cartridge casing was compared by the TBI to a fired cartridge casing located at the scene of the murder, which was concluded to have been fired from the same weapon, officials write in the affidavit. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Taylors family told News 2 that they learned of the duos arrest as they were heading to his funeral on Friday, July 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Branson is reportedly being held in the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $1 million bond. Meanwhile, McGowan is jailed on a $250,000 bond. Both are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Sept. 23. No additional information was immediately released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. (FOX40.COM) A sideshow that traveled throughout the Sacramento area and lasted from the night hours into the early morning led to a bystander being struck and at least one police chase, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Video Above: California law enforcement seeks to crack down on sideshows Around 9:45 p.m. on July 18, SPD said it began monitoring sideshow activity, which started near 6th Street and Telegraph Road. Police said it moved to the 5900 block of Stockton Boulevard, and then to Florin Road and Watt Avenue. Northern California officials issue unsafe water alert, do not drink Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, multiple vehicles stopped, and SPD said there was at least one pursuit. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Ca$h Out trial: Juror speaks after sentencing of Atlanta rapper in RICO, sex trafficking case A juror who helped convict Atlanta rapper Ca$h Out, his mother and his cousin spoke publicly for the first time since the verdict. Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln spoke exclusively with one of the jurors on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. The juror, who chose to remain anonymous, said the decision to convict wasnt one they took lightly. John-Michael Hakim Gibson, better known as Ca$h Out, was found guilty last week of leading a sex trafficking enterprise. His mother, Linda Smith, and cousin, Tyrone Taylor, were also convicted for their roles. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We took copious notes, you may have seen us scribbling, the juror said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over seven weeks of testimony, jurors reviewed a 46-count RICO indictment filled with disturbing allegations. The case included jail calls, cellphone records and surveillance footage that jurors said ultimately painted a clear picture. The states evidence was so compelling, and they had so much of it, the juror added. There was no swaying, we were very careful. We went count by count. Gibson was convicted of rape and forcing women into prostitution. His mother, Smith, was found guilty of allowing property in her name to be used for prostitution. Taylor was convicted of raping a woman and forcing her into sex work. At sentencing, each defendant had a chance to speak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The things Ive been accused of, I know I havent done those things, Gibson said. I take accountability. I pray for them continually, Smith said. The victims who are accusing me ... I didnt do it, Taylor told the court. Victim impact statements were read during the hearing, including one from a woman who was raped by both Gibson and Taylor. The day these defendants chose to commit these crimes against me, they gave me a life sentence, the woman said. The juror expressed sorrow for everyone involved. Im so sad. Im sad for the victims, and Im sad for the defendants too, she said. All three were convicted under Georgias RICO Act. Gibson and Taylor were sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years, while Smith was sentenced to 30 years behind bars. RELATED STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office is expanding its employee wellness program with the addition of a therapy dog named Sage, thanks to a $6,500 grant from Highland Canine Connect, according to the Independent Tribune. Sage, a Bernese mountain dog and poodle mix, will join the sheriffs office later this month to provide comfort to deputies affected by critical incidents and assist with recruitment efforts. ALSO READ >> Monroe Police to host training on motorcycle gang violence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grant covers all necessary training and veterinary care, with no county match required. We are very passionate about the wellness program for our employees, Chief Deputy Tessa Burchett said. We encourage our employees to care for themselves so they can do their job and respond compassionately. Highland Canine Connect, based in Harmony, North Carolina, collaborates with Highland Canine Training to supply therapy dogs to organizations in need of support services. The therapy dog initiative is part of a broader wellness program at the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office. In 2024, they partnered with Responder Support Services to enhance mental health care accessibility for its employees by providing a licensed behavioral clinician. These clinicians specialize in trauma recovery, anxiety, sleep difficulties, couples counseling, and substance use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burchett highlighted the high rate of trauma experienced by law enforcement officers, noting that they encounter an average of 188 critical incidents throughout their careers, leading to a PTSD rate of 35%, compared to 6.8% in the general population. VIDEO: Nonprofit aims to get therapy dogs to departments hurt by Hurricane Helene By Jessica DiNapoli and Abigail Summerville NEW YORK (Reuters) -Kraft Heinz's potential spinoff of slower-growing brands such as Velveeta cheese is a risky last-ditch effort to boost returns by reversing its unsuccessful decade-old merger. The Chicago- and Pittsburgh-based foodmaker is studying a potential spinoff of a large chunk of its grocery business, including many Kraft products, into a new entity, a source said on July 11, confirming a report in the Wall Street Journal. That entity could be valued at up to $20 billion on its own, which would make it the biggest deal in consumer goods so far this year. The company declined to comment on the move. Shares in the food maker have lost about two-thirds of their value since Kraft and H.J. Heinz merged in 2015 in a deal backed by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway that was aimed at cutting costs and growing the brands internationally. U.S. consumers, however, have been spending less on increasingly expensive name-brand packaged food after the pandemic. In addition, Kraft Heinz's convenience-oriented products like its Lunchables meal kit face scrutiny in the United States, its biggest market, amid the rise of the Make America Healthy Again or MAHA social movement led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The $33.3 billion market-cap company said in May that it was "evaluating potential strategic transactions to unlock shareholder value" as executives from Berkshire Hathaway left its board, most likely after losing faith in the food maker, bankers said. The potential move, yet to be confirmed by Kraft Heinz, would likely undo the approximately $45 billion 2015 merger, though the details of how the company's roughly 200 brands would be split up are unclear. It also is not a sure bet for investors, because they would reap the most value only if acquirers step in to buy either of the new companies, analysts said. Kraft Heinz's condiments division, led by ketchup brand Heinz and Philadelphia cream cheese, posted $11.4 billion in sales last year and has room to grow internationally. On a standalone basis, it would likely command a higher multiple than what the overall company is currently trading at, making it more valuable, analysts and bankers said. The rest of Kraft Heinz's products - with sales of $14.5 billion from legacy brands such as Oscar Mayer which face competition from cheaper private-label options - would likely be valued in line with the whole company, which currently trades just below nine times its earnings. Kraft Heinz did not immediately return a request for comment. This article was originally published in Oklahoma Voice. OKLAHOMA CITY An Oklahoma technology university announced it has formed a partnership with the Caddo Nation to give its members enhanced training in the renewable energy and construction fields. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, which is based in Okmulgee, said it will work with the Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority to have the new program operational by fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The partnership will offer programs focused on renewable energy development, construction and infrastructure, environmental remediation and utility development to create more career opportunities and support nation building by assisting in orphan well cleanup and solar energy initiatives. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Brandon Dinsmore, tribal outreach and workforce program specialist, said the university does not know how many students will participate in the skills programs and are still determining tuition rates. The training will primarily take place at the Caddo Nation campus in Binger. This partnership represents a transformative moment for our Nation, said Bobby Gonzalez, Caddo Nation chairperson in a statement. By joining forces with OSUIT, were not just creating jobs were building the foundation for generational prosperity and economic sovereignty that will benefit our people for decades to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants in the program can earn micro credentials, a program focused in a small area of study that upon completion, demonstrates the understanding of specific skills that are required in a workforce. If a participant decides they would like to obtain a degree toward a specific program, they convert those into college credit. Participants will also be able to earn industry certifications in non-credit training programs. This agreement exemplifies OSUITs commitment to serving Oklahomas diverse communities, said Trey Hill, vice provost at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, in a statement. Our industry-aligned programs and state-of-the-art facilities provide the perfect foundation for preparing Caddo citizens for high- paying careers in these rapidly growing sectors. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology has previously pursued partnerships with other tribes, including Cherokee Nation Career Services and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to develop a fiber technician training program. They have also partnered with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Division of Commerce to develop a culinary program. 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. Two days before the waters of the Guadalupe River swelled into a deadly and devastating Fourth of July flood in Kerr County, Texas, engineers with a California-based company called Rainmaker took off in an airplane about 100 miles away and dispersed 70 grams of silver iodide into a cloud. Their goal? To make it rain over Texas part of a weather modification practice known as cloud seeding, which uses chemical compounds to augment water droplets inside clouds, making the drops large enough and heavy enough to fall to the ground. But in the hours after the flood swept through the greater Kerrville area and killed at least 135 people, including three dozen children, conspiracy theories began swirling among a small but vocal group of fringe figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I NEED SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WHEN WAS THE LAST CLOUD SEEDING?" wrote Pete Chambers, a former U.S. special forces commander and prominent far-right activist, on the social media platform X . The post received 3.1 million views, yet was only one of several accusations that sprang up around Rainmaker's activities and its alleged connection to the flood. "Anyone who calls this out as a conspiracy theory can go F themselves," wrote Michael Flynn, former national security advisor under the first Trump administration, atop a repost of Chambers' tweet. Read more: Warnings ignored: The grim connection between the L.A. wildfires and Texas floods Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flurry of allegations was quickly debunked, with a number of independent scientists saying that the company's actions could not have produced anywhere close to the amount of rain that triggered the flood. "It's very clear that they have nothing to do with it," said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, in a YouTube briefing following the flood. Rainmaker also denied the claims. The storm dropped as much as four inches of rain per hour over Texas Hill Country, and the river in some places rose by 26 feet in less than 45 minutes. But in some ways, the damage was done. Conspiracy theorists who have long alleged that Deep State Democrats are controlling the weather now had a real incident to point to. And researchers, companies and experts working to study and perform weather modification and geoengineering practices which some say will be needed as climate change worsens now have an even bigger hurdle to overcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within hours of the deadly flood, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was introducing a bill to make all forms of weather modification such as cloud seeding a felony. "This is not normal," the Georgia representative said in a post on X. "No person, company, entity, or government should ever be allowed to modify our weather by any means possible!!" That same week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched two new websites to "address public questions and concerns" about weather modification, geoengineering, and contrails, or the thin clouds that form behind aircraft at high altitudes. "To anyone who's ever looked up to the streaks in the sky and asked, 'what the heck is going on?,' or seen headlines about private actors and even governments looking to blot out the sun in the name of stopping global warming we've endeavored to answer all of your questions," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a video accompanying the websites' launch . "In fact, EPA shares many of the same concerns when it comes to potential threats to human health and the environment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EPA website notes that there is a distinction between geoengineering, which involves a broad range of activities designed to modify global temperatures, and weather modification techniques such as cloud seeding, which are generally short-lived and localized. Read more: Like Texas, California faces major dangers when extreme floods come In fact, the process of cloud seeding was invented in the United States and has existed for nearly 80 years. General Electric scientists Vincent Schaefer, Irving Langmuir and Bernard Vonnegut older brother of the late novelist Kurt Vonnegut began experimenting with it as early as 1946. On July 2, Rainmaker's team was working in Runge, Texas, about 125 miles southeast of where the Guadalupe River would soon flood, according to Augustus Doricko, founder and chief executive of the company, which is headquartered in El Segundo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team flew its plane to an elevation of 1,600 feet and dispersed about 70 grams of silver iodide into the clouds an amount smaller than a handful of Skittles, Doricko said. The bright yellow compound is known to latch onto water droplets that are already present in clouds, converting them into ice crystals that can fall as rain or snow, depending on the temperature below. Soon after the flight, Rainmaker's meteorologists identified an inflow of moisture to the region and advised the team to suspend operations, which they did, Doricko said. Around 1 a.m. the next day, the National Weather Service issued its first flash flood watch for the Kerr County region. Doricko said there's no chance Rainmaker's actions which were contracted by the nonprofit South Texas Weather Modification Assn. and on file with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contributed to the flood. "The biggest and best cloud seeding operations we've seen to date have produced tens of millions and maximally like 100 million gallons of precipitation," he said. "We saw in excess of a trillion gallons of precipitation from that flood. Not only could cloud seeding not have caused this, but the aerosols that we dispersed days prior could not have persisted in the atmosphere long enough to have had any consequence on the storm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: EPA seeks to roll back regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants Multiple independent experts agreed. During his briefing, Swain noted that cloud seeding does not create new clouds it must be conducted on preexisting clouds that already have water vapor or small liquid drops inside of them, essentially enhancing what already had the potential to fall. What's more, its effects last "minutes to maybe an hour," Swain said. "Best-case-scenario estimates absolute best-case are that these cloud-seeding operations are able to augment the amount of precipitation by at most 10% to 15% over very limited areas," Swain said. "On average, it's a lot lower than that. In fact, in some cases, it's difficult to prove that cloud seeding does anything at all." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, has gone so far as to call cloud seeding a scam in part because it can prey on farmers and other people who are desperate for rain, and because it typically delivers only modest results, he said. "There's no physical way that cloud seeding could have made the Texas storm," Dessler said, noting that the storm was fueled by extremely high levels of atmospheric water that stemmed from a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. "This is a nonsense argument. There's no debate here about whether cloud seeding played a role in this disaster." Dessler said the whole dust-up surrounding Rainmaker and the Texas flood is a distraction from the very real issues and challenges posed by global warming. The amount of material injected into the atmosphere during cloud seeding and geoengineering operations pales in comparison to the trillions of tons of carbon dioxide humans have already spewed into the atmosphere, he said. "The real irony here is that in some sense, the argument they're making is correct there is a conspiracy to change the climate," Dessler said. "It's through the emission of carbon dioxide, and its by fossil fuel interests and the ecosystem that goes with that. Thats the conspiracy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Texas flood highlights deadly climate risk from extreme weather Such limitations haven't stopped governments and municipalities from investing in cloud-seeding technology. One of Rainmaker's first clients was the Utah Department of Natural Resources, which was interested in cloud seeding as a response to the drying of the Great Salt Lake, Doricko said. His company has also contracted with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and multiple municipalities in California, including the Public Works Departments of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. David Spiegel, supervising engineer with San Luis Obispo County's Public Works Department, said the county first began exploring cloud-seeding technology in the early 2000s in response to severe drought conditions and dwindling supplies at the Lopez Lake reservoir, which feeds five city agencies nearby. It took years to get the program off the ground, and it didn't ultimately run until 2019 through 2024 when the state was dealing with yet another drought to somewhat middling results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, San Luis Obispo's cloud-seeding program added about 1,200 acre-feet of water per year to the nearly 50,000 acre-foot reservoir, he said. (An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons.) In its best year, it added about 2,500 acre-feet. Part of the challenge was that there weren't many clouds in the area to work with, Spiegel said. "We didn't have enough storms to seed because we were still in this drought period, so it was kind of unfortunate." However, he still saw the program as a success because the small water supply gains that came from the cloud seeding priced out to about $300 per acre-foot far less than the cost of importing supplies from other sources such as the State Water Project, which can run closer to $1,500 an acre-foot. He said he would still consider cloud seeding in the future should the reservoir run low again. "We definitely see it as a viable option," Spiegel said. So far, the state isn't investing in its own cloud-seeding programs, though it does keep a close eye on them, according to Jason Ince, a spokesman with the California Department of Water Resources. He said any groups conducting cloud seeding work are required to notify the agency by submitting a notice of intent. An October report published by the department indicates there have been at least 16 cloud-seeding projects across multiple counties and watersheds in California in recent years. Read more: New scientific interventions are here to fight climate change. But they aren't silver bullets Such efforts could become useful as climate conditions keep moving in the wrong direction: Warming temperatures and overuse are sapping groundwater supplies in California, while state and federal officials are still mired in negotiations over use of the Colorado River a rapidly shrinking water lifeline that supplies 40 million people across the American West. Meanwhile, global average temperatures continue to soar driven largely by fossil fuel emissions and human activity. Many experts say there's a good chance that some form of intervention weather modification, geoengineering or some altogether new technology will be needed in the years ahead . "Weather modification projects are vital resources to enhance fresh water supply for communities within their watersheds," the Department of Water Resources report says. It recommends that the state continue to support existing cloud-seeding projects in the state and help facilitate new ones. Speigel, of San Luis Obispo County, said laws banning cloud seeding and other weather modification measures such as the one posed by Rep. Greene would be a detriment to the region. "It would be a setback for us, because we are constantly looking for other opportunities for water," he said. "It would limit our ability to seek out means of more water in these long drought periods. ... I definitely think it would stifle our ability to help our customers." Even more controversial than cloud seeding are geoengineering techniques to block the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth. Some involve injecting sulfur into the stratosphere. A 2021 report on geoengineering published by the National Academies of Sciences affirmed that "meeting the challenge of climate change requires a portfolio of options," but advised caution around such methods. "[Solar geoengineering] could potentially offer an additional strategy for responding to climate change but is not a substitute for reducing [greenhouse gas] emissions," the report says. Dessler, who is also the director of the Texas Center for Extreme Weather at Texas A&M, likened geoengineering to airbags on a car something no one ever hopes to use but that would be good to have in a climate emergency. He said the focus should continue to be on reducing the use of fossil fuels, and that the talk of banning geoengineering, cloud seeding and other forms of weather modification by members of the Trump administration and some lawmakers is more political than scientific. "It makes no sense it shows you that this is not an argument about facts. Its an argument about worldview," he said. Read more: The planet is dangerously close to this climate threshold. Here's what 1.5C really means The president has taken many steps to undo efforts to address climate change in recent months, including withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, an agreement among some 200 nations to limit global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The EPA has also removed several barriers and regulations that govern oil and gas drilling in the U.S., and has said it wants to repeal the endangerment finding a long-held legal and scientific determination that CO2 emissions harm human health and welfare, among other significant changes. Doricko, Rainmaker's CEO, said he was disappointed to see cloud seeding politicized in the wake of the Texas flood. He was taken aback when he saw that Rep. Greene had posted a picture of his face on X "insinuating somewhat that cloud seeding, or I, was responsible for the natural disaster in Texas, when any meteorologist or atmospheric scientist could tell you otherwise," he said. "Human civilization is unintentionally modifying the weather and the climate all the time," Doricko said, including through fossil fuel emissions and urban heat islands that warm surrounding areas. "What Rainmaker is trying to do is bring some intentionality to that, so that we can modify the weather for our benefit and deliberately." Doricko said he is also an advocate of more transparent reporting, more stringent regulations, and whatever else is needed to build trust with the public about "a really consequential technology." He said he will continue to engage with skeptics of the technology in good faith. "Cloud seeding is a water supply tool, and whether you're a farmer in a red state or an environmentalist in a blue state, water is as nonpartisan as it gets," he said. "Everybody needs water." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. California and a coalition of other liberal-led states sued the Trump administration Monday over new rules barring undocumented immigrants from accessing more than a dozen federally funded "public benefit" programs, arguing the restrictions target working mothers and their children in violation of federal law. President Trump and others in his administration have defended the restrictions as necessary to protect services for American citizens including veterans and reduce incentives for illegal immigration into the country. One of the programs facing new restrictions is Head Start, which provided nearly 700,000 low-income infants, toddlers and preschoolers with child care, nutrition and health assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others include short-term shelters for homeless people, survivors of domestic violence and at-risk youth; emergency shelters for people during extreme weather; soup kitchens, community food banks and food support services for the elderly, such as Meals on Wheels; healthcare services for those with mental illness and substance abuse issues; and other adult education programs. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office said states have been allowed to extend such programs to undocumented immigrant families at least since 1997, and the Trump administration's "abrupt reversal of nearly three decades of precedent" amounted to a "cruel" and costly attack on some of the nation's most vulnerable residents. Read more: New Trump rule immediately bans undocumented immigrants from Head Start child care "This latest salvo in the Presidents inhumane anti-immigration campaign primarily goes after working moms and their young children," Bonta said. "Were not talking about waste, fraud, and abuse, were talking about programs that deliver essential childcare, healthcare, nutrition, and education assistance, programs that have for decades been open to all." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit which California filed along with 19 other states and the District of Columbia contends the new restrictions were not only initiated in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner and without proper notice to the states, but will end up costing the states hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Bonta's office said "requiring programs to expend resources to implement systems and train staff to verify citizenship or immigration status will impose a time and resource burden on programs already struggling to operate on narrow financial margins." It also said that the impact of the changes in California, which has a huge immigrant population compared to other states, would be "devastating and immediate." Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement Monday that Trump "was elected based on his promise to put Americans first and that's exactly what this administration is committed to doing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many of our fellow Americans rely on assistance from the government and federally funded resources to get back on their feet," Jackson said. "When illegal aliens exploit these resources it is at the expense of Americans in desperate need of them." The states' claims run counter to arguments from Trump, his administration and other anti-immigration advocates that extending benefits to undocumented immigrants encourages illegal immigration into the country, costs American taxpayers money and makes it harder for U.S. citizens to receive services. About a month after taking office, Trump issued an executive order titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders," in which he said his administration would "uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans." The order required the heads of federal agencies to conduct sweeping reviews of their benefits programs and move to restrict access for undocumented immigrants, in part to "prevent taxpayer resources from acting as a magnet and fueling illegal immigration to the United States." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump cited the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 as providing clear restrictions against noncitizens participating in federally funded benefits programs, and accused past administrations of undermining "the principles and limitations" of that law. Past administrations have provided exemptions to the law, namely by allowing immigrants to access certain "life or safety" programs including those now being targeted for new restrictions. In response to Trump's order, various federal agencies including Health and Human Services, Labor, Education and Agriculture issued notices earlier this month announcing their reinterpretation of the 1996 law as excluding "noncitizens" from more programs, including previously exempted ones. Read more: California has sued Trump 15 times in his first 100 days. Where do those cases stand? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans' tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "Today's action changes that it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people." "Under President Trump's leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities," said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. "By ensuring these programs serve their intended purpose, were protecting good-paying jobs for American workers and reaffirming this Administrations commitment to securing our borders and ending illegal immigration," said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The Department of Agriculture also said it would apply new restrictions on benefits for undocumented immigrants, including under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. However, the states' lawsuit does not challenge the Department of Agriculture, noting that "many USDA programs are subject to an independent statutory requirement to provide certain benefits programs to everyone regardless of citizenship," which the department's notice said would continue to apply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joining Bonta in filing the lawsuit were the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. Yasmina Vinci, executive director for the National Head Start Assn., said her organization was not involved in the litigation, but would "follow it with interest." "Head Start has a more than 60-year track record of bipartisan support and success in producing healthier children, safer neighborhoods, more parents working and contributing, and fewer families needing public assistance," Vinci said. "Given all that Head Start does for the country's youngest learners and their futures, there is no good reason to make it harder for children to access this life-changing opportunity." Times staff writer Jenny Gold contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The miracle building of West 57th Street, once and future home of Calvary Baptist Church, got two gifts from heaven this week. The almost-completed 30-story tower on Billionaires Row at 125 W. 57th St. scored two crucial leases. Ten Five Hospitality, creator of popular Mother Wolf restaurants in Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, took 7,045 square feet for a new concept eatery on the entire ground floor. At the same time, the development team of Alchemy-ABR Investment Partners and Cain International landed the projects first office lease. Medical equipment company AdaptHealth took the full 14th floor of 10,275 square feet. Rendering of 125 West 57th St. Neoscape The building, to open after Labor Day, is one of the citys most uplifting sagas. After the developers made a deal with the church in 2019 to replace its existing house of worship with a larger one within a new building, a loan agreement broke down in March 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The financing collapse combined with the pandemic appeared to doom the project, which depended on buying the churchs property including the faded Salisbury Hotel next door for $130 million. As we reported in 2021, the unidentified lenders pullout left the developers and the church in shock. We had term sheets and we were ready to close, Cain senior managing director Eric Poretsky told us at the time. But Calvary, which urgently needed new capital to fund improvements, gave the developers time to find new funding. A loan from a Cain affiliate brought the $350 million project back to life. The handsome, 260,000 square-foot tower designed by architect Dan Kaplans team at FX Collaborative stands between a pair of supertalls One57 and 111 W. 57th St. It includes 185,000 square feet of office space and a full tenants amenities floor. The 10,000 square-foot floor plates boast floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terraces. The church will occupy floors 2-10 with facilities for its congregation and for educational and community uses. New boutique office building on West 57th St nears completion. Neoscape A JLL team led by Kristen Morgan and Mitchell Konsker is the landlords rep for the office floors. They said that full-floor leases are out for a financial firm and a real estate company. CBREs Ramsey Feher acted for AdaptHealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Konsker said the amenities floor includes an outdoor portion overlooking West 57th Street. He praised the blocks growing strength, which includes two hotels Le Meridien, where a Shelly Fireman-run French brasseries just opened, and the Park Hyatt. Morgan said office asking rents are between $175-$250 per square foot for available floors, but the two highest floors not yet on the market will likely command bigger numbers. The church entrance is on the towers eastern side and the office entrance on the western side, with the restaurant between them. Calvary Baptists Churchs entrance is on the east side of the tower, while the office entrance will be on the west side. Neoscape The building stands next door to 111 W. 57th St., the condo tower which is 81% sold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ground floor will soon be home to auction house Bonhams, a deal we first reported last September. Cain Internationals head of US Equity Eric Poretsky, said, Our decision to bring Ten Five Hospitality in is a reflection of our long-term conviction in the Plaza District and our belief in the continued appetite for best-in-class real estate both in the workplace and in experiential retail environments. Ten Fives track record in creating culturally resonant, high-touch hospitality experiences makes them an ideal partner to activate this building. Canadian Defence Minister David J. McGuinty has announced an additional CA$20 million (approx. US$14.6 million) to support the maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine. Source: an announcement made by McGuinty during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) on 21 July, as reported by European Pravda, citing the Canadian Defence Ministry press service Details: McGuinty said Canada will provide an additional CA$20 million to support the Leopard 2 tank maintenance and repair centre in Poland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This donation comes from the Government of Canadas 2025-26 investment for military assistance to Ukraine," the Canadian Defence Ministry said. McGuinty also confirmed that Canada is providing a further CA$2 billion (US$1.48 billion) for military aid to Ukraine, as announced in June by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. This brings Canadas total military aid to Ukraine to CA$6.5 billion (US$4.75 billion) since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Background: On 21 July, 52 countries attended the Ramstein meeting, which launched a 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine. During the meeting, it was announced that the US and Germany have agreed to supply Ukraine with five Patriot air defence systems, which are to be delivered to the battlefield as soon as possible. In addition, the UK and Germany launched a joint project to provide Ukraine with 220,000 rounds for the German Gepard anti-aircraft system. Both countries will also fund supplies of advanced drones to the battlefield. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LATHAM, N.Y. (AP) Canadian man who reported his 9-year-old daughter missing has been arrested on a murder charge in New York. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) The South Dakota Board of Finance has turned down a request from a member of Gov. Rhodens cabinet for full lodging reimbursement on an out-of-state trip. Agriculture and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts sought full repayment for his stay at a Denver hotel. He was meeting with federal EPA staff. 25-year-old inmate death at Mike Durfee State Prison Roberts was billed for two nights, one at $303.20 and one at $319.20, plus taxes and fees. A state rule, however, caps the maximum reimbursement for a night of lodging outside South Dakota at $275. That rule was last changed by the board in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenna Latham is a supervisor on State Auditor Rich Sattgasts staff. During the board meeting last week, Latham said she has been trying to meet with people in Roberts department to go over state rules, and to learn more about what they do, but she hasnt received any response. State School and Public Lands Commissioner Brock Greenfield is a member of the board. He made the motion to deny. So the difference is seventy-five bucks, Greenfield said. Maybe this is what it takes to open up the lines of communication a little bit. A majority of the board agreed and denied the request. GFP REJIGGERING: The Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee tracks how well state government agencies have been meeting goals. The panel has a new chair in Republican Sen. Taffy Howard and shes been busy pressing state Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling for some performance indicators that are different from what his department now uses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the spread of zebra mussels in South Dakota waters. I would love to see a performance metric on that, Howard told Robling during his July 16 meeting with the committee. That to me is a better performance indicator than some of the others. When it comes to invasive aquatic species, however, Asian carp pose a lot bigger concern for state fisheries staff than zebra mussels, Robling said. He noted that a GFP staff is researching mitigation strategies for Asian carp. To say that we can eradicate Asian carp is a very difficult statement to make. We cant, Robling said. The GFP head defended his departments reliance on telling boaters to clean, drain and dry their craft when they leave the water to prevent the spread of AIS and said the 98% compliance rate on boaters pulling drain plugs has been incredible. Minnesota spends more money than South Dakota but has more problems with invasive species, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howard said she would also like to see a metric that prioritizes residents over nonresidents in state-funded campgrounds. I would like to emphasize residents are our priority, and they would like to camp in our state parks, said Howard, who often camps in the Black Hills. Howard suggested GFP develop a metric on resident satisfaction rather than occupancy rate at campgrounds. She wants residents happiness placed higher than GFP revenue. TARGETING TIFS: One of the mechanisms that South Dakota laws allow for encouraging development is called tax increment financing. South Dakotas TIF laws have been on the books since the late 1970s. Basically, a local governments planning commission designates an area as a TIF district. Then improvements are made in the district, such as for streets, and the property consequently gains a higher assessed value, with the higher taxes resulting from the improvements then used to pay for the improvements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some members of the Legislatures Property Tax Task Force however see TIFs as one of the reasons that property taxes have been going up outside the districts. Active TIFs statewide grew in number from 199 in 2020 to 264 in 2024, according to a briefing assembled by the Legislative Research Council. Another feature in South Dakota property-tax laws is whats known as the discretionary formula, and it too is under scrutiny from the task force. Basically, it allows a county commission or a municipal government to reduce taxes on a newly improved property for up to five full tax years. Counties where the discretionary formula was most used to reduce property taxes in 2025 included Minnehaha (Sioux Falls) $139 million; Brown (Aberdeen) $105 million; Codington (Watertown) $91 million; Meade (Sturgis) $49 million; Brookings $41 million; and Lincoln (southern Sioux Falls/Canton) $36 million. And, for what its worth, Pennington County (Rapid City) had just $4 million in assessed value reductions from the discretionary formula this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next meeting of the task force is August 13 in Aberdeen, followed by meetings in Pierre scheduled for September 23 the same day that Gov. Larry Rhoden has now called for the Legislatures special session on building a new mens prison in Sioux Falls and for October 22. FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM: The not-for-profit JewBelong organization says it has contracted for three billboards along roadways in the Sturgis area as part of the 2025 motorcycle rally. The messages include Whats more American than your bike? Standing up to hate. Lets ride. and You get stares on your bike. We get them just for being Jewish. This is your fight too. The group has used the pink and white billboards in other places throughout the U.S. including Montana and North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APPOINTMENT: Gov. Larry Rhoden has chosen Jim Schmidt of Sioux Falls to serve on the state Board of Economic Development. Schmidt, a Lincoln County Commission member, is a past president of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds James Yunag of Sioux Falls. You can reach KELOLAND Capitol Bureau reporter Bob Mercer with news tips, questions, complaints and story ideas by calling 605-280-7580. He also can be reached via digital messages at bmercer@keloland.com or @pierremercer on X, or through U.S. mail at 1810 Camden Court, Pierre, SD, 57501. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. With a year-to-date loss of 15%, Apple (AAPL) is the second-worst performing Magnificent 7 stock this year. Only Tesla (TSLA) has fared worse than Apple among the coveted group, thanks to news flow around CEO Elon Musks politics, which often tend to overshadow the more pressing issues that the company needs to address. As for Apple, the YTD underperformance comes amid the growing perception that it slacked big time on artificial intelligence (AI). As Wedbush analyst Dan Ives aptly said, Apple is at a highway rest stop on a bench watching this Fourth Industrial Revolution race go by at 100 miles an hour. More News from Barchart Some other headlines are even more unforgiving, with one even claiming Apple stock is for losers. That said, the iPhone maker remains the largest holding for Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), and the Oracle of Omaha does not appear to be in a mood to sell more shares after trimming the holdings to a round figure of 300 million shares. In this article, well gauge how bad things are for Apple, as a section of the market questions whether CEO Tim Cook is the best person to lead the Cupertino-based company amid its recent underperformance. www.barchart.com Apple Has Arguably Slacked on AI While other Big Tech companies have ramped up their AI capex, filling up Nvidias (NVDA) coffers in that process, Apple hasnt seen a commensurate rise in its AI spending. The companys Apple Intelligence features have been quite gradual, and while Apple maintains that iPhone sales have been better in regions where these features are available, they havent moved the needle much, or at least thats what the sales numbers tell us. The argument about Apple slacking on its AI initiatives gained momentum following last months WWDC, where the new features were not exactly groundbreaking and, in many cases, Apple appeared to be playing catch-up with its competitors. For example, despite Siri having the first-mover advantage in the digital assistant space, it is still well behind AI assistants offered by the likes of OpenAI. There have been rumours about Apple considering acquiring AI startup Perplexity. However, I believe the possibility of that acquisition looks dim as, firstly, Apple has historically not made large acquisitions. Plus, it has prioritized privacy in its AI development, unlike Perplexity. Orlando police department said they are investigating after a Ford sedan plowed through the wall of Vegan Scoops on East South Street. The crash happened early Sunday morning, and it was all caught on surveillance video. The owners, Yeseiny Lopez and her husband, Andres Martinez, showed Channel 9 the video. The video shows the Ford backing up in the parking lot, then crashing right into the business, and the video continues to show the driver taking off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as we saw that, we were shocked, so we checked the surveillance footage. The owners said they rushed to the scene seconds after getting the call. They said they couldnt believe the damage. The posts had been knocked down [along with] fans, lights, and the windows were shattered, said Lopez. There are apartments above the restaurant. One of the renters, Domingo Chaluisant was home at the time of the crash. He said he heard car alarms blaring, so he looked outside. I looked out, and I stood there looking at her, and I said to myself, this isnt going to end well. He believes the driver was a woman. Channel 9 has reached out to Orlando Police to get more information. We are still waiting to hear back from them for an update and more of a description of the car and the suspected driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vegan Scoops did not let the crash stop business. They boarded the wall up and got right back to work, and business was busy all day. They have set up a GoFundMe to help with repairs. Click here for the GoFundMe page. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A New York City carriage driver on trial for animal abuse was acquitted on Monday, bursting into tears as the jury read its verdict, according to several reports. Ian McKeever was found not guilty of animal abuse in connection with his horse Ryders 2022 collapse, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement on Monday. McKeever, 56, had been charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring an animal, PEOPLE previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veteran New York City carriage driver, who has driven horses in Manhattan for more than 30 years, was accused of pushing his elderly horse, Ryder, to work on an 84-degree August day for several hours until it collapsed on a street in Hells Kitchen. After the horse collapsed, officers and a group of witnesses attempted to cool off the horse with ice and cold water gathered from nearby restaurants, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, the horse laid on the pavement and failed multiple times to stand back up. After an hour, Ryder eventually was able to get back up and was guided into a police trailer before being taken back to a local stable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, he was taken upstate, where a veterinarian determined Ryder was an elderly 26, twice the age McKeever allegedly told police, the DA's office said in 2023, and was suffering a range of serious ailments. Citing the vet, the DA's office said in 2023 that Ryder "should not have been working." He was euthanized at an upstate farm that October. At the beginning of McKeevers trial, his attorney Raymond Loving told the jury that, "Ryder's fall is heartbreaking, but the evidence in this case is not going to show that Ryder fell because Ian overdrove him," according to the AP. And on the witness stand, McKeever testified that Ryder was his most important possession. His health and his care is the most important thing to me, the carriage driver testified, according to CBS New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vet who completed Ryders autopsy had also found that the horse had leukemia, which likely contributed to its collapse, though the vet also said the animal was pushed beyond his limit, according to the outlet. Prosecutors alleged that McKeever deliberately chose to overwork the horse despite signs that it was struggling in the heat, PEOPLE previously reported. One witness testified that the horse appeared to be in major distress moments before it collapsed as McKeever allegedly grew angry with the animal, pulling and shaking its reins in order to get it to continue lugging the carriage further up a hill. Animal rights activists have cited Ryder's case to rally support for banning horse carriages in New York City, renaming a bill in the City Council to phase out carriages "Ryder's Law." The move is steadfastly opposed by the union representing carriage drivers. 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. But the Manhattan jury only took one hour to find McKeever not guilty of animal abuse on Monday, according to CBS. The outlet reported that after breaking down in tears, McKeever smiled and nodded his head as he was cleared of the charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that he would encourage New Yorkers to continue reporting alleged cases of animal abuse to its office, despite the outcome of McKeevers trial. "All animals deserve to be treated with the utmost of care, the statement read. Read the original article on People YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The case against a man who was accused of purposefully driving his vehicle into a womans car in a Youngstown parking lot has been dismissed. According to Youngstown Municipal Court records, two counts of felonious assault have been dismissed against 30-year-old DAndre Boykin. Court records did not indicate why the case was dismissed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A group of 287 scientists and current and former NASA employees has issued a declaration lambasting budget cuts, grant cancellations and a culture of organizational silence that they say could pose a risk to astronauts safety. The document titled The Voyager Declaration and dedicated to astronauts who lost their lives in tragic spaceflight incidents of the past is addressed to acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, a staunch Trump loyalist who abruptly replaced Janet Petro, a longtime NASA employee, in the agencys top role on July 9. The letter has 156 anonymous signatories and 131 public signatures including at least 55 current employees. Hours after the letter published, Goddard Space Flight Center Director Makenzie Lystrup, who has led the NASA campus since 2023, abruptly resigned. Lystrup did not give a reason for her departure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major programmatic shifts at NASA must be implemented strategically so that risks are managed carefully, states the letter to Duffy, a former member of Congress, prosecutor and reality TV personality who also currently serves as Transportation secretary. Instead, the last six months have seen rapid and wasteful changes which have undermined our mission and caused catastrophic impacts on NASAs workforce. The letter raises concerns about suggested changes to NASAs Technical Authority, a system of safety checks and balances at the agency. Transportation Secretary, and now acting NASA Administrator, Sean Duffy speaks at a news conference in Washington, DC, on June 12. - Eric Lee/Bloomberg/Getty Images Established in the wake of the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster that killed seven astronauts, the Technical Authority aims to ensure mission safety by allowing NASA employees at all levels of the agency to voice safety concerns to leaders outside their direct chain of command. If you have a significant disagreement with a technical decision thats being made, (the system) gives someone an alternate avenue thats not their project manager or program manager to express that concern, a source at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes to that system should be made only in the interests of improving safety, not in anticipation of future budget cuts, the declaration reads. The source said that they considered looming changes a really scary prospect, especially for my colleagues who work directly on the human spaceflight side of things. The letter comes as the agency is grappling with the impending loss of thousands of employees and broader restructuring. In a statement, current NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens responded to the Voyager Declaration. NASA will never compromise on safety. Any reduction including our current voluntary reduction will be designed to protect safety-critical roles, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the claims posted on a website that advances radical, discriminatory DEI principles, the reality is that President Trump has proposed billions of dollars for NASA science, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to communicating our scientific achievements, Stevens added in the statement. To ensure NASA delivers for the American people, we are continually evaluating mission lifecycles, not on sustaining outdated or lower-priority missions. In her resignation email to staff, Lystrup said she was leaving her post at Goddard with confidence in Cynthia Simmons, the current deputy center director who will take over on an interim basis, and the center leadership team, and all of you who will help shape the next chapter of this center. Lystrup did not mention agency leadership. Her last day will be August 1. Spokespeople at NASA headquarters and Goddard Space Flight Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Lystrups resignation. A risky resistance The signed letter is the most recent in a string of declarations rebuking proposed cuts and changes at other federal agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some National Institutes of Health employees led the way in June, publishing a declaration opposing what they called the politicization of research. Another letter, signed by federal workers at the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month, resulted in about 140 people being placed on administrative leave. At least some of those workers will remain on leave until at least August 1, pending the Agencys inquiry, according to internal email correspondence obtained by CNN. One signatory of the NASA letter who spoke to CNN said they felt that expressing dissent against the Trump administration may pose a risk to their livelihoods, but they believed the stakes were too high to remain silent. Ella Kaplan, a contractor employed by Global Science and Technology Inc. and the website administrator for the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio, said she decided to publicly attach her name to the Voyager Declaration because the overall culture at NASA has very much shifted and it feels a lot less safe for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats been felt kind of universally by most minority employees at NASA, Kaplan said. While Kaplan said her job has not yet been directly threatened, in her view, Im a member of the LGBT community and Im probably going to be fired for this at some point, so I might as well do as much community organizing as possible before that point. A changing culture The letter and its signatories implore Duffy to evaluate recent policies they say have or threaten to waste public resources, compromise human safety, weaken national security, and undermine the core NASA mission. The declarations criticism of changes to NASAs Technical Authority stem from statements made at an agency town hall in June. During that meeting, NASA executives said they planned to attempt to make the Technical Authority more efficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were looking at: How do we do programs and projects more efficiently? And how much should we be spending on oversight? said Vanessa Wyche, NASAs acting associate administrator. A NASA worker wipes a tear from her face as she visits a makeshift memorial for the seven-person Columbia crew at one of the gates of the Johnson Space Center in Houston on February 7, 2003. - Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images Garrett Reisman a former NASA astronaut and engineer who later served as a SpaceX advisor told CNN that he believes implementing some changes to the Technical Authority may be welcome. He noted that NASA may have become too risk averse in the wake of the Columbia tragedy, and the current structure may be hampering innovation. But, Reisman said, any changes to the space agencys safety backstops need to be made with extreme care. And currently, he said, he does not trust that will happen. I have very little confidence that it will be done the right way, Reisman, who signed the declaration, said. So far, this administration has used a very heavy hand with their attempts to remove bureaucracy and what theyve ended up doing is not making things more efficient, but just eliminating things. Trumps anti-DEIA efforts The signatories who spoke to CNN each expressed opposition to President Donald Trumps directives to shutter Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility or DEIA initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At NASA, leadership complied with Trumps executive order by shuttering a DEIA-focused branch, scrubbing pronouns from email signatures, and removing references to a pledge made during the presidents previous term to land a woman and person of color on the moon for the first time. The space agency also shuttered employee groups that lent support to minority workers. The source who spoke with CNN anonymously said that DEIA policies not only ensure a welcoming work environment theyre also essential to practicing sound science. The concept of inclusivity being a pathway to better science is something that has become really entrenched in the overall academic and scientific community in the last decade or so, the source said, adding that the changes set an immediate tone for the destruction that was going to come. Indiscriminate cuts Among the other policies that the letter decries is the Trump administrations call for NASA to shutter some projects that have Congressional backing a move the signatories say is wasteful and represents a permanent loss of capability to the United States both in space and on Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NASA employee told CNN that leadership has already begun shutting down some facilities that the Trump administration put on the chopping block in its budget proposal, despite the fact that Congress appears poised to continue funding some of them. Weve also been hearing repeatedly passed down from every level of management: No one is coming to save you; Congress is not coming to save you, the source said. But it seems like Congress is moving towards an appropriations thats going to continue to fund our projects at approximately the same level. The source noted that they have first-hand knowledge of leadership beginning to decommission a clean room a facility free of dust and debris where sensitive hardware and science instruments must be prepared for spaceflight despite the fact that there are ongoing tests happening at the facility. The Voyager Declaration also criticizes what it refers to as indiscriminate cuts planned for the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White Houses proposal to slash NASAs science budget by as much as half has been met with widespread condemnation from stakeholders who say such cuts threaten to cripple US leadership in the field. Recent agency communication to staff has also noted that at least 3,000 staff members are taking deferred resignation offers, according to an internal memo, the authenticity of which was confirmed to CNN by two sources who had seen the communication. Broader workforce cuts could also be on the horizon. NASA leadership under Petro also worked on an agency restructuring plan, though the details of that initiative have not yet been made public. Other Trump-era changes denounced in the Voyager Declaration include directives to cancel contracts and grants that affect private-sector workers across the country and plans to pull the space agency out of some projects with international partners. The White House budget proposal calls for defunding dozens of projects, including the Lunar Gateway space station that the US would have worked on with space agencies in Canada, Europe, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. The letter and its signatories argue these policies are wasteful, squandering investments that have been years or decades in the making. American taxpayers have invested a lot of money in my education and training directly, the Goddard source said. Im in it for the public service and I want to return that investment to them. Editors Note: This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties is hosting a family-friendly community baby shower on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The annual Community Baby Shower will take place on the Cristo Rey Campus, located at 1717 N. High St., at 3:00 p.m. Event officials say attendees will receive free tote bags filled with baby essentials such as diapers, pacifiers, bibs, and a free raffle ticket. Prizes include strollers, pack-and-plays, car seats, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lansing Fire Department will provide car seat checks and host a Touch-a-Truck activity, along with face painting, a bounce house, and free hot dogs. 6 News will have more on this event later this week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) CBS 42 wants to help you and your family stay healthy. Each week, our resident Dr. Celeste Reese-Willis joins us to talk about a timely health issue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A $1 million grant will help the Community College of Rhode Island grow its electrical apprenticeship program, launched in November 2024. (Photo by Dan Reynolds Photography/Getty Image) The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) was awarded a $1 million grant to expand its skilled trade programs, the Lowes Foundation announced Friday. The funding will allow CCRI to grow its electrical apprenticeship program, launched last November with funding from the state Department of Labor and Training, offering lessons in math, blueprints, financial literacy and other topics for aspiring construction workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lowes Foundation grant will also help energize the Ready to Build program, which focuses on construction and building trades in Rhode Island, which ranked among the three slowest states for new housing construction last year, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May 2025. Gov. Dan McKee proposed an $800,000 investment in the schools pre-apprenticeship Ready to Build program in his fiscal 2026 budget. But it ultimately went unfunded in the final spending plan even as the Executive Office of Housing pursues a goal of building 15,000 new homes in the state over the next five years. The grant money will be used to create lab spaces to increase capacity for CCRI classes as well as craft a credited program that combines a new construction management certificate with a degree program, the foundation said. Rosemary A. Costigan, the president of CCRI, in a statement called the grant an extraordinary recognition of the schools commitment to building career paths for skilled tradespeople. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this investment, we will equip our students with the tools and technology they need to thrive and help meet Rhode Islands growing demand for a highly trained workforce, Costigan said. CCRI is one of 12 community colleges nationwide this year awarded a total of $7 million via the foundations Gable Grants program, and the only school in New England to receive one. In the 2024 grant cohort, Central Maine Community College won a $500,000 grant from the foundation. The Lowes Foundation is an independent nonprofit created by the home improvement retail giant and was designed to infuse $50 million into community and technical schools over five years, with the goal of training 50,000 tradespeople. Grants have also been awarded to community and nationally based nonprofits. Since its inauguration round of grants in 2023, the initiative has deposited $43 million into education coffers in 28 states, with the aim of boosting education in fields like carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical work, plumbing and property maintenance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DICKSON CITY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A local community is celebrating a milestone anniversary by giving back. Dickson City Borough teamed up with Crowned Loyalty Car Club on Sunday to hold a car show. Nearly four dozen cars, trucks, and motorcycles were entered into this first-ever show. Trophies were up for grabs, including best domestic, best foreign, and best of show. Dickson City is celebrating its 150th anniversary, and proceeds will help a local food bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man who lives in the borough explained why he wanted to bring the car show to his hometown. Bazaar benefitting child with brain cancer I have three cars of my own. I go to a lot of car shows here in the area, so I figured why not give a car show here where I live in Dickson City, Dickson City Car Show Co-Host Ryan Strony said. What makes it special to participate in any, really any car event is the fact of all the people, the good environment. Its just an environment thats like no other, like, its always a great time, Car Show Participant Billy Hall told 28/22 News. The car show raised roughly $500 for The Valley Village of Volunteers food pantry in Lackawanna County. 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 28/22 News. Astronomers interim CEO addressed the controversy surrounding the company when the former CEO was caught cuddling with the companys head of HR at a Coldplay concert last week. The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companieslet alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI worldever encounter, Pete DeJoy wrote Monday on LinkedIn. The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name. DeJoy, who is also the co-founder of the data company, in his statement wrote how he has poured his entire professional life into building Astronomer, and over the last few years the company has seen incredible growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Astronomer we have never shied away from challenges; a near-decade of building this business has tested us time and time again, and each time weve emerged stronger, DeJoy wrote. From starting a software company in Cincinnati, Ohio, to keeping the lights on through the collapse of the bank that held all our cash, to scaling from 30 to 300 people during a global pandemic that demanded we do it all without ever being in the same room. And yet, were still here. Last week, the company went viral after then-CEO Andy Byron and the head of his HR department were caught holding each other on the jumbotron during a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts. Once the two realized they were on the big screen, they ducked and covered their faces, leaving some, including Coldplays front man, Chris Martin, to joke that they were having an affair. A few days after the concert, Byron stepped down with the company noting that its committed to the values and culture that have guided them since their founding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met, the statement read. Related... The need for rural broadband connections is nearly universal, though the decision of whether to lay fiber optic cable like this or to connect people in rural places wirelessly or by satellite continues to stir debate. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) LINCOLN County officials and advocates for rural development cried foul over recent changes in a federal initiative to expand access to high-speed internet, saying they will force thousands in rural Nebraska to settle for second-rate broadband. Take Seward County, just outside of Lincoln, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County Commissioner Misty Ahmic of Milford was part of a county task force dedicated to bringing high-speed internet to so-called dark territories in the county. It spent four years holding town hall meetings, polling local residents about their internet service and challenging inaccuracies in a federal map showing where the internet is supposedly high speed. That work identified 1,724 locations in Seward County that would be eligible for federal grants to help companies bring broadband service to areas deemed too expensive to serve, without government help. Changing programs But much of that work, in one advocates words, went poof after the task force was informed about new changes in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Act to cut costs. Now, only 629 locations in Seward County are eligible for a portion of the $405 million in grants available in Nebraska. Statewide, the changes have disqualified more than half of the nearly 30,000 locations identified initially as eligible BEAD grants because they were locations unserved or underserved by high-speed internet. An ultra fast broadband tower is seen on a rural farm. (Sandra Mu/Getty Images) In addition, the priority was changed instead of prioritizing more reliable, easily upgraded fiber optic service, BEAD now gives more deference to cheaper-to-build alternatives, including satellite service like Elon Musks Starlink or fixed wireless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sudden change, as the BEAD grants were about to be awarded, has county and state officials scrambling to understand whats left and if theres a chance to make more areas once deemed eligible eligible again. More than half of the states 93 county boards have signed onto letters to federal officials objecting to the changes. Its very frustrating. We have all these holes in our county, and BEAD was going to bring service to those areas, Ahmic said. Fears of two-tiered system Oliver Borchers-Williams of the Lincoln-based Southeast Nebraska Development District said the changes promise to set up a two-tiered system, where state-of-the-art fiber is easily available in urban areas, but in some rural areas, only less-reliable wireless and satellite service is available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its technology that wouldnt cut it in a city, but were saying its good enough for rural areas, said Borchers-Williams, who saw hundreds of locations in his 16-county area deemed ineligible. BEAD was adopted during the Biden Administration, which touted the $42.5 billion program as internet for all and the final solution to bring affordable, high-speed internet services to even the most remote and hard-to-serve areas of the country. At the time, Biden said broadband service was as important as bringing electricity to every home decades ago. Having high-speed internet is essential in running a business, as well as for advanced precision agriculture increasingly used by farmers and to provide a reliable link with medical providers via tele-health. Ask a gamer if theyd rather have fiber. Funding set aside Nebraska was allocated $405 million to expand broadband, but officials now say that probably only about half of that outlay will be spent under the new rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of frustration out here, said State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, who saw hundreds of previously eligible locations deemed ineligible for upgrades due to the recent changes. There have been several federal and state initiatives to help fund the expansion of broadband into areas companies deem too expensive and too sparsely settled to serve. But one state effort, the $20 million-a-year Broadband Bridge program, was eliminated by Gov. Jim Pillen due to state budget problems. Earlier this month, state and local officials learned of the extent of the changes ordered in June by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), eliminating thousands of locations in Nebraska. The NTIA billed the changes as cutting billions of dollars in spending, reducing paperwork, eliminating labor requirements and overall ending Bidens broadband burdens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials here said that the changes did eliminate some unnecessary red tape but that they were mostly aimed at cutting spending, a top priority of the Trump Administration. It also opened the way for less-reliable unlicensed fixed wireless service to be counted as serving an area with broadband and opened the way for those providers to bid for grants. The bottom line, they said, is less reliable, slower internet. Cost is the only thing that matters now, said Borchers-Williams. Said Ahmic, Now its lets get it done as cheaply as possible and as quickly as possible. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Costs vs. investments To be sure, stringing a mile of fiber optic cable can cost between $5,000 to $20,000, according to industry estimates, which is much more expensive than sending an internet signal from a tower or satellite. Stringing fiber to some remote customers could cost up to $45,000, and the initial state plans called for some sites to be served by technologies other than fiber due to the high cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, advocates say, fiber internet is much more reliable (especially in bad weather), provides higher speeds and can be scaled even higher as technology improves. Unlicensed fixed wireless service, they say, can be slowed during certain times of the day, or slowed because someone has used up most of their data. If youre a gamer, youd rather use fiber than a low-orbit satellite, said Tip ONeill, president of the Nebraska Telecommunications Association. Wider rural broadband deployment remains a long-term goal in Nebraska. (Getty Images) Federal and state officials say theyre working with the NTIA to learn what, if any, latitude Nebraska now has in deploying BEAD funds. We are currently gathering and analyzing data to evaluate all the options afforded to us through the new BEAD guidance, said Patrick Haggerty, the states broadband office chief, in an email response to questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that deploying a diverse set of technologies has always been essential in reaching broadband to all Nebraskans. Officials weigh in A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), via email, said that the senator recognizes how essential high-quality internet service is to Nebraska and especially rural areas. She said the senator is working with the NTIA to ensure Nebraska retains as much decision-making authority as possible in the agencys evaluation of our subgrantee selection. Candace Meredith, deputy director with the Nebraska Association of County Officials, said her organization is reaching out to federal officials in hopes that fiber can be deployed to more locations. This is a huge economic driver for our rural communities, Meredith said, adding that months of work local officials did to identify eligible areas went poof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Borchers-Williams added that the changes will reduce jobs in the state, citing the recent layoff of 70 workers in the state by Lincoln-based ALLO, a fiber-optic internet provider. ONeill, who represents fiber optic internet providers, said you can never say never about changes in regulations and programs. But Ahmic and Borchers-Williams are less optimistic. BEAD, they said, was viewed as the final solution to connect rural areas to good internet. But the recent changes mean that isnt going to happen. I think were still going to have to wrestle with inadequate connectivity in rural Nebraska, Borchers-Williams said. This isnt going to fix it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ball Corporation (BALL) is a leading Colorado-based aluminum packaging company, best known for producing metal beverage cans, aerosol containers, and household packaging. Valued at a market cap of $16 billion, Ball has grown into the worlds largest manufacturer of recyclable aluminum containers, serving major soft drink, beer, energy drink, and personal-care brands across North America, South America, and EMEA. The company is all set to announce its fiscal Q2 earnings for 2025 before the market opens on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Ahead of this event, analysts expect this packaging company to report a profit of $0.87 per share, up 17.6% from $0.74 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has consistently beaten Wall Street's earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters. More News from Barchart For fiscal 2025, analysts expect BALL to report a profit of $3.52 per share, up 11% from $3.17 in fiscal 2024. Furthermore, its EPS is expected to grow 13.6% year over year to $4 in fiscal 2026. www.barchart.com Shares of BALL have declined 6.3% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 13.6% rise, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLY) 17.2% gain over the same time frame. www.barchart.com BALL released its Q1 2025 results on May 6, reporting adjusted EPS of $0.76 and revenue of $3.1 billion, both exceeding analyst expectations. However, shares edged down marginally, as it suffered from the absence of contributions from its aerospace division, which was sold in February 2024. Wall Street analysts are moderately optimistic about BALLs stock, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 14 analysts covering the stock, five recommend "Strong Buy," two advise Moderate Buy, six suggest Hold, and one indicates a Strong Sell rating. The mean price target for BALL is $63.85, which indicates a 10.4% potential upside 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 YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) All charges have been dismissed in the case against a woman accused of shooting another woman in the leg after a dispute in Youngstown. According to Youngstown Municipal Court records, prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of felonious assault and disorderly conduct in the case against 27-year-old Breasia Skinner. The victim previously told prosecutors she did not want to move forward in the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting happened in May on Eastway Drive after an argument earlier in the evening. Joe Gorman 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 WKBN.com. Jon Petrie, owner of Tender Car Collision in Milwaukee, says he has been dealing with wheel thefts at his business for years. Don't miss He put up a fence and hired private security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When that didnt work, he put GPS trackers on the rims to try to catch a thief in the act. It was an extreme feeling of frustration and helplessness. This was one of the last resorts of extreme, extreme anger, he said to WISN. "I roll out of my house like Batman in the middle of the night, trying to see where these wheels are going." Petrie and the police traced the GPS device, which was hidden under the tire, to a Honda Odyssey van seen on surveillance video at Tender Car Collision and the men suspected of the crime. Other businesses targeted Ethan Langoehr, a mechanic in Milwaukee, said his place of work and his project car were targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Langoehr is working on restoring a 1990 Honda Prelude for himself. He used to keep it behind the Midas mechanic shop where he works. He said the tires and wheels were stolen overnight and the car was put on blocks. Its going to be incredibly difficult to find another set of factory wheels, he told WISN. Police now have an arrest warrant for David Griffin, who has been accused of stealing $29,700 worth of wheels and tires from mechanic shops across the city. The Honda Odyssey van carrying Petries GPS device was parked at an apartment where court records show Griffin lives, according to the WISN report. Griffin has been charged with four counts of felony theft and one misdemeanor count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Put your hard work towards something more productive than stealing, please," Petrie said in the interview with WISN. "Like, if you applied an ounce of that hard work of getting up in the middle of the night and relentlessly stealing, if you applied that same effort towards doing something of value to society, you could do so well." Read more: Americans are revenge saving to survive but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Heres how to quickly earn 280% more on your cash Why wheel and tire theft is common While this may seem like petty theft, its actually a major concern for mechanic shops and car owners across the country. According to Direct Auto Insurance, wheels and tires are some of the most commonly stolen car parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a few reasons for this. Tires and wheels can be removed from your car in a matter of minutes, making it easy for a thief to target your car if it's parked in an unmonitored location. These parts are often unmarked, unlike the hardware found under your hood, so its difficult for police to track down stolen parts, or for a shady mechanic to be accused of receiving stolen parts. They are also easy to resell for high prices, especially with tariffs being slapped on them. These crimes can be a major headache for car owners if their insurance doesnt cover the full cost. Many Americans dont have emergency funds and arent ready for a surprise expense due to a theft. The cost to replace stolen wheels and tires can easily top $2,000 even for an average cost car, says Kiley & O'Toole Insurance. If your auto insurance policy has comprehensive coverage, then your insurance company will pay for most of your loss. However, personally you will still pay a price. First, because a deductible will apply, you will pay the first $300 to $1,000, depending on your policy. Second, even though the claim is no fault of your own, it is nonetheless a claim paid and becomes part of your claim history, and with some insurance companies it could increase the insurance rate you pay down the line. How to avoid wheel theft While this type of crime is prevalent, there are several measures you can take to hopefully avoid becoming a victim: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Use your garage or well-lit areas: Whether its connected to your home or you have access to a parking garage, putting your vehicle out-of-sight puts it out-of-mind for thieves. These crimes are often opportunistic, with thieves cruising for vehicles that seem unattended. If you cant park in a garage, be sure youre parking under a street light, or in high-traffic areas. Tire thieves dont want to be seen at work, so use a busy street to your advantage. Lock it up: Consider replacing one of the lug nuts on each wheel with a lock. These require a special key for removal. Turn your wheel: According to GEICO, turning your wheels to a 45-degree angle makes it "difficult for a thief to get the lug nuts off, because the inner fender will likely be in the way." Finally, always remember to lock your car. This may seem like obvious advice, but forgetfulness can lead to your items being stolen in a matter of minutes. Also be sure to check your insurance coverage to ensure that if you become a target of this type of crime, youll be fully covered for replacement tires and wheels. What to read next Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Chef Jose Andres, the outspoken founder of the humanitarian group World Central Kitchen, is imploring the international community to intervene to ease the dire food crisis in Gaza, on the heels of his nonprofit resuming its aid operations there after a five-day hiatus. The Spanish American chef penned a new op-ed in The New York Times over the weekend titled "The World Cannot Stand By With Gaza on the Brink of Famine." He posted a link to the op-ed on his personal Instagram, writing: "There is no excuse for the world to stand by and watch two million human beings suffer on the brink of full-blown famine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A starving human being needs food today, not tomorrow," Andres wrote. "People of good conscience must stop the starvation in Gaza. If we want to light the darkness, we need to extend our soul to the hungry. And we need to do it now." WCK announced in a recent update Friday that it has resumed limited cooking operations in Gaza, but said its "ability to continue cooking" at the Deir al-Balah Field Kitchen in Gaza "remains uncertain day-to-day." "With stock of some ingredients partly replenished, we are working to be able to serve 60,000 meals daily through our Field Kitchen and partner community kitchens -- less than half what we were able to cook over the previous month," the organization said in its latest update. "Our cooks are making the most of supplies, and distribution teams are ensuring meals reach the most vulnerable people, including staff and patients at medical facilities." WCK reiterated that "access to supplies remains fragile," noting that its team on the ground previously "ran out of essential ingredients." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am immensely proud of the ongoing work of the WCK Gaza team through unimaginable challenges. It is because of them that we are able to cook again for hospitals and vulnerable families in Deir al-Balah, the organization's response director, Wadhah Hubaishi, said in a statement. Ramadan Abed/Reuters - PHOTO: Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. When WCK first shared the news of the halt in meal services on its website and Instagram page, the organization said its trucks were stuck at the border and they had "finished all the stock in hand." Andres also addressed in the essay the recent WCK stoppage of hot meal services in Gaza due to the lack of food supplies. "We are continuing to bake bread and deliver water. But the people of Gaza still need a hot meal, the organization said, adding that they served 80,000+ meals on July 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andres shared that post on his personal Instagram on July 20, adding in part, "Once again, @WCKitchen we have run out of food in Gaza. Our brave teams on the ground report the security situation has deteriorated significantly, and our ability to operate is severely constrained. We need to get trucks of supplies safely to our field kitchens ASAP so that we can get cooking!" Ramadan Abed/Reuters - PHOTO: Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. In the previous July 20 update, WCK noted that this was the second time it was forced to pause kitchen operations over "lack of access to aid." The first instance occurred in May, following what it described then as a "complete depletion of food supplies." The group's operations restarted 12 weeks later, in June, after it received new aid shipments. Ramadan Abed/Reuters - PHOTO: Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. The pause in operations came as hundreds of Palestinians were killed trying to access food from aid distribution sites run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group, amid what the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health and global humanitarian groups have described as a forced starvation campaign by Israel. Israel previously barred humanitarian aid shipments from entering Gaza for 11 weeks this spring before lifting the blockade to allow for limited aid deliveries. World Central Kitchen - PHOTO: World Central Kitchen teams in Gaza have again run out of ingredients to cook warm meals. Israel has denied accusations that it is using starvation tactics against Palestinians. Last week, David Spencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, called the food crisis in Gaza "a man-made shortage engineered by Hamas." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 20, at least 81 Palestinians were killed trying to obtain food, with another 150 people injured, according to the Ministry of Health. The Israeli military has said it is aware of reports of casualties near aid distribution sites and claimed its troops fired near crowds to "remove an immediate threat posed to them," but did not provide details. To date, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza while trying to get food, the United Nations reported. Last April, seven aid workers with WCK were killed during an Israel Defense Forces attack in Gaza. An earlier version of this story was first published July 21, 2025 when World Central Kitchen first announced it suspended operations due to lack of ingredients. DELMAR, N.Y. (WETM) On Sunday, Chemung County Investigator Mike Theetge participated in a bike ride fundraiser outside of Albany to raise money for New York State law enforcement families that have been impacted by tragedies. Chemung County Investigator Mike Theetge rode his bike 46 miles during the Operation Santas S.L.E.D. (Support Law Enforcement Drive) fundraiser, Pedal for Presents, that took place on Sunday, July 20, in Delmar, New York. Previous story: Chemung County Sheriffs Investigator to participate in bike ride fundraiser Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ride raised money for the organization to provide Christmas gifts to hand out to NYS law enforcement families affected by catastrophes. The fundraiser exceeded its goal on Sunday, with more than $28,000 raised, according to one of the founders of Operation Santas S.L.E.D. Cindy Neff. Investigator Theetge suffered a traumatic brain injury in March 2024, while on duty, trying to stop shoplifters at Target in Big Flats. Operation Santas S.L.E.D. provided for Investigator Theetge and his family the Christmas following the tragedy by showing up at his home to deliver 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. EDITORS NOTE: This article was updated at 1:19 p.m. on July 21, 2025, to include an apology from Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater about a miscommunication inside his jail that kept the suspected killers mugshot from the public. CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Nearly 48 hours after S.C. Law Enforcement Division agents filed multiple felony charges against the teenager accused of murdering another teen during a festival on Friday night, the Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office had not released a public record connected to the case. A SLED agent photographs evidence following the shooting death of a 17-year-old Pageland boy on July 18, 2025. The shooting happened on the opening night of the Watermelon Festival. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) SLED agents charged Jayden Jeremiah Jeffries, 17, with shooting and killing Sean Davis, 17, in the middle of the Pageland Watermelon Festival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SLED identified Jefferies within hours of opening the investigation, and court records show agents were able to document a confession from the suspected shooter. MORE: Suspected Pageland Watermelon Festival shooter charged, booked into jail The shooting happened following a verbal altercation between Jeffries and the victim, according to the charging documents. This Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office booking photograph shows Jayden Jeremiah Jefferies was booked on murder and weapons charges at 1:27 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2025. (Source: Chesterfield County Detention Center) SLED charged Jefferies with murder, possession of a weapon during a deadly crime, and a penalty enhancement for carrying a concealed weapon. Because of the severity of the charges, Jefferies is automatically charged as an adult under South Carolina law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday afternoon, Queen City News asked Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater for Jefferies mugshot, which is a public record. The sheriff instructed our newsroom to contact the county detention center for the mugshot, but the jail refused, claiming that because Jefferies is a juvenile, the sheriffs office would not release the image. Monday morning, Streater still had not released the public record, despite a Queen City News request filed for it again Monday morning. After publishing this article, the sheriff responded to the QCN email, instructing us to ask the jail again for it. The detention center emailed the mugshot within minutes of our phone call. Just before 1 p.m. Monday, after our reporting on the mugshot was published, Sheriff Streater called Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr, apologizing for what the sheriff characterized as a miscommunication between his jailhouse staffers that kept Jefferies mugshot from being released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Streater said he called his jail administrator, Troy Ellerbe, on Sunday to instruct jail staff to release the mugshot if requested by news outlets. The sheriff said Ellerbe relayed the message to the jail supervisor, who is the person who typically answers the jail phones. The supervisor went into a pod to deal with an issue, and it was a miscommunication with a subordinate jailer who stepped in to answer the phones, Streater said. That subordinate wasnt told about the order to release the mugshot, and the sheriff said media outlets who called during that time were told the sheriffs office was not releasing the public record. Barr reminded the sheriff that QCN requested the mugshot on Saturday within five hours of Jeffries booking. READ: SLEDS ARREST WARRANTS AND PRESS RELEASE ON WATERMELON FESTIVAL MURDER mediareleasesDownload Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt have the clearance to give it out on Saturday, Streater told Barr in the call Monday afternoon. Without getting permission from the solicitors office on a case of this magnitude, I waited until I got confirmation Sunday from the solicitors office. Im sorry that happened, but that was a miscommunication from the jail, the sheriff said. SLED published a public press release over the weekend naming Jefferies as the killer and publishing his arrest warrants, which is further confirmation that the sheriffs office was wrong in its legal rationale for withholding the public record. The arrest warrant shows Jefferies shot the victim with a .22 caliber handgun after he and the victim were involved in an argument. The defendant stated that he fired the handgun several times at the unarmed victim before fleeing the scene and dropping the handgun at an unknown location, SLED Agent Erin Beasley wrote in the warrant affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis died before reaching the hospital on Friday night. SLED agents work to collect evidence following a shooting at the 2025 Pageland Watermelon Festival, where a shooting took the life of a 17-year-old boy at the corner of S. Pearl and McGregor Street. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) A bond hearing on Jefferies charges will happen before a circuit court judge during the next term of general sessions court in Chesterfield County. Jefferies will remain behind bars until then. The date for his bond hearing has not yet been set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Young climate activists from Chicago called on Gov. JB Pritzker to enact legislation that would make the fossil fuel industry instead of taxpayers responsible for funding green, resilient infrastructure and disaster response in the face of climate change, following similar bills recently passed in Vermont and New York. Illinois can and must do the same, said Oscar Sanchez, co-executive director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force, at a Sunday rally. Kids get asthma before they learn to ride a bike. Cancer becomes a ZIP code issue. Our elders breathe toxic poison in their own home, he said. Its not just the pollution, its the climate crisis bearing down on us right now. We see streets turn into rivers after storms, basements flood, families lose everything. Meanwhile, oil and gas companies the same ones fueling this crisis are posting record-breaking profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group, a coalition led by the local Sunrise Movement chapter, gathered across the University of Chicagos David Rubenstein event venue in Woodlawn, where the Aspen Ideas Climate Conference officially kicked off Sunday afternoon with hundreds of leaders from business, government, academia and other fields. Pritzker was set to discuss green tech and infrastructure investments; also invited were Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who were expected to talk about their approaches to energy and economic development. Some of the young activists praised Pritzker for his commitment to climate issues and said he has an opportunity to demonstrate that by standing with Illinoisans and holding corporate polluters accountable. Passing a Make Polluters Pay law, they say, would make these companies responsible for the public health and climate change impacts in Illinois that are a direct result of their activities. In Chicago, for instance, such legislation would help address what activists have long protested as discriminatory zoning practices, which have pushed heavy industry into poor communities of color exposing residents to toxic chemicals and pollutants and leading to a higher prevalence of negative health effects in the population, including cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know what environmental racism looks like, because we live it every single day, Sanchez said. Some primarily Black and Hispanic neighborhoods and suburbs, like Chatham, Austin, Cicero and Berwyn, also experience severe flooding during heavy rains. If Im going to be honest with everyone, I dont like being here. Because this shouldnt have to be our reality that polluters are polluting Black, Latino, working-class communities across Chicago and Illinois, said Gianna Hernandez, a Sunrise Movement volunteer. We shouldnt have to be protesting simply to tell them that we are human beings too. These big oil and gas companies make it very clear to everyone that they are choosing profit over life, that they are choosing profit over human beings, that they are choosing profit over our planet. In 2024, Vermont became the first state to require oil companies to pay for damages from extreme weather driven by climate change, after catastrophic flooding that summer. Later last year, New York also passed its own Climate Change Superfund Act, which would raise $75 billion over 25 years from the fossil fuel industry to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These polluters should pay for the damage they have done to our communities, Hernandez said. Following suit, the activists say, means Pritzker would be standing up to the Trump administration, which has made 250 million acres of federal public land eligible for sale to the highest bidder, led regulatory rollbacks on polluters, and cut tax incentive programs for renewable energy projects. This could be the ground zero of a mass movement that puts the billionaires in check, takes power back for the people and guarantees hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of good, clean energy jobs, said Sage Hanson, a Sunrise Movement volunteer. Editors Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Gianna Hernandezs last name. The Tribune regrets this error. The death toll from the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training jet onto a school in Dhaka has risen to 19, mostly children, officials said on Monday, as the country's leader described it as a day of "profound grief." Many others who suffered severe burn injuries were receiving treatment in hospital. The Chinese-made F-7BGI fighter jet crashed into the two-storey Milestone School and College in the north of the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the crash many children were still present at the school, which teaches children from elementary up to 12th grade. The crash occurred minutes after the plane took off, according to the Bangladesh military's media division. It said that the pilot of the training aircraft noticed a technical malfunction soon after it took off from Dhakas Kurmitola airbase at 1:06 pm (0706 GMT) and tried to pilot it to a thinly populated area. But it then crashed into the school building, killing 19 people, including the pilot, and injuring 164 others, the military said. Earlier, Sayedur Rahman, an assistant to the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, said that many of the injured were taken to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said more than 100 people were undergoing treatment at different hospitals. The government announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday to pay respect to those who died. Yunus posted a message of condolence on Facebook expressing his shock over the crash. "This is a moment of profound grief for the nation," Yunus said. He wished a speedy recovery for those injured. The government will take the necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident, he said. Tragic scene at school Khaleda Khatun, an official on duty at the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, said that nine fire engines had been working to extinguish the fire at the accident site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness named Pintu, who was at the scene to pick up his child from school, told reporters that he saw the aircraft descend rapidly before crashing with a loud bang. "Soon after the bang, I saw a fireball erupt. I could see nothing but the flames at that moment, and I ran for shelter," Pintu told private broadcaster Jamuna TV. He later found his son unharmed at the school compound. Muhammad Zahed Kamal, head of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence department, said the ground floor was being used for classes for the third and fourth graders while the first floor had second and fifth graders, he said. Hundreds of relatives and guardians rushed to the site as soon as they learnt about the accident. Those who failed to find their children then crowded the nearby hospitals. Firefighters along with members of the police and armed forces were still trying to recover the wreckage of the fighter jet. The death toll from the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training jet onto a school in Dhaka has risen to 20, mostly children, officials said on Monday, as the country's leader described it as a day of "profound grief." Many others who suffered severe burn injuries were receiving treatment in hospital. The Chinese-made F-7BGI fighter jet crashed into the two-storey Milestone School and College in the north of the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the crash many children were still present at the school, which teaches children from elementary up to 12th grade. The crash occurred minutes after the plane took off, according to the Bangladesh military's media division. It said that the pilot of the training aircraft noticed a technical malfunction soon after it took off from Dhakas Kurmitola airbase at 1:06 pm (0706 GMT) and tried to fly to a thinly populated area. The army said 20 people were killed, including the pilot, and 171 people were injured. Sayedur Rahman, an assistant to the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, said that many of the injured were taken to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said more than 100 people were undergoing treatment at different hospitals. The government announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday to pay respect to those who died. Yunus posted a message of condolence on Facebook expressing his shock over the crash. "This is a moment of profound grief for the nation," Yunus said. He wished a speedy recovery for those injured. The government will take the necessary measures to investigate the cause of the accident, he said. Tragic scene at school Khaleda Khatun, an official on duty at the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, said that nine fire engines had been working to extinguish the fire at the accident site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness named Pintu, who was at the scene to pick up his child from school, told reporters that he saw the aircraft descend rapidly before crashing with a loud bang. "Soon after the bang, I saw a fireball erupt. I could see nothing but the flames at that moment, and I ran for shelter," Pintu told private broadcaster Jamuna TV. He later found his son unharmed at the school compound. Muhammad Zahed Kamal, head of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence department, said the ground floor was being used for classes for the third and fourth graders while the first floor housed second and fifth graders, he said. Hundreds of relatives and guardians rushed to the site as soon as they learnt about the accident. Those who failed to find their children then crowded the nearby hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters along with members of the police and armed forces were still trying to recover the wreckage of the fighter jet. Leaders from neighbouring India and Pakistan as well as other countries mourned the deaths and expressed solidarity with Bangladesh after the tragic accident. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was shocked and saddened by the loss of lives, many of them young students. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families, Modi said, adding that India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU delegation in Bangladesh said in a statement, Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected. The Japanese embassy in Dhaka said: We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh during this challenging time, commending the efforts of the authorities, hospitals, and others in handling the situation with the utmost care. Childrens National Hospital in Washington, D.C., will stop prescribing and monitoring gender-affirming medications for transgender youth by August 30, citing escalating legal and regulatory risks as the Trump administration targets providers of such care in its ongoing effort to eliminate transgender people from American society. The Justice Department took credit for the development. The world-class pediatric medical center quietly announced the change on its website last week. In a message sent to families, the hospital acknowledged the significance of the decision. We recognize the impact this has had on you and your family, and we are here to support you, the statement obtained by The Washington Post read. The change comes less than two weeks after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice had issued more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics that offer gender-affirming care to minors. Bondi said providers would be held accountable for mutilating children in the service of a warped ideology. A spokesperson for Childrens National declined to confirm whether the hospital or its staff had received a subpoena, the Post reports. The Advocate has contacted both the hospital and DOJ for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the DOJ responded by pointing to a post by Bondi on X (formerly Twitter). At President Trumps direction, [the DOJ] will continue enforcing the law against institutions like Childrens National that mutilate children under the guise of medical care, Bondi wrote. History will remember [the president] as a champion on this crucial issue." (@) All major U.S. medical associations support gender-affirming care as a safe and evidence-based practice. Gender-affirming care for minors and adults is legal and protected under D.C. law. The Gender Development Program at Childrens National has long been recognized as a national model. It did not provide surgeries, nor did it prescribe hormones before puberty, and it has always required parental consent. While mental health support will remain available, families say the loss of medical care leaves them without critical support in a city where such care remains legal. Mary Raibman, whose son began treatment at Childrens in 2018, told The Post that the decision is really disgusting. She added, I believe theyre choosing not to stand up and fight. Childrens National Hospital joins a growing list of hospitals retreating from gender-affirming care in response to federal threats. Stanford Medicine in California announced last month it would stop performing gender-affirming surgeries for minors. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles will close its trans youth program July 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editor's note: This article was updated with remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Childrens National Hospital caves under Trumps pressure & ends gender-affirming care for trans patients RELATED Chemical company BASF has entered into a strategic ten-year agreement with Equinor, securing an annual supply of up to 23 terawatt-hours of natural gas, equivalent to two billion cubic metres. This deal will provide a significant portion of BASF's natural gas requirements in Europe. Deliveries are scheduled to commence on 1 October 2025. Equinor president and CEO Anders Opedal said: This agreement further strengthens our partnership with BASF. Natural gas not only provides energy security to Europe but also critical feedstock to European industries. I am very happy that our gas also supports BASFs efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. Gas from Norway comes with the lowest emissions from production and transportation. Natural gas serves a dual purpose for BASF, acting as both an energy source and a raw material for producing essential chemicals. The deal aligns with BASF's objective of diversifying its energy and raw materials portfolio, ensuring competitive terms and supporting the company's sustainability goals. BASF chief financial officer and chief digital officer Dirk Elvermann said: We are very happy to enter into this long-term partnership with Equinor for the reliable supply of natural gas for BASFs operations in Europe. Equinor is a trusted and valued partner. The supply agreement not only comes with competitive terms but also supports our sustainability targets. BASF's diverse portfolio includes solutions for consumer goods including sportswear, car interiors, personal care items and agricultural products. The new contract follows Equinor's recent deal with Centrica to supply natural gas to the UK over the next ten years in a contract valued at around 20bn ($27.11bn). "BASF enters long-term natural gas supply agreement with Equinor" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The Chinese embassy in Singapore refuted claims that an espionage group accused of performing cyberattacks on Singapore's critical infrastructure was linked to China. In a Facebook post published over the weekend, the Chinese embassy said such claims were "groundless smears and accusations". "The embassy would like to reiterate that China is firmly against and cracks down all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with law. China does not encourage, support or condone hacking activities," it wrote on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Friday, a Singapore minister said the espionage group UNC3886 was "going after high value strategic threat targets, vital infrastructure that delivers essential services" but did not give details of the attacks. The minister did not link the group to China but Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant has described UNC3886 as a "China-nexus espionage group" that has attacked defence, technology and telecommunications organisations in the United States and Asia. Beijing routinely denies any allegations of cyberespionage, and says it opposes all forms of cyberattacks and is in fact a victim of such threats. Singapore's critical infrastructure sectors include energy, water, banking, finance, healthcare, transport, government, communication, media, as well as security and emergency services, according to the country's cyber agency. (Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Editing by David Stanway) Satellite imagery of preparations for a major upcoming military parade in China shows that new loyal wingman type drones, or at least mockups thereof, are set to be revealed. A video clip has now emerged that is also drawing new attention to Chinese crewed-uncrewed teaming developments. Google Earth recently updated its library to include a satellite image taken on June 11, 2025, of a military base in Yangfang, a suburb northwest of the Chinese capital of Beijing. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) regularly uses the facility to stage assets and train for large-scale parades. In June, Chinese authorities announced that a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the countrys victory over Japan in World War II would be held on Sept. 3, and that it would feature unspecified new-type combat capabilities. Nearly two weeks ago, video also emerged showing mysteriously unidentified vehicles concealed underneath large, box-like structures, prompting speculation that a new armored vehicle will also be unveiled at the event. Related Stories Air Massive Stealth Flying Wing Emerges At Secretive Chinese Base Massive Stealth Flying Wing Emerges At Secretive Chinese Base By Tyler Rogoway Air Chinas Massive WZ-9 Divine Eagle Drone Now Operating From South China Sea Base Chinas Massive WZ-9 Divine Eagle Drone Now Operating From South China Sea Base By Joseph Trevithick, By Tyler Rogoway News & Features Clone Of Boeings MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone Displayed By China Clone Of Boeings MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone Displayed By China By Joseph Trevithick Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The June 11 image, which began circulating online last week, shows hundreds of vehicles, including what look to be self-propelled artillery pieces and transporter erector launchers for large ballistic missiles, and other materiel in neat rows at various areas of the Yangfang base. Of particular interest are drones under wraps on trailers at the northern end of the facility. The PLA has unveiled new and updated uncrewed aircraft designs in this same way at past parades in Beijing. The drones seen at Yangfang in the June 11, 2025, image. Google Earth Some of vehicles and other materiel also seen at the Yangfang base in the June 11, 2025, satellite image. Google Earth Though the resolution of the satellite image is low, what look to be GJ-11 Sharp Sword stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV), as well as what may be either Wing Loong or CH-4/5 Rainbow-series medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) types, are present. A BZK-005, another MALE design, looks to be visible, too. A close-up showing what looks to be a GJ-11 Sharp Sword, at right, and a MALE drone type, at left. Google Earth A model of a Chinese GJ-11 Sharp Sword flying wing UCAV on display. Yang Suping/VCG via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A GJ-2 Wing Loong II drone. Chen Xiao/VCG via Getty Images CHENXIAO A CH-4 drone. The newer CH-5 has a broadly similar configuration. VCG/VCG via Getty Images However, there are five airframes visible in the June 11 image that do not readily align with known Chinese types, and that look to be in line with loyal wingman-type designs. Four of them look to be tailless with modified diamond-like delta and cranked-kite wings, while the last one has what appears to be a more traditional wing and tail arrangement. The designs range in length from approximately 30 to 38 feet (nine to 12 meters), and in wingspan from 20 to 35 feet (six to 11 meters). At left, a close-up showing four possibly tailless designs with modified diamond-like delta and cranked-kite wings. At right, a close-up of the design that looks to have a more traditional wing and tail configuration. Google Earth Additional analysis of drones seen in the satellite image by Andreas Rupprecht, a Chinese aviation expert and contributor to this website, and Rick Joe, a long-time tracker of Chinese military developments, aligns with that of TWZ. Hmm ? Clearly visible are a GJ-11 in front, something like a GJ-1/2 or Ch-4/5 second (left) and a BZK-005 (right ?) all others are new to me and look like loyal-wingman (aka high-tier MUMT or CCA) UCAVs. @HarpiaPpic.twitter.com/1hHy3eqAXt @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) July 16, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GE from June shows a UAV contingent may be part of the Victory Day parade in Sept (like 2019 parade). We see GJ-11 pattern (boxed red), and a ?MALE airframe (black). Multiple new airframes that may be CCA in nature (blue) also seen. Display trucks are 12.5m long, for scale. pic.twitter.com/5oucbzRwpf Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) July 17, 2025 Just this past weekend, a video also began circulating online showing what looks to be a tailless aircraft with a modified diamond-like delta platform flying in formation with a Y-8/9-series turboprop. The clip also shows a second Y-8/9 trailing behind by itself. An additional still image, which looks to be a frame from a separate video showing the same tailless design, has also emerged. Where and when the video or the separate still image were taken is unclear, but what is visible in both has some very broad similarities with one of the designs seen in the June satellite image of Yangfang. For the first time, one of Chinas tailless CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) UAV/UCAVs has been spotted. pic.twitter.com/R96eiM0MNX International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) July 20, 2025 As it seems, we maybe have first footage including a brief video showing for the first time one of Chinas CCA UAV/UCAVs accompanied by a Y-8/9. Heres the video: https://t.co/VdzNIIQvAD (Image via @lyman2003 from Weibo)@HarpiaP pic.twitter.com/yMfiCxBfvW @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) July 19, 2025 The possibility has been raised that the recently emerged video and still image may show one of Chinas two new stealthy crewed combat jets, either the Chengdu J-36 or the Shenyang design referred to variously as the J-XDS and J-50. However, the planform does not directly match that of either of the next-generation fighters, and it also looks to be smaller based on its size relative to the accompanying Y-8/9. Questions have also been raised about whether filters enabled by default on many phone cameras may have transformed an existing aircraft type, like a J-16 fighter, into a new design. This seems especially unlikely given the absence of vertical tails or any artifacts thereof. There are no immediately clear signs of any other kind of manipulation. It is also interesting to note that another next-generation fighter-like airframe or mockup with a modified diamond-like delta platform emerged at Shenyangs main plant earlier this year, as TWZ was first to report. That design does not appear to align with the J-XDS/J-50, but also looks to be longer (roughly 50 feet/15 meters) than any of the possible loyal wingman drones seen in the satellite image of Yangfang. The next-generation fighter-like airframe or mockup seen at Shenyangs main plant on Jan. 1, 2025. PHOTO 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of what is seen in the June 11 satellite image, as well as the video and still image that more recently emerged, the PLA is very actively pursuing multiple types of loyal wingmen-type drones, and crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities, in general. The aforementioned GJ-11 UCAV is understood to be a centerpiece of those efforts, but other lower-tier uncrewed designs intended to operate closely with crewed aircraft have also been shown in China in recent years. This includes China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporations (CASC) FH-97 and FH-97A, designs at least heavily inspired by Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie and Boeing Australias MQ-28 Ghost Bat, respectively. Un passage dans un reportage de CCTV-7 montre la possible collaboration entre un J-20 biplace et des #drones GJ-11 a faible observabilite. La representativite est a confirmer. pic.twitter.com/9Xy8Q8KQOO East Pendulum (@HenriKenhmann) October 12, 2022 In addition, the two-seat J-20S stealth fighter is now regularly depicted in official graphics as an airborne drone controller, something TWZ has long highlighted as an ideal role for the aircraft. The KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, based on the Y-9 turboprop, is also often discussed as part of this future crewed-uncrewed air combat ecosystem. The concept, at least, of using H-6 missile carrier aircraft as airborne launch platforms for lower-end tactical uncrewed air vehicles has also been put forward. I suspect there may not be a single dedicated cca/MMUT platform Rather different CCAs for varying roles of ISR/EW and A2A/G combat etchttps://t.co/Hqk5ZGAla5 pic.twitter.com/JHqJVhamU3 Hurin (@Hurin92) July 5, 2025 Chinese drones initially developed for use in close cooperation with crewed platforms could also operate ever more independently, including in networked swarms, as time goes on. The PLA is actively pursuing advanced autonomous aviation capabilities, driven in part by developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. More broadly, China continues to cement its position as a global leader in advanced uncrewed aviation developments. In June, TWZ first reported on the emergence of what could be a very large, low-observable, flying-wing, long-endurance unmanned aircraft. The very large flying wing design seen at Chinas secretive test base near Malan in Xinjiang province in a satellite image taken on May 14, 2025. PHOTO 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the PLAs pursuit of stealthy flying wing UCAVs like the GJ-11 stands in particular contrast to the U.S. militarys abandonment of interest in similar capabilities years ago, at least in the unclassified domain. The U.S. Air Force, at least publicly, continues to be outspoken about eschewing UCAVs in favor of less-exquisite, but also lower-cost designs to pair with crewed aircraft. Two so-called Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), the General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A, are in development for the Air Force now and are set to fly for the first time this year. The service, as well as other branches of the U.S. military, is expecting to ultimately field multiple CCA types acquired through iterative development cycles. A composite rendering of the YFQ-44A, at top, and YFQ-42A, at bottom. USAF There has also been a recent surge in PLA crewed aviation developments, including the emergence of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 last December. A new jet-powered airborne early warning and control aircraft, based on the Y-20 cargo plane and referred to as KJ-3000, also emerged that month. The J-20S and a navalized variant of the J-35 stealth fighter also look poised to enter operational service. As the PLA continues to prepare for the upcoming parade in September, new details about ongoing loyal wingman-type drone developments, as well as work on other previously unseen capabilities, may begin to emerge. Contact the author: joe@twz.com By Liz Lee, Lananh Nguyen and Nupur Anand BEIJING/NEW YORK (Reuters) -China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Chenyue Mao, the Wells Fargo banker who has been blocked from leaving the country, was involved in a criminal case and obliged to cooperate with the investigation. Mao is the latest of several executives from foreign corporations to be stopped as they tried to depart China. Her exit ban comes at a tense moment in U.S.-China relations as the two countries wrangle over trade policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese law enforcement authorities have restricted Mao's exit in accordance with the law, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press briefing. Wells Fargo declined to comment. On Friday, the bank said it was "working through the appropriate channels" to secure Mao's return to the United States as soon as possible. The U.S. bank suspended all travel to China after Mao's exit ban, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, saying she was a U.S. citizen. It is not known exactly when the ban was imposed. The case was being investigated and Mao was obliged to cooperate with the investigation, Guo said, without elaborating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everyone in China, whether they are Chinese or foreigners, must abide by Chinese laws," Guo said, adding that China will protect their legitimate rights and interests in investigations. Beijing has used exit bans on both Chinese and foreign nationals, often in connection with civil disputes, regulatory investigations, or criminal investigations. Reuters could not determine whether Mao had surrendered her Chinese citizenship. The exit ban marks a stark contrast from three weeks ago, when Mao stood on stage in Rio de Janeiro flanked by industry executives. She had just been elected chair of FCI, a group that facilitates international trade through factoring, a process in cross-border transactions that involves financing, invoicing, and payments. "I am excited for what lies ahead ... together we will go far," Mao posted on LinkedIn. She later travelled to China, where she was born, and was blocked by authorities from returning to Alpharetta, Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shanghai-born managing director and Wells Fargo are awaiting more information, according to two sources familiar with the situation who declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter. The bank is seeking more information through various channels, but is trying to keep a low profile to avoid escalating the situation, according to the sources. Mao's exit ban comes as diplomatic and business ties between the U.S. and China remain strained. Experts said it could halt corporate travel to mainland China, especially by Chinese-born people holding foreign passports. Mao has been a banker at Wells Fargo for over a decade, and works in its international factoring business, according to her LinkedIn profile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Factoring is a financing method in which companies sell their receivables to third parties, such as banks, in exchange for immediate cash, and advises multinational clients on cross-border working-capital strategies. FCI has 48 members in China that account for nearly 13% of its membership, according to the group's website. In total, it has nearly 400 member companies in more than 90 countries. FCI did not respond to requests for comment. At Mao's house, about an hour north of Atlanta, no one appeared to be home on Friday evening. Neighbours declined to comment to Reuters. The home is in the Nesbit Lakes neighbourhood, which shoulders narrow, winding roads. The upscale houses have manicured lawns and large oak trees that surround a small lake near the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta's northern suburb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area's median home price is just over $1.17 million. EXIT BANS Wells Fargo's China business is much smaller than its Wall Street peers, with branches in Beijing and Shanghai. Several foreign executives have been caught up in probes by authorities that have chilled business sentiment in China. Two sources who have helped to resolve exit bans in the past said they are often issued by local Chinese governments. Such bans can be used to address a range of issues, from business disputes to family conflicts, allegations of illegal conduct or personal altercations, said the sources, who had no specific knowledge of Mao's case. The two sources declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Factoring typically involves companies sending international invoices internally, and can be complex and sometimes subject to mishandling amid capital controls, the two sources said. A Chinese-American man who works for the U.S. Commerce Department and traveled to China months ago is also subject to an exit ban after not disclosing his work for the U.S. government, the Washington Post and other outlets have reported. The individual was not named. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The U.S. State and Commerce departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did the Chinese embassy in Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month there was a high probability of a meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, but that no date has been discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the use of exit bans, including on foreign nationals, is rising, "too often companies and countries prefer to remain silent in the hopes of improving or accelerating the process," said Laura Harth, China in the World director of human rights at Safeguard Defenders, a non-profit organization. "The signal it should send is that no one is safe when travelling to China," she added. (Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing, Lananh Nguyen and Nupur Anand in New York; additional reporting by Rich McKay, Trevor Hunnicutt, Karen Freifeld, Daphne Psaledakis and Koh Gui Qing, writing by Scott Murdoch and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kate Mayberry, Sumeet Chatterjee, Megan Davies, Rod Nickel) By Farah Master and Samuel Shen HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China's Premier Li Qiang announced construction had begun on what will be the world's largest hydropower dam, on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau, at an estimated cost of at least $170 billion, the official Xinhua news agency said. Commencement of the hydropower project, China's most ambitious since the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, was seized by Chinese markets as proof of economic stimulus, sending stock prices and bond yields higher on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Made up of five cascade hydropower stations with the capacity to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equal to the amount of electricity consumed by Britain last year, the dam will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo. A section of the river tumbles 2,000 metres (6,561 feet) in a span of 50km (31 miles), offering huge hydropower potential. India and Bangladesh have already raised concerns about its possible impact on the millions of people downstream, while NGOs warned of the risk to one of the richest and most diverse environments on the plateau. Beijing has said the dam will help meet power demand in Tibet and the rest of China without having a major effect on downstream water supplies or the environment. Operations are expected sometime in the 2030s. China's CSI Construction & Engineering Index jumped as much as 4% to a seven-month high. Power Construction Corporation of China and Arcplus Group PLC surged by their 10% daily limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "From an investment perspective, mature hydropower projects offer bond-like dividends," Wang Zhuo, partner of Shanghai Zhuozhu Investment Management said, while cautioning that speculative buying into related stocks would inflate valuations. The project will drive demand for construction and building materials such as cement and civil explosives, Huatai Securities said in a note to clients. Shares of Beijing-listed Hunan Wuxin Tunnel Intelligent Equipment Co, which sells tunnel construction equipment, surged 30%. So did shares of Geokang Technologies Co Ltd, which makes intelligent monitoring terminals. Cement maker Xizang Tianlu Co Ltd and Tibet GaoZheng Explosive Co, producer of civil explosive materials, both jumped their maximum 10%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BROADER IMPACT The Chinese premier described the dam as a "project of the century" and said special emphasis "must be placed on ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage," Xinhua said on Saturday. Government bond yields rose across the board on Monday, with the most-traded 30-year treasury futures falling to five-week lows, as investors interpreted the news as part of China's economic stimulus. The project, overseen by the newly formed state-owned China Yajiang Group, marks a major boost in public investment to help bolster economic growth as current drivers show signs of faltering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Assuming 10 years of construction, the investment/GDP boost could reach 120 billion yuan ($16.7 billion) for a single year," said Citi in a note. "The actual economic benefits could go beyond that." China has not given an estimate on the number of jobs the project could create. The Three Gorges, which took almost two decades to complete, generated nearly a million jobs, state media reported, though it displaced at least a similar number of people. Authorities have not indicated how many people would be displaced by the Yarlung Zangbo project. The Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra River as it leaves Tibet and flows south into India and finally into Bangladesh. NGOs say the dam will irreversibly harm the Tibetan Plateau and hit millions of people downstream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, said earlier this year that such a colossal dam barely 50km from the border could dry out 80% of the river passing through the Indian state while potentially inundating downstream areas in Arunachal and neighbouring Assam state. Some experts also express concerns for a project in a seismically active zone. ($1 = 7.1788 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Farah Master in Hong Kong and Samuel Shen in Shanghai; Additional reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing, Winni Zhou in Shanghai and Krishna Das in New Delhi; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Kate Mayberry and Lincoln Feast.) Updated 9:01 a.m. ET July 22 Christine Hunsicker, former chief executive officer of fashion rental pioneer CaaStle, was released on a $1 million bond on Friday after a $300 million federal fraud indictment was unsealed. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunsicker, 48, secured the bond with property and agreed to surrender her passport and restrict her travel while avoiding all contact with current and former employees or investors in CaaStle and P180, a side business she helped Brendan Hoffman set up. She will also submit to drug testing and mental health evaluation. The indictment has been expected since CaaStle started to dissolve in late March, when the companys board told investors that Hunsicker had exited and that its rental business was nowhere near as large as had been presented. As of 2023, CaaStle had raised $521 million and racked up losses of $511 million, but still had a business with only $16 million in annual sales to show for it. The U.S. Attorneys office charged Hunsicker with wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering and claimed she gave doctored audit reports to would-be investors to raise money from investors. Michael Levy and Anna Skotko, attorneys for Hunsicker, said in a statement: Although Ms. Hunsicker has been fully cooperative and transparent with both the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY and the [Securities and Exchange Commission], they nonetheless have chosen to present to the public an incomplete and very distorted picture in todays indictment. There is much more to this story, and we look forward to telling it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunsicker, who surrendered to authorities earlier on Friday, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of the fraud charges and as much as 30 years in prison for making false statements to a financial institution. Fashion knew Hunsicker as a rental booster who claimed she could delicately balance inventory in fashion businesses taking slow-moving goods and getting more margin out of them by renting them out. Now, shes delicately balancing a raft of lawsuits against her, including the criminal case and two other federal cases, one filed by P180 in May and another one by the SEC, also filed on Friday. With each new suit comes more details about how Hunsicker allegedly built CaaStle into what P180 described as one of the largest frauds in history and will live in infamy alongside the likes of Theranos, [Bernie] Madoff and Enron. P180 went on to buy control of Vince Holdings Corp. with the belief that the business could tap into CaaStles rental power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SECs complaint said Hunsicker the only member of the management team on the companys three-person board created an alternative set of financials with false monthly, quarterly and annual results and presented them to investors upon request. By 2022, as CaaStle appeared to be close to reaching profitability, investors increasingly began to ask for audited financial statements, the SEC suit alleged. To maintain her ruse, Hunsicker took CaaStles final signed audit report for fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, downloaded it to her computer, altered the numbers, removed the going concern statement in the audit opinion letter, and provided the falsified audit to investors. CaaStle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month and expected to be liquidated. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CHURCH POINT, La. (KLFY) Church Point Police are searching for a suspect in connection to a June shooting. Police say they are looking for Albert Fruge, 33, of Church Point. He is wanted in connection to a shooting incident which occurred on June 19, 2025, on Horecky St. Authorities say the suspect was sent to the hospital that day with non-life-threatening injuries. Following further investigation warrants were issued for Fruges arrest. He is wanted for Aggravated Assault with Firearm, Illegal use and Discharge of Firearm, and Disturbing the Peace by Fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you know the location of Mr. Fruge, contact your local Law Enforcement or the Church Point Police Department at 337 684-5455 Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest 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 KLFY.com. Editors note: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers. MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) An arrest citation detailed the chilling moments before a 15-year-old was fatally shot early Sunday in Morehead. FOX 56 previously reported that around 2:30 a.m. on July 20, the Morehead Police Department announced that two minors were shot near an apartment complex on West Sun Street. Gildardo Martinez, 36, was arrested in connection with the shooting Sunday afternoon. According to the citation, the police were called around 4:18 a.m. to the apartment where 15-year-old Luis Jocsan Nanez Lopez was found dead in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further investigation showed that there were three bullet holes in the door leading to the room Luis was in, including a wound near his left cheek. Luis was declared dead at the scene. The other, identified in the citation as Naomi Agrical Nunez, was taken to St. Claire Regional Medical Center. FOX 56 previously reported that Naomi was later taken to the University of Kentucky Hospital for further treatment. Around 9:20 a.m. on Sunday, Morehead police interviewed Naomi and Luis mother, Aleida Lopez, the citation noted. Lopez said she got off work around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and found Martinez, her boyfriend, sitting in his vehicle with a friend at a nearby bar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the interview, the police said Lopez told Martinez she was heading to the apartment they shared to make dinner for her and the kids. He told Lopez he was going to stay for another 30 minutes. Read more of the latest Kentucky news After dinner, Lopez told the police she went and lay down with her youngest son, whom she shared with Martinez. When he came home, Lopez said he woke her up wanting to have sex, but she turned him down. It was then that the police noted he became angry and bit her on her left hand and right armpit above her breast before twisting her right arm, causing her to scream. Lopez recounted that Luis opened the door and told Martinez, who was lying on top of her while he was naked, to stop. After he refused, Luis asked his mother if she would like him to call the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told the police that she had said no to Luis and that they would discuss it further in the morning. Luis then shut the door, and Martinez proceeded to get dressed. Lopez said Martinez told her he was going to take their son, then grabbed a suitcase and asked if she wanted him to leave. After saying yes, Lopez said she heard a rack pull back and saw Martinez had a black pistol in his hand. She said that he allegedly fired it three times through the door Luis had closed. In the citation, the police noted that Lopez then grabbed her 1-year-old son and ran out of the apartment before realizing her 3-year-old was still inside. After running back inside, she yelled for Naomi to run. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several more gunshots were heard, according to the citation, before Martinez appeared outside and ran. After his arrest, Martinez was charged with: Murder First-degree assault First-degree attempted rape In a statement, Rowan County school leaders mourned the loss of Luis. Jocsan would have been starting his Sophomore year at Rowan County Senior High School, officials said in a social media post. In an announcement on social media, leaders called Luis a sweet student who did his best each day. Even though it is summertime, if a student or adult needs any assistance, our office is open each day from 8:00 to 3:00 this week where you can reach out, RCHS officials wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the MPD and the Rowan County Coroners office stated that the shooting investigation remains ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available. Corey Elam contributed to this 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 FOX 56 News. Key Points BigBear.ai is surging as investors become optimistic about its potential to revolutionize the data analytics industry. Is the stock a good alternative to industry leader Palantir? 10 stocks we like better than BigBear.ai With shares up 78% year to date, BigBear.ai (NYSE: BBAI) is catching the attention of investors looking for a small, fast-growing company with millionaire-maker potential. But is the rally based on hype or real substance? Let's dig deeper into the pros and cons of this artificial intelligence (AI) software stock to see if it can maintain its epic rally. What is BigBear.ai? BigBear.ai was formed by the roll-up of several AI and big data analytics companies held by the private equity firm AEI Industrial Partners. And despite hitting public markets relatively recently through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in 2021, BigBear.ai is older than you might expect, with some of its components tracing back to 1988. BigBear.ai's offerings include biometrics software like facial recognition and contactless identity screening, which is currently deployed at major U.S. airports like Dallas-Fort Worth International and Los Angeles International. It also offers a wide range of big data analytics software solutions designed to help clients glean actionable insights from vast amounts of information. These systems target industries ranging from shipbuilding to cybersecurity and healthcare resource planning. How is the business performing? Despite operating in what sounds like a cutting-edge industry, BigBear.ai's actual results are surprisingly lackluster. First-quarter revenue rose just 5% year over year to $34.8 billion. And while the company's operating losses technically narrowed from $98.1 million to $21.2 million, this decline was because of a one-time $85 million goodwill impairment charge (related to its recent acquisition of Pangiam) that occurred last year. It doesn't reflect a sustainable positive trend in the bottom line. BigBear.ai's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) removes nonrecurring outflows like goodwill impairment and restructuring. And it shows that the company's losses have actually increased more than fourfold, from $1.6 million to $7 million. Despite the challenges, management seems optimistic, with CEO Kevin McAleenan claiming to see early and encouraging signs that his company's strategic focus is resonating. In 2025, Big Bear.ai aims to "strengthen its core" by focusing on opportunities like border security, trade, and shipbuilding. These efforts seem to mirror the priorities of the Trump administration, and it is unclear if the company is just chasing headlines instead of learning into actual competitive advantages. Gastonia city leaders are planning to move their adult recreation center to a former Salvation Army building. Currently, the building on Broad Street is being used as a cooling shelter. ALSO READ: Developer says buildings asbestos is so bad he couldnt demolish it if there was gun to my head They plan to renovate it into a house for the recreation center, according to the Gaston Gazette. City leaders said its cheaper than repairing the current building on West Franklin Boulevard. They said it has asbestos, lead paint, and needs roof repairs. VIDEO: Developer says buildings asbestos is so bad he couldnt demolish it if there was gun to my head MEXICO BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) The Mexico Beach City Council has hired three new officials in light of the citys recent challenges. According to a news release, the State of Florida Auditor Generals Office released an official report in December 2024. The report addressed the key turnovers in important positions, but noted no major issues or wrongdoings. Former City Administrator Mell Smigielski has been hired as the new city administrator under a two-year contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smigielski was serving as the interim city administrator, replacing Chris Truitt. Council members fired Truitt after he issued a temporary vendor permit allowing the sale of ice cream on the beach. Council members said theyd previously told Truitt they didnt want vendors bothering people on the beach. Smigielski previously told News 13 he would not accept the position if the council were to ask. I have been retired for a few years now, so I need to go back to chasing grandkids around, Smigielski said. Mexico Beach city council searches for new city administrator The city has also hired in-house Finance Director Mike Snyder, a position that hasnt been filled in many years. Snyder originates from South Carolina and brings experience in both financing and auditing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, the city hired Public Works Director Mark Steele, who already has several city projects and upgrades in progress. Officials say his focus will be on stormwater management and maintenance, street paving, and the beautification of Parker 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 mypanhandle.com. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The City of San Angelo is beginning the process of seeking out animal rescues to provide adoption, foster and transport services as its multi-year agreement with Concho Valley PAWS nears its expiration. Morgan Chegwidden, interim Neighborhood Services director and member of the Citys Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, told Concho Valley Homepage that the Citys current agreement with CVPAWS, which formally began on Oct. 1, 2019, will end on Sept. 30. Interruptions to adoption, foster and transport services would start on Oct. 1 should a new agreement or alternative solution not be enacted. Fort Concho hosts events for National Cowboy Day and Buffalo Soldiers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Animal Shelter Advisory Committee held a meeting on July 17, and among the items on the agenda was the discussion and consideration of adoption services in light of the upcoming end of the agreement. Three potential options were presented in the agenda: Revert adoption, foster, and transport programming to the City at an approximate cost of $400,000 annually. Publish a request for proposal to continue contracting such services, current cost is about $72,000 annually. No longer offer adoption options and rely on rescue transfers, owner redemption, and euthanasia as the only outcomes available. There are a million ways that the City could pursue the next step, and this agenda item was to get feedback from the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee on what their recommendation would be, Chegwidden said. Chegwidden stated that the committee chose to start the process of creating a subcommittee to draft a request for proposal, a document designed to communicate Government requirements to prospective contractors and to solicit proposals, as per acqusition.gov. In this case, the request would outline what services the City needs in regards to the adoption, fostering and transportation of animals and allow for rescues to respond with offers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Angelo State Park hosts photo contest for 30th anniversary It could be something similar to what PAWS currently does for us and what vendors could participate in and provide a response, or you could set forth different parameters of what were looking for in that contract, Chegwidden said. Chegwidden said that any rescue, be it local or otherwise, may be eligible to submit a proposal, provided they are an incorporated 501(c)(3) organization including CVPAWS. She shared that CVPAWS responded to the past three request for proposal documents issued by the City and has, on occasion, been the only organization to respond. Its not an endeavor to replace PAWS, its just to craft a new agreement, a new contract, new deliverables, new performance measures, Chegwidden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City is also capable of partnering with multiple rescues to meet its service needs, according to Chegwidden. Functionally, could it be more than one organization? Weve struggled with that in the past, but legally, yes, we could contract with more than one organization, especially if they did very different functions, Chegwidden said. Juarez cop convicted in Kimble County stolen vehicle case But what are the most pressing concerns that the City should address through a new agreement? Chegwidden believes that improving accessibility for provided services is of the utmost importance. I think its important for the City to have a perspective of how do we meet people where they are, how do we encourage compliance and provide resources, Chegwidden said. Were looking for a partner to look at it through that lens as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time is of the essence, however. Chegwidden said that, if no solution is found by Oct. 1, the City runs the risk of an increase in euthanasia for capacity at the San Angelo Animal Shelter due to a lack of a City-run adoption program. Although Concho Valley PAWS has verbally stated that, whether they enter a new agreement or not, theyre still going to continue to pull from the shelter, we know that that would not necessarily be at the level of whats coming in at the shelter, Chegwidden said. If 30 dogs came into a shelter in a week but only 10 were pulled by local rescues or out-of-state rescues, then were facing euthanasia for capacity. Chegwidden said rescues interested in responding to the request for proposal document may ask to have their organization put on a list ahead of time by emailing her at morgan.chegwidden@sanangelo.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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Throughout the valley, efforts to boost pedestrian safety are underway, with Clark County installing another crosswalk in a busy area near the Las Vegas Strip. Kourtney Birton lives right around the corner from Convention Center Drive near Las Vegas Boulevard and said that before the crosswalk was added, it was always a gamble trying to cross the street. Youre always having to dodge the cars and time it out the perfect way, so having this crosswalk is a much-needed change, Birton told 8 News Now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the crosswalk isnt finished yet, it comes at a time when the need for more across the valley is evident. Nevada Department of Public Safety reported 162 fatalities this year, with 115 of those being in Clark County. That is a decrease of 9.5% compared to May of last year. As for pedestrian deaths, Clark County has seen a total of 40 so far, with 46 reported across the state as of May. The most recent reports from June have yet to be released. Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom shared with 8 News Now that while pedestrian fatalities continue to be an issue across the valley, he is glad to see Clark County focused on steps that make road crossings safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moises Perez, who is an avid walker, is taking full advantage now that the crosswalk is almost complete, noting how busy it gets with all the tourists and convention goers. People are trying to come in and out, especially during popular conventions. If its helping to better the community and making sure everyone is staying safe, then its great, 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 KLAS. Gloria Cuevas thought she would live forever in her pink, century-old house on Puerto Rico's west coast -- but then her landlord decided to transform the home into an Airbnb. Cuevas left her home -- now purple and split in two -- and her beloved city for another further south, forced out by the rising cost of living and an explosion of short-term rentals on the US Caribbean island territory. Puerto Rico -- long a draw for sun-worshipping tourists -- is also a hotspot for foreign investment and offers tax incentives to attract outsiders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At first, I couldn't come back here," Cuevas, 68, told AFP, gazing at the home she once made her own. "It made me feel sad and angry at the same time." Cuevas's experience is becoming an all too familiar tale across the island, where signs promote mansions for sale, and the Airbnb logo is plastered on homes where locals once lived. Intensifying Puerto Rico's gentrification are laws that encourage primarily wealthy mainland Americans to move there in exchange for preferential tax treatment. The program originally enacted in 2012 was meant to spur economic growth and attract investment on the island, an unincorporated territory under US control since 1898. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those relocating must acquire residency and buy property to keep the significant incentives -- but many Puerto Ricans as well as some US lawmakers say this is driving up housing prices and encouraging tax evasion. "Colonialism kills us, it suffocates us," Cuevas said. "It's a global theme. It's a class war." - 'Unfair' - Ricki Rebeiro, 30, moved to San Juan more than a year ago, bringing his packaging and marketing business that services cannabis companies with him. He told AFP that basing his work in Puerto Rico saves his company millions of dollars annually, and that he pays zero personal income tax -- what amounts to the equivalent of "a whole second income" that he says he tries to reinvest locally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe that the locals are probably upset that they're not reaping the same benefits of somebody like me," said the entrepreneur, whose family is based in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. The system is "unfair," Rebeiro said, "but I also don't believe that I should be the one to blame for that. I didn't structure the program." Puerto Ricans in recent years have slammed their government for what they say is a hyperfocus on outsiders at the expense of locals, as the rich -- including people like the famous content creator-turned-boxer Jake Paul -- move in. - 'This is ours' - Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Cabo Rojo, a seaside city about an hour's drive south of Rincon on the island's western coast, some residents are taking the matter into their own hands. During a recent canvassing effort, a group of activists urged their neighbors to protest a project called Esencia, which aims to build a $2 billion luxury resort and residential development on coastal land. Dafne Javier said her family goes back generations in this area -- her great-grandfather was the last mayor in the municipality under Spanish occupation, and the first under US rule. The 77-year-old told AFP the Esencia project would "totally change the landscape," saying it would create a gated town within a town and predicting that wealthy newcomers "won't mix with us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters noted that the planned development would be in the vicinity of protected areas. They say it would destroy the natural habitat of some endangered species, while exacerbating problems with potable water, electricity supply and trash pick-up. Roberto Ruiz Vargas -- COO of Three Rules Capital, the developer behind Esencia -- disputes those notions, and told AFP that "from the outset, our intention has been to develop the land responsibly and sensitively, minimizing impact." He pointed to plans to power the development primarily with solar energy. He also said developers were working with both the water authority and the Department of Natural Resources to "address concerns about our water sources" including "independent systems that will reuse rainwater and treated wastewater for irrigation uses." Ruiz Vargas said developers estimate the project will directly create more than 4,000 jobs, and thousands more across the island. But protestors said an influx of wealthy new residents will exacerbate inequality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christopher Powers is married to a Puerto Rican with whom he has children, and has lived in Cabo Rojo for 20 years. He vehemently opposes the project. "They have no idea what they're destroying, and if they do have an idea what they're destroying, then they should be ashamed," he told AFP of the developers. "Not only is it ecologically destructive, not only will it be an economic disaster for those of us who live here, but it's also against the sort of spirit or values of the Caborojinos." Cuevas is hopeful her story and others like it will crystallize for her fellow Puerto Ricans what they stand to lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have to keep fighting. We have to educate our youth. Have you heard of Bad Bunny?" she said, referring to the Puerto Rican global superstar whose music and current residency in San Juan has amplified discussion of gentrification and cultural dilution, on the island and beyond. "This is ours," Cuevas said. "We're not going to leave." mdo/sst/des South Korean cabbage, Australian lettuce, Japanese rice, Brazilian coffee and Ghanaian cocoa are among the many foods that have been hit by price hikes following extreme climate events since 2022, a team of international scientists has found. The research released on Monday cites, among other examples, a 280 percent spike in global cocoa prices in April 2024, following a heatwave in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, and a 300 percent jump in lettuce prices in Australia after floods in 2022. In the vast majority of cases, the increase in prices came soon after heatwaves, including a 70 percent increase in cabbage prices in South Korea in September 2024, a 48 percent increase in rice prices in Japan in September 2024, and an 81 percent increase in potato prices in India in early 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other price increases were linked to drought, such as a 2023 drought in Brazil that preceded a 55 percent increase in global coffee prices the following year, and a 2022 drought in Ethiopia that came before overall food prices there increased by 40 percent in 2023. The research, published by six European research organisations along with the European Central Bank, was released before the United Nations Food Systems Summit, which will be co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from July 27 to July 29. Hasan Basri, a 55-year-old farmer, pulls out his rice that failed to be harvested due to a prolonged drought in Aceh Besar, Indonesia, on July 31, 2024 [Riska Munawarah/Reuters] Until we get to net zero emissions extreme weather will only get worse, but its already damaging crops and pushing up the price of food all over the world, the reports lead author, Maximillian Kotz, from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, said in a press release. People are noticing, with rising food prices number two on the list of climate impacts they see in their lives, second only to extreme heat itself, Kotz added, noting that low-income families are often the most affected when the price of food shoots up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report comes as the cost of living, including food affordability, has been a key issue for many voters heading to elections around the world in recent years, including in Japan, where the price of rice was on many voters minds as they headed to the polls this weekend. Grocery prices were also key election issues in the United States and the United Kingdom in 2024 and in Argentina in 2023. Kim Si-Gap, the head of the High-Altitude Cabbage and Radish Producers Association, walks around his kimchi cabbage field at the Anbandeogi village in Gangneung, South Korea, on August 22, 2024 [Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters] In the UK, climate change added 360 [$482] to the average household food bill across 2022 and 2023 alone, one of the reports co-authors, Amber Sawyer, from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said in a press release. Last year, the UK had its third worst arable harvest on record, and England its second worst, following extreme rainfall that scientists said was made worse by climate change, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), governments have committed to cutting the global emissions that are driving the climate crisis by 2.6 percent from 2019 to 2030. However, these commitments fall well short of the reductions scientists say are needed to stay within reach of a Paris Agreement target to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to deliver a landmark advisory opinion on states legal obligations to address climate change on Wednesday, in a case brought by Vanuatu and backed by many Global South countries. CHICAGO (WGN) Jurors found Steven Montano guilty of all counts, including murder, following deliberations in the murder trial of Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso. Officially, jurors found Montano guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two lesser countsmurdering a peace officer in the performance of his official duties knowing he was a peace officer, and firing a weapon causing death to a peace officer. It only took the jury about an hour and a half during deliberations to reach the verdict, which happened shortly after closing arguments when Montanos defense team made a last-ditch attempt to sway jurors toward a second-degree murder conviction instead of one in the first degree, thanks in part to Judge John Lyke Jr.s surprising actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the verdict was read, there was a shocking moment in the courtroom prior to closing statements when Lyke Jr. agreed with the defense that jurors could consider the charge of second-degree murder, instead of murder in the first degree. But ultimately, jurors convicted Montano of the more serious first-degree murder charge and all additional counts. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara addressed reporters following the verdict. [Vasquez-Lassos] dream got cut short by a piece of garbage with a gun with no conscience whatsoever other than not wanting to go to jail, Catanzara said. Now, he will spend the rest of his life in the Department of Corrections where he belongs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling also spoke after the verdict. The only thing that we can do for the family now is bring some level of justice, and they got that today, Snelling said. Its very important. The defendant, just 18 years of age at the time of the shooting, was accused of firing shots from his unlawfully possessed .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in 2023, killing 32-year-old CPD patrol Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso after a Gage Park foot chase. The police were initially called to the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue after Montanos girlfriend called 911, saying he was chasing her with a gun. It just blew me away that, you know, offenders are out there carrying these guns, and theyre not afraid of the policing, and theyll all shoot them back at us, said Carlos Yanez, the former CPD officer injured in the shooting that claimed the life of Chicago Police Officer Ella French. 32-year-old Andres Vasquez-Lasso, courtesy CPD Following court, Cook County States Attorney Eileen ONeil Burke deemed Montanos defense a Hail Mary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the jury saw it for what it was, she said. and it did not convince the jury of anything. Eyewitness accounts heard in trial of man accused of killing Chicago police officer Over the course of the six-day trial, loved ones of the slain officer, in addition to law enforcement officers and officials, packed the courtroom, where jurors viewed graphic bodycam video of the shooting. The jury heard four days of testimony, including the testimony of the accused killer. This was the last face officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso saw on this earth, Assistant Cook County States Attorney Sara Grgurovic told the jury during closing arguments, pointing to Montano. It was him, the killer, who was Officer Lassos angel of death.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days earlier, inside the Cook County Criminal Courthouse on Friday, Montano testified that he was terrified by the police. Montano described alleged encounters as a boy with CPD, though his account, at times, stopped short of seemingly corroborating evidence. Montanos fear of police, he told jurors, was the reason why he fled on foot in March of 2023 as patrol officers and Vasquez-Lasso responded to a domestic disturbance call placed by Montanos girlfriend. The defense claimed self-defense, and Montano claimed he did not know Vasquez-Lasso was a police officer while being pursued. He panicked when his girlfriend called 911, public defender Brett Balmer told the jury. He panicked and jumped out the window. Steven Montano (Chicago Police Department) Bodycam video captured what prosecutors said was the defendant firing his pistol which he was not licensed to carry five times, claiming the 32-year-old officers life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The slain officer returned fire, with a bullet hitting Montano in the jaw. Officers quickly arrested Montano, recovering what forensic experts said was the .45 caliber murder weapon. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Vasquez-Lasso had been with the Chicago Police Department for five years. An immigrant from Colombia, he leaves behind a wife and family internationally. Hes survived by his wife, daughter, and extended family. I think its probably more relief right now that this nonsense and drama is over, Catanzara said. They have to come back for the sentencing, but they dont have to keep being dragged into this building, and they can start the long process ahead of healing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next court date in the case is set for Wednesday, Sept. 3, for post-trial motions before a sentencing date is set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Steven Piper, codefendant in the multi-million dollar Auto Masters bank fraud case alongside Plaza Mariachi owner Mark Janbakhsh, has pleaded guilty to more than a dozen charges. He is expected to testify against Janbakhsh at his upcoming trial, court records show. Piper's guilty plea, made June 6, may benefit prosecutors when they try prove their case against Janbakhsh. Janbakhsh's trial, coming nearly three years after his indictment, was recently delayed one week, but it is now set to begin July 29. The delay was caused in part by a massive records dump by the government this month. Court filings show prosecutors provided to defense 77,805 pages of documents related to its witnesses just 13 days before trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men are accused of defrauding two banks through Nashville used car dealership chain Auto Masters and its related financing institutions, all of which Janbakhsh owned. Piper, 54, was Auto Masters' chief financial officer. On June 6, he pleaded guilty to all 16 federal charges against him, including bank fraud, which carries a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December. Piper and his attorney did not return requests for comment. Investigators said Piper and Janbakhsh manipulated financial reports from Auto Masters dealerships to overstate the company's collateral by more than $37 million. They then received $24 million from lines of credit based on the falsified collateral, according to investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Plaza Mariachi rose as Auto Masters fell: The story behind federal fraud charges They were indicted in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in October 2022. Auto Masters has been under new ownership since 2018, shortly after the company filed for bankruptcy. Janbakhsh, who owns Plaza Mariachi, has maintained his innocence. Piper pleaded guilty to the following charges: One count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud Five counts of bank fraud Five counts of making false statements to a bank One count of bankruptcy fraud One count of making a false statement under oath during a bankruptcy proceeding Three counts of filing a false income tax return Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors begin their case against the men in 2013, when Auto Masters, which mostly did business in South Nashvilles immigrant community, opened lines of credit at Capital One and First Tennessee Bank, now First Horizon Bank. The banks determined how much to loan to Auto Masters using the value of the company's collateral, much of which was based on the active car loans it had financed to customers. Acording to prosecutors, Piper and Janbakhsh directed employees to falsify records to show more active loans than there actually were. For example, employees created duplicate loans for the same cars, reported loans for cars that had been repossessed or sold off and fabricated loans using information from customers whose applications for loans were rejected. Prosecutors said Piper falsely reported his and his wife's income for three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Plaza Mariachi landlord sues Slim + Husky's, which left Nashville venue after refrigeration issues 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: Codefendant Steven Piper pleads guilty in Auto Masters bank fraud case LONDON (Reuters) -A Colombian national was convicted on Monday of murdering two men in London before taking parts of their dismembered bodies in suitcases to Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, was visiting 62-year-old Albert Alfonso and 71-year-old Paul Longworth at the London flat they shared in July 2024 when he killed the pair and decapitated them, prosecutors said. Mosquera who prosecutors said had engaged in extreme sexual acts with Alfonso then put some of the couple's dismembered bodies in two suitcases and attempted to dispose of the bodies in Bristol, southwest England, before he was caught and charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutor Deanna Heer told jurors at Woolwich Crown Court that Mosquera killed Longworth with a hammer, before stabbing Alfonso to death after the pair had sex which was recorded in a video played several times to the jury. Mosquera said in his evidence that Alfonso - who he alleged had been abusive to him and had threatened his family - had killed Longworth before Mosquera killed Alfonso. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, but admitted the manslaughter of Alfonso by reason of loss of control. He was convicted by a jury on Monday and will be sentenced on October 24. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Apple needs a new hardware device to take its business to the next level. Unless that happens, it will keep falling behind its big technology peers. We can see this by indexing revenue growth for Apple, Microsoft , Alphabet , and Amazon in the last five years. Apple's revenue is up 46% and hasn't grown since 2022, while Microsoft's is up 83.5%, Amazon's is up 86.9%, and Alphabet's is up 109.5%. The other big technology players are leaving Apple in the dust. The iPhone makes up half of Apple's overall revenue. Stagnation in iPhone revenue -- which hasn't grown since 2021 -- is why Apple's overall revenue has barely grown in the last few years. It is searching for the next blockbuster computing product. Last year, it debuted the Apple Vision Pro, a $3,000 mixed reality headset. Today, it is clear that the Vision Pro has been a total flop for the company, with very few headsets actually sold. Yes, Apple's services division is showing steady growth, hitting a record $100 billion in overall revenue in the last 12 months, but it is not going to be a huge needle mover for a stock with a market cap of $3.1 trillion. It is undoubtedly one of the most profitable products ever, but the iPhone is now hitting maturity in relation to its annual sales around the globe. Pricing power can help the $200 billion-per-year product eke out a little bit of growth in the coming years, but the fact that upgrade cycles for customers keep expanding will be a consistent headwind for product growth. New phones are now similar to older models, with little technological innovation to spur customers to upgrade to the latest devices. 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Apple as it tries to find new ways to grow. Does that mean you should buy or sell the stock before the July 31 earnings? The answer is clear when looking at the numbers. One of the most important companies in the world reports earnings on July 31. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) -- maker of the iPhone, Apple Watch, Air Pods, and more -- is set to give investors another financial update for the second quarter of 2025. The stock has soared in the last five years but has recently hit a rough patch in 2025, with shares down 14% year to date (YTD) due to concerns over slowing growth and tariffs implemented by the United States on other nations. Story Continues Potential recovery in China Another headwind for Apple has been China, where homegrown technology players and smartphone makers have been taking market share from iPhones. Revenue in the country has been in decline since March 2022, which is disappointing since it used to be such a big growth engine for Apple. However, things may be turning around this year, with third-party analysts estimating that China revenue grew 8% year over year for Apple in Q2. Over the long term, it is hard for investors to be bullish on Apple in China. The country has a "Made in China 2025" mandate, which is driving down demand for Western brands. Apple has a fantastic pull as a brand in China, but it is hard to fight government headwinds like this. There is also the tariff and trade war between the United States and China, which Apple could end up being caught right in the middle of, since it does the majority of its manufacturing in China. This is a risk that investors need to consider before buying Apple stock. Other countries may provide some level of support to revenue growth, such as India and its large population. However, these are only a tiny portion of Apple's sales today and won't affect its consolidated financials for many years. The company's growth will be driven by North America and China. Image source: Getty Images. Should you buy or sell Apple stock before earnings? At today's market cap, Apple trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 33. This is much higher than its long-term average, and even higher than some of its big technology peers like Alphabet that are growing revenue much faster. Looking toward the future, it is difficult to find reasons for Apple to grow besides raising prices on iPhones and incremental services revenue. It has shown zero presence in artificial intelligence (AI), has no cloud computing strategy, and has failed to leap ahead into new computing paradigms. For at least the next few years, it looks like investors will be stuck with the same old Apple and its iPhone, computer, and accessories products. Even though this is one of the best brands in the world, investors should sell Apple before its Q2 earnings report. There isn't much growth left to be had with this stock. Should you buy stock in Apple right now? Before you buy stock in Apple, 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 Apple 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 $652,133!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,056,790!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,048% 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 *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Brett Schafer has positions in Alphabet and Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy or Sell Apple Stock Before July 31? The Answer May Surprise You was originally published by The Motley Fool The Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Aurora, operated by private prison firm GEO Group, is pictured on Jan. 30, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Centennial, said Sunday that he had been denied entry to an immigration detention center in his district in violation of federal law. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Aurora, operated by private prison company GEO Group, is the only such facility in Colorado. Despite federal law guaranteeing members of Congress the right to enter ICE facilities for the purpose of conducting oversight, Crows office said Sunday that he had been unlawfully denied access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Providing oversight is critical to my job in Congress, Crow said in a statement. The law is clear that Members of Congress have the legal right to conduct unannounced oversight of federal detention facilities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Oversight visits by members of Congress have become a flashpoint in 2025 as President Donald Trumps administration dramatically expands the scope of ICE detention and removal operations to achieve its mass deportation targets. One Democratic House member, Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey, has been charged with interfering with federal law enforcement officers during a chaotic scene outside an ICE facility in Newark, during which officers also arrested the citys mayor, Ras Baraka, on a trespassing charge. The Department of Homeland Security has publicly instructed members of Congress to request visits to ICE detention centers a week ahead of time. Federal law, however, doesnt permit the department to impose such conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing in this section may be construed to require a member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility for the purpose of conducting oversight, states Public Law 118-47, enacted by Congress and signed into law in 2024. Access to ICE Processing Centers is governed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Christopher Ferreira, a GEO Group spokesperson, told Newsline in an email. As such, we would refer you to ICE. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. The Aurora ICE detention center, with a total capacity of 1,532 detainees, has long been the target of criticism from activists over allegations of inhumane conditions and dehumanizing treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caroline Dias Goncalves, a 19-year-old Utah nursing student who was detained in the facility for 15 days last month after her arrest by ICE agents in Grand Junction, called her stay in the facility a nightmare. She said that detainees were forced to eat soggy food even the bread would come wet, she said and that detainees who didnt speak English were treated worse than those who did. Crow, who has conducted regular oversight of the ICE facility in his district since being sworn in to Congress in 2019, said that work will continue. Since President Trump was elected, this administration has tried to intimidate members of Congress from doing their jobs, he said in a statement. I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight. I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CEDAREDGE, CO Grand Mesas hulking south flank appeared green and brown through the windshield as a crew of state water regulators rode up its dirt roads to christen a fraught 2025 irrigation season on what promised to be one of many parched Colorado River tributaries this spring. At the juncture of a flowing creek and a dry ditch, one hopped out to crank a headgate shut, forcing the water into the ditch and toward a string of valley farms for however long it might last. The mountain would have gleamed more brightly during most 20th century springs, a mound of white propping up the evergreens. In this, the latest year of a decades-long megadrought, the water commissioner needed no snow boots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was April Fools Day, and Mother Nature had crafted a cruel punchline for the fruit orchardists below a groaner that this crew would have to deliver to those farmers one by one later in the spring and summer by cutting off those who dont enjoy the oldest water rights. Peach, plum and apple trees had budded out after a 79-degree warmup the previous week, demanding water that wouldnt last the growing season. The state allows diversions starting April 1, but in a better year with ample snowpack the added moisture wouldnt be needed until May. It shouldnt have been green yet where they were, motoring upward past 6,200 feet above sea level. In a normal year the kind before this megadrought of 25 years plunged the rivers big reservoirs and the states that rely on them into crisis and conflict they wouldnt need to act so soon. There still might have been 4 feet of snow on and below the giant forested mesa looming over western Colorados arid lands, so much that no one along the North Fork of the Gunnison River would need to push water onto their fruit orchards yet. In a normal year, we wouldnt even be able to drive up here yet, Gunnison Basin District Engineer Bob Hurford said from the back seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But normal years arent the norm anymore here or anywhere in the 250,000-square-mile drainage that supplies the 1,450-mile Colorado River. A river that has long been overallocated and draining its massive reservoirs is now nearly tapped out, soon potentially unable to keep flowing past the giant American dams that water and power much of the Southwest. Already, its last drops sink into Mexican sand before reaching the sea. Today we stand on the brink of system failure, the state of Colorados river commissioner, Becky Mitchell, said during a late-June meeting with colleagues from the Rocky Mountain states that make up the Upper Colorado River Commission. Such a collapse has grown larger on the horizon for most of this decade as reservoir replenishment has failed to keep up with downstream demands. 'A world unlike anything we know' A new reckoning is at hand. The Trump administration has put the states on the clock to reach a consensus deal by the end of this year to share the shrinking river equitably the only way they can control their own fates. If you cant get there, Assistant Interior Secretary Scott Cameron warned in one of several recent appearances before state negotiators, (Interior) Secretary Burgum is prepared to exercise his authority as water master and make decisions himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameron also urged the states to work with the 30 Native American tribes living across the watershed, both to ensure that they have adequate water and to partner with the tribes who have secured substantial water settlements to store more water in the reservoirs. Arizona, for example, has leaned heavily on deals with the Gila River Indian Community to save water. Loralei Cloud, a Southern Ute tribal member and Colorado Water Conservation Board member, said its time for every tribe to have both a direct say in how the river is managed and to secure its fair share. If the states cant reach a deal, she told a crowd at the University of Colorado Law School in June, they should get out of the way. If our state representatives are going to sit silent, she said at the annual Getches-Wilkinson Centers Conference on the Colorado River, then we have 30 tribal nations that are ready to take over and make a decision and save our river. Weve been doing it from time immemorial. Federal officials have a trust responsibility to secure water for tribes, which the Bureau of Reclamation will need to account for in any interstate deal. The tribes with secure rights will likely also commit more water to the system in exchange for money or infrastructure help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, an attorney for the Navajo Nation told conference attendees that the tribe is considering conserving water that previously flowed to a now-decommissioned coal-fired power plant. In future years, the tribe wants to use its rights to fill a planned pipeline to reservation communities, but the water saved until then could stay in the river to boost reservoir storage. Hoover Dam (top right) and Lake Mead at the Arizona/Nevada border in 2021 The rivers two largest dammed reservoirs also the two largest in the nation are each around one-third of capacity, a quarter-century after being essentially full. The mostly dry winters since 2000 have plunged storage pools behind Hoover and Glen Canyon dams to the point where the U.S. government is temporarily paying millions of dollars to Arizona and California irrigators who agree to grow less to keep from draining them. This years liquid reinforcements, mostly from melting snow that reaches Lake Powell between April and July, were on track to provide less than half of the average over the last 30 years, according to the National Weather Services Colorado Basin River Forecast Center June estimate. A river that the interstate negotiators of a century ago thought would routinely provide more than 15 million acre-feet a year has already declined to less than 13 million on average since 2000, in a fast-growing region. An acre-foot equals roughly 326,000 gallons and is enough to support several households for a year, though farms use the bulk of the Colorados water. Colorado State University climate researcher Brad Udall warned that the river may provide only 10 million acre-feet if current global warming trends continue through the century a sharp new reduction in an already diminished and overused source on which 40 million people rely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a world unlike anything we currently know, Udall said. Total failure would mean Lakes Powell and Mead decline below where intakes for hydroelectric turbines or bypass tubes can pass water through the dams a condition known as dead pool. It would restrict Grand Canyon to the relative trickle out of small tributaries below Glen Canyon Dam, and would desiccate the sprawling and lucrative vegetable and forage crop empires of Arizona, California and northwestern Mexico. It would also interrupt a major part of the domestic water supply to millions of people in Arizona and Southern California. Such a doomsday is still years away, according to the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency that operates the dams. The agencys two-year projections of reservoir storage predict a most-likely scenario in which Lake Powells waterline bumps along near its current point and a worst-case scenario in which it could drop some 80 feet, at which Glen Canyons hydropower intakes could go dry but the bypass tubes, more than 100 feet deeper, could still release water. Trying to measure snow that isn't there A partial and painful system failure of the kind Colorados Mitchell referenced could happen sooner if next winter is disastrously dry in the mountains, triggering a cascade of administrative decisions that could force officials to drain smaller mountain reservoirs to prop up Lake Powell. That would force significant conservation measures above the big reservoir and cause the government to consider cutting back on releases to Lake Mead, ultimately reducing that reservoirs ability to serve downstream users. Hydropower production at both dams would suffer, forcing utilities to buy more expensive power on the grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are one bad runoff year from a crisis, Mitchell said. This is what happens when rules and adaptations dont keep up with nature. Twenty years ago, when the reservoirs were still early in their downward spirals, the seven states that share the Colorados water agreed to a new set of shortage guidelines that Reclamation then adopted to rule the river through 2026. They called on the states below the reservoirs to reduce their consumption by varying tiers based on Lake Meads elevation at the start of any given year. Most of the risk and eventual harm fell on Arizona because the state had been forced to accept a lesser priority than Californias when it sought congressional approval to build the Central Arizona Project canal and deliver river water to Phoenix and Tucson. The Central Arizona Project Canal runs through Scottsdale carrying Colorado River water. When those cuts proved too little, the states added a drought plan imposing new reductions, and then the former Biden administration began paying farmers to temporarily leave behind some of their entitlements. Federal officials worked out an emergency update to the guidelines with new water savings from California, Arizona and Nevada, the Lower Basin states, to keep the dams functioning through next year. The Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming those above Lake Powell were not required to trim current uses, in part because they have yet to fully develop the half of the rivers flow that the compact had arguably promised them in an age before climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Reclamation Bureau now intends to adopt a new set of shortage guidelines to rule dam releases by mid-2026, the impetus for Trump officials to call on the states to devise their own plan by winter before the government imposes its own. How dust from Arizona affects Colorado snowpack Grand Mesa is a harbinger of the Colorado Rivers long-term decline. Atop the mountain and next to one loop of the Skyway Ski Trail, at elevation 10,600, is a continuing science experiment that suggests the Wests water supply will continue to shrink. A tower with a weather vane and other instruments to gauge and transmit conditions pokes out of the snow in an opening among the evergreens. A short distance from its base is a patch that University of Utah geographers routinely ski to in winter and dig pits to study how the snow is holding up, how cold it keeps throughout the winter, and how much dust has fallen on it. The dust, mostly from northern Arizona, takes flight on windstorms in early spring and drops in layers on Rocky Mountain snowpack. As gradual melting uncovers each layer, the dusts relative darkness absorbs more solar radiation, speeding the thaw. Core samples from the mud below alpine lakes show that dust deposition has increased since modern land disturbance and grazing in the Southwest exposed more soil to the winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It can accelerate snowmelt by weeks to months, said McKenzie Skiles, who directs the universitys Snow Hydrology Research-to-Operations Laboratory, or Snow HyDRO. On average, according to research published a decade ago, dust melts snow three weeks early and results in a 5% reduction in water flowing in the Colorado. The sooner the snow melts, the sooner plants green up and start using it, reducing what reaches creeks that feed the river. Add in dry soils that increasingly act as a sponge when drought years pile up, and the mountain grows ever thirstier. This exacerbates ongoing reductions in snowpack as warming air causes some of what used to fall as snow to instead fall as rain, especially lower on the mountain, Skiles said. She has studied western Colorados snows since 2008 and sees a clear trend toward early green-ups, especially lower on the mountain the mid-elevation areas like the one Hurford said he wouldnt be able to access to divert irrigation water in the normal year. Another unfortunate trend she identified is finding liquid water when she or her graduate students dig snow pits mid-winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sort of portends of the future of warmer snowpacks, she said. Combine that with rising heat that increases both evaporation and human demands on the water that reaches the river, and scientists predict an even more depleted waterway later this century. Throughout the Colorado headwaters, snowpack and its meltwater fluctuate yearly, sometimes wildly, with big years occasionally pulling Lake Powell back from the brink of losing its ability to produce hydropower. That happened with a big winter in 2023. But since the turn of this century its never enough to actually refill the reservoirs, and both Powell and Mead were roughly two-thirds empty heading into spring. Hurford, the district engineer in western Colorado, has seen the signs of aridification year by year, especially in the flow gauge where his local river, the Gunnison, spills into the Colorado near Grand Junction. He has averaged those readings by decade. The 1920s: huge. The 1930s: Dust Bowl, a dry decade that pried millions of inland Americans from their homes and was, until now, the modern measuring stick for drought. The 1980s and 1990s: fantastic. The 2023 snowpack was a godsend, he said, but it was only a Band-Aid on scars accumulated over 2020, 2021 and 2022. The last five years cumulatively were the rivers driest in a century. Where we are in the 2020s is worse than the Dust Bowl, Hurford said. 'We're in the bullseye' On the day that Hurford and crew officially opened irrigation season, organic fruit farmers Steve Ela and Regan Choi feared the worst. Their farm in Hotchkiss, to Grand Mesas southeast, has experienced a string of climate calamities in recent years: water shortages, a tree-killing autumn freeze and untimely spring frosts. On that day, the latter loomed a forecasted 21-degree night just a week after highs in the upper 70s had caused trees to flower precariously early. The increasing variability is the real climate story, Choi said. Trees do not do well with variability, Ela added. The couple would lose much of their plum and cherry crops that night, an increasingly common problem as warming spring days have pushed the typical flowering season up by a couple of weeks and left the blooms more exposed to frosty nights. They hoped the peach, pear and apple trees could compensate. As the drought years accumulate, though, the potential for abundant years has withered. The farmers have dramatically curtailed their plantings to make sure that whatever water reaches their farm by late summer is enough to keep the trees alive through the growing season. It leaves less for them to truck to the Colorado Front Range, where they sell most of their fruit at farmers markets. The downsizing has been a painful and ominous step for Ela, whose family has farmed in western Colorado since 1907 and who has personally worked the Hotchkiss lands as Ela Family Farms since 1990. The water rights predate the Colorado River Compact, but that may not matter if the federal government or the courts decide Colorado farmers must cut back to fulfill delivery obligations to the Southwest. Even short of that, his own states population centers, clustered around Denver, could offer money to leave water in the river, so they can divert more from the headwaters while still sending water downstream. Were in the bullseye, Ela said. At some point, how much do you fight it? The couple has a blended family of grown children, none of whom fancy a farming life. When The Arizona Republic first visited Elas farm 10 years ago, he had invested thousands of dollars per acre in a filtration and drip irrigation system to squeeze every ounce out of his supply. He got some government assistance as part of a program to reduce salt runoff that flood irrigation pushed toward the Colorado from the regions highly saline soils. But most of the expense was on Ela. Steve Ela checks his wind machine, April 1, 2025, in an orchard at Ela Family Farms, Hotchkiss, Colorado. Temperatures were for forecast to dip to 22 degrees. The farms water procurement system is a portrait of the Upper Colorado River Basins broader water struggles. Ela and Choi have rights to direct creek water that runs off of Grand Mesa in the spring, but that only lasts so long with farmers all around draining it. Then they can draw from ditch companies theyve bought into, including delivery of water from small reservoirs atop the mesa. But in dry years like this, those reservoirs with more recent claims, known as junior water rights, cant fill. At some point, state officials like Hurford and his crew start cutting people off altogether according to the seniority of their claims. As drought lengthens and takes on an air of permanent aridification, farms shrink. Fruit trees cant last a season without water. As a result, Ela Family Farms has pared its orchards from 83 acres a decade ago to 60 today. Each dry year makes it harder to imagine replanting. Wed probably be better to go to Vegas and spend the money (gambling) there, Ela said. We might have a better chance. Dry ground soaks up runoff before it reaches the river On the evening of April 3, the Colorado River District, a state-chartered protector of water rights for 15 rural Colorado counties west of the Continental Divide, hosted a State of the River briefing in Carbondale for dozens of water users. The state of the river, to no ones surprise, was not strong. The snowpack still gleaming off nearby Mount Sopris and ranges ringing Aspen was melting ahead of schedule and likely sinking into unusually dry soils, said Caleb Foy, a deputy engineer in the state water departments local district. We definitely peaked early this year, Foy told the ranchers, skiers, raft trip guides and local officials while they digested a catered buffet. The Roaring Fork, a tributary flowing through that valley toward the Colorado, had started melting its snowpack on March 23, he said, two weeks before average. Its water equivalent stood at 87% of average, but the amount reaching irrigators and then the mainstem Colorado at Glenwood Springs would likely lag. If you have a dry sponge and you put a bunch of water on it, its going to soak it up, Foy said. Its not going to make it to the river. That is what happened to the entire Colorado River watershed in 2021, when a reasonably good snowpack yielded dire runoff toward the river and Lake Powell. Most of the region entered that year in severe drought, clearing space in the sponge. Then precipitation built to 84% of the 30-year average, according to the Upper Colorado River Commissions annual report. The resulting runoff only yielded 32% of average, by far the worst drought year since 2002. The Colorado River District represents about a twelfth of the states population spread across a quarter of the states land. It seeks to protect their access to water for communities and the dominant industries of agriculture, recreation and oil energy. The areas prodigious snow produces nearly two-thirds of the Colorados flow on average. The districts only substantial metro area, at Grand Junction, has about 150,000 people, a political force that pales against Denver and the Front Range within the state, and against Los Angeles, Phoenix and others in the national debate. District General Manager Andy Mueller told The Republic that he understands the argument that providing water to those cities generates the bulk of the Wests economy, and that some believe it means drying farms to do so will prove a higher and better use. But dewatering places like western Colorado will harm the entire region, he argued, by killing off wildlife habitats and late-summer flows that irrigation creates by spreading water on the land to seep back toward the river. And drying farms means killing a culture while increasing food imports. We all need to figure out ways to conserve water, Mueller said. But I think that what is important, and what my agency is responsible for, is defending the values of having a local and regional food supply within the Colorado River Basin. It is recognizing that theres an inherent value in all of these small, thriving communities. Squeezing every drop, sometimes with weed whackers While the State of the Rivers official topic was the years local outlook, the specter of the greater rivers collapse hung over every presentation that evening. After Foy, Colorado River District spokesman Matt Aboussie stepped onstage to describe the stakes for western Coloradans. District lands from the headwaters at Rocky Mountain National Park to the Utah line, from Steamboat Springs ski slopes in the northwest to Grand Mesa and the Gunnison River canals in the south gather and melt roughly two-thirds of the water that swells the Colorado River, he said. Garfield County, where they stood that night, has warmed on average 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895. Each degree squeezes between 3% and 5% from the streamflow, scientists say, so he pegged the annual loss so far at around 15%. Farmers already strained by local flow restrictions now face the prospect of new diversions to urban Colorado, or pressure to shunt water to users downstream and out of state. We cant have a scenario where the Western Slope becomes a sacrifice zone, Aboussie said. Rancher Bill Fales listened attentively to some of the evenings presentations. He had long shared these fears, having lived through the areas warming and drying decades. But he left early when he got a call alerting him to an ailing cow on his ranch. The next morning, Fales joined a neighbors ranch manager to inspect a small ditch that they share to deliver water from a nearby creek. Red willow stems poked out of a dusting of snow in the knee-deep ditch, and they would need to collaborate to clear that brush so the water would flow efficiently to their hayfields before the creek dried up. I dont think this waters going to last too long, Fales said. A creek that once lasted until May now typically runs out in mid-April. On a mountain pass to the south, his best gauge of the near future, the government was reporting 62% of normal snow water content and dropping. We should be gaining, building snowpack right now, not losing it. It wouldnt mean the end of his irrigation season, as he also has rights to Crystal River water, which he expected would see him through early August weeks less than when he started ranching, but enough for him to put up hay for his herd. Fales suggested that the neighbor have his crew work through the ditch with weed whackers. Then Fales and an intern assigned to his ranch by a sustainable farming nonprofit would return to clean out the debris with clippers and a pitchfork. With that plan of attack settled, he drove off with the intern to drop hay from his truck in a field while his bulls followed in anticipation, then back to his house to wrangle the sick cow for treatment. He suspected it had ingested a piece of barbed wire, and he needed to feed it a magnet that would lodge in its second stomach and keep the wire from tumbling through its digestive tract. Ranchers feel vulnerable as states negotiate Fales has ranched at Carbondale since 1973, when he began working for his future wife Marj Perrys father on Cold Mountain Ranch. Perry was born on the ranch, which has been in her family for a century in which first the pressures of real estate development in a resort-dominated valley and now the thirst of farms and cities far beyond it have tested its viability. Her family started farming there two years after the states ratified the Colorado River Compact, but the water rights attached to the land are even older. With too much demand for what the Colorado and its tributaries can supply, Perry said, something has to give. Shes not confident that either in-state or interstate negotiations will protect the water coursing through gated pipes to flood her familys hayfields. Its going to go to people, she predicted, not alfalfa. Never mind that she considers that crop drought-tolerant and well-adapted to Colorado, only requiring that they plow and replant once a decade. Never mind that her husband and some scientists argue that flood irrigation is the best bet here because most of the water can seep back to the river. She believes theyre at risk in whatever deal the seven states reach. Fales said if either the state of Colorado or the federal government came calling for the senior water rights that he and his neighbors own, they would provoke a horrendous fight. If the drought got bad enough, though, he could see losing that fight. If I think Im going to be out here with my shovel irrigating my alfalfa and people in Denver turn on their tap to brush their teeth and nothing comes out, he said, I dont think that situation will last very long. Even before any such fight, things are getting tough. Despite Cold Mountain Ranchs rights on paper, it essentially ran out of water in 2018, something he had once laughed off when a visitor asked what he would do in that event. That year the Crystal River dropped to 1 cubic foot per second dry for practical purposes and the ranch made only 12 of the large round bales that see his cattle through winter. A rebound the following year produced 180 bales. During the bad years he must sell more cattle to keep from buying hay, which rises in price with the scarcity. Whatever the states and the feds work out, Fales said, he hopes it causes residents and farms throughout the West to live with the water thats available year-to-year instead of continuing to drain whats left in reservoir storage. Thats how his family and neighbors do it, as they have no reservoirs above them except what the snow itself stores. Were forced to live with what nature gives us in snowfall, in snowpack, he said. And in bad years, we dont have as much water as wed like. And it seems like everyone in the basin needs to accept the fact that some years theres more water than others. With that notion, he effectively stated the rift between the states. What happens when the numbers no longer add up? An elk grazes in a field next to the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, on June 1, 2025. The Colorado River's headwaters begin in the park located in northwest Colorado. The 1922 compact split the seven water-sharing states into two administrative zones: the Upper Basin of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and a sliver of rural northeastern Arizona, and the Lower Basin of California, Nevada and most of Arizona. The dividing line is at Lees Ferry, a river access point in northern Arizona some 15 miles downstream from Glen Canyon Dam. The compact theoretically split the river in two, awarding half to each basin, with later actions requiring each to give a small share to provide a supply for Mexican farmers. The Lower Basin, led by booming Southern California and a sprawling farm network, was quick to develop its half, for a time even exceeding its 7.5 million-acre-foot share. That was possible because the slower-developing Upper Basin never built out its share, even today. The Southwest has since weaned itself of its excesses, and then some. Arizona has lost more than 500,000 acre-feet a year in mandatory cuts to the Central Arizona Project since 2022, and various agreements with the basin's water users have left water behind either permanently or for later use. To stabilize Lake Mead until the new shortage guidelines are settled and adopted next year, the Biden administration in May 2024 adopted emergency rules taking some 3 million acre-feet from the Lower Basin states over three years, with more than 2 million of sacrifice compensated by the federal government. Arizona officials say their state alone has left some 5 million acre-feet in the reservoir over the last decade a volume that, if every day's demand were equal, previously would have seen the state through all of one year and almost to Halloween of the next. The Upper Basin has capacity to take about 5.2 million acre-feet a year, but it reports on average using about 1.2 million less than that because streams dry up and farmers are cut off. Thats the stark reality of what were doing in the upper division states, Mitchell said at an Upper Colorado River Commission meeting. Its incredibly sad when you see it on the ground. For that reason, she and others in the Upper Basin have argued that their states cannot be expected to make up for climate change by cutting back from current uses. This stance threw the discussions into impasse last winter, when Lower Basin officials said theyre already cutting back by millions of acre-feet from existing uses and will need Upper Basin help during dry years. The Lower Basin negotiators offered to take the first 1.5 million acre-feet of cuts in the new scheme to be adopted next year, but said they would need to split any deeper cuts with the Upper Basin. Mitchell insisted that the Upper Basin will conserve water, but that Colorado farmers already have taken their hit from climate change and cannot be forced to take more. The upper division states use 3 to 4 million acre-feet less than our apportionment every year, she said. This is real water. And the shortages have impacts. Its caused pain in our communities that is unseen, unheard, uncompensated. Ranchers are selling off prized cattle to make ends meet. Theyre buying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of hay to survive the winter. Farmers are firing people when nothing is growing, and theyre selling off land because they cant keep it profitable. Disputes over the compact could land states in court Lower Basin negotiators say those yearly cuts the kinds that Colorado farmers must take when paltry stream flows are diverted to neighbors with better rightswouldnt save the river. Painful as they are locally, Arizona Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said, those curtailments dont put more water in Lake Powell and then Lake Mead to shore up future flows. Instead, one farmer with a junior right lets water pass to another farmer with a senior right who then grabs it before it hits the state line. So its not an equivalent to the cuts were taking below Lake Mead, where we have a user who has the water available to them and theyre taking a cut and the water is staying in Lake Mead, he said. Those are not the same things. As talks stalled, the Lower Basin started to wave the 1922 compact language at the Upper Basin. The compact's enforcement mechanism lay in the words the States of the Upper Division will not cause the flow of the river at Lee Ferry to be depleted below an aggregate of 75,000,000 acre-feet for any period of ten consecutive years. In other words, the Upper Basin could not cause the Lower Basin to receive less than its 7.5 million acre-foot annual share on average. The Upper Basin responded that it wasnt its water users that might cause such a depletion in the next few years, but rather climate change itself. Arizona girded for legal battle, with Buschatzke requesting and getting a legislative allocation for litigation. Mitchell publicly alluded to Arizonas risk if it goes to court, because the states significant use of Colorado tributary water from the Gila River Basin has never been counted against its compact allocation. Part of the watershed, the Salt and Verde rivers, supplies a substantial portion of the Phoenix areas supply. Both sides repeatedly said they wanted to avoid a court battle that could take years or decades and yield an unpredictable judgment. To break the deadlock, Buschatzke and his counterparts in California and Nevada suggested an idea theyre calling the supply-driven plan. The two basins would agree to split the water roughly based on a three-year average of actual flows off the mountains. This would depart from the current method of mandating cuts on the Lower Basin according to how low Lake Mead gets. Each basin would get an agreed percentage not 50/50, Buschatzke said, but a split reflecting that most demand is in the Southwest and then each basin would have to learn to live with whatever the river gives. It likely would mean that the Lower Basin would get less than the 7.5 million acre-feet that the compact allows it. It likely also would mean that the Upper Basin would get less than what it currently uses in the driest years. They could choose to alleviate that by conserving water during the wet years to create a downstream delivery pool in Lake Powell. Were trying to cut a deal, Buschatzke said. Were trying to check the box (saying) if there is a smaller river, well have to live with it. Upper Basin negotiators confirmed in June that they are reviewing the proposal, but they were far from signing off. Any consensus deal will have to set aside either basins legal theory, Mitchell said. In effect, the Upper Basin would turn a blind eye to the Lower Basins extra use of tributary water, and the Lower Basin would ignore what it considers a delivery obligation from upstream. We do not have a delivery obligation under the terms of the compact, and will not agree to impose one on ourselves through agreement now, Mitchell said. Thats not how Arizonas Buschatzke saw it. It locks in a system in which they have a delivery obligation to us and they have to figure out a way to achieve that, he said in an interview. The states say they have broken the impasse and are talking regularly, but they remain far from a deal. Another reservoir? Conservation advocates say 'no' Meanwhile, the Upper Basin is building capacity to store and use more of the Colorado. In a pine-ringed canyon southwest of Boulder, neighbors and environmentalists are in a race against construction cranes and cement mixers that they say are attempting to buy Denvers future at the expense of the river. There, at Gross Reservoir, Denver Water is raising an existing concrete dam by 121 feet, a height that could add 77,000 acre-feet of capacity to what the states urban Front Range currently pulls away from the Colorado through Rocky Mountain tunnels. Its a project decades in the making, meant to secure the growing regions future. But its under fire and at risk because its unclear whether the river will legally be able to give more once its completed. Save the Colorado and a local cadre calling itself The Environmental Group this spring succeeded in getting a judge to stay Denver Waters ability to draw the water it would need to fill the expanded reservoir. Construction nonetheless continued when some of the opponents visited with The Republic on a bluff overlooking the dam. Having removed some of the original dams fortification in preparation of expansion, the water utility convinced the same judge that it must proceed with construction to prevent dam failure and flooding. In effect, lead plaintiff Save the Colorado is siding with Arizona, California and Nevada in seeking to keep as much water flowing downstream for as far as possible not diverting more to Colorados Great Plains metropolis. Ideally, group executive director Gary Wockner said, the water that Denver wants to pump into this reservoir would instead flow all the way to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Short of that, he said, it should at least grace Grand Canyon and then flow through Hoover Dam before the rivers biggest user, the Imperial Irrigation District, nabs it in Southern California. The point is to keep as much of the river healthy and flowing as possible, he said, and to deal with Denvers thirst by conserving and reducing outdoor uses as the city grows more dense. Not everybody in Colorado thinks the water should be diverted in Colorado, Wockner said. These projects increase risk on the Colorado River, and political tension. A Denver Water spokesman said in an email that the agency expects per-capita water use to decline in the future, continuing a trend already underway there and in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and most cities that use Colorado River water. Still, the states Colorado Water Plan envisions a metro Denver that needs at least 134,000 acre-feet more water in 2050 than it did 10 years ago, and possibly as much as 280,000 acre-feet. The South Platte Basin, in which Denver sits, is expected to grow in population by between 42% and 70% in that time. For further context, the spokesman wrote, note that Denver Water serves one-quarter of Colorados population using less than 2% of the water used in the state. Monument to climate change denial? This is but one of numerous in-state struggles to keep water from the Colorado flowing downstream to the west instead of under the mountains to the east. The Colorado River District, for example, is hoping to swing a deal that could keep the Denver area from pulling more water out. The district is spearheading an effort to buy water rights that have powered a hydroelectric plant near Glenwood Springs since 1902. It is senior to every single trans-mountain diversion and every single West Slope water project, Mueller said. The Shoshone Generating Station, April 5, 2025, Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Mark Henle/The Republic With Aerial Support Provided By LightHawk To gain those rights from the power company and ensure that the water keeps flowing downhill, his district has pledged $20 million from its property tax collections toward a $99 million purchase price from Xcel Energy. The state would match that and communities would kick in nearly $17 million more. For the remainder, the parties are seeking a federal grant. A group of the Front Ranges urban water providers has objected. Although they have said they support the districts ability to keep water moving downstream, they dispute its calculation of how much water the plant has used in the past and is therefore entitled to in the future. The states water board agreed to conduct a hearing in the fall. The plant operates without storing water behind a dam, instead moving river water through a 13-foot-wide tunnel in the canyon wall and dropping into turbines that return the water to the river 2.4 miles downstream. Sometimes in late summer its the only flow left to water the rafts and kayaks that help float Glenwoods recreation economy, the only clean water available to downstream communities. But the plant is old, and is occasionally shut down by rockfall or fire debris. If Xcel were to stop operating the plant, the water could be available for the taking by users up and down the river (or over the mountains). Muellers district hopes to convert that water for the benefit of the river, which is known as an in-stream flow right. We're not doing this project in order for us to be able to consume more water. We're doing this to keep the water in the system, he said, and make sure it remains there even as the climate dries. Denver Water declined The Republics request for a Gross Reservoir site visit and interview, but provided a link to its statements on the legal case. In one, it said it is appealing the judges stay because it endangers a safe water supply for 1.5 million residents, and because it had spent $30 million to permit the project and completed 60% of it before being stopped. We view this decision as a radical remedy that should raise alarm bells with the public, not only because of its impacts to water security in an era of longer, deeper droughts, catastrophic wildfire and extreme weather, the utilitys statement said, but because it serves as an egregious example of how difficult it has become to build critical infrastructure in the face of relentless litigation and a broken permitting process. To the opponents, what seems radical is trying to pull more water from a river that has no more to give. Denver Waters rights on this reservoir are dated well after the Colorado River Compact, a point that those who sued to block it say could render the whole project worthless if states downstream of Colorado go to court to demand their shares under that compact. There isnt going to be enough water to fill this reservoir, neighbor Bev Kurtz said. Itll be the largest monument in history to the denial of climate change. On this point Udall, the CSU scientist who is among the most vocal about the Colorados hastening collapse, said he has what he calls really mixed feelings about the wisdom of expanding and filling Gross Reservoir. Its a dilemma that goes back decades for him, to a time before the crisis, when he was more focused on saving a different river. In the late 20th century Udall worked as a consultant who advised Denver Water to drop plans for its then-proposed Two Forks Dam on the South Platte and instead consider moving more Colorado River water to Gross. Nebraska was at legal and political war with Colorado at the time to block Two Forks from depleting the Platte, which flows eastward across most of the Cornhusker States length and supports irrigation, drinking water and hordes of Central Flyway migratory birds from swans and ducks to endangered whooping cranes, and a half-a-million-strong Sandhill crane rumpus. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ultimately sided with Nebraska and rejected Two Forks during President George H.W. Bushs administration. Denver cast its eyes to the west. Thats huge, Udall said of protecting the Platte, which he called an unbelievable system. Now that Denver is ready to tap the Colorado as a replacement, he sighed, we have the threat of decreased flows. Still, Udall believes that if Denver Water wins its appeal and completes Gross Reservoir expansion, it may be able to fill it during the regions wetter years. The headwaters from which Denver pumps just west of the Continental Divide are faring better with snowfall than are tributaries farther south, such as the San Juan River. In general, though, Udall concurs with critics of schemes to take and store more of the Colorado to expand consumption. Its idiotic to build any reservoirs to increase use, based on what we know about flows, he said. Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach him at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com. Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: States face crunch time to fix a Colorado River 'on brink of failure' COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Columbus City Council took the next steps last week to approve the creation of a new LGBTQ+ affairs commission. Introduced by Council President Shannon Hardin, the legislation passed 9-0 on July 14 to establish an advisory commission representing the citys lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. The commission will be made up of 13 members serving staggered three-year terms, with six appointed by council, six by the mayor and one chosen jointly. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the commission in the video player above. Groveport Madison prohibits cell phone use during school day ahead of statewide ban Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Densil Porteous, executive director of Stonewall Columbus, celebrated councils approval of the commission as a resounding recognition of our communitys visibility, our vibrancy, and our ongoing need for structural support. In a time when queer and trans people, especially trans youth, are facing renewed attacks across the nation, local action matters. Representation matters, Porteous said in a statement. To be clear: this is not the end of the work. Its a new beginning. A foundation on which we will continue to build. The unanimous vote marked a historic moment for council, which, more than 40 years ago in 1984, struck down a proposal that wouldve expanded discrimination protections to include sexual orientation. To demonstrate the citys progress toward inclusivity, Harden played a video from that 1984 meeting, which showed speakers decrying gay people as not made by God and homosexuality as an unclean, unsanitary practice. While Columbus later enacted discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community, Hardin said he showed the clip because people that forget their history are doomed to repeat it. Harden serves as the councils first openly-gay president and announced the commission in June for LGBTQ+ Pride month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why Cuyahoga could be first Ohio county to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy It seems that too many of us have forgotten our history and, at the state and federal level right now, we are repeating demonizing people just for who they are, Hardin said during the July meeting. There is still work to be done and theres still fights to be had and Im proud to put this legislation forward. The commission comes as many institutions are withdrawing their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Ohio State University, Ohio University, the University of Cincinnati and others have shuttered their LGBTQ+ programming to comply with state and federal legislation eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Large corporations operating in Ohio, including Walmart and Nissan, rolled back their sponsorships of the Columbus Pride march and festival. Ohios Statehouse has also passed or advanced a series of legislation opponents deem anti-LGBTQ+, like a provision in the state budget a provision in the state budget defining gender as two sexes, a law banning certain healthcare for trans youth, and a bill to celebrate Natural Family Month. Other directives include separating bathrooms based on students biological sex, and a proposal that LGBTQ+ advocates say will outlaw drag queen shows in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla argued anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric spurred from these and other measures is why the commission is needed. Columbus restaurant says it was targeted in ICE raid At a time when people are literally fighting for their existence, and we have a national administration that makes it harder for us to stand for our people, this is a way for us to enshrine a group of people that will always have a seat at the table, Barroso de Padilla said during a July 10 hearing for the commission. Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio, also spoke during the July 10 hearing and said, We know that trans people and other minorities are being significantly targeted right now, given the more than 940 bills targeting the trans community proposed in state legislatures nationwide, 118 of which have passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These laws are targeting our ability to exist in public, to get an education, to have identity documents, to get healthcare, to use the bathroom, Adkison said. Knowing that any community that is going to enshrine a commission, to bring voices to the table, is hopefully going to help dissuade the greenlit discrimination, fear, and stress that the current legislature is proposing. Columbus commission marks the second in Ohio after Cincinnati City Council voted in March to create an LGBTQ+ commission. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WOODS CROSS, Utah (ABC4) One person was transported to the hospital in serious condition after receiving significant burns at a commercial fire in Woods Cross Monday morning. Just after 10 a.m. firefighters with South Davis Metro Fire Service Area responded to a commercial structure fire that had been put out by bystanders using extinguishers. Fire crews respond to commercial fire. (Courtesy//South Davis Metro Fire Service Area) Commercial fire sends one to the hospital. (Courtesy//South Davis Metro Fire Service Area) Serious burns on one victim at commercial fire. (Courtesy//South Davis Metro Fire Service Area) Crews found one individual working in the business where the fire occurred had burns over a significant portion of their body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Davis Metro says the fire involved some hazardous materials. Upon discovering this, crews quickly decontaminated the burn victim who was then transported to the University of Utah burn center in serious condition. Las Vegas gang member attempts to escape custody in Cedar City while released on 12-hour furlough for funeral The cause of the fire is unknown. Fire officials say their fire investigation team and hazmat team are investigating the cause of the flames. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. 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. NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) Community members gathered Sunday in Newport to raise awareness for mental health. The man who died following an armed confrontation with police in Fall River last week was honored during the vigil. The family of 38-year-old Domonick Knight said he was having a mental health crisis during the incident. He would treat you as if you were his brother or his sister or his mother. Hes a kind, loving and gentle person, and the community knows that, Knights sister, Danielle Ogarro, told 12 News. Were going to be leaning on them for all the support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: Fundraiser for Fall River fire survivors draws big crowd During the vigil, attendees lit candles and read words of support. Police said the officers who responded to Knights home were informed that he was armed. When police went inside, Knight reportedly started shooting at them, and officers returned fire. Knight was found with a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Stephanie Rickerman, a grief counselor with Newport Mental Health, shared more on the red flags to look for in loved ones who may need help. If you see friends that are isolating, withdrawing, wanting to be alone or perhaps using substances more than they usually do, or starting to use substances to deal with their pain, Rickerman explained. For children, really look for irritability, for lack of sleep, not wanting to engage with friends or trouble at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vigil also honored a 16-year-old Rogers High School student who died by suicide last week. If you or someone you know is in crisis, seek immediate help: Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, text or chat 988 BH Link: Rhode Islanders can call 401-414-LINK (5465) Kids Link RI: Parents can call 1-855-543-5465 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. CHICAGO Friends and family describe Laura Velastegui as a kind, selfless soul who radiates generosity and warmth despite the struggles shes faced with. Though shes only been in the U.S. for a short time after arriving from Ecuador, Velastegui has already touched many lives in her community. Now, she is faced with the most difficult battle of her life. Velastegui has been diagnosed with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Her kidneys no longer function, and while shes been receiving dialysis, the treatment is now taking a toll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The buildup of toxins in her body has led to uremic neuropathy, a painful and debilitating condition that continues to worsen. Her only hope is a kidney transplant. But Velastegui is undocumented and doesnt have health insurance, making it nearly impossible for her to access the care she needs. Her loved ones hope to raise $90,000 to help cover medical expenses once shes placed on the donor list and matched with a kidney. As of Sunday, about $8,000 has been raised. To donate or for more information, 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 WGN-TV. A recent letter to the editor asserted Crime-ridden Democrat cities like Milwaukee should adopt the Giuliani model to lower crime. Milwaukees crime rate is high and candid conversations are required on how to lower it. The letter further notes, I can only think of one Democrat that followed the Giuliani model, and that was former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. Crime dropped further. First, did Rudolf Giulianis policies as mayor of NYC from 1994-2001 reduce crime? Yes. Crime dropped nationally and New York City during Giuliani and Bloombergs mayoral terms. Additional context is important. Giuliani governed under Bill Clintons presidency in which the economy boomed, and nowhere more than in finance. Torrents of cash poured into Wall Street and New York, returning the city to its former glory with one of the highest per capita rates of rich people in the world. This influx of wealth no doubt buoyed NYCs fortunes at a time of both local and national falling crime rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani also found ways to remove the poor from New Yorks city center. His policies pushed them to outer boroughs and other cities such as neighboring Newark, New Jersey and even as far as Philadelphia. Thus, actions in part fixed the problem by exporting it to other locations rather than solving the underlying issues causing poverty and crime. Giuliani pushed poor out, Bloomberg built affordable housing The economic boom continued under much of Mike Bloombergs term that followed Giuliani. Bloomberg also took a tough line on crime. But he was also a social liberal. Among his many actions was to significantly increase property taxes, thus funding the construction of some 160,000 affordable housing units in the city. Thus, of the two mayoral figures, Bloomberg was more successful at reducing crime rather than merely exporting it to other locations. Letters: Crime-ridden Democrat run cities like Milwaukee should adopt Giuliani model Furthermore, this time of dropping crime rates nationally coincided with the first generation of first unwanted children not born due to the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court ruling. One can debate the morality of abortion, but the fact remains, Roe reduced the number of children that would have been born to parent(s) either not wanting, or being unprepared, for them that would disproportionately mature into environments more prone to crime. One Stanford University academic publication put the impact of Roe vs Wade on crime reduction in the period when Giuliani and Bloomberg governed at 47%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The writer also advocated New York's implementation of broken window theory policing which posits that degraded environments, e.g., broken windows on cars parked left unrepaired on streets, etc. contributes to anti-social behavior. There is evidence demonstrating this connection. Related is the idea that misdemeanor crimes left unpunished lead to more serious crimes. Here the evidence is tenuous, but not baseless. These theories have their own costs, e.g., larger expenditures for neighborhood clean-up and bigger police budgets, thus higher taxes. There is also the risk of racial profiling. That said, the merits of these policies should be discussed and studied. Law abiding citizens in high-crime areas deserve protection and the freedom to live unmolested by crime, but also from abuses of select police officers abusing their authority, of which these two goals can conflict. Wisconsin has highest rate of Black incarceration in country The presumption of some Wisconsinites advocating implementation of the broken windows theory is the need to jail more criminals, which means disproportionately urban poor Blacks. But heres the rub. Wisconsin already holds the dubious distinction of jailing more Black people per capita than any other state. Nationally, the U.S. jails 1 in 81 Blacks. Wisconsin jails 1 in 36 (over twice the national average). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite, this massive incarceration rate of Blacks, rather than having the nations lowest crime, Wisconsin is 28th. In fact, Wisconsin jails some 2,250 per 100,000 Black adults, which exceeds the highest general incarceration rate of any of the worlds 223 countries measured, in this case El Salvadors 1,659 per 100,000. Thus, we already see that jailing more people, with Wisconsin holding the number one position, fails to produce comparatively lower crime rates. The other contention made is that Republicans would lower crime. Here too the evidence is scant. Of the countrys 10 highest violent crime states, 7 are governed by the GOP. These states are among the poorest where its rural white populations are disproportionately poor and have their own resulting cultural pathologies with rampant use of meth, fentanyl, single parent households, gun violence, etc. In short, differing policies and political programs matter. But it is simplistic to assume the complex socio-economic and historic factors that led to our high crime rates can be changed by a mere switching out of political wardrobes. Jailing more people alone does not solve the problem. Letting criminals run loose also isnt the answer. Personal responsibility is required, but so is social responsibility. The fixes to these problems arent cheap but also pay off if done right in creating safer and more stable communities. The U.S. previously created a broad social agenda helping Americans of all backgrounds. This was under the policies of the New Deal that saw workers benefiting more from their labor thus giving them a stake in society. While the New Deal was imperfect, it created conditions for prosperity that even overcame the sometimes still racist policies embedded within the New Deal itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey Sommers is professor of political economy and public policy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is past (and upcoming) chair of the Department of African & African Diaspora Studies. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Simply jailing more people won't make Milwaukee any safer | Opinion A concert by the Kremlin-affiliated conductor Valery Gergiev in the Italian town of Caserta has been cancelled following intense criticism. There were concerns about protest actions by Ukrainian organizations, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Monday. The ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin was supposed to conduct on July 27 as part of a music festival in the baroque courtyard of the Royal Palace of Caserta, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Naples. The festival is organized by the Campania region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement of the concert sparked a major backlash. The Italian Ministry of Culture distanced itself from the performance, stating that an appearance by the Putin-affiliated conductor could turn the musical event "into a mouthpiece for Russian propaganda." Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in custody, also called for the cancellation of the concert in a guest article for the newspaper La Repubblica. The 72-year-old Gergiev, who has been leading the renowned Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in addition to the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg since 2023, has been considered a prominent supporter of Putin for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the start of the Russian war against Ukraine in 2022, numerous international cultural institutions including the Munich Philharmonic and La Scala in Milan ended their collaboration with the conductor over his refusal to condemn the conflict. Another concert in Italy has been scrapped in connection with the Ukraine war. Ukrainian pianist Alexander Romanovsky, viewed by Kiev as pro-Russian, was scheduled to perform in Bologna in August. But calls for a boycott have led to the show's cancellation. The 40-year-old is controversial because he played in 2022 in front of the bombed theatre in Mariupol, where residents of the Ukrainian port city had sought refuge, many of whom died in airstrikes. Subsequently, Romanovsky was suspended as a professor at the Royal College of Music in London. Sandy Vignolo is speaking out after her annual insurance premiums increased a staggering amount. The Dutch Flat, California senior is paying nearly $8,000 for fire insurance alone plus a separate liability policy after she spent $1,100 to cover her home just a few years ago before her insurer dropped her policy, according to ABC10. Weve had to dip into savings to pay that, Vignolo told the broadcaster in a story published July 4. Theres a lot of people around here that it has gone beyond what they have. Don't miss Vignolo signed up for the states FAIR plan, the high-cost fire insurance of last resort, for coverage when she was dropped by her insurer. Suzanne Vidal, another Dutch Flat resident, told ABC10 an elderly neighbor of hers is now paying $15,840 on the FAIR plan, compared to just $1,800 in 2020. People are losing their homes, Vidal told the broadcaster. Even if they dont have a mortgage and theyre paying that much for insurance, thats hard to come by if youre on fixed income. Lets say youre making $1,200 to $1,800 a month in Social Security. Theres just no way you can do it. 'Maybe next year' However, the state is promising better insurance offerings to come. Reforms being rolled out by insurance commissioner Ricardo Laras Sustainable Insurance Strategy are meant to help homeowners get off the FAIR plan and into better private insurance offerings. Definitely by no later than the end of this year, starting of next year, youll start seeing more correction in the market, Lara told state lawmakers on July 2. Deputy insurance commissioner Michael Soller says a market correction means more competition, per ABC 10. But Vidal, a real estate broker, remains skeptical. Read more: Americans are revenge saving to survive but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Heres how to quickly earn 280% more on your cash They told us this in my industry a year ago, that this year was going to be totally different. The first of the year, a lot of these companies were going to come back into our market with insurance available at reasonable or sensible prices, Vidal said. Now its, Maybe next year. AI companies would be barred by federal law from using copyrighted material or personal data to train language models in new legislation introduced Monday by Sens. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, and Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal. The AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act would give both individuals and companies a path to sue for use of their personal data or copyrighted works without prior consent. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AI companies are robbing the American people blind while leaving artists, writers and other creators with zero recourse, Hawley said in a statement. Its time for Congress to give the American worker their day in court to protect their personal data and creative works. The bill also prohibits use of data if consent was obtained through coercion or deception; or as a condition of using a product or service through which the covered data exceeds what is reasonably necessary to provide that product or service. Blumenthal added: Tech companies must be held accountable and liable legally when they breach consumer privacy, collecting, monetizing or sharing personal information without express consent. Consumers must be given rights and remedies and legal tools to make them real not relying on government enforcement alone. The issue is at a crossroads, as several large publishers have made licensing deals with companies like OpenAI to train large-language models on their copyrighted material. Meanwhile the ChatGPT parent has argued fair use in other cases that are still in litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawleys proposed legislation aims to counter a court ruling last month that gave AI companies a key legal victory, allowing companies to train their models on copyrighted work without the consent of creators or rights holders as long as those works were obtained legally. The ruling granted a lot of wiggle room in how AI companies go about legally obtaining copyrighted material, too. Rather than striking expensive licensing deals with publishers, AI companies can spend $2.50 on an issue of The New York Times and upload it to their training database, for example. To read more about how Hollywood creators like Aubrey Plaza, Ben Stiller, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are pushing back on AI companies using copyrighted work without paying those who created it, click here. The post New Congressional Bill Bans AI Companies From Training on Copyrighted Works or Personal Data Without Consent appeared first on TheWrap. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) Congressman Dale Strong will be hosting Academy Day on Saturday, August 2 for area students who want to learn more about attending one of the United States service academies after high school. The fact that so many student leaders willingly offer themselves to serve our nation in uniform speaks volumes of the patriotism held by our districts youth. It is my honor to nominate young men and women to attend U.S. service academies and ensure students are aware of the many avenues to military service, said Representative Dale Strong. This years Academy Day will be held at Huntsville High Schools Gymnasium from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To attend an academy, students must meet certain eligibility requirements and receive a nomination. More information on the nomination process will be provided at the event. Students interested in being nominated are encouraged to attend the event. The event will include academy representatives from West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy, Marion Military Institute. Recruiters with the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force/Space Force, and the Coast Guard; and representatives from various ROTC Programs from across the state will also be in attendance. For questions about the event, please contact Missie.Lambert@mail.house.gov. 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. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Yale New Haven Health are criticizing President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, claiming that it will have a dire impact on seniors, while Republicans say the claims are misleading. DeLauro claims that it will have devastating impacts on 187,000 people in Connecticut who rely on Medicaid, including seniors. Among the changes, the 90-day enrollment window has been shortened to 60 days. How will President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill impact Connecticut? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it takes longer than 60 days for someones eligibility to be verified, the patient and the family will be solely responsible for any costs incurred during that period of time, DeLauro said. The new legislation requires seniors to renew every 6 months, creating a burden of paperwork some states say they are unequipped to handle. Republicans are claiming that DeLauros statements are misguided, and that she is fear-mongering. Connecticut Republican Chairman Ben Proto said that if she truly wants to discuss the impact of Medicaid, she would highlight the recent evidence of massive Medicaid fraud in skilled nursing facilities uncovered in Connecticut and how the changes in Medicaid will ensure that those people who need Medicaid will get it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5 Big, Beautiful Bill changes to insurance With the big, beautiful bill, were going to make this country stronger, House Speaker Mike Johnson said. State Commissioner of Social Services Andrea Barton Reeves said that 75% of long-term care residents in Connecticut are on Medicaid. There will be less care and all that goes along with that in terms of being sicker, longer and ultimately people dying, said Beverly Kidder from Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut. Organizations discuss how to prepare for federal cuts impacting access to food Those opposing the legislation claim that without Medicaid, long-term care residents will wind up in unsafe and unstable living situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House commented on DeLauros claims as well. Instead of talking about the popular and commonsense Medicaid reforms in The One Big Beautiful Bill, its no surprise that Democrats would rather intentionally mislead Americans to needlessly sow fear for cheap political points, they said. The bill strengthens Medicaid for the Americans for whom the program was intended by slashing waste, fraud and abuse while allocating billions in historic new funding to shore up rural hospitals and Medicaids Home & Community Based Services program. To hear more from both sides, tune in to News 8 at 5 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 WTNH.com. A recently announced land deal presents a second time a mining proposal near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was thwarted due to public outcry. (Joe Cook/Georgia Rivers) Environmentalists are still celebrating a conservation groups announcement last month that it plans to purchase thousands of acres of land targeted for mining near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. But they read the win, they say, not as a moment to pop the champagne, but a call to action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mining interests are still eyeing property near the refuge, they say, and to preserve additional acreage, they need to build on their advocacy efforts, including persuading environmental groups to buy mineral rights in other areas attractive to mining businesses and highlighting easements for purchase along mineral-rich Trail Ridge. And they say they need to continue to press Georgia leaders to enact the legal protections for the Okefenokee that have eluded them for years at the state Capitol. Lawmakers will return to Atlanta for a new legislative session in January. We cant rest on our laurels, said Brian Foster, a spokesman for Georgia Conservancy, one of the environmental groups leading the charge. There is still a lot of work to be done. Theres a reason for their urgency, Georgia environmentalists said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the late 1990s, the environmental community thought the Okefenokee was safe from mining after chemical giant DuPont was persuaded to donate thousands of acres to The Conservation Fund because of public opposition to DuPonts mining plans. Three decades later, Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals, which has owned land along Trial Ridge since 2019, appeared close this year to realizing its plans to mine the area for titanium dioxide, a whitening agent in toothpaste, paint, sunscreen, and other products. But The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, stepped in again, announcing late last month that it would spend almost $60 million to purchase close to 8,000 acres owned by Twin Pines. Environmentalists were elated, but quickly turned their attention to protecting land that could still be purchased for mining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is one thing that is abundantly clear to us is that the past is prologue when it comes to the Okefenokee, said Christian Hunt, chairman of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance. Roughly 25 years ago we were pretty much in the same position were in today, said Hunt, who also is director of national wildlife refuges and parks program for Defenders of Wildlife. Its very clear to everybody involved at this stage that goodwill alone is not going to save the swamp and we need to secure durable protections. Petition campaign Environment Georgia launched a campaign to collect 10,000 signatures calling on Gov. Brian Kemp to pursue permanent protections for the Okefenokee just days after The Conservation Funds announcement. The organization hopes to meet its goal by the end of the summer. We know that there are mineral rights that are still in the hands of people who could and would like to use them, so we would like to make sure that we find a permanent protection that ensures that there is not another mine proposed, Environment Georgia Director Jennette Gayer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hope is that we do not find ourselves in the same position a couple of decades from now, she said. Kim Bednarek, executive director of Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures, said environmentalists are not the only ones concerned about the refuge. It has a direct impact on the economies of Charlton, Ware, and Clinch counties in Georgia, which are home to the majority of the Okefenokees shallow, 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland along the Georgia-Florida border. A healthy Okefenokee promotes agritourism in the three small south Georgia counties, which have a combined population of about 54,000 people, as well as creating jobs and encouraging workforce development, she said. In addition, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which could further boost its visitation numbers, Bednarek said. A decision on the nomination is expected next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 800,000 people visit the Okefenokee annually, according to Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures. Visitors spend about $91.5 million in Ware, Charlton, and Clinch counties. Huge opportunity Its really a huge opportunity for the region and the gateway communities around the Okefenokee to benefit from increased tourism and educational and research activities, Bednarek said. We want to see more sustained attention and investment in the communities and the people around the Okefenokee. If the people are benefitting from a conserved landscape, then theyll want to make sure the landscape stays preserved. Megan Huynh, senior attorney and wetlands and coasts program leader for the Southern Environmental Law Center, echoed Bednarek. Now that the mine is gone, theres a responsibility to support opportunities for those communities that arent at odds with the health of the Okefenokee, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Worley, president and CEO of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, said the goal is to use every available tool to ensure the future of the Okefenokee. The main thing right now is to celebrate the victory that weve had and be prepared to finish the job, he said. This story first appeared in the Georgia Recorder, a member with the Phoenix in the nonprofit States Newsroom. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Thats not the kind of exposed brick they expected. A Brooklyn couple got a rude awakening this week when a construction crew blasted through their apartment leaving a gaping hole in their living room wall. The nightmarish ordeal unfolded Monday as Jamie, a Bushwick resident, was preparing for an onboarding meeting during his first day at a new job. He told The Post that just as he was about to hop onto his computer he noticed part of his exposed brick wall had caved in, littering his floor with a mess of debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I look to the wall and I just see daylight, Jamie said. I could see there was stuff all over the floor. Theres bricks and dust and st all over the place, he added. Jamie, a Bushwick resident, was getting ready for an onboarding meeting during his first day at a new job when a construction crew accidentally blasted through his living room wall. Obtained by NY Post The destruction, according to Jamie and the Department of Buildings, was caused by an ongoing demolition project in an old parking lot next to his apartment on Himrod Street. A piece of machinery had rammed into the wall of Jamies apartment, he said, though workers apparently claimed the damage was because an old structure next door was attached to his apartments wall. It seemed like the dude excavating just swung too hard, Jamie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general contractor, listed on city records as N Tech Design of America, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Jamie said after he discovered the wreck he called his girlfriend, who was out doing laundry. We were obviously furious and nervous, he recalled. The tenant then notified his landlord who rushed to the apartment with his lawyer after Jamie sent him pictures of the mess. It seemed like the dude excavating just swung too hard, Jamie said. Obtained by NY Post Jamie claimed his landlord initially wasnt grasping the severity of the situation and even cracked jokes. The lawyer, however, was not laughing, Jamie said. His [landlords] lawyer was like, I need you to take this seriously, listen to this! If this caves in or if anything else happens, youre fked, Jamie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDNY eventually arrived and called the DOB to inspect Jamies unit. DOB workers discovered a 2-foot by 2-foot section of brick masonry that had been dislodged by an impact from the adjacent demolition site, the department said in a statement to The Post. No injuries were reported, but the DOB slapped 301 Himrod St. with a stop-work order and issued violations for failing to safeguard the site and report the incident. Two days later, the DOB received a report that construction had resumed against the order, but inspectors found no work in progress. In the meantime, Jamie, his girlfriend, and their cat had to scramble to find a feline-friendly hotel. No injuries were reported, but the DOB slapped 301 Himrod with a Stop Work Order. Obtained by NY Post My cat is probably the most traumatized from moving from hotel to hotel, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jamie claims the construction company offered to pick up the lodging costs, but he hasnt seen anything in writing yet. Yesterday was my first day at a new job it was my first onboarding meeting and I had to jump in and be like youre not going to believe this but this is actually whats happening to me right now. Its important to laugh at absurd situations but Im worried the impact were feeling from this is just the beginning. As of Friday, Jamie had relocated back into the apartment as repairs on his wall continued. Jamies landlord didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. RICHFIELD, Utah (ABC4) Containment on the Monroe Canyon Fire burning just south of Richfield in Sevier County is now at 3% up from the 0% containment reported over the weekend. Since sparking on Sunday, July 13, the fire has spread over 9,500 acres and destroyed three structures in the Monroe Meadows area. There are now over 800 fire personnel working to suppress the wildfire. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Monroe Fire surpasses 9,000 acres, community meeting scheduled Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today we were planning on doing some backburning operations in the Monroe Meadows area, Madison Heiser, the public information officer for Great Basin Team 3 of the Monroe Canyon Fire, told ABC4.com. So far, what Ive heard is that that was successful, and they were able to proceed a little more with burning than they had anticipated. The purpose of that is to create some black line around the structures in the summer area of Monroe Meadows. Crews are putting an emphasis on protecting nearby communities. Firefighters are using hoses, pumps and sprinklers to defend structures in the Porters and Long Flats area while constructing fire lines in the Hunts Lake area. Crews will also continue structure protection work in the Magleby, Big Lake and Bagley Ranch areas. Were worried about it moving northeast, because there arent as many of those fuel-treated areas further northeast, Heiser said. Theres really dense trees and slash and lots of heavy fuels in that area, and so were doing what we can to mitigate those fuels so that if it does continue to move, weve got a good handle on it. Officials previously issued evacuation orders for the Magleby area and areas north onto Cove Mountain. The Elk Country Cabins are also among the areas under mandatory evacuation. The Fishlake National Forest has already issued an Emergency Closure Order for the area north of Dry Creek Canyon Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were four structures lost in the Manning Meadows area, Heiser said. Those owners have been notified, and notifications for any additional structures, if theyre in danger, are coming from the sheriff and also from our liaison office. It is still currently unclear what sparked the devastating fire, but officials are seeking a person who they believe may be associated with the flames. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the individual was seen driving a Utility Terrain Vehicle on the west side of Monroe Mountain around 2:30 p.m. the day the fire sparked. The UTV is described as a two-door, late model that is dark blue in color with red and white markings. Its front windshield may also have a crack on the lower passenger side. Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations by calling 801-388-3402. To help keep the community informed about the Monroe Canyon Fire, officials will be hosting another community meeting on Monday, July 21. The meeting will take place at the Sevier Valley Center located at 800 West and 200 South in Richfield. For those who are unable to make it in person, the public meeting will also be available to attend virtually online. 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. For too long, the debate over antisemitism on college campuses has bogged down over whether anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Endless ink has been spilled over the distinction (or not) between the two. Last week, in their testimony to the House Committee on Education & Workforce, UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons, City University of New York Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez and Georgetown interim President Robert M. Groves cut through all this academic hairsplitting. Is denying the Jewish people their rights to self-determination antisemitism? Yes or no? asked Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah). All three university leaders replied simply and unequivocally: Yes. The right to Jewish self-determination is a textbook definition of Zionism. The clarity with which the university officials pegged anti-Zionism as antisemitic is much-needed and long overdue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, progressives have raised consciousness about the need to recognize and repudiate bigoted dog whistles , microaggressions and misgendering . Yet many of those same progressives have been shockingly silent when it comes to decrying the macroaggressions of antisemitism that have become increasingly commonplace at anti-Israel protests. Theyve insisted that the now-familiar chants From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free! We dont want no two states! We want all of 48! are not antisemitic, just anti-Zionist, with some who are Jewish concurring and providing cover. Yet just as there can be racism without racists that is, racist results without racist intents so too can there be antisemitism without antisemites. Not all anti-Zionists are antisemites, but anti-Zionism, in its most basic form denying to the Jewish people the right to self-determination, a right recognized as inherent to countless others, including Palestinians is itself a form of antisemitism. Moreover, because anti-Zionism singles out the Jewish state alone for elimination among the dozens of ethnonational or ethnoreligious states in the world, including myriad Islamic ones that, too, makes it a form of antisemitism. Declaring anti-Zionism to be antisemitic, as the university leaders did, was an important development for the dignity of Jewish students, one that echoed and amplified a federal district courts preliminary injunction last year that said UCLA could not allow anti-Israel activists to exclude Jewish students because they refused to denounce their faith, of which Zionism was a central component, from parts of the campus, as happened during protests against the Israel-Hamas war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zionism, at its core, is a belief in Israel's right to sovereignty as a Jewish state on part of the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people. That's a millennia-old article of faith for Judaism, as reflected, for example, in daily Jewish prayers, the Passover Seder and the ritual of breaking a glass at weddings. Those claiming the mantle of Zionism for far more aggressive or exclusionary aims dont change that core fact, nor do those treating Zionism as a uniquely malevolent expression of national liberation or nation-building. Recognizing anti-Zionism as a manifestation of antisemitism is an important step forward for combating the discrimination and ostracism that many Jewish students have experienced for expressing their support for Israels right to exist in the face of those who call for its elimination. Such recognition, in turn, can help concentrate campus conflicts about Israel and Palestinians on what matters most: fruitful debate over Israels actions (including its prosecution of the war in Gaza) rather than fruitless shouting matches over Israels existence and neo-McCarthyite litmus tests (Are you now or have you ever been a Zionist?). As this happens, we would be well-served to cease and desist using the terms Zionism and anti-Zionism, except as historical artifacts. After all, Zionism refers to the aspiration to create a nation that is now nearly 80 years old. And anti-Zionism thus perpetuates a fantasy that Israel's long-settled place among the family of nations is still open for debate. It isn't, any more than, say, the existence of Russia under Putin or the United States under Trump, however much we might deplore their policies, is open for debate. We owe the Berkeley, CUNY and Georgetown leaders a great debt of gratitude for helping to elevate the intractable campus conflicts about Israel and the Palestinians to a higher plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Brilliant is an associate professor of history and American studies at UC Berkeley. 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. Stanley K. Patz/AP Etan Patz NEED TO KNOW The shocking disappearance and presumed death of 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979 became one of the biggest stories in the nation The case went cold for decades until Pedro Hernandez was charged with the boy's murder after confessing in 2012 to killing him Hernandez, now 64, appealed his 2017 conviction, arguing that the jury had received improper instructions, which a federal appeals court upheld The man convicted in the disappearance of Etan Patz in 1979 will get a new trial or be released from prison, a federal appeals court has ordered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, July 21, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that Pedro Hernandez, who was convicted in 2017 of murdering the 6-year-old, must receive a new trial or be released, The New York Times was the first to report. Hernandez, now 64, was charged in 2012 with murdering Etan after confessing that he lured the boy into a basement while he walked to the bus stop in the Soho area of New York City. A massive search ensued for Etan, who was one of the first missing children to have his picture put on a milk carton. Hernandezs first trial in 2015 ended in a hung jury. In 2017, the former bodega worker was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After all these years we finally know what dark secret you had locked in your heart," the boys father, Stan Patz said at the sentencing, NBC News reported. "You threw him in the garbage. You are the monster in your nightmares. The God you pray to will never forgive you." After his arrest and during the trial, Hernandez maintained his innocence, saying he didnt kill Etan, whose body has never been found. 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. His attorneys argued that Hernandez, who was 18 at the time Etan vanished, was mentally ill when he confessed to the slaying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When appealing the case, Hernandezs attorneys argued that the trial court issued improper instructions to the jury, which influenced the verdict, according to the Times. We conclude that the state trial court contradicted clearly established federal law and that this error was not harmless, a three-judge appeals panel ruled on Monday, according to the Times. The Manhattan district attorneys office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Read the original article on People ON JUNE 9, PHOTOJOURNALIST MICHAEL NIGRO was shot in the head by Los Angeles police while covering a protest against U.S. immigration cruelty in front of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. Fortunately for him, Nigro was wearing a helmet, which deflected the blow from what he believed to be a less lethal crowd-control munition. It felt very very intentional, Nigro told NPR, suggesting the goal was to create a chilling effect to convince us to go away and not document the protest taking place. He noted that both sides of his helmet had tags that said PRESShis protective vest was even more prominently labeledand he was carrying two professional-grade cameras. What happened to Nigro is not an anomaly. Police in Los Angeles and elsewhere seem to be singling out members of the media for exclusion, arrest, detention, and the use of force. The Los Angeles Press Club and the investigative reporting site Status Coup filed a lawsuit on June 16 in the Central District of California alleging that officers at recent demonstrations have been targeting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs. In court, they presented thirty-five examples of police either barring reporters from public areas or using force on them such as Nigro experienced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being a journalist in Los Angeles is now a dangerous profession, states the lawsuit, which named the city of Los Angeles and its chief of police as defendants. LAPD unlawfully used force and the threat of force against Plaintiffs, their members and other journalists to intimidate them and interfere with their constitutional right to document public events as the press. Become a Bulwark+ member and join a community of more than 100,000 people enjoying the best reporting, commentary, analysis, and discussion on the internet. Try it FREE for 30 days! Get 30 day free trial The complaint notes that the Los Angeles Police Department has a long history . . . of using excessive force against journalists at protests, citing violent police actions against the press during the Democratic National Convention in 2000. Similar accusations were made against the LAPD at various points over the following two decades, including during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to those latter reports, the California legislature enacted new laws in 2021 and 2022 to protect the rights of journalists covering protests in that state. The lawsuit called the departments conduct during last months protests a brazen refusal to abide by the Constitution and state law. What makes the matter more remarkable is that, on July 10, a federal district court agreed, essentially. Judge Hernan Vera of the Central District of California ordered the LAPD to stop obstructing, detaining, assaulting, and using nonlethal ammunition against journalists covering protests, as well as to stop limiting journalists movements unless circumstances make it absolutely necessary to do so. He imposed a two-week restraining order against the department, which may be extended after a preliminary injunction hearing set for July 24. Plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on their First Amendment claims and they are likely to suffer irreparable harm covering continuing protests in Los Angeles, Vera wrote in his ruling. Indeed, given the fundamental nature of the speech interests involved and the almost daily protests throughout Southern California drawing media coverage, the identified harm is undoubtedly imminent and concrete. Join now JUDGE VERAS RULING IDENTIFIED a number of other alleged recent examples of heavy-handedness on the part of Los Angeles police against members of the press for which supporting documentation was provided. Besides Nigro, these include the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 8, LAPD officers held a group of approximately 20 to 30 journalists from MSNBC, CNN, the AP, and other outlets in a press area approximately 150 feet from protests under threat of arrest. On June 9, the LAPD detained CNN reporter Jason Carroll and his crew while they were live on air, warning that he would be arrested if he returned to the area. On June 19, LAPD officers arrested journalist Anthony Orendorff while he was covering an ICE raid. Despite identifying himself as a journalist, he was held for four days. On June 8, Lauren Tomasi of 9News Australia was speaking into a professional TV camera, dozens of feet from the line of officers behind her. . . . No protestors are visible near her. . . . Despite this, an LAPD officer appears to aim at Tomasi, hitting her leg with a rubber bullet. On June 14, photojournalist Hector Adolfo Quintanar Perez was covering the aftermath of the No Kings protest, wearing a large press badge and carrying two professional cameras. . . . While he was taking photos of the skirmish line, an LAPD officerstanding close enough to see his press badgeshot him with an LLM in the knee. . . . To this day, Perez lives with pain and walks with a cane. On June 14, LAPD officers fired rubber bullets into the crowd, hitting photographer Marshall Woodruff, slicing open his right eye, and leaving him with potentially permanent vision loss. On the same day, an LAPD mounted officer charged 82-year-old photographer David Healy with his horse, knocking Healy to the ground and breaking one of his ribs. Share MANY MORE SUCH INCIDENTS have been documented elsewhere. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a project of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, lists more than 50 assaults on the press that took place in June. Most happened in Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump sent hundreds of active-duty Marines and thousands of National Guard soldiersmany of whom hated and objected to their deploymentover the objections of the citys mayor and states governor. Militarism may not necessarily cause police brutality and the targeting of journalists, but it surely does nothing to prevent it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats happening, evidently, is that a troubling number of law enforcement officers view press coverage of public protests as a threat, rather than a protected legal and constitutional right. Emboldened by Trumps nonstop slander of the Fourth Estate, they feel justified in treating the press as enemies of the people. And again, all that stands in the way of their succeeding is the power of the courts, should anyone still be paying attention to that branch of government. Encouragingly, as of this writing, no additional physical attacks on the press by Los Angeles police have been reported since the LA Press Club and Status Coup filed their lawsuit, according to the Press Freedom Tracker. But there have been a few reported elsewhere, including an incident on July 4 in Portland, Oregon, where police allegedly fired crowd-control projectiles at independent journalist Mason Lake, with one projectile striking the region between his lower abdomen and groin. Its very disconcerting to see how free press has been trampled, Lake said. The best we can do is push back and make sure the truth isnt run over. That wont be easy. Last Thursday in Cincinnati, two journalists were among the dozen-plus people arrested during a protest over the immigration detention of a former hospital chaplain. Reporter Madeline Fening and photo intern Lucas Griffith were charged with, among other things, felony rioting. National journalist advocacy groups are reacting with alarm, with Caroline Hendrie, the executive director of the Society of Professional Journalists, saying in a statement, We are deeply concerned that their First Amendment rights are being violated as we speak and that in effect, they were arrested for doing their jobs. A judge set bond at $2,500 for each person arrested and set a hearing for this Wednesday, July 23. Whats certain is that the protests will continue, and so will the attacks by police on the journalists whose job it is to cover them. Thats because a lawless president is an open invitation to law-breaking police. Get 30 day free trial A Thurston County corrections sergeant who was recently arrested on suspicion of first-degree voyeurism has resigned in lieu of being fired, the sheriffs office announced on Saturday. The sergeant submitted his letter of resignation July 1 before an internal investigation of the incident was complete, according to a news release. The findings of the internal investigation were substantiated and it was determined the employee would have been fired had they not resigned, the release reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor Beau Hendershot, 30, was arrested in mid-May and later made his preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court. Court records show hes accused of putting a camera inside a shampoo bottle that was discovered by a 29-year-old woman while she took a shower, The Olympian previously reported. The offense reportedly took place at Hendershots family home while the woman was temporarily staying on the property. Superior Court Judge John Skinder found probable cause for first-degree voyeurism and ordered Hendershot to be released with several conditions, The Olympian reported. He ordered Hendershot to undergo electronic home monitoring with a GPS device. He also barred him from contacting the alleged victim, possessing firearms, leaving the state or violating the law, according to The Olympian report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not ordering monetary bail because I dont think at this point that there is a reason to do that in the sense that I think you can follow these conditions, Skinder said at the time. A plea of not guilty was entered on Hendershots behalf at his June 3 arraignment, according to court records. A jury trial is set for Sept. 15, the records show. A notice of Hendershots separation from the Sheriffs Office will be sent to the Criminal Justice Training Commission, according to the Saturday news release. The commission possesses the authority to decertify law enforcement who commit gross misconduct to prevent them from being hired elsewhere, the release reads. Thurston corrections sergeant accused of voyeurism released from jail without bail Thurston corrections sergeant arrested on first-degree voyeurism charges By Giulio Piovaccari and Valentina Za MILAN (Reuters) -Stellantis expects more impact from U.S. tariffs on vehicles and auto part imports in the second half of 2025, the company said on Monday as it reported a preliminary 2.3 billion euro ($2.7 billion) net loss for the first six months of the year. The carmaker, which owns a sprawling portfolio of brands including Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat, said President Donald Trump's tariffs had cost it 300 million euros so far as the company reduced vehicle shipments and cut some production to adjust manufacturing levels. But Chief Financial Officer Doug Ostermann told analysts that the 300 million euro impact was not representative of what the group expects for the second half, as tariffs only came into effect part way through the first half. "We'll see significantly more in the second half unless things change ... given the current outlook, I would expect to see that figure probably double in the second half or more," he said, adding that Stellantis was seeing a total full-year impact of between 1 and 1.5 billion euros. Stellantis, which under new CEO Antonio Filosa faces the challenge of revamping its product ranges in Europe and the United States, said it also booked 3.3 billion euros in pre-tax charges for the first half. These were due to programme cancellations, including a hydrogen fuel cell project and money set aside for fines linked to U.S. pre-Trump carbon emission regulation. It was also investing more in popular hybrid cars in Europe and large gasoline-powered models in the U.S. market. Last year, more than 40% of the 1.2 million vehicles Stellantis sold in the United States were imports, mostly from Mexico and Canada where Trump has imposed tariffs of 25%. Imports from the EU face levies of 30%, though these have been deferred to August 1. EARNINGS MISS In April this year, the company said it had reduced vehicle imports in response to tariffs and would calibrate "production and employment to reduce impacts on profitability". The automaker's first-half results were below consensus, according to analysts at Jefferies, Bernstein and Citi. But despite the earnings miss, restructuring steps taken by Stellantis "suggest decisive actions", Bernstein analysts said. Milan-listed shares in the automaker closed up 1.5% after falling as much as 3.9% in morning trade. They are down 35% since the start of the year. In April, Stellantis suspended its profit forecasts for 2025 due to uncertainty about tariffs, but said on Monday it was publishing its unaudited preliminary financial data to align analyst forecasts with the group's actual performance. Cosmoprof North America returned to Las Vegas last week reflecting a beauty landscape in transition. Held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the industrys largest U.S. trade show unfolded against a backdrop of shifting global trade dynamics, tariff concerns, cautious capital and evolving consumer behavior. And yet the mood was optimistic, while remaining strategic and anchored in performance and purpose. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A standout this year: K-beauty commanded the show floor. Fifty-one percent more than last year, confirmed Liza Rapay, vice president and head of Cosmoprof North America, highlighting the categorys growing presence. Among the most visible was Olive Young, the South Korean beauty and wellness retailer. Despite looming tariffs, following U.S. President Donald Trumps announcement of a 25 percent tax on imports from South Korea and Japan effective Aug. 1, the company remains undeterred from its commitment to the U.S. market with plans to open its first American store by midyear 2026. We want to increase the brand awareness of Olive Young, and we want to work with other U.S. retailers, said Eun-Young Shin, Olive Youngs executive vice president of private brands, through a translator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company showcased three of its private label brands, currently available to U.S. consumers on Olive Youngs website, app and Amazon: Bioheal Boh, offering science-backed skin care; Bringgreen, vegan skin care for sensitive and acne-prone skin, and Colorgram, playful, Gen Z color cosmetics. It was the rebirth of K-beauty, said Wendy Liebmann, founder of consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail, reflecting on the show this year. K-beauty was all the rage several years ago, and then it got very quiet.And this year their dominance there and their level of innovation was really powerful. It didnt go unnoticed by retailers, either. Overall, we were excited to be at Cosmoprof to check out the latest in K-beauty, wellness and technology, which are some of our key priorities right now, said Muffy Clince, senior director of emerging brands and initiatives at Ulta Beauty, in a statement to WWD following the show. The growth in K-beauty brands and innovation was exciting and refreshing to see, especially as we continue to expand on our existing K-beauty offerings in skin care and cosmetics. We were also keeping an eye out for any new ingredient stories, innovative packaging and application methods that lean into some of the experiential and sensorial trends we are seeing across all categories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liebmann highlighted a shift toward simplicity in K-beauty innovation, with a focus on skin care, noting that brands are streamlining complex routines into concise and multifunctional products. One approach organized skin care by age groups, offering personalized four-product sets that deliver essentials in a single box. The other piece, she went on, referencing trends, was the blending of beauty and wellness, which we keep talking about, right? But we saw it in everything. A recurring theme throughout the show floor was the rise of wellness-driven beauty. What felt new is how its taken a more sensorial, emotional tone that emphasizes how products make consumers feel, from calming rituals to mood-enhancing scents. Its all about clean, allergen-free fragrance, said Christina Peng, an exhibitor and founder of Havyn, speaking about her brand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A seasoned beauty executive, Peng most recently served as chief marketing officer at Coola before stepping down to launch her own company specializing in allergen-free perfumes. After her child experienced allergic reactions to fragrances even products marketed as clean often contain natural allergens from essential oils and botanical extracts Peng recognized a gap for allergen-free options. The market hasnt looked at this consumer, because they just automatically assume theyre going to take themselves out of the market and go fragrance-free, Peng, based in San Diego, said. Her formulas meet EU personal care standards, exclude 80 allergens and are crafted to elevate mood and evoke feeling, with names like Hope and Grace. Prices start at $28 for travel-size bottles. She also offers $24 hand creams made with marine-derived vegan collagen, ectoin and snow mushroom extract and $42 candles using coconut and soy wax, also free of the 80 allergens. Lynette Lovelace, founder of Lifetherapy, has been ahead of the curve in linking scent to emotional well-being. Since 2009, her brand has championed fragrance as a tool for emotional reset, positioning it as a daily ritual for self-connection with six scents (titled Loved, Inspired, Energized, Grounded, Transformed, Empowered) for body products and home goods, including a $36 body wash-bubbling bath duo, $48 salt soak, $48 body scrub, $65 diffusers and $45 handpoured candles made of soy wax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I created a mantra for every fragrance to get the user thinking about how fragrance makes us feel, Lovelace said. The brand was born out of her personal battle with severe endometriosis, enduring multiple surgeries that inspired her to create solutions rooted in healing. The tag line of the company is, Choose your mood. When you smell something, you feel something. Its a mindful reminder of that. Despite the brands long-standing presence, this was her first year exhibiting at Cosmoprof. Based in Chicago, her line has been carried in spas, hotels and boutiques, but now shes aiming for broader exposure and a national retail footprint. HSN stopped by her booth, she said. Whenever youre an indie brand you can get overlooked, she continued, adding that she envisions her brand on the shelves of retailers like Nordstrom or Bluemercury. Lifetherapy, like Havyn, produces its products in the U.S. Lifetherapys manufacturing is based in the Midwest, while Havyns fragrance is made in New Jersey and finished in Los Angeles avoiding the complexities of international tariffs and import regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve always been agile with where we can manufacture, said Benjamin Cohen, chief marketing officer of Knoll Printing & Packaging, in response to shifting tariff landscapes. A family-owned business, he runs Knoll alongside his brother and their father, who founded the company in 1984 and has grown it into a leading provider of customized, prestige packaging products and services. Clients include Chanel, MAC Cosmetics, La Mer, Tom Ford and Augustinus Bader. Headquartered in Syosset, N.Y., where design and engineering takes place, they own and operate factories in China, the Philippines and Europe the latter in partnership with Albertini Packaging Group. Weve been in business long enough that weve been through many evolutions of manufacturing, Cohen said. Whats happened now is the brands are asking us to manufacture outside of China. But weve been built for that shift and fully prepared for that change. So, its really left to the brands to decide and pull the levers that we have in the company, and the pressure is on them to think about the changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knoll chose to exhibit at Cosmoprof for the first time this year as part of a broader effort to expand beyond its core cosmetics clientele, he said. With the beauty landscape becoming increasingly competitive, the company saw an opportunity to diversify and connect with a wider range of potential partners. The reality is that the beauty cosmetics industry is shifting, Cohen said. Our quality, our expertise, our engineering, our customer service are applicable to anyone that needs our services. So, weve actively been servicing other areas of the industry, like hair care and devices and things like that. Sustainability was the top question he was asked at Cosmoprof, he said: Its been the most important element. The company displayed one of its key innovations, which took home a Cosmopack award in packaging: the Ecoform Molded Pulp Compact, a plastic-free, biodegradable and recyclable compact made from a proprietary blend of bamboo, sugarcane and wood fibers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The material can be formed and shaped to anything, Cohen explained. Designed as a mono-material solution, the compact can serve as both a refill or an outer unit, eliminating the need for magnets by using a tab closure and built-in platform to hold the makeup pan. Brands can customize it with color dyeing, embossing and pad printing. On the retail side, some buyers looked to catch up to the immediate and fast-moving trends playing out across social media to better align product assortments with shifting consumer behaviors, echoed analysts. TikTok Shops growing influence, underscored by its presence on the show floor, sparked conversations around purchasing behavior and speed to market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok Shop has broken through because there was a need for discovery and inspiration-based shopping, and thats what its delivering, said Ajay Salpekar, head of beauty at TikTok Shop. Brands, creators and consumers see it. So, the core value proposition of TikTok Shop, particularly for beauty, discovery e-commerce is not only shining through, but theres a real demand for it. TikToks audience of 170 million monthly unique users offers brands opportunities for customer acquisition and category growth, he continued, noting that the platforms content-driven approach democratizes product education, based on creator recommendations, and that personalized discovery expands entire categories. Every brand has experienced the offline halo [effect] from TikTok Shop, and so that just encourages them to continue engaging with creators and content, he added. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jul. 20MITCHELL It's been a month since architect Robin Miller's Corn Palace renovation presentation, and the Mitchell City Council has not formally committed to the project. The Mitchell City Council, at its regular meeting on Monday, July 21, will consider approving the Corn Palace renovation project at a cost of up to $23 million. If approved, the resolution will return at a future date to the council for a final vote. Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson told the Mitchell Republic that the $23 million estimate has a 10% built-in contingency cost, which was not in Schemmer's $21 million proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think we're ready to move forward with the project," council vice president Tim Goldammer said. Miller's June council presentation called for the council to decide in July to move forward with his renovation plan. Goldammer doesn't know how the project could be budgeted for without a donor, and that has yet to be finalized. "I don't think we're ready to make that decision right now. It's premature," council member Susan Tjarks told the Mitchell Republic. Council president Kevin McCardle told the Mitchell Republic that things are "getting close" on a sponsorship deal for the Corn Palace renovation project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A third of the project's cost is for replacing existing infrastructure within the Corn Palace. Goldammer noted that if the city moved forward without a donor, these items would have to be replaced at some point. Miller's report calls for a minimum of $5.28 million for the replacement of boilers, pumps, chillers, and new utilities, and a minimum of $1.7 million to replace and upgrade air handling, fan coils and HVAC system. "If it doesn't have heating and air conditioning, I don't think a lot of people are going to want to spend time in it," Goldammer said. Goldammer said that the feedback he's receiving from his constituents is that people need things to do and a place to do them. He believes that means the Corn Palace should be kept as an operating event center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trying to figure out how to keep one of the places that we do so many things at viable is important," Goldammer said. The council will consider awarding bids for infield improvements at Cadwell Park Stadium and for a street sweeper project, and will also consider surplussing Corn Palace chairs. The council will also consider an agreement for an archaeological and cultural survey at Firesteel Park. In addition, it will review a sponsorship agreement for LifeQuest's mini home village and a developer agreement for Tax Increment District 43, related to the proposed Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center. A full agenda can be read on the city's website. The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 21, at 612 N. Main St. Pakistani police have made multiple arrests after a couple were allegedly murdered in broad daylight on the orders of a tribal elder for having an illicit relationship, in the latest so-called honor killing in the country. The killings last month in the southwestern Balochistan province, underscores the shocking and persistent nature of such crimes across parts of Central and South Asia, where family and community members believe they can restore honor through bloodshed. At least 11 people have been arrested since video of the incident recently went viral on social media, Balochistans chief minister Safraz Bugti said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graphic video of the killing shows about a dozen men surrounding several vehicles in a desert. A woman, her head wrapped in a shawl, can be seen slowly walking in front of one of the vehicles as a man follows her, watched by the group. You are only allowed to fire at me, nothing else, she can be heard saying in Brahvi, a local language, before the man raises a pistol and shoots her at close range. The woman remains standing after two shots, collapsing only after the third, the video shows. The video then captures more gunshots. Another video shows the bloodied bodies of a man and woman lying side by side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the videos. Police told CNN they believe the footage does show the murder under investigation. The man and woman were killed because they were allegedly engaged in a relationship considered illicit by a local tribal leader, according to a police report seen by CNN. The leader had allegedly issued a verdict to execute them, the police report said. Honor killings remain disturbingly common in Pakistan, with hundreds of cases reported each year though experts believe the real number is much higher due to underreporting. These murders are typically carried out by family members or village leaders who believe a relative, often a woman, has brought shame upon the family, sometimes for reasons as seemingly innocuous as marrying by choice, seeking a divorce, or defying traditional gender roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deeply-rooted patriarchal norms that equate family honor with womens behavior, cultural acceptance, and weak law enforcement, allow perpetrators to act with near impunity. In recent years, a string of high-profile so-called honor killings have made headlines in Pakistan, drawing national and international condemnation and underscoring the persistence of the practice. In 2016, social media star Qandeel Baloch was murdered by her brother in a so-called honor killing. Baloch gained both fame and notoriety in inherently conservative and patriarchal Pakistan for her bold, sassy and increasingly political social media posts. Her murder sparked a national outcry and promoted changes in the countrys so-called honor killing laws. Honor killings now carry a life sentence but the change in legislation has not made the crimes go away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 335 women and 119 men were killed in so-called honor killings last year alone, according to data from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Balochistans chief minister Bugti called the most recent alleged murder intolerable and a blatant violation of social values and human dignity. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The teen accused of fatally shooting 15-year-old Jaymir Hill in Wyoming will be evaluated to determine if he is competent to stand trial. The 14-year-old appeared in Hamilton County Juvenile Court July 21, and his attorneys argued that he doesn't understand the basic concepts of court proceedings. The teen has no juvenile record and no prior contact with the court. Prosecutors argued that while he may not understand the proceedings now, there is no evidence to suggest he doesn't have the capacity to understand what is happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense team said their client has been held back in school and has been evaluated for learning disabilities. Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid sided with the defense and ordered a competency evaluation. The 14-year-old is charged with murder. Assistant Prosecutor Philip Brandewie said at a prior hearing that the 14-year-old told detectives that he met with Jaymir to buy a gun. There was an altercation, and the 14-year-old ended up with the gun. He shot Jaymir once, Brandewie said. Jaymir's uncle Isaac Fuller is critical of the way his nephew, the victim, is being portrayed as taking part in criminal activity. He said Jaymir was a great kid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After these allegations, Im really furious. Just furious," he said. "Im very disappointed, because these allegations are crazy." A second 14-year-old has also been arrested and charged with tampering with evidence in the case. The 14-year-old facing the murder charge attended Mt. Washington School, and at his first hearing, his father told the magistrate that the teen "turned himself in." The prosecutors in the case are seeking to try him as an adult. He is being held in juvenile detention while his case progresses. His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Defense: Teen accused in gun sale killing may not be competent SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A crane has tipped over on the Fort Randall Dam Monday. 25-year-old inmate death at Mike Durfee State Prison The Fort Randall Dam is under construction with replacement large turbine units over the next eight years. According to a Facebook post by the Army Corps of Engineers, the components for the first unit began arriving at the site in June of 2025. Each unit, says the post, is over three stories tall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A crane truck is on site to move components, and in photos sent to KELOLAND by a viewer, the crane truck has tipped over on the dam. Crane at Fort Randall Crane at Fort Randall KELOLAND News has reached out to the Army Corp of Engineers for more information. 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 KELOLAND.com. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) According to the Craven County Sheriffs Office, Hunter Lee Martin has been arrested and charged with trafficking 155 grams of fentanyl. Officer responded to a lead regarding drugs in the area after multiple filed complaints. A traffic stop was set up near 1805 Ashville Street, where Martin was stopped for officers to search his car. Officers discovered 155 grams of fentynak contained in plastic bags and arrested Martin. Martin is currently being held in the Craven County Detention Center under a $100,000,000 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 WNCT. Science backs up what Marcus Rivers lived while growing up. Dance eases anxiety, strengthens resilience and improves the ability to regulate ones emotions. And its been a lifelong pursuit for the Pawtucket resident, shown in Slater Park. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) I was drowning. My mind raced, thoughts tangled so fast I couldnt catch them. School felt like a battlefield, and every day, I lost. Teachers gave up, calling me lazy, distracted, too much to handle. Eventually, I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed medication. I stayed on it for almost two years, adjusting dosages and switching prescriptions in hopes that something would click. Some days, I felt numb. Other days, I felt anxious in a whole new way. While the meds quieted the noise, they also dulled everything else. My energy, my motivation, and my sense of self faded. I wasnt healing. I was disappearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then came dance. My mother signed me up for a local class after school when I was 8, hoping it would help me release some of the energy bottled up inside. I almost didnt go. But the moment I stepped into the studio, something shifted. Dance didnt ask me to sit still. It let me exist exactly as I was. The constant movement matched the rhythm of my thoughts and let me breathe without fear of falling behind. For the first time, my body and mind worked together instead of fighting each other. I felt alive. We are in a youth mental health crisis. According to the CDC, rates of depression among adolescents have doubled in the past decade. Rates of anxiety have also significantly increased. Yet creativity is still treated like a luxury. That needs to change. Science backs up what I lived. Researchers at Harvard and Columbia have shown that dance activates brain regions tied to emotional regulation and memory. A 2021 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychology examined over 100 studies and confirmed what I knew deep in my bones. Dance therapy eases anxiety, strengthens resilience, and connects people in ways nothing else can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this evidence, the arts are dismissed as hobbies. They are stripped from schools, underfunded in community programs, and left out of serious mental health policy. In the last decade alone, public arts support dropped nearly 30%, even as creative programs have been shown to reduce stress and boost engagement, especially for neurodiverse youth and students in high-need districts. The moment I stepped into the studio, something shifted. Dance didnt ask me to sit still. It let me exist exactly as I was. Traditional treatment models leave too many behind. Therapy is expensive and out of reach for those who need it most. Medication helps some but fails others. Schools continue to cut arts funding, closing doors that could be lifelines. Mental health care must be wide enough to catch everyone, not just those who respond to clinical methods. We need to broaden what healing looks like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools must restore arts programs as essential emotional infrastructure. Community centers should create space for movement, music, and visual art when words are not enough. Policymakers must recognize the arts as valid, evidence-based care and fund them accordingly. And readers, this includes you. Advocate for school arts funding by writing to your local school board or city council. Support community programs that use dance or art for healing. Ask your representatives what they are doing to make mental health care more inclusive and remind them that the arts matter. Creativity is not a luxury. It is survival. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE DENVER (KDVR) West Metro Fire crews early Monday morning battled a fire at an abandoned building off West Colfax Avenue that was being used as a shelter. West Metro Fire reported the blaze at around 4:45 a.m. near Colfax Avenue and Lamar Street in Lakewood, a couple blocks from Casa Bonita. A passerby saw smoke coming from the building and called 911. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox West Metro Fire crews early Monday morning battled a fire at an abandoned building off West Colfax Avenue that was being used as a shelter. West Metro Fire crews early Monday morning battled a fire at an abandoned building off West Colfax Avenue that was being used as a shelter. West Metro Fire crews early Monday morning battled a fire at an abandoned building off West Colfax Avenue that was being used as a shelter. Crews were getting water on the fire, but inside were also working through a large amount of debris. Firefighters searched the building for anyone inside, but West Metro has not yet said if anyone was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Metro said the building was being used as shelter by an unknown number of people. Investigators are still working to determine 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 FOX31 Denver. Ariel Investments, an investment management company, released its Ariel Appreciation Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Following the initial market decline triggered by the "Liberation Day" tariff announcement, the stock market rebounded, bolstered by heightened interest in AI stocks, positive economic data, and robust corporate earnings. Against this backdrop, the fund increased +5.81% in the second quarter, outpacing the Russell Midcap Value Indexs +5.35% returns and trailing the Russell Midcap Indexs +8.53% returns. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Ariel Appreciation Fund highlighted stocks such as CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX). CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) is a used vehicle retailer headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The one-month return of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) was -6.77%, and its shares lost 22.49% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 18, 2025, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) stock closed at $62.62 per share, with a market capitalization of $9.398 billion. Ariel Appreciation Fund stated the following regarding CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "Lastly, used and wholesale vehicle auction operator, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX), trader lower in the quarter. Although the companys earnings rose sharply year-over-year, management suspended the timeframes around its long-term strategic objectives due to macro uncertainty. At current levels, KMXs valuation is particularly attractive. Management has a strong track record of navigating headwinds and their inventory management expertise, alongside KMXs brand and scale are difficult to replicate. Looking out, we believe the company has a long runway for growth as its omni-channel presence and initiatives targeted at personalizing the consumer experience seamlessly combine its world-class in-store experience and online offerings." Jim Cramer Holds on CarMax (KMX): Dont Sell It Down Here Thats a Remarkable Decline A happy customer inspecting a newly purchased used car with the help of a sales assistant. CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 59 hedge fund portfolios held CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 57 in the previous quarter. In the first quarter, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) delivered total sales of $7.5 billion, up 6% compared to last year. While we acknowledge the potential of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) 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. BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) Dozens of vendors and visitors took to the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport on Sunday for the Connecticut Pizza and Brew Fest. New Haven aims to break world record for largest pizza party Frank Pepes, Zuppardis and other popular pizzerias from around the state brought their tasty pies to the event along with craft beers and desserts. Visitors could take part in a Q-and-A session and a pizza-making class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had huge crowds today, its awesome, its a celebration of our states best food, pizza, said organizer Kevin Begley. So we got some of the best pizza places in the state of Connecticut here in one spot, we got local breweries, about 30 of them, and seltzers from all around New England, the tri-state and everyones having a great time. This was the third year of the event. 99.1 PLR and the New Haven Pizza School are looking forward to next years event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reported that detectives located a stolen vehicle near Chelton Road and East Fountain Boulevard. After police followed the vehicle and attempted to pull it over, the two suspects ran from the car but were later arrested, and a significant amount of drugs were also found on Friday, July 18. According to CSPD, around 4 p.m. on Friday, detectives identified the stolen Nissan Altima and the two people in the car as 38-year-old Jordan Edgar and 40-year-old Joshua Williamson. CSPD said they followed the suspects in a marked police cruiser and attempted a traffic stop near Jet Wing Drive and Hancock Expressway. The suspects evaded the police and abandoned the car in the middle of the roadway and ran off in the 3900 block of Astrozon Boulevard, near South Academy Boulevard. Courtesy: CSPD, 38-year-old Jordan Edgar Courtesy: CSPD, 40-year-old Joshua Williamson CSPD reported that detectives found the men running nearby and placed them in custody. Detectives said they also found a large amount of illegal drugs in Williamsons possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson is facing several charges, including Motor Vehicle Theft, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Obstruction. Edgar is facing charges including Motor Vehicle Theft, Felony Vehicular Eluding, and Obstruction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Hartford Public Library which reopened its downtown branch in November after a devastating flood closed it for two years announced Monday that it is launching a public campaign to raise a portion of $12.5 million, aimed at transforming the librarys main branch for the 21st century. This project is more than flood repair, Bridget E. Quinn, the librarys president and chief executive, said, at a press conference. More than renovation. It is a piece of our mission and reflects exactly what we are here to do: to build a public library that reflects and honors Hartfords spirit, its creativity and how we serve our people and how we inspire future generations. The project, named Restore, Renew and Reimagine, is framed as a second phase to the roughly $10 million that was needed to repair the extensive damage caused by a pipe that burst on Christmas Eve in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction already has begun on some portions of the second phase and is expected to be completed in early 2026. The plans call for a new social services center for community support services; a center to support businesses and entrepreneurs; a community event space for interactive performances and programs; and a community-focused media and content creation center. In addition, The American Place, a free program smoothing the transition of immigrants into the city, will move to the first floor to a more visible space. The services provided include free English and citizenship classes, internet access, and immigration legal advice. The University of Connecticuts regional downtown campus also will expand it relationship with the library in new community collaboration space, focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The library already is well on its way to reaching its goal with a $5 million state grant, $1.5 million in library funds and $4.3 million for major donors. The public campaign launched Monday seeks to raise at least $1.7 million. The major donors include Beth and Rick Costello, Global Atlantic Financial Group, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Janice and David Klein, Margaret and Robert Patricelli, Gerri and Tim Sullivan, The Hartford and Travelers Cos. The project would build on the librarys evolution that began in the 1990s, reflecting a cultural shift in the role of libraries well beyond a place to borrow books. No longer is it a book depository, Shirley M. Surgeon, Hartford City Council president, said, in her remarks with other speakers in the lower atrium. This library now is reimagined. Think about where you are right now. On a lunch break, about 11, 12 oclock, what do we have down here? Yoga. Exercise. Its amazing what the community library is doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One example, Surgeon said, is the option to borrow movies on DVD. One of the things that I see when Im at the library in the community, people are borrowing movies, Surgeon said. You know how expensive it is to have internet when you can go to the library and borrow a movie? Quinn said the library also lends DVD players, along with a host of other items. Those include fishing poles, cake tins and crutches, Quinn said. The library has partnered with Vision to Learn to provide free eye examinations for children and eyeglasses, if necessary. The main branch of the library is seeking to move beyond its recent troubles with flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The branch, at 500 Main St., suffered major water damage on multiple floors. Large sections of ceiling, flooring and sheetrock had to be replaced. Most furniture and fixtures in affected areas had to be discarded. The atrium staircase suffered structural damage and need repair to ensure safety. Areas open to the public were heavily damaged. In an interview after the announcement, Quinn said the restoration of main branch after the flooding delayed the start of the construction of a new, $23 million branch on Barbour Street. But Quinn said she now expects work to begin by the end of this year. An expansion of the Albany Avenue branch now isnt likely to begin until 2027, Quinn said. Mondays announcement drew a lot of political attention including U.S. Congressman John Larson, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, a Hartford Democrat, and Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Ned Lamont said the library has a long, proud history, dating back to 1774, before the country was established. In its earliest years, the library was only open to those who could afford what was essentially a subscription, but by the 19th century, it was open to all, as a community resource, Lamont noted. The Hartford Public Library was one of the first to say, we do books but we also do community and a real leader there, with all the different kind of services we have here, Lamont said. Including citizenship classes and ways to say, Youre welcome here in Greater Hartford and the state of Connecticut. Ritu Paliwal Barna, said she and her family have formed a deep connection with the library ever since coming to Hartford from the Netherlands. My kids have practically lived in the library during the summer breaks and even beyond, Paliwali Barna said. I am amazed at the confidence that they have developed and the trust they show and the way each program helped shape them into better global citizens. Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com. A Stafford man faces charges for allegedly trying to meet up with someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy following what was described as a vulgar conversation on a phone app. Eric Vendette, 49, was arrested last Wednesday at his home where troopers took him into custody in connection with a warrant they had for him, according to Connecticut State Police. He faces charges of risk of injury to a minor and second-degree enticing a minor by computer. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, state police were contacted last June by a Stafford resident who reported that he believed he had found a child predator. The man told investigators he had been watching online videos over the past few weeks about catching predators using online dating apps, the warrant affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man said he found a user with an odd profile name that was accompanied by a photo of an older man, the warrant affidavit said. When he messaged the user the individual on the other end asked if he was the person he had seen in downtown Stafford earlier in the day, state police wrote. The man who reported the incident told police he replied to the user saying he was not sure before asking if he was into younger men, according to the warrant affidavit. The user allegedly said yes and told him if he was the person he had seen earlier then he was checking (him) out, the warrant affidavit said. The man then allegedly told the user he was only 15 years old and would soon be turning 16, the warrant affidavit said. The user allegedly told the person posing as a teen that he was sexy and, when asked if he was sure he did not mind that he was so young, allegedly said he was fine with talking, adding that he believed the fictitious teenager likes the older daddy type, state police wrote. When the man asked the user if he had ever been with someone my age, the individual allegedly said he had but that it was a long time ago, the warrant affidavit said. The two then allegedly arranged to get ice cream somewhere in Stafford, where the user allegedly said he would act as a father figure to him and buy him ice cream, the warrant affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man who reported the incident said he later approached who he believed was the online user where they had talked about getting ice cream and confronted him with a camera that recorded their encounter, the warrant affidavit said. The man turned over screenshots of the online conversation and the video of the confrontation to state police. Upon posting the encounter somewhere publicly, the man said he received an anonymous tip identifying the person in the video as Vendette, the warrant affidavit said. State police obtained a search warrant for Vendettes phone, which was seized on June 8, 2024, according to the warrant affidavit. While police were at his residence, he allegedly said he was not aware of the age of the person who was communicating with him, the warrant affidavits said. He also claimed that he did not intend to meet the person but just happened to be at a gas station near the ice cream shop, state police wrote. Vendettas phone was later turned over to the state Forensic Laboratory for an examination, which did not turn up any evidence, the warrant affidavit said. Investigators noted that they believe this was because the conversation happened on an external app, according to the warrant affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police also obtained a search warrant for the account that was used in the online communications, but they learned that there was no individualized data associated with the user names due to their ability to be changed frequently, investigators wrote. Vendette was initially held on a $75,000 bond and was arraigned the same day in Rockville Superior Court. According to online court records, he is free on a $50,000 bond and is due back in court on Aug. 15. He has not entered a plea to the charges, records show. By Catarina Demony LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's move to lower the voting age to 16 launches the political battle for teenagers' votes, with campaign groups warning no one should make assumptions about their allegiances and parties must address the issues that affect them. For decades, election trends and polls suggested younger voters tended to lean more to the left in Britain, but recent evidence from Europe shows young voters, particularly men, backing right-wing parties, including the far-right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Don't take them for granted. Don't assume that their vote has already been cast before an election," Dan Lawes, co-CEO of youth-led charity My Life, My Say, said of young voters. "Young people want to be sold policies. But politicians have to reach them." A diverse new generation also wants their specific concerns to be heard and addressed. According to a tracker by pollsters YouGov, the economy is the most important issue concerning the 18-24 age group, followed by housing and immigration. Data for 16- 18-year-olds was not available. A poll of 500 16-and 17-year-olds last week found that 33% said they would vote for the centre-left Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while 20% would support the right-wing Reform UK Party led by Nigel Farage, which leads polls of the wider population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are going to give this Labour government the shock of their lives. We're going to get 16- and 17-year-olds to vote for us," Farage said following the move. The new cohort would add around 1.6 million potential voters to the roughly 48 million eligible to vote at the 2024 election. In last year's European Parliament elections, many young voters shifted toward far-right populist parties that used social media highly effectively to address their concerns. In Germany, where 16- to 18 year-olds voted for the first time in European elections in 2024, their support helped boost the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Austria, where 16- and 17-year-olds have been able to vote since 2007, polls showed that most voters under 35 voted for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) in a 2024 parliamentary election, helping it secure first place. "It's quite scary how many... people (my age) are following him (Farage). He's not my favourite person," said 17-year-old student Matilda Grace. However, Anki Deo, from campaign group Hope Not Hate, said follows on social media did not directly lead to votes. "Many young people are mistrustful of the political system and politicians - it's going to take a lot more than funny TikToks for any political party to win them over," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Reform UK can ramp up their social media efforts, but their policy platform is still far out of line with the attitudes of the majority of young people." BOOSTING TRUST Labour pitched the reform as a way to boost participation and trust after the lowest turnout at the 2024 national election since 2001, hoping to encourage a lifelong habit of voting. Britain's democratic system has endured a turbulent decade, marked by the divisive Brexit vote and the political upheaval that followed, including an unprecedented turnover of prime ministers and ministers. Some critics say 16- and 17-year-olds lack the maturity to vote, and the main opposition Conservative Party called the plan inconsistent, noting the new cohort still can't buy a lottery ticket, drink alcohol, marry, or join the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Younger voters have reacted to the announcement with excitement, but also with some caution. "Young people can be very impressionable. Some people obviously can make their own decisions and they know what propaganda is, but I think education is the most important thing," said Ana Fonseca, a 17-year-old student, who called for mandatory lessons on politics and democracy. Rita Patel, vice chair of Operation Black Vote, which advocates for greater political representation, said the reform needed to lead to meaningful democratic participation for groups like young Black voters, who face distinct challenges and want issues like racism tackled. "Young Black people are politicised from birth because they have no choice in this world and in this country to navigate that system that is often hostile to their needs," Patel said. (Reporting by Catarina Demony and Marissa Davison, additional reporting by Dave Graham and Francois Murphy, writing by William James, edited by Kate Holton and Alexandra Hudson) DA identifies 10th victim in deadly fire at Fall River assisted-living facility The Bristol County District Attorneys office on Monday identified the 10th victim to die from the fire that ripped through Fall Rivers Garbiel House last week. 70-year-old Halina Lawler was the final victim of the July 13th fire inside the Fall River assisted living facility to be named. The Bristol County District Attorneys office was withholding her identity until now pending notification of next of kin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quin III has identified the victims as 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, 61-year-old Ronald Codega, 66-year-old Brenda Cropper, 69-year-old Margaret Duddy, 78-year-old Robert King, 71-year-old Kim Mackin, 78-year-old Richard Rochon,77-year-old Joseph Wilansky and 86-year-old Eleanor Willett. In a new statement on Monday, the ownership of the Gabriel House said that the building was regularly inspected and that the fire suppression system was inspected five days prior to the fire. The 100-unit assisted-living facility opened in 1999. Some photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture. Inspection reports released Thursday by the citys Bureau of Fire Investigation identified no problems at Gabriel House going back to 2019. The reports cover things like sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, exit doors, and general housekeeping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause remains under investigation, but the district attorneys office says it does not appear suspicious. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon says the blaze started in a room on the second floor. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced a new safety initiative that began Monday, July 21st. It requires all 273 assisted living facilities in the Commonwealth to send letters to residents and families outlining safety protocols and evacuation plans. Theres also a new safety assessment survey these facilities must complete, as well as specify their disaster and emergency plans. Mayor Paul Coogan and IAFF General President Edward Kelly announced on Wednesday that staffing levels at the Fall River Fire Department will increase immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staffing changes come days after the union saidinadequate staffing hindered the response to a fireat an assisted living facility that killed 9 and injured 30 others. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEED TO KNOW Luciano Frattolin, 45, reported his 9-year-old daughter, Melina, missing on July 19 while the pair were visiting upstate New York while on vacation from Montreal Melina was found dead the next day and police claimed they found "inconsistencies" her father's story Frattolin is now charged with murder and concealment of a corpse The father of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead after police believed she was in "imminent danger" is now in custody and charged with her murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York State Police issued an Amber Alert for Melina Frattolin on Sunday, July 20. Later that day she was found dead in Ticonderoga, N.Y. Melina was initially reported missing the day before by her father, Luciano Frattolin, 45, who said he believed his daughter had been kidnapped. The father and daughter had been visiting Lake George in upstate New York, on vacation from Montreal, Canada, state police said in a press conference. Early on the morning of July 21, Luciano Frattolin was taken into custody. New York State Police subsequently announced that Frattolin had been charged with his daughter's murder. Related: Missing Girl, 9, Found Dead in New York After Amber Alert, Police Say 'No Indication' of Abduction Following Dad's Report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Melina's parents had been estranged since 2019. The girl's mother had full-time custody and Frattolin was expected to return his daughter on Sunday. Instead, state police alleged, Frattolin killed Melina and left her body in a remote area. 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. Melina's disappearance was first reported by her father on July 19, and the Amber Alert stated that she had been last seen in a white van. But state police later said authorities "identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided" and determined that there was no evidence of an abduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frattolin is now charged with murder and concealment of a corpse, according to state police. He is being held in Essex County jail. It is not immediately clear if Frattolin has retained an attorney or entered a plea. Read the original article on People Nigel Farage is pledging to halve crime in Britain if Reform UK gets into the government. In a speech in central London this morning, the Reform leader unveiled plans for a sweeping overhaul of Britains justice system, including 30,000 new prison places and 30,000 new police officers on the streets. It comes as a new J L Partners survey puts Reform six points ahead of Labour and a staggering 12 points ahead of the Tories. Hes promising that no violent criminal or sex offender will be released early under his watch, and that foreign offenders will be sent back to their countries - or even jailed overseas in countries like El Salvador. Camilla and Tim were there to witness the announcement as Farage says its time to end two-tier justice in Britain. But will it actually work and how much will it all cost? And as Labour announces a massive overhaul of the water industry, including scrapping Ofwat the regulator, Camilla grills the environment secretary Steve Reed on our rising water bills. Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Dallas College will receive over $3.8 million in state workforce training grants, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday. The funding will train workers for jobs in construction, manufacturing, and aerospace engineering. The grants arrive as Texas employers struggle to fill skilled positions in high-demand industries. The states Skills Development Fund aims to close that gap by partnering community colleges with local businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investing in our workforce ensures that Texas employers have the talent they need to compete in the global arena, Abbott said in a news release. The more than $3.8 million in grant funding will help train over 1,900 workers in the Dallas area for good-paying careers in high-demand industries. The Texas Workforce Commission approved three separate awards. The largest grant, $2,834,720, will train 1,452 workers across plumbing, HVAC, and electrical companies. A second grant of $542,524 targets 312 workers across a consortium of manufacturing companies. The third award, valued at $459,920, will prepare 230 Lockheed Martin employees for roles in aerospace and electrical engineering. Skills Development Fund grants equip hardworking Texans with the necessary training for high-demand jobs, said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. These grants will help Dallas College and its partners support local employers by training workers for occupations in fields like plumbing, manufacturing, and electrical engineering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TWC Commissioner Alberto Trevino III presented the awards last Thursday at Dallas Colleges Coppell Center. Representatives from the college and partnering businesses attended the ceremony. Since 1996, the Skills Development Fund has partnered with more than 4,900 employers statewide. The program has supported training for more than 435,000 jobs across Texas. The grants enable businesses to tailor training programs through partnerships with community colleges and workforce development boards. Companies of all sizes can access the funding to upgrade their employees skills or train new hires. Alpha-En Corporation is an advanced materials company enabling next-generation battery technologies through the development of ultra-pure lithium metal and engineered anode materials. Its patented process converts raw lithium salts directly into thin-film lithium metal at room temperature, eliminating traditional high-temperature refining and foil coating steps. Alpha-En's platform is designed to be deployed inside battery manufacturing lines, enabling just-in-time production of high-purity lithium metal anodes and reducing reliance on external suppliers. Alpha-En has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense through competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs, and is building a resilient, domestic lithium supply chain to power the energy transition. Century Lithium is progressing Angel Island through ongoing permitting, engineering, and technical development at its Demonstration Plant. The Company maintains a positive long-term outlook on lithium-based batteries, which it believes will play a critical role in the growth of the electric vehicle ("EV") and stationary energy storage markets. Century Lithium looks forward to further supporting Alpha-En's efforts to develop a domestic lithium supply chain. "We are very pleased with the performance of the lithium metal produced from Century Lithium's lithium carbonate. Its purity and consistency translated directly into high-quality lithium-metal anodes," said Landon Oakes, Chief Technology Officer of Alpha-En Corporation. "We look forward to continued collaboration with Century Lithium as they advance Angel Island." Century Lithium provided Alpha-En with a sample of 99.8% pure lithium carbonate from Angel Island. The sample was converted by Alpha-En into lithium metal using Alpha-En's patented room-temperature conversion process, resulting in Li-MA with a high areal capacity and extraction efficiency. In the pilot test, Century Lithium material exceeded the quality of battery-grade lithium carbonate from a commercial non-domestic source. "We are proud that Century Lithium was selected as a domestic source of lithium for Alpha-En's program to produce lithium-metal anodes," said Bill Willoughby, Century Lithium President and CEO. "This collaboration reflects the quality of our material and the strength of our technical capabilities as we continue to support innovation across the US battery materials supply chain." VANCOUVER, BC, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LCE) (OTCQX: CYDVF) (Frankfurt: C1Z) ("Century Lithium" or "the Company") is pleased to report progress by Alpha-En Corporation of Hopewell Junction, New York, on its successful conversion of Century Lithium's lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) into battery-grade lithium-metal anodes ("Li-MA"). The Li-MA was produced using lithium carbonate derived from Century Lithium's wholly owned lithium project, Angel Island in Esmeralda County, Nevada and the associated Demonstration Plant in Nye County, Nevada. Story continues ABOUT CENTURY LITHIUM CORP. Century Lithium Corp. is an advanced-stage lithium company, focused on developing its wholly owned Angel Island project in Esmeralda County, Nevada, which hosts one of the largest sedimentary lithium deposits in the United States. The Company has utilized its patent-pending process for chloride leaching, combined with direct lithium extraction, to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate product samples from Angel Island's lithium-bearing claystone on-site at its Demonstration Plant in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. Angel Island is one of the few advanced lithium projects in development in the United States to provide an end-to-end process to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate for the growing electric vehicle and battery storage market. Angel Island is currently in the permitting stage for a three-phase feasibility-level production plan expected to yield an estimated life-of-mine average of 34,000 tonnes per year of carbonate over a 40-year mine-life. To learn more, please visit centurylithium.com ON BEHALF OF CENTURY LITHIUM CORP. WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD., PE President & Chief Executive Officer NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements relate to any matters that are not historical facts and statements of our beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential development and value of the Project and benefits associated therewith, statements with respect to the expected project economics for the Project, such as estimates of life of mine, lithium prices, production and recoveries, capital and operating costs, IRR, NPV and cash flows, any projections outlined in the Feasibility Study in respect of the Project, the permitting status of the Project and the Company's future development plans. These and other forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause their actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein. These risks include those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual information form and its other public filings, copies of which can be under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update-forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Furthermore, Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/century-lithium-reports-battery-grade-lithium-metal-anodes-produced-from-angel-island-lithium-carbonate-302509355.html SOURCE Century Lithium Corp. Dallas police arrested a suspected drug trafficker and seized thousands of grams of marijuana, THC products, and other drugs during a bust on July 15. Acting on a tip from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dallas Police PNI Task Force and Southeast Patrol executed a search warrant at a residence in the 3100 block of Harmon Street on July 15. Officers recovered 7,397 grams of marijuana, 2,499.8 grams of THC wax, 252.4 grams of THC edibles, small amounts of oxycodone and Adderall, eight bottles of promethazine, and drug packaging equipment. They also found rifle and pistol magazines, a speed loader, security cameras, and a DVR system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the raid, 26-year-old Ricky Morrison approached the scene in his vehicle but sped away after spotting police. Officers caught up with Morrison and pulled him over for failing to signal a turn. Morrison faces charges for the manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana between 5-50 pounds, possession of a controlled substance, failure to signal, and driving without a license. All drug charges are third-degree felonies. This operation shows how teamwork, inside and outside of our organization, can help protect our neighborhoods so our communities can feel safer living, working, and simply going about their lives, said Major Nathan Swyers. The investigation continues under case number 100422-2025. We're in the middle of summer, and that means thermometers are working overtime around the country. It's normal to be warm everywhere this time of the year, but some portions of the United States are experiencing extreme heat. According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service (NWS), a "dangerous heat wave" will move across the he Central Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Southeast regions in the coming days. The NWS is warning residents of a "sweltering heat dome" starting in the Deep South that will build over the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys by mid-week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Expect some localized daily record highs to be broken in the Southeast, with an even larger swath of daily record warm minimum temperatures," the NWS said. "Heat indices from the Central Plains to the Southeast will range between 100-110F each day, with some locations reaching as high as 115F." The NOAA adds that over the next few days (July 22-24), the heat wave could produce temperatures and head indices exceeding the 90th percentiles in the Mid-South and central U.S., including the Mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys. The New York Times' interactive heat wave tracking map provides a visual look at the numerous states that will be affected by the rising temperatures this week. If you're in one of the areas affected by this dangerous heat, Ready.gov has numerous steps for you to take to stay safe. They include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Find air conditioning, if possible. Avoid strenuous activities. Watch for heat illness. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Check on family members and neighbors. Drink plenty of fluids. Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Never leave people or pets in a closed car. Stay cool, everyone. 'Dangerous' Heat Wave Affecting Several Regions of United States This Week first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 A cyberattack on Swiss hospital group AMEOS may have exposed sensitive patient and staff data, the company said on Monday. The attack, which took place two weeks ago, caused significant disruption across the group's German operations. The company described the episode as a targeted assault on its IT infrastructure. In a statement, AMEOS said that it cannot rule out the possibility that personal data - including contact details - could be misused or shared online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It cannot be ruled out that these data could be used online to the detriment of the data subjects or made accessible to third parties," it said in a statement on Monday. AMEOS says it operates more than 100 facilities at over 50 locations and treats over 500,000 patients annually, making it one of the largest private hospital groups across Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Only hospitals in Germany were affected by the attack. A detailed analysis to determine which data were affected is still under way, the company said. In Germany, the state criminal police office of Saxony-Anhalt has launched an investigation following a criminal complaint filed by the company. The office said no further information could currently be provided about potential suspects or the method of attack. A CEO and an HR executive. A Coldplay concert. A kiss-cam embrace seen around the world. Thats the viral moment Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot found themselves in, caught on camera sharing what looked like a romantic moment at a packed show in Boston. The internet quickly picked up on their corporate titles, and speculation followed fast: Was it an innocent moment or something more? And beyond the gossip, a bigger question lingered what happens when workplace romance involves a boss and someone in HR? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a scenario that raises real questions about power, policy, and professionalism especially in Texas, where employment laws give companies wide latitude. According to Texas based law firm Tanner & Associates PC and the Texas Guidebook for Employers, heres what to know about dating at work: Is It legal to date a coworker or supervisor in Texas? Yes Texas law doesnt ban workplace relationships, even between bosses and employees. Theres no specific state law regulating romance in private-sector workplaces, and federal law only intervenes when harassment, discrimination or retaliation is involved under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. But legal doesnt mean risk-free. Texas is an at-will employment state, so employers can fire someone if they believe a relationship creates a conflict, distraction, or liability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Texas-based law firm Tanner & Associates PC notes, Employers are mostly free to create their own policies or to decide not to publish an official policy at all. Can I get in trouble for dating my boss? Legally, no but professionally, its risky. Many companies create strict rules around relationships between supervisors and subordinates to avoid: Favoritism or perceived unfair treatment Workplace morale issues Harassment or retaliation claims after a breakup According to the Texas Guidebook for Employers, violating these policies can lead to disciplinary action including termination. Do I have to tell HR If Im in a workplace relationship? Often, yes. Many companies require employees to disclose the relationship, especially when a power dynamic is involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some require one party to transfer departments or change reporting lines. If you keep it secret and it surfaces later, the lack of transparency could be grounds for disciplinary action even if the relationship was consensual. What is a love contract and why do companies use It? Some employers manage office romances with love contracts, written agreements that both partners sign confirming: The relationship is mutual and consensual It wont interfere with work performance There will be no retaliation if the relationship ends. Love contracts arent legally required, but theyre increasingly used to reduce employer liability. What happens if the relationship ends? Breakups between coworkers can trigger more than just awkward meetings, they can lead to serious legal claims, especially if one person supervises the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Tanner & Associates PC, employers without clear policies may face lawsuits related to: Quid pro quo harassment (when job benefits are tied to romantic involvement) Hostile work environments Retaliation claims after a breakup. Even if no formal complaint is filed, a breakup can still hurt team trust, productivity, and professional reputations. Do I Have Any Right to Privacy at Work in Texas? Texas courts have recognized a limited zone of privacy for public-sector workersbut even that has limits. In City of Sherman v. Henry (1996), the court ruled that public employees dont have a right to engage in extramarital affairs, even off the clock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In rare cases, private employees may argue wrongful discharge if fired solely for a consensual relationship, but generally, private employers have broad discretion to enforce or terminate based on internal policy. Can HR or executives date employees, even if its legal? While workplace relationships between bosses and employees are risky across the board, they become even more complicated when the people involved are in charge of enforcing company policy themselves, like HR managers or executives. These roles are designed to protect the company from liability, not create it. Thats why experts recommend companies prohibit HR leaders and C-suite executives from dating coworkers, especially those they oversee or support. In the Astronomer case, critics quickly pointed out the ethical risks of a CEO and HR chief being romantically involved, especially without clear boundaries or disclosures in place. How can I protect myself if Im in a workplace relationship? Whether youre quietly dating a colleague or seriously involved with a manager, heres what experts say you should do to protect yourself and your career: MAY CITY, Iowa (KCAU) At 6 a.m. Sunday, thousands of cyclists began the more than 400 mile ride across the Hawkeye state for the annual RAGBRAI. For Day One, riders traveled from Orange City to Milford. Thats a 50 plus mile ride, and the last town before the end was May City. Before they reached their goal, some riders spoke with KCAU 9 News. I feel good. The bike is going too good. My legs are still in there, so Ill be all right, said Jeff Graen, a RAGBRAI Rider from Spirit Lake, Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that were almost done with the first day, I feel really good. I feel like Im ready and having a great time, so Im looking forward to the rest of the week, said Ben Setnick, a RAGBRAI rider from Texas. Story continues below While traveling to Milford, cyclists stopped and went through Granville, Primghar, and Hartley before reaching the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along the way, folks experienced a variety of ups and downs. My favorite part, I think, was probably the foot long corndog that I had for lunch in one of the towns, said Setnick. Well, some of the headwind and some of the long, gradual hills, thats the thats the not fun part, but, you know, it is what it is. Thats why youre here, and you get to go down the other side, which is a fun part, said Graen. Monday will mark Day Two for the cyclists, and folks will bike over 41 miles to Estherville. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The American Falls at Niagara Falls, N.Y., has been dried up to little more than a trickle, giving visitors an unusual chance to see the rocks normally hidden from view by the water, June 1969. (AP Photo) Niagara Falls is one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world, with 4.5 million gallons of water flowing over the American and Bridal Veil Falls every minute. But in 1969, the waterfall ran dry. This section is not as big as the Horseshoe Falls, but two major rockfalls left massive boulders at the base of the American Falls, according to History.com. To further study these rockfalls, and potentially remove some of the larger boulders, the International Joint Commission decided to shut off the waterfall for several months, starting on June 9, 1969. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, the only time in recorded history that the water stopped cascading over the famous waterfall was in 1848, when an ice jam upriver briefly blocked the river's flow upstream. The American Falls at Niagara Falls, N.Y., has been dried up to little more than a trickle, giving visitors an unusual chance to see the rocks normally hidden from view by the water, June 1969. (AP Photo) The American Falls at Niagara Falls, N.Y., has been dried up to little more than a trickle, giving visitors an unusual chance to see the rocks normally hidden from view by the water, June 1969. (AP Photo) A 600-foot-wide dam made of rock diverted all of the water to the Horseshoe Falls, allowing crews to work on the American Falls. "For six months, geologists and engineers studied the rock face and the effects of erosion," Niagara Falls State Park explained on its website. "It was determined that it would be too costly to remove rock at the base of the American Falls, and that nature should take its course." Workers did some work on the falls, including the use of cement, bolts and tendons to help stabilize the cliffside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November of 1969, the dam upriver was removed, allowing water to once again thunder over the American Falls. There have been no significant rockfalls since the work was completed, and the water has flowed over the picturesque landscape continuously ever since. The Dayton International Airport and the Sierra Nevada Corporation will receive millions of dollars worth of state funding for upgrades. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Ohio Governor Mike DeWines office announced that the Ohio Controlling Board recently approved approximately $78,750,000 for the airport. The funding is part of the All Ohio Future Fund (AOFF), which was created to help attract future economic development projects by preparing large sites with necessary infrastructure, according to the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>RELATED: $100M investment to bring hundreds of jobs to Dayton International Airport TRENDING STORIES: The airport and corporation will use the funds to build airport aprons, airport taxiways, and complete area roadwork. The project will span over 150 acres within the Dayton International Airport Area, according to the office. >>RELATED: Sierra Nevada Corp. bringing more jobs to area with latest expansion project Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the states investment in Sierra Nevada Corporation, which is located in my House District 39, we will see great job opportunities for people in the Dayton Region, State Representative Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) said. Sierra Nevada is a global leader in aerospace and defense. This is a major investment in our community and will help people improve the quality of life they live. Three other sites received funding from the AOFF. They are located in Coshocton, Lorain, and Muskingum counties. When major corporations are looking for somewhere to build, they want sites that are prepped and ready for construction, DeWine said. By investing to build infrastructure at the Conesville, Lorain, Dayton, and Frazeysburg sites, were making Ohio more competitive and positioning those regions to attract projects that create good-paying jobs and boost the states economy. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A man has been hospitalized following a shooting investigation in Dayton. According to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, a shooting was reported just after 2:45 p.m. in the area of Bancroft Street and S Paul Laurence Dunbar Street. This intersection is near Burkham Center Park. Mother, boyfriend indicted in connection with death of 7-year-old boy Dayton police officers on scene told 2 NEWS a man was shot, sustaining serious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person is in custody, according to DPD. Police were on scene investigating for almost two hours, with police tape blocking part of the road. The area has since reopened. 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. BETHANY, Okla. (KFOR) Police responded to a call at Western Oaks Apartments for shots fired at around 8 am Sunday. Bethany police respond to shots fired at Western Oaks Apartments (KFOR) One woman was found shot inside a car outside the complex. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but unfortunately, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say a suspect was nearby in one of the apartment units. Police attempted to talk with them, but the individual was barricaded inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Task force teams were called out to the scene to get the suspect to come out. When the task force made entry inside that apartment complex, the adult male was found with what appeared to be an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. That male was treated here on scene and then transported to a local hospital, Hunter McKee, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said. There is no answer on the relationship between the two or the condition of the suspect. Police have not released any information about either of the individuals involved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russia says open to talks with Ukraine, but insists on its goals Xinhua) 10:45, July 21, 2025 MOSCOW, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready to move quickly toward a settlement on Ukraine, but the main objective is to achieve its goals, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible," Peskov told state television in an interview. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy." "Our goals are clear, they are obvious, they do not change," he added. Russian officials have said repeatedly that any peace deal hinges on Ukraine withdrawing forces from four regions, renouncing its NATO bid and halting NATO troop deployments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his officials have proposed holding a new round of peace talks with Moscow this week. "Everything should be done to achieve a ceasefire," he said in his evening address to the nation. On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, said the United States will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO, and threatened "severe tariffs" targeting Russia if a ceasefire deal is not reached in 50 days. Russia rejected Trump's 50-day ultimatum, dismissing the threat as unacceptable. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) BEIJING (AP) Chinas stock market is buzzing over government promises to tackle price wars that have hurt profits and worsened global trade tensions. The prevailing catchphrase is anti-involution, and it reflects efforts to curb intense competition and overcapacity in industries like solar panels, steel, and electric vehicles. With rising trade barriers such as President Donald Trump's higher tariffs, and relatively weak domestic demand, manufacturers have been slashing prices, undermining their bottom lines and driving some out of business. The producer price index, which measures the price that factories receive for their goods, has fallen steadily for nearly three years in China in a prolonged bout of deflation. The long-running issue spilled over into global markets as low-priced Chinese exports worsen trade friction with key trading partners including the United States and Europe. Solar panel glass makers agree to cut output by 30% In a series of recent statements, the Chinese government and industry associations have signaled they're getting serious about reining in cut-throat competition, known as invollution or neijuan in Chinese. The top 10 makers of glass for solar panels agreed on June 30 to shut kilns and cut production by 30%, an industry association said. The government has launched an auto safety inspection campaign, addressing concerns that automakers were skimping on quality to cut costs. It's unclear whether these efforts will succeed, but the sense that China may finally be tackling this chronic problem was enough to spark a rally in stocks in some of those under-pressure sectors. Shares of Liuzhou Iron & Steel Co. gained 10% on Friday and have risen more than 70% since June 30. Solar panel glass producer Changzhou Almaden Co. fell at the end of last week but is still up about 50%. More broadly, two exchange traded funds in solar panels and steel have risen about 10%, outpacing a 3.2% rise in the Shanghai Composite, China's leading market index. The performance of EV-maker stocks has been mixed, with Li Auto and Nio recording double-digit percentage gains while market leader BYD declined. Foreigners can't buy Chinese stocks directly but they are able to invest in about 2,700 stocks and 250 exchange traded funds through the Hong Kong exchange. Government calls intense price wars disorderly The gains follow high-level government pronouncements against disorderly price wars. On June 29, the People's Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, ran a lengthy page 1 article on involution, saying they run counter to the party's goal of high quality economic development. LA SAL, Utah (ABC4) The Deer Creek Fire burning in San Juan County in southern Utah is now 54% contained and has burnt 17,123 acres so far, according to the latest information from the Utah Department of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Through their investigation, the San Juan County Sheriffs Office and Utah Fire Authority determined that the fire was human caused. Reportedly, they have identified a suspect, but they are not releasing any additional information about the suspect at this time. The fire that has been burning since June 10 has grown 1,231 acres since Sunday. Officials said this number reflects the 780 acres in the center of the fires footprint previously thought to be unburned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increase in acreage is reflected on the map below: Courtesy: Utah Department of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Officials said firefighters gained additional containment on the fire along the Upper Two Mile Road and Highway 46 close to the Utah-Colorado border. Over 570 fire personnel are fighting the fire, along with six helicopters, 32 engines and 11 crews on scene. The fire has damaged 11 structures so far. Video Courtesy: Utah Fire Info On Monday, crews said they will focus on monitoring the western and northern flanks of the fire, with attention to potential heat sources near containment lines. On the southeast side of the fire, crews said they are constructing a direct handline at the fires edge and extinguishing hot spots along the line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video Courtesy: Utah Fire Info According to Utah Fire Info, the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a Red Flag Warning for Fire Weather in Box Elder County, Davis County, Weber County, Salt Lake County, Tooele County, and Utah County, due to strong winds and low relative humidity. This means that conditions are critical for fire starts and rapid fire spread. Courtesy: National Weather Service San Juan County is under a Hazardous Weather Outlook, which means they could see potential weather hazards within the next seven days. Damage repair work As fire activity decreases, crews said they will shift focus from active suppression to repairing areas impacted by firefighting efforts. City officials are asking residents to fill out a form to identify areas needing repair after the Deer Creek Fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though there is no deadline on the submission, officials are asking the community to submit the form as quickly as possible. As of Sunday, June 20, Zones 2, 3, 4 and 6 are under evacuation orders. But residents of Mountain Shadows, Lower Highway 46, and Hang Dog are under a SET status, which means they have to be ready to evacuate if the need arises. A check point at Lower Two Mile and Highway 46 is in place to prevent non-residents from entering the area. Closures are in effect in certain areas of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. You can find that information here. County roads within the San Juan County evacuation area are closed to public traffic. Anyone traveling along the Highway 46/90 corridor near the Utah-Colorado border should check current road conditions for information about any possible closures and be aware of changing conditions. 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. Ukraines new defence minister, Denys Shmyhal, says Ukraine needs US$6 billion to cover its defence procurement needs in 2025 and bring the war back to Russian territory. Source: Shmyhal during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) held via video link on 21 July, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "Ukraine needs US$6 billion to close this year's procurement gap. This will allow us to build more FPV drones to hold the line, more interceptor drones to counter Shahed attacks and additional deep strike weapons to take the war back to Russia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Shmyhal also emphasised the importance of securing financial commitments from partners for 2026. "I call upon our partners to allocate funds for Ukraine in their 2026 budget proposals starting now," he said. Background: Shmyhal appealed to the members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group to urgently procure US-made Patriot air defence systems and PAC-3 missiles for Ukraines armed forces. On 21 July, 52 countries attended the Ramstein meeting, which launched a 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine. During the meeting, it was announced that the US and Germany have agreed to supply Ukraine with five Patriot air defence systems, which are to be delivered to the battlefield as soon as possible. In addition, the UK and Germany launched a joint project to provide Ukraine with 220,000 rounds for the German Gepard anti-aircraft system. Both countries will also fund supplies of advanced drones to the battlefield. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Nathaniel Wojans defense of abortion as a lawful action renders his response to Father Kevin Culligans op-ed nonsensical (Equating abortion with Holocaust, genocide is morally repugnant, July 13). Plenty of lawful actions throughout history have been immoral, whether one looks to slavery, events of the Holocaust and more. Thankfully, we have been able to observe the immorality of those actions. Abortion is legal, but maybe if we could all see the abortion procedure, and the before and after of it, we would recognize its immorality. Legal and moral are not synonyms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claire Wycklendt, Shorewood Opinion: Abortion is an American genocide. Women must reject this false freedom. Letters: Abortion opponent should care about innocent lives lost to gun deaths in America I find response to abortion op-ed 'morally repugnant' I find Nathaniel Wojan's response to Father Kevin Culligan's op-ed piece "morally repugnant" and "contemptible" (Equating abortion with Holocaust, genocide is morally repugnant, July 13). Women absolutely have reproductive rights, choice and abortion, and they have to live with their decision. Regardless of what you call it, over 60 million innocent babies have been killed since 1973. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do you call that? Bill Drilias, Wauwatosa Opinion: A Fourth of July list of grievances from overworked, unrepresented America Opinion: What rigid support for 1849 abortion law says about Wisconsin Republicans 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: 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Abortion is legal, but legal and moral are not synonyms | Letters According to Katz, the bill will improve the service of all soldiers, "who fight like lions for Israel's security." The Knesset will hold a vote on a bill to improve the service conditions of IDF soldiers, Defense MinisterIsrael Katz wrote on X/Twitter on Sunday night. The vote will be held in the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, chaired by MK Yuli Edelstein, and seeks to improve the conditions of regular, career, and reserve soldiers, as well as retirees and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I expect all Knesset members to support the law without any distinction or political considerations and to demonstrate unity and support for the IDF," he wrote. The vote comes just as the Knessets two haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties departed due to clashes over the haredi draft bill. Gov't collapses as haredi draft issue remains unsolved The government is collapsing for all the wrong reasons, said opposition MK Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid) in a recent interview with The Media Line. Youd expect a real moral reason, perhaps the cost of living or ending the war, but instead, its over preserving the rights of draft dodgers. Thats a first-rate moral distortion. Haredi men are seen protesting the effort to draft ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the IDF. (credit: FLASH90) I want, wanted, and will want one thing to bring a real conscription law. Maybe not perfect in everyones eyes, but one that addresses the IDFs needs, with a gradual draft of the ultra-Orthodox," Edelstein said in an interview with Maariv on Friday. "This is a serious law: personal and institutional sanctions, real numbers, and tight oversight. This law ends the phenomenon of pretending to study Torah. To me, thats a disgrace to the world of Torah. NEW YORK Lawyers for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm told a judge on Monday that they are considering filing a motion for mistrial following new revelations that the government may have inaccurately traced the proceeds of a pig butchering scam to the privacy tool. The scam victim, a Taiwan-born Georgia woman named Hanfeng Ling, testified on the first day of Storms trial that she lost approximately $250,000 to a wrong-number Whatsapp scam. After the scam, Ling and her husband hired a so-called crypto recovery service called Payback, which traced a portion of her funds to Tornado Cash and suggested that she email them to ask for help. When Ling emailed Tornado Cashs general email address, she received no response which the prosecution attempted to paint as evidence of Storms disinterest in hack and scam victims plight. However, over the weekend, blockchain sleuth and MyCrypto founder Taylor Monahan (aka @tayvano_X) posted a thread on X explaining that Lings funds did not, in fact, travel through Tornado Cash. Monahan explained that she found Lings crypto transactions in an unrelated 2023 case involving NTU Capital, the scam company that Ling transferred her crypto to. In investigating the flow of Lings funds, Monahan said that none of Lings money went to Tornado Cash, but explained how an inexperienced tracer such as Payback (which she called bumbling f******idiots) could be thrown off track due to the use of instaswappers while tracing. In addition to her X thread, Monahan produced a tracing report containing the precise details of Lings transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several other blockchain sleuths, including well-known pseudonymous investigator ZachXBT, have since confirmed Monahans analysis. Payback did not respond to CoinDesks request for comment by press time. Idk how you mess up the tracing that bad as a firm to where you couldnt properly follow instant exchange deposits 1 hop from a theft address and then follow subsequent txns down the wrong path to Tornado ZachXBT wrote on X on Monday. Its unfortunate these predatory firms come up as the first search results on Google when victims look for help. David Patton, a lawyer for Storm and a partner at Hecker Fink LLP, told District Judge Katherine Polk Failla that the defense team attempted to trace Lings funds over the weekend and were unable to find a connection between her money and Tornado Cash. Patton told the court that he would assume that the government would have confirmed that Lings funds flowed through Tornado Cash ahead of trial, and expected that the governments relevant expert witness Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agent Joel DeCapua, a supervisory special agent in the FBIs Cyber Unit would have testified as to the link between Ling and Tornado Cash. Earlier in the day, however, DeCapua admitted he was not asked by prosecutors to investigate the link between Lings funds and Tornado Cash and was thus unable to testify to it. Lead prosecutor Nathan Thane Rehn pushed back against the allegations, telling the judge that another government witness an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent would be able to testify to the connection between Lings funds and Tornado Cash, saying that it was very straightforward and a few short hops between Lings money and the privacy software. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Failla told the court that, with no blockchain tracing expertise herself, she couldnt be sure whether Lings transactions could actually be traced back to Tornado Cash. I simply dont know, she said. FBI on the stand The bulk of Mondays witness testimony came from FBI Agent Joel DeCapua, who gave the jury an overview of 16 major crypto hacks including the hacks of Kucoin in 2020, BitMart in 2021 and the Ronin Network in 2022 that saw outflows to Tornado Cash. Upon cross examination, Patton asked DeCapua if he was aware that NTU Capital the scam front that victimized Ling ran over $100 million in crypto scams. DeCapua replied that he was not. Patton asked DeCapua if he had traced other big-name crypto hacks, such as the $320 million hack of Wormhole in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never even heard of that one, DeCapua said. DeCapua also professed having no knowledge of in-person crimes involving crypto such as kidnappings or so-called wrench attacks, which have seen a dramatic uptick this year across Europe and the U.S. Hypothetically that could happen, DeCapua said when asked whether such risks were possible. When asked whether it was true that both regular people and criminals used virtual private networks (VPNs) DeCapua said that, while it was true that lots of ordinary people used VPNs on their work computers, it would be very strange for normal people to use VPNs outside of work. I dont think a regular person would use a VPN in their everyday communications, DeCapua said. Delphi murderer Richard Allen was transferred July 17 from the Pendleton Correctional Facility to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. This is his intake photo from Oklahoma. LEXINGTON, OK Delphi murderer Richard Allen is now imprisoned in Oklahoma, according to Kay Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Allen was convicted in November of killing Libby German and Abby Williams on Feb. 13, 2017, along the north bank of the Deer Creek in Delphi, Indiana. The case went unsolved until Allen's arrest on Oct. 26, 2022. His trial started in October 2024 and ended on Nov. 11 with convictions on two counts of murder. He was sentenced Dec. 20 to a total of 130 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen arrived there on July 17, she said. He's currently housed at that assessment and reception center in Lexington, Oklahoma, which is southeast of Norman, Oklahoma, and northwest of Ada, Oklahoma. All male inmates arrive at the assessment and reception center for testing and to determine which correctional facility might best serve them, Thompson said. Allen likely will be at the assessment center for about 30 days. Oklahoma has an interstate inmate program with several states, including Indiana, Thompson said. The reasons a person might be transferred to another state might be for safekeeping, inmates from high-profile cases, or to move an offender closer to family, Thompson said, adding that she does not know why Allen was transferred to Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Journal & Courier called and email several Indiana Department of Correction media contacts in Indianapolis and in Pendleton. None of the contacts has yet responded. Asked whether Allen was a victim or a suspect in any prison incidents of violence, Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said his office is not aware of any. This story will be updated when the Indiana Department of Correction responds. Allen is appealing his conviction and sentence. However, his brief outlining his issues on which he is appealing has not yet been filed in his case, according to court records. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Delphi murderer Richard Allen moved from Pendleton prison to Oklahoma If you were heavily in debt, would it be a good time to buy a boat? How about an RV? Take a trip to Europe? Most people would say no. If you were the leaders of Delray Beach and your police pension fund had $50 million less than what it needed to pay for the retirement of your police force, would it be a good idea to increase the benefits promised to that police force? What would current police officers say about making their retirement fund less secure with more unfunded liability? From what I have read, the primary issue is that new recruits to the police force have lower starting pay than those in nearby police departments. As a result, they are resigning from the Delray Beach Police Department to pursue jobs at the county after we have spent money on their training here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major stumbling block in the police contract currently being negotiated is extending something called the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) from five years to eight years. The objective of a DROP is to help attract and retain qualified personnel. The DROP encourages experienced police officers to stay on the force up to five years longer after they are eligible for retirement. The new contract offer resolves the pay issue for new hires by paying them competitive wages, but the DROP extension to eight years is the major sticking point. Opinion: Delray Beachs digital transition reflects a smarter approach to government Potentially increasing the pension's liabilities by expanding the DROP to eight years, will keep more senior officers. But what will it do for the younger officers who may see pension shortfalls, taxpayers reluctant to make them up, and a city with numerous competing budget demands? The city police motor unit leads the 55th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival along Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida on March 15, 2025. The parade featured over 70 entries from fire departments around the world, U.S. veterans, pipes and drums, school groups, floats and more. I spent most of my career working with public employee pension funds, and I have seen public pension funds make mistakes that threatened the solvency of those funds. And, Im a taxpayer here and serving on the pension board for the general employees of Delray Beach. So the current debate on the police retirement program caught my interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But why should taxpayers care? Because bad decisions can cost millions, and the burden falls on taxpayers. When pension funds are invested badly or the actuarial calculations go awry, taxpayers have to pick up the difference. Those unfunded liabilities land right at the taxpayers doorstep. In fact, in 2010 that is exactly what happened. The economy experienced a downturn and the city had to spend additional tax dollars to fulfill its pension obligations to the police pension fund. Those who claim this DROP extension and any potential shortfall will not cost taxpayers more dont remember 2010 when the assumptions were incorrect and the stock market returned less than expected. Another case in point is the Dallas Police & Fire Retirement System which decided to offer a rate of return on their DROP that was too high, and they invested too many assets in illiquid investments. When those markets went south, the retirement fund almost went bankrupt and taxpayers had to pick up the tab. Opinion: Delray Beach safety is paramount. Police funding restraints put us all at risk. Expanding the DROP program from five years to eight years was discussed two years ago, but was rejected by police negotiators because of the concern it would stifle promotions and hinder agency movement. I think thats sound reasoning. Why are things different now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a wonderful, dedicated police force in Delray Beach. They are well-trained and motivated. Nobody becomes a police officer to get rich, rather they do so out of a sense of duty and desire to serve others. We should provide them with a fair compensation package and retirement system based on sound financial principles. Just because other pension programs are going down the road of financial insolvency, doesn't mean Delray should follow them. Martin Dorow is a retired investment management, pension and retirement fund executive living in Delray Beach. Join the Conversation: The Palm Beach Post is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Email us at letters@pbpost.com. Letters are subject to editing, must not exceed 200 words and must include your name, address and a daytime phone number to confirm the letter is for publication. We only publish names and cities with the letters. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Extending DROP puts Delray Beach police salaries at risk | Opinion The Delray Beach city commissioners have received a great deal of input from residents many responding to a recent call to action in the mayors newsletter. Some residents have urged city commissioners not to yield to the Police Benevolent Associations demands, while other residents have passionately advocated for settling the contract swiftly to retain our seasoned police officers and preserve public safety. I value all these voices. Your input, as residents and taxpayers, is not only welcome, its essential. Let me be clear: I believe our men and women in uniform deserve a raise, and I believe our city must remain competitive with surrounding municipalities and counties. These officers risk their lives daily to protect us, and there is no dollar amount that can truly quantify the value of their service. Our "Village by the Sea" expects excellence from its law enforcement, and excellence requires investment. Opinion: Delray Beachs digital transition reflects a smarter approach to government Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the debated points of contention is the proposal to extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) by three additional years for a total of eight. The mayor has expressed concerns about "double-dipping." As a former educator who proudly served 34 years in the Palm Beach County public school system and participated in the state's DROP program, I see it differently. After displaying this truck with a message not cleared by Delray Beach officials for the city's St. Patrick's Day parade, the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association was banned from participating in city events of the like for the next year. When an employee enters DROP, their pensions are fixed at that time and neither the employee nor employer are required to make any additional contributions to the pension plan for that employee. Instead, the employees fixed pension is deposited monthly into an account which the employee is unable to access until they leave city employment. The growth in that account is not funded by taxpayers, its generated through investments. The officer continues to earn their salary for the work theyre doing, just as I did during my time in DROP. This is not double-dipping. It is a structured retirement planning tool. Opinion: Union propaganda hurts Delray Beach and its police In response to concerns from residents, the city commission prudently requested an actuarial study. The study found that extending the DROP if done with specific guardrails (including no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) during the extension, a 3 percent members contribution in years six to eight , and no changes to Florida Statute, Chapter 185 allocations could be financially beneficial to the city. Additionally, the analysis showed a potential reduction in future contributions and a slight improvement in the pension plans funded ratio. In other words, its fiscally responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now is the time to settle this contract with our beloved police officers. Let us do what is right both morally and practically for the men and women who serve and protect Delray Beach. A fair and fiscally sound agreement will help us retain our experienced officers, maintain public safety, and reinforce the values we hold as a city. Angela Burns Angela Burns is deputy vice mayor of Delray Beach. Join the Conversation: The Palm Beach Post is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Email us at letters@pbpost.com. Letters are subject to editing, must not exceed 200 words and must include your name, address and a daytime phone number to confirm the letter is for publication. We only publish names and cities with the letters. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: A 'moral,' 'practical' way to pay Delray Beach police | Opinion Delta flight from Minneapolis forced into 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid B-52 bomber originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A close call involving a Delta flight from Minneapolis and a B-52 bomber happened Friday near Minot International Airport in North Dakota. SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident," a SkyWest airline spokesperson told Bring Me The News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA has also confirmed to Bring Me The News that it has launched an investigation. A passenger on the flight recorded video of what appears to be the pilot explaining the "aggressive maneuver" he had to employ to avoid a B-52 bomber when on approaching to the airport. A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base. It's unclear if this is the exact type of B-52 the Delta flight dodged.Minot Air Force Base via Facebook "For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, so we continued," the pilot says. "I think [the air traffic controller] realized that the spacing wasn't going to work and he said turn right. And I looked over and there was an airplane ... I thought it was a small airplane like the one you see at the airport right now doing touch-and-goes. He said turn right, I said there's an airplane over there, and he says turn left and by the time we read back to clearance, looked over and kind of saw the airplane and that was kind of coming on a converging course with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So, given his speed, it was a military ... I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us and I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it. So, sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. I don't now that why they didn't give us a heads up because the Air Force base doe have radar and nobody said, 'Hey, there's also a B-52 in the pattern.' Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work." How close the Delta jet and the alleged B-52 bomber came to colliding is unclear, but the close encounter happened just shy of six months of the Jan. 29 mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, with 67 people killed in the incident. Minot Air Force Base is located 13 miles north of Minot International Airport. Bring Me The News has requested more information from the Department of Defense. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. August WTI crude oil (CLQ25) today is down -0.27 (-0.40%), and August RBOB gasoline (RBQ25) is down -0.0194 (-0.90%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are under pressure today, with gasoline falling to a 2-week low. The outlook for larger crude exports from Iraq may boost global oil supplies and is weighing on prices. Expectations for increased Iraqi crude exports may also prompt Saudi Arabia to boost its crude exports in order to maintain its market share, further exacerbating a global oil supply glut. Losses in crude are limited due to a weaker dollar and today's rally in the S&P 500 to a new all-time high, which shows confidence in the economic outlook that is bullish for energy demand. More News from Barchart Weighing on crude is the outlook for Iraq to boost crude exports from its northern Kurdish region through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, where oil exports have been halted since March 2023. The Iraqi government approved a plan for the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to resume oil exports. Kurdistan expects to supply Iraq's crude market with 230,000 bpd of crude once exports resume. Iraq is OPEC's second-biggest oil producer. Crude prices have carryover support from last Friday when the European Union approved fresh sanctions on Russian crude exports and its energy trade over its war in Ukraine. The sanctions package includes cutting off 20 more Russian banks from the international payments system SWIFT, as well as restrictions imposed on Russian petroleum refined in other countries. A large oil refinery in India, part-owned by Russia's Rosneft PJSC, was also blacklisted. Additionally, 105 more ships in Russia's shadow fleet were sanctioned, bringing the total number above 400 ships. Concern about a global oil glut is negative for crude prices. On July 5, OPEC+ agreed to raise its crude production by 548,000 barrels per day (bpd) beginning August 1, exceeding expectations of a 411,000 bpd increase. Saudi Arabia also stated that additional similar-sized increases in crude output could follow, which is viewed as a strategy to reduce oil prices and penalize overproducing OPEC+ members, such as Kazakhstan and Iraq. OPEC+ is boosting output to reverse the 2-year-long production cut, gradually restoring a total of 2.2 million bpd of production by September 2026. On May 31, OPEC+ agreed to a 411,000 bpd increase in crude production for July, following the same 411,000 bpd hike for June. June crude production rose +360,000 bpd to a 1.5-year high of 28.10 million bpd. Credit: TikTok/@azamora616 A passenger jet was forced into an aggressive manoeuvre to avoid crashing into a US air force bomber. A SkyWest flight, acting as a Delta connection between Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, was cleared for landing on Friday when the pilot performed a go-around to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber, the airline said. In a video recording captured by a passenger in the airliner, the pilot can be heard apologising to passengers on board, saying they probably saw the aeroplane coming at us and that nobody told us about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight tracking data reviewed by The Washington Post shows SkyWest Flight 3788 make a sharp right turn as it approaches Minot airport, then climb in altitude as it circled to land. Around the same time, a B-52 performed a circular manoeuvre in the same area. The pilot told passengers the airports control tower does everything visually because it does not have radar and had instructed him to turn right, where he saw the military plane hovering into view. At first, the pilot said he mistook the plane for a small aircraft before realising it was a military plane on a convergence course with the jet. It caught me by surprise Given the speed the bomber was travelling, the pilot said he felt it was the safest thing to turn behind it and perform a go-around, aborting an initial landing before approaching for a second time once the skies were clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sorry about the aggressive manoeuvre, it caught me by surprise, the pilot said. This is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt give us a heads-up. The air force base does have radar, and nobody said: Hey, theres a B-52 in the pattern. A US Airforce B-52 bomber - USAF Passengers applauded the pilot for his quick-thinking as he signed off by saying: It was not a fun day at work. Have a nice evening, and Im glad you are safe. US air force officials did not provide details of the incident, but said they are looking into the matter after a B-52 bomber performed a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, which is home to an air force base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and air force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter, the service said in a statement. I remember the plane going sideways Monica Green, the passenger who recorded the video of the pilots apology, said the incident left her feeling sick to my stomach. I just remember the plane going, like, sideways... and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass, like you werent seeing the skyline anymore, she told NBC News. She added that she was nervous about returning to the airport for her homeward flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The long-range B-52 bomber is 159ft long with a 185ft wingspan and is capable of carrying nuclear and precision guided weapons at an altitude of up to 50,000ft. The aircraft has been the backbone of the air forces strategic bomber force for 60 years and played a key role in the Gulf War and Natos bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. The close encounter comes after an army black hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC in January, killing 67 people. The crash prompted lawmakers to review coordination between military and civilian aircraft. The FAA has said it is investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A SkyWest spokesman said: SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident. Delta and the US air force were approached 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. After a Delta flight was forced to make an aggressive maneuver to avoid colliding with a military aircraft, the pilot of the plane issued an apology. The close call happened on Friday evening and saw the pilot make a hard right turn to avoid a B-52 bomber that was conducting a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair, according to CNN's Cindy Von Quednow and Amanda Jackson. The SkyWest flight, which was being utilized as a Delta Connection flight, was going from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, and was getting ready to land when the incident took place. Thankfully, the plane landed safely and no injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the harrowing ordeal, the pilot got on the loud speaker and issued an apology to the passengers while also explaining what happened. "Sorry about the aggressive maneuver; it caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all," the pilot said of the close call. "I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up because the Air Force base does have radar and nobody said 'hey, there's also a B-52 in the pattern.' "Long story short, it was not fun but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding," the pilot concluded. The video shows that there was support for the pilot, who received a round of applause from passengers for his efforts and transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both SkyWest and the Air Force told CNN they are investigating the matter. The Federal Aviation Administration also is looking into it. Related: Experts Agree on Safest Place to Sit on an Airplane Delta Pilot Issues Apology to Passengers first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 A Delta pilot said he avoided a crash with a B-52 bomber after executing an "aggressive maneuver." The Delta flight, which was operated by SkyWest, was headed toward North Dakota. "It caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all," the pilot apologized to passengers. A Delta regional flight traveling from Minneapolis to Minot avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force B-52 bomber on Friday. The flight, which was operated by SkyWest Airlines as Delta Connection, was headed toward North Dakota when it encountered a B-52 bomber from Minot Air Force Base. It is unclear how close the two aircraft were to each other when the incident happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot of SkyWest flight 3788 told passengers that the craft had managed to evade the B-52 after executing an "aggressive maneuver." "I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it," the pilot said while apologizing to passengers, per a recording of the conversation. "It caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up, because the Air Force base does have radar," the pilot continued, adding that it was "not a fun day at work." When approached for comment, Delta Air Lines referred Business Insider to SkyWest Airlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SkyWest said the flight was originally "cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight." It added that the plane had landed safely in Minot and they are "investigating the incident." A US Air Force spokesperson told BI in a statement that the B-52 had been conducting a flyover as part of a "special event recognizing the city of Minot as a 'Great American Defense Community.'" "The flyover was planned in advance and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration," the spokesperson said Crew members were in constant contact with "the FAA's local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control" during the flyover, the statement added. It said that the airport's air traffic control personnel "did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA said in a statement to BI on Monday that it is investigating the incident. It added that the airport's air traffic services were "run by a private company" and the "controllers are not FAA employees." In January, an American Airlines flight collided with a UH-60 Black Hawk as it neared the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport . The collision killed all 67 people abroad the two aircraft. Representatives for Minot Air Force Base did not respond to a request for comment from BI. July 22, 1:30 a.m. This story has been updated with statements from the US Air Force and the FAA. Read the original article on Business Insider Crime doesnt pay so try politics instead. The Democrat running to be Nassau Countys top prosecutor encouraged convicted criminals to apply for a job on her campaign that could pay them up to $7,000 a month. District Attorney candidate Nicole Aloises campaign posted an ad seeking a communications director on job website indeed.com as she tries to unseat Republican incumbent District Attorney Anne Donnelly. District Attorney candidate Nicole Aloises campaign posted an ad seeking a communications director on job website indeed.com. Nicole Aloise/Instagram People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply, the job posting says, offering a salary range of between $6,000-$7,000 a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The call for ex-cons to apply for a job sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise traditional job description that notes applicants should have previous experience in media relations, dealing with New York journalists or working on campaigns. Any top media managers goal is to get the candidate favorable press coverage. Donnelly called the advertisement more than politically tone-deaf, labeling the job solicitation dangerous, and claiming it exposes Aloises criminal-first agenda that puts criminals over law-abiding citizens. People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply, the job posting says. Indeed The District Attorney is responsible for safeguarding confidential information, ensuring justice, and holding criminals accountablenot inviting them into the heart of a campaign for Nassau Countys top law enforcement post, Donnelly told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only someone deeply out of touch would prioritize hiring convicted criminals over qualified, law-abiding citizens for such a sensitive role. Aloise is a career prosecutor who spent 16 years working in both the Queens and Nassau district attorneys offices. Some municipalities bar employers from discriminating against convicted criminals. Aloise is a career prosecutor who spent 16 years working in both the Queens and Nassau district attorneys offices. Nicole Aloise/Instagram New York City has the Ban the Box law, also known as the Fair Chance Act, which prohibits employers from asking about an applicants criminal history or conducting background checks until a conditional job offer is made. That means employers cant include questions about criminal records on job applications or during initial interviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Donnelly said explicitly singling out criminals not law abiding citizens to apply for a job with a DA candidate whose mission is to enforce the law is beyond the pale. This isnt just a campaign misstepits a window into Nicole Aloises dangerous worldview, Donnelly said. Hiring criminals to help run her campaign? Thats who she is. Nassau residents cant afford to hand the keys to the DAs Office over to someone who embraces that kind of reckless ideology. Aloise campaign spokesperson Ellen McCormick responded, Nicole has a long record of locking up violent felons, and a box accidentally left checked on indeed.com does not change that. This is a cheap shot from Anne Donellys campaign to attempt to distract from the fact that crime in Nassau County has risen 44% under Donnellys watch, that Nicole is the only candidate in this race with endorsements from law enforcement, and from the fact that Nicole outraised her by almost $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donnelly touted her own prosecutorial record to make Nassau one of the safest counties in America, while fighting to repeal New Yorks cashless bail law. If you want safety, accountability, and common sense in your District Attorney, Im proud to be the choice of Nassau neighbors who want to keep Nassau the safest community in the U.S.A, Donnelly said. By Diana Novak Jones CHICAGO (Reuters) -More than 20 Democratic attorneys general on Monday sued to block a Trump administration policy that bars migrants living in the U.S. illegally from accessing federally-funded programs for low-income families that provide early childhood education, food and healthcare, saying it could force the programs to shutter altogether. The attorneys general from states, including New York, California and Illinois, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, asking the court to block policies announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice and several other agencies outlined in memos released earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argue the policies, which implement an immigration-focused executive order from Republican President Donald Trump are unconstitutional and were issued without following the required federal rulemaking process. The directives require programs to check participants immigration status before providing services, or risk losing critical federal funding, the lawsuit said. The requirements went into effect almost immediately after the directives were issued, leaving the programs scrambling to find ways to comply so they can stay open, it said. Immigrants in the country illegally have generally been ineligible for most federal benefits, but until the memos were issued, some programs providing healthcare, food and early childcare education were not treated as restricted federal benefits. Additionally, the policy also applies to some people who are in the country legally, like those with student visas, and could harm U.S. citizens without government identification, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York Attorney General Letitia James said her states Head Start program receives approximately $700 million in federal funding to provide early childhood education to nearly 43,000 children. Many providers in the program have said they may not have the capacity to screen participants' immigration status, putting the funding at risk. This is a baseless attack on some of our countrys most effective and inclusive public programs, and we will not let it stand, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. The DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for HHS said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. In a statement earlier this month, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said his agency was making the change to disincentivize illegal immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit asks the court to halt the policy and vacate it. The agencies announced the policy beginning on July 10, saying it was part of their effort to follow a February Trump executive order. The executive order, Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders, said a 1996 federal law governing federal benefits prevented their use by people in the country illegally. The attorneys general said the Trump administration has misinterpreted the law, applying it to entire programs rather than to individual benefits. The policy also violates the U.S. Constitutions Spending Clause, which requires the federal government to provide fair notice of any conditions on federal funding before states accept it, the group said. (Reporting by Diana Novak Jones, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Aurora Ellis) India is on the Moon, S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, announced in August 2023. The announcement meant India had joined the short list of countries to have visited the Moon, and the applause and shouts of joy that followed signified that this achievement wasnt just a scientific one, but a cultural one. Indias successful lunar landing prompted celebrations across the country, like this one in Mumbai. AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade Over the past decade, many countries have established new space programs, including multiple African nations. India and Israel nations that were not technical contributors to the space race in the 1960s and 70s have attempted landings on the lunar surface. With more countries joining the evolving space economy, many of our colleagues in space strategy, policy ethics and law have celebrated the democratization of space: the hope that space is now more accessible for diverse participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are a team of researchers based across four countries with expertise in space policy and law, ethics, geography and anthropology who have written about the difficulties and importance of inclusion in space. Major players like the U.S., the European Union and China may once have dominated space and seen it as a place to try out new commercial and military ventures. Emerging new players in space, like other countries, commercial interests and nongovernmental organizations, may have other goals and rationales. Unexpected new initiatives from these newcomers could shift perceptions of space from something to dominate and possess to something more inclusive, equitable and democratic. We address these emerging and historical tensions in a paper published in May 2025 in the journal Nature, in which we describe the difficulties and importance of including nontraditional actors and Indigenous peoples in the space industry. Continuing inequalities among space players Not all countries space agencies are equal. Newer agencies often dont have the same resources behind them that large, established players do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and Chinese programs receive much more funding than those of any other country. Because they are most frequently sending up satellites and proposing new ideas puts them in the position to establish conventions for satellite systems, landing sites and resource extraction that everyone else may have to follow. Sometimes, countries may have operated on the assumption that owning a satellite would give them the appearance of soft or hard geopolitical power as a space nation and ultimately gain relevance. In reality, student groups of today can develop small satellites, called CubeSats, autonomously, and recent scholarship has concluded that even successful space missions may negatively affect the international relationships between some countries and their partners. The respect a country expects to receive may not materialize, and the costs to keep up can outstrip gains in potential prestige. Environmental protection and Indigenous perspectives Usually, building the infrastructure necessary to test and launch rockets requires a remote area with established roads. In many cases, companies and space agencies have placed these facilities on lands where Indigenous peoples have strong claims, which can lead to land disputes, like in western Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of these sites have already been subject to human-made changes, through mining and resource extraction in the past. Many sites have been ground zero for tensions with Indigenous peoples over land use. Within these contested spaces, disputes are rife. Because of these tensions around land use, it is important to include Indigenous claims and perspectives. Doing so can help make sure that the goal of protecting the environments of outer space and Earth are not cast aside while building space infrastructure here on Earth. Some efforts are driving this more inclusive approach to engagement in space, including initiatives like Dark and Quiet Skies, a movement that works to ensure that people can stargaze and engage with the stars without noise or sound pollution. This movement and other inclusive approaches operate on the principle of reciprocity: that more players getting involved with space can benefit all. Researchers have recognized similar dynamics within the larger space industry. Some scholars have come to the conclusion that even though the space industry is pay to play, commitments to reciprocity can help ensure that players in space exploration who may not have the financial or infrastructural means to support individual efforts can still access broader structures of support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The downside of more players entering space is that this expansion can make protecting the environment both on Earth and beyond even harder. The more players there are, at both private and international levels, the more difficult sustainable space exploration could become. Even with good will and the best of intentions, it would be difficult to enforce uniform standards for the exploration and use of space resources that would protect the lunar surface, Mars and beyond. It may also grow harder to police the launch of satellites and dedicated constellations. Limiting the number of satellites could prevent space junk, protect the satellites already in orbit and allow everyone to have a clear view of the night sky. However, this would have to compete with efforts to expand internet access to all. What is space exploration for? Before tackling these issues, we find it useful to think about the larger goal of space exploration, and what the different approaches are. One approach would be the fast and inclusive democratization of space making it easier for more players to join in. Another would be a more conservative and slower big player approach, which would restrict who can go to space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conservative approach is liable to leave developing nations and Indigenous peoples firmly on the outside of a key process shaping humanitys shared future. But a faster and more inclusive approach to space would not be easy to run. More serious players means it would be harder to come to an agreement about regulations, as well as the larger goals for human expansion into space. Narratives around emerging technologies, such as those required for space exploration, can change over time, as people begin to see them in action. Technology that we take for granted today was once viewed as futuristic or fantastical, and sometimes with suspicion. For example, at the end of the 1940s, George Orwell imagined a world in which totalitarian systems used tele-screens and videoconferencing to control the masses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the same decade, Thomas J. Watson, then president of IBM, notoriously predicted that there would be a global market for about five computers. We as humans often fear or mistrust future technologies. However, not all technological shifts are detrimental, and some technological changes can have clear benefits. In the future, robots may perform tasks too dangerous, too difficult or too dull and repetitive for humans. Biotechnology may make life healthier. Artificial intelligence can sift through vast amounts of data and turn it into reliable guesswork. Researchers can also see genuine downsides to each of these technologies. Space exploration is harder to squeeze into one streamlined narrative about the anticipated benefits. The process is just too big and too transformative. To return to the question if we should go to space, our team argues that it is not a question of whether or not we should go, but rather a question of why we do it, who benefits from space exploration and how we can democratize access to broader segments of society. Including a diversity of opinions and viewpoints can help find productive ways forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, it is not necessary for everyone to land on one single narrative about the value of space exploration. Even our team of four researchers doesnt share a single set of beliefs about its value. But bringing more nations, tribes and companies into discussions around its potential value can help create collaborative and worthwhile goals at an international scale. 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: Timiebi Aganaba, Arizona State University; Adam Fish, UNSW Sydney; Deondre Smiles, University of Victoria, and Tony Milligan, King's College London Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tony Milligan receives funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 856543). Adam Fish, Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles, and Timiebi Aganaba do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Democrats on Capitol Hill are furious with the Trump administration and their Republican counterparts for undercutting government funding negotiations, but they aren't showing a unified strategy for forcing the GOP to change course 10 weeks out from a shutdown deadline. In the House, Republicans are ignoring Democratic priorities in government funding bills, moving forward with deep spending cuts and conservative policy riders including to restrict abortions, block enforcement of a slew of gun regulations and snuff out federal hiring efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. In the Senate, Democrats have more leverage, where 60 votes will be needed to move forward and GOP leaders are already advancing funding bills with buy-in from across the aisle. But so far Democrats are stopping short of flashing the most powerful tool they have to ensure the end result is to their liking: threatening a shutdown come Oct. 1 if they dont get their way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats can shame administration officials who are openly dismissing the need for bipartisanship in funding talks and the Republicans backing them up. Yet Democrats have little power to ensure they get to shape whatever legislation Congress passes to keep federal cash flowing beyond September, or stop President Donald Trump from freezing, canceling and now clawing back funding Congress already approved. To be blunt, I don't think there's one tactic or approach that is going to solve this from any individual Democrat, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a top appropriator, said in an interview. The Republicans have to decide whether they want to be totally lobotomized or not. The dynamic underscores the bind that Democrats could find themselves in once again, after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took intense heat from across his party for helping pave the way for passage of Republicans government funding extension in March. And despite pressure to play hardball, Democrats at this moment are still searching for leverage. Theyre just throwing stuff against the wall because theyre losing this fight, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats are talking openly about how they have few options for stopping Trump or his allies in Congress from driving all major government funding decisions and undermining the cash lawmakers already appropriated on a bipartisan basis. Since Senate Democrats went along with the March continuing resolution, Trump has continued to unilaterally slash broad swaths of the federal bureaucracy. Last week, he successfully pushed Hill Republicans to approve $9 billion in funding clawbacks for foreign aid and local media the first time Congress has approved a rescissions package in 30 years. Some Republicans are sympathetic to the Democratic position that Trump and his White House budget chief, Russ Vought, are running roughshod over Congress power of the purse and should be challenged. Two GOP senators Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine and another senior appropriator, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted against Trumps rescissions package. Several more voted yes but still spoke critically of the Trump administrations unwillingness to detail specific accounts that will be cut, as well as the chilling effect the Republican clawbacks could have on bipartisan funding negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Vought told reporters Thursday that the appropriations process has to be less bipartisan, Collins urged fellow appropriators that "the best way for us to counter what has been said by the OMB director is to continue to work in a bipartisan way. And I hope that we are going to do so. But Democrats need more than just Collins to come to the defense of Congress funding prerogative. We've got to work to make sure that there are several others on the other side of the aisle who have the stomach and the strength and the spine to stand up and say: No, don't take it away from the Congress. It's our job, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the Houses top Democratic appropriator, told reporters Thursday night before the House passed the package to nix $9 billion. Democrats also need to help boost the legal fights against Trumps funding moves, DeLauro added, as more than 100 of those lawsuits play out in courtrooms throughout the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Democrats hope for a critical mass of Republicans willing to defy Trump, some are testing out a more hardline position of warning Republicans they could have to go at it alone in a funding fight this fall. In a joint statement after House Republicans cleared Trumps recessions package just after midnight Friday, the Houses top three Democrats fired off a warning shot that pinned the onus on Republicans to avoid a funding lapse in the coming months. Tonights vote, coming hours after the Trump White House abandoned the bipartisan appropriations process, makes it clear that House Republicans are determined to march this country toward a painful government shutdown later this year, said Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Kathrine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. And Schumer said in a letter to his caucus earlier this month that Republicans know it is absurd to count on Democrats supporting the pursuit of fiscal 2026 funding bills if the GOP votes along party lines to delete existing funding or pile on more cash. Thats what Republicans did in boosting military and border security budgets through their tax and spending megabill Trump signed on July 4. But Schumer also stopped short of delivering a clear threat ahead of the September shutdown deadline. And Democrats arent yet willing to give up on funding negotiations with their GOP colleagues, even after Republicans ignored their warnings about eroding trust in bipartisan talks by backing the clawbacks package last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, Democratic appropriators are largely leaning in, especially in the Senate, where GOP leaders plan to bring bipartisan funding measures to the floor as soon as this week. I think the most important thing for us to do is to continue to move the appropriations process as expeditiously as we can, to try and find bipartisan agreement, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a top appropriator, said in an interview, because its in everybody's interest to do this and to move forward. Cassandra Dumay and Calen Razor contributed to this report. When Bianca Rudolph died from a shotgun blast in Zambia, her husband, Larry Rudolph a Pittsburgh-area dentist claimed it was a tragic accident that occurred during a dream hunting vacation in Africa. But more than five years later, bombshell revelations turned that narrative upside down. Biancas death, initially ruled accidental by local authorities in October 2016, sparked a years-long international investigation that uncovered lies, a secret workplace affair, and a hefty financial motive for murder and the case is now the subject of a new three-part docuseries, Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premiering July 21 on Hulu. (A trailer can be seen below.) The ABC News Studios series features exclusive interviews from federal prison with Larry and his former dental hygienist and mistress, Lori Milliron, offering rare insight into their relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Plus, new interviews with an eclectic cast of characters including [Larry]'s former business partner, Millirons daughter, the Rudolphs insurance broker, FBI agents close to the case, the former U.S. ambassador to Zambia and more," a synopsis from ABC Studios reads. "Members of Safari Club International and several of [Larry]'s former dental office employees also speak out, painting a disturbing picture of the man at the center of this shocking case." ABC Lori Milliron, Larry Rudolph Lori Milliron, Larry Rudolph The married couple was getting ready to leave their hunting camp in Kafue National Park on the morning of Oct. 11, 2016, when Bianca was fatally shot with a 12-gauge shotgun. Larry told the Zambian police that he heard the gunshot while he was taking a shower and that he found his wife of 34 years on the bedroom floor bleeding from the chest. He said he suspected that the shotgun had been left loaded from the hunt the previous day and that the gun went off while Bianca was trying to pack it into its case, according to a federal complaint previously obtained by PEOPLE. However, federal authorities in the U.S. believed that Bianca was shot from 6.5 to 8 feet, and determined that it was not likely she pulled the shotgun's trigger based on a reconstruction of the incident, per The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials later accused Larry of killing his wife in order to collect millions of dollars in life insurance and continue his relationship with Milliron. He filed fraudulent claims on nine separate life insurance policies to obtain about $4.9 million, federal prosecutors said. In August 2022, less than a year after his arrest, Larry was convicted in U.S. federal court of foreign murder and mail fraud. He was sentenced to life in prison. During Larry's trial in Denver, Colo., a federal prosecutor said that Larry admitted to the shooting while dining with Milliron upon hearing in 2020 that the FBI was probing into the death of Bianca, per the Associated Press. Larry told jurors that "I did not kill my wife. I could not murder my wife. I would not murder my wife," the AP reported. Milliron, who had been romantically involved with Larry for years, was also found guilty in connection with the case. In June 2023, she was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for perjury, obstruction of justice, and being an accessory after the fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari is produced by XTR in association with Rolling Stone Films and ABC News Studios for Hulu. The series is directed and executive produced by Dani Sloane. Trophy Wife is based on the Rolling Stone article Before the Dentist Knows Youre Dead by Matt Sullivan, who also serves as executive producer. Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premieres July 21 on Hulu. Read the original article on People The Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell, pictured on Dec. 31, 2024. (Micah Drew, Daily Montanan) The Montana Department of Corrections and Flathead County last week signed an interlocal agreement allowing the state to move ahead with plans to renovate a Kalispell-area hotel into a 90-bed prerelease center for male offenders. The Flathead County Commission on July 15 approved an Interlocal Agreement outlining responsibilities of the state to keep the county informed of each new offender placed at the facility, recidivism rates for the facility, and additional impact metrics including public complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two commissioners, Brad Abell and Randy Brodehl, voted in favor of the agreement, while Commissioner Pam Holmquist voted against it. As much as I think this is a great thing Im going to be a no vote, Holmquist said during the commission discussion. I still feel that this is the wrong location for this facility. So thats their challenge, to prove me wrong, and live up to this interlocal and be good to the neighborhood. The agreement comes on the heels of a settlement between the state and county. Last October, the Department of Corrections filed a lawsuit alleging the countys Board of Adjustment had capriciously voted to deny a conditional-use permit required for the state to move forward with the proposed facility. Corrections officials had initially presented the proposal to the Flathead County Commission in September, and Abel and Brodehl, along with the county jail commander, expressed support for the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holmquist, who represents the Evergreen community where the prerelease center will be located, opposed that decision as well, citing negative feedback from nearby residents. When the final decision went to the Board of Adjustment, however, board members cited road-access issues, an impact to local law enforcement and a negative impact to the neighborhoods safety in their denial. But in the departments complaint, DOC lawyers argued the board had made changes to the countys findings of fact without providing evidence to back them up for example concluding road access to the former hotel property was inadequate to accommodate two-way traffic flow despite county staffs research finding otherwise. The settlement, agreed to by the Board of Adjustment in April, included the property utilizing a different access point to address traffic concerns, as well as the numerous partnership requirements formalized in the interlocal agreement. Prerelease needs in northwest Montana The Montana Department of Corrections contracts with nonprofits and one county to operate seven prerelease centers in Montana, where offenders transition from secure facilities back into the community under supervision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no facility currently serving the northwest portion of the state comprising three of the states top 10 most populous counties Flathead, Lake and Lincoln. According to July data from the Department of Corrections, 115 of individuals in prerelease facilities were sentenced in the Flathead region 11.8% of the prerelease population which the department has cited as a reason for adding a new facility in the area. A map showing Department of Corrections prerelease centers in Montana. (Courtesy DOC) The highest percentage of each prerelease centers population is made up of residents from the respective region. During a meeting of the interim Law and Justice Committee last week, DOC deputy director Eric Strauss told state lawmakers that the department had recently hired an administrator for the new Flathead facility, and was starting to look at what roles needed to be filled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strauss acknowledged that there might be recruiting challenges for the department, due to the high cost of living in the Flathead Valley. We think thats going to be the limiting step, obviously, in terms of getting going, Strauss said. In response to questions from lawmakers about the process of approving individuals to enter the prerelease program, Strauss said the agreement signed with the county was not as formalized as what the other prereleases have established, but that it does allow for commission feedback on each individuals placement and make a case for whether or not theyre an appropriate fit for the Flathead area. Well take that advisement under serious consideration before we put someone in the community that could be harmful to the community, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the agreement in place, DOC is working on necessary renovations to the former hotel facility to transition it to operational status by this fall. Our goal is to have someone living in that facility on Oct. 1, Strauss told lawmakers last week. It might just be one person. We might have, like, a one-to-one type supervision relationship with an individual. Were obviously hopeful thats not the case, but were going to be mindful of the restrictions that staffing will place on our ability to get up and going, and we wont do anything thats unsecure or unsafe. Trading at a low P/E multiple with potential upside for investors, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) is among the 14 Cheap Transportation Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) Agrees to $8.1 Million Settlement of Federal COVID-19 Fund Misuse Case Pixabay/Public Domain On July 16, 2025, it was announced by the U.S. Justice Department that Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) misused federal COVID-19 relief funds, as a result of which the company will pay $8.1 million in a settlement. The Payroll Support Program was created under the 2020 CARES Act to support airlines with the retention of workers during the pandemic, ensuring that the airlines could resume operations once the pandemic eases. The state claims that Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) violated the programs terms by exceeding compensation limits for some executives in March 2020 and April 2023. However, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) has denied the claims, labeling the whole issue as a technical disagreement. Thus, to avoid costly litigation, the company has agreed to the $8.1 million settlement. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), operating in the U.S. and internationally, offers scheduled air transportation services for passengers and cargo. It is on the list of cheap transportation stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of DAL 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: Billionaire Kerr Neilsons 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential and Top 10 AI Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The Greenville County Sheriffs Office reported a suspect on the run in Greenville County. At approximately 8 p.m. Sunday, Deputies were called out to parker Cone Way in Greenville regarding an altercation. Upon arrival, the suspect fled the scene. Deputies believe the suspect is armed. The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Gerald Randolph Byrd. Byrd is facing charges for manufacturing controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a violent felon, and second degree domestic violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Byrd was last seen wearing a black and gray long sleeve shirt with jeans. Deputies said that Byrd no longer has dreads. The Greenville County Sheriffs Office asks anyone who has information about Byrds whereabouts to contact 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 WSPA 7NEWS. An investigation is underway after a high-speed chase led to a deadly crash, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Friday, around 10:30 p.m., a Twiggs County deputy tried to pull a car over on Interstate 16 for a traffic violation, authorities said. Twiggs County officials said the driver sped away, leading to a police chase. Just before 11 p.m., the car crashed near the Exit 12 off ramp on I-16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the GBI, as the deputy tried to render aid to a person in the crashed car, shots rang out of the vehicle, with the deputy returning fire. The GBI said then more shots were fired from inside the vehicle. TRENDING STORIES: The deputy then learned two people were inside the vehicle. They were identified as Christopher J. Martin-Holmes, 26, of Conley, and Phillip Ellison Jr., 23, of Ellenwood. Martin-Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene. Twiggs County Sheriffs Office said the 26-year-old died as a result of a gunshot wound. Martin-Holmes body was taken to the Central Crime Lab in Macon, where an autopsy is being performed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellison was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was booked into the Twiggs County Jail. No officers were injured. The investigation is ongoing. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Editors note: This story was originally published on July 21, 2024. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. World War II had dragged on for five years when U.S. forces began an invasion to retake Guam on July 21, 1944. The battle lasted for about three weeks of intense fighting before the Japanese were defeated. About 3,000 U.S. troops were killed and more than 18,000 Japanese died. The operation helped the U.S. take control of the war in the Pacific theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres the history. Guam, an island in the western Pacific was one of several U.S. territories occupied by the Japanese during World War II, others notably being the Philippines and even a small part of Alaska. The first battle of Guam took place Dec. 8-10, 1941. The island was defended by a small, lightly armed garrison of sailors and Marines. They were quickly overrun by the larger Japanese landing force. The island fell just a week after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. The U.S. was much more prepared by the time of the second battle, which took place July 21 to Aug. 10, 1944. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per historians, the 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps, supported by naval landing craft and naval gunfire and airstrikes, led the way. The Armys 77th Infantry Division also conducted a landing and participated in the battle. Coast Guard cutters also took part in the joint operation, which also included a large number of native Chamorros. After retaking Guam, the U.S. took back the Mariana Islands and Palau islands. Guam became the Pacific headquarters for Navy Adm. Chester Nimitz for the rest of the war, which ended when the Japanese formally surrendered Sept. 2, 1945. The United States acquired Guam and the Philippines from Spain in 1898, following the Spanish-American War. The 212-square-mile island of Guam remains a strategic U.S. territory, with the location of Joint Region Marianas, a joint military command. Coast Guard cutters are also stationed there. July 21 is celebrated as Guam Liberation Day, the day when Americans came ashore in 1944. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One interesting note about the battle. Although organized Japanese resistance ended Aug. 10, some 7,500 Japanese soldiers remained in the jungle for some time, and some continued the fight. The last of the Japanese soldiers, Shoichi Yokoi, was discovered Jan. 24, 1972. 2 Japanese emerge after 45 years of fighting with guerrillas in jungle Here are some stories from the Deseret News about Guam and its strategic location today: Guam asks U.S. to pay reparations for Japan A snapshot of Guam before U.S.-North Korea conflict and now Guam celebration Associated Press was there: 70 years ago, Marines raise flag on Iwo Jima Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, Guam is usually in the news when storms hit or when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene makes a comment. There is a beautiful Latter-day Saint temple on the island: Guam pushes for native-only vote on U.S. relationship Typhoon Mawar hits Guam with powerful wind and power outages If you go diving in Guam Guam Guard soldiers visit Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in response to her CPAC remarks U.S. government to air-drop toxic mice on Guam snakes WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio (WCMH) The Ohio State Highway Patrol on Monday released more details about two crashes on Wednesday that shut down Interstate 71 in central Ohio and left drivers stranded for more than eight hours. The initial crash happened at about 10:30 p.m. near mile-marker 88 in Madison County when a tractor-trailer failed to yield while exiting a construction zone and was hit by a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, troopers said. No injuries were reported in that crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second crash happened when a tractor-trailer noticed traffic slowing down from the first crash but couldnt move over to the left lane due to traffic. The driver slowed down in the right lane and was rear-ended by a second tractor-trailer, troopers said. Man found dead in Olentangy River near downtown Columbus had gunshot wound The driver of the second tractor-trailer was taken to a hospital for possible injuries. The passenger was flown to a hospital with serious injuries, according to OSHP. Watch previous coverage in the player above. I think it was about 11:15 when we finally hit our stop on traffic, said Emma McLaughlin, who was on her way back to Columbus from a Kesha concert in Cincinnati. I think we kind of hoped it was only going to be for an hour or so. But it turns out it ended up being nine hours, which is outrageous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said herself and others that were stranded didnt really get any answers until about 6 a.m. Nine hours with no restroom, no water, it was miserable, McLaughlin said. I think all of us were just really ready to get home and get some rest because it was daunting. Both crashes 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Monroe County Sheriffs Office is currently investigating an incident that occurred on Irondequoit Bay. Deputies were initially investigating near Sutter Marine Boat Launch. Current investigations indicate that a single vessel was involved and only one person was injured. Currently, Law Enforcement vessels are driving up and down the west shore of the bay. Many of the deputies who responded have cleared out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sutters Boat Ramp remains closed at this time. It is unclear if it is connected to the incident or investigation. The investigation is still ongoing. Check back with News 8 WROC as we will continue to update this 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 RochesterFirst. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department (ICE) has officially approved a partnership with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to enforce federal immigration law on violent criminals and drug dealers in South Dakota. 25-year-old inmate death at Mike Durfee State Prison When state and federal law enforcement agencies work together, it strengthens public safety, Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a news release. I have entered into this agreement to improve our ability to track down violent criminals and drug dealers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackley and other State Attorneys General announced in May that they would seek 287(g) federal authority for their respective states agencies after they toured the southern border. DCI intends to establish a Task Force Program headquartered in Pierre, according to the Attorney Generals office. Federal authorities would initially train DCI agents from Eastern and Western South Dakota to serve as 287(g) Task Force officers. Mexican man sentenced for reentry after deportation The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of South Dakota announced a sentencing last week for a Mexican man that was sentenced and convicted of illegal reentry after deportation in western South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Javier Cruz-Martinez, 29, was sentenced last week to time served and ordered to be removed from the U.S. Court documents indicate on March 27, Rapid City ICE used surveillance and immigration information to justify conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle in Box Elder, South Dakota, that they believed Javier Cruz-Martinez was 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. As the number of deportations of unauthorized migrants increases the tension between Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and anti-ICE protesters, assaults on ICE agents have also increased. A series of attacks took place in Texas and Oregon on the Fourth of July, nearly a month since demonstrations first erupted in California on June 8 Federal authorities apprehended a 32-year-old military veteran, Benjamin Hanil Song, on Monday, in connection with an attack on an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, where a group of assailants lured officers out of the building and opened fire, shooting one officer in the neck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged shooter had been on the run for 11 days before he was arrested. The same day as the Texas attack, three people assaulted federal officers near the ICE office in South Portland. As the individuals face felony charges, the federal facility continues to face daily threats and vandalism. The Department of Homeland Security alleged Portlands anti-ICE groups namely the Rose City Counter-Info and The Crustian Daily are publishing sensitive information about ICE officers. The information about the federal agents their names, addresses, pictures of them and their families also appeared on flyers in the neighborhoods they live in, alongside threats, like No Peace For ICE, the DHS said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE federal agents, carrying out the Trump White Houses deportation orders and protecting federal buildings, are facing increased threats. The Department of Homeland Security reported a nearly 700% spike in assaults on ICE officers. A woman stands off with a law enforcement officer wearing a Houston Field Office Special Response Team patch outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs building during a protest in Portland, Ore., Saturday, June 14, 2025. | Jenny Kane Brave ICE law enforcement are risking their lives every day to keep our communities safe from the worst of the worst criminals, said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. What do the numbers say According to Fox News, DHS recorded 10 assault events from Jan. 21, 2024, to June 30, 2024. From the day after President Donald Trump took office earlier this year until Monday, the department recorded 79 assault events, representing a 690% increase year over year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The available U.S. Custom Border Protections data shows a slightly different story. It recorded 51 assault incidents in June, the peak of the anti-ICE protests that began in Los Angeles and spread nationwide. By comparison, 22 incidents were recorded in May and 32 in April. From January 2025 until June 2025, the CBP reported 174 incidents of assault. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents detain a man outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs building during a protest in Portland, Ore., Saturday, June 14, 2025. | Jenny Kane From January 2024 until June 2024 the CBP recorded 184 incidents of assault. The confrontations used to happen at the souther border, which witnessed a wave of millions of migrants entering the country illegally under President Joe Biden. But now, theyre happening as ICE agents arrest unauthorized migrants for deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As CNNs Juliette Kayyem noted in a post on X, ICE hasnt provided data behind the stark increase in assaults, while noting that the DHS uses the term assault loosely. And though the percentage continues to go up each month, DHS hasnt released information about the hundreds of cases. Other outlets have also reported a lack of transparency on the numbers being shared by the Trump administration. As one of the analysts who covers immigration @cnn, it is worth noting that ICE has never offered proof of this alleged 500% increase in assaults nor are there prosecutions consistent with such a number. DHS also uses the word assault loosely, often to cover for their mistakes. https://t.co/KNqy8FjoPx Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) July 1, 2025 Either way, the Trump administration says it maintains zero tolerance for violence on federal agents and continues to issue warnings to protesters. You should go to prison. President Trump made that clear the other day. This is ridiculous, said Border Czar Tom Homan. You put a hand on an ICE officer, youre going to jail. You impede an ICE officer, youre being prosecuted. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) A Border Patrol agent is recovering in a Manhattan hospital after he was shot in the face during an attempted robbery over the weekend, according to authorities. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will hold a news conference with an update on the shooting Monday morning. Authorities said the 42-year-old agent was sitting on a bench in Fort Washington Park with a woman when two suspects pulled up to them on a moped. The agent pulled out his service weapon, which is when he was shot in the face and forearm, according to authorities. Authorities said the agent was able to fire back, hitting 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunexs leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nunex checked himself into Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, which is where he was taken into custody, according to authorities. Officials said he is in the country illegally from the Dominican Republic, entering the U.S. in 2023 through Arizona. More Local News Nunex has a history of violence, including two domestic violence arrests and being a suspect in a robbery and a stabbing, according to authorities. Officials said he is also wanted in Massachusetts for allegedly stealing guns from a pawn shop. Police officers were on their way to another armed robbery when the agent was shot, according to authorities. The NYPD doesnt believe the agent was targeted due to his job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State ICE Director Tom Homan is expected to visit the agent in the hospital Monday morning. Charges are pending against Nunex as he is still hospitalized. Police are still searching for a second suspect in connection with the shooting. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. 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 PIX11. Organizations and individuals gather outside the Supreme Court as gerrymandering cases are argued on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Credit - Aurora SamperioGetty Images Texas Republicans are poised to consider new districts in a special session after President Donald Trump called for the state to redraw its congressional map to allow for the GOP to pick up seats in the midterm elections in 2026. Trump told reporters that there are several states in which he believes Republicans can redraw districts in order to pick up seats in Congress and keep a narrow majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas would be the biggest one, he said on July 16. Just a very simple redrawing, we pick up five seats. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott put redistricting on his special session agenda for Monday. Abbott said his decision was in light of a letter he received from the Department of Justice earlier this month. The letter alleges that four of the current districts were racial gerrymanders that violate the Constitution's 14th Amendment, thus opening the door for redistricting as a whole to be decided. Typically, states redraw their congressional district maps every ten years to accommodate shifts in population. But in many states, lawmakers have taken to changing the lines whenever they see it as politically advantageous to help their party gain an advantage." The fact that Trump and Texas Republicans are currently weighing their options of redistricting in the middle of a decade is non-traditional, but not completely unheard of. But the move has, unsurprisingly, raised concerns and discussions about gerrymandering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: To End Gerrymandering, Change How We Elect Congress California Gov. Gavin Newsom of the Democratic Party has vowed to retaliate by redistricting his own states 52 seats to pick up more Democratic representation. Trump said hes going to steal five Congressional seats in Texas and gerrymander his way into a 2026 win. Well, two can play that game, Newsom said via X on July 15. Special sessions. Special elections. Ballot initiatives. New laws. Its all on the table when democracy is on the line. Beyond any potential retaliation, Republicans risk a lot in redistricting, says Jay Dow, a professor of political science at the University of Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you cut [the margins] too thin, you can really put your own party in danger, Dow notes. If you make those margins too thin and you have a bad year, you can end up losing four or five seats instead of gaining them. This can be referred to as a dummymander. Ismar Volic, a professor at Wellesley College who has done research on how mathematics can equalize redistricting, argues that Trumps attitude towards redistricting points to how okay everyone is with partisan gerrymandering. The courts say this is politics as usual, he says. Anyone who cares about some kind of fairness, representation, or competitiveness in our democracy would think its terrible that the President is so open about it. But its not illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is what you need to know about redistricting and gerrymandering, and the difference. What is redistricting? Redistricting is a process of drawing the borders of districts for which representatives are elected. As states grow, they often do not grow evenly, and thus redistricting allows for states to represent population growth and racial diversity in their citiesaccording to the Constitution, all districts in a state must have equal population. We reapportion the House seats in response to the census, and so every 10 years we do the census, and that changes the number of House seats. Some states get more, some states get fewer because of internal shifts in population, explains Dow. Now, the legislature will have to draw the boundaries of these districts to reflect that. Often, this can reflect people moving from rural areas to urban areas, or from state to state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, as a result of the 2020 Census, Florida gained a seat in the House, while states including California and Illinois lost a seat. Read More: Gerrymandering Isnt NewBut Now We Have a Solution What is gerrymandering? According to Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School, gerrymandering is a "pejorative" for a kind of redistricting that favors a political party, or in some cases, looks to disenfranchise a group of people. There are two principle ways that a legislature can gerrymander for partisan purposes, says Briffault. Packing and cracking. With packing, you put as many of the voters of the other party into one district. Instead of the voters being equally spread around so they get an influence on a lot of places, they are in one district, Briffault says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whereas with cracking, those creating maps would split a voting blocbe that a specific party affiliation or a certain demographicacross multiple districts to dilute voting power, making it difficult for them to elect their preferred candidates. Briffault says in a scenario where Republicans would try to use cracking in a district with a lot of Democrats, they could carve it up into multiple districts and make [Democrats] the minority in several other districts, so that they're dispersed and they're never going to be the dominant force in any one district. There are several tells, Briffault says, that a district has been gerrymandered. But it tends to be a hard legal battle as it's not always clear-cut. In fact, courts will often disagree on whether a district has been gerrymandered. Briffault says that if the process is done entirely by one party with no input from another party, it is more likely to be gerrymandering. If it is done mid-cycle, rather than based on new population data, then thats another warning sign. Lastly, experts recommend looking to the shape of the states. Districts drawn with odd shapes to capture some small group is also evidence of gerrymandering, according to Briffault. TIME graphic Recognizing the difference between partisan and racial gerrymandering Experts emphasize the difference in legality between partisan gerrymandering and racial gerrymandering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court ruled in the 2019 case Rucho v. Common Cause that partisan gerrymandering is not subject to a federal court review, because they present non-justiciable political questions that lie outside of the courts jurisdiction. In a handful of states, there are limits on gerrymandering, or there are special procedures for redistricting that make gerrymandering more difficult, but as a matter of federal law, the Supreme Court said it's not unconstitutional, Briffault says. Volic calls this court case a watershed moment in redistricting. As such, people trying to detect partisan gerrymandering can only rely on state supreme court or state judicial systems. He argues these judicial systems are often faulty because they have been appointed by state legislature, the same body that is likely working on the redistricting. In terms of racial gerrymandering, the Supreme Court has said that this can be challenged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dow points to the 2023 Supreme Court decision that claimed Alabamas redistricting was not simply a partisan gerrymander by Republicans but actually a racial gerrymander, and those district lines were subject to revision. Though Black Alabamians accounted for around 30% of the state at the time, they could only elect one of their preferred candidates in the states seven districts, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. When the Republican-controlled legislature failed to create a second district in which the Black population had a fair shot, a federal court created one, which eventually led to the states election of Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. Although acknowledging the difference, Volic says the line between partisan and racial gerrymandering tends to be thin, and in order for courts to tell states that they need to redistrict fairly, you have to argue that the line has been crossed. In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina Republicans, arguing that what a lower court said was a racial gerrymander that diluted the African American vote was, in fact, a partisan gerrymander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just this past week, the Florida Supreme Court, which is dominated by appointees hand-picked by the states Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, upheld a congressional district map that eliminated a majority-Black district in north Florida, which DeSantis had chopped up following the 2020 census, dispersing the Black population into four different majority white districts. Volic says the last 20 years have been terrible for gerrymandering, though he points to some progress, such as efforts to place redistricting in the hands of independent commissions and the role of mathematicians in recent years to create congressional maps that rationally create districts detached from politics and partisanship. The issue is convincing legislatures to give up their power, and to do so in a timely manner, even if the courts have ruled that a district has been unfairly gerrymandered. The judicial system is tectonically slow moving, Volic says, and while parties argue it at the court level, the U.S. continues to "conduct elections in these terrible maps." Even if the final outcome is favorable to minorities or whoever is being disenfranchised, the damage has already been done in many ways, Volic argues. This is a system that's very conducive to taking power away in a nefarious way. Contact us at letters@time.com. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has released photos of vandalism at a local church. Diocese officials hope publishing photos of hateful vandalism found at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church will prompt someone to come forward with information that may assist investigators in identifying those responsible. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Baldwin church vandalized with anti-Catholic, antisemitic messages; FBI investigating Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, the diocese released four photos, showing anti-Catholic and antisemitic symbols and language. The diocese did censor some offensive words. You can view the photos at the bottom of this article. The parishioners of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and our entire diocesan family are heartbroken over this hateful act, Bishop Mark Eckman said. I ask the faithful to join me in praying for comfort and peace, and I urge anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact the FBI. Anyone with tips about the vandalism should contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip online. This photo released by the Diocese of Pittsburgh shows hateful vandalism at a church in Pleasant Hills. Officials are hoping publishing the photos will help investigators find those responsible. This photo released by the Diocese of Pittsburgh shows hateful vandalism at a church in Pleasant Hills. Officials are hoping publishing the photos will help investigators find those responsible. This photo released by the Diocese of Pittsburgh shows hateful vandalism at a church in Pleasant Hills. Officials are hoping publishing the photos will help investigators find those responsible. This photo released by the Diocese of Pittsburgh shows hateful vandalism at a church in Pleasant Hills. Officials are hoping publishing the photos will help investigators find those responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW MILAN In a bid to further strengthen its integrated supply chain, eyewear juggernaut EssilorLuxottica said Monday it has reached an agreement to acquire a division of the South Korean company PUcore, which specializes in the development, manufacturing and sale of monomers used in the production of ophthalmic lenses. The PUcore assets that are part of the sale include a research and development unit, a production facility and sales office in South Korea, as well as the intellectual property portfolio pertaining to formulations and production processes. More from WWD Financial details of the deal which is expected to close by the end of 2025 pending regulatory approval were not disclosed. We are happy to welcome PUcores optical division and its talented teams into our group. In line with our commitment to elevating standards in the research, development and manufacturing of ophthalmic lenses, this addition will allow us to widen our portfolio of patents, technologies and know-how and extend our expertise upstream in the value chain, said Francesco Milleri, EssilorLuxotticas chairman and chief executive officer. The executive holds executive powers alongside deputy CEO Paul du Saillant. By continuing to improve the production and formulation of high index monomers, we will raise the bar for the performance and sustainability of the processes and supplies used across the entire ophthalmic industry, Milleri added. EssilorLuxottica has been on an acquisition spree as of late, especially in the med-tech space. In May, the eyewear group took over ophthalmology platform Optegra, which operates a network of more than 70 eye hospitals and diagnostic facilities across Europe under the Optegra, Lexum and Iris brands. In mid-December, it revealed the acquisition of the Italy-based Espansione Group, which specializes in the design and manufacturing of noninvasive medical devices, protected by international patents for the diagnosis and treatment of dry-eye, ocular surface and retinal diseases. This followed the deal last July to acquire an 80 percent stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a German company that is a specialist in diagnostic solutions, digital surgical technologies and health care IT for clinical ophthalmology. In addition to frames, lenses, medical instruments and science-backed eye care solutions, the groups offer today includes AI-powered innovative technologies and wearables, for which it has been ramping up its tech capabilities through several acquisitions. WFXR Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, released more than 230,000 documents related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mondays release was in response to President Trumps Executive Order 14176. This release follows through on President Trumps steadfastness to fully release previously-classified records on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., according to Gabbard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard said the release was carried out in coordination with the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Archives. In the release, Gabbard stated that these documents had never been previously digitized. The release includes the discussion of potential leads, internal memos discussing the progress of the case, and documents related to James Earl Rays former cellmate, who claimed he discussed an alleged assassination plot with Ray. The documents include never-before-seen evidence from the Canadian police department and CIA records, which outline overseas intelligence during the international hunt for the prime suspect. I am grateful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for delivering on their pledge of transparency in the release of these documents on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr, said Dr. Alveda King, who was a part of the family who was able to review the files two weeks before the release. My uncle lived boldly in pursuit of truth and justice, and his enduring legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day. While we continue to mourn his death, the declassification and release of these documents are a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal governments investigation into Dr. Kings assassination, said DNI Gabbard. Under President Trumps leadership, we are ensuring that no stone is left unturned in our mission to deliver complete transparency on this pivotal and tragic event in our nations history. I extend my deepest appreciation to the King family for their support. While some of the documents included in the release were initially made public through Freedom of Information Act requests. According to officials, Mondays release marks the first time these records have been available online in a single collection. The documents also reportedly have minimum redactions for sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and grand jury records. As agencies continue to search government facilities for additional files, the new documents will be uploaded alongside the previously released files at archives.gov/mlk, ensuring that all documents related to the MLK assassination are available in a centralized location. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. A man stabbed with his own knife in a West Village subway station died in a clash with two brothers he attacked for giving him a dirty look, police sources told the Daily News on Monday. The brothers, ages 20 and 24, had just exited a No. 1 train at the 14th-St.-Seventh Ave. subway station about 7 p.m. on Saturday when they were confronted by the victim, who believed one or both of the brothers had given him a dirty look, the sources said. The victim pulled out a knife and slashed the younger brother in the right armpit and groin. The three then started wrestling and during the scuffle, the older brother grabbed the knife from the victim and stabbed him in the chest, sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics transported the victim to to Bellevue Hospital, where he died about 50 minutes later. Cops have not released his name or age. The younger brother was taken to the same hospital to be treated for the slash wound and was in stable condition. The brothers were both taken in for questioning at the scene. On Monday night, the older brother, Brandon Gonzalez, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, and charged with manslaughter. Judge John Zhou Wang ordered that he be held on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond, along with a 9 p.m. curfew, and ankle electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to remain in New York City and surrender his passport. His next appearance in court was set for Sept. 9. His lawyer Geoffrey Stewart said the Queens resident will make bail Monday night. The younger brother, who had been wounded by the dead man is not facing potential charges, the sources said. A group of nine American teenagers was arrested in London after allegedly going on a drunken rampage during a flight, per The London Evening Standard. The incident occurred during a Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles to Londons Heathrow Airport on July 14. The teens reportedly used fake IDs to purchase bottles of alcohol at the airport, which they then consumed during the flight. Wed like to apologize to customers for any inconvenience caused following the arrival of the VS008 at London Heathrow on 14th July, due to disruptive passengers being apprehended by the authorities, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said in a statement. This is now a matter for the police, and we are unable to comment any further. The safety and welfare of our people and our customers is always our top priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Marine Experts Photograph U.S. Naval Vessel Lost in WWII The identities of the nine suspects have not been released, but the Standard reported that each is believed to come from wealthy families. According to the flight crew, the teenagers were screaming and running amok for the entirety of the 10-hour flight. When the plane landed in London, "all were arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with crew directions and endangering aircraft, the spokesperson confirmed. The suspects were then taken to a police station where they were photographed and fingerprinted. Officers also informed the group that they could face jail time for the offense and revoked the groups Electronic Travel Authorizations, meaning they could not stay in London for the summer and had to return to America. Though Virgin Atlantic initially refused to fly the teens back to America, the airline eventually relented. However, the teens were split up and flown to different cities to avoid any further chaos. Related: Let's Unpack Those Major 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Cameos 'Disruptive,' Drunk Teens Arrested After Mid-Flight Chaos first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 (Photo: Hugh Jackson/Nevada Current) Members of the Las Vegas Realtors association contend a move to change the organizations bylaws is designed to consolidate power in the executive board, and possibly pave the way for the sale of LVRs Multiple Listing Service to a private party, a move some say would be a financial boon to LVR, but render the organization irrelevant in the long run. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the go-to resource Realtors use to list properties and find prospective homes for buyers. Privatizing its ownership could potentially further decentralize an industry disrupted by online platforms that allow potential buyers to search homes on their own and avoid representation by an agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MLS is really the primary income for the Board of Realtors, and the only reason most of us are, frankly, members, since theres very few other benefits, Realtor Zar Zanganeh said in a social media post Thursday. Selling the MLS is going to benefit simply a couple of people who are going to be owning it and not regulating what they charge for fees. Last year, the Denver Metro Association of Realtors and South Metro Denver Realtors Association, the majority shareholders of the MLS in that metro area, sold the listing to a hedge fund for an undisclosed amount. Listing information provided to Zillow, Redfin, and other real estate platforms is syndicated through MLS, contributing to its value. Its unknown how much the sites currently pay for the data. A sale of the MLS to a private party could benefit platforms that partner with the new ownership. HousingWire reports the Colorado state board warned Denver-area agents that private ownership of the MLS could have negative consequences, particularly with regard to data, who owns it, and how its secured. How the data is being used by its new owner, MAZL LLC, remains a mystery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former LVR president Keith Lynam says the rumored sale of the local MLS is nonsense, and is likely based on speculation that current president George Kypreos, whose firm is the Southern Nevada broker for properties owned by Zillow, is attempting to hire Zillow executive Nobu Hata as CEO of LVR. Hata was CEO of the Denver association before it sold its MLS. The changes proposed by the LVR board would eliminate several board positions, including a representative of the associations MLS committee. An email message sent by the board to the associations 15,000 members says the changes are designed to enhance governance, expand the pool of leadership candidates from which the membership can choose, protect the integrity of our elections, and streamline committees. The local dispute comes in the wake of allegations of election tampering that prompted LVRs president in January to resign two days into his term, and as some agents struggle with new rules on how they are compensated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the National Association of Realtors settled class-action suits that alleged the practice of shared commissions between sellers and buyers agents amounted to collusion and violated anti-trust laws by reducing competition and inflating commissions. The settlement prompted a seismic shift in the compensation model requiring that sellers pay the listing agents commission while the buyer pays their own agent, a departure from the tradition of the seller paying both agents. Since August 17, 2024, prospective buyers have been required to sign compensation agreements with agents before viewing homes, a process some agents describe as awkward and cumbersome. Only members of Realtor associations are subject to the new compensation rules, a factor that, coupled with association unrest, could entice more agents to drop their memberships, say industry experts. They would also not be subject to the Realtors Code of Ethics, warns past president Judie Woods, a member of the association since 1978. The code outlines conduct and professional responsibilities for fairness and integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The membership is slated to vote on the changes July 30 via Zoom where all of our members can vote for or against these proposed by-law changes electronically during the virtual meeting, Kypreos said in a video message sent to members. That raised red flags for many members, says Woods. Why are we doing a bylaw change in a Zoom meeting? We always do them at a meeting where theres open discussion, where you discuss pros and cons, and then vote on the motion with the members that are present. Kypreos and LVR did not respond to requests for comment on a potential sale of the MLS, or the reasons for a virtual, rather than in-person, general membership meeting. A petition posted online calls for the board to scrap the Zoom meeting in favor of a traditional meeting, and urges members to vote against the proposed changes to the by-laws. The proposals change a lot of the core principles of our association, Woods said by phone Friday. It proposes removing several committees, including the bylaw committee, which has been there since the inception. Its part of every realtor organization. These proposed changes to the bylaws did not even go through the bylaw committee. DMACC has partnered with Arizona State University to ease the transfer process between the two institutions. (Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Des Moines Area Community College has partnered with Arizona State University to offer students an easier transfer and faster path to graduation. DMACC announced in a news release Monday the community college has entered into an agreement with Arizona State University to be included in its transfer admission guarantee program, called MyPath2ASU. In addition to guaranteed admission to ASU after completion of a DMACC program, students will also be able to align their DMACC and ASU educational paths and track their degree progress online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASU offers in-person, hybrid and online-only learning for students from every U.S. state and 130 countries, according to its website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Students will receive personalized guidance and communication to plan their education and feel connected to the ASU community, the release stated, while earning degrees in interdisciplinary studies, liberal studies and organizational leadership. More than 400 course-by-course pathways are offered in the MyPath2ASU tool, according to the release, which the two institutions will collaborate on regularly to refine and ensure students are choosing the best courses for their degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were pleased to create this formal transfer agreement with ASU and offer it to our more than 30,000 DMACC students, said DMAC President Rob Denson in the release. This allows our students another option to pursue their bachelors degree. This partnership also demonstrates the strong national reputation and reach of both DMACC and our students among colleges and universities nationwide. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE There was no such thing as a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War... or in Vietnam. Instead, every Marine unit that ventured out on patrol was accompanied by a U.S. Navy corpsman universally known as Doc. Although unarmed, the willingness with which these field medics risked their lives to save the riflemen beside them made them widely respected as honorary Marines. Their sacrifice on the battlefield often took the form of throwing their bodies over enemy hand grenades, for which many received posthumous Medals of Honor. One such corpsman, Donald Doc Ballard, typified that sacrifice... with a rare twist. Born in Kansas City, Missouri on Dec. 5, 1945, Ballard attended North Kansas City High School and then set his ambitions on dentistry and surgery. Unable to afford the higher education in the civilian world, he enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 27, 1965. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After serving as a hospital corpsman in Memphis, Tennessee, he trained with the Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before shipping out to Vietnam in December of 1967 as a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment 3rd Marine Division. By May 1968, it had been several months since the communist Tet Offensive, with the attack slowly petering out. The Viet Cong in the area had suffered devastating casualties, but had been replaced by fresh regular troops of the North Vietnamese Peoples Army (PAVN or NVA). Fighting, therefore, had flared up anew in what the Americans called Mini Tet, the last major battle of which was fought at Dai Do between April 30 and May 3. May 16 saw Company M on a sweep and moving to join up with other elements of the 3rd Battalion when two Marines collapsed from the heat. Medal of Honor recipient Donald E. Ballard displays a book containing signatures of some of the living Medal of Honor recipients during a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (Seaman Diana Quinlan/Navy ) Ballard quickly treated them, evacuated them from the nearest landing zone and was just rejoining the company when it came under ambush by a large NVA force armed with small arms and mortars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marine casualties swiftly mounted and Ballard was in the middle of it, rushing back and forth across the fire-swept terrain to administer medical assistance and move each casualty to whatever cover he could spot. One Marines wounds were particularly severe and after doing what he could for him, Ballard called for four Marines to help carry their comrade in arms off to a place of relative safety. It was at that point that an NVA soldier emerged from his concealed position, threw his grenade at the small conclave of Marines and fired on them. Seeing the grenade fall nearby, Ballard had about two seconds in which to react, but for him there was no question as to what it would be. Shouting a warning to the others, he threw himself on the explosive. Incredibly, the grenade failed to detonate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballard then picked it up and threw it as far as he could at which point it went off, too far to harm its intended targets. Ballard calmly resumed his task on other wounded over the next few days continuing fighting until the NVA disengaged to lick their own wounds. In July 1968 Docs remarkable run of luck ran out as he was wounded and evacuated to hospital on Okinawa. In September he returned to work at the Memphis Naval Hospital. Meanwhile, he had been recommended for the Navy Cross for the act of selfless sacrifice that hed survived, but it was subsequently upgraded. On May 14, 1970, Ballards appeared in the White House, where President Richard M. Nixon awarded him the Medal of Honor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that year, Ballard switched services, accepting a commission in the Medical Service Corps of the Kansas Army National Guard. In 1998 he rose to colonel and retired from military service in 2000. In 2001 he was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame. In 2015 one of his sons, Adam, enlisted in the Marines. Looking back on the two seconds that had made the difference between life and death to him and the Marines with him, Doc Ballard dismissively remarked: I dont feel like I did anything spectacular. I was wanting to do the right thing, but in all honesty, I was scared... I paid attention to my surroundings and to survival skills as best I could. I just did my job. (NewsNation) Reality TV star Dog the Bounty Hunters 13-year-old step-grandson was allegedly killed by his father in an accidental shooting over the weekend, according to reports. Gregory Zecca, Duane Dog Chapmans stepson, reportedly shot his son Anthony in a Naples, Florida, apartment on July 19, according to TMZ. Second person detained after off-duty CBP officer shot: Noem Authorities told PEOPLE in a statement that this was an isolated incident and no arrests have been made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible, tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony, a representative for the Chapmans told TMZ. The Collier County Sheriffs Office told PEOPLE that it is conducting a thorough investigation looking into all the elements of the fatal shooting. Nicki Minaj turns to Rep. Luna for help over alleged threat The investigation includes statements from witnesses who were at the scene, forensic testing, subpoenas and search warrants, the sheriffs office said in a statement to the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zecca is Francie Chapmans son from a previous marriage, according to PEOPLE. The reality TV star married Francie Chapman in 2021, a few years after the death of his previous wife Beth Chapman, who lost her battle with cancer in 2019. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Dorchester County is set to receive nearly $25 million in federal funding to widen a five-mile stretch of US Highway 78, officials announced last week. The Phase 3A project will expand US Highway 78 from west of Old Orangeburg Road to North Maple Street from two lanes to five lanes to help ease traffic congestion. Once completed, the roadway is expected to have 12-foot-wide travel lanes and a 15-foot-wide center turn lane. An additional 3.39 miles of sidewalk, 4.9 miles of bicycle lanes, and nearly a half-mile of multi-use path will also be installed along the corridor. Officials also plan to upgrade intersections with dedicated turn lanes and concrete medians, replace the Rumphs Hill Creek culvert, and add curbs and gutters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Phase 3A project is part of a larger effort to improve approximately 27 miles of highway from St. George to Summerville. US Highway 78 is the major transportation corridor that traverses Dorchester County and serves as an employment center and as a hurricane evacuation route for the Lowcountry of South Carolina, said county council Chairman David Chinnis. Norfolk Southern temporarily closing part of Ashley Phosphate Road railway crossing The funds will be allocated through a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, which is awarded to surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who penned a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2024, called the July 18 announcement a major win for the county. As the Lowcountry grows, so does the demand on our roads and infrastructure, Mace said. This investment will improve safety, reduce congestion, and support long-term economic growth. We worked to move this forward because the people of Dorchester deserve real results, not more delays, studies, or red tape. Construction is slated to begin in March 2026 and take two years to complete. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. By Marcela Ayres BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil will establish a tax advisory office in China, the Brazilian Finance Ministry said, highlighting the strategic importance of the move as the two nations deepen their ties. The decision underscores Brazil's growing focus on its relationship with China, its largest trading partner, as tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump escalate global tensions. A draft was seen by Reuters of the presidential decree that will create the new post in Beijing, as well as preparatory documents that cite the "growing complexity" of bilateral trade and the need to enhance cooperation on tax and customs matters. The move coincides with mounting trade tensions between the U.S. and Brazil, after Trump linked fresh 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports to the prosecution of his ally and former President Jair Bolsonaro, leaving limited options for Latin America's largest economy to negotiate a deal. Tax advisory offices or attaches play a "strategic role" in international cooperation by exchanging information critical to combating tax and customs violations, the ministry said. They also provide technical guidance on Brazilian legislation to foreign investors and citizens abroad, helping to improve legal certainty and the business environment, it added. While Brazil's trade overtures to the U.S. have gone unanswered so far, relations with China have deepened. Since taking office in 2023, leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has met with President Xi Jinping three times. The two countries have also agreed to explore transportation integration, including a proposed bi-oceanic rail corridor linking Brazil to the Chinese-built port of Chancay in Peru. Asked why Brazil is only now establishing a tax office in China - its top trading partner since 2009 - the ministry denied any link to the ongoing trade war. "There is no political motivation," said the ministry, noting that the initiative reflects the importance of bilateral trade and the need for deeper cooperation on tax and customs issues. Brazil currently has four tax and customs attaches abroad - in Washington and Buenos Aires, both set up in 2000, and in Asuncion and Montevideo, established in 2002. The United States remains Brazil's top source of foreign direct investment, while Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay are its Mercosur bloc co-founders. The Finance Ministry said discussions around the attache in Beijing began in 2023 and have involved technical reviews by multiple ministries since January 6 this year. (Reporting and writing by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Manuela Andreoni and David Holmes) A Naples developer paid $40 million for a 0.9-acre lot in downtown Tampa Monday, marking one of the biggest land deals in the citys history. The seller, local real estate firm TLR Group, paid a little over half that price for the property in 2021. Weve been interested in doing something in downtown Tampa for some time, said Keith Gelder, president of land acquisitions and development for the buyer, Stock Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 601 N Ashley Dr. is currently home to a 100-year-old office building that was set to be demolished to make way for the citys tallest skyscraper. TLR Groups plans for the project evolved over time, but the most recent documents filed with the city of Tampa called for a 48-story tower with 600 apartments, 68,000 square feet of office space, and 12,000 square feet of retail. Gelder said they plan to stick with the high-rise concept, but will pivot to building condos instead. His company is building a Ritz Carlton-branded condo in Naples. He said they are exploring doing another branded residence in Tampa. Were really excited about the location of our site, he said. Its a full city block, its got beautiful unobstructed western exposure views that will support high end luxury pricing. The property is across the street from Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, overlooking the Hillsborough River. Next door, crews are working on ONE Tampa, which is set to be the citys tallest residential tower at 42 stories. Condos there start at $1 million and over half the units have already been sold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claudia Avalos, the project architect for TLR Group, wrote in an email that the company had received multiple offers to buy 601 N Ashley Dr. Once we achieved the height permit by aviation authorities for a 48-story building and City of Tampa approved the development site plan, these offers increased, she said. Gelder said he expects the century-old building on the site will be demolished sometime in the next six months. The timeline for new construction will depend on how long it takes to design the project and get permits from the city, he said. URBANDALE, Iowa Dozens of people participated in a Krav Maga class Sunday, learning more about self-defense and techniques for real-world situations. Krav Maga is a combat system developed for the Israeli military that focuses on instinctive movements and quick, effective responses. Taught around the world, it incorporates elements of martial arts and combat sports. Another familys dream home turns into nightmare after contractor stops communication Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundays class was held in Urbandale at Triumph Martial Arts, which hosts classes in Krav Maga along with other martial arts forms. Master Alain Cohen is a 6th Dan Black Belt and travels teaching the methods and values of the art. For women or for kids when someone is grabbing your hand saying hey follow me, Or when a man is too much goofy get to close to the woman and would grab her and try to kiss her. How to disengage. How to stop this. We have some different where theres a knife attack,fight with guns, attack with the stick. This is the kind of situation we work on here in Krav Maga, said Cohen. Metro 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 who13.com. A protest against a Rehoboth Beach drag show announced in a Bethany Beach church bulletin never materialized July 20, but about 200 rainbow-clad counter-protesters did. In the "Respect Life" section of St. Ann's Parish's July 13 bulletin, alongside notices for "Vigils for Life" at Delaware Planned Parenthoods, a "Peaceful & Legal Rosary Rally" was listed. The Catholic church's bulletin said it was "in Protest & Reparation for Goolee's Grille Rehoboth Beach hosting 'Drag Brunch' to normalize transgender & variants." The notice said the rally was sponsored by an email address at TFP.org, which is the website for The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. A phone number was listed, but no one answered calls and the voice-mailbox was full. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why the rally targeted Goolee's Grille is unknown. The restaurant has hosted drag brunch once a month for years, and is one of many Rehoboth Beach restaurants to host drag shows. Goolee's Grille owner George Stakies said a "concerned parish member" alerted him to the rally. Calls to St. Ann's were not immediately returned, but a July 18 Facebook post from the church said TFP is not associated with St. Ann's nor the Diocese of Wilmington. The announcement of the rally was "regretfully" included in the bulletin, according to the post. "To be clear, while we wholeheartedly encourage the praying of the rosary, this rally is not endorsed by the Parish or Diocese," the post said. "As Catholic Christians, we recognize that all of us are made in the image and likeness of God and deserve to be treated with love and respect. We apologize for any divisiveness that this unfortunate situation has caused and pray that all may be united as brothers and sisters in Christ." What happened at Goolee's Rehoboth Beach is widely known as a gay-friendly destination and is home to many LGBTQ+-owned businesses, where drag shows occur nearly every day. The rally was planned for during the height of the summer tourist season, in the heart of Rehoboth's downtown and during the annual Rehoboth Beach Pride celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fighting back: Wilmington congregation mends, rehangs Pride flag on church after slashing Word of the bulletin announcement spread throughout the LGBTQ+ community quickly. Sussex Pride and Indivisible Southern Delaware alerted their members to the rally and many of them showed up to counter-protest, in addition to members and supporters of the Rehoboth LGBTQ+ community in general. Around 11:30 a.m., both sides of South 1st Street on the Goolee's block were lined with people in rainbow leis, carrying signs denouncing the planned rally and supporting Goolee's. Rep. Claire-Snyder Hall (D-Rehoboth Beach) was spotted in the crowd. Scott Beadle, also known as drag personality Regina Cox, hosts Goolee's drag brunch as "Ruby." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The outpouring of love and support for George, Goolee's and this brunch is overwhelming, heartwarming," Beadle said. "I don't think there's enough words to express the thank you, the gratitude. It's just amazing." Rehoboth: After structure safety investigated, Grove Park dock reopens along Lewes-Rehoboth canal At first, police kept the counter-protesters on the sidewalks, but eventually, they closed the block and counter-protesters mingled in the street. People dispersed after an hour or so, many of them filing into Goolee's for drag brunch. Ultimately, no one showed up to protest the drag brunch, or at least none that identified themselves as such. What is TFP? The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property "is an organization of lay Catholic Americans concerned about the moral crisis shaking the remnants of Christian civilization," its website says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TFP is headquartered in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, and has "over 120,000 active members, volunteers and donors," according to the website. The organization also publishes the bi-monthly "Crusade" magazine. "The social acceptance of homosexual practice" and "transgenderism" are two things on a long list of things the organization opposes, the website says. Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smncaught@gannett.com or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What happened when a drag brunch protest was planned in Rehoboth The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebels signed a US-brokered ceasefire to end fighting that has displaced millions and left thousands dead. The two sides are due to agree a final peace treaty next month, after a preliminary deal was agreed in Qatar. Fighting had escalated in recent months as the Rwanda-backed M23 took control of cities across the gold-rich eastern DRC. The US has sought an end to hostilities in the country as it eyes control of some of the worlds richest reserves of cobalt, lithium, and other minerals essential for new technologies. Last week, KoBold Metals, a firm backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, signed a $1 billion investment agreement with Kinshasa to explore critical mineral resources across the country. [@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "cta", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop The troubled 23-year-old woman accused in Saturdays hit-run that killed two people in Chinatown had been charged in another horror crash just three months ago and freed without bail, records show. The suspect, identified by sources as Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license in the April 13 Brooklyn crash, which reportedly left a 22-year-old pedestrian with injuries including to her face and neck. A stolen car slammed into two bystanders near the Manhattan Bridge on Saturday morning, killing both. William Farrington The driver of the stolen car in the fatal wreck was carried off by police after fleeing the scene and getting caught, cops said. William Farrington Romero was nabbed in that crash the next day with the help of a witness, the Daily News said only to be dumped right back on the street after her arraignment thanks to the states bail-reform laws, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Romero was behind the wheel of a booze- and drug-filled stolen blue Chevy Malibu when it plowed into a man on a bicycle and a 63-year-old woman on a bench at Bowery and Canal streets in Manhattan, killing both before slamming into an NYPD van, police said. Romero and her alleged passenger, 22-year-old Kennedy LaCraft, fled the scene but were quickly nabbed nearby, cops said. LaCraft was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, an NYPD spokesman said. Charges against Romero were pending, sources told The Post. The speeding car plowed into two people and then into an empty NYPD van in Chinatown on Saturday morning. William Farrington The Brooklyn DAs Office did not immediately respond to a Post request for information on the earlier incident, but records show Romero was arraigned and released April 14 with a court date for it Aug. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Saturday morning crash, the car had been rented but not returned and thus been reported stolen, police said. Cops said the car, which was supposed to be returned to Enterprise 17 days earlier, was packed with booze and drugs, including pills, marijuana and a bottle of alcohol, police sources said. Police said a man in his 50s on a bicycle and a 63-year-old woman sitting on a bench were both killed in the crash. William Farrington Relatives identified the victim on the bicycle as Kevin Scott Cruickshank, 55, and the woman on the bench as May Kwok, 63. Cruickshank worked as a bank loan manager for Chase in Manhattan, according to his Linkedin profile. Kevin was a regular fixture in the neighborhood, known for his warm, welcoming spirit and love of helping his friends and neighbors, a family spokesperson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kevin loved riding his bicycle and was often seen around the neighborhood coming back from a long ride, the statement said. Its devastating to know he was killed doing something he loved. The driver of the car, identified as Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, already had a pending case involving a crash. William Farrington Kwoks brother, Peter Kwok, told The Post his sister was fond of sitting on the bench where she was suddenly struck and killed. Thats her hangout spot, he said. She goes to church in Chinatown. He said his sister struggled with mental illness in recent years and would sometimes leave the home in the wee hours. I had thought about the scenario, you know, what could happen to her, Peter said. You know, in the city anything can happen like that. CHINATOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) A 23-year-old driver is accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist and a pedestrian with a stolen rental car near the Manhattan Bridge in Chinatown on Saturday, police said. Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, 23, of Staten Island, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, and criminal possession of stolen property, police said Monday. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Ascencio Romero was driving a 2024 Chevy Malibu when she jumped onto the sidewalk island that separates the Manhattan Bridge off-ramp from Bowery and hit a bicyclist and a pedestrian near Canal Street at around 7:30 a.m. The bicyclist, 55-year-old Kevin Scott Cruickshank, and 63-year-old May Kwok, who was sitting on a bench, died at the scene, police said. Kevin loved riding his bike and was often seen around the neighborhood coming back from a long ride. Its devastating to know he was killed doing something he loved, a Cruickshank family spokesperson said. After hitting the victims, the Malibu continued onto Bowery and crashed into a parked and unoccupied marked NYPD van, police said. The cop car and the Malibu were wrecked in the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources said the Malibu was a rental from Enterprise that was due back on June 29. Two guns were found in the vehicle, sources said. Kennedy Lecraft, 22, a passenger in the Malibu, was also arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property, and unauthorized use of a vehicle, police said. Ascencio Romero was additionally charged with criminal possession of a weapon and leaving the scene of an accident, according to the NYPD. The women were taken into custody at the scene and transported to the hospital for treatment. Lecraft was arraigned Sunday and pleaded not guilty. Ascencio Romeros arraignment was pending Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver is also accused of hitting a 22-year-old pedestrian in Brooklyn in April. Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her 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 PIX11. We've all been there: late to work, foot on the gas, and up ahead, a left-lane lingerer coasting five under the speed limit like they're on a scenic tour of the highway. Nothing brings drivers together quite like shared rage at some slowpoke who just won't leave the left lane. For Ohioans, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law. What are the left lane driving laws in Ohio? Much to the chagrin of those Ohioan loiterers, the left lane on multi-lane roads can for the most part only be used for passing, according to Ohio Revised Code 4511.25 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exceptions apply if you're avoiding an obstruction, preparing to turn left, or if you need to be in the left lane to follow your planned route. Ohio also has a "slow speed" law, per Ohio Revised Code 4511.22, which prohibits driving at "an unreasonably slow speed" that affects normal traffic flow, unless it is necessary for safety or compliance with the law. What happens if I break an Ohio left-lane driving law? A first-time violation of either law is a minor misdemeanor. Repeat offenders are susceptible to steeper penalties, like fourth- or third-degree misdemeanors. Can I exceed the speed limit in the left lane in Ohio? No, you are not legally allowed to exceed the posted speed limit, even in the left lane passing a slower vehicle. Is Ohio the only state that prohibits slow driving in the left lane? Dozens of other states have similar laws that require slower drivers to stay out of the left lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though all 50 states have some form of "Keep Right" law, what they actually mandate differs from state to state. Michigan's law is somewhat similar to Ohio's, encouraging right-lane travel except when passing or avoiding an obstruction. The penalty for violating this law is slightly more lax, however, with an offender responsible only for a civil infraction. Some states take it a step further than Ohio. Indiana law, for example, says if a driver is being overtaken from behind by another vehicle, they must move out of the left lane. A person who violates this law commits a Class C infraction. Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com, or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is slow left lane driving illegal in Ohio? Learn the state law A 52-year-old felon living in Dundee Township has been charged with owning and distributing child porn, according to a news release from the Kane County states attorneys and sheriffs offices. Jason P. Vanderflute, of the 33W000 block of Richardson Drive, will be detained at the Kane County jail pending his trial on three counts of dissemination of child pornography, 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon, all felony charges. Prosecutors allege that Vanderflute owned and shared multiple child porn videos between May 16 and July 8, the date of his arrest, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police conducted a search of him home on a warrant and also found he was allegedly had a Taurus .357 Magnum revolver and Winchester brand .357 caliber rounds, which he was prohibited from having as a felon, the release said. The investigation was conducted by the Kane County Child Exploitation Unit. A judge granted the states request that Vanderflute be held in jail while his case is pending. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 20. DURAND Two weeks after officially opening, the City of Durand celebrated the completion of its new pool space. Looking back on the two weeks at the pools ribbon cutting, Matt Gilles, director of public works for the City of Durand, said it has exceeded his expectations. The local hospital donated [free entry] for the first 800 people, and we had that used by Thursday, he said. In three days, we had 800 people here for the open swim, and we have been probably averaging 200 people per day since then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of that, the first batch of swimming lessons finished up last week, training 175 children during that time. Staff at the pool also had increased from previous years, growing from seven lifeguards to 10 and from two bathhouse assistants to three. Gilles said they plan to keep it around that level but are always looking to hire more, as having a consistent staff will mean they can stay open more frequently and longer. Replacing the old Durand Community Pool, which was built in the 1970s, the $4 million pool features amenities like an accessible zero-entry for families with young children, a rock climbing wall, a bathhouse and more. Of the $4 million needed for the pool, $3 million was funded through donations with members and organizations in the community showing support for the project. And everyones dollar mattered, said Denise Poltzer, Durand Swim Club board member. It wasnt that you had to be the $100,000 donor. That person that put $5 in the bucket made a difference. Or the kids that sold cookies and lemonade at garage sales and gave all their money to the pool, said Jen Dahl, Durand Swim Club secretary. We did a lot of things that were very grassroots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Gilles, the new pool was exceeding the expectations for the Durand Swim Club members as well. This is where I grew up, Dahl said. I had swimming lessons here, and I just didnt want to see a pool go away because we are so close to the river. One of the things that is really a feature of this pool that we didnt have in the past was that zero entry, and how much more accessible it is for families with little children, said Jan Kartman, Durand Swim Club board member. We wanted that to be important because that was a population we didnt feel was served at all because the pool was three-feet deep. For the future, Durand Swim Club members hope that people inside and outside of the community can enjoy the pool space on the east side of town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And [we hope] it continues to be a part of the community, even beyond when we are not in the swim club anymore, Dahl said. Everything that we would like to see here isnt here yet, Kartman said. We know we need more furniture we need picnic tables and those kinds of things but we also want to keep that commitment towards making sure that kids get trained as lifeguards. I think down the road, we would like to see as many people as possible be able to use it. After celebrating the completion of the project on Friday, guests entered the pool passing the donor wall listing large and small contributions made. Gilles said he is very proud of the community to band together for this project. It is not something that a lot of communities have, that kind of support, he said. I couldnt be more proud of the community and its efforts to get to where we are here today. EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) The FOX 8 I-Team has learned the East Cleveland police chief has been fired. His replacement could be named in the next few days. Mayor Lateek R. Shabazz wrote a letter to Acting Chief Kenneth Lundy informing him he has been terminated effective immediately. Lundy received the letter on Monday. Police: Woman exchanges gunfire with 2 suspects after spotting them on doorbell cam Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter states Lundy was not properly hired. The decision follows a comprehensive review that uncovered multiple violations of Ohio civil service laws and East Cleveland ordinances regarding his appointment and promotions, a news release from the East Cleveland mayors office states. According to the review, Mr. Lundy was originally appointed in June 2016 and promoted through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and, most recently, Acting Chief of Police on January 2, 2024 none of which adhered to the required competitive civil service examinations. Additionally, East Clevelands ordinances limit temporary classified appointments to no more than 180 days in a calendar year; Mr. Lundys continuous service far exceeded that limit. The only unclassified police employee is a six-month beat patrol commissioned officer who is not authorized to be a member of a collective bargaining union. Shabazz, on Monday afternoon, told reporters Lundys lack of civil service testing opens the city up to liability. Watch that media briefing below: In addition to your unlawful appointment and promotions, news that you became romantically involved with the girlfriend of a homicide suspect you were investigating, without disclosing your live-in relationship with her to Cuyahoga County prosecutors prosecuting the suspect, is not the mindset of someone I want managing police going forward, the letter from the mayor to the chief states. The duties of police are to obey and enforce all the ordinances of the city, and the criminal laws of the state and United States pursuant to R.C. 737.11. Police do not disobey laws. I am demanding strict constitutional compliance and obedience to laws from all law enforcement personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Offensive demonstrations cause outrage in Summit County Shabazz said the city expects to name a permanent police chief by the end of the week and suggested Lundys successor could be someone promoted from within the department. When I came in, I promised to reform the police department and thats what Im doing right now. Thats the first step in getting this city back on track, he said. Your police department and your school systems thats what brings people to your city, he continued. The school system is the next thing were going to address. But the police is most important. I dont want people to think they dont have protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to Lundy to discuss 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. MILAN/HOUSTON/NEW DELHI (Reuters) -A wave of closures and disposals is reshaping the global petrochemical sector as companies around the world rethink their exposure to markets as they adjust to capacity build-up in China and higher costs in Europe. The European Union is being hit the hardest by the rationalisation, while the United States and the Middle East are considered relatively immune. Petrochemical makers in Asia are also reducing capacity but at a slower pace compared with the EU. Here is a list of some of the major closures, divestment and portfolio reviews: ** U.S.-based LyondellBasell in June said it had started exclusive talks to sell four olefin and polyolefin plants in Europe to Munich-based investment firm AEQUITA. The sites to be sold are in France, Germany, Britain and Spain. The company has also said it is evaluating options for its factories in the Netherlands and Italy. ** U.S. chemical giant Dow Inc said at the beginning of July it would shut down three upstream sites in Europe: an ethylene cracker in Bohlen, Germany and chlor-alkali & vinyl assets in Schkopau, Germany, and its siloxanes plant in Barry, Britain. The company also announced in January that it would idle a cracker in the Netherlands. ** U.S. oil major ExxonMobil said last year it would shut down the steam cracker and close chemical production at Gravenchon in France, adding that the site had lost more than 500 million euros ($582.75 million) since 2018 and remains uncompetitive. ** British oil company Shell in April completed the sale of its energy and chemicals park in Singapore, which includes a refinery, an ethylene cracker and other petrochemical assets. The group's top executives told a post-results conference call in May that the group was undertaking a review of its chemical business, including in Europe. Shell hired Morgan Stanley to conduct the strategic review of its chemicals operations in Europe and the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported in March, citing sources. ** BP said in February it was looking for potential buyers for its Ruhr Oel refinery, cracker and downstream assets at Gelsenkirchen in Germany. ** French oil major TotalEnergies said in April it would shut its oldest steam cracker in Antwerp, Belgium, by end-2027, citing a "significant surplus of ethylene expected in Europe". ** Eni will complete the closure of Italy's two last steam crackers by the end of this year. One is in Brindisi, Apulia, and the second in Priolo, Sicily. It also closed a polyethylene plant in Ragusa, Sicily. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A Preble County teacher is facing charges after being accused of inappropriate contact with a student. According to the Preble County Sheriffs Office, 49-year-old Paul Bingle, of Oxford, has been arrested and facing several charges in connection to an alleged relationship with a student. Bingle has been band director at Eaton High School for several years. Mother, boyfriend indicted in connection with death of 7-year-old boy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say investigation began when another student and school staff from Eaton Community School District met with a detective from the Eaton Police Division on July 17. Paul Bingle | Photo/Preble County Sheriffs Office The sheriffs office says that student alleged Bingle had potential inappropriate contact with another student. Police believe Bingle had been messaging a 15-year-old student over social media for several months. When Bingle was confronted by authorities, he admitted to being emotionally involved with the student, as well as having inappropriate pictures of her on his phone. Not only did this alleged activity occur at Eaton High School, but also at a residence out in the county, said Preble County Sheriff Michael Simpson. As a result of the victim being interviewed, we were able to determine that there was inappropriate physical contact between the teacher and the student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bingle was immediately placed on leave once investigation began. Police say he ended up in the hospital, stating he was suicidal. Police arrested Bingle outside the hospital in Hamilton County, where he was later extradited to the Preble County Jail on July 19. Bingle appeared in court Monday, where Preble County prosecutors are seeking eight charges against him: 4 counts of grooming, first-degree misdemeanors 1 count of sexual battery, a second-degree felony, including a sexually violent predator specification 1 count of sexual battery, a fourth-degree felony 1 count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony 1 count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives went on to interview several additional students, who said Bingle consistently made sexual remarks to female band members. As of right now, we have no information that any other students were involved other than our one victim, said Sheriff Simpson. Investigation remains 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 WDTN.com. Ecuadorean gang leader Adolfo Macias Villamar, also known as Fito, is set to appear in a federal court in the United States, where he will plead not guilty to international charges of drug and weapons trafficking, his lawyer says. The Ecuadorean government on Sunday extradited the notorious drug trafficker, a month after he was recaptured following a 2024 escape from a maximum-security penitentiary, the countrys prison authority said. Macias, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, was serving a 34-year sentence at a prison in Guayaquil for a slew of crimes, including drug trafficking, organised crime, and murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flight transporting Macias landed in New York state on Sunday night, the report said. His lawyer told the Reuters news agency that Macias will plead not guilty before the Brooklyn federal court on Monday. Details of the handover to the US government and the extradition were not specified. The US government has yet to issue an official statement following the extradition. The US Attorneys Office had filed charges in April against Macias on suspicion of cocaine distribution, conspiracy and firearms violations, including weapons smuggling. The former taxi driver turned crime boss agreed in a Quito court last week to be extradited to the US to face the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is the first Ecuadorean extradited by his country since a new measure was written into law last year, after a referendum in which President Daniel Noboa sought the approval of moves to boost his war on criminal gangs. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the worlds two top cocaine exporters, Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as rival gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. Cult following Soon after Macias escaped from prison in January 2024, Noboa declared Ecuador to be in a state of internal armed conflict and ordered the military and tanks into the streets to neutralise the gangs. The move has been criticised by human rights organisations. As a drug lord, Macias cultivated a cult status among fellow gang members and the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While behind bars in 2023, he released a video addressed to the Ecuadorian people while flanked by armed men. He also threw parties in prison, where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters for cockfighting matches. Maciass Los Choneros has ties to Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, Colombias Gulf Clan, which is considered the worlds largest cocaine exporter, as well as Balkan mafias, according to the Ecuadorian Organised Crime Observatory. His escape from prison prompted widespread violence and a massive military and police recapture operation, including government wanted posters offering $1m for information leading to his arrest. On June 25, Macias was found hiding in a bunker concealed under floor tiles in a luxury home in the fishing port of Manta, the centre of operations for Los Choneros. Noboa declared he would be extradited, the sooner the better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will gladly send him and let him answer to the North American law, Noboa told CNN at the time. More than 70 percent of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuadors ports, according to government data. In 2024, the country seized a record 294 tonnes of drugs, mainly cocaine. The head of a violent Ecuadorian gang accused of smuggling cocaine and firearms between South America and the U.S. pleaded not guilty to drug and gun charges Monday in New York. Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, whose nickname is Fito, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn a day after Ecuador extradited him to the U.S. A judge ordered him detained until trial and set his next court date for Sept. 19. U.S. prosecutors accuse Macias of leading the vicious Los Choneros gang that used hitmen, bribes and military weapons, including machine guns and grenades. The hitmen, or sicarios, murdered, tortured and kidnapped people in Ecuador as the gang committed violence against law enforcement, politicians, attorneys, prosecutors and civilians, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Choneros also worked with Mexican drug cartels to ship cocaine from Colombian suppliers through Ecuador and Central America to the U.S., and shipped firearms from the U.S. to South America, prosecutors said. Macias Villamar poses an extraordinary danger to the community, U.S. prosecutors wrote in a request that Macias be detained without bail until trial. The Court should enter a permanent order of detention, as no condition or combination of conditions can assure the safety of the community or assure Macias Villamars appearance at trial. Macias' lawyer, Alexei Schacht, who entered the not guilty pleas on Macias' behalf, said he was eager to see the government's evidence of alleged drug and firearms trafficking. As far as I am aware, he did neither, Schacht said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macias told the judge he was not guilty and understood his legal rights. Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon also ordered that Macias' health problems, including high blood pressure, gastritis and bullet fragments in his body from a years-old shooting, be treated appropriately while he is detained. Macias escaped from a prison in Ecuador in January 2024 and wasn't caught until last month, when he was found in an underground bunker at a relative's mansion in the port city of Manta. He was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, organized crime and murder when he escaped. He also fled from a maximum-security prison in February 2013 but was recaptured a few weeks later. Los Choneros emerged in the 1990s and Macias has been its leader since 2020, authorities said. Macias cultivated a cult status among fellow gang members and the public in his home country. While behind bars in 2023, he released a video addressed to the Ecuadorian people while flanked by armed men. He also threw parties in prison, where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters for cockfighting matches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal grand jury in New York City indicted him on seven charges in April and returned an updated indictment in late June. The charges include international cocaine distribution conspiracy, use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and straw purchasing of firearms conspiracy. If convicted, he could face 20 years to life in prison. "The defendant and his co-conspirators flooded the United States and other countries with drugs and used extreme measures of violence in their quest for power and control, Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. Photo of a 2009 algal bloom in Lake Erie | NASA 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. Cuts to a major water-quality program in Ohios biennial budget will likely weaken efforts to control the spread of toxic blue-green algae in Lake Erie. The program in question, H2Ohio, has invested millions of dollars in improving water quality throughout the state. Much of that money has gone toward cutting off the supply of nutrients to the aforementioned algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which bloom in massive quantities every summer. The new state budget, which Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on July 1, drastically cuts funding for those efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Large blooms of cyanobacteria cause problems for pretty much everything that isnt algae. They block sunlight and create aquatic dead zones where there isnt enough dissolved oxygen for other organisms to survive. They also release toxins that pose significant health risks to humans, especially to people with pre-existing conditions. David Kennedy, a professor of medicine at the University of Toledo, described a case of a 7-year-old girl with asthma who was exposed to cyanobacteria while swimming in Maumee Bay. Her asthma was exacerbated to the point where she needed to be intubated and had a very long, complicated stay in our medical center, Kennedy said. The girl did eventually recover. By reducing the nutrients entering the lake each year, scientists and environmental stewards hope to limit how big the algal blooms get. The main culprit is phosphorus, a key component in agricultural fertilizers, both commercially produced and via manure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whenever it rains, that water goes into the soil, it dissolves the phosphorus just like your sugar in a coffee, and then that water leaves the field carrying the dissolved phosphorus, said Chris Winslow, director of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program at the Ohio State University. Some of that water finds its way to the Maumee River, then into western Lake Erie, where the phosphorus it carries becomes food for cyanobacteria. The more phosphorus the Maumee brings into the lake, the bigger the bloom that year. Nathan Manning of the National Center for Water Quality Research at Ohios Heidelberg University said as of June 16 this year, researchers had measured 227 metric tons of dissolved phosphorus flowing out of the Maumee. That puts the likely total for the summer around 235 to 273 metric tons. The target for dissolved reactive phosphorus is 240 metric tons. So theres a good chance that we will stay below or right at that target, which is good news, Manning said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winslow said thats a sign everyones efforts are paying off, though he cautioned that its impossible to say for sure unless those efforts are scaled back. We assume these things are doing great jobs to trap nutrients, but the only way you know is to stop doing it. So if we go next year, and see that the dissolved phosphorus goes up and these programs are no longer there, its a good indication that they were working, Winslow said. With the cuts to H2Ohio, that proof may come sooner rather than later. Since its inception in 2019, the program has tackled the phosphorus problem in two ways: by incentivizing farmers to change their practices, and by funding the construction and maintenance of wetlands. On the agricultural side, the Ohio Department of Agriculture uses H2Ohio money to help farmers limit how much fertilizer runs off their fields. That includes testing soil to determine how much fertilizer a farmer should apply in the first place, as well as training on things like manure management and overwinter cover crops. Thanks to H2Ohio, farmers dont have to pay for those changes themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wetland management, which falls under the purview of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, plays an equally important role. When water passes through a wetland, the plants there act as natural filters, absorbing some of the nutrients before they reach a larger river or lake. Under the new budget, the Department of Agricultures yearly H2Ohio budget is going from $60.8 million to $53.6 million. The Department of Natural Resources is getting hit even harder: Its H2Ohio budget is dropping from $46.6 million to $21.2 million. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency also gets H2Ohio dollars, mostly to protect drinking water; its budget is falling from $27.5 million to just $7.5 million. Toxic algal bloom in Lake Erie | NASA Nate Schlater, senior director of ecological restoration at the environmental and economic development nonprofit Rural Action, is overseeing the construction of a new wetland near the Auglaize River in northwestern Ohio, which feeds into the Maumee. He and his team are using H2Ohio dollars for the project. The land was previously owned by a farmer, who sold it to Rural Action because it was prone to flooding. Constructing could mean various things depending on the wetland. In some cases, it may be necessary to redirect where a stream flows. In the Auglaize project, the team discovered three cars buried along the stream bank in an effort to control erosion, which will have to be removed. After that, theres seeding the appropriate plants and ensuring nothing invasive takes root in the new ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio State Universitys Winslow said its also important to keep monitoring the wetland after its finished. That also falls within ODNRs now-reduced H2Ohio budget. You can build a wetland and think its gonna work, but then when you step back and monitor it, youre like, Oh, its not working as good as it should, lets go in and do X, Y and Z, Winslow said. Schlater said the money for this particular wetland has already been allocated and wont be affected by the new budget. However, he worries the cuts may make it harder to find funding for new projects in northwest Ohio and elsewhere. Theres a lot of great water in the state, and theres also a lot of impaired water in the state, Schlater said. The H2Ohio funding opportunity for the state was really providing a lot of money directly impacting water quality, and any reduction in that is essentially less water thats gonna be improved, preserved or maintained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The H2Ohio cuts are not the only setback this year in the effort to contain Lake Eries harmful algal blooms. The Trump administrations staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have forced that agency to suspend its deployment of Environmental Sample Processors, or ESPs, for the rest of the year. An ESP is a device that automatically collects and processes water samples from a body of waterin this case, Lake Erieand gives researchers back home an almost real-time glimpse of how much toxin is present in a given part of the lake. Monica Allen, director of public affairs for NOAA Research, wrote in an email that the organizations Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory will train other staffers on ESPs during the winter months, with the goal of resuming ESP deployment in 2026. Winslow said the cuts may force scientists to scale back how many places in Lake Erie they can sample. Those samples, which are spread over a large area, are how scientists understand whats actually happening in the lake. The data will never be inaccurate. A scientist or an academic institution, if they take a water sample, they are using the highest level of rigor to analyze those samples, Winslow said. The one thing that you might see is the number of places that we can sample is not as broad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some monitoring is done with satellites, which Winslow said should continue operating as normal. Its understanding the chemicals in the water that may become more challenging. I dont think youll see a hit in where the bloom is at and how thick it is, but you may see a delay in our ability to predict toxin in those blooms, Winslow explained. Exacerbating the problem in the long run is climate change, which is bringing increased rainfall and higher temperatures to the Great Lakes region. Were seeing warmer temperatures, so the lake tends to warm up faster. This type of organism that causes these harmful algal blooms likes warmer water so they could start showing up earlier, Winslow said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Winslow stressed that the relationship between the algal blooms and the warming climate is complex. No matter how conducive the weather is, the overall size of the bloom still depends on how much phosphorus enters the lake. What the weather does affect, he explained, is the timing and duration. Its showing up early and lasting longer this time, but the maximum peak that it reaches is less than when it was cooler, Winslow said. Exactly what that means for people in the long run remains to be seen, according to Winslow. It does raise the probability that members of the public will see the blooms, but the peak wont be as severe. What could become a problem, Winslow said, is if the earlier blooms come when cyanobacteria are producing the highest amount of toxins. That depends on another nutrient that also leeches out of the soil and into the lake: nitrogen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nitrogen levels in Lake Erie are highest around the end of June and early July, he said. And so what we dont want is the peak to fall there, because then it means you have a bloom thats huge and crazy and very, very toxic, Winslow said. Climate change also poses a potential threat to the mitigation efforts themselves. When youre designing a wetland, youre designing a wetland based on a certain river dumping into it, how much waters coming from that river. Well, if were seeing more rainfall, we may have designed the wetlands not big enough, or maybe in the wrong place, Winslow said. And for farmers, they lose their nutrients when it rains. So the more rain were gonna get, the harder it is for them to keep their nutrients on their fields. So all of these solutions, wetlands and what we pay our farmers to do, theyre gonna be just harder to do because of climate change, because of more precipitation. CAIRO (AP) Hundreds of people who have been displaced by fighting in Sudan gathered Monday at the central train station in Cairo to begin a free journey home. The Egyptian government is funding train rides to Khartoum, Sudan's capital, which recently was recaptured by the Sudanese Armed Forces from its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Sudan has been in the throes of civil war since April 2023. The battle for power between the military and the RSF has caused a humanitarian crisis. Over 40,000 people have been killed and the war has caused one of the worlds largest displacement emergencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Egypt hosts the largest number of Sudanese refugees from the war with over 1.5 million people who fled north across the border. Over 7 million have been displaced internally as the war engulfed much of the country. The RSF took Khartoum at the start of the fighting in 2023 and held the capital until the government declared its recapture on May 20. Khartoum was largely destroyed, including the presidential palace and the airport, but is experiencing a slow rebirth as residents return and markets reopen. Electricity and basic services are not fully operational around the city. The journey from Cairo to Khartoum is about 2,080 kilometers (1,292 miles) and will include a train ride of about 12 hours to the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, where riders will change to ferries and buses to cross into Sudan. People packed their lives in small suitcases as they as they filled the train Monday. Some cried with overwhelming emotions including sadness and joy about leaving Egypt and returning home, said Sudanese journalist Asem al-Taieb, one of the train riders. I am happy because I am finally going back to my family and my children, said Awatef al Hassan, originally from Omdurman, Sudan, who is returning with her daughter. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Police are asking the public for help concerning a fatal motorcycle crash back in June in East El Paso. On June 18, 44-year-old Angel Arturo Hernandez was riding his motorcycle on New World Drive when he crashed. He later died from his injuries. Courtesy of El Paso Police At the time, police said Hernandez was traveling eastbound on New World Drive when, for unknown reasons, he locked his brakes, causing the motorcycle to skid and crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have information, you can contact El Paso Police at (915) 832-4400 or Crime Stoppers at (915) 566-8477 (TIPS). Through Crime Stoppers, you can stay anonymous and tips may be eligible for compensation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Release: Farm, merge, grow and expand your land in this new puzzle game! New Release: Farm, merge, grow and expand your land in this new puzzle game! The US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Accounting Standards Board of Japan (ASBJ) have held a thirty-fifth bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japan. This is part of their cooperative work on the development of high-quality global accounting standards, the bodies said in a joint statement. During the meeting, both boards exchanged updates on their respective activities and engaged in discussions on shared agenda items. The items include the topics of agenda consultation, business combinations, and the treatment of environmental credit programmes upon their common interests. FASB chair Richard Jones said: We extend our thanks to Chair Kawanishi and the ASBJ for hosting our 2025 bilateral meeting in Tokyo. Our discussions on standard-setting projects of mutual interest, such as environmental credit programmes, business combinations, and our 2025 agenda consultation project, produced valuable insights on financial reporting improvements. The FASB also appreciated the opportunity to participate in the ASBJ roundtable meeting to hear feedback on projects that affect constituents in our respective jurisdictions. The FASB and ASBJ have scheduled their next meeting for the second half of 2026 in Norwalk, the US. ASBJ chair Yasunobu Kawanishi stated: During the bilateral meeting, we had productive discussions on a wide range of topics, including the agenda consultation, business combinations and environmental credit programmes. We are also grateful for the FASB representatives participation in the symposium that was open to the public. We look forward to continuing and further deepening our collaborative relationship with the FASB in the coming years. In May2025, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU), which amends the requirements for identifying the accounting acquirer in business combinations under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805. "FASB and ASBJ bilateral meeting on global accounting standards " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WNCT) According to the Elizabeth City Police Department, an officer with the department shot a 32-year-old male suspect after he was armed when the officer arrived at the scene. At approximately 12:40 p.m., Elizabeth City Police Department officer arrived in the area of Hughes Boulevard and Halstead Boulevard in reference to a subject armed with a weapon. One the officer arrived, he encountered the male suspect from Perquimans County who was in possession of a firearm. The officer fired his weapon and shot the suspect. Officers on scene immediately rendered aid until Pasquotank County EMS arrived. The individual was transported to Albemarle Medical Center, and later transported to Norfolk Sentara Hospital in Norfolk Virginia for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer involved in the incident is a 20+ year veteran of the department and has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. This situation is being investigated by North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Stay tuned to WNCT for more information as it 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 WNCT. (NewsNation) Ellen DeGeneres revealed she moved permanently to the United Kingdom because of President Donald Trump winning reelection last year. The comedian confirmed the news to a crowd at Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, located in central England, according to NBC News. DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, moved to the U.K. last year in what was supposed to be a part-time house, CNN reports. However, that changed after the presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 years after Obergefell, gay marriage faces growing threats We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, He got in, she told the crowd, according to The Guardian. And were like, Were staying here. Ellen DeGeneres: Everything is just better in the UK The former talk show host described her life in the U.K. as beautiful and clean. Everything here is just better the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here, she said. DeGeneres said that she and de Rossi would get married in the U.K. if the U.S reversed the legalization of marriage equality, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meghan behind royal truce; King Charles invited to Harrys Invictus Game The Baptist Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage. Theyre trying to literally stop it from happening in the future and possibly reverse it, she said. Portia and I are already looking into it, and if they do that, were going to get married here. In June, U.S. Southern Baptists overwhelmingly endorsed a same-sex marriage ban and called on the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its 2015 ruling that legalized marriage equality nationally. DeGeneres isnt the only comedian whos relocated out of the country because of President Trump. DeGeneres supports Rosie ODonnell in latest back-and-forth with Trump Shortly before Trump took office, Rosie ODonnell, a vocal critic of the president, said she moved to Ireland with her 12-year-old daughter, according to The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I moved here on Jan. 15, and its been pretty wonderful. I have to say, the people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming, and Im very grateful, ODonnell said in a TikTok video in March. Im in the process of getting my Irish citizenship, as I have Irish grandparents. In a July 12 Truth Social post, Trump threatened to revoke ODonnells U.S. citizenship, calling her a threat to humanity. Irish PM asked why he let Rosie ODonnell move to his country The former The View host responded to the president on her Instagram, saying that Trump is afraid of her because shes 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeGeneres showed support for ODonnell shortly after her response, writing, Good for you, Rosie on Instagram. Last year, during her comedy tour, DeGeneres reportedly told the crowd that she would be done with show business after being kicked out for being mean, a claim she denied, according to NewsNation local affiliate WJW. I am many things, but I am not mean, she said in her 2024 standup show. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aerial shot of power plant and industrial buildings on the bank of the Allegheny River in Springdale, a town 18 miles north of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County. (Courtesy of Getty Images) A score of energy, tech and capital investment companies announced their commitments nearly a week ago to more than $93 billion worth of projects to prepare Pennsylvania for a role in the artificial intelligence revolution that proponents say will transform the worlds economy. The projects range from plans to build a fleet of new nuclear reactors across the country to workforce development programs to train the next generation of tradespeople and technicians to build and operate new power plants and data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Announced to coincide with GOP U.S. Sen. Dave McCormicks Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh last Tuesday, the investments were cast as crucial to winning a race against China to dominate in AI. And with President Donald Trump headlining the event at Carnegie Mellon University,, the panelists largely reflected Trumps Drill, baby, drill, fossil fuel-forward energy policy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE With the exception of nuclear power, Trump disparaged renewable energy during his remarks in a roundtable discussion on AI and feeding its demand for electricity. Trump signed a budget reconciliation bill this month that cancels tax credits for wind and solar energy projects, which observers say will slow their entry into the market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can own your own electric plants, and theyll be powered by maybe nuclear, maybe gas, maybe coal. You know, we brought coal back in, Trump said. They wont be powered by wind, because it doesnt work. I hate to say it just doesnt work. Its rather intermittent. In fact, wind energy is becoming a key source of electricity, according to the World Economic Forum, which cited a record 117 gigawatts of new capacity installed globally in 2023. A gigawatt is enough electricity to power about 750,000 homes. Environmental advocates protested the summit, with hundreds of people flooding the streets around CMU. They condemned plans to power AI using fossil fuels, warning that it would increase carbon emissions that cause climate change and, despite claims to the contrary, make electricity more expensive for consumers. Wind turbines at the Stoney Creek Wind Farm in Somerset County, Pa. (Peter Hall/Capital-Star) Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro also drew criticism for his participation in the summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is exactly the wrong direction on energy at this critical time. Pennsylvania has a chance to pivot right now and lead on the renewable energy transition that we need to fight the climate crisis. This meeting is just about planning more fracking projects and asking Pennsylvanians to sacrifice our health and the environment yet again. Sandy Field, chair of the Climate Reality Project: Susquehanna Valley PA chapter, said in a statement. Shapiro told reporters that he also questions the Trump administrations opposition to clean energy projects. I think that reconciliation bills is bad from Pennsylvania, he said. Its somewhat ironic that were here talking about energy jobs and the bill that the president presumably will be touting would gut 26,000 energy jobs. I think its a bad deal. Eric Epstein, chair of TMI-Alert questioned whether many of the projects will happen. His group is opposed to restarting the former Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Dauphin County to power an artificial intelligence data center. Most of the proposed projects are in the planning or fantasy stages, and depend on private equity, investment from outside of the state and federal government subsidies, he told the Capital-Star, adding that political and financial factors could affect their viability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, whats in the $93.5 billion investment that McCormick touted at his summit? The Capital-Star broke down the list. Six natural gas projects totaling $24.2 billion that range from new electricity generating capacity, such as Frontier Groups plan to convert the former Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant in Beaver County to a 3.6 gigawatt natural gas-fired plant, to gas driller Equinors plan to increase natural gas production. Two of the projects on the list include the price of natural gas that will be purchased to fuel existing or upgraded power plants, including an agreement in principle to buy $15 billion worth of gas. Two projects involve nuclear energy. Constellation Energy said it will spend $2.4 billion to increase the output of its existing nuclear power plant near Limerick, Montgomery County. Thats in addition to Constellations announcement earlier this year of a $1.6 billion deal with Microsoft to restart the former Three Mile Island power plant, renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center. Its also applying to renew its license for the Peach Bottom Clean Energy Center in York County to continue operating those reactors until 2054. Westinghouse Electric Co. said it will build 10 new nuclear plants in the United States, which will generate an estimated $6 billion in economic activity and create 15,000 new jobs in southwest Pennsylvania. Hydroelectric power is the sole source of renewable energy among the projects announced. Brookfield Asset Management said it has a $3 billion 20-year deal with Google to purchase electricity from the Safe Harbor and Holtwood hydroelectric dams on the Susquehanna River. Brookfield said it will relicense and overhaul dams, which were built in the early 20th century, to produce 3 gigawatts of electricity. Two of the commonwealths major electric distribution companies, PPL Corp. and First Energy, said they will expand their grid capacities to support the demand from data centers. First Energy said it will spend $15 billion on infrastructure improvements in 57 counties. PPL said it will spend $6.8 billion on grid improvements and a joint venture with investment manager Blackrock Inc. to build a gas fired power plant near Marcellus shale gas supplies. Three tech firms said they will invest in workforce development projects. AI product developer Anthropic will inject $2 million towards programs at Carnegie Mellon University to support advancing AI-powered energy solutions and building the cybersecurity workforce needed to protect Americas energy infrastructure. Social media company Meta will make a $2.5 million gift to support early-stage Carnegie Mellon University-affiliated startups, including those in the energy, infrastructure, health care and defense industries. Google said it has launched a new AI Works for PA initiative offering free training for one million Pennsylvania small businesses and Pittsburgh residents. The tech giant also provided a grant to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and National Electrical Contractors Association electrical training program. Data centers, like ones that Amazon Web Services announced in May it will build in Luzerne County and in Bucks County, are warehouse-like buildings containing vast numbers of computers to perform the processing that AI applications such as Chat GPT need. The AWS center planned adjacent to the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station in Salem Township could add about 1.2 gigawatts of demand to the commonwealths electricity grid. The Safe Harbor Dam on the Susquehanna River is one of two hydroelectric facilities being refurbished in a $3 billion deal between Brookfield Asset Management and Google. (Peter Hall/Capital-Star) PJM Interconnection, the organization that operates the electricity grid for Pennsylvania and 12 other states, has predicted its peak demand will grow by about 70 gigawatts to 220 gigawatts by 2040. The growth is being driven not only by AI, but also the increased electrification of transportation and industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognizing that Pennsylvania is facing a power crunch in coming years, Shapiro has proposed a plan to ensure the commonwealth remains competitive in the energy market. It would leverage the states natural gas resources while making it an attractive location for sustainable energy technologies. Part of the plan, now under consideration as a suite of bills before the General Assembly, is a goal to obtain 35% of the states energy from renewable sources by 2035. Another element of Shapiros Lightning Plan is a state board dedicated to streamlining the permitting process for new energy projects. State Rep. Greg Vitali, who chairs the House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee said those and other renewable energy initiatives, including a bill to allow shared community solar developments, have not passed yet. We are certainly not doing what we should be doing as a state as far as expanding renewables, Vitali said, adding that the loss of tax credits would make it harder. Im not expecting much help from the federal government at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After speaking last Tuesday on a panel with McCormick and AWS CEO Matt Garman, Shapiro expressed cautious optimism about the projects announced during the summit. Obviously, theres a difference between what someone says in a press release today and when shovels go in the ground in the future, he said. I want to see all of these dollars come to Pennsylvania, and were going to be working closely with the companies that want to plant a flag here, to allow them to get their shovels in the ground and scale up and create jobs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Pope Leo XIV has recognized the birth of a New England boy back in 2007 as an official medical miracle. The boy, whom The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints only identifies as Tyquan, didnt breathe for over an hour when he was born prematurely at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket on January 14, 2007. Tyquans health finally took a turn for the better after a doctor prayed to a 19th-century Spanish priest, Father Salvador Valera Parra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tyquan was released from the hospital on April 3, 2007, after spending some time recovering. According to Vatican records, Tyquan has been able to live a regular life and even participate in sports. In 2014, members from Parras diocese in Spain traveled to Rhode Island to conduct an investigation into the claims of a medical miracle. The miracle at the former Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket in 2007 is a reminder of the power of prayer and the intercession of holy men and women. God is indeed close to us, the Diocese of Providence said in a statement. The process can often take decades before the Pope can recognize it as a medical miracle but the diocese of providence was able to help speed up that process. Pope Leo XIV officially deemed the birth a miracle on June 20. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Florida's top emergency official asked a federal judge on Monday to resist a request by environmentalists to halt an immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz in the middle of the Florida Everglades because their lawsuit was filed in the wrong jurisdiction. Even though the property is owned by Miami-Dade County, Florida's southern district is the wrong venue for the lawsuit since the detention center is located in neighboring Collier County, which is in the state's middle district. Decisions about the facility also were made in Tallahassee and Washington, Kevin Guthrie, executive director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a court filing. And all the detention facilities, all the buildings, and all the paving at issue are sited in Collier County, not Miami-Dade, Guthrie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Schwiep, an attorney for the environmental groups, responded during a virtual court hearing on Monday that the southern district was the proper venue since a substantial portion of the events took place in Miami-Dade County. Later, in a statement, Schwiep called the state's concerns about the jurisdiction an obvious attempt at judge-shopping since the newly-assigned judge presiding over the case, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, had recently found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt for ignoring her orders in another case. The state had no objection to venue in the Southern District of Florida until this case was reassigned to Judge Williams, Schwiep said. "The state of Florida commandeered the detention center site from Miami-Dade County, the site is partially within Miami-Dade County, the county is a defendant, and the case was appropriately filed in Miami-Dade County. Environmental groups filed the lawsuit against federal and state officials in Florida's southern district last month, asking for the project being built on an airstrip in the heart of the Florida Everglades to be halted because the process didn't follow state and federal environmental laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams scheduled a July 30 hearing to consider whether the lawsuit was filed in the correct court. She also said during Monday's hearing that she was going to hold off ruling on the environmental groups' request for a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction stopping the project until an Aug. 6 hearing in Miami. The lawsuit was filed before the facility was opened to detainees, and Schwiep estimated during Monday's hearing that 900 people have been sent to Alligator Alcatraz in the past three weeks. Given that pace, Schwiep said the environmental groups' goal wanted to halt further construction and the movement of additional people to the facility. Critics have condemned the facility as a cruel and inhumane threat to the ecologically sensitive wetlands, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican state officials have defended it as part of the states aggressive push to support President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has praised Florida for coming forward with the idea, as the department looks to significantly expand its immigration detention capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that the date of the hearing over the jurisdiction question is July 30, not June 30. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social. EPI senior economist Ben Zipperer (Courtesy photo) Its an article of faith in many conservative circles that the Trump administrations tough anti-immigrant policies will free up jobs for U.S. born workers. New research from Economic Policy Institute senior economist Ben Zipperer, however, demonstrates conclusively that the opposite is the case. Zipperers calculations actually show that the net impact of mass deportation on employment both for immigrants and U.S. born workers is decidedly negative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, he calculates that the administrations goal of deporting one-million people per year will lead to a loss of nearly six million jobs over the coming years more than forty percent of which will be jobs now held by U.S. born workers. The construction and child care industries will be among the hardest hit. Zipperers report is entitled Trumps deportation agenda will destroy millions of jobs, and earlier this week, NC Newsline caught up with him at his Washington office. Click here for the full interview with Economic Policy Institute senior economist Ben Zipperer. According to a new report, Jeffrey Epsteins first accuser, on two occasions, mentioned Donald Trumps name to law enforcement as an associate worth investigating. The revelation raises the possibility that files related to the case of the deceased sex trafficker contain information that would embarrass the president. Artist Maria Farmer, who worked for Epstein from 1995 to 1996 and says she was sexually assaulted by him and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, told The New York Times that, when she spoke to law enforcement about Epstein in 1996 and 2006, she urged them to investigate his associates, including now-President Trump. The Times report describes an unpleasant encounter Farmer recalls with Trump at Epsteins Manhattan offices in 1995. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Farmer was called in to work by Epstein one night, she said Trump arrived and started to hover over her, while staring at her bare legs. Farmer, who was wearing running shorts, grew frightened, before Epstein entered and told Trump, No, no, Shes not here for you. Epstein and Trump then are said to have left the room, at which point Farmer heard Trump speculate that she was 16 years old. While Farmer reports having no alarming interactions with Trump afterward and did not see him engage in inappropriate conduct with girls or women, her experiencewhich the White House fervently denies happened, but which is corroborated by accounts from her mother and sisterwas apparently enough for her to bring up Trumps name when speaking to the New York Police Department and FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report, as the Times notes, shows how the Epstein files may contain material that is embarrassing or politically problematic to the president, as he continues to dismiss the case as a Democratic hoax, disowning his supporters who remain invested in it after his DOJ effectively closed the case earlier this month. Details about Trumps long-documented relationship to Epstein are continuing to surface. Days before the Times report, The Wall Street Journal unearthed a sexually suggestive birthday card Trump reportedly gave Epstein in 2003. (Trump has denied the veracity of the report and is now suing the paper.) Meanwhile, when asked whether his name appears in the Epstein files, Trump has insisted that the files were concocted by the previous two Democratic administrations. The controversy surrounding the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files is poised to dominate the conversation on Capitol Hill this week, as Congress sprints to its August recess and prepares to dive into government funding conversations. The House returns to Washington on Monday for its final week before breaking for the long summer recess, while the Senate is in session for its penultimate week, a final stretch that will be inundated by conversations surrounding Epstein, whether the documents related to him should be released and how the Justice Department has dealt with the current uproar. The situation has been a difficult one for Congressional Republicans, who are weighing listening to the MAGA base and calling for the release of the documents against President Trump, who has urged his party to drop the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from Epstein, Congress this week will spend some time focusing on government funding, as the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline inches closer. The Senate is expected to consider its first of 12 full-year funding bills, though that effort could be complicated after Republicans passed a bill to claw back $9 billion in federal funding. Also this week, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a number of Trump nominees as the president urges the upper chamber to cancel its August recess. And House Republicans are slated to select a new chair of the Homeland Security Committee following former Chair Mark Greens (R-Tenn.) departure from Congress. Lawmakers confront lingering Epstein scandal The outcry over the Trump administrations handling of the Epstein files is likely to continue this week, as Republicans await the grand jury testimony Trump directed for release and some continue to call for the release of all the documents in the case. Adding to the controversy is a potential though unlikely vote in the House on a nonbinding resolution, prepared by Republicans, that calls but does not legally require the release of some materials from the case and gives Attorney General Pam Bondi clearance to exempt some parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Rules Committee advanced the resolution after hours of deliberations last week, delaying a vote on a package to claw back $9 billion in federal funding. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), however, has not committed to holding a vote on the measure, a posture that will likely spark criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans who want the documents to see the light of day. Well determine what happens with all that, Johnson said when asked if he will put the Epstein resolution on the floor. Theres a lot developing. The president made his statements this afternoon hes asked the attorney general to release the information, Im certain that she will, and everybody can make their own decisions about that. Pressed on if he would commit to staging a vote on the legislation, Johnson again stopped short, telling reporters: We will see how all this develops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were in line with the White House; theres no daylight between us, he added. We want transparency, and I think that will be delivered for the people. Johnson suggested the vote was a way to give Republicans on the Rules Committee cover after they voted against a different measure last week calling for the release of the documents. In the meantime, reaction is likely to continue rolling in about The Wall Street Journals reporting that Trump, in 2003, allegedly sent Epstein a bawdy letter for his birthday. Republicans have slammed the report, and Trump sued the outlet and Rupert Murdoch, an owner of the outlet. And lawmakers are awaiting the grand jury transcripts Trump directed Bondi to release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who has called for the release of the Epstein files, said, I believe that will pretty much cover everything, referring to the transcripts, but he noted he still wants all the files to be released. Democrats, meanwhile, are downplaying the importance of the transcripts, arguing they will only pertain to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender who is serving time for wrongdoing in connection to Epstein. Hanging over the entire controversy is a bipartisan effort, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), to force a vote on a resolution that calls for the disclosure of Epstein files. The pair is vowing to file a discharge petition for the measure, which already has 10 other GOP supporters. Government shutdown deadline inches closer This week marks the final one that both the House and Senate are in session at the same time before the August recess and before Congress returns to a government funding sprint in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With less than 10 weeks to go until the shutdown deadline and less than 20 legislative days until the cliff Congress is behind the eight ball, staring down a mountain of work that has to be done before funding runs out in Washington. The House has only passed two out of 12 full-year appropriations bills, while the Senate has approved none of the dozen. The upper chamber will try to chip away at the to-do list this week, with an initial procedural vote expected Tuesday on the bill to fund military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs and related agencies. Votes on the measures in each chamber, however, are unable to bring Congress closer to averting a government shutdown, since the full-year measures are written at different levels. Adding to the dilemma is the bill Republicans approved this month to claw back $9 billion in federal funding, targeting foreign aid and public broadcasting. Democrats warned that passage of that package would tarnish the appropriations process, setting the stage for a high-stakes stretch to Sept. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said clearing the legislation known as a rescissions bill would be an affront to the bipartisan appropriations process. Thats why a number of Senate Republicans know 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, he wrote in a letter to colleagues, later adding: This is beyond a bait and switch it is a bait and poison-to-kill. The current dynamics are making the possibility of a continuing resolution in September more and more likely. Senate to vote on nominees as Trump calls for canceling recess The Senate this week is slated to continue churning through Trumps nominees, as the president puts pressure on the upper chamber to confirm more of his picks and urges Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to cancel the recess for that reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The focus on nominations comes after the Senate spent considerable floor time on the big, beautiful bill and legislation to lock in cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, which monopolized recent weeks. The Senate will vote on Joshua M. Divines nomination to be U.S. district judge for the Eastern and Western districts of Missouri, Cristian M. Stevenss nomination to be U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, Aaron Lukass nomination to be principal deputy director of national intelligence, Bradley Hansells nomination to be undersecretary of Defense for intelligence and security, Arielle Roths nomination to be assistant secretary of Commerce for communications and information, and John Hurleys nomination to be Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial crimes. The focus on confirming Trumps picks comes after the president over the weekend encouraged Thune to nix the chambers August recess, which is set to begin at the end of next week and run through the month. Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed. We need them badly!!! DJT Trump wrote on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It remains unclear if Thune will heed the presidents advice and cancel the break. While Republicans want to continue confirming Trumps nominees, they are also eager to head home for the month to sell the big, beautiful bill to constituents, which they see as vital as the midterm elections inch closer. House GOP to select new Homeland Security Committee chair House Republicans will vote on a new leader for the Homeland Security Committee this week, after Green officially resigned from Congress. Republican Reps. Michael Guest (Miss.), Andrew Garbarino (N.Y.), Carlos Gimenez (Fla.) and Clay Higgins (La.) are all vying for the leadership position. The Republican Steering Committee a group of Republican leaders and regional representatives is scheduled to meet Monday and recommend a candidate for the job, who will likely be rubber-stamped by the conference later in the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four candidates each bring different qualities to the table. Guest, currently serving as chair of the House Ethics Committee, is a former prosecutor who has held stints as vice chair and a subcommittee chair on the Homeland Security panel. The Mississippi Republican has also underscored that he was an impeachment manager when the House penalized then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Garbarino has pointed to his New York roots, arguing the panel should turn back to its focus on counterterrorism, which was the focal point after 9/11. Gimenez, a former mayor and firefighter, has said his background dealing with emergency planning in Florida, a state prone to hurricanes, has uniquely prepared him for the role. He has also said there should be nuance in some of Trumps immigration policies. And Higgins, a former police officer, is the most senior of the candidates running, giving him a leg up in an environment where seniority is taken into consideration. A number of Louisiana Republicans, however, are already in leadership Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, for example which could work against him. Johnson said the candidates have created quite a horse race. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that there has been progress in the negotiations regarding the sale of the Eurofighter combat aircraft to Turkey. Germany and Turkey have a positive stance on the matter, state news agency Anadolu cited Erdogan as saying. "I am convinced that we will receive our jets very soon," he said on a return flight from Cyprus. Turkey wants 40 Eurofighter combat jets. Since Germany is involved in the European joint project, the combat jets cannot be exported without the approval of the German government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his visit to the United Kingdom last Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there had not yet been a final decision, but they were "on the way to a good decision that also enables a corresponding export approval." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they wanted to coordinate joint export campaigns. Join the JET Action News team as we highlight the best places to visit in Erie, Pennsylvania. Whether youre from out of town or born and raised in Northwestern PA, Our Erie will help you plan the perfect road trip, day trip or afternoon activity. This weeks episode features reporter Nicole Lee leaving her stress behind thanks to yogaErie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GHD HARRISBURG, Pa., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GHD today announced the appointment of Danielle Huffman as People Leader for GHD Americas and USA. Huffman brings extensive experience in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. Danielle brings a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to people-first leadership, said Chris Hunter, GHD CEO Americas. Her experience leading large-scale HR transformations and her collaborative approach make her the ideal leader to guide our People function through the next phase of growth. Huffman who held several roles at WSP USA for nearly 12 years, most recently as Senior Vice President of HR will be serving as People Leader for 4,500 professionals in over 130 offices in the U.S., Canada and Chile. Her appointment is part of GHDs commitment to building strong, future-ready leadership to support its continued growth across the Americas. Were excited to welcome her to GHD and confident she will make a lasting impact in the Americas and across the Enterprise, added Hunter. About GHD GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHDs network of 11,000+ professionals are connected across 160 offices located on five continents. www.ghd.com. GHD in the Americas GHD has long-standing client relationships, a significant project and economic footprint in the Americas and represents 40 percent of GHDs global workforce with nearly 4,500 professionals in over 130 offices in the U.S., Canada and Chile. In 2024, our Canadian business was named one of Canadas Top 100 employers and ranks #6 in international design firms operating in Canada according to Engineering News-Records 2024 annual survey of key market segments. GHDs U.S. operations were named as a 2023 Best Places to Work for disability inclusion by Disability:IN. Please click here to find a local office. Media Contacts Melissa Sullivan GHD +1-281-657-0818 melissa.sullivan@ghd.com Rose-Marie Menard Pilot PMR +1-579-622-9925 rosemarie.menard@pilotpmr.com Legislation backed by Gov. Jeff Landry this year appears to have changed laws in response to decisions made by the ethics board with which Landry didn't agree. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate, Pool) Earlier this year, the Louisiana Board of Ethics told Gov. Jeff Landrys political action committee to stop paying for the governors membership at the U.S. House of Representatives fitness center. The Board believes the expenditures for its chairpersons gym membership is not an appropriate expense of campaign funds, Charles Reeves, a board attorney, wrote in a letter sent Feb. 10 to Landrys CAJUN PAC II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board does .. caution you to make every effort in the future to make sure that your reports are made pursuant to the Code of Governmental Ethics, Reeves said. The Illuminator obtained the letter from a person familiar with the ethics complaint that led to the boards response. Campaign finance records show Landry also used his campaign in 2018 and 2019 to pay for his congressional fitness center membership, though the ethics board didnt address those charges. His PAC didnt heed the boards February directive either. Just two months after receiving the letter, it paid for the gym dues again in April, according to a PAC campaign finance report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landry might have anticipated a law change would soon make such expenses legal. State lawmakers approved legislation pushed by the governor a few weeks later in June that allowed his PAC to cover gym dues, regardless of the ethics boards recent decision. The fitness center allowance is one of five recent changes to anti-corruption laws that undo ethics board decisions which may have blocked Landry from getting what he wanted. Stephen Gele is the attorney who represented Landrys PAC before the ethics board on the gym membership issue and received the letter from Reeves. At the time, Gele was also helping to draft two bills that made dozens of changes to Louisiana ethics and campaign finance laws this year. One new statute permits elected officials to spend their campaign or PAC funds on membership dues at a recreational facility as long as going to it facilitates interactions with constituents, colleagues, or former colleagues in an elective or deliberative body. Landry served in Congress from 2011-13 and would presumably run into former U.S. House colleagues at the fitness center. His gym membership, which cost the PAC $190 this year, easily meets the new legal requirement. The Louisiana Legislature has approved an overhaul of the state ethics laws that will make it harder to bring ethics charges against public servants. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) Who benefits from the changes Other alterations in the ethics legislation allow a few Landry appointees to stay in their jobs despite personal financial interests that would have been considered conflicts of interest under the old laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislators enacted privacy protections for the governors staff and lifted restrictions on people who work on inaugurations for governors headed into their second term, as Landry will be if he runs for governor again. The governor declined to answer questions about the ethics and campaign finance overhaul sent to his spokesperson last month. Gele agreed to an interview and said the changes were done for more than just the governors benefit. They reflect input from a number of people, including legislators, government workers, public policy watchdog groups and the ethics board staff, Gele said. He pointed to state lawmakers who have complained about what they consider overly aggressive ethics board enforcement in recent years. The bill addresses a broad range of campaign finance issues, including respecting the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and due process and inscribing well-established rules and practices into statute, Gele said. The bill was not drafted to respond to criticisms of the current governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet the longest-serving ethics board member suggested changes in state law were made in direct response to board decisions unpopular with the governor and elected officials. Theyve done exactly what I thought they were going to do. They were going to carve out a law that was going to accommodate and satisfy certain people, La Koshia Roberts, a Lake Charles attorney who has served on the board since 2018, said at an ethics board meeting earlier this month. Its our job to apply the law which weve done for years now, she said. But apparently, until just recently, certain people felt like they didnt have to follow it and we should not apply it. Easier appointments for the governor Two Landry appointees would have faced a difficult time taking their government jobs if an ethics overhaul, sponsored by Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, hadnt altered the states conflict of interest laws last month. Last year, the ethics board told Landrys appointee to run the Louisiana Racing Commission he would not be able to renew the state licenses of racehorses he owns while serving in the job. The commission director, Stephen Landry, partially owns horses with licenses the commission must issue again in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Stephen Landry, who is not related to the governor, no longer has to be concerned with having to choose between owning a racehorse and his government position, which pays almost $100,000 annually. Beaullieus bill rewrote the ethics laws such that the executive director of the racing commission is not prohibited from being a racehorse owner. Stephen Landry declined to comment on the matter when contacted by a reporter. Beallieus legislation also cleared the way for Sheraton New Orleans general manager Jim Cook to become the new CEO of the public Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, a position with a $357,000 salary in 2023, according to The Times-Picayune. Cook was barred from taking the job until late June because he was one of the governors appointees to the board that manages the convention center. Public employees are generally prohibited from accepting executive positions with state entities where they also serve on the oversight board. The latest exception to this rule seems specifically tailored to Cook. It allows a former Morial Convention Center commissioner to serve as the facilitys CEO, but only if they have 30 years of work experience in hotel and hospitality management and have served as a board commissioner on Jan. 1, 2025. The exception also expires at the end of the year, so it likely cant be used for anyone else. Cook did not respond to a request for comment left at his Sheraton office, but the convention centers spokesman, Tim Hemphill, said the board is excited to see Cook in the role. Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, is one of several legislators upset with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. (Photo by Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator) A third change was also made to codify an ethics board advisory opinion issued last year to Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois husband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Mace Bourgeois was co-owner and president of Fire & Safety Commodities, which had two state contracts to provide fire extinguishers and suppression services to public entities across Louisiana. Bourgeois wanted to know if his company could accept a one-year contract extension in 2024 after his wife became part of the Landry administration. His agreements with the state were open-ended, meaning there was no maximum or minimum amount the state had to spend with his company, according to a review of the contracts. The items it supplied were mostly fire extinguishers and ranged in price from $20 to nearly $670. The ethics board told him last year the contract extension did not violate ethics laws because Mace Bourgeois agreement wasnt with his wifes agency, and his financial terms hadnt changed from the contract his company received before she took the job. Beaullieus bill essentially placed language from the boards advisory opinion directly into state law. Susan Bourgeois said the new statute also no longer applies to her family because her husband sold his interest in the business earlier this year. While Secretary Bourgeois and her husband were completely unaware of this bill, these provisions no longer impact them, as of April 4, 2025, Mr. Bourgeois no longer owns the company, said Kevin Litten, spokesman for the economic development agency. New inauguration rules A campaign finance overhaul sponsored by Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, also loosened restrictions on paid workers and people who volunteer for inaugurations and transition teams for governors headed into their second term in office. The new law states these people will not be considered public servants who face restrictions outlined in the Government Code of Ethics. Under the old law, people who volunteered for a sitting governors inauguration may have faced limits placed on public employees, such as what type of private compensation they receive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concern from the Landry camp appears to stem, in part, from an ethics board advisory opinion issued in 1987. At the time, the board indicated that anyone who was part of a transition or inauguration committee for a sitting governor who wins a second term would be subjected to public employee restrictions. Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, sponsored one of the pieces of legislation that made dozens of ethics changes. (Photo by Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator) New privacy protections The Beaullieu bill also removed requirements that statewide elected officials, higher education leaders, governors cabinet members and a handful of the governors executive staff provide their home addresses and spouses business address on financial disclosure forms available to the public online. The changes brought an end to a year-long debate over whether the ethics board could black out the home addresses of Landry staff members that are legally required on disclosure forms. The disclosures were initially written into state law as part of a larger anti-corruption effort during former Gov. Bobby Jindals administration. They were supposed to help hold public officials accountable and guard against public leaders making government decisions that enrich themselves or their families. The governors team had pressed the ethics board for months to obscure their home addresses, saying it was a security concern that put their families at risk. But two ethics board members were adamant that they couldnt do so without breaking government transparency laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new statute, backed by Landry, applies to far more people than what had been discussed over the past year. It removes the requirement to list home addresses and spouses business addresses for 33 state officials, beyond the original five in the governors office with concerns. Public charges rare in ethics investigations The Beaullieu and Wright bills make dozens of other changes, but it is not clear whether they also relate to decisions the ethics board made about Landry or other elected officials. Most ethics investigations are kept confidential, and the board only discloses its decisions in a few cases each year, such as when its members vote to bring public charges against someone. Of the 900 complaints the board received from 2020-23, the board investigated 244 and brought charges in just 14 cases. By contrast, the board issued 53 warning letters as a result of investigations during the same time period, according to a report from the ethics board late last year. These warning letters can convey that the board believes the person being investigated committed wrongdoing, even if it has decided not to bring charges. They are kept confidential and allow the board and the accused to keep the matter from going public. The Illuminator has verified that Landry has received at least two such letters from the ethics board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boards guidance surrounding the congressional gym membership came in the form of a warning letter. The PAC staff and the ethics board are legally prohibited from talking about the matter publicly. There have been no public charges made for spending on a gym, Gele said in response to a question about the boards decision on the health club. Back in 2022, the ethics board sent one of Landrys attorneys a warning letter concerning his use of campaign money to cover thousands of dollars on his car loan payment. The letter, which was also intended to be confidential, was first reported on by The Times-Picayune nearly three years ago and independently confirmed by the Illuminator earlier this year. Landry also faces public charges from the board over his failure to disclose flights he took on a campaign donors private plane to and from Hawaii for a professional conference while he was attorney general. First brought in 2023, the case is still lingering because the governor and ethics board havent reached an agreement on what Landrys punishment should be. Gele is Landrys lawyer in the case. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Europes much-delayed entry-exit system (EES) will begin to apply to some travellers from the UK to the EU on 12 October this year. The scheme will connect all Schengen area frontiers to a central database. The aim is to digitise border crossings so that the comings and goings of non-EU citizens can be more closely monitored. It will help to identify suspected criminals, and to police the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days, which applies to UK citizens and travellers of other nationalities. The newly declared date means that some British passport holders heading away for October half-term holidays will need to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially the EU plan was to launch the scheme with a big bang approach from the Arctic to the Canary Islands. But because of a rethink after the failure to meet the planned 10 November 2024 deadline, for the first six months travellers will encounter border roulette. Some crossing points will require biometrics, while others will remain strictly analogue. For UK holidaymakers and business travellers, the rollout involves even more red tape than at present. Even when biometrics are taken at EES-compliant frontier posts, passports will continue to be scrutinised and stamped until the rollout is completed 180 days later. Waiting game: entry-exit system kiosks at Vilnius airport in Lithuania (Simon Calder) Waiting game: entry-exit system kiosks at Vilnius airport in Lithuania (Simon Calder) The EU has also confirmed that the Etias Euro-visa will come into effect between October and December 2026, and that the original fee is set almost to treble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has identified the plans by studying newly updated EU documents from eu-LISA, the European Union agency responsible for the system. It is based in Tallinn, Estonia. The main home page for the EES now reveals: The new entry-exit system will start on 12 October 2025. The Frequently Asked Questions page carries some old news: The European Union will inform about the specific start date of the EES several months prior to its launch. Crucially, though, the end date for the rollout is specified: This phased implementation will last until 9 April 2026. From 10 April 2026, the EES will be fully operational at all external border crossings of the European countries using the system. More details have also been revealed of the fingerprint requirements for British travellers as well as other visa-free third-country nationals. The document says: The system will store four of your fingerprints and your facial image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children under 12 will not have to provide fingerprints. Once the entry-exit system is up and running, final preparations will be made for the European travel information and authorisation system Etias. The EU says Etias will start operations in the last quarter of 2026. The European Union has now provided official confirmation of rumours that the fee is set to rise even before the so-called Euro-visa begins. Initially the cost of the permit, valid for three years, was pegged at 7 (6). But the EU now says: When applying using this official Etias website, you will be charged a fee of 20 [17]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Applicants who are under 18 or over 70 years of age are exempt from this payment. Also exempt are family members of EU citizens and family members of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union. The Independent has updated articles explaining both the entry-exit system and the Etias scheme. By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the United States as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats. An increasing number of EU members, including Germany, are now considering using wide-ranging "anti-coercion" measures which would let the bloc target U.S. services or curb access to public tenders in the absence of a deal, diplomats say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Commission, which negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the 27-member bloc, had appeared on course for a agreement in which the EU would still have faced a 10% U.S. tariff on most of its exports, with some concessions. Such hopes now seem dashed after President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 30% tariff by August 1, and following talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and U.S. counterparts in Washington last week. Sefcovic, who has said a 30% tariff would "practically prohibit" transatlantic trade, delivered a sober report on the current state of play to EU envoys on Friday, diplomats told Reuters. U.S. counterparts had come up with diverging solutions during his meetings, including a baseline rate that could be well above 10%, the EU diplomats added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Each interlocutor seemed to have different ideas. No one can tell (Sefcovic) what would actually fly with Trump," one diplomat said. Prospects of easing or removing 50% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium and 25% on cars and car parts appear limited. 'NUCLEAR OPTION' Washington has also rejected the EU's demand for a "standstill" arrangement, whereby no further tariffs would be imposed after a deal is struck. The rationale, according to diplomats, is that Trump's hands cannot be tied on national security, the basis of Section 232 trade investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and timber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accordingly, the mood has pivoted among EU countries, EU diplomats say, and they are more ready to react, even though a negotiated solution is their preferred option. The EU has one package of tariffs on 21 billion euros ($24.5 billion) of U.S. goods that is currently suspended until August 6. The bloc must still decide on a further set of countermeasures on 72 billion euros of U.S. exports. Discussions have also increased on using the EU's wide-ranging "anti-coercion" instrument (ACI) that allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on member states to change their policies. Brought in more with China in mind, it would allow the bloc to hit trade in U.S. services, in which the U.S. has a trade surplus with the EU, limit U.S. companies' access to financial service markets and to public tenders in the EU. Public procurement in the EU is worth around 2 trillion euros per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possible measures also include restricting U.S. investment and limiting the protection of intellectual property rights and restrictions on the ability to sell U.S. chemicals or food products in Europe. France has consistently advocated using the ACI, but others have baulked at what some see as a nuclear option. Trump has warned he will retaliate if other countries take action against the United States. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a week ago that the ACI was created for extraordinary situations, adding: "We are not there yet." The Commission would need a qualified majority of 15 countries making up 65% of the EU population to invoke it. It would not do so unless it was confident of passing it, but there are now growing signs of support building, with Germany among the countries saying it should be considered, EU diplomats say. ($1 = 0.8590 euros) (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Andrew Gray. Editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Potter) SpaceX has lined up an evening launch from Cape Canaveral on Monday, but the threat of thunderstorms could force a delay. A Falcon 9 rocket on the mPOWER-D mission with two more communication satellites for Luxembourg-based SES is targeting liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40 during a two-hour launch window that opens at 5:12 p.m. with a backup option Tuesday during the same window. Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron forecasts only a 50% chance for good conditions Monday, which decline to 25% if delayed to Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it does launch, it will be the sixth flight for the first-stage booster, which will attempt a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic. The payloads are the ninth and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites built by Boeing Space for SES. They are headed to medium-Earth orbit at about 5,000 miles altitude. This would be the 62nd launch on the Space Coast from all companies in 2025, with all but three coming from SpaceX. Blue Origin had one with its New Glenn debut in January while United Launch Alliance has flown two Atlas V rockets as well. ULA could fly before the end of the month with what would be its third-ever launch of the new Vulcan rocket, which has been prepping to fly its first national security mission, USSF-106, from Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blue Origin recently announced its next New Glenn launch would be for NASAs Mars-bound ESCAPADE mission, but didnt announce a target liftoff date. SpaceX has flown 42 of its missions from Canaverals SLC-40 and all 16 of the launches from Kennedy Space Center this year. The next KSC launch could come as early as July 31 for NASAs Crew-11 mission. By Hyunjoo Jin and Lisa Barrington SEOUL (Reuters) -The South Korea-led investigation into Jeju Air's fatal plane crash in December has "clear evidence" that pilots shut off the less-damaged engine after a bird strike, a source with knowledge of the probe said on Monday. The source said the evidence, including the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a physical engine switch found in the wreckage showed pilots shut off the left engine instead of the right engine when taking emergency steps after a bird strike just before it was scheduled to land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because investigators have not released an official report including this evidence. A government source said examinations of the plane's recovered engines found that no defects had been present before the bird strike and crash. The December 29 crash of the Boeing 737-800 jet at Muan Airport killed all but two of the 181 passengers and crew members on board and was the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil. Investigators told victims' family members at a briefing on Saturday that the right engine had been more severely damaged by a bird strike than the left, and there was circumstantial evidence that pilots had turned off the less-damaged left engine, according to a third source who was at the briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korean media outlets including MBN and Yonhap reported that information on Saturday and Sunday. South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), which is leading the investigation, did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Boeing referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Engine maker CFM International, a joint venture between GE and France's Safran, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air said it was actively cooperating with the ARAIB's investigation and awaiting the official announcement of the results. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary report released in January said duck remains were found in both engines of the Jeju Air plane after the flight from Bangkok crashed at Muan Airport, but did not give details about the extent of remains or damage found in each engine. OBJECTIONS FROM VICTIMS' FAMILIES South Korea's investigation body on Saturday cancelled a planned release to media of an update on what is known so far about the engines. Families of the crash victims were briefed on the report ahead of its planned release, but objected to its publication, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other contributing factors, lawyers representing the families said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jeju Air flight overshot Muan Airport's runway as it made an emergency belly landing and crashed into an embankment containing navigation equipment, leading to a fire and partial explosion. Representatives of victims' families and the Jeju Air pilots' union said over the weekend that the investigation needs to also focus on the embankment, which aviation experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. The Jeju Air pilots' union said the ARAIB was "misleading the public" by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given traces of bird remains were found in both engines. The union accused the ARAIB of trying to make pilots "scapegoats" by failing to provide scientific and technological grounds that the plane could have landed safely with only the left engine turned on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air accidents are complex incidents that occur due to a number of contributing factors, and investigators have not produced evidence so far to support the implication that the accident was a result of pilot error, the union said. Investigators are so far "silent about organisational responsibility", the union said. A body representing bereaved families said in a statement there were some phrases related to the cause of the accident in the planned press release that could be interpreted as if a final conclusion had been reached, and all facts surrounding the incident must be clarified. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Lisa Barrington; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Jamie Freed) A former Boston Public Schools teacher has been indicted on charges related to allegations that he had sexual communications with teen girls in other states and countries online, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office announced Friday. Brookline resident John Magee Gavin, 35, was by a federal grand jury on one count each of coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release. He was placed on leave from his job as a science teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in downtown Boston in February when he was first charged by Brookline police. In January 2025, authorities identified Gavin as the owner of a Discord account that messaged at least 20 underage girls between the ages of 12 and 17, the U.S. Attorneys office said. The girls were located in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as the U.K. and Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is alleged that, in the chats, despite knowing that the girls were underage, Gavin disclosed that he was a teacher, engaged in sexual conversations and often asked the girls to send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the U.S. Attorneys office said. While reviewing his electronic devices, investigators found nearly 150 photos and videos of child sexual abuse of girls and boys aged five to 17 on his iPhone. Further analysis of Gavins Discord account revealed numerous chats with underage girls in which he is alleged to have engaged in online masturbation sessions, solicited and exchanged sexual images and engaged in sexual conversations, the U.S. Attorneys office said. He is alleged to have, at times, chatted with the minors during school hours. The chats also included conversations in which Gavin expressed his sexual interest in certain students at the school, the U.S. Attorneys office said. In one conversation, he is alleged to have discussed his attraction to a freshman student, as well as sexual fantasies he had about her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2025, Brookline police charged Gavin with enticement of a child under age 16, dissemination of material harmful to minors, enticement of a child under age 18 to pose in state of nudity and possession of visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct, the U.S. Attorneys office said. He has been in state custody since. Gavin previously worked as a paraprofessional at the Hayes School in Brookline from January to August in 2020, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Boston Public Schools completed all required employment checks including a criminal background check and fingerprinting, personal and professional references and educational and employment background checks before hiring him, the school district said previously. Gavin is set to be arraigned in federal court in Boston on Monday, the U.S. Attorneys office said. He faces 10 years to life in prison, decades of supervised released and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines if convicted on the charges out of federal court. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. A former FBI agent was found guilty in a Montgomery County Circuit Court on Friday of rape and sexual offense after luring three victims with free tattoos and modeling opportunities. Eduardo Valdivia, 41, was convicted on six counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense following a two-week trial. Valdivia faces a maximum of 122 years in prison with his sentencing date set for Oct. 14. Two victims in their early 20s came forward in late 2024 to report that Valdivia had raped them in his tattoo parlor in Gaithersburg, with one of the victims reporting he also raped her at a nearby hotel, according to charging documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Valdivias arrest in November 2024 was made public in a news release by the Montgomery County Police Department, a third victim came forward to report that Valdivia raped her at a different tattoo parlor in Potomac in summer 2022, when she was 18. He selected, systematically, vulnerable, unsophisticated young girls that were caught up in the lure of getting their first tattoo for free or the potential of a modeling career, Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy said during a news conference Monday. McCarthy pointed out how Valdivia is a married man and the father of three girls. This is one of the most dastardly evil, schemed crimes Ive seen in 40 years, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valdivia was a supervisory special agent for over a decade with the FBI, where he was specially trained in covert surveillance, tactics and deception, McCarthy said. He just used his skills he had honed over nearly 15 years with the FBI to allow him to manipulate, for the purposes of sex, these three young victims, McCarthy said. Valdivia was recently on trial for an unrelated attempted murder in Montgomery County Circuit Court in 2022 after shooting at an unarmed man asking him for money and confronting him on a Metro train in December 2021. He was acquitted on all charges. Valdivia operated a tattoo parlor called DC Fine Line Tattoos and ran an Instagram account under the same name. He used several aliases, including the tattoo artist Lalo Brown, the photographer L Boogie and the psychologist CEO of a well-known modeling agency Dr. Tiffany Kim, McCarthy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Valdivia messaged one victim on Instagram from the DC Fine Line Tattoos account, asking her to model her tattoo and later offered a modeling opportunity through Dr. Tiffany Kim. The woman agreed and met Valdivia at his tattoo parlor on the second floor of a commercial building in Gaithersburg. The woman signed a contract upon arrival, and during the photo shoot, Valdivia initiated forced sexual contact, according to court documents. The woman, scared of repercussions from the contract, agreed to meet Valdivia for a second photo shoot at a nearby hotel, where she was raped. McCarthy said there were situations where breaching the fake contract meant owing money to the modeling agency. A second victim reported a similar story, where Valdivia offered modeling opportunities to the woman during a tattoo appointment. During a photo shoot in the tattoo parlor, Valdivia raped her and threatened her with legal repercussions through emails from Dr. Tiffany Kim after she left, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two victims found photos of themselves Valdivia had taken on an Instagram account called exetermodels, according to court documents. A third victim came forward after hearing of Valdivias arrest. The woman was raped in Valdivias tattoo parlor in a strip mall in Potomac in summer 2022. She was a senior in high school at the time. A jury found Valdivia guilty on six counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree sexual offense after just over three hours of deliberation Friday. Attorneys for Valdivia did not respond to requests for comment. Judge Cheryl McCally, who presided over the trial, will sentence Valdivia on Oct. 14. McCarthy said he is seeking 122 years of imprisonment, the maximum sentence allowable by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It takes a lot of bravery to do what these young women did, particularly against a person who they come to learn is an FBI agent, McCarthy said. Thats pretty daunting, and theyre young. Have a news tip? Contact Brendan Nordstrom at bnordstrom@baltsun.com or on X at @bnords03. Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in prison for using excessive force in violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman who died in a botched police raid of her apartment in March 2020. U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings handed down Hankisons sentence of two years and nine months in prison, plus three years of supervised release, on Monday afternoon. The sentence was less than the maximum of life in prison for Hankisons charge but far more than federal prosecutors unusual recommendation that Hankison receive a one-day sentence of time served and three years of probation. Jennings, nominated to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2017, also turned down a last-minute motion from Hankisons attorneys for him to receive a new trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury convicted Hankison on the charge in November 2024, marking the first time an officer at the scene of the raid on Taylors apartment has been held criminally responsible for it. The fatal shootings of Taylor and other Black Americans fueled nationwide protests of police violence and racial injustice throughout 2020. Taylor was killed on March 13, 2020, when seven plainclothes Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers arrived at her apartment to serve a search warrant in a narcotics investigation centered on her ex-boyfriend. Whether or not officers announced themselves as law enforcement is disputed. Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, believing an intruder was breaking in, fired a warning shot from a legally-owned handgun that hit Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the leg. Officers returned fire, fatally shooting Taylor. Hankison was one of three officers who fired bullets that night. Hankison did not shoot Taylor but fired 10 shots into a window and a sliding glass door that were covered in blinds. Three bullets went into an adjoining apartment where a pregnant woman lived with her partner and 5-year-old child. Hankison was previously found not guilty on state charges of wantonly endangering Taylors neighbors in early 2022. His first federal trial ended in a mistrial in November 2023 after the jury failed to reach a verdict on any charges. In his second trial, he was found not guilty of violating the civil rights of Taylors neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJs sentencing request for Hankison cited his past legal trials and the fact he would never serve as a police officer or own a firearm again as a reason for a lesser sentence. Although he was part of the team executing the warrant, Defendant Hankison did not shoot Ms. Taylor and is not otherwise responsible for her death, the DOJ memo read. Defendant Hankison did not wound her or anyone else at the scene that day, although he did discharge his duty weapon ten times blindly into Ms. Taylors home. The request drew condemnation from civil rights groups and Taylors family. In a statement last week, lawyers for Tamika Palmer, Taylors mother, called the DOJs recommendation an insult and a blatant betrayal of the jurys decision. The family asked for one thing: that Brett Hankison be sentenced in accordance with the law and federal guidelines. Instead, Tamika Palmer is left, once again, heartbroken and angry, attorneys for Palmer said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hankison was one of four former Louisville Metro Police Department personnel charged by the Department of Justice in connection with Taylors death. Neither of the officers who fatally shot Taylor were charged with a crime at the state or federal level. One former LMPD detective pleaded guilty to federal charges of falsifying information on the affidavit to secure the search warrant for Taylors apartment and conspiring to cover it up after the fact. Two other former officers were initially charged with making false statements and conspiracy surrounding the affidavit. In 2024, a federal judge dismissed the felony charges against the former officers, Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany. Jaynes still faces counts of falsifying records and witness tampering, and Meany faces a charge of making a false statement to federal officers. The post Ex-Louisville police officer sentenced to 33 months in prison for role in Breonna Taylor raid appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. Paramount Pictures and a former studio executive have been sued by two women who are former employees. One of the plaintiffs alleges the exec sexually assaulted her, and both ex-Paramount Pictures staffers allege he subjected them to sexual harassment and emotional abuse. The two women suing the studio and parent Paramount Global are each identified as Jane Doe in the complaints, which were both filed this month in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. The complaints are available at this link and this link. Both lawsuits are seeking unspecified compensatory damages. Law firm Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs is listed as representing both plaintiffs, and Eugene Chip Matthews is also repping the Jane Doe who alleges she was sexually assaulted. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Paramount Pictures executive named in the lawsuits is Patrick Smith, formerly senior VP of print production in the studios marketing department. According to the lawsuits, each of the women at one point worked at Paramount Pictures as well as XYi Design, a vendor used by the studio, and were under the direct supervision of Smith. Smith resigned from Paramount Pictures earlier this year following an investigation into allegations of misconduct, according to Matthews, the attorney representing one of the plaintiffs. It is our understanding that Paramount allowed Patrick Smith to resign, rather than firing him, after he was asked not to work in the office during the investigation, Matthews told Variety in an email. We believe that allowing him to resign left his employment record unblemished and allowed him to seek any retirement or benefits he may have coming to him. Matthews also said that according to other Paramount employees after Smiths resignation, Paramount gave Smith a package containing a lot of swag from the Mission: Impossible premiere with a congratulatory note thanking him for his good service to the company. Reps for Paramount Pictures and Paramount Global did not respond to requests for comment. Patrick Smith could not be reached for comment. London-based XYi Design did not respond to a request for comment. Both lawsuits allege that Paramount Global and Paramount Pictures retained Defendant Smith as a Vice President of Paramount, despite receiving numerous complaints about Defendant Smiths egregious behavior and sexual misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first Jane Doe, in a complaint filed July 14, began work at XYi in August 2016 at the age of 24 and fresh out of college. In the role, she worked at Paramounts offices under Defendant Smiths direct management and supervision, according to her lawsuit. Shortly after she arrived at Paramount, Smith began sending overtly flirtatious texts, laden with sexual innuendos and inappropriate emojis, including kissy faces and eggplants. He inquired about her bra size, using emojis suggestive of large breasts. In September or October 2016, Smith entered her office, closed the door behind him, and without her consent, he then reached down the front of her dress and touched her breast beneath her bra. On another occasion, Smith greeted her in his office with an unsolicited kiss and proceeded to grope her body inappropriately, the lawsuit says. In November 2016, the woman attended a late-evening business meeting with a vendor, accompanied by Smith. After the meeting ended, Defendant Smith offered to drive Plaintiff back to her vehicle, which was parked near the Paramount office. But instead of simply dropping her off, Defendant Smith locked the doors, grabbed her without warning, and aggressively forced his mouth on hers, the first Jane Does lawsuit says. Before Plaintiff could react, Defendant Smith shoved his hand between her legs and digitally penetrated her vagina, without consent and without regard for her fear, dignity, or safety. Trapped in his car late at night, isolated and terrified, Plaintiff froze. She didnt believe she could escape safely, and she feared that resisting would only make things worse. In December 2016, Smith hired the woman as a manager at Paramount. A few weeks later, Smith was hiring an assistant and during that interview process, he began making inappropriate remarks about a female interviewees physical appearance, drawing unsettling comparisons between the candidate and Plaintiff. He taunted Plaintiff with these comments, intentionally provoking jealousy by referring to the interviewee as his new right hand, thereby sowing doubt and insecurity in Plaintiffs mind. Plaintiff began to question her own performance and whether she had somehow fallen short in her new role, enough to justify Defendant Smith seeking additional support, according to the lawsuit. Smith professed his love for Plaintiff, but did so in a manner that was both threatening and possessive, declaring, No one will ever love you like I do,' according to the first Jane Does lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2017, at the Paramount office, Smith forcibly pushed Plaintiff into a storage room, then shut and locked the door behind him, rendering himself and the key the sole means of Plaintiffs escape. There, he aggressively kissed her and shockingly proceeded to digitally penetrate her without her consent. Moments after returning to his office, while Plaintiff attempted to regain composure at her desk, Defendant Smith sent her a chilling message: That was fun, per the lawsuit. Throughout 2017, according to the lawsuit, Smith repeatedly engaged in inappropriate and coercive conduct toward Plaintiff, often during work hours and in locations associated with the Paramount Studio Lot and offices. Under the guise of lunch breaks, Defendant Smith would take Plaintiff to his car or secluded areas of the studio grounds, where he would forcibly kiss her and, in numerous instances, digitally penetrate her without her consent. He would also pressure Plaintiff into performing oral sex, exploiting the imbalance of power between them and her vulnerable position as his subordinate. Throughout the period of harassment, Defendant Smith routinely engaged in drug use with Plaintiff and subjected her to unsolicited sexual contact, including digitally penetrating her in his vehicle, the lawsuit claims. In addition, As part of a sustained pattern of psychological torment, Defendant Smith subjected Plaintiff to repeated verbal abuse throughout the workday. Multiple times a day, he would summon her into his office, only to berate and humiliate her over trivial mistakes or arbitrary preferences that Plaintiff could not have reasonably anticipated. In 2018, the pattern of sexual assault by Defendant Smith escalated, with him coercing Plaintiff into visiting her apartment in West Hollywood during lunch breaks to engage in sexual acts, per the lawsuit. As the sexual assaults continued, on several occasions, he would forcibly ejaculate inside Plaintiff and then callously ask, If you get pregnant, youll take care of it, right? an insinuation about abortion that further highlighted his disregard for her autonomy and well-being. Also in 2018, Smith sent this woman an unsolicited text message asking, Have you ever tried anal?, according to her lawsuit. Ultimately, Defendant Smith proceeded to forcefully anally penetrate Plaintiff against her will, and continued against her will, despite her clear distress, the lawsuit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2020, the first Jane Doe entered into a committed romantic relationship with her now-husband. Upon learning of this development, Defendant Smith responded with visible jealousy and emotional volatility, the lawsuit says. During one morning phone call, Smith made a deeply disturbing and demeaning remark, stating: Someday, when you get married, Ill be happy for you, because Ive already had you hundreds of times. Eventually, the woman decided to seek employment elsewhere and started a new job at the end of August 2022. Before she left Paramount , Smith, in a desperate bid to maintain control, promised increased compensation and continued rapid career advancement, offers that rang hollow in light of the sustained harassment and manipulation Plaintiff had endured, according to the lawsuit. The second Jane Doe plaintiff began her employment with Paramount in 2017 and reported directly to Smith. Two years later, in 2019, at the directive of Smith, she began working for XYi Design, a prominent vendor for Paramount, sourced to provide various marketing and design services, according to the suit, filed July 9. While employed by XYi, she still worked in the office at Paramount and Smith continued as her direct supervisor. According to the second Jane Does lawsuit, Smith was verbally caustic, emotionally abusive, sexually predatory, aggressive, and highly vindictive, and did so all under the guise and promise of promotions and prospective business opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendant Smith would send Plaintiff numerous abhorring text messages, suggesting sexual acts and riddled with sexual innuendos, the lawsuit says. In 2017, Smith demanded Plaintiff join him in Las Vegas, Nevada, for an alleged work-related conference and suggested that he and Plaintiff would engage in sexual acts while there. In addition, upon the second Jane Does return to Paramount following her maternity leave, Smith outrageously overstepped professional boundaries by making numerous inappropriate remarks regarding her body and figure, both positively and negatively. This conduct culminated in a severe and unjust limitation of Plaintiffs work responsibilities, predicated on Defendant Smiths discriminatory belief that her status as a mother rendered her incapable of fulfilling certain job functions. Plaintiff was continuously made to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, intimidated, dehumanized, ridiculed, insulted, and extremely uncomfortable at work each day at work, as a result of Defendant Smiths conduct and behavior, and Defendant Paramount Globals and Defendant Paramount Pictures failure to prevent such conduct, the second Jane Does lawsuit says. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Harvard University was back in court Monday for a hearing in its funding fight case against the Trump administration, a key step in a battle over restoring more than $2 billion in federal funding for research frozen by the White House this spring. US District Judge Allison Burroughs heard opposing arguments over whether to reject or allow Harvards funding freeze and offered her own challenges to the governments legal rationale for implementing their order cutting off federal funds for the elite university. The hearing marked a critical moment for whats become the flashpoint of a major clash over academic freedom, federal funding, and campus oversight and a belief inside the White House that targeting the countrys most elite academic institutions is a winning political issue for President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard lawyer Steven Lehotsky argued Monday the government is in blatant and unrepentant violation of the First Amendment, as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Cutting funding under the guise of combatting antisemitism was arbitrary and capricious, Lehotsky said. The cuts will devastate long-running research projects, eviscerate labs, and hurt careers, he said. The Trump administration, meanwhile, says Harvard has failed to address antisemitism on campus in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and that it is acting within its authority. It is the policy of the United States under the Trump Administration not to fund institutions that failed to adequately address antisemitism in their programs, the administration has argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration lawyer Michael Velchik, himself a Harvard alumnus, framed the lawsuit as a contract dispute, arguing the federal government has the right to terminate the contract. Harvard, he said, shouldve read the fine print, which, he said, stated the government could decide providing funding to the university was no longer aligned with agency priorities, pointing to a January executive order from Trump on the issue of antisemitism. Harvard says it is taking substantive steps to address root causes of antisemitism, including updating its rules around using campus space for protests, reviewing disciplinary processes, and expanding training on combating antisemitism. Noting she is both Jewish and an American, Judge Burroughs pressed Velchik repeatedly during the hearing on that argument, questioning the relationship between cutting funding to cancer research and ending antisemitism, appearing to express some misgivings about the administrations assertions. Youre not taking away grants from labs that could have been antisemitic, but just cut off funding in a way one could argue hurts Americans and Jews, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government vehemently disagrees, viewing combating antisemitism as a legitimate priority and the funding cuts within its rights, Velchik responded. Burroughs pressed Velchik once more. How do you know? she said, adding Harvard has identified antisemitism as a problem on campus and has said it is taking steps to address it, but the government has made no documentation, no procedure, no process to suss out whether theyve taken enough steps. The potential consequences to constitutional law are staggering to me, she said. And I dont think you can justify a contract action based on impermissible suppression of speech. Burroughs later reiterated her concerns: Its a little bit mind-boggling, she told Velchik. Youre saying they can terminate the contracts if the executive branch doesnt agree with the viewpoint espoused by the college? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the rebuttal portion of the hearing, Velchik recalled his own parents wishes for his education. One of my earliest memories was hearing the word, Harvard. I asked my mom, Whats Harvard? And she looked at me and told me, If you get into Harvard, your father will cry. Every hardworking American parent wants their child to go to school, study, work hard, follow the rules, so that they can go to Harvard to get the best education in the world to set them up for success, he said. But Harvard, Velchik continued, has been besieged by antisemitism over the past two years. Its sick. Federal taxpayer dollars should not support this, he said. The Trump administration, he said, is not anti-Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government is pro-Jewish students at Harvard, pro-Jewish faculty at Harvard and (wants) a Harvard for all Americans, the best research institution in the world, Velchik said. Burroughs asked how Harvard could be the best when the government rescinds $2.2 billion in research funding. Asked for comment ahead of the hearing, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told CNN in a statement, The Trump Administrations proposition is simple and commonsense: Dont allow antisemitism and DEI to run your campus, dont break the law, and protect the civil liberties of all students. Fields continued, We are confident that Harvard will eventually come around and support the presidents vision, and through good-faith conversations and negotiations, a good deal is more than possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior White House policy strategist May Mailman echoed Trumps comments Monday that the administration plans to appeal and take the case to the Supreme Court when the judge rules against us. The federal government doesnt have to give taxpayer money to Harvard, Mailman said on Fox News after the hearing. Their whole basis of their lawsuit is sort of frivolous. In April, the Trump administration wrote to Harvard President Alan Garber demanding governance and leadership reform, merit-based hiring and admissions reform, viewpoint diversity in admissions and hiring, and the discontinuation of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, among other demands. Harvard University President Alan Garber attends the 374th Commencement exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29. - Brian Snyder/Reuters The administration has terminated $2.4 billion in federal awards for Harvard, representing more than 950 ongoing research projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university says the scientific research being punished by the federal funding freeze has nothing to do with antisemitism, pointing to its cutting-edge cancer prevention and treatment work, efforts to understand neurodegenerative disorders such as like Parkinsons disease, and boosting awareness and understanding of emerging biological threats. In one filing from Harvard last month, a Defense Department official told others in the Trump administration that a $12 million biological threat research grant shouldnt be terminated because it posed grave and immediate harm to national security. Ultimately, Velchik argued for the Trump administration, the case is about money. Lehotsky, on behalf of Harvard, said its about so much more for the university and higher education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A small circle of Harvard leadership and White House officials had been negotiating toward a deal to end multiple legal battles between the administration and the university including a separate lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision earlier this year to hastily revoke the schools ability to enroll international students. Burroughs, of the federal court in Boston, ruled in Harvards favor in that case, though the decision didnt preclude the administration from undertaking a formal review process that could eventually result in the university being unable to host foreign students and scholars. Trump appeared to indicate that those talks were bearing fruit last month. Many people have been asking what is going on with Harvard University and their largescale improprieties that we have been addressing, looking for a solution. We have been working closely with Harvard, and it is very possible that a Deal will be announced over the next week or so, he said in a June 20 social media post. But the negotiations appeared to subsequently derail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration escalated its battle with the university days later, with an investigation finding the school in violent violation of the Civil Rights Act, warning in a letter that a failure to immediately institute change will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvards relationship with the federal government. And days after that, the Department of Homeland Security sent the school administrative subpoenas regarding its Student Visitor and Exchange Program certification, seeking all relevant records, communications and other documents about Harvards enforcement of immigration laws. Harvard has sent some signals it is willing to work with the Trump administration, including earlier this month when The Harvard Crimson reported that websites for Harvard College centers serving minority and LGBTQ students and women disappeared. The White House welcomed that development, viewing it as a goodwill gesture one official described as good news. The Trump administration is in discussions with Columbia University and is on the cusp of a possible multimillion-dollar settlement. A group of Columbia officials attended a Thursday meeting at the White House, where, according to one source familiar with the negotiations, progress was made but a final deal was not inked. Asked about the state of talks, Trump told CNN on July 4, 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. Harvard has asked for an expedited final decision from Burroughs, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, in this case and says it must be decided no later than September 3, 2025, which is the first date by which Harvard must start submitting this paperwork that would finally close out grant funding. Burroughs on Monday said she had not yet made a decision in the case but would get an opinion out as quickly as we can. I think the issue is whether theres a legitimate relationship between our distaste for discrimination and the approach the administration is taking, she said. Shortly after the hearing concluded Monday afternoon, Trump preemptively attacked Burroughs and prejudged the cases outcome in a post on social media. The Harvard case was just tried in Massachusetts before an Obama appointed Judge. She is a TOTAL DISASTER, which I say even before hearing her Ruling, the president wrote. He added, How did this Trump-hating Judge get these cases? When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN. CNNs Devan Cole and Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Global Payments has expanded its partnership with Banco Nacional de Mexico, a part of the Banamex Financial Group, to enhance commerce solutions in Mexico's acquiring and banking services sector. The collaboration is facilitated through Global Payments' EVO Payments business, which boasts a significant presence in the Mexican market, processing nearly 900 million transactions and servicing over 250,000 installed POS systems. The "multi-year renewal" aims to serve small and medium-sized enterprises as well as larger corporations, covering both online and physical retail environments. Banamex consumer banking head Sinead OConnor said: Aligned with Mexico's growth, we continue to increase our robust technological payments infrastructure and strengthen our digital capabilities, enabling us to address and provide the best financial and payment solutions for SMEs and Corporates, which are the driving force behind local development. As part of the alliance, Global Payments will deliver integrated and embedded payment solutions that complement Banamex's existing banking services. Global Payments Mexico general manager Gabriel Mejia stated: Our strategic alliance with Banamex has been an outstanding success story and we are pleased to continue serving the needs of merchants across Mexico with our valued partner. Together, we will continue driving innovation forward so that businesses have the full range of leading commerce solutions they need to compete and win while delivering exceptional experiences for their customers. Last week, the Financial Times reported that Elliott Management, an activist hedge fund, took a sizeable stake in Global Payments. The payment processor has been facing investor backlash after its $24.2bn Worldpay acquisition pushed shares to a ten-year low. "Global Payments renews alliance with Banamex in Mexico " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on the city of Kharkiv using Shahed drones on the night of 20-21 July. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov Details: Terekhov said four explosions had been heard in the city, according to early reports, caused by Shahed drone hits. Syniehubov reported that all the strikes had hit the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv. Information on casualties or damage is being confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city authorities are urging residents to stay in shelters as Russian drones remain in the airspace. Shortly afterwards, Syniehubov reported at least 11 strikes by Russian drones in Kharkiv. Terekhov added that Russia had attacked the city with 12 drones, with strikes recorded at four locations. At least 50 windows were shattered in a residential area. A fire broke out at civilian business premises. Power lines and a gas pipeline were also damaged. Updated: At 06:33, the all-clear was given. Background: Ukraine's Air Force warned that several Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken off from Olenya air base in Russia's Murmansk Oblast. On the evening of 20 July, an air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv and several oblasts due to a Russian drone attack. Air defence systems were responding to Russian targets. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Migrants are scamming their way into Britain using forged visa documents bought from consultants boasting openly about weak border controls. Pakistani migrants are paying up to 50,000 for visa applications, which the Home Office is waving through despite the documents being littered with errors and falsehoods. One application obtained by The Telegraph includes a job reference, with grammatical mistakes, from a fake hospital that said staff would recommend her for any position she may to seeking. We wish her all the best in future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph also posed as a migrant seeking a UK visa from the consultant who had drawn up these fake documents. He boasted of a 98 per cent chance of successful entry into Britain within three months. Syed Kamran Haider, the chief executive of Mirpur Visa Consultant (MVC) in the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir, was found to be operating openly online, where he advertises loopholes in the UK asylum system, which experts described as easy to manipulate. The investigation raises further questions for Sir Keir Starmer, whose premiership has been partly defined by a growing migration crisis. The Prime Minister came under further pressure this month over details of his one-in, one-out migration deal with France, which will only see around 50 people per week sent back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While small boat crossings hit record highs, The Telegraph investigation found that migrants from Pakistan were also gaining backdoor entry into the UK. There were 10,542 asylum applications filed last year by Pakistanis more than from any other country representing an 80 per cent increase from the year before, government data show. But Pakistanis have never been among the top 10 nationalities arriving in the UK via small boats. Harjap Bhangal, a UK-based immigration lawyer, said: They dont need to come on small boats because they come on visas. They are one of the biggest groups that come on visas and dont go back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Haiders MVC firm, identified by The Telegraph, is charging thousands of pounds to falsify clients documents, including fake CVs and bank statements, for use in their visa applications. These documents are required because applicants must demonstrate that they fit a number of eligibility criteria, including the ability to support themselves in the UK. The Telegraph obtained falsified paperwork a fake CV and letter attesting to employment history that it understands was produced by MVC and submitted in a UK work visa application that was ultimately successful. A fake letter supporting the migrants application purported to be from Riaz International Hospital in Mirpur. It certified that the Pakistani individual had worked as a nursing care assistant in the hospital from March 1 2019 to May 5 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter had grammatical errors, including a line that read: During this period, her services were found to be satisfactory in caring out the job duties. One of the responsibilities stated was nonsensical, saying: Responsible to take and record of vital signs in takes outputs empty drains. The Telegraph found that Riaz International Hospital existed only for two years from 2012 to 2014, serving as a temporary location when the original Riaz Hospital Mirpur was undergoing renovations. Dr Riaz Ahmed, the chief executive of the real Riaz Hospital Mirpur since it opened in 1978, said that the letter The Telegraph reviewed was a bogus certificate, lacking an official hospital seal and a legitimate signature. letter He also confirmed that the letter listed an incorrect address and old phone numbers no longer in use by the hospital. Nobody answered when The Telegraph called those numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A false CV created by MVC for the same visa applicant also claimed past employment at Riaz International Hospital, and described a range of responsibilities for the purported job, including treat emergency injuries and record patients medical records and monitor vital signs. It listed educational certifications, all purportedly to be obtained in Mirpur, located in the disputed region of Kashmir where MVC has its headquarters. CV With these fake documents, that person was granted a skilled worker visa that allowed her to enter the UK in 2023, according to documents reviewed by The Telegraph. She is understood to have remained in Britain ever since. In most instances, people claiming asylum cannot work in the UK while their cases are being decided a process that can take more than a year, given the backlog of applications waiting to be reviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there is a loophole those who first enter the UK on a work visa can retain their right to work while waiting for a decision from the Home Office on their asylum claims. The Home Office also processes visa applications. Mr Bhangal said: If you claim asylum before that visa runs out, you can still work. The Home Office is a broken institution... They are not realising where the loopholes are [and] what is being done, what migrants are doing. MVC fees vary depending on whether the consultant is providing fake documents for a student or work visa, and for which country. For instance, support for a UK visa starts at 32,700, while a work visa to Bulgaria is 9,150. On top of that, there are extra fees for the consultant (200), file-making costs (30) and a specific fee for creating fake bank statements (2,615). Even an initial video call of a few minutes with the MVC director requires payment of about 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Haider, boasting of his success rate, told a Telegraph reporter posing as a potential client: I will do everything, I will support. Five to seven lakh Pakistani rupees (1,300 to 1,800) will be spent on creating a bank statement The bank statement will be from Mirpur. It is no problem, and no one will ask you why [the statement] is from Mirpur. God forbid, if the visa isnt approved, the costs for the bank statement, visa and my fees are non-refundable. He also offered a more affordable option a UK student visa application, saying: In this way, a person can go for around 40 to 45 lakh Pakistani rupees (10,500 to 12,000), and then find some way or solution after arriving there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Haider features in a series of videos posted on YouTube and other social media sites in which he gives a broad overview of various visa loopholes how to enter France as a tourist, Belarus for blue-collar work, Canada for construction jobs, Greece for farm labour and Bulgaria for work without prior education. Good news for people who want to study or get a work permit in the UK! he says in a video posted a month ago. Mr Haider, seated behind a desk, explains how people who cannot afford his high fees of 40,000 to support a UK work visa, or do not score well on the IELTS test an international standardised test of English proficiency required for some visas can instead sign up for a diploma in nursing and midwifery to obtain a student visa. He adds: The fee for this is 2,000 to 2,500. [The application] does not require IELTS These people, if you go to the UK, can then convert it into a work permit. Jobs are available with a minimum wage of 23 per hour. Credit: YouTube/Mirpur Visa Consultant Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Haider does not give the full details in his videos someone entering the UK on a student visa for a nursing diploma program could later be eligible to apply for a work visa, but there is no guarantee that it will be approved. All of the videos end with a plug for his services that says: Those who want to apply, the contact numbers of our staff are provided below. After exhausting options within the UK to remain, including applying for asylum, some people then submit a second asylum application to the European Union in order to extend their time in Britain. Current rules require applicants to have genuine ties to the EU past residence or employment, or family already there. Those without such connections, however, can still submit what is essentially a fake application, which can buy them additional time to work in the UK while the claim is processed, Mr Bhangal noted. These visa consultants are selling them a dream, he said, adding: [They are] selling a product essentially to people who dont want to come back [home]. They have found their market. [Its] quite a sophisticated scam. In May, Sir Keir announced that skilled workers would be required to have a degree to get a job in the UK under new laws as part of the Governments effort to reduce net migration. However, Mr Bhangal said Britain had an easy system to manipulate because of the broken Home Office. He added: The trend for Pakistanis is to get a visa and come over, then claim asylum so the asylum claims come from students who dont go to university, or people who come on dodgy healthcare visas and then dont find work; and visitor visas, as a large number are people who come as families. The situation back home is just dire for these people, and they need to get out, [but] they dont want to run the risk of traipsing all over Europe. Literally, theyve been promised the idea of you sit on a plane, get off, get through immigration and then you can claim asylum. Pakistanis fleeing for Europe leave for a number of reasons some are persecuted because of their religious beliefs, while others hope to find greater economic opportunity. The real GDP per capita in Pakistan ranks among the lowest tier in the world, at around 3,970, according to the CIA World Factbook. In the UK, GDP per capita is more than ten times, at 40,000. The Telegraph has contacted the Home Office and Mr Haider for comment. Additional reporting by Mohammad Zubair Khan 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. Ukraine's newly appointed Ground Forces Commander, Brig. Gen. Hennadii Shapovalov, outlined his key priorities on July 21 in his first public statement since taking over the role on July 19. In his new role, Shapovalov will oversee the organization, training, and operational deployment of Ukraine's Ground Forces, maintaining combat readiness and ensuring the effective execution of military tasks, while Russia escalates its offensive. "It is a great honor and at the same time an extraordinary responsibility for me to lead the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a difficult time for our country," Shapovalov said in a statement, stressing his commitment to unity across the military and government structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Shapovalov, one of his top tasks is the "generation of forces," which includes forming, training, and staffing combat units. He emphasized that recruitment, contract service, and mobilization must become a conscious choice by citizens, not merely a formal obligation. "The future of Ukraine depends on what happens at the front today," he said. "Therefore, all of our efforts should be directed towards the main thing the preservation of the very fact of our state's existence." "To the soldiers of the Land Forces: you are the heart of our defense. Your heroism, professionalism and dedication are worthy of the highest respect. My duty is to support all without exception the soldiers of the Ground Forces and to ensure decent conditions for their service," he added. Currently, Ukraine faces personnel challenges as Russian forces continue to press along the front line. The pace of new enlistment has slowed recently, leaving infantry units understaffed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drawing on his leadership experience in Ukraine's South Operational Command and the Tavria operational group, as well as his recent role in NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) mission in Germany, Shapovalov stressed the need for realistic combat training, better instructor corps, and the integration of modern battlefield practices. Shapovalov also pledged to support all components of the Ground Forces, from infantry and tanks to artillery, air defense, and army aviation, while prioritizing modern technologies, including drones, secure communications, and command systems. Addressing service members directly, Shapovalov called them "the heart of our defense," vowing to improve conditions and ensure their efforts are matched by national unity and civilian support. President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Shapovalov on June 19, following the resignation of Mykhailo Drapatyi after a deadly Russian strike on a training ground. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Drapatyi was later named Commander of the Joint Forces. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Cynthia Sciarrone's death from a single gunshot to her head followed a contentious separation and divorce from Richard Seith, Palm Beach County sheriff's detectives said in arresting the 53-year-old eye doctor on first-degree murder charges. Seith had locked her out of their Jensen Beach home, cut her off financially and stalked her in the year leading up to the divorce becoming final on May 5, according to Seith's arrest report, made public July 21. He owed her about $285,000. Deputies found the Spirit Airlines flight attendant's body on July 15 on a sidewalk at the Lucerne Greens condominium complex near Lake Worth Beach where she had been living. She was shot about three hours earlier, surveillance-camera video indicates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seith, who has practices in Stuart and Port St. Lucie, remains in the Palm Beach County Jail. Circuit Judge Kathleen Kroll denied him bail during a hearing July 19, the day after his arrest. Here's what we know What happened: On July 15, Palm Beach County deputies found Cynthia Sciarrone, 54, dead outside of her Lake Worth Beach condo. An investigation was conducted and search warrants were obtained for her ex-husband Richard Edmund Seith's Stuart office and his Jensen Beach home. Palm Beach County deputies took Seith into custody at his home in the 2000 block of Northwest Windemere Drive with assistance from U.S. Marshals and the Martin County Sheriffs Office. It was quiet on Northwest Windemere Drive on July 21 as residents either didn't want to comment or did not answer knocks to their doors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treasure Coast Eye Specialists at 1441 Southeast Ocean Boulevard, where Seith worked, declined to comment on his employment, but said in a statement that they are going about business as usual and are focused on patient care. Arrest and what's next: Seith is charged with first-degree murder with a firearm and is being held without bail at the Palm Beach County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 17. Seith's attorney, Richard Barlow, was unavailable for comment on July 21. Treasure Coast Eye Specialists on July 21, 2025, where Richard Edmund Seith worked. They declined to comment on his employment, but said in a statement that they are going about business as usual and are focused on patient care. What happened that day? Police officers found Sciarrone lying on the sidewalk along the west side of Lucerne Lakes Boulevard just before 3:30 a.m. on July 15. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene, sheriff's detectives said in an arrest report made public July 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Spirit Airlines flight attendant wore her flight attendant uniform, had car keys in her hand and a suitcase near her. Sciarrone previously reported that Seith had vandalized her car twice, according to the report. They finalized their divorce in May after seven years of marriage. Investigators arrested him three days later and charged him with first-degree murder with a firearm. The report said a witness home surveillance camera showed that Sciarrone got home at 11:43 p.m. on July 14. A surveillance camera inside her car showed that she was shot minutes after she got home on July 14. What was their marriage like? Cynthia Sciarrone's death from a single gunshot to her head followed her contentious separation and divorce from Richard Seith, according to the arrest report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seith had locked her out of their Jensen Beach home, cut her off financially and stalked her in the year leading up to the divorce becoming complete on May 5. He owed her about $285,000 and the Lucerne Greens condo in front of which she died, the arrest report said. He had refused "to financially support her move into a condo" during the divorce. They had married in 2018 and even worked together at his Treasure Coast Eye Specialist practice in Stuart, but their relationship soon fell apart. Two witnesses cited "an escalating pattern of emotional and psychologically abusive behavior"; one said Seith wanted her to "swing" with other sexual partners. According to a witness, one of Seith's ex-girlfriends told Sciarrone to "run run run" from him. Sciarrone also once confided Seith had confessed to seeking medical help after considering killing his ex-wife from his first divorce, the witness also told investigators. The swinging relations ceased at the end of 2022. Sciarrone also told the witness about an abusive pattern of violence that resulted in Seith inflicting physical injury. By early 2023, Sciarrone was living in Houston and working as a flight attendant for Spirit Airlines, and she filed for divorce in January 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around this time, Seith began frequently driving by the Lucerne Lakes residence and other places where he suspected she might be staying. One Stuart-area home reported a bedroom window shattered by bullets. The Martin County Sheriff's Office questioned Seith following the shooting but did not find sufficient cause for an arrest, the PBSO report said. How did the investigation lead to Richard Seith? Crime scene investigators also found an area in the rear undercarriage of Sciarrone's car where it appeared a device had been removed. Seith canceled a subscription for a Cube GPS Pro tracking device three hours after her death. Detectives found the Cube Tracker in Seith's residence. Cellphone tracking data and license-plate cameras placed Seith's bright orange Jeep one brandishing the name "Jack o' Lantern" near the Lucerne Lakes condo around the time of the shooting, and a search of the vehicle found a 9mm Glock handgun "that appeared to have been recently cleaned." Seith also had purchased a Micro Roni conversion kit that transforms a Glock handgun "into a short-barreled rifle-like platform," the arrest report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 16, Seith called PBSO asking if they needed any information from him. He denied being involved with or having any information about Sciarrone's death. Officers arrested and charged him with first-degree murder with a firearm two days later. Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida doctor charged with murder of ex-wife in Lake Worth Beach The Israeli military has, for the first time in the ongoing Gaza war, moved ground troops into parts of Deir al-Balah, eyewitnesses said on Monday. Israeli soldiers are reported by city residents to have taken control of buildings in the south-west of the city in the central Gaza Strip and positioned snipers on the rooftops. The Israeli military initially did not comment on this. On Sunday, the army issued an evacuation order for several residential blocks in the south-west of the city. Residents said they left their homes early on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinian journalists told British public broadcaster BBC that Israeli tanks had advanced there, accompanied by air and artillery strikes. The information could not initially be independently verified. Israel had previously refrained from military action in Deir al-Balah because hostages abducted by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas were suspected to be there. The Israeli forum of hostage families expressed dismay over the advance of Israeli troops. The political decision-makers had failed to address the concerns of the affected families regarding the serious threat to the lives of their relatives, a statement from the forum said. "The Israeli people will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangers the hostages - both the living and the dead," the statement said. According to Israeli reports, 50 people abducted from Israel are still being held in Gaza, with at least 20 of them believed to be alive. Claim: In July 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated video of former President Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office. Rating: Rating: True In July 2025, as U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused officials under former President Barack Obama of "manufacturing intelligence" in a 2016 probe into Russian interference in the presidential election that resulted in President Donald Trump's first term, a rumor spread that Trump had posted a video of Obama getting arrested in the White House Oval Office. The video, internet users said, had been generated by artificial intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, left-leaning YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen posted a screen capture of Trump's alleged post on Facebook with the caption "BREAKING: TRUMP POSTS AI-GENERATED VIDEO OF PRESIDENT OBAMA BEING ARRESTED": (Facebook user Brian Tyler Cohen) As of this writing, the post had amassed more than 28,000 reactions and 14,000 comments. Some users suggested this was Trump's way of distracting from criticism of his administration's refusal to make public additional files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "Didn't he tell yall to stop talking about the files and focus on something else?" one asked. Similar posts appeared on Facebook, as well as Reddit and Instagram. Snopes readers also searched the site to confirm the veracity of this rumor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claim was true. Trump posted this video on Truth Social (archived) on July 20, 2025, two days after Gabbard said she would turn "over all documents" related to her findings about the Obama administration's supposed manufacturing of evidence about Russian interference "to the DOJ for criminal referral" (archived). (Truth Social user @realDonaldTrump) Trump did not create the video himself. A used first posted it to TikTok, where it received more than 420,000 views before been removed from public view (archived). (TikTok user @neo8171) The video opened with clips of several prominent Democrats, including Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California and former President Joe Biden, saying variations of "No one is above the law." Then, 44 seconds into the video, an AI-generated clip showed Trump and Obama sitting side by side in the Oval Office and three men wearing FBI jackets and sunglasses grabbing Obama and dragging him to the floor. The video then cut to another AI-generated clip of Obama wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and sitting, standing or pacing, apparently in a jail environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several clues revealed the clips were AI-generated. For example, the features of the FBI agents were smooth, their jackets did not seem real and the gestures unnatural, as was Obama's expression. Trump's frozen smile added to the sense of unreality, as did the poor resolution of the clip. The ensuing clips placed Obama inside or outside of cells, with no apparent logic. The last shot, which zoomed in on Obama's face behind bars, made him look drawn or painted. In addition, no reputable news outlet had reported that Obama had been arrested, as searches on Google, Google News, DuckDuckGo and Bing revealed. Snopes reached out to the White House asking about the message Trump intended to send by posting this video, and whether it was meant as a threat to Obama. In an emailed statement, Harrison Fields, the White House deputy press secretary, said that "President Trump was right about the Obama-Biden administration's clear involvement in the greatest witch hunt in American history. The President and his entire administration are committed to unearthing wrongdoing and holding any individual accountable for this gross abuse of power and blatant conspiracy against President Trump and his supporters." Sources: Office, ODNI. "New Evidence of Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert President Trump's 2016 Victory and Presidency." Dni.gov, 18 July 2025, www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2025/4086-pr-15-25. Accessed 21 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herb, Jeremy. "Gabbard Threatens Obama Officials with Criminal Referral over 2016 Election Assessment." CNN, 19 July 2025, www.cnn.com/2025/07/19/politics/gabbard-threatens-obama-officials-2016-election. Accessed 21 July 2025. Rascouet-Paz, Anna. "17 Claims about Trump's Relationship with Epstein We've Analyzed." Snopes, 20 July 2025, www.snopes.com/collections/trump-epstein-relationship-rumors/. Accessed 21 July 2025. BRUSSELS (Reuters) -A growing number of European Union member states, including Germany, are considering using wide-ranging "anti-coercion" measures targeting U.S. services if the EU cannot reach a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, EU diplomats say. Here are details of the bloc's Anti-Coercion Instrument, which took effect at the end of 2023 and hitherto has never been used, as it is seen by many as a "nuclear option" that is ideally meant as a deterrent. POSSIBLE MEASURES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACI allows the 27-nation EU to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on member countries to change their policies, and offers far wider scope for action than just counter-tariffs on U.S. exports. The ACI has a 10-point list of possible measures against Trump's threat of a 30% tariff on EU imports by August 1. As well as tariffs on goods, the ACI tools include curbs on imports or exports of goods such as through quotas or licences. For public tenders in the bloc, worth some 2 trillion euros ($2.3 trillion) per year, there are two possibilities. Bids, such as for construction or defence procurement, could be excluded if U.S. goods or services make up more than 50% of the potential contract. Alternatively, a penalty score adjustment could be attached to U.S. bids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACI could also lead to measures to affect services in which the U.S. has a trade surplus with the EU, including from digital services providers Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix or Uber. Measures could also curb foreign direct investment from the United States, which is the world's largest investor in the EU. Further measures could include restrictions on protection of intellectual property rights, on access to financial services markets and on the ability to sell chemicals or food in the EU. The EU is supposed to select measures that are likely to be most effective to stop the coercive behaviour of a third country and potentially to repair injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HOW DOES THE EU INVOKE THE ACI? The ACI was proposed in 2021 as a response to EU member criticism that the first Trump administration and China had used trade as a political tool. China had targeted Lithuania, according to Lithuanian officials, after it allowed Taiwan to set up a de facto embassy in Vilnius. The law gives the European Commission up to four months to examine possible cases of coercion. If it finds a foreign country's measures constitute coercion, it puts this to EU members, which have another eight to 10 weeks to confirm the finding. To confirm, a qualified majority of EU members is required - a higher bar to hurdle than for applying retaliatory tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Commission would normally then consult with the foreign country in an effort to stop the coercion. If that fails, then within six months it can adopt EU response measures, again subject to a vote by EU members. These should enter force within three months. The whole process could take a year, but could be sped up. ($1 = 0.8578 euros) (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Mark Heinrich) SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Fraudulent auto insurance policies are being marketed to Utahs Hispanic community, according to the Utah Insurance Dept. These marketing tactics are typically done through WhatsApp or by fake agents via word-of-mouth, officials said. People who purchase these fake auto policies not only lose money by paying for the policy, but may also have their vehicle registrations revoked. This, in turn, could result in their vehicles being impounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unknown sellers, who we believe to be located outside of the United States, continue to market fake insurance policies to unsuspecting victims, said Fraud Division Director Armand Glick. Victims make payment for the insurance policy through WhatsApp, then the seller sends them a forged certificate of insurance. The fake policy lists the identity of a local Utah insurance agent as their agent. While the name of the agent is real, his identity has been stolen, and he is not the person selling the fake policy. The Fraud Division is currently investigating a person acting as an unlicensed agent who has sold hundreds of policies over the phone, said Armand Glick, Fraud Division Director. The individuals phone number is being circulated by word-of-mouth to others in the community because he can get lower insurance rates. Heres how it works. This suspect enters false information online to purchase real insurance policies that are then given to the consumer. While the policies are actually real, because the premiums have been lowered using false info, insurers are not likely to honor these policies if you are involved in an accident, according to the Insurance Dept. Officials are asking that the public only purchases insurance policies from legitimate agents and sources, not through WhatsApp or phone numbers from others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have purchased an insurance policy via WhatsApp, please contact the insurance company directly to verify if the policy is legitimate, a release from the Insurance Dept. states. If you need help figuring out if an insurance agent is licensed to sell insurance in Utah, please visit the Utah Insurance Dept. website here. 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. WASHINGTON D.C. (KETK) Four East Texans who have died in the line of duty were honored at a National EMS Memorial Service ceremony in Washington D.C. on Saturday. Four medics who died in the 1980s memorialized at Tyler hospital In 1989, Jeanne Lackey, Gerald Morgan Sr. and Kathryn Ohnheiser died in a helicopter crash while working as a Flight for Life EMS crew for the then-Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. In 1988, James Ed Thomas was resuscitating a patient in contact with a downed electrical wire when he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four fallen East Texans were part of a group of 29 fallen EMS workers honored for their heroic service in a live-streamed ceremony on Saturday. Loved ones and family members of those fallen were presented with flags and a moment of silence was held by EMS agencies across the country. Your loved ones will always be remembered for the lives they lived and their service to their communities, director of EMS for the NHTSA Gamunu Wijetunge said. Your nation remembers them and thanks you for honoring them. The National EMS Memorial Service also honored the four East Texans in June with a Tree of Life memorial service at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. To learn more about all 29 of this years honorees, visit the National EMS Memorial Service online. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com. The family of a Boston Public Schools kindergartener who was struck and killed by a school bus in April is suing the driver involved in the crash and the school districts bus services contractor for damages. UP Academy Dorchester student Lens Arthur Joseph, 5, was run over by a Boston Public Schools bus near his Hyde Park home on the afternoon of April 28 and died soon after at Boston Childrens Hospital. His 11-year-old cousin was with him when he was struck and saw him get run over. It was later discovered that Jean Charles the bus driver involved in the crash had an expired school bus certification certificate at the time, Boston Public Schools said previously. He was placed on leave following the crash and later resigned, but no charges have been filed against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Child hit and killed by school bus in Hyde Park identified The lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Suffolk County Superior Court by Lens grandmother, aunt and uncle, accuses Charles of acting negligently and/or recklessly during the crash. It also alleges that Transdev Boston Public Schools bus services contractor was negligent in a variety of its policies, practices and procedures. We are devoted to ensuring that Lens Josephs life will not be defined by his death, Lens familys attorney, Matthew Fogelman, said in a Monday statement. We seek justice for Lens and his family members, and we will remain resolute in that endeavor and honoring his legacy. Neither Transdev nor Boston Public Schools could immediately be reached for comment Monday afternoon. What led up to the crash Charles had worked for Transdev for two years prior to the crash, but two weeks before the fatal incident, his employer pulled him off the road so that he could complete additional training, according to the lawsuit. The suit alleges that Transdev was aware that Charles certification certificate was expired at the time of the crash and knowingly let him drive despite this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 28, Charles was working as a substitute driver on the school bus that regularly took Lens and his cousin to their shared home after school, according to the lawsuit. Around 2:20 p.m., as Charles was driving Lens, his cousin and other children home, he struck two parked cars with the bus. In contravention of Transdev policy, Charles drove away from the scene after he struck the parked vehicles and failed to call his supervisor, as required, the lawsuit reads. Charles then missed the turn that wouldve taken him to Lens and his cousins bus stop, which was directly in front of their home and would not have required them to cross the street, according to the lawsuit. Instead, Charles dropped the children off on a nearby street, forcing them to have to cross in front of the bus to reach their home. What happened during the crash Around 2:45 p.m., Lens tried to cross the street in front of the school bus at the same time that Charles began driving forward again, according to the lawsuit. The bus ran over Lens, causing fatal injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lens cousin witnessed these horrific events, according to the lawsuit. She saw the bus run over Lens, and then saw Lens lying in the street, struggling to breathe, his body mangled from the impact. Lens grandmother and aunt were waiting at the window of the family home for Lens and his cousin to return from school when the crash occurred, according to the lawsuit. When neither child entered the home, the two women noticed a commotion outside and went out into the street to find Lens cousin hysterical. After the two women were informed of what had happened, they tried to go over to Lens, but were held back by emergency responders, according to the lawsuit. Lens uncle who is also his cousins father was soon told of Lens death and went to Boston Childrens Hospital to see his body, which was crushed and horribly disfigured from the collision. Accusations of negligence The lawsuit includes five counts of negligent infliction of emotional distress related to the impact of Lens death on his cousin, uncle, aunt and grandmother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit argues that Charles acted negligently and/or recklessly by failing to maintain a necessary certification, hitting other cars while driving children home from school, failing to stop after those collisions, driving an incorrect route, dropping Lens and his cousin off at the wrong location and striking Lens while he tried to walk home from the incorrect drop-off spot. The lawsuit also alleges that Transdevs policies, procedures and practices in regards to hiring, safety, and driver training, monitoring and supervision were negligent. Furthermore, it argues that the transportation companys failure to implement the use of safety technologies such as stop-arm cameras, extended stop arms, crossing arms, surround cameras, pedestrian detection sensors, and automatic braking also constitutes a form of negligence. As a result of the alleged negligence, Lens family members have begun to struggle with anxiety, depression, sadness, fear, sleep disturbances, behavioral abnormalities, and other issues that did not exist before the incident, according to the lawsuit. They also continue to suffer injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills, out of pocket expenses and severe emotional distress with physical manifestations. Transdevs record Transdev, a French company with U.S. headquarters in Illinois, has been sued in Suffolk County Superior Court over personal injuries resulting from crashes involving its drivers over a dozen times since Boston Public Schools first began contracting with it in 2013, according to The Boston Globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those lawsuits was filed last month in response to a December 2024 crash in which an 8-year-old Boston Public Schools student was hit and severely injured by a school bus while walking home from school. The suit, which was filed by the students family, similarly accused Transdev of negligence and alleged that the bus driver Taunton resident Vitony Laguerre caused the crash. In May, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu launched an independent investigation of Transdev. Boston police and the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office continue to investigate Lens death. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Key Points Reddit's investments in AI and proprietary data could help the company deliver strong growth for years to come. Unity Software is a fallen growth stock with a promising turnaround strategy. 10 stocks we like better than Reddit Reddit (NYSE: RDDT) and Unity Software (NYSE: U) are two former high-flying growth stocks that are trading well off their previous peaks. Sometimes stocks fall for good reasons, but at other times, a discounted share price can be a great buying opportunity. Let's look at why these stocks fell, how the underlying businesses are performing, and whether they can recover their former glory. Image source: Getty Images. 1. Reddit Reddit has reported strong revenue growth since completing its initial public offering (IPO) last year. But the stock has fallen from its recent highs over concerns about the potential for a slowing ad market and competition in the digital advertising market. The recent sell-off is a good buying opportunity, as Wall Street still underestimates the power of Reddit's highly engaged user base. Despite uncertainty with the ad market and Wall Street's concerns over competition, Reddit reported robust revenue growth in the first quarter. Daily active unique users grew 31% year over year to 108 million, while ad revenue surged 61% to $359 million. In June, Reddit announced new ad tools that promise to drive more advertising demand. These new tools are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and will provide marketers real-time insights into discussions happening on Reddit. Reddit is also bringing AI features to its users. Reddit Answers reached 1 million weekly users in Q1. It's basically a ChatGPT-style chatbot that pulls answers from all the discussions happening on Reddit's platform. Reddit is growing much faster than other social media companies like Pinterest, Meta Platforms, Snap, and even Google's search business. It has a lot of valuable data on its platform, which it's monetizing by licensing it to other AI companies for use in training their models. While the stock has already rebounded about 50% from its recent lows, it's still trading 36% off its all-time high. Analysts are expecting the company to report year-over-year revenue growth of 51% for Q2, according to Yahoo! Finance. Another strong quarter could push the stock higher, but regardless of where the stock trades in the near term, Reddit appears on track to grow into a more valuable business down the road. Its AI investments and data are underappreciated by Wall Street, making the stock worth holding for the long term. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Loved ones of Gabriela Rodriguez, who was stabbed to death at her home in south Bakersfield, held a car wash fundraiser on Sunday. Rodriguez, 54, was killed outside her home in the 5800 block of Ream Way July 15 while getting her mail. Derrick Williams, 50, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, according to Kern County Superior Court records. The funds from the car wash, which was held on Union Avenue, will help Rodriguezs family during this difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Residents reeling from murder on Ream Way say suspect regularly disrupted neighborhood Juliana Rodriguez, Rodriguezs daughter, said her mother would help anyone in need and she will forever be missed. She was murdered. So, it really hurts but at the end of the day my mom always wanted people to know that theres no need to cry for her, Juliana Rodriguez said. Shes always gonna be there and shes one of those guardian angels thats gonna look after everybody and her bright smile, as you can see is always gonna light up the room and Im gonna cherish that forever. Rodriguez worked as a dental assistant for 11 years at North Kern State Prison in Delano. She was a mother to two and grandmother to three. 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. Family of Hyde Park boy hit and killed by school bus files lawsuit The family of a five-year-old boy from Hyde Park who was hit and killed by a school bus that had just dropped him off from school on April 28 is suing the bus company and the driver, claiming they were acting negligently at the time of the crash. Lens Joseph, a kindergartner at UP Academy Dorchester, was hit and killed when he ran in front of the bus crossing the street to his home on April 28. Hyde Park boy killed in school bus crash laid to rest; family remembers him as definition of life Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleges that the bus driver, Jean Charles, hit two parked cars around 2:30 p.m. and drove away from the scene, missing the turn to drive down the street to Josephs home. Because of the missed turn, Joseph had to cross in front of the bus, the lawsuit claims. Charles had an expired school bus certification at the time of the crash. He was hired by Transdev in May 2023. The bus driver has not been criminally charged in the crash. Boston Public Schools contracts its drivers through a company called Transdev, which hires and oversees the licensing and training for drivers. The lawsuit claims Transdev mishandled the training and supervising of their drivers, including Charles and had a lack of safety equipment on their buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement that Transdev also acted negligently by failing to implement technologies including but not limited to stop-arm cameras, extended stop arms, crossing arms, surround cameras, pedestrian detection sensors, and automatic braking that affects the safety of children being driven by Transdev employees. The lawsuit claims that Josephs 11-year-old cousin witnessed the deadly collision and has since dealt with severe emotional distress including anxiety, depression, sadness, fear, sleep disturbances and behavioral abnormalities. This was a heartbreaking incident that no family should have to endure. The districts outside investigation is ongoing to review the safety policies and performance under the contract. We await the findings from this investigation to make needed changes so this never happens again, a spokesperson for the city of Boston said in a statement to Boston 25. Boston 25 News has reached out to Boston Public Schools, and Transdev for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Airing up a tire in front of a tarp-covered building is the new reality for business owner Leonardo Lugo after Sebastians Tire Shop caught fire on Wednesday. Thats the call that you never expect. Its really sad because weve been doing this for 25 years. And that really broke our hearts, Lugo said. Lugo said the fire is a setback for his business but a team has already come together to help restore it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The buildings owner, Larry Carpenter, said the fire started in the waiting area of the shop, and the damage will take more than three months to repair. There are about five families that work and are involved here, Carpenter said. Theyve been here night and day since Wednesday morning when the fire occurred just trying to clean up and pull things back together. Car wash in North Little Rock engulfed in flames, fire department says it was somebody trying to keep warm Lugo said there are two other Sebastian Tire Shop locations in central Arkansas, but hes worried about this one being out of business because of the income it provides for his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why hes doing everything he can to keep offering services in any way possible. Were still doing the mobile service trying to help as a community, Lugo said. North Little Fire Department has not yet determined the cause of this fire. This is an ongoing 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 KARK. Rarely, if ever, has a party with just a handful of MPs felt sufficiently emboldened to set out plans for government. But Nigel Farage is no shrinking violet when it comes to vaulting ambition. With Reform UK ahead in the opinion polls, he hopes to construct an election-winning manifesto over the next few years to eclipse the Conservatives as a credible opposition while challenging Labour in its heartlands and beyond. Mr Farage kicked off with a 10-point plan to overhaul the criminal justice system, put police back on the streets and clear overcrowded jails of foreign and British inmates. Some of his suggestions look impractical, such as sending prisoners to El Salvador to serve their sentences. He said this would emulate what Denmark had done in transporting 300 convicts to Kosovo, which will be paid for looking after them until their sentence is completed. But these are foreign nationals not Danes and they will be deported to their home countries when their term has ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Farage is suggesting British citizens like the Soham killer Ian Huntley should be removed to El Salvador. This is clearly not going to happen however attractive the proposition might sound. On the other hand, removing thousands of foreign nationals currently in British jails to their homelands like Albania would free up places and help stop the lunacy of letting offenders out early on to the streets. Mr Farage is right to identify crime and lawlessness as a key concern of voters, especially in London and other cities. It is being largely ignored by the mainstream parties despite increased public anxiety and evidence of a growing incidence of robbery. The spate of phone thefts in the capital taking place under the noses of the Met and London mayor Sadiq Khan has got to stop. Burglaries and car thefts are seldom investigated by police despite being serious crimes. Shoplifting is carried out on an industrial scale with virtual impunity. Mr Farage said the zero tolerance approach of New York mayor Rudy Giuliani some 30 years ago cleaned up crime-ridden Manhattan. He argued that it should be replicated in London before it is too late to stop an exodus of well-off residents and tourists. There are already signs that visitors are being put off coming to one of Europes greatest cities by reports of rising crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while the Reform leader is very good at articulating the worries of the populace, he is less convincing when it comes to setting out practical, workable and affordable solutions. These need to be thought through in the years ahead. One thing we know is that voters are fed up with politicians promising what they cannot deliver. 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. Thai farmers have found a way to control the invasive populations of alien blackchin tilapia in aquaculture ponds: fighting fish with fish. The invasive blackchin tilapia, which hails from West Africa, has found its way into commercial aquaculture farming ponds, depleting shrimp, crabs, and native fish populations. According to Nation Thailand, the tilapia has caused significant losses for the farmers. Thankfully, seabass, which eat the tilapia, have become an effective solution. Charoen Pokphand Foods is supporting the Seabass Fund Project, which launched in February. Over the last few months, the farmers have reported a reduction in losses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmers simply drop some seabass fingerlings, or juvenile seabass, into the aquaculture ponds, and the fish do the rest. They've been instructed to release 30 seabass per roughly 17,200 square feet of pond area. Farmers can also sell the fully grown seabass, helping them recoup some of their previous losses. CPF was the only company authorized to import the blackchin tilapia for research purposes. Certain civil groups blame the company for the tilapia infestation. However, CPF points to aquarium fish importers as the infestation's root cause, per Nation Thailand. This is a prime example of an invasive species growing out of control. In this case, the invasive species is threatening people's livelihoods and reducing the food supply. The farmers rely on the profits from selling their shrimp and crabs, and people rely on the shrimp and crabs as a food source. Whether it's a shrimp-eating fish or a sun-hogging tree, invasive flora and fauna also disrupt the delicate balance of an ecosystem. They hoard resources and push out native species, which leads to weakened biodiversity. Without the balance of biodiversity, diseases can spread more rapidly, food and water supplies can become scarce, and climate conditions can become unstable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's essential to avoid using invasive plants in or around your home, and never introduce non-native animals to your community. Instead, choose native plants, which will encourage local biodiversity and support pollinators. Rewilding your yard is one way to see the beauty of native biodiversity in action, leading to a thriving space. Prachuap Jianyi, chief of the Phetchaburi Fisheries Office in Thailand, said the project has been a success. According to Nation Thailand, it has "yielded positive results in helping crab and shrimp farmers manage the invasive species." Shrimp farmer Yai Suknirat said the project has been "very useful, effectively controlling the alien species," per Nation Thailand. 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. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. A fatal crash involving a motorcycle overnight closed Illinois Route 53 in both directions early Monday morning in the northwest suburbs. All lanes in both directions were reopened just after 7 a.m., per Illinois State Police. 1 killed, 2 wounded in triple-shooting at shopping center in Chatham neighborhood late Saturday night, police say According to ISP, the crash involved a motorcycle and a dump truck and happened around 1:30 a.m. Monday on northbound Route 53, near Rand Road in Arlington Heights. ISP says the driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All northbound and southbound lanes on Route 53 at the scene of the crash were shut down for several hours at the scene of the crash, with traffic being diverted to all immediate exit ramps. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines No other information is available 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 WGN-TV. A new investigation will be opened into the 2013 death of Leonard Thomas, an unarmed Black man killed by a Lakewood police sniper during a response to a domestic-violence dispute, the states Office of Independent Investigations announced Monday. A retired King County Superior Court judge made the decision, determining that the new investigation should be based in part on evidence that came out in the civil trial that led to a $15.1 million jury verdict against the City of Lakewood, former Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro who ordered a SWAT team to assault the rear of the home where Thomas was killed and two other officers, who were all found liable for his death. Thomas mother, Annalesa, said Monday that she and her husband dont think opening a new investigation will result in any prosecution of the officers involved. Thats because the decision will be based on the justified-homicide law in place when Thomas was killed, which had a much higher standard for an officers actions to be considered criminal compared to current state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of Independent Investigations (OII) was created in 2021 out of legislation intended to ensure unbiased investigations into police uses of deadly force. Annalesa Thomas requested the new investigation shortly after it formed. She would still like to see the officers charged. I dont think any of them represent the police force we want to have, Annalesa Thomas said. The three officers found liable in Thomas death through the civil trial were Zaro, Sgt. Brian Markert and Officer Mike Wiley. Zaro, who was named Lakewood police chief in 2015, retired in February 2023. Markert, who fired the fatal shot at Thomas, works in the departments patrol division. Wiley is the departments training coordinator and accreditation manager. Wiley was investigated for fatally shooting 26-year-old Said Joquin during a traffic stop in 2020. Prosecutors decided not to charge Wiley, but the case also led to a lawsuit settlement of $8 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Lakewood Police Department, Sergeant Charles Porche, said Tuesday that the department did not have a comment on the OIIs announcement. Explaining why the decision to open a new inquiry was made by a retired judge, the OII said in a news release that it had contracted with a mediation and arbitration service to avoid concerns about a conflict of interest, and the service primarily uses retired judges. Thomas father, Fred Thomas, is a co-chair of the OII Advisory Board, which gives input on agency policies and certain hiring decisions. The judge who made the decision was not named in the news release. Avoiding conflicts of interest, or even the appearance of a conflict of interest, is critical to ensuring that all parties can trust our work to be fair and unbiased, OII director Roger Rogoff said. Under the circumstances, OII had a conflict of interest that prevented it from making a decision free from actual or apparent bias, and therefore referring this matter to a neutral third party was the right choice. Its now up to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorneys Office to review material relevant to the case and decide if any additional investigation is required to decide whether to file criminal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett and some experienced deputy prosecuting attorneys will conduct the review, said Adam Faber a spokesperson for the Prosecuting Attorneys Office. He said they received materials Thursday, and the review had not yet begun Monday. He did not have a timeline for the decision-making process. Faber confirmed that the charging decision would be based on laws in place when Thomas was killed, including RCW 9A.16.040, which required that a police officer acted with malice for them to be held criminally liable for using deadly force. That requirement for prosecuting police who wrongly use deadly force was removed following the adoption of a new police accountability law in 2019 known as Initiative 940. Thomas was shot and killed on May 23, 2013, during a four-hour standoff that began after Thomas mother called police because she had been unable to pick up her 4-year-old grandson from a house in Fife. Thomas had been drinking at the time, according to records and trial testimony previously reported by The News Tribune, and he initially refused to come out of the house when police ordered him to. He had agreed to turn his son over to the boys grandmother and was standing on the porch when Zaro ordered the SWAT team to use a flash-bang explosive on the back door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wiley led that action with another officer, and as they advanced toward the house they shot and killed the familys dog, Baxter. When Thomas reached for his son, Markert shot him. The sergeant later testified at the civil trial that Thomas grabbed his son in a stranglehold and was heading back into the house when he fired his rifle from 90 feet away. The U.S. District Court judge who upheld the jurys verdict, Barbara Rothstein, later castigated the defendants in a 69-page ruling for escalating the incident, writing that they had escalated the probability that someone would die at every step. The original investigation into Thomas death led to no criminal charges, and it was conducted by the Cooperative Cities Metro Crime Response Unit, which included investigators from Lakewood, Fife, Bonney Lake, Puyallup, DuPont, and Steilacoom police departments, as well as investigators from the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annalesa Thomas said none of the officers involved were reprimanded, and three were promoted. She said cities have continued to pay out large settlements when police officers dont follow the law instead of removing officers who show patterns of misconduct. There ought to be some measure of personal accountability in order for our police officers to have a safer working environment and to preserve the rights within our community, Annalesa Thomas said. She added that she would hope that Gov. Bob Ferguson would appropriate more funding to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to hire more investigators to address a backlog of misconduct cases. The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) maintains police officers certifications to work and investigates complaints about misconduct, which can lead to the officer losing their certification. A spokesperson for the CJTC, David Quinlan, confirmed Monday that the commission has a backlog of 1,265 open cases with two teams of investigators, which include two chief investigators and nine investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annalesa Thomas said resolving those cases would result in safer communities and safer police forces. She also said she believed it would benefit the states current budget crisis by cutting down on the number of legal settlements paid out to families harmed by police. The backlog needs to be taken care of so then the CJTC can manage incoming cases with more promptness and efficiency, Annalesa Thomas said. Now you wait years and years and years to even have your complaint heard. NEED TO KNOW A New York City man allegedly fatally stabbed his wife and toddler to death in a Queens home Ernesto Cruz is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, 41, and 2-year-old Analiz Cruz ABC and NBC reported that a relative called 911 after Cruz, who later turned the knife on himself, FaceTimed them during the alleged attack A New York City man is accused of murdering a woman and a toddler before stabbing himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York City Police Department alleged in a press release that Ernesto Cruz, 54, stabbed Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, 41, and 2-year-old Analiz Cruz in a home in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens on Saturday, July 19. Pilatagsi-Moposita and Analiz suffered stab wounds to the chest and neck and were both taken to the hospital in critical condition. Both were later pronounced dead, the NYPD said. Cruz was taken to the hospital in stable condition with a stab wound to the chest. He was later charged with two counts each of murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police. 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. It is not immediately clear if Cruz has retained an attorney or entered a plea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing police, WABC reported that Cruz was married to Pilatagsi-Moposita and was the father of Analiz. WABC and WNBC reported, citing sources, that a relative called 911 after Cruz called them on FaceTime during the attack. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo plans to make investments worth more than $2bn across seven states in its domestic market through 2028. The states of Baja California, Yucatan, Mexico City, Nuevo Leon, Queretaro, Puebla, and the State of Mexico will benefit from the Grupo Bimbo projects, according to a government statement, which did not identify the specific plants operated by the company to receive the investments. The programme will generate more than 2,000 direct jobs and 10,800 indirect jobs, the government said. Under the government's Plan Mexico initiative, Jose Manuel Gonzalez Guzman, the president of Grupo Bimbo's operations in Mexico, outlined in the same statement how the investment "aims to increase the productive and technological capacity of its various plants, modernise its fleet of electric delivery vehicles, [and] promote the circular economy with sustainable packaging". He was quoted as saying: "I believe that Mexico, with this Plan Mexico, will continue to grow in the coming years. This alliance we have, this strengthening of the economy, we must have confidence in it." Grupo Bimbo had not responded to Just Food's request for more details on the planned investment projects and the facilities involved at the time of writing. Ximena Escobedo Juarez, head of the Productive Development Unit and the Office of the Ministry of Economy, listed the municipalities in Mexico that will benefit from the investments. They are: Mexicali and Tijuana in Baja California; Merida in Yucatan; Azcapotzalco in Mexico City; Salinas Victoria in Nuevo Leon; El Marques in Queretaro; the capital of Puebla; and Toluca and Lerma in the State of Mexico. Meanwhile, Reuters' coverage of the investment programme last week also included comments from Gonzalez on US tariffs, made during a press conference by Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum. "We believe that we will not be affected if any tariffs are imposed by the US," Gonzalez was quoted as saying by the news agency. Elsewhere, Grupo Bimbo has been expanding through M&A. It struck an acquisition for packaged breads supplier Karamolegos Bakery Romania, based in Ilfov, Bucharest, earlier this year. And late last year, it snapped up Slovenia bakery business Don Don. The company also struck an acquisition in Brazil last September for the bakery group Wickbold. Posting its first-quarter results in April, Grupo Bimbo said net sales reached a record of 103.7bn pesos ($5.5bn), or 10.8% growth year-on-year. In Mexico, Q1 sales rose 1.7% to 38bn pesos. July 21 (UPI) -- A Quebec man has been charged with killing his 9-year-old daughter in upstate New York and then disposing of her body. New York State Police announced Monday that Luciano Frattolin was arrested on counts of murder in the second degree and concealment of a human corpse. Police from several agencies searched the town of Ticonderoga in New York's Essex County on Sunday in response to a 911 call received Saturday from Frattolin, who reported that his child, Melina Frattolin, was missing and possibly abducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the search, members of the New York State Forest Rangers found Melina's body in a shallow pond. An autopsy to determine the cause of her death is to take place on Monday. Police report that video surveillance taken in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., showed Melina with her father and had spoken to her mother over the phone shortly after. The call did not indicate any sign of duress. Officials allege Luciano Frattolin murdered his daughter and left the body where it was found at some point between the phone call to her mother and when he called 911. Both father and daughter, residents of Montreal, legally entered the United States as part of a vacation, but were scheduled to return home Saturday, when Melina would then be returned to the custody of her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frattolin and Melina's mother have been estranged since 2019, and Melina lived full-time with her mother. Frattolin is currently being held in the Essex County Jail where he awaits arraignment. We're mourning the loss of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin. There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted to X Sunday before police announced the arrest of Frattolin. "[New York State Police] are leading the investigation and working tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable," she added. A Canadian man who reported his nine-year-old daughter missing has been charged with murder after she was found dead. Luciano Frattolin told Warren County Sheriffs Office that his daughter, Melina, may have been abducted. An amber alert suggested she was last seen in a white van heading southbound from Exit 22 on the Northway. Her body was recovered on Sunday morning from the shallow part of a pond north of Lake George village, near the state border with Vermont. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Frattolin has since been charged with second-degree murder and the concealing of a corpse, New York State Police spokesman Robert McConnell said. Authorities said that there were inconsistencies in the fathers account, and that they concluded there was no evidence of an abduction. Police say Luciano Frattolin has no history of criminal or domestic violence - Essex County Sheriff's Office Both Mr Frattolin and his daughter were residents of Montreal. They had entered the US legally for a holiday on July 11, News10 reported. Mr Frattolin has been estranged from Melinas mother since 2019, the website said. The nine-year-old was set to return to her custody following the end of the trip with her father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Melina had spoken with her mother by phone on Saturday evening, and had seemed in high spirits. The investigation has determined, sometime after Melinas phone call with her mother and before Mr Frattolins 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement, state police Troop G captain Robert McConnell said in a press conference on Monday. Police said Mr Frattolin had no history of criminal or domestic violence. 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 Texan father who moved his family to Russia to escape woke America has been sent to the front line. Derek Huffman, 46, relocated to the small town of Istra, around 25 miles from Moscow, with his wife, their three daughters and their husky earlier this year. They did this through Russias shared values visa scheme, aimed at attracting foreigners who reject what Vladimir Putin calls destructive neoliberal ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Huffman had initially agreed to join the Russian military in a non-combat capacity, thinking at first he would be a welder and later a war correspondent. But despite having no experience as a soldier and limited understanding of the Russian language, he has been sent near the front line in the war with Ukraine, according to his wife. DeAnna Huffman said her husband felt he was being thrown to the wolves given that he had only received a limited amount of training, and that it was in Russian. Unfortunately, when youre taught in a different language, and you dont understand the language, how are you really getting taught? she pondered in a vlog uploaded to the familys YouTube channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre not. So, unfortunately, he feels like hes being thrown to the wolves right now, and hes kind of having to lean on faith, and thats what were all doing. The family relocated because of their dissatisfaction with progressive overreach in the American education system Mr Huffmans last message came in June, marking Fathers Day in the US. Wearing camouflage and military gear, he appeared in a one-minute video addressed to his family. I miss you all more than you can imagine, he said. I cant wait to see you, hopefully I get a vacation at some point and I get to go home and spend a couple of weeks with you. But man, youre on my mind 24/7 and just know that what Im doing is important to me and important to our family. Just know I will do whatever it takes to be safe and to come home to you. Take care of each other. Mr Huffmans last video was marking Fathers Day in the US - HuffmanTime/YouTube Since then, there have been no new images or videos of Mr Huffman. The family commented on their YouTube channel that he was doing fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a link on their channel, which has since been deleted, directed users to a Telegram group titled Save that little girls. Created on Sunday, the group contained one message: We are asking the United States government to save this family, along with a photo of Mrs Huffman and her daughters crying in the street. It is unclear if the family created the group. The Telegraph has contacted the Huffmans for comment. Their move to Russia was prompted by their dissatisfaction with what they saw as progressive overreach in the American education system. After relocating from Arizona to Texas, they were disturbed when their daughter Sophia was expected to speak about lesbian topics at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final straw was when we found out my daughter Sophia learnt about lesbians from a girl in her class. She didnt fully understand it, but for us, that was enough to realise something had to change, Mr Huffman told Russia Today. A trip to Moscow in May 2023 convinced the family that Russia offered the traditional values they desired. The city was cleaner, safer, and more orderly than we ever imagined. Most importantly, we found a place that respected our values where we finally felt at home, Mr Huffman continued. Upon arriving in Russia, the family were featured in several state-affiliated media outlets, where they described their move as a rejection of Western cultural values. Mr Huffman said he wanted to earn his place in Russian society not via handouts but through service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The point of this act for me is to earn a place here in Russia, he said. If I risk myself for our new country, no one will say that I am not a part of it. Unlike migrants in America who come there just like that, do not assimilate, and at the same time want free handouts. DeAnna Huffman said in a since-deleted video that her husband had not been paid for his military service But Mrs Huffman has since claimed her husband was misled. When he signed up and had all of that done, he was told he would not be training for two weeks and going straight to the front lines, she said. But it seems as though he is getting one more week of training, closer to the front lines, and then they are going to put him on the front lines. Mrs Huffman said in her vlog: Its been just a few months since our family made the big move from America to Russia, and while weve had amazing adventures, this journey has also brought deep challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being alone in a new country, raising kids, and trying to stay strong has tested me in ways I never imagined, she said. The Huffmans settled in an American village, a settlement in Istra created by US expat and blogger Tim Kirby, who has lived in Russia for two decades. It was founded in 2023 as a refuge for Americans fleeing what Mr Kirby described as liberal gender norms. However only two families, including the Huffmans, are known to have moved there, according to a report by United24Media. 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 father of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead in upstate New York was arrested and charged with her murder Monday after his kidnapping report didnt pan out. Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse for allegedly killing his daughter Melina and dumping her in the shallow portion of a pond, in a remote area, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Lt. Robert McConnell announced at a news conference Monday morning. Hed been booked into the Essex County Jail at 2:04 a.m. on Monday, the Albany Times-Union reported. McConnell said Frattolin was scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Melinas cause of death would be determined once an autopsy had been performed, also on Monday, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both father and daughter were from Montreal and had arrived in the U.S. on July 11 for a planned vacation, McConnell said in detailing the last hours of the girls life. They were due back in Canada Sunday, at which time shed be returned to the custody of her mother in Montreal, he said. The parents had been estranged since 2019, and Melina lived with her mother full time. She knew they were coming to the U.S. and had no issues, as Frattolin had no criminal or domestic violence history, the lieutenant said. Melina and her father were seen on surveillance video in upstate Saratoga Springs at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and she told her mother by phone that they were on their way back to Canada. The child appeared to be in good health, and did not indicate she was under any duress, McConnell noted. Then, for unknown reasons, the visit turned dark. The father, who describes Melina light of his life in the bio of his business website, reported at 9:58 p.m. on Saturday that she had been abducted near Exit 22 of Interstate 87 in Lake George. He told the Warren County sheriffs office she had last been seen at about 9:40 p.m. in a white van headed south. The region is a popular vacation spot in the Adirondack Mountains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office issued an Amber Alert, deeming Melina in imminent danger. But investigators soon noticed inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided, state police said. The investigation has determined sometime after the conversation with her mother, and before Frattolins 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area, where she was later discovered by law enforcement, McConnell said. Frattolin told police that he had pulled into a parking lot near Exit 22 of I-87 to relieve himself, and when he came back, his daughter was no longer in the car, McConnell said. First he said he saw a white van speeding south, then later that he saw two males force Melina into a white van. Such inconsistencies sparked suspicion, and authorities delved further. The Amber Alert was canceled, and the case turned over to state police. The purportedly doting dads sketchy story and technology available to law enforcement led investigators to Ticonderoga, about 30 miles northeast of Lake George, where forest rangers found Melinas body, McConnell said. Numerous agencies had joined in the search, using drones, aviation units and K-9 units, with help from the FBI and the Montreal Police Department, McConnell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public, police said when Melinas body was found. Heartbreaking news out of Lake George, Gov. Hochul said on X. Were mourning the loss of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin. New York State Police are leading the investigation and working tirelessly to hold those responsible fully accountable. With News Wire Services WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Beginning on Monday, construction crews will start work on Highway 98 and Church Street in Walton County. This is a project with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which will be adding a traffic light to the busy intersection. Due to the construction, the shoulder on Highway 98 and the westbound right turn lane are closed. SWFD firefighters battle blaze in Santa Rosa Beach townhome residence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The southbound lane of South Church Street will also be closed. On Tuesday, the northbound right turn lane on Moll Drive will be closed, with the shoulder of Highway 98 remaining closed as well. The Walton County Sheriffs Office is urging residents to be aware while traveling on this stretch or to avoid this area if possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Students getting their l lunch at a primary school in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Cuts to food assistance and health care through the recently signed federal tax cut and sending bill may jeopardize Maines free school meals program. Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid will not only leave thousands of families without access to the critical social safety nets, but also indirectly threaten whether Maine can keep offering free breakfast and lunch to all students, experts said. Thats because SNAP and Medicaid data is used by schools to determine who is eligible for free meals, and although all Maine students now eat for free, a higher percentage of families in a district qualifying for free or reduced breakfast and lunch means a higher federal reimbursement rate for the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ripple effect is devastating for some households, said Anna Korsen, deputy director of Full Plates, Full Potential, a nonprofit focusing on food insecurity and nutrition. And its the same households who are already struggling to make ends meet, already having to make really hard choices about, Do I pay for rent? Do I pay for medicine? Do I pay for food? Under the universal meal program, the state pays districts to offer meals without charging students, but the amount of money that comes from the federal government depends on the percentage of low-income families each public school serves. The higher the percentage of families that qualify for free meals, the bigger the federal reimbursement. Traditionally, this percentage was determined by parents filling out free-and-reduced meal applications, but now that school meals are free for all students, the state shifted away from relying on the applications and now uses different ways of determining the free and reduced meal eligibility in each school, which is an important data point used for various federally funded programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those ways is Direct Certification, under which if a student or their family is eligible for SNAP or Medicaid, a state-federal program that provides health coverage for low-income people, they automatically qualify for free school meals. So far, the Maine Department of Education has not received any guidance about potential changes to the Direct Certification process for free and reduced lunch benefits, according to department spokesperson Chloe Teboe. But due to changes in the big, beautiful bill, thousands of Mainers may lose access to SNAP or Medicaid, meaning they will no longer be counted in a school districts percentage of students qualifying for free school meals an important funding metric to determine poverty level within the district although they are technically eligible. That means the state will not receive adequate reimbursement for providing meals to those students, adding to the state share of school meal funding. Free meals for all was already a big ask when it first went into law, and that was when the federal government was giving more money, Allison Leavitt, nutrition director of the Lisbon School Department and president of the Maine School Nutrition Association said. Now the feds are giving less money and its like, how do we do this? Some school districts, such as Lisbon, have secured Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) status for the next four years, which offers an alternative for school districts to not have to submit free and reduced meal eligibility every year. That status, which more than 120 schools are using this year, according to Maine Department of Education data, simplifies the process by automatically qualifying schools with a high percentage of low-income students for the higher federal reimbursement rate, and keeps them at that rate for a few years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CEP helps schools to focus on their primary job of feeding and educating kids, instead of trying to chase down all this paperwork to make sure theyre getting the right amount of federal funding to meet their students needs, Korsen said. It just streamlines everything and SNAP and Medicaid are really important programs that inform schools eligibility for CEP. Under former President Joe Bidens administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees school lunch programs, lowered the programs eligibility threshold from 40% to 25% of students from low-income families, meaning more Maine schools could receive federal meal funding starting the 2024-25 school year. Thats what allowed Leavitts district, which has about 30% of students eligible for free or reduced school meals, to seek the status. School nutrition directors are now closely monitoring potential policy changes that might impact that programs eligibility, she said. A few months ago, a federal budget proposal suggested raising the threshold to 60%, which would have only allowed a handful of Maine districts to qualify, and Leavitts district wouldnt have been one of them. Even though I am locked in to CEP, they could come back next month and change something, she said. Should they go to 60%, almost nobodys going to be eligible in Maine. The challenges of collecting free and reduced meal information manually If a school is not eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision, they have to rely on collecting income data by asking families to fill out free and reduced meal forms. These are not only time consuming from an administrative perspective but, since all Maine students continue to eat for free, there is little incentive for parents to fill them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre also probably going to see people refraining from participating just because of the burden of filling out all the extra paperwork that may be coming down the road, said Erica Kenney, associate professor of public health nutrition at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health. As families lose SNAP and Medicaid benefits, schools will have a hard time keeping track of who qualifies for free and reduced meals on paper, Kenney said. Theyre still going to be there, she said, But theres not going to be any way for states to know whos there and whos not there. Going back to this system also creates administrative burdens for school nutrition directors, who would need to track changing eligibility and potentially return to older, complex meal application processes to seek reimbursement, Leavitt added. Besides, because Maines income threshold for free meals is extremely low $41,795 annually for a family of four she said many students who realistically need free meals are not eligible for them based on the forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this day and age with the price of groceries, rent, cars, gas its kind of a joke, Leavitt said. All three nutrition experts that spoke with Maine Morning Star warned that these changes threaten not just meal access, but students overall ability to learn and develop, highlighting the critical link between nutrition and educational success. Rural schools and districts with high poverty rates would be particularly vulnerable to these potential disruptions, they said. If kids arent eating at home outside of school, their ability to learn and develop and be a healthy person is impacted, Korsen said. Beyond meal access, the changes could ripple through other educational funding streams, Korsen said. Title I grants and other federal educational support programs often rely on free and reduced-price meal data for allocation. As fewer students become automatically eligible, schools could see reduced funding for critical educational resources and support programs. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Floodwaters left debris, including vehicles and equipment, scattered in Louise Hays Park on July 5 in Kerrville, Texas. Emergency managers say Trumps cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service could prove devastating during future disasters. (Eric Vryn/Getty Images) With hurricane and wildfire season well underway across much of the country, state and local emergency managers say they have little idea how much support the federal government will provide if disaster strikes. And the recent deadly floods in Texas have shown just how dire the need can be. President Donald Trump has imposed severe cuts on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and denied some states requests for disaster recovery funds. FEMA also has failed to issue grants that many emergency managers rely on to fund their agencies or to communicate its plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyomings Office of Homeland Security, which responds to disasters, relies on the feds for 92% of its money, said Director Lynn Budd. With that federal support in question, the state could face a precarious situation when the current grants expire at the end of September. If we dont get this funding, what are we going to do? Budd said. Youre taking our capability away. Budd serves as president of the National Emergency Management Association, a nonprofit focused on public safety. She said state officials have been told by Trump that theyve become too dependent on federal support. Trump and officials in his administration have repeatedly talked of scaling back FEMA and pushing states to take the lead in disaster response. But in the wake of this months devastating flooding in Texas, administration officials have backed off Trumps claims that he would eliminate the agency altogether. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson did not grant an interview request, but issued a statement calling on states to play a larger role in disaster response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State and local officials say Trump has provided no clarity about which disasters will qualify for federal recovery funds. He has denied support for disasters that met the existing criteria. At the same time, FEMA has yet to issue federal grants that provide much of the funding for local emergency management agencies. As local leaders in rural Saluda County, South Carolina, work to rebuild from last years Hurricane Helene, they say the recovery process has been slowed by Trump administration policies making it more difficult to access disaster aid. Worse, the countys Emergency Management Division has no idea whether the feds will release the grant funding that makes up most of its budget. Are we going to see the help we need arriving? said Josh Morton, director of Saluda Countys Emergency Management Division. I dont know. When we pick up the phone, is there gonna be anybody there to answer? Aside from the cuts to state funding, FEMA under Trumps administration has lost about a quarter of its full-time staff, according to The New York Times. The agency also cut hundreds of contractors at call centers, The Times reported, resulting in thousands of missed calls in the days following the Texas flood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, emergency managers say that Trumps cuts to the National Weather Service could further impair their ability to respond to fast-moving disasters. The feds pull back Trump and his administration have frequently said states should take on more responsibility for responding to disasters. Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in an April statement to Stateline that the federal government would provide support only for truly catastrophic disasters, adding that states should have an appetite to own the problem. Emergency management experts say it would be inefficient for all 50 states to stockpile the resources, staff and recovery funding to handle disasters on their own. Having a national agency that can deploy where its needed is far less wasteful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no reason for every state to have all the resources that FEMA has, said Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Obama and Biden administrations. He noted that FEMA also plays a key coordinating role with other federal agencies during disasters. Theres no reason for every state to have all the resources that FEMA has. Michael Coen, chief of staff at FEMA during the Obama and Biden administrations Morton, the Saluda County official, echoed that concern. He also serves as first vice president with the International Association of Emergency Managers, a nonprofit representing professionals in the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be impossible for every county in the U.S. to maintain an adequate disaster recovery fund on their own, he said. Right now, we have a disaster fund at the federal level, and that money is able to be moved around to where its needed in the moment. That really is the best bang for the buck for the American people. But that federal support is no longer a sure thing. Morton said recovery funds for Hurricane Helene which walloped states from Florida to North Carolina have been slower to materialize than for previous disasters. FEMA officials have required more paperwork, he said, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems insistence that she personally approve any expenditure over $100,000 has also slowed the process. Disaster declarations In other parts of the country, state officials have petitioned Trump for disaster declarations, only to be rejected altogether. Washington states request for disaster aid following storms last November that caused at least $34 million in damages met all the very clear criteria to qualify, said Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, but was denied by FEMA. While Trump administration officials have proposed limiting the events that qualify for federal relief, they have yet to issue new criteria. State leaders say they have gotten no clarity from the feds about whether they can count on support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We really need some communication on what to expect, said Budd, the Wyoming official. If we know theres no federal funding coming, that would be an awful situation, but at least we can plan for that. Some experts say states should prepare for disaster relief to be approved along partisan lines. We just have to be honest that this White House is going to spend more resources, time and effort on people who live in red states than in blue states, said Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security Project at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government and a former Obama administration official. Its a hard thing for me to admit, and I dont know how to solve it, but if you look at his reaction to [the Los Angeles wildfires in] California as compared to Texas, its very clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since February, Trump has denied six of the 10 major-disaster requests he has received from Democratic governors, according to an analysis from Seattle National Public Radio affiliate KUOW. He has approved 14 of 15 requests he has received from Republican governors during that same period. Missouri has requested four disaster declarations this year and Trump approved all, but not with out extensive delays. The declaration for the May 16 St. Louis tornado came 15 days after Kehoe made the request. The declaration for April 29 storms in Scott County took 20 days from the day of the request. That makes the St. Louis request the fastest of four for Missouri this year, but it took longer than 10 of 20 disasters declared from 2010 to 2024. Meanwhile, FEMA has yet to release the preparedness grants that many state and local governments depend on to fund their emergency management agencies and conduct projects to prepare for disasters. Those grants were set to be issued in May under a spending bill passed by Congress. Coen, the former FEMA official, noted that the Texas Division of Emergency Management received nearly $20 million in federal funding last year to support day-to-day operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas hasnt been able to apply for that grant this year, he said. If they never get that grant, are they going to have to lay off staff or cancel contracts? FEMA has also revoked another set of grants, totaling $3.6 billion, that was intended to help communities prepare their infrastructure to withstand disasters. Weather agency cuts Amid the uncertainty at FEMA, emergency managers are also alarmed by Trumps cuts to the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA has lost nearly 2,000 employees, The New York Times reported, 600 of whom worked for the weather service. The cuts have left many forecasting offices understaffed, with some no longer able to operate overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service plays as big of a role in protecting lives as anyone else in government, said Morton, the Saluda County official. It would be very hard for emergency managers to do our jobs effectively without the National Weather Service. But if these cuts keep coming, youre going to start to see deficiencies. Budd, the Wyoming official, said the weather agency is crucial during wildfires. Thats how we know when its time to alert our communities or evacuate an area, she said. You can put firefighters lives on the line very quickly if they dont have notification that those winds are changing. She added that Trumps cuts to the U.S. Forest Service and other land management agencies have added another layer of concern as wildfires begin cropping up throughout the West. With the loss of federal support, Budd said officials are likely to become increasingly reliant on state-to-state resource-sharing compacts that allow them to call on one another during emergency situations. Rudi Keller of The Independent staff contributed to this report. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. AUSTIN (KXAN) More than a hundred Austin Independent School District employees could lose their jobs as the White House reviews billions of dollars in federal education grants, effectively holding up the release of the funding as the summer nears an end. The district said it does not have alternative funding for these programs or the staff. Were facing a significant loss in federal funding that will impact how we deliver some of the programs we deeply value, Segura said in a note to Austin ISD families. The U.S. Department of Education notified state education agencies nationwide on June 30 that the federal government is extending its review of five grant programs. The department was expected to release the funds the next day. In the email to the Texas Education Agency, USDE officials said the department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds until the review is complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the Presidents priorities and the Departments statutory responsibilities, the email stated. TEA officials said $667 million in federal funds are being withheld from Texas, the majority of which is awarded directly to school systems across the state. Segura told reporters last week that more than $ 9 million meant for Austin ISD is on hold. The funds are not going to be released. We cant assume they will, Segura said. Austin ISD to evaluate resources after $9M in federal funding cuts The delay impacts multiple federal formula grants and discretionary programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including programs that support students learning English, professional development for educators, afterschool programs like Austin ISDs ACE, and migrant students whose families perform temporary and seasonal work in its agriculture and fishing industries Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is one of the funding sources that the federal government said it would review in the June 30 email to state agencies. According to TEA, funding for 21st CCLC helps support the creation of afterschool programs, particularly for students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. Politico reported on Friday that the Trump administrations review of the program is complete, and it is expected to distribute the funding as expected. USDE has not responded to KXANs questions about the grant programs under review or the 21st CCLC program. Officials with the Texas American Federation of Teachers said even with the potential release of some of the federal funding, they remain deeply concerned by the withholding of the rest of the funding. These are vital dollars. They are also vital dollars that school districts have already budgeted for. Every day they are withheld causes further instability as we get closer to the start of the school year, Texas AFT spokesperson Nicole Hill said in a statement to KXAN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin school board approves turnaround plan for schools with unacceptable state ratings According to Austin ISD officials, Supt. Segura informed the staff directly impacted that the district is reviewing the implications of this funding hold and will notify them of any changes to their employment by August 1, with August 15 being their final day in their role if the district can no longer sustain the program. Austin ISD is already facing a $19.7 million shortfall and is set to close multiple campuses as part of its consolidation plan. District officials told KXAN that other positions are available within the district, and the talent strategy team will work to determine if employees impacted can be hired into those roles. This is a developing story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN Intern Kara Mihm also 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 KXAN Austin. PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) A federal grand jury last week indicted a Youngstown man on a gun charge. Read next: Trumbull County judge charged with DUI and felony gun offense Jaron Lewis, 30, faces a charge in the U.S. Western District Court of Pennsylvania of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment was issued July 15. Online court records show a court date of Aug. 15 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kezia O.L. Taylor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment charges Lewis with having a .22-caliber pistol and a .380-caliber pistol on March 3. Details of how Lewis was found with the guns were not provided. Lewis is not allowed to have firearms because of a Feb. 2018 conviction in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for assault and illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a detention facility and a May 2018 conviction in the same court for possession of cocaine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In a filled courtroom, the battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration continued on Monday as the two made arguments for a federal judge to rule in their favor without going to trial. Judge Allison D. Burroughs didnt make a ruling in court but said she will get an opinion out as soon as possible. Harvard is pushing for the decision to be made before September due to a deadline for paperwork related to grants. While she didnt indicate where she might be leaning, her flurry of questions for the lawyer representing the Trump administration pointed to concerns of using the issue of antisemitism to cancel funding across the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a Jew and an American, she said she understands the issue of antisemitism and that it hits close to home. However, the argument being made isnt about whether antisemitism occurred, but rather whether the Trump administrations actions toward Harvard were legal, she said. Two lawsuits were lumped together in court. One was about the federal government stripping $2.6 billion of its federal dollars and additional contracts in the name of addressing campus antisemitism. The other is a lawsuit led by the American Association of University Professors including the Harvard chapter and the Harvard Academic Workers chapter of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (HAW-UAW). The lawyers focused on the impact on researchers and faculty as a result of the federal administrations actions and how a settlement between the university and the federal government could only continue to hurt the community members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Lehotsky, a lawyer representing Harvard, said the federal government is retaliating against the university under the guise of campus antisemitism, which hasnt been adequately proven, he said. While the institution published a report on incidents of antisemitism at the university, it doesnt show that it is an issue that is in every lab or infecting all of the university and the Trump administration has only relied on Harvards report, he said. He said the Trump administration has been acting along the lines of a phrase described in Alice in Wonderland, which is sentence first, verdict later. In doing so, the administration has put valuable research at risk and impacted the lives of Harvard community members. This case is really about the federal control of the innermost workings of Americas oldest institution of higher education, Lehotsky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Velchik, on behalf of the Trump administration and as a Harvard alum, argued that the federal government isnt anti-Harvard. It is pro-Jewish students and faculty. He argued that the termination of federal funding toward the university is warranted because taxpayer dollars shouldnt be going to an institution that hasnt done enough to combat campus antisemitism. He said it is legal because of President Donald Trumps executive order that told federal agencies to use all tools at their disposal to combat antisemitism. Research funds could be better spent at institutions like historically Black colleges and universities or community colleges that dont discriminate, he said. Read more: Trump admin invokes Civil Rights Act in argument for Harvard funding cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court date came after the institution announced to staff that the hiring freeze it had enacted earlier this year would continue. The Trump administrations actions such as cuts to research funding and the threat of ending Harvards ability to accept foreign students could cost the institution $1 billion a year, Harvard administrators said. The institution has also been impacted by President Donald Trump signing into law the Big Beautiful Bill which dramatically increased a tax on income from Harvards endowment. Judge push-back Burroughs pushed back on whether the federal government could cancel grants across the institution en masse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She questioned what the relationship is between antisemitism and making such drastic cuts, stating that theres no documentation, theres no procedure. Burroughs also asked whether the federal government would have to prove, on a case-by-case basis, that a researcher or lab was antisemitic or engaging in that behavior for a termination to occur. Velchik argued that it is under the federal governments authority to terminate any funding that doesnt align with federal priorities. Pushing back, she stated that the consequences of that in terms of the constitutional law are staggering to me, she said. What has happened between Trump admin and Harvard? The Trump administration has targeted Harvard since April, going after billions of dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demanding an overhaul of Harvards leadership structure, admissions and hiring the federal government warned the school could risk losing $9 billion in funding. Harvard rejected those demands, stating they seek to invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court. Then the fight over funding occurred. It began with a $2.2 billion funding freeze on April 14 after the school refused to comply with the federal administrations demands. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit on April 21, arguing that its constitutional rights had been violated by the governments threats to pull billions of dollars in funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard President Alan Garber also signed onto a letter with hundreds of other university presidents pushing back against government overreach and political interference by the Trump administration. At the beginning of May, the Trump administration said it would bar Harvard University from acquiring new federal grants while the school continues to refuse to comply with the administrations demands for change on its campus. A few days later, eight federal agencies cut $450 million in grants and then the United States Department of Health and Human Services cut $60 million in grants from the university. Harvard went on to amend its lawsuit against the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 16, a wave of nearly one thousand federal research grant terminations began, amounting to more than $2.4 billion, according to an analysis by Nature. In response, Harvard established a new Presidential Priorities Fund, asking for donations in the midst of federal cuts. Some of Harvards schools, including its School of Public Health, took to social media to ask for donations after nearly every single federal grant had been terminated. Other ongoing accusations In May, multiple U.S. House committees also began investigating Harvard, accusing the institution of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, according to a 14-page letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is requesting information about Harvards activities that create risks to U.S. national security and further the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) genocide in Xinjiang. On April 17, the U.S. Department of Education sent Harvard a records request, demanding that the institution disclose foreign investments. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the records request the first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities. Higher education institutions are required to disclose foreign source gifts and contracts with a value of $250,000 or more to the U.S. Department of Education through Section 117 reports. Harvard said it has been doing so for decades as part of ongoing compliance with the law. Around the same time, Trump threatened to end Harvards tax-exempt status, which he has continued to say he will do, aiming for the institution to instead be taxed as a political entity. Foreign students The Trump administration has also been trying to take away Harvards ability to enroll foreign students. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked a key certification allowing Harvard to enroll international students in May. The revocation came after the federal government gave Harvard an ultimatum in April to submit detailed records about foreign students or lose the certification. In response, Harvard filed a complaint and a motion for a restraining order on May 23. Burroughs then granted the order. A week later, the same judge granted a preliminary injunction, allowing Harvard to continue enrolling international students. Then on June 24, the judge ruled that the Trump administration couldnt invoke national security powers to ban foreign students from Harvard. About 27% of Harvards undergraduate and graduate students are international, according to 2024 to 2025 data. While Harvard said it gave information required by law about foreign students illegal activity and records at the end of April, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said it was unsatisfactory. Harvard would have another opportunity if it provided detailed records about international students within 72 hours, according to Noems letter. Dave Eisenstadter contributed to this reporting. More Higher Ed Read the original article on MassLive. A judge has sentenced a man to federal prison who approached a Dallas church with a rifle in 2024 and had previously killed his roommate in 2022. Russell Alan Ragsdale, 25, was sentenced to 5.5 years in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release on July 17 for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, after he reportedly shot and killed his roommate in Seagoville, according to a release from the Department of Justice. Prosecutors had previously dismissed a murder charge against Ragsdale for the killing, according to court documents obtained by The Dallas Express. He claimed he acted in self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But federal officials brought the most recent charges for the killing after Ragsdale approached St. Augustine Catholic Church in Dallas with a rifle, apparently trying to commit a shooting. A Potential Mass Shooting Ragsdale targeted St. Augustine Catholic Church in southeast Dallas on November 2, 2024. According to a Department of Justice release, he entered the church alongside 100 parishioners at 5:05 p.m. that evening. During the service, according to Fox 4, Ragsdale embraced the priest, kissed him on both cheeks, and gave him a note: May peace be with you. After the service, he went to his car, where he donned a black and white poncho. He allegedly retrieved a rifle from his trunk, according to the release, and closed the gates to the church parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ragsdale attempted to re-enter the church with his rifle at 5:35 p.m., but the worshipers had locked him out. A witness at the scene thought Ragsdale may have been trying to commit a shooting, according to Fox 4. He was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The Roommate Killing While investigating the apparent attempt on the church, agents learned Ragsdale was arrested in February 2022 for felony murder of his roommate in Seagoville though the murder case was later dismissed. Ragsdale called 911 early the morning of February 3, 2022, to report the shooting, The Dallas Morning News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He claimed his roommate had attacked him, so he shot him many times in self-defense. Officers found three guns including a Glock 10mm and an AR-15, plus hallucinogenic mushrooms at the scene. At the time, a Dallas County jury indicted Ragsdale for murder, claiming he intentionally and knowingly killed roommate Timothy Patrick Morris, according to court documents obtained by The Dallas Express. Morris was 19 at the time, and enjoyed things like video games, Magic Cards, concerts, animals, John Wayne, and Johnny Cash. But a Dallas County prosecutor later dismissed the case, according to a February 20, 2024, court document obtained by The Dallas Express. Katherine Miller, with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas, declined to comment and suggested The Dallas Express contact local authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dallas Express asked the Dallas County District Attorneys office why the murder case was dismissed, but did not hear back in time for publication. More recently, after the apparent attempted church shooting in November, federal officials arrested Ragsdale on November 22, 2024, after reviewing the killing of his roommate. They charged him with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Investigators analyzed his phone, showing a history of drug use back to November 2021, and evidence he bought and used shrooms the day before the killing. He pled guilty on April 29, 2025, admitting he was legally intoxicated from consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms when he possessed the 10mm Glock. When Senior U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Ragsdale last week, she noted he did not present sufficient evidence to support his self-defense claim, according to the DOJ. She also said Morris death was the defendants own making. Bottles of tequila now command premium prices in trendy bars. On Instagram, celebrity-backed brands of the agave-based Mexican spirit jostle for attention. And debates over cultural appropriation and agave sustainability swirl alongside booming tourism in Jalisco, the western Mexican state that serves as the worlds tequila distillation hub. But behind the spirits flash of marketing and growing popularity lies a rarely asked question: Where did the knowledge to distill agave come from in the first place? In recent years, scholars studying how Indigenous communities responded to colonialism and global trade networks have begun to look more closely at the Pacific world. One key focus is the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade route, which linked Asia and the Americas for 250 years, from 1565 to 1815. After Spain colonized the Philippines in 1565, Spanish galleons towering, multidecked sailing ships carried Chinese silk and Mexican silver across the ocean. But far more than goods traveled aboard those ships. They moved people, ideas and technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them was the craft of distillation. This overlooked connection may help explain how distilled agave spirits such as tequila came into being. While tequila is unmistakably a Mexican creation, the techniques used to produce it may owe something to Filipino sailors, who brought with them deep knowledge of transforming coconut sap into a potent spirit known as lambanog. 3 competing theories For centuries, the rise of tequila has been credited to the Spanish. After the conquest of Mexico in the 16th century, colonizers introduced alembic stills, which are based on Moorish and Arabic technology. Unlike simple boiling, distillation requires managing heat and capturing purified vapor. These stills represented a major technological leap, allowing people to transform fermented drinks into distilled spirits. Agave, long used to make the fermented drink pulque, soon became the base for something new: tequila and mezcal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colonial records, including the Relaciones Geograficas, a massive data-gathering project initiated by the Spanish Crown in the late 16th century, describe local Mesoamerican communities learning distillation from Spanish settlers. This version is well documented. But it assumes that technology moved in only one direction, from Europe to the Americas. A second idea suggests that Mesoamerican communities already had some understanding of vapor condensation. Archaeologists have found ceramic vessels in western Mexico that may have been used to capture steam. While distillation requires additional steps, this prior knowledge may have primed Indigenous groups to more readily adopt new techniques. As Mexican ethnobotanists Patricia Colunga-GarciaMarin and Daniel Zizumbo-Villarreal have argued, The adoption of distillation was likely not simply imposed, but creatively adapted to local knowledge systems. A third perspective, which other researchers and I are exploring, traces a potential Filipino influence. The galleon trade brought thousands of Filipino sailors and laborers to Mexico, particularly along the Pacific coast. In places such as Guerrero, Colima and Jalisco, Filipino migrants introduced methods for fermenting and distilling coconut sap into lambanog, the coconut-based spirit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stills they used, sometimes called Mongolian stills, were built with clay and bamboo and included a condensation bowl. Historian Pablo Guzman-Rivas has noted that these stills more closely resemble the earliest Mexican agave distillation setups than European alembics. He has also documented oral traditions in some coastal Mexican communities to link local distillation practices to their Filipino ancestors. The still on the left in Jalisco, Mexico, has similarities to the lambanog on the right from Infanta, Quezon, Philippines. Photo on left courtesy of Patricia Colunga-GarciaMarin and Daniel Zizumbo-Villarreal; photo on right courtesy of Sherry Ann Angeles and Rading Coronacion, CC BY-SA Beyond the bottle Filipino influence extends beyond the distilling pot. In Colima and other Pacific port towns, traces of the Manila galleon trade ripple through daily life in kitchens, cantinas and even in architecture. The word palapa, used in Mexico and Central America today to describe rustic thatched roofs, is exactly the same as the term for coconut fronds thats primarily used in the Bicol Region of the Philippines. Filipino migrants in Mexico also shared knowledge of boatbuilding, fermentation and food preservation. Coconut vinegar, fish sauce and palm sugar-based condiments became part of Mexican cuisine. One of the most enduring legacies is tuba, the fermented coconut sap still popular in coastal areas of the Mexican state of Guerrero, where Filipino sailors once settled. Known locally by the same name, tuba is sold in markets and along roadsides, often enjoyed as a refreshing drink or as a cooking ingredient. CC BY-SA A replica of a galleon, the Spanish trading ship that traversed the worlds oceans from the 16th century to the 18th century. Dennis Jarvis/flickr Exchange moved both ways. Filipino vessels carried corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes and cacao back across the Pacific, reshaping food in the Philippines. These exchanges took place under the shadow of colonialism and forced labor, but their legacies endure in language, in taste and even in the roofs over peoples heads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Technical knowledge rarely travels through official channels alone. It moves with cooks in ship galleys, with carpenters below deck, with laborers who desert ships to settle in unfamiliar ports. Sometimes it was a way to build a roof or preserve a flavor. Other times, it was a method for turning a fermented plant into a spirit that could keep for long voyages. And by the early 1600s, new types of distilled agave spirits were being made in Mexico. Tequila is unmistakably a product of Mexico. But it is also a product of movement. Whether Filipino migrants directly introduced distillation methods or whether they emerged from a mix of Indigenous experimentation and European tools, every time you sip tequila, youre tasting an echo of those long ocean crossings from many centuries ago. 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: Stephen Acabado, University of California, Los Angeles Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephen Acabado receives funding from the Henry Luce Foundation and the National Science Foundation. New fine-dining restaurant to open in Trotwood; Owner asks community to support local businesses A new fine dining restaurant is set to open in Trotwood by mid-August. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, Tae Wilson, owner of MarTae Kitchen and Cocktails, said local support can make or break a restaurant. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I see the struggle. Especially with the economy and how things are going now. Its like you have to work very, very hard and be creative to keep your restaurant open. I plan on doing that, I plan on being creative and keeping good energy in here, Wilson said. MarTae Kitchen and Cocktails will open at 5212 Salem Avenue. Wilson said shes planning to stand out along the busy road. They dont have any fine dining. I feel like this is the perfect place when I was looking, Wilson said. The restaurant will be one of many local businesses under Wilsons belt. She said a successful business is dependent on community support, and events like Restaurant Week can shine a light on local businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope the community gets out and supports these restaurants, and is intentional. Especially with small or local businesses. Were the ones that work hard. And small businesses pour back into the community, Wilson said. The concept for MarTae Kitchen and Cocktails has been in the works for a year. Wilson said they are working on the final details before the grand opening. Hopefully by mid-August those doors will be open and well serve everybody, she said. For more information on MarTae Kitchen & Cocktails, click here. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (WWLP) Crews were called to a fire alarm activation at the VFW in Great Barrington on Sunday night. In a news release from the Great Barrington Fire Department, at around 9:22 p.m. on Sunday, crews were called to a fire alarm activation at the VFW located at 800 Main Street. Upon arrival, no smoke or flames were visible from the outside. When firefighters entered, heavy smoke could be seen in an adjacent room. The fire was located in a display cabinet and put out within minutes. Police recover body in Becket Quarry drowning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews from the Monterey Fire Departments Rapid Intervention Team assisted, and the Sheffield Fire Department provided station coverage. Smoke evacuation procedures were conducted and the potential for fire extension within the building was also checked. No injuries were reported. Great Barrington Fire Chief Scott Turner said that the fire was caused by a light fixture inside the display cabinet. The memorabilia inside was preserved. VFW fire in Great Barrington (Great Barrington Fire Department) This is yet another case where working smoke and fire alarms made a real difference, said Deputy Chief Mead. Early detection allowed for a paid response and kept damage to a minimum. 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. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21 condemned yet another overnight mass Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine that killed two and injured nine others as "an assault on humanity." Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 450 drones and missiles during the attack, which lasted several hours, with Kyiv, the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kharkiv badly hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region," Zelensky wrote. Explosions rocked Ukraine's capital, Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported at 2:16 a.m. local time, with multiple further explosions and the sound of drones lasting until after 5 a.m. One person was killed as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv, Tkachenko reported. Ukraine's State Emergency Service later said nine people had been injured. Zelensky said two people were killed across the country but did not specify where the second death occurred. Smoke engulfed Kyiv's Lukianivska metro station as residents took shelter amid the Russian drone attack, local media reported, and a kindergarten in the Dniprovskyi district caught fire. "The night was quite difficult," Tetiana Skrypka, a resident in an apartment building near the Lukianivska metro station, told the Kyiv Independent. She had taken shelter in a parking lot and heard the area being hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We ran out to look everything was engulfed in flames, the first two floors. My apartment is on the third floor. It was damaged: windows blown out, radiators destroyed," she said. "But thanks to the firefighters, they managed to extinguish the fire very quickly. If it had taken just a bit longer, the fire would have spread further." The attack comes a week after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose severe tariffs on Russia in 50 days if there is no peace deal with Ukraine, not the first deadline Washington has imposed on Moscow, a fact not lost on those in Kyiv. Liudmyla, 65, a retiree, who lives in the neighbouring apartment to the ones that were destroyed due to the overnight Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 21, 2025. (Anna Donets / The Kyiv Independent) "This is called mocking people. He (Trump) laughs at people. And this is what is happening, Liudmyla, a 65-year-old retiree, pointing to an apartment in a damaged residential building close to the Lukianivska metro station, told the Kyiv Independent Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "First he gave two weeks, now he gives 50 days." After spending the night in a shelter and listening to explosions at a neighboring building, 54-year-old Natalia Ihnatenko said she "doesn't see any end to this at all." "(The peace process) should have worked already," she told the Kyiv Independent as she swept up broken glass left behind by the blast. "The Russians have no conscience." Russia has intensified strikes in recent weeks, targeting cities far from the front line with drone and missile attacks. In the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, air defenses were working, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv reported at 3:13 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In one of the community's villages, windows have been broken," he said at 5:09 a.m. local time, adding that there are reports of injuries. Russian strikes continued to target the western oblast, Martsinkiv reported at 6:05 a.m. "This is the largest attack since the full-scale invasion," he said. Infrastructure was damaged in three villages, and there are reports of injuries in one village, Martsinkiv reported. Four people, including a child, were injured, according to the State Emergency Service. Poland scrambled fighter jets early on July 21 in response to a Russian missile strike on Ukraine, the country's Armed Forces Operational Command reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polish and allied air forces activated jets, while air defense and radar systems were placed on high alert. The last similar incident occurred during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine on July 19. The latest Russian mass attack comes a few days after Zelensky's invitation to hold peace talks with Moscow in Turkey this week. "Dialogue with the Russian side on prisoner exchanges is ongoing we are continuing to implement the agreements reached during the earlier meeting in Istanbul," Zelensky said. "Our team is currently working on another exchange." But Moscow appears unwilling to shift from its maximalist demands in ending its war with Ukraine, as Putin remains focused on achieving his goals on the battlefield, a Kremlin spokesperson said on July 20. Consequences of the Russian overnight attack on residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 21, 2025. (Anna Donets / The Kyiv Independent) The woman waits for a bus near the damaged subway station due to the overnight Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 21, 2025. (Anna Donets / The Kyiv Independent) "President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a Russian-state media reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear," Peskov added. In Kyiv, those who spoke to the Kyiv Independent expressed little faith in both the peace process and the West's ability to force Russia to end its full-scale invasion. "I believe Putin could have been stopped a long time ago," Alla Kovtun, a pensioner speaking near the site of the damaged kindergarten, said. "But it seems the foreigners are more interested in watching Russia weaken gradually than actually ending the war. Read also: This is what Ukraine could hit in Russia with US Tomahawk missiles Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A structure fire in Allegany County on Saturday hurt a firefighter and led to the deaths or disappearances of more than a dozen animals, according to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal. The structure fire in Westernport occurred at 3:22 a.m. and took 30 minutes to control, the office said in a Monday notice. First discovered by a resident, the fire originated in the living room on the first floor of the two-story, single-family home. One firefighter sustained minor, non-life-threatening injuries, and 15 dogs and three cats died or are missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The house sustained an estimated $225,000 in damages. Seventy-five firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire, with Potomac Fire Company #2 being the primary department. The family of residents is being assisted by the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Have a news tip? Contact Brendan Nordstrom at bnordstrom@baltsun.com or on X at @bnords03. No injuries were reported following a West Hartford house fire involving rooftop solar panels on Sunday afternoon, according to the West Hartford Fire Department. The West Hartford Fire Department quickly controlled a fire on Linbrook Road after firefighters observed smoke and flames coming from the rooftop where the solar panels were located, shortly before 1 p.m. According to the fire department, Captain Ben Coker deployed a 1-inch hand line into the residence and advanced to the finished attic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire crews encountered a smoke condition, and upon opening the ceiling, located and extinguished the active fire. The residents self-evacuated, but due to the damage from the fire, they were unable to remain in the home. The origin and cause of the fire is under investigation by the West Hartford Fire Marshals Office. The West Hartford Building Department was also on scene to evaluate the structural integrity of the building. FALL RIVER, Mass. (WWLP) A lieutenant from the Fall River Fire Department says the mental health of firefighters is a top priority and there is a need for professional resources. Paving and line painting taking place in Pittsfield this week The Last Call Foundation is committed to protecting the firefighting community. The non-profit was born after two firefighters in Boston died battling a nine-alarm fire back in 2014. An ongoing discussion within the first responder community: health, wellness, and safety with the goal to improve each of their standards. The last call foundation is going to be able to put some resources in filtering out what we can handle at my level and what we can push out to a more professional, clinical route, says Lt. Jason Burns, Fall River Fire Department and Executive Director of The Last Call Foundation. Lt. Burns was one of dozens of firefighters who responded to the Gabriel House Fire last Sunday. Ten people died at the assisted living facility in Fall River, the deadliest fire in Massachusetts in more than 40 years. The mental health of those on the front lines is often forgotten. My firefighters, when they were done at the scene, continued their shift and responded to calls, says Lt. Burns. Lt. Burns shared with 22News that fire departments have come a long way in how they support their staff. Trained firefighters will typically listen and debrief; however, these peer supporters are not clinicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 20% of firefighters suffer from PTSD at some point during their career. The Last Call Foundation funds academic research finding solutions for those impacted by PTSD. To donate or get involved with the Last Call Foundation, visit here. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Vidya Ranganathan SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Japan's upper house election on Sunday dealt a big blow to the ruling coalition and sets markets up for possible policy paralysis and a bigger fiscal deficit, much of which is already priced in, analysts said. The nation's ruling coalition lost control of the upper house, further weakening Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power even as he vowed to remain party leader, citing a looming tariff deadline with the United States. Japanese markets were closed on Monday for a holiday, but the rise in the yen and Nikkei futures showed investors had already priced in the election outcome. The Japanese currency has weakened considerably this year on expectations of changes to taxes and a bigger fiscal deficit. The election result, while not entirely a shock to markets, also comes at a tricky time for a country trying to get a tariff deal with U.S. President Donald Trump before an Aug. 1 deadline. Japanese government bonds (JGBs) plunged last week, sending yields on 30-year debt to an all-time high, while the yen slid to multi-month lows against the U.S. dollar and the euro. "I will not chase the coalition loss trades, and I suspect participants will spend some time analysing the implications of the loss, which could take time to materialize, and also refocus attention to the trade negotiations which is another major macro risk for Japan," said Rong Ren Goh, a portfolio manager in the fixed income team at Eastspring Investments. Investors expect it will be a while before it becomes clear whether the ruling coalition intends to continue as a minority government, or draw in a new partner. Among the most likely candidates is the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), which has urged the Bank of Japan to reverse course and again loosen monetary policy. Investors are bracing for the LDP to compromise heavily to accommodate opposition parties' desire for tax cuts. Ishiba's fate also remains an unknown, although he said on Sunday he intends to stay in his position. Within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a leading candidate to replace Ishiba, should he step down, is Abenomics proponent Sanae Takaichi, who has advocated for a resumption of monetary easing by the BOJ. All three leading opposition parties back some form of consumption tax cuts, with the populist, right-wing Sanseito proposing a phase-out of VAT altogether. Those cuts would have to be paid for with increased Japanese government bond issuance. With debt about 2-1/2 times GDP, Japan is already the world's most indebted major country. OTTAWA, Ontario (ABC4) The famous cookie brand founded in Logan, Utah, has expanded into another popular Utah niche dirty sodas. The catch? For now, you can only get them in Canada. According to a press release from the cookie brand, Crumbls new dirty sodas launched today in Canada, and offer more than 40 handcrafted drinks made to pair perfectly with your favourite dessert. Customers can choose between one of Crumbls drink ideas or invent their own flavour concoction. On Instagram, Crumbl Canada showed off some of the new options available. Aside from dirty sodas, two other drink options are being offered: chargers and coolers. Chargers are described as caffeinated, flavourful perfect for a refreshing lift, and coolers are described as classic sparkling water base and fruit flavourings to create a refreshing and hydrating treat! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ NEXT: You can now own a home at one of the worlds most secluded hotels here in Utah Crumbl has always been about creating experiences people love, and drinks felt like the perfect next chapter, Sawyer Hemsley, Crumbls Chief Brand Officer and Co-Founder, is quoted in the release. Dirty Sodas give our fans more ways to mix, match, and make every visit their own. This Friday, customers in Canada can enjoy a kick-off promotion to celebrate this fizzy new frontier. The first 100 people at any Crumbl Canada location on Friday, July 25, will receive a free merch bundle. Additionally, between July 28 and Aug. 2, Crumbl Canada customers can earn double the crumbs (loyalty points) on dirty soda purchases. Lifes too short for boring drinks, so try a Dirty Soda only at Crumbl Canada locations, the press release concludes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unknown whether these drinks will ever come to the brands home state of Utah. According to Crumbls press team, there are currently no plans to bring them to the U.S. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill has issued a Flash Flood Warning for several counties in the Kansas City metro until 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. As of 9:20 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Cass County and Jackson County. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 The NWS stream model for Indian Creek at Overland Park, Indian Creek at Stateline and Tomahawk at Roe are looking to rise to near flood stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the weather service, some of the locations that will experience flash flooding include Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Lees Summit, Shawnee, Lenexa, Leawood, Raytown, Grandview, Belton, Prairie Village, Raymore, Merriam, Mission, Spring Hill, Peculiar, Fairway, Mission Hills and Westwood. Be sure to stick with FOX4 online and on air for weather 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the weekend said that his agents would arrest any individual who is in the country illegally. But their focus is still on the worst of the worst. Under the Trump administration, Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, told CBS News we have opened up the whole aperture of the immigration portfolio, meaning that if youre here illegally and ICE goes out and arrests someone that is released from a sanctuary jurisdiction or wanted in their home country, and an ICE officer finds other individuals with them who are in the country illegally, were going to take them as well. Lyons confirmed that agents will arrest anyone in the U.S. illegally, but emphasized they will focus only on targeted criminals with a record or those with a court order of removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So while we still are going out after the rapists, murderers, terrorists, we are (also) going to encounter individuals that are here illegally. But what I can promise is, our main focus is those public safety threats, are those national security concerns, because thats what ICEs mission is, Lyons said. Attacks against federal law enforcement Attacks against officers in the last year have increased by 830%, Lyons said, and part of the blame, he believes, is the rhetoric being shared online, specifically by elected officials, regarding ICE agents and ICE missions. Over the weekend, an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer was shot during an altercation with an illegal immigrant who had previously been deported. The officer was apparently struck in the face and forearm on Saturday evening in Manhattans Riverside Park, per Fox News. Following the incident, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national, was taken into custody, along with a second individual, Christhian Aybar-Berroa, a non-documented immigrant from the Dominican Republic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City, Kristi Noem, Homeland Security secretary, said of Nunez during a press briefing on Monday morning. He was arrested four different times in New York City, and because of the mayors policies and sanctuary city policies, was released back to do harm to people and to individuals living in this city. Noem blamed Manhattans sanctuary city policies for the attack on the officer, who she said is currently fighting for his life in the hospital. She also posted on social media, We will NEVER tolerate violence against our officers. We will NEVER tolerate violence against our officers. "We've seen violence against our officers go up over 830% just in recent days because of the rhetoric out of politicians... I would call on everybody today to recognize what can happen how in one moment, someone's life can pic.twitter.com/wrpX2BYtur The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 21, 2025 White House border czar, Tom Homan, echoed Noems comments during the press briefing, arguing that Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals. Hard stop. ... Every sanctuary city is unsafe. Im going to work very hard with Secretary Noem to keep President Trumps promise and his commitment several weeks ago that sanctuary cities are now our priority. Were going to flood the zone, he said. It's not just you. It's hot out there, dangerously hot. Heat index advisories have been issued for the entire state of Florida with heat index values of 110-115 expected for July 21 as a heat dome spreads across the South, forecasters said. Temperatures across most of the state are expected to be in the 90s and may approach 100 degrees around Orlando and Southwest Florida, forecasters said. July 21 is also the one-year anniversary of the hottest day on record for the Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Florida and the Panhandle (and parts of southeast Alabama and southern Georgia) are under a heat advisory from 11 a.m. ET through 7 p.m. with heat index values up to 112 expected. Advisories for Central, Southwest and South Florida are scheduled for noon through 6 p.m., with heat index values from 109 to 112 possible. The National Weather Service Heat Risk Map for July 21 shows most of Florida at risk of Major Heat, which can cause heat stroke and other heat-related dangers. The National Weather Service's Heat Risk map shows roughly two-thirds of Florida from the Panhandle down into the Central and Southwest regions facing major heat risk, with pockets of extreme heat risks in the Big Bend area and parts of the Southwest. "The 'Dog Days of Summer' are in full swing for most of the eastern two-thirds of the Lower 48," Peter Mullinax with the NOAA/NWS Weather Prediction Center said in a Monday morning update. "This is brought about by a strengthening heat dome originating over the Deep South that builds in over the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys by mid-week. "Expect some localized daily record highs to be broken in the Southeast," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida heat wave: Whats the best setting for your AC thermostat? Heat index alert: Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida How dangerous is the heat in Florida? When your body gets hot, it cools itself off by sweating. If you get too hot, you can't cool off fast enough and your brain, your heart, and other organs can be damaged. If the relative humidity is high (that's the moisture in the atmosphere), your sweat doesn't evaporate as quickly or at all and you heat up even faster. That leads to dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and potentially fatal heat stroke. Anyone can get heat stroke, but infants, the elderly, and people with chronic disease, or people who have suffered from heat stroke in the past are at higher risk because their bodies may not be able to regulate temperature effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heat waves kill more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined, despite being more preventable. According to the CDC, the average number of heat-related deaths per year in the U.S. has risen 95% from 2010 to 2022. Florida saw an 88% increase in heat-related deaths from 2020 to 2023. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke in Florida: Symptoms, what to do, when to call 911 Heat advisory issued for Panhandle. Heat index up to 110 Heat index advisories have been issued for the Florida Panhandle July 21, 2025. A heat advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. CT to 7 p.m., National Weather Service Mobile said, with heat index values up to 108 expected. Heat advisory issued for Tallahassee, Big Bend area. Heat index up to 112 Heat index advisories have been issued for North Florida July 21, 2025. A heat advisory is in effect for the North Florida region July 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heat index values are expected to reach 112 in portions of southeast Alabama, the Big Bend and Panhandle of Florida, and south central and southwest Georgia. Heat advisory issued for Jacksonville, Northeast Florida. Heat index up to 110 Heat index advisories have been issued for North Florida July 21, 2025. A heat advisory was issued for Northeast Florida for July 21, in effect from noon ET to 6 p.m. Heat index values up to 110 expected for all of northeast and north central Florida and southeast Georgia, the National Weather Service Jacksonville said. Heat advisory issued for Central Florida, East Coast. Heat index up to 112 Heat index advisories have been issued for Central Florida July 21, 2025. A heat advisory has been issued for Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Okeechobee, Indian River, St Lucie, and Martin counties from noon to 6 p.m. ET July 21. Heat index values from 108 to 112 expected, the National Weather Service Melbourne said. Heat advisory issued for Southwest Florida. Heat index could be 109 A heat advisory has been issued for portions of southwest and west central Florida from noon to 6 p.m. ET July 21. Heat index values up to 109 expected. Heat advisory issued for South Florida. Heat index from 105 to 110 Heat index advisories have been issued for South Florida July 21, 2025. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for South Florida from noon July 12 until 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The heat index could reach between 105 and 110 across portions of southeast, south and southwest Florida and could reach even higher is some isolated locations, the National Weather Service said. A major heat risk means there is a risk for heat-related illnesses for most residents, especially for those without access to air conditioning or who don't stay hydrated. Dangerous heat: Heat advisory issued for Palm Beach County as temperatures and humidity soar Heat index and temperature map for US, Florida What is the heat index? Heat index calculator The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At its most basic: the heat index is what the temperature feels like when you're outside. The chart above shows the combination of air temperature with humidity. It's important to note the chart uses the air temperature in the shade. In direct sun, the air temperature can be up to 15 degrees higher. In Florida, except for Miami-Dade County, the National Weather Services offices around the state would issue a heat advisory if the heat index is expected to reach 108 to 112 degrees. The National Weather Service Miami said Miami/Dade County wanted a lower threshold for an advisory for its population, which was set at 105 degrees. NWS issues several types of heat-related warnings National Weather Service changed its heat watch and warning terms in March 2025. Here's what you should know: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Excessive heat watches were renamed to extreme heat watches. Issued when dangerous heat is possible and residents are encouraged to be prepared. Excessive heat warnings were renamed to extreme heat warnings. Issued when dangerous heat is happening or about to happen. What is a heat advisory? Issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria. See when heat watches and warnings could be issued in your area What is a heat advisory? A heat advisory is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria, according to the National Weather Service. "Residents are advised to consider postponing or rescheduling outdoor activities, especially during the heat of the day. If you must be outside, be sure to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade. Stay in a cool place, especially during the heat of the day and evening." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a heat advisory is issued also depends on where you are in Florida. For most of the state, a heat advisory is issued if the heat index is expected to be between 108 to 112 degrees. Here is the breakdown by each NWS region. A heat advisory is issued when the heat index is expected to be: Western Panhandle: 108-112 degrees Central Panhandle, North Florida: 108 to 112 within the next 6 to 24 hours or air temperature is forecast to reach 103 degrees Northeast Florida: 108-112 degrees East Central Florida: 108 to 112 degrees In South Florida : 108 degrees in South Florida or 105 degrees for Miami/Dade and Broward counties Southwest, West Central Florida: 108-112 or the air temp is greater or equal to 103 degrees Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service Miami said Miami/Dade County wanted a lower threshold for a heat advisory for its population. Signs, symptoms of heat stroke Heat stroke is the most serious of heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Signs and symptoms include: Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech Loss of consciousness (coma) Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Seizures Very high body temperature Heat stroke is fatal if treatment is delayed What to do: Call 911 Move the person to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing Cool the person quickly, using the following methods: With a cold water or ice bath, if possible Wet the skin Place cold wet cloths on the skin Place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin Soak clothing with cool water Circulate the air around the person to speed cooling Signs, symptoms of heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating, the CDC said. Signs and symptoms include: Headache Nausea Dizziness Weakness Irritability Thirst Heavy sweating Elevated body temperature Decreased urine output What to do: Take the person to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment Call 911 if medical care is unavailable Have someone stay with the person until help arrives Remove the person from the hot area Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks Cool the person with cold compresses or have the them wash their head, face, and neck with cold water Encourage frequent sips of cool water How to stay safe. What do meteorologists recommend when it's hot outside? What's the best temperature to set your air conditioner thermostat? Drink plenty of fluids Stay in an air-conditioned room Stay out of the sunshine Check on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. 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 911. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will provide weather coverage as conditions warrant to keep you informed and prepared. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida heat advisories issued with heat index up to 115 expected Sen. Blaise Inglogia is sworn in by Supreme Court Justice John Couriel Monday, July 21, 2025, in the Florida Cabinet chamber. (Photo by Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix) One of Gov. Ron DeSantis most loyal supporters took the oath as Floridas new chief financial officer Monday but delivered remarks that could reignite a political battle between DeSantis and President Donald Trump. Former state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, sworn in as Floridas fifth CFO by Supreme Court Justice John Curiel, promised to hit the ground running and praised DeSantis for putting Florida on a path to prosperity in contrast, he said, to whats going on in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump last year endorsed state Sen. Joe Gruters, a long-time Trump supporter who has been at odds with the governor over a spate of issues including legalization of adult recreational marijuana. Ingoglia by contrast has backed the governor throughout his tenure, most recently on property tax reduction and illegal immigration. The office comes up for election in November 2026. You are not going to see anyone fight harder for the taxpayer, the consumer, than I will and Im planning on hitting the ground running. Im going to wake up every day with one goal in mind: to make sure that we continue on this path, Ingoglia said during a ceremony at the Capitol. He praised DeSantis for making sure Florida continues to be the greatest state in the union and the greatest state we have ever seen. D.C. is going in a complete opposite direction than Florida is. We have become the shining light for every other state out there. When Florida does something, other states listen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingoglia clarified those remarks in a gaggle with journalists. What thats directed at is what President Trump is trying to accomplish in Washington D.C., he said when asked about the remarks. D.C has been reckless spending, overspending, not caring about the future prosperity of Americans. Donald Trump is trying to put that back and install that. So, when Im talking about the differences in D.C. is what Florida has already done and what Donald Trump is attempting and is currently doing in Washington, D.C. Ingoglia dismissed the notion of bad blood between Trump and himself. Im a big fan of the president. Ive worked on his campaigns before, said Ingoglia, who was chair of the Republican Party of Florida when Trump was elected the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My job right now is to make sure that I get in there and do the best possible job as I can as CFO. I know two things in politics, is that the voters will not reward you unless you do a good job and the second thing is usually when I say usually, its like 99%of the time in Republican primaries the most conservative candidate wins. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE An act of disloyalty? Ingoglias career in the Legislature included an eight-year stint in the Florida House of Representatives from 2014-2022 and three years (2022-2025) in the Florida Senate. In 2023, he filed a bill to cancel the Democratic Party. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (Image via the Florida House of Representatives) Florida House Democratic leader Fentrice Driskell criticized the appointment in a statement to the press and predicted the move would land DeSantis on the wrong side of the president. She also criticized Ingoglia, who touts himself as a fiscal conservative, for supporting the $450 million Everglades immigrant detention camp dubbed by Republicans as Alligator Alcatraz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I see that as proof that his loyalty to DeSantis will always come before whats in the best financial interest of the people. He also has a long history in the Legislature of working to make it harder to vote and promoting partisan stunts like trying to outlaw the Democratic Party. It is interesting that DeSantis chose to defy Donald Trump and pick Ingoglia over Trumps endorsed candidate. Those two have a frosty relationship, and Trump will probably view this as an act of disloyalty. Floridas CFO wears a variety of hats, from state fire marshall to the head of the Florida Department of Financial Services, the agency charged with state regulation of the insurance and banking industries. The CFO also heads the states accounting and auditing efforts and is responsible for paying the bills. Additionally, the CFO serves on the Florida Cabinet with the states attorney general and agriculture commissioner, setting policy with the governor on a range of issues including bond finance, environmental land buys, insurance, and executive clemency. The crowd of onlookers included banking and insurance lobbyists as well as former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, now president of Florida International University; former Republican CFO Jeff Atwater; and Sen. Jay Collins, who before the swearing-in ceremony walked around the room gladhanding the onlookers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins is purported to be on a short list of candidates to replace Nunez. Calling balls and strikes Homeowners insurance continues as a pressing priority for Florida consumers, and there were hopes of regulatory changes during the 2025 session following an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times finding that following hurricanes Irma and Michael insurers raised premiums to cover losses while transferring billions of dollars to affiliated companies. We are going to watch insurance companies and make sure that theyre doing what theyre contractually obligated to do, paying on the claims. If theyre slow-rolling stuff, were going to have conversations with them, Ingoglia said. Im not going to sit back. Im not going to allow anyone to game the system whether it is on one side or the other side, whether it is the trial attorneys gaming the system or insurance companies gaming the system. Im going to call balls and strikes. DeSantis introduced Ingoglia, a homebuilder and ranked poker player, praising him for being straight-up with voters. DeSantis last week criticized Gruters when he explained why he was appointing Ingoglia instead. Gov. Ron DeSantis at Blaise Ingoglia CFO swearing in ceremony July 21 (Photo credit: Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix) I am confident hes going to be a bold CFO because he has been bold and has delivered meaningful results to people when hes been in office in the House and in the Senate, and thats the best indicator of whether somebodys going to fight for you, is whether they have fought for you in the the past. Hes been a fighter. Every time theres been a fight hes turned towards the fire and hes done what he told the voters he would do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingoglia is not the first politico to assume the CFO job without first being elected. Former Gov. Rick Scott appointed political ally Jimmy Patronis to the post in 2017; he subsequently was re-elected. Patronis resigned in November to run for Congress after President Donald Trump nominated Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Gaetz ultimately withdrew his nomination because of a scandal. A second Cabinet appointment Ingoglia is the second DeSantis appointee to serve on the Florida Cabinet the governor appointed former aide James Uthmeier Florida attorney general after appointing Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate. Ingoglias appointment was lauded by Americans for Prosperity, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the NRA in a press release sent out by Ingoglia. Senator Ingoglia has consistently led the fight for pro-gun legislation and stood firm against efforts to undermine the rights of law-abiding gun owners during his tenure in the Florida Legislature. Most recently, he successfully passed legislation to safeguard Second Amendment rights during a state of emergency, the NRA-Institute for Legislative Actions statement reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NRA looks forward to his continued leadership and is confident that he will bring the same dedication and integrity to the role of CFO as he has throughout his legislative service. We applaud his appointment and remain grateful for his ongoing support of the Second Amendment in Florida, the group continued. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Florida man was arrested last week for allegedly threatening on X to kill "EVERY ONE" on what he believed was the Jeffrey Epstein client list, charging documents unsealed Monday show. Terrell Bailey-Corsey allegedly posted the threats on X last Tuesday, seemingly reacting to a response from X's AI agent Grok that disputed any such client list exists, as the FBI and Justice Department recently confirmed. "Well @grok you're wrong. Everyone involved if I see them in real life I will KILL. On sight," Bailey-Corsey allegedly said. "I will KILL EVERYONE ON THE LIST. ON SIGHT. AND THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE IT." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'We are so back': MAGA supporters rally around Trump following WSJ Epstein article Roughly an hour after that post, Bailey-Corsey posted another message singling out three government officials -- unnamed in the charging documents -- saying he would "KILL YOU ON SIGHT." "IT'S TIME TO START KILLING POLITICIANS ON SIGHT," he added minutes later. Prosecutors detailed multiple other concerning messages they say were posted by Bailey-Corsey over the next several days, including a video posted where he threatened another unnamed government official. New York State Sex Offender Registry - PHOTO: This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. News of Bailey-Corsey's arrest was first reported by CourtWatch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A public defender listed as representing Bailey-Corsey did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News. As of Monday afternoon, Bailey-Corsey had not yet made his initial court appearance according to court records, and had not yet entered a plea. Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors. Upset that pornographic novels were in public school libraries, state leaders demanded administrators remove 55 books from their shelves, and Orange County Public Schools complied last month. But newly obtained library data shows many of those books were rarely, if ever, checked out by students during the past academic year. OCPS had 41 of the books on the state list in circulation during the 2024-25 school year, district data shows. Twenty-two of the books were never checked out from any of the districts schools. The 19 that were checked out left the shelves fewer than 10 times each in a district with almost 60,000 high school students. The states push to rid schools of the 55 books documented first in a threatening letter from Floridas attorney general to Hillsborough County schools frustrated some Orange school leaders who called it a non-issue given that most of the books never got checked out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it also prompted worries from some First Amendment advocates who are alarmed that the state, which already leads the nation in school book bans, demanded specific books be yanked from schools based on out-of-context passages some found objectionable. And it highlighted a broader worry among educators that teenagers are not reading books for pleasure as much as they once did, in part because of cell phone use. Our children spend a lot more time on social media platforms than ever before and gaming. That has taken away from reading, said Superintendent Maria Vazquez. If OCPS students are reading, they arent getting books from school libraries as much anymore. Book checkouts are down by almost one million since 2016. Elementary school students on average check out almost 20 books a year from school libraries but high school students just one. As state leaders threatened Hillsborough over the 55 books, OCPS and the Osceola County school district decided to remove them, too, even though OCPS attorney said he did not think they met the legal definition of pornography. Seminole County Public Schools said it did not have any of the titles on its shelves, and the Lake County school district did not respond to questions about whether the books were in its libaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book on the states list that was checked out the most in Orange was Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout, a fantasy novel about a woman who can communicate with ghosts that includes sexually explicitly scenes. It was checked out nine times in total from the five OCPS high schools that had it on library shelves. By comparison, the most checked-out book in OCPS last school year was Treasure in the Lake by Jason Pamment, a graphic novel about two friends who discover a hidden city. It is meant for children in grades 3 to 6 and was checked out 4,987 times. Other books on the states ban list include: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, a novel about a 15-year-old delinquent in dystopian England, that was checked out just twice from OCPS libraries last year; Forever by popular author Judy Blume, a young adult novel about a girl falling in love for the first time and losing her virginity, which was never checked out; and This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson, a non-fiction guidebook for young LGBTQ+ people, that was also never taken out. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called books on the list patently pornographic and said Hillsboroughs failure to remove them put children at risk, a charge repeated by then Education Commissioner Manny Diaz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, after being told how few OCPS students checked out the targeted books, repeated the same point. Minor children should not have access to pornographic materials, let alone have access to those materials in publicly funded schools, Sydney Booker said in an email Thursday. But Melissa Byrd, an Orange County School Board member, called it a non-issue that was made an issue because its political, given the limited checkouts. Board member Angie Gallo agreed, saying at the June 16 meeting where the board authorized the books removal that theres been way too much time spent on something that very few people are reading when at the heart of whats happening to our children really is the internet and our phones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallo also said the states demands were an overreach that made her very uncomfortable and very nervous. First Amendment advocates were also upset, worried the state was stomping on local school boards authority and wrongly labeling any sexual descriptions in novels as pornographic. Stephana Ferrell, the co-director of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, which was formed to fight book bans, said she fears the list of 55 is just a start and the state will next try to remove books in higher circulation. They picked what they thought were 55 books nobody would miss. And so the fact that your data shows that there isnt a lot of checkouts here is kind of the point, right? she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New state laws passed in 2022 and 2023 put heightened scrutiny on school library books, requiring media specialists teachers with additional library training to review and approve all books in classroom collections and school libraries and to exclude those that include pornography or sexual conduct. New state training for media specialists also warned them to err on the side of caution when approving books and that they can face criminal penalties and lose their teaching certificates if they approve inappropriate books. Last year, Florida led the country in school book bans with 4,561 instances in the states public schools, according to a report by free-speech group PEN America. But despite the controversies, far fewer students are reading for pleasure. A study by Pew Research Center found that the percentage of 9-, 13- and 17-year-olds who said they read for fun almost every day has been declining for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Margeaux Aydt, a 2024 Winter Park High School graduate, said she never checked out books from school libraries. Now a student at the University of Central Florida, Aydt also said she didnt read for pleasure in high school. The media center at Winter Park was often used for standardized testing, so it never seemed available for students to come in, she said. No one was ever really in there, Aydt said. Some teachers used to suggest students find resources for assignments in the library, but with information more freely available online that has completely gone away, she added. Allison Kibbey, the districts director of instructional technology and library media, said school libraries have tried to meet the digital demand by highlighting what books can be checked out on e-readers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Digital book checkouts through the schools have increased in the last year, she said, and many older students may also be reading books on their devices that they access elsewhere, all of them finding that more convenient than a visit to a school library. Theyre not not reading. Theyre just not necessarily coming to the media center, she said. Finding affordable housing in Florida has become increasingly difficult, even in mobile home parks, which were once considered a low-cost option. While apartment rents remain high, some mobile home residents now pay nearly $1,000 a month just to rent a lot. But in Fruitland Park, a community about an hour outside of Orlando, one mobile home park is bucking that trend. Nancy Hurt has lived in Harbor Oaks Homeowners Cooperative, Inc., for more than 30 years. Unlike residents in corporate-owned parks, she pays just $125 a month, which includes trash collection, water and yard maintenance a rate thats near-mythical in todays rental market. Our maintenance fee does not go up, Hurt told News 6. They manage to get income from different sources in the park, which allows us to pay the $125. Those sources include dock rentals and boat trailer parking, thanks to the parks location along Lake Griffin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The secret? Cooperative ownership. Don't miss Resident-owned communities offer more control and lower costs Harbor Oaks became a resident-owned cooperative in 1996. That means residents collectively own and manage the park through a board of directors, rather than paying rent to a corporate landlord looking to make a profit. Resident-owned means that you control the park, said fellow Harbor Oaks resident Geno Moser. No corporation comes and just takes over and runs you in the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even non-shareholders living in Harbor Oaks pay less than residents of corporate-owned parks. Paul Nowak, president of the homeowners association, told News 6 that renters pay around $400 a month, which includes the $125 maintenance fee. It's a major difference from the rising trend in corporate ownership of mobile home parks across Florida, where many residents report that monthly lot fees have increased sharply. According to a News 6 investigation, there are now more than 700 resident-owned parks across the state, giving residents more options. In Florida, mobile home communities generally fall into one of three categories: Full-rental parks, where a company owns both the home and the land and residents are tenants. Land-lease parks, where residents own their homes but rent their land. This can create challenges if the house is old and unable to be moved when the rent increases. Resident-owned cooperatives where homeowners collectively buy and manage the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While all models have their pros and cons, many residents and experts say cooperatives offer more control, better stability and lower costs. Theyre not here to make money, said Betsy Barbieux of Florida CAM Schools LLC, which trains managers of homeowners associations. Theyre here to pay bills and so you have a more conservative approach to the budget. Read more: Americans are revenge saving to survive but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Heres how to quickly earn 280% more on your cash How to join or become a resident-owned mobile park Most resident-owned parks start as traditional rental communities. However, when an owner decides to sell, Florida law grants tenants a right of first refusal, allowing them to band together and make an offer before the park hits the market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The landlord wants to sell the park. The law protects the owner-renters by giving them the right of first refusal to purchase the park, explains Barbieux. That means the owners can purchase the park and manage it themselves. If you're looking for a co-op park, search online using terms like "resident-owned mobile home communities" or "co-op mobile home parks." This model can be a lifeline for retirees or working-class residents trying to manage costs on a fixed income or cope with the rising costs of food and daily necessities. Barbieux recommends that prospective mobile home residents ask plenty of questions before signing a lease and consider a co-op over a corporate-owned park whenever possible. Just ask a lot of questions and be sure. They should very definitely consider a co-op rather than a rental park." What to read next Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Mike Schmidt, New York Times Investigative Reporter and Tim Heaphy, Former lead investigator for the January 6th Select Committee join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss new reporting from the New York Times which provides stunning details about the Donald Trumps past encounters with Jeffrey Epstein and why those revelations could be the reason why the President is so rattled over the idea of releasing the files. DANTE, Va. (WJHL) Local chicken food truck The Cluck Truck will offer free food to flood victims in Southwest Virginia on Monday. The hot meals will be available from 5 7 p.m. at the Dante Community Center (142 Lower Bear Wallow Road). More than 20 people were rescued after flooding impacted the Dante area of Russell County on July 18. Russell County Sheriff William Watson told News Channel 11 on Sunday that power has been restored in the area and cleanup efforts remain 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. John Lewis is poised to reinstate its prized staff bonus for the first time in four years after upbeat trading put it on course for higher profits. The retail partnership, one of Britains largest mutuals, is considering paying out the bonus to 69,000 workers after a turnaround in performance at its flagship stores. According to internal documents, the groups board will be asked to recommend reinstating the payout if pre-tax profits reach 200m for the year to February 2026. Profits last year totalled 126m, up from 42m, and sales are expected to have increased in the first half of 2025 leaving it well positioned to hit the milestone. The documents, seen by the Financial Times, said John Lewis expected to pass the 200m threshold and added to get there we need to keep focused on the right things and deliver our plans. Bringing back the payout would mark a major win for Jason Tarry, the new chairman who joined the retailer last September replacing Dame Sharon White. The former UK chief of Tesco has steered a turnaround drive at the partnership, with bosses saying they are now relentlessly focused on retail again having dabbled in financial services and housing. Bringing back the staff bonus would mark a major win for Jason Tarry, the new chairman John Lewis, which also owns grocer Waitrose, first cancelled the prized payout in 2020 having paid the bonus every year since 1953. It was briefly reinstated in 2022 but has not been paid since amid a tougher trading environment. Despite tripling profits last year, the group said it had prioritised higher pay for staff as well as other investments instead of paying the bonus. The move prompted anger from members, who campaigned to get the payout reinstated. A staff petition launched earlier this year said that workers were working harder than ever but many were getting less recognition. The bonus meant something more than just money. It was a sign that the company saw and appreciated us, the letter said. John Lewis has faced a variety of struggles in recent years, including navigating the pandemic as well as rising levels of online shopping destroying trading in its bricks-and-mortar stores. In 2021, under Dame Sharon, it suffered a 648m loss because of a significant write-down on the value of its shops as well as restructuring costs. On the back of this, the retailer launched a five year cost-cutting plan to try and return to profit. The partnership paid a record 116m in salaries last year and raised its minimum pay to 11.55 an hour. Reviving the payout hinges on trading remaining successful for the rest of the year. A John Lewis spokesman said: As we said at our full year results in March, we expect to increase our profitability in the coming year. 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. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. A Missouri woman is accused of selling several fake gold bars to a Festus man over a two-month period last year. According to the Festus Police Departments probable cause statement, the victim contacted authorities on Dec. 12, 2024, to report hed been scammed. The victim said he purchased a total of 14, one ounce gold bars from Alyssa D. Robert on five occasions between Oct. 1 and Nov. 27, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert would visit the victims home to make each sale. The victim bought two bars at a time and paid Robert $4,000 in cash with each purchase, police said. The victim only learned the bars were fake after taking them to be examined. The probable cause statement did not say what substance the bars were made of. Police finally contacted Robert in summer 2025 to question her about the phony gold bars. The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Robert with 10 counts of forgery. Robert was issued a criminal summons and ordered to appear in court on Monday, Sept. 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 FOX 2. Darren Walkers post-Ford Foundation future is starting to take shape, as the outgoing president is now set to join The Obama Foundations board of directors. The Obama Foundation, the Chicago-based nonprofit of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama focused on encouraging active involvement in democracy through initiatives like the My Brothers Keeper Alliance and the Obama Youth Jobs Corps, announced Monday that Walker would join the board on Nov. 1. Darren Walker is an outstanding example of what it means to lead with purpose in philanthropy, President Obama said in a statement. Darrens work to challenge long-held assumptions, stand up to injustice, and build unlikely partnerships aligns perfectly with the mission of the Obama Foundation. His experience and insight will sharpen our thinking and deepen our impact as we help the next generation of leaders change their world for the better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker, 65, who has led the Ford Foundation since 2013 and oversaw major investments in gender equity and disability rights, is one of philanthropys best-known leaders. He has been one of Rolling Stones 25 People Shaping the Future and Times 100 Most Influential People. Joining The Obama Foundation Board feels like coming home to everything I believe about leadership and change, Walker said in a statement. I believe deeply in the power of individuals to change the world, and Im honored to work with President and Mrs. Obama to help empower and support the next generation of changemakers. In addition to his new role at the Obama Foundation, Walker has already been named president of the National Gallery of Art. In September, The Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy, and the Values We Share, a collection of his essays, will be published. The Ford Foundation has selected Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken, a leading expert on constitutional law and democracy, to succeed Darren Walker as its president. Marty Nesbitt, chairman of the Obama Foundations board of directors, said Walker will help the nonprofit stick to its mission. Darren brings a rare combination of visionary thinking and practical know-how that will strengthen our governance and sharpen our impact, he said. His deep experience leading through complexity and bringing diverse voices to the table will be an invaluable asset as we guide the foundation into its next chapter and open the Obama Presidential Center next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement _____ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. A forensic science examiner performs an analysis at the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. Some state labs face yearslong backlogs across a range of cases, including those requiring DNA and ballistics analysis delays that, in some communities, are stalling court proceedings and leaving victims waiting for answers. (Photo courtesy of the Connecticut Division of Scientific Services) Across the country, state and local crime labs are drowning in evidence. From rape kits to drug samples to vials of blood, delays in forensic testing are stalling prosecutions, stretching court calendars and forcing impossible choices about what gets tested and what doesnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, as the need for forensic testing grows, state and local crime labs may face steep federal funding cuts that could further delay justice for victims, derail criminal investigations and overwhelm already backlogged systems. Two key federal grant programs that support state and local forensic labs are at risk: One faces a major cut, while the other is funded below its authorized cap despite growing demand. The proposed cuts have alarmed forensic experts and crime lab directors who say some labs rely heavily on these federal grants to keep up with mounting caseloads. That would have dire consequences on a lot of crime laboratories who depend on those funds for maintaining operations, said Scott Hummel, the president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, a national nonprofit professional organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you limit those resources even further, there will be backlogs, said Hummel, who also works as a quality assurance manager at the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory in Missouri. Those backlogs just keep growing and growing, and labs are forced to make difficult decisions on how they prioritize their casework. When labs fall behind Crime labs are often invisible to the public but essential to criminal investigations. They test DNA, analyze drug samples, match ballistics and verify evidence in everything from rape cases to gun homicides. The evidence may lead to arrests, but its also critical in court, shaping outcomes for victims, defendants, prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. But years of underinvestment have left many labs without enough scientists, equipment and funding to keep up. As forensic technology has advanced particularly in digital evidence and DNA testing demand also has risen sharply. As technology gets better, theres an expectation, I think, that labs can do more than they have the capacity for, Hummel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, new state laws and testing mandates are increasing pressure on already strained labs. In some states, changes in drug laws such as renewed crackdowns on marijuana or stricter DUI thresholds have led to a surge in requests for toxicology and drug analysis. Other states have expanded mandatory evidence testing requirements, often without providing additional funding. Some lab directors who spoke with Stateline said that even well-intentioned policies can create bottlenecks when resources dont keep pace with demand. Its important for policymakers to realize that the criminal justice system is demanding more from us, and so we need the resources to keep up with the increased demand, said James Carroll, the crime laboratory director with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Low pay is also a challenge, with some analysts opting for private-sector jobs that offer higher salaries and better benefits. Training new analysts can take months or even years, making it difficult to quickly fill critical positions and retain experienced staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to be absolutely perfect, and if you have something that isnt perfect, that can be a career ruiner, said Mike Lyttle, the assistant director of the forensic services division at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. That is a lot of pressure. But that pressure can come at a cost especially when analysts bear the brunt of it. Lab directors and managers who spoke with Stateline said that overworking staff is not only inappropriate, but also risky. It can lead to quality issues, including dry labbing, or fabricated results, which could call hundreds or even thousands of cases into question. As delays mount across the country, some state and local governments are rethinking how their crime labs are structured and funded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important for policymakers to realize that the criminal justice system is demanding more from us, and so we need the resources to keep up with the increased demand. James Carroll, crime laboratory director with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department In Colorado, officials are dealing with the aftermath of a major DNA testing scandal involving state-run labs, and several new laws have been enacted to establish a review board and address backlogs. Lawmakers in Rhode Island considered a bill earlier this year that would have shifted oversight of its state crime lab to the state attorney generals office, but the bill was tabled for further study. In Shelby County, Tennessee, a new $1.5 million investment will go toward the regions first local lab focused on rapid DNA analysis, digital forensics and weapons ballistics. Memphis City Council officials also are working on funding at least two new positions at a state laboratory to prioritize cases from the Memphis area. Hard choices The national push to test sexual assault kits has helped bring attention to forensic evidence backlogs. But in some labs, it has also forced tough choices about what gets tested first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Oregon, for example, Brian Medlock, the director of the state police forensic science division, announced in January that the state lab had halted DNA analysis for all property crime evidence. Testing wont resume until the sexual assault kit backlog is cleared a goal the agency doesnt expect to meet until the end of the year. As of June, 474 sexual assault kits were still awaiting testing, according to the states dashboard. Like Oregon, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also is deprioritizing nonviolent cases as it works through its rape kit backlog. The agency currently has six forensic biology analysts in training across the state, limiting how many cases it can process, according to Lyttle. The goal is to eventually process lower-priority cases, he said, but the current focus remains on sexual assault kits. Still, Lyttle acknowledged that delaying the analysis of evidence in nonviolent cases can be a missed opportunity. Uploading DNA profiles from those cases to the national database, CODIS, could help identify offenders earlier potentially before they go on to commit more serious crimes. You may be losing people early because youre deprioritizing those nonviolent cases and not getting them identified as quickly as you could, he said. Every case is important. Looming cuts Trump has proposed slashing one major forensic science grant program and holding funding flat for another a combination that some officials fear could worsen evidence backlogs amid rising demand. The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program, which aims to help labs replace aging equipment, train staff and reduce case backlogs, would be cut by 71% under President Donald Trumps proposed fiscal year 2026 budget from $35 million to $10 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another, the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, would receive $120 million under the proposal below the $151 million cap authorized by Congress in 2023. While Congress can approve up to that amount, it often allocates less: $130 million in fiscal year 2023, and $120 million in both fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The program helps labs process backlogged evidence, including sexual assault kits, and supports the expansion of the national DNA database, CODIS. These proposals are part of the administrations annual discretionary budget request; Congress must finalize federal agency yearly spending by Sept. 30. Presidential budget proposals are often reshaped by Congress, but Trumps spending plans have found strong backing among Republicans on Capitol Hill. With the GOP holding majorities in both chambers, proposals to cut or limit funding for forensic science programs may be more likely to advance. A state in crisis and a model for change The Colorado Bureau of Investigations crime labs are under intense scrutiny following a major DNA testing scandal and widespread staffing shortages that have slowed down forensic work across the board. The bureau is facing backlogs in every discipline or type of case, according to Lance Allen, a deputy director who oversees forensic services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the current crisis stems from the case of Yvonne Missy Woods, a former DNA scientist now facing more than 100 criminal charges for allegedly manipulating DNA results over her 30-year career. Her alleged misconduct, combined with long-standing understaffing issues, has led to severe delays. As of June, the average turnaround time for processing sexual assault kits in Colorado was 570 days, or about 1 1/2 years, with more than 1,200 kits still awaiting testing, according to the states dashboard. The agencys goal is to reduce that timeline to 90 days. We are not satisfied with this turnaround time either, and this backlog is also unacceptable to us, and we know we have to do better, Allen told Stateline. But the backlog isnt limited to sexual assault cases. Blood alcohol testing has also slowed dramatically, according to defense attorney Matthew Haltzman, who said he has handled cases in which results took five to six months to come back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that time, he said, even clients who were ultimately found not to be intoxicated were forced to navigate the court system attending hearings, undergoing weekly drug and alcohol testing and complying with pretrial supervision. Its just a lose-lose for everybody in the legal process, but more so for the accused than anyone else, Haltzman said. Its a massive deprivation of liberty. The current turnaround time for all toxicology tests is 99 days, or just over three months, according to Vanessa Beall, the Colorado bureaus toxicology program manager. About 80% of cases are completed within that time frame or less, and all toxicology tests include blood alcohol and drug analysis. With additional toxicologists, the bureau is already meeting its 2025 goal and aims to reduce that turnaround time to 70 days by the end of 2026. This year, the bureau and state lawmakers have rolled out measures aimed at restoring trust in the system. Those efforts include sending more than 1,000 rape kits to private labs to reduce turnaround times, expanding staff training programs and establishing a review board within the state attorney generals office to improve oversight. Lawmakers also approved $3 million to support outsourcing and lab operations, along with a separate law requiring the reporting of misconduct within Colorados state-run forensic laboratories. Meanwhile, Connecticut is drawing national attention for its consistent performance and growing capabilities. Once plagued by serious issues including a suspended accreditation in 2011 that disrupted criminal proceedings Connecticuts forensic lab has steadily strengthened its operations. This year, it earned a perfect accreditation score for the third year in a row. Following its accreditation loss, the lab faced a backlog of 12,000 cases, and by 2013, turnaround times stretched up to 2 1/2 years. Today, the average turnaround is just 20 days across all disciplines. DNA cases, including those involving sexual assault evidence, are typically processed in about 27 days. Firearms cases take about 35 days, and computer crimes about 60, according to Guy Vallaro, the director of the Connecticut Division of Scientific Services. He credits much of the labs progress to its team of scientists and staff, who he says are deeply committed to both accuracy and improvement. When you have a good staff, you can do incredible things, Vallaro said. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The Food and Drug Administration on Monday appointed George Tidmarsh, a Stanford University physician with long experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. An adjunct professor of pediatrics at Stanford, Tidmarsh served as CEO of La Jolla Pharmaceutical from 2012 to 2019. He previously founded Horizon Pharma, which, many years later, was bought by Amgen for $28 billion, and Threshold Pharmaceuticals, according to his Stanford biography. Dr. Tidmarsh is an accomplished physician-scientist and leader whose experience spans the full arc of drug development from bench to bedside, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in an agency statement. Dive Insight: Tidmarshs appointment helps to solidify the top ranks of the FDAs leadership under Makary. CDER is the agencys principal drug review office and has been run on an acting basis by Jennifer Corrigan-Curay after the departure of the last permanent director, Patrizia Cavazzoni, before the Trump administration took office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDAs other main drug review office, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, is run by Vinay Prasad, a physician researcher and longtime critic of the agency who Makary appointed in May. Like Prasad, Tidmarsh is a prolific contributor to academic literature, authoring more than 140 scientific publications and patents, according to the FDAs statement. He holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. from Stanford, where he is the founding director of a program designed to help students and researchers advance their laboratory discoveries. I look forward to working with him to strengthen our drug review programs, foster innovation, and advance cross-agency initiatives that improve health outcomes for the American public, said Makary. Also like Prasad, Tidmarsh has been a vocal critic of past FDA leaders, authoring an April editorial in Real Clear Policy that castigated Prasads predecessor at CBER, Peter Marks, as someone who catered to industry and hurt patients. In particular, Tidmarsh criticized Marks decisions on COVID-19 vaccines, a now-discontinued Alzheimers disease drug and Elevidys, a gene therapy thats now at the center of an FDA dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As CDER director, Marsh will have significant influence over large swathes of the agencys regulation and approval of new medicines. Hell also likely play a role in helping Makary carry out a number of his new initiatives, such as phasing out requirements that drugmakers conduct toxicology tests in animals. CDER, like other arms of the agency, has been destabilized by the widespread layoffs across the Department of Health and Human Services that the Trump administration ordered in April. While some critical laid-off staff have since been hired back, the FDAs workforce is thousands of employees smaller now than it was at the end of last year. The cuts have raised worries about the FDAs smooth functioning, although so far there have been apparently few disruptions in the agencys drug reviews. Corrigan-Curay was set to retire from the agency this month, Endpoints News, Stat News and other publications reported in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tidmarsh stepped down from a position on the board of directors at Revelation Biosciences in May, citing plans to work closely with the federal government. Recommended Reading DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A Decatur man who once served as a youth leader for a church is now facing criminal charges alleging a sexual relationship with a minor that started almost 15 years ago. In addition, there are other, more recent allegations that so far have not resulted in charges. Court records and a sworn statement filed by Decatur Police show that Jonathan Lyon, 31, was arrested on July 16 and made his first court appearance two days later. He is facing three misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual abuse. The specific counts listed in court records list a victim between the ages of 9 and 17 and an offender under the age of 17. Two felons arrested in Urbana for gun possession, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detective Kristina Kemnitz, who signed the sworn statement, said Lyon was once a youth leader at Grace Baptist Church in Decatur, but was not affiliated with the church at the time of his arrest. Lyon left the church in 2021 or 2022 after he was confronted by the pastor over inappropriate videos posted to his TikTok account, one of which Kemnitz said alluded to underage girls. The pastor also referenced an incident in 2019 in which he saw Lyon testing a teenage girl and sending her videos. (The pastor) believed there was nothing inappropriate in the videos but he did not allow the messaging between the two because (she) was either 15 or 16 at the time and Jonathan was 24 or 25, Kemnitz said. Nor her mother mentioned anything concerning and the two stopped communicating after the incident. WCIA reached out to Grace Baptist Church for comment on this case but did not hear back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A police investigation into Lyon started in 2023, Kemnitz said, when Lyons friend reported to police that he believed Lyon was having an inappropriate relationship with an underage woman based on a Facebook message he received. Kemnitz said it came from an 18-year-old female that the friend had never met before. She alleged that Lyon likes little girls and disclosed a relationship she had with Lyon that had just recently ended. When detectives interviewed her, Kemnitz said the teen said she had met Lyon, then 29, through their church and that she was 17 when she started sending him messages to start a relationship. (She) advised that the two then ultimately began a relationship that lasted for approximately two years, but Jonathan was adamant that they not engage in any sexual relations until she turned 18, Kemnitz said. (She) said that she recently began to hear rumors that Jonathan had an unhealthy desire to be with underage girls, so she broke off the relationship with Jonathan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen denied having sexual relations with Lyon, Kemnitz said, and didnt have any specific knowledge of any other underage girls engaging in sexual relations with Lyon. Sangamon Co. Coroner IDs weekend homicide victim Two years after this initial allegation, Kemnitz said the investigation picked up speed in June when another woman claimed to have more information about Lyon. She said that in 2018, Lyon committed multiple sexual assaults in Clinton with the victim being a 14-year-old girl who went to Grace Baptist. As investigators were looking into this new allegation against Lyon, Kemnitz said they received information that put them onto a sexual relationship Lyon allegedly had when he was 18 years old. This is what led to the charges against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kemnitz said investigators spoke to a woman who disclosed meeting Lyon around 2010 through her brother, whom Kemnitz said is another one of Lyons friends. She was 11 and Lyon was 17. The following year, the two started to engage in a dating relationship that turned sexual. The woman disclosed that between the ages of 12 and 14, she would sneak out of her home, meet Lyon in her car and together they went to Oak Grove Park in Decatur to perform sex acts, (She) advised this occurred approximately 40-50 times either in Jonathans vehicle or at the park itself, Kemnitz said. On one occasion, the two were hanging out in Jonathans carpolice officers had approached their vehicle. (She) stated Jonathan advised them that he was her youth leader and the two were just discussing the word of God. That relationship ended in approximately 2013 when the woman was 14 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Clinton Police Department, meanwhile, got involved in the investigation when a call was made in 2022 of a suspicious vehicle in their jurisdiction, with Lyon confirmed to be one of three people in that vehicle. CPD detectives made contact with another one of those occupants, who said she estimated herself and the third occupant to be between 16 and 17 years of age. The third occupant, Kemnitz said, was in a dating relationship with Lyon. Regarding (the third occupant) and Jonathans relationship, (the second occupant) said I knew there was stuff going on, Kemnitz said. CPD detectives asked her what she meant; (she) said sexually.' Coroner, sheriffs office investigating after man drowns in Moultrie Co. After taking all of these accounts, Decatur Police arrested Lyon on July 16. Kemnitz said that during interviews with both Decatur and Clinton detectives, Lyon admitted to having a friendship with an underage girl when he was 16 or 17 and exchanging Facebook messages and handwritten letters with her that were sexual in nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan then advised the two had kissed on approximately one occasion, Kemnitz said. Jonathan said he could not remember if (she) had touched him or if he touched (her), but if so, it was all over clothes. Lyon also said he had a similar relationship with two others between 2018 and 2023, Kemnitz added. When Lyon appeared in court two days later, he was arraigned on three misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual abuse. The state did not ask to detain him ahead of trial and instead filed a petition to set conditions of release. The judge granted the petition and set the following conditions of release. Among other things, Lyon must: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appear in court on his next scheduled court date Not violate the law in any jurisdiction Comply with GPS monitoring Have no contact with any alleged victims Lyon has indicated that he will hire an attorney to represent him at his next court appearance, which was scheduled for Aug. 22. WCIA also reached out to the Macon County States Attorneys Office to learn more about the charges against Lyon. They have not responded yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The former president of the Greater Carbondale YMCAs board of trustees faces charges after investigators said he unlawfully used the nonprofits credit card for personal transactions totaling nearly $7,000. Police charged William Farber Jr., 317 Crystal Lake Road, Fell Twp., with receiving stolen property, theft by deception, access device fraud and criminal use of a communications facility. The Lackawanna County districts attorney office received a complaint April 18, 2024, from Susan Mancuso on behalf of the Greater Carbondale YMCA regarding misuse of funds, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Farber Jr. Mancuso, a member of the YMCAs board of trustees, told investigators several transactions made on the organizations Chase credit card assigned to former Executive Director Jason Mackie were not made for YMCA purposes, according to a criminal complaint. The fraudulent transactions were uncovered by the YCMAs business manager, Laura Mauro, after researching where some of the transactions were made, police said. All the places Mauro contacted said the transactions were made by Farber , the organizations former board of trustees president, who was not authorized to use the card for personal expenses, investigators said. When questioned about the transactions, Farber, 63, said he was given the card to use for a fencing project and must have mistakenly used it, and promised to pay back the amount, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Farber left an envelope for Mackie with a note that said, Jason, call me on this bill, according to the criminal complaint. The envelope contained a personal check from Farber made payable to the Greater Carbondale YMCA for $2,221, but Farber told Mackie not to cash it until further notice, investigators said. After further review, it was discovered Farber used the card for even more transactions from Aug. 31, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2024, for a total of $6,811.17, police said. The list of transactions consists of $3,337.72 from Modern Gas Sales from five different purchases, $721 from US Hole in One, $293.99 from Tasca Ford, $212 from Stanley Steamer of PA, $1,890.80 from AARP United Health and $355.66 from StubHub Inc., according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mackie disputed some of the charges and received refunds totaling $3,362.89, police said. Investigators served a search warrant at Modern Gas Sales for all the records related to the account associated with the Chase Ink credit card payments, according to a criminal complaint. The records revealed the account on file belonged to William Farber and it shows a charge dated Aug. 31, 2023, for $1,000, and a charge dated Sept. 2, 2023, were both verbal credit card payments, investigators said. Additionally, the payments dated Jan. 16, 2024, for $904.43, and Jan. 23, 2024, for $933.29, were both web credit card payments which would have been paid online, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An official from Modern Gas Sales stated the charges described as verbal credit card payments would have been paid either through a phone call or an in-person payment, police said. Also, prior to the first payment in August 2023, Farbers account climbed to $2,400.15 and a previous check for $400 he used for payment was returned to the bank for not having sufficient funds, investigators said. On Aug. 31, 2023, Farber called Modern Gas and made a credit card payment of $1,000, then called back 20 minutes later and paid $200 using a different credit card, police said. Farber is the second former Greater Carbondale YCMA official to face charges related to misappropriation of funds in the last two months. In May, a review of the organizations records indicated that, in total, from December 2020 through April 28, 2024, Mackie, 43, of Scranton allegedly embezzled approximately $99,844.14 from the Greater Carbondale YMCA. Police charged Mackie with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and related counts. BOSTON (WWLP) A former teacher in Massachusetts was indicted for child exploitation of an underage girl through online conversations on Discord. A news release from the Department of Justice stated that 35-year-old John Magee Gavin of Brookline is a former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly coercing or enticing at least one underage girl to engage in sexual conversations online and requesting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Car drives into pool at Sunsetview campground in Monson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department also believes that he has communicated with at least 20 underage girls around the world. Gavin was reportedly identified as the owner of a Discord account that messaged girls between the ages of 12 and 17, located throughout the country, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada. In these chats on Discord, Gavin allegedly disclosed that he was a teacher, engaged in sexual conversations and often asked the minors to send him pictures of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, knowing that the children were underage. Gavin was arrested in February for these allegations and charged with enticing a child under 16, possession of child pornography, and other offenses. According to authorities, nearly 150 files (94 images and 53 videos) of CSAM were found on Gavins iPhone. He is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A former staff member at a church in Peculiar, Missouri, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to child pornography. Andrew Lovisone, 30, of Greenwood, was sentenced on Monday morning in Cass County court to 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. He pleaded guilty on May 6 to two counts of promoting child pornography. Two men killed in shooting at Truman Road convenience store in KCMO Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crimes are believed to have happened between July and August of last year. According to court documents, Cass County detectives began looking into multiple cyber tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The emails associated with these cyber tips all had Lovisones name in them. A subpoena was sought for an IP address, which had been geo-located to the Peculiar area. The subpoena response showed the IP address belonged to the First Baptist Church in Peculiar, according to court documents. Further investigation revealed Lovisone as a staff member at the church. Videos from July 28, 2024, on the churchs Facebook page and YouTube page are titled: Pastor ordination service for Andrew Lovisone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search warrant was conducted at the church and Lovisones residence in Greenwood, where he was taken into custody. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV During an interview with detectives, court documents say Lovisone confessed that he had been using applications to download and share child sexual abuse materials. When asked about a cellphone that had been recovered from him after he was taken into custody, he said a detective would find pictures and videos of children as young as 12 years old, according to court documents. Lovisone also stated that the downloads and uploads happened at both the church and his residence after hours during the 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Fort Concho is set to host two events that are free and open to the public on July 26 and July 28. According to a social media post, the event on July 26 is for National Cowboy Day. This event starts at 9 a.m. and will include a continental breakfast at Barracks 6, located at Flipper Street and Burgess Street. Laura Huckaby of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts will talk about the exhibit at 9:30 a.m. Lastly, there will be a skit at 10 a.m. performed by a skit by the Concho Cowboy Company. The event on July 28 is to celebrate the 159th anniversary of the creation of the all-black Army units, called the buffalo soldiers. Ronnie Hawkins, Lieutenant General and Angelo State University President, will provide the main program at the West Texas Buffalo Soldier Memorial located across from Fort Concho at 717 South Oakes. A reception and special viewing of the buffalo soldier exhibits at the forts Barracks 1 Visitor Center will follow. 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. As the worlds biggest hydrocarbon importer, China offers huge opportunities for Kazakhstan. In February, state-run gas pipeline operator Qazaqgaz extended its agreement with PetroChina to increase gas exports to the east. Market expansion, particularly to hydrocarbon-hungry countries such as China and Turkiye, remains a priority for Kazakhstan, helping it secure its economic future. However, this process relies on reliable pipeline routes and stabilised geopolitical climates, the latter currently seeming a long way off. Such vulnerability is exacerbated by Kazakhstans Soviet-era assets, although the country has been actively building new facilities and reviving previously shelved plans such as the Eskene-Kuryk-Baku oil pipeline, which will extend for 739km from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan. Kazakh hydrocarbon infrastructure has also become collateral damage in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In February, Ukrainian drones hit a pumping station on the main Kazakh oil export pipeline, temporarily dropping oil flows through the CPC by approximately 3040%. Currently, approximately 80% of the countrys oil exports are transported via the majority Russia-controlled Caspian Pipeline Consortiums (CPC) Black Sea terminal, which was temporarily restricted in April by Russian regulators. In June, the European Commission proposed a gradual phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports into the EU by the end of 2027, as part of the REPowerEU road map, which aims to ensure the EUs full energy independence from Russia. Kazakhstan is aiming to capitalise on this demand by increasing hydrocarbon exports. However, the nation still has some way to go to diversify its export routes and establish reliable and long-term export markets. Demand from various regions of Europe continues to rise against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war , following an international trend of nations seeking to reduce their energy dependence on Russia. Its production remains on a sharp upward trajectory. In February, Kazakhstan reported a record oil output of 2.12 million barrels per day (mbbl/d), and announced plans to produce 96.2 million tonnes (mt) of oil and gas condensate in 2025, a yearly increase of almost 10%. Moreover, its oil production in the first half of 2025 (H1 2025) saw a yearly surge of almost 12%. In terms of oil production, the vast landlocked country is up against established and well connected heavyweights such as Saudi Arabia and the US, while competition in the gas market is more regionalised, with Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as frontrunners. Kazakhstan is one of the largest oil and gas producers in Central Asia, a significant producer of coal and a major energy exporter but the markets surrounding it are shifting. Story Continues Qazaqgaz has a pipeline network of more than 76,000km, including 20,000km of main gas pipelines, which also transport Russian gas to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan through an agreement signed with Gazprom in 2024. However, extracting itself from Russias influence and strengthen its ties with China could prove tricky for Kazakhstan. Much of the regions hydrocarbon infrastructure is co-owned and operated by more than one country, with a notable example being the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline, which carries both Kazakh and Russian oil to China. Competition in the region is fierce for market access and infrastructural planning. Kazakhstan is Chinas third-largest pipeline gas supplier after Russia and Turkmenistan, but in terms of crude oil the country has fallen behind other suppliers, with a 50% drop from 2023 to 2024 (though overall demand from China has weakened in recent years). Elsewhere in Asia, Turkiye holds further promise. GlobalData oil and gas analyst Rami Khrais highlights the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which enables Kazakhstan to bypass Russia and carry crude oil through Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkiye and other Mediterranean ports. According to reports, Kazakhstan is already diverting its crude exports away from Russia and towards Turkiye through the BTC: in February, 6,000 tonnes of oil from the Kashagan field began to move through the pipeline for the first time. However, Khrais states that Kazakhstans "plans to reduce dependency on the Russian route might not be easy [and] due to logistical complexities, transporting oil by sea and then through the BTC pipeline is likely to be more expensive than transporting it via the CPC". Meanwhile, South Asia is a relatively untapped market for Kazakhstan. Research from the Journal of Eurasian Studies highlights that Kazakhstan could be of great use to India as an energy provider, particularly as India is heavily dependent on oil imports. While Kazakhstan does export hydrocarbons to India (amounting to a value of $175m for crude oil in 2024) as its largest trade partner in Central Asia, no direct infrastructure connection exists. The International North-South Transport Corridor, which would use the Chabahar and Bandar Abbas ports in Iran, presents a possibility for further connection between the countries. The corridor is designed to facilitate the movement of goods between Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe, India, Iran and Russia. According to the Social Policy Research Foundation in India, another key barrier to cooperation with Kazakhstan is Chinas established presence in Central Asia, as it has "a territorial advantage and has arguably solved the issue of decaying regional infrastructure by building multiple pipelines [] for an entrenched competitive advantage". Despite the geopolitical mire, there are viable options for Kazakhstan to secure its hydrocarbon infrastructure, including strengthened regional cooperation and transportation development. New frontiers for Kazakhstan's hydrocarbon exports Given the complications of pipeline expansion, maritime transportation presents another avenue for Kazakhstan to capture a wider market. In recent years, state-run companies such as KazMunayGas have ramped up investments in tankers to increase exports across the Caspian Sea. Notably, the BTC pipeline relies on a fleet of Kazakh tankers to move oil to Azerbaijan. Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev has highlighted the potential to increase the BTCs current output of 1.5mt per year to as much as 20mt, thus reducing oil exports via Russia by approximately 80%. Increased cooperation with Azerbaijan is another possible diversification element for Kazakhstan, which would make it something of a regional energy hub. While a Trans-Caspian oil pipeline remains out of reach due to technical and financial challenges, the countries recognise the mutual benefits of cooperation, such as negotiating port modernisation to facilitate enlarged fleets. In turn, this will open up further access to European markets. Lack of investment taking its toll However, Kazakhstan must also assess how it can solve the problem of declining foreign direct investment flows (FDI), which are intertwined with oil and gas. Kazakh Invest, which attempts to bolster Kazakhstan's economy by drawing in foreign investment, has stated that FDI plummeted from $2.3bn (KZT1.22trn) to $72.9m over the first nine months of 2024, year-on-year. The completion of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Tenzig oilfield, which began production in January and is owned by Chevron (50%), KazMunayGas (20%), ExxonMobil (25%) and Lukoil (5%), has been cited as a significant factor. According to the International Trade Administration, "the hydrocarbons sector, since 1991, has received approximately 60% of FDI in Kazakhstan, and constitutes approximately 53% of its export revenue". As part of its National Investment Policy, the Kazakh Government is aiming to attract at least $150bn of FDI by 2029 and diversify away from hydrocarbons into agriculture, construction, ecology, information technology, pharmaceuticals and tourism. However, business research from 2024 found that the "sheer weight of oil and gas production within the Kazakh economy will limit the potential for investment diversification". Kazakhstan still leads FDI in Central Asia, particularly in greenfield projects, as per the UN Conference on Trade and Developments (UNCTAD) 2025 World Investment Report. Throughout 2024, gas supply pulled in significant FDI, with UNCTAD highlighting the $5.5bn natural gas facility announced by Qatari-based energy, concessions and construction company UCC. Russias influence can also be felt in FDI, with inflows totalling $931.9m (Rbs72.88bn) over the first six months of 2024. As hydrocarbon FDI is likely to remain predominant in Kazakhstan, improving existing infrastructure and strengthening regional partnerships appears to offer the most security. In the meantime, Kazakhstan continues to pump out oil and gas, repeatedly exceeding its 1.47mbbl/d output quota under OPEC+ production limits. Much of the countrys future export landscape will depend on delicately managing its geopolitical standing and building links (both political and physical) to the nations around it. "How can Kazakhstan secure its hydrocarbon export infrastructure? " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. An armed serial robber who terrorized Fort Worth-area businesses last year is now facing 60 years in federal prison. Charles Brownlee, 37, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $21,000 in restitution, according to a release from the Department of Justice. U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor sentenced him July 18. After terrorizing employees at multiple businesses throughout the DFW area, this defendants violent crime spree ended because of the stellar work of our law enforcement partners, said Nancy Larson, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, in the release provided to The Dallas Express. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury convicted Brownlee in March for one charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, five charges of interference with commerce by robbery, five charges of using a gun in a violent crime, and one charge of a felon possessing a gun. He allegedly robbed five cash loan stores in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine from May 9 to May 21, 2024, according to the release. In each of the robberies, he tried to hide his identity by wearing a medical mask and different outfits. Katherine Miller, with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas, told The Dallas Express she could not confirm Brownlees associations with any criminal groups. Agencies, including the FBI-Dallas, Fort Worth Police Department, Euless Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department, Hurst Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department, investigated this case. The Fort Worth Police Department sought an increasingly violent, armed serial robber in December. Like Brownlee, the suspect used different disguises to conceal his identity. Miller told The Dallas Express she could not confirm if he is the same suspect. For many people, the 40-hour work week can be an exhausting grind. But new research bolsters the argument that the solution isnt necessarily to focus on improving your mindset, getting a better nights sleep, or simply sucking it up. Its switching to a four-day work week. The evidence is presented in a study published on July 21 in the journal Nature Human Behavior. The five-day, 40-hour work week was a hard-fought win for labor activists in the US. The legal protection only arrived after generations of grassroots organizing, union solidarity, and physical sacrificeand even today the right isnt guaranteed to people working multiple, part-time, or gig jobs. Still, that hasnt stopped many labor advocates from pushing for even greater workplace gains. In recent years, a growing number of organizations and experts have started campaigning for a four-day work week. According to nonprofits like 4 Day Week Global (4DWG), a three-day weekend provides even better conditions not just for workers, but for the businesses themselves. Thanks to recent research, theyre amassing the scientific data to back up their demands. Biggest surprise was no surprise 4DWG recently tasked an international team of sociologists with enlisting more than 140 companies across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland to participate in a series of six-month pilot program trials. During that time, their employees would switch to a four-day work week with no adjustments in pay or benefits. 4DWG offered each company assistance in setting up the new system, and earlier this year, nearly 3,000 employees began clocking in 32 instead of 40 hours a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial data from the teams first two trials involving nearly 33 companies was clear. None of the companies said they were necessarily opposed to maintaining the four-day week, and reported increases to workplace productivity as well as revenue growth. Meanwhile, employees cited less stress and feelings of burnout, as well as a general improvement to their physical and mental wellbeing. According to the studys organizers, these results didnt come as a shock. Perhaps the most surprising finding so far is that there is no surprise, which is not typically the case in academic research, Wen Fan, a Boston College sociologist and study co-author, said in a statement. Usually, we would get some hypotheses supported while others refuted, but for this project, basically everything we expect to move moves, and in the anticipated direction. Fan also noted the reduced hours didnt require employees to work harder during their new, four-day weeks. At the same time, key organizational bottom-lines sustained. I think this is an ideal example demonstrating how powerful well-conceived work redesign efforts can make an impactful difference in the real world, she added. Extinguishing burnout The studys authors explained that a major method to ensure manageable workloads over fewer hours was to take an axe to largely unnecessary meetings. Instead, employees simply relied more on phone calls, messaging platforms, and other communication means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another boost to efficiency stemmed from what workers did with their extra weekend day. Often, people used the third day for personal errands and medical appointments that they usually attempted to fit into their busier 40-hour weeks. There was also more time for hobbies, leisure, housework, and personal careall areas that help improve general mood and health. Meanwhile, companies frequently saved money through lower healthcare costs and lower employee turnover rates. Not losing highly trained individuals, in fields like health care or teaching, to stress and burnout is certainly a worthwhile goal, said Juliet Schor, a BC sociologist and 4DWG academic board member. At a time when weve seen many employers struggle to fill positions, the four-day week can be touted as a benefit. Seizing the (extra) day Schur and Wan have studied overworked labor forces for years, but say the four-day week was a tough sell until very recently. Pre-COVIDit wouldve struck a lot of people as pie-in-the-sky, and not feasible for companies, said Schur. But the pandemic created such levels of stress and burnout, and led many employees to say, I want to live my life differently, and this created more of a space for reimagining workand, as part of that, the four-day week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Fan, it would be a major loss if people didnt seize the opportunity presented in the wake of an otherwise devastating pandemic. Social change is always difficult, especially when it comes to challenging the deep-seated institutional logics dictating how, when, and where we work, said Fan. Lets hope we dont waste the crisis of COVID in terms of the profound workplace innovations it has precipitated. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Four people were injured following a shooting Saturday night at a downtown apartment complex, leading to the arrest of a 53-year-old suspect. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department, responding to a domestic disturbance call near the 1800 block of Broadway, heard multiple gunshots around 10:56 p.m. from the Parris Towers apartment complex. Upon arrival, officers observed several individuals fleeing the area. They then located four gunshot victims, none of whom had life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the victims identified Larry Turner, 53, as the person who shot them. Turner, who was still at the complex, was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Major Crimes Division for questioning. Pine Bluff police investigating after 14-year-old found dead Saturday Police secured Turners residence pending the execution of a search warrant. Detectives and crime scene technicians processed the scene and collected evidence. Surveillance footage reviewed by detectives reportedly confirmed Turners involvement in the incident. Following questioning, Turner was charged with two counts of first-degree battery and possession of a firearm by certain persons (enhanced). He was then transported to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility (PCRJ). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the investigation is ongoing, and more details may be released as they 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 KARK. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) Join us in congratulating FOX 56s own Marvin Bartlett, managing editor and anchor, who was honored at the 61st annual Ohio Valley Emmy Awards. Several members of the FOX 56 team were in the running for three different Emmy awards: Marvin Bartlett, News FeatureLight Feature: Rabbit Hash Election Marvin Bartlett, WriterWriter: Short or Long Form Content Krista Spadaccini, Payden Hinkle, Noah Lockard, Lifestyle News: Horsin Around: Whispering Woods Riding Stables LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: On Saturday, July 19, Bartlett brought home an Ohio Valley Regional Emmy for his series Spirit of the Bluegrass in the writing category. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bartlett has also planned a visit to western Kentucky, telling his stories in his Spirit of the Bluegrass book. You can visit and snag a copy at the Henderson County Public Library from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It wasnt difficult for police to identify Michael Robert Schnitzerling as a suspect in the September 2019 shooting death of Bruno Salituri in Fort Lauderdale. The killer dropped Schnitzerlings .22-caliber handgun in Salituris kitchen, a silencer still attached. He also wore an orange shirt with the logo for a company called Florida Drilling, where Schnitzerling worked. Obviously, he was the killer, prosecutor Courtney DePersio told a jury during opening arguments in Schnitzerlings trial Monday morning. Schnitzerling, 34, sat quietly and patiently at the defense table as DePersio laid out the case for his guilt: The killer carried his gun, wore his clothes, drove what appeared to be his car. Schnitzerlings phone records track with the killers moves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense lawyer Joseph Kimok said the prosecutions case was too clear to be credible, and that his client is an innocent man. Schnitzerling, according to investigators, shot and killed Salituri in one part of Salituris Fort Lauderdale house. Then he shot and tried to kill DeWayne Williams, who lived with Salituri, in another part of the house. Williams escaped, allegedly with Schnitzerling chasing him, shooting and missing. Then, with no one to stop him, Schnitzerling dropped his gun, registered in his name, in the victims kitchen, where no one was shot, Kimok said. Its almost as if the shooter wanted law enforcement to find it, Kimok said, referring to his client as a perfect fall guy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimok reinforced his suspicion with the trials second witness, SWAT officer Michael Peugh, who described finding the gun after officers entered the victims home. Just lying there in the middle of the floor? Kimok asked. It could not have been more obvious when you walked into that kitchen. Testimony in the case is scheduled to continue Tuesday. If Schnitzerling is convicted, the same jury will be asked to determine whether he deserves to be executed for Salituris death. Hes also charged with the attempted murder of Williams. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Franklin County Sheriffs Office is searching for a 7-year-old girl it said was taken by her grandmother and may be headed out of the country. Gabriela Jireth Gimon Palma was visiting her grandmother, Rosibel Galvis Telles, and was supposed to be back home on Saturday, July 19, after spending time with Telles, the sheriffs office said. However, as of Sunday afternoon, the girl has not been returned to her mother and Telles has not responded to multiple attempts at contact from Gabrielas mother. Gabriela Jireth Gimon Palma, left, and Rosibel Galvis Telles Gabriela was last seen on July 11 at 4:30 p.m. with Telles. Gabriela is described as approximately 3 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 66 pounds. Gabriela has light brown hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two dead in far north Columbus crash where car caught fire Telles is believed to be driving a gray 2015 Hyundai Elantra with Ohio plate KPZ3638. The family believes Telles is headed to El Paso, Texas, then possibly moving on to an unknown location in Mexico. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriffs Office at 614-525-3333. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Check your freezer: Florida-based Rich's Ice Cream is recalling more than 110,000 cases of ice cream bars due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination. The nearly 80-year-old West Palm Beach company announced a voluntary recall on July 17 for ice cream bar lot numbers 24351 through lot 25156. The recall was initiated on June 27, according to the FDA enforcement notice, and is classified as Class II with a total of 110,292 cases potentially affected. Class II recalls involve products in which exposure to or use of can cause 'temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," the FDA website states. While listeria may affect healthy people with short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, nausea and diarrhea, it can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, the FDA said. Which Rich Ice Cream products are included in the recall? See list The affected products, sold in multiple states, according to the FDA advisory, include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chocolate Crunch Cake Bars Strawberry Shortcake Bars, Rich Bars Crumbled Cookie Bars Orange Cream Bars Fudge Frenzy Bars Cotton Candy Twirl Bars Savagely Sour Blue Raspberry Bars Savagely Sour Cherry Bars Cool Watermelon Bars The frozen treats were individually packaged in plastic bags and sold in master cases. Which states are impacted by the ice cream recall? See list The affected products were distributed across 23 states, according to the FDA notice, including: Arizona Alabama Ohio California Pennsylvania Georgia New York New Jersey Florida Texas Virginia Illinois Missouri Massachusetts Tennessee Iowa South Carolina Oregon Oklahoma Nevada Louisiana Wisconsin Nebraska What should you do if you purchased the recalled ice cream bars? The FDA and Rich Ice Cream Co. have not yet specified what options are available for customers. Rich Ice Cream Co. did not immediately reply to USA TODAY's request for a statement and more information on the recall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers, meanwhile, can visit Rich Ice Cream Co.'s website for more information or contact the company at (561) 833-7585. What are listeria? Listeria are bacteria that can contaminate many foods, according to the CDC. FDA suspends food safety quality checks: How to protect yourself from salmonella, listeria What are symptoms of a listeria infection? Symptoms typically start a week to four weeks after eating contaminated food. Symptoms typically include: Fever Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue Headache Stiff neck Confusion Loss of balance Seizures Who is most at risk from listeria? The bacteria are most likely to sicken people who are pregnant and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listeriosis mostly affects pregnant women. About 1 in 6 cases of listeriosis are associated with pregnancy, according to the Florida Department of Health. What is Rich's Ice Cream? Rich's Ice Cream is one of the oldest independent ice cream manufacturers in the state. It was founded in 1946 by Willard M. and Martha Rich as a family continuation of Willard's father Paul Rich Sr.'s 1910 ice cream truck, also called Rich's Ice Cream, and moved to its current location in West Palm Beach in 1951. The company is known for "smarter snacking" and advertises its nut-free facility, its healthier ingredients, its lack of artificial colors or corn syrup, and packages with prominent calorie counts and "Allergen Friendly" icons. Rich's Ice Cream began expanding nationally in 2000. Celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Wolfgang Puck, Judge Judy, Slash from Guns N' Roses and even President John F. Kennedy have praised the Florida treats. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rich's Ice Cream national recall over listeria for ice cream bars French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has begun his visit to the Ukrainian capital by inspecting the damage caused by Russian attacks. Source: Ukrainian Embassy in France on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Barrot arrived in Kyiv in the morning after Russia had launched 426 drones and 24 missiles against Ukrainian targets during the night. Encore une nuit de terreur russe. 426 drones, 24 missiles. Des civils tues ou blesses.@jnbarrot, arrive a Kyiv comme invite dhonneur de la Conference des ambassadeurs, a commence sa visite par un site bombarde. LUkraine a besoin dun renforcement de sa defense aerienne. pic.twitter.com/2IyPj3N9wL Ambassade d'Ukraine en France (@UKRinFRA) July 21, 2025 "Jean-Noel Barrot, who arrived in Kyiv as an honorary guest of the Ambassadors Conference, began his visit at the site of the bombings. Ukraine needs stronger air defences," the embassy stated, posting photos of the aftermath of the Russian attacks that the French minister was inspecting. Background: Barrot is scheduled to take part in Ukraines Ambassadors Conference on Monday 22 July. The day before, dozens of heads of Ukraines diplomatic missions abroad, who came to participate in the conference, visited Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. On 20 July, President Zelenskyy stated that he had received a report from Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, which included an agreed decision to replace the heads of several embassies. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will visit Kyiv on Monday 21 July to take part in a conference of Ukrainian ambassadors. Source: Barrot on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: On Monday morning, Barrot posted a photo from a Ukrainian train, noting that he was on his way to Kyiv. Quote: "I will take part in the conference of ambassadors and, on behalf of France, reaffirm our unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of the Ukrainian people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Ukrainian Ambassadors Conference will be held in Kyiv on 21 July under the motto "From the power of diplomacy to the diplomacy of power". President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to speak at the event. Background: On the eve of the conference, dozens of heads of Ukraines foreign diplomatic missions abroad visited Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. On Sunday 20 July, Zelenskyy stated that he had received a report from Sybiha, which led to them agreeing on the replacement of the heads of several embassies. Zelenskyy signed a decree appointing Olha Stefanishyna as special envoy of the president of Ukraine for cooperation with the United States of America. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Key Points Lucid shares are soaring after the company revealed a partnership with Uber to work on self-driving car technology. While uncertainties remain, the stock looks very compelling. 10 stocks we like better than Lucid Group If you want to make millions in the stock market, bet on small companies tackling big opportunities. With a market cap of just $9 billion, Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) fits the bill as it tackles the electric vehicle (EV) industry. And its new self-driving car partnership could take things into hyperdrive. Let's dig deeper into why you should consider buying this exciting stock and if it could take you to millionaire status. Self-driving cars could mint plenty of millionaires The technology behind self-driving cars looks almost ready for prime time, and Wall Street analysts are incredibly optimistic, with one estimate projecting a $300 billion to $400 billion revenue opportunity by 2035. Lucid could capture a chunk of this long-term growth through its recently announced partnership with ride-sharing giant Uber Technologies, which says it "aims to deploy 20,000 or more Lucid vehicles equipped with the Nuro Driver over six years in dozens of markets around the world." Uber will purchase a $300 million stake in Lucid's equity and buy at least 20,000 customized Gravity SUVs to help with the rollout of its robotaxi fleet in the U.S. starting next year. The partnership will rely on hardware from a self-driving start-up called Nuro, which is already testing its software in major American cities like Dallas, Miami, and San Diego. The potential here is huge. Uber could be a natural winner in the race for robotaxi dominance, because, unlike rivals such as Tesla and Alphabet's Waymo, it already boasts a fully built-out ridesharing service and immense brand recognition. For Lucid, this deal represents a much-needed cash infusion while also offering the potential for a large, stable customer that will help its business achieve economies of scale. Image source: Getty Images. To put the potential impacts in context, consider that Lucid sold just 10,241 vehicles globally in 2024. The additional 20,000 orders planned over the next six years could make a sizable impact on the company's top-line growth and margins as it spreads fixed costs across a larger number of vehicles. Investors also shouldn't forget that the Saudi Arabian government (which has a roughly 60% stake in Lucid) has also agreed to purchase up to 100,000 of its vehicles over the next 10 years, potentially putting Lucid in a fantastic position where ''if you build it, they will come'. The next round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Istanbul on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. This was reported to him by Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umyerov, Zelensky said in a video message. A new prisoner exchange is being prepared. There was initially no official confirmation of the new talks from the Russian side - although Moscow had been pushing for a new date in Istanbul for some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian state news agency TASS, referring to an unnamed source, named Thursday as the date for the fresh negotiations. Focus on prisoners and Putin meeting Earlier, Zelensky said that detailed ceasefire talks are not on the agenda for the next round of negotiations with Russia. Wednesday's meeting should instead focus on advancing the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and children abducted by Russia, as well as preparing a meeting at the presidential level, Zelensky told Kiev diplomats on Monday. "We need more momentum in the negotiations to end the war," Zelensky said, explaining his insistence on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stated that results could only be expected from discussions at the highest level. Moscow confirms interest in negotiations with Kiev The Kremlin confirmed its interest in a third round of negotiations proposed by Zelensky to end the war. At the previous meeting, both sides exchanged their position papers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. According to Russian news agencies, he added that "great diplomatic work" is still needed as their views as so opposing. In May, Kiev and Moscow held bilateral negotiations for the first time in three years. At this meeting and a later one in June also in Istanbul, both sides agreed on a large prisoner exchange and the return of fallen soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, steps towards ending the war against Ukraine, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, were not discussed. Call for more arms Zelensky reiterated on Monday that Ukraine needs more air defence systems to protect larger parts of the country from Russian drones and missiles. Officials in Kiev said earlier that Ukraine requires the equivalent of over 5 billion ($5.84 billion) in additional military aid this year to boost its production of weapons. The funds are necessary to manufacture more remote-controlled drones, interceptor drones and long-range weapons, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said during an online meeting in the so-called Ramstein format. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, he asked partner countries to already provide funds for 2026. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi also called for an increase in military aid. "We are still urgently lacking air-defence systems and associated missiles, long-range weapons, artillery shells, armoured technology, evacuation equipment, electronic warfare systems, radars, drone systems and more," the general said, adding that only with joint efforts could Russian aggression be stopped. The 29th meeting was attended by 50 partner countries of Ukraine, led by Germany and the United Kingdom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years with massive Western support. Support from Berlin and Oslo Germany and Norway want to jointly finance the strengthening of Ukraine's air defence. Following a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre declared his country's willingness to make a considerable financial contribution. Germany wants to support Ukraine with two more Patriot missile defence systems. The original plan was to buy two systems in the US for around 1 billion each and bring them directly to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, as they are not immediately available, the Bundeswehr is now to initially hand over two of its nine remaining Patriot systems to Ukraine and later receive replacements from the US. Fresh wave of attacks from both sides At least one person was killed and eight others injured as Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Kiev overnight into Monday, Ukrainian officials said. Zelensky wrote on X about a total of two dead and 15 injured following the attacks across the country as a whole. The attacks hit the capital and its surroundings, as well as Kharkiv in the north-east and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west, near the Polish border. Referring to Ivano-Frankivsk, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv described it as the largest attack since the beginning of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry of Defence in Moscow said that 74 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian territory overnight into Monday. Of these, 15 were reportedly approaching the capital. The drone attacks once again affected air traffic. According to the aviation authority Rosaviatsiya, the four Moscow airports and one in Nizhny Novgorod were closed for take-offs and landings for hours. Staffers at local NPR and PBS stations around the country were devastated by the news that Congress approved $1.1 billion in federal funding cuts to public media last week, a move that could jeopardize the futures of dozens of stations. Small, as well as rural, public media stations that heavily rely on federal funding to operate are now bracing for possible staff cuts after Congress approved a package on Thursday that will claw back Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding. Some stations say theyre being punished over a fight between President Donald Trump and the national public broadcasting organizations that have little relationship to the service smaller outlets offer their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think [lawmakers] decisions were not informed, said Don Dunlap, president and general manager of KEDT-TV/FM, a public radio and TV station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Were there to help people. There are 10 public TV stations in Texas, and we're thinking probably six of them will close down within a year. In April, Trump asked Congress to roll back funding for NPR and PBS, which he has long accused of bias against him and other Republicans a claim both outlets have denied. The public media cuts are one aspect of the Trump administrations aggressive campaign against media outlets it deems as partisan. Trump has taken legal action against several news organizations, including CBS, ABC, The Wall Street Journal and other outlets over unfavorable coverage. Several station heads told POLITICO theyve been preparing for potential cuts since the Trump administration first floated the idea earlier this year. But in the wake of the bills passage, theyve had to put those plans into action. We're disappointed, but not surprised, and we've been planning for this scenario for a while, said Judy Diaz, head of Delmarva Public Media, a group of three NPR stations that serve Marylands Delmarva Peninsula. But yeah, its a hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For hundreds of stations, federal money makes up a significant portion of their total funding. According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, about 45 percent of all public media stations that received their grants are in rural areas, and nearly half of those rely on CPB for 25 percent or more of their annual budget. Without federal funding, those stations may be forced into layoffs and programming cuts, if theyre able to survive at all. According to data obtained by POLITICO, 34 public radio and TV stations receive at least 50 percent of their funding from federal grants. Twelve of those stations are in Alaska. We can't fundraise our way out of this. We have to make other decisions, said Mollie Kabler, executive director of CoastAlaska, which oversees six public radio stations in southern Alaska. We have to consider what services are we going to give up? What people are we going to let go of? And how can we find a way to collaborate and retain service for Alaskans? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KRZA-FM, a public radio station based in Alamosa, Colorado, that broadcasts across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, relies on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for 50 percent of its yearly budget. Besides general manager Gerald Rodriguez, the station has one other full-time employee, two part-time workers and a handful of volunteers. It's gonna be a huge cut for us, Rodriguez said. It's gonna affect us quite a bit, to the point where it could be, like a one-man show at some point where I'm doing everything by myself. Public media stations have received CPB grants through the end of the current fiscal year, which ends in September. Many stations are calculating how long theyll be able to survive once their federal grant funds dry up. For some, it may only be a matter of months. The station has built up a war chest that should get us through the next few months, said Mark Johnson, general manager of KSRQ-FM in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Right now, we are making a push on-air and through social media for listener contributions to help us cover the cost of powering our transmitter through December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public media staffers from local affiliates to the national networks have been lobbying Republicans in Congress for weeks in hopes of staving off the cuts. In the end, only four Republicans in both chambers voted against the final version of the package, which also included cuts to foreign aid: Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). Representatives for Senate Majority Leader John Thune did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A House leadership aide deflected blame for impacts to local public media stations, and said in a statement that the NPR and PBS national organizations should "manage funds wisely and root out waste so rural stations can succeed." An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson refuted claims that local NPR and PBS affiliates had remained nonpartisan, saying in a statement they had politicized their own coverage by relying on syndicated programming from their national org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic paper-pushers masquerading as reporters dont deserve taxpayer subsidies, and NPR and PBS will have to learn to survive on their own, said White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields. Unfortunately for them, their only lifeline was taxpayer dollars, and that ended when President Trump was sworn in. Scott Smith, general manager of Alleghany Public Radio which broadcasts to three counties on either side of the border of Virginia and West Virginia, said he reached out to Republican lawmakers from both states to try to preserve the 60 percent of his funding that comes from federal grants. Now, he blames Congress for targeting local stations to spite the national NPR and PBS networks. They do know that what they were doing was going to hurt us more than it's going to hurt NPR and PBS as a whole. Yet it was still done, Smith said. So what conclusion does that bring you to, without any other data to the contrary, that this is political and personal in nature. Kabler, who oversees the stations in Alaska, said she meets with Murkowski a couple times per year. The senator attempted to introduce an amendment to the Senate bill that would protect funding for local public broadcasting while stripping it from NPRs and PBS national operations, citing employees at KUCB one of Kablers stations who she said earlier that afternoon had coordinated with local public officials to warn the community of an impending tsunami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment failed. The public broadcasting audience in Alaska is mostly Republicans, Kabler said. But our services are not about partisan politics, and the discussion of what people believe about PBS and NPR on the national level, that's not what we do. We're about local news and information. Some public media staffers are hoping to take advantage of the grassroots networks used to rally support against the federal cuts to organize political opposition to Republicans who backed the bill. Kurt Mische, president of the PBS station based in Reno, Nevada, said he hopes the impact of gutting local NPR and PBS stations will be a motivating issue for voters in the 2026 midterms. I hope that everyone who believes in and supports the mission and vision and values of public broadcasting will keep this in mind when the next congressional election comes up, Mische said. And we will help them connect the dots. Funeral services have been announced for a Delaware County firefighter who died in the line of duty on July 17. East Branch Fire Department Assistant Chief Jason McGlone, 51, was electrocuted and died while responding to a crash in the Town of Hancock. Town of Hancock Supervisor Jerry Vernold has ordered all flags on town buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff until July 26 to honor McGlone's memory and his 25 years of service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Jason McGlone, killed in the line of duty, served 25 years as a volunteer firefighter Memorial visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on July 26 in the East Branch Fire Hall, according to McGlone's obituary. After the memorial visitation, funeral and firematic services will begin in the fire hall. A respite will follow at the Hancock Fire Hall in Hancock. According to the obituary, memorial contributions for McGlone can be sent to the East Branch Fire Department or to Wreaths Across America in Columbia Falls, Maine. This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Funeral services announced for Delaware County NY firefighter FRIDAYS MEMO RELEASED BY TULSI GABBARD, the director of national intelligence, claiming that the intelligence community manipulated and withheld key evidence in the Russiagate investigation in 2016and her even more explosive allegation that high-level Obama administration officials weaponized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against Donald Trumpwas met with predictable joy among the usual suspects: MAGA loyalists as well as those leftists, like Matt Taibbi, whose loathing of the American national security state has made them de facto MAGA bedfellows. Gabbards statement, which explicitly threatened the alleged wrongdoers (including former FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and DNI James Clapper) with prosecution for treasonous conspiracy, not only vindicates the Trumpian narrative of the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax but represents a disturbing escalation in Trumps vendetta against officials who he feels crossed him during his first administration. Yet even a cursory look at the actual substance of Gabbards dramatic claims shows . . . a nothingburger. There is no actual substance. Instead, there is blatant sleight of hand and manipulation of evidence, debunking a theory of Russian election interference that the Obama administration never endorsed. The Gabbard narrative goes like this: Throughout the fall of 2016, intelligence assessments found that Russia did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome (and lacked the capacity to do that). Then, a December 8 intelligence assessment reiterating this conclusion was abruptly pulled based on some new guidance. (The memo Gabbard cites to back up this claim says that the publication of the December 8 assessment was being push[ed] back.) At a December 9 White House meeting that included Obama, Brennan, and Clapper, Obama directed the IC to create a new intelligence assessment that detailed Russian election meddling, even though it would contradict multiple intelligence assessments released over the previous several months. By a week later, major media outlets were hyping secret assessments by intelligence agencies that Russia, using cyber means, had intervened in the election to help Donald Trump win the presidencyand that Vladimir Putin was personally involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If true, that would indeed be outrageous. But this supposed scandal rests on a crude bait-and-switch. A quick look at the media reports Gabbard cites shows that they werent talking about altering the election outcome through cyberattacks on election infrastructurethat is, actual tampering with the vote count. Rather, the claims of election interference via cyber warfare concerned, as the Washington Post put it, individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clintons campaign chairman. Get 30 day free trial Was this a new, post-election assessment, as Gabbard seems to claim? Hardly: The same conclusion was announced at the start of the October 7, 2016 joint statement issued by the DNI and the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of seventeen intelligence agencies: The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked e-mails on sites like DCLeaks.com and WikiLeaks and by the Guccifer 2.0 online persona are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts. These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process. . . . We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russias senior-most officials could have authorized these activities. The Gabbard memo mentions this statement but only to suggest that it, too, played fast and loose with the factsby suppress[ing] a September 12 intelligence report that found foreign adversaries lacked the capabilities for successful cyberattacks on American election infrastructures and technologies, and by omitting that the FBI and NSA had low confidence in linking the hacking and the leaks to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first charge is, quite simply, false: The October 7 statement explicitly notes the intelligence communitys finding that it would be extremely difficult for someone, including a nation-state actor, to alter actual ballot counts or election results by cyber attack or intrusion. The second is misleading. Yes, the September 12 report, which was coordinated among nine intelligence agencies and concluded that Russian services probably orchestrated at least some of the disclosures of DNC and Clinton campaign documents, acknowledged that the FBI and the NSA had low confidence in this linkage (because they felt the technical details were insufficient to confirm it). Did their view change by October 6, perhaps because more technical details had become available? Perhaps. In any case, both agencies signed on to the October 7 joint statement. Zip this article into a friends inbox or zap it up onto social media: Share For what its worth, even the Gabbard memo is compelled to admit that there is supporting evidence indicating the Russian government directed hacking of the DNC and [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]. But the memo omits another key fact. Obamas decision to order a review of the evidence of Russian hacking in early December 2016 wasnt some bizarre whim explicable only by a plot to sabotage his Republican successor by portraying him as a Kremlin puppet. Obama was under strong pressure from congressional Democrats to open a probe into Russian election meddling after briefings from intelligence and law enforcement, and Senate Republicans were talking about launching their own investigation. President-elect Trumps stubborn insistence that he saw no reason to believe there had been any Russian interference at all added to the urgency of completing the review before his inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did any reputable Democratsor mainstream journalistsever allege that Russian cyberwarfare targeting the 2016 U.S. election included actual vote-rigging? Gabbard certainly produces no examples of such claims. (Notably, when former Senate majority leader Harry Reid was quoted as making such a claim in David Shimers 2020 book about the history of Russian interference in American elections, Rigged, Washington Post senior political reporter Aaron Blake zinged him for spreading misinformation.) One can arguably fault media outlets for using shorthand like Russia hacked the electionor election-tamperingwith regard to email hacks and leaks that may or may not have moved the needle in extremely close battleground-state votes: People who dont pay close attention to the details may well assume that such language refers to actual alteration of votes or vote tallies. But such careless language hardly justifies Gabbards shameless use of election infrastructure hacks as a red herring. Share GABBARDS DRAMATIC CLAIMS echo CIA Director John Ratcliffes recent declaration, in unveiling a CIA review he had commissioned of the 2016 inquiry into Russian election interference, that This was Obama, Comey, Clapper and Brennan deciding Were going to screw Trump and that the intelligence chiefs manipulated and railroaded the investigation. In reality, as CIA veteran John Sipher showed in his analysis in The Bulwark, the review doesnt support Ratcliffes explosive charges: While it concludes that the accelerated process of the inquiry and the unusual involvement of high-level officials created concerns about bias and rush to judgment, it does not conclude that the process was corrupt or partisan or that its results were shoddy. (Indeed, the review praised the overall analytic rigor of the 2016 assessment.) And of course, as Sipher notes, the rapid inquiry and high-level involvement happened for a reason: With a presidential election a few weeks away, there was evidence of an adversarial power trying to subvert it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CIA report was a professional, if somewhat slanted, review irresponsibly and dishonestly touted to Trump-friendly media by a Trump-picked, sycophantic CIA director. By contrast, Gabbards new memo is itself full of dishonestly packaged snippets of information and contradictory claims from someone who, in a sane world, shouldnt have qualified for security clearance, let alone a national security postdue partly to her history of amplifying Kremlin propaganda narratives and conspiracy theories. (Remember those sinister U.S.-funded biolabs supposedly in Ukraine?) Get 30 day free trial While there is no point in relitigating Russiagate in 2025, it is worth recalling that nothing in Gabbards memo or supporting documentation affects the conclusions of the 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report on Russian active measures campaigns and interference in the 2016 U.S. election. That report found that Kremlin operatives did interfere in the election with the purpose of damaging Clinton and boosting Trump. It also found that key members of the Trump campaign made active efforts to capitalize on the Russian hack-and-leak operation via contacts with WikiLeaks, which was almost certainly knowingly acting as a Russian asset. While there is no confirmation that Trump knew about these contacts, the fact remains that he gleefully hyped WikiLeaks at dozens of campaign events in the weeks before the election. (I discussed the evidence of Russian interference, and Team Trumps willingness to collaborate with Russian helpers, in Bulwark articles in 2022 and 2023.) IF ANYONE STILL HAD DOUBTS THAT GABBARD IS A BAD ACTOR, installed in her present job with the purpose of corrupting U.S. intelligence and turning it into a tool of Trumps personal agendas and vendettas, the Russiagate report should put those doubts to rest. Was the timing of her memo meant as a distraction from the scandal around Trumps connections with Jeffrey Epstein? Hard to say; it was probably being prepared before the Epstein story catapulted back into the news. Whats clear is that it boosts not only the MAGA narrative of Trump as victim of the deep statea convenient excuse for Trumps moves to purge and MAGAfy intelligence agenciesbut also the narrative of Trump as victim of a coup, inverting the reality of the attempt to steal the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, this joke of a report is a gift to the Kremlin, too. Russian news services were quick to pick up the story. Fraud, American-style: Barack Obama fabricated data on Russian election interference, a news anchor on Russias Channel One announced with palpable satisfaction. The evidence has been presented by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Meanwhile, Dmitry Polyanski, Russias first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, reposted Gabbards Creation of the Russia Hoax graphic on his Telegram channel, whined about the sanctions imposed by Obama because of this canardincluding the expulsion of Russian diplomats and the shuttering of two compounds Russian embassy staff had used as waterfront retreatsand plaintively inquired about restitution. (I wish I could say its definitely not going to happen.) Back in 2022, Kremlin TVs chief propaganda jock Vladimir Solovyov famously referred to Gabbard as our girlfriend Tulsi. It seems that three years later, shes earning the compliment. Share The Bulwark A criminal known as Gangster Granny has been sentenced to decades behind bars for dealing drugs worth a combined $100 million, The Guardian reported. On July 18, eight peoplenumbering one man and seven women, including Gangster Granny Deborah Masonwere sentenced to a combined 106 years and six months behind bars for selling roughly 1,000 kg of cocaine over seven months in the United Kingdom. Mason, 65, who was known as the Queen Bee of the scheme which saw about $107 million (80 million) worth of cocaine distributed throughout the country, was sentenced to 20 years for her role. She reportedly sourced the drugs from a supplier known as Bugsy. This was a sophisticated operation which was extremely profitable for those involved, said Metropolitan Detective Constable Jack Kraushaar, the lead investigator. "Following months of work by the Met Police to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators, we were able to arrest and eventually convict them, preventing more drugs flooding streets across the U.K. which leads to violence, antisocial behavior, and misery for communities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: 'Disruptive,' Drunk Teens Arrested After Mid-Flight Chaos The other seven people who were sentenced are Masons sister, Tina Golding, and her children, Demi Bright, Roseanne Mason, Lillie Bright, and Reggie Bright. Reggie and Lillie Brights partners, Demi Kendall and Chloe Hodgkin, as well as Demi Brights friend, Anita Slaughter, reportedly also had significant roles in the operation, which was run out of Masons North London home. The other plaintiffs were sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison. This was no ordinary family, said Robert Hutchinson, Specialist Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service. Instead of nurturing and caring for her relatives, Deborah Mason recruited them to establish an extraordinarily profitable criminal enterprise that would ultimately put them all behind bars." 'Gangster Granny' Sentenced to Decades Behind Bars first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 Gardner-Webb University has been awarded a $2.16 million federal grant to address behavioral health needs in rural North Carolina. WSOC Mental Health Resources The grant, provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will fund the Advancing Collaborative Care, Integration, and Interprofessional Education in Rural North Carolina (ACE) project. This grant represents a significant milestone for Gardner-Webb and affirms the vital role we play in addressing behavioral health disparities across our region, said Interim GWU President Nate Evans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACE project aims to prepare Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) students to work in integrated care settings. The project will enhance curricula and expand clinical capacity for students, partnering with organizations like Atrium Health, CaroMont Behavioral Health, and Kintegra Behavioral Health. Gardner-Webb faculty will also engage in professional development to better serve marginalized populations, particularly those at risk of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.Dr. Tiffany Stewart, Dr. Sharon Webb, and Dr. Charlotte Stephens are key faculty members leading the implementation of the project. The initial award is $550,000, which is renewable for three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grant will enable Gardner-Webb University to significantly enhance its educational programs and address critical behavioral health needs in underserved communities across North Carolina. VIDEO: It makes a difference: Meet the service dogs supporting elementary students mental health EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) East Grand Rapids city commissioners are set to formally review a scaled-back redevelopment plan for the Gaslight Village area Monday night. Gaslight Investors LLC is seeking to amend a decades-old site plan for 2255 Wealthy St. SE and 515 Lakeside Dr. SE. The proposal would transform the long-vacant 8.6-acre site into a mix of residential, commercial and parking space. The current concept includes six buildings: three mixed-use buildings, two residential buildings and one parking structure. It would add 149 housing units and 525 parking spaces to the neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revised plan is smaller than earlier versions. Developers reduced the number of units, cut commercial square footage by 44% and lowered the height of several buildings. A proposed parking garage dropped from four stories to two. City staff say the changes reflect feedback from residents and early reviews by planning officials. A final traffic study and detailed designs will be required before construction can move forward. Mondays meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., marks the start of formal consideration by the city commission. If the concept plan is approved, construction still cant start a final site plan and legal agreement will need to be approved. Thats not likely until winter 2026, according to the projects website. Public input is ongoing. Residents can submit comments by emailing input@eastgrmi.gov or speaking during the meeting. 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 WOODTV.com. Gastonia police arrested two people accused of shoplifting at a Lowes Home Improvement Store store last week. A 36-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were taken into custody on Friday, July 18, according to a Gastonia Police theft report. On July 18, at 5 p.m., the pair was seen inside the store off Franklin Boulevard gathering items without checking out with payment properly, reports say. After being notified by a Lowes employee, the man attempted to flee on foot, but he was quickly apprehended, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair attempted to steal more than $500 worth of various Lowes merchandise. A large portion still remains uncovered, police said. Both have been charged with two counts of shoplifting. The man was also charged with an attempt to escape custody. Not a single bullet was fired, Adraee wrote, The civilians began welcoming and cheering for our soldiers, as if they saw in them life after darkness. IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee shared footage of Gazans cheering as they safely receive humanitarian aid, with IDF soldiers watching from a distance on Sunday. In the video, the soldiers were ordered not to shoot, and the Gazans can be seen cheering at the soldiers as they receive food. Not a single bullet was fired, Adraee wrote, The civilians began welcoming and cheering for our soldiers, as if they saw in them life after darkness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry later said that 73 people were killed on Sunday while trying to reach aid at a number of locations throughout the enclave. Most of the fatalities 67 occurred in the north, near the Zikim crossing, according to the ministry, which added that local hospitals treated more than 150 wounded, many in serious condition. Palestinians from clans hold guns and melee weapons to secure aid trucks in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 25, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS) Eyewitnesses quoted by The Associated Press said soldiers had opened fire. The IDF confirmed that its forces had fired toward a gathering of thousands of Palestinians who posed a danger to the forces," acknowledged casualties, and insisted that the true toll was lower than the ministrys figure. The army said the chaos was the responsibility of Hamas. Previous reports of alleged killings near aid sites Similar accusations surface regularly. Roughly two weeks ago, Gaza-based outlets claimed that the IDF killed 27 people and wounded 180 near an aid-distribution point north of Rafah. The army said an investigation found no evidence of casualties from IDF fire at that site. Earlier this month, two American aid workers were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba after being wounded by grenade shrapnel while delivering supplies. Field assessments indicated that Hamas gunmen threw the grenade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 1, 130 international relief organizations including Oxfam and Amnesty International issued a statement demanding the closure of the US- and Israeli-financed Gaza Humanitarian Fund, charging that it violates every rule of humanitarian assistance and endangers civilians. The groups say more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and about 4,000 wounded since the fund began operating in May, and that Israeli soldiers and other armed actors routinely shoot at people near distribution sites. Jerusalem denies targeting civilians and says the fund bypasses Hamass control over aid. The IDF also said that it would redesign distribution procedures, erect fencing, and post additional signage to prevent crowds from surging around trucks. By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -A last-minute settlement between Meta Platforms shareholders and the company's leadership last week ended an $8 billion trial and spared Mark Zuckerberg from testifying about alleged violations of Facebook users' data. It also took the heat off the state of Delaware, which has been plagued by criticism from technology and business leaders. The second day of the eight-day trial in Delaware's Court of Chancery was about to start on Thursday when the legal team for the shareholder plaintiffs announced they had reached a deal to resolve the case. The terms are still being hammered out, but the agreement ends a case that had the potential to fuel a trend of companies abandoning the state as their legal home. Since last year, Elon Musk and other business leaders have attacked the state's courts, once the key reason companies incorporated in Delaware, for rulings that they say made it easier for shareholders to sue directors. Musk encouraged companies to leave the state and in the past year Dropbox, Trump Media & Technology, Roblox and Simon Property Group were among the large public companies that reincorporated outside Delaware, a trend dubbed "Dexit." Critics claim the state's courts are biased against company founders -- an uncomfortable backdrop for the Meta case, whose 11 defendants included the billionaires Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Marc Andreessen, Palantir Technologies co-founder Peter Thiel and Reed Hastings, who co-founded Netflix. A ruling that spared the defendants might have given the impression the court caved to pressure to let them off the hook, while one that favored the plaintiffs could have led to further calls for companies to leave Delaware. "It was going to be really awkward for the court," said Ann Lipton, a professor at Colorado Law School. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and lawyers for Meta investors and the defendants did not respond to requests for comment. Meta shareholders alleged current and former officers and directors of Facebook were liable for failing to protect users' data. The shareholder plaintiffs wanted the court to order the defendants to use their personal fortune to reimburse the company for the $8 billion in legal costs that Facebook had shelled out for violating user privacy, including a $5 billion fine paid to the Federal Trade Commission in 2019. The case put a spotlight on Delaware courts and the judge handling the case, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, who gained prominence last year for rescinding Musk's $56 billion pay package from Tesla. That ruling is on appeal. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Two years ago, Sarah Qanan was a star high school student preparing for final exams and dreaming of becoming a doctor. Today, the 18-year-old lives in a sweltering tent in the Gaza Strip and says she is just trying to stay alive. Shes part of a generation of Palestinians from grade school through university who have had virtually no access to education in the territory since the war began in October 2023. Classes were suspended that month and schools were transformed into crowded shelters as hundreds of thousands fled their homes at the start of Israels campaign of retaliation after Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The closure of schools has removed a key social outlet for young people as they grapple with war, hunger and displacement. For younger children, it has meant missing out on basic skills like reading and simple arithmetic. For older students, advanced subjects, graduation exams and college applications have all been put on hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if negotiations lead to another ceasefire, its unclear when anything in Gaza will be rebuilt. Vast areas have been completely destroyed, and the U.N. childrens agency estimates that nearly 90% of schools will need substantial reconstruction before they can function again. Like many in Gaza, Qanans family has been displaced multiple times and is now living in a tent. When an Israeli airstrike destroyed their home in early 2024, she dug through the rubble in search of her books, but there was nothing left. My sole dream was to study medicine, Qanan said. I stopped thinking about it. All my thoughts now are about how to survive. Hundreds of thousands out of school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 650,000 students have had no access to education since the start of the war, according to the U.N. childrens agency, UNICEF. That includes nearly 40,000 students who were unable to take university entry exams that largely determine their career prospects. Its the first time in decades that the exams were not administered in Gaza. Israels bombardment and ground operations have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced 90% of Gazas population. School-age children in crowded shelters and tent camps are often forced to help their families find food, water and firewood. A complete Israeli blockade imposed in early March that was only slightly eased 2 months later has driven the territory to the brink of famine. Local education officials, working with UNICEF and other aid groups, set up hundreds of learning spaces to try and provide education during the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were trying to salvage what we can of the educational process, so that the next generation doesnt slip through our fingers, said Mohamed al-Asouli, head of the education department in the southern city of Khan Younis. During a six-week ceasefire in January and February, some 600 learning spaces provided lessons for around 173,000 children, according to UNICEF. But since March, when Israel ended the truce with a surprise bombardment, nearly half have shut down. The impact goes beyond learning losses, said Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF spokeswoman. Children in Gaza have been trapped in a cycle not just of exposure to unprecedented violence, but also a cycle of fear, of toxic stress, of anxiety. Two years of my life are gone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have tried to continue their studies through online learning, but its not easy in Gaza, where there has been no central electricity since the start of the war. Palestinians must use solar panels or hard-to-find generators to charge their phones, and internet is unreliable. The mobile phone is not always charged, and we only have one at home, said Nesma Zouaroub, a mother of four school-age children. She said her youngest son should be in second grade but does not know how to read or write. The childrens future is ruined, she said. Ola Shaban tried to continue her civil engineering studies online through her university after the campus was destroyed by Israeli forces in April 2024. She had to walk long distances to get a signal in her hometown near Khan Younis, and she eventually gave up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I couldnt continue because of lack of internet, continuous displacement and the constant sense of fear, she said. Two years of my life are gone. Israel's offensive has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, does not differentiate between combatants and civilians but says over half the dead are women and children. Its figures are used by the U.N. and other international organizations as the most reliable statistics on war casualties. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251. They are still holding 50 hostages, less than half believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire deals or other agreements. Qanans father, Ibrahim, a local journalist, said his family did everything it could to support Sarah's ambition to study medicine, only to see it go up in smoke when the war broke out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war stunned us and turned our life upside down, the father of six said. Our dreams and hopes were buried in the rubble of our home. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war A recently announced land deal presents a second time a mining proposal near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was thwarted due to public outcry. Joe Cook/Georgia Rivers Georgia environmentalists are still celebrating a conservation groups announcement last month that it plans to purchase thousands of acres of land targeted for mining near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. But they read the win, they say, not as a moment to pop the champagne, but a call to action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mining interests are still eyeing property near the refuge, they say, and to preserve additional acreage, they need to build on their advocacy efforts, including persuading environmental groups to buy mineral rights in other areas attractive to mining businesses and highlighting easements for purchase along mineral-rich Trail Ridge. And they say they need to continue to press Georgia leaders to enact the legal protections for the Okefenokee that have eluded them for years at the state Capitol. Lawmakers will return to Atlanta for a new legislative session in January. We cant rest on our laurels, said Brian Foster, a spokesman for Georgia Conservancy, one of the environmental groups leading the charge. There is still a lot of work to be done. Theres a reason for their urgency, Georgia environmentalists said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the late 1990s, the environmental community thought the Okefenokee was safe from mining after chemical giant DuPont was persuaded to donate thousands of acres to The Conservation Fund because of public opposition to DuPonts mining plans. Three decades later, Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals, which has owned land along Trial Ridge since 2019, appeared close this year to realizing its plans to mine the area for titanium dioxide, a whitening agent in toothpaste, paint, sunscreen and other products. But The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, stepped in again, announcing late last month that it would spend almost $60 million to purchase close to 8,000 acres owned by Twin Pines. Environmentalists were elated, but quickly turned their attention to protecting land that could still be purchased for mining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is one thing that is abundantly clear to us is that the past is prologue when it comes to the Okefenokee, said Christian Hunt, chairman of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance. Roughly 25 years ago we were pretty much in the same position were in today, said Hunt, who also is director of national wildlife refuges and parks program for Defenders of Wildlife. Its very clear to everybody involved at this stage that goodwill alone is not going to save the swamp and we need to secure durable protections. Environment Georgia launched a campaign to collect 10,000 signatures calling on Gov. Brian Kemp to pursue permanent protections for the Okefenokee just days after The Conservation Funds announcement. The organization hopes to meet its goal by the end of the summer. We know that there are mineral rights that are still in the hands of people who could and would like to use them, so we would like to make sure that we find a permanent protection that ensures that there is not another mine proposed, Environment Georgia Director Jennette Gayer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hope is that we do not find ourselves in the same position a couple of decades from now, she said. Kim Bednarek, executive director of Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures, said environmentalists are not the only ones concerned about the refuge. It has a direct impact on the economies of Charlton, Ware and Clinch counties, which are home to the majority of the Okefenokees shallow, 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland along the Georgia-Florida border. A healthy Okefenokee promotes agritourism in the three small south Georgia counties, which have a combined population of about 54,000 people, as well creating jobs and encouraging workforce development, she said. In addition, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which could further boost its visitation numbers, Bednarek said. A decision on the nomination is expected next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 800,000 people visit the Okefenokee annually, according to Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures. Visitors spend about $91.5 million in Ware, Charlton, and Clinch counties. Its really a huge opportunity for the region and the gateway communities around the Okefenokee to benefit from increased tourism and educational and research activities, Bednarek said. We want to see more sustained attention and investment in the communities and the people around the Okefenokee. If the people are benefitting from a conserved landscape, then theyll want to make sure the landscape stays preserved. Megan Huynh, senior attorney and wetlands and coasts program leader for the Southern Environmental Law Center, echoed Bednarek. Now that the mine is gone, theres a responsibility to support opportunities for those communities that arent at odds with the health of the Okefenokee, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Worley, president and CEO of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, said the goal is to use every available tool to ensure the future of the Okefenokee. The main thing right now is to celebrate the victory that weve had and be prepared to finish the job, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX More than half of the German population can imagine emigrating abroad - and not only because of the chilly winters. Their issue is not just the harsh climate but a deeper sense of unease with their homeland, according to a recent poll. When asked, "Assuming you were completely independent professionally, privately and financially, could you imagine leaving Germany and emigrating abroad?" 31% of respondents answered "definitely" and 27% said "probably." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 22% would "probably" not emigrate and 15% said "definitely not," according to the YouGov survey. The proportion of those willing to emigrate is particularly high among voters of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 55% saying they would emigrate "definitely" and 24% saying "probably." The AfD's popularity is growing steadily after it came second in the the February parliamentary elections and recently topped an opinion poll. The far-right party is particularly strong in the former East Germany, where many struggled amid a difficult transition from a communist planned economy to the Western-style free market after reunification in 1990. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AfD, recently designated as right-wing extremist though the classification is pending a court ruling, started out in 2013 as an euro-sceptic party, then shifted direction as nationalist and far-right figures rose to prominence. The party gained significant momentum in 2015, when hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers entered Germany. In Germany, the underlying tide of discontent seems to be growing at present: of those who could imagine emigrating abroad in principle or possibly, 36% have thought more seriously about leaving Germany in recent months. Of that 36%, 61% point to the migration situation in Germany as one of the reasons for their desire to emigrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile 41% cite the economic recession in Germany and 29% say their discontent is due to the rise of the AfD. Global politics are also weighing on Germans. As Moscow's war on Ukraine rages on, the military threat posed by Russia plays a role for 22%. And potentially losing the US as Europe's protective power due to US President Donald Trump's presidency plays a role for 12%. Among the places people dream about living, Switzerland is particularly popular. The list of places people would potentially prefer living is topped with Switzerland and Austria (30% and 23%), followed by Spain and Canada (22% and 17%). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These countries have been at the top of the list of emigration destinations since the 1990s, along with the US and Australia," says Simone Blaschka, migration historian and director of the German Emigration Centre in Bremerhaven. The fact that German is also spoken in Switzerland and Austria and that the political conditions are comparable certainly plays a role in people's preferences, she says. Switzerland is particularly popular among AfD voters and also fans of the pro-business FDP. One German who has happily settled in the neighbouring Alpine nation is sociologist Oliver Nachtwey, where he teaches at the University of Basel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Switzerland is relatively conservative, but not much more conservative than Germany. And above all, it is a country where a much higher percentage of the population are migrants. A good 40% of the resident population has a migrant background and around one in four is a foreigner," he says. So for those seeking to leave Germany as they are bothered by the large number of migrants, Switzerland is not necessarily a logical destination, he says. "When it comes to migration, Switzerland is much more diverse." Nachtwey says he thinks that those who want to leave for Switzerland are in fact looking for something else, namely the Germany of the 1980s and 1990s, when the nation's infrastructure was still in good shape and politics was still reasonably stable - at least when viewed through the lense of nostalgia. In terms of infrastructure, Switzerland is indeed miles ahead of its German neighbour, says Nachtwey, citing trains as an example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Here, the question is whether the train is three or four minutes late, not whether it will arrive at all," he says. Germany's state-owned rail service, Deutsche Bahn, recently made headlines when Swiss regulators intervened concerning two connections as they were unfailingly late. "Here, bridges are not closed for years on end ... That's why I believe that this desire to emigrate is also driven by a longing for a perceived lost normality," Nachtwey says. Many clearly doubt Germany is capable of improving the situation by renovating the infrastructure and revitalizing the economy. "The response to this perceived collective failure is then individual exit," says Nachtwey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically speaking, economic problems such as the recession seen in the last two years have always been the main motive for emigration, says historian Blaschka. However, before this really takes on significant momentum, things have to go really badly for several years in a row - only then do large numbers of people react by emigrating. "You watch the decline unfold for quite some time - as is happening now with the automotive industry - and then at some point you come to the conclusion that this is no longer acceptable to you, that you have no future here." Historically speaking, dissatisfaction with political developments has been a much less common motive. "In the 1920s, however, right-wing conservative military personnel also emigrated to South America because they did not like Germany's turn towards democracy," says Blaschka. Some are staying put, however. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former foreign minister Joschka Fischer, 77, says he cannot imagine ever emigrating from Germany, even if the AfD came to power. "I am at home in this country, I was born here," he told dpa, determined never to leave. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius detailed on Monday what additional help Berlin plans to provide to Ukraine as it holds off Russian forces. Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in London - a gathering of Kiev's Western allies - Pistorius said that Germany was financing the procurement of long-range drones, being manufactured in Ukraine itself. "They will destroy Russian aircraft, drones and missiles on the ground before they can pose a threat to Ukraine, its cities or infrastructure," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The first of the systems financed by Germany will be delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces in the coming days and can be deployed immediately." When it comes to the Patriot air defence systems, Pistorius said that Ukraine needed five additional systems to defend itself against Russian airstrikes. Germany has promised to supply Ukraine with two Patriot missile systems, purchased from the United States. Germany's original plan was to purchase two, each costing around 1 billion ($1.16 billion), from the US and deliver them directly to Ukraine. However, as the systems are not yet available, Germany will hand over two of its nine remaining Patriot systems to Ukraine and later receive replacements from the US. Germany and the UK agreed their first-ever bilateral defense pact. The pairs status as NATO members means each would defend the other if attacked, but the new agreement deepens cooperation, including further integrating arms exports, weapons development, and military doctrines, and a pledge to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons. It comes after Britain signed an agreement to coordinate its nuclear deterrent policies with France. The deals reflect the current geopolitical realities of an aggressive Russia and a retreating US, with Europes major powers keen to create new partnerships to guarantee security without relying on Washington. US President Donald Trumps criticisms have also increased public support for the EU itself, The New York Times reported. The United Kingdom and Germany have launched a joint project to provide Ukraine with 220,000 shells for the German Gepard anti-aircraft system, and both countries will finance the supply of modern drones to the battlefield. Source: UK and German Defence Ministers John Healey and Boris Pistorius at the beginning of the 29th meeting of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the Ramstein format, which is taking place online on Monday 21 July, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent Details: Ukraine will receive modern drones and shells for the Gepard anti-aircraft system from Germany and the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On defence, on air defence, Boris and I have agreed to partner in providing critical air defence missiles to Ukraine," John Healey announced the joint project. "In addition, we will, together with our British friends, provide 220,000 rounds of 35mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun system at short notice, financed by Germany," Boris Pistorius elaborated. Pistorius says that in order to protect the skies over Ukraine, the allies "have to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their offensive efforts to weaken Russia's aerial warfare capabilities." "That is why we are financing the comprehensive procurement of long-range UAVs from Ukrainian production. These systems are already proving their value on the battlefield. They are destroying Russian aircraft, drones and missiles on the ground well before they can pose a threat to Ukraine, its urban centres or infrastructure," Pistorius said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The first systems financed by Germany will be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces within the next few days and will be ready for immediate use," he added. John Healey also said that the UK has already allocated 700 million this year for "artillery shells, long-range rockets and defence missiles, with 150 million of that support delivered in the last two months." Also, since March 2025, the UK has supplied almost 50,000 drones to Ukraine. "And finally, as part of a comprehensive NATO assistance package, the UK will provide an additional 40 million," Healey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: As reported by European Pravda, on 21 July, 52 countries participated in the Ramstein meeting which launched a 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine. Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose "very severe" sanctions against Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire by 2 September, i.e. 50 days after the announcement of the sale of state-of-the-art NATO weapons to Ukraine. In July, US representatives joined the meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing for the first time. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The United States and Germany have agreed to provide Ukraine with five Patriot air defence systems, which are to be delivered to the battlefield as soon as possible. Source: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the start of the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), also known as the Ramstein format, which is taking place on Monday 21 July and chaired by the UK and Germany, as reported by a correspondent for European Pravda Details: The United States and Germany have agreed to transfer five Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I agreed with Pete Hegseth during my trip to Washington, DC, last week that Germany will contribute to providing the five urgently-needed Patriot systems as quickly as possible," Pistorius said. He said that "within the next few days", he would coordinate with partners "in a spirit of mutual trust" on the mechanism for implementing these plans. "Germany will provide additional air defence systems and much-needed ammunition," the German defence minister said. Background: As reported by European Pravda, on 21 July, 52 countries participated in the Ramstein meeting which launched a 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine. Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose "very severe" sanctions against Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire by 2 September, i.e. 50 days after the announcement of the sale of state-of-the-art NATO weapons to Ukraine. In July, US representatives joined the meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing for the first time. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Germany and the United States are working out final details of a deal to supply Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. Source: Bloomberg with reference to its sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: German and US officials involved in the talks are finalising the remaining aspects of the agreement on providing additional Patriot systems to Ukraine, including the timeframe for replacing the transferred weapons, sources told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the agreement, Germany will provide Ukraine with two Patriot systems from its own stocks and will receive replacements from US industrial reserves. The agreement could be officially announced as early as this week. Germany has already sent three of its twelve systems to Ukraine and another two are currently deployed in Poland, so Berlin is seeking guarantees that these will be promptly replaced from the United States. Another sign that the deal could soon be finalised is the fact that the US recently notified Switzerland that the Patriot systems it had ordered will be delivered later than planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources said the systems intended for Switzerland have a slightly different configuration, and it will take about eight months to reconfigure them. German and US negotiators are expected to discuss this issue further this week. Background: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced at the start of the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) that Germany and the US have reached an agreement to provide Ukraine with five Patriot systems. Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal urged partners at the Ramstein meeting to urgently procure Patriot systems and PAC-3 missiles for Ukraine from the US. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has praised Poland's efforts to secure its border with Belarus. He said he was convinced that their measures were having an "enormous impact" on migration. "Here you can see how effective external border protection is done," he told reporters on Monday. Dobrindt said it was a significant problem that Russia and Belarus were attempting to "weaponize migration" to destabilize Poland, Germany and the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warsaw believes that illegal border crossings are being deliberately encouraged by the leadership in Belarus and Russia to put pressure on the EU. His Polish counterpart Tomasz Siemoniak showed Dobrindt the closed Poowce border crossing with Belarus. The border is secured with a high steel fence and electronic surveillance equipment. Migrants often resort to violence against border guards and last week, a Polish soldier was injured. Dobrindt commended the controls Poland has introduced in response to stricter German border checks, which are being carried out at the German border with Poland. Controls are also in place at the Polish border with Lithuania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We support this," said the German minister, calling it an important contribution to preventing a new EU migration route from Belarus. "Poland is Germany's most important partner within the EU, alongside our French neighbours," Dobrindt said. According to the Polish news agency PAP, Siemoniak said that Poland had deployed 11,000 officers and soldiers on the border with Belarus. "I want to show this to the German interior minister, with the understanding that the fight against illegal migration must be conducted at the EU's external borders, right here," he said. He estimated that 97% to 98% of illegal border crossings were being intercepted. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned against strict EU emissions rules for company cars. After a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre in Berlin on Monday, Merz said that the automotive industry is one of the core industries in Europe. "We must not allow it to be destroyed by a narrow focus on technologies," Merz asserted. The conservative German leader spoke of what he called "unnecessary proposals," noting that consumers should make the decision, not the state and not the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag had previously reported that the European Commission was preparing to allow car hire providers and large companies to only buy electric cars from 2030. However, a spokesman for the European Commission said that no decision had yet been made on possible climate proposals for company cars. In a paper published in March, the commission said that it would present a legislative proposal to reduce emissions from company cars by the end of the year, taking various technologies into account. The German Association of the Automotive Industry and the Ministry of Transport have criticized the possibility of mandatory electric cars for company fleets. By Tatiana Bautzer NEW YORK (Reuters) -Morgan Stanley has hired Aftab Shahsingh from UBS to lead industrial services coverage in its investment bank in North America, according to a source familiar with the situation. Shahsingh has worked in industrial services for over 15 years and led more than 50 advisory and capital-raising transactions since 2020, said the source, who declined to be identified discussing personnel matters. Shahsingh will join Morgan Stanley later this year. The bank has been adding to its industrials practice with recent hires, including David Hammond in metals and mining and Sean Murray for chemicals, both from Goldman Sachs, and Andy Lipsky and Chris Khouri for industrial technology coverage from JPMorgan Chase. Last week, Morgan Stanley reported a profit that beat Wall Street estimates in the second quarter, but its investment banking revenue shrank. The bank saw a pick-up in activity in the latest part of the second quarter, CEO Ted Pick told investors during the earnings call. "The second half ended with increasing engagement and a steady rebound in capital markets," Pick told analysts. Chief Financial Officer Sharon Yeshaya told Reuters in an interview the bank is optimistic about M&A discussions. "Companies are looking past tariffs for strategic movements and growth," she said. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Lananh Nguyen and Dale Hudson) The family of Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and associate of sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein, is worried the Epstein-related scandal washing over the Trump administration is putting her at risk as she serves out a 20-year prison sentence. For sure she remains at great, if not greater, risk and has expressed her real concerns about this to me, her brother Ian Maxwell told The Times of London. Maxwell added that his sister, who was sentenced in 2022 for what prosecutors said was a decade-long role recruiting and abusing girls alongside Epstein, disagrees with U.S. officials who reiterated last week that evidence suggests Epsteins 2019 death in jail as he awaited trial was a suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not the only part of the Epstein story she disputes. Maxwell has also sought an appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her conviction, arguing a 2008 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and federal prosecutors in Florida should cover her as well. The principal casualties here are truth and justice and my sisters freedom, Ian Maxwell added to The Times, saying he supports total disclosure about the evidence the government possesses from its Epstein cases. The family of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell worries interest in Donald Trumps alleged links to the late disgraced financier could put Maxwell at risk in federal prison (AP/Metropolitan Detention Center) Thats the reality and it should make all right-thinking people seethe with anger, he continued. We remain ever hopeful that the truth of the hoax, as President Trump now refers to it, comes out. The Trump administration has urged the Supreme Court to reject the petition, while the Maxwell family said last week it will seek renewed efforts challenging the case in New York if the high court sides with the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of what the courts decide, the wider Epstein scandal, reignited last month when Elon Musk accused Trump of being in the so-called Epstein files, without providing evidence, looks set to consume the Trump administrations attentions. Epsteins former attorney Alan Dershowitz said Sunday in an interview with Fox News that Ghislaine Maxwell knows everything about the scandal and might be open to testifying before Congress in exchange for immunity. Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 on conspiracy charges for her role in the Epstein ring, though she argues she didnt get a fair trial and is seeking an appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court (US District Court for the Southern District of New York) She knows everything. She is the Rosetta Stone. She knows everything. She arranged every single trip with everybody. She knows everything, Dershowitz said on Fox News Sunday. If she were just given use immunity, she could be compelled to testify, he added. Im told that she actually would be willing to testify, and thered be no reason for her to withhold any information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has dismissed attempts to paint the president as part of Epsteins exploits as a Democrat-created hoax, but has faced considerable pressure from its base to release further investigative materials about the investigations into Epstein and his high-profile associates. Last week, the administration asked a New York federal court to unseal grand jury testimony related to the Epstein trial. The president, meanwhile, has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a report that Trump allegedly wrote Epstein a sexually explicit 50th birthday card in 2003, which the president denies. PLATTSBURGH, NY Republicans are accusing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of fearmongering during a stop in Rep. Elise Stefaniks upstate district where she said the congresswoman is not welcome here anymore. The lefty Big Apple pol quickly jumped into politics at a Plattsburgh town-hall event advertised as a response to President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, mocking Stefanik for taking a farewell tour of the district when she thought she was about to become the US ambassador to the United Nations. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaking at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago at the United Center on August 19, 2024. Ron Sachs CNP for NY Post Elise did her farewell tour, and I think its time to finish the job, AOC yelled to a cheering crowd at the historic Strand Theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets show her the door. Shes not welcome here anymore, AOC said on the stage nearly 300 miles away from her own district in The Bronx and Queens. Stefanik whose ambassador nomination was yanked by President Trump because he was worried a Dem could fill her House seat is now running for governor. Rep. Elise Stefanik leaving a House Republican Conference meeting with President Donald Trump on the budget reconciliation bill. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images AOC and [Dem North Country Rep.] Paul Tonko may love trying to tax and spend their own constituents to death, but that doesnt mean they should come to the North Country and peddle the same, tired failing Democrat agenda, Plattsburgh state Sen. Dan Stec (R-Warren) told The Post. Rather than continuing to spread disinformation and fearmongering over President Trumps historically significant legislative achievement, they should be telling Kathy Hochul and legislative Democrats to rein in Albanys bloated state budget, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other top GOPers laughed off Ocasio-Cortezs visit. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a House Committee meeting on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2025. Getty Images As usual, AOC is beyond parody. Unlike AOC, a suburbanite cosplaying as a girl from The Bronx, Elise Stefanik is actually from her district, a rep for the New York Republican Committee told The Post taking a jab at Ocasio-Cortez for famously claiming to be a Bronx girl in a recent spat with Trump even though she grew up in Westchester County. The North County is Elise Country, and its Trump Country and itll stay that way, the GOP representative said. AOC, dressed in a white button down shirt and black cuffed pants for the event, professed to love the Adirondacks and claimed she was an avid backpacker. Rep. Elise Stefanik speaking at a House Committee hearing at Capitol Hill on July 15, 2025. AP The Republican Party will never recover from this, Erie County GOP Chair Michael Kracker quipped on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A rep for Stefanik, asked by The Post if she had any response to AOC saying shes not welcome in her own district, said in a statement, Thank you for the political gift of a radical Far Left Socialists visit to the North Country. Its like pouring jet fuel on Elise Stefaniks strong support in Upstate New York, the statement read. The event was co-hosted by Tonko, who hailed his colleague Alex as a figurehead of the Democratic party. They say, Well, shes the future of the party. I say, Shes the today of the party, Tonko said. Congress nonpartisan scorekeeper released its final prediction Monday for how President Donald Trumps signature legislative achievement will grow the national debt and affect U.S. households. Over the next decade, the megabill Trump signed on July 4 would increase the federal deficit by $3.4 trillion and cause 10 million people to lose health insurance, the Congressional Budget Office forecasts. While the newly enacted legislation would save more than $1 trillion by cutting federal spending on health care with the majority coming from Medicaid CBO predicts that the packages costs will far outweigh its savings. The bulk of the red ink from the package comes from the GOPs permanent extension of Trumps 2017 tax cuts. The analysis finds that the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, enacted policies that would decrease the incoming federal cash flow from taxes by a total of $4.5 trillion. That sum includes the cost of tax cuts Republicans added during Senate floor debate of the package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBOs new uninsured figure is below its prior estimate of 11.8 million people . The agency said it will offer details on the differences in the coming weeks, but one source of the reduction is removal of a policy in the final version of the megabill that would have led to an estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants losing coverage. The budget office also recalculated savings from agriculture policies. In the final days before the bill cleared Congress, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led negotiations to soften a requirement to make states pay for part of SNAP food assistance, the nations largest anti-hunger program. Cuts to federal agriculture spending and the bills overhaul of the food aid program will save $120 billion over the next decade, CBO predicts. A prior version of the legislation also offset costs with policies intended to penalize states that offer coverage to undocumented immigrants out of their own coffers. Undocumented immigrants are prohibited from getting Medicaid coverage, but a dozen states and the District of Columbia pay for services with their own funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill originally cut funding for states that had opted to expand Medicaid under the Democrats 2010 health law, but the provision was dropped in the final version due to an objection from the Senate parliamentarian. At the request of Senate Republicans, CBO also included an analysis using a new accounting tactic that zeroes out the cost of permanently extending Trumps 2017 tax cuts. Senate Republicans have argued that merely extending current tax rates shouldnt be counted towards the deficit and that traditional accounting used by CBO biases against preventing tax increases. Under the separate analysis, also released on Monday, the sweeping domestic policy bill would increase the federal deficit by only $366 billion. Katherine Tully-McManus and Samuel Benson contributed to this report. A Republican congressman has praised First Lady Melania Trump for making her husband realize hed been played by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon said he was glad to see President Donald Trump shift course on pressuring Russia over its war in Ukraine in an interview on NewsNations The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt, saying, I think we owe Melania some thanks here. Bacon, a longtime critic of Trumps approach to Putin, continued, Even the president said that his wife reminds him every day that Russia is bombing Ukrainian cities every night. President Donald Trumps once-lenient approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be shifting, thanks in no small part to First Lady Melania Trump. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump credited Melania for helping him see how Putin had been stringing him along during his Monday announcement of a deal with NATO to provide weapons to Ukraine, in which he also threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on Russia in 50 days if Putin doesnt agree to a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He described growing frustrated after having wonderful conversations with Putin during their peace talks only for Melania to point out that Russia had struck another city in Ukraine soon after. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly embarrassed Trump, who's been pushing for a ceasefire, by saying one thing and doing another. / Contributor/Getty Images I get home, Id say, First Lady, I had the most wonderful talk with Vladimir. I think were finished, Trump said. And then Id turn on the television or shell say to me one time, Well thats strange because they just bombed a nursing home. The news prompted pro-Ukrainian social media users to hail the Slovenian-born first lady, who grew up in former Yugoslavia, as an undercover agent. Agent Melania Trumpenko pic.twitter.com/rVzf6tJfvJ Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) July 14, 2025 Melania has spoken in support of Ukraine previously, calling on her followers to donate to the Red Cross in an X post during Russias initial invasion in 2022, writing, My thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps apparent pivot on Ukraine didnt go far enough for Bacon, a five-term Republican whose willingness to criticize Trump sets him apart from many in his party. Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon is not seeking re-election. Kamala Harris won his district by more than four points during the 2024 presidential election. / Tom Williams/Getty Images I hope the president does more than just sell weapons to NATO, for NATO to give to Ukraine, he said, before adding that he wished Trumps ultimatum to Putin was 20 days or 30 days instead of 50. Bacon, who in May slammed Trumps moral ambiguity after the president attacked Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the same Truth Social post, continued, We should have total moral clarity here. Russia is the invader. Theyre bombing the cities. Gov. Kelly Armstrong, center, tours storm damage in rural Enderlin on June 25, 2025. (Photo provided by governor's office) Gov. Kelly Armstrong has asked President Donald Trumps administration to designate the series of tornadoes that swept North Dakota on June 20-21 as a major disaster. If granted, the designation will open up federal financial assistance to help North Dakota communities recover from the storm. A preliminary cost analysis of the storm, which consisted of more than 20 tornadoes and intense wind, estimated it caused $11.5 million in damages, according to a Monday announcement from Armstrongs office. One tornado took the lives of three people in Enderlin and power outages caused by the storm led to the death of a fourth man in Stutsman County. Armstrong has submitted a request through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to designate the storms as a disaster in 19 North Dakota counties: Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, McLean, Morton, Oliver, Ransom, Sheridan, Sioux, Steele, Stutsman, Traill and Wells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver County sustained an estimated $2.6 million in damages. Cass County has reported costs totaling about $1.5 million, while storm damage in Barnes County is estimated at $1.3 million, according to the governors office. The impact in Stutsman County is roughly $1.1 million. Federal aid would help North Dakota cover the cost of removing storm debris, repairing infrastructure and other expenses. The destructive power of the storm system that ripped across our state on June 20-21 was unlike anything North Dakotans have seen in recent history and hopefully something well never see again, Armstrong said in the announcement. According to the governors office, storm damage has been reported in several other North Dakota counties, but not on the level required to seek a presidential disaster declaration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the storm, the North Dakota state government set up a program to lend farmers gap funding to replace or repair damaged farm infrastructure like storage bins while they wait for their insurance claims to be processed. The program makes about $37 million available from the Bank of North Dakota. Those interested in applying can find out more on the banks website. The application window closes Dec. 31. The storm is thought to be the deadliest in several decades. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) Recent national polling indicates that nearly half of American voters would consider supporting a third political party. However, if it is founded by billionaire Elon Musk, interest drops sharply. Wake Up Western Slope anchor Justin Adam Brown hit the streets of the Grand Valley to find out if voters in Grand Junction would RSVP Yes to a Musk-founded competitive third party. Earlier this month, Musk said hes launching a new political party, The America Party. This comes after a public online feud with President Donald Trump. So far Musk has yet to make more formal steps to actually establish a new political party. 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. A Clark man has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder in the death of his mother, according to a release by South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. Bowen Fladland, 34, was indicted, according to a release, by a Clark County Grand Jury on Wednesday, July 16. The next hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 21. The defendant is accused in the July 5 murder of his mother, 70-year-old Marlene Fladland, the release states. She was killed, according to a release, at a Clark residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakotas Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is leading the investigation with the assistance of the Clark Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Office and the Clark County States Attorneys Office. The defendant is being held on a $500,000 cash bond in the Codington County Jail. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if found guilty. He is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Clark, SD, man indicted by Clark County Grand Jury for mother's murder We recently published 8 Stocks That Jim Cramer Recently Talked About. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is a Swiss pharmaceutical company that is one of the largest of its kind. Its shares have gained 17% year-to-date, but the shares lost 2.5% in July after the firms fiscal first quarter earnings report. The results saw Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) post $14.05 billion in revenue, which fell short of analyst estimates of $14.18 billion. However, the firms operating profit sat at $5.93 billion which was higher than the $5.69 billion that analysts had penciled in. For his part, Cramer had a shocking question on his mind as he wondered whether Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) CEO Dr. Vasant Narasimhan was leaving the company: [On NVS raising the guide and getting a buyback]They did have one failure of a drug, that was very, very important but I saw that Vass, Vass is going? Hes a terrific CEO. Updated July 22nd, 2025: Novartis reached out to CNBC and confirmed that Cramer misspoke during the show. A Novartis spokesperson who reached out to Insider Monkey denied that the CEO was leaving and remarked: "Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan is not leaving the company." Novartis AG (NVS): Jim Cramer Wonders Whether Its CEO Is Leaving A doctor holding a microscope in front of a laboratory sample of healthcare products. Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund mentioned Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) in its Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the firm said: Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) is a diversified global healthcare company with market leadership in branded pharmaceuticals across a broad range of treatment areas, including oncology (30% of revenues), immunology (almost 20% of revenues), cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (almost 20%), and neurology (10%). The company also derives over 20% of revenues from mature branded products in non-core therapy areas. With the October 2023 spinoff of the companys Sandoz generics and biosimilars division, which followed the 2019 spinoff of ophthalmologic equipment maker Alcon and 2018 divestiture of a consumer health joint venture, the company is now purely focused on innovative medicines, which accounted for about 80% of revenue and 85% of core operating income prior to the Sandoz spinoff. The company generates over 50% of revenue from the Americas, approximately 30% from Europe, and almost 20% from the rest of the world. While we acknowledge the potential of NVS 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Great Plains SPCA is offering free Bring Your Pet Inside Kits for those who need help creating a safe indoor space for their pets amid the extreme heat. FOX4 meteorologists predict a heat index of 105 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesdays heat index could be even hotter. Police warn residents about dangers of leaving pets in cars during summer Dangerously hot conditions are expected this week through at least Wednesday, the shelter said on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each kit includes essential supplies and resources to help pets stay cool, comfortable and protected from extreme weather. Great Plains SPCA also shared the following tips to keep your pets safe from extreme heat: Provide fresh water and shade if pets are outside Never leave pets alone in a parked car without air conditioning running Limit outdoor time and exercise to early morning or evening hours Pet should not be left outside unattended for more than 15 minutes Bring pets inside Chained/tethered dogs cannot protect themselves from the elements Check pavement Remember: if its too hot for your hand, its too hot for paws Pets are at risk of heat stroke and even death during extreme temperatures, like the ones anticipated this week. Make sure you recognize the signs of heat stroke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who would like a kit can email hero@greatplainsspca.org to arrange a pick-up 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Air travelers flying with Alaska Airlines should expect to wait a little longer than usual for their flights following a disruption. Flight tracking website FlightAware stated Alaska Airlines had 81 canceled flights and 137 delayed flights as of 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 21. That tally includes two cancellations and six delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Alaska Airlines posted this message on its website for travelers flying on Monday: "If you are traveling today, please check your flight status before leaving for the airport. We appreciate your patience as service returns to normal after an IT outage." Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about the Alaska Airlines grounding and flight delays. Why did Alaska Airlines ground all flights? Alaska Airlines grounded all of its flights, including flights with its regional affiliate Horizon Air, because of an IT outage that halted operations for about three hours. The airline told USA TODAY that the outage occurred because of a "critical piece of multi-redundant hardware" at its data centers that was manufactured by a third party. Is PHX experiencing delays? At Sky Harbor, six Alaska Airlines flights were delayed Monday and another two were canceled, according to FlightAware. What does a ground stop mean when flying? The Federal Aviation Administration can order a ground stop when it's not safe for flights to take off or land at an airport. Advertisement Advertisement It can also order a ground delay, which is when flights destined for an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs, according to the FAA. The FAA can order a ground delay or ground stop, but it does not cancel flights. Fire impact: Here's how the North Rim fire will affect Grand Canyon tourism this summer Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Alaska Airlines ground stop: Outage delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor A Lake County group is highlighting the countys poor lake health with a pilot program monitoring 12 of its more than 170 lakes, 70% of which are considered impaired by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Called Lake County Lake Lovers, the advocacy group held a special event Thursday evening to discuss the challenges facing the vast majority of the countys lakes, as well as the restoration work the group has been undertaking. According to Paul Spiewak, tech team leader for Lake Lovers, many of the countys lakes are considered impaired due to high phosphorus concentrations. These lead to algae blooms, which the state EPA says can be toxic to people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phosphorus comes from a variety of sources, but Spiewak highlighted fertilizer runoff. Lake Countys farming history means a century of phosphorus has built up in the sediments at the bottom of lakes, which can be released in the summer and cause a spike in algae blooms. While there are various techniques for helping reduce phosphorus and restore lakes, you cant manage what you cant measure, Spiewak said. Thats where the new pilot program, started earlier this year, comes in. Using equipment donated by Illinois manufacturer Xylem, Lake Lovers is using a network of volunteers to take an array of measurements, such as temperature and phosphorus concentration, every two weeks at the targeted lakes. Organizers said they originally planned to include just five lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We invited anyone in Lake County saying, Would you be willing to come and learn how to use this professional equipment? Would you be willing to sign up to go out twice a month from April to October and record measurements? Rebecca Sawle, co-chair of Lake Lovers, recalled. The count more than doubled as community engagement rose, finally launching in March with a dozen lakes and a small army of community members helping transport the equipment and take measurements. The group considers the program a critical first step to addressing the issues of lake health, as well as a way for residents to know how their lakes are doing. Theres a variety of techniques, sitting at a variety of price points, that can be used to help clean up lakes, many of which are being utilized at the 12 lakes in the Lake Lovers pilot program. They range from the basic, such as dredging and plant removal, to the cutting edge, like the use of special enzymes and dissolved oxygen. Its actually that second technique that inspired Mary Conley Eggert to look more into Lake Countys lake health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eggert is well-versed in the world of water. Shes the founder of Global Water Works, a nonprofit aiming to address water sustainability issues across the world, and shes traveled across the globe connecting people to help share techniques and solutions. Eggert was aware of the issues with her homes lakes, but always felt it wasnt possible to address. It was during a trip to India several years ago that she learned about the enzyme technique, and it drove her to meet with her neighbors. I said, Guys, if we can heal this problem, why dont we do something about it?, she recalled. The group gained momentum as it connected with more interested residents. Today, it boasts more than 160 members, who help with water health, education, outreach and fundraising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality of Lake Countys lakes was shocking for some residents, including Sawle. She admitted she had assumed they were being cared for by someone, but was surprised to learn many were essentially orphaned. Nobody is responsible for cleaning up these lakes, Sawle said. Libertyville couple Chuck and Sandy Likus, who are helping monitor Long Lake, were also surprised by the data. While theyve seen their fair share of algae, learning that 70% of the lakes were impaired was a shock. We knew from Loch Lomond that there was an algae problem, because they would always be cutting that back, cleaning out your beach area, Sandy Likus said. I didnt really realize that it was that bad in all of Lake County. Lake Lovers data on trends of each participating lake is publicly available online, and includes measurements of water clarity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and phosphate concentration. Oklahoma Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice Dana Kuehn and Justice M. John Kane IV speak July 10, 2025, to the Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club. (Photo by Barbara Hoberock/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY After earning his graduate law degree from New York University, Brent Howard accepted a job in Oklahoma City. But he quickly decided the long hours that came with practicing law in a metropolitan area wasnt for him, and moved back to his hometown of Altus and the family farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt feel I had the quality of life I wanted to pursue, said Howard, who also serves as a Republican state senator. I just felt a calling to be back home, work with my family and have my own practice. Howard, who is also a fifth generation family farmer, is one of 40 attorneys who lives in Jackson County, a county of about 25,000 residents in southwestern Oklahoma. Neighboring Harmon County has four attorneys while Greer has just two. The counties are among a growing number grappling with a shortage of lawyers, which experts say is requiring Oklahomans to travel further to obtain legal representation and creating access disparities between those who can afford attorneys and those who cannot. Howard said it also creates a conundrum for the states criminal defense process because defendants facing charges are constitutionally guaranteed the right to an attorney if they cannot afford one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, an estimated 20 Oklahoma counties have been classified as a legal desert, meaning they have fewer than one licensed attorney for every 1,000 people, according to an Oklahoma Bar Association analysis. Another 29 had fewer than 1.5 lawyers per 1,000 residents, according to the groups latest analysis. The shortage of lawyers is a national issue, but Oklahomas dearth has captured the attention of Oklahoma Supreme Court Vice-Chief Justice Dana Kuehn. She talked about the issue recently during a presentation to the Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club. When people go to law school in Norman, Oklahoma City or Tulsa, many dont return to practice in the rural communities they came from, Kuehn said after the meeting. It is called a drought in the rural communities, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Oklahoma and Tulsa counties have thousands of practicing attorneys, others have fewer than a handful. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that in Oklahoma, the states practicing attorneys are aging, said Dale Kenyon Williams Jr., Oklahoma Bar Association president. More of the organizations members are now over 70 than under 30, he said. He said most Oklahomans also cannot afford legal services, which has increased the number of people representing themselves in legal proceedings or who are relying instead on the internet or artificial intelligence for legal advice and assistance, Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In person interaction is absolutely the best way to establish a trusting relationship and work together to accomplish the clients goals, he said. The cost of an education Williams, who has practiced since 1977, said the skyrocketing cost of a legal education coupled with a bad reputation for the profession has contributed to the shortages. Lawyers do much more than plaintiffs work, said Marc Roark, University of Tulsa College of Law interim dean. They do probate. They do family matters. They represent families when they find themselves in criminal problems. They represent school children as they are navigating the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process for accommodations in schools. He said the price of law school has gone up nationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Education Data Initiative, which compiles statistics about higher education, reported in July that the average cost of law school is $217,480, which includes an average tuition cost of about $46,000 per year. In-state tuition rates at public university law schools increased nearly $1,300 between 2023 and 2024, the group found. The standard rate at the University of Tulsa for tuition is a little more than $30,000 a year, he said. Oklahoma law schools are some of the most affordable in the country, yet it is still a lot of money for most people, said David Holt, dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. Solutions Holt said some other states have experimented with apprenticeship models as opposed to requiring attorneys to pass the bar exam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some find that attractive and might make a commitment to practice in underserved areas in exchange for that opportunity, said Holt, who is also the mayor of Oklahoma City. Solving the problem could also involve assistance with education, teaching students at an earlier age about the profession and making office space and establishing a practice more affordable for young attorneys, said Williams, president of the state bar. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE GUATEMALA CITY (AP) The Guatemalan government on Sunday denied that U.S. authorities deported a Chilean man to the Central American country. The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania, reported Luis Leon, 82, a legal permanent resident of the United States who won asylum in 1987, ended up in Guatemala after being handcuffed in a Philadelphia immigration office, where he went to replace his lost green card. The news report relied on family accounts. The Morning Call reported Sunday that Leon was recovering from pneumonia in Guatemala and didnt plan to return to the United States, according to his granddaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was looking into the circumstances, according to The Morning Call. ICE did not respond to questions from The Associated Press on Sunday. The Guatemalan Migration Institute said in a statement that it coordinates with ICE on all deportations from the United States and that no one matched Leon's name, age or citizenship. Guatemala agreed in February to receive people deported from the United States who are from other Central American countries. Its agreement does not extend to Chileans. The Trump administration has embraced deporting people to countries other than their own, including El Salvador, South Sudan and, last week, the African kingdom of Eswatini. The Guatemalan government says it has no records that an 82-year-old Chilean man was deported to the Central American country, contrary to claims from his family in Pennsylvania. The Morning Call of Allentown, Pa., reported that Luis Leon, who is a legal permanent resident of the U.S., told his family that he was hospitalized with pneumonia in Guatemala after he was arrested at a Philadelphia immigration office while trying to replace his green card. Hes really traumatized right now, the mans granddaughter, Nataly, told the Pennsylvania outlet after the family reportedly tracked him down at a Guatemala City hospital over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nataly, whose surname was not reported, said the family had not heard from Leon since June 20, when he went to replace his lost green card in Philadelphia. His wife, who was with him at the immigration office, was detained for several hours before she was released, but Leons whereabouts had been a mystery, Nataly told the outlet. But the Guatemalan Migration Institute, which works with U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) on deportations to the country, told The Associated Press in a statement that it had no record of anyone matching Leons name, age or citizenship among the U.S. deportees sent there. The Institute didnt respond to The Hills request for comment. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to The Hills requests for an update on Leons situation, but ICE told the Morning Call that it was looking into the circumstances and the familys claims. Nataly told the outlet that her grandfather, who received asylum in the U.S. after fleeing Chile in 1987, doesnt plan to return to Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, as part of its sweeping immigration crackdown and deportation efforts, has sent migrants to countries beyond their home nations. Guatemala agreed earlier this year to accept deportees from other Central American countries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 have released photos of a man suspected of shooting the 29-year-old motorist accused of intentionally driving into a crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub, injuring dozens of people. The early Saturday morning incident unfolded in the 4600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, near a popular venue in the 1000 block of North Vermont Avenue, according to investigators with the L.A. Police Department. More than 120 first responders rushed to the scene of the mass-casualty incident and took 36 patients to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious fractures, including several victims who were trapped beneath the suspects vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said that at least seven of those injured were listed in critical condition. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the driver, identified by police as Fernando Ramirez, was pulled from his vehicle by people in the crowd and repeatedly punched and kicked. During the altercation, an unidentified male approached from across the street, produced a firearm and shot Ramirez once in the lower back, L.A. police said in an updated news release. That suspect fled the location and remains at large. Police are searching for man suspected of shooting a driver who plowed into an East Hollywood nightclub crowd, injuring 36 people on July, 19 2025. (LAPD) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (okramtattoos) Police are searching for man suspected of shooting a driver who plowed into an East Hollywood nightclub crowd, injuring 36 people on July, 19 2025. (LAPD) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (okramtattoos) Police are searching for man suspected of shooting a driver who plowed into an East Hollywood nightclub crowd, injuring 36 people on July, 19 2025. (LAPD) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (RMGNews) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (RMGNews) At least 30 were injured after a car plowed into crowd outside an East Hollywood nightclub. July 19, 2025. (RMGNews) Ramirez was taken to the hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound and injuries sustained during the beating by the crowd. He was later taken into custody and booked for assault with a deadly weapon and force likely to produce great bodily injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twist him around, pulled him in: Man wearing necklace killed by MRI machine A law enforcement source told KTLA that just before 8 p.m. Friday evening, Ramirez had been removed from the nightclub for being disruptive and was turned away when he later tried to reenter the venue. He then reportedly got into his car, drove to Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard where he made U-turn, drove onto the sidewalk, hitting a taco vendors stand, a valet podium before smashing into the crowd of people. The 29-year-old, according to reporting from KTLAs Carlos Saucedo, has an extensive criminal record and was convicted in 2020 for felony battery after attacking a man outside a Laguna Beach Whole Foods, which was later determined to be a hate crime. LAPD Cpt. VanGerpen noted that while the scene was chaotic, members of the public were helpful in assisting authorities with their immediate response to the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This really was a horrific scene, just because all of these people are coming out to have a good time, VanGerpen told KTLA. Theyre waiting in line and then a vehicle comes and drives through them, so it was a chaotic scene, but we also saw people showing their bestpeople with broken legs were being assisted by people they never met before. The suspected gunman who shot Ramirez, according to police, is described as a Hispanic male standing between 5 foot 6 inches and 5 foot 7 inches, weighing approximately 160-170 pounds, with gauges in both earlobes and has a goatee. He was last seen wearing a blue Dodgers Jacket, a light blue jersey with the 5 on it and blue jeans. Anyone with information about this investigation or the alleged gunmans whereabouts is urged to contact LAPD Rampart Division Det. Audelo at 213-484-3451. Those wishing to remain anonymous call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.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 KTLA. Gwinnett BOE approves more than $19M for weapon detectors in middle, high schools The Gwinnett County School Board approved a $19.36 million spending increase last week to install weapons detection systems at all middle and high schools, expanding a pilot program tested at Grayson High School. The Evolv systems use artificial intelligence and electromagnetic fields to distinguish between weapons and everyday items like cell phones and keys. Students wont need to empty their pockets or bags for most items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alliance Technology Group will install the systems under a contract running through May 2028. The technology is designed to create a relatively smooth entry process while screening for weapons and potential threats. Board members said student safety drove their decision to approve the spending increase. TRENDING STORIES: Were happy that we did this, spent $23.1 million of additional money to do that. The safety of our students is of utmost paramount to us, said Steve Gasper, Gwinnett School Board Member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, some parents expressed concerns about the psychological impact on students and the cost. Emily Kelleher-Best, a parent of two elementary students, said her son already receives anxiety support related to school shooter drills. Our children are being traumatized, Kelleher-Best said. She advocates for addressing gun violence through broader policy changes rather than school-based security measures. That $19 million could go to reducing class size, improving teacher training, creating more opportunities for families to be meaningfully involved in student life, Kelleher-Best said about the funding. The weapons detection systems are expected to be installed during the new school year. HabiJax will officially become First Coast Habitat for Humanity on July 21, 2025, reflecting its expanded service area in Duval, Nassau, and Baker counties. The name change aligns with the start of the nonprofits new fiscal year and a shift in leadership. Monte Walker, who served as President and CEO for five years, stepped down at the end of June, and Chris Folds, the Chief Community Partnerships Officer, has been appointed as Interim CEO. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monte led the organization through a critical period, said Jim Branch, Chair of the nonprofits Board. He guided a successful merger with Nassau Habitat for Humanity and helped build a more sustainable and strategically focused foundation. Were incredibly grateful for his service and leadership. Since its founding in 1988, First Coast Habitat for Humanity has helped 2,400 local families achieve homeownership. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] According to a recent UNF Public Opinion Lab poll, 1 in 4 Duval County residents cite the cost of housing as the communitys top concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, more than half of renters in Jacksonville are classified as cost-burdened, according to data from the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida. The same issues are emerging in communities as diverse as Fernandina Beach, Hilliard, and Macclenny. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] This moment calls for clarity, urgency, and bold collaboration, said Folds. The housing crisis is real and growing. First Coast Habitat for Humanity is uniquely positioned to meet this moment. Weve set aggressive goals to serve more families in more communities across the region. We know we can only succeed by working together with our staff, board, volunteers, donors, and partners. The launch of the new name, First Coast Habitat for Humanity, marks the beginning of a broader rebranding initiative that reflects the organizations vision for the future: a First Coast where everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. 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. In an up-and-down year for the stock markets, one of the stalwarts has been Netflix (NFLX). The streaming giants shares are up more than 37% for the year as of July 21 well above the S&P 500s 7.7% gain in 2025. If youre looking to invest in Netflix, now might be a good time to buy. Many experts have a positive take on the stock and expect it to move well above its current price. Read Next: Im a Self-Made Millionaire: 5 Stocks You Shouldnt Sell Explore More: 7 Things You'll Be Happy You Downsized in Retirement Here are some expert takes on Netflixs stock right now. Strong Financials, Big Plans Netflix (NFLX) has been an absolute beast this year, Edward Corona, a Florida-based trader and publisher of The Options Oracle Newsletter, told GOBankingRates. After consolidating for a stretch, it broke out hard and ripped higher, reclaiming all key moving averages with strong follow-through Its one of the cleanest momentum setups out there, and I think $1,400 is a realistic target if this trend continues. Netflixs winning stock performance this year is partly attributable to it robust financial results and partly to its ambitious future plans, The Globe and Mail reported. During the 2025 first quarter, Netflix logged 13% year-over-year revenue growth and a 25% earnings gain. Both results easily topped analyst estimates. Netflix reported second quarter earnings on Thursday, July 17. According to Yahoo, the company beat expectations and raised guidance for the full year, which are positive signs. However, the stock did fall a bit due to the very high expectations imposed on the company. Check Out: Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Bought Over $73 Million in Shares of This Tech Company Heres Why Trillion-Dollar Club? Meanwhile, Netflix is confident enough about the future that it eyes a $1 trillion market cap, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year. Thats a lofty goal, considering that its current market cap is about $514.6 billion. To get there, the company aims to double its yearly revenue, grow its ad sales, triple its operating income and grow its worldwide audience to 410 million subscribers by 2030, per The Wall Street Journal. What the Analysts Say Most analysts are upbeat about Netflixs near-term prospects and largely recommend buying the stock. Here are the ratings for analysts recently surveyed by The Wall Street Journal. Buy: 30 Overweight: 6 Hold: 18 Underweight: 0 Sell: 1 The average price target for those analysts is $1,331.36, which isnt far off Netflixs current price. But other analysts are much more bullish. July 21 (UPI) -- An investigation is underway after hackers used a security flaw in Microsoft software to internationally infiltrate agencies and businesses over the weekend. The United States, Canada and Australia have partnered in an effort to probe how the unidentified hackers used a security weak spot in Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration software to gain access to several American federal and state agencies, as well as energy companies, universities and an Asian telecommunications company. Microsoft announced Saturday that it "is aware of active attacks targeting on-premises SharePoint Server customers by exploiting vulnerabilities partially addressed by the July Security Update." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers at the Eye Security cybersecurity company first identified the weak point on Friday, explained as a "new SharePoint remote code execution vulnerability chain in the wild," it allows hackers to access the exploited SharePoint versions and steal keys that can let them impersonate users even after an affected server is patched or rebooted. As a result, hackers can use the liability to steal passwords and sensitive data and then travel the breached network through services that connect to SharePoint, such as Outlook, Teams and OneDrive. The SharePoint servers allow for documents to be shared and managed, and Microsoft has since released patches to defend SharePoint 2019 and SharePoint Subscription Edition servers, but a patch for SharePoint 2016 is still forthcoming. The attack, referred to a "zero-day" incident because it used a previously unknown vulnerability, only impacts servers housed within on-premises organizations, but not cloud operations like Microsoft 365. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the press release from Microsoft, customers using the SharePoint Subscription Edition should "apply the security update provided in CVE-2025-53771 immediately to mitigate the vulnerability." As for those who use SharePoint 2016 or 2019, the current guidance is to "use or upgrade to supported versions of on-premises Microsoft SharePoint Server," which are SharePoint Server 2016, 2019 and SharePoint Subscription Edition, and then apply the latest security updates. Once a rising corporate star, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced Monday to two years in federal prison for her role in an elaborate scheme to funnel more than $1.3 million and other perks to associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for help with the utilitys ambitious legislative agenda. In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah acknowledged Pramaggiores transformative leadership at ComEd and her history of charitable works, but said the evidence at trial showed she also participated in a nearly decade-long scheme that undermined the publics trust in government. This was secretive sophisticated criminal corruption of important public policy, Shah said. When it came to Mr. Madigan you didnt think to change the culture of corruption. Instead you were all in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shah said the dichotomy in Pramaggiores life led him to conclude that people like you, good people in positions of power and authority, need to be deterred too. You had the power to stop this, the judge said. You could have said No, this is not how legislation should be done. You had the power to change the culture at ComEd. He also found that she had lied repeatedly during her testimony at trial, particularly in denying knowledge of the connection of ComEds no-work subcontractors to the powerful Democratic speaker and telling the jury she made no effort to cover it up. Pramaggiore, who turns 67 in two weeks, showed little outward reaction as Shah announced his sentence, which also included a $750,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few minutes earlier, Pramaggiore had been given the chance to address the judge but declined to do so. Thank you, your honor. I will stand on my able attorneys commentary and submissions, she said while remaining seated at the defense table. Shah ordered Pramaggiore to report to prison by Dec. 1. However her attorney, Scott Lassar, told the judge he will ask for Pramaggiore to remain free on bond pending appeal, given what he said are significant legal issues in the case. Shah asked Lassar to submit something in writing in three weeks. After the hearing, Pramaggiore walked out of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse without comment. Lassar also declined to make a statement to reporters. The defense later issued a statement through a spokesman maintaining Pramaggiores innocence and vowing to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are disappointed by the sentence imposed today, the statement read. It is nearly impossible to reconcile the sentence two years in prison with the federal Probation Departments recommendation of no jail time and probation. The sentencing comes more than two years after Pramaggiores conviction in the ComEd Four case, one of the biggest political corruption scandals in state history. Last week, her former colleague, ex-ComEd executive John Hooker, was given a year and a half in prison. Sentencing for the other two defendants, Michael McClain and Jay Doherty, remain pending. The investigation, which came to light more than six years ago, ended Pramaggiores stellar career in Chicagos male-dominated C-suite corporate world, where shed recently been named chief executive of Exelon, a major Fortune 100 energy company that delivered power to millions of customers in the Chicago area and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors asked for a stiff prison term of almost six years and a $1.75 million fine, writing in a recent filing that despite all her success, money and professional status, she made the choice to participate in a yearslong conspiracy that corrupted the legislative process in Springfield and subverted her own companys internal controls. In asking for a 70-month prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Streicker, Julia Schwartz and Diane MacArthur also wrote that Pramaggiore lied repeatedly in her testimony during the 2023 trial. which ended in sweeping guilty verdicts. She could have remained silent, Streicker argued in court Monday. She had every right to do so, but instead she chose to try and obstruct the jurys process. With her back against the wall she chose to testify and lie in order to protect herself. Pramaggiores attorneys, meanwhile, argued for probation, writing in a court filing of their own that the conduct for which she was convicted was a true aberration in an otherwise exemplary life, not only in her professional path but also in her dedication to her family and charitable works. They also submitted nearly a hundred letters from friends and supporters attesting to her good character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has lost her reputation, her career, and her law license, and she faces even more potential consequences, including further enforcement actions, Lassar wrote in a 49-page filing. Imposing a prison sentence that takes her away from her family, friends, and community will not serve the ends of justice. In court Monday, Lassar argued the arrangement to pay Madigans associates as subcontractors was set up by other people, including McClain, Hooker and former ComEd CEO Frank Clark, who preceded Pramaggiore. Lassar said ComEds Smart Grid legislation, which was at the center of the alleged bribery scheme, only became law because of years of tough negotiating and broad coalition-building in Springfield, bringing in big labor, environmentalists and myriad legislative caucuses. She never asked Madigan for help in passing legislation, Lassar said. And she was never aware that Madigan helped do anything to get it passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pramaggiore and her three co-defendants McClain, a former ComEd lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant, Hooker, who was ComEds vice president for legislative affairs, and Doherty, a consultant and former City Club of Chicago leader were convicted on all counts in May 2023 after a two-month trial. The case was then beset by a series of delays, first due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reset the rules for a key federal bribery statute and then again after the death of the judge whod presided over the trial, Harry Leinenweber. After he was selected to take over the case, Shah earlier this year tossed the underlying bribery counts due to the Supreme Courts decision, but kept intact the main conspiracy count as well as guilty verdicts for falsifying ComEds books and records, which were charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In their statement Monday, Pramaggiores legal team referenced both the Supreme Courts decision and President Donald Trumps recent pausing of enforcement of the FCPA, citing overreach and prosecutorial abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has happened here, the statement read. Ms. Pramaggiore faces jail despite the documents at issue being true. Chicago is not a foreign jurisdiction. There is nothing foreign or corrupt about the facts here. The bulk of the ComEd allegations centered on a cadre of Madigan allies who were paid a total of $1.3 million from 2011 through 2019 through allegedly do-nothing consulting contracts. Among the recipients were two former aldermen, Frank Olivo and Michael Zalewski, precinct captains Ray Nice and Edward Moody, and former state Rep. Edward Acevedo. In addition, prosecutors alleged ComEd also hired a clouted law firm run by political operative Victor Reyes, distributed numerous college internships within Madigans 13th Ward fiefdom, and backed former McPier chief Juan Ochoa, a friend of a Madigan ally, for an $80,000-a-year seat on the utilitys board of directors, the indictment alleged. In return, prosecutors alleged, Madigan used his influence over the General Assembly to help ComEd score a series of huge legislative victories that not only rescued the company from financial instability but led to record-breaking, billion-dollar profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them was the 2011 smart grid bill that set a built-in formula for the rates ComEd could charge customers, avoiding battles with the Illinois Commerce Commission, according to the charges. ComEd also leaned on Madigans office to help pass the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, which kept the formula rate in place and also rescued two nuclear plants run by an affiliated company, Exelon Generation. Pramaggiore is the second of the ComEd Four to be sentenced. Shah handed a 1 1/2-year prison term to Hooker last week. A hearing for McClain, a retired ComEd lobbyist who doubled as Madigans right-hand man, will be sentenced Thursday, while the fourth defendant, Doherty, is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Madigan, meanwhile, was convicted in a separate trial of an array of schemes that included the ComEd bribery payments. He was sentenced in June to seven and a half years in prison. Defense attorneys for the ComEd Four have repeatedly argued the government was seeking to criminalize legal lobbying and job recommendations that are at the heart of the states legitimate political system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They ripped the governments star witness, former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, as a liar and opportunist who was so terrified when FBI agents confronted him in January 2019 that he flipped without even consulting a lawyer and also agreed to secretly record his friends. In some of the conversations that jurors heard at trial, Pramaggiore sounded more like a hard-boiled character in an old gangster movie than a button-down chief executive. You take care of me and so does our friend, Pramaggiore said on one call, using McClains favorite euphemism for Madigan. And I will do the best that I can to take care of you. Another call from February 2019 captured Pramaggiore telling Marquez to avoid seeing the subcontractor issue blow up while ComEd still had legislation pending in Springfield. We do not want to get caught up in a, you know, disruptive battle where, you know, somebody gets their nose out of joint and then we get forced to give em a five-year contract because were in the middle of needing to get something done in Springfield, she said on that call. Pramaggiores lawyers, meanwhlie, argued in their sentencing memo that she should be punished only for the remaining counts of conviction, which all have to do with falsifying ComEds books. But prosecutors say the entire scope of the scheme is still fair game, even if the specific bribery counts were dropped a position that Shah has agreed with. At Hookers sentencing July 14, Shah said the evidence at trial showed the four co-defendants were jointly undertaking the quid pro quo bribery of Mr. Madigan, paying out his cronies in exchange for favorable official action. The instructional error doesnt change my factual assessment, Shah said. Not only could a jury reach that conclusion, I reached that conclusion based on my own review. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com YORK, Pa. (WHTM) A Haitian national has been charged for allegedly damaging an office space used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in York County. The Department of Justice says Guerdison Printus, 27, was indicted for destruction of government property after an incident on June 25 in York County. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The Justice Department says while in custody pending removal from the country, Printus allegedly tampered with a sprinkler system to activate the system throughout the ICE office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident caused damage exceeding $1,000. Printus faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment if found guilty. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Members of the Islamist group Hamas assaulted three Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said. The incident occurred near the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza while the journalists were working, the West Bank-based syndicate said in a statement. The group blamed Hamas "security personnel" for the attack but did not provide further details. Those targeted included a cameraman for the Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera and a correspondent for Turkeys Anadolu news agency, the syndicate said late Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A photo released by the group showed one of the journalists with visible injuries to his upper arm. The information could not be independently verified. The professional organization said condemned the attack "in the strongest terms." Foreign journalists have been largely barred from entering Gaza since the war began in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Local Palestinian reporters remain the main source of on-the-ground reporting from the besieged coastal territory. Deir al-Balah is an important area of Gaza because it has been left relatively untouched throughout the war. This is the last real remaining area of Hamas' power. The IDF issued an evacuation order for part of Deir el-Balah on Sunday and followed it up with a wave of airstrikes on Monday. According to reports, the IDF could launch or expand operations in this area. Deir el-Balah is one of the four central camps of Gaza. The military has not operated in most of these areas throughout the over 650-day war. There are many reasons for this, one of which is apparently concern that Hamas holds hostages in the central camps area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The camps include Nuseirat, Deir el-Balah, El-Bureij, and Maghazi. This is a sizable area of Gaza, perhaps 10% of the overall area of the strip. They are towns built up around refugee camps established after 1948 when large numbers of Arabs fled to Gaza from areas that became Israel. Initially very small, the Deir el-Balah camp grew in recent years. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency notes that Deir El-Balah refugee camp is the smallest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, west of a town of the same name, in central Gaza. Deir el-Balah means Monastery of the Dates, a reference to the abundant date palm groves in the area. The word Deir in Arabic usually means monastery, even if there isnt an actual monastery there currently. Deir el-Balah is on the coast. To its east is the Salah al-Din Road, which runs the length of Gaza. To its north is Nuseirat, and across the road are Maghazi and Bureij, which are closer to the Israeli border. A site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Deir Al-Balah the Gaza Strip. April 7, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Nuseirat and Bureij border the Netzarim Corridor area, which was held by the IDF until the January ceasefire, when the military pulled back. This enabled Gazans to move back to Gaza City from central Gaza and the al-Mawasi humanitarian area. Deir el-Balah is on the coastal road that leads to the al-Mawasi area. As such, it sits on two key roads that run the length of Gaza. The area has largely been spared during the war Deir el-Balah has generally been free from heavy fighting in the war. In April 2024, when the IDF mistakenly killed members of the World Central Kitchen aid group, the strike took place near Deir el-Balah. The group had been accompanying trucks to a warehouse in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF also freed four hostages Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan, and Andrey Kozlov, from Nuseirat in a June 2024 raid. This is one of the reasons it has been assumed that hostages may be present in the camp areas. Hamas has strong support in the camps. The terror group emerged from many of the refugee camps, and it has used them to recruit. Therefore, it is assumed that this is the homeland of Hamas. Throughout the war, Hamas has basically run a rump state of Gaza from the four camps, in addition to parts of Gaza City throughout the war. It was not always clear why the IDF did not enter the camps in the past. It may have been the hostages, but there may be other reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area sits between Gaza City and Khan Yunis. The IDF operated many times in Khan Yunis, as well as in places like Jabalya and Shejaia. The IDF cleared out many other UNRWA camps in Gaza. It is not the camps themselves that the IDF was so concerned about. Nevertheless, the four central camps, which are basically towns and urban areas, have been left mostly unscathed by the war. The decision to ask people to evacuate an area of the coast between Deir el-Balah and al-Mawasi could be a way to pressure Hamas as ceasefire talks stall. The IDF seems to believe that it controls around 70-75% of Gaza since Operation Gideons Chariots began in May. The operation was supposed to clear and hold most of Gaza, but its not clear if the 70% is truly controlled. Hamas continues attacks in southern Gaza and areas of northern Gaza, and Beit Hanun recently had to be reconquered. Deir el-Balah is an important area of Gaza because it has been left relatively untouched throughout the war. Hamas has held on to this redoubt, and the terror group will want to hold on to the central camps. This is the last real remaining area of Hamas power. It was another Sunday morning of sometimes heated but always civil political debate on Hancock and Kelley for Sunday, July 20, 2025. Republican consultant John Hancock and Democratic consultant Michael Kelley discussed the following topics: The loss of a towering figure in St. Louis former Congressman William Bill Clay. From Civil Rights to workers rights, Clay changed the future of politics in the city, the state, and the nation. The fiasco at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Passengers line up for the equivalent of city blocks outside the terminal. What kind of message does that send about St. Louis being ready for business? The president may not like it, but his ties to child sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein wont go away. Now, a Trump ally from Missouri says its time to release everything. Our Quote of the Week comes from a letter to Congress. The Illinois Attorney General and other Democrats are calling for ICE agents to unmask. 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. The government has announced it is launching a statutory inquiry into the violent policing at Orgreave during the infamous miners strike of 1984. Dubbed the Battle of Orgreave by historians, the event saw dozens of picketers and police injured in a morning clash with an estimated 14,000 participants. The inquiry will also look into the collapsed cases of the 95 miners accused of offences there, more than four decades after the events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Home secretary Yvette Cooper announced the inquiry having first informed campaigners last Thursday. She spoke from the site in Orgreave where the coking plant that was the target of the picketing was located. People have waited for answers for over 40 years, she said. The scale of the clashes, the injuries, the prosecutions, the discredited evidence, all of those things theres still so many unanswered questions. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a statutory inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave (PA) I think the miners strike still has deep scars across coalfield communities, and the decisions made at that time the broadest decisions that were taken by the Thatcher government in the 1980s the scars can still be felt across the coalfields. Heres everything you need to know: What happened at the Battle of Orgreave? On 18 June 1984, one of the most brutal clashes in modern British policing history unfolded as workers organised by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) gathered to picket a South Yorkshire coking plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The previous evening, NUM president Arthur Scargill addressed miners about plans for the following days picket. Around 2,000 miners were due to visit Orgreave, a major plant near Rotherham where coal was processed into coke to be used in British Steel factories. Picketers begin gathering as early as 4am on the hot day, and by 7am are being guided in their thousands by police to a nearby field. Mounted riot police at the miners' demonstration at Orgreave colliery, Yorkshire, where miners picketed the mine, 2nd June 1984. Soon afterwards, the 'Battle of Orgreave' took place (Getty) Here, an estimated 6,000 police officers have assembled, and are facing around 8,000 picketers. Many of the officers are equipped with truncheons, riot shields, or on horseback. Just after 8am, empty wagons begin arriving to pick up coke from the plant. Miners begin pushing towards police line, and police push back. At this point, picketers recall struggling to keep their footing or even breathe in the crush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few minutes later, the police line opens up, and officers on horses carrying long truncheons advance on the miners. Two more charges like this would take place within the hour, as one senior officer is filmed advising the police: Bodies, not heads. The third charge is accompanied by snatch squads police with batons and short shields marking the first time this kind of unit had been deployed on the UK mainland. Miners that have not fled are dragged out of the crowd and pulled to the ground. One news report captures footage of a miner named Russell Broomhead being repeatedly hit in the head with a truncheon. National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) leader Arthur Scargill with picketing miners at Orgreave during the strike (Getty) Around 2,000 of the remaining miners are sent to another entrance to Orgreave, where there is another large field. Gates open at 10.15am, when around 30 lorries packed with coke leave the site. Pickets attempt to stop them, and more arrests are made, with allegations of more violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is during this final frenzy of activity that Mr Scargill is injured, claiming he had been hit by a police shield. He said: All I know is that these bastards rushed in and this guy hit me on the back of my head with a shield and I was out. Police deny that Mr Scargill was hit by a shield. The lorries get through, and police continue to attempt to disperse remaining picketers. The horse charges and snatch squad activity continues until around 1pm, when the majority of the violence subsides. What was the aftermath? Following the clash, South Yorkshire Police was accused by critics of having pre-planned the violence and overstating the unlawful behaviour of the striking miners. This criticism was also lodged against then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who said the Orgreave picketers had attempted to substitute the rule of the mob for the rule of law, adding that the strike action failed because of the magnificent police force well trained for carrying out their duties bravely and impartially. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following year, the prosecution against 95 of the picketers charged with riot, unlawful assembly and similar offences collapsed. All charges were dropped after their barristers repeatedly accused police officers of lying. Margaret Thatcher (pictured in 1984) said the Orgreave picketers were an example of mob rule (PA) Michael Mansfield KC, who represented several of the miners in court, called the event the worst example of a mass frame-up in this country this century. A number of lawsuits were subsequently brought against South Yorkshire Police for assault, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution. The force would later agree to pay 425,000 compensation and 100,000 in legal costs to 39 picketers in an out-of-court settlement. To this day, the police have not admitted any fault, and no officer has been disciplined for misconduct, Why has an inquiry been launched now? The subsequent 41 years have seen several calls for an official inquiry into the events. In 2012, the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) was launched following the success of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign in forcing an investigation into police conduct in that event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in 2015, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it would launch a formal investigation because too much time had passed. Prior to the July 2025 general election, the Labour Party led by Sir Keir Starmer promised to launch an inquiry into Orgreave should it secure victory. A year on from its election, the government has delivered on that promise. OTJC secretary, Kate Flannery, said: We have waited a long time for this day and this is really positive news. All these years of hard work by the OTJC and our many supporters has helped to influence this constructive announcement. Police in anti-riot gear clash with picketers next to the Orgreave coking plant near Rotherham in 1984 (PA) We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NUM president, Chris Kitchen, said: We are over the moon. Were hoping the inquiry will show that our dispute, which we believe was industrial, was political, orchestrated from No 10, or higher up the food chain towards No 10. We never came to this field to cause a riot or to deliberately lame people. I dont think that was the same for the police, who came tooled up, with a plan to injure us, and to try and get the public perception on their side and end the strike. A spokesperson for South Yorkshire police said: We will fully cooperate with the inquiry in a bid to help those affected find answers. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The annual Women of Heart conference is returning for 2025, once again offering Christian women in and around San Angelo the opportunity to come together and learn from one another. Heres what to know about this years event. The conference is scheduled to be held on Aug. 2 at First Presbyterian Church, located at 32 N. Irving St., from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendance is free, with a complimentary lunch being provided for attendees. Participants may also register to receive free child care during the event. Aimee McGinnis, co-founder of the nonprofit Women of Heart, said her organizations goal is to bring the women of San Angelo and its surrounding areas together for a day of worship and fellowship and education and encouragement. Women of Heart was founded in 2017 to reach this goal by providing a free, nondenominational conference for the community, with the first Women of Heart event being hosted in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New object flying in our solar system? ASU explains This years theme is Deep Waters and is held to encourage women to seek God amid hardship, according to McGinnis. She shared that the theme, which was selected before the historic July 4 flash floods, appears to be particularly relevant right now following the devastation the floodwaters caused in San Angelo. Our world is so different now, and everybodys in deep waters, McGinnis said. This year, were focusing on remembering that God is with you and he will carry you through these things if you keep your eye on him and you hold on tight to him. A staple of the Women of Heart conferences are speeches given by local women. The 2025 conference will feature multiple speakers, each of whom McGinnis said will share accounts of their personal journeys through hard times, including their struggles with trauma and familial conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know so many amazing women who can tell these testimonies and stories of what God has done in their lives and the things hes redeemed and the miracles that have happened, McGinnis said. For more information about the conference, visit the Women of Heart 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. ASHTABULA An annual celebration of open lake swimming took place Saturday morning at Walnut Beach. Swimmers from Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania gathered early Saturday morning to get their fix of lake swimming. More than two dozen participated, with some swimming one mile and others, two. The event has been sponsored by the Ashtabula County YMCA. Many triathletes use the event to prepare for an Aug. 16 triathlon which also takes place at Walnut Beach, sponsored by the YMCA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashtabula YMCA Executive Director Eric Stinehelfer said the event is organized by senior program director Giana Varchetto, with the help of many volunteers. Participants had the choice of swimming one or two miles, and were monitored by volunteers in kayaks and members of the Ashtabula County Water Rescue Team in boats and jet skies. Many of the swimmers made their way from Northwest Pennsylvania, and have been doing so for any years. Melanie Nickou, of Waterford, Pennsylvania, was the first to leave the water in the two-mile swim, in just over one hour, while mile swimmers started coming in to the beach in just over 30 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While times were kept, the event was less an all-out race and more of a cooperative experience, with participants cheering each-other on as they made their way to shore. I just like swimming in Lake Erie, Nickou said. Loretta Nelson, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, said she loves to support the YMCA. She said there is a group of swimmers from Northwest Pennsylvania who gather during the week to swim about a mile in Lake Erie. Ashtabula resident Ralph Varckette said he has done the swim every year it has been sponsored, and was especially happy with the weather this year. Great conditions, he said. It doesnt get any better than this. Harmful: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle, expert says Reusable water bottles can help you stay hydrated, but experts say not cleaning your water bottle regularly can expose you to some potentially harmful bacteria. Boston 25s sister station met with Brittany Johnson, an assistant professor in UNC Charlottes biological sciences department, to find out just how much bacteria we may be carrying around every day. The inside may not be that bad, Johnson said. Oftentimes its the lid and those tiny crevices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She helped get to the bottom of our questions by using the tools in her lab to swab for bacteria on bottles, lids, and straws. After disinfecting the testing space, Johnson rubbed a saline solution on the test subject and then wiped the swab on two plates that grow different types of microorganisms. She put the plates in an incubator set to 37 Celsius the average human body temperature or maybe the temperature inside a hot car. Two days later, the results were in. Johnson said the amount of bacteria in reusable water bottles is usually less than what is found in plastic ones, but the results were shocking nonetheless. Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Lab Results: Bacteria could be living inside your water bottle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelsey Schauf says she washes her water bottle daily. Her results came back showing just a few spots of bacteria. Her husbands, on the other hand, came back covered in bacteria. My husband doesnt really keep up with it all that great, she said. So his cup is his problem, Ive got mine. A tumbler that was rinsed with soap and water, then used once by the owner came back covered in bubbling bacteria. One subject said he never washed his water bottle. Bacteria was nearly covering the test plate. Johnson says everyone has their own, unique bacteria, so some of these clusters could come from bacteria in the drinkers mouth. However, some bacteria may come from outside sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When youre taking your water bottle with you other places, like youre taking it to the bathroom, then there are germs in the bathroom and bacteria in the bathroom that get on your water bottle, she said. Then you ingest those and that can be harmful. Johnson said foreign bacteria is the most concerning because it can make you sick. You have germs on your hands then you touch the water bottle that would be an example of where you could get more of those harmful bacteria, she said. The makers of Stanley tumblers advise taking apart all removable pieces and hand-washing every part with warm water, soap and a bottle brush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schauf says she bought the special tools for her cleaning. I watched some videos on how you wash them, she said. It is also important to let the parts dry before reassembling. The most important thing is to wash your bottle frequently and thoroughly. Be sure youre washing those tiny crevices, Johnson said. I think its important to have the right care for your water bottle. There are videos you can watch on proper cleaning methods which point out all of the little pieces in the bottle you need to remove and clean. All you need to do is search for your particular brand. 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 As cryptocurrencies become more intertwined with the traditional financial system, industry heavyweights are racing for a long-sought goal of turning real-world assets into digital tokens. Tokenization is going to open the door to a massive trading revolution, said Vlad Tenev, the CEO of the trading platform Robinhood at a recent James Bond-themed tokenization launch event in the south of France. Advocates say tokenization is the next leap forward in crypto and can help break down walls that have advantaged the wealthy and make trading cheaper, more transparent and more accessible for everyday investors. But critics say tokenization threatens to undermine a centurys worth of securities law and investor protections that have made the U.S. financial system the envy of the world. And Robinhoods push into tokenizing shares of private companies quickly faced pushback from one of the worlds most popular startups. What is tokenization? The basic idea behind tokenization: Use blockchain technology that powers cryptocurrencies to create digital tokens as stand-ins for things like bonds, real estate or even fractional ownership of a piece of art and that can be traded like crypto by virtually anyone, anywhere at any time. The massive growth of stablecoins, which are a type of cryptocurrency typically bought and sold for $1, has helped fuel the appetite to tokenize other financial assets, crypto venture capitalist Katie Haun said on a recent podcast. She said tokenization will upend investing in ways similar to how streamers radically changed how people watch television. You used to have to sit there on a Thursday night and watch Seinfeld, Haun said. You tune in at a specific time, you dont get to choose your program, you couldnt be watching a program like Squid Games from Korea. Netflix was market-expanding. In the same way, I think the tokenization of real-world assets will be market expanding. Growing momentum Robinhood began offering tokenized stock trading of major U.S. public companies for its European customers earlier this month and gave away tokens to some customers meant to represent shares in OpenAI and SpaceX, two highly valued private companies. Several other firms are diving in. Crypto exchange Kraken also allows customers outside the U.S. to trade tokenized stocks while Coinbase has petitioned regulators to open the market to its U.S. customers. Wall Street giants BlackRock and Franklin Templeton currently offer tokenized money market funds. McKinsey projects that tokenized assets could reach $2 trillion by 2030. Attorneys for Harvard University and the American Association of University Professors asked a federal judge Monday to prevent the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from the school. Lawyers for university are seeking a motion for summary judgment to prevent the administration from withholding federal funding if the school does not comply with its list of demands. At a hearing Monday, the government argued that its grant contracts with Harvard include language saying the government can terminate its contracts if the school does not align with the government's priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Harvard sues Trump administration over threats to cut funding if demands go unmet "Harvard should have read the fine print," Michael Velchik, an attorney for government argued. Government attorneys say the government's priorities include combatting antisemitism, and that the administration will not fund institutions that fail to address antisemitism to its satisfaction. The same money could be sent to HBCUs or any other university that does not discriminate on the basis of race, Velchik said. Saying that the government can terminate its contract regardless of the reason, Velchik argued that Harvard should bring a termination of contract claim in the Court of Federal Claims. Scott Eisen/Getty Images - PHOTO: A person runs past Elliot House at Harvard University, March 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. When the judge pushed back that claims of constitutional violations cannot be brought in that court, Velchik maintained that this is a termination of contract issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This case is only about money. Harvard is the richest university in history," Velchik said. "Harvard wants billions of dollars that's the only reason why we are here." Velchik said that recent pro-Palestinian protests have prompted students on campus to wear baseball caps to hide their identity and have prompted professors to avoiding walking through Harvard Yard. Federal taxpayers should not support this, he argued. President Donald Trump issued an order to combat antisemitism, and the government's policy is that that taxpayer dollars do not go to institutions that fail to address antisemitism, Velchik said. Attorneys for Harvard pushed back, saying they brought the case against the government to protect the school's constitutional and statutory rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Until today I'm not sure we heard any explanation about what the agency priorities are," Steven Paul Lehotsky, an attorney for Harvard, said. MORE: Timeline: Trump administration's actions against Harvard University The provision of funding contracts that allows the government to terminate contracts in pursuit of its priorities refers to research priorities, not institutions that the government prefers, Lehotsky said. For example, shifting from funding Covid vaccines to something else, not shifting from funding one institution to another, he said. "This is an astounding theory that only the executive branch could possibly love," Lehotsky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lehotsky argued that the government simply did not want to follow the procedures mandated by Title VI. They can't choose to follow it whenever they decide it is convenient for them, he argued. If they have a provision that they can terminate funding for any reason, "that doesn't mean that they get to set aside the Constitution," he said. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said at the end of the hearing that she would try to get out an opinion as quickly as she can. Trump, posting on his social media platform Monday, criticized Burroughs and called her "a TOTAL DISASTER." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic 'loss' for the People of our Country!" Trump wrote, saying that the government would "IMMEDIATELY appeal" if the judge rules in Harvard's favor. ABC News' Arthur Jones II contributed to this report. BOSTON (AP) Harvard University appeared in federal court Monday in a pivotal case in its battle with the Trump administration, as the storied institution argued the government illegally cut $2.6 billion in federal funding. President Trump's administration has battered the nation's oldest and wealthiest university with sanctions for months as it presses a series of demands on the Ivy League school, which it decries as a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. Harvard has resisted, and the lawsuit over the cuts to its research grants represents the primary challenge to the administration in a standoff that is being widely watched across higher education and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lawyer for Harvard, Steven Lehotsky, said at Monday's hearing the case is about the government trying to control the inner workings of Harvard. The funding cuts, if not reversed, could lead to the loss of research, damaged careers and the closing of labs, he said. Its not about Harvards conduct, he said. Its about the governments conduct toward Harvard. The case is before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who is presiding over lawsuits brought by Harvard against the administration's efforts to keep it from hosting international students. In that case, she temporarily blocked the administration's efforts. At Monday's hearing, Harvard asked her to reverse a series of funding freezes. Such a ruling, if it stands, would revive Harvards sprawling scientific and medical research operation and hundreds of projects that lost federal money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lawyer for the government, Michael Velchik, said the Trump administration has authority to cancel the grants after concluding the funding did not align with its priorities, namely Trump's executive order combating antisemitism. He argued Harvard allowed antisemitism to flourish at the university following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, including protesters camped out on campus chanting antisemitic slogans as well attacks on Jewish students. Harvard claims the government is anti-Harvard. I reject that, said Velchik, a Harvard alumnus. The government is pro-Jewish students at Harvard. The government is pro-Jewish faculty at Harvard. Judge questions basis for government's findings on antisemitism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs pushed back, questioning how the government could make ad-hoc decisions to cancel grants and do so without offering evidence that any of the research is antisemitic. At one point, she called the government's assertions mind-boggling. She also argued the government had provided no documentation, no procedure to suss out whether Harvard administrators have taken enough steps or havent to combat antisemitism. The consequences of that in terms of constitutional law are staggering, she said. "I dont think you can justify a contract action based on impermissible suppression of speech. Where do I have that wrong? Velchik said the case comes down to the governments choosing how best to spend billions of dollars in research funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvards lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of waging a retaliation campaign against the university after it rejected a series of demands from a federal antisemitism task force in April. A second lawsuit over the cuts filed by the American Association of University Professors and its Harvard faculty chapter has been consolidated with the universitys. The task force's demands included sweeping changes related to campus protests, academics and admissions. For example, Harvard was told to audit the viewpoints of students and faculty and admit more students or hire new professors if the campus was found to lack diverse points of view. Harvard President Alan Garber says the university has made changes to combat antisemitism but said no government should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue. Monday's hearing ended without Burroughs issuing a ruling from the bench. A ruling is expected later in writing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard faculty, alumni rally against cuts Several dozen alumni from Harvard joined students and faculty to decry the effort to cut the federal funds, holding up signs reading Hands Off Harvard, Strong USA Needs Strong Harvard and Our Liberty Is Not For Sale. Anurima Bhargava, who wrote the amicus brief on behalf of more than 12,000 fellow Harvard alumni in the case, said the graduates spoke up because they understand what is at stake here and what the end goal of the government is, to take away our ability to pursue the mission, the freedom and the values that have been the cornerstone of higher education." Three Harvard researchers who lost their federal funding spoke about disruptions to the long-term impact of funding on cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other health conditions. They said the cuts could force researchers to go overseas to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the termination of this research work would mean the end of this progress and the implications are serious for the well-being of Americans and our children into the future, said Walter Willett, a Harvard professor of epidemiology and nutrition who lost grants that funded long-term studies of men's and womens health. This is just one example of the arbitrary and capricious weaponization of taxpayer money that is undermining the health of Americans, he said. Trump's pressure campaign involves a series of sanctions The same day Harvard rejected the government's demands, Trump officials moved to freeze $2.2 billion in research grants. Education Secretary Linda McMahon declared in May that Harvard would no longer be eligible for new grants, and weeks later the administration began canceling contracts with Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Harvard fought the funding freeze in court, individual agencies began sending letters announcing the frozen research grants were being terminated. They cited a clause that allows grants to be scrapped if they no longer align with government policies. Harvard, which has the nation's largest endowment at $53 billion, has moved to self-fund some of its research, but warned it cant absorb the full cost of the federal cuts. In court filings, the school said the government fails to explain how the termination of funding for research to treat cancer, support veterans, and improve national security addresses antisemitism. The Trump administration denies the cuts were made in retaliation and argues the government has wide discretion to cancel contracts for policy reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The research funding is only one front in Harvards fight with the government. The Trump administration also has sought to prevent the school from hosting foreign students, and Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. Finally, last month, the Trump administration formally issued a finding that the school tolerated antisemitism a step that eventually could jeopardize all of Harvards federal funding, including federal student loans or grants. The penalty is typically referred to as a death sentence. After Monday's hearing, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to attack Burroughs, calling her a TOTAL DISASTER. Burroughs was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Harvard has $52 Billion Dollars sitting in the Bank, and yet they are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America, he wrote. Much of this money comes from the U.S.A., all to the detriment of other Schools, Colleges, and Institutions, and we are not going to allow this unfair situation to happen any longer. By Nate Raymond and Tim McLaughlin BOSTON (Reuters) -Harvard University urged a federal judge on Monday to order U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to restore about $2.5 billion in canceled federal grants and cease efforts to cut off research funding to the prestigious Ivy League school. But a lawyer for the Trump administration told the judge the canceled grants reflect a government priority not to send money to institutions that practice antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Harvard prioritized campus protestors over cancer research," said Michael Velchik, a senior lawyer at the U.S. Justice Department. He told the judge she shouldn't be hearing the case in the first place, arguing the matter belonged in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which handles monetary disputes. The court hearing before U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston lasted more than two hours, but ended without a ruling. The case marks a crucial moment in the White House's escalating conflict with Harvard, which has been in the administration's crosshairs after it rejected a list of demands to make changes to its governance, hiring and admissions practices in April. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based university says hundreds of research projects including ones concerning cancer treatments, infectious diseases and Parkinson's disease will be in jeopardy unless the judge declares the grant cancellations unlawful. The country's oldest and richest university has become a central focus of the administration's broad campaign to leverage federal funding to force change at U.S. universities, which Trump says are gripped by antisemitic and "radical left" ideologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Lehotsky, a lawyer for Harvard, said the government has made wholesale cuts to research under the guise of combating antisemitism, but hasn't identified any connection between the two. "The administration has given no consideration to patients, the public at large and the harm of all this research being cut off," Lehotsky told the court. Among the earliest actions the administration took against Harvard was the cancellation of hundreds of grants awarded to researchers on the grounds that the school failed to do enough to address harassment of Jewish students on its campus. The Trump administration has since sought to bar international students from attending the school; threatened Harvard's accreditation status; and opened the door to cutting off more funds by finding it violated federal civil rights law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs said she had problems with the government's argument that it has the ability to terminate Harvard's federal funding grants for any policy reasons. "That's a major stumbling block for me," Burroughs said. Burroughs also questioned the government's stance that there doesn't have to be an adversarial process to suss out whether Harvard has taken steps to root out antisemtism on campus. "If you can make this decision, that we're going to withdraw all this funding for reasons oriented around speech, the consequences to that, in terms of constitutional law, are staggering to me," Burroughs said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, as part of Trump's spending and tax bill, the Republican-led Congress increased the federal excise tax on Harvards income from its $53 billion endowment to 8% from 1.4%. Income from the endowment covers 40% of Harvard's operating budget. Harvard President Alan Garber said last week that the various federal actions since Trump returned to office in January could strip the school of nearly $1 billion annually, forcing it to lay off staff and freeze hiring. The amount includes the impact of the multi-year federal grants canceled by the Trump administration. Harvard has said it has taken steps to ensure its campus is welcoming to Jewish and Israeli students, who it acknowledges experienced "vicious and reprehensible" treatment following the onset of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza in October 2023. But, Garber has said the administration's demands have gone far beyond addressing antisemitism and unlawfully seek to regulate the "intellectual conditions" on its campus by controlling who it hires and who it teaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those demands, which came in an April 11 letter from an administration task force, included calls for the private university to restructure its governance, alter its hiring and admissions practices to ensure an ideological balance of viewpoints and end certain academic programs. After Harvard rejected those demands, it said the administration began retaliating against it in violation of the free speech protections of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment by abruptly cutting funding the school says is vital to supporting scientific and medical research. Burroughs, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, in a separate case has already barred the administration from halting its ability to host international students. She is expected to issue a written ruling in the funding case in the coming weeks. (Reporting by Nate Raymond and Tim McLaughlin in Boston; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Cynthia Osterman and Nick Zieminski) Attorneys for Harvard University argued in court on Monday that the Trump administration illegally slashed $2.6 billion in federal funding earmarked for the school. In the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, the Ivy claimed that the admins targeted attacks on the schools funding are blatantly unconstitutional and violate the schools First Amendment rights. The administration maintains that the massive cuts to Harvards grants and other contracts were the result of the school failing to combat antisemitism. Judge Allison Burroughs didnt seem to buy the Department of Justices argument. She said that the government had provided no documentation, no procedure, no process to determine whether Harvard has done enough to combat antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consequences of that in terms of constitutional law are staggering, Burroughs said, before questioning the broad brush the government was using to paint the nations oldest university as antisemitic. Dont you have to show each researcher is antisemitic, instead of a blanket statement: Harvard is antisemitic? Burroughs didnt issue a decision on Monday. Harvard is requesting a ruling by September 3, because of deadlines for submitting grant paperwork. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Burroughs, declaring the federal government will come out on top regardless. How did this Trump-hating Judge get these cases? When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN, Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard has the nations largest endowment at $53 billion. In the wake of the funding freeze, the university has been forced to halt research, carry out layoffs and freeze hiring. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. Mondays hearing is a crucial step in the mounting battle between Harvard and the Trump administration, which started when the Trump administration issued a series of demands to the school earlier this year. Harvard refused to comply and sued the administration in April.The government has carried out a multi-pronged attack on Harvard, attempting to strip it of the ability to enroll foreign students and threatening the schools accreditation earlier this month. The post Harvard University and the Trump administration battle in court appeared first on Salon.com. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Prosecutor General's Office have detained Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, one of the heads of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau's (NABU) interregional detective departments. Source: SSU; Prosecutor General's Office Details: The case materials show that this high-ranking official based in Dnipro coordinates the bureau's activities in the frontline oblasts of Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia), while law enforcement officials claim that he maintains contacts with Russia and negotiated with representatives of the Russian economy on the sale of industrial hemp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, Ruslan Mahamedrasulov acted as an intermediary for the sale of consignments of industrial hemp to the Republic of Dagestan (Russia), the illegal cultivation of which was organised by his father, an entrepreneur, Sentiabr Mahamedrasulov. The investigation believes that he is helping his father to conduct illegal trade with Russia and to harm Ukraine. It is also stated that the investigation found that a senior NABU official had close contact with Fedir Khrystenko, MP from the banned Opposition Platform For Life party, who fled the country and is cooperating with Russian secret services and influencing the activities of the NABU. The SSU said that during the pre-trial investigation, it was also established that Ruslan Mahamedrasulov's father, Sentiabr, has Russian citizenship, but the NABU official did not indicate this fact when applying for access to state secrets, which violated the law. As for the suspect's mother, Iryna Mahamedrasulova, she lives in Kyiv but receives a pension from the so-called "Donetsk Peoples Republic" (DPR), a breakaway unrecognised quasi-state in Ukraines Donetsk Oblast, and posts pro-Russian comments on social media, in particular in groups with the Z-symbol. The SSU says it has evidence that in her conversations, she actively supports the Russian war against Ukraine and justifies Russian war crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SSU is currently checking information about Ruslan Mahamedrasulov's contacts with Russian secret services and the transfer of secret information to them, including information about investigations. Quote from Prosecutor General's Office: "While documenting the illegal activities of the NABU official, it was found that Ruslan Mahamedrasulov was supposed to be stationed in Dnipro and responsible for work in the frontline oblasts. Instead, he spent almost all his time in Kyiv and recently spent several weeks on holiday in the Canary Islands (Tenerife)." Background: On 21 July, it was reported that about 80 searches were underway in various oblasts of Ukraine as the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted a special operation to "neutralise Russian influence on NABU". The National Anti-Corruption Bureau noted that the investigative actions were being carried out without court warrants. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Oregon Department of Justice issued a warning on Friday about a fast-growing scam spreading nationwide that led to an Eastern Oregon woman to lose $600,000, accounting for nearly all her life savings. The scammers posed as federal agents and convinced the woman that her financial accounts were at risk of being frozen or hacked, ODOJ said, explaining the scammers told her the only way she could protect her assets was to convert them to gold bars and turn them over for safekeeping. The woman followed their instructions, giving the scammers over $600,000 worth of gold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gut punch: Hood River County Sheriff cuts services amid funding slump Officials said the woman mentioned her plans to give the scammers another $300,000, leading her sister to call the ODOJ Consumer Hotline. Local law enforcement intervened just in time to stop the woman from handing over the additional savings. This is a heartbreaking example of how sophisticated and predatory these scams have become, said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. No oneespecially not a government agencywill ever ask you to buy gold or hand over your money to a stranger. If something feels off, trust your gut. It could save your life savings. According to ODOJ, gold bar scams have been on the rise nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adults-only pinball space and social club is Vancouvers latest addition The scams typically unfold with scammers calling, emailing or texting potential victims, while posing as a government agency, a bank or a technology company. Then, the scammers provide a sense of false urgency, officials warn, explaining that scammers create panic by telling potential victims that their financial accounts are hacked or under investigation. Victims are then told to withdraw large amounts of money and convert it into gold or other valuables to protect the assets. From there, a courier is sent to the victims home to collect the gold and promises to safely store it, officials explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Morning Digest After the gold is handed over, its gone, ODOJ said, warning that the scammers disappear and leave the victims with nothing. To avoid these scams, ODOJ reminds Oregonians that government agencies will never ask others to buy gold and will never send someone to their home to collect money. If approached by these scammers, ODOJ recommends hanging up the phone immediately if someone pressures you to transfer money. Then, ODOJ recommends reporting the scam to local law enforcement. Kohr Explores: Family friendly snack shack opening on Hayden Island Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials also recommend never giving out personal information to someone you dont know and to verify claims by calling the bank or government agency directly using their official contact information. Suspicious activity can also be reported to the ODOJ Consumer Hotline and to the Federal Trade Commission. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Have you enjoyed the hot summer Delaware has had this year? Like it or not, a little more is coming this week, but will the First State be impacted by the ominous heat dome stretching across the United States? Here's what we know. What is a heat dome? A bulge in the jet stream is conspiring with an extensive high-pressure system to create a "heat dome," bringing temperatures approaching triple digits that could linger into August across a swath of the Midwest and East, forecasters say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kansas City, Missouri, area, which hasn't seen 100 degrees in two years, could reach the figure multiple times this week, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. Dallas could experience its first 100-degree day in 2025. Almost 85 million Americans from South Dakota to Texas and North Carolina to Florida were already under National Weather Service extreme heat warnings, watches, or advisories July 21. The heat will intensify July 22 and deep into the week and possibly beyond. Will the heat dome impact Delaware? The heat dome is expected to hit Delaware later in the week, allowing the First State to experience some cooler temperatures, according to the National Weather Service. Highs for the state through Wednesday will sit in the 80s, with lows at night dropping into the low 60s. The mercury starts to rise Thursday, with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the 70s that night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The heat dome will impact Delaware on Friday, with temperatures reaching the 90s and the heat index creeping toward the 100s. The heat will continue on Saturday with highs in the 90s, but a line of storms will pass through the state, cooling temperatures and bringing highs back into the 80s. How to stay cool during a heat wave According to the World Health Organization, here are some tips to stay cool. Use light and loose-fitting clothing and bed linens. Take cool showers or baths. Wet your skin using a damp cloth, a spray bottle, or wet clothing. Drink water regularly aim for 1 cup per hour and 2 to 3 liters per day. Avoid alcohol and too much caffeine. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap and sunglasses outside. How to stay safe in the heat The World Health Organization suggests these tips: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep your body cool and hydrated. Keep your home cool. Avoid going outside during the heat of the day. If you go outside, try to stay in the shade as much as possible. If you must do strenuous activity, do it either in the morning or late afternoon. Who is most vulnerable in the heat? According to the National Weather Service, heat is among the leading weather-related killers. These are the groups most impacted by high temperatures: Pregnant women are also at higher risk. Extreme heat events have been associated with adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality, as well as congenital cataracts. Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than are adults. Older adults, particularly those with preexisting diseases, who take certain medications, live alone or with limited mobility and are exposed to extreme heat, can experience multiple adverse effects. People with chronic medical conditions are more likely to have serious health problems during a heat wave than healthy people. John Bacon contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Is a heat dome hitting Delaware? PANAMA CITY Bay County is heating up while a storm is brewing in the Atlantic. The National Weather Service Tallahassee forecasting office is warning of potentially dangerous temperatures. Maximum heat indices above 110 are possible for the region, with Bay County in a major heat risk. A heat advisory from the National Weather Service on July 21, 2025. Forecasters say that this heat risk is uncommon and anyone without proper cooling or hydration could suffer some negative effects. They say impacts to health systems, heat-sensitive industries, and infrastructure are likely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Little to no nighttime relief is expected tonight with lows in the upper 70s to low 80s," said NWS Tallahassee in a Facebook post. "The prolonged heat with little to no relief at night means our 'HeatRisk' today is Major to Extreme. Those that don't have access to cooling or hydration or don't take frequent breaks in the A/C are at an increased risk of heat illnesses." Maximum heat indices of 114 for Panama City are expected to persist into July 22. By July 23 the heat is expected to let up slightly with a heat index of 106 before dropping to 101 on July 24. The relief comes amid thunderstorms expected around the middle to latter half of the week. After July 23, daily rain chances sit above 80%, according to the NWS seven-day forecast. "The upper level ridge that`s allowed the region to stay under an extended heat wave will begin to break Tuesday afternoon as a weak area of low pressure begins to move in from the northeast," said a meteorologist in the forecast discussion. "Main forecast uncertainties revolve around just how hot conditions will get ahead of the development of scattered to widespread showers and storms." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Bay County deals with some oppressive heat, a disturbance is brewing in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical outlook from the National Hurricane Center on July 21, 2025. Forecasters give the system a 20% chance of development over the next 48 hours or seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center. The disturbance is currently travelling northwest out of the Central Tropical Atlantic, with marginally conducive environmental conditions. NHC does note that in a few days conditions won't be as conducive for development. The Climate Prediction Center expects above average temperatures and precipitation to continue for our area into the foreseeable future. Their tropical outlook shows conditions not being very favorable for cyclone development over the next few weeks. State outlook It's not just you. It's hot out there, dangerously hot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heat index advisories have been issued for the entire state of Florida with heat index values of 110-115 expected for July 21 as a heat dome spreads across the South, forecasters said. Temperatures across most of the state are expected to be in the 90s and may approach 100 degrees around Orlando and Southwest Florida, forecasters said. July 21 is also the one-year anniversary of the hottest day on record for the Earth. North Florida and the Panhandle (and parts of southeast Alabama and southern Georgia) are under a heat advisory from 11 a.m. ET through 7 p.m. with heat index values up to 112 expected. Advisories for Central, Southwest and South Florida are scheduled for noon through 6 p.m., with heat index values from 109 to 112 possible. The National Weather Service Heat Risk Map for July 21 shows most of Florida at risk of Major Heat, which can cause heat stroke and other heat-related dangers. The National Weather Service's Heat Risk map shows roughly two-thirds of Florida from the Panhandle down into the Central and Southwest regions facing major heat risk, with pockets of extreme heat risks in the Big Bend area and parts of the Southwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The 'Dog Days of Summer' are in full swing for most of the eastern two-thirds of the Lower 48," Peter Mullinax with the NOAA/NWS Weather Prediction Center said in a Monday morning update. "This is brought about by a strengthening heat dome originating over the Deep South that builds in over the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys by mid-week. "Expect some localized daily record highs to be broken in the Southeast," he said. Florida heat wave: Whats the best setting for your AC thermostat? Heat index alert: Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida How dangerous is the heat in Florida? When your body gets hot, it cools itself off by sweating. If you get too hot, you can't cool off fast enough and your brain, your heart, and other organs can be damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the relative humidity is high (that's the moisture in the atmosphere), your sweat doesn't evaporate as quickly or at all and you heat up even faster. That leads to dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and potentially fatal heat stroke. Anyone can get heat stroke, but infants, the elderly, and people with chronic disease, or people who have suffered from heat stroke in the past are at higher risk because their bodies may not be able to regulate temperature effectively. Heat waves kill more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined, despite being more preventable. According to the CDC, the average number of heat-related deaths per year in the U.S. has risen 95% from 2010 to 2022. Florida saw an 88% increase in heat-related deaths from 2020 to 2023. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke in Florida: Symptoms, what to do, when to call 911 Heat advisory issued for Panhandle. Heat index up to 110 Heat index advisories have been issued for the Florida Panhandle July 21, 2025. A heat advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. CT to 7 p.m., National Weather Service Mobile said, with heat index values up to 108 expected. Heat advisory issued for Tallahassee, Big Bend area. Heat index up to 112 Heat index advisories have been issued for North Florida July 21, 2025. A heat advisory is in effect for the North Florida region July 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heat index values are expected to reach 112 in portions of southeast Alabama, the Big Bend and Panhandle of Florida, and south central and southwest Georgia. Heat advisory issued for Jacksonville, Northeast Florida. Heat index up to 110 Heat index advisories have been issued for North Florida July 21, 2025. A heat advisory was issued for Northeast Florida for July 21, in effect from noon ET to 6 p.m. Heat index values up to 110 expected for all of northeast and north central Florida and southeast Georgia, the National Weather Service Jacksonville said. Heat advisory issued for Central Florida, East Coast. Heat index up to 112 Heat index advisories have been issued for Central Florida July 21, 2025. A heat advisory has been issued for Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Okeechobee, Indian River, St Lucie, and Martin counties from noon to 6 p.m. ET July 21. Heat index values from 108 to 112 expected, the National Weather Service Melbourne said. Heat advisory issued for Southwest Florida. Heat index could be 109 A heat advisory has been issued for portions of southwest and west central Florida from noon to 6 p.m. ET July 21. Heat index values up to 109 expected. Heat advisory issued for South Florida. Heat index from 105 to 110 Heat index advisories have been issued for South Florida July 21, 2025. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for South Florida from noon July 12 until 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The heat index could reach between 105 and 110 across portions of southeast, south and southwest Florida and could reach even higher is some isolated locations, the National Weather Service said. A major heat risk means there is a risk for heat-related illnesses for most residents, especially for those without access to air conditioning or who don't stay hydrated. Dangerous heat: Heat advisory issued for Palm Beach County as temperatures and humidity soar Heat index and temperature map for US, Florida What is the heat index? Heat index calculator The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At its most basic: the heat index is what the temperature feels like when you're outside. The chart above shows the combination of air temperature with humidity. It's important to note the chart uses the air temperature in the shade. In direct sun, the air temperature can be up to 15 degrees higher. In Florida, except for Miami-Dade County, the National Weather Services offices around the state would issue a heat advisory if the heat index is expected to reach 108 to 112 degrees. The National Weather Service Miami said Miami/Dade County wanted a lower threshold for an advisory for its population, which was set at 105 degrees. NWS issues several types of heat-related warnings National Weather Service changed its heat watch and warning terms in March 2025. Here's what you should know: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Excessive heat watches were renamed to extreme heat watches. Issued when dangerous heat is possible and residents are encouraged to be prepared. Excessive heat warnings were renamed to extreme heat warnings. Issued when dangerous heat is happening or about to happen. What is a heat advisory? Issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria. See when heat watches and warnings could be issued in your area What is a heat advisory? A heat advisory is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria, according to the National Weather Service. "Residents are advised to consider postponing or rescheduling outdoor activities, especially during the heat of the day. If you must be outside, be sure to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade. Stay in a cool place, especially during the heat of the day and evening." When a heat advisory is issued also depends on where you are in Florida. For most of the state, a heat advisory is issued if the heat index is expected to be between 108 to 112 degrees. Here is the breakdown by each NWS region. A heat advisory is issued when the heat index is expected to be: Western Panhandle: 108-112 degrees Central Panhandle, North Florida: 108 to 112 within the next 6 to 24 hours or air temperature is forecast to reach 103 degrees Northeast Florida: 108-112 degrees East Central Florida: 108 to 112 degrees In South Florida : 108 degrees in South Florida or 105 degrees for Miami/Dade and Broward counties Southwest, West Central Florida: 108-112 or the air temp is greater or equal to 103 degrees The National Weather Service Miami said Miami/Dade County wanted a lower threshold for a heat advisory for its population. Signs, symptoms of heat stroke Heat stroke is the most serious of heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Signs and symptoms include: Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech Loss of consciousness (coma) Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Seizures Very high body temperature Heat stroke is fatal if treatment is delayed What to do: Call 911 Move the person to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing Cool the person quickly, using the following methods: With a cold water or ice bath, if possible Wet the skin Place cold wet cloths on the skin Place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin Soak clothing with cool water Circulate the air around the person to speed cooling Signs, symptoms of heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating, the CDC said. Signs and symptoms include: Headache Nausea Dizziness Weakness Irritability Thirst Heavy sweating Elevated body temperature Decreased urine output What to do: Take the person to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment Call 911 if medical care is unavailable Have someone stay with the person until help arrives Remove the person from the hot area Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks Cool the person with cold compresses or have the them wash their head, face, and neck with cold water Encourage frequent sips of cool water How to stay safe. What do meteorologists recommend when it's hot outside? What's the best temperature to set your air conditioner thermostat? Drink plenty of fluids Stay in an air-conditioned room Stay out of the sunshine Check on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. 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 911. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will provide weather coverage as conditions warrant to keep you informed and prepared. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. (This story was updated to add a photo gallery) This article originally appeared on The News Herald: It's not just you, it's HOT in Bay County. NWS issues advisory. QBE North America has promoted Jordan Atkinson as the president of its crop insurance arm, NAU Country Insurance Company. Atkinson will succeed Jim Korin, who has decided to retire, and report to QBE North America CEO Julie Wood, becoming a member of the executive management board. Wood said: "We are extremely grateful for Jims 25 years of service and the invaluable leadership he has provided during his tenure at NAU Country. He has played a critical role in building the NAU Country brand as a market-leading provider of multiple-peril crop insurance. We wish him well in his upcoming retirement." With more than 20 years of experience in US agriculture and farming industry, Atkinson latterly served as NAU Countrys executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, overseeing marketing, branch management and claims teams. Wood added: Throughout his 15-year tenure, Jordan has built and fostered strong industry and agent relationships, amassed deep business and institutional knowledge, and established himself as a trusted and respected leader within our organisation. This combined with his substantial technical and industry expertise will be instrumental in further strengthening the profitability and performance of NAU Country. NAU Country specialises in multi-peril crop insurance and has a valuation of $4bn. The company, headquartered in the US, holds licences in 48 states and employs a team of more than 1,200 field and office staff. Last month, QBE Asia and the International Finance Corporation collaborated to address climate-related risks in the Asia-Pacific property insurance sector. "QBE names new president for NAU Country Insurance Company " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met Friday with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz at the Pentagon, praising Israels recent battlefield performance and reaffirming U.S. support for its key Middle Eastern ally. The July 18 meeting highlighted deepening defense ties between the Trump administration and Israel following the 12-Day War and the subsequent Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER. Hegseth congratulated Katz on what he called Israels remarkable performance during the conflict, crediting it for paving the way for the success of Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER. According to an official Defense Department readout, Hegseth applauded Israels willingness to take bold action to lead in its own defense and emphasized that the U.S. will continue to enable Israels ability to defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon chief framed the partnership as consistent with President Donald Trumps foreign policy approach, describing it as part of the broader mission to achieve Peace Through Strength. Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation to confront shared threats and advance regional stability. It was one of Hegseths first major bilateral meetings since taking office. The readout was issued Saturday by Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell. The head of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, will be reshuffled into a new position, the Defense Department announced Friday. Navy Vice. Adm. Yvette M. Davids the first woman to serve as the superintendent of the school was nominated to become deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, strategy and warfighting development. Vice Adm. Davids has commanded at every level and has led with distinction in some of the most complex security environments of our time, Navy Secretary John Phelan said in the release announcing her reassignment. Her strategic vision and operational depth will be an exceptional asset to the Navy and the Department of Defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte was nominated to replace Davids as superintendent of the academy. He is currently the deputy commandant of manpower and reserve affairs in Quantico, Virginia. If confirmed, he would become the first Marine to hold the post at the Naval Academy. DOD leadership firings spark concerns over support for female officers Davids, a 1989 graduate of the Naval Academy, became the head of the institution on Jan. 11, 2024. At sea, she moved through the ranks from electrical officer to executive officer, eventually commanding the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate Curts in the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, according to her Navy biography. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once ashore, she took the role of senior military advisor to the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs. She served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, was the chief of staff for U.S. Southern Command and took over as acting commander for Naval Surface Force. While Davids tenure as superintendent of the Naval Academy lasted about 17 months, previous superintendents have typically served between three years and five years. Some superintendents have served shorter terms, including Rear Adm. Richard Joseph Naughton, who held the job from 2002 to 2003. Naughton resigned after a military investigation found he had abused students and personnel, The Washington Post reported at the time. The Defense Department did not specify the reason for Davids move. Sideboys render honors as Vice Adm. Yvette Davids is piped aboard during a change of command ceremony in which she properly relieved Rear Adm. Fred Kacher to become the 65th Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. (MC1 Bobby Baldock/Navy) Im honored to be nominated as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development, Davids said in Fridays release. I look forward to continuing to serve alongside Americas strongest warfighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trumps administration previously fired two senior female military leaders who were the first women to serve in their positions. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Lee Fagan was fired the day Trump was inaugurated. She had served in the role since June 2022 and was the first uniformed woman to lead the military branch. Fagan was relieved of her duties over failures to address border security and an erosion of trust, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official, Fox News reported. The media organization also cited Fagans focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as a mishandling of sexual assault cases, as catalysts for her ousting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 21, Trump fired Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as the Navys top officer and the first to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. No reason was given for Franchettis firing at the time. CLEVELAND (WJW) Two people convicted last month in the shooting death of 10-year-old Gracie Griffin at a Fourth of July party last year were sentenced to life in prison on Monday. Gracie Griffin was shot and killed during a family cookout last summer. On Monday, her loved ones came face-to-face with the men responsible: brothers Juwone Deaver and Jemerious Davis. Dog the Bounty Hunters step-grandson killed by father in accidental shooting: report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juwone D. Deaver, 29, and Jemerious S. Davis, 24, both of Cleveland, were each sentenced Monday to 25 years to life for her murder. The shooting happened during a Fourth of July party at a home near the intersection of West 125th Street and Triskett Road, FOX 8 News previously reported. Griffin, 10, was at the party and was standing outside the home with Deaver, Davis and another suspect when a vehicle carrying four people pulled in front of the home, prosecutors said. Deaver and Davis then opened fire, shooting multiple times with a .45 caliber firearm and an AK-style firearm at the vehicle, reads a previous news release from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vehicle that struck wanted man during Butler pursuit was driven by Mayor Wesley Dingus, police say Griffin was struck in the head and pronounced dead at a hospital. Deaver and Davis claimed they had felt threatened, but investigators determined no shots were fired from the vehicle, only toward it. She was taken, not by a stranger, but from someone she trusted; someone she was supposed to feel safe around, Griffins grandmother, Touch Choup, told the court on Monday. But I hope today justice speaks to the truth. That her life mattered. That her heart was rare. And that justice, whatever it looks like, speaks loud enough for her, since she cant speak for herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courtroom inside the Justice Center was filled with emotion. Tears on both sides, and raw grief from a family still mourning a child taken too soon. Deavers and Davis mother, who also spoke at the Monday hearing, claimed the men were trying to protect Griffin and called her death a tragedy. Despite their convictions, the brothers mother insisted in court they were acting to protect their family. East Cleveland mayor fires police chief: I-Team They didnt do it, she said. They were protecting her; just as they were protecting us. And theres no telling what would have happened if they didnt protect us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for Gracies family, that claim only deepened the pain. She was taken, not by a stranger, said Gracies grandmother. But from someone she trusted. Someone she was supposed to feel safe around. Gracie Griffins death was heartbreaking and completely avoidable, Prosecutor Michael OMalley is quoted in a Monday news release. While today cannot heal that loss, these sentences of 25 years to life send a clear message that senseless gun violence will not be tolerated. While some members of the defendants family expressed disappointment with the verdict, Gracies loved ones said this wasnt about revenge; it was about making sure her voice was heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Cosby Show star, dies at 54 I hope today, justice speaks to the truth, a family member said. That her life mattered. That her heart was rare. And that justice, whatever it looks like, speaks loud enough for her, since she cant speak for herself. In total, four people have been held accountable in connection with Gracies death. Two other suspects also pleaded guilty to lying to police about the incident and have been sentenced, prosecutors said. The third suspect, EdJawon Q. Williams, 24, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty in April to a felony count of obstructing justice and was sentenced to one year in prison, court records show. He was credited for about nine months served in jail while awaiting trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams was also sentenced to four years in prison on felonious assault and intimidation charges from a separate case, state prison records show. 4 teens shot, 1 dead at unpermitted block party in Cleveland A fourth suspect, Katie McKnight, pleaded guilty in June to a misdemeanor count of obstructing justice and was sentenced to seven days in jail, which was credited for time served, court records show. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Public Investigator team chases tips, finds answers, and gets results. No story is too big or too small. Got a tip or a question? Email publicinvestigator@gannett.com. There's a hole the size of a doorknob inches below the lock on Carol Perez's back door. She's waited over a month for her California-based landlord to fix it, along with six other code violations that city inspectors identified in her one-bedroom apartment on West Atkinson Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, a piece of paper towel taped over the hole and a prayer secures Perez's door. "It's unfair," Perez told Public Investigator. "I have a security camera, but I just want out of this lease." Perez moved into the apartment in the Rufus King neighborhood in June, but it's nothing like she signed up for. There's no hot water for her to shower or wash her dishes. A large hole in her bedroom closet exposes the pipes and plumbing. She can't plug in her fan and air fryer in at the same time or a fuse will blow, property management told her. All Perez wants now is to break her lease and get her security deposit back without incurring any fees. But can she? She reached out to Public Investigator to see if that's an option. Carol Perez, a renter in the Rufus King neighborhood, is frustrated to tears with the lack of response from her landlord about safety issues in her apartment, pictured here on July 15, 2025. Brittany Schoenick, an attorney with Legal Action, said Perez has at least three reasons her lease could be voided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For one, the unresolved and potentially hazardous issues in her apartment could make it untenable, Schoenick said. In addition, Schoenick identified legal issues with Perez's lease agreement. Muhammed Ali, the property owner, has been aware of the condition of the apartment for over a month, according to emails that Perez shared with Public Investigator. The city notified him of the code violations on July 8. Ali has not responded to Public Investigator's calls and emails. But on July 18, Perez found a note taped to her door stating that maintenance would be working on her kitchen sink the following day. "I just want to get out of the lease, and I want my security deposit back," Perez said. Attorney cites multiple reasons lease can be terminated From the day Perez moved in on June 12, she cataloged each issue in the apartment in an email to Ali, who did not respond. When she called him, he hung up, Perez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After not hearing from Ali, Perez contacted the Department of Neighborhood Services. An inspector identified seven violations on July 8 and gave Ali until Aug. 12 to address them, according to city records. But by the time the city's deadline rolls around, Perez will have lived two months without hot water and a faulty back door. Those issues are reason enough for Perez to break her lease, move out of the unit and compel Ali to return her security deposit, according to Schoenick. Wisconsin law requires landlords to "promptly" repair health hazards. "The unsecure lock on the exterior door, that's certainly a significant safety issue," Schoenick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A closer look at Perez and Ali's lease agreement shows two more reasons it could be voided, according to Schoenick. First, the lease includes a provision that forces the tenant to give up the right to be notified before the landlord sues for eviction. That is prohibited in Wisconsin, Schoenick said. Wisconsin law requires landlords to give tenants advance notice that they are filing an eviction. A lease that indicates tenants dont have that right can be voided and unenforceable, according to state law. Additionally, Schoenick says the lease could be considered unenforceable because it cites the "laws of the state of California. The landlord resides in California, but the apartment Perez is renting is in Wisconsin. Perez uses the bathroom sink to retrieve hot water in order to wash her dishes. What are the next steps to break this lease? The first step is to vacate the unit and notify the landlord, Schoenick advises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That prevents the property owner from issuing an eviction notice to Perez when she doesn't pay August rent, because the apartment has already been returned to the landlord's possession, Schoenick said. Once Perez is out of the unit, Ali has 21 days to return her security deposit, she said. The plan is not without risk, Schoenick warned. Ali could try to avoid returning her security deposit or try to take Perez to small claims court. But Schoenick said Perez has a good chance of winning a claim against Ali due to the apartment's safety hazards and illegal lease provision. Perez also has the option of submitting a complaint to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Perez uses a piece of paper towel to prevent intruders from using a hole in her back door to flip the lock. Public Investigator called and emailed Ali multiple times to ask if he would take issue with Perez voiding the lease and moving out. He has yet to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Perez is glad to know she has the option to break her lease, she still feels stuck. She paid July's rent already. And finding an apartment in Milwaukee hasn't been easy with her low credit score, even though she has no evictions on her record. Ali was the only landlord to accept her application, she said. Community Advocates, a social services nonprofit in Milwaukee, told Public Investigator it plans to email Perez a list of landlords who are known to accept lower credit scores, although they are not vetted for quality. "I hope I can get some help out of this story," Perez said. "I'm not sure what to try next." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gina Castro is a Public Investigator reporter. She can be reached at gcastro@gannett.com. Questions or tips? Contact Public Investigator Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Can I break my lease in Milwaukee if my landlord hasn't fixed issues? Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months hours before Britain and Germany chaired a meeting Monday to discuss U.S. President Donald Trumps plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons. The drone and missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The deadly assault underscored the urgency of Ukraines need for further Western military aid, especially in air defense, a week after Trump said deliveries would arrive in Ukraine within days. A drone struck the entrance to a subway station in Kyivs Shevchenkivskyi district where people had taken cover. Videos posted on social media showed the station platform engulfed by smoke, with dozens inside. The heaviest strikes hit the city's Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday for talks with Zelenskyy, visited some of the damaged area. Zelenskyy and Barrot spoke about expanding defense cooperation, including a decision by French companies to start manufacturing drones in Ukraine, and advancing Ukraines path toward European Union membership, the Ukrainian leader said on social media. Western defense chiefs meet on Ukraine The virtual meeting of high-level military officials was led by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO leader Mark Rutte, as well as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, attended the so-called Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow has intensified its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate as Russian drone production expands. Ukraines new Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal urged allies to speed up deliveries of American air defense systems under the plan put forward by Trump. I request the U.S. to make these weapons available for purchase, and our European partners to extend all the needed financing for their procurement, Shmyhal, who until recently served as prime minister, told the meeting. Trumps arms plan, announced a week ago, involves European nations sending American weapons, including Patriot air defense missile systems, to Ukraine via NATO either from existing stockpiles or buying and donating new ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an shift of tone toward Russia, Trump last week gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions. At Mondays meeting, Healey was expected to urge Ukraines Western partners to launch a 50-day drive to get Kyiv the weapons it needs to fight Russias bigger army and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, the U.K. government said in a statement. NATOs Grynkewich told The Associated Press on Thursday that preparations are underway for weapons transfers to Ukraine while U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said he couldnt give a time frame. European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius visited Washington on Monday ahead of talks with U.S. officials about European defense and support for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kubilius told reporters he welcomed Trump taking a harder line on Putin, calling it a new opening in how we can support Ukraine. If you combine American economic power and European economic power we are something like 20 times Russias power, he said. We need political will. Kyiv wants American-made Patriot missile systems Germany has said it offered to finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and raised the possibility of supplying systems it already owns and having them replaced by the U.S. But delivery could take time, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested, because they have to be transported, they have to be set up; that is not a question of hours, it is a question of days, perhaps weeks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Patriot systems could come thanks to Switzerland, whose defense ministry said Thursday it was informed by the U.S. Defense Department that it will reprioritize the delivery" of five previously ordered systems to support Ukraine. While Ukraine waits for Patriots, a senior NATO official said the alliance is still coordinating the delivery of other military aid such as ammunition and artillery rounds which includes aid from the U.S. that was briefly paused. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. In a video address, Zelenskyy said another round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations was planned for Wednesday. He said he discussed the preparations with Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian team in the previous two rounds, but didn't give further details. The previous negotiations were held in Istanbul, and Russian media reports said it would likely remain the host city. The talks in May and June led to a series of exchanges of prisoners of war but produced no other agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine fires drones at Moscow The overnight Russian barrage of Kyiv began shortly after midnight and continued until around 6 a.m. Residents were kept awake by machine-gun fire, buzzing drone engines and multiple loud explosions. It was the first major attack on Kyiv since Trumps special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in the city last Monday. Russia halted strikes during his visit. Russias Ministry of Defense said its attack used drones and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. It said the barrage successfully targeted airfield infrastructure and Ukraines military-industrial complex. Ukraines air force said Russia launched 426 Shahed and decoy drones overnight and on Monday, as well as 24 missiles of various types. It said 200 drones were intercepted with 203 more jammed or lost from radars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine, meanwhile, continued to deploy its domestically produced long-range drones. Russias Ministry of Defense said its forces shot down 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, almost a third of them destroyed close to the Russian capital. Twenty-three drones were shot down in the Moscow region, the ministry said, 15 of which were intercepted over the city itself. ___ Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London; David Klepper in Washington; Geir Moulson in Berlin and Stephen McGrath in Bucharest, Romania, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Contour 3D might soon change the way people find a place to live in Australia. A Current Affair reported that this company uses giant 3D printers to build homes. Nick Holden, its founder and CEO, called it "digital construction" and explained, "The printer pours layers of special concrete mix one after another in long swirls." And the speed is striking. "So it took us 15 days to 3D print the walls. There was 140 tons worth of our material to go in here," Holden said. Regular construction can take up to 40 weeks. Switching to 3D printing cuts that time down to about 16 weeks. For families stuck on housing waiting lists, that difference can mean everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly and her mom, Sandra, know the weight of waiting. Sandra lives with multiple medical conditions and struggles to breathe. Kelly cares for her full-time. Right now, they're living in emergency accommodation in Sydney's southwest. "She can't think for herself, she can't bathe herself, because of the lungs she can hardly breathe," Kelly said. They've been on the New South Wales housing register for two years. Kelly added that if they choose an area that meets her mom's needs, like Camden, the wait time is 30 years. Contour 3D wants to shorten these waits. The company recently built Australia's first 3D-printed social housing project. Two two-bedroom homes in Dubbo, New South Wales, will soon welcome tenants. This build came from a partnership between Aboriginal Sustainable Homes, Contour 3D, and the New South Wales Aboriginal Housing Office. New South Wales minister for housing Rose Jackson said, "We need homes and we need them quickly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holden said he hopes this technology can push forward a pilot program for more affordable housing. "Houses need to be built," he said. These homes aren't just quick to make. Holden explained, "Our material that we have here is 40% recycled. It uses a lot of waste materials that would normally go to landfill." He also said, "It's a concrete house, so [it has] a 100-year design life. It's built for longevity and we are seeing around about a 20% overall saving in the whole build." Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Building sites look different, too. Holden noted, "To construct all the structural walls as you see here really it's a team of three or four people and the most important guy on the site is the guy with a laptop." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People get stronger roofs over their heads. The planet sees less concrete waste piling up. And for families like Kelly and Sandra, these printed houses could finally give them a place to call home. As Kelly said, "I just want a basic home. A place that I can call home." 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. BOONE COUNTY, Iowa A hiker was saved after a fall on a steep and muddy trail over a cliff face at Ledges State Park in Boone County over the weekend. According to a post on Facebook, at around 10:20 a.m. Sunday Boone County dispatch received a 911 call from an individual reporting that his brother had fallen and had likely broken his ankle while exploring the Old Indian Trail near the Crows Nest in the park. The 30-year-old victim was located roughly 75-yards uphill on a muddy and root-covered slope that didnt have an actual trail. Iowa native in Texas recounts flood and shares how Iowans can help Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days of heavy rainfall earlier in the week complicated the rescue, as the rain left trails slick and muddy, and caused low-water crossings to flood. Boone County Search and Rescue said the conditions forced first responders to search for the hiker on foot. First responders located the injured hiker, who was conscious, but unable to walk. At around 11:15 a.m., Boone County Search and Rescue said it arrived to perform a rope-based technical carry-out with litter equipment, a one-wheel system and full rope complement to safely lower the hiker to a more accessible location. The rescue entailed stabilizing the hiker, packing him up, and maneuvering him down the slope to EMS. Nearly an hour later the hiker was placed on more solid ground and transported by EMS to a nearby hospital. The additional agencies involved in the rescue included the Boone County Sheriffs Office, Boone Fire Department, Boone County Hospital EMS, and Boone County Emergency Management. Iowa 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 who13.com. Attorney Jeffrey Portnoy joins producer/host Coralie Chun Matayoshi to discuss the Trump administrations challenge to First Amendment rights including freedom of speech (e.g. purging information about the accomplishments of women and minorities, dismantling the U.S. Department of Education), establishment clause/separation of church and state (e.g. teaching religion in the schools), and freedom of the press (e.g. expelling established news organizations from the Pentagon, controlling the White House press pool, funding cuts to PBS and NPR). Jeff Portnoy is a partner in the Cades Schutte law firm. He has extensive litigation experience and taught media law at the UH Richardson School of law. He is a past President of the Hawaii State Bar Association and Hawaii Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and we served on the UH Board of Regents together. Q. Two years ago, we talked about book banning and trying to erase the history of women and minorities, and it was bad then. Now that President Trump is back in office, has his administration taken censorship to a new level? Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is being stamped out by the Trump administration through executive orders (e.g. 1/29/25 Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling) and funding cuts. Examples: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military academies stripped their libraries of hundreds of books that explored race, gender, and national identity. The Air Force temporarily removed a module about the all-Black Tuskegee Airmen from its basic training and courses on race and ethnicity were eliminated from the Naval Academy and West Point curriculums. 442nd Regimental Combat Team webpage was removed from the U.S. Armys website as part of a broader effort to revise content related to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the military and republished as a Key Military Unit which removed its specific racial context and the units bravery and contributions in light of the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II. The Navajo code talkers, MLB legend Jackie Robinsons military service, and others were temporarily removed from the U.S. Arms website, eliminating anything that would recognize the contribution of people of color Dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services, reducing funding to libraries, and firing the Librarian of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Withholding billions of dollars of funding from Harvard and other universities for using what it calls racial preferences and stereotypes in their educational programs and activities. Q. President Trump signed an Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education and return authority to state and local communities. If challenges to this executive order fail, what might some conservative states do? Florida Governor Ron DeSantiss Stop Woke Law already limits students and teachers from learning and talking about issues related to race and gender. The bill authorizes discussion of topics such as sexism, slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, in an age-appropriate manner, and in such a way that does not indoctrinate or persuade students to a certain point of view that is inconsistent with the principles of individual freedom and bans the teaching of anything that made students in public schools feel shamed because of their race. Concepts that constitute unlawful discrimination include: That members of one race, color, national origin or sex are morally superior to members of another race, color, national origin or sex. A person by virtue of their race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive. A persons moral character or status as privileged or oppressed is determined by race, color, national origin or sex. A person, by virtue of their race, color, national origin or sex should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity or inclusion. The bill also requires instruction, instructional materials, and professional development in public schools to adhere to principles of individual freedom outlined in the bill. Those principles include that no person is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive just by virtue of his or her race or sex and meritocracy or hard work ethic are not racist but fundamental to the right to pursue success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to put a positive spin on the history of slavery in this country by saying that slaves benefited from learning skills, akin to a workforce training program. Floridas Department of Education approved a new curriculum for the African-American Studies program in public schools which instructs students on the personal benefit of slavery to Black people. Theyre probably going to show that some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into doing things later in life, said DeSantis. Florida is also targeting the LGBTQ community. The Parental Rights in Education Act also known as the Dont Say Gay law was passed in 2022. The law prohibits Florida public schools from having classroom discussion or giving classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. It also prohibits public schools from keeping information about a students sexual orientation or gender identity from their parents. If parents have personal objections to teachings in these areas, they can file a lawsuit and the public schools are required to pay for all the expenses of the lawsuits. In April 2023, the Florida Board of Education expanded the ban on teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity to all grades K-12 except in health or reproductive courses. A subsequent law passed in Florida requires that sex education classes teach that sex is determined by biology and reproductive function at birth, and that reproductive gender roles are binary, stable, and unchangeable. Legislatures in at least 20 other states have introduced Parental Rights in Education bills similar to Floridas. Moms for Liberty started with 3 Florida moms fighting Covid-19 restrictions in 2021. They advocate for school choice and the fundamental rights of parents to direct their childrens education. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the conservative Heritage Foundation have embraced this movement while others like the Southern Poverty Law Center call Moms for Liberty a racist anti-LGBTQ organization that spreads misinformation and aims to eradicate diverse and inclusive materials from school lesson plans. Moms for Liberty is seeking to take over school boards and influence school superintendent elections in multiple states. Oklahomas public schools are directed to teach the Bible. Louisiana passed a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public schools in the state, but a federal judge declared it unconstitutional. Arkansas passed a law that would have allowed criminal charges (carrying a penalty up to 1 year in jail) against librarians and booksellers for providing harmful material to minors, which was declared unconstitutionally overbroad and void for vagueness. Q. In addition to freedom of speech, the First Amendments establishment clause guarantees freedom of religion through the separation of church and state. As conservative states push to teach Bible and eliminate LGBTQ education in public schools, they also want taxpayer dollars to support private religious schools. How likely is this to happen? In 1786, the Virginia General Assemblys passage of Thomas Jeffersons Act for Establishing Religious was the first time in American history that a legislature renounced state religion, which set the stage for the First Amendments commitment to freedom of religion. For over 70 years, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that direct funding of religion by government violates the First Amendments establishment clause. Most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond (May 2025) barred a private Catholic charter school in Oklahoma from joining the states publicly funded charter school program, which would have been the first government-funded religious charter school in the nation. But the decision was a 4-4 tie (Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself), with no written opinion which means it only applies to the Oklahoma case and has no impact on future cases regarding other charter schools around the country. Q. Another important first amendment right is freedom of the press. How is the Trump administration affecting these rights? The Trump administration has expelled established news organizations from the Pentagon, curtailed Associated Press access to events and taken control of the White House press pool, sidelining major media outlets and undermining the role of independent journalism in holding those in power accountable, and cut funding to Public Broadcast Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), and Voice of America (independent international broadcasting network that by law has editorial independence from the government). To learn more about this subject, tune into this video podcast. Disclaimer: this material is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The law varies by jurisdiction and is constantly changing. For legal advice, you should consult a lawyer that can apply the appropriate law to the facts in your case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Skipton Business Finance has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the North West with the appointment of Dan Grainger as its new regional sales director. In his new role, Grainger will focus on expanding Skiptons reach by providing working capital to businesses across the region. He will work alongside a trusted network of introducers and brokers, as well as the companys relationship management and risk teams. The appointment marks a return to Skipton for Grainger, who previously worked with the business from 2017 to 2021. He brings with him considerable experience in commercial finance, having held senior positions at institutions including Lloyds Banking Group and Praetura Invoice Finance. Speaking about his return, Grainger said Skiptons strong reputation in the market and plans to enhance its product suite made the decision to come back an easy one. Ive received such a warm welcome, he added, and its been great to reconnect with some familiar faces while making new connections. Im really looking forward to helping even more businesses thrive across the North West. Jim Furey, Skipton Business Finances sales director for the North West and Midlands, welcomed Graingers return, describing him as an invaluable asset to the business. Dans deep understanding of the SME landscape and impressive business development experience make him a strong fit for our growth plans, said Furey. His client-first approach and extensive network align closely with our ethos of building strong, supportive partnerships. Skipton Business Finance is part of the Skipton Building Society Group and specialises in funding SMEs across the UK. "Skipton reappoints Dan Grainger to lead SME growth" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. Police on Monday were continuing to investigate a violent crash outside an East Hollywood club where 36 people were injured and the suspected driver wounded by gunfire. Around 2 a.m. Saturday, a driver plowed into a crowd outside the Vermont Hollywood nightclub, injuring dozens of clubgoers, pedestrians and vendors on the sidewalk outside. After the crash, the driver was pulled from the vehicle by the crowd and assaulted, with one person pulling a gun and shooting him, Los Angeles police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the gunman is still outstanding, the suspected driver identified as Fernando Ramirez was taken into custody. Video from the scene showed Ramirez beaten bloody as police took him away. Here's what we know so far. Who is the suspected driver? Ramirez, 29, was a club patron who was thrown out, but returned to the area in a vehicle around 2 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department officials said. The vehicle hit street vendors and dozens of late-night clubgoers, causing multiple medical emergencies and stoking fear and anger among the crowd. Bystanders pulled Ramirez from his vehicle and attacked him video showed him being punched and kicked and, at some point, he was shot, LAPD officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, he was listed in stable condition after being taken into surgery, police said. He was also arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon with force likely to produce great bodily injury. Before the Saturday attack, Ramirez had already spent months behind bars. On Jan. 10, 2020, he was sentenced to four years in prison after a jury found him guilty of battery with serious injury, violation of civil rights and a hate crime enhancement for attacking a Black Whole Foods employee. However, an appeals court in January 2021 overturned part of the verdict after the court found that a recorded conversation with an officer violated Ramirez's Miranda rights. The appeals court reversed the civil rights violation and the hate crime enhancement and vacated the sentence, but upheld the aggravated battery conviction because it was "not affected by the Miranda error." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Ramirez was convicted of a 2019 battery upon a police officer and resisting arrest and got 180 days in jail. In 2021, he was convicted of assault with great bodily injury and two counts of resisting arrest and received a sentence of 194 days in jail and a year of probation. That same year, he pleaded guilty to corporal injury upon a spouse and was sentenced to three years of probation with 234 days in jail. Kimberly Edds, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney's office, said Ramirez has a pending driving under the influence charge, and a separate domestic battery charge, including a violation of a protective order stemming from a 2022 incident, also pending in the Orange County courts. Who is the suspected gunman? Police said that after Ramirez was pulled from the vehicle, which had become lodged on top of food vendor equipment, someone pulled out a gun and shot him in the back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officer Norma Eisenman, an LAPD spokesperson, said on Sunday that the person who shot Ramirez remained at large. Police described the suspected shooter as male, Latino, about 5-foot-7 and 150 to 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue Dodgers jacket, a light blue jersey with the number "5" and blue jeans. He had gauges a type of body jewelry in both ears and a goatee. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. What happened to the victims? At least 36 victims sustained injuries ranging from minor pain to serious fractures and lacerations. Several individuals were struck by the vehicle, and some were briefly trapped beneath it. At least 23 people were hospitalized. Given the size of the crowd, LAPD Capt. Ben Fernandes said the incident could have easily spiraled into a mass casualty event. "Quite honestly, I believe it is a miracle," Fernandes told KNBC-TV Channel 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One witness told KABC-TV Channel 7 that he saw dozens of people on the ground after the crash. Another said it was "like a movie." You see shoes flying, you see change, money, theres hot dog stands that were outside the bar they got hit," the witness said. Eduardo Lopez, who was working at his taco truck down the street from the nightclub early Saturday, said he heard the crash and the subsequent screams. He told KNBC he saw people running and "a lot of people hurt." The club issued a statement following the incident. We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred early Saturday morning outside our venue, the Vermont Hollywood club posted in a statement online and outside its doors. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the person responsible for this horrific act is held fully accountable. 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. Actor Jim Parsons has openly criticized the Trump administration for one of its latest decisions. Last Friday, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline switched off the option for LGBTQ youth to press a button and speak to a specialized counselor, which had been in place since 2022. In those three years, the 988 hotline has received over 16 million calls, texts and chats. Nearly 1.5 million of those were made by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Actor Jim Parsons has slammed a Trump administration move. / John Nacion / Variety via Getty Images In a statement announcing the service cut last month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said they will no longer silo LGB+ youth services... to focus on serving all help seekers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsons, best known for starring in The Big Bang Theory, married Todd Spiewak in 2017. While promoting a new documentary, Reclaiming the Flag, Parsons told MSNBCs The Weekend on Sunday he was horrified by the Trump administration ending the specialized hotline. I think its quite literally criminal, Parsons said. Its one of the kinds of decisions that youre like, theres no good reason for it. It doesnt matter what reason you ever put towards it or say its the reason its happening, its never going to be justified. He added, It is only hurtful and it feels like its only being done in order to make a point, were getting rid of this because we want to make sure certain people understand theyre not welcome here. Jim Parsons and husband Todd Spiewak. / Bruce Glikas / Bruce Glikas/WireImage Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who wrote the bipartisan legislation that funded the 988 hotline, said cutting services for LGBTQ youth was a political move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have had relentless attacks on members of the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals, transgender youth, Baldwin told NPR. In the face of those relentless political attacks on this very vulnerable community, to then cut off a lifeline is absolutely cruel. Reclaiming the Flag, which is airing on You Tube and was directed by Alexis Bittar, examines the LGBTQ communitys relationship with the American flag. Bittar told MSNBC of the hotline cuts, I just think its such an important tool for LGBTQ youth to be able to reach out and talk to someone on the other line. Bittar added, The messaging is, unless you live in a metropolitan area, is youre not worthy in the eyes of God. You grow up feeling you dont belong. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the NationalSuicidePrevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 LIBERTY, Ohio (WKBN) Its been more than a month since a deadly house explosion in Liberty, but the home remains standing. The house on E Montrose Street was still there on Monday, surrounded by fencing. Liberty Township Administrator Martha Weirick tells First News the insurance company has taken over, and its up to the company to demolish or repair it. 34-year-old Justin Braun was killed and two others, including a 4-year-old boy, were hurt in the June 7 explosion. Investigators have said the occupants were manufacturing homemade fireworks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Township Fire Chief Douglas Theobald has recommended the house be torn down. It has been declared unfit for human habitation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Just when you thought you were out, a special election pulls you back in. Residents living in the Milton and Lewes areas will have their pick between Democrat and community leader Alonna Berry and Republican and longtime educator Nikki Miller in the Aug. 5 special election to succeed former Rep. Stell Parker Selby in the Delaware House of Representatives. Many of those same voters are still rebounding from last years election season, where the First State saw record-breaking numbers for early voting during the 2024 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An in-depth look: Who's on the ballot? Meet the special election candidates running for Parker Selby's seat This isnt even the first special election held this year. Two special elections were held earlier this year to help fill the state Senate district seats left vacant by now-U.S. Congresswoman Sarah McBride and now-Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay. You must be a registered voter to participate in First State general, primary and special elections. But how does one actually register to vote in Delaware? Requirements to register to vote in Delaware Delawareans vote early at Christina Crossing in Wilmington on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. To register, you must be 18 years of age or older on or before the date of the next General Election, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Delaware, according to the state Department of Elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a special election in particular, you must be 18 years of age or older on the day of or before the election, registered to vote at least 10 days before and must reside in the representative district in which the vacancy took place. Where to register to vote in Delaware Delawareans can register online via the state Voter Portal, in person at any Elections Department office in Delaware or at a voter registration event held by a state Organized Voter Registration Program group with trained registrars. In other legislative news: This new bill would legalize wine shipments to Delawareans. What to know about HB 187 You can also contact the Elections Department and have them send an application directly to you to fill out and submit. Or, if youre short on time, you can instead download, print, fill out and turn in an application back either via email, mail, fax or in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from the Elections Department, you also have the option to register to vote or update your information at a wide range of state government or other state-based offices. These include: The state Division of Motor Vehicles. You can do so when you are applying for, renewing or modifying your drivers license or state ID. State Department of Health and Social Services service centers when applying for resources. Higher education institutions when registering for classes. What documents do you need to register to vote in Delaware? You have to present one of the following documents along with your completed application: Your state drivers license or ID card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A copy of a government or related document that shows both your name and place of residence. This can include a recent bank statement, paycheck or utility bill. What's the latest you can register to vote in Delaware before an election? A voter casts a ballot in a voting booth at the Middletown Town Council Chambers in 2016. It depends on the election. For general and primary elections, you must be registered to vote by the [fourth] Saturday before the election takes place. For the upcoming special election, residents must be registered by Saturday, July 26 at 11:59 p.m. to be eligible. Can I update my voter registration? Yes, you can update your voter record any time before an election or at your designated polling location on Election Day. Related: Delaware lawmakers push for felon voting rights, early voting rules with these bills How to change your political affiliation in Delaware? You can pick a political party affiliation when you register to vote. If you do not choose one, you will be registered as no party. (For primary elections, you must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can change your affiliation online or complete and submit a form in person or download, fill out and submit a registration form to the Department with your new affiliation listed. You can also call your county Department office and have an application mailed to you to fill out and present with your new affiliation, or you can do so in person at a department office. Voters in line for early voting at the Hudson Service Center in Newark on Oct. 25, 2024 Voters can also update their information in the event of a name change or a new place of residency. What else do I need to do? Once youve registered, you are responsible for keeping your voter information up to date. To cancel your voter registration, you can fill out a request online or print and send the form back to the department office for your county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on registration and updates, please visit the Elections Department website. How we got here: Special election for Rep. Parker Selby's seat is set. Who's on the ballot and what's next? When is the special election? The special election to fill Parker-Selbys seat will take place on Aug. 5. Early voting will take place on the following dates: July 24-26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 28-29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 30 to Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. No early voting will take place on July 27. Early voters can cast their ballots at Lewes Elementary School in Lewes and Mariner Middle School in Milton. Like in a general election, registered voters in Representative District 20 can vote via absentee ballot or in person, either at an early polling site or on the day of the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (This story has been updated to include an additional early voting site for the Representative District 20 special election.) Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How to register to vote, update voter information in Delaware EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A man was arrested last week after he injured a person with an unknown weapon on Tuesday evening, July 15, according to the Horizon City Police Department. Daniel Fernandez was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest with a $32,000 bond. He was then booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility, police said. Police said that around 7:30 p.m. on July 15, officers responded to the 14500 block of Calla Lily Drive about an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, officers located an injured victim with visible wounds, and medical aid was requested, police said. Police said the suspect, later identified as Fernandez, became combative against officers when they located him at the residence. Detectives followed up with the victim at the hospital, and the investigation confirmed that a weapon was used. However, police didnt specify what kind of weapon it was. We commend the officers involved for their bravery and swift action in ensuring the safety of everyone involved, Assistant Chief Jose Kluge 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 KTSM 9 News. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) State lawmakers are attempting to alleviate the burden on Texas teachers with a new classroom supply savings account program. CommunityVotes 2025 nomination period ending soon During the 2022-2023 school year, Texas teachers spent an estimated $289 million of their own money on school supplies, according to United Way San Antonio and Bexar County. House Bill 128, authored by House member Terri Leo-Wilson, would give eligible teachers a grant of $1,000 to purchase classroom supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the text, a teacher is eligible for the grant if the teacher is employed by a school district or open-enrollment charter school to teach not less than an average of four hours each day in an academic instructional setting or a career and technology instructional setting. The bill also states that any money left over in a teachers account at the end of the school year can roll over for the following school year. If passed, the grant will be available for the 2026-2027 school year. Read the full text: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Trumps decision to direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case was intended to appease his political base after he had called them stupid for demanding the files to be released. But a group of House Republicans and right-wing influencers is arguing that they will accept nothing short of the federal government releasing everything it has on Epsteins network and any high-profile connections. The dispute has opened a rare and unusually public rift within Trumps MAGA movement, as some of his most vocal allies accuse the Administration of falling short of its promises. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is leading a bipartisan effort with Democrat Ro Khanna of California to force a vote on legislation requiring the full release of Epstein-related government files. At least 10 other House Republicans have endorsed the measure, including longtime Trump allies Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Thats enough Republicans to pass the bill out of the House if every Democrat supports it. But Republican leaders are closing ranks behind Trump. On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson ruled out bringing Massies bill to the floor before the upcoming August recess. There is no daylight between the House Republicans and the President on maximum transparency, Johnson told reporters. He has said he wants all the credible files related to Epstein to be released... My belief is we need the Administration to have the space to do what it is doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressed on whether the House would vote before recess, Johnson replied: No. Massie and others aren't backing down. Responding to a social media post from podcast host Theo Von asking why the bill cant be brought up now, Massie wrote: We should not punt this until after the 5-week recess, nor should we wait for my discharge petition to ripen and collect the required signatures to force the vote. Despite Trumps insistence that the issue is overblown, a recent CBS News poll found that 89% of Americansincluding majorities across party linesbelieve the Justice Department should release all documents related to Epstein. These are the 11 House Republicans who have backed the resolution to compel the full release of Epstein-related documents: Thomas MassieKentuckys 4th District The libertarian from rural Kentucky has been a frequent foil to the Trump Administration, and hes leading the charge along with Democratic Rep. Khanna to force Congress to vote on publicizing Epstein-related records. We all deserve to know whats in the Epstein files, whos implicated, and how deep this corruption goes, he wrote on social media. Americans were promised justice and transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Bondi said on Thursday that the Justice Department would move to release grand jury transcripts, Massie said: Folks, Keep the pressure on, its working. But we want all the files. Trumps allies recently launched a Super PAC to oust Massie, who is up for re-election next year and opposed the Presidents domestic policy bill. Marjorie Taylor GreeneGeorgias 14th District The firebrand Republican has been one of Trumps most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill since her election in 2021. But on Monday, she appeared to warn Trump that his supporters would no longer stand behind him if the Department of Justice does not release more information on Epstein. If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People, Greene posted to social media. If not, she continued, The base will turn and theres no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else. Tim BurchettTennessees 2nd District Burchett has continued to urge the Department of Justice to release evidence in the Epstein case. On Sunday, he called Trumps decision to direct the DOJ to unseal grand jury evidence a start but warned the full truth may never come out. I don't think we're ever going to get to the bottom of all of it, Maam, Burchett said on ABCs This Week. You know, this town doesn't give up its secrets very easy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if Bondi should resign over her handling of the Epstein case, Burchett said: I have a saying: It's not how you start, its how you finish. If she finishes strong on this, then I'm all for it, Burchett said. I'm sure the learning curve is steep, and I think she blundered in the beginning, I really do, as most Americans do. Eric BurlisonMissouris 7th District Burlison, a member of the House Oversight Committee, has urged Trump to go beyond releasing grand jury testimony, warning that such testimony may cover only a narrow slice of the case and omit critical evidence. He needs to direct Pam Bondi to release everything they possibly can, Burlison said in an interview with the Daily Signal. And if you dont have the answers, go find them. Dedicate resources to investigate it. Burlison has also called for congressional hearings that give victims a platform and suggested Trump consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe the Epstein case. On Monday, he posted on social media: From the JFK files to the Russian collusion hoax, it's clear the deep state likes to hide the truth from the American people. Uncovering the truth about Epstein needs to be a priority as well. Lauren BoebertColorados 4th District Boebert last week said that Trump should appoint a special counsel to investigate the Epstein case, suggesting that former House Republican Matt Gaetz should lead the investigation. I think moving forward, we need a special counsel, Boebert said, offering up Gaetzs name. There has to be a special investigation into this if we arent going to be provided information. (Gaetz was Trumps original pick for Attorney General before his candidacy was marred by allegations that he had paid for sex with a minor, which Gaetz denies). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House on Thursday said that Trump did not support the appointment of a special counsel. Jeff Van DrewNew Jerseys 2nd District The former Democrat from New Jersey joined the Republican Party in 2019 during his first term in Congress. He has co-sponsored Massies resolution calling for the release of Epstein records. The American people deserve full transparency, Van Drew said in a post. Eli CraneArizonas 2nd District Crane, who has served in the House since 2023, also signed onto the resolution forcing the Epstein files to be released, telling Axios that its something that Ive supported from day one. I think there needs to be transparency, and I'm glad to see that this is bipartisan because it should be, he said. Cory MillsFloridas 7th District Mills, an Army Veteran who joined the House in 2023, co-sponsored the resolution last Wednesday, but has not publicly commented on the Epstein case. Tom BarrettMichigans 7th District The Michigan Republican said that he co-sponsored the resolution because there are too many questions and not enough answers about the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I agree that its time to release them, which is why I put my name on a resolution to force their release and give the American people the transparency they deserve, he wrote on X. Max MillerOhios 7th District Miller, who has served in the House since 2023, said he co-sponsored the resolution because I believe in transparency and delivering the truth to the American people. Nancy MaceSouth Carolinas 1st District The South Carolina Republican, who is considering a run for governor, gave a speech on the House floor in Febraury accusing four menincluding her ex-fianceof rape, sex trafficking and other sex crimes against her. She has said she wants the Epstein files to be released and called on any one who raped underage girls [to be] in handcuffs and behind bars. Ive always been an advocate for women and children, she said in a social post. The Jeffrey Epstein case is no different. I want to see arrests. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. WASHINGTON The House wont vote on several Republican-led pieces of legislation this week as the party remains in a state of paralysis over what to do with proposals to release files related to financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House Rules Committee wont reconvene this week, committee members said, leaving the state of the chamber at a standstill as the panel is responsible for advancing bills to the floor for consideration. Without meeting, the House cant vote on any of the bills originally up for consideration related to immigration. The committee was scheduled to meet Monday afternoon to set the parameters for debate on a slew of bills this week. However, the panel adjourned without plans to return amid Democratic efforts to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files something that has divided Republicans in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a repeat of what happened last week when Republicans delayed votes on President Donald Trumps spending cuts request due to concerns that Democrats would force them into uncomfortable votes related to the Epstein investigation. House GOP leadership drafted a resolution last week calling for the release of the investigative materials as a way to provide Republican lawmakers with some political cover as Democrats hammer them on the subject. But that resolution is nonbinding and was not placed on the voting schedule for the week, prompting criticism from some rank-and-file members. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., confirmed there would not be an Epstein-related vote this week, dismissing efforts from Democrats and even some Republicans to pressure the Trump administration to share findings pertaining to its Epstein investigation. Instead, lawmakers will give the White House time to release documents at its own pace, Johnson said. There is no daylight between House Republicans and the president on maximum transparency, Johnson said. My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing, and if further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then well look at that. But I dont think were at that point right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision comes amid growing pressure within the Republican base to release files related to the Epstein investigation even as President Donald Trump has urged his followers to drop the story. If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said in a post on X. If not, the base will turn and theres no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else. If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People. If not. The base will turn and theres no going back. Dangling bits of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) July 21, 2025 Meanwhile, a pair of lawmakers are pushing for a bipartisan resolution that would require the release of the Epstein files even as Trump and other GOP leaders push against it. Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., filed a discharge petition last week that would force a vote on the matter, although that piece of legislation wont be ready for consideration or ripened, as the legislative process puts it until after this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie told reporters he plans to bring that resolution up when lawmakers return in September, suggesting his Republican colleagues will be met with growing frustration back home. The House is scheduled to leave for its annual August recess on Thursday, sending lawmakers home until after Labor Day. By that point, Republicans are hoping the Epstein news cycle will have died down but Democrats appear likely to keep the pressure on. Once it has broken into the public domain, and theres a clear desire on behalf of the American people to get more information, then the right thing to do is to present the facts and the evidence to the American people so that they can make an informed decision about what may or may not have happened and who may or may not be implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein matter, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters on Monday. Trump has taken steps to quell the growing calls to release the Epstein files, announcing last week that he would direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin unsealing grand jury testimony related to the case. Johnson said GOP leaders would give the Trump administration the next few weeks to release that information, after which lawmakers will decide whether to take further action. Its not clear if the House will force votes on Epstein-related legislation when they return in September. Washington House Speaker Mike Johnson said there will not be a vote before Congress' August recess on a resolution that calls on the Trump administration to release more files related to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing, and if further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then we'll look at that," the Louisiana Republican told reporters Monday. "But I don't think we're at that point right now because we agree with the president." The White House spent the last week dealing with the fallout from a Justice Department review that concluded Epstein had no "client list" and died by suicide while in federal custody in 2019 as he was facing sex trafficking charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to alleviate the pressure from some of Mr. Trump's most fervent supporters, which Democrats have sought to capitalize on, House Republicans last week offered a resolution that carries no legal weight to make the Epstein files public. "This resolution they're offering is a cover vote and I'll be surprised if they even bring it to the floor," Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts said during a House Rules Committee meeting last week. As the committee debated the release of the files, Mr. Trump ordered the Justice Department to produce "any and all pertinent grand jury testimony, subject to court approval." The request also came after the Wall Street Journal published a letter Mr. Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein for his birthday in 2003, which the president called "fake." Mr. Trump sued the Journal and its parent company for defamation over the story. The Justice Department on Friday formally asked a federal judge to unseal transcripts from grand jury proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's a separate effort led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky to force a vote on a bipartisan measure that would compel the Justice Department to release Epstein-related files within 30 days. On Monday, Massie pressed Johnson on holding a vote on his legislation before Congress' month-long break. "We should not punt this until after the 5 week recess, nor should we wait for my discharge petition to ripen and collect the required signatures to force the vote," Massie wrote. Massie needs 218 signatures on his petition to force a vote once Congress returns after Labor Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later told reporters that he expects "momentum will build for transparency" over recess. "I don't think this is going to go away," he said. "This transcends all other issues. This is about whether there's an elite and powerful group of people who are above the law, or whether they answer to the law. That's what this is about. Right now, anybody who wants to subvert or keep the Epstein files secret, they are on the wrong side." Johnson called the endeavor "a political game that Democrats are playing, and I hope Republicans don't join it." He also reiterated that there's "no daylight" between the White House and House Republicans on wanting more transparency. "We want maximum disclosure," he said. What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett Rocket-propelled grenades. Swarms of boats. Arson. Hostage-taking. After a lull in their violence against Western-linked merchant ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis have dramatically announced their return. They have done so with attacks even more brutal than the ones the world has become accustomed to since November 2023. This time, seafarers themselves are being directly targeted, and most of these victims hail from Western countries. This means that might be the perfect time for a non-Western nation to step up and put a stop to the brutality. Could the Houthis new tactics represent an opportunity for India? On July 6, as the Magic Seas was sailing through the Red Sea, its crew discovered that the small sea is anything but magical. While the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier traversed the waters off Hudaydah, a host of small ships carrying heavily armed Houthi rebels suddenly surrounded it, and the rebels began shooting. The security guards employed to fight off such attacks didnt stand a chance. As most likely intended by the publicity-seeking Houthis, the attack caused the merchant ship to catch fire, and its crew of 22 were forced to abandon ship. Under the circumstances, the seafarers were lucky: They were rescued by another merchant vessel. Filming themselves, the Houthis boarded the bulk carrier and placed explosives on it, then disembarked and watched as the Magic Seas sank to the bottom of the ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One day after attacking the Magic Seas, the Houthis struck again. A Merchant vessel has been attacked by multiple rocket propelled grenades from small craft, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported on July 7. Houthi militants equipped with five rocket-propelled grenades had fired at the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C as it passed the waters off Hudaydah. Several unmanned boats approached the Eternity C at high speed while the Houthis launched cruise and ballistic missiles at it. The Houthis pursued their attack, hour after hour, and they were merciless. The crew had to abandon ship. Eternity C sank, filmed by the Sanaa-based publicity hounds. On July 14, the search for missing sailors was called off. Eight Filipino seafarers and two of the guards had been rescued from the water. Seven other Filipino crew members, one Russian crew member, and an Indian security guard were presumed dead. The remaining six crew members, all Filipinos, are being held hostage by the Houthis. Having failed to sign war-risk insurance for the Eternity C before it sailed into the Red Sea, the bulkers owner also faces losses of tens of millions of dollars. The attacks this month have showed new coordination and determination with a deliberate intent to sink vessels, said Neil Roberts, the secretary of the maritime insurance industrys Joint War Committee. Indeed. The militia launched its new tactics just as the Red Sea began to seem a bit calmer. The Houthis have been smart, Simon Lockwood, the head of shipowners at the insurance broker Willis, told me. Just as the threat was seemingly going away and major shipping companies were debating a return to Red Sea transits, this change of tactics has caused a halt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It certainly has. Most prudent Western-linked shipowners had been avoiding the Red Sea, instead rerouting their ships around the much longer Cape of Good Hope. Now theyll definitely stick with the Cape route. The Houthi net includes any company whose vessels have called to Israel, so thats a clear warning and will likely deter any who were considering returning to Suez, Roberts explained. There are some flags that are not in the Houthis sights. And a few other ships are taking their chances. Discounting any firing mishaps by the Houthis, Russian and Chinese ships can count on safe passage. But for most others, trying to sneak through is a risky bet that can cost more seafarers their lives. Its no wonder that crews on ships sailing through the Red Sea have taken to radioing their nationalities to the Houthis in a desperate effort to protect themselves. Its no wonder, either, that on July 10, the Philippines banned ships crewed by Filipinos from entering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Since the Philippines provides a larger share of seafarers to global shipping than any other nation, that means even more ships will have to divert. Even the most daredevil shipowners will now have to think twice about attempting journeys though the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States has tried to stop the Houthis by intercepting missiles and striking Houthi targets on land. So have Britain and a few other European countries that are part of the U.S.-led strike coalition. European navies and the European Unions Operation Aspides continue to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea, not because European ships benefit from itmost European-flagged ships began diverting to the Cape route long agobut because its the right thing to do. But thats not stopping the Houthis. Because they want global attention, they will continue to attack shipsand now, to harm seafarers too. That ought to worry India, the worlds third-largest source of seafarers after the Philippines and Russia. India also happens to have a large navy, one that has recently impressed the world by daringly liberating seafarers held by Somali pirates. India is, of course, also a foreign-policy power in ascendance. Theres a role for New Delhi in the deadly mess thats the Red Sea. Most merchant ships sailing today have at least one Indian crew member. The worlds most populous nation hasnt yet followed the Philippines in banning ships with Indian crew members from entering the Red Sea, but doing so would be a powerful signal. Alternatively, with its navy of roughly 130 vessels, India could take more forceful action. It could team up with Aspides and deploy some of its ships to the Red Sea. The EU operation, which recently proposed closer counter-piracy collaboration with the Indian Navy, ought to be interested in such teamwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Indian Navy were to regularly escort ships through the Red Seaand fight off Houthi attacksthe Houthis would struggle to claim that theyre waging a battle against the West. And since the Indian Navy is already active relatively nearby, off the coast of Somalia, taking action in the Red Sea would be a logical step. India wouldnt even need to form an alliance with the EU or any other geopolitical group to do so. During the height of the pirate crisis in the late 2000s, nations from Britain to China teamed to police the waters off Somalia. Their cooperation was not underpinned by any political alliance or joint commandproviding a model that could work again today. Indeed, taking action in the Red Sea would be an opportunity for India to show off its blue-water navy and demonstrate that it can tackle international hot-button issues. In this case, New Delhi would be helping to tackle a crisis that not even the worlds superpower has managed to get under control. Indian Navy escorts alone certainly wont make the Red Sea safe again, but they can make the Indian Ocean inlet safe enough that seafarers no longer have to fear for their lives. If Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did this, a whole lot of nations, a whole lot of companies, and a whole lot of sailors would be very grateful. India-based B2B travel platform TripJack has partnered with BOXX Insurance to introduce CyberSafe, a cybersecurity solution for travellers. The solution employs a suite of protective services to address cybersecurity threats faced by Indian travellers. CyberSafe will offer identity monitoring, which includes surveillance of the dark web to detect potential compromises of personal data, to identify and rectify vulnerabilities. Additionally, the service features a digital risk assessment tool involving a questionnaire that assesses a user's online behaviour, calculates a risk score and provides recommendations to minimise digital risk exposure. TripJack director Hussain Patel said: Travellers today face an increasingly complex digital risk landscape. Through the launch of CyberSafe in collaboration with BOXX Insurance, we are proud to offer essential tools and support to help our customers stay one step ahead of cyber threats. The platform also provides educational content under the banner of digital safety, including a collection of articles and videos to bolster users' cybersecurity knowledge. Users are prompted to review breaches associated with their email ID and other sensitive details in the portal dashboard ID monitoring section, and email alerts regarding breaches will also be sent. BOXX Insurance Asia Middle-East president Milan Naik stated: Cyber protection should be as essential as travel insurance. Together with TripJack, we are redefining what it means to travel safely in a digital-first world. Earlier this month, BOXX Insurance agreed to be acquired by Zurich Insurance Group. "TripJack launches cyber protection service for travellers with BOXX Insurance " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The Honolulu Police Department is adding a dozen officers to its West Oahu patrol district to address a 24 % increase in calls for service and a spate of shootings and violent crime. The department said it is reinforcing its commitment to community safety with the addition of 12 new officers to HPD patrol District 8, which spans from Ewa Beach to Makaha. These new officers will bring the districts staffing total from 160 to 172, and the department said the intent is to improve response times and neighborhood coverage starting in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increase of officers comes nearly a year after county, state and federal law makers gathered at Honolulu Hale in August to condemn West Oahu violence and after in about 26 hours over the July Fourth weekend. In August 2024, a involving firearms, including resulting from a dispute between neighbors, took place in District 8. Officers wanted on outstanding warrants June 25 in Makaha after he refused to surrender and rammed a stolen truck into an unmarked police car until it burst into flames. HPD officers shot and after he fired shots into a neighbors home after his girlfriend fled there seeking safety following the couples heated argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between January and September 2024, there were 11 murders and 24 attempted murders in patrol District 8. The increase also follows HPDs very public struggles with staffing shortages and its efforts to recruit enough new officers to offset upcoming retirements and other departures. HPD had 461 sworn officer vacancies as of June 1 with 1, 716 officers on duty, according to HPDs Human Resources Division monthly breakdown of department staffing. There are 228 Officers eligible for retirement as of Feb. 1, according to HPD staffing statistics. There are 162 metropolitan police officer vacancies and 100 corporal vacancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 8 has more than 40 vacancies for metropolitan police officers as of June 1, three of the positions have been vacant since 2013 and another position since 2012. The department employs 412 civilian employees and has 188 civilian vacancies. Forty officers have separated from the department as of June 1 ; including 18 retirements, 16 resignations, two terminations and four discharges. In 2024, 74 officers retired compared with 68 in 2023, 68 in 2022, 93 in 2021, 83 in 2020 and 73 in 2019. The department did not immediately respond to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser request for July 1 staffing numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HPD spokesperson Kerry K. Yoshida said in a statement that the 12 positions for officers in District 8 are vacant positions that already exist. As the department increases recruitment efforts, HPD said it will have the resources to fill the need in the community. The 12 new officers are not from other divisions but are officers currently awaiting assignment. In November, two more recruit classes will complete training and get permanent assignments. Acting Police Chief Rade K. Vanic saidin a statement, This is something our West Oahu communities have asked forand we hear you. Keeping the public safe is always a top priority, and we believe this targeted investment will go a long way in increasing visibility, strengthening community trust and providing relief for both our residents and our officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noticeable increase The decision follows what HPD describes as a noticeable increase in calls for service in District 8 over the past year. Comparing January through May 2024 to January through May 2025, the number of calls for police service increased 24 %. HPD leadership assigned its Major Events Division to develop an incident action plan that relies on coordinating inter-agency efforts, providing logistical support, and compiling and disseminating situational reports. Starting in September, 24-hour operations were launched from a forward operating post at the Waianae Police Station to address the escalating crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HPDs annual report indicated that the success of this initiative was largely attributed to close collaboration among various agencies at the city, state and federal levels, as well as nongovernmental partners. HPD said key contributors included the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the state Sheriffs Division-Department of Law Enforcement, the Hawaii State Fusion Center (HSFC ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hawaii National Guard Counterdrug Program. A critical component of the operation was the HSFCs comprehensive threat assessment, which incorporated real-time monitoring of social media to identify emerging risks or threats. Yoshida said, The Honolulu Police Department regularly partners with the state Department of Law Enforcement and other federal agencies on projects and operations throughout the year as needed. We plan to keep the collaboration ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers praise Mayor Rick Blangiardi and West Oahu lawmakers praised the increase of officers as a first step to building safer West Oahu communities. State Rep. Darius K. Kila (D, Honokai Hale-Nanakuli-Maili ), told the Star-Advertiser that the long-overdue investment is a vital step toward improving response times, visibility and public safety in neighborhoods that have been asking for assistance. Kila said, I want to thank Mayor Blangiardi and the Honolulu Police Department for their support in increasing police presence for our West Side communities. While I appreciate the role of law enforcement in keeping our communities safe, I also recognize that police alone cannot address systemic challenges, he said. It is essential to build deeper partnerships alongside officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kila said that he continues to work with residents and community leaders on initiatives that complement law enforcement efforts so that officers are viewed not only as protectors but also as tools of healing and peace. He added, True safety requires more than just enforcement. In addition to more officers, we need continued investment in infrastructure, wildfire prevention, school improvements, and community support services. Blangiardi told the Star-Advertiser in an interview that a large police presence is a deterrent and the increase is about providing comfort and peace of mind and the feeling of being safe. Crime can happen in any community at anytime, said Blangiardi, noting that foot patrols and surges of law enforcement resources have helped address crime in Waikiki and Chinatown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He lauded state and federal partnerships, especially HPDs coordination with the state Department of Law Enforcements Sheriff Division to round up fugitives wanted on outstanding warrants and other West Oahu operations. This (increase in police ) is to support the community and respects the communitys needs, said Blangiardi, noting that it will take the entire community working together to reduce violence and crime. He noted that parents must meet their basic responsibility of knowing where your kids are at night. He said that schools should provide safe spaces and that religious communities and all stakeholders need to work together to create a different environment in West Oahu. Its all of us. The biggest stakeholders of all is the community, said Blangiardi. Were all in thisas a community trying to create public safety. Some immunizations may be quietly protecting us from cognitive decline. How the medicine might do that is a mystery scientists are desperate to solve. A new study on two vaccines for older adults gives us a crucial clue. The retrospective cohort study included more than 130,000 people in the US. It reveals that the shingles vaccine (called Shingrix) and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (Arexyv) are associated with a reduced risk of dementia compared to the annual flu vaccine. Related: New Study Links Common Meds to Reduced Dementia Risk Both Shingrix and Arexyv are recommended for older adults, and they contain the AS01 adjuvant, which helps stimulate the immune system after vaccination. The flu vaccine does not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the link to dementia was noticed soon after receiving the jab, it's unlikely that the vaccines' protection from direct viral exposure is behind the dementia link. Instead, the findings from the University of Oxford suggest "that the AS01 adjuvant itself plays a direct role in lowering dementia risk." Within 18 months of receiving just the Shingrix vaccine, participants showed an 18 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to those who received only the flu vaccine. Meanwhile, those who received the RSV vaccine showed a 29 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to the flu vaccine. Participants who received both the Shingrix and the Arexyv vaccine showed a 37 percent reduction in risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This combined effect was not statistically greater than one vaccine on its own. In other words, protection from two viruses didn't significantly increase the protection against dementia. The findings suggest that some vaccines "protect against dementia through mechanisms unrelated to (or at least in addition to) the prevention of their [target virus]", write the study authors, led by psychiatrist Maxime Taquet from the University of Oxford. YouTube Thumbnail The conclusions align with an emerging hypothesis: that dementia is not actually a brain disease but a disorder of the immune system within the brain. Perhaps vaccines can help get that system up and running again, even if a threatening virus never comes along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, studies have shown that exposure to several common viruses, like those behind cold sores, shingles, mono, pneumonia, and COVID-19, can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline down the road. Moreover, vaccines seem to reduce that risk by a significant amount. But why that is has remained a mystery. In 2024, for instance, a study from the United Kingdom found that Shingrix delayed dementia onset by 17 percent compared to older, less effective shingles vaccines. At the time, scientists thought this indicated that the more effective a shingles vaccine is at reducing viral exposure, the more the brain is protected against cognitive decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This older version of the shingles vaccine (called Zostavax), however, doesn't include the AS01 immune-booster, and that may have influenced the results. In the US, it is generally recommended that adults over the age 50 receive two doses of the shingles vaccine to protect themselves against the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox, and it can lie latent in the brain for years before re-emerging in adults. It is also recommended that adults over age 75 receive the RSV vaccine. Both of these vaccines can protect from dangerous infections, but it seems that may not be all they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is likely that both the AS01 shingles and RSV vaccines provide some protection against dementia," conclude Taquet and his colleagues. "The mechanisms underpinning this protection remain to be determined." Vaccines have saved a staggering 154 million lives around the world in the last half century from deadly viruses. If we're lucky, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The study was published in npj Vaccines. Related News Immigrants detained in federal sites in Florida have faced inhumane conditions, including substandard medical care, abuse and neglect and overcrowding, Human Rights Watch alleged in a report released Monday. The advocacy group in the 93-page report detailed the conditions migrants described at three Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in the Sunshine State Krome North Service Processing Center (Krome), Broward Transitional Center (BTC) and the Federal Detention Center (FDC) in Miami. According to the report, detainees and their allies claimed serious violations of medical standards and other breaches of ICEs own guidelines at the three Florida facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Bureau of Prisons spokesman told The Hill that the agency cannot comment on specific conditions, but noted it is the BOPs mission to operate facilities that are safe, secure, and humane. We take seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintaining the safety of our employees and the community, the BOP said in a statement. The Hill has also requested comment from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Some were detained shackled for prolonged periods on buses without food, water, or functioning toilets; there was extreme overcrowding in freezing holding cells where detainees were forced to sleep on cold concrete floors under constant fluorescent lighting; and many were denied access to basic hygiene and medical care, HRWs researchers wrote in their report. The Trump administrations one-track immigration policy, singularly focused on mass deportations will continue to send more people into immigration detention facilities that do not have the capacity to hold them and will only worsen the conditions described in this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps administration ramped up detention and deportations this year as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown. Additionally, Congress passed a law earlier this year, dubbed the Laken Riley Act, that mandates federal detention of migrants accused of theft, burglary and other crimes. Records show that more than 56,000 migrants were held in detention facilities each day across the country this month. Florida has drawn attention for migrant detention after the opening of the so-called Alligator Alcatraz site that Trump recently toured in the Everglades, but that facility wasnt among those reviewed in HRWs report. HRW cited interviews with 11 currently held and recently detained migrants; family members of seven detainees; and 14 immigration lawyers to document the experiences of 17 immigrants across the Krome, BTC and FDC facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you ask for help, they isolate you, one woman, who wasnt named in the report, told the researchers. If you cry, they might take you away for two weeks. So, people stay silent, she added. HRW offered several recommendations for improving detention facilities and procedures for interacting with undocumented migrants who do not pose an immediate threat to the public. HRW suggested policy changes to avoid detaining people with disabilities, ensure medical conditions are treated and allow oversight of how facilities are being run, among other efforts to improve detention 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 The Hill. HESPERIA, Mich. (WOOD) Residents of the village of Hesperia were without water for hours Monday due to a water main break that led to a boil water advisory. A contractor working on a water line replacement project hit an unmarked line Cook Street and M-20 before 9 a.m. Monday, city leaders said. As a result, the entire village about 400 homes and businesses lost water service, according to Village Clerk Vicki Burrell. Around 3:30 p.m., the clerk said the break was repaired and pressure was returning for customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A boil water advisory, however, remained in effect. Affected residents should boil their water for two minutes before consuming it. Its safe to bathe in the water without boiling it. Burrell told News 8 that it would be at least 48 hours before the advisory is lifted, since the waters safety must be confirmed by two rounds of testing. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is providing guidance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hunter Biden did not hold back his views on the Democratic Party in a recent interview with Channel 5, tearing into party leadership, strategists and the media alike. Speaking to journalist Andrew Callaghan, Biden let fly on the hosts of Democrat-leaning podcasts, party mega-donors, television hosts and calcified consultants. He attacked the intelligentsia of the Democratic Party for not supporting his father, former President Joe Biden, when he ran for reelection. He blamed former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for not giving [Joe Biden] a full-throated endorsement and called out famed Democratic strategist James Carville saying he hasnt run a race in forty f**kin years. He also went after David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama. And that was because of Barack Obama, not because of f**kin David Axlerod, the younger Biden said. Hunter Biden didnt spare media figures, taking a shot at the Pod Save America podcast and CNN host Jake Tapper. He called the podcast hosts four white millionaires that are dining out on their association with Barack Obama from 16 years ago, living in Beverly f**king Hills, telling the rest of the world what Black voters in South Carolina really want. Of Tapper, who wrote a book alleging a cover-up of his fathers mental condition by White House staff, Hunter Biden said he was completely irrelevant. He called Tappers book a money grab and said the anchor needs to grow the f**k up. When Callaghan brought up the role of prominent actors in politics, Hunter Biden went scorched Earth on George Clooney. F**k him. F**k him and everybody around him, Hunter Biden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clooney had supported President Biden in the past but publicly questioned his ability to run for office again, calling for him to step aside in an op-ed. F**king George Clooney is not an actorHes a brand. Why do I have to f**king listen to you? Hunter Biden asked. What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f**king life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are gonna take out basically a full-page ad in the f**king New York Times to undermine the president. Watch the full interview below: The post Hunter Biden blasts Democrats, Clooney in blistering interview appeared first on Salon.com. Exactly one year after Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election, his son Hunter Biden is offering his thoughts on the disastrous debate performance that set the decision in motion. In a three-hour interview with YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan released on Monday, July 21, Hunter got candid about his personal struggles with addiction, his thoughts on the state of the Democratic Party as a whole, and his father's failed reelection attempt last year. While there had previously been concern about Joe's viability for another presidential term when he announced his plan to seek reelection at age 81, many saw the debate in Atlanta on June 27, 2024, as the final nail in the coffin for his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his one-and-only debate against Donald Trump, the Democratic incumbent spoke slowly, struggled to keep up with Trump's misdirects and appeared to have trouble collecting his thoughts. His supporters struggled to spin the performance afterwards, and it was largely hailed as a victory for Trump. Justin Sullivan/Getty Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden debate in Atlanta on June 27, 2024 Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden debate in Atlanta on June 27, 2024 Joe attempted to salvage the performance at a rally the following evening, telling the crowd, "I don't walk as easily as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know, I know how to tell the truth!" The president also told reporters that jet lag was to blame for his weak performance, saying he "nearly fell asleep on stage" because he "didn't listen" to his staff's advice for rest after two European trips in the weeks before the debate though The New York Times cited sources who claimed that Biden was given ample time to sleep in and take naps during his six days of debate prep in Camp David. Related: First 2024 Presidential Debate Recap: Joe Biden Sparks Concerns, Donald Trump Lies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Hunter is adding more context to the story, alleging that his father's debate performance may have also involved a prescription drug reaction. I know exactly what happened in that debate," Hunter, 55, claimed. "He flew around the world, the mileage that he could have flown around the world three times. He's 81 years old. He's tired as s---. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, he gets up on the stage and looks like a deer in the headlights." A representative for President Biden declined PEOPLE's request for comment about Hunter's Ambien remark. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony on Sept. 11, 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony on Sept. 11, 2024 Less than a month after the debate, and following much resistance, Joe announced he was withdrawing from the race, rallying his support behind then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who ultimately topped the Democratic ticket alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris and Walz were defeated by Trump and JD Vance, losing the Electoral College 312-226 and the popular vote by more than 2 million votes. Some critics have continued to chalk up Trump's victory to the chaos that played out on the Democratic ticket just a few months before the election. In his new interview with Andrew Callaghan, Hunter offered a particularly scathing takedown of George Clooney, who famously penned an op-ed for The New York Times in July 2024 that publicly urged Biden to drop out of the race. "F--- him and everybody around him. I don't have to be f------ nice," the former first son said. "George Clooney is not an actor. He's a... I don't know what he is. He's a brand." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "F--- you," Hunter continued, as if speaking to Clooney directly. "What do you have to do with anything? Why do I have to listen to you? What right do you have to step on a man who's given 52 years of his f------ life to the service of his country and decide that you, George Clooney, are gonna take out basically a full-page ad in The New York Times... and replace their judgment over his?" Hunter also slammed other Democratic signatories to Clooney's op-ed, including James Carville, Anita Bryant, "the Pod Save America guys," David Axelrod and more. "David Axelrod had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama, and that was because of Barack Obama," Hunter said of Obama's trusted adviser and campaign strategist. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for a mention of CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who recently released his latest book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, Hunter scoffed. "What influence does Jake Tapper have over anything? He has the smallest audience on cable news," he said. Read the original article on People Scandal-plagued former first son Hunter Biden ripped into actor George Clooney in a foul-mouthed tirade aired Monday. The 55-year-old son of former President Joe Biden went on an expletive-filled rant against the Hollywood megastar in an interview with Andrew Callaghan, an independent journalist and former host of the podcast, All Gas No Brakes. He railed against the Goodnight, and Good Luck auteurs demand that Joe Biden drop out of the 2024 presidential race, which the younger Biden and others in the familys inner circle have made clear they believe is to blame for the Democratic Partys loss to Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he also took aim at Clooneys acting chops, suggesting hurt feelings were at play. F*** you. What do you have to do with f***ing anything? Hunter Biden seethed about the ER star. Hunter Biden accused George Clooney of buying his way into political relevance during a fiery interview appearance (YouTube - Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan) Why do I have to f***ing listen to you? What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f***ing life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full page ad in the fucking New York Times to undermine the president at a time in which, by the way, what do people care about the most? Biden claimed that the division within the Democratic Party led to Republicans having an insurmountable advantage ahead of November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also claimed that the disastrous performance of his father at his one and only debate with Trump was due to his father taking Ambien in order to sleep on foreign trips. "I know exactly what happened in that debate. He flew around the world, basically mileage that he could have flown around the world three times, hes 81 years old, hes tired as s---, they give him Ambien to be able to sleep, hes gets up on the stage and he looks like hes a deer in the headlights," Hunter told Callaghan, adding: [I]t feeds into every f***ing story that anybody wants to tell." Of Clooneys acting, he said of the From Dusk Till Dawn star: "I agree with Quentin Tarantino. F***ing George Clooney is not a f***ing actor. He is f***ing like I dont know what he is. Hes a brand. Bidens rant was nearly duplicated in a second podcast appearance this time, a buttoned-up conversation with Jaime Harrison, former chair of the Democratic Party. Even here, Biden told the At Our Table host he didnt give a s*** about Clooneys political opinions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We lost the last election because we did not remain loyal to the leader of the party, he said during that appearance. Thats my position. We had the advantage of incumbency, we had the advantage of an incredibly successful administration, and the Democratic Party literally melted down. His fathers performance at a June presidential debate with Donald Trump alarmed voters on all sides of the political spectrum and drew immediate fears from Democrats that the party was preparing to hand the election over to Republicans. Clooney was a prominent part of that avalanche, penning an op-ed for the New York Times titled, I Love Joe Biden, But We Need a New Nominee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama, said that internal polling conducted by the Biden campaign showed the former president losing by a landslide were he to remain in the race. The elder Biden dropped out of the race a month later, after an agonizing few weeks of calls for him to step down by backbencher Democrats and the less-than-delicate hinting from the likes of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others seemingly urging the same. Kamala Harris, his vice president and running mate, ascended to the top of the ticked after party officials shot down the idea of a last-minute primary election playing out at the Democratic National Convention. Democrats had already blown their own chance to hold a real primary earlier in the year. Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, was drafted as her running mate after a short candidate search. Hunter Bidens own shenanigans were a major weight around his fathers neck for the entirety of 2024. The recovering crack addicts prosecution on tax and gun charges led to speculation that Joe Biden would pardon his son, which he denied then did anyway. Many of the Democratic presidents detractors argued that Hunters treatment by law enforcement was far lighter than others accused of the same crimes, including drug offenses for which he was never charged, would have faced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, Joe Biden was mentally preoccupied with his sons federal gun trial, and the possibility of Hunter going to prison, at the height of election campaigning last summer. Hunter was convicted on three federal gun charges for unlawfully purchasing and possessing a firearm in 2018 while battling substance use disorder. Despite claiming he would not pardon Hunter if found guilty, Joe Biden granted his son a full pardon shortly before leaving office. He became a de facto senior adviser to his fathers re-election campaign early in the year, which according to news reports complicated efforts by the presidents allies to communicate with him directly as his son shielded him from criticism. Hunter Biden denied in an interview that a bag of cocaine found in the White House in 2023 during his fathers presidency was his after the FBI this year opened an investigation into the matter. I have been clean and sober since June of 2019. I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and Im incredibly proud of that, he said during the interview with Channel 5, a popular Youtube channel created by youtuber Andrew Callaghan. Why would I bring cocaine into the White House and stick it into a cubby outside of the situation room in the West Wing? Bidens denial comes after FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced in May that the FBI would reopen or purue several cases of potential public interest that garnered public interest, including the found cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After finding the cocaine in July 2023, the Secret Service indicated their investigation was inconclusive due to the lack of latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA. President Donald Trump previously speculated in an interview the cocaine could be from either Joe or Hunter, though he provided no evidence and frequently accuses the former president of wrongdoing. Former President Joe Bidens second son has long been embroiled in controversy, with some Republicans accusing him of corruption because of his business in China and Ukraine, which he denied in the Channel 5 interview. He was found guilty in 2024 of felony charges related to purchase of a handgun, and wrote about his addiction to crack cocaine in his memoir Beautiful Things. The former president pardoned Hunter Biden before he left office for any crime he committed or may have committed from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He acknowledged his father who has since been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer had an absolutely horrible debate against Trump during his reelection campaign, and said he was given a choice in the aftermath: drop out or have fellow Democrats fight him every step of the way. Hes 81 years old, hes tired as shit. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, he said. He gets up on the stage and looks like hes a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every fucking story that anybody wants to tell. Hunter Biden wants you to know he most definitely didnt leave a bag of cocaine at the White House. I have been clean and sober since June of 2019, and I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and Im incredibly, incredibly proud of that, Biden told the journalist Andrew Callaghan in a sprawling three-hour interview Monday. Why would I bring cocaine into the White House, stick it into a cubby outside of the situation room in the West Wing when I wasnt there? he said. Anyway, who the fuck knows? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2023 discovery of suspicious white powder, found in an area of the White House that was accessible to tour groups, kicked the far-right conspiracy cycle into overdrive, with Donald Trump leading the charge. Does anybody really believe that the COCAINE found in the West Wing of the White House, very close to the Oval Office, is for the use of anyone other than Hunter & Joe Biden, Trump wrote on social media at the time. (The Biden family was out of town when Secret Service agents found the drug.) A subsequent Secret Service investigation yielded insufficient evidence and the investigation was closed, prompting Republican outcry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) criticized the Secret Service for failing to collect urine samples from the several hundred individuals who could have accessed the area where the substance was found. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) seemed to suggest Republicans own failure to find evidence linking Joe Biden to other various crimes they alleged was, somehow, evidence that he must be guilty in this instance. Its just interesting that every time theres something strange going on with President [Joe] Biden or his family, or his administration in the White House, no one can ever seem to find an answer, she told reporters. In May, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced the agency will reopen the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden seemed almost amused Monday as he told Callaghan of the renewed interest. Theyre literally going to do an FBI and another congressional investigation, because theyve convinced themselves that it had to be me, he said. Related... Trump Media (DJT) stock closed up 3% Monday after rising more than 5% intraday on news that the company had purchased $2 billion in bitcoin (BTC-USD) and related securities. President Trump's namesake media group runs his social media platform, Truth Social, along with streaming platform Truth+ and financial services brand Truth.Fi. Trump Media said it acquired the cryptocurrencies as part of a previously shared plan in May to become a bitcoin treasury company. With those purchases, Trump Media said exposure to the world's largest cryptocurrency now comprises two-thirds of its total of $3 billion in assets. Read more about Trump Media's stock moves and today's market action. "We're rigorously implementing our publicly announced strategy and fulfilling our bitcoin treasury plan," Trump Media CEO and president Devin Nunes said in the press release. "These assets help ensure our company's financial freedom, help protect us against discrimination by financial institutions, and will create synergies with the utility token we're planning to introduce across the Truth Social ecosphere." The company also said it allocated another $300 million to an "options acquisition strategy for bitcoin related securities." Read more: Can you buy crypto with a credit card? See the pros and cons. Trump is deepening his financial involvement in the crypto world as Washington, D.C., moves new legislation that offers the industry more favorable oversight. Trump on Friday signed into law a bill that establishes the first federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins, giving those digital assets backed by US dollars a massive stamp of approval that is expected to encourage wider adoption World Liberty Financial, a new crypto startup backed by Trump and his sons, has already launched its own US-dollar-pegged stablecoin (USD1) in partnership with BitGo. President Trump on Friday signed the GENIUS Act, which codifies the use of stablecoins. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images Trump Media announced its plans in May to raise $2.5 billion to create a bitcoin treasury, a strategy that has recently caught fire among crypto entrepreneurs. It involves using a mix of public equity and debt issuance to acquire bitcoin more rapidly. The technique was pioneered by Michal Saylor's Strategy (MSTR), formerly MicroStrategy. Starting in 2020, Saylor turned his business intelligence software firm into a bitcoin juggernaut by adding as much of the world's largest cryptocurrency to his company's balance sheet as possible. Dozens of other companies have followed suit, including some with backing from family members of White House advisers. Others are seeking to stockpile crypto assets outside of bitcoin, such as ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency. Hunter Biden went off on actor George Clooney and other high-profile Democrats in an expletive-filled response to their calls for his father, former President Biden, to drop out of the 2024 election. Appearing on YouTube personality Andrew Callaghans web series Channel 5, Hunter Biden lashed out at Clooney and other members of the party who publicly criticized the former president after his disastrous debate against President Trump last summer. F him. F him. F him and everybody around him, Hunter Biden said during the interview released Monday, in response to an anecdote about Clooneys political involvement. I dont have to be fing nice. No. 1, I agree with Quentin Tarantino. Fing George Clooney is not a fing actor. He is a fing, like I dont know what he is. He is a brand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clooney was among the first prominent Democrats to call on the then-president to drop out, warning in an op-ed in The New York Times last July that the party would lose the election otherwise. Within two weeks, the elder Biden announced he was dropping his reelection bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to fill his place. Clooney thanked him for saving democracy once again in response and endorsed Harris. The former presidents son also lashed out at other high-profile figures in the party. What do you have to do with fing anything? Why do I have to fing listen to you? Biden asked. What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his fing life to service of this country and to decide you, George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full page ad in the fing New York Times. To me and James Carville, who hasnt run a race in 40 fing years, and David Axelrod who had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama and that was because of Barack Obama, not because of fing David Axelrod and David Plouffe and all of these guys and the Pod Save America Guys, who were junior fing speechwriters on Barack Obamas Senate staff who had been dining out on their relationship with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter Biden, who was pardoned over multiple federal charges by his father during the last months of the former presidents administration, has reemerged in public in recent weeks to slam the Democratic Partys handling of the election. He is slated to appear on former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrisons new podcast, a trailer for which shows him blaming the Democratic Partys loss on its lack of loyalty to his father. You know what, we are going to fight amongst ourselves for the next three years until theres a nominee. And then with the nominee, we better as hell get behind that nominee, Biden told Harrison on At Our Table. Tommy Vietor, one of the hosts of Pod Save America, responded to Bidens comments in a post on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its good to see that Hunter has taken some time to process the election, look inward, and hold himself accountable for how his familys insular, dare I say, arrogant at times, approach to politics led to this catastrophic outcome were all now living with, he 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 The Hill. Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, has launched a ferocious attack on actor George Clooney and key Democratic Party figures as he hit out at the campaign to halt his fathers 2024 presidential bid. The former first son delivered an expletive-laden broadside during a three-hour-plus YouTube interview where he spoke openly about his struggle with alcohol and drugs, the so-called laptop scandal and the pardon granted by his father during the last weeks of the former presidents administration. But the 55-year-olds explosive comments on efforts to get Joe Biden to drop out of last years race stand out from the rare interview he gave to Andrew Callaghan, who runs a news-focused YouTube show called Channel 5, which was released Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter Biden hit out at Clooneys now infamous New York Times op-ed about his father, titled George Clooney: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee, which questioned Joe Bidens age and mental health. Hunter Biden then let rip at Clooney and others when the actors name came up a second time. Fuck him! he began. Fuck him and everybody around him. I dont have to be fucking nice. No. 1, I agree with Quentin Tarantino. Fucking George Clooney is not a fucking actor. Hes fucking like I dont know what he is. Hes a brand. He went on to ask of Clooney, What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his fucking life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full page ad in the fucking New York Times to undermine the president... HuffPost has contacted a Clooney representative for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As his rant continued, Hunter Biden condemned long-standing Democratic Party strategists James Carville (who hasnt won a race in 40 fucking years) and David Axelrod (who had one success in his political life and that was Barack Obama and that was because of Barack Obama). He then turned his ire on the team behind the Pod Save America podcast, calling them junior fucking speech writers on Barack Obamas Senate staff who have been dining out on the relationship with him for years, making millions of dollars. Hunter Biden curses out George Clooney over his New York Times op ed that called for Joe Biden to drop out of the race, "F*ck him, and everybody around him." pic.twitter.com/5BXOddL2qp Channel 5 (@Channel5iveNews) July 21, 2025 On X, Pod Save America co-host Tommy Vietor responded to Hunter Bidens attacks on Democrats by saying, Its good to see that Hunter has taken some time to process the election, look inward, and hold himself accountable for how his familys insular, dare I say arrogant at times, approach to politics led to this catastrophic outcome were all now living with. Elsewhere in the interview, Hunter Biden claimed his fathers June 2024 debate against Trump was a disaster because he was taking Ambien to combat tiredness after flying around the world three times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes 81 years old. Hes tired as shit. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, Hunter Biden said. He gets up on the stage and he looks like hes a deer in the headlights. Hunter Biden also blasted President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, and called both Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele dictators. Referring to Bukele, Biden said he wants the El Salvador leader to send back the people the Trumps administration deported to a notorious prison complex. Ill tell you what, if I became president in two years from now, or four years from now, or three years from now, I would pick up the phone and call the fucking president in El Salvador and say, You either fucking send them back or Im gonna fucking invade, Hunter Biden said. Its a fucking crime what theyre doing. Hes a fucking dictator thug. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bukele or Trump? Callaghan asked Biden. Both, he responded. In a bizarre twist, Bukele posted a clip of the attack with an apparent reference to Hunter Bidens past drug problems. Also on immigration, Hunter Biden ripped Democrats for appeasing Trump by saying people are really upset about illegal immigration. He said, Fuck you. How do you think your hotel room gets cleaned? How do you think you have food on your fucking table? Who do you think washes your dishes? Watch the whole interview below. Related... Hunter Biden in an interview published Monday suggested former President Biden had been taking Ambien leading up to the June 2024 presidential debate and that the drug was partly to blame for his poor performance in the debate. I know exactly what happened in that debate, Hunter Biden told YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan. He flew around the world basically the mileage he could have flown around the world three times. Hes 81 years old. Hes tired as sh, Hunter Biden said. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like a deer in the headlights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interview was posted online on the anniversary of the former presidents announcement that he would not seek reelection. A spokesperson for the former president did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bidens debate performance was a turning point in the 2024 campaign. The former president spoke haltingly, mixed up words and struggled to complete his thoughts. Biden aides that nit attributed it to a cold and Biden later asserted in the days after the debate that he had been sick. Some Biden allies have in the year since the debate offered up other explanations, including that the then-president was overworked and exhausted by a taxing trip to Europe before the debate. But Biden had spent roughly a week holed up at Camp David preparing for his debate with President Trump before taking the stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter Biden took aim at several critics of his father during his interview with Callaghan, including actor George Clooney, who penned a New York Times op-ed urging the former president to drop out, and former Obama White House staffers like David Axelrod. David Axelrod, who had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama, and that was because of Barack Obama, not because of fuck David Axelrod, Hunter Biden 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. Hunter Biden took aim at President Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in an interview, calling both of them dictators. The remarks were part of a lengthy interview in which former President Bidens son made a number of colorful remarks about Democrats and Republicans alike. In the case of Bukele, the younger Biden demanded the leader of El Salvador send back to the United States people who Trumps administration had sent to that country as part of its deportation program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill tell you what, if I became president in two years from now, or four years from now, or three years from now, I would pick up the phone and call the fing president in El Salvador and say, You either fing send them back or Im gonna fing invade. Its a fing crime what theyre doing. Hes a fing dictator thug, Biden said during the interview released Monday. Bukele or Trump? YouTube creator Andrew Callaghan asked. Both, Biden responded. Bukele responded to Biden on the social platform X in a post that referenced the latters past drug use. Is Hunter Biden sniffing powdered milk? Bukele said in his Monday post that featured a clip with Bidens comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first few months of his time back in the White House, Trump and his administration have heavily cracked down on immigration. In mid-March, the administration deported Venezuelans and Salvadorans to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador. The government of El Salvador has formally asserted it is the U.S., not El Salvador, that has legal responsibility for Venezuelans held in CECOT. Luckily for the American people, a house cat has a better chance of being President than Hunter, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in an email to The Hill 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 The Hill. On December 1, 2023, after a bench trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Alexander Ledvina was convicted of violating a federal law that bars illegal drug users from owning guns. Exactly a year later, President Joe Biden, whose administration had zealously defended that law in court, pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for committing the same crime. Ledvina, a marijuana user who was 26 when he was arrested, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison. Hunter Biden, a middle-aged former crack user, faced up to 25 years in prison after he was convicted of illegal gun possession and two related firearm offenses. But thanks to his father's intervention, he did not suffer any criminal punishment at all. The president, who had repeatedly promised to refrain from intervening in his son's case, said he changed his mind because he concluded that the prosecution was politically motivated. That claim was puzzling because the prosecutor who pursued the gun charges, Special Counsel David Weiss, had been appointed by Biden's own attorney general. But Biden described the charges as highly unusual. "Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges" in cases like this, he said. "It is clear that Hunter was treated differently." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ledvina agrees that Hunter Biden "was treated differently," but not in the sense that the president meant. "People are tried and imprisoned on these charges all the time, even absent other charges or a [criminal] background," he writes from the federal prison in Memphis. "Where is my pardon?" Ledvina's complaint illustrates the wildly uneven impact of an arbitrary, constitutionally dubious gun law that is widely flouted and haphazardly enforced. Under 18 USC 922(g)(3), "an unlawful user" of "any controlled substance" who receives or possesses a firearm is committing a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. That ban, which Congress originally approved as part of the Gun Control Act of 1968, applies to all illegal drug users, including cannabis consumers who live in states that have legalized marijuana. Under Section 922(g)(3), it does not matter whether someone handles guns while intoxicated or otherwise poses a danger to public safety. To convict someone of this felony, it is enough to show that he uses drugs and possesses firearms, whether or not he ever mixes those two things. A conviction for illegal gun possession also results in the permanent loss of Second Amendment rights under another provision of the same law, which bans gun possession by anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year of incarceration. And people who falsely deny drug use when they fill out the form that must be completed to buy a gun from a federally licensed dealer, as both Ledvina and Hunter Biden did, can be charged with two additional felonies. A law that Joe Biden signed in 2022 created yet another potential charge for people who do what his son did. All told, the maximum possible sentences add up to nearly half a century behind bars under current law. Biden seems to think drug users who buy guns are committing a serious crime that merits a stiff prison sentenceexcept when his son does it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although people who commit that crime theoretically could go to prison for the rest of their lives, they rarely face all the possible charges, sentences typically are much shorter than the statutory maximums, and the vast majority of potential defendants are never prosecuted at all. Survey data suggest that something like 20 million American drug users (mostly cannabis consumers) own guns. Yet federal prosecutors filed charges under Section 922(g)(3) just 120 times a year, on average, from FY 2008 through FY 2017. So you have to be extremely unlucky to find yourself in that situation, which arises only when both your drug use and your gun ownership come to the government's attention. Ledvina and Hunter Biden were both unlucky in that way. But while Biden had the good fortune to have a father in the White House, Ledvina had no such advantage, which explains why he is serving a four-year prison sentence for a crime that violated no one's rights. That penalty is not only unjust; it is arguably unconstitutional. Prior to his conviction, Ledvina unsuccessfully argued that Section 922(g)(3) is unconstitutionally vague and inconsistent with the Second Amendment both on its face and as applied to him. He is now pursuing an appeal that reiterates those claims. Hunter Biden tried similar Second Amendment arguments before his trial, although his father's favoritism obviated the need for an appeal. Ledvina's prospects in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, which includes Iowa, are uncertain. But several federal courts in other circuits have rejected Section 922(g)(3) prosecutions of marijuana users on Second Amendment grounds. Applying the constitutional test that the Supreme Court established in the 2022 case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, they concluded that prosecuting those cannabis consumers for gun possession was not "consistent with this Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ledvina's fate hinges on whether he can persuade the 8th Circuit to embrace the logic of those decisions. The court declined to do so in April 2024, when it rejected a facial challenge to Section 922(g)(3). But in February 2025, the 8th Circuit held in United States v. Cooper that specific prosecutions under that law can violate the Second Amendment, so there may be hope for Ledvina. Either way, the Supreme Court ultimately will have to decide whether categorically banning firearm possession by drug users, which is analogous to decreeing that anyone who drinks alcohol may not own guns, can be reconciled with the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. 'Incredibly Stupid' Hunter Biden established one element of his guilt under Section 922(g)(3) by publicly discussing his crack addiction, which he detailed in his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things. The other element was provided by Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter's brother Beau. After Hunter bought a revolver from a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop in October 2018, Hallie, who had started dating Hunter in 2016, became concerned that he might harm himself. Her "incredibly stupid" solution, as Hunter's lawyer described it during his trial, was to remove the gun from his pickup truck and toss it into a trash bin behind a grocery store. When Hallie came back to recover the weapon, it was gone. She reported that fact to the grocery store, which is how the gun came to the attention of the Delaware State Police, the FBI, and federal prosecutors. "I told [her] that [she] needed to call the police and file a report that the gun had been lost," Biden said in a recent interview with the online news organization Channel 5. Under a June 2023 deal that also would have resolved tax charges against Biden, Weiss agreed to refrain from prosecuting him for illegal gun possession if he successfully completed a pretrial diversion program. But that deal fell apart the following month under scrutiny by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, who viewed some of its provisions as legally problematic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Noreika told the government and Biden's lawyers to try again, subsequent negotiations failed to produce a new agreement. Prosecutors "blew it up on purpose at the behest of the right wing," Biden claimed in the Channel 5 interview. Then Weiss obtained an indictment that added two new charges, both based on the form Biden filled out when he bought the revolver. Among other things, that form asked whether Biden was "an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance." He checked "no," thereby violating 18 USC 922(a)(6), which makes it a felony to provide false information in connection with a gun purchase. The same checkmark also violated 18 USC 924(a)(1)(A), which makes it a felony to provide a false statement "with respect to" information that gun dealers are required to record. Although the Justice Department concedes "there is considerable overlap in the conduct covered" by those two provisions, that did not stop Weiss from pursuing both charges. Prior to Biden's trial, his lawyers asked Noreika to dismiss the gun charges as inconsistent with the Second Amendment. "The prosecution charges that Mr. Biden violated a rarely used statute that it claims prevented him from owning a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance," they wrote, "but that statute's status-based prohibition on gun ownership recently was struck down as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment." They were referring to an August 2023 decision in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overturned a marijuana user's conviction for illegal gun possession. That case began with an April 2022 traffic stop in Hancock County, Mississippi. After Patrick Darnell Daniels Jr. was pulled over for driving without a license plate, police found a pistol, a rifle, and the remains of a few joints in his car. He was convicted of violating Section 922(g)(3) and sentenced to nearly four years in prison. That prosecution, the 5th Circuit ruled in United States v. Daniels, failed the Bruen test. "Our history and tradition may support some limits on an intoxicated person's right to carry a weapon, but it does not justify disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug usage," it said. "Nor do more generalized traditions of disarming dangerous persons support this restriction on nonviolent drug users." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that seemingly relevant ruling by one of the country's most conservative appeals courts, Noreika rejected Biden's argument that Section 922(g)(3) is unconstitutional on its face. She noted that Daniels was limited to the specific facts of that case and that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit had recently rejected a facial challenge to the law. As the 8th Circuit saw it in United States v. Veasley, the ban on gun possession by drug users was analogous to legal restrictions on "the mentally ill" during the 18th and 19th centuries. Although Noreika favored that take on the law, she said Biden, once convicted, could still argue that Section 922(g)(3) was unconstitutional as applied to him. Biden's conviction seemed like a foregone conclusion. During a five-month sojourn in Los Angeles beginning in the spring of 2018, Biden recalls in his memoir, he was "up twenty-four hours a day, smoking [crack] every fifteen minutes, seven days a week." That fall, he writes, "I came back east" after "my most recent relapse in California, with the hope of getting clean through a new therapy and reconciling with Hallie." But he adds that "neither happened." He tried ketamine therapy in Massachusetts, but it was "disastrous," and he "backslid." He would "stay clean for a week, break away from the center to meet a connection I found in Rhode Island, smoke up, then return." During Biden's 2024 trial at the federal courthouse in Wilmington, his lawyers nevertheless argued that he was not a drug user or addict when he bought the revolver on October 12, 2018, or during the 11 days he possessed it. Biden, who told Channel 5 he bought the gun "on a whim," never loaded it, and kept it in a lockbox, said he "checked that box" denying that he was an illegal drug user or addict because he viewed it as "a state-of-mind question" asking whether he was "right now addicted," which was not how he viewed himself at that moment. According to the prosecution, such quibbling was beside the point. Under federal regulations, the Justice Department notes, a buyer violates Section 922(g)(3) if he has used an illegal drug "recently enough to indicate that the individual is actively engaged in such conduct." Federal courts have said "a temporal nexus is required between the drug use and the firearm possession," it says. "Courts now examine the 'pattern and recency' of the defendant's drug use in determining if there is a temporal nexus between the possession of the firearm and drug use." But they "do not require contemporaneous use." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jurors evidently took the same view. Unimpressed by Biden's parsing of exactly when he was using crack, they convicted him on all charges in June 2024. Biden v. Biden Biden was lucky he had bought a gun in 2018, four years before his father signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which increased the maximum penalty for illegal gun possession from 10 years to 15 years. That law also created a new charge, likewise punishable by up to 15 years in prison, that could be deployed against defendants like Biden: "trafficking in firearms," which Congress counterintuitively defined broadly enough to cover drug users who obtain guns. If those changes had been enacted prior to Biden's gun purchase, he could have faced a maximum sentence of 45 years rather than 25. In the Channel 5 interview, Biden praised his father for his role in enacting "the first gun legislationin a generation," apparently oblivious to its implications for firearm cases like his. During the period when Biden was trying to resolve his gun case without going to jail, his father's administration was stubbornly defending the ban he violated against challenges by cannabis consumers. In one case after another, the government's lawyers argued that marijuana users have no Second Amendment rights, either because they are not part of "the people" whose right to arms is constitutionally protected or because disarming them is consistent with a historical tradition of forbidding gun possession by dangerous or untrustworthy classes of people such as "lunatics" and violent felons. One of those cases involved Florida residents who wanted to participate in that state's medical marijuana program without surrendering their Second Amendment rights. In response to that lawsuit, the government averred that medical marijuana patients who own guns "endanger public safety in multiple ways." They "may mishandle firearmsor use firearms to commit crimesbecause of 'drug-induced changes in physiological functions, cognitive ability, and mood,'" the brief said. They "may 'commit crime in order to obtain money to buy drugs'and thus pose a danger of using firearms to facilitate such crime." And "violent crime may occur as part of the drug business or culture." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That alarming portrait bore little resemblance to the plaintiffs in the Florida case, who included a septuagenarian business owner, an Afghanistan war veteran, and a retired police officer. The Justice Department implicitly portrayed all three as potential public menaces because they might be inclined to handle guns while stoned, commit crimes to support their drug habits, or (for some reason) buy marijuana from violent drug dealers instead of state-licensed dispensaries. If those arguments seemed desperate, it was partly because the rationale for disarming cannabis consumers and other "unlawful" drug users has never been clear. When Congress enacted that gun ban in 1968, a Senate report mentioned "narcotic addicts," along with unsupervised "juveniles," "mental defectives," and "armed groups who would supplant duly constituted public authorities," as a category of people "whose possession of firearms" is "contrary to the public interest." As far as I can tell, the legislative debate did not include any attempt to elucidate the logic underlying that judgment, let alone to explain why it applied to occasional users as well as "addicts" or why, say, pot smoking raises concerns about gun possession that are qualitatively different from the concerns raised by alcohol consumption. The rule that Congress viewed as obviously sensible in 1968 would have been incomprehensible to the Americans who ratified the Second Amendment in 1791, more than a century before the federal government began regulating drugs. Likewise for the legislators who extended the Bill of Rights to the states by ratifying the 14th Amendment in 1868, when Americans could legally obtain drugs such as cannabis, morphine, and cocaine without a prescription. It seems doubtful that Americans of that era would have thought eschewing such products should be a condition for exercising the rights protected by the Second Amendment. That history posed a problem for the Biden administration's lawyers. Under Bruen, they were supposed to identify historical analogs that were "relevantly similar" to Section 922(g)(3), resembling it in motivation and scope. But the best they could do was cite laws enacted in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries that prohibited people from publicly firing or carrying guns when they were under the influence of alcohol. In 1656, for example, Virginia prohibited "shoot[ing] any gunns at drinkeing." In 1771, New York made it illegal to fire guns during New Year's celebrations in light of the "great Damages" caused by trigger-happy people "intoxicated with Liquor." Between 1868 and 1883, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin prohibited intoxicated people from carrying guns in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As several federal courts have noted, those context-specific restrictions were a far cry from a blanket ban that applies to people even when they are completely sober and even on their own property. "There is no tradition that supports disarming a sober citizen who is not currently under an impairing influence," the 5th Circuit noted in Daniels. "The Founders purportedly institutionalized the insane and stripped them of their guns; but they allowed alcoholics to possess firearms while sober. We must ask, in Bruen-style analogical reasoning, which is Daniels more like: a categorically 'insane' person? Or a repeat alcohol user? Given his periodic marihuana usage, Daniels is firmly in the latter camp. If and when Daniels uses marihuana, he may be comparable to a mentally ill individual whom the Founders would have disarmed. But while sober, he is like the repeat alcohol user in between periods of drunkenness." The Supreme Court vacated the Daniels ruling in July 2024, instructing the 5th Circuit to reconsider the case in light of United States v. Rahimi, which upheld a prosecution for violating the federal ban on gun possession by people subject to domestic violence restraining orders. In January 2025, the appeals court reaffirmed its conclusion that Daniels' prosecution was unconstitutional. After Rahimi, the 5th Circuit noted, it ruled in United States v. Connelly that "the government could not constitutionally apply 922(g)(3) to a defendant based solely on her 'habitual or occasional drug use.'" That case "controls this one," the court said. "Because the jury did not necessarily find that Daniels was presently or even recently engaged in unlawful drug use, we reverse his conviction again and remand." In addition to the 5th Circuit cases, federal judges in Oklahoma and North Carolina rejected Section 922(g)(3) prosecutions after concluding that the government had not met its burden under Bruen. In the latter case, U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan went beyond dismissing a charge against a specific defendant, saying "the government has not met its burden of proving that [Section 922(g)(3)] is consistent with the Second Amendment." Hunter Biden undoubtedly would have cited those decisions on appeal, reigniting a legal dispute that pitted him against his own father. The president's pardon avoided that embarrassing situation while shielding Biden from the penalties imposed on less well-connected defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Channel 5 interview, Biden emphasized the injustice of his prosecution, noting that marijuana users "buy guns every single day" and that "it is equally against the law" for them to "check that box" or "own a gun." While it is true that only a tiny percentage of such cannabis consumers are ever prosecuted, those who are can suffer severe consequences, as Ledvina's case shows. 'An Odor of Marijuana' At a detention hearing in July 2023, Robert Friend, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), testified that Ledvina first came to the ATF's attention because of a tip from a "confidential informant" working for the Drug Enforcement Administration. According to Friend, that unnamed informant reported that Ledvina "was a distributor of cocaine and possessor of firearms." The government never confirmed that tip with surveillance, controlled buys, or physical evidence, and Ledvina was never charged with selling cocaineor any other drug offense. But the ATF did ultimately confirm that Ledvina was a marijuana user. That fact, combined with his firearm purchases, was enough to make him guilty of federal felonies. The evidence of Ledvina's cannabis consumption began to emerge in March 2022, when he reported a burglary to police in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. According to a joint stipulation of facts that Ledvina approved prior to his November 2023 bench trial, an officer "smelled an odor of marijuana coming from inside [Ledvina's] residence" and "observed multiple firearms." Local police evidently contacted the ATF, which Friend said was aware of that incident. On May 20, ATF agents searched Ledvina's trash (which according to the Supreme Court did not require a warrant). Among other things, they found "several cigar wrappers" and "loose tobacco," which Friend said was "consistent with taking the tobacco out of the cigar wrappers and replacing it with marijuana, commonly referred to as a 'blunt.'" They also found an empty ammunition box. The ATF's suspicions were reinforced on July 29, 2022, when the owner of Black Dog Guns & Ammo in Marion, Iowa, reported that Ledvina smelled of marijuana during a pistol purchase that day. Two weeks later, ATF agents executed a search warrant at Ledvina's home, where they found two pistols, two rifles, about 13 grams of marijuana, and another 139 grams of "cannabis" that did not qualify as marijuana because its THC concentration was less than 0.3 percent, making it legal "hemp" under federal law. Ledvina, a self-described gun collector with a permit to carry a handgun, had a third pistol in his car. Based on a warrant, the agents obtained a urine sample, which tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. Ledvina ultimately admitted that he had consumed cocaine in August 2022 and that he had "used marijuana five to six times a week" from March through July 2022. He also conceded that, when he completed the "Firearms Transaction Record" during the pistol purchase on July 29, he had checked "no" in response to the question about drug use. Although the ATF seized Ledvina's guns on the day it searched his home, he was not arrested until June 2023, about 10 months later, at which point he was working as an I.T. technician at the V.A. hospital in Iowa City. He has been incarcerated since then. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Roberts declined to approve Ledvina's pretrial release, saying his continued confinement was necessary to guarantee future appearances and protect the public. That conclusion was dubious given that Ledvina had strong local ties, had a full-time job that required drug testing, and had made no attempt to leave the area for nearly a year after the ATF searcha period when he was not under any sort of government surveillance, despite the threat he supposedly posed. A July 2023 superseding indictment charged Ledvina with illegal gun possession and making a false statement during a firearm purchase. He did not face any drug charges. His lawyer, Michael Lahammer, says the small amount of marijuana found by the ATF (less than half an ounce) probably explains that "discretionary choice by the U.S. Attorney's Office." Lahammer urged U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams to dismiss the gun charges, arguing that "the government clearly cannot meet its burden to show that the Nation's history, particularly around the passage of the Second Amendment, supports firearm restrictions for those addicted to, or who unlawfully used, a controlled substance." Even if Williams concluded that Section 922(g)(3) "does not violate the Second Amendment on its face," Lahammer added, "the statute should not apply to a person like Mr. Ledvina, who was merely found with a controlled substance and who has no criminal history of using controlled substances." That "set of circumstances," he said, "is not 'distinctly similar' or even 'relevantly analogous' to founding era prohibitions on the right to bear arms." It was predictable that Williams, who for nearly two decades had worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the same office that was prosecuting Ledvina, would reject the argument that Section 922(g)(3) is unconstitutional on its face. Just two months earlier in United States v. Owens, he had concluded that the provision "does not violate the Second Amendment." In the 2010 case United States v. Seay, he noted in Owens, the 8th Circuit had rejected a facial challenge to the law, which it said expressed the intent of Congress to "keep firearms out of the possession of drug abusers, a dangerous class of individuals." Williams conceded that Seay predated Bruen and "did not conduct the type of historic[al] analysis" required by that ruling. But he agreed with Stephen Locher, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, that "nothing in Bruen expressly repudiates the holding of Seay." Unless and until the 8th Circuit reconsiders its approval of Section 922(g)(3), Williams wrote, "this Court must treat Seay as binding precedent." Even without that precedent, Williams added, it seemed clear that the ban met the Bruen test. He noted that the 8th Circuit "conducted a more thorough historic[al] analysis of the regulation of firearms as it relates to dangerous people during the Founding era" in the 2011 case United States v. Bena, which involved the same provision that the Supreme Court would later uphold in Rahimi. In Bena, Williams wrote, the 8th Circuit "concluded there was 'a common-law tradition that permits restrictions directed at citizens who are not law-abiding and responsible.'" And even after Bruen, he said, "numerous other district courts have reaffirmed the conclusion that Section 922(g)(3) is constitutional." 'Consider the 80-Year-Old Grandmother' Ruling against Ledvina's motion to dismiss in August 2023, Williams repeated his reasoning from Owens verbatim. He did not mention the 5th Circuit's ruling in Daniels, which had been published a week earlier. But Williams said Ledvina could pursue a narrower, as-applied challenge after conviction. Lahammer argues that the firearm charges were unconstitutional in Ledvina's case because the government never proved "he was actively intoxicated or under the influence of marijuana at any time" when he was handling a gun. Although "intoxicants existed at the founding," Lahammer writes in his appeal brief (which Ledvina supplemented with his own brief), "the government cannot establish that eighteenth century history supports stripping a man of his ability to defend himself because he possessed an intoxicant." The 8th Circuit may be open to that argument, despite its ruling in Veasley, which was published less than five months after Ledvina's conviction. Like the 5th Circuit, the 8th Circuit did not think early laws aimed at drunken gun handling were "relevantly similar" to Section 922(g)(3). The 8th Circuit instead relied on the historical treatment of "lunatics," who during the 18th century could be confined by justices of the peace when they were deemed a threat to public safety. The appeals court also noted that states had begun to prohibit gun sales to people of "unsound mind" by the late 19th century. Together with "the even longer tradition of confinement," the 8th Circuit said, "these laws suggest that society made it a priority to keep guns out of the hands of anyone who was mentally ill and dangerous." Those precedents, the appeals court concluded, amply justified Section 922(g)(3): "The 'burden' imposed by 922(g)(3) is 'comparable,' if less heavy-handed, than Founding-era laws governing the mentally ill. It goes without saying that confinement with straitjackets and chains carries with it a greater loss of liberty than a temporary loss of gun rights. And the mentally ill had less of a chance to regain their rights than drug users and addicts do today. Stopping the use of drugs, after all, restores gun rights under 922(g)(3)." The court thought the justification for Section 922(g)(3), "which is to 'keep guns out of the hands of presumptively risky people,'" is "also comparable." The 8th Circuit perceived another relevant precedent for disarming drug users: laws that made it a crime to go armed "in terror of the people." In both cases, it said, "the decision to engage in illegal and dangerous conductis what leads to a temporary deprivation, which ends once the illegal behavior does." Veasley nevertheless left open the possibility of as-applied challenges such as Ledvina's. "Not every drug user or addict will terrify others, even with a firearm," the appeals court conceded. "Consider the 80-year-old grandmother who uses marijuana for a chronic medical condition and keeps a pistol tucked away for her own safety. It is exceedingly unlikely she will pose a danger or induce terror in others. But those are details relevant to an as-applied challenge, not a facial one. For our purposes, all we need to know is that at least some drug users and addicts fall within a class of people who historically have had limits placed on their right to bear arms." Less than a year later in United States v. Cooper, the 8th Circuit elaborated on that distinction. In Veasley, "we concluded that keeping firearms out of the hands of drug users does not 'always violate[] the Second Amendment,'" the court said. "Now the question is whether it sometimes can. The answer is yes." That case involved LaVance LeMarr Cooper, wholike Ledvinawas convicted in the Northern District of Iowa after a bench trial based on stipulated facts. "One was that he smoked marijuana three to four times a week," the 8th Circuit noted. "Another was that he had done it two days before officers found a Glock 20 pistol in his car during a traffic stop. Based on those facts and a few others, the district court found Cooper guilty of being a drug user in possession of a firearm and sentenced him to 37 months in prison." Given those circumstances, the appeals court thought, Cooper had a plausible argument that his prosecution was unconstitutional. "Nothing in our tradition allows disarmament simply because Cooper belongs to a category of people, drug users, that Congress has categorically deemed dangerous," the appeals court said. "Neither the confinement of the mentally ill nor the going-armed laws operated on an irrebuttable basis." Concluding that the district court had erred by ruling out an as-applied challenge, the 8th Circuit remanded the case for further consideration. Aggravating Factors "This is not, by any means, a close case," Williams wrote after Ledvina's bench trial at the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids, rejecting Lahammer's argument that Section 922(g)(3) did not apply to his client or was so vague that Ledvina could not reasonably be expected to know that it did. "Based on the totality of the evidence, the Court is firmly convinced of defendant's guilt." As a result of those convictions, Williams noted at Ledvina's sentencing hearing in June 2024, he faced "as much as 20 years in prison without parole." But federal sentencing guidelines recommended a much shorter prison term. Ledvina's "base offense level" was 20, Williams explained, because "the offense involved a semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large-capacity magazine and the defendant was a prohibited person at the time of that possession." Ledvina received a "two-level enhancement" because "the offense involved between three and seven firearms." For purposes of sentencing, Ledvina conceded that he "shared marijuana" and therefore possessed it with the intent to distribute it (whether or not any money changed hands), which earned him a "four-level enhancement" because he possessed a firearm "in connection with another felony offense." But because he "went to a bench trial on a stipulated factual basis," he got credit for "acceptance of responsibility," which reduced his offense level by two. After those calculations, Ledvina's offense level was 24. Given that he had no significant criminal record, that level corresponded to a sentencing range of 51 to 63 months, or about four to five years. But because that recommendation was not mandatory, Williams had the discretion to impose a sentence shorter than 51 months. He did not do that. In settling on a punishment for Ledvina, Williams applied the "preponderance of the evidence" standard used during sentencing, as opposed to proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which is required for a criminal conviction. He therefore considered allegations that had not been proven at trial, based on his assessment of whether they were more likely than not to be true. Williams attached considerable weight to the testimony of two witnesses who testified at the sentencing hearing, both of whom had substantial criminal records. Jay Larimer said he had bought cocaine from Ledvina and owed him $200. One of Larimer's neighbors, Michael Young, said he had seen Ledvina banging on Larimer's door, allegedly trying to collect that debt. Young said Ledvina had brandished a gun after he saw Young and another neighbor watching him. In his sentencing memorandum, Lahammer argued that "the so-called victim's alleged harm is so minimal to non-existent that the state case was a simple misdemeanor [third-degree harassment] and was dismissedon the state's motiondue to lack of evidence as at least one of the witnesses told the prosecutor they didn't even remember the incident." But Williams thought the alleged altercation was sufficiently alarming that it should figure in Ledvina's sentence. Larimer also testified that, on one occasion when he and Ledvina were snorting cocaine together, Ledvina accidentally fired a gun. Although Larimer's vague account was the only evidence of such an accident, Williams accepted it at face value. "The fact that the defendant accidentally discharged a firearm when he was using drugs with Mr. Larimer," the judge said, "is another indication of why it is we don't want to have people that are using drugs have anything to do with dangerous instrumentalities like firearms." That logic, of course, would apply with equal force to drinkers, who nevertheless are not covered by Section 922(g)(3). But Williams had already dismissed the constitutional relevance of that point, which the 5th Circuit had emphasized in Daniels. Although the testimony from Larimer and Young influenced Williams' exercise of his sentencing discretion, the recommended range would have been the same even with no evidence that Ledvina had behaved carelessly or threatened anyone. And even if Ledvina had not faced a four-level enhancement for "another felony offense," his sentencing range would have been 33 to 41 months. In other words, he could have received a three-year sentence for nothing more than his status as a gun-owning marijuana user. That is still pretty severe, especially compared to the outcome for Hunter Biden. Joe Biden, you may recall, averred that drug users caught with guns "are almost never brought to trial on felony charges" without "aggravating factors." But it is hard to see "aggravating factors" in Connelly, the case in which the 5th Circuit rejected liability under Section 922(g)(3) based on nothing more than "habitual or occasional drug use." That case involved a Texas woman, Paola Connelly, who was charged with illegal firearm possession after El Paso police found marijuana and guns in her home while responding to a domestic disturbance. Section 922(g)(3) cases often arise from such incidental discoveries of drugs and guns, which do not necessarily involve violence or other "aggravating factors." A Texas defendant, for example, was embarrassed to admit that he had accidentally shot himself in the leg, so he told Laredo police he had been attacked by an unknown assailant. A search of his home discovered small amounts of marijuana and cocaine, and after his arrest he admitted he was a drug user. According to the Justice Department, other Section 933(g)(3) defendants have included a Mississippi man who "possessed a 9 mm caliber pistol while using methamphetamine daily"; a crack-using Delaware gun dealer who was searched after police saw his girlfriend urinating in a parking lot and found drugs on her; a man suspected of "involvement in the January 6th Capitol Riots" who was caught with a revolver and marijuana when his home in San Antonio was searched; a Tennessee man who was caught with cannabis and a handgun after police "smelled marijuana emanating from his apartment"; an Iowa man who had a rifle in his car when he was stopped for a traffic offense and deemed to be "under the influence of marijuana"; and another Iowa marijuana user whose house was searched after an altercation with a neighbor. Although that last defendant was not charged with assault, he admitted in a plea agreement that he had waved a gun at his neighbor. Yet his prison sentence, six months, was much shorter than Ledvina'sa disparity that is especially striking because both men were prosecuted in the Northern District of Iowa. In that district, Lahammer says, federal prosecutors are "aggressive" in enforcing gun laws and are "not necessarily looking at aggravating factors" when they decide to charge someone under Section 922(g)(3). He mentions another client of his, Abyehun Teferi, who received an 18-month sentence after he "went to the range" with his wife and "got caught with marijuana on him." And as the 8th Circuit noted, LaVance Cooper, who was tried in the same district, received a three-year sentence based on little more than his gun ownership and his periodic marijuana use. 'A Lot of Potential' At his June 2024 sentencing hearing, Ledvina, who had been in jail since his arrest a year earlier, apologized to "my community, my country, and most of all my family for the bad decisions I've made and the company I've kept." During the 10 months between the ATF search and his arrest, he reported, "I was consistently employed full-time and refrained from criminal activity." He hoped that Williams, by sentencing him to the time he had already served, would "give me mercy and see this as an opportunity to have a success story come from your court rather than another statistic lost in the criminal justice system." Williams did not think such mercy was appropriate. When he sentenced Ledvina, then 27, to another three years of incarceration, the judge described him as "a bright guy" with "a good upbringing" who "did very well in school" and "had a lot of potential." His criminal history, Williams noted, was "not terribly troubling," limited to "a couple disorderly conduct things when he was 18 years old." Ledvina had "worked in the past," which Williams viewed as "encouraging," and by 2023, he "had gotten back into working hard, working legitimate jobs, demonstrating that he can work well," as reflected in his "letters of support." Unfortunately, Williams said, Ledvina "decided to blow it and go off on a bender for several years, to deal drugs [a crime he was never charged with] and possess firearms that he had no business possessing." The "good news," the judge added, was that Ledvina "has all the tools" to succeed in life, "doesn't have to be who he is," and has "a lot of potential and a lot of future ahead of him." Williams' parting words to Ledvina: "This doesn't have to define you in any way. You can set your own path after you get done serving your time, and I think you have a lot of potential and I hope you live up to it." By Williams' own account, Ledvina had gotten his act together by the time of his arrest. He was working in I.T. and planned to complete a degree in computer science at the University of Iowa, where he had studied for a couple of years after high school. But Williams still thought it was necessary to derail that progress by sentencing Ledvina to prison for 51 monthsa penalty that would not have applied but for Section 922(g)(3). If Ledvina had been a drinker rather than a pot smoker, he would not have been in Williams' courtroom. That arbitrary distinction, never justified by logic or persuasive constitutional reasoning, is especially puzzling at a time when most Americans live in jurisdictions that have legalized marijuanaa policy supported by two-thirds of adults, including the president of the United States. But as long as the federal ban on marijuana remains in place and courts view it as sufficient justification for disarming Americans who defy it, unlucky cannabis consumers like Ledvina will continue to find themselves at the dangerous intersection between gun control and the war on drugs. The post Hunter Biden Walks Free While This Iowa Man Serves 4 Years for the Same 'Crime' appeared first on Reason.com. Dayna and Matt Fancher lost their home in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, to Hurricane Ian in 2022. One month into this years hurricane season, the couple is still paying their home insurance policy now twice as costly while fighting the firm in court over their claim. The Fanchers, who have lived in their Fort Myers Beach home for almost three decades, said their home insurance provider paid them only a third of what it would cost to rebuild their home, and that adjusters repeatedly disputed their storm damage claims. In the end, the Fanchers say, they took out construction loans to be able to move back into their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the same coverage that we had, were paying double, and we didnt get the assistance that we needed, Matt Fancher said. The Fanchers predicament is just one of many linked to the insurance crisis in hurricane-prone Florida. Rates are sky-high and expected to continue rising as catastrophe claims surge and Floridians face few insurance options and increased scrutiny during underwriting. Since 2021, Florida has experienced four major hurricanes: Ian, Helene, Idalia and Milton, and premiums have climbed by nearly 30% statewide. Florida residents can now expect to pay almost $10,000 a year on average in premiums, making the state the most expensive place in the U.S. to buy homeowners insurance. In Fort Myers Beach, a small town on narrow Estero Island off Fort Myers, annual premiums jumped from about $9,000 to almost $14,000 from 2019 to 2024, according to data obtained by First Street Foundation, a climate risk modeling firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Floridians filed more than half a million residential catastrophe claims, according to Floridas Office of Insurance Regulation. Up against an estimated $50 billion to $65 billion in insurance losses associated with Hurricane Ian, several homegrown Florida property insurers were declared insolvent, while major national insurers like Farmers announced they would pull back or no longer offer coverage in the state due to increased hurricane risk. Some legislative reforms have helped stabilize the market for insurance in Florida, according to Mark Friedlander, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry association for insurers. He said in 2024, the state saw the lowest average statewide premium increases in the country for home insurance and that more than a dozen new insurers had entered the market there. But hurricane risk in Florida is escalating as human-caused climate change warms the atmosphere and raises sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. Hotter conditions are trapping moisture and fueling hurricane intensification, creating wetter, more powerful hurricanes that leave Florida increasingly vulnerable to storm damage. During Hurricane Helene, moisture trapped in the warming atmosphere increased extreme rainfall by 10%, bringing rainfall totals as high as 26.95 inches in parts of Florida. Jeremy Porter, a climate risk expert at First Street Foundation, says that rising insurance costs signal the deep impacts of climate change in west Florida, as communities like Fort Myers Beach grapple with recurring damage and costly recoveries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last few decades, we havent kept up with climate risk and quantified it properly in our risk modeling. Now, were playing catch-up and its driving up insurance rates very rapidly, and people are feeling that in their household budgets, Porter said. With scarce options for home insurance, more and more Floridians have started buying insurance from Citizens Insurance Property Corp., Floridas not-for-profit state-backed insurer, and Porter says this rapid movement has also pushed up insurance costs. By 2055, Porter says home insurance premiums could rise by 213% in the Tampa metro area because of hurricane risk. Climate risks are also disrupting insurance markets in other parts of the country. In Sacramento, California, residents may face a 137% increase due to increased wildfire danger, for example. Porter said declining home prices in Florida could also affect home insurance rates and availability. When property values fall in places that are vulnerable to hurricanes or other extreme weather, insurers may interpret that decline as a warning sign of growing physical or market risk, leading to increased scrutiny during underwriting and potential spikes in premiums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Zillow data, home values in Fort Myers Beach are down about $200,000 from their pre-Ian prices, and about 86% of sales over the last year came in under list price, a general sign that sellers are having a difficult time offloading their properties. At its peak before Hurricane Ian, the average home value on Sanibel Island, a popular spot in Lee County for beach vacationers, was almost $1.3 million. Today, that value is $868,000, with 93% of all homes being sold under list price, according to Zillow. Joanne Klempner, who has lived part time in Fort Myers Beach since 2016, says that selling her home is not a financially viable option after spending so much on reconstruction post-Hurricane Ian. With little choice but to stay in Fort Myers Beach, Klempner said she worries about how climate change will affect the future of her community. At this point, were in for the long haul because we have to be. I think whether people want to continue to invest in Fort Myers Beach is the bigger question, Klempner said. When you dont have a hurricane for 30 years, the risk feels worth it to live in paradise. When you have three bad hurricanes within 18 months, it becomes questionable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacki Liszak, the president and CEO of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, says that Fort Myers Beach is still a great place to live and visit, and that the community is investing in resilient architecture and building homes well above the flood line. The houses have to be built strong and they have to be built high, Liszak said. I think that will help tremendously. People were already starting to come, and I think they will continue to come. People love this lifestyle. Its a beautiful part of the world. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com CHICAGO (WGN) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested an undocumented immigrant after he was charged with concealing a missing Antioch womans body in mid-April, leading to confusion on how local and federal authorities will proceed with his prosecution. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed 52-year-old Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez is in the United States illegally and was arrested by ICE officers in Chicago sometime Saturday. Mendoza-Gonzalez, who previously lived in Waukegan, was awaiting his next court appearance at the time of his ICE arrest in connection with the Waukegan Police Departments investigation into the disappearance and death of 37-year-old Megan Bos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Lake County States Attorneys Office (LCSAO), they believe criminal prosecution in the United States, as opposed to deportation, is the best path forward in this case. The Lake County States Attorneys Office has been in constant contact with the family about Megans death and the ongoing investigations by the Waukegan Police Department and the Lake County Coroners office into the circumstances of her death and discovery of her body, which includes how and when she obtained fentanyl and what role that may have played in her death, a LCSAO spokesperson said in a statement Monday. As was previously reported, the initial autopsy reports showed no signs of trauma or a struggle and at no point was Megan decapitated before or after her death. While we have not been contacted by ICE, we are preparing an official request that this offender be held locally. As we have told the family, we believe that a criminal trial and sentencing is more appropriate than deportation procedures. The defendant is charged with several felonies, which can result in potential consecutive prison sentences upon a conviction. As people know, deportation to another country does not lead to prison in that country. If he were to agree to deportation, he could be free in days. We are hopeful that he will be brought to court so that he can be held fully accountable for his actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendoza-Gonzalez was taken into police custody on Thursday, April 10, and later charged with two counts of concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice. PREVIOUS REPORTING Missing Antioch womans body found in container on Waukegan mans property: police The reason why he was out of police custody and ICE was able to arrest him in Chicago on Saturday is because all of the counts Mendoza-Gonzalez was charged with are considered Class 4 felonies, but are not detainable offenses under Illinois SAFE-T Act. Earlier that day on April 10, Waukegan police officers went to an area business to question Mendoza-Gonzalez, a person of interest in Boss disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told Waukegan police through a translator about how Bos came to his house on Wednesday, Feb. 19, but he initially said she left after her visit. When asked about her whereabouts and whether she was still alive, Mendoza-Gonzalez said he did not want to be arrested at the business, according to investigators, but did not say why. WPD then moved the conversation to their precinct, where Mendoza-Gonzalez told police Bos was in a container in his yard in the 700 block of Yeoman Street. Officers went on to secure a search warrant for Mendoza-Gonzalezs home and found her body on the property. As WPDs conversation with Mendoza-Gonzalez carried on, he explained Boss visit to his home in greater detail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Waukegan police, Mendoza-Gonzalez said when Bos came over to his house on Feb. 19, she snorted drugs at some point, but he wasnt sure what kind of drug it was. Mendoza-Gonzalez then told police that Bos asked him if she could hang out in his basement while he worked on a plumbing issue in a different part of the house. Police said Mendoza-Gonzalez obliged, and when he came back to check on Bos later that day, Mendoza-Gonzalez told them he allegedly found her dead of what he thought was an overdose. According to a press release from the Lake County Coroners Office on Monday, July 21, fentanyl, cocaine metabolites and morphine were found in Boss liver tissue, indicating recent and potentially lethal cocaine, fentanyl and probable heroin use. The LCCO also said that making a distinction between an accidental drug intoxication and an asphyxial death based solely on the autopsy findings and the presence of potentially lethal drugs in Boss body is not possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asphyxial death is defined as death resulting from a lack of oxygen to the body, preventing the cells from receiving or utilizing oxygen. Mechanical obstruction of the airway, chemical interference with oxygen uptake, or even heart failure triggered by oxygen deprivation are all examples of what can cause asphyxial death. The DHSs press release on the ICE arrest of Mendoza-Gonzalez claimed Bos was found decapitated and bleached on his propertya claim that has been refuted by Boss mother and proven wrong through the LCCOs autopsy records. Boss mother, Jennifer Bos, said her daughter was not found decapitated, but was found bleached. After police recovered Boss body, her remains were taken to the LCCO for an autopsy on Friday, April 11. According to the LCCO, she was not decapitated, and her body showed no signs of trauma or a struggle before her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendoza-Gonzalez told detectives he was afraid he was going to be in trouble, so he left her in the basement for several days before moving her to a container in his yard, where she remained until WPD found her on April 10. According to investigators, Mendoza-Gonzalez told them he broke Boss phone and threw it in the trash on the night of the alleged overdose. He said he didnt know what he was going to do with her when police asked what he planned to do next. Bos was reported missing on Sunday, March 9, and APD launched a missing persons investigation into her disappearance. At the time, family members said they had last heard from her on Monday, Feb. 17. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. With the Trump administration pushing far more aggressive immigration enforcement across the country and in Chicago, a Tribune analysis of newly released data shows a significant increase in the number of immigrants detained in the Chicago area particularly those with no known criminal background. The findings come from a Tribune analysis of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data obtained and shared by the research group Deportation Data Project. The analysis shows that, as President Donald Trumps administration has pushed enforcement in sanctuary cities such as Chicago, ICE saw notable spikes in the number of people initially detained at two ICE processing centers in the area. The figures peaked at 88 bookings on an early June day that, at the time, drew attention for clashes between Chicago community members and federal immigration agents. Of the 88 booked that day, the latest analysis found, three-fourths had no criminal record logged by ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The surge in detentions including immigrants with no known criminal record mirrors broader trends across the country. The second Trump administration has increasingly focused on boosting the number of people arrested who lack legal status to be in the country, even if the efforts ensnared more people who didnt fit the traditional ICE focus on tracking down and deporting those who committed serious crimes. The analysis suggests that the efforts locally have done both with ICE agents under the second Trump administration detaining double the rate of those convicted of violent felonies and sex crimes, while detaining nine times as many immigrants with no known criminal past. Local ICE officials have not released such detailed data on their enforcement efforts. When told about the Tribunes analysis and asked about its findings, a spokesman for ICEs local office did not immediately respond. The data used by the Tribune in its analysis was obtained by the law school of the University of California at Los Angeles, as part of a December 2024 lawsuit it filed to force ICE to release the data under the Freedom of Information Act. Court records show that ICE produced the raw data in batches this summer, and the law school shared the data with the Deportation Data Project, which posted the latest batch online Tuesday to share with reporters and researchers. (ICE refused earlier this year to directly provide the Tribune with similar raw data the newspaper had requested under the open records law.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The raw data has limitations. It does not identify detained people by name unlike traditional jail logs or prison rosters, which by law typically must identify the people being held behind bars. And while the data lists details of each detention and some biographical information on who was detained, it does not list the cities, or even the counties, where people were arrested. That makes it impossible to tally the precise numbers of arrests in Chicago and the suburbs. The data, however, does log when people were booked into ICEs facilities in Broadview and Chicago, offering a proxy to gauge the number of people detained in the Chicago region, and the type of person being detained in a second Trump administration in a city that Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, called ground zero for enforcement. The Tribune analysis found that in Trumps first 150 days, ICE detained three times the number of immigrants convicted of crimes than in President Joe Bidens last 150 days in office. But, under Trump, ICE detained nine times as many immigrants without any known criminal past. A deeper look at ICE data finds that, among those deemed convicted of crimes, agents in Trumps first 150 days booked nearly double the number of people convicted of violent felony or sex crimes, compared with Bidens last 150 days. But the data also shows that, under Trump, a far higher proportion of the bookings for convicted immigrants were for those whod committed lesser crimes, with a nearly fivefold uptick in drunken-driving or traffic offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That trend could be seen on ICEs busiest day for booking in the Chicago area June 4. On that Wednesday, ICE data logged no known criminal convictions for three-fourths of the 88 people. Of the remaining 22, half had pending charges and half had convictions. Of the 11 with convictions, two had convictions for violent felony or sex crimes. Three had convictions for drug or property crimes. Three had convictions for drunken-driving or traffic offenses. Two had listed convictions illegally entering or reentering the country. And one had violated probation for an unspecified crime. On that day, ICE sent text messages requesting immigrants to report to a downtown office for check-ins, and advocates said about 20 of those immigrants never came out of the building. Over two dozen aldermen and community organizers gathered to protest outside before clashing with immigration agents who pulled those inside the building into unmarked white vans. One alderman reported that the agents shoved protesters and used batons like the Gestapo. At the time, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to the Tribune that everyone arrested had a deportation order by an immigration judge and had not complied with that order. As of three weeks later the most recent update to the ICE data of the 88 detained, 25 had either been deported or left the country voluntarily, in a category deemed removals, according to ICE data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That included four convicted of a crime: someone convicted of firing a weapon, another of shoplifting, one of drunken driving, and another for illegally reentering the country when previously deported, according to the ICE data analyzed by the Tribune. Six more with pending criminal charges were removed before they could be tried. And 15 people with no criminal background were removed. More broadly, of those booked into Chicago-area facilities, the data shows that nearly half of those removed during the second Trump administration had a criminal conviction, while about a third of those removed had no known criminal background. And while Trump, as a candidate, railed against the recent arrival of Venezuelan immigrants, and particularly claims of a violent Venezuelan street gang overrunning the country, the vast majority of Chicago-area removals under his second administration were of immigrants born in Mexico 302 compared with 136 born in Venezuela. And of the smaller group with violent felony or sex convictions, nearly all were born in Mexico. But the majority of people removed since inauguration day who had no criminal background were born in Venezuela, albeit with a significant number born in Mexico, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those with no criminal record, the youngest removed was a boy born in 2021. The data doesnt specify if he was traveling with relatives but shows that the boy entered and exited the country with a married Venezuelan woman in her 30s and three other children all of whom also had no known criminal record. All five entered the country in July 2023, were ordered to be deported in March 2024, and were detained somewhere in Illinois on June 11 and then sent to Venezuela five days later. The oldest was a married man born in Mexico in 1957, putting him in his late 60s. ICE records show he had been ordered to leave the country in 2009 and was arrested roughly 16 years later on April 11 by ICE. He was then shipped between three different facilities over five days from Broadview to two jails in central Indiana before he was deported out of Texas. Little else is known about the man. jmahr@chicagotribune.com nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Often we hear that, the interplay between environmental sustainability and commercial sustainability is the sweet spot for a lot of people but, with current supply chains and disruptions right across the globe, I guess commercial sustainability is obviously becoming more a priority for a lot of businesses, Dr. Peter Noy, director of the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham, reflected. Ahead of one of the morning panels at Eco Foods, the assembled delegates were asked to vote on the most challenging aspect of sustainability. More than 60% selected commercial sustainability. After five years of a global pandemic, supply-chain disruption, geopolitical turbulence, cost pressure and cautious consumers, it wouldnt be a surprise if, in some boardrooms, environmental sustainability has become less of a priority than perhaps it was in the back half of the 2010s. Executives from Thai Union, Quorn Foods and Arla Foods were among those who discussed their companies sustainability initiatives at the conference, which was held in Londons financial district. It became clear the industry is making headway but a lot of work still needs to be done and a lot of challenges need to be overcome. But, throughout the Eco Foods conference, three conclusions could be drawn: there is an appetite throughout the UK food industry to tackle the long list of complex sustainability issues facing the sector; progress remains slow and uneven; and, while indeed many in the industry know what they want to achieve, how they can get there is not yet clear and may need a lot more co-operation throughout all parts of the value chain. The moves by Unilever , PepsiCo and Coca-Cola to change their ESG targets over the last 12 months have sparked a fierce debate about corporate commitment to goals in areas from emissions to packaging. After outlining a list of the problems swirling around the UK food system, Bennett now Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle quipped: I promise to give you a warm green glow and I havent given you anything like a warm green glow before adding: We know the answers. We know what we need to do for this food system. Against a backdrop of concerns about the industrys impact on climate change, the challenge of food security, plastic pollution, pressure on biodiversity and a manner of other issues, the event, held in the UK capital late last month, focused on how the countrys agri-food sector is trying to make its value chains from farm to fork more environmentally sustainable. As an opening gambit, it grabbed the attention but, in many ways, it was hard to disagree with Natalie Bennett, the former leader of the Green Party in England, as she kicked off the Eco Foods conference in London. Story Continues Scope 3 is a beast Where food companies can make and have so far made progress is where change is more directly in their own gift. On their climate footprint, tackling emissions closer to home is easier than further up (or down) their value chains. However, like their counterparts across FMCG, a companys Scope 3 emissions are often the biggest share of their overall footprint and can account for 90-95% of a food manufacturers emissions. If a company is serious about aligning its business with the UNs climate goals, its clear these need to be tackled. Later in the day, Eco Foods delegates were asked to sum up their progress so far on their companies net-zero targets. One audience member remarked: Scope 3 is a beast. To say working with suppliers on reducing Scope 3 emissions is complicated is a statement of the obvious. The challenges for food manufacturers include (but are not limited to) whether suppliers measure their own emissions, how they do so, what data they collect, how that data then compares to that from other suppliers and on and on. Food manufacturers work on Scope 3 doesnt occur in a vacuum. It takes place while they are trying to do what all companies do: grow. We are a business that's been growing 40-50% for the last, like, three years and continue to do so this year. With our absolute carbon footprint going up but our requirements to try and get [emissions] down, it is something we are not giving up on but it's definitely a challenge, Adam Thompson, supply chain and sustainability director of UK nut-butter business Pip & Nut, says. Pip & Nuts Adam Thompson (far left) speaks at the Eco Foods 2025 event in London, 24 June 2025. Credit: Arena International Ahead of a panel in the afternoon, the audience at Eco Foods was asked what their organisations top priority was as they sought to build more sustainable supply chains. Perhaps unsurprisingly driving Scope 3 emissions was the top answer. The headway manufacturers are making on Scope 3 remains patchy. Progress can range from drawing up what tends to be called a framework against which to measure emissions through to pilot initiatives with small groups of suppliers for specific inputs and on to wider efforts across geographies but still on limited areas of procurement. And results may underwhelm. Scope 3 is difficult in that, in food, there rarely seems to be a sort of silver bullet Chris Shearlock, Thai Union On the panel was Chris Shearlock, ambient sustainability director for Thai Union, the seafood titan. The company embarked on a carbon-footprint project for its John West brand last year, Shearlock said, as he outlined the results. My reflection was that you could do a huge amount of innovation and a project that was quite transformative over a number of years and you still get relatively small percentages in terms of reductions, he said. Scope 3 is difficult in that, in food, there rarely seems to be a sort of silver bullet. You don't come back with projects that give you 60% or 70%. A major question for manufacturers and their suppliers to consider when tackling Scope 3 and the investment that necessitates is: who shoulders those costs? Its a concern for suppliers especially if the investment could make them less competitive. I don't know the answer, I'm happy to admit, because it's a really challenging one, Jack Watts, sustainability group lead at the National Farmers Union, said. Businesses have to be able to compete, have to be able to exist, and have to know that they've got that long-term partnership. If costs do start rising, businesses need confidence they're not going to be undercut by [customers finding] something cheaper from somewhere else. We are seeing hints of that where actually the easiest thing is [being told] Actually, we'll find some imported product off the world market that's easier to deal with. Pip & Nuts Thompson underlined the costs should be shared and highlighted an initiative where the company, alongside other peanut buyers in Europe, is working with growers in Argentina to decarbonise the industry there. He added: From the brand point of view, it's providing suppliers with that partnership approach which fosters long-term collaboration. If you need a supplier or a farmer to invest, then they're not going to do that or going to be less willing to if they think that it is maybe a one-time deal for a year or two years and, if next time the price from someone else is better, then you're going to jump ship. Collaboration call As is often the case at industry events focusing on environmental sustainability, the topic of collaboration throughout the supply chain featured heavily. There needs to be much more collaboration across different sectors, Antony Mulley, the head of business development at Marlow Ingredients, said. Marlow Ingredients is a division of Quorn Foods and sells the mycoprotein that is in the UK meat-free companys products on a B2B basis to other businesses. Quorn has worked with the University of Nottingham as part of the academics work looking at protein production in the context of a rising global population. We often think of ourselves as a food industry and probably that's a bit like, say, Quorn, Mars, or Unilever. There's also the greater food chain where we probably need to start linking in more with farming organisations, with transport groups and how the holistic picture is all starting to fit together, rather than just chunking it in our individual supply chain. The benefits there can be absolutely huge. It's probably an area that some people are looking at but probably not as much detail as we need. In some areas, competitors are working together on environmental sustainability while bearing in mind, of course, the need to fulfil anti-trust requirements. Camilla Riddiford, the head of sustainability at Arla Foods UK arm, pointed to the dairy giants work with Tesco and its biggest rival in the country, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Muller. The Future Dairy Partnership was unveiled in November as a way to speed up the reduction of carbon emissions in the sector, as well as improving animal welfare and protecting nature, Tesco said at the time. The purpose of this is to really collaborate around those shared barriers, the shared challenges that we all face in the dairy sector in the UK, so we can unlock more of those barriers for our farmers to take action on sustainability, Riddiford told the Eco Foods audience. That's the key thing for us: really shifting from this value chain-type approach to a full systems-level approach to be able to meet our Scope 3 ambitions. Teaming up with competitors can pay off, once perhaps some understandable suspicion is worked through, Thai Unions Shearlock a former executive at rival tuna supplier Princes reflected. The companies have worked together on fishery improvement projects. It takes a number of years to break that down and then you actually have a very cordial, pre-competitive atmosphere, he said. If you've got something that is mutually very beneficial we are slugging it on a day-to-day basis, John West and Princes on the shelves at Tesco, Sainsbury's, wherever it is in terms of Indian Ocean tuna sustainability, we pick up the phone to each other but it took a long time to get to that. If you've got a really keen, shared interest for us, it is the fish turning up at our factories in Seychelles and Mauritius and also that our customers will accept it its very clear, pre-competitive, great. The role of consumers and policy-makers All actors in the value chain will need to do their bit. When it comes to consumers, there is often a gap between intent and actual purchase habits. Everyone talks a really good game on the sustainability side; actually, when you look at the decision to purchase, sustainability is still like quite far down that list, Pip & Nuts Thompson said. We are a very kind of sustainability- and purpose-driven brand and we talk about that a lot. It definitely does make a difference for the consumers that they know they're buying products from a responsible business but it does still come quite far down the decision hierarchy when you're actually buying products standing in front of a shelf. Food waste in the home is perhaps one of the principal areas where changes in consumer behaviour could have a noticeable impact. In the UK, the charity and NGO WRAP has run the Love Food Hate Waste campaign to try to reduce the amount of food wasted at home. WRAP estimates 60% of the food that is wasted in the UK is wasted by citizens in their own homes. In recent years, major UK supermarkets have removed best-before dates on much of their fresh produce in a bid to save waste. Estelle Herszenhorn, head of food system transformation at WRAP, said the organisation is very proud of what it's achieved but added: With food waste, as with kind of any consumption change, we can't rely on consumer education and consumer choice. I believe that we have to make it as easy as possible for people. What our research found was the mere presence of that date label meant that people didn't trust their judgment and they chucked away really good food. That's an example of a change that can happen: because that prompt now isn't there, we estimate that that saved over 50,000 tons of good fruit and veg being chucked away every year. I'd really encourage us to not leap to consumer education and consumer choice. It has a role to play but I think the bigger responsibility and opportunity is to set people up for success. However, there are, Herszenhorn noted, areas where governments need to step in to push through change. The example she raised centred on fresh produce but it rings true across a range of environmental sustainability themes. If fruit and veg can be sold loose, you've got the win of people can buy the amount that they need, which reduces food waste, you're removing unnecessary plastic packaging and you're also encouraging people to buy the right amount of a healthy food, Herszenhorn said. There's a first-mover disadvantage of if you're one retailer and you sell more loose, [with] a whole generation getting used to buying packed products, it will reduce sales and people will go to a different retailer. That's why we're saying that there's a policy opportunity that if fruit and veg in packaging for 21 really commonly waste items could be banned that would level the playing field and enable a different set of behaviour. "UK food industry grinds on amid sustainability challenges" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. Federal authorities have arrested an undocumented immigrant accused of storing a missing Illinois woman's dead body in a bleach container in his yard. ICE agents arrested the suspect after he was released from custody under the SAFE-T Act. CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) Federal authorities have arrested an undocumented immigrant accused of storing a missing Illinois womans dead body in a bleach container in his yard. ICE agents arrested the suspect after he was released from custody under the SAFE-T Act. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzales, 52, of Waukegan, was arrested in April and charged with concealing a corpse, abusing a corpse, and obstruction of justice, after the body of Megan Bos, 37, was found in a container in his yard. Bos had been reported missing in the Village of Antioch on March 9th. DHS said Bos body was found decapitated and stored in a bleach storage container in the 700 block of Yeoman Street in Waukegan, but that claim was refuted by Bos mother and proven wrong by autopsy records, according to WGN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendoza-Gonzalez was charged in April, but Lake County Judge Randie Bruno released him after his court appearance, citing provisions of the Illinois SAFE-T Act. He told police Bos overdosed on drugs at his home while he was out of the room, and hid her body in the basement out of fear, before moving it to the storage container in his yard. According to Lake County officials, Bos body showed no signs of trauma or struggle before her death. Mendoza-Gonzalez was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday in Chicago. Everyday ICE is arresting sickos like criminal illegal alien, Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, and stopping them from terrorizing Americans. This depraved alien was charged with concealing the body of a missing woman in a storage container for months and abusing her corpse, said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. It is absolutely repulsive that a judge freed this monster and allowed him to walk free on Illinoiss streets after allegedly committing such a heinous crime. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, Megan Bos and her family will have justice. 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. NEW YORK The Department of Homeland Security will flood the zone with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York City after the City Council blocked federal law enforcement agencies from opening an office in the city jails, President Donald Trumps border czar Tom Homan said Monday morning. Homan joined DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials to deliver that message at One World Trade Center after an off-duty federal customs officer was shot by an undocumented immigrant in an attempted robbery Saturday night, Noem said. You dont want to let us in the jails to arrest a bad guy in the safety and security of a jail. You want to release him into the street, which makes it unsafe for the alien, because anything can happen in an on-street arrest, Homan said. So what are we gonna do? Were gonna put more agents in New York City to look for that bad guy. So sanctuary cities get exactly what they dont want: more agents in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged shooter entered the country illegally in 2023 during then-President Joe Bidens tenure and had been arrested and released four times in the years since, Noem said. She blamed the shooting on New Yorks sanctuary city policies that limit the citys cooperation with civil immigration enforcement and Mayor Eric Adams for not changing the policies, despite his good relationship with the Trump administration. Make no mistake, this officer is in the hospital today fighting for his life because of the policies of the mayor of this city and the City Council and the people that were in charge of keeping the public safe. They refused to do so, Noem said. Adams has said he wants to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration more but blamed the left-leaning City Council for not letting him. I have nothing to do with the rules that are put in place. I just carry out the rules, Adams said at an unrelated press conference Monday when asked to respond to Noem. Adams said he welcomes more ICE agents in the city if theyre going to help the city go after dangerous people like the alleged shooter, but said that if its going to be to go after everyday individuals who are trying to complete the path, who are trying to be a citizen, I dont think we should do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, the Democratic nominee for city comptroller, shot back. To be clear: ICE can and does detail people on Rikers, he posted on X, referring to the island holding the citys jails. They just need a judicial warrant. [What] Homan is talking about is sending masked, unidentified agents into our streets to tear apart families and raid workplaces. This is not about safety. It's about instilling fear. The plan to increase staffing in New York City comes after Trump vowed to focus immigration enforcement on Democratic-led cities. What well do in a city like this is well double down, Noem said Monday of New York. Well put more agents here. Well put more personnel here. Well give them more equipment, more training for situations where they may have to go into a dangerous neighborhood where local law enforcement wont be there to have their backs. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on current staffing levels and what an increase would look like. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting Director Todd Lyons said in an interview Sunday that his agency will crack down on American companies hiring unauthorized workers. Not only are we focused on those individuals that are, you know, working here illegally, were focused on these American companies that are actually exploiting these laborers, Lyons said on CBS Newss Face the Nation. These people that came here for a better life. You know, either, you know, forced labor, child trafficking, you know, a lot of these work site cases just isnt a victimless crime of someone here working illegally, he added. And thats why were going there with these criminal warrants to focus on these American businesses that are trying to make an extra dollar on the backs of these people that came here for a better life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first few months of his second term, President Trump and his administration have heavily cracked down on immigration, drawing criticism from Democrats and advocates. On Sunday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) criticized the Trump administrations reasoning for allowing ICE officers to wear masks as a way to protect themselves and their families from retaliation. Well, first of all, let me just tell you that the masked men are not from Los Angeles, and so how their families could be retaliated against, Bass said on Face the Nation. And then what is that to say to local law enforcement, the Los Angeles Police Department, none of whom are ever masked, who always identify themselves and even hand someone a business card. So that makes absolutely no sense at all, she added. 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. After the government and settlers drove them to near extinction in the West, the U.S. government reintroduced wolves to Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and 1996. (File photo courtesy of Gary Kramer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game estimated the wolf population in Idaho to be about 1,235 wolves as of May 2024, which state officials said Thursday is a decrease of almost 100 wolves from the year before. Idahos wolf population estimates for May using new ABC method May 2024: 1,235 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 2023: 1,333 May 2022: 1,1211 May 2021: 1,592 May 2020: 1,688 May 2019: 1,642 Source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game Idaho Department of Fish and Game Wildlife Research Manager Matt Mumma presented the new population estimate and a summary of the new methods the state uses to estimate the wolf population at the Idaho Fish and Game Commissions meeting Thursday in Coeur dAlene, which was streamed live online by the state. After years of reporting the states estimated wolf population as of Aug. 1, Fish and Game officials switched to estimating the wolf population as of late May with this weeks report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The different reporting dates are part of a larger change where the state switched from deploying trail cameras, which were used from 2019 to 2023, to estimate its wolf population. Idaho is now using a new method, which involves collecting age and genetic information from a tooth from every wolf killed in Idaho, to estimate how many new wolf litters the state has, as well as Idahos overall wolf population. Officials call the new method the ABC method, which is short for Approximate Bayesian Computation. Counting wolves in Idaho using the ABC population method As Fish and Game officials refined the new ABC population method over the past year, adding additional data to the model resulted in changes to previous years wolf population estimates, state officials said. Idaho Department of Wildlife Bureau Chief Shane Roberts told the Sun on Friday that state officials added an additional four metrics to the ABC method after it was unveiled last year. Based on that additional data, Roberts said the ABC method produced higher wolf population estimates for several previous years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It did make all our previous estimates go up slightly, Roberts said in an interview Friday. Some outside researchers had been critical of Idaho using trail cameras to estimate wolf populations, and Idaho Department of FIsh and Game officials acknowledged last year that the trail cam methods could become less accurate as the wolf population decreases. Wildlife biologists and experts estimate the wolf population because wolves are too elusive and Idaho is too rugged and remote for officials to undertake an actual physical count of every wolf in the state. Roberts said the changes in population estimation dates and the new methods are all designed to help the state produce the most accurate wolf count possible using that latest data and most accurate methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts said Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials realize some of the changes may be confusing to the public. But he said the state plans to use the May numbers and the ABC model consistently going forward. When analyzing Idaho wolf population trends over the years, Roberts said it is important to make a distinction that previous population estimates were tied to August and the new numbers are tied to May and there is a difference between the two. Roberts also said he continues to have confidence in the trends that previous wolf population estimates reported. I do believe the general trends of all those estimates combined, regardless of methodology, the trends are telling us what we believe to be the true story of wolves, Roberts said. The general trends are telling the story of gradual growth followed by gradual decline, Roberts added. Reporting Idahos wolf population in May yields highest possible wolf population count due to birth of new pups One of the effects of changing the population estimate to May is that the new reporting date will produce an estimate of the states wolf population at its highest level of the year due to the dynamics of Idahos wolf population. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You might find this up and down pattern strange, but the reason for that up and down pattern is because wolves give birth to litters in April and May, and so thats the very top of wolf abundance, Mumma said during Thursdays meeting. And then through natural mortality and harvest (hunting), the wolf population slowly declines until the following April-May time period when they give birth to more wolves. Therefore any wolf population number from August would be expected to be lower than a population number taken in May, which would be expected to be higher. The impact of changing the reporting time period does make a difference. During the July 2024 Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting, Fish and Game officials estimated the states wolf population at 1,150 wolves as of Aug. 1, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials estimated the states wolf population at 1,235 wolves as of late May 2024. State officials said there were actually fewer wolves in 2024 than in 2023 even though the raw number attached to the 2024 estimate is higher than the 2023 estimated population number the state released a year ago. Separately, Roberts also said additional metrics and data added to the ABC method this year produced a revised, slightly higher wolf population estimate for August 2023 than the original 1,150 wolf estimate. Roberts was out of his office Friday and did not have the revised August 2023 estimate available while being interviewed by the Sun. Roberts pledged to follow up later next week or in the near future with additional information about revised estimates and the expanded ABC method. Overall, Roberts said the department switched to the May population estimate with the latest wolf population report because that is the most accurate time period to report wolves under the new ABC model, which estimates the number of new wolf litters each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Idahos new population estimate is essentially tied to the time right after the last littler of wolves in the state is born each year. The reasoning why we are shifting to May is one of the things the ABC method is estimating is the litters that are produced, Roberts said. It is essentially estimating its population at its peak abundance, right after the peak of reproduction. Similarly, Roberts said state officials used the August time period for the old trail camera estimates because officials used the cameras during the months of July and August to collect pictures of wolves. Releasing a population estimate tied to Aug. 1 each year was the most accurate way to report the wolf population based on when the trail cam photos were taken, Roberts said. Some outside researchers have told the Idaho Capital Sun that the accuracy of the states wolf population estimate is extremely important with the state seeking to reduce its wolf population down to an average annual population of about 500 wolves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mumma, the wildlife research manager for Fish and Game, told commissioners Thursday that the state recently submitted its new wolf population estimation methods to a peer-reviewed journal for publication consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Want to learn more about wolves in Idaho and Yellowstone? Check out Howl, a five-part podcast season and longform written series developed in partnership between the Idaho Capital Sun and Boise State Public Radio to learn more about wolf reintroduction and management in Idaho and the controversy that continues to surround one of Americas greatest wildlife recovery stories. St.-Sgt. Cohen, 19, from Holon, served in Battalion 13 in the Golani Brigade. Staff-Sergeant Amit Cohen was killed while fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Monday. St.-Sgt. Cohen, 19, from Holon, served in the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion. Cohen was posthumously promoted from sergeant to staff-sergeant. "His bravery, determination, and courage will always guide us," Shai Keinan, the Mayor of Holon, wrote on Facebook following the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The entire city of Holon mourns this great loss and embraces his family and loved ones." Cohen left behind his parents and two younger siblings. IDF Golani Brigade in action (Illustrative). (credit: FLASH90) Additionally, an officer in Cohen's Battalion was severely injured in the same incident. He was evacuated for medical treatment, and his family has been notified. The cause of the incident is currently being investigated. IDF casualties since October 7 According to the IDF's tally, the death of Cohen raises the total of soldiers killed on or since October 7 of 2023 to 894. Some 450 of this number were killed since the start of the military's ground operations in the Strip on October 27. This is a developing story. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has made it clear that he does not want to endanger the remaining living 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the 25% of Gaza that the IDF has not taken over. What is happening right now inDeir el-Balah in central Gaza, with the IDF making a large ceremony over attacking certain areas that it has attacked twice before but repackaging them as radical new invasion moves, so far seems like a show. Division 98 invaded Deir el-Balah both from June 5-10, 2024, as well as sometime during the August 16-30, 2024, period, and the air force has bombed it at least 11 times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is possible that the current invasion, which has reportedly included tanks, artillery, and a brigade, shies more into the southern part of Deir el-Balah versus the eastern part, and it seems like the IDF is doing this to put pressure on some remaining senior Hamas commanders (though nearly all senior Hamas commanders, including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Mohammed Sinwar, and Marwan Issa have been killed over 21 months). But once again, this is not an area where the IDF has stayed far away from it, and the military is reportedly only using one brigade, not multiple divisions. AN IDF vehicle crosses the border back into Israel from Gaza last week. The war was not preplanned by Israel, nor was there ever any intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, the writer notes. (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS) Usually, when the IDF is carrying out a major operation in Gaza or Lebanon, it is using multiple divisions. In fact, around the same time that this new move was taking place, the IDF publicly announced that it was pulling the paratroopers and commando brigades out of Gaza, a sign of downgrading how serious the fighting is there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has made it clear that he does not want to endanger the remaining living 20 hostages held by Hamas in the 25% of Gaza that the IDF has not taken over. Most of Hamas has been hiding for an extended period in parts of Gaza City, parts of central Gaza, and the al-Muwasi coastal humanitarian zone. Note that the IDF is still staying out of most of these zones and is making one very targeted new move. So Zamir will need to figure out ways to go into some of these areas, but in such a targeted and careful way to allow Hamas guards with any hostages who might be nearby to move or escape, or otherwise not feel imminently threatened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he fails at that extremely delicate balance, this will end up being another incident in which IDF actions indirectly lead Hamas to killing off hostages, as occurred in August 2024 or worse IDF forces mistakenly killing hostages, as occurred multiple times earlier in the war. Another possibility, which will only work if Israeli intelligence is perfect and if the Hamas guards are extremely cool and collected customers, would be to surround areas where Hamas is holding hostages to try to put them under siege. But Israel could have done this earlier in the war, and decided not to because of the fear that the Hamas guards would eventually force the IDF to withdraw or kill the hostages a lose-lose scenario. The only way this works is if the Hamas guards would rather live and give themselves up, something that has not turned out to be true for most of the war to date, despite Israeli hopes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the guards prefer to live, even if they are caught, then Israel could use a siege tactic to improve its chances of reaching a hostage deal. But if the guards are willing to die like most guards and commanders to date, it may be nearly impossible to bring new, real pressure on Hamas without endangering the hostages. Into all of this, it appears that the dragging on of the war and Israel injecting itself into breaking Hamass control over food aid in Gaza, while an important goal that the world improperly ignored for much of the war, has created a new threat: multiple mistaken mass killing of Gazans by the IDF, which military sources are no longer denying as much as it did before, and is more addressing these allegations by saying it will learn lessons to avoid recurrence of such events. Critics of Israel believe such mass killings have occurred throughout the war. But the IDF has mostly denied such killings until now and, in select cases where there were errors, provided context for what went wrong in complex scenarios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in most of those past cases for the last 21 months, the IDF was at least always trying to fight Hamas, and it could use as a defense the fact that Hamas was using human shields or that Israel was targeting a Hamas terrorist, not civilians, or both. What is different now is that in multiple incidents in recent weeks, IDF sources are not denying that the military has opened fire at large groups of Palestinian civilians when those Palestinians caused certain IDF forces to feel in danger, as those IDF forces were in the vicinity of food aid areas. Its possible and even likely that some of these groups of Palestinian civilians were fooled by Hamas and that some people in the crowd were Hamas agents. Wrong place, wrong time But at the end of the day, in multiple incidents, the IDF has opened fire on unarmed Palestinian civilians who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is more problematic is that a top IDF official admitted openly back on July 9 to three to four of these incidents occurring in late June-early July, promising to learn lessons. Instead of learning lessons from those multiple incidents in late June and early July, there has been an increase in such likely incidents as July has drawn on. The root cause of these incidents, aside from Hamas trying to set up and embarrass the IDF, is simple: soldiers are not trained or built for maintaining public order. That is the job of police who are often trained in non-lethal means of crowd dispersal, such as the use of water cannons and tear gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why isnt Israel using such non-lethal methods in Gaza for dispersal of suspicious crowds who are unarmed (the IDF did not claim they were armed or firing on the IDF in any of the recent cases)? Soldiers, generally, are not trained for such non-lethal methods, but to fight wars. How did top IDF and government officials think this would go when they drew up the plans? Did they think Hamas would go quietly and not try to trick masses of civilians into approaching IDF positions? All of this is happening in an environment where the IDFs Legal Division has not produced a single public update of its over 90 war crimes probes since August 2024, despite multiple campaigns to do so. Whether the delay of publicizing more of Israels side of the story relates to politics or bureaucracy is becoming less relevant than the fact of the failure to make Israels case on the world stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Combining this picture,IDF sources are pushing back less against the implication that even if there was greater control and discipline over soldiers following rules of engagement for much of the earlier stages of the war, the recent stages are seeing larger errors, which might be harder to explain and justify. Putting the law aside completely and just considering legitimacy, Israels current argument is much harder now than earlier in the war because Hamas has been militarily beaten since the summer of 2024. Recent major operations in Beit Hanun were against a mere few dozen Hamas terrorists. It is one thing to argue for an operations legitimacy to kill 20,000 Hamas terrorists that also accidentally kills large numbers of civilians. It is a different thing to argue for an operations legitimacy that accidentally kills a large number of Palestinian civilians, where the only goal is to weaken Hamas politically, and where very few Hamas terrorists are being killed. If there is a hostage deal soon, all of these trends will fall off the board. But if not, and if Israel feels it must continue fighting, all of these other trends will only continue to raise the costs of the war. The area is packed with Palestinians who left their homes during 21 months of war in Gaza, hundreds of whom fled west or south after Israel issued an evacuation order on Sunday. Israeli tanks pushed into the southern and eastern districts of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the IDF believes some of the remaining hostages may be held. The IDF issued evacuation orders for the citizens of Deir al-Balah, saying it sought to destroy Hamas's capabilities and infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message included the phrase that the IDF was going to operate in areas where it has not operated in the past. Has the IDF previously operated in Deir al-Balah? Despite this, the IDFs statements over the 21-month war have indicated that it undertook airstrikes in Deir al-Balah as early as November 6, 2023. That was followed by IDF air strikes on the area in 2024 on: January 1, March 25, July 6, July 20, August 4, September 4, October 7, and November 30, as well as on April 13 and May 8 in 2025. Moreover, the IDF has invaded Deir al-Balah with the 98th Division both from June 5-10, 2024 as well as sometime during the August 16-30, 2024, period. Smoke rises during Israeli strikes in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) The Hostages and Missing Families' Forum criticized the new military incursion, saying that the IDF and the government were going to endanger hostages being held by Hamas. Palestinian media claims three killed by tank shelling The area is packed with Palestinians who left their homes during 21 months of war in Gaza, hundreds of whom fled west or south after Israel issued an evacuation order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local reports claimed that at least three Palestinians were killed and several more wounded after tank shelling in the area hit houses and mosques. The IDF did not issue an official comment on the new incursion as of Monday afternoon. Yonah Jeremy Bob and Reuters contributed to this report. By Andrea Shalal and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration is more concerned with the quality of trade agreements than their timing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday ahead of an August 1 deadline for countries to secure trade deals or face steep tariffs. "We're not going to rush for the sake of doing deals," Bessent told CNBC. Asked whether the deadline could be extended for countries engaged in productive talks with Washington, Bessent said U.S. President Donald Trump would decide. "We'll see what the president wants to do. But again, if we somehow boomerang back to the August 1 tariff, I would think that a higher tariff level will put more pressure on those countries to come with better agreements," he said. Trump has upended the global economy with a trade war that has targeted most U.S. trading partners, but his administration has fallen far short of its plan to clinch deals with dozens of countries. Negotiations with India, the European Union, Japan, and others have proven more trying than expected. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Trump could discuss trade when he meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Tuesday. She said the Trump administration remained engaged with countries around the world and could announce more trade deals or send more letters notifying countries of the tariff rate they faced before August 1, but gave no details. Leavitt's comments came as European Union diplomats said they were exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the U.S., given fading prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington. An increasing number of EU members, including Germany, are now considering using "anti-coercion" measures that would let the bloc target U.S. services or curb access to public tenders in the absence of a deal, diplomats said. "The negotiations over the level of tariffs are currently very intense," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a press conference. "The Americans are quite clearly not willing to agree to a symmetrical tariff arrangement." US-CHINA TALKS SOON On China, Bessent said there would be "talks in the very near future." "I think trade is in a good place, and I think, now we can start talking about other things. The Chinese, unfortunately ... are very large purchasers of sanctioned Iranian oil, sanctioned Russian oil," he said. "We could also discuss the elephant in the room, which is this great rebalancing that the Chinese need to do." U.S. officials have long complained about China's overcapacity in various manufacturing sectors, including steel. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois residents are being asked to report armadillo and black bear sightings, in an effort to determine if the animals are moving northward. According to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is trying to evaluate whether armadillos are migrating northward. IDNR said the species has been established in the central and southern part of the state. IDNR is also asking residents to report sightings of gray wolves, cougars, and black bears after multiple reported sightings have occurred in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said none of the predators are native to the state, but have been moving across state borders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. (WTAJ) A Honduran citizen faces deportation for a fourth time after being found living illegally in Pennsylvania this year. Elio Yoel Cardona-Torres, 43, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced July 17 to time-served (five months in prison) by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for illegally reentering the country after multiple deportations. Cardona-Torres had pleaded guilty to the charge. According to a release from the Department of Justice, Cardona-Torres was found in Sayre, Pa., on February 22. He was previously deported in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE). Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case. 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 WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A 19-year-old from Indiana was arrested in North Carolina for multiple crimes involving rape and child molestation, according to FBI Charlotte. Officials said Marvin Jose Vasquez-Martinez, 19, was arrested on Wednesday, July 16, in Iredell County by law enforcement with FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service and the Iredell County Sheriffs Office. Dead body found in Lincoln County believed to be man missing since July 4th: Sheriff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez-Martinez is a Honduran who was reportedly in the United States unlawfully. His arrest was made in coordination with FBI Indianapolis, which utilized technical surveillance methods to help find him. Vasquez-Martinez was wanted in Hendricks County, Indiana, on felony charges of rape and child molestation. He allegedly fled the area around May 2025. According to the FBI, he has previous arrests for auto theft, resisting law enforcement and possession of marijuana. Arrest records show he is currently booked in the Iredell County Sheriffs Office under a $1 million bond while he waits extradition to Indiana. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories 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 Queen City News. Photo illustration by The Marshall Project. Source images: Kirsten Luce for The Marshall Project; Kirk Thornton, via Unsplash; Sara_i, via Unsplash; and Alexey Demidov, via Unsplash. This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project St. Louis, a nonprofit news team covering Missouris criminal justice systems. Subscribe to their email list, and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube. There was a precious time last summer when a Guatemalan immigrant finally felt at home in Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He, his wife and their young son were in a festive group of random people whod gone to a mid-Missouri river to relax and float downstream in a throng of canoes and kayaks. It was beautiful, he told The Marshall Project St. Louis in Spanish. We had been all over and we felt welcome. Now, they are afraid to enjoy those moments. Apart from going to work and running necessary errands, the family is hunkered down, hiding for their lives. Six months into President Donald Trumps second term, a historic crackdown on undocumented residents intensifies. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a growing pack of agencies have helped transport, detain and deport thousands of people from all corners of the country, while pushing others deeper underground. Immigration attorneys in St. Louis say people are being detained without notice. The local ICE office lobby is often packed. The Guatemalan family has a relative who was recently deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has increased travel bans, detention space and daily arrest goals. High profile elected officials have been wrestled to the floor and handcuffed while trying to intervene and demand due process. Meanwhile, millions of noncitizens remain in the shadows, wanting to be left alone to earn a better living for their families. The Marshall Project St. Louis is withholding the undocumented familys names because they fear being detained by immigration authorities. We havent left to go anywhere, the father said from inside a bare-bones rental home along a busy street in the St. Louis area. We cant because of fear. For us, as Latinos, somebody might ask us for documents, call the police or something else. The Triumph He described their home of El Triunfo, Guatemala, as a threatening and corrupt rivertown on the border of southern Mexico controlled by organized crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why he fled to Mexico in 2018, first to Cancun, then to Mexico City, and Nuevo Laredo, right across the Rio Grande from Laredo, Texas. In Nuevo Laredo, he said extortionists threatened to kill him and a family friend who was hosting him there if he didnt pay $4,000 and help serve as a lookout for the group. He did that for a few months before paying $10,000 for a guided crossing into the United States. He made it to Houston and paid another $1,500 for the final leg to St. Ann, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb where he initially lived. He arrived in February 2019 with a heavy heart. I had come here to support my family and get ahead, he said. I was also leaving them behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Ann doesnt seem like the place to find solace. A community of small, post-World War II houses and a lot of parkland, it became known for an aggressive police department that held and turned people over to immigration authorities. Aaron Jimenez, the citys elected chief of police, said the reputation is a holdover from a prior administration and era. We arent looking to deport people, said Jimenez, who said he is serving his last term as chief. We have so many other problems in our area, like homelessness and overdoses. Once he arrived, the Guatemalan man started working odd jobs to begin paying for his wife and son to join him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His wife made the voyage to Missouri in 2023, about four years after he did. It cost them $16,000. A year after that, their son made the guided crossing without them for $8,000. Its better to have him suffer a couple days than to have him stay in my hometown, he said. Finally united, they had that fun day on a mid-Missouri river. They also drove to Chicago last summer to pursue documents at the Guatemalan consulate. While there, they toured The Bean at Millennium Park and had a taste of home at a Guatemalan fast-food restaurant. They enrolled their son, now 11, in school, where he easily made friends. The wife would linger at drop-off to chat with parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The good vibe didnt last. These days, the mom wont linger at school pick-up or drop-off. Their once outgoing son cant hang out at the neighborhood park or pool this summer. The father is scared that neighbors would report them to the police, so they mostly stay inside. Recently, the father said he was pulled over while passing through Clayton, the prominent seat of St. Louis County government, with his latest boss in the vehicle. He said he doesnt have a drivers license, but he pays for insurance. The police let him go. Many others havent been so lucky. Their bodies are also still recovering since they left Guatemala. He injured his back falling from the second story of a home while working as a roofer; she was hurt in a crash on her way to Missouri. Immigration enforcement Jessica Mayo, an attorney and codirector of the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project in St. Louis, said that people are being detained without notice, sometimes through deceptive means that can lead to deportation. Some are separated from their children without plans in place to care for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many immigrants in this country right now are living in a constant crisis mode of fear and anxiety, Mayo said at a rally in June. She said the immigration system isnt designed to help people. The fact that it can be used to destroy communities and families is not an accident, she told the crowd. This has been going on since long before Trump, but Trump is certainly doing everything he can to ramp it up. Jimenez, the St. Ann police chief, said in an interview that there needs to be a quicker path to citizenship and authorized worker programs. Lets get these people who are really good people vetted, he said. Thats easier than, Lets get rid of everybody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he said his department isnt prioritizing deportations, they have referred some people to immigration authorities in recent months, including a Peruvian man who allegedly assaulted a young woman. For his part, the chief said he doesnt seek to refer people accused of nonviolent offenses. I do leave it to the officers discretion, he said. If we didnt want that, then we might as well have robots as police. Easy decision The so-called Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have seen mass migration driven by poverty and high crime, with more expected in the coming years, according to the Congressional Research Service. About half the population of Guatemala is under the age of 25, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency data from 2024. Returning there isnt a viable option for the man from El Triunfo and his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Guatemalan man said his brother, a street vender, was kidnapped in late May after crossing the border into southern Mexico to buy supplies for work. Family members checked hospitals and put up signs asking for the publics help locating him. He shared a recording with The Marshal Project St. Louis of a telephone conversation with a man who claimed to have information about his brother and demanded a $4,000 ransom for it. He said his extended family had paid the equivalent of about $500 to other opportunists. His brother hadnt surfaced, and threats remained against another. We hope that he returns, and that if hes dead they return the body, he said, a tear trickling through the whiskers of his unshaven face. He said hed quickly try to return to Missouri if he were detained and deported. His back is sore and the trip is costly, but theres less risk and more opportunity to work in St. Louis than in the Guatemalan rivertown his small family fled. Theyd also like to have more children. Not right now because of whats going on, he said. I dont want something to happen to me and she is left alone, a pregnant woman trying to get a job. Enforcement and Removal Operations officers (ERO) from the Baltimore office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement seen in a Sept. 7, 2023, photo. Baltimore is one of 16 Maryland jurisdictions that do not have 287(g) agreements with ICE. (Photo courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Every person getting booked in jail in Frederick County is asked two questions: Where were you born? and What country are you a citizen of? If the answer to either question is anything other than the U.S., said Sheriff Chuck Jenkins (R), officers will take the individual to the facilitys ICE unit where they determine the persons legal status. If residing in the country illegally, officers will then place a detainer on them to initiate removal proceedings if determined appropriate by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than release a criminal back onto the street, we turn those criminals over to ICE, Jenkins said. Frederick is one of several Maryland counties where the sheriffs office has opted to participate in the 287(g) program, which allows ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement abilities to state and local law enforcement officials. The powers include executing administrative immigration warrants in their jails, identifying and beginning removal proceedings against individuals arrested by local law enforcement, and serving on task forces that allow officers to enforce limited immigration authority. While 287(g) agreements were first established in 1996, they have gained increased public awareness and scrutiny after President Donald Trump returned to office in January and directed a significant increase in immigration enforcement across the country. So far during his presidency, immigration arrests in Maryland have doubled. Since the beginning of this year, five more Maryland sheriffs offices in Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, St. Marys and Washington counties have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE. Cecil, Frederick and Harford counties already had agreements in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the kinds of agreement can differ, all the participating sheriffs offices in Maryland only utilize the 287(g) program in their county jails. Opponents of the 287(g) program say that it leads to racial profiling of Latino residents, and will only increase distrust in law enforcement. CASA policy manager Ninfa Amador-Hernandez said it was a great disappointment that the Maryland General Assembly did not approve a provision of the Maryland Values Act in the last legislative session which would have ended current 287(g) agreements in the state and prohibited the formation of new ones. The impact of these programs is not just fear and mistrust in local government, Amador-Hernandez said. Its also the deep trauma and separation these programs cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amador-Hernandez added that local law enforcement in Maryland shouldnt be spending taxpayer money on the extra time and effort the program requires of officers to partner with ICE. Theres absolutely no reason why a locality should be using their taxpayer dollars to enhance this agencys [ICE] already-over-funded programs, she said. Sheriffs who participate in the program, including those from every county in Western Maryland, have defended 287(g) agreements as an effective tool. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler (R) said the idea that the program is racially discriminatory or increases distrust in law enforcement among immigrant communities is all scare tactics. Hed like to see all 24 counties in Maryland sign a 287(g) agreement, he said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our job is not to do ICEs job, he said. Its not to do the FBIs job. Its not to do the DEAs job. But we should be good partners on the things that relate to keeping our community safe, and this program works to keep our community safe through a partnership. Carroll County Sheriff Jim Dewees (R) said that critics of the program are incredibly naive to how it works. This is a jail-based model. We are not running around looking for people that ICE wants, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Dewees, president of the Maryland Sheriffs Association, said the program isnt discriminatory, as each persons immigration status is checked, regardless of who they are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But University of Maryland Carey School of Law Professor Maureen Sweeney said it matters who is brought to jail in the first place. Who are they choosing to bring in, as opposed to giving them a ticket or not even stopping them? asked Sweeney, the faculty director of the law schools Chacon Center for Immigrant Justice. Sweeney pointed to past Justice Department investigations that found some U.S. sheriffs offices with 287(g) agreements were racially profiling Latino residents. In 2011, one DOJ investigation determined that the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office in Arizona was engaging in a pattern of unconstitutional policing, then-Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas E. Perez wrote in a letter at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation found that the office was racially profiling Latinos, unlawfully stopping, detaining and arresting them, and unlawfully retaliating against individuals who complained about the office, Perez wrote in the 2011 letter. Latino drivers were four to nine times more likely to be pulled over for a traffic stop than similarly situated non-Latino drivers, wrote Perez. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security terminated its 287(g) agreement with the county. The program was later reformed by President Barack Obama, removing its Task Force Model. Sweeney said the program incentivizes police to engage in these kinds of unconstitutional stop-and-search tactics. Its an arrest that would likely be thrown out in criminal court, but because of the more lax standards in the immigration system, they often get the credit for enforcement, even though it was an unconstitutional stop, Sweeney said. It is illegal to stop somebody on the basis of their race, regardless of whether youre enforcing the criminal law or the immigration law, but the mechanisms to enforce that are so much weaker in the immigration system. Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins testifies in March to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on his countys 287(g) agreement with ICE. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) The Frederick County Sheriffs Office, which Jenkins said has the longest-standing 287(g) agreement in the country, has served more than 1,800 immigration detainers since it first joined in 2008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others are still getting off the ground. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said that his offices 287(g) agreement has only been operational since July 1. So far, theyve processed one person, he said. Most of Marylands sheriffs have not signed a 287(g) agreement, however. Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell Uy (D), said that he didnt join the program because county residents dont want his office entering into an agreement to enforce immigration, and due to the fact that he doesnt oversee the countys jails. You wouldnt want a federal officer, federal agent, to write traffic tickets. Montgomery County residents dont want their deputies out enforcing immigration law, he said. Its the community that should dictate how they want their law enforcement to engage with the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others, like Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble (R), said they havent joined simply because they dont oversee a jail, and wouldnt have the ability to sign on to a jail enforcement-based agreement. At its root, Sweeney said the problem lies in uniting immigration enforcement with criminal enforcement. By combining the two, she said, immigrant communities arent going to trust the police, or go to them when they need to. Immigration enforcement is going to have a drastic impact on the way people live, she said. We live in a global world, right? And thats not going away, Sweeney said. We will come back to some kind of balance. But how long will it take, and how much damage will be done to individuals and companies, the economy, the culture? That remains to be seen. New data shows about a quarter of Indiana students who took the SAT in 2025 met college-readiness benchmarks on both the reading and writing and math portions of the exam. (Getty Images) New SAT results showed more Hoosier students meeting college-readiness benchmarks in reading, but overall scores remain low especially in math. More than 81,000 Indiana high school students took the test in 2024-25. Most of those were juniors students slated to graduate in spring 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Results showed slight improvement on the SAT this year in both the evidence-based reading and writing and math sections. In reading and writing, the share of students scoring at or above the college-ready threshold rose to 54.5%, up from 51.8% the year before and 50.5% in 2023. A greater number of students continued to score in the below college-ready category for math, however. Just 25.2% of test-takers earned passing scores in 2025. About 24.5% of Indiana students who took the SAT during the last academic year met the readiness benchmark on both subject portions, according to the Indiana Department of Education. Thats a 0.3% increase compared to last year, but still 4% down from 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We still have a large number of students in that below-college-ready group, said Lynn Schemel, IDOEs chief academic officer. We want to move that in the (right) direction but we have more work to do. The new test results were released last week and discussed by the State Board of Education. Data from the latest round of ILEARN testing was also published. State law requires IDOE to administer a national college entrance exam to high school students before graduation. How scores work The SAT includes math, reading and writing sections. The assessment, administered by the College Board, scores students as At College-Ready, Approaching College-Ready, or Below College-Ready, depending on their performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A student who scores Approaching with one more year remaining in high school is expected to be at At College-Ready by graduation. Students who score at or above the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in their first semester of credit-bearing college courses in that subject area, IDOE officials said. As a board, weve talked a lot about what skills students need in high school. Does the SAT fit that? I think thats a conversation well continue to have. Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner Of the 81,620 students who took the reading and writing assessment in 2025, more than half met the college-ready benchmark. About 36.4% of students were approaching a passing score, while 9.2% remained below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In math, 21.6% of students were approaching college-readiness, and 53% were below the readiness benchmark. Thats a decline from 2024, when roughly 52.8% of test-takers were below college-ready levels, and from 45.2% who trailed the benchmark in 2023. About 25% of students posted college-ready math scores in 2024. IDOE data indicates 30.7% of students who took the SAT were college-ready in math in 2023. (The latest data) underscores the urgency of the work were doing, Schemel said, referencing new instructional resources and educational screeners designed to improve foundational math skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state, she noted, is currently building math support systems for students in grades K2 and 912 to mirror recent literacy investments made for elementary and middle school grades. Board members weigh in Board members acknowledged the need for additional math support, but some questioned whether the SAT is the right tool to evaluate all progress among all Indiana students, especially those not planning to attend college. This is a college-ready exam, and we administer it to students who arent going to college, said board member B.J. Watts. Lets be honest its not important to them. That doesnt mean they dont have other skills where they shine. But thats not going to show up here, at least not yet. Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner echoed the need for continued discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a board, weve talked a lot about what skills students need in high school, Jenner said. Does the SAT fit that? I think thats a conversation well continue to have. Education officials further pointed to a wave of reforms aimed at supporting students earlier in their education, like numeracy screeners, teacher training in evidence-based instruction methods, and math intervention plans. All of those efforts are still ramping up, Schemel said. Were trying to wrap our arms around the standards at the high school level now, too, Hurst said. That includes what students are getting in their courses before they even get to this SAT moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenner added that SAT scores are likely to evolve more as Indiana rolls out new pathways to graduation. Under the states new high school diploma model which is set to take effect for all schools by 2029 all juniors will still be required by law to take the SAT, but scores are only used toward graduation if a student chooses that option under one of the college-bound or employment-readiness tracks, or seals. Were maximizing the four years of high school, she said. Whether students pursue enrollment, enlistment or employment, our work has to prepare them for all three. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX After a Northeast Indiana mom recorded a meeting with her daughter's principal last year and then posted it online, she was banned from school grounds and limited in her communications with school employees. Nicole Graves was disciplined after twice violating a Whitley County district policy not to record meetings without the building administrator's permission, according to a district letter sent to her. The Goldwater Institute, a conservative-leaning Arizona-based think tank, is pushing to rescind the policy, arguing that it violates the right to free expression protected under the First Amendment. It's a policy found in other schools around the state and the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're very hopeful that the school district will simply just change the recording policy," attorney Adam Shelton said. "However, we are still open to litigation depending on how the conversation with the school district continues to go." If the school restricted Graves from talking about the meeting or drafting a transcript, Shelton said, it would undoubtedly violate the First Amendment. He questions why a recording would be any different. "This is just a measure the school's adopted to prevent the most accurate record of conversation from being taken," he said. The school has since lifted its punishments as part of a typical end-of-school-year review, said Laura McDermott, superintendent of Whitley County Consolidated Schools, in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement did not mention the recording policy, and McDermott has not responded to additional IndyStar questions. In a prior statement to Fort Wayne TV station WPTA, she said Graves violated the recording policy meant to protect student privacy. "The parent was not restricted from school property for expressing concerns, but rather due to a pattern of aggressive interactions with school staff and public commentary involving children other than her own," the statement to IndyStar reads. "As a school district, we have an obligation to protect the privacy and well-being of all students and to maintain a safe, respectful environment for staff and families." Conflict began with concerns about school bus driver Graves asked to meet with Indian Springs Middle School principal, Wesley Mullett, after her daughter reported an incident on the school bus. In a video produced by Goldwater, Graves said her daughter's school bus driver was smacking his belt against his hand and had his underwear visible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graves asked to meet with Mullett to ask about the incident and why she wasn't notified when her daughter reported the driver's behavior. She also previously had issues with other bus drivers in the district, Shelton said. Graves said she lost confidence in the school after hearing Mullett's explanations about the situation and later posted the meeting recording on social media. She decided to record the meeting so she could accurately recount what was said, according to Goldwater. Graves received a letter detailing punishments for violating the district's recording policy. She was asked to take down the audio clip, according to the letter. Goldwater argues Graves' Fourteenth Amendment rights to control her child's education were violated. Shelton said Graves should have been notified about her child's report of the bus driver, and there are concerns about her subsequent punishment limiting access to her daughter's education. Legal argument In a letter sent to school officials in May, Shelton and Goldwater argue that the school's policy violates her rights to free expression. Though Graves is no longer banned from school grounds, Shelton said the think tank wants to see this policy rolled back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McDermott did not respond to an IndyStar question about the details of the policy and whether it is under review. The First Amendment extends to conduct that is inherently expressive, which courts have decided does include video and audio recordings in some cases. Goldwater's argument lands in a legal gray area. Shelton believes the right to record government officials is protected and argues that freedom should not be limited to a public setting if there are no other privacy concerns at play. "There's no meaningful constitutional difference between speaking about what happened at a meeting and recording what happened at a meeting," Shelton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, there isn't clear case law on this issue. The USA TODAY Network - Indiana's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Cate Charron by email at ccharron@indystar.com or message her on Signal at @cate.charron.28. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana school accused of violating mom's First Amendment rights Indiana summers are so hot that even the corn sweats. By late July, the Midwest's most abundant crop is prospering and perspiring enough to cause a slight bump in humidity levels. The water absorbed through corn plants' roots exits tiny holes on their leaves called stomata. Once that moisture evaporates, it makes the nearby air more humid. The effects are spread throughout the state, but the impact is higher near where corn is grown, said professor Dan Quinn, the corn specialist at Purdue University Extension. The level of humidity produced by corn sweat is hard to quantify, Quinn said, but researchers know it only takes a kernel of the blame for the Midwest's sticky summers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An acre of corn transpires between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of water per day at peak persipiration. An inch of rainfall, by comparison, introduces about 27,000 gallons of water to an acre of land. "So in reality, is it contributing to higher levels? Sure, but it's often a much smaller percentage than what we actually think of," Quinn said. The main driver of the region's summer humidity is southern and westerly winds, he said. Peak perspiration season comes just as the corn comes to tassel in late July or early August. And just as it is for people, corn sweats more when it's hot and humid, Quinn explained. On particularly scorching days or during a dry spell, corn leaves curl up to reduce the amount of moisture baking off. All plants sweat to some degree. Corn is a particularly sweaty crop, Quinn said, and it's especially so when it's a high-yield variety like those preferred by farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost half of Indiana's crop land is dedicated to growing corn, according to the state's agriculture department. Much of that yield goes to feeding livestock, but a large portion goes to people, too: about one fifth of the U.S. popcorn supply comes from the Hoosier State. Peak "corn sweating season" usually comes at the end of July or beginning of August, just as corn comes to tassel. One NASA study found that during that time, corn fields photosynthesize so much energy that the Midwest produces as much as 40% more oxygen compared to the Amazon rainforest. That's thanks in large part to advanced agricultural technologies and centuries of farming wisdom that have made corn into the productive and hearty crop it is today. "I don't think people really understand how much science, technology and innovation is in that plant," Quinn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Summers are so hot in the Midwest that even the corn sweats As a group of Indigenous teenagers and young adults neared the end of a historic, long-awaited first journey down the newly restored Klamath River, CNN caught up with a few of the participants. Over a century ago, the California Oregon Power Company (now PacifiCorp) installed the first of four hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River. By the time the fourth and final dam had been constructed in the 1960s, the project had severely impacted several tribes' way of life and cut them off from a vital source of sustenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, advocates fought to undam the Klamath, and by the 1990s, population levels for several species of local fish had become critically low. A massive fishkill in 2002 amplified calls to remove the dams and restore the natural flow of the river. In April 2020, officials approved a plan to remove the Klamath dams, which started what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called the "world's largest dam removal effort." By early 2024, removal of the dams was underway. As of October, all four dams were gone, allowing the Klamath to flow naturally for the first time in roughly a century. On June 12, the Klamath First Descent commenced, organized as part of Rios to Rivers' Paddle Tribal Waters initiative prepping the young group of kayakers to be the "first people to paddle the restored river from source-to-sea." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keeya Wiki, a 17-year-old kayaker on the journey, recalled her excitement as the last dam came down. She told CNN that the experience of traversing the restored Klamath was "surreal" and something her older relatives doubted would ever come to pass. "So many of our elders and our aunties and uncles fought so hard to get these dams down. It was a really long, hard fight, and a lot of people thought even my grandma thought they would never see the dams come down in their lifetime," Wiki explained. 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. Rios to Rivers founder Weston Boyles told CNN that it was important for Indigenous people to "lead" the initial descent down the Klamath, and Wiki agreed. "We are getting justice, and making sure that my people and all the people on the Klamath River can live how we're supposed to," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 310-mile, month-long expedition concluded on July 13 in Requa, California, where the young kayakers were met with enthusiasm by waiting friends and family. 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. Wayfair (NYSE:W) is gearing up to release its second-quarter earnings before the market opens on August 4, with expectations of surpassing Street estimates for both sales and profitability. On Monday, Bank of America Securities analyst Curtis Nagle reiterated a Neutral rating on Wayfair, setting a price forecast of $60. Nagles projection of $3.15 billion in second-quarter sales surpasses the Streets consensus of $3.12 billion. This more bullish outlook is attributed to stronger-than-expected industry trends, increased inventory availability driven by higher utilization of Wayfairs CastleGate system, and effective vendor-funded promotions. Also Read: Wayfair Stock Rises After Surprise Q1 Profit and Higher Sales Beat Expectations The analysts EBITDA estimate of $153 million also exceeds the Streets $146 million, fueled by expectations of higher gross profit dollars due to greater flow-through and leverage from Selling, Operations, Technology, General & Administrative expenses, particularly from a right-sizing of the companys tech headcount. Supporting these positive trends, Bank of Americas aggregated credit and debit card data indicated a slight improvement in online furniture spending, which declined by 0.8% year-over-year in the second quarter, compared to a 1.6% decline in the first quarter. Nagle suggests that these improving trends could signify a pull-forward in demand and increased promotional spending, although this might potentially come at the expense of industry sales later in the year. He further noted that accelerating web and app trends suggest Wayfair is continuing to gain market share, driven by better product availability and vendor-funded promotions. Consequently, Nagle raised his second-quarter sales estimate by 1% to $3.15 billion and his EBITDA estimate by 2%. Looking ahead to the third quarter, Nagle also increased his sales estimate by 1% to $2.86 billion, which aligns closely with the Streets estimate of $2.87 billion. This adjustment reflects the better-than-expected performance of consumer spending and the broader furnishings category. Furthermore, concerns regarding tariffs appear to be easing following Vietnams trade deal, despite an August 1 deadline. The extended Black Friday in July event also indicates a healthy supply on the site, likely as vendors increasingly leverage CastleGate. Nagle sees this event as an additional opportunity for Wayfair to drive incremental sales. However, he maintained his fourth-quarter estimates, primarily due to tougher year-over-year comparisons. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso County Sherifffs Office and the El Paso District Attorneys Office are asking anyone who has active criminal warrants to turn themselves in to law enforcement before the end of July, the DAs Office said in a news release. The annual Warrant Roundup will be held from Monday, July 28 to Aug. 1, both agencies said. During the annual Warrant Roundup, EPCSO deputies execute searches to find those who have not complied with court orders in their criminal cases, the DAs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Paso County Sheriffs Office offers amnesty period ahead of warrant round-up Before the roundup takes place, the Sheriffs Office publishes a list of wanted individuals on the El Paso County website and distributes the list to local media outlets. You can click here for more information. Last year, 40 arrests were made during the Warrant Roundup. In 2023, 55 people with outstanding warrants were arrested. Before the Warrant Roundup, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said it is offering an amnesty period from Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25. According to EPCSO, the period will be in effect from Monday, July 21, to Friday, July 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an individuals name is on the list and currently has an active criminal warrant with the County courts, this is your opportunity to resolve it (warrant) without fear or immediate arrest, the Sheriffs Office said of its amnesty period that is being offered before the Warrant Roundup. In addition, EPCSO says those who take advantage of the amnesty period can avoid being taken into custody by scheduling a Fast Track Booking appointment. DA James Montoya said his office doesnt forget pepole who have warrants. If you have been charged with a crime, we encourage those with warrants to turn themselves in voluntarily. But if not, law enforcement will find you, Montoya said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who wants to turn themselves in may do so beginning at 6 a.m. at the Downtown El Paso County Jail at 601 E. Overland Ave. . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Don Millis and Ann Jacob, the former and current chairs of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, testify Tuesday, Feb. 4, at an Assembly hearing on a commission rule for election observers. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) Wisconsin was one of several states included in the U.S. Department of Justices request for statewide voter registration data files that include data on millions of Americans. However, after WEC pointed DOJ to state law that would require the Department to pay $12,500 for the data, it has not followed up on the request, according to a Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesperson. The DOJ requests for voter data from at least nine states have raised concerns about what the Trump Administration plans to do with the information as President Donald Trump has remained fixated on disproven conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Correspondence from US DOJ to WEC 6.17.25 Through the spring and early summer, DOJ officials have requested information from state election authorities based on allegations that states have violated federal election laws. The June 17 letter sent to Wisconsin alleges that Wisconsin has not complied with the Help America Vote Act, a 2002 law meant to streamline and modernize the election process. The letter requested that WEC give DOJ Wisconsins statewide voter registration list, provide information on how the state manages the files of voters who become inactive by moving elsewhere or dying and how it verifies voter citizenship. Most of the questions surround topics that have been common complaints among purveyors of election conspiracy theories over the past half decade. On July 2, WECs chief legal counsel Jim Witecha sent a letter in response to DOJ on behalf of the six election commissioners. The letter gives detailed answers to many of the questions while asserting that state law prevents the commission from simply handing over the voter data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State law requires that the elections commission charge a fee for obtaining voter registration data and the price for obtaining the full list is set at $12,500. USDOJ Response Letter Wisconsin law requires the Commission to charge a fee for access to voter registration data and makes no exceptions for elected officials, government agencies, journalists, non-profits, academics, or any other group, the letter states. More than two weeks later, the DOJ has not yet filed a request to purchase Wisconsins voter rolls, according to WEC spokesperson Emilee Miklas. Information about DOJs request to WEC is located on the state agencys FAQ webpage, along with answers to questions that have been repeatedly raised by election deniers in the state. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Consumers Energy office in Lansing | Susan J. Demas A ballot initiative to ban corporations with large existing or pending government contracts from making political campaign contributions delivered its petition summary and its form to the Michigan Bureau of Elections on Monday, moving it a step closer to potential approval and signature gathering. Michiganders for Money Out of Politics in a news release announced that its summary and form are now before the Board of State Canvassers, which must meet within the next 30 days to either approve or deny the language for the 2026 general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initiative aims to ban large monopolies, like the states regulated utility utilities DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, from influencing Michigan politics and elections via campaign and political action committee contributions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The ballot committee, backed by the Taking Back Our Power coalition, said in June that an affirmative vote at the initiative at the ballot box from Michiganders would restore the states democratic systems by putting people over corporate profits. The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics coalition includes Clean Water Action, Climate Cabinet, Community Change Action, Detroit Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan United Action, MOSES Action, Progress Michigan, and Voters Not Politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, with the delivery of its materials to the state, the committee said it was hopeful the board would move the initiative forward. Its time to end the corporate capture of our government by big corporations like DTE, Consumers, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Voters across the political spectrum know why our politicians continually fail us because they are prioritizing corporate donors, not voters, Christy McGillivray, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, said in a statement. If approved, the initiative will need to collect 356,958 valid signatures in 180 days to put the initiative before voters on the November 2026 ballot. Now begins our grassroots campaign to ensure that our lawmakers are putting the needs of their constituents first, Sean McBrearty, Michigan director of Clean Water Action, said in a statement. This campaign will not be won overnight, it is truly a David vs. Goliath struggle and we invite every voter in Michigan to visit mopupmichigan.org to learn more and get involved in this critical fight. Idahos only maximum security prison could soon be home to Bryan Kohberger, the man who admitted to the 2022 gruesome killings of four University of Idaho students in a remarkable change-of-plea hearing earlier this month. The Idaho Maximum Security Institution, opened in 1989 to confine the states most disruptive male residents, has garnered nationwide attention following an aborted execution due to a botched lethal injection and a prisoner-led hunger strike demanding better conditions. Kohberger, a 30-year-old former PhD student of criminology, admitted guilt for the first time on July 2 to charges of burglary and first-degree murder in the fatal stabbings of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen in their off-campus Moscow, Idaho, home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case reached a bitter resolution after two and a half years of desperately searching for answers when Kohberger, seated behind a table in an off-white button-up shirt and patterned tie, responded to questions from State District Judge Steven Hippler with a series of simple yeses and a neutral gaze, admitting in one-word answers that he planned and carried out the brutal stabbings. While the plea will allow Kohberger to avoid the death penalty, he could still be in close proximity to the states eight male death row prisoners who are also housed in the Kuna, Idaho, facility. Those prisoners include Chad Daybell, who was convicted in the 2019 killings of his first wife and two of his second wifes children. Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students on July 2, 2025 in exchange for being spared the death penalty. - Kyle Green/Pool/Getty Images Kohberger is expected to return to court in Boise later this week for his sentencing, and could be transferred just over 10 miles down the road to the states maximum security prison right after. Heres a look at what life inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution could be like: There are delays in medical care, vents clogged with feces and urine, prisoners say The male-only facility, located just south of Boise, is surrounded by a double perimeter fence reinforced with razor wire and equipped with an electronic detection system, according to its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has the capacity to house 549 people, and has a unit for civilly committed psychiatric patients, which has faced backlash from the National Alliance on Mental Illness for using a prison to house people with mental illnesses in need of mental health treatment. The alliance faulted the facility for allegedly denying patients access to prison programs and services typically available to incarcerated individuals. The prison has also garnered criticism for its harsh treatment of inmates in solitary confinement and for its poor conditions, driving prisoners to organize a mass six-day hunger strike last year in protest of the facility, the Idaho Statesman reported. Among the ninety inmates who participated in the strike, some complained about delays in access to medical care, long bouts of isolation and recreational cages, the newspaper reported. The cages were described as large chain link-like metal boxes each man is placed into, littered with human urine and feces that have soaked into the concrete. Men housed in a lower-security section within the maximum-security prison, who are allowed access to an open outdoor recreation area, told the Statesman the space is often littered with trash and bodily fluids, and others said the facilitys HVAC system hasnt been cleaned in decades because the vents are clogged with garbage, urine and feces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Idaho Department of Correction told CNN the recreation enclosures are regularly cleaned, and individuals can request vent cleaning in their cells if needed. After the inmates refused their provided meals, the department said it developed ways to increase vocational and educational opportunities, religious services, and recreation opportunities. Safety is our number one priority for everyone living and working in our facilities, the department told CNN. The prisons strict solitary confinement policies have also sparked concern. Kevin Kempf, who served as director of the Idaho Department of Correction in 2016, told CNN affiliate KBOI at the time that inmates were confined alone for up to 23 hours a day with little human interaction, received meals in their cells, and were allowed showers only three times a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Idaho Department of Correction implemented a step-down program that gradually transitions inmates from solitary confinement to a more open environment, KBOI reported. This program includes stages such as placing prisoners in cells where they can talk and interact with others, helping them adjust slowly and safely. In its statement to CNN, the department said, Long term restrictive housing is not a disciplinary sanction, it is a housing assignment designed to manage specific behaviors. A firing squad chamber is being built in the same building The prison has recently come under scrutiny because its equipped with the states execution chamber, which was the site of an aborted execution last year. After Idaho struggled for years to obtain pentobarbital, a single-drug protocol to execute death row inmates, the states first attempt to use the lethal injection in 12 years failed. In February 2024, officials were unable to set an IV line on Thomas Creech , forcing them to abort the execution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creech, the longest-serving inmate on Idahos death row, was sentenced to death after pleading guilty to the murder of another inmate, David Dale Jensen, in 1981, while Creech was serving four life sentences, according to the Ada County Prosecutors Office. His second execution was postponed when a federal judge issued a stay in November. Now, the state is making the firing squad its lead method of execution. Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill in March, making his state the only one in the country with the firing squad as its primary execution method beginning July 1, 2026. Idaho lawmakers first passed legislation in 2023 allowing for the firing squad as a means of execution if drugs are unavailable, or lethal injection is found to be unconstitutional. All executions and execution-related procedures were suspended until the maximum security prison completes the renovation of the F-Block, the execution chamber, to accommodate both methods lethal injection and firing squad, the Idaho Department of Correction announced in June. The renovations are expected to take about seven months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, executions have been rare in Idaho. Only three executions have taken place in the facility since the state revised its death penalty statute in 1977, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ST. LOUIS Experts worry that a new, invasive insect making its way across the country could soon arrive in Missouri. The spotted lanternfly is not a fly at all. Its something called a true bug, Emily Althoff, an assistant extension professor and state extension specialist of urban entomology with the MU Extension and Lincoln University, said. It falls into this group of planthoppers and that means that it has a piercing, sucking mouth part that it uses to feed off the sap of a plant. The spotted lanternfly was introduced to Pennsylvania in 2014 and has been making its way west. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been identified in Cook Countythat was in 2023as well as in two counties near Nashville, Tennessee, Althoff said. The insect can lay eggs on metal objects like planes, trains, and automobiles, which has led to its quick expansion westward. Experts are concerned about its seemingly imminent arrival in Missouri. It will also feed on apples, grapes, hardwoods, and affect things like our wine industry here in Missouri. It can also be a nuisance pest in urban environments, she said. Imos Pizzas St. Louis headquarters and production facility now for sale The spotted lanternfly feeds on the sap of plants and produces what experts call honeydew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And honeydew is essentially this really sticky stuff thats going to get on all of the plants its feeding on, Althoff said. This honeydew can produce sooty mold, attracting wasps and yellow jackets to our yards, and make plants vulnerable. Our grapes; again, that sooty mold is a really big problem for any sort of plant thats trying to gather nutrients and grow, Althoff said. Its also an issue because its going to stress those plant out quite a bit. When it will arrive isnt known but preparations are being made. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been monitoring for these insects over the years and so were trying to have a first line of defense against them, Althoff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you think youve seen a spotted lanternfly its important to report it immediately to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. To do this, take a picture, safely collect the insect, if possible, and email the photo and location to plantpest@mda.mo.gov. You can also report it to the Missouri Department of Conservation, or the United States Department of Agricultures Plant Protection and Quarantine Group. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EAU CLAIRE An Eau Claire man with a long history in the court system and three currently open cases was in court Friday for another felony prosecution. The three earlier cases against Jason Rezarch, 52, involved charges ranging from driving with a revoked license and misdemeanor theft to drug possession. In April a new filing brought six counts of possession of child pornography. According to the criminal complaint officers were searching Rezarchs cell phone as part of one of the other cases, though it does not specify which. The officers flagged potential child pornography and sought a search warrant for that specific offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The images were among many more pornographic files depicting adults. But these showed prepubescent children, both male and female. When investigators spoke with Rezarch about the images, he said any nude photos were from a nudist website and that he assumed everyone in them was over the age of 18 since they were publicly accessible. When shown a sanitized version of one of the pictures, Rezarch conceded the person shown was very young. He continued to insist he had downloaded the images from a nudist site and said he didnt understand why I would have saved that image. Each of the charges is a Class D felony. Such offenses are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and 10 years extended supervision. Fines can reach $100,000. Rezarch has pleaded not guilty. He is next due in court on Sept. 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The application for a second search warrant, even though the police were already searching the phone illustrates one of the ways searches and evidence work. Generally speaking, warrants must be limited in scope, addressing an effort to find evidence for a specific offense. So, when the officers found evidence that pointed to an offense that went beyond the original warrants limits, a new one was needed. By way of example, if a search warrant specifies a specific room of a house, officers cant search the others. If the warrant covers all of the house, but only the house, they cant search a detached garage or back yard shed. If officers ignore that and collect evidence that lies outside the scope of the warrant the court may find it to be inadmissible, potentially ruining the case. Justia, a website that specializes in legal information, notes that the U.S. Supreme Court has found that warrants are required for digital devices, but cloud storage remains a subject of contention, with different courts reaching different conclusions. BOSTON (WWLP) Two men with significant criminal histories were arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs after a search warrant was executed at storage units in Massachusetts. In a news release from the Department of Justice, an investigation began earlier this year into two men from New Bedford, 43-year-old Jose Santiago and 39-year-old Samuel Rodriguez, for their alleged role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs. Law enforcement revealed that the two suspects allegedly used at least 10 storage units in New Bedford and other locations to store narcotics and drug trafficking materials, as well as to conduct drug deals. Pittsfield police arrest suspect in Berkshire Bank robbery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storage units were rented under other names, including a living 101-year-old woman. They routinely closed some of the units and moved operations to different facilities in what the Justice Department says to avoid being detected by law enforcement. During the search warrants at the storage units, officers seized significant amounts of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and unidentified pills, cutting agents, multiple small presses used to compress powdered fentanyl into finger-sized packages for drug distribution, and two large hydraulic presses. Large hydraulic press machines allegedly seized during July 10, 2025 search warrants. (Department of Justice) Suspected fentanyl and cocaine, pills, small finger presses. blender, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia allegedly seized. (Department of Justice) Santiago and Rodriguez were arrested on July 13th and each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Santiagos criminal history: 1999 state conviction for distribution of a class A substance and for possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison and 2.5 years in prison. 2001 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. 2006 state conviction for trafficking controlled substances, for which he was sentenced to 15-20 years in prison. Rodriguezs criminal history: 2003 convictions for assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. 2004 convictions for disturbing the peace and motor vehicle offenses. 2005 convictions for possession of a class B controlled substance and motor vehicle offenses. 2006 convictions for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and a firearm offense for which he was sentenced to two years in prison. 2007 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a class D substance. 2010 convictions for motor vehicle offenses. 2011 convictions for disturbing the peace and threats. 2013 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon, property damage, and motor vehicle offenses. 2015 conviction for assault and battery on a police officer. 2017 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon and trafficking heroin for which he was sentenced to six to eight years in prison. Pending 2024 state charges of assault and battery using a dangerous weapon, causing serious bodily injury, for allegedly stabbing another person multiple times. 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. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Greenville Police officers responded to a report of gunfire on Battle Street early this morning. At around 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 21, Greenville Police officers arrived at 1223A Battle Street where they found a man outside the home suffering from gunshot wounds. EMS attempted life-saving measures, but the man died at the scene due to his injuries. This is an ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Greenville Police Department at (252) 329-4300. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (252) 758-7777. The victims name is being withheld until next of kin can be notified. Stay tuned to WNCT as more 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 WNCT. DES MOINES, Iowa Just over two weeks after floodwaters devastated Central Texas, one Iowa native on the ground is sharing what his home state can do to help. Ron Reischl is a Manning native who is the retired Board President of Main Street Manning and is a member of the Manning Betterment Foundation. Four years ago, he moved to Gillespie County, Texas, which borders Kerr County. His new community is just outside of Fredericksburg, Texas and it reminds him of his hometown of Manning because they both have strong German heritage. Reischl also says the people of both states are very similar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowans and Texans are very much alike. Theyre determined, theyre self-sufficient, and they pull themselves up by the bootstraps, said Reischl. Another familys dream home turns into nightmare after contractor stops communication Those qualities are helping Texans get through the recovery efforts after the historic flooding that happened during the early morning hours of July 4th. Reishl lives 20 miles from the devastation. He woke up on Independence Day to learn the massive rainfall had caused catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. At that time, there was no idea of the death count, but there was an idea of just the devastation that had brought and that a number of childrens camps were hit, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reischl had a commitment in Iowa that weekend. Years ago, he helped bring Mandela fellows to Manning. These are the business visionaries and nonprofit leaders from West Africa who visit Central Iowa through a program at different colleges. The fellows visit different towns across the state and learn from local leaders and business owners. The fellows were visiting Manning during the following week, and Reishl needed to be there. On the way up there, I heard that they were asking for volunteers to go search the road and the riverbanks for survivors and those who have died. I immediately wanted to turn around and come back to Texas and help, he said. The decision to follow through with his prior commitment was difficult for Reischl to make. When he returned to Texas, a week had passed since the flood. Even after a weeks cleanup, the amount of devastation is hard to believe, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He immediately helped with the recovery efforts, surveying damage and looking for survivors. Reischl said the food-stricken area was difficult to recognize. He frequently visited three restaurants that sat along the Guadalupe River, but now they were all destroyed. Just over two weeks after the flood, Reischl said the biggest need is still professional search and rescue teams. These professionals will continue to help search the Guadalupe River and its banks for victims. Another familys dream home turns into nightmare after contractor stops communication To look at all the piles of debris and know that every one of them has to be searched for missing people, is very disturbing, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon, they will transition into the phase where businesses and homes will need to be cleaned. Reischl said this is how non-professionals can help, by scrubbing homes and removing drywall. Reischl also recommended donating to The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. This nonprofit provides resources to support organizations across impacted communities, including Boerne, Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort. So far, this group helped distribute $5 million to support organizations, according to Reischl. [The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country] would be the organization that if anybodys generous and contributing dollars, I would recommend, he said. It is often hard to find one that is not fraudulent. This organization is completely aboveboard. Fundraising efforts will continue through the end of the year. Reischl and his wife both attended several so far, and plan to continue. Iowa 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 who13.com. Iowa State University and the University of Iowa each received hundreds of millions in external funding over the past fiscal year. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) As Iowas universities release external funding numbers for fiscal year 2025, questions remain as to what the federal funding landscape will look like in the future. However, research leaders at Iowa State University say they are optimistic about their chances of keeping dollars coming in for vital research and other areas. Iowa State University received $549.3 million in external funding in fiscal year 2025, the university announced, of which nearly $330 million went to research. The Ames university saw record funding from three federal agencies the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation and Department of Transportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement provided by ISU and attributed to Associate Vice President for Research Jim Reecy and Dan Kirkpatrick, strategic communications manager for the Office of the Vice President for Research, only four projects awarded in the past fiscal year were canceled or terminated due to shifts in federal funding, totaling $822,000 in funding. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX While it is very difficult to anticipate how the universitys federal research funding might change in the 2026 fiscal year, the statement said, many current government priorities align with university initiatives and research, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, genomics and rural infrastructure. Just as theyve adapted through changing priorities of previous administrations and will do so for future administrations the Iowa State research team will explore alternative and creative funding opportunities that align with their key areas of research focus, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding from federal sources made up the largest portion of the $705.6 million in external funding the University of Iowa received in fiscal year 2025, totaling $300 million. Dollars went to supporting 2,300 university projects, according to a news release, and nearly $534 million was put toward research, scholarship, and creative activities. This support reflects the value of research at the University of Iowa, said Lois Geist, who served as the UIs interim vice president for research during the fiscal year, in the release. Our faculty, staff, and students are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Iowa and the world. In response to questions from the Iowa Capital Dispatch, UI Public Relations Manager Chris Brewer referred to the universitys federal updates website and said in an email the university has no more to add. Cuts to federal funding have hit both universities in past months, with the UI seeing funding halt for its international writing program, Iowa Flood Center and Iowa Geological Survey initiatives and other research. Funding cuts could also impact graduate students, who are paid to teach and assist in research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an article written by Kirkpatrick and posted by the university, research funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture dropped by nearly 50%, or more than $24 million, compared to last year. The department also provided only capacity funding for research between January and May of this year, and awarded no new, competitive research grants. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen joined a call from academic organizations and businesses across the U.S. for renewed national investment in research and development, signing a joint statement in late May in support for strengthening domestic innovation and production. In response to a question about the possibility of separate external funding filling gaps left by rescinded federal funding, the statement said there are other avenues for revenue in the form of state government, business and industry partners, commodity groups and private foundations. Regardless of the federal funding environment, the team at the university will continue to explore, expand, and strengthen partnerships with non-federal sponsors in the next fiscal year and beyond, the statement said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Ariel Investments, an investment management company, released its Ariel Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter was a volatile period. Stocks fell sharply in early April following the Liberation Day tariff announcement, pushing the market close to bear market territory. Later, the pause in plans led to a strong recovery. Excitement for artificial intelligence (AI) stocks reignited, with positive economic data and strong corporate earnings driving U.S. indices to new all-time highs. Growth stocks outperformed value stocks, and large caps continued to outperform their small-cap counterparts. Against this backdrop, Ariel Fund returned 6.96% in the quarter, lagging behind both the Russell 2500 Value Indexs +7.29% return and exceeding the Russell 2000 Value Indexs +4.97% gain. For more information on the funds top picks in 2025, please check its top five holdings. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Ariel Fund highlighted stocks such as Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB). Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB) offers reservoir description and enhancement services and products to the energy industry. The one-month return of Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB) was -2.06%, and its shares lost 49.62% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 18, 2025, Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB) stock closed at $11.40 per share, with a market capitalization of $534.465 million. Ariel Fund stated the following regarding Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "By comparison, oil services company, Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB) traded lower in the quarter on mixed earnings results. Although increased demand for diagnostic services in U.S. onshore and offshore markets aided the Production Enhancement segment, this growth was neutralized by weaker-than-expected Reservoir Description performance due to seasonality, geopolitical tensions, tariff concerns and commodity price volatility. Importantly, management noted tariffs should not have a significant impact on the business given its service-related revenue. CLBs product sales are also primarily manufactured and consumed domestically. Looking ahead, the company continues to project international growth from projects in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and West Africa and remains laser focused on generating positive free cash flow, reducing debt and improving its return on invested capital." A drilling rig manned by engineers and oil field workers preparing to explore a new petroleum reservoir. A domestic security crackdown in Iran following the war with Israel has left locals believe "the Islamic regime was "taking revenge on its citizens after being defeated by Israel." The Islamic regime in Tehran has significantly increased its repression of Iranian citizens following the 12-day war with Israel, the Telegraph reported on Monday, citing locals civilians and former security officials. According to former intelligence official Abdullah Shahbazi, that the domestic security crackdown in Iran had become so intense, top officials "change safe houses every night and avoid using phones, fearing assassination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What became clear to all of us is that there is prolonged ground activity by the Mossad network inside Iran," he told the British news outlet. According to the report, Tehran had changed its appearance overnight since a US-brokered ceasefire ended a two-week war with Iran, with the Iranian capital now being regularly patrolled by armed forces from the IRGC and the Basij militia. Police are reportedly regularly raiding homes and arresting citizens without apparent cause. Iranian citizens suffer in the aftermath of war with Israel Jawad, a 36-year-old software engineer living in Tehran, told the Telegraph that since the end of the war, he has had to wake up half an hour earlier every morning just to pass through the chain of checkpoints on his way to work. He said, "They stop me at the same checkpoint every day - armed, at every square. They randomly gather people just to instill fear." Basij militia force members hold a coffin draped in Israeli and US flags, with a fake bomb targeting the middle of the Star of David, at a pro-Palestinian protest in Tehran, November 24, 2023; illustrative. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS) Authorities claim to have uncovered Mossad spy networks operating within the country, and as part of this, hundreds of residents were arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel. At least six have already been executed in what human rights organization Amnesty International described as "trials conducted absurdly and unfairly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, a state funeral was held for senior officers killed during the fighting, with authorities claiming that Mossad agents operated from within Iranian territory. Earlier in July, armed forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle near a military base in central Tehran, killing four, including a young couple and their five-year-old daughter. Two other family members were critically injured. The incident caused an uproar on social media, with some claiming the Islamic regime was "taking revenge on its citizens after being defeated by Israel." Locals in western Iran, particularly in Kurdish cities like Saqqez, reported an atmosphere of an "informal military regime," with checkpoints in the city and daily arrests. Saqqez was the hometown of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish young woman who was arrested, tortured, and ultimately died in 2022 after two days in custody for not wearing her hijab properly. Mohsen, a local resident, said: "They are afraid of another uprising. You can be arrested or harmed just for taking a picture or looking at a soldier the wrong way." Iranian opposition leader calls out ayatollah's regime Meanwhile, Mirhossein Mousavi, leader of the "Green Movement," who has been under house arrest since 2009, published a call last week for a referendum on the structure of the regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stated, "The bitter situation that has befallen the country is the result of a series of serious mistakes. A constituent assembly must be convened to allow the people to determine their fate, and prevent the enemies from exploiting the crisis." Around 700 Iranian activists joined his call. Mousavi, who served as prime minister of Iran in the 1980s, emphasized: "The current structure of the regime does not represent all citizens. Deep change is needed to prevent the collapse of the state." Jawad, the tech worker from Tehran, like many others across the Islamic Republic, wonders how long the regime can hold up under internal and external pressure: "I always feared the regime would drag us into war - and it did. Now we're paying the price." When Javad opens his bedroom window in Tehran, only the snow-capped Damavand mountain looks familiar. Everything else has been transformed since the generals tightened their grip after last months 12-day war with Israel. The 36-year-old software engineer now sets his alarm 30 minutes earlier not for breakfast or prayers, but for the checkpoints that have multiplied across the capital. At about 7am, he starts his Peugeot 206. The drive to his tech company office was once twenty minutes through familiar streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now its a careful route through military checkpoints that have turned Tehran into something resembling Baghdad or Damascus. They stop me at the same checkpoint every day, he said. Theyre at every roundabout, all of them armed. He added: The regime is now far more brutal than it was before the war. They arrest random people in neighbourhoods and detain them for days not because theyve committed a crime, but to intimidate the local population. The Islamic Republic has launched its most aggressive domestic security crackdown in years following a fragile US-brokered ceasefire that ended nearly two weeks of Israeli and American airstrikes on Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former intelligence officer said things are so tense that top officials change safe houses every night and avoid using phones, fearing assassination. Abdollah Shahbazi said Irans current situation would have been unimaginable before the 12-day war with Israel, describing the country as under the control of hostile power, referring to Israel. High and mid-level officials are in a situation similar to members of underground guerrilla groups in their own country, Mr Shahbazi said. They must change safe houses every night and distance themselves from communication devices like mobile phones for fear of assassination. The former official said it has become clear that beyond Israels air, missile and drone capabilities, an active force from Mossads Iranian network is operating on the ground. People attend a state funeral in June for military commanders killed in the war - Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Shahbazi questioned how long the current dual situation can persist, calling it perhaps the strangest development in his generations lifetime of dramatic changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since mid-June, authorities have also detained hundreds of people across the country, accusing them of spying for Israels Mossad intelligence service or assisting Israeli strikes. Officials claim to have disrupted extensive espionage networks. The clerical regime has mobilised the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Basij militia, and police for sweeping house raids and vehicle checks across the country. Irans judiciary chief has ordered expedited trials and executions for alleged collaborators, using charges of waging war against God and corruption on Earth. At least six executions have taken place following what Amnesty International called grossly unfair trials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday evening, armed forces killed four members of a family after opening fire on vehicles they thought were suspicious near a military base in central Iran. Iranian media reported that the victims included a young couple and their five-year-old daughter. Two other family members remain in critical condition and in a coma following the shooting. Taking revenge on Iranians The shooting has sparked a backlash on social media, with Iranians saying the regime is taking revenge on its own people after losing the war to Israel. They kill anyone theyre suspicious of, one resident said. Why are you so savage? she added, asking the regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation is worse in western Kurdish cities, home to many dissident voices, where authorities have intensified security operations amid long-standing tensions with ethnic Kurdish communities. Human rights groups report daily arrests in the region, with the whereabouts of several detainees and the charges against many remaining unknown weeks after their arrest. Mohsen, a resident of western Saqqez the hometown of Mahsa Amini, the young woman whose death in the custody of Irans notorious morality police sparked nationwide protests in 2022 said the heavy presence of armed forces makes the city feel like its under martial law. He said: The suppression forces the IRGC, Basij, police, and plainclothes officers have taken over the city and set up checkpoints inside the city and at every entrances and exits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Theyre afraid people will rise up again and challenge their dictatorship, especially now that people have seen how weak they really are. They are very afraid and would shoot you even if you take a photo of somewhere or just look at them in a way that makes you think youre stressed. Smoke rises after a strike in Tehran in June - AFP Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is also under pressure to call for a referendum on the nature of the Islamic Republic. Mir Hossein Mousavi, the leader of Irans Green Movement has nothing to do with the environment called for a constitutional referendum last week and said the current system does not represent all Iranians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a message issued from house arrest, Mr Mousavi said, The bitter situation that befell the country was the result of a series of major mistakes. Some 700 Iranian activists have signed a statement supporting Mr Mousavis call for political change. Mr Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, have been under house arrest since 2009, following protests against the presidential election results and public demonstrations. He said: Holding a referendum to establish a constitutional assembly will pave the way for realising peoples right to self-determination and will discourage enemies of this land from interfering in the countrys affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former prime minister during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war added: The current structure of the system does not represent all Iranians. People want to see a revision of those errors. Back in Tehran, Javad is questioning how much longer the Islamic Republic can survive after last months US and Israeli strikes on the country. I always feared the regime would drag us into war, he said. Theyve done it and now the people are paying the price. 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. Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul following warnings by the three European countries that failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Tehran. The talks scheduled for Friday come after foreign ministers of the E3 nations, as those European countries are known, as well as the European Unions foreign policy chief, held their first call on Thursday with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi since Israel and the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago. The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to a 2015 nuclear deal reached with Iran, from which the US withdrew in 2018, that had lifted sanctions on the Middle Eastern country in return for restrictions on its nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting between Iran, Britain, France and Germany will take place at the deputy foreign minister level, Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, was quoted by Iranian state media as saying. The E3 have said they would restore United Nations sanctions on Tehran by the end of August if nuclear talks that were ongoing between Iran and the US, before Israel launched a surprise attack, do not resume or fail to produce concrete results. Iran has accused the US of complicity in the Israeli attack, which killed top Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists and hundreds of civilians. The US also launched strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites, claiming to have obliterated them. A ceasefire took effect on June 24. If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the snap-back for which they lack absolutely moral and legal ground, Araghchi said last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the Israel-Iran war, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks mediated by Oman but faced major stumbling blocks such as uranium enrichment in Iran, which Western powers want to bring down to zero to minimise any risk of weaponisation. Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is solely meant for civilian purposes. INTERACTIVE-Irans military structure-JUNE 14, 2025 copy-1749981913 Middle East assessments Also on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a surprise meeting in the Kremlin with Ali Larijani, the top adviser to Irans supreme leader on nuclear issues. Larijani conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear programme, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the unannounced meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin expressed Russias well-known positions on how to stabilise the situation in the region and on the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear programme, he added. Moscow has a cordial relationship with Irans clerical leadership and provides crucial backing for Tehran, but it did not swing forcefully behind its partner even after the US joined Israels bombing campaign. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran said Monday it would hold renewed talks this week with European nations over the country's nuclear program, with discussions to be hosted by Turkey. The talks, to be held in Istanbul on Friday, will be the first since a ceasefire was reached after a 12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw the United States strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic. A similar meeting had been held in the Turkish city in May. The discussions will bring Iranian officials together with officials from Britain, France and Germany known as the E3 nations and will include the European Unions foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The topic of the talks is clear, lifting sanctions and issues related to the peaceful nuclear program of Iran," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in his weekly briefing. He said the meeting will be held at the deputy ministerial level. Under a 2015 deal designed to cap Irans nuclear activities, Iran agreed to tough restrictions on its international program in exchange for an easing of sanctions. The deal began to unravel in 2018, when the United States pulled out of it and began to reimpose certain sanctions. European countries have recently threatened to trigger the 2015 deals snapback mechanism, which would allow sanctions to be reimposed in the case of noncompliance by Tehran. German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese, asked who Germany will send to the talks and what its expectations are, said that the talks are taking place at expert level. Iran must never come into possession of a nuclear weapon, so Germany, France and Britain are continuing to work at high pressure on a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program, he said. This course of action is also coordinated with the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very clear that, should no solution be reached by the end of August snapback remains an option for the E3, Giese told reporters in Berlin. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday the three European nations lack any legal, political, and moral standing to invoke such mechanisms, and accused Britain, France and Germany of failing to uphold their commitments in the deal. Attempting to trigger snapback under these circumstances, in defiance of established facts and prior communications, constitutes an abuse of process that the international community must reject, Araghchi said. He also criticized the three European nations for providing political and material support to the recent unprovoked and illegal military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites in Iran in June as Israel waged an air war with Iran. Nearly 1,100 people were killed in Iran, including many military commanders and nuclear scientists, while 28 were killed in Israel. Araghchi stressed in the letter that his country is ready for diplomatic solutions. After U.S. President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the 2015 deal, Iran has gradually increased its nuclear activities, including enriching uranium up to 60%, a step away from weapons-grade nuclear materials, or 90% enrichment of uranium. Iran denies allegations it is seeking a nuclear weapon and has long said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report every six months to the U.N. Security Council on implementation of its 2015 resolution endorsing the nuclear deal, circulated Monday, quoted a June 9 letter from the E3 welcoming negotiations between Iran and the United States. The U.K., Britain and Germany said they would pursue all diplomatic options to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. But without a satisfying deal, they would consider triggering snapback to address threats to international peace and security arising from Irans nuclear program. Irans U.N. ambassador responded on June 11 categorically rejecting the E3s allegations and its threat to trigger snapback, saying the Islamic State group had seriously engaged with the Europeans and the United States and remains committed to finding a negotiated solution that addresses concerns, both pertaining to the nuclear matters and the sanctions. The exchanges were in a letter to the council from Slovenias U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar who overseas matters dealing with the resolution. It quoted the International Atomic Energy Agency as estimating that as of May 17, Irans stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% at 408.6 kilograms, an increase of 133.8 kilograms from its February report. That was not long before the Israeli and U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites. ___ Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran tested one of its satellite carrying rockets with a suborbital flight on Monday, state media reported, the first such test since a ceasefire was reached after a 12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw the United States strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic. The test was the latest for a program that the West says improves Tehrans ballistic missiles. A report by the official IRNA news agency said the Ghased satellite carrier test aimed at assessing some emerging new technologies in the countrys space industry. It said the test results will help improve the function of Iran's satellites and space systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report did not provide any further details on the test flight or from where the rocket was launched. Iran from time to time Iran launches satellite carriers to send its satellites to the space. Last September, Iran launched a satellite into space with a rocket built by the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Ghased, a solid and fluid fuel rocket, was first inaugurated in 2020 by the Guard when it put a military satellite in the orbit. The war in June killed nearly 1,100 Iranians, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientist. Retaliatory missile barrages by Iran killed 28 in Israel. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News that Tehran cannot give up on its uranium enrichment program which was severely damaged during the Israel-Iran war last month. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Prior to the war, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks mediated by Oman but could not agree on the extent to which Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium. Israel and Washington say Iran was close to enriching to levels that would allow it to quickly produce a nuclear weapon, while Tehran says its enrichment program is for civilian purposes only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KEY QUOTES "It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously we cannot give up (on) enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," the foreign minister told the Fox News show "Special Report with Bret Baier" on Monday. The foreign minister said the damage to the nuclear facilities in Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes was serious and was being evaluated further. Araghchi also said Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in "good health" and that Tehran was open to talks with Washington but that those will not be direct "for the time being." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CONTEXT U.S. ally Israel attacked Iran on June 13 and the Middle Eastern rivals then engaged in an air war for 12 days in which Washington also bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. A ceasefire was reached in late June. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. nuclear watchdog says it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is solely meant for civilian purposes. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Franklin Paul, Stephen Coates and Himani Sarkar) DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran could withhold security commitments if European states invoke a U.N. mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on the Islamic Republic, a member of Iran's parliamentary national security commission said on Monday, according to Borna news. "We have many tools in our disposition. We can withhold our commitment to security in the region, Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait as well as other maritime areas," Abbas Moqtadaei said in reference to Tehran's potential counter-measures to the reimposition of international sanctions. He was speaking ahead of a meeting on Friday between Iranian deputy foreign ministers and British, French and German diplomats in Istanbul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three European states, known as E3, have said they would restore international sanctions on Iran by the end of August if the country did not enter productive talks on its nuclear programme with Western powers, notably the United States. E3 countries and Iran have in recent months held inconclusive talks on Tehran's nuclear program, in parallel to indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Israel's attack on Iran in June led to the suspension of such talks. "Europe is not in a position to endanger itself in the... Hormuz Strait when it is itself in political, economic and cultural conflicts with Russia, China and even the United States," Moqtadaei said in an interview with Iran's semi-official Borna news agency. Last week, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran would react to the three European states if they invoked the UN snapback mechanism, which expires on October 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the E3 lack the legal standing to invoke the mechanism, arguing that their stance on Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last month made them no longer participants to a 2015 nuclear deal to which the snapback mechanism is linked. The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the nuclear pact - from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018 - that lifted sanctions on Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear programme. In the past, Iran has used the threat of disrupting maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz or no longer stopping Europe-bound drug trafficking as a means to push back against Western pressures on its nuclear programme. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) President Massoud Pezeshkian delivered a stark warning during a cabinet meeting on the same day, citing an energy ministry report that revealed the crisis was more severe than publicly acknowledged. Iran is currently experiencing a major water crisis. The Iranian government has declared an emergency public holiday in Tehran Province as the nation grapples with a severe water shortage and energy crisis, compounded by soaring temperatures that have pushed the countrys aging infrastructure to its breaking point. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced on X/Twitter that Wednesday, July 23, would be a public holiday in Tehran Province following the continued extreme heat and the necessity of conserving water and electricity. She encouraged citizens to use the time for rest, a short trip, or being with family, of course, while observing safety guidelines and conserving energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unprecedented move comes as temperatures across Iran have climbed well above seasonal averages, with Tehran reaching approximately 40 on Sunday, placing enormous strain on the countrys deteriorating power grid and water supply systems. President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a stark warning during a cabinet meeting on the same day, citing an Energy Ministry report that revealed the crisis was more severe than publicly acknowledged. The water crisis is more serious than what is being discussed today, and if we do not take urgent action now, we will face a situation in the future for which no remedy can be found, Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by state media. In the water sector, beyond management and planning, we also need to address excessive consumption. The gravity of the situation has become increasingly apparent as water shutoffs spread across Iran, particularly in Tehran, amid growing reports of what residents describe as silent rationing, claims that officials have denied, attributing the disruptions to mere pressure drops in the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi issued an alarming forecast, warning that the countrys critical reservoirs could run completely dry within weeks. The minister revealed that the Islamic Republic is actively negotiating with neighboring countries to import water, though the shortage has already strained Irans regional relationships. Tehrans water utility has announced that current reserves in the capitals main dams have plummeted to their lowest levels in a century. Officials cite an unprecedented five-year drought combined with record-low rainfall as the primary contributing factors, leaving the province facing its most severe water stress in six decades. According to the World Resources Institute, Iran ranks as the 14th-highest country globally for baseline water stress, with commentators increasingly discussing a potential day zero when water supplies could be completely exhausted. Academic researcher Reza Talebi has noted that Irans aggressive expansion of dam construction has worsened the countrys water crisis instead of alleviating it. Between 2012 and 2018, the number of dams in Iran more than doubled, from 316 to 647, according to Talebi, and many were erected without proper environmental evaluations and often driven by political or military agendas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Latyan Dam, located near Tehran, has seen its capacity shrink dramatically from 95 million cubic meters to just 9 million. Meanwhile, over the past 20 years, groundwater levels in Tehran have fallen by 12 meters, contributing to land subsidence and threatening the stability of urban infrastructure. Major infrastructure issues also led to a preventable loss of water, with estimates of up to around 25% of Tehrans water lost through mismanagement of facilities. RECOGNIZING THE magnitude of the challenge, Pezeshkian has emphasized that addressing Irans water crisis requires a fundamental shift in national strategy. Speaking at a government-academic symposium focused on sustainable water management, he stressed that the water shortage represents not a temporary issue but a long-term national challenge. The crisis cannot be solved through fragmented projects, Pezeshkian declared, outlining his vision for comprehensive reform. We need consistent efforts anchored in five key pillars: integrated water-soil-crop engineering, effective education, incentive policies, strict legal enforcement against violations, and continuous evaluation and oversight. The president called for establishing expert joint task forces combining government bodies and academic institutions to design context-specific solutions at provincial and county levels, acknowledging Irans vast climatic and geographical diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pezeshkian also emphasized the critical importance of public awareness campaigns. Both policymakers and citizens must understand the urgency. We must make water data widely accessible and embed water conservation into educational curricula. Energy Minister Eli Cohen addresses the people of Iran The crisis has also drawn international attention, including a pointed response from Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who posted a message on social media addressing the Iranian people directly. I see your suffering and know that you dont even have enough drinking water, Cohen wrote on X. This is because your oppressive regime, instead of investing in providing drinking water, has spent water resources on a failed nuclear program that has now been consigned to the dustbin of history. Cohen criticized Irans government priorities, stating that instead of addressing the needs of the Iranian people, they spend resources on terrorist branches in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minister highlighted his countrys water management success, noting that Israel has managed to overcome water shortages, and thanks to our knowledge and innovation, we now have abundant water resources that we even export to our neighbors. He also concluded his message with an offer of future cooperation, addressing the Iranian people, To the Iranian nation: The day this oppressive regime is overthrown, your lives will be much better, and you too will be able to benefit from Israels water technologies. The water crisis represents one of the most serious challenges facing Irans government, combining immediate humanitarian concerns with long-term questions about the countrys environmental sustainability and resource allocation priorities. Israel has "a new sense of ability to get something done," following the successful airstrike campaign against Iran, Boehler told CNN's Jake Tapper. If Hamas does not act toward a ceasefire and return the hostages, Israel is going to have to take some kinetic action, US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler said on CNNs State of the Union. Kinetic action is a euphemistic phrase used to describe active warfare, including lethal force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has a new sense of ability to get something done, following the successful airstrike campaign against Iran, Boehler told Jake Tapper. Tapper asked him how close a deal with Hamas is and what the remaining sticking points are to get hostages home. Boehler noted that he is optimistic, as US Middle East envoySteve Witkoff has been leaning in really closely on a deal, and hes done it on Israel... the Israelis want something done. 'Hamas is very hard-headed' However, Boehler also stated, Hamas is very hard-headed, confirming his personal experience negotiating with the terror group. They have been offered many things that they should take, and it is time for Hamas to release the hostages, he noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel is bending over backwards to get Hamas to agree, the envoy added. Boehler also highlighted that two murdered hostages, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, are US nationals, stating, We need to get those Americans out; we need to get the other hostages out. We have told Hamas that there is a firm pathway to negotiate peace, and thats the best they are going to get, Boehler said. Hamas should take the deal, and every time that they have not, the offer goes down, he added. The JetBlue Card is a rare airline credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee. But while the card does offer some solid value potential for big spenders, most people will find its benefits underwhelming. Learn more JetBlue Card Annual fee $0 Welcome offer Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days Card type(s) Airline, Travel Purchase APR 20.24% - 29.99% variable Rewards rate 3x points on eligible JetBlue and Paisly purchases 2x points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores 1x points on all other purchases Benefits No blackout dates Points never expire Earn and share points with family and friends Additional benefits With no annual fee, there are few perks. However, cardholders will get a 50% discount on eligible inflight purchases on JetBlue-operated flights, which is higher than what most airline credit cards offer. Additionally, your card spending can help you earn Mosaic elite status. More specifically, you'll earn 1 tile for every $1,000 you spend on the card. You'll achieve the first tier of Mosaic status with 50 tiles or $50,000 in annual spending. You can also earn 1 tile for every $100 you spend on eligible spending with JetBlue, so depending on how frequently you fly with JetBlue, you could earn status with less than $50,000 in spending. The first tier of Mosaic status includes several perks, such as priority boarding, two free checked bags, complimentary alcoholic beverages in flight, complimentary seat upgrades and a status match with Avis. How to earn rewards The JetBlue Card offers solid rewards on JetBlue purchases. Some annual-fee airline cards may only give double points or miles on purchases with the co-branded airline. You'll also earn double points on restaurant and eligible grocery store purchases, giving you a chance to rack up more rewards on some common household spending categories. That said, the vast majority of your spending will earn just 1 point per dollar. While that's standard for airline credit cards, you may wish to pair the JetBlue Card with another travel credit card that offers a higher base rewards rate to ensure you maximize the value of all of your purchases. How to redeem rewards As a frequent flyer program, the best way to use JetBlue TrueBlue points is to book award flights. The airline allows you to use rewards to cover the full fare though you're on the hook for taxes and fees or to use a mix of points and cash. JetBlue offers flights throughout the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and a few countries in South America and Europe. You can also redeem points for flights with Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways, but international flights are limited beyond that. You can also use your rewards to book JetBlue Vacations packages or donate them to a charitable cause. Who is the JetBlue Card best for? The JetBlue Card may be worth considering if you spend a lot and want to earn Mosaic status with no annual fee. But even casual travelers can get more value with another card. JetBlue Card pros Path toward elite status: Very few airline credit cards allow you to earn elite status just with your everyday spending. No annual fee: If you're fee-averse, the JetBlue Card could be a good way to earn airline rewards without worrying about a yearly charge. Solid bonus rewards rates: The card offers a high rewards rate on eligible purchases with the airline, as well as bonus rewards on some everyday spending categories. Compared to other airline credit cards even some that charge annual fees these rewards rates are solid. JetBlue Card potential cons Low welcome offer: Even compared to other no-annual-fee credit cards, the JetBlue Card's welcome bonus is low. Low base rewards rate: You'll likely earn just 1 point per dollar on the vast majority of your spending. If you want more than that, consider a card that offers 1.5% or 2% back as a base rewards rate. Few benefits: With no annual fee, you generally can't expect much from an airline credit card, and the JetBlue Card is no exception. While some cardholders may be able to use the card to earn Mosaic status, it takes a lot of spending to get there, and the card doesn't offer any other standout perks. Where can you use the JetBlue Card? The JetBlue Card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, which is just about anywhere that accepts credit cards in the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, the card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee on international purchases. How to make a JetBlue Card payment Barclays, which issues the JetBlue Card, offers a few different options for making credit card payments, including: Online: You can log in to your online account or the Barclays US mobile app to pay your bill using a linked bank account. Phone: Call 866-383-8192 to make a payment using your linked bank account. Mail: You can mail a check or money order to the address listed on your statement. JetBlue Card customer service info Customer service availability: Phone 24/7 Phone number: 866-928-3104 Customer service email: Barclays doesn't offer email support, but you can reach out to a representative on X (formerly Twitter) @AskBarclaysUS. JetBlue Card login page Alternative cards to consider If you're looking for an airline credit card that offers more value, consider the JetBlue Plus Card, which offers a much bigger welcome bonus, a variety of flight perks and bonus points each year to help offset the card's $99 annual fee. Alternatively, if you're looking for more flexibility, here are a few other cards to compare with the JetBlue Card. Learn more Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Annual fee $95 Welcome offer Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months thats equal to $750 in travel Card type(s) Travel Purchase APR 19.99% - 29.24% variable Recommended credit score Good, Excellent Rewards rate 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2x miles on all other purchases Benefits Receive up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees Receive a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels Access Hertz's Five Star membership tier, offering free upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more Why we like it: If you want more flexibility and great rewards on every purchase, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great choice. It offers an impressive welcome bonus and a base rewards rate of 2 miles per dollar on all of your purchases. You can redeem your miles for travel by booking directly with the Capital One Travel portal or by using the card to book travel on your own with an eligible merchant and then request a statement credit within 90 days. You can also transfer your miles to several airline and hotel loyalty program partners. While the card charges a $95 annual fee, you'll get an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years, elite status with Hertz, and no foreign transaction fees. Learn more Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Annual fee $95 Welcome offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months Card type(s) Travel Ongoing Purchases APR 19.99% - 28.24% Variable Recommended credit score Excellent/Good Rewards rate 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries 2x points on all other travel purchases 1x points on all other purchases $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit Benefits Complimentary DashPass with $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27, plus a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a rewards powerhouse, with a sizable welcome offer, bonus points on several everyday spending categories, and flexibility with redemptions. You'll also earn a 10% points bonus each year based on your spending. When redeeming points, you'll get 25% more value if you use rewards to book travel through Chase. You can also get cash back, buy gift cards, shop online, and transfer your points to several airline and hotel loyalty programs. The card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. You'll also get up to $50 in statement credits each year toward hotel bookings made through Chase, which helps reduce the sting of the card's $95 annual fee. Learn more The New United Explorer Card Annual fee $0 Intro Annual fee for the First Year, then $150 Welcome offer Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open Card type(s) Travel, Airline Ongoing Purchases APR 20.49% - 28.99% Variable Recommended credit score Good, Excellent Rewards rate 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel 1x miles on all other purchases Benefits Free first checked bag Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit Earn a $100 United travel credit after spending $10,000 on purchases with your card in a calendar year Why we like it: If you want an airline credit card that offers robust options for both domestic and international destinations, consider the New United Explorer Card. The card offers a solid welcome bonus plus bonus miles on several different spending categories. What's more, you'll get some great benefits, including two one-time passes to the United Club airport lounge each year, priority boarding, your first checked bag free, premier upgrades on award tickets, a 25% discount on inflight and Club drink purchases, and an application fee credit toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product. Foreign secretary David Lammy has joined other foreign ministers in condemning the Israeli government for depriving Gazans of human dignity. Mr Lammy and his counterparts from 24 other countries, including France, Australia and Canada, along with the European Unions commissioner for equality, urged the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid. They called for the war to end now and described proposals to move 600,000 Palestinians to a so-called humanitarian city in Rafah as completely unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement shared on Monday afternoon, the politicians said: The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza (AP) Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza (AP) They said it is horrifying that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid and that the Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Lammy told the Commons later on Monday evening that ignoring calls from the UK and other nations for the war in Gaza to end is tarnishing greatly the reputation of Israel. He said it is a source of great regret that the conflict has not been brought to an end, in response to Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller. He added: That ignoring of the international community is tarnishing greatly the reputation of Israel. We continue, of course, to look at what further we may need to do as he would expect. But let me tell him, that I wish I could say too that, were we to recognise tomorrow, it would bring this war to an end. Im afraid, Im not sure that is the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. In the statement, the countries say they strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the occupied Palestinian territories. The foreign ministers reiterated calls for the remaining people being held hostage by Hamas to be released and asked for all parties to protect civilians and uphold the obligations of international humanitarian law. They urged the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. Palestinians react to the killing of friends and relatives while waiting for aid trucks (AP) Palestinians react to the killing of friends and relatives while waiting for aid trucks (AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in July, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz laid out plans for the humanitarian city in Rafah, Gazas most southern city, which has been heavily damaged during the war. He reportedly said that the military would initially move 600,000 Palestinians there, with the aim of eventually transferring the whole population to Rafah. Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a humanitarian city are completely unacceptable, the foreign ministers said on Monday. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law. The signatories also pledged that they would be prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry has said that dozens of people were killed trying to access food aid over the weekend. Israel launched a new ground and air offensive in central Gaza on Monday, pushing into Deir Al Balah with tanks and continued airstrikes following heavy bombardments overnight. The escalation comes amid growing international alarm over mounting civilian casualties after dozens of Palestinians seeking aid were killed Sunday in one of the deadliest incidents since Israel introduced a new humanitarian delivery system in late May. The Israeli army had previously refrained from escalating military operations in Deir Al Balah due to some of the remaining Israeli hostages being help captive in the area, Israeli sources told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Sunday to the city's residents, urging them to move south to the town of Al Mawasi on the coast. The Defense Army continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area, as it expands its activities, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee said. Families of Israeli hostages criticize offensive Families of the some 50 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza said they were shocked by news of the latest offensive. The people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostagesboth the living and the deceased, they said in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. No one will be able to claim they didn't know what was at stake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The forum added that the Israeli government has not provided any clear explanation as to how the offensive in the Deir Al Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that Sundays displacement orders were yet another devastating blow to the already fragile lifelines keeping people alive across the Gaza Strip. Initial estimates indicate that between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area at the time the order was issued, including some 30,000 people sheltering in 57 displacement sites, OCHA said in a statement on Sunday night. It said that with the latest displacement order over 87% of Gaza is now under such orders, or under the control of the Israeli military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Sunday] was a horrible night but we made it through, resident Oday Basheer, who helps run a kitchen in Deir Al Balah, told TIME. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) called the situation extremely critical. Shelling is taking place all around our office, and military vehicles are just 400 metres away from our colleagues and their families, who endured a harrowing night after relocating there, MAP Communications Officer Mai Elawawda said in a statement. Read more: We Need to Feed the World AgainAnd Stop a Global Hunger Crisis Dozens killed at aid centers The military escalation comes after at least 73 Palestinians were killed on Sunday while trying to collect aid, according to Gaza health officials. At least 67 were killed waiting for aid from a U.N. convoy in northern Gaza and a further six people killed in Khan Younis in the south. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza health officials said that Sundays deaths in northern Gaza occurred near the Zikim border crossing point, where a 25-truck World Food Programme (WFP) convoy entered the strip. The U.N.-run WFP says that after the convoy entered, it was surrounded by people seeking aid. As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire, WFP said. This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza, WFP said, adding that hunger has reached new levels of desperation, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. TIME has reached out to an IDF spokesperson for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. reported last week that at least 700 Palestinians had been killed collecting aid in or around Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid centers, with an additional 200 killed at other distribution hubs in the Gaza strip. Under the new distribution system, GHF is now the sole supplier of new aid entering the strip, with some United Nations facilities still able to distribute some stockpiled supplies. Many of the previous deadly incidents in Gaza near aid hubs have occured at those run by GHF. It acknowledged such an incident for the first time last week when at least 20 Palestinians were killed in Khan Younis. GHF accused armed agitators for causing the deadly incident, which the Gaza Health Ministry called false in response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Israeli Settler Violence Escalates in the West Bank After Death of Palestinian-American United Kingdom, Canada, and France accuse Israel of drip feeding aid The United Kingdom, Canada, and France were among 26 countries to issue a joint statement on Monday accusing Israel of the drip feeding of aid in Gaza. The Israeli Governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, the statement read. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement reiterated calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the return of all remaining hostages still held captive in the enclave. Read more: $25 Butter and $40 Eggs: The Search for Food in Gaza Israels Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein has called the joint statement disconnected from reality. All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, he posted on X. Gazas Ministry of Health said on Monday that the death toll in the enclave had reached over 59,000 since the start of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The war was triggered after the Hamas terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Contact us at letters@time.com. By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern districts of the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the military believes hostages may be held. The area is packed with Palestinians displaced during more than 21 months of war in Gaza, hundreds of whom fled west or south after Israel issued an evacuation order, saying it sought to destroy infrastructure and capabilities of the militant group Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tank shelling in the area hit houses and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and wounding several others, local medics said. "U.N. staff remain in Deir al-Balah, and two U.N. guesthouses have been struck, despite parties having been informed of the locations of U.N. premises, which are inviolable. These locations as with all civilian sites must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. The World Health Organization said its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah was attacked on Monday. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained by the Israeli military, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that three were later released while one staff member remained in detention. Israel's mission to the U.N. in New York declined to comment. To the south in Khan Younis, an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people, including a husband and wife and their two children in a tent, medics said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its daily update, Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 130 Palestinians had been killed and more than 1,000 wounded by Israeli gunfire and military strikes across the territory in the past 24 hours, one of the highest such totals in recent weeks. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis incidents. Israeli sources have said the reason the army had stayed out of the Deir al-Balah districts was because they suspected Hamas might be holding hostages there. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to be still alive. Families of the hostages have expressed concern for their relatives and demanded an explanation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and the army chief on how they will protect them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages - both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didn't know what was at stake," the Hostage Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement. Gaza health officials have warned of potential "mass deaths" in coming days from hunger, which has killed at least 19 people since Saturday, the Hamas-run territory's Health Ministry said. HUNGER United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was appalled by an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza "where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," Dujarric said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition," said Dujarric. "Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations." Health officials say hospitals have been running out of fuel, food aid and medicine, risking a halt to vital operations. Health Ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran said medical staff have been depending on one meal a day and that hundreds of people flock to hospitals every day, suffering from fatigue and exhaustion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In southern Gaza, the Health Ministry said an Israeli undercover unit had on Monday detained Marwan Al-Hams, head of Gaza's field hospitals, in a raid that killed a local journalist and wounded another outside a field medical facility run by the International Committee of the Red Cross. An ICRC spokesperson said the ICRC had treated patients injured in the incident, but did not comment further on their status. It said it was "very concerned about the safety and security" around the field hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has raided and attacked hospitals across Gaza during the war, accusing Hamas of using them for military purposes, an accusation the group denies. Sending undercover forces to carry out arrests is rare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incursion into Deir al-Balah and the growing number of deaths appeared to be complicating efforts to secure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with U.S. backing. A Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday that the militant group was angered by the mounting death toll and hunger crisis, and said it could affect the talks on a 60-day truce and hostage deal. AID WAITING UNRWA, the U.N. refugee agency dedicated to Palestinians, said on X it was receiving desperate messages from Gaza warning of starvation, including from its own staff, as food prices have soared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Meanwhile, just outside Gaza, stockpiled in warehouses, UNRWA has enough food for the entire population for over three months. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale," it said. The Health Ministry said on Sunday at least 67 people were killed by Israeli fire as they waited for U.N. aid trucks to enter Gaza. It said at least 36 aid seekers were killed a day earlier. Israel's military said its troops had fired warning shots to remove what it said was "an immediate threat." It said initial findings suggested that reported casualty figures were inflated. Israel's military said it "views the transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as a matter of utmost importance, and works to enable and facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain and more than 20 other countries called on Monday for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and criticised the Israeli government's aid delivery model after hundreds of Palestinians were killed near sites distributing food. Israel rejected the statement "as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas." The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, displaced almost the entire population, and caused a humanitarian crisis. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Aidan Lewis, Timothy Heritage, Rod Nickel and Leslie Adler) Israel has again attacked targets belonging to the Houthi militia in Yemen, the military announced on Monday. Israel's army targeted "struck and dismantled military infrastructure belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime" in the port of Hodeida in the west of the embattled country and other areas, the military said. The harbour is used for arms shipments from Iran, Israel said. The Houthis are allied with Tehran, and are fighting for control of the country against government forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel wanted to prevent the militia from restoring its infrastructure, which the Israeli military had attacked in the past, said Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. The Houthis said in a brief statement on its media outlets that "Israeli enemy aircraft launched a series of airstrikes on the port of Hodeidah." Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Israel with missiles and drones. They have said it is an expression of solidarity with the Gaza-based Palestinian Islamist group. Israel's air force last bombed Houthi military facilities a fortnight ago. Since then, the militia has fired several missiles and drones at Israel. The Houthis have also repeatedly attacked merchant ships which they regard as having a connection to Israel. Israeli forces have killed at least 115 Palestinians across Gaza, including 92 people who were shot dead while trying to get food at the Zikim crossing in the north and aid points in Rafah and Khan Younis in the south. The killings on Sunday came as Israels continued siege of Gaza worsened a hunger crisis, with health authorities there announcing at least 19 deaths from starvation over the past day. In Zikim, Israeli forces shot at least 79 Palestinians, according to medical sources, as large crowds gathered there in the hopes of getting flour from a United Nations aid convoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine more were killed near an aid point in Rafah, where 36 others had lost their lives just 24 hours earlier. Four more were killed near a second aid site in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence. Rizeq Betaar, a Palestinian man who survived the attack at Zikim, helped carry one young victim to the hospital. We saw this young man lying on the ground, and we were the ones who carried him on the bicycle. Were trying to get him to help. But there is nothing, Betaar said. There are no ambulances, no food, no life, no way to live any more. Were barely hanging on. Another survivor, Osama Marouf, also helped to transport an old man who was shot and wounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We brought this old man from Zikim. He went just to get some flour, Marouf said. I tried to save him on the bicycle I dont even want the flour any more, hes like my father, this old man. May God give me the strength to do good. And may this hardship not last much longer. Israels military acknowledged the attack, saying it had fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat posed to the troops in northern Gaza. It did not, however, provide evidence or details of the alleged threat. New levels of desperation The UNs World Food Programme (WFP) issued a statement that disputed the Israeli account, saying the victims were simply people trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the Israeli shootings happened just after a convoy of 25 trucks carrying food assistance crossed the Zikim point. Shortly after passing the final checkpoint the convoy encountered large crowds of civilians anxiously waiting to access desperately needed food supplies, the agency said. As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire. The violence came despite assurances from Israel that operational conditions for humanitarian agencies in Gaza would improve, the WFP said, including that armed forces would not be present nor engage along convoy routes. Gazas hunger crisis has reached new levels of desperation. People are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance. Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. Nearly one person in three is not eating for days, the WFP warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only a massive scale-up in food aid distributions can stabilise this spiraling situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust within communities that more food is coming, it added. Gazas Ministry of Health echoed that warning, saying that at least 19 Palestinians died of hunger on Sunday and hundreds more suffering from malnutrition could die soon. We warn that hundreds of people whose bodies have wasted away are at risk of imminent death due to hunger, a spokesperson for the ministry said. The ministry added that at least 71 children have died of malnutrition since the war began in 2023, while 60,000 others show signs of severe undernourishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeeras Hind Khoudary, reporting from central Gaza, said that a 35-day-old baby in Gaza City and a four-month-old child in Deir el-Balah had died of malnutrition at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The mother was touching her body, saying, I am sorry I could not feed you,' Khoudary said. Parents go to the GHF [Gaza Humanitarian Foundation] distribution sites to risk getting killed or leave their children starving. We met a mother who is giving her children water just to fill their stomachs. She cant afford flour and when she could, she couldnt find it. Heading into the unknown In southern Gaza, Israeli forces killed at least 13 people waiting for food near distribution points run by the United States-backed GHF in Rafah and Khan Younis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The killings brought the number of Palestinians killed at or near GHF sites since May to nearly 1,000 people. Ahmed Hassouna, who was trying to bring food back from the GHF aid site, said an Israeli tank came at us from the side. There was a young man with me, too and they started firing gas at us. They killed us with the gas. We barely made it out to catch a breath, they suffocated us with the gas, Hassouna told Al Jazeera. The UN and humanitarian aid agencies have long denounced the GHF for its weaponisation of aid in Gaza and called on Israel to allow the entry of other humanitarian assistance, which has been blocked from entering the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said staff in Gaza are sending desperate messages about the lack of food. All man-made, in total impunity. Food is available only a few kilometres away, he wrote on X, adding that UNRWA has enough supplies at the border to feed Gaza for three months. But Israel has been blocking aid since March 2. The US-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also denounced Israels continuous attacks on aid seekers. The escalating massacres of starving Palestinian women, children and men murdered with US-supplied weapons and with the complicity of our government as they desperately search for food to feed their families is not only a human tragedy, it is also an indictment of a Western political order that has enabled this genocide through inaction and indifference, said Nihad Awad, CAIRs national executive director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western governments cannot claim ignorance. They are watching in real time as innocent civilians are intentionally starved, forcibly displaced, and slaughtered and are choosing to do nothing. History will long remember the Western worlds indifference to the forced starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza. Doctors in Gaza, meanwhile, said there has been a surge in people showing up at hospitals weak and malnourished, but that they do not have the resources needed to treat them. Dr Mohammed Abu Afash, the director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that women and children are collapsing from hunger. We are heading into the unknown. Malnutrition among children has reached its highest levels, he said, warning of a looming disaster if aid is not allowed in immediately. UK, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada, and others all condemned what they called "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians" in Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected a statement signed by Britain and more than 20 other countries, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and criticizing the Israeli government's aid delivery model after hundreds of Palestinians were killed near sites distributing food. The ministry said the statement "is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it." France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, and other countries said more than 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid and condemned what it called the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians". The majority of those killed were in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites, which the United States and Israel backed to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations. A woman walks at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Cape Town, South Africa February 24, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Nic Bothma) "The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The call for an end to the war and the way Israel delivers aid comes from several countries that are allied with Israel and its most important backer, the United States. "The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamass role and responsibility for the situation. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides," the ministry's statement continued, concluding that while hostage, ceasefire negotiations are ongoing, it is best to avoid these kinds of statements. The Foreign Ministry also slammed Hamas in its statement, saying that "instead of agreeing to a ceasefire, Hamas is busy running a campaign to spread lies about Israel. At the same time, Hamas is deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid." The ministry claimed that while a concrete plan for a ceasefire deal exists, Hamas has continued to refuse the deal, while Israel has repeatedly said yes to the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GHF uses private US security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a UN-led system that Israel alleges has let Hamas-led militants loot aid shipments intended for civilians. Hamas denies the accusation. The UN has called the GHFs model unsafe and a breach of humanitarian impartiality standards, which GHF denies. Belgian king denounces Gaza 'humanitarian abuses' in unusually direct remarks Belgium's King Philippe described abuses in Gaza as a "disgrace to humanity" in a speech on the eve of Monday's national day, unusually direct remarks on international affairs from a monarch who traditionally avoids public politics. "I add my voice to all those who denounce the serious humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs while trapped in their enclaves," he said, speaking at his palace in Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The current situation has gone on for far too long. It is a disgrace to all of humanity. We support the call by the United Nations Secretary-General to immediately end this unbearable crisis." It was the first time Philippe has spoken out so strongly and unambiguously about a conflict in public. Belgium's federal government has been more reserved in its criticism of the conflict in Gaza. The king's role in Belgium is limited to giving advice, support, and warnings to the government without making any political decisions. Israel denies that the IDF commits abuses in Gaza and says restrictions on supplies are needed to prevent aid from being diverted by terrorists. Two IDF soldiers arrested in Belgium, investigated for war crimes accusations This comes after two IDF soldiers were arrested and interrogated by Belgian authorities following a complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), an anti-Israel legal organization focused on pursuing legal action against IDF soldiers, the Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday, following HRF's statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldiers, who were participating in the Tomorrowland music festival, were alleged to have participated in war crimes, according to HRF. Yoav Etiel and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this article (Reuters) -The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the Iran-backed militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army was "forcefully countering any attempt to restore the terror infrastructure previously attacked." The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said on Monday that a series of attacks on the port was under way, without providing any details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said in a statement that the port it attacked had been used "among other things, to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are then used by the Houthi to execute terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its allies." Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian militant group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel has responded by launching attacks on Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port. "As I have made clear Yemen's fate is the same as Tehrans. The Houthis will pay a heavy price for launching missiles toward the State of Israel," Katz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said on Monday that the group attacked several targets in Israel with drones, which was in response to Israel's recent attack on Hodeidah port and the continued military campaign against Gaza. Earlier in July, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on the Greek ship Eternity C that maritime officials say killed four of the 25 people aboard. In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel. (Reporting by Jana Choukeir; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell; Writing by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Mark Porter) In the village of Amnun, troops located and seized an M16 rifle along with additional combat gear. Israeli security forces arrested a terror cell in Bethlehem overnight that was planning an attack, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said in a joint statement on Monday. The targeted operation was conducted by the IDF, Israel Border Police, and the Shin Bet in the Etzion Regional Brigade sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In operations across the West Bank, officers and soldiers detained a total of 16 wanted suspects and seized weapons and funds used for terror-related purposes. Seven suspects were arrested in the villages of Halhoul, Sir, and Beit Sahur, also located within the Etzion sector. In the Yehuda Brigade area, four suspects were taken into custody. Forces also confiscated a handgun and funds allegedly earmarked for terrorist activity. IDF seizes weapons from terror suspects in the West Bank, July 21, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) In the village of Amnun, troops located and seized an M16 rifle along with additional combat gear. IDF operates in the area of Tulkarm Operations in the Ephraim Brigade sector resulted in the arrest of three suspects in the villages of Shuweika, Kafr ad-Dik, and Izbat Shufa, located in the Tulkarm area. Two more suspects were arrested in the Menashe Brigade sector. All detainees and the confiscated items were transferred to the authorities for further handling. Britain has condemned the horrifying deaths of more than 800 Gazans killed while collecting aid, and demanded that the war be ended immediately. It came after Gazan authorities said more than 90 Palestinians were killed as they queued for food on Sunday, the deadliest single incident involving aid collection since the start of the war. The statement, co-signed by 24 allies including Australia, Canada, France and Italy, denounced Israels US-backed aid delivery model and said its plans to force Gazans into a humanitarian city were completely unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food, it read. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. The Israeli government must immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively, the statement urged. 2207 Gaza Map Responding, Israel said the statement was disconnected from reality and sent the wrong message to Hamas, which Israel blames for putting civilians in harms way when trying to reach aid sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking in the Commons on Monday, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, said the Government would work with France towards a two-state solution to the conflict. We will be working with our French colleagues ... particularly on two states and how we get to two states ... the UK will play its part, Mr Lammy said. Mr Lammy pledged a 60 million humanitarian aid package for Gazans, which the Foreign Office said would support health care, food and water. There have been 875 people who were trying to reach aid trucks killed in recent weeks, according to the UN. The Israeli military said that during Sundays incident troops fired warning shots towards a crowd of thousands because of an immediate threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initial findings suggested the casualty figures were inflated, the IDF said, adding that it certainly does not intentionally target humanitarian aid trucks. Israels current aid plan aims to bypass the UN and use American security contractors to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Gazan population directly. It was boycotted by rights groups for breaching principles of neutrality, and has been met with widespread condemnation since the reports of deaths at aid sites emerged. Israeli tanks move deep into the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah, where hostages are believed to be held - Amir Cohen/REUTERS Israeli tanks on Monday pushed into the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah for the first time. The IDF believes some of the remaining hostages may be being held in the city, which is crowded with thousands of displaced Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza medics said at least three Palestinians were killed and several were wounded after tank shelling hit eight houses and three mosques in the area. The assault comes a day after the IDF ordered residents to leave, saying it planned to fight Hamas militants. The raid and bombardment forced dozens of families to flee and head west towards the coastal part of Deir al-Balah and nearby Khan Younis. Earlier on Monday, an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis killed at least five people, including a man, his wife, and their two children, medics said. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis incidents. The new raid appears to be complicating ceasefire talks - Getty Images/Saeed M. M. T. Jaras Israels military said this was the first time it had entered the parts of Deir al-Balah subject to the evacuation order during the current conflict, adding it was continuing to operate with great force to destroy the enemys capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the operation, the families of the hostages expressed concern and demanded an explanation of how the IDF would protect their relatives as Hamas has warned that if the military gets close to the hostages, they will kill the captives. The families of hostages are shaken and fearful after the announcement by the IDF of its intent to operate in central Gaza, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on Sunday. Can anyone assure us that this will not cost the lives of our loved ones? We expect the prime minister, defence minister and top military commanders to urgently explain to Israeli citizens and the families what the plan of action is and how they would protect the hostages still held in Gaza. The military escalation comes as Gaza health officials warned of potential mass deaths in the coming days due to mounting hunger, which has killed at least 19 people since Saturday, according to the territorys health ministry. 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. CAIRO (Reuters) -An Israeli undercover force detained Marwan Al-Hams, a senior Gaza Health Ministry official, outside the field hospital of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, the ministry said. It said that Hams, in charge of field hospitals in the enclave, was on his way to visit the ICRC hospital in the city of Rafah when an Israeli force "abducted" him after opening fire, killing one person and wounding another civilian nearby. Medics said the person killed was a local journalist who was filming an interview with Hams when the incident happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ICRC spokesperson said the ICRC hospital had admitted and treated patients injured in the incident but would not comment further on their status in order to protect their privacy. It said it was "very concerned about safety and security" around the field hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has raided and attacked hospitals across Gaza during the 21-month war in Gaza, accusing Hamas of using them as cover for military operations, an accusation the Palestinian militant group denies. But sending undercover forces to carry out arrests has been rare. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich) The management of the Royal Palace of Caserta in Italy announced on Monday that it had cancelled a concert featuring Russian conductor and "Putins friend" Valery Gergiev. Source: Italian news agency Ansa, as reported by European Pravda Details: The concert was scheduled for 27 July as part of the UnEstate da Re (Summer of the King) festival. The announcement of the concert provoked a strong reaction, drawing criticism from the Italian central government, Russian dissidents and Ukrainian organisations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 72-year-old conductor, invited by the regional government of Campania, has never spoken out against Russias war against Ukraine. The performance at the former Bourbon royal palace in northern Naples would have effectively marked the end of Gergievs de facto ban from performing on European stages since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. After 24 February 2022, Gergiev was suspended from most of the major European music institutions with which he was associated as principal or guest conductor. A longtime ally of Putin, he lost his position as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, a post he had held since 2015. The Vienna and Rotterdam Philharmonics, the festivals in Edinburgh, Verbier and Prague, the La Scala theatre in Milan and others also ended cooperation with him. Background: Amid the controversy, Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli stated that art should be free from censorship, but stressed that in Gergievs case, it was not about art but about propaganda. Last year, several Russian ballet performances in Sweden were cancelled due to their links with the Kremlin. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Civilian infrastructure has been damaged and people injured in a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on the Ivano-Frankivsk hromada. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Source: Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv Details: Martsinkiv reported Russian forces had used missiles of various types and Shahed drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sadly, there were many strikes. This is the most intense attack since the beginning of the full-scale invasion," he said. Martsinkiv added that civilian infrastructure facilities had been damaged in the attack. Early reports indicate that there are casualties in at least three villages of the Ivano-Frankivsk hromada. An air-raid warning is in effect in the oblast. Burned building Photo: Ruslan Martsinkiv Updated: Later, Martsykiv published photos showing the aftermath of the strike in one of the hromada's villages. "Thank God, no one was injured!" he wrote. Damaged building Photo: Ruslan Martsinkiv Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: On the night of 20-21 July, Russia launched a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine. The Russians are using attack drones and missiles of various types. Explosions have been heard in several oblasts. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Jacksonville City Council has reinstated its Page Program, offering local students aged 11 to 18 an opportunity to engage with city government and inspire civic involvement. The program, which had been temporarily paused, is now available with a modernized update that includes an online application process. This change aims to increase accessibility and streamline participation for students. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bringing back the Page Program reflects our commitment to cultivating the next generation of civic leaders, said City Council President Kevin Carrico. By adding an online application, were making it easier than ever for students and families to get involved. The Page Program allows middle and high school students to serve as legislative pages during regularly scheduled City Council meetings. Participants will observe government in action, assist with official duties, and gain firsthand experience of the legislative process at the local level. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The online application, available at Jacksonville.gov, replaces the former paper-based forms, allowing for quicker and more convenient registration. Students can submit required information electronically and receive confirmation and scheduling details via email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is open to students enrolled in Duval County. Participants must have permission from a parent or guardian and must be accompanied. Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming council meeting cycle. For more information, call Yvonne P. Mitchell, Chief of Administrative Services, at 904-255-5171. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett has torn into her Republican counterparts for falling in goosestep with Donald Trumps every whim. They want to show theyre loyal to this, you know, I dont even know what to call him, the Congresswoman told MSNBC. Ive called him so many things, but wannabe Hitler for sure. Crockett said that the extent of obedience to Trump among Republican ranks had been underscored by the furor surrounding his administrations handling of recent developments in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has compared Trump's sway over the Republican Party to the obedience of Nazi officials to Adolf Hitler. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag Despite being a former associate of the late financier, Trump has for years courted far-right conspiracy theorists who believe the convicted sex trafficker was part of an international child sexual abuse ring, and that his 2019 death in police custody was orchestrated to cover for his uber-wealthy accomplices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That courtship has now backfired after the Justice Department and FBI released a memo finding Epstein almost certainly died by suicide, and that contrary to longstanding speculation, he kept no client list of co-conspirators. Crockett singled out as a recent example the GOP's rallying around Trump's immensely unpopular decision not to release new findings on the Epstein case. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images It comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared to suggest that she had the client list on her desk earlier this year. She later insisted she was talking about the Epstein files as a whole. As public backlash to the memo has continued to mount, and with growing calls for the Trump administration to release the so-called Epstein Files in full, the president has lately taken to playing off as a Democratic Party hoax the very conspiracy theories he himself has long helped peddle. [Republican officials] want to pledge their loyalty to him, and they know that he does not want this released, Crockett said Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think they are also concerned about the damage that it may do. If hes trying to hide it, they understand that it is most likely problematic for him as well as the MAGA brand. I dont anticipate that they will be on board for doing anything that may harm them or their fearless leader, she added. The U.K.s Stop Trump Coalition and other protesters are planning to put Vice President JD Vances luxury vacation spot on blast. Vance and his family have a trip scheduled for the Cotswolds, a countryside region in Southwest England often frequented by the rich and famous (Ellen DeGeneres currently resides there). Theyre expected to be met with a wide variety of demonstratorsanti-Trump, pro-Palestinian, trade union members, and environmentalists. JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump, a representative from the Stop Trump Coalition told The Telegraph. We remember how Vance cut short his ski trip in Vermont because he was so enraged by the sight of a few protesters. We are sure that, even in the Cotswolds, he will find the resistance waiting. The group also plans to protest President Trumps upcoming visit to Scotland, which begins on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance will be in London in mid-August, then head to Cotswolds, and later to Scotland. The vice president has been met with vitriol on his vacations thus far, speaking to the mostly negative feelings that much of the public has for the current administration, both home and abroad. He and his family were booed ruthlessly while they were at Disneyland earlier this month. Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X. The families youre tearing apart certainly wont. NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) Leaders at the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition said they are taking the small wins wherever they can get them. The Jessamine County Homeless Coalition posted to Facebook on Sunday to thank the community. The post included data from the Kentucky Housing Corporation, which indicated that unsheltered homelessness in Jessamine County went down by about 33% over the past year, and in Lexington, its down by around 18%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 13 arrested after protest on Covington bridge turns hostile There was an increase, though, in unsheltered homelessness in Louisville (+6.4%) and in the Balance of State (BoS), which includes rural and non-urban areas (+25%). Statewide, homelessness is reportedly up by 10.7%, while unsheltered homelessness is greater. It saw an increase of 16.4% from 2024 to 2025. Johnny Templin, Executive Director of the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition said, You just got to shine a spotlight on what you can, and thats a positive. Theres less people that we could find living in unsheltered environments, regardless of the situation here. And were here for those individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Templin said the reason the numbers are down in his part of the state is a two-fold issue. The first is positive, due to the way the community has stepped up, allowing the shelter to do a lot with a little. Templin said, This is all done by the goodness and generosity of our community and the heart of our volunteers putting in. The second is more negative. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Templin told FOX 56 that its due to House Bill 5, which criminalizes street camping. The bill was passed last year, and Templin believes it forced many people experiencing homelessness into hiding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These individuals are now, where they were closer to a shelter like us, to where they could get resources and stay alive, if you willthey have now scattered to avoid persecution and going to jail for their situation, Templin said. Despite the challenges, Templin said the fight isnt over, and even small steps forward are worth celebrating. In Jessamine County, those steps are starting to add up. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jim Parsons slammed the Trump administration for turning off the LGBTQ+ crisis hotline last week. While on MSNBCs The Weekend, the Big Bang Theory star shared his displeasure with the decision to shut down the 988 Suicide and Prevention Hotlines LGBTQ+ operation. Callers used to be able to dial to get counselors who specialized in LGBTQ+ issues until the option was removed July 18. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its quite literally criminal, Parsons said. Its one of the kinds of decisions that youre like, Theres no good reason for it. It doesnt matter what reason you ever put towards it or say its the reason its happening, its never going to be justified. He continued: It is only hurtful and it feels like its only being done in order to make a point, were getting rid of this because we want to make sure certain people understand theyre not welcome here. The hotline began back in 2022. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who played a pivotal role in getting the hotline up and running, told NPR the choice to turn off they LGBTQ+ reroute a political move. They have had relentless attacks on members of the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals, transgender youth, Baldwin said. In the face of those relentless political attacks on this very vulnerable community, to then cut off a lifeline is absolutely cruel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, who handles the hotline, released its own statement ensuring that all callers would still be getting through to crisis counselors. Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress, the statement read. The post Jim Parsons Slams Trump for Cutting LGBTQ+ Crisis Hotline: I Think Its Quite Literally Criminal appeared first on TheWrap. James Talarico speaks as part the SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals in Austin, Texas, on March 8, 2024. Credit - Jason BollenbacherSXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. Over the weekend, a lot of institutional Washington suddenly and enthusiastically discovered James Talarico, a seminary student and member of the Texas state House. The find came during an impressive outing for the 36-year-old Democrat on Joe Rogans podcast in which the aspiring preacher espoused the same brand of sharp sound bytes that has earned him almost a million TikTok followers. Over more than two hours, Talarico explained to Rogan why a Texas law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is un-Christian, the coming political fights wont be about Left or Right but rather the top and the bottom of society, and how both parties get it wrong when they treat politicians like Messianic figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Talarico, you need to run for President, Rogan said. We need someone who is actually a good person. Still, Talaricos sudden place in the imagination of D.C.s elites is not entirely unwarranted. He is seen as a dark-horse candidate to challenge Sen. John Cornyns already dicey re-election bid in Texas, where a scandal-soaked Attorney General Ken Paxton may plausibly land a Trump endorsement for his primary challenge. Paxton is ahead in polling and is better-liked among Texas MAGA base, but Cornyn, whos held his seat since 2002 and is still a power center in the Upper Chamber, is seen as a stronger candidate in the general election. Their fight to the March primary is already getting ugly, as Paxtons wife has recently filed for divorce on biblical grounds, which Cornyn cited to The Washington Post as news that is going to tell a lot of people that there was more fire there where there was smoke. Talarico might have some steps between his desk in Austin and the Resolute Desk, to be sure. Few have seen an ascent that clear-cut, although Barack Obama went from the Illinois state Senate to a national ticket in a harried four years. And the excitement the Texan is drawing might say more about the anemic state of the Democratic Party than Talaricos national prospects. There is a deep reservoir of talent on the Democratic side in the Lone Star State, many of whom are champing at the bit to face a potentially bruised GOP nominee at the top of the 2026 ticket. Former Rep. Colin Allred, who lost a bid for Senate last year against incumbent Ted Cruz, said he is racing next year for the seat against Cornyn. Rep. Joaquin Castro, too, is in the mix for the race. And former Rep. Beto ORourke on Sunday said he was undecided on running for the Democratic nomination himself; he unsuccessfully ran for Senator in 2018, President in 2020, and Governor in 2022. Im very optimistic about Democrats opportunity in 2026, ORourke said on CNNs State of the Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, lets zoom out for a minute. For close to two decades, weve been just one election away from Texas turning blue. The last time a Democrat won statewide in Texas was 1994a year before Windows 95 hit the market. Texas is in a record dry spell, and theres no point pretending otherwise. ORourke is high-water mark in recent memory, and he captured 48% of the vote in his 2018 campaign. He raised $80 million and impressed even those of us who went to Texas that October with plans to slag him. And, to his credit, Cornyn is a far less divisive figure than ORourkes rival in 2018, Sen. Ted Cruz. To his credit, Talarico sounds a whole lot different than the partisan Democrats or Republicans here in Washington. I think we need to start listening to Democrats who are in red and purple areas. There is something about living in a red state that makes you different from a national Democrat who lives in a blue city on the coast. I think we learn how to talk with people outside of our party in a more effective way, because its a matter of political survival out here, Talarico told Rogan. I cant pass anything in the Texas Legislature without getting Republican support, so Ive had to find ways to build relationships and build bridges across partisan divides as a Texas Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keep in mind, he is making these comments as national Democrats are weighing their own post-2024 reckoning. According to reporting over the weekend from The New York Times, their autopsy of the Joe Biden-turned-Kamala Harris Democratic ticket last year will avoid any real accounting for Bidens decision to run or any real choices Harris made. Instead, the focus of the still-being-written report is on outside allied groups choices, a move that kind of avoids the point and spares the party and real accountability. Talarico might be able to put some distance between himself and national Democrats without too much effort. His studies of theology are not natural fits in the secular Democratic identity of late. His fluency on digital platforms may mesh neatly with a relatively younger cohort of Democrats who finally seem to be meeting voters where they are on social platforms while the Old Guard clings to a playbook from the 1990s rooted in buying television ads and postcards. And Talarico is so far outside the splash zone of partisan Washington that he might just be able to stand unstained by the ugliness of this town. Still, that so many Democrats spent the weekend obsessing over a relatively unknown figure in Austin, who represents about 200,000 people in a deep-blue district, shows the extent of their desperation. They failed to stop Trumps hugely unpopular tax- and spending-cuts package. They are heading into an August recess with an unhappy base and little to show for a completely shut-out-of-power reality. The midterms should be ripe for Democratic gains but the party has no one at the helm calling the shots. And there wont be a viable leader until Democrats pick a presidential nominee for 2028. Given the uncertainty drifting toward that moment, Talarico is just as plausible as anyoneblessed by a podcaster who helped Trump win the White House and the manosphere last year. Its long odds, but Democrats dont exactly have a guide to firmer ground in the offing. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted Wednesday to name former Texas Republican lawmaker John Zerwas the system's next chancellor. They also named Jim Davis, who has served as interim president of the University of Texas at Austin since February, as the flagship's next permanent president. The board named both men sole finalists for their respective positions last month. Rather than do a national search for candidates for UT-Austin president, Board Chair Kevin Eltife appointed members to a committee to evaluate Davis and provide feedback to Eltife. While Eltife appointed faculty, staff and students to the committee, the committee's most prominent members were influential alumni and donors like Bob Rowling, Pam Willeford and Kenny Jastrow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rowling, Willeford and Jastrow all graduated from UT-Austin between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Rowling, a billionaire businessman, major GOP donor and former UT regent, chaired the committee. Willeford, a Bush-era U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, is a philanthropist. Jastrow, a former Fortune 500 CEO, has led UT's fundraising campaigns. Eltife said on Wednesday that the committee unanimously recommended Davis' hiring. The UT System is undergoing a major leadership shake-up at a time of heightened political scrutiny of higher education. This years legislative session saw the passage of laws limiting facultys influence over curricula and hiring as well as restricting on-campus free speech. Jim Davis at an event at the University of Texas Law School in Austin on April 3, 2025. Davis has been serving as interim president of UT-Austin since February. He was named the university's permanent president Wednesday. Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune Chancellor JB Milliken announced in May he was leaving to become president of the University of California. His departure prompted the appointment of Zerwas, then the systems executive vice chancellor for health affairs, to take over the role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zerwas, who is a doctor, represented Fort Bend County in the Texas House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. He spent part of that time as chair of the House Higher Education Committee. Zerwas thanked the board for the opportunity and its confidence in him on Wednesday. "It is certainly something I never saw in my career happening, but I couldn't be happier to be part of this organization and the future that we all see," Zerwas said. "This is the premier public university in the state of Texas, and it will define what the future of higher ed looks like." The University of Texas System enrolls more than 256,000 students at its academic and health institutions across the state and has an annual operating budget of $30.9 billion, making it one of the largest public university systems in the U.S. In January, UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell announced he was leaving to become the president of Southern Methodist University, a smaller, private university in Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hartzell started his presidency helping the flagship navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and ended it struggling to appease both conservative critics and the university community. Specifically, students and staff criticized the university for overcomplying with the states diversity, equity and inclusion ban. Meanwhile, his 2024 request for armed state troopers to respond to peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations, labeled antisemitic by Gov. Greg Abbott, further divided the campus. Although Hartzell had offered to remain in the role during the transition, UT System leaders opted not to retain him, instead appointing Davis, the universitys chief operating officer, as interim president, at a salary of $977,500 a year. Davis, who previously worked for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and has no prior teaching experience, has been an active interim president, consulting with the UT Systems board of regents on the recent hiring of a provost. He selected William Inboden for the role, who is the director of the GOP-backed civics center at the University of Florida. In a statement provided to The Texas Tribune after the vote, Rowling, who chaired the committee to evaluated Davis' candidacy, called him "a steady, principled leader." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Higher education is at a crossroads in our country, and President Davis has the institutional knowledge, business acumen and deep care for the students, faculty, staff and alumni to continue our growth. He also has the courage to make changes where change is needed," Rowling wrote. On Wednesday, the UT System's board also made Taylor Eighmy the permanent president of UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio, which are set to merge on Sept. 1. Eighmy, who has served as UTSA's president since 2017 and was appointed acting president of UT Health San Antonio in January, has overseen growth at UTSA, including in its research portfolio and status. UTSA obtained Carnegie R1 research status in 2022. Other public university systems in Texas have also undergone leadership changes in recent months. After longtime Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp stepped down, former State Comptroller Glenn Hegar assumed the role on July 1. Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd Mitchell also announced his retirement this month. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disclosure: Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University System, Texas A&M University System, University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas System have been financial supporters 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. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 1315. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) The Johnson City Salvation Army announced Monday it has launched a Mission Essential campaign to maintain shelter and support services for those in need. The campaign, running from July 21 through November 2025, aims to raise $1.2 million to maintain essential shelter and support services. Were not looking to expandwere simply trying to hold the line, Major RC Duskin, Corps Officer, said in a news release. Rising costs and growing need are making it more difficult than ever to continue delivering the care our community depends on. This campaign is about making sure we can keep saying yes to the people who need us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessees sales tax holiday coming up July 25-27 Program costs reportedly average $57 per person, per day in the general shelter and $127 per day in the veterans shelter. Funds raised through the campaign will help sustain the following, according to the Salvation Army: Emergency shelter for adults experiencing homelessness A 15-bed Veterans Shelter offering specialized support for those who served Wraparound services, including: Intensive case management Job training Access to health and mental health care Assistance obtaining identification and benefits Food pantry operations Seasonal White Flag Shelter during extreme weather Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign can be supported online, by calling 423-926-2101 or by mailing The Salvation Army at PO Box 1715, Johnson City, Tennessee 37605. Anyone mailing a donation is asked to write Mission Essential Campaign in the memo line. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is providing three walk-in vaccination clinics to help students, from preschool through 12th grade, get caught up on the shots they need to attend school and stay healthy. The department said these clinics provide all recommended and required immunizations for the 20252026 school year, protecting students from serious diseases like measles, whooping cough and meningitis. Kansas City teachers asking for school supply donations to help stock classrooms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidelines, students must be up to date on vaccinations to attend school and participate in school activities. These clinics aim to make compliance simple and stress-free for families, according to the department. Back-to-school season is already busy enoughour clinics take the stress out of vaccinations, said department Director Charlie Hunt. Were here to help families knock this off their list early, so students stay healthy and ready to learn. Clinic dates and locations Health Services Building (11875 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, Kansas 66061) July 25: 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Aug. 1: 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Northeast Office Building (Room 500, 6000 Lamar Ave., Mission, KS 66202) Aug. 8: 9 a.m. 3 p.m. The department said parents/guardians must accompany their student to the clinic and are encouraged to complete paperwork online by Wednesday before the clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional items to bring to the clinic include the students health insurance information, vaccination record, and letter from school, if available. Translation services will be available at each clinic, and no one will be turned away for inability to pay. More information about the clinics and online registration is available here. You can also call 913-826-1261 or send an email to jcdhe@jocogov.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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Then-Detective Joseph Mensah testifies before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety in 2025. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Detective Joseph Mensah, a Waukesha County Sheriffs detective who attracted protests and controversy for his involvement in three fatal shootings over a five year period while employed at the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) will resign from the Sheriffs office. Mensah, hired to the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department in 2021, issued a resignation letter on July 17. In a resignation letter, Mensah said he plans to leave the law enforcement profession all together. A version of the letter was posted on social media by Jessica McBride, a contributor to the right-wing media outlet Wisconsin Right Now. Mensahs resignation will be effective on July 31, according to the letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Waukesha County Sheriffs Department spokesperson sent a slightly different version of the letter to Wisconsin Examiner upon request. After much consideration, I feel it would be in the best interest of the Sheriffs Department, the community, my family, and my own personal well-being, that I transition out of the law enforcement profession, Mensah wrote in the letter. Words can not express how grateful I am that you, Sheriff Severson, along with Inspector Gumm, Deputy Inspector, the command staff, and the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department accepted me and brought me into your family when I needed you most. I am beyond grateful and thankful, that I had the opportunity to serve alongside the men and women of this agency. If there is anything I can do to assist with this process, please let me know. The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. Mensah was hired by the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department after resigning from WPD in 2020, following months of protests. After he was hired by WPD in 2015, Mensah was involved in three fatal shootings. In his first year on the job Mensah shot 29-year-old Antonio Gonzales, who was wielding a sword when officers arrived at his home. Less than a year later, Mensah fatally shot 25-year-old Jay Anderson Jr., who was sleeping in his car in a county park. Mensah said that Anderson lunged for a handgun that sat beside him on the front passenger seat. Four years later in early 2020, Mensah killed 17-year-old Alvin Cole, who was fleeing Mayfair Mall with his friends after being involved in a fight, and brandishing a handgun. Mensah said that Cole attempted to shoot him during the chase. The Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office declined to charge Mensah in any of those shootings, stating that his actions were either justified or privileged. Residents and elected officials in Wauwatosa called for criminal charges against Mensah for the three shootings. When the district attorney declined to issue charges in the Cole shooting, protests ensued and a curfew was declared in Wauwatosa with protesters confronted by militarized law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An independent investigation found that Mensah violated department policies when he gave radio interviews in which he discussed the Cole shooting, which was still under investigation at the time, and gave misleading information about his fatal shootings, according to the report, authored by attorney Steven Biskupic. Mensahs three shootings in Wauwatosa also became the subject of several lawsuits. In 2021, a John Doe hearing was called to review the Anderson shooting, after which a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge ruled that probable cause existed to charge Mensah with a crime. Special prosecutors appointed to the case, however, declined to pursue charges. In 2025, Mensah testified before state legislative committees to advocate for prohibitions against the use of the John Doe law to review fatal shootings by police. Mensah told Wisconsin Examiner that hed sought a promotion to lieutenant while at the sheriffs department, but was unsuccessful. Another federal civil lawsuit involving the Cole shooting was brought to trial, and a judge found that Mensah and other officers provided contradictory statements. Wisconsin Examiner also found that Mensah and other officers violated policies related to police shooting investigations in the Milwaukee area. The Cole trial in 2025 ended in a hung jury, with a retrial scheduled for early September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to Wisconsin Examiner, a spokesperson for the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department said that agency staff support Detective Mensah and wish him the best. Attorney Kimberley Motley, who has represented the families of those killed by Mensah and the protesters who supported them, said in a statement to Wisconsin Examiner that the Cole family is looking forward to the trial that is set in September against Joseph Mensah. Both the Alvin Cole and Jay Anderson family continue to focus on fighting for justice on behalf of their loved ones. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) An 11-year City of Juarez Police Department veteran has been sentenced to a Texas jail and ordered to pay thousands of dollars following his conviction in a Kimble County case tied to Mexico-based auto theft rings, according to the 452nd District Attorneys Office. A press release issued by 452nd District Attorney Tonya Ahlschwede states that 37-year-old Andres Ricardo Ontiveros Pulido, an 11-year veteran of the City of Juarez Police Department, was found guilty on a felony offense of unauthorized use of a vehicle on July 18 following a bench trial in Junction. He was sentenced by visiting Judge Penny Roberts to one year in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice State Jail Division and ordered to pay over $10,000 in restitution to the victim. The release reads that the Kimble County Sheriffs Office received a system notification regarding a stolen vehicle from San Antonio entering the county during the night of Jan. 29, 2024. KCSO deputies, assisted by the Junction Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety, conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 10 and learned that Ontiveros was operating the stolen vehicle, identified as a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Angelo woman arrested for murder after fentanyl-induced death The owner of the pickup was in San Antonio the weekend of January 28 attending his daughters volleyball tournament when the vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of a hotel, according to the release. Sophisticated thieves disabled the trucks horn and OnStar warning system by cutting through the wheel well before punching out the drivers side door lock, the 452nd District Attorneys Office said. The San Antonio Police Department would issue a stolen vehicle report. When the pickup was recovered, it was found to have been stripped of its contents, including the victims work equipment and childrens toys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the trial, expert testimonies offered by law enforcement detailed the complicity of Mexico-based auto theft rings that steal desired make and model vehicles from major Texas cities and arrange for drivers to move the stolen vehicles to friendly border crossing locations, as per the release. Once smuggled into Mexico, the vehicles are used for a variety of purposes by cartels, including the installation of weapons and protective plating to support their criminal activities, the 452nd District Attorneys Office said. After serving his sentence, Ontiveros is set to be deported to Mexico as a convicted felon. We appreciate all the efforts by our local law enforcement to stop criminal activity, and my office continues to do everything we can to fight back against organized crime from Mexico, Ahlschwede 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Judge denies bond for 77-year-old accused of lying to deputies before deadly ambush A 77-year-old woman was in court in Chesterfield County on Monday after lying about her sons whereabouts, leading to a deadly ambush. Officers pushed Linda Dennett into the courtroom in a wheelchair on Monday for her bond hearing. Linda Dennett has been charged after lying to police when they responded to her home on July 1. Authorities arrived at her home that day to arrest her son, Cameron Dennett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said Linda Dennett lied to officers, telling them her son was not home. They said this gave him a chance to jump out and ambush officers, killing Darlington County Deputy Devin Mason. Cameron Dennett was also killed in the gunfire. Linda Dennett is charged with misprision and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors argued in court that Linda Dennett is a danger and should remain behind bars. But her defense attorney said she has multiple illnesses, doesnt drive, and doesnt even have a license. The judge said he agreed that she is not a flight risk or a danger to the public, but she said the public could harm her if she is released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: SC deputy killed, another injured in ambush He denied bond for now. But said that could change if the family could find a care home for her. The judge expressed concerns about reports of bed sores found on Linda Dennett when she was arrested. He said if the family found her a care home, he would consider releasing her to the facility. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. WATCH: SC deputy killed, another injured in ambush U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan on Monday issued an opinion for our times, ordering the Trump administration to stop violating the law! Specifically, the Clinton-appointed judge ruled that Trumps Office of Management and Budget broke the law by taking down the public apportionment website where, under a 2022 law that Congress made permanent in 2023, its mandated to report executive decisions on federal spending within two business days. The administration removed the website in March, and, soon after, OMB Director Russell Vought sent a letter to lawmakers saying the office decided to flout Congress and scrap the database due to the purportedly sensitive, pre-decisional, and deliberative nature of the information it is required to reveal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Protect Democracywatchdog organizations that rely on the OMB databasechallenged the move, and Sullivan on Monday issued a partial summary judgment ordering that the administration comply with the law and bring back the website. According to Sullivan, Trump and Vought relied on an extravagant and unsupported theory of presidential power to claim that their apportionment decisionswhich are legally binding and result in the actual spending of public fundscannot be publicly disclosed because they are not final decisions about how to administer the spending of public funds. While the Trump administration argued that the 2022 law encroaches on the executive branchs authority, its objections amount to a policy disagreement with no constitutional foundation, Sullivan wrote. Defendants are complaining about the extra work the 2022 and 2023 Acts require. This is a management issue; not a constitutional one, he wrote. And the fact that the office had previously maintained the database for nearly three years further diminish[es] any argument that complying with the disclosure requirement is overly cumbersome or places an impossible burden. The law is clear, said Sullivan: Congress has sweeping authority to require public disclosure of how the Executive Branch is apportioning the funds appropriated by Congress, and there is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the publics money. Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law! President Donald Trumps bid to take down the Wall Street Journal over its coverage of his connection to Jeffrey Epstein has landed in the courtroom of Darrin Gayles, who is likely experiencing deja vu. Thats because Gayles, a 2014 appointee of Barack Obama, had another brush with a litigious Trump in 2023, when the then-former president sought to punish his onetime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Trump sued Cohen in April 2023 seeking a $500 million payout for claims that Cohen violated his attorney-client relationship with Trump and enriched himself off their relationship. Six months later, Trumpabandoned the lawsuit, just before Cohens lawyers were set to question him under oath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps new lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and owner Rupert Murdoch seeks an even more audacious sum: $20 billion. Trump says the newspaper defamed him by reporting last week that Trump may have sent Epstein a suggestive birthday card more than two decades ago. Trump filed the lawsuit on Friday, and Gayles was assigned to preside over the case on Monday. But as with the Cohen case, theres an open question of whether Trumps new lawsuit is more of a political stunt than a serious attempt to litigate the issue. If Trump pursues the case, he would open himself up to answering questions under oath about his connection to the disgraced financier who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Trumps decision to file the case in southern Florida led to suspicions he was hoping to draw U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, his own appointee who helped him escape criminal charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith. But Trumps attorney Alejandro Brito the same lawyer who led the ill-fated Cohen suit filed the case in the Miami division of the federal judicial district of south Florida. Cannon sits in the Fort Pierce district, making it unlikely she would have been selected under the courts assignment process. Gayles, a George Washington University law graduate who made history as the first openly gay Black man appointed to the federal bench, was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. One reason: His judicial background tilts bipartisan. He was appointed to state-court judgeships in Florida by two Republican governors, Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, before Obama nominated him to his current role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His prominent cases include a $73 million judgment against the Venezuelan government in 2022 over a purported murder-for-hire scheme. Gayles ordered a new trialin a $25 million fraud scheme in Florida after finding that the Justice Department had committed misconduct and then lied to him about it. And Gayles notably sat with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on a voting rights case, writing a dissent that found evidence of discrimination behind an Alabama voter ID law. Speaking at an American Bar Association conference in March, Gayles lamented the decline in public confidence in the judiciary. He gave a few reasons for that decline, including the Supreme Courts frequent reliance on its shadow docket to issue short-form emergency rulings. He also blamed the practice of litigants strategically filing lawsuits in certain districts in hopes of drawing favorable judges willing to issue nationwide injunctions. And he lamented expectations that judges will rule based on the president who appointed them. We all have to do better and push back. We are independent, we make decisions on the facts and the law, he said. Gayles also denounced attacks on the judiciary that go beyond mere criticism and put people in danger. Were not infallible. Sometimes we get it wrong because we deal with a lot of very difficult, complicated issues, he said. Its the nature of the criticism. If its done in a way that subjects us to harm, thats problematic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Obama nominated him in 2014, Gayles explained his judicial philosophy and experience in a 48-page Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire. He described presiding over hundreds of criminal trials as a state judge in Florida. Responding to a question about his philosophy on recusal, he said he closely follows long-established ethical procedures but pointed out one memorable example: when a lawyer asked him to recuse from a case because he was Facebook friends with one of the other attorneys. After verifying that the attorney and I were Facebook friends, I granted the motion, Gayles noted. I also defriended. Gayles does not appear to have handled any substantial media-related cases, though he did note in his questionnaire that an article about him in 2008 contains several misstatements, inaccuracies, and grammatical errors and that his immediate written request for corrections went ignored. Erica Orden contributed to this report. A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated federal law by taking down a public website that showed how funding is apportioned to federal agencies, ordering its reinstatement. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled Monday that removal of the online database overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) violated legislation passed by Congress, which requires the OMB to make apportionment decisions publicly available within two business days. There is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the publics money. Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law! Sullivan wrote in his 60-page opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge ordered the administration to reinstate the database. But at the Justice Departments request, he paused his order until Thursday morning, so the administration can decide whether it will seek emergency relief from an appeals court. The Hill has reached out to the OMB and the Justice Department for comment. Under the apportionments process, agencies are given limited authority to spend funding allocated by Congress in installments. Congress required the OMB to implement an automated system to post each document apportioning an appropriation as part of a legislative funding deal signed into law in 2022. The office was also ordered to operate and maintain the automated system for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter in another funding bill that also became law that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the website went dark earlier this year after the Trump administration said it could not continue to operate the system, arguing it contained sensitive information that could pose a threat to national security. In court, the administration contended the requirement to post the information is unconstitutional. Sullivan, an appointee of former President Clinton, rejected the argument. He went on to find the administration was violating the two funding deals and the Paperwork Reduction Acts requirement to timely disseminate public information. The ruling sides with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Protect Democracy, which have filed various legal challenges against the administration and sued over the tracker takedown in April. When Defendants removed the Public Apportionments Database, they deprived CREW and Protect Democracy of information to which they are statutorily entitled, and which they relied on to monitor government funding, respond to possible legal violations, and provide transparency to the public, Sullivan wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The websites takedown is just one of a series of actions by the administration that have been challenged in court this year, as its undertaken a sweeping operation to downsize certain parts of government without congressional approval. Todays decision makes clear that the executive branch cannot simply ignore appropriations laws they disagree with on policy grounds, no matter what President Trump or OMB Director Russell Vought thinks, said Cerin Lindgrensavage, counsel at Protect Democracy, in a statement. Congress passed a law making sure the American public could see how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, and we will continue to hold the administration accountable for making good on that promise. In a statement on Monday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, hailed the recent ruling as a decisive victory for transparency, the Constitution, and the rule of law. DeLauro and other senior Democratic negotiators have fiercely opposed the databases takedown in recent months, accusing the administration of removing the tracker to hide its spending decisions at a time it has faced legal challenges over freezing congressionally approved funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I drafted this requirementand it was signed into lawit was not about which party held power, DeLauro said. It was about showing the American people how their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being spent in their communities. Now, it is time for the Trump administration to show what it has done with working Americans money since they broke this basic, bipartisan transparency law. The Trump administration has also faced bipartisan pressure to restore the apportionments database in recent months. Its the law. Its a requirement of the law, so its not discretionary on OMBs part, Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) told The Hill earlier this year. Updated at 2:07 p.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 The Hill. A federal judge compared Donald Trump to Henry II for his blatant efforts to punish his administrations critics. While overseeing a lawsuit Monday concerning the Trump administrations crackdown on noncitizens pro-Palestinian speech, U.S. District Judge Willliam Young referred to the twelfth-century English king while mulling whether the presidents penchant for publicizing his every personal problem ever inspired his underlings to take action. Young cited Henry IIs famous line, Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest? The offhand remark led errant knights to murder Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, whod sought to increase the power of the Catholic Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump doesnt have errant knights, but hes got Stephen Miller, Young quipped, according to Politicos senior legal correspondent Kyle Cheney. Young pointed out that whenever the president had a problem with someone, especially in government, that person tended to find themselves facing a spate of problems they hadnt had before. For example, after Trump had his explosive feud with Elon Musk, the government began to review its contracts with SpaceX. After beefing for months with Senator Adam Schiff, last week, the president accused him of mortgage fraud and said he should pay the price of prison. Young also questioned Trumps motor-mouthed attitude, while his administration appeared intent on violating the First Amendment. The president is a master of speech and certainly brilliantly uses his right to free speech, said Young. Whether he recognizes or not whether other people have any right to free speech is questionable. Last week, Young heard testimony from four veteran officers from the Department of Homeland Security who recounted their superiors unusual requests to arrest green card holders and noncitizen academics who had committed no crime. The trade union for doctors has amassed a 1m war chest ahead of this weeks strike action. The British Medical Association (BMA) is planning a five-day walkout from this Friday, with junior doctors demanding a 29 per cent pay rise. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has mooted concessions such as smoother holiday planning, accelerated career progression and improved shift patterns. But Mr Streeting said any further pay rise was off the table. Resident doctors, as they are now known, received a 22 per cent pay rise after industrial action last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BMA has formed an industrial action reserve worth 1m, according to documents seen by MailOnline. This reserve was created to ring-fence funds identified to contribute towards industrial action, the document said, adding: Contingency plans are in place to fund any long-term industrial action from reserves. The money is likely to cover lost pay and other costs incurred by striking resident doctors. A further 50m of collective reserves could also be drawn on to carry on the strikes, the BMA said. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said any further pay rise was off the table - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Images Up to 50,000 resident doctors are poised to walk out at 7am on Friday, which could cause more than 100,000 appointments to be cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior colleagues will be expected to fill-in for those striking and will receive premium rates of pay. In previous strikes, consultants have been offered as much as 3,000 to cover a single night shift. Andrew Griffith, the Conservative business spokesman, said: This is the latest sign they will be using their bully-boy tactics to hold the country to ransom. Labour has bent over backwards for the unions every chance they have got with no-strings-attached pay rises. It is no surprise they are now running riot. They are out of control. Thanks to Labours weakness, we are now facing a summer of discontent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The basic starting salary of a resident doctor is 38,831 a year. This rises to 73,992 by the last stage of training, called ST8. An A&E doctor at this final stage can earn more than 100,000 a year, by working a full on-call rota, which includes one in six weekends, one in eight nights and two evening shifts. Sir Jeremy Hunt, who was health secretary from 2012 to 2018, said: Its totally ridiculous, having had a 22 per cent pay rise [last year]... for them to be going on strike. Last year, it was reported that the BMA had built up a war chest of around 2m when junior doctors walked out. Strikes by the BMA in 2023 and 2024 were cited in five Prevention of Future Death Reports issued by coroners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amongst those affected was Daphne Austin, 71, whose death from sepsis was found to be the result of neglect and more likely than not because of industrial action by junior doctors. An inquest heard that Ms Austin had been one of 25 patients under the care of a single consultant at Cumberland Infirmary during industrial action in June 2023. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, told MailOnline: The unions are Labours paymasters at the end of the day. Theyre getting their payback by being allowed to run riot. If were not careful, were heading towards all the lessons learned in the 1970s being reversed and the unions just being able to hold the country to ransom and take a wrecking ball to the economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BMA is also demanding a 35 per cent pay rise for consultant doctors, who are threatening to join resident doctors on the picket line. The union has boasted of having 90,366 members, but only received 6,134 online donations from 2,144 donors between 2022 and 2024. This suggests fewer than 12 in 1,000 have contributed to help colleagues. A BMA spokesman said: The BMA has held reserves for industrial action for several years and they are there to contribute towards the costs of industrial action. The other reserves outlined in the BMAs annual report to December 2024 are those of the entire BMA group, not connected to industrial action and have fluctuated little from the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department for Health have been approached 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. A Cook County jury on Monday convicted a man of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Chicago police Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso following a weeklong trial marked by difficult body camera footage of the 2023 slaying. Despite a long shot bid from the defense for the lesser offense of second-degree murder, the jury convicted Steven Montano, 21, of the more serious charge, finding no mitigating circumstances to the shooting after deliberating for less than two hours. The jury also found Montano guilty of a felony gun offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all were reminded today what a dangerous job a police officer has, States Attorney Eileen ONeill Burke said after the verdict. (Vasquez Lasso) was killed in a senseless act of violence as he was running toward danger. Family members embraced after the verdict but did not wish to speak. Police union officials said Vasquez Lasso was living a dream that got cut short after immigrating to the United States from Colombia. We lost an officer. They lost a family member. We lost a family member, Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling said, speaking after the verdict. Few facts of the shooting were in dispute, as attorneys instead in their final arguments sought to probe the mind of Montano after Cook County Judge John Lyke Jr. found in a win for the defense that the jury could have the option of rendering the less serious verdict of second-degree murder. Lyke said the law leaves the decision up to the jury as to whether they find Montanos testimony credible in support of a lesser offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquez Lasso was backing up his colleagues who responded to a 911 call from Montanos girlfriend, prosecutors said, when he was shot by the then 18-year-old after a chase on March 1, 2023, in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue. The closing arguments were centered on a battle between first-degree murder and second-degree murder, prosecutors said, while both sides made arguments to the jury about Montanos state of mind when he shot Vasquez Lasso. On one side, prosecutors said Montano fired shots at Vasquez Lasso to avoid an arrest. On the other, his public defenders said he shot the officer in a moment of stress and panic when he saw a gun, not realizing Vasquez Lasso was a police officer. Second degree is the last lifeboat on the Titanic, said Assistant States Attorney Kevin Nolan. (Montano) is trying to jam the square peg of second-degree murder into the round hole of these facts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Assistant Public Defender Brett Balmer described Montano as an 18-year-old who was in a controlling and dysfunctional relationship with a 37-year-old woman who lied when she called 911 that day, bringing officers to the scene. She said he grew up in the Little Village neighborhood in an environment where he had multiple negative encounters with police officers. We know what happened. We unfortunately saw it happen, Balmer said. The question for you is why did this happen. The attorneys closed their case after jurors for a week heard from more than a dozen witnesses and viewed body camera footage of the shooting that killed Vasquez Lasso on March 1, 2023. Family members, police officers and prosecutors, including Burke, packed the courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Montano shot and killed the officer after he responded to a 911 call. Vasquez Lasso and his colleagues responded after the girlfriend reported that Montano threatened to get his gun during an argument, according to prosecutors. Officers chased Montano after they saw him leave the residence through a window. During a final confrontation near Sawyer Elementary School, prosecutors said, Montano fatally shot Vasquez Lasso, who also fired at Montano and injured him. On Friday, Montano took the stand in his own defense and told the jury he fired at Vasquez Lasso in self-defense. After the first two officers who pursued him dropped off, Montano said, he did not know who was chasing him, and only saw a gun pointed at him. I was terrified, Montano said. I was in fear of my life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But during closing arguments, prosecutors laid out on a table all of the gear and clothing Vasquez Lasso wore that day, including his vest that said Police, his duty belt and handcuffs. This is what Andres Vasquez Lasso was wearing, Assistant States Attorney Sara Grgurovic said. Its hard to miss. But, Grgurovic told jurors, even if they believe that Montano did not know Vasquez Lasso was a police officer, she said he was not justified in shooting at someone who had told him stop. Its not reasonable, she said. You dont get to shoot someone for any of that. Balmer, though, said that Montano initially lost the first two officers who pursued him and did not know Vasquez Lasso was chasing him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven was terrified, panicked, an 18-year-old kid who was running for his life, she said. He did something unimaginable, something that shouldnt have happened. Earlier in the trial, emotional police officers took the stand and described rushing Vasquez Lasso to the hospital in a squad car. Officer down! an officer yelled, according to footage viewed by the jury. Officer down! After the shooting, Montano pleaded to the responding officers, according to footage: Kill me. Kill me. Instead, though, Vasquez Lassos partner that day, Officer Miguel Enciso, used his Taser to subdue Montano. Montano asked why Enciso didnt kill him, the officer testified. Enciso testified that he ordered Montano to shut the f up. Montano responded, according to Enciso: You shut the f up b. Thats why I killed your b a boy. LABETTE COUNTY, Kan. A discovery by a K-9 unit in southeast Kansas leads to a large drug bust. Courtesy: Labette County Sheriffs Office According to the Labette County Sheriffs Office, deputies stopped a reportedly speeding vehicle in Chetopa Sunday evening, during which a K-9 handler began an open-air sniff. Authorities were alerted to five pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle after an indication from the K-9. Paul Stevens, 62, and Krista Holland, 25, were arrested in connection with the stop. Stevens is facing distribution, weapon, and possession charges. Holland is being held in Labette County Jail on outstanding warrants. 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. As Harriss self-imposed deadline to decide whether to run for governor of California in 2026 or again for president in 2028 approaches, she tells supporters, We are in this fight together. Former Vice President Kamala Harris commemorated the one-year anniversary of her historic 2024 presidential campaign against Donald Trump, sending a message of hope to her supporters. One year ago today, I began my campaign for President of the United States, wrote Harris in a post on Tuesday, marking the official launch of her campaign, which later led to her becoming the first Black and Indian American woman to win a presidential nomination. Over the 107 days of our race, I had the opportunity and honor to travel our nation and meet with Americans who were fighting for a better future. And today, millions of Americans continue to stand up for our values, our ideals, and our democracy. Their courage and resolve inspires me, said Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seemingly referring to the political pushback in the first six months of Trumps second term in officeincluding controversial immigration raids and deportations, and massive cuts to federal programsthe former presidential candidate added, Whether you are attending a protest, calling your representatives, or building community, I want to say: Thank you. We are in this fight together. On July 21, 2024, then-President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race amid pressure from high-level Democratic Party officials and party donors who grew concerned about his advanced age and cognitive abilities. Following a disastrous June 27, 2024, debate against Trump, where Biden often struggled to make coherent statements, many Democrats expressed a lack of confidence that Biden could win re-election. Within hours of Bidens shocking decision and endorsement of Harris, the then-vice president announced she would seek the partys nomination. She ran unopposed and went on to embark on a presidential campaign in just over three months, raising a record $1 billion in just one quarter. However, Harriss aim for the White House ended in defeat, devastating the Democratic Party. Reflecting on Harriss loss, Reecie Colbert, a Democratic analyst and longtime political influencer who supported Harris, sarcastically told theGrio, Didnt we almost have it all? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She explained, We were this close to not just making history but also truly investing in a future that was going to be brighter for everybody. Instead, this country chose vitriol and chose a criminal for president who is unfit, mentally and qualifications-wise. Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris debate for the first time during the presidential election campaign at The National Constitution Center on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Amid ongoing protests over Trumps immigration and economic policies, Colbert said, We have the country that we deserve based on the choice that this country made in November. She said the U.S. is worse off by pretty much every metric under Donald Trump than what it would have been if we had elected Kamala Harris. Despite her loss, Harris has not ruled out another bid for president in the 2028 election. However, the 60-year-old Democrat is also considering a run for California governor in 2026. Harris has given herself a deadline of the end of summer to make a decision. As Harris weighs her next political move, Democrats are still reeling from her loss as they navigate their voice post-electionand a winning message for upcoming elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colbert, the host of Sirius XMs The Reecie Colbert Show, said that there is still room for Harris in the political arena, but said the former vice president has to take up space and make the decision that shes going to be a prominent and consistent voice. As other Democrats like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Congressman Ro Khanna, engage in shadow 2028 presidential campaigns, Colbert said of Harriss chances, I dont think popping up every couple of months is really going to be enough to keep her in the conversation. The Democratic expert said Harris is likely weighing all of the pros and cons of another run for president, including the fact that, historically, nominees who lose typically dont go on to win the nomination again and subsequently the presidency. The only presidential nominee to lose an election and later win the presidency in modern history was former President Richard Nixon, who lost the general election in 1960 but later won the nomination and presidency in 1968. However, Colbert cautioned, If [Harris] wants to run for either [governor or president], she should probably get started yesterday. More must-reads: TOPEKA (KSNT) The Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit (LPA) found in a recent study that a significant number of students received free school lunches despite having household incomes that exceeded the poverty threshold. The free lunch count was more than double the number estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be eligible for free lunch in 2023 and 2024, according to the LPA report released on July 21. Both the state and the federal government likely overpaid districts for at-risk funding and meal reimbursements for those years. Auditors wrote that an estimated 54% to 72% of Kansas students who qualified for free lunches were likely ineligible during the 2023-2024 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LPA recommends the Kansas Legislature consider how at-risk funding should be allocated and whether it should continue to be based on the free lunch count. The LPA said the free lunch count may no longer be an accurate measure of determining the number of students at-risk of academic failure in a district. One dead another injured after morning shooting in Topeka The Kansas Department of Education Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Frank Harwood, wrote a response to the audit after receiving a draft of it on June 26. In considering the findings of this audit, although the free lunch count may no longer be an accurate measure of poverty, the Legislature should consider if the formula still meets the overall goal of providing a measure of at- risk students, given that poverty is not part of the definition of an at-risk student. Kansas Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Dr. Frank Harwood Auditors reviewed financial documents for 769 students who qualified for school lunches in the 2023 and 2024 school years for the audit report. The LPA reviewed the rules the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has for districts participating in the National School Lunch Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free lunches, according to the Kansas State Department of Education. Those between 130% and 180% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price lunches. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking 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 KSNT 27 News. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A woman was rescued Monday after she was found hanging onto a tree near Indian Creek after a morning of flash floods in Kansas City. At about 12:50 p.m., units with KCFD were called to the area of West 101st Terrace on the south side of Kansas City on reports of a water rescue, just north of Indian Creek and the Indian Creek trail. Woman killed in flash floods on Overland Park trail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins told FOX4 that emergency responders found a woman hanging onto a tree after she had gotten stuck in the floodwaters. We received a call from somebody who was walking by or maybe out of these apartments that heard a lady out in the water screaming for help, Chief Hopkins said. We responded, and when we arrived, we found an individual about 50 to 75 yards off the bank, where the water had risen. She was holding on to a tree out in the moving water, needing rescue. Rescue crews used an inflatable rubber boat (IRB) to navigate through the floodwaters and retrieve the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KCFD said she was brought to shore tired and shakenbut uninjured. She was evaluated by on-scene EMS crews but refused further treatment or transport. Around our city, we have several areas, several creeks, several low-lying areas that tend to flood and hold water, like Indian Creek, Hopkins said. If you live in or work around those areas, be vigilant. If the water starts to rise, get away from it. Its very dangerous. The individual today was very lucky that she was able to hold on until we could get her out of the water. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The school year is rapidly approaching, and students arent the only ones who need supplies for the upcoming year. Before the start of every fall semester, teachers scramble to decorate their classrooms with all the necessary materials to create a positive and influential learning environment for their students. But this yearly restock comes at a cost. To relieve some of that stress, Reece Nichols agent Rachel Kilmer and Olathe East teacher Eli Woody started an initiative to help teachers kickstart their school years throughout the metro and provide students with all the tools they need to have a successful year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri My moms a teacher, and we were just chatting one day, and she was like, What if you use your social media following I have a community on TikTok of local Kansas Citians to help fill peoples wish list? And I was like, Thats a great idea, Mom, Kilmer said. So, I put a call out, expecting maybe 20 or 30 wish lists to come back. We have over 450 wish lists. Thats awesome. Its awesome. Its also kind of sad. Despite these yearly expenses and a high demand for support from the community, Woody believes that the reason teachers are overlooked is because most people dont think about he classroom until they are in it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most peoples experience with teachers is just that they went to school, Woody said. So, then when you are out of school, you are out of touch with what the classroom looks like now. And I think the biggest thing that people can do to pay attention to whats going on in classrooms is attend your local school board meetings. According to Woody, going to a school event or simply talking with a teacher could shed light on the realities of the needs of teachers, especially those in the public school system. Have a conversation with a teacher about what school is like, or what theyre working on, or what they want community members to be aware of, to support public education. I mean, if we let teachers lead, then I think we would have better solutions than the situation that were in right now, Woody added. The initiative is running through the month of July, and hundreds of teachers have already submitted their lists, including Woody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, that is not why Woody was in the studio to talk about the fundraiser. I am totally aware that there are other teachers who really need things a lot more than me. I want to point your attention in their direction, Woody added. There are a lot of teachers right now who are really stressed about what school is going to look like when they go back because theyre not sure if they have all the stuff that they need. So its tough. But just because Woody wants to pivot his attention to other teachers, he still has a need for supplies himself. He told FOX4 that, according to his students, his classroom could use some flashcards, charging strips for computers, mid-day treats like fruit snacks and Cheez Its lamps to help those who struggle to read under fluorescent lights, and other miscellaneous items to improve the learning environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV I wish teachers and classrooms were funded enough to where wishlists werent even a thing BUT this is something small we can do in the meantime to ease the burden on the people shaping our future, Kilmer shared on her Facebook. Whether you can do a pack of pencils or clear someones list fully, fill out the Google Form to indicate you donated and a winner will be chosen at the end of the month. Thank you for contributing!! For more information, or to donate to a wishlist for the upcoming school year, 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican who worked for 40 years as a pharmacist, said during the Kansas Reflector podcast she's seeking the GOP nomination for governor to fully represent the interests of Kansans following the second term of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt expects to be repeatedly asked two policy questions while campaigning for the Kansas Republican Partys nomination for governor. Both trace to her years representing a Topeka-area district in the Kansas Senate, but continue to resonate with voters because they delve into the volatile issues of taxation and abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, Schmidt voted with Republican colleagues for a bill slashing state income taxes. It was signed by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback under the mistaken belief that lowering the tax burden on wealthy individuals would unleash trickle-down economic forces beneficial to all. Over the subsequent five years before repeal, revenue to the state treasury cratered. Lawmakers tried to fill the shortfall by raising the state sales tax and cutting budgets for core state services, including education and transportation. It is a vote I regret, Schmidt said in an interview for the Kansas Reflector podcast. There were a lot of Republicans, including me, that did vote for that. She said the GOP strategy in the Senate was to place the tax bill in the hands of a House-Senate negotiating committee so a more balanced reform plan could be drafted. Instead of revisions, the House concurred with the Senate and Brownback signed the bill into law. We know how that all turned out, Schmidt said. I sincerely regret that I trusted the process to move that along, but I will tell you that I learned a big lesson that day. You cant always trust the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmidt, who served 14 years in the Senate and is in her second four-year term as state insurance commissioner, will also be challenged during the campaign to explain her views on abortion rights. The Kansas Supreme Court issued a decision in 2019 affirming Kansans had personal bodily autonomy that included the right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide and made regulation of abortion a state-by-state issue. Weeks later, Kansas voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution designed to allow greater restraint on abortion. The amendment lacked exceptions to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. The (U.S.) Supreme Court did the right thing, in my opinion, of bringing that back to the states and letting the states decide, Schmidt said. Like most Kansans, I dont believe in abortion on demand, like some of the far left do. But I do believe in reasonable exceptions, and I believe that that is where most Kansans are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telling the truth Schmidt, 69, was born and raised in Wichita. She graduated from Wichita South High School, where she met her future husband at age 15. In her youth, she made deliveries for a pharmacy and saw how those professionals helped people. She enrolled in pharmacy school at the University of Kansas and has spent more than 40 years working as a pharmacist. Her husband, Mike, became an orthopedic surgeon. They raised two sons. In the 1990s, Republican Gov. Bill Graves appointed Schmidt to the state Board of Pharmacy. That led her to testify before a committee of the Legislature. She said a couple lawmakers fell asleep during the hearing. As a taxpayer, that didnt sit very well with me. I thought I could do better, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She ran for an open seat in the Senate and ended up serving District 20 from 2005 to 2019. She was elected insurance commissioner during the 2018 campaign. She was reelected in 2022, a race she won by more than 250,000 votes among nearly 1 million cast. In her announcement for governor, Schmidt said she was the type of person who told people the truth rather than tell folks what they wanted to hear. Its important for a governor to to tell the truth, she said. Sometimes you have to deliver hard news to people. Run on my record Schmidt said she was prepared for a competitive Republican primary in 2026 given announced candidates included Secretary of State Scott Schwab, former Gov. Jeff Colyer and Senate President Ty Masterson. Others seeking the Republican nomination include podcaster Doug Billings, former Wichita school board member Joy Eakins, former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte OHara and business owner Stacy Rogers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im going to run on my record, and again, I think I have a great track record to run on, she said. I am the candidate that received the most votes in the last two statewide elections no matter what the office was. I think that the voters of Kansas have spoken to my electability, and I also think that they have put their trust in me. Before entering the Legislature, Schmidt said she identified errors in the states drug manufacturer rebate program that, once remedied, delivered $390 million in benefit to the state. In the state insurance commission office, she said her staff supported consumers with about $145 million in insurance claim assistance. The department also estimated that procedural reforms helped save businesses about $75 million, she said. Schmidt, like Colyer and Schwab, had an encounter with cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. She had surgery and radiation treatments and was declared free of cancer. I feel great, and I do believe that I have the energy necessary to carry out a campaign, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her illness convinced her to encourage Kansans to get mammograms in an effort to identify threats as soon as possible. Coming in front of Kansans and telling everybody that I had breast cancer was something I had to think about for a few seconds, she said. I try to talk about early detection and mammograms. It saved my life, and I know it could save others. A Norfolk County prosecutor took the witness stand Monday morning as a defense lawyer moved to dismiss a 2021 murder case he once served as the lead prosecutor in over the apparent failure by the district attorneys office to turn over key evidence. Attorney Rosemary Scapicchio, who represents Myles King, a man charged with a 2021 fatal shooting, questioned Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally for more than an hour at an evidentiary hearing Monday morning. Scapicchio pressed Lally for an explanation as to why hundreds of pages of evidence were not turned over until this year, shortly after a new prosecutor took over the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scapicchio is asking a judge to sanction prosecutors for the late disclosures. The most severe sanction would be dismissing the case of King, who is accused of shooting 25-year-old Marquis Simmons while he rode his moped in Milton in July 2021. King was arrested two years before the shooting, when prosecutors say they found him with a loaded gun outside Simmons home, according to WCVB. King was slated to go to trial this fall. Scapicchio has said the new evidence she received this year from the prosecutor who took over from Lally has changed the landscape of certain aspects of the case at the last minute." This Court should send a message to the Norfolk County District Attorneys office that their lax policy and repeated failure to comply with orders of this court and with the due process rights of defendants warrant dismissal of this case, she wrote in the motion to dismiss. Lallys testimony On the stand Monday morning, Lally had few explanations to offer for why the evidence wasnt turned over sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was something that I knew was outstanding; it was something I asked for in written form multiple times, he said of six search warrants obtained by investigators. The investigator responsible for Kings case was former Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor, who was fired for misconduct in the Karen Read case. Lally said he repeatedly asked Proctor for the search warrants, but only received portions of two. In any case he prosecutes, Lally said, he keeps a running list of evidence he knows needs to be turned over to defense lawyers, marking items as they are turned over. As Scapicchio pressed on the warrant issue, Lally often said he couldnt recall specific dates or times of conversations with Proctor, but insisted that he continued to ask for the warrants and other outstanding evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there was some outstanding item of discovery, I would request it and follow up if I hadnt seen it, Lally said. In other cases, Lally said he had at times gone over the head of Proctor or another investigator to Det. Lt. Brian Tully, the former supervisor of the detectives unit assigned to the district attorneys office. But he said he couldnt recall if he had done so in Kings case. There were a number of meetings, in relation to discovery, that Lt. Tully was present for, along with Trooper Proctor, but going specifically to his office to demand six search warrants? I dont recall, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scapicchio noted that Lally never mentioned the issue with the warrants to a judge at discovery hearings in the case. But you had your list, right? You had your list that said six search warrants outstanding, right? You didnt ever check that off, right? So you knew they were outstanding, right? Scapicchio pushed. Lally answered each question yes. Scapicchio did not conclude her questioning of Lally before the scheduled end of the evidentiary hearing. Proctors role Proctor was the lead investigator in the King case and signed the six search warrants that were the primary issue addressed on Monday morning. Scapicchio told reporters outside the courthouse that there were still unanswered questions about whether Proctor simply refused to turn over the evidence Lally asked for or if he never had the evidence in his possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, she laid most of the blame at the feet of prosecutors. Every DA has an obligation to make sure they understand the evidence thats out there, they understand what evidence is available, because they have an obligation to turn it over to the defense, Scapicchio said. Scapicchio subpoenaed Proctor to appear at the hearing Monday, but he didnt show. His lawyer, Daniel Moynihan, said the former trooper was on vacation, according to Scapicchio. He just didnt show up, almost like hes thumbing his nose at the court, she said. I dont know many people ... that get ordered to be here and they just dont show up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The late disclosure of the evidence in the case has violated Kings right to a speedy trial, she added. If prosecutors had turned over all the evidence they apparently had, including the warrants, King would have gone on trial this fall. What has taken place in the King case is not an isolated mishap, she said. I do believe its not an isolated incident. I do believe this case with Bryanna Gardner in Myles King is not an isolated incident here in Norfolk County, she told reporters after the hearing. Connections to Karen Read The King case isnt the first time the Norfolk County District Attorneys office has come under fire for late disclosure of evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, lawyers for Karen Read filed a motion to dismiss her murder case, which Lally was a prosecutor on, over prosecutors failure to disclose surveillance videos from the Canton Police station. In that instance, special prosecutor Hank Brennan laid much of the blame at Proctors feet, saying the former trooper did not tell Lally surveillance footage existed. Judge Beverly Cannone ultimately denied the motion to dismiss, without convening an evidentiary hearing such as the one that took place Monday morning. Reads retrial ended last month when she was acquitted on all charges connected to the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John OKeefe. She was convicted only of a misdemeanor charge of operating under the influence. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Lucas Deaton and his daughter, Audrey, had the Kentucky House chamber to themselves when they visited the Capitol, June 25, 2025. The chamber had been emptied of its furnishings in preparation for a years-long Capitol renovation. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) FRANKFORT Lucas Deaton of Walton, a lawyer for the Kentucky Bar Association, brought his 5-year-old daughter, Audrey, to see Kentuckys grandest building the state Capitol before it closes to the public for several years. A most lonely place greeted them on their Dads-Take-Daughters-to-Work outing on a hot day in early summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The famous statues of Lincoln and other Kentucky notables were there for the father and daughter to admire. So were the impressive dome and rotunda, along with the four-story buildings 70 iconic columns, sky lights and other striking architectural features and opulent decorative finishes. But nearly gone from the Capitol were the hundreds of people who usually make it a most busy place. The Capitol has not been so desolate on a workday since before June 2, 1910, when Gov. Augustus Willson joined former governors, judges, generals, members of Congress and thousands of proud Kentuckians in grand ceremonies to open Kentuckys new Capitol for business. Soon there will be nobody working in the building except renovators and security. Wildcat Moving trucks line up outside the Capitol as workers load furniture and paintings on June 25, 2025, in Frankfort. Officials and staffers are vacating the Capitol to make way for a years-long renovation. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) For three years, perhaps longer, the Capitol will remain a most lonely place. No late-breaking gubernatorial news conferences. No lively debates in the legislative chambers. No impactful hearings in the august Supreme Court chambers. No public rallies in the rotunda. No students on field trips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State government offices in the building are relocating as the Capitol is getting a facelift. The projects cost is still subject to change. So is the time to get it done. The legislature expects to return to the Capitol in time for the session that convenes in January 2029. Biggest renovation of Kentucky Capitol in its history Construction on the massive building in south Frankfort began in 1904. It replaced the earlier 1830 Capitol, still standing in downtown Frankfort. The old Capitol had become too small to accommodate the growing state government. The price tag for the new state Capitol was $1.82 million. The cost for todays renovations is expected to be nearly $300 million, maybe higher, but that includes items that were not in the Capitol when it opened in 1910, such as modern heating and cooling systems to provide temperature control throughout the building. Much of the renovations will address leaky, rusty water pipes; gobs of outdated electrical wiring in the ceilings, heating and cooling systems, and worn terracotta tiles covering the outside of the dome, some of which date back to 1941. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enough organic material accumulated on the dome that a small tree was found growing from it. The cost of the dome work has topped $16 million. A roof replacement is planned after the dome restoration is completed. A new roof will cost about $7 million. High above south Frankfort, two workers in orange, left of the flags, can be seen on scaffolding covering the Capitol dome. (Photo by Joe Bandy) Renovation of the 200 historic windows in the building alone will cost $10.5 million. The elevator on the north side of the Capitol will be enlarged to comply with guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It will be able to carry a stretcher in a medical emergency. The elevator on the south side will be reviewed. When renovations are complete, there will be public, accessible womens and mens restrooms on both sides of the Capitol on every floor. Currently, there are 18 womens restroom stalls in the Capitol; after the renovation, there will be 28. Family restrooms will also be added on multiple floors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costs also jumped with construction of a temporary building near the Capitol Annex to house the state House and Senate when in session. The temporary quarters cost about $14 million to build. No plans have yet been made on what to do with the new building once the Capitol is in operation again. It was built to last 10 years. Why the renovations are needed Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said the Capitol was getting old with a lot of years of wear and tear and needed a lot of work. He said the goal of the renovations is to make the Capitol safer, more energy efficient and comfortable. Senate President Robert Stivers leads media on a tour of the legislatures temporary building, June 25, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) Mike Wynn, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, said the General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene in the Capitol for the 2029 regular session that begins in January of that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is on track, but as with any major renovation, the completion date may change as the project moves along, he added. The cost also may change, said Finance and Administration Cabinet spokesperson Kinsey Woodson. The total cost now is expected to be $291.5 million, she said, but that may rise with additional work needed. The last major renovation of the facility was more than 70 years ago. Slightly more than $1.1 million was spent in 2017 to give the Capitols facade a thorough cleaning and to start some minor restoration of infrastructure. Senate President Stivers said he doubts visitors will notice much change when they see the renovated Capitol but a lot is going on. Hardships caused by the renovations The exodus of state workers from the Capitol was expected to end by mid-July. Moving vans surrounded the Capitol for weeks to haul equipment to new offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donna Farmer, the designated construction project manager for the renovations, said at a recent news briefing that the Capitol is expected to close to the public by the end of August. She said several public attractions on the Capitol campus will remain open to the public. They include the Floral Clock, floral beds, the COVID-19 memorial monument and the Gold Star Family Monument. She also noted a new visitors center is in the offing. Gov. Andy Beshear and his staff will move to the Old Governors Mansion and State Office Building in downtown Frankfort. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and her staff are headed to Berry Hill Mansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New office spaces for the Supreme Court of Kentucky and the State Law Library with its 20,000 books are now at 669 Chamberlain Avenue. The Circuit Court Clerk Conduct Commission also is at the new location. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in August at the Robert F. Stephens Circuit Courthouse in Lexington. The attorney generals office will move its personnel in the Capitol to its second Frankfort office Capital Complex East on Capital Center Drive. The secretary of states office is going to 1025 Capital Center Drive, suite 201 in Frankfort. Proprietors of media offices, known as Press Row, on the second floor of the Capitol have found their own office space or are working from their homes, an arrangement that became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. The closing of the Capitol also will mean a new location for the inauguration of the next governor on Dec. 14, 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With much pageantry, a new governor is usually sworn into office on the steps leading to the Capitols front entrance. The 2027 inauguration will be held a little lower, on the Capitols far north steps near Capital Avenue. A security fence will be installed surrounding the construction area to ensure the safety of employees and visitors to the Capitol campus. The Capitols west and east parking lots will be closed. The Capitol Annexs east parking lot and parking garage will remain open. The most public feature of the renovation project is the temporary building for the House and Senate adjacent to the Annex. Its more practical than pompous. But it wont be that public. Neither chamber will have a public gallery like the ones in the Capitol. The Kentucky Educational Television network will continue to air live proceedings in the chambers for public consumption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only members of the public allowed in the chambers will be those with special invitations from legislators. There will be several desks for members of the media. Wildcat Moving employees carry paintings through the Capitol basement into moving vans parked outside, June 25, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) The temporary structure is a one-story, 26,000-square-foot building. It includes space for majority and minority leadership offices, caucus rooms, support staff and emergency personnel. There is a purpose-built media area located in the vestibule of the temporary structure which offers Wi-Fi access and electrical outlets for media to cover floor proceedings. Offices for legislative leaders in the temporary structure will mirror the prior office allocation in the Capitol. The temporary structure will also provide space for clerks and support staff. When there is need for a joint House-Senate session, it will assemble in the House, as in the Capitol. Legislators are next scheduled to meet in January 2026 for a 60-day session to write a two-year budget. But Gov. Andy Beshear is considering whether to call them back to Frankfort early for a special session to address funding for natural disasters that have wrecked the state. If there should be a special session, We are ready, said Stivers. The architect for the renovations is EOP. Messer Construction Co. is the construction manager. Both businesses have offices in Lexington and Louisville. The Finance Cabinet said additional information on other contractors will be available upon completion of all bid awards and available through open records requests. Stivers congratulated Gov. Beshear and former Gov. Matt Bevin for working on the Capitol renovations. It is a mammoth project with much planning but I think we are all headed in the right direction on it, he said. I know it will be better for the people who work in the Capitol when it is completed. It should also please Kentuckians when they can again amble the Capitols hallowed halls. I hope to bring Audrey back when it reopens, said dad Deaton. She will be about 9 then. I think she will enjoy it even more. Lucas Deaton, who works for the Kentucky Bar Association, takes a photo of his daughter, Audrey, in the Kentucky Senate chamber, June 25, 2025. The desks and furniture had been removed in preparation for the Capitol renovation. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) This story was updated to correct a name and a photo caption that misidentified the House chamber. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Health and Human Services audit report, released Friday, says Kentucky did not effectively monitor the implementation of the COVID-19 screening testing program. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) The U.S. Office of the Inspector General says 75 contracted employees in Kentucky didnt complete background checks before providing COVID-19 testing on K-12 school property. This finding comes from a Health and Human Services audit report, released Friday, that says Kentucky did not effectively monitor the implementation of the COVID-19 screening testing program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audit, conducted from July 2023 through March 2025, says the state needs to determine the allowability of about $4.5 million in testing expenditures and refund to the federal government any unallowable amount. The report includes a written response from former Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander dated April 29. In that, Friedlander said the state agrees with part of the analysis that Kentucky needs to update its procedures to make sure it is following federal contract guidelines and properly overseeing compliance. On the recommendation that the state analyze more than $4 million in testing money and possibly reimburse part of it, the cabinets response states: all parties believe this has been resolved to mutual satisfaction. Kentucky acknowledges that testing and reconciliation of testing was a rapidly evolving process that improved with time and experience, the cabinets response states. The Department for Public Health has communicated with (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) project officer staff regarding the audit recommendation and anticipates support from CDC as all acknowledge that activity occurred within the scope of work of the award and work was performed consistent with grant requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, cabinet spokeswoman Kendra Steele said the state made full use of the federal dollars to test students and these efforts helped protect lives. The COVID-19 pandemic was a time of global crisis, and ensuring that Kentuckys K-12 students, teachers and other school staff could quickly and safely return to in-class learning was a top priority, she said. While there is always room for improvement, Team Kentucky rose to the challenge during an unprecedented time and did what was needed to protect Kentuckians. Kentucky was one of many state and local health departments to receive American Rescue Plan funding during the pandemic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help screen for COVID-19 and reopen schools. Kentucky received about $134 million on April 7, 2021, to help screen for COVID-19 in school. Of that money, $128.9 million went to 1.4 million COVID-19 tests conducted by 19 vendors, the report says. The rest, $5.5 million, went to other costs like air purifiers in schools and administrative support. The state then contracted vendors from July 15, 2021, to June 30, 2022, to do the screenings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state maintained adequate documentation for about $49 million of American Rescue Plan dollars, the report said. Still, the report alleges: Of the 19 vendors that were awarded testing contracts, seven did not meet at least one of the requirements for providing testing services for students and staff in K-12 schools. Kentucky did not monitor the vendors to ensure background-check documentation was obtained or maintained for contracted employees who performed COVID-19 testing on K-12 school district property prior to commencing work, which is required under federal and contract requirements. An estimated 292 of 2,120 contracted employees who were looked at for the report did not have background checks completed before performing COVID-19 testing on K-12 school district property. One of the vendors said it had been in business for at least one year but had only been in business for nine months when it submitted the application to test. This error occurred because the vendor was not required to submit documentation, other than the attestation, to support it had been in business at least a year. This vendor, not named in the report, was paid approximately $69 million for COVID-19 testing. Six vendors were paid $9.7 million for testing services despite not meeting all the contract requirements. One vendor didnt provide evidence that it performed COVID-19 tests. Kentucky did not properly document the monthly reconciliation of the COVID-19 testing invoices for each vendor during the contract period. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Following a federal lawsuit, Pulaski County Schools agreed to not block users from its social media pages and refrain from suppressing criticism of the districts policies or public positions. (Getty Images) Following a federal lawsuit, a Kentucky public school district has agreed to not block users from its social media pages and refrain from suppressing criticism of the districts policies or public positions. Pulaski County Schools made online posts last year opposing Amendment 2, the defeated constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Kentucky General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school system entered a consent decree earlier this month regarding its social media use after facing a legal challenge from Corey DeAngelis, a conservative commentator and school choice activist. A post on the Pulaski County Schools Facebook page against Amendment 2. (Screenshot) DeAngelis filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Kentucky against the school district in January after the district blocked him from its Facebook page in August. DeAngelis had criticized the district for using its official account to advocate against the ballot measure, which voters decided in November. DeAngelis suggested the posts might be illegal electioneering. In a phone interview, DeAngelis called the resolution of the lawsuit a monumental victory for free speech rights for citizens all across the country. Hes been unblocked by the school district and awarded $30,000 in attorney fees. He said the outcome shows school districts and other government officials they need to watch out for how theyre handling these communications and, basically, what they can see from this case, is that they might have to pay a price. The biggest takeaway here is that other school districts, not just in Kentucky, but all across the country, will basically be put on notice to not try to put their thumb on the scale to silence dissent either in person or on social media, DeAngelis said. So this is a free speech victory for citizens who want to push back against any government entity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Kentucky Republicans also denounced the school district for the social media posts, arguing that public resources were used to advocate against the ballot measure. Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman soon after issued an advisory to remind those entrusted with the administration of tax dollars appropriated for public education that those resources must not be used to advocate for or against the proposed constitutional amendment. Pulaski County Schools removed the social media posts following the advisory. In a recent statement shared with the Lantern, Pulaski County Superintendent Patrick Richardson said the defeated constitutional amendment was a matter of urgent and great concern for the Pulaski Schools because of the probable effect on Pulaski County public schools and funding for students. U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Donald Trump in 2018, presided over the case. Corey DeAngelis (Provided by Liberty Justice Center) The district commits to not block or otherwise restrict Mr. DeAngelis from interacting with its social media pages in the future except to the extent the district deems it necessary to preemptively disable all comments on a specific post, in which case the district recognizes that it must have an independent, content-neutral justification for doing so, the consent decree says. Such action may not be taken for the purpose of suppressing criticism of the district or its policies or public positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the school district agreed to not delete DeAngelis comments from its social media pages in the future, unless the district deems it necessary to delete all comments on a specific post and has an independent, content-neutral justification for doing so. The district will not engage in viewpoint-based restrictions on social media against Mr. DeAngelis or other individuals. The district may report users or temporarily restrict a users access in situations such as if a user posts threatening statements or spam. Communications staff for the school district will have remedial open records, open meetings, and reasonable First Amendment educational training regarding their obligations under the First Amendment, the order says. The school district must provide DeAngelis attorneys with confirmation of the training within the next year. Dean McGee, an attorney for the Liberty Justice Center which represented DeAngelis in the lawsuit, said that all school districts should follow the lead of having officials trained on open government laws and their obligations under the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At minimum, it needs to address the new world were living in, which is the internet and online speech really represents the modern day town square, McGee said about the training. It needs to stress to these school communications employees that they are wielding the power of government and that they have a responsibility under the First Amendment to their residents, to activists, to the press and to anyone else who might have an interest in the work theyre putting out online. Patrick Richardson (Pulaski County Schools) In addition to the Liberty Justice Center, DeAngelis was represented by Northern Kentucky attorney Steven Megerle. DeAngelis is on the board of the center. Richardsons statement cited a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Lindke v. Freed, which says public officials can be held liable for violating the First Amendment when operating social media pages and blocking or deleting comments. In view of the Lindke case holding, we entered into the consent decree, rather than spending education dollars defending the merits of our position, Richardson said. By entering into this decree the defendants admit no fault or liability, however recognize that a mistake may have been made but with no intent to deprive anyone of their First Amendment Rights. This was not the first time a Kentucky public official faced a legal challenge for blocking accounts online. Former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin faced a federal lawsuit over blocking users from his official Twitter and Facebook accounts. Ultimately, the ACLU of Kentucky settled the case with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear after he assumed office in 2020. The Kentucky governors office adopted a new social media policy as part of the agreement. You are the owner of this article. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) As communities across Kentucky continue to grieve a week after two Lexington shootings on July 13, state law enforcement shared a message of thoughtfulness and gratitude, especially for an injured trooper during his journey to recover. On Sunday, July 20, officials with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) posted a Thank a Trooper message sent by a woman who wanted to express her gratitude for all they do. RELATED: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My heart goes out to those who protect us and serve Kentucky, the excerpt reads. My heart goes out to the State Trooper who was shot recently. I am praying that he has a full recovery. You all are doing an amazing job. God bless you and your families. State police officials said Trooper Remilien, who was injured after allegedly being shot by Guy House on Terminal Drive, is continuing to recover in the hospital. A joint funeral service in memory of Beverly Gumm and Christina Combs, who were allegedly also killed by House, was held on Saturday at Richmond Road Baptist Church. Both women were later laid to rest at Pilot Knob Cemetery in Berea. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the Lexington Police Department identified three officers who officials said fired their agency-issued weapons and shot House. Sergeant Ross Collins, Officer Kyle Blankenship, and Officer Simon Rankin were all placed on administrative leave per department policy as the shooting investigation continues. Others who may want to send a thank you message to KSP troopers can do so using this form on the state police 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 FOX 56 News. A prominent Kenyan human rights activist has been freed on bail after he was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition over his alleged role in deadly antigovernment protests in June. Boniface Mwangi was charged by the police on Monday, two days after he was arrested and accused of possessing unused tear gas canisters, a 7.62mm blank round, two mobile phones, a laptop and notebooks. The courtroom was packed with hundreds of activists, some wearing Kenyan flags. They have no evidence, Mwangi told reporters, describing his prosecution as a big shame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His lawyer told Reuters news agency he was grateful to the court for agreeing to release Mwangi on bail. Kenya has been facing mass antigovernment protests across the country since last year first against tax increases in a finance bill and later to demand the resignation of President William Ruto. Since the protests broke out, police have been accused of human rights abuses, including allegations of government critics and activists being abducted and tortured. Rights groups said more than 100 people have been killed in the protests, which have been harshly suppressed. This month, at least 31 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a government crackdown on a protest. In June, at least 19 people were killed in a similar demonstration against Ruto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police accused Mwangi, a former photojournalist, of facilitating terrorist acts during the June protests and arrested him on Saturday. The activist denied the charges, saying in a social media post shared by his supporters: I am not a terrorist. His arrest triggered a wave of condemnation online with the hashtag #FreeBonifaceMwangi going viral and rights groups condemning it. The search warrant police used to raid Mwangis home, which an ally shared with journalists, accused the campaigner of having paid goons to stoke unrest at last months protests. However, 37 rights organisations and dozens of activists said they have not yet managed to prove that a judge had issued that warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mwangis arrest on unjustified terrorism allegations represents an abuse of the justice system to crush the opposition, the organisations said in a joint statement. What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenyas democracy, the groups said. In June last year, Al Jazeeras digital documentary strand Close Up profiled Mwangi during a ferocious police crackdown. He then said his nickname online was the Peoples Watchman because he was striving to get justice for the families of protesters killed by police. Mwangi, who once ran for parliament on an anti-corruption platform, has been arrested multiple times in Kenya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested on May 19 this year in Dar-es-Salaam, neighbouring Tanzanias largest city, where he had travelled to support treason-accused Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Both Mwangi and a fellow detainee, award-winning Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, accused the Tanzanian police of torturing and sexually abusing them while they were in custody. The pair have brought a case before the East African Court of Justice. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) The prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi was on Monday charged with unlawful possession of ammunition in a case stemming from his alleged role in street protests against the government. Opposition leaders and Mwangi's followers had feared he would be charged with the more serious offense of terrorism. He was freed on bond immediately after his appearance in court on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charge sheet said the suspect possessed three canisters of tear gas without lawful authorization. His attorney, Njanja Maina, told reporters on Sunday that Mwangi never possessed such items. Mwangi's wife Njeri, in a post on the social media platform X, said on Saturday that security personnel raided their home and took the activist and his electronic gadgets while talking of terrorism and arson. Police said after his arrest on Friday that Mwangi was linked to the facilitation of violent activities in recent street protests. Detectives searched his home and his office. The Kenya Human Rights Commission described the ammunition charge as a trumped-up accusation. This pattern of inventing charges to harass and silence activists like Mwangi erodes public confidence in the independence of the justice system, the civic group said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rights group Amnesty International said in a statement Monday that legal action against Mwangi appears to be part of a broader effort to intimidate lawful dissent and those committed to upholding the rule of law. "We are deeply concerned by the continued misuse of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to manage public order in more than 100 other cases," Amnesty said. This practice undermines Kenyas criminal justice system and jeopardizes critical international partnerships aimed at safeguarding national security. Mwangi is a well-known pro-democracy activist in Kenya. On X, where he has 2 million followers, he describes himself as "The Peoples Watchman. He has been a critic of successive Kenyan governments. Protesters who have rocked President William Ruto's administration say they want to rid his government of corruption, marked by theft of public resources and the seemingly extravagant lifestyles of politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also say that Ruto, in power since 2022, has broken his own promises to working-class Kenyans. The protests started in mid-2024 when Ruto proposed aggressive new tax measures opposed by many Kenyans. At least 500 people are facing criminal prosecution following arrests during protests in June and July that resulted in at least 47 deaths. NAIROBI (Reuters) -Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, who has played a prominent role in anti-government protests, was freed on bail on Monday after being charged with possession of teargas canisters and a single rifle round found in his home. Kenyan activists have been on edge over the arrests of government critics since a political blogger died in custody in June, triggering weeks of violent demonstrations in which around 50 people were killed. Police had arrested Mwangi, 42, on Saturday and said they had recovered unused teargas canisters, a "7.62mm blank round", two mobile phones, a laptop and notebooks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mwangi was "found in possession of noxious substances to wit three teargas canisters without lawful authority," according to a charge sheet seen by Reuters. He was also accused of illegal possession of a single round of blank ammunition. The courtroom was packed with hundreds of activists, some wearing Kenyan flags. "They have no evidence," Mwangi told reporters, describing his prosecution as "a big shame". His lawyer told Reuters he was grateful to the court for agreeing to release Mwangi on bail. Mwangi, who once ran for parliament on an anti-corruption platform, has earned a reputation for speaking out against human rights violations in Kenya and abroad. He was expelled from neighbouring Tanzania in May, where he had travelled to observe a hearing in a treason case against an opposition figure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month hundreds of Kenyans took to the streets to protest against the death in police custody of political blogger Albert Ojwang. Police initially implied that Ojwang had died by suicide but later apologised after an autopsy found that his injuries pointed to assault as the cause of death. The demonstrations over Ojwang's death reignited protests that had erupted last year over the cost of living and alleged police brutality and corruption. (Reporting by Humphrey MalaloWriting by Elias BiryabaremaEditing by Ammu Kannampilly, Sharon Singleton, Peter Graff) The number of people reported missing after catastrophic flooding struck Kerr County on July 4 has decreased from 160 to three, county officials said Saturday as search efforts entered their third week. The flooding, which killed at least 135 people statewide, including 107 in Kerr County, devastated communities along the Guadalupe River. The Kerrville Police Department credited extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies for verifying that many individuals initially reported missing were, in fact, safe, NBC News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list, Kerrville officials stated in a Facebook post on Saturday. Six days prior, the number of missing persons stood at 97. This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time, said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. Kerrville Police Departments Jonathan Lamb emphasized ongoing efforts, stating, This process takes time, but is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed and each person is properly accounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamb added, While the updated figure offers some relief, searchers remain focused on reuniting the three individuals who are still unaccounted for with their families. The July 4 flooding, triggered by a flood wave that raised the Guadalupe River 26 feet in 45 minutes, swept through Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls that was hosting more than 750 children. At least 27 campers and staff died in the flood, which inundated bungalows, washed cars away, and left survivors clinging to trees. Texas officials have called a special legislative session, starting Monday in Austin, to address flooding and other issues. A select committee is scheduled to hold a hearing in Kerr County on July 31, according to a Facebook post from the county on Sunday. Officials did not specify reasons for the significant drop in the missing persons count, such as whether restored cellphone service played a role. State and local officials continue to work with urgency and care to locate them, while supporting affected communities through the ongoing recovery process, Lamb said. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Eight Texas longhorn cattle ushered in the Utah Days of 47 Rodeo as part of a cattle drive through downtown Salt Lake City Monday. You feel like youre in a movie or something. Its so surreal, Governor Spencer Cox said during Monday mornings festivities. Cox was accompanied by First Lady Abby Cox on horseback during the drive. Governor Cox attends Mondays cattle drive. (Courtesy//Jonathan May) Mondays cattle drive brings longhorns through the streets of Salt Lake City. (Courtesy//Jonathan May) Cowboys and cowgirls guide longhorns during Mondays Cattle Drive. (Courtesy//Jonathan May) The cattle drive began at 9 a.m. Monday morning near 500 South and West Temple. The drive aims to show off eight Texas longhorns with 8-foot-long horns through the streets as well as a number of cowboys and cowgirls driving the cattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The herd of horns made it to the Utah State Fairparkofficially kicking off Pioneer Week here In Utah. Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff set for move to Tulane, reports say Shortly after the drive, the Utah State Fairpark Rodeo Arena hosted the Hands-on kids rodeo. Kids came to compete from the Northeast Community Center. The kids rodeo included activities like horseback riding, roping, and barrel racing. This year`s cattle drive brought in cowboys, the Utah Cowgirl Collective, Governor and First Lady Cox on horseback, wagons, and eight Texas Longhorns. Elsewhere, at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, participants in the Days of 47 Parade preview their floats. Participants prepare for a pioneer parade later this week. (Courtesy//Will Hotzfield) When were together, doing things as neighbors, friends, families were in the pioneer spirit, one float creator named Mark told ABC4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years Days of 47 Parade is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. beginning at South Temple and State Street. The route will end on 900 South and 600 East. 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. People of Gaza are starving, and one of the only ways they can get any food is to risk death by going to an aid distribution point run by the notorious Israel- and United States-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Al Jazeeras Sanad agency has analysed satellite imagery of the GHF aid distribution centre in the Shakoush area of Rafah, taken on July 13. We trace the journey of desperately hungry people waiting for hours, sometimes days, to walk a gauntlet of Israeli tanks, armoured vehicles, and drones where they risk being shot by Israeli soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is what they have to go through: How do people get into the centre? It is nowhere near as simple as getting there. People are allowed to take vehicles or carts up to a particular point, after which they have to disembark. This point is at least 1.5km (0.9 miles) from the distribution centre, which means that they would have to walk back that distance carrying whatever sacks or boxes of food they can get. To try to make sure they get something, people start arriving hours or even days before the centre distributes. Once they arrive, they do not leave because they do not want to lose their spot, as some have walked for hours already to get there. What is al-Joura? Wanting to avoid waiting out in the open, people hurry over a distance of about 560 metres (1,800 feet) past an Israeli barrier to al-Joura, a sandy pit between dunes, where they seek cover from Israeli bullets and settle in to wait for an unknown time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The physical hardship is compounded by unbearable heat and long waits, as families often arrive 12 to 24 hours early to wait for a go signal to get some food. INTERACTIVE - Israel - Gaza -Aid under tank fire - july 21, 2025-1753099771 What happens when the go signal comes? Usually, hearing the go signal normally from hovering drones means people can approach the aid distribution point, which is still about 1km away (0.6 miles). But things often do not work that way, and the risk of getting shot increases dramatically from here. In addition to complete military control over Rafah, the Israeli army has barriers and numerous military vehicles encircling the aid distribution point. Witnesses say Israeli sniper nests, drones and military outposts reinforce this control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The displaced Palestinians wait for a signal from the Israeli military, which tells them that it is safe to go to the aid site. However, witness reports say people were shot at even when they waited for a go signal to head to the centre. Video published by Palestinian activists on July 14 showed Israeli fire at crowds in al-Joura, moments before they approached the distribution gate. On July 12, Israeli forces killed 34 people waiting for food aid at the GHF site. So, the people who make it to the distribution centre are OK? No, not always. In addition to the general mistreatment that Palestinians face at the hands of Israeli soldiers, video has emerged of soldiers pepper-spraying Palestinians as they approach the centre. What is it like to actually get aid? For those people who get to the centres doors, the struggle is nowhere near over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalist Muhannad Qeshta, himself displaced from Rafah, discussed the aid distribution process with Al Jazeera. He described scenes of chaos fuelled by poor coordination, a lack of clear distribution schedules, and a total absence of measures to organise the crowd. People rush into the centre, where tables have been set up with aid packages haphazardly piled on top. It becomes a free-for-all, with desperate people pushing and fighting to get any amount of food they can manage. Most end up leaving empty-handed due to the overwhelming demand and limited supplies, with no order imposed on who gets an aid package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who do get some food have to make their way back up the same road where hundreds or thousands of hungry people are still trying to fight their way into the aid centre. Struggles have broken out as desperate people try to snatch food out of each others arms. Who are aid victims? On Sunday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health posted a press release on its Telegram channel, providing an update on aid victims. The ministry said over the past 24 hours, 31 people had died and more than 107 injured as they arrived at hospitals. This raised the total number of livelihood victim deaths to 922 and injuries to 5,861. On July 16, at least 21 Palestinians were killed during a stampede while trying to receive food rations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a United Nations-backed assessment released in May, one in five people in Gaza are currently facing starvation as a result of the Israeli blockade on food and aid, while 93 percent of the population is suffering from severe food shortages. Why is GHF notorious? Facing international pressure to let aid into Gaza and wanting to sideline the already established UN and international agencies working there, Israel proposed the GHF, claiming it needed to keep aid from being diverted to the Palestinian group Hamas. Israel did not present any evidence of food and medical aid being diverted to fighters or being used for anything other than their intended purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN and humanitarian organisations contend that the GHF plan violates fundamental humanitarian principles. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the Security Council in May that the GHF restricts aid to only one part of Gaza while leaving other dire needs unmet. He argued that GHF makes aid conditional on political and military objectives, turns starvation into a bargaining tool and serves as a cynical sideshow and a fig leaf for further violence and displacement. Eleven humanitarian and human rights organisations signed a statement in which they deemed the GHF a project led by politically connected Western security and military figures, coordinated in tandem with the Israeli government. The government and Kilmar Abrego Garcias team have asked a judge for a 30-day pause if hes ordered to be released from custody while pending trial. Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was erroneously deported in March to El Salvador, is being held in Nashville, Tennessee, on human smuggling charges. Hes waiting for U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, who is overseeing the case, to rule on the governments motion to revoke Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes' order that Abrego Garcia be released pending trial. The ruling is expected to be announced sometime this week. Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (via Facebook) On Sunday, the government and Abrego Garcia's lawyers asked that in the event the court denies the governments motion for revocation, the court grant a 30-day stay of any release order being issued to give Abrego Garcia time "to evaluate his options and determine whether additional relief is necessary." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stay request stated that Abrego Garcia's attorneys were advised that if the court denied the governments motion for revocation, he'd be transferred to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, and removal proceedings would commence. "The government does not object to this request, and such a short delay will not affect the parties ability to conference regarding a proposed scheduling order or to prepare for trial," the filing by Abrego Garcia's counsel said. If Crenshaw grants this request from the two parties, it will effectively render moot what Maryland District Judge Paula Xinis said she was going to do: ask for a 48-72-hour pause of Abrego Garcias deportation, if he is indeed released. His deportation sparked heated debate over President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown and mass deportations, at times without due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 29-year-old was deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador in March, in what the government called an "administrative error." His deportation was in direct violation of a judges order in 2019 that was issued to prevent Abrego Garcias deportation to El Salvador, where he was born and claimed to have been in danger of gang violence. Abrego Garcia was brought back to the United States last month after months of legal back-and-forth between his defense and the federal government. Upon his return, he was immediately charged with two federal felonies in U.S. District Court in Nashville: conspiracy to unlawfully transport illegal aliens for financial gain and unlawful transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain. Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty to both charges. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com KINGSTREE, S.C. (WCBD) Leaders in the Kingstree community of Williamsburg County will meet Monday to discuss implementing a curfew during a town council meeting. With 11 homicides in the county so far this year, town officials say they are looking for ways to combat gun violence. Officials say a curfew would include fines and possible penalties for parents. A group called We Deserve Better was created by residents following the rise in homicides and they want to help the community come together and talk about ways to improve safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kingstree Police Department is also partnering with the Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina Attorney Generals Office, and community leaders as they work to support people impacted by violence. One lifelong Williamsburg County resident told News 2 that they had to speak up and show action in the wake of recent violence. The people thats supposed to be protecting us, providing for us, and our safety we need to make them aware that we need help down here in Williamsburg County. We deserve better. We dont need to be spending our summer going to funeral after funeral for young people thats been thats been shot and killed, said Veronia Cooper, a community activist. Mondays town council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Frank H. McGill Municipal Complex. 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 WCBD News 2. A judge from northeastern Colorado resigned at the end of Wednesday, and, in doing so, admitted to allegations that he used his position to aid a friend across multiple cases without disclosing his personal connection. The two-state illusion is dead, former US ambassador David Friedman said. Five MKs from Likud hosted a conference in the Knesset on Monday titled Sovereignty Now Realizing the Window of Opportunity to Apply Sovereignty to Judea and Samaria. The conference was organized in cooperation with an NGO called The Sovereignty Movement, led by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar. Energy Minister Eli Cohen (Likud) said during the conference that as foreign minister, he had been willing to give up on peace and normalization with Saudi Arabia if it required a pathway to Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cohen said that there would only be one Jewish state between the Jordan [River] and the [Mediterranean] Sea, and that the government should work toward settling one million Jews in the West Bank. He did not specify what the status of the West Bank Palestinians would be. Diaspora Affairs MinisterAmichai Chikli commended the farms in the West Bank, many of which are unrecognized by Israeli authorities. He praised Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter for enabling grazing grants to shepherds in these farms. He also praised the governments decision to recognize 22 new settlements. Then-US ambassador to Israel David Friedman speaks before unveiling a plaque at the US embassy in Jerusalem, December 21, 2020. (credit: MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL VIA REUTERS) Cohen commended former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman for the first Trump administrations recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights. According to Cohen, the move was a victory over left-wing governments, which had been willing to give up the Golan Heights in exchange for normalization with Syria. In his speech at the conference, Friedman outlined his Puerto Rico framework for the West Bank. Puerto Rico is an American territory with local governance, but its residents do not vote in the national election. Friedman argued that the same should be applied to Palestinians residing in Judea and Samaria, and declared that the two-state illusion is dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five Likud members who initiated the conference were MKs Moshe Passal, Keti Shitrit, Avichay Boaron, Dan Illouz, and Ariel Kallner. In addition to Cohen and Chikli, other Likud politicians who attended included MK Osher Shekalim, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat. In his speech, Illouz argued that there could not be victory in the war without applying sovereignty to the West Bank. The world appreciates decisiveness, not hesitancy, and Israel needs to act decisively if it wants to be victorious, Illouz said. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Gershon Hacohen argued in a lecture at the conference that Israeli military presence was necessary at a series of high points in the West Bank to ensure the security of its key population centers. The IDF presence was small, and therefore, settlements were necessary as well, Hacohen argued. He also argued that demilitarization of a future Palestinian state was an empty concept since in todays day and age, many military technologies, such as drones, have dual purposes and therefore could be purchased for civilian uses and easily adapted for military use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hacohen also argued that settlements in the West Bank would solve the congestion in Israels coastal plain. What is the legal status quo in the West Bank? According to Israeli law, the current status of the territories it captured from Jordan in the Six Day War, except for east Jerusalem, is that of a temporary belligerent occupation, and the legal governor of the territories is the commanding officer of Central Command. During the Oslo Accords, signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the 1990s, the territories were split into three different designations: Area A, chiefly Palestinian towns and cities, which are under full security and civilian control of the PA; Area B, which is under Israeli security control but Palestinian civil control; and Area C, which is under Israeli security and civilian control. Israels approximately 500,000 settlers reside primarily in Area C. Israel views the majority of its settlements as legal under domestic law, built on state land and in accordance with legally viable government decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A majority of international organs view the settlements as a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which outlaws settling civilians in conquered territory. However, Israel has argued in its defense that Israeli citizens were neither deported nor transferred to the territories and that the territory is not occupied since there had been no internationally recognized legal sovereign prior. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion that Israels presence in the West Bank itself was no longer temporary and, therefore, unlawful. NEW YORK (AP) The 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz helped catalyze a national missing-childrens movement. The 6-year-old was one of the first children whose disappearance was publicized in what became a high-profile way: on milk cartons. His case also ushered in an age of parental anxiety. After a decades-long investigation, a former New York City convenience store clerk, Pedro Hernandez, was arrested in 2012. He was convicted of murder and kidnapping in 2017 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. But on Monday, a federal appeals court overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial for Hernandez, now 64. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to know about Etans disappearance and the prosecution: A boy vanishes and a movement begins Etan disappeared while walking to his Manhattan school bus stop alone for the first time on May 25, 1979, igniting an exhaustive search and helping to make missing children a national cause in the United States. The anniversary of his disappearance became National Missing Childrens Day. His parents helped press for new laws that established a national hotline and made it easier for law enforcement agencies to share information about missing children. The movement grew after the 1981 kidnapping and killing of 6-year-old Adam Walsh in Florida. Frightened parents soon stopped letting children walk alone to school and play unsupervised in their neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigation spans decades Etans body has never been found, but his family had him legally declared dead in 2001. The investigation spanned decades and even reached Israel. Hernandez worked at a convenience store in Etans neighborhood, and police noted meeting him among many people they encountered while searching. But he wasnt a suspect until 2012, when police got a tip that Hernandez, then living in New Jersey, had once spoken to a relative about killing a boy in New York City. A disputed confession There was no physical evidence against Hernandez, but police said that during a seven-hour interrogation he confessed to attacking Etan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recorded statements, Hernandez tranquilly recounted offering soda to entice Etan into the basement of the convenience store where Hernandez was then a teenage stock clerk. Hernandez said he choked Etan, put the still-alive boy into a plastic bag and a box and left the box in an alley. Hernandezs lawyers said the admissions were the false imaginings of a man with mental illness and a very low IQ. The defense also urged jurors to consider another longtime suspect who dated a woman who sometimes walked Etan home from school. That man was later convicted of molesting boys in Pennsylvania. He told federal authorities about interacting with a child he was all but sure was Etan on the day the boy vanished. But he was never criminally charged. Prosecutors maintained that Hernandez's confessions were credible and suggested he faked or exaggerated symptoms of mental illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appeals court ruling In its ruling Monday, a federal appeals court overturned Hernandez's conviction because of the original judge's response to a jury note during a 2017 trial. The appeal revolved around the police interrogation that Hernandez underwent in 2012. Police said he initially confessed before they read him his rights. Hernandez was then given a legally required warning that his statements could be used against him in court, then repeated his admission on tape at least twice. At the trial, the jury sent a note to the judge asking whether it should disregard the two recorded confessions if it concluded that the first one given before the Miranda warning was invalid. The judge answered no. The appeals court ruled that the jury should have gotten a more thorough explanation of its options, which could have included disregarding all of the confessions. The court ordered Hernandez to be released unless he received a new trial within a reasonable period. The 2017 trial had been Hernandez's second; his first ended in a deadlocked jury in 2015. In July 2025, following reports in the Pennsylvania newspaper The Morning Call, claims circulated online that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Luis Leon, an 82-year-old grandfather from Allentown, during a green card appointment on June 20, 2025. Though a person claiming to be an immigration attorney allegedly initially told the family Leon was dead, relatives claimed they found him at a Guatemala City hospital around July 18. At the time of The Morning Call's publication, ICE said an investigation into Leon's reported deportation was ongoing. However, on July 20, the Guatemalan Institute of Migration, the Guatemalan immigration service, said in a statement that no persons matching the "name, age and nationality" in reports about Leon's alleged deportation had entered Guatemala. Then, on July 21, ICE published a statement saying it "never arrested or deported Luis Leon to Guatemala" and that it had no record of a green card appointment for him on June 20 in Philadelphia, where he was reportedly arrested. An updated report by The Morning Call on July 21 also said that a Chilean journalist found no record of Leon at the hospital his family said treated him for pneumonia. Furthermore, the journalist found that a man with the same name and date of birth died in Santiago, Chile, in 2019. According to The Morning Call, the family of Luis Leon said on July 20 they were no longer speaking to the media. In July 2025, following reports in The Morning Call, a news site based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a claim circulated online that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Luis Leon, an 82-year-old grandfather from Allentown, while he tried to replace his Green Card at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office and deported him to Guatemala. One summary (archived) of The Morning Call's report on X had more than 6.5 million views at the time of this writing. BREAKING: ICE secretly deported Luis Leon, an 82-year-old torture survivor and U.S. legal resident of nearly 40 years, after he walked into an immigration office to replace a lost green card. Instead of processing the request, ICE handcuffed him, detained his wife for 10 Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) July 20, 2025 The claim also circulated on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Reddit (archived) and TikTok (archived). Snopes readers also wrote in to ask if the claim was true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, we could not independently confirm the details of Leon's alleged deportation as reported by The Morning Call. On July 21, ICE published a statement saying it "never arrested or deported Luis Leon to Guatemala" and that it had no record of a green card appointment for him on June 20, when he was reportedly arrested. On July 20, the Guatemalan Institute of Migration, the Guatemalan immigration service, said (archived) in a statement that no persons matching the "name, age and nationality" in reports about Leon's alleged deportation had entered Guatemala. Attempts to contact Leon's family to confirm reported details proved unsuccessful. On July 21, The Morning Call reported the family said it was no longer speaking to media. This report also included information from Jose Del Pino, a Chilean journalist. According to Pino, the hospital Leon's family said treated him for pneumonia had no record of him as a patient. Pino also found that a Luis Leon with the same birthday died in Santiago, Chile, in 2019. We reached out to ICE to confirm its July 21 statement and to Jose Del Pino, the journalist mentioned in The Morning Call's July 21 report, to confirm his findings. The Embassy of Chile in Guatemala referred our questions about Leon to the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We await replies to our queries. The Timeline According to The Morning Call's report citing Leon's granddaughter Nataly, ICE agents arrested Leon on June 20, 2025, at a USCIS office on 41st Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leon had gone to the office to replace a lost permanent resident card, or green card. The card allows the holder to live and work permanently in the U.S. but does not grant them U.S. citizenship. Nataly told The Morning Call agents arrested Leon and held his wife at the office for hours. Nobody in Leon's family knew where he was. "A few days" later, a woman contacted Leon's family claiming to be an immigration attorney and said she knew where Leon was but refused to tell the family. On July 9, 20 days after ICE officers reportedly arrested Leon, that same woman contacted Leon's family and said he was dead, according to The Morning Call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on this date, Michele Downing of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, joined several other speakers at a Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meeting denouncing ICE immigration enforcement actions in the county. Downing said (time code 01:24:13) that Leon was her "friend's grandfather." His name is Luis, and he came here from Chile. He was born there in 1942, and he fled political torture with his wife and his small children to come here in 1987. Four kids and 16 grandkids later, about a month ago, my friend's granddad misplaced his Green Card. So, when immigration called him to come and pick up his new green card he went with his 79-year-old wife to pick it up, and they were both detained. She was released seven hours later and he was never seen again and has never had so much as a traffic ticket in his entire life. Despite reporting medical conditions, and despite obtaining an immigration attorney with every penny they had saved, I received a phone call this morning from Immigration and Customs that he was found deceased at 4 o'clock this morning. It was unclear where Downing got her information about Leon, which varied slightly from The Morning Call's. Downing said Leon was 83 years old, while The Morning Call reported Leon's age as 82 years old. Both were possible if Leon was born in 1942, as Downing said. Snopes reached out to Downing to ask how she knew about Leon and will update if we receive a reply. Downing also added details not included in The Morning Call's report, claiming that she personally spoke to "Immigration and Customs" who confirmed Leon's death. According to The Morning Call, the woman who told Leon's family he was dead claimed to be an immigration attorney. We asked ICE to confirm if one of its agents or lawyers called Leon's family or Downing on July 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Morning Call said in its July 20 article that Leon told his family he arrived in Guatemala on July 1. If true, this would further cast doubt on ICE telling Leon's family on July 9 that he had died, as Leon would have been out of ICE's custody by that date. Regardless, by July 20, Leon's brother in Chile had reportedly located Leon at a Guatemala City hospital who were treating him for pneumonia and, through a Chilean government contact, confirmed with an unidentified U.S. official that Leon arrived in Guatemala via a detention center in Minnesota. According to The Morning Call, the hospital in question could not confirm whether Leon was one of its patients due to privacy concerns. Leon's family would travel to see him in Guatemala, a July 20 report said. According to a July 21 report in The Morning Call, the hospital had no record of Leon as a patient. Snopes could not independently confirm Leon's route to Guatemala. Leon did not appear in ICE's Online Detainee Locator System through a name search. However, since Leon had reportedly left the U.S., ICE likely removed his information from the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2025, Guatemalan President Dr. Bernardo Arevalo said during a news conference that his government would receive 40% more deportation flights of "national returnees as well as deportees from other nationalities for their ulterior repatriation." However, the Guatemalan Institute of Migration said in a July 20 statement, "Guatemala coordinates with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) on the reception of persons deported from the United States of America, which does not include South American nationalities." It also said there was "no person matching the name, age and nationality mentioned by the media" who entered Guatemala on the dates in question, referring to reports such as The Daily Call's. DeepL.com provided Spanish to English translations of the Guatemalan Institute of Migration's statement. Sources: DHS Sets the Record Straight: ICE Never Deported Media's "Allentown Grandfather" | Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/21/dhs-sets-record-straight-ice-never-deported-medias-allentown-grandfather. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green Card | USCIS. 8 Jul. 2025, https://www.uscis.gov/green-card. Migracion Guate. "#Comunicado | Migracion Guate, Informa:" Facebook, 20 Jul. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/migracionguate/posts/pfbid02pkWhUgKqu1sgcLXsBS1FwACYoo1oELSqMesnUiCk7SpMRuZshDkuSHtzt9P6dZGUl. Online Detainee Locator System. https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025. "Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo at a Joint Press Availability." United States Department of State, https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-and-guatemalan-president-bernardo-arevalo-at-a-joint-press-availability/. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheehan, Daniel Patrick. "Is ICE Running Rampant at Lehigh County Courthouse? Protesters Say so, and Demand the County Act." The Morning Call, 10 Jul. 2025, https://archive.ph/OgGPV#selection-1339.4-1510.0. Sheehan, Daniel Patrick, and Elizabeth DeOrnellas. "Allentown Grandfather's Family Was Told He Died in ICE Custody. Then They Learned He's Alive in a Hospital in Guatemala, They Say." The Morning Call, 18 Jul. 2025, https://archive.ph/4wLeK#selection-1309.4-1480.0. ---. "ICE Says Allentown Grandfather Luis Leon Was Never Taken into Custody, Calls Family's Story a 'Hoax.'" The Morning Call, 21 Jul. 2025, https://archive.ph/xqGuW#selection-1359.4-1530.0. ---. "Update: Family Says Allentown Grandfather in Guatemala after ICE Arrest. but Country Says It Has No Records of Him." The Morning Call, 20 Jul. 2025, https://archive.ph/54Jv3#selection-1309.4-1480.0. Updates: July 22, 2025: This report was updated to include an ICE statement and The Morning Call's updated report. SEOUL July 21 (UPI) -- South Korea's Hyundai ADM Bio said Monday that the company is working on a new drug, Penetrium, intended to help enhance the efficiency of traditional cancer treatments. The firm said that its novel approach focuses on targeting the supportive structure around cancer cells, called the tumor microenvironment. or TME, which refers to the intricate network of elements that surrounds and sustain a tumor. "The interplay between cancer cells and their nearby components promotes tumor growth and invasion into healthy tissues, resulting in treatment resistance and poor clinical outcomes," Hyundai ADM Bio research head Kim Su-jong told a press conference in Seoul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Penetrium acts on the TME by disrupting the cancer-friendly ecosystem, allowing conventional anticancer drugs to work more effectively and overcome resistance. It is an adjuvant for concurrent treatment," she said. In other words, she explained that Penetrium was a supplement for combination therapy with existing cancer drugs, rather than a substitute for them. Hyundai ADM Bio noted that it would start clinical study with Penetrium, which is based on niclosamide, a medication used to treat tapeworm infections South Korean authorities approved the first-phase clinical test in prostate cancer patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For patients suffering from pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancers, the company plans to cooperate with its mother company, Hyundai Bioscience, to apply for clinical trials later this year at home and abroad. "Niclosamide is a tried-and-tested compound considered a promising candidate for treating various diseases. However, its low bioavailability has been a challenge. We aim to overcome it with our unique delivery system." Hyundai ADM Bio CEO designate Cho Won-dong said. "Preclinical results for Penetrium have shown encouraging outcomes. Clinical tests for patients with terminal-stage cancer will start first because they typically have very few therapeutic options left. In such cases, we could show the efficacy of Penetrium early on," he said. Cho was particularly hopeful that Penetrium would prove effective in preventing cancer metastasis. He plans to take charge of the company after a shareholder meeting July 31. Established in 2003, Hyundai ADM Bio went public on the Seoul bourse in 2021. It was acquired by the Korean biopharmaceutical company Hyundai Bioscience early last year. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Netflixs K-Pop Demon Hunters remains a popular film, and now one of the directors is teasing the possibility of a sequel. If you havent seen K-Pop Demon Hunters, the film directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans follows a world-renowned K-pop girl group that secretly battles demons. Since its release on Netflix, this genre-blending movie has climbed to the top of the streaming services most-watched list and has even won over K-pop skeptics. Weekend Watchlist: Dont sleep on Netflixs The Sandman Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Screen Rant, co-director Maggie Kang discussed the possibility of a sequel. She stated, Always. There are always side stories, and there are things weve thought of while making this one. There are a lot of questions that are answered, but not fully. I think there are a lot of pockets that we can explore. Additionally, Arden Cho, who voices the lead vocalist in the movie, caused some excitement on social media when she tweeted at Netflix, saying, Can we be #1 until Netflix confirms a sequel? Pretty please. In addition to being Netflixs most-streamed movie for several weeks, KPop Demon Hunters features several songs that have made it onto the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, the song Golden reached the top 10. This comes as no surprise, as the film features collaborations with real K-pop producers, including Teddy Park, who has worked with K-pop girl group Blackpink, and Grammy winner Lindgren, who has worked with groups such as BTS and Twice. KPop Demon Hunters continues to showcase its appeal in more ways than one. The film is a testament to how Korean culture, and others like it, are here to stay and not some fad. K-pop is becoming increasingly popular with each passing year, solidifying its place in the American Market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with a cultural experience, the film also delivers stunning graphics comparable to movies like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Mitchells vs. The Machines. However, this should not be surprising, as all three films are made by Sony Pictures Animation. Fans will be excited to see what the studio has in store. Until then, they can watch the K-pop trio show you how its done right now on Netflix. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Monday that it did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump if the Russian and U.S. presidents were both in Beijing at the same time in September. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin would visit China for events to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, but said Moscow had not heard if Trump planned to go. "You know that we are preparing for a trip to Beijing, our president is preparing for this trip... But we have not heard that President Trump is also going there, to Beijing," Peskov said when asked if the two leaders could meet, including possibly in a three-way format with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If it so happens that (Trump) is there, then, of course, we cannot rule out that the question of the expediency of holding a meeting will be raised," Peskov told reporters. The Times newspaper reported last week that China was positioning itself to hold a summit between Trump and Putin. Putin and Trump have spoken at least six times since Trump returned to the White House in January. The Kremlin has said it is in favour of a face-to-face meeting between them, but this would need careful preparation in order to produce results. Trump has expressed growing frustration with the Russian leader over a lack of progress towards ending the war in Ukraine, saying earlier this month that "we get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said last week he would impose new sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports in 50 days unless Moscow agreed to a peace deal. That deadline will expire in early September, coinciding with the war anniversary events in Beijing. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) The Kremlin has stated that Russia "reaffirms its interest in holding a third round of negotiations on Ukraine" but noted that there must be an exchange of views on the Russian and Ukrainian memorandum drafts, which are currently "diametrically opposed". Source: Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the Russian leader, quoted by Russian state news agency Interfax Quote: "There is our draft memorandum and there is a draft memorandum submitted by the Ukrainian side. There must be an exchange of views and negotiations on these two drafts, which, lets say, are currently absolutely diametrically opposed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Peskov also stated that there had been no changes to the Russian negotiating team. "You know that we support holding a third round [of negotiations on Ukraine]. As soon as there is clarity on the dates, we will inform you immediately," Putins spokesman concluded. Background: Independent Turkce reported on Monday, citing sources, that Russian and Ukrainian delegations may meet this week in Istanbul on Wednesday or Thursday. Ukraine has proposed to Russia that a new round of talks be held this week. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Liz Coulbourn | Pluto Press In 2023, several years after the height of the MeToo movements prominence in the mainstream, I published my book, Survivor Injustice: Domestic Violence, State-Sanctioned Abuse, and the Fight for Bodily Autonomy. My books thesis was simple: Contrary to liberal activism that erroneously framed gender-based violence almost entirely as interpersonal acts by abusive individuals, all too often, gendered abuse manifests as state violence; the state independently functions as an abuser, itself, and systematically empowers abusive partners, too. Think: Being unable to leave an abusive partner or family member because you rely on them for health insurance coverage in a capitalist economic system; simultaneously being unable to vote for policy change that might help you escape an abuser, because they wont allow you to vote; being forced to navigate a legal system that retraumatizes victims who come forward against their abusers, and allows abusers to sue and bankrupt victims for defamation. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take But perhaps the most overt, egregious form of state gender-based violence has increasingly flared up as an ever-expanding rash since the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health ruling in June 2022: abortion bans. Now three years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the gruesome horrors inflicted by state abortion bans began immediately and havent stopped: case after case of brutal pregnancy morbidities from being denied abortions for medical emergencies; a 10-year-old rape victim forced to travel out-of-state for abortion, and the doctor who helped her harassed and penalized by the state, within days of Dobbs; a 12-year-old rape victim in Mississippi forced to give birth, her family unaware of the states vague rape exception, within a year of Dobbs; children of childbearing age denied life-saving medications deemed abortifacients; pregnant people jailed on suspicion of having abortions; surging rates of reproductive coercion and control perpetrated by domestic partners; an estimated tens of thousands of rape-induced pregnancies in states with abortion bans. In June 2025, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a new study that showed abortion bans have increased incidences of intimate partner violence across the U.S. since Dobbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2024, as I continued to report on a near daily basis on the gendered violencestate gendered violencewrought by abortion bans while working as a reporter at Jezebel, it began to feel, increasingly, like I was writing something akin to a sequel to Survivor Injustice: a detailed, focused rendering of state gendered violence, specifically in the form of abortion bans. Thus, the idea for my forthcoming book with Pluto Press, Coercion: Surviving and Resisting Abortion Bans, was conceived. Too often, the vast consequences of abortion bansrising maternal and infant mortality; recurring, near-fatal pregnancy complications exacerbated by being denied care; abusers taking legal action against or threatening to call the cops on partners for seeking abortionsare implicitly framed as unintended consequences, consequences that no one, certainly not the anti-abortion lawmakers who have openly attacked pregnant peoples humanity for generations, could have predicted. In Coercion, I argue that these arent unintended consequences at alltheyre deliberate acts of state-perpetrated gender-based violence inflicted on women and pregnant people, particularly those with the least resources and agency under capitalism and white supremacy. This is the explicit purpose of abortion bans: to police and control pregnant people and their reproduction, to inflict economic subjugation and racial violence, even to actively kill pregnant peopleby denying or delaying their access to life-saving abortion care, or by entrapping them with their abusers in a country where homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant people. In the excerpt below, I present a brief case for abortion bans as a tool in the toolbox of abusers to feed cycles of interpersonal gender-based violence, in a country in which domestic abuse is endemic, affecting one in three women and more than 60% of LGBTQ people. Pluto Press Coercion by Kylie Cheung is now available from Pluto Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health ruling, eliminating the federal right to abortion. This altered if not altogether tore the fabric of society for women and pregnant-capable peoplethat is, anyone who can become pregnant, including queer and trans people as well as children. But around a decade before this event, in 2013, a New York court issued a foreboding ruling on a controversial custody case. That case, McKenna v. Miller, involved Olympic athlete Bode Miller, who sued his ex-partner, Sara McKenna, for custody after she moved from California to New York for school while pregnant with their fetus. The New York court initially determined that while McKenna, a veteran and firefighter, did not abduct the child, her appropriation of the child while in utero was irresponsible and reprehensible. The court granted Miller custody, ostensibly as punishment for McKennas interstate travel while pregnant. Despite weaponizing McKennas pregnancy to sue and retaliate against her, Miller had previously sent McKenna this text when she first revealed her pregnancy to him and asked him to accompany her to an ultrasound appointment: U made this choice against my wish. He ignored her text when she told him she was moving to New York. Like so many controlling or abusive men who wield custody battles to flex their power, Miller seemed less interested in parenting than in punishing his ex. An appeals court ultimately reversed the state courts ruling before the end of the year. But nonetheless, McKenna presents a chilling example of how the legal system can be, and so often is, used as a tool by pregnant peoples partners to control them. At the time of the legal conflict between Miller and McKenna, legal experts expressed trepidation about the cases implications for pregnant peoples rights. Especially with current political pressures to recognize separate legal rights for fetuses, there will be increasing calls on the courts to fault a pregnant woman for moving, to restrain women from living their lives because theyre pregnant, Sarah E. Burns, the head of the Reproductive Justice Clinic at the New York University law school, told the New York Times at the time. This amounts to reproductive coercion, which occurs when someone tries to control their partners reproductive decision-making or punish them for their decisions, often to entrap them in an abusive relationship and punish or exert power over them. Over one in three U.S. women have experienced sexual or domestic violence, which is endemic across the country. Frighteningly, the McKenna case isnt an outlier: Across the U.S., an alarming number of states currently restrict or outright ban courts from finalizing a divorce during pregnancysimilarly wielding pregnancy to bind pregnant people to partners theyre trying to leave, and affording men leverage to exert control over them. Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all have such laws, according to tracking from the American Pregnancy Association from 2024. Texas and California allow exceptions for domestic violence, but these exceptions arent explicit in the other states. In Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Maine, Delaware, and Hawaii, there may not be an explicit ban on finalizing divorces during pregnancy, but judges will likely make couples wait until the baby is born before allowing a divorce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2024, one Missouri Democrat introduced a bill to allow people to finalize a divorce during a pregnancy; the lawmaker, state Rep Ashley Aune, said she filed the bill because shed heard from a constituent who wasnt able to leave her abusive husband while she was pregnant: Not only was she being physically and emotionally abused, but there was reproduction coercion used. When she found out she was pregnant and asked a lawyer if she could get a divorce, she was essentially told no. It was so demoralizing for her to hear that. She felt she had no options. In an extensive 2022 report from the organization Pregnancy Justice on fetal personhooda rising legal movement that recognizes embryos as children with rights, and consequently subjects pregnant people to state policing to protect those rightsthe organization warns that for years now, divorce proceedings have been a site of great contestation over embryos and pregnancy. All of this is further complicated in a country where, today, state laws may force someone to remain pregnant against their will, even when this is directly, frighteningly at odds with their safety. This is the same country where the leading cause of death for pregnant people is homicide, often perpetrated by an abusive partner. Close to half of states have enacted total or near-total abortion bans since 2022in each of those states, a pregnant person trying to escape a violent or otherwise abusive marriage may be trapped, all during a period of intense vulnerability, when intimate partner violence may begin for the first time or escalate to become deadly. New research from 2024 revealed a direct link between anti abortion laws and a higher rate of domestic violence-related homicide in impacted communities. Specifically, these laws known as TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) lawsweaponize burdensome, almost impossible requirements to purposefully shut down abortion clinics, ironically citing concerns for womens safety. In reality, the study, which analyzed data collected between 2014 and 2020, found that enforcing just one TRAP law on one clinic led to a 3.4% increase in the rate of domestic violence homicides in that state. The authors of the study noted that in this six-year period, an estimated 24 women and girls between ages 10 and 44 were victims of an intimate partner violence-related homicide that was associated with TRAP laws. Under these circumstances, its hardly surprising that a tenth of people who have abortions do so to exit abusive, dangerous relationships; a third have experienced sexual abuse in their lifetime. Abortion bans exacerbate the risk of physical harm all around: At the end of 2022, University of Pennsylvania researchers published a study that showed pregnant-capable people of reproductive age are at greater risk of suicide in states that severely restrict abortion. The study drew on 40 years of data that preceded Dobbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the summer of 2023, the National Domestic Violence Hotline reported that calls involving acts of reproductive coercion had doubled since the Dobbs decision the previous year. In at least one case that the Hotline shared with me for my reporting in Jezebel, one woman living in a state that had banned abortion said her partner stole her birth control pills and impregnated her against her will. In a survey published in 2024, the Hotline found that out of 3,400 respondents, 5% (about 200) of domestic violence victims said their partners threatened to report them to law enforcement if they had abortions, while 5% said their partners threatened to sue them if they chose this course. Access to abortion has always been a pivotal step in safely exiting an abusive relationshipbut in a post-Dobbs legal landscape that casts inescapable criminal suspicion on pregnant peoples wide-ranging reproductive decisions, victims can be punished for the very act of trying to protect themselves. In July 2023, a Nebraska teenager was sentenced to 90 days in jail for self-inducing an abortion in 2022 before the Dobbs decision; the teen testified that shed made this decision to leave an abusive relationship. Pregnancy has increasingly become a weapon to be wielded against domestic violence victimsand those who help them. Even before Dobbs, Texas enacted a law known as S.B. 8 in the fall of 2021. The law allows Texans to sue anyone who helps someone access abortion care in the state for at least $10,000, opening the door for rapists and abusers to literally profit off their victims pregnancies, and harass their victims loved ones with costly lawsuits. Already, weve seen several cases of legal harassment from abusive partners aimed at women in Texas who allegedly sought and received abortion care. Shortly after the 2024 election, the most powerful anti-abortion organization in the state launched a recruitment campaign seeking men interested in suing their ex-partners for allegedly having abortions. These ongoing horrors are entirely at odds with the very principle of reproductive justice, which demands that all of us have equitable access to the resources we need to parent or not parent in safe, healthy communities, with full agency over our bodies, health care decisions, and lives. Reproductive justice is an international framework adopted by Black feminists in the 1990s; just as it demands full, universal access to abortion in the U.S., the movement also demands, for example, Palestinian liberation, the ability to be pregnant, give birth, and parent safe from violent apartheid conditions and genocide funded and facilitated by the U.S. The precedent of Roe was never enough to ensure reproductive justicethats because, as Dobbs has shown, a rights-based framework is tenuous, especially when decades of compromise and fecklessness from liberal politicians resulted in these rights being perennially stripped back for decades. Still, the dismantling of our reproductive rights has pulled us back even further to the unthinkable. The end of Roe in the United States has upended daily life for pregnant people and survivors, and created new avenues through which the state and abusive figures can collaboratively punish and control their victims. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want to read more Teen Vogue abortion coverage? An investigation is underway in Northridge after police shot and injured a man who was reportedly armed with a gun, officials confirmed to KTLA. The incident, some of which was caught on a cellphone camera, unfolded at around 7:45 p.m. in the 9300 block of Corbin Avenue, not far from Prairie Street. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of an armed man and were seen on in footage obtained by KTLA chasing the suspect on foot through the parking lot of a strip mall. L.A. police opened fire on a man suspected of being armed as he attempted run away from them in Northridge on July 20, 2025. (Golden State Haunts) L.A. police opened fire on a man suspected of being armed as he attempted run away from them in Northridge on July 20, 2025. (Golden State Haunts) L.A. police opened fire on a man suspected of being armed as he attempted run away from them in Northridge on July 20, 2025. (Golden State Haunts) L.A. police opened fire on a man suspected of being armed as he attempted run away from them in Northridge on July 20, 2025. (Golden State Haunts) L.A. police opened fire on a man suspected of being armed as he attempted run away from them in Northridge on July 20, 2025. (Golden State Haunts) L.A. police opened fire on a man suspected of being armed as he attempted run away from them in Northridge on July 20, 2025. (KTLA) Outside of a Korean barbecue restaurant, one of the officers is seen opening fire as the man runs for cover in between parked vehicles toward the rear of the restaurant. The officer then fires two more shots at the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gunman sought in brutal East Hollywood nightclub crash that injured 36 Medical personnel with the L.A. Fire Department also responded to the location and were seen loading a man, presumably the suspect, into the back of an ambulance. Its unclear if the suspect was struck by police gunfire and if so, what condition he was in when he was taken to the hospital. It is also not yet known if a firearm was recovered on the suspect or at the scene. On X, previously Twitter, L.A. police said that the officer-involved shooting was under investigation toward the rear of the 9000 block of Corbin Avenue and that any additional would be shared when they became available. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A Los Angeles County man was arrested by San Diego Homicide Detectives and is facing charges for the murder of his ex-girlfriend who was initially reported missing. A 33-year-old Hispanic woman, who has not been identified by authorities, was reported missing under suspicious circumstances on July 15, 2025, to San Diego Police officers with the Southern Division. Daughters of missing foster mom visit ranch as investigators dig in fraud probe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, San Diego Police detectives reportedly found evidence that led them to believe the victim was dead, and the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit took over the investigation. The police department reports Homicide Detectives reportedly learned information that led them to search for the missing womans ex-boyfriend who they believe was involved in her disappearance 48-year-old Eduardo Magana, a resident of La Puente, in Los Angeles County. Driver extricated from burning vehicle on I-5; SUV crashes into home San Diego Detectives went to Maganas home in La Puente, but he was later arrested in a traffic stop in the City of Southgate, then interviewed by SDPD detectives, according to the police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magana has been booked into the San Diego County Jail on suspicion of murder. Anyone with more information is asked to call the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 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 county argued it was 'not the jail's duty to ensure that every person released from the jail gets home safely,' after the plaintiff alleged she sustained injuries from having to walk 8.8 miles overnight Six million Britons risk being forced to delay their retirement after Labour announced a review into the state pension age. Liz Kendall opened the door for the statutory retirement age to be raised as she announced a commission to examine whether workers are saving enough into private pensions. The Work and Pensions Secretary said she was under no illusions about how difficult it would be to map out plans for pensions for the coming decades amid cost of living pressures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: Many workers are more concerned about putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads than saving for a retirement that seems a long way away, and many businesses face huge challenges in keeping profitable and flexible in an increasingly uncertain world. The state pension age is currently 66 and is already poised to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046. Previous governments have tried to bring this forward, but ministers have struggled to make progress despite two independent reviews backing recommendations for it to be raised more quickly. Jeremy Hunt was forced to shelve a plan to bring forward increases in the state pension age after a dramatic drop in post-lockdown life expectancy left the former chancellor struggling to justify the changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The launch of the review into the state pension age comes three years ahead of deadline. The Government is required to review the state pension age every six years, with the most recent one occurring in 2023. The previous government considered forcing people to wait until to 68 for their state pension from 2038. Pensioner poverty tsunami Official population projections show roughly 800,000 people reach the state pension age each year, suggesting that between five and six million people could be forced to delay retirement if these proposals were adopted as government policy. Previous governments have pledged to give workers 10 years notice before any change in the statement pension age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Kendall said people were likely to have to work for longer, even as more working-age Britons report long-term health conditions. She said: So many aspects of our life: public services, the world of work and the state more generally, hasnt woken up to the fact that we are all living longer. More of us have got health conditions. More of us are caring not just for our kids, but our mums and dads too. Its often both at the same time, and weve got to wake up to that. As we live for longer, we were going to work for longer. Ms Kendall also warned that Britain was facing a tsunami of pensioner poverty that would put taxpayers on the hook for a flood of welfare claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: My big worry is that so many young people have not got at the minute a hope in hell of getting on the housing ladder. They are just absolutely killed by their rent. And if you are paying off your mortgage in retirement or still renting in retirement. That is what is driving this sort of tsunami of pension and poverty that I think is coming our way. Ms Kendall also opened the door for savers being able to dip into their pension pots at any age. The Work and Pensions Secretary said she was considering the potential of innovative solutions like sidecar funding, where savers could bolt on an instant access account to their retirement pots to help them cope with financial pressures without damaging their retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also committed to the triple lock on pensions for the rest of the parliament, although the policy to keep payments rising by at least 2.5pc every year has been branded unaffordable by economists. Ms Kendall also warned that almost half of working-age adults are not putting any money into a private pension. Ministers will attempt to shake up the UKs savings rules in an effort to encourage people to save more for retirement. A three-member taskforce, led by trade unionist and Labour peer Baroness Drake, will tackle the barriers that stop too many saving in the first place, Ms Kendall said. It comes as the UK grapples with the economic impact of an ageing population and the increasing financial pressure of the state pension on the public purse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any increase to the state pension age is likely to provoke a backlash from older workers due to retire in the coming decade. Protests have erupted across Europe in recent years as countries including France and Spain increase the minimum legal retirement age. Steve Webb, a former pensions minister and partner at pension consultants LCP, said: The Chancellor will face a tricky decision between long-term fiscal prudence and short-term political popularity. A more aggressive schedule of state pension age increases might reassure the financial markets, but recent history suggests is unlikely to be politically attractive. Change is inevitable Damon Hopkins of financial adviser Broadstone, said: We would not be surprised to see an acceleration applied to the increase of the state pension age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The combination of an ageing population and the huge fiscal cost of the state pension would suggest that a change is inevitable. A lower or later state pension would, of course, double down the need for reform in the private savings landscape. The review comes amid mounting concern about the sustainability of the state pension system. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned about the rising costs of the triple lock earlier this month. The fiscal watchdog said that guaranteeing the state payment rises by the highest of earnings, inflation or 2.5pc would cost an extra 15.5bn a year by the next election, compared to if payments only rose in line with earnings. Ministers are also yet to implement recommendations from almost a decade ago that proposed lowering the age threshold for auto-enrolment in workplace pensions from 22 18 years old and removing the lower limit of qualifying earnings, so that contributions are paid from the first pound earned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The review comes at a time when relations between the Government and older Britons are already strained, following an about-turn on winter fuel payments. Rachel Reeves faced fierce backlash after she scrapped universal winter fuel payments in July last year in a bid to save the Treasury 1.5bn a year. Last month, the Chancellor reversed her decision and announced that pensioners with incomes of less than 35,000 a year would be eligible for the benefit. 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. Lake District residents campaigning against the construction of a new mosque have been criticised as racist by a local Labour MP. Police were called as groups of protesters supporting and opposing the 2.5m development clashed outside the building site in Furness on Saturday. Demonstrators holding placards with messages reading Muslims welcome here were met by protesters holding Union flags with messages reading: No to the mosque and Not racist! Just patriotic!. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michelle Scrogham, the Labour MP for Barrow and Furness who attended the counter-protest, responded to the objections by saying: Theres absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria. The comments that plague the social media pages constantly dont represent the people of this area. The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming. Weve had immigration on a mass scale for many, many years. Anybody that wants to come here and say youre not welcome, theyre wrong. Its just utterly wrong. Michelle Scrogham, the Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, at the counter-protest - Newsquest/SWNS Construction of the South Lakes Islamic Centre, situated in Furness, Cumbria, started in January this year. The centre will be the only masjid within a 50-mile radius, serving both the local Muslim community and tourists. The group said the space would cater to the 40 to 50 practising Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protests have previously taken place on the site, with both sides of the debate shouting at each other across the road last month as the anti-mosque group waved the Union flag. Paul Jenkins, who organised a counter-protest on behalf of Furness Stand Up To Racism, said: The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multi-faith community and defend the right of the Islamic Centre to be here. The organister of a counter-protest said: We celebrate our multicultural, multi-faith community - Newsquest/SWNS Henry Goodwin, a demonstrator, said: There are five British values, which include tolerance of other peoples faiths and beliefs. Were standing up for proper British values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents have criticised the development, saying it is not needed in Furness, although those demonstrating against the mosque refused to speak to reporters on the ground. Residents have previously voiced concerns about the construction of the mosque on social media , calling it an absolute monstrosity. One said: Absolutely disgusting total blot on the landscape totally unwelcome how on Earth has this been passed in planning? Another wrote: There goes the beautiful Lake District with a huge building plonked there. Planning approval for the mosque was granted in December 2022 after 30 objections were raised. 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. BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand has accused Cambodia of placing landmines in a disputed border area after three soldiers were injured, but Phnom Penh denied the claim and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered a mine left behind from decades of war. Thai authorities said the three soldiers were injured, with one losing a foot, by a landmine while on a patrol on July 16 on the Thai side of the disputed border area between Ubon Ratchathani and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province. Cambodia's foreign ministry denied that new mines had been planted, and said in a statement on Monday night that the Thai soldiers deviated from agreed patrol routes into Cambodian territory and into areas that contain unexploded landmines. The country is littered with landmines laid during decades of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Royal Government of Cambodia categorically denies these baseless and unfounded allegations," the ministry said. It added the country was fully committed to the Ottawa Convention, an international agreement banning antipersonnel landmines. On Monday, the Thai army said that 10 freshly laid Russian-made PMN-2 type landmines, which are not used or stockpiled by Thailand, were found between July 18 and July 20 in areas near where the soldiers were injured. "This is a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Thailand and an outright breach of principles that are fundamental to international law," Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said on Monday in Bangkok. Figures from the Cambodia Mine Action Centre, which estimates there are still 4 to 6 million landmines scattered across the country, show five people were killed and a dozen injured by mines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia in the first four months of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area where the Thai soldiers were injured is near where a Cambodian soldier was killed in May after a brief exchange of gunfire between troops on both sides. The shooting has since flared into a broader diplomatic dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours that has destabilised the Thai government and seen the Prime Minister suspended from office. Thailand said it will issue a formal condemnation and call for accountability from Cambodia for breaching the landmine treaty, and the army will also increase vigilance during border patrols. Cambodia said the landmine incident showed the need for both countries to settle the border dispute at the International Court of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bangkok has previously said it has never recognised the court's jurisdiction on the issue and prefers to settle the dispute through bilateral mechanisms. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by John Mair) CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4) A known Las Vegas gang member is back in police custody after an attempted escape while he was released on a 12-hour furlough to attend a funeral. Everardo Marquez, 33, is accused of stealing a car and failing to return to jail after the court-ordered furlough time expired. Original charges In early January 2025, agents with the Iron Garfield Beaver Narcotics Task Force conducted a weeks-long investigation into Marquez. Later that month, a confidential informant working with the task force purchased 4.4 grams of methamphetamine from Marquez, leading to his arrest on Jan. 29 at a gas station near the Cedar City Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were able to track down and arrest Marquez. During the arrest, officers say they found photographs of a stolen VISA card. Marquez would later plead guilty to a second-degree felony charge of drug distribution and a third-degree felony for unlawfully acquiring a financial card. Weapons charges Just months after his first Utah arrest, Marquez was stopped by SUU police during an incident near Smiths grocery store in Cedar City. Officers later arrested him for allegedly providing a firearm to his 14-year-old nephew, who is believed to be in the same gang as Marquez. Despite being booked on three felony charges and one misdemeanor charge, Marquez was only indicted for prohibited dangerous weapon conduct (a third-degree felony) and a misdemeanor charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The misdemeanor charge was dismissed with prejudice, while Marquez plead guilty to the dangerous weapon felony charge. Furlough for a funeral On July 18, 2025, Judge Matthew L. Bell of Utahs Fifth District Court ordered Marquez be released the following day at 9 a.m. to attend the funeral of an immediate family member. He was ordered to return to the Iron County Jail by 9 p.m. Defendant is released to attend the funeral and to see to whatever affairs may be needed during that twelve-hour period, the order reads. By July 20, 2025, Marquez had yet to return to jail. Officers with Iron County Sheriffs Office say they were informed Marquez had stolen a vehicle. Police began searching for him in areas where his girlfriend is known to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say they were able to locate him hiding in the gym of the Ramada Inn in Cedar City. Marquezs blood tested positive for methamphetamine, court documents say. It is unclear how the new charges will affect Marquezs case. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. 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. WASHINGTON People in the U.S. House Chamber stood on the evening of July 15, observing a moment of silence for Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a Granby native interning on Capitol Hill who was killed at the end of June. Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, was interning at the office of U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, when he became a bystander caught in the path of gunfire in the District of Columbia. His funeral was held Thursday in East Longmeadow, and a liturgy of Christian burial was observed in Wilbraham. Flanked by U.S. Reps Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, and Richard Neal, D-Springfield, Estes asked the chamber to observe the moment of silence, saying Tarpinian-Jachym gave his life to service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a kind and friendly presence in my office, greeting everyone who came through the door with a smile, Estes said. The loss of Eric will be felt for a long time. Neal described Tarpinian-Jachym as a person that had great promise. He came to Capitol Hill eager to learn, contribute, and serve the people and this great institution, only motivated by idealism and a commitment to public service, Neal said. Through his determination and intellect, he accomplished all of that. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has offered a reward of up to $40,000 for information about his killing. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. A delegation of Latin American ambassadors visited MDA, exploring its state-of-the-art facilities and emergency response efforts, while also donating blood to support its lifesaving mission. A delegation of Latin American ambassadors to Israel recently visited the Magen David Adom (MDA) Blood Services Division at the Marcus National Blood Services Center in Ramla, gaining firsthand insight into the emergency services organization's critical work. The visit, spearheaded by Ruth Wasserman Lande, MDAs head of global strategy, and led by MDA Director General Eli Bin, included a comprehensive tour of MDA's advanced operational and medical facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ambassadors received an in-depth look at MDA's state-of-the-art facilities and emergency response capabilities. This included a close inspection of their mobile intensive care units (MICU), motorcycle ambulances (ambucycles/Medicycles), standard ambulances, mobile intensive care buses, Unimog evacuation trucks, and off-road response units. They were also introduced to MDAs proprietary AI-powered dispatch systems, highlighting the organizations cutting-edge approach to emergency medical services. Panamas Ambassador Ezra Cohen was joined by ambassadors Antonio Ignacio Lopez Escarre from Costa Rica, Tesla Flores from Honduras, Maria Cristina Cevallos Calero from Ecuador, Ava Atzum Arevalo de Moscoso from Guatemala, Hector Celarie from El Salvador, and Alejandro Rubin from Paraguay. A delegation of Latin American ambassadors to Israel recently visited the Magen David Adom (MDA) Blood Services Division at the Marcus National Blood Services Center in Ramla. (credit: Eliran Avital, MDA Spokesperson) Uri Shacham addressed the envoys, providing powerful and detailed accounts of MDAs experiences responding to terror, particularly during the horrific events of October 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shared compelling evidence, including videos obtained by MDA from security footage in Sderot amid the massacre and recorded emergency phone calls received by dispatch that day from survivors and those who tragically perished. Shacham also highlighted MDA's innovative measures and proactive preparedness. He recounted a specific incident just weeks before October 7, where a 6-year-old boy with nearly severed fingers received critical emergency surgery thanks to MDA's swift response and technological tools. A photo of the injury, quickly transmitted via MDAs systems, allowed specialists to prepare for reconstructive surgery. The child was then efficiently transferred via MDA helicopter to a team of microsurgeons on call during the Rosh Hashana holiday, ultimately sparing him from amputation. MDA leadership prepared for the October 7 massacre The delegation also learned about MDA's foresight in preparing for the October 7 massacre. Despite being told by the military just two days prior that there were no expectations of an attack, MDA leadership decided to prepare for the worst, putting volunteers and staff nationwide on high alert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shacham further detailed how invading Hamas terrorists targeted MDA, ambushing and killing one medic and attempting to breach the Sderot station. By a "miracle," the gate to the facility, which typically opens after a siren, remained closed that morning, protecting the staff from a large-scale ambush. The Shin Bet later revealed plans by terrorists to seize control of the MDA building in Sderot. Ambassadors from across Latin America also toured the Marcus National Blood Services Center, the worlds first secure, underground facility of its kind. They observed how MDA collects, tests, and supplies vital blood units to hospitals throughout Israel and the IDF, significantly decreasing mortality rates in soldiers and civilians alike. They also visited MDAs Sussman Human Milk Bank, which provides essential breast milk for premature and ill infants whose mothers are unable to nurse, demonstrating MDA's comprehensive approach to health needs across all ages. The visit concluded with several ambassadors voluntarily donating blood, demonstrating their tangible support for MDAs lifesaving mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panamas Ambassador to Israel, Ezra Cohen, told the Jerusalem Post: "Visiting Magen David Adom today was a powerful reminder of the extraordinary role this institution plays in Israeli society. MDA responds to moments of critical need with unwavering professionalism, cutting-edge efficiency, and above all, a profound human touch. It is an organization that serves every segment of the population with dignity and compassion, embodying the very best of Israels values." Ambassador Cohen also thanked MDA on behalf of the diplomatic corps, stating, "Magen David Adoms work is incredibly moving. I visited MDA in the past it was an unforgettable experience. Immediately afterward, I told all my fellow ambassadors that they must come and see MDAs operations with their own eyes. There are no words to express my gratitude for everything you do." MDA Director General Eli Bin underscored the significance of the visit: "Magen David Adom is Israel. We are proud to host the Latin American ambassadors and officials visiting us today. Your presence is a great honor for Magen David Adom and an important step in strengthening ties between MDA and the international community. For over 95 years, MDA has been at the forefront of medical and humanitarian work, responsible for emergency response across Israel. Your visit underscores the value we place on international cooperation, and I look forward to deepening the connection forged here today." (WHTM) A newly proposed bill in the State House could make it much easier to identify law enforcement. According to a co-sponsorship memo, The Officer Visibility Act, circulated by Rep. Paul Friel (D-26), among others, would require all government agents and law enforcement to wear identifiable uniforms or clothing and prohibit the use of face coverings, masks, or concealing apparel that obscures identity during operations, under defined circumstances. Rep. Friels memo says notable federal agents, including Homeland Security and US Border Patrol, have allowed government agents to act without identification and conceal their faces while performing duties, which the memo says creates an unsafe environment for both citizens and law enforcement officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo cites multiple high-profile and alarming incidents in which individuals impersonated law enforcement officers, including the targeted assassinations of state legislators in Minnesota, as reasons to support the bill. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The memo adds that current federal practices, particularly the deployment of masked or unidentifiable personnel, contradict core public safety principles and blur the line between lawful authority and unlawful coercion. Rep. Friels memo lists the following key provisions of the proposed legislation: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mandatory Identification: All officers and agents acting in any official capacity must wear clearly visible identification that includes: Name or badge number Department or agency name Uniform or standard clothing that aligns with agency protocols Prohibition on Concealment: Officers may not wear masks, facial coverings, or other garments that obscure their identity unless: Engaged in sanctioned undercover activity Operating in declared health emergencies requiring PPE (subject to clear markings) Criminal Penalties for Violations: Penalties for impersonating law enforcement or unauthorized use of identifying uniforms or insignia will be increased, with mandatory minimums for impersonation in the context of violence or attempted violence. Civil Penalties for failure to properly identify or concealing identity by government officials. Rep. Friel says the provisions will enhance public and officer safety, reinforce public trust through accountability and transparency, and deter political violence. The bill has not been submitted for introduction 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 ABC27. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Two dogs were shot, one fatally, by law enforcement after they charged at officers responding to a reported domestic violence shooting in southeast Franklin County. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office was called Monday morning to a home on South Hamilton Road after a caller claimed a women inside the home had been shot and her husband had a rifle. Officers knocked on the door multiple times but nobody answered. Man found dead in Olentangy River near downtown Columbus had gunshot wound Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As law enforcement entered the house, two German Shepherds charged at them from a bedroom and responding officers shot them. One was killed and the other was wounded with the owners transporting the dog to a veterinarian in an unknown condition, officials said. Multiple people were inside the home, but no injured woman was found, according to the Franklin County Sheriffs Office. Madison Township police was also joined by the Franklin County Sheriffs Office and Obetz police for the response. The FCSO is investigating 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. The House is set to break for its summer recess starting on July 25, leaving fewer than 20 legislative days on the schedule for lawmakers to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of September. The federal budget runs out on Sept. 30. Without a short-term funding extension or a full-year spending plan, agencies will once again be facing the possibility of partial shutdowns, with a host of operations and services shuttered until new money is made available. The threat of a shutdown has become commonplace on Capitol Hill, but Congress appears even less prepared for the next threat than others in the recent past. Only a few appropriations bills have been adopted by the full house funding for the Defense Department and Veterans Affairs are among that group and none have been finalized by the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With lawmakers headed back home next week, staffers will spend much of August trying to find points of compromise for a plan. But the recent rescission package and reconciliation bills adopted without input from Democratic lawmakers will complicate that work, especially if some of their votes are needed in the closely-divided House. Tuesday, July 22 Senate Armed Services 9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nominations of Vice Adm. Frank Bradley to be head of U.S. Special Operations Command and Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to be head of U.S. Africa Command. House Homeland Security 10 a.m. 310 Cannon Cyber Threats Outside experts will testify on the evolution of cyber threats to critical American infrastructure. Senate Foreign Relations 10 a.m. 419 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. House Foreign Affairs 10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn Pending Legislation The committee will mark up several pending bills. House Veterans' Affairs 2 p.m. 360 Cannon Employee Bonuses Department officials will testify on efforts to prevent fraud and abuse in VAs employee bonus programs. Senate Foreign Relations 2:30 p.m. 419 Dirksen Hong Kong Outside experts will testify on human rights and democracy in Hong Kong. Wednesday, July 23 House Armed Services 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn Defense Acquisition Reform Pentagon officials will testify on proposed reforms to the defense acquisition process. House Foreign Affairs 10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn State Department Posture State Department officials will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate Foreign Relations 10 a.m. 419 Dirksen Pending Business The committee will consider several pending nominations and pieces of legislation. Senate Foreign Relations 2:30 p.m. 419 Dirksen Middle East Strategies Outside experts will testify on current U.S. diplomatic strategies towards Middle Eastern countries. Senate Veterans' Affairs 4 p.m. 418 Russell Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. Thursday, July 24 Senate Armed Services 9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Adm. Daryl Caudle to be Chief of Naval Operations. Every year, senators and House members get out of DC for the month of August. It's known as the "August recess." Trump, eager to get more nominees confirmed, wants the Senate to cancel it. If you're a senator who's made vacation plans for August, you may want to look into whether your trip is refundable. President Donald Trump is leaning on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the so-called "August recess," when both the House and the Senate go out of session for a month in the dead of summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason: The president is eager to get more of his nominees confirmed. "Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed," Trump wrote on Truth Social over the weekend. "We need them badly!!!" Thune told reporters on Monday he was "thinking about" canceling the recess and said that senators were working on getting as many nominees "through the pipeline" as they could. At least one other senator has said he's fully on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Absolutely, I'm willing to do it," Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said on Fox News on Sunday. "I'm happy to stay here as long as we're working." More than 20 of Trump's diplomatic nominees are still awaiting confirmation votes. Among them is Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was nominated to serve as US Ambassador to Greece. If Trump is successful, senators will have to stick around for lots of in August, even while their House colleagues get to go home. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened. In 2018, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell canceled recess for similar reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Senate Historical Office, the August recess evolved out of an effort to modernize the way that Congress worked, building in more predictable breaks in the schedule rather than remaining in session until work is finished. It was also especially popular with the spouses of members of Congress, who wanted to spend more time together as a family during the summer. While many lawmakers do take vacations during the month of August or during other shorter recesses throughout the year, they often find themselves busy with other work back home. That includes constituent meetings, town halls, and during election years, lots of campaigning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Senate GOP source told BI on Monday that senators would likely prefer to be back in their home states to talk about the impact of the "Big Beautiful Bill," the sprawling piece of fiscal and tax legislation that Trump signed into law earlier this month. Read the original article on Business Insider Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics' roundup of news from the third branch of government. A Virginia voter casts a ballot in Henrico County in November. A new lawsuit is challenging the states policy of permanently disenfranchising people with felony convictions, arguing it violates a post-Civil War federal law. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) In a high-stakes voting rights battle with roots in the Reconstruction era, civil rights groups on Friday filed two new motions in a federal lawsuit that could restore voting rights to thousands of Virginians with felony convictions. Announced Monday, the filings by the ACLU of Virginia, Protect Democracy and the law firm WilmerHale seek summary judgment in the case and class-action status on behalf of the more than 300,000 Virginians who they say remain disenfranchised under a state constitutional provision. The plaintiffs argue Virginia is violating a 150-year-old federal law the Virginia Readmission Act of 1870 which governed the states return to the Union after the Civil War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the most pernicious attempts to suppress the voting rights of Black citizens trace back to the Civil War, but they have consequences that persist to this day, said Vishal Agraharkar, senior supervising attorney at the ACLU of Virginia. Today, Virginia is one of only three states whose constitutions permanently disenfranchise all people with felony convictions unless the governor restores their right to vote which not only deprives Virginians of their voting rights, but breaks federal law. The suit hinges on a novel interpretation of the 1870 law, which permitted the states return to Congress on the condition that its constitution only allow disenfranchisement as a punishment for such crimes that are now felonies at common law. That list, defined in 1870, includes serious offenses like murder, rape and burglary but not modern offenses such as drug possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Virginia today, we disenfranchise people for things like drug offenses, but those were not felonies at common law in 1870, said WilmerHale partner Brittany Amadi. By disenfranchising all people with felony convictions, Virginia is breaking federal law and disproportionately excluding Black and brown people from the ballot box. Among the plaintiffs in the case are Virginians like Toni Heath Johnson, a 62-year-old from Southwest Virginia, who lost her voting rights due to drug-related convictions. I already served my sentence, Johnson said in a statement. Being barred from voting prevents me from having a voice in decisions that better my life, my familys lives, and my community, and amounts to a second sentence. Tati Abu King, 54, of Alexandria, another plaintiff, emphasized the broader racial impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot of Black men like me who have had their voting rights taken away. That means I have no voice in whats happening in my community or my state, he said. What am I supposed to tell my stepchildren who learn at school that democracy means everybody has a voice? According to the Sentencing Project, a national nonprofit advocating for sentencing reform, one in eight eligible Black voters in Virginia is disenfranchised more than triple the national rate of one in 22. In 2020 alone, Virginia barred more than 190,000 Black citizens from voting due to felony convictions, the second-highest figure in the country. The new filings build on momentum gained in March 2024, when U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney Jr. ruled that the plaintiffs Readmission Act argument had enough merit to move forward. He rejected the states assertion that the issue was purely a matter of state politics, writing that the case plausibly presents a violation of federal law. While Gibney did dismiss several aspects of the case including claims that disenfranchisement violates the Eighth Amendment he declined to remove Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Gee as defendants, noting their roles in enforcing the current policy. However, an appellate court later overruled the latter decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngkin has largely dismantled the rights restoration programs put in place by his three immediate predecessors including one Republican that had automatically restored voting rights to at least some individuals with felony convictions who had completed their sentences. Under Youngkins administration, people seeking to regain their civil rights, including the right to vote, run for office, or serve on a jury, must now file an application provided to them upon release. Each case is reviewed on a discretionary basis. They are all considered individually, then-Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James wrote in a March 22, 2023 letter to state Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, who had raised concerns about the policy shift. The Mercury has reached out to the office of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Virginias system, individuals with felony convictions may petition the governor for rights restoration, but no clear criteria exist, leaving decisions up to each administrations discretion. The lawsuit challenges this system as opaque, unequal, and historically rooted in racial discrimination. After the Civil War, former Confederate states like Virginia were determined to keep newly freed Black people from voting, the ACLU wrote in a statement. They expanded felony laws to criminalize behaviors disproportionately affecting Black communities and used those convictions to systematically strip people of their right to vote. By seeking class-action status, the plaintiffs hope to extend the potential impact beyond the named individuals and force systemic change for hundreds of thousands of affected citizens. Because Virginia currently disenfranchises people convicted of all felonies, it directly violates federal law, said Jared Davidson, counsel at Protect Democracy. Virginians government has illegally disenfranchised people for more than 100 years. But this lawsuit proves that its never too late to right a wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was first filed in June 2023 in the Eastern District of Virginia, with a trial set for October 23, 2025 just weeks before voters head to the polls in Virginias critical statewide elections. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. A Houston, Texas, man was sentenced Monday for leading a cocaine trafficking organization in Southern Illinois. Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Illinois said Daniel Robert, 48, was convicted after an eight-day trial. A jury found Robert guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute the controlled substance: cocaine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of witness tampering, and one count of attempted witness tampering. Prosecutors said Robert recruited and employed several couriers to deliver drugs and collect payouts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts drug ring was responsible for moving nearly 721 pounds of cocaine in and around Illinois between January 2014 and August 2018, according to prosecutors. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $1 million. A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Robert to life in federal prison. As part of the prosecution, federal authorities seized a Mercedes and a Chevrolet truck used to transport the drugs. Tonia Haddix found to be hiding another chimp The indictment also charged 10 co-defendants in the drug trafficking organization: Lendarious Hayes , 28, of Meridian, Mississippi, also known as Lil Daddy, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Michael Martin , 51, of Meridian, Mississippi, also known as Cuz, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Daniel Matthew , 50, of Richmond, Texas, also known as B Dog, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Shataya Moore , 27, of Richmond, Texas, also known as Taya, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Lloyd Parker , 36, of Hutchinson, Kansas, also known as PJ, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth. Shermiya Renolds-Ray , 30, of Alton, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Stephanie Reynolds , 47, of Godfrey, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, two counts of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth. Talishia Shannon , 38, of Rossville, Tennessee, also known as T, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Simbiat Soetan , 36, of East St. Louis, Illinois, also known as Simba, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth. Jeffrey Taylor, 42, of Alton, Illinois, also known as King, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, five counts of distribution of meth, two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth, one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of money laundering conspiracy. 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. At least 65 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza, medical sources say, as the Israeli military sent tanks into areas of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza for the first time since Israel began its assault on the besieged territory in October 2023. Israel on Monday launched the ground offensive on southern and eastern areas of the city that is packed with displaced Palestinians, a day after its military issued a forced displacement order for residents in the areas, forcing thousands of people to flee west towards the Mediterranean coast and south to Khan Younis. Tank shelling in the area hit houses and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and wounding several, the Reuters news agency reported, quoting local medics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeeras Tareq Abu Azzoum said gunfire was audible as Israeli tanks rolled into the area on Monday morning. We can see that the entire city is under Israeli attack, he said. We did not manage to sleep last night. There has been an ongoing Israeli bombardment. Israeli jets, tanks and naval gunboats continue to strike multiple residential areas. Three more squares were destroyed in the city, and then residential houses were flattened. He said many Deir el-Balah residents fled using donkey carts and other modes of transport. United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said two UN guesthouses in the city were struck, despite parties having been informed of the locations of UN premises, which are inviolable. These locations as with all civilian sites must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Health Organization said its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir el-Balah was attacked on Monday. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained by the Israeli military, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that three were later released while one staff member remained in detention. Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike in Gaza City on July 21, 2025 [Khamis Al-Rifi/Reuters] Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, says the forced displacement threat that preceded the Israeli armys ground invasion of Deir el-Balah has already displaced up to 80,000 Palestinians. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said it ambushed invading Israeli troops in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fighters detonated a powerful landmine in the Umm Dhahir area south of the city as a Merkava tank advanced, it said in a short statement. It is unclear if there were any casualties. Israel intensifies attacks Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 65 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Monday, including 11 aid seekers. In Khan Younis in southern Gaza, an Israeli air strike killed at least five people, including a husband and wife and their two children, in a tent, medics said. Five other Palestinians were killed in a separate Israeli bombardment in Jabalia al-Balad in the north. Earlier, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that its teams had recovered the body of one person and evacuated three wounded after an Israeli artillery strike on the nearby Jabalia al-Nazla area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drone strikes were reported in Gaza City, resulting in casualties, a source at al-Shifa Hospital told Al Jazeera Arabic. The previous day, at least 134 people were killed and 1,155 injured by Israeli forces, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. At least 59,029 people in Gaza have been killed since the war began. On Sunday, Gaza health authorities reported at least 19 people had starved to death in one day, highlighting the desperate situation under the Israeli aid blockade. In an interview with Al Jazeera, the World Food Programmes Palestine representative, Antoine Renard, said the United Nations agency has warned for weeks that Palestinians in Gaza are facing starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have a level of despair that people are ready to risk their lives just to reach any of the assistance actually coming into Gaza, Renard said from occupied East Jerusalem. [Theres a] soaring number of people facing malnutrition, and we can really see that the situation is really getting to levels that weve never seen ever before. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said it is receiving desperate messages of starvation from inside Gaza, including from its staff, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate. The suffering in Gaza is manmade and must be stopped. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale, UNRWA said in a statement posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amjad Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network, told Al Jazeera on Monday that 900,000 children are experiencing varying degrees of malnutrition in Gaza. Twenty-five countries, including the United Kingdom, France and other European nations, issued a joint statement saying the war in Gaza must end now and Israel must comply with international law. The foreign ministers of the 25 countries, including Australia, Canada and Japan, said the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths, and they condemned the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity, the statement said. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, it said. A Lebanese businessman was sentenced to 44 months in prison for illegally attempting to export U.S.-made drilling equipment to Iran, violating American sanctions laws, the Department of Justice announced. Brian Assi, 63, of Beirut, was convicted of conspiring to ship two blasthole drills worth $2.7 million from Florida to Iran through intermediaries in Iraq and Turkey. The case underscores ongoing efforts to prevent American technology from reaching Iran, which the U.S. has designated as a state sponsor of terrorism for four decades. Heavy machinery, such as blasthole drills, can be used in mining operations involving controlled explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assi worked as a Middle East-based salesman for a multinational heavy machinery manufacturer with a subsidiary in Alachua, Florida. He conspired with Tehran-based Sakht Abzar Pars Co. to circumvent export controls. The scheme involved using an Iraqi distributor as a front buyer while concealing Iran as the true destination. Assi told his employer the drills were bound for Iraq, but prosecutors said he planned to transship them from Turkey to Iran. The defendant conspired to export millions of dollars of U.S.-made heavy machinery to Iran, a leading state sponsor of terrorism, said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. The National Security Division will find and prosecute those who illegally sell American products to our adversaries. Assi falsified shipping documents in the governments Automated Export System database. He misled the U.S. freight forwarder about the ultimate recipient and destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money trail went through Turkey before reaching the United States. Prosecutors stated that approximately $2.7 million passed through American financial systems as part of the illicit transaction. The defendant threatened U.S. economic and national security by conspiring and concealing his efforts to circumvent our export controls to provide heavy machinery to Iran, a designated state sponsor of terrorism for the past 40 years, said U.S. Attorney John P. Heckin for the Northern District of Florida. The Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security investigated the case. Assi was convicted in October 2024 on charges including conspiracy to violate sanctions regulations, attempted unlawful export, smuggling, and money laundering. The sentencing comes as federal authorities continue cracking down on sanctions violations. Recent cases have included the arrests of individuals attempting to export sophisticated electronics and classified defense information. US Envoy Tom Barrack in Beirut speaks about the US using influence to achieve its goals in the region. In early July, Lebanese security forces raided a Beirut neighborhood after Hezbollah-affiliated gunmen marched in the streets during a Shiite Ashura festival. The Lebanese government said the public display of arms was unacceptable, and men were detained after the July 5 raids. However, a new report at the pro-Iran Al-Akhbar in Lebanon says that the men appear to have been released. This raises serious questions about whether Lebanons government will ever really crack down on illegal arms, or whether it merely likes to do a show of force and then paper over things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details emerged about this case as US envoy Tom Barrack visited Beirut on Monday. He said the US was using its influence to help Lebanon. However, he stressed that there wouldnt be consequences necessarily if things didnt move in the direction the US would prefer. He also said the US wouldnt compel Israel to stop airstrikes. As such, he was asserting that the US is working to bring peace and tranquility, but that this is via influence and discussions. The reports about the armed men detained in Lebanon unfolded like this: Arab News said on July 5 that military and security forces carried out raids in the Zuqaq al-Blat area of Beirut on Saturday morning in search of armed men who had joined a rally on Friday commemorating Ashura, a military source reported. US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack speaks after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, July 7, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR) It noted this was in response to video footage of the event showing young masked men dressed in black, holding machine guns and chanting religious and partisan slogans as they marched through a Beirut street, has drawn nationwide condemnation. Lebanons Prime Minister Nawaf Salam denounced the armed men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrests had been ordered. Now Al-Akhbar in Lebanon says that the detainees were released. It says that the decision to carry out a show trial was also canceled. Pro-Hezbollah media claims gunmen not affiliated with Hezbollah Over the past week, security forces arrested nine militants participating in the Ashura procession in Beiruts Zqaq al-Blat neighborhood. Sources indicated that all of the detainees have no connection to Hezbollah or even to the Lebanese Brigades, the report said. This is from a media that is considered sympathetic to Hezbollah. The report said the government had arrested nine men who were seen armed in the video. Judicial sources revealed to Al-Akhbar that all detainees were released in two stages over the past two days, with the exception of one person. They indicated that none of the detainees has any connection to Hezbollah, nor even to the Lebanese Brigades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They pointed out that investigations revealed that the march was not organized, as the participants were volunteers at an Ashura gathering, and that they held a self-flagellation session during which one of them distributed weapons to his colleagues, due to the recent tension surrounding the issue of weapons. The report claims that Hezbollah contacted the wanted men and encouraged them to surrender to the government. The Shiite Amal movement was also involved in the deal, the report says. Basically, this was a way to hand the government of Lebanon a kind of win and then have the men quietly released, apparently, so that all sides get the win they want. This is the usual method in Lebanon. Publicly saying one thing and doing the opposite, so that Hezbollah can keep its weapons. Al-Akhbar, the media that is sympathetic to Hezbollah, noted, Sources confirm that all the wanted individuals have surrendered, with the exception of two individuals who were in the process of doing so. One of them was arrested in Sidon by the Internal Security Forces Information Branch, and the other was arrested in Jezzine by a Lebanese Army force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Barrack was asked about Hezbollah disarmament and appeared to say that this was an internal issue in Lebanon. If it doesnt happen, we will be disappointed, he said. However, he said there were no consequences on the table if things didnt go the way the US wanted. We are here on a voluntary basis to usher in a solution. He was also asked about Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, saying the US cant compel Israel to stop the strikes. We are here to use our influence, he said. We can only influence; we wont have more boots on the ground in an adversarial nature. He said the US wants to bring peace and tranquility to the region. He said the same thing about Syria, expressing empathy for the victims of the recent clashes in Sweida. Jul. 20WILKES-BARRE The Shapiro Administration and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce celebrated the growth of Kolmar USA with a ribbon cutting this week at its new $60 million facility within Scott Technology Park in Lackawanna County. Kolmar's second campus will create an additional 280 new jobs, while retaining an additional 290 existing positions. "This project marks a big win for Kolmar, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the entire Commonwealth," said Rick Siger, Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) secretary. "Manufacturing is at the heart of Pennsylvania's dynamic economy, which it why it is one of the key industries the Shapiro Administration has focused on in Pennsylvania's Economic Development Strategy. We will continue to double down on our efforts to show the world that Pennsylvania is the premiere place to grow and maintain business." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project initially announced in 2019 included an incentive package from DCED for $480,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits (JCTC) and a $126,000 WEDnet grant to train workers. The project is also located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) which has provided the company $4.6 million in tax benefits. Since 1993, Kolmar has maintained its headquarters in Northeastern Pennsylvania, leading in the development, manufacturing, and packaging of cosmetics and personal care products. The company's expansion project includes new administrative offices, as well as warehousing and state-of-the art production capabilities. "The KOZ designation provides a tremendous opportunity for us to grow while also contributing to the revitalization of an area ready for new investment," said Kolmar CEO Yong Chul "Ben" Hur. "This new facility isn't just about growing our production capabilities it's about creating new opportunities, strengthening our community, and building the future of a beauty manufacturing hub right here in northeast Pennsylvania." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Kolmar's expansion perfectly illustrates Lackawanna County's suitability for a wide range of industrial development," said Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan. "The county is an ideal location not just for manufacturing or logistics, but for corporate management and the entire spectrum of business operations." "The continued investment by Kolmar in Scott Township and Lackawanna County represents a powerful affirmation of our shared commitment to long-term growth and innovation," said Bob Durkin, president of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. "As the developer of Scott Technology Park, the Chamber through its industrial development affiliate SLIBCO, is pleased to provide a setting that enables companies like Kolmar to expand, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to our regional economy." Bresnahan introduces legislation to study benefits of FEMA mitigation efforts U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, and U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, D-California, formally introduced H.R. 4426 the Studying Mitigation and Reporting Transparently (SMART) Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bipartisan legislation would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to study and report on the cost-benefit of their mitigation activities. "Investing in disaster mitigation saves lives and taxpayer dollars," said Bresnahan. "By studying the cost-benefit of FEMA's mitigation programs, we are bringing greater transparency and accountability to FEMA and ensuring we see a real return on these investments. A comprehensive analysis will help us make smarter, more resilient decisions as we prepare for future disasters." "FEMA's critical natural disaster mitigation work helps protect communities from disasters before they happen and saves taxpayers' dollars. It remains one of the most cost-effective tools in our toolkit," said Garamendi. Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District is not immune to natural emergencies and natural disasters. Northeastern Pennsylvania has seen several floods over the past several decades, most notably in 1972 from Hurricane Agnes, when tens of thousands of homes and businesses suffered damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, in 2011, Tropical Storm Lee flooded the district with more than 10 inches of rain in two days, evacuating people from their homes and small businesses from their storefronts. Two years ago, on September 9, 2023, severe flooding in Lackawanna County caused more than $10 million in damages and claimed at least one life. The extensive damage seen during these incidents took years to fix and restore. As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Bresnahan serves on the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. The SMART Act will ensure FEMA is adequately studying and reporting the effects of their pre-disaster mitigation efforts. State nationally recognized for successful critical infrastructure projects Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has been recognized for two regional America's Transportation Awards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The Crawford Avenue Bridge rehabilitation project in Fayette County, and the Milwaukee Road bridge replacement over Gardner Creek in Lackawanna County won awards in the categories of "Quality of Life/Community Development" and "Best Use of Technology & Innovation," respectively. "Every project undertaken on our transportation network is an opportunity to deliver for Pennsylvania travelers," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "These bridges in Fayette and Lackawanna counties are vital connections between people, jobs and services, and I'm proud of our team's incredible work getting them reopened for those communities." PennDOT's rehabilitation of the Crawford Avenue Bridge (McCray Robb) in Fayette County reconnected neighborhoods, businesses, and community resources, and supports multi-modal transportation, particularly the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funded by a $7 million Congressionally Directed Spending award, the $13 million project was completed in November 2024. The Milwaukee Road bridge replacement over Gardner Creek in Lackawanna County was the first Commonwealth project to use PennDOT's Digital Delivery 2025 initiative which aims to modernize infrastructure projects delivery by incorporating digital data and 3D technology replacing a 32-foot steel girder bridge with a 52-foot pre-stressed concrete bridge. The project was designed, bid, and built using a digital model, rather than 2D paper plans, as part of the Digital Delivery 2025 initiative which aims to make this method the standard for the future. The new bridge was completed and opened to traffic in June 2024, ahead of schedule, due to effective teamwork and digital delivery methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Walsh, Sen. Argall announce state funding to reduce flooding in Freeland Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, and Sen. Dave Argall, R-Pottsville, announced this week that Freeland Borough secured a low-interest loan of almost $3.5 million from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to reduce flooding in residential neighborhoods. More than 3,000 feet of pipe, 36 inlets, and new curbing will be installed at Yale, Foster, North, Chestnut, Laurel and Pine Streets, providing drainage during heavy storms. "Updating infrastructure that has reached the end of its lifespan is critical to the health, safety and longevity of our communities," said Walsh. "I am happy to see PENNVEST funding in the form of a low-interest loan invested in Freeland Borough to help meet these critical goals. Present and future residents will experience the benefits of this project." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Anyone who's ever lived in a flood-prone area knows the stress that comes every time a storm rolls in," said Argall. "I'm grateful PENNVEST recognized how important this effort is for residents. These projects can be very expensive for smaller communities." Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. A federal judge agreed on Thursday that a jury would decide whether a corrections officer violated the constitutional rights of an incarcerated Muslim man by requiring him to shave his beard upon intake. Erez Halfon during his IDF service. (photo credit: Courtesy, Walla) The US Embassy in Jerusalem memorialized the former security guard as "quiet and humble, and his dedication made him a role model for everyone in the LGF section. Erez Halfon, an Israeli national who died in Greece last week, has been memorialized as a hero by his coworkers and friends. Haflon, 32, drowned at Agia Saranda Beach after he was swept away in a riptide. He was found unconscious on a pile of rocks; lifeguards and a nearby doctor worked for an hour to save his life. However, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Halfon worked at the US embassy as a security guard. In a Thursday post on Facebook, the US Embassy said that he was a respected member of its ranks. Erez was one of our veteran security guards. He joined the US Embassy Local Guard Force in 2017 and quickly became one of its most trusted and respected members, the post read. Erez was quiet and humble, and his dedication made him a role model for everyone in the LGF section. Erez Halfon. (credit: Courtesy, Walla) 'He was my hero' The post noted that after serving 7 months in Gaza with his reserve unit, he received a certificate of appreciation. Unfortunately, he was never able to receive it. Haflon also allegedly saved the life of General Staff Reconnaissance Unit Commander Lt.-Col. Yonatan Rom, Walla reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a memorial Facebook post, Rom called him a superhero. A quiet and modest guy, small in stature, almost trying to hide within the world around him, but immense in every other sense. Erez was a true Egoz fighter, a team player, and a loyal friend. One of those who stand out with their silence, less talk, more action. That same Erez was the medic who, 11 years ago in Gaza, during Operation Protective Edge, chose to stop my torn artery using a pressure point that doesnt even exist in medical literature, for nearly an hour, with endless resourcefulness, under fire, under pressure, in horrific conditions. The best doctors couldnt believe I survived. Erez saved my life," he wrote, as reported by Walla. Rom said that he wished he couldve saved his hero in return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Thursday, Erez drowned off the coast of Greece. His special forces training couldnt help him this time. In a chilling twist, I was also in Greece that weekend and couldnt save him. Erez was a hero before our paths crossed, and he remained a hero afterward. But on that bloody night, he was my hero. A superhero, thanks to whom I am alive. In a rebuttal to Rep. Manuel Guzmans July 8 commentary (Republicans big, ugly attack on Reading), what specifically warrants a response was his statement, So let me be crystal clear: undocumented immigrants are not receiving SNAP or Medicaid. If Guzman were to do some research, he would find the following statement on the How to Apply for Medicaid section of the state Department of Human Services website: Note: Undocumented pregnant women may be eligible for Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) to cover labor and delivery. Is there a hospital patient advocate who wouldnt expedite an application for reimbursement from Pennsylvania taxpayers based on that regulation? I dont think so. Under the current interpretation of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, a child born here meets U.S. citizenship requirements and nearly always meets the (lack of) family income limit to qualify for both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. Now multiply that by an unknown number of instances since Jan. 20, 2021, and frankly, for several decades prior to that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under whose name does Guzman think the ACCESS card is issued? The newborn? As the child grows and eats solid food, what guarantee is there that all SNAP-purchased food items are consumed exclusively by the eligible citizen child? None. Guzmans commentary is a virtue-signaled scare tactic to perpetuate what the Biden administration encouraged: political exploitation of the generous and compassionate nature of Americans. Keith Worley Cumru Township To the editor: If we are to have meaningful immigration reform, which hasn't happened for nearly 40 years, both sides of the aisle must participate ( Democrats, playing defense on immigration, see a flicker of hope in new polls, July 17). Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida has introduced a bill called the Dignity Act of 2025, which provides legal status to undocumented migrants who meet certain requirements, have no serious criminal record, pay restitution and give 1% of their earnings to the U.S. government. As Washington bureau chief Michael Wilner notes, Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is also working on immigration reform. He is a centrist Democrat and has a proposal titled Securing the Border and Fueling Economic Prosperity. His plan calls for significant border security enhancements as well as an increase in visa and green card opportunities and pathways to citizenship. Americans from both parties could support immigration reform that is humane and economically sensible. We now have two lawmakers from different political ideologies who have the opportunity to work together and get their colleagues on board on the way to making America a better place to live, and to create a more hopeful future for our children. Anastacio Vigil, Santa Monica This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. UPDATE: The Lincoln County Sheriffs Department updated its post around 10:53 p.m. Monday, saying Tyson Jett had been found. LINCOLN COUNTY, Tenn. (WHNT) The Lincoln County Sheriffs Department in Tennessee is asking for help finding a runaway teenager. LCSD said the missing teen is 16-year-old Tyson Jett. You can view a photo of Tyson below. (Photo: Lincoln County Sheriffs Department) Tysons last known location was not shared. If you have any information about his location, contact the sheriffs department at (931) 433-9821. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to social media posts by the Fayetteville, Tenn. Police Department, this is the second time this year that Tyson has been reported as missing. The department posted on May 16 that he had been last seen at his house the day before. He was located shortly after the post was made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A Decatur artist is celebrating diversity and education with a mural at the new Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School. The mural titled Practice Flight will be a part of the Macon County African American Heritage Trail. It was commissioned by the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation Untold Stories Committee. Backpack Attack is more than just school supplies; Decatur Family YMCA gearing up for annual event Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The HICF said local artist Antonio Burton (also known as Toni Picasso, ALB Artwork) is creating the mural. This mural is a reminder to every child and adult, that this school is intended to prep our students for flight towards their dreams and there will be support along the way. To assist with them being able to fly and reach the height of their dreams, Burton said. The new trail is funded with grant money from the Lumpkin Family Foundation, a non-profit based in Mattoon, and Healing Illinois, which is an initiative between the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Field Foundation of Illinois. This project is more than just art its a celebration of diversity and the power of education. Its about dreams taking flight. And the mural will be a source of inspiration for students and the community, the HICF wrote in a post on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Decatur School District broke ground on the Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School in 2023. The school district purchased Oak Grove Park from the park district in March, 2025 meant to expand greenspace for student use and marking one of the final steps before the new school would open. The first day of school is slated for Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Click here to check out the mural on the HICFs 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 WCIA.com. HINTON, WV (WVNS) A tradition more than a hundred years in the making is set to return to Hinton. Future Concord athlete, scholar student debuts her first-ever Faith-based book Mount Olivet Church will host its 109th annual camp from Friday, July 25, 2025 through Friday, August 1, 2025. The 2025 camp will feature the return of Dr. Tom Lorimer from Kentucky Mountain Bible College as the evangelist bringing the message, plus the additional returns of both Amber Haasenritter as youth leader and Daniel Brandon as the song evangelist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Harris is the pastor of Mount Olivet. Out of the entire schedule, he always looks most forward to the 8 oclock morning Bible Studies led by Dr. Lorimer. The WVU Mountaineer pays a visit to Mullens Elementary The theme for this years camp is the Word of the Lord endureth forever. In this time that we live in, we need something that has a surer foundation and in [Biblical] Scripture, we find that, said Pastor Harris. One thing Pastor Harris loves most about camp, is their emphasis on rest, as it gives folks a chance to take a break from their hectic lives. There will be free homemade breakfasts and dinners served all throughout camp cooked by their hard-working kitchen staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haasenritter is a missionary with One Mission Society that has served in the nation of Ukraine. Here is the full schedule: Friday, July 25, 2025 Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025 Breakfast 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2025 Breakfast 9 a.m. Sunday School 10 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Missionary Service with Amber Haasenritter of One Mission Society 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Monday, July 28, 2025 Bible Study 8 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Youth Service with Amber Hassenritter of One Mission Society 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Bible Study 8 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Youth Service with Amber Hassenritter of One Mission Society 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Bible Study 8 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Youth Service with Amber Hassenritter of One Mission Society 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2025 Bible Study 8 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Youth Service with Amber Hassenritter of One Mission Society 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Friday, August 1, 2025 Bible Study 8 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Youth Service with Amber Hassenritter of One Mission Society 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cabins and camper hook-ups are available for folks who want to stay overnight at camp. There is a $20 registration fee for each camper over 12 years of age. From the coalfields to the 50 yard line in Morgantown: How a Wyoming County native is making his mark The camp is located at 2298 Madams Creek Road, Hinton, West Virginia. To find more information, you can call Pastor Harris at (304) 673-8023. You can also visit their Facebook page and their Instagram 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 WVNS. Local high school band director accused of inappropriate relationship with student placed on leave A local high school band director is facing charges after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Paul Bingle, 49, was arrested on Friday after an investigation into inappropriate contact between him and a student. Hes facing charges of sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, and grooming, according to the Preble County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As shown on News Center 7 at 6:00, he made his first court appearance on Monday. TRENDING STORIES: An Eaton Police detective met with a student and a school staff member on July 17 to report possible inappropriate conduct between Bingle, the band director at Eaton High School, and other students. An affidavit and statement of facts filed in Eaton Municipal Court show that the student told investigators about what they believed were inappropriate relationships Bingle had with at least two students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student gave detectives two pages of messages Bingle sent one student from the app Discord, which is typically used by gamers. The court documents described the messages as of a sexual nature and highly inappropriate. The student then told investigators that Bingle turned his attention to another female student. They were frequently observed together, and he was seen buying her things. The reporting student also said Bingle would make inappropriate comments and jokes around the girls in class, even going as far as telling them about his first sexual experience, court documents state. Police eventually spoke with the second student believed to be a victim. She told detectives that Bingle began messaging her several months ago and that it turned sexual within the last few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bingle was interviewed by police later that day and admitted to inappropriate social media messages with a student. Court documents state Bingle was later hospitalized for having suicidal ideations. He admitted that he was suicidal because he had an inappropriate relationship with a 15 year old girl, the documents state. Bingle was arrested upon his release from a Hamilton County hospital and was booked into the Hamilton County Jail. He was then returned to Preble County and booked into the Preble County Jail on Saturday. Bingle has worked at Eaton Community Schools since the 1999-2000 school year, Superintendent Scott Couch confirmed to News Center 7. The district learned of the accusations on July 17 and placed him on leave. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) A London man with numerous outstanding warrants was arrested Saturday night after a chase led to him allegedly causing a crash with a Laurel County deputy before running into the woods, where he later turned himself in. The Laurel County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) posted on Facebook that earlier on Saturday, July 19, deputies had been dispatched to the area of KY-638 in response to a complaint of fighting in apartments near there. They tried to stop the driver of a white Chrysler 300 amid reports that a white car had fled the scene where the fight complaints came from, but 26-year-old Michael Root Jr. allegedly kept driving through city limits and onto KY-30. Man accused of killing Morehead teen in shooting, other victim flown to Lexington hospital Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to law enforcement, about four miles north of town, Root allegedly veered the Chrysler into the wrong lane of traffic, slamming on his brakes intentionally on the wet roadway, which caused deputies to crash into his car. After the crash, Root ran out into the nearby woods, abandoning a woman passenger. She wasnt injured and was not charged, per the LCSO. Investigators were able to get in touch with Root via cell phone, at which point he reportedly told deputies he wanted to turn himself in. Michael Root, 26, of London, was arrested in the woods on Saturday night after being chased by and allegedly causing a crash with deputies, according to the Laurel County Sheriffs Office. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) The suspect was lost in the woods not able to find his way out, officials wrote. Working with the London-Laurel County Rescue Squad, a drone was used to help find him. He was then brought out of the woods, arrested, and lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the sheriffs office, Root was charged with: First-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle First-degree fleeing or evading police on foot First-degree wanton endangerment with a police officer as a victim First-degree wanton endangerment Deputies wrote he was also charged in connection with three outstanding warrants. Root was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center. The deputy involved in the crash was taken to a local hospital, treated, and released, officials said. The chase investigation remains 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 FOX 56 News. As London pushes a "50-day drive" to support Ukraine, the U.K. and Germany are set to pledge new air defense systems to Kyiv, the U.K. Defense Ministry announced on July 20. "As members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a '50-day drive' to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the negotiating table," U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey is set to announce on July 21, the statement released by the U.K. Defense Ministry says. On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the White House will impose "severe tariffs" on Russia unless it agrees to a deal on ending the war in Ukraine within 50 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're gonna be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days. Tariffs that are about 100%, we call them secondary tariffs," he said. Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will chair a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on July 21. Using 170 million euros ($198 million) of funding from Germany, the two countries are set to obtain additional air defense munitions for Ukraine. London has sent Ukraine 150 million pounds ($201 million) worth of air defense systems and air defense munitions in the last two months, the U.K's defense ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Ukraine continues to face Russia's war throughout Trump's 50-day deadline, Kyiv's allies have sought to strengthen Ukraine and pressure Russia to the negotiating table. The EU welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed push to bring Russia to the negotiating table, EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas told the Telegraph in an article published July 14, adding that Washington's 50-day timeline is a "long time." "On one hand, it is very positive that President Trump is taking on a strong stance on Russia... On the other hand, 50 days is a very long time if we see that they are killing innocent civilians," she said. Read also: This is what Ukraine could hit in Russia with US Tomahawk missiles Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONG COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) Long Countys money has continued to run short, leading to negotiations to lease the Long County Jail, WSAV was told. The lack of money stems from a misappropriation of county funds, a source close to the jail told WSAV. Long County Manager Chuck Scraggs confirmed that they have entered lease negotiations. News 3 has learned through sources that the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has reportedly visited the facility previously and could return this week. WSAV was shown paperwork indicating GDC could be the leasing agent, but Scraggs would neither confirm nor deny GDCs involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the jail is leased out, current inmates would have to remain at other jails. Scraggs said that Long County asked for a tax anticipation note from the bank after realizing the budget had come in short. Scraggs said the jail would not be able to be funded until after Jan. 1, potentially, depending on help from the bank. What happened is that our taxes have come in short, Scraggs said. Far short of what was budgeted, and we are having to defer that. We asked for a tax anticipation note from the bank originally for that for about $470,000 or half a million. When we saw the shortfall in taxes, we had to ask for that note for payroll and bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scraggs said, So that slid the tax anticipation note to open the jail back. Then the bank informed us that were sort of up against the cap because were asking for another $500,000 to make it to October 15th, which is when the state refunds our insurance money and well be able to get from there into the tax season, which is mostly December. Thats when our property taxes come in. That means we cannot get a tax anticipation note to open the jail until after January 1st. And then youre looking at literally a two month time frame to open the jail and then one month without income due to taking inmates in that we wont be able to hold until 30 days later. So, youre looking at April 1st to get money. If negotiations dont work here, we will look to do something after the first of the 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 WSAV-TV. In August 2021, Israel recalled its ambassador to Poland after Warsaw passed a law limiting claims on Holocaust-era property, most of which belonged to Jews. Following a diplomatic crisis that left Israel without an ambassador from Poland for nearly four years, the rift between the states is finally history, as Polish Ambassador Maciej Hunia presented his letter of credence and that of the recall of his predecessor to President Isaac Herzog. Another envoy, Maltese Ambassador Claude Bonello, also showcased his authority to represent his country to Herzog on Monday. Each is a first-time ambassador with a distinguished career background. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been waiting for this for a long time, Herzog said as he greeted Hunia, a former chief of the Polish Foreign Intelligence Agency. We are especially happy after four years... A downgrading of diplomatic relations between Israel and Poland had its genesis in August 2021 when Israel recalled ambassador Alexander Ben Zvi for consultations after Poland introduced legislation imposing a time limit on property claims regarding possessions initially confiscated by the Nazis, then by the Communists after the Holocaust. Most of these property claims were by Jews. Maciej Hunia met with President Isaac Herzog. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X/VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT) Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who was then Israels foreign minister, pronounced the legislation to be antisemitic and accused Poland offailure to respect the greatest tragedy in history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lapid also advised then-Polish ambassador Marek Magierowski, who was on vacation before concluding his tenure in Israel, not to return. Naftali Bennett, who was then the prime minister, endorsed Lapids move and declared that Poland was in contempt of the memory of the Holocaust. Not the first time Israel and Poland disagreed over the Holocaust This was not the first time that Israel and Poland were in disagreement over Holocaust memory and property claims, but this time it was more serious. As it happened, Ben Zvi had been in the process of winding up his service in Poland and was subsequently sent to serve as Israels ambassador to Russia. As for Magierowski, he was sent to Washington to act as Polands ambassador to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2022, Lapid announced that Yacov Livne would be sent to Poland to serve as Israels ambassador. Livne duly presented his credentials to Polands President, Andrzej Duda, in July of that year. In his conversation he had back then with Herzog, who engages in considerable behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Duda said that Poland would soon send an ambassador to Israel. That did not happen. In July 2024, Polands Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that Hunia had been appointed as Polands ambassador-designate to Israel. A little under a year ago, Hunia, who had previously visited Israel in other capacities, paid a preliminary visit to get to know the embassy staff and some of the Israelis with whom he would be dealing regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was introduced to everyone as the new ambassador. But when he returned in October 2024, it was not as ambassador, but as a charge daffaires. HUNIA HAD not been demoted before taking up his post. It was simply a refusal by Duda to sign the appointments of new ambassadors. Duda is aligned with Polands previous conservative, right-wing Law and Justice coalition, which, in December 2023, was defeated by the rival alliance headed by the current Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. With Tusks approval, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski terminated the service of 50 ambassadors, who had been appointed by the previous regime, in March 2024. Duda was furious. This was a breach of standard procedure, whereby the president and prime minister of the state typically agree upon ambassadorial appointments and dismissals. Duda had not been consulted and therefore refused to sign the new appointments, thereby causing widespread diplomatic chaos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2025, Duda stated that he had reached an agreement with the government to end the dispute and that standard procedure was being restored. The subject came up again in April when Herzog was in Poland for the March of the Living in which Duda also participated. Agata Czaplinski, the charge daffaires during the period when there was no Polish ambassador in Israel, did not return to Poland or take up a posting in another country. She remained in Israel, where she now heads the embassys political and economic division. Ben Zvi has retired, and Magierowski is no longer a member of Polands foreign service. Livne completed his tenure in Poland, and Yaakov Finkelstein, the current ambassador, presented his credentials to Polands Undersecretary of State, Anna Radwan-Rohrenschef, in April of this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duda, who officially leaves office in August, has been on a series of farewell tours abroad. At their meeting on Monday, Hunia and Herzog discussed the common history of Jews and Poles. Both have met with numerous Holocaust survivors. In Hunias case, he has also met with non-Jewish survivors who lived through the war. Moving on to discuss the present war in which Israel is embroiled, Hunia said that he had visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and had met there with survivors of the Hamas massacre. Regarding the numerous contributions of Polish Jews to Polish culture, Hunia made particular mention of noted historian Shalom Ashkenazi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herzog, who has visited Poland several times, recalled that his trips were always for commemorative events. He said that he would rather come for cooperative initiatives, as there were numerous existing and potential bilateral collaborative ventures to explore. Herzog also mentioned that his father, Chaim, had been the first president of Israel to visit Poland and had traveled all over, including to Lomza, where his father had been born. During that visit to Poland in May 1992, Chaim Herzog had dedicated a monument in Auschwitz. The memorial had been fashioned from Jerusalem stone, a symbolic feature that underscored the failure of the Final Solution. ISRAEL AND Malta established diplomatic relations in 1965, and over the years there have been ups and downs between the two countries. I come in friendship, Bonello told Herzog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president responded by saying that Roberta Metsola, the Maltese President of the European Parliament, is known to be a great friend of Israel. Herzog and Bonello discussed the history of Jews in Malta, where Jews have lived for two millennia, though most were expelled in 1492. Today, there is a small Jewish community with a synagogue there. Additionally, according to the ambassador, the history of the Jews of Malta is well-documented in Maltas national archives. They also discussed Maltas economy and its potential for heavy tourism from Israel, given the direct flights between the two countries and Maltas location within the Mediterranean basin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonello was particularly pleased to be taking up his post during the 60th anniversary year of diplomatic ties between Malta and Israel. Notably, Gil Haskel, the chief of state protocol, estimates that a large number of new ambassadors will arrive in Israel during the summer, presenting their credentials in mid-September. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Longview Police Department is searching for a 22-year-old woman who was last seen on Tammy Lynn Drive. Irianna Powell, courtesy of Longview Police Department According to police, Irianna Powell was last seen around the 400 block of Tammy Lynn Drive in Longview. Powell is described as five feet, six inches tall, weighing around 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Police capture Nacogdoches man on Texas Top 10 Most Wanted List for sexual assault of child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone has any information about Powells whereabouts, they are encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Losses will never be forgotten: Gabriel House ownership releases statement following deadly fire One week after a fire ripped through the Gabriel House, ultimately claiming the lives of 10 people, ownership of the Fall River assisted-living facility said Monday they are working closely with investigators to determine the cause of the fire. There are no words to adequately convey the depths of our grief and shock over the devastating events of July 13 at the Gabriel House. Indeed, to call what occurred that night a tragedy is an understatement. Our hearts are broken for the victims and their families; their losses will never be forgotten, said Gabriel House spokesperson George Regan. At least 30 people were hurt in the fire and 10 people were initially reported dead, all over the age of 60. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quin III had previously identified the victims as 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, 61-year-old Ronald Codega, 66-year-old Brenda Cropper, 69-year-old Margaret Duddy, 78-year-old Robert King, 71-year-old Kim Mackin, 78-year-old Richard Rochon,77-year-old Joseph Wilansky and 86-year-old Eleanor Willett. 70-year-old Halina Lawler was named as the final victim on Monday. The Bristol County District Attorneys office was withholding her identity until now pending notification of next of kin. The Gabriel House added that the building was regularly inspected and that the fire suppression system was inspected five days prior to the fire. One focus of the investigation has been the status of the buildings fire suppression system, or sprinkler system, and investigators have taken several sprinkler heads for further investigation. Among the information we have provided is documentation of regular tests of the sprinklers by the vendor, the most recent of which was performed on July 8 of this year. That test reported the sprinkler system to be in working order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 100-unit assisted-living facility opened in 1999. Some photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture. Inspection reports released Thursday by the citys Bureau of Fire Investigation identified no problems at Gabriel House going back to 2019. The reports cover things like sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, exit doors, and general housekeeping. The cause remains under investigation, but the district attorneys office says it does not appear suspicious. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon says the blaze started in a room on the second floor. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced a new safety initiative that began Monday, July 21st. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It requires all 273 assisted living facilities in the Commonwealth to send letters to residents and families outlining safety protocols and evacuation plans. Theres also a new safety assessment survey these facilities must complete, as well as specify their disaster and emergency plans. Body camera footage released by the Fall River Police Department captured the harrowing moments officers braved flames and smoke inside the Gabriel House when the assisted living facility caught fire Sunday night. The video, spliced together in multiple clips, shows the officers and sergeants working to save residents for over 40 minutes as smoke built up inside the building. We are eternally grateful to the Fall River Fire Department and Fall River Police Department for their heroic response to the fire, and we also thank the ambulance companies and medical personnel who provided exemplary and compassionate care to our victims, The Gabriel House stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full statement from the Gabriel House can be read below: There are no words to adequately convey the depths of our grief and shock over the devastating events of July 13 at the Gabriel House. Indeed, to call what occurred that night a tragedy is an understatement. Our hearts are broken for the victims and their families; their losses will never be forgotten. We are eternally grateful to the Fall River Fire Department and Fall River Police Department for their heroic response to the fire, and we also thank the ambulance companies and medical personnel who provided exemplary and compassionate care to our victims. The Gabriel House has been a fixture in the community for decades, and our staff half of whom have been with us for 10 years or more is deeply dedicated to improving the lives of our residents every day. We take pride in knowing that we make assisted living possible for many community members in need who might not otherwise be able to obtain that assistance. We are currently providing temporary housing to residents who were displaced by the fire. Ensuring the safety of our residents has always been our paramount responsibility since our purchase of Gabriel House in late 1999. Maintaining compliance with all safety and building codes has always been our priority, and there were quarterly inspections of the fire suppression system the latest as recently as five days prior to the fire. Gabriel House continues to work closely with state and local fire investigators as they seek the cause, origin, and potential contributing factors to the fire, and have provided them with all records related to the buildings safety. One focus of the investigation has been the status of the buildings fire suppression system, or sprinkler system, and investigators have taken several sprinkler heads for further investigation. Among the information we have provided is documentation of regular tests of the sprinklers by the vendor, the most recent of which was performed on July 8 of this year. That test reported the sprinkler system to be in working order. We will continue to provide investigators with whatever assistance they need. We, like them, realize the importance of knowing exactly what caused this catastrophe, and if there were factors that made it worse. Our community, our residents, and most of all, the families who have suffered these unimaginable losses, deserve nothing less. We deeply value our standing in the Fall River community and will continue to strive every day to be a responsible, compassionate, and caring neighbor. George Regan, Gabriel House spokesperson 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 LONDON The Hong Kong Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data over the weekend revealed that it has launched an investigation regarding a data leak at Louis Vuitton affecting about 419,000 customers. The Hong Kong privacy watchdog said the incident was reported by Louis Vuitton on Thursday. The brand said it first found suspicious activities on its computer system on June 13 and then discovered on July 2 that it affected Hong Kong customers. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaked data included names, passport details, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, shopping history and product preferences. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data has launched an investigation into Louis Vuitton Hong Kong in accordance with established procedures, including whether the incident involved delayed notification. No related complaints or inquiries have been received so far, the watchdog said. In a statement shared with WWD, Louis Vuitton said it recently discovered an unauthorized party had accessed some of the data it held for clients, and it immediately took steps to investigate and contain the incident with the support of cybersecurity experts. While our investigation is ongoing, we can confirm that no payment information was contained in the database accessed. We are working to notify the relevant regulators and affected clients in line with applicable law, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Louis Vuitton, we truly value the trust our clients place in us and the confidential nature of our relationship. We sincerely regret any concern or inconvenience this situation may cause. We continuously work to update our security measures to protect against the evolving threat landscape, and we have taken steps to further strengthen the protection of our systems, the brand added. In recent months there have been similar attempts to gain access to customer data at Dior in China and Vuitton in South Korea and the U.K. In a recent interview with WWD, Franck Le Moal, group IT and technology director at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, said the luxury conglomerate was battling a sharp increase in cybercrime. There has been an absolutely exponential growth in cyber risk in recent months, Le Moal said. This is a constant concern for us. Protecting our customers data is of utmost importance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite a global downturn in luxury spending that has hit budgets across the industry, LVMH is bolstering investment in cybersecurity in partnership with Google Cloud, he said. But its a game of cops and robbers, and its an ongoing battle, he said. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, all you need is the occasional tiny flaw in the system to benefit this increasingly large-scale cybercrime industry. This is a challenge for all businesses, including luxury. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. DAVAO CITY, Philippines (ABC4) Accompanied by his wife Jennifer, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has returned from a 10-day ministering visit to the Philippines. This is possibly the happiest country on earth, Elder Kearon said about his visit. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Jennifer, watch several traditional dance performances prepared by students of Maa Central Elementary School in Davao City, Philippines, during the formal turnover of donations on May 27, 2025. (Courtesy//The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Humanitarian work Humanitarian efforts were a central focus for the churchs newest apostle during his visit to the Philippines. Along with other representatives of the faith, the Kearons lead an official handover of a new water system and electrical facilities to Maa Central Elementary School in Davao City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the church, public schools in the Philippines often struggle with overcrowding. Church representatives say they noticed a need for basic plumbing in the newly constructed school during a visit last year. The church also donated computers, workstation tables and chairs, fans, and handwashing station to the school. The Kearons also lead a donation turnover ceremony at Elsie Gaches Village, a residential care center in Muntinlupa City. Donated wheelchairs from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Elsie Gaches Village, a residential care center in Muntinlupa City, Philippines, are pictured on May 30, 2025. (Courtesy//The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) We are grateful for the work that you do in taking care of those people who need help, Elder Kearon said during the ceremony. Interfaith relations On May 27, 2025, Elder Kearon, and his wife Jennifer, hosted an interfaith luncheon in Davao City, the church said in a press release. The luncheon was attended by over 60 religious and Indigenous leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees included Rev. Fr. Pete Lamata of the Davao City Archdiocesan Center for Ecumenical Interreligious Dialogue and Sultan Ubpon, chair of Islamic Studies at Ateneo de Davao University. Leaders from other Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Brahma Kumaris and Indigenous groups across Mindanao were also in attendance. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathers with more than 60 religious and indigenous leaders during an interfaith luncheon held in Davao City, Philippines, on May 27, 2025. (Courtesy//The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathers with more than 60 religious and indigenous leaders during an interfaith luncheon held in Davao City, Philippines, on May 27, 2025.(Courtesy//The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Weve really moved from a position, I think, years ago, of thinking about our differences first to this wonderful time now where we dont look for our differences, Elder Kearon said. A message to young members of the Church Finally, Elder and Sister Kearon visited nearly 300 missionaries at the Philippines Missionary Training Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You are going to be the message, Elder Kearon said to the young missionaries. You look like messengers of joy. So, whenever you do that, you are joyful, you are happy. Missionaries attend a devotional with Elder Patrick Kearon, Sister Jennifer Kearon and Elder Marcus B. Nash at the Philippines Missionary Training Center on May 29, 2025. You are going to be the message, Elder Kearon taught. (Courtesy//Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Elder Kearon also emphasized the power of change and invited more than 500 young single adults not to worry about being worthy of love. If any of you are feeling that you have made so many mistakes that youre not loveable, youre wrong, the apostle said. Dont think that you have done something that is beyond the infinite atoning gift of our beloved Jesus Christ. 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. Jackie Lee Onsurez, a Loving Village councilor and engineer at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant outside of Carlsbad, is seeking New Mexico's second highest office. (Courtesy of Jackie Lee Onsuarez) Jackie Lee Onsuarez, a self-described outsider to Santa Fe, is pursuing an office on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse in his bid to be New Mexicos next Democratic lieutenant governor. Onsuarez, 58, currently works as a senior staff specialist at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant outside of Carlsbad, and is nearing the end of his first elected term as mayor pro tem on the Loving Village Council. He has a masters degree in electrical engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Onsuarez to a four-year term on the New Mexico Emergency Response Commission, which coordinates state and local emergency planning efforts. Onsurez has not held higher office beyond the Village council, which oversees operations for the approximately 1,200 residents. He lost a two-way 1996 Democratic primary for an Albuquerque seat in the state House of Representatives. Onsurez described his impetus to run for the states second-highest office as embedded Democrats and Republicans who arent listening to rural New Mexico. Im an advocate for the people, and Ive been very blessed to have a skill set, the opportunities and the experience that I have, Onsuarez told Source NM. Im gonna throw my hat in for lieutenant governor because I bring to the executive branch a set of diversified skills that nobody has there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Onsurarez also cited his international experience building chemical plants abroad in Saudi Arabia, along with working internationally in London, China and India, as experience that would help him solve the states issues of: public infrastructure, health care and crime. Onsuarezs entrance in the race makes him the third candidate in the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, along with current State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard who is term limited in that office and state Sen. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque). According to the most recent campaign finance documents, Osurez has neither received nor spent any funds on the campaign. The lieutenant governor holds dual executive and legislative roles. The position is second in succession and stands in for governors during absences. The lieutenant governor also oversees the New Mexico Senate during the legislative session and determines issues of decorum or rules. The states Constitution grants the lieutenant governor tie-breaker vote power in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked how he would address his lack of experience in the Legislature, Onsuarez said his term in the village has taught him the roles and responsibilities on a small level. Ive written laws that I tried to introduce, but they didnt get very far. Ive written a lot of ordinances, and Ive worked closely with our legal department, he said. I certainly have the expertise to be able to learn something and with respect to presiding over the Senate, I have the skill set to do it. Following the primary, the winning governor and lieutenant governor appear as a slate on the general election ballot. Onsuarez, like the other candidates, is not endorsing any of the three contenders vying for the Democratic nomination for governor: Deb Haaland, the former U.S. Secretary of the interior and congresswomen; Sam Bregman, the 2nd Judicial District District attorney; and Ken Miyagashima, the former mayor of Las Cruces. Lujan Grisham is term-limited from running again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, only Manuel Lardizabal, a former candidate for the New Mexico Senate, has declared for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, according to state candidate filings. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull is the only declared Republican candidate for governor. Several others have filed paperwork while weighing campaigns, including: Duke Rodriguez, CEO of Ultra Heath Cannabis and a former cabinet secretary for former Republican Gov. Gary Johnson; Brian Cillessen, a 53-year-old Farmington resident, veteran and hunting show host; and Las Cruces-based fitness instructor, Belinda Robertson. Theres one decline-to-state gubernatorial candidate: Gene Pettit, a nondenominational pastor in Radium Springs. Onsuarez said his perspective from oil and gas country would be invaluable on the ticket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im the Democrat that lives in New Mexico where at least 35% of the revenues are generated for New Mexicos general fund, and we rural New Mexicans need a seat at that table, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Luciano Frattolin is the father of deceased Quebec child Melina Frattolin and the founder of Gambella coffee, among other business interests. The Gambella coffee about us page reads, "Luciano Frattolin is an experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of building diverse, high-performance businesses." The organic coffee company's website lists Frattolin as its founder and mentions Melina, 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melina was found deceased in a Ticonderoga pond in New York state after her dad claimed she was possibly abducted, according to a news release and press conference from New York State police. The cause of death is not yet clear. New York State Police Capt. Robert McConnell said in the July 21 news conference that Luciano Frattolin, 45, has now been charged with second-degree murder and concealing a body in connection with Melina's death. The Montreal Gazette referred to Luciano as a "Montreal businessman." Update! Luciano frattolin has been ARRESTED. His 9-year-old daughter Melina Frattolin found dead. https://t.co/A1XEKLzQZU pic.twitter.com/GJEGVCEJYk JLR (@JLRINVESTIGATES) July 21, 2025 This investigation has revealed that on July 11, 2025, Mr. Frattolin and Melina, both residents of Montreal, Que., legally entered the United States for the purpose of a vacation," he said. He said the father and daughter were expected to return to Canada on July 20, where Emlina would be "returned to the custody of her mother in Montreal. The mother and Mr. Frattolin had been estranged since 2019.On July 19, 2025, at approximately 9:58 p.m., Warren County 911 "received a call from a man reporting his 9-year-old daughter missing, with a possible abduction, in the area of Exit 22 of I-87 in Lake George, New York. The child was identified as Melina Frattolin, age 9, and the caller as her father, Luciano Frattolin, age 45, both residents of Canada," it reads. Authorities said they later discovered inconsistencies in the father's statements. Melina Frattolin. New York State Police Amber Alert The Gambella website fleshes out the bio of Luciano Frattolin in great detail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With a background in the humanities and social sciences, his formal education, together with his pragmatic understanding about the complexities of life, motivates him to maintain an understanding of the world grounded in a distinct cross-cultural ethos," it says. The website describes Luciano Frattolin as the "son of an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father, Luciano was born in the small, remote village of Gambella. With a childhood spent running between rows of crimson coffee buds on the Ethiopian family plantation, and the neoclassical architecture of his fathers Milano, his vision of the world and his pursuits within, reflect these hyphenated cultures." He often experienced racism and "feelings of isolation" and further struggled with his dad's "premature" death, which came when Luciano was 17, the page says. He subsequently studied in the U.S. and London, where he felt more accepted. "He was left reinvigorated and reconciled the difficulties he faced during his youth by embodying the Nietzschean attitude of, 'That which does not kill him makes him stronger.' This philosophy translated into great financial success across numerous ventures, from architecture to real estate, to construction, mining and of course, coffee," the page reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The page also references an "unfortunate event that severely affected his well-being. Though his road to recovery was long and arduous, he remained determined. As he persevered through his recovery, he realized that he was no longer lured by profit and instead, decided to invest in people and ideas that resonated with the promise of futurity, creativity, and community well-being." The page doesn't explain the nature of the event. "Luciano currently spends as much time as he can in Montreal, Canada, with his beautiful daughter Melina. As the light of his life, she is the inspiration forwell, everything," the page continues. "His pursuits for building a more equitable and just world are deeply guided by his determination that she will not have to endure the same social injustices that he encountered throughout his childhood. Seeing the world through her eyes has also helped Luciano look for creative ways to reinforce and empower Melina to know, feel, and understand her own unique individual beauty and intellect, while also teaching her to celebrate those same virtues inherent in the worlds diversity," the page notes. "On a lighter note, Melina has also taught Luciano to let go of his rigid tendencies to keep everything in 'perfect order'his love for Melinas messy art projects and chaotic ensemble of toys supersedes his love for a meticulously spotless home," it concludes. Related: Kristin Cabot Was Described as 'Exceptional' by Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Luciano Frattolin Is the Founder of Gambella Coffee. Now He's Accused of Murder first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Hillsborough County Sheriffs deputy was executing an undercover operation last week when things took a frightening turn. What was meant to be an undercover drug deal suddenly turned into an armed robbery when the suspects the detective was speaking to brandished weapons. HCSO said detectives had been communicating with someone over social media who was selling THC vape pens, marijuana and Oxycodone, and arranged a transaction with the undercover deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dash camera video released by the department shows the detective pulling up alongside two teenagers and talking to them about the deal. As the detective starts counting money to show them, both suspects draw guns and point them at the detective, telling him to get out of the car. The detective hands the cash over and gets out of the car, with both suspects still pointing their weapons at him. When he walks away, they both get into the car, but quickly abandon any plans to steal it and instead flee the scene. One suspect, 17-year-old Daryl Cole, was found and arrested at his sisters home in Tampa. HCSO said he has a long history of arrests and had an active juvenile pick-up order when this incident took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cole was charged with armed carjacking, robbery with a firearm, minor in possession of a firearm, armed burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The second suspect, 18-year-old Christopher Samuels, was arrested in Auburndale with the help of the Polk County Sheriffs Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. HCSO said he is currently a suspect in other felony cases, though they did not provide any details. Samuels was charged with armed carjacking, robbery with a firearm, armed burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Surveillance video led detectives to a third suspect, 18-year-old CeDreon Davis, who they said was acting as the getaway driver. He was charged as an accessory to armed carjacking, robbery with a firearm and armed burglary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that our detective walked away unharmed is nothing short of a miracle, Sheriff Chad Chronister said. Our deputies put their lives on the line every single day to protect this community from the violent individuals who threaten it, and we will never stop pursuing justice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A church meeting, a political statement, and a closed door. Sunday night, Lynn Haven Mayor Jesse Nelson held what he called a community call to action over the controversial firing of former city manager Vickie Gainer. It was advertised as a Community Meeting and a call for equality and justice, but when News 13 showed up, we were told to leave. On Sunday night, Lynn Haven City Mayor Jesse Nelson returned to his role as pastor, leading a call to action at his church, Macedonia Baptist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynn Haven City Manager Vickie Gainer terminated after contentious meeting This comes just two days after the city voted 4 to 1 to fire City Manager Vickie Gainer. Her termination stemmed from the deposition of a city engineer for a lawsuit filed by James Finch, the owner of Phoenix Construction, against Gainer and the city. They say she manipulated construction bids to prevent Phoenix Construction from winning the contract. Nelson was the only one in support of keeping her. Other commissioners say they made their decision not based on the deposition, but on a different investigation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing the claims after Lynn Haven Police Chief Ricky Ramie informed them of the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners conducted their investigation on Gainer, and upon interviewing city staff, some commissioners say that prompted their decision to terminate Gainer. Contractor James Finch speaks on lawsuit against Lynn Haven and city manager The flyer for the community event made it clear this was a response to what Nelson calls an unjust firing. The event was framed as a community-wide push for justice and fairness. However, a security guard for the event said the doors were only open for church-goers. Despite being turned away at the door, one thing was clear: the event was packed with cars in the church parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story we will continue to provide coverage when updates 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 mypanhandle.com. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A Macon County man who was accused of threatening his girlfriend with a gun, leading police officers on a high-speed chase at more than 100 mph, and possessing over 60 grams of cocaine, was sentenced to seven years in prison. On July 11, 29-year-old Jaylen Soules pleaded guilty to possessing/using a gun as a felon. As part of his plea agreement, five other charges were dismissed, including possession of a stolen firearm and aggravated fleeing from police. Former Decatur church youth leader accused of sexual relationships with minors Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from an incident that took place last December. According to a police sworn statement, officers with the Decatur Police Department responded near the intersection of N. Community Dr. and E. Woodford Pl. on Dec. 26, 2024 around 4:30 a.m. Soules girlfriend told police that he had battered her at a liquor store about three miles away. The girlfriend told police she found him again, and had blocked Soules in a parking spot. The girlfriend told police that Soules brandished a firearm and told her something to the effect of If you dont move your car, Im gonna shoot you. Then, she moved her car and Soules left the scene. Police found Soules around 4:45 a.m. But, when officers attempted a traffic stop, he fled, leading officers on a high-speed chase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers successfully deployed tire deflation devices, but ultimately the vehicle pursuit was terminated due to Jaylens willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property as he was fleeing at speeds greater than 100 MPH with his headlights and taillights extinguished, the police sworn statement reads. Two felons arrested in Urbana for gun possession, police say A short time later, police found Soules vehicle abandoned in the 3500 block of N. Honeytree Dr. Around 6:50 a.m., Soules girlfriend called 911 because she noticed an open window at her home. When officers arrived on the scene, they saw Soules letting a dog into the backyard. Soules was taken into custody for questioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers searched the home and found around 10.7 grams of cocaine and ammunition. They also searched a van, which multiple different subjects confirmed was used by Soules, and found 51.6 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, and $5,000. Police also said there was a large poster of Soules and his girlfriend inside the van. As police were investigating, dispatch also received several calls that there was a black handgun on E. Mound Rd., between N. Camelot Dr. and N. Greenswitch Rd. Police added that the gun was located in Soules flightpath, and had been stolen out of Piatt County. During this time, Soules was on parole for aggravated fleeing from police. A check of his criminal history showed that he had multiple other felony convictions. Soules was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections. Once hes completed his sentence, he will serve six months of mandatory supervised release. Soules will also receive roughly seven months of credit for time served. 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. As Texas Republican-led state Legislature begins its special legislative session, members will have a limited amount of time to tackle some important priorities. The first will be the states response to recent deadly flooding. The other will be an assignment from Donald Trump. The president has been unsubtle in his ambitions, directing GOP state legislatures to redraw an already gerrymandered map in the hopes of delivering another five U.S. House seats for the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this sounds a bit familiar, its because the same state has gone down a similar path before. For generations, theres been a standard approach to decennial redistricting: Once every 10 years, after the U.S. Census is complete and states know how many congressional seats theyll have, state legislatures draw up new district lines, ostensibly to remain in place for a decade. But more than 20 years ago, at then-Republican Rep. Tom DeLays behest, Texas Republicans launched a radical mid-decade redistricting gambit (for the handful of you who were reading my original blog in 2003, I referred to this at the time as re-redistricting.) The partisan dispute was fierce Democratic legislators literally fled the state to deny the quorum needed to conduct legislative business but the GOP scheme ultimately succeeded, and the party secured an additional six seats in the U.S. House. That partisan split has remained largely intact ever since, and under the current map, Republicans in Texas tend to get roughly 55% of the vote but end up with roughly two-thirds of the states U.S. House delegation. The president has decided the existing gerrymander is not quite good enough: Trump envisions a map in which the GOP controls 30 of the states 38 seats, instead of the current 25, which would give the party nearly 80% control over Texas U.S. House delegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is this a story with importance far beyond the Lone Star State? Several reasons, actually. 1. Control of Congress is on the line: The Republican majority in the House is already narrow, and if historical patterns hold true, Democrats are likely to make gains in the 2026 midterm elections. If, however, Texas manages to execute this district map scheme, it will make it that much more difficult for Democrats to claim a majority, long before voters even start casting ballots. 2. This is a radical abuse: It is not illegal to engage in abuses like these, but such efforts are clearly at odds with democratic norms and appear to make a mockery of the Voting Rights Act. Several years ago, in a very different context, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island delivered memorable remarks on the because we can standard and approach to governing, and five years later, that concept if a party has the power, it should exercise that power, without regard for norms, traditions, values or restraint remains relevant. 3. The Texas gambit might backfire: In order to make this scheme work, the GOP-led state legislature will have to rig the map by moving boundary lines around. In some instances, however, that will mean taking some voters in districts currently held by Republicans, which would necessarily make those GOP incumbents a bit more vulnerable in 2026 and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, The Associated Press reported that some Democrats believe the Trump-inspired redistricting plan might even hurt Republicans and help Democratic recruiting. The American Prospects David Dayen recently published a related analysis, explaining that Texas gerrymander could very well become a dummymander that threatens more GOP incumbents than Democratic ones. They are playing a little bit of roulette with these maps, Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson of Texas told Politico earlier this month. In a wave election like what we have a potential opportunity for in 26 I think it makes these Republicans very vulnerable. 4. Other red states might follow. The current focus is on Texas, but the president has already indicated that hes eyeing similar efforts to rig district maps in other states hes specifically said there could be four such states including a possible effort in Ohio. 5. Blue states might follow, too. If Texas Republicans pursue such a gambit, whats to stop Democrats in blue states from engaging in comparable schemes? Nothing. In fact, some Democratic leaders have already expressed an interest in tit-for-tat retaliation, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently writing online, Two can play this game. The broader fight, however, is just now getting started, but the endpoint is not close. Watch this space. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Late Friday, Donald Trump announced a new lawsuit against The Wall Street Journals publisher, corporate parent and individual reporters who wrote an article about Jeffrey Epstein that the president didnt like. The civil suit which the Republican described as a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit for reasons unknown marked a historical rarity: Theres no modern precedent for a sitting U.S. president suing a newspaper over an article. But as it turns out, right around the same time that Trumps lawyers were filing their WSJ case, their client received some related news. NBC News reported: A federal judge on Friday dismissed President Donald Trumps nearly $50 million lawsuit against the journalist Bob Woodward for publishing tapes from interviews for his 2020 best-seller Rage as an audiobook. The decision by U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan is a victory for Woodward, his publisher Simon & Schuster and its former owner Paramount Global. In case anyone needs a fresher, it was in early 2023 when the Republican first filed a civil suit against Woodward and his publisher, claiming that the longtime journalist did not get his consent to release audio recordings of their interviews. Trump sought nearly $50 million in damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hell end up with nothing but legal bills. (The judge in this case was appointed by George W. Bush.) The outcome was hardly unfamiliar. When Trump sued CNN and demanded $475 million, the case was thrown out; when he sued The Washington Post, the case was thrown out; and when he sued The New York Times, seeking $100 million, the case was thrown out. In each instance, the Republican and his legal team filed highly dubious, politically motivated cases, each of which was based on claims that can charitably be described as thin, and in each instance, the journalists and their employers fought back and won. To be sure, there are some notable exceptions. When Trump filed a similarly weak case against ABC News, the network agreed to a controversial $15 million settlement with the president. More recently, in response to a bizarre lawsuit from the president, CBS News corporate parent agreed to an even more controversial $16 million settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broader lessons should be obvious. For one thing, those wildly unnecessary out-of-court settlements only emboldened Trump, effectively encouraging him to sue other news organizations that bothered him for one reason or another. Indeed, the president explicitly referenced the ABC News and CBS News payments when outing his new civil suit against The Wall Street Journal. For another, the recent pattern suggests the only way to lose in a fight against Trump is to pursue a course rooted in appeasement. Its true when it comes to law firms; its true when it comes to higher education; and its true in his court fights against news organizations. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com By all appearances, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been struggling for months. On Capitol Hill, shes become the subject of bipartisan ridicule, with one Republican senator recently questioning whether she should be medicated. In the White House, its worse. In recent months, theres been reporting from major outlets about the intelligence chief being sidelined, being left out of important meetings, and falling out of favor in the Oval Office. Indeed, in the run-up to the president launching a pre-emptive military strike in Iran, Donald Trump twice told reporters out loud and on camera that he didnt care what Gabbard thought. If the DNI were looking for a way to return to the presidents good graces, she apparently found one. The New York Times reported: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Friday issued the latest in a series of reports from the Trump administration attempting to undermine the eight-year-old assessment that Russia favored the election of Donald J. Trump in 2016. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said the information she was releasing showed a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 by top Obama administration officials to harm Mr. Trump. Late Friday afternoon, Gabbards Directors Initiative Group (DIG) unveiled a report with a title that read, Declassified Evidence of Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert President Trumps 2016 Victory and Presidency. In an accompanying press release, the DNI added, The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was over-the-top nonsense that Gabbard was quick to bring to Fox News during multiple on-air appearances, including an interview in which she raised the prospect of an anti-Trump coup. The president appeared delighted. I lost count of how many items he published to his social media platform about Gabbards claims, but The Daily Beast tallied at least 17 times, which sounds about right. Those who apparently believe its their job to parrot Trump played their predictable roles. House Speaker Mike Johnson, for example, wrote online in response to the DNIs findings, DISMANTLING THE DEEP STATE! New evidence from [Gabbard] confirms what weve long known: The Russia hoax was a political hit job manufactured by Obama officials and weaponized by intel agencies to take down President Trump. And if that were true, it would certainly be a big deal. But its not true at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right off the bat, its worth noting that the hapless intelligence director could have better timing: The week before she released her weird report, Trumps handpicked CIA director released the findings of his own internal investigation that concluded, once again, that Russia attacked the U.S. political system in 2016 because Putins regime wanted to put Trump in the White House which is the same thing special counsel Robert Muellers investigation found, and which is the same thing the Senate Intelligence Committee found when it was led by then-Sen. Marco Rubio, before he became Trumps secretary of state. But even if we put that aside, and consider Gabbards findings on their own, the DNI released a document that can charitably be described as an embarrassment to herself, her office and the U.S. intelligence community. An analysis from The Bulwark explained, [E]ven a cursory look at the actual substance of Gabbards dramatic claims shows ... a nothingburger. There is no actual substance. Instead, there is blatant sleight of hand and manipulation of evidence, debunking a theory of Russian election interference that the Obama administration never endorsed. Similarly, Philip Bump, who spent years covering the underlying scandal at The Washington Post, described Gabbards conclusions as ludicrous. Broadly speaking, there are two main points to Gabbards pitch. The first is that Democratic officials in the Obama administration somehow manufactured the entire Russia scandal after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 race, following a period in which the intelligence community was largely indifferent to Vladimir Putins tactics before. We already know thats not true: Not only did administration officials warn Americans about Russian efforts weeks before Election Day, but those same officials famously brought their concerns to Congress, only to be brushed off by GOP leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard focused heavily on the fact that the Obama White House sought a revised assessment the month after Trumps electoral victory, and the changes that were made at this point. But as The Bulwark explained, this supposed scandal rests on a crude bait-and-switch. A quick look at the media reports Gabbard cites shows that they werent talking about altering the election outcome through cyberattacks on election infrastructure that is, actual tampering with the vote count. Rather, the claims of election interference via cyber warfare concerned, as the Washington Post put it, individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clintons campaign chairman. ... Was this a new, post-election assessment, as Gabbard seems to claim? Hardly: The same conclusion was announced at the start of the October 7, 2016, joint statement issued by the DNI and the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of seventeen intelligence agencies. All of this dovetails with the second problem with Gabbards findings: The DNI leaned heavily into the fact that there was no evidence of Russia targeting U.S. vote-counting machines and election infrastructure. Thats true, but its also irrelevant: Democratic officials never claimed that Russia targeted U.S. vote-counting machines and election infrastructure. Looking ahead, the fact that Gabbard released a pitiful report might seem unimportant. The DNI already lacked credibility, so the fact that her findings make her appear like an even more brazen partisan activist will strike some as trivial. But Gabbard has also spent the last three days claiming that shes now pushing for indictments and prosecutions of Obama administration officials who committed outrageous crimes that dont appear to have actually happened in reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, the release of a misguided report on Trumps Russia scandal wasnt just a desperate ploy to make the president happy; it was also an apparent first step toward pushing the Justice Department to act on a silly partisan stunt. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Donald Trumps pardons for Jan. 6 rioters were wildly unpopular and controversial for a great many reasons, including a straightforward, practical consideration: The president let a bunch of criminals, including felons convicted of violent crimes, back out onto American streets. Those concerned about these criminals committing other crimes were right to worry. KCRA, the NBC affiliate in Sacramento, reported late last week: A Sacramento County man, who benefited from the sweeping pardons by President Donald Trump for his participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection, was convicted by a federal jury for receiving child sexual abuse material. Kyle Travis Colton, 37, was found guilty of one count of receiving child pornography, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez. Court documents and evidence presented at trial revealed that a law enforcement search of Coltons home uncovered copious images and videos depicting graphic sexual abuse of young children, officials said. Colton had argued that Trumps pardon should have extended to cover his child porn case. That didnt work, and hes now facing a lengthy prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury verdict in California came two weeks after Edward Kelly, another pardoned Jan. 6 rioter, was convicted of plotting to kill FBI agents whod investigated his Jan. 6 conduct. He, too, claimed that his crimes shouldve been covered under the presidential pardon, and after that argument was rejected, Kelly was found guilty and is now poised to spend the rest of his life in federal prison. (Incidentally, when the Justice Department announced Kellys conviction, the press statement made no reference to his Jan. 6 crimes. What a curious oversight.) They have plenty of company. Zachary Jordan Alam, months after receiving a Jan. 6 pardon, was arrested in connection with an alleged home invasion. Andrew Taake, weeks after receiving a Jan. 6 pardon, was arrested for allegedly soliciting a minor. Emily Hernandez, weeks after receiving a Jan. 6 pardon, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for driving drunk and killing a passenger in another car. Occasionally, the president boasts that under his leadership, We are going to have law and order. It might be a little easier to take such rhetoric seriously if the Republican hadnt given so many get out of jail free cards to so many criminals. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths recent focus on the U.S. Naval Academy has largely been limited to the institutions on-campus library, and his desire to remove hundreds of books that the administration considers politically unacceptable. But late last week, the Pentagon chiefs interest in the academy extended to its leadership. The Washington Post reported: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will replace the first woman to lead the U.S. Naval Academy, defense officials said, with the Trump administration nominating a Marine Corps general to oversee the institution for the first time in its nearly 180-year history. In fairness, its important to emphasize that Vice Adm. Yvette Davids has not been demoted or forced to retire from military service. Rather, shes been nominated to serve in a different role, which the Post described as technically a lateral move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, the Naval Academys superintendent typically serves for three to four years. Davids, the first woman to serve in the position, is being removed after a year and a half. Complicating matters further is the larger context. It was just a few months ago, for example, when Hegseth boasted about scrapping the Pentagons Women, Peace, and Security program a program intended to boost womens role in peace-building and conflict prevention missions describing it as woke and a priority for feminists. The Cabinet secretary neglected to mention that the program was one of Donald Trumps accomplishments from the presidents first term, and the law that created the program was written by prominent Republicans, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during their congressional tenures. Whats more, in recent months, the Defense Department has also fired Col. Susannah Meyers, the commander of a U.S. military base in Greenland, after she refuted remarks from Vice President JD Vance. Days earlier, Hegseth also ousted U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATOs military committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same list also includes Adm. Linda Fagan, the former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; Adm. Lisa Franchetti; and Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short. Indeed, the Posts report added, The unexpected decision comes as Trump, with Hegseth in the lead, has purged the military of numerous top military leaders including a disproportionate number of women whom they have accused of focusing too heavily on diversity. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * With 15 weeks remaining in Virginias gubernatorial race, the latest poll from the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University found former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger with a double-digit lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, 49% to 37%. * On a related note, Earle-Sears campaign manager, Will Archer, was a pastor whod never managed a campaign or participated in politics. Last week, the struggling GOP candidate asked him to step aside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * In Arizona, where local Democratic politics has been deeply divided in recent months, party officials ousted Robert Branscomb last week after a tumultuous six-month tenure as the state party chair. * Despite the so-called One Big Beautiful Bills broad unpopularity, a Republican group called One Nation, the nonprofit arm of the super PAC aligned with the Senate GOP leadership, has launched a new attack ad, criticizing Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia for having voted against the far-right package. * In Texas, Rep. Wesley Hunt has yet to launch a Republican Senate campaign, but the congressman has started running ads far from his Houston-area district, as part of an apparent effort to introduce himself to statewide primary voters. The GOP primary race already features incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. * Amid scuttlebutt that Sen. Joni Ernst is planning to forgo a re-election bid next year, Politico reports that White House officials are leaning on the Iowa Republican to seek a third term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * And in Tennessee, Republican Mark Green officially vacated his U.S. House seat over the weekend, leaving a chamber that now has 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats. Other than Greens seat, there are three other vacancies, all resulting from House Democratic members whove died in recent months: Virginias Gerry Connolly, Arizonas Raul Grijalva and Texas Sylvester Turner. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * In Gaza: At least 67 people were killed by Israeli fire while they waited for U.N. aid trucks in northern Gaza on Sunday, the territorys health ministry said, as Israel issued new evacuation orders for areas packed with displaced Gazans, some of whom began to leave. * Partway through Trumps 50-day timeline: Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, only hours before the U.K. and Germany are to chair a meeting to discuss U.S. President Donald Trumps plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons. The attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * In related news: The European Union agreed to impose its toughest sanctions on Russia since its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, blocking attempts to revive the Nord Stream gas pipelines, lowering a price cap for Russian oil sales and hitting banks from third countries in a move that could exacerbate tensions with China. * The release of the MLK files: The Trump administration has released records of the FBIs surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureates family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination. The release involves more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. * In L.A.: Pentagon officials will begin withdrawing 700 active-duty Marines who were sent to Los Angeles last month, the latest scaling back of the Trump administrations contentious military deployment in Southern California. The withdrawal of the Marines follows the departure of nearly 2,000 California National Guard soldiers and a smaller contingent of about 150 specialized Guard firefighters. * This isnt what military bases are for: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says bases in Indiana and New Jersey can house detained immigrants without affecting military readiness a step toward potentially detaining thousands of people on bases on U.S. soil. Hegseth notified members of Congress from both states this week of the proposal to temporarily house detained immigrants at Camp Atterbury in Indiana, and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * This isnt what Title X is for: The Trump administration intends to use funds from a decades-old federal program that provides birth control to low-income women to ramp up efforts to help aspiring mothers get pregnant, signaling a shift in policy that will appease both religious conservatives and adherents of its Make America Healthy Again agenda. * In Brazil, Part I: Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor, authorities said on Friday, in a move he described as a supreme humiliation. The development came as federal police conducted searches at his home and his partys headquarters in Brasilia, in compliance with a Supreme Court order. * In Brazil, Part II: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would revoke the visa of a Brazilian Supreme Court justice after the court imposed new restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro, Brazils former president and a Trump ally. * Id recommend not taking medical advice from this guy: After President Trump was diagnosed with a chronic vein condition, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) suggested the presidents health condition could be a result of his efforts in fighting the radicals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * I dont miss the platform formerly known as Twitter: A previously unreported network of hundreds of accounts on X is using artificial intelligence to automatically reply to conservatives with positive messages about people in the Trump administration, researchers say. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com NEED TO KNOW Stephan Sterns entered guilty pleas to murder and sexual battery counts in a plea agreement with prosecutors that will spare him from facing the death penalty He confessed to both murdering and sexually assaulting Madeline Soto, the 13-year-old daughter of his girlfriend Jennifer Soto Sterns initially entered a not guilty plea to the 60 counts of sexual battery and one count of murder he faced, and his sexual battery trial was set to begin on Monday The boyfriend of Madeline Soto's mother has confessed to killing and sexually assaulting the 13-year-old girl before dumping her body in the woods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephan Sterns entered guilty pleas to murder and multiple sexual battery counts on the same day his sexual battery trial was set to begin. He would have been facing the death penalty in his murder trial scheduled for later this year, but prosecutors agreed to take that off the table as part of the agreement. Madeline was first reported missing on Feb. 26, 2024, when the young girl failed to show up to school the day after her birthday. On March 1, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office discovered her body dumped in the woods in rural Osceola County. A suspect was already in custody by that time, though, with the Kissimmee Police Department having arrested Sterns two days prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had immediately become a person of interest in the case because he had been tasked with dropping Madeline off at school the day she went missing, according to an affidavit seeking a search warrant obtained by PEOPLE. Officers quickly discovered that Madeline had not been dropped off at school. When they told Sterns that surveillance footage showed no sign of him doing so that day, his story began to change, according to investigators. Sterns then authorized the KPD to search his phone, with the affidavit saying he informed officers he had done a factory reset of the device on the same day the girl went missing. That reset did not clear his Google Drive, however, where officers said they discovered "disturbing images ... that were criminal, and sexual in nature." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That news release went on to say: "Detectives then were able to determine that those crimes were committed at the family home in Kissimmee." Sterns refused to speak with investigators from the OCSO and Kissimmee Police Department when questioned about this and invoked his right to an attorney at which time he was placed under arrest. A few weeks later, Jennifer Soto spoke about the relationship between Sterns and her daughter with officers from the KPD. "[Jennifer] stated Madeline never wanted to sleep alone in her bedroom. [Jennifer] couldnt remember how many times she let Madeline sleep with Stephan alone in his bedroom," read a supplemental investigation report from the KPD obtained by PEOPLE. "[Jennifer] stated she allowed it because she trusted Stephan, and he treated [Madeline] as his daughter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from the morning of Feb. 26 showing Sterns driving with a slumped-over female passenger wearing clothing that matched what Madeline was reported to be wearing the day she went missing, according to the affidavit. Additional surveillance video showed Sterns making multiple trips in two separate cars to dispose of trash bags as well that day. During a search of a dumpster where Sterns had been seen throwing away trash bags, police found Madelines backpack and her school-issued laptop. Sterns initially entered a not guilty plea to both the murder and 60 sexual battery charges he faced in the case, and would have faced the death penalty if found guilty of the former. He is now expected to serve a sentence of life in prison when he is sentenced next month in an Osceola County courtroom. Read the original article on People To Paul Lundeen, the numbers reveal the truth about how well Colorado's 53 rural counties are represented or not at the state Capitol, particularly when compared to the 11 most populous counties that hold the most influence. After nearly three weeks of uproar over his administrations closing of the Jeffrey Epstein files, President Trump has instead opted to release FBI records on African American civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The public will gain access to more than 240,000 pages of records that were under a court-ordered seal in the National Archives since 1977. Dr. Kings immediate family, including his children Bernie and Martin III, have been in open opposition to the Trump administrations decision for some time now. We recognize that the release of documents concerning the assassination of our father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has long been a subject of interest, captivating public curiosity for decades. As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal griefa devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never metan absence our family has endured for over 57 years, they said in a statement posted on X. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear what these records will show us, other than more personal and private information about Dr. Kings lifewhich would be further confirmation of the U.S. governments incessant, malicious, and unconstitutional surveillance of Dr. King via J. Edgar Hoovers COINTELPRO operation. During our fathers lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The intent of the governments COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. Kings reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement, the King siblings wrote in the same statement. These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truthundermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo. Much of the conspiracy surrounding Kings assassination has already been parsed through, as the siblings noted. In 1999, our family filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Shelby County, Tennessee. The jury unanimously concluded that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme. The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr. Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs. As we review these newly released files, we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted. More than anything, Trump is using Dr. Kings name recognition and the lasting trauma surrounding his legacy as a mere distraction from his own mess, as his base continues to come to terms with the major, yearslong promise he broke by abandoning the Epstein files. British supermarket chain Tesco has launched a new initiative aimed at minimizing food waste, according to Glasgow Live. Specially marked bananas will be sold greener than they had been previously in an attempt to encourage shoppers to let them ripen at home. The hope is that this will lead to fewer bananas spoiling before shoppers have a chance to eat them. Data suggests the United Kingdom wastes 1 million bananas every day, largely due to their immense popularity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bananas have never been more popular on account of their nutritional qualities and versatility in cooking, baking and in making smoothies and milkshakes," said Tesco's Dan Bentley. "In the last year we have seen demand soar with nearly 15 million more sold than the previous year." When food goes to landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that exacerbates increasingly destructive weather patterns. These can include droughts and floods, which disrupt agriculture globally and, in turn, raise grocery prices. The heat captured by methane also contributes to melting polar ice caps, which raises sea levels and threatens coastal communities. Diverting food waste to composting at home is a great solution when all else fails. Food comprises roughly 24% of waste that goes to landfills in America. That organic matter would be much better suited to improving soil health and reducing methane pollution through composting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesco has a multifaceted approach to tackling sustainability issues, ranging from offering discounts on older baked goods to using recycled plastic in packaging and laser-etching avocados. Tesco's recent adjustment for bananas should add four days to their shelf life. "We know that bananas can ripen quickly so we hope that by offering customers an added longer shelf-life option it will allow them to buy accordingly for the week ahead and hopefully help them cut down on wastage at home," said Bentley. 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. A U.S. Air Force challenge coin provides us with our best indication so far that the United States has brought nuclear bombs back to the United Kingdom after nearly two decades. As we have written about in the past, the move was long expected, with construction work at RAF Lakenheath in England already providing conclusive evidence that this was planned. More recently, a series of transatlantic flights by U.S. Air Force transport aircraft have also provided further indications of the movement of the bombs themselves to the United Kingdom. Challenge coins, also known as round metal objects, or RMOs, are a major part of military aviation culture and tradition, as you can read about here. Typically, these coins include features such as the unit designation, colors, mascot, nickname, mottos and slogans, symbology, and references to its history and lore. The coin in question is from the 493rd Fighter Generation Squadron (FGS), which is part of Lakenheaths 48th Fighter Wing, and which was activated on June 9, 2023. Tony Osborne, European Defense Editor at Aviation Week, photographed an example of the 493rd FGS challenge coin at the Royal International Air Tattoo airshow that took place over the weekend at RAF Fairford in England. On one side, the coin shows the grim reaper mascot of the 493rd Fighter Squadron, with its motto, Prepare to meet thy maker. In the center of the coin is the telltale shape of a B61 nuclear gravity bomb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire shape of the coin makes very explicit one key aspect of the 493rd FGS mission, with a nuclear explosion and a mushroom cloud. The reverse of the coin provides a full-color depiction of the same explosion. U.S. Air Force Omari Miller, 495th Fighter Generation Squadron F-35 avionics technician, replaces his 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron patch with the 495th Fighter Generation Squadron patch, signifying the deactivation and activation of the squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, June 9, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali According to the Air Force, the 493rd FGS (and the sister 494th FGS) are the first fifth-generation squadrons of their kind in the European theater, replacing the 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Lakenheath. The idea to break large aircraft maintenance squadrons into smaller FGSs and pairing them up with their respective fighter squadrons aligns with the U.S. Air Forces Combat Oriented Maintenance Organization (COMO) structure; aimed to foster unity of effort between maintenance and operations as well as enhance readiness of the squadrons, the Air Force said in an official press release. 48th Wing airmen gather to attend the 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron deactivation ceremony and the activation and assumption of command of the 493rd and 495th Fighter Generation squadrons at RAF Lakenheath, June 9, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali Now, each of the four fighter squadrons within the 48th Fighter Wing has a dedicated FGS assigned to it. In this case, the 493rd and 494th FGS correspond to the 493rd and 494th Fighter squadrons, both flying the F-35A. In 2021, Lakenheath became the first Air Force wing outside of the United States to operate the F-35A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other two fighter squadrons at Lakenheath still operate the F-15E for now, at least. Both the F-15E and F-35A are capable of carrying B61 series free-fall thermonuclear bombs and are therefore a critical part of the U.S. military posture in Europe. These aircraft can also make full use of the capabilities of the B61-12 version of the bomb, an advantage that doesnt extend to all NATO aircraft cleared to carry the weapon, as we have discussed in the past. A U.S. Air Force F-35A drops a B61-12 during a test at Edwards Air Force Base, California. U.S. Air Force Until recently, however, there were no nuclear bombs actually stored at Lakenheath. Historically, Lakenheath had a nuclear mission, although the last nuclear weapons were removed from the base in 2008. An aerial photograph of RAF Lakenheath, home of the U.S. Air Force 48th Fighter Wing, in September 2014. Photograph by David Goddard/Getty Images But there is no doubt that the weapons or at the very least the related capabilities and infrastructure are headed back to the base, if they are not there already. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about the current status of nuclear weapons at Lakenheath, a U.S. Department of Defense official told TWZ: Consistent with long-standing U.S. policy, we neither confirm nor deny the absence or presence of U.S. nuclear weapons at any specific location. Last week, open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts on social media identified an Air Force C-17A transport flight that might have been connected with the movement of B61 nuclear bombs from the United States to Lakenheath. The callsign RCH4574 followed the pattern of similar nuclear swaps, according to the @TheIntelFrog. Of course, the Pentagon does not comment on whether such flights relate to the transport of U.S. nuclear weapons, although the 62nd Airlift Wing, to which the aircraft was assigned, is known to be the only one of its kind certified to ferry routine nuclear weapons shipments. Today, 18 July, RCH4574 concluded it's mission and returned home to McChord AFB, WA. This would indicate that this was a drop off rather than a swap. During a swap, the aircraft returns to Kirtland and unloads on Pad 5 much like they loaded. 8/ pic.twitter.com/OIjaTWFAZs TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) July 19, 2025 The mission in question, on July 15, saw the C-17A arrive at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, from McChord Air Force Base, Washington. Once at Kirtland, it was noted in the area where nuclear weapons are loaded and unloaded by the resident Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. The C-17A departed Kirtland on July 17 and arrived at Lakenheath the following day. Otherwise, the flight was more consistent with a nuclear weapons drop-off than a routine weapons swap. The arrival of nuclear weapons at Lakenheath at this time wouldnt be a surprise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, we discussed the latest report on the subject from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), which has been monitoring the topic since April 2022, when the first official evidence emerged suggesting the reactivation of the nuclear mission at Lakenheath. As of February 2025, there was, according to FAS, no known public indications that nuclear weapons have been deployed to RAF Lakenheath, although it was abundantly clear that this was mostly a matter of time. In the last few years, satellite imagery has confirmed upgrades being made to Lakenheaths Protective Aircraft Shelters, which incorporate underground WS3 vaults for the storage of nuclear bombs. This work began in 2022, and, by early this year, around 28 of the 33 aircraft shelters had been upgraded, with construction continuing on six more. Satellite imagery shows the upgrades being made to Lakenheaths Protective Aircraft Shelters, which incorporate underground WS3 vaults for the storage of nuclear bombs. This work began in 2022, and, by early this year, around 28 of the 33 aircraft shelters had been upgraded, with construction continuing on six more. Courtesy FAS/Google Earth Other infrastructure changes relate to the recently arrived F-35A squadrons. Specifically, the new tarmac infrastructure for these fighters mirror those found at other air bases in Europe that are known to host U.S. nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, there have been various official references in Pentagon documents that connect construction work at the base with the Air Forces nuclear mission. For example, the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2023 includes the United Kingdom on a list of bases receiving upgrades to their special storage sites. The only candidate for this would be Lakenheath. A U.S. Air Force crew chief stands by in preparation to launch an F-35A at RAF Lakenheath in November 2024. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Seleena Muhammad-Ali Furthermore, past U.S. Department of Defense procurement contracts describe plans for the upcoming nuclear mission for the Lakenheath-based 48th Security Forces Squadron (SFS). As well as upgrades to facilities, Pentagon documents from 2023 reveal that specific training is now being given to nuclear weapons personnel at Lakenheath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this, combined with the latest developments in terms of the 493rd FGS challenge coin and last weeks C-17A flight from Kirtland, strongly points to nuclear weapons having returned to Lakenheath. Its unclear, however, if the plan is for nuclear bombs to be permanently stationed at the base, with some suggestions in the past that the infrastructure there might be intended as a backup to other nuclear bases in Europe. As of 2025, those other bases are Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Buchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi in Italy, Volkel in the Netherlands, and Incirlik in Turkey. Of these, the Netherlands notably declared its F-35As fully responsible for the nuclear strike role as of June 2024. Incirlik is meanwhile notable as the weapons here cannot actually be employed by Turkey, in contrast to the dual-key arrangement with other nuclear-sharing nations. A Weapons Storage and Security System vault of the type used at NATO airbases in Europe, seen here in the raised position holding an older B61 variant. Public Domain/WikiCommons As a backup base, Lakenheath could potentially receive nuclear weapons from other bases in Europe or even from the United States in a time of crisis. This would, to a limited degree, increase the flexibility of the nuclear mission in Europe. Perhaps, further C-17A flights might help confirm whether the base is intended as a permanent home of nuclear weapons, or if they will be rotated in and out on a temporary basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also the possibility that Lakenheaths nuclear role might become more important in the future, should Washington decide on a drawdown of U.S.-owned nuclear weapons elsewhere in Europe, something that TWZ has also previously considered. Then there is the question of how nuclear weapons at Lakenheath might overlap with the United Kingdoms recently announced plans to buy F-35As as well as the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B models it already uses. The U.K. Ministry of Defense has highlighted the F-35As nuclear mission, which would see the jets armed with U.S.-owned B61-12 bombs. Potentially, Royal Air Force F-35As could use these bombs too, and small detachments of British aircraft at the base might also be an option. My understanding is that B61s hosted by the UK would not be stored at Marham, but at Lakenheath, which is already upgraded. Obviously that would mean that F-35As would need to go from one to the other. UK/NATO do not comment on nuclear storage. But watch budgets. https://t.co/yNpdxHgic6 Shashank Joshi (@shashj) June 25, 2025 Regardless, having another base capable of launching strikes involving B61-12 bombs is significant. FAS estimates that around 100 U.S.-owned B61-12 gravity bombs are available across the aforementioned NATO air bases in Europe. Courtesy FAS In the past, we have pointed out the specific new capabilities that the B61-12 brings: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to its precision-guidance system, which combines a new tail kit with an inertial navigation system package and rockets for spin stabilization, the B61-12 offers increased accuracy over older B61 versions. When combined with the F-35A, the B61-12 is increasingly being viewed as a strategic weapons-delivery system, as well as a tactical strike asset. An inert B61-12 gravity bomb attached to a U.S. Air Force F-15E. Sandia/Craig Fritz Since President Donald Trump took office, there has been some uncertainty among NATOs leading European powers that Washington may dial back or even end the current nuclear-sharing program, something we have recently discussed. This has prompted some of those powers, notably France and the United Kingdom, to start to look at alternatives, including some kind of cooperative nuclear umbrella independent of the United States. All this is being played out against the backdrop of growing tensions between NATO and Russia in recent years. With U.S.-owned nuclear weapons having arrived (or otherwise very soon to arrive) at an additional European base, those fears might be allayed somewhat, although it remains to be seen whether the bombs will be a permanent fixture at the base. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," has died at 54. The Emmy-nominated actor drowned off the coast of Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20, ABC News and People report. Costa Rican National Police confirmed to ABC News that Warner died after being caught by a high current in the water while swimming near Cocles, a beach in Limon, Costa Rica. ABC News reports the actor was formally identified by police. USA TODAY has reached out to Warner's reps for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to eight seasons on the hit NBC sitcom as the son of Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad's Clair Huxtable, Warner was also known for his role as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie" and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama "The Resident" from 2018 to 2023. But it is his role as the lovable but at times clueless teen son of the Huxtables that made Warner a household name in the 1980s. Warner was a 5-foot-5-inch, 13-year-old and "literally the last person" to audition for the role of Theo for "The Cosby Show," following a nationwide search, he told NPR in 2014. While show producers were looking for a taller Theo, Warner's audition, overseen by creator and star Cosby, led to the successful casting as the only son and middle child of five children in the famed TV family overseen by TV parents Cosby and Rashad. "The Cosby Show" ran for eight seasons on NBC, from Sept. 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with Warner earning global stardom, an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy series, and directing experience behind the camera for several episodes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Television Academy in 2014, Warner reflected on the impact of "The Cosby Show." "'The Cosby Show,' for Black America and White America alike, finally legitimized the Black middle class, which has always been around since the inception of this country, but, as with everything, is not legitimate til it's on television," Warner said. "When the show first came out, there were White people and Black people talking about (how) the Huxtables don't really exist, Black people don't really live like that." "Meanwhile, we were getting tens of thousands of fan letters from people saying, 'Thank you so much for this show.'" In the 2010s, Warner had notable recurring roles on the NBC comedy "Community," playing the ex of Yvette Nicole Brown's Shirley Bennett. He also portrayed the character Sticky, the Vice President of motorcycle club The Grim Bastards, on FX's "Sons of Anarchy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2016 FX series "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," Warner played Al Cowlings, a friend of O.J. Simpson who drove the infamous white Ford Bronco during the televised police chase. The "Reed Between the Lines" actor also dabbled in music and poetry, going on to win a Grammy Award for best traditional R&B performance for the song "Jesus Children" in 2015, and receiving a nomination for best spoken word poetry album for "Hiding in Plain View" in 2023Warner's final acting role was as Dr. AJ "The Raptor" Austin in Fox's medical drama "The Resident." He initially joined the show in a recurring role in Season One (2018-2019), and eventually became a series regular for the remaining five seasons. The Fox Network released a statement that they were "heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague," Warner. They added: "Malcolm will be remembered most for his warmth, kind heart and the lasting impact he had on his friends, family and fans everywhere." This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead: 'Cosby Show' actor who played Theo was 54 A man who fatally shot a woman he was living with outside her Westwood home and then drove her body to Tennessee has pleaded guilty to charges including manslaughter. In Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Monday, July 21, Kaitlyn Lynchs father, sister and friend talked about the devastation Lance Miller left behind when he killed the mother of two young girls. Lynchs friend, Lisa Guddo, called Miller a pathetic coward and a pitiful shell of a human who doesnt deserve forgiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its impossible to describe the pain youve caused, Guddo said. Your decision was more than a mistake. It was reckless, selfish and irreversible. Lynchs father, Daniel, said his daughter, who was 36, had dreams that ended the moment Miller shot her multiple times as she sat inside her car. He said Miller was cruel and a barbarian. Miller, 34, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and kidnapping. Judge Robert Winkler sentenced him to 20 to 25 years in prison a term that had been agreed upon as part of the plea. 911 call preceded shooting Miller was a friend of Lynch's late husband, and according to people who knew her, had come to Ohio from Oklahoma only six days before the killing, to stay in her basement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting happened the night of Aug. 18, 2023, approximately one hour after Miller himself called 911, to report a supposed problem. When officers went to Lynchs house on Temple Avenue in Westwood, Miller said that Lynch was refusing to get out of her BMW. When officers approached the car, Lynch was sitting in the passenger seat. She told officers, however, that there were no problems, according to court documents, but she would not get out and go inside the house. Officers then left. According to prosecutors, about an hour after Millers 911 call, during an argument with Lynch, Miller went inside the home and got a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He walked out and opened fire on the car, firing nine times. Lynch was struck in the head, chest and abdomen. Miller then drove away in the BMW, with Lynch still in the passenger seat. High-speed chase in Tennessee Authorities tracked both Millers and Lynchs cellphones and determined the BMW was traveling south on Interstate 75. Somewhere around Lexington, Miller apparently threw Lynchs cellphone out of the car, prosecutors said. It was found on the side of the highway. Investigators then began tracking the car, using its GPS information, and determined it had traveled from I-75 to Interstate 40 in Tennessee. Miller led police in Tennessee on a high-speed chase before they were able to stop the car using stop sticks. Lynchs body was found in the front passenger seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Miller admitted to investigators that he shot Lynch. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea: Man killed woman he was living with, drove her body to Tennessee PHILIPPI, W.Va. (WBOY) Two people were charged after multiple children reported being abused at a home in Barbour County. On July 2, officers with the Philippi Police Department were informed of possible child abuse taking place at a residence on City Lane and sent a complaint to the DHHR in Barbour County, according to a criminal complaint. On July 17, a trooper with the Barbour County detachment of the West Virginia State Police attended a forensic interview with three children at the Clarksburg Child Advocacy Center where the children described the alleged abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the juvenile victims describe[d] being picked up off the ground by [the] throat, by Brandon Tenney, 22, of Montrose, officers said. The victim said Tenney had done this several times, and another time, Tenney allegedly hit the child with a belt causing a welt and bruising which lasted several days so the victim had to sleep on [their] belly due to the bruise hurting, according to the complaint. Brandon Tenney Another victim in that same interview said that Tenney would grab them by the throat and hold them and that when Tenney was mad, he would punch [them] and cause bruising, the complaint said. The victim also said that Tenney had struck the baby due to the baby crying, and that they saw Tenney hold a pistol-like gun under his chin while making threats to kill himself, according to the complaint. Victim allegedly forced to take meth for 2 days after meeting Barbour County man on Grindr A third juvenile also said that Tenney would use his hands around [the victims] necks, causing red marks while making comments about hurting/killing them and remembered all of them getting hit with the leather belt, officers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On that same date, law enforcement spoke with Tenney at the Philippi Police Department in a Mirandized interview, according to the complaint. During that interview, Tenney remembered grabbing [one of the victims] by the throat as a punishment in August of 2024 and said that he grabbed two of the other victims by the throat on two occasions, including once in June 2025 due to both children being involved in an incident at a school, officers said. Bethany Forney In those incidents, Tenney stated that he held the children approximately 6 inches off the ground for approximately 5 minutes, but claimed he didnt mean to hurt the children, according to the complaint. Officers then spoke with Bethany Fortney, 30, of Philippi, who claimed she was aware of the incidents between Tenney and the children, and knowingly allowed the actions to take place, officers said. Tenney was charged with multiple counts of child abuse resulting in injury and strangulation, and Forney was charged with multiple counts of child neglect. They are being held in Tygart Valley Regional Jail. 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 WBOY.com. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested in Taylorsville on Sunday after he alledgely stabbed his uncle to death during a family fight. According to a court affidavit, Taylorsville Police responded to a home on a report of a stabbing that had just occurred. After arriving, they found 26-year-old Damon Michael Rushton at the home, along with the uncle who was deceased on the floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being read his Miranda Rights, Rushton admitted to police he stabbed his uncle after he placed Rushtons brother in a choke hold. Other family members on scene said the uncle was trying to stop the brother from assaulting their father when they intervened and ended up being stabbed. Rushton was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. 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. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) A man was arrested Monday morning after he allegedly shot a woman in a Longview motel the night before. According to the Longview Police Department, on Sunday around 10:27 p.m., officers responded to the Palace Inn Motel on East Marshall Avenue, where a woman was found with a gunshot wound. Police capture Nacogdoches man on Texas Top 10 Most Wanted List for sexual assault of child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries while the suspect, 59-year-old Michael Duane Jones, ran from the scene before officers arrived. Jones was found on Monday and arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest. Anyone with any additional information is encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 903-237-1199 or the Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP (7867) to remain anonymous. Editors Note: In an earlier on-air broadcast, we incorrectly reported that the woman had died. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com. In the 1990s, Andrew Hamilton was guiding river trips and in his spare time scaling Colorados highest peaks when he came by a book. It was the first edition of Colorados Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs, by legendary mountaineer Gerry Roach. Like many others who had grown up in the state, Hamilton was familiar with trails to the summits the hikes detailed in the book. He was far less familiar with the climbs. The book showed all these other routes you could do, Hamilton recalls (250-plus across the 54 peaks). For me, that just changed everything. In later online forums the likes of 14ers.com that digitally chronicles many of those routes Roach put on the page Hamilton would become known as the King of the Fourteeners. The name would be for his record-setting dashes across the peaks. And the feats were only possible with information he gathered from Roachs book, those descriptions and maps inspiring summit linkups via different slopes and ridges that were more efficient and also much more dangerous in the absence of a trail. Alternate or nonstandard routes, as they are called. And better, Hamilton calls them. As Roach explains in his book: Most of the routes on Colorados fourteeners are walk-ups (Class 1, Class 2, easy snow) or scampers (Class 2+), but there are many wonderful scrambles (Class 3, moderate snow) and technical climbs (Class 4, Class 5, steep snow). The standard routes were becoming crowded, reads the third edition of Colorados Fourteeners, released in 2011. But Colorado is still full of wilderness! Hence the draw to alternate routes for a certain, niche crew. For more experienced people who are looking for a bigger challenge, and to use their brain a little more, says Hamiltons wife and climbing partner, Andrea Sansone. Yes, for the serious and experienced, its a natural progression in the history of alpinism, says Lloyd Athearn, executive director of Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI). Theres always been a spirit to try new things, to test oneself and find more aesthetically pleasing and challenging lines, he says. However a natural progression for some, routes off trail and beyond fairly gentle talus fields are not for all, he stresses. CFI estimates 260,000 people ascend fourteeners every year. And the vast majority should be on standard routes, Athearn says. Thats because the vast majority are not like Hamilton or the young man who broke his wintertime fourteener speed record back in 2023. More recently, Chris Fisher has been mixing it up in the Himalayas. When hes back among Colorados fourteeners, hes not drawn to the trails nearly as much as hes drawn to sheer, rocky faces often requiring rope and steep, narrow spines always requiring skill and intense focus. Featured Local Savings Hes well familiar with the Four Great Traverses, as theyre known by thrill seekers: perilous, exposed links between Little Bear and Blanca peaks; between South and North Maroon peaks; between Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle; and between El Diente Peak and Mount Wilson. Those are not to be dared by the uninitiated, Fisher says. I think the best way to work your way up is starting with something like Kelso Ridge and Sawtooth. Kelso resembles a dragonback between Grays and Torreys peaks, while Sawtooth is the jagged traverse between mounts Bierstadt and Blue Sky. Fisher points to another route commonly sought by Front Range explorers broadening their horizons: the West Ridge route of Quandary Peak, involving careful rock climbs along unforgiving drop-offs. A beautiful route, Athearn agrees, but I cant tell you how many folks Summit County Search and Rescue has pulled off that route. Accidents and tragedies appear increasingly common on Kelso and Sawtooth as well from Alex Derrs view. He tracks such episodes and aims to increase outdoor education through his blog, The Next Summit. Derr sees an alarming trend people getting ahead of themselves and chasing some cool shot for Instagram and also an understandable trend in another sense. After youve done like 15 or 20 (standard routes), I feel like, especially among my friends, they start saying, Hey, what if we did the Angel of Shavano up Shavano instead of the standard, slog hike? Or what about Little Browns Creek? Thats one he recommends: the Little Browns Creek route up Mount Antero, away from the Jeep road. Its simply the best way to hike Mount Antero, either as a single-day trip or an overnight venture, he once wrote on his blog, detailing the 14-mile round trip with some Class 2 scrambling. Its one nonstandard fourteener route that does not fall into the overly technical category. Athearn points to a Class 1 alternative on the states highest mountain: the East Ridge route of Mount Elbert, with slightly more mileage, different views and far fewer people than the standard Northeast Ridge route. A little longer, but the additional effort is a small price to pay for solitude, Roach writes similarly of Mount Yales East Ridge, an alternate to the standard, also Class 2 Southwest Slopes route. Roachs book classifies the East Ridge as a classic, along with another often-preferred nonstandard route in the San Juan Mountains: the Southwest Ridge of Mount Sneffels. On 14ers.com, the warnings are clear for those routes on Yale and Sneffels: exposure, rockfall potential, route finding and commitment are all listed as considerable. That could describe the risks of any fourteener route, but especially most alternate routes, Derr says. If a personal locator beacon isnt carried on a standard route, it should be for these routes off trail, he says, no matter how prepared and well-studied one is. Theres a simple explanation for these more complicated ventures, he says: High risks, high rewards. Risk and reward is a personal calculus, Hamilton recognizes. He only knows his own parameters, which were explained by a book he read not long ago. It was called The Comfort Crisis, he says. About how weve become way too comfortable as people, and our bodies thrive when were challenged. ... But you cant die. Thats the one rule. OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) California parole agent Joshua Lemont Byrds suspected killer was charged with murder on Monday. Bryan Keith Hall is accused of shooting Agent Byrd Thursday afternoon inside a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation office, located on Edgewater Drive in East Oakland. The office was used for CDCRs Division of Adult Parole Operations. Hall is charged with murdering Byrd while he was on parole. On Monday afternoon, Hall appeared in court wearing a bulletproof vest to face murder charges. Nearly 100 law enforcement officers from multiple agencies gathered outside the courtroom to show support for Agent Byrd. A judge ordered Hall to remain in custody without bail, and set his arraignment for August 22. CDCR parole agent Joshua Lemont Byrd After Byrd was slain in the line-of-duty Thursday, police officers swarmed the area searching for the gunman. A manhunt ended when Oakland Police Department officers found Hall on International Boulevard near 90th Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said, The defendant showed up to the parole office a day late for his appointment. Mr. Byrd was not his parole agent, Jones Dickson said. Agent Byrd was a 40-year-old father of three and an 11-year veteran with CDCR. Hall, 48, is a career criminal who was charged with attempted murder in 2022, court records show. He was released from jail in February 2025 through a negotiated plea deal that lowered the attempted murder charge to assault, according to CDCR officials. Wearing a bulletproof vest, Brian Hall keeps his head down as he is arraigned at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 21, 2025. (Pool Photo / Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Halls convictions date back to 1996 in Alameda County. His criminal history, which includes several convictions for assault, show he is a serious danger to society, prosecutors wrote in a criminal complaint. Bryan Keith Hall is seen in a mugshot released by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office. CDCR officials explained why the felon was out of custody on parole leading up to the July 17 killing. CDCR officials wrote, On November 22, 2022, Hall was charged with attempted murder causing great bodily injury, stemming from a stabbing that had occurred the day before. After more than two years in local jail, he was held to answer on all charges at a preliminary hearing on November 14, 2024. On February 5, 2025, the Alameda County District Attorneys office agreed to resolve the case as a violation of Penal Code section PC 245(a)(1) assault with a deadly weapon. Pursuant to his negotiated plea, all other charges and special allegations were dismissed. He was immediately sentenced to the statutory maximum of four years. As he had accrued 1,616 days of pre-sentence credit for time served locally, he had served in jail his full sentence as defined by law, was not transferred to CDCR custody, and was immediately released to parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to joining CDCR, Byrd served in the United States Navy. Agent Byrd is remembered for his bravery and dedication, CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber said. Police officers pay their respects at Highland Hospital after a state parole agent was shot and killed at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation office in Oakland on July 17, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez /San Francisco Chronicle via AP) The California Correctional Peace Officers Association wrote, Since the states parole law was enacted in 1893, this is the first time a parole agent has been killed in the line of duty. Governor Gavin Newsom said, This is a heartbreaking loss. Agent Byrd served with integrity and courage and were forever grateful. If Hall is convicted, he will face life in prison without the possibility of parole, District Attorney Jones Dickson 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 KRON4. BARRE, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) One man is due in court after he reportedly impersonated a firefighter at a fatal crash in Fayston earlier this month. Firefighters received word about this individual on July 17, when Barre Town Fire Chief Andy Lange heard that someone not associated with their team had responded to the scene. The man, later self-identified as Benjamin Charette, had gone to this fatal crash in July. There he identified himself as a first-responder with BTFD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barre Town Police Chief William Dodge was informed, and later made contact with other emergency services to confirm information. Waitsfield-Fayston Fire Department and Mad River Valley Ambulance Service members said that Charette had been there. Vehicle fire closes Colchester Ave. parking garage They also noted that he attempted to provide patient care on-scene. Police did make contact with Charette, who claimed that he was a member of BTFD for about two years, but recently stepped down. Charette later admitted that he had not been an affiliate of any first-responder group since 2016. Speak with your local department and see what the application process consists of. Self responding to emergency calls with no training or certification is not only reckless, it is dangerous to the public in many ways, Chief Dodge noted in a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charette was cited, and is set to appear in Washington Superior Court this August. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 federal appeals court Monday ruled that the former bodega stock clerk convicted in the 1979 kidnapping and murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz should receive a new trial or be released from custody. Pedro Hernandez in Manhattan criminal court in New York in 2012. (Louis Lanzano / AP file) Pedro Hernandez, 64, was convicted in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Patz after he confessed to luring the child into a basement as he walked to his bus stop in SoHo. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in connection with the case that rocked New York City. The child was among the first to be placed on a milk carton to seek the publics help in finding him. In a 51-page ruling on Monday by a three-judge panel, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conviction, ordering that Hernandez should be retried or released because of a flawed instruction by the New York state judge presiding over his case in response to a jury note about his alleged confessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their appeal, Hernandez's lawyers argued that the instructions were improper and tainted the verdict. His lawyers have previously argued that Hernandez is mentally ill and confessed after hours of police interrogation. "We conclude that the state trial court contradicted clearly established federal law and that this error was not harmless," a three-judge appeals panel held in its ruling Monday. A spokesperson with the Manhattan district attorneys office told NBC News that "we are reviewing the decision." In a statement, Hernandezs trial and appellate legal team said that "for more than 13 years, Pedro Hernandez has been in prison for a crime he did not commit and based on a conviction that the Second Circuit has now made clear was obtained in clear violation of law." "We are grateful the Court has now given Pedro a chance to get his life back, and I call upon the Manhattan District Attorneys Office to drop these misguided charges and focus their efforts where they belong: on finding those actually responsible for the disappearance of Etan Patz," the statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Etan vanished on May 25, 1979, while walking to a bus stop two blocks from his family's Manhattan home. His disappearance launched a massive search in the SoHo neighborhood and spurred the national movement to put photographs of missing kids on milk cartons. The child was declared dead in 2001, but police continued their investigation into him and his likely killer. In May 2012, authorities tracked down Hernandez in Jersey on a tip from his brother-in-law, according to the order. Hernandez, who was 18 when Etan went missing, later confessed to luring the boy into a bodega with the promise of a soda and grabbing him by the neck and fatally choking him. The order says that Hernandez then said he put the boy's body in a "garbage bag" before stuffing him into a box and leaving it in a trash area around the corner from the bodega. He did not provide a motive at the time but denied it was sexual, the order says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hernandez, who has a documented history of mental illnesses and a low intelligence quotient ('IQ'), initially confessed after approximately seven hours of unwarned questioning by three police officers," the ruling Monday says. "Immediately after Hernandez confessed, the police administered Miranda warnings, began a video recording, and had Hernandez repeat his confession on tape. He did so again, several hours later, to an Assistant District Attorney ('ADA'). At trial, the prosecution discussed and played these videos repeatedly." The boys body was never found, and prosecutors were unable to find anybody who saw Hernandez with him. Hernandez's first trial in 2015, where he was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping, ended in a hung jury after 18 days of deliberations. The second trial began in September 2016, where prosecutors centered their case on Hernandez's confession. The order Monday says that during closing arguments, the prosecution played clips from Hernandez's taped confessions for the jury at least seven times. "When deliberating during his second trial, the jury sent the judge three different notes about Hernandezs confessions, the appellants order says. "The third note asked the trial court to explain whether, if the jury found that Hernandezs un-Mirandized confession was not voluntary, it must disregard the later confessions, including the videotaped confessions at the local Camden County Prosecutors Office ('CCPO') and the Manhattan District Attorneys ('DAs') Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order says that the court instructed the jury, without explaining, that the "answer is no." When they finally reached a verdict, Hernandez was convicted of felony murder and first-degree kidnapping in the after nine days of deliberations. The jury, however, acquitted him of intentional murder, the order says. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) The Westport man convicted of brutally stabbing a teenager at a Warwick pharmacy eight years ago will remain behind bars. The Rhode Island Parole Board voted unanimously to deny 50-year-old Jacob Gallants request for parole Monday. Gallant was arrested after he stabbed Alyssa Garcia more than two dozen times while she was stocking a beverage cooler at the Rite Aid off Warwick Avenue back in March 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Warwick stabbing victim urges state to deny attackers parole Garcia was 18 years old at the time and just barely survived the attack. Now 26, Garcia told 12 News last week that she can no longer use her left hand due to severe nerve damage and still struggles emotionally to this day. I think about this attack almost every time I step foot outside of my home, Garcia told the parole board. I startle at sudden sounds, and I live every day with the fear that the man who tried to violently kill me might walk free among us. That fear is not irrational it is a response to unimaginable trauma. Gallant admitted to detectives after the attack that he bought the butcher knife he used to stab Garcia earlier that day because he wanted to kill someone. Alyssa Garcia reads her victim impact statement to the Rhode Island Parole Board. He pleaded no contest to several charges, including assault with intent to commit murder, and was sentenced to 45 years with 25 to serve and the remainder on probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia shared her story with the state parole board prior to the vote and begged them not to release Gallant. I understand that people change and that the justice system allows for rehabilitation, but eight years is not justice for what happened to me, Garcia said. Its not enough for someone who showed such a disregard for human life. Its not enough for someone who wanted to murder the first person he saw. Gallant will be eligible for parole again in July 2030. 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: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Delphi murderer Richard Allen is now imprisoned in Oklahoma, according to Kay Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Allen was convicted in November of killing Libby German and Abby Williams on Feb. 13, 2017, along the north bank of Deer Creek in Delphi, Indiana. The case went unsolved until Allen's arrest on Oct. 26, 2022. His trial started in October 2024 and ended on Nov. 11 with convictions on two counts of murder. He was sentenced Dec. 20 to a total of 130 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allen arrived there on July 17, she said. He's currently housed at that assessment and reception center in Lexington, Oklahoma, which is about 40 miles south of Oklahoma City. All male inmates arrive at the assessment and reception center for testing and to determine which correctional facility might best serve them, Thompson said. Allen likely will be at the assessment center for about 30 days. Oklahoma has an interstate inmate program with several states, including Indiana, Thompson said. The reasons a person might be transferred to another state might be for safekeeping, inmates from high-profile cases, or to move an offender closer to family, Thompson said, adding that she does not know why Allen was transferred to Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Journal & Courier, part of the USA TODAY Network, called and emailed several Indiana Department of Corrections media contacts in Indianapolis and in Pendleton. None of the contacts has yet responded. Asked whether Allen was a victim or a suspect in any prison incidents of violence, Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said his office is not aware of any. Allen is appealing his conviction and sentence. However, his brief outlining his issues on which he is appealing has not yet been filed in his case, according to court records. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Delphi murderer Richard Allen moved to Oklahoma prison The man convicted of killing a six-year-old boy in Manhattan in 1979 should be freed or retried, a court has ruled. Pedro Hernandez, who was convicted of killing Etan Patz in 2017 after a decades-long police investigation, has had his guilty verdict overturned. A federal appeals court took issue with how a jury note was handled during Hernandezs second trial in 2017. His first, in 2015, ended with a deadlocked jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hernandez has been serving a life sentence since his conviction. Etan disappeared on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop. Etan Patz was killed in Manhattan in 1979 - Reuters Hernandez was a teenager working at a convenience shop in Etans Manhattan neighbourhood at the time. The shop clerk, from Maple Shade, New Jersey, later confessed to choking Etan. His lawyers insist that he was mentally ill, and his confession was false. Etan was among the first missing children pictured on milk cartons. The anniversary of his disappearance, May 25, was designated as national missing childrens day by Ronald Reagan in 1983. Through this painful and utterly horrific real-life story, we came to realise how easily our children could disappear, said Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R Vance Jr, a Democrat who made a 2009 campaign promise to revisit the case if elected. 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. WESTBURY, N.Y. (AP) A man who was pulled into an MRI machine in New York after he walked into the room wearing a large weight-training chain around his neck has died, according to police and his wife, who told a local television outlet that he waved goodbye before his body went limp. The man, 61, had entered an MRI room while a scan was underway Wednesday afternoon at Nassau Open MRI. The machines strong magnetic force drew him in by the metallic chain around his neck, according to a release from the Nassau County Police Department. He died Thursday afternoon, but a police officer who answered the phone at the Nassau County police precinct where the MRI facility is located said the department had not yet been given permission to release the name Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adrienne Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island in a recorded interview that she was undergoing an MRI on her knee when she asked the technician to get her husband, Keith McAllister, to help her get off the table. She said she called out to him. Headless Betty Boop statue mystery: Virginia gift shop marks 20 years She told News 12 that the technician summoned into the room her husband, who was wearing a 20-pound chain that he uses for weight training, an object theyd had a casual conversation about during a previous visit with comments like: Ooooooh, thats a big chain! When he got close to her, she said, at that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said: Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off! she recalled, as tears ran down her face. He went limp in my arms. She said the technician helped her try to pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible. He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp, Jones-McAllister told the TV outlet. Jones-McAllister told News 12 that McAllister suffered heart attacks after he was freed from the MRI machine. A person who answered the phone at Nassau Open MRI on Long Island declined to comment Friday. The phone number went unanswered on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt the first New York death to result from an MRI machine. Dogs detect Parkinsons by smell, years before symptoms start: Study In 2001, 6-year-old Michael Colombini of Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRIs 10-ton electromagnet. In 2010, records filed in Westchester County revealed that the family settled a lawsuit for $2.9 million. MRI machines employ a strong magnetic field that exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, which says the units are strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room. 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. (FOX40.COM) A man is dead after a multi-vehicle crash over the weekend, according to the Modesto Police Department. Video Above: What to do if you witness a crash Around 2:20 p.m. on July 19, MPD officers responded to a collision that involved three vehicles. Police said an investigation indicates that the driver was traveling south on Sisk Road at Standiford Avenue when he struck a pole on the center median. After the crash, the vehicle continued into another pole, crossed over the median into the northbound lane of traffic, and struck two vehicles. Cliff jumper dies at Northern California lake after hitting water face-first Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to MPD, one of the drivers, a Modesto man, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Everyone involved in the crash remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Police do not suspect drugs or alcohol to be a factor in the crash. It appears to be medical related. No other injuries were reported. The roadway was closed for several hours before it reopened. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has additional information can contact Officer Cross at CrossT@Modestopd.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 FOX40 News. A man was in jail Sunday after it was alleged he drove a vehicle into a post office in San Jose, California, early in the morning, sparking a blaze that damaged the location, police said. No injuries were reported in the 2:30 a.m. blaze, but the fire damaged the post office building, particularly the front part where the vehicle entered, San Jose Fire Battalion Chief Josh Staley said. The fire was knocked down 90 minutes after it was reported, he said, but not before it most likely burned some mail. Staley described it as a two-alarm fire that drew three city fire battalions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vehicle and the collision apparently sparked the blaze, Staley said. The driver was later identified as Richard Tillman, 44, of San Jose, according to San Jose police. The charred frame of a car that was driven in to a U.S. Post Office in San Jose. (AIOFILMZ ) He was jailed based on an allegation of arson and was being held Sunday afternoon, according to police and jail records. He was due in court Wednesday. Video showed the vehicle with its backside into the structure. This photo provided by the San Jose Fire Department shows firefighters responding to a fire burning after a car crashed into a Post Office, early Sunday, July 20, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (San Jose Fire Department via AP) (AP) Though investigators believe the collision was deliberate, motive was unknown and still being investigated, police said in a statement. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the lead agency investigating the incident, San Jose police said. It did not immediately respond to a request seeking more information. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Multiple El Paso County schools will benefit from this years round of grant awards from the Colorado Department of Educations annual Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program. School districts Harrison D-2, Widefield D-3 and Peyton School District 23-JT, along with the charter Mountain Song Community School, are among the 14 recipients for the state grant aimed at addressing decaying public school infrastructure. The funding comes after the Colorado Board of Education approved $179 million for the awards during its regular meeting Jun. 11. BEST grants are intended to improve health, safety, security and technology in public schools across all Colorado school districts, BOCES, charter schools, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. Every student in Colorado deserves to learn in a safe, well-maintained school, said Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Cordova. BEST grants make that possible by funding essential upgrades like new roofs, asbestos abatement, and improved security systems especially in communities that couldnt take on these costly projects alone. This funding comes from a combination of income earned from the Colorado State Land Board, marijuana excise taxes, spillover from the Colorado Lottery and interest earned. Winning applicants will be expected to contribute approximately $55.2 million in matching funds, representing $234 million in total project costs. Some projects, like Widefield D-3s, are contingent upon the approval of bond elections by voters living within school district boundaries. In the event that any awardee fails to secure their matching funds, a list of backup projects may receive the state funding instead. In El Paso County, this list includes the Jenkins Middle School repairs and Palmer High School renovations in Colorado Springs D-11, a K-8 renovation and addition for the Colorado Springs Charter Academy, and HVAC upgrades in D-3. Featured Local Savings If the D-3 bond passes, over $16 million will be allocated for health and safety upgrades for its North Preschool. Specifically, the funding would be used for asbestos removal, necessary improvements required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and termite mitigation to protect building integrity. In 2021, termites were discovered within the building, causing significant damage to doors, walls, and casework, the application read. Despite spending over $110,000 on professional termite mitigation efforts, the problem persists, with new instances of termite activity still occurring. At the Mountain Song Community School, which was determined to be second in terms of greatest need across the state, just under $4 million will go towards a renovation and addition to its current facility, built in 1901. Because of the buildings age, the school lacks many of the modern-day health and safety requirements found in public schools. This includes insufficient special education classrooms, no elevator for its three stories and no cafeteria or kitchen. Without a kitchen and cafeteria, or a safe way to store and transport food, the school has no sustainable way of providing essential healthy meals to its students, nearly half of whom experience food insecurity, the school wrote in its application. Mountain Song was previously awarded BEST grant funding for the 2023-24 school year, but was unable to address all needs outlined in that application due to unforeseen conditions and cost escalation. The school plans to match this years grant funding through its own financing and additional gifts, grants and donations. D-2 is slated to allocate over $2.7 million to replace the rooftops at Giberson Elementary, Panorama Middle School and Sierra High School. The state money received will be matched by capital reserve dollars, according to the districts plan. In Peyton, over $1 million will be used to replace the 20-year-old roof of the Junior-Senior High School. Matching funds will come from the districts capital reserve. Since 2008, BEST grants have awarded over $4 billion for school improvement projects in almost every district in the state. Of these grants, approximately $2 billion were awarded to small rural districts with under 1,000 students, $1 billion to urban districts, and nearly $1 billion to rural school districts. (FOX40.COM) A man was shot multiple times in front of a residence, making this the second homicide in Citrus Heights this year, according to the Citrus Heights Police Department. Video above: How to report a public safety threat According to CHPD, on July 19, officers responded to the 6500 block of Thalia Way for reports of a man being shot multiple times outside of a home. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who was lying on the ground with injuries consistent with the initial report. CHPD stated that the officer moved the victim away from the residence to start the life-saving procedure. However, regardless of the efforts, the man was pronounced dead by the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews from the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office and the Folsom Police Department responded to the scene to help in a thorough search of the surrounding area to find the suspect, CHPD said. Search and rescue crews from California sent to Texas to help with flooding impacts Police were actively reviewing evidence and conducting interviews with two residents being searched, and investigators collected evidence from the location, officials stated. Later, CHPD identified the suspect as Victor Bubliyenko, 55, of Citrus Heights, and preliminary information showed that he and the victim knew each other, officials said. At this time, the name of the victim is being withheld and will be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office after the next of kin have been notified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 1 p.m., on Sunday, CHPD stated that they found Bubliyenko in the area of San Juan and Sunset Avenue, where he was taken into custody with an incident. Although he is the only suspect in this case, the case remains open and under active investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, CHPD is asking the public to contact the Citrus Heights Police Departments crime Tip Line at 916-727-5524. The Citrus Heights Police Department would like to thank the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office as well as the Folsom Police Department for their assistance with this incident, CHPD 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 FOX40 News. A man bleeding from stab wounds to his chest managed to flag down an ambulance in Brooklyn early Sunday, but died shortly after his arrival at the hospital, police said. The wounded man managed to hail a passing ambulance near Stanley and Louisiana Avenues in Canarsie around 1:20 a.m., cops said. EMTs rushed him to Brookdale University Hospital in critical condition, where he died after arriving, according to a police source. The mans identity was not immediately released. He was unable to tell police officers what happened before he became unconscious, the source said. There were no immediate arrests in the case as police continued an investigation. A body was pulled from a Kansas City, Kansas, lake Sunday morning. The Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office were called to Big Eleven Lake, located near North 11th Street and Washington Boulevard, around 10 a.m. on reports of an unresponsive man in the lake, according to Michael Kroening, spokesperson for the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office. Firefighters with the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department helped remove the man from the lake. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim is a Black man who appears to be in his 50s, according to Kroening. Officials did not say how long the man was believed to have been in the lake, nor did they release his name. A man who had been missing since October 2024 has been found, according to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office. ALSO READ: Missing teen found in High Point, 1 man charged Last week, authorities were seeking public assistance to help locate Ruben Hill Farmer. Farmer, who hadnt been seen since last year, was officially reported missing on July 14. On July 24, deputies announced that Farmer had been found and was safe. VIDEO: Missing Pennsylvania teen found in High Point WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A man who was the victim of a stabbing in D.C. transported himself to the hospital late afternoon to early evening on Sunday, police said. MARC trains delayed at Union Station following switch issues Shortly after 4:50 p.m., on July 20, D.C. officers responded to the report of a stabbing in the 1200 block of Pecan St., Southeast. A man had self-transported himself to an area hospital where officers found him with non-life-threatening stab wounds. The victim reported being robbed between 1-1.5 hours prior when he met with the two suspects, according to a police report. The two individuals then robbed him of his cellphone and other items including his credit cards and work badge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the police report, the actual offense occurred in the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE. Police are searching for two suspects. The first one is described as being 6 feet tall, 150 pounds, with dreadlocks, and wearing a long black sleeve Under Armour shirt, blue jeans, and black and white sneakers. The second suspect is described as being approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with short, tapered hair, wearing a black sweatsuit and black sneakers. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A Girard man was sentenced last week in connection with an altercation involving a police officer. Read next: Trumbull County judge charged with DUI and felony gun offense James Leopardi, 38, was sentenced to three years of community control after pleading guilty to an amended charge of obstructing official business. Leopardi was charged in January after police said he tried to headbutt an officer at a local Giant Eagle after store employees called police, saying Leopardi became belligerent and threatening over the sale of tea and the limited number of teas that customers were allowed to purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police told Leopardi that he was under arrest, reports said Leopardi tried to headbutt the officer. Leopardi was taken to the ground and arrested, according to the 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 WKBN.com. EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (WKBN) A man who pleaded guilty in connection to a fatal shooting in East Liverpool has now received his punishment. Read next: Pregnant woman dead after hit by car in East Liverpool: Police On Monday morning, Allen Tisdale received his sentence after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the death of Brycen Douglas in July of 2021. Allen received a minimum 10-year sentence with a maximum of 15 years for both crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes from the state recommendation after Allen testified in the trial of his cousin, Elvin Tisdale, last month. Prosecutors say Allen provided crucial details in that testimony that the court did not have previously. He was able to kind of give us a first-person narrative of what happened that night, where they went, how the plan kind of developed. He was able to provide details that corroborated all the other evidence we had, said Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone. The family of Brycen Douglas said in court that they thanked God for Allens decision to testify in the case. In jail or whenever you get out of jail, you will have to develop that relationship to keep your own safety. So for the next 10 years or whatever you leave with here today, keep doing what youre doing, said Shauna Desenze, Douglas aunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They lost a family member to a violent act. And he was innocent in every way possible, and they prayed for you. Just think about that, said Judge Megan Bickerton. As a part of Tisdales plea deal, he also agreed to testify in any future cases related to the death of Douglas, which prosecutors hope will open the case even further. There were also other individuals that we believe are involved in his testimony we hope will help us open those investigations further those investigations and hopefully get a few more indictments on this case, Yacovone 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 WKBN.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man has pleaded guilty to his role in the death of a 19-year-old pregnant woman last year in southwest Columbus and will be sentenced to prison for decades. Devon Blair, 24, pleaded guilty Monday in Franklin County common pleas court to two counts of both involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault and one to strangulation or suffocation in the deaths of Brooke Devinney and her unborn child, according to court records. His pleading guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charges caused his murder charge to drop in exchange. He faces at least 46 years in prison and a maximum of 51 and a half years for the five charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 16, 2024 at 7:30 a.m., a text was received by 911 dispatchers about a domestic violence attack near the 4600 block of Parkwick Drive in the Riverbend area of Columbus. When officers got to the scene, they found Devinney in the home. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead at 8:45 a.m. Devinneys unborn child was also pronounced dead four minutes later. She was 14 weeks into her pregnancy, according to a prosecuting attorney at Blairs arraignment last year. Man found dead in Olentangy River near downtown Columbus had gunshot wound Blair reportedly fled the scene and evaded capture, but was arrested near the intersection of Cottrell Drive and Cottrell Court in the Georgian Heights neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just four days prior to Devinneys death, Blair was arrested on charges of assault, aggravated menacing and two counts of domestic violence when police said Devinney approached an officer in the 4200 block of Climb Road. She told police she was assaulted in her vehicle by Blair on June 12, 2024 at a traffic signal on the I-270 exit ramp at Georgesville Road. Blair pleaded guilty to one domestic violence charge and one assault charge on May 16, 2024, which he was sentenced to two years in prison for those charges on Monday. If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence, visit LSS Choices or call 614-224-4663 (HOME), or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text BEGIN to 88788, or 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. A wanted man was shot and killed in the town of Winkelman by deputies with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff's Office said. Deputies located a person wanted in connection with an investigation into sex crimes against children, according to a Facebook post. At about 10 p.m. on July 18, deputies located the suspect, identified only as a 60-year-old man, in a house near Highway 77 and Second Street. The man refused deputies' commands before he revealed a handgun and put a round in the chamber, the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man "took an offensive position towards deputies, resulting in a deputy-involved shooting," according to the post. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. The man's next of kin had not yet been identified as of July 18, resulting in his name being withheld. Deputies did not comment on how exactly the shooting occurred, including whether the man ever fired his gun. A sergeant who fired his duty weapon during the incident was placed on paid administrative leave per standard procedures, the post said. "This remains an active investigation. Additional information will be released when available," the Sheriff's Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winkelman is about 1 hour and 20 minutes southeast of Phoenix and 40 minutes south of Globe. Rey Covarrubias Jr. reports breaking news for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@gannett.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man accused of child sex crimes killed by deputy in Pinal County MISSOURI After the Trump administration passed the One Big Beautiful Bill in early July, many Missourians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are bracing for the legislations cuts to SNAP. The bill plans to slash over $186 billion over the next ten years while expanding work requirements for recipients to receive SNAP benefits. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around 10.5 percent of the Missouri population, or 654,108 people, rely on SNAP as of March for food assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tonia Haddix found to be hiding another chimp Prior to the enactment of the bill, U.S. citizens and certain legal non-citizens were eligible for the food assistance program, but that list of qualified recipients has been shortened and will not include groups such as refugees and asylum seekers that were previously eligible. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, or CBPP, those at risk of losing SNAP will also include adults between ages 55 and 64 with no children and no disability as well as adults between ages 18 and 64 with school-aged children and no disability. The CBPP reports that more than 150,000 of Missouris SNAP recipients could face reduced benefits due to the expanded work requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only will those who rely on SNAP benefits be impacted, but also those who rely on the program for employment. The National Grocers Association reports that SNAP is responsible for over 7,000 jobs across Missouri in industries such as grocery and agriculture. Over in Illinois, affiliate station WGN said that of the 1.8 million residents who rely on SNAP, 360,000 of those individuals are at risk of losing coverage in the state. The National Grocers Association says SNAP also supports more than 18,000 jobs in Illinois, including farmers. Note: Video above is dated Jul. 11 from affiliate station WGN Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) Family, friends and longtime customers gathered to celebrate a baking matriarch Sunday as Marges Donut Den marked 50 years of business on 28th Street. Marge Wilsons family organized the party and sent out invites on social media less than a week ago, and received 350 responses ahead of Sundays party at Abundant Life Church. Wilson herself was in attendance taking it all in. News 8 asked her what it takes to keep a small business running for so long. Marge of Marges Donut Den in Wyoming. (July 20, 2025) First of all, God and faith. If you dont have that, I dont see how you can do anything, Wilson, founder of Marges Donut Den, said. Other than that, its just good quality, doing what you say you are going to do, and try to make people happy. Its that easy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundays party ran for four hours with a band, inflatable attractions for kids, food, decades worth of pictures and memories, and of course, donuts. The bakery made more than 600 for the event and planned to donate the leftovers. There werent many by the end. I realize how much they love me to do all this, Marge said of her family members who organized the celebration. And the people that came from Montague and Fremont that they would care so much thats a blessing. Marges influence, though, goes far beyond wedding cakes and donut bakes. In 2012 she met a Nigerian priest, Peter Omogo, whose home community was in desperate need of water. She was inspired to do more, as we learned from her proud family members. Just hearing all the stories of what is going on in Nigeria for the quality of water and lack of water, they are walking miles just to get filthy water, grandson Nick Pilczuk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marge became the co-founder of the Samuel Omogo Foundation, named for the late brother of Rev. Peter Omogo. Since they founded the SOF, they have drilled more than 550 wells in Southeastern Nigeria. Marge told News 8 Sunday that she was inspired to begin the work after she saw a video of a woman in Nigeria making the sign of the cross as she collected a vessel of clean water. Marge reflected that she had never had to pray for water at home in West Michigan. Now, more than 100,000 people have had that prayer answered by SOF wells, in major part due to a donation jar on the counter of Marges Donut Den. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The city of Maricopa is looking to increase salaries for its full-time city employees, most of whom are currently paid Californias minimum wage, according to the Maricopa City Council agenda. The agenda said the city employs six people in total, four of them being full-time employees. Three of the four full-time employees are currently being paid $16.50 per hour, which is the state minimum wage. The current minimum wage for fast food workers here in California is $20 per hour which is considerably more than most city employee salaries, the agenda said. Council should consider the feasibility of modifying the current employee wage structure with the goal of paying city workers a salary that is at least somewhat competitive with other city employees in Kern County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flood Ministries hosts vigil in downtown Bakersfield for victims of Texas floods Competitive or comparable wages are wage rates within 8% of the median rate for comparable job titles and positions in comparable municipalities, the agenda said. The current and new proposed hourly rates for the four permanent city positions for the fiscal years 2025-2027, starting the first payroll period after July 1, are as follows, according to the agenda: Accounts Clerk: Currently $16.50, proposed increase to $22.89 Assistant to City Administrator: Currently $24.86, proposed increase to $26.10 Code Enforcement Officer: Currently $25, proposed increase to $26.25 Maintenance Worker (2): Currently $16.50, proposed increase to $22.59 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maricopa is the city with the smallest population in Kern County. The citys population was 1,024 last year, according to the State Controllers Office, the city with the next largest population being Taft with 7,087 residents. Similar positions as Maricopas accounts clerk found in the cities of Arvin, McFarland, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco received between $18.65 and $25.50 per hour, with the average hourly rate for those jobs being $22.92, the agenda found. Employees comparable to the maintenance worker position in Maricopa, also among the six cities above, had an average hourly rate of $20.16. However, the maintenance employee in McFarland received $16.87 per hour and the employee in Taft received $16.02 per hour, according to the agenda. Shafter paid its maintenance worker the highest, the agenda said. A service crew member in the city of Shafter had an hourly rate of $24.61. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage According to the agenda, the city of Maricopa is also required by law to develop a position classification plan. The agenda said the Maricopa City Council may have adopted such a plan in 1989, but they couldnt find a copy of it in the city files. The position descriptions in a classification plan should include the duties, skills, qualifications and hiring criteria without being specific toward an individual who may fill that role, the agenda said. The city of Maricopa is expected to adopt a classification plan with the positions descriptions, as well as an employee compensation plan, at its city council meeting on Tuesday. 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. WARREN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Marilyn D. Pease, 81 of Warren, joined her loved ones in heaven on Wednesday morning, July 16, 2025. Born on February 15, 1944, in Warren, Ohio, Marilyn was the daughter of Frank and Caroline (Ravoira) Derville and remained a lifelong resident of the area. Find obituaries from your high school She was a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. Marilyn went on to dedicate over 35 years of service to Packard Electric, all while managing the joys and challenges of being a mom to her four children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marilyn was proud of her Italian heritage and will be lovingly remembered for her warm heart, sense of humor, and her unwavering faith in God. She instilled hard work, persistence, and dedication in her children. Her journey on earth was filled with generosity, kindness towards others, and forgiveness. She had a heart that gave without asking, listened without judging, and loved without condition. Always quiet and reserved because she was always far more concerned with the needs of others. She carried burdens in silence, never wanting to worry anyone, and was full of happiness in knowing that those around her were cared for. She found joy in lifes simple pleasuresspending time with her family, tending to her yard, and playing cards with her children and grandchildren. A devoted mother and grandmother, Marilyn cherished every moment spent with her loved ones. She was of the Catholic faith and lived her life with love, strength, and grace. Her passing has left a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and those whose lives were touched by her. She leaves behind her three children, Kim (Tom) Creamer, Dave Parilla, and Niki (Steve) Vardavas; seven grandchildren, Tommy, Alyssa, and Anthony Creamer, Kaytlin Parilla, and Nicholas, Madison, and Leah Vardavas; a brother, Frank Donald (Terry) Derville; her beloved grand-dogs, Bella and Roscoe; her son-in-law, Bill Hionas; as well as nieces, cousins, and dear friends. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 28 years, Jerry Pease; and her daughter, Kerry Hionas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family and friends may call on Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 10:00 10:55 a.m., at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel, 1884 North Road NE, Warren. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Marilyn will be laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery in Vienna. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marilyns name to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, 5021 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to send condolences to Marilyns family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marilyn D. (Derville) Pease, please visit our floral store. A television tribute will air Tuesday, July 22 at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 investigation into an explosion that killed three Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department bomb squad technicians at a training facility expanded to a second location Tuesday in Marina del Rey. Investigators, seeking to track the origins of grenades believed to have caused last week's deadly blast, conducted a search in the 4200 block of Via Marina. Footage from news helicopters showed a law enforcement robot being used to search a group of storage units in an alley behind the Shores apartment complex, as ABC7 reported. The action followed a search Monday of a boat at the marina. Witnesses said more than a dozen police cars swarmed the 13900 block of Marquesas Way on Monday morning, with officers interviewing boat owners and evacuating people from the dock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not immediately clear by the afternoon whether authorities had found anything on the boat. The grenades were found last week inside a Santa Monica apartment complex storage area and transported to East L.A., where the explosion occurred Friday morning. The blast was the single deadliest incident for the department in more than 150 years, killing department veterans Dets. Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn. "While the pain of this loss will always be felt, we hope our efforts provide the answers a tragedy like this demands," said Kenneth R. Cooper, special agent in charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadly explosion started as a routine call with the Sheriff's Department's bomb squad members responding to a Santa Monica apartment complex after a resident found grenades, apparently left by a previous tenant, tucked away in their storage unit. The explosives, described by law enforcement sources as military-grade hand grenades and fuses, were taken from the complex in the 800 block of Bay Street on Thursday night and moved to the Biscailuz Center Training Academy, photographed and stored. The bomb squad at the time believed that at least some of the grenades were inert and that the technicians had taken an X-ray or scan of some of the ordnance and cut into at least one before it detonated. It's unclear how those explosives ended up inside the garage storage unit in the first place, who left them there and what caused one to detonate as the technicians moved it. Those are just a few of the questions officials are trying to answer as they try to piece together what led to the deadly blast. Justin Kelley, who spent decades with the Connecticut State Police Department serving as commanding officer of the unit that included the bomb squad, said the age of these types of devices can range from World War I-era to present day and are extremely common. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes grenades are brought back from overseas by military members or unknowingly accepted as souvenirs. Some people also buy the grenade shells and attempt to make them live again, he said. "A lot of it comes back from people who have served who have been in the war and brought something back with them," said Kelley, who is now the vice president of global operations for Allied Universal Enhanced Protection Services. "We would probably handle one or two a week throughout the course of a year. But the thing you have to realize is unexploded ordnance still has lethality to it so you must handle it as if it was present day manufactured and live." Although the investigation into Friday's incident is being led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's homicide unit, the ATF is assisting. The federal agency deployed its national response team a group of investigators who reconstruct scenes, identify the point of detonation of an explosive device and can help determine the cause of the blast. Authorities said it was too early in the investigation to determine whether the transportation or handling of the explosives was according to department protocol and emphasized that the inquiry could take weeks or months to complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, bomb technicians responding to a call about an explosive device will X-ray the materiel to determine whether it has been improvised, experts say. "You can't have the assumption that it basically came from the manufacturer's shelf and just ended up in someone's closet. You have to go into it under the premise that maybe something has been done to this," Kelley said. "If it was improvised you're going to take care of that right then and there. You're not going to attempt to move it." Sometimes, technicians will render the device safe at the scene. But in many cases, the grenade is moved out of a location either by a person or remotely and the spoon (the safety pin or lever) is taped down so that it won't move during transport and enable it to detonate. Then the device is placed in a total containment vessel and moved to an area where it can be safety detonated, Kelley said. "With three people there I'm sure they all agreed to what they were going to do," he said. "Sometimes you can take the best steps the most well-intentioned steps and tragedy like this still occurs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear why the device was brought back to the Biscailuz Center Training Academy. Barry Black, a former FBI bomb technician, said that working with improvised explosive devices is "inherently dangerous" and that bomb technicians are trained to understand that "even the best resolution can still result in what we call a high-order detonation." Black, who responded to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, said investigators will treat this like other post-blast scenes and try to build a timeline of what happened before and during the explosion. If there is a witness who was near enough to know what happened, they will be vital to the investigation, he said. Black said there probably is detailed documentation of the recovered items that investigators will use as part of the inquiry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The big question is what happened at the moment of detonation," he said, adding that investigators will examine the footprint of the detonation and the fragmentation pattern to help answer that question. Residents living near the Santa Monica apartment building were still trying to make sense of the police activity that consumed their quiet neighborhood over the weekend. The building where the devices were found is unassuming, modern and secured by a gate separated from the rest of the neighborhood by a thin strip of shrubbery and trees. On Monday, small remnants of caution tape scattered around were the only evidence remaining of the investigation. Over the weekend, multiple law enforcement agencies swarmed the neighborhood, telling residents to evacuate and blocking streets from public access as they scoured the apartment complex for evidence of additional explosives. The situation left some residents uneasy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As someone who lives here, when you're coming back from the beach and your street is blocked off, and they said 'You can't get into your home, and we can't tell you why,' its just something that's never happened here, resident Chase McDonald 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. When researcher James Sladden traveled to Ukraine in August 2022 to document the Battle of Irpin River a Ukrainian victory early in the war with Russia that had taken place just months before he was shocked, first of all, by the scale of the destruction inflicted by heavy artillery. A former RAND Corporation researcher and veteran of the British military, he remarked at how different this conventional conflict looked from the insurgent wars of recent decades that had long shaped perspectives on how to fight. Big war, conventional war, was, for at least my generation, seen as sort of consigned to the history books, Sladden said. Tanks, trenches, artillery, were, you know, stuff the Cold War lot talked about, but it wasnt really relevant to what we were doing operationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also impressed by a paradox: Though Russias war of aggression against Ukraine is perhaps historys most globally documented war, with the world following along in near-real time on the internet, the records and firsthand accounting of the battles were rapidly disappearing. Data and imagery captured on phones and laptops risked being destroyed; WhatsApp and Signal messages containing battle orders and communications disappeared into the ether. Theres very little on paper, Sladden said. In 30, 40, 50 years, when historians really start to do the first big histories of this war, I dont know what theyre going to have available to them. Because so much is already lost, even within three years. Capturing these lessons across battles and wars in a single repository is the purpose behind the Battle Research Group, a nonprofit launched earlier this year by Ben Connable, a retired Marine Corps major and veteran of numerous defense think tanks, including RAND and the Atlantic Council. Through studies like the independent report on the Battle of Irpin River, led by Sladden, who is the organizations field research director, the Battle Research Group aims to capture insights from contemporary and past battles and make them available to scholars and warfighters. To this end, group leaders have also created the Ground Combat Database, a searchable repository of combined arms battles that has 600 entries and counting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connable said the impetus for creating the Battle Research Group came from his time at RAND, when he and colleagues realized the practice of documenting war that had persisted through the 20th century seemed to be a fading art. They became kind of increasingly frustrated that we were not putting a lot of time and effort into understanding the wars that were happening, and that was in Syria, in Iraq, and then, the early days in Ukraine, Connable said. There just were not people out on the battlefield examining things the way that we used to do and we were losing real opportunities to learn from modern warfare, and we were just kind of drawing a lot of assumptions based on second- and third-order information, not primary sources. The Irpin River battle study, published in 2024 in the British Army Review after two visits to Ukraine, proved wildly popular. Its first printing was entirely distributed, Connable said, and another print run is underway. Its been taught as professional military education by at least one U.S. Army corps, he said, and the material is now informing a tabletop exercise that will be employed by multiple military colleges. A residential building in Irpin, Ukraine, destroyed amid the Russian invasion. (Getty) It just highlighted this gap in the way in particular that Americans approach modern military history, Connable said. Were in more of a receive mode than a gather mode. Were just kind of inundated with this gigantic fire hose wave of information every day. And I think weve all convinced ourselves that ... that constitutes knowledge, and it very much does not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going deep on firsthand accounts and battlefield lessons learned and comparing case studies has convinced Connable that U.S. policy has seized on elements of findings from Ukraine without considering complete context and proportion. He believes, for example, that efforts by all the services to make drones a forefront component of warfighting are based on a kaleidoscopic exaggeration of their success on the battlefield in Ukraine. All the traditional functions and elements of warfighting can still be relevant: infantry, armor, artillery, manned aircraft, all the things that weve come to know. And drones can be useful and important simultaneously. So its not about one or the other, Connable said. Its about moderating change and not into a complete transformation of our military based on a very narrow and ahistorical perspective. As the Battle Research Group continues to conduct independent battle studies, its leaders will continue to add to and improve the ground combat database, Connable said. Its currently accessible via an online spreadsheet and available in an unlocked version on request. He said hed like to move backward in history, adding battle studies from as far back as World War II and building in more insights from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Future field studies may take members of the group to places like the Philippines, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka and anywhere else we can reasonably get access to, Connable said. One of the main objectives here is to ensure that we give people the information they need to understand war in global context, he said, not just in a narrow context, near narrow geographic and time-bound concepts. By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Pentagon announced on Monday it was ending its deployment of some 700 active-duty Marines sent to Los Angeles last month to protect federal property and personnel during a spate of protests tied to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. The withdrawal follows last week's decision to remove about half of the 4,000 National Guard troops also sent to Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: Lawlessness will not be tolerated," said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. Trump deployed the Marines and California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June, against the wishes of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, to quell protests triggered by immigration raids on workplaces by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Despite legal challenges, a U.S. appeals court let Trump retain control of California's National Guard. Trump's decision to send troops into Los Angeles prompted a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil and inflamed political tension in the country's second-most-populous city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon has defended the deployment, saying that safeguarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents ensures they can do their jobs, and praised the Marines on Monday. "Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law," Parnell said. Trump has vowed to deport millions of people in the country illegally and has executed raids at work sites including farms that had been largely exempted from enforcement during his first term. The administration has faced dozens of lawsuits across the country challenging its tactics. Trump has increasingly turned to the military in his immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to sending troops to Los Angeles, thousands of active-duty troops have been deployed to the border with Mexico, and the Pentagon has created military zones in the border area. The zones are intended to allow the Trump administration to use troops to detain migrants without invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act that empowers a president to deploy the U.S. military to suppress events such as civil disorder. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Leslie Adler) Roughly 700 Marines sent to the Los Angeles area have been released from that duty, six weeks after Marines were first ordered to the city, the Department of Defense said Monday. Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the Marines currently deployed to Los Angeles would be returning home, adding that Were deeply grateful for their service, and for the strength and professionalism they brought to this mission. The decision effectively ends the Marine Corps involvement in Task Force 51, the organization set up by U.S. Northern Command to oversee the militarys mission in Los Angeles. On July 1, the 700 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division that were originally ordered to the Los Angeles area rotated out. They were replaced with 400 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, a spokesperson for NORTHCOM told Task & Purpose at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes a week after the Pentagon released 2,000 members of the California National Guards 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which followed the release of 150 Guardsmen on July 1, to assist in state firefighting efforts. President Donald Trump ordered members of the California National Guard to be federalized on June 7 under Title 10 of the U.S. Code in response to protests in Los Angeles against immigration raids carried out by the Department of Homeland Security. About 4,100 California National Guard soldiers from the 79th Infantry BCT and the 49th Military Police Brigade were placed under the command of Task Force 51. Their mission was, officially, to protect federal personnel and buildings, but not to take part in law enforcement. Marines were first ordered to mobilize to Los Angeles on June 9. Pentagon officials claimed the Marines were needed immediately while the National Guard filed in. However, most spent several days outside of Los Angeles as the units trained on crowd control techniques before eventually moving into Los Angeles. While some National Guard soldiers have accompanied Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol agents on immigration raids around Los Angeles and the greater Southern California area, Marines have stayed at federal buildings. Top Stories This Week News Army bids farewell to laundry specialists Army bids farewell to laundry specialists By Patty Nieberg News The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks By Matt White News Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate generals dad Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate generals dad By Matt White Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their six weeks in the Los Angeles area, the Marines have largely avoided both police actions and publicity. In the operations early days, Marines briefly detained an Army veteran after he briefly entered the grounds of the Wilshire federal building on his way to an appointment on the nearby Veteran Affairs campus. Roughly 2,000 National Guard troops remain in the Los Angeles area under Task Force 51. More than a month after President Trump made the fiercely contentious decision to send about 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, those troops will begin withdrawing from the city, Pentagon officials said Monday. The decision comes a week after the Pentagon announced that half of the almost 4,000 National Guard troops deployed to the Los Angeles area would be released from duty. The Marines and National Guard were sent to the city in early June amid widespread federal immigration raids and fiery protests against the enforcement actions, with the Trump administration vowing to crack down on rioters, looters and thugs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the president contended that he had saved Los Angeles, local and state officials denounced the extraordinary deployment of military troops to the streets of an American city. Advocates and California politicians also argued that the heavy-handed spectacle would be incendiary, potentially putting both the troops and protesters at risk. Read more: National Guard came to L.A. to fight unrest. Troops ended up fighting boredom The sometimes volatile protests that erupted in downtown Los Angeles and other parts of the region in mid-June have long since wound down. Some troops are tasked with guarding federal buildings, and some have accompanied immigration agents on tense enforcement actions. In recent days, they have been largely fighting tedium, without much to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on behalf of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell credited the troops with helping to bring calm to the area. With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated, Parnell said in a statement Monday. Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law. Were deeply grateful for their service, and for the strength and professionalism they brought to this mission. A Defense Department official publicly estimated last month that the National Guard and Marine deployment in Los Angeles would cost about $134 million. News of the Marines' withdrawal, which was first reported by the New York Times, broke minutes after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass finished a Monday morning public appearance with veterans' groups, where she decried the "inappropriate" presence of military forces on L.A. streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is another win for Los Angeles. As we said this morning the way to best support our troops is to have them do what they enlisted to do, not to protect two office buildings," Bass said in response to the withdrawal. The raids have sown panic in immigrant communities across the Los Angeles region and become a flashpoint of division for the Trump administration. Transit ridership in Los Angeles has plummeted, formerly bustling neighborhood spots are routinely empty and many undocumented Angelenos are skipping standard healthcare visits. Read more: Trump officials vow to intensify immigration raids despite legal challenges, bad polls, public backlash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pervasive chilling effect in a so-called sanctuary city may be part of the Trump administration's goal. But recent polling suggests the immigration raids are increasingly unpopular with the public. According to data released last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the majority of people arrested do not have criminal convictions. Nearly half of those caught up in the sweeps are Mexican nationals, and many have deep ties to the U.S. The administration has also battled escalating legal challenges targeting the raids. In mid-July, a federal judge issued a scorching rebuke, temporarily blocking federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate arrests. Last week, the administration asked a federal appeals court to stay the judge's order, which would allow immigration agents to resume unfettered raids. The appeals court will take up the stay next Monday and could rule on it by the end of the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ysabel Jurado, a progressive member of the Los Angeles City Council whose district includes the downtown area, cheered the administration's decision to withdraw the Marines from Los Angeles. "The #SummerofResistance is working. Our federal occupation may be coming to an end here in LA but the fight against authoritarianism is far from over," Jurado said on X, before positing that the Marines "werent here to quell civil unrest, they were called to incite it." Gov. Gavin Newsom has also contended that the president purposefully "inflamed a combustible situation." Read more: California sues Trump over 'unlawful, unprecedented' National Guard deployment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles," Newsom said in a statement Monday. "The damage is done, however. We, again, call upon them to do the right thing and end the militarization once and for all. Newsom and California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta previously sued over Trump's mobilization of National Guard forces to Los Angeles, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the president had broad authority to deploy the military in American cities. Next month, a federal judge in San Francisco is expected to decide whether federalized troops violated federal law while deployed. Roughly 2,000 National Guard troops remain in the region, according to U.S. Northern Command. Times staff writers Sonja Sharp and Brittny Mejia contributed to this report. 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. Hundreds of U.S. Marines sent to Los Angeles amid immigration raids and protests are going home. The Pentagon confirmed Monday that the 700 Marines will be sent home after several weeks in Southern California. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had criticized the presence of the Marines and about 4,000 members of the California National Guard as a waste of taxpayer money, again calling for their withdrawal in a press conference Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several hours later, it appears she got her wish, as the Marines are leaving and half of the National Guard members were said to be heading home in a previous announcement. This is a victory. We have many more victories to go, because we need all of these raids to end, Bass said in a video posted to social media. The troops had largely been idle since their arrival in June with a mission to protect federal buildings. One Marine told the Los Angeles Times theres not much to do. The New York Times spoke with National Guard officials, who said that only about 400 of the 3,882 deployed Guard members had actually been sent on assignments away from the base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After these departures, an 1,892-member brigade of military police remains, the N.Y. Times added. Bass said she hopes to see the remaining National Guard members be defederalized. There are natural disasters across the State and nation, where their skills and service are urgently needed, she said. That is where they belong. Gov. Gavin Newsom also called for all troops to be pulled out of L.A. The women and men of the California National Guard deserve more than to continue serving as puppets in Trump and Stephen Millers performative political theater, he said in a statement. There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles. The damage is done, however. We, again, call upon them to do the right thing and end the militarization once and for all. 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. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday urged President Donald Trump to release more Epstein files, lest his base turn against him. The Georgia lawmaker wrote on X that Trump, having entertained a number of conspiracy theories (to which she, of course, also subscribes), must now either deliver on them or face his supporters wrath. If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People, Greene wrote. If not. The base will turn and theres no going back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies, she continued. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else. Greenes threat comes as Trump is still attempting to pacify supporters who are disillusioned with his handling of the case of deceased financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this month, Trumps Justice Department and FBI displeased his base with a memo deflating Epstein-related conspiracy theories previously elevated by the presidents team (despite Trumps own storied past with the disgraced financier). Trump has since disowned his supporters who remain interested in Epstein, calling them weaklings and claiming that this MAGA cause celebre was actually a Democratic scam all along. On Saturday, the president, evidently realizing the controversy isnt going anywhere, announced that hed requested the release of grand jury testimony related to the case of United States v. Epstein (which, if granted, would only occur after lengthy legal processesand, even then, would fall short of manys hopes for the release of all Epstein-related DOJ files.) In announcing his request, Trump complained on Truth Social that nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request. It will always be more, more, more. The president appended the post with the exclamation MAGA!but for swathes of his supporters, including Greene, making America great again will require more transparency than he now seems willing to provide. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Mary A. Fox passed away at her residence Saturday, July 19, 2025. She was born on February 29, 1968, in Youngstown, the daughter of the late James E. and Nancy A. Johnston Fox and was a lifelong area resident. Find obituaries from your high school Mary attended St. Charles grade School and graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1986. She graduated from Youngstown State University in 1998 with a degree in Political Science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She worked at Oasis Music Store during her high school and college years, her job was very influential in her life. Mary also worked at the Wick Pollock Inn and for many years for Tom James Clothier. She was a lover of the Arts and Rock n Roll. She was always driven to speak up for those who couldnt and a real compassion for human condition and lover of pets. She was a vivacious personality, a fixture in local culture and a friend to many from early childhood to current day. Mary and her family were longtime parishioners of St. Charles Church and St. Dominic Church. Mary leaves to cherish her memory of her brothers, George E. Fox of Canfield and Timothy J. Fox of Boardman; her nieces, Emily (Cameron), Wright and Lynn (Mark) Klein and her great-nephews and niece, Benjamin, Nathan, Noah and Lily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her grandparents, Eward J. and Molly Fox and George and Anna Johnstown and sister-in-law, Terry Fox. Family and friends may call from 4:00 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Fox Funeral Home 4700 Market Street in Boardman and a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Avenue in Youngstown, celebrated by Rev. Frassati Davis. A private interment will take place at Calvary cemetery. The family would like material tributes to be given in Marys name to Animals Charity of Youngstown, 4140 Market Street, Boardman, OH 44512. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrangements have been entrusted to the Fox Funeral Home, 4700 Market Street in Boardman. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary A. Fox, please visit our floral store. A television tribute will air Tuesday, July 22 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:19 p.m. on WYTV and 6:37 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A former federal worker who lost his job at the Department of Education walks out of the building with boxes of belongings in March. (Photo by Jess Daninhirsch/Capital News Service) Marylands newest jobs report for June showed a decline of 8,500 total jobs, including a net loss of 2,900 jobs in the public sector, which pushed the states unemployment rate up slightly, from 3.2% in May to 3.3% in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A large part of the employment decline was the loss of 3,500 federal government jobs, Marylands largest single-month decrease in federal government jobs in almost three decades, the states labor department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maryland continues to invest in support resources to help residents who have been impacted by federal layoffs and other actions, the states labor department said in a news release. So far this year, the state has a net positive private sector gain of 5,200 jobs. But those are expected to be dragged down going forward by federal job losses. A recent report from the comptrollers office called the federal government the states economic engine and a driver of its employment growth, adding more than $150 billion to the states economy in the most recent year for which data was available, including $26.9 billion in income alone. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said that Maryland, despite being only the 18th largest state in terms of population, ranked third in the number of federal employees, behind only Virginia and Washington, D.C., with its estimated 229,000 federal workers. Those employees make up about 6% of the states total workforce and 10% of its wages, with an average salary of $126,468. In addition to active federal workers, the report said more than 150,000 people in Maryland receive retirement income, totaling about $8.8 billion each year. State officials for years have fretted about the heavy reliance of the states economy on federal spending, and those concerns have taken a sharper edge this year with the election of President Donald Trump and his promise to cut the size of the federal workforce. Gov. Wes Moore has vowed to diversify the state economy, and state lawmakers have appointed a special 26-member House and Senate committee to track the impact of federal spending on the state through the summer. Some early state projections anticipate as many as 29,000 workers could lose their jobs as Trump culls federal agencies and employees. The state in June launched a short-term loan program to help laid-off federal workers who might be having trouble paying their bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The uptick in unemployment comes as Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu is raising red flags about the continued solvency of the states unemployment fund. Wu recently told lawmakers that the states insurance trust fund of $2 billion currently meets federal solvency requirements, but that could change with an economic downturn or a spike in jobless numbers from what she called the current incredibly low unemployment rate. Even if anticipated economic downturns do not occur, Wu said the growing number of workers who are becoming eligible for the maximum weekly benefit is stressing the system to the point where the fund could fall below federal guidelines sometime between 2026 and 2027. As part of Maryland Matters content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from the all-news station. Click here for the WTOP News website. Steve Lavoie says he works for smiles. The Bristol native and current resident said hes been dishing out plenty of hamburgers, hot dogs, smoked meat and smiles since the grand opening of Steves Top Dog & Smokehouse, located at 18 Main Street in Terryville, on Monday. Lavoie has run a popular food truck in Bristol, Steves Top Dog, for the last two decades. Now, after a two-year process, he has his own brick and mortar location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavoie, 52, said he and his wife Val had a moment on Monday after the ribbon cutting and the first day in business. Shes like, Babe, I never thought Id like owning my own business, but she told me multiple times that Im very proud of you, Lavoie said. It brought tears to my eyes. Before that, I never let it sink in what had happened. The company website describes the food as authentic BBQ and French-Canadian comfort food. Lavoie said his business has attracted crowds in the first few days with waits as long as an hour for burgers, flatbreads, sandwiches, chicken, soups, salads, quesadillas, empanadas, wings and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavoie said he developed a passion for cooking as a 15-year-old when he prepared Thanksgiving dinner for himself. At one point my parents ended up going away for Thanksgiving. They had things they had to do because they were in charge of a Christian movement and I ended up staying home and making myself a whole turkey dinner, Lavoie said. And my first time ever making a turkey, I pretty much nailed it. It was like, holy cow, you know what I mean? So, I ate turkey dinner for the whole week, but I was so proud of that, and then I had just taken off from there having fun with food, always cooking. Throughout his 20s, Lavoie said his house was full of people and he would cook for friends and family. Before I went into the business, my house was always full, and I was always shoving food in their faces. You try this. You try that. Every weekend I was doing some sort of cooking. People would always be there because I loved to cook. Thats how my life was from my mid-20s to my early 30s, Lavoie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I always thought of opening my own restaurant, but it never seemed feasible, he added. Then 20 years ago Lavoie visited a food truck in Bristol and found out the owner was looking to sell. He asked his parents for a loan and before he knew it he was the owner and chef of Steves Top Dog in Bristol. The yellow food truck, which could be found parked on Middle Street at Stocks Playground, has been a staple in town ever since. The previous owner had eight menu items, and Lavoie said he wanted to offer more options. I consistently tried to keep my ear to the ground, listening to what people wanted is being down the road from factories. You got guys that are going to come by every day of the week. Its like, maybe they dont want to eat hot dogs or cheeseburgers every day. I add another piece to the menu and add one more and add one more, Lavoie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavoie said the COVID-19 pandemic hurt many businesses in the restaurant industry, but it propelled his food truck. He had a steady flow of socially distanced customers rolling in and customers would call in their orders. It kind of blew up because everybody was home, Lavoie said. So now everybody that never had an opportunity to try me because Im a lunch truck was home. Then we had people clearly waiting an hour, two hours for my fried food during COVID because I was the only mom and pop place in town. After people started returning to work, people told me I needed to open for dinner because they missed our food, he added. Lavoie said Bristol recently changed its rules for food trucks to have a commissary facility. Thats when he started thinking his own restaurant could be the next step. His food truck in Bristol will remain open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavoie said his father, now 80, helped him build the restaurant into working order at the 1,800-square-foot property that was previously the Lucky Cup restaurant. When I walked in, I had a vision of what I wanted, color schemes and things like that, Lavoie said. I knew this was doable. I thought I could make it here within five minutes walking into the door. Lavoie wanted a yellow color scheme throughout the restaurant interior and said hes gotten a great response from it. I think the yellow is inviting because it makes everything bright, Lavoie said. Starting July 26, the restaurant will serve smoked meats every Saturday. Its confined to one day because of the time commitment it takes to smoke the meats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill slice brisket. Ill be doing ribs. But those arent traditional things Im going to carry during the week, Lavoie said. Im doing it on that one day because, for the most part, I know I can be consistent, and I know itll be good that one day. When I start smoking meat for a big event. Lavoie said he previously did a monthly feature, Tailgating with Steve, with his food truck serving smoked meat, mac and cheese and pork and beans while parked at a brewery. The new restaurant currently 28 employees, and Lavoie said he has a chef to handle all of the cooking to free him up so he can focus on being an owner. He believes in keeping a family atmosphere for his employees and customers. Its about relationships, Lavoie said. Ive got these little sayings like I work for smiles. Because when someone goes out of their way to come up to the food truck, gets a burger and when that guy finishes that burger, comes to the door and says thats the best burger Ive ever had thats what I want. That makes my day worth it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavoie has two sons, Zachary, 23, and Samuel, 25. Zachary has worked with his father since he was 12 during the summers and now works as a server at Steves Top Dog & Smokehouse. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lavoie said Sunday is a day to regroup after smoking meat for 30 to 35 hours Friday into Saturday. He also wanted his workers to be home for Sunday holidays and to have family time when most people are off from work. My whole life Ive always tried to make the customer happy, no matter what, Lavoie said. I feel if you take care of the people, the numbers fall into place. I think thats kind of a long-forgotten concept. Weve all worked for the people that treat us like a number and dont respect us. Weve all been there before. Im really trying to make sure that that doesnt ever happen with our environment. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar on Monday to continue her calls for the removal of military troops from the city. Thousands of troops, including members of the California National Guard and the U.S. Marines, were sent to Los Angeles amid immigration raids and protests. Though half of the 4,000 National Guard troops have since been sent home, Bass and other local leaders want all the troops out of Los Angeles, as they could be better used elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need the National Guard to assist us in preparing for fire season, not for an inappropriate deployment where theyre just guarding a building thats not under attack, she said. Troops were deployed to defend the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood and other sites, but they never faced a challenge, the Los Angeles Times reports. Theres not much to do, a Marine told the Times. Bass was joined by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Marine Corps veteran. We did not sign up to intimidate and potentially take military actions against Americans on American soil who are exercising their Constitutional right to protest, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass encouraged people to write to their representatives in Congress and make the case to them that the military is not needed in L.A. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SMITH COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) A medical helicopter made an emergency landing in Mississippi this weekend. According to the Smith County Emergency Management, Rescue 7 was transporting a patient from Hattiesburg to Jackson when the helicopter started having mechanical issues. The pilot made an emergency landing near SCR 57. 15-year-old killed in Jackson shooting Officials said all crew members and the patient were safe. No injuries were reported. A medical helicopter made an emergency landing in Mississippi this weekend. (Courtesy: Smith County Emergency Management) AirCare arrived on the scene and took over patient care and transported the patient to Jackson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. (NewsNation) With Love, Meghan, starring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has landed on Netflixs most-watched shows list in 2025. The shows first season ranked as the 389th most-watched show out of more than 7,000 titles in the first half of 2025, with 5.3 million views, according to Netflixs latest engagement report. Meghan behind royal truce; King Charles invited to Harrys Invictus Game Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The show, which debuted March 4, was ranked tenth on Netflixs global Top 10 list a week after its debut, according to People magazine. With Love, Meghan renewed for second season With Love, Meghan has already been renewed for a second season, which will air this fall, People has reported. The show features Meghan cooking and providing lifestyle tips as she hosts her friends, including celebrities such as Mindy Kaling. The show was eclipsed by other series, such as Adolescence, Netflixs most-watched show, which amassed 145 million views, as well as the second and third seasons of Squid Game, which had nearly 190 million views, ranking as the second and third on the most-watched list, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump to visit King Charles at Buckingham Palace Netflix invests in Meghan Markle Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, signed a multiyear deal with Netflix in 2020 to produce a nature series, documentaries and childrens programming. The couples deal came months after they stepped back from their roles in the royal family. A source told NewsNations Paula Froelich that Meghans show is likely to get a third season. In March, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos praised her, saying, I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture. In addition to the production deal, Netflix has also invested in Meghans lifestyle brand As Ever, which had two product drops that sold out in hours, according to People. 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. Its been quite a year life for Melania Trump. Married to President Donald Trump since 2005, the first lady got her start modeling when she was a teenager and more than 25 years later, shes still in the public eye. The 55-year-old former model from Slovenia gave a rare glimpse into her private life, particularly, how she met her future husband and father of her only child, Barron Trump. Married to billionaire Donald Trump, Melania Trump, then known as Melania Knavs and later Melania Knauss, began her modeling career at age 16 and moved to New York in 1996. The couple met in 1998, became engaged in 2004 and married in 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this was before Donald Trump became the 45th and 47th president of the United States, before Melania became a mom to Barron Trump (Trumps youngest child of five), and before Mar-a-Lago, site of the billionaires wedding reception, became known as the Southern White House when Trump was in office. Ahead of the six-month anniversary of Donald Trumps return to the White House, the first lady gave an intimate look in her own words on how she met her future husband, a two-time president of the United States. How did Melania meet Donald Trump? On social media site X, Melania Trump posted screengrabs on July 18, 2025, of two pages from Chapter 5 of her best-selling memoir, Melania. The first lady described their meeting. Here is the excerpt: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chapter 5: Hi, Im Donald Trump. On a Friday night in September 1988, as I settled into the comfort of my New York City apartment after a whirlwind trip to Paris, my phone rang. It was a friend of mine. My boyfriend is throwing a party at the Kit Kat Klub tomorrow night, she said. Please come. We havent seen each other in so long. I just got back from Paris, I said. Please, it will be fun. A lot of people will be there. Well pick you up. While I was tired and jetlagged, I loved the idea that my weekend was about to be filled with the company of friends. I have always been selective in how I choose to spend my time and where I put my energy. A late-night party at the club was not my top choice for a Saturday evening. I much preferred staying in, watching a film, or going to dinner with close friends. Though I didnt shy away from social gatherings, clubs were simply not my cup of tea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I accepted the invitation anyway; after all, it was Fashion Week a time of glamour and sophistication. I was actually looking forward to mingling with industry insiders and trendsetters. When I stepped into the sleek black limo my friend arrived in, I felt like a celebrity en route to a gala. As we arrived at the Kit Kat Klub, the energy of the crowd and the dazzling lights greeted us. Inside, the dark, crowded space buzzed with models, photographers, editors, and designers mingling in this Fashion Week Saturday night. I settled in upstairs at our table in the VIP section, where the atmosphere was one of sophistication and camaraderie. Some guests danced, while others engaged in lively conversation, and we were all enjoying ourselves. I saw my friend wave at someone behind me. When I turned around, I noticed a man and an attractive blonde woman approaching us. Hi, Im Donald Trump, the man said when he reached my table. Nice to meet you. I recognized the name, and I knew he was a businessman or celebrity, but not much else. He put his hand out to shake mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hello, I replied. Im Melania. His eyes filled with curiosity and interest, and, seizing the opportunity, he took the seat next to mine and started a conversation. He asked me about my time in New York, my Slovenian home, and my world travels. It was a moment of connection, a brief encounter that left a lasting impression. It was nice to make a new acquaintance. #1 New York Times Bestseller, Melania || How I Met Donald Trump https://t.co/xIfkkmL4YC pic.twitter.com/ioDucDuo9A MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) July 18, 2025 He was accompanied by a beautiful date, so I initially dismissed our conversation as mere pleasantries exchanged at an industry event. The music was loud, and the crowd boisterous, making it difficult to truly connect with someone. From the moment our conversation began, I was captivated by his charm and easygoing nature. There was so much bustling activity around us, but his intent focus on our interaction made me feel like the center of his world. It was a refreshing departure from the usual superficial small talk, and I found myself drawn to his magnetic energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How Melania met Trump at Kit Kat Klub at a New York Fashion Week party A Memphis woman had to take matters into her own hands last week when three suspects attempted to invade her home. New video obtained by FOX13 shows the homeowner shooting at the intruders, one of whom was struck and injured. Investigators from the Shelby County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a shooting on Tuesday evening (July 15) at a local home. Three people reportedly kicked open the door of a womans home and entered without consent. In the video, the woman can be heard telling the intruders that her kids are in the house with her and that they need to leave. The suspects seemingly did not adhere to her plea, so she opened fire on them. Kimari Burnham, one of the intruders, was struck and injured. Burnham can be heard in the video asking for help after being shot. Upon being taken into custody, Burnham and their accomplice Nala Kelley were charged with aggravated vandalism and burglary. NEW: Memphis woman who sh*t another woman after group kicked down her door will NOT be charged 21-year-old Kimari Burnham was critically injured and taken to Regional One Health Investigators say Burnham, Dejwan Payne, and Nala Kelley showed up uninvited to the home "According pic.twitter.com/LwbS9fAX39 Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) July 20, 2025 The accomplices remain in custody at Jail East and are scheduled to appear in court next week. The third intruder, Dejwan Payne, was charged with aggravated battery and was later released on his own recognizance. The homeowner, however, is not facing any charges, and that is due to specific laws in Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tennessee, you can defend your home with deadly force. So once they cross that threshold and theyre inside your house, thats enough to assume theres a presumption made that theyre there to do you harm, defense attorney Brandon Hall, who is not involved in the case, told FOX13. This law applies regardless of whether the intruders are armed or not. At that point, shes retreated to a safe place, and theyre continuing to pursue her. And she used the least force necessary to resolve the situation. In this case, it was just one shot. And that was enough to dissuade the intruders from any further attacks. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Men accused in 900 lb. meth bust now face federal charges originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Two men accused in one of the "largest methamphetamine seizures" in state history are now facing federal charges. Guillermo Mercado Chaparro, 44, and Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in U.S. District Court on Thursday. Mercado-Chaparro was also charged with illegal reentry by a removed alien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were previously charged in Hennepin County court. More than 900 pounds of meth was seized during two traffic stops in St. Paul on Tuesday.St. Paul Police Department According to court documents, an undercover police officer bought a pound of meth from Mercado-Chaparro before surveillance footage showed him driving throughout south Minneapolis to conduct other suspected drug deals. Several days later, on July 7, police reportedly saw Mercado-Chaparro retrieve two large garbage bags from a truck bed and transfer them to another vehicle. Police eventually stopped the vehicle, which was occupied by both Mercado-Chaparro and Casas-Santiago. More than 250 pounds of methamphetamine were found in the garbage bags and a cooler, while another 630 pounds of methamphetamine were found in the truck bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt just another drug bust its one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Minnesota history," Acting United States Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in a statement. A 900-pound haul like this doesnt just show intent to distribute. It shows intent to poison entire communities. We will not let Minnesota become a distribution hub for cartel-scale operations. This prosecution is just the beginning." This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. FLORIDA (WMBB) A Mexican man was sentenced to federal prison on Monday for illegal reentry in Florida. Court records stated that on December 28, 2023, 37-year-old Esau Matul-Hernandez was arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office. According to a news release, Immigration and Customs Enforcement encountered Matul-Hernandez at the Okaloosa County Jail the following day. Homeland Security Investigations quickly determined that he was an alien in the United States and a citizen of Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FWC issues permit for manta ray capture by SeaWorld Abu Dhabi The United States has clear and lawful pathways for entering and residing in this country, and those who choose to ignore those laws especially after three deportations will face serious consequences. HSI, working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws and protecting our communities from those show blatant disrespect for the rule of law, Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Nicholas Ingegno, said. Matul-Hernandez had been previously deported from the United States in 2007 and twice in 2020. He illegally reentered the United States thereafter, officials confirmed. He was also prosecuted by the State of Florida and convicted of Attempted Sexual Battery before being turned over to federal custody on this case. State officials said Matul-Hernandez will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term. His imprisonment will be followed by a one-year term of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he returns to the U.S during such a timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision, state officials wrote. Matul-Hernandez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien. This case is part of Operation Take Back 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 mypanhandle.com. Mondays Top Stories Mondays Five Facts [1] New Mexico ranked deadliest state for pedestrians New Mexico once again is named the most dangerous state for pedestrians. According to a preliminary report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, about 94 pedestrians were killed in the state last year. About 16% of all pedestrian crashes involved a driver under the influence of alcohol. According to the report, more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed nationwide. [2]Laguna Fire burning in Santa Fe National Forest Crews continue to battle fires throughout the state. In northern New Mexico, the Laguna Fire has burned through nearly 17,000 acres and is currently at 55% containment. Sunday, crews saw an increase in activity along the norhter and eastern perimeters. Gallina Ranch remains in GO evacuation status, and the Monastery of Christ in the Desert remains in SET status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [3] Hotter and drier weather before storms later in week Heading into the workweek, more moisture will surge into the desert southwest. This will bring daily afternoon showers and thunderstorm chances across the state through midweek. Flash flooding is still a concern as we head into the week. For the second half of the week, we will start to see an area of high pressure building over the state. This will bring in some slightly drier air into the state. [4] Protesters gather outside Walmart of recent ICE arrest On Sunday people gathered outside an Albuquerque Walmart after a man was tased by ICE agents. Earlier this month, Deivi Molina-Pena was chased by immigration and customs enforcement into the Walmart near Coors and I-40. Protesters gathered outside the stores front door with many holding signs calling out Walmart for allowing agents in the store, as well as ICEs recent deportation. [5] NMDOTs Are You Serious? campaign using humor to get point across NMDOTs Are You Serious? campaign hits screens across the state this summer in an effort to curb driving under the influence by using humor. The department says using humor grabs viewers attention more effectively than using statistics. The agency hopes this message of safe driving resonates with younger audiences. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that her government has not yet received formal notification from the U.S. over potential measures against Mexico's airline sector, adding that she sees no justification for such sanctions. The U.S. Department of Transportation said on Saturday it would take action in response to Mexico's decision to cut flight slots and force cargo carriers to relocate operations in Mexico City, affecting U.S. airlines. "There is no reason for Mexico to receive any sanctions for changes made to the capital's airport system," Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement on Saturday that the department may reject new flight requests from Mexican carriers if concerns over airport decisions made in 2022 and 2023 are not addressed. The department would also propose withdrawing antitrust immunity granted to Delta Air Lines for its joint venture with Aeromexico to address competition concerns, according to the statement. Mexican air transportation chamber Canaero, also in a statement, called for dialogue and bilateral cooperation to strengthen U.S.-Mexico aviation. "The measures announced by the United States government represent a significant impact on the airline industry, with potential repercussions on connectivity, trade flows, and the competitiveness of the sector between both nations," it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CHESS GAME AHEAD OF USMCA REVIEW Fernando Gomez, an independent airline industry analyst, said the broader U.S. goal would be to establish a strong negotiating position ahead of a review of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). "They are using this as a springboard to gain leverage, just as they did with tariffs and immigration," Gomez said. "USMCA is their ultimate goal." The USMCA, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2020 and was negotiated during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, requires the three countries to hold a joint review after six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum, at her news conference, ruled out any reallocation of flights in the Mexican capital. (Reporting by Raul Cortes and Natalia Siniawski; Additional reporting by Noe Torres; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle, Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Dale Hudson) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Stormy Kromer, one of Michigans most iconic brands, has launched a new product to recognize the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Swimmers prepare for 411-mile relay to honor Edmund Fitzgerald 50th anniversary The Ironwood apparel company has released a new design of its iconic hats. The hats will retail for $60 $20 from each sale will go to Friends of the Fitz, a nonprofit in Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hats are available for purchase online through Aug. 10. Stormy Kromer has rolled out a limited edition cap to recognize the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. $20 from each sale will be donated to Friends of the Fitz. (Courtesy Stormy Kromer) The hats are a midnight blue version of Stormy Kromers popular six-panel wool cap, complete with a bill and wrap-around ear flaps. It also includes a small marker on the right side of the hat with an icon of a freighter that says Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost on Nov. 10, 1975, on Lake Superior. All 29 crew members died. Nearly 50 years later, it still remains the largest ship to founder on the Great Lakes. The sinking and ensuing investigation led to several changes in shipping safety protocols. Friends of the Fitz is based out of Superior, Wisconsin, the ships final port the day before she sank. The nonprofit is using the funds to install a commemorative marker. 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 WOODTV.com. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Microsoft has issued an alert about "active attacks" on server software used by government agencies and businesses to share documents within organizations, and recommended security updates that customers should apply immediately. The FBI said on Sunday it is aware of the attacks and is working closely with its federal and private-sector partners, but offered no other details. In an alert issued on Saturday, Microsoft said the vulnerabilities apply only to SharePoint servers used within organizations. It said that SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365, which is in the cloud, was not hit by the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've been coordinating closely with CISA, DOD Cyber Defense Command and key cybersecurity partners globally throughout our response," a Microsoft spokesperson said, adding that the company had issued security updates and urged customers to install them immediately. The Washington Post, which first reported the hacks, said unidentified actors in the past few days had exploited a flaw to launch an attack that targeted U.S. and international agencies and businesses. The hack is known as a "zero day" attack because it targeted a previously unknown vulnerability, the newspaper said, quoting experts. Tens of thousands of servers were at risk. In the alert, Microsoft said that a vulnerability "allows an authorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network." It issued recommendations to stop the attackers from exploiting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a spoofing attack, an actor can manipulate financial markets or agencies by hiding the actor's identity and appearing to be a trusted person, organization or website. Earlier, Microsoft said it is working on updates to 2016 and 2019 versions of SharePoint. If customers cannot enable recommended malware protection, they should disconnect their servers from the internet until a security update is available, it added. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington; Editing by Frank McGurty, Leslie Adler and Lincoln Feast.) By James Pearson and Raphael Satter WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) -A sweeping cyber espionage operation targeting Microsoft server software compromised about 100 organizations as of the weekend, two of the organizations that helped uncover the campaign said on Monday. Microsoft on Saturday issued an alert about "active attacks" on self-hosted SharePoint servers, which are widely used by organizations to share documents and collaborate within organizations. SharePoint instances run off of Microsoft servers were unaffected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dubbed a "zero-day" because it leverages a previously undisclosed digital weakness, the hacks allow spies to penetrate vulnerable servers and potentially drop a backdoor to secure continuous access to victim organizations. Vaisha Bernard, the chief hacker at Eye Security, a Netherlands-based cybersecurity firm, which discovered the hacking campaign targeting one of its clients on Friday, said that an internet scan carried out with the Shadowserver Foundation had uncovered nearly 100 victims altogether - and that was before the technique behind the hack was widely known. "It's unambiguous," Bernard said. "Who knows what other adversaries have done since to place other backdoors." He declined to identify the affected organizations, saying that the relevant national authorities had been notified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shadowserver Foundation confirmed the 100 figure. It said most of those affected were in the United States and Germany, and the victims included government organizations. Another researcher said that, so far, the spying appeared to be the work of a single hacker or set of hackers. "It's possible that this will quickly change," said Rafe Pilling, director of Threat Intelligence at Sophos, a British cybersecurity firm. Microsoft said it had "provided security updates and encourages customers to install them," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement. It was not clear who was behind the ongoing hack, but Alphabet's Google, which has visibility into wide swaths of internet traffic, said it tied at least some of the hacks to a "China-nexus threat actor." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese Embassy in Washington didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment; Beijing routinely denies carrying out hacking operations. The FBI said on Sunday it was aware of the attacks and was working closely with its federal and private-sector partners, but offered no other details. Britain's National Cyber Security Center said in a statement that it was aware of "a limited number" of targets in the United Kingdom. A researcher tracking the campaign said that the campaign appeared initially aimed at a narrow set of government-related organizations. The pool of potential targets remains vast. According to data from Shodan, a search engine that helps to identify internet-linked equipment, over 8,000 servers online could theoretically have already been compromised by hackers. Shadowserver put the number at a little more than 9,000, while cautioning that the figure was a minimum. Those servers include major industrial firms, banks, auditors, healthcare companies, and several U.S. state-level and international government entities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The SharePoint incident appears to have created a broad level of compromise across a range of servers globally," said Daniel Card of British cybersecurity consultancy PwnDefend. "Taking an assumed breach approach is wise, and it's also important to understand that just applying the patch isn't all that is required here." (Reporting by James Pearson and Raphael Satter; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler) DALLAS Microsoft has issued an alert warning that hackers are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in its SharePoint Server software used by businesses and government agencies to share documents internally. The company said the flaw affects only on-premises SharePoint servers and does not impact SharePoint Online through Microsoft 365. Microsoft has released emergency security updates and urged customers to install them immediately. According to Palo Alto Networks, at least 54 organizations, including banks, universities, and government agencies, have already been compromised. Attackers are bypassing identity controls and stealing sensitive data, said Michael Sikorski, chief technology officer at Palo Alto Networks Unit 42. If your SharePoint server is exposed to the internet, you should assume its been compromised. The exploited flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-53770, allows remote code execution. A second related bug, CVE-2025-53771, involves spoofing over a network. Microsoft says both issues are linked to a larger exploit chain and have been addressed in recent patches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI confirmed it is aware of the attacks and is coordinating with federal and private sector partners. Microsoft said it is working closely with agencies including CISA and the Department of Defense Cyber Command. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, requiring federal agencies to apply the fix by July 21. "If we look deeper, we must ask: Are these truly agreements that benefit both sides, or is Israel facing the danger that what it gives is not always reciprocated? Security expert Col. (res.) Dr. Moshe Elad questions whether the 2020Abraham AccordsIsraels landmark agreements with Morocco, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrainare still delivering balanced benefits five years on, in an interview with Maariv on Monday. The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, were a historic step and are considered a breakthrough in Israels relations with Arab states. On the surface, these are agreements with Morocco, Sudan, the UAE, and Bahrain, and they herald not only diplomatic engagement but also the normalization of ties in every possible fieldtechnology, economy, tourism, security, and agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elad links that breakthrough to a new regional mood in which Arab governments prize prosperity over enmity. The agreements Israel signed with the Gulf and African states were the result of a political landscape in which Arab countries sought economic growth, were eager to shed their ingrained hostility toward Israel, and were ready to view their interests from a new perspective. That climate, he adds, enables joint action against shared threatsfrom terrorism toIranwhile tapping Israels technological edge. Still, he doubts the goodwill is matched by tangible reciprocity. Internal Security Forces officers escort a Druze prisoner and prevent him from being attacked by Bedouins, at an Internal Security Forces checkpoint working to prevent Bedouin fighters from advancing towards Sweida, following renewed fighting between Bedouin and Druze, Sweida, Syria, July 19, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI) All this is accompanied by strong expressions recognizing Israels status and its right to exist. But if we look deeper, we must ask: Are these truly agreements that benefit both sides, or is Israel facing the danger that what it gives is not always reciprocated? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Extending the formula elsewhere looks far less likely, he cautions. What happens if we try to extend this approach? Could the Abraham Accords truly spread to countries like Syria and Lebanon? The picture there is far less optimistic. Both nations have a long history of hostility toward Israel, and political opposition at home would block any attempt to advance peace. Even Israels long-standing treaties lack popular warmth, he noted. Look at Egypt and Jordanstates that signed treaties with Israel in the 1970s and 1990s. The agreements still stand, but public support is anything but warm. In Egypt, Israel is still viewed as an enemy. Despite security cooperation against ISIS, the Egyptian public sees Israel as the devil. In Jordanthe country with one of Israels more stable treatiespublic attitudes remain cold, not only for political reasons but also because of the populations entrenched Palestinian identity," he added. Treaties with Syria, Lebanon may not be effective even if reached Elad also doubted that signing any pact with Damascus or Beirut would actually yield any tangible benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would things improve if we signed accords with Syria and Lebanon? Definitely not. Political realities in both countries leave no room for genuine progresseconomic cooperation would be partial and superficial, Israeli tourism wouldnt get off the ground, and Israel would keep shouldering the burden of being the Middle Easts conscience for little in return. Elad finished the interview with a blunt bottom line. In short, the Abraham Accords are indeed an achievement, but the big question is whether we can preserve them and turn them into agreements that truly benefit both sides. You cant base peace in the Middle East on unilateral conditions. If we genuinely seek peace with Syria and Lebanon, we must be ready to deliver tangible results, not only in security but also economically and culturally. That requires patience, real investment in long-term processes, and, above all, a change in public consciousness in those countries. Otherwise, what began with the Abraham Accords may run into walls of apathy and rejection," he concluded. Migrants at Miami-area detention centers have faced a variety of abuses, including being shackled and forced to eat food from styrofoam plates like dogs, according to a recent report from Human Rights Watch. The latter incident occurred at Federal Detention Center Miami, a facility operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the report, migrants were forced into holding cells for a prolonged amount of time and denied lunch until 7 p.m. When the food was brought to them, their hands remained shackled while the food was placed on styrofoam plates on folding chairs. We had to eat like animals, one detainee named Pedro shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar incident was reported at the Krome North service processing center in West Miami. According to Human Rights Watch, migrants were kept in a room, had their hands zip-tied, and were again made to eat off of chairs. We had to bend over and eat off the chairs with our mouths, like dogs, one man said. At the same facility, detainees claimed that overcrowding led to some being people being kept on a bus in the parking lot for over 24 hours. Reportedly, they were only allowed to be unshackled when using the bus toilet, which quickly became unusable. The bus became disgusting, one man claimed. It contained a single toilet that did not really flush. It was the type of toilet in which normally people only urinate. But because we were on the bus for so long, and we were not permitted to leave it, others defecated in the toilet. Because of this, the whole bus smelled strongly of feces. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. These long-standing facilities were joined this month by a slapdash detention camp in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz. The facility has drawn criticism for alleged human rights abuses as well as its hygiene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent report from the Miami Herald found that, of roughly 700 hundred individuals held there, more than 250 do not have any criminal record. These numbers put the lie to President Donald Trumps claims of the facility being made to house some of the most vicious people on the planet, and deranged psycopaths. The post Migrants describe disgusting conditions at Miami ICE facilities appeared first on Salon.com. GOP Rep. Mike Collins is inching closer to a run for Georgias Senate seat in 2026, posting a video on X Monday hinting at an upcoming run against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Tires kicked. Fueling up, the two-term House lawmaker said on X, alongside the video that championed his ties to President Donald Trump. Congressman Mike Collins, he loves this state, Trump said in the clip. A person familiar with the Collins campaign told POLITICO on Monday that Collins is likely to announce a run for the seat soon. The person was granted anonymity to discuss campaign dynamics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins in January reintroduced the Laken Riley Act to Congress, which mandates the detention of any undocumented immigrant charged with theft or burglary and is named after a Georgia nursing student killed by a man who had illegally entered the country. The proposal became the first bill signed into law by Trump in his second term. Collins posts on social media have been blasted by the NAACP and drawn rebukes from Georgia Democrats and former Republican lawmaker Adam Kinzinger. In May 2024, he joked about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., then an independent candidate in the presidential campaign, alluding to the assassination of his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy. The GOP primary to challenge Ossoff has already drawn Republican Rep. Buddy Carter, who is also courting the Trump endorsement and announced a run for Senate in May. Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King, a Republican, is also running for the seat. The states popular Republican governor, Brian Kemp, was seen initially as the heavy favorite in the race. Georgia Republicans have been looking for a marquee recruit since he passed on a run in May. Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. And just two of the 22 Republican seats up for grabs next year come from states the president won or lost by less than ten points in November. After months of uncertainty about the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz made the case for America First diplomacy during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 15. Should Waltzs nomination move forward, he will arrive at a United Nations filled with mistrust and anxiety about the futurein part triggered by Washingtons demands for belt-tightening and reform. Waltz hit some familiar notes from the relatively cordial hearing in January for U.S. President Donald Trumps initial choice for U.N. ambassador, Rep. Elise Stefanik, whose nomination Trump later withdrew in an act of political calculus. But Waltzs hearing accelerated toward raucous questioning from Democrats about the former national security advisors role in the controversy over a Signal chat leak in March and his dismissal from the position in May. However, if Waltz is confirmed, such Washington partisan politics will be of little concern to his counterparts at the U.N. headquarters in New York. Waltz, a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer who received four Bronze Stars before being elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, will likely face an uphill battle persuading some diplomats and U.N. officials to accept a narrower role on the world stage for the United Nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, many diplomats will welcome the arrival of the new U.S. ambassador after so long without one. One high-level diplomat said that the interim ambassador, career diplomat Dorothy Shea, was nice but clearly not empowered to act on her own. Shes professional, of course, but for everything that you ask, she says I need to go to Washington, the diplomat said, noting that a permanent representative who has the ear of the president may be able to transmit both ways. U.N. diplomats are now debating the meaning of Waltzs pledge last week to make the U.N. great again. Furthermore, the Senate hearing threw the great-power relationship between the United States and China into sharp relief, while putting somewhat less emphasis on Russias war in Ukraine. Senators from both parties left the impression that they viewed Russia as a disruptive force, while they saw China as a forger of global governance. That jibes with the prevailing mood at the U.N., where diplomats say that since Trump took office in January, Russia seems less isolated than during U.S. President Joe Bidens term. For example, on the third anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, the United States introduced a last-minute rival resolution to the one supported by Ukraine. The U.S. resolution did not mention Russian aggression, and Moscow did not veto itas it had done for the Security Council resolutions on the war brought by the Biden administration. There is currently much at stake for the U.N.: The Trump administrations budget for 2026 proposes eliminating most mandatory U.S. funding and voluntary contributions to U.N. core operations. At the Senate hearing, Waltz affirmed that the budget allows funding for peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and vital humanitarian assistance, though he stressed that each dollar would be scrutinized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. must ensure that every foreign aid dollar and every contribution to an international organization, particularly the U.N., draws a straight and direct line to a compelling U.S. national interest, one that puts America first, not last, Waltz told the committee, echoing the Trump campaigns rhetoric. This a la carte approach to U.N. funding may confound diplomats and staff, as the U.N. system already faces severe budget shortfalls. Next years budget calls for a 20 percent reduction in staffing of the U.N. Secretariat. At a recent press briefing, Guy Ryder, the U.N. undersecretary-general for policy, told journalists that these staff cuts would not be distributed evenly, leaving staff to guess which departments might be most affected. Waltzs criticism of the waste, fraud, and abuse and description of the U.N. as a bloated bureaucracy during his confirmation hearing are unlikely to assuage staff concerns. While he acknowledged the importance of humanitarian agencies such as the World Food Programme, for example, Waltz was dismissive of various U.N. agencies emphasis on climate change. In March, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced an effort to look for ways to reform and streamline the United Nations in the future, known as the UN80 Initiative. The name is a nod to the 80th anniversary of the organizations founding, but there is divergence among U.N. member states over how the plan should shape the U.N. systems priorities, which broadly fall within three main pillars: peace and security, human rights, and development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some diplomats from developing countries say that programs aimed at improving their living standards should be privileged over the other two pillars. We believe that the core interests of the developing countries should be accorded priority, centered on accelerating the achievement of the SDGs, Pakistans ambassador to the U.N., Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told Foreign Policy, referring to the U.N.s Sustainable Development Goals. Ahmad holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month. Waltzs assessment during his confirmation hearing that after 80 years, its drifted from its core mission of peacemaking, seems to indicate which pillar takes precedence for the Trump administration. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, cautioned that if the United States steps back from funding international bodies, they may become increasingly dependent on China, allowing Beijing to [write] the rules on critical issues such as technology, artificial intelligence, health, and human rights. Indeed, U.N. diplomats say that since Trumps election last November, China has enthusiastically courted member states and sought to insert its nationals into high-level and mid-level U.N. positions. Last Thursday, Guterres tapped a Chinese national to replace a Ghanaian as special envoy for the Horn of Africa, which must have raised eyebrows at the U.S. State Department. The region, located along strategic shipping lanes, is a locus for great-power competition. Djibouti hosts the only permanent Chinese military base in Africa and the primary U.S. base on the continent, along with foreign military bases for France, Italy, Japan, and other countries. The U.N. secretary-general has a degree of independence in appointing special envoys, but a fully staffed U.S. mission to the U.N. may have pushed back on this decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels war in Gaza presents another flash point for Waltz at the U.N. During his confirmation hearing, Republican Sen. Steve Daines mentioned the reappointment of Francesca Albanese as the U.N.s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories. The Trump administration sanctioned Albanese on July 9, a much-criticized decision that the U.N. has called on the administration to reverse. Daines asked Waltz how he planned to counter what Daines described as the antisemitic influence of U.N. officials like Ms. Albanese. Waltz expressed his support for the decision to sanction her and pledged to challenge pervasive antisemitism at the U.N. The most indelible mark that the Trump administration may leave on the United Nations could be steering the decision over who will fill Guterress shoes. The secretary-generals term concludes at the end of 2026, and the General Assembly will appoint his successor upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The successful candidate will need at least nine Security Council votes without a veto from any of the five permanent members, effectively ensuring a compromise candidate who wont be vetoed by China, Russia, or the United States. Reading between the lines, Waltzs confirmation hearing signaled that the Trump administration is open to negotiating U.S. funding for U.N. agencies that it views as contributing to shared security goals. But it will push back forcefully on those deemed inefficient, ideologically driven, or counter to U.S. interestseven if that means ripping up the international playbook largely composed by the United States after World War II. Its hard to say when Washington and Turtle Bay have seemed more out of step. Ed Miliband has accused Reform UK hypocrisy as the Energy Secretary claimed Nigel Farages party was waging an ideological war against his policies. Mr Miliband said the fact that two Reform mayors had accepted grants for solar panels was proof that Reforms net zero policy disintegrates on contact with reality. He also accused Richard Tice, of running a clown car operation after the Reform energy spokesman threatened to tear up contracts with wind farm developers last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Milibands comments suggests he is ready to go on the offensive as he comes under increasing pressure from Reform and faces scrutiny from within the Cabinet. Earlier this year the Energy Secretary said he was absolutely up for the fight on net zero. Mr Farage has made attacking Labours net zero policies a key part of Reforms electoral strategy, betting that Labours plans to radically reshape Britains energy system by the end of the decade are not popular with the public. Richard Tice, Reforms energy spokesman, has threatened to tear up contracts with wind farm developers - Joe Giddens/PA At the same time, ministers are said to be increasingly concerned about the Mr Milibands promise to lower average household bills by 300 a year this parliament. Sir Keir Starmer took a personal interest in Mr Milibands deliberations over whether to break up the energy market amid concerns it could push up bills in the South. Plans to move to a so-called zonal pricing system were ultimately abandoned. Double standards On Monday, Mr Miliband sought to shift the focus on to Reforms policies as he highlighted the fact that after two of its mayors accepted grants totalling 1.3m for solar panels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im really pleased that theyre taking that funding, Mr Miliband told the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee of MPs. But the lesson of this is those mayors, faced with the choice of cutting bills through clean power or keeping their areas locked on expensive insecure fossil fuels, chose the clean power course. I think it proves that Reforms energy policy, frankly, disintegrates on contact with reality and on contact with what the British people actually want to see. Greater Lincolnshire, where Dame Andrea Jenkyns was elected mayor for Reform in May, has claimed 607,845 for solar panels on leisure centres and fire stations, while Hull and East Yorkshire, overseen by Reforms Luke Campbell, was awarded 700,000 for solar projects on service buildings and car parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dame Andrea said the funding was applied for before she was elected as mayor. After receiving the grant, Mr Campbell said he was delighted, adding it would help councils in the area save on their energy bills over the coming years. Greater Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns has claimed 607,845 for solar panels on leisure centres and fire stations - Lia Toby/Getty It comes despite Reform vowing to scrap the target of reaching net zero by 2050 if it won the next election, claiming it would save 225bn. Mr Farage on Sunday claimed the British people were being defrauded out of billions of pounds under the switch to renewables, adding that subsidising green energy schemes at the taxpayers expense was having literally zero effect on global emissions. Airbrushing history Mr Miliband accused Mr Farage of wanting to airbrush history by ignoring the spike in energy prices seen following Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: He wants people to forget about the fact that it was our exposure to fossil fuels that led to the worst cost of living crisis in generations. Family finances wrecked, business finances wrecked and still paying the price, and public finances wrecked as well. There is only one answer to that, which is home-grown clean energy we control. The security you get from that home-grown clean energy is what is now essential for our energy security and our national security. Anything else, any decision which says lets just remain on these fossil fuels, subject to a global market controlled by petro-states and dictators, frankly surrenders our energy security and indeed our national security. Nigel Farage has made attacking Labours net zero policies a key part of Reforms electoral strategy - Anadolu/Getty Last week Mr Tice wrote to the chief executives of SSE Renewables, Octopus Energy, Centrica, Equinor and others to give formal notice that a Reform government would tear up any deals struck with Mr Miliband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter was widely seen as an attempt to sabotage an upcoming subsidy round meant to encourage wind farm developers to set up in Britain. Asked what he thought of Mr Tices letters, Mr Miliband said: Well it was, if Im allowed to use this phrase, sort of a clown car operation, I think its fair to say, by Richard Tice, because he wrote a letter saying he was going to rip up the contract and then went on the PM programme that afternoon to rebut his own letter. The broader point here is that this is driven not by concern for the British people or interest in peoples energy bills. It is ideology. Why would you want to stay on expensive, insecure fossil fuels? We only need to look at the geopolitical situation to see the level of insecurity and exposure that we have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would you want to stay on those when you can have cheap clean power that we control? 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. At least 19 people died and more than a hundred were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training aircraft crashed into a school on Monday afternoon. Fire and smoke were seen billowing from the English-language campus, where children were studying at the time. In this sudden accident, 19 people including the pilot were killed and 164 people were injured, Ayesha Siddiqa, the assistant director at Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media-wing of the Bangladesh military, told The Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the injured are being quickly transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and nearby hospitals with the help of Air Force helicopters and ambulances for necessary treatment, she said. Most of those killed and injured are school students, a government spokesperson Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told The Telegraph. The death toll is likely to go up. Twenty people were taken to hospital following the crash Credit: X The F-7 BGI jet took off at 1.06 pm local time (8.06am BST) as part of regular training, officials said. Minutes after taking off from Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola, Ms Siddiqa said the jet encountered a mechanical fault and crashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details of the mechanical fault will be reported subject to investigation. To deal with the incident and avoid major damage, the pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Taukir Islam, made every effort to take the aircraft from a densely populated area to a sparsely populated area. But unfortunately, the aircraft crashed in an unexpected accident in a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in Diabari, Dhaka, Ms Siddiqa added. Bangladesh Air Force is deeply shocked by the unfortunate accident and is ready to provide all possible assistance including medical treatment to the casualties. Firefighters reached the scene at about 1:22pm and rescuers worked to douse the flames and evacuate the injured, officials said. The plane appeared to have rammed into the side of a building, damaging iron grills and creating a gaping hole in the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents and relatives of students flocked to the college campus to look for their children. Witnesses said the plane crashed into the entrance of the two-storey building of Milestone School, and that the building immediately caught fire. Visuals showed people screaming and crying as others tried to comfort them. Witness Mahim Hasan Siam, a year 12 student, told local media that the plane crashed in front of the Project-2 building, which has 16 classrooms and four teachers rooms. Classes from the first to fifth grade (year two to year six) of primary school were held in this building, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane crashed in front of the third and fourth grade classrooms. Classes were in progress. The classwork would have finished in a few moments. A parent, Lucky Akhter, whose two children study in the school, said he had been able to locate his elder son, but the younger one was missing. We have shared his details with the police to locate him, Mr Akhter said. Another parent, Ferdousi Begum, said her daughter was trapped inside. We are unable to communicate with her, Ms Begum said. The jet crashed into the the Milestone College campus in Dhakas northern Uttara area At least one person has died and with many more injured - Al-emrun Garjon/AP Muhammad Sabuj Mia, an assistant professor in the science department at Milestone College, said: Out of nowhere, we heard this deafening noise. Seconds later, the plane crashed and burst into flames right near the school building. It was chaos, people were screaming, running. We couldnt believe what we were seeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While army, air force and fire services personnel are carrying out rescue operations, Police and Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) members have been deployed to maintain law and order. A physics teacher of Milestone College told The Daily Star that he was standing near the 10-storey college building when the aircraft hit the campus. Shortly after 1:00pm, the plane crashed into the front side of the adjacent school building, trapping several students, he said. The teacher said he himself carried at least one injured student out of the building and saw several other students and a female teacher with severe burn injuries. A spokesman for the college said: The plane all of a sudden crashed into our Diabari campus. Fire engulfed the plane and students frantically rushed to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in neighbouring Indias Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the worlds worst aviation disaster in a decade. On May 9, a Bangladeshi Air Force pilot was killed and another was critically injured when a training aircraft crashed into the Karnaphuli River river in southeastern Chattogram. A mechanical malfunction was suspected in the crash of the Yak-130 jet, which caught fire before going down. The pilots ejected from the plane, but Asim Jawad, the squadron leader, died after undergoing treatment. 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 Bangladesh Air Force plane crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in the capital of Dhaka on Monday, with at least 20 deaths reported so far, according to the military. The pilot was among the deceased. It's understood to be the deadliest airplane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. A F-7 BGI aircraft took off from the AK Khandar Air Force base at 1:06 p.m., local time, crashing soon after in the Uttara district in northern Dhaka, where students were attending classes and taking tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the public relations sector of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, said that more than 170 people had been injured in the crash. The injured, many of whom have encountered burns, have been taken to nearby hospitals. Bangladeshs interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the incident. The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable. This is a moment of profound pain for the nation, he said via X. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and direct all concerned authorities, including hospitals, to address the situation with the utmost priority. Yunus also asked residents to steer clear of the area in order to facilitate uninterrupted medical operations. The Army, Air Force, local police, and firefighters are all providing assistance at the scene and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have established an emergency number to help organize blood donations at nearby hospitals. Rescue operations are underway after a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into a campus in Dhaka on July 21, 2025. Abdul GoniGetty Images The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, although the ISPR has said that the plane faced technical errors. Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam attempted to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location, according to a statement shared with the Associated Press. Per the ISPR, a high-level investigation committee has already been established to look into the incident. Read More: What to Know About the Air India Crash and the Miracle of Its Sole Survivor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rafiqa Taha, a student at the college who was not present at the time of the crash, told the Associated Press that she was terrified as she watched reports of the incident unfold on TV. Meanwhile, the government has announced that Bangladesh will hold a national day of mourning on Tuesday. Flags are expected to fly at half-staff on public buildings. Contact us at letters@time.com. Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell will resign after burglary conviction originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell has announced that she will resign following her burglary conviction. Mitchell said in a statement Monday that she will resign from the Minnesota Senate by 5 p.m. on Aug. 4, after she completes a few tasks, which include wrapping up outstanding legislative projects, completing "ongoing constituent services," transitioning legislative staff, and finding health insurance for her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Senator Mitchell's constituents deserve her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns," the announcement reads. "Senator Michell's constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation." Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-District 47)Minnesota Senate The announcement indicates that Mitchell will help her staff find new employment, "as her conduct should not negatively impact their careers and livelihoods." Mitchell was found guilty of 1st-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools last Friday in connection with an April 2024 break-in at her late father and stepmother's Detroit Lakes home. Mitchell testified on her own behalf for about five hours during her trial. She maintained that she wasn't planning to steal anything and only wanted to check on her stepmother, who suffers from Alzheimer's. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors argued that a crow bar is an unusual thing to bring to a welfare check. Mitchell was elected to Senate District 47 covering the Woodbury area in the southeast Twin Cities metro as a DFL lawmaker in 2022. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to call a special election once Mitchell resigns. That election could determine control of the Minnesota Senate. The DFL currently has a one-seat advantage. Related: Jury finds Sen. Nicole Mitchell guilty on both counts in burglary trial This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVY/WBGH) Miss NY is set to be at the News 34 Spiedie Fest tent greeting fans. Miss NYs Cassie Donegan will be at the Spiedie Fest August 2nd greeting fans and signing autographs at the News 34 tent from 2 to 4 PM. Cassie Donegan was crowned Miss NY July 12th representing the five borough. Donegan is the COO of Southern Sitter LLC, which is a childcare booking company. She is also a professional performer and Actors Equity member. She received a BFA in musical theater from Belmont University, before attending Ames Christian University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donegan works to promote arts education in schools and is an advocate for heart health working with the American Heart Association. For more information about the Spiedie Fest visit: Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) A boy was found safe after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Child Alert. On Sunday morning, the TBI issued an alert for the 6-year-old saying they believed that he was with his non-custodial father, Jorge Ramos Lopez, 34. The pair had last been seen near Ten Point Lane in Sevierville, according to the TBI. Eternal Life Harvest Center holds community outreach in Montgomery Village Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez was wanted by the Sevier County Sheriffs Office on charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault, the TBI said. Around 11:25 a.m., the TBI reported that the boy had been found safe and that Lopez was in custody. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) A Mississippi law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs from public schools and universities was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Sunday. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved the request for a temporary restraining order brought by a group of plaintiffs, including the Mississippi Association of Educators. The ACLU of Mississippi, which represents the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the law imposes the preferred views" of Mississippi's state government on students, educators and families, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fighting to protect the constitutional rights of teachers and students to share ideas and to receive and exchange knowledge, the statement said. "We look forward to our day in court. The temporary restraining order will stay in place until Wingate rules on the plaintiff's request for preliminary injunction, a longer-term order that would prevent the law from being enforced while litigation plays out in court. The ACLU of Mississippi said Wingate's order is a critical first step. The law, which passed in April, bans offices, courses, trainings and programs relating to DEI, as well as a list of divisive topics. Educational institutions found to be in violation of the law could lose state funding. In his ruling, Wingate cited instances where the law is already having an impact as part of his reason for siding with the plaintiffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faculty members at Jackson State University have been instructed not to discuss gender theory or systemic racism, he wrote. Suppressing constitutional speech through vague prohibitions and the specter of financial retribution does not serve the public good it undermines it, the ruling reads. Both parties will argue their case at a hearing about the potential preliminary injunction on Aug. 3. The Mississippi Attorney Generals Office declined to comment on the pending litigation. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Mississippi Secretary of States Office partnered with Experian in order for county election commissioners to utilize the data in maintaining the states voter rolls. Mississippi has previously relied mainly on the National Change of Address (NCOA) information from the United States Postal Service to identify voters who have moved. Court rules Mississippis social media age verification law can go into effect Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through this new partnership, officials said county election commissioners will be able to receive access to the NCOA information and commercial data from Experian. County election commissioners will also receive information from the Social Security Death Master File to help supplement the existing processes to identify voters who have passed away. In accordance with Mississippi and federal law, registered voters who have been identified as having a new address will be sent a confirmation card and then placed on Inactive status. These voters will still have an opportunity to vote or correct their registration through the following ways: If a voter returns the confirmation card and states they have not moved, they will be returned to Active status at their current address. If the voter has moved within the county of their current registration and returns the confirmation card, they will have their voter registration address updated to their new address within the county. If the voter has moved outside of the county and returns the confirmation card, they will be removed from their previous countys voter rolls and will need to register in their new county of residence. If the voter does not return the card, they will remain on the voter rolls as an Inactive voter through two federal general elections. During this time, a voter may be moved to Active status at any time by updating their information with their county circuit clerk. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. BEAVER, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Missouri man is dead after drowning in Carroll County on Sunday. According to a Facebook post, the Carroll County Sheriffs Office responded to a possible drowning call at around 5:30 p.m. on July 20. Authorities were told that Marvin Stephens, 30, of Seligman, Mo. had attempted to swim out to the old train bridge near the campground in Beaver Town. Carroll County Sheriffs Office said the Benton County Dive Team assisted the department, along with three other agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephens was pronounced dead once his body was found. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CARROLL COUNTY, Mo. A Barry County man drowns over the weekend near a Missouri campground. Authorities said they were sent to check out a possible drowning in Beaver Town near the campground Sunday afternoon. There, they found out Marvin Stephens, 30, of Seligman, Missouri attempted to swim out to a nearby train bridge but did not make it back to shore. Man drowns attempting to save woman in McDonald County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Benton County Dive Team, OEM and Holiday Island Fire Department assisted at the scene along with the Mennonite Search and Rescue team, who used their underwater sonar to locate Stephens body. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A photograph of US President Donald Trump and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is displayed after being unofficially installed in a bus shelter on July 17 in London, England. The president is facing criticism from his usually loyal Republican Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters over suggestions that the administration is hiding details of Epsteins crimes to protect the high profile figures he associated with, which included Trump (Leon Neal/Getty Images). Outcry over the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files includes calls by leading Missouri Republicans for the president to order the release of as much documentation as possible to put the issue to rest. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley told KMOV-TV on Friday that President Donald Trumps administration should release everything they can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever is not under court order and sealed, he said. And personally, I think they ought to go to court and ask the court to unseal everything possible. Thats the right course here. Lets have transparency and get everything out in the public. Republican U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison said last week that the American people are sick and tired of being lied to by their government or the government holding these secrets that they deserve to know the truth on. He noted that Trump promised a release of files pertaining to Epstein during his successful campaign last year. He told Missourinet he would support a special prosecutor or congressional investigation into the Epstein files. In a statement released on social media, Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford called the ordeal an unfortunate sideshow that should not be allowed to tarnish the legacy of the greatest president of my lifetime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He urged U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release any files in the Department of Justices possession, including the underlying evidence that led to the memo stating that a so-called client list does not exist. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Not everyone is so eager to push Trump to release more information about Epstein. U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt said in January that the DOJ should open up all its files, saying at the time: Hell yeah. Open it up. Release the Epstein files Lets get some answers. But in an interview with Politico last week, Schmitt was more reserved when asked if the administration should release more information about Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what they have, Schmitt said. I dont know what they dont have. When youre making a charging decision, obviously youre basing it on the information thats in front of you. Its just hard for me to opine on it. Schmitts change of tone matches the president, who over the years has stoked conspiracies about Epstein and told Fox News during the 2024 campaign that he would declassify files related to the investigation. Epstein was known for socializing with politicians and celebrities. That includes Trump, who was close to Epstein throughout the 1990s but reportedly had a falling out with him over a real estate deal in 2004. Ive known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy, Mr. Trump told New York magazine in 2002. Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it Jeffrey enjoys his social life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein case, and has said he had no idea that Epstein was abusing young women. Epstein pleaded guilty to a felony prostitution charge in 2008 after federal prosecutors agreed not to charge him with sex trafficking of minors. He served 13 months in jail and was required to register as a sex offender. In 2019, the Justice Department charged Epstein with sex trafficking minors, including sexually exploiting and abusing dozens of girls in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He died by hanging himself in a Manhattan jail cell, an autopsy concluded. Earlier this year, Bondi told Fox News that Epsteins client list was sitting on my desk right now to review. But months later, the Trump administration reversed course, releasing a memo that concluded there was no incriminating client list or evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo sparked a huge backlash among Trumps MAGA base, who saw the move as a betrayal. It also inspired a bipartisan push to force the administration to act, most notably a non-binding resolution sponsored by Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California. In response to the criticism, Trump recently called for a federal court to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epsteins sex trafficking case far short of the demands from his MAGA supporters to release all investigative records. On Friday, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch after the newspaper published a story reporting on his alleged ties to Epstein. JOPLIN, Mo. One group brought weeks of hard work and their passion for singing to the stage. The Missouri Southern State University Choral Society hosted its Summer Concert at the First Community Church in Joplin. For 45 years, the MSSU Choral Society has held 3 concerts in the Summer, Spring and Fall, showcasing 6 weeks of practice to the community. This seasons performance was an ensemble of 35 choral members singing 6 songs, including patriotic, spiritual, and a cappella and selections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summer guest director Kaden Propps even showed off his own skills with solos alongside todays pianist. Getting to see all the looks on their faces when the song that I know that they loved was coming up, everybody had a different favorite, you know. So that was just a lot of fun to get to see how they interacted with the piece and how excited they were when the time finally came to sing it in front of the audience, said Kaden Propps, MSSU Choral Society Summer Guest Director. The Fall session starts August 18, with rehearsals every Monday night at 7. You can find the fall schedule through the link, 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. CAMDENTON, Mo. A Missouri State Park Ranger was taken into custody on Saturday, July 19, following an investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct. Billy Stephens III mugshot, photo courtesy of Camden County Sheriffs Office. According to a Camden County Sheriffs Office press release, Billy Stephens III, 34, has been charged with second-degree child molestation, second-degree statutory sodomy, second-degree statutory rape, tampering with a witness in a felony prosecution and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution. Stephens was arrested late Saturday night following reports of sexual misconduct by the ranger, the release says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man faces first-degree murder charge in Ft. Smith Detectives conducted a forensic interview of an alleged child victim and reached out to staff of the Missouri State Park Rangers and told them of the situation. The two departments devised a plan to take Stephens into custody. The allegations against Stephens are disturbing and, frankly, a betrayal of the trust our community puts in its law enforcement officers, said Sheriff Chris Edgar in the press release. This office is committed to the equal administration of justice regardless of a suspects status as a law enforcement officer. Stephens was arrested and taken to the Camden County Adult Detention Facility with no bond. The ranger is currently on administrative leave from the department pending the outcome of the case. 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Three people have died after a ferry caught fire off the coast of Indonesia over the weekend while over 500 were rescued, according to officials. The blaze broke out on Sunday, July 20 as the KM Barcelona 5 was bound for the city of Manado, local news outlets IDN Times and Jakarta Globe reported. According to preliminary information from the Manado Search and Rescue Agency, there were initially thought to be 280 passengers on board, Indonesia's national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, said in a statement. One of the victims was later identified by the agency as a pregnant woman, according to the Associated Press. HANDOUT/INDONESIA'S NATIONAL SEARCH AND RESCUE AGENCY (BASARNAS)/INDONESIAN COAST GUARD/AFP via Getty The aftermath of a fire aboard the KM Barcelona 5 ferry. The aftermath of a fire aboard the KM Barcelona 5 ferry. However, officials later updated the number of survivors to 575, reported the AP, Agence France-Presse and Al Jazeera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the hundreds who survived was a 2-month-old baby, who was rescued and is now in stable condition at a hospital, despite being found with water-filled lungs, according to the AP and Al Jazeera. Two people remain missing and the search is ongoing, authorities confirmed in a new statement issued on Monday, July 21. Personnel from the Manado Search and Rescue Office, the Indonesian Navy and the Indonesian Army are coordinating the response. "We fully understand the hopes of the victims' families. Therefore, we will continue to carry out our search efforts to the maximum, both by sea and land," said head of the Manado Search and Rescue Office George L.M. Randang. 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. Footage of the incident shared on social media showed passengers jumping to escape the massive fire and bobbing in the water wearing life preservers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One passenger, Alwina Inang, told local news outlet Detik she was eating with another family when "suddenly flames of smoke entered the ship's bridge." "We immediately jumped into the sea," Alwina added. She waited for about an hour to be rescued. The cause of the fire remains unclear. Read the original article on People At least 93 Palestinians queuing for food aid have been killed, according to officials in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, most of them reportedly shot by Israeli forces at the Zikim crossing. Many of those killed were shot during chaotic scenes at the Zikim crossing between Israel and northern Gaza, according to officials. The UN World Food Programme reported that a convoy of 25 aid trucks entering Gaza was quickly overwhelmed by massive crowds of hungry civilians chaos that soon turned deadly as gunfire erupted. WFP reiterates that any violence involving civilians seeking humanitarian aid is completely unacceptable, it said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A UN official, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions, said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds attempting to retrieve food from the aid convoy. Footage taken by UN officials and shared with the Associated Press showed scenes of Palestinian men fleeing amid the sound of automatic gunfire. Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for around two hours, said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and said he hadnt eaten bread in 15 days. Speaking amid the chaos of bodies being carried away, he added: I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better. Nafiz Al-Najjar, who was injured, said tanks and drones targeted people randomly and he saw his cousin and others shot dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military claimed those killed posed a threat but disputed Gazas death toll. Meanwhile, Israel issued new evacuation orders in central Gaza, raising fears of fresh offensives in areas packed with displaced people and potentially holding Israeli hostages. In central Deir al-Balah, Israeli airstrikes hit three houses, prompting dozens of families to flee with whatever belongings they could carry, according to Reuters. The Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots group representing many relatives of those held captive, criticised the new evacuation order and called on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military to clarify their objectives in central Gaza. WFP Statement | #Gaza On the morning of 20 July, a 25 truck WFP convoy carrying vital food assistance crossed the Zikim border point destined for starving communities in northern Gaza. Shortly after passing the final checkpoint beyond the Zikim crossing point into Gaza, the pic.twitter.com/o8dgXhc1sf World Food Programme (@WFP) July 20, 2025 Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages, the forum said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday night, during a weekly protest, tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv to the branch of the US embassy, demanding an end to the war. Pope Leo XIV has strongly condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, calling out its barbarity and the indiscriminate use of force. The Pope decried a recent Israeli strike on Gazas only Catholic church and appealed for an immediate end to the barbarity of the war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict at the end of the Angelus prayer at Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence near Rome. Last week, an Israeli strike on Gazas only Catholic church killed three people and wounded 10 including the parish priest, once a daily confidant of the late Pope Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has expressed deep sorrow and launched an investigation into the incident. The church had been sheltering some 600 displaced civilians, many of them children and people with disabilities. Palestinians flee Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on Sunday, 20 July 2025, after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders ahead of expected operations in the area (AP) Palestinians flee Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on Sunday, 20 July 2025, after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders ahead of expected operations in the area (AP) This act, unfortunately, adds to the ongoing military attacks against the civilian population and places of worship in Gaza, the Pope said on Sunday. I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rizeq Betaar, a Palestinian man who survived the attack at Zikim, helped carry one young victim to the hospital. We saw this young man lying on the ground, and we were the ones who carried him on the bicycle. Were trying to get him to help. But there is nothing, Betaar was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera. There are no ambulances, no food, no life, no way to live any more. Were barely hanging on. Unrwa warned on Sunday that Israeli authorities are starving civilians in Gaza, including a million children, despite the agency having enough food stockpiled to feed the entire population for over three months. Palestinians hold pieces of bread during a protest at the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Sunday, 20 July 2025, in response to a global call for solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and to denounce Israel's siege of the enclave (AP) Palestinians hold pieces of bread during a protest at the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Sunday, 20 July 2025, in response to a global call for solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and to denounce Israel's siege of the enclave (AP) Sharing images from a warehouse in Arish, Egypt, Unrwa urged: Open the gates, lift the siege, allow Unrwa to do its work and help people in need among them 1 million children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, it reported that babies were already dying from severe acute malnutrition. Israel, in turn, has cut ties with the agency over unproven Hamas links. Since May, the distribution of aid in Gaza has shifted from the traditional UN-led system to one led by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The change, combined with a blockade imposed by Israel on 2 March, has made food increasingly scarce and expensive. According to the UN, by 13 July, at least 875 people had been killed in recent weeks while attempting to access food 674 of them near GHF distribution sites. The remaining 201 died along routes or near convoys operated by the UN or its partners. Among the victims are children who were trying to fetch water for their families, according to the Guardian. Since the war began on 7 October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, more than 58,800 Palestinians have been killed and over 140,000 injured, according to Gaza health authorities. Chinese state media is hyping potential visits by more global internet celebrities as Beijing looks to capitalize on new forms of media to push its soft-power agenda. After the success of streamer IShowSpeeds visit earlier this year videos from his trip got millions of views and were praised by Beijing for showing off the real China state media outlet China Newsweek reported that YouTube juggernaut MrBeast is eyeing a visit to the country to film a large-scale challenge program, though details remain scant. Reps for MrBeast declined to comment. And Khaby Lame, the most-followed TikToker, who recently left the US after being detained by immigration agents, is reportedly planning to join Chinese social media and visit the country. All this plays into Beijings larger effort to win hearts and minds, as it spars with the US to control the social media narrative. But it remains to be seen whether propaganda wins are translating into concrete economic gains: Tourism has increased due to looser visa-free policies, but remains below pre-COVID levels, with China lagging behind other destinations. More problems have surfaced at a troubled Park Forest apartment complex, where air-conditioning woes earlier this summer left many residents sweltering during a heat wave. Separately, in a court filing earlier this month, the village said that Autumn Ridge, with nearly 400 apartment units in Will County, is unsafe and a public nuisance. The filing calls on a Will County judge to appoint a receiver who will collect rents and make necessary repairs, which Park Forest complains cover virtually every aspect of the buildings, including plumbing, roofs, windows and electrical systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleges Autumn Ridge ownership and management have permitted the structuresto remain in constant and continuous disrepair. The latest issue concerns lack of natural gas service to some adjacent townhouse units as well as air conditioning still being out at one of the four high-rise apartment buildings, Mayor Joseph Woods said Monday. He said he and village staff met Monday with property management and ownership, including two people he said have minority stakes in ownership of the property and have promised a tangible plan of action to be presented to the village by Tuesday afternoon. Woods said he and village officials are cautiously optimistic changes could come to the property, but are not pinning their hopes as far as a dramatic turnaround. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want to minimize our level of frustration, the mayor said. There needs to be some resolution on behalf of everybody. Many of the apartment units were without air conditioning during a heat wave in June that brought temperatures in excess of 90 degrees and high humidity to the Chicago area. Another round of dangerously hot weather is due to arrive in the area as early as Wednesday. The village said air conditioning was restored in some buildings, but it was not clear Monday whether all units affected had their air back. Woods said village officials were told Monday that, within the past three weeks, portable air chiller units were given to tenants in 150 apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents said that, during the heat wave in June, calls to property management were largely ignored or residents were told a fix was on the way. They also said calls for routine maintenance of problems, including plumbing and mold, were also disregarded. In the July 1 complaint seeking appointment of a receiver, Park Forest said the litany of problems at Autumn Ridge will remain unabated and result in irreparable harm to apartment renters. Park Forest said that fines have had no effect on prompting improvements, and said the village has levied fines on Autumn Ridge on numerous occasions but that management has ignored and continues to ignore the serious nature of the condition of the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleges the property does not comply with the minimum standards of health and safety and the villages ordinances. The village said Park Forest is also owed more than $590,000 for water provided to the apartments since March 2024. Woods said it makes no sense for the village to threaten to cut off water, as that would just harm residents and not pressure ownership to respond. The mayor said there have been promises in the past of a partial payment of what the village owes for water. He said the village cant simply condemn the property, as that would leave residents out in the street. Woods said there are 380 apartment units, but he has been told that half are vacant. The petition for appointment of a receiver was given an Oct. 20 court date. Daily Southtown reporter Addison Wright contributed to this report. A 36-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted rape in the fatal shooting of a Morehead teen, police said. Another teen was wounded in the shooting. Gildardo Martinez was charged with murder, first-degree assault and attempted rape after he was captured by police early Sunday morning. Officers with the Morehead Police Department were dispatched to a shooting in the West Sun Street area around 2:30 a.m., according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police found two teens suffering from gunshot wounds. A 15-year-old was dead on the scene. Rowan County Coroner John Northcutt identified the teen as Luis Jocsan Nanez Lopez. Lopez would have been a sophomore at Rowan County Senior High School, according to Northcutt. The second victim was transported to University of Kentucky-St. Claire Regional Medical Center and then transferred to UK Hospital in Lexington. That victims condition was not disclosed. Martinez was located after a brief search of the area, according to police. He is currently being held in the Rowan County Detention Center, according to online court records. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information should contact the Morehead police. The Kremlin has confirmed its interest in a third round of negotiations proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky between Kiev and Moscow to end the war. At the previous meeting, both sides exchanged their position papers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. According to Russian agencies, he said that an exchange of views and negotiations are now pending, but so far they are completely opposing. He added that "great diplomatic work" is still needed. On Saturday, Zelensky proposed a meeting to take place later this week. According to Peskov, there is no finalized date yet. He stated that there are no changes on the Russian side regarding the composition of the delegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the previous two rounds of talks in Istanbul, Russia's chief negotiator was presidential adviser and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky. In May, Kiev and Moscow held bilateral negotiations for the first time in three years. At this meeting and a later one in June in Istanbul, both sides agreed on a large prisoner exchange and the return of fallen soldiers. However, steps towards ending the war against Ukraine, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, were not discussed. For generations, women have relied on informal networks of friends, family and neighbors to navigate the complexities of birth and motherhood. Today, research is finally catching up to what generations of women have known: Peer support can be a lifeline. Despite growing evidence, the unique wisdom and strength that arise when mothers help mothers has been surprisingly underexplored in the scientific literature, but thats beginning to change. Peer-delivered programs are beginning to bring together long-standing community traditions and structured, evidence-based approaches to support the mental health of new and expectant moms. We are clinical psychologists at the University of Colorado Boulder Renee Crown Wellness Institute. Our work and research weaves together psychological science and the wisdom of mothers supporting mothers. Our program, Alma, supports women in restoring well-being in ways that are community-rooted, evidence-based and scalable. Pressure on parents Nearly 50% of parents report feeling overwhelmed by stress on most days. An even larger share, about 65%, experience feelings of loneliness, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These feelings hit mothers especially hard, the report says. Many mothers report experiencing depression during pregnancy, which is one of th emost common complications of childbirth. kieferpix/GettyImages In 2025, mothers in the United States continue to shoulder most of the caregiving of children while also managing work, personal health and household responsibilities. The transition to motherhood is often marked by emotional and psychological strain. In fact, 10% to 20% of women experience depression during pregnancy, the postpartum period or both. Depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth. A similar number of women also face significant anxiety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many communities, mental health resources are scarce and stigma around mental health issues persists; therefore, many mothers are left to navigate such challenges alone and in silence. Antidepressants are widely prescribed, but research suggests that many women stop using antidepressants during pregnancy yet they dont start therapy or an alternative treatment instead. Psychotherapy is the most preferred care option among new and expectant mothers, but it is often inaccessible or nonexistent. This is due in part to a workforce shortage of mental health providers. The shortage has contributed to long wait times, geographic disparities and cultural and language barriers between providers and patients. This is especially true for underserved populations. In fact, more than 75% of depressed mothers do not receive the care they need. Science of peer support The science of peer support is part of a larger field exploring community health workers as one way to address the shortage of mental health providers. Peer mentors are trusted individuals from the community who share common experiences or challenges with those they serve. Through specialized training, they are equipped to deliver education, offer mental health support and connect people with needed resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A study that analyzed 30 randomized clinical trials involving individuals with serious mental illness found that peer support was associated with significant improvements in clinical outcomes and personal recovery. Researchers have proposed that peer support creates space for learning and healing, especially when peers share lived experience, culture and language. As clinical psychologists, we heard from mothers in our work and communities that wanted to help other moms recover from depression, navigate the challenges of motherhood and avoid feeling alone. This insight led us to co-create Alma, a peer-led mental health program based on behavioral activation. Behavioral activation is a proven method for treating depression based on decades of randomized clinical trials, including in new and expectant mothers. It helps new and expectant mothers reengage in meaningful activities to improve mood and functioning. The Alma program Alma is based on the principle that depression must be understood in context and that changing what you do can change how you feel. One strategy we use is to help a mother identify an activity that brings a sense of accomplishment, connection or enjoyment and then take small steps to schedule that activity. Mothers might also be guided on ways to ask for help and strengthen their support networks. Alma is offered in English and Spanish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peer mentors typically meet with moms once a week for six to eight sessions. Sessions can take place in person or virtually, allowing flexibility that honors each familys needs. Traditionally, peer mentors have been recruited through long-standing relationships with trusted community organizations and word-of-mouth referrals. This approach has helped ensure that mentors are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Alma peer mentors are compensated for their time, which recognizes the value of their lived expertise, their training and the work involved in providing peer mentoring and support. This was the first time I felt like someone understood me, without me having to explain everything, shared one mother during a post-program interview that all participants complete after finishing Alma. To date, more than 700 mothers in Colorado have participated in Alma. In one of our studies, we focused on 126 Spanish-speaking Latina mothers who often face significant barriers to care, such as language differences, cost and stigma. For nearly 2 out of 3 mothers, symptoms of depression decreased enough to be considered a true, measurable recovery not just a small change. Notably, most of the depression improvement occurred within the first three Alma meetings. We also observed that peer mentors delivered the Alma program consistently and as intended. This suggests the program could be reliably expanded and replicated in other settings with similar positive outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second study, conducted through a national survey of Spanish-speaking Latina new and expectant mothers, found that peer-led mental health support was not only perceived as effective, but also highly acceptable and deeply valued. Mothers noted that they were interested in peer-led support because it met them where they were: with language, trust and cultural understanding. Supporting mothers works Supporting mothers mental health is essential because it directly benefits both mothers and their children. Those improvements foster healthier emotional, cognitive and social development in their children. This interconnected impact highlights why investing in maternal mental health yields lasting benefits for the entire family. It also makes strong economic sense to address mood and anxiety disorders among new and expectant mothers, which cost an estimated US$32,000 for each mother and child from conception through five years postpartum. More than half of those costs occur within the first year, driven primarily by productivity losses, preterm births and increased maternal health care needs. Beyond the impact on individual families, the broader economic toll of untreated mood and anxiety disorders among new and expectant mothers is substantial. For example, its estimated that $4.7 billion a year are lost to mothers who have to miss work or reduce their job performance because of symptoms like fatigue, anxiety and depression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together as individuals, families, communities and institutions we can cultivate a world where the challenges of parenting are met with comprehensive support, allowing the joy of parenting to be fully realized. Because no one should have to do this alone. Read more of our stories about Colorado. 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: Sona Dimidjian, University of Colorado Boulder and Anahi Collado, University of Colorado Boulder Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sona Dimidjian reports funding from philanthropic foundations and the National Institute of Health, and founding and receiving revenue from Mindful Noggin, Inc. and Access Consulting, LLC. Anahi Collado reports receiving funding from philanthropic foundations. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A 68-year-old Wichita man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Saturday evening while exiting I-135 onto U.S. 54 eastbound, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. on the ramp from southbound I-135 to eastbound U.S. 54. Troopers said the rider lost control on loose gravel. The bike left the road and came to rest in a ditch west of the ramp. Wind blows semi off I-70, injuring sleeping passenger Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rider was taken to a local hospital with suspected serious injuries. According to the KHP report, no other vehicles were involved, and the crash remains under investigation. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, 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 KSN-TV. Pakistan's mountain communities are experiencing the devastating effects of accelerating glacial retreat, with rising temperatures transforming their water sources into unpredictable threats. Rapidly changing ice patterns are disrupting ways of life, forcing families to abandon traditional farming practices and exposing locals to increasing risks of flooding and ongoing droughts. What's happening? In Upper Kalam's Oshu village, 55-year-old Asim Ali watched helplessly as rising waters from the Swat River surged into his stone house. The flooding, triggered by accelerated glacier melting and heavy rains, led many villagers to place sandbags around their homes to protect their belongings, according to The Express Tribune. "The water flow in River Swat has been increasing every summer due to the rapid melting of glaciers and erratic rainfalls," Asim said. "We now depend on rain, which is rarely sufficient. Sometimes, we lose entire crops to drought or sudden floods." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan is home to over 7,253 glaciers more than anywhere outside of the polar regions including major formations such as Baltoro, Biafo, and Batura, which feed critical river systems. Environmental expert Shafiqur Rehman warned that temperatures are rising faster in the Himalayan region than the global average, with some glaciers losing up to five meters of thickness per year. For generations, villagers have relied on glacier-fed irrigation to cultivate crops, but changing water patterns is making such farming increasingly uncertain. "As temperatures rise, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate, triggering ecological, social, and economic consequences," Rehman said. Why is glacier retreat important? Glaciers serve as natural reservoirs, storing water and releasing it gradually throughout the year. Their accelerating melting (as a result of increasing global temperatures) creates several complex effects in the region and across the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glacial retreat also threatens infrastructure and local health. Storm surge becomes even more dangerous when natural ice barriers disappear, and contaminated floodwaters can spread waterborne diseases throughout communities. What's being done about glacier retreat? In Upper Kalam, people are working to rebuild damaged infrastructure and transporting stones from nearby mountains to restore their homes and create better flood defenses, per The Express Tribune. Researchers and governments are also hoping to increase their focus on early warning systems for flash floods and ongoing monitoring for glacial behavior. At home, reducing your energy consumption helps to decrease the pollution that drives the threats to glacial ice formations. Switching to LEDs, choosing local produce, and supporting companies that prioritize renewable energy and sustainable practice can all make a difference in protecting these vital ice systems. 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. 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. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) An 8-year-old Myrtle Beach boy has Lyme disease, and his parents are doing everything they can to pay for his medications and treatments and give him as close to a normal childhood as possible. LeeAnn and Brian Kuhl said their familys journey began when their son, Ben, came home with a tick bite on his belly button after a hike four years ago. He was 4 years old at the time. Doctors told the Kuhls that as long as Bens tick bite did not have a bullseye on it, he would be fine, so Lyme disease, which is transmitted to people by ticks, was not even on the Kuhls minds. That changed months later, when Ben was diagnosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point, LeeAnn said the disease had already spread to all of Bens organs, including his brain. He is only able to talk on some days, his motor functions have worsened, and he has very painful inflammation. As a result, he spends most of his time inside. You mourn the life that he was supposed to have, so you mourn the parent that you were supposed to be, LeeAnn said. Bens symptoms have affected his friendships with other children, the Kuhls said. I see the frustration when he cant play with them because theyre at a faster pace now than he is, LeeAnn said. Its sad because, when theyre all goofing around, he wants to be in there, too, but he cant talk to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bens parents said his medications cost hundreds of dollars per month, and not all of them are covered by insurance. Brian said he is working two jobs, but he is still looking for work. He is starting his own landscaping business, Made New Landscaping, all to help pay for Bens treatments. The Kuhls have also set up a GoFundMe page. The Kuhls said that once they found their community in Myrtle Beach, they finally realized they did not need to go through this alone. We had all these people coming to us and offering to pay for a month of supplements or offering services to him, LeeAnn said. Without them, we could not be where we are right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LeeAnn said Ben will always be affected by Lyme disease, but they hope he can eventually be in full remission. The best advice for parents with infected children is to never give up hope, the Kuhls said. He is going to be such a testimony on not giving up, LeeAnn said. We tell him every day, youre going to stand there one day, and youre going to speak to a bunch of people who are going through something, and youre going to tell them what God did for you. Brian added that if you have been in the woods, check for ticks on your kids and your dogs as soon as you are home. * * * Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read 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 WBTW. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday appeared to send a pointed message to President Donald Trump: If the Department of Justice does not release more information on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, his supporters will no longer stand behind him. Without naming Epstein, the Georgia Republican on social media said the president is dangling only bits of information to his supporters despite promises during the 2024 campaign that his administration would be transparent with the public. If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People, Greene posted to social media, referring to a series of unverified issues Trump and his supporters have pushed since the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If not, she continued, The base will turn and theres no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else. In a statement to POLITICO, the White House said Trump has "fulfilled numerous campaign promises." "Under President Trumps leadership, the Republican Party has achieved unprecedented unity and strength. After securing the largest share of votes ever for a Republican presidential nominee and winning majorities in both the House and Senate, President Trump has delivered the most impactful first six months of any presidency," Harrison Fields, special assistant to the president and principal deputy press secretary, said. Greene did not immediately responded to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenes comment about dangling bits of red meat comes after the president directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of unsealing the grand jury transcripts in Epsteins criminal case. It remains unclear whether a judge will grant the DOJs request. For weeks, the administration refused to release records around the Department of Justices investigation into the death of the convicted sex offender after the DOJ and FBI released a memo concluding theres no evidence that Epstein was murdered in his jail cell or kept a client list. But the White Houses decision has created a schism in the GOP. Trump supporters around the nation have demanded Bondi resign, despite Trump standing by her. In Congress, Greene joined fellow Republicans Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Lauren Boebert of Colorado as well as a handful of Democrats as co-sponsors to legislation that would force a vote on releasing the Justice Departments records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who has declined to assign a special prosecutor to the case, said those who are still focused on the topic are weaklings who fell for a Democratic scam. But the furor around Epstein has continued, particularly after a bombshell Wall Street Journal report alleged Trump sent Epstein a raunchy birthday letter several decades ago. The president has said the letter is fake and filed a lawsuit against the newspaper, seeking $20 billion in damages for defamation. POLITICO has not verified the existence of the birthday letter. Still, Trump over the weekend appeared to acknowledge that releasing the grand jury transcripts wont satisfy everyone. With that being said, and even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request. It will always be more, more, more. MAGA! Trump posted on TruthSocial on Saturday. Marwan Al-Hams, a senior official in the Hamas-run Health Ministry, was "abducted" by Israeli forces while on his way to visit the ICRC field hospital in northern Rafah. Multiple IDF sources declined to address reports on Monday that an Israeli undercover force detained Marwan al-Hams, a senior official in the Hamas-run Health Ministry, outside the field hospital of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip. The Health Ministry said that Hams, in charge of field hospitals in the enclave, was on his way to visit the ICRC hospital in Rafah when an Israeli force abducted him after opening fire, killing one person and wounding another civilian nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics said the person killed was a local journalist who was filming an interview with Hams when the incident happened. A spokesman for the ICRC told The Jerusalem Post that some of its personnel had witnessed the arrest and the shootings and had provided medical care to some of those shot afterward. However, the ICRC did not have more specific information about Hams for before and after the incident. A Red Cross vehicle stands near missile remnants surrounded with tape, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 17, 2025. (credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters) The IDF has attacked Hamas at a number of hospitals, including killing Hamas commander Mohammed Sinwar, who was hiding at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, on May 13. However, undercover arrests of Hamas Health Ministry officials have been more rare, though not unheard of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One such high-profile arrest occurred at the start of the war, with the Health Ministry official kept in detention from November 2023-July 2024. In July 2024, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF released 50 Gaza detainees, including the director of Shifa Hospital, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, who had been in administrative detention in Israel since November 2023. Hamas using hospitals as terror bases, hostage hideouts Although Hamas was using Shifa as a terror base and to conceal hostages, there was never any concrete proof publicly produced that Abu Salmiya was directly involved. In November 2023, a senior IDF source told The Jerusalem Post that Abu Salmiya had given suspicious answers when questioned about what he knew about Hamass systematic usage of his hospital, but suspicious answers without evidence cannot usually be used to hold someone in administrative detention for more than seven months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abu Salmiya had three hearings before the courts, the last of which was made quasi-public in December 2023. Sources in December 2023 told the Post that he had a hearing before an unidentified Israeli civilian magistrates court via video conference in which his detention was extended. The same process recurred later at some unidentified point in spring 2024. There was never a specific explanation why an indictment of Abu Samiya could not be produced after several months. Previously, Abu Salmiya was being criminally probed by the Shin Bet under war emergency regulations relating to Hamas and other terrorists connected to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of those regulations, Abu Salmiya had been prevented from meeting with a lawyer, at least for a number of weeks after he was first detained. Though sources did not identify the civilian court, traditionally, the Beersheba courts have handled a variety of Gazan terror cases. Reuters contributed to this report. Elon Musks X has attacked an ally of Emmanuel Macron after France launched a criminal investigation into far-Right content on X. Eric Bothorel, a senior figure in Mr Macrons Renaissance party, has been accused of orchestrating a war on Mr Musks social media platform after criminal prosecutors opened an investigation into the company. X, formerly known as Twitter, has been accused of being an organised gang and engaging in political interference by manipulating its algorithm and carrying out data harvesting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Monday, X accused Mr Bothorel of instigating a politically motivated campaign and pushing French prosecutors to file a criminal case against the site. French authorities have launched a politically motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged fraudulent data extraction, it said. X categorically denies these allegations. This investigation, instigated by French politician Eric Bothorel, egregiously undermines Xs fundamental right to due process and threatens our users rights to privacy and free speech. Eric Bothorel told French prosecutors that Elon Musk has personal involvement in X and is interfering with European elections - Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg Mr Musks business claimed the gang designation which is said normally applied to drug cartels or mafia groups would allow police to wiretap X employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data harvesting claims can carry up to 10 years in prison under French cyber security laws. Mr Bothorel wrote to French prosecutors earlier this year warning over Mr Musks personal involvement in X and interference in European elections represents a real danger and threat to our democracies. French authorities also suspect X of promoting posts from far-Right political figures in this years European elections, local press has reported. Mr Musk has backed several Right-wing European leaders in recent months, throwing his support behind Alice Weidel, the leader of Germanys Alternative for Germany (AfD), as well as Marine Le Pen, the leader of Frances National Rally. Mr Bothorel is a key ally of French president Emmanuel Macron - Ludovic Marin/Getty The investigation into X comes after French police arrested Pavel Durov, the founder of private messaging app Telegram, in a crackdown on online safety last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Durov was charged in August with failing to stop the spread of illegal content online, including child abuse and drug trafficking. He has denied the charges and the case remains ongoing. X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech, the company said in a statement. X said it had received demands for information on its recommendation algorithm and posts by users, which it had refused to comply with. It claimed the experts in France who had been appointed to examine the data had a record of open hostility against X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement X is committed to defending its fundamental rights, protecting user data and resisting political censorship, it said. Responding to Xs claims, Mr Bothorel said the French police were not taking orders from him. Writing on X, he questioned whether the sites algorithm had become doped with ketamine. The Elysee was contacted 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. PARIS (Reuters) -Elon Musk's X on Monday accused French prosecutors of launching a "politically-motivated criminal investigation" that threatens its users' free speech, denying all allegations against it and saying it would not cooperate with the probe. Earlier this month, Paris prosecutors stepped up a preliminary probe into the social media platform for suspected algorithmic bias and fraudulent data extraction. Police can now conduct searches, wiretaps and surveillance against Musk and X executives, or summon them to testify. If they do not comply, a judge could issue an arrest warrant. "Based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech," X posted on its Global Government Affairs account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, X said it had refused Paris prosecutors' request for "access to X's recommendation algorithm and real-time data ... as we have a legal right to do." The Paris prosecutor's office did not respond to accusations of political bias, but confirmed it had sent a judicial request to X on July 19, asking for access solely to its algorithm. It said it had offered X a secure channel to share the information with investigators, who would have had confidential access to the data, but had yet to receive an official response from the company. Failure to comply with a judicial request can range from a fine to obstruction of justice charges. Musk, a former ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has accused European governments of attacking free speech and has voiced support for some of the region's far-right parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The French probe could deepen a rift between Washington and European capitals over what sort of discourse is permitted online, with senior U.S. officials alleging the censoring of right-wing voices around the world. The European Commission has been investigating X for breaching its digital transparency rules against illegal content, known as the Digital Services Act, since late 2023. X criticised the fact that the probe was being investigated under organised crime charges, which could allow police to wiretap its employees' personal devices. The alleged crimes carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years, the Paris prosecutor's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement X said the probe had been instigated by French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, who had accused it of "manipulating its algorithm for 'foreign interference' purposes", an allegation it said was "completely false". Bothorel, in a statement, defended the independence of the French judiciary. "It's a concept that seems completely upended in the United States at the moment," he said, adding that France was committed to free speech but not without limits. "The absence of responsibility and oversight endangers freedom just as much as prohibitions and censorship do." PREVIOUS RESEARCH Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement X said Paris prosecutors had requested it hand over data for analysis by researchers David Chavalarias and Maziyar Panahi, who it said had both exhibited "open hostility towards X". Chavalarias did not respond to a request for comment. Panahi denied any involvement in the investigation. "My name was mentioned by mistake, based on my previous research projects with David Chavalarias, none of which have ever had any hostile intent toward X," he said in an email. "The fact my name has been mentioned in such an erroneous manner demonstrates how little regard they have for the lives of others ... I will not hesitate to pursue legal action for defamation should I receive any form of hate speech." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for X said the company stood by its statement. (Reporting by Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru and Dominique Vidalon and Makini Brice in Paris; Additional reporting by Ingrid Melander; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, David Holmes, Christina Fincher and Marguerita Choy) RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) To help crack down on speeding, the North Carolina Governors Highway Safety Program and law enforcement agencies are launching the Speeding Catches Up With You campaign. Speeding remains one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities on our roads, Director of the Governors Highway Safety Program, Mark Ezzell, said. This campaign reminds drivers that no destination is worth the cost of a life. Speeding is dangerous. Its illegal, and it will catch up with you. Monday, July 21, through Sunday, July 27, there will be an increase of law enforcement on highways and local roads. Officers will be stopping drivers who exceed the speed limit or are aggressively driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the NCDOT, In 2024, speed-related crashes in North Carolina led to nearly 400 deaths and thousands of preventable injuries. The Governors Highway Safety Program encourages drivers to: Obey all posted speed limits. Allow extra time to reach their destinations. Stay alert and avoid distractions. Always drive sober and buckle up. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. In-N-Out Burger heiress and CEO Lynsi Snyder is relocating her family from California to Tennessee, a state where the beloved fast-food chain is embarking on a major expansion that could soon include other states. Theres a lot of really great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here, Snyder, 43, recently told Allie Beth Stuckey during an interview on the faith-focused podcast Relatable. The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office [in Tennessee] growing out there, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snyder, a mother of four, didnt share many specifics about her decision, only alluding to friction with Californias political climate. She referenced a period in 2021 when two Bay Area In-N-Out locations were forced to temporarily close for refusing to check the vaccination status of indoor diners. When I look back, and Im like, man, maybe we should have just pushed even harder on some of that stuff and dealt with all the legal backlash, she said. That was definitely where we held the line were not policing our customers. In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder says her company remains a family despite betrayal from colleagues Lynsi is the granddaughter of Harry and Esther Snyder, who founded In-N-Out as a tiny burger stand in Baldwin Park, a Los Angeles suburb, in 1948. The company slowly added California locations over the decades until 1992, when it opened its first out-of-state restaurant in Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, In-N-Out has more than 280 restaurants in eight states: California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oregon and Idaho. The privately owned chains expansion into Tennessee was announced in early 2023. According to Snyder, its only possible because trucks from the companys meat processing facility in Texas can reach the Volunteer State with fresh, not frozen, ground beef. In-N-Out is reportedly planning 35 locations in Tennessee, in addition to a new regional headquarters in Franklin. Theyre expected to begin opening next year. Further expansion in the southern U.S. is likely, she said, without revealing specifics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were able to reach Tennessee from our Texas warehouse, Snyder said. Texas can reach some other states, you know? While diners in nine states will soon be able to enjoy In-N-Outs famous Double-Doubles, milkshakes and French fries cooked in sunflower oil, those clamoring for In-N-Out to expand coast-to-coast will be disappointed by these remarks: Florida has begged us and were still saying no, Snyder said. The East Coast states were still saying no. Snyder also announced the companys corporate office in Irvine will close by 2030, with all operations shifting back to the companys roots at a home office in Baldwin Park. 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. In-N-Out Burger owner Lynsi Snyder is bringing more than just Double-Double hamburgers and animal style fries to Tennessee. The fast-food chain heiress recently said she will also be relocating her family to the Volunteer State, citing Californias burdens on business and family life. In a podcast appearance, Snyder told conservative host Allie Beth Stuckey that she plans to move her family out of California and into Tennessee as In-N-Out establishes its new eastern U.S. headquarters in the Nashville metro area. "There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here," Snyder said. "The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companys expansion into Tennessee was first announced in 2023, when Snyder revealed the company's plans for a corporate headquarters in Franklins Berry Farms neighborhood. A total of 35 In-N-Out restaurants are planned for Tennessee, including locations in Hendersonville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon. President of In-N-Out Burger Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson gives Governor Bill Lee a In-N-Out Burger apron while he shakes hands with her husband, Sean Ellingson, after Lee announces that the restaurant will be coming to Tennessee during a press conference at The Factory of Franklin in Franklin, Tenn., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. At time of publication, an In-N-Out spokesperson did not respond to the Tennessean's request for comment regarding a timeline of when the new restaurants will be opening. Here's everything we know thus far. What In-N-Out locations are planned in Middle Tennessee? Murfreesboro: A site plan for a new restaurant on Medical Center Parkway, near Raising Canes Chicken Fingers, was approved in January. Construction is currently underway, according to Murfreesboro Public Information Officer Mike Browning. Hendersonville: In March, planning commissioners approved a preliminary site plan for a new restaurant at 100 N. Anderson Lane, at the corner of East Main Street. The location, formerly an Exxon station, is near the citys Lowes store. A building permit has not been issued, city officials said. A rendering of the In-N-Out Burger location in Hendersonville. Lebanon: The city has approved plans for a new restaurant on South Hartmann Drive, across from Home Depot. Construction is in progress, according to the Lebanon Planning Department. Mt. Juliet: A design waiver had been granted for a future restaurant at the northeast corner of Golden Bear Gateway and Old Beckwith Road. However, In-N-Out is no longer considering that spot, Mt. Juliet Director of Development Services Jennifer Hamblen said. City officials are hopeful the company can identify another Mt. Juliet location. Madison: A revised plan has been approved for an In-N-Out restaurant near RiverGate Mall, located at 1000 Rivergate Parkway at the northeast corner of Cude Lane and Gallatin Pike, according to Nashville Planning Department documents. Antioch: A new restaurant is planned near Tanger Outlets at Century Farms, off Interstate 24. In-N-Out purchased the property at 4242 Century Farms Terrace for just over $3.95 million in October. The current status of the projects approval process remains unclear. Franklin: Announced in 2023, In-N-Outs corporate hub will include an onsite restaurant. Site preparation is underway, according to Williamson Countys Chief Economic Development Officer Nathan Zipper. The corporate office is expected to bring approximately 275 jobs to the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: In-N-Out donates $300K for infrastructure work at Goodlettsville location In-N-Out expands beyond West Coast with new locations in four states In-N-Out has also targeted locations in other states as it continues expanding beyond the West Coast. The company has recently opened restaurants in Colorado, Texas, and Idaho. As previously reported by USA TODAY, four upcoming locations will be in California, the companys home state, while three additional states are also set to receive new restaurants. New sites include: Surprise, Arizona: 16440 W. Cactus Road Indio, California: 82177 Ave. 42 Modesto, California: 3401 Oakdale Rd. Monrovia, California: 560 W. Huntington Dr. Sylmar, California: 13864 Foothill Blvd. Brighton, Colorado: 3860 Eagle Blvd. Ridgefield, Washington: 5801 Pioneer Canyon Dr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing: Hadley Hitson, Andy Humbles, USA TODAY Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: In-N-Out locations in Tennessee: What we know as burger chain expands For more than 75 years, In-N-Out Burger has been a pillar of California fast-food culture, its Double-Doubles and palm tree logos becoming fixtures of the West Coast landscape. But now, the family-owned chain is making a pivot eastward, with billionaire owner and Chief Executive Lynsi Snyder announcing her own departure from the Golden State. Theres a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here, Snyder said during a recent appearance on the Relatable podcast, hosted by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. The move to Tennessee represents a seismic shift for the leader of the brand. Currently operating more than 400 locations across eight states California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Idaho In-N-Out has long thrived on being the burger chain you couldnt find everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I like that were sought after when someones coming into town. I like that were unique. that were not on every corner," Snyder told Forbes in 2018. "You put us in every state, and it takes away some of its luster. But times, and Snyders position, have changed. The company announced plans in January 2023 to establish a corporate office in Franklin, Tenn., by 2026. In California, the company is consolidating its corporate operations to Baldwin Park, the chains birthplace. The migration reflects a broader corporate exodus from California, with businesses and some billionaires leaving. Tesla, Charles Schwab and Chevron are among the companies that have moved, citing regulatory challenges, operational costs and policy disagreements. During the podcast, Snyder discussed elements of California policy that make the state hard to operate in, specifically referencing pandemic-era restrictions as particularly challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In-N-Out started in 1948 when Harry and Esther Snyder opened their first location on a small piece of land in Baldwin Park. With little money, they created what would become the first drive-through burger chain. Read more: Why In-N-Out has barely changed its business for 75 years not even its fries From those humble beginnings, the chain grew into a part of Southern California mythology, attracting devoted fans from Michelin-starred chefs to celebrities such as Julia Child, who kept a map of all In-N-Out locations in her purse. Harry and Esther Snyder's granddaughter Lynsi became president in 2010 at age 27, making her one of Americas youngest billionaires. Under her leadership, she has largely followed the path set down by her grandparents, maintaining the companys founding principles and her grandfathers own motto: Keep it simple, do one thing and do it the best you can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although at one point Snyder said the company wouldn't expand further east than Texas, her views have changed. She told Stuckey that the bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California. The relocation of both corporate operations and the CEO signals a fundamental change in the companys center of gravity. It will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there, and being able to have the family and other peoples families out there," Snyder said, though she maintains limits on expansion. Florida has begged us, and were still saying no," she said on the podcast. "The East Coast states, were still saying no. In-N-Out did not respond to a request for comment. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Less than a week after the serious boating accident on Canandaigua Lake, another person was injured in a separate boating incident on Irondequoit Bay. Because of this, News 8s Ryan Hermenet took a look at data recorded by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Parks to see how the number of boating accidents has changed in the past 10 years. Across New York State, in 2014, there were a total of 194 boating-related accidents. As a result, there were 27 fatalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, there were 136 boating accidents statewide, which is a 30% decrease from what the state recorded ten years earlier. Of those accidents, there were nine fatalities. Locally, the downward trend can also be seen. For Monroe County, in 2014, there were seven boating accidents. In 2024, four boating accidents were reported. Although these accidents have steadily decreased, first responders continue to remind folks of the importance of boating safety. Lieutenant for the Cheshire Fire Department Rick Roxin gave a few tips for boaters to keep in mind. Be familiar with how to operate your boat so that you can take care of your passengers and avoid other boats, Roxin said. Also, be familiar with the body of water youre on. If theres sandbars, know generally where they are. Also be sure to know what the speed limits might be at a particular time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieutenant Roxin encourages anyone with questions regarding their specific vessel, especially new boaters, to ask an expert before launching it offshore. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 director of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center announced her resignation Monday, marking yet another high-profile departure as questions loom about the agencys budget and future. Makenzie Lystrup, who has served as director of the center in Maryland since April 2023, will leave the agency on Aug. 1, according to a NASA statement. Goddard oversees a number of key NASA missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the OSIRIS-REx mission that collected samples from an asteroid. Lystrups resignation comes less than two months after Laurie Leshin stepped down as director of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Makenzie Lystrup, director of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, during a panel discussion at the 2024 Artemis Suppliers Conference in Washington, D.C. (Joel Kowsky / NASA) The departures are playing out as NASA and other government agencies contend with significant cuts to funding and personnel, as part of a broader push to shrink the size of the federal workforce. Questions are swirling internally at NASA and on Capitol Hill about how the space agency can accomplish its work with far fewer personnel and why such cuts are moving ahead before Congress has authorized the agencys budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, more than 2,000 senior-level employees are set to leave NASA as part of an effort to cut the agencys workforce, as was first reported by Politico. Those include people in senior positions of management and individuals with specialized skills, Politico reported, raising concerns about a brain drain at the space agency. Workers at the space agency have until Friday to accept deferred resignations, buyouts or early retirement offers. President Donald Trumps proposed budget for 2026 would slash about 25%, or more than $6 billion, from NASAs budget. The steepest cuts would come out of the agencys space science, Earth science and mission support divisions, according to the budget blueprint. If enacted by Congress, the budget would also phase out NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, which the agency was developing to return astronauts to the moon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the budget blueprint, more than 280 current and former NASA employees signed a letter to Sean Duffy, NASAs interim administrator, stating that the Trump administrations recent policies have or threaten to waste public resources, compromise human safety, weaken national security, and undermine the core NASA mission. The letter, known as the Voyager Declaration, said the changes have caused catastrophic impacts to the agencys workforce, and have prioritized political momentum over human safety, scientific advancement, and efficient use of public resources. Before Duffy replaced NASAs previous acting administrator, Janet Petro, employees pressed her to explain how the budget cuts and restructuring underway served the best interests of the space agency, according to internal correspondence read by NBC News. Its not clear if Lystrup and Leshins departures are related to the ongoing turmoil at NASA and other government agencies. In NASAs announcement about Leshins resignation, it said she was stepping down for personal reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency did not provide a reason for Lystrups resignation. In an internal email obtained by NBC News, Lystrup said she leaves with confidence in the Goddards leadership team and all of you who will shape the next chapter of this center. I am honored to have been part of this incredible journey with you, she wrote in the email. It has been my privilege. NASA said Monday that Cynthia Simmons, Goddard's deputy director, will take over as acting center director in August. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com FINGER LAKES REIGON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) NASCAR drivers Brad Keselowski (No. 6 of RFK Racing Ford) and Ryan Preece (No. 60 of RFK Racing Ford) are heading to upstate NY. on July 23, around 2p.m., Ryan Preece will learn about the art of winemaking at Bully Hill Vineyards and conduct a meet and greet with select fans. The Watkins Glen International Pace Car and Bully Hill NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck will also be on-site. Around 12 p.m., Brad Keselowski will have lunch with young campers at Sheriffs Summer camp, with Watkins Glen International serving up Sahlens Hot Dogs. Keselowski will then sit down with the kids and teach them all about NASCAR, before ending the day with a fishing trip on Keuka Lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watkins Glen International President Dawn Burlew will also be in attendance at Sheriffs Camp. The NASCAR race weekend will begin at Watkins Glen on August 8 and continue until August 10 with the cup series. For more details about the 2025 NASCAR race weekend at Watkins Glen International, please visit HOME | WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL 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 WIVT - News 34. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman tripled his campaign war chest in a year and raised nearly $1.5 million more than his election opponent in the first half of 2025. The Republican pulled in just under $2 million from PACs, corporations, unions and individual donors between Jan. 15 and July 15, according to the most recent campaign filings while Democrat Seth Koslow only brought in $433,535. Blakeman ended the first six months with a whopping $3.3 million on hand while Koslow a county legislator and attorney from Merrick had $389,855 on hand, the filings showed. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakemans campaign has raised $2 million so far this year. Michael McWeeney Im proud to have earned overwhelming support from hardworking taxpayers, law enforcement, trade unions, and local employers who stand behind my record of holding the line on taxes and keeping Nassau the safest county in America, Blakeman told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county executive raked in nearly 700 individual donations, with about 40 of them over $10,000 apiece, the filings showed. This includes $50,000 each from insurance executive and CEO of The Whitmore Group, James Metzger as well as relatives of Bolla Oil CEO Harvinder Singh, according to the records. Blakeman also took in $25,000 each from two major Republican donors in the nursing home industry Kenneth Gaul of Port Jefferson and Benjamin Landa of Cold Spring Hills the same amount as the estate of Lawrence Herbert, the late inventor of the Pantone color system, according to the filings. Blakeman was boosted by donations of $12,000 from the Nassau PBA, $7,000 from the correction officers union, $2,500 from the Detectives Association, and $2,000 from the superior officers union, the filings showed. Blakemans Democratic opponent Seth Koslow speaking at a Nassau not for sale rally on July 17, 2025. Brigitte Stelzer Koslow bashed Blakeman for taking money from law firms that have active contracts with Nassau. Attorneys with the firm Abrams Fensterman including Frank Carone, the former chief of staff to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and his wife donated $25,000, according to the records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre doing business with the county, odds are youre cutting checks to Bruce, too, Koslow said Thursday outside of the county execs office for a rally, where he placed a for sale sign on his door and accused the incumbent of corruption. Bruce Blakeman didnt raise over $2 million by accident, he did it by auctioning off county contracts like they were concert tickets. If youre a vendor doing business with Nassau, odds are youre cutting checks to Bruce too. Blakeman has raised about $1.5 million more than Koslow this year. Brigitte Stelzer But Blakeman fired back and called Koslows run against him a failing campaign aided by criminal attorneys and radical NYC politicians that want to defund the police and raise taxes. Koslow reported almost 100 more individual donors than Blakeman though in much smaller amounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His backers include $15,000 from state and county Democratic boss Jay Jacobs, $10,000 from Port Washington trader and philanthropist Eric Knight and $8,500 from the New Suburbia PAC, which backs progressive suburban candidates. The election is Nov. 4. DENVER (KDVR) Sunday is National Ice Cream Day. Ice cream lovers across the United States will be eager to enjoy their favorite scoop, but what flavor will Coloradans indulge in the most? Opening date of new Denver metro area Trader Joes announced A study by Beach.com observed data from Google search trends for key terms searched by each state over the last five years. Coloradans had a distinct flavor profile and were listed as the only state that prefers Reeses chocolate as its favorite flavor. Most other states had at least one shared flavor interest with another state, and one flavor was favored in 19 states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several states couldnt make up their mind and logged multiple flavors as their favorite, specifically Wyoming, which had a seven-way tie for the best flavor. Alabama Neopolitan Alaska Chocolate marshmallow Arizona Peanut butter fudge Arkansas Banana pudding California Strawberry shortcake Colorado Reeses chocolate Connecticut Neopolitan, chocolate Delaware Pumpkin cheesecake Florida Neopolitan, chocolate Georgia Neopolitan, black and white cookie Hawaii Black raspberry chocolate chip, mango Idaho Mint chocolate chip, pumpkin cheesecake, spiced pumpkin Illinois Neopolitan, salty caramel pretzel, sea salt honeycomb toffee Indiana Neopolitan, chocolate Iowa Homemade vanilla Kansas Coffee almond fudge, Oreo Kentucky Neopolitan, chocolate Louisiana Neopolitan, chocolate Maine Banana nut, Belgian chocolate, fudge brownie, fudge ripple Maryland Toasted almond fudge Massachusetts Neopolitan, Java Jolt Michigan Neopolitan, Moo-llenium Crunch Minnesota Grooms Cake, Superman Mississippi Homemade vanilla Missouri Black and white cookie, vanilla Montana Butter almond, vanilla Nebraska Peppermint bark Nevada Neopolitan, chocolate New Hampshire Brides Cake New Jersey Neopolitan, Grooms Cake New Mexico Pumpkin pie New York Neopolitan, salty caramel pretzel, sea salt honeycomb toffee North Carolina Salted brown butter cookie North Dakota Acai Ohio Neopolitan, black and white cookie Oklahoma Peppermint bark, strawberries and cream, strawberry Oregon Caramel Delight Pennsylvania Neopolitan, chocolate Rhode Island Brides Cake South Carolina Chocolate, vanilla South Dakota Baileys Irish Cream Tennessee Neopolitan Texas Neopolitan, Grooms Cake Utah Cold brew coffee Vermont Banana fudge, fudge, pistachio almond, praline Virginia Neopolitan, chocolate Washington Neopolitan, Grooms Cake West Virginia Blue Moon Wisconsin Blue Moon, peppermint bark, Superman Wyoming Butter crunch, cannoli, caramel cone, Double Dunker, Dutch chocolate, maple walnut, teaberry Neopolitan was the outright favorite. Plenty of states stuck to the classics like chocolate and vanilla, while others crave pretzel ice cream something one wouldnt find at your local ice cream truck. Some flavors seem to be linked to a region and have not gained as much popularity in other states. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The NC Board of Elections discusses a resolution on county boards on July 21, 2025 (Photo: Lynn Bonner/NC Newsline) North Carolinas county election boards have not been able to meet for about a month, requiring the state Board of Elections at its meeting Monday to allow newly appointed officials to make some overdue decisions about upcoming municipal elections. County election boards havent had any sworn members since late June, so some decisions that in previous years would have been made by now must wait until the next wave of board members officially takes office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the law Republicans passed last year giving the state Auditor the power to make election board appointments, terms for existing board members ended on June 24. The same law says the appointed members take the oath of office the Tuesday following the third Monday in July. Thats July 22. That left a gap during which there was no one empowered to make local policy decisions. In a brief interview before Mondays board meeting, Chairman Francis DeLuca said there had been extensive behind-the-scenes discussions about the situation. He said it wasnt a problem. If nobody complains about it, its not a problem, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Does anyone suffer? Is anyone harmed? Its kind of like no harm, no foul. The candidate filing deadline for municipal elections was last Friday. State law gives county boards the option of extending the candidate filling period as the deadline nears if not enough people sign up to run in nonpartisan races if there are two candidates for three seats, for example. This year, there were no active local boards to make those decisions. The state Board on Monday unanimously approved a resolution allowing the new boards to add five more days for candidate filing where appropriate. Counties with municipalities holding September elections have a July 29 deadline, one week after members are sworn in, to submit their early voting plans to that state Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counties with municipal elections in October or November have an Aug. 8 deadline for submitting their early voting plans. As soon as our new county board members are sworn in, and when they take the oath, we will need them to hit the ground running both on the issue of whether there needs to be an extension for this five-day period, but also on the submission of their early voting plans for any September contest, said Republican board member Stacy Four Eggers. North Carolina is involved in a legal battle to secure $165 million in education funding that is currently frozen as part of a federal review. Millions in federal funds for CMS halted, pending review The funding is part of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which is currently under scrutiny as part of a larger $6 billion review. North Carolina was originally slated to receive $165 million in total from this program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Education Department is conducting a review to determine how the funds are being spent, which has led to the temporary withholding of these funds. This review affects several states, including North Carolina.In response to the funding freeze, North Carolina filed a lawsuit last week, seeking to secure the release of the funds. The outcome of the federal review will determine when North Carolina can access the $1.3 billion in funding, which is crucial for supporting its after-school and summer programs. VIDEO: Nonprofit for children with autism is losing federal funding North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) mingles on the Senate floor ahead of the legislative session's opening day on Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) Republicans in the North Carolina Senate will vote to override Gov. Josh Steins vetoes next week, Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said Monday. The governor, a Democrat, has issued seven vetoes on bills that originated in the Senate. Among them are one to allow permitless carry of handguns, two new immigration enforcement measures, two banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices in schools and a rollback of an emissions goal for Duke Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berger, in a news release, said Steins vetoes indicate that he is out of touch with the people of North Carolina. I look forward to leading Senate Republicans in overriding these harmful vetoes and putting North Carolina families first, Berger said. Veto overrides require approval from three-fifths of members in both chambers. Senate Republicans, who hold a 30-20 veto-proof supermajority, will meet that threshold if all members are present and voting. The vote counting is more precarious in the House, where the GOP holds a 71-49 advantage. Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) has said the override motions can be called up at any time when the House is in session. But all Republicans, as well as one Democrat, will need to vote yes to confirm an override, if all members are present and voting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stein has also vetoed several prominent House bills. Those include a ban on DEI within state agencies and a bill that recognizes exclusively male and female sexes and restricts changes to birth certificates for transgender people. If the House overrides Steins vetoes on those bills, they will go to the Senate for final action. Both chambers are set to come into session next week. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene man accused of attacking a victim in a road rage incident has been arrested. Bryan Nalepa was taken into custody last week for Assault and Deadly Conduct in connection to the incident, which happened outside Panera Bread in Abilene in March. Court documents state a victim called police and reported he was assaulted by a fellow driver, later identified as Nalepa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This victim reported that he had passed Nalepas truck because it was slower moving, so Nalepa then followed him into the parking lot of Panera Bread, according to the documents. The documents state that Nalepa then got out of his truck and approached the victim, and when the victim exited his vehicle, Nalepa attacked him, punching him in the face repeatedly and choking him while saying the victim, needed to die for cutting him off. A third party had to stop the assault, and the documents state this third party also had dash camera video, which allowed police to identify Nalepa as the driver of the truck. Nalepa was released from the Taylor County Jail after posting bonds totaling $9,000. 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. A new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia may take place in Istanbul this week, tentatively scheduled for 2324 July. Source: Independent Turkce, citing diplomatic sources Quote: "Diplomatic sources say that important international diplomatic meetings will take place in Istanbul this week. In addition to negotiations with European countries on Iran's nuclear programme, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are also expected to take place in Istanbul this week." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Journalists say that the parties are not currently disclosing precise information about the location, time and level of the delegations. However, the meeting is likely to take place on Wednesday or Thursday. The parties are expected to focus on issues of humanitarian aid, prisoner exchange, critical infrastructure security and the situation in border areas. It is noted that the location for the meeting is currently being determined, security protocols are being developed, and logistical preparations are underway. The publication notes that the negotiations are to be held behind closed doors. The public will be informed through written statements. Background: On 18 July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed the possibility of holding a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed some of Zohran Mamdanis campaign proposals in New York City as nonsense, saying the Democratic mayoral nominee would only serve one term if elected in November. Netanyahu appeared on The Full Send Podcast with the Nelk Boys Monday. During a wide-ranging interview, Netanyahu and the right-wing podcasters discussed everything from Israels ongoing war in Gaza, Iran and President Donald Trumps love of fast food and candy. As the discussion focused on the rise of antisemitism, Aaron Steiny Steinberg asked about Mamdani, referring to the Democratic mayoral nominee as an antisemite. Mamdani has faced criticism for declining to publicly condemn the use by others of the phrase globalize the intifada but rejected claims that he is antisemitic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu, who had been discussing hatred towards Israel, pivoted to Mamdanis proposals to address affordability in the city. A lot of people have been taken in by this nonsense. You want to defund the police? You want to have people go into stores and rob them and be free, you think that creates a good society? Netanyahu said. Mamdani has said he will not defund the police. Instead, he wants to shift resources around the department to ensure that officers are focusing on the most serious crimes. He has also said he plans to keep the current New York Police Department headcount. New York City has the largest Jewish population of any city outside of Israel, with an estimated 1.2 million Jews. Netanyahus comments could influence opinion among some conservative Jews in New York, though the right-wing prime minister is also unpopular with many liberals and Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani has been critical of Israel and its military actions, which he has labeled a genocide. He has also said that if he were mayor, the city would arrest Netanyahu if he ever visited, citing the International Criminal Courts warrant for the Israeli prime minister. Israel rejects claims that its military operations in Gaza constitute a genocide. A spokesperson for Mamdani did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. In his comments, Netanyahu was critical of Mamdanis proposal to tax the citys wealthiest residents. You want to crush all enterprise? You want to tax people to death? I mean, thats a one-term effort, Netanyahu said. But you know, sometimes you have to get mugged by reality to understand how stupid that is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu said he was not happy with Mamdanis primary election, but he dismissed his candidacy as a temporary folly. Im less concerned with it because I think if we can speak the truth to the young people of America, you know they wise up pretty quickly, he said. The topics of antisemitism and Israel were central in Junes primary election and continue to drive conversation as candidates look ahead to the general election in November. Mamdani is running against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is continuing his bid as a third-party candidate despite a bruising loss to Mamdani last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams and Cuomo have both attacked Mamdani on the issue of antisemitism. Mamdani has repeatedly had to answer questions about globalize the Intifada and recently said he would discourage use of the controversial phrase. But Mamdani has also won the support of several high-profile Jewish leaders, including City Comptroller Brad Lander and US Rep. Jerry Nadler, and vowed to seek an 800% funding increase for the citys anti-hate crime program. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A replacement for Edelstein on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee may be willing to make concessions that Edelstein was not willing to make, thus allowing the bill to proceed. Coalition whip and Likud Knesset faction leader Ofir Katz announced on Monday that the partys MKs will convene on Wednesday in order to elect a replacement forMK Yuli Edelstein as chairperson of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly been deliberating over whether to replace Edelstein, following the fallout last week between the committees chair and haredi (ultra-Orthodox) politicians that led to the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties to exit the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fallout stemmed from the terms in a bill aimed at regulating haredi service in the IDF. Ultra-Orthodox politicians opposed Edelsteins attempts to insert enforcement and oversight mechanisms to ensure that haredim who receive an exemption from IDF service were actually studying in yeshiva. The MK who replaces Edelstein may be willing to make concessions that Edelstein was unwilling to, thus allowing the bill to proceed. According to Katzs announcement, Likud MKs who wish to run for the position must submit their names by Tuesday at 8 p.m., and the vote will be held on Wednesday. Katz did not say whether the ballot would be public or secret. A leading candidate to replace Edelstein is MK Boaz Bismuth, according to a source. Another reported candidate is MK Hanoch Milwidsky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milwidsky is not a permanent member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and would need to first replace one of the existing members before becoming chairperson. Edelstein himself will also run for the position, his spokesperson confirmed. The announcement drew criticism from several politicians and NGOs, who claimed that the move was intended to eventually exempt a majority of haredim from military service. Yair Lapid threatens opposition FADC members will resign if Edelstein replaced Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid announced on Monday afternoon that if Edelstein is replaced, the oppositions MKs in the committee will resign in protest. This would not affect the legislative procedure, but would send a message that the committee no longer dealt with foreign affairs and security but with draft evasion, Lapid said. Evoking a famous quote by first Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion, Lapid added that every Hebrew mother should know that Benjamin Netanyahu is selling her children to the haredim, compromising all of our security, and the very idea of equality before the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former MK and IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, who served as a committee member until resigning approximately three weeks ago, said in a statement that the intention to dismiss Edelstein and appoint a puppet on behalf of Netanyahu is a continuation of the prime ministers cynicism and irresponsibility. He is responsible for the greatest failure since the establishment of the state, Eisenkot continued, all in the name of political survival damaging the IDF as the peoples army and undermining the Knesset as the legislative authority. Over the past three years, I have served as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and of the Subcommittee for Intelligence and Secret Services. On some issues, I disagreed with Edelstein. However, I witnessed responsible, professional, and statesmanlike leadership aimed at advancing national security, he said. Coalition members, stop being silent. It is time for basic civic behavior and to put an end to Netanyahus reckless manipulations, Eisenkot added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While our fighters risk their lives in combat across all fronts, he continues his political juggling at the expense of national security for his own personal and political survival, he said. Edelstein was not the first official to be removed from his position due to his insistence on haredi IDF service. In early June, Netanyahu admitted in a conversation with an unnamed senior rabbi (a recording of which was leaked to Channel 13) that former defense minister Yoav Gallant and former IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi were enormous obstacles that we removed... to advance a draft bill acceptable to the haredi factions in the coalition. You know, when the defense minister is against you and the chief of staff is against you, you cannot move now we can move, Netanyahu was heard saying. The prime minister fired Gallant in November, and Halevi announced his resignation in January, following pressure to do so. NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) Newport police are set to start using cameras for traffic enforcement this week. Speed and red light cameras will be activated on Thursday, July 24, the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Admiral Kalbfus Road. There will be a 30-day warning period to allow drivers to adjust to the new rules, according to police. After that, anyone caught speeding will face a $50 fine per violation, while running a red light will result in a $100 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the cameras will flag drivers going over 35 mph in the 25 mph zone. Nearly two years ago, a 34-year-old Middletown woman was hit and killed while riding an electric bicycle at that same intersection. Police said the initiative aims to enhance road safety and reduce traffic violations in the area. We believe that this program will contribute positively to the safety of our streets and the wellbeing of our community, Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy said. Its important to note that while we are introducing this technology, it will not replace our ongoing police presence and traditional enforcement efforts in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Police ID woman ran over by truck while riding electric bike in Newport Under Rhode Island law, automated speed enforcement systems can be installed by the R.I. Department of Transportation or by cities and towns only if: They are placed within a school zone They use speed detectors and cameras specifically to catch vehicles exceeding the speed limit in those zones A school zone is defined as anywhere within a quarter-mile radius of a school. In this case, Claiborne Pell Elementary School is located near the intersection where the cameras are installed. 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: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. More than a week of sectarian bloodshed in Syria has given way to a wary truce, pausing a fight that drew Israel into an unprecedented confrontation with Syrias new authorities while raising fresh questions on whether those leaders can steer the country past the fractures of its 14-year civil war. The fighting in Sweida, the southern province bordering Jordan and near Israel, began last week between militiamen from the Druze religious minority and Sunni Muslim tribes. It soon embroiled Syrian government forces and Israel in a chaotic battlefield that saw hundreds killed some in sectarian-fueled revenge attacks and more than 128,000 people displaced before a U.S.-backed ceasefire was announced Sunday. The violence underscores the challenges facing the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a rebel-turned-politician whose armed faction spearheaded the ouster of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in December. Since then, Al-Sharaas Islamist-dominated government has struggled to win the trust of minority communities in the country and failed to persuade militias formed during the civil war to disarm or fall under Damascus authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a breakdown of whats happening in Sweida and why many believe it could derail Syrias delicate postwar recovery. How did the clashes start? Before the fighting erupted July 13, tensions were already high after a spate of kidnappings and robberies between Druze communities in Sweida and nearby Bedouin tribes. As the unrest grew into open conflict involving Druze militias and armed Bedouins, the government dispatched its forces to stop the fighting. But some Druze leaders said the government aided the Bedouins instead; they also accused government-aligned security personnel of committing sectarian-motivated rampages, looting and executions against Druze civilians. Read more: Sectarian violence erupts again in Syria, leaving at least 160 dead Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Druze militias launched a counterattack and retaliated with a wave of killings and kidnappings against Bedouin fighters and civilians. Israel entered the fray with an airstrike campaign targeting Syria's security forces and tanks, as well as the army headquarters and the presidential palace in Damascus, the capital. The violence left roughly 1,260 dead, most of them Druze fighters and civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain. It also said government forces carried out summary executions. Included in the death toll are hundreds of state security personnel. Who are the Druze? The Druze, who make up roughly 3% of Syrias population, are members of a syncretic religion that emerged in the 11th century as an offshoot of Shiite Islam. There are roughly 1 million Druze worldwide, more than half of them in Syria, and most of the rest in Lebanon, Israel and the Golan Heights, which Israel has illegally occupied according to international law since 1967. During the civil war, the Druze were largely unwilling to ally with Assad but were wary of the opposition, which was dominated by hard-line Sunni Islamist groups, some of whom viewed Druze as infidels. The Druze formed militias for protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 'From dictatorship to occupation': Syrian civilians caught in Israeli advance When Assad fell, many Druze celebrated. But some spiritual and militia leaders like other minority communities across the country remained suspicious of Al-Sharaa and his Islamist past, which once included affiliation with the terrorist network Al Qaeda. They resisted his calls to disarm and insisted they would cede power only to a representative government. Waves of sectarian attacks have only reinforced their suspicions of Al-Sharaa: In March, government-linked factions massacred about 1,500 people, mostly from the Alawite sect, and in May, clashes in Druze-majority areas near the capital left 39 people dead. How did Israel get involved? Israel has entrenched itself in the neighboring country since Assads fall, with warplanes launching a wide-scale attack to destroy the Syrian armys arsenal even as Israeli tanks and troops blitzed into Syria and commandeered villages near the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, it has consolidated its presence and operated ever deeper in Syrian territory, justifying the moves as necessary for its security and to stop armed groups, government-aligned or otherwise, from launching attacks on Israel from Syrian territory. Israel has also imposed what is in effect a demilitarized zone over southern Syria, including Sweida, preventing the Syrian army from establishing its authority over the region. Read more: Israel bombs Damascus military HQ as sectarian strife rages in Syria Critics say Israel is engaging in a land grab aimed at keeping Syria a weak and fragmented neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another reason for Israels intervention is its own Druze population, a vocal minority of about 145,000 people, some of whom serve in the Israeli military. Over the last few months, Israeli troops have offered assistance to Syrian Druze communities. And when the Sweida fighting began, Israeli Druze citizens demonstrated near the border, calling on the Israeli military to protect their fellow Druze in Syria. Despite those overtures, many Syrian Druze fear Israels growing presence in their areas and have sought a diplomatic resolution to their differences with the Syrian government. Others, such as Hikmat al-Hijri, an influential Druze spiritual leader opposed to Al-Sharaa, have repeatedly called for foreign protection. What is happening with the ceasefire? Hours after the ceasefire took effect late Sunday, the Syrian government evacuated about 1,500 Bedouin family members trapped in Sweida city. Druze civilians were to be evacuated at a later time. Other phases of the truce will see the release of detained Bedouin fighters and the bodies of Bedouins killed in the fighting. Is the U.S. playing a role? The U.S. was involved in brokering the ceasefire. More generally, Trump administration officials have thrown their support behind Al-Sharaa, lifting years-old sanctions that had all but choked the countrys economy and shepherding diplomatic contacts with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters Monday in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said Syrian authorities needed to be held accountable for violations but they also need to be given the responsibility that is theirs. Read more: U.S. envoy doubles down on support for Syria's government and criticizes Israel's intervention Earlier, in an interview with the Associated Press, he deplored the killings but said the Syrian government was acting as best [it] can as a nascent government with very few resources to address the multiplicity of issues that arise in trying to bring a diverse society together. He also suggested Israel wasnt interested in seeing a strong Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strong nation-states are a threat. Especially, Arab states are viewed as a threat to Israel, he said. But in Syria, he said, I think all of the minority communities are smart enough to say, Were better off together, centralized. 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. Salem Woods Fire hydrants, including one at the main entrance, surround the Residence at Salem Woods independent and assisted living facility in Salem. New Hampshire assisted-living facilities affirmed that fire safety is of the utmost importance in their residential communities following a blaze that claimed nine lives at a care facility in Massachusetts last week. On the night of July 13, a fire took the lives of nine residents at Gabriel House, an assisted-living facility in Fall River, Mass. The fire which remains under investigation sparked concern from community members about the safety of care facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Hampshire Fire Marshals Office released a statement in response to the tragedy, emphasizing its commitment to safety in the Granite States health care facilities. The NHSFMO conducts plan reviews and inspections for new and renovated construction work in health care facilities to confirm compliance with applicable state building and fire codes, the office wrote in a statement. Family adviser Jennifer Pinard, who works for The Courvilles assisted-living facilities, said she had more families than usual ask about fire safety protocol at their facilities this week. She emphasized the importance of knowing emergency procedures at care facilities. In New Hampshire, assisted-living and care facilities are required to follow the state fire code. Facilities must submit all fire system plans to the fire department for approval and undergo annual inspections, according to the regulations and fire code for such care residences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are two general categories of residential care facilities: He-P 804, where residents must be able to self-evacuate, and He-P 805, where residents can require more assistance. The Villager, an assisted-living home in Goffstown, is a 16-bed, family-owned retirement home registered as an He-P 804. In our scenario with an 804, if there is a fire drill, all the residents have to be able to get themselves up independently and evacuate the building independently, said Christopher Kelliher, who owns The Villager. In general, if a fire alarm goes off and they dont exit the building, they cant stay at The Villager. Kelliher said The Villager is in the minority, and that most homes operate with a shelter in place system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both The Courvilles and LCB Senior Living groups with multiple large homes in New Hampshire use shelter in place systems in many of their residential communities. Ted Doyle, the vice president of communications at LCB Senior Living, said the companys two homes in Salem and Dover both have infrastructure that allows residents to stay in their apartments during an emergency. Doyle explained that apartments are built with steel frames to ensure greater heat resistance. Each apartment is then isolated, limiting the number of residents that would need to evacuate in the case of a fire. Even though shelter in place facilities limit the need for full evacuations, staff at all homes are regularly trained for any emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinard said that at The Courvilles locations, all staff attend monthly fire drills. Residents are also prepared for emergency situations. Because many care facilities house residents with memory or mobility issues, homes account for these concerns in evacuation procedures. At LCB facilities, the building makes a list of residents who will need greater assistance in evacuating for the fire departments use upon arrival. Doyle said what poses a greater challenge, however, is ensuring the safety of residents with memory loss. Its making sure that they know what they need to do, so that part of the building is secured, first floor, (with) easy access to the outside, Doyle said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While procedures are in place to prepare for an emergency, Doyle said LCB has discussed safety measures and how to improve fire protocol following the incident in Fall River. Number one goal Were constantly looking to be better at that, and honestly, what I would say is the the biggest factor in all of that is the relationship that we have with the fire departments and first responders in our towns, Doyle said. Our number one goal is to keep our residents safe, and anyone who can help us do that, i.e. the fire department and the EMTs and the people who serve us in the case of an emergency, is a relationship that we really count on, he continued. egoncalves@unionleader.com Nick Offerman has called out President Donald Trump after his big, beautiful bill which he signed into law earlier this month slashed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Americas national parks. Matt Winkelmeyer / WireImage / Getty Images Related: Hillary Clinton Just Hit On One Of Donald Trump's Biggest Insecurities With Three Words Let me get this straight, Mr. President. You cut $267 million to get back $90 million. Now, Im no mathematician but I believe thats called shitting the bed, said Offerman in an appearance on Tuesdays episode of The Daily Show. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images But then again, I didnt go to Wharton Business College. Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images The Parks & Recreation star who portrayed libertarian official Ron Swanson turned to several news reports detailing how Americas pastoral gifts are under attack as staffing levels have seen a notable dip across the National Park System since January, per the National Parks Conservation Association. William Campbell / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One clip noted that park scientists, in some cases, have been forced to help clean toilets due to staffing shortages. Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images Related: A Picture Of Donald Trump's Face Being Two Completely Different Colors Is Going Viral For Obvious Reasons Offerman who quipped that the situation is like "Good Will Hunting but in reverse" stressed that the cuts are a huge mistake. Brendon Thorne / Getty Images No scientist has the strength to clean the skid marks of a man whos been eating beans and campfire hot dogs for the past three days! Theyre weak, he joked. Comedy Central / Via youtube.com Related: JD Vances Old Epstein Tweets Are Coming Back To Haunt Him In A Big Way He went on to refer to Trump shaking down foreigners after he issued an executive order earlier this month that calls for foreign tourists to face higher park entry fees, a move that the administration expects to generate more than $90 million annually. Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After highlighting how national parks contributed a record $55.6 billion to the U.S. economy and supported over 415,000 jobs just two years ago, Offerman explained why the parks are a true miracle. Rebecca Noble / Getty Images It is an affordable vacation that everyone can take inside our own borders, whether youre traveling with your family or abandoning your constituents during a crisis, quipped the actor as a photo of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) amid his Cancun controversy appeared on screen. Comedy Central / Via youtube.com Offerman, who recently revealed why Ron Swanson wouldve despised Trump, then mocked the president for speaking so fondly of national parks in years past. Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images for Tribeca Festival Related: He Told People That?: Jon Stewart Was Seriously Shocked By What A Report Is Saying Elon Musk Revealed To People Close To Him He turned to a 2020 clip of Trump who, when referencing sequoia trees at Yosemite National Park, appeared to pronounce the parks name as yo-semites. Win McNamee / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its Yosemite, Offerman remarked. Yo, Semites, is what a bad undercover cop might say to a group of Hasidic Jews. Comedy Central / Via youtube.com Watch Nick on The Daily Show below: This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: "My Generation Will Never Forgive You": 25 Of The Very Best And Very True Political Tweets From The Last Week Also in In the News: AOC Just Tweeted What So Many Are Thinking After Trump's Sudden 180 On The Epstein Files Also in In the News: People Are Howling At This New Portrait Of Donald Trump In The Colorado State Capitol After He Complained About The Old One Read it on BuzzFeed.com BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. (PIX11) A Montville doctor has been accused of sexually assaulting a patient during a medical exam, according to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. The Little Ferry Police Department contacted the prosecutors office special victims unit for an alleged sexual assault that occurred on Friday at the Family Medical Group in Little Ferry. More Local News Further investigation by police and the prosecutors office led to the conclusion that 68-year-old Richard Tancer allegedly assaulted a female patient during an exam at the practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tancer was later arrested and charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact. He was held in Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in court, BCPO said. The investigation is ongoing. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. 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 PIX11. Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill will face off in November to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy in 2025. (Photos by Hal Brown and Amanda Brown) New Jerseys gubernatorial candidates are clashing over a Trump administration plan to house detained migrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled the Fort Dix plan last week in a letter to members of Congress. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor in November, called the move unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a blatant misuse of one of New Jerseys most critical military assets and reduces a vital national security installation to a stage for political theater, which flies in the face of an apolitical military, Sherrill said in a statement. Using the base for detention operations risks degrading operational capacity, places an inappropriate burden on our service members, and harms civil-military relations. She urged the administration to immediately reverse its decision and respect the essential role our servicemembers and military bases play in defending the nation. Her House Democratic colleagues and New Jerseys two U.S. senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats, also oppose the Fort Dix plan. Jack Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman and Sherrills Republican opponent in the fall, blamed Democrats for forcing President Donald Trumps hand. In a statement from his campaign, Ciattarelli said Sherrill and her party are the ones who should be held accountable. NJ Democrats, including Mikie Sherrill, created a crisis by putting out the welcome mat for illegal immigrants with their dangerous Sanctuary State policies. Having created the crisis, they now want to blame the White House for being forced to deal with it. Thats like an arsonist complaining about having started a fire, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the campaign trail, Ciattarelli has sided with Trumps mass deportation efforts. He has said that if elected, on his first day in office he would strike down a state directive limiting local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Sherrill and Ciattarelli are competing to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who cannot seek a third term in November. He leaves office in January. New Jersey has two detention centers for immigrant detainees, Elizabeth Detention Center and Delaney Hall in Newark. Delaney Hall in May became the second migrant jail to open under the new Trump administration. Its opening spurred protests that led to federal charges for Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, for trespassing, and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-10), who is accused of assaulting federal officers. Federal prosecutors dropped the charge against Baraka days after he was arrested. Federal officials are also exploring reopening the Albert M. Bo Robinson Treatment Center, a 1,000-bed facility in Trenton that held state prisoners until 2022, according to records obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union in November. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is cosponsoring the No More Narcos Act and the Stop COYOTES Act in Congress. (Leah Romero / Source NM) Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who represents New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District and many of its border communities introduced two bills last week targeting organized crime in border communities and protecting children and other vulnerable populations. Vasquez introduced the No More Narcos Act and the Stop COYOTES Act on July 16 in the U.S. House of Representatives. He originally introduced the No More Narcos Act in 2024; however, the bill stalled in committee. The bill would establish an educational campaign for middle and high school students attending school within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Students will be informed of the dangers associated with getting involved with cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Justice will lead the campaign in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education and other federal, state and tribal agencies. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-A.Z.) is a cosponsor of the bill. The Stop COYOTES Act, cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-T.X.), would establish harsher penalties for human smuggling and fentanyl trafficking. It would also streamline communication and reporting of trends in drug trafficking, smuggling routes and general cartel activity between the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement. Both bills were referred to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. Representing 180 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, Ive had the opportunity to hear directly from law enforcement, educators, and families about the very real challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations in border towns, Vasquez said in a written statement. My bipartisan bills strengthen our ability to disrupt cartel activity, protect our kids from exploitation, and equip local law enforcement with the tools and coordination they need to keep communities safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A news release from Vasquezs office noted that local education organizations, as well as law enforcement in Las Cruces and Sunland Park support both recently introduced bills. American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Whitney Holland said in a written statement that her organization supports efforts that safeguard the wellbeing of every student in our schools. New Mexicos educators are on the frontlines of keeping our communities safe, and we know that protecting our students from the influence of criminal organizations requires both vigilance and leadership, Holland wrote. Sunland Park Police Chief Eric Lopez added in a written statement that border communities themselves, including Sunland Park, are on the front lines of issues caused by cartels, traffickers and smugglers, and the federal bills would help make children and the overall communities safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through these bills, Rep. Vasquez is leading on the sort of real-world solutions that will crack down on criminals to actually make our schools and streets safer. Working collaboratively with a common goal will ensure our border region stays safe and continues to thrive, Lopez wrote. Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story echoed Lopezs sentiments and commended lawmakers for working in a bipartisan manner to support law enforcement. These bills strike the right balance between prevention, education, and enforcement, and they send a strong message that exploiting our kids or flooding our communities with fentanyl will not be tolerated, Story said in a written statement. In February, Vasquez and Ciscomani sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on behalf of the Bipartisan Southwest Caucus voicing their support of efforts to dismantle criminal organizations and activity along the border with Mexico and encouraging collaboration with lawmakers representing those communities. We stand ready to support strategic and commonsense efforts to combat cartels, keep our nation safe, and foster a healthy relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, the letter reads. These efforts are integral to safeguarding Americans from the dangers posed by the cartels and ensuring that American business, consumers, and families can thrive. A sign for an emergency room. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) Congress set aside $50 billion for rural hospitals and medical providers to allay fears over the billions more in historic cuts to federal health care spending that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day. But is that bandage big enough to save struggling rural hospitals? I have more questions than I have answers, said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, a nonprofit policy group. No one has those answers yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morgan noted that the new money for rural health, to be spent over five years, is far less than the $155 billion in rural Medicaid spending cuts over 10 years, as estimated by KFF, a nonprofit health policy and research group. Experts, hospital leaders, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fear that Trumps signature legislation will particularly gut rural hospitals and clinics, which see an outsize share of patients who are insured through Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance for people with low incomes. The new law slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years to help pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The $50 billion addition was an effort by Republican leaders in Congress to win the votes of colleagues within their party who initially balked at supporting such steep cuts to Medicaid and other health services. In the U.S. Senate, the rural program helped secure the vote of Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed concern about the laws impact on health care in her state. About 1 in 3 Alaskans are insured through Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jared Kosin, the president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association, said hes deeply frustrated with the new laws gutting of Medicaid funding, which he thinks will wreak lasting damage on Alaskans. And Republicans sidestepped potential solutions by just throwing money into a program, he said. Its frustrating in the public realm when decisions like this are made fast and, frankly, carelessly, he said. The consequences are going to fall on us, not them. More than half of the laws cuts to funding in rural areas are concentrated in 12 states with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people, according to KFF: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some GOP lawmakers in Congress have heralded the $50 billion rural program as a health care victory. But its still unclear which hospitals, clinics and other providers would receive money and how much. How it works The Rural Health Transformation Program will dole out $10 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. States must apply for their funding by the end of this year, submitting a detailed plan on how it would be used. The law outlines some ways that states can use the money, according to an analysis of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center: Making payments to rural hospitals to help them maintain essential services such as emergency room care or labor and delivery. Recruiting and training rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. Bolstering emergency medical services such as ambulances and EMTs. Using new technologies, including telehealth. Providing opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. Improving preventive care and chronic disease management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Half of the $10 billion each year will be distributed evenly across states that have applied for it. The other half can be distributed by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services currently Dr. Mehmet Oz at his discretion, based on a states rural population and rural health facilities. Although the program doesnt replace the amount states are likely to lose, Morgan said its still an opportunity to rethink how rural health care is funded. Hed like to see states given flexibility in how theyre able to use the funds, and he hopes they focus on keeping rural communities healthy through preventive care while still helping hospitals keep their doors open. If done correctly, it could really change the future course for rural America, Morgan said. That is such a tough ask, though. Hardest hit Kentucky could take the biggest hit from the new laws reduction in rural Medicaid funding, losing an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, according to a KFF analysis. The states Medicaid department is still waiting for additional federal guidance to understand how the states program will be affected, Kendra Steele, spokesperson with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told Stateline in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 1.4 million Kentuckians rely on Medicaid including half of all children in our state, seniors and more vulnerable populations and the passage of legislation on the federal level will have serious impacts for those individuals, rural health care and hospitals and local economies, she wrote. Even with the new program, states across the country will have to reevaluate their budgets in light of the cuts, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan group that supports states in developing health care policies. Every region is slightly different and theres not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said. Hospital ownership varies [as well as] the types of services that are critical for the community where theyre located. They have to think about new ways to provide those services in a context with fewer resources. About 44% of rural hospitals are operating in the red, according to a KFF analysis of Rand Hospital Data, a higher share than the 35% of hospitals in urban areas. Rural at heart Prior to the bills passage, Oz attempted to reassure U.S. House Republicans that their districts could get money from the program even if they werent specifically rural, Politico reported earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said money would begin flowing to his district as early as the beginning of next year, telling the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader earlier this month that he met with Trump, Oz and others to secure pledges that hospitals in his district could access the fund. He represents the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, which includes suburban and rural areas, as well as the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Though the legislation includes guidelines on which facilities or areas qualify as rural, Morgan, of the National Rural Health Association, expects a mad dash from lawmakers and providers to claim rural status in order to get a piece of the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats going to be a huge issue defining whos rural, Morgan said. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A ranch owner brings in a load of hay from her ranch in Texas in 2024. Experts and lawmakers worry a new $50 billion program designed to help struggling rural health care providers may not be enough to offset federal funding losses. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Congress set aside $50 billion for rural hospitals and medical providers to allay fears over the billions more in historic cuts to federal health care spending that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day. But is that bandage big enough to save struggling rural hospitals? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have more questions than I have answers, said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, a nonprofit policy group. No one has those answers yet. Morgan noted that the new money for rural health, to be spent over five years, is far less than the $155 billion in rural Medicaid spending cuts over 10 years, as estimated by KFF, a nonprofit health policy and research group. Experts, hospital leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fear that Trumps signature legislation will particularly gut rural hospitals and clinics, which see an outsize share of patients who are insured through Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance for people with low incomes. The new law slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years to help pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The $50 billion addition was an effort by Republican leaders in Congress to win the votes of colleagues within their party who initially balked at supporting such steep cuts to Medicaid and other health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S. Senate, the rural program helped secure the vote of Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed concern about the laws impact on health care in her state. About 1 in 3 Alaskans are insured through Medicaid. Jared Kosin, the president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association, said hes deeply frustrated with the new laws gutting of Medicaid funding, which he thinks will wreak lasting damage on Alaskans. And Republicans sidestepped potential solutions by just throwing money into a program, he said. Its frustrating in the public realm when decisions like this are made fast and, frankly, carelessly, he said. The consequences are going to fall on us, not them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half of the laws cuts to funding in rural areas are concentrated in 12 states with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people, according to KFF: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some GOP lawmakers in Congress have heralded the $50 billion rural program as a health care victory. But its still unclear which hospitals, clinics and other providers would receive money and how much. How it works The Rural Health Transformation Program will dole out $10 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. States must apply for their funding by the end of this year, submitting a detailed plan on how it would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law outlines some ways that states can use the money, according to an analysis of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center: Making payments to rural hospitals to help them maintain essential services such as emergency room care or labor and delivery. Recruiting and training rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. Bolstering emergency medical services such as ambulances and EMTs. Using new technologies, including telehealth. Providing opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. Improving preventive care and chronic disease management. Half of the $10 billion each year will be distributed evenly across states that have applied for it. The other half can be distributed by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services currently Dr. Mehmet Oz at his discretion, based on a states rural population and rural health facilities. Although the program doesnt replace the amount states are likely to lose, Morgan said its still an opportunity to rethink how rural health care is funded. Hed like to see states given flexibility in how theyre able to use the funds, and he hopes they focus on keeping rural communities healthy through preventive care while still helping hospitals keep their doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If done correctly, it could really change the future course for rural America, Morgan said. That is such a tough ask, though. Hardest hit Kentucky could take the biggest hit from the new laws reduction in rural Medicaid funding, losing an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, according to a KFF analysis. The states Medicaid department is still waiting for additional federal guidance to understand how the states program will be affected, Kendra Steele, spokesperson with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told Stateline in a statement. Over 1.4 million Kentuckians rely on Medicaid including half of all children in our state, seniors and more vulnerable populations and the passage of legislation on the federal level will have serious impacts for those individuals, rural health care and hospitals and local economies, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the new program, states across the country will have to reevaluate their budgets in light of the cuts, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan group that supports states in developing health care policies. Every region is slightly different and theres not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said. Hospital ownership varies [as well as] the types of services that are critical for the community where theyre located. They have to think about new ways to provide those services in a context with fewer resources. About 44% of rural hospitals are operating in the red, according to a KFF analysis of Rand Hospital Data, a higher share than the 35% of hospitals in urban areas. Rural at heart Prior to the bills passage, Oz attempted to reassure U.S. House Republicans that their districts could get money from the program even if they werent specifically rural, Politico reported earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said money would begin flowing to his district as early as the beginning of next year, telling the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader earlier this month that he met with Trump, Oz and others to secure pledges that hospitals in his district could access the fund. He represents the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, which includes suburban and rural areas, as well as the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Though the legislation includes guidelines on which facilities or areas qualify as rural, Morgan, of the National Rural Health Association, expects a mad dash from lawmakers and providers to claim rural status in order to get a piece of the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats going to be a huge issue defining whos rural, Morgan said. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Ari Scheer, left, and Marcus Epps explore a rock formation in Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, May 18, 2023, as a storm begins to hit the Pikes Peak Region. Scheer and Epps moved to Colorado Springs about three week ago from Atlanta, Ga. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) Seventy-four-year-old Janice Vickers brings in a load of hay from their ranch in Nocona, Texas that she and her husband were donating to help ranchers affected by the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 04, 2024 in Pampa, Texas. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Congress set aside $50 billion for rural hospitals and medical providers to allay fears over the billions more in historic cuts to federal health care spending that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day. But is that bandage big enough to save struggling rural hospitals? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have more questions than I have answers, said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, a nonprofit policy group. No one has those answers yet. Morgan noted that the new money for rural health, to be spent over five years, is far less than the $155 billion in rural Medicaid spending cuts over 10 years, as estimated by KFF, a nonprofit health policy and research group. In Pennsylvania, the loss would be $6.38 billion over the next decade. More than half of the laws cuts to funding in rural areas are concentrated in 12 states with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people, according to KFF: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Experts, hospital leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fear that Trumps signature legislation will particularly gut rural hospitals and clinics, which see an outsize share of patients who are insured through Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance for people with low incomes. The new law slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years to help pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The $50 billion addition was an effort by Republican leaders in Congress to win the votes of colleagues within their party who initially balked at supporting such steep cuts to Medicaid and other health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S. Senate, the rural program helped secure the vote of Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed concern about the laws impact on health care in her state. About 1 in 3 Alaskans are insured through Medicaid. Jared Kosin, the president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association, said hes deeply frustrated with the new laws gutting of Medicaid funding, which he thinks will wreak lasting damage on Alaskans. And Republicans sidestepped potential solutions by just throwing money into a program, he said. Its frustrating in the public realm when decisions like this are made fast and, frankly, carelessly, he said. The consequences are going to fall on us, not them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some GOP lawmakers in Congress have heralded the $50 billion rural program as a health care victory. But its still unclear which hospitals, clinics and other providers would receive money and how much. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE How it works The Rural Health Transformation Program will dole out $10 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. States must apply for their funding by the end of this year, submitting a detailed plan on how it would be used. The law outlines some ways that states can use the money, according to an analysis of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center: Making payments to rural hospitals to help them maintain essential services such as emergency room care or labor and delivery. Recruiting and training rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. Bolstering emergency medical services such as ambulances and EMTs. Using new technologies, including telehealth. Providing opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. Improving preventive care and chronic disease management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Half of the $10 billion each year will be distributed evenly across states that have applied for it. The other half can be distributed by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services currently Dr. Mehmet Oz at his discretion, based on a states rural population and rural health facilities. Although the program doesnt replace the amount states are likely to lose, Morgan said its still an opportunity to rethink how rural health care is funded. Hed like to see states given flexibility in how theyre able to use the funds, and he hopes they focus on keeping rural communities healthy through preventive care while still helping hospitals keep their doors open. If done correctly, it could really change the future course for rural America, Morgan said. That is such a tough ask, though. Hardest hit Kentucky could take the biggest hit from the new laws reduction in rural Medicaid funding, losing an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, according to a KFF analysis. The states Medicaid department is still waiting for additional federal guidance to understand how the states program will be affected, Kendra Steele, spokesperson with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told Stateline in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 1.4 million Kentuckians rely on Medicaid including half of all children in our state, seniors and more vulnerable populations and the passage of legislation on the federal level will have serious impacts for those individuals, rural health care and hospitals and local economies, she wrote. Even with the new program, states across the country will have to reevaluate their budgets in light of the cuts, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan group that supports states in developing health care policies. Every region is slightly different and theres not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said. Hospital ownership varies [as well as] the types of services that are critical for the community where theyre located. They have to think about new ways to provide those services in a context with fewer resources. About 44% of rural hospitals are operating in the red, according to a KFF analysis of Rand Hospital Data, a higher share than the 35% of hospitals in urban areas. Rural at heart Prior to the bills passage, Oz attempted to reassure U.S. House Republicans that their districts could get money from the program even if they werent specifically rural, Politico reported earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said money would begin flowing to his district as early as the beginning of next year, telling the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader earlier this month that he met with Trump, Oz and others to secure pledges that hospitals in his district could access the fund. He represents the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, which includes suburban and rural areas, as well as the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Though the legislation includes guidelines on which facilities or areas qualify as rural, Morgan, of the National Rural Health Association, expects a mad dash from lawmakers and providers to claim rural status in order to get a piece of the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats going to be a huge issue defining whos rural, Morgan said. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Janice Vickers, 74, brings in a load of hay from their ranch in Nocona, Texas, that she and her husband were donating to help ranchers affected by the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 4, 2024 in Pampa, Texas. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Congress set aside $50 billion for rural hospitals and medical providers to allay fears over the billions more in historic cuts to federal health care spending that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day. But is that bandage big enough to save struggling rural hospitals? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have more questions than I have answers, said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, a nonprofit policy group. No one has those answers yet. Morgan noted that the new money for rural health, to be spent over five years, is far less than the $155 billion in rural Medicaid spending cuts over 10 years, as estimated by KFF, a nonprofit health policy and research group. Experts, hospital leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fear that Trumps signature legislation will particularly gut rural hospitals and clinics, which see an outsize share of patients who are insured through Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance for people with low incomes. The new law slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years to help pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The $50 billion addition was an effort by Republican leaders in Congress to win the votes of colleagues within their party who initially balked at supporting such steep cuts to Medicaid and other health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S. Senate, the rural program helped secure the vote of Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed concern about the laws impact on health care in her state. About 1 in 3 Alaskans are insured through Medicaid. Jared Kosin, the president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association, said hes deeply frustrated with the new laws gutting of Medicaid funding, which he thinks will wreak lasting damage on Alaskans. And Republicans sidestepped potential solutions by just throwing money into a program, he said. Its frustrating in the public realm when decisions like this are made fast and, frankly, carelessly, he said. The consequences are going to fall on us, not them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half of the laws cuts to funding in rural areas are concentrated in 12 states with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people, according to KFF: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some GOP lawmakers in Congress have heralded the $50 billion rural program as a health care victory. But its still unclear which hospitals, clinics and other providers would receive money and how much. How it works The Rural Health Transformation Program will dole out $10 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. States must apply for their funding by the end of this year, submitting a detailed plan on how it would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law outlines some ways that states can use the money, according to an analysis of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center: Making payments to rural hospitals to help them maintain essential services such as emergency room care or labor and delivery. Recruiting and training rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. Bolstering emergency medical services such as ambulances and EMTs. Using new technologies, including telehealth. Providing opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. Improving preventive care and chronic disease management. Half of the $10 billion each year will be distributed evenly across states that have applied for it. The other half can be distributed by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services currently Dr. Mehmet Oz at his discretion, based on a states rural population and rural health facilities. Although the program doesnt replace the amount states are likely to lose, Morgan said its still an opportunity to rethink how rural health care is funded. Hed like to see states given flexibility in how theyre able to use the funds, and he hopes they focus on keeping rural communities healthy through preventive care while still helping hospitals keep their doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If done correctly, it could really change the future course for rural America, Morgan said. That is such a tough ask, though. Hardest hit Kentucky could take the biggest hit from the new laws reduction in rural Medicaid funding, losing an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, according to a KFF analysis. The states Medicaid department is still waiting for additional federal guidance to understand how the states program will be affected, Kendra Steele, spokesperson with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told Stateline in a statement. Over 1.4 million Kentuckians rely on Medicaid including half of all children in our state, seniors and more vulnerable populations and the passage of legislation on the federal level will have serious impacts for those individuals, rural health care and hospitals and local economies, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the new program, states across the country will have to reevaluate their budgets in light of the cuts, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan group that supports states in developing health care policies. Every region is slightly different and theres not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said. Hospital ownership varies [as well as] the types of services that are critical for the community where theyre located. They have to think about new ways to provide those services in a context with fewer resources. About 44% of rural hospitals are operating in the red, according to a KFF analysis of Rand Hospital Data, a higher share than the 35% of hospitals in urban areas. Rural at heart Prior to the bills passage, Oz attempted to reassure U.S. House Republicans that their districts could get money from the program even if they werent specifically rural, Politico reported earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Alan Morgan, National Rural Health Association CEO Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said money would begin flowing to his district as early as the beginning of next year, telling the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader earlier this month that he met with Trump, Oz and others to secure pledges that hospitals in his district could access the fund. He represents the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, which includes suburban and rural areas, as well as the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Though the legislation includes guidelines on which facilities or areas qualify as rural, Morgan, of the National Rural Health Association, expects a mad dash from lawmakers and providers to claim rural status in order to get a piece of the funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats going to be a huge issue defining whos rural, Morgan said. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This report was originally published at Stateline, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Patients have their blood pressure checked and other vitals taken at an intake triage at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) mobile dental and medical clinic in Grundy, Va. Medicaid cuts would hit working-age adults who live in small towns and rural areas especially hard. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images. Congress set aside $50 billion for rural hospitals and medical providers to allay fears over the billions more in historic cuts to federal health care spending that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day. But is that bandage big enough to save struggling rural hospitals? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have more questions than I have answers, said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, a nonprofit policy group. No one has those answers yet. Morgan noted that the new money for rural health, to be spent over five years, is far less than the $155 billion in rural Medicaid spending cuts over 10 years, as estimated by KFF, a nonprofit health policy and research group. Experts, hospital leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fear that Trumps signature legislation will particularly gut rural hospitals and clinics, which see an outsize share of patients who are insured through Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance for people with low incomes. The new law slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years to help pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The $50 billion addition was an effort by Republican leaders in Congress to win the votes of colleagues within their party who initially balked at supporting such steep cuts to Medicaid and other health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S. Senate, the rural program helped secure the vote of Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed concern about the laws impact on health care in her state. About 1 in 3 Alaskans are insured through Medicaid. Jared Kosin, the president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association, said hes deeply frustrated with the new laws gutting of Medicaid funding, which he thinks will wreak lasting damage on Alaskans. And Republicans sidestepped potential solutions by just throwing money into a program, he said. Its frustrating in the public realm when decisions like this are made fast and, frankly, carelessly, he said. The consequences are going to fall on us, not them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half of the laws cuts to funding in rural areas are concentrated in 12 states with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people, according to KFF: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some GOP lawmakers in Congress have heralded the $50 billion rural program as a health care victory. But its still unclear which hospitals, clinics and other providers would receive money and how much. How it works The Rural Health Transformation Program will dole out $10 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. States must apply for their funding by the end of this year, submitting a detailed plan on how it would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law outlines some ways that states can use the money, according to an analysis of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center: Making payments to rural hospitals to help them maintain essential services such as emergency room care or labor and delivery. Recruiting and training rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. Bolstering emergency medical services such as ambulances and EMTs. Using new technologies, including telehealth. Providing opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. Improving preventive care and chronic disease management. Half of the $10 billion each year will be distributed evenly across states that have applied for it. The other half can be distributed by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services currently Dr. Mehmet Oz at his discretion, based on a states rural population and rural health facilities. Although the program doesnt replace the amount states are likely to lose, Morgan said its still an opportunity to rethink how rural health care is funded. Hed like to see states given flexibility in how theyre able to use the funds, and he hopes they focus on keeping rural communities healthy through preventive care while still helping hospitals keep their doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If done correctly, it could really change the future course for rural America, Morgan said. That is such a tough ask, though. Hardest hit Kentucky could take the biggest hit from the new laws reduction in rural Medicaid funding, losing an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, according to a KFF analysis. The states Medicaid department is still waiting for additional federal guidance to understand how the states program will be affected, Kendra Steele, spokesperson with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told Stateline in a statement. Over 1.4 million Kentuckians rely on Medicaid including half of all children in our state, seniors and more vulnerable populations and the passage of legislation on the federal level will have serious impacts for those individuals, rural health care and hospitals and local economies, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the new program, states across the country will have to reevaluate their budgets in light of the cuts, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan group that supports states in developing health care policies. Every region is slightly different and theres not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said. Hospital ownership varies [as well as] the types of services that are critical for the community where theyre located. They have to think about new ways to provide those services in a context with fewer resources. About 44% of rural hospitals are operating in the red, according to a KFF analysis of Rand Hospital Data, a higher share than the 35% of hospitals in urban areas. Rural at heart Prior to the bills passage, Oz attempted to reassure U.S. House Republicans that their districts could get money from the program even if they werent specifically rural, Politico reported earlier this month. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said money would begin flowing to his district as early as the beginning of next year, telling the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader earlier this month that he met with Trump, Oz and others to secure pledges that hospitals in his district could access the fund. He represents the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, which includes suburban and rural areas, as well as the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the legislation includes guidelines on which facilities or areas qualify as rural, Morgan, of the National Rural Health Association, expects a mad dash from lawmakers and providers to claim rural status in order to get a piece of the funding. Thats going to be a huge issue defining whos rural, Morgan said. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. Like Minnesota Reformer, Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. A viral rumor is going around TikTok that President Donald Trump only has four days to live, but it isn't true. Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency that has caused swelling in his lower legs. The White House physician described the condition as "benign and common," and the White House said it is common for people in their 70s. (Trump turned 79 years old on June 14.) Several videos on TikTok say the president only has four days left, some with hundreds of thousands of likes. There is no indication that is true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The president remains in excellent health," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the July 17 briefing, where she announced the condition. She also told reporters he wasn't in any pain. More: Can Donald Trump run for president in 2028? Constitution sets two-term limit White House gives Trump's health news update Swollen ankle of U.S. President Donald Trump as he meets with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. In a July 17, 2025 press briefing, U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from his doctor that President Trump has a chronic venous insufficiency". Photos from Trump's recent appearances have shown swelling around Trump's ankles and bruising on the back of his right hand. Leavitt gave an update on the results of the president's health tests on July 17 following media speculation about the visible symptoms. He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency or CVI, which occurs when leg veins fail to send blood back to the heart properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bruising on the back of his hand was caused by frequent handshaking and aspirin, the White House said. Make-up partially covers the back of the right hand of U.S. President Donald Trump as he shakes hands with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. In a July 17, 2025 press briefing, U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from his doctor that President Trump has a chronic venous insufficiency". As part of his testing, Trump underwent an echocardiogram, diagnostic vascular studies, bloodwork and ultrasounds. "Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease," White House physician Capt. Sean Barbabella said in a July 17 memo. "All (lab work) results were within normal limits." How old is Donald Trump? Trump turned 79 on June 14. He shares the record with former President Joe Biden for the oldest president at their swearing-in. When is Trump's term up? Trump is in his second term, which ends in 2029. Presidents are limited to two terms by the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing: Joey Garrison and Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump has '4 days left' to live is a false TikTok rumor. What to know Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem blamed New York Citys sanctuary city policies for the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer over the weekend. Noem said in a statement Monday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have caught a second suspect connected to the shooting early that morning. Noem identified the person as Christhian Aybar-Berroa, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who is living in the U.S. illegally and has a significant criminal record, and lamented that he had not been apprehended sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christhian Aybar-Berroa, is an illegal from the Dominican Republic. He entered the country illegally in 2022 under the Biden Administration and was ordered for final removed in 2023 by an immigration judge, Noem wrote in a statement on the social platform X on Monday. He has a criminal record in New York City and detainers were IGNORED thanks to @ericadamsfornyc sanctuary city policies, Noem continued, referring to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who is running for reelection as an independent candidate. He was arrested for reckless endangerment and larceny and was released before ICE could get him off the streets, Noem added. Noem reiterated that sentiment at a press conference Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City. He was arrested four different times in New York City, and because of the mayors policies and sanctuary city policies, was released back to do harm to people and to individuals living in this city, Noem said at the press conference. Make no mistake, this officer is in the hospital today, fighting for his life because of the policies of the mayor of this city and the city council and the people that were in charge of keeping the public safe, they refused to do so, and now we have the situation on our hand where someone who has dedicated their lives to protecting the public is now fighting for his own, she continued. A 42-year-old Border Patrol officer was injured late Saturday in what officials described as an apparent botched robbery in a park under the George Washington Bridge. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the officer was shot in the face and the arm after he was approached by two men on a moped while sitting with a woman in a park just before midnight. When one man got off and approached the officer, the officer drew his service weapon and the two exchanged fire, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the man attempting the robbery was injured before he drove away with the moped driver. Police earlier took a person of interest, 21-year-old Miguel Mora, into custody after he arrived at a Bronx hospital to be treated for wounds to the groin and leg. Officials had been looking for the second suspect connected to the shooting through the weekend. Mora is an immigrant living in the country illegally and has an extensive criminal history, Tisch said, adding that he entered the U.S. illegally through Arizona in 2023 and was arrested twice in New York for domestic violence. He was also wanted in New York on accusations of robbery and felony assault, Tisch said. In Massachusetts, he was wanted in a case involving stolen weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014 signed a sanctuary city bill, which remains the law in New York City, even as Adams has stressed his interest in cooperating with the Trump administration to enforce its immigration agenda. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared to take great exception during a press conference Friday after a reporter pointed out that numerous people have said they were racially profiled by immigration agents, as the Trump administration seeks to accomplish the presidents goal of prosecuting the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. That has been another false narrative that has been put out there in the media that I absolutely want to throw back at you and say that is absolutely false. And dont you dare ever say that again. We have judges out there and other individuals saying people have been targeted that way, and its not true, Noem said. Noems indignation notwithstanding, evidence of discrimination abounds. Numerous Americans say they were racially profiled as part of ICEs anti-immigrant roundups. Trumps deportation czar, Tom Homan, seemed to accept such profiling as par for the course in recent comments to Fox News, admitting that ICE is conducting arrests based in part on peoples physical appearance. As Noem herself mentioned, a federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to cease some of its anti-immigration tactics in Southern California after a mountain of evidence showed law enforcement had engaged in profiling. During last years presidential campaign, even Trump himself promoted the idea of nationalizing stop-and-frisk, the dubious policing practice that facilitates racial profiling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As harrowing stories and scenes from Trumps anti-immigrant crackdown continue to go viral on social media, recent polling data shows a majority of Americans disapprove of the Trump administrations harsh and at times, deliberately cruel anti-immigrant agenda. The administration is fighting a growing perception that its often masked, anonymous immigration enforcement agents are targeting nonwhite people, and Noems outburst suggests that officials may be frustrated by their inability to spin that narrative. The homeland security secretary also held an event Thursday in the district of Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who said he was targeted for removal prior to that press conference. He appeared later on MSNBCs The Weekend and denounced Noems audacity for reprimanding the reporter who asked about racial profiling. Watch a clip of his appearance here: This article was originally published on MSNBC.com SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The state is making some changes to property taxes, which is forcing The City of Sioux Falls to make its own cuts. An email sent out this week from Downtown Sioux Falls says the city of Sioux Falls is looking at budget cuts that could take away $150,000 every year from the Downtown Ambassador Program. The program involves a seven-person team that operates every day from seven in the morning until seven at night, keeping an eye on different sanitation and safety issues. Sanitation is pretty critical to what they do beyond trash cans, Brandon Hanson said. It includes, removing graffiti inside the car washing or removing by hand stickers or fliers. Just keeping downtown beautiful, and kind of preserving that small town charm of what downtown Sioux Falls offers the community. City council chair Rich Merkouris says the city isnt looking to reduce the ambassador program. I dont think theres any desire from the citys perspective that Im aware of to see the ambassador program be minimized or go away in any form or fashion. Rich M said. So I think theres strong support for the ambassador program. There has to be conversation on the funding method and the level of support from the city. Nevertheless Merkouris says that next week they will see the mayors recommended budget for 2026 and will be expecting a few cuts to multiple programs in the area. One of the things thats been discussed is, how many of our outsourcing contracts will be cut? That will be some subsidies to nonprofits. Our contract for service to nonprofits. We havent seen the recommended budget yet, so we dont know exactly where everythings going to fall, Merkouris said. On average the ambassadors complete 1,400 tasks per day. If there were to be budget cuts, that would significantly impact the program. Hanson says that these budget cuts could remove certain programs they offer such as the flower program. He says they also would have to scale back on services such as trash cleanup. Its a tough time. Its weird, I think for everybody its gonna be really tough on the nonprofits. And, we want to see everyone succeed. And thats kind of the model of DTSF. And so, these are tough decisions. said Hanson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downtown Sioux Falls is encouraging you to email the City Councilors before July 23rd to request preservation for Downtown Ambassadors and share your own stories of positive Ambassador interactions or how this program has helped your business, employees, or customers. SDPB devastated by public broadcasting cuts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A local nonprofit that wants to advance investments in nature-based solutions to protect the watershed and its communities is circulating an unofficial draft bill requesting that the Honolulu City Council establish a so-called Ala Wai Watershed Special Improvement District No. 6. The draft bill for Council considerationwhich, on Page 3, includes space for Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardis final approving signaturewas prepared and sponsored by Hawai i Green Growth (HGG ) and one of its five working groups, the Ala Wai Watershed Collaboration. The 12-page bill proposes the creation of an Ala Wai Watershed (AWW ) District to restore natural ecosystems, remove invasive species, develop water quality improvement projects and bolster community resilience against potentially disastrous floods or similar events along the watershed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 12, 048 acres in size and ranging from South Shore beaches like Waikiki, to a portion of urban Kakaako, to the valley area communities of Makiki, Manoa and Palolo, the Ala Wai Watershed encompasses the most densely populated part of Oahu, excluding downtown Honolulu. It also comprises 10 neighborhood boards, three Council districts, and 10 state House and four state Senate seats, respectively. Cyrus Howe, HGGs operations manager, said, The goal is similar to the other improvement districts that we have around town like in Waikiki and Fort Street Mall. But this one, the purpose is really to more efficiently advance nature-based solutions, anything that can improve the risk of flood and also just all the brown water runoff that comes with urban development. The plan would hopefully contribute to aquifer recharge as well, he added. Unlike other special improvement districts on Oahuincluding the Waikiki Beach SID which leverages annual assessments on commercial property owners within the islands prime tourist zonethe AWW District would tentatively create a no-tax entity for an initial term of five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, a Community Investment Vehicle, or CIVic, is under considerationone that would potentially form an independent nonprofit to fund, implement, and govern long-term investment in this reef to ridge special improvement district. The draft bills mission statement asserts that, The AWW District will engage the community and provide a central hub for connecting stakeholders and sharing best practices in long-range planning for the watershed, adapting to evolving environmental conditions, implementing and maintaining green infrastructure, managing stormwater on a watershed basis, addressing pollution sources and restoring natural ecosystems. It adds, The Ala Wai Watershed District shall work in partnership with government, community, and the private sector to develop and implement programs that promote the overall vitality and resilience of the Ala Wai watershed. Funding questioned Howe said contrary to prior versions of the groups draft bill, which he claimed date back many years, the newly revised measure for a AWW District does not include funding via assessments to property owners, or individual parcel IDs, located within the Ala Wai Watershed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prior version had involved a 115-page addendum to the older draft bill, listing what appeared to be thousands of potentially taxable land parcels. All of the things that have happened, like the sewer rates going up and everything, has led us to this new revised draft, Howe said. So we talked with Protect Our Ala Wai Watersheds (group ), and they were really helpful in helping update this bill. Those updates excluded all of the tax, he added. Instead, the proposed AWW District may access local state or city and county grants to fund and maintain restoration activities, Howe said. As currently drafted, the AWW District would have its own board of directorsprovisionally conceived as having no more than 18 members, including 13 voting and five nonvoting board members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To further promote the measure, Howe said his group plans to meet with all nine Council members about their draft bill. Really, we just want to kind of take our time to present it to the City Council so that it isnt sort of dead on arrival, so that it actually resonates with them and makes sense, he added. We plan to meet with other Council members and get their input, even if their districts arent in this watershed. He noted the group will try to seek sponsorship from Council member Scott Nishimoto, whose Council District 5 spans Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, Ala Moana, Makiki and portions of Kakaako. He represents the most people in the (proposed ) district, he said, adding his group previously spoke to Nishimoto about their draft bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He just said it was a good idea in general, Howe explained, noting the original idea to tax property owners in the proposed district had been a hang up for Nishimoto. But not at the expense of residents. Nishimoto did not immediately respond to the Honolulu Star-Advertisers questions about his stance on the the proposed AWW District. Council Chair Tommy Waters, whose Council District 4 includes Waikiki, said he was familiar with a prior version of the draft bill that called for taxing AWW District property owners and did not support that version. To clarify, no legislation has been introduced or is currently under consideration by the Council to establish an Ala Wai Watershed Special Improvement District, Waters said in a statement. I am deeply committed to protecting our environment and understand the importance of investing in climate resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the academic community plays a crucial role in enhancing our knowledge of watershed management and long-term risks, we must address the real challenges our residents are facing, he said. Many families are already struggling with the rising cost of living, including the upcoming double-digit increases in their monthly sewer fees. Given this financial strain, I cannot support the introduction of additional financial burdens on households at this time. Moreover, Waters suggested the proposed district may be wholly unnecessary. He noted the cityvia a voter-approved City Charter amendment that passed in Novemberhas successfully established a climate resiliency fund, meant to finance preventive, restorative and educational measures relating to climate change. The citys climate fund is supported by 0.5 % of the citys estimated annual real property tax revenues. Previously, the city had no climate resiliency fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The establishment of the climate resiliency fund, which voters overwhelmingly approved in the last election, provides a proactive and balanced way to fund efforts supporting the Ala Wai Watershed, Waters said. This approach protects the environment while ensuring that life remains affordable for the people we serve. Information gathering City Managing Director Mike Formby said that the Blangiardi administration has held meetings with Howes group over their draft measure, but noted that the administration is not at a decision point yet, and is still gathering information. Formby said the Mayors Office is interested in more information, including the details of the proposed legislation. He also noted that information from an upcoming briefing from a University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology study also could carry relevance as it indicates nearer-term impacts of sea-level rise in conjunction with heavy rains and possible flooding in the Waikiki area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Formby said, The city, specifically the Department of Facility Maintenance, has been in the community engagement process to review options for establishing a storm water utility and, to that end, an Oahu Storm Water Utility Feasibility Study was published in December 2020. He added that the rate structure from the establishment of a storm water utility on Oahu would have to be closely coordinated with a the rate structure from an Ala Wai Watershed Special Improvement District to create a partnership that serves the needs of the community, does not duplicate efforts or fees and delivers results to the community that are greater than the sum total of their separate efforts. Formby said, This will require extensive planning and a realistic forecast of challenges, possible solutions and projected costs. Howe said his group also wants to hear from the community about the creation of the AWW District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would love to know the publics opinion on a small tax, or something like that, for this type of initiative, he added. In the meantime, he said hes been providing due diligence presentations to many city-run neighborhood boards over the proposed AWW District. I think one avenue to getting this to the City Council for approval and introduction will be to have Neighborhood Boards submit resolutions in support of it, Howe said. But we want to hold at least two ad hoc, dedicated, talk story kind of workshops to really get residents input on how this could be equitable. A massive party at a $4.3 million mansion in Weddington, North Carolina allegedly held without the owners permission landed one man in jail. WSOC-TV reports that 37-year-old Michael Brown broke into a clients home and held a graduation party for his son while the owners were away. Brown was charged with breaking and entering, property damage and obtaining property by false pretenses. He has since posted a $10,000 secured bond. Brown, however, maintains his actions werent criminal. "I didn't break the law, I just broke some rules, probably, with my ownersbut I didn't break the law," he told WSOC-TV reporters. Officers say they were called to the million-dollar mansion on Twelve Mile Creek Road last Saturday night after neighbors reported blocked roads, loud noise and a traffic hazard. When they arrived, they say Brown first claimed to be the homeowner, then the homeowners grandson, before finally admitting he was the landscaper. Don't miss Landscaper defends actions, but family say he crossed the line Brown claims the party was a graduation party for his son and his son's friends. He told reporters that they were aiming to create a "positive environment" and generate a little income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But deputies found far more than just a wholesome celebration. It was mostly teenagers and young adults. We estimate anywhere from three to four hundred people were at the house, and a lot of underage drinking was going on, Lieutenant James Maye stated. Deputies also seized more than $3,000 in entrance fees, which Brown says was used to cover security costs. He strongly denied charging a cover fee or telling police he owned the home. I never spoke to them about anything, about who stayed there or who owned the place. It wasnt my right to tell them that, because its private property, Brown told reporters. The homeowners' son, Jante Burch, claims Brown has taken advantage of his parents' generosity and insisted his parents didn't know about the party, saying, "Hes a liar, number one; clearly he told multiple stories to the officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Brown insists he won't lose the Burch family as a client, Burch disagrees. In fact, not only has he lost a client, hes probably lost all of the other clients that he had gotten in that neighborhood, Burch [told reporters}(https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/homeowners-son-speaks-out-after-massive-unauthorized-party-familys-mansion/LRDCKMMRZBBJJHAITWL3JKOSLU/). Brown has since posted a $10,000 bond and faces charges of breaking and entering, property damage, and obtaining property by false pretenses. Theres no public record yet of any court appearance or scheduled hearing date; the case appears to still be in the pre-trial phase. Read more: Americans are revenge saving to survive but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Heres how to quickly earn 280% more on your cash How to vet in-home service providers Incidents like this raise big legal and financial questions for homeowners. If a party is thrown at your home, who is responsible if something goes wrong? If a party is thrown on your property without your consent, you're typically not liable for damages or illegal behavior that occurs, as long as you didnt authorize it or turn a blind eye to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, proving that you didn't know can be difficult, which is why vetting service providers is so important. And this situation highlights just how quickly trust can be abused when the wrong person gains access to your home. Here are a few ways to protect yourself when hiring someone to work in your home: Check references: Ask for references and search for online reviews. A legitimate business should have a visible online presence and a verifiable track record. Verify licenses and insurance: Landscapers and contractors are usually required to carry liability insurance and may need a license. Double-check the requirements in your state and verify they have the required documentation. Be cautious: Just because someone seems friendly and trustworthy doesn't mean they are. Don't provide more access than needed, and set up security cameras when you're away. Watch for red flags: Avoid anyone who pressures you for cash payments, can't provide references, doesn't have a business name, or seems evasive when you ask about past clients. Above all, trust your instincts. If something feels off, it likely is. Installing security cameras while you're away and changing the locks after ending a relationship with a service provider can help limit your risk and ensure your property remains secure. What to read next Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. Subscribe now. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. students sit at a green table surrounding a chalk drawing of a stack of cash Image: Adobe Stock It is unbelievable and embarrassing that our public schools (PreK-12) are where they are today, ranking 48th in the nation in per-student funding and 49th in funding effort. This while our state is booming economically and ranked No. 1 nationally as the best climate for business. What is wrong? Do our state legislators not care? Or do we not care as the voting public? Please read the following disgusting facts: Inadequate school funding Research shows that school funding (both the amount and how it is spent) has a significant impact on student outcomes including test scores and graduation rates. This relationship is especially strong for low-income students. North Carolina ranks 48th in the country in per-student spending, falling nearly $5,000 below the national average, and 49th in funding effort, or the amount of spending on public education as a percentage of the states economy (GDP). Teacher pay Low compensation is consistently cited as the top reason educators are considering leaving their jobs. And incentives previously provided to encourage candidates to enter and remain in the teaching profession (e.g. longevity pay, masters pay, retiree health benefits) have largely been eliminated. North Carolina ranks 39th in the nation for starting teacher pay (about $42,500 on average) and 43rd in the nation for average teacher pay ($58,300 on average). Average teacher pay in North Carolina fell more than $13,700 below the national average salary of $72,030 and below the minimum living wage for one adult and one child ($58,411). North Carolina educators earn 25% less than comparable college graduates. Educator working conditions Teachers are the No. 1 school-related factor in student outcomes. Teachers are experiencing significant burnout due to increasing workloads and class sizes, challenging working conditions, and lack of adequate support staff. Attrition for North Carolina teachers was nearly 10% and the vacancy rate was 7.6% in the 2023-24 school year. The burnout rate for K-12 educators outpaces all other professions nationally. North Carolina has the 4th-highest out-of-pocket spending by teachers on classroom supplies. Taxpayer-funded private school voucher expansion and exclusion Access to state-funded pre-K Only 57% of eligible 4-year-olds are enrolled in state-funded NC Pre-K. Student test scores In 2024, 37% of 3rd-8th graders in North Carolina earned a college and career ready score on the end-of-grade math exam. In 2024, 31% of 3rd-8th graders in North Carolina earned a college and career ready score on the end-of-grade reading exam. Significant academic achievement gaps persist across racial and socioeconomic demographics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houses version of the state budget this year looks very good and supportive of our public schools, especially our teachers. Thats thanks in large part to Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth. But House members need support in their negotiations with the Senate. All North Carolinians should lend their voice to this cause. We can and must do better. This commentary was first published by the nonprofit Public Ed Works. Todd Nagel, production manager for Pure Dakota, a medical marijuana manufacturing and processor, inspects plants at their facility in Bismarck. (Contributed/Pure Dakota) Changes to North Dakotas medical marijuana program aimed at expanding program access and product options for patients are set to go into effect Aug. 1. The North Dakota Legislature passed a series of bills during the 2025 legislative session that changed the states medical marijuana laws. The new changes will allow for low-dose THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) edibles to be sold at medical dispensaries. The application process will change to allow patients easier access to the program for a longer time before needing to renew their medical cannabis cards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 1203 will allow THC edible products to be included in the states medical marijuana program. The products must be hard or soft lozenges in a square shape that contain no more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving and no more than 50 milligrams in a package. Other food and beverages that contain THC will still not be allowed under the new law. Jake Mittelsteadt, director of retail operations for Pure Dakota Health, a medical marijuana dispensary in Bismarck, said the new law allowing edible products to be sold to patients could be a gamechanger. Since day one of this program, the amount of people that joined the program, that come to the state, everybody, especially in the older demographics, their priorities have always been gummies and edibles, Mittelsteadt said. Medical dispensaries have been able to carry other oral products, such as tinctures or capsules, but edibles are what patients prefer, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having something simple, straightforward, accurate and safe that we can provide to patients as a non-inhalation method of administration is going to, in my opinion, completely revolutionize the program here in North Dakota, Mittelsteadt said. Jake Mittelsteadt, director of retail operations for Pure Dakota Health, a chain of medical marijuana dispensaries, smiles in the lobby of Pure Dakota Health in Bismarck on July 14, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Like all of the states medical marijuana products, the edibles will be manufactured and processed in North Dakota. Production cant begin until Aug. 1, so he said the new edibles should be on dispensary shelves by the end of August or early September. There was some opposition to the changes. Stephanie Engebretson submitted testimony in opposition to the edibles bill on behalf of the Chiefs of Police Association of North Dakota. In her testimony, she said edibles are the THC product that children are most likely to consume and the edibles take longer to feel the products effect, which could cause some customers to take more doses and compound the effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the organization suggested the bill be amended to require edible products to be stored in a locked location when children are present and remove the flavoring of the edible product to ensure children do not find a flavor they enjoy, if they do encounter it. None of the suggestions were included in the final version of the legislation. Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks, chief sponsor of the bill allowing edibles, said he was voted into the Legislature in 2016, the same election as the medical marijuana program ballot measure, which was approved with 64% of the statewide vote. During that campaign, he said he heard from multiple North Dakotans about their desire for edible products. This is a bigger deal, generally, for the elderly population, Vetter said. He added the effects of edible products react differently in the body compared to other methods of delivery and can be beneficial for some ailments, like chronic pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another change as a result of the bill will allow tele-health care providers to be used during an initial meeting to qualify a patients illness for a medical marijuana card. More than two dozen debilitating illnesses qualify for the medical cannabis program under state law. Mittelsteadt said he believes removing the in-person visit hurdles will allow more potential patients into the medical marijuana program. Previously, tele-health appointments could only be used to renew a patients medical marijuana card. He said the tele-health option is also important because some North Dakota health care providers have refused to issue chronic condition documentation for patients to obtain their cards. Mittelsteadt added there is no health care provider in Williston willing to meet with patients to obtain a medical marijuana card. The closest health care provider willing to work with potential medical marijuana patients in northwest North Dakota is in Watford City, he said. That certainly has gotten better over the years as people have become more comfortable with it (the program), Mittelsteadt said. But it has also been a gigantic pain point for us and for patients here in North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jason Wahl, director of the medical marijuana program for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the state cannot force health care providers to participate in the medical marijuana application process. It is completely up to that health care provider. The department has no say in regards to that, nor should the department have a say in regards to what a health care provider is going to do with their patient, Wahl said. Another new law, Senate Bill 2294, will change the expiration dates of medical marijuana cards from one-year to two-year terms. Vetter said the competition from recreational cannabis markets in neighboring Montana and Minnesota will be something lawmakers will need to continue to monitor to keep North Dakotas medical marijuana program stable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was a driving force this last time, essentially, if we dont keep these places open, then what we have is a bunch of people breaking the law, he said. Leaves are trimmed from the flower of a marijuana plant. (Contributed/Pure Dakota) Mittelsteadt said Pure Dakota Health has retail locations in Williston, Bismarck and Fargo, but the Williston location has not seen as much of an increase in foot traffic over the last year. Our Williston location is so close to the (Montana) border that we have some competition there, he said. But looking here in Bismarck, weve definitely seen a marketable growth in patient count over the last year. According to the 2024 North Dakota medical marijuana annual report, more than 10,000 medical marijuana patient cards were issued by the state last year, including dozens of caregivers who are able to purchase medical marijuana for their patients who may not be able to go to a dispensary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there was growth in the registered, qualifying patient population, that growth really leveled off a little while ago, Wahl said. Wahl said, after an initial allotment of general and special funds from the Legislature during the 2017-19 biennium to get their office up and running, the medical marijuan programs budget has been completely covered by the permit and application fees. North Dakotas medical marijuana law became effective in 2017 and, by 2020, the medical cannabis dispensaries raked up $6.4 million in total sales. Sales tripled over the next two years, rising to $20 million in 2022, but have recently stabilized, totaling $22.4 million last year. Under state law, North Dakota allows only two permitted manufacturing and processing facilities and eight retail dispensaries for the entire state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another bill set to take effect in August, Senate Bill 2293, will set the maximum container size for THC concentrate at 1 gram. It also allows those who are unable to receive North Dakota identification cards due to a medical condition to submit other documentation to qualify for the medical marijuana program. Mittelsteadt said the 2025 legislative session was a big step forward in preserving the medical marijuana program in North Dakota. This most recent legislative session has been the most promising, in terms of them saying, Lets do something to actually benefit the patients and actually benefit the program, Mittelsteadt said. Lets keep running with it. Listen to the feedback from the patients, listen to the feedback from the industry just using common sense when were looking at this is going to be vital. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LAS VEGAS (KLAS) North Las Vegas police shot a man accused of driving a vehicle that hit an officer in a northeast valley parking lot Sunday afternoon, according to the North Las Vegas Police Department. Around 1:55 p.m., North Las Vegas police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle occupied by two adults and three children in the parking lot of a business near the intersection of East Tropical Parkway and Nicco Way, according to police. When officers arrived, they spoke to the driver outside of the vehicle for several minutes before he got into the vehicle and drove away, injuring one of the children who was left outside the vehicle, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man then circled the parking lot and drove back toward the officers. The vehicle then hit one of the officers, who also discharged his gun. The suspect vehicle continued to drive into the street and came to a stop in the median, according to North Las Vegas police. The man was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody. He sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said. The officer sustained minor injuries, and the children and woman were all taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation, according to police. Tropical Parkway in the area of the 215 and Nicco Way was closed to traffic while detectives processed the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The names of the involved officers will be released after 72 hours. This is the second officer-involved shooting in the North Las Vegas Police Departments jurisdiction for 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld an earlier district court ruling that led to a North Little Rock mans prison sentence. The courts Friday decision maintained that the law was properly applied when Mujera Benjamin Lungaho received a federal prison sentence. Lungaho was sentenced after pleading guilty to firebombing three police cars during the 2020 George Floyd protests. North Little Rock man pleads guilty to federal charges of firebombing police cars during George Floyd protests Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lungahos appeal was based on his belief that the statute was improperly applied to him because it was a federal sentence and the police cars were state or local government property. The court found that since the North Little Rock, Little Rock and Arkansas State Police received federal financial assistance, the court was correct in applying the law, despite the cars not being purchased directly by the federal government. According to court records, the three cars, one from each department, received $86,099.37 in damage when Molotov cocktails were thrown in a series of attacks during the Floyd protests on Aug. 25 and 26, 2020. Four others were sentenced along with Lungaho for their role in the firebombing. Five sentenced in case of 2020 firebombing, vandalism targeting ASP, LRPD, NLRPD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lungaho, who officials said was the leader of the group, was given a 66-month federal prison sentence in December 2023 and was ordered to pay $86,099.37 in restitution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) A Norwich man was arrested on Thursday in connection with a child sex abuse investigation that began in February 2024, according to Connecticut State Police. Thomaston man arrested, charged with multiple counts related to sexual abuse of a minor 63-year-old Daniel Lowell was taken into custody as a suspect after suspicious messages were located on a childs cell phone in 2024. Multiple search warrants of Lowells home led to the discovery of child sexual abuse material, police say. Daniel Lowell, 63, of Norwich Lowell was charged with first-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $32M lawsuit awarded to juvenile allegedly sexually-abused in Southbury Lowell was released from custody on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 31. According to court documents, he was released under the condition that he could not contact the three victims and witnesses involved in the initial investigation. He was also instructed not to have any unsupervised contact with minors under the age of 18. Police say this is still an active and ongoing 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 WTNH.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) A New York City animal shelter has suspended pet surrenders after running out of space for animals. We have never had this many animals in our care before. This isnt a drill. This is a crisis, the Animal Care Centers of NYC wrote on its Facebook page. Were not crying wolf were crying for help. More Local News Its the first time in Animal Care Centers of NYCs 30-year history that it has announced it can no longer take in any more pets. The shelter said it has room for 185 dogs but is over capacity with 350 dogs, with some being kept in crates in hallways and offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shelter will still accept animals from the NYPD or other city agencies, but needs families to adopt to open space before being able to handle any more admissions from private drop-offs. Any animal adopted at ACC will be spayed or neutered, microchipped and fully vaccinated. Adoption fees start at just $25. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State To see all the adoptable animals, click here. If youre not looking to adopt but can foster a pet, learn more here. You can also donate to the ACC through their website; there is a yellow Donate button at the top of the homepage. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. 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 PIX11. NEED TO KNOW The number of people missing in Kerr County following the July 4 flood has dropped from 97 to three in less than a week Officials have confirmed 107 deaths from the floods in Kerr County, including 70 adults and 37 children Texas governor Greg Abbott toured the damage in Kerr County on July 15 The number of people missing after devastating floods struck Texas earlier this month has dropped from 97 to three in one county, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kerr County Flood Disaster Joint Information Center has confirmed that just three people are still missing in the county after the fatal flood that swept through on Friday, July 4, according to a news release shared on Saturday, July 19, by officials with the City of Kerrville. Earlier in the week, it was reported that 97 people were still listed as missing in the greater Kerrville area, according to The New York Times and CNN. Kerrville city officials said Saturday that many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list following extensive follow-up work from both state and local agencies. UPI/Alamy Aerial view of the wreckage left in the wake of the flooding in Kerr County, Texas, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. Aerial view of the wreckage left in the wake of the flooding in Kerr County, Texas, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. We are profoundly grateful to the more than 1,000 local, state, and federal authorities who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the devastating flood that struck our community, Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later added, This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly thanked every member of law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency management, and supporting agencies for assisting with the search for victims. Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion have brought comfort and answers to so many, he said in a statement. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. also said in a statement, Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty An aftermath view of the banks of the Guadalupe River after historic floodwaters recede Ingram, Texas, United States on July 8, 2025. An aftermath view of the banks of the Guadalupe River after historic floodwaters recede Ingram, Texas, United States on July 8, 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. Officials have confirmed 107 deaths from the floods in Kerr County, including 70 adults and 37 children, according to a separate news release shared by Kerrville city officials on Sunday, July 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statewide death toll from the floods was said to be 134 earlier in the week, according to ABC News and The Guardian. Texas governor Greg Abbott toured the flood damage in Kerrville with Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, on Tuesday, July 15, according to a press release from the governor's office. Read the original article on People One person has been killed and nine injured, including a 15-year-old girl, in a Russian attack on the capital on the night of 20-21 July. Source: National Police of Ukraine; Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko; Tymur Tkachenko, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration; State Emergency Service of Ukraine Quote from the police: "A man was killed in the Solomianskyi district. Five people aged between 36 and 55 suffered shrapnel wounds in the Darnytskyi district. Among them is a 15-year-old girl. An elderly woman has been hospitalised in the Shevchenkivskyi district." Building on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: National Police of Ukraine Details: Residential buildings, a kindergarten, a supermarket, kiosks, garages, cars, warehouse premises and the ground-level part of a metro station were damaged. Damage caused by the Russian attack. Photo: National Police of Ukraine Destruction and falling debris were recorded in the Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Obolonskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the capital. The blast wave also affected a police patrol car on its way to a call. Affected police patrol car. Photo: National Police of Ukraine Update: At 09:29, Klitschko reported that one person had been killed and seven injured, including a 15-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Klitschko: "Five people were taken to hospital, while two others received medical treatment on the spot." Update: Later, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration Tymur Tkachenko reported that the number of people injured in the overnight Russian attack on Kyiv had risen to eight. Later still, Tkachenko reported that nine people had been injured. He said one woman was taken to hospital after seeking medical treatment. The State Emergency Service said that psychologists are currently working at one of the scenes. In total, psychologists have already provided support to 60 people. Psychologist working at the scene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine Emergency workers continue to deal with the aftermath of the Russian strike. Background: Air-raid warnings were issued in all oblasts three times overnight due to the take-off of MiG-31K jets. They carry Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles. On the evening of 20 July, an air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv and several oblasts due to a Russian drone attack. Air defence systems were responding to Russian targets. On the night of 20-21 July, Russia conducted a large-scale strike on Ukraine using drones and cruise and ballistic missiles, causing fires in four of Kyiv's districts. Early reports indicated that one person had been killed and two injured. Kyiv's Lukianivska metro station is temporarily closed to passengers due to damage to the ground-level part of the station caused by a Russian strike. Traffic was blocked on several streets in the Darnytskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the capital after the nighttime missile and drone attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The voter rolls in the heavily Democratic city of Mount Vernon are so shady that they include dead residents and locals who were born as early as 1897, a scathing new lawsuit claims. In just over a year, the number of voters in the small Westchester County city spiked by 30%, with the increase heavily favoring the Democratic majority, City Council candidate Bill Schwartz alleged in the shocking complaint filed against county election officials last week. This lawsuit is about more than messy records, Schwartz, who lost a party primary bid last month, told The Post. When the voter rolls are that sloppy and no one at the Board of Elections is answering questions, you start to wonder what else is slipping through the cracks or being pushed through them. Bill Schwartz, who lost a Democratic primary bid last month, says theres something fishy in Mount Vernon voter rolls. Facebook/Bill Schwartz for City Council Im asking the court to step in and make sure the November election and future elections are conducted fairly, transparently and by the book, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, filed July 15 in Supreme Court in White Plains, names the Westchester County Board of Elections and its two commissioners, Republican Doug Colety and Democrat Tajian Nelson. Nelson could not be reached for comment, but Colety told The Post that the board couldnt comment as it had not officially been served with Scwhartzs complaint. According to Schwartz, the Democrats control the suburban city of about 80,000 residents, traditionally a powerful voting bloc that holds great political influence in the county. The Westchester County city of Mount Vernon has been a powerful Democratic voting block with tons of political clout. Robert Kalfus A new lawsuit claims Mount Vernon voter rolls spiked by 30% in just over a year, including with dead voters listed. Michael Nagle Nelson, a Mount Vernon resident, not only holds the election commissioner post, but is also recording secretary for the citys Democratic committee. Her mentor, the late Reginald LaFayette, not only held the commissioners post for years, but also served as the county and Mount Vernon party chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwartz maintains party bigwigs also call the shots in the city and not on the up-and-up. He compared voter records from last year and from June of this year and found there had been more than 10,000 new voter IDs in 13 months a whopping number in a city with just over 41,000 voters. Last year, county board records listed 34,386 unique voter IDs, with 25,900 registered Democrats, 2,167 registered Republicans and the rest either independent or listing other parties. Bill Schwartz said hes notified the Westchester County Board of Elections of voter concerns but was ignored. Facebook/Bill Schwartz for City Council The lawsuit said this year there were now 44,021 unique voter IDs, with 31,311 registered as Democrats and just 2,821 Republicans, with the rest independent or registered to minor political parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwartz also said the records were deeply problematic, with the oldest voter listing a birthdate of Oct. 13, 1897, and the earliest registration date listed as Oct. 12, 1927, he said. Some 2025 voters hadnt cast a ballot in over 10 years, while others had their birthdates, addresses and party affiliation changed on the records, the lawsuit claimed. The oldest voter on the Mount Vernon rolls was born in 1897, and several others have long since died or moved away. Michael Nagle Schwartz cited some city residents now registered to vote who are, in fact, deceased and have been for many years, the suit said. Another active voter on the Mount Vernon rolls moved to Virginia 12 years ago, while one died more than 15 years ago, and yet another died in 2002, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Schwartz said the elections board refused to fix the records when the fraud was reported. This isnt just about party politics, he said. Its about fairness. If we want people to have faith in our elections, then the rules need to apply to everyone, no matter how connected they are. Right now I dont think thats happening, he added. Im doing what I can to change it. Editors note: The above video aired in a 2022 newscast about the incident. NEW YORK (PIX11) An NYC carriage horse driver was found not guilty of abusing the animal after a five-day jury trial in Manhattan, authorities said Monday. Ian McKeever, 56, had been charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance, prosecutors said. More Local News McKeever was accused of abusing the carriage horse, Ryder, until the animal collapsed on a hot day in Hells Kitchen on Aug. 10. 2022, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said Ryder had suffered from serious health issues and had to be euthanized months after the incident. Ryder the horse (Photo credit: Transport Workers Union) All animals deserve to be treated with the utmost of care. I thank the jury for dedicating their time to hear the evidence presented to them over these past five days. I also want to thank our prosecutors for presenting a thorough case based on the facts and evidence, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said. Ryder was walking slowly while panting with his tongue out before he fell near 45th Street and Ninth Avenue at around 5:10 p.m., prosecutors said. The horse had been working all day in 84-degree weather in Central Park. Prosecutors had alleged McKeever tried to force Ryder up by repeatedly whipping him and pulling on his reins, according to court documents. The defendant also allegedly failed to provide the animal with water while he was on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said an NYPD officer finally removed Ryders harness and gave him water and ice for 45 minutes until he was able to stand. We will continue to investigate and bring cases where animals are harmed and mistreated, and I encourage people to call our hotline at 212-335-9040 to report instances of animal abuse, Bragg said. Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens), who is the primary sponsor of Ryders Law, legislation that would outlaw the horse carriage industry in New York City, called the acquittal a travesty of justice. Ian McKeever knew Ryders true age the horse was nearly 30 years old, the equivalent of a 90-year-old human and still chose to force him to work on the scorching streets of Manhattan. As seen in widely circulated video footage, McKeever was caught whipping Ryder as the horse collapsed from exhaustion, suffering and dying before the eyes of New Yorkers. This decision ignores the cruelty and inhumanity of what happened. I will not give up on ending this barbaric and outdated industry once and for all, Holden said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Christina Hansen, a veteran carriage driver and TWU Local 100 shop steward, claimed Ryder was suffering from undiagnosed cancer. Since this incident, the union has made several important reforms and improvements, including ongoing talks with a nationally recognized horse veterinarian, immediate access to a horse hospital, and increased oversight. Carriage drivers like me enter this line of work because we love animals, want to spend all day with horses, and care deeply about them, Hansen said in a statement. Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her 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 PIX11. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (PIX11) A Bronx tattoo parlor owner, his wife and their nanny have been accused of assaulting a 19-year-old employee of the ink shop, according to the Westchester County District Attorney. 44-year-old Wayne Barnes allegedly had an ongoing affair with the Sons of Ink female employee and offered her a ride home from the Bronx tattoo shop on May 16, DA Susan Cacace said. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the drive to her Queens home, Barnes and the victim allegedly got into an intense argument, which led to him kicking her out of the car on the Grand Central Parkway. Barnes did let her back in the car, but then allegedly assaulted the girl with a metal baton. He then drove to pick up his wife, 42-year-old Jasmine Barnes, beating the girl along the way. Jasmine allegedly entered the car armed with a similar metal baton, wearing black gloves, and joined in on assaulting the victim as they drove back to their Hartsdale home, according to Cacace. The couple allegedly dragged the girl into their house, pushed her down a flight of stairs and pulled her by her hair as they continued to beat her with the batons. The nanny, 19-year-old Lizbeth Cerrato-Sanchez, was at the house looking after the Barnes children while this was happening, the DA said. Its alleged that Cerrato-Sanchez joined in on the assault by punching the victim in the face while they were beating her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The victim was eventually allowed to change out of her bloody clothes into clean ones and went home in an Uber after continuing to argue with and receive threats from the couple. She was treated the next day at a local hospital for her injuries and reported the incident to the Greenburgh Police Department. On May 20, police arrested the Barnes couple and the nanny. Barnes was charged with kidnapping, criminal possession of a weapon, and five counts of assault. His wife was charged with kidnapping, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of assault. She is also facing similar charges in the Bronx, according to Cacace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cerrato-Sanchez was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. 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 PIX11. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) New York City voters will decide whether to move local elections to even-numbered years. The citys Charter Revision Commission on Monday approved a ballot measure to align local elections with federal presidential elections. Its one of five ballot measures proposed, the other four being focused on housing and zoning. More Local News Now, the question will go to a vote in the November general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This reform is intended to improve voter turnout, make local democracy more inclusive, and save taxpayer money, the commission wrote in a recent report. Voter turnout for federal elections is way higher than local elections in New York City. In the 2020 presidential election, some 62% of registered New York City voters cast a ballot, compared to just 23% in the 2021 mayoral election. Other cities, like Phoenix and Baltimore, have seen huge increases in voter turnout by moving to even years, according to the commission report. The commission recently dropped a potential ballot measure to open up New York Citys primary elections, which would all voters and candidates regardless of party membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More News: Politics Polls have shown widespread, cross-partisan support among New Yorkers for consolidating local electionsand nearly every time this question has been put before voters across the country, it has passed by large margins, with an average approval rate of 72% said Grace Rauh, executive director of the Citizens Union. The commission could not agree on the manner or timing of open primaries, according to Richard Buery, chair of the Charter Review Commission. Many commissioners expressed disappointment at discontinuing the open primary proposal. I remain personally convinced it is time to open our primary system to independent voters, Buery said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter 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. This story involves child death and dark subject matter. TICONDEROGA, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) Officers are investigating the disappearance and death of a 9-year-old after she was declared missing Saturday night, and later found dead in Ticonderoga. State police say that Melina Frattolin was reported missing by her father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, Saturday night at roughly 9:58 p.m. Both individuals are residents of Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frattolin told police that his daughter was missing, in a possible abduction from the Exit 22 area of I-87 at Lake George. With assistance from other authorities, police found Melindas body in Ticonderoga Sunday. Law enforcement officials say that inconsistencies were found in Frattolins account of events and the timeline he provided as this case progressed. They also noted that there are no signs an abduction had occurred. NEWS10 reports that Luciano Frattolin was taken to Essex County Jail, and has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to this incident. He reportedly pleaded not guilty during his 10:30 a.m. arraignment. These are no threats to the general public. 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. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Angelo State Universitys (ASU) Department of Physics and Geosciences explains the new object in our solar system that was announced on July 15 and designated as sednoid 2023 KQ14, nicknamed Ammonite. After the news broke, CVHP reached out to the ASUs Department of Physics & Geosciences to find out more information about the sednoid designated as 2023 KQ14. What is a sednoid? According to Kenneth Carrell, the Planetarium Director at ASU, the sednoid designation is given to objects with some characteristics similar to a Neptunian object and a potential dwarf planet called Sedna. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has specific definitions for a planet and a dwarf planet and there are currently only five officially recognized dwarf planets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Future observations may result in more objects getting moved into that category, including potentially Sedna, said Carrell. How 2023 KQ14 was found? Carrell told the publication that the discovery of this object was made using the Subaru Telescope which located in Hawaii. This telescope has a diameter of just over 8 meters and is in the top 10 largest telescopes currently in use. Interestingly, although this object was discovered recently by the team using the Subaru Telescope, they used archival images from surveys as far back as 2014 to get a better idea of the orbit of the object (they discuss these precoveries in the Methods section of the Nature article), said Carrell. He then explained that there are surveys and telescopes being dedicated to discoveries like this, so discovering objects like 2023 KQ14 may be much more common in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, this object could have been discovered years ago if people knew where to look for it, said Carrell. More Facts about 2023 KQ14 Carrell said 2023 KQ14 is an object in our Solar System and described it as a Trans-Neptunian object on a highly elliptical orbit. A trans-Neptunian object is a celestial body that orbits the Sun at a greater average distance than Neptune. He said 2023 KQ14s perihelion, or closest approach to the Sun, is almost 70 times farther from the Sun than Earth, and more than twice as far as Neptune, the most distant planet in our Solar System. In contrast, its aphelion, or farthest distance from the Sun, is more than 400 times the Earth-Sun distance, placing it well beyond the heliopause, the widely recognized boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space. He also said that 2023 KQ14 is not possible to see with your unaided eye or with amateur telescopes. The apparent magnitude of the object is just over 25, which is more than 50 million times fainter than your eye can detect in the darkest of conditions. He also added that observing objects this faint requires the largest ground-based telescopes or space telescopes. 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. NEW YORK The front of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Bronx campaign office was defaced with red paint and a sign accusing her of funding genocide in Gaza, police said Monday. The vandalism was reported to police in a 12:43 a.m. Monday 911 call. Red paint was splattered across the front of her office on Herschell Street near Westchester Avenue in Westchester Square. A sign made with red paint read, AOC FUNDS GENOCIDE IN GAZA, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have made no arrests. Last week, the Democratic congresswoman, who has been critical of U.S. support to Israel, voted against an amendment to cut aid to Israels defense. On Saturday, she said on X that she voted against the amendment because it cuts off Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue. _____ An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was shot in the face during an attempted robbery in New York City by a suspect the Department of Homeland Security says is an illegal alien with a criminal record and a deportation order. On July 20, the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media: UPDATE: footage shows two assailants, one an illegal alien with criminal charges, ambushing and shooting a @CBP officer yesterday in New York City. pic.twitter.com/m4BHRjhXpD Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 20, 2025 Later that day, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott wrote on X, Our CBP Officer in NYC showed extraordinary courage last night shot in the face by an illegal alien & still fought back to help bring his attacker into custody. This violent criminal never shouldve been on our streets. This is exactly why we fight every day to secure this nation. Were praying for the officer & his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump also addressed the incident in a statement posted to Truth Social, blaming his predecessor for the suspects presence in the United States: Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden, Trump wrote. He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED. The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage. The shooting occurred just before midnight Saturday in Fort Washington Park in Manhattan, per the New York Post. The 42-year-old off-duty CBP officer was reportedly sitting by the Hudson River with a female companion when two men on a moped allegedly approached and attempted to rob them. After a brief struggle, one of the suspects allegedly shot the officer in the face and arm. The officer returned fire, striking one of the suspects multiple times. DHS later identified the individual as 21-year-old Dominican national Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, according to the New York Post. Surveillance footage released by DHS appears to show the ambush and the exchange of gunfire. The New York Post also reported that Mora entered the U.S. illegally in April 2023 via the southern border and was released with a notice to appear before an immigration judge due to overcrowding in detention facilities. A deportation order was later issued, the outlet said, citing unnamed sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mora had a criminal record including kidnapping and weapons charges in Massachusetts and at least four prior arrests, reported Fox News. In each of those arrest cases, Mora was reportedly released without bail because the charges were not bail-eligible in New York. City sanctuary laws also reportedly prevented his transfer to federal immigration authorities. Mora allegedly walked into a Bronx hospital after the shooting with gunshot wounds and was taken into custody. DHS has reportedly lodged a detainer against him. New York City Mayor Eric Adams addressed the case on Sunday, defending the citys actions under existing law. Whatever we need to do in our federal laws to ensure that dangerous people are not on our streets, federal authorities need to do that, he said. Adams added that local police had previously participated in federal gang takedowns and emphasized that New York officials are not allowed to coordinate with deportation, civil deportation only. As of Sunday, the CBP officer was in stable condition following surgery. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to visit him in the hospital, according to several outlets. Authorities say a second suspect remains at large. Former Louisville Metro Police detective Brett Hankison, who was found guilty of violating Breonna Taylors civil rights when he shot into her apartment in a 2020 raid that left the 26-year-old dead, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings decision comes after the Trump administrations Justice Department recommended last week that he face just a single day in prison, leaving Taylors family heartbroken and angry, their lawyer said ahead of the sentencing. His crime carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Jennings, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, instead gave him two years and nine months for a conviction secured by former President Joe Bidens Justice Department. A jury found him guilty in November of depriving the young Black medical worker of her civil rights through his use of excessive force when he blindly fired 10 shots through Taylors covered glass door and windows during the raid. Brett Hankison is questioned by his defense attorney during a 2022 trial appearance. via Associated Press It is unfathomable that, after finally securing a conviction, the Department of Justice would seek a sentence so drastically below the federal guidelines, lawyers for Taylors family said last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several protestors gathered outside the courthouse while awaiting Hankisons sentencing, leading to some arrests. Among the detained was Taylors aunt, Bianca Austin, WHAS11 News reported. While handing down the sentencing, Jennings slammed prosecutors for making a 180-degree turn in the case and said their recommendation for a one-day prison sentence appeared to be politically motivated, Reuters reported. Several members of Taylors family spoke at the sentencing hearing, including her mother, Tamika Palmer. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Palmer said she wouldnt call it a fair sentencing but understood Jennings decision. I think the judge did the best she could with what she had to work with, Palmer said outside the courthouse. There was no prosecution in there for us. There was no prosecution in there for Breonna. Im grateful for the judge for giving some time because we couldve walked away with nothing according to what they recommended. A mural depicting a portrait of Breonna Taylor in Annapolis, Maryland, seen in 2020. via Associated Press Hankinson is the first officer involved in the raid to be sentenced. Kelly Goodlett, the only other officer convicted of crimes related to the raid, awaits sentencing next year after pleading guilty to conspiracy for misleading the judge who approved the warrant on Taylors residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hankinson issued an apology in court Monday, saying he never would have fired his gun had he known about the issues with the warrant. An investigation determined that Hankisons bullets did not hit anyone, and that the fatal shot was fired by his fellow officer Myles Cosgrove. Unlike with Hankison, a grand jury chose not to indict him, setting off more of the protests that had sprung up in the wake of Taylors death. In a 2020 settlement with Taylors family, The city of Louisville agreed to pay them $12 million and to reform its policing practices. Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, surrounded by other relatives of police violence victims, cries while addressing a "Police Violence and Reform" press conference by the Congressional Black Caucus last year. JIM WATSON via Getty Images When Hankison and other plainclothes officers raided Taylors apartment as part of a drug-dealing investigation into her ex-boyfriend, Taylors new boyfriend believed them to be home intruders and he fired a shot that hit one of the officers in the leg. The officers fired 32 shots in return, hitting Taylor six times but leaving the boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, unharmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There remains some debate over whether the officers announced themselves as police. A New York Times investigation interviewed about a dozen of Taylors neighbors about what happened, and only one of them recalled officers shouting Police! a single time. Following the charges against Hankison, a woman filed a lawsuit against him accusing him of weaponizing his police status to prey on and later sexually assault her in 2018. The lawsuit included several more testimonials from women who claimed Hankison would target young women in bars, escort them home as an officer then pressure them into sex or sexually assault them. Related... A police officer and a suspect were both shot in an Ohio neighborhood on Sunday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) officers were serving arrest warrants at an apartment complex. Witnesses said that family members of the 19-year-old suspect left the home when police arrived, but the suspect reportedly tried to hide on the second floor, according to CBS affiliate WOIO-TV in Cleveland. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cleveland Police Sgt. Freddy Diaz told WOIO that their officers received a call to help CMHA officers as they tried to arrest a wanted man on several violent felony warrants. As officers made contact and entered the home, gunfire was exchanged between multiple CMHA officers and the suspect. During that exchange, one of the CMHA officers was struck by gunfire, he said. Medics transported the officer to a Cleveland hospital in stable condition. The 19-year-old suspect was shot in the stomach. Medics took him to the hospital in critical condition, WOIO said. The incident remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] As the bidding process for a buyer to acquire Prospect Medical Holdings three Connecticut hospitals drags on, the California-based company is facing financial challenges officials warn could increasingly impact patient safety and staffing levels. The delay is dangerous, said Sen. Saud Anwar, co-chair of the states Public Health Committee. We need the right partner at the right time so we can move to the new era of investment and support to these institutions. We have to be worried about Prospect continuing to harm the hospitals and that speaks more about the people out of California who have no interest in providing care and more interest in making money. Prospect Medical filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past January and three potential buyers reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the hospitals. An announcement was expected late in June but there has still been no word. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said time is not on our side. I am deeply concerned about time passing and morale being damaged and patient care at risk, he said. Even though the state has a monitor to ensure quality, there is a larger lesson here. We need urgent reform that will prevent this kind of corporate greed from disastrously affecting health care. Dave Hannon, president of Connecticut Healthcare Associates district 1199 National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees, said he is hoping a bidder is announced soon citing an otherwise dire situation. If this drags on for an indefinite period of time, staff numbers will shift away, he said. They dont seem willing to recruit new staff members. It is going to directly impact patient care. The morale level is dangerous. If they continue to bleed staff and they continue to struggle to recruit new staff members, I think that is where the danger is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ed Gadomski, Connecticut Healthcare Associates internal union organizer, who represents the nurses and technicians at Waterbury Hospital, says almost all of its departments are understaffed. The longer this goes on with one delay after another, this heightens the anxiety of the staff, he said, adding that with nurses working overtime and fewer staff, the potential for medical errors increases. Gov. Ned Lamonts office said that the sale process for the hospitals is ongoing. Keeping the Connecticut hospitals open is a top priority for the governor and we are working very closely with Prospect on the sale process, the governors office said in an email Friday. Any sale transaction would ultimately be subject to regulatory approval by the relevant state agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of the potential buyers names have been made public, according to state and health officials, and no official announcement date has been released. Prospect owns Manchester Memorial, Rockville General and Waterbury Hospital. The private equity company has long faced financial challenges from delayed payments for physicians and vendors to health care provider shortages. State and federal officials say that the private equity company has maximized profits over patient care. Prospect did not return an email for comment. Viability of the hospitals While Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne expressed optimism that a buyer will be announced in the coming weeks, Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. and Manchester Mayor Jay Moran shared worries about the viability of the Prospect hospitals in their town as the bidding process stretches on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent bankruptcy court filings show that Prospect Medical received permission to close two Pennsylvania hospitals after no buyer was interested in acquiring the hospitals after the company tried to sell them. A tentative deal in which Yale New Haven Health would have purchased Prospects three hospitals for $435 million was reached in 2022 but fell through due to mismanagement, Yale said this past May. Prospects failure over several years to pay vendors and state and local taxes and to fund their pension obligations have made this transaction impossible, Dana Marnane, of Yale New Haven Health, said in an emailed statement at the time. The bankruptcy filing is proof of their disinvestment and mismanagement. Officials are hoping for a buyer to return the hospitals to solid footing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am frustrated, Moran said. I wish this was solved a while ago. I am concerned how much longer our hospitals can survive. If we dont straighten this out, it is going to put more burden on the bigger hospitals in the future. People are not going to get the care they need. It is about safety. Morale is low because staff do not know what the future holds. Pernerewski also shared his frustrations. We are in the middle of July and we do not know who the bidders are, he said. This is a unique animal. It is in bankruptcy court. It is going to have to wind its way through. There is not a whole lot to move it along. He said Prospect owes the city of Waterbury an estimated $22 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most critical thing for the city is to see the hospital survive and get sold and continue to operate, Pernerewski said. If that were not to happen that would be devastating. Nurses and unions at Prospects Connecticut hospitals have told the Courant that their hospitals have been impacted under the company, with some voicing concerns about patient care. In November of last year, the state Department of Public Health fined Waterbury Hospital $60,000 for violations of state law and called on the hospital to develop, review and revise policies and procedures related to staffing levels, abuse prevention and other policies. The consent order also called for an independent expert compliance contractor to monitor the hospital. Robert White, distinguished professor of law at Quinnipiac University School of Law, said the fact that there are no deadlines for the bidders concerning the sale of the hospitals suggests the negotiations are very difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is interest but we do not know if the buyers can be satisfied that they can run the hospitals with whatever resources they have, he said. Bankruptcy court proceedings concerning Prospect are occurring in the Northern District of Texas Dallas Division. On July 9, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stacy Jernigan approved a loan of $30 million for the private equity company. According to their budget, Prospect, with its 50 entities, will still need more money despite the $30 million, said White. Attorney General William Tong filed a proof of claim in the ongoing proceeding for Prospect Medical Holdings, asserting claims for negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, negligent performance of duties, violations of privacy laws and violations of the Connecticut Unfair Practices Act, according to information from the Attorney Generals Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals office said that the claim ensures that Connecticut continues to have a full seat at the table in facilitating the transition of Prospects Connecticut hospitals to a responsible new owner, and that Prospect is held accountable through the bankruptcy proceeding for the harm it has inflicted on the state and its patients. Nothing good happens when private equity is allowed to strip mine our local hospitals and health care institutions and we will continue to press for legislation to strengthen oversight and transparency around these transactions and acquisitions, Tong told the Courant. Inadequate staffing Staffing levels are already raising alarm with high turnover rates at Waterbury Hospital and understaffing in nearly every department, according to the Connecticut Healthcare Associations internal union for Waterbury Hospital nurses and tech unions. The Department of Public Health in a Plan of Correction report cited Waterbury Hospital this year for inadequate staffing resulting in a patient seen on Jan. 6 ending up in the ICU. In a DPH Plan of Correction report dated May 8 for a survey on Jan. 22, the state health agency said the hospital failed to ensure adequate staffing resources in the emergency department resulting in a delay in obtaining electrocardiograms and troponin levels in accordance with practitioners orders and hospital safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report further states that although Patient #100 had orders for an EKG and troponin levels they were not completed due to inadequate staffing. The patient was found unresponsive in the ED waiting room, experienced a heart attack. Required a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, was intubated and subsequently admitted to intensive care unit. The incident resulted in a finding of immediate jeopardy for the hospital, according to the report. Immediate jeopardy represents a situation in which noncompliance by providers, suppliers or laboratories has placed the health and safety of recipients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment or death, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services. The immediate jeopardy designation was later removed, according to the report. Brittany Schaefer, public information officer for DPH, said a revisit was conducted and that the hospital was in substantial compliance at the time of survey. Union officials say theyre concerned that DPH is not enforcing state-mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, claiming that nearly all of Waterbury Hospitals departments are understaffed and have been for more than two years. They seem to be relying on the hospitals word, Hannon said. What is really missing is the enforcement mechanism. DPH seems unwilling to fine these hospitals. Schaefer said that while the hospital certified that they have been in compliance with at least 80% of the nursing assignments outlined in the hospitals nursing staffing plan, DPH does not have specific data available regarding staffing levels/numbers. DPH continues to conduct onsite visits to monitor staffing, care and services, she said. Lauresha Xhihani, Connecticut regional director of communications and public relations for ECHN and Waterbury Health said In response to those findings, we revised emergency department operations focusing on triage training and improved monitoring. Waterbury Hospital and our nurses and leadership fully implemented a collaboratively developed staffing plan, approved unanimously by all key stakeholders (including both the Union members and Hospital Leadership, she added. Last month, we welcomed over 60 new hires our largest new employee orientation to date demonstrating our continued investment in workforce growth and care quality, she said. In addition, we have added traveler nurses to our rosters to provide additional help, with approximately 30 nurses already here and more to be added as needed. Legislation Connecticut legislators aimed to restrict private equity from acquiring hospitals but that legislation failed to pass this session. SB 1507, which did not make it to the House or Senate floor for passage, would have prohibited private equity companies and real estate investment trusts from acquiring for increasing direct or indirect ownership in or operational or financial control over a hospital or health system, according to the bills analysis. There was a great sense of insecurity when none of the bills for protection of this measure passed, Gadomski said. We have no legal protection to stop this. Anwar said now we are dependent on the wisdom of the judge in Texas to not make a decision in favor of private equity .. because we were not able to pass the law. Blumenthal is expected to introduce legislation at the end of the month at the federal level that would provide safeguards and protections against private equity owned health care facilities. It would prohibit private equity firms from stripping assets from health care entities or undermining the quality and safety and access to health care, the senator said, explaining one of several measures of the pending legislation. An Ohio judge ruled that the state's voucher program, which uses taxpayer money to pay for private school education, was unconstitutional. Top Republican leaders announced that Ohio will appeal that decision on July 23. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, House Speaker Matt Huffman and school choice supporters defended the program during a July 21 news conference. Huffman, a Lima Republican, contended that Ohio was obligated to fund religious education, and the judge's decision would ultimately be overturned. I think its a bit of a fools errand that these schools are participating in these lawsuits," Huffman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Heintz, a Chardon City Schools teacher, disagreed with Huffman's interpretation of the Ohio Constitution. "Mr. Huffman is wrong, and if he were a student in my high school history class, I would be compelled to give him an 'F' for a partial and misleading answer," said Heintz, a steering committee member for Vouchers Hurt Ohio, which brought the lawsuit. "If lawmakers were compelled to fund religious schools for the past 150 years, why did it take them more than 110 years to get started?" What is the EdChoice voucher program? Ohio vouchers function like a taxpayer-funded scholarship to private schools. The option is called The Educational Choice Scholarship Program or EdChoice. Initially pitched as a way to help students from low-income families in poor-performing school districts, EdChoice was expanded in 2023 to all families regardless of their income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that change, the number of students using EdChoice vouchers increased dramatically from 23,333 students receiving vouchers in the 2022-23 school year to nearly 80,000 the following year. The state is expected to spend $475.4 million this year on vouchers through the program for about 88,000 students. By 2027, the state was projected to spend $1.25 billion on vouchers. More: Ohio schools, parents concerned as lawmakers debate voucher and public school funding Why did public schools sue? In 2022, 100 public schools sued over the private school voucher program. That coalition has since tripled in size. They argued that lawmakers were shirking their constitutional duty to "secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state" by doling out billions to private schools instead. They also contended that the voucher system was discriminatory and left schools more segregated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EdChoice supporters, including Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer, say public schools are wasting taxpayer money with this legal challenge. This lawsuit has nothing to do with the well-being of students. It has everything to do with maintaining a monopoly, Baer said. Why was EdChoice found unconstitutional? Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jaiza Page, a Democrat, ruled June 24 that Ohio lawmakers had violated the Ohio Constitution by creating two systems of schools: public and private. "In expanding the EdChoice program to its current form, the General Assembly has created a system of uncommon private schools by directly providing private schools with over $700 million in funding," Page wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also concluded that lawmakers had underfunded public schools while giving private schools a boost. Rep. Jamie Callender, a Concord Republican, said every budget decision affects other line items. One choice affects all of the others, because there is a finite amount of money out there to allocate and thats just a fact, Callender said. Page did reject a claim that the private school vouchers were discriminatory. She concluded that there had to be evidence of discriminatory conduct, not just discriminatory policies. Are students still receiving private school vouchers? Yes. Page's decision did not halt the EdChoice voucher program. She anticipated Republicans would appeal her ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EdChoice is the law of the land. It is funded. It is operational. It is available for Ohio parents," Yost said. What happens next? Yost will appeal Page's ruling to the 10th District Court of Appeals, which is filled with Democratic judges. From there, any appeal would head to the Ohio Supreme Court, where Republicans control six of seven seats. This article was updated to include additional comments. State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio to appeal ruling that found EdChoice vouchers unconstitutional The Ohio Statehouse. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) Ohio House Republican leaders are making a last-ditch effort to convince their GOP colleagues to override several of Gov. Mike DeWines vetoes. Its now a numbers game as the majority of legislators try to overturn three school-specific vetoes the governor made in the state operating budget. I dont know what the numbers will be, DeWine said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And state Rep. David Thomas, who has been leading the property tax relief charge, doesnt know the number of votes he has, either. But he does know what his district wants, he said. I hear, literally every day still, from my constituents that their property taxes are spiking, that theyre too high, its just pushing them to the brink, state Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, said. Both educators and homeowners say the stakes are high. DeWine vetoed restrictions on the ability to put emergency levies on the ballot or request an increase to a current levy. That provision would have eliminated levy replacements on property taxes for all political subdivisions. For schools, it would have prohibited them from imposing a fixed-sum emergency levy, a substitute emergency levy and a combined school district income tax and fixed-sum property tax levy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would have put school districts around the state in a constant levy cycle, Cleveland Heights School Board Member Dan Heintz said. Every voter would have had tax fatigue and levy fatigue. The governor vetoed another that would have required that emergency and substitute tax levies, incremental growth levies, conversion levies, and the property tax portion of combined income tax and property tax levies be included in the 20-mill floor calculation for school funding purposes. He also removed a provision that would have allowed county budget commissions to unilaterally take money away from passed school levies if they find it reasonably necessary. Lawmakers have admitted that they have struggled to pass any meaningful property tax reform for years, hurting homeowners like Beth Blackmarr. Thomas said this is their attempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can own your home outright and lose your home, something that youve worked hard and paid all your life for, and lose that because you cant pay the property taxes on it, Blackmarr said. Overriding the governor takes 60 votes. With only 65 Republicans, Thomas can only afford to lose six people. There are signs that House Leadership is concerned about whether they have the votes. Former House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said he has been called and messaged repeatedly by both legislators and organizations as leadership tries to get lawmakers on board. Other lawmakers shared the same story of override supporters trying to whip votes. Its going to be hard to convince me, Stephens said, chuckling and acknowledging he cant be convinced. Im not canceling my plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overrides will provide little relief to homeowners but more stress on schools, he said. It sends the wrong message to the people that theres going to be this great big property tax relief if we override the governors veto which is just simply not the case, the former speaker said. Stephens isnt coming back for the override session, but if he were, he would be voting no, he said. Weve confirmed that at least three other GOP lawmakers arent returning or are voting no. Three others told us they were on the fence, but leaning towards no. Several who had previously told WEW they were no votes could not be reached on Friday. I imagine Ill still be answering questions even the morning of the override vote, just so that folks are as comfortable as possible, Thomas said. Im pretty confident that well win the day on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWine says that the lawmakers have the right to override him, as he has already made his point. Im not going to talk about what the numbers are going to be, he said, smiling. To discourage an override, the governor created a new property tax working group to evaluate the best solutions. It will be run by former Cincinnati Republican lawmaker Bill Seitz and Ohio Business Roundtable CEO Pat Tiberi. According to Seitz, they are set to meet after the vote. Ive made my position clear on it. Theyre going to do what they think is best, again, as part of our process set in the Constitution of Ohio, he said. Youre seeing that play out, so well see what happens on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The House reconvened Monday and successfully agreed to override one of Gov. Mike DeWines 67 line item budget vetoes. DeWine signed the states 2026-2027 budget into effect on June 30, issuing 67 line-item vetoes. The House met Monday in hopes of overriding three property tax vetoes, and successfully voted to override one: item 66, school district property tax levy restrictions, which passed 61-28. The House did not vote on the other two vetoes they were expected to try to override because some Republican lawmakers were absent, and they did not think they would pass. If the veto override is concurred by the Senate, political subdivisions will no longer be allowed to levy replacement property tax levies, and school districts will no longer be able to levy fixed-sum emergency, substitute emergency and combined income tax and fixed-sum property tax levies. These levies are typically used to provide funding for day-to-day operational needs, like salaries, supplies or key services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They deserve the right to determine how much they want to fund their schools at the local level and when they go to the ballot to pass a levy, we should be respecting their ability to have local control over how much they want to fund their schools, House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) said. Proponents of the change say words like emergency and replacement mislead taxpayers into voting for property tax increases they may not want. Opponents, including DeWine and many public school districts, say those levies are important revenue sources, and eliminating them will not provide meaningful tax relief. No one is getting less money as a result of what we did today, House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. In the future, maybe voters will say, I didnt know I was voting for that. Im going to be against it. Why is it raining so much in central Ohio? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To successfully override a gubernatorial veto, the House must have 60 of 99 members agree, and the Senate must have 20 of 33 members concur. On Monday, 89 House members were present. Prior to Mondays vote, there were questions as to how many lawmakers would make the out-of-season session vote, as many have left Columbus on break. Although the House has passed the overrides, the Senate would need to concur, and they have not announced any plans to reconvene for a veto override vote. State lawmakers generally agree Ohioans need property tax relief, but the debate stems from how and when to offer it. DeWine said he vetoed item 66, the tax levy restrictions, because they could harm public school funding, among other concerns. DeWine said he understands the need for property tax relief, but wants to provide it outside of the budget. These levies serve as important tools for school districts as they seek to maintain their long-term financial stability, DeWine wrote in his veto message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWine and many Democrats say property tax relief cannot come at the expense of local schools and municipalities, who often rely on property taxes to stay afloat. Many Republicans disagree, saying property tax relief cannot wait. Were in a crisis, and when were in a crisis, you act immediately, Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) said. He vetoed them for a reason because they dont provide the property relief that people actually need, Isaacsohn said. We should not be voting on these veto overrides at all. Along with his vetoes, DeWine created a property tax reform working group to address meaningful property tax relief. DeWine selected former legislators Bill Seitz and Pat Tiberi to chair the group. The group is asked to issue a report and tax relief proposals that still ensure adequate funding for schools, emergency services, libraries and disability support services by Sept. 30. DeWine announced nine other members of the work group just hours after the veto override vote, and new members include county auditors, commissioners, mayors and superintendents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus City Council votes to create new LGBTQ+ affairs commission In Ohio, there are multiple types of property tax levies that must be used for specific costs, including the four types included in the veto override. Replacement levies replace existing property tax levies, either by maintaining or increasing the levy amount, typically when one expires. Emergency levies address an immediate need for funding to maintain current services. The veto override also limits the use of fixed-sum levies. In Ohio, property tax levies are calculated using mills, with millage referring to the rate property is taxed. For instance, a school district or fire department might pass a 10-mill levy that generates $2 million annually. As property tax values increase, it takes fewer mills to generate the same amount of money, so either the cash amount or millage fluctuates. A fixed-sum levy ensures a district gets the same amount of money every year, regardless of how many mills it takes to generate that sum. The House had initially hoped to reinstate three changes to how these levies are regulated, but did not vote on two others: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Property tax: County budget commission authority and procedure 20 Mill Floor calculation I think if we have more discussion, well come back in October, Huffman said. Its my expectation that we will take veto overrides on those two and likely some others also. If reinstated, the first provision would have allowed county budget commissions to reduce how many mills a voter-approved property tax levy was charging. The second change would have adjusted what types of property tax levies are included in the 20 Mill Floor, altering complex tax laws about how school districts can benefit from levy millage. Although opponent and proponent speakers at the House session were largely split along party lines, the House voted on the vetoes using iPads, so it is not yet known how every member voted. Democrats have already been outspoken against the override. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elephant in the room is that if the Republican majority had fully funded our state share to the schools, we would not have a property tax crisis, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said after the override vote. This vote will strip communities of the ability to make decisions about their schools, fire departments, libraries and more, and it directly contradicts the values of representative government. The Ohio House last successfully overrode budget vetoes in 2017, the first time it had happened in 40 years. In that instance, the Senate approved six of the 11 overrides. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Bill Roemer, R-Richfield. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.) Ohio House Republicans voted Monday to override a Gov. Mike DeWine veto of a provision in the state budget restricting the kinds of local levies that can be put to voters. The override now goes to the Ohio Senate to consider. The House only voted on one of three overrides leaders had put on the schedule related to property taxes. Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman insisted the two remaining vetoes, not to mention a couple others, could be on the docket when lawmakers return this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think if we have more discussion, that well come back in October, its my expectation that we will take veto overrides on those two and likely some others also, Huffman said following the vote. In Mondays session, the Ohio House voted 61-28 to override DeWines veto of a provision that removes local authority to put replacement property tax levies and certain emergency levies on the ballot. With the matter now heading to the Senate, chamber budget chief Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, is wrangling members for their own vote. Were working on dates on the Senate coming back, he said on a recent Senate podcast. We had some members traveling, some out of the country, that would make coming back difficult to do because we need more votes to override a veto than we would ordinarily have to pass a bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX House session Ahead of Mondays session, it was clear that the vote would be close 10 members couldnt make it. House members were forced to use the Senate chamber, as the House chamber is under renovation, and the unfamiliar setting led to some hiccups. Instead of sitting at their usual desks, lawmakers spread out to fill the Senate gallery benches. The Houses electronic vote boards absent, representatives cast their vote on iPads. State Rep. Bill Roemer, R-Richfield, kicked off debate. The Ways and Means chairman helped lead a joint committee on property tax reform last year, and he had a pair of massive binders to prove it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is half of our property tax study commission, he said hoisting one of the binders. Weve got the other half here, he added holding up the other. Roemer claimed that the vast majority of people in Ohio do not know what a replacement levy is. They think, well, Im just replacing it, Im voting for the exact same thing that I did before. But in almost every instance that results in an increase in taxation. Republican lawmakers argue framing levies as a replacement, or an emergency skews the question in voters minds. State Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, argued a veto override gives power back to the homeowner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you go to the ballot, there will be simple questions, Thomas said. Do you want to increase your taxes? Do you want to keep your taxes the same? That is what were faced with. You will not see confusing language like replacement and substitute and inflammatory language like emergencies. And Thomas insisted the override vote doesnt decrease funding whatsoever, for taxing authorities like school districts around the state. Instead, he argued the provision creates greater transparency when levies show up on the ballot. Our taxpayers then have the tools, have the knowledge, have the ability, he said. If they wish to fund their local entities they can do so. Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.) Democrats push back Across the aisle, Democrats turned that argument back on Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our taxpayers desperately need relief, Minority leader Dani Isaacsohn argued. They need cash in their pockets so they go on vacations, so they can take their families out to dinner, so they can celebrate birthdays, so that they can afford to stay in the homes that they built their lives in. Unfortunately, he added, overriding this veto does not provide any real relief for those homeowners. Isaacsohn said that the levies Republicans complain about are the predictable result of declining state support. State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, D-Gahanna, laid out the cause and effect. Over the past two decades, the Republican majority in this state has repeatedly made a choice to invest less from the state level into our local communities, she said. When the state invests less, our schools and communities either have to cut critical services or they have to ask community members to pay higher property taxes. Whats next The two remaining vetoes already identified by House leaders have to do with a provision giving county budget commissions increased control over levy amounts, and how to calculate a school districts minimum millage, known as the 20-mill floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWine vetoed the provision related to the budget commission over concerns that local officials could overturn a levy after voters approved it. Huffman disputed that characterization. The 20-mill floor provisions would alter a decades-old tax reduction formula. Put simply, it would allow for additional reductions in districts that have already reduced rates to the floor. Huffman said lawmakers have brought up vetoes related to eminent domain, LGBTQ+ materials in libraries, and ending sales tax exemptions for data centers as other potential overrides. Isaacsohn took Republicans decision to delay two out of three votes as a win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People spoke for the last few weeks loud and clear, he said. The public pressure worked. He dismissed the entire exercise as a colossal waste and political theater. We came here to vote on a veto override that will provide no property tax relief, he argued. And you dont need to take my word for it, the bills sponsor stood up and said, this is not relief. Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Oklahoma's fertility rate has continued to fall, following national trends. A doctor performs an ultrasound scan. (Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished without a Getty subscription.) OKLAHOMA CITY Fertility rates in Oklahoma and around the nation are on a decades long downward trend which has the potential to create state budget shortfalls, according to a report from Pew Charitable Trusts. The average fertility rate per 1,000 women in Oklahoma dropped by 12.2% since 2011 and is at 59.1 births in 2023, the report found. The national average fell by 10.6% in the same time frame and is at a record low of 54.5 births per 1,000 women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 17-state region, that also includes Washington D.C., Oklahoma had the second largest drop in its fertility rate. Factors contributing to the decline include fewer teen pregnancies, women having children later in life and less births following economic recessions, according to the report. No states saw growth in fertility rates. Historically, fertility rates have dipped during economic downturns but tended to recover as conditions improved, according to the report. That pattern broke after the 2007-09 Great Recession when fertility rates fell and never bounced back. The downward trend instead intensified in 2020 as the start of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a record annual drop nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower fertility rates may lead to short-term economic benefits in areas like health care and education, but could create broader, long-term issues as states generate less revenue through tax collection because of fewer births, according to the report. David Hamby, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Policy Institute, a nonpartisan Tulsa-based think tank, said the overall environment for raising children in Oklahoma could be a factor in these declines. Oklahoma ranked 46th in the nation for overall child well-being in the annual Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation which ranks all 50 states in four categories. The state ranked in the bottom 10 for childrens health, economic well-being, education and family and community. I think anyone who is looking at having children or raising children in Oklahoma will see that environment and cause them to second guess that decision to either delay or not have children at all, Hamby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pew report found that teen pregnancy rates have been falling since the 1990s, which was attributed to greater education and use of contraceptives as well as more abstinent teens. Oklahomas teen pregnancy rate has fallen, according to this years Kids Count report, but is still higher than the national average. An average of 21 Oklahoma teens, aged 15 to 19, per 1,000 gave birth in 2023, down from 27 in 2019. Nationally that rate was at an average of 13 teen births in 2023. People are also choosing to start families later in life, the Pew analysis found. Births to Oklahoma mothers younger than 24 have all fallen since 2007, but the share of births from mothers ages 25 and up have grown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have folks getting older, but were having folks who are not having children, Hamby said. So the population is, as a whole, getting older. This means there will be a greater demand on state dollars for elder services, without continued investments in those services from the Legislature, he said. The strain on the Oklahoma state budget could be exacerbated by a lack of federal investments in shared programs and services, Hamby said, and states will eventually have to step in to fill the gaps in services. If state lawmakers continue to keep revenue flat were going to have more demands on the same amount of dollars just to keep at the level that we are at, he said. And that math doesnt math very well for the long term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be significant changes to Oklahomas funding landscape, Hamby said, and the population change is only a precursor to whats coming. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The cost of doing business in Oklahoma is among the lowest in the country, but Oklahoma is far from being the best state for business. While the state ranks high in cost of living (#18), cost of doing business (#1) and overall business friendliness (#20), the remaining seven categories sit below the halfway point of the 50 states. CNBCs annual Americas Top States for Business study, now in its 19th year, has crowned North Carolina the best state for business, with high marks in economy, workforce, business friendliness, and education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States were scored out of 2,500 total points from the 10 categories. At the top of the chart, North Carolina earned a total of 1,614 points; Oklahoma garnered 1,229 points in comparison. Overall, Oklahoma ranked 37th in the nation for business, beating out states like Vermont, Oregon, and West Virginia, but falling short of New Hampshire, which ranked 36th. Heres where Oklahoma placed among the 10 categories. More: Oklahoma ranked in worst 10 for quality of life by new survey. Here's why Oklahomas strengths The survey pointed out three strong categories for Oklahoma. They are as follows: Cost of Doing Business - #1 Cost of Living - #18 Business Friendliness - #20 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNBC calculated the cost of doing business by examining each states ability to ease business expenses and factoring in wage and utility costs. This year, however, CNBC is giving more consideration to property-casualty insurance and forecasted premium increases, as well as incentives and tax breaks for businesses. All of which the Sooner state exceeded other states, placing it at the top for the cost of doing business. Oklahomas weaknesses The survey ranked Oklahoma below the halfway point in seven of the 10 categories. These include: Economy (#32) Access to Capital (#33) Infrastructure (#34) Workforce (#42) Quality of Life (#42) Technology & Innovation (#42) Education (#43) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the lowest category for Oklahoma, CNBC took note of the states education score, which considered the test scores, class size and educational spending. The survey also considered the number of colleges and universities in each state as well as the state support for higher education. A states education system is its main source for talent and an engine of innovation. It is also a key consideration for companies and families deciding where to put down roots, CNBC wrote in its article. In education, states could receive up to 110 points; Oklahoma scored 37, earning a D grade. What are the best states for business? These are the best states for business, according to CNBC: North Carolina Texas Florida Virginia Ohio Michigan Georgia Tennessee Indiana Minnesota This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: CNBC ranked Oklahoma among worst for business, but with some high marks A retro-style sign welcomes guests to the lodging area at Sequoyah State Park. (Photo by Lori Duckworth/Courtesy of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department) OKLAHOMA CITY A restaurant at an eastern Oklahoma state park remains closed during peak tourism season, over seven months after a fire. The same Dec. 12 fire at the Sequoyah State Park restaurant also damaged the lodge, but the latter has since reopened, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaitlyn Rivas, spokesperson for the Tourism and Recreation Department, said that The Lookout Kitchen restaurant remains closed due to ongoing repairs, and she did not know when it would reopen. The Lookout Kitchen continues to offer catering services at Sequoyah State Park while the restaurant is being repaired, she said. Rivas said the Lodge at Sequoyah State Park, which has 104 rooms, was damaged in the fire, but reopened in May. The Lodge was insured through the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, she said. State parks officials would not answer questions seeking a dollar estimate of damage, the cause of the fire, where it originated, or if the restaurant, which is attached to the lodge, was also insured. As a result of a pending insurance claim, the states Tourism and Recreation Department has no further comments at this time, Rivas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Facebook post at the time of the fire, the Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department said the blaze was quickly contained to the kitchen/dining area. Nobody was injured. Ronnie Smith, Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department chief, did not return a call seeking comment about the fire. The ongoing closure is the latest issue impacting Oklahomas state park restaurants. Earlier this month, state parks officials briefly closed The Lookout Kitchen restaurants at Beavers Bend, Lake Murray, Robbers Cave, Roman Nose and Quartz Mountain state parks following a payment dispute. Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation officials claimed they were owed nearly $255,000, needed additional documentation and a surety bond or line of credit from The Lookout Kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restaurants at five state parks reopened several days later after the agency and vendor reached a conditional agreement to pay past due amounts totaling over $274,000, officials said. A letter outlining the states initial demands briefly referenced the December restaurant fire, but contained no specific details. When reached by phone, JP Wilson, owner of The Lookout Kitchen, said the restaurant was insured and damage was very minimal. He said he did not know where the fire originated. However, Wilson said he is concerned about the prolonged closure because he has had to close the restaurant and his employees have not been able to work since the fire. He said it is up to the state to reopen the restaurant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christa Helfrey, a spokesperson for the Office of Management and Services, said the departments involvement in this matter relates to the insurance issues and property repair. She said her agency was unable to comment further at this time. Editors note: The story was updated at 4:35 p.m. July 21 with comment from JP Wilson. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) -In May 2024, Tunisian activist Cherifa Riahi was arrested just two months after giving birth, accused of harbouring illegal migrants. Over a year later, she is still in prison without charge. Rights groups see Riahi's case as a symbol of accelerating repression of civil society under President Kais Saied, who dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crackdown marks a significant turnaround for Tunisia, where civil society groups flourished in the wake of the 2011 uprising that unseated President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, inspired other Arab Spring uprisings, and helped shape a democratic transition. As head of a refugee support group, Riahi had been helping sub-Saharan asylum seekers and other migrants find housing and access medicine and food. Her family says she did nothing wrong. The forced separation from her daughter and young son has been traumatic. "The girl doesn't recognise her mother at all," Riahi's mother Farida, who is now caring for her grandchild, told Reuters at their family home in La Marsa near the capital, Tunis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They took her while she was breastfeeding. We didn't even have time to understand what was happening." Since Saied's power grab, at least a dozen civil society figures like Riahi have been detained on allegations activists denounce as fabricated, according to rights groups and lawyers. At least 10 civil society groups have had their assets frozen and offices raided, they say. The Tunisian General Labour Union, which won the 2015 Nobel peace prize with other civil society groups and could once bring tens of thousands onto the streets, has been sapped by the arrests of junior officials on corruption charges. The Tunisian government's media office did not respond to calls and written questions seeking comment about Riahi's case and those of other activists and civil society groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saied, 67, has accused civil society groups of "serving foreign agendas" and undermining national unity. He has said he will not be a dictator and that freedom and democracy will be preserved, but that he will not allow chaos or interference through foreign funding or organisations that represent a "tool of treason." Activists warn that some of Tunisia's last surviving democratic gains are at risk as the judiciary, media and parliament have all come under tighter executive control and most opposition party leaders are in prison. "The attack on civil society organisations is not an isolated incident," said Romdhane Ben Amor of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, an independent advocacy group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It comes within the context of the authorities' plan to close civic space and to end the democratic openness achieved by Tunisians after January 14, 2011." 'SEEN AS ENEMIES' In Tunis, the offices of I Watch, an anti-corruption watchdog founded after the 2011 revolution, used to bustle with dozens of employees, volunteers and journalists. These days, only three employees work on-site. Dozens work remotely, some fearing raids or arrests. Wajdi Belloumi, I Watch's president, said its bank transfers have been hindered and official investigations into the group are piling up. Hotels have stopped renting spaces for the group's events, citing vague instructions from authorities, Belloumi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the electoral commission refused for the first time to allow I Watch to monitor elections due to suspicions of foreign funding. "We're seen as enemies now," Belloumi told Reuters. "Many volunteers are afraid. Whistle-blowers have gone quiet. The pressure is everywhere legal, financial, even personal." Ben Amor said he had received anonymous threats and started looking over his shoulder in public spaces. "People start saying, 'This man must be gotten rid of'," he said, referring to comments sent in private messages, or "'your son studies at that school, your daughter studies at that school ... I saw you on that street'". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign governments that once championed Tunisia's democratic transition now prioritise curbing migration and short-term stability, rights groups say. Ben Amor said he believed he had been targeted particularly after speaking out against Saied's recent anti-migrant rhetoric. In 2023, the same year Tunisia signed a pact with the European Union aimed at stemming migration across the Mediterranean, Saied said illegal immigration was part of a "conspiracy" to alter Tunisia's demographics. Since then, authorities have dismantled tents and carried out forced deportations -- the campaign amid which Riahi was detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the space for civil society groups is shrinking by the day, Belloumi said he remains committed. "We chose this path -- transparency, justice, accountability," he said. "And we're not walking away." (Reporting by Tarek Amara, Editing by Alexandre Dziadosz and Aidan Lewis) Once a rising corporate star, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore was sentenced Monday to 2 years in federal prison for her role in an elaborate scheme to funnel more than $1.3 million and other perks to associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for help with the utilitys ambitious legislative agenda. In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah acknowledged Pramaggiores transformative leadership at ComEd and her history of charitable works, but said the evidence at trial showed she also participated in a nearly decade-long scheme that undermined the publics trust in government. This was secretive sophisticated criminal corruption of important public policy, Shah said. When it came to Mr. Madigan you didnt think to change the culture of corruption. Instead you were all in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shah said the dichotomy in Pramaggiores life led him to conclude that people like you, good people in positions of power and authority, need to be deterred too. You had the power to stop this, the judge said. You could have said No, this is not how legislation should be done. You had the power to change the culture at ComEd. He also found that she had lied repeatedly during her testimony at trial, particularly in denying knowledge of the connection of ComEds no-work subcontractors to the powerful Democratic speaker and telling the jury she made no effort to cover it up. Pramaggiore, who turns 67 in two weeks, showed little outward reaction as Shah announced his sentence, which also included a $750,000 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few minutes earlier, Pramaggiore had been given the chance to address the judge but declined to do so. Thank you your honor. I will stand on my able attorneys commentary and submissions, she said while remaining seated at the defense table. Shah ordered Pramaggiore to report to prison by Dec. 1. However her attorney, Scott Lassar, told the judge he will ask for Pramaggiore to remain free on bond pending appeal, given what he said are significant legal issues in the case. Shah asked Lassar to submit something in writing in three weeks. After the hearing, Pramaggiore walked out of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse without comment. Lassar also declined to make a statement to reporters. The defense later issued a statement through a spokesman maintaining Pramaggiores innocence and vowing to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are disappointed by the sentence imposed today, the statement read. It is nearly impossible to reconcile the sentence two years in prison with the federal Probation Departments recommendation of no jail time and probation. The sentencing comes more than two years after Pramaggiores conviction in the ComEd Four case, one of the biggest political corruption scandals in state history. Last week, her former colleague, ex-ComEd executive John Hooker, was given to a year and a half in prison. Sentencing for the other two defendants, Michael McClain and Jay Doherty, remain pending. The investigation, which came to light more than six years ago, ended Pramaggiores stellar career in Chicagos male-dominated C-suite corporate world, where shed recently been named chief executive of Exelon, a major Fortune 100 energy company that delivered power to millions of customers in the Chicago area and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors asked for a stiff prison term of almost 6 years and a $1.75 million fine, writing in a recent filing that despite all her success, money and professional status, she made the choice to participate in a years-long conspiracy that corrupted the legislative process in Springfield and subverted her own companys internal controls. In asking for a 70-month prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Streicker, Julia Schwartz and Diane MacArthur also wrote that Pramaggiore lied repeatedly in her testimony during the 2023 trial. which ended in sweeping guilty verdicts. She could have remained silent, Streicker argued in court Monday. She had every right to do so, but instead she chose to try and obstruct the jurys processWith her back against the wall she chose to testify and lie in order to protect herself. Pramaggiores attorneys, meanwhile, argued for probation, writing in a court filing of their own that the conduct for which she was convicted was a true aberration in an otherwise exemplary life, not only in her professional path but also in her dedication to her family and charitable works. They also submitted nearly a hundred letters from friends and supporters attesting to her good character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has lost her reputation, her career, and her law license, and she faces even more potential consequences, including further enforcement actions, Lassar wrote in a 49-page filing. Imposing a prison sentence that takes her away from her family, friends, and community will not serve the ends of justice. In court Monday, Lassar argued the arrangement to pay Madigans associates as subcontractors was set up by other people, including McClain, Hooker and former ComEd CEO Frank Clark, who preceded Pramaggiore. Lassar said ComEds Smart Grid legislation, which was at the center of the alleged bribery scheme, only became law because of years of tough negotiating and broad coalition building in Springfield, bringing in including big labor, environmentalists, and myriad legislative caucuses. She never asked Madigan for help in passing legislation, Lassar said. And she was never aware that Madigan helped do anything to get it passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pramaggiore and her three co-defendants McClain, a former ComEd lobbyist and longtime Madigan confidant, Hooker, who was ComEds vice president for legislative affairs, and Doherty, a consultant and former City Club of Chicago leader were convicted on all counts in May 2023 after a two-month trial. The case was then beset by a series of delays, first due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reset the rules for a key federal bribery statute and then again after the death of the judge whod presided over the trial, Harry Leinenweber. After he was selected to take over the case, Shah earlier this year tossed the underlying bribery counts due to the Supreme Courts decision, but kept intact the main conspiracy count as well as guilty verdicts for falsifying ComEds books and records, which were charged under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In their statement Monday, Pramaggiores legal team referenced both the Supreme Courts decision and President Donald Trumps recent pausing of enforcement of the FCPA, citing overreach and prosecutorial abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has happened here, the statement read. Ms. Pramaggiore faces jail despite the documents at issue being true. Chicago is not a foreign jurisdictionThere is nothing foreign or corrupt about the facts here. The bulk of the ComEd allegations centered on a cadre of Madigan allies who were paid a total of $1.3 million from 2011 through 2019 through allegedly do-nothing consulting contracts. Among the recipients were two former aldermen, Frank Olivo and Michael Zalewski, precinct captains Ray Nice and Edward Moody, and former state Rep. Edward Acevedo. In addition, prosecutors alleged ComEd also hired a clouted law firm run by political operative Victor Reyes, distributed numerous college internships within Madigans 13th Ward fiefdom, and backed former McPier chief Juan Ochoa, a friend of a Madigan ally, for an $80,000-a-year seat on the utilitys board of directors, the indictment alleged. In return, prosecutors alleged, Madigan used his influence over the General Assembly to help ComEd score a series of huge legislative victories that not only rescued the company from financial instability but led to record-breaking, billion-dollar profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them was the 2011 smart grid bill that set a built-in formula for the rates ComEd could charge customers, avoiding battles with the Illinois Commerce Commission, according to the charges. ComEd also leaned on Madigans office to help pass the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, which kept the formula rate in place and also rescued two nuclear plants run by an affiliated company, Exelon Generation. Pramaggiore is the second of the ComEd Four to be sentenced. Shah handed a 1 1/2-year prison term to Hooker last week. A hearing for McClain, a retired ComEd lobbyist who doubled as Madigans right-hand man, will be sentenced Thursday, while the fourth defendant, Doherty, is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Madigan, meanwhile, was convicted in a separate trial of an array of schemes that included the ComEd bribery payments. He was sentenced in June to seven and a half years in prison. Defense attorneys for the ComEd Four have repeatedly argued the government was seeking to criminalize legal lobbying and job recommendations that are at the heart of the states legitimate political system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They ripped the governments star witness, former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, as a liar and opportunist who was so terrified when FBI agents confronted him in January 2019 that he flipped without even consulting a lawyer and also agreed to secretly record his friends. Marquez testified in March 2023 that the roster of subcontractors hired by ComEd was curated by McClain and read like a whos who of Madigans vaunted political operation, including two legendary precinct captains, a former assistant majority leader in the House and two former Chicago aldermen at the center of Madigans Southwest Side base of power. Over the course of eight years, ComEd paid them hundreds of thousands of dollars, even though they had no particular expertise and ultimately did virtually no work for the utility. Some seemed to be downright incompetent, Marquez told the jury. On cross-examination, Marquez, who pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing, acknowledged there was no guarantee that Madigan was going to help pass ComEd bills. But he added the company still tried to make Madigan happy because not doing it would cause us to be negatively looked on by the speaker. He also admitted he initially told the FBI he didnt believe any of it was bribery. Pramaggiores lawyers argued in their sentencing memo that she should be punished only for the remaining counts of conviction, which all have to do with falsifying ComEds books. But prosecutors say the entire scope of the scheme is still fair game, even if the specific bribery counts were dropped a position that Shah has agreed with. At Hookers sentencing July 14, Shah said the evidence at trial showed the four co-defendants were jointly undertaking the quid pro quo bribery of Mr. Madigan, paying out his cronies in exchange for favorable official action. The instructional error doesnt change my factual assessment, Shah said. Not only could a jury reach that conclusion, I reached that conclusion based on my own review. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com CHESTERFIELD, N.H. (ABC22/FOX44) A multi-vehicle crash in Chesterfield Sunday has left one 22-year-old dead, according to New Hampshire State Police. Officers responded to the scene at Wellington Drive on Route 9 around 12:27 p.m. There, police believe that the 22-year-old, a Farmington resident, had crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic. The now deceased individual drove a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder, and the incident resulted in a three-car crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were pronounced deceased on-scene, authorities say. Route 9 in this area was closed for four hours. This crash is currently under investigation, and witnesses can contact Trooper Paul Bergeron by calling (603) 223-8494. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At least one person was killed and 40 others were injured across Ukraine as Russian forces carried out attacks targeting multiple regions, local authorities reported on July 21. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 450 aerial threats overnight, including 426 Shahed-type drones and various types of missiles, including Kinzhals, Kalibrs, and Kh-101s. Air defenses downed or disrupted 224 targets, including 200 Shahed-type drones. Additionally, 203 drone decoys reportedly failed to reach their targets. In Kyiv, one person was killed and seven injured, including a child, after a massive overnight attack on the capital. Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said strikes hit six districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, four people, including a child, were injured, according to the State Emergency Service. Fires broke out in houses and garages in Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia districts. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, governor Serhii Lysak said two people were injured during strikes on Nikopol, Pokrovska, and Marhanetska communities. Fires damaged residential buildings, cars, and grain fields. In Synelnykove district, infrastructure and farmland were also hit. In Pavlohrad district, a missile strike caused a fire that has since been extinguished. In Kharkiv Oblast, seven people were injured following attacks on Kharkiv and ten other locations, governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The region was hit with drones, missiles, and glide bombs. Damagewas caused to residential buildings, transport infrastructure, and energy facilities. In Kharkiv alone, a residential building, tram lines, and administrative structures were affected. In Kherson Oblast, two civilians were injured in attacks on more than 40 settlements, according to governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Strikes damaged high-rise and houses, a water tower, cell tower, and various vehicles and outbuildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported ten injuries across Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, and Bakhmut districts. In total, 22 settlements were shelled. Damages was caused to dozens of houses, vehicles, and power lines. Over 300 people were evacuated, including one child. In Sumy Oblast, four civilians, including a child, were wounded by drone strikes in Sumy, according to the regional military administration. Russian forces launched 90 attacks on 38 settlements, damaging houses, cars, and civilian infrastructure. Air-dropped explosives and guided bombs were used extensively. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Governor Ivan Fedorov said three people were injured in Vasylivka district. Russian forces launched 579 strikes, including airstrikes and drone attacks, hitting 12 communities. Damage was reported to residential buildings, infrastructure, and vehicles. One more person was injured early on July 21 by a Russian drone strike. Read also: This is what Ukraine could hit in Russia with US Tomahawk missiles Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Ruma Paul and Sudipto Ganguly DHAKA (Reuters) -At least 19 people were killed and 164 injured as a Bangladesh air force training jet crashed into a college and school campus in the capital Dhaka on Monday after experiencing a technical problem shortly after take-off, a military spokesperson said. The F-7 BGI jet took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola, Dhaka, as part of a routine training mission, but encountered a mechanical failure, said the spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The pilot ... made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft ... crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College," he said. The pilot was among those killed in the incident, the military said, adding that a committee had been formed to investigate its cause. The F-7 BGI is the final and most advanced variant in China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Janes Information Group. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013. The Chengdu F-7 is the licence-built version of the Soviet MiG-21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FIRE, DESPAIR AT CRASH SITE Videos of the aftermath of the crash showed a big fire near a lawn emitting a thick plume of smoke into the sky, as crowds watched from a distance. Firefighters sprayed water on the mangled remains of the plane, which appeared to have rammed into the side of a building, damaging iron grills and creating a gaping hole in the structure, footage filmed by Reuters showed. "A third-grade student was brought in dead, and three others, aged 12, 14 and 40, were admitted to the hospital," said Bidhan Sarker, head of the burn unit at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where some victims were taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Images from the scene also showed people screaming and crying as others tried to comfort them. "When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realised something came from behind ... I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke," said Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school. The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in neighbouring India's Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. (Reporting by Ruma Paul and Sudipto Ganguly, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh, Christina Fincher and Aidan Lewis) A Farmington woman is dead and two others are seriously injured following a multi-vehicle crash on Route 9 in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, on Sunday afternoon. State Police say that the crash occurred around 12:27 p.m., when a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder, driven by 22-year-old Arreona Davey, crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic, resulting in a three-car collision. Davey was pronounced dead on the scene. Two occupants of a second vehicle involved in the crash were transported to Cheshire Medical Center with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver and three passengers of a third vehicle involved suffered minor injuries and did not require medical transport. Route 9 was closed for approximately four hours as authorities investigated the crash. The cause of the crash still remains under investigation. State Police ask anyone with information to contact Trooper Paul Bergeron at (603) 223-8494 or Paul.J.Bergeron@dos.nh.gov. 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 The Boston Police Department says that one person suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Roxbury. The incident occurred around 7:36 p.m. on Sunday, when officers responded to the area of 67 Elm Hill Avenue to reports of a person shot. Once on scene, officers found the individual suffering from a gunshot wound and transported them to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers say that no arrests have been made and that an investigation is 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 Sunday marks one week since a fire ripped through an assisted living facility in Fall River, killing ten residents. On July 13th, first responders rushed inside Gabriel House to try and rescue as many people as possible as smoke came through windows and doors. Some family and friends of the victims stopped by Sunday afternoon to pay their respects. I cannot believe this. I just cant understand how something like this could happen, Michael Michaud said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday was Michauds first time visiting the building since the tragic fire. He had two friends living inside. One of them survived, but the other, 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, died. As of Sunday night, state fire marshals have not shared what sparked the flames. Officials havent said if any codes were violated. People like Michaud say state leaders need to do more to make sure these facilities are following the rules. There needs to be change. There needs to be more accountability, and there needs to be more stuff put on paper. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced a new safety initiative that will begin Monday, July 21st. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It requires all 273 assisted living facilities in the Commonwealth to send letters to residents and families outlining safety protocols and evacuation plans. Theres also a new safety assessment survey these facilities must complete, as well as specify their disaster and emergency plans. At least 30 people were hurt, and nine people were initially reported dead, all over the age of 60, as thick smoke and flames trapped residents inside. The fire chief said Wednesday that a second person was also in critical condition. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quin III identified other victims as 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, 61-year-old Ronald Codega, 69-year-old Margaret Duddy, 78-year-old Robert King, 71-year-old Kim Mackin, 78-year-old Richard Rochon,77-year-old Joseph Wilansky and 86-year-old Eleanor Willett. The identity of one victim, a 70-year-old woman, is not yet being publicly released as next of kin notification is still pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Brenda Cropper was identified as the tenth person who died in the fire. Inspection reports released Thursday by the citys Bureau of Fire Investigation identified no problems at Gabriel House going back to 2019. The reports cover things like sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, exit doors, and general housekeeping. Boston 25 is continuing to ask officials if theyve learned what caused the fire. Well let you know as soon as we find out. 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 Like other urban counties in North Carolina, Guilford continues to experience steady growth. Guilfords population rose 3.2% between 2020 and 2024, as it remained the states third-largest county behind Wake and Mecklenburg, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Guilford added more than 17,500 residents over that period. However, new census estimates released last month show that even as the overall population swelled, the countys largest ethnic group shrunk. The number of white residents in Guilford declined by nearly 2% compared to 2020. And thats not just a reflection of the countys growing diversity. The Census Bureau estimated that there were 5,000 fewer white Guilford residents in 2024 than there were four years earlier. Over the same period, the countys Black population increased by more than 9,300 and the number of Hispanics calling Guilford home rose 6,560. Even the Asian and Pacific Islander population grew by 4,845, and there were more than 1,700 additional residents who identified as multiracial. Guilfords decline in white residents makes it a clear outlier among the states urban counties, noted Nathan Dollar, director of Carolina Demography, part of the Carolina Population Center at UNC Chapel Hill. It looks like something might be going on there in the Piedmont area, he said. Just to the west, Forsyth, which grew overall by 4% over the same four-year period, experienced a small 0.5% increase among whites while other urban counties Wake (4.6%), Mecklenburg (3.6%), Durham (6%) and New Hanover (8%) saw sharper gains. Death or moving So, why is Guilfords white population declining when its peer counties are going in the other direction? There are only two things that can reduce the raw number of people in a population: death or moving, explained sociologist and demographer Arielle Kuperberg, a former UNC Greensboro professor. Guilfords actually added nearly 5,000 white residents between the ages of 65 and 85 since 2020, so death was not a factor. But a closer look at younger ages reveals potential clues. Of the six urban counties Dollar examined, Guilford was the only one to experience white population losses both among young children and adults in prime child-bearing years between 2020 and 2024. White children 4 and younger in Guilford declined 8% and those in the 5-to-9 age group dropped 3.3% between 2020 and 2024. At the same time, Guilford lost 6.5% of white adults aged 25 to 29 and 4.4% between 30 and 34. Those statistics point to an exodus of young white residents, many of whom end up having children elsewhere. That kind of movement is typically driven by job prospects, particularly among college graduates who, statistically, are more likely to be white, noted Kuperberg, who lived in Greensboro for 14 years before moving to her current position as a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In Guilford County there are not a lot of career opportunities for college-educated folks compared to other areas of the state, she explained. When I worked at UNCG, most of my students who graduated moved to places like Charlotte, the Research Triangle or further afield to places like (Washington) D.C., in order to get better career opportunities. Thats a common pattern, added State Demographer Michael Cline with the North Carolina Office of Budget and Management. Statewide and nationally we see migration towards professional opportunities in major urban centers such as Wake and Mecklenburg counties coupled with movement to suburban and exurban communities, Cline said. With relatively younger populations, these counties gain through natural increase and migration. Aging whites Cline pointed to more age-related data that could help explain trends in Guilford. The median age of the countys white population is 46, meaning half of the population is older than 46, and I dont know too many 50-year-olds having children, he said. By comparison, Guilfords median ages for people of color are considerably younger: 33 for Black residents, 34 for Asians and 24 for Hispanics. The countys two large state universities also have a significant impact on population trends, Cline added. If you look at historical net migration patterns the differences between those moving in and moving out Guilford has a distinguishable college town migration signature, with net gains in population peaking during the college years and net losses in the early 30s, he said. However, over the past two decades, net outmigration has been the norm for most ages for the white population, Cline added. All of which begs the question: Does it matter that Guilfords shrinking white population is unique among the states urban counties? It is notable, Cline said. However, this should not be a story about loss. After all, Guilford remains the third largest county in the nations ninth largest state. And its population continues to grow even as it like the state and much of the South becomes more racially (and) ethnically diverse than it was decades ago, he concluded. The Scoop OpenAI plans to open up its first office in Washington, DC, which will serve as both a hub for the companys policy ambitions and a showroom for visitors to learn about the companys products, OpenAI told Semafor. The office, which the company has dubbed The Workshop, will be where everyone from policymakers to educators to nonprofits can get training on OpenAIs tools, in some cases getting early previews of products. One of the things that weve discovered is that our technology is our best advocate, our best educator, our best lobbyist, Chris Lehane, chief global affairs officer for OpenAI, told Semafor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office will be headed by Chan Park, the companys head of global affairs for the US and Canada, and Joe Larson, who is leaving the defense tech firm Anduril to join OpenAI at the end of the month. The AI giant hopes it can use the space to win over hearts and minds for its software and a hardware product CEO Sam Altman has said he hopes to release in 2026. It also aims to expand its partnerships and customer accounts in government and help shape regulation of artificial intelligence as legislators weigh everything from the risks of the technology to its copyright implications. The Trump White House has made AI a key part of its agenda and is expected to release its AI action plan as early as Wednesday. Step Back One hotly debated topic in the AI industry is on the technologys potential economic impact. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently made waves by predicting AI will eliminate half of entry-level, white-collar jobs in the next one to five years, potentially leading to 20% unemployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently weighed in, predicting AI will lead to economic growth due to new innovation and productivity gains. OpenAIs position is that one route to ensuring the gains from AI are widely distributed is to put the technology into the hands of more people. If you think about the fact that the economic pie is going to expand because of AI, the real question is whos actually participating in the expansion of the pie? Lehane said. A ChatGPT subscription can run as high as $200 per month for the heaviest users. But Lehane said the vast majority of the 500 million people using the service are using it for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altman was expected to speak at a Federal Reserve conference Tuesday, where hell have an opportunity to talk about the economic implications of AI. Reeds view One of the remarkable things about the generative AI boom, besides the capabilities of the technology, is the willingness of people to pay for it. Web 2.0 trained us to expect amazing products for free, all paid for by targeted advertisements. OpenAI, though, is on track to make more than $12 billion in revenue by the end of this year, and a lot of it is from individual customers paying for an internet service. But from the way Lehane talked about it, the company would rather find a way to deliver its products to people for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, those on ChatGPTs free version, which limits the capabilities and output of the models, cannot take full advantage of the tool. And that means they are falling behind. If OpenAI were able to deliver the most powerful AI tools to the world for free, it would be a remarkable feat. Costs would need to come down significantly. Even then, its unclear whether advertising or some other business model could fund a service like that. But the bigger question is whether putting these into peoples hands would accomplish OpenAIs stated goal: ensuring the gains earned from the AI explosion are shared by the masses. From a global perspective, AI could make an impact, especially in poorer countries. In the US, even the best AI tools cant change certain realities. Say a person loses their job because theyre replaced by AI. In a perfect world, they could use OpenAIs powerful software to help start their own business. But AI wont be able to get that person health insurance for their family so they can afford to pursue their idea. Room for Disagreement The liberal think tank New America argues one way to ensure AI is truly democratic is to develop a public AI infrastructure, beyond open-source models that allow anyone to use them as they wish, for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Openness alone cannot democratize AI or equitably distribute its benefits throughout society, partly because of the concentration of power in the technology industry and also because privately run AI models cannot perfectly align with specific democratic or public-interest objectives, New America said. This realization has increased calls for the development of a public AI infrastructure government-owned or other non-corporate models can be made democratically accountable in ways that privately owned models cannot. Notable Its the irony of all ironies: How could President Trump put his credibility on the line with his hard core MAGA supporters over Jeffrey Epstein? Trump has survived a felony conviction and was twice impeached and acquitted. He was found liable by a judge of sexual assault, owes potentially millions of dollars in libel suits for his actions and avoided possible prosecution and considerable jail time for gross mishandling of highly classified material. None of these mishaps prevented Trump from being reelected as Americas 47th president. Yet, despite this graphic history, Trump is now threatened by the ghost of a convicted sexual predator. How can this be? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Epsteins attorney Alan Dershowitz wrote in the Wall Street Journal on July 16, Trump was free and clear of any and all entanglements with his client. And it was reported that Trump had once barred Epstein from Mar-a-Lago. Extreme elements of his MAGA constituency have turned against Trump. For what seem to be irrational reasons, they have accused the president of a cover-up and lying about not providing full transparency on the Epstein saga and releasing the so-called clients list that Dershowitz asserted was nonexistent. Conspiracy theories sprouted like mushrooms: for example, that Trump was obviously hiding his relationship with Epstein or protecting others in his administration and circle of friends from the Epstein stain. Shrill calls reverberated through Washingtons political gasosphere for Attorney General Pam Bondi to resign over this failure to release the Epstein files. Having bragged that he could shoot someone dead on Park Avenue and be absolved, it is incredible that Trump could be attacked by his MAGA allies on such an extraordinarily trivial matter, given the magnitude of obstacles he has previously faced and overcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worse, so far, the explanations of why part of his base is incensed make little sense. That Trump has somehow now become part of the deep state that he vowed to eliminate is nonsensical. Promising to release all any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony on Epstein (and, for that matter, JFKs assassination) and not following through has been part of Trumps lifelong pattern of deception and disinformation, if not outright lying. It is quite possible again, quoting Dershowitz that there simply was no there there regarding the Epstein files, and that Trump simply exaggerated or distorted that possibility to play to his base. Then he got caught. And now Trump is lashing out against this base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether this is a minor tempest and will dissipate soon or has tsunami-like consequences remains to be seen. Why has this brouhaha over Epstein been so explosive? Is this the state of American politics today when a leaders credibility among his followers fractures over literally nothing, as occasionally happens in marriages? Has Trump violated some mythical bond or unspoken oath with this base? Or is the MAGA movements instability or irrationality causing such a backlash? The timing is not helpful to Trump. In the midst of what could be a major global tariff war, the conflict in Gaza still blazing and Vladimir Putin given 50 days to put up or shut up on a cease-fire and peace negotiation in Ukraine, how do these outside players react? Do all or many shake their heads believing that this is simply the vulgarity of U.S. politics and ignore this display? Or do others, probably in Beijing and Moscow, see this as a fatal weakness in American culture and society to be exploited? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Trumps refusal to believe Russia interfered on his behalf in the 2016 election, make no mistake: Chinese and Russian, as well as other intelligence services, are exploring how these flaws and cracks in American politics can be exploited. For example, assuming that ex-KGB officer Putin wanted to alter the 2016 election, imagine how he could have exploited the so-called Steele dossier that alleged Trumps sexual misconduct in Moscow. The internet would have been filled with torrid stories and deep fake shots of Trump in compromising positions. With AI and other technical means, identifying seemingly minor issues that could have otherwise profound political consequences would not be difficult for an adversary or for anyone wishing to meddle in politics. This happened during Brexit. With social media as a force multiplier, it is easy to see how political fractures could be generated. As a thought experiment, suppose the resurrection of Epsteins ghost originated in a certain building in the Kremlin or inside Beijings Forbidden City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, I am sure, did not happen. But it could. Harlan Ullman, Ph.D., is UPIs Arnaud deBorchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior advisor at Washington, D.C.s Atlantic Council, the chairman of two private companies and the principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. He and David Richards are authors of a forthcoming book on preventing strategic catastrophe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Much has been written about Americas largest city edging closer to electing a socialist mayor. Zohran Mamdani recently won the Democratic primary, which is likely enough to secure the mayoralty of New York City. He still has to get through a general election that includes incumbent Eric Adams, now running as an independent. But Mamdani is in a strong position. How did Mamdani rise to the top of the ticket over Andrew Cuomo, a well-known but scandal-plagued former governor? He ran a calculated campaign focused on New York Citys affordability crisis. Hes promised free bus rides, city-run grocery stores, a $30 minimum wage, and rent freezes all to be funded by the, in Mamdanis eyes, evil billionaires of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So have at it. If youre old enough to remember New York City before the 1990s, youve seen what can happen under dysfunctional leadership in one of the worlds most important cities. But if Mamdani is indeed successful in implementing his policy ideas, expect one noticeable trend to continue and likely grow: the number of people leaving New York for greener pastures. While we may criticize bad ideas or bad policy, thats the beauty of the American federalist system. We often look to Washington for answers, but thats the wrong approach. State and local governments retain significant control over many aspects of our daily lives, including education, criminal justice, infrastructure, elections, and taxation. This decentralization creates a unique environment in which cities and states are free to innovate and compete. One of the most powerful aspects of federalism is that it allows states to serve as laboratories of democracy, a phrase popularized by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. States can experiment with new laws, policies and regulations tailored to the specific needs and preferences of their populations. When those policies are effective, they may be adopted by other states, and occasionally even by the federal government. When they fail, the impact is limited to that one jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This system naturally fosters healthy competition among the states. Policymakers are incentivized to make their states more attractive for residents, workers, and businesses. That often means pursuing lower taxes, fewer regulations, safer communities, and better educational options. Much of the South, including Georgia, has benefited by adopting policies aimed at growing their economies, cutting red tape and reducing taxes. In doing so, theyve attracted new residents and companies fleeing high-tax, high-regulation states like California, Illinois and, yes, New York. Partisans may put out rankings on who is the best or worst, but there is no more measurable sign of success (or failure) than people voting with their feet. This competition is real. States vie for jobs, investment, and talent. They actively court small and major corporations, touting their states tax climate, workforce, and quality of life. When a company relocates its U.S. headquarters, or a family moves for a lower cost of living, thats federalism in action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federalism also serves as a check on the national government. When Washington overreaches or fails to act, states can step in. During COVID-19, for example, states made widely varying decisions about lockdowns, mandates, and school closures. That diversity of approaches allowed for comparisons, corrections, and accountability and, it turns out, it was one of the biggest drivers of out-migration from states like New York over the past five years. Ultimately, federalism ensures that no single ideology or governing model dominates the entire country. It gives Americans the freedom to choose where they live based not just on geography or climate, but on values, opportunity, and public policy. This freedom of movement and choice reinforces liberty and drives continual improvement. In the last five years of available Census information, 78,000 residents have moved from New York to Georgia. That wasnt because numerous families happened to break down on Interstate 95. It was intentional. If Mamdani is successful at putting socialism into action in New York City, expect those numbers to continue growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brett Kittredge is the director of marketing and communications at the Georgia Public Policy Foundation and a member of State Policy Network. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. If the feud between President Trump and Elon Musk exposed cracks in the MAGA coalition, the brewing fight over the Jeffrey Epstein client list threatens to blow the levees wide open. For the first time, there is a very real threat to Trumps perceived infallibility among the most devoted. The fight, which began with a joint FBI-Department of Justice memo declaring that Epsteins sought after client list does not exist and that the disgraced financer did in fact commit suicide in 2019 has escalated in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Wednesday, after previously attempting to put the issue to rest, Trump took aim at those within his own party who want to shine light on the investigation, calling them stupid Republicans and saying they fell for a hoax. Trump continued, focusing his ire on the MAGA universe, describing them as PAST supporters and weaklings who bought into this bullshit. However, while Trumps fury has previously been able to coax most hardline Republicans to fall in line and some like Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk have rushed to his defense in the wake of a Wall Street Journal report detailing an alleged letter Trump sent Epstein in 2003 this time appears different. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), as well as Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) have all called for further investigations or transparency into Epstein, something Trump belatedly called for from Attorney General Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And far-right influencer Laura Loomer, who also pushed back against the Wall Street Journal article, went on record to say she thinks Trumps botched handling of the Epstein issue could consume his presidency and outright rejected Trumps insistence that it is a hoax. To that end, polling is already reflecting the threat to Republicans midterm hopes from the administrations mishandling of the Epstein situation. Indeed, a majority (54 percent) of U.S. adults disapprove of Trumps handling of the issue, while less than one-fifth (17 percent) approve a number that would look worse if not for 35 percent of Republicans approving, per Reuters-Ipsos polling. Similarly, clear majorities of adults think the administration is hiding Epsteins client list (69 percent), despite Trumps repeated denials of a lists existence, and hiding information on Epsteins death (60 percent). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, majorities of Republicans agree, with more than 6 in 10 (62 percent) believing the administration is hiding the client list, and 55 percent thinking information on Epsteins death is being covered up. These findings have also been seen in other recent polls. According to Rasmussen, a conservative pollster, a majority (56 percent) of likely voters do not believe the FBI and Justice Department are telling the truth about Epstein, just 21 percent believe the government has been honest. Ironically, this is an entirely self-inflicted wound for the administration. Having fanned the flames of a government-wide cover up of Epstein and his client list for nearly a decade, Trump and others created the mess they now find themselves in and are struggling to dig out of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very few, if any, people outside of Trumps hard-core base were demanding the release of the Epstein files, yet Trump, Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino spent years feeding conspiracy theories to Trumps base. And once in power, they continued teasing the release of more information, only to underwhelm, backtrack, or deny their previous statements. Of course, if there is no list, it would behoove the administration to say so. Yet no one least of all Trump, Bondi or Patel seem willing to admit that the conspiracy theories theyve pushed for years may be false. Growing discontent at the administrations handling of the Epstein issue is also taking its toll on Trump personally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the joint FBI-DOJ memo, Trumps approval rating dropped to negative 17 points from negative 11 points, per Economist/YouGov polling conducted both before and after the memos release. Mark Mitchell, Rasmussens head pollster, called their results brutal and said that Republicans could lose both chambers of Congress over the issue. At this point, Mitchell may be spot on. A sufficient number of Republican hardliners appear willing to join with Democrats to force a House vote on releasing all available information on Epstein, putting Republicans in a lose-lose situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they go along with the vote, they will anger Trump, but if they do not, they open themselves up to attacks that theyre protecting Epstein. Republican angst was evident last Thursday when Politico ran an article noting that many Republican House members were eager to leave Washington for summer recess ahead of a potential vote that would force them to go on record. To be sure, Republicans already needed virtually everything to break their way if they wanted to hold onto the House next year. Historically, the party in control tends to lose seats in midterms, and Democrats currently sit at plus 3 points in the generic congressional ballot per RealClearPolitics polling aggregator, as well as Trumps own pollster Tony Fabrizio according to a memo released by Politico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now, the Republicans have to deal with the possibility that Trump voters simply do not come out to vote due to their anger over the Epstein files. Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether Trumps base will let the Epstein issue die between now and midterms, and Trumps order to Bondi to release pertinent grand jury documents may ensure that it remains in the spotlight. Put another way, if Trump cannot satisfy his most ardent supporters and assure them that there is no cover up, which currently seems unlikely, Republicans may pay a considerable political price for the administrations missteps. Douglas E. Schoen and Carly Cooperman are pollsters and partners with the public opinion company Schoen Cooperman Research based in New York. They are co-authors of the book, America: Unite or Die. 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. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) became the scourge of university leaders on Dec. 5, 2023, when she baited the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT into seemingly tolerating calls for genocide of the Jews. Their tepid responses cost two of them their jobs. At subsequent hearings of the House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee, Stefanik scorched other university presidents for giving equivocal answers about campus antisemitism. Stefaniks latest target has been a legal clinic at the City University of New York School of Law, called CUNY CLEAR, an acronym for Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a hearing last week, Stefanik berated CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez for CLEARs representation of Mahmoud Khalil, whom she called the chief pro-Hamas agitator that led to the antisemitic encampments at Columbia. Whatever the merits of Stefaniks other accusations, she is absolutely wrong about CUNY CLEAR. Representation of a controversial client is in the best tradition of legal education. Khalil was a leader of the pro-Palestinian occupation at Columbia, advancing inflammatory claims and demands. He was also a lawful permanent resident a green card holder married to an American citizen. Last March, Khalil was arrested by agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although he was not charged with a crime, the Department of State asserted that Khalils green card had been revoked under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, because his pro-Palestinian advocacy posed serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S. Khalil was whisked to a detention facility in central Louisiana. He was held for 104 days until his release was ordered by a federal judge. He is still facing deportation. Outraged that CUNY CLEAR had played a key role in Khalils representation, Stefanik called upon Rodriguez to fire the CUNY professor who coordinated the defense. Rodriguez was non-committal, promising only to investigate the situation. That was the tactful response, but he missed a teachable moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission of CUNY CLEAR is to support clients and communities targeted by local, state, or federal government agencies under the guise of national security and counterterrorism. Although that may never be acceptable to Stefanik, Rodriguez should have explained that representing unpopular clients is what lawyers are supposed to do, and what law students should be taught to do. CLEAR helped return Khalil from detention in Louisiana to his family, including a newborn son, in New York. That also allowed him greater access to his attorneys, which is essential if he is to have any chance of challenging his deportation. I agree with almost nothing Khalil stands for, but I believe strongly in due process and fair trials. There is no right to appointed counsel in immigration cases, so Khalils representation could only come from organizations such as the ACLU and CLEAR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my years as a lawyer in Northwesterns Bluhm Legal Clinic, from 1975 to 1987, I represented plenty of unpopular or outcast clients. Some were obscure, including a lesbian mother seeking to regain custody of her daughter from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (which was hardly a foregone conclusion in those days). Others were notorious, such as the Ukrainian parents who wanted to take their 12-year-old son back to what was then the Soviet Union. I also represented Jews for Jesus who had been arrested picketing American Nazi Party headquarters, and Jewish Defense League members for the same thing. I represented Jewish leftists who had been prevented by a police cordon from protesting at a Nazi rally in a Chicago park. I worked with the Illinois ACLU during the Nazis-in-Skokie controversy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were surely Northwestern trustees, and local politicians, who were unhappy with some aspects of my client list, which included accused gang members and assorted criminal defendants, along with members of the Revolutionary Communist Party. Nobody ever told me that representation should be withheld due to unpopular associations or opinions. There is indeed antisemitism at CUNY, and throughout academia, which I have documented. The representation of Khalil is in an entirely separate category. It is grist for a grandstander like Stefanik, but it is not an example of antisemitism. Among my most rewarding experiences as a clinic lawyer was obtaining the dismissal of charges against a 12 year-old girl accused of murdering her own baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1976, I could not convince prosecutors to treat my client as an abused child herself, rather than a criminal. The only evidence against her was a confession, extracted by police, which my students and I succeeded in suppressing as involuntary. Decades later, I told the story in class. So you got her off, remarked a student. No, we got her justice, I explained. That is what legal clinics do. Steven Lubet is the Williams Memorial Professor Emeritus at the Northwestern University Pritzker School 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 The Hill. Weve long known that politicians influence how ordinary Americans think about education issues. Voters follow the leader embracing or rejecting policies championed or opposed by elites in their political tribe. Of course this phenomenon isnt unique to education. But its problematic effects have played an outsized role in the K-12 arena in recent years. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter First, there were the COVID-era school closures. The effort to reopen schools was initially untainted by partisanship. But when President Donald Trump championed in-person learning in the summer of 2020, reopening became coded in red and blue. Democratic politicians and teachers union leaders swiftly rebuked Trump on the issue. Ordinary voters responded in turn. Reopening then became a partisan quagmire that put kids last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as has been well documented, the decline in student achievement wasnt just a pandemic phenomenon. The decline began much earlier, exacerbated during the retreat from consequential accountability, and steepened even more post pandemic. As student outcomes remain moribund today, leaders in both parties are doing far too little to reverse these trends. This time around the obstacle isnt COVID reopening battles or culture wars. Its mainly about the unwillingness of the political class to signal, in a bipartisan manner, that holding schools accountable for student learning must be the cornerstone of American education. As Harvard Education professor Martin West recently put it while digesting the results of another disappointing NAEP assessment, There is good evidence that really does suggest a lot of [the academic] progress in the 1990s and 2000s was driven by test-based accountability. Unfortunately, according to newly released survey data, accountability advocates have lost the public, and Democratic voters in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the 2024 Cooperative Election Study (CES) survey, I asked a national sample of voters two questions about their support for the two key pillars of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reform agenda: testing and accountability. Crucially, these questions were asked using the same language that pollsters at PDK/Gallup used back in 2001. Specifically, voters in both surveys were asked: Would you favor or oppose each of the following measures that have been proposed as part of a national education program in the US: Increased use of standardized tests for measuring student achievement Holding the public schools accountable for how much students learn The chart below displays the percentage of Americans, separately by political party, who said that they favor increased use of testing to measure student achievement. The chart reflects the authors analysis of PDK/Gallups 33rd Annual Survey of the Publics Attitudes Toward the Public Schools in 2001 and of his own original survey module fielded on the larger 2024 Cooperative Election Survey in November 2024. While its true that support for standardized testing has declined among all Americans no doubt due in part to over-testing during the height of NCLB the drop has been far more concentrated among Democrats. Whereas six in 10 Democrats favored more testing to measure student achievement back in 2001, today just one in three do (Figure 1). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Democratic backlash to the bipartisan reform agenda goes beyond an aversion to more testing. Democrats have also lost faith in accountability. Back when the Bush administration was lobbying to enact NCLB, Democratic voters favored holding schools accountable for student achievement slightly more than did Republicans. In the intervening decades, however, Democratic support for accountability has nosedived. Why have Democrats soured so much on testing and accountability? The answer surely has something to do with follow the leader politics. Democrats attitudes followed a major change in the way prominent Democrats spoke about school reform. Leaders, including President Joe Biden, spurned President Barack Obamas reform agenda and instead embraced the teachers unions anti-testing and accountability posture. Since then, ordinary Democratic voters have taken notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the aftermath of the pandemic, teachers unions pushed for a permanent end to high-stakes testing in Massachusetts. In 2024 they succeeded: The states overwhelmingly Democratic electorate voted against keeping passing MCAS as a graduation requirement. While its unlikely that voters soured on reform solely because their party and union leadership did first, there is some evidence consistent with this follow-the-leader dynamic. Related Mass. Will Do Away With High School Standardized Testing Graduation Requirement Since Barack Obama left office, rank-and-file Democrats have become far more supportive of teachers unions. For example, in 2014, Harvards EdNext poll found that one in four Democrats believed teachers unions had a negative effect on schools. A decade later, my CES survey, asking an identical question, found that just one in 20 Democrats view the unions negatively. Instead, six in 10 said teachers unions have a positive effect on schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, it is the larger base of pro-union Democrats who are more likely to oppose test-based accountability than their fellow Democrats who are union skeptics. The bottom line: Testing and accountability became less popular among Democratic voters after the partys elected officials and their powerful labor partners firmly united publicly against these positions. Although we cant disentangle cause and effect with precision here, this timing is consistent with political science research that shows voters often take cues from political leaders, rather than independently forming opinions first and influencing politicians. As Democrats gear up to try and win back the White House in 2028, the partys choice in a standard bearer will have important implications for the future tone and direction of education politics. There are growing signs that some of the National Guard troops whom President Donald Trump deployed to Los Angeles are demoralized and discontent with their ostensible mission of quashing the rebellion of protests against federal immigration raids. For those of you watching the how close are we to an authoritarian state? dial, its a small but meaningful indication that Trump might not be able to get all the armed forces on board in future authoritarian power grabs. The latest reporting comes via The New York Times, which interviewed nearly two dozen people, including National Guard troops and officers, as well as officials and civilians who worked closely with them. The interviews show that many members of the Guard are questioning the mission, the Times reports. Six members of the Guard, ranging from infantrymen to officers to officials in leadership positions, described low morale and deep concern that the deployment may hurt recruitment for the state-based military force for years to come. The Times says several of the guard members had raised objections themselves or knew someone who objected, either because they did not want to be involved in immigration crackdowns or felt the Trump administration had put them on the streets for what they described as a fake mission. According to California Gov. Gavin Newsoms office, the rate at which soldiers are set to extend their service during the deployment is dramatically lower than the typical extension rate. And then there was this colorful portrait of chaos: At least 105 members of the deployment sought counseling from behavioral health officers, and at least one company commander and one battalion commander who objected to the mission were reassigned to work unrelated to the mobilization, the Guard officers said. Some troops became so disgruntled that there were several reports of soldiers defecating in Humvees and showers at the Southern California base where the troops are stationed, prompting tightened bathroom security. We dont know the exact reasons for the counseling, the reassignments, or the vandalistic defecation. But it does seem as if things arent looking great, and given the context and other background information, its plausible that some of it could be tied to political disillusionment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times story fits in with other recent media accounts. As National Guard troops were being deployed in June, The Guardian reported that three different advocacy organizations representing military families said they had heard from dozens of affected service members who expressed discomfort about being drawn into a domestic policing operation outside their normal field of operations and noted that the groups said they have heard no countervailing opinions. The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isnt the kind of national security we signed up for, Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative, which represents the interests of military spouses, children and veterans, told The Guardian. Separately, there are also signs of morale problems among the ranks of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The Atlantics recent investigation into the issue found that some agents were concerned with what they saw as the mission reorientation of ICE toward indiscriminate and brutal mass detention. None of this reporting suggests that were on the brink of seeing mass resignations or protests among National Guard troops or ICE officers. But it still matters. The way that security and law enforcement forces respond to authoritarian or quasi-authoritarian directives is a window into the power of the leader issuing them. These forces are crucial to the actual implementation of an authoritarian agenda, and their compliance or noncompliance with authoritarian directives can make or break an aspiring autocrats claims to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police officers have historically protested by engaging in work slowdowns and making fewer arrests. The refusal of some security forces to repress revolutions, coup attempts and other uprisings is often instrumental to whether they succeed. In other words, if enough members of the repressive apparatus of the state believe that it would be wrong to carry out their orders, authoritarian power can crumble quickly. During Trumps first term, polling and reporting showing that the militarys officer corps disapproved of Trump was a sign that he would likely face resistance if he tried to enlist the military in a coup attempt (say, while denying the 2020 election results). Now, there appear to be signs of disenchantment among some of the rank and file on the front lines of Trumps repressive efforts. If Trump tries to marshal the armed forces and law enforcement to claim total power for himself, those cracks and fissures could become potential rays of hope. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Multiple federal court judges have accused the Trump administration of deliberately defying court orders by being slow to respond, misrepresenting facts in filings, and not taking prompt action as President Donald Trump continues an unprecedented campaign to expand his executive authority. In an analysis of 165 court orders filed against the Trump administration, the Washington Post found that it was accused of resisting court orders in at least 57 of those cases approximately 34 percent. Since taking office, Trump has sought to implement his agenda as swiftly as possible, particularly in cases involving his immigration policies and attempts to drastically reduce the federal workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite multiple district court judges issuing temporary injunctions to stop the administration from deporting immigrants without due process or sending them to third countries theyve never been to, filings indicate the administration has continued its efforts. This has, most notably, occurred in the case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who was previously granted permission to remain in the U.S. by a court. The administration inadvertently sent Abrego Garcia to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, under accusations that he was a gang member. In approximately 34 percent of cases in which a federal judge ruled against the Trump administration, judges have accused lawyers for the government of defying orders (Getty) Multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, ordered the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, yet officials made no swift efforts leading to a judges admonishment. Defendants have failed to respond in good faith, and their refusal to do so can only be viewed as willful and intentional noncompliance, Judge Paula Xinis, appointed by former president Barack Obama, said after the administration failed to provide updates on how it was returning Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just one of several immigration cases in which judges have raised concerns about the administration not following orders. In April, D.C. Judge James Boasberg, appointed by Obama, admonished the administration for willful disobedience of judicial orders after they did not comply with his order to turn around planes carrying dozens of people to a prison in El Salvador. The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it, Boasberg wrote. Accusations against the administration have also occurred in cases involving the federal workforce. Trump has called judges who rule against him rogue and misrepresented them as liberal extremists seeking to stop him from implementing his agenda (Reuters) Also in April, Judge Amy Berman Jackson, appointed by Obama, raised significant grounds for concern that the administration was deliberately disobeying her order to keep more than 1,000 employees with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is reason to believe that the defendants simply spent the days immediately following the Circuits relaxation of the Order dressing their RIF in new clothes, and that they are thumbing their nose at both this Court and the Court of Appeals, Jackson wrote. In a statement from the White House, spokesperson Harrison Fields denied the Trump administration was defying court orders. The Presidents attorneys are working tirelessly to comply with every outrageous ruling issued by radical leftist judges. If not for the leadership of the Supreme Court, the Judicial Branch would collapse into a kangaroo court run by Democrat judges committed to trampling the Constitution. If the Washington Post were interested in a real story, it would write about the continued attempts to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court, Fields said. Courts can hold the administration accountable with contempt hearings for noncompliance but theyre traditionally slow to bring such action because many of the rulings are being appealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hearings in which a party is found noncompliant can result in fines or imprisonment. But the U.S. Marshal Service, a federal law enforcement agency tasked with serving as security for the federal judiciary, can serve subpoenas or warrants as well as make arrests when indicated by a court. But some experts raised concerns that, under Trumps authority, the Marshal Service would not carry-out those orders. Trump and his officials consistently lash out against judges who rule against them, misrepresenting them as Democratic and far-left extremists. A vast majority of the accusations have been brought by Democratic-appointed judges in immigration cases, but a handful of Republican appointees, including two judges tapped by Trump, have also either accused or raised questions about the administrations compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Roth, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Cardozo School of Law, told The Hill in April that it was deeply distressing to see lawyers for the government act this way. This is extremely unusual behavior, both from the administration and from the lawyers representing the administration in court, and its deeply distressing to see the behavior from these Department of Justice lawyers, which is not the norm for how Department of Justice lawyers conduct themselves in court, Roth told The Hill. The situation has been made more concerning by the fact that the Supreme Court has continued to allow the administration to seemingly circumvent court orders without ramifications. Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the White House's response. Solar panels are seen in the parking lot at the College of Marin in Kentfield, Calif. Local solar panels and battery storage can be used in microgrids that keep community facilities online during emergencies. Legislation passed in Oregon this month makes it the first state to establish a framework for such microgrids. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Oregon lawmakers have passed a pair of bills to enable microgrids within the larger power system. Microgrids are essentially local islands of energy generation and storage systems that connect to a utility but can operate independently when needed. Many are designed to serve community facilities such as hospitals and schools during emergencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California passed its own microgrid policy in 2018, but Oregon advocates say the new legislation there is the most ambitious in the nation. If a utility needs to shut off transmission lines during a period of high wildfire danger, a community microgrid could use a combination of local solar and battery storage to keep key facilities online even while cut off from the main grid. The pair of bills in Oregon passed with large, bipartisan majorities and are awaiting the expected signature of Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek. One of the bills orders the Oregon Public Utility Commission to create a regulatory framework for private and community-owned microgrids. It also orders regulators to establish rules for buildings to connect to microgrids. Under the measure, local governments can establish microgrid zones with unique land-use regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon state Rep. Mark Gamba, a Democrat who serves as vice chair on the House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee, said the state needs further changes to its land use to speed up permitting for energy projects. The microgrid legislation, he said, cuts a little bit of red tape. This is not the end-all, be-all on fixing the permitting system by any stretch, but this was what we could get passed this year, Gamba said in an interview. The other bill would allow a public utility or a third-party consultant to evaluate requests to connect a microgrid to the public power grid. Backers say it would help ease a regulatory bottleneck slowing clean energy projects, trade publication Utility Dive reported. Rural communities are especially susceptible to power reliability issues, Dylan Kruse, president of Oregon-based nonprofit Sustainable Northwest, told Utility Dive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some utilities opposed the legislation, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported, saying it could be risky to allow third parties to connect to utility infrastructure. They cited their own work to establish microgrids with public partners. Kruse told OPB that wildfires, heat waves and snowstorms are creating urgency to make the grid more resilient. Were seeing challenges with the grid, he said. Its impacting communities and were seeing a lot more of these outages and they are looking for alternatives to say, Look, if the lights are going to go off, weve got to have some options here. Alex Baumhardt of the Oregon Capital Chronicle contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org. Like the SC Daily Gazette, Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Cooler temperatures this week are expected to help hundreds of firefighters battling whats now the largest wildfire in the United States so far this year. The Cram Fire in Central Oregon has burned more than 149 square miles of mostly rugged terrain, about 15 miles north of Madras. Four homes and two other structures have also been destroyed. Evacuations have stretched across Jefferson, Wasco and Crook counties and many remained in effect on Monday. The fire started on July 13, and while the cause is under investigation, if it grows to more than 100,000 acres, it would be considered a megafire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 950 firefighters and other fire personnel have been fighting the blaze. After dealing with the dry weather and high temperatures in the 90s, cooler weather arrived over the weekend. That helped them get the blaze to 73% containment on Sunday and in an update on Facebook, fire officials said, Some resources are now being demobilized, meaning crews are returning to their home districts. On Sunday, those fire crews got a morale boost during a visit from two therapy dogs. Scout and Piper visited the base camp with their owner Mike Mora. Fire officials said amid the long shifts, extreme heat and smoky skies, the pups brought "calm, comfort, and few much-needed smiles." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weather.com meteorologist Tiffany Savona says the weather conditions will be favorable for crews on Monday: It will be cooler with highs only in the 70s and an increase in humidity as isolated showers and storms will be possible." Savona adds that conditions will remain favorable through the middle of the week. Unfortunately, fire concerns return by Thursday and Friday as the hot, dry and breezy weather returns to the region. The Cram Fire in Oregon has burned over 95,000 acres. It could become a megafire, signaling it has burned 100,000 acres, in the near future. Centered in rural Oregon, the fire has not destroyed as many buildings as some smaller fires in California. The Cram Fire in Oregon broke out on July 13 and has been burning ever since. To date, it has impacted 150 square miles of land, nearly 100,000 acres and has flirted with megafire status. Fueled by strong winds and high temperatures, its burning southeast of Portland, in a sparsely populated area. Firefighters have made some progress with the fire. It is currently 73% contained, according to Oregon officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire is the biggest, to date, in the U.S. in 2025. (Fire season, however, typically peaks in the late summer months.) As of 11:00 p.m. Sunday evening, the fire had burned 95,748 acres. Should it reach 100,000 acres, that would meet the U.S. Interagency Fire Centers definition of a megafire, a term meant to underscore the size and severity of massive fires (much like the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale defines hurricanes). The Cram Fires location has made it a possible megafire that doesnt have the same level of tragedy as smaller fires have in California. To date, only four houses have been destroyed, though hundreds of other buildings are still threatened. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place across at least three counties Jefferson, Wasco and Crook County, per Central Oregon Fire. Officials said in an update Sunday they were fire anticipating cooler weather, higher humidity and possibly rain to help moderate fire behavior. More than 930 firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cram Fire is, by far, the largest in the country right now, but its far from the only wildfire that is threatening land across the U.S. Two wildfires on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has burned over 70,000 acres and destroyed a historic lodge. And in Colorado and Utah, the Deer Creek fire has burned over 16,000 acres. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office has arrested a man in connection with a mid-July shooting that injured a person in the 10400 block of Rieger Road. Authorities say that Jason Roe, 42, of New Orleans, is being charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of illegal use of weapons, and two counts of armed robbery. Jason Roe According to an affidavit, Roe followed the victim and robbed them at gunpoint. After refusing to give up the items, he shot the victim in the right knee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the shooting, the New Orleans man took $390 from the victim, as well as a purse worth $350 and several debit and credit cards, an arrest report revealed. Deputies discovered surveillance cameras from multiple locations and found that Roe was traveling by himself in a dark colored SUV. Surveillance also showed Roe following the victim to a motel from a nearby gas station before the robbery and shooting happened. Authorities working the case say that they were able to identify Roe using video footage and pictures from a law enforcement database. The victim was able to confirm the identity of Roe in a photo lineup, as he had on the same clothing from the day of the robbery and shooting. Juvenile seriously injured in 4-wheeler crash in Addis 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. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is in Delaware, and its your last chance to see it before it leaves. The Wienermobile made an appearance at the Staybridge Hotel in Rehoboth Beach on July 14. Since then, Delawareans have been able to visit the one-of-a-kind vehicle and take photos with friends, children, pets and family. The Annual Peach Fest Parade was held in downtown Blacksburg, South Carolina, Saturday July 12, 2025. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile participated in the Peach Fest Parade, with a character in costume waving at the crowd. Those who tag the company on social media with their photo are entered for a chance to win various giveaways, according to Oscar Mayer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 21 is the last day to catch the Wienermobile at 34521 old Postal Lane in Lewes. Visitors can stop by until 5 p.m. ICYMI: Where to go for steamed crabs in and near Delaware For more information, email staybridgerehoboth@gmail.com or call the hotels front desk at (302) 644-0600. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is in Lewes, Delaware. How to see it (FOX40.COM) Alaska Airlines flights are temporarily grounded as they are experiencing an IT outage on Sunday night, the airline stated on X. The outage is impacting the airlines operating system-wide usage and all the planes will be grounded until the issue is resolved, Alaska Airlines said. Ring app users report unauthorized access to their accounts At this time, the airline is asking customers to check the status of their flight before heading out to the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 FOX40 News. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistani authorities have arrested at least 13 individuals, including a tribal leader, in connection with the killing of a couple in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The arrests followed nationwide outrage over a video depicting the murders went viral on social media, with many calling it yet another case of honour killing a phenomenon reported from across South Asia. The first information report (FIR) filed by the police on Monday identifies the couple as Bano Bibi and her husband Ehsan Ullah, and says they were likely killed in May near Balochistans capital Quetta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honour killings, mainly reported from Pakistan and India, often arise from perceived family, tribal or caste dishonour, especially in love marriages, in which the two partners marry without the consent of their families or tribe, or elope. Many such killings go unreported. Balochistan police official Syed Suboor Agha told Al Jazeera they are investigating the matter and are likely to make more arrests, including Banos brother, who is suspected of the murders and is still at large. The viral videos of the killings show a group of armed men gathered around vehicles in a deserted area. Bano is ordered by the crowd to stand away from the vehicles as the couple is pumped with bullets, even on their motionless bodies lying bleeding on the sand. The FIR names eight suspects while also listing 15 other unidentified suspects involved in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the FIR, the couple was allegedly brought before local tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Khan, who declared them guilty of engaging in an immoral relationship and ordered that they be killed. Tyranny of medieval practices Pakistan has a dismal record on honour killings and other forms of violence against women. According to Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), an Islamabad-based independent organisation, more than 32,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported nationwide in 2024, including 547 instances of honour killings 32 of them in Balochistan and only one resulting in conviction. Harris Khalique, general secretary of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the countrys leading rights watchdog, said the killings in the name of honour confirm the tyranny of medieval practices still entrenched in many parts of Pakistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state, instead of establishing the rule of law and ensure the right to life of its citizens, has protected the tribal chiefs and feudal lords who guard such practices to perpetuate their power over local people and resources, Khalique told Al Jazeera. Mineral-rich Balochistan, Pakistans largest but least populous province, has also witnessed decades of conflict between the government and ethnic Baloch separatists, who demand secession from the country. Rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch, also a member of a Baloch womens rights group, said killing of women has become a matter of routine in the province. In Balochistan, women are murdered for love, disappeared for protest, and buried under layers of tribal authority and state-backed silence. These are not isolated tragedies. They are the cost of a system designed to keep Balochistan obedient, and its women expendable, she told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baloch said the government would not have acted on the murders had the video not gone viral. Baloch women are trapped between two forms of violence: the brutality of tribal patriarchy, and the cold repression of the state. One kills in silence, the other kills in the name of law, she said. The states refusal to democratise Balochistan isnt accidental. It is policy. By outsourcing governance to feudal strongmen, the state keeps the region controlled, its women disposable, and its dissent criminal. QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) -Police in southwestern Pakistan have arrested 14 suspects over the so-called honour killing of a couple accused of having an affair, including a local tribal chief who ordered their deaths, officials said on Monday. The killings in Pakistan's Balochistan province last month came to attention after a video showing the couple being shot went viral on social media. The man who shot and killed the woman was her brother, acting on behalf of her family and tribe, provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari told Reuters in an update on the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chief of the tribe, Sher Baz Satakzai, had ordered the killing, he said. The tribal chief was among those detained, provincial chief minister Sarfraz Bugti told a news conference in Quetta, the provincial capital. "We will make sure that they all will be prosecuted," he said. It was unclear if the brother was among those detained. The man and woman, accused of having an affair out of wedlock, both had several children from separate marriages, Bugti said. Authorities had initially said the couple were killed for marrying against the wishes of their families. "No one has a right, no matter what, to kill someone in such a painful and disgusting way, and then video shoot it," said Bugti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is a crime. It is a murder." The video that was circulating widely on social media on Sunday shows a man shooting the woman in the back at close range, and later a bloodied man lying close to the woman's body. Men are then shown shooting at both the bodies. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. A local court on Monday ordered police to exhume the bodies for an autopsy. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that in 2024, there were at least 405 "honour killings", criticising the authorities for failing to stamp out these crimes. Most victims are women, and the killings are usually carried out by relatives professing to defend their family's reputation, human rights groups say. (Writing by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Aidan Lewis) By Asif Shahzad PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) -Islamist militants in Pakistan have started using commercially acquired quadcopter drones to drop bombs on security forces in the country's northwest, police said, a potentially dangerous development in the volatile region. The use of such drones, which are powered by four rotors allowing for vertical take-off and landing, is worrying the overstretched and under-equipped police force, the frontline against militant attacks, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two quadcopters sent by the militants targeted a police station earlier this month, killing a woman and injuring three children in a nearby house in Bannu district, said police officer Muhammad Anwar. A drone spotted over another police station on Saturday was shot down with assault rifles, he said. It was armed with a mortar shell, he said. At least eight such drone attacks have targeted police and security forces in Bannu and adjacent areas in the last two and a half months, he said. Regional police chief Sajjad Khan said militants were still trying to master the use of the drones. "The militants have acquired these modern tools, but they are in the process of experimentation and that's why they can't hit their targets accurately," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The militants are using the quadcopters to drop improvised explosive devices or mortar shells on their targets, five security officials said. They said these explosive devices were packed with ball bearings or pieces of iron. Provincial police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said the police lacked resources to meet the new challenge. "We do not have equipment to counter the drones," he told the local Geo News channel on Sunday. "The militants are better equipped than we are," he said. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the drone strikes. The main militant group operating in the northwest is the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. But they denied using the drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are trying to acquire this technology," a TTP spokesman told Reuters. In 2024, Islamist militants carried out 335 countrywide attacks, killing 520 people, according to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, an independent organisation. In recent weeks, thousands of residents from the border region have staged protests, aimed against both the attacks by militants and what they fear is an offensive planned by the army, according to a statement issued by the demonstrators. They said they feared that a military operation against the militants would displace them from their homes. A sweeping operation against militants in 2014 was preceded by a forced evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents. They spent months, and in many cases years, away from their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pakistan's army did not respond to a request for comment on whether an operation was planned. (Reporting by Mushtaq Ali in Peshawar; writing and reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Dinosaurs may have ruled the prehistoric world with their size and strength, but apparently, they also had moves. A team of researchers in Colorado has uncovered one of the largest known dinosaur dance arenas, an ancient mating ground where male theropods likely performed ritualistic displays to attract females. Using high-resolution drone photography and 3D modeling at Dinosaur Ridge near Denver, the team identified dozens of clustered scrape marks in the sandstone a prehistoric dance floor etched into the earth more than 100 million years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site builds on previous discoveries of similar scrape marks called leks, where male animals gather to compete for female attention. But this newly analyzed area suggests a massive congregation, with markings that scientists believe show not just nest displays but physical courtship performances. These trace fossils, we interpret them to be evidence of dinosaur courtship activities, study co-author Caldwell Buntin of Old Dominion University told ABC News. They likely built display nests and performed some kind of dance or scraping activity to impress mates, which are behaviors we still see in modern birds like plovers. The scrape marks belong to theropod dinosaurs, a group that includes raptors and the infamous T. rex. Based on the impressions, these dinosaurs stood around three to four feet at the hip and stretched up to 16 feet long. The patterns vary from shallow toe marks to deep bowl-shaped scrapeseven circular patterns hinting at dance-like movements. The discovery, published in the latest research from Dinosaur Ridge, pushes our understanding of dinosaur behavior beyond hunting and migration. It also suggests that some mating rituals date back tens of millions of years and could be part of a deep evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and modern birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps best of all, the site is open to the public, meaning visitors can stand right where these ancient creatures showed off their best moves. Its rare to find evidence of behavior, not just bones or tracks, said co-author Neffra Matthews. And its even rarer to find a site like this that people can actually go see for themselves. Turns out, dinosaurs werent just prehistoric predators. They may have been prehistoric showmen, too. Related: Archaeologists Unearth Dinosaur Fossil in Incredibly Ironic Location Paleontologists Discover Prehistoric Dance Floor Where Dinosaurs Courted Mates first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 PANAMA CITY A local man has been arrested on a manslaughter charge after authorities accused him of providing a victim with the drugs that killed them. On Dec. 3, 2024 the Bay County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about an unresponsive victim at a home on Raven Street in Panama City Beach. The 39-year-old victim was showing signs of an opiate overdose. BCSO responded alongside Bay County Fire Rescue and found that the victim had died from an apparent overdose. Investigators later found evidence indicating that the victim had ingested fentanyl before being found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators began looking into the victim's death and found evidence that provided a lead on from whom the victim had bought fentanyl, according to a sheriff's office news release. The victim had bought the drugs hours before the 911 call. The investigation continued over several months, and investigators were able to identify a suspect. They have accused 39-year-old Alphanso Frederick Hall of being the source of the drugs, the release says. BCSO located and arrested Hall on Feb. 18 as part of an unrelated investigation. He was found to be in possession of fentanyl and various illicit drugs at the time of his arrest, according to BCSO. Hall was booked into the Bay County Jail. Further investigation took place with reviews by the District 14 Medical Examiners Office and the State Attorneys Office. Later, on July 16, he was arrested on the manslaughter charge, according to BCSO. He is being held in the Bay County Jail with bail set at $1 million. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: PCB fentanyl overdose death leads to arrest on manslaughter charge PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) Five drivers from the Panama City division of Waste Pro have each earned the Drivers Safety Award. Each driver was presented with a $10,000 check as a reward for their commitment to safety. According to a news release, drivers must have a perfect safety record for three years of service to earn this award. Drivers David Prince, Ray Sessions, and Dennis Jones all earned their first Driver Safety Award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers Rafael Alberto and Thomas Bakta have earned the award four times, which adds up to twelve years of service with no accidents or at-fault incidents. We are proud of these five drivers, especially those earning the award multiple times, and their efforts and commitment to Waste Pros culture of safety. My father, Waste Pros founder John Jennings started this tradition to showcase our commitment to our team and how the company values safety and service to the communities we are proud to partner with, said President and CEO of Waste Pro Sean Jennings. Since the programs creation in 2004, 928 drivers have been awarded the bonus. Similarly, 151 helpers have earned a $5,000 bonus with the Helper Safety Award Program, which was created as an expansion of the program in 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Chain restaurants often go through name changes as their brand expands and shifts focus. For instance, after almost 70 years of business, Dunkin' Donuts changed its name to simply Dunkin' to reflect its growing focus on coffee and foods other than donuts, and Sonic was originally called Top Hat. Another brand that used to go by a different name is Panera Bread, which debuted in 1987 under the name St. Louis Bread Company. The original name reflected where the first Panera Bread opened: St. Louis, Missouri. All locations were called this until 1993, when Au Bon Pain bought the company and rebranded it to Panera Bread. Company founder Ron Shaich felt that St. Louis Bread Company wouldn't appeal to customers outside of Missouri. The rebrand seems to have been successful, as Panera Bread can now be found in every U.S. state except for two. While its offerings, including its sandwiches, have expanded significantly, "the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread," as the company states on its website. Read more: For Fresh, Not Frozen Fast Food, Try These 12 Popular Chains Some Panera Bread Locations Still Use The Original Name Panorama of St. Louis with Gateway Arch in the forefront - Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images Panera Bread is unique in that some of its locations still bear the name St. Louis Bread Company: specifically, the ones in and around the St. Louis area because many locals are proud of Panera Bread's roots. This writer personally grew up near the St. Louis area, and I remember visiting St. Louis Bread Company locations as a child. While I grew up far enough outside of the city to also know it as Panera Bread, I had some friends who didn't even realize the chain had another name until they grew quite a bit older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pride and familiarity that many locals have for the name St. Louis Bread Company meant that when locations in St. Charles and other areas outside of St. Louis proper started popping up under the name Panera Bread, there was an outcry in the community. A Panera Bread spokesperson responded to this controversy by telling Spectrum News that all stores in St. Louis city and county "are proudly remaining St. Louis Bread Co. locations," but other Missouri stores will get a rebrand. As a former Missouri local, I can say with certainty that while Panera Bread is a catchier name in other parts of the U.S., many Missourians will continue to call it St. Louis Bread Company no matter how much signage is changed. Read the original article on Tasting Table. NEED TO KNOW A mother and fetal medicine consultant in England are revealing the medical decisions that helped save the life of a "miracle baby" First-time mother Eleanor Brannigan was 27 weeks pregnant when doctors found fluid had built up around the lungs and body of her unborn daughter, Eabha "Eabha will always be our special miracle baby, she is a little fighter and we are just so grateful that she is here with us," she said, per Nottingham University Hospitals Parents of a "miracle baby" in England are looking back on the surgery it took to deliver their daughter, with medical professionals saying she "might not be here with her family" today if they hadn't intervened with the pioneering surgery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First-time mother Eleanor Brannigan, who recently welcomed daughter Eabha with partner Adam Moseley, retold the story of her pregnancy to Nottingham University Hospitals, revealing how one consultant went "above and beyond" to make sure her child was delivered safely despite potential heart failure due to the buildup of fluid in her daughter's body. According to NUH, Brannigan was 27 weeks pregnant when she met with obstetric and fetal medicine consultant Magdalena Fiolna, after a private scan found a large amount of fluid in the unborn child's body. They soon discovered fluid had built up around her lungs and body, and she was at risk of potential heart failure, as Fiolna presented the soon-to-be parents with a few options. 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. Getty Stock image of a pregnant mother in a hospital bed Stock image of a pregnant mother in a hospital bed The first option, monitoring and waiting, would likely lead to "more fluid building up," per NUH. The second, delivering the child at 27 weeks, would lead to "extreme prematurity." And the third, draining the fluid, came with a few options of its own: Temporarily draining with a needle and needing to do it more times afterward, or inserting shunts, which would "permanently drain the fluid." That option, however, could only be carried out in certain specialized centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the family traveled with Fiolna to the Fetal Medicine Research Institute in London and they elected for the shunt procedure, according to NUH. After a couple of weeks, the shunts stopped working and the family then elected to have their daughter delivered if necessary. Eleanors water then broke while Fiolna was away, but the consultant made sure "everyone knew what to do with the shunts if Eleanor needed an emergency birth." "I wanted to empower my colleagues so that they knew exactly what to do. I went to see Eleanor the next day to reassure her and to make a management plan. The day after, I was off but came in to scan her. Unfortunately, it became apparent that baby Eabha was poorly and that she needed to be delivered," Fiolna said. "My fetal medicine consultant colleague, Mr. McEwan, was on call and we decided to take Eleanor to theatre to drain the fluid from both of Eabhas lungs before delivering her by a caesarean section." The c-section allowed the child to "take her first breaths like any other baby to expand her lungs," as the medical team opted to "delay the cord clamping, allow more time for her assessment by the neonatal doctors and nurses to plan more permanent drainage of fluid after birth." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eabha was born at 31 weeks old and spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NUH. Per the NUH, she's now back at home. "Full term" for a baby is considered to be a pregnancy of 39 weeks, according to the National Child and Maternal Health Education Program, which notes that labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered premature. We will be eternally grateful for all the help and support of Dr Fiolna and the teams that helped to save and look after Eabha," Brannigan said. "Had we not met Dr. Fiolna that day when we came in to get checked out, then the outcome may have been so very different." It is amazing what can be done in the womb before babies are even born. The team in London was fantastic and we were so lucky that Dr. Fiolna had the contacts there that she does." Getty Stock image of a newborn baby in a hospital Stock image of a newborn baby in a hospital The mother called the medical teams "so supportive" and said she "couldn't have asked for more" as she thanked those who went "above and beyond for our family." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eabha will always be our special miracle baby, she is a little fighter and we are just so grateful that she is here with us," she said. As for the consultant, Fiolna reiterated that Eabha is "a miracle baby" who might not have survived had the medical professionals not intervened when they did, noting, "I am so very pleased that we were able to help and that Eabha is now at home and doing really well. Read the original article on People DENVER (AP) The parents of a man who died alone in a Colorado jail cell after an ulcer burned a hole in his digestive tract and left him in what they said was excruciating pain for about 15 hours filed a federal lawsuit Monday, accusing the jail's nurses and sheriff's deputes of ignoring his cries for help. The lawsuit blames them, local government officials and Southern Health Partners for failing to stop the death of Daniel Foard in 2023 by taking him to the hospital. Foard, 32, was a cook at a brewpub and user of fentanyl who was arrested for failing to appear in court. After being segregated and monitored for withdrawal from the synthetic opioid, he began vomiting and complained of stomach pain after being put in a regular jail cell, it said. The lawsuit alleges Southern Health Partners the Tennessee-based company they contracted with to provide health care at the La Plata County jail has tried to maximize its profits at the jail by only having one nurse on duty at a time, leaving it to medically untrained deputies to monitor sick inmates. The company holds hundred of contracts at jails around the country and the lawsuit alleges that is has been involved in lawsuits related to the deaths of at least five other jail inmates nationally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company's lawyer, Shira Crittendon, said she had not seen the lawsuit and declined to comment on it. The sheriff's office referred questions about the the lawsuit to a county spokesperson. In a statement, the county said it had not analyzed the allegations in the lawsuit and does not comment publicly on active litigation. Autopsy found Foard died because of an ulcer Foard was found dead in the jail on Aug. 17, 2023, six days after he was arrested. An autopsy found Foard died as a result of a hole created by an ulcer in his small intestine, which caused inflammation of the tissue lining his abdomen. Such ulcers can let food and digestive juices leak out of the body's digestive tract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fentanyl was found in Foard's blood but the autopsy report did not name that as a cause of his death. Dr. Michael Arnall ruled Foard's death was due to natural causes. On Aug. 15, 2023, even though Foard had collapsed several times and had trouble standing, he was moved out of an area where he could be more easily observed for problems with his withdrawal and put into a regular jail cell, staggering as we went, the lawsuit said. The day nurse ignored a deputy's concern that he was very unstable, according to the lawsuit brought by lawyers Dan Weiss, Anna Holland Edwards, John Holland and Erica Grossman. After a deputy delivering breakfast on Aug. 16, 2023 saw that Foard repeatedly fell while trying to get his tray, the jail's day nurse came to check on him, it said. She recorded that Foard reported he had sharp, shooting pain that was a 10 on a scale of one to 10, but she did not call for a doctor or send him to the hospital, it said. The nurse moved Foard to an empty cell where he could be monitored but didn't tell deputies what he was being monitored for and didn't order any follow up care or check on him, it said. He vomited all day and was moved to another cell and then a third because they had all become so messy with vomit, it said. Surveillance video showed him crawling to the final cell, where it said he continuously called out for help and yelled that he needed to go to a hospital, saying he was vomiting blood. The lawsuit claims that no one responded to his pleas but one deputy could be heard on surveillance video telling him to try to hit that drain with his vomit to keep the cell from becoming dirty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another nurse, working the evening shift, only walked by his cell and glanced inside, but did not assess him or provide care as he was pleading for help, the lawsuit said. When she did enter his cell around 10 p.m., Foard was dead, it said. She told state investigators that vomiting was normal for people withdrawing from fentanyl. State authorities investigated Foard's death The day shift nurse later told a state investigator that it was not unusual that Foard would not have had his vital signs checked for 12 hours because of the number of inmates the jail's nurses need to provide care, according to a report from an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations. She also said she didn't think there was anything different she could have done based on Foard's symptoms. The bureau's findings were forwarded to the 6th District Attorney's Office, which would decide whether any criminal charges were warranted in connection with Foard's death. It's not known whether the office decided to pursue any charges. A telephone message and email sent to District Attorney Sean Murray were not immediately returned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Jim Foard and Susan Gizinski said they want everyone to know about their son's ordeal both to hold those they say are responsible for his death accountable and to change how inmates are treated at the jail. Just basic training in having compassion for others would be a great start. But adding more staff is critical too, they said. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) One provision of Tennessee law that prohibits abortion trafficking has been struck down in federal court. Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Julia Gibbons, acting in a designated capacity as a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee, said the law includes an unconstitutional prohibition on speech that cannot be enforced in the state. Specifically, Gibbons said the recruitment provision of the law prohibits speech encouraging lawful abortion while allowing speech discouraging lawful abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click here to read the full opinion from Judge Julia Gibbons That is impermissible viewpoint discrimination, which the First Amendment rarely toleratesand does not tolerate here, Gibbons wrote in her opinion. The suit was brought by Nashville Democratic State Rep. Aftyn Behn and family law attorney Rachel Welty, both listed as advocates of abortion rights in Tennessee in the opinion. They sought to counsel pregnant, unemancipated minors in the state to help get them access to legal abortion in other states following the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned abortion access nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED | Abortion trafficking bill passes TN legislature Because Tennessees abortion trafficking law prohibited anyone from recruiting minors, Behn and Welty sued over the law before it went into effect, arguing that provision constituted content and viewpoint discrimination, which is prohibited under the First Amendment. The state claimed counseling minors about abortion access in other states counted as contributing to criminal activity, since abortion is prohibited in Tennessee; Behn and Welty argued giving people information about legal procedures in states that dont have the same restrictions on abortions as Tennessee was not criminal activity. The court agreed with Behn and Welty, saying in part Tennessee lawmakers could not criminalize disseminating information about an activity that is legal in [another] [s]tate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom Because plaintiffs promote only legal abortions, the speech integral to crime exception does not apply and plaintiffs speech remains protected, Gibbons wrote in her opinion. Rep. Behn issued a statement celebrating the ruling, saying in part the law criminalized protected speech. We won this lawsuit on First Amendment grounds because the Constitution is clearspeech is protected. The court recognized that the government cannot silence us for offering support, sharing information, or speaking out about issues with which the Republican supermajority disagrees. This is a critical victory not just for Tennesseans but for anyone who believes in the right to speak freely without fear of state retaliation. State Rep. Aftyn Behn, co-plaintiff Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Welty also issued a statement on the ruling: Free speech is one of the most basic rights that needs to be protected at all costs. With that comes the need to protect advocates and attorneys who help and guide others by giving them information and advice to help them better their lives. We are excited that this win may help reproductive justice workers in our state breathe easier knowing the work they do can continue to have positive impacts on others without the risks of personal liability. Rachel Welty, co-plaintiff News 2 has reached out to state Republicans on the ruling. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Champions of the almost entirely party-line vote in the U.S. Senate to erase US$1.1 billion in already approved funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting called their action a refusal to subsidize liberal media. Public broadcasting has long been overtaken by partisan activists, said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, insisting there is no need for government to fund what he regards as biased media. If you want to watch the left-wing propaganda, turn on MSNBC, Cruz said. Accusing the media of liberal bias has been a consistent conservative complaint since the civil rights era, when white Southerners insisted news outlets were slanting their stories against segregation. During his presidential campaign in 1964, U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona complained that the media was against him, an accusation that has been repeated by every Republican presidential candidate since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those charges of bias rarely survive empirical scrutiny. As chair of a public policy institute devoted to strengthening deliberative democracy, I have written two books about the media and the presidency, and another about media ethics. My research traces how news institutions shape civic life and why healthy democracies rely on journalism that is independent of both market pressure and partisan talking points. That independence in the United States enshrined in the press freedom clause of the First Amendment gives journalists the ability to hold government accountable, expose abuses of power and thereby support democracy. GOP Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to reporters as Senate Republicans vote on President Donald Trumps request to cancel about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending on July 16, 2025. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Trusting independence Ad Fontes Media, a self-described public benefit company whose mission is to rate media for credibility and bias, have placed the reporting of PBS NewsHour under 10 points left of the ideological center. They label it as both reliable and based in analysis/fact. Fox and Friends, by contrast, the popular morning show on Fox News, is nearly 20 points to the right. The scale starts at zero and runs 42 points to the left to measure progressive bias and 42 points to the right to measure conservative bias. Ratings are provided by three-person panels comprising left-, right- and center-leaning reviewers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2020 peer-reviewed study in Science Advances that tracked more than 6,000 political reporters likewise found no evidence of liberal media bias in the stories they chose to cover, even though most journalists are more left-leaning than the rest of the population. A similar 2016 study published in Public Opinion Quarterly said that media are more similar than dissimilar and, excepting political scandals, major news organizations present topics in a largely nonpartisan manner, casting neither Democrats nor Republicans in a particularly favorable or unfavorable light. Surveys show public medias audiences do not see it as biased. A national poll of likely voters released July 14, 2025, found that 53% of respondents trust public media to report news fully, accurately and fairly, while only 35% extend that trust to the media in general. A majority also opposed eliminating federal support. Contrast these numbers with attitudes about public broadcasters such as MTVA in Hungary or the TVP in Poland, where the state controls most content. Protests in Budapest October 2024 drew thousands demanding an end to propaganda. Oxfords Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reports that TVP is the least trusted news outlet in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While critics sometimes conflate American public broadcasting with state-run outlets, the structures are very different. Safeguards for editorial freedom In state-run media systems, a government agency hires editors, dictates coverage and provides full funding from the treasury. Public officials determine or make up what is newsworthy. Individual media operations survive only so long as the party in power is happy. Public broadcasting in the U.S. works in almost exactly the opposite way: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a private nonprofit with a statutory firewall that forbids political interference. More than 70% of the Corporation for Public Broadcastings federal appropriation for 2025 of US$1.1 billion flows through to roughly 1,500 independently governed local stations, most of which are NPR or PBS affiliates but some of which are unaffiliated community broadcasters. CPB headquarters retains only about 5% of that federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stations survive by combining this modest federal grant money with listener donations, underwriting and foundation support. That creates a diversified revenue mix that further safeguards their editorial freedom. And while stations share content, each also has latitude when it comes to programming and news coverage, especially at the local level. As a public-private partnership, individual communities mostly own the public broadcasting system and its affiliate stations. Congress allocates funds, while community nonprofits, university boards, state authorities or other local license holders actually own and run the stations. Individual monthly donors are often called members and sometimes have voting rights in station-governance matters. Membership contributions make up the largest share of revenue for most stations, providing another safeguard for editorial independence. A host and guest in July 2024 sit inside a recording studio at KMXT, the public radio station on Kodiak Island in Alaska. Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal Broadly shared civic commons And then there are public medias critical benefits to democracy itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2021 report from the European Broadcasting Union links public broadcasting with higher voter turnout, better factual knowledge and lower susceptibility to extremist rhetoric. Experts warn that even small cuts will exacerbate an already pernicious problem with political disinformation in the U.S., as citizens lose access to free information that fosters media literacy and encourages trust across demographics. In many ways, public media remains the last broadly shared civic commons. It is both commercial-free and independently edited. Another study, by the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School in 2022, affirmed that countries with independent and well-funded public broadcasting systems also consistently have stronger democracies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study highlighted how public media works to bridge divides and foster understanding across polarized groups. Unlike commercial media, where the profit motive often creates incentives to emphasize conflict and sensationalism, public media generally seeks to provide balanced perspectives that encourage dialogue and mutual respect. Reports are often longer and more in-depth than those by other news outlets. Such attention to nuance provides a critical counterweight to the fragmented, often hyperpartisan news bubbles that pervade cable news and social media. And this skillful, more balanced treatment helps to ameliorate political polarization and misinformation. In all, public medias unique structure and mission make democracy healthier in the U.S. and across the world. Public media prioritizes education and civic enlightenment. It gives citizens important tools for navigating complex issues to make informed decisions whether those decisions are about whom to vote for or about public policy itself. Maintaining and strengthening public broadcasting preserves media diversity and advances important principles of self-government. Congress cuts to public broadcasting will diminish the range and volume of the free press and the independent reporting it provides. Ronald Reagan once described a free press as vital for the United States to succeed in its noble experiment in self-government. From that perspective, more independent reporting not less will prove the best remedy for any worry about partisan spin. 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: Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Boise State University Read more: Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin 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. Congress has passed a rescissions bill cutting $1.1 billion in federal funding for PBS and NPR. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Donald Trump celebrated the cuts on Truth Social, saying, "THIS IS BIG!!!" And now, a picture from the outside of PBS station WGBH in Boston is going viral on Reddit: "Local. Trusted. Defunded." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Short and to the point," one person said. "Way to go WGBH! Don't pretend this is normal and don't be silent. Make them wear this forever," another person commented. And this person said they were, "Canceling Paramount + , subscribing to PBS Passport. Easy. Done." Other people eulogized the station: "RIP PBS. You taught us to be good people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another person replied to that comment, saying, "They will be around still, they know they just need to make it another 3.5 years if we have a fair election." And then a bunch of people highlighted all of the good things WGBH has done over the years, "WGBH, especially WGBH, has done so much good for the country and it's children over the decades. If you weren't already on high alert and ready to go to the mat with these fuckers, here's your sign." This person pointed out that WGBH was home to Julia Childs cooking series The French Chef, "WGBH gave us Julia Child... for that, we owe them a debt that can never be paid." And this person said WGBH provides closed captioning for mainstream shows, "In addition to the mass amount of public radio and public television broadcasting produced at WGBH, they also provide closed captioning for many commercial programs as well." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And for their part, WGBH commented on the thread: "Still here." The fate of The Telegraph is to be decided this week in a contentious House of Lords vote on foreign state shareholdings. The Government is pressing ahead on Tuesday with legislation to allow the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to retain a passive stake of up to 15pc. Easing an outright ban on foreign powers investing in newspapers is viewed as crucial to unlocking a 500m takeover of The Telegraph by RedBird Capital, an American private equity firm. A previous bid, majority-funded by the UAE, was blocked last year following a cross-party outcry over press freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Lords vote on a statutory instrument that has already been approved by the House of Commons would normally be a formality. However, the Liberal Democrats have tabled a rare fatal motion which could block the proposals and effectively overrule the elected chamber. Writing in The Telegraph on Monday, Lord Fox, the Lib Dem business spokesman, labelled the legislation nothing more than a desperate attempt to appease foreign rulers. The UAE, a significant foreign investor in Britain, took offence at the decision to block the previous takeover bid and suspended some diplomatic ties. Lord Fox said: By letting the Government defy Parliament, which effectively banned foreign state shareholdings last year, there will likely be a domino effect. This could leave many of our newspapers susceptible to the advances of foreign governments. This issue transcends party allegiances, and if we pass the fatal motion tabled in my name we can stop this dangerous legislation in its tracks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Conservatives are expected to support the Government. However a group of Tory rebels have signalled that they will back the fatal motion, and Lord Fox said he had drawn further support from Labour, cross-bench and non-aligned peers. Also writing in The Telegraph, Lord Black, a Conservative peer and the deputy chairman of Telegraph Media Group, said of the Lib Dem motion that the hypocrisy is breathtaking. The peer was a leading figure in efforts by news publishers to resist curbs on press freedom in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry. He said the Lib Dems then advocated onerous statutory controls wholly inimical to freedom of expression. Lord Black said: My colleagues in the Lords should not fall for it and understand that this is not a parliamentary game. This is deadly serious. The future of the British press hangs in the balance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He warned that allowing passive stakes of up to 15pc for foreign state-linked investors was critical at a time of severe pressure on traditional news publishing revenues. The takeover of The Telegraph should be welcomed, given the watertight safeguards to protect editorial independence in place, Lord Black added. If the legislation passes, the UAE is in line to become a passive minority investor. Any suspicion of the Gulf state influencing The Telegraph could spark an official investigation and action to force it out as a shareholder. Lord Rothermere, the Daily Mail owner, Sir Leonard Blavatnik, the global media investor, are also expected to take small stakes in a deal spearheaded by Gerry Cardinale, the founder of RedBird. Gerry Cardinale, the founder of RedBird, is spearheading the takeover deal - Griselda San Martin/Bloomberg RedBird has been preparing to formally submit the takeover for regulatory scrutiny soon, and working on growth plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear what would happen if peers blocked the legislation, beyond further uncertainty for The Telegraph. It has been more than two years since its previous owners, the Barclay family, lost control in a dispute with their lender Lloyds Banking Group. The UAE helped the family repay their overdue debts in a misguided manoeuvre intended to secure ownership of The Telegraph. We can stop this dangerous legislation in its tracks By Lord Fox A robust free press is a pillar holding up democracy. And The Telegraph has been a bastion of our fourth estate since 1855. But this could all end when on Tuesday the Government seeks to overturn the will of Parliament and let investors controlled by foreign powers take stakes of up to 15pc in our press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This exercise in foreign influence on our media will start with The Telegraph, for which a bid that includes a United Arab Emirates-controlled vehicle is on the table. But it wont end there. By letting the Government defy Parliament, which effectively banned foreign state shareholdings last year, there will likely be a domino effect. This could leave many of our newspapers susceptible to the advances of foreign governments. Additional new legislation, which is also being debated, will extend their ability to buy stakes of up to 15pc to online news publications. I am sorry to say that this is nothing more than a desperate attempt to appease foreign rulers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why Im calling on all my House of Lords colleagues to act. This issue transcends party allegiances, and if we pass the fatal motion tabled in my name we can stop this dangerous legislation in its tracks. It is now or never. We really do stand at a Rubicon. I am deeply grateful for the support and friendship of colleagues across party lines, including Conservatives, Labour, cross-bench and non-aligned peers, on this issue. They all understand how serious it is for the Lords to take such action. But we cannot sit by and watch this happen before our eyes. So, I am sincerely hoping that the House will be full on Tuesday. Voting for a fatal motion is rare but not unknown. It should be reserved for fundamental issues like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will remind fellow Lords that the Governments plan deliberately subverts legislation passed only 15 months ago. I will explain that the initial instrument has already been exposed as faulty in that it allows for multiple foreign states to take stakes of 15pc each. A corrective measure will be tabled in the autumn, but the Government ploughs on regardless in the meantime. Who knows what damage will be done before that happens? Then I will explain that there is every likelihood of other UK media assets also having significant foreign state ownership. And I will take on the naive idea that these 15pc tranches of our free press will not affect the news agenda. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, claims that it will act if these foreign states affect editorial freedom. But as the authoritative Baroness Butler-Sloss asked in Parliament last week: My Lords, how on earth would the Secretary of State know? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many colleagues will on Tuesday point to other major concerns about the Telegraph bid. The list of consequences, unintended or otherwise, is long. Meanwhile, the Government is rushing this legislation, even though they know it has been badly drafted. Our countrys constitutional and societal settlement is not codified, it is woven through our institutions and laws, and it sits on foundations of transparency, accountability and freedom. We wont feel the impact of this legislation the day after it passes, but its corrosive nature will eat away at those foundations. When press freedom starts to fail, it will be too late. Peers have a chance to stop this madness. If we do, it will spare The Telegraph from the first instance of foreign government ownership. If we do not it will by no means be the last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The future of press freedom is in our hands. Lord Fox of Leominster is Liberal Democrat spokesman for business, energy and industrial strategy These Lib Dem shenanigans are breathtakingly hypocritical By Lord Black If the consequences were not potentially so damaging and the constitutional implications of thwarting the will of the House of Commons not so serious, there would be something mildly amusing about the attempt by Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords to block vital investment in the UK media in the name of press freedom. Ive spent my entire career defending press freedom. I have often had to do that in the teeth of Lib Dem efforts to shackle the press with onerous statutory controls wholly inimical to freedom of expression, not least in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry. Their motives in moving a fatal motion in the Lords to block carefully calibrated proposals to allow foreign investment in the UKs media passed with an overwhelming majority in the democratically elected House of Commons are born not of any principle, but pure opportunism. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. My colleagues in the Lords should not fall for it and understand that this is not a parliamentary game. This is deadly serious. The future of the British press hangs in the balance. The facts are these and they are very straightforward. Two years ago, during an auction for the sale of Telegraph Media Group (of which I am deputy chairman), a bid was made for its purchase which raised matters of principle because the majority of shares would have been owned by a sovereign-controlled media company. That bid was blocked by the then-Conservative government. At the same time it recognised that the UK media desperately needed investment and that it would be wrong to rule out potential sources of funding from foreign state funds, provided it was carefully controlled and monitored. That principle was agreed by Parliament with support from every party and without even a vote. It was the right thing to do. Initially, the then-government looked at setting the threshold for such investment at 5pc. Rightly, it decided that it ought to seek views on whether that was the right level from people actually involved in the business. After full consultation the new Government listened to those views. It sensibly took account of the serious challenges facing UK media and concluded the threshold might reasonably and proportionately be set at 15pc, while limiting it by law to investments that are strictly passive in nature. Under the long-established and effective UK merger regime, this is a figure below which an investor cannot be deemed to have material influence on a business. It is also far stricter than the national security investment regime which permits shareholding in UK assets including in nuclear power stations up to 25pc. The Government then undertook a second consultation and published an impact assessment on the proposal. During the course of that process, my colleague Baroness Stowell with her eagle eye highlighted a lacuna in the regulations which do not currently limit investments to a single 15pc stake-holding. This loophole will be closed with further regulations which Parliament will table in the autumn. So, here we have a set of proposals which has been endlessly consulted on and scrutinised at every stage, is supported by all the stakeholders and which has had overwhelming support in Parliament. Most importantly of all, media businesses themselves say they are absolutely crucial to the future of the free press. The news media industry in the UK is facing an existential crisis. The shift to digital journalism has put enormous pressure on the revenues of all publishers. The voracious appetite of the unaccountable, unregulated platforms with seemingly unlimited resources amplifies the threat. Tragically, many titles have closed. Thousands of jobs have been lost, particularly in the local press. The future of many more titles hangs in the balance, with profound implications for democracy. Do we want British independent media to survive? If we do, we must will means as well as ends. Publishers such as The Telegraph need to raise capital to innovate and compete with the big online platforms and their unlimited resources. The likes of Facebook are not subject to onerous investment restrictions either. That calls for private equity with proven experience in, and track record of, growing media companies. With watertight safeguards to protect editorial independence in place, we should warmly welcome it and not treat it as some kind of pariah. Itll be good for growth and good for the media. I have thought long and hard about speaking out. I do so because the free press which I have spent so much of my life defending is under threat as never before, with profound implications for democracy. I do so because I believe in economic growth and the future of the creative economy. I do so because I love The Telegraph. Its fate is intimately bound up with the shenanigans in Parliament this week. That is why I will be voting to ensure these crucial regulations pass and allow vital investment in British media, carefully controlled to ensure its independence and freedom is fully protected, to flow. I very much hope my colleagues will, too. Lord Black of Brentwood is deputy chairman of Telegraph Media Group 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. It sounds too good to be true, but thousands of Pennsylvania residents are getting money from the state, and some of the checks are worth up to $500. The money is part of a new state program thats putting money back in your pocket. Leigh Montgomery got something she never expected in the mail a check, made out to her. Did she think it was a scam? Absolutely. To her surprise, the check for $190 was hers to cash. It was unclaimed property returned to her by the state treasury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I got the check, I did recognize that it was someone that I did business with in the past, but I must have lost it or not received it. For some reason, it was missing, and they found me and gave it back, Montgomery said. Thanks to a new program called Pennsylvania Money Match, the state is automatically returning unclaimed property worth up to $500. In the next couple of weeks, there will be 80,000 letters going out saying, Hey this check is coming be on the lookout for it. Then, about 30-40 days later, the check will arrive. Its your money, so please cash it, said Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity. The Pennsylvania Treasury currently has $5 billion in unclaimed property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That money is from old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payments, rebates, and more. More than 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property. Through all of this, Montgomery discovered she has even more unclaimed money waiting for her. Shes thrilled. She got one check so far. I think its wonderful. It was nice, Montgomery said about the extra $190 she now has. I can treat myself to something. Pay a bill. I dont know. I was happy to get that money. Of the $12 million about to be returned, Channel 11 has confirmed that more than $2 million is coming to residents in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So be on the lookout for those checks, and you can always check the state treasury website to see if there is money waiting for you. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) State police are searching for an arson suspect after a fire at a long vacant ministry. Troopers are currently investigating an arson incident that happened July 18 at the Eastern Orthodox Foundation. No injuries were reported after multiple fire calls to the vacant building on 8715 Route 422 in Cherryhill Township, Indiana County. The fire, which happened on the B side of the building, caused $750,000 in damages, state police report. Troopers said the fire was similar to an October 2024 fire at the former El Roy Face Motel, which was deemed a total loss. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. The Troop A Fire Marshal Unit asked that anyone with information about the incident contact Trooper Sobecki at (724) 832-3256 or PSP Tips Toll Free at 1-800-472-8477 or online by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eastern Orthodox Foundation was a ministry that helped those in need, including the homeless and addicts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. LOS ANGELES (AP) The Pentagon ordered the U.S. Marines to leave Los Angeles on Monday, more than a month after President Donald Trump deployed them to the city against the objections of local leaders. The 700 Marines were deployed June 9 on the fourth day of protests in downtown LA over the administrations crackdown on immigration. Four thousand National Guard soldiers were also deployed. Their presence in the city had been limited to two locations with federal buildings in Los Angeles, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office and detention facility downtown. During their deployment outside a federal complex in west LA, the Marines temporarily detained a man who said he was rushing to get to a Veterans Affairs appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to pull back the Marines comes after half of the National Guard troops were ordered to leave the city last week. The rest remain. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated. Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference Monday morning ahead of the announcement with several leaders of veteran groups who raised concerns about the deployment of military troops on domestic soil. They called for the remainder of troops to be withdrawn from Los Angeles. This is another win for Los Angeles but this is also a win for those serving this country in uniform, Bass said in a statement. Los Angeles stands with our troops, which is why we are glad they are leaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the federal government in June over the deployment of the National Guard, arguing that Trump violated the law when he activated the troops without notifying him. Newsom also asked the judge for an emergency stop to troops helping carry out immigration raids. While a lower court ordered Trump to return control of the Guard to California, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month temporarily blocked the judge's order. Newsom originally included the Marines in the lawsuit, but the case has primarily focused on the Guard since. In response to the Pentagon's announcement pulling back the Marines, Newsom reiterated his call for the remaining Guard troops to be sent home as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The women and men of the California National Guard deserve more than to continue serving as puppets in Trump and Stephen Millers performative political theater," Newsom said in a statement. There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles." Local authorities have disputed the Trump administrations characterization of the city as a war zone. The protests in Los Angeles have been largely limited to a few blocks downtown containing City Hall, federal buildings and an immigration detention facility. Demonstrations in the city and the region in recent weeks have been largely small impromptu protests around arrests. In one of the most raucous days of protest, thousands of people took to the streets June 8 in response to Trumps deployment of the Guard, blocking off a major freeway as law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs to control the crowd. Photos captured several Waymo robotaxis set on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day later, police officers used flash bangs and shot projectiles as they pushed protesters through Little Tokyo, where bystanders and restaurant workers rushed to get out of their way. Bass set a curfew in place for about a week that she said had successfully protected businesses and helped restore order. Last night, the president of the United States shared a fake AI video of former president Barack Obama being arrested by the FBI. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images The clip begins with a speech from Obama, during which he says, "No one, especially the president, is above the law." Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com Related: Hillary Clinton Just Hit On One Of Donald Trump's Biggest Insecurities With Three Words Then, later in the video, an AI-rendered clip of Trump and Obama sitting together in the White House appears. Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com Soon, the two are surrounded by FBI agents... Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ...but the agents shift their focus to Obama. Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com The former president is pushed down to his knees much to Trump's apparent delight. Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com Related: A Picture Of Donald Trump's Face Being Two Completely Different Colors Is Going Viral For Obvious Reasons AI Obama's hands are brought behind his back... Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com ...and he's arrested. Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clip which surpassed 1.6 million views on X after news of Trump's post circulated on the platform ends with AI Obama behind bars. Truth Social: Donald Trump / truthsocial.com Related: JD Vances Old Epstein Tweets Are Coming Back To Haunt Him In A Big Way The MAGA core was all for it. But others? Not so much. A lot of people called out racist undertones. One person wrote, "This is not funny. It is particularly disgusting to show an innocent Black person getting arrested--particularly one who has spent a lifetime trying to overcome the stereotypes that racists like Trump favor." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "this who y'all voted for?" another asked. Related: He Told People That?: Jon Stewart Was Seriously Shocked By What A Report Is Saying Elon Musk Revealed To People Close To Him Others pointed out what could be viewed as hypocrisy, considering Trump was previously convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in one case and found liable for sexual abuse in another. Ergo: Timing-wise, Trump's post coincides with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's claims that she has evidence of an Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert Trumps 2016 Victory and Presidency. In a tweet, she wrote: "Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the New York Times, Democrats have called her claims baseless. This, however, does not appear to be stopping Trump from bolstering the idea. Win McNamee / Getty Images What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: "My Generation Will Never Forgive You": 25 Of The Very Best And Very True Political Tweets From The Last Week Also in In the News: AOC Just Tweeted What So Many Are Thinking After Trump's Sudden 180 On The Epstein Files Also in In the News: People Are Howling At This New Portrait Of Donald Trump In The Colorado State Capitol After He Complained About The Old One Read it on BuzzFeed.com WESLACO, Texas (AP) As President Donald Trump intensifies deportation activity around the country, some immigrants including many who have lived in Texass southern tip for decades are unwilling to leave their homes, even for necessary medical care. He waited and waited because he felt the pain but was too scared to go to the hospital. 82-year-old Maria Isabel de Perez said of her son, whose appendix exploded earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont talk about that, like who is legal. We probably would be surprised to know that they arent. This is something we dont discuss. Elizabeth, who lives in the Rio Grande Valle and attended a health class at Holy Family Service Inc. last month. People here are among the most medically needy in the country. Nearly half the population is obese. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and elderly people are more likely to develop dementia. Bladder cancers can be more aggressive. One out of every four people live with diabetes. As much as a third of the population here doesnt have health insurance to cover those ailments. And a quarter of people live in poverty, more than double the national average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, many in this region are on a path to develop worse health outcomes as they skip doctors appointments out of fear, said Dr. Stanley Fisch, a pediatrician who helped open Driscoll Childrens Hospital in the region last year. White House officials have directed federal agents to leave no location, including hospitals and churches, unchecked in their drive to remove 1 million immigrants by years end. Those agents are even combing through one of the federal governments largest medical record databases to search for immigrants who may be in the United States illegally. Federal agents raids began reaching deeper into everyday life across the Rio Grande Valley in June, just as the areas 1.4 million residents began their summer ritual of enduring the suffocating heat. This working-class stretch of Texas solidly backed Trump in the 2024 election, despite campaign promises to ruthlessly pursue mass deportations. People here, who once moved regularly from the U.S. to Mexico to visit relatives or get cheap dental care, say they didnt realize his deportation campaign would focus on their neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It feels like were living in a combat area. Even people like me who have status, I dont want to go out either, were scared. Theyre looking for any excuse. If they see you have brown skin or youre Latino, theyll take you. Maria Gomez, a community health worker for Holy Family Services, Inc. said in Spanish, through an interpreter. Every day, I pray that the president will have a change of heart. Maria, a mother who is married to an American in south Texas. What did we do to them? Ofelia, a 73-year-old grandmother in Hidalgo County who is the sole caretaker of several grandchildren. This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors. Text from the APNews story, As Trumps raids ramp up, a Texas regions residents stay inside even when they need medical care, by Amanda Seitz and Jacquelyn Martin. DENVER (KDVR) A baby raccoon is back in its natural habitat after it was rescued from the engine compartment of a tractor-trailer truck in Arapahoe County. The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office assumed control of the countys Animal Services on June 21. Since then, officers have responded to over 100 calls for incidents involving various animals like dogs, cats, rabbits, foxes, snakes and raccoons. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Tuesday morning, the raccoon was sleeping in the engine compartment and wasnt exactly happy about being woken up, the sheriffs office said in a post on X. A baby raccoon is back in its natural habitat after it was rescued from the engine compartment of a tractor-trailer truck in Arapahoe County. A baby raccoon is back in its natural habitat after it was rescued from the engine compartment of a tractor-trailer truck in Arapahoe County. A baby raccoon is back in its natural habitat after it was rescued from the engine compartment of a tractor-trailer truck in Arapahoe County. A baby raccoon is back in its natural habitat after it was rescued from the engine compartment of a tractor-trailer truck in Arapahoe County. Animal Services Officer Wylde responded with a catch pole, which the raccoon eventually grabbed onto. The raccoon was safely pulled out of the engine compartment and was not harmed. The sheriffs office said the raccoon was returned to its natural habitat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Pierre man will spend over a decade behind bars after pleading guilty to drug charges. ONeal and Olivier triumphant at Husets Speedway during Silver Dollar Nationals A judge sentenced 37-year-old Scott Reiners to just over 12 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervision. From September 2022 to April 2023, Reiners was involved in a plan that brought between 11 to 33 pounds of meth to central South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a traffic stop, law enforcement found a half pound of meth and a handgun. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pilot avoids midair collision with B-52 using aggressive maneuver (NewsNation) The Air Force had FAA approval for its B-52 bomber flyover and wasnt warned about an incoming aircraft before a near miss with a Delta plane on Friday, the military said. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft, the Air Force wrote in a statement Monday about the mid-air emergency. An investigation by the Air Force and FAA is underway after a Delta regional flight heading to Minot, North Dakota, avoided a midair collision with the B-52 bomber by performing an aggressive maneuver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane, operated by SkyWest, departed from Minneapolis and did not have the military jet on its radar. You probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, the commercial pilot was heard telling passengers in an audio recording captured by a woman on the plane. He went on to say, So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, it caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt give us a heads-up because the Air Force base does have radar long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding. It was not a fun day at work today. Alaska Airlines resumes operations after tech outage grounds all flights Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minot Air Force Base is about 13 miles north of the Minot International Airport. The B-52 was conducting a flyover at a special event recognizing the city of Minot as a Great American Defense Community, the Air Force said. The flyover was planned in advance and the Air Force coordinated with the FAAs local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control (RAPCON), the military said. Minot Approach directed the B-52 crew at 7:43 p.m. to contact Minot International Airports air traffic control. The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft. statement issued by the Air Force The commercial pilot said he received a report from the air traffic control tower about an aircraft coming toward them. He was instructed to turn right, but he didnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said, Turn right. I said, Theres an airplane over there,' the pilot said. He says, Turn left, and by the time we (were) back to clearance, we looked over and saw the airplane that was coming on a converging course with us. He turned behind it instead. They are a lot faster than us, and I felt that was the safest thing to do, turn behind it, the pilot said in the audio recording from the plane. Delta is embracing AI to set ticket prices Passengers began clapping after the pilot finished his announcement. Monica Green, who recorded the clip, told a local news outlet that passengers were weirdly calm, despite the tense situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy because no one else was reacting, Green told KFYR. The pilot got on the intercom and said, Sorry everybody, Ill explain everything when we land safely. The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment. We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet. The FAA is investigating the event involving SkyWest Airlines Flight 3788 at Minot International Airport on Friday, July 18. Air traffic services were provided by the Minot air traffic control tower, which is run by a private company. These controllers are not FAA employees. FAA Statement SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident. SkyWest Airlines On Friday, July 18, at approximately 7:50 p.m., a B-52 bomber from Minot AFB conducted a flyover at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. This flyover was a special event recognizing the city of Minot as a Great American Defense Community, an honor that highlights the citys strong support for the military. The flyover was planned in advance and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. This included the FAAs local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control (RAPCON). At approximately 7:10 p.m. prior to the flyover, the B-52 crew contacted Minot Approach (RAPCON) to prepare for the flyover. Required checklists were completed, and the crew remained in contact with Minot Approach as it flew to its holding point 12 miles east of the fairgrounds. While holding, the B-52 crew communicated the flyover plan to both RAPCON and Minot International Airports air traffic control tower. At 7:40 p.m., the B-52 crew advised Minot Approach they were departing the holding point for the fairgrounds. Minot Approach directed the B-52 crew at 7:43 p.m. to contact Minot International Airports air traffic control. The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft. The B-52 crossed the fairgrounds show center at 7:50 p.m. and proceeded west as directed to clear Minot International Towers airspace before returning to Minot AFB. The FAA is investigating the incident. full statement by the Air Force Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. South Korean investigators have reportedly attributed the deadly Jeju Air crash to pilot error, according to a yet-to-be-released interim report. The 29 December disaster killed 179 of the 181 people on board during an attempted emergency landing in Muan. A source close to the South Korea-led investigation into the Jeju Air crash told Reuters that there is clear evidence the pilots mistakenly shut down the wrong engine after a bird strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data from the cockpit voice recorder, flight computer, and a physical engine switch found in the wreckage indicate the less-damaged left engine was shut off instead of the right, shortly before the fatal landing attempt, the source said. The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because investigators have not released an official report including this evidence. However, tensions flared on Saturday after officials privately briefed victims families on the preliminary findings. A lawyer representing the families said the report found no mechanical fault with the Boeing 737-800s engines, and instead appeared to prematurely blame the pilots and a bird strike that occurred shortly before the crash. South Korean officials then abruptly cancelled a planned press briefing on the Jeju Air crash investigation after the victims families disrupted the event, calling the interim report inadequate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officials had intended to publicly share preliminary findings about the Boeing 737-800s engine analysis from the 29 December crash, which killed 179 of 181 on board. File. Tributes are placed along a fence near the site where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft crashed (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images) File. Tributes are placed along a fence near the site where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft crashed (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images) The Times also reported that investigators said the pilots mistakenly shut down the wrong engine after the bird strike and landed the plane too fast with the landing gear retracted. File. The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed lies at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, 30 December 2024 (REUTERS) File. The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed lies at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, 30 December 2024 (REUTERS) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the collision with a flock of birds, thought to be Baikal teal ducks, one engine failed while the other maintained partial thrust. Investigators noted the possibility that a pilot may have mistakenly turned off the engine, the outlet said. An official reportedly told South Koreas MBN TV: The pilot should have turned off the right engine, which was severely damaged by the bird strike, but he turned off the left engine, which was spinning, and the black box and power went out. On 29 December last year, Jeju Air Flight 2216 landed on its belly after reporting a bird strike and declaring an emergency. It overshot the runway, collided with a concrete berm containing navigation equipment, and erupted into a deadly fireball. Only two flight attendants at the rear of the aircraft survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, aviation experts had questioned whether a bird strike alone could have caused the failure of the aircrafts landing gear. According to the interim findings, the pilots also reportedly deviated from standard protocol following the bird strike during approach. Instead of continuing the landing, they reportedly climbed, executed a series of irregular manoeuvres, and attempted a hurried landing in the opposite direction on the same runway, GB News reported. Later on Saturday, at the planned press briefing on the interim findings, officials took back copies of the findings from reporters after relatives of the victims disrupted the event, accusing them of prematurely blaming the pilots for South Koreas worst airline disaster. File. Mourners pay their respects at a memorial altar for the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, in front of Seoul City Hall in Seoul on 31 December 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) File. Mourners pay their respects at a memorial altar for the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, in front of Seoul City Hall in Seoul on 31 December 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The families did not get an adequate explanation, Pillkyu Hwang, the lawyer, speaking at a lectern in the Muan International Airport where the investigators of the crash had been expected to give their report said. In fact, depending on how you look at it, it kind of puts all the blame on the dead birds and the dead pilots, he said, without specifying what details officials gave about the pilots actions, according to The New York Times. Of course, that may be the outcome of the investigation. But that requires tremendous rigour and very careful wording. And something came out that wasnt careful at all, Mr Hwang said. The relatives of the crash victims criticised the reports presentation, arguing it gave a false impression of finality despite the investigation still being underway. They reportedly expressed concern that the media might misinterpret the findings as conclusive, potentially shaping public perception prematurely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This briefing is not happening. Everyone get out! one relative of a crash victim yelled. Theyve just blamed it all on the pilots! a man cried out. South Korea canceled the announcement of investigation results for Jeju Air 7C2216 crash after bereaved families protested. Read more: https://t.co/PmsMUqB1Be #investigation #aviation #safety pic.twitter.com/vrW9TSpZJT FL360aero (@fl360aero) July 20, 2025 Transport ministry spokesperson, Kim Byung-chae, said the report was not officially public until the briefing began. However, after families stormed in, voicing strong objections, the news conference was called off, and officials retracted the report copies, stating it had not been formally released. Kim Yu-jin, president of the relatives delegation, said the families didnt contest the reports findings but were dissatisfied with how the information was presented. When the investigators take a position, it should be accompanied by a number of documents that support their position and convince the bereaved family that their conclusions are inevitable, she told reporters. But we were only given their conclusions and told they couldnt disclose the process or evidence that led them to those findings. WARWICK TWP., LANCASTER COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) The pilot who died in a small plane crash in central Pennsylvania has been identified as a well-known doctor. Doctor Musaddiq Nazeeri, who practiced in Lebanon, died in a plane crash on Sunday morning. Husband accused of murdering wife has court appearance Officials stated Nazeeri was flying to State College Regional Airport when the aircraft went down in a field about a half-mile from Lancaster Airport. The 58-year-old was the only one on the plane when it crashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one on the ground was hurt. An autopsy will be done, and the FAA, along with the NTSB, is investigating. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) A new pilot program led by the Salvation Army is launching in Green Bay to help reduce homelessness by connecting individuals with troubled rental histories to landlords and stable housing. The goal is to assist people who may be struggling to find housing due to past credit issues or evictions. GirlTech camp at Fox Valley Technical College empowers girls to explore STEM careers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So many individuals in our community are just looking for that little bit of help going forward, said Dennis Buehler, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. Sometimes theyve had a troubled renting history, maybe a credit problem or an eviction and thats stopping them from finding stable housing. Were really trying to bridge that gap. The Salvation Army has received support from several organizations, including the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, and views the initiative as one step toward broader solutions for affordable housing in the region. Were really just at the first days of this, but we are optimistic about how this can be just one part of a bigger solution, Buehler said. We understand that in Northeast Wisconsin, this is going to go well beyond one program. We need more affordable housing, more shelter support but this is a complementary solution for those on the edge. Participants are referred through the Housing Coalition and paired with landlords willing to give them a second chance. Organizers say some landlords are open to the idea especially when case management support is involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know they have the pick of the litter right now there are renters everywhere who dont have evictions on their backgrounds, said Becky Darrow, director of social services for the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay. Thats a safe choice. But by working with our case management support, theyre allowing someone who has that on their background to get a fresh start. Susan Crawford to be sworn in as Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice in August The pilot is starting small, currently helping 10 families, but theres hope to expand it. With only two case managers, you cant serve a hundred households, Darrow said. Its going to start small, but just being given the opportunity to start the pilot and show people this can be successful we are really excited. 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The pilots of the South Korean airliner that crashed and killed 179 people switched off the wrong engine, a report has revealed. The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) found the right engine of the Jeju Air Boeing 737 stopped working after the plane collided with a flock of ducks, but that the left engine continued to produce power. However, instead of turning off the damaged engine, the pilots cut power to the side that was still operational, leaving the plane without any working engines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigators said: A pilot may have mistakenly turned off the engine. The cockpit voice recorder captured the pilot saying shut down engine number two, but the flight data shows that the pilots instead switched off engine number one, likely in error because of the pressure of the situation. An official told South Koreas MBN television news: The pilot should have turned off the right engine, which was severely damaged by the bird strike, but he turned off the left engine, which was spinning, and the black box and power went out. Relatives of the crash victims gathered to hear news after the crash on Dec 29 - HAN MYUNG-GU The pilots on the Jeju Air flight had also activated the left engines fire extinguisher, which makes it impossible for the engine to be restarted while the aircraft is in flight, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of the pilots role in the Jeju Air crash comes less than a week after it was revealed that a pilot cut off the fuel supply in the fatal Air India crash in June, which killed all but one of the 242 passengers on board. The South Korean plane, which crashed on Dec 29 2024, hit the ground at a dangerously high speed without its landing gear lowered and exploded after colliding with an embankment at the end of the runway. Credit: Lee Geun-young All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members were killed in South Koreas worst aviation disaster in decades. The pilots of Flight 2216 had also ignored the correct procedure for how to land after a bird strike by climbing the aircraft back up and then turning it to make a rushed landing in the opposite direction on the same runway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collision with the birds had occurred as the aircraft was preparing for its descent into Muan International airport, located in the southern part of the country. The airports air traffic control issued a warning at 8:57am that there was bird activity detected in the area, and a minute later the pilot reported a bird strike and issued a mayday call. 3012 South Korea plane crash satellite Video footage later showed that the right engine had erupted in flames and the investigation found feathers and duck blood in both engines. ARAIB presented its findings on Saturday, but the families of the victims accused officials of unfairly blaming the pilots at the press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigators had to quickly retrieve copies of the report, claiming that it had not yet been formally issued. Investigators maintain that there were no engine defects or mechanical failures, although power to the aircrafts flight recorders was shut off for the last four minutes of the flight, so there could be key information that remains unknown. Kim Yu-jin, the head of the relatives group, said: When investigators take a position, it should be accompanied by documents that support their position and convince the bereaved family that their conclusions are inevitable. We were only given their conclusions. We have repeatedly asked them to be careful about these disclosures because the way that the results of the investigation are communicated can have an impact on the compensation that families receive. 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. PINEVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A Pineville man is facing charges after reportedly being found with stolen AT&T lines in his truck over the weekend. The Pineville Police Department said that David Gambrel, 55, was pulled over on the side of the road at 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, July 19. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While checking to see if Gambrel needed assistance, the police noticed his truck was loaded with multiple severed lines in the bed of his truck. Authorities said these appeared to be the same lines that had been reported stolen to Kentucky State Police that morning. Gambrel was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mischief and tampering with key infrastructure assets, the police announced. He was booked into the Bell County Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLEARWATER James Buddy Powell, a trailblazing manatee researcher whose decades of work advanced the conservation of one of Floridas most beloved species, died early Saturday after a battle with cancer, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium said. He was 70. Powells pioneering body of research, which ranged from tracking manatee populations to revelations on their behavior, genetic diversity and the myriad threats to their health, helped establish protected areas in Florida and across the world, from West Africa to Central America and Cuba. Buddy was a man who revered marine research, and committed his lifelong work to manatees and manatee research, said Joe Handy, CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where Powell worked, in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also advanced the field not just through his work, but through the quiet integrity and passion that touched everyone around him. Growing up in Crystal River, Powell spent his childhood exploring the regions springs and the hundreds of manatees that live there in the winter. Powell reportedly came to know manatees so well, he could identify individuals by the scar patterns on their back from boat strikes. Famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau even hired Powell as a high school student to find manatees in Crystal River, his wife, Maureen Powell, said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. Its almost as if he was born to do what he was doing, she said. He never wavered from his calling, and we molded our family life around that mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longtime colleagues and friends of Powell said in interviews that, in many ways, he embodied the characteristics of the animal he dedicated his career to studying: He was gentle, calm and curious. Buddy was one of those gentle giants, said Bob Bonde, a retired biologist with the United States Geological Survey who was friends with Powell for nearly 50 years. He was a remarkable guy. Bonde met Powell in 1978, and even in his mid-20s, Powell was already respected in the marine research world as a leading expert on manatees. On some of their first adventures together swimming with sea cows, Powell would bring his black Labrador, Bahia, on the boat. Bonde recalled Bahia diving for and retrieving rocks a trick Powell meticulously trained the dog to do. Powell was a person who, like so many in this state, fell in love with his corner of Florida and made it his lifes mission to understand and protect it, Bonde said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was always looking at the bigger picture, and he realized if we make the planet better for manatees, its going to be better for humans, too, Bonde said. A native Floridian and a graduate of the University of Florida, Powell started his professional scientific career as a biologist and manatee specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the 1970s. He moved to West Africa in 1986, where he joined the Wildlife Conservation Society to study manatees and their close relatives: elephants. Lucy Keith-Diagne, executive director of the African Aquatic Conservation Fund and a longtime mentee of Powells, told the Times in a statement Monday that he was widely considered the father of African manatee research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith-Diagne said he was the first person to study African manatees, primarily in Cameroon and Ivory Coast, and in 1996 wrote the first review for African manatees in all 21 African countries where they are found. Its a report that is still used and cited by researchers today, she said. Buddy trained and inspired so many people working with manatees all over the world, Keith-Diagne said. Buddy was a good listener, he had a calm, confident presence, and a great sense of humor... He is already missed by so many people. In the 1990s, Powell moved to Belize to become the first manager of Glovers Reef Marine Research Station, a scientists paradise 30 miles offshore, nestled on the nations southernmost coral atoll. With a high density of Antillean manatees there, Powell and his colleagues helped create the Belize manatee conservation project. The Powells welcomed their daughter, Katherine, in 1997, Maureen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After returning to Florida, Powell oversaw the states research program on marine mammals and sea turtles for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Staff of that state agency said Monday they were saddened to hear of Powells death. In a statement, Gil McRae, the director of the states Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, said Powell was a valuable conservation partner, mentor and friend. Buddys contributions to manatee conservation are foundational to the continuing recovery of this iconic Florida species, McRae said. He will be dearly missed, but his voluminous contributions to manatee conservation will be influential for decades to come. Powell received the prestigious Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation in 2000, according to the aquarium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2008, Powell co-founded the Sea to Shore Alliance, a nonprofit with a mission of bolstering the health of coastal environments and the species that rely on them, including not just manatees but also dolphins, sea turtles and North Atlantic right whales. The nonprofit merged with the Clearwater aquarium in 2019, and Powell was later named its Chief Zoological Officer and executive director of its research institute until his death over the weekend, according to the aquarium. Pat Rose, executive director of Longwood-based nonprofit Save the Manatee Club, said he knew and worked alongside Powell for nearly five decades. Buddy was always on a steady course to do more, to learn more, Rose said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rose said hes now working with the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and the towns mayor, to place a plaque honoring Powell on the refuges boardwalk, beside the waters he explored as a child. There were a lot of hard-fought battles to put manatees in the position theyre in now, Rose said. And Buddy always realized it was way more than just manatees it was about the entire ecosystem. Maureen Powell said one of the last things her husband shared with her was the importance of maintaining patience. Be patient with humans, he told her, and be patient with animals. The Powell family encourages donations to the Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. A school bus safety program is yielding results for Pittsburgh Public Schools, though officials say theres still work to be done. PPS last week released data regarding illegal school bus passings during the 2024-2025 school year. Officials say their program is helping to deter dangerous driving behavior around buses that puts kids at risk. At Pittsburgh Public Schools, nothing matters more than the safety of our students, said Superintendent Wayne N. Walters. As unsafe driving habits continue around our school buses, its more important than ever that we enforce the law and protect the children who rely on us daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPS partnered with BusPatrol in May 2023 to equip the school districts fleet with safety cameras that use AI to detect vehicles illegally passing stopped buses. PPS police review the footage and decide if a violation occurred, officials say. RELATED COVERAGE >>> New report suggests majority of contested school bus camera tickets are thrown out by judges State law requires drivers to stop for school buses with their red lights flashing. Penalties are assigned to the vehicle owners and come with a minimum civil penalty of $300. Between Aug. 26, 2024, and June 12, just under 11,000 vehicles didnt stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing in Pittsburgh, officials say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the data, the most violations during the 2024-25 school year happened in the 5300 block of Fifth Avenue (392 violations), 5800 block of Fifth Avenue (361) and 5500 block of Penn Avenue (261). RELATED COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates viewer complaints about school bus cameras wrongly ticketing people More than 95% of the violations PPS observed were first-time offenses. Officials say that indicates the program is effectively deterring repeat behavior. Were seeing fewer repeat violations, which means the message is getting through, said Justin Meyers, BusPatrol president and chief innovation officer. But theres still work to be done. This program is about curbing reckless driving habits, protecting kids, and building a culture of safety around every school bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The safety program has drawn concern from some community members over the profit BusPatrol and PPS receive from ticket payments. In May of 2024, PennDOT took over hearings for people fighting their tickets from local magistrates. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A man was arrested following an armed robbery at Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield Monday morning. Paving and line painting taking place in Pittsfield this week The Pittsfield Police Department stated that officers were called to Berkshire Bank branch at 66 West Street at approximately 9:03 a.m. on Monday reports an an armed robbery. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly passed a note to a teller, waved a knife, and ran from the bank with stolen cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were able to identify and locate 38-year-old James Scales IV of Pittsfield in connection with the robbery. He was charged with Armed Robbery While Masked. Scales may face additional charges, according to police. Scales is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in Berkshire District Court. The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Pittsfield Police Departments Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, and Crime Scene Services. MAP: Berkshire Bank, 66 West Street 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. Jul. 20Spokane's No-Li Brewhouse raised $45,000 over the weekend in annual event benefiting firefighters, but partially redirected this year to a more specific cause. No-Li partnered with the Spokane Firefighters Union Local 29 to host their annual Fight Fire event. A majority of the funds will be directed to the Red and Blue Foundation, which is raising money to benefit families affected by the Canfield Mountain tragedy last month. Two firefighters were killed during the ambush incident in Coeur d'Alene, and a third was severely wounded. The tragedy shook the region, inspiring local businesses like No-Li to engage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remainder will support the Spokane Fire Fighter Crisis Fund. Most of the money came from pint and six-pack sales Friday and Saturday. This is No-Li's 10th year of hosting the event, Bryant said, which seeks to support "the men and women that go out and fight all the fires," especially during the smoky season. After the Canfield shooting took place, Bryant considered canceling the event, he said. But he knew the power of the Spokane community could be harnessed and chose to "convert everything to supporting these three families." This year, his goal is to serve "with dignity and respect, create awareness and raise as much money for the Red and Blue Foundation as possible." The turnout was "remarkable," Bryant noted. The brewhouse sold out of all merchandise they had allocated for two days on the first day. Lines to enter began Friday morning and continued through close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He believes its popularity is due in part to people seeking "a place to belong. They want a safe place; they want warmth. We want a place to come together, and I think that's hopefully what we're providing right now." They initially planned to raise and donate $30,000. In the end, the fundraiser raised $45,000 total, with $35,000 coming from the event and $10,000 coming from Watkins Distributing in Coeur d'Alene. Reporter Bonny Matejowsky contributed to this report. Caroline Saint James' 's reporting was funded by Comma's First Amendment Club. NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A plane made an emergency landing in Jessamine County on Monday. The Jessamine County Sheriffs Office said the travelers were flying from North Carolina to Oshkosh when they began experiencing engine issues. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office said the plane notified Blue Grass Airport that they needed to make an emergency landing. The plane didnt make it to the airport and was forced to make an emergency landing on Keene Versailles Road in Jessamine County. No injuries have been reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Barbara Erling WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, an interior ministry official told Reuters, aiming to strengthen national resilience amid heightened regional uncertainty including conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. The 40-page pamphlet, titled "Safety guide", gives advice on getting clean water, responding to air raids or blackouts and locating bomb shelters, as part of the first public awareness campaign of its kind in Poland in decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that the threat of a global war is serious and real, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and allegations of Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks against the West. Russia has repeatedly denied that it engages in sabotage or cyberattacks on other countries and says it has no intention of starting a war with NATO. "Wars are not won on the front lines. The Ukrainian example shows it very clearly," said Robert Klonowski, Polish interior ministry deputy director. The booklet warns that during a crisis supplies of food, medicine, and gasoline could run short, the government said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The booklet, which will be released online in September in Polish, will later be translated into English and Ukrainian, with plans to produce a Braille and children's version, the ministry added. Ministry plans to deliver printed copies to all 14 million households in Poland. Poland, which borders Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, has been a leading voice calling for members of NATO to spend more on defence, and is itself allocating 4.7% of gross domestic product to boosting its armed forces in 2025. (Reporting by Barbara Erling, Editing by William Maclean) Police filed hundreds of child porn related charges against two Westmoreland County men on back-to-back days. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarellis office announced the two arrests as a result of investigations conducted by Pennsylvania State Polices Southwest Computer Crime Task Force. That team first got a CyberTip from Kik about a file showing child porn involving a girl between five and eight years old. Police said they used the IP address connected to that tip and traced it back to Joshua David Ward, 34, of Irwin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Police got a search warrant and said they found more child porn files on his phone. 111 charges were filed against Ward on Wednesday. He is being held at the Westmoreland County Jail with a bail of $50,000. Just a day later, 155 charges were filed against Christian Nat Tominello, 29, of Lower Burrell. Police said he first came up on their radar when State Police received a CyberTip from Snapchat about an inappropriate file involving a girl between 8 and 12 years old. After using the IP address to track the account to Tominello, police obtained a search warrant for his electronic devices. Police said they found more than 2,500 files of child sexual abuse material on those devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tominello is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail due to a concern for community safety. Both men are expected to appear in court on July 29. Police said the incidents were separate from one another. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The death of a 9-year-old girl whose father initially reported she was missing and possibly abducted is being investigated amid inconsistencies in his account, police said Sunday after the girl's body was found in New York state. Melina Frattolin was reported missing from near Lake George in northeast New York late Saturday evening by her father, Luciano Frattolin, according to New York State Police. Both father and daughter were identified by authorities as residents of Canada. No charges have been announced in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girl's body was discovered Sunday in the area of Ticonderoga, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Lake George near the state line with Vermont during a search, state police said. Police said K9 and aviation units were involved in the search. Ticonderoga also is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of New York City in a popular resort area in the Adirondack Mountains. As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided, state police said in a statement. "At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public," the agency added. The agency did not elaborate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement officials said a news conference is scheduled for Monday. Luciano Frattolin's whereabouts weren't clear late Sunday. Frattolin, 45, did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent via LinkedIn, Instagram and his company website. Frattolin describes himself as a loving father on his Instagram profile. On the website of a coffee company said to be founded by Frattolin, a post says that his daughter Melina is the light of his life." She is the inspiration for well, everything, it added. NEW YORK (WJW) The death of a 9-year-old girl whose father initially reported she was missing and possibly abducted is being investigated amid inconsistencies in his account, police said Sunday after the girls body was found in New York state. Melina Frattolin was reported missing from near Lake George in northeast New York late Saturday evening by her father, Luciano Frattolin, according to New York State Police. Both father and daughter were identified by authorities as residents of Canada. I-Team: Officer, suspect shot in Cuyahoga County, sources say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No charges have been announced in the case. The girls body was discovered Sunday in the area of Ticonderoga, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Lake George near the state line with Vermont during a search, state police said. Police said K9 and aviation units were involved in the search. Ticonderoga also is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of New York City in a popular resort area in the Adirondack Mountains. As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided, state police said in a statement. Make Indians Great Again: President Trump urges Guardians to restore former name Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, there is no indication that an abduction occurred, and there is no threat to the public, the agency added. The agency did not elaborate. Law enforcement officials said a news conference is scheduled for Monday. Luciano Frattolins whereabouts werent clear late Sunday. Frattolin, 45, did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent via LinkedIn, Instagram and his company website. Frattolin describes himself as a loving father on his Instagram profile. 1 hospitalized after being attacked by two large dogs in Maple Heights On the website of a coffee company said to be founded by Frattolin, a post says that his daughter Melina is the light of his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is the inspiration for well, everything, it 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) A Springfield man is recovering after reportedly being stabbed and robbed on the bike trail in Northampton on Monday morning. A bike trail in Northampton brings in locals who enjoy biking, skateboarding, and walking along the path. Many go with friends, family members, and pets, not expecting disaster to strike. However, the Northampton Police Department shared that at approximately 11:32 a.m. on Monday, officers were called to the area of 136 West Street for reports of a stabbing. Cooling centers offer relief from heat in Easthampton this week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police spoke to the victim, a 43-year-old Springfield man, who said he was walking along the bike trail between the Roundhouse Parking Lot and Veterans Field when the incident occurred. The victim said he was attacked from behind by two unknown men, who allegedly struck him in the head and stabbed him multiple times in both arms and one leg. The suspects also stole cash from the victim, then escaped on foot. Police said that the victim is currently receiving medical treatment for his injuries. Locals who frequently walk, bike, or skateboard on the trail said that this kind of incident doesnt happen often. Anything can happen anywhere, said Rachel Schneider, walker at the bike trail. Certainly, I try to pay attention to my surroundings because of that, but its also unexpected at the same time, I suppose. When I come out here, Im never concerned, added walker Emmett Troxel. I mean, this is a nice neighborhood. Generally, people here are nice, so Im not worried about walking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troxel said he believes that kindness can conquer all when tragic incidents like this occur. Making sure that I say, Hey, I see you, hows it going, and if you see me again you know that were good,' Troxel said. So you know, thats one way to just build community as opposed to being scared, because I think being scared doesnt help anybody., There is currently no update on the victim or the suspects, as Northampton police continue to investigate the incident. If anyone has information regarding the stabbing and robbery, you are urged to contact Northampton Public Safety by calling 413-587-1100. 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 man was arrested after hitting a police officer while driving an off-road vehicle in Miami-Dade, officials said Sunday. Adolfo Denis Jr., 24, is facing an attempted second-degree murder charge after the vehicle crashed into Pinecrest officer Andres Garcia and pinned him to his patrol car, according to Cpt. Ivan Osores and Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami. Jail records show Denis, whos being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, also faces fleeing and eluding and aggravated battery charges. Denis remains in jail as of Sunday; his bond hasnt been set by a judge. Garcia was hit by the vehicle near Southwest 104th Street and U.S. 1., per CBS News Miami. The vehicle sped off and ran over Garcias foot. Officers ultimately stopped it on Krome Avenue near 167th Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have not specified what type of off-road vehicle was involved in the crash. During the ordeal, Garcia shot at the vehicle, but no one was struck by the gunfire, according to Local 10 News. Officers had been called to the area at around 9 p.m. regarding several off-road vehicles trying to take over U.S. 1. Garcia suffered a minor injury and has since been released from the hospital, Osores said. Hes expected to make a full recovery. Thanks to his quick thinking and training, he was able to minimize the impact and avoid what could have been a far more serious injury, Osores added. ...He remains in good spirits and is receiving support from our department and his family. Two other people were detained and interviewed but were released pending further investigation, according to Osores. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting. DENVER (KDVR) More than 52 grams of cocaine, drugs and firearms were found after a Broomfield officer arrested four men in their 20s on various charges. Just after 1 a.m. on Thursday, the Broomfield Police Department said an officer contacted four men in the area of W. 134th Circle and Alcott Drive, near Westlake Park. The department said this area has been the recent target of criminal trespassing and motor vehicle theft. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After further investigation, the office arrested four suspects on various charges and seized more than 52 grams of cocaine, 0.73 grams of Xanax, 0.16 grams of Oxycodone, two firearms and at least two magazines. More than 52 grams of cocaine were seized along with .73 grams of Xanax and .16 grams of Oxycodone. Two firearms and at least two magazines were also collected during an arrest (Courtesy of Broomfield Police Department) More than 52 grams of cocaine were seized along with .73 grams of Xanax and .16 grams of Oxycodone. Two firearms and at least two magazines were also collected during an arrest (Courtesy of Broomfield Police Department) More than 52 grams of cocaine were seized along with .73 grams of Xanax and .16 grams of Oxycodone. Two firearms and at least two magazines were also collected during an arrest (Courtesy of Broomfield Police Department) The department said a 26-year-old was taken into custody for two outstanding warrants out of Jefferson County and Lakewood. A 24-year-old was arrested for possession of a weapon (handgun) by a previous offender. Another 26-year-old was booked into the detention center on charges of prohibited use of weapons and obstruction of a peace officer. The fourth suspect, a 26-year-old, was on parole for vehicular homicide and the department said he had a warrant for his arrest out of Lakewood. He was allegedly found with cocaine, Xanax pills and Oxycodone. 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. MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Officers have requested an arrest warrant for one Waterbury man after he reportedly stole a vehicle and lead officers on a brief vehicle pursuit Wednesday. Police initially received information about a vehicle on Herbert Road, which had been stolen from Williamstown. Investigators found that Mark Sutton Jr, age 25 had previously driven the vehicle. Officers investigate Newbury vehicle fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While at the scene, officers say they noticed Sutton leaving the area in this vehicle. Police followed Sutton, and tried to stop him on U.S. Route 2 in East Montpelier, but he refused. Authorities discontinued their pursuit. As Sutton continued towards Barre, a Washington County Sheriffs Deputy reportedly attempted to immobilize the vehicle, but was not successful. Sutton is still at large, according to police in a release from July 20. Anyone with information about him should contact local authorities. Suttons criminal record includes two arrest warrants from New Hampshire, and two in-state arrest warrants. 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 58-year-old South Londonderry Township physician was killed in a small plane crash Sunday morning near the Lancaster Airport, according to the Lancaster County Coroner's Office. At 7:59 a.m. July 20, the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department was dispatched to a report of a plane crash in the 500 Block of Stauffer Road in Warwick Township. Officers determined that a small aircraft crashed into a cornfield just east of the runway at Lancaster Airport where the plane had just taken off. "An adult male pilot was seated inside the plane and subsequently pronounced deceased by a Coroner Investigator at 8:51 a.m.," the Lancaster County Coroner's Office said in a report. "The male was identified as 58-year-old Musaddiq Nazeeri." A 58-year-old South Londonderry Township physician was killed in a small plane crash Sunday morning near the Lancaster Airport, according to the Lancaster County Coroner's Office. Officials said that Nazeeri was the only occupant in the plane. He was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center Sunday, where an autopsy has been scheduled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson identified the plane as a Piper PA-46, which is a six-seat private plane. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash. Nazeeri is the founding member of Nazeeri Family Medicine, located in Lebanon, and has been practicing in Lebanon since 2001, according to the practice's website. He was board certified with the American Board of Family Medicine, a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and a member of the PA Medical Society Clinically Integrated Network. "Dr. Nazeeri was not only a dedicated physician, but also a compassionate caregiver and the pillar of this practice," the practice said on its Facebook page. "His loss is immeasurable and felt deeply by all of us." Dr. Nazeeri was also a former vice president of the Northeast Chapter of the Flying Physicians Association. The organization members are physician-pilots promoting safety, education and human interest projects relating to medicine and aviation, according to their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon Co. physician in fatal plane crash near Lancaster Airport [Watch in the player above: What to do if you witness a crime] AKRON, Ohio (WJW) The victim in an early Sunday, July 20, break-in at a Akron home exchanged gunfire with the suspects, according to police. Police officers responded just after 3 a.m. to a home in the 800 block of Stadelman Avenue for a report of shots fired, according to a Monday news release. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Cosby Show star, dies at 54: reports A 24-year-old woman told police that while away from home, her doorbell camera notified her when two unknown suspects with handguns were trying to break into her home. She drove back to confront them, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police described one of the suspects as a light-skinned Black male, about 15 to 20 years old, who was wearing a mask, a white tank top and jeans: (Akron Police Department) One suspect fired two gunshots into the air, causing the woman to flee. She then noticed she was being followed by a black Cadillac Escalade. When she returned home, people inside the SUV shot at her, and she returned fire. Someone fired more shots at her home about three hours later, according to the release. Investigators collected more than 15 shell casings from the victims driveway. Theyre now working to identify the suspects involved. Dog the Bounty Hunters step-grandson killed by father in accidental shooting: report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who can offer information on the investigation is urged to call Akron detectives at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2TIP (330-375-2847). Anonymous tips can also be provided by: Calling Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS (330-434-2677) Texting TIPSCO with your tip to 274637 Downloading the Akron Police Department app and texting Tips411 or visiting the police departments 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Coffee lovers, you might want to take a moment before indulging in your next cup of Joe. That's because an "urgent" recall involving an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based coffee brand was just announced. And if you're a fan of the highly-popular coffee pods, you'll particularly want to take note. In a statement shared by its president Matthew Bregar, New Mexico Pinon Coffee informed customers that it's recalling their New Mexico Pinon Coffee Dark Pinon Single Serve Cups. The cups recalled are in a 10-count box and have a lot code of 251749. They also have a use-by date of May 8, 2026. Want trending news, op-eds, and top stories straight to your inbox? Sign up for our Daily newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico Pinon Coffee has opted to pull the pods because of the potential presence of ink in the coffee. Related: Coca-Cola Products Are Finally Popping Up in Costco Food CourtsAnd It Could Bring Another Major Change "This recall is being made because of the potential introduction of food coloring into the cup during brewing. This recall extends to the consumer level. Although New Mexico Pinon Coffee has not received any reports of Illness or Injury associated with this product, we are voluntarily recalling this product out an abundance of caution," read a statement made by New Mexico Pinon Coffee. The affected coffee pods were sold at Costco, Kroger and Walmart. If you do spot the recalled item in your home, you're urged to not consume it. You can throw away the coffee or return it to the store it was purchased from for a full refund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico Pinon Coffee's recall joins a number of recalls that have occured in recent weeks. Just recently, Kayem Foods Inc. recalled approximately 24,173 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken sausage products nationwide. The recall was initiated because the sausage may have been contaminated with foreign material, specifically pieces of plastic. Related: Beloved Steakhouse Closing After 15 Years: 'Stay Tuned for Whats Next' Popular Coffee Brand Announces 'Urgent' Recall on K-Cups first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 (KRON) The Port of Oakland announced Monday that it is joining a program that aims to reduce fatal ship strikes to whales and reduce air pollution. Port of Oakland officials said it is becoming a program ambassador for Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS). As a participant, the port will encourage shipping line carriers to travel at 10 knots (11.5 miles per hour) or less in Vessel Speed Reduction zones from May to December. The time period coincides with the peak presence of endangered whales and ozone, officials said. Traveling at 10 knots or less, according to BWBS, significantly reduces the risk of fatal whale strikes, underwater noise pollution and regional greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray whale deaths reach decades high in Bay Area Nearly a dozen carriers, which represent 84 percent of all vessel calls to the Port of Oakland, have previously participated in the program, according to the port. This program will help our shipping partners meet the demands of commerce in a more sustainable way, said Port of Oakland Environmental Director Colleen Liang. Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies was formed by NOAA and coastal California air pollution control districts, such as the Bay Area Air District. It independently verifies cooperation rates with carriers, quantifies the environmental benefits and gives recognition to carriers who adhere to whale-friendly shipping practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BWBS is proud to welcome one of the top ten ports in the countrythe Port of Oaklandto this great program as an ambassador, BWBS Director of Corporate Engagement Becca Tucker said. Support from our ambassadors enhances awareness and helps us express appreciation to high-performing shipping lines and encourage further industry adoption of measures to protect endangered whales and coastal air quality. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Iowa Capital Dispatch photo) Ads from the American Postal Workers Union will be playing on Iowa stations beginning this week warning about a federal proposal to privatize the U.S. Postal Service, the union announced Monday. The Iowa television advertisements are part of a national campaign by the APWU that calls on supporters to rally Congress against President Donald Trumps potential plans to privatize the public mail service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While USPS does receive some funding from Congress, it does not directly receive taxpayer money, and largely relies on revenues from stamps and other services. However, the postal service is facing financial difficulties the USPS reported a $9.5 billion net loss in fiscal year 2024, which leaders said largely went to unfunded retiree pension liabilities and non-cash workers compensation adjustments. Trump brought up privatization or making other changes to the USPS during his first term as president, and the Washington Post reported he introduced the idea again following the 2024 general election. In February, Trump confirmed that his administration was considering having the U.S. Department of Commerce take control of the independent postal service. The former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy had agreed to work with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency service in March on specific areas where the USPS could find cost savings, shortly before he resigned. The new Postmaster General David Steiner took the position Thursday. Steiner, a former board member of FedEx, told USPS employees in a video Thursday that despite rumors to the contrary, I do not believe that the Postal Service should be privatized, or that it should become an appropriated part of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe in the current structure of the Postal Service as a self-financing, independent entity of the executive branch, he said. But concerns about the future of the U.S. Postal Service remain. In the advertisement from the American Postal Workers Union, the group highlights a document sent by Wells Fargo to investors about a path to privatization, which include notes that the costs of key parcel products would rise, and local post offices could be sold off for profit. The document also notes that while private mail services like FedEx and UPS could benefit from the privatization of the U.S. Postal Service, this shift could cause problems in some American communities that rely on USPS for election ballots, taxes and medicine. The USPS also has a Universal Service Obligation policy commitment, requiring it to deliver mail to all addresses in the country, including in rural and remote areas, with affordable and uniform pricing an obligation private services are not required to meet. APWU President Mark Dimondstein said in a statement the ad aims to highlight how the move to privatize the USPS could raise costs and hurt small communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wall Street stands to make huge profits if all or parts of the USPS are sold off, but those who live on Main Street would have less service and higher costs, Dimondstein said. Those who live in rural areas would be especially hard hit. It also would be devastating to many small businesses, the trillion-dollar ecommerce industry and threaten the ability to vote by mail. The advertisements will also be run on broadcasts and social media in Alaska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, as well as on the national CNN, MSNBC and FOX channels. The ad calls for viewers to contact their members of Congress to share their concerns about the possibility of USPS privatization. The people need to understand whats at stake and send the message; The U.S. Mail is not for sale,' Dimondstein said. As U.S. President Donald Trump fought off part of his electorate and the Democrats over the release of the files concerning late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, some internet users rushed to assert that Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, who died in 2017, had banned Trump from the Playboy Mansion, supposedly for being a ped*ph*le. Unconfirmed rumors abounded that Trump had been one of the people who had taken part in Epstein's underage sex-trafficking ring. As a result, people claimed Hefner had become aware of Trump's alleged sexual proclivities and refused to invite him to his storied mansion in Los Angeles. For example, a post on X relayed the claim in the form of a supposed Time magazine cover with Hefner, with the words "Donald Trump was not allowed in the Playboy Mansion after I found out he was a pedophilie [sic]" (archived): Trump is in the Epstein files pic.twitter.com/go1AGFL7KF Haters_gonna_hate (@princess_kim_k) July 15, 2025 "Trump is in the Epstein files," the post read, garnering more than 500,000 views and 22,000 likes as of this writing. A similar post appeared on Facebook, and several Snopes readers searched the website seeking to confirm the veracity of the rumor about Hefner banning Trump from his mansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the image of the Time cover was of poor quality, blurry and pixelated, and the title splattered across included a spelling mistake: "pedophilie" rather than "ped*ph*le." Further, searches on Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo revealed no such story by any reputable news outlet. For these reasons, we deemed the rumor unfounded. In fact, Trump and Hefner reportedly cultivated a friendship for years. However, in 2017, Hefner's son Cooper Hefner gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter in which he suggested that he and his father did "not respect the guy [Trump]." He added that this was a source of "embarrassment" because Trump had once been on the cover of Playboy. Snopes found a copy of the March 1990 Playboy issue (archived) on the cover of which Trump appeared with model Brandi Brandt. The copy, for sale on eBay, was seemingly signed by Trump. The Hollywood Reporter article said the Hefners' feelings about Trump were linked to Trump's and the country's reversion "to a reactionary cultural conservatism remarkable in its similarity to the Eisenhower years when Playboy was founded." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the July/August 2016 "Freedom Issue" of Playboy, Hefner published an essay titled "The Conservative Sex Movement" in which he celebrated Trump's nomination for the Republican Party. Hefner seemingly saw in it a sign that the Republican Party was willing to "stop pandering to America's fanatical religious minority and give up a losing war to suppress our sexual rights." Playboy later took down the essay from its website, presumably when it became clear that Trump was courting evangelicals by adopting many of its stances on issues such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, but Snopes acquired a digital copy of the issue. Hefner's essay read in part (emphasis ours): Every four years, a new crop of conservative presidential candidates barges into American bedrooms, looking to police what you do and with whom you do it. These politicians, eager to cater to religious voters, campaign on promises to eliminate access to birth control, ban abortion, pass discriminatory laws against gays, and regulate or outright ban any lifestyle or preference that doesn't fit into their Christian crusade to eliminate all sexual activity that doesn't lead to procreation. In the 50 years since the triumph of the sexual revolution, I have personally watched this fight over and over again: conservative candidates stepping on our sexual freedoms to reach the White House. [] [D]espite [Ted] Cruz's fanatical fixation on our sex lives, he failed to win the Republican nomination. Polls show that voters found Cruz too conservative and failed to embrace his views on sex, women's rights and gays. Instead, voters nominated Donald Trump, a thrice-married New York entrepreneur who once owned the Miss USA pageant, over Cruz, the son of a pastor. It's a sign of the massive changes in the "family values party" and proof of what I've watched building over the past several months: a sexual revolution in the Republican Party. [] Americans have rejected these religious fanatics and fought to protect women's rights, reproductive rights and our right to privacy rather than submit to their Christian view that sex exists for the sole purpose of procreation. Recent polls show that more than 60 percent of Americans view gay and lesbian relationships, sex between two unmarried people and having a baby outside of marriage as "morally acceptable." Nearly 90 percent feel the same about birth control. This is no surprise. We won the sexual revolution; it has just taken Republicans 50 years to admit defeat. Now it's time for them to exit our bedrooms and close the door behind them forever. Contrary to Hefner's prediction, Trump later embraced the religious stance on these issues. We have reached out to Cooper Hefner to confirm whether his father had turned against Trump for these reasons or whether Trump's association with Epstein had also played a role in their falling-out. Sources: Baum, Gary. "Hugh Hefner's Son Cooper Plans to Remake Playboy 'for My Generation.'" The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2017, www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/hugh-hefners-son-cooper-plans-remake-playboy-my-generation-1031468/. Accessed 18 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brandi. "Brandi Brandt (Model and Actress) ~ Bio with [ Photos | Videos ]." Alchetron.com, 25 Dec. 2017, alchetron.com/Brandi-Brandt. Accessed 18 July 2025. "DONALD TRUMP AMERICAN PRESIDENT PLAYBOY MAGAZINE COVER REPRINT PHOTO 8"X11" .#19." EBay, 2025, www.ebay.com/itm/335561641964. Accessed 18 July 2025. Loe, Megan. "Trump Mention in Epstein's 'Black Book' Resurfaced during Musk Spat. Here's the Context." Snopes, Snopes.com, 5 June 2025, www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-epstein-black-book-musk/?collection=470228. Accessed 18 July 2025. Nakamura, Reid. "Donald Trump and Hugh Hefner's Relationship: From Playboy Cover to 'Personal Embarrassment.'" TheWrap, 28 Sept. 2017, www.thewrap.com/donald-trump-and-hugh-hefners-relationship-from-playboy-cover-to-personal-embarrassment/. Accessed 18 July 2025. "Playboy Magazine: July/August 2016- the Freedom Issue." EBay, July 2016, www.ebay.com/itm/386244150091. Accessed 18 July 2025. A pregnant woman and her unborn child are dead after being hit by a car in Ohio over the weekend. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It happened on Saturday in Columbiana County, according to CBS affiliate WKBN TV. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Liverpool police chief John Lane told WKBN that 21-year-old Stephanie Household got into an argument with another person. When she got out of the car, the driver backed up to leave and hit Householder. A medical helicopter took her to a Pittsburgh hospital, where Householder and her unborn child died, WKBN reports. The incident remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The ceremony was established by Herzog after the October 7 massacre in recognition of Israeli citizens acts of heroism. President Isaac Herzog on Sunday announced a list of 15 people, including five victims of the October 7 massacre, who will receive the Presidents Medal for Civilian Heroism. The medal was established by Herzog after the October 7 massacre in recognition of Israeli citizens acts of heroism that were revealed since the war began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ceremony will be held at the Presidents Residence on September 4, 2025. Everyday acts of heroism from October 7 and beyond Among the recipients, many of whom assisted in fighting Hamas terrorists, is Malham As'ad, a Druze-Israeli who assisted Jewish Maccabi fans during the violent attacks in Amsterdam in November. Additionally, Yuval Kestelmen, who assisted in neutralizing two Hamas terrorists in a 2023 attack and was killed by friendly fire, will receive a posthumous award alongside the October 7 victims. Israeli president Isaac Herzog at The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on October 30, 2024. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) This is Herzogs second year awarding what he has called the highest civilian valor award."Last year, he stated that that the ceremony would continue to be conferred by him and future presidents. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump marked six months in office in his second term. Over the weekend Republicans and Democrats called for the Trump administration to release more information about the Jeffrey Epstein case. The House may vote this week on a resolution to urge the Trump administration to release all credible records but that has no legal weight to force the administration to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform about six months of winning, stacking up the wins and he says Americas decline is over, but Republicans and Democrats continue to criticize the administration over the Epstein files. This is distracting from the focus on the things that the American people voted for in 2024, said Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.). Before taking office, the director and deputy director of the FBI suggested Jeffrey Epsteins suicide was actually a coverup. Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release more information, but this month the Justice Department said no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think they blundered in the beginning, but I think theyre going to finish strong, said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). On Friday DOJ petitioned to unseal and release grand jury transcripts and President Trump said, even if the court gave its full and unwavering approvalnothing would be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics. You know, this town does not give up its secrets easily and its just fighting and kicking, said Burchett. Democrats say the department could release some files without a courts approval. As a former prosecutor there are times when you release things for the good of the country. This is one of those times, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed that motion in court up in New York for the release of the grand jury transcripts. A federal judge will have to weigh in to decide to unseal them and it could take some time as the request works its way through the courts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rosie Roche, a cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, has died at 20 years old. Roche, who was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, died at her family's home in Norton, Wiltshire, on Monday, July 14, with a "firearm nearby," according to a report from The Sun. The outlet reported that her mother and sister found her after she began packing for a vacation with friends, and a firearm was found close by inside the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A coroner in Wiltshire and Swindon has opened an investigation, which has been adjourned until Oct. 25, according to The Sun. Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince William and Prince Harry in 2022. Prince William and Prince Harry in 2022. Coroner Grant Davies said that police "have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement," per The Sun. Roche was a student at Durham University, and was working on her degree in English Literature. A spokeswoman told The Sun that the royal family's cousin "will be sorely missed." In an obituary published by the Yorkshire Post on Saturday, July 19, family members remembered her as a "darling" daughter, sister and granddaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Died on Monday 14th July 2025," the obituary states. "Darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa, incredible sister to Archie and Agatha, Granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long." "Private family funeral. A memorial service will be held at a later date," it added. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Diana, Princess of Wales, alongside William and Harry in 1989. The news of the 20-year-old's death comes more than one year after Thomas Kingston, a British financier who was the husband of Lady Gabriella and former boyfriend of Pippa Middleton, died at age 45. The Feb. 25, 2024 death of Kingston was described as impulsive" and "unexpected at a pre-inquest review, according to the BBC. Kingston died from a catastrophic head injury, and a gun was found near his body at his parents' home in the Cotswolds, spokesperson for the coroner's office previously told PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, Lady Gabriella, who is a second cousin to King Charles, broke her silence during an inquest at Gloucestershire Coroners Court, revealing the circumstances surrounding her husband's death. 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. In her emotional witness statement, Lady Gabriella, 43, expressed her belief that her late husband's "impulsive action" was likely triggered by medication he had been taking in the weeks leading up to his death, according to The Telegraph. Roche's family and a spokesman for Prince William declined to comment to The Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has reached out to the coroner for further details. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Read the original article on People How seriously should we take Reform UK? As a young Right-winger on the make in the foothills of his career, it is a question that vexes me on a daily basis. On paper, very: they now have a healthy opinion poll lead, won a storming victory at Mays locals, and are on track for a majority at the next general election. My opinion of Sir Jake Berry is low. But is it jealousy? He saw which way the wind is blowing and fled to the sanctuary of Castle Reform before the defection drawbridge is drawn up. In branding Nigel Farage yesterdays man, in refusing to drink the Reform Kool Aid, have I hobbled my career? Yesterdays boy cest moi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet. Then I see an announcement like this mornings on crime, and I pause. Undoubtedly, Farage said all the right things. A pledge that a future Reform government will halve crime. A new prison building programme delivering 30,000 places. The deportation of foreign offenders, with the assistance of his new best friend Edi Rama, Albanias Prime Minister. An end to two-tier justice and the early release of violent criminals and sex offenders. A three strikes system for serious offenders. More police officers. Safer streets. Motherhood, apple pie, a BMW and bigger breasts for your wife. Ah. Wait. Sorry. Those last two werent Farage today, but Boris Johnson, making the case for voting Conservative all the way back in 2005. I was put in mind of Johnson by Farages announcement, if only because I can seem to remember hearing very similar pledges an election or two back. Yes, the prospect of sending the worst offenders to Nayib Bukeles El Salvador is an exciting addition to the roster. But we have heard so much of this before the hollow promises of failed governments. Reform looks less like a radical departure from the old politics, but a miserable continuation of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Successive ministers have presided over our worsening crime crisis, over the periodic emptying of our over-filled prisons, over a legal system that treats stupid tweets more harshly than sex crimes, over the tacit legalisation of shoplifting and burglary. Why would Home Secretary Darren Grimes, Justice Secretary David Bull, and the rest of Reforms gaggle of groupies, Z-list celebs, and Tory cast-offs succeed where their predecessors have not? Why should we think Farage a metals trader turned TV host who has never held ministerial office or run a large organisation has the answer? If both the Conservatives and Labour have been unable to control and overhaul Whitehall, how will Reform especially when they will be facing concerted opposition from every aspect of the so-called establishment? Farage says he will bring in expertise from outside of politics. But, again, every incoming government pledges to do this. The number of ex-private sector ministers who have quit in disgust at their inability to circumvent Sir Humphrey are legion. Whitehalls anti-bodies its resistance of misfits, weirdos, and talent are very powerful. How will Farage surmount them? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Farage intends to spend the next four years genuinely planning his British Meiji Restoration recruiting talent, plotting out policy and legislation, and wargaming the constant attempts to frustrate a Reform government one could start to believe that he will succeed where the old parties have failed. I hold out hope. Britain needs radical change, and he is the man best-placed to deliver it. But how can I have faith that he will adopt this historical role when he goes on television to announce he would nationalise half the water industry with no clarity on the cost? Ill hold fire on my defection for the time being. 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. CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is set to sign a Squatter Bill, to help property owners fast-track the removal of squatters from a home. The law would make it easier for police to remove squatters from a residence, skipping the months-long eviction process, which allowed squatters to remain on the property while the case progressed through the courts. Senate Bill 1563 passed in May and would differentiate between tenants and squatters. making it easier for owners to regain control of their property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Marcus Evans told WLS that squatters had moved into a home that was up for sale in his Chicago neighborhood, and changed the locks. Its happening all over the state. So, were shining a light to show the governor again, that his action is necessary, immediately, 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Records from Albert Einstein's final years are being published as a book around 20 years after their discovery, as transcripts of telephone conversations the physicist had between 1953 and 1955, publisher Heyne Verlag announced on Monday. The records by Johanna Fantova, considered to be Einstein's last close female friend, describe events from the last year and a half before the scientist's death at the age of 76. Einstein (1879-1955), who fled Nazi Germany for the United States in 1933, reportedly shared his daily experiences in US exile with Fantova over the phone. Fantova, who first met Einstein in Germany but also moved to the US, transcribed his statements with his consent, the publisher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 62-page typescript in German was discovered by chance in 2004 at the Firestone Library of Princeton University, where Fantova once worked as a curator. The materials lay unprocessed in the archive for a long time. The diary entries are now set to be published for the first time in an annotated edition with additional findings on September 24. The title of the book by Peter von Becker is: "I am a Magnet for All the Maniacs. The Einstein Transcripts His Life, His Last Love, His Legacy." In the diary, Einstein - who revolutionized physics with his Theory of Relativity - shares his thoughts on politics, science, everyday life and love. For instance, he criticized the arms race of the superpowers and the rearmament of Germany, and commented on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, according to the publisher. A pro-Palestine, anti-ICE protester has surrendered to federal authorities to face charges he torched 11 parked NYPD vehicles last month. Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, 21, of New Jersey, is accused of lighting the NYPD vehicles on fire as they sat unoccupied in a lot near the 83rd Precinct stationhouse in Bushwick June 12, an act that Mayor Adams described at the time as connected to some of the protests thats taking place in Los Angeles and throughout the entire country. Lodgson-McCray surrendered on Monday, his lawyer, Ron Kuby, confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He intends to enter a plea of not guilty, Kuby said. Unfortunately, the NYPD under the leadership of our Trump puppet mayor has been working with and actively cooperating with ICE. The marked and unmarked NYPD vehicles were set ablaze inside the lot early June 12, cops said. The FDNY managed to put out the fires within a few minutes. No injuries were reported, but the vehicles suffered extensive damage, according to officials. Lodgson-McCray was caught on video in a nearby bodega, police said. The attack happened just hours after protesters held a Speak Out at the stationhouse, where they blasted police for their treatment of Puerto Rican Day Parade after-parade celebrants a few days earlier. In a statement released through Kuby Monday, Lodgson-McCray wrote, Theres a real chance that I wont see the outside of a cell for years and called his arrest a scare tactic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not new to Palestinians and Arabs that are being assassinated, deported, and (harassed). Ive met immigrants that live under daily paranoia, not knowing whether or not ICE goons will bust through their doors and kidnap their families, he wrote. Lodgson-McCray was caught on video scaling a fence to get into the lot at about 12:52 a.m., and had the run of the place for 32 minutes, according to filings by federal prosecutors. While inside the locked lot, he lit 10 NYPD vehicles and one trailer ablaze, the feds said. A police officer came to inspect the lot at 1:24 a.m. and spotted the fire. Lodgson-McCray tried to climb the fence and escape, but the officer blocked his path, so he found a hole in the fence and got out that way, the feds say. He left behind a pair of sunglasses with his fingerprints on it and a cigar lighter torch , the feds said, and investigators were able to track him through video surveillance to a bodega about a 14-minute walk away from the scene. There, a camera caught an image of his photo ID as he opened his wallet to pay the clerk, the feds said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police also found 22 retail fire starters 12 jealous devil boom starters and 10 BBQ Dragon Egg fire starters were on three unburnt vehicles, the feds allege. Setting police vehicles ablaze is not a form of protest it is a federal crime, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said. Lodgson-McCray has ongoing cases for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault in both Manhattan and Queens, according to law enforcement officials. During a protest on May 15, 2024, near 31st Ave. and 34th St. in Astoria, he threw eggs at multiple police officers, police allege, then reportedly taunted one of the arresting officers, You are a py. Take these handcuffs off and we can go one on one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, he was accused of joining two others to set fire to American and Israeli flags outside the Israeli Consulate in Midtown. The outcome of that case was not immediately known. Lodgson-McCray was also wanted for a September 2024 criminal mischief incident at Columbia University, where he disguised himself as a student and caused more than $1,000 in damage to a campus statue, police said. More than 100 of Lodgson-McCrays supporters showed up at the Brooklyn Federal Court Monday after a call went out to pack the courts in solidarity. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola argued that Lodgson-McCray was a flight risk because he went dark after learning he was wanted in the case on June 18, stopping his social media activity and using a virtual private network or VPN, making it impossible for agents to ping his phone location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lodgson-McCrays defense lawyer Samuel Jacobson contended that that lot was isolated, and pointed out that his client agreed to surrender on an arranged date. He didnt get cold feet. He didnt try to re-schedule. He didnt flee. Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon didnt buy Urquiolas arguments, and ordered his release to house arrest on a $300,000 bond secured by four family members. Lodgson-McCray wasnt immediately released Monday. Instead, he was taken into NYPD custody to face charges in Manhattan Criminal Court for a protest-related case. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. LEHI, Utah (ABC4) A Salt Lake City man has been arrested and charged after allegedly spending months grooming and sending inappropriate messages to someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl online. Damian Russell Clark, 31, has been charged with eight counts of enticing a minor, first-degree felony activity, and three counts of distributing material harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to documents, an officer with the Lehi City Police Department was undercover on the social media platform Hush. The undercover officer was pretending to be a 13-year-old, and a conversation with the suspect, later identified as Clark, began on March 12, 2025. He initially told who he believed to be a 13-year-old that she was too young for anything to happen. Bountiful man charged for possessing more than 2,000 files of CSAM, documents say The conversation between the two moved to a free texting app, where things remained platonic, documents say. Clark began introducing the idea that he was in a polyamorous relationship with another woman, chatting on and off with the presumed 13-year-old for several weeks before asking to move the conversation to Kik, another messaging app. On April 19, the undercover officer updated the profile picture on the account, causing Clark to reach out and compliment who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Clark asked to see more pictures, and the fake 13-year-old agreed but stated that she would not send any sexual images to the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the next several days, Clark began sending messages that were graphic and sexual in nature. He allegedly described sexual acts and began introducing the idea of meeting up with the presumed 13-year-old in person. The undercover officer told Clark that they could meet up on April 21. Clark moved the conversation to another social media platform again, this one offering complete anonymity according to documents. On this platform, Clark allegedly sent sexual photos of himself to the person posing as a 13-year-old. Orem man charged with 41 felonies for possessing, distributing CSAM online Several times over the next several months, Clark postponed or canceled the meetup with the 13-year-old, offering a different excuse every time. Law enforcement says that he continued grooming her with conversations and normalizing day-to-day activities during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 17, officers went to Clarks residence in Salt Lake City and arrested him. During a police interview, Clark stated that he was surprised that he was arrested and thought he wouldnt get caught because he had been careful. Clark allegedly admitted that he had been messaging with the 13-year-old not out of attraction, but because he wanted attention. According to documents, Clark is an IT professional with training and [schooling] about programming and computers. Due to this, law enforcement expressed concern that he would use this knowledge to continue enticing and grooming children online if allowed out of jail. Clark was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is currently being held without 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. EXETER, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Two local businesses are feeling the impact of a car crash, one day after it happened. 28/22 News checked out progress being made on Sunday at the building that houses Closet Clothes Outs and Dollar General in Exeter. A UGI crew was busy making repairs to a gas line, and contractors were fixing a hole in a side wall that a driver hit early Saturday morning. Getting kids involved at an annual local pilgrimage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A building inspector posted a sign on the building indicating its still unsafe for occupancy. Police blame the crash on a medical condition suffered by the driver. Dollar General was able to reopen on Sunday, but Closet Clothes Outs remains closed, and there is no word at this time on when it will reopen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A property owner on Vancouver Island was handed a $60,000 fine for altering a riverbank that was part of a salmon habitat without proper permissions, as Victoria Buzz reported. Fisheries and Oceans Canada found the damage to the Trent River on the property of David Tingley in May 2020. The Trent River is a vital habitat for salmon. Tingley was given a month to fix the damage but failed to do so, incurring a $60,000 fine. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said that Tingley had failed "to correct work that he had done illegally on his property, that affected fish and fish habitat on the Trent River," though it did not provide specific details about the type of work along the river, such as whether Tingley built any structures or changed the shape of the riverbank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Protecting fish and fish habit is vital to help sustain and support Canada's precious marine species," the DFO wrote. "Under Canada's Fisheries Act, measures must be taken to avoid causing the death of fish and any harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat when conducting any work or activities in or near water." Salmon are vital to the ecosystem. According to the Wild Salmon Center, at least 137 species rely on salmon for food. To humans, salmon have been a source of food and identity for as long as Native populations have lived in the area. Salmon are also a vital business in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, contributing $3 billion to the industry and tens of thousands of jobs. However, salmon populations are declining because of logging, dams, and overfishing, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Other factors, such as pharmaceutical pollution and rising water temperatures, have affected salmon behavior, decreasing their reproductive cycles and lowering their presence in the food chain. Protected, clean waterways help ensure salmon populations stay healthy and can reproduce to maintain ecosystems, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed. This isn't the first instance of a fine charged against property owners that affected salmon in the area. A B.C. man was fined $70,000 for dredging a creek, which led to a decline in the local salmon population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With fines, the DFO is able to carry out its mission of protecting the salmon populations of the Trent River and beyond. The money will go toward "the Environmental Damages Fund for the conservation and protection of salmon and salmon habitat in the Vancouver Island region," the agency's statement said. Conservation efforts have helped salmon populations all over the world. In England, salmon were able to spawn in one area after the removal of a dam. In Ireland, a revolutionary machine that allows 100 million salmon to travel across a previously impassible area was installed after successful testing in the United States and Canada. 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. Marking a grim reality, the Lake County Prosecutors Office, Lake County Sheriffs Department and Lake County Clerk Mike Brown are offering an active shooter training Wednesday for religious leaders. It will take place at 10 a.m. at the Purdue Extension Building at the Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point. Churches, synagogues, and mosques should be places of peace not fear, Lake County Prosecutor Bernie Carter said in a media release. This training gives our clergy the tools they need to protect themselves and their congregations. We owe it to our faith leaders and the communities they serve to help them be as prepared as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is to provide life-saving knowledge and response tactics, according to the statement. Lake County Sheriffs Department officer Rex Ibarra is the trainer, a 17-year police veteran. The session is expected to cover situational awareness strategies, responding in high-stress situations, communication protocols in a crisis and minimizing casualties. Anyone interested in attending can contact Lake County Prosecutors Office Public Information Officer Myrna Maldonado at mmaldonado@lakepros.org. mcolias@post-trib.com A branch of the technology company Microsoft can be seen in Manhattan on July 10, 2025. Credit - Sven Hoppedpa/Getty Images Dozens of organizations appear to have been affected over the past few days by hackers targeting Microsoft server software. Microsoft said in a post on its website on Saturday that it was aware of active attacks targeting on-premises SharePoint Server customers by exploiting vulnerabilities. SharePoint is a Microsoft platform that allows customers to manage and share documents within their organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know about the attack, and how to protect yourself. Hackers targeted a "vulnerability" in Microsoft Sharepoint Eye Security, a cybersecurity firm based in the Netherlands, said in a post that it identified the large-scale exploitation of a vulnerability in the Microsoft software on Friday. The vulnerability was not widely known before then, according to the firm. Microsoft said that only servers housed within an organization were compromised in the hack; SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365 was not impacted. Eye Security warned that once hackers breached Sharepoint systems, they could access all content within them and move laterally across the Windows Domain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because SharePoint often connects to core services like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, a breach can quickly lead to data theft, password harvesting, and lateral movement across the network, the firm said. This is a rapidly evolving, targeted exploit. Organizations with unpatched SharePoint servers should not wait for a fix. They should assess for compromise immediately and respond accordingly. Researchers determined that nearly 100 organizations were affected in the attack over the weekend, Eye Securitys chief hacker Vaisha Bernard told Reuters. It is not yet clear who was responsible for the hack or what the motive was, according to The Washington Post. How to protect yourself from the attack Microsoft advised customers using SharePoint to apply the latest security updates, and to make sure that the Antimalware Scan Interface is on and configured properly. The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency recommended that customers take several technical steps to reduce risks associated with the attack, including configuring the Antimalware Scan Interface. Eye Security also suggested that customers who have confirmed that theyve been impacted by the attack isolate or shut down affected SharePoint servers, renew all credentials and system secrets that could have been exposed, and engage your incident response team or a trusted cybersecurity firm. Contact us at letters@time.com. Dozens gathered Sunday in front of the Texas Governors Mansion to kick off a week of protests and public comments against the Texas Legislature's special session. The group gathered to hear speakers address a range of issues that will be brought up in the special session including: the slated redistricting of the state's congressional seats; transgender bathroom usage; and access to abortion pills. But the overarching demand they had was for lawmakers to focus on flooding a phrase the group chanted multiple times throughout the evening. [Abbott] is bringing folks back to the Capitol to ram through an agenda that attacks women's rights, that attacks LGBTQIA+ Texans, and attacks various communities of color that are still drying out from the storm, Austin City Councilperson Zohaib Qadri said from the podium. Pooja Sethi speaks at a protest opposing the redistricting of Texas at the Texas Governors Mansion on Sunday, July 20, 2025 in Austin. Redistricting is one of 18 items that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has listed on the agenda for the upcoming special session. Gov. Greg Abbott last month called a special session, using his authority to bring lawmakers back to Austin to tackle conservative priorities that stalled earlier this year. In Texas, only the governor can call a such a session and set its agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was the first in a string of protests and gatherings organized against the special session this week. On Monday, a protest is scheduled at the Capitol building from noon to 2 p.m. centering disaster prevention. On Wednesday, organizers are holding a "pack the House event where they encourage citizens to show up to watch House proceedings from the public gallery. Organizers also encouraged protestors to speak to their state representatives and make public comments at hearings during the special session. Many in the group of about 100 at the protest focused on the redrawing of congressional districts. This key item on Abbotts agenda added after pressure from the White House that could boost the number of Republican-majority seats, potentially expanding the partys slim U.S. House edge after the 2026 elections. The speaker juxtaposed the issues like redistricting with the states response to the flash floods that swept through Central Texas earlier this month. Issues surrounding emergency preparedness and the flood relief are on the governors docket for the special session, but speakers argued that the political issues are overshadowing the flood. While the redistricting is legal, most of the speakers painted it as unfair and a selfish use of power. Pooja Sethi, former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, called the redistricting "dishonest," "rushed" and "cheating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not hijack the special session for your own personal gain, said Pam King, vice president of the Black Austin Democrats PAC. Lynn Tozser attends a protest opposing redistricting of Texas at the Texas Governors Mansion on Sunday, July 20, 2025 in Austin. Redistricting is one of 18 items that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has listed on the agenda for the upcoming special session. Amanda Zurawski, a reproductive rights advocate in Austin, called on lawmakers to focus their efforts on passing legislation that will aid and relieve peoples devastating claims from the Central Texas floods. She encouraged them not to prioritize restricting abortion medication, which is commonly used in life-saving critical maternal health care. Protestors showed to stand against the diverse array of issues. Lynne Lively, a regular attendee of Capitol protests, said she thought the redistricting was a power grab by Republicans. She said it was so unfair that a first-grader could understand it. Ayaann Moledina, the 16-year-old policy director for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, showed up to criticize the special sessions focus on eliminating the STAAR test, calling it a political move to avoid addressing school funding. Those who support the move say the assessment does little to actually improve student outcomes. Other speakers included Nancy Thompson, founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott; Javi Andrade, a Democratic congressional candidate for the 10th Congressional District; Kristin Hook, a former congressional candidate for the 21st Congressional District; and Sophia Mirto, president of Hands Off Central Texas, which is a coalition of people and organizations that "defend democracy and engage the civic power of the people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday's protest was organized by Sethi and Idona Griffith in conjunction with advocacy groups Indivisible Rosedale and Mother for Democracy. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: In Texas, protesters demand Abbott focus more on floods during session Public defenders in Montgomery County have filed a lawsuit against county commissioners, claiming that 15,000 people a year are not receiving the legal representation they deserve. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The lawsuit alleges that there are significant disparities in pay and resources between public defenders and prosecutors. It needs to be funded the same way the prosecutors office is; thats not happening now, said Kelly Lundrigan, a Cincinnati attorney involved in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public defenders represent low-income individuals in Montgomery County who cannot afford private legal representation when accused of a crime. TRENDING STORIES: They argue that the lack of resources affects their ability to adequately represent their clients. According to the lawsuit, the bonuses paid to employees of the prosecutors office over the past five years have significantly exceeded those paid to public defenders, contributing to a disparity in total compensation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lundrigan stated that these disparities result in public defenders not having adequate time to prepare with their clients and having to handle extraordinarily large caseloads compared to prosecutors. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks compensation and backpay for current and former employees of the public defenders office to level the playing field. A spokesperson for the Montgomery County Commissioners stated that it is not the countys practice to comment on pending litigation. We will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The public is getting its chance to speak out on plans to close some Pittsburgh Public schools. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh Public Schools board votes to start public hearings for possible school closures Hearings are being held at the districts administration building at 341 S. Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. This week marks the first round of hearings. Monday at 5 p.m., there will be a special hearing on The Student Achievement Center, the former Baxter School and wrap up with a general public hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday at 5 p.m., there will be hearings on the Montessori PreK-5 in Friendship. A second hearing will be held about Morrow PreK-8 at 7 p.m. that same night. Anyone who wants to speak at the hearing must register online. Those unable to attend may submit written testimony via email to sranalli1@pghschools.org. Written testimony will be shared with the Board of Directors and posted on the District website as part of the public record following each hearing. The plan calls for the closing of 12 schools and would affect other facilities. The closures would begin in June 2026, at the earliest. The plan would also reconfigure the grade levels in 10 existing schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two new schools would open among the changes. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Senate President Robert Stivers answers questions in the state Senate's temporary chamber, June 25, 2025, in Frankfort. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) The Kentucky General Assembly plans to convene in temporary chambers for at least the next three years while the Capitol undergoes extensive renovations. During those years, there will be no public galleries where citizens can watch as the House and Senate debate and vote on new laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No rotunda where advocates and protesters can gather for rallies. And less opportunity for citizens and lobbyists to personally interact with lawmakers in the halls. People will be able to watch the legislature in session in real time from next door in the Capitol Annex via live streams of the proceedings. But the setup leaves some Frankfort regulars concerned. Amye Bensenhaver, co-director of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition, said that without a space for the public to observe in person, the legislature risks violating the state Open Meetings Act. A Senate Republican spokesperson rejected any suggestion that the temporary arrangement violates open government laws. He said the expense of building a gallery in a temporary building could not be justified and would have been an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars. Paving work was underway outside the legislatures temporary quarters. This entrance faces the Capitol parking garage. The Capitol dome, under scaffolding, is also part of the Capitol renovation, July 18, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jamie Lucke) Becky Jones, vice president of the League of Women Voters Kentucky chapter, said the League understands the cost concerns but would like to see more proactive steps to ensure public access to the legislative process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the League certainly appreciates the cost constraints that the legislature faced when building the temporary structure thats going to service for three more years, Jones recently told the Kentucky Lantern. We also appreciate that the loss of a public viewing gallery is not insignificant, and I think there could have been more definitive steps taken to ensure that we will have access via this live stream. The chambers are for the people, not merely the legislators, Jones said. The states public broadcast network, KET, will still have cameras in the House and Senate chambers to carry the live stream, but Congress recently voted for significant cuts to public media funding nationwide. Physical presence and participation The Senates Republican leaders last month unveiled the Senate side of the temporary building. Senate President Robert Stivers took reporters on a tour of the space, showing offices and conference rooms down the hall from the temporary Senate floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the absence of a public gallery, Stivers cited cost. The Capitol galleries overlook the floors of the House and Senate and are entered by their own stairs. I think what the discussion was, we could have built the gallery, but you think about expensive this is already expensive, Stivers said of the $14 million structure where the legislature plans to hold at at least three regular sessions. The Capitol renovation is expected to cost almost $300 million. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers leads media on a tour of the building that will house legislative sessions and some offices while the Capitol undergoes a years-long renovation. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) Republican Caucus Chair Robby Mills, of Henderson, said during the press conference that public access is still going to be 100% to the process with KET streaming. Reporters will still be allowed in the chamber as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finance and Administration Cabinet spokesperson Kinsey Woodson told the Lantern in an email that the General Assembly never requested a design option with a public gallery space, and therefore no estimate was ever made. Bensenhaver, a former Kentucky assistant attorney general who authored open records and open meetings decisions for 25 years, said Stivers comments during the press conference sounded really dismissive of what his predecessors in office considered a priority. In 2013, the General Assembly codified that public agencies must provide meeting room conditions, including adequate space, seating, and acoustics, which insofar as is feasible allow effective public observation of the public meetings. Later that same year, lawmakers added to state law that for any public meeting, agencies shall evaluate space requirements, seating capacity, and acoustics. Theres a physical presence that I think is so important to public participation this idea that by the strength of your numbers, you show support or opposition to an idea or a proposal, Bensenhaver said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones had similar thoughts. When people are allowed in a gallery space, they might see how lawmakers off camera react to debate on the floor, and that might open an opportunity to approach the lawmaker and ask about their reaction. When youre observing whats going on the floor, its like youre watching a play, Jones said. You can see things that happen that arent going to necessarily be provided by a livestream, because we have to depend on the person running the camera and how many cameras are set up. Dustin Isaacs, a spokesperson for the Senate majority caucus, said in a statement to the Lantern that the temporary setup does not violate the Open Meeting Act. Claims to the contrary ignore both the plain language of the statute and common sense. Senate Republican Floor Leader Max Wise speaks at a press conference in the Senates temporary digs. Neither House nor Senate will have a public gallery in their temporary home. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) The law requires public meetings to be observable insofar as is feasible. The Kentucky Attorney General affirmed that standard during the pandemic (OAG 20-05), recognizing that under extraordinary circumstances, physical accommodations may be adjusted, as long as the public can still observe proceedings effectively. A full Capitol renovation, planned with input from both the legislative and executive branches, clearly qualifies. Constructing a second-story gallery in a temporary chamber is not just impractical; it is structurally, logistically, and financially infeasible and would be an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaacs added that those whove engaged with lawmakers on this issue will hopefully recognize weve been responsive and have focused on delivering accessible solutions despite challenging circumstances beyond our control. He reiterated the addition of viewing rooms with the livestreams in the annex, maintaining press access and continued online transparency, arguing these tools not only meet the laws requirements for public observation, but arguably exceed them. While lawmakers understand that some would prefer the option of in-person gallery seating, but some have suggested that not having the gallery is because of lawmakers contempt for public transparency, which is not only inaccurate, its hyperbolic and revisionist, Isaacs said. The gallery isnt meant to be a venue for protest or spectacle. It has always been a place for quiet observation, not disruption, he said. Isaacs compared expecting the temporary building to fully replicate the permanent chambers in the Capitol to insisting all public communication be hand-delivered or printed when a website goes down. During the renovation, legislative information and meetings will be accessible to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaacs added that lawmakers have acted in good faith and within the law. Recasting a temporary logistical challenge as a constitutional crisis does not reflect a commitment to transparency, he said. It demonstrates a commitment to political theater. Changes to advocacy? The extensive renovation also means that the Capitol rotunda is closed. The space, centrally located between the House and Senate and in front of the governors office, was often used for press conferences and rallies by outside groups. No similar central space is part of the temporary legislative quarters. But Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said in a July 10 press conference that his administration was working on an alternative space for groups to use and hold rallies, maybe not as large as could have been in the Capitol rotunda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recognize thats needed, and were working on that which is within our control, he said. The Family Foundation organized a rally in the Rotunda to urge lawmakers to override Gov. Andy Beshears veto of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) Kate Miller, the ACLU of Kentuckys advocacy director, told the Lantern that its too early to know what the impact will be on constituents being able to engage their lawmakers during the renovation. Most of the ACLUs advocacy efforts took place in lawmakers annex offices by connecting constituents with members of the legislature. Mike Harmon, director of state outreach for the Commonwealth Policy Center, said in an email that the rotunda would be missed. He also touted the effectiveness of building individual relationships with lawmakers. The advocates who most influenced him when he was in the House were those who were sincere in what they believed and were not afraid to answer the question, who is for it and who is against it? It didnt mean those advocates always got what they asked for, but I did consider those types of conversations with greater weight, the former state auditor added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True advocacy comes from developing relationships and not becoming angry when an issue you want doesnt pan out that session. There is always another session and another issue that you want to advocate for with legislators, Harmon said, predicting that the Commonwealth Policy Centers development of such relationships will make up for the loss of personal access in the temporary building. I would imagine the negative impact to our efforts should be minimal. Jones of the League said that during the renovation people might be drawn to find different ways to make their presence known. That might look like silent protests or being outside the temporary structure. It could also look like being more present in committee meetings and preparing statements to give during hearings. I think its hard to predict how advocacy will change, Jones said. I think it will change. Im just not sure how thats going to happen. There are two elements critical to a functioning prison system. Security and hope. Alabama doesnt do well on either. Start with security. At the most basic level, a prison needs doors that lock. This was a problem in at least one state correctional facility in recent memory. But security also means that staff and inmates dont have to live under a constant threat of physical harm. Thats not the case in our prisons. The Alabama Department of Corrections last fall reported a 13% increase in fights in its facilities as well as an increase in inmate-on-staff assaults. DOC has also shelled out millions of dollars to settle lawsuits alleging excessive force by corrections officers on inmates. And all of this comes amid a years-long federal lawsuit over physical and sexual assaults in Alabama prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knowing all this, hope seems trivial, even something to scoff at. Most politicians think public safety is sidearms and snappy uniforms, not allowing people to see a better future. But if the incarcerated dont have something to live for or work toward during their time in prison, violence becomes a lot more tempting and rehabilitation programs become far less appealing. What reason do they have to go (to rehab programs) as long as theyll be denied for parole? Kenneth Traywick, an inmate in the state prison system, told my colleague Melissa Brown in 2021. They know this. Nobody is wanting to do any of that because they know good and well its not going to help them in the long run. Brian Lyman is the editor of the Alabama Reflector. As chair of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, Leigh Gwathney did all she could to destroy hope among the states incarcerated population. During Gwathneys time on the board, which ended last week, the parole grant rate, which stood at 54% in 2017, plummeted to 8% in 2023. Its rebounded in recent years, but in many cases, the board ignored parole guidelines when they said applicants should be released from prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: The freedom thats killing Alabama | BRIAN LYMAN This was done in the name of law and order, or at least a 1987 version of it. Gov. Kay Ivey, who got new powers over the state pardons and paroles process in 2018, first paired Gwathney with Charlie Graddick, a former Alabama attorney general and judge who embodied a Reagan-era approach to law enforcement. Ivey said in a statement at the time of Gwathneys appointment that she expected them to ultimately, improve public safety across the state. Six years later, its hard to see any effect that approach had on public safety. By most measures, Alabamas crime rates in 2019 were up from historic lows in the middle part of the decade but not even close to records set in the early 1990s. A pandemic-era surge in crime the next year coming as the board was squeezing parole rates was sharp but short. Crime rates were effectively flat in the state in 2022 and 2023, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Birmingham and Montgomery, hit hard by gun violence, have seen homicide levels drop this year. But Alabama prisons never stopped being violent or dangerous in those six years. And the board kept many people locked in there, even those who had worked in good faith to reform and cut time off their sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parole board didnt create the crisis in the states correctional facilities. But they embodied state officials effective indifference to it. By telling inmates they could never take steps to shorten a sentence, they took away incentives for order behind bars. For keeping prisons safe. And for a while, most of the people responsible shrugged. But not all. Even before parole rates hit their all-time low, Graddick faced sharp questions from Democratic and Republican legislators about the declining parole rates. He stepped down from the job at the end of 2020. Gwathney held on. The end only came after a disastrous appearance before lawmakers last October, where she struggled to answer questions about the boards parole rates and its responsiveness to legislators inquiries. (A tip for all state officials: Do not make the people who set your budget wait months for their requests.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can things get better? Well see. Graddicks old job has been held for years by Cam Ward, who spent much of his time in the Legislature trying to fix the prison crisis and has worked to provide rehabilitation and training services to those in his purview. Hal Nash, Iveys pick to succeed Gwathney, is also talking about putting public safety first. But he also acknowledged that people can change for the better, an idea that seemed foreign to Gwathney and many of her colleagues on the board. I hope Nash understands that public safety and inmate rehabilitation are not ideas in conflict with each other. They are tied together. And keeping the hope out of prisons will mean extending the violence and a lot less security for all of us. Brian Lyman is the editor of Alabama Reflector. He has covered Alabama politics since 2006, and worked at the Montgomery Advertiser, the Press-Register and The Anniston Star. A 2024 Pulitzer finalist for Commentary, his work has also won awards from the Associated Press Managing Editors, the Alabama Press Association and Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights. He lives in Auburn with his wife, Julie, and their three children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Public safety and parole arent mutually exclusive | BRIAN LYMAN CLEVELAND (WJW) Downtown Cleveland is inviting everyone in Northeast Ohio to enjoy the sounds of summer during the Public Square Concert Series. Its a great way to enjoy the skyline, live music and local cuisine every week. Downtown Cleveland, Inc. is hosting the Public Square Concert Series every Wednesday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. this summer through Sept. 24 in the heart of Cleveland. 4 teens shot, 1 dead at unpermitted block party in Cleveland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did we mention that the concerts are free? Each Wednesday night, there will be a rotating roster of musicians, food trucks, drinks and more. Food and drink vendors include Metro45 Cafe, Happy Camper Lemonade, off the GRIDdle, Hatfields Goode Grub, Frios Gourmet Pops, Franks N Shakes, Dr. Hibachi Food Truck and others. Why Dairy Queen cant legally call its product ice cream Weekly concert lineup: July 23: Apostle Jones July 30: Becky Boyd Aug. 6: Country Honk Aug. 13: Son Gitano Aug. 20: Theron Brown Aug. 27: Black Vitaminz Sept. 3: Sugar Magnolia Sept. 10: Paul Kovacs Big Grass Band Sept. 17: Jul Big Green Sept. 24: Hey Mavis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click here for more details about Downtown Cleveland events all summer long. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW (Reuters) -Foreign vessels will require the approval of Russia's FSB security service to access the country's ports, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin. The decree said that permission from port authorities for foreign ships to enter would need to be agreed with the FSB, which is the main successor organisation to the Soviet-era KGB. The new measures came into force immediately after the decree was published on Monday. Previously, entry rules were set by the transport ministry and special procedures were in place at ports adjacent to naval bases, state news agency TASS said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wording of the new decree made clear it would apply to all ports. It did not specify any reason for the change. Russian ships and vessels of the "shadow fleet" that Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions are closely scrutinised by the West. The European Union last week lowered a price cap that seeks to squeeze Russian oil revenues, and President Donald Trump threatened additional sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports unless it agrees to end the Ukraine war. (Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) ECECD Assistant Secretary for Native American Early Education and Care Joannie Suina, Ed.D (Courtesy ECECD) The Early Childhood Education and Care Department has a new assistant secretary focusing on the states Native communities. The office is designed to strengthen state-tribal early childhood partnerships and official say it will be rooted in respect, sovereignty and collaboration, stemming from the 2019 law that created the department. Joannie Suina spoke to KUNM about what led her into this work and her future goals for the office. JOANNIE SUINA: I bring with me into this role, over two decades of working in culturally responsive education. I started my career as a native language teacher in my community of Cochiti Pueblo, teaching our language, Keres, which is orally based. And I did that for about seven years, and then taught at the post secondary level at the Institute of American Indian Arts. And in looking at the kind of leadership that I bring to the role, its very much grounded in my Pueblo values as a Native woman, and along with that, comes with being a mother as well. So, I couldnt have been better prepared ultimately. KUNM: As youre coming into this role and seeing where the state stands now in overall child well being, why is it important to you to center this type of early intervention and support for families across the state? Well, I think that early childhood care is where cultural continuance and the future and sustainability of Native lifeways meet the future of education as a whole. And I am very much centered in this work, because I believe that were not only raising our next language speakers, who are seeking that belonging within themselves or communities that they come from, but were really affirming the sacredness of what we know and practice as Native people, that our children are sacred. So centering those along with being able to collaborate across our sister agencies with New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, and ensuring that were aligning with the State Tribal Collaboration Act to lead and support government to government consultation across the 23 nations, tribes, and pueblos of New Mexico. I believe that this also further supports that integration of culturally and linguistically responsive practices in our early learning systems. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Native American Early Childhood Education and Care is the first in its nation to work towards strengthening state and tribal collaboration and early childhood education. What does that mean to you, and where do you see these partnerships going in the future? I think in the current climate, its important to bring previous policy experience, but also to focus on a healing-centered leadership approach that is rooted in my own previous work, which was on Indian boarding school policy, and looking at how that trauma in itself has created ripple effects for families, not only nationally but globally, and how language revitalization and cultural continuance being centered within curricula across early childhood programs in New Mexico are what our families and our communities need to truly achieve that healing. And being able to carry some of those stories of trauma with me and keep those at bay as I enter this new role, allows me to further be deeply relational, because Ive lived it, I breathed it, Ive created it. And ensuring that our children are able to experience something much different from what our ancestor relatives experienced. And as you mentioned, youve only been in the role now just for a few weeks. Have you encountered any issues so far that may have changed your goals while in this position, or even sparked new ideas? Theres no denying that were in a difficult time and that our families are facing immense challenges, economic stress, overall health needs, and looking at that lasting impact of intergenerational trauma that I shared. But I truly believe in our collective power and coming on board with ECECD seed, and I believe that early childhood is where we begin to shift that story. Support for this coverage comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. A sign explains the effect of delta-9 THC at Bottles Fine Wine on Providences East Side in October 2024. Next to the sign are boxes of hemp-derived beverages. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Ten applicants seeking retail hemp licenses may have to wait until next March or longer after the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission paused issuing new licenses pending the completion of a study on regulating intoxicating THC beverages sold in liquor stores and bars. The three-member panel voted unanimously at its monthly meeting Friday to temporarily suspend taking applications and granting new licenses for businesses that allow on-site consumption. Liquor stores, bars and restaurants have been able to take part in the legal hemp market since last summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday, the office had 10 pending initial applications for CBD/hemp retailer or distributor licenses and one retailer pending renewal, commission spokesperson Charon Rose wrote in an email to Rhode Island Current. Rose did not immediately provide the list of hemp vendor applicants. Matthew Przygoda, the adult non-alcohol category manager for Craft Collective Homegrown Beverage Distributors in Bellingham, Massachusetts, told the commission that halting new licenses disrupts entrepreneurs and small businesses trying to enter the space legally. No one is better-equipped to verify age and ensure responsible dispensing than our on-premise retailer partners, he said. Brian Oakley, who co-owns Julians in Providence, asked the commission to reconsider its vote, calling it potentially disruptive to customers who have grown used to seeing THC drinks available in restaurants like his West End neighborhood spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julians was granted a license to sell hemp products on Dec. 3, 2024, according to state records. Ive witnessed people come into a bar, restaurant and are excited when they see the placement of the product, Oakley said. Cannabis cultivators oppose allowing THC products to be sold outside licensed pot shops, arguing that products that mostly come from out-of-state are not held to the same standards as whats grown and manufactured in Rhode Island. Weve spent so much time not crossing those two things, THC and alcohol, Jason Calderon, the vice president and CEO of Bonsai Buds, an Exeter-based cannabis cultivator, told commissioners. The only benefit that I see are the liquor stores and bar industry having another revenue source. The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission listens to public comment during the panels monthly meeting July 18, 2025. Left to right are Robert Jacquard, Chairperson Kimberly Ahern, and Olayiwola Oduyingbo. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Study to look at dosage limits, labeling, protecting kids and more Lawmakers heard from both sides this spring and held their own debates on what to do about THC drinks already being legally distributed and sold by 120 licensed hemp retailers and distributors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the General Assembly passed companion resolutions requesting the Cannabis Control Commission conduct a study to come up with recommendations on dosage limits, packaging standards, labeling requirements, licensing conditions, and other ways to ensure children dont accidentally consume the intoxicating drinks. The measure calls on the commission to consult with medical experts and appropriate state agencies and departments including the Department of Health, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Business Regulation. The commissions recommendations are due to state lawmakers by March 1, 2026. The study was written into the states fiscal 2026 budget, which took effect July 1. The budget gave the commission new authority to suspend licenses a power previously held by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation before the transfer of oversight to the newly-established Cannabis Office. The halt in new hemp licenses comes as regulators weigh whether to create new frameworks surrounding social consumption, such as the possibility of allowing cannabis cafes. It needs more time to be studied as there are many policy complexities, Carla Aveledo, policy liaison for the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission, told the panel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THC drinks derived from hemp were illegal in Rhode Island until August 2024, when the states Office of Cannabis Regulation began allowing the sale of products containing low levels of delta-9 THC at licensed retailers, including vape shops and liquor stores. Hemp has been legal at the federal level since 2018. By itself, hemp produces little to no THC, the compound most commonly associated with cannabis intoxication, and is typically non-psychoactive when first harvested unlike other cannabis plants. But with the magic of chemistry, delta-9 and less potent delta-8 THC can be produced. Infusing THC with a drink requires an emulsifier stable with the pH balance of whatever the drink is, as cannabis is typically concentrated into an oil, Stuart Procter, co-founder and lab director for cannabis testing facility PureVita Labs in West Warwick, told commissioners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But since hemp-derived drinks come from out-of-state, Procter said theyre not guaranteed to all be held to the same standards If its not been tested by a state-certified laboratory its difficult to say whats on the side of the tin is what people are getting, Procter said. Even slight heat can reduce the products potency, Procter said in an interview after the meeting. And when you drink it, you dont get anything, he said. So youd have to drink a lot more. Updated to clarify what hemp retail licenses are being suspended. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Greg Cornett, president of Rhode Island Energy, describes company measures to reduce customers' energy bills at a press conference on Monday, July 21, 2025. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island Energy has made headlines this year not good ones. A frigid winter fueled public outrage over utility bills. Major mistakes in some customers bills prompted state regulators to launch an audit of the companys books. Earlier this month, a storm left 65,000 residents without power or the ability to access the online outage map prompting a rebuke from the usually mild-mannered Gov. Dan McKee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So its hardly a surprise that the states primary utility provider wanted to focus on positive news, holding a Monday morning press conference rather than the standard practice of an emailed press release to announce its proposed winter electricity rates, which mark a 9% drop compared with the prior winter. The proposed winter rates, which still require regulatory approval, call for a 14.77 cents per kilowatt-hour price on electricity for the six-month period starting Oct. 1. Thats still an increase over current summer rates, which are typically lower due to seasonal fluctuations in supply and demand, but its less than last winters 16.39 cents per kilowatt-hour. The average residential customer who uses 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month can expect to see their electric bill rise $24.49 per month under the proposed winter rates from $138.80 at present to $163.29, according to filings submitted to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. Standing before a handful of reporters outside the companys headquarters in the Elmwood section of Providence Monday, Greg Cornett, president of Rhode Island Energy, touted the proposed winter supply prices as the lowest in four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional credits some of which are mandated as part of the 2022 sale of the state oil and gas business from National Grid to Rhode Island Energys parent company, PPL Corp. will further reduce customers winter electric and gas bills, blunting the pain of seasonal fluctuations in natural gas pricing. I want to assure our customers we here at Rhode Island Energy are committed to providing safety, affordability and reliability, Cornett said. Cornett said the decision to announce winter rates via a press conference was a direct reflection of his role as president a position he assumed in February 2024. Were trying to be as transparent with our customers and stakeholders as we can be, he said. Rhode Island Energy hosted a press conference at its headquarters in the Elmwood section of Providence on Monday, July 21, 2025. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current) Addressing the critics He acknowledged mounting frustrations with the utility provider. Bills have skyrocketed in recent winters, a reflection of seasonal supply and demand pricing and international political unrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cornett reiterated this premise Monday, along with the companys common refrain that increased customer fees unrelated to usage reflect public policy meaning taxes, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs based on federal and state laws. However, state utility regulators have also criticized Rhode Island Energy for large capital spending plans that far exceed the annual increases proposed by former utility operator National Grid. PPL in a call with its investors earlier this year said it hopes to invest more than $1.3 billion into Rhode Islands electric grid over the next four years, and nearly as much on the natural gas side. The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission has forced PPL to scale back some of these capital projects in its reviews to lessen the cost impact on customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were trying to be as transparent with our customers and stakeholders as we can be. Greg Cornett, president, Rhode Island Energy Cornett did not mention the companys ambitious and expensive capital investments Monday, however. Instead, he highlighted the utility suppliers initiatives to help its customers, including fast-tracking mandated bill credits to apply to the coming winter. PPL committed to provide $154 million in credits to electric and gas customers to offset any deferred income tax hikes associated with the 2022 acquisition. Originally, the credits were to be spread out over 40 years. But Rhode Island Energy decided it would be more impactful to dole out the discounts faster in larger chunks. Im a customer, and Id rather see a meaningful credit in a month when prices are higher than a few cents over 37 years, Cornett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The credits, which require separate approval from the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, would slash electric bills by $20 to $30 per month, with a $40 to $50 cut to monthly gas bills, for the first three months of 2026 and again in the first three months of 2027. Separately, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources has proposed spending $5 million from the states regional gas cap-and-trade program to credit low-income customers in October through December of this year. The annual monthly credit from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative revenue was not immediately available. Rhode Island Energy is also starting a new, employee-funded assistance program to help its most vulnerable customers. Details of the Operation HELP program, which PPL already provides through its utility business in Pennsylvania, are still being finalized, though Cornett pledged it will be ready to access this year. The fund will be seeded with contributions from Rhode Island Energys leadership team Cornett declined to provide an amount alongside voluntary one-time donations or regular payroll deductions for all employees. What about that outage map? The press conference came on the heels of an outage that cut power for 16,000 Rhode Islanders in Central Falls and Pawtucket, according to news reports. Cornett was unaware of details when asked Monday morning, though he noted that he receives updates whenever mass outages occur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Power was restored to most affected homes and businesses by 1 p.m. Monday. Cornett sought to repair the companys image after a powerful July 3 storm that left roughly 10% of Rhode Island Energys customers without electricity, some for more than a day. A technology glitch also rendered affected customers unable to access the companys online outage map for real-time updates. The map did not crash, Cornett said. It just couldnt keep up because it was pulling incorrect information. Cornett said the company has worked with its vendor to resolve the issue and continues to monitor the database carefully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, he downplayed an ongoing probe of company billing practices. The PUC launched the audit in May after finding evidence of significant miscalculations in certain business and residential accounts. Cornett said the errors were not widespread, and affected only select, complex accounts. He also blamed the mistakes in part on bad data inherited from National Grid. The commission has not yet scheduled any meetings to review the proposed winter electric rates, including the mandatory public hearing. Customers in seven municipalities Barrington, Central Falls, Narragansett, Newport, Portsmouth, Providence, and South Kingstown can opt out of Rhode Island Energy electric prices and participate instead in a community aggregation plan that leverages bulk buying power to secure lower-priced electricity for residents. The default community winter electric rates have not been announced. About 25% of the 780,000 Rhode Island Energy customers already opt out of the companys default electric prices. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MANILA (Reuters) -A local radio broadcaster was gunned down in the southern Philippines on Monday, a presidential task force said, adding to the growing list of media workers killed in a country ranked among the most dangerous in the world for journalists. Erwin Labitad Segovia, 63, a broadcaster for Radio WOW FM and host of a programme that focused on social issues and local governance, was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman while on his way home shortly after completing his morning broadcast. According to the police, Segovia was followed by two suspects on a motorcycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Philippines ranked ninth on the 2024 Committee to Protect Journalists' Global Impunity Index, which tracks countries where journalist murders remain unsolved. Authorities have launched an investigation and have activated a Special Investigation Task Group to handle the case, Jose Torres Jr., executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, said in a statement. "The safety of journalists remains a priority for the government, and justice for victims of media-related violence continues to be a national concern," Torres said. Segovia's murder highlights the continuing risks faced by journalists in the Philippines, especially in provinces where local power dynamics often go unchecked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 200 journalists have been killed in the country since democracy was restored in 1986, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, including 32 in a single incident in 2009 in the south of the country. (Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by David Stanway) BOSTON (WWLP) A couple from Randolph has pleaded guilty to defrauding dozens of investors out of millions of dollars through a Ponzi scheme. Court documents stated that between early 2018 and December 2022, 33-year-old Milendophe Duperier and 26-year-old Vanessa Joseph of Randolph worked together, with Duperier acting as an investment advisor and Joseph serving as his business partner. Former Massachusetts teacher charged for online coercion of minors Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this time, the couple allegedly defrauded dozens of individuals by falsely claiming that their investments would be used entirely to purchase securities. Instead, Duperier and Joseph reportedly used the funds to pay prior investors and for personal expenses, such as luxury vehicles, mortgages, and credit card debt. Throughout the scheme, Duperier and Joseph applied for and received several small business loans, using the payments to pay investment returns to victim investors. Duperier also allegedly made false claims and excuses to investors about why he had not made the promised interest payments. The charging documents alleged that the couple had defrauded investors of a total of over $3.2 million, some of whom had invested their life savings. Duperier and Joseph were charged in May 2025. Last Wednesday, Duperier and Joseph pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both suspects are scheduled to be sentenced on October 14. 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 flat tax rate would be the same for everyone Bronx: Most of the problems of our constitutional democracy can easily be solved by establishing a flat IRS tax rate of 12% or 15% for everyone no exceptions, no exclusions. That includes government officials and workers, billionaires, farm workers, office workers, pensioners, residents, non-citizens, citizens living abroad, residents of territories, students and every corporation, union and association Big Pharma, banks, insurance companies, manufacturers, schools, churches and all religious entities (did I leave anyone out?). With good, honest management, there would be enough to pay installments on the national debt, Social Security, medical insurance for all, relevant medicines and surgeries, maintenance of infrastructure and public lands, courts, waters, health research, defense, medical schools, public health research and consumer protection agencies, to name the most important. These calculations have been made by research and think tanks. This solution was also proposed by the late Herman Cain, Texas Republican and CEO of Godfathers Pizza. The big obstacle to this is a self-satisfied, contented and entitled Congress that will not give up their privileges easily, and neither will the conservative Supreme Court. Remember, 78% of laws passed by Congress are written by the affected corporations, so the public would have to participate by being watchful, informed and educated, and voting in all elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our constitutional democracy is neither respected nor obeyed by President Trump and his MAGA backers. It is not working too well at present, so cant we at least give this a try? Rose Mary Lancaster No profiles in courage Morristown, N.J.: I pray that the Republican conned-servatives do the right, moral thing and save our once-extraordinary democracy. In my opinion, our great country should never be led by a bully and braggart, consummate liar, sexual molester, racist, grifter (sneakers and Bibles) and felon, and certainly never a traitor to his country (Jan. 6 and all that followed). In your heart, you know we can do much better. At this moment, courage is too important not to share. Pete Begley Defend the Constitution Huntington, L.I.: To Voicer Timothy Collins: Thank you for your service in the Navy. While I respect your opinion comparing the condition of Alligator Alcatraz to a warships living quarters, there are differences you casually omit. You had rights in the military. Inmates of Alligator Alcatraz were rounded up by masked government agents in unmarked cars, irrespective of whether they committed any crime. Most are children and hard-working adults whose only crime was pursuing the American dream at jobs Americans are loath to fill. Theres a big difference between patriotic service and abject cruelty inflicted on thousands because of their ethnicity. Case in point is the violent beating by ICE agents of a Latino immigrant father of three sons who served or are serving in our Marine Corps. Your time in the service upheld the benefits of a free and democratic society, not one where basic human rights and dignity are abjectly ignored and trampled on. E. Pismo Clam Cancel culture Charlotte, N.C.: CBS can spin it however they want. We all know that Stephen Colberts show was cancelled as part of the settlement with Donald Trump. Score another win for the bully in chief. Barbara Haynes Wont miss it Brooklyn: Colberts show is very predictable and not funny. Its the same old Trump-bashing. Its boring. I like good old-fashioned comedy that takes effort to write. Why wait until May 2026? Pull the plug now. Its way overdue. Unfortunately, gone are the days of Buddy Hackett, Joan Rivers and Don Rickles. CBS has many stains on it as well, going back to Les Moonves and David Letterman and the intern. Too bad the Ed Sullivan Theater has to end this way. Mariann Tepedino Sacrificial lamb? Manhattan: Has CBS lost its mind? Years ago, I set my cable box to record The Late Show with Stephen Colbert so I could watch in the morning, like I imagine millions of others do. What will CBS do next, cancel 60 Minutes, The Price is Right or the CBS Evening News? Was the move politically motivated? If so, CBS should be ashamed. I hope Colbert comes back somewhere. Please. Raymond McEaddy Better material Massapequa, L.I.: I was happy to read Voicer Josh Greenbergers comments about late-night TV and Chris Distefano, as I felt the same way refreshing and back to the old days! When I heard that Jimmy Kimmel had guest hosts, I gave it a try. Finally, when Chris was on, I was once again laughing, enjoying the show, the audience roaring with real laughter. We didnt have to listen to a political show, the same old obsession with Trump, with jokes, rants and lectures on both ABC and CBS. Jean Marie Chiaramonte Blood shortage Bellerose: According to the New York Blood Center, theres a sharp decline in local blood donations. Only 2% of New Yorkers donate blood compared to the national average of 3%. Right now, the state is short by almost 390,000 donors. This shortage puts patients at risk. I had an aggressive prostate cancer 10 years ago, was operated on and needed a blood donation. I thank the person who donated blood that saved my life. I have cancer again, and if I need a blood donation, I wish someone steps up to help me. I ask all those who can to donate the gift of life to do so. Frederick Robert Bedell Jr. Hit back Bronx: Re Shocking handling of NYPD evidence (July 18): Former NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon sued the NYPD because, as the Russians say, revenge is the sweetest passion. Gene Roman Soviet-style White Plains, N.Y.: Zohran Mamdani claims he is a socialist but many of his ideas border on communist. He wants to open government grocery stores, which would put many stores out of business. He also wants to get rid of the police and doesnt think there should be billionaires. In my opinion, his ideas would put the city in dire fiscal trouble and many people would leave to other cities. If Mamdani becomes mayor of New York City, it would be a disaster. Joan Cocurullo Priced out Staten Island: After 17 years, our beloved Z-One diner/restaurant in Bulls Head closed as a result of landlord greed. While the call for rent freezes and fair rents for individual tenants is ongoing, we never hear of conversations to help small businesses like Z-One and others who have to close their doors suddenly and lay off local workers. Im sure the lot will now sit empty for a long time. Robert Paventi Nuance needed Hicksville, L.I.: To Voicer Sherri Rosen: Thank you for articulating the currently unpopular opinion that students in school need to have access to their phones in an emergency while attending class. I am a retired public school teacher who was in the classroom on 9/11. Many of my students parents worked in the World Trade Center then. Youre exactly right when you say, Set rules about usage, but taking them away completely is wrong and dangerous. Not to mention that many students will choose to flout the new rule, thereby turning teachers into phone police. Why is it that when people perceive a problem with a school policy, theyre ready to tear it to shreds rather than tweak it? How about some common sense, folks? Steven Malinofsky Risques risks Merrick, L.I.: The recent scandal involving Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer who was caught cheating in public view, is a reminder of a frustrating pattern weve seen too many times: smart people doing dumb things. Its almost poetic SPDDT might as well be the new acronym for corporate scandal. These are people whove climbed to the top of competitive industries, often praised for their intellect and vision, only to unravel it all with decisions that are short-sighted, selfish or just plain reckless. Its not about lack of intelligence, its about arrogance, the illusion of invincibility and the belief that rules dont apply once youve made it to the top. And that mindset doesnt just hurt reputations it shakes investor confidence, undermines team morale and drags entire companies into unnecessary crises. Curtis Izen The task was something Caroline Wandrey had never thought about taking on. She wasnt particularly interested in construction and had never taken on any major home repair projects. For the most part, those things were a foreign language to the 16-year-old from Wyomissing. All Ive even done is hand tools to my dad when hes been doing something, she said with a laugh. That changed this summer. Wandrey and four fellow members of Christ Episcopal Church in Reading with varying degrees of home renovation experience traveled to West Virginia to help repair the home of a couple in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission trip was organized by the nonprofit Appalachian Service Project, which uses volunteers to repair and replace homes for low-income families in poverty-stricken central Appalachia. Milah Smith, Christ Churchs director of children, youth and family ministry, came across a pamphlet in the mail about the organization and shared it with a few members of the church. Wandrey, her sister Emily Wandrey, Jill Braun and Amelia Fanning were all intrigued. Members of Christ Episcopal Church in Reading members, from left, Amelia Fanning, Jill Braun, Milah Smith, Emily Wandrey and Caroline Wandrey spent six days in West Virginia working on a home owned by an elderly couple as part of a mission trip organized by the nonprofit Appalachian Service Project. (Courtesy of Christ Episcopal Church) A member of the organization visited the church to fill the group in on the details, and all five women were on board. Of course, they needed a little bit of preparation before jumping in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Caroline Wandrey, Emily Wandrey, Braun and Fanning didnt have much experience building things or using tools. I had no idea really how to start, Caroline Wandrey said. So the group leaned on Smith, who did have some experience. Every house Ive ever lived in with my family, my dad has ripped it down to the studs and redone it, she said. And I always helped. Starting in January, Smith and her dad starting holding workshops. They taught the other women about various tools and techniques, preparing them to tackle the tasks they would face on the mission trip. And on June 15, they headed to Craigsville, W.Va., to use their new skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was really different from here, Caroline Wandrey said of the area. There was a lot of land, very few buildings. A lot of people lived in trailer parks. The women spent six days in West Virginia working on a home owned by an elderly couple named Bonnie and Dan. A group who was there the week before had fixed the roof, so the Christ Church crew tackled building a back porch. The project was a bit complicated, to say the least. Caroline Wandrey said they were working in a spot that quickly became a muddy mess when it rained. We literally could not stand solidly, she said. I fell and got mud in my boots, we had to get me new boots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just like quicksand; you would sink in, Braun added. So the group first used a wheelbarrow to haul in and spread 3 tons of gravel and a ton of sand to build a drainage field. It was a full day of moving gravel, Smith said. Once they gained their footing, the group installed seven 12-foot-long, 85-pound support beams. They attached floor boards to them, nearly but not quite finishing the project. Members of Christ Episcopal Church in Reading, from left, Emily Wandrey, Caroline Wandrey and Amelia Fanning work on building a porch during a mission trip in June to West Virginia. (Courtesy of Christ Episcopal Church) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We faced a lot of struggles we didnt expect, Caroline Wandrey said. I went in thinking it wasnt go to be that bad, but it was a lot. Emily Wandrey said the porch ended up about 80% complete, with installation of a few floor boards and railings left for the next group of volunteers. We really wanted to finish the deck; we were busy working really hard that last day, she said. Despite the challenges they faced, or perhaps because of them, the women took pride in what they were able to accomplish in a short period. I was surprised with myself, Caroline Wandrey said. Id never think I could do something like that; Ive barely ever touched a tool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was hard, I was tired, but I just had to keep going. Braun said the trip was not only physically exhausting but took its toll in other ways. There was a lot of mental stress, she said, explaining that they stayed in a gymnasium with 65 other people and struggled to overcome the unexpected obstacles they faced. But they did overcome them, thanks to each other, Emily Wandrey said. We all supported and helped each other, she said. We each had our own talents and skills. The group also found strength in the people they were helping, saying the gracious couple made them feel their work was greatly appreciated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was so rewarding, seeing the look on the homeowners faces, Smith said. They were the most faithful, most generous people. To see the way they give to other people despite the situation theyre in makes you think about what you can do for other people. For more information on the Appalachia Service Project visit asphome.org. The current debate around foreign ownership of our media is a bizarre one. There is this constant fear that somehow a nasty foreign power will get control of a brand we love and, without our knowledge, gently pervert its editorials until we are slaves to a foreign philosophy and are turned against ourselves. This newspaper was under exactly such a threat of a so-called hostile takeover. Rather than being delighted that a pool of sovereign capital from an allied country wanted to invest in our ailing traditional media, we were instead horrified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debate raged in the House of Lords. I should declare an interest here: my wifes family bought The Telegraph in the 19th century. I feel its sense of national heritage keenly and have the same sentimental attachment to our historic brands as anyone. However, the fact is, we need capital to fund the mega-projects of the future. We urgently require money to take our once-great industries such as media and turn them into a world-class offering, which and this is important keep British culture dominant globally. On Tuesday in the House of Lords, we will debate whether or not a foreign sovereign entity can buy as much as 15pc of a media companys stock without triggering a range of complex processes to prevent them gaining more. This is an increase from the 5pc considered by the previous government. This is frankly a weak increase from an absurdly low level. The normal definition of minimal ownership is 25pc and even our very strict National Investment Act sets the reasonable levels at 20pc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should instead be celebrating international investment in our countrys arts and media. French broadcaster Canal+ has recently moved its listing to London. Billions of pounds have poured into funding our super-wave of film studio developments. The Daily Mail website remains one of the most popular in the whole world. If we think its a good idea to strip out all sovereign wealth funds from investing in the UK, then we have only ourselves to blame when these companies go under, shrink or simply leave for more welcoming regimes. The big question to answer now is: what exactly is a media company? My children have never read a newspaper. They couldnt even operate The Telegraph in physical form. They get their news and information from a variety of sources, as we all do. Is a British media firm a newspaper or is it a TV production company, a theme park or a social media influencer? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact is that we have moved from the age of literacy to the age of oracy. We now dont read as much as we did to form our opinions, but listen and watch instead. As politicians, how we get votes comes more from TikTok (which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance) than The Daily Telegraph. Creating laws for yesterdays structures is very parliament, but in reality we are missing where the threats lie. That threat is not in a sovereign wealth fund buying a 15pc stake in a British newspaper, but in how an algorithm is structured to drive a certain type of content to our citizens. Politicians also love to be seen to protect things. This is why we brought in the National Security and Investment Act (NSIA). It effectively allows the Government to call in almost anything for reasons of national security. There is a legitimate threat from China which has a strategy of buying up economic assets. The NSIA deals with this. As investment minister under the last government, I saw the need to balance national security with the need for investment capital. Yes, we need protections from undue influence, but I would ask everyone reading this to think about how we can actually make our markets more open, more flexible and easier to access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would ask you to consider how we can grow our media sector, rather than create hurdles to its expansion. Most importantly, we must consider how we can create a powerful new online sector which can rival other nations so that we can profit from this new era of oracy and continue to dominate the culture of the world for our benefit. I look forward to the future of The Telegraph as much as I celebrate its past. Lord Johnson of Lainston is a City financier and co-chairman of the Conservative Party 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. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Rebels in northeastern Colombia used a drone to attack a military patrol in a rural area, killing three soldiers and injuring eight, the military said. The army blamed the attack on the National Liberation Army, or ELN, a group of approximately six thousand fighters that has been fighting the Colombian government since the 1960s. The attack took place Sunday outside the town of El Carmen in the Catatumbo region, the military said in a statement. Rebel groups in Colombia are increasingly using drones to attack the military and to attack each other as they fight for control of rural areas. They mostly use commercial photography drones with explosives strapped to them, flying them straight into their targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colombias Defense Ministry says that rebel groups launched 115 drone attacks last year. Sunday's drone attack is the one of the deadliest on record. Colombias government has struggled to contain violence in rural areas that were formerly under the control of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, the guerrilla group that made peace with the government in 2016. Several smaller rebel groups and drug gangs are now fighting over the control of areas abandoned by the FARC, where illicit activities like drug trafficking and illegal mining are common. In January, Colombias government suspended peace talks with the National Liberation Army, following a spate of attacks in the Catatumbo region, in which at least 80 people were killed and 50,000 were forced to flee their homes. With one redistricting win in the bag, could Gov. Ron DeSantis go for more? Republicans hold a narrow edge in the U.S. House and President Donald Trump is calling for GOP-led states to redraw maps to help the party ahead of the 2026 elections. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has already called his states Legislature in to do so and Democrats are wary DeSantis will do the same. DeSantis notched a victory July 17 when the Florida Supreme Court upheld congressional district lines largely drawn by him, cementing GOP-friendly maps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with another legal battle pending, theres nothing in state or federal law preventing DeSantis from calling a special session to redraw the maps seven years before the next required redistricting session under the U.S. Constitution. More: Florida Supreme Court upholds DeSantis-backed congressional district maps Such a move, however, carries its own perils. Republicans already have a 20-8 advantage over Democrats in Floridas congressional delegation. Even with the GOPs surging lead in active registered voters, it could be difficult to draw another Republican district, which would likely require splitting a heavily-Democratic district into other GOP districts. Drawing new maps to favor your party but ultimately helping the opposing party is called a dummymander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also a real question of how much they could realistically do. They do risk a dummymander, said Matthew Isbell of MCI Maps, a Democratic consultant and redistricting expert. If you try to divide things up too much in Orlando and Tampa, then you risk making other districts vulnerable, and there probably is a limit to what the (Florida Supreme Court) would allow. DeSantis, though, hasnt been shy about pushing the Legislature to redo Floridas congressional districts. A history of drawing new lines In 2022, the GOP-led Legislatures first attempt to draw new lines was vetoed by DeSantis, who rejected the original District 5, a minority access district then-held by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat from Tallahassee. The district stretched from Jacksonville west to Tallahassee, encompassing communities of African-American voters along the way. DeSantis wanted a more compact district based in Jacksonville and claimed the original District 5 was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. When DeSantis called lawmakers in for a special session to redraw the maps, they passed his preferred lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of voting rights organizations filed suit over the decision to remove the old CD 5, arguing it violated the state constitution's prohibition on removing minority access districts. But the Florida Supreme Court rejected the claim and upheld the maps. The Florida Supreme Court hears oral arguments regarding Florida's redistricting map approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Florida was awarded an extra congressional district after the 2020 census to account for its rise in population. Following the passage of the new maps, after the 2022 election the GOP advantage in Floridas congressional delegation grew from 15-11 to 20-8 over Democrats. We helped elect four additional Republicans to the U.S. Congress and we probably wouldnt have the majority if that hadnt happened, DeSantis told a crowd in Greenville, S.C., on June 2, 2023 as he was running for President. Republicans currently hold a 220-212 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. House. Three Democrats have died in office since March. If Democrats hold those seats in special elections, they would need to net three districts in the November 2026 elections to take control of the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump told reporters July 15 he wants the new Texas maps to produce five new GOP districts, and that he wants four other states to redraw their maps too, but didnt specify which states. A spokesman for DeSantis didnt respond to an email seeking comment on whether hed call a special session for redistricting. But he recently said hed like a new census to be done that didnt include non-citizens in the count. DeSantis claimed Florida, despite having a large number of non-citizen residents, lost out on an extra district last time because non-citizens were counted. My Legislature will redistrict those lines, we'll get it to where it's fair, DeSantis said July 1. That would depend on an unprecedented redo of the U.S. Census, though. Gov. Ron DeSantis hosts a press conference in Monticello, Florida where he unveiled a statue of Thomas Jefferson on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Strained relationship between DeSantis, House could hinder redistricting push Whether the Legislature would go along with any DeSantis push for redistricting is another question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis once-mighty sway with the GOP-led Legislature has given way after his loss in the presidential primary to a testy relationship with Republican legislative leaders, especially House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami. Perez initially resisted DeSantis call for an illegal immigration crackdown earlier this year, offering his own alternative before reaching a compromise, and his move to enact a sales tax cut was slammed by DeSantis as crowding out his push for property tax cuts. Perez is unlikely to acquiesce to DeSantis on redistricting unless Trump directly calls for it. Its really about the Legislature and its really probably then about Trump, Isbell said. If Trump calls on the lawmakers to do it, then I think theres a risk. But if DeSantis says it, the Legislatures going to tell him (no). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meantime, Democrats are taking notice of the GOP redrawing push. Well, two can play that game, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X in response to the news Trump wants five new GOP districts out of the Texas redistricting session. But California has an independent redistricting commission and its unclear how Newsom would maneuver his state Legislature to produce more Democratic maps. Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried is also alarmed. We are next. Instead of (focusing) on the affordability crisis that Trump is making worse, DeSantis and Florida Republicans will continue to bend a knee, Fried posted, also on X. No, just the seats we can stealwtf. A couple of other states aka Florida. We are next. Instead of focuses on the affordability crisis that Trump is making worse, Desantis and Florida Republicans will continue to bend a knee. https://t.co/31Q4xTN6fT Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) July 15, 2025 Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis eyes new maps as Trump pressures GOP states to redraw Donald Trumps efforts to shift his bases focus away from the so-called Epstein Files fallout continued over the weekend as the president dove headfirst back into the culture war and leaned into his own favorite topic: the supposed Deep States efforts to persecute him. Ahead of a trip to Scotland this week, Trump is desperate to move the news cycle off of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and a declaration by the Justice Department that a list of the convicted pedophiles co-conspirators did not exist within the files of the DOJs investigation despite his dutiful Attorney General Pam Bondi having said she had such files sitting on my desk. What happened next was a wildfire that engulfed the presidents online MAGA base and even spread into the broader podcasting manosphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As explanations from his supporters ranged from confusion to outright accusations of a cover-up, the president fumed privately and in a since-deleted Truth Social post that his PAST supporters refused to move on from the issue. Epstein was known to cultivate relationships with powerful men and institutions, and speculation has swirled online for years around whether any of those men (including Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Britains Prince Andrew) knew of his crimes or participated themselves during excursions to his private island or other properties. Donald Trump reignited battles with Barack Obama, Rosie O'Donnell and the Washington Commanders to distract from his Epstein files flop (AFP via Getty Images) No public evidence exists definitively linking anyone besides Epstein and his society-girl lover Ghislaine Maxwell to the crimes, though evidence of his close friendships with Trump and others is extensive. Epsteins death was ruled a suicide after he was found in a New York City jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, sparking further cries in MAGA circles of a mass conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the picture of that relationship between the president and a man who would later be found hanged in his jail cell awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors and women changed considerably. The Wall Street Journal, a Rupert Murdoch-owned publication, published an article revealing the stomach-churning contents of a supposed 50th birthday card Maxwell curated for her boyfriend in 2003. The card included messages from friends of Epstein including, according to the WSJ, Donald Trump. The paper reports that Maxwell collected a letter from Trump for the card, which alluded to a hidden secret shared by the two men, concluding with Trump allegedly wishing Epstein a happy birthday all done on top of a marker-drawn bawdy image of a naked woman. The White House and the president directly denied all parts of the Journals report, including the authenticity of the note. But the president also redoubled his efforts at misdirection, and launched a slew of new efforts to that aim. Trial evidence image shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and financier Jeffrey Epstein aboard his private jet. Epstein was found to have died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 -- during Trump's first term -- after being charged with child sex trafficking. Maxwell was later convicted of those crimes and is serving 20 years in prison. (US District Court for the Southern District of New York) First came the lawsuit against Murdoch and the Journal as well as other independent reporters who circulated the story. This was unquestionably where the president saw the most success in the immediate term: turning the issue into a Trump vs. the media fight provides a unifying bogeyman for the right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters including Steve Bannon dialed back their calls for Trump to provide transparency as the reaction to the Journals reporting clarified that Democrats and Trumps critics see the issue as a political opportunity. Second was the resumption of Trumps war with Barack Obama, who more than any other Democrat has long held the presidents political focus. His entrance into national politics during the Obama era began with a racist campaign aimed at questioning the birthplace of the nations first Black president, and after his first election victory in 2016 Trump accused his predecessor of directing the FBI to spy on his campaign. Trump reignited those accusations this week, with the aid of Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard published a memo accusing the Obama administration of changing intelligence assessments to support political conclusions, but the crux of her own declaration was centered around a false conflation of the intelligence communitys (IC) conclusion that Russia had not attempted to hack directly into voting systems with what the IC actually did conclude: that Russia used bot farms and other means including materials stolen during the verified hack of the Democratic National Committees servers to influence public opinion. Not satisfied with picking one old fight, Trump picked two others. On Sunday, the president declared on Truth Social that he may attempt to gum up the approval process for the Washington Commanders stadium in the nations capital if the team did not return to its old name, abandoned for its racist connotations about Native Americans in 2020. He likely does not have any power to actually carry out that threat, given that federal funding isnt involved in the stadium deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same could be said about his resumption of hostilities with another nemesis: comedian Rosie ODonnell. Trump threatened in a separate Truth Social post to strip her citizenship, something the president legally cannot do. All of this is to say: Trump is throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks in a very obvious manner. On Monday, there were signs that many on the right were still unconvinced by the bluster. Donald Trump is seen at a party with Jeffrey Epstein in 1992. (NBC News) Sothe Democrats left all the files implicating themselves in Russia Gate but destroyed all the Epstein Files? one conservative influencer, Kelly McCarty, snidely asked on X. A number of Democrats have rallied behind a resolution with bipartisan support aimed at forcing the release of the DOJs entire investigation into Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those members were undeterred on Friday when Attorney General Pam Bondi moved to ask a court to unseal grand jury testimony regarding Maxwell and Epstein, which they note is just a small part of the evidence collected by federal law enforcement. It also remains the case that much of the uproar was fueled by the Trump White House itself. MAGA supporters and others in the chorus of voices calling for evidence including the client list to be released point to how right-wing influencers were summoned to the White House to receive phase 1 of The Epstein Files in February. Vice President JD Vance, before that, fueled the speculation in repeated appearances on Theo Vons podcast, including during the 2024 election. Months later, no one else has faced accountability for associations with Epstein and the extent of his crimes remains unknown to the public. President Donald Trump has backtracked on his promise to release files related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and one former official from his first term thinks he knows why. There might be embarrassing details about Trump in those documents, according to Miles Taylor, who served as Homeland Security chief of staff in 2019. MSNBCs Alex Witt asked Taylor about a report that Attorney General Pam Bondi pressured FBI Director Kash Patel into getting 1,000 employees to sort through 100,000 Epstein records and flag any mention of Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This data point, to me, reeks of a cover-up, Taylor said Sunday. If the report is true, he said, that doesnt necessarily mean there was criminal behavior, but the agents could have uncovered information that the president doesnt want made public. Again, it doesnt have to be criminal, he said. It could just be embarrassing. He pointed to a report in The Wall Street Journal of a strange birthday letter Trump allegedly sent to Epstein as an example of something thats not criminal but very embarrassing. Trump has denied sending the latter and is suing over it. The keyword searches looking for Trumps name, I think, strongly suggest that somewhere, something could have been found that has affected his behavior in this case, he said, and warned that the case could consume the president in the same way that the Russia investigation did during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The good news, he said, is that it might keep Trump distracted and unable to follow through on some of the most extreme parts of his agenda. The bad news is its going to make Donald Trump desperate to create other distractions because he doesnt want people to focus on this, he said. One way Trump will do that is by attacking the free press including his lawsuit against the Journal, Taylor said. This is the new witch hunt, he said, a reference to the term Trump used to describe the Russia investigation. When the president is supposed to be focused on national security and protecting the American people, hes going to be obsessing about the Epstein investigation and obsessing about getting revenge against the people whove shone a light on his involvement. See more of that conversation below: The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday named interim President Jim Davis as the sole finalist in the presidential search for UT Austin, using an alternative process in lieu of a presidential search committee. Regents also moved to name interim Chancellor John Zerwas sole finalist for the system's chancellor position. Regents appointed Davis to the interim role in February following Hartzells announced departure of UT President Jay Hartzell to lead Southern Methodist University. At the meeting, Chairman Kevin Eltife tasked Davis with improving UTs operational efficiency and infrastructure. Jim Davis Davis is the first interim president in 126 years without teaching experience, the American-Statesman previously reported, though he is a UT alumnus himself and the son of a UT professor. Davis previously served as UTs chief operating officer and vice president of legal affairs. Before that, he worked as deputy attorney general under Attorney General Ken Paxton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UT System policy states a presidential search advisory committee should be appointed by the chairman with multiple stakeholders, including three faculty members, who interview and recommend candidates to the board. However, it allows for regents to advance a candidate either from within UT System, of national prominence or from a prior search and task a new special committee to review the regents pick. John Zerwas Regents selected the two most recent UT presidential appointments at University of Texas at Dallas and UTHealth Houston after a national search by a presidential search advisory committee, per the typical policy. But Hartzell, who preceded Davis, was selected without an outside search committee as a sole finalist during the COVID-19 pandemic after several months leading as interim, just like Davis. The committee that reviews Davis should have the same university stakeholders as a presidential search advisory committee would have, minus regent members, per the policy. At his first faculty council meeting, Davis told faculty he would be an advocate for the universitys excellence and purpose. He spent the spring semester getting to know the campus community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regents named Zerwas interim chancellor following Chancellor J.B. Millikens departure to become the University of California president after leading the UT System for seven years. Zerwas previously served as executive vice chancellor for Health Affairs after a career in the Texas House of Representatives representing northwestern Fort Bend County. He chaired the House Committee on Higher Education in 2015, and is also a physician. As chancellor of UT System, Zerwas will oversee the largest higher education system in the state composed of 14 academic and health institutions and serves 256,000 students. The chancellor is the chief executive officer of the system and reports to the Board of Regents members appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and chaired by Kevin Eltife. Per state law, there is a 21-day wait between naming a finalist and appointment for a president and chancellor, though Davis will first be reviewed by the special committee. The leadership changes come after Davis named Willliam Inboden executive vice president and provost effective Aug. 1 last week. Inboden was named sole finalist for the chief academic officer role without prior faculty or student input as the Texas Capitol neared final passage of a sweeping higher education reform bill, Senate Bill 37, which distributes more power in hiring, curriculum and degrees to regents while limiting faculty governance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is consensus in the Legislature that SB 37 should give boards of regents a more substantial role in filling key campus leadership roles, Davis said in an email announcement to campus at the time, adding that he consulted UT System Chairman Kevin Eltife in the choice and would hear input from campus. The Boards next regularly scheduled meeting is Aug. 20-21. We're extremely excited about the process for these two gentlemen, and, working with them, we think they'll do an outstanding job for UT System and the flagship, Chairman Eltife said at the brief meeting. We look forward to working with them. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Regents name Davis, Zerwas sole finalists for UT top positions One hundred and seventy-eight years ago this coming week they started rolling in, the first non-Indians to enter the Salt Lake Valley and not keep going. Much has been written about the 148 souls who made that historic 111-day, 1,031-mile trek from Winter Quarters (now Omaha, Nebraska) to the shores of the Great Salt Lake, arriving in July of 1847. Their journals have been all but canonized. Their names forever emblazoned on the Brigham Young statue at the top of Main Street. But one element of the vaunted Vanguard Company is often lost in the telling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a guys trip. One hundred and forty-three of the 148 were men. There were just three women: Lorenzo Youngs wife Harriet, Brigham Youngs wife Clarissa and Heber Kimballs wife Ellen. There were also two 6-year-old boys, Harriets son Isaac and stepson Lorenzo. Other than that, nothing but males, ranging from the ages of 18 to 62. Brigham Young was 46. The average age was 32.4. All this, history records, was by design. They were hand-picked, explains University of Utah historian W. Paul Reeve, these were young people who were perceived to be physically fit and able to prepare a place for the rest of the settlers. They were the pioneering type capable of doing the difficult work. Author W. Paul Reeve poses for a portrait on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News William Clayton, 32, acted as the groups scribe. The man famous for writing the lyrics to Come, Come Ye Saints was assigned to be the trips historian by Brigham Young. He didnt miss a day writing, despite a toothache and other ailments he details very matter-of-factly. He writes of hunting, fishing, horses, 15-shooters, Indians, wolves, thunderstorms, river crossings, sunsets and of prairies black with buffalo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I should imagine that at a moderate calculation we have seen over fifty thousand (buffalo), he recorded on May 5 when they were crossing Nebraska. The journey sounds idyllic wide open spaces, the stars as your night light, buffaloes begging you to shoot them, fish practically jumping on your hook. They probably did enjoy the adventure, says Reeve, but while we tend to think of hunting and fishing as recreational, for them it wasnt just recreation, it was survival. And even though they were on Gods errand scouting out a place where the Latter-day Saints could practice their religion without outside interference 143 men on the open road, or trail, without female supervision, led to the inevitable Going Too Far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By May 29, just east of todays Wyoming border almost exactly halfway into the journey Brigham Young had seen enough. As they were about to leave that morning, the Latter-day Saint leader said, probably literally, hold your horses. The tongue-lashing he delivered for the next couple of hours is recorded in Claytons journal, all 4,427 words of it (the man was prolific; Id like to know how he captured it all without a tape recorder). This is how Brigham began: This morning I feel like preaching a little, and shall take for my text, That as to pursuing our journey with this company with the spirit they possess, I am about to revolt against it. Consequently, I am in no hurry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement English translation: if they didnt shape up they werent going anywhere. Brigham Young continued, Nobody has told me what has been going on in the camp, but I have known it all the while. I have been watching its movements, its influence, its effects, and I know the result if it is not put a stop to. He listed card-playing, checkers, dominoes, staying up till midnight, quarreling, dancing (yes, dancing) and profane language among the things that were causing discord. He came down especially hard on making fun of others. Some of you are very fond of passing jokes, and will carry your jokes very far, he said. But will you take a joke? If you do not want to take a joke, dont give a joke to your brethren. Not the first or last time thats ever been said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didnt leave that day till half past one, records Clayton, until the men had repented and promised to shape up and be perfect the rest of the way. Which of course didnt happen. Notes Reeve, These are human beings, we do ourselves and them a disservice when we place them on such a high pedestal that theyre unreachable. They had the same kinds of feelings of exhilaration, depression, anger, joy, that all of us feel. But they did press on, and eventually, of course, all that testosterone did make it, and the men wound up taking their spot in history as people who did something for the very first time. Two months later, another 1,000-plus Latter-day Saint pioneers came to the valley, arriving safely via the path the Vanguard Company laid out. More than half of them were women. And the West was saved. DENVER (KDVR) Congressman Jason Crow was denied entry to an Aurora Detention Facility by ICE, according to a press release from Crows office on Sunday evening. The office said that not allowing Crow access to the facility has violated federal law, which grants Members of Congress the right to provide oversight of such federal detention facilities. National Ice Cream Day: What is Colorados favorite flavor? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the press release, Crows office regularly conducts oversight at that same facility, which includes public reports about the conditions of the facility on his website. Crow offered a statement on the incident: Today, I attempted to visit the federal detention facility in Aurora in order to conduct critical oversight as a Member of Congress. I was unlawfully denied access by ICE and the Trump Administration. Providing oversight is critical to my job in Congress. The law is clear that Members of Congress have the legal right to conduct unannounced oversight of federal detention facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since President Trump was elected, this administration has tried to intimidate Members of Congress from doing their jobs. I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight. I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions. Table Mesa King Soopers evacuated over threat Saturday morning: police Crow was not allowed access to the facility during an unannounced 2019 visit, after he heard about reports of disease outbreaks at the facility, which was operated by the GEO Group at the time. The office said that following the visit, he then led the push for Members of Congress to be able to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE facilities, regarding concerns related to public health, and the humane treatment of the individuals detained at the location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 reached out to ICE and received a response from the Department of Homeland Security, which stated: ICE law enforcement has seen a surge in assaults of 830%, as well as disruptions and obstructions to enforcement, including by politicians themselves. For visits to detention facilities, requests should be made with sufficient time to prevent interference with the Presidents Article II authority to oversee executive department functionsa week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the Presidents constitutional authority. To protect the Presidents Article II authority, any request to shorten that time must be approved by the Secretary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorados 8th Congressional District on Monday announced he and three other lawmakers have launched a new bipartisan congressional caucus focused on U.S. leadership in space exploration. The Advancing Humanity in Space Congressional Caucus is a bipartisan effort from Evans and Nebraskas Rep. Don Bacon, both Republicans, as well as Marylands Rep. Glenn Ivey and Californias Rep. George Whitesides, Democrats, demonstrating how space can unite people across ideological divides around a shared vision for the future, according to an announcement page for the caucus. Rep. Crow denied access to ICE facility in Aurora Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion to promote human space exploration, while supporting the growth of Colorados Eighth Districts emerging commercial space industry and economy, Evans said in a press release. Its critical that we continue to explore, innovate, and expand humanitys understanding of space and its role in shaping our future. According to the launch page on organization Space for Humanitys website, the new caucus has several priorities in its mission: Strengthen U.S. competitiveness in human spaceflight and exploration. Promote sustainable space development for economic, scientific and societal benefits. Facilitate policies that ensure safety, efficiency, transparency and accessibility in space activities. Support collaboration with international partners that enhance global cooperation and security in space exploration. Provide citizens with a greater awareness of space activities, newfound innovations/discoveries, and their positive impact on humanity. Exploring space is one of humanitys greatest frontiers and its not just about rockets and rovers, Ivey said in the press release. Its about jobs, innovation, and inspiring the next generation. As the proud Representative of NASA Goddard and Marylands thriving space workforce, Im honored to co-chair the bipartisan Advancing Humanity in Space Congressional Caucus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the launch page, the caucus will be a platform for informed analysis, policymaking, and oversight to address the challenges and opportunities of spaceflight, exploration, and humanitys expansion into space. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Detainees at three federal immigration detention centers in South Florida are regularly subjected to medical neglect, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and mental and physical abuse, according to a new report by three human rights and legal aid groups. In one incident, officers allegedly made men wait hours for lunch and then forced them to eat with their hands shackled behind their backs. "We had to bend over and eat off the chairs with our mouths, like dogs," Harpinder Chauhan, a British entrepreneur who was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this spring and eventually deported, told the report's researchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report, released Monday by Human Rights Watch, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and Sanctuary of the South, compiled interviews with 11 current and recent detainees at the Krome Detention Center, Federal Detention Center (FDC) Miami, and the Broward Transition Center (BTC), as well as family members of detainees and immigration attorneys. The report found that staff at the three facilities "subjected detained individuals to dangerously substandard medical care, overcrowding, abusive treatment, and restrictions on access to legal and psychosocial support." Numerous interviewees in the report described being put in frigid holding cells without proper bedding or clothes for days at a time, being given inadequate food and water, and facing retaliation for seeking medical treatment. "People in immigration detention are being treated as less than human," Belkis Wille, associate crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch, said in a press release. "These are not isolated incidents, but rather the result of a fundamentally broken detention system that is rife with serious abuses." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report's findings echo media investigations and other recent reports on conditions at the detention centersthe populations of which have swelled far past their operating capacities in the months since President Donald Trump's mass deportation initiative began. In May, Reason reported on widespread dysfunction and lack of legal access at FDC Miami, a federal jail operated by the Bureau of Prisons that is currently being used to house hundreds of immigration detainees. Multiple news stories have similarly reported overcrowding, filth, and negligence at the Krome Detention Center, an ICE facility on the western edge of Miami-Dade County. Chauhan, who entered the U.S. on an investor visa in 2016, was detained by ICE agents in February and spent time in all three facilities in the report. He said he was kept in overcrowded, freezing cells with broken toilets. At FDC Miami, he said he endured particularly demeaning and dehumanizing treatment one day in mid-April. He said dozens of detainees were put into a single holding cell early in the morning, with their feet shackled and hands tied behind their backs, and then left for hours without food: By then it was 5 p.m. and no one had had lunch. Some had not even had breakfast. We could see the food through the bars of our holding cell in styrofoam containers on a cart. The food was in front of us, but the guards refused to give it to us. At 7 p.m., they finally gave us lunch, but only after another guard protested on our behalf. We were chained though, so we could not reach the plates with our hands. We had to put the plates on chairs and then bend down and eat with our mouths, like dogs. Although Chauhan is diabetic, he told researchers that staff regularly refused to give him his insulin. Chauhan eventually collapsed while standing in the dinner line at BTC, leading to him being hospitalized for three days. Chauhan's son said that hospital and ICE staff would not give him any information on his father's condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BTC is the same facility where Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman, died on April 25. An ICE detainee death report attributed her death to issues related to chronic hypertension and kidney disease, and it stated that Blaise refused to take her blood pressure medication. "We started yelling for help, but the guards ignored us," one detainee told researchers about Blaise's death. "Finally, one officer approached slowly, looked at her without intervening, and then walked away. After that, it took eight minutes for the medical provider to arrive, and then another 15 or 20 before the rescue team came. By then, she was not moving." Medical neglect and denial of medication is a continual theme of the report. Interviewees described being refused treatment until they began coughing up blood, or worse. One man detained at Krome said that the only way he could get guards to believe he was suffering from an excruciating hernia was to throw himself on the floor. Prison staff eventually wheeled him to the medical team, where the doctor on duty told him he "likely just had gas" and offered him "a Pepto-Bismol and two Tylenols." The detainee refused to leave until the doctor eventually agreed to send him to a hospital, where he received a CAT scan that found he had a strangulated abdominal wall hernia. "The doctor [at the hospital] told me that if I had not come in then, my intestines would have likely ruptured," the man said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The rapid, chaotic, and cruel approach to arresting and locking people up is literally deadly," Katie Blankenship, immigration attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, said in a press release, "and causing a human rights crisis that will plague this state and the entire country for years to come." ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. The post Report Alleges Degrading Treatment and Medical Neglect at South Florida ICE Detention Centers appeared first on Reason.com. Toby Doeden announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota during an event on May 28, 2025, in Aberdeen. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Republican governor candidate Toby Doeden spent about $187,000 on broadcast television ads in the first month after his campaign announcement, one year before the states Republican primary election. Candidates for statewide offices in South Dakota dont face a state campaign finance disclosure deadline until January. But Federal Communications Commission rules require stations that use public airwaves to disclose details of political ad buys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those reports show Doeden purchased $186,925 of airtime across the state from May 28 through July 1 the most recent reports available. Election 2026 News from the campaigns for governor, U.S. House, attorney general, ballot questions and more. Read the latest> Doeden, an Aberdeen businessman, launched his campaign on May 28. His television ads highlight his business background and his support for President Donald Trump. While Congressman Johnson is busy coddling lobbyists and special interest groups in an effort to finance his campaign, my family and I are traveling to all four corners of our state listening to the concerns of the hardworking people who make South Dakota great, Doeden told South Dakota Searchlight in a written statement. Our campaign is citizen-led, focused forward, and ready to unite conservatives around a better and brighter future for South Dakota residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doeden is the owner of Aberdeen Chrysler Center, Redfield Ford and other retail businesses and real estate. Other Republicans who have declared a candidacy for governor are U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, of Mitchell, and state House Speaker Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids. Another Republican frequently mentioned as a potential candidate is former lieutenant governor and current Gov. Larry Rhoden, who is serving the remainder of former Gov. Kristi Noems second term after she resigned to join the Trump Cabinet. The only declared Democratic candidate is Robert Arnold, a college student. Johnson sent a written statement to Searchlight. While Toby has been busy spending a tremendous amount of money, Ive focused my efforts on federal spending cutting wasteful spending and securing the border, Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson had spent $27,895 on broadcast television advertising through June 30, which his campaign ordered prior to his campaign announcement that day, according to FCC files. Johnson doesnt have to file a new state campaign finance report until January, but existing reports from his federal committee and affiliated political action committees show hes accumulated over $6 million that could be used to aid his campaign. Hansen has not yet spent any money on broadcast television advertising. He told Searchlight his campaign is being funded the way it was meant to be: by grassroots conservative Republicans who care about their state and want a proven conservative fighter in the governors office. The people of our state do not want big money or D.C. special interests ruling our state. Our state motto is under God, the people rule, and Im fighting to keep it that way, Hansen said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The early start to the governors race has the attention of political observers. Drey Samuelson worked as Democratic former U.S. Sen. Tim Johnsons chief of staff for many years. He said Rhoden and Rep. Johnson will run in the moderately conservative lane, and Doeden and Hansen will swim in the MAGA lane, referencing the acronym for President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. That means Doeden and Hansen are likely to split their supporters, said Samuelson, who added that Doedens early spending could pressure Hansen to drop out of the race. If Im Toby Doeden, Id offer to make Jon Hansen my lieutenant governor in exchange for him dropping out if he took it, its a totally new race, Samuelson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hansen said he isnt going anywhere. No amount of big money spending will change our campaign weve never backed down from doing whats right, and were not going to start now, he said. Were all in. Brad Murdoc Jurgensen has decades of experience in broadcast media and advertising, working as president of HomeSlice Media in Rapid City. He also co-hosts a South Dakota politics podcast, Dakota Town Hall. He said Doedens TV ad spending is notable not for its amount, but for its timing. Hes trying to capitalize on being the only active candidate this far out from the 2026 primary, Jurgensen said. The goal appears to be boosting name recognition, fundraising and organizing at the grassroots level before competitors ramp up. Jurgensen said Doedens effort stands out in South Dakota, where races have historically been shorter and cheaper. But this was already happening in other states. ATLANTA (AP) Its been six months since Joe Biden left the Oval Office. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, cant stop talking about him. The House has launched investigations asserting that Bidens closest advisers covered up a physical and mental decline during the 82-year-old Democrats presidency. The Senate has started a series of hearings focused on his mental fitness. And Trumps White House has opened its own investigation into the Biden administrations use of the presidential autopen, which Donald Trump has called one of the biggest scandals in the history of our country. It all fits with Trumps practice of blaming his predecessors for the nation's ills. Just last week, he tried to deflect criticism of his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case by casting blame on others, including Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turning the spotlight back on the former president carries risks for both parties heading into the 2026 midterms. The more Republicans or Democrats talk about Biden, the less they can make arguments about the impact of Trumps presidency positive or negative especially his sweeping new tax cut and spending law that is reshaping the federal government. Most Americans consider Joe Biden to be yesterdays news, Republican pollster Whit Ayres said. Republicans want Bidens autopen to become a flashpoint Seeking to avenge his 2020 loss to Biden, Trump mocked his rivals age and fitness incessantly in 2024, even after Biden dropped his reelection bid and yielded to then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and other Republicans seemed poised to spend the summer touting their new tax, spending and policy package. But Trump, now 79 and facing his own health challenges, has refused to let up on Biden, and his allies in the party have followed suit. Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin called the Biden White House's use of the autopen a massive scandal, while Republican Rep. Nick Lalota insists his New York constituents are curious as to what was happening during President Bidens days. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed the administration would pursue an investigation of the Biden administrations use of the presidential autopen. Trump and other Republicans have questioned whether Biden was actually running the country and suggested aides abused a tool that has long been a routine part of signing presidentially approved actions. We deserve to get to the bottom of it, Leavitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden has responded to the criticism by issuing a statement saying he was, in fact, making the decisions during his presidency and that any suggestion otherwise "is ridiculous and false." Congressional committees investigate On Capitol Hill, the House Oversight Committee has convened hearings on use of the autopen and Bidens fitness for office. Van Orden cited the Constitutions Article II vesting authority solely with the president. It doesnt say chief of staff. It doesnt say an autopen, he said. The House panel subpoenaed Bidens physician and a top aide to former first lady Jill Biden. Both invoked Fifth Amendment protections that prevent people from being forced to testify against themselves in government proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no there there, said Democratic Rep. Wesley Bell of Missouri, a member of the committee who called the effort an extraordinary waste of time. The committee's chairman, Rep. James Comer, wants to hear from former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; and other former top aides Bruce Reed, Steve Ricchetti and Annie Tomasini, among others. Republicans confirmed multiple dates for the sessions through late September, ensuring it will remain in the headlines. Investigations could crowd out GOP efforts to define Trump positively That GOP schedule comes as both parties work feverishly to define Trumps start to his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His so-called One Big Beautiful Bill is a mix of tax cuts, border security measures and cuts to safety net programs such as Medicaid, a joint state-federal insurance program for lower-income Americans. Polls suggest some individual measures are popular while others are not and that the GOP faces headwinds on tilting the public in favor of the overall effort. A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about two-thirds of U.S. adults view the bill as a win for the wealthy and another found that only about one-quarter of U.S. adults felt Trumps policies have helped them. In the policy survey, he failed to earn majority support on any of the major issues, including the economy, immigration, government spending and health care. Immigration, especially, had been considered a major strength for Trump politically. It is rather tone deaf, said Bell, for Republicans to go after Biden given those circumstances. Americans want us to deal with the issues that are plaguing our country now the high cost of living, cost of food, the cost of housing, health care, Bell said, as he blasted the GOP for a deliberate distraction" from what challenges most U.S. households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort also comes with Trump battling his own supporters over the Justice Department's decision not to publicly release additional records related to the Epstein case. The Epstein saga is more important to his base than whatever happened to Joe Biden, said Ayres, the GOP pollster. Even Lalota, the New York congressman, acknowledged a balancing act with the Biden inquiries. My constituents care most about affordability and public safety, Lalota said. But this is an important issue nonetheless. Democrats dont want to talk about Biden With Republicans protecting a narrow House majority, every hotly contested issue could be seen as determinative in the 2026 midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That puts added pressure on Republicans to retain Trumps expanded 2024 coalition, when he increased support among Black and Hispanic voters, especially men, over the usual Republican levels. But thats considerably harder without Trump himself on the ballot. That could explain Republican efforts to keep going after Biden given how unpopular he is with Trumps core supporters. Democrats, meanwhile, point to their success in the 2018 midterms during Trumps first presidency, when they reclaimed the House majority on the strength of moderate voters, including disaffected Republicans. They seem confident that Republicans aggressiveness about Biden does not appeal to that swath of the electorate. But even as they praise Bidens accomplishments as president, Democrats quietly admit they dont want to spend time talking about a figure who left office with lagging approval ratings and forced his party into a late, difficult change at the top of the ticket. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said Biden was productive while acknowledging he "was not at the top of his game because of his age. He said Democrats want to look forward, most immediately on trying to win control of the House and make gains in the Senate. And then whos our standard bearer in 2028? Beyer said. "And how do we minimize the Trump damage with what we have right now? ___ Brown reported from Washington. New data has revealed many Australian households are facing a devastating risk by going without home insurance. What's happening? The Melbourne Institute and the Australia Institute have found more than 340,000 Australian homes are entirely uninsured, while another 530,000 are underinsured meaning their policies wouldn't come close to covering the costs after a disaster. Those numbers include over 300,000 homes still under mortgage. All told, the report estimates over 2 million people are exposed to financial ruin in the event of floods, fires, or storms and it puts banks and the broader economy at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an op-ed in The New Daily, this shortfall is especially dangerous as extreme weather becomes more frequent and destructive. One in 20 Australians experienced damage to their homes from a weather-related disaster in 2022 the highest level ever recorded. For middle-income households without insurance, a disaster could wipe out up to 74% of their wealth. Why is this concerning? The cost of insurance is climbing everywhere. The New Daily reported that home insurance rates in Australia rose by 14% from 2022 to 2023, the biggest increase in a decade. A big reason for the price hikes is the worsening impact of extreme weather events. As global temperatures rise due to human-generated pollution, insurance companies are paying out more and passing those costs on to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of that, insurance is hard for some homeowners to get at all, as we've seen insurance companies pull out of risky regions such as California where there is an elevated risk of property destruction from extreme weather. Banks holding mortgages also face enormous losses, threatening ripple effects across the entire economy. With over $100 billion tied up in inadequately insured loans, Australia's financial system is on shaky ground. What's being done about it? Action must address both sides of the crisis the rising cost of coverage and escalating climate-related disasters. That means tackling pollution from fossil fuels like oil and gas, which is overheating our planet and supercharging disasters. It just so happens that Australia is the second-largest exporter of fossil fuels (by carbon dioxide emissions) and has 20 new extraction projects in the works, as The New Daily reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The New Daily, some Australians are calling to end government subsidies to polluting industries, which totaled nearly $15 billion in 2024. Redirecting those funds toward climate adaptation like upgrading public infrastructure and creating a National Climate Disaster Fund could make insurance more affordable and communities better protected. There are also calls to tax big polluters to fund these initiatives, holding the industries most responsible for the crisis accountable for the recovery. One way to help slow the warming of the planet is to explore the drivers behind critical climate issues yourself before finding ways to help guard against them in your community. 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. Two soldiers were arrested by Belgian authorities following a complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation, an anti-Israel legal organization pursuing legal action against IDF soldiers. The Israeli Reservists Generation of Victory organization said that it will provide the two IDF Givati Brigade soldiers, who were arrested in Belgium at the request of the pro-Palestinian organization Hind Rajab Foundation, with international legal aid in a Monday statement. Two IDF soldiers were arrested and interrogated by Belgian authorities following a complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation, an anti-Israel legal organization focused on pursuing legal action against IDF soldiers. They were later released after the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldiers, who attended the Tomorrowland music festival, were alleged to have participated in war crimes, according to HRF. The legal complaint was filed by HRF and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN). This is a serious incident that requires an immediate response from the State of Israel, including considering diplomatic measures against the Belgian ambassador, the organization's statement reads. Israelis and Iranians meet at Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium, holding both Israeli and Iranian flags. (credit: Courtesy Lishi Amor) A result of toxic discourse, disgraceful statements The organization called for all those responsible for the situation to be held accountable, adding that it was a direct result of the toxic media discourse and disgraceful statements by [Democrats party chair] Yair Golan, [former deputy prime minister] Moshe Bogie Ya'alon, and former prisoner [prime minister] Ehud Olmert. Golan drew widespread outrage when he told Kans Reshet Bets This Morning program in mid-May that A sane country does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies for a hobby, and does not set goals involving the expulsion of populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel is on the path to becoming a pariah state among the nations like the South Africa of old if it does not return to behaving like a sane country, Golan said. Yaalon stirred controversy in an interview with Lucy Aharish on DemocratTV in late November when he said, We are being dragged into annexation and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip. Olmert called Defense Minister Israel Katz's "humanitarian city" plan in Gaza a "concentration camp" in an interview with The Guardian last Sunday. Olmert said that Israel was already committing war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. The reservist organization, founded at the start of the Israel-Hamas War, says its mission is to shape public opinion and demand a national commitment to total victory over our enemies, according to its website. This is a war for survival, and we demand a decisive and complete victory. We refuse to endure another heinous massacre or live in a state of constant threat where citizens must hide in shelters and fear for their lives. The latest Democrat seeking to oust GOP Rep. Ken Calvert from one of Californias marquee House battlegrounds is betting that her home base of Horsetown USA is the launching pad her party needs to capture that seat. Katherine Aleman, a public school teacher and chicken farmer, is a former councilmember from Norco, an equestrian-centric city and conservative pocket of Calverts Inland Empire district. More than fodder for a colorful campaign bio she sells eggs on her property under the label Fluffy Butt Ranch Alemans roots mark a potential new strategy for Democrats, who for the past two cycles rallied around Will Rollins, a denizen of deep-blue Palm Springs, as their contender to take on Calvert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rollins won kudos from Democrats in California and nationally for his polish as a candidate and disciplined campaign. But Calvert was quick to label him as an outsider and an interloper, while playing up his own roots in the western, red-tinged part of the district . Aleman, who was the sole Democrat on the city council when she served in nearby Norco, believes she has enough bona fides in that area to cut into Calverts geographic advantage. The majority of the residents and the voters in this district live on the west side, which is where I live, Aleman told POLITICO. Aleman distilled her campaign message to two words: costs and cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costs keep going up. We were promised they would go down, and they have not, she said. Meanwhile, President Donald Trumps slashing of federal spending is affecting our local economy. Businesses are losing contracts, things are slowing down. But she did not indicate plans to run a particularly Trump-centric campaign, instead emphasizing more local concerns. The issues that my residents are concerned about costs, cuts, loss of health care, education, afterschool programs thats exactly what we should be focusing on, Aleman said. Aleman also took aim at Calverts 33-year tenure in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a middle-school science teacher. We have a term for someone like Ken Calvert, and thats a dinosaur, she said. Calverts long career in Congress has earned him significant seniority, including a perch on the powerful Appropriations Committee and serious fundraising chops. He pulled in $1.3 million during the last fundraising quarter. The representative has attracted a crowded field of Democrats hoping to oust him, including Brandon Riker , a Palm Springs-based entrepreneur who once ran for lieutenant governor of Vermont, and Anuj Dixit , a Riverside attorney who grew up on the nearby March Air Force Base. Aleman is launching her campaign with the endorsement of former California Sen. Barbara Boxer, as well as 70 local elected officials and civic leaders. Bens view The Jeffrey Epstein story brings out two of the worst traits in journalists and to really point fingers here in our audiences. First, the human tendency to fill in gaps with wild theories that flatter our prejudices; second, the bias toward whats new over whats known. The larger Epstein belief system is QAnon for people who went to college. If you spend five minutes looking at the evidence, youre amazed by whats not known about the case. If you spend an hour, you learn that theres just no evidence to support the core suggestion: that Epstein, who did horribly abuse underage girls, also ran a child-sex and blackmail ring that ensnared powerful men (on behalf, naturally, of Mossad). Twenty years of investigations and a decade of aggressive journalism have turned up zero videos, no client list. His helper Ghislaine Maxwell is sitting in federal prison for the usual reason: She didnt have anyone better to hand over to prosecutors. And is there anything new to say about the social life of a middle-aged Donald Trump? The Wall Street Journals hilarious and gross revelation of his leering 50th birthday party note to Epstein sits squarely in what everyone knows already: Trump and Epstein were party-boy associates on the louche side of 1990s New York. The new letter is not as explosive as, for instance, Trumps 2002 remark that the fun Epstein likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. The novelty of the Journals great scoop doesnt mean we learned something new about the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres obviously great fun in watching the worlds dumbest media revolution the social media Epstein detectives, led by podcasters-turned-keystone-cops devour its children. There are political incentives for Democrats to join MAGA in stoking wild theories. And there are good, non-conspiratorial questions about how Epstein linked business, social climbing, and sex, as the heroic reporter who reopened the case, Julie K. Brown, suggested the other day. Maybe investigative documents, perhaps including the files Trump ordered released, can answer some of these questions. But those of us trying to stay sane ought to keep in mind the distinction between evidence and speculation, fantasy and reality. Room for Disagreement Brown, who effectively reopened the case in the Miami Herald, offered a reality-based version of the darkest Epstein theories in an interview with Ross Douthat: I dont think he blackmailed people directly like that. I mean, if you just really think about it, if you send a girl over to have sex with one of these men, its not like you write it down, she said. I dont believe he had a list. I just think that he used these women, girls, as pawns in order to ingratiate himself with people that he wanted to do business with. It was a business transaction to him. I dont think it was an official or an outright blackmail scheme like that. I think it was more like: He knows this about me, maybe I better do this. Los Angeles County officials are announcing a $20,000 reward Monday in the search for the person responsible for a deadly car-to-car shooting last month. The murder of Benjamin Ryan Castaneda occurred June 2 on the 8100 block of Broadway Avenue in unincorporated West Whittier-Los Nietos area, a news release from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated. Castaneda, 27, was driving north on Broadway Avenue around 11:20 p.m. when a vehicle, described as a gold or brown colored four-door sedan, pulled alongside the drivers side window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect shot into Castanedas vehicle. Castaneda was struck by gunfire and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, the news release stated. Hahns motion establishing the reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Castanedas killing was approved by the Board of Supervisors at its July 8 meeting. Benjamin Ryan Castaneda is seen in an image released by Los Angeles County officials during a news conference on July 21, 2025. Castanedas mother pleaded for help from the public during a 10 a.m. news conference. If you have any information, please come forward and dont let my son be a statistic, because hes more than that, she said while fighting back tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information was urged to call Sheriffs Department Homicide Bureau Detective Gail Durham or Sergeant Frank Alvarado at 323-890-5500 or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477. 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 KTLA. We built the iconic American infrastructure project in the 1860s in about six years, putting down 1,776 miles of track and blasting 15 tunnels through the Sierra Nevada mountains. Granted, working conditions back then didn't exactly meet OSHA standards. Yet, if today's rules and practices applied, the project would have been stalled for years somewhere outside Sacramento, California, caught up in endless environmental lawsuits. The Golden State's emblematic, modern infrastructure project was supposed to be a high-speed rail link between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Don't expect, though, to see the equivalent of the Golden Spike any time soon, or perhaps ever. The high-speed rail project has been agonizingly slow. After about 15 years of grinding delay and cost overruns, not one piece of track has been laid, a record of futility hard to match. California high-speed rail is the West Coast's answer to Boston's notorious Big Dig that took about a decade longer to build than anticipated at a much greater cost, although it was eventually completed. Now, the Trump administration is cutting off $4 billion in federal funds for the project, arguing that it doesn't want to pour any more money into a boondoggle. The imagined bullet train was always a misfire. The idea of high-speed rail has a nearly erotic appeal to progressives, who love communal trains over individualized autos and think cars are destroying the planet whereas trains can save it. High-speed rail is to transit what windmills are to energy an environmentally correct, futuristic technology that will always underdeliver. California voters passed Proposition 1A getting the ball if not any actual trains rolling in 2008. The project was supposed to cost $33 billion and connect L.A. and San Francisco. What could go wrong? Well, everything. Bad decisions about where to build the tracks, complacent contractors, environmental and union rules you name it. The initial, scaled-back line is now supposed to be completed by 2033, and even that is optimistic. Elon Musk might put a man on Mars before California Gov. Gavin Newsom or one of his successors manages to get even a much less ambitious high-speed rail system underway. The current focus is a line between Merced (pop. 93,000) and Bakersfield (413,000). No offense to the good people of either of these places, but these aren't major metropolises. In Northeast terms, this is less a rail connection between New York City and Washington, D.C., and more a connection between Newark, New Jersey, and Bridgeport, Connecticut. Passenger estimates for the California system have always been absurd. The fantasy is that ridership will be double what it is now is in the Northeast corridor. But as Marc Joffe of the California Policy Center points out, population is much denser near Northeast stations, it's easier to get around cities in the Northeast on the way to or from the train, and a rail culture is much more embedded in the Northeast than car-centric California. As for reducing greenhouse emissions, the long-running project is itself a significant source of emissions, and the benefit of fewer drivers in cars will be vitiated by the fact that more and more people in California will be driving electric vehicles. The original estimated $33 billion cost is now $35 billion for just the scaled-back line and more than $100 billion and counting for the whole shebang. There is no reason that the feds should pour good money after bad supporting a preposterous project that doesn't have any national significance. Newsom too embarrassed to admit failure or too drunk on visions of European-style rail remains fully committed. In a statement, he said Trump's defunding decision is a "gift to China," as if Beijing cares whether people get to Bakersfield by car, plane or highspeed rail. The project has already been a distressing object lesson in California's inability to build anything of consequence, and there's more where that came from. (COMMENT, BELOW) Rewarding: Charlotte Fire Department searching for new hires The Charlotte Fire Department says its looking for more people willing to suit up and join the fight. Through attrition of retirement and adding new stations, there is a shortage of workers in the city. The department needs to hire 150 to 200 new firefighters. ALSO READ >> Charlotte Fire Department and MEDIC reach deal to boost emergency response services We cant throw the money at you like the private industry, but the private industry will not provide you with the rewarding career like working with Charlotte Fire will, Battalion Chief John Lipcak said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9s Damany Lewis wanted a better idea of what it takes to join the squad, so with the help of Charlotte Fire Captain Grant Thomas, he was put to the test. Anyone hoping to become a Charlotte firefighter has to pass whats known as the Firefighter Physical Agility Test, or FPAT. Lipcak said he remembers when he took his test 18 years ago. It sets a baseline that you are physically fit and ready to go into the academy, he said. The test includes 10 stations that simulate firefighting and assess the most challenging physical requirements for the job. All stations must be completed in eight minutes, and theres no running allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis donned a 50-pound vest to simulate the weight of the gear, swung a sledge hammer to emulate breaking down a wall, pulled weights and climbed a ladder for the test. He finished in just over 6 minutes and 30 seconds -- a passing grade. This is something you have to be physically fit to do, he said. Now firefighters are hoping others will take a deep breath, step up to the challenge, and embrace what they say is a life-changing career. At the end of your career, you will be able to say I helped somebody, Thomas said. VIDEO: Crews respond to 2-alarm fire at recycling center in west Charlotte PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) has declared a blood emergency as the states supply has dropped below a two-day inventory. RIBC said all blood types are urgently needed, but the shortage is especially severe for types O-negative and O-positive. We urgently need the communitys help to rebuild the blood supply and prevent this situation from becoming more dire, RIBC Executive Director Nicole Pineault said in a press release. Donating blood is one of the most direct and impactful ways to support our health care system and save lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to RIBC, O-negative and O-positive blood types are vital for trauma care and emergency situations. RELATED: Trauma center doctor, nurse reveal most common summer injuries In the summer, there tends to be a decline in donations and an increase in need with generally more trauma cases. Every time you hear a siren or see a helicopter overhead, theres a chance that patient will need blood, Pineault explained. We need to make sure its on the shelves before they ever get to the hospital. State health officials, including R.I. Department of Health Director Dr. Jerry Larkin, urged people to donate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you donate blood, you are helping women and newborns during complications with childbirth, people battling blood cancer or undergoing chemotherapy, people who suffered trauma in an accident or disaster, Larkin said. In Rhode Island alone, someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds If you can donate, please call the Rhode Island Blood Center today. Interested in becoming a blood donor? Schedule an appointment Contact the Rhode Island Blood Center: 405 Promenade St. Providence, R.I. 02908 (401) 453-8383 or 1-800-283-8385 customerservice@ribc.org More resources: Donor eligibility requirements Types of donations Host a blood drive Find the nearest blood center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT: Longtime donor gives 100th gallon of blood 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. Richmond resident Kyle Levesque takes water samples from Wayside Spring in the Forest Hill neighborhood to be tested during a citywide water outage in Richmond, Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury) Facing renewed scrutiny after back-to-back water crises, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula has announced the creation of two new water-focused work groups aimed at building a more resilient regional system and restoring public trust. These two work groups mark a critical step forward in building a stronger, more resilient water system for the region, Avula said in a statement. Just today, we saw that spirit of collaboration in action as Richmond provided additional water to our neighboring locality during their planned maintenance. Thats what partnership looks like: clear communication, shared problem-solving, and mutual support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement comes just weeks after a second major boil water advisory in less than six months rattled large portions of the city and surrounding counties. Though other central Virginia localities including Hopewell and Petersburg most recently experienced water-related emergencies, Richmonds earlier water crises and its recovery and resilience efforts remain a top focus of public concern. In January, a cascade of failures at Richmonds aging Water Treatment Plant left thousands without safe water for nearly a week. And in late May, another operational issue forced the city to issue an emergency alert affecting dozens of neighborhoods across Richmonds Northside, Southside and central districts. Of the newly founded groups, one will focus internally on scenario planning and long-term financial strategy. Led by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald and Public Utilities Director Scott Morris, the team will evaluate capital investment needs, debt management strategies and ratepayer impacts. They will consult with external financial experts, including Davenport Financial Advisors and Raftelis. The second group will be a regional collaboration, including water utility leaders and technical experts from Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties, whose water systems connect to Richmonds. That team will coordinate operations, capital improvement plans, rate models, and joint funding requests. It will also formalize a routine communication structure to keep all partners updated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These work groups and real-time collaborations are exactly what it takes to meet the challenges of modern infrastructure, Morris said. The ability to assist Henrico in this way underscores our capacity, but more importantly, it shows how jurisdictional coordination helps us all move forward with confidence. But the mayors announcement lands in the shadow of Richmonds troubled recent track record. On May 27, just as the system was recovering from early-morning repairs, filters at the water plant re-clogged after running at full capacity. Pressure dropped in the Ginter Park tank, and by mid-morning, officials had issued a boil water advisory that later expanded across the city, covering areas from Carytown to Manchester and VCU to Ancarrows Landing. Avula acknowledged that the citys messaging to residents changed throughout the day, with the first public notice assuring the public that drinking water was unaffected, followed by a citywide boil alert a few hours later. He said the delay was due to the citys efforts to first alert neighboring localities and reduce demand before informing the broader public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city had reached out to Chesterfield and Henrico counties to try to figure out, hey, what can we do to reduce demand on the system? Avula said at the time. That allowed us to have more time to recover the facility and then make a plan of action to move forward. The flip-flop in messaging only added to public frustration following the January disaster, which state health officials have called completely avoidable. In an April report, the Virginia Department of Health blamed the January failure on a long chain of preventable failures, including untested backup batteries, broken valves, and a failure to follow emergency protocols. The water plant flooded after a winter storm knocked out power and backup systems failed. The crisis could have been prevented with better operational decisions, said State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton upon the reports release. Our goal now is to ensure corrective actions are taken swiftly and effectively, so Richmond-area families can trust their water supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the January incident, the city received a second formal violation notice and is now under state mandate to develop a corrective action plan. An independent engineering probe identified more than $63 million in urgent infrastructure upgrades on top of the $60 million already proposed in Richmonds capital plan. Those include automating emergency systems, modernizing electrical infrastructure, and redesigning critical flood-prone elements of the treatment plant. While Avula praised the Department of Public Utilities recent work, the VDH report described a culture of complacency where makeshift fixes became standard and systemic risks went unaddressed. Now, as summer heats up, the mayor hopes that formalizing collaboration and financial planning will signal a turning point. Both newly created work groups have already begun meeting to chart next steps, the city said in a statement. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Without having to cast a vote, Rhode Island's part-time lawmakers in the General Assembly got a 2.9% pay raise. Their annual salaries went up by $574.70 on July 1, from $19,817.27 up to $20,391.97. The House speaker and Senate president, the leaders of their respective chambers, also received a raise. They both now make $40,783.94, or twice that of rank-and-file lawmakers. Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi presides over the House chamber on June 20 as the Rhode Island General Assembly worked to conclude its 2025 session. Why did Rhode Island lawmakers get a raise? Salaries for state lawmakers are governed by Article VI, Section 3 of the Rhode Island Constitution, which calls for legislators pay to be adjusted annually based on changes in the cost of living, as determined by the United States government" during the previous 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some years, that has translated into a pay cut for the 113 legislators. As the economy sank, their annual salaries dropped in July 2008 and 2009. But as the economy picked up, their pay rose with it. A year ago, their pay went up 4.1%. Two RI lawmakers decline the raise At least two legislators have declined the raise: Reps Edith Ajello, D-Providence, and Alex Finkelman, D-Jamestown. For the record, Rhode Island lawmakers also get 100% state-paid health insurance. A handful decline it each year if they already have insurance through their day-jobs or spouse's employment. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: In RI politics, state lawmakers just got a 2.9% raise - without a vote The Republican National Committee ended the first half of 2025 with a $65.56 million cash on hand advantage over the Democratic Party, as the left works to rebound from 2024 election losses and the right continues to deeply intertwine its future with President Trump. New campaign finance filings show the RNC had more than $80.7 million at the end of June, while the Democratic National Committee finished with around $15.2 million in cash on hand as both parties prepare for next year's midterm elections. "The RNC has been working hand in glove with President Trump's team to build the war chest needed to protect and expand our Republican majorities in Congress next year," RNC spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in a statement. "Vice President Vance has done an amazing job as the RNC's finance chair working with Chairman Whatley to do just that, and we're not going to stop." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gap between the two is far wider than this same time period before the 2018 midterms, when the RNC's cash on hand advantage over the DNC was $37.2 million at the end of June 2017. The political dynamics at that point were similar to now, with President Trump months removed from winning the White House and Republicans controlling the House and Senate. In the 2018 midterms, Democrats won back the House and started to build momentum that carried over into Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. While the midterms are still more than a year away, it already appears likely the House will be Democrats' easiest route to winning back power in Washington. Republicans are also contending with the potential challenge that often befalls the party of the president, where the midterms become a referendum on the commander in chief. Democrats are facing continued questions about their approach moving forward after last fall's election setbacks, where Mr. Trump won a second term as president and the party lost the Senate and failed to retake the House. Earlier this year, party leaders chose Ken Martin, then the head of Minnesota's Democratic Party, to take over the DNC in an attempt to gain stronger footing with next year's midterms and the 2028 presidential election in mind. But in his first months as party chair, Martin was forced to contend with intraparty tensions and disputes as he attempted to offer a stronger counter to Mr. Trump's second term and Republican control in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Martin-led DNC has succeeded however in raising more money than the national party organization did at this same stage in 2017, and in a recent news release, the DNC shared its finding that "contributions during the first five months of Chair Martin's leadership are nearly 2:1 dollars raised in the months after the 2016 cycle." "The DNC is breaking grassroots fundraising records, bringing on more volunteers than ever, and raising record-setting funds to beat Republicans. Democrats are back in the ring thanks to grassroots energy across all 50 states, and together, we're going to defeat the toxic Republican agenda and put this country back on track for hard-working families," Martin said in a statement. But the new round of campaign finance disclosures also underscores the challenges Democrats continue to face this year. Through the first six months of 2025, filings show the DNC taking in a little more than $69 million while the RNC's total receipts were over $96 million. Detroit lawnmower gang still going strong after 15 years Video shows father being detained by ICE while dropping child off at preschool Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks at Large Banks Conference amid Trump criticism HUBBARD, Ohio (WKBN) A road in Hubbard will close Tuesday morning in order for workers to complete an emergency repair. Read next: BMV fees increasing in 2026: How much more youll pay Bell Wick Road between Mt. Everett Road and West Liberty Street will be closed for about two days. The closure begins 8 a.m. Tuesday and is expected to lift Wednesday at 5 p.m. According to a release from the Trumbull County engineer, the closure is due to an emergency railroad repair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recommended detour route is as follows: West on state Route 304, North on Seifert Lewis, and East on Mt Everett. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) A Pembroke man who drove into the Lumber River in an attempt to evade authorities drowned, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Monday. Gary Dean Chavis, 50, was pulled from the water later in the day. A female passenger was rescued before the truck became submerged. News13 photo: Curtis Graham News13 photo: Curtis Graham News13 photo: Curtis Graham News13 photo: Curtis Graham News13 photo: Curtis Graham News13 photo: Curtis Graham It all started just before 9 a.m. when deputies tried to stop a stolen Ford F-150 pickup truck in the area of Pine Street in Pembroke. The driver took off at a high rate of speed toward North Carolina Highway 710 rather than pull over during an attempted traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the vehicle veered onto Recreation Road in Maxton before plunging into the river. The driver tried to swim away but was swept downstream by the current. The sheriffs office has requested assistance from the state Bureau of Investigation. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. * * * 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. 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 WBTW. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Springdale police say a man was killed in a rollover accident on July 21. According to a press release, around 9:40 a.m., Springdale police and fire were dispatched to an accident with injuries at the intersection of Robinson Avenue and Old Missouri Road. Three people were found at the scene. One man, Steven Ochoa, 45, was declared dead on the scene by the Washington County Coroners office. The other two victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release says a preliminary investigation found that Ochoa was driving east on Robinson when he hit the back of a semi-trailer that was stopped for a traffic light. The vehicle drove off the road, rolled several times, and hit a traffic light pole before coming to rest in the southbound lanes of Old Missouri Road. The release says the driver of the semi was not injured and cooperated with the investigation, which 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 KNWA FOX24. (WJET/WFXP) Cheese, noodles and sauce arent the only layers of goodness one local restaurant will be dishing out next week. Romas Italian Kitchen, located at 2933 West 12th Street, will be celebrating National Lasagna Day on Tuesday, July 29, by making a donation to Make-A-Wish. Nothing Bundt Cakes opens in Summit Township The restaurant, owned by Scott Enterprises, will donate $2 from every order of their Eries Best Lasagna to the foundation as part of their We Promise to Care campaign, which aims to get their employees involved in volunteer opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kate Neubert-Lechner, an employee at Make-A-Wish, said that every donation counts. Erieites celebrate culture and community at annual Amerimasala Festival Were so grateful to Romas Italian Kitchen and Scott Enterprises for supporting our mission, shared Neubert-Lechner. Every dollar raised helps us create hope and joy for a child facing unimaginable challenges. Community support like this truly makes a lasting impact. To see the hours of operation for Romas Italian Kitchen, click here. More information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Imagine for a moment a tech tycoon whose business empire relies on a cozy relationship with the federal government. Once a major Republican donor, he has gotten fed up with the two-party system and launched his own third-party political operation. His big concern is massive budget deficits, and he pledges to clean up government fraud, waste and abuse and sweep away bureaucratic red tape applying the know-how of a systems engineer to tame the federal behemoth. He has adoring fans who see in him an almost superhuman capacity to save the country, though he also has many detractors who see an erratic, paranoid and authoritarian personality, a megalomaniac in waiting. Opponents suspect the billionaire of offering political donations for lucrative government contracts. He promotes wild conspiracy theories involving high government officials. He wants to replace Congress and possibly the Constitution itself with government by electronic plebiscite where the public will instantly weigh in on the issues. And he routinely proposes grandiose plans only to get frustrated with media scrutiny, lose interest and sulk away. Then, all of a sudden, he announces a dramatic return to political life. I think you all know who Im talking about: H. Ross Perot, the eccentric Texan founder of Electronic Data Systems and two-time presidential candidate. But you get the conceit: I could just as easily be talking about Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk might even see Perot as his intentional model. On a February episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, the podcast host admiringly brought up Perots strong challenge to the Republican-Democrat uniparty system in his 1992 presidential bid, and Musk replied, I think most of what he was saying was true. Perot never became president, but his nearly 19 percent of the popular vote in 1992 marked the most successful independent White House bid in modern times. He also reshaped American politics for years to come, forcing both parties to focus on the deficit and planting the seeds for the kind of populist revolt that would bring Newt Gingrich control of the House and ultimately lift Donald Trump to power. But replicating Perots successes in 2025 and beyond wont be easy for Musk. Not only are the men actually quite different, but so is the moment. When Perot launched his campaign on Larry King Live in 1992, the public was deeply disillusioned with both political parties. The perception was that Democrats and Republicans alike were corrupt and beholden to special interests. A financial debacle revealed a political and economic elite in cahoots, with little accountability afterwards. The country was in the throes of a recession, and throughout the previous decade, the standard of living for the middle class was stagnant or falling. The Cold War had ended abruptly, and the nation felt adrift. Perot spoke directly to these concerns, monopolizing cable and talk radio coverage during the election. He excited an electorate that felt alienated and angry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Perot was eccentric and spoke to a part of the country that felt increasingly left behind he was also Middle American, folksy and quite conventional. He deployed charming old idioms with a Texan twang. He was the ultimate square with a flattop: a churchgoer, a doting husband and father, who never swore in public. He wore a suit, always with a white shirt and conservative ties. He decorated his office with Norman Rockwells and sculptures of cowboys. After a stint in the Navy during the Korean War, he worked as a salesman for IBM, perhaps the most buttoned-up corporation in a buttoned-up age. He took its corporate ethos into his entrepreneurial ventures. His image was not one of chaos agent or disruptor-in-chief but of competence, thrift and conscientiousness. Although his business was high-tech for its time, he was a figure of nostalgia. He represented the eternal 1950s, offering a hokey but comforting Americana that people still yearned for. And he was highly sober, even threatening to turn the military on drug dealers. Regardless of whether you believe the reports of Musks recreational activities, a South African immigrant and regular Burning Man attendee doesnt exude wholesome Americana. The voters who flocked to Perot also differ greatly from Musks supporters. Perots people had been the managerial middle of the Cold War: engineers, office administrators and plant supervisors. Now they were being pushed into precarity, their worlds eroded by outsourcing and mergers and the sudden reduction of the defense and aerospace industries. Although Perot pitched himself as an alternative to the mainstream parties, Perots base was rooted in the civic cultures of the Sun Belt suburbs and upper-Midwestern small towns places where Rotary Clubs still met and where people watched 60 Minutes religiously. He did activate young, downwardly mobile voters who felt left out of the system, but many of his most dedicated volunteers had long histories of civic engagement. His political language was populist and he thrived in new media, but he was still bound by the old rituals of bipartisan America, things like the pledge of allegiance, town halls and debates moderated by broadcast anchors. These were people who had made it in the old system but no longer believed it was working. Their politics was defined not by class position exactly, but by a sense of loss: of competence, seriousness and national unity. They had believed in the postwar order, and when it cracked, they reached for someone who promised to restore it. Musk has a much more fragmented nation and political terrain to navigate, in large part thanks to the social media revolution that he has hijacked. He doesnt speak for a class so much as he performs for fragmented audiences: a lumpenbroletariat of downwardly mobile professionals, bitter Redditors, anime porn addicts, finance bros, crypto hustlers, divorced dads stuck in YouTube rabbit holes. His appeal cuts across the cultural wreckage of the white middle class not through its shared values, but through shared disillusionment. They dont have a real memory of a lost Golden Age, just AI-generated kitsch images that make Perots Rockwellian America look like high art. This is not a constituency so much as a fickle public that wants to be entertained and distracted. They do not have the attention span to become the dedicated volunteers that got Perot on the ballot in 50 states. They rise in enthusiasm only to quickly return to indolence. And he has a major competitor for their attention: Trump, who can channel the same anti-system energy, but is genuinely funny and spontaneous in a way that Musk simply isnt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks moment may have passed as well. Richard Hofstadter famously wrote, Third parties are like bees: Once they have stung, they die. Musk may have already stung. He has plenty of money in the bank, but hes spent much of his political capital. He rode into D.C. triumphantly with Trumps inauguration and then sort of skulked away in ignominy after making a spectacle of himself. His bold plan to fix the federal government with DOGE was both disastrous and anticlimactic. If you trust the polls, the public seems fed up with him. And is the deficit really enough of a political issue today? In the 1990s, Perot was able to make the deficit and debt a symbol of the declining economic fortunes of the nation. Its unclear if Musk can do the same in an age of distraction. Heck, its unclear if Musk will even stay focused on his own political projects if he experiences setbacks or frustrations. Finally, what is Musks lane? For his era, Perot ran as a social moderate, with liberal views on abortion and guns, but Musk has associated himself with the hard right on cultural and social issues. Perot was not a paragon of racial enlightenment referring to an NAACP audience as you people hurt his 1992 candidacy but he also spoke of the military as a true meritocracy that had helped reduce racism. Musk would likely mock such talk as woke. Perot also championed economic nationalism and played to worries over what foreign trade was doing to American manufacturing. Musk, with extensive business interests in China, has no such cares; and besides, that populist issue is fully monopolized by Trump. There is one issue that Musk may be able to exploit, a new vulnerability for the Trump administration: the so-called Epstein Files. Musk has seized on it amid his feud with Trump, and it echoes Perots own promotion of the living prisoner myth, the idea that the U.S. had abandoned soldiers in Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War. His advocacy for the POW/MIA movement fueled new distrust in the federal government, and no matter how much information was released or how many committees investigated it, the issue would not go away. The Epstein saga certainly has an emotional resonance that could fracture Trumps base and leave the discontented looking around for an alternative. But how many single-issue Epstein voters will there be one year from now, let alone three? Without the ability to run for president, Musk is arguably emulating the least successful part of Perots political career: his attempt to start a third party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Reform Party collapsed in a decade, elected just one statewide official in the person of Jesse Ventura, and no members of Congress. At the end of its existence, it was riven with factions, lacked any clear ideological vision for the country and became a catch-all vehicle for cranks and malcontents. Of course, one of those was named Donald Trump, who ran for the Reform Party presidential nomination in 2000. Perots political endeavors fed on political cynicism, but also deepened it: The message of nothing works resonated. In that sense, there may be some similarities between then and now. Musks America Party may not succeed in doing much in the short term, but its worth watching closely. While Perot seemed to fade away and become a piece of political trivia, his movement sowed the seeds of a new type of politics. As Musks moment may be already passing, its time to imagine what may come after. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, speaks at Madison's Lewis and Clark Regional Water System ribbon cutting on Aug. 21, 2024. At left is U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota. (Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight) President Donald Trump issued a reelection endorsement Monday for South Dakotas U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, days after Rounds helped pass Trumps cancellation of previously approved funds for public broadcasting and foreign aid. Rounds, a Republican former governor, is serving his second term in the U.S. Senate. Hes up for reelection next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a message posted to social media, Trump described Rounds as an incredibly strong advocate for the wonderful people of South Dakota. Trump wrote that Rounds has his Complete and Total Endorsement. Election 2026 News from the campaigns for governor, U.S. House, attorney general, ballot questions and more. Read the latest> Rounds shared the endorsement on social media and thanked Trump, writing, I look forward to working with you to make America even better! The endorsement came on the heels of Rounds helping to pass Trumps recission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds last week. Rounds had expressed concerns about canceling $1.1 billion of previously approved funding for the corporation. He announced his support after saying hed negotiated with the Trump administration to move $9.4 million from an account within the Interior Department to at least two dozen Native American radio stations in multiple states that depend on the corporation for much of their funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation also cancels about $8 billion in foreign aid spending that Congress had appropriated for dozens of programs, including global health initiatives. After Rounds announced his support, the bill advanced 51-50 on a procedural vote in the Senate, on its way to eventual passage. The Trump endorsement completes a two-year political shift for Rounds, who endorsed U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, for president in May 2023 and did not attend Trumps September 2023 rally with then-Gov. Kristi Noem in a Rapid City arena. No Republican has come forward so far to challenge Rounds for the partys nomination. The other declared candidates for the Senate seat are Julian Beaudion, a Democratic business owner and former state trooper, and Brian Bengs, who is running as an independent after running unsuccessfully as a Democrat against Republican Sen. John Thune in 2022. South Dakotas primary election is June 2, 2026, and the general election is Nov. 3, 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The U.K. Royal Navy has formally withdrawn HMS Triumph, the last of its Trafalgar class nuclear attack submarines (SSN), which were widely regarded as some of the best of their kind across a long and active period of service starting in the early 1980s. Known as T-boats, the class of seven hunter-killers has now been fully superseded by the Astute class, which you can read more about here, and plans are already being drawn up for the latters successors. The Royal Navy announced today that it had decommissioned the last operational T-boat, with the ceremony marking the end of service for HMS Triumph taking place last week at HM Naval Base Devonport, in Plymouth, England. Utterly. Brilliant. Boats. The Trafalgar class of hunter-killer submarines passed into history with the decommissioning of HMS Triumph in @HMNBDevonport, the last of 7 T boats which have patrolled beneath the waves for more than four decades. https://t.co/lBZKCeUOmNpic.twitter.com/mhTFrFPBHS Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) July 21, 2025 December 2024: HMS Triumph leaves HM Naval Base Clyde for the last time in its three-decade-long career, before making the journey to Devonport in Plymouth, where a decommissioning ceremony took place last week. Crown Copyright A parade included submariners from Triumph as well as from HMS Talent. Although the latter boat was decommissioned three years ago, it still has a crew as part of the complex decommissioning process, something you can read more about here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Developed as the successor to the previous Swiftsure class, the T-boats were built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering in Barrow-in-Furness, England, with the first example, HMS Trafalgar, being completed in 1983. There followed Turbulent, Tireless, Torbay, Trenchant, Talent, and finally Triumph, which was commissioned in 1991. HMS Trenchant breaks through the ice of the Arctic Ocean during Ice Exercise 18. Crown Copyright Each boat was 280 feet long, with a displacement of 5,300 tons when submerged. Powered by a Rolls-Royce pressurized water nuclear reactor, the T-boats could reach a submerged speed of at least 32 knots, driven by a pump-jet propulsion system. The armament consisted of five 21-inch torpedo tubes for up to 30 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, to which were later added UGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), with a range of over 1,200 miles. The original primary Cold War mission of the T-boats was to provide protection for the U.K.s strategic nuclear deterrent, ensuring that the Trident-armed bombers (as they are called in British parlance) were able to evade Soviet anti-submarine assets, especially hunter-killer subs. Intelligence-gathering was another very important Cold War mission. HMS Talent conducting drills in the Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland, in December 2009. Crown Copyright PO PHOT GAZ ARMES However, the end of the superpower standoff saw the T-boats taking on new roles and finally going to war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the highlights of Triumphs service was a 1993 voyage to Australia, which saw the boat remain submerged while covering a distance of 41,000 miles, the longest solo deployment by any British nuclear submarine. Trafalgar class submarines launched TLAMs during successive campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. When HMS Trafalgar took part in the 2001 strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan, it became the first of its class to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles in combat. Triumph subsequently also took part in that operation. A Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) being fired from a Royal Navy submarine in 2000. Crown Copyright In 2003, HMS Turbulent took part in Operation Telic, the U.K. contribution to the invasion of Iraq, returning to its base flying the Jolly Roger after launching 30 TLAMs. HMS Triumph was involved in TLAM strikes against Libya in 2011, primarily striking air defense targets. The boat also returned to Devonport with the Jolly Roger raised and with six markings indicating the launch of six Tomahawk missiles. Britains Royal Navy Commander Rob Dunn holds a Jolly Roger flag on HMS Triumph as the boat sails back into Davenport, on April 2, 2011, after taking part in operations in Libya, where it fired six Tomahawk cruise missiles. AP Four of the boats were eventually fitted with the Type 2076 sonar, which the Royal Navy describes as the most advanced of its kind in service anywhere. It is also used in the more modern Astute class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other new sensors were added, too. In the past, we detailed some of the changes made to HMS Talent, specifically, including two versions of an apparent wake-detection system, characterized by curious protrusions on either side of its sail. The system, which first appeared on the boat in 2019, was designed to detect hostile subs without using sonar. HMS Talent in the Bay of Gibraltar on May 8, 2019. The apparent non-acoustic sensor system is visible on top of the front of the hull. DM Parody A close-up of the revised sensor arrays on the sail of HMS Talent, as they appeared in 2021, as well as two L7 machine guns. DM Parody 2021 After the Cold War, the T-boats also increasingly assumed a role as covert platforms for launching commando raids. Throughout, the many aspects of their missions remained highly classified, as they had been in Cold War times. Are there any interesting stories I can tell? No, we did a lot of missions which we cannot talk about, said former nuclear engineer Craig Spacey, who served in Trenchant and Torbay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As time went on, however, the T-boats, for all their capabilities, began to show their age. Collectively, the T-boats amassed more than 200 years of service, with Triumph having the longest career of all of them, at 34 years. HMS Turbulent is pictured with the Merlin helicopter from Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans, during an anti-submarine exercise in the Gulf of Oman. Crown Copyright Simmo Simpson In 2000, it was reported that only one boat, Triumph, was fully operational, but subsequent refits appeared to address these problems and increase availability. Most significantly, in terms of accidents, two weapons engineers were killed in an explosion aboard HMS Tireless in 2007, during an Arctic patrol. Starting in 2009, with the arrival in service of the first of the Astute class submarines, the Trafalgar class was gradually phased out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearing completion at Barrow is HMS Agamemnon, which will replace HMS Talent, while Triumphs duties will ultimately be taken up by the final Astute class boat, HMS Achilles, later this decade. HMS Ambush returning to HMNB Clyde on the Clyde estuary in Scotland. Crown Copyright Beyond that, the United Kingdom is looking at building up a larger SSN force, starting in the late 2030s, with plans to field as many as 12 examples of a new design, to be developed under the SSN-AUKUS program in collaboration with Australia and the United States. The fate of the T-boats after their service now includes scrapping. This is a process that the United Kingdom has only recently started for its decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines, with HMS Swiftsure becoming the first to be cut up as part of its scrapping process. You can read more about this here. Although now consigned to history, the Trafalgar class will be remembered for its versatility, adapting to changing security situations and serving as the workhorses of the Royal Navys submarine flotilla for more than four decades between them. HMS Talent conducts surfacing drills in the Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland, in December 2009. Crown Copyright PO PHOT GAZ ARMES They are the last of the Cold War warriors, although the Cold War never went away, said Capt. Dave Burrell, former executive officer of both Talent and Triumph, as he referred to the continued underwater standoff with Russia. We continued to play our dangerous game, he reflected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Describing the first time he stepped aboard HMS Tireless in 2003, Burrell recalled: The boat was a marvel, the people inspiring, and the mission was challenging. I asked the Royal Navys most senior submariners how I should describe the Trafalgar class, Burrell concluded. They said simply: utterly brilliant submarines. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Russia's defense ministry released new footage of its massive factory making Shahed-style drones. The footage showed how the drones can be launched from the bed of pickup trucks. Iranian-made Shahed drones and homemade Russian versions have been used in worsening attacks against Ukraine. Newly aired state media footage showed Russia operating what look to be American-designed Ram pickup trucks with Shahed-style drones ready for launch in the back. Zvezda, the Russian defense ministry's TV channel, released a video on Sunday spotlighting the large Yelabuga drone factory in the Tatarstan region, which is where the domestically produced version of the Shahed-136 is built. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the footage primarily focuses on intricate manufacturing processes inside the sprawling factory, it also offers insight into how the deadly and highly destructive drones, known by the Russian designation Geran-2, can be launched. The video shows at least one clearly identified American-designed Ram truck, with a drone mounted on the bed, charging down a runway-style strip of road surrounded by large mounds of dirt that could be designed to protect the site from attacks. Additional frames in the footage show several drones taking off from unidentified black trucks with steep climbs, resembling airplanes. At another point, the video shows five stationary black pickup trucks, all with drones mounted on the back. It also reveals the storage shelters in which the drones are kept before their potential use in the strikes against Ukraine. Like other truck-mounted launchers, the vehicles provide a flexible and mobile launch option. This is how the Russian forces launch Shahed drones to attack Ukraine, using American Dodge pickup trucks, as seen in videos released by Russian state media. pic.twitter.com/Qhr04xzVBM UNITED24 Media (@United24media) July 20, 2025 The exact make and model of all the pickup trucks featured in Zvezda's footage are unclear. Stellantis, a multinational automotive group that owns Ram, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian-made Shahed-136 is a one-way attack drone, or loitering munition, that can linger in the air for a period of time before diving down at its target and exploding on impact. Russia started using the Iranian-imported Shaheds to attack Ukraine in 2022, but it has since started producing them at home. The Yelabuga factory which is more than 1,000 miles from Ukraine's border opened in 2023, allowing Moscow to rapidly scale up drone production without relying on Tehran. Ukraine has targeted the Yelabuga factory with long-range drones on multiple occasions. Russia uses the Shahed-style drones in nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The bombardments have grown in size in recent months, with some consisting of hundreds of attack and decoy drones the latter are designed to exhaust Kyiv's increasingly strained air defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some recent Western assessments suggest that Moscow may eventually be able to launch thousands of drones in a single night, a bombardment that could greatly overwhelm Ukraine's already heavily exhausted air defenses. Ukrainians have said Russia has introduced new tactics with its Shaheds, making their attacks more complicated, and have modified the drones to make them deadlier, including by swapping out the standard explosive payloads for thermobaric warheads. Read the original article on Business Insider (NewsNation) Russian drone attacks bombarded Kyiv on Monday, hours before European NATO leaders were expected to meet and discuss Americas latest plans to send weapons to Ukraine. At least two were killed in the attacks, including a 12-year-old boy, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At least 15 people were injured. Throughout the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones. The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning, Zelenskyy said Monday on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE to crack down on companies with unauthorized workers: Official The attacks hit one day after Russias Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 26 Ukrainian drones. Those salvos the latest in the 3-year, long-range war came as Zelenskyy called for another round of peace talks with Russia. NATO meeting about Trumps plan to bolster weapons in Ukraine Last week, President Donald Trump announced plans to add to Ukraines weapons stockpile by selling American equipment to NATO allies, who would then send arms to Ukraine, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump said deliveries of air defense systems could begin within days. Now, world leaders are attending a virtual meeting led by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump marks 6 months in office: Totally revived a major Country U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO leader Mark Rutte, as well as NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, are expected to attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, according to Haley. Providing Ukraine with more long-range weaponry would give Kyiv the chance to strike further into Russian territory, a move that some in Ukraine and the United States have said could help push Putin toward negotiations to end the fighting. Asked if he intended to supply Ukraine with weapons that could reach deeper into Russian territory, Trump replied, Were not looking to do that. Trump issues 50-day ultimatum to Russia Trump last week threatened to impose steep sanctions on Russias oil buyers if it does not accept a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the hours following his announcement, Trump told the BBC he is disappointed but not done with Russian President Vladimir Putin. New federal initiatives target cartels Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Sunday said Russia is open to achieving peace with Ukraine but maintained Russias clear goals are the main priority. The main thing for us is to achieve our goals, he said. Our goals are clear. The Kremlin has insisted that any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces which Kyiv and its allies have continually rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 NewsNation. Since the evening of 20 July, Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with 24 missiles and 426 Shahed-type attack UAVs and decoy drones. Ukraines air defences have destroyed all the missiles and 200 drones. Source: Ukrainian Air Force Quote: "As of 09:30, air defence forces have destroyed or jammed 224 aerial assets: 200 Shahed-type attack UAVs; the majority of the missiles were destroyed by air defence firepower, while the others were suppressed by electronic warfare or disappeared from radar (no reports of strikes have been received)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Another 203 decoy drones failed to reach their targets, likely due to electronic warfare suppression (disappeared from radar). The Air Force reported 23 Shahed drone hits across three locations, as well as the debris from downed UAVs falling on 12 locations. The Russians launched the following types of missiles at Ukraine: five Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from Russias Tambov Oblast; four Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea; one Iskander-K cruise missile from the area of Millerovo, Russia; 14 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Saratov Oblast, Russia. The air attack was repelled by Ukrainian aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and drone units, and mobile fire teams from Ukraines defence forces. The Air Force emphasises that the attack is still ongoing as of 09:30, with a new wave of Russian drones entering from the north. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russia conducted a large-scale strike on Ukraine on the night of 20-21 July using drones and cruise and ballistic missiles, causing fires in four Kyiv's districts. Early reports indicate that one person has been killed and two injured. Source: Tymur Tkachenko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration; Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko; Ukraine's Air Force Quote: "The attack caused a fire on the roof of a non-residential building in the Darnytskyi district. Further information is being gathered." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated: As of 04:00, Tkachenko reported that fires had occurred on the roof of a high-rise building and a non-residential building in the Darnytskyi district. A supermarket also caught fire. A residential building caught fire in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Balconies at another address are also burning. A fire in a shopping arcade was recorded in the Dniprovskyi district and debris fell on the grounds of a kindergarten. A non-residential building caught fire in the Solomianskyi district. Klitschko said medical teams had been dispatched to the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi and Dniprovskyi districts. Updated: The entrance to the Lukianivska metro station was damaged in the Russian attack. People were using it as a shelter during the large-scale Russian strike. Early reports indicate that there were no casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 04:39, Tkachenko reported one fatality. "A man has been hospitalised with multiple injuries in the Darnytskyi district," he added. The city authorities urged residents not to leave shelters, as Russia continued its attack. Updated: As of 05:30, the number of injured has increased to two. "One person was injured in the Shevchenkivskyi district, where a fire broke out on the first and second floors of a residential building. Medical treatment was provided at the scene," Klitschko said. Updated: Ukraine's Air Force warned that several Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken off from Olenya air base in Russia's Murmansk Oblast. At 02:12 on 21 July, the Air Force reported that Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea. Air-raid warnings were issued in all oblasts three times overnight due to the take-off of MiG-31K jets. They carry Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles. On the evening of 20 July, an air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv and several oblasts due to a Russian drone attack. Air defence systems were responding to Russian targets. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! At least one person was killed and two others injured as Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Kiev overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Monday. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the military administration in the city, said buildings in several districts had caught fire, including the grounds of a kindergarten, a high-rise building and a supermarket. He added that the entrance to a metro station was also damaged. According to media reports, thick smoke was seen inside the station, where people had sought shelter from the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defences were deployed and warned people to stay in shelters as the attack continued. The attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday proposed a new round of ceasefire talks. While no date has been set, Istanbul is expected to again serve as the host city, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing an unnamed source. The last direct negotiations took place there in early June, though they ended without progress toward Ukraines demand for an unconditional ceasefire. Poland scrambles jets after western Ukraine hit The renewed strikes early Monday also hit the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, near the Polish border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Kyiv Independent, explosions were heard across the city. Local outlet RBK Ukraine said multiple people were killed and others wounded in the combined assault involving drones and ballistic missiles. In response, Polish and allied air forces scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace, according to a statement from Polands Armed Forces Operational Command. Allies to meet for Ukraine Contact Group talks Supporters of Ukraine are set to hold a video meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group on Monday, where they are expected to coordinate further military assistance. The meeting will be co-chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also expected to take part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the UKs PA news agency, Healey will express support for US President Donald Trumps recent ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump had said last week that if no deal is reached to end the war within 50 days, the US would impose high tariffs on Russias trading partners. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years. Russia regularly targets infrastructure and cities deep within Ukrainian territory with missiles and drones. MILAN The expansion of Russias production of Shahed-type drones is likely to keep growing, with an objective of being able to deploy 2,000 drones in a single strike, according to the assessment of a senior German military official. In an interview published last week by the Bundeswehr, Germanys armed forces, the head of the Ministry of Defenses Planning and Command Office, Maj. Gen. Christian Freuding, discussed Moscows scaled-up production capacity. The Russians are looking to increase their production capacity they want to expand drone attacks The ambition is to have 2,000 drones that can be used simultaneously, the official said, having just returned from a trip to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freuding highlighted that the quality and quantity of Russian-produced Shahed drones have improved, with the interval between air strikes decreasing from every 10-12 days last year to now occurring every three to four days, and deploying up to 7,800 drones at peak times. The quality of the drones that were copied from the Iranian predecessor models has improved significantly we assume that the potency has increased by 50%, they are hardened against electronic warfare defenses and harder to defend against, he said. According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, Moscows target of deploying up to 2,000 unmanned aerial vehicles in a single night could be reached as early as November, if the countrys current growing trend in drone usage persists. The research group noted that as of last month, the Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate, known as GUR, reported that Russian industry could manufacture approximately 170 Shahed-type drones per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Russian media channels shared footage reportedly showing a factory where the Geran-2, the Russian designation of Shahed-136 drones, are mass-produced and tested. Some of the recent tactics Russian forces appear to have adopted to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses consist of flying in more drone swarm formations or operating at higher altitude bands, thus making the systems harder to reach. Freuding argued that more cost-effective countermeasures are needed by Ukraine to fend off the increased drone attacks, noting that mobile fire units, once highly visible in many parts of the country, are no longer as effective with their machine guns against Russian-operated drones at elevated altitudes. A Shahed drone costs anything between 30,000-50,000 euros to manufacture depending on the model it makes sense were not fighting them with Patriot missiles, which cost over 5 million but we need countermeasures [ranging] from two, three to four thousand euros [worth] precisely because Russia is looking to increase their production capacity, the official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freuding made a name for himself since Russias attack on Ukraine in February 2022 as a shrewd land tactics explainer to German and European Internet audiences. He is in line to become the next chief of staff of the Germany Army in September. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he would be ready to send additional Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine following Vladimir Putins resistance to his attempts at negotiating a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. A generation ago, before my life and my health were consumed by litigation without end, I wrote two international bestsellers - one was principally on demography, and the other on debt. Neither is what publishers back then would have called a "sexy" subject, so I am grateful that large numbers of readers bought both books. But credit where it's due: I did happen to pick the two topics that, if you reside almost anywhere in the western world, are determining your future right now. The demographic death-spiral is more immediately relevant to Europe, and the debt abyss to America, but there is plenty of overlap. One notices too that each existential threat is largely immune to politics: whoever governs France or Germany, the migrants continue to pour across the border; whoever rules in Washington, the debt accelerates up and out the top right-hand corner of the graph. The federal debt is now up over $37 trillion and cruising on to forty tril. It took until 1986 - or the first two centuries of the republic - to ramp up an initial two trillion; now we add that in a typical year. There are subtle differences in the reactions each book received: my demographic thesis - that the peoples of England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden et al were going out of business - prompted, for a while, a ton of A-list princes, presidents and prime ministers to put me on speed-dial and call me in for a little light doomsday chit-chat. "This is a paradigm shift, right?" said Dick Cheney to me in his butch waterboarding voice. And he was right: it is. But none of the A-listers did anything about it and the demographic transformation of the western world continued only to be part of what Tony Blair called the "subterranean conversation" - ie, you couldn't talk about it. Two decades on, it's still "subterranean" - save for occasional eruptions in Ballymena - but one notices that everyone who matters (from the King to Nigel Farage) is making their accommodations with what they regard as the inevitable. When I wrote my sequel - on the western world's insolvency - I spent a day or three waiting for the bigshots to call me in. But the 'phone never stopped not ringing. Why? Because the Islamisation of, say, Vienna was news to them, but the debt explosion was not ...and they had already decided they weren't going to do anything about it. Back then, the federal debt was a third of what it is now, and fellows such as Paul Ryan pretended to be concerned about it. On stage, I used to get a lotta cheap yuks by pointing out that no one in the course of human history had ever had to pay twelve trillion bucks just to get back to having nothing in his pocket. From After America: Within a decade, the United States will be spending more of the federal budget on its interest payments than on its military. You read that right: more on debt service than on the armed services. According to the CBO's 2010 long-term budget outlook, by 2020 the government will be paying between 15 and 20 per cent of its revenues in debt interest. Whereas defense spending will be down to between 14 and 16 per cent. Just to clarify: We're not talking about paying down the federal debt, just keeping up with the annual interest charges on it. That has now come to pass: Military budget for FY 2024: $822 billion. Interest payments on national debt for FY 2024: $870 billion. It's not so different elsewhere: The UK government is having to borrow money to pay the interest on the money it's already borrowed. To put it in terms Keir Starmer can understand, that's like having to borrow money from tonight's Ukrainian rent boy to pay off yesterday's Ukrainian rent boy. Except that the fetching Donbas twinks would already have blown up your car. What both the debt and the demographics have in common is that, because our rulers did nothing back when my books came out, both issues are now beyond solution by mainstream political norms. But, beyond that, we are witnessing the merger of the two existential questions facing the west: Sir Keir spends money he doesn't have housing "migrants" in four-star country hotels so they can get a good night's sleep after raping your daughter. Today, my friend Dan Wootton brings you a story most of the media won't go anywhere near. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu of Ethiopia arrived by boat on June 29th as what His Godawful Majesty The King calls an "irregular migrant"; in his first two days on English soil, he sexually assaulted three girls: England is supposedly, after Iran and China, the third oldest nation on earth; now it's Abyssinia in all the old familiar places. Same story in California, which precipitated America's own flyer on a demographic crapshoot, as the first society ever to choose the demographic eclipse of its own people: the first white nation to virtue-signal its way to minority-white status. Twenty years ago, I allowed that the Grand Remplacement was such an unprecedented experiment that there was, to one degree or another, an element of an open question about it. From the opening of America Alone: Perhaps the differences will be minimal. In France, the Catholic churches will become mosques; in England, the village pubs will cease serving alcohol; in the Netherlands, the gay nightclubs will close up shop and relocate to San Francisco. But otherwise life will go on much as before. The new Europeans will be observant Muslims instead of post-Christian secularists but they will still be recognizably European: It will be like Cats after a cast change: same long-running show, new actors. Or maybe the all-black Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! is a better comparison: Pearl Bailey instead of Carol Channing, but the plot, the music, the sets are all the same. The animating principles of advanced societies are so strong that they will thrive whoever's at the switch. But what if it doesn't work out like that? In the 2005 rankings of Freedom House's survey of personal liberty and democracy around the world, five of the eight countries with the lowest 'freedom' score were Muslim. Of the 46 Muslim majority nations in the world, only three were free. Of the 16 nations in which Muslims form between 20 and 50 per cent of the population, only another three were ranked as free: Benin, Serbia and Montenegro, and Suriname. It will be interesting to follow France's fortunes as a fourth member of that group. We can argue about what consequences these demographic trends will have, but to say blithely they have none is ridiculous. Two decades on, we know what the consequences are: London and Paris have degenerated into what Trump would call bleepholes. Violent civil unrest is the minimum that will be required to reverse what the political class have done to you. Because governments around the west have decided to prioritise Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu and his fellow paragons of diversity over you, young persons have increasingly little to lose: you can't get your foot on the housing ladder, because government-funded "migrants" have priced you out of it, etc. You are denied the very possibility of the life your parents and grandparents led. As for those preceding generations, well, many of them are still invested in the system. Because, if you've got a house and a pension, total societal collapse is a mixed blessing. Which brings us back to Washington's forty trillion in debt and the similar degeneration of finances throughout its vassal states. Meanwhile, everybody other than the west is signing up for BRICS and making plans for a post-dollar world. So we face two eleventh hours - the debasement of the west's human capital, and the debauching of its finances. The first is already taking out those on the immediate receiving end of the demographic assault; the second will do the same to those for whom the post-war era has worked out pretty sweet. When demographic conquest and fiscal insolvency meet and merge in the migrant hotels of western government, what will be left holding up the joint? And who won't bet the abandoned farm on revolution? Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) (COMMENT, BELOW) Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) Russia sought to do this naval drill primarily to show it is still interested in joint cooperation with Iran. Iran and Russia began the CASAREX 2025 naval drill on Monday, held in the Caspian Sea, which is seen as a way for both countries to assert their role in those waters, which lie north of Iran and south of Russia. Although this has some significance, given that it is a joint drill, the fact that its taking place in the Caspian Sea illustrates certain features of the Iran-Russia relationship. How Iran-Russia ties changed following Israel war Moscow and Beijing did not come to Irans aid during the 12-day war with Israel. Neither sought to prevent the attacks on Iran nor appeared to care very much that their partner was being attacked. Even when the US intervened and bombed Iran, the two countries did not step up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is intriguing because as part of Russia and Chinas drive for a new world order, one would assume they want Iran to be stronger. What they have shown is pragmatism, letting their Iranian partner be thrown under the bus and humiliated. Russia is busy fighting in Ukraine. It has already suffered a loss of prestige in the Middle East with the fall of Bashar al-Assads regime. The weakening of Iran is another loss for Russia. As such, Moscow sought to conduct this naval drill primarily to demonstrate its continued interest in joint cooperation. The Caspian Sea has some strategic importance. Not only is it situated between Iran and Russia, but also Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia. Iran wants new economic corridor in Central Asia The Islamic Republic has been doing outreach to Central Asia. Additionally, Iran aims to establish a new north-south economic corridor that would connect these areas with southern Iran and Pakistan. Toward that end, naval security is essential in the Caspian Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irans Tasnim state media said the initial part of the drill was taking place in the fourth maritime zone of Nadaja near Rasht. A vessel named SB738 a 57-meter frigate-class ship from the Russian side is taking part in the drill. This exercise is being held by theIslamic Republic of Iran Navy and with the participation of representatives from the naval forces of the Caspian littoral countries. It is designed to enhance field coordination, operational interactions, and multilateral cooperation in the field of maritime search and rescue, Tasnim noted. The news agency added that the main phase of this exercise will be carried out in the fourth naval zone of Imam Reza (AS) Nadaja after holding joint coordination meetings between the Iranian and Russian naval forces, as well as with the presence of observers from other countries bordering the Caspian Sea. Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital killed at least one person and left parts of the city heavily damaged, including a school and the entrance to a metro station where residents were sheltering to keep safe. Four of Kyivs districts were attacked on Monday morning, with reports of burning residential buildings, a kiosk and a nursery, according to Vitali Klitschko, the citys mayor. The entrance to the Lukianivska metro station was also damaged by missiles and drones as residents shielded inside. Emergency services said smoke spread underground, with footage showing the makeshift bomb shelter being filled with fumes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oleh Synehubov, the governor of Kharkiv, reported multiple explosions in the countrys second-largest city, but gave no immediate details on the damage. Fire and rescue teams carved through the wreckage to find survivors - Efrem Lukatsky/AP People leave the damaged Lukianivska metro station after overnight Russian drone and missile strikes - Thomas Peter/Reuters It was the latest in a series of escalating attacks by Russia targeting densely populated civilian areas. Moscow has been known to launch repeated attacks on the same area once emergency services have arrived. In Moscow, a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack forced thousands of passengers to wait in lines or sleep on the floor at airports with a number of flights being delayed or cancelled. Videos published by Russian media showed people sleeping on the floor of Sheremetyevo, Russias busiest airport by passenger numbers, amid long queues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias defence ministry said it had downed 117 drones overnight, including 30 over the Moscow region, forcing restrictions on flights at Moscows main airports Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovskiy. Ukraines air force meanwhile said Russia had launched 426 drones and 24 missiles in Mondays attack. It downed or jammed 224 drones and missiles, while another 203 drones disappeared from radars, most likely having been jammed by electronic warfare, the air force said. Firefighters took shelter in underground parking lots while Russia fired drones overhead - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters Ukraines air force said Russia had launched 426 drones and 24 missiles in Mondays attack - Gleb Garanich/Reuters The renewed attacks came after Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said he had proposed a new round of talks with Moscow this week. The two sides have already held two rounds of direct negotiations in Istanbul but have so far been unable to make any meaningful progress beyond exchanging prisoners and repatriating the dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK announced on Sunday that along with Germany it would launch a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, into peace. As members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force Putin to the negotiating table, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, is expected to say on Monday. A damaged bus stop outside the metro station that was hit after the Russian drone and missile strikes - Thomas Peter/Reuters The Kremlin said on Sunday it was open to peace but insisted achieving its goals remained a priority after Donald Trump, the US president, gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to peace and confirmed the US would send billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine via Nato, including Patriot air defence missiles. Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy, a spokesperson for the Russian president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main thing for us is to achieve our goals, he said. Our goals are clear. The Kremlin has insisted that any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia but never fully captured. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join Nato and accept strict limits on its armed forces, demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected. 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. (Reuters) -Russian attacks on Monday in two areas of Ukraine's border Sumy region, where Moscow's troops have gained a foothold in recent months, have injured 14 people. The military administration of Sumy region, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said drone strikes in the town of Putyvl, just inside the border, injured 11 people and damaged civilian infrastructure. To the southeast, the mayor of the city of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, said a guided bomb attack had injured three people and damaged a multi-storey apartment block, smashing windows and balconies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sumy region was used by Ukrainian forces as a springboard in a large incursion nearly a year ago into Russia's Kursk region. The Kremlin says Ukrainian forces have been ejected from the Russian region, and President Vladimir Putin said Moscow planned to establish a buffer zone in the area. Russia has launched an increasing number of attacks on Sumy region. A missile strike in April on the city of Sumy killed 35 people. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Leslie Adler) MOSCOW (Reuters) -Metropolitan Anthony, a senior cleric in the Russian Orthodox Church, was quoted by state news agency RIA as saying he would meet Pope Leo on Saturday. The agency added, citing a source, that the meeting will take place in the Vatican. Relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican have come under strain because of the war in Ukraine. Anthony is the chairman of the church's department of external church relations. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) Over the last two days, 20-21 July, the Russian army has damaged the Mykola Kulish Theatre and the Greek Sophia Church in Kherson. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration; Ihor Tsurkan, executive director of the Kherson League of Social Workers Details: The Mykola Kulish Theatre, one of the largest theatres in Ukraines south, was hit by the Russians at around 14:10 on 21 July. A projectile damaged the building's facade. No civilians were injured or killed. Broken windows in the theatre Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Kherson Theatre on Facebook Debris near the theatre after the attack Photo: Kherson Theatre on Facebook The theatre reported that a column, the main entrance and three windows in the theatre cafe were also damaged. Broken windows in the theatre Photo: Kherson Theatre on Facebook The Mykola Kulish Theatre in Kherson has run the Melpomene of Tavria theatre festival since 1999. The theatre has continued to operate in other cities in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. In March 2022, Oleksandr Knyha, director of the Kherson Music and Drama Theatre, was abducted by Russian soldiers. He was later released and left for Ukrainian-controlled territory. He was replaced by a man who had previously been a security guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On 20 July, Russian troops hit the territory of the Greek Sophia Church. Photographs show a building located on the church's territory with smashed windows, burnt walls and a destroyed roof. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reports that the hit caused wooden cells to catch fire and burn to the ground. A burnt-out area near the church in Kherson Photo: Ihor Tsurkan on Facebook This is what the burned building next to the church looks like Photo: Ihor Tsurkan on Facebook Built in 1780, the Greek Sophia Church is the oldest church in Kherson. It was originally made of wood and later rebuilt in stone. The church was dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God. The shrine is an architectural monument of national significance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The church has an ebony iconostasis handmade by Greek craftsmen. The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kherson on 20 July Photo: Ihor Tsurkan on Facebook The Kherson Oblast Research Library notes that the church was built by the Greek community. The library's official website says: "The Greeks living in Crimea petitioned Catherine II [the "Great" ed.] to accept them as citizens at the end of the 18th century. They were permitted to move to what is now territory of Ukraine. Some Greeks who settled in Kherson took an active role in the construction and improvement of the city. The Merchant's Vorstadt (suburb), the city's central district, was also known as the Greek district, and Greek merchants lived there. The Greek Sophia Church was built and consecrated in 1780." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian forces have been attacking Dnipropetrovsk Oblast since the evening of 20 July, damaging business premises, infrastructure facilities and a petrol station and causing a fire. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "The aggressor used FPV drones and artillery to attack the Nikopol district. They struck Nikopol as well as the Marhanets and Chervonohryhorivka hromadas. Infrastructure facilities and a petrol station were damaged. Business premises were wrecked. A fire broke out. Two cars were destroyed by the flames. Three more were damaged." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Damaged petrol station Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Lysak on Telegram Details: The Russians also hit the Mezhova hromada in the Synelnykove district with a drone, damaging infrastructure. Lysak said no casualties had been recorded. Air defence forces downed seven Russian UAVs over the oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russia has showcased what it has described as the "largest and most secret" drone factory in the world, in a propaganda video showing teenagers assembling the Geran-2 drones used to target Ukraine. The facility at the Alabuga industrial park near Kazan in the Tatarstan region is one of Russia's main production hubs, allowing it to produce a reported 5,200 Shahed-type strike drones and decoy models a month as of May. "This is the largest such plant in the world and the most secret," Timur Shagivaliev, CEO of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, told Zvezda, the Russian Defense Ministry's television channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At one time, the plan was to produce several thousand (Geran drones) now we are producing nine times more than planned." Russian state media released footage showing teenagers assembling drones inside the facility, highlighting a recruitment program targeting students as young as 15 from local technical colleges. "Everywhere you look, there's young people working here," a voice-over in the Zvezda video says, as dozens of teenagers are seen making drone components and working at computer stations on a brightly lit factory floor. Russians show one of the workshops for the production of Iranian Shahed UAVs at a factory in Yelabuga (Tatarstan) A commentator in the background actively talks about the involvement of women and school-age children in production. pic.twitter.com/RdQq6vTTYs MilitaryNewsUA (@front_ukrainian) July 20, 2025 The Yelabuga plant was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones multiple times. The latest attack allegedly happened on June 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yelabuga plant, launched in 2023, is equipped with metal foundries, blacksmith shops, and in-house assembly lines, according to Zvezda footage. It reportedly uses parts shipped from Iran via the Caspian Sea and Kama River. A Russian military think tank claimed drone output jumped 16.9% in May. The Geran-2 drone, with a 3.5-meter length and 50-kg warhead, has a range of 1,800 kilometers and can reach speeds of 300 km/h. Each unit is estimated to cost as little as $35,000$49,000 a fraction of the multimillion-dollar cost of Western air defense interceptors like the U.S.-made Patriot missile. Workers assemble drones at a production facility in Russia's Tatarstan region. (Zvezda/Rutube). Reports from multiple sources, including Interpol, allege the Alabuga Special Economic Zone has also recruited African women under false pretenses through a work-study scheme. An investigation into potential human trafficking was opened in April, following testimony and reports from affected individuals. The Geran-2, Russia's version of Iran's Shahed-136, has become crucial part of nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities. Russia launched over 5,300 Shahed drones in June alone. Ukraine suffered the largest single-day drone and missile strike on July 9, with 741 aerial weapons launched. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany's Maj. Gen. Christian Freuding, head of Ukraine policy at the German Defense Ministry, warned on July 19 that Russia aims to eventually launch 2,000 drones a night. In a Bundeswehr podcast, Freuding said Ukraine could counter such barrages only by striking drone production sites and lowering interception costs. Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service reported in June that Russia plans to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones and 2 million FPV (first-person-view) drones in 2025, signaling a massive expansion of drone warfare. Ukraine has also increased its domestic drone production in response. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv has the capacity to produce up to 8 million drones annually, though it lacks the foreign funding to scale fully. Former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had earlier estimated a 4 million drone yearly capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: The Russians have no conscience Ukraine hit by yet another mass drone, missile attack, 1 killed, 8 injured in Kyiv Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) A Columbus homeless and day center that has been operating in the community for nearly 15 years will be closing its doors at the end of the month. SafeHouse Ministries will be closing its facility in the former Rose Hill Methodist Church, its executive director told WRBL News 3 Monday morning. SafeHouse Ministries is a nonprofit organization that has served the homeless and poor since 2009. It has been operating a day center in Rose Hill, near Hamilton Road, for the last 13 years by providing meals, computer access, and a clothing closet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will not impact the three residential shelters and substance abuse program operated by SafeHouse Ministries, the nonprofit said. Those who use the non-residential Safe House services which include breakfast and lunch were told of the closing just before noon on Monday. Over the last 18 months, SafeHouse founder and Executive Director Neil Richardson says the demographics have changed. Richardson is framing this decision as tough but necessary. I think its a celebration of accomplishment, Richardson said. We started off by serving the homeless in our community and trying to give them the opportunity to more from homelessness into house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richardson said that has been functionally accomplished with those, who want to get off the streets. We went from 80% of our clientele at the day center being homeless to 26% being homeless, he explained. Weve gone from about a half, and half of the people that want a change and the people that dont want to change. We pretty much housed everybody that wants off the streets between our shelters and the ability to house them. Richardson said the emergency shelter services the organization has provided in extreme cold will still be available. Instead of being supplied in Rose Hill, the emergency shelter will be located at other facilities still managed by SafeHouse Ministries. The center touches about 1,100 people per month, Richardson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SafeHouse Ministries has approximately 40 employees, with many being former clients of the faith-based program. The programs operate on a nearly $2 million annual budget. SafeHouse has four other programs Richardson says will not be impacted by this closing. The programs are: Tomorrows Hope, a substance abuse program; Freedom House, a 104-bed mens shelter; Grace House, a 54-bed facility for women and children; and Trinity House, apartments for homeless families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The sale of Sherlock and The Outlaws studio Bottle Yard in Bristol has collapsed. Bottle Yard is the only film and TV studio in the UK owned and managed by a local authority but the council decided last year it had hit a glass ceiling and should be sold. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Bristol City Council said it had found a preferred bidder and entered a three-month period of exclusivity but it has not been possible to conclude an agreement for the sale of the leasehold of the studios. The identity of the preferred bidder was not revealed. Bristol Councillor Tony Dyer, who is overseeing the process, said the sale returns to the drawing board but the council will continue looking for buyers. We entered into this process with the objective of securing a sustainable future for the studios and the opportunity to grow into its huge potential, he said. Those aims remain the same as does our determination to ensure that one of our citys most successful regeneration projects continues an upward trajectory to deliver more jobs and more investment for Bristol. Bottle Yard is a major Bristol TV and film industry jobs generator that has welcomed the likes of Sherlock, The Outlaws and A Good Girls Guide to Murder down the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actors union Equity, which opposes what it terms the rushed sale of Bottle Yard, celebrated the news. Having had regular and meaningful consultation with freelance creative workers and their union taken place, I believe this painful process could have been avoided, said Equitys South West Area Councillor Rachael Fagan. I encourage the Council to explore previously dismissed options for The Bottle Yard Studios, which prioritise public ownership, ensuring value for money for Bristol residents. Equity quoted data from the Bristol Film Office, which showed the economic impact of filming at Bristol locations and The Bottle Yard Studios rose 55% in 2024-25 to 46.6M ($62.9M). Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A San Francisco teacher was the victim of a vicious knife attack while vacationing in Italy earlier this month. Nicholas Pellegrino, who teaches religious studies and Spanish at Archbishop Riordan High School, was on a train just south of Milan on July 15 when he was attacked by three people. Pellegrino was robbed and had his throat slashed in the attack, according to a GoFundMe set up on his behalf. The assailants were described as North African migrants. Is this a cold summer for San Francisco? Heres what the data says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attackers stole a gold cross off Pellegrinos neck along with all his luggage, including his laptop and passport, according to the fundraiser. Currently, Pellegrino is recovering in a hospital in Italy and is in good spirits, according to his friend Finn McCole, who organized the fundraiser. Nick is just thanking God for saving his life and is too humble to ask for help, said McCole. But we are setting up this GoFundMe to help Nick pay for any medical expenses incurred during his hospital stay, and to replace his lost valuables. According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the suspects in the attack were arrested several hours later at a train station about an hour away from where the attack took place. Archbishop Riordan High School sent out the following statement to the campus community regarding the attack: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Archbishop Riordan Community, It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of a recent incident that many of you may have heard about, involving one of our beloved teachers and coaches, Mr. Nicholas Pellegrino. While traveling abroad in Italy, Nick was the victim of a stabbing. Thankfully, we have been in direct contact with him, and I want to reassure you that he is in stable condition and, remarkably, in good spirits given the circumstances. Nick is receiving excellent care, and his resilience and optimism continue to shine througheven now. As a dedicated member of the Riordan family, Nick has impacted the lives of so many students, colleagues, and families with his passion, kindness, and unwavering commitment to our community. He is more than a teacher and coachhe is a mentor, a role model, and a friend to many. While the details of the incident are still emerging, we are focused on supporting Nick and his family during this difficult time. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and respect their privacy as they navigate the days ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to share updates with you as appropriate and with the Pellegrino familys blessing. In the meantime, we give thanks for Nicks strength and recovery, and for the continued prayers and support from so many of you. Sincerely, Mr. Nate Simon, Vice Principal of Academics and the Riordan Administration We appreciate your understanding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The first battery energy storage system is up and running in Colorado Springs. Experts say its a step toward the future for our utilities. They also say these sites play a key role in transitioning our energy from fossil fuels to more renewables. The batteries can take leftover energy from devices like solar panels, and literally save it for a rainy day. Batteries are going to be a future for us, and as they continue to develop technology, and how utilities utilize them, I think youre gonna see more cost benefits to ratepayers than what we can even understand at this point, said Colorado Springs Utilities Chief Executive Officer, Travas Deal. Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) says it can now get power during low-cost times and store it in the batteries, to use later when prices are higher, in turn saving customers money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre able to take energy from the grid at times of lowest demand. So, whether its solar energy, whether its wind energy, whether its energy from gas power plants that have excess energy at night, for example, you can store that energy in the batteries and use it when the grid needs it most. In times of peak demand, when its hot outside, when people are running their air conditioners, said Jim Shandalov, The Vice President of Origination at NextEra Energy Resources. A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will own and operate the roughly 16-acre site, located in eastern El Paso County in Peyton. NextEra Energy Resources says its one of the countrys largest energy infrastructure companies. This site can store enough to power about 20,000 homes for four hours, during a busy, high-cost period, like the afternoon or evening. These batteries will charge and discharge on a daily basis, just like charging your iPhone. You charge it once a day, you use it, you charge it again. These batteries will do a very similar thing, said Shandalov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shandalov says this change will help make our power grid more reliable, resilient, and efficient. Colorado Springs Utilities is, you know, trying to continue to meet the Colorado State energy goals. So, were continuing to look at ways to look at decarbonization long term, but that does come with a cost. So, were trying to find ways to try to meet the states mandates and do it the most cost-effective way, said Deal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest electric utility and a major U.S. energy company, is headquartered in Richmond. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) When Dominion Energy Virginia filed its latest integrated resource plan (IRP) last fall, critics (including me) complained that the company failed to lay out a cost-effective approach that would meet soaring energy demand from data centers while complying with Virginias decarbonization mandate. We hoped regulators at the State Corporation Commission would reject the IRP and demand better of our largest utility. Instead, they chickened out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SCCs final order, issued July 15, is short but not really to the point. The order finds Dominions IRP legally sufficient, while citing previous SCC orders for the proposition that acceptance doesnt mean approval of the magnitude or specifics of Dominions future spending plans. It would be hard to imagine a less enthusiastic endorsement, and the lack of analysis leaves advocates wondering, wheres the meat? Its true that an IRP is only a planning document; it doesnt commit a utility to carrying out the plan, and the SCC still has to approve any project the utility decides to move forward with. But the point of the exercise is to ensure utilities are on the right track; that their demand projections are on target and their plans for meeting demand are realistic, cost-effective and comply with all relevant laws. This needs discussion and analysis, not merely an up-or-down vote. Admittedly, the SCC has a long history of approving lousy IRPs while directing Dominion to do a better job the next time. That was the case here, too, with the order directing Dominion to do a few things differently in its next IRP, due in the fall of 2026. First, the SCC wants to see a 20-year timeline instead of the 15-year period that Dominion used this year, which is all the law requires. Its an obvious ask, even apart from the fact the SCC cites that the regional grid operator PJM uses a 20-year planning window. A better reason is that we are just 20 years away from Dominions 2045 deadline for full decarbonization under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), and anything the utility does now will have consequences extending out to that deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SCC also neglected to mention that using just a 15-year window, and omitting the 25-year planning period that Dominion included in previous IRPs, allowed the company to avoid showing the economic consequences to consumers of spending money for fossil fuel generation that either will shut down or may become economically obsolete by 2045, long before the plants are paid off. If Dominion thinks it can justify sinking customers money into assets it knows will become stranded, we all deserve to see the rationale. The order also directs Dominion to include in its modeling at least one pathway that complies with the requirement of the VCEA that carbon-emitting facilities (including any new gas plants) be retired by 2045. This goes beyond obvious: the lack of a VCEA-compliant plan should have prompted the SCC to reject the IRP outright. But of course, Dominion claims new gas plants are needed for reliability, which would make them legal under the VCEA in spite of their carbon emissions and questionable long-term viability. Reliability is a red herring, as Ive argued, and other parties to the IRP case modeled how Dominion can meet demand without building new fossil fuels. Dominion should have been required to prove its case. But here again, the SCC chose not to engage on the issue. Requiring Dominion to do better next time is as far as it is willing to go. This is unfortunate, but the silence cant last: in March, Dominion filed for approval of the first of its planned new gas plants. The SCC will have to address need and reliability to make a decision in that case, and it would have been better for all concerned if it had grappled with these questions now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order falls short in other ways, as well. While the SCC expresses concern about forecasted rate increases, it doesnt even mention the data centers that are driving the problem. This is astonishing; even before Dominion filed its IRP last fall, the commission ordered the company to supplement the record with an analysis of data center impacts. When Dominion did so, it became clear that all of the load growth (and likely, much of the projected rate increases) results from this one industry. Its beyond strange that the SCC does not even mention the supplement it ordered, or discuss whether Dominions duty to serve truly prevents it from protecting existing customers. The order also accepts Dominions argument that it had to artificially limit the amount of low-cost solar it could include in its modeling, due to the increased difficulty of siting solar projects in Virginia. Its true that many rural counties have been denying permits to solar projects, even as they approve data centers. But Ive also heard a Dominion lobbyist tell legislators that permit denials have not been a problem for the company, an assertion that may have persuaded some legislators to vote against bills that would make solar siting easier. It appears Dominion tells legislators one thing and the SCC another. The SCCs order contains a few other requirements for the next IRP, mostly things that really should have been included in this one. The IRP should model Virginias return to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, reflecting a Virginia courts ruling that Gov. Glenn Youngkins withdrawal was unlawful. The IRP should assume Dominion achieves the energy efficiency targets that the SCC itself established for the company. Dominion should include an analysis of impacts on base rates and should share its modeling with utility watchdog Clean Virginia, as well as run modeling based on SCC staff inputs. Long-duration storage, a maturing technology that can replace gas combustion turbines, should be included in the next modeling. Do better next time is a well-worn directive from the SCC to Dominion, but it is deeply disappointing at a time when Virginia is facing an unprecedented surge in demand from data centers and accompanying increases in utility rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its disappointing in another way, too: this is the first major ruling from the SCC since two new judges were added to the three-member commission, and all three were appointed by a Democratically-controlled Senate. If there was ever a time for the SCC to get tough with Dominion on its climate obligations, this should have been it. No doubt, the problem lies in Dominions influence over the entire process. The utility doles out exceedingly generous campaign donations to members of both parties, so the company retains influence no matter who is in power. Not only does this give Dominion sway over who is appointed to the SCC, but commissioners have to be mindful that getting reappointed at the end of their six-year terms depends on how satisfied these Dominion-backed senators are with their rulings. As long as Dominion is allowed to shower senators with unlimited campaign cash, the SCC will never be free of the utilitys pernicious influence. Meanwhile, though, Dominions poor performance, and the SCCs unwillingness to call it out, demonstrate the necessity of the comprehensive IRP reform legislation that the governor vetoed this spring. The Commission on Electric Utility Regulation is already working on similar legislation for the next session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passing the IRP reform bill may not inject the SCC with greater courage, but it will ensure the commission, and the public, get a fuller look at the facts. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A family visiting the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center watched as the 5-year-old bald eagle, Carson, made his way down from a perch to greet Park Manager Jenna McElroy and have some lunch. The bald eagle, named after pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson, came to the center from a marsh near Cleveland after falling from a nest when he was only a month old. He wont ever be able to fly again, but McElroy and the center provide him everything he needs, including his favorite foods. McElroy started working at the center as a part-time naturalist 10 years ago after studying biology and environmental education. She credits her parents love of nature and birds for her journey to becoming an environmental educator, and said she enjoys sharing her love of nature in the exact job that she wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center, McElroy feeds Carson lunch while speaking with the visiting family that is clearly enjoying watching the eagle and listening intently to McElroy. We met with McElroy in late June to ask her about her job and the environment. Her answers are edited for brevity and clarity. SUGGEST A SUBJECT: Know someone doing good things for Indianas environment and want to see them featured here? Email Karl and Sophie at: karl.schneider@indystar.com and Sophie.Hartley@indystar.com to let us know. What makes you proud to work in your field? I love the way people in our field care about the animals they work with and the passion that people have for their individual animals and how they want them to succeed and be happy and thrive in their environment. Our animals can't be released back into the wild, or they are ones bred to educate, and our here just every day is like our team's main focus is: What can I give Carson today to make him happy? Or how can I make their enclosure better, or give them something fun to do, or train them so that they are more comfortable in their space? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, it's a compassionate and sharing community of people who are avian trainers and just animal trainers in general. They really like to share their training successes and how they got there and even their failures so that people can learn from each other. What is an issue in your field that keeps you up at night? I think everybody who works with animals is kept up at night because they care so much about them, and they worry about them when they're not there with them. I really worry when they get sick. These birds will be with us their whole lives. So, Carson the eagle, he's five years old, but he could live up to 60 years old. So, caring for an animal that long just keeps everybody up at night. If you work with animals, just like if you have a pet at home that's sick, you're gonna worry about it all the time. What advice would you give to Hoosiers to start paying attention to their environment? We teach a lot of facts about animals we have here and how to identify things in nature, but you don't have to know any of that. You can just go out and enjoy the spaces. You can watch birds without knowing anything about them, and they can bring you joy. They can help you to feel less anxious. Definitely, for me, you don't have to have expensive binoculars to be a birder, or, a fancy camera, you can just call yourself a birder. It's fine if you just like birds. Anybody can be a nature nerd. What is your favorite environmental fun fact? Vultures are great for the environment. Wildlife populations are a lot healthier because when vultures eat carrion, or dead things, they actually digest the bacteria and the viruses and those die in their stomachs. So, there's less rabies in the environment for other animals. Vultures not only clean up the dead things, but they also make other wildlife in the area healthier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social or X @karlstartswithk. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Scrub Hub: Indy park manager cares for birds, spreads knowledge PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The search for two people still missing from a group of six that went over Dillon Falls near Bend on Saturday continued Sunday but was not successful. The effort, now labeled a recovery operation, will resume Monday, the Deschutes County Sheriffs Office said. Pursuit, crash, officer-involved shooting in Columbia County On Sunday, Bend police deployed two drones to provide an overhead view for the 15 swiftwater rescue team members. Three K9s also worked with marine patrol boats during the Sunday efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The identities of those involved have not yet been released. A search for 6 people who went over Dillon Falls near Bend was initiated, July 19, 2025 (Deschutes County Sheriff Office) A search for 6 people who went over Dillon Falls near Bend was initiated, July 19, 2025 (Deschutes County Sheriff Office) A search for 6 people who went over Dillon Falls near Bend was initiated, July 19, 2025 (Deschutes County Sheriff Office) A search for 6 people who went over Dillon Falls near Bend was initiated, July 19, 2025 (Deschutes County Sheriff Office) Six people went over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River Saturday around 3 p.m. Saturday. A multi-agency search began immediately. One person died at the scene. Three were rescued and rushed by ambulance to St. Charles-Bend, but two other remain 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 KOIN.com. WEBSTER, Mass. (WWLP) A missing 5-foot water monitor lizard, which is illegal to possess in Massachusetts without proper authorization, was last spotted in Worcester County. The Massachusetts Environmental Police say the water monitor was last spotted near Blueberry Lane in Webster on Friday night. It is described as approximately five feet long with black with white scarring. It is not aggressive, but police say those who see it should keep a safe distance. High E. coli levels prompt closure of Puffers Pond in Amherst Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webster Police and Animal Control searched in the area of the homealong with the use of drones, checking nearby pools on Friday. They say that these types of lizards are known to travel. Tuesday morning, the Webster Animal Control said that they have not had any recent sightings. They say that the chance of survival is less as the nights get colder. The water monitor should seek out the warmth of the sun, so residents are asked to keep an eye out on patios, pool sides, yards, etc. Missing water monitor lizard in Massachusetts Missing water monitor lizard in Massachusetts The reptile eats dead rodents, not landscaping, and is not known to attack humans or dogs/cats. It loves the sun, swimming holes, and climbing trees. If spotted, authorities are urging the public not to approach and to contact the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 800-632-8075, extension 1. MAP: Blueberry Lane in Webster Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this unpermitted animal. 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. (FOX40.COM) California has sent more search and rescue crews to Texas to help with the ongoing response efforts related to flooding impacts. Video above: Search continues for missing people in Texas Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on July 17 that 42 California US&R members are in Kerr, Texas, supporting the mission. The Oakland Fire Department and the Sacramento Fire Department are deploying Human Remains Detection teams, which include canines and their handlers. Newsom stated that Los Angeles County, Menlo Park, Orange County, and Riverside County all have team members on the ground in Texas aiding in the search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We help our fellow Americans in times of need. California is proud to assist in the ongoing response to the devastating Texas floods, Newsom said. Power lines entangle skydiver in Tracy; prompting rescue California personnel deployed use highly developed and specialised skills to assist emergency operations in and around the hardest parts of the flooding. The California Governors Office of Emergency Services is working in close coordination with Texas through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This is a very difficult task. I appreciate the hard work being done by our crews under very difficult conditions, said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. Cal OES is proud to help those in need in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom said that this deployment does not impact Californias emergency response and firefighting capabilities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. From A Coruna to Valencia, the Spanish coastline is rife with cities that have earned worldwide acclaim for their food scenes. However, those who venture into the countrys interior can find a truly rewarding destinationAstorga. A prominent settlement within the autonomous community of Castilla y Leon, this scenic city has mastered the art of savory and sweet dishes, providing visitors with an opportunity to sample sugary confections, pillowy baked goods, and decadent dinnersall in one place. Amongst its ornate churches and centuries-old ruins, Astorgas food scene is certain to impress even the most fastidious of foodies, with a wealth of time-honored dishes found across its many shops, bars, and restaurants. (Been to Barcelona? Now try Spain's lesser-known cities) Sampling Astorgas most iconic dish While Castilla y Leon offers numerous opportunities to savor regional favorites like roasted suckling pig and garlic soup, the crown jewel of Astorga is undoubtedly cocido maragato, a three-course meal served with an intriguing twist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What makes cocido maragato unique is the order in which its eaten, says Natividad Gonzalez, co-owner and chef at local restaurants Casa Maragata I and II. You start with the meats, then move on to the vegetables, and finish with the soup. Dessert comes last, of coursecustard served with a traditional Maragato cake called roscon. Cocido maragato is a three-course culinary experience not to be missed when visiting Astorga. Before dessert at a restaurant, waiters usually serve a soup made with the broth from chickpeas, accompanied by noodles and various meats and vegetables. Photograph By Juan Manuel Aparicio Diez/ Shutterstock As with all Spanish cocidos, this hearty dish is prepared in a large pot, allowing the meat and vegetables to simmer together for hours to achieve the most tender mouthfeel possible. While the dish is best known for its reverse style of presentation, its also renowned for the exceptionally diverse range of proteins that are present during the first course. Diners are served nine types of meat at once. After a hearty portion of pork sausage, pork belly, and chicken mingled with other meats, guests can look forward to a plate packed full of succulent chickpeas and cabbage, all culminating with a bowl of savory, noodle-filled broththe final product serving as the perfect representation of one of Spains most renowned regional meals. (This Spanish dining tradition is one of its best-kept secrets) Astorga residents head to the city's main market, Mercadillo de Astorga (Astorga Market), every Tuesday, where they can pick up a variety of goods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheese. Photograph By Charles O. Cecil/Alamy Exploring Astorgas Historic Chocolate Industry Once youve sampled some of Astorgas most notable savory dishes, youll likely be on the lookout for something sweet to snack onand fortunately, the city comes equipped with a truly staggering range of options thanks to its thriving chocolate industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Astorgas chocolate legacy began with the muleteers who transported goods like fish, says Alfredo Cabezas Galan, owner of Chocodulce Cabezas S.L. and Chocolateria La Cepedana. Eventually, they also began carrying cocoa beans they encountered on the Galician coast. Over the centuries, this affinity for cocoa developed into a thriving economic driver for the city. By the 1960s, approximately 40 artisans were operating in Astorga, each offering their own distinct array of edible and drinkable products. Today, Chocolateria La Cepedana serves as both a shop and an education center, crafting about 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds) of chocolate daily while showcasing a collection of antique tools and trinkets related to the industry. West of the Astorga train station, food history buffs can keep exploring the craft with a trip to the Astorga Chocolate Museum. Operating out of an ornate 20th-century mansion, this institution is packed with exhibits that highlight the rich history of Astorgas confectionery industry, and sections dedicated to traditional consumption methods, advertisements over the years, and other related topics. (This Basque city is known for pintxosand it's not San Sebastian) Looking for something sweet? Foodies should try churros dipped into a cup of hot chocolate when visiting Astorga, Spain. Photograph By Marc Hill/ Alamy El Museo del Chocolate, which features these antique chocolate molds, is dedicated to the history of cacao and chocolate production in Astorga, one of the first epicenters of chocolate making in Europe. Photograph By Paul Christian Gordon/ Alamy Discovering Astorgas other top attractions Cocido maragato and artisanal chocolate may be two of Astorgas greatest strengths, but theyre far from the only culinary stylings worth sampling during a visit. While bakeries abound across downtown Astorga, travelers in search of an interesting treat can make their way to Confiteria Flor y Nata to try a fresh merle, a unique pastry thats found nowhere else in Spain. Crafted from eggs, flour, and a top-secret blend of other ingredients, this treat is just one of many items that have been created at the bakery since its debut in 1936, with various options ranging from bunuelos to huesos de santo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, those who wish to explore a more modern take on Astorgas dining scene should spend an evening at Restaurante Serrano. Since 1995, this polished venue has showcased mushrooms that grow across Castilla y Leon. Meanwhile, this affinity for fungus has led to flavorful plates, such as truffle-infused lamb and Iberian pork sirloin bathed in brandy mushroom sauce. The restaurant is also particularly well-versed in crafting seafood dishes, providing guests with the perfect opportunity to sample salmon, codfish, and other Spanish favorites. Of course, the city also offers its fair share of non-culinary attractions to explore. Roughly 2,000 years ago, the Roman Emperor Augustus, then known as Asturica Augusta, founded modern-day Astorga. Today, visitors can uncover its storied past with a trip to the Museo Romano, a downtown institution dedicated to showcasing the Astorga of yore. After studying the coins, pottery, and other artifacts found within its halls, tourists can keep an eye out for some of Astorgas other ancient relics, which include eons-old Roman walls and baths scattered across its city limits. People who venture to Astorgafar less renowned compared to some of Spains larger cities will be richly rewarded with a wide breadth of culinary experiences. From morning merles to an evening packed with truffles and fresh seafood, this storied city provides an opportunity to explore the true splendor of Spain from a gastronomic standpoint, accompanied by plenty of fascinating architecture to enjoy along the way. As you plan your next foray across Iberia, you should save some room on the itinerary to spend a few days in Astorga, an oft-underrated city that showcases the refined culinary culture of Castilla y Leon at its very best. (Our essential travel guide to Spain provides you with everything they need to know before you go.) This trip was created with the support of the Instituto de Turismo de Espana Turespana. Jared Ranahan is a Puerto Rico-based writer who covers travel and wildlife. Follow him on Instagram. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) Deputies in Laurel County are asking for the communitys help to find a 24-year-old woman who was last seen on Saturday afternoon, 10 miles northeast of London. The Laurel County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) posted on social media that Hannah N. Smith of London was last seen, possibly in the company of Austin Brown, driving a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. MISSING IN KENTUCKY Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after 1 p.m. on Monday, July 21, the sheriffs office confirmed Smith was found safe. She is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with brown hair below her shoulders, according to the sheriffs office. She has brown eyes and a character from The Nightmare Before Christmas tattooed on her right arm. Deputies said she was last seen wearing a gray short-sleeve shirt, black leggings, and white sandals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORMAL, Ill. (WTVO) A global supplier of components for electric vehicles is building a facility in Normal to supply parts for Illinois-based automaker Rivian, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday. Adient plans to invest $8 million in Illinois, with support from the states Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) Act, and create 75 full time jobs. The company specializes in design, development, and manufacturing of seating systems and components for all major auto manufacturers, and operates 200 plants in 29 countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With more EV suppliers calling Illinois home due to our unmatched workforce, infrastructure and competitive incentives, we are growing our reputation as a global leader in the electric vehicle sector, said Pritzker. Adients new facility in Normal is a critical investment in our states growing EV ecosystem and supply chain. With yet another global company choosing to locate in Illinois, were creating more jobs, opportunities and bolstering economic development for the people of Illinois. At the Normal facility, Adient will produce front and rear seat assemblies for Rivian vehicles. Earlier this year, Rivian announced it will build a $120 million supplier park near its headquarters, to bolster its supply chain. The company builds the R1T and R1S pickup, an EV Amazon delivery van, and the upcoming R2 SUV. 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. A trial opened Monday for a second man charged in a 13-year-olds Gary gang-linked slaying. Dahvee Brunson, 19, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege Brunson, Elijah Porter and Kriston Barbee gunned down 13-year-old Orie Dodson in a drive-by shooting front of Garys Power and Light Church on Feb. 15, 2023. Authorities believe that in a two-way Instagram Live video, Dodson was disrespecting Julius Chop James IV, 24 a revered and untouchable figure in the 49th Avenue Boys gang, according to court records. James was gunned down in Gary on Feb. 11, 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brunson had been starting to associate with a rival 5th Ave. gang, prosecutors said. Ladaisha Baker, Porters on-and-off girlfriend, was also on the Instagram chat. When she testified in Barbees trial, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Brown accused her of downplaying what she knew. She has not been charged in the case. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe, with co-counsel Tim Brown, told jurors the trio fired 38 times, hitting Dodson three times. The boy was killed by a shot to his back as he ran, she said. He was also shot two more times in the back of his legs. They had threatened to shoot up Dodsons moms house, Dafoe said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That day, they stalked and hunted him. Dodson got a social media call within 30 minutes of the shooting from Brunsons account. Investigators later found rap lyrics in Brunsons phone about two weeks later that appeared to vaguely allude to parts of the shooting. It was about his experiences, Dafoe said. He doesnt just talk about sliding (drive-by shootings). He does it. Defense lawyer Herb Shaps countered that Brunson was at a relatives home on Garys west side that morning. Records show he filed a notice of an alibi in early January 2024. He argued his client wouldnt be associated with the 49th Ave Boys, a Glen Park gang on Garys east side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was not involved in this murder, Shaps, with co-counsel Brett Galvan, argued. No guns recovered were traced back to the shooting. A man testified Monday he lent the silver GMC Arcadia to Kriston Barbee on Feb. 14, 2023 and it was later used in the shooting. It was supposed to be returned the next morning. Barbee gave it back that evening with a bullet hole in the back part of the roof. The man said he didnt notice it until he washed the vehicle a few weeks later. He also said he didnt remember Barbees name he knew him as nephew but knew the teens father. The teen did odd jobs around his home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brunsons trial is expected to continue into next week. Co-defendant Kriston Barbee, 19, got 125 years for the killing in August 2024. Cappas denied bond for Porter earlier this month. His trial is set in October. mcolias@post-trib.com A second undocumented immigrant wanted in the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer during a botched robbery in upper Manhattan has been arrested, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Monday. The second suspect, Cristian Aybar Berroa, 22 who like his alleged accomplice, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, is a native of the Dominican Republic sneaked into the United States and never showed up for his immigration hearings after his initial release, Noem said. The 42-year-old officer, who was with a female friend when the suspects confronted them, was rushed to Harlem Hospital with bullet wounds to his left cheek and right arm and is in stable condition. The friend was not hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges against Aybar Berroa, who was grabbed in Queens, and Mora Nunez, who was shot by the officer in self-defense and is in the hospital, are pending. Noem, who appeared with border czar Tom Homan at a lower Manhattan press conference after visiting the officer at Harlem Hospital, said the Saturday night shooting should have never happened. Theres absolutely no reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City, she said. Make no mistake: This officer is in the hospital fighting for his life because of the policies of the mayor of this city and the City Council and people that were in charge of keeping the public safe. They refused to do so, and now we have the situation. When I look at what Mayor Adams has done to New York City, it breaks my heart to see the families that have suffered, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump blamed the shooting on changes in recent years to New York States laws that made more suspects eligible to be released without bail while awaiting trial. Crime in American cities started to significantly rise when they went to cashless bail, Trump wrote on his social media site. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, immediately. New York City recorded its fewest number of shooting victims in three decades and the second-lowest murder rate in the first half of 2025, NYPD officials said earlier this month. From January through June, cops have investigated 146 homicides 44 fewer than the first six months of 2024, a 23% drop. The number of shooting victims was at a historic low in the same period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city cannot, under terms of the citys sanctuary laws, cooperate with civil immigration enforcement unless it involves someone who has committed a crime. Adams, who decried the shooting, has said he would like that to change but that the City Council has to change the law. Video released by Homeland Security shows the crooks rolling up on the officer and his friend, who were sitting on the rocks by the waterfront in Fort Washington Park by W. 178th St., about 11:50 p.m. Saturday. A man in a white shirt gets off the back of the moped and approaches the officer, gun in hand. After a brief fight, he fires a shot and appears to duck out of view by a bush while the officer aims his own weapon. The officer returned fire, striking Mora Nunez, who later showed up at a nearby hospital, police sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both suspects had been released into the country pending immigration hearings they ultimately did not attend after they were nabbed at a border crossing, another example, Noem said, of what she called the Biden administrations failed immigration policies. Aybar Berroa, who entered the country June 19, 2022, has eight unsealed arrests and multiple sealed arrests, police and Homeland Security said. Four of those cases stemmed from an April 5, 2024, arrest for a Bronx spree the day before in which he stole cell phones from four women, police said. In three of those incidents he was on a moped, police said. At the time, ICE had an active detainer for Aybar Berroa, but he was released before he was picked up by the feds, Homeland Security officials said. Less than a year later, on Feb. 20, he was arrested for reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving without a license. On June 12, numerous cases against him were adjudicated when he pleaded guilty in the Bronx and was conditionally discharged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mora Nunez entered the states through Arizona on April 1, 2023, then was let go, Homeland Security officials said. He was charged in the city with grand larceny on Oct, 11, 2023, police said. The following October, he was charged with felony assault. He was busted for criminal contempt the following month and again in January. Then, on Feb. 21, Mora Nunez was charged in a gunpoint robbery. police and Homeland Security officials said. Mora Nunez is also wanted on a warrant in Massachusetts in a kidnapping and weapons possession case, and he was wanted for a robbery and a stabbing, police said. NEW YORK (AP) The Trump administration lashed out Monday against New York City officials over their sanctuary policies as authorities arrested a second man living in the country illegally in connection with the nonfatal shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem called the two suspects, both from the Dominican Republic, scum of the earth. She said they'd accumulated lengthy criminal records in just a few years and should not have been free to commit Saturdays robbery-gone-wrong in a Manhattan park. Noem blamed the mayor and city council, nearly all Democrats, saying the people that were in charge of keeping the public safe refused to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Border czar Tom Homan, meanwhile, vowed the administration would flood the zone with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents following the shooting. So sanctuary cities get exactly what they dont want: more agents in the community, he said alongside Noem and other officials during a news conference at CBPs offices in Manhattan. New York and other cities have longstanding laws and policies that limit or restrict local government involvement in federal immigration enforcement. New York Democrats also passed a 2019 law abolishing pretrial incarceration for most nonviolent offenses, modifying a system that had previously allowed wealthier defendants to go free while they awaited trial by paying bail, while denying release to those who didn't have the money. Christhian Aybar Berroa, who authorities accused of being the getaway driver, was apprehended early Monday, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man accused of being the shooter, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, was arrested Sunday after arriving at a Bronx hospital with gunshot wounds to the groin and leg. Police say Mora Nunez shot the Customs and Border Protection officer in the face and arm before being wounded and fleeing. The 42-year-old officer, who was not in uniform, had been sitting with a woman in a park beneath the George Washington Bridge when two men approached on a moped, according to police. When he realized he was being robbed, the officer drew his service weapon. Both he and one of the robbers fired, police said. The officer, who has not been identified by authorities, is recovering and is expected to survive, Noem said. He works for Customs and Border Protection, whose officers are stationed at airports and other border crossings. No lawyers were listed for Aybar Berroa or Mora Nunez on the federal court case database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aybar Berroa has been arrested at least four times since his arrival in the U.S. in 2022, according to Noem. She said he'd been ordered deported by a federal immigration judge in 2023, but New York City officials ignored a request that he be detained so federal agents could take him into custody. Police say Mora Nunez, 21, entered the country illegally in 2023 and had two prior arrests for domestic violence in New York. He is wanted in New York to face accusations of robbery and felony assault, and in Massachusetts over a stolen weapons case. Mayor Eric Adams, at a separate press conference, distanced himself from the so-called sanctuary city policies that Noem and other federal officials blamed for the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive always been clear: stop the revolving door system, said the former police captain, who has long called for increased cooperation between city police and federal immigration authorities. Go after the dangerous migrants and asylum seekers. At the same time, Adams said the citys sanctuary policies were enacted in order to encourage otherwise law-abiding immigrants to seek police help or medical care without fear of being deported. Adams issued an executive order earlier this year allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies to maintain office space at the citys notorious Rikers Island jail complex. That plan, a priority for President Donald Trumps nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration, was blocked by a state judge last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City Council had sued, casting it as a concerning potential case of Adams changing city policy in return for Trumps Justice Department dropping corruption charges against him. The New York Civil Liberties Union and other immigrant advocates criticized Noem and federal officials on Monday for exploiting a tragedy to further the Republican administrations immigration agenda. ___ Follow Philip Marcelo on X: @philmarcelo Authorities searched Sunday for a second suspect in the shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in an apparent botched robbery on Saturday. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the 42-year-old officer was injured after he was approached by two men on a moped while sitting with a woman in a park under the George Washington Bridge just before midnight. When one man got off and approached the officer, the officer drew his service weapon and the two exchanged fire, officials said. The officer was shot in the face and in the arm. Police said the man attempting the robbery was injured before he drove away with the moped driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer was not in uniform, and there was no indication he was targeted because of his employment, Tisch said. Police took a person of interest, 21-year-old Miguel Mora, into custody after he arrived at a Bronx hospital to be treated for wounds to the groin and leg. Mora is an immigrant living in the country illegally and has an extensive criminal history, Tisch said, adding that he entered the U.S. illegally through Arizona in 2023 and was arrested twice in New York for domestic violence. He was also wanted in New York on accusations of robbery and felony assault, Tisch said. In Massachusetts, he was wanted in a case involving stolen weapons. President Trump seized on the incident as an example of what he views was an inadequate immigration policy under President Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden. He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Sunday afternoon. The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage. The Democrats have flooded our Nation with Criminal Invaders, and now, they must all be thrown out or, in some cases, immediately prosecuted in that we cannot take a chance that they are able to come back. Thats how evil and dangerous they are! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (NewsNation) White House border czar Tom Homan has said federal immigration officials need around 40,000 additional beds to detain migrants. National Border Patrol Council spokesperson Chris Cabrera tells Morning in America that reaching that number may not require major expansion in other states or detention centers. He says the top priority is securing the border, and that once the flow is under control, officials can more effectively detain and deport migrants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Switzerlands largest city, straddling the Limmat River and facing the pristine shores of Lake Zurich, has long been best known for its financial clout and Swiss efficiency. But these days its cultural scene is also booming, with everything from blackout dining concepts to fashion co-ops set beneath railway arches. Heres how best to take in the city in just 14 hours. 7am: Swim at sunrise at Seebad Utoquai The combination of the lakes glassy water and this swimming club has made such an impression on locals that its kept them rising at dawn for more than 130 years. The Seebads two-floor wooden bathhouse debuted in 1890 with curtained changing rooms, ladders directly into the lake and diving boards, and its been eulogised ever since by bathers and those whod rather soak up the sun on the timber terraces. Alternatively, Frauenbad at Stadthausquai is an art nouveau cabana exclusively for womens swimming (both April to October only). In the lidos along the Limmat River, bathers don swimwear produced from upcycled plastic found in the citys waterways. Photograph by Clara Tuma 8am: Breakfast at the Odeon A home for the citys gay community long before the first Swiss laws legalising same-sex relationships were passed in 1942, Cafe Odeon is a Viennese-style coffee house par excellence. Expect to see eggs served in a wide variety of styles, including, as this is Zurich, in the form of truffle omelettes with a side of Champagne. 10am: Go to a gallery Zurich is home to around 50 museums and around double the number of art galleries. Certainly the most generous with the big names is the Kunsthaus. Plenty of highlights on display come from the likes of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, while Switzerland is represented by Alberto Giacometti and the worlds largest collection of Dada, the absurd counterculture art movement born nearby at cafe-gallery Cabaret Voltaire on Spiegelgasse. 12pm: Explore under the bridges The railway arches of the citys Industriequartier once housed hundreds of stonemasons and mechanics. These days, they survive as Im Viadukt, a future-focused co-op of fashion shops, restaurants, venues and a food market replete with bars and takeaway counters. This is where to go for a classic Swiss lunch, whether youre looking for Alpine picnic supplies (typically cheese, pickles and breads) or some bratwurst. 3pm: Get a chocolate fix Theres an extraordinary array of chocolate ateliers in Zurich, but among the best are Laderach, Max Chocolatier and truffle-specialist Sprungli on Bahnhofstrasse. These days, macarons are the speciality, while ruffled chocolate nests and bite-sized batons come topped with gold-leaf. 5pm: Time for a sky-high cocktail Its worth seeing the city and all of its church spires from the rooftops. One of the best viewpoints is at 1838, an exquisite destination bar atop the Mandarin Oriental Savoy that snuggles up to the Fraumunster and overlooks Paradeplatz, a square thats perenially popular with locals. On a clear day, the entire lake and the Alps to the south can also be seen on the horizon. An Aperol spritz or Eichhof lager will help temper any giddiness. 7pm: Eat in the dark Switzerland helped pioneer many life-changers wristwatches, the world wide web, instant coffee. Its also the home of the first restaurant in the dark. The blackout dining concept was created in 1999 by a non-profit foundation and born to create jobs for the citys visually impaired people. The focus isnt just the surprise three- or four-course menu (it could be spatzle, lake fish, Swiss beef), but on fostering conversations. 10pm: Go bar-hopping If anywhere has an edge in Zurich, its Langstrasse, a long street of late-night bars and clubs in the heart of the red-light district. Resistant to change, its the city at its most unbuttoned, with Bar 63 and Ole Ole the most popular venues. For something classier, albeit with negronis on tap, try Bar Sacchi in trendy Lochergut. Published in the July/August 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). Gaza is widely covered because it is symbolically and politically loaded. Syria is ignored because it is seen as broken, and no one cares. The clashes in Syria pitting Bedouin tribes and Syrian military forces against the Druze began on July 11 with the assault of a Druze merchant by a member of a Bedouin tribe. Fighting escalated quickly. By July 13, battles were underway in and around the Druze region of Sweida. Survivors of the fighting over the next three days described unspeakable brutality. Pictures emerged of Syrian soldiers humiliating Druze men by shaving off their mustaches an act of deep dishonor in the Druze community. And yet, for the most part, the world did not take much notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first article about the situation to appear on the front page of The New York Times print edition was on Thursday, July 17. But that piece led not with the story of atrocities in Sweida but with deadly airstrikes launched by Israel in Damascus. Another piece about the fighting appeared on the Times front page the next day, this one without an Israeli angle in the headline: Battle leaves pall of death on Syrian city. That article dealt with the horrors that took place in Sweida. Tellingly, however, in the 10 days since the incident that spurred the fighting in Syria fighting that, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has claimed more than 1,200 lives The New York Times has devoted more of its front page to stories and pictures about Gaza and Israel than Sweida and Syria. An Israeli military vehicle manoeuvres in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, July 16, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) There have been two front-page stories about Israeli actions in Gaza and another about efforts at Cheltenham High School near Philadelphia to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from its alumni Hall of Fame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this same period, there were two front-page pieces on the clashes in Syria one of them, again, focusing on the Israeli strikes in Damascus and a third dealing with the discovery of mass graves near Damascus used by Bashar al-Assads regime to bury opponents during the countrys brutal civil war. And in an age where pictures are more important than words, there were no pictures from Syria but two large pictures from Gaza on the Times front page during these 10 days: one of Gazans on the beach with a caption saying that Israel prohibits them from entering the water or fishing, and another, on Monday, showing anguished Palestinian women mourning dead relatives at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Times lead story on Monday was Israelis shoot dozens rushing for aid in Gaza, a piece that, as usual, relied heavily on figures provided by Hamas, numbers Israel insists are significantly inflated but which it makes little effort to counter in real time. That same day, the Syrian Observatory reported 205 people killed in Syria, more than the number cited in Gaza. Yet it was Gaza, not Syria, that led the Times front page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the Times is actually paying more attention to the situation in Syria than many other media outlets, human rights organizations, the UN, or foreign ministries around the world. This isnt new. The disparity in international attention is as predictable as it is stark. Israel-Gaza leads the global conversation. The fighting in Syria, unless Israel is somehow involved, struggles to get notice. The question is: why? The reflexive answer is bias there is a double standard and, for a variety of reasons, some having to do with antisemitism, Israel is held to different standards and is judged by a different measuring stick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yes, thats part of it. But the full picture is much more complex, stemming from a mix of newsroom economics, visual incentives, narrative simplicity, lobbying infrastructure, and geopolitical priorities. Gaza ticks nearly every box that makes a story dominate global headlines. Sweida ticks almost none. The disparity in coverage starts with access. Gaza is just minutes from Israeli press centers. Reporters can file stories from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, rely on local stringers, and get dramatic photos and videos by the hour. NGOs, UN agencies, and Hamas spokespeople camouflaged as the Gaza Health Ministry feed journalists a steady stream of real-time data, images, and interviews. Sweida? Its remote with an extreme kidnapping risk. Over 700 journalists have been killed covering Syrias civil war, and Sweida is under tight regime control. Getting into Syria as a journalist officially requires prior approval, security clearance, and specialized visas or permits from the authorities. Unauthorized entry, such as crossing through Jordan or Turkey without permits, risks severe penalties. For those who do get clearance, insurance premiums are extremely high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electricity and internet blackouts cripple real-time reporting, and content from local stringers is sparse. Gaza fits favored frame of occupier vs. occupied, strong vs. weak Then theres the story itself. Gaza fits a frame the media loves: occupier vs occupied, strong vs weak, nuclear power vs impoverished territory. That David-and-Goliath template is easy to tell and emotionally resonant. It easily fits a limited time slot because framed in this binary way, it is not complicated. Sweida? Its messy. Bedouin militias, government loyalists, and Druze fighters. No clear villain, no single victim group, no tidy arc. Its complex, local, and tribal. That makes it harder to explain and easier to ignore. Furthermore, coverage intensifies whenever Israel is involved. For whatever reason, there is truth to that old adage, Jews are news. Witness the fact that the NYT first put the Syrian story on the front page after Israel got involved. Every action Israel takes is scrutinized, analyzed, and debated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria, by contrast, is seen as a failed state mired in civil war and sectarian violence, so when hundreds are killed there on one day, it is tragic but, to a certain degree, expected. The world has been numbed by it and is not surprised. And then theres the activism. Pro-Palestinian advocacy is highly organized, heavily funded (thank you, Qatar), and globally embedded across university campuses, human rights organizations, and social media influencers. This creates constant public pressure and reinforces the perception that Gaza is a cause the world deeply cares about. In todays media environment, outlets tend to prioritize stories that they believe their audiences are interested in following. The Druze, on the other hand, have no such infrastructure. Theyre not backed by Gulf money, and they lack a global network of activists, advocates, and influencers lobbying on their behalf. As a result, the ecosystem that amplifies specific causes journalists, NGOs, academics, social platforms largely overlooks the Druze in Syria. Their suffering exists, but few call attention to it. And then there are the human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International which churn out regular reports and press releases on Israel, often based on claims from partisan and biased NGOs. When it comes to Sweida silence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 10, HRW found time to condemn the US for sanctioning Francesca Albanese, the UNs antisemitic special rapporteur on the Palestinians. But it had nothing to say about the slaughter in Sweida. Amnesty? It blasted the EU on July 15 for not suspending its association agreement with Israel but also stayed silent on Syria. In short, Gaza is covered widely because it is symbolically and politically loaded. Syria is ignored because it is seen as broken, and no one cares. The UN reinforces this imbalance. Gaza appears on the Security Council agenda monthly. Sweida earned one emergency session on July 17 and then disappeared. Agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN Relief and Works Agency, and the World Health Organization publish regular updates on Gaza. In Syria, very little. The media follows the data. The story gains far less traction when there is only a trickle of data coming out of Sweida. This is not, ultimately, just about coverage gaps or editorial choices. Instead, it is about what the world chooses to see and what it opts to ignore. The lives lost in Sweida may not generate hashtags or front pages, but that doesnt make them matter any less. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza dominates the conversation not only because of what happens there but because of the infrastructure built to ensure that it does. Syria, broken and complex, doesnt stand a chance. And so while the world debates Israels every move and dissects every strike in Gaza, a quiet massacre unfolds across the border. Quiet, not because its less horrific, but because fewer are paying attention. That disparity, too, tells a powerful story. Sen. Maria Cantwell is urging President Trump to prioritize modernizing the nation's weather forecasting system, saying the investment will save lives as well as money down the road. She released a letter to the president Monday, following through on her pledge to provide guidance that the administration can use to upgrade weather forecasting infrastructure. "The money will save you money, for sure," Cantwell said in an interview on CBS News Monday. "The kind of investments you could make here are about taking a $20 billion [disaster] event and saying, if we would have done these things in advance, it wouldn't have cost us that much money. If storms are costing us this much, we have to come up with better solutions." The Democratic congresswoman, a prominent voice in environmental policy on Capitol Hill and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees weather and disasters. Cantwell penned the letter in the wake of disastrous flooding that killed at least 135 people in Central Texas. The July 4 flash flood prompted a massive search and recovery operations and raised questions about whether forecasts and warnings could have been more effective ahead of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cantwell's letter outlined five bipartisan recommendations to improve U.S. forecasting. It comes as the Trump administration continues to make cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency focused on weather and climate, and the National Weather Service, its subagency in charge of daily forecasts. NOAA is slated to see a 27% reduction in its budget at the start of the 2026 fiscal year, which could impact weather forecasting in a number of ways, including terminating research programs aimed at helping predict future precipitation rates and improve flash flood warning systems. The committee recently held a confirmation hearing for Dr. Neil Jacobs to become NOAA's new leader. "Communities across the United States are experiencing more frequent, intense, and costly flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric rivers, landslides, heatwaves, and wildfires," Cantwell's letter said. She cited deadly and costly natural disasters that have ravaged communities around the United States in the last two years alone, including the Texas floods as well as last year's flooding from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the devastating fires in Los Angeles and the Hawaiian island of Maui. Examples like these suggest "that providing Americans with more timely and accurate weather information can avoid billions in property losses and save lives," she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to the letter, a White House spokesperson told CBS News in a statement that "the Trump administration has already been hard at work on re-orienting NOAA and NWS [the National Weather Service] away from pursuing climate change activism to instead focus on its core mission and modernizing the agencies' outdated technology to provide faster, more accurate weather models." Cantwell's recommendations emphasize improvements in how weather data is collected and analyzed, as well as systems for notifying communities of severe weather. They include: Upgrading the country's Doppler radar network with "phased array radar," a higher resolution system to monitor weather conditions, profile wind patterns and perform aircraft tracking simultaneously. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has said this type of radar allows for more "focused observations of storms," compared with Doppler's abilities, and provides quicker updates for meteorologists tasked with predicting and alerting the public to sudden changes during an extreme event.Replacing older weather satellites, relied on by NOAA and its National Weather Service, with next-generation satellites, which "can track lightning strikes that start wildfires, wildfire smoke, red tides that poison fisheries, and generally provide better extreme weather early warning capabilities," according to Cantwell's letter.Improving NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System, which uses instruments like buoys to collects ocean data that is often integral to weather forecasting, including for search and rescue initiatives and navigation more broadly.Investing in supercomputing, data analytics, and a forecasting technique called data assimilation, to increase the accuracy of NOAA's weather prediction model, which tends to be less accurate than its European counterpart.Bolstering weather and climate research through NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. The office is a bedrock of climate prediction efforts worldwide, multiple meteorologists currently and formerly employed by the federal agency have told CBS News. But Mr. Trump's 2026 budget plan proposes eliminating it altogether.Modernizing weather alert systems to help first responders and the public prepare for, and react to, extreme weather events.Advancing bipartisan legislation that supports expanding weather research and forecasting endeavors, such as the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2024, which Cantwell introduced alongside Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee. What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell listens to the closing arguments of her attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. during the fifth day of her felony burglary trial on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Becker County District Court in Detroit Lakes. To the right of Sen. Mitchell are her other attorneys Matthew Keller and Dane DeKrey. Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald appears in the foreground. (Photo by Anna Paige/Fargo Forum pool photo) Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a Woodbury Democrat who was found guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools Friday, will resign from the Minnesota Senate by Aug. 4, her attorney said in a statement Monday The first-term senator will resign no later than Aug. 4 at 5 p.m., once she finishes four tasks: completes outstanding legislative projects, wraps up ongoing constituent services, transitions legislative staff and obtains health insurance for her son, according to the statement from Dane DeKrey, who helped defend Mitchell during the recent five-day trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unusual resignation announcement means Mitchell will continue to represent her constituents for up to two weeks as a convicted felon. It also means that Democrats will lose their one-seat majority in the 34-33 Minnesota Senate until Gov. Tim Walz calls a special election to replace her. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, criticized Mitchells decision to remain in the Senate for up to two weeks. Sen. Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesnt get to give the Senate two weeks notice, Johnson said in a statement. A jury convicted Mitchell of felony burglary and possession of burglary tools Friday after a grueling trial that played out like a family drama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution successfully argued that Mitchell intended to steal her late fathers possessions from her stepmother when she broke into her Detroit Lakes home on April 22, 2024. The states main evidence was that she told police as much during her arrest, and the jury saw the footage of her admissions from police officers body-worn cameras. Mitchell unsuccessfully tried to convince the jury of nine men and three women that she was in the Detroit Lakes home to conduct a welfare check on her stepmother. Mitchell testified in her own defense, and told the jury that her stepmother was struggling with paranoia due to Alzheimers disease. DeKrey on Friday told reporters that Mitchell will likely appeal the verdict. Mitchells sentencing has not been scheduled, but because she has no criminal history her sentence will likely be far less than the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for burglary and three years for burglary tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, called on Mitchell to resign for the first time immediately following the announcement of the jurys verdict. Mitchell in 2022 won her race by about 17 percentage points, and the district leans heavily Democratic. Whether residents in the district which includes Woodbury and Maplewood want to elect another Democrat remains to be seen, given Mitchells crimes. Democrats have performed well in special elections during the first and now second terms of President Donald Trump. Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell listens to the closing arguments of her attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. during the fifth day of her felony burglary trial on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Becker County District Court in Detroit Lakes. To the right of Sen. Mitchell are her other attorneys Matthew Keller and Dane DeKrey. Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald appears in the foreground. (Photo by Anna Paige/Fargo Forum pool photo) Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a Woodbury Democrat who was found guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools Friday, will resign from the Minnesota Senate by Aug. 4, her attorney said in a statement Monday The first-term senator will resign no later than Aug. 4 at 5 p.m., once she finishes four tasks: completes outstanding legislative projects, wraps up ongoing constituent services, transitions legislative staff and obtains health insurance for her son, according to the statement from Dane DeKrey, who helped defend Mitchell during the recent five-day trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unusual resignation announcement means Mitchell will continue to represent her constituents for up to two weeks as a convicted felon. It also means that Democrats will lose their one-seat majority in the 34-33 Minnesota Senate until Gov. Tim Walz calls a special election to replace her. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, criticized Mitchells decision to remain in the Senate for up to two weeks. Sen. Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesnt get to give the Senate two weeks notice, Johnson said in a statement. A jury convicted Mitchell of felony burglary and possession of burglary tools Friday after a grueling trial that played out like a family drama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution successfully argued that Mitchell intended to steal her late fathers possessions from her stepmother when she broke into her Detroit Lakes home on April 22, 2024. The states main evidence was that she told police as much during her arrest, and the jury saw the footage of her admissions from police officers body-worn cameras. Mitchell unsuccessfully tried to convince the jury of nine men and three women that she was in the Detroit Lakes home to conduct a welfare check on her stepmother. Mitchell testified in her own defense, and told the jury that her stepmother was struggling with paranoia due to Alzheimers disease. DeKrey on Friday told reporters that Mitchell will likely appeal the verdict. Mitchells sentencing has not been scheduled, but because she has no criminal history her sentence will likely be far less than the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for burglary and three years for burglary tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, called on Mitchell to resign for the first time immediately following the announcement of the jurys verdict. Mitchell in 2022 won her race by about 17 percentage points, and the district leans heavily Democratic. Whether residents in the district which includes Woodbury and Maplewood want to elect another Democrat remains to be seen, given Mitchells crimes. Democrats have performed well in special elections during the first and now second terms of President Donald Trump. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@minnesotareformer.com. WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC22/FOX44) Vermonters praised the immediate federal response to flooding across the state these past two years. However, Vermonters are still feeling the effects of the July 2023 and 2024 floods that devastated communities. Many are saying support for a long-term recovery is falling short. The criticism inspired Senator Peter Welch to introduce his bill The Disaster AID Act. While praising the initial efforts, Welch is worried about continued support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What flood insurance does and does not cover They were very helpful. But then if you lost your home, you lost your business. You lost your farm. There were ongoing requirements to recover. And FEMA was very slow, very bureaucratic, said Senator Welch. The Disaster Aid Act aims to: Cut through red tape and empower state and local governments to access recovery assistance when it is needed. Get more resources to small towns Encourage long-term resilience Protect federal recovery funding Vermont Emergency Management Director Eric Forand says Welchs proposal will help local officials. Thats what the bill is trying to do is one potentially move some of that money upfront, meaning you get the money before you do the project. So, they wouldnt have to take out loans, said Forand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forand says the bill will help streamline the recovery process, remove red tape, and bolster small town responses to disasters. FEMAs flood maps often miss dangerous flash flood risks, leaving homeowners unprepared What he is suggesting creates efficiency gets the money to Vermonters faster. So, we will be looking forward to that. We support this bill, said Forand. The bill would also limit any future presidential administrations ability to pause or cut funding for communities during disaster recovery. President Trump seems to be making a distinction on whether a state can get relief, and whether its a Republican or Democratic state. I mean all of us, no matter what our politics are, care about our communities, said Welch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Welch says his bill is focused on empowering local communities specifically on when aid is available, who makes decisions, and which issues are prioritized. The Senate Finance Committee is currently doing its initial review of the legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. Seven Democratic senators wrote Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Acting Director Russ Vought last week to express profound alarm that the agency in June terminated a 7-month-old consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-AZ, and others contrasted the termination with an April memo in which CFPB Chief Legal Officer Mark Paoletta said the bureau would focus its enforcement and supervision resources on pressing threats to consumers, particularly service members and their families, and veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your abrupt reversal of this consent order suggests your stated commitment to servicemembers is little more than lip service, the senators wrote Wednesday to Vought. Under the consent order, issued in November when the CFPB was led by Biden-era Director Rohit Chopra the bureau demanded that Navy Federal pay a $15 million civil penalty and $80.6 million in restitution to customers over illegally charged overdraft fees between 2017 and 2022. The senators requested that Vought detail, by July 30, how much of that restitution remains unpaid and what portion of the civil penalty had been deposited, withheld or returned. In June, Vought did not offer any reasoning behind the termination of the consent order only that it had been done with the consent of Navy Federal and that the CFPB waived any alleged non-compliance for the credit union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senators on Wednesday asked Vought for the full legal and factual basis behind scrapping the consent order. Further, the lawmakers sought information on any communications or meetings between Navy Federal and the CFPB from Jan. 1 onward. They also asked who at the CFPB authorized the termination and which processes were followed. Pointedly, the senators asked if the CFPBs Office of Servicemember Affairs had been consulted ahead of the termination. The CFPBs mission is to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive practices and to hold lawbreaking companies accountable. Under your direction, it is doing neither, the senators wrote to Vought. This decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable or even willing to fulfill its legal mandate. Nearly immediately after being tapped to lead the CFPB, Vought set in motion efforts to neutralize the bureau. Before his first weekday on the job, Vought wrote Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, indicating the bureau would refuse any unappropriated funds from the central bank. Vought also issued a stop-work order that preceded a move to fire 95% of the agencys workforce. A federal judge issued an injunction to halt the maneuver. That didnt stop the CFPB, however, from dropping several court cases the bureau had pursued under the Biden administration including against JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Comerica and the fintech SoLo Funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Navy Federals consent order is not the only one the CFPB has reversed in recent months. The bureau in June freed Bank of America three years early from a penalty after the bank failed to collect required demographic data from mortgage applicants. The CFPB also filed a motion in May to terminate a consent order against Trustmark Bank over redlining concerns. A federal judge denied the bureaus attempt to vacate a separate redlining settlement against mortgage lender Townstone Financial. The bureau has, however, successfully reduced penalties it previously ordered against some financial institutions. Specifically, the CFPB cut its nearly $2.5 million penalty against the fintech Wise to $450,000 in redress and a $45,000 fine. In their letter Wednesday, the senators asked Vought how the termination of the Navy Federal order aligns with the bureaus April prioritization of protections for service members. They also asked what analysis the bureau may have conducted as to the impact of the termination on affected consumers, and further asked whether those consumers were notified of the termination and how it might affect restitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans deserve a Bureau that has their backs, not one that shields institutions from accountability, the lawmakers wrote. The senators also noted concerns from former CFPB officials with regard to the termination, pointing to a quote from the bureaus ex-enforcement director, Eric Halperin, on Military.com. "We are at a point where it's very uncertain whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will ultimately step in on the side of consumers and not take the side of their bank as they did here for the Navy Federal customers," Halperin told the outlet this month. Halperin resigned in February, a day after Vought issued the stop-work order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Gallego, Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Raphael Warnock of Georgia signed the letter to Vought. Recommended Reading YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) There is a new approach to bring important care to seniors in the Mahoning Valley. Buckeye PACE is ready to open its new Mahoning County day center on August 1. There will also be one in Warren. PACE is a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly. People age 55 and over can get wrap-around services to help them stay at home and in their communities. Most of the seniors qualify to live in a skilled nursing facility, but they get support from PACE so they dont have to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of that is wrapped into one service that allows family members then to not have to play the role of constant nurse and social worker and caregiver, and theyre able then to be able to still partake in the community and be out in the community while our seniors are at home, said Craig Worland, acting CEO for One Senior Care. And we focus on one thing, and thats keeping our promise to these participants, which is to keep them in the community. And you know what gets in front of that promise? An unneeded and unnecessary hospitalization that oftentimes leads to what? An unneeded and unnecessary nursing home stay, said Jerry Wilborn, chief medical officer. The Youngstown location is the former Rite-Aid building on Youngstowns Market Street. The Warren location on Elm Road is also opening August 1. In Ohio, PACE eligibility is also by county. 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 WKBN.com. A violent four-car pileup in the Bishop Arts District late Saturday night injured seven people and caused widespread disruption. The crash, which occurred just before 11 p.m. at North Tyler and West Davis streets, involved a driver who police say struck a stopped car at a traffic light, triggering a chain reaction. It was pretty much a highway wreck on a residential road, witness Anthony Ozuna, who was at a nearby bar, told NBC 5 DFW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cars were flipped over. It was a four-car pileup; its crazy. You see a car on top of another car, and its one of those, like, how does that car get there? Ozuna said, per CBS News Texas. The collision caused one vehicle to hit a utility pole, resulting in power outages to several businesses in the area. It was crazy last night. Pretty much everyone is having a good time, theres music going, then boom you hear a car crash and all the power just goes out, Ozuna said, per NBC 5. Bystanders, including bar patrons and staff, rushed to assist. All of our guests and staff jumped into action. It was probably about 100 people out here, Jake Cruz, a bar employee, told CBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six victims were hospitalized in stable condition, while the suspected driver was in critical condition, police said. One of my friends, she works in the medical field, she went to go help them, Ozuna added, per NBC 5. Just walking up and seeing all of the vehicles, all four vehicles stacked up, really surreal, said Eddy Galeano, a resident of North Tyler Street, according to NBC 5. The area has a history of crashes, including two reported this year at a nearby roundabout. One occurred in May when a speeding car went airborne and hit a townhome. Councilmember Chad West addressed ongoing safety concerns, stating, per CBS, This latest collision at Tyler and Davis reaffirms why the citys Public Works Department must take aggressive action to ensure pedestrians, residents and small businesses are safe. Its past time for the city to enhance traffic calming measures in this corridor and speeding enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys Public Works Department is studying the roundabout, but West said the study remains incomplete. Less than four hours after the pileup, another crash occurred nearby when a driver hit a dog grooming business. Ive seen the different measures. I dont know what exactly will work. Its straight to the highway, people like to race down it, its a little troublesome, Galeano said, according to NBC 5. Utility crews restored power and internet services Sunday. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. Shark sightings off the eastern coast of the United States this summer may have some people wondering what they could do if they encounter a shark. "People go in the ocean every single day against this natural common sense knowing there's sharks in there, knowing there's jellyfish, knowing there's all kinds of beastly aliens in there. We still do it because we love it," Paul de Gelder, who lost his hand and leg in a 2009 shark attack while working as a bomb disposal diver for the Australian Navy, said Monday on "CBS Mornings." De Gelder shared some tips for surviving an attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't want people to have to go through what I went through, it's no fun. It hurts. There's a lot of recovery," he said. Here are his top tips: Stay calm and don't splash: "I know it goes against all natural instincts of preservation, not to panic, but that's the most important thing you can do," he said. "You have to understand these sharks don't really know what you are, you're almost the same size as them, and they don't want to fight."Keep watch: Standing your ground and staring the shark down can also help you survive. "They know when you're watching, they don't want to attack you when you're watching they want an easy target," he said. "That's why the tiger sharks always sneak up on us from behind."Push away: As a last resort, de Gelder says to push not punch the shark in the nose to drive it away. De Gelder is bringing his survival tips to a new Discovery Channel special, "How to Survive a Shark Attack," in which he tries to get attacked by the ocean animals in order to demonstrate how to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to show people by doing," he said of the show. "They get to see what happens when a shark bites someone. What do I do if someone next to me gets attacked by a shark? What do I do if I get attacked by a shark? Let's show them exactly what to do." In July, officials in Maine warned beachgoers to exercise caution after multiple sightings of great white sharks, and a great white shark weighing more than 1,653 pounds was recently detected about 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. There have been some attacks this year, too. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old surf instructor was rushed to the hospital after he was attacked by a shark at a Florida beach. He was bitten on his foot while surfing off New Smyrna Beach, about 60 miles northeast of Orlando. In June, a 12-year-old girl was airlifted from South Carolina's Hilton Head Island after she was bitten by a shark. Just days prior, a 9-year-old nearly lost her hand after being bitten by a shark near Boca Grande on Florida's west coast. What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett The significant decline in asylum applications in Austria is a lesson for how the European Union should tighten its migration policy, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Monday. "Austria has become tougher, and Europe must also become tougher in this area," Karner said during the presentation of the asylum report for the first half of 2025. In Austria, around 8,600 asylum applications were made during this period, a decrease of 37% compared to the same period last year. In the EU, the average decrease is 23%, said Karner. The number of asylum applications from Syria, in particular, has decreased in Austria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stricter approach by Germany, which now turns back irregular migrants at the border, has also had positive effects, according to the Austrian minister. "This has also led to further relief here," said the conservative politician. In the Austrian border regions, asylum applications have decreased by 25% and apprehensions by 30%. Karner reiterated his stance that Europe must in the future advance asylum procedures outside the EU. Among the key reasons for the development is the now much-improved border protection at the Bulgarian border, he said. The EU has supported the expansion of the border with funds of 300 million ($350 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An indicator of how high the hurdles have become is the sharply increased price for smuggling: Those who want to be brought illegally across the Bulgarian border must now pay 9,000 to human traffickers, instead of 1,000 a few years ago, said Karner. Among the measures in the asylum area that are proving effective, Karner counted the suspension of family reunification in Austria. While in May and June 2024, 2,000 family members were still being reunited, now it is only 130. Furthermore, the seamless introduction of the benefits card in the federal care centres has proven effective, the minister continued. Since asylum seekers no longer receive cash, they cannot send money back to their home countries. The significant decline in asylum applications in Austria is a lesson for how the European Union should tighten its migration policy, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Monday. "Austria has become tougher, and Europe must also become tougher in this area," Karner said during the presentation of the asylum report for the first half of 2025. In Austria, around 8,600 asylum applications were made during this period, a decrease of 37% compared to the same period last year. In the EU, the average decrease is 23%, said Karner. The number of asylum applications from Syria, in particular, has decreased in Austria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stricter approach by Germany, which now turns back irregular migrants at the border, has also had positive effects, according to the Austrian minister. "This has also led to further relief here," said the conservative politician. In the Austrian border regions, asylum applications have decreased by 25% and apprehensions by 30%. Karner reiterated his stance that Europe must in the future advance asylum procedures outside the EU. Among the key reasons for the development is the now much-improved border protection at the Bulgarian border, he said. The EU has supported the expansion of the border with funds of 300 million ($350 million). An indicator of how high the hurdles have become is the sharply increased price for smuggling: Those who want to be brought illegally across the Bulgarian border must now pay 9,000 to human traffickers, instead of 1,000 a few years ago, said Karner. Jul. 20Listen to "Talk-Line: Rep. Brad Fritts on running for a third term and more" on Spreaker. The TALK-LINE interview for July 18 featured Illinois 74th District state Rep. Brad Fritts of Dixon discussing the wrap-up to the most recent General Assembly work on June 1. [ Dixon's Fritts will seek third term in Illinois House ] Topics discussed include: passing the largest budget ever for the state of Illinois, a lawsuit brought forth by Fritts along with other state officials concerning the Illinois Constitution three reading rule, an announcement made stating that he will run again for a third term as State Representative, questions asked during his "Summer Tour" of stops in the district and upcoming events he will attend. Like what you hear? Be sure to visit WIXN, part of Shaw Local Radio. We're also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. NEED TO KNOW An Illinois woman was sentenced to 30 years for killing her girlfriend in 2023 Prosecutors said Alexia Telles, 28, tried to stage the death as a suicide after an argument turned deadly Evidence and her own statements to police led to a guilty plea An Illinois woman has learned her fate for killing her girlfriend and staging the woman's death to look like a suicide. Alexia Telles, 28, was sentenced by a judge to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2023 death of Annissa Ellen-Williams, the Kendall County State's Attorney's Office announced in a press release shared on July 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Telles was arrested and charged back in February 2023, after she arrived at a home in Oswego, Ill., with her girlfriend, Ellen-Williams. The victim had suffered a traumatic head wound and was later pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts by medical personnel. An investigation revealed the couple had an argument while Ellen-Williams was driving, prosecutors said. Evidence including forensic tests, digital records, and statements made by Telles led investigators to conclude that Telles intentionally killed Ellen-Williams and tried to stage it as a suicide, per the release. 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. These cases can be difficult to prosecute because only two people know exactly what occurred that fateful night," Kendall County States Attorney Eric Weis said in the release. "However, the investigative work done by law enforcement and the Coroners Office led to the successful prosecution of Telles for the murder of Ms. Ellen-Williams." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weis added, This sentence ensures that justice is served, and the victims family does not have to endure the pain of a trial. Telles has accepted responsibility for the heartless act she committed against someone she professed to care so much for. Prosecutors said Telles will have to serve the entirety of her 30-year prison sentence. After completing the sentence, she will be subject to three years of mandatory supervised release. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People Sen. Aaron Reed, right, sponsored a bill to lower the legal age for carrying a concealed weapon from 21 to 18. The Senate approved the bill but it died in the House. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, left, confers with Reed, R-Shelbyville, during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, Feb. 13, 2025. (LRC Public Information) At approximately noon on Sunday, July 13, 47-year-old Guy House shot and wounded a Kentucky State Police officer near Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, then carjacked a vehicle and drove several miles to a small church on Old Richmond Road, where he shot two women to death and wounded two men. House was scheduled to appear at a domestic violence hearing the next day; he had a lengthy criminal record dating back more than two decades, which included possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; he repeatedly violated his probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And still, House had a gun. Per the statistics at Everytown for Gun Safety, Kentuckys gun laws are among the worst in the country, and the state has one of the higher rates of gun violence in the nation. Kentucky has none of the foundational policies in place after legislators repealed its concealed carry permitting requirement in 2019. So lets talk about the most recent conversation at our state legislature regarding concealed carry. In a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on March 6, Sen. Aaron Reed presented Senate Bill 75 to lower the age to carry a concealed firearm from 21 to 18. Co-sponsors of Reeds bill included a long list of state senators: Gary Boswell, Jared Carpenter, Shelley Funke Frommeyer, Jason Howell, Scott Madon, Stephen Meredith, Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, Michael Nemes, Matt Nunn, Steve Rawlings, Craig Richardson, Brandon Smith, Senate President Robert Stivers, Brandon Storm, Lindsey Tichenor, Robin Webb, Stephen West, Phillip Wheeler, Gex Williams, Majority Whip Mike Wilson and Majority Floor Leader Max Wise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testifying in the seat next to Reed was a representative from the National Rifle Association. Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, speaks on the Senate floor, March 14, 2025. (LRC Public Information) Before the committee voted to advance SB 75, Sen. Danny Carroll, a police officer for more than two decades, spoke against the bill. I personally do not see anything to gain by passing this bill, and thats from 24 years as a law enforcement officer, Carroll said. You know, you are always taught to assume that everyone is carrying a concealed weapon, mainly with the segment of society that law enforcement often deals with, and I think this is just going to kick this up to another level where they are going to be carrying concealed. Sen. Carroll continued, I was lost when we took training away from carrying concealed with constitutional carry. My entire adult life as a law enforcement officer, I was trained regularly to know how and when to shoot that gun. The idea of people carrying a concealed weapon, who may not even know how to shoot that weapon, is terrifying. I think we went too far there, and I think this is another where we have gone too far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Carrolls warnings, in his area of expertise, were disregarded. Their discussion lasted ~25 minutes. The committee voted to send the bill to the senate floor, where it passed easily 26-11 before it stalled in the House. Recent gun bills include, but are not limited to, the following: Two years ago House Bill 153 made Kentucky a Second Amendment sanctuary state. HB 153 passed in the House 78-19 and in the Senate 27-9 and became law on March 28, 2023. Senate Bill 13 was filed by GOP Sen. Whitney Westerfield in 2024 to address temporarily removing firearms from those who are mentally unstable. SB 13 was assigned to the Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection committee. It never received a hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it is notable that House Bill 5 the omnibus anti-crime bill ignominiously titled the Safer Kentucky Act that garnered a massive amount of committee time, publicity and news coverage addressed punishment for crimes after-the-fact but did not address prevention of gun violence at all. HB 5 became law on April 12, 2024. Meanwhile, numerous firearm safety bills are proposed each year but never considered. What follows is a partial list of bills that were filed during Kentuckys 2025 regular session. None of these bills ever received a hearing. House Bill 330 Prohibit firearm possession by convicted domestic abusers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 409 Require a 5 day waiting period. Senate Bill 235 A re-filing of 2024 Senate Bill 13 (CARR) to temporarily remove firearms from a person in mental health crisis. Neither bill received a hearing. House Bill 55 Hold adults civilly liable for minors accessing their guns. House Bill 93 A person shall not target shoot carelessly, recklessly, or without regard for the safety of any person. House Bill 20 Prohibit unlawful storage of a firearm; establish elements of the crime as recklessly allowing access to an unsecured firearm by a minor. House Bill 124 Require background checks for private firearms sales; require reporting to law enforcement of firearm and ammunition thefts and losses; require the safe storage of firearms and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 214 Tax credit for taking firearm training. Senate Bill 92 Require destruction if the firearm was used in the commission of a violent offense. Following the 2023 Old National Bank mass shooting in Louisville, the Kentucky Medical Association designated gun violence a public health crisis. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported: Two of the KMAs proposals related to gun safety include barbed criticisms of Kentuckys GOP supermajority, which, as one resolution notes, has denied protection of our school children, citizens and police officers by ignoring control measures for assault rifles and killing enhancements by avoiding enactment of effective background checks and red flag laws. Two years later, after the shooting of a Kentucky State Police officer and a shooting in a church, the Republican Party of Kentucky posted the following on its X account: We are deeply shocked and heartbroken by the tragic attack on law enforcement and members of the faith community in central Kentucky. We ask everyone to join us in praying for the families of those who lost their lives and for the recovery of those who were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentuckys gun laws are among the worst in the country. Our lawmakers are shocked, heartbroken, praying. And yet, year after year after year, these same lawmakers dismiss the advice of their own experts like Sen. Carroll and refuse to so much as consider bills to make Kentuckians safer from gun violence. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Cincinnati-area man is accused of threatening ICE agents in posts on social media, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Anthony Kelly, 38, is facing federal charges in connection with threats to "assault, kidnap and murder" a U.S. government official, Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a July 19 social-media post. Court records pertaining to Kelly's arrest were not immediately available. It remains unclear exactly what charges he's facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 15 people face felony charge after arrests at ICE protest on Roebling Bridge McLaughlin shared images of social-media posts allegedly made by Kelly, in which the poster responded to posts about ICE activities with threats to shoot its agents. "You come here for me, you're getting shot," one post reads. "I'm shooting for the kill." ARRESTED: Anthony Kelly out of Cincinnati, OH has been taken into federal custody for making terroristic threats against ICE agents. Kelly will face federal charges for threatening to assault, kidnap, and murder a United States official. During the search, HSI Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/Xuz5y1g152 Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) July 19, 2025 When Homeland Security investigators searched Kelly's residence, they recovered a firearm and ammunition, the spokeswoman said. "These threats will not be tolerated," McLaughlin added. "You will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Jail records show Kelly is being held at the Butler County Jail. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio man accused of making social media posts threatening ICE agents Cordova, Tenn. Shots were fired in the parking lot of a Cordova Mexican restaurant late Sunday night after an argument inside the business, police say. Officers say they responded to the Happy Mexican location along North Germantown Parkway after 11:30 p.m. Sunday. A security guard told police that he broke up a fight between two woman and two men in the restaurant and pushed them outside. That is when he says he saw one of the men involved in the argument pull out a gun and fire shots at the person he was arguing with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pregnant woman injured in South Memphis shooting When officers arrived, they said the suspect and everyone involved in the argument had left the scene. One of the bullets hit a car, but no one was struck, police say. If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Photo courtesy Pamela Tsigdinos) Ambitious people willing to sacrifice the common good and the potential health and safety of communities in the name of power and money are nothing new. But it still takes your breath away when you witness it up close. The Washoe County Commissioners meeting July 15 evoked a scene from the movie Jaws the one where Richard Dreyfus character tries to get the mayor of a popular destination to prioritize health and safety, but to no avail. The mayor of Jaws fictitious Amity Island didnt want to jeopardize tourism revenue or future development. Harm was done. Lives were lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washoe Tahoe community members in chambers and via remote link echoed Richard Dreyfus last week pleading again with authorities not to approve development codes that would allow increased building height and density and population in a geographically constrained mountainous area lacking an up-to-date wildfire evacuation plan. Its well known that Tahoes congested two-lane roads are ill-equipped to handle a mass evacuation. Worse, Washoe county admitted last year that its out-of-date emergency management plan never included tens of thousands of visitors let alone construction teams and new inhabitants. Heightening the problem today, budget cuts have left federal disaster aid uncertain for states and local jurisdictions that rely on federal grants. The dramatic proposed code changes that will forever alter north Tahoes rural landscape originated from Lake Tahoes overlord: the bi-state Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), headquartered in Stateline, NV. The agency in recent years has become quite chummy with developers, resort operators and investors with significant business before the TRPA. These include Edgewood Companies, Vail Resorts, Palisades Tahoe, and Homewood Mountain Resort controlled by the private equity firm JMA. TRPAs governing board includes Washoe county Chair Alexis Hill whose donors include developer, construction, and realtors groups. While a commissioner Hill has directed tax money to the Tahoe Prosperity Center (where she serves as Board Chair) and the Tahoe Fund (which boasts a whos who board) to fund studies and playbooks that benefit tourism and development projects and initiatives, often vigorously opposed by Tahoe communities. Hill also sits on the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA), which derives tens of millions of dollars in tourism revenue from transient occupancy tax and Lake Tahoe promotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hill is the closest thing to a mayor for the nearly 9,000 person Washoe Tahoe community members who reside in district 1, which also includes portions of the northwest and southwest Truckee Meadows. Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long, north to south, and 12 miles wide, with 72 miles of shoreline. Unincorporated Tahoe communities rely on counties for most of their services. Some 15 rural villages and one city encircle Lake Tahoe, which spans Nevada and California. None of Washoe countys five commissioners live within the Tahoe basin. Concern about Lake Tahoes environmental and wildfire challenges has been an ongoing theme. For the past several years, Tahoe residents have shown up in force at TRPA, Nevada legislative and county meetings pleading for an updated cumulative environmental review, carrying capacity, and a comprehensive basin-wide wildfire evacuation plan ahead of any new development allowances. At a pivotal TRPA governing board meeting in December 2023 an overflowing room of residents, some forced to wait outside in a snow-filled frigid parking lot, came to express valid concerns about urbanizing a rural region with limited infrastructure. There were more than 600 pages of public comment about the egregious lack of environmental review and wildfire evacuation planning. One resident even wrote that she was updating her will to ask her descendants to sue TRPA should she die in a wildfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past year each of Tahoes counties had to choose to adopt TRPAs code changes or opt out. Hill now has to sell the package to Washoe Countys four other commissioners. Yesterdays presentation was nothing short of a Kabuki dance between the Washoe planner Eric Young and Hill who made quite a show of pretending to care about residents legitimate concerns, but not so much that theyd fight TRPA on behalf of residents. In whats become deja-vu all over again, Richard Miner, former head of the Incline Village and Crystal Bay Historical Society, didnt mince words: the countys elected representatives must not continue to subvert the will of the citizens to the go-along-to-get-along attitude. The evidence is incontrovertible that increasing the density of the population of the Lake Tahoe Basin is the roadmap to disasterno, if, ands, or buts about it. It is this countys last chance to stand up for sanity. He added, Commissioner Hill, you need to show some guts and vote no on the Area Plan as now written. The protection and preservation of the Lake Tahoe Basin is now in your hands. Kristina Hill (no relation to the commissioner), a former TRPA planner, Washoe County Board of Adjustment Chair, and Lake Tahoe Environmental Planning Consultant for 41 years, on July 15 stated the proposed amendments are a sham allowing more development disguised as workforce housing which will result in more market rate residential condos and housing units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District 2 Commissioner Mike Clark concurred with that opinion and emphasized the chaos that accompanied the Los Angeles wildfire evacuations. He said his mantra was do no harm and we shouldnt be a part of adding more congestion up there. He encouraged much more discussion before any action is taken. District 5 Commissioner Jeanne Herman added, I agree that the concerns that people have are serious and I feel for themIm so concerned about what this could do. In 2021 Herman was the lone dissenting vote against zoning changes that enabled residential homes in unincorporated district 1, many of which housed local workers holding long-term leases, to be converted into transient housing for tourists. Commissioner Hill, who claims to be a champion for local workers, led the motion in 2021 to allow unlimited short-term rentals in Washoe Tahoe, which played no small part in the displacement of community members whose long-term rentals were not renewed. Not recognizing the irony, she advanced the latest development code changes that will add to roadway congestion, further strain infrastructure, and heighten evacuation challenges saying: I dont want someone to say why did we bring this [development code] forward to the commission and the commission did nothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more likely question when a natural disaster befalls Washoe Tahoe will be: Why did resident concerns about evacuation get raised repeatedly and the commission (and TRPA) did nothing? The second reading of the Washoe Tahoe Area Plan code changes will be August 26, 2025. AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) A silent protest was held at a government building in Aiken on Sunday, July 20 to bring awareness to a deadly battle in southern Syria. A group of local people from Syria organized the event to draw attention to the fight between two religious groups that they say has turned many innocent bystanders into victims, including their own family members. Theyre asking the U.S. government to get more involved. No electricity, I cannot talk to my family. They would send us a text message like every two days telling us theyre alive and thats all we know about them, said Lujain Abusaada, a silent protestor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very important for us to bring their stories for the world to see whats happening in Syria, said Khalid Abusaada, a silent protestor. Last week, the Trump Administration outlined a plan to help Syria rebuild after the fall of previous President Bassar Al-Assads regime in December. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WKRN) First responders were called out to Tullahoma after a skydiver got tangled up in a tree Sunday afternoon, according to officials. The Coffee County Emergency Management Agency told News 2 that three skydivers jumped on Sunday, July 20. Two of them landed fine, but the third got stuck in a tree. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Crews are reportedly working to perform a rope rescue along Ledford Mill Road after officials determined it was too dense for a helicopter. Coffee County EMAs director sent News 2 the following pictures, which were taken at 7:45 p.m.: (Courtesy: Coffee County EMA) (Courtesy: Coffee County EMA) Shortly before 8:15 p.m., the agency director informed News 2 the skydiver was safely on the ground without any injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about this incident. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com This news comes six weeks after a skydiving plane crashed near the Tullahoma Regional Airport while 20 people were on board, leaving several injured, officials said. 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. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) Longtime pilot Julius Rice remembers growing up as close to the seat of an aircraft as a kid possibly could, with photos as an infant sitting in an airplane evidence to back it up. My dad and my grandpa always had airplanes. So I grew up around airplanes," said Rice, manager of Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph and deputy chief of staff with the Missouri Air National Guard's 139th Airlift Wing. The spark for Rice's aviation career, though, would come just a few years later: an elementary school field trip to the Air National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, one of the country's premier units for tactical fighter planes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's the earliest memory of me going 'I want to be in aviation,'" he said. "Those field trips with the young kids, that's pretty important." Organized field trips to Rosecrans Memorial Airport and the 139th Airlift Wing are now a point of pride for Rice as a staple of their community engagement efforts that have taken off in recent years with an infusion of new events, technology and opportunities to take to the skies and enter the field of aviation. Coupled with the success of flight leaders like Lute Atieh and his FlyTech Pilot Academy, launched in 2024, the two are expanding St. Joseph's footprint in aviation and boosting efforts to inspire new generations to pursue careers. Rosecrans Memorial Airport Manager Julius Rice, left, and FlyTech Pilot Academy co-founder Lute Atieh speak at the new Rosecrans terminal building in July in St. Joseph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was like, well, let's try flight school and see how that goes. And that went wildly well and very quickly," Atieh said. "We've been really fortunate on the flight school side of things." While his earliest airplane memories may not date back as far as Rice's, Atieh's passion for flight and supporting careers in aviation has been just as unwavering, including working alongside Rice to put on the award-winning Sound of Speed airshows, winner of Best Airshow in 2021 and 2024 courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Now, the focus has been supporting long-held and beloved airshow events next scheduled for 2026 with new opportunities that continue the buzz of aviation. "We have such a great airport. I don't think a lot of people here realize it. We're in a unique situation and we want to share that and make this accessible and available," he said. "It's an exciting time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With more than $35 million in widespread infrastructure upgrades over the last several years, including a new terminal building, runway and air traffic control tower nearing completion, the 86-year-old Rosecrans Memorial Airport is transforming from an aging and outdated facility to a state-of-the-art complex ripe for more opportunities. Rice and Atieh successfully organized a first-of-its-kind aviation event for St. Joseph this June in the Pony Express STOL (short takeoff and landing), a competitive series where STOL aircraft orchestrate difficult and precise landings and takeoffs on shorter runways. The inaugural event drew strong crowds and pilots from a variety of age groups. A large crowd of people watches aircraft perform in the Pony Express STOL at Rosecrans Memorial Airport this summer in St. Joseph. The more people you can get out here using the airport, the more activity, the more planes, the more pilots. That's something that's important," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rice said a wealth of opportunities currently exist for an aviation career, some becoming available as early as high school and after graduation, while others can pursue more advanced degrees. With critical staffing needs in the aviation industry only heightened by recent U.S. aviation disasters, from air traffic controllers to pilots and critical positions like mechanics and electricians, Rice and Atieh understand the importance of renewed interest in the success of the industry long-term, both for the public and private sectors. "If we don't go out and actively pursue the next generation of aviation enthusiasts, they're not going to exist," Rice said. "Across the board in aviation, there's a shortfall in people." New flight simulator technology at Hillyard Technical Center offers another immersive layer to St. Joseph's aviation scene, a particularly valuable tool for young aspiring aviators with little flight experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atieh credited the St. Joseph School District with helping support efforts to engage students in aviation, including a new aviation maintenance program in the works at Hillyard. You've got the next wave of this electronic vertical takeoff and landing. It's huge," Atieh said. "One day, I think all of us hope to attract that type of a manufacturer out here. We've got plenty of land, plenty of space, lots of great workforce. And so that's the long-term goal. In the short term, Rice and Atieh are focused on the upcoming International Council of Airshows in December, part of the 2026 Sound of Speed Airshow planning process that could reveal which jet teams come to St. Joseph. With high-level airshows and aviation events often coming with costly price tags, Rice and Atieh said support from the community and sponsors like Sunshine Electric, Altec and Mosaic Life Care, among many others, continues to make the events a possibility for the community. A SkyWest flight had to perform a go-around maneuver after it nearly collided with a B-52 bomber Friday before landing in North Dakota. The air traffic control tower had cleared the plane to approach the airport, but the pilot "performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path," SkyWest said in a statement. The SkyWest pilot identified the second plane as a B-52 bomber. The Air Force said Sunday evening that it was "looking into" reports of a military aircraft operating in the same airspace as a commercial airplane. It added that a B-52 assigned to Minot Air Force Base had conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delta Flight 3788, operated by SkyWest, landed safely in Minot, North Dakota, after it flew in from Minneapolis, the airline said. SkyWest said it is investigating the incident. The near-collision Friday comes just six months after a military helicopter hit a passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, killing 67 people. In video posted to social media and verified by NBC News, the plane's pilot explains to passengers what happened in the air and apologizes for what he called an "aggressive maneuver." The pilot says that the ATC tower instructed him to turn right but that when he looked over, he saw a B-52 bomber. He says that he was then instructed to turn left but that at that point, he looked over and "saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second aircraft was moving faster than the SkyWest plane, the pilot says, so he made the decision to turn behind it. "So, sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise," the pilot says in the video. "This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up." The pilot concludes: "Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for understanding." The passengers applaud, the video shows. The passenger who recorded the video, Monica Green, said she was "so sick to my stomach that that was so close to happening." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she felt the plane take a hard turn and then "I just remember the plane going, like, sideways ... and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass, like you weren't seeing the skyline anymore." She said she is anxious about returning to the airport in Minot to fly home. In the video, the pilot also mentions that the tower that serves Minot International Airport does not have a radar and that controllers rely only on visuals to make calls. The Air Force Base nearby does have radar, the pilot says, which causes him to wonder why nobody said, "Hey, there's also a B-52 in the pattern." NBC News aviation analyst Jeff Guzzetti said the lack of radar capability at smaller airport is not at all uncommon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are many small airports across the country that have commercial service that don't have radar. Instead, they'll have some sort of coordinating communication with another radar facility several miles away, perhaps with a military base," Guzzetti said. Since the airport in Minot is so small, the federal government allows it to be a "contract tower," Guzzetti said. That means the air traffic controllers are not federal employees but are contractors hired by the FAA who are usually retired controllers. Contract towers are also not unheard of, he said there are 265 of them in the United States. The key question, Guzzetti said, is how much coordination there was between the Air Force base and the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wouldnt think that you would need a more powerful radar system or a larger tower to prevent things like this, Guzzetti said. "I just think that you need good coordination between the military base and the local civilian airport to work together to avoid these types of near misses." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The pilot of a SkyWest flight told passengers Friday night that he performed an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a B-52 military aircraft in-flight as he came in for a landing in Minot, North Dakota then apologized for the sudden move. The airline said in a statement that SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection on a flight from Minneapolis, "landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performing a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident." SkyWest said the flight had 76 passengers and four crew members on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video recorded by passenger Monica Green and obtained by CBS News, the pilot is heard calmly announcing to passengers: "For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kinda sorta coming at us. Nobody told us about it and so we continued." The pilot explained that the tower at the Minot airport doesn't have radar, so air traffic controllers do everything visually. The pilot said he "saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us." "Given his speed," the pilot continued, "it was a military (aircraft). I don't know how fast they were going but they were a lot faster than us. I thought the safest thing to do was to turn behind it. So, sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads-up because the (nearby) Air Force base does have radar and nobody said, 'Hey, there's also a B-52 in the pattern.'" "Long story short, it was not fun but I do apologize for it and I thank you for everything. It was not a fun day at work today," the pilot added, at which point the passengers started applauding. The Air Force confirmed in a statement to CBS News on Monday that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot Air Force Base was operating in the area at the time, having conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair. Minot Air Force Base said later Monday in a statement that the B-52 was performing the flyover for "a special event recognizing the city of Minot as a 'Great American Defense Community.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The flyover was planned in advance and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. This included the FAA's local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control," the base said. The base said it communicated the flyover plans to Minot Approach Control throughout the event and that, while in a planned holding pattern, the B-52 crew "communicated the flyover plan to both RAPCON and Minot International Airport's air traffic control tower." "Minot Approach directed the B-52 crew at 7:43 p.m. to contact Minot International Airport's air traffic control. The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft," the base said. Green, the passenger who recorded the video of the pilot making the announcement, said that as the aircraft was descending, she felt it jolt to the right. She said it felt like going around a sharp turn on a roller coaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I could look out the window and see straight at the grass instead of seeing the horizon," she said. Green said she wants answers. The flight stuck with her during her trip home to Dallas on Monday. "I was sweating," she told CBS News. "I was shaking. I was not excited to get on and it really hit me once we started taking off." The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that it is investigating the incident. "Air traffic services were provided by the Minot air traffic control tower, which is run by a private company. These controllers are not FAA employees," the agency said. Detroit lawnmower gang still going strong after 15 years Video shows father being detained by ICE while dropping child off at preschool Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks at Large Banks Conference amid Trump criticism July 21 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday said it's investigating the incident that occurred between a Delta regional jet and a B-52 aircraft. On Friday, a SkyWest flight departed from Minnesota to North Dakota when a B-52 bomber "became visible in their flight path" as it prepared to land in Minot International Airport. The FAA and SkyWest are in the middle of their own inquiries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SkyWest aircraft performed an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a collision with another aircraft on the same flight course. The pilot was then forced to perform "a go-around" to avoid collision with the aircraft. After the flight -- Delta 3788, operated by SkyWest -- landed safely, the pilot apologized to the passengers. "Given his speed ... I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it," the pilot said, according to video of his announcement to passengers. "So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, it caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads-up, because the Air Force base does have radar ... long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding. Not a ... not a fun day at work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot added that controllers at the airport rely on visuals to make calls because it does not have radar. "I just remember the plane going, sideways and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass, like you weren't seeing the skyline anymore," said Monica Green who shared video of the pilot's apology to social media. "We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter. We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening," an Air Force spokesperson said. A Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines Embraer E175LR aircraft departs from San Diego International Airport for Los Angeles on March 4. A SkyWest pilot flying from Minnesota to North Dakota said he had to make an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a collision. Kevin Carter via Getty Images The pilot operating a SkyWest flight from Minnesota to North Dakota on Friday night apologized to passengers after making what they described as an aggressive maneuver to avoid a midair collision with a military aircraft, according to audio of their intercom message recorded by a passenger. Speaking to passengers after making a safe landing in Minot just after 8 p.m. local time, based on FlightAware data, the pilot said the air traffic control tower had failed to notify the crew about another aircraft being on a converging course with them, prompting them to act fast. Sorry about the aggressive maneuver, the pilot, who has not been named in reports, said, according to a video from the plane verified by NBC News. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding. Its not a fun day at work, they continued. The airline confirmed the incident, adding that it is has already launched a probe. SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path, the airline said in a statement to HuffPost. We are investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the Air Force also said it is looking into the reports of last weeks incident, while confirming that a B-52 aircraft was operating in the area on Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their message to passengers, the pilot shared they believed the aircraft they almost collided with was a military plane given its speed. I dont know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us. I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it, he added. Road and utility infrastructure for a more than 140-acre business park in Somerset is being built with the help of a state grant. Earlier this July, the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority said it will receive approximately $1.35 million from the Kentucky Product Development Initiative for its Commerce Park. The money is in addition to a $500,000 grant for the authoritys Commerce Park from the same program in 2024 and an almost $1.6 million grant in 2023. Those awards from the state built an intersection at the parks entrance and got eight sites up to build-ready standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Road projects are anticipated to alleviate traffic congestion brought to the area by industry as it moves into the park that is near the Valley Oak Commerce Complex. The 150-acre industrial park is home to warehousing, as well as logistics and distribution centers. Some acreage at Valley Oak not suitable for industrial use is under construction to make way for affordable housing. Chris Girdler, the president and CEO of the authority, said the commerce park is the communitys first in three decades. The states continuous support over the past three years speaks volumes about the parks potential, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Girder said build-ready sites increase the speed at which prospective buyers might enter the market. According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, a build-ready site allows companies to bypass red tape because zoning is taken care of, environmental issues have been resolved, utilities have been extended, roads are accessible and construction can begin immediately. In its summer impact report, the authoritys leadership team said its working to cement itself as one of the states leading areas for business investment and expansion. The report says in the past six years, its had more than $500 million in new and existing business investment in local power plant projects, bourbon barrel production and in the technology sector. The Commerce Park is on what was the Garner property in Somersets Pine Hill and Barnesburg Road areas. In 2020, the Kentucky National Guard said it would build a regional readiness center and field maintenance shop on 18 acres in the park. the authority has since sold an additional 11 acres to a private developer that has plans to build a retail complex in part of the park facing Kentucky Route 80, according to the authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky Product Development Initiative provides funding to communities across the state to invest in site and building upgrades that are likely to support more well-paying jobs and economic growth. The initiative is a collaboration between the Cabinet for Economic Development and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development. The initiatives funding round that concluded this year supported 90 projects that were approved for a combined $85 million. Including local contributions, those projects generated over $512 million to the states buildings portfolio, the state said July 11. After this summers round of funding was announced, Terri Bradshaw, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development, said the money represents a powerful investment in the future of our communities enhancing our competitiveness, strengthening local economies and accelerating job creation across the commonwealth. When the Commerce Park had some of its sites declared as build-ready certified by the state, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said he was looking forward to how it would change the community. Providing Build-Ready sites to enhance new business investment is another important step in our holistic economic development strategy, one that is centered around quality of life and quality of place, Keck said. SOMERSET, Ky. (FOX 56) A death investigation is underway after a Somerset man died while in custody over the weekend. Kentucky State Police announced that on Friday, July 18, the Pulaski County Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Marshals Service were serving an arrest warrant on Brian Turner, 47, at a home on KY Highway 1676. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before being arrested, authorities told KSP that Turner ingested a substantial amount of possible methamphetamine. He was taken to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the Pulaski County Coroners Office. On Monday, July 21, KSP confirmed Turner was taken to the medical examiners office in Frankfort for an autopsy. Toxicology results are still pending, but the reported drug use is believed to be a contributing factor in his 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 56 News. The explosives that detonated and killed three L.A. County Sheriffs Department deputies may have been found in a storage unit at an apartment complex in Santa Monica, a law enforcement source tells KTLA. The source then reported that authorities initially thought the explosives, military-style grenades, were inert before they cut one open the next day as part of a training exercise. The blast occurred last Friday morning at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles. The three deputies, Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn, were killed while moving undetonated ordnance, sources told KTLA on Friday. All three were assigned to the LASD Special Enforcement Bureaus Arson Explosives Detail. From left: Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. New reports emerging Monday morning indicate that the explosives may have been connected to an operation that took place last Thursday the day before the blast in Santa Monica. Deputies, including the three who perished, were called to an apartment building on Bay Street to assist Santa Monica Police Department officers with an investigation into explosive devices found in a storage unit near the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Explosion is LASDs deadliest day in nearly 170 years, Sheriff Luna says A source told KTLA that the explosives found in the apartments storage unit on Thursday may be what killed the deputies on Friday. It was later reported by the same source that the explosives, two military-style grenades, were X-rayed at the scene and deemed inert on Thursday. The grenades, according to the source, had been stolen by a member of the U.S. military during their training. The three deputies loaded them into their unit and took them back to East Los Angeles. Per the law enforcement source, on the following day, the deputies cut one of the grenades in half as a training exercise in order to examine what was inside of it thinking it would not explode; however, that is when the device detonated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the source, it was a tragic mistake or accident that caused the men to lose their lives, KTLA 5s Eric Spillman reported. Spillman reached out to the Sheriffs Department for official confirmation; however, they were not able to verify what the source said, but an LASD official did tell KTLA that grenades were discovered in Santa Monica. The official said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is continuing to investigate to determine if the devices found on Thursday were in fact the cause of the explosion that occurred on Friday. The explosives that detonated and killed three L.A. County Sheriffs Department deputies may have been found in a storage unit at an apartment complex in Santa Monica, a law enforcement source tells KTLA. The explosives that detonated and killed three L.A. County Sheriffs Department deputies may have been found in a storage unit at an apartment complex in Santa Monica, a law enforcement source tells KTLA. A resident of the Santa Monica apartment complex said that a woman calling 911 after she found the explosives in her storage unit, which likely belonged to the previous tenant, who he confirmed was once a member of the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man who lived here a number of years ago was ex-military, the resident explained to KTLA. He had some firearms, as well as, apparently, grenades. We all have storage units, and the woman who currently lives in the apartment he used to live in found these grenades in her storage unit they were hidden in some way, or it seems like they were forgotten, he elaborated. 3 deputies killed in East L.A. explosion leave behind 16 children The explosive devices recovered on Thursday were then brought back to the East L.A. facility by authorities, where the deputies were believed to be moving them when they detonated on Friday. 3 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies died in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on July 18, 2025. (KTLA) Sky5 was over a training facility where at least three deputies were killed in an explosion in East Los Angeles. July 2025. (KTLA) 3 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies died in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on July 18, 2025. (KTLA) 3 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies died in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on July 18, 2025. (KTLA) 3 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies died in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on July 18, 2025. (KTLA) 3 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies died in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on July 18, 2025. (KTLA) 3 Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies died in an explosion at the Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles on July 18, 2025. (KTLA) Bomb squad technicians were seen at the apartment complex later on Friday investigating the area and evacuating residents while searching for any more explosive material. It was not immediately clear whether any was found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KTLA is still awaiting official confirmation from the Sheriffs Department on whether the explosives found in Santa Monica were the ones that detonated and killed the deputies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed the higher education minister from her position, his office said on Monday, after his party's key coalition partner accused her of misconduct. The removal of Nobuhle Nkabane from her post could help defuse tensions between Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), the two biggest parties in the coalition government, ahead of a budget vote this week. The DA alleges that Nkabane helped engineer the appointment of ANC-connected individuals to the boards of skills development organizations and lied to parliament to cover that up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nkabane has denied the allegations against her, according to local television station eNCA. She said in a statement that it had been a privilege to serve in her position. The DA welcomed Nkabane's dismissal. The party stepped up its criticism of the minister after Ramaphosa fired its deputy trade minister for not receiving presidential permission for an overseas trip, in the latest spat between the two main governing parties. The DA threatened to vote against the budgets of departments led by ANC ministers it has accused of wrongdoing, including Nkabane, potentially disrupting the national budget. Lawmakers are due to consider the last major piece of budget legislation, the Appropriation Bill, on Wednesday. (Reporting by Alexander Winning and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Jan Harvey) Development financing to Southeast Asia is expected to fall by more than $2bn in 2026 due to recent cutbacks by Western governments, according to a major Australian think tank. The Sydney-based Lowy Institute predicted in a new report on Sunday that development assistance to Southeast Asia will drop to $26.5bn next year from $29bn in 2023. The figures are billions of dollars below the pre-pandemic average of $33bn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bilateral funding is also expected to fall by 20 percent from about $11bn in 2023 to $9bn in 2026, the report said. The cuts will hit poorer countries in the regions hardest, and social sector priorities such as health, education, and civil society support that rely on bilateral aid funding are likely to lose out the most, the report said. Fewer alternatives Cuts by Europe and the United Kingdom have been made to redirect funds as NATO members plan to raise defence spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the shadow of Russias war on Ukraine. The European Union and seven European governments will cut foreign aid by $17.2bn between 2025 and 2029, while this year, the UK announced it will cut foreign aid spending by $7.6bn annually, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The greatest upset has come from the United States, where earlier this year, President Donald Trump shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and slashed nearly $60bn in foreign assistance. More recently, the US Senate took steps to claw back another $8bn in spending. The Lowy Institute said governments closer to home, like China, will play an increasingly important role in the development landscape. The centre of gravity in Southeast Asias development finance landscape looks set to drift East, notably to Beijing but also Tokyo and Seoul, the report said. Combined with potentially weakening trade ties with the United States, Southeast Asian countries risk finding themselves with fewer alternatives to support their development. After experiencing a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese overseas development assistance has started to bounce back, reaching $4.9bn in 2023, according to the report. Its spending, however, focuses more on infrastructure projects, like railways and ports, rather than social sector issues, the report said. Beijings preference for non-concessional loans given at commercial rates benefits Southeast Asias middle- and high-income countries, but is less helpful for its poorest, like Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and East Timor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As China and institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank play a more prominent role in Southeast Asia, less clear is how Japan and South Korea can fill in the blanks, according to experts. Japan, South Korea Grace Stanhope, a Lowy Institute research associate and one of the reports authors, told Al Jazeera that both countries have expanded their development assistance to include civil society projects. [While] Japanese and Korean development support is often less overtly values-based than traditional Western aid, weve been seeing Japan especially move into the governance and civil society sectors, with projects in 2023 that are explicitly focused on democracy and protection of vulnerable migrants, for example, she said. The same is true of [South] Korea, which has recently supported projects for improving the transparency of Vietnamese courts and protection of women from gender-based violence, so the approach of the Japanese and Korean development programmes is evolving beyond just infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tokyo and Seoul, however, are facing similar pressures as Europe from the Trump administration to increase their defence budgets, cutting into their development assistance. Shiga Hiroaki, a professor at the Graduate School of International Social Sciences at Yokohama National University, said he was more pessimistic that Japan could step in to fill the gaps left by the West. He said cuts could even be made as Tokyo ramps up defence spending to a historic high, and a Japanese-first right-wing party pressures the government to redirect funds back home. Considering Japans huge fiscal deficit and public opposition to tax increases, it is highly likely that the aid budget will be sacrificed to fund defence spending, he said. GLOUSTER, Ohio (WCMH) An Athens County superintendent resigned last week, blaming the board of education for the districts financial troubles and his departure. I can no longer continue in my role under the current circumstances, Trimble Local School District Superintendent John Hurd wrote in his resignation letter. The increasingly overreaching involvement of the board into the day-to-day operations of the schools has made it increasingly difficult to carry out my responsibilities effectively. Groveport Madison bans cell phone use during school day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trimble Local Schools have struggled financially for the past few years, and the state placed them in a state of fiscal emergency in April. In his resignation letter, Hurd said he loved working at Trimble, but accused the board of education of overstepping and mismanaging the financial struggles. The boards continued inaction on critical recommendations such as necessary staffing reductions in the light of our status of fiscal emergency has further strained our ability to maintain a sustainable budget, Hurd alleged. Hurd said the board of education has overstepped its authority by involving itself in personnel roles and daily school operations, making it difficult for administrators like Hurd to effectively manage the district. He also claimed the boards actions open the district up to possible lawsuits, especially because he said it worsened the workplace culture. Hurd also alleges the board needs to take more direct action to remedy the financial worries Trimble faces. He accused the board of failing to make progress in restructuring the districts food service department, alleging the inaction has cost the district more than $300,000. He pointed to a board members close affiliation with an involved labor union, accusing the board of unethically delaying this restructuring because of that conflict of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus restaurant says it was targeted in ICE raid If true, that is a highly necessary $300,000. According to the boards most recent financial update, which was announced at a board meeting last Wednesday, the district has been working with the state auditors office to correct its finances. This is a state-mandated collaboration; Ohio placed Trimble in a state of fiscal emergency earlier this year, which is the final and most severe stage of fiscal issues a public school district can have. Under a fiscal emergency, districts are subject to state oversight until they can fix their finances. According to the recent financial update, Trimble ended Fiscal Year 2025 with $1.4 million in cash, just under $1 million more than the district had expected to end with. However, most of this was from a $600,000 loan from the state, which needs to be repaid at the end of July. The rest of the unexpected money came from overestimating how much salary and fringe benefit payments would cost. While these numbers reflect some improvement, they must be viewed in light of ongoing expenditure pressures and the cumulative deficits that contributed to the districts current fiscal emergency designation, the district financial update read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite paying less on supplies, services and other goods than it did the year prior, Trimble is still facing a major deficit, meaning the district is bringing in less money than it is spending. Trimble said it also brought in $200,000 less in local property taxes than it did the year before. By 2029, the district is expected to have a $10 million deficit. Why is Ohio seeing more summer downpours than usual? The district is holding a special board meeting Monday night to consider how it can make up the money. According to a news release, Trimbles board of education will consider options to enhance local revenue and whether or not to place a levy on the November ballot. The Athens County Auditor said Trimble would need to generate more than $3 million annually to fix the deficit, recommending a 60.55 mills tax levy. The district said it is considering an income tax levy for this upcoming election, which is far less common for Ohio schools, which often use property tax levies instead. The district has not yet announced how large a levy it is considering, but confirmed it may vote on levy options Monday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the high school cafeteria. NBC4 reached out to Trimbles board of education and district treasurer for comment on the finances and Hurds resignation, but neither replied. Hurds last day will be July 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bye, bye, open seating. Southwest Airlines will begin assigned and premium seating on flights starting Jan. 27, 2026, ending the airline's polarizing open seating policy where passengers chose seats upon boarding as first-come, first-serve according to boarding position in line. Tickets for the first flights with assigned and premium seating will go on sale on July 29, when Southwest's next flight schedule extension is released to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience," Tony Roach, Southwest Airlines' executive vice president of customer and brand, said in a statement. "Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our customers including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin." Here's what Southwest Airlines flyers should know about assigned and premium seating. What date will Southwest start assigning seats? Southwest will begin assigned seating on Jan. 27, 2026. Tickets for flights with assigned seating will go on sale on July 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwest is working on reconfiguring its aircraft cabins for assigned and premium seating. The retrofitted planes will include new seats from RECARO, known for their automotive seating and gaming chairs, that will have six-way headrests, more cushioning and electronic device holders. Work on the cabin reconfigurations is taking place at Southwest's maintenance bases, including its base at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. How does Southwest assigned seating work? Passengers' ability to select a seat will depend on the fare class that a passenger books. Southwest will launch new fare bundles: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra. Passengers who buy Basic tickets can select a seat for a fee, or a seat will be assigned to them the day before their flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seat selection will be included with Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares. Choice Preferred passengers can choose a preferred seat, which are standard seats near the front of the cabin, at no extra cost. Choice Extra passengers can choose an extra-legroom seat, Southwest's premium seating option. Depending on their status, Southwest Rapid Rewards members can select seats without paying extra. A-List members can select standard legroom seats at the time of booking at no additional cost; they'll have the opportunity to upgrade to a premium seat within 48 hours of the flight at no extra cost if any are still available. A-List Preferred members can select any available seat, including extra legroom seats, at no additional cost. What is the new boarding policy for Southwest? When Southwest announced the date when assigned seating would begin, it also announced a new boarding process that prioritizes customers based on their seat location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Choice Extra passengers, passengers who purchased extra legroom seats, Southwest Rapid Rewards tier members and Southwest credit card members will board in Groups 1 and 2. Choice Preferred customers will board in groups 3 through 5. Choice and Basic customers will board in groups 6 through 8, with Basic customers being the last to board. Passengers can purchase priority boarding 24 hours before departure. Get weekend plans. Sign up for our Things to Do newsletter. Which Southwest seat has the most legroom? Southwest's assigned seating layout shows three seating options: Extra legroom seats: Seats at the front of the cabin and near the exit rows that offer 3 to 5 inches more legroom compared to standard seats. About a third of Southwest's seats will be extra legroom seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preferred seats: Standard legroom seats near the front of the cabin and exit rows. Standard seats: Standard legroom seats near the back of the cabin. On average, standard seats on Southwest have a seat pitch of 31 inches. Seat pitch is the distance between one seat on an aircraft and the seat in front of it, commonly used to measure how much legroom people have on flights. What is extra legroom seating on Southwest Airlines? Southwest estimates the availability of extra legroom seats will look like this: Boeing 737-8 and 737-800: 68 seats with 3 additional inches of legroom. Boeing 737-7: 48 seats with 3 additional inches of legroom. Boeing 737-700: 40 seats with 5 additional inches of legroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air traffic control reforms: Arizona lawmaker vows to reform air travel safety. What that means for flyers Standard legroom is taking a hit When Southwest first revealed what the cabin reconfigurations would look like in September 2024, it showed extra legroom seats would be available in the back of the cabin. But Southwest changed the layout to include extra legroom seats near the exit wings and the front of the aircraft, which is what customers prefer, airline spokesperson Chris Perry said. With the reconfigured cabins, legroom on standard seats will be reduced on Southwest's larger planes. Standard seating aboard Southwest's Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets had seat pitch reduced from 32 inches to 31 inches, first reported by travel website The Points Guy. "We never said we wouldnt modify (standard legroom) at all we simply said our standard seats will still lead the industry in seat pitch," Perry told The Arizona Republic when asked to confirm the information in The Points Guy's report. What are the new changes to Southwest Airlines? Besides the shift to assigned and premium seating, other changes at Southwest have included charging for checked bags, lowering Rapid Rewards earnings for the cheapest fares and making flight credits expire. Southwest also laid off thousands of workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Start booking Southwest Airlines assigned seats in July SOUTHWICK Joseph Deedy, the president of the Southwick Civic Fund, is thanking those who have already donated to the fireworks show on Saturday, Aug. 9, but the nonprofit is still a bit short to cover the cost. We are still hoping residents will step up and help out, Deedy said Thursday. When Deedy announced the civic fund was planning on offering a free fireworks show with music, free carnival kiddie rides, and ice cream, he said covering the expenses would take $20,000 with $14,000 paying for the show and the remainder to rent the rides for the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve had 15 businesses step up, we got a few donations through the PayPal link on [the civic funds] website, and just under 50 [people] donating personally, he said. He did want to clear up some confusion about where the activities will take place. The rides, Moolicious Farm ice cream, a DJ playing music, and the fireworks will be on the grounds of The Wick, which is owned by the American Legion Post 338. He said the gates on the fence that separates Whalley Park and The Wick will be opened so people can park either at the park, on the legion grounds, or at the Southwick Recreation Center. The activities will be set up just on the other side of the fence where two kiddie carnival rides will be that are free to ride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But people can watch the show from Whalley Park, the legion grounds, or the Southwick Recreation Center. This event is just the warm-up for next summer, Deedy said. He is planning on hold a carnival, like those held for decades in town, as part of a celebration of the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary. Deedy expects several food trucks to be there but couldnt confirm which ones yet. The show will be held rain or shine. The annual tradition of fireworks shows in Southwick began in 1948, and was part of the annual Firemans Carnival and Parade. Run by the Southwick Firemans Association as a fundraiser for the towns Fire Department, it was a four-day event that featured carnival rides, helicopter rides, a car show, and fireworks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2015, the Firemans Association decided to end organizing the carnival, and for a couple of years, it was put on by the Southwick Rotary Club. The Southwick Rotary Club ran the fireworks show until 2017, which was when the Southwick Civic Fund took over coordinating the event and raising the money needed to pull it off. By then, the carnival was becoming just a fond memory for many in town. Last year was the first in decades there wasnt a fireworks show in town, and Deedy said with organizing the construction of the pantry for the Our Community Food Pantry at the civic funds property where the former Methodist Church didnt give him enough time to focus on fundraising while from running his ice cream shop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are several ways to give, including at www.southwickcivicfund.org navigate to the bottom of the page and click on the donate button. All online donations are processed through Paypal. Donations by personal check can be sent to 258 Feeding Hills Road, Southwick, MA 01077. The Southwick Civic Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Read the original article on MassLive. The Skin Spa and Shop in Cedar Falls. (Photo via Google Earth) The owner of an Iowa skin spa who promoted medical laser services has been fined and sanctioned for a lack of certification and oversight. The Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology has suspended the license of Melissa Kriesel, an esthetician who has owned the Skin Spa and Shop in Cedar Falls. The board alleges that in August 2024, it fielded a complaint that the Skin Spa and Shop was performing services that were outside of Kriesels scope of practice and was also doing business without the required oversight of a medical director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The board alleges that Kriesel provided documentation showing that on Feb. 24, 2017, she received certification from the board of directors of the National Laser Institute and later received an additional certification from Sciton Laser. However, the board adds, when an investigator asked Kriesel to provide certification of training to perform the specific medical services she advertised, she did not do so. When asked who the business medical director was, Kriesel allegedly informed the board that a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Morgan Huls, was serving in that capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When contacted by the board, Huls allegedly denied the claim and said that in April 2024, Kriesel had talked to her about serving as the medical director but negotiations did not go beyond theoretical. According to the board, Marcia Corson, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, utilized a room at the Skin Spa and Shop to perform Botox injections on patients, but was never employed by Kriesel. In deciding to sanction Kriesel, the board noted that a licensed esthetician is only allowed to perform medical aesthetic services in a medical spa under the delegation and supervision of a medical director. The evidence shows that the Skin Spa and Shop advertised medical laser services, and (Kriesel) acknowledged that she performed laser services, the board concluded, adding that Kriesel had also falsely claimed to perform such services under the delegation and supervision of a medical director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board has a duty to protect the public and when a person performs services without the proper certification, the board stated in its decision to suspend Kriesels license indefinitely until she provides proper certification. Once she has provided verification of proper training and certification, as well as the name of a medical director, her license can be reinstated, subject to three years of monitoring by the board. The board also imposed a $2,000 civil penalty against Kriesel. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A Spartanburg man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a child. Last week a jury found Joel Antonio Duran, 35, guilty of criminal sexual conduct of a minor. Duran was arrested in 2021 after a victim reported Duran had repeatedly subjected them to sexual acts when they were six and seven years old. After the victim came forward, the victim and her siblings received forensic interviews at the Childrens Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Durans trial began Monday, July 14 and the jury delivered a guilty verdict on Friday. In addition to the life sentences he received for each conviction, Duran will also be listed on the sex offender registry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said a vote on releasing more information about Jeffrey Epstein isnt necessary as President Donald Trump continues to struggle with the controversy surrounding the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing. If further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then well look at that. But I dont think were at that point right now, Johnson told reporters on Monday. After intense public pressure, including from many of his MAGA supporters, Trump called for a federal judge to release grand jury testimony related to the disgraced late financier. The move has appeased some but not all of those calling into question the circumstances surrounding Epsteins death. Trump and many in his orbit previously suggested that Epstein was murdered in prison to cover up his ties to prominent Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a group of conservative House members derailed passage of a bill cutting $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds for hours over the so-called Epstein files. They forced Johnson to ultimately agree to advance a nonbinding resolution, prepared by Republicans, that calls for the release of some materials from the Epstein case. But while the recissions package clawing back spending made it to Trumps desk, the nonbinding resolution did not. With Johnson making clear the House wont take it up this week, the earliest the chamber could vote on it would be after Labor Day, following the annual August recess if at all. Comedian and podcaster Theo Von, who is popular in the MAGA world, did not appear to take Johnsons decision kindly. He called on the House speaker to allow a vote on a separate bipartisan bill requiring the Department of Justice to release more information about Epstein. Democrats also criticized Johnson for seeking to bury information about Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaker Johnson and Republicans wrote a toothless resolution on the Epstein files and now wont even bring *that* up for a vote so that they can give Donald Trump more time to distract the American people from his broken promises and secrets, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) wrote in a post online. The White House, meanwhile, is continuing to rage about The Wall Street Journals reporting that Trump allegedly sent Epstein a bawdy letter for his birthday in 2003. Trump and Epstein were longtime friends who partied in New York. Republicans have slammed the report, and Trump sued the outlet. The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein, Trump wrote on Truth Social. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I dont draw pictures. I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldnt print this Fake Story. But he did, and now Im going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper. Texas lawmakers face a packed agenda as they reconvene for a special 30-day legislative session on Monday, with high-stakes debates and urgent disaster relief at the top of Gov. Greg Abbotts list of priorities. Abbott has summoned legislators back to Austin with an 18-item agenda, led by emergency response to catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country, new regulations for THC products, and a court-mandated redistricting plan. This special session began at noon and can last up to 30 days under the Texas Constitution, with the governor being the only legislator who has control over the topics discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the governor is also permitted to call multiple special sessions to address certain issues, as evidenced by the multiple sessions called by Abbott in both 2021 and 2023. Flood-related legislation is expected to receive early focus during this years special session, following July storms that caused more than 100 deaths in Kerr County and swept across Central Texas, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Lawmakers are tasked with approving new and improved flood warning systems, enhanced emergency communication infrastructure, and a relief funding package that includes local match funding to support federal disaster aid, according to Fox 4 News. Other headline items move beyond disaster recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers are set to revisit the regulation of hemp-derived THC products, after a push to ban the sale of these items failed during the regular session, as reported by DX. Proposals now aim to limit potency, restrict certain synthetic compounds, and establish enforcement mechanisms without fully outlawing legal hemp products. Abbott has also called for legislation that will make it a crime to provide these products to anyone under the age of 21. The most contentious issue discussed during this session could quickly become the states redistricting. This focus follows a seemingly direct request from the Trump administration for the state to redistrict, which could help the Republican Party secure up to five additional seats in the House of Representatives, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although these are the topics expected to be among the most debated, many discussions will also be held about other issues outlined by the governor. The remaining topics, as determined by the governor, are available here. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reacts during a press conference at a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025. (photo credit: PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/REUTERS) Turkeys deputy culture and tourism minister, Batuhan Mumcu, accused Spotify of sharing content that targets our religious and national values and insults the beliefs of our society. Popular music streaming service Spotify has threatened to withdraw from Turkey after Turkish ministers slammed the company for playlists mocking Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife for their lavish spending, according to international media reports from last week. Turkeys deputy culture and tourism minister, Batuhan Mumcu, accused Spotify of sharing content that targets our religious and national values and insults the beliefs of our society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mumcu took particular issue with the insidious and provocative playlists which he claimed were incompatible with the cultural and moral values of our nation, and targets the unity and solidarity of our society. The Emine Ergodan hotgirl playlist, Songs Emine Erdogan listened to when her golden faucet broke and The songs Emine Erdogan listens to while cleaning the palace all target the lavish spending of Erdogans wife Emine. Erdogan's life of luxury Nearly one-third of Turkeys population is currently at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the Turkish Statistical Institute reported in 2023 - making rumors of Erdogans lavish spending a particular source of anger for local populations. Designing taste itself for you. Spotify (credit: REUTERS/CHRISTIAN HARTMANN/FILE PHOTO) In 2015, it was rumored by an opposition figure that the Turkish president had agolden toilet installed in their 1,000 room Ankara palace. Denying that a golden toilet was ever installed in the $400 million palace, Erdogan threatened legal action against the opposition figure responsible for the rumor and the accusation was later withdrawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite international digital platforms like Spotify having a significant user base in the Turkish market, they have neither established a local representation nor taken responsibility for supporting local music culture, Mumcu accused.Aside from the failure to fulfill tax obligations, prioritising sensation over quality in content algorithms promoting content that encourages slang, violence, and the use of prohibited substances in playlists is an unacceptable choice. Despite his accusations Ifod, the Turkish freedom of expression organization reportedly confirmed last week that left-wing Turkish bands had been censored from Spotify on government orders. Company representatives told The Times that all options were being evaluated, including "pausing operations in the market or exiting Turkey altogether." A team of St. Vrain Valley high schoolers who use underwater robots to help Longmont monitor water quality are getting extra help this summer from middle school students attending a Creative Technology for Good camp. Natalia Schwening, left, gets help from teacher Nathan Wilcox during Thursdays Creative Technology for Good camp at Timberline PK-8 in Longmont. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer) The Innovation Center student designers, who are helping the city look for unwanted weeds in water reservoirs using underwater robots, designed the camp curriculum to outsource some of their projects, including a water level monitor, a 15-minute timer for a pressure seal test and a warning system in case boat or robot bumps into something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaden Richards, an underwater robotics student designer who will be a senior at Silver Creek High School, said he found his spark building robots and signed up to help teach the camp because he wants to share that with younger students. I want them to get passion and drive, said Richards, whos planning to major in mechanical and electrical engineering. I want them to get this spark so they can say, When I see electronics, I can build something out of it. I want them to see this project is possible and think what else is possible. For the eighth year, St. Vrains Innovation Center teamed up with the University of Colorado Boulder and the Northrop Grumman Corp. to offer a week of STEM camps for middle and high school students. About 60 middle and high school students spent the week in four STEM camps at Timberline PK-8 in Longmont, learning about cybersecurity, robotics and coding. The classes were designed and taught by Innovation Center student designers and teachers with help from Northrop Grumman volunteers. Along with class time, students visited CU and heard from panels of Northrop employees and St. Vrain graduates attending CU. They also showed their families what they learned at a Friday exhibition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were trying to connect the dots for kids, said Axel Reitzig, St. Vrains executive director of innovation. One really consistent theme is play and exploration. Camps are a way to try things out. If they like it, then they can enroll in a class or join an Innovation Center team. The middle schoolers used supplies such as electrical wires, sensors and LED lights, plus an Arduino microcontroller, to build the projects for the Technology For Good camp. Natalia Schwening, a rising sixth grader at Altona Middle, was working on building a flotation device for the water level monitor. She said shes attended several STEM camps, but this one was her favorite. Some STEM camps, the teachers do everything, so we dont get to do anything hands-on, she said. Here, we get to build our own stuff. Ive had a blast so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two cybersecurity camps, one for beginners and one for more advanced students, were based on national CyberPatriot competitions. The more advanced group worked on writing a script that would take care of the more mundane tasks required in the six-hour competition, giving them more time to search for more complex threats. In the fourth camp, students met and learned to code socially assistive robots, with instructions to give the small robot a fun personality that could be used in the classroom. You get to code a lot and have fun with the robots, said rising sixth grader Caleb Wong as he demonstrated making the robot spin in circles. These robots work great for learning. Or they could work the front desk at your school. It all just depends what you code. STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) A 40-year-old Stafford woman is facing a second driving under the influence (DUI) charge after striking a motorcyclist at an intersection while traveling southbound on Richmond Highway, according to deputies. According to the Stafford County Sheriffs Department (SCSO), on July 19, at around 4:22 p.m. Sgt. E.E West responded to Richmond Highway for drunk driver complaints of a white Acura swerving over the road. West arrived at the intersection of Richmond Highway and Telegraph Road within a minute of the last complaint. There, the driver of the white Acura, Joanne Strong, hit a motorcycle, SCSO said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stafford County woman allegedly fatally shoots ex-boyfriend, deputies investigating Witnesses and camera footage of the incident revealed the Acura straddled both lanes and struck the motorcyclist from behind. The motorcyclist sustained no major injuries. Strong was still in the drivers seat when West approached him. SCSO said Strong was displaying obvious signs of intoxication, and refused to step out of her car. As a result, she was assisted out and detained. Law enforcement also discovered that Strong had a previous DUI offense. SCSO said Strong was charged with driving under the influence second offense within five to ten years, second offense refusal, two counts of obstruction of justice, reckless driving, and was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Florida law enforcement officials said an accused violent stalker was arrested. Agents with FDLE Miami and Orlando, in coordination with the Miami Beach Police Department, located and arrested Cristiano Rosario Maurici. Maurici is wanted by the Orange County Sheriff for multiple charges, including aggravated stalking and making written threats to kill. Officials said he is also sought in Lee and Osceola counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrest was a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, highlighting the seriousness of the charges against Maurici. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A local fire station is celebrating 100 years of having their name. In 1925, a prominent family in Waterford named Stancliff donated the first motorized vehicle to the fire department. The Mammoths take Erie: Moon Mammoth opening nights draws thousands After a unanimous vote, the department was renamed from Eagle Hose to the Stancliff Hose Company. The assistant chief said that its an honor to be able to represent the name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing Bundt Cakes opens in Summit Township I think any firefighter will tell you that, that they represent their community, and that we protect our community, said Ryne Rutkowski, assistant chief of the Stancliff Hose Company. But its also kind of neat to have the family name on it, and its not just Friendship Hose or anything like that, that doesnt have a good meaning behind it. They had fireworks on Saturday around 9 p.m. to celebrate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Over the years, stand-your-ground laws have gained traction in state legislatures with strong backing from gun rights organizations. Ron Bailey/Getty Images Stand-your-ground laws, which are in effect in more than half of U.S. states, are associated with higher homicide rates, increased racial disparities in legal outcomes and broader public costs, according to a new report from Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control research and advocacy group. Stand-your-ground or shoot first laws remove the legal duty to retreat before using deadly force in a self-defense situation. These laws evolved from the centuries-old castle doctrine, which permitted individuals to use force to defend themselves in their own homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Modern stand-your-ground statutes expanded this principle to apply in public spaces. Florida enacted the first such law in 2005, and the policy drew national attention in 2012 after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a private citizen. Over the years, these laws have gained traction in state legislatures with strong backing from gun rights organizations. At least 35 states have stand-your-ground statutes or laws that expand the castle doctrine to apply beyond the home, according to a separate analysis by the RAND Corporation. A standalone 2022 study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Network found that stand-your-ground laws were associated with an 8% to 11% increase in monthly homicide and firearm homicide rates nationwide. Several Southern states Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana saw increases of 10% or more. States that have adopted stand-your-ground laws have seen gun homicides rise by up to 11% annually from 1999 to 2017, according to the JAMA report. That equates to more than 700 additional gun deaths each year, according to estimates in the Everytown report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nick Suplina, the senior vice president of law and policy at Everytown, said in a written statement that stand-your-ground legislation gives free license to shoot and kill and ought to be rejected. Shoot First laws do nothing to protect our communities from violence, Suplina wrote. The new Everytown report comes as legislatures in at least a handful of states have recently debated whether to expand or roll back self-defense protections. At the same time, the national conversation around firearm policy continues to grow, with ongoing discussions about red flag laws, safe storage, rapid-fire attachments and other gun-related measures. A 2023 national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that 58% of Americans support stand-your-ground laws. Support was highest among Republicans at 81% and independents at 57%, while 60% of Democrats said they opposed such laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are more likely to carry guns in public in states with stand-your-ground laws, which also increases the risk of gun theft and violent confrontations, according to research cited in the Everytown report. These laws also are linked to higher rates of gun homicide among adolescents and more unintentional shootings involving children and young adults. Researchers at Everytown analyzed FBI data from 2019 to 2023 and found that in stand-your-ground states, homicides involving white shooters and Black victims were ruled justifiable four times more often than when the roles were reversed. In Michigan, that disparity was more than twelvefold. The report also cited research suggesting that in domestic violence cases, women who claimed self-defense were more likely to be convicted and received longer sentences compared to others. Beyond the legal outcomes, gun homicides linked to stand-your-ground laws cost an estimated $11 billion annually, according to Everytown. That includes $500 million in direct taxpayer expenses tied to law enforcement, courts and medical care, the report says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Montana State Hospital. Credit Keith Schubert The Montana State Hospital, the cornerstone of the states mental healthcare system, will have a new leader next month its sixth since 2022. Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton on Friday announced Dr. Daniel Bemporad will serve as new interim CEO of the Montana State Hospital. Bemporad replaces Dr. Kevin Flanigan, who was appointed CEO in July 2024, and resigned for reasons not made clear by DPHHS officials. A press release by the department stated Flanigan decided to conclude his service on August 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Flanigan for his unwavering commitment to Montanas most vulnerable patients and the positive impact he has had on MSH, Brereton said in a press statement. During his tenure, Dr. Flanigan transformed the hospitals culture and moved the facility closer to federal certification, allowing Dr. Bemporad to seamlessly carry the ball forward. I welcome Dan back to DPHHS as an employee and believe he is the right psychiatric leader for MSH at this crucial time. Flanigan had worked in California hospitals for the decade prior to moving to Montana, most recently as chief administrator for Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. Representatives from DPHHS could not be reached by phone or email as of Monday. Bemporad previously worked at the Warm Springs facility as a forensic psychiatrist from 2021 to 2024, before resigning his post last summer, due to family and personal reasons, according to reporting by the Montana Free Press, but continued working for the department on a contract basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement of the leadership transition said Bemporad had recently been supporting DPHHS with its efforts to reduce the backlog of court-ordered evaluations at the hospital. Bemporad said in a statement that he is thrilled to continue his service with DPHHS, and build upon the great work of Dr. Flanigan and the outstanding MSH team. I believe that MSH is on the right track, and Im honored to take the helm during this period of positive momentum, Bemporad said. Together, well ensure patients continue to receive the high-quality care they deserve as we move towards federal recertification. The Montana State Hospital lost its federal certification in 2022 following federal investigations that found the facility had no COVID-19 protection plan, which led to the deaths of several patients. The lack of certification has meant the hospital has been unable to receive federal funding to the tune of around $7 million annually. Brereton told state lawmakers earlier this month that the department is on track to apply for federal recertification by Jan. 1, 2026. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) State Auditor Shad White (R-Miss.) said Mississippis public K-12 teachers should have earlier access to Mississippis Education Enhancement Fund (EEF) procurement card program. The program provides teachers with money for classroom supplies, but the cards are sometimes activated too late to be helpful, according to Whites report. Common sense says money spent in the classroom is what makes the biggest difference for students, said White. My office found that Mississippi spends a greater percentage of its K-12 budget on administrative costs than every other state in the South, which means, when we do spend money in the classroom, it needs to get to the teachers on time. Hinds CC offers training for Amazon Web Services data centers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), the EEF fund will provide eligible teachers with $748 each for classroom supplies. The department currently activates the cards on August 1. Analysts from the State Auditors Office determined that 75% of public-school classrooms will already have started school before teachers have access to their procurement cards. Those classrooms that start before August 1 includes nearly 24,000 teachers with more than 329,000 students. As a result, White said $17.8 million in classroom supply funds are unavailable to these teachers to prepare their classrooms in advance of the school year. Review-of-Mississippi-EEF-Procurement-Card-ProgramDownload The State Auditors Office recommended that MDE activate EEF cards earlier in future years so that every teacher in the state can use their procurement cards as intended before students are back in the classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As many students prepare to start the school year, we need to be smart about how were spending money in our education system, said White. Officials with the MDE said they provided information to the State Auditors Office in response to their questions about the program. MDE officials said the following key facts were provided to Whites office but were omitted from the report: MDE typically issues EEF funds to Mississippi teachers in July once funds have been appropriated. FY 2025 and FY 2026 are exceptions; the state changed vendors and new cards were issued. To allow sufficient time for eligibility verification and shipping, all cards will be activated on August 1, 2025. Beginning in FY 2027, since teachers will already have their cards, activation may occur any time after July 1. Cards are designed for reuse, allowing districts to request activation as early as July 1 each year. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Gov. JB Pritzker wasted no time in calling on state legislators to do something about rising insurance rates after State Farm announced it was hiking homeowners insurance by 27.2% beginning this month, citing rising costs due to extreme weather events and pricier repairs. Enact a legislative solution during the veto session that prevents insurance companies from taking advantage of consumers through severe and unnecessary rate hikes, such as those proposed by State Farm, Pritzker said in a social media post. The governors angry words were met with a quick rebuttal from the Bloomington, Illinois-based insurer and state business interests, but other officials were just as quick to join in the politically popular call to hold down costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do agree with the governor that what State Farm did is wrong and they need to fix it, House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, told the Tribune. If they dont, as a leader in this state, as a leader of one of our chambers, were going to take a look at it because we have to protect our consumers. Right now in Illinois, theres no effective mechanism to prevent companies like State Farm from imposing rates for home and auto insurance that are deemed to be excessive, according to those familiar with Illinois insurance law. You basically are told what your insurance rate premiums going to be. You dont have the ability as a state to really help protect consumers, state Rep. Bob Morgan, a Deerfield Democrat and the vice chair of the House Insurance Committee, said about homeowners and auto insurance rates. Lawmakers are considering ways to address increased homeowners insurance costs including legislation championed by the Pritzker administration that would require a rate review process, compelling insurance companies to open their books so that state officials can assess whether the rate increases are too burdensome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill with some of those elements was introduced during the spring legislative session, but went nowhere as legislators and industry lobbyists haggled over details. Illinois is one of the only states that doesnt have a process in place for the state to take action if officials find that homeowners insurance rates were set inappropriately. Pritzker last year signed into law sweeping health care consumer protection legislation that ended unchecked rate hikes for large group insurance companies. Now, some proponents want to see this principle applied to homeowners insurance. With health care, now we can step in and can say, That is an unreasonable increase,' Morgan said. These are the kinds of things that I think were looking at. Abe Scarr, director of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, said such a process is crucial for consumer protection. This isnt, like, setting caps, he said. This is just creating a regulatory review process that doesnt just leave it up to the insurance industry to regulate itself, to set rates by itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarr noted that State Farm and another insurance giant, Allstate, are both based in Illinois and have a powerful voice on policy. Theyre major employers, Scarr said. Theyve long had significant influence in Springfield. In establishing a rate review process for homeowners, renters and auto insurance, the legislation would require businesses to be more transparent with government entities about any decisions they make to impose rate hikes. The rate review bill was filed in January by state Sen. Michael Hastings of Frankfort and had six other Democratic co-sponsors in the Senate. State officials say an amendment filed in March is now the starting point for any debate on the issue when lawmakers reconvene in Springfield in October for the two-week veto session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purpose of the amended legislation is to regulate insurance rates in order that they will not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. The legislation defines excessive rates as those that are unreasonably high for the scope of coverage provided. Insurers would be required to provide information on their rates to the states Department of Insurance 60 days in advance of a proposed aggregate rate change of 5% or more. One top state official said that if such a bill was already in effect as a state law, State Farm would not have been in a position to announce its rate increase until the Insurance Department signed off on it. It would allow the department to say, if (it) felt that that rate increase was not justified by the data because it was too high, (it wouldnt) approve at 27%, however, We think youd be able to justify, hypothetically, at 9%, and so (the department) would approve it at 9, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak about the issue on the record. In cases where intense market competition was driving down rates, the department could also determine an insurers rates to be too low, creating a financial solvency issue for the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A healthy industry is in everybodys best interest because without it, homeowners cant get insurance then, the official said. So, keeping insurance companies solvent is also, I feel, thats also a consumer protection. Another bill filed by Hastings earlier this year would require homeowner and auto insurers operating in Illinois to maintain a website that showed a summary of each years premium rate changes, as well as rate change data going back five years. The legislation would also require the insurer to provide a clear explanation of the primary factors contributing to the rate changes. Hastings said hes heard from people angry about State Farms rates. Because of whats occurred now, Im anticipating there being some collaborative effort between the industry and the General Assembly, understanding whats occurred, what was said and what should be done, Hastings said. And Im under the belief that there will be some solution and some framework put in place for the industry to comply with and doesnt discourage business in Illinois. It protects the consumer and provides them notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without a new law, the Department of Insurance said it has little authority over rates. The department said it can look into whether companies are properly refunding premiums or paying claims in a timely manner, and hears consumer complaints to determine whether actual rates comply with what the company filed. But it does not have the authority to approve or reject rate changes, unlike many other states such as California. Illinois requires only that rates be filed with the department. Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said that special interests have protected the insurance industry instead of consumers, which is why the Governor has called for more regulatory and legislative action to hold powerful corporations accountable. State Farm says recent weather-related losses in other states have taken a toll on its business. As one example, the insurer said it has received nearly 13,000 claims and paid out more than $4.2 billion to California homeowners who suffered losses during the intense wildfires that spread across the Los Angeles area earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even going into 2025, the company said other claims were becoming too costly. State Farm said it paid out $1.26 in claims for every $1 premium collected from Illinois homeowners last year, including $638 million in hail damage claims, second to only Texas. In a statement on Friday, State Farm spokesperson Gina Morss-Fischer said the insurer welcomes the opportunity for ongoing discussion with the Department of Insurance, lawmakers, and consumers about the challenges facing the home insurance market and that the companys recent rate filing in Illinois reflects the risk we see in this state. The core promise of homeowners insurance, that your insurer pays your claim according to your policy, only works if the policys rates match the underlying risk, Morss-Fischer said. Over-regulation and refusal to allow companies like ours the ability to charge accurate rates leads to a less competitive market and fewer choices for consumers. Industry officials and some legislators echoed the argument additional regulation of Illinois insurance market would lead to higher costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Jeff Keicher of Sycamore, a ranking Republican member of the House Insurance Committee, said Illinois has lower insurance rates than other markets because of its open and competitive marketplace. More insurers offering coverage means more competition, which keeps costs lower. Keicher is a 30-year State Farm agent but said he was speaking as a legislator and not a company representative. If Illinois tries to control insurance rates, providers could threaten to pull out of Illinois, Keicher said, similar to what has happened in California. The worst thing we can do is force insurers to underprice and go out of business and leave homeowners without a way to get their home fixed if the worst happens, Keicher said. The Illinois Insurance Association, a trade group for property and casualty insurers, also opposes further regulation. Kevin Martin, executive director of the association, said that insurance markets ebb and flow between hard and soft markets. For the last six to eight years, Martin said, due to increased storms, Illinois has experienced a hard market, meaning that homeowners insurance costs keep climbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a cycle that happens and has happened consistently over the last 40 years, which is reflected in what people have to pay in premium, Martin said. We are hoping we come out of this hard market and costs soften, and people will be able to reduce costs for homeowners insurance. Martin said his group has talked with legislators in Springfield and the state insurance department about why insurance rates are skyrocketing and how insurers can be more transparent. His group recommends that homeowners shop around for alternative policies annually or biannually from the more than 200 insurance providers in Illinois. Keicher said legislators are also considering a state-recognized mitigation plan for how homes are built and repaired to minimize rebuilding costs as the number of billion-dollar disasters from climate change-related events goes up. Keicher said he thinks the insurance industry would get behind that kind of proposal. State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, a Democrat from Calumet City who chairs the House Insurance Committee, called the insurance rate issue complicated and said the insurance committee has had other priorities. Jones told the Tribune in June that he will now focus on burgeoning homeowners insurance costs and would call hearings soon, inviting residents to testify. Keicher said he supports Jones calls for hearings. Jones also said he hopes more communities will participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agencys Community Rating System, which allows local municipalities to mitigate their flood insurance costs by meeting certain reduced flood risk requirements. Calumet City has been able to lower some of its homeowners insurance costs by participating, said Jones, who also serves as mayor of the south suburb. We dont want people choosing between their (home) insurance or prescription drugs or food, Jones said. We want them to be able to live comfortably in their house, but at the same time not feel like they are being forced out of their house and scared to get insurance and make sure it is affordable to them so that families are safe and take that worry off their plate. I think insurance companies are willing to work with us. Lets identify the issues first so we can all talk the same language to help homeowners stay in their houses, Jones said. State Rep. Mark Gamba, D-Milwuakie (right), joins activists from the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment at a rally in Salem March 26, 2025, after a public hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 28, which would have enshrined the right to a healthy environment in the Oregon Constitution. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) So many Oregonians supported a constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to a healthy and safe climate that the Legislature had to open a second hearing room just to accommodate all of the people who came to speak in support of it at its only legislative hearing this spring. Mel Martin, an organizer with the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment who worked with lawmakers on Senate Joint Resolution 28, was in one of the hearing rooms that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The excitement around it led us to believe that it had legs and it was going forward, she said. It would have referred a ballot measure to Oregon voters in November 2026 to amend the state constitution, but it died without a vote in the Senate committee that heard it. Martin and other organizers said they still dont have a clear reason why. In the wake of the bills death, advocates are instead petitioning to bring it straight to Oregon voters themselves. The people have the ability to amend their own state constitution, Martin said. It does seem like the answer is not to look to the political realm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least one lawmaker on the committee that killed the bill, and a chief sponsor of the bill, described its death as Senate leaderships fear of failure when it came to Oregonians voting to pass the climate amendment at the ballot box. The big concern hasnt been about the policy so much on the leadership level, its the record of ballot measures like that losing, state Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, told the Capital Chronicle in June. Golden said business industry groups have been successful in the past at getting citizen measures overturned with spendy ad campaigns, and that industry groups would frame a yes vote on a potential constitutional climate amendment as one that would be anti-business and bad for the states economy. If voters internalized the message, and voted not to amend the constitution to protect the climate for future generations, theres a concern that that would give fuel to an argument over time that Oregonians dont really care about environmental rights, Golden said. Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, was unavailable to respond, according to spokesperson Connor Radnovich. Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama, D-Portland, head of the Senate Rules Committee where the bill died, is unavailable and out of town this week, spokesperson Elizabeth Cronen said. The petition Without legislative support, members of the environmental rights amendment coalition filed an initiative petition with the Oregon Secretary of States Office on May 23 that would ask voters to amend the state constitution so that it would guarantee all people, including children and future generations, have the inherent fundamental right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment, including but not limited to clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems, and a stable climate system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would also constitutionally clarify that all of Oregons public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. If it passed, it would make Oregon one of four states to make such a promise to future generations in its guiding legal document, and would allow Oregonians to sue the state government and its agencies if it reneges on that promise. The comment period on the draft ballot language closed on Tuesday and final language will need to be approved by the Oregon Attorney Generals Office. Then, supporters will need to collect more than 150,000 signatures from Oregon voters by July of next year to get it on ballots for the November 2026 election. Among those named as petitioners on the initiative is Miko Vergun, a 22-year-old plaintiff in the landmark youth climate case Juliana v. United States, filed a decade ago in U.S. District Court in Eugene against the federal government by 11 young Oregonians and 10 peers from several states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case, which attempted to hold the U.S. government accountable for accelerating global climate change through lawmakers policies and fossil fuel subsidies, never got a trial. It recently hit a dead end after the Supreme Court declined a petition from the plaintiffs to throw out a lower courts decision to dismiss the case. Opposition Martin said besides collecting signatures in the months ahead, theyre also preparing for legal battles over ballot language given the opposition to the bill from the trade group Oregon Business and Industry. The group was opposed to Senate Joint Resolution 28 back in March. Its lobbyist, Sharla Moffett, was among the handful of participants at the public hearing that were opposed to the bill. The terms clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems and a stable climate could be highly subjective, Moffett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a similar argument the group is making now in its opposition to the ballot measure. Lawyer Jill Gibson, representing Oregon Business and Industry, submitted comments to the Secretary of States Office opposing the draft ballot language and the amendment last month. The Initiative expressly states that these fundamental rights include the right to clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems and a stable climate system, she wrote. It is unclear what would be considered clean enough, thriving enough, or stable enough to meet the requirements of IP 45 (Initiative Petition 45). Martin said advocates behind the ballot initiative are mobilizing to get more volunteers trained to talk with Oregonians about the potential amendment, to understand what it would and would not change, and to gather signatures for the ballot referral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres an infrastructure aspect to the operation itself for petitioning and also the communication method, be it signage, other coverage, the whole nine yards. So the campaign itself is growing, she said. Golden said if history, even recent history, serves as an example, the industry groups will also put a lot of momentum behind their opposition campaign, too. Senate leaders let the measure die in part, he said, because there were real concerns that this coalition would be completely outgunned by industry and folks who dont want an environmental rights amendment in the constitution. Martin said she didnt want to share too much strategy in light of that. I dont want to, I guess, show all of my cards, but we do have a plan, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Eastern Shore counties have high, to extremely high, concentrations of factory-farmed broiler chickens, with up to 36 million being raised at a time. And all those chickens produce a lot of waste -- which presents a threat to our waterways if not treated properly, writes Jorge Aguilar. (Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA) Its summer in Maryland. For many, that means its time for the fun annual pilgrimage to the waters and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay and Ocean City. These crown jewels of Maryland are not only places of leisure for vacation-goers they also yield real-time benefits for the communities along our coastlines. Tourism raked in $19.4 billion in 2022, a boon for Marylanders that led to tax savings of approximately $1,000 per household. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as extreme weather intensifies and record rainfall pours down, industrial agricultural pollution is wreaking havoc on the Eastern Shore and its alluring seaboard. Pure and simple, there is too much chicken poop in our water. The waters we boat on, fish in and let our kids splash around in on hot days are under threat. Decades of industrial poultry farming and the resulting pollution puts our precious ecosystems and our summer vacations at risk. This summer offers Gov. Wes Moore a chance to turn the tide on agricultural pollution by strengthening factory farm regulations in Maryland. When it comes to the Eastern Shores shaky health, factory farms are an obvious culprit. Food & Water Watch analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data identified that eight of nine Eastern Shore counties have high to extremely high density of factory farmed broiler chickens two counties, Caroline and Somerset, are among the densest in the country. At any given time, Maryland confines 36 million chickens in these industrial animal cities, with annual totals close to 300 million. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. So many animals in close quarters generates an enormous amount of waste 548 million tons of litter (chicken poop, feathers, and bedding) on the Eastern Shore annually. Ultimately, all that waste has to go somewhere. Much of it runs off into our waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Factory farms are particularly insidious polluters. Rather than send their waste to a treatment plant to remove harmful pollutants, these industrial facilities spew their waste directly into waterways through ventilation fans or by spreading it on farm fields. Because Maryland factory farms confine so many animals, these facilities produce far more waste than the fields can reasonably absorb. Heavy rains wash literal tons of excess land-applied waste into our waters every year. All this runoff sends large doses of nitrogen and phosphorus into the Bay, before the pollution ultimately makes its way into the Atlantic. The influx of these chemicals leads to oxygen-greedy algal blooms that create dead zones: areas where mass die-offs of aquatic life occur. These algal blooms are deadly to the crabs, fish, oysters and other creatures that call these ecosystems home. Algal blooms can also make water unsafe for swimming by generating toxins, and washing hundreds of dead animals onto beaches. Ineffective state oversight has let factory farms pollute with abandon for years, putting our communities and beachgoers at risk. A state pollution permit is one of the few safeguards standing between polluting factory farms and Maryland waters its due for an update this year, creating an opportunity for Moores administration to champion our prized vacation spots and help restore wellness to the watershed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the last time this permit was updated, reporting shows the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has struggled to adequately inspect, monitor and fine poorly performing factory farms. The Bays troubled health grading slipped to a C this year, down from last years C+. These barely passing grades demonstrate that more needs to be done at the state level to protect clean water. MDE knows the solution: Reduce industrial agricultural pollution. Its time for MDE to tackle factory-farm pollution. Earlier this month, Food & Water Watch wrote to Governor Moore recommending commonsense provisions to improve the 2025 permit that would help to meaningfully address the harmful agricultural waste making Marylanders and our natural spaces sick. These recommendations include: Require that factory farms implement best management practices to better control waste pollution; Require that factory farms conduct representative monitoring to ensure permit compliance; Require individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permits for factory farms with anaerobic digesters and other biorefinery technologies; and Reduce risks from manure manifestation/transfers. Gov. Moore and MDE are uniquely positioned to champion the Eastern Shore by protecting the beaches, waterways and environment we love. As you enjoy your beach vacations this summer, remember Maryland has the power to protect the natural spaces we all hold so dear for years to come. Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell plans to leave office by Aug. 4 after her conviction last week on two felony burglary charges, her defense attorneys announced Monday. Mitchell, a first-term Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmaker from Woodbury, was arrested in April 2024 after breaking into her estranged stepmothers Detroit Lakes home. Police said Mitchell initially told them she was there to retrieve her late fathers ashes and other sentimental items. But she later denied this, claiming she was there to check on her stepmother, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her stepmother was home at the time of the break-in, leading prosecutors to seek a first-degree burglary charge a felony. They later charged her with possession of burglary tools, also a felony. Mitchell was dressed in black and was carrying a pry bar and a flashlight covered by a black sock, prosecutors said. Mitchell pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her trial initially was scheduled for January, but a judge granted the defenses request for a delay, as state lawmakers can postpone trials while the Legislature is in session. The trial was scheduled for June, but delayed once again after the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and the attempted assassination of Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin. Senate Republicans called for Mitchell to resign after her arrest and charges, and some DFLers agreed. Former DFL Chair Ken Martin and Gov. Tim Walz called for Mitchell to resign last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many DFL lawmakers said Mitchell should face trial before they considered disciplinary action, including removing her from office. They resisted multiple attempts by Senate Republicans to hold expulsion votes. In a statement on Mitchells decision to resign, Senate Republican Minority Leader Mark Johnson accused Democrats of shielding Mitchell to protect their political power for more than a year by preserving their one-seat majority in the Senate. The only reason Mitchell is still in office is because Democrats needed her vote to pass their agenda and refused to hold her accountable during session, Johnson said. They put political power ahead of Minnesotans, and Mitchell continues to put her personal interests ahead of institutional integrity. Senate DFL leadership also weighed in on Mitchells decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole Mitchell has gotten the due process she is entitled to and was convicted by a jury of her peers, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said in a statement. With the clarity brought by the resolution of this case, the Senate DFL Caucus will continue to focus on issues that improve the lives of Minnesota families and communities. In a statement last week, Murphy said Mitchell told her Senate colleagues she intended to resign if convicted. Mitchell will resign no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 4, the Ringstrom DeKrey law firm said in a news release. The senator will use her remaining two weeks in office to wrap up legislative projects, complete constituent services, transition legislative staff and obtain health insurance for her son, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once these tasks are completed, Senator Mitchell will tender her resignation, her attorneys wrote. It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota. Mitchells departure would leave the Senate split 33-32, with the DFL still at a one-seat advantage. On Monday, Senate Republicans announced the death of state Sen. Bruce Anderson, R-Buffalo, putting the chamber at a 34-32 split. Mitchell is a former broadcast meteorologist and held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. She was elected in 2022 and is in the third year of her four-year term. She would not face election again until 2026. Once Mitchell vacates the Senate District 47 seat, the governor can call a special election. Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury, already has declared her intention to run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature is not scheduled to convene again until Feb. 17, 2026. Related Articles From left, Gov. Phil Murphy, first lady Tammy Murphy, Michael Guadagno, former Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, Kevin and Michael Guadagno, and former Gov. Chris Christie posing with Guadagno's new official portrait at the Statehouse in Trenton on July 21, 2025. (Morgan Leason | New Jersey Monitor) Gov. Phil Murphy and former Gov. Chris Christie met at the Statehouse in Trenton on Monday to unveil the official state portrait of Christies lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno. Guadagno, first elected alongside Christie in 2009, was the states first lieutenant governor, a post approved by voters in 2005 after two governors resigned within the span of roughly four years, leaving the state to be run by acting governors both times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public service is more than just a job, it is a calling, Guadagno said before the portrait was unveiled. It is a commitment to making things better for all of our communities. Christie, a Republican, said Guadagno stepped into the post ably even though no one had ever done this before. We didnt know what the lieutenant governor would exactly do. We didnt know what that person should look like or be like, he said. Liza G. Amirs portrait of former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno Guadagno, like the current lieutenant governor, Tahesha Way, was also New Jerseys secretary of state. Christie praised Guadagno for never wavering, including when the state was battered by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, leaving large portions of the state without power in the run-up to that years presidential race (the New Jersey secretary of state oversees elections). Guadagnos Monmouth County home was heavily damaged during the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She did not call me and say, Im going to deal with my home here, get someone else to do it. She stood right next to me the entire time through both the storm itself and the recovery from it, and played an enormous role in comforting the people of the state, because she unlike me could empathize with what they were going through, Christie said. Way, a Democrat, emphasized the value of working across the political aisle. People from different parties can not only have a conversation, we can actually be friends, she said. Murphy echoed the sentiment, saying New Jersey is a rare place where voters can find some political unity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several people walked up to me Im not even sure what party they were in they said, Isnt it nice to have both parties together, doing the right thing, getting along, Murphy said. It is nice, and theres too little of that, and I think New Jersey is one of those last islands. Guadagno ran to succeed Christie in 2017. Murphy won that election. Liza Amir, the artist behind the portrait, grew up in New Jersey. She received an undergraduate degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art and says she relishes in the challenge of creating paintings that capture both the likeness and soul of her subjects. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Iredell County Sheriffs Office arrested William Leon Allen on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography after receiving a Cyber Tip on June 2. The investigation, led by the Sheriffs Office Special Victims Unit, identified Allen, 40, of Statesville, as the suspect. Detectives executed search warrants on social media platforms, uncovering evidence that Allen had sent and received child pornography. Sheriff Darren Campbell stated that the investigation began with a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detective Lane obtained arrest warrants for Allen, charging him with 10 counts of felony 2nd degree sexual exploitation of a minor. On Friday, a search warrant was executed at Allens residence, where detectives seized electronic devices potentially used to store child sexual abuse material.Allen was taken into custody and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was issued a $100,000 secured bond by Magistrate Nethken. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. The arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of the Iredell County Sheriffs Office to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals. Further developments in the case are anticipated as the investigation continues. Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans daily lives. One Nation Under God is committed to reflecting Americas voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Subscribe here. (NewsNation) Just days before news broke that CBS News is canceling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the titan of late-night comedy described his deep faith and its role in his life as a comedian on a religious podcast. Stephen Colbert has been open about being a practicing Catholic, but he revisited his conversion story in a conversation with Father James Martin, S.J., Jesuit author and host of The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colbert described his upbringing as very Catholic. He said he was the youngest of 11 children. They were almost out of names, Colbert quipped. Paramount to end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert next May I cannot remove [Catholicism] from me any more than you can remove the marble from a statue. Thats just who I am, the comedian said. But what may come as a surprise to his fans is what attracts Colbert to Catholicism. I really am not looking to the crucifix for the victory. I am looking to the crucifix for the suffering. Because thats when I need the crucifix, is in the suffering, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do we most want? Not to be alone. God came down. God became one of us. God suffered, died, and was buried, the 61-year-old said. Colbert described his faith as a gift passed down by his parents. And that gift, he said, helps him in his professional work as a comedian. When something bad would happen in my life my mother would urge us to look at things in the light of eternity. It helps as a comedian that knocks you out of your normal context, he said. You look at a situation slightly differently than the people around you. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during Mondays December 16, 2024 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images) Loss of father, brothers changed Colbert forever I certainly started paying attention to my mother saying see this in the light of eternity after I had been struck by the death of my father and two of my brothers when I was 10 years old in a plane crash, Colbert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so one day with this enormous house full of noise in the course of a few months, it goes from 10 people to me and mom and thats it, the comedian described. Pope Leo XIV declares Rhode Island boys 2007 birth a miracle The grief and loss brought Colbert and his mother close. So close, he says that Colberts mother didnt raise him; he raised her. I mean because my mother was a daily communicant, and it was just the two of us. I was a daily communicant, you know, he said. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during Mondays January 6, 2025 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images) Colbert becomes atheist in college Once Colbert got to college, the world didnt make a lot of sense to him. I immediately became convinced of my atheism, he said. And I was not happy about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colbert said he went to church a few times in college and entered into a dark period. Ancient Christian town discovered in Jordan I lost 50 pounds. I didnt eat. I didnt sleep very well. I smoked a lot of weed. I did pretty well at school. I didnt do anything but get high and read. Because I loved reading. In fact, I stopped getting high because it was getting in the way of my reading, he said. Colbert describes mystical journey back to faith I never stopped caring, Colbert admitted. But he lost his faith and considered himself an atheist. And then one day, after graduating from Northwestern University, Colbert said he rediscovered his childhood faith in an instant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im walking down the street in Chicago, and its really cold, he remembers. There were Gideons giving out New Testaments, Proverbs and Psalms. I was desperately depressed. I was in terrible shape. Really, just couldnt figure out how to get out of the bed in the morning. And I flipped it open, and there was the suggestions of like, how are you feeling this way? Read this. It was anxiety, Colbert said. He read the fifth chapter of Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount. I read the sermon and it struck me so profoundly, he said. It was speaking off the page to me. I wasnt doing anything. There was no reader. There was no book. I was being spoken to directly by Christ. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during Mondays November 4, 2024 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images) Colbert says return to faith was coming home Colbert said that coming back to the Catholic Church was like coming home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant speak to the truth of other peoples religions, he said. I know what mine does for me, and I know that most of the time it doesnt do it for me. But Im often in the valley, but I know what it looks like from the mountaintop. And I believe thats a real experience. Colbert had a practical approach when that spiritual reawakening took place. Im so far down the path of my own faith. Why would I throw away everything that was given to me by my mother and my father and my ancestors? he said. Dalai Lamas succession sparks conflict with China For Colbert, the flaws of the church are the human failing of its members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The church is a human institution full of enormous flaws. As my mother and father used to say to me, that doesnt mean that its not the bride of Christ. Colberts daily spiritual practices My spiritual practice on a daily basis is trying to understand how I feel about what happened in the world in the last 24 hours and then talking with a bunch of very funny people about it and then trying to understand their intention as they give me jokes back and how that might come into one central thing. I dont mistake that for prayer. But that deconstruction of the day is like is like examining your conscience. Colbert uses a cross to keep him grounded at work. I have a lovely cross on my desk. Its right in front of my keyboard. I look at it all day long. Im not praying, but I am looking at it. Im thinking of what the cross symbolizes, he said, Stephen Colbert attends SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) Colbert says his faith helps his comedy Colbert quipped that theres a reason why there are many Irish Catholic comedians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protestants are great, you know, but I like the Catholic crucifix more than the Protestant cross because theres the suffering, Colbert said. Theres love in the suffering. You love the cross. He loves you. Its all channeled through this moment of unexpressable agony. And you know, yeah, dark humor, but all humor comes out of uncomfortableness. Dolton purchases Pope Leo XIVs childhood home For Colbert, the fact that Christs death is the center of the Catholic faith is deeply significant. Its loss but not defeat, he explained. That sublime feeling of joy can also come in moments of great sorrow, strangely because youre sharing it with other people. Colbert meets Pope Francis Colbert described meeting Pope Francis with more than one hundred comedians, including Jimmy Fallon, Conan OBrien and Chris Rock in the Vatican in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What really surprised me is that were by nature, comedians are iconoclasts, and I love shaking my fist at authority, and the pope came in and we all leapt to our feet and we screamed like he was the Beatles, he said. What to do if someone seems to hate you? Colbert weighs in I would say the first thing would be to examine your conscience and say what role do I play in this? Colbert said when asked for his advice on how to handle hatred or dislike from another person. If you can honestly look and say if you can say my side of the street is clean, then you have to find a way to love them regardless of how they feel about you. Your hatred of them will only enslave you. It wont do a damn thing to them, he concluded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) The case that led London police officers to Doug Harlesss Vanzant Road home has ended in a plea agreement. Just before midnight on Dec. 23, 2024, Doug Harless, 63, was allegedly shot and killed by London police after attempting to serve a search warrant. As details began to emerge, community members began questioning if officers had the right address. Earlier that day, officers arrested 49-year-old Hobert Buttery in connection with a weed eater thatd been stolen from Laurel County Judge-Executive David Westerfields Taylor Drive home. Authorities said that Buttery admitted to stealing the items and told them the weed eater was at a home on Vanzant Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Kentucky State Police, London police officers were serving a search warrant on Vanzant Road. Dispatch audio lists 489 Vanzant Road as the target for the warrant. However, officers reportedly responded to 511 Vanzant Road. RELATED: Moments later, Harless was shot and killed. Court documents obtained by FOX 56 on Monday, July 21, show that Buttery has accepted a plea deal, and the case will no longer go to trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buttery was originally charged with theft by unlawful taking of $1,000 < $10,000 and first-degree persistent felony offender. The persistent felony offender charge has been amended down to second degree as a condition of the plea agreement. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: He faces 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, per court documents. Buttery will officially be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Aug. 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Palestinians gather at a food distribution point in Gaza City, on July 20, 2025. The World Food Programme says nearly one in three people in Gaza do not eat for days at a stretch, and ''thousands'' are ''on the verge of catastrophic hunger''. Credit - Majdi FathiNurPhoto/Getty Images It has been 40 years since two Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia transformed the debate about global poverty. An estimated 2 billion people in 150 countries watched the concerts. Policymakers were spurred to action and $125 million was raised for the fight against famine. The drive to save lives cannot be relegated to historical oddity. The painful truth is that today, hunger is on the risehowever funding to address this crisis is being cut, rather than rallied together. The United States is the only country prepared to step up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acute child malnutritionwhich scientists call wastingis a global humanitarian catastrophe in the making. Around the world, 45 million children suffer from this disease at any one time. And in places where wasting is widespread, other painful side effects are occurring: conflict is intensifying; poverty is deepening; public health systems are buckling under pressure; domestic violence is rife. And children, our most vulnerable, suffer the most acutely. The numbers affected by acute malnutrition are likely to rise, led by threatened famines in active war zones like Sudan and Gaza. What is more, in these conflict settings, where health centers are inaccessible, an overwhelming majority of acutely malnourished children do not receive the treatment they need. Beyond that, the combination of armed conflict, climate disruption, a debt tourniquet on low-income countries, and cuts in humanitarian aid from some of the worlds leading donors, makes the global malnutrition crisis a double tragedy: it is both vast and under-addressed. Read More: $25 Butter and $40 Eggs: The Search for Food in Gaza The International Rescue Committee (IRC) estimates that 18 million children living in humanitarian crises are suffering from acute malnutrition at any given time in the communities we serve. Therefore, we can gauge that hundreds of millions of cases of severe wasting occur globally over the course of a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States has long been a leader in supporting child survival, and a cornerstone of the global nutrition effort. The U.S. is estimated to fund about 35% to 40% of the total global aid effort. The Trump Administration is right to say others should do more, but making cuts before they do so has an immediate impact on the lives of the worlds most vulnerable. International investment does more than buy food. It supports the delivery of ready-to-use therapeutic food, a highly effective peanut paste that can restore children to health in a matter of weeks. It funds community health workers, who reach families in the most remote and dangerous settings. It helps maintain the front lines of care in places where health systems are barely functioning. Sudanese line for food on March 19, 2025, during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan. 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". Ebrahim HamidAFP/Getty Images The IRC has been proud to partner with U.S. agencies in delivering proven, cost-effective malnutrition treatments. In FY2024, U.S. government funding accounted for more than 25% of the International Rescue Committees $57 million in nutrition programming across 22 crisis-affected countries. But that partnership is now under threat. The administrations January 2025 stop work orders sent shockwaves through the humanitarian community. Though temporary waivers allowed some critical programs to continue, they confirmed how fragile the lifeline has become. And a more dangerous test lies ahead: starting over the next few months, U.S.-funded nutrition grants will expire. If they are not renewed, the consequences will be immediate and devastating. There is no other donor or government ready to step into the gap left by the U.S. at scale. Read More: At Least 20 Palestinians Killed in Stampede at Gaza Aid Distribution Site The IRC projects that cuts already announced to our programs mean that 43,000 fewer children will receive treatment in FY2025 than originally planneda drop from nearly 472,000 to just under 429,000. If grant renewals do not come through, that figure would rise to 150,000 children left untreated in FY2026. And these are the figures of just one organization, representing just 3% of the total humanitarian budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has also played a critical role in primary health care in crisis-affected settings. Many children presenting with wasting are suffering complications from entirely treatable conditionsdiarrhea, pneumonia, or missed immunizations. If basic health systems collapse at the same time nutrition programs are cut, the ability to find and treat these children early will disappear. The tragedy is not only that children are dying. Its that we know how to save them, and we can do it more efficiently than ever before. IRC-led pilots in multiple countries have shown that simplified treatment protocols, delivered by community health workers, using a color-coded arm band to diagnose wasting, can achieve recovery rates of over 90%, while reducing costs by 2030%an innovation the U.S. government helped pioneer. Lives should not be cheap, but these interventions are. A course of treatment for moderate acute malnutrition costs between $60 and $73 per child. For severe acute malnutrition, when complications set in, the costs go up, but still remain incredibly low for the life-saving gain the interventions represent. The United States has not merely funded the fight against malnutritionit has helped shape the future of the global response. That is a legacy to be proud of. It is also one that must not be abandoned. If Congress and the administration act now to renew key nutrition grants, the U.S. can avert a humanitarian disaster and catalyze a more integrated, cost-effective system that reaches more children in more places. If it does not, we risk the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. A funding cliff is coming. The Trump Administration has said it is committed to protecting life-saving humanitarian aid. This is the test to do so. Contact us at letters@time.com. A federal judge gave Donald Trumps administration some simple instructions when it comes to violating the law: Stop doing it. In a ruling on Monday, District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington, D.C. found that the White House Office of Management and Budget illegally took down a public website showing how federal agencies spend taxpayer money. There is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the publics money, Sullivan wrote in a 60-page opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law! added Sullivan emphasis his. The administration removed the website in March. OMB director Russell Vought told members of Congress that the office intentionally flouted the law by scraping the database due to the sensitive and deliberative nature of the information on it. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. on July 21 ordered Donald Trumps administration to stop violating the law! in the latest legal blow to the presidents agenda (Reuters) A lawsuit from nonprofit watchdog groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Protect Democracy accused the administration of removing data to which they are statutorily entitled as part of their efforts to monitor government funding. According to Sullivan, Trump and Vought relied on an extravagant and unsupported theory of presidential power to argue that the governments appropriation of public funds does not need to be publicly disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, they complained about the extra work required of them under law passed by Congress in 2022 and 2023, Sullivan wrote. This is a management issue; not a constitutional one, he said. The judge ordered OMB to restore the database and publicly disclose the information on it, including any apportionment information from the time the database was taken offline. The law is clear that the federal government must make its appropriations decisions public, according to Adina Rosenbaum, Public Citizen Litigation Group attorney and counsel on the case. So this case turned on a straightforward point: The administration must follow the law. White House Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought has been ordered to restore public data that disclosed how federal agencies are using taxpayer funds (AP) Nikhel Sus, deputy chief counsel at CREW, said the decision reaffirms Congresss constitutional authority to require public disclosure of how taxpayer dollars are spent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans have a right to know how taxpayer money is being spent, he added. Ensuring public access to this information serves as a critical check on the executive branchs abuse and misuse of federal funds. The Trump administration has repeatedly taken a beating in federal court, with dozens of court orders across the country striking down key elements of his agenda as unconstitutional, or, in one case, confounding a judge who compared his sweeping executive actions to a gumbo giving him heartburn. The president, whose critics have accused him of mounting a constitutional crisis in his defiance of the courts, has resisted court orders nearly one-third of the time. In an analysis of 165 court orders filed against the Trump administration, The Washington Post found the president has been accused of defying decisions in at least 57 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Courts recent decision stemming from legal challenges striking down his executive order that seeks to redefine birthright citizenship could significantly diminish judicial authority. The high courts decision could effectively prevent judges who are facing an avalanche of legal questions challenging the constitutionality of the presidents agenda from issuing nationwide injunctions, making it extraordinarily difficult to unwind the presidents actions if they are later found to be illegal. Vought, meanwhile, argues that the appropriations process should be less bipartisan. There is no voter in the country that went to the polls and said, Im voting for a bipartisan appropriations process, he told a Christian Science Monitor event last week. That may be the view of something that appropriators want to maintain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vought, a former Heritage Foundation policy director and co-author of Project 2025, had recently ushered through legislation to revoke $9 billion in previously approved federal funding to gut global aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds National Public Radio and PBS. He told reporters last week that another round of cuts is likely coming soon. TOWN OF CLAY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) You ask, we answer! Question: Whats moving into the closed Cafe Kubal at Sweetheart Corner? Another coffee shop is going to try and make it work at this location, which has seen a few different businesses come and go. The building, located at the iconic Sweetheart Corner, is near the intersection of Taft Road and Route 11. 3911 Brewerton Road (Route 11) was a Starbucks, then a Tim Hortons, and most recently a Cafe Kubal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it closed several months ago, Anas Almaletti and his brothers thought it would be the perfect spot for a Middle Eastern coffee cafe, called Zaman Coffee House. It will offer Arabica coffee, Adani and Moroccan tea, and traditional Middle Eastern pastries and desserts. The coffee beans will come from Yemen. Zaman means Time or Time Long gone in Arabic, according to Almaletti. A fitting name for a coffee house that wants to focus on its customers slowing down and focusing on connecting with others around them. Where we come from, coffee is a way of life. Its about gathering with friends and family, talking about your day, sharing a moment. We always wanted a place like that, without alcohol, without loud music, just a beautiful space to unwind, connect, and feel at home. Almaletti said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zaman will also have a drive-thru for those who need to grab and go. Almaletti hopes to have the coffee house up and running in August. Zaman will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and will stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Submit a form. More Your Stories 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. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) Cleanup continues Monday in Woonsocket after strong storms took out many buildings and trees in Woonsocket. Cleanup underway at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds According to NorthWestern Energy, theres multiple power outages reported in Woonsocket. The Sanborn County Sheriff Tom Fridley told KELOLAND News the damage was pretty bad with trees, powerlines and buildings hit. There were no injuries reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KELOLANDs Tom Hanson is on the ground in Woonsocket and will have a full report later 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 KELOLAND.com. BEIJING (Reuters) -Storms drenched southern parts of the Chinese mainland on Monday, triggering warnings of flash floods and landslides, a day after Typhoon Wipha pounded Hong Kong. Heavy rain lashed the cities of Yangjiang, Zhanjiang and Maoming in China's southern province Guangdong after the storm system made landfall on Sunday evening. On Sunday it brushed past Hong Kong where it felled trees and scaffolding, grounded flights and sent nearly 280 people into shelters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China's national forecaster said Wipha had weakened to a tropical storm upon landfall, and forecast it would skirt the coast of Guangdong and move towards Vietnam. Heavy rain is forecast for mainland China's coastal regions of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian provinces until Tuesday morning, with warnings of flash floods, landslides and wind hazards. Floods exceeding warning levels occurred in 20 rivers across the country due to Wipha, state broadcaster CCTV cited the water resources ministry as saying on Monday. But many areas doused in heavy rainfall have recovered from the impact quickly, CCTV said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities had enforced traffic controls at major expressways connecting the cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai to Hong Kong as well as at ports, and these were lifted by Sunday night. Train services disrupted by the storm were also gradually resumed throughout Monday. The public was advised to remain vigilant about any secondary disasters, CCTV said during the noon bulletin on Monday. The system will move into the Gulf of Tonkin late on Monday morning, over which it will gather intensity before hitting Vietnam's northern coast, the Chinese forecaster said. Ahead of Wipha's expected landfall early on Tuesday, Vietnam put coastal provinces on emergency footing, warning of potentially dangerous flooding and landslides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnam's prime minister sent an urgent message to coastal regions on Sunday night to call boats ashore, evacuate people from flood-prone areas, prepare food supplies and rescue equipment and secure communication infrastructure. Dozens of flights were also cancelled or rescheduled as airlines in the country braced for the typhoon. (Reporting by Liz Lee, Xiuhao Chen and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Stephen Coates and Raju Gopalakrishnan) Strock opposed the most recent ceasefire and hostage release deal in January-March 2025. National Missions Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionist Party) said that she supported expanding military operations in Gaza even if this endangers the hostages lives, in a radio interview she had with Kol BaRama on Monday. Strock told the news station that operations should be expanded even in areas of the Gaza Strip that are designated as do not touch zones due to intelligence indicating the presence of both living and dead hostages in those sections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There should be no do not touch zones in Gaza. To win this war, we need to take control of these areas as well, she said, adding that the IDF must fight against Hamas and other Gaza terrorist groups in all parts of the enclave and defeat them. A great effort should be made to ensure that the hostages there are not harmed, but it is wrong to avoid defeating Hamas in those areas, Strock said in response to the interviewer asking her whether she believed her approach is endangering the hostages lives. She said that human lives are also at risk when rockets are fired or soldiers are targeted for kidnapping attempts. I dont know how to make such a moral calculation where I determine whose life is more important. Hostage Families Forum denounces Strock's comments The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement on Monday denouncing Strocks comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strock is leading the state toward sacrificing the hostages, and with them, the values upon which the State of Israel was built all in the name of a senseless and endless war, a war that must end for the sake of the entire people of Israel, the forum wrote on X/Twitter. Normalizing their captivity, Strock is gambling with the fate of the hostages. This is not surprising coming from someone who has long been an obstinate obstacle to the rescue of the hostages. This is a disgrace to the government, the forum added. blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> : , . - . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement . (@BringThemHome23) July 21, 2025 Strock opposed the most recent ceasefire and hostage release deal from January to March 2025. The Forum for Ending the War, a group comprised of bereaved parents of fallen soldiers, also denounced Strocks comments. She is sending our children to die without reason. For her, the blood of our children is worthless. This cannot continue, it wrote. Old Main building in the main campus of Penn State University, State College. (Getty Images) One of my doctoral students recently graduated, and with his experience as a student researcher, he secured a job in a research lab at a large information technology company. Thats part of how federal research funding makes an impact: it provides crucial support to train the next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharp reductions in funding to the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health are in the news, and much more depends on their funding than the creation of knowledge. We risk not only lost research, but also lost training for highly skilled labor, with repercussions that may never be fully remedied. Im an associate professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State, and I frequently encounter misconceptions when I talk about what its like to perform research as a professor. Many people think that professors do all of the work of research, with students having minimal or no involvement. Within STEM (science technology, engineering, and mathematics), thats far from the truth. Modern research is labor-intensive and requires the involvement of many people, especially students. National Institutes of Health Director Jayanta Bhattacharya speaks at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Capitol Hill on March 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Its common for a research-active professor to have several students working with them on projects. Professors know the landscape of their subject area and they use that knowledge to identify productive research topics, to guide students through developing them, and to help them create impactful results. Students run experiments, collect samples and data, and analyze results, among other tasks. Professors sometimes say that their students run individual projects, while the professor provides strategic leadership and runs the lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research grants pay for the expenses of research, and student salaries and tuition are two of the largest expenses. In the grants I receive, theyre the largest direct costs by far. Many STEM graduate students, especially doctoral students, are employed as research assistants. These positions pay a small salary to perform research and typically cover tuition and benefits too. Without that financial support, these students wouldnt be able to devote five or six years to the research activities and training necessary for a doctoral degree. Toward workforce development, research is one of the most effective and personally rewarding ways that we can train students for future STEM careers. Student researchers learn how to tackle difficult problems for which there are no answer keys, because research is the process of creating the answers. They learn to work in collaborative teams, give presentations, write well, and integrate feedback on their work. All of this happens in a hands-on, open-ended setting that course-based learning does not provide. The benefits to students exceed those, even. Graduate student researchers build professional networks by collaborating and attending conferences. Undergraduate researchers get intellectual enrichment beyond what coursework can provide, as well as a preview of what graduate school is like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anecdotally, regardless of their career paths, many student researchers also report high satisfaction with their work. The knowledge that one researcher creates might be modest, but the aggregation of that knowledge across many researchers, over time improves our understanding of the natural world and produces new technologies to benefit humanity. Replacing academic research with corporate research is sometimes floated as an option, but this is infeasible for multiple reasons. One is the distinction between applied research and basic research. Applied research is focused on creating knowledge specifically to enable new products and services. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In contrast, basic research expands what humanity knows or what we can do, both in a broad sense. Applied research relies upon people trained in an environment of basic research, where they have the freedom to think creatively and study fundamental problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research universities provide that environment. Beyond that distinction, the costs of training researchers make it unlikely for companies to provide the same experience universities are built to offer. Doctoral students spend several years learning how to perform research, and during that equivalent time in a company, they would contribute little if anything to the companys bottom line. Except at a few very large companies, creating a robust learning environment doesnt fit into industry structure or goals, while universities are designed around education. I already see the repercussions of uncertainty in the funding landscape: one of my masters students lost a research assistantship that he expected to receive this fall. This is one example among many of a growing disruption in our universities abilities to produce skilled researchers. This production can withstand small disruptions, but a large one like were witnessing puts it in serious peril. We depend on student researchers for many advancements in science and technology, and they depend on us to support their work. Pennsylvanias legislators and our representatives in Congress can play their role by standing up for NSF and NIH funding. Shomir Wilson is an associate professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University, where he leads the Human Language Technologies Lab. He received a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Maryland in 2011, and has worked or studied at nine universities across four continents. He writes from State College. Readers may follow him on Bluesky at @shomir.bsky.social. When Jill Fogg looks back at the teenager she was, and the adult she is now, she finds the change unbelievable. Some of it started with one college course she took while behind bars. Now, a regional effort organized by Western Mass CORE, or Community, Opportunity, Resources and Education, is bringing together multiple organizations to streamline a jail-to-college system, said Nicole Hendricks, executive director. We found incarcerated individuals faced steep barriers to access college, Hendricks said. Yet study after study showed education is the most effective way to help people transform their lives after serving time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was the case for Fogg. A long downward spiral with alcohol abuse left Fogg facing vehicular homicide charges after she crashed a car while driving drunk. Her boyfriend died and she was seriously injured and left disabled. She was sentenced to serve one year in jail and one year probation. Hendricks, then a professor at Holyoke Community College, visited Fogg in the Western Massachusetts Regional Womens Correctional Center in Chicopee and encouraged her to enroll in a course offered at jail. It was an anthropology course and I thought it was really interesting, Fogg said. All of a sudden for the first time I was reading books. I was doing homework. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fogg, who said she only graduated from high school through manipulation, was in her 40s and questioned if she was too old to be a student. But she kept going, taking three more classes. After being released in March 2021, Fogg kept thinking of the classes she took. In August, Fogg called Hendricks looking for advice on how she could continue with her education. Although it was last-minute, Hendricks quickly set the process in motion and registered Fogg for a class in human services at Holyoke Community College, complete with a way to pay for it. This spring, Fogg graduated with a degree in liberal arts with honors. The Springfield resident has been accepted to Bay Path University, in Longmeadow, where she plans to earn her bachelors degree in child psychology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is also seven years sober. As part of her work to remain in recovery, Fogg shares her story with others, especially encouraging and mentoring incarcerated women considering college. I tell them, if I can do it at my age and with my background, you can do it, she said. If you knew me when I was younger I was so different. It is baffling to me sometimes. But Fogg said she never would have earned a diploma and received a letter congratulating her for making the deans list without Hendricks guidance. Creating pathway Hendricks founded Western Mass CORE with fellow professor Mary Orisich as a Holyoke Community College program, after realizing the complications people in county jails face when trying to continue their education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nonprofit has since expanded to become an independent community-based group to broaden college programming in correctional facilities, Hendricks said. This year, Western Mass CORE received $750,000 from the Ascendium Education Group to develop a streamlined jail-to-college pathway, she said. A 2022 survey of 346 people incarcerated in Western Massachusetts found that 60% had a high school diploma or the equivalent and one-third of those had taken at least a few higher education classes, mostly at Holyoke or Springfield Technical community colleges. But Hendricks found it isnt easy to take college classes in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no central coordination. There is no jail-to-college pathway, she said. There is no one system of advising and most depend on informal relations between jails and colleges. For the next 15 months, the Unlocking Pathways program will join people who can help shape a better system, including correctional educators, college faculty, workforce leaders, lawmakers and, especially students themselves. The goal: create a better system for college and career training. With free community college now in reach for many and growing momentum statewide, the moment is right, Hendricks said. One of the biggest barriers is that students have to fill out the federal Free Application For Student Aid better known as FAFSA which is hard for the typical student and exceptionally difficult for one in jail, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have not solved that issue, Hendricks said. The study will consult reentry support personnel from jails, college registrars and financial aid experts to find a way to streamline the process. Hendricks, who served as a criminal justice professor and department head at Holyoke Community College for 18 years, said classes in county jails are usually offered by a mix of colleges in different subjects. Coordination is hard in part because people spend less time in county jails than in state prison. Jails are not going to lead to a degree because of the length of time, but they can be a starting point, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study will identify ways people can continue with their degrees after they are released. Holyoke Community College runs a center for those who have been in jail. With a variety of colleges offering courses behind bars, students end up having to transfer credits from different schools. Some dont have open access to a computer. How do you get transcripts if you have to pay for them? Hendricks said. We need to get all the stakeholders together and figure out how do we transfer credits. How do you do that seamlessly? Fogg, for example, earned credits from Holyoke Community College, Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt have a problem transferring credits but Nicole (Hendricks) guided me through everything, she said. Colleges offer a limited selection of courses in jail. For example, Fogg had no other choice for a class than the anthropology course, which worked well for her. Hendricks said the study group will look at offering micro-courses of seven to 10 weeks to reach people serving a short sentence. Online courses may be one solution. They have been tested at the Hampden County Sheriffs Departments Recovery and Wellness Center on Mill Street. But inmates access to computers changes from jail to jail and many have limited digital experience and skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent course at Mill Street allowed inmates to take the class alongside typical Holyoke Community College students. That was deemed a success in part because a criminal justice student who had taken a lot of courses online served as an assistant, helping with digital skills. She also served as a tutor, mentor and offered tips about study skills and other topics, Hendricks said. The sheriffs department will be part of the Western Mass CORE study. This new partnership with Western Mass CORE connects our existing education and training programs to college-level pathways and broader regional opportunities, Hampden Sheriff Nick Cocchi said. When someone earns a high school diploma or a vocational certificate in our care, they should have a clear path to the next step whether thats community college, a four-year degree, or advanced technical training. As of now, the process to offer college courses is fragmented. The study will streamline the process to give people in jail more access to higher education, said Robert Rizzuto, communications director. People who are newly incarcerated sit down with a counselor to discuss how they ended up arrested. The counselor asks about their educational background and long-term goals. Those interested in college are directed to ways they can continue their education, he said. The jails in Hampden County have some infrastructure in place to make access easier. Teachers offer computer literacy classes, all the inmates have tablets and staff can add any app needed. Read the original article on MassLive. Turnover is expected at summer jobs, but one intern at a prestigious New York City law firm was let go for an unusual reason. Insiders tell the legal news site Above the Law that a summer associate at Sidley Austin reportedly bit colleagues and roared at them during her first day on the job. One report noted that the bites were not in an aggressive, were beefing way but rather, a faux-quirky manic pixie dream girl crossed with the Donner party vibe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The writer of the report said that they had seen photos of the aftermath of one of the woman's bites, and suggested that saying she "nibbled" would be "too tame a word." The report noted that the decision was made after what appeared to be internal debate, as the intern was otherwise personable. One user on X said that the intern bit at least 10 people, ranging from other interns to a rep from human resources. It was such a repeated thing that her officemate started wearing long sleeve shirts to the office because she kept getting bit, the person said. The firm has not commented on the matter, but a source told the New York Post that the intern "only" bit five employees instead of some of the more outlandish figures being spread online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are outright making things up at this point, one Reddit user said, a person who claimed to work with the intern at the firm. I just want to ask people to please remember that theres a human being on the other end of this story someone whose mental health is a genuine concern, and who is probably feeling like her life is ruined right now. She made a really stupid mistake and has paid the price for it." Sidley Austin handles complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory and litigation matters, according to the company's website. The prestigious law firm has 21 offices around the world, and is headquartered in Chicago. Barack and Michelle Obama met at the firm's Chicago office, where the former president was once a summer associate. Summer Intern Fired After Allegedly Biting Coworkers first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 Across the Northern Hemisphere, people are soaking up the long hours of summer sunlight, with no idea that theyre experiencing some of the shortest days since modern timekeeping beganby a millisecond or so. July 9 was the shortest day of the year because Earth spun faster1.34 milliseconds quicker than the standard 24-hour rotation, according to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) and U.S. Naval Observatory. This summer its predicted well see two more historically short daysJuly 22 and August 5. Fluctuations in Earth's spin rate arent uncommon, but scientists are mulling the reasons behind a recent surge in faster rotations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past decade, the average length of day has mostly been shrinking. This has been especially notable over the past five years or so, sometimes clocking in at less than 24 hours, says Nicholas Stamatakos, an astronomer at the U.S. Naval Observatorys Earth Orientation Department. Heres the science behind why Earth is spinning faster as it orbits the sun, if scientists think it will last, and why even the odd millisecond might impact critical technologies. Why is Earth spinning faster? Variations of Earths rotation are due to a complicated mix of factors but scientists say a few stand out. The moon affects Earth differently during its orbit. When its positioned close to the equator twice a month, gravitational pull slows Earths spin a bit. But the moon also moves nearer the poles twice a month, and at those times the moons gravity helps Earth spin a bit faster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our planet and atmosphere rotate in sync, sharing a momentum that can't be changed by only one of the two. Our atmosphere spins more slowly during the summer due to variations in the jet stream. This means the planet must speed up, to compensate and maintain the systems angular momentum at a constant level. Inside the planet, something weird is also happening that physicists cant totally explain. For some reason, Earths core has been slowing down for the last 50 years, and to maintain angular momentum, the solid Earth above has been spinning a bit faster to compensate. We don't know why, or what the core might do in the future, says Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. (Earth's inner core is doing something weird.) Are these the shortest days in history? The past few years have seen the shortest days since atomic timekeeping began in 1955, but they aren't even close to the shortest days in Earth's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On average Earth's days have been growing longer for several billion years. Since the moon was formed, its gravity and influence on ocean tides incrementally slows Earths rate of rotation. (Can the moon influence human health? Surprising research suggests it might.) Analysis of ancient mollusk shells from the dinosaurs sunset era reveals that 70 million years ago the years 372 days were only 23.5 hours long. Fossilized corals from 430 million years ago suggest that far more frequent sunrises and sunsets once framed a 21-hour day. Even as the long-term trend lengthens days, short-term fluctuations have produced plenty of short-day periods. "The days were all shorter than the upcoming ones in the 1820s and from about 1865 to about 1880, says Agnew. According to the IERS there were actually shorter days in June/August 2022 and June 2024. Will you be able to notice sped-up days? Days of long daylight are obvious, like those around the summer solstice. So are the long, cold nights before and after December 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if Earths 24-hour cycle was shortened by the blink of an eye you likely wouldnt notice: A blink takes 100 to 400 milliseconds, while the difference in day length is only about 1 millisecond. "A single, isolated shorter day is important only for astronomers and other specialists, says Judah Levine, a physicist and Fellow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Astronomers need extremely accurate timekeeping to understand the positions and movements of celestial objects and eventstiny discrepancies can create big errors. When time lost to shortened days begins to add up, timekeepers add an extra second to the running clock, bringing astronomical time back in sync with the atomic time it had lagged behind. This is called a leap second, and its been implemented about every year and a half since 1972most people dont notice that either. Will a faster-spinning Earth affect technology or timekeeping? Slight changes to Earths rotation didnt matter much until atomic timekeeping arrived in 1955. Atomic time is constant, so Earths varying spin creates a gap between astronomical and atomic time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To let astronomical time catch up, leap seconds have been added 27 times since 1972. Now that Earth is speeding up timekeepers may implement a first-ever negative leap second by 2029 to slow astronomical time. Leap seconds have plagued computers, GPS, and telecommunications, most notably in 2012 when Linux and other systems hiccuped at the adjustment . An unprecedented negative leap second could prove more problematic since software systems may assume that time always moves in the same direction. It could have a devastating effect on the software relying on timers or schedulers, Meta engineers warn. How climate change impacts Earths rotation Studies suggest that factors like melting ice, rising seas, and depleted groundwater are changing Earths mass and slowing its spin. This slows its rotation in the same way an ice skater lowers her arms from overhead to stall her spin. (The world's glaciers are melting faster than we thought.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically such variations have been the result of natural cycles but a pair of NASA-funded studies suggests that time itself may be feeling climate changes impact on the Earth. " Our analysis shows that in the past century, modern climate change alone has contributed to length of day by about 0.6 to 0.7 milliseconds, and that rate will likely double in this century, says Surendra Adhikari , an earth systems scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Such a slowdown could be at odds with the factors recently working to speed Earths spin, highlighting the complexity of the planets rotation. (Take a look inside Earth's interior.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stamatakos stresses that while weve seen Earths spin vary for centuries, the complicated interplay of its different causes still presents a challenge for scientistsespecially when looking forward. Accurate predictions of length of day beyond a six-month time frame are not possible, he warns, due to the incomplete understanding of all these geodetic phenomena. So, while the sun will keep coming up tomorrow, its hard to say exactly how long each day will last. The first true heatwave of 2025 has settled in and is planning an extended stay across the region. This will bring us a case of summer doldrums with temperatures remaining the main headline throughout the week. Download our KOLR 10 weather app A summer ridge will continue to build north into the region through Thursday, leading to a steady climb in temperatures. In the short term, a frontal boundary draped near I-70 has been teasing areas to the north with a few showers and thunderstorms. That boundary should lift further north through Monday, taking rain chances with it. Hot weather will continue across the region with highs back in the low to mid 90s on Monday, with heat indices in the 100 to 106 range. An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through at least Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pattern and the forecast dont change much through Thursday. Well probably add a degree or two each day to the high as the summer ridge strengthens and conditions continue to dry out across the area. There may be an opportunity for more clouds and even a little rain starting Friday and continuing through the upcoming weekend. An area of unsettled weather will move around the summer ridge before shifting east through Missouri and into Illinois through Sunday. This should weaken the ridge somewhat, and it may also push a weak boundary into the area. All of this would add up to at least a low risk for some rain and more cloud cover, and this may even trim back the heat a bit. At this stage, this looks like only a small speed bump in what will overall be a hot and mostly dry pattern through the end of the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay cool and stay safe everyone! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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. For all of the eons that animal life has existed on Earth, the sun has been there too. And for all of those eons, animal life has had only one solution for intense exposure to the sun: evolution. Some creatures have thick, dark skin thats resistant to UV harm; others sprout fur, scales, or feathers that block the suns rays. Many fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds may produce a compound that protects their cells against the suns damaging effects. Hippos, weirdly, ooze a reddish, mucus-y liquid from their pores that absorbs light before it can destroy their skin. And plenty of creatures have evolved behaviors that take advantage of their environmentrolling around in dirt or mud, simply retreating into the shade. But certain modern animals have sun problems that natural selection cant easily solve. Some reside at zoos that cant perfectly replicate their habitat; others live at latitudes that their ancestors didnt experience. Others spend too much time sunbathing in a living-room window, or sport sparse or light-colored fur or hair because their domesticators liked the way it looked. For these animals, people have come up with a shorter-term solution: sunscreen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If, that is, a creature is willing to accept the treatment. Indu, an Asian elephant who lived at the Phoenix Zoo, was game. A few years ago, Heather Wright, one of the zookeepers, noticed the tops of Indus ears pinking, peeling, and flaking in the summer heat, much like her human keepers did. So her caretakers picked up some zinc-oxide-based sunblockspecially formulated for sensitive (human) skinand dabbed it on the elephant. Indu, to be fair, was used to a level of care most wild animals dont enjoy. We had already been applying lotion, to manage dryness, Wright told me. The elephant knew the drill: Once in the barn, shed lumber up to a window with an opening for her ear and stick the appendage through. As far as zoo staff members could tell, the treatment helped. Theres nothing magical about other animals skin, Leslie Easterwood, a large-animal veterinarian at Texas A&M University, told me: Bake it in the sun, and it will burn. Scientists have spotted whales suffering from sunburns; cats, dogs, horseseven alpacas, turtles, and penguinscan develop all kinds of skin cancers. Pigs, in particular, have skin most similar to humans, Mitchell Song, a veterinary dermatologist based in Arizona told me. At Zoo Miami, keepers have spread mud on older, arthritic wild pigs who cant wallow as well as they did in their youth; theyve also applied sunscreen to a babirusa, a species of swine native to Indonesias forests, and to a Kunekune pig, Gwen Myers, the zoos chief of animal health, told me. In some sunny places, vets commonly recommend sunscreen for pets and other domesticated creatures, especially light-colored dogs and horses. Steve Valeika, a veterinarian in North Carolina, advises the same for white cats that go outside. This particular conundrum is one of our own making. You dont see a lot of white-skinned animals in the wild, Anthea Schick, a veterinary dermatologist in Arizona, told me. Only thanks to generations of selective breeding have they become a frequent presence in and around peoples homes. Of course, to sunscreen your pet, you have to sunscreen your pet. Some pet owners, vets told me, are definitely flummoxed by the suggestion: Its not widely discussed, Schick told me. Vets are more unified in recommending teeth brushing for catsand most cat owners still just decide theyd rather not. But some animals would certainly benefit from block: Schick told me shes seen her fair share of badly burned dogs, especially after long bouts of sunbathing that scorch their bellies. We see a lot of sun-induced skin cancers that could be avoided, she said. Pit bulls, Dalmatians, and other short-haired breeds are especially vulnerable; even long-haired white cats are sensitive around their eyes, their nose, and the tips of their ears. And Easterwood estimates that the majority of paint horses, left unprotected, will eventually develop skin issues. Squamous-cell-carcinoma cases make up the majority of her workload: I see it every single day, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vets I spoke with generally agreed: Dont bother with sprays, which a lot of animals find annoying or downright terrifying; reapply often, and well; it is way, way, way harder to sunscreen a cat than a dog, though some brave souls manage it. But although some vets recommended human sunscreens, formulated for kids or sensitive skin, others told me they preferred blends marketed for animals. (The FDA has dubbed just one pet sunscreen, made by a company called Epi-Pet and marketed to dogs and horses, FDA compliantnot the same as FDA approval, which requires rigorous safety testing.) Several warned against zinc oxide, which can be toxic to animals if ingested in large quantities; others felt that zinc oxide was worth the risk, unless administered to a tongue-bathing cat. Regardless of the product theyre offered, most animals generally arent as eager as Indu to subject themselves to a human-led sun-protection ritual. And even she was usually plied with a five-gallon bucket of fruits and vegetables while her keepers tended her ears. At Zoo Miami, keeper Madison Chamizo told me she and her colleagues had to spend months training an okapian African mammal closely related to a giraffeto accept caretakers gently scrubbing sunscreen onto her back with a modified Scotch-Brite dishwand, after she lost some patches of hair on her back to a fungal infection. But for creatures in very sunny parts of the world, the alternatives are, essentially, being cooped up indoors, kept away from windows, or wrestled into full-body sunsuits. (Some dogs dont mind; cats, once again, are unlikely to comply.) And some sun-related problems, sunscreen cant fix. Gary West, the Phoenix Zoos vet, told me he suspects that UV glare has caused eye inflammation in some of his animals; Myers, in Miami, worries about the sensitive skin around some species eyes. Theyre not really going to wear sunglasses for us, Myers told me. So she and her colleagues have started to wonder: Gosh, is this an animal that we could put a sun visor on? Article originally published at The Atlantic There are times when I despair as to whether the Supreme Court will uphold the law and times when I worry that the conservative justices will just be a rubber stamp approving the terrible policies of the Trump administration. That was my reaction on June 23 when the Supreme Court lifted a lower court order preventing President Donald Trump from deporting people to South Sudan. This action by the Trump administration is clearly illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal law is quite specific as to where a person can be deported to. For example, it says that when possible, a person should be deported to the country from which the person was admitted to the United States (if a person came to the United States from Mexico, for example, they should be deported to Mexico). In other instances, a person could be deported to the country in which is located the foreign port from which the non-citizen left for the United States (if a person from Guatemala came through Mexico, that person could be deported to Mexico). Federal law also allows deporting a person to the country in which the person resided before entering the United States (if a person from China came to Mexico and then unlawfully entered the United States, they could be returned to Mexico). The statute also provides that a person can be deported to the country where they were born. If none of these options are possible, however, only then can the government pick the place it wants to deport a person to. The final clause of the statute says: If impracticable, inadvisable or impossible to remove the (non-citizen) to each country described, a person can be deported to another country whose government will accept the (person) into that country. It is clear that this final category is meant to be a last resort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations deporting Venezuelans and Cubans to a prison in South Sudan blatantly violates the law. These individuals have no connection whatsoever to South Sudan, and they now face brutal conditions. A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction against this. The federal court of appeals affirmed. Surprisingly, on June 23, the Supreme Court reversed and lifted the preliminary injunction and allowed the deportations to proceed. Most stunning, there was no opinion written by any of the six justices in the majority not one word of explanation. It was just an order reversing the lower court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a blistering dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. In matters of life and death, it is best to proceed with caution, Sotomayor wrote. In this case, the government took the opposite approach. It wrongfully deported one plaintiff to Guatemala, even though an Immigration Judge found he was likely to face torture there. Then, in clear violation of a court order, it deported six more to South Sudan, a nation the State Department considers too unsafe for all but its most critical personnel. An attentive District Courts timely intervention only narrowly prevented a third set of unlawful removals to Libya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than allowing our lower court colleagues to manage this high-stakes litigation with the care and attention it plainly requires, this court now intervenes to grant the government emergency relief from an order it has repeatedly defied. I cannot join so gross an abuse of the courts equitable discretion. When the district court took further steps to require that the government comply with the law, the Supreme Court on July 3 immediately stepped in to allow the deportations to go forward. Once more, Sotomayor dissented: What the government wants to do, concretely, is send the eight non-citizens it illegally removed from the United States from Djibouti to South Sudan, where they will be turned over to the local authorities without regard for the likelihood that they will face torture or death, the justice wrote. In deporting people to a maximum security prison in El Salvador or Djibouti or South Sudan or Libya, what the Trump administration is doing is not only illegal, it is cruel and inhumane. In all of these foreign prisons, those deported are likely to be tortured and some will be killed. When the Trump administration deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to a notorious prison in El Salvador, he was brutally tortured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is terrible that our government is doing this, but it is unconscionable that the Supreme Court stepped in to make sure it could happen. The court exists to ensure that the Constitution and the laws of the United States are enforced, not to be a rubber stamp for the president. Although it is a fraught analogy, I cannot help but think of all the judges in Nazi Germany who facilitated sending people to their death in concentration camps. History condemns those judges, and I have no doubt history will decry these rulings as well. Erwin Chemerinsky is dean and professor of law at the UC Berkeley School of Law. As Canada Post workers begin to vote on the companys final contract offer, a survey from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business finds that a postal strike could push two in three businesses (63%) to walk away from Canada Post permanently. Yo-yoing in and out of strike mandates is causing Canadas small businesses one of Canada Posts last groups of profitable customers to leave for good, said CFIB President Dan Kelly in a news release. Small business owners and other consumers need certainty. Thirteen percent of small businesses permanently dropped usage of Canada Post during the 2024 strike and every time Canada Post goes on strike, more and more businesses leave forever. Canada Post in late May reported a 50% drop in parcel volumes, year over year, because protracted contract negotiations were eroding shipper confidence in the postal operator. Many businesses switched to alternative final-mile couriers after a 32-day strike during the last holiday season and the threat of another strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mail carriers in Canada have been working without a new collective bargaining agreement for 19 months as the sides remain far apart on key issues, despite extensive mediation by the federal government. Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers at the end of May opted against a strike. Instead, mail carriers are refusing to work overtime shifts, limiting their work to eight hours per day and 40 hours per week. On Monday, the Canada Industrial Relations Board began administering an online and phone vote on Canada Posts proposed contract. Voting runs through Aug. 1. The government imposed the vote on workers over the objections of the CUPW leadership. Canada Post requested government intervention saying it wasnt confident union leaders were accurately representing how rank-and-file mail carriers felt about its proposed labor agreement. Labor experts say it is unlikely the vote will solve the lengthy dispute, the Toronto Star reported. Another strike at the time of ongoing trade tensions and uncertainty would have a significant impact on small businesses. We estimate the 2024 strike cost small firms between $55 million to $73 million each day. We hope both parties reach a deal to avoid another unnecessary strike, said CFIB spokeswoman Dariya Baiguzhiyeva in an email to FreightWaves. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business surveyed members about their attitudes toward Canada Post. (Source: CFIB) According to CFIB research, four in five businesses still use Canada Post. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those businesses use it for sending checks, while 61% send other letter mail. Over half (58%) like to use Canada Post for its low cost and convenience, while reliability and customer service ranked much lower as priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most businesses (71%) responded to the strike disruptions in 2024 by encouraging customers to use digital options. Nearly, nearly half (45%) turned to private couriers, while 27% delayed mail shipping. Need for new business model (Source: CFIB) Canada Post is pressing the union to accept a series of changes to operations and work conditions it says are needed to turn around years of financial losses as mail and parcel volumes shrink. Canada Posts share of the parcel delivery market has fallen to 24% from 62% in 2019, according to a May report from an industrial dispute commission. Parcel revenue declined by 20.3% in 2024 as volumes fell by 56 million pieces, or 20%, compared to 2023, according to Canada Posts annual report. The governments review commission noted that private couriers, which dominate in urban and suburban settings, benefit from being able to choose which routes to serve while Canada Post is bound by law to serve all addresses. Private couriers also have access to huge amounts of capital and are typically able to hire nonunion workers, many on a part-time basis or as independent contractors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The national post wants to adjust delivery routes based on parcel volumes and addresses needing service each day rather than adhering to fixed routes; implement a weekend delivery model using a dedicated part-time workforce as well; and create part-time flex positions for mail carriers to work 20 hours per week, with the potential for mandatory weekend hours. Canada Post also seeks to introduce load leveling, whereby supervisors each morning could transfer mail volumes between workers during scheduled hours without additional compensation. CFIB data shows 73% of small businesses mostly rely on private couriers for package delivery.million per day. The current model at Canada Post is in dire need of massive reform. Its long overdue for the federal government to implement the well-studied changes that have been required for over a decade, said Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice president of advocacy at CFIB, in the news release. Small business owners deserve a long-term plan and a postal service they can count on. The CFIB report was based on 2,317 responses collected in June and July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com. RELATED STORIES: Vote on Canada Post labor contract begins Monday as losses mount Canada Post parcel volumes drop 50% as labor dispute compounds challenges The post Survey: Small businesses would flee Canada Post if mail carriers strike appeared first on FreightWaves. BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) An arrest was made following a shooting at the Duck Thru in Lewiston/Woodville. On Sunday, July 20th, 2025, at 10:56 p.m., officers with the Bertie County Sheriffs Office were sent to the Duck Thru in Lewiston/Woodville regarding a person who had been shot. Upon arrival, the victim was identified and found with a gunshot wound to his right arm. While officers were talking to the victim, the suspect, Keith Tyrone Wynn, 55, of Suffolk, Virginia, pulled into the parking lot. According to the victim, a dispute between Wynn and another male led to the victim being shot by Wynns firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wynn was soon arrested and charged with: Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wynn was sent to the Bertie/Martin Regional Jail under a $37,500 secured bond. Bertie County Sheriff Ruffin said, Gun violence isnt the solution to any problems. Gun violence happens too often in our county, and at the end of the day, its not worth it. Once its done, it cant be undone, you will have to face the consequences. My Office is working progressively to keep the citizens of Bertie County safe, but incidents like these isnt shakes our communities and makes the citizens feel uneasy. Ive been very tough on drugs and violent crimes in Bertie, and even though these incidents may be unpredictable, my team will continue to take every effort to continue to reduce violent crimes. 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 WNCT. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A high-speed pursuit and crash left a wanted suspect dead in what the Columbia County Sheriffs Office said was an officer-involved shooting on Sunday afternoon. The chase began around 2:30 p.m. with deputies in pursuit of a driver who had previously eluded law enforcement in Washington, Sheriff Brian Pixley said in a release. The driver fled from deputies, but crashed down an embankment in the Deer Island area and died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 7 suspicious fires set near Irving Park in NE Portland No one from law enforcement was hurt in the incident, the sheriff said. He told KOIN 6 News a firearm was discharged on scene but details surrounding the shooting are not clear at this time. Canaan Road from Deer Island Heights Road to Merrill Creek Road is closed while the investigation is underway, officials said. The Oregon State Police Major Crimes Team is now the lead agency on the investigation. KOIN 6 News will have more information as it develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LOS ANGELES (AP) A man suspected of driving his car into a crowd on a sidewalk in Los Angeles, injuring 36 people, has a criminal history that includes a conviction for felony battery, officials said Sunday. The driver, identified by police as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was attacked by bystanders after the crash early Saturday in east Hollywood and paramedics later found that he had been shot. Police were still searching for the suspected shooter, described as a man with a goatee in a blue Dodgers jacket. Ramirez, of San Clemente, California, was recovering and was expected to face a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon. He could not be reached for comment and it wasn't known if he had an attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles police Capt. Ben Fernandes told KNBC-TV on Sunday that Ramirez was sentenced in 2020 for attacking a man outside of a Whole Foods grocery store in June 2019. He was on parole at the time of Saturdays crash, but its unclear whether it was in connection with the 2019 attack or another case. Ramirez has had at least 11 criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, KNBC reported. In January 2022, he was charged with felony domestic battery and entered a not guilty plea. That case remains open. A line of people mostly women were waiting to enter the Vermont Hollywood event venue around 2 a.m. when they were struck by a Nissan Versa that also hit a food vending cart and valet stand, Fire Capt. Adam VanGerpen said Saturday. At least 36 people were treated for injuries including fractures and lacerations, police said Sunday without providing updates on their conditions. It was not immediately clear if Ramirez was shot before or after the crash or why he drove into the crowd. As the Mackinac Bridge prepares for a lineup of unique summer parades, swimmers are getting ready to make the trek across the Straits of Mackinac below. The upcoming Mackinac Bridge Swim is a fundraiser for first responders. Dedicated swimmers traverse the 4.5 mile Straits of Mackinac, according to the event's website. Here's what to know. When is the Mackinac Bridge Swim? The Mackinac Bridge Swim will be July 26, 2025. Where is the Mackinac Bridge? Located in the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, the Mackinac Bridge links Michigan's Lower Peninsula in Mackinaw City to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in St. Ignace. How long is the swim? The swim runs 4.5 miles across the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, per the event website. Participants must swim along the east side of the bridge and within 100 yards of the bridge. How long is the Mackinac Bridge? The suspension bridge is 5 miles long, the Mackinac Bridge Authority says. Where does the swim start? The swim will begin from Colonial Michilimackinac in Michilimackinac State Park at 102 Straits Ave. in Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula at 7 a.m. on July 26, per the event website. Where does the swim end? Participants will swim across to the Upper Peninsula, ending at Bridge View Park in St. Ignace, the event website says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be an after party dinner the evening of July 26 at the Mackinaw City Recreational Center, per the website. Transportation across the bridge back to Mackinaw City will be available via sign up at the July 25 packet pickup. Who can participate? Participating swimmers had to provide organizers proof they can swim 1 mile in 40 minutes, verified by digital tracking platforms Garmin or Strava or by having a lifeguard time them, the website says. What equipment do you need? Swimmers must wear a wetsuit and assigned swim cap, the website says. They're also required to have a tow buoy, a brightly-colored inflatable device that ensures the swimmer is visible in the water. What charity does the event benefit? The swim event is a fundraiser to benefit first responders in Michigan, the event's website says. How can you watch the swim? Organizers will have a drone recording the swim, with a live stream on the Mackinac Bridge Swim's private Facebook group, per the event website. What events are happening on the Mackinac Bridge this summer? Here are the vehicular and pedestrian events lined up for the Mackinac Bridge this season: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When is Mackinac Bridge Swim? What to know SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Polka music, authentic Polish food and slushies made to look like the Polish flag are just some of the fun people enjoyed today at the annual Dom Polski Fest on Syracuses Westside. The Syracuse Polish Home pulled out all the stops to prepare a variety of foods including pierogi, potato pancakes and many more Polish dishes for todays event. Its like grandma made it, said festival attendee Leszek Stanejko. Homemade and stuff like that, like old days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stanejko grew up in Poland and immigrated to the United States more than 30 years ago. He hopes to pass down some Polish traditions to his three young daughters. I came here to keep Polish heritage going, Stanejko said. Patrick Favalo, President of the Syracuse Polish Home, manned one of the grills at the event. This is Hoffman Kielbasa, Favalo said. You can get a sandwich with or without. Hes referring to a heaping pile of sauerkraut, which many ordered on their sandwiches. The cooks served up some pretty big portions. Inside the Polish Home, attendees danced to polka music played by a live band. Volunteers also served up alcoholic red and white Polish flag slushies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kathy Thomas, the Polish Homes membership chairwoman, takes pride in her Polish roots. Dom polski means Polish home, Thomas said. And its just a celebration of our heritage, of our culture, of our food, of our music, and of all the great people who are Polish. She and many others hope the festival reaches people beyond the Polish community. The festival also included basket raffles and music by Jasiu Klocek and Salt City Brass. If you didnt make it this year, keep an eye out next summer for the event. The festival is free to attend, and runs every year, rain or shine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Syrian government is evacuating hundreds of Bedouin families trapped inside the southern city of Suwayda, where a fragile ceasefire is holding after Druze and Bedouin fighters fought for a week. The first Bedouin families left on Monday on buses and trucks accompanied by Syrian Arab Red Crescent vehicles and ambulances. They were taken to nearby Daraa as the government plans to evacuate 1,500 people. At least 500 people have already left on 10 buses this morning, and more are expected to exit Suwayda in the next few hours, Al Jazeeras Mohamed Vall said about noon (09:00 GMT) on Monday in a report from the capital, Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans, which began on July 13, killed nearly 260 people and threatened to unravel Syrias post-war transition. The violence also displaced 128,571 people, according to the United Nations International Organisation for Migration. Israel intervened and launched air attacks on Syrias Ministry of Defence buildings in the heart of Damascus. Israeli forces also hit Syrian government forces in Suwayda province, claiming it was protecting the Druze, whom it calls its brothers. Al Jazeeras Vall said some Bedouin families were evacuating the province voluntarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are seven districts of Suwayda that are inhabited partly or mostly by Arab Bedouins, and they are all under threat or they feel under threat and some of them are willing to leave [on their own], he said. Syrian Interior Minister Ahmad al-Dalati told the SANA news agency that the evacuation process will also allow displaced civilians from Suwayda to return as efforts for a complete ceasefire are under way. We have imposed a security cordon in the vicinity of Suwayda to keep it secure and to stop the fighting there, al-Dalati told the agency. This will preserve the path that will lead to reconciliation and stability in the province. Members of the Syrian governments security forces deploy on a road in Taarah that goes to Daraa on July 21, 2025 [Rami al Sayed/AFP] According to the United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, the ceasefire agreed on Saturday says the Bedouin fighters will release Druze women they are holding captive and leave the province. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After talks for a captives swap fell through late on Sunday, the observatory and activist groups in Suwayda reported hearing what they said were Israeli air strikes and helicopters over villages where some skirmishes took place between the Bedouins and the Druze. The Israeli military said it was not aware of any overnight strikes in Syria. Talks aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire are under way in Jordan, with regional actors closely engaged. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 2,500 Syrian government forces described as lightly armed would be allowed to enter Suwayda city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, an initial Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy entered Suwayda on Sunday, carrying UN humanitarian assistance, including food, water, medical supplies and fuel, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has tried to appeal to the Druze community while slamming its factions loyal to spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri who have been involved in the clashes. He promised to hold accountable perpetrators of targeted attacks and other violations. The Druze minority largely celebrated the downfall in December of the al-Assad family, which ruled Syria for 53 years. But al-Hijri, who had some allegiance to deposed President Bashar al-Assad in the past, and his supporters have taken a more confrontational approach with al-Sharaa, contrary to most other influential Druze figures. BUSRA AL-HARIR, Syria (AP) Syria 's government on Monday started evacuating Bedouin families trapped inside the southern city of Sweida, where deadly fighting between Druze militiamen and Bedouin fighters has largely stopped as a ceasefire takes told. Last week's clashes killed hundreds and threatened to unravel Syrias fragile postwar transition. They also led to sectarian attacks against the Druze religious minority, followed by revenge attacks against the Sunni Muslim Bedouins. The U.N. International Organization for Migration said 128,571 people were displaced. Neighboring Israel also launched dozens of airstrikes in Druze-majority Sweida province, targeting government forces who effectively sided with the Bedouins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian state media on Sunday said the government had coordinated with officials in Sweida to bring buses to evacuate some 1,500 Bedouins. The province's internal security chief under the Interior Ministry, Ahmad al-Dalati, told the state-run news agency that the initiative also would allow civilians displaced from Sweida to return. Druze civilians were expected to be evacuated from other areas, but those had not taken place by Monday evening. We have imposed a security cordon in the vicinity of Sweida to keep it secure and to stop the fighting there," al-Dalati told SANA. This will preserve the path that will lead to reconciliation and stability in the province." Talks were ongoing in Jordan for a long-term truce. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of neighboring Turkey, who has been involved in regional talks for a ceasefire in southern Syria, said 2,500 lightly armed government forces will be granted permission to enter Sweida city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerns about the government's control Buses filled with Bedouin families were accompanied by Syrian Arab Red Crescent vehicles and ambulances. Ali al-Hawarein, a farmer, was among hundreds bussed out of Sweida to neighboring Daraa province. He called attacks by Druze fighters unjustified, and doubted that the government can keep control. Syrian authorities did not give further details about the evacuation and how it ties into the broader agreement. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that as part of the agreement, Bedouin fighters would have to release Druze women they were holding captive and leave the province. After talks for a hostage swap fell through, the Observatory and activist groups in Sweida reported hearing what they called Israeli airstrikes and helicopters over villages where some skirmishes took place between the Bedouins and Druze militias. Israel's military said it was not aware of any overnight strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who has been involved in negotiations, said perpetrators of hostilities on both sides must be held to account. Whats happened is horrible. Its unthinkable, Barrack said. They (Syrian authorities) need to be held accountable, but they also need to be given responsibility to restore order. Bedouin fighters wait on city's edge Bedouin fighters withdrew from Sweida city Sunday. Alongside tribesmen from other parts of the country, they stood on the outskirts while security forces cordoned off the area. An aid convoy of 32 Red Crescent vehicles entered the city, though a government delegation with another aid convoy was turned away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Displaced people have struggled with securing food and water in the summer heat. Bedouin families that fled into Daraa were packed into abandoned buildings. Most brought only mattresses and clothes. Everyone here has brought an entire family or two with them, said Saif al-Hajj, who fled the western Sweida countryside with a family of 11 to the town of Busra al-Harir. He also brought chickens and ducks but struggled to give them water and bread. If I'm thirsty, I can't get water to drink. Druze who fled the city of Sweida poured into neighboring towns and villages. In the village of Salkha, many were packed into schools and homes. One Druze resident said there wasn't enough food to go around. She spoke on condition of anonymity out of fears for her family's security, saying that a relative was kidnapped by armed men in the village of al-Ta'la while he was working in a store. She said his location is unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We don't know who took him, if it was government security or Bedouins, she said. But what we're hearing from others is that most of the kidnapping was done by the Bedouins. Some Druze question the new government Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has tried to appeal to the Druze community while criticizing the factions loyal to spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri who have been involved in the clashes. He promised to hold accountable perpetrators of targeted attacks. Syria's Druze community had largely celebrated the downfall of the Assad family that ended decades of tyrannical rule. While they had concerns about Al-Sharaas de facto Islamist rule, a large number wanted to approach matters diplomatically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Hijri and his supporters have taken a more confrontational approach with al-Sharaa, contrary to most other influential Druze figures. Critics also note al-Hijris previous allegiance to Assad. The latest sectarian attacks, however, including the killing of Druze civilians and desecrating photos of religious notables, have made the community more skeptical of al-Sharaa and less optimistic of peaceful coexistence. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the others live in Lebanon and Israel. ___ Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Suzan Fraser in Istanbul contributed to this report. ___ This version corrects the title of Ahmad al-Dalati, provincial internal security chief. TAMPA As is the case in many immigration stories, the promise of a better life drew Tingbo Zhang to America. Shes a Chinese national who, according to court records, fled political persecution by the communist government. She speaks little English. For almost four years, shes been stuck in jail, unable to afford bail and subject to a federal immigration hold while facing racketeering and other charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Zhang hardly fits the description of a criminal kingpin. She was one of six people arrested four years ago in a multicounty probe into an Asian massage parlor network that prosecutors say was a front for prostitution. Zhang briefly worked in one of the parlors at the direction of the rings alleged boss. The state says she kicked up money to him. Against the backdrop of the national immigration controversy, Zhangs case offers a glimpse at the perils of navigating a byzantine legal system for those with scarce money, resources or knowledge of the language. She is the only defendant in the case who remains in jail. Shes been incarcerated longer than the 3 years suggested by state sentencing guidelines. Shes appeared in court 23 times, but she and her co-defendants are nowhere near trial. If shes found guilty, shell likely be deported to China, a place she fears to return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I speak very little English and have even more trouble understanding, she wrote in a 2023 letter to the court. Im very confused by what is going on. Her fortunes, though, could be about to change. A criminal conspiracy It all started four years ago with what law enforcement officials dubbed Operation Shared Hope. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister talked about it in a news conference as he stood before several seized cars, trucks and an RV. He said the fleet represented proceeds of a sex trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. The sheriff described a probe that began a year earlier, when deputies noticed a Lutz massage parlor mentioned on adult internet forums. The business owners were husband and wife James and Nan Smith. James Smith had years earlier been the target of a human smuggling case by the Department of Homeland Security, the sheriff said, though records reflect no criminal charges were brought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators eventually linked 12 massage parlors to the couple four in Hillsborough County and eight in Pinellas. All, the sheriff said, were fronts for prostitution. Women who worked in them were recruited from around the U.S. Some were said to have slept at the parlors, working for tips as the couple raked in hundreds of dollars a day. We believe most of these women were being trafficked, Chronister said. The case was shepherded in court by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which handles complex cases that transcend geographic boundaries. The Smiths were charged with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four others, including Zhang, were also charged. The state said Zhang worked at Dream Massage, which operated in a small storefront on Park Street North in St. Petersburg. The evidence against her centers on several bank deposits she made in the summer of 2021 into an account the state says was controlled by James Smith. Prosecutors would note text messages between him and Zhang in which they discussed sex acts she was to perform. Items investigators seized from Dream Massage included a ledger, a condom-filled medicine bottle and more than $15,000 cash. Zhang enlisted the help of Alex Yu, a North Tampa attorney whose specialties include immigration law. He speaks Mandarin Chinese, the language Zhang knows. Yu helped her get her bail reduced, but she was unable to afford the $175,000 to secure her release. In a series of court hearings, Zhang said shed been in the U.S. several years. Her lawyer said she had a reasonable fear of returning to China and was willing to surrender her passport. Lost in translation Zhang was deep into her second year in the Falkenburg Road Jail when she sent a letter to the court. It is unclear how she managed to translate the message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She expressed confusion about her legal situation. She lamented about not having money. She derided her lawyer. She mentioned that shed only worked for the boss for a couple of months and that other women worked for him longer. It is unclear if anyone noticed the letter. Zhangs next court date didnt come for nearly another nine months. In March 2024, she stood shackled in orange alongside Yu and lawyers for her co-defendants. As they discussed routine matters with the judge, she spoke up. I need a talk, she uttered. I can have a little money. Get different lawyer. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Elizabeth Rice told her she would need to file a motion if she wanted a new attorney. Yu said he would withdraw. A bailiff escorted Zhang from the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sixteen days later, she was back. My lawyer, my lawyer, she stammered, sounding on the verge of tears. She said she wanted a different attorney, but didnt know how to find one. I dont know any lawyer that can speak Chinese, she said. Well, then you cant complain about the one you have, Judge Rice said. As Yu formally withdrew from the case, Zhang met with with a public defender. Then came a new problem. Zhang noted on a financial affidavit that she had $20,000. That amount of money disqualified her from the public defenders services. Zhang tried to explain that she didnt actually have access to that money. It didnt matter. The judge told her shed have to find someone else to represent her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around and around they went through several more hearings Zhang asked for help, and Rice told her to work harder to find a lawyer or represent herself. Rice punctuated one hearing with a sarcastic aside. I dont know if I would have come to a country where I didnt have any family or any friends and I did not speak the language, Rice said. Must have been a really lucrative opportunity here. A breakthrough, but danger remains Zhang seemed stuck until Yu once again appeared in court and explained that what shed written on the financial form was inaccurate. With his help, she found Douglas Prior, a Clearwater-based criminal defense attorney. He took her case last summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Prior and Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Alexa Cline approached the judges bench. She said law enforcement was trying to negotiate with federal immigration authorities to allow Zhang to obtain a green card so she could remain in the U.S. There remains a federal immigration hold on her. The lawyers also discussed the possibility that Zhang could agree to testify against her co-defendants, which could help with her immigration status. Another option would be to plead guilty, but without the blessing of immigration authorities, that would likely result in her deportation to China. Zhang had given six hours of out-of-court testimony, Prior said, in consideration of a possible deal. Based on her testimony, Cline said there was a high potential that she was sexually assaulted. Despite the progress, Zhang remains jailed. So thats why shes upset, Prior told the judge. Because we cant give her an answer, a concrete answer. Her next hearing is set for September. Even in the middle of summer, with long days and warm nights, many families are already thinking about back-to-school shopping. According to the National Retail Federation's 2025 back-to-school survey results, two-thirds of families surveyed had already finished back-to-school shopping by early July. Half said it was because they were concerned about tariff-related price hikes. In general, the survey found shoppers have already made their budgets stretch through changing brands or comparison shopping. This year, according to two market surveys, back-to-school shoppers are more likely to consider turning to discount stores and brands to stretch their budgets and those budgets are staying flat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are some common questions about back-to-school shopping in Wisconsin. How much can I expect to spend on school supplies in Wisconsin? How much you end up spending depends on your students' grade level, your school district, the number of kids you have and the brands you use, plus any extras you'd like to buy. We used Target's online School List Assist feature to put together sample carts with possible prices for a first-grader, a fourth-grader and an eighth-grader in different parts of Wisconsin. To use School List Assist, first find your school, then choose the grade you're buying for. The feature automatically fills your online Target cart with the supplies needed for that classroom, with the option to add, drop or swap items. The following prices are estimates and include tax; families can also substitute brands for lower or higher prices. For example, for supply lists that include backpacks, School List Assist chooses Jansport backpacks for about $60. However, many other Target backpacks have lower prices than that. Appleton-Oshkosh area: First grade, Woodland Elementary School in Harrison: about $172 Fourth grade, Oakwood Elementary School in Oshkosh: about $127 Eighth grade, River View Middle School in Kaukauna: about $164 Ghidaa Al Zorba, right, opens a box with school supplies as one of her children looks on. In August 2023, hundreds of people gathered at Salam Elementary School to receive materials for the classroom but also items like shampoo, toothpaste and food before the school year. Green Bay area: First grade, Beaumont Elementary School in Green Bay: about $144 Fourth grade, Dickinson Elementary School in De Pere: about $242 Eighth grade, Bay View Middle School in Howard: about $107 Madison area: First grade, Shorewood Hills Elementary School in Madison: about $168 Fourth grade, Sauk Trail Elementary School in Middleton: about $54 Eighth grade, Savanna Oaks Middle School in Fitchburg: about $148 Milwaukee area: First grade, Julian Thomas Elementary School in Racine: about $105 Fourth grade, Brown Street Elementary School in Milwaukee: about $234 Eighth grade, Horning Middle School in Waukesha: about $87 Wausau area: First grade, West Elementary School in Antigo: about $109 Fourth grade, Mosinee Middle School in Mosinee: about $132 Eighth grade, John Muir Middle School in Wausau: about $135 Will back-to-school shopping be more expensive due to tariffs? A shopping cart full of school supplies can be costly. But smart shopping can help parents save. For some items, tariffs might come into play. While it's not clear whether tariffs might affect back-to-school supplies like crayons and notebooks, new back-to-school outfits are another story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Budget Lab at Yale University, a nonpartisan research center that analyzes federal policy proposals, found that clothing and shoes will be disproportionately affected by tariffs if they continue or rise. Clothing could see a long-term price hike of about 15% and shoes of about 18%. Different retailers have chosen different ways to respond to the uncertainty. Target will maintain 2024 prices on common school supplies during the shopping season, but has not said whether it will raise prices elsewhere in the store. Representatives from Walmart and Best Buy have also signaled that prices at their stores in general will rise as a result of the tariffs. In response, despite the higher costs, families are expecting to spend about the same dollar amount $570 on back-to-school items as they did last year, according to Deloitte's 2025 back-to-school shopping survey results. The National Retail Federation's numbers are different, but it also found that spending levels are expected to remain flat. The families it surveyed expect to spend about $858 this year on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics, as opposed to about $875 last year. How can I save on school supplies? It could be as simple as switching brands and where you shop. Those who choose that route are in good company. According to the Deloitte survey, more back-to-school shoppers plan to switch to cheaper brands and retailers this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other common recommendations include sticking to the school supply list, shopping sales, reusing items from last year and considering buying refurbished or secondhand items. Another suggestion: bulk buying and splitting the supplies with other families to save some money. You could also check out Buy Nothing groups, yard sales or resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace for deals. Still, while 88% of families say they wouldn't feel guilty about sending their kids to school with secondhand items, only 33% plan to do so, according to the Deloitte survey. What if I have trouble affording school supplies? Stuff the bus events can provide one way to help parents who are having trouble affording the cost of school supplies. Many Wisconsin branches of the United Way and the Salvation Army host backpack and school supply drives toward the end of the summer. Other organizations host back-to-school fairs, which often include giveaways for school supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Larger school districts like Appleton Area School District and Milwaukee-area school districts encourage families in need to reach out to the districts themselves for help finding school supplies. Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Common questions about 2025 back-to-school shopping in Wisconsin [WATCH: In the video player above, learn about Cleveland crime by the numbers.] CLEVELAND (WJW) The FOX 8 I-TEAM found a veteran police officer was taken off the job last week after Cleveland police discovered a mistake the division made with training records from 2014. Officer Karl Lloyd, assigned to the airport, suddenly found himself on restricted duty with confusion over training he completed more than a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 teenagers killed, 1 hurt in Cleveland crash: police Sgt. Freddy Diaz said, in an e-mail: During a routine audit, academy staff identified that a limited number of training records for Officer Lloyd had not been properly entered into the system. As a precaution, the Division placed Officer Lloyd on restricted dutypending verification of this discrepancy. Sgt. Diaz added: Following a thorough review, it was determined that the issue was the result of a clerical error, which resulted in a minimal amount of online training being incomplete. OPOTA was contacted and confirmed that the error was solely related to data entry and that Officer Lloyd remains in full compliance with OPOTA requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OPOTA is the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy. A spokesman for the office of the Ohio Attorney General told the I-Team, OPOTA serves as a repository for information that is self-reported by law enforcement agencies. Make Indians Great Again: President Trump urges Guardians to restore former name He added, Until last month, the agency never notified OPOTA of the officers appointment in 2012. Additionally, the agency had not included the officer on rosters submitted to OPOTA. The agency finally notified OPOTA in June, triggering a review of the officers training records. While on restricted duty, officer Lloyd had to complete outstanding online training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cleveland Police said he served fewer than two shifts on restricted duty. But, he found himself caught in the middle of a mistake someone else with Cleveland Police made many, many years ago. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill to expand childcare facilities at Dyess Air Force Base. Help still needed for Dyess family after damaged home discovery Sen. Cruz said, We have a duty to ensure that military families in Texas and across the country should never have to worry about accessing childcare near where they are stationed. Expanding childcare facilities at Dyess Air Force Base will significantly enhance the quality of life for the servicemen and women stationed in Abilene. I call on my colleagues to swiftly pass this legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a press release, the Dyess CDC Addition Design Authorization Act will: Authorize the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force to conduct planning and design work to expand childcare access for Dyess military families by initiating plans for a critical CDC facility addition. Ensure design integration with existing infrastructure, security, and safety systems. Preserve day-to-day operations during construction by accounting for occupancy continuity. Support military family quality of life, an essential component of retention and readiness. Leverage existing planning funds to streamline project execution without requiring new appropriations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. NEED TO KNOW A 17-year-old boy has died after his car flipped while he was driving alone on a rural road Police in New South Wales said that high school student Stirling Heriot was killed in Australia on July 18 "Stirling was widely admired for his kindness, generosity and willingness to engage warmly with those around him," the teen's Sydney-based high school wrote in a statement A 17-year-old boy died in a car accident, leaving his school community in mourning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to reports from Australian news outlets 7 News and News.com.au, police in New South Wales said that high school student Stirling Heriot was killed on Friday, July 18, as he was driving alone on a remote road in Quambone. Police said that Heriot's car veered off the road and rolled over at about 6:45 p.m. local time, the outlets reported. Emergency personnel were called to the scene soon after, and the teen was pronounced dead. The crash took place several miles away from Heriot's family's property in the small town of Coonamble, according to the outlets. Google Maps The teen was driving on a remote road in Quambone, located in the west of New South Wales. The teen was driving on a remote road in Quambone, located in the west of New South Wales. Heriot was a student at The King's School in Sydney, an all-boys school located more than 300 miles away from the site of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, July 20, the boarding school's official Facebook page announced the news of the teen's death, sharing that he was a 12th-grade student who was heavily involved with the rugby and rowing teams, and had taken on a project to build a new trailer for use on his family's farm. "Stirling was widely admired for his kindness, generosity and willingness to engage warmly with those around him," the school wrote. "A dedicated contributor to school life, he was a committed member of the 2nd IV in Rowing and had previously been involved in Rugby and Cadets." "His persistence and work ethic were evident in all he undertook, especially in Industrial Technology, where he was proudly building a tandem-axle multipurpose farm trailer intended for use on the family property as his major project," the King's School's statement continued. 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's school added that "his loss will be deeply felt by his family, his friends, the Baker Hake boarding community, his year 12 peers, and many others across the school who had the privilege of knowing and teaching him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As we navigate this difficult time, our focus will be on supporting one another, especially our students," the post concluded. "Please keep the Heriot family in your prayers during this profoundly painful time." Dozens of the 17-year-old's friends, family members and teachers also spoke out about Heriot's death on Facebook. "So incredibly tragic," one commenter wrote. "My heart is broken for the family. Sending all my love and thoughts to the Heriot family and all his friends." "Sincere condolences to the family of this beautiful boy and the school community. Far too young," another person wrote. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart was reported missing when she did not return from paddleboarding on a Maine pond She was found dead on July 3 Police say she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma A Maine teen who was arrested in connection with the killing of a paddleboarder reportedly wrote on his Facebook after the alleged murder that he was "doing well." The 17-year-old Maine native has been identified as Deven Young by police and court documents, WABI, WMTW and WGME reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young was arrested on Wednesday, July 16, nearly two weeks after police recovered the body of missing paddleboarder Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart in Crawford Pond in Union, Maine, state police announced last week. Sunny Sun/Facebook Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart Sunshine "Sunny" Stewart A Facebook account under Deven Young's name, featuring his photos, was taken down over the weekend. According to a comment on a post he wrote sometime after the killing, Young appeared to be doing well, WGME reported. When he shared a photo taken by a third party, a user commented asking how he was doing. He responded that he is "doing well." Young's Facebook was active up until at least a day after his arrest, as reviewed by PEOPLE, but it wasn't immediately clear when it was taken down. Deven Young/Facebook Deven Young Deven Young Young was in the area on vacation with his family, ABC News previously reported, citing the account of an official close to the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Facebook profile under his name showed several photos of him camping from previous years. At least one of those photos was from the popular summer vacation spot Mic Mac Family Campground, as reviewed by PEOPLE before the page was taken down. Before her killing, Stewart had rented a campsite at Mic Mac Family Campground, on May 1, per ABC News. She had stayed on the grounds only a couple of nights before she was murdered. 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. Authorities have not released a motive behind the killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge found probable cause that Young intentionally killed Stewart, and he did so in a manner an adult would, WGME reported. It wasn't immediately clear if he will be tried as an adult. Young was arraigned on a murder charge on Friday at the Knox County Courthouse in Rockland, which he attended virtually, according to WABI and WMTW. He has not entered a plea. PEOPLE has reached out to an attorney listed for him in court records cited by WGME. Read the original article on People METTER, Ga. (WSAV) An arrest has been made in the shooting death of a man in Metter, officials announced Monday. Quincy Hall was shot and killed near MLK Boulevard and East Lee Street July 11 around 3 p.m. Isreal Saunders, 17, was arrested in Bibb County Monday, a Metter Police spokesperson said. He is charged with murder. Officials are still seeking 34-year-old Deondre Tippins in connection to the shooting. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) issued warrants for Saunders and Tippins arrests last week. Alfonzo Deondre Tippins (left) and Isreal Kiven-Nicholas Saunders (right) If you have any information, youre asked to call the Metter Police Department at 912-685-5437, GBI Region 5 Office at 912-871-1121 or Candler County Dispatch tip line at 912-685-8649. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A 17-year-old who had gone missing while swimming in Learned Pond in Framingham was rushed to a hospital Sunday afternoon after being pulled out of the water not breathing, the citys fire department said. Framingham firefighters were called to the pond around 3:10 p.m. The 17-year-old had last been seen in the water around 3:02 p.m. Sunday, the department said in a statement posted to Facebook. The department deployed a full water rescue operation to the scene, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When first responders arrived, surface swimmers began a coordinated search for the boy, while a diver entered the water to help aid the rescue effort. About 10 minutes later, the teen boy was found around 30 yards from the beach. He was not breathing when he was brought to the surface, the fire department said. The boy was taken to a hospital by an ambulance. The citys Parks and Recreation department had four staffers on duty at the pond, but no lifeguards, according to the fire department. More News Read the original article on MassLive. A McDonald's manager from Illinois is facing a weapons charge after allegedly shooting the mother of one of her employees. Kathy Bledsoe, 44, was working as manager at a Belleville outpost of the fast food chain on July 16, and at one point in the afternoon instructed a juvenile female to take out the trash, according to the Belleville Police Department. When the teen refused, Bledsoe claimed to police she instructed the girl to clock out for the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point the teen contacted her mother, Tynika R. McKinzie, "who responded to the store with another juvenile female," according to a news release, after which a "verbal disturbance ensued." At some point, McKinzie allegedly made her way behind the counter of the restaurant and to Bledsoe's office. Once there, she allegedly "battered Bledsoe in the face and head" until the manager pulled out a gun and allegedly shot the woman in the leg, according to police. Bledsoe was arrested by police and charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. McKinzie was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries and was charged with one count each of aggravated battery and mob action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is unfortunate that this incident occurred. It seems individuals are quick to resort to violence to resolve disputes without consideration of the impact their actions have on the community as a whole," Chief of Police Matthew Eiskant said in a statement. "This was an unnecessary incident that could have been mitigated without punches being thrown or a gun being used." Bledsoe and McKinzie did not respond to requests for comment. Read the original article on People A 16-year-old boy has died after he was pulled from Learned Pond in Framingham on Sunday, Framingham police said Monday. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, Framingham Acting Police Chief Sean Riley said in a statement. Our officers and first responders did everything they could, and our thoughts remain with everyone impacted by this tragedy. Framingham first responders went to the pond after they received a report of a possible drowning, police said in their statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers and emergency personnel arrived and searched the pond, with a dive team ultimately finding the teenager soon after, the statement read. First responders initiated life-saving measures while he was taken to MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. While at a Boston area hospital, the boy was pronounced dead, police said. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Cynthia Sherwood, right, is the defense attorney for former Tennessee House staffer Cade Cothren. (Photo: John Partipilo) The Tennessee panel that handles attorney disciplinary cases has cleared a lawyer accused of an ethics violation involving an encounter between a private eye and the states campaign finance chief. The state Board of Professional Responsibility notified Nashville attorney Cynthia Sherwood in early July that it dismissed a complaint against her filed by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, the state body in charge of regulating campaign finance disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherwood provided a copy of the confidential letter to the Lookout. The decision speaks for itself, Sherwood said in an email statement. The frivolous complaint was dismissed outright. I cannot speculate about why the Registry and AGs Office dont want to admit the complaint against me was dismissed outright. Sherwood represents Cade Cothren, the former chief of staff to Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada. Cothren and Casada were convicted on multiple counts of federal bribery and kickback charges involving state-funded constituent mailers run by a secretive vendor called Phoenix Solutions. Cothren and Casada are seeking new trials after being convicted in May. Registry board members voted unanimously in September 2024 to notify the disciplinary board that a private investigator for Sherwood went to the home of registry executive director Bill Young last August and tried to talk to him about a case. Young said last year he declined to speak to the private investigator because the Registry has pending litigation involving Cothren in Chancery Court. Young is represented by a staff attorney and the state Attorney Generals Office in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Registrys members were upset about the incident and sought disciplinary action, saying it is unethical for an attorney to try to talk to a person known to be represented by a lawyer in a pending case. After the Board of Professional Responsibility rendered its decision this July, the board two weeks ago asked the Attorney Generals Office for a legal opinion on whether the disciplinary boards letter should be a public record. Registry officials declined to release the letter until receiving clarification from the Attorney Generals Office. The Attorney Generals Office refused to release it, citing attorney-client privilege. Registry board members also declined to divulge the Board of Professional Responsibilitys decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three years ago, the Registry board subpoenaed Cothren to question him about the Faith Family Freedom Fund political action committee as part of a fraud probe. Cothren refused to comply, but Casada showed up at a later meeting and denied any connection to the PAC or knowledge of its actions. Yet Sydney Friedopfer, a former girlfriend of Cothren, testified to the board that Cothren had her register the political action in her name and then turn operations over to him during the 2020 election year. The PAC used a $7,500 campaign donation from a North Carolina restaurant owner named Brandon Crawford, who was never found, to run attack ads against now-former state Republican Rep. Rick Tillis in his campaign with Republican Rep. Todd Warner of Chapel Hill. Tillis was critical of Casada during his short stint as House speaker, using an anonymous Twitter account to highlight the Republican leaders excesses. Tillis resigned his seat in August 2019 amid a sexist and racist texting scandal involving Cothren. Registry board members turned the case over to the Williamson County District Attorneys Office, and once the trial for Casada and Cothren wrapped up, Registry Chairman Tom Lawless urged Young to have the investigation renewed. Its hard to believe we're in mid-July, but a new school year is almost upon us. Back to school is always a hopeful time, and this year we have fresh cause for optimism: The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) showed Nashvilles students improving in all subjects in all grades, third through eighth. If we look closer at not just what the results say, but at how we administer the TCAP, we might find the means of building on this success. We can start by acknowledging that success is not based solely on one test. Many additional assessments are available to understand student learning, including three yearly reading and math benchmark assessments, aligned with TCAP; three nationally normed screening assessments measuring phonics, reading and math; and bi-weekly progress-monitoring tests for struggling readers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But TCAP rules all, dominating attention, time and effort. A closer look at how to make testing better is overdue. TCAP testing creates stress for students and teachers The status quo is roughly this: Two weeks in April are designated for TCAP. Before and after, time is given to test prep and make-ups. The tests require just 7 hours, but lost instructional time may be triple that or more. Actual test sessions are much longer to accommodate students moving to different testing locations, test security, directions, passing out and collecting test materials and waiting for the last-to-finish classroom. On top of this, teachers often substantially lessen learning demands in response to students testing fatigue. Opinion: Health tips on social media are likely to be lies. AI makes it worse As a teacher who works every day with struggling readers, here's one clear picture of lost instructional time. Tennessee schools dedicate 45 minutes daily to small group interventions for students who need extra help. This is my students best opportunity to catch up. To work with schools to support student engagement, families have to know how engaged their children are. But all teachers are needed for TCAP, so intervention, along with hours of regular instruction, stops for these two weeks. In many schools interventions never resume, losing over a month of crucial help for the students who need it most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then there is disengagement. Robocalls, text messages, announcements, bulletin boards and door signs constantly remind students to get a good nights sleep, relax, be silent in the hallways and do your best on the test. The reminders ensure everyone is stressed. Teachers report students as exhausted, anxious, inattentive. Opinion: Stop criticizing AI. You're probably using it right now anyway Students cramp up and even throw up; headaches stalk teachers. Students who cannot read can only bubble random choices, a dishonest exercise that serves no one. Absences balloon after TCAP. An Attendance Works report shows student attendance drops five percent after state testing (ten-plus percent in struggling schools). Data on teacher absences is less well documented, but my observations suggest a similar trend. Finally there is the staff time. Scheduling, one-on-one and read-aloud test administrations, supervising hallways and even passing out snacks eat up time that could be spent teaching. Salaries and benefits make up eighty percent of school spending, so testing imposes real costs. Three easy ways to improve TCAP testing Simple changes could reduce costs and make testing a spur to learning rather than a hindrance. Heres how: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, require students to qualify to take TCAP by demonstrating a minimum reading ability on the three annual screening assessments they are already taking. We get no new information from giving the TCAP to students who cannot read. Qualifying to take the TCAP might become a badge of honor and a worthy challenge. And students who do not yet qualify would spend extra hours learning instead of pointless bubbling. Opinion: Tennessee's War of the Roses is the campaign that should inspire modern politics Second, split TCAP into three tests during October, January and May: First, a one-hour reading test. The following week, a one-hour math test. In January, add a science test. Imagine the difference when teachers say, We have an important math test on Thursday, rather than The next two weeks will be TCAP.... Content-focused instruction replaces test prep. Stress and wasted time dissolve. Results arrive in time to be useful. Ten-year-olds are not developmentally ready to endure two straight exam weeks as if they are college students, so why put them through it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, move most testing onto computers and make them adaptive. Computerized testing speeds results, aids analysis and allows teachers to learn from early outcomes. Adaptive testing aims to ensure that all students, including the lowest and highest performers, will consistently receive just-right questions that are challenging but not discouraging. This reduces disengagement. We can get better information, more engaged students, re-energized teachers and increased time for students. We can make testing more sensible and, in the process, create a free summer schools worth of extra learning for our children most in need. With a new school year about to start, time is short. To continue to improve, to close our persistent achievement gaps and to help all students succeed, lets use every minute wisely. Kevin Schaaf Kevin Schaaf, PhD, teaches reading to kindergarten through fifth grade students in a Metro Nashville Public school. He is the former Director of Research and Evaluation at the Tennessee Department of Education. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: It's time to rethink TCAP testing to help our students more | Opinion The IDF and Shin Bet struck the hideout of Hussein Fiad, also known as Abu Hamza, and are waiting for confirmation that he was killed in the strike. The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) struck the hideout of Hamas's Beit Hanun Battalion commander on Sunday, and are waiting for confirmation that he was killed in the strikes. Hussein Fiad, also known as Abu Hamza, had previously been declared as killed by the IDF in May 2024, in Jabalya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the statement had to be retracted after footage showed him alive in January 2025. Hamas's Beit Hanun battalion commander Hussein Fiad appearing alive in January 2025 (L) after the IDF declared him killed in May 2024 (R). (credit: Canva, SCREENSHOT/X, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT) During his January appearance, Fiad implied that Hamas would win the war, simply bu the virtue of not losing. In the past two weeks, the IDF has expanded its operations in the northern Gaza Strip, including the 16th and 99th Divisions beginning operations to surround Beit Hanun, killing dozens of terrorists, and destroying terror infrastructure, including terror tunnels. IDF soldiers operate in Gaza's Beit Hanun, July 2025; illustrative. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Beit Hanun terrorists pose threat to Gaza border communities The 99th Division is also operating to remove the threat posed by Hamas's Beit Hanun Battalion to the Gaza border communities, railway line, and the Israeli city of Sderot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beit Hanun is in the buffer zone. The Gaza town, which is very close to Sderot, has long been a hot spot for terrorists, often used by Hamas and other groups to launch rockets at Israel. Most of the city has been badly damaged or destroyed in the war. Seth J. Frantzman and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report. This is a developing story. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -Tesla on Monday settled a lawsuit against Louisiana and various auto dealerships and trade groups, in which CEO Elon Musk's electric car company challenged the state's ban since 2017 on direct vehicle sales to consumers. According to a dismissal motion filed in New Orleans federal court, Tesla's claims have been "fully and finally resolved," with state officials maintaining they were simply doing their jobs and did not violate criminal laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla sued members of the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission, dealerships owned by individual commissioners, and the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association in August 2022. It accused motor vehicle commissioners associated with rival dealerships of exploiting their control of the commission by targeting its sales model, which does not use a network of franchised dealers, as an alleged "existential threat." The lawsuit also challenged restrictions on leasing and servicing Teslas in Louisiana. Lawyers for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tesla and its lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2024, the federal appeals court in New Orleans revived Tesla's constitutional due process claim and set aside a judge's dismissal of its antitrust claim, citing possible bias against the Austin, Texas-based automaker. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of that decision by 18 motor vehicle commissioners. The case is Tesla Inc et al v. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 22-02982. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis) AUSTIN (KXAN) A group of state representatives and community leaders rallied at the Texas State Capitol on Monday to push for legislation that they believe could save lives during severe weather. Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Jala Washington). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). Advocates gather at Texas Capitol to push for legislation that would help with emergency communications. (KXAN photos/Richie Bowes). It began with a moment of silence, after Sofia Mirto, the president of Hands Off Central Texas, acknowledged there would be no flood survivors speaking, though they were invited to join. Unfortunately, nobody is going to be with us because today, because theres a lot of funerals happening this week, Sofia Mirto. And there are still a lot of house cleanups [happening]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rally, organized by Hands Off Central Texas, happened on the first day of Texas 89th special session. Those gathering, advocated for HB 13 to be passed. Theres now a petition to get more people to support it. The bill would create a statewide, comprehensive and strategic plan to help local governments with emergency communication systems. That plan would include outdoor warning systems. Abbott: Special session may address warnings after deadly Texas floods The bill failed in Texas 89th Regular Legislative Session. However, Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed the need to revisit topics related to warning systems and state preparedness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of Texans dont understand why were not using a piece of legislation thats already written that would literally prevent this kind of tragedy, Mirto said. In a press conference in early July, Abbott said legislators would be looking at HB 13 again. The reality also is this: whats needed in that river basin at that location, could be far different than was needed in some other river basin across the state, Abbott said. Thats why its going to be good to have a session with all members working together that will bring different perspectives. Under HB 13, any local government would be eligible to be a part of the grant program to help with emergency communications. They would need to submit a proposal to the council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money would only be allowed to be used for buying emergency communication equipment like radios and spare parts, as well as building radio towers, adapting, maintaining and upgrading equipment and first responder equipment training. Speakers of the rally advocating for HB 13 included: Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Texas Senate District 14 Rep. Vikki Goodwin, Texas House Alexandra Haddix, 50501 Austin lead organizer Chas Moore, Executive Director, Austin Justice Coalition Melody Tremallo, Vice President, Hands Off Central Texas Nancy Thompson, Mothers For Democracy Cynthia Millonzi, Veteran and volunteer with Kerrville and Austin Pets Alive (Kerr County relief) Salvador Espinoza, Central Texas Flood Volunteer (Travis and Williamson County relief) Sophia Mirto, President, Hands Off Central Texas KXAN investigators Kelly Wiley and Matt Grant contributed to this report. This story will be updated by reporter Jala Washington. 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. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session for the state legislature on Monday to discuss emergency procedures and early warning systems in the wake of the deadly flooding earlier this month. "We must ensure better preparation in the future," Abbott said in a statement posted on social media. The session is scheduled to begin at noon local time, according to a press release from his office. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott receive a briefing in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 11, 2025. MORE: Texas flooding victims: From young campers to a dad saving his family, what we know about the lives lost Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 130 people were killed earlier this month as historic flash flooding tore through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. In addition to three people missing in Kerr County, there were still three people missing in Travis County and one person listed as missing in Burnet County, according to the most recent update last week. Jacquelyn Martin/AP - PHOTO: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a roundtable discussion with President Donald Trump, first responders and local officials at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, during a tour to observe flood damage, Friday, July 11, 2025. MORE: Number of missing in Texas floods drops from nearly 100 to 3 in hard-hit county Abbott on Sunday said the special session would address preparedness and recovery in the event of future flooding. The agenda for Monday's sessions is expected to include discussions on flood warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding and natural disaster preparations and recovery, Abbott said. The session beginning on Monday is also expected to cover legislation proposing a congressional redistricting plan, which could if enacted create more seats for Republicans. AUSTIN (KXAN) Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dustin Burrows announced Monday in separate press releases the formation of a Senate Special Committee and a House Select Committee to tackle congressional redistricting during the ongoing special called session of the Texas Legislature. As Texas Republicans prepare for mid-decade redistricting, cautionary tales loom from the past The committees have under a month to agree on a redrawn map of congressional districts, in order to meet one of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts goals for the session. Its also a request from President Donald Trump, who asked the Texas GOP to redraw its map in order to gain the Republican Party five congressional seats. Courtesy Texas Redistricting.gov Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, will chair the Senate Special Committee and Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, will be vice chair. Other Republicans on the committee are Sen. Bryan Hughes, Sen. Tan Parker, Sen. Angela Paxton and Sen. Kevin Sparks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats Sen. Carol Alvarado, Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa and Sen. Borris Miles are also on the Senate committee. According to Burrows announcement, the committee will be led by Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, as chair and Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, as vice chair. In terms of party affiliation, the committee includes 11 other Republican members and eight Democratic members. Republicans on the committee include Reps. Charlie Geren, Ryan Guillen, Cole Hefner, Hillary Hickland, Todd Hunter, Will Metcalf, John McQueeney, Katrina Pierson, David Spiller, Carl Tepper and Terry Wilson. Democrats on the committee include Reps. Josey Garcia, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, R.D. Bobby Guerra, Christian Manuel, Joe Moody, Senfronia Thompson, Chris Turner and Gene Wu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Redistricting expert explains the risks behind GOP plan for new maps Wu previously spoke with Nexstar about redistricting. Anytime you hear them talk about redistricting, especially if its in the middle of the cycle, all this is about political games and trying to destroy our democracy, Wu said. I am ready, willing and able: House Democrat says hed break quorum to stop redistricting In a joint statement with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Burrows spoke to concerns about fairness. Texans place their trust in the Legislature to uphold fairness in the redistricting process, and we will continue to work closely together to fulfill this legislative responsibility, Burrows said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At time of writing, the committee does not yet have any scheduled meetings listed 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 KXAN Austin. When Texas state lawmakers convene Monday for a special legislative session, they will already be strapped for time. Members of the Legislature will have 30 days to work through a crowded agenda set by Gov. Greg Abbott defined largely by two items: legislation in response to Central Texas floods that killed more than 100 people, including dozens of children, and a redrawing of the states congressional districts ordered up by President Donald Trump. It appears there is wide consensus among lawmakers that the Legislature must pass laws aimed at preventing another flooding disaster like the Fourth of July one thats become one of the deadliest in modern state history and raised serious questions about emergency preparedness in a state where millions of people live in areas vulnerable to flash floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is far less agreement on redistricting, which Democrats argue will further silence the voices of the states marginalized communities as the GOP tries to gain seats in the U.S. House. Both issues have peeled attention away from another top-tier item: The states top two leaders Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Senates presiding officer disagree on how to address consumable hemp-derived products that offer a similar high to marijuana and are widely available across the state thanks to a loophole in a previous law. Patrick championed an out-right ban on the products, drawing rare criticism from his own party and an even rarer veto from Abbott on one of his priorities. The THC dustup aside, Texas Republicans are heading into the overtime session having already recorded a triumphant regular session. During the 140-day lawmaking period, which wrapped in early June, the majority party passed a program to offer parents taxpayer-funded vouchers for private school tuition and other school-related expenses the governors top priority as well as an assortment of other Republican priorities, from tightening the states bail laws to banning diversity, equity and inclusion in K-12 schools. Now the GOP stands to register more victories. Abbott added to the call a series of socially conservative proposals like requiring people to use bathrooms that align with the sex they were assigned at birth and cracking down on the manufacturing and distribution of abortion pills that failed in the regular session. And primary politics may bear a heavier presence in the halls under the pink dome as some Republican lawmakers eye bigger roles, and with campaign season right around the corner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can't miss the fact that this special session was primarily instigated by this interest in redistricting, said Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. The whole session is really wrapped around the upcoming election. Here is what to watch for as the special session gets underway: Agenda management Among the key questions is how the leaders of both chambers Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows manage the timing and pacing of Abbotts 18-item agenda. Patrick and Burrows, R-Lubbock, appear largely aligned after working in tandem during the regular session to pass all but a handful of their major priorities a divergence from Patricks history of acrimony with past speakers. The two leaders have released statements in the leadup to the special session signaling they are on the same page on redistricting and flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the order in which they take up those two items might instruct the rest of the session. Texas Democrats have accused the states Republican leadership of playing politics by moving to redraw congressional lines at the same time they are taking up legislation in response to the flash floods. And Republicans would only fuel that attack and likely further encourage retaliatory redistricting in blue states if they take up redistricting before passing bills to improve flood warning systems and send relief money to flood-ravaged communities. But if Republicans knock out those flood response measures first, there will be little incentive for Democrats to stay in Austin. Democrats in the Texas House are being encouraged by their own party leaders in Washington to consider skipping town and denying Republicans the quorum needed to approve the new congressional maps. Democrats have not revealed any plans to do that but are openly contemplating the idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Ken Paxton last week vowed to help authorities in hunting down and compelling the attendance of anyone who abandons their office and their constituents for cheap political theater. Spokespersons for Burrows and Patrick did not return requests for comment last week. How Democrats respond Perhaps the biggest looming question is how Democrats outnumbered in both chambers and powerless to stop most legislation decide to approach the session. The nuclear option is to walk out or simply decline to show up to the Capitol at all, denying Republicans the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business. In 2021, Democrats packed their bags to break quorum in an effort to block a Republican bill overhauling the states elections. Democrats also fled the state in 2003 to try blocking GOP-led redistricting. Both items eventually passed once enough Democrats returned to Austin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat who chairs the lower chambers minority party caucus, accused Republican state leaders of abusing the flash floods to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol and work through an agenda that should be offensive to the average Texan with all its socially conservative items. He noted how Abbott declined to call an interim legislative session in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, instead offering relief aid from the state's savings account, but in this case is calling lawmakers back and asking them to take up a bunch of GOP priorities while theyre at it. Its insanity, its cruel, Wu said in an interview. It's just the craven politics of it. This is why Americans hate politicians. Wu did not say whether he intended to lead Democrats in a quorum break, but he also did not rule it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think any option is off the table, he said. Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, said last week he was ready to get into good trouble by breaking quorum when justice is on the line. The THC impasse When it became apparent about a month ago that lawmakers would have to return for an overtime session, the issue dominating conversation in and around the Capitol was hemp-derived THC products. All session, Patrick pushed for a total ban despite pushback from the hemp industry and later conservative personalities and commentators, who painted him as an overbearing micromanager creeping into peoples private lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No less, a total ban on the products sailed through both chambers only to be rebuked by Abbott at the 11th hour. Soon after issuing the veto, Abbott announced the special session and directed lawmakers to consider an array of new regulations for the hemp industry such as making it illegal to sell the products to children and teenagers without eradicating the industry. Patrick appears dead set on pursuing a ban, however, setting up a clash between the states two most powerful elected officials. Hes argued that access to the drug is creating addicts, thriving without enough checks and in particular harming young people. Patrick last week on social media shared a column written by Kentucky Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who carried the federal bill that indirectly legalized the products. The op-ed called for a change to the 2018 farming bill. This is a massive course correction and should send a strong message to everyone who supports legalizing marijuana in Texas and allowing THC to be sold to anyone of any age, Patrick wrote. How ambitious will the GOPs new map be? Democrats and Republicans alike are waiting to see how aggressive the redistricting effort will be. Trump is pushing for a five-seat pickup, but it is not entirely clear whose seats will be targeted or whether such a map could be drawn without endangering GOP incumbents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Republicans will have to steer clear of violating the Voting Rights Act, the seminal 1965 law prohibiting racial discrimination in elections. The most obvious targets are the two South Texas seats represented by Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, according to David Wasserman, the senior editor and elections analyst at the Cook Political Report, who last week mapped out where the GOP could look for pickups. The key will be to bring enough Republican voters in those districts to create comfortable margins without endangering Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, whose district is situated between the two. Democratic seats in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas might also draw an edit. But Wasserman suggested the key might be in how aggressively Republicans want to target seats in Houston. They could easily settle for eliminating one Democratic seat that of U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher or try to squeeze for two in a gamble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin 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. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 1315. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. (Texas Scorecard) Texas A&M is facing criticism after an internal email by the university provost and executive vice president asked staff, faculty, and graduate students to contact university police if they see a federal law enforcement officer on campus. On July 17 at 12:38 pm, Provost and Executive Vice President Alan Sams sent an email to Texas A&M faculty, staff, and graduate students titled Correcting Misinformation Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activity. Hours after Sams sent this email, it was widely reported on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sams wrote that he was sending this communication to address concerns related to immigration enforcement and the university, and that your safety, well-being and privacy are of the utmost importance. In the email, Sams warned faculty, staff, and graduate students against sharing partial or inaccurate information about individual situations. Sams provided a list of five points for readers. These include a reminder that TAMU does not proactively share information with immigration outside of the law or a court order, and that support and resources are available on campus for international students, staff, and faculty. Sams also asked that faculty, staff, and graduate students immediately contact university police if they encounter a federal law enforcement officer on campus or see something suspicious, which has sparked criticism on social media. He promised to distribute guidance detailing how to handle interactions with federal law enforcement, including immigration enforcement, if they come on university property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sams recent email differs in tone from earlier communications to faculty, staff, and graduate students. On June 6, after Texas agreed to end in-state tuition for illegal alien students, Sams wrote that we are working with The Texas A&M University System as it worked with all its subsidiaries to gather information needed to develop an appropriate plan to implement the requirements regarding tuition for undocumented students. On June 4, the Trump administrations Department of Justice sued Texas for providing in-state tuition to illegal aliens. In coordination with Attorney General Ken Paxton, just hours later that same day, the state settled and ended the discounted tuition for illegals. More state-level action followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to colleges and universities later that month, Wynn Rosser, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, stated that illegal alien students in Texas will need to pay out-of-state tuition by the fall semester. Rosser wrote that colleges and universities must assess the population of students who have established eligibility for Texas resident tuition who are not lawfully present and will therefore need to be reclassified as non-residents and charged non-resident tuition. The above actions reportedly triggered fear within some sectors at Texas A&M. In the June 6 email, Sams addressed President Trumps June 4 proclamation banning entry to America for citizens from 12 nations and elevated visa restrictions for another seven. We are ensuring international scholars and students are aware and have access to accurate information, Sams wrote. On July 11, Sams wrote a follow-up on the situation. He stated that based on guidance from the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas A&M University System, we are fully implementing the requirements of the courts order for students beginning this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that TAMU was in direct contact with potentially affected students who need to confirm if theyre eligible for in-state tuition or must pay the non-resident rate. Texas Scorecard received these communications from an internal source. Public criticism of TAMU by state officials followed the exposure of the July 17 email. Why the hell is @tamu encouraging students to report ICE agents to the police and treating gender identity as if Bidens Title IX rule was still in effect!?! posted State Rep. Brian Harrison (RMidlothian). Texas A&M has been led by progressive leftists for too long, and my office will be demanding answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its dangerous and inexcusable that university leaders are encouraging faculty and students to report ICE agents instead of criminals, posted Republican Texas Railroad Commissioner and candidate for State Comptroller Christi Craddick. If ICE is on campus, Im assuming they are there to enforce the law and stop threats to public safety. Sadly, many of the victims of criminal illegal aliens have been young people. I want our college & university campuses and all our communities to be safe. Others on social media expressed similar thoughts. Whoever is running Texas A&M now needs to be fired. Promoting stupid and perverse stuff is not our heritage, posted Russel Brown on X. My husband and I are both alumni of Texas A&M. We actually met in College Station. My father, my sister, and my brother all attended A&M too, posted user @JennyPsalms121 on X. My son is a senior in high school this year. He is graduating with honors. He will not be going to A&M as its not the same school as we attended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas A&M did not respond to Texas Scorecards request for comment before publication. Glenn Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M University Systemwhich oversees all A&M campusesreleased a statement emphasizing that university police will always cooperate with federal, state, and local law enforcement. TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT), in compliance with a recent federal court order and guidance from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, is making changes to in-state tuition eligibility. Tips to avoid overspending on back-to-school items Students who previously qualified for in-state tuition under Texas Education code 54.053(a)(3) but cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the United States will be reclassified as non-residents for tuition purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TAMUT is reviewing each students status and notifying students who may be affected. Qualifying documentation to prove lawful presence aligns with the documentation accepted by the Texas Department of Transportation for a Real ID drivers license. Transco employees to receive discounted tuition at TAMUT Vice President of Enrollment Management Dr. Venus Lillis said, Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we remain committed to supporting them during this transition. We encourage all our students, especially those directly impacted by this change, to connect with us so we can provide you with resources and support. Students with questions or concerns are encouraged to call the Office of Admissions at 903-223-3000 or email admissions@tamut.edu. 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. The former head of a nonprofit designed to serve homeless veterans has been charged with stealing grant money. Clifford Wayne Robertson, 59, of Brenham, Texas, is now facing federal charges for allegedly embezzling funds while serving as CEO and executive director of The Warriors Refuge, a Texas-based veterans service organization. The shelter had reportedly received over $1.8 million in grant funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors claim that between February and April 2020, Robertson submitted several different applications for federal assistance on behalf of Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc., doing business under the name of The Warriors Refuge. The organization was awarded approximately $1.3 million from the VA and an additional $500,000 from the DOL to assist homeless veterans facing some of lifes most significant challenges. However, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas, Robertson stole a large portion of those funds and spent them on his personal expenses. Additionally, he also claimed payments for counseling services he never provided to veterans. Robertson is scheduled to make his first court appearance before Judge Richard W. Bennett in Houston on July 28. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh is now handling the case, following a joint investigation by the VA Inspector Generals Office, the Department of Labors Inspector General, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Warriors Refuge, which had initially advertised itself as a lifeline for struggling veterans during the pandemic, has not yet released a statement on Robertsons charges as of press time. A threat to the stability of Texas refugee services appears to be averted, at least for now. Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, which oversees the distribution of federal funds to state refugee service providers through the Texas Office for Refugees, announced Thursday that it will continue managing the program after having said last month that it would relinquish its role by October. The organization took onthe program's management after the state of Texas cut its refugee programs in 2017 under the auspice that that some refugees were not being properly vetted. Fearing that the Catholic Charities' exit would leave them without access to about $200 million in federal funding, providers began a campaign against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously: After funding freeze, refugee dollars flowing to Texas again but program's fate uncertain The providers' pleas may have worked, with Catholic Charities of Fort Worth reversing course and committing to continue operating the program until October 2026. After deeper reflection, we recognized that an early withdrawal as the Replacement Designee for the state of Texas could risk serious disruptions in services to those we serve something we could not in good conscience allow, CCFW CEO Michael Iglio said in an email statement. Our continuing in this role for one more year allows for a more stable and responsible transition that ensures the well-being of clients across Texas. Cuban immigrant Thalia Fernandez, right, talks to Cassandra Falasco, who was furloughed as a program manager at Global Impact Initiative but continues her work as a volunteer Wednesday February 26, 2025. It has been a tumultuous year for refugee resettlement agencies and service providers in Texas. When the Trump administration took office in January, it halted reimbursements to refugee service providers and, in a pointed move, extended a review of the Texas Office for Refugees along with a freeze on its funding for several weeks longer than it did for any other state. Texas-based refugee service providers, including Anjum Malik of Austin, called the pause politically motivated and designed to undermine the states refugee support infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pause froze about $47 million from state refugee service providers during six weeks, resulting in the layoffs and furloughs of an estimated 85% of industry staff across the state, the Texas Office for Refugees estimated in March. Thousands of Austin-area refugees and immigrants with legal status went without access to English classes, job training and case management and cash assistance programs. The federal funding pause ended in March amid a lawsuit from Catholic Charities of Fort Worth. Thursdays announcement was a wonder of wonders, said Malik, whose organization Global Impact Initiative offers job training and a case management program. Malik said that, although Catholic Charities did not give providers a reason for the change in decision, she believes community pressure was influential. Executive Director Anjum Malik works at Global Impact Initiative in North Austin Wednesday February 26, 2025. I even wrote the pope letting him know whats going on, Malik said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guarantee of Catholic Charities operating for another 14 months allows organizations like Global Impact Initiative to maintain full staffing and make concrete plans, Malik said. Although providers celebrated Thursdays announcement, it only guarantees another year of refugee services in Texas. Earlier this year, the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement announced it would stop distributing funds to states without their own refugee programs once its current contracts expire.Texas is one of 14 states where designees exist because the state government has chosen to reject federal support for refugees. For now, organizations are planning for a possible transition away from federal funding. Simone Talma Flowers, executive director of Interfaith Action of Central Texas, said this includes applying for grants and looking to move staff members to other programs. She said her organization is committed to maintaining services. It just might not be at the scale that we are today, Talma Flowers said. But, you have to have hope. You always have to have hope. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas refugee services avoid disruption as state coordinator stays on The third round of direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul will take place on July 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on July 21. "Today I discussed with (National Security and Defense Council Secretary) Rustem Umerov the preparation of a (prisoner) exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side," the president said. "Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. Tomorrow there will be more details." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest round of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul on June 2, following a previous meeting on May 16 after more than three years without negotiations. Earlier in the day, Zelensky noted that the meeting would focus on three key issues: the return of prisoners of war, the return of abducted children, and preparations for a leaders' summit. "The agenda from our side is clear," Zelensky wrote on X. "It is clear to all that truly effective talks can only take place at the level of national leaders." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 21 that Moscow supports holding the next round of talks, although he claimed that no final date had been agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Zelensky has expressed readiness for face-to-face talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly declined to participate in person, sending lower-level officials instead. Peskov said there would be "no changes" to the Russian delegation, which continues to be led by Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky. Top Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will not take part. On June 26, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is working to organize a Zelensky-Putin meeting with the possible participation of U.S. President Donald Trump. The peace talks, characterized by great distance between the two sides' minimal demands, have been given new energy after Trump's warning on July 14 that he would impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless it agrees to end the war within 50 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov reiterated on July 20 that Moscow's war goals remain unchanged and are to be achieved "on the battlefield," reflecting an increasingly open admission that Russia has no intention to stop on the battlefield. Ukraine has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in both rounds of talks a position supported by the U.S. but Russia has so far rejected the proposal. On July 7, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Kyiv Independent that Russia's approach at the Istanbul meetings amounts to ultimatums rather than genuine negotiations. Read also: Analysis: Ahead of Trumps major Russia announcement, what will happen next to Ukraine? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Video note: Despite this articles time stamp, the above video is the latest forecast from The Weather Authority. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) More than 4,000 customers are without power in northern and eastern parts of Kentucky amid a strong storm system making its way into the Bluegrass. Latest central Kentucky weather forecast According to PowerOutages.Us, the majority of outages by 9:20 a.m. on Monday impacted Kenton County, with just over 3,472 customers currently without electricity. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Andy Beshear posted on Facebook to advise the public that serious weather was appearing across northern and eastern Kentucky. Around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, the Morgan County Sheriffs Office posted a video of rising water levels covering an area of the road with more rain pouring down. Deputies encouraged residents to be careful under the flash flooding conditions, asking folks to turn around and not drown. For the latest weather alerts, download the FOX 56 Weather Authority App. Kentuckys power outage map can be viewed 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 56 News. HEMPSTEAD COUNTY, Ark. Three people were killed in multiple overnight crashes on Interstate 30 in Hempstead County. The Arkansas State Police reported the first crash around 1 a.m. Monday, leaving oil and tar spilled onto the roadway. ASP officials said a contractor with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, 44-year-old Jonathan Gary Williams of Sherwood, was struck and killed while applying reflectors on the roadway centerline from a special trailer. Working 4 You: Businesses in west Little Rock call for additional traffic signal on Cantrell Road Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams was struck by a 2004 Buick Century, and its driver fled the scene on foot and has not yet been located, officials said. Officials said another two-vehicle crash was reported at 2:15 a.m. near the 19-mile marker. That crash resulted in minor injuries and the drivers were treated at the scene. ASP officials reported a third crash at 3:36 a.m. just east of the Red River at Fulton near the 20-mile marker. The crash involved three tractor-trailers and a pickup truck, killing two people and injuring two others. UPDATE: Beebe police ID 15 and 18-year-old suspects accused of assaulting officer, stealing patrol vehicle during Vilonia traffic stop Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said pickup passengers 25-year-old Jonathan Garcia and 61-year-old Javier Rivera, both of Hope, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger of the pickup were transported to nearby hospitals with serious injuries. The westbound lanes of I-30 between Hope and Fulton were temporarily closed to allow for investigation and cleanup. One westbound lane reopened at approximately 9 a.m., and all lanes reopened around noon, officials said. Officials did not give the cause for the crashes. New device on North Little Rock traffic lights helps support city traffic network Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASP is asking the public to report any information they may have in this ongoing investigation and urges all drivers to exercise caution in work zones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman was living and working in the United States for more than a decade before his name hit headlines across the country. Arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9 and held in the Butler County jail since then, Solimans journey from Egyptian freelance journalist to nationally known ICE detainee dates to the Arab Spring, the political uprising that began at the end of 2010. Here are key dates in his biography, provided by supporters and online sources. Former Cincinnati Children's Hospital chaplain Ayman Soliman was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9, a little more than a month after officials revoked his immigration asylum status. Early years in Egypt Jan. 7, 1974: Soliman was born in Egypt, making him 51 now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unknown dates: Soliman earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Islamic studies and other disciplines, and spent 14 years as an imam in Egypt, according to an online biography published by the Clifton Mosque, where he has served as imam and board member. He married and had at least one child, who remain in Egypt, according to Nazly Mamedova, one of his attorneys. 2010 to 2013: Soliman wrote about and photographed events related to the Arab Spring as a freelance journalist, according to a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. That earned him time in jail, where he was beaten and tortured, according to the Muslim Legal Fund, another legal representative. He came to the United States to escape oppression in Egypt, according to his supporters. Local faith leaders and politicians speak in support of Ayman Soliman outside the offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement just after ICE officials arrested him July 9. Early years in United States 2014: Soliman entered the United States, soon after applying for asylum status in the immigration system. June 7, 2018: Soliman won asylum, according to Mamedova. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2018-2021: He lived in Chicago and Oregon, with a background check showing a Chicago address in 2019 and a lawsuit noting hed moved to Oregon in early 2021 for a job. In Oregon, the state offered him a position as a prison chaplain, before a background check turned up an FBI flag and officials rescinded the offer. January 2022: Soliman filed a federal lawsuit to determine the cause of the FBI flag, a circumstance tied to his eventual fate in Cincinnati. Ayman Soliman has served as a volunteer imam and board member at the Clifton Mosque in Cincinnati. Time in Cincinnati 2021: In a recent interview posted to Instagram, Soliman said hed been working as a Muslim chaplain at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital for four years. Childrens has not responded to requests for comment about his employment. Dec. 4, 2024: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services informed Soliman that it intended to revoke his asylum status, according to his attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement June 3: Immigration officials followed through, stripping Soliman of asylum hed won seven years earlier because of his fear of returning to his home country, his attorneys said. Covington police patrolled the Roebling Bridge following a protest on July 17, 2025. Events since the start of July July 3: Soliman was due in court to challenge the asylum revocation. Officials cancelled the proceeding and called him to a meeting at ICE offices in Blue Ash instead. Morning of July 9: Soliman arrived for the ICE meeting with supporters, filmed the brief interview for use on social media and entered the Blue Ash building with at least one attorney. FBI officials joined the meeting and asked him about his views on Egyptian politics, his supporters said. Afternoon of July 9: After three hours of questioning, ICE agents arrested Soliman and transported him to the Butler County jail, which has a contract with ICE to hold detainees. Later that day, about 75 supporters staged a press conference about his case. An outpouring of support followed, with advocates dubbing him an "interfaith imam" for his work with sick children and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 13: About 300 supporters rallied on his behalf outside Childrens Hospital. July 15: U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett granted a temporary restraining order, barring immigration officials from removing Soliman from the state of Ohio until he goes in front of an immigration court. July 15: The Enquirer published an analysis of his asylum dilemma, reporting that a government official determined him a terrorist threat based on his work for a charity in Egypt with purported ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. (The United States has not designated either the charity in question or the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.) July 17: About 250 supporters attended a prayer vigil for Soliman at The Banks in Downtown Cincinnati. More than a dozen participants were arrested following the vigil as they marched across the John A. Roebling Bridge against the order of waiting police officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Soliman's case has three court dates: July 22: Hearing in Cleveland Immigration Court. He will appear virtually in what is akin to an arraignment. July 23: Bond hearing before the same Cleveland immigration judge, Jennifer Riedthaler-Williams. July 24: Status conference with Judge Barrett. People watch a hearing before Kenton County District Court Judge Douglas Grothaus on Friday, July 18, 2025 in Covington. The judge entered pleas of not guilty and set bond for 15 people arrested at an ICE protest on the Roebling Bridge the previous day. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Timeline of the case of Ayman Soliman. Cincinnati Children's chaplain Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on July 21, according to the Tribunes archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 103 degrees (1901) Low temperature: 51 degrees (1970) Precipitation: 1.78 inches (1999) Snowfall: Trace (2017) 1919: For most of the day, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.s Wingfoot Air Express airship cruised above the city. The powerful hum of its engines and a serene shadow were the only indicators of its passage as it flew from the South Side to Grant Park and as far north as Diversey Parkway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At about 5 p.m., the blimp hurtled through a lobby skylight of the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank at 231 S. LaSalle St., killing 13 people and injuring 27. It was Americas first recorded commercial aviation disaster. 1924 Nathan Leopold and Richard Loebs attorney Clarence Darrow entered a plea of guilty on his clients behalf. By entering guilty pleas, Darrow didnt have to persuade 12 jurors to spare his clients the hangmans noose. In a trials sentencing phase, the judge has the ultimate say. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Leopold and Loeb After the evidence had been presented, Darrow addressed the judge, speaking for 12 hours over two days. Darrows eloquent plea had the desired effect. Leopold and Loeb were sentenced to life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1952: The Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago at the International Amphitheatre. Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson was chosen as the partys nominee. Stevenson, who did not seek the presidential nomination, was drafted on the third ballot. Although he was a reluctant candidate, he pledged a hard-fighting campaign. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Tradition of acceptance speeches at political conventions began in Chicago I have no feeling of exultation, nor sense of triumph, Stevenson said outside the home of William McCormick Blair at 1416 Astor St. I shall ask my God to give me courage in this great undertaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eisenhower won the 1952 election on Nov. 4, 1952, bringing the Republican Party its first White House victory in 24 years. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Soldier Fields century of concerts, car races, circuses and contests 1956: The Grand National 100-mile race, considered the first NASCAR cup series race held in Chicago, was witnessed by 14,402 fans who saw Fireball Roberts win by a car length over Jim Pascal, who was ahead until Roberts passed him on the 194th of 200 laps. 1980: Twelve-year-old Walter Polovchak, who said he did not want to go back home to Ukraine when his family returned to the then-Soviet Union, was granted political asylum in Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polovchak was dubbed the the littlest defector by the media during a yearslong court battle between his parents and the U.S. government that raised complex questions about personal freedoms, parental rights and government overreach. 2002: Pyewacket, owned by Walt Disneys grandnephew Roy P. Disney, set a record finish time of 23 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds in the Race to Mackinac. It bested the 1987 record of 25:50:44 by Dick Jennings Santa Cruz 70, Pied Piper. Pyewacket, named after the cat in the film Bell, Book and Candle, retained the record in the race until 2024. Want more vintage Chicago? Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com With public smoking more frowned upon than ever, some Beacon Hill lawmakers and their allies want to take what they believe is the logical next step by banning the next generation of Bay Staters from buying tobacco and nicotine products. Nicotine and tobacco products are highly addictive and the use of these products increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and other illnesses, Sen. Jason Lewis, D-5th Middlesex, whos shepherding a ban bill through the upper chamber, said in a statement. Lewiss bill, along with a companion House proposal sponsored by Reps. Tommy Vitolo, D-15th Norfolk, got an airing (pun entirely intended) before the Legislatures Joint Committee on Public Health last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As its currently written, the legislation would bar anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, from buying cigarettes or nicotine pouches, such as Zyn. That cohort would turn 21 in 2027, the current legal age in Massachusetts, State House News Service reported. People born before 2006 who already use such products would still be able to buy them, the wire service reported. Isabel Tashie, a rising senior at Needham High School, told lawmakers that she knows countless peers and friends who use nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes. Some of her friends began using tobacco products as early as 12 years old. Tashie, a member of the anti-tobacco organization, The 84 Movement, a project of the state Department of Public Health, told lawmakers, according to the wire service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advocacy group, created in 2007, takes its name from the 84% of Bay State high schoolers who didnt smoke when the organization launched, according to its website. As of 2023, 97% of [Massachusetts] high school youth do NOT smoke cigarettes, and 84% do NOT vape, the advocacy group asserted. The debate on Beacon Hill comes even as municipalities across the state take matters into their own hands. In 2020, Vittolos hometown of Brookline became the first municipality in the state to ban the sale of nicotine products to people born after Jan. 1, 2000. Local officials also fended off a court challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other communities, such as Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester, have followed suit. But not everyone is on board, including one person who told lawmakers he found it ironic that the state allows recreational marijuana use for people aged 21 and older, but is looking to stub out tobacco use. You champion bodily autonomy and harm reduction on one side and then turn around and criminalize nicotine, Alexander Chouvelon told lawmakers, according to the wire service. Its inconsistent, its ideological, and it sends a mixed message. Its also Beacon Hill, which means its completely on-brand. A hiring freeze for me, but not for thee Following Gov. Maura Healeys lead, the majority-Democrat state House has imposed a temporary hiring freeze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given federal economic uncertainty, effective today, the House of Representatives is instituting a hiring freeze, with the exception of previously approved positions and backfills for legislative aides who are the sole aides to their member, Katherine Palmer, the Houses human resources director, wrote in a message to lawmakers, State House News Service reported. There is no similar freeze on the other side of the State House, a spokesperson for Senate President Karen E. Spilka, D-Middlesex/Norfolk, told the wire service. What Catholic priests talk about when they talk politics Theres always been an intersection between faith and politics. With images of deportations and immigration raids on their parishioners TV screens nightly, Catholic clergy nationwide havent been shy about talking about it from the pulpit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discussions about immigration outpaced discussions of any other political issue including abortion, health care, hunger and the environment according to new research by experts at UMass Boston. That shouldnt be too much of a surprise, according to UMass Boston sociology professor Evan Stewart and Ph.D. candidate Diane Beckman, since its right in line with Catholic social teaching. And many of those same clergy have called for compassion and care for migrants and the need to uphold human dignity and due process, regardless of someones immigration status, they wrote in an analysis published by The Conversation, a nonprofit and nonpartisan public affairs website. And based on 2022 data before the dawning of Trump 2.0, Catholic clergy talked about the issue more than other denominations when they talked politics from the pulpit, the analysis found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That made extrapolating to the current climate a challenge. But some patterns did emerge. We did find that Catholic leaders of congregations where the majority of worshipers are Hispanic were much more likely to talk about immigration, compared with leaders of non-Catholic Hispanic congregations and Catholic leaders of mostly white congregations, Stewart and Beckman wrote. Because Hispanic communities in the U.S. are facing the brunt of the immigration crackdown, this finding shows that Catholic leaders have been addressing the needs of their communities." So whats next? Beckman is furthering this research by conducting interviews with Catholics in Greater Boston. By asking church members to talk through their attitudes toward immigrants, we can learn more about how people make sense of complicated ethical questions, they wrote. Monday Numbers So far, the 2026 midterm contests arent terribly dramatic for the Bay States all-Democrat U.S. House delegation. But a lack of action doesnt mean they get a pass on campaign fundraising requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The numbers are in for all nine incumbent members of the House delegation. And its fair to say that theyre mostly swimming in cash like Uncle Scrooge McDuck used to backstroke through piles of gold coins in those old Disney cartoons. Heres a look, by the numbers, at the totals through June 30, based on U.S. Federal Elections Commission data. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District: Neal, of Springfield, is the top Democrat on the budget-writing House Ways & Means Committee. And that means he should be able to raise a ton of cash and he didnt disappoint. He had $3.9 million on hand at the end of June, after reporting total receipts of $782,495 and disbursements totaling $764,048, FEC records showed. U.S Rep. James P. McGovern, D-2nd District: The Worcester-area lawmaker had $321,660 on hand as of the end of June, according to his FEC filings. McGovern had total receipts of $166,719 and disbursements totaling $239,222, according to his FEC filing. U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District: Trahan, of Lowell, had $1.72 million in her campaign account at the end of June, her FEC filing showed. She reported total receipts of $550,454 and disbursements that clocked in at $278,193. U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District: The Newton lawmaker, frequently mentioned as a 2026 U.S. Senate contender, was sitting on an impressive $5.8 million at the end of June, his FEC filing showed. He reported receipts of $1.16 million and total disbursements of $277,436, records showed. U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District: As the No. 2 Democrat in the House, one of Clarks big jobs is to raise big bucks that she then showers on other Democrats. She had $1.7 million in her campaign account at the end of June, her FEC filing showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark reported total receipts of $1.4 million for the first six months of the year and disbursements of $1.08 million, according to her campaign filing. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District: Moulton, of Salem, had nearly $2.2 million in his campaign coffers through the end of June, his FEC filing showed. The onetime White House hopeful had receipts of $748,595 and disbursements that totaled $406,544, records showed. Moulton picked up a primary challenger last week: Bethany Andres-Beck, a software engineer and Democratic activist, has thrown her hat into the ring, The Boston Globe reported. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District: Pressley, of Boston, had $125,104 on hand at the end of June. She reported receipts of $364,536 and disbursements of $357,653, her FEC filing showed. U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District: Lynch, of South Boston, who was recently passed over for a top leadership post, had $1.06 million on hand at the end of June, according to his FEC filing, with receipts totaling $214,249 and disbursements of $242,129. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plot twist: Patrick Roath, 38, an attorney and former Patrick administration aide whos also running for the seat, outraised Lynch, taking in a total of $287,691 through the end of June, records showed. Roath reported total disbursements of $64,086 and had $223,605 in his campaign account at the end of the most recent reporting period. U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-9th District: The South Shore and Cape and Islands lawmaker had $632,660 in his campaign coffers through the end of June, FEC records showed. He reported receipts of $140,630 and disbursements totaling $173,838, according to his campaign filing. They Said It America has never been a country that gets it all right. Weve always been a country that believes that we might. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, makes the pitch for public service during an appearance before the New England Council in Boston last week. Read more MassLive politics coverage Chicopee native announces candidacy for at-large city councilor position Mass. Gov Healeys popularity gets a bump in new poll as 2026 campaign heats up University Staff Association employees demand fair contracts from UMass Greater Boston lawmaker arrested for OUI near State House Boston housing crisis 2025: How Wu and Kraft plan to tackle affordability Quelle dommage: Republicans pounce on Healeys revelation she was in France What Goes On Beachy foodies rejoice: The 13th Annual Cape Cod Food Truck & Craft Beverage Festival returns to the Cape Cod Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 16. General admission runs $5 online in advance to $10 at the gate. There are also package deals whose prices rise accordingly depending on how boozy you want to get. Orders for those are online only. You can grab your tickets and find more info here. Turned up to 11 Aussie EDM legends Rufus du Sol play the XFinity Center in Mansfield on July 27 (tickets and more info here). Heres a whole playlist of trancey/dancey goodness from the band to get you through your Monday morning. Your Monday long read Actor/author/midlife male style icon Stanley Tucci cements his National Treasure status with ... stay with me now ... an elevated tuna melt recipe that takes the diner staple to a sublime height. Im not going to give too much away here, but Ill just say the cheese choice is key. Click through to this Food and Wine story to learn more. And, of course, bon appetit. Thats it for today. As always, tips, comments and questions can be sent to jmicek@masslive.com. Have a good week, friends. Read more analysis from John L. Micek Read the original article on MassLive. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The National Weather Service confirmed on Monday that two tornadoes touched down in Clark County, Ohio during Saturday thunderstorms. The initial report from the NWS stated that one tornado touched down on Saturday in Northridge, Ohio just north of Springfield. The tornado was confirmed as an EF1, with estimated peak winds of 100 mph. The tornado was 175 yards wide and was on the ground for just under three miles, according to the NWS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was noted that the most significant damage occurred north of Moorefield Road, along Ridgewood Road West, Waltin Lane, and Midland Road. Two homes had large portions of their roofs removed. The NWS also says that a second tornado touched down on Saturday near North Hampton, Ohio just northwest of Springfield. The tornado was confirmed as an EF0, with estimated peak winds of 70 mph. The tornado was 50 yards wide and was on the ground for just under one mile, according to the NWS. The tornado was first observed on Johnson Road east of Folk Ream Road, the NWS said. There were several downed tree branches and some small snapped trees. Corn was damaged on Shrine Road and well to the east. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a record-breaking 2024 with 74 confirmed tornadoes in Ohio, 2025 has seen a significant dip in tornado outbreaks in the state. Columbus and central Ohio LIVE VIPIR radar The decrease in tornadoes, though, has been replaced by a large increase in rainfall in central Ohio. More than 15 inches of rain have fallen on Columbus since May 1, nearly five inches above normal, and double what fell during last years drought (June-October). The U.S. has had a record number of flash flood warnings issued in an entire year with 3,045 flash flood warnings in 2025 already. You can watch a report from Storm Team 4s Ben Gelber on the record rainfall 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. CLIFTON, Texas (FOX 44) The Bosque Museum opened in 1954 as a non-profit to preserve the countys cultural and prehistoric heritage through education and public display. It originated with Jacob Olson, a Norwegian pioneer who began collecting artifacts in the 1920s. In 1924, he donated his collection to Clifton Lutheran College, with the condition it remain in Bosque County. When the college closed in 1954, a non-profit group established the museum in 1957. Since then, its grown to nearly 8,000 square feet of exhibit space. Our museum is incredibly place-based, says executive director Erin Shields. Theres a concept that you shouldnt be able to pluck a museum up and move it an hour away and have it make sense. And were incredibly place-based. That horn shelter exhibit would make sense nowhere else other than right here in Bosque County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1985, Olsons 1866 childhood log cabin was rebuilt on-site and later received a Texas Historical Marker. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. CLIFTON, TX (FOX 44) The saying goes, Everything is big in Texas, and that includes the Norwegian influence in Clifton from the city to the countryside but mostly in the hearts of the people who call Our Town Clifton home. Why? Because many of the people in these parts have Norwegian roots dating back to the 1850s. My family first came to Bosque County in 1870, says Rallin Aars. Im kin to all of the early immigrants, says Elaine Bakke Bell. I grew up here. I grew up on a farm between Clifton and Cranfills Gap, says Reverend Ryan Pederson, who is the pastor of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and St. Olof Lutheran Church, which are both located between Clifton and Cranfills Gap. Im actually fourth generation Norwegian. My great grandmother immigrated in 1846, says Phyllis Rieser, who is the owner of the Corner Drug Cafe located in downtown Clifton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deep roots indeed largely because of one mans influence the father of Norwegian Immigration Cleng Peerson, prominently displayed at the Bosque Museum. And beyond FM-219 is designated as part of the Cleng Peerson Memorial Highway. You can experience 14 stops along the way including Our Saviors Lutheran Church nearby on FM-182 and not just the historic church. Next to the church, the Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery, and the tallest monument Cleng Peersons final resting place, and a memorial the original 17 Norwegian settlers. The story of how they settled in Clifton is compelling. The Daniel Boone of Norwegian immigration is a man named Cleng Peerson, who began with a sail from Sevan Norway in 1825, and landed in the city of New York. He then continued to build a series of colonies across New York and the Midwest, Aars explains. He found out about free land being available in Texas. [He] brought a group here and settled here, and liked it so much that he never started another colony. And thats why we refer to this as the last great Norwegian settlement in America is because this is his final resting place. Then theres places like St. Olof Lutheran Church, known as The Rock Church, a few miles up FM-182. Back along FM-219, is the Ringness House Museum. This is a six-room house that became a gathering place for the early settlers in the 1850s. It serves as a museum today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are deep roots indeed for the early settlers descendants. All honor the Norwegian legacy the previous generations passed along. The hard work that everybody did in the past, in our lineage, to make all these present-day miracles happen, says Elaine Bakke Bell. For someone of the younger generation, I think I definitely have a little more pride and an interest in the history of the Norwegian heritage in the area, says Clifton resident Lance Allen. It means a lot that heritage is a pretty cool driver to come back to this area. Its pretty neat. Reverend Pederson says, People with interesting personalities, kind of taciturn and quiet, but still a good sense of humor. People who had to learn to deal with hardship and tragedy. I think of stories like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a very strong sense of pride, and a very strong sense of family and a very strong sense of God, says Virginia Bakke Heinley. Aars stresses, I think the work ethic as well as the morals as well as the deep religious beliefs that came with the immigrants lives on here. I think its manifested in the way the daily lives are lived here. I think you see it in the businesses here, and I think thats what keeps attracting people here. When it comes to the original settlers what their descendants would like to say to them? Thank you, thank you for your persistence, says Rieser. Kindness. They were a gentle-spirited people and we are very blessed to have them establish part of this community and leave for us what we should be so very proud of. 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 KWKT - FOX 44. Dog The Bounty Hunter's stepson, Gregory Zecca, accidentally shot and killed his 13-year-old son Anthony on July 19. The shooting occurred at the Naples Manor apartment complex in Naples, Florida. The Collier County Sheriff's Office responded to the call around 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and later confirmed that the boy had died from a single gunshot wound. Gregory Zecca, his 38-year-old father, was reportedly visibly distraught when police found them inside the apartment. View the original article to see embedded media. First responders conducted brief emergency treatment on the child before he was announced dead on the scene. No arrests have currently been made, with police calling the shooting an "isolated incident." Early evidence, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, points to an accidental discharge of the gun that killed Anthony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dog The Bounty Hunter -- real name, Duane Chapman -- told TMZ through a representative, "We are grieving as a family over this incomprehensible tragic accident and would ask for continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our beloved grandson, Anthony." The July 19 shooting is still under investigation by the local sheriff's department, though it is unclear if any formal charges will be placed. Gregory Zecca is the son of Dog's wife, Francie Chapman. Dog and Francie got married in 2021, bonding through their shared grief after both of their previous spouses had passed away. The two apparently work together on Duane's bounty hunting team, according to TMZ. The reality TV star, of course, first gained fame through the long-running show Dog The Bounty Hunter. View the original article to see embedded media. Tragedy Strikes Family of Dog the Bounty Hunter After Teen Grandson Reportedly Shot by Family Member first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 A 61-year-old man died after being pulled into an active MRI machine while wearing a heavy metal chain at a clinic last week, raising questions about safety protocols in the medical industry. Keith McAllister, a resident of Long Island, was at Nassau Open MRI on July 16, accompanying his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, who was undergoing a routine knee scan. According to local reports, Adrienne called out to her husband from the scanner table for help getting up. McAllister responded and came into the MRI room, still wearing a 20-pound weight-training chain around his neck. As he entered the MRI suite, the machines powerful magnetic field instantly pulled McAllister and the large chain he was wearing toward it. The force reportedly caused severe trauma, triggering multiple heart attacks. McAllister passed away the following day at a local hospital, according to an update posted by Nassau County police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones-McAllister recalled to News 12 Long Island how she watched her husband approach the MRI table when the machine suddenly pulled him in. He went limp in my arms, and this is still pulsating in my brain, she said. A GoFundMe campaign launched in the aftermath claims McAllister remained attached to the machine for nearly an hour before the chain could be dislodged. Adrienne also claimed that the clinic had previously allowed Keith into the MRI area wearing the same chain without any apparent issues. That was not the first time that guy has seen that chain. They had a conversation about it before, she told News 12. However, Jones-McAllister did not further clarify what the previous conversation entailed, such as whether the staff warned McAllister directly not to wear the chain in the clinic. MRI machines generate extremely strong magnetic fields capable of turning everyday metal objects into deadly projectiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that proper screening is crucial to prevent such tragedies involving powerful imaging machines. The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering also reported that MRI machines and their magnetic pull are strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room. Calls to Nassau Open MRI were not returned, and the clinic has not issued a public statement as of the time of this publication. This is not the first MRI-related death in New York. In 2001, according to CBS, a 6-year-old boy was killed when an oxygen tank was pulled into an MRI chamber in Westchester County. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) Travis Countys longest-serving commissioner announced Monday she will retire at the end of her term. Margaret Gomez has served as the Precinct 4 commissioner since 1995. She was also the countys first Mexican American woman elected to the position. In the 1970s, Gomez worked in former Travis County Commissioner Richard Moyas office. In 1980, she was elected as county constable and was the first woman to hold that office. She resigned in 1993 to run for county commissioner, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I consider myself very lucky to have found my niche in public service and have learned so much about Travis County Precinct 4, its residents, and their needs, Gomez said in the release. I will remain interested in the needs of Precinct 4 being met by a future Commissioner who knows County government, County issues, and the community. During her years of service, the countys population has more than quadrupled. In that time, she was involved with the creation of the countys Health and Human Services Department, Human Resources Department, STAR Flight, the Del Valle Correctional Complex and the Travis County Housing Authority. Travis County transformed from a rural county to an urban county during Gomezs tenure as a county commissioner, the release states. As county services expanded to meet the growing needs of a booming population, Gomez was involved in Commissioners Court discussions and actions. Her term ends Dec. 31, 2026. 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. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) Sunday marked seven years since the unsolved murder of a man, according to a press release from the Travis County Sheriffs Office. Juan Carlos Gomez, 32, from Mexico, was found dead on July 20, 2018, in the 9300 block of FM 969. According to TCSO, he was shot around 8 p.m. after returning home from a convenience store. Please help us bring justice to Juan Gomezs family, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said in the release. Sometimes a tiny detail that doesnt seem important can be the key to solving a cold case. We want to hear from you. The Gomez family needs you to share what you know. Juan Carlos Gomez (left) with a loved one. (Courtesy TCSO) According to TCSOs release, he drove a white, four-door Dodge truck that night and wore a white T-shirt and gray shorts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2018 | Photos released of car connected to deadly east Travis Co. shooting One witness told detectives he saw a silver or light gray sedan chasing Gomezs truck shortly before he was shot. Another witness described a silver-colored sedan with peeling paint and/or clear coat damage leaving the incident location at a high rate of speed west on FM 969, the release said. Deputies responded to the scene around 8:43 p.m. on the night of the murder. First responders transported Gomez from the scene to Dell Seton Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m. TCSO asked that anyone who saw Gomez that night or knows what occurred before his death call 512-854-1444 or email tips to MajorCrimesTips@traviscountytx.gov. 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. A couple of revelers walk through a neighborhood in Missoula after the PRIDE parade in June 2025. Bozeman has joined Missoula in adopting the symbol as its city flag. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) A second Montana town has adopted the Pride Flag as its city flag in an effort to circumvent a state law passed this past session. In a 4-1 vote, the Bozeman City Commission adopted the Pride flag and its variants as the towns city flag last week during a meeting on July 15, joining Missoula in adopting the symbol as an official flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not just a controversial effort to raise the pride flag. Its a decision about whether or not to permanently take it down, Bozeman commissioner Emma Bode said prior to the vote. Our state legislators mounted a systematic attack on the LGBTQ+ community this legislative session with a particular focus on eroding the rights of trans youth. Discussion on the topic lasted for several hours with numerous people both for and against the Pride flag being adopted. Some residents pointed to the Dont Tread on Me flag, or Gadsden flag, being specifically allowed under the law. We would remind the commission that the queer community did not pick this fight, Jason Baide, the board chair of Queer Bozeman, a civil rights group, told the commission last week. The flag has been flown on the city property since 2021 in an effort to acknowledge the struggles and celebrations of our community. However, with the recent passing of HB 819, our community is once again in the crosshairs of the state legislatures as they aim to erase and further marginalize us while riddled with other hypocrisies. The move continued a trend of cities pushing back against a bill crafted by Columbia Falls Republican Braxton Mitchell, a rising star in the state party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchells legislation, HB 819, sought to limit political expression on state property, which includes schools. The law also says any city flag could be flown, creating something of a loophole, which cities in other states with similar laws have also found. If a town adopted a Pride flag as its official flag, any government agency could fly it. Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, speaks on the House floor on Feb. 3, 2025. (Micah Drew/ Daily Montanan) The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted in June to fly though not adopt the Pride flag, utilizing the loophole and saying Missoulas vote earlier this year allowed any city to follow suit. Those against the laws say that the flag and its colors represent areas of safety and acceptance for LGBTQ+ community members, especially kids. LGBTQ+ children have a suicide rate four times higher than their peers, a statistic civil rights advocates often point to. Some teachers also put flags in their classrooms, potentially putting districts in a bind. However, Mitchell has defended the law by saying he didnt like seeing Pride and Black Lives Matter flags in classrooms at his school growing up. Hes also specifically said he wants the law to apply to conservatives as well, specifically mentioning Trump flags should not be flown on taxpayer funded buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines have both criticized moves by Missoula and Bozeman to adopt the Pride Flag. Daines called the Bozeman Commissions move, Ridiculous & not our MT values in a July 16 post on X, and went on to say My flag followed by three American flag emojis. Mitchell expanded on his thoughts recently when he called into talk-radio host Aaron Flints show on Wednesday. Flint often has members of Montanas Republican party on his show, including Gov. Greg Gianforte and Sen. Daines. Mitchell and Flint theorized the Commissions decision could lose Democrat votes before turning discussion to the legislation itself. Mitchell said he didnt add any regulatory teeth to the legislation out of fear it wouldnt pass, meaning cities likely wont face repercussions for skirting the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell reiterated that hed be looking to change the legislation in the future. I think that my colleagues are more than open to one closing this loophole, but also adding teeth, Mitchell told Flint. Whether its adding the Attorney General to investigate these instances where somebody might violate House Bill 819, and whatnot, going into the next session and, or, in a special session between now and then. A former UC Health doctor who performed ultrasounds in his bedroom on the genitals of men who went there for heart scans is standing trial on felony charges of practicing medicine without a license. Prosecutors say Rudel Saunders, 43, did not have a license from the state that allowed him to perform the ultrasound examinations, so his actions were outside the scope of his licensure." The non-jury bench trial began Monday, July 21 in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court before Judge Patrick Dinkelacker. Testimony is set to resume July 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges are low-level felonies punishable by up to 12 months in prison, although nonviolent offenders in Ohio typically are sentenced to probation. In April, Saunders was found not guilty of separate misdemeanor charges of voyeurism and sexual imposition in connection with the same allegations. The examinations were videorecorded, although Saunders' attorney indicated that it was a security camera trained on his bed. Rudel Saunders, at left, takes notes during his trial in April in Hamilton County Municipal Court. The municipal court judge in that case said Saunders' actions were "inappropriate and incomprehensible." But the judge said city prosecutors failed to prove that he committed a crime that the contact was not for any medical purpose. In a statement, Saunders' attorney, Clyde Bennett II, said: "Dr. Saunders does not believe that he is guilty of the crime of unauthorized practice of medicine. Therefore, regardless of the evidence, I am fighting his case at trial. My objective is to win this case." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three men all who had become friends with Saunders through a running group have described how he convinced them on various dates in 2022 to come to his Northside apartment for ultrasounds. At the trial in April, one man testified that he told Saunders about how his father suffered a heart attack at a young age. Saunders, he testified, told him that his father's experience "would be a good reason to look at my heart health." Rudel Saunders' now deleted online profile. Also according to testimony, Saunders told the man that he was required to complete 100 ultrasounds for a certification something that the state medical board said was false. The man went to Saunders' apartment in June 2022 for the ultrasound. After asking the man to take off his shirt, Saunders had the man, who was wearing shorts, lie on his back on his bed, with a towel covering his midsection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After checking the man's heart and neck, Saunders told the man that the last part of the exam would involve the man's testicles. All three men who thought they were getting a heart exam described how the request for a genital exam surprised them, and they didn't know how to respond. Saunders' license was permanently revoked by the state medical board in 2023. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trial begins for ex-UC Health doctor who performed genital ultrasounds Makaito Cuny watches as he gets his second measles shot in a mobile clinic. (Arielle Zionts/KFF Health News) RAPID CITY, S.D. Cassandra Palmier had been meaning to get her son the second and final dose of the measles vaccine. But car problems made it difficult to get to the doctor. So she pounced on the opportunity to get him vaccinated after learning that a mobile clinic would be visiting her neighborhood. The Oyate Health Center serves Native Americans in Rapid City, South Dakota, and surrounding areas. The centers response to the measles outbreak has included hosting mobile vaccine clinics like this one outside the community center of a predominantly Native American neighborhood. (Arielle Zionts/KFF Health News) I was definitely concerned about the epidemic and the measles, Palmier, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, said at the June event. I wanted to do my part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So did her son, Makaito Cuny. Im not going to be scared, the 5-year-old announced as he walked onto the bus containing the clinic and hopped into an exam chair. Makaito sat still as a nurse gave him the shot in his arm. I did it! he said while smiling at his mother. The vaccine clinic was hosted by the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board, which serves tribes across Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Its one way Native American tribes and organizations are responding to low measles vaccination rates and patients difficulties accessing health care as the disease spreads nationally. Meghan OConnell, the boards chief public health officer, said it is also working with tribes that want to host vaccine clinics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, tribal health organizations have launched social media campaigns, are making sure health providers are vaccinated and are reaching out to the parents of unvaccinated children. This spring, Project ECHO at the University of New Mexico hosted an online video series about measles aimed at health care professionals and organizations that serve Native American communities. The presenters outlined the basics of measles diagnosis and treatment, discussed culturally relevant communication strategies and shared how tribes are responding to the outbreak. Participants also strategized about ways to improve vaccination rates, said Harry Brown, a physician and an epidemiologist for the United South and Eastern Tribes, a nonprofit that works with 33 tribes in the Atlantic Coast and Southeast regions. Its a pretty hot topic right now in Indian Country, and I think a lot of people are being proactive, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles can survive for up to two hours in the air in a space where an infected person has been, sickening up to 90% of people who arent vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. this year had 1,309 confirmed cases of measles as of July 16, per the CDC. Its the largest U.S. outbreak since 1992. Ninety-two percent of the 2025 cases involve unvaccinated patients or people with an unknown vaccination status. Three people had died in the U.S. and 164 had been hospitalized. OConnell said data on Native Americans vaccination rates is imperfect but that it suggests a lower percentage have received measles shots than the overall U.S. population. The limited national data on measles vaccination rates for Native Americans is based on small surveys of people who self-identify as Native American. Some indicate that Native Americans have slightly lower measles vaccination rates, while others show gaps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statistics from some states, including South Dakota and Montana, show that Native Americans are less likely than white children to be vaccinated on schedule. The national measles vaccination rate is significantly lower for Native Americans who use the mostly rural Indian Health Service. About 76% of children 16 to 27 months old had gotten the first shot, according to data collected by the agency during recent patient visits at 156 clinics. Thats a 10- percentage-point drop from a decade earlier. But the IHS data shows its patients are at least as likely as other children to have received both recommended measles shots by the time theyre 17 years old. OConnell said its unclear if currently unvaccinated patients will continue the trend of eventually getting up to date on their shots or if they will remain unvaccinated. Makaito Cuny smiles at his mother after getting his second measles shot in a mobile clinic. (Arielle Zionts/KFF Health News) The immunization rate is probably higher for older children since schools require students to get vaccinated unless they have an exemption, Brown said. He said its important that parents get their children vaccinated on time, when theyre young and more at risk of being hospitalized or dying from the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native Americans may have lower vaccination rates due to the challenges they face in accessing shots and other health care, OConnell said. Those on rural reservations may be an hour or more from a clinic. Or, like Palmier, some lack reliable transportation. Another reason, OConnell said, is that some Native Americans distrust the Indian Health Service, which is chronically underfunded and understaffed. If the only nearby health care facility is run by the agency, patients may delay or skip care. OConnell and Brown said vaccine skepticism and mistrust of the entire health care system is growing in Native American communities, as has occurred elsewhere nationwide. Prior to social media, I think our population was pretty trustful of childhood vaccination. And American Indians have a long history of being severely impacted by infectious disease, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrival of Europeans in the late 1400s brought new diseases, including measles, that killed tens of millions of Indigenous people in North and South America by the early 1600s. Native Americans have also had high mortality rates in modern pandemics, including the 1918-20 Spanish flu and covid-19. The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board reacted quickly when measles cases began showing up near its headquarters in South Dakota this year. Nebraska health officials announced in late May that a child had measles in a rural part of the state, close to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Then, four people from the Rapid City area got sick later that month and into the middle of June. Our phones really rang off the hook once that news came out, said Darren Crowe, a vice president at the boards Oyate Health Center in Rapid City. He said parents wanted to know if their children were up to date on their measles vaccines. Crowe said the health board ordered extra masks, created a measles command team that meets daily and called parents when its online database showed their children needed a shot. Brown praised that approach. The Pine Ridge area of northwest Nebraska is an extension of the Black Hills that reaches through Dawes, Sheridan and Harrison Counties. (Courtesy of Visit Northwest Nebraska) It takes a concerted outreach effort that goes individual to individual, he said, adding that his organization helped the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas with similar efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown said reaching specific families can be a challenge in some low-income Native American communities, where many peoples phone numbers frequently change from using prepaid plans. Once a health worker reaches a parent, Brown said, they should listen and ask questions before sharing the importance of the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella. Rather than trying to preach to somebody and beat them over the head with data or whatever to convince them that this is what they need to do, you start out by finding out where they are, he said. So, Tell me about your experience with vaccination. Tell me what you know about vaccination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people agree to immunize their children when presented with helpful information in a nonjudgmental way, Brown said. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues, a core operating program at KFF an independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TYLER, Texas (KETK) Three people were arrested in Tyler on Saturday after they allegedly stole from T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. 3 arrested after committing several large-scale thefts across Texas According to a Smith County arrest affidavit, the Tyler Police Department responded to The Village Cumberland Park on S. Broadway Avenue, where two people were stealing from T.J. Maxx. Once an officer arrived at the store, he saw the first suspect, Latavia Hall, jumping into the back seat of a 2004 Dodge Durango, and the second suspect, Deaarion Walpool, beginning to run from the scene. However, the officer caught up with Walpool. Mugshot of Deaarion Walpool, courtesy of Smith County Jail Mugshot of Latavia Hall, courtesy of Smith County Jail A T.J. Maxx employee told the officer that he saw Hall and Walpool inside the store, then going outside, stealing goods, placing the stolen merchandise into the vehicle and coming back inside to steal more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall advised she did the actual stealing of the goods, and there was stolen merchandise in her pants, the document said. [Hall explained] they were also stealing from Marshalls earlier in the day. Mugshot of Angela Smith, courtesy of Smith County Jail The officer also talked to Angela Smith, who was in the drivers seat, where she said she knew the stealing was done at Marshalls but only went into T.J. Maxx to use the bathroom. While the officer was searching the vehicle, he found $1,120.13 worth of stolen merchandise from both stores and suspected marijuana from two different purses. Police capture Nacogdoches man on Texas Top 10 Most Wanted List for sexual assault of child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [The officer] observed a field weight of the marijuana to be approximately 0.28 ounces. Smith claimed ownership of the 0.28 ounces of marijuana, the document said. Another green, leafy substance, believed to be marijuana, was seized from a brown purse. I observed a field weight of the marijuana from the brown purse to be approximately 0.125 ounces. Hall claimed ownership of the 0.125 ounces of marijuana. Hall and Smith were arrested for organized retail theft and possession of marijuana, while Walpool was arrested for organized retail theft and evading arrest. All three have posted bond and been released from jail. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BROOKS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A trooper revived a child who was found in a lake south of Newaygo Saturday, Michigan State Police say. MSP says the trooper was called to E. 88th Street near Redwood Drive in Brooks Township around 9:15 p.m. Saturday after a 4-year-old boy was found face-down in Hess Lake. When Trooper Casey Deater arrived, she found the boy wasnt breathing and didnt have a pulse. Deater started chest compressions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boy soon started to cough and spit up water. He was rushed to the hospital and is expected to be OK, MSP said. MSP said anyone interested in learning CPR can reach out to the American Red Cross. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump shared a fake video depicting the arrest and imprisonment of one of his predecessors, Barack Obama, following a furious weekend posting rampage. Trump shared the video from a pro-MAGA TikTok user to his Truth Social platform on Sunday, after posting throughout the weekend about Tulsi Gabbards claims that the Obama administration engaged in a treasonous conspiracy to subvert his 2016 election victory. The video opens with footage of Obama and other prominent Democrats declaring that no one is above the law. It then cuts to Pepe the Frog, an alt-right meme mascot, dressed as a clown and honking its nose, before showing an AI-generated sequence of Obama being arrested by the FBI during his Oval Office meeting with Trump in November 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It then depicts Obama in prison in an orange jumpsuit. The arrest montage is set to one of Trumps favorite tunes, Village Peoples YMCA. Trump posted incessantly over the weekend after Tulsi Gabbard called to prosecute Obama administration officials. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images It followed his director of national intelligences announcement on Friday that she was referring Obama administration officials to the Justice Department for prosecution over allegations they manufactured intelligence to promote the idea that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Trump has posted at least 17 times about Gabbards announcement since Friday. Gabbard claimed that newly declassified documents were evidence that Obama and some of his cabinet members politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have dismissed her claims as baseless and riddled with errors. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said it was one more example of the director of national intelligence trying to cook the books. Last month, Trump said Tulsi Gabbard, his own director of national intelligence, was Some MAGA supporters were also skeptical and framed it as a distraction, given the timing. Gabbards announcement followed days of controversy over the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which has not died down despite Trumps best efforts to stifle it, distract from it and blame Democrats. But many other Trump supporters have gotten on board. The Obama arrest video was shared by MAGA fans on social media Sunday night. MAKE THIS A REALITY, right-wing journalist Nick Sortor wrote on X, tagging Attorney General Pam Bondi. JUST IN: President Trump posted an AI video of Barack Obama being ARRESTED by FBI and rotting in a prison cell MAKE THIS A REALITY, @AGPamBondi! pic.twitter.com/E72YOBpcrO Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 20, 2025 Trump, a convicted criminal, has increasingly normalized the idea of using the Justice Department to go after political enemies. On Sunday night alone, he also floated sending Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff to prison and posted a collage depicting fake mugshots of various Obama-era officials, including James Comey, Samantha Power, and Susan Rice, wearing orange jumpsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was found guilty in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time in U.S. history a former president has been convicted of felony crimes. Hes appealing the verdict. The conservative-stacked Supreme Court ruled last summer that presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts while in office, raising the bar for prosecuting Trumpand any of his predecessorsfor actions taken as president. By Mike Scarcella and David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court late on Monday temporarily blocked a court order that allowed Democratic U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter to resume her role at the agency, despite the White House's effort to remove her from office. The Justice Department, in a filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, had argued the district court judge's reinstatement of Slaughter runs afoul of the president's executive powers under the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three-judge panel of the court said the lower court ruling would remain on hold until court papers are filed by July 29. Slaughter in a statement on Tuesday said she will "continue to fight my illegal firing and see this case through." "Like dozens of other federal agencies, the Federal Trade Commission has been protected from presidential politics for nearly a century," Slaughter said. The White House said in a statement that the Supreme Court has "repeatedly upheld the President's constitutional authority to fire and remove executive officers" and that the administration "looks forward to victory on this issue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeals court said the order was meant to give the judges sufficient time to consider the Trump administration's request to block the ruling and should not be "construed in any way as a ruling on the merits." The Justice Department is challenging a July 17 order by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington that said the White House violated federal law in removing Slaughter, who was first appointed by Republican President Donald Trump and reappointed by Democratic former President Joe Biden. The case in the appeals court will mark the latest clash over the Trump administration's efforts to fire some Democratic officials at federal agencies. The U.S. Supreme Court in May ruled that Trump could bar two Democratic members of federal labor boards from their posts while they challenge the legality of his dismissal of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Slaughter and another ousted Democratic FTC commissioner, Alvaro Bedoya, sued the Trump administration in March over its decision to remove them. They said Trump violated a law that allows a president to fire an FTC member only for good cause, including neglect of duties. Bedoya has since formally resigned from the agency. In her ruling last week, AliKhan said the Trump administration's attempt to oust Slaughter did not comply with removal protections in federal law. AliKhan, who was appointed by Biden, said the Trump administration wants "the FTC to be something it is not: a subservient agency subject to the whims of the President and wholly lacking in autonomy. But that is not how Congress structured it." (Reporting by David Shepardson and Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Chizu Nomiyama, Lincoln Feast and Paul Simao) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by Attorney General Pam Bondi, attends a cabinet meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on July 8. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) This story was originally reported by Mel Leonor Barclay, Marissa Martinez and Jennifer Gerson of The 19th. A key office charged by Congress with coordinating the federal governments work against human trafficking was gutted last Friday, the latest in a string of cuts across different agencies to the governments work on an issue that Republicans have long hailed as a top priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cuts at the State Departments Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) decimated a team that worked to combat labor and sex trafficking abroad and helped coordinate domestic efforts across other agencies, including the departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Labor. The so-called reduction-in-force at the State Department came amid a maelstrom surrounding the Trump administration over its handling of federal investigations into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Officials have said he died by suicide, but his death sparked new conspiracy theories that were fueled by President Donald Trump, who at one point maintained a friendship with Epstein. When this month the Justice Department said there was no Epstein client list, after previously promising to release it, many who had supported Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi were angered, in part because they believed the client list would reveal new truths about Epstein. Republicans have for years made human trafficking a key issue, pushing for legislation to boost law enforcement and support for victims and telling voters that combating trafficking was a major priority. For Secretary of State Marco Rubio, anti-trafficking work has been a centerpiece of his policy agenda. Rubio cosponsored bipartisan legislation to help domestic trafficking survivors during his time in the Senate and as recently as May discussed his concerns about a rise in human trafficking in an unstable Haiti. He criticized former President Joe Bidens immigration policy by saying it empowered child trafficking into the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi, too, has long been an advocate of local and federal efforts to combat human trafficking, making it a key focus of her tenure as Floridas attorney general. She went on to lobby on behalf of a Christian anti-human-trafficking advocacy group and the Qatari government on anti-human-trafficking efforts. People working on human trafficking issues in the federal government and for advocacy groups on the front lines of that work in the United States and abroad have been surprised at the pullback. The administrations attention to the issue during Trumps first term and the ascent of high-profile advocates to the Cabinet gave them the impression that their work would be shielded from the kinds of cuts they were seeing elsewhere. Instead, funding and staffing for human trafficking work has taken sizable hits. We really thought that the broad, bipartisan nature of the issue of trafficking was going to provide some protection for our office. All Americans are against trafficking Republicans, Democrats, everybody, said Cindy Dyer, the former ambassador-at-large under Biden to monitor and combat trafficking in persons at the State Department. The office she oversaw had close to 90 full-time staffers. It lost about a dozen to the Trump administrations voluntary resignation program earlier in the year, and, last Friday, about half were dismissed. The remaining were demoted, Dyer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The offices work spanned a broad range of human trafficking issues, including sex trafficking, which disproportionately affects women, girls and LGBTQ+ people, and forced domestic labor, which also disproportionately affects women and girls. Dyer is now the chief program officer at the McCain Institute at Arizona State University, which promotes democracy and human rights across the world. We really thought that broad bipartisan support we have had for 25 years ever since the Trafficking Victims Protection Act passed in 2000 would provide us some protection, and it did not. And I think people are really both surprised and disappointed, said Dyer, who also worked in the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration. The most recent reauthorization of the law was approved in 2017, during the first Trump administration. The law charged the TIP office with producing an annual report that was due to Congress on June 30; this years report has been delayed without explanation. Last weeks cuts severely impacted the team working on that report, which is widely considered a critical global assessment of human trafficking prevention work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before those staffing cuts, the office had also paused the disbursement of grants for nongovernmental organizations working on human trafficking. The 19th could not confirm the current status of those grants. Varina Winder, who worked as the chief of staff in the Office of Global Womens Issues at the State Department during the Biden administration, said she was dismayed by the pullback on work to uphold global human rights, including stopping trafficking at TIP. If you cant empower the office that is literally ending human slavery, what does that say about your larger ambitions about the value proposition of humans in this administration? she said. Martina Vandenberg of the Human Trafficking Legal Center said federal work to combat human trafficking falls into four buckets: the State Departments global work, prosecution at the Justice Department, federal funding for outside groups and immigration policy. Every area has taken a hit since the start of the administration, Vandenberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have grave concerns, said Vandenberg, whose anti-trafficking advocacy group connects trafficking survivors with pro bono representation. It is distressing to see U.S. anti-trafficking programs decimated by an administration that rode to victory, at least in part, on claims that it would combat human trafficking. The Human Trafficking Legal Center published an analysis of federal data this week showing that visas for victims of human trafficking who cooperate with law enforcement to arrest and prosecute traffickers are being issued at record-low levels, despite a growing backlog. (The 19th reported on this backlog in May.) At the Labor Department, the Trump administration in March put an end to close to 70 programs and more than $500 million in grant funding that the agency was using to combat child labor and human trafficking in countries that have trade agreements with the United States. The funding helped ensure foreign governments were fighting human trafficking while also protecting U.S. jobs, The Washington Post reported at the time. The office that managed the funding was also tasked with producing a congressionally mandated report that, in part, outlined goods produced with child labor. To have this administration cut funding so significantly has just been a huge blow to the progress that has been made over the last several decades, said a federal government employee familiar with this work who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within the anti-trafficking movement and in the government, we were hoping that we would be protected in some way since during Trumps first administration, there was more funding for anti-trafficking then than there had been in previous administrations even. And Ivanka Trump took a really strong interest in the issue, the employee said. In his first term, the presidents oldest daughter made the issue central to her portfolio and hosted a summit at the White House. Weve just seen a huge shift in this administration, and honestly, its sent shock waves through the community, the employee said. On Thursday night, Trump said he would authorize Bondi to request from a federal court the grand jury testimony from Epsteins trial. It was a reversal from her previous position on what she would release, though it is still unclear what transcripts the courts could approve to be made public. Reps. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, and Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, have been trying to force a floor vote on releasing the complete Epstein files. Several far-right Republicans have signed on to the discharge petition effort so far, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Eli Crane, Lauren Boebert and Max Miller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discharge petitions are a procedural maneuver that circumvents House leadership and the powerful Rules Committee to force a floor vote. Theyve rarely been successful because they require a majority of House members signatures to kick off. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, managed to kill the last one raised in April, which would have let new parents vote by proxy while away from the Capitol. But Khanna said hes confident that the petition will move forward: We have the votes. Moms being allowed to vote in the House is important, he said of the failed discharge petition effort, then added: But the release of the Epstein files to the MAGA base matters 100 times more to them. I think its a totally different situation in terms of the intensity of scrutiny. The base cares so deeply about this. Next week, a group of high-profile Republicans are expected to gather at the Capitol for the annual International Summit Against Human Trafficking put on by the Conservative Political Action Conference, the group behind the annual gathering of right-wing activists and politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This pivotal event upholds CPACs steadfast dedication to eradicating modern-day slavery by uniting survivors, legislators, advocates, and law enforcement from both domestic and international communities to drive bold solutions, the announcement for the event reads. The group said earlier this month that Trumps investments in immigration enforcement in the one big beautiful bill will hit traffickers where it hurts by taking away the shadows they exploit. Just days later, Freedom Network USA, one of the leading anti-trafficking groups in the country, is planning to hold a webinar on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to break down how the Trump administrations heinous attacks have impacted human trafficking survivors. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday announced the release of 230,000 files related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. "Today, after nearly 60 years of questions surrounding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are releasing 230,000 MLK assassination files, available now at http://archives.gov/mlk," Gabbard wrote in a post on X. "The documents include details about the FBIs investigation into the assassination of MLK, discussion of potential leads, internal FBI memos detailing the progress of the case, information about James Earl Rays former cellmate who stated he discussed with Ray an alleged assassination plot, and more." King, a Baptist minister from Atlanta and the country's most famous civil rights activist, was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968 at the age of 39. Stephen F. Somerstein/Getty Images - PHOTO: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking before crowd of 25,000 Selma To Montgomery, Alabama civil rights marchers, in front of the Alabama State Capitol, March 25, 1965, in Montgomery, Ala. James Earl Ray, a convicted robber and prison escapee, was identified as King's killer after his fingerprint was found on the rifle used in the assassination and discarded near the murder scene. Police believe Ray shot King from a boarding house across from the Lorraine Motel after stalking the civil rights leader for more than two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 1969, Ray pleaded guilty to King's murder to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to 99 years in prison, where he died in 1998. MORE: Trump admin live updates Following Monday's announcement, King's family called for the documents' release to be "viewed within their full historical context." "During our fathers lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)," his family said in a statement. "The intent of the governments COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle, and destroy Dr. Kings reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement." The family said that as it reviews the released files, "we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted." They also said they "strongly condemn any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our fathers legacy and the significant achievements of the movement." The Trump administration has released records of the FBIs surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureates family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination. The release involves more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration. Kings family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, were given advance notice of the release and had their own teams reviewing the records ahead of the public disclosure. Those efforts continued even as the government unveiled the digital trove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a lengthy statement released Monday, the King children called their fathers assassination a captivating public curiosity for decades. But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that these files must be viewed within their full historical context. It was not immediately clear Monday whether the release would shed any new light on Kings life, the Civil Rights Movement or his murder. As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met -- an absence our family has endured for over 57 years, they wrote wrote. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief. They also repeated the familys long-held contention that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of assassinating King, was not solely responsible, if at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernice King was five years old when her father was killed. Martin III was 10. A statement from the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the disclosure unprecedented and said many of the records had been digitized for the first time to make it possible. She praised President Donald Trump for pursuing the release. Trump promised as a candidate to release files related to President John F. Kennedys 1963 assassination. When Trump took office in January, he signed an executive order to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with Robert F. Kennedys and Kings 1968 assassinations. The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides fulfilling the intent of his January executive order, the latest release serves as another alternative headline for Trump as he tries to mollify supporters angry over his administrations handling of records concerning the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019, during Trumps first presidency. Trump last Friday ordered the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony but stopped short of unsealing the entire case file. Bernice King and Martin Luther King III did not mention Trump in their statement Monday. The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the sealing order ahead of its expiration date. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. They, along with Kings family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, tapping their offices and phone lines with the aim of discrediting them and their movement. It has long been established that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others that he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoovers bureau wiretapped Kings telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to get information against him. He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the King children said in their statement. The intent of the governments COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. Kings reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement, they continued. These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kings said they support transparency and historical accountability but object to any attacks on our fathers legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods. Opposition to King intensified even after the Civil Rights Movement compelled Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to enact the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Right Act of 1965. After those landmark victories, King turned much of his attention to economic justice and international peace. He was an outspoken critic of rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King argued that political rights alone were not enough in an uneven economy. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat. King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice. Ray plead guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Kings family, and others, have long questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. Coretta Scott King for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno directed the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department to take a new look. The Justice Department said it found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King. In their latest statement, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III repeated their assertions that Ray was set up, pointing to a 1999 civil case in which a Memphis jury in a wrongful death case concluded that Martin Luther King Jr. had been the target of a conspiracy. As we review these newly released files, the Kings said, we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted. One of the last pictures to be taken of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., speaking to a mass rally in Memphis on April 3, 1968. Credit - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images The Trump Administration on Monday released a trove of FBI documents related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., ending a court-ordered seal that had kept the documents out of public view since they were collected by the FBI in 1977. The release includes more than 230,000 pages of records detailing the FBIs investigation into Kings assassination, including internal bureau memos, foreign intelligence cables, and previously unpublished material related to James Earl Ray, the man who pleaded guilty to Kings assassination before recanting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not immediately clear if the documents would reveal any new information about Kings murder or his life. Kings family released a statement on Monday urging the public to view the files within their full historical context, noting the personal nature of the matter. They also reiterated their belief that Ray was not solely responsible for Kings death. As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal griefa devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met -- an absence our family has endured for over 57 years, they wrote in a statement reviewed by The Associated Press. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief. In a statement, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard described the release as a historic step that fulfills President Donald Trumps Executive Order issued in January that directed agencies to declassify and publish assassination records related to King, President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal governments investigation into Dr. Kings assassination, Gabbard said. Under President Trumps leadership, we are ensuring that no stone is left unturned in our mission to deliver complete transparency on this pivotal and tragic event in our nations history. I extend my deepest appreciation to the King family for their support. The files were originally not scheduled for public release until 2027, 50 years after they were put under court-ordered seal. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while visiting Memphis. In the lead-up to his death, he had increasingly turned his focus toward economic justice and opposition to the Vietnam War, drawing heightened scrutiny from political leaders and law enforcement. Then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover authorized an aggressive campaign of wiretaps, hotel room bugs, and disinformation intended to discredit King and undermine the civil rights movement. Though Ray pleaded guilty to the assassination, he later tried to withdraw the plea and insisted he was not involved. Members of Kings family have long expressed doubts about Rays role, with Coretta Scott King and others publicly calling for a broader investigation into possible government involvement. A Justice Department inquiry concluded in 2000 that there was no evidence to support those assertions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957, opposed the release, arguing that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures. The timing of the MLK files release has raised questions, as the Trump Administration is currently facing pressure over its refusal to release additional files related to the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in custody in 2019. Trump last week ordered the release of limited grand jury testimony but declined to unseal the full case file, prompting frustration among his supporters. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. Jul. 20Sighs of relief, hesitant celebrations, even tears emanated from after-school providers and advocacy groups around the nation when they got word that the Trump administration lifted a three-week pause on $1.3 billion in federal grants that paid for summertime, before- and after-school programs. "I was so excited I almost cried, just because of the state of our staff. They were freaking out, like 'Am I going to have a job?' " said Debra Raub, executive director of Communities in Schools of Northeast Washington, a recipient of millions in grant funding for programs at six schools in Spokane County. The nonprofit will continue to host after-school programs at Bemiss, Cooper, Regal and Stevens elementaries in Spokane Public Schools, as well as Seth Woodard and Orchard Center elementaries in the West Valley School District. Each school has around 30 students enrolled in the grant-funded programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's hundreds of kids that would lose before-school, after-school and summer programming, which also affects parents ' ability to provide child care during that time period," Raub said. In June, the Department of Education froze previously approved funding for six different educational grants totaling around $6 billion, including $1.3 billion nationally in 21st Century Community Learning Centers that the department restored on Friday after three weeks in limbo. Washington received $21.3 million from the grant, doled out to providers and school districts to operate the services at 105 sites in the state, according to a spokesperson from the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Raub's nonprofit was expecting around $9 million to operate the programs at six schools for three more years in Spokane County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration froze the funding to ensure it was in line with the president's priorities. The administration has yet to make a decision whether it will follow suit and release the $5.5 billion that pays for staff training, English language education, migrant education and literacy programs for adults in five other paused grants, according to a notice sent to grantees from the Department of Education. Friday's release of some of the grant money doesn't extend beyond the upcoming school year, despite Congress OKing the grants until 2028 without interruption. President Donald Trump's proposed 2026 budget doesn't allocate any dollars to after-school programs specifically, instead consolidating the existing 21st Century Community Learning Center grants with 17 other K-12 grants and reducing their combined allocations by 69%, according to D.C.-based advocacy group Afterschool Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group's executive director, Jodi Grant, said the cuts would be premature for grantees expecting funding. "It breaks my heart to see anybody going through this, any program where you're impacting kids and families in schools," Grant said. Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. The big story: A portion of the federal education grant funding that the Trump administration impounded at the beginning of July soon could be back in school district coffers. Pasco County schools superintendent John Legg said he had gotten word that the money could be available as early as Monday. The funds are for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, which support added education for needy students before and after school hours. The administration sent out a notification on Friday setting conditions for the $1.4 billion, adding that the Department of Education would take appropriate enforcement action against any unallowable activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decisions as to other funds referenced in the June 30 notice have not been made at this time, the notification stated, referring to the remaining $5.5 billion in grants that were frozen. Many Florida schools have paused programs and hiring, but stopped short of canceling them, while they wait to see what the administration will do with the Congress-approved funding. Read more from Education Week. Hot topics UF leadership: The director of the University of Floridas Hamilton School, created to promote civic education, is leaving to become provost at the University of Texas. Tuition: UF trustees are poised to increase out-of-state tuition when they meet later this week, WUFT reports. Trustees at Florida State and Florida A&M also are set to raise their rates for out-of-state students, WCTV reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security: Monroe County school district leaders received Secret Service training on threat assessment, Keys Weekly reports. Resiliency: The Florida Department of Education joined Casey DeSantis in establishing a program aimed at giving teachers resources to help provide resiliency lessons, Florida Politics reports. Charter schools: Some city of Miami residents are opposing a move to give an historic theater to a charter school, WLRN reports. Some Broward County cities are exploring the option of opening charter schools using a new law that makes it easier to do so, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Book bans: The Escambia County school district now leads the state in the number of books removed from shelves by a school board, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. Many of the books recently removed by the Orange County school board never had been checked out by students, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the court docket ... A federal appellate court wont reconsider its decision backing the Leon County school district in a dispute over a students gender identity, News Service of Florida reports. Three Alachua County high school administrators have been referred to the state attorneys office for possible prosecution of failure to report suspected child abuse, MainStreet Daily News reports. Dont miss a story. Heres a link to Fridays roundup. Before you go ... Is this you, dog owners? Members of the Roman Catholic clergy in Washington, backed by the Trump administration, won a victory in court last Friday as they seek to dismantle a controversial aspect of a state law meant to curb child sex abuse. U.S. District Judge David Estudillo granted the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction on Friday, placing a hold on Senate Bill 5375, a law that requires faith leaders to report instances of child abuse relayed to them, including Catholic priests who hear such admissions during confessions. The law was set to go into effect on July 27. The Trump administration last month joined the legal fight to overturn the law, which it describes as "anti-Catholic," suing Washington state and Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson. The governor, who is Catholic, has defended the law and said he's "disappointed" in the Church for seeking to block it. A hearing in the Trump administration's request for a separate preliminary injunction is set for this week, the Washington State Standard reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents of the law say it doesn't single out Catholics, given that the mandatory reporting requirement includes ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, elders or a spiritual leader of any church, religious denomination, religious body, spiritual community or sect, as well as school employees and health care workers. But Estudillo, a Biden appointee, said the laws requirement regarding confessionals infringes upon priests First Amendment rights. He noted that roughly 25 other states have carved out exceptions for the confessional in their mandatory reporting laws and called Washingtons exemptions for other professions likely fatal to SB 5375. To me, theres scant evidence that the law which was created in response to abuse allegations among Jehovah's Witnesses is anti-Catholic, and ample evidence that the law is simply anti-sex abuse. And the Trump administrations attempt to undercut it fit a disturbing pattern of undermining efforts to combat sex abuse. This article was originally published on MSNBC.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. Sign up for Trumps Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency. President Donald Trumps latest assault on the news media came in the form of another lawsuit last week. After The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had allegedly written a birthday note, complete with bawdy doodling, to the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, Trump boiled over with indignation. He denied writing the note and filed a libel suit the next day, demanding $10 billion in damages from the Journal, its parent company, and its principal owner, Rupert Murdoch, a sometime Trump ally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Trump faces considerable legal obstacles to win in court, betting against him would be unwise. In his first six months in office, he has been on a winning streak in his campaign to punish and diminish the press. His dispute with the Journal, after all, hijacked the news cycle from another Trump victory: eliminating federal support for public broadcasting. Early Friday morning, Congress voted to cancel $1.1 billion in subsidies for NPR, PBS, and their affiliated stations, marking the first time Congress has cut off public broadcasters since its funding began nearly 60 years ago. Trump had pushed for the defunding, repeatedly asserting that NPR and PBS offered biased and partisan news coverage. Republicans in Congress apparently agreed. The independent press in the United States is facing what media outlets in too many other countries with aspiring autocrats have confronted, the former Washington Post editor Marty Baron told me on Thursday. He compared Trumps repressive measures to those of Hungarian President Viktor Orban: The playbook is to demean, demonize, marginalize, and economically debilitate independent reporting. Ever since he launched his presidential campaign in 2015, Trump has fulminated against the fake news. But only in his second term has Trump gone beyond such rhetoric to wage a multifront war on media freedom with all of the tools at his disposal: executive actions, lawsuits, a loyal regulatory bureaucracy, a compliant Republican majority in Congress and a sympathetic Supreme Court. Each of his actions has been extraordinary in its own right; collectively, they represent a slow-motion demolition of the Fourth Estate. The principal question isnt just whether anyone can stop Trump, but whether anyone in power really wants to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [David A. Graham: Is Colberts ouster really just a financial decision?] One of Trumps early targets was the Voice of America and other government-funded international news broadcasters, such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. These outletsunlike commercial mediahad a mission to advance American interests and extend U.S. soft power dating back to the early 1940s. But they also served a crucial role in reporting important stories that other outlets did not and reaching an international audience with little access to reliable news. By slashing the administrations support to the bare minimum and firing employees, he has all but destroyed these broadcasters. The White House says they deserve their fate, because they, too, are rife with bias. Trump has also given a baleful master class in so-called SLAPP litigationstrategic lawsuits against public participationto bring independent media corporations to heel. He hasnt won a single case in court. Instead, the prospect of presidential retaliation has been enough to lever some $67 million in settlement payments out of news and information companies. These began last year, when Disney-ABC paid $15 million in December to Trumps presidential library, to settle his assertion that anchor George Stephanopoulos had defamed him by saying hed been found liable for rape (in fact, a jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse of the author E. Jean Carroll). The list of settled suits continued with Metas agreement in January to pay $25 million (of which $22 million goes to the Trump library); a February deal with X, to write Trump a $10 million check; and this months deal with CBSs parent, Paramount Global, which agreed to fork over $16 million to the presidential library. The odor of corporate appeasement is so strong that even seemingly unrelated decisions have taken on suspicious cast. When CBS announced last week that it was axing The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, ending the long tenure of the networks most prominent and popular Trump critic, many questioned the networks claim that the decision was strictly a financial one. The timingjust days after Paramount settled with Trumpsuggested Colberts sacking was another bone being thrown to the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Trump has used his bully pulpit to intimidate reporters and news organizations. After CNN broke the news of a Pentagon assessment raising doubts about the success of the U.S. attack on Irans nuclear facilities last month, Trump sought the dismissal of the storys lead reporter, Natasha Bertrand (who was formerly a staff writer for The Atlantic). The White House press staff attacked the ABC News reporter Terry Moran after he called Trump a world-class hater on X. ABC got rid of Moran a few days later; CNN has stood by Bertrand. Alongside the pressure campaign against the news-media industrys big players, Trump has reconfigured the presidential press operation in self-serving ways. In one of his first anti-press actions in February, he banned the Associated Press from Oval Office press conferences, White House events, and Air Force One over its refusal to use his preferred terminology. Hes given preference to MAGA-friendly outlets at news conferences and special briefings, and commandeered the press pool that covers him at certain events, ensuring a reliable stream of softball questions. A key Trump stratagem was his appointment of a loyalist, Brendan Carr, to head the supposedly independent Federal Communications Commission; that appointment put a rabid anti-media activist and co-author of the conservative Project 2025 policy plan in charge of the broadcast industrys chief regulatory agency. Almost immediately after the chairmanship, Carr reinstated complaints against NBC, ABC, and CBS that his predecessor had dismissed on First Amendment grounds (though he let stand the dismissal of a petition against Fox Newss parent company). Carr has also launched investigations of NPR and PBS. The FCCs lone Democratic appointee, Anna Gomez, told me on Thursday that the agency is playing a dangerous game by injecting politics into broadcast regulation, and that she would continue to oppose it. Finally, the Trump administration has rescinded Biden-era policies that had protected journalists in federal investigations of classified leaks, creating a potential chilling effect on reporting. Previously, the Justice Department had ruled out demanding reporters phone and email records in such probes; Trumps attorney general decided that the tactic should be more available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: Why CBS snatched its talk-show kings crown] Every president has had his beefs with the press, of course. But only rarely has a president lined up his powers to hobble it. In the late 18th century, John Adams signed into law the Sedition Act, which, on the pretext of national security, was intended to suppress criticism of Adams and his administration. In the early 20th century, Woodrow Wilson backed another Sedition Act to stifle dissent about the U.S. entry into World War I. Allies of Richard Nixon, at the presidents urging, challenged broadcast licenses held by CBS and the Washington Post Company, in retaliation for their aggressive coverage of his Watergate crimes. Over time, courts, Congress, and popular opinion doomed such actions as insults to the First Amendmentbut that pushback has not occurred, at least so far, in Trumps second term. In the face of such threats, many of the news medias corporate barons have mostly responded with timidity, even capitulation. A handful of leadersthe New York Times publisher A. G. Sulzberger, for onehave mustered some courage, but the bravery of the few has exposed the cowardice of the many. The most emblematic case may be Jeff Bezos, the once-resolute owner of The Washington Post, whose recent efforts to mollify Trump look like a gross sellout. Other top media executives have pretended that the presidents predatory behavior is just business as usual. At Paramounts annual shareholder meeting earlier this month, co-CEO George Cheeks characterized the companys settlement with Trump over a disputed 60 Minutes interview as a rational response, given that the corporation would have faced significant financial as well as reputational damage if it had lost in court. True as a general matter, but few legal experts, including Paramounts, believed that Trump had any chance of winning. A more honest assessment came from Colbert, who noted on the Late Show: This kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles: Its big fat bribe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little suggests that the American public is greatly aroused or agitated by any of this. The indifference to Trumps march against the media may reflect declining trust in mainstream news organizations, or merely their diminished visibility in an information landscape remade by cable-service cord-cutting, social-media influencers, and TikTok videos. This erosion has also been accompanied by the steady disappearance of professional reporting, creating so-called news deserts in hundreds of counties across America. The short-term forecast is for more of the same. Trumps next chance to torpedo a few more enemies of the people will come if the parent companies of MSNBC and CNN need to seek government approval to spin off their cable-TV channels. This could provide new choke points for Trump to demand more tribute: Another round of shakedowns looms. The skys the limit with him right now, Jim Acosta, the former CNN anchor and reporter, told me last week. Trump briefly banished Acosta from the White House during his first term, an instance of presidential retaliation that seemed shocking then, but looks almost quaint now. Right now, said Acosta, who left CNN in January and now streams on Substack, hes taking on whole news organizations, the information system weve had in place since the end of World War II. For the moment, as exemplified by the Journals Trump-Epstein story, reporters are continuing to report without fear or favor. As far as is known, no news organization has spiked an unflattering story about the Trump White House out of concern for the backlash. Baron is guardedly optimistic. The everyday tenacity, resourcefulness, and dedication of journalists covering this administration deserve admiration and support, he said. A free and independent press, he declared, can survive this administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That assessment places great faith in the journalists working in the trenches of Trumps war against the news media. So far, that faith is justified. How long it can be sustained is another matter. Article originally published at The Atlantic WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump was caught off guard by the recent Israeli strikes in Syria and on a Catholic church in Gaza, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. Her comments were a rare suggestion of daylight between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have often been aligned on politics and foreign policy, particularly with the recent attacks on Iran's nuclear program. However, Trump is pushing for an end to the war in Gaza and trying to support the new Syrian government as the country emerges from years of civil war, and Israeli military operations have threatened to complicate those initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Israeli attack last week hit the Gaza Strip's only Catholic church, killing three people and stirring outrage. In addition, Israel intervened during the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, even bombing the capital, Damascus. Leavitt told reporters that Trump has a good working relationship with Netanyahu but he was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza. In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations, Leavitt said. Trump's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, told The Associated Press that Israel's intervention in Syria creates another very confusing chapter and came at a very bad time. Donald Trump shared an AI video from a pro-MAGA TikTok user depicting the arrest of Barack Obama on Sunday (July 20) following his rampage about Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards claims that the Obama administration engaged in a treasonous conspiracy to subvert Trump from winning the 2016 election. With The Village Peoples YMCA playing in the background, the video shows Obama being detained by the FBI while Trump is smiling and then cuts to the former president in an orange jumpsuit and behind bars. The video also has the phrase, No one is above the law, shown, and alt-right mascot Pepe The Frog dressed as a clown. ? JUST IN: President Trump posted an AI video of Barack Obama being ARRESTED by FBI and rotting in a prison cell MAKE THIS A REALITY, @AGPamBondi! ? pic.twitter.com/E72YOBpcrO Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 20, 2025 The Village People were the first to issue a statement about the bizarre video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we dont want Y.M.C.A. to be used for political endorsements of any kind, President Trump merely sharing a video containing our song does not meet the standard for copyright infringement, the group acknowledged in a statement, PEOPLE reported. However, we will attempt to find the original person or entity who posted the offensive video featuring President Barack Obama, and have such video taken down as not being endorsed by Village People, nor any of the owners of the copyright. The aforementioned video surfaced after Gabbard shared a statement on Friday that accused the Obama administration of attempting to manufacture intelligence to aid in a years long coup against President Trump. She reportedly found evidence that Obama and some of his cabinet members politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for said coup. Democrats have since dismissed her claims, calling them baseless and riddled with errors. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said it was one more example of the director of national intelligence trying to cook the books. Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people. No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it. We pic.twitter.com/KJ7qrmMv0k DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 18, 2025 An AI photo of Obama and some of his cabinet also surfaced online with right-wing journalist Nick Sortor tweeting, MAKE THIS A REALITY and tagging Attorney General Pam Bondi. Trump was found guilty in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of multiple felonies. He is appealing the verdict, but the Supreme Court has already ruled that sitting presidents have immunity from prosecution. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Immigration was once one of President Donald Trumps strongest issues but is increasingly less so in the wake of his administrations aggressive and hard-line policies. In general, approval of his handling of the subject has plummeted in recent months as hes backed inhumane detention facilities and ramped up deportations of undocumented immigrants, many of whom have no criminal history. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted between July 16 and July 18, while 46% of U.S. adults disapproved of his approach to immigration in March, that figure has surged to 56% in July. Similarly, a CNN/SSRS poll conducted between July 10 and July 13, found that 58% of U.S. adults disapprove of his handling of immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That dissatisfaction has coincided with numerous reports of abysmal conditions at immigration detention sites, and growing scrutiny of Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics as agents conduct brutal raids and ambush immigrants at their homes and workplaces. Public support for Trumps efforts to deport undocumented immigrants has declined since February, when 41% of Americans disapproved of these actions, per the CBS News poll. Now, 51% of Americans disapprove. In the CNN poll, 55% of U.S. adults say that Trump has gone too far with his deportations of undocumented immigrants, a double-digit jump from 45% who said the same in February. And a majority of Americans in the CBS poll 56% now think Trump is prioritizing deportations of people who are not dangerous criminals as ICE agents have targeted high school students with no criminal records and longtime small-business owners in various communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Popularity of immigration enforcement policies declines notably when people are asked about removing immigrants whove been in the U.S. for many years, and who dont have any criminal history, CNN notes. Trumps policies on immigration detention also garner serious levels of pushback, which come as hes touted horrific circumstances in Florida at a state-led Everglades detention site, citing the alligators in the area that would prevent immigrants from escaping. Per the CBS News poll, 58% of Americans oppose how Trump is using detention facilities, and in the CNN survey, 57% opposed the construction of new facilities to detain as many as 100,000 undocumented immigrants. Trumps floundering approval numbers on the issue point to a potential opening for Democrats who now have a larger proportion of voters highlighting immigration as one of their top issues, according to CNN. Related... President Barack Obama and then-President-elect Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office on Nov. 10, 2016. Credit - Win McNameeGetty Images Donald Trump, who openly campaigned in 2016 against Hillary Clinton on chants of lock her up but was ultimately persuaded to not pursue her prosecution, now appears to be fantasizing about throwing his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, in jail. And his Administration is actively taking steps in that direction. The current President shared on his Truth Social platform on Sunday a video from TikTok user @neo8171 that starts with a montage of Democratic politicians, including Obama, saying, No one is above the law, to the tune of Luciano Michelinis Frolic (made famous as the theme song of sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm). After about 40 seconds, the soundtrack changes to the Village Peoples Y.M.C.A., as apparently AI-generated video depicts Trump and Obama sitting in the Oval Office and FBI officers handcuffing Obama while Trump smiles and laughs. It ends with an AI-generated depiction of Obama pacing around a jail cell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also shared an AI-generated image attributed to X user @sirtemplemount that showed fake mugshots of Obama and officials from his Administration with the words The Shady Bunch. Obama promised hope and changedelivered surveillance at home and abroad , secret drone strikes, and destabilized regions from Libya to Syria. The media cheered, but history wont forget the scandals buried under a Nobel Peace Prize. Accountability was never on the agenda. pic.twitter.com/VffKL9mAj7 sirtemplemount (@sirtemplemount) July 20, 2025 And the President shared a screenshot from X of user @Real_JaredMarsh, who responded to a clip of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R, Fla.) saying on Fox News that there needs to be criminal prosecution and arrests. Marsh posted, I agree with @RepLuna! alongside an image of men being arrested outside the U.S. Capitol with the words Unless this happens, nothing will change overlaid on the image. Trumps posts come after his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat turned MAGA Republican, on Friday announced that she was turning over evidence of an Obama Administration Conspiracy to Subvert Trumps 2016 Victory and Presidency to the Department of Justice for criminal referral. President Obama and his national security cabinet members manufactured and politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump, she alleged in a DNI press release. What Tulsi Gabbard claims about Obama officials Gabbards office declassified a number of documents and released a memo outlining a timeline of alleged information manipulated and withheld by the U.S. Intelligence Community beginning in 2016. In a series of social media posts summarizing her findings, she said the documents detail a treasonous conspiracy by officials at the highest levels of the Obama White House to subvert the will of the American people and try to usurp the President from fulfilling his mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement backs Trumps longtime contention that he was the victim of a witch hunt, which the President has previously dubbed the Russiagate hoax. Gabbards announcement comes after Fox News reported earlier this month that the FBI is investigating its former director James Comey as well as former CIA director John Brennan for possible false statements to Congress after current CIA director John Ratcliffe released a review in June that was critical of a 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that claimed Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election to help Trump. Intelligence agencies in 2017 had assessed that Russias goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. Gabbard alleges that Obama Administration officials leaked false statements to media outlets and manufactured information for the 2017 assessment. Gabbards office asserts that there was no indication of a Russian threat to directly manipulate the actual vote count, though the earlier assessment never suggested that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbards report is based on newly-declassified intelligence assessments and internal communications prior to the 2016 election that assessed that Russia and other foreign adversaries would probably not try to influence the election through cyber means, as well as emails concerning an intelligence assessment at Obamas request after Trumps victory in November 2016 into tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election. The Obama Administration openly accused Russia of trying to influence the election through hacking campaigns, including of the DNC, in October 2016, and it was publicly reported in early 2017 that Obama Administration officials had scrambled to preserve evidence related to the then-ongoing probe of Russian interference and potential coordination with Trump and his associates. This was politicized intelligence that was used as the basis for countless smears seeking to delegitimize President Trumps victory, the years-long Mueller investigation, two Congressional impeachments, high level officials being investigated, arrested, and thrown in jail, heightened US-Russia tensions, and more, Gabbards office said. Its worse than even politicization of intelligence. It was manufactured intelligence that sought to achieve President Obama and his teams objective, which was undermining President Trumps presidency and subverting the will of the American people. So, yes, next week we will be releasing more detailed information about how this took place and the extent to which this information was sought to be hidden, Gabbard told Fox News on Sunday, in a clip that was also shared by Trump. For the American people to have any sense of trust in the integrity of our democratic republic, accountability, action, prosecution, indictments for those who were responsible for trying to steal our democracy is essential for us to make sure that this never happens to our country again. How Republicans have reacted Fox News called Gabbards announcement a potential blockbuster scandal, and Trump shared the clip alongside the latter two words in all caps. A number of Trump allies have also supported Gabbards declassifications and call for prosecutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is potentially Watergate-esque, Rep. Pat Fallon (R, Texas) told the right-leaning news network over the weekend. Makes Watergate look like amateur hour, Rep. Pat Harrigan (R, N.C.) posted on X. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt boosted Gabbards posts on X, writing Every American should read this. White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller said in a post on X that Gabbard exposed the startling depths of a seditious coup against the Republic. The forces behind this coup have done and will do anything to protect their grasp on illegal & illegitimate power. Do not underestimate their capabilities or depravities. But WE are stronger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These tyrants are finally being called out for what theyve done, Sen. Mike Lee (R, Utah) posted on X. The Russiagate hoax was a far more effective attack on our republic & our elections than any foreign adversary could have managed. Those who sold this lie to the American people became the very same villains they invented, he added from his official account. The corruption runs deep in the Swamp. Thank goodness we have a President and administration committed to truth and accountability, posted Rep. Troy Nehls (R, Texas). EVERYONE involved must be held to account, Rep. Andy Biggs (R, Ariz.) posted. Added Rep. Greg Steube (R, Fla.): This is only the beginning. Much more will be revealed. How Democrats have reacted Democrats have criticized the report as misleading and politically motivated. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called the report baseless and an attempt to rehash decade-old false claims about the Obama Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few episodes in our nations history have been investigated as thoroughly as the Intelligence Communitys warning in 2016 that Russia was interfering in the election, Himes said in a statement. Every legitimate investigation, including the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee investigation, found no evidence of politicization and endorsed the findings of the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment. Himes referred to a Republican-led Senate report in 2020 that agreed with the 2017 findings of Russian influence. That report was backed by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio and found no evidence of collusion between Trump and the Russian government in the 2016 election but did find irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling. There have been several other reviews since 2017 that also backed the assessment. Even the CIA report last month that criticized the 2017 assessment as rushed and potentially biased did not dispute the assessments conclusion that Russia favored Trump in the 2016 election. Himes also seemed to suggest that the report is an effort to distract from controversy rocking the Trump Administration surrounding Trumps links to convicted sex offender and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Its a day that ends with y and Donald Trump desperately wants to change the subject, Himes said in his statement. Himes told CBS News that he doubted any charges against Obama Administration officials would actually come, saying: They wont, because theres not a judge in the landnot a single judgewho will treat this with anything other than laughter that will be heard from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Himes related the outrage Republicans are now ginning up among their supporters over alleged treason to the conspiracy theories Republicans had previously fanned about Epstein before Trump and his Administration told them the case was closed and to move on. This is Epstein all over again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Why Trump Cant Put Out the Epstein Fire He Helped Ignite Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Community, told the New York Times: This is one more example of the Director of National Intelligence trying to cook the books. He added that a March Intelligence Community report acknowledged that Russias effort to meddle goes on. That was an assessment under [Gabbards] watch. Moscow probably believes information operations efforts to influence U.S. elections are advantageous, regardless of whether they affect election outcomes, because reinforcing doubt in the integrity of the U.S. electoral system achieves one of its core objectives, the annual threat assessment had said. It is sadly not surprising that DNI Gabbard, who promised to depoliticize the intelligence community, Warner said in a statement, is once again weaponizing her position to amplify the Presidents election conspiracy theories. Contact us at letters@time.com. While reviewing files related to the late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, about 1,000 FBI agents were instructed by Attorney General Pam Bondi to "flag" any records that mentioned President Trump, according to Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In letters sent to Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino on Friday, Durbin said that his office had received information that the attorney general pressured the agents to conduct a review of about 100,000 Epstein-related records on 24-hour shifts. These personnel were instructed to flag any records in which President Trump was mentioned, Durbin said. The effort, he added, was haphazardly supplemented by hundreds of FBI New York Field Office personnel, many of whom lacked the expertise to identify statutorily protected information regarding child victims and child witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Durbin concluded his letters by demanding to know why the agents were told to flag records in which Trump was mentioned and what happened to any such records that were flagged. He requested that Bondi and the top FBI officials provide any new information and materials related to the matter by Aug. 1. The fallout over Epstein President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi in the White House briefing room. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters) The inquiry comes amid an ongoing fallout that has engulfed the Trump administration over its handling of the investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial. Epstein has long been the focus of unfounded conspiracy theories fueled by Trump and some of his prominent supporters which claim the disgraced financier was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret client list. Trump said he would consider releasing additional government files on Epstein and directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of any evidence collected in its investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo, concluding Epstein committed suicide in his cell" and had no such client list and that "no further disclosures" were warranted in the case. The memo enraged Trump supporters, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files, and it put Trumps relationship with Epstein back in the spotlight. Last week Trump lashed out at his supporters for their focus on what he now describes as the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. On Friday, the president sued the Wall Street Journal over a report that he sent Epstein a racy birthday letter. He then directed Bondi to unseal grand jury testimony in Epsteins criminal case. Epstein accuser says she told FBI about an encounter with Trump Donald and Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images) The New York Times reported Sunday that Maria Farmer, a former Epstein employee and accuser, had told the New York Police Department and the FBI about an encounter she said she had with Trump in Epsteins office: The encounter with Mr. Trump, Ms. Farmer said, occurred in 1995 as she was preparing to work for Mr. Epstein. She said she told the authorities that late one night, Mr. Epstein unexpectedly called her to his offices in a luxury building in Manhattan, and she arrived in running shorts. Mr. Trump then arrived, wearing a business suit, and started to hover over her, she said she told the authorities. Ms. Farmer said she recalled feeling scared as Mr. Trump stared at her bare legs. Then Mr. Epstein entered the room, and she recalled him saying to Mr. Trump: No, no. Shes not here for you. Farmer told the Times that she had no other alarming interactions with Trump and did not see him engage in any inappropriate conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House denied the account of the meeting in Epsteins office while pointing to Trumps assertion that he had a falling out with Epstein years before his 2019 arrest and ultimately banned him from Mar-a-Lago. The president was never in his office, White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement to the paper. The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. Pressure from Republicans and Democrats in Congress A protester with a sign outside the White House on July 18. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images) Meanwhile, there is increasing bipartisan pressure from Congress for more transparency from the Trump administration on the Epstein matter. Appearing on ABCs This Week on Sunday, Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee called the possible unsealing of grand jury material a good start but made clear he wants the release of as many files as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burchett is one of at least 10 House Republicans to join an effort launched by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force a symbolic vote on whether the Trump administration should release all of the Epstein files. Congress does not have the authority to compel the Justice Department to release the files, but any vote would amount to a loyalty test among House Republicans regarding the Epstein case. Last week, Trump said Republicans "got duped" by Democrats on the Epstein conspiracies. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., scoffed at the idea Democrats were to blame for Trumps Epstein troubles. The president blaming Democrats for this disaster is like that CEO that got caught on camera blaming Coldplay, Klobuchar said on CNNs State of the Union Sunday. This is of his own making. In retaliation for reporting on Donald Trumps relationship to Jeffrey Epstein, the White House is ousting The Wall Street Journal from the press pool for the presidents upcoming trip to Scotland. Trumps press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement Monday that no publication is guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces, according to Politico. Due to the Wall Street Journals fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board. Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible. Leavitt is, of course, referring to the Journals recent bombshell report that, in 2003, Trump sent a lewd 50th birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump denies the veracity of the letter and is meritlessly suing the paper over its reportfurther stoking the ongoing firestorm over the administrations perceived lack of transparency surrounding the case of the late financier and sex criminal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politico reports that the White House declined to comment on whether the Journals removal from the press pool would be permanent. If so, it wouldnt be the first time Trump punished a publication by restricting its ability to cover his administration. After all, his ban on the Associated Press for failing to change its style guide to ratify his renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America remains in effect. Be it in retaliating against publications deemed insufficiently friendly, seizing control of the press pool from the White House Correspondents Association, or altering the makeup of the press room such that administration officials receive more questions from unctuous right-wing media groups, Trumps White House appears as hell-bent as ever on defanging the press of its ability to function as a watchdog of the government. President Trump went on a meme spree to close out the weekend, posting multiple artificial intelligence-adjusted pictures and videos on his Truth Social account, including one AI clip that showed former President Obama being arrested next to a smiling Trump. In that clip, posted on Sunday evening, Obama and several prominent Democrats say no one is above the law, while the theme song from Curb Your Enthusiasm plays in the background. The video then shifts to an AI-generated Obama being arrested in the middle of a meeting with Trump at the White House and ends with a forlorn Obama alone in a prison cell, all while YMCA is playing. More from TheWrap The presidents posts come after Fox News on Friday reported President Obama manufactured and politicized evidence to create the impression Trump was working with Russian operatives during the 2016 election, according to declassified documents from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president posted a number of other times on Truth Social on Sunday, including a picture that boasted about the most secure border in history, a doctored video of a woman grabbing a snake with her bare hands and a picture of several Democrats and former FBI Director James Comey in jumpsuits as The Shady Bunch. You can see that picture below: President Trump also called out the Wall Street Journal for running a typically untruthful story on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. That post came just a few days after the president sued WSJ and Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion for a story that ran last week, claiming the president sent Jeffrey Epstein a bawdy birthday note in 2003. After his flurry of posts on Sunday, the president has not been as active on Monday morning, posting only one time with that post calling cashless bail a complete disaster that has wrecked American cities. The post Trump Goes on Meme Spree, Shares AI Video of Obama Getting Arrested appeared first on TheWrap. [Source] Sanseito, a Japanese populist party that draws inspiration from Donald Trumps politics, is gaining support ahead of Sundays upper house elections, suggesting a notable shift in the countrys traditionally centrist landscape. State of play: Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas ruling coalition could lose its upper house majority in the upcoming vote, repeating last years lower house setback that left the Liberal Democratic Party Japans dominant party for the past seven decades struggling to maintain power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At present, the countrys struggling economy and currency have attracted record numbers of tourists, further increasing prices that families find difficult to afford. Sanseitos rise reflects widespread economic frustrations as most parties promise tax cuts to address rising costs. Enter Sanseito: Sanseito, which began on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic peddling conspiracy theories, is now expected to secure 10 to 15 seats with its Japanese First platform, marking a significant jump for a party that currently holds just two seats. Trending on NextShark: Phillys Chinatown Stitch project in jeopardy after 'One Big Beautiful Bill' guts funding Leader Sohei Kamiya, a former supermarket manager and English teacher, told Reuters that he draws inspiration from Trumps bold political style. For one, the party opposes what it describes as a silent invasion of immigrants, even though foreign-born residents make up just 3% of Japans population far less than in the U.S. and Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big picture: Observers believe anti-foreign sentiment is now more openly discussed in the country. Meanwhile, the Japanese government believes Tokyo is becoming a target of foreign election interference through social media. Sanseito currently faces scrutiny after candidate Saya appeared on Russian state media Sputnik, raising concerns about foreign interference and prompting Kamiya to demand staff resignations. Trending on NextShark: Trump-inspired 'Japanese First' party gains ground in Japan This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Jet Li opens up about death and explains why he avoids funerals Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! President Donald Trump attacked the federal judge presiding over Harvard Universitys lawsuit against his administration in a Monday afternoon social media post. Harvard is seeking to restore more than $2 billion in funding from the federal government after the Trump administration launched a review of roughly $9 billion in grants and contracts with the university over accusations that Harvard violated the rights of Jewish students, including during demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Barack Obama in 2014, heard arguments Monday morning in the case, the latest in a series of standoffs between the university and the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is a TOTAL DISASTER, which I say even before hearing her Ruling, Trump wrote in the post to his social media platform, Truth Social. She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic loss for the People of our Country! Trump also said he planned to appeal her decision if the judge rules against his administration. He also attacked Harvard as anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America, touting the White Houses decision to freeze several billions of dollars in grants to Harvard. Burroughs sided with Harvard last month in a separate lawsuit challenging the Trump administrations attempt to revoke the institutions ability to sponsor international students. Spokespeople for Burroughs and Harvard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has accused Harvard and several other universities of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in their response to anti-Israel protests on campuses across the country, with Harvard also facing scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security. In its lawsuit, Harvard argued the administration is illegally retaliating against the university for rejecting a set of demands sent to Harvard leaders from the federal government in an April letter. The letter, crafted by a federal antisemitism task force, demanded Harvard institute sweeping changes to its governance, diversity programs and hiring and admissions policies, among other concessions, to maintain its funding. Harvard President Alan Garber has been sharply critical of the Trump administration, writing in an April statement that the consequences of the governments overreach will be severe and long-lasting in response to the funding freeze. President Donald J. Trump marked the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on Sunday by reaffirming his administrations commitment to American space leadership and outlining future goals for NASA and the private sector. In an official message recognizing Space Exploration Day, Trump praised the 1969 moon landing as a new and uncharted era of human ingenuity and pointed to his first-term space initiatives as building on that legacy. As the entire world watched in awe, American astronauts stepped onto the lunar surface and planted the beautiful Stars and Stripes on the rocky soil, the message read. Our flag stood as a marker of National achievement, signaling to the entire world the unmatched might and unwavering resilience of the American spirit. Trump highlighted his reestablishment of the National Space Council and the creation of the U.S. Space Force, calling space policy a national priority. He also referenced passage of what he called the One Big Beautiful Bill, which secured what he described as a historic investment in human space exploration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message reiterated Trumps plans to return Americans to the Moon through NASAs Artemis campaignthis time to stayand ultimately to place the first boots on Mars. It also emphasized expanding public-private partnerships with the greatest aerospace companies in the world to launch rockets, build landers, and deliver advanced technology. Trump credited our incredible Guardians in the U.S. Space Force with securing Americas interests in exploration, defense, and communication beyond Earth. President Trump and his administration Monday sought to use the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent in a Washington Heights park to bolster his hard-line stance on crime and immigration. As officials charged Miguel Mora Nunez, 21, an undocumented Dominican immigrant with a long rap sheet, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed lax immigration enforcement for the shooting, which left the unidentified 42-year-old victim recovering from gunshot wounds. There is absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City, Noem said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem blamed New Yorks immigrant-friendly sanctuary city policies with allowing Mora Nunez to stay out of jail and avoid potential deportation despite his repeated brushes with law enforcement. She called on Mayor Adams and the City Council to reverse the sanctuary city policies, which restrict city police and law enforcement from fully cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Make no mistake, this officer is in the hospital today, fighting for his life, because of the policies of the mayor of the city and the City Council and the people that were in charge of keeping the public safe refused to do so, she added. Adams dodged questions about immigration and sanctuary city legislation, saying: I just carry out the rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He blamed state bail reform for permitting Mora Nunez to be released from jail and took a dig at ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his rival in the mayoral race, for signing the measure into law. I am extremely angry that we have a Customs Border Patrol officer in the hospital because a person that should have not been on our street was on our street, Adams said. Trump also blamed the botched robbery on New Yorks bail reform laws. He denounced cashless bail and blamed the practice for setting the worst criminals flooding on our streets. Crime in American cities started to significantly rise when they went to cashless bail, he wrote on his social media site. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contrary to Trumps claim, big-city crime has been declining for several years since a COVID pandemic-era spike and is close to multidecade lows. Although Trump didnt specifically mention the Saturday night Washington Heights shooting in his latest post, he earlier called the attack an indictment of lax border enforcement policies. Border czar Tom Homan said the shooting illustrates the danger facing immigration enforcement agents, even though authorities say there is no evidence that attacker knew the victim was an off-duty border patrol agent. Thank God were not burying one today, the tough-talking Homan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan added that immigration officials would now shift resources to New York and other immigrant-friendly cities. Sanctuary cities are now our priority, he said. Were gonna flood the zone. Mora Nunez, who was born in the Dominican Republic, entered the country illegally through Arizona in 2023, authorities said. He had two prior arrests for domestic violence in New York and was also wanted to face accusations of robbery and felony assault. He was also wanted in Massachusetts over a stolen weapons case, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. A second man, said to be a 22-year-old friend of Mora Nunez from the Bronx, was arrested in connection with the attack Monday. NEW YORK President Donald Trump and his administration Monday sought to use the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent in a Washington Heights park to bolster his hard-line stance on crime and immigration. As officials charged Miguel Mora Nunez, 21, an undocumented Dominican immigrant with a long rap sheet, Trump blamed the botched robbery on what he called New Yorks bail reform laws. He denounced cashless bail and blamed the practice for setting the worst criminals flooding on our streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime in American cities started to significantly rise when they went to cashless bail, he wrote on his social media site. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, immediately. Contrary to Trumps claim, big-city crime has been declining for several years since a COVID pandemic-era spike and is close to multidecade lows. Although Trump didnt specifically mention the Saturday night Washington Heights shooting in his latest post, he earlier called the attack an indictment of lax border enforcement policies. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took dead aim at immigration in a Manhattan news conference about the shooting, which left the unidentified 42-year-old victim recovering from gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is absolutely zero reason that someone who is scum of the earth like this should be running loose on the streets of New York City, Noem said. Noem blamed New Yorks immigrant-friendly sanctuary city policies with allowing Mora to stay out of jail and avoid potential deportation despite his repeated brushes with law enforcement. She called on Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council to reverse the sanctuary city policies, which restrict city police and law enforcement from fully cooperating with federal immigration authorities. Make no mistake, this officer is in the hospital today, fighting for his life, because of the policies of the mayor of the city and the City Council and the people that were in charge of keeping the public safe refused to do so, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Border czar Tom Homan said the shooting illustrates the danger facing immigration enforcement agents, even though authorities say there is no evidence the attacker knew the victim was an off-duty border patrol agent. Thank God were not burying one today, Homan said. Mora, who was born in the Dominican Republic, entered the country illegally through Arizona in 2023, authorities said. He had two prior arrests for domestic violence in New York and was also wanted to face accusations of robbery and felony assault. He was also wanted in Massachusetts over a stolen weapons case, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. A second man, said to be a 22-year-old friend of Mora from the Bronx, was arrested in connection with the attack Monday. _____ (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's administration wants to visit the Federal Reserve's Washington headquarters this week to review its $2.5 billion renovation, Semafor reported on Monday, citing White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott is in talks to attend the visit as well, the report added, citing a person familiar with the plans. Trump has raised the renovation project as a possible reason for ousting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, suggesting there could be fraud, without providing evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has launched a barrage of nearly daily criticism of Powell, whose departure he is seeking because of the central bank's reluctance to deliver interest-rate cuts. Powell had told the administration that "design plans have changed" from earlier proposals, Semafor reported Blair as saying. "We just want to know whether or not that's true" he said. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment outside of regular business hours. The Federal Reserve declined to comment on the report and directed Reuters to the officials quoted by Semafor for a comment. Powell last week responded to a Trump administration official's demands for information about cost overruns on the project, saying it was large in scope and involved a number of safety upgrades and hazardous materials removals. (Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Aidan Lewis) While Trump said that he would "try to save them", Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates sent back families to Afghanistan. Days before President Donald Trump said he would help Afghan evacuees who fled their country and were stuck in the United Arab Emirates, the Emirati government had already begun returning them to Afghanistan and informed Washington that it was doing so, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters on Sunday. The UAE, a close security partner of the United States, agreed in 2021 to temporarily house several thousand Afghans evacuated from Kabul as the Taliban ousted the US-backed government during the final stages of the US-led withdrawal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the years, about 17,000 Afghan evacuees have been processed through the Abu Dhabi facility, known as Emirates Humanitarian City. However, more than 30 remaining Afghans have been stuck with their fate in limbo. News outlet "Just the News" reported on Sunday that UAE officials were preparing to hand over some Afghan refugees to the Taliban. "I will try to save them, starting right now," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday that linked to an article on the Afghans held in limbo there. View of tents at the Omari refugee camp for the Afghan nationals, who were expelled from Pakistan, in Mohmand Dara, Torkham border, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 15, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hedyatshah Hedayat) However, it may already be too late for some. Families handed back to Taliban In a July 10 meeting with US officials in Abu Dhabi, Salem al-Zaabi, UAE Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister, told the Americans that two families had been "successfully and safely" sent back to Afghanistan in early July, the cable, which had the same date as the meeting, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Zaabi told the Americans that while the UAE understood the current policy from Washington, it was going to move to "close this chapter for good" and therefore would move to return the remaining 25 individuals by Sunday, July 20, according to the cable. He added that the Emirati government would seek assurances from the Taliban that their safety is guaranteed. It was not immediately clear if the remaining individuals had been sent back or the circumstances of the two families returned to Afghanistan. The cable and the return of the two Afghan families back to Afghanistan have not been previously reported. Trump, based on his Truth Social post, appeared to be out of the loop on the UAE's plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department, the White House and the UAE government did not have immediate comment for this story. Afghans in Qatar also stuck Al-Zaabi told the US officials that the two families were returned to Afghanistan in early July "at their request, since they were tired of waiting," the cable said. But two sources familiar with the matter disputed that account saying that the UAE government and Taliban's ambassador to the UAE were making Afghan families at the Emirates Humanitarian City choose between signing a 'voluntary' deportation letter to Afghanistan or being arrested to be forcefully deported to the country on Monday. The cable also said Al-Zaabi asked the US to coordinate "perception management" to ensure Washington and Abu Dhabi were aligned on their messaging on the topic as the UAE did not want criticism from the NGOs "due to the inability of the United States to resettle the population in the United States or elsewhere." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fate of the more than 30 Afghan evacuees and how the administration handles their cases is crucial for the future of another 1,500 Afghan men, women and children who have been stuck in a similar facility in Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar. Former President Joe Biden's administration, since its chaotic US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, has brought nearly 200,000 Afghans to the United States. Trump, a Republican who promised a far-reaching immigration crackdown, suspended refugee resettlement after he took office in January. In April, the Trump administration terminated temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans in the US. Democrats have urged Trump to restore temporary protected status for Afghans, saying women and children could face particular harm under the Taliban-led government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since seizing power, Afghanistan's Taliban administration has rolled back hard-fought rights won by Afghan women and girls during two decades of rule by American-backed governments. They have imposed limits on schooling, work and general independence in daily life. Refugees include family members of Afghan-American US military personnel, children cleared to reunite with their parents, relatives of Afghans already admitted and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the US government during the 20-year war. Advocacy group #AfghanEvac urged Trump to follow up on his post with action. "That means working to immediately secure protections and departures for the Afghans at the Emirates Humanitarian City in UAE and Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar and ensuring they are not deported back into the hands of the Taliban," the group said in a statement. Americans think President Donald Trumps sweeping immigration crackdown has crossed the line. A CNN/SSRS poll released Sunday showed that 55 percent of Americans think that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids are going too far. A new CBS News/YouGov poll also found 52 percent of Americans say that the administration is trying to deport more people than they expected. A majority in both polls57 percent in the CNN poll, 58 percent in the CBS News pollsaid they opposed how the Trump administration was using massive detention facilities for migrants, while 53 percent of people told CNN they didnt want ICEs budget to increase. Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill allocated a total of $171 billion to the Department of Homeland Security, with $45 billion going to ICEs detention system and $30 billion to his deportation drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change in sentiment, following months of approval of Trumps approach, reflects the broader frustration with the administration as Trump demands it scale up its raids. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller set a goal of 3,000 deportations per day in late May, setting off protests around the country as ICE stepped up its raids. Trump sent 4,000 members of the National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell demonstrations over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Trump has further claimed that the administration was working to target violent criminals, but CNN reported that most immigrants arrested by ICE between October and May had no criminal convictions. President Donald Trump's deportation drive has sparked massive protests around the country. / David McNew / Getty Images There is also growing support for protests against Trumps actions, according to the CNN poll: 55 percent of Americans think that protests against the deportation policy were justified, compared with 45 percent who said they were not. Nearly 60 percent of respondents were also opposed to Trumps call for the National Guard to intervene. Republicans, however, still overwhelmingly approve of Trumps approach to deportations, with 83 percent of party members backing Trumps efforts in CNNs poll. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is the architect of the Trump administration's immigration policy. He set a goal of 3,000 deportations per day in late May. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images President Trumps immigration agenda is hugely popular and has recently received large amounts of bipartisan support, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Daily Beast in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President was elected on his pledge to carry out the largest mass deportation in history and the American people are happy hes keeping his promise. Recent polling shows that 60% of voters support the Presidents efforts to close the border, 75% of voters including a majority of Democrats support the Presidents efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens, and a majority of voters approve of the Presidents immigration enforcement." ICE did not respond to an immediate request for comment. Trump still touted his immigration record on Sunday as he reflected on his first six months of his second termwhile disparaging those angry with him over his handling of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. People like Strong Borders, and all of the many other things I have done. GOD BLESS AMERICA. MAGA! he wrote on Truth Social. President Trump ripped Democrats for flooding our nation with Criminal Invaders Sunday after an off-duty Customs and Border Protection agent was robbed by an illegal migrant then shot in the face in a Manhattan park. The president assailed sanctuary city policies as the Department of Homeland Security named one of the two suspects in Saturday nights robbery in upper Manhattan as Dominic national Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez. President Trump spoke out Sunday after a CBP officer was shot in the face by an illegal migrant. AP The migrant, 21, entered the US illegally under the Biden administration and was never deported, despite multiple arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden. He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED, the GOP president said on Truth Social. The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage. The Democrats have flooded our Nation with Criminal Invaders, and now, they must all be thrown out or, in some cases, immediately prosecuted in that we cannot take a chance that they are able to come back. Thats how evil and dangerous they are! Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 21, has a lengthy rap sheet and a deportation order. Obtained by NY Post The federal agent, 42, and a female companion were sitting on a rock near the Hudson River in Fort Washington Park when they were ambushed by two men on a moped shortly before midnight, police sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a brief struggle, one of the suspects opened fire and struck the victim in the face and left forearm, leading the agent to pull his own gun and fire at the perps, hitting one of the suspects. The agent is expected to live while the wounded alleged robber, Mora, is in custody after he walked into a Bronx hospital. A still from video of the incident at a New York City park. Obtained by NY Post The other robber is still on the loose. Mora came to the US via the southern border in April 2023 and was released due to a lack of space at a border detention facility. An immigration judge issued a removal order the same year, sources said. He has had at least four arrests in the Big Apple before Saturday nights incident, but was cut loose without bail each time, sources told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Big Apples sanctuary laws also meant he was not served up to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite the deportation order. Mora is also wanted for kidnapping and weapons charges in Massachusetts, sources said. MAGA activist Laura Loomer checks all the right boxes for President Donald Trump, even though many of his closest advisers seem intent on keeping her at arms length. Shes, what, 30 years old? She looks the part. Shes on television often for Donald Trump, Trump biographer Michael Wolff told The Daily Beast Podcast this week. Thats the trifecta. I mean, whats not to like from Donald Trumps point of view? Wolff, author of Fire and Fury, said everybody is trying to keep Laura Loomer out, except for Natalie Harp, the devoted Trump aide whos been referred to as the human printer and nutter conduit to Trump. Laura Loomer ticks all the boxes for Trump, according to Michael Wolff. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag She and Laura Loomer have bonded in some way of friendship or just convenience and thats how Laura Loomer comes in, Wolff said. She calls Natalie. Shes in. And the president likes her. Advertisement Advertisement Shes good television, so thats amusing to him, he added. Loomer, a far-right influencer and conspiracy theorist with more than 1.7 million followers on X, once called herself a proud Islamophobe. Trump has previously described her as terrific and very special. But the 32-year-old has butted heads with Trumpworld figures, both publicly and privately. Last month, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson called her the worlds creepiest human when she defended Trumps decision to bomb Iran. Behind the scenes, Trumps aides see her as an uncontrollable and toxic force, who the president nonetheless calls several times a month, The New York Times recently reported. Nobody in Trumps West Wing inner circle would speak to the newspaper on the record about Loomer. Advertisement Advertisement My point of access to the White House is Donald Trump, she told The Times in an interview. And thats really hard for people to comprehend. She recounted telling her boyfriend that President Trump comes first, and if you cant handle that, then go find somebody else. Natalie Harp (right) is known as the Wolffs latest podcast appearance honed in on the women Trump surrounds himself with, who often fit a similar mold; young, conventionally attractive and fiercely loyal. Wolff claims these aides serve as a kind of comfort blanket system for the president. Among them is Harp, who invited Loomer into the 2024 Trump campaigns inner circle, Wolff wrote in his latest book, All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America. Advertisement Advertisement Colleagues referred to Harp as the human printer because she followed Trump around with a portable printer so she could hand him hard copies of news he likes, The Times reported. White House communications director Steven Cheung has repeatedly slammed Wolff as a lying sack of s--t who routinely fabricates stories originating from his sick and warped imagination. New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops. WASHINGTON Nine years after soliciting and then accepting help from Russia to win the 2016 election, Donald Trump is yet again falsely claiming he got no such assistance, this time with the backing of his Russia-sympathetic director of national intelligence. These documents detail a treasonous conspiracy by officials at the highest levels of the Obama White House, Tulsi Gabbard wrote Friday in a series of social media posts, beginning the latest round of Trumps many attempts to rewrite the history of his first election victory. Trump in the days since has repeatedly posted articles and videos of Gabbards interviews about the matter, accusing former President Barack Obama and his aides of the highest level Election Fraud and telling Gabbard to keep it coming!!! The Trump administration has shown over and over that it wont tolerate independent coverage of its actions. Support our work when its needed the most by contributing to our newsroom. He even posted a fake TikTok video depicting the FBI arresting Obama and then an image showing Obama and his top former aides wearing orange jail garb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reality, Gabbards claims confuse facts previously determined and acknowledged that Russian intelligence agencies did not infiltrate voting systems with a key conclusion reached by both special counsel Robert Mueller and the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee: Russia actively worked to help Trump win. Putin and the Russian Government demonstrated a preference for candidate Trump, the Senate report stated. Shes fabricating a scandal as part of a cover-up, namely the Trump administrations efforts to keep the Epstein files under wrap, said Ned Price, a former spokesman for the National Security Council in the Obama administration. Gabbards trick here is a pretty obvious one: Shes intentionally conflating hacking and influencing. Gabbards office did not respond to a HuffPost query. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House press office, asked about the provenance of the video Trump had shared, instead released a statement supporting Gabbards efforts. The president and his entire administration are committed to unearthing wrongdoing and holding any individual accountable for this gross abuse of power and blatant conspiracy against President Trump and his supporters, spokesman Harrison Fields said. In any case, Trumps use of Russian assistance to win in 2016 was done entirely in the open. That summer, he publicly called on Russia to find his opponents deleted emails from her private server. The Russian-aligned group WikiLeaks began releasing the material stolen from the Hillary Clinton campaign the same day that news broke of Trumps infamous grab-em-by-the-pussy video. Trump began using it in his interviews and appearances three days later and then daily for the remaining month of the campaign even though he had learned in August that the material had been stolen by Russian spies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WikiLeaks! I love WikiLeaks, Trump told an audience in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 10. Ill tell you, this WikiLeaks stuff is unbelievable, Trump said on Oct. 12 in Ocala, Florida. It tells you the inner heart. Youve got to read it and youve got to maybe get it, because theyre not putting it out. That was the same day the WikiLeaks Twitter account sent a direct message to Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., asking his father to highlight the stolen emails and offering a web link for Trump to advertise. Fifteen minutes after that direct message, candidate Trump sent out a tweet praising WikiLeaks. Two days later, Donald Trump Jr. sent out the link WikiLeaks had provided. Tangled Up With Ukraine Trumps lies about not receiving Russian assistance are not new. Throughout 2017 and 2018, he repeatedly claimed NO COLLUSION in interviews and social media posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collusion, though, is not a crime defined in the U.S. criminal code, even as it accurately describes Trumps knowing acceptance of Russian assistance in that presidential campaign. Trumps then-lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, even acknowledged that in a 2018 interview with HuffPost, defending Trumps actions because using the Russian information was not proscribed by law. it isnt illegal ... It was sort of like a gift, he said. And youre not involved in the illegality of getting it. And ever since Muellers report concluded that it could not find evidence of a criminal conspiracy behind that overt cooperation, Trump took to claiming that the entire investigation was a hoax. Trump, with the active encouragement of Giuliani, went even further and began claiming that not only did he not receive help from Russia in 2016, but it was Clinton getting the foreign help from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That happened to be a conspiracy theory concocted by Russian intelligence as part of a broader effort to claim that the demise of the pro-Russia Viktor Yanukovych regime in Ukraine was part of an American plot a so-called color revolution. And it was Giulianis efforts to find proof of this counter theory that ultimately led to Trump trying to extort Ukraines new president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, into announcing an investigation into then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. Trump ultimately was impeached for that effort but was not removed from office because all but one Republican senator declined to convict him. The most notable thing about the recycled nonsense that Tulsi Gabbard is peddling is that instead of providing independent intelligence analysis as she is supposed to do she is pandering to Trumps obsession with finding evidence that Ukraine helped Clinton in 2016, said Norm Eisen, a former ethics lawyer in the Obama White House who later worked on the Houses impeachment effort over Ukraine. Perhaps he has a guilty conscience because of how Russia benefited his campaign that year when they hacked the DNC immediately following Trumps invitation to do just that. Russia, Russia, Russia, Nearly A Decade On That first impeachment he was impeached again in 2021, this time for his attempted coup to remain in power despite having lost the 2020 election appeared to have soured Trump on Ukraine for years going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Trump called him savvy and a genius for having done so. During an Oval Office visit with Zelenskyy, Trump berated him and essentially blamed him for having gotten invaded. And Trump, until only recently, continued to offer kind words for Putin. During a February photo opportunity with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump recalled the Russia probes and claimed that Putin had also been falsely accused. We had to go through the Russian hoax together. That was not a good thing. That was not fair. That was a rigged deal and had nothing to do with Russia, Trump said. Gabbards string of social media posts continue to push Trumps claims, even though her revelation that Russia had not successfully altered any votes was never in dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intelligence officials in late 2016 never claimed that Russia had hacked voting systems. Indeed, an Oct. 7, 2016, warning issued jointly by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security stated that it found no evidence that elections equipment had been compromised. However, the statement did say that Russia was trying to influence the election using emails stolen and then released to groups like WikiLeaks. Both the Mueller report and the one prepared by the Senate intelligence committee, at the time chaired by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio, repeated that point. Both also agreed that Russia wanted Trump to win and worked to make it happen. In just about every public statement, reflecting the underlying intelligence, the Obama administration was clear that Russia did not hack or otherwise mechanically manipulate the vote, Price said. But the intelligence was clear and, as such, so was the public messaging: That Russia had a favorite in its influence operations: Donald Trump. (NewsNation) President Donald Trump said Monday the judge should make Bryan Kohberger, the man who pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students, explain why he did these horrible murders. Bryan Kohberger, who was responsible, in Idaho, for the deaths of four wonderful young souls, has made a plea bargain deal in order to avoid the Death Penalty. These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered. While Life Imprisonment is tough, its certainly better than receiving the Death Penalty but, before Sentencing, I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders. There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING. People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened. Thank you for your attention to this matter! the president posted to social media. The Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies at 54 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kohberger avoided a potential death sentence by pleading guilty in early July to the stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen in 2022. Prosecutors did not reveal a motive behind the slayings. In the two years since Kohbergers arrest, his attorneys unsuccessfully attempted to bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty and challenged DNA evidence, leaving a plea deal their final alternative to spare his life before the start of a trial in August. At least one of the families opposed the plea deal that calls for Kohberger to serve four life sentences and removes his ability to appeal. But others supported the agreement, saying they were ready to begin healing. 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. What Hamas taught Mamdani: Lessons in populist propaganda and totalitarian takeover By Dr. Dan Diker web posted July 21, 2025 Zohran Mamdani's 2025 campaign for New York City mayor, framed as a progressive crusade for economic justice, bears conspicuous similarities to Hamas's 2006 electoral campaign in the Palestinian legislative and presidential elections. Both Mamdani and Hamas's campaigns leverage populist economic grievances to mask radical ideological agendas, blending reformist rhetoric with revolutionary objectives. Hamas's victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, built on promises of economic reform and anti-corruption, offers a playbook that Mamdani appears to follow, consciously or not, in his bid to remake New Yorka radical structure anchored in communist and Islamist worldviews.This convergence is not merely tactical but ideological, reflecting the broader dynamics of the Red-Green Alliancea coalition of far-left socialism and radical Islamism that threatens pluralistic societies with dystopian outcomes. Hamas's Economic Promises: A Template for Populism Hamas's 2006 campaign under the "Change and Reform" banner promised economic independence, poverty reduction, and infrastructure development. Their manifesto outlined disengaging from Israel's economy, issuing a Palestinian currency, and reforming fiscal policies to combat unemployment and stabilize prices. These pledges resonated with Palestinians disillusioned by Fatah's corruption, securing Hamas's electoral success. Similarly, Mamdani's platform appeals to working-class New Yorkers struggling with the rising costs of essentials like chicken, rice, and milk, proposing radical solutions such as city-owned bodegas and fare-free transit. These policies, while pitched as progressive, echo the inefficient, state-controlled systems of the Soviet Union, representing a regressive step toward centralized economic control rather than genuine reform. Economic Intifada as Political Warfare Hamas's economic promises were a gateway to broader political warfare, using socioeconomic grievances to build legitimacy while advancing a radical Islamist agenda. Mamdani's campaign mirrors this approach, employing what can be termed an "economic intifada" to destabilize New York's governance structures. His proposalsrent strikes, budget justice, and public ownership of grocery storesare not just policy goals but tools to erode centrist coalitions and challenge capitalist frameworks. Like Hamas, Mamdani cloaks his agenda in the language of justice, appealing to the oppressed against the powerful, yet his policies risk undermining the economic foundations of a pluralistic city. Ideological Radicalism Behind Reformist Rhetoric Hamas's 2006 platform combined economic populism with uncompromising rejectionism, delegitimizing Israel while promoting an Islamic state. Mamdani's campaign similarly blends economic reform with ideological extremism. His full-throated support for the Palestinian cause, often veiled in democratic socialist rhetoric, aligns with Hamas's narrative. In a 2017 rap track titled "Salaam," performing as Mr. Cardamom, Mamdani expressed "love to the Holy Land Five," referring to the leadership of the Holy Land Foundation, convicted in 2008 for funneling over $12 million to Hamas. This drew sharp criticism, with former Governor Andrew Cuomo calling it "disgusting" and raising concerns about Mamdani's ties to Hamas-linked figures. Mamdani's visit to the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge during his 2025 campaign further underscores this alignment. The mosque's imam, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Barr, has praised Hamas fighters and called for Israel's annihilation. Mamdani's social media posts from the visit sparked controversy, highlighting his association with radical Islamist sentiment. These actions suggest an ideological kinship with Hamas's rejectionist stance, repackaged for a New York audience under the guise of social justice. Globalizing the Intifada Mamdani's campaign reflects Hamas's strategy of "globalizing the intifada," a call to extend the Palestinian campaign of violence and subversion worldwide. His long-standing support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, evident since his 2014 advocacy at Bowdoin College and his 2021 push for local candidates to back BDS, situates New York's local battles within a global anti-American, anti-imperialist, and anti-Zionist framework. In 2021, he introduced a state bill to bar New York charities from donating to Israeli settlement organizations, a move critics labeled "purely antisemitic." In a June 2025 interview with The Bulwark, Mamdani defended the slogan "globalize the intifada" as symbolic of Palestinian human rights, stating, "That is not language that I use any incitement to violence is something that I'm in opposition to." To be clear, the phrase "globalize the intifada" is a call to violence and terror, rooted in the bloody history of the First and Second Intifadas, which involved suicide bombings, lynchings, and attacks by PLO and Hamas terrorists, resulting in the killing of more than 1,000 civilians. "Globalize the intifada" has been chanted at pro-Hamas rallies together with slogans like "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free." It explicitly advocates spreading violence and terror globally, not peaceful protest. Unlike terms like "muqawama silmiya" for peaceful resistance, "intifada" evokes jihad and the Islamic notion of martyrdom and armed direct actions, carrying the same dangerous and deadly implications as phrases such as "globalize the intifada." Mamdani's refusal to condemn the phrase outright drew criticism from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Jewish leaders, signaling his alignment with radical narratives. This mirrors Hamas's post-October 7, 2023, strategy, which co-opted global far-left discourses, particularly on American campuses like Columbia University, to fuel anti-Israel sentiment and accusations of genocide at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice. Mamdani's campaign similarly seeks to remake New York as a battleground for these global struggles, aligning with the Red-Green Alliance's fusion of socialist and Islamist ideologies. The Red-Green Alliance: A Shared Ideological Axis The Red-Green Alliance unites far-left socialism and radical Islamism in a shared anti-Western, anti-capitalist, and anti-Zionist agenda. Both ideologies reject liberal democratic values, seeking revolutionary change through populist mobilization. Mamdani's ties to this alliance are evident not only in his own actions but also through his father, Mahmood Mamdani, a member of the Gaza Tribunal's advisory council, a UK-based group supportive of BDS and sympathetic to suicide bombers. In his 2004 book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim, the elder Mamdani wrote, "Suicide bombing needs to be understood as a feature of modern political violence rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism." This intellectual framework, which normalizes extremist tactics, informs Zohran Mamdani's political posture, blending socialist rhetoric with support for radical causes. Parallels with Hamas's 2006 Campaign The parallels between Mamdani and Hamas are striking: Economic Populism: Hamas promised subsidies and anti-corruption measures; Mamdani offers city-run bodegas and free transit, both exploiting economic discontent to gain support. Political Radicalism: Hamas rejected bipartisan politics and security cooperation with Israel; Mamdani delegitimizes centrist governance and security institutions, framing them as tools of oppression. Ideological Intransigence: Hamas's anti-Israel stance mirrors Mamdani's anti-Zionist rhetoric, both cloaked in narratives of resistance and liberation. Mamdani is merely updating Hamas's template for New York, replacing religious nationalism with intersectional socialism but maintaining a destabilizing posture that challenges democratic norms. The Destructive Legacy of Radical Ideologies The Red-Green Alliance's blend of socialism and Islamism, though packaged as progressive, is inherently destructive. Hamas's rule in Gaza since 2006 has turned the region into a dystopian landscape of violence and poverty, with Gazans themselves blaming Hamas for their suffering. Mohammed Attalah of Beit Lahia told CNN on March 26, 2025: "Our demand is that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. This chaos that they have created is enough." Mamdani's vision for New York risks a similar trajectory, prioritizing ideological purity over practical governance. His proposal for city-run grocery stores, for instance, recalls the Soviet Union's inefficient food distribution systems, a regressive policy dressed as progress. The radical extremism of both socialism and Islamism, when unchecked, leads to societal decay, as evidenced by Gaza's ongoing crisis. Zohran Mamdani's 2025 mayoral campaign is not merely a bid for office but a case study in political warfare, drawing lessons from Hamas's 2006 electoral strategy. By blending economic populism with ideological radicalism, Mamdani seeks to globalize the intifada, targeting New York's civic, economic, and social foundations. The Red-Green Alliance's destructive ideas, while well-packaged, threaten pluralistic democracy with dystopian violence and destruction, as seen in Gaza. New Yorkers must recognize this campaign for what it is: a totalitarian takeover dressed in the garb of reform. Dr. Dan Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, is the longtime Director of its Counter-Political Warfare Project. He is former Secretary-General of the World Jewish Congress and a Research Fellow of the International Institute for Counter Terrorism at Reichman University (formerly IDC, Herzliya). He has written six books exposing the "apartheid antisemitism" phenomenon in North America, and has authored studies on Iran's race for regional supremacy and Israel's need for defensible borders. Home Donald Trump has become so desperate in trying to change the subject from Jeffrey Epstein, that hes now started ranting about imprisoning former President Barack Obama. During a posting spree on Truth Social Sunday night, Trump posted a series of lame memes attacking Obama, after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard suggested last week that the former president should be prosecuted for participating in a treasonous conspiracy. Gabbard released a declassified report alleging that members of the Obama administration had manufactured and politicized intelligence to create the narrative that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election. Its worth noting that shortly after the 2016 election, the Obama administration insisted that hackers had not affected the vote tallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard said she would deliver her findings to the Department of Justice to seek long-awaited accountability on behalf of Trump, who, despite twice finding his way back into the White House anyway, obviously never emotionally recovered from the so-called Russiagate hoax. On Truth Social, Trump posted a Brady Bunchstyle photo grid of Obama Cabinet officials wearing prison jumpsuits, and a video of different Democratic officials declaring that no one is above the law while circus music played. He also shared an AI-generated video of Obama being arrested in the Oval Office and donning prison orange. This is the third week of fallout from the Trump administrations disastrous rollout of the Epstein filesor lack thereof. The Justice Department announced earlier this month that the sex offender kept no incriminating client list, even though Trumps attorney general claimed one had been sitting on her desk, sparking widespread backlash among Trumps conspiracy-addled following. Now Trump hopes to shift the flames by tossing them another political enemy. President Trump is seeking $10 billion in a libel and defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. NBC White House Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard reports the latest. Former federal prosecutor Paul Butler and Boston Globe columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr join Ali Vitali to break down the case. New York Times White House Correspondent Luke Broadwater also joins to discuss why this is the story that Donald Trump hasnt been able to outrun. The recent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Brazilian imports to the U.S. has rapidly escalated into a full-blown political and economic confrontation between Washington and Brasilia. The local impact in Brazil is particularly significant, as this crisis may reshape the countrys political landscape ahead of the 2026 presidential election. A key point of tension is the growing split within Brazils political right. While self-declared patriots in former President Jair Bolsonaros camp celebrated Trumps support, they now find themselves in the awkward position of defending a foreign-imposed penalty that harms Brazilian exporters, most of whom have long been Bolsonaros supporters. Trumps decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian imports, ostensibly in defense of his ally Bolsonaro, was unprecedented. Unlike with other countries Trump has targeted, the U.S. enjoys a trade surplus with Brazil, so any rationale linking the tariffs to trade imbalances does not apply. Instead, in his letter announcing the tariffs, Trump referred to what he called a witch hunt against Bolsonaro, who is currently facing criminal charges in Brazil related to his alleged involvement in the coup attempt of Jan. 8, 2023. Trumps open call for Bolsonaro to be allowed to run again in 2026, despite having already been declared ineligible by the Brazilian judicial system in a separate case, turned a trade measure into a direct political intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas response was sharp but measured. He rebuked Trumps threats, stating that respect is a two-way street and reaffirmed Brazils sovereignty. His rhetoric signaled that Brazil would not accept foreign interference in its judicial system or democratic institutions. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Since then, Lula has maintained a prudent posture. He has avoided direct escalation, preferring to bet on negotiation. His administration has convened meetings with business leaders from the sectors most affected by the tariffs and is preparing a formal response, emphasizing diplomacy over confrontation. The effects of Trumps move, however, are already being deeply felt. The Brazilian real depreciated further, hovering above R$5.50 per dollar, from a previous level of R$5.30. Analysts warn that the 50 percent tariff threatens vital sectors of the Brazilian economy, with the coffee industry, orange juice exporters and producers of mineral and agricultural commodities among the most exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond those key sectors, Brazils exports to the U.S. include crude oil, beef, semi-finished aluminum, iron and steel. These industries are pillars of Brazils economy, especially in the states of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Parana and Goias, where they employ millions. Industrial inputs exported to the U.S. also support Brazilian manufacturing supply chains that could now face disruptions. The agricultural sector, in particular, is raising alarms: Brazilian coffee and juice producers are already reporting canceled contracts, and exporters fear long-term losses if alternative markets are not quickly found. This economic blowback is testing the cohesion of the conservative bloc that is Bolsonaros political base. Sao Paulo Gov. Tarcisio de Freitas, a Bolsonaro ally and potential 2026 presidential contender, initially reposted Trumps defense of Bolsonaro on social media. Shortly after the tariff announcement, Tarcisio blamed Lula for the fallout, accused the federal government of prioritizing ideology over economic pragmatism and echoed Trumps framing of the crisis as a reaction to Brazils judiciary. He also encouraged Bolsonaro to travel to Washington to lobby Trump directly. The Bolsonaro familys use of the tariffs as a political weapon to pressure Brazil into granting Jair amnesty is increasingly seen as a gamble. Brazils business community initially applauded Tarcisios political alignment with the former president. However, as the magnitude of the economic impact became evident, some of Brazils most important companiesmany of them headquartered in Sao Paulo, the countrys main export hub to the U.S.began calling for stability and predictability in foreign policy. Business associations and trade federations in the state began pressuring Tarcisio for a clear stance that prioritizes economic recovery and institutional dialogue over partisan rhetoric. Sensing an indirect criticism of his ideological handling of the crisis, Tarcisio abruptly changed his tune and pivoted to a more conciliatory stance, calling for diplomacy and warning Bolsonaro that he would prioritize Sao Paolos economic interests moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tarcisios shift has in turn drawn a backlash from the Bolsonaro clan, which has maintained strong ties with the U.S. far right and is deeply invested in politically leveraging the tariff crisis. Bolsonaro himself reportedly met with Tarcisio to get him to fall back in line, appearing visibly displeased when he left. And his son, Eduardo Bolsonarowho resigned from Congress to live in self-imposed exile in Washington, where he has lobbied Trump on his fathers behalflashed out at Tarcisio, accusing him of betrayal. His brother Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator, followed suit. Jair Bolsonaro continued to insist that the 50 percent tariff was not about economics, but about values and freedom, arguing that only an amnesty for the Jan. 8 insurrectionists would restore economic normalcy. But the Bolsonaro familys use of the tariffs as a political weapon to pressure Brazil into granting Jair amnesty is increasingly seen as a gamble. At the same time, Tarcisios struggle to distance himself from that narrative without alienating Bolsonaros base underscores the risks for right-wing leaders caught between economic realities and ideological loyalty. Tarcisios early misstepsblaming Lula, aligning with the Bolsonaro familys framing of the tariffs and underestimating the backlash from Sao Paulos export sectorclearly put him on the defensive. And the entire episode has now cast a shadow over his presidential ambitions, which had seen him trying to balance loyalty to Bolsonaro with a more pragmatic image. Adding fuel to the fire, Tarcisios suggestion that Bolsonaro should be allowed to travel to Washington to personally negotiate the tariffs with Trump triggered alarm in Brasilia. The idea raised suspicions that the former president might use the trip to escape his mounting legal troubles in Brazil. In response, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes imposed stricter precautionary measures: Bolsonaro was ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor and had his passport seized. The judiciarys move underscored growing concern that the crisis was being exploited for political maneuvering that could undermine Brazils legal institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Trumps attempt to use tariffs to pressure Lula ignored a central fact: Brazils judiciary operates independently from the executive. The Brazilian government has no authority to reverse Bolsonaros ineligibility or halt the current cases against him. Still, Trumps allies have continued to frame the crisis as a case of political persecution. Over the weekend, his administration signaled a shift toward targeted sanctions, not against Brazil as a whole, but specifically against Moraes and officials close to him. That could further strain diplomatic relations and complicate efforts to resolve the trade dispute through institutional channels. This situation places Brazil in a unique position. Trump has used tariffs against many countries since returning to the White House, but this is the first time hes weaponized trade policy in direct retaliation for a foreign criminal investigation against a political ally. As a result, Lulas government sees an opportunity to reinforce the strength of Brazils democratic institutions, and it has the tools to do so. Former Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes, now at ApexBrasil in Brussels, has described Trumps move as gangster behavior and has urged the use of the recently approved Reciprocity Law, which established proportionality criteria for adopting countermeasures in response to barriers imposed on Brazilian products and interests, to respond. The administration is weighing its options carefully, aiming to shield the countrys strategic sectors while avoiding further deterioration of relations with Washington. If Lula succeeds in managing the crisis, he could strengthen his position ahead of the 2026 elections. The tariff war may paradoxically work in his favor: While Bolsonaros supporters cheer Trumps backing, many Brazilian entrepreneurs are unlikely to support a foreign-imposed penalty that threatens their own businesses. Lulas message of resilience and negotiation, without submission or escalation, may resonate more widely in the months to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sylvia Colombo is a journalist, author and historian specialized in Latin America. She is currently a columnist for Folha de S.Paulo. The post Trumps Tariffs Against Brazil Have Divided Bolsonaros Base appeared first on World Politics Review. Attorneys for Harvard University have accused Donald Trumps administration of having cooked up a bogus legal basis to pull $2.6 billion in federal funding from the nations oldest university. In a court hearing on Monday, the universitys legal team accused the administration of blatant, unrepentant First Amendment violations with its list of demands to address bias, improve viewpoint diversity, and end ideological capture, including reviewing departments that fuel antisemitic harassment. Its the constitutional third rail, or it should be, for the government to insist it can engage in viewpoint discrimination, said Harvards attorney Steven Lehotsky, arguing that the administration is threatening the universitys independence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House and the university have sparred for months over the administrations escalating attempts to bend Harvard and other institutions to ideologically driven demands, particularly over opposition to pro-Palestine campus demonstrations against Israels war in Gaza, which the administration claims are antisemitic. In April, the government emailed Harvard a set of demands, including to submit to a viewpoint diversity audit and end diversity-based hiring and admissions practices. The administration then threatened to terminate more than $2 billion in federal grants. A judge is set to decide whether the Trump administration can pull more than $2 billion in federal funding from the nations oldest university (AFP/Getty) Those grants support research into Alzheimers prevention, cancer treatment, and national security studies, among other projects. Harvards federal lawsuit says the government fails to explain how the termination of funding for research to treat cancer, support veterans, and improve national security addresses antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court documents, attorneys for the university argue that the administration is wielding funding threats as leverage to gain control of academic decisionmaking at Harvard while imperiling vital research in medicine, science and technology. The Trump administration denies the cuts were retaliatory and were under review long before the demand letter was sent in April. Massachusetts District Judge Allison Burroughs appeared unconvinced. Youre not taking away grants from labs that have been antisemitic, she told lawyers for the government during Mondays hearing in Boston. Burroughs argued that the government provided no documentation, no procedure to determine whether Harvard had taken enough steps to combat allegations of antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consequences of that in terms of constitutional law are staggering, she added. I dont think you can justify a contract action based on impermissible suppression of speech. Where do I have that wrong? Department of Justice counsel Michael Velchik argued that the administration has authority to make such decisions about where funding should or shouldnt go, and that the government does not want to fund research at institutions that fail to address antisemitism to its satisfaction. On his Truth Social after the hearing, Trump called the judge a TOTAL DISASTER and vowed to appeal if Burroughs rules against the administration. How did this Trump-hating Judge get these cases? he wrote. When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN. Also, the Government will stop the practice of giving many Billions of Dollars to Harvard, much of which had been given without explanation. It is a longtime commitment to Fairness in Funding Education, and the Trump Administration will not stop until there is VICTORY. Harvard alleges the Trump administration is infringing on its First Amendment rights and illegally trying to subvert the universitys independence (Reuters) Mondays hearing follows months of tension between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has zeroed in on campus activism at prestigious universities as part of a multi-pronged attack on campus dissent; diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; and immigration policies and international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department of Homeland Security has accused Harvard of fostering anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators, and the president has complained that the university has not provided the government with information about foreign students he calls radicalized lunatics and troublemakers who should not be let back into our Country. In May, the administration also tried to rescind Harvards permissions to enroll international students and forced currently enrolled foreign students to leave the university or risk losing their legal status in the U.S. Judge Burroughs blocked that attempt day later in a separate lawsuit brought by the university. The General Services Administration also ordered federal agencies to consider canceling government contracts with Harvard, which the agency accused of continuing to engage in race discrimination, including in its admissions process and in other areas of student life and failing to protect students from antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gravy train of federal assistance to institutions like Harvard, which enrich their grossly overpaid bureaucrats with tax dollars from struggling American families, is coming to an end, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement when the cuts were first announced. Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege. But the government has not and cannot identify any rational connection between allegations of antisemitism and threats to research that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America's position as a global leader in innovation, according to Harvards complaint. Donald Trump gave a startlingly low number when asked if he had a sexual age limit during a now-resurfaced interview with Howard Stern. Trump has been under heightened scrutiny in the weeks since the DOJ and FBI released a memo that, despite previous statements, there was no evidence of a client list from Jeffrey Epstein existed. This led many conspiracy theorists convinced of the lists existence to assume Trump has to be on it. With this closer examination into the presidents past statements, an unearthed interview on The Howard Stern Show certainly paints more questions for Trump. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you think you could now be banging 24-year-olds, Stern asked in the 2006 interview. Oh, absolutely, Trump responded I have no trouble. Would you do it Stern clarified. I have no problem, the future president said. Sterns co-host Robin Quivers then asked, do you have an age limit or would you If I- No, no, I have no age. I mean, I have an age li Trump replied. Then, when asked to provide his upper bracket, Trump said, I dont want to be like Congressman Foley, with, you know, 12-year-olds. Trump was referring to disgraced former Florida Republican Congressman Mark Foley. His political career was destroyed in 2006 after it came out that he had sent sexually suggestive emails and instant messages to several teenage boys he had met when they were congressional pages. The revelations kicked off a major scandal for Republicans just before the 2006 election, and Foley was forced to resign from congress on September, 2006. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he was ultimately never charged with any crime. Meanwhile, the minimum age to become a congressional page is 16. Foley was never accused of sending sexually explicit messages to anyone younger, contrary to Trumps baseless claim in his interview with Stern. Read more here. Trumps appearance on The Howard Stern Show was resurfaced days after the Wall Street Journal published the content of a note Trump wrote for Epsteins 50th birthday in 2003 consisting of several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The message also included an imaginary conversation between the two. According to WSJ, a portion read. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? The message ended with, may every day be another wonderful secret. Following the storys release, Trump filed a $10 billion libel lawsuit. The post Heres What Trump Told Howard Stern in 2006 When Asked About His Minimum Sexual Age Limit appeared first on TheWrap. Judge will decide: "The Trump administration and Harvard University will appear before a federal judge on Monday as each party seeks outright victory in their clash over billions of dollars in research money that the government has taken from the school," reports The New York Times. "The hearing is likely to be a milestone in a lawsuit that partly hinges on what the government's role in higher education should be." Judge Allison D. Burroughs is expected to issue a summary judgment, which decides the lawsuit without it advancing to trial. Harvard has sued the Trump administration over its pulling of research funding following Harvard's refusal to comply with the administration's demands, which included auditing to make sure there was sufficient viewpoint diversity in academic departments, verifying that professors weren't plagiarizing, and reporting lists of international students who had gotten into trouble. The Trump administration also claims Harvard has not handled antisemitism on campus. Harvard believes this crackdown to be an egregious and improper First Amendment violation and attempt by the federal government to wield control over the university. "By August 2025, Harvard must make meaningful governance reform and restructuring to make possible major change consistent with this letter," wrote federal government officials back in April, "including: fostering clear lines of authority and accountability; empowering tenured professors and senior leadership, and, from among the tenured professoriate and senior leadership, exclusively those most devoted to the scholarly mission of the University and committed to the changes indicated in this letter; reducing the power held by students and untenured faculty; reducing the power held by faculty (whether tenured or untenured) and administrators more committed to activism than scholarship; and reducing forms of governance bloat, duplication, or decentralization that interfere with the possibility of the reforms indicated in this letter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other demands: "By August 2025, the University must adopt and implement merit-based hiring policies, and cease all preferences based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin throughout its hiring, promotion, compensation, and related practices among faculty, staff, and leadership." Ditto with admissions policies. But more worrisome, just below, in the same letter: "By August 2025, the University must reform its recruitment, screening, and admissions of international students to prevent admitting students hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, including students supportive of terrorism or anti-Semitism. Harvard will immediately report to federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security and State Department, any foreign student, including those on visas and with green cards, who commits a conduct violation." Given the March arrest of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil for his role in anti-Israel protests by plainclothes federal agents, it's just not clear that the government will actually give wide berth to universities to allow a range of expressive speecheven odious, offensive speechon campus. How Burroughs rules will be of great significance in the government vs. higher ed battles that have characterized President Donald Trump's second term. Of course, most libertarians are in favor of the federal government getting wholly out of funding higher education, something it never should have done in the first place. But, if it comes at the cost of speech rights on campus and greater crackdown on foreign students, will it be worth it? The federal government might be (marginally) shrinking its outlays, but still growing its power in ways that should disturb libertarians. Zohran Mamdani doesn't seem to get it: One way we can try to judge whether New York City's city-owned grocery stores will succeed is by judging whether they've succeeded in other places where a similar concept has been tried. Kansas City is one such place: "KC Sun Fresh lost $885,000 last year and now has only about 4,000 shoppers a week," reports The Washington Post. "That's down from 14,000 a few years ago, according to Emmet Pierson Jr., who leads Community Builders of Kansas City, the nonprofit that leases the site from the city. Despite a recent $750,000 cash infusion from the city, the shelves are almost bare." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoppers report frequent shortages, but also issues with drug dealing and theft inside and outside the store. The city opened the grocery store back in 2018, having used $17 million to fix up an old privately-owned one. At first, it was a sort of private-public partnership, where a private company owned the store, but the government gave a massive infusion of cash to get it all started. Then, in 2022, ownership switched to Community Builders of Kansas City, a nonprofit that leases the site from the city; the grocery store has asked for more and more cash infusions. "We typically have the same group of offenders every week that are recognizable by face and by name," said city police Maj. Chris Young. Incidents have included someone peeing in the grocery store vestibule and a naked woman going on a rampage in the store. "A small percentage of people are ruining it for the rest of the community that deserves to go to their grocery store and their library." The city apparently doesn't currently have a jail, "so people arrested for minor crimes are quickly released instead of being held in rural counties miles away," reports the Post. I wonder how this would work in New York City! I guess, if Mamdani gets elected mayor, we'll get the pleasure of finding out, won't we? Scenes from New York: A sweet little write-up from Fox News on Beach Mass, in Long Beach, just outside the city limits. I've gone, and it's absolutely awesome. QUICK HITS "The leader of modern Peronism"Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner"has been sentenced to six years in prison, although she can request to serve under house arrest as she is over 70 years old," writes Agustina Sosa for Reason. "The sentence also carries a lifetime ban from holding public office. Kirchner and her collaborators stole from the Argentine people through the creation of an illicit organization to redirect public works funds to benefit businessman Lazaro Baez, another recurring character in the country's corruption saga. The operation began under Nestor Kirchner's presidency (20032007) and continued during her terms (20082011 and 20122015)." This is what Argentina's President Javier Milei means when he talks about "La Casta." Profound corruption from the Peronists for decades on end with very few consequences. "European Union and US negotiators are heading into another week of intensive talks, as they seek to clinch a trade deal by Aug. 1, when US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit most EU exports with 30% tariffs," reports Bloomberg. "Officials in Brussels are prepared to stomach an unbalanced agreement that favors the US if that's what is required to break the impasse before the deadline." Incredible scenes from California. Who could've possibly predicted this: California's $20 fast food minimum wage reduced employment by 3.2 percent (roughly 18,000 jobs) over the first year since its enactment, from @jeffreypclemens, Olivia Edwards, and Jonathan Meer https://t.co/IaAwyZEJgr pic.twitter.com/qtma1Wnmzy NBER (@nberpubs) July 20, 2025 Full article here. Absolutely ghoulish. (Though, somewhat relatedly, I've long been a proponent of compensating kidney donors, which could help to alleviate shortages and possibly solve some of these problems. There are a lot of different ways you could do this, including "no-give, no-take laws," which Alex Tabarrok writes about over at Marginal Revolution.) Interesting: A @maxwelltani mustread on a new effort by a Palantir exec to remake Hollywood pic.twitter.com/bFZFHxQFK8 Ben Smith (@semaforben) July 21, 2025 The post Trump vs. Harvard appeared first on Reason.com. WESLACO, Texas (AP) These days, Juanita says a prayer every time she steps off the driveway of her modest rural home. The 41-year-old mother, who crossed into the United States from Mexico more than two decades ago and married an American carpenter, fears federal agents may be on the hunt for her. As she was about to leave for the pharmacy late last month, her husband called with a frantic warning: Immigration enforcement officers were swarming the store's parking lot. Juanita, who is prediabetic, skipped filling medications that treat her nutrient deficiencies. She also couldn't risk being detained because she has to care for her 17-year-old daughter, who has Down syndrome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I am caught, who's going to help my daughter?" Juanita asks in Spanish, through an interpreter. Some people quoted in this story insisted that The Associated Press publish only their first names because of concerns over their immigration status. As the Trump administration intensifies deportation activity around the country, some immigrants including many who have lived in Texas's southern tip for decades are unwilling to leave their homes, even for necessary medical care. Tucked behind the freeway strip malls, roadside taquerias and vast citrus groves that span this 160-mile stretch of the Rio Grande Valley are people like Juanita, who need critical medical care in one of the nation's poorest and unhealthiest regions. For generations, Mexican families have harmoniously settled some legally, some not in this predominately Latino community where immigration status was once hardly top of mind. A very dangerous situation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House officials have directed federal agents to leave no location unchecked, including hospitals and churches, in their drive to remove 1 million immigrants by year's end. Those agents are even combing through the federal government's largest medical record databases to search for immigrants who may be in the United States illegally. Deportations and tougher restrictions will come with consequences, says Mark Krikorian, the director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that favors restrictive immigration policies. We shouldn't have let it get out of hand the way we did, Krikorian says of the previous administration's immigration policies. Some businesses are going to have difficulties. Some communities are going to face difficulties." Federal agents' raids began reaching deeper into everyday life across the Rio Grande Valley in June, just as the area's 1.4 million residents began their summer ritual of enduring the suffocating heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This working-class stretch of Texas solidly backed Trump in the 2024 election, despite campaign promises to ruthlessly pursue mass deportations. People here, who once moved regularly from the U.S. to Mexico to visit relatives or get cheap dental care, say they didn't realize his deportation campaign would focus on their neighbors. But in recent weeks, restaurant workers have been escorted out mid-shift and farmers have suddenly lost field workers. Schoolchildren talk openly about friends who lost a parent in raids. More than a dozen were arrested last month at local flea markets, according to local news reports and Border Patrol officials. Immigrants are staying shut inside their mobiles homes and shacks that make up the colonias," zoning-free neighborhoods that sometimes don't have access to running water or electricity, says Sandra de la Cruz-Yarrison, who runs the Holy Family Services, Inc. clinic in Weslaco, Texas. People are not going to risk it, de la Cruz-Yarrison says. People are being stripped from their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet people here are among the most medically needy in the country. Nearly half the population is obese. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and elderly people are more likely to develop dementia. Bladder cancers can be more aggressive. One out of every four people lives with diabetes. As much as a third of the population doesnt have health insurance to cover those ailments. And a quarter of people live in poverty, more than double the national average. Now, many in this region are on a path to develop worse health outcomes as they skip doctor appointments out of fear, says Dr. Stanley Fisch, a pediatrician who helped open Driscoll Childrens Hospital in the region last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve always had, unfortunately, people who have gone with untreated diabetes for a long time and now its compounded with these other issues at the moment, Fisch says. This is a very dangerous situation for people. The population is suffering accordingly. Trepidations about going to clinics are spreading Elvia was the unlucky and unsuspecting patient who sat down for the finger prick the clinic offers everyone during its monthly educational meeting for community members. As blood oozed out of her finger, the monitor registered a 194 glucose level, indicating she is prediabetic. She balked at the idea of writing down her address for regular care at Holy Family Services' clinic. Nor did she want to enroll in Medicaid, the federal and state funded program that provides health care coverage to the poorest Americans. Although she is a legal resident, some people living in her house do not have legal status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fewer people have come to Holy Family Services' clinic with coverage in recent months, says billing coordinator Elizabeth Reta. Over decades, the clinic's midwifery staff has helped birth thousands of babies in bathtubs or on cozy beds in birthing houses situated throughout the campus. But now, Reta says, some parents are too scared to sign those children up for health insurance because they do not want to share too much information with the government. Even people I personally know that used to have Medicaid for their children that were born here that are legally here, but the parents are not they stopped requesting Medicaid," Reta says. Their worry is well-founded. An Associated Press investigation last week revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have gained access to personal health data including addresses of the nation's 79 million Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program enrollees. The disclosure will allow ICE officials to receive identity and location information of aliens, documents obtained by the AP say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, the governor started requiring emergency room staff to ask patients about their legal status, a move that doctors have argued will dissuade immigrants from seeking needed care. State officials have said the data will show how much money is spent on care for immigrants who may not be here legally. Federal law requires emergency rooms to treat any patients who come to the doors. Visits to Holy Family Services' mobile clinic have stopped altogether since Trump took office. The van, which once offered checkups at the doorsteps in the colonias, now sits running on idle. Its constant hum is heard throughout the clinic's campus, to keep medical supplies fresh in the 100-degree temperatures. These were hard-hit communities that really needed the services, de la Cruz-Yarrison says. People were just not coming after the administration changed. A mother almost loses a son. A daughter is too scared to visit the doctor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigrants were less likely to seek medical care during Trump's first term, multiple studies concluded. A 2023 study of well-child visits in Boston, Minneapolis and Little Rock, Arkansas, noted a 5% drop for children who were born to immigrant mothers after Trump was elected in 2016. The study also noted declines in visits when news about Trump's plans to tighten immigration rules broke throughout his first term. Its a really high-anxiety environment where theyre afraid to talk to the pediatrician, go to school or bring their kids to child care, says Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, a Boston University researcher who oversaw the study. A delayed trip to the doctor almost cost 82-year-old Maria Isabel de Perez her son this spring. He refused to seek help for his intense and constant stomach pains for weeks, instead popping Tylenol daily so he could still labor in the farm fields of Arkansas, she says. He put off going to the hospital as rumors swirled that immigration enforcement officials were outside of the hospital. He waited and waited because he felt the pain but was too scared to go to the hospital, she explains in Spanish through an interpreter. He couldn't go until the appendix exploded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her son is still recovering after surgery and has not been able to return to work, she says. Perez is a permanent resident who has lived in the United States for 40 years. But all of her children were born in Mexico, and, because she is a green card holder, she cannot sponsor them for citizenship. Another woman named Maria, meanwhile, only leaves her house to volunteer at a local food bank. She's skipped work on nearby farms. And after last month's arrests, she won't sell clothes for money at the flea market anymore. So she stuffs cardboard boxes with loaves of bread, potatoes, peppers and beans that will be handed out to the hungry. Before the raids began, about 130 people would drive up to collect a box of food from Maria. But on this sweltering June day, only 68 people show up for food. She brings home a box weekly to her children, ages 16, 11 and 4, who are spending the summer shut inside. Her 16-year-old daughter has skipped the checkup she needs to refill her depression medication. The teenager, who checks in on friends whose parents have been arrested in immigration raids through a text group chat, insists she is doing OK. Maria left Mexico years ago because dangerous gangs rule her hometown, she explains. She's married now to an American truck driver. We're not bad people, Maria says from her dining room table, where her 4-year-old son happily eats a lime green popsicle. We just want to have a better future for our children. Juanita, the prediabetic mother who hasn't filled her prescriptions out of fear, was not sure when she would brave the pharmacy again. But with a cross hanging around her neck, the devout Catholic says she will say three invocations before she does. Explains her 15-year-old son, Jose: We always pray before we leave." ___ The Associated Press receives support from the National Press Club Journalism Institutes Public Health Reporting Fellowship, funded by the Common Health Coalition. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Tucker Carlson has blown up President Donald Trumps claim that he reached out to apologize to him for publicly slating his administration at the height of a MAGA civil war. Carlson was one of the biggest names to call out his former ally over his hawkish approach to the burgeoning Israel-Iran conflict last month. Trump backed Israel striking Iran and eventually made the call to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, in support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This further rankled his America First voters, eliciting strong condemnation from Carlson and other MAGA figures like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Trump later claimed that Carlson was so strong in his rebuke that he actually phoned up the president to say sorry. He called and apologized the other day because he thought he had said things that were a little bit too strong, and I appreciate that, he told reporters in the Oval Office on June 18. Carlson's reaction when asked if he apologized to Trump. / Bild/YouTube However, during an interview with German publication Bild, released Sunday, Carlson claimed there was no groveling whatsoever. He was asked by the newspapers deputy editor-in-chief whether Trumps tale was true, and he flat out denied it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Okay... no, Carlson smirked. The journalist, Paul Ronzheimer, then asked, No? Its not true? The former Fox News host then confirmed his rebuttal of Trumps claims with a clunky, yammering answer. No, I will say this. I mean, I dont-yeah, great. I dont care. I really like Trump. I campaigned for Trump, he began. I just, to say it again, I agree with Trump, I have agreed with Trump on the issues. I dont-Id be happy, I am the first to apologize because I am most mindful of my limits, and my own absurdities, and the nonsense that I have spouted over the years. Like, I dont think Im God, and so Im happy to apologize. And you can ask anyone who knows me, Im an apologizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ronzheimer, seeking clarity, then asked Carlson if he was indeed apologizing at that moment. He wasnt, he said. I dont know what Id apologize for. I didnt attack Trump then. I disagreed with him and I, you know, I said how. I wasnt, you know, I didnt say, I dont think, anything that would warrant an apology, Carlson explained. Carlson endorsed Trump as president before he won the election. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Trump last month claimed that he asked Carlson if he was okay with Iran possessing nuclear weapons and said the conservative political commentator sort of didnt like that. I said well, if its ok with you, then you and I do have a difference, the president added, of their allegedly fictitious conversation. But its really not okay with him. Therefore, you may have to fight and maybe itll end, and maybe itll end very quickly. Just days after Trump called the right-wing media personality kooky in a Truth Social post, he labeled him a nice guy, following the apology. The White House has been contacted for comment. A 61-year-old man who was wearing a 20-pound chain used for weight training when he was sucked into an MRI scanner while attempting to help his wife off the machine last week has died, according to law enforcement and multiple media reports. The tragic incident unfolded on July 16 at around 4:30 p.m. at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, N.Y., according to reporting from the New York Times. The victim, identified by his wife as Keith McAllister, was at the imaging center to assist her while she received an MRI on her knee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with News12 Long Island, Adrienne Jones-McAllister said she called for her husband to help her, presumably get off the table, after her MRI was completed. She told the outlet that the MRI technician went to get her husband and despite the heavy chain around his neck, which they had reportedly been laughing and talking about prior to the imaging procedure, let him into the room where she was waiting. In that instant, the machine twist him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI, Jones-McAllister told News12. She and the technician attempted to pull McAllister out of the machine but said that it was impossible. This photo shows a magnetic resonance imaging machine. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) I said, Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something! Turn this damn thing off! Jones-McAllister explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magnetic resonance imaging machines are equipped with magnets and radio frequency currents that create anatomical images. The magnetic force used during the procedure is so strong, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging, it can pull a wheelchair across the room. Patients getting an MRI are routinely told to remove any and all jewelry and piercings before the procedure, while patients with implants that contain iron are urged to never undergo an MRI. McAllister was rushed to the hospital where his wife says he suffered several heart attacks and died the following day just after 2:30 p.m. He went limp in my arms, and this is still pulsating in my brain, she told News12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with the Nassau County Police Department, according to The Times, are continuing to investigate what appears to be an awful accident. As for Nassau Open MRI, the center has yet to respond to multiple requests for comment from both The Times and News12. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) An adult and juvenile are dead and another juvenile is injured after a car crashed into a utility pole and caught fire on the far north side of Columbus. According to Columbus police, a car was driving south at 8422 Sawmill Road at 10:49 p.m. north of Sawmill Reserve Drive. An adult was driving the car with a juvenile in the front seat and another juvenile in the back seat. Why is Ohio seeing more summer downpours than usual? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver lost control of the car and it spun across to the other side of the road and hit a utility pole. The car reportedly caught fire after hitting the pole, per a police dispatcher. The driver and the front seat passenger were pronounced dead at the scene while the juvenile in the back seat was taken to Nationwide Childrens Hospital in stable condition for non life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time as police continue to investigate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KINGSPORT, Tenn. (NewsNation) The mysterious disappearances of two young women in Tennessee have forged a poignant connection between two families as they collectively seek answers. Layla Santanello, a 21-year-old creative and devoted mother of a 2-year-old daughter, Nova Grace, vanished on June 27, 2023, leaving her family desperate for any leads. In a recent march organized by loved ones in Kingsport, the community aimed to bring fresh attention to Santanellos case, hoping for a breakthrough in the investigation. Laylas mother, Jennifer Santanello, spoke emotionally about her daughters vibrant spirit, describing her as a beautiful, bright light in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New docuseries on Jodi Huisentruit released On June 25, Layla Santanellos boyfriend alerted her mother that she had left, and he didnt know where she had gone. Two days later, in the early morning hours, Layla Santanello was spotted at the Americourt Hotel in Kingsport. Hotel workers reported that she had raised a ruckus, knocking on doors and looking for someone. Jennifer Santanello says Layla left and ended up sleeping at a homeless encampment in the woods behind the hotel. She walks off towards the woods and theres a hiking trail or a walking trail that runs all the way through the town. Its called the Kingsport Greenbelt and she went in that direction, which is the opposite direction of the Americourt. That is the last time anyone saw her for sure, Jennifer Santanello said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As her family worried and searched for Layla Santanello, they began getting Cash App requests from someone claiming to hold her hostage. Everything was coming from Michael Thompson, Laylas boyfriends, house. His device, his IP address, his address, all the things, Jennifer Santanello said. Once everything was processed, though, there was no evidence at all that anything bad had happened to Layla there. Netflix to release documentary on woman who went missing on cruise Thompson was sentenced this year on charges of identity theft and extortion. Private investigator Steve Fisher noted that Layla Santanello was later seen disheveled at the Marble Slab Creamery, expressing concern about her well-being. Layla Santanello never reached her destination at a nearby store and has not been seen or heard from since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Santanello said that her daughter had been struggling with addiction, specifically to fentanyl, and had been refusing treatment. Despite her mothers concern and efforts, Layla Santanello, a brand new addict, believed she could control the situation. Less than four months later, another young woman, Hollynn Snapp, 19, went missing from a residence nearby. She functions at a 10-year-old level, she is very trusting of others, and unfortunately, I do believe it has gotten her into some trouble, Hollynn Snapps mother, Heather Snapp, said. NewsNations Missing series highlights more than 100 cases Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hollynn Snapp was known to have an addictive personality and was reportedly using meth before her disappearance. Heather Snapp said her daughter was in a fight at a party on Oct. 5, where she met an older man. After the fight, she disappeared. We know that some sort of incident occurred where she bit him and he proceeded to beat her from several eyewitnesses and he beat her to the point where she was incoherent, Hunt said. Thats also from several witnesses. She couldnt form sentences. She was unable to recognize them. She didnt know who they were. And that was in the basement of his house on Bell Ridge, where we believe he still lives. The two missing women shared some commonalities, including overlapping social circles and similar lifestyles, according to Leslie Hunt, Hollynn Snapps foster mother. They ran around in some of the same circles. But other than that, I dont believe they knew each other. Just the fact that they look a lot alike, kind of have the same lifestyles, some of the same friends and just their presence on social media is kind of the same, Hunt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are calling both women missing and endangered. But detectives with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office have found no evidence to support that these cases are related. Fisher, who is involved in both cases, is exploring possible connections between the disappearances. Heather Snapp expressed hope that finding answers for one would lead to the discovery of the other. Baby Hope and her parents identified 31 years later: Police Despite the passage of time, the Santanello and Snapp families remain determined in their search. Searches conducted on foot and with cadaver dogs have taken place, and the families refuse to give up hope, planning more searches for their missing loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not enough for Hollynn, Hunt said. She deserves everything that we can muster out of the answers that we get. She deserves justice, and she deserves to be remembered. Heather Snapp appealed to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward, stating, At some point, you just get on your knees and pray that maybe something is found. Jennifer Santanello echoed the sentiment, emphasizing her commitment to being Layla Santanellos voice in her daughters absence. Nobody can be her voice better than me, she declared, as both families navigate the agonizing uncertainty surrounding the disappearances of their loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information that can help in this case, contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The two deteriorating sites are both on the radar of municipal officials. The two casualties of declining Catholic school enrollment in Hartford St. Peters near downtown and St. Augustine in Barry Square had turned into signs of hope for neighborhood revitalization when they were purchased by the same buyer for apartment conversions in 2018. Nearly six years and two owners later, the campuses still sit idle and deteriorating and the absentee owner of both properties is facing foreclosure and plans for apartment conversions have been sidelined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Peters School along with its 157-old church facing Main Street and a former convent is headed to a foreclosure sale Aug. 2, court records show. And St. Augustine School shuttered in 2016, the last Catholic school to close in Hartford soon could be taken over by the city in a foreclosure for unpaid blight fines and property taxes. amounting to almost $1 million. If successful, the city hopes to find a developer for an apartment conversion for the Clifford Street property. Part of the $1 million tab are charges by the city for periodic maintenance, city officials said. The city has boarded up windows in an attempt to keep out intruders; cut down overgrown plants and stopped illegal dumping stepping in where the property owner, Shmuel Aizenberg, a controversial apartment owner in New Haven, has not, according to the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hyacinth Yennie, chair of the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Revitalization Group, a neighborhood revitalization zone group, said the two owners of St. Augustine started out with plans for apartment conversion, but they did not follow through. The citys stop-gap maintenance efforts have helped, Yennie said, but the neighborhood is frustrated because housing is desperately needed. In the meantime, we, as residents, have to sit and watch that property just continue to fall apart and become a drug haven and a prostitution haven, for everything that you talk about thats bad in our neighborhood, Yennie, a longtime neighborhood activist said. Michael D. Perez, the citys director of blight remediation, said both school properties have been on the citys radar for at least three years because they were vacant, and the redevelopment of St. Augustine is the top priority for the neighborhood. Of the buildings that they want to see renovated, this is one they want sooner rather than later, Perez said. And so, we understand that. Every time, I see the mayor, he asks me, So whats the status of that property? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez said it is likely the city could take control of St. Augustine in the next month or two. Affinity for the property The three buildings on the St. Peters property across from Barnard Park and also known as South Green are being foreclosed on by the lender that financed Aizenbergs purchase, Lending Assets LLC of New York. According to court documents, Lending Assets alleges Aizenberg and the partnership that purchased the property owes about $1 million. Lending Assets did not have an immediate comment, but Perez said the lender has told the city it would take aggressive steps to foreclose and market the property. Or they, themselves, would attempt to acquire the property and develop it, Perez said. The lender indicated an affinity for the property and a belief that the current lender that is foreclosing could turn the property around and develop it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city also capped its liens at $60,000 because the lender demonstrated that it wanted to move ahead aggressively, Perez said. The vacant brownstone church with its soaring bell tower closed in 2017 and school in the Sheldon/Charter Oak neighborhood though in better condition than St. Augustine, city officials say has nevertheless presented a challenge for the surrounding neighborhood. The immediate area has seen some success in the development of the apartments at Park and Main streets, and there is an ongoing push to upgrade the use for Barnard Park. Chris McArdle, president of CSS/CON, the neighborhoods revitalization zone, said there has been a noticeable decline in drug dealing at South Green, following enforcement efforts by the police. But the looming presence of the vacant church property particularly the church itself is likely to remain a factor in the areas future development, McArdle said. It is a very large property, and its right there on the green, McArdle said. Obviously, the church is going to be a big concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez said he believes there could be options for redevelopment of the church, say as a concert hall, with housing behind it in the former school. With a little creativity, something really cool could happen with that property. Perez said. It depends on who ends up with it and what vision they bring to the table. A call seeking comment from Kenneth M. Rozich, a New Haven attorney representing Aizenberg and his partners in the St. Augustine and St. Peters foreclosures, was not returned. Expanding into Hartford Aizenberg, a principal in New Haven-based Ocean Management, purchased St. Peters including the church and convent and St. Augustine for $3.75 million in 2021. The seller was Joseph Novoseller, managing principal of New Jersey-based Aria Legacy Group. The sale was accompanied by prior city approvals to develop apartments on both properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aizenberg started expanding into Hartford in 2021, targeting rental properties or those that could be converted to apartments. The properties were purchased in limited liability companies. Aizenberg and Ocean Management already had hundreds of rentals in New Haven. But Aizenberg turned controversial in recent years in New Haven, according to reporting by the New Haven Independent, when alleged code violations brought him into housing court. Those violations also gave rise to protests and the forming of tenant unions at some of Aizenbergs buildings, The Independent reported. The Independent also reported that Aizenberg was selling off some of his New Haven apartment buildings. In Hartford, Aizenberg purchased two downtown buildings in 2021, one, the Grand on Ann apartments, which Aizenberg sold last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second building was a 4-story building at 275 Asylum St. long the location of the Morse School of Business and, more recently, the High School Inc. program of the Hartford Public Schools. Aizenberg also listed that property for sale, but city records show he still owns it. At the time of the purchase in 2021, Aizenbergs representative said the plans were to convert 275 Asylum into apartments. In addition to the two church properties bought in 2021, Aizenberg purchased five apartment buildings on Huntington Street, containing 68 units, that same year. The properties also are in foreclosure and a receiver has been appointed by the courts, according to court documents, a move typically used to guide day-to-day operations until there is an eventual sale. Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com. UPDATE: MidAmerican Energy has released a statement on this mornings incident on Route 84. First and foremost, we are thinking about everyone involved in this mornings accident and are hoping for a quick and full recovery for those injured. We are supporting our employee and cooperating with the Whiteside County Sheriffs Office as it investigates the accident. MidAmerican is also conducting an internal review of the incident. EARLIER: Multiple Whiteside County first responders were called to a crash involving three vehicles and a bucket truck on Route 84 this morning. Whiteside County Sheriffs deputies responded to a 911 call about a four-vehicle traffic crash on Illinois Route 84 near the intersection of Lock Road in rural Fulton on July 21 at about 6:15 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies and the Crash Reconstruction Unit investigated and learned that a white Freightliner bucket truck owned by MidAmerican Energy and driven by Nathan Brown, 27 of Elizabeth, was driving northbound on Route 84 just south of Lock Road. The truck crossed the center line and entered the southbound lane, where it struck two oncoming vehicles, a Kia sedan and a Buick crossover. A Dodge crossover that was also southbound at the time struck the engine of the Kia, which detached during the initial collision. Whiteside County Sheriffs Office (whiteside.org) The driver of the Kia was airlifted to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Buick was taken to a hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Dodge was not injured. Brown was cited for improper lane usage. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriffs Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Deputies were assisted at the crash scene by the Fulton Police Department, Fulton Fire & EMS, Thomson Fire & EMS, MedForce Air Medical Transport, Downtown Auto Clinic, J&S Body Shop and the Illinois Department of Transportation. This could have been much worse, and Im grateful no lives were lost, said Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker. I commend our deputies, first responders and partner agencies for their quick, coordinated response. Our Crash Reconstruction Unit will continue working to determine exactly what happened. Public safety on our roadways is always a priority and incidents like this are a reminder of how important that work is every single day. 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. The purple and white Israeli Givati Brigade flag being flown at the Tomorrowland festival in Belgium - X Two Israelis were questioned by police over alleged war crimes after waving a military flag at a music festival in Belgium. Prosecutors said the pair were Israeli soldiers, adding that they had asked police to locate and interview them after a complaint by the Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgian pro-Palestinian organisation. The HRF said it identified the two among the crowds at Tomorrowland, a dance music festival in Antwerp, and that they were responsible for grave international crimes in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said they had been waving a flag of the Givati Brigade, an Israeli infantry unit that has seen extensive action during the war in Gaza. The unit has been extensively documented for its role in the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza and for carrying out mass atrocities against the Palestinian population, the group claimed. It said: The Givati flag, publicly displayed in the heart of Belgium, is not just a military symbol. It has become, for millions, a symbol of impunity, destruction and ethnic cleansing. Israels foreign ministry confirmed that the pair, who it said were a civilian and a soldier, were detained on Sunday before being questioned and released shortly afterwards. The foreign ministry and the IDF handled the matter and are in contact with the two, it said. Belgiums prosecutors office said it took action because courts in the country have extraterritorial jurisdiction over alleged war crimes. No further information will be given at this stage of the investigation, the office said, without naming the two men. Videos posted on social media from the event showed numerous Israeli flags among the Tomorrowland crowds The HTF said the suspects were identified and arrested with a clear show of force at the Tomorrowland festival, describing the incident as a potential turning point in the global pursuit of accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said the development was a significant step forward because it signals that Belgium has recognised its jurisdiction under international law and is treating the allegations with the seriousness they deserve. And to states watching around the world: universal jurisdiction is not just a principle it is an obligation. The HRF has filed around 1,000 similar complaints in eight different countries since the war began, according to Israeli media. In response, the Israeli military told its soldiers to limit their social media use. In February this year, Yuval Vagdani, an IDF soldier, had to be evacuated from Brazil after the HRF initiated legal proceedings against him, saying he was involved in the destruction of homes in the Gaza Strip. Also in February, Haroon Raza, a co-founder of the foundation, said: Its our responsibility, as far as we are concerned, to bring the cases. It is then up to authorities in each country, or the International Criminal Court, to pursue them, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eden Bar Tal, the director general of Israels foreign ministry, called the actions a PR stunt, saying: Its sponsored by this very low number of entities that have direct connections to terrorist organisations. Tomorrowland is the worlds largest electronic music festival and attracts around 400,000 people a year. Videos posted on social media from the event showed numerous Israeli flags among the crowds. Hebrew media reported that Israelis were filmed engaging in conversations with Palestinians wearing keffiyehs. Israeli Ronen Levi, 34, is due to attend the festivals second weekend this week, but said: Belgium at the best of times doesnt feel like a safe place for Jews, and now it feels even worse. Music festivals are supposed to be full of love, and this just taints things. In a speech on the eve of national day on Sunday, Belgiums King Philippe described the war in Gaza as a disgrace to humanity and said: I add my voice to all those who denounce the serious humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs while trapped in their enclaves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current situation has gone on for far too long. It is a disgrace to all of humanity. We support the call by the United Nations Secretary-General to immediately end this unbearable crisis. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Sky watchers dont have to wait much longer for an opportunity to catch not one, but two meteor showers that reach their peak on the same night. 27 News got in touch with Brenda Culbertson, solar system ambassador with the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to learn about a rare upcoming opportunity to catch some flashes of light in the night sky. Two meteor showers, the Alpha Capricornids and Delta Aquariids, are expected to reach their peak on the same evening at the end of July. The Alpha Capricornids are visible from July 12 to Aug. 12 while the Delta Aquariids can be seen from July 18 to Aug. 12, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS). Culbertson said the Alpha Capricornids come out of the constellation Capricornus and typically peak the night of July 30 while the Delta Aquariids also reach their height on the same night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a true giant: Man breaks Kansas blue catfish record with 121-pound Missouri River monster The AMS reports the Alpha Capricornids are not very strong with only about five meteors seen per hou. The Delta Aquariids are different and considered a stronger meteor shower. The delta Aquariids is a more prolific meteor shower with the radiant in the constellation Aquarius, Culbertson said. Twenty meteors per hour during the peak time are expected. Culbertson recommends people get outside around midnight to watch for meteors on July 30. She said this will give time for the moon to set. No special equipment is needed, just the eyes, Culbertson said. The meteors will appear to come from a southerly direction, but they will pass across the sky, leaving a trail in any direction. The darker the observers location, the more meteors they may see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Culbertson said people should also be able to spot meteors in the sky in the nights leading up to July 30. She recommends finding somewhere dark and away from bright lights, such as those in cities, and look up. The small piece of debris in space is called a meteoroid, Culbertson said. If that same piece of debris comes through the atmosphere, streaking across the sky, its called a meteor. If that same piece of debris makes it to the ground, its called a meteorite. Same hunk of stuff, but called different things, depending on where it is. Ticks with cloning ability and carrying blood parasite may already be in Kansas, pose danger to cattle industry You can learn more about the two meteor showers by heading to the AMS website by clicking here. You can also check out the NASA website for tips on how to photograph a meteor shower or find other tips on watching the sky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Two motorcyclists suffered serious injuries Sunday night in Providence after a Dodge Charger ran a stop sign and hit them. A city spokesperson told 12 News the vehicle struck the two motorcyclists and ran them over at the intersection of Bucklin and Mawney streets. The occupants of the car got out and ran away after the crash, according to the spokesperson. ALSO READ: Providence police investigating armed robbery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two victims were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. One has potentially life-threatening injuries. The others injuries are critical, but not life-threatening. Providence police are investigating. 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. JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The Two Rivers Church in JC is set to host a free documentary screening. The documentary A Faith Under Siege will be screened July 25th at 6:30 PM at the Two Rivers Church located in Johnson City. This is a free event. A Faith Under Siege: Russias Hidden War on Ukraines Christians is a documentary discussing the alleged Russian propaganda and invasion on both the territorial sovereignty and spiritual identity of Ukraine. The documentary allegedly also discusses the 19,000 Ukrainian children that Russia abducted. The runtime is 60 minutes. 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 WIVT - News 34. HEBER CITY, Utah (ABC4) Two people were stabbed during a large birthday party at a Heber City restaurant on Sunday, July 20, prompting an ongoing investigation. The Heber City Police Department said the stabbing happened just after 11:30 p.m. during a private quinceanera being held at the restaurant. Upon arrival, police reportedly found a 34-year-old male inside with a stab wound to the abdomen and a 21-year-old male outside with a stab wound to his leg. The 21-year-old victim was treated on scene by Wasatch County Sheriffs deputies and medical personnel from the Wasatch County Fire Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. Josh Weishar with the Heber City Police Department confirmed with ABC4.com that the 34-year-old victim was provided life-saving aid until emergency medical services could take over. The 34-year-old was then taken to a local area hospital before he was airlifted to another hospital in critical condition for further care. Weishar said police are working to identify suspects involved, and the case remains an active investigation. However, based on preliminary information, detectives believe the stabbing was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. 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. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Bahrains Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Thursday to strengthen military ties between the two nations. The Pentagon announced the meeting focused on regional security and maritime cooperation. The high-level talks underscore Bahrains strategic importance as host to the U.S. Navys Fifth Fleet since 1995. The small Gulf kingdom remains a critical partner for American military operations in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth praised Bahrains unwavering support for U.S. servicemembers and their families stationed across the Kingdom, according to a White House press release. The two leaders discussed expanding maritime security cooperation amid persistent regional tensions. The meeting aligned with what officials called President Trumps vision for Peace through Strength. Both sides committed to advancing shared strategic objectives in the region. Bahrain serves as the headquarters for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The kingdom hosts approximately 8,000 American military personnel and dependents. Neither side disclosed specific new agreements or initiatives from the talks. The readout emphasized continuity in the longstanding security relationship between the two allies. The United States just reissued a travel advisory continuing to warn Americans against heading to Haiti. The U.S. Department of State renewed its Level 4 warning against the Caribbean country last week due to "kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care." The warning was reissued to add terrorism to it. Violent crime is rampant in Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince, where the expansion of gang, organized crime, and terrorist activity has led to widespread violence, kidnappings, and sexual assault. The escalation of clashes between armed groups has led to a rise in sporadic gunfire incidents. There is a substantial risk of being struck by stray bullets, even for individuals not directly involved in the violence," the State Department warning reads. "There is risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other violent gang activity in Haiti. There are gangs that are designated as terrorist organizations present in Haiti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, Haiti is the only country in the Caribbean with a Level 4 travel advisory, which means the U.S. recommends Americans "do not travel" there. The State Department issues travel advisories to give American travelers a sense of what they should be aware of when planning a trip. There are four warning levels: Level 1 (exercise normal precautions), Level 2 (exercise increased caution), Level 3 (reconsider travel), and Level 4 (do not travel). When it comes to Haiti, even travelers who plan to ignore the travel advisory and visit may find it difficult. Though Reuters reported in December the country reopened the Port-au-Prince airport, Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture (PAP), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to ban flights there from the U.S. "The FAA assesses there are continuing small arms fire risks to U.S. civil aviation flying into, out of, within, or over certain portions of Haitis territory and airspace. Armed gangs continue to control large portions of the capital, Port-au Prince, and have used small arms to fire on civilian aircraft, helicopters, airports, and related infrastructure on several occasions damaging multiple aircraft and injuring an air crew member," according to the FAA. "As a result, the FAA continues its prohibition of U.S. civil aviation operations... in specified portions of Haitis airspace where armed gangs control territory and their activity remains prevalent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cruise ship travel to the island has also been impacted by the ongoing instability. Royal Caribbean, for example, canceled stops earlier this year to its private beach resort in Labadee on the northern coast of Haiti. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure OTTAWA With the clock ticking to an Aug. 1 deadline to strike a new Canada-U.S. trade and security deal, four U.S. senators met Prime Minister Mark Carney in search of common ground on some of the thorniest cross-border trade irritants: lumber, digital services taxes and metals tariffs. "We are bridge builders, not people who throw wrenches," Sen. Ron Wyden (R-Ore.) told reporters Monday following a 45-minute meeting on Parliament Hill. Top of mind for the visiting Americans was the successful renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that President Donald Trump once called the "largest, most significant, modern, and balanced trade agreement in history." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyden said the delegation agreed the three countries should "reinvigorate" USMCA when it comes due for review. "This is something that we've had a considerable amount of success with since it was written during the Trump administration, and we ought to strengthen it," Wyden said. "We ought to build it, not get rid of it." This marked the second congressional delegation to visit Carney in the past three months. He's now welcomed nearly 10 percent of the U.S. Senate into his office this year five senators in May, four more on Monday. Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance committee who also leads on international trade issues, was joined by Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Vamoosing the irritants Wyden applauded the prime minister's decision not to collect a digital services tax that could've raked in billions from U.S.-based tech giants that operate in Canada but which angered Trump and many American lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the senator wants his northern neighbors to go further, and appeared to secure a timeline to get his wish. "I asked that Canada move as quickly as possible to get a law passed in Parliament making sure that it's gone permanently," Wyden said. "The prime minister was receptive to that. He said he would get on it in the fall." The delegation also appeared to make headway on one of the most stubborn points of trade friction between the two nations: a Canadian softwood lumber sector that Americans complain is unfairly subsidized. Last week, Carney entertained the idea of export quotas that limit Canadian lumber entering the U.S. market. "There is normally some element of managed trade that comes out of any agreement," he told reporters, calling it a "top priority" that he wants to fold into a larger deal with the Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Columbia Premier David Eby even told Bloomberg News that lumber could be "one of the early agreements and wins that are struck with the Trump administration. Wyden expressed optimism: "We now have a clear idea of how to proceed, and that's to build around some sort of quota arrangement, and the prime minister said he was open to that," he said Monday. Hassan, whose border state is typically popular with Canadian tourists, acknowledged the impact of a sustained snub from the north. Canadian travel to the U.S. has slowed considerably in recent months amid punishing tariffs and Trump's repeated references to absorbing Canada. "We know that the instability in our relationship right now has meant that some Canadians have decided to stay away from their favorite American tourist spots, and we hope you will come back," Hassan said. "And it's not just that we miss your business, which, of course, every good businessperson does, but we miss your friendship." About that 51st state stuff Murkowski attempted to downplay the president's assertion that Canadians would be better off as Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada "only works as a state," Trump said with Carney sitting beside him during a White House meeting in March. Trump repeats a version of that view whenever he's asked. Murkowski says the annexation talk is bluster. "It has been made very, very clear that most view that as nothing more than a positioning statement, if you will, something to maybe agitate," she said. Correction: This article has been updated to correct Sen. Wyden's state. According to UAE officials, 131 kilograms of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized by the police on their way to the UAE from Toronto, Canada. A drug smuggling operation involving Canada, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was thwarted by the Sharjah Police in the UAE, the Interior Ministry of the Emirates published on Friday. According to Emirati officials, 131 kilograms of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized by the police on their way to the UAE from Toronto, Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Toronto to Spain, reaching the shores of the country, the General Command of Sharjah Police through a sophisticated and meticulous security operation succeeded in dismantling an international criminal network involved in smuggling and trafficking narcotics, they published on their official X/Twitter account. Seven suspects were arrested in total, with one of them said to have used his wife and kids as part of the scheme to smuggle the drugs into the country. Alongside him were five people of Asian origin who were involved in related to receiving, trafficking, and distributing the drugs inside the UAE, according to the Emirati police. Three of the seven smugglers arrested in the UAE. (credit: UAE Interior Ministry/Screenshot) The Interior Ministry also reported that the operation was made thanks to the collaboration of police and intelligence officials. A drug smuggling network that went from Canada to the Middle East The case began with the monitoring of one of the Arab suspects who frequently visited the country with his family, where his movements and organized meetings with local elements were tracked, said the Emirati report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the suspect was identified, an ambush was planned by the anti-narcotics officials, who managed to uncover the network and apprehend its members successively. Intelligence information led to the discovery of a maritime smuggling route linking the port of Toronto in Canada to the port of Malaga in Spain, Emirati authorities added. In total, 131 kilograms of narcotics and psychotropic substances were seized by the Police, alongside another 9,945 capsules of narcotic drugs. NEED TO KNOW Przemyslaw Jeziorski was slain in broad daylight in Greece earlier this month His ex-wife is among five arrested in connection with the killing The beloved father was reportedly locked in a custody dispute with his ex-wife over their two children A man arrested in connection with the killing of a beloved California professor allegedly told Greek police he was acting on the orders of his girlfriend, who is the professors ex-wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Przemyslaw Jeziorski, 43, a business and marketing professor at University of California, Berkeley, was gunned down in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb of the Greek capital of Athens, on July 4, police previously said. Jeziorski was in the city for a custody hearing and to visit his children, who were in custody of his ex-wife at the time, ABC 7 and Greek outlet Ta Nea reported. Days later, Greek authorities arrested the woman, her boyfriend and three others in connection with the crime, ABC News and local outlets To Vima and ERT (Greek: EPT) reported. Per Greek provisions, the names of the defendants have not been publicly released by authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The womans boyfriend allegedly confessed to the crime, telling police he was acting on her orders, per officials' accounts cited by CNN, Dimokratia and ERT. The man allegedly said he carried out the killing because they were worried Jeziorski would take the children away, CNN reported. "I made the decision to end this torment we were experiencing once and for all, he allegedly said. On the day of the killing, he was driven by the three other accomplices to the location where he lay in wait for Jeziorski, per the alleged confession. I approached him and shot him a few times, but I dont remember how many times, the man allegedly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the five people arrested is a minor, per CNN. All but the professor's ex-wife have allegedly confessed to their link to crime, while she maintains her innocence, the outlet reported. Brittany Hosea-Small Przemyslaw Jeziorski Przemyslaw Jeziorski In the months leading up to the slaying, Jeziorski had reportedly filed a restraining order against his ex-wife, according to court documents obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, ABC News and SF Gate. In the filing, Jeziorski alleged that the woman's boyfriend had physically assaulted him on two occasions when dropping off or picking up the children, per all three outlets. Jeziorski alleged in the document that his ex-wife would specifically have her boyfriend pick up or drop off the children following Jeziorskis visitation in a bid to intimidate him, the Chronicle reported. 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. Jeziorski is being remembered by his loved ones both in the United States and his native Poland for his dedication to his work and his children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zsolt Katona, a fellow professor and colleague at UC Berkeley, told PEOPLE in a statement following the murder: If there is any consolation in these moments, it's knowing the lasting impact that he left on so many people's lives." His family has set up an online fundraiser to assist with costs related to transporting his body to Poland. Read the original article on People CHICAGO (NewsNation) The University of Chicago Medical Center will cease all gender-affirming pediatric care, citing recent Trump administration actions that would have jeopardized its ability to treat Medicare or Medicaid patients, the medical center announced. As the largest Medicaid provider in Illinois, this step is necessary to ensure UChicago Medicine can continue serving our broader community and delivering on our mission, a statement on its website read in part. The statement did not specify which treatments would be discontinued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOJ requests noncitizen inmate info from multiple California jails Shortly after taking office in January, Trump signed an executive order aimed at cutting federal support for certain surgeries and chemical procedures for people under age 19. The order directed that federally-run insurance programs, including TRICARE for military families and Medicaid, exclude coverage for such care and called on the Justice Department to vigorously pursue litigation and legislation to oppose the practice. Young people who persistently identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth are first evaluated by a team of professionals. Some may try a social transition, involving changing a hairstyle or pronouns. Some may later also receive puberty blockers or hormones. Surgery is rare for minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps executive order also directed the Justice Department to prioritize investigating states that protect access to certain aspects of gender-affirming care and facilitate stripping custody from parents who oppose the treatments for their children. Some Democratic-controlled states have adopted laws that seek to protect doctors who provide gender-affirming care to patients who travel from states where its banned for minors. In recent years, at least 26 states have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. Most of those states face lawsuits. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON (AP) Twenty-eight countries including Britain, Japan and a host of European nations issued a joint statement Monday saying the war in Gaza must end now the latest sign of allies' sharpening language as Israel's isolation deepens. The foreign ministers of countries also including Australia and Canada said the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths." They condemned the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food." The statement described as horrifying the recent deaths of over 800 Palestinians who were seeking aid, according to the figures released by Gaza's Health Ministry and the U.N. human rights office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity, the countries said. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." Israel and U.S. reject the criticism Israels Foreign Ministry rejected the statement, saying it was disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. It accused Hamas of prolonging the war by refusing to accept an Israeli-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire and hostage release. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also rejected the statement from many of Americas closest allies, calling it disgusting in a post on X and saying they should instead pressure the savages of Hamas. Germany was also notably absent from the statement. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X that he spoke with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Monday and expressed the greatest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza as Israels offensive widens. He called on Israel to implement agreements with the EU to enable more humanitarian aid. A worsening humanitarian crisis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gazas population of more than 2 million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Israel's offensive has displaced some 90% of the population, with many forced to flee multiple times. Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American group backed by Israel. Since its operations began in May, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in shootings by Israeli soldiers while heading to the sites, according to witnesses and health officials. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at those who approach its forces. Israel's 21 months of war with Hamas have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, sparked worldwide protests and led to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has brushed off previous criticism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allies' criticism about Israels actions has had little clear effect. In May, Britain, France and Canada issued a joint statement urging Netanyahus government to stop its military operations in Gaza and threatening concrete actions if it didnt. Israel rejects criticism of its wartime conduct, saying its forces have acted lawfully and blaming civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in populated areas. It says it has allowed enough food in to sustain Gaza and accuses Hamas of siphoning off much of it. The United Nations says there is no evidence for widespread diversion of humanitarian aid. The new joint statement called for an immediate ceasefire, saying countries are prepared to take action to support a political pathway to peace in the region. Israel and Hamas have been engaged in ceasefire talks but there appears to be no breakthrough, and its not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Parliament, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy thanked the U.S., Qatar and Egypt for their diplomatic efforts to try to end the war. There is no military solution, Lammy said. The next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Tuesday the hostages needed to be released and the war must end, but the images of destruction and killing coming out of Gaza were indefensible. Were all hoping that therell be something that will break this," Burke told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Its count doesnt distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. ___ Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin and Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario, contributed to this story. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war More than two dozen countries have called for an immediate end to the war on Gaza, saying that suffering there had reached new depths in the latest sign of allies sharpening language as Israels international isolation deepens. The statement on Monday came after more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gazas more than two million residents. Israeli allies the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada and 21 other countries, plus the European Union, said in a joint statement that the war must end now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths, the signatories added, urging a negotiated ceasefire, the release of captives held by Palestinian fighters and the free flow of much-needed aid. They condemned the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. In total, the statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management was also a signatory. Broader consensus The UN and the Gaza Health Ministry have recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month total blockade. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity, the countries said. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. Al Jazeeras Sonia Gallego, reporting from London, said that the statement was a significant escalation from Israels allies over its war on Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This also reflects a broader consensus beyond Europe, she said. European nations have condemned the situation in Gaza, and now you have foreign ministries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan that put their names in this statement, our correspondent said. Call for immediate ceasefire The new joint statement called for an immediate ceasefire, saying countries are prepared to take action to support a political pathway to peace in the region. Israel and Hamas have been engaged in ceasefire talks, but there appears to be no breakthrough, and it is not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt. Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israels military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to Parliament, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy thanked the United States, Qatar and Egypt for their diplomatic efforts to try to end the war. There is no military solution, Lammy said. The next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire. Israel launched the war on Gaza after Hamas led an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing at least 1,129 people and taking 251 others captive. Fifty captives remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israels military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, mostly women and children. LONDON (AP) The British government said Monday that it will hold a public inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave, a violent confrontation between police and striking coal miners that became a defining moment in the conflict between unions and then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers Conservative government. Some 120 miners and police were hurt when officers clashed with miners trying to stop trucks entering the Orgreave Coking Plant in northern England on June 18, 1984. It came three months into a nationwide strike over plans to close two dozen coal pits and lay of 20,000 miners. The bitter dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers and the government was a decisive moment in Thatchers bid to break the power of trade unions and remake the U.K. economy along free-market lines. The strike ended in defeat for the miners after a year and hastened the end of British coal mining, which employed 180,000 people at the start of the strike. Today, no coal mines remain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campaigners have long called for an inquiry into why police from across the country were sent to Orgreave and what their orders were. Images of mounted police in riot gear charging stone-throwing miners with truncheons and dogs shocked and divided the nation. Some 95 picketers were arrested and charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence from the police was discredited. The Home Office said the inquiry will be led by Pete Wilcox, the bishop of Sheffield, and start in the fall. It will have the power to compel witnesses to testify under oath. Kate Flannery, secretary of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, said the announcement of an inquiry was really positive news. She said it must be given unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the events at Orgreave cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas. The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened, she said. LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Monday launched a new sanctions regime targeting people-smuggling gangs and their enablers in what the government said was the first move of its kind globally. The United Kingdom will be able to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block access to the country's financial system for individuals and entities involved in enabling irregular migration, without relying on criminal or counterterrorism laws. The regime was previously outlined by foreign minister David Lammy in January. The British government said it would complement new powers in the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that has yet to be enacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to meet a pledge to stop the flow of tens of thousands of people into Britain from across the Channel in small boats. "For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity as they drive irregular migration to the UK," British foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement. " That's why the UK has created the world's first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers." The government said the measures would target those who supply small boats, fake documents and financial services used by smuggling networks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Philp, in charge of the security and immigration portfolio in parliament for the main opposition Conservatives, said in a statement that it would take more to stop the crossings. "The truth is you don't stop the Channel crossings by freezing a few bank accounts in Baghdad or slapping a travel ban on a dinghy dealer in Damascus," he said. "Swathes of young men are arriving daily, in boats bought online, guided by traffickers who laugh at our laws and cash in on our weakness." Starmer has recently agreed deals with France and Germany to help stop the arrival of small boats as he tries to stem the rise of the right-wing populist Reform UK party, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage. (Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by Mark Heinrich) The United Kingdom imposed new sanctions on July 21 targeting 135 Russian oil tankers and two shipping companies linked to Russia's shadow fleet. According to the U.K. government, the tankers have secretly transported $24 billion worth of oil since the start of 2024. One of the two companies now under sanctions is tied to Lukoil, one of Russia's largest oil producers. "New sanctions will further dismantle (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's shadow fleet and drain Russia's war chest of its critical oil revenues," U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As Putin continues to stall and delay on serious peace talks, we will not stand idly by." London said it would continue leveraging its sanctions regime to increase pressure on the Kremlin while standing "side by side with Ukraine." The move follows the U.K.'s July 18 decision to join an EU initiative to lower the price cap on Russian seaborne oil exports to $47.6 per barrel, down from the original $60 cap. That ceiling was designed to reduce Moscow's profit margin without triggering global supply disruptions. Russia has continued to export oil by using a so-called shadow fleet of tankers that operate under opaque ownership, flags of convenience, and often without proper insurance, allowing them to sidestep Western enforcement mechanisms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British government said Western sanctions have already slashed Russia's oil and gas revenues by one-third since 2022, with further measures aimed at constraining Moscow's ability to fund its full-scale war against Ukraine. Read also: US urges Europe to join potential secondary tariffs on Russian oil Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Monday imposed new sanctions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet", targeting 135 oil tankers along with two Russian firms, shipping company Intershipping Services LLC and oil trader Litasco Middle East DMCC. The oil tankers are critical to Russia's energy and oil sectors, with the British government saying they form part of the fleet responsible for carrying $24 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024. Foreign minister David Lammy said the new sanctions would further "dismantle" Russian President Vladimir Putin's so-called "shadow fleet and drain Russia's war chest of its critical oil revenues". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government said Intershipping Services LLC is responsible for registering vessels under the Gabonese flag, enabling them to transport up to $10 billion worth of goods annually on behalf of the Russian state. Sanctions were also imposed on Litasco Middle East DMCC for its continued role in shipping large volumes of Russian oil, the government said. The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the latest sanctions. Moscow has previously called Western sanctions illegal and said they destabilise global energy markets. On Friday, the European Union agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of that, the EU and Britain set out plans to lower the crude oil price cap from $60 per barrel to $47.60 to disrupt Russia's oil revenues. (Reporting by Muvija M, writing by Sam Tabahriti, editing by Catarina Demony) Searches are taking place in several Ukrainian oblasts as the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor Generals Office are conducting a special operation to "neutralise Russian influence on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU)". Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing a source in the Security Service; Ukrainska Pravda sources in the Security Service; NABU on Facebook Details: The Ukrainska Pravda source said detectives are being accused of high treason, illegal trade with the Russian Federation, corrupt actions in the interests of oligarchs and so on. The Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor Generals Office conducting searches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: sources for Ukrainska Pravda One of the detectives is also suspected of possibly passing secret information to the Russians through people close to the fugitive former president Viktor Yanukovych. Searches being conducted in houses of those possibly involved in illegal actions. Photo: sources for Ukrainska Pravda; collage by Ukrainska Pravda Another NABU detective allegedly ran illegal business dealings with the Russian Federation. According to the Ukrainska Pravda source, he has been detained. " ": . pic.twitter.com/GWJRtynMGG (@ukrpravda_news) July 21, 2025 Ukrainska Pravda is trying to obtain further details from the Security Service and NABU. Later, NABU stated that "investigative actions are being conducted against NABU employees by officers of the Security Service and the Prosecutor General's Office without court orders" on 21 July. "We are currently investigating all the circumstances. Details will follow," NABU said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian security services arrested officials from the country's main anti-corruption agency on Monday and conducted dozens of searches, in a crackdown that the agency said went too far and had effectively shut down its entire mission. The SBU security body said it had arrested one official at the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine as a suspected Russian spy and another over suspected business ties to Russia. Other NABU officials had ties to a fugitive Ukrainian politician's banned party, the SBU said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But NABU, which has embarrassed senior government officials with corruption allegations, said the crackdown went beyond state security issues to cover unrelated allegations such as years-old traffic accidents. Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International said the searches showed that the authorities were exerting "massive pressure" on Ukraine's corruption fighters. Ambassadors of G7 nations in Kyiv issued a statement saying they had a "shared commitment" to uphold transparency and independent institutions. But the ambassadors said they had met NABU officials and had "serious concerns and intend to discuss these developments with government leaders". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NABU said at least 70 searches had been conducted by various Ukrainian law enforcement and security agencies in connection with 15 of its employees, and that these had taken place without the approval of a court. "In the vast majority of cases, the grounds for these actions are the involvement of individuals in road traffic accidents," the statement said, although it also added that some of the cases were about links to Russia. Although the risk of Russian infiltration "remained relevant," this could not be a justification to "halt the work of the entire institution", NABU said in a statement. 'PRESSURE' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-corruption campaigners have been alarmed since Vitaliy Shabunin, a top anti-corruption activist, was charged earlier this month with fraud and evading military service. Shabunin and his allies have cast those charges as politically motivated retribution from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office for exposing corrupt officials. On Monday, Shabunin condemned the searches of NABU personnel. Zelenskiy's office denies that prosecutions in Ukraine are politically motivated. The SBU said it had arrested a mole working for Russian intelligence inside NABU, who had passed information to his handler on at least 60 occasions. Separately, it had detained a senior NABU detective on suspicion of acting as an intermediary in his father's sales of industrial hemp to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A third SBU statement said some senior NABU officials had ties to lawmaker Fedir Khrystenko, believed to have fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. A separate law enforcement body, the State Bureau of Investigations, said it had served suspicion notices to three NABU employees for road accidents that had resulted in injuries. NABU said the road traffic accident cases were between two and four years old. Transparency International said conducting the searches without court orders "demonstrates the massive nature of the pressure by the SBU and (Prosecutor General's Office) on anti-corruption law enforcement agencies". It called on Zelenskiy to guarantee the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies. (Reporting by Max HunderEditing by Peter Graff and Marguerita Choy) Ukraine plans to open four embassies in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay by the end of 2025. Source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, as quoted by the Foreign Ministrys press service Details: Sybiha announced the plans to open another four embassies on the first day of the annual meeting of the heads of Ukraines foreign diplomatic missions. Meanwhile, the minister reported that Ukraines diplomatic presence in Cuba is to be reduced and the freed-up resources redirected to strengthening Ukraines presence in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sybiha also announced plans to open over 10 new consular offices by the end of this year. New consulates will appear in Romania, Iraq, Italy, Germany and Slovakia, as well as two each in France and Poland. In addition, Ukraines consulates in Antalya and Gdansk will be upgraded to general consulates. Sybiha emphasised that Ukraines diplomatic service is initiating new strategies and rethinking previous ones: "We are looking to the future and can already see a global role for Ukraine, including in the post-war period. Because this meeting is about the future and our geopolitical role," he noted. In this context, the Foreign Ministry has, for the first time, developed a Ukrainian Strategy on the Arctic, Antarctica and the Global Ocean. "This will ensure that Ukraines voice is heard in global decision-making in the future," the foreign minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sybiha also announced the launch of a new cooperation format Ukraine-Benelux, which will bring together Ukraine, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The first ministerial meeting in this format is to take place shortly. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraine has ramped up arms production but lacks the funds needed for further growth. Kyiv is urging Western countries to finance Ukrainian manufacturing. Source: The New York Times Details: Last year, the private company Ukrainian Armoured Vehicles produced twice as many armoured personnel carriers and mortars as in 2022. Ukraine is increasingly asking its partners not for ready-made weapons, but for funding to enable it to produce them. But company director Vladyslav Belbas says there is not enough funding: "We need to produce more." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimates that Ukrainian-produced weapons currently meet 40% of frontline needs. Drones, which have become ubiquitous on the battlefield, are now almost entirely made in Ukraine. Companies are also developing new types of equipment such as light buggies that can evade Russian drone strikes and robotic platforms for evacuation or logistics. In 2023, Ukrainian manufacturers received over US$500 million from international partners for arms development and production, but the needs are far greater. Olena Bilousova from the Kyiv School of Economics says Ukraine has enough industrial capacity to manufacture up to US$35 billion worth of weapons annually, yet only about US$15 billion worth is currently being produced. "The funding issue is a bottleneck for our defence industry," Bilousova said. Meanwhile, Russia's defence budget is three times larger than Ukraines at least US$150 billion compared to Ukraines US$50 billion. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that Moscow produces more ammunition in three months than NATO does in a year. To boost production, Kyiv is proposing a new model to its allies: Ukraine provides the expertise and workforce, and its partners come up with funding and secure facilities. Denmark was the first country to come on board, and more such projects are anticipated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The Ukrainian military is set to receive 15,000 combat robots this year. What roles will these ground drones take on? Background: The Ukrainian government recently decided to merge the Ministry of Strategic Industries with the Ministry of Defence . Ukraine has significantly increased arms production, and its domestic defence industry now covers 40% of the military's needs. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Kiev said on Monday that it requires the equivalent of over 5 billion ($5.84 billion) in additional military aid this year to boost its production of weapons, as Moscow responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal for new peace talks. The funds are necessary to manufacture more remote-controlled drones, interceptor drones and long-range weapons, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said during an online meeting in the so-called Ramstein format. According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, he asked partner countries to already provide funds for 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi also called for an increase in military aid. "We are still urgently lacking air-defence systems and associated missiles, long-range weapons, artillery shells, armoured technology, evacuation equipment, electronic warfare systems, radars, drone systems and more," the general said, adding that only with joint efforts could Russian aggression be stopped. The 29th meeting was attended by 50 partner countries of Ukraine, led by Germany and the United Kingdom. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for more than three years with massive Western support. Moscow confirms interest in negotiations with Kiev The Kremlin confirmed on Monday its interest in a third round of negotiations proposed by Zelensky to end the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the previous meeting, both sides exchanged their position papers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. According to Russian news agencies, he said that an exchange of views and negotiations are now pending, but so far they are completely opposing. He added that "great diplomatic work" is still needed. On Saturday, Zelensky proposed a meeting to take place later this week. According to Peskov, there is no finalized date yet. He stated that there are no changes on the Russian side regarding the composition of the delegation. In the previous two rounds of talks in Istanbul, Russia's chief negotiator was presidential adviser and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky. In May, Kiev and Moscow held bilateral negotiations for the first time in three years. At this meeting and a later one in June in Istanbul, both sides agreed on a large prisoner exchange and the return of fallen soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, steps towards ending the war against Ukraine, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, were not discussed. Fresh wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine At least one person was killed and eight others injured as Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Kiev overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Monday morning on the platform X about a total of two dead and 15 injured following the attacks across the country as a whole. The attacks hit the capital and its surroundings, as well as Kharkiv in the north-east and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west of the country, near the Polish border. Referring to Ivano-Frankivsk, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv described it as the largest attack since the beginning of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia attacked its neighbouring country overnight with 426 drones and drone decoys. Additionally, Moscow reportedly used five Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles and 19 cruise missiles of various types. The air force stated that 403 drones and decoys were shot down or brought down by targeted jamming. The majority of the missiles and cruise missiles were also neutralized, they wrote, but did not specify an exact number. Air and rail traffic in Russia restricted due to drones The Ministry of Defence in Moscow said on Monday that 74 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian territory overnight. Of these, 15 were reportedly approaching the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drone attacks once again affected air traffic. According to the aviation authority Rosaviatsiya, the four Moscow airports and the one in Nizhny Novgorod were closed for take-offs and landings for several hours. In the Rostov region, the drone attacks also led to restrictions in train traffic. Drone debris caused a fire at the station in the town of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, the North Caucasus Railway Company reported. More than 50 trains were delayed as a result. Ukraine said on Monday that it requires the equivalent of over 5 billion ($5.84 billion) in additional military aid this year to boost its production of weapons. The funds are necessary to manufacture more remote-controlled drones, interceptor drones and long-range weapons, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said during an online meeting in the so-called Ramstein format. According to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, he asked partner countries to already provide funds for 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi also called for an increase in military aid. "We are still urgently lacking air-defence systems and associated missiles, long-range weapons, artillery shells, armoured technology, evacuation equipment, electronic warfare systems, radars, drone systems and more," the general said, adding that only with joint efforts could Russian aggression be stopped. The 29th meeting was attended by 50 partner countries of Ukraine, led by Germany and the United Kingdom. The country has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than three years with massive Western support. The First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine is on a recruitment drive to expand its ability to defend against Shahed-type drones. It is part of a nationwide effort to counter the increasing number of Russias long-range drone attacks that are being made possible by growing production capacity of these weapons and improvements in their strike capabilities. Our needs include manning several batteries, specialized technical support teams, UAS and FPV interceptor groups, as well as analytical and support personnel, Capt. Andrii Hack Danyliuk, head of the Air Defense Department of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine Azov, told The War Zone on Monday. Each structural element will consist of dozens of professional service members, collectively forming a powerful fighting force. This is not a short-term reinforcement effort, but the development of a systemic capability to become a key component in countering enemy UAVs at the operational-tactical level. The Azov recruitment campaign comes as Russia has dramatically ramped up Shahed attacks on Ukrainian cities. On July 9, Russia launched the largest Shahed attack of the all-out war, firing 728 Shahed drones and decoys, as well as seven Iskander cruise missiles and six Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. Another 426 Shaheds were fired at Ukraine between Sunday evening and Monday morning, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. All up in smoke: Kyiv shrouded in the aftermath of another massive attack pic.twitter.com/fzYHs5j34K Slava (@Heroiam_Slava) July 21, 2025 Beyond stepping up the number of drones it is launching, Russia has changed its tactics, expanding its ability to overwhelm already limited Ukrainian air defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of deploying 500 drones nationwide like they used to, Russian forces now target one or two cities at a time, according to Counteroffensive.Pro (CP), a Ukrainian defense technology publication. These drones now fly either very high, at altitudes above 3-4 km, or extremely low over the ground, close to the roofs of apartment buildings. At the higher altitudes, mobile fire groups with machine guns cant hit the Shaheds, CP noted. At the lower altitudes just over the ground the drones are much harder to detect, decreasing reaction time or allowing them to go unseen by sensors. As a result of Russias increased attacks and improved tactics, Ukraines ability to defend against these drones is diminishing. Shaheds are now hitting targets at three times the rate they were in previous months, according to Ukrainian Air Force data analyzed by the Financial Times. Mass Shahed attacks appear to be overwhelming Ukraines beleaguered air defenses, with the drone hit rate reaching its highest levels since Moscows invasion, the publication posited. Ukrainian air force data suggests about 15 percent of the drones penetrated defenses on average between April and June rising from just five percent in the previous three months. 'The problem is not [that] the Ukraine air defence is getting worse. Instead, what we see is that new swarming tactics and drones are now flying in higher altitude, [which] makes them more effective,'"https://t.co/OwEC71duzS Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) July 21, 2025 Making matters worse for Ukraine, Russia is drastically increasing the number of drones it is producing. As we have previously noted, while Russia initially relied on Iran to supply its Shaheds, it now produces its own at the rate of 2,000 per month with plans to nearly triple that in the not too distant future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Russian media released a new video showing off its Shahed factory in the Tatarstan region, which you can see below. Inside Russias Geran-2 drone factory in Tatarstan Rare footage reveals the Alabuga plants mass production of tens of thousands of deadly kamikaze drones Designed to attack in relentless swarms 'Gerans' punch through Ukraines defenses outmaneuvering even F-16s pic.twitter.com/5bghxrtRPl RT (@RT_com) July 20, 2025 Ukraine has created several methods for detecting Shaheds, including robust audio detection systems and an app that people can use to report what they see or hear. Now Ukraine is looking for new techniques. As a means to counter the increasing Shahed threat, Ukraine has developed so-called interceptor drones. They are based on uniquely-configured first-person view (FPV) drones Ukraine has been using to counter Russian reconnaissance drones for the past year. These counter-air FPV drones have to fly faster and higher than their standard FPV counterparts used for striking ground targets. CP talked to three Ukrainian drone manufacturers who laid out whats needed to use FPV drones to counter Shaheds. A speed of over 200 km/h (about 124 mph). A regular FPV flies at up to 120 km/h (about 75 mph). The ability to climb to altitudes of up to 6 km (about 3.7 miles or 20,000 feet). A terminal guidance system to reduce dependence on the operator. A warhead between 600 and 1200 grams (about 1.3 to 2.6 pounds). Ukrainian interceptor drones STRILA and BUREWIY. STRILA can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h and destroy Russian Geran UAVs. BUREWIY is designed to shoot down Russia's Zala, Orlan and SuperCam ISR drones. https://t.co/YhGpNNoIHo pic.twitter.com/Vfp1yaCdxM Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) June 24, 2025 The bigger the target, the bigger the warhead needed for more precise detonation. Because you can hit a wing, but it will only tear it off and not destroy the target itself, Olha Bihun, co-founder and CEO of Anvarix, a terminal guidance system developer, told CP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interceptor drones, CP added, could destroy a Shahed with either a direct hit or with a special warhead that explodes near the target, creating a cloud of debris. FPV drones designed to intercept Shaheds are just a small fraction of the cost to fire surface-to-air missiles like a Patriot PAC-3 interceptor, which costs nearly $4 million a piece. Ukraine has also been using advanced National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) against Shaheds as well, which cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Gun systems and electronic warfare systems, as well as other SAM types and fighter aircraft have all played a role in defending against the onslaught of Shaheds. Iranian Shahed drone, intercepted mid-air by a Ukrainian FPV. Thats the vision layers of our interceptor drones in the sky. Ukrainian-built. Ukrainian-led. Shaheds wont slip through. Civilians wont live in fear. No need to beg for unstable aid. Weve got the brains, pic.twitter.com/HqBPFfPFyH Bandera Fella *-^ (@banderafella) June 27, 2025 In addition to new, improved drones, Ukraine also needs more operators to defend against Shaheds. Thats where Azov said it can help. Our units tactical approaches are shaped by the nature of todays drone threats especially the enemys large-scale nighttime attacks and use of asymmetric tactics, Danyliuk told us. We apply non-standard detection techniques and preemptive measures, integrating traditional air defense assets with advanced technologies, including autonomous platforms and digital solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danyliuk declined to offer specifics, citing operational security concerns. However, Azov has acknowledged that it too will incorporate interceptor drones into its counter-drone program. Our strength lies in rapid adaptation, coordination with other defense components, and flexibility in implementing solutions enabling us to intercept threats before they reach their targets, he explained. Following the techniques of Ukraines mobile anti-drone fire units, Azovs teams are designed to be called in where needed. Our focus is on sectors experiencing heightened enemy strike UAV activity, particularly involving Shahed-type drones, as well as critical infrastructure facilities requiring additional protection, Danyliuk noted. For reasons of security and operational effectiveness, the units deployment locations and routes of operations are not disclosed. Our core principle is mobility the ability to rapidly shift between sectors within our designated area of responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our forces will be deployed where they are most needed swiftly, precisely, and without reliance on fixed positions, he added. As far as when these new units will be deployed, Danyliuk declined to provide a timeline. The decision to initiate operations will be made once the unit reaches the required level of technical and tactical readiness, in line with real-world frontline challenges, he stated. Ukrainian servicemen of Azov Brigade operate FPV drones, which are used to hunt Russian reconnaissance drones near Toretsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu Azovs counter-drone recruitment effort is one of several taking place in Ukraine. Last month, Ukraines parliament unveiled a plan to recruit local volunteers to shoot down Russian drones. The new program offers up to 100,000 hryvnias (around $2,400) per month from local budgets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project will recruit members of paramilitary units and volunteer territorial defense units who have the necessary drone operation skills or qualifications, the Kyiv Post reported. They will be tasked with defending against Russian aerial threats, including detecting, tracking, and shooting down drones using UAVs, piloted aircraft, and personal weapons. Another major concern is the infusion of AI into the Shahed-136 airframe, which is already underway. This will have massive repercussions, which we discussed in great detail a year and a half ago in this previous feature. Further information has been released regarding the downed Shahed-136s with imaging guidance and AI capabilities. Details of materials and electronic components indicate Iranian fabrication. The camera is an analog thermal imager for both reconnaissance and terrain following. 1/ https://t.co/JWlFAUQRMA pic.twitter.com/rbSnEAiSNA Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) June 28, 2025 The U.S. military-industrial complex is finally catching on to what Shahed-type drones can bring to the table, though far later than it should have. Last week, 18 American-made drone prototypes were put on display at the Pentagon. It was part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths move to increase U.S. domestic drone production. Among them was one called the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone, a delta-winged weapon closely resembling a Shahed. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael tour multi-domain autonomous displays in the courtyard of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza) MC1 Alexander Kubitza We will have more on this U.S. development in an upcoming special feature, so stay tuned for that. But as it sits today, Ukraine has a major Shahed problem that is only growing at a time when traditional missile interceptors are becoming more scarce. The hope now is that additional drone units armed with many types of lower-end weaponry can help keep the growing hoards of Shaheds at bay. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Ukraine needs $6 billion to bridge its weapons production shortfall in 2025, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal told allies during a virtual Ramstein format meeting on July 21, as cited by Radio Svoboda. Ukraine is determined to constantly increase its homegrown drone capabilities, with recent plans focusing on developing interceptor drones designed to counter Russia's frequent Shahed-type drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. "This would allow us to produce more FPV (first-person view) drones, more interceptor drones to repel Shahed attacks, and additional long-range weapons so that the war also continues on Russian territory," Shmyhal said during the meeting, Radio Svoboda reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 29th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, known as the Ramstein format, brought together representatives from 52 countries under German and British leadership. The regular gatherings of top defense and military officials coordinate weapons deliveries and other military support for Ukraine's war effort. The U.S. was represented by its ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker rather than Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, despite earlier announcements by the British NATO mission. During the meeting, the newly-appionted Shmyhal also urged partners to earmark Ukraine funding in their 2026 budgets. On June 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during the NATO summit that Ukraine has the capacity to produce over 8 million drones of various types each year, but lacks the financial backing to reach that potential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky urged allies to scale up investments in joint weapons production, including drone technologies, artillery, and interceptors. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has rapidly developed domestic military capabilities, with particular success in groundbreaking drone technology. According to Zelensky, overall, domestically-produced weapons account for more than 40% of the arms used in Ukraine's defense against Russia's war. Read also: As Russia closes in on Pokrovsk, battle for key city enters its final act Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Key developments on July 21: Third round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks set for July 23, Zelensky says US, Germany agree to deliver 5 Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine Ukraine hit by yet another mass drone, missile attack, 1 killed, 9 injured in Kyiv UK sanctions 135 Russian oil tankers, 2 firms linked to shadow fleet US urges Europe to join potential secondary tariffs on Russian oil The third round of direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul will take place on July 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on July 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today I discussed with (National Security and Defense Council Secretary) Rustem Umerov the preparation of a (prisoner) exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side," the president said. "Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. Tomorrow there will be more details." The latest round of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul on June 2, following a previous meeting on May 16 after more than three years without negotiations. Earlier in the day, Zelensky noted that the meeting would focus on three key issues: the return of prisoners of war, the return of abducted children, and preparations for a leaders' summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The agenda from our side is clear," Zelensky wrote on X. "It is clear to all that truly effective talks can only take place at the level of national leaders." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 21 that Moscow supports holding the next round of talks, although he claimed that no final date had been agreed. While Zelensky has expressed readiness for face-to-face talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly declined to participate in person, sending lower-level officials instead. Peskov said there would be "no changes" to the Russian delegation, which continues to be led by Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky. Top Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will not take part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 26, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is working to organize a Zelensky-Putin meeting with the possible participation of U.S. President Donald Trump. The peace talks, characterized by great distance between the two sides' minimal demands, have been given new energy after Trump's warning on July 14 that he would impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless it agrees to end the war within 50 days. Peskov reiterated on July 20 that Moscow's war goals remain unchanged and are to be achieved "on the battlefield," reflecting an increasingly open admission that Russia has no intention to stop on the battlefield. Ukraine has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in both rounds of talks a position supported by the U.S. but Russia has so far rejected the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 7, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Kyiv Independent that Russia's approach at the Istanbul meetings amounts to ultimatums rather than genuine negotiations. Read also: Russias largest and most secret drone factory showcased in Kremlin-media propaganda video US, Germany agree to deliver 5 Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine The U.S. and Germany have agreed to deliver five Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on July 21, according to European Pravda. The announcement comes as Russia escalates its long-range strike campaign on Ukraine, including with ballistic missiles that only the advanced Patriot can shoot down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight on July 21, Russian forces launched a new mass air attack against Ukraine including 426 Shahed-type drones and various missiles, including Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles as well as Kalibrs and Kh-101 cruise missiles. Speaking during the 29th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting (better known as the Ramstein group after the U.S. base in Germany), Pistorius said he reached the agreement with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent trip to Washington. Coordination with partners on the systems' delivery will continue in the coming days, Pistorius added. The U.S.-built Patriot systems are a vital part of Ukraine's layered air defense, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles and providing protection against large-scale strikes on cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new commitment follows U.S. President Donald Trump's July 14 announcement of a NATO- and EU-backed initiative under which alliance members will purchase U.S.-made weapons systems for Ukraine. Trump claimed on July 16 that Patriot shipments to Ukraine were already underway. Initially, the German defense ministry denied knowledge of any such transfers. On July 14, a German government spokesperson said that talks were ongoing among allies to deliver more than three Patriot systems to Ukraine. Washington has already sent three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, with Germany providing three more. An additional battery has come from a European coalition, though not all of the systems are currently operational due to routine maintenance rotations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Analysis: Ahead of Trumps major Russia announcement, what will happen next to Ukraine? Ukraine hit by yet another mass drone, missile attack, 1 killed, 9 injured in Kyiv President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21 condemned yet another overnight mass Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine that killed two and injured nine others as "an assault on humanity." Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 450 drones and missiles during the attack, which lasted several hours, with Kyiv, the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kharkiv badly hit. Explosions rocked Ukraine's capital, Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground reported at 2:16 a.m. local time, with multiple further explosions and the sound of drones lasting until after 5 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person was killed as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv, Tkachenko reported. Ukraine's State Emergency Service later said nine people had been injured. Zelensky said two people were killed across the country but did not specify where the second death occurred. Smoke engulfed Kyiv's Lukianivska metro station as residents took shelter amid the Russian drone attack, local media reported, and a kindergarten in the Dniprovskyi district caught fire. Russia has intensified strikes in recent weeks, targeting cities far from the front line with drone and missile attacks. In the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, air defenses were working, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv reported at 3:13 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In one of the community's villages, windows have been broken," he said at 5:09 a.m. local time, adding that there are reports of injuries. Russian strikes continued to target the western oblast, Martsinkiv reported at 6:05 a.m. "This is the largest attack since the full-scale invasion," he said. Infrastructure was damaged in three villages, and there are reports of injuries in one village, Martsinkiv reported. Four people, including a child, were injured, according to the State Emergency Service. Poland scrambled fighter jets early on July 21 in response to a Russian missile strike on Ukraine, the country's Armed Forces Operational Command reported. Polish and allied air forces activated jets, while air defense and radar systems were placed on high alert. The last similar incident occurred during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine on July 19. Read also: The Rasmus brings its music back to Kyiv, headlines Ukraines largest festival amid Russian bombardment UK sanctions 135 Russian oil tankers, 2 firms linked to shadow fleet The United Kingdom imposed new sanctions on July 21 targeting 135 Russian oil tankers and two shipping companies linked to Russia's shadow fleet. According to the U.K. government, the tankers have secretly transported $24 billion worth of oil since the start of 2024. One of the two companies now under sanctions is tied to Lukoil, one of Russia's largest oil producers. "New sanctions will further dismantle (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's shadow fleet and drain Russia's war chest of its critical oil revenues," U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. "As Putin continues to stall and delay on serious peace talks, we will not stand idly by." London said it would continue leveraging its sanctions regime to increase pressure on the Kremlin while standing "side by side with Ukraine." The move follows the U.K.'s July 18 decision to join an EU initiative to lower the price cap on Russian seaborne oil exports to $47.6 per barrel, down from the original $60 cap. That ceiling was designed to reduce Moscow's profit margin without triggering global supply disruptions. Russia has continued to export oil by using a so-called shadow fleet of tankers that operate under opaque ownership, flags of convenience, and often without proper insurance, allowing them to sidestep Western enforcement mechanisms. The British government said Western sanctions have already slashed Russia's oil and gas revenues by one-third since 2022, with further measures aimed at constraining Moscow's ability to fund its full-scale war against Ukraine. Read also: This is what Ukraine could hit in Russia with US Tomahawk missiles US urges Europe to join potential secondary tariffs on Russian oil The United States hopes European allies will join potential secondary tariffs on Russia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview published on July 21. "Russian oil is going to be subject to up to 100% secondary tariffs," Bessent said. "I urge our European allies, who have talked a big game, to follow us if we implement these secondary tariffs." Bessent's remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump's July 14 announcement that the U.S. will impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless it agrees to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days. "We call them secondary tariffs," Trump said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. "Tariffs that are about 100%." Secondary tariffs are penalties targeting countries or companies that continue doing business with a sanctioned nation by charging extra for access to the U.S. market or financial system. If a third country like China keeps buying Russian oil, exports to the U.S. could face a further 100% tariff, significantly raising prices for American consumers and squeezing Chinese exporters. Trump, who had promised to broker a peace deal within 24 hours of taking office, has grown increasingly frustrated with what he described as Russia's delays in moving forward with peace talks. The U.S. strategy seeks to pressure Moscow by curbing its oil income, which accounts for roughly one-third of federal revenue and remains a vital source of funding for its war effort. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded on July 15 by calling Trump's threat "serious," but said Moscow needs time to analyze Washington's message. Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Fifty-two countries are taking part in the 29th meeting of the Ramstein Contact Group on Ukraine's defence which is being held online on 21 July under the chairmanship of the United Kingdom and Germany. Source: UK Defence Secretary John Healey in his opening remarks at the Ramstein meeting, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent Quote: "My name is John Healey, I'm UK Defence Secretary, I co-chair and convene this UDCG now with Boris Pistorius, and today we have 52 allies and partners on this call, a testament to the inspiration the Ukrainian people provide us in their fight for freedom and in their fight for the security of all free nations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The minister recalled that last week, US President Donald Trump announced a new plan for a "large-scale NATO weapons transfer" to Ukraine and promised to get them to the battlefield quickly. "The UK backs this policy, we will play our full part in its success," the UK Defence Secretary said. He added that "to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself, President Trump also started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or to face crippling economic sanctions." "And as members of this UDCG, we need to step up in turn to the 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and to help push Putin to the negotiating table," Healey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose "very severe" sanctions against Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire by 2 September, i.e. 50 days after the announcement of the sale of state-of-the-art NATO weapons to Ukraine. In July, US representatives joined the meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing for the first time. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has responded to a report from the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) exposing the infiltration of NABU by Russian secret services, noting that there is no evidence that a detained NABU employee was involved in anti-state activities. Source: NABU on Telegram Details: NABU said the SSU had informed them of possible risks associated with one of its employees in August 2023. It was alleged that while working at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (in 2012-2015, i.e. before joining NABU), the employee had emailed information about Ukrainian citizens to an employee of the Administration of the State Guard (ASG). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The materials stated that the ASG representative had held positions in the SSU until 2012 and then, from 2012 to 2014, headed one of the units in the Presidential Security Service within the ASG. According to the SSU, this individual defected to Russia after the annexation of Crimea and has been working for the Russian Federal Guard Service since 2020. NABU immediately launched an investigation. As part of the cooperation between NABU and the SSU, an additional check was organised involving certain NABU employees and an SSU unit head. Quote: "No evidence or testimony was found during the joint check that the NABU employee had been aware of the links between the ASG representative and the Russian secret services. The SSU representative confirmed this at in-person meetings. Moreover, NABU conducted an interview with the employee to decide on their further service or possible disciplinary action. However, the SSU strongly advised against taking any action in order not to hamper their operational work on the former ASG employee's other connections. The SSU also noted that said connections did not concern the NABU employee, and no contact between them had been recorded." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More details: NABU says that in August 2024, the SSU "verbally informed" them that in the course of the investigation of the treason case involving the former ASG employee, no involvement by the NABU employee had been established. "There is no evidence of involvement in anti-state activities," NABU said in a statement. NABU says that since then, it has repeatedly asked the SSU to provide official documentary evidence of the results of the check so that it can make an informed decision with regard to potential liability or continued service. "As of today, the bureau has not received any official response. The only public mention of this episode appeared in an SSU social media post on 21 July 2025," NABU said. Background: Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office announced that they have uncovered infiltration of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine by Russian secret services. "Following a series of complex measures, an employee of NABUs Central Office has been detained in Kyiv. He worked in the elite, classified D-2 unit and was spying for the Russian secret services. The investigation established that the agents subversive activities were coordinated by traitor Dmytro Ivantsov former deputy head of [former president Viktor] Yanukovychs security team, who in February 2014 helped the fugitive president flee to Russia. Ivantsov himself stayed in Crimea, joined the ranks of the occupying forces and was recruited by the FSB." A source told Ukrainska Pravda that the individual in question is Viktor Husarov. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The searches conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) on the morning of 21 July involve 15 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and are taking place without court warrants. Most of those involved are accused of participating in road accidents, while others are suspected of possible links to Russia, the bureau has stated. Source: NABU Quote from NABU: "As of now, at least 70 searches are being conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) in relation to NABU employees. The searches involve at least 15 NABU staff members. According to available information, the investigative actions are being carried out without court warrants." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: NABU added that in the majority of cases, the reason cited for the searches is the involvement of certain individuals in road traffic accidents. "However, some employees are being accused of possible connections with the aggressor state. These are unrelated matters," the statement read. NABU also noted that the SSU has simultaneously initiated an unscheduled inspection of state secret protection procedures. Quote: "It targets NABU employees who have access to state secrets and conduct covert investigative (search) actions. As a result of this inspection, the SSU may gain access to information about NABU and SAPOs [Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office] ongoing and planned operational measures and investigative actions. Disclosure of this information could compromise investigative operations and ongoing cases." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More details: It is also reported that the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection is conducting a scheduled inspection of NABUs technical infrastructure. "During one of the searches, physical force was used against a NABU detective, despite the absence of any resistance on his part," NABU stressed. The bureau added that the director of NABU is currently on a business trip to the United Kingdom, where he had planned to meet with the foreign minister, but decided to immediately cut the visit short and return to Ukraine. Regarding the searches and, in particular, the use of force against a NABU employee, the bureau will carry out an internal review to determine the circumstances and legal grounds for the investigative actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "At the same time, we emphasise that the risk of agents of influence from the aggressor state exists for any government body. However, this cannot justify halting the work of the entire institution." Background: In the morning, Ukrainska Pravda sources in the SSU reported that searches were underway in various oblasts of Ukraine, as the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor Generals Office were conducting a special operation to "neutralise Russian influence on NABU". Later, the SSU and the Prosecutor Generals Office stated that they had detained Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, one of the heads of NABUs interregional detective departments. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines defence forces conducted a series of successful attacks on Russian targets in Russias Belgorod Oblast on 20 July. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: ''A Russian S-300P anti-aircraft missile system in Russias Belgorod Oblast was successfully destroyed by long-range weapons, significantly reducing the coverage area of Russian long-range air defence in the region.'' - pic.twitter.com/Iz2Iojje6d (@ukrpravda_news) July 21, 2025 Details: Ukrainian troops also struck a Nebo-M radar system, which "critically affected its functionality and simultaneously reduced the operational capabilities of a neighbouring 5H66M Big Bird radar station". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Staff added that coordinated strikes like these significantly weaken Russia's air defence system, reducing Russias ability to cover its troops and infrastructure and facilitating operations by Ukrainian units. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Prosecutor Generals Office have announced the exposure of a Russian intelligence infiltration into the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). Source: SSU; Prosecutor Generals Office; Ukrainska Pravda source in law enforcement Quote from SSU: "Following a series of complex measures, an employee of NABUs Central Office has been detained in Kyiv. He worked in the elite, classified D-2 unit and was spying for the Russian secret services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation established that the agents subversive activities were coordinated by traitor Dmytro Ivantsov former deputy head of [former president Viktor] Yanukovychs security team, who in February 2014 helped the fugitive president flee to Russia. Ivantsov himself stayed in Crimea, joined the ranks of the occupying forces and was recruited by the FSB." Details: Ukrainska Pravda has information that the individual in question is Viktor Husarov. The detention of the suspect Photo: The Security Service of Ukraine The SSU states that it documented at least 60 instances in which the suspect transmitted classified information to Ivantsov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NABU employee collected and passed on identifying data about Ukrainian law enforcement officers and other citizens to the Russian secret services. He extracted this personal information from a restricted Ukrainian law enforcement database. Law enforcement authorities say that for each completed task, the agent received payments from his handler, with the money transferred to his bank card. It is reported that, after thorough documentation of the NABU employees criminal actions, he was detained by officers of the SSU and the Prosecutor Generals Office. A mobile phone and computer equipment used to communicate with his handler were seized from him. Money and phones of the NABU employee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: The Security Service of Ukraine The NABU employee has been served with a notice of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Article 111 (1) (treason) and Article 362 (3) (unauthorised actions with information processed in computers, automated systems, computer networks, or stored on media, committed by a person with authorised access). Quote from the Prosecutor Generals Office: "We note that NABU management had been informed about potential risks concerning their employee. However, no response measures were taken and subsequently the suspect attempted to destroy evidence of his illegal activities." Previously: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NABU stated that the searches conducted by the SSU at its offices on the morning of 21 July concern 15 NABU employees and were being conducted without court warrants, with most of the individuals accused of involvement in road accidents and some are suspected of possible ties to Russia. The SSU insists that conducting urgent investigative actions without a court order is not a violation of the law in cases where obtaining such orders could lead to information leaks and, in particular, could jeopardise special operations conducted as part of investigations into cooperation with the aggressor country. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines Special Operations Forces (SOF) have shared footage of a successful raid on Russian troops who were attempting to establish a position near the Ukrainian border. Source: SOF press service Details: The report states that while carrying out special tasks near the border with Russia, a unit of Ukraines Special Operations Forces came under heavy artillery fire from Russian troops. Under intense shelling, the soldiers were forced to withdraw to a safe zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the manoeuvre, SOF operators detected a group of Russian servicemen attempting to set up a new position. Thanks to the coordinated and swift actions of the SOF operators, the Russians attempt to gain a foothold in the area failed, the special forces concluded. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editor's note: President Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, which you can read about here. Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions had a rough Monday. The Prosecutor General's Office, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the State Investigation Bureau conducted at least 70 searches in premises connected to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), which investigates top-level corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opened probes target at least 15 NABU employees. Most of the cases involve traffic accidents, while some of the NABU employees are also accused of having links to Russia. The Security Service also searched the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), which prosecutes corruption. The sweeping searches, which involve a variety of cases, are seen as an attempt by authorities to bring independent anti-corruption institutions under government control. "The special operation has all signs of an attempt to dismantle the anti-corruption infrastructure," Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, told the Kyiv Independent. "We are witnessing a decade of anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine being dismantled. This is a 180-degree turn away from European integration." Anti-Corruption Action Center Head Vitaliy Shabunin attends a session at the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 15, 2025. (Vitalii Nosach / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) The Anti-Corruption Action Center's head, Vitaliy Shabunin, was himself charged on July 11 with evading military service and fraud. Shabunin, who has been serving in the army since 2022 and has been vocal in pointing out corruption and government overreach, says the charges are a political vendetta for his anti-corruption activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The searches and charges against anti-corruption activists and those tasked with investigating high-level corruption come amid an attempt by the government to pass a bill that would provide de facto amnesty for corruption in the defense industry. The Prosecutor General's Office declined to comment, while the President's Office, State Investigation Bureau, NABU, and SAPO did not respond to requests for comment. Searches at NABU The searches began when NABU Chief Semen Kryvonos and Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko were in the U.K. on a work trip. Following the searches, they ended their trip and rushed back to Ukraine. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau said the searches had been conducted without search warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement officers used physical force against one of the NABU detectives, the bureau added. The Security Service claimed in a statement that searches without a court warrant were legal if issuing such a warrant may undermine investigations that are targeting "links to Russia." NABU Chief Semen Kryvonos (L) and Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko (R) speak at a press conference on the results of their agencies work during the first half of 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 9, 2024. (Ihor Kuznietsov / Novyny LIVE / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) They did not go into detail on how traffic accidents are linked to Russia. The searches coincided with other actions that critics say are part of a coordinated crackdown on anti-corruption institutions. The bureau said the SBU had initiated checks of NABU employees' access to state secrets. According to the NABU, the Security Service may thus get access to NABU investigative data and undermine the bureau's investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) also said that the Security Service had conducted a check of SAPO employees' access to state secrets. As part of this check, Security Service employees got access to all SAPO and NABU operations and investigations, the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said. Responding to the allegations, the Security Service denied receiving access to all NABU and SAPO operations and investigations. Commenting on the NABU's claim that the Security Service may leak investigative data from the bureau, the service argued that such statements were "unfounded and manipulative." Meanwhile, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection began checking NABU's technical infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraines top anti-corruption activist faces charges that his team calls political vendetta Alleged links to Russia The Security Service said it had detained a NABU employee suspected of spying for Russia and charged him with high treason. The SBU claimed that the NABU employee had received instructions from Dmytro Ivantsov, a former Ukrainian official linked to the country's ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Ivantsov was allegedly recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The NABU commented on the employee in a statement on July 21 without naming him. It said that the Security Service had not provided any evidence that the NABU employee was passing any information to Russian intelligence agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Security Service also said it had detained Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, the head of one of the NABU's detective units. Mahamedrasulov, based in Dnipro, is in charge of the NABU's activities in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. The SBU suspects him of maintaining contacts with Russia and serving as an intermediary in cannabis sales to the Russian republic of Dagestan. The SBU also claimed that Mahamedrasulov is in contact with Fedir Khrystenko, a pro-Russian lawmaker who has fled Ukraine. The Security Service alleged that Khrystenko has "vast influence" over the bureau. Mahamedrasulov didn't disclose that his father was a Russian citizen when he was given access to state secrets, which violated Ukrainian law, according to the Security Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prosecutor General's Office claimed that the pro-Russian lawmaker Khrystenko had also been in contact with Oleksandr Skomarov, head of another NABU detective unit. Skomarov's wife used a car owned by Khrystenko's family to leave Ukraine in 2022, according to the Prosecutor General's Office. Skomarov's subordinates also helped oligarch Hennady Boholyubov to illegally cross the Ukrainian border in 2024, the prosecutors claimed. Kaleniuk and Kateryna Butko, head of the anti-corruption watchdog AutoMaidan, told the Kyiv Independent that Russian moles could work at any government agency but it was not a valid reason for destroying the NABU as an institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics argue that the searches are not a genuine attempt to punish crime and are politically motivated, targeting one of Ukraine's last independent institutions. Kaleniuk argued that there are grounds to look for Russian spies at the Security Service as well. Oleksandr Yakymenko, who headed the SBU under Yanukovych, has been charged with high treason for collaborating with Russia during the full-scale invasion. Another former head of the SBU, Ivan Bakanov, was fired in 2022 for failing to purge the service of Russian agents, among other official reasons. One of Bakanov's top aides and head of an SBU branch, Oleh Kulinich, was charged with high treason in 2022 for allegedly collaborating with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Exclusive: Ukrainian deputy prime minister suspected of corruption says he wont step down Destroying the NABU's independence Critics argue that the searches, which target one of Ukraine's last independent institutions, are not a genuine attempt to punish crime and are politically motivated. The fact that law enforcement agencies decided to delve into traffic accidents from several years back shows that this is a coordinated political crackdown on the NABU, Butko said. Kaleniuk believes that the operation against the NABU aims to undermine the bureau's investigations, pressure its leadership, and "transform the NABU into a loyal satellite that fulfills (government) orders." Kaleniuk also said the authorities may try to pass a law bringing the NABU under the prosecutor general's control or limiting its jurisdiction. They may also use the National Security and Defense Council to sanction NABU officials, she added. Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 16, 2024. (Volodymyr Tarasov / Ukrinform / Future Publishing via Getty Images) A source at the NABU, who requested anonymity citing possible government pressure, told the Kyiv Independent that, in their view, this is a deliberate attack on the institution itself. "They reopened cases that are years old," the source said. "The scale and brazenness of it all point clearly to a government-ordered campaign. I don't rule out the fact that the story with Mahamedrasulov might be real. But everything else is being done under the cover of that story. This is preparatory fire aimed at launching some major changes in the bureau." Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a lawmaker from the opposition Holos party, also said this is an attempt to eliminate the NABU's independence. He argued that it will be hard for the authorities to do that through parliament, and they are more likely to crack down on the bureau through the Cabinet or the National Security and Defense Council. Read also: Ukraines anti-corruption bureau makes progress yet doesnt take on top presidential allies Why is a crackdown happening now? Kaleniuk, Butko and the NABU source argued that the bureau's recent investigations against President Volodymyr Zelensky's inner circle likely triggered the latest crackdown. They referred to the case against former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, who was charged with bribery and abuse of power in June, and an embezzlement case against a relative of Timur Mindich, a film producer and co-owner of Zelensky's Kvartal 95 production company. "The Americans are not interested in the rule of law in Ukraine, and they have pulled out of the country." Skomarov, one of the NABU detectives targeted by law enforcement agencies, was in charge of the Chernyshov case. "The bureau has long been a thorn in (the authorities') side," the NABU source said. "None of the high-profile operations in recent years were coordinated with the President's Office, which really irritates them. After each blow dealt to incumbent top officials, signals came in saying it would end badly for the bureau." Kaleniuk argued that the lack of a Western reaction to the Ukrainian authorities' crackdowns on anti-corruption activists and institutions had encouraged the government to launch further attacks. She added that the EU had been reluctant to be tough on the Ukrainian government and, without U.S. leadership, Europe had been unable to pressure Ukraine on reforms. Then-Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov is seen in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 5, 2025. (Tomas Tkacik / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images) "Our Western partners are silent," she said. "There has been a turnaround in the U.S. (after Donald Trump returned to the White House). The Americans are not interested in the rule of law in Ukraine, and they have pulled out of the country." Meanwhile, the West appeared to take a tougher stance later on July 21. Katarina Mathernova, the EU's ambassador to Ukraine, said on X that "now it is as important as ever to preserve the reform achievements to maintain the support needed to prevail over the enemy." The G7 Ambassadors issued a statement on X saying they are "closely following today's developments at NABU, including the investigation of several NABU employees for alleged crimes." "We met today with NABU, have serious concerns and intend to discuss these developments with government leaders," the group added. "We all have a shared commitment to support transparency, independent institutions, and good governance, and we value our partnerships in Ukraine to combat corruption together." Read also: With Trump disengaged and EU complacent, Ukrainian reforms lose momentum Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Amid reported Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia, a fire broke out at a train station in the village of Kamenolomni in Rostov Oblast overnight July 21 as Moscow faced drones for the fifth straight night, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported. "In the village of Kamenolomni, Oktyabrsky rural district, the roof of the railway station buildings caught fire due to falling drone debris. Three people were evacuated from the dispatch point. Preliminary data indicates that no one was injured," Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kamenolomni is located about 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Russia's border with Ukraine and about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. A flower shop caught on fire in Kamenolomni as well, the governor reported, adding that drones have been downed over the cities of Novoshakhtinsk, Shakhty, and Novocherkassk. According to Russian Railways (RZhD), drone debris sparked a fire at a railway infrastructure facility in Kamenolomni, which had to be extinguished with the help of a special firefighting train. As a result, 26 passenger trains have been delayed for up to 4.5 hours, and trains are now moving slower than usual through the station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Moscow, a total of five drones attacking Russia's capital were shot down by air defense, Sobyanin reported. "Two drones attacking Moscow were shot down. Emergency service specialists are working at the crash site," he said. A drone flying toward Moscow was shot down, he claimed in an earlier announcement Two drones were shot down outside of Moscow as well, Sobyanin first said minutes before midnight on July 20. Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporary flight restrictions imposed amid the drone attack, a spokesperson for Russia's state aviation agency Rosaviatsia said on July 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims. The surge in disruptions reflects a strategic shift in Ukraine's drone campaign against Russia, according to Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army's Southern Division. "Moscow is the biggest aviation hub in the Russian Federation flights go everywhere, not only across Russia, but worldwide," he told the Kyiv Independent in May. "This is about the potential disintegration of Russian regions and the weakening of internal control." Ukraine has also had remarkable success using first person view (FPV) drones on June 1, Ukraine launched a game-changing drone attack on four key Russian military airfields, damaging 41 planes, including heavy bombers and rare A-50 spy planes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv claimed it disabled 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet in what is seen as one of the most daring operations during Russia's full-scale war. Overnight on July 20, a fire broke out in Moscow Oblast as Ukraine reportedly launched a drone attack targeting the Russian capital. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine proposes peace talks with Russia next week; Fire reported near Moscow as Ukraine launches drone attack on Russias capital Thanks for reading this article and staying informed. The Kyiv Independent operates without a wealthy owner or a paywall, relying solely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Consider joining our community today. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A former top Ukrainian police official has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the same Spanish residential complex where a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine was assassinated last year, Spanish news outlet El Espanol reported on July 20. The body of 61-year-old Ihor Hrushevskyi, a former senior officer in Ukraine's Department for Combating Organized Crime, was discovered floating face down in the swimming pool of the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa, a coastal town in Spain's Alicante province, on June 29. While initial findings suggest no signs of violence, witnesses noted he was bleeding from one ear, suggesting it might have been a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke. Despite efforts by bystanders and emergency personnel to revive Hrushevskyi, he was declared dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exact cause of Hrushevskyi's death remains unclear. El Espanol reports that Hrushevskyi was a senior official in Ukraine's Interior Ministry and later in the National Police, though he is largely absent from public records. Ukrainian legal databases reportedly list him as holding top roles in anti-organized crime units in Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts in the early 1990s. These units were disbanded in 2015 as part of police reforms and replaced by the National Police and the SBU's anti-corruption directorate. The same residential complex was previously the site of another death that of Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov, who defected to Ukraine with a military helicopter in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuzminov was found shot dead in a garage there in February 2024, with a burned-out car discovered nearby, believed to have been used by his killers. Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed his death on Feb. 19, 2024. There was no direct connection confirmed between the two deaths. According to El Espanol, Hrushevskyi had recently purchased and begun renovating a unit in the complex. Hrushevskyi's age and his recent purchase of the apartment have led some neighbors to believe he may have simply retired to Villajoyosa for its sizable Ukrainian community, the news outlet reported. Read also: The Russians have no conscience Ukraine hit by yet another mass drone, missile attack, 1 killed, 8 injured in Kyiv Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian national Ihor Hrushevskyi, a former senior official from Ukraines Interior Ministrys Department for Combating Organised Crime, has died as a result of drowning in the Cala Alta residential complex in Spain, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. Source: press service for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda Details: Spanish media outlet El Espanol earlier reported on the "mysterious" death of Hrushevskyi at the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa, where Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov was murdered in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to journalists enquiries, the Foreign Ministry stated that, as the Consulate General of Ukraine in Barcelona reported, the death was caused by drowning. The ministry also noted that consular assistance was provided for the preparation of the necessary documents for the repatriation of the body to Ukraine. The death has raised suspicion among residents of Cala Alta, as in February 2024, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed that Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov, who transferred a Russian Mi-8 helicopter to Ukrainian territory in the summer of 2023, had been found dead in Spain. In June 2024, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources in Western intelligence, reported that the killers of Kuzminov were paid by Russian state officials in Vienna. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian national Ihor Hrushevskyi, a former senior official with Ukraines Interior Ministrys Department for Combating Organised Crime, has died under unexplained circumstances in the Cala Alta residential complex in Villajoyosa, Spain, where Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov was previously murdered. Source: El Espanol citing its own sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: On the evening of 29 June, Hrushevskyi was swimming in the pool of the complex where he had recently purchased an apartment. He was found face-down in the water with no signs of life. Neighbours attempted first aid, and emergency medics arrived shortly after, but they could not save him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 61-year-old was formerly a senior figure in Ukraines Department for Combating Organised Crime and later in the National Police. His death raised suspicions among residents. Although there were no obvious signs of violence on the body, blood was reported to be coming from one ear. Residents speculated that a heart attack or stroke might have been the cause, but the possibility of murder is not ruled out. Hrushevskyi, who had little contact with his neighbours, remained a mysterious figure to them. Only after his death did it emerge that he had been linked to Ukraines organised crime-fighting efforts. His name appears in archival Ukrainian legal records from the 1990s, listed as head of the Criminal Investigation Department in Ukraine's Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts. This department was disbanded in 2015 as part of Ukraines police reform. Some residents assumed that Hrushevskyi had retired and moved to Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hrushevskyi's death occurred less than a year and a half after the murder of Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov, who had defected to Ukraine aboard a Mi-8 helicopter. He was later killed by Russian agents in the underground parking garage of the same complex. The similarity in location and suspicious circumstances surrounding both deaths has led to speculation that Russian secret services could also be involved in Hrushevskyis case. There are currently no official conclusions about the cause of Hrushevskyi's death. Kuzminovs case remains sealed under judicial secrecy. Background: In August 2023, it became known that a Russian Armed Forces Mi-8 helicopter had ended up in Ukraine as part of a special operation. The pilot, 28-year-old Maksim Kuzminov, received a reward of US$500,000 (in hryvnia equivalent). On 19 February 2024, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed that Kuzminov had been found dead in Spain. In June 2024, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources in Western intelligence, reported that the killers had been paid by Russian officials in Vienna. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Ukrainian man who previously worked as a senior official in an anti-organized crime agency was found dead late last month in the pool at his apartment complex in the southern Spanish resort town of Villajoyosa. Ukrainian and Spanish media say Ihor Hrushevskyi's body was found late last month at the same apartment complex where a Russian military helicopter pilot-turned-defector was gunned down in February of 2024. El Espanol newspaper's edition for the Alicante region in southeast Spain said it had interviewed at least 20 residents of the Cala Alta apartment complex, where neighbors found the 61-year-old Ukrainian floating face-down in the pool on June 29. The newspaper cited local authorities as saying there were no apparent signs of a violent attack, but that foul play was not being ruled out as the investigation proceeded. They said a medical crisis, such as a stroke or heart failure, could have been a factor, but told the newspaper that the death appeared suspicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many residents of the resort, which is popular with Russian and Ukrainian expats, told El Espanol they weren't even aware of the death until reporters came asking questions. The paper said its efforts to dig up personal information on Hrushevskyi were challenging, which it put down to the nature of his former employment in Ukraine. "The confidentiality inherent in one of the Ukrainian government's elite units turns Ihor into a ghost, with no trace in official documents or public information," El Espanol said. According to the newspaper, Hrushevskyi moved to the Cala Alta apartment complex about 16 months before he was found dead. Ukraine's Pravda daily newspaper also reported that Hrushevskyi had worked as a senior official at the Interior Ministry's Department for Combating Organized Crime during the 1990s. Russia's state-run TASS news agency also reported the details of the story, citing El Espanol's report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities on the death, though the foreign ministry was quoted by national public broadcaster Suspilne as saying the Ukrainian consulate in Spain was handling the repatriation of Hrushevskyi's body. An aerial view shows the seafront in Villajoyosa, in Spain's southeast Alicante province. / Credit: Getty His body was discovered about a year and a half after police found the bullet-riddled remains of former Russian military helicopter pilot Maksim Kuzminov in the parking garage of the same apartment complex in Villajoysa a town on the Mediterranean coast whose name means "joyful village." Kuzminov, who was killed at the age of 28, first made headlines in his home region when he defected from Russia, flying his Mi-8 helicopter below radar in August 2023 across the border into Ukraine. He handed over the helicopter, sensitive military equipment and top secret Russian intelligence to Ukrainian authorities before appearing on Ukrainian television and calling the war launched by President Vladimir Putin "a genocide of Ukrainian people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just days after he was killed, Russian state news agencies quoted Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, as calling Kuzminov a "traitor and criminal" who had become "a moral corpse at the very moment when he planned his dirty and terrible crime." Russian military helicopter pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who defected to Ukraine, appears in a video released by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence agency in September 2023. / Credit: GRU/Anton Gerashchenko/X Naryshkin did not confirm or deny Russian involvement in the former pilot's murder, but months earlier, Russian state TV said the GRU intelligence agency had "been given the order" to eliminate Kuzminov. CBS' 60 Minutes reported last year that the Ukrainian government gave Kuzminov about $500,000 and a new Ukrainian identity, and officials warned him not to leave the country due to the threat of possible retaliation by Russia. But he decided to risk a life in the sunshine of Villajoyosa regardless. What shocked "Matlock" star Kathy Bates? A new you: The science of redesigning your personality "Somebody Somewhere" star Bridget Everett The Ukrainian secret service SBU, together with the General Prosecutor's Office, has carried out dozens of raids on investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). The authorities allege that the investigators passed on information to the Russian secret service via Ukrainian exiles in Russia. One detained NABU investigator was also accused of doing business with Russia. NABU investigators are also alleged to have helped several Ukrainian businessmen to flee the war-torn country. Others were accused of causing road accidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, NABU reported at least 70 house searches, which affected no fewer than 15 of the organization's employees. The head of NABU, Semen Kryvonos, cancelled a business trip to the UK. The SBU also carried out house searches at the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). In a statement, Transparency International Ukraine wrote of an "attempt to dismantle the anti-corruption system." This attempt to exert pressure on the anti-corruption bodies was unaceptable, it said. "We call on President Volodymyr Zelensky to publicly guarantee the independence of the anti-corruption bodies and call on the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office to stop the unlawful pressure," it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The media suspect that the raids are a reaction by President Volodymyr Zelensky to corruption investigations by NABU and SAP against former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. The latter is said to be close to Zelensky. The SBU is subordinate to Zelensky. NABU and a number of other authorities were founded with foreign support after the pro-Western revolution in 2014, primarily to combat the notorious corruption of high-ranking state employees. Nevertheless, according to Transparency International, Ukraine is still considered one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. A large number of starving people in the Gaza Strip have been killed by Israeli fire while waiting for UN aid trucks, the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP) said on Sunday. Shortly after crossing through the northern Zikim crossing into Gaza, a 25 WFP truck convoy encountered large crowds of civilians waiting to access food supplies, the UN agency said on X. "As the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident resulted in the loss of "countless lives" with many more suffering critical injuries, WFP said. "These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. This terrible incident underscores the increasingly dangerous conditions under which humanitarian operations are forced to be conducted in Gaza." Local health authorities reported 67 Palestinians were killed, while Palestinian news agency WAFA reported 58 dead and at least 60 injured. The Israeli military said warning shots had been fired amid "an imminent threat" and expressed doubts about the reported casualty figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details of the incident are currently being investigated, the military said, but added an initial review indicated that the reported casualty figures do not match the information provided by the army. The information could not be independently verified at first. WAFA, citing medical sources, reported that 132 people had been killed in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, including 94 aid seekers. The UN and aid organizations report catastrophic conditions in the Gaza Strip, whose almost 2 million residents are almost entirely dependent on aid to survive following almost 22 months of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to UN figures, hundreds have died in the vicinity of aid distribution points and around aid convoys since the end of May. Footage shows dead bodies Footage shared on Palestinian and social media shows several bodies following Israeli shelling in the north-west of Gaza City. A dead boy and his distraught relatives can also be seen. The authenticity of the footage and the reports could not initially be independently verified. WAFA put the death toll from Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 at at least 58,895, with more than 140,980 injured. The agency cites Palestinian medical sources for its figures. Israel expands operations in central Gaza The Israeli army is expanding its operations in the city of Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from an army spokesman, who called on residents to leave the area in a post in Arabic on X on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military continues "to operate with intensity to eliminate terrorists and to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area and is expanding its activities into new areas," the army said in a statement. "For your safety, immediately evacuate southward toward Al-Mawasi." Al-Mawasi in the south-west of the embattled area was designated by Israel as a "humanitarian zone" earlier in the war. However, the Israeli military has since also attacked there multiple times. The army said targets included facilities of Hamas. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned the mass displacement order had dealth "yet another devastating blow" to the Gaza Strip. Initial estimates indicated that between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area at the time the order was issued, including some 30,000 people sheltering in 57 displacement sites, OCHA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newly-designated area included several humanitarian warehouses, four primary health clinics, four medical points, and critical water infrastructure, OCHA said. "Any damage to this infrastructure will have life-threatening consequences." OCHA said the latest order meant the area of Gaza under displacement orders or within Israeli-militarized zones has risen to 87.8%, leaving 2.1 million civilians "squeezed" into a small area. "The new order cuts through Deir al-Balah all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, further splintering the Strip. It will limit the ability of the UN and our partners to move safely and effectively within Gaza, choking humanitarian access when it is needed most." ISLAMABAD (AP) The United Nations on Monday expressed concern about the Talibans arrest of Afghan women and girls for their alleged failure to comply with the authorities dress code. In May 2022, the Taliban government issued a decree calling for women to show only their eyes and recommending they wear a head-to-toe burqa. The Taliban, which returned to power in 2021, has cracked down on the way women dress and behave in public, notably through morality laws forbidding them to show their faces outside the home. The U.N. mission in Afghanistan said it was concerned by the arrest of numerous women and girls in Kabul between July 16 and 19, who authorities claimed had not followed instructions on wearing the hijab, or the Islamic headscarf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These incidents serve to further isolate women and girls, contribute to a climate of fear, and erode public trust, the mission added, without details including the number of arrests or the ages and where they have been held. The U.N. mission urged the Taliban government to rescind policies and practices that restrict women and girls human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the ban on education beyond sixth grade. A Taliban representative was not immediately available for comment. In January 2024, the country's Vice and Virtue Ministry said it had arrested women in the Afghan capital for wearing bad hijab. A ministry spokesman, Abdul Ghafar Farooq, did not say how many women were arrested or what constituted bad hijab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. mission said at the time it was looking into claims of ill treatment of the women and extortion in exchange for their release. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Since then, the Taliban administration has sought international recognition while enforcing its interpretation of Islamic law. In July, Russia became the only country to grant formal recognition. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages families said it was shocked and alarmed by the incursion and demanded answers from Israeli leaders. Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. The Gaza Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine. In the latest sign of international frustration, the United Kingdom, France and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a statement saying the war in Gaza must end now. They harshly criticized Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid and called for the release of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza. Evacuation orders dropped at dawn Associated Press reporters heard explosions and saw smoke rising from parts of the city that were ordered evacuated on Sunday. The Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said it was the first time ground troops had operated in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man living in the evacuation zone, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Israel dropped pamphlets at dawn ordering people to evacuate. Two hours later, tanks rolled into the area. He said his 62-year-old father, who had spent the night elsewhere, fled from house to house as Israeli forces moved in and saw them flattening structures with bulldozers and tanks. Both men managed to leave the evacuation zone. WHO says Israel raided its compound and detained staff The World Health Organization said Israeli forces raided its main staff residence in Deir al-Balah, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward the coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint, the U.N. health agency said in a statement. It said two staff and two family members were detained, with three later released and one still being held. The WHO said its main warehouse in the city, which is in the evacuation zone, was damaged by an explosion and a fire, hurting the agency's ability to help hospitals and emergency medical teams. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric had earlier said two U.N. guesthouses in Deir al-Balah were damaged by shrapnel. He said the cause was still being investigated but that heavy Israeli airstrikes had been reported in the area. Local and international staff will continue to work there, he said. The military declined to say if it had ordered the evacuation of aid groups based in the city, saying only that it maintains continuous contact with them and facilitates their relocation when necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the military announced that a 19-year-old soldier was killed and an officer was severely wounded in combat in southern Gaza. U.N. says nearly 90% of Gaza is now off limits Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in Deir al-Balah during repeated waves of mass displacement in Gaza. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator says 87.8% of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or inside Israeli military zones, leaving 2.1 million civilians squeezed into a fragmented 12 per cent of the Strip, where essential services have collapsed. Israel has taken over large areas of Gaza and split the territory with corridors stretching from the border to the sea as it seeks to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the Deir al-Balah incursion, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum warned in its statement that the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didnt know what was at stake." Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war and killed around 1,200 people. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Israel blames the deaths of Palestinian civilians on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas, and it accuses the group of prolonging the war because Hamas has not accepted Israel's terms for a ceasefire. Rare condemnation from U.N. food agency Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The World Food Program, in a rare condemnation, said the crowd surrounding its convoy in northern Gaza on Sunday came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire. It said countless lives were lost. A photographer working with the AP counted 51 bodies at two hospitals. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 80 people were killed. Israel's military said it fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat and questioned the death toll reported by the Palestinians. It declined to comment on the WFP statement. Hundreds of people have been killed while seeking food in recent weeks, both from U.N. convoys and separate aid sites run by an Israeli-backed group that has been mired in controversy. The Palestinian death toll from the war has climbed to more than 59,000, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel detains Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Gaza health officials said at least 18 people, including three women and five children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight and into Monday. At least three people were killed when crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks were shot at in the area of the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, according to two hospitals that received the bodies. The Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli forces detained Dr. Marwan al-Hams, acting director of the strips field hospitals and the ministrys spokesman. Israeli troops killed a local journalist, Tamer al-Zaanein, who was accompanying al-Hams, and wounded two other people when they detained him near a Red Cross field hospital in southern Gaza, according to the Health Ministry and the journalists family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Committee of the Red Cross declined to provide details but said it was very concerned" about safety and security around the hospital "and the impact this can have on patients and staff. Israeli military officials offered no immediate comment on any of the strikes. Israel again strikes rebel-held port in Yemen The fighting in Gaza has triggered conflicts elsewhere in region, including between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is in solidarity with Palestinians. The Israeli military said it struck the Hodeidah port in Yemen early Monday. Israel has struck the port before, including two weeks ago, accusing the Houthis of using it to import arms from Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the targets included areas of the port that Israel had destroyed in previous strikes. The Houthis will pay heavy prices for launching missiles towards the state of Israel, Katz said. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war The head of a UN office in the Gaza Strip has described an aid distribution scheme run by a rival organization as a "sadistic death trap." Philippe Lazzarini is the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which was criticized by Israel for allegedly employing members from the Hamas Islamist movement which attacked southern Israel in October 2023. An Israeli and UN-backed rival aid group called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been operating in the coastal strip in recent times, but there have been widespread Palestinian media reports of Israeli attacks on those waiting in line for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GHF distribution centres are also guarded by private US security firms. "Snipers open fire randomly on crowds as if they are given a licence to kill. A massive hunt of people, in total impunity," Lazzarini wrote on X on Monday. "This cannot be our new norm, humanitarian assistance is not the job of mercenaries." The foundation has repeatedly denied the reports but according to the UN, hundreds of deaths have already occurred at GHF distribution stations since the end of May. Israel introduced the new distribution mechanism, claiming it was to prevent the Hamas from diverting aid supplies. Previously, the UN operated around 400 distribution stations for the approximately 2 million Palestinians in the region. These stations are now barely functioning, as Israel has almost entirely blocked their resupply. On a recent afternoon, more than 10 minors, among them babies, young children and teenagers, filed into a brightly lit immigration courtroom in Phoenix to appear before Immigration Judge Munish Sharda. None of the children were represented by attorneys. The children from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, as well as Afghanistan, sat quietly as Sharda explained their legal rights, which were simultaneously translated into Spanish by an interpreter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharda, the immigration judge assigned to handle juvenile dockets in Phoenix Immigration Courts, looked imposing, seated behind a desk on an elevated platform, wearing a black robe. His tone was of someone who has repeated the same jargony legal explanation countless times. And although Sharda spoke somewhat slowly and carefully, it was doubtful the children grasped much, if anything, the judge was telling them, including that the government has no constitutional obligation to provide them attorneys. Instead, Sharda instructed, "You should find somebody else for legal services, an authorized person. They must be persons authorized to be in court." Immigrant children who crossed the border without a parent or guardian are increasingly in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. That has meant more children facing immigration judges without lawyers, and stricter screening processes for releases from shelter custody that have prolonged stays to more than five months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding to tensions are increasing arrests outside immigration courtrooms and raids that could sweep up adult relatives and other hurdles. The chaos for the children and teenagers can be seen in the nations immigration courts in such cities as New York, El Paso and Phoenix. "You are here because the United States government believes that you should be removed from the United States, said black-robed Immigration Judge Ubaid ul-Haq to a girl from the Dominican Republic who watched him via video from a shelter. It is my job to determine whether you can be removed from the United States. The Richard C. White Federal Building houses the immigration courts. Immigration attorney: 'Lets all agree that children should be off limits' The judge, sitting in a courtroom in Manhattan last May, was precise. But the teen girl looked frustrated, as a court interpreter translated to Spanish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For an adult, its almost impossible to navigate immigration court, said Michelle Ortiz, the director of U.S. legal services at the nonprofit International Rescue Committee. Imagine a 12-year-old, 4-year-old, a 17-year-old. Its impossible to present a case without a lawyer. The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors trauma, advocates say. Regardless of ones politics, said Tatine Darker, an immigration attorney with Church World Service in New York, Lets all agree that children should be off limits. About 26,000 minors saw funding for lawyers yanked in late March, setting up a legal battle over a landmark anti-trafficking law that has led to chaos. The move slashed the budget of about 100 nonprofits across the nation that helped provide direct legal representation for immigrant minors. For the minors, all under the age of 18, that meant making decisions alone about their defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In late April, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin issued a preliminary injunction, so funding would again flow for legal assistance. The judge noted some nonprofits had already issued layoff notices. Citing a friend-of-the-court brief, the judge said children without counsel faced greater risk of exploitation and human trafficking. In mid-May, an appellate court rejected the Trump administrations bid to pause the lower court ruling. A week later, a spokesperson for the Office of Refugee Resettlement said, The government is in full compliance with the courts order. The spokesperson for the agency that oversees shelters within the Department of Health and Human Services declined further comment, citing ongoing litigation. Nonprofits face new challenges The funding disruption left many nonprofits scrambling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre also assisting immigrant families with the tougher screening procedures and wellness checks or welfare checks by Department of Homeland Security officials at the homes and schools of unaccompanied minors who have been released to sponsors. Increasing arrests outside immigration courtrooms, government calls to self-deport, and raids throughout the nation add to the stress among children who fear no one will care for them if their sponsor, usually a relative, is detained and deported. Inside a Dallas immigration courtroom earlier this month, an attorney said his four-year-old client couldnt make the hearing because his parent was detained by immigration agents. Caseworkers for the boy appeared before Judge Charissa Dvorak to back the story. I will waive the presence of the child, the judge said. In a Phoenix immigration court lobby, flyers in red, white and blue encourage immigrants to self-deport, listing benefits and consequences. They carry the Department of Justice logo. Self-deportation is safe. Leave on your own terms by picking your departure flight. The consequences: Possible imprisonment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In El Paso, Texas, at the Catholic nonprofit Estrella del Paso, which provides legal services to immigrants, executive director Melissa Lopez tries to figure out how to keep her legal staff together. Her biggest worries are the children. Now, they find themselves without the people who used to answer their questions, Lopez said. And they feel alone. Stricter screening sent the minors shelter stays soaring. The average length of care per month jumped from roughly two months in December 2024 to more than five months by May 2025, according to HHS data. Advocates fear the mental health of minors will suffer from prolonged stays in government-funded shelters as relatives or sponsors meet new vetting requirements. Many of the screening hurdles have been under litigation, as well. Without attorneys, unaccompanied minors are forced to seek expensive private lawyers. In El Paso, immigration attorneys who specialize in these cases can charge at least $5,000 for a legal process that may take up to three years to resolve, said Lopez of Estrella del Paso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funding is only guaranteed through September 2025, said Ortiz of the International Rescue Committee, a nonprofit that operates in seven states. What happens after that remains uncertain. These cases last years and years, Ortiz added. And if we dont know whether well have funding after September 29, we cant make any more commitments beyond the ones weve already made. In their appeal, the federal governments attorneys said the plaintiffs can keep representing kids through other funding, such as private donors or pro bono services. But Lopez of the El Paso nonprofit said that because of the large size of the government funding, its difficult to find other replacement funding. Lost in Video Court In May, at the Varick Immigration Court in New York, an immigration judge turned his attention toward a video screen displaying several unaccompanied minors. One teenage girl had not yet been able to take the DNA test that was required by the federal government. Without direct legal representation, unaccompanied minors have no one to guide them on how to respond when a judge asks which country they should be deported to a standard question in initial court proceedings. Lopez, from Estrella del Paso, said that if they answer this question with their country of origin, the judge may assume theyre not at risk in that country, potentially undermining their asylum claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IRCs Ortiz warns that if minors show up to court twice without an attorney, the judge may schedule their final hearing without legal counsel, putting them at serious risk of deportation. Attorneys make a crucial difference for a child or a teen. A 2025 study by the University of Chicago found that only 51% of unaccompanied minors have legal representation. However, among children whose cases were decided in their favor by an immigration judge, 98% were represented by an attorney. Former judges: 'Lawyers can save a kids life' Scenes of more court confusion were detailed in a friend-of-the-court brief in the lawsuit challenging the funding halt. Nearly 50 former immigration judges explained why legal counsel helps minors through legal complexities and can help prevent those children from falling victim to human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They recounted how a 14-year-old minor appeared alone in court. Nervous, restless and trying to stay composed, he told the interpreter he wanted to return to his home country. The judge, alarmed by the request, granted additional time for the boy to speak with an attorney. At the next hearing, the minor, now with the support of legal counsel, revealed to the judge he had been trafficked to the United States. "Until he had the safety and trust of an attorney-client relationship, he had been too frightened to speak up," the brief read. "That critical pause, that small window of time to speak with counsel, may well have saved his life." Nicol Leon reported from El Paso, New York, and Phoenix. Gibran Boyce reported from El Paso and New York. Dianne Solis contributed to this story from Dallas. The so-called "handlers," human traffickers from his home country, were pressuring him to return so they could regain control over him." This story was co-published with Puente News Collaborative in partnership with palabra and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY). Puente News Collaborative is a bilingual nonprofit newsroom, convener, and funder dedicated to high-quality, fact-based news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border. Nicol Leon is a 2025 Pedro Gomez Fellow covering immigration issues for The Arizona Republic. She is completing an M.A. in bilingual journalism with a data journalism focus at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY. Previously, she worked as a reporter in Peru, covering labor, politics and human rights. Her work has also appeared in El Pais America, El Pais US and Infobae. Gibran Caroline Boyce is a freelance journalist based in New York City, pursuing a masters degree in international reporting at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. A Boston College graduate, she previously worked as a production intern at CNN on Fareed Zakaria GPS. @gibranboyce Dianne Solis is a freelance journalist. She has worked as a staff writer for The Dallas Morning News and The Wall Street Journal. Her work has aired on KERA public radio and the Texas Standard. She has reported extensively on immigration for decades. She was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. @disolis This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Unaccompanied migrant minors face a lack of legal representation Ukraines wartime weapons technology looks bound for the West for the first time. "Our joint projects are the first real chances for our Ukrainian production abroad," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said while announcing a newly signed agreement with Denmark on July 4. "This concerns drones, and many other necessary forms of weapons." The deal "opens the path to the creation of Ukrainian defense production on the territory of Denmark," wrote Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin on the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The co-production is one of many in the works with European nations looking both to help Ukrainian companies build outside of a country that faces daily Russian bombing raids and to acquaint European defense and tech companies with the latest in Ukrainian battlefield technology. The vast majority of weapons manufactured under these programs will return to Ukraine, where the IP will also stay, Ihor Fedirko told the Kyiv Independent. Fedirko recently left the Strategic Industries Ministry to head the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, a government-supported trade association. Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin (L) and Danish Minister for Industry Morten Bodskov signed an agreement allowing Ukrainian defense companies to open production facilities in Denmark on July 4, 2025. (Herman Smetanin / Facebook) Various Ukrainian drone makers already have factory access outside of Ukraine, but those arrangements predate the unofficial export controls that Ukraine imposed after martial law was enacted following the start of Russias full-scale invasion. First-generation Ukrainian drone makers like DeViRo and Skyeton, both founded over a decade ago, have factories in the EU opened before 2022. Export controls have locked newer military goods in-country for the past three years, though no official ban has ever been introduced. Those controls have kept much of Ukraines most innovative and lethal new hardware inside, to the widespread consternation of local arms makers stuck watching foreign firms profit off of technology designed and tested in Ukraine while they can only sell to the cash-strapped Ukrainian military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Lets be honest here, the export of military technology has always been controlled no nation on earth has ever just thrown around weapons like bread or flour," Fedirko said. "Were no exception, but the question is to finally allow companies to sell at least something, even in small orders, and only to partner nations with whom weve signed security agreements." In the case of Denmark, about 5% of the final products will remain with the Danish host companies, who will get experience in the manufacturing process and to experiment with the final products. Ukraine is at a turning point. The new co-production deals promise to provide new markets and integrate Ukraines arms industry into NATOs defense, a meaningful step towards membership. But the deals details remain murky, raising questions as to whose weaponry and how participants will be selected. Ukrainian journey to the West Denmark was the first nation to fund Ukrainian defense start-ups directly in an arrangement that began last year. They are also the first country to formally open a program inviting Ukrainian companies to build in Danish factories. Its a deal that Danes hope will build out their own long-term military industry while providing Ukraine with more weapons in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Things changed after (Donald) Trump was elected," said Esben Gadsboll, a Danish startup founder whose Defense Innovation Highway helped set up many of the contacts that drove the deal between Denmark and Ukraine. "Until then, the sentiment in the Nordic countries was that we want to help Ukraine, basically because we want to help Ukraine. Now it's also about us getting afraid of something." That something is an increasingly aggressive and well-armed Russia and a U.S. that has pulled away from its commitments to the NATO alliance. The Danish government has bestowed 50 million euros on the program to bring Ukrainian companies into Danish factories to build their latest wares, said Eric Wanscher. A Danish Air Force Reservist and operator of a government-funded business hub called Erhvervshus Fyn, Wanscher works on matchmaking between Danish hosts and their potential Ukrainian defense tech guests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's hard to talk on behalf of the nation, but I would say from my point of view, it is very important that we get production into Denmark, Wanscher said. "We will learn to produce, and the Ukrainians will get more capacity, because they can produce in a safe environment." Ukrainian factories face constant bombardment, one of the biggest barriers to producing weapons, especially the most technologically complicated systems or basic materials requiring mass chemical processes. EU nations like Denmark have been slow to expand their domestic production independently. Deals with Norway and the United Kingdom, announced at the end of June, are similarly opening the door to Ukrainian companies to build in those countries. Soldiers launch a Vampire drone in the Zaporizhzhia direction, Ukraine, on April 28, 2025. (Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform / Getty Images) A Magura surface drone and aerial drones are seen during a military hardware display in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 11, 2024. (Andrew Kravchenko / Bloomberg / Getty Images) The shift to Ukrainian co-production in the West would expand and stabilize Ukraines production of weaponry. Ukrainian companies involved stand to gain safety and money in sales. The European companies playing host stand to pick up on experience building the newest technology, which traditional arms giants have overtly lusted after from afar for two and a half years now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is an industrial competition. Denmark is not the only country that wants to have Ukrainian companies. Germany, Holland, and France want to have Ukrainian companies," said Wanscher, adding that Ukrainian companies are finding themselves weighing propositions from European countries. Details on the contracts are limited. A representative for Ukraines Strategic Industries Ministry declined to comment or provide details, beyond that the deals were at an early stage and officials were "feeling them out." A representative for Terma, Denmarks largest defense company, told the Kyiv Independent that it is "too early for us to comment on the co-production model as it is still a work in progress." Wanscher agreed that the program has not been formalized but said, "We are kind of working around it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know that there has been a pre-selection of some of the companies for the program, that's like a public secret." The sectors of greatest interest seem to be deep-strike drones, including "missile drones," as well as interceptors and electronic warfare systems sectors valuable for Ukraine to produce more of, and which Danish companies arent making en masse themselves. The Danish hope is to import production that they dont already know how to make. "If you do a similar thing to a Danish company, they will be more reluctant to include you in a cooperation deal," Wanscher said. Gadsboll pointed to drone and robotics clusters in Odense and Aalborg as especially promising venues for co-production because companies based there are most familiar with the types of Ukrainian projects Denmark is looking to import, like automated interceptor drones and long-range strike drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrangement also opens up testing and demonstration of Ukraines most advanced wares to Western officials and investors unable or unwilling to come into a Ukraine so frequently under attack. Ukrainian arms producers hope to advertise their wares to purchasers for a time when exports fully open up. The move on Denmarks part is a means of looking out for future security by building a modern arms industry. For Ukraines strategically important productions, ranging from missile-drones and classic missiles to Bohdan artillery, the danger is already less abstract. As Fedirko put it, "They wanted to have the production further from the front. Where Russia doesnt have the right to bomb the territory for now." Author's note: Hi, this is Kollen, the author of this article. Thanks for reading. Ukraine is holding up in the face of a tense summer and persistent Russian assaults. Meanwhile the technological wizardry that has kept the country alive and fighting is slowly making its way into NATO arsenals. If you want more stories like this, consider joining our community today to help support our work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russias largest and most secret drone factory showcased in Kremlin-media propaganda video Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Dash footage shows the moment an undercover cop gets carjacked while trying to buy drugs in a sting operation. On July 18th, 2025, a Hillsborough County Detective in the Special Investigations Division Gang Unit organized an undercover meet-up via social media with two individuals, Daryl Cole, 17, and Christopher Samuels, 18, in Riverside, Florida. The meet-up began as a drug deal, but later escalated into the two suspects attempting an armed robbery of the detectives money and vehicle. However, in a failed attempt to get away in the detectives car, both suspects fled the scene on foot and were later identified and arrested. SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) United Way of Northwest Vermonts Working Bridges program is partnering with Paul Frank + Collins to launch a $10,000 housing fund. This Bridge Fund for Housing would support those in the Burlington area, helping them both find and stay in nearby residences. Specifically, it will help when employees are over-income for resources but still face housing instability. This fund can help with partial back rent payments, moving costs, utility assistance and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any workers at Working Bridges sites within Chittenden County can apply. Employees could receive up to $750 for short-term housing costs. Vermont continues to offer crisis support for LGBTQIA+ youth despite federal pilot program ending The Working Bridges is designed to improve job retention, stability and advancement by supporting employees with community resources, according to the nonprofits release. They can help employees get access to childcare, transportation, housing and more. United Ways Working Bridges Director Connie Beal said that Paul Frank + Collins came to United Ways Working Bridges looking for ways to support housing affordability and access for workers. We identified that small-dollar grants can fill gaps to help people maintain housing, find housing, and retain healthy housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In northern Vermont alone, this program supported about 1600 employees in 2024, says United Way of Northwest Vermont. Paul Frank + Collins Attorney Thomas Melloni noted that the group was proud to partner with United Ways Working Bridges by establishing the Bridge Fund for Housing to support working Vermonters in finding and keeping housing in Chittenden 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 ABC22 & FOX44. Firefighters are investigating a weekend fire at a historic Ohio theater building. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Cincinnati firefighters responded Saturday morning to the historic Emery Theater on Walnut Street on reports of smoke coming from the ceiling, according to our news partner WCPO TV in Cincinnati. The theater is currently under renovation. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in the basement and extinguished it in about 10 minutes. Kim Kern, the president and CEO of the Childrens Theatre of Cincinnati, which owns the Emery Theater, told WCPO that an unknown individual was responsible for the fire. (Saturday), an unknown individual gained access to the Emery and started a small fire in the basement for unknown reasons, said Kern. One of our subcontractors smelled smoke and called 911. The Cincinnati Fire Department responded within minutes and was able to put out the fire quickly. There was minimal damage from the fire itself and no water or smoke damage. Emery Theater was built in 1911 and opened in January 1912. Kern said the fire will impact their scheduling. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A woman has been arrested after investigators said she hit a vulnerable adult at a senior living community in Greenville County. According to the state attorney generals office, the states Vulnerable Adults and Medicare Provider Fraud unit and Greenville County Sheriffs Office arrested Robin C. Hatley, 61, of Laurens last week. According to the attorney generals office, on June 14, Hatley, then a caregiver at Pearl at Five Forks Memory Care Center in Simpsonville struck a resident multiple times on the head, face and nose. The resident is classified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney generals office said the staff at the memory care center reported the incident and have cooperated with investigators. Hatley was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center on a $5,000 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Hawaiian tourists are being warned against eating raw food while visiting the tropical state, deemed the epicenter of a nasty brain parasitic disease. Neuroangiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, is a serious illness humans can become infected with after consuming raw snails, slugs or other specimens that carry the parasite. It can also be transmitted in vegetables such as Kale or potatoes. Its symptoms can mimic the flu, but also be serious. They range from headaches, nausea, coughing and fevers to long-term neurological problems and disabilities, with experts warning the illness can have a severe, lasting impact on those who become sick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont eat raw food in Hawaii, Kay Howe told SFGate. In 2008, Howes son contracted the disease while living in the Puna District of Hawaii Island when he was 23 years old and he went into a coma for months, prompting Howe to become an advocate of the illness. This is a tropical place. Theres a parasite, and we advise to cook everything, said Howe, who has since gained her master's in tropical conservation biology and works in a lab specializing in rat lungworm. Hawaii tourists are being warned against Neuroangiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, which is a serious parasitic disease humans can become infected with after consuming raw snails or slugs. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Howe and other specialists recommend tourists avoid popular roadside smoothie stops, as produce needs to be washed and dried with care. I know its very popular. Its very healthy. But if you havent been able to inspect the kale yourself, I wouldnt recommend that you include that, Franny Brewer, the program manager for the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While locals know of the disease, many visitors dont and there arent any initiatives to educate those visiting. The experts warned that many people are unaware if theyve been infected, especially since its symptoms closely mimic the flu. Treatment for the illness includes antiparasitic medicine such as Albendazole, but there is no easy test to diagnose rat lungworm disease. To diagnose, patients require a spinal tap, according to the report. Getting a diagnosis quickly can be difficult, the experts said. We often have to fight a doctor to get them to deliver [the Albendazole], Howe said. You know, theyll be, Oh, wait until symptoms develop. And its like, you dont want to wait for symptoms to develop. Thats how bad this is. You know, once its in your brain, its in your brain. In her experience talking with people and in the case of her son doctors often refuse to test for rat lungworm, not believing it to be the culprit. The people who are in the ER with symptoms, they have to somehow convince the doctor to give them a spinal tap, Howe added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disease, which has seen 80 laboratory-confirmed cases between 2014 and 2023, is largely underdiagnosed. While the number of cases remains relatively low, experts warn the disease is severe and can have lifelong repercussions. There have been 80 confirmed cases of the disease between 2014 and 2023, though experts warn its often underdiagnosed. (AFP via Getty Images) We find that a lot of visitors have never heard of it or might not realize that its endemic in our state, and we want people to know what they can do to protect themselves, Dr. Sarah Kemble with the Hawaii State Department of Health told SFGate. Dont eat raw snails, slugs, freshwater shrimp. And visitors should be aware that when they buy locally fresh fruits and vegetables, they should wash them very carefully before consuming them. While the disease occurs on all of the islands, most of the cases have been found on Hawaii Island. Howe now lives several blocks away from her infected son. While he is independent, he was left permanently disabled, with his vision and short-term memory affected, she told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you have seven serious cases a year or 15 serious cases a year amongst a relatively small population on Hawaii Island, thats not really rare anymore, she said. The severity of the disease and the fact that you may never, very well ever, recover the quality of life that you had. You shouldnt be looking at case numbers. You should be looking at severity. DENVER (KDVR) The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said a deadly crash involving a wrong-way driver closed U.S. 285 northbound south of Morrison for several hours Monday morning. The closure was on U.S. 285 at Colorado 8, according to a sheriffs office post on X just before 6 a.m., and the road was closed until the sheriffs office reported it had reopened around noon. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a Colorado State Patrol press release, a wrong-way driver was traveling south in the northbound lanes when they hit one vehicle, causing it to spin out of control and collide with a second vehicle. Later, the Patrol released further details about the crash. The agency said the wrong-way driver was a 33-year-old man driving an Acura RL. His vehicle collided with a Cadillac CTS, which was occupied by a 59-year-old male driver and a 64-year-old female passenger. The collision caused the Cadillac to spin out of control, striking a Chevrolet Colorado that was driven by a 51-year-old man. The 33-year-old wrong-way driver was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Cadillac was transported to an area hospital, where he died of his injuries, while the female passenger was transported for life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to a local hospital for precautionary minor injuries. See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31 SkyFOX flew over the scene just after 6 a.m., where at least three ambulances could be seen, as well as first responders actively working on the involved vehicles. West Metro Fire said some of the injured people were extricated from two of the vehicles. Bill Bruner of the 285 Improvement Committee told FOX31s Shaul Turner that speeding is a concern, with some drivers cited for going as fast as 105 mph on the roadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think police presence to get people to understand they cant drive like that; its a winding mountain road. Then the next part is to do the improvements that we can to make the highway safer, he said. CSP said its investigation is active and 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 FOX31 Denver. The term Broken Arrow means different things to different people. If it means the 1950 Jimmy Stewart western, youd be correct. If its the 1996 film starring John Travolta, you would also be accurate, and a bit closer to the topic. If youre in the military, its the last term you want to hear. In 1950, America was locked in a cold war with the Soviet Union, ready for nuclear war at any moment. Civilians were building bomb shelters in their backyards, and children were drilled on how to hide under their school desks to shield themselves from a nuclear blast. The U.S. military was training forces to respond to a nuclear war, and nuclear weapons were being designed for every branch of the armed forces. The Air Force, for its part, needed to train its pilots and ground crew to fly with the weapons in case of a nuclear war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 1950, Flight 2075, a Convair B-36B Peacemaker assigned to the 7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell Air Force Base, was on a training mission to simulate a nuclear strike on a major city in the Soviet Union. The B-36 was assigned to fly 5,500 miles over 24 hours from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, west over the panhandle, then turn back into Washington state. The bomber would then climb to 40,000 feet and head towards California for a simulated nuclear bomb run on its target, San Francisco, and then return to Carswell. At the time, nuclear weapons were in the possession of the Atomic Energy Commission. Strategic Air Command (SAC) leaders had been lobbying for a nuke to use on a training mission, and the AEC finally loaned them one. The loaner was a Mark 4 atomic bomb, an updated version of the Mark 3 Fat Man dropped on Nagasaki. Weighing almost 11,000 pounds, the bomb contained a large amount of uranium and approximately 5,000 pounds of conventional explosives. The plutonium core was not included, and the bomb was fitted with a lead-filled dummy capsule, which prevented a nuclear blast. The B-36 was a massive, complicated aircraft with a standard crew of 15. This model of the B-36 was equipped with six piston engines. Starting with the D model, Convair added four jet engines, which created the slogan six turnin and four burnin. The Peacemaker took off from Eielson, where the ground temperature was -40 degrees Fahrenheit, but since the base is located approximately nine miles from the North Pole, frigid temperatures were a common occurrence. After takeoff, the mission began having problems due to the cold. Ice started forming on the fuselage and carburetor intakes, causing the Peacemaker to lose altitude at a rate of 500 feet per minute. About seven hours into the mission, flames began shooting out of three of the six engines, and the other three could not keep the massive aircraft and its heavy nuclear payload aloft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision was made to bail out. A U.S. Air Force Convair B-36B Peacemaker from the 7th Bombardment Wing in 1949. (U.S. Air Force) As per protocol, the Mark 4 was jettisoned over the Pacific Ocean, and the conventional explosives were detonated to destroy the bomb and keep the top secret components from the enemy. The pilot, Capt. Harold Barry, placed the bomber on autopilot and the crew began to bail out into the freezing darkness near Princess Royal Island. The B-36 lumbered on for another 200 miles and crashed into Mount Kologet in British Columbia, Canada. This mission had a crew of 15, a mission commander, and a weaponeer. Of the 17 men aboard, 12 survived. The subsequent search and rescue mission involved over 40 aircraft. One of the crew members was found hanging upside down from a tree, still strapped in his parachute with a broken ankle. Of the five missing, one was recovered years later at the crash site, and the other four were presumed to have landed in the ocean and died of hypothermia. When notified of the crash, the Royal Canadian Air Force launched a rescue mission, but was never told of the nuclear weapon aboard. Captain Barry and the surviving crew members were questioned by military investigators, who all confirmed that the bomb was jettisoned and destroyed. Ultimately, investigators using additional evidence from the crash site concluded that extreme weather conditions caused the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, rumors swirled that there was a nefarious plan to steal the bomb. Of the missing crew members, one was the weaponeer who was familiar with the Mark 4 design. But the crash site was not found until 1953, because the aircraft was presumed to have crashed into the ocean. A recovery team was dispatched, but it was unable to reach the site. In 1954, a U.S. Air Force search team finally reached the site. They recovered top-secret equipment and destroyed the wreckage using explosive charges. The site remained untouched for 40 years, and in 1997, teams from the U.S. and Canada reached the wreckage to conduct radiation tests, which came back negative. Unfortunately, Americas first Broken Arrow wouldnt be its last. To date, the U.S. Military has had 32 nuclear weapons incidents where a weapon was accidentally launched, damaged with nuclear contamination, and six cases in which the device was never recovered. Dont Miss the Best of Mighty History We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter. Ever wondered what truly keeps Americas bustling skies safe and organized? You might picture cutting-edge technology, sleek monitors, and lightning-fast processors. The truth, until now, has been far more retro. For years, the very systems guiding planes across the nation have quietly relied on technology that many of us last saw in a dusty attic: floppy disks and Windows 95. Yes, you read that right. But prepare for takeoff, because after decades of navigating with digital relics, a monumental upgrade is finally underway. FAA Commits to Modernizing Outdated Air Traffic Systems The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is officially charting a new course. Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau recently laid out a bold plan to overhaul the countrys air traffic control (ATC) systema decades-old framework that has long lagged behind modern standards. As reported by NPR, many of the nations ATC towers still operate with outdated tools, including physical paper strips for tracking flights, floppy disks for data transfers, and computers running Windows 95. These relics, surprisingly, may have shielded the FAA from the recent global CrowdStrike outage that crippled more modern systemsbut officials agree that this is no excuse to delay modernization any further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole idea is to replace the system. No more floppy disks or paper strips, Rocheleau told the House Appropriations Committee last June. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed the urgency, calling it a rare point of national consensus: This is the most important infrastructure project that weve had in this country for decades. Everyone agrees this is non-partisan. Everyone knows we have to do it. The message is clear: Americas skies cant rely on outdated tech forever. A new era of air traffic control is about to begin. Modern Skies Campaign Rallies Industry Behind ATC Overhaul That new era has a name: Modern Skies. Launched in May 2025, the Modern Skies campaign represents one of the most unified calls for infrastructure reform in aviation history. Backed by more than 50 industry groupsincluding airlines, pilot associations, manufacturers, and airport organizationsthe coalition is urging swift action from Congress and the FAA to replace aging systems and bring U.S. air traffic control into the 21st century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of the campaign is a demand for major investment. The FAA has already secured an initial $12.5 billion, but industry leaders argue that full modernization will require between $18 and $31 billion more over the next few years. And the numbers behind the transformation are just as ambitious: 4,600 new fiber-optic connections, 25,000 upgraded radios, 618 advanced radar systems, 200 new ground surveillance units, 15 air traffic control towers, and six state-of-the-art regional facilities are all part of the plan. The push for change comes amid growing concern over the fragility of current infrastructure. Several incidents, including a fatal mid-air collision in January and recent radar outages at major airports like Newark, have exposed just how vulnerable the system has become. In some ways, the FAAs outdated tech may have helped it sidestep the CrowdStrike outage that disrupted more modern networks worldwide, but experts warn this good luck is no substitute for long-term reliability. To build public awareness and political pressure, the Modern Skies campaign launched a nationwide media effort, including a 30-second commercial showing 90s-era tech still in use at some air traffic centers. Alongside the tech upgrades, the campaign is also pressing for solutions to a worsening staffing crisisone thats left the FAA increasingly reliant on overtime and struggling to train new air traffic controllers fast enough to meet demand. Why Upgrading ATC Isnt So Simple Unfortunately, replacing decades-old air traffic control systems isnt as easy as swapping out a home computer. For one, many of these systems cant ever be shut downthey operate 24/7 and are essential for flight safety. That means theres no simple off switch that would allow for parts to be swapped or software overhauled. Upgrades must be done in real time, with the utmost care, and without disrupting operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security is another critical concern. Because air traffic control is part of the nations critical infrastructure, any modernization effort must be resilient against cyber threats. One breach could do more than cause delaysit could paralyze the national airspace, costing money, time, and potentially lives. That level of risk leaves zero room for error. Despite the systems age, the FAA continues to pour funding into maintaining and patching its legacy equipment just to keep operations stable. But no amount of maintenance can hold off obsolescence forever. Even the most diligent repairs cant outrun time. At this stage, the FAA is already moving forward. It has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify companies capable of tackling this enormous challenge and has scheduled a series of Industry Days where vendors can pitch their ideas directly to the Department of Transportation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the department hopes to complete the upgrade within four years. But many experts believe that the timeline is overly optimistic, given the complexity and scale of the project. Still, the clock is ticking, and after decades of underinvestment, the U.S. air traffic system cant afford to wait any longer. Source: FAA, NPR, Toms Hardware Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission. President Trumps special envoy for Syria on Monday criticized Israeli strikes against the country last week as poorly timed and complicating efforts to stabilize the region, in an interview with The Associated Press. Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, is engaged in ceasefire efforts to halt sectarian violence in Syria that broke out last week and triggered an Israeli intervention on behalf of Syrias minority Druze community. A ceasefire was announced July 18. Speaking in an interview with the AP from Beirut, Barrack said the U.S. was not consulted over Israels decision to strike Syria last week, nor was it the United States responsibility in matters that Israel feels is for its own self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he added that Israels intervention creates another very confusing chapter and came at a very bad time. Barracks criticism follows an Axios report that White House officials are branding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a madman who is undermining Trumps wider ambitions in the Middle East. Trump has put his support behind the nascent, interim Syrian government, which took control of the country after ousting long-time dictator Bashar Assad in a lightning offensive at the end of 2024. Trump announced in May he would lift all U.S. sanctions on the country to give it a chance to rebuild. His administration has also removed the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militant group that led the offensive and removed a $10 million bounty for the HTSs chief and now interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while Assads ousting was widely celebrated, tensions and violence between sectarian groups persisted. Last week, fighting broke out in Syrias southern Sweida province between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions. More than 300 people were reportedly killed in the fighting and Israel intervened with strikes against Damascus and against Syrian government forces in the south over what it said was protection for the Druze community. The Druze minority in Israel is deeply respected for its service to the state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were launched to prevent the militarization of Syrian forces on Israels northern border and to protect the brothers of our brothers, the Druze at the Druze Mountain. Al-Sharaa condemned the Israeli strikes as an attempt to sow chaos in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has sought to broker ties between the interim Syrian government and Israel in what would be a major breakthrough in peace relations in the region. Al-Sharaa has signaled openness to brokering ties with Israel, but Israeli officials are cautious over empowering a government with past ties to terrorism and groups including al Qaeda and ISIS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editor's note: The story was updated with comments by Norwegian and Dutch officials. The U.S. and Germany have agreed to deliver five Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on July 21, according to European Pravda. The announcement comes as Russia escalates its long-range strike campaign on Ukraine, including with ballistic missiles that only the advanced Patriot can shoot down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overnight on July 21, Russian forces launched a new mass air attack against Ukraine including 426 Shahed-type drones and various missiles, including Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles as well as Kalibrs and Kh-101 cruise missiles. Speaking during the 29th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting (better known as the Ramstein group after the U.S. base in Germany), Pistorius said he reached the agreement with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent trip to Washington. Coordination with partners on the systems' delivery will continue in the coming days, Pistorius added. Norway will take part in financing the deliveries, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said during his official visit to Berlin. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously announced that Oslo offered to purchase one Patriot system for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said at the Ramstein summit that his country is in talks with the U.S. and other allies on supplying additional weapons, including Patriots, to Ukraine. "Russia's goal is simple: to bring the steadfast Ukrainians to their knees. We must not let this happen. That is why we want to make a substantial contribution to additional air defense for Ukraine," Brekelmans said in a statement. The exact details of the Dutch contribution will be announced shortly, he added. The U.S.-built Patriot systems are a vital part of Ukraine's layered air defense, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles and providing protection against large-scale strikes on cities. The new commitment follows U.S. President Donald Trump's July 14 announcement of a NATO- and EU-backed initiative under which alliance members will purchase U.S.-made weapons systems for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump claimed on July 16 that Patriot shipments to Ukraine were already underway. Initially, the German defense ministry denied knowledge of any such transfers. On July 14, a German government spokesperson said that talks were ongoing among allies to deliver more than three Patriot systems to Ukraine. Washington has already sent three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, with Germany providing three more. An additional battery has come from a European coalition, though not all of the systems are currently operational due to routine maintenance rotations. Read also: The Russians have no conscience Ukraine hit by yet another mass drone, missile attack, 1 killed, 9 injured in Kyiv Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A major hack targeting servers running Microsofts SharePoint software has reportedly impacted at least two U.S. government agencies among hundreds of other targets around the world. Tens of thousands of servers hosting the software, which is used for sharing and managing documents, could potentially be at risk as a result of the zero day cyberattack, according to The Washington Post. By obtaining access to internal servers, the hackers may have been able to steal sensitive data from connected Outlook and Teams accounts, including passwords, as well as cryptographic keys to allow them back in. Cloud-based services are not thought to have been compromised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Microsoft has already issued one patch to address the vulnerability but, at the time of writing, two more versions of SharePoint were still awaiting custom patches of their own. Microsofts headquarters in Redmond, Washington (AP) The two U.S. agencies affected could not be named by researchers because of confidentiality agreements, according to the Post, but the FBI has said it is aware of the matter and is investigating. We are working closely with our federal government and private sector partners, the bureau said. It is not yet clear who is behind the attack, although the Post reports that a state legislature in the eastern United States was targeted, as were institutions in China. A local government agency in Spain and a university in Brazil were also hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An official with the aforementioned eastern state said the attackers had hijacked a repository of documents made available to residents to help them understand the workings of government, leaving the agency currently unable to access the material in question, which may or may not have been deleted by the raiders. We will need to make these documents available again in a different repository, they pledged. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (AP) According to Marci McCarthy, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the hack came after Microsoft fixed a security flaw in SharePoint earlier this month, which inadvertently alerted the hackers that they might be able to exploit a similar vulnerability. McCarthy said CISA was alerted to the hack by a cyber research firm on Friday and immediately flagged it to Microsoft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She denied that her agency was asleep at the wheel without a permanent director in charge, as nominee Sean Plankey continues to serve in an acting capacity only as he awaits confirmation by the Senate. Microsoft is a major tech vendor to governments around the world but is not immune to targeting by cybercriminals. The corporation announced on Friday that it would stop employing China-based engineers to work on Defense Department cloud computing contracts after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of its infrastructure amid global espionage concerns. By Jack Queen, Julio-Cesar Chavez and Sarah N. Lynch LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) -Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was sentenced on Monday to 33 months in prison for violating Breonna Taylor's rights during the raid in which she was shot and killed, after President Donald Trump's Justice Department asked the judge to imprison him for a single day. Taylor, a Black woman, was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police officers in March 2020 after they used a no-knock warrant at her home. Her boyfriend, believing they were intruders, fired on the officers with a legally owned firearm, prompting them to return fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor's death, along with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a white police officer, sparked racial justice protests across the U.S. over the treatment of people of color by police departments. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, who handed down the sentence on Monday, criticized prosecutors for making a "180-degree" turn in its approach to the case and said political factors appeared to have influenced its recommendation for a one-day prison sentence. This sentence will not and cannot be measured against Ms. Taylors life and the incident as a whole, Jennings said. The sentence was at the low end of the 33 to 41 months called for under federal sentencing guidelines, but far more severe than the Justice Department under Trump had sought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, several other family members and Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend at the time, all spoke in court to ask the judge to impose the maximum penalty. A piece of me was taken from me that day. You have the power to make today the first day of true accountability, Palmer told the judge. EX-OFFICER APOLOGIZES During President Joe Biden's administration, the Justice Department brought criminal civil rights charges against the officers involved in both Taylor and Floyd's deaths. Hankison was convicted by a federal jury in November 2024 of one count of violating Taylor's civil rights, after the first attempt to prosecute him ended with a mistrial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was separately acquitted on state charges in 2022. In a brief statement to the court, Hankison apologized to Taylors family and friends and said he would have acted differently if he had known about issues with the preparation of the search warrant that led police to Taylor's home that night. I never would have fired my gun, he said. The Justice Department's sentencing memo for Hankison downplayed his role in the raid at Taylor's home, saying he "did not shoot Ms. Taylor and is not otherwise responsible for her death." The memo was notable because it was not signed by any of the career prosecutors - those who were not political appointees - who had tried the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was submitted on July 16 by Harmeet Dhillon, a political appointee by Trump to lead the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and her counsel Robert Keenan. Keenan previously worked as a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, where he argued that a local deputy sheriff convicted of civil rights violations, Trevor Kirk, should have his conviction on the felony counts struck and should not serve prison time. The department's sentencing recommendation in the Hankison case marks the latest effort by the Trump administration to put the brakes on the department's police accountability work. Earlier this year, Dhillon nixed plans to enter into a court-approved settlement with the Louisville Police Department, and rescinded the Civil Rights Division's prior findings of widespread civil rights abuses against people of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for Taylor's family called the department's sentencing recommendation for Hankison an insult, and urged the judge to "deliver true justice" for her. (Reporting by Jack Queen and Julio-Cesar Chavez in Louisville and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington;Editing by Noeleen Walder, Helen Popper, Rod Nickel) By Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department said on Monday that the Chinese government had blocked a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee visiting the Asian country in a personal capacity from leaving. "We are tracking this case very closely and are engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," a State Department spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is part of the federal Department of Commerce. The individual's name and whether the person was detained were not disclosed. The U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said he did not have specific details to provide when asked about the case during a regular press briefing on Tuesday. "China is a country ruled by law, and all matters concerning entry and exit are handled according to the law," he said. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that a U.S. citizen who works for the Commerce Department had traveled to China several months ago to visit family. The man was being prevented from leaving the country after he failed to disclose on his visa application that he worked for the U.S. government, the newspaper said, citing sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has used exit bans on both Chinese and foreign nationals in connection with civil disputes, regulatory enforcement and criminal investigations. Analysts say the tactic is at times used to crack down on local dissent and also as diplomatic leverage in disputes with other nations. Washington and Beijing have had friction for years over issues ranging from tariffs to the origins of COVID-19, and Taiwan. Chenyue Mao, a Wells Fargo banker, has also been blocked from leaving China. Beijing's foreign ministry said on Monday she was involved in a criminal case and obliged to cooperate with an investigation. Mao was the latest of several executives from foreign corporations to be stopped as they tried to depart China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. bank suspended all employee travel to China after Mao's exit ban, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, saying Mao was a U.S. citizen. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Additional reporting by Xiuhao Chen in Beijing; Editing by Chris Reese, Cynthia Osterman and Tomasz Janowski) The United States hopes European allies will join potential secondary tariffs on Russia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC in an interview published on July 21. "Russian oil is going to be subject to up to 100% secondary tariffs," Bessent said. "I urge our European allies, who have talked a big game, to follow us if we implement these secondary tariffs." Bessent's remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump's July 14 announcement that the U.S. will impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless it agrees to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We call them secondary tariffs," Trump said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. "Tariffs that are about 100%." Secondary tariffs are penalties targeting countries or companies that continue doing business with a sanctioned nation by charging extra for access to the U.S. market or financial system. If a third country like China keeps buying Russian oil, exports to the U.S. could face a further 100% tariff, significantly raising prices for American consumers and squeezing Chinese exporters. Trump, who had promised to broker a peace deal within 24 hours of taking office, has grown increasingly frustrated with what he described as Russia's delays in moving forward with peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. strategy seeks to pressure Moscow by curbing its oil income, which accounts for roughly one-third of federal revenue and remains a vital source of funding for its war effort. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded on July 15 by calling Trump's threat "serious," but said Moscow needs time to analyze Washington's message. Read also: Agenda from our side is clear Zelensky outlines 3 key priorities for potential next round of peace talks with Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Andrew Hay (Reuters) -The U.S. Forest Service faced criticism from current and former employees who say federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration have left fire teams understaffed, as the country grapples with decade-high U.S. wildfire numbers this year. The agency, which oversees the nation's largest wildland firefighting force, rejected those claims, saying it has sufficient resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, more than a dozen active and retired U.S. Forest Service employees told Reuters the agency is struggling to fill critical roles after approximately 5,000 employees - roughly 15% of its workforce - quit in the past five months. Accounts from firefighters in Oregon and New Mexico, as well as a fire chief recruiting support staff in the Pacific Northwest, said the vacancies have led to personnel held back from supporting frontline firefighting because of administrative duties. The crew leader on an Oregon blaze said her team went hungry for several days, ran short of medical supplies, and had to scrounge for chainsaw fuel after support staff quit the agency during two rounds of "fork in the road" buyouts. "I had guys who were going to bed hungry after working 16 hours," said the crew leader on the Alder Springs Fire, who asked not to be named for fear of losing her job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National and local USFS officials say, however, the force is ready for what is expected to be a worse-than-average fire year in California, the Pacific Northwest, and the northern Rockies, according to National Interagency Fire Center forecasts. "Our fire staff feels very confident in our staffing levels going into this fire season," said USFS public affairs officer Isabella Isaksen, who represents USFS operations in central Oregon. Isaksen said food problems on the Alder Springs Fire were due to a new caterer and were quickly resolved. She said medical, chainsaw, and other supplies were available on the 3,400-acre blaze that triggered evacuations in two counties. 'THEY ARE READY' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration pledged not to cut firefighting positions and other public safety jobs in firings, voluntary resignations, and early retirements meant to raise efficiency at the USFS, which manages 193 million acres of land (78 million hectares), roughly the size of Texas. USFS employees that Reuters interviewed for this story said the loss of thousands of foresters, biologists, trail builders, and campground managers was having a knock-on effect on firefighters. Not only are firefighters having to cover empty positions at ranger stations, but they also have lost hundreds of peers who each year switched from regular jobs to take on firefighting support roles during the fire season, which typically runs from spring to fall, these people said. USFS Chief Tom Schultz on Wednesday told agency managers to make all of these fire-qualified, so-called "red-carded" staff available for what he called an "extremely challenging" fire year, according to a memo seen by Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Year to date, wildland firefighters have been called to nearly 41,000 blazes, by far the highest number in federal data going back to at least 2015. Wildfires have burned 2.9 million acres year to date, below the 10-year average of 3.3 million acres. Last month, Schultz told a U.S. Senate committee he was trying to temporarily hire back some 1,400 fire-qualified, "red-carded" support staff who took buyouts. "I do believe they are ready," Schultz said when asked about preparedness for the 2025 fire year. FIREFIGHTERS MOW LAWNS Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who oversees the USFS, said in June at a meeting of Western state governors in New Mexico that the agency was on target to hire 11,300 firefighters by mid-July, outpacing hiring over the past three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of June 29, 11,236 or 99% of that number had been hired, slightly below last year's level, according to the most recent USDA data. The USDA disputed claims that staff shortages are endangering communities, forests, and firefighters. "Any suggestion that firefighting responsibilities are being delayed or deprioritized is simply incorrect," a USDA spokesperson said. "This is not a secondary mission - it is the core of our public safety work, and every decision reflects that urgency." New Mexico U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich has criticized the Trump administration's firing and rehiring of 3,400 USFS probationary staff, three-quarters of whom were red-carded, as well as what he called its indiscriminate, agency-wide staff buyouts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildfire season is well underway, and thanks to DOGE and Donald Trump, the U.S. Forest Service is being gutted, leaving communities ill equipped to fight deadly wildfires," Heinrich said in an emailed statement on July 11. The Forest Service says it does not have enough wildland firefighters for the country's "wildfire crisis" and relies on red-carded staff to "boost wildland firefighting capacity." Not everyone close to the Forest Service sees problems. Steve Ellis, chairman of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, said his checks with fire staff in Oregon turned up no reports of firefighters going hungry or other support issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Riva Duncan, a fire duty officer on a New Mexico blaze, said even firefighters were being used to plug gaps left by job losses, exacerbating longstanding shortages of personnel to operate fire engines. "They're answering phones at the front desk, or cleaning toilets at campgrounds or mowing the lawn at administrative sites," said Duncan, a retired USFS fire chief who reenlists during fire season and helps run Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a federal firefighter advocacy group. The fire staff officer in the Pacific Northwest said support staff had been told by managers they had to meet the Trump administration's increased timber sales and oil and gas production targets, with fewer employees, before helping firefighters. "They can claim we get all the support we need, but in reality, it isn't even close," said the fire chief, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. (Reporting By Andrew Hay; editing by Donna Bryson, Diane Craft and Rod Nickel) The United States and South Carolina flags are seen at the president's house at the University of South Carolina Horseshoe at sunset on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024 in Columbia, S.C. USC is one of a growing number of schools nationwide establishing a center focused on civics education and encouraging civil debate amid political polarization in the country. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA The University of South Carolina is one of a growing number of schools nationwide establishing a center focused on civics education and encouraging civil debate amid political polarization in the country. South Carolinas largest university system is establishing its Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse following approval from the schools governing board late last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement from the university, the center is in response to a growing need for civil discourse, cooperation across partisan lines, and a greater understanding of the core ideals and values that shaped America. The value this new academic center brings is its focus on equipping students with the knowledge, perspectives, and reasoning skills for meaningful interactions as citizens and community leaders, added USC President Michael Amiridis. These centers popping up at colleges across the country come as surveys and academic studies show a declining rate of civics knowledge and understanding of the core functions of government. Less than half of Americans can name most of the rights protected under the First Amendment and under two-thirds can name the three branches of government, according to an annual survey conducted since 2014 by the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg Public Policy Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do think that these centers speak to a real need and a desire that a lot of students have learning for the sake of learning but also includes a real interest in pursuing questions such as the nature of citizenship, how people can be more attuned to what the responsibilities of citizenship and civic leadership are all about, said Christopher Tollefsen, a professor of philosophy at USC who is serving as the centers interim executive director until a permanent director can be hired. Tollefsen said these centers have also opened up a space for debate, discussion and disagreement, rather than just shouting each other. Polarization is a dominant theme that we see whenever people talk about what our political life and our political language is like, Tollefsen added. Everybody has a sense that its no longer possible to engage in a free exchange of ideas and arguments and to fully participate in discussion with their neighbors without a feeling that the situation is very fraught. I think were trying to address that. For example, as protests erupted on college campuses in the wake of a surprise attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war that broke out between Israel and Palestine, a student group at Yale University gathered in small groups to talk about the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At USC, Tollefsen expects to bring on between six and eight new professors over the next five years who will teach within various departments at the university in addition to working within the center. Similar to other student organizations, students can sign up to participate in what the center is calling a scholars program in addition to events that will be open to public. Tollefsen also eventually hopes to offer a couple of academic minors, such as one focused on philosophy, politics and economics, through the center. While some, such as Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution and the James Madison program at Princeton University, where Tollefsen was a visiting fellow, have been around for decades, theres been a more recent movement nationwide to establish such centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A good number of these in recent years have come out of a push from state legislatures, starting with Arizona State University in 2016. Paul Carrese, the ASU schools founding director, will serve as one of several external advisors to USCs new center. And in 2022, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the massive Hamilton Center started at the University of Florida. What SC law requires Forming a center dedicated to civic education appears as something of a course reversal from the South Carolina university that initially opposed legislation to update a 1924 state law that required students to take a year-long class on Americas founding. Most state colleges hadnt followed the law for years when Sen. Larry Grooms wrote a letter to USC officials in 2013 asking why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes ultimately signed into law in 2021 included reducing the course length to a semester. Im thrilled to learn they are moving forward with civics education, particularly since USC was ground zero for the fight to have founding documents taught, said Grooms, R-Bonneau Beach. USC, in its opposition, raised concerns about a clause in the then-nearly-century-old law about the courses final test serving as a loyalty oath to the United States for students who are American citizens, Grooms said, as well as the added cost of teaching such a class. The update eliminated the oath clause. Mandated reading for the course includes the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Emancipation Proclamation in their entirety, as well as at least five essays from the Federalist Papers. An amendment adding at least one document considered foundational to the African American freedom struggle to the required reading got the legislation to the governors desk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the flagship university of the state, its comforting to know theyre taking seriously their mission to educate our citizens, not just in the humanities and sciences, but on the foundation of democracy and where we came from so well know where were going, Grooms said. While the center is concerned with civic literacy, USC spokesman Collyn Taylor said the centers work is separate from the founding documents course requirements. Its more wanting to elevate the conversation about things going on around the world right now, he said. Rather than a direct study of the founding documents, participants are meant to learn about the rule of law and how government works through the broader, expert-led discussions of current events. Existing centers in SC and other states At least 13 public university campuses across eight states Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah have established civics units, according to reporting by Inside Higher Education. Legislatures in Iowa and West Virginia also passed requirements for centers, according to reporting by States Newsroom affiliates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private and Ivy League schools, such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Yale universities, have also joined the trend. And in South Carolina, Allen University started the Boeing Institute on Civility with a $1.5 million gift from the aerospace giant that renovated a former hospital building in the neighborhood surrounding the historically Black university in Columbia. The institute held its first event in 2024 with Russell Wigginton, president of the National Civil Rights Museum, and Della Britton, president of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, discussing social justice issues. Tollefsen said USCs center is different from those at several other public colleges in that it is not legislatively mandated. He said university board Chairman Thad Westbrook is among those leading the push at USC. Studying the American civic order and teaching our students to be good citizens should be a core function of higher education in America, Westbrook said in a statement. Over the past few years, we have strengthened our policies supporting free speech on campus, and we believe this center will elevate that work with a renewed focus on civil discourse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westbrook, in his statement, also cited the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and planned celebrations in South Carolina around the sestercentennial and the states role in the Revolutionary War as a reason for launching the center. The centers first public event is set for Sept. 12, featuring Cornel West, of New Yorks Union Theological Seminary, and Robert George, of Princeton University, whom USC described well-known for their collaboration and friendship, despite their disagreement on many issues. Both are also on the centers advisory board. Emory University law professor and First Amendment scholar John Witte Jr. is also set to hold a Sept. 17 Constitution Day lecture about religious freedom. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, speaks ceremonial signing event on tech safety bills at the Utah State Capitol on April 4, 2025. (Alixel Cabrera/Utah News Dispatch) A Utah lawmaker was recently tapped to lead a national task force to help guide state-level artificial intelligence policies. State Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, will co-chair the newly announced National Task Force on State AI Policy, according to an announcement Monday from Future Caucus, a national, bipartisan nonprofit that supports young policymakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The task force will push back on what Future Caucus called partisan gridlock that can impact AI policy, and make sure state lawmakers have resources and tools before pushing through legislation. It will serve as a national brain trust for responsible AI governance at the state level, the nonprofit said in a news release. The task force will host public hearings and confidential briefings related to AI, and produce a policy memo that the caucus said will help guide AI policymaking around the country. This is a defining moment, said Fiefia in a statement on Monday. We cant afford to let AI policy be divided by party or decided by default. As younger lawmakers, we have a unique opportunity to lead with balance and foresight. The announcement of the task force comes just weeks after the U.S. Senate stripped a proposed moratorium on state-based artificial intelligence laws from Republicans big, beautiful bill, following seven weeks of dwindling support for the idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP senators had initially pitched the 10-year ban on states AI laws under the argument that the federal government should be the only legislative body to regulate the technology. Fiefia, who previously worked for Google and is an outspoken proponent of policies related to data and AI, is fresh off his first legislative session in the Utah House. He passed HB418, which would direct tech and social media companies to embrace interoperability its a first-of-its-kind bill that allows social media users to have greater control over their own data, while forcing companies to allow for increased data-sharing across different platforms. The bill, in a way, directs tech companies to view your personal data similar to how telecommunication companies view your phone number. Fiefia will co-chair the task force with Monique Priestley, a Democrat state representative from Vermont who has also worked on AI legislation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In the Trump era, with university research on the chopping block, some professors have become part-time fundraisers for the sake of science. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professors Anne Bonds and Derek Handley need at least $30,000 to finish their project after the National Endowment for the Humanities cut their grant this spring. They said the agency offered no specific reason for terminating the grant aside from it no longer aligning with funding priorities. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professors Anne Bonds and Derek Handley are heading a crowdsourcing effort to document and map how restrictive covenants shaped the racial geography of Milwaukee County. Bonds, a professor of geography and urban studies, and Handley, an assistant English professor, are seen near UWM in this 2022 file photo. Bonds and Handley suspect their project's aim to map racially restrictive housing covenants across Milwaukee County led it to be flagged within the federal agency. The Trump administration has terminated hundreds of grants related to diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You cant hide from it," said Handley, an assisant English professor. "Its in the title: Mapping racism." Restrictive covenants included language in property deeds that prevented the sale of land or homes to Blacks and people of other ethnicities. They were in place for decades across America to keep certain areas exclusively white, including in many Milwaukee suburbs. The covenants help explain why Milwaukee County has the lowest rate of Black suburbanization of any metropolitan area in the country. The covenants were outlawed in 1968, though some deeds still contain the language today. "People are very interested in how these things transpired," said Bonds, a professor of geography and urban studies. "A lot of people also just want to know 'What about my house? What did my neighborhood look like?'" Army of volunteers combed through Milwaukee County property deeds Bonds and Handley received nearly five million images of Milwaukee County deeds. They used the grant to lead a massive crowdsourcing effort, training about 5,000 volunteers to comb through the data and record covenants. Five people examined each deed to ensure accuracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers were astonished by the language in some of the deeds. Black people were sometimes referred to as "colored," "African" or "Ethiopians." They were often lumped into paragraphs banning cows and pigs from a property. Some deeds targeted other groups, such as Italians, Mexican-Americans or Jews. "People seeing that helps them understand this normalized way of thinking," Bonds said. Another aspect of the project examines community resistance to the covenants. Many of Handley's students know about the Montgomery bus boycotts and other events that took place in the South but know little about local housing marches in the 1960s or can explain why Milwaukee is so segregated. "This is a part of Milwaukee's history that we're bringing to light and have in one location where they can learn about it," Handley said. Grant termination led to four job losses The professors used their $150,000 grant to hire a full-time postdoctoral research fellow to help build an online map that would be searchable by address and include deed documents. They also paid three graduate students who helped train volunteers and conduct archival work. Just over half of the grant was used before it was terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonds and Handley were collecting bids from website contractors when UWM's Office of Research asked them to halt their work. That's because the university noticed it wasn't receiving reimbursement from the federal government for expenses it had already paid on the project. The National Endowment for the Humanities didn't send an official cancellation letter until the following month, Bonds said. The agency did not respond to a request for comment about why reimbursement stopped before notification was sent and why the grant was terminated. UWM professors to highlight findings at campus event this fall The postdoc fellow working on the project was laid off and has left the state, Bonds said. The graduate students lost their part-time work. The project is housed on a basic temporary website for now. But the project isn't over, Bonds and Handley said. They are seeking alternative funding sources and working to set up an account with the UWM Foundation, the university's private fundraising arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonds and Handley plan to present their findings and maps at a campus event this fall. It's important for them to find a way for the community-driven project to be available to the community in the long term. "I think it helps us understand who we were, who we are and who we want to be moving forward," Handley said. To learn more about the project, inquire about a donation or be notified about the upcoming fall event, email Anne Bonds and Derek Handley at bondsa@uwm.edu and handledg@uwm.edu. Kelly Meyerhofer has covered higher education in Wisconsin since 2018. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wants to hear from more Wisconsin university employees whose work has been affected by the Trump administration: This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UWM grant mapping racial restrictive covenants in Milwaukee cut by NEH As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trumps list of possible running mates last year, a mix of joy and dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida. The joy was self-explanatory, springing from the clout that comes with having a favorite son in the White House. The dread was more complicated. Even though either case would see a GOP governor appoint a successor if one of the then-senators resigned to assume the vice presidency, such scenarios can invite messy primaries in states where the Republican Party does not lack for rivalrous internal factions or ambitious candidates eager to exploit them. In the end, both Vance and Rubio joined the new Trump administration Vance as vice president, Rubio as secretary of state. And their appointed successors, Jon Husted in Ohio and Ashley Moody in Florida, are facing smoother than expected paths, at least for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Husted nor Moody has a credible primary opponent at the moment. Husted scored an early Trump endorsement, while Moody has made efforts to get closer to the presidents political team. Both also are coming off strong fundraising quarters that could scare away any Republican tempted to challenge them. In the meantime, the political drama in both states has revolved more around how term-limited Govs. Mike DeWine in Ohio and Ron DeSantis in Florida are meddling in the GOP races to succeed them in 2026. Costly primaries are a waste of resources when we have the right leader in Jon, who has President Trumps endorsement and a proven record of fighting for Ohioans, said Mehek Cooke, a conservative consultant in the state. I am proud to stand with him and fight for Ohio. Given recent trends in both states, the Republican nominees will enter their 2026 special elections as favorites in November, too. But Husted would face a much tougher race if former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was unseated last fall by businessman Bernie Moreno, is the Democratic candidate. Brown has acknowledged that he is considering a run for the Senate seat or a bid for governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, Democrats have struggled to find a top-tier candidate. Husteds hustle Husteds clear primary field is particularly significant in Ohio, where the two most recent Senate races gave rise to brutal Republican primaries, including the one Vance won in 2022. Trumps endorsement, which came at a much later stage in that primary, propelled his future running mate to victory that year. Trumps support also helped lift Moreno out of a crowded 2024 Senate primary. Already this year, the presidents backing helped secure unusually early endorsements for Husted from the Ohio Republican Party and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Brenton Temple, who managed DeWines 2022 re-election campaign, with Husted as his lieutenant governor, said Husteds long track record in Ohio has also helped his cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compared to the last two Senate races, there wasnt anybody like Jon Husted in those fields, Temple said. Husted has been around for 25 years. Hes got a lot of contacts, both in the donor community and the grassroots community so he brings all of that to both the office and the campaign. And you combine all of that with the Trump endorsement and you clear the field. Husted, 57, has held one elected office or another since 2001, including serving as Ohios state House speaker and secretary of state. On the one hand, that makes him precisely the type of establishment staple that Trump and other MAGA figures like Vance have vanquished in recent years. On the other, it positioned him as one of the best-known politicians in the state. He had been preparing to run for governor next year. But when Trump-aligned Vivek Ramaswamy signaled plans to jump into that race, DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to avoid a collision course between them. He has a two-decades-long conservative record in Ohio that voters know but that also the political establishment and class knows, said Niraj Antani, a former state senator who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer. Husteds positions on gun rights and school choice issues, Antani added, have earned him goodwill with the partys base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These things are hard to run against. His record is a solid record. I think he has the respect and likely admiration of virtually everyone in Ohio Republican politics, Antani continued. Husted, in an interview with NBC News, described himself as someone whos been able to bridge old Ohio GOP factions with the newer coalition led by Trump. We are a state that is conservative, but we also are a state that is working-class, Husted said. I understand what the Republican Party is like in Cleveland versus what its like in Appalachia versus what its like in rural western Ohio. I mean, I just reflect the people that I have come to know over the course of the last 20-plus years that Ive been doing this. Husted said hes forged a solid relationship with Trump and noted that the president invited him to the White House when he signed Husted-sponsored legislation rolling back Biden-era energy efficiency standards. He also recalled how Trump called him in April, minutes before posting his Complete and Total Endorsement of Husted on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps endorsement, Husted said, has proven in a Republican primary in Ohio to be unbeatable. The $2.6 million his campaign reported having in the bank entering July helps, too. I was planning on running for governor. I had 88 counties ready to activate. I had a whole team ready to activate, Husted said. Its not like I just got appointed to the Senate out of nowhere. Im tested. Were tough. We know what were doing and weve got a great campaign. As for the prospect of a clash with Brown, I dont bother myself worrying or wasting time about who the Democrats might or might not nominate. We just run our campaign and well win. Moodys muscle Since her appointment to the Senate in January, Moody has enhanced her ties to Trump while also building a significant war chest that should ward off any serious challengers. She ended June with $2.2 million cash on hand, putting her on strong financial footing in a state with 10 expensive media markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, a Moody-aligned super PAC has raised $7 million. Moody, 50, was already a well-known part of the states Republican establishment. As the Florida attorney general, she won two statewide races in dominating fashion, facing no primary challenge during her 2022 re-election bid. Any primary opponent to Sen. Moody would be running against her backing by a united Republican Party machine and quickly find their candidacy crushed, said David Johnson, a veteran Florida GOP operative. During her six years as attorney general, Moody was seen as a solid Republican, but generally stuck to state-level issues. But upon moving into federal politics, her ability to get close with the president a necessary step toward clearing a primary field had been an open question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moodys super PAC has since hired Trump world heavyweights Chris LaCivita, who helped run Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, and Florida-based Tony Fabrizio, who has long been one of the presidents top pollsters. There was a moment earlier this year where Rep. Cory Mills was considering entering the primary, but momentum has disappeared. Mills is now facing his own brewing scandal related to a lawsuit seeking his eviction over alleged failure to pay thousands of dollars in rent at a property in Washington, D.C. As the 2026 midterms approach, there is not a single indicator pointing to Moody facing a credible primary challenger. Josh Weil, who got national attention earlier this year when he ran closer than expected to Rep. Randy Fine in a congressional special election for an overwhelmingly Republican district, is running for the Democratic nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But few believe that Florida Democrats have the resources or statewide infrastructure to win a Senate seat after Republicans have quickly turned the state deep red over the past few election cycles. Trump carried Florida by 13 percentage points in 2024. Johnson said that in order to compete in a contested Florida Senate general election, candidates need to be able to spend upward of $50 or $60 million on TV alone, not just raising the amount in gross dollars via small-dollar grifting like Weil did in his special election. Just like Kamala, they wont play here, Johnson said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com On 18 July 252 Venezuelans were repatriated from El Salvador, where they had been imprisoned following deportation from the US, in exchange for the release of ten detained US citizens and at least 59 Venezuelans. End of preview - This article contains approximately 390 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) dropped a damning new label for Donald Trump this weekend as she explained why she ultimately doesnt expect Republican lawmakers to break ranks with the president over the Jeffrey Epstein controversy. Trump has recently sought to downplay demands for transparency around the investigations into the late convicted sex offender, his onetime close friend. But theres growing anger and calls for files on Epstein to be released within Trumps own MAGA base. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Republicans want to show that they are loyal to this, you know, I dont even know what to call him. Ive called him so many things, but this wannabe Hitler, for sure, Crockett said on MSNBC this weekend, using a nickname for Trump that quickly went viral on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want to pledge their loyalty to him and they know that he does not want this released, she added. I think they also are concerned about the damage that it may do. If hes trying to hide it, they understand that it is most likely problematic for him, as well as the MAGA brand as well as the Republicans, Crockett said. So, I dont anticipate that they will be on board for doing anything that may harm them or their fearless leader. Watch here: Related... Florida troopers are still searching for the driver who hit a woman in Cocoa earlier this month. Investigators said a 2004 Honda Accord involved in the crash was found, but they are still investigating who was behind the wheel. A 55-year-old woman from Cocoa was hit by a car while walking on Arabella Lane and was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and is asking for public help to find the driver. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. BUTLER, Ohio (WJW) Authorities on Monday said that Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus was behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck a wanted man who was fleeing from police earlier this month. Bellville Police Department Chief Jon Fletcher at a Monday morning news briefing said his agency was asked to conduct an impartial investigation. 2 teenagers killed, 1 hurt in Cleveland crash: police Dingus claimed the collision was an accident, Fletcher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bellville police did not file charges, but turned over their findings to the Richland County prosecutor for possible charges, Fletcher said Monday. Im not here to determine if he did it intentionally or unintentionally. We are here to provide a non-biased, fact-based report for the Richland County Prosecutor, Fletcher said. The FOX 8 I-Team previously reported the incident happened at about 7 p.m. on July 11. The wanted man, Anthony Ward, was in a vehicle with his grandmother and another woman just moments before the incident took place. His grandmother told a 911 dispatcher that she pulled over because a red vehicle was following her. She said moments after she stopped her vehicle, a Butler village police officer came up to the car, and her grandson took off running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security video obtained by the I-Team shows Ward running and a red car following him and striking him. They ran over him twice and were trying to tell me that can be that way, the grandmother told the dispatcher. The grandmother asked for the Richland County Sheriffs Office to send a deputy to the scene, but the dispatcher said police were already on scene. Yes, but they are the ones that ran over him, the woman told the dispatcher. Make Indians Great Again: President Trump urges Guardians to restore former name The dispatch records also state that Ward was injured and may have a broken leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-Team has also asked for police body camera video and dash camera video, but that information has not yet been released. Ward was released from prison in February after serving time for a sexual battery charge. According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction website, he was wanted by the Adult Parole Authority when officers tried to arrest him 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuela's attorney general's office said on Monday that it has opened an investigation into El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele for alleged mistreatment and human rights violations against Venezuelan migrants. The migrants in question spent months detained in a maximum-security prison in the Central American country after being deported by the United States. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said his office decided to open the probe after some of the migrants informed Venezuelan authorities of the alleged mistreatment. The investigation includes El Salvador's Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro and the head of the prison system, Osiris Luna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 250 migrants were held since March in a mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, which was built to hold alleged gang members in Bukeles war on the countrys gangs. They were released on Friday by El Salvador in exchange for 10 U.S. nationals jailed in Venezuela, and as part of a three-country arrangement. Bukele's office didn't reply immediately to a request for comment. CARACAS/SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -Venezuela Attorney General Tarek Saab said on Monday that his office will investigate El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and two other officials for the alleged abuse of Venezuelans who were detained in the Central American country. More than 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison returned to Venezuela on Friday, under the terms of a prisoner exchange agreed with the United States. Detainees suffered human rights abuses ranging from sexual abuse to beatings, were denied medical care or treated without anesthesia and given food and water that made them ill, Saab said at a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as Bukele, Venezuela will investigate El Salvador's Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro and Head of Prisons Osiris Luna Meza, Saab said, after showing videos of former detainees recounting torture and showing injuries - including a missing molar, bruising and scars - they said were the result of the abuse. Bukele's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Reuters was not able to immediately confirm the assertions made in the videos. Two of those shown speaking were identifiable as former detainees in CECOT. Late on Monday, Bukele posted about the return on social media but did not comment on the abuse allegations. "The Maduro regime was satisfied with the swap deal; that's why they accepted it," he said on X. "Now they scream their outrage, not because they disagree with the deal but because they just realized they ran out of hostages from the most powerful country in the world." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Venezuelans were sent to El Salvador from the United States in March after U.S. President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang without normal immigration procedures. The deportations drew fierce criticism from human rights groups and a legal battle with the Trump administration. Family members and lawyers of many of the men deny they had gang ties. The former detainees arrived near Caracas on Friday, where some reunited with their families, but they have not yet returned to their own homes. "I can't stop thinking of the hunger my son went through," Yajaira Fuenmayor, the mother of former El Salvador detainee Alirio Guillermo Belloso, said on Sunday afternoon from her home in Maracaibo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have a salad ready, some grilled arepas (traditional corn cakes) because he loves them, and there is fish in the refrigerator to fry." The government has said the men will be medically evaluated and interviewed before being released. It has always said the El Salvador detentions were illegal and that only seven of the men had serious criminal records. POLITICAL PRISONERS FREED The Venezuelan opposition has regularly critiqued the government of President Nicolas Maduro for holding activists and others in similar conditions within Venezuela. The U.S. said last week that 80 Venezuelans would be released from Venezuelan jails as part of the swap, which also freed 10 Americans held in Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forty-eight Venezuelan political prisoners have so far been released, legal rights advocacy group Foro Penal said earlier on Monday on X. "We regret the absence of an official list that allows us to verify with more precision," the group said, adding that some lists in circulation have included people not classed as political detainees, people who had already been released and even prisoners who have died. The communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about who is set to be released and whether any of them will be subject to house arrest or other alternatives to detention. The main opposition coalition in Venezuela has cheered the release of the prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the coalition said on Sunday nearly 1,000 people remain jailed in Venezuela for political reasons and 12 others have been arrested in recent days, in what it called a "revolving door" for political prisoners. (Reporting by Mayela Armas and Vivian Sequera, Additional reporting by Nelson Renteria in San Salvador, Mariela Nava in Maracaibo, Sarah Kinosian in Mexico City; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Saad Sayeed) WACO, Texas (FOX 44) A Venezuelan national was sentenced in a federal court after he pleaded guilty to one count of failure to notify of an address change and one count of failure to carry his alien registration on his person. The Department of Justice (DoJ) says Jarrison Bladovino-Melano, a.k.a. Jarrison Jovanniy Melano a.k.a. Yabanni Merlanoin was sentenced in Waco on Friday. According to court documents, Bladovino-Melano was arrested in Belton on July 13 for Possession of Marijuana and booked in the Bell County Jail. As he was determined to be an illegal alien, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer with the jail. A further investigation revealed Bladovino-Melano was previously paroled into the United States by the U.S. Border Patrol in September 2022, and released so that he could travel to New York and reside at an address provided by his sponsor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DoJ, Bladovino-Melano was encountered by the Frederick Police Department in Aurora, Colorado, one year later. He was residing there at the time instead of at the New York address. He was then found to be residing in Belton. Bladovino-Melano was transferred into ICE custody on July 17. He pleaded guilty the next day in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Derek T. Gilliland, who sentenced Bladovino-Melano to time served. Bladovino-Melano remains in ICE custody for further processing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. TUPELO Authorities have identified the man who led multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed pursuit Saturday afternoon before crashing his car and fatally confronting police. Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green identified the deceased as Juwan Harris, 31, of Nettleton. He was pronounced dead July 19 at 1:55 p.m. at the North Mississippi Medical Center. His body will be transported to the State Medical Examiners office in Pearl for autopsy. Sources with knowledge of the incident said it started in Monroe County, proceeded north where both the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Verona joined the case. Tupelo police offered assistance once it reached their city limits around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Bailey Martin said officers originally responded to a call to assist a neighboring agency in a pursuit with a hostage in the vehicle. The suspect wrecked the vehicle in Tupelo and came to rest along Highway 45 between McCullough Boulevard and Interstate 22. Following the wreck, the suspect got out of the car and pointed a weapon at officers. The officers then discharged their weapons striking the subject and causing serious injuries, Martin said. The subject was transported to a nearby hospital. The officer or officers who fired upon Harris have not been identified. The MBI release said the shooting involved the Verona Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No officers were injured during the encounter. MBI is the lead agency looking into the incident. They are currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney Generals Office. HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Vietnam braced for Typhoon Wipha on Monday as coastal provinces were placed on emergency alert and airlines canceled flights ahead of the storms expected landfall early Tuesday. The typhoon is forecast to bring powerful winds and heavy rainfall, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides in northern Vietnams mountainous areas and flooding in urban centers, including Hanoi. This is a very strong storm, moving fast, with a wide and dangerous impact on both land and sea, Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in a directive to government agencies. He ordered all fishing boats, cargo ships and tourist vessels to return to shore and urged the evacuation of people in high-risk areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storm has already proved deadly in the Philippines, where it intensified monsoon rains and killed at least three people over the weekend, including one who drowned and two others struck by falling trees. Philippine officials were checking reports of three more deaths, while seven people, including two children, remained missing. Floods, landslides and debris affected over 800,000 people, with about 90,000 forced to evacuate, authorities said. Hundreds of cruise ships have anchored in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay after authorities suspended all tourist boat services due to the storm. A tourist boat capsized there during a thunderstorm over the weekend, ahead of the typhoons arrival, killing at least 37 people. Ongoing bad weather is expected to complicate the search for the missing. National carrier Vietnam Airlines and its affiliate Pacific Airlines canceled at least nine domestic flights on Monday, with more delays expected. Budget airline Vietjet canceled 12 flights including international routes to South Korea. Local authorities have deployed rescue crews and stocked food and medical supplies while working to secure telecommunications infrastructure. State media reported nearly 150,000 hectares (370,658 acres) of aquaculture farms and more than 20,000 floating fish cages could be at risk from flooding and high winds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency warnings have been sent to millions of residents by text message. Forecasters expect Wipha to make landfall between Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa provinces early Tuesday, with wind gusts reaching up to 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour. Vietnam is no stranger to tropical storms. But climate experts said such storms were getting stronger due to global warming since warmer ocean waters provide more energy to fuel the storms. This results in increased wind speeds and heavier rainfall. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed about 300 people and caused $3.3 billion in damage, reducing GDP growth by 0.15%. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receive support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Multi-type helicopters engage in flight training China Military Online) 11:02, July 21, 2025 A WZ-10 attack helicopter attached to a brigade under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command lifts off for a flight training exercise on July 5, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ji Jiantao) A WZ-10 attack helicopter attached to a brigade under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command flies in the sky during a flight training exercise on July 5, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ji Jiantao) A Mi-171 transport helicopter attached to a brigade under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command flies in the sky during a flight training exercise on July 5, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ji Jiantao) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Missouri v. Starbucks may be the blueprint for a federal anti-DEI campaign By Bennett Nuss web posted July 21, 2025 While analyzing a complaint prior to decision is the legal equivalent of soothsaying, there may be some merit in looking at the case presented by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in Missouri ex rel. Bailey v. Starbucks Corp. for an indication of how some jurisdictions may be looking at the legality of corporate DEI programs. This complaint, filed in Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on February 11, 2025, cites several instances of alleged misconduct on the part of Starbucks, alleging that many of its diversity programs that it pursued from 2020-2024 constituted invidious discrimination based on race and sex. For sake of fairness, Starbucks has yet to make a substantive filing addressing the complaint's allegations, and filed a motion to dismiss Missouri's claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), (2), and (6) on April 7, 2025, which Missouri replied to on June 16, 2025. As of the time of writing, the Court has not ruled on the motion. However, the line of attack selected by Missouri should be of interest to those who are invested in the future of corporate DEI programs. Some have excoriated the lawsuit as being predicated on Starbuck's workforce becoming "more female and less white." However, a sober look at the complaint indicates that there are a few concerning corporate practices which should be considered suspect in analogous cases, even if this specific case is thrown out on procedural grounds. The first accusation levied by AG Bailey is that when Starbucks made a commitment to achieve "BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) representation of at least 30 percent at all corporate levels and at least 40 percent of all retail and manufacturing roles by 2025" within its 2022 proxy statement, this statement showed their hand that diversity and equity goals by the company are (or at least were) pretextual for quota-based discrimination in hiring and promotion on the basis of protected class. Usage of quota to track corporate diversity goals were common in recent years, with 43% of companies "continu[ing] to maintain and promote quantitative, time-bound DEI goals" as of November 2024. The use of quotas to satisfy affirmative action goals was illegalized in 1978, and thirteen Attorneys General (including AG Bailey) signed a letter following the overturning of university affirmative action programs in Students for Fair Admission, to which the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) signed an amicus brief, arguing that the decision implicates corporate diversity practices. Starbucks was contemporaneously sued for this quota-based program by NCPPR in 2022, but the case was dismissed with prejudice on dubious grounds. The second accusation is that corporate financial compensation being tied in part to the company's diversity goals resulted in officers engaging in discrimination. This section is the most technically complex, but for sake of simplification, corporate officers were allegedly given a bonus if Starbucks met its quantitative diversity goals company wide. Additionally, these directors' annual compensation would allegedly be tied to their personal involvement in an employee mentorship program in which the mentees were selected based on their involvement in affinity-based employee groups. The alleged provision of the incentive provides an indicator that Starbucks' quantitative adherence to quota, as executives received 102.8% of the target bonus payout. Additionally, Starbucks allegedly compels corporate officers who fail to meet diversity quota to suffer adverse employment action, although this allegation is not cited within the complaint. Thus, corporate officers were allegedly provided with financial compensation for implementing company policy which promoted invidious discrimination and punished for noncompliance. This malfeasance is allegedly ongoing, despite revisions to Starbucks' officer compensation programs in 2024. The third accusation is that in allegedly favoring Starbucks' BIPOC and female employees for training and advancement, Starbucks discriminated against those employees not selected. The basis for this accusation is both in reference to the metrics before cited, but also in the extensive use of Starbucks' Partner Networks programs, affinity groups not necessarily organized by Starbucks itself, but formed by their employees of specific racial and sexual demographics. Leadership in these affinity groups were allegedly preferred by Starbucks for training and advancement, indicating preferential treatment based on affinity, although this accusation is not supported by citation in the complaint. While such organizations are not per se discriminatory, analogous organizations known as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) exist in 90% of Fortune 500 companies, and leadership of these groups are compensated by their employer. If these groups really serve as means for Boards to have a plausibly deniable method to discriminate on the basis of protected class for employment decisions, then they should be scrutinized as such. The EEOC and DOJ have already published joint guidance online which indicates that exclusion from any ERG may constitute actionable discrimination. While it is possible that the Eastern District of Missouri may decide that the Attorney General does not have standing to bring this suit for legalistic reasons too complex to discuss fruitfully here (or even in that the state has not convincingly alleged a real harm), this case's filing should constitute notice for companies who have engaged in analogous practices in recent years that their actions may constitute actionable discrimination. After all, the same exclusions that may prevent the Missouri AG from filing suit may not preclude suit from a class who believe themselves aggrieved by the company's actions or, notably, the Executive Branch. The Civil Division of the Department of Justice issued a memorandum on June 11, 2025, noting that the division would begin to enforce Executive Order 14173, specifically investigating "private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, programs, and activities." The framework for attacking Starbucks' program in Missouri may just be a leading indicator of what a federal campaign against analogous programs may look like. Bennett Nuss is an associate with the National Center for Public Policy's Free Enterprise Project. Home On 18 July Haitis Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and the head of Haitis transitional presidential council (CPT), Fritz-Alphonse Jean, hosted Colombias President Gustavo Petro in the capital, Port-au-Prince. End of preview - This article contains approximately 406 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Rachel Prince ran into one of her high school students at Taco Fest earlier this summer. She was just telling us, like, Yeah, I cant wait to see you all next year, we got some new things for yall, Shaquan Lunsford, a soon-to-be senior at Marion-Franklin High School, said. That was the last time Lunsford saw his teacher. Prince was found unresponsive and pronounced dead last Sunday afternoon. The next day, a coroners report stated her cause of death as strangulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is Ohio seeing more summer downpours than usual? Why her, out of all people, was like, she was just more than a teacher, Lunsford said during a vigil honoring Prince at Goodale Park on Sunday. She was like a second aunt to me. Her vibe, her smile, her laugh, the way she jokes, the way she clowns. She was just such a great woman, such a great soul. Princess Smith, another soon-to-be senior at Marion-Franklin, fought back tears as she talked about her favorite teacher. She was such a kind and sweet lady, so, also, like, for you to kill somebody like her is just so disturbing, Smith said. Like, Im still in shock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince was in her second year of teaching art at Marion-Franklin. She taught previously at The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University. Former students from both schools held vigils for their art teacher on Sunday. A group of Marion-Franklin students, staff, and others gathered at Goodale Park Sunday afternoon. They told stories, laughed, cried, and remembered Ms. P for her open door, kind heart, and listening ear. Disappearance of Union County woman from Honda plant nearing a quarter century I just miss her, I just miss her, Lunsford said. Shes a lot. Just missed her. I was going through some things in life, and I was at a point where I was giving up, and she was there, and she had a deep-down talking to me. Shes like, something, you cant give up because you is a star. After that day, I always kept my head up and kept for it, no matter what broke me down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rayauna McNeal graduated from The Charles School (TCS) in 2021 where she had Prince for art classes. She was a mother figure, she was a friend, she, she was everything, she was everything, McNeal said. There was no judgment or anything like that. It was just, you come as you are and shes going to love you for who you are and how you are. Students from TCS gathered Sunday night to light candles and draw chalk art in front of the mural at the school. She loved us, her students, Illijawaun Stinson, a former TCS student, said. More like family. Her room was at home. Her, her advice really helped and touched peoples hearts. It makes them feel seen, it makes them feel more connected with the teacher, with the school. It helps us continue doing our work effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin Co. sheriff says girl, 7, taken by grandmother, may be headed out of country He recalled a time during COVID when classes were taught online and he was struggling to get work done on time. I was dealing with my pop-pop of having dementia and me being his caregiver, and she knew about this and she would, like, message me or, like, we would go in meetings and she would make sure that Im okay, Stinson said. She was very understanding person. She was a caring person. Her students adored her, referring to her classroom as a safe space where they were free to be themselves and often referred to her room as positive vibes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would just spend my whole day in there because the vibes in our room were just so good, especially, oh, youre around, like, it was only one day where I remember her being upset about a situation, but she didnt let that affect her job or how she felt about us, Smith said. She will always keep us in a great mood and happy spirit. She loved us so much and its so sad. I just feel so bad because she was such a sweet and amazing lady. We only got select few people that you can go and tell your problems to in that school, and she was one of them. Now we dont have that comfort in our safe space anymore. Smith recalled a story when Prince caught her in the hallway making a TikTok video. In a moment when some teachers might scold a student or make her feel embarrassed, Prince encouraged her. I was making the TikTok and I didnt know she was watching me outside the door, and then I looked to, she was like, Yeah, I see you there, Smith said. She was like, Get it! Get it! It was so funny. Historic Columbus building with French bistro sold for $2 million Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as Prince listened to her students, they learned from her, and were listeners, too. Several students remembered noticing physical markings on Prince, possible signs of abuse. We see little, like, markings and stuff like that, and she always tell her, like, No, its fine, Lunsford said. Like one day, shed be gone. She would be in the hospital. But deep down, she knows, like, we know whats happening, but she just always was so strong. I know deep down she wasnt okay. Smith said she saw it, too. I had seen a little marking on her neck and Im like, maybe, Are you okay? Smith said. She was, like, Yeah, honey. Well, Im, like, Your neck. She was, like, Oh, its okay. Im going to be okay. Im, like, Are you sure? She was, like, Yeah, so I feel like, at that point in time, I really wanted to tell somebody what its, like, who can you tell? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Domestic Violence Network Director of Health and Disability Programs Rachel Ramirez was at Goodale Park to support her friends and lend her expertise to any of the students who might need an outlet. Listen without judgment, Ramirez said. It is very, a domestic violence survivor who, sharing their experiences with you, is taking a big risk. Being able to listen, being able to thank them for sharing with you, being able to send messages like they do not deserve to be abused, that they are not alone, that its not their fault, and also connecting them, becoming aware of what the resources are. Ohio bill aims to require public officials to comply with ICE Domestic violence survivors talk first to their families, they talk to their friends, they talk to loved ones way before they ever call domestic violence hotlines or do that, so every single person watching this can play a role in helping our domestic violence victim be safer, Ramirez added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These teenagers have been put in a position where they wanted to help. Ramirez said aht for those who want to help, it is important for them to remember, It is not within my power to keep everybody safe. What I can do is I can express my concern. I can express my care. I can connect people with resources. There are around 77 different Domestic Violence organizations in Ohio, according to Ramirez. She said its important to know you can reach out anytime, any day. Theyre anonymous, she said. You dont have to share any information, but being able to tell your loved one that there are people that are available to help you. It is 24/7 and it is something that you can reach out to is really, really important. Domestic violence exists and is able to continue because it happens in private and its a secret and people dont know about it, Ramirez said. Something thats very, very common with domestic violence is if people theres often abusers who threaten if you tell somebody. They may say, I will take the kids away, I will, you know, tell everybody at work that youre using drugs. I will hurt one of our pets, I will do theres all these different threats that can often be a part of that. We know that often in separation, dangerous and costly proceedings become a huge tool of control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to law enforcement officials, Prince was killed by strangulation. Ramirez said there is recent research that shows strangulation can be one of the biggest indicators of future abuse for domestic violence survivors. Columbus Zoos Lantern Festival to feature mythical creatures and more When somebody has been strangled, a lot of times its very, very easy for abusers to minimize that, to downplay that, but that is something that is putting you at a much higher risk of being, of being killed and is, really, abusers who strangle people are particularly dangerous, which is why Ohio made strangulation a felony just a couple of years ago, Ramirez said. If you have ever been choked or strangled or hit or hurt in the head, that can have long-term consequences, including concussion and brain injury, can put you at higher risk of being severely assaulted or even killed. Another vigil in honor of Rachel Prince is scheduled for Monday night at Marion-Franklin High School. Jason Palmer, 37, is being held on $10 million bond as a suspect in Princes death. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-7233 or you can text anytime to 88788. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WEST DES MOINES, Iowa A popular French-Asian bakery has made its way to Des Moines. Tous Les Jours opened its first Iowa location in West Des Moines on July 4. The bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory pastries, cakes, breads, and a selection of coffees. The business quickly went viral on TikTok with hundreds of videos, gaining thousands of likes. The popularity on the internet has translated to a sold-out store at the end of each business day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vinay Mallineni, co-owner of Tous Les Jours along with his brother, said that they were excited to open the bakery in Des Moines. Long-time volunteer honored for more than a decade of storytelling We just want to have a nice, welcoming atmosphere and to have a chat in a cafe, Mallineni said. And also we just want to bring that culture. And so thats when we decided to open. Mallineni also said that lines often long and sometimes loop out of the door due to the popularity. In the first couple weeks of being open, they would be sold out of everything by 2:00 p.m. Now, they are looking to hire more bakers and staff to meet the increased demand. He said what they were expecting for business, essentially was doubled. He and his brother are also grateful for the kindness and understanding for customers visiting when they have been slow, or out of stock due to demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amount of support that they are giving us kind of relieves some of the stress, Mallineni said. When we say we are out, they say, Oh, we understand. Until the additional bakers are hired, Mallineni recommends that customers arrive between 9 and 10 a.m. to have all items to select from. However, the business is open from 8 a.m. to 5 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 who13.com. The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) Virginia politicians spending gives glimpses into campaign tactics. Richmond Times-Dispatch More than 1.4 million Virginians affected in Radiology Associates of Richmond data breach. WRIC Virginia Supreme Court upholds state commissions decision to deny Dulles Greenway rate hike. WTOP News Virginia public media stations brace for impact of federal funding cuts. VPM News Virginia man who had 155 pipe bombs pleads guilty to federal crimes. Washington Post SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Reading is the key to success, according to educators, and this school year, you can have the opportunity to help students improve their skills. Volunteer applications are now open within Oklahoma City Public Schools. Oh, the places youll go. To the classroom, the after-school program, or even the book bus that lets students get a free book during the school year. LOCAL NEWS: OKC Zoos baby elephant splashes around in celebration of World Elephant Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back to school means its time to get back to reading, and leaders at Oklahoma City Public Schools are eager to get students excited about books this fall. How we invest in our kids is what were getting in our future because education is a strength to our community, said Kendra Horn, the President and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation. Educators at OKCPS said reading is a foundation for students in the classroom, and applications are now open for you to be a volunteer and travel to district schools with the book bus. Were helping kids read their home libraries and build that love of reading. Love of reading is an important part of the puzzle in literacy skills, said Horn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you arent able to volunteer with the bus, you can also sign up to read with students. Volunteers go into the schools and read with OKCPS students to support the districts goals of improving 4th grade reading skills, improving reading skills, and that helps all of us, its an investment in our future, said Horn. While there are a few weeks to go before school starts back up, they want you to apply now. Every year, we run a background check and volunteer application for anyone who wants to volunteer with our students or in our facilities. We really need tons of volunteers, so we want to encourage people to go ahead and fill out our online application, said Nancy Perdomo, OKCPS Director of Family and Community Engagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LOCAL NEWS: Trader Joes opening 30 new locations across 18 states, including Oklahoma The students also said they love collecting books for their home library as they expand their skills every day. Were so thankful for the book bus! said Josue Peruch and Ailyn Ramirez-Peruch, OKCPS students. If youd like to volunteer for the book bus and travel to different schools, become a reading buddy, or host a book club, click here. If youre a parent who wants to go on a field trip during the school year, an updated background check is also required. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON Reporters from The Wall Street Journal will not be permitted to join the official press pool traveling with President Donald Trump to Scotland after the outlet reported on alleged personal communications between the president and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Tarini Parti, who covers the White House for The Wall Street Journal, was originally scheduled to attend the trip this week but was later removed from the list after the outlet published a story detailing a sexually suggestive birthday card Trump allegedly gave Epstein for his 50th birthday. Parti did not write the initial story, but the White House cited the story as justification for the outlets removal. Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the Presidents trip to Scotland, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to the Deseret News on Monday. Due to the Wall Street Journals fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Trump sent Epstein a birthday letter in 2003 with lewd comments and doodle. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret, the missive stated, according to the outlet. Trump denied writing the letter, later filing a lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch over accusations of defamation. We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS article in the useless rag that is, The Wall Street Journal, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. The Wall Street Journals removal from the foreign trip makes it the second outlet to be outright barred from certain coverage. The White House banned the Associated Press from accessing the Oval Office earlier this year over its refusal to use Gulf of America in its reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt cited a federal appeals court ruling upholding that ban in her statement defending The Wall Street Journals removal. As the appeals court confirmed, The Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces, Leavitt said. The Wall Street Journal story comes amid growing pressure from within the Republican Party to release all files related to the Justice Departments investigation into Epstein. The DOJ announced earlier this month there was no client list or any evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. Lawmakers have since filed different pieces of legislation pressing for the publication of all investigative materials despite Trumps demands to drop the story altogether. The president has since taken steps to quell frustration from his base, announcing last week that he would direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin unsealing grand jury testimony related to the case. In the meantime, GOP leaders on Capitol Hill say they have no plans to schedule votes on Epstein-related legislation. Amid growing speculation around Chinas invasion of Taiwan, the island nation has held its largest ever military exercises. Fresh from reporting on live fire drills off the Taiwanese coast, The Telegraphs Asia correspondent Allegra Mendelson shares the latest on Indo-Pacific tensions with Roland Oliphant. Also, Roland speaks to Neal Urwitz, close friend of the US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy - Elbridge A. Colby - to discuss the latters push to dramatically refocus Americas military might purely on Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. 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. (Photo courtesy of Outdoor Schools Washington) Washington schools looking to send students to overnight outdoor education programs are dealing with a financial crunch after grant funding was left out of the state budget. The Outdoor Learning Grants program, established by the state Legislature in 2021, offered subsidies for schools to send fifth- and sixth-grade students to the outdoor school programs. But lawmakers zeroed out the grants as they worked to solve a budget gap this year. Enrollment is expected to drop as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These programs are held at dedicated outdoor education centers and allow students to engage in hands-on activities out in nature, with an emphasis on scientific inquiry, environmental awareness and teamwork. Funding also went to schools, tribes and program providers to develop outdoor education curricula. The goal was to support outdoor educational experiences for students across the state and include high levels of accessibility for students with disabilities. Tribal schools, schools in rural areas and schools with high populations of free and reduced-price lunch students, migrant students, students of color, English language learners, and students receiving special education services were eligible for the subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washingtons Office of the Superintendent of Instruction cites research showing that students who participate in outdoor educational activities are more likely to graduate, are better behaved in school, and have improved relationships with their peers. The state subsidies leveled the playing field for schools that couldnt afford to send students to overnight outdoor school programs, said Greg Barker, managing director of the Washington School Principals Education Foundation. The foundation administers the Outdoor Learning Grant program and manages the Cispus outdoor learning center in Lewis County. Approximately 730 schools signed up for the state subsidies for the 2024-25 school year, and an estimated 790 were expected to apply this year, Barker said. There is still about $1.4 million left over from the last budget to help students at 50 to 60 of the highest-need schools attend outdoor school in the 2025-26 school year, but theres not nearly enough savings to support all of the schools applying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last two-year budget, lawmakers provided $20 million for the grants, double the amount allocated in the budget before that. Bellingham School District is among those losing funding from the grants this year. Last year, subsidies from the program covered $190,125 of the $200,000 it cost to send all of its fifth-grade students to overnight outdoor school programs at the North Cascades Institute in Skagit County and Camp Kirby on Samish Island. The Bellingham district launched its outdoor learning program in 2013, with the districts 13 schools initially doing individual fundraising to cover the cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is a critical part of meeting the districts goal of holistic child development, said Tom Gresham, a director of teaching and learning with the district and organizer of its fifth-grade outdoor learning program. Its a really good culmination of what kids have been learning in all sorts of ways: science, writing, reading, environmental learning, and just how to get along with other human beings, Gresham said of outdoor learning. The district began funding outdoor learning in its regular budget in 2020, and did so up until the state launched the Outdoor Learning Grants program. For us, that was great, because then we could direct that funding towards some other things, said Gresham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the state funding gone, the district is trying to shift back to fundraising to keep the outdoor learning program alive. Were still in this place of trying to figure it all out, Gresham said. A few other school districts, like Northshore, Kent and Olympia, are trying out fundraising as well, Barker said. Many districts, however, are cutting back on outdoor learning. For some, that means fewer days at outdoor school or a shift to alternative forms of outdoor learning, like a field trip to a local park or nature reserve. Schools that typically sign up for fall outdoor programs are the most affected by the loss of the grants because they have less time to find alternative funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The North Cascades Institute anticipates that only 25% of its usual fall groups will attend this year, but expects enrollment to bounce back as early as this spring. Our projections are looking pretty good, said the institutes program director, Eric Buher. The North Cascades Institute does its own fundraising to subsidize up to 60% of costs for schools to send students to its overnight outdoor school. But now that its own Outdoor Learning Grant funding has been cut, Buher said the organization may need to rethink its approach. Were looking for innovative ways to do things, to cut our costs, to increase donations to help bring schools in, but we also know that thats going to be a journey, Buher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cispus Learning Center is seeing immediate effects from the loss of grant funding and, as a result, is drastically reducing its program offerings this year. Staff are shifting focus to maintain the centers website, keep its curriculum up to date and work with agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife to help schools maintain and adapt their outdoor learning programs. Buher and Barker both hope that the state Legislature will renew its commitment to funding outdoor education once the budget stabilizes. We really want to keep kids outdoors, Barker said. Were just continuing to look for those resources to help them in the short term. Watch: Rosemount cops go viral after encounter with a rowdy deer originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Rosemount police officers have gone viral after an encounter with a deer outside the departments headquarters was caught on camera. On Friday, the Rosemount Police Department released surveillance footage from last month of a deer jumping over a fence into the headquarters parking lot. The video captures officers attempting to direct the energetic deer out of a gate. Instead, the animal leaps at an officer. The officer, identified in the Star Tribune as first-year officer Jon Klecker, was able to get out of the way just in time. But the video still shows hoof prints on the back of his vest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OH DEER! the department wrote on Facebook. Officer JUMPED suspect wanted for Leaping the Law. Last seen fleeing on all fours. The video had more than 125,000 views on Facebook as of Sunday evening. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. On 20 July the national council of Mexicos ruling Movimiento Regeneracion Nacional (Morena) held its annual meeting in Mexico City (CDMX) amid a major corruption scandal implicating Adan Augusto Lopez, one of its federal senators for Tabasco. End of preview - This article contains approximately 391 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Getty Images Researchers from Wayne State University have called for urgent action as the country faces its worst outbreak of measles since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. We are witnessing a dangerous reversal of one of public healths greatest achievements, said Paul Kilgore, co-director of the Wayne State University Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases and director of research and professor of pharmacy practice in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats particularly alarming is that 17 of Michigans 18 cases were unvaccinated. This is entirely preventable. History shows us what happens when we become complacent in 1990, we saw nearly 28,000 cases and 89 deaths nationwide, said Kilgore. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 1,309 confirmed cases of Measles across the country, with three confirmed deaths, the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. in a decade. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX While 95% vaccination is needed to prevent outbreaks, the Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases warns that Michigans childhood measles vaccination rate stands at only 79%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 1,309 confirmed cases, 92% were among unvaccinated individuals. This outbreak represents a critical failure in our system of public health communication, said Matthew Seeger, a professor of communication and a Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases co-director. Sadly, were seeing the consequences of conflicting messages and misinformation leading to confusion, distrust and vaccine hesitancy. Clear, consistent and understandable communication with trusted credible sources is essential to rebuild confidence in one of medicines most important public health tools. The recommendation follows the decision in June by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fire all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, widely seen as part of a vaccine-skeptical agenda from the Trump administration. The Center further warned that measles is highly contagious with 90% of susceptible individuals exposed to the virus becoming infected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the virus can cause immune amnesia destroying up to 73% of antibodies that protect against other diseases and leaving survivors vulnerable to other infections for two to three years after recovery. In the face of the ongoing outbreak, Wayne State researchers recommend parents should immediately verify their childrens vaccination status and schedule catch-up vaccines if needed. They also recommend adults born after 1957 and unsure of their immunity consult with their health care provider. The measles vaccine has been safely administered to billions of people worldwide for over 60 years, Kilgore said. Two doses provide 97% protection for life. This isnt just about preventing measles its about protecting our childrens entire immune system and our communitys health. Additionally, the center advises health care facilities to review infection control protocols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone experiencing symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes followed by a rash should call their health care provider before visiting to prevent further spread of the illness, Wayne state researchers said. While the disease has been considered eliminated in the United States for 25 years, the country is at risk of losing that status, the center warned, with other nations losing elimination status due to prolonged outbreaks. More information on the measles vaccine and vaccination is available at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website at michigan.gov/immunize. Those who like to go out to West Point Lake should be aware that the lake will begin losing some of its water. A drawdown at West Point Dam beginning Aug. 1 will gradually lower the level of West Point Lake for maintenance work, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, announced Monday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The lowering of the lakes water level will begin Aug. 1 and bring down the level of West Point Lake 10 feet from 635 feet to 625 by Oct. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drawdown will help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conduct maintenance on a concrete pier between spillway gates 5 and 6. West Point Lake will reach 630 feet by Labor Day. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that level will be the best to balance the demands of recreation, power production and flood risk management. Maintenance on the pier is scheduled to begin Oct. 1 and finish by Jan. 15, 2026. Once the maintenance is over, the lake will gradually return to a normal level. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Savannah River Site has a total of 51 waste tanks. Eight of those tanks have been operationally closed. (From Savannah River Site fact sheet, May 2022, U.S. Department of Energy) Around the U.S., about 90,000 tons of nuclear waste is stored at over 100 sites in 39 states, in a range of different structures and containers. For decades, the nation has been trying to send it all to one secure location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 1987 federal law named Yucca Mountain, in Nevada, as a permanent disposal site for nuclear waste but political and legal challenges led to construction delays. Work on the site had barely started before Congress ended the projects funding altogether in 2011. The 94 nuclear reactors currently operating at 54 power plants continue to generate more radioactive waste. Public and commercial interest in nuclear power is rising because of concerns regarding emissions from fossil fuel power plants and the possibility of new applications for smaller-scale nuclear plants to power data centers and manufacturing. This renewed interest gives new urgency to the effort to find a place to put the waste. In 2021, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted a license to a West Texas company to temporarily store nuclear waste for up to 40 years but the state of Texas and another private company objected, saying the commissions licensing process was flawed. On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected that challenge and sent the case back to a lower court. No matter the outcome, the decades-long struggle to find a permanent place to dispose of nuclear waste will probably continue for many years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a scholar who specializes in corrosion; one focus of my work has been containing nuclear waste during temporary storage and permanent disposal. There are generally two forms of significantly radioactive waste in the U.S.: waste from making nuclear weapons during the Cold War, and waste from generating electricity at nuclear power plants. There are also small amounts of other radioactive waste, such as that associated with medical treatments. Waste from weapons manufacturing Remnants of the chemical processing of radioactive material needed to manufacture nuclear weapons, often called defense waste, will eventually be melted along with glass, with the resulting material poured into stainless steel containers. These canisters are 10 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 5,000 pounds when filled. For now, though, most of it is stored in underground steel tanks, primarily at Hanford, Washington, and the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, key sites in U.S. nuclear weapons development. At Savannah River, some of the waste has already been processed with glass, but much of it remains untreated. At both of those locations, some of the radioactive waste has already leaked into the soil beneath the tanks, though officials have said there is no danger to human health. Most of the current efforts to contain the waste focus on protecting the tanks from corrosion and cracking to prevent further leakage. Waste from electricity generation The vast majority of nuclear waste in the U.S. is spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before it is used, nuclear fuel exists as uranium oxide pellets that are sealed within zirconium tubes, which are themselves bundled together. These bundles of fuel rods are about 12 to 16 feet long and about 5 to 8 inches in diameter. In a nuclear reactor, the fission reactions fueled by the uranium in those rods emit heat that is used to create hot water or steam to drive turbines and generate electricity. After about three to five years, the fission reactions in a given bundle of fuel slow down significantly, even though the material remains highly radioactive. The spent fuel bundles are removed from the reactor and moved elsewhere on the power plants property, where they are placed into a massive pool of water to cool them down. After about five years, the fuel bundles are removed, dried and sealed in welded stainless steel canisters. These canisters are still radioactive and thermally hot, so they are stored outdoors in concrete vaults that sit on concrete pads, also on the power plants property. These vaults have vents to ensure air flows past the canisters to continue cooling them. As of December 2024, there were over 315,000 bundles of spent nuclear fuel rods in the U.S., and over 3,800 dry storage casks in concrete vaults above ground, located at current and former power plants across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even reactors that have been decommissioned and demolished still have concrete vaults storing radioactive waste, which must be secured and maintained by the power company that owned the nuclear plant. The threat of water One threat to these storage methods is corrosion. Because they need water to both transfer nuclear energy into electricity and to cool the reactor, nuclear power plants are always located alongside sources of water. In the U.S., nine are within two miles of the ocean, which poses a particular threat to the waste containers. As waves break on the coastline, saltwater is sprayed into the air as particles. When those salt and water particles settle on metal surfaces, they can cause corrosion, which is why its common to see heavily corroded structures near the ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At nuclear waste storage locations near the ocean, that salt spray can settle on the steel canisters. Generally, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, which you can see in the shiny pots and pans in many Americans kitchens. But in certain circumstances, localized pits and cracks can form on stainless steel surfaces. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy has funded research, including my own, into the potential dangers of this type of corrosion. The general findings are that stainless steel canisters could pit or crack when stored near a seashore. But a radioactive leak would require not only corrosion of the container but also of the zirconium rods and of the fuel inside them. So it is unlikely that this type of corrosion would result in the release of radioactivity. A long way off A more permanent solution is likely years, or decades, away. Not only must a long-term site be geologically suitable to store nuclear waste for thousands of years, but it must also be politically palatable to the American people. In addition, there will be many challenges associated with transporting the waste, in its containers, by road or rail, from reactors across the country to wherever that permanent site ultimately is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps there will be a temporary site whose location passes muster with the Supreme Court. But in the meantime, the waste will stay where it is. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Voters in Rhode Island Senate District 4 will head to the polls on Aug. 5 for a special election. Republican Alex Asermely is one of two candidates looking to replace the late Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who died in April. Asermely is the first Republican to run for this seat since 2008. A special election was called after Ruggerios death. Asermely faces North Providence Town Councilman Stefano Famiglietti, who won the Democratic nomination in July over three other Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district contains parts of Providence and North Providence. Ruggerio held the seat since first being elected in 1985. Watch our interview with Asermely above. 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. As Brendon Baillod and a team of researchers explored the Fox River in Oshkosh for historical shipwrecks, an unexpected image appeared in their sonar. It likely marks a new historical discovery the L.W. Crane shipwreck. The L.W. Crane was once a pivotal part of Oshkosh. During the 1860s to the late 1880s, the Crane and similar steamers were important to its commerce and served as a connector between cities. Still photo of the L.W. Crane site in high resolution taken with WUAA'S DeepVision Deep Eye sonar. This is an archeological quality sonar made in Sweden that WUAA recently purchased. The Fox River in the Oshkosh area connects with Lake Winnebago to the east, and provides access to the Mississippi River to the west, after a portage to the Wisconsin River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was a major artery of commerce for native people and the bottom of the Fox obviously is sort of a treasure of archaeological information," Baillod, the president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeological Association, said. In 1880, the L.W. Crane caught fire and sank to the bottom of the river. That's what Baillod's team thinks it saw in the image during its survey this spring. But the team actually was looking for something else. The WUAA and the Wisconsin Historical Society worked together to survey the Fox River, using the WUAA's sonar equipment. Their main goal was to examine an area of the river where a magnet fisherman had found an anchor. The anchor likely belonged to the Berlin City steamboat, which sank after an explosion during a race in July 1857, killing five people and burning several others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, during the search, nothing substantial was found at that site. The survey was eventually expanded, Baillod said. Sonar imaging, which has been used in Wisconsin for maritime discovery since the 1960s, helps researchers discover boats that are buried deep in the riverbed. Sandbars also rapidly fill in the Fox River, which makes it difficult to see shipwrecks. While watching the sonar image, Baillod said he saw a few smaller boats, although the L.W. Crane was clearly identifiable for a few reasons. The dimensions of the boat about 90 feet long and 23 feet wide were consistent with what he knew about the L.W. Crane, and the shipwreck was close to the reported location of where the boat sank. "I drew the beam in to about 100 feet, and that's when we started to get really excited because we went over it, and it was very clearly a vessel hull and a square, so likely a riverboat," Baillod said. "I immediately measured the acoustical image on the screen, and it almost perfectly matched the historical dimension of the L.W. Crane." WUAA's survey map of the Fox River The L.W. Crane is about two miles away from where Berlin City is reported to be. The Berlin City shipwreck was surveyed by Kevin Cullen, the executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We know from historical records that the L.W. Crane was docked next to this railroad bridge and had caught on fire and sunk in that area," said Jordan Ciesielczyk-Gibson, a maritime specialist for the Wisconsin Historical Society. "So this is based on the evidence of what is available in the historical records. It matches up what we're seeing," The story of boats like the L.W. Crane are important to organizations like the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association and the Wisconsin Historical Society. "Having something tangible that connects to that history and what we know about the region of that time, that's what makes it so important," Ciesielczyk-Gibson said. Left to right: Bob Jaeck, WUAA, Jordan Ciesieczyk-Gibson, WHS, Kendra Kennedy, WHS, Brendon Baillod, WUAA. Baillod said he's been finding shipwrecks for over 30 years and, although he specializes in Great Lake shipwrecks, he still wanted to search the Fox River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Part of what we want to do," he said, "is educate the community about these sites and let them know that they have these really important cultural resources." Fox River shipwrecks These are the shipwrecks in the Fox River, according to Wisconsin Shipwrecks: Menasha, sank in 1861, a steam paddle Berlin City, 1870, a steam paddle L.W. Crane, 1880, a steam paddle Union, 1880, a steam screw Minnie, 1883, a steam screw E.P. Weston, 1886, a steam paddle T.S. Chitterton, 1889, a steam paddle Satisfaction, 1946, a tug Bob Teed, 1947, a tug This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New shipwreck believed to be found in Fox River in Oshkosh The Velvet Sundown has been churning out one shallow Indie ballad after the other, and even though the songs are hardly expected to win them any Grammy awards, people are starting to wonder. The answer is simple, and the band - or rather its makers - doesn't hide behind the fact that it has been relying on artificial intelligence to pump out three albums containing 13 songs each within the space of six weeks. "Not quite human. Not quite machine. The Velvet Sundown lives somewhere in between," it says on the band's social media accounts and its Spotify site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's said to be a band of four, but the members have not been seen in public so far. Images of the group have evidently been created by AI. Music by The Velvet Sundown started making the rounds across streaming platforms from early June. Combining rock, country and folk elements, most of the songs are interchangeable, mellow and tame - as long as you ignore lines like "March for peace, not for Pride" in the group's most played song "Dust on the wind." The covers of the three albums released between early June and mid-July - "Dust and Silence", "Floating on Echos" and "Paper Sun Rebellion" - look eerily alike, all depicting an orange, desert-like landscape, some water and a blue sky dotted with Dali-esque figures and shapes. The instant success of the mass production - The Velvet Sundown had 1,468,242 monthly listeners on Spotify as of July 21 - has sparked outrage and concern across the music industry as many worry what the future may look like. Blurring boundaries "The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualized with the support of artificial intelligence," it says in the band's Spotify profile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Described as "an ongoing artistic challenge designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI", the makers assure us that all songs and videos are "original creations generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.". But not everybody appears convinced that the project challenges the music industry - which has always had to contend with rapid technological transformation since its onset - in a meaningful way. The success of The Velvet Sundown has sparked a debate over Spotify's AI policies, with the streaming giant so far not explicitly labelling the band's music as AI-generated so far - unlike rival platform Deezer for example. Spotify cites the lack of an industry-wide metadata standard stipulating how AI-generated songs must be labelled to justify the lack of transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As soon as a standardised approach is available, we will carefully examine how we can implement it," the Swedish industry giant told dpa upon request. Streaming services rely on rights' owners when it comes to supplying relevant information on a song and its creators, Spotify says. A human behind every machine Despite its heavy reliance on AI, even a band like The Velvet Sundown cannot exist without human contribution, notes Virginia Dignum, a professor in computer science at Sweden's Umea University whose research focuses on responsible artificial intelligence. Humans are always involved and humans make a profit from the kind of music released by The Velvet Sundown, even if a project is only about marketing and attention, Dignum says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides posing quintessential questions about the value of human creativity, one of the main issues with AI-generated music is that the software draws on compositions and lyrics created by real artists, the professor notes. Claiming that AI is able to "generate" music, text or images is therefore misleading, Dignum says, adding most of the content has essentially been copied or stolen, without taking copyrights or authorship into account. Real threat to artists' livelihoods In the long term, AI-generated music could become a major problem for songwriters and authors. Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC recently reported, citing estimates by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), that songs created with the help of AI tools could cause artists to lose up to 10 billion ($11.6 billion) in income over the next four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is one reason why critics have been calling on Spotify to clearly label AI-generated content. Like other AI experts, Dignum believes that strict regulation must be a central part of the technology, while at the same time calling for users to be better taught how to use AI. Subjecting AI to clear rules is like ensuring that a car has breaks, she explains. But just like requiring drivers to take a drivers' test, we must ensure that people understand how to apply those rules, according to the professor. A growing force of Republicans are calling for transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, with many calling for files from the billionaire sex offender's investigation to be released -- a fervent demand of the MAGA movement that propelled Donald Trump into a second term in the White House that is now frustrating lawmakers from both parties. But after a handful of Republicans temporarily stalled the $9 billion rescissions package last week over the Epstein issue, Speaker Mike Johnson does not appear likely to entertain further consideration of the matter before setting the House free on a five-week recess that stretches past Labor Day. MORE: GOP Rep. Tim Burchett still wants Epstein files to be released Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week Johnson was able to appease Republicans by moving a non-binding resolution that provides for the public release of certain documents, records, and communications related to Epstein through the House Rules Committee. But now that Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" is done, and the rescissions package has cleared the House, Johnson may be less inclined to entertain demands from the fringes of his conference -- leaving it off the floor schedule this week. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters - PHOTO: Rep. Thomas Massie speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., June 27, 2025. Johnson said Monday the House will not hold a vote on the resolution before the August recess. My belief is we need the administration have the space to do what it is doing, and if further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then we'll look at that. But I don't think we're at that point right now because we agree with the president, Johnson said. Johnson argued again there is no daylight between House Republicans and the White House on maximum transparency regarding the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He [Trump] has said that he wants all the credible files related to Epstein to be released. He's asked the attorney general to request the grand jury files of the court. All of that is in process right now, he said. MORE: Trump calls those who want Epstein files released 'troublemakers' Jonathan Ernst/Reuters - PHOTO: House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., July 17, 2025. The push and the pressure Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have banded together on bipartisan legislation, H.R., 4405, to require Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all documents and records in possession of the Department of Justice relating to Epstein -- with Massie threatening to force consideration of the measure with a discharge petition if Republican leaders dont schedule a floor vote on the resolution. But the bill only has eight other co-sponsors, a meager amount that falls far short of the support necessary to convince Republican leaders to schedule a vote on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie has threatened to launch a discharge petition if Republican leaders dont acquiesce, which could eventually compel Republican leaders to consider the Epstein matter contrary to their preference. Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty Images - PHOTO: Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997. What is a discharge petition? Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna launched a bipartisan discharge petition earlier this spring to allow proxy voting for new lawmaker parents up to 12 weeks after giving birth. She made waves on Capitol Hill and headlines across the nation when she and a small group of Republicans signed onto a petition alongside Democrats. In theory, only six Republicans would need to pluck up the courage to band together and sign a discharge petition with all 212 Democrats. But that presumes that every House Democrat supports a measure -- which is unlikely given the miniscule number of cosponsors. In reality, there is a long climb ahead to force the issue inside the Capitol. The next must-pass legislation won't be considered until Congress attempts to avert a government shutdown in late September. Johnson on Monday voiced strong opposition to the Massie-Khanna discharge petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discharge petitions are never a good idea in the House. It is a tool of the minority party not majority. The majority party has stated its position, and it is mine, its the presidents that we want maximum disclosure. So, the rest of it is a political game that Democrats are playing, and I hope Republicans dont join it, he added. The discharge petition procedure rarely succeeds Before the Luna-Pettersen petition, the last time it had worked was in 2015, when a bipartisan coalition banded together to force a vote to extend funding for the Export/Import Bank. There are seven additional discharge petitions that are actively gathering signatures right now -- on issues from support for Ukraine to tariffs. An absolute majority of the House -- 218 -- is required for members outside of leadership to force consideration of a measure. Even if a member resigns or dies, their signature would remain valid. Lawmakers must file a discharge petition with the Clerk of the House during legislative business. After 218 members sign, a 219th or more would not have the opportunity to pile on signatures after the petition is frozen. Meg Kinnard/AP - PHOTO: Rep. Ro Khanna speaks during an NAACP meeting, July 20, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. Looking ahead A discharge may only be pursued for legislation that has been referred to committee for at least 30 legislative days. Khannas resolution was introduced July 15 and referred to the Judiciary Committee. According to House rules, the earliest he and Massie could initiate a discharge petition would be Oct. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if there are eventually 218 signatures on Oct. 21, the bill would not immediately come to the floor. House rules state that the matter must be noticed on the legislative calendar for seven days -- surely punting any prospective vote on an Epstein resolution deep into the fall. ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report Congress has passed one of the most draconian cuts to social safety net programs in modern American history. President Donald Trump proudly signed the bill into law. As a result of the legislation, which opponents agree is deeply destructive, over 11 million Americans will lose their health care coverage. Many rural hospitals will likely have to close their doors, thereby widening the health care deserts. Millions will lose access to food stamps. Educational services for lower-income and disabled children will shrink. The big political question is whether the Republicans will face serious political repercussions for what they have done to the American people, red and blue, all to pay for the extension of supply-side tax cuts and a massive expansion of immigration control enforcement. Fiscal conservatism has nothing to do with the decision, as the legislation is going to blow a hole in the debt that Americans will be paying for over generations. In an earlier era, political logic would dictate that Republicans would pay a steep price. Taking so many concrete goods away from a wide range of citizens, including those who make up the core of a political coalition, has traditionally been considered a bad idea. But will that fallout happen by 2026? The central political question is whether the GOP will face electoral consequences or once again escape them. In an age of hyperpolarization and media fragmentation, outrage has a shorter shelf life, attention spans are fractured, and accountability is harder to achieve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1989, though, a Democratic Congress was forced to repeal a major new health care benefit, along with the taxes that had been included to pay for it. How did this come to pass, and why wouldnt such a reversal happen now? Throughout the 1980s, health care experts became increasingly concerned about the costs that elderly Americans were facing as a result of catastrophic medical situations, such as strokes, spinal cord injuries, and heart attacks. Medicare, created in 1965, did not cover most of those conditions. Elderly Americans and their families were forced to find other ways to pay for treatment. In 1988, the Democratic Congress, working with President Ronald Reagan, decided to do something about the problem. Secretary of Health and Human Services Otis Bowen, who had been the chair of an advisory council in 1984 that recommended a policy response, crafted much of the proposal. After regaining control of the Senate back from the GOP in 1986, Democrats mobilized to pass the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act. They added benefits such as premium protection to support lower-income beneficiaries. The historic bill passed with sizable margins and substantial bipartisan support. The vote was 328 to 72 in the House; 86 to 11 in the Senate. The legislation expanded coverage in a number of critical areas, including hospitalization and skilled nursing, hospice stays, home health care, respite care, and strict caps on hospital and doctors bills. Congress also included a prescription drug benefit for the first time in the programs history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reagan had insisted that the benefits be self-financing. In response, Congress included higher premiums for Medicare Part B (the section of Medicare that covered doctors visits), and then, to cover the remaining two-thirds, a progressive surtax that would increase depending on the income of the beneficiaries. For the highest brackets, the maximum amount would be $800 on individuals and $1,600 for couples. This legislation will help remove a terrible threat from the lives of elderly and disabled Americans, Reagan stated upon signing the bill, the threat of an illness requiring acute care, one so devastating that it could wipe out the savings of an entire lifetime. The president explained that it will be paid for by those who are covered by its services. Overall, from the perspective of the administration, the measure seemed historic and politically beneficial. Following passage of the bill, the architects of the program lost control of the debate. Opposition quickly mounted as the press reported on more of the details in the bill. It blew up, former Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Brian Donnelly, who opposed the measure, explained. A lot of people in the United States already had this coverage. Almost every retired union member had the coverage through negotiated benefits. Some frustration stemmed from the bills design. Congress, for instance, had not included long-term hospital care. But the provision that generated the most heat was the tax increase. Although most Americans would never feel much of the burden of the surtax, opponents spread false information that every elderly citizen would have to pay the $800 surtax, a significant amount for working and middle-class Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As news from the pollsters started to circulate, congressional Democratic leaders like House Speaker Jim Wright and Sen. Bentsen didnt do much to push back. They assumed that emotions would settle, as they often did, and the elderly would rationally realize the immense benefits they would be receiving and gain a realistic understanding of the tax obligations. The proponents were wrong, as their opponents blitzed the public with negative information. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a liberal group chaired by President Franklin Roosevelts son James, launched a major campaign calling to end the new program. The group sent out misleading flyers, warning that their 5 million members should oppose the seniors-only income tax increase, which suggested the $800 maximum on individuals, or even the $1,600 (which was for couples), would in fact fall on everyone who was over 65. When the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that costs would be much higher than legislators had originally predicted, public concern about costs accelerated. On Feb. 6, 1989, Republican Rep. Al McCandless, who had always opposed the legislation, introduced a bill to repeal the entire measure. As legislators returned to their districts for the summer recess in August 1989, they were yelled and screamed at by voters who feared a mass tax on the elderly. They thought retired people were sitting around doing their ceramics and their little aerobics classes in senior centers and wouldnt give any fight, explained a retired airline pilot in Las Vegas named Daniel Hawley. Well, they found out differently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Reagan had signed the bill, congressional Democrats faced most of the blowback. One of the programs designers, House Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, was accosted by a group of seniors in front of the press. Late in the summer, Rosti was in Chicago to speak to constituents at the Copernicus Center about the program. He arrived to find that almost 200 people were packed inside the building waiting to grill him. Taking the temperature of the room, the chairman said he preferred to speak to a smaller group in a private setting. They refused. Feeling that the confrontations would be politically damaging, Rostenkowski left the building. The constituents booed him. Some of the elderly protesters followed him out of the building. Liar! and Recall! they screamed. The geriatric protesters surrounded his car, pounding on his windows, yelling insults about what he had done. Hes supposed to represent the people, not himself, one woman screamed at the closed car window. The crowd surrounded the car in order to block it. Unsure of what to do, Rostenkowski opened the door and quickly departed, walking down the street as the protesters and media trailed him. The image was one for the ages. At one point, he walked into a gas station, where his car was waiting to speed him away. California Rep. Pete Stark, who served on the Ways and Means Committee, concluded that the law had been too complex and opened the door to misinformation. I dont think there are 300 members of the House who could tell you extemporaneously what Medicare benefits are. Proponents of the law also admitted that they made a tactical mistake by scheduling the premiums to go up before anyone received benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 4, the House voted to repeal the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act 360 to 66. The Senate voted to repeal the surtax and many of the benefits while keeping unlimited hospital coverage. The vote was 99 to 0. During conference committee, senators gave way to the House and accepted its more stringent decision. Most of the law was erased from the books. President George H.W. Bush signed the repeal into law in December. Rarely has a government program that promised so much to so many, noted the New York Times, fallen apart so fast. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell warned: By repealing the legislation, we have not repealed the problem. The problem is bad and getting worse. Given the state of contemporary politics, it might be that Republicans dont suffer the same fate as Democrats in 1989despite legislation that will have a much greater effect on the well-being of voters without providing any benefit in return. Democrats face an even greater information challenge. Republicans have consistently enjoyed more success in the contemporary media environment. The rapid pace of news in the attention economy makes conditions very different in 2025 than the late 80s. The ability for any single issue, no matter how dramatic, to hold national news space for very long has diminished. Moving from one story to another at dizzying speed, with more people tuned out altogether from any common source of information, provides some degree of insulation to a party from being held accountable for its decisions. If the public is not paying attention, which Trump is very good at ensuring, elected officials tend to worry much less. Media stunts like the protest against Rostenkowski can go viral, but the scroll moves on. Like the problems with Medicare Catastrophic, the design of the budget bill will help Republicans. Congress delayed most of the Medicaid cuts until after the 2026 midterms. Assuming partisan discipline and media amnesia, there are a number of other reasons that Trumps party might be able to weather this storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the 1980s, Republicans have been pounding away at the idea that government is a bad thing when it comes to social services and support. Though the right has been more than comfortable using government issues like defense and policing, when it comes to helping middle-class and working Americans, Republicans have unleashed a fierce rhetoric about the dangers of dependency, fraud, and abuse. Even when Republicans backed away from cuts, the ideas endured. Dependency, fraud, and bloated government became bipartisan concerns. Many Democrats, as the historian Gary Gerstle argued in The Rise and Fall of the New Deal Order, have adopted their own version of this ideology. The era of big government is over, President Bill Clinton famously declared in his 1996 State of the Union address with House Speaker Newt Gingrich watching from behind feeling content. For all of these reasons, Republicans are feeling, with justification, that they might be able to get away with the bill and avoid the turmoil Rostenkowski felt as he fled from a geriatric crowd. Until Democrats figure out a strategy to break through this political environment through effective voter mobilization and public communications, they will watch, helpless, as the GOP dismantles programs they have built, waiting for their opponents to pay a price. One day, if the wreckage is complete, Democrats may realize they fought the battles of 2025 with the instincts of 1989 and lost the house that FDR and LBJ built. State Auditor Andrew Sorrell applauds during the State of the State address by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 in Montgomery, Ala. Sorrell said last week he planned to return contributions received from a Georgia man accused of running a $140 million Ponzi scheme, and claimed that he was a victim of it. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) Money has a gravitational effect on politics. A little can tilt campaigns and policy. A lot warps the democratic process like a bowling ball dropped on a bed. So campaign finance laws show how much our leaders care about a level playing field. Strong ones reveal the flow of money and restrict the ability of the richest 1% to dominate the conversation. They keep the public in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And weak ones? Lets take a look at last weeks political headlines in Alabama. Alabama Political Reporter on Monday reported that Katherine Robertson, a longtime aide to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall who is seeking the office for herself, got a $1 million donation in June from First Principles Inc. What is First Principles Inc.? Damned if anyone knows. Its a dark money organization with hardly any paper trail. If you want to know whos funding it, too bad. And its legal for First Principles to spread its wealth around, which Robertsons campaign repeatedly noted in response to questions from APR. But voters still have a right to know who likes Robertson so much theyll give her $1 million and more importantly, why they like her so much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then theres First Liberty Building & Loan. As Alander Rocha reported Thursday, Georgias Edwin Brant Frost IV, the owner of First Liberty and the subject of a SEC indictment alleging Frost ran a $140 million Ponzi scheme, gave about $132,000 to three elected Republican officials in Alabama over the last four years. Those officials Alabama State Auditor Andrew Sorrell, who got about $71,000 in donations; Alabama State Board of Education member Allen Long, who got $40,000, and Rep. Ben Harrison, R-Elkmont, who got about $21,000 are not accused of being involved in the scheme. Sorrell and Harrison both told Rocha they would return the contributions. (Long did not respond to questions from the Reflector.) But then theres the matter of the Alabama state auditors PAC lending Frosts company $29,000 last year. Sorrell says he was misled like Frosts other investors are alleged to have been. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Alabama law, PACs can make loans as part of a broader purpose of influencing an election. I look forward to hearing if and how Frosts activity met that definition. But beyond that, why on Earth is a political action committee allowed to make a loan to a private company? A PAC is not an FDIC-insured lender. This is an entity that gets contributions for the express purpose of electing a candidate or lobbying for a public policy. How would you like the money you spent to win an election ending up in the hands of a third party accused of fraud? Whose business activities are not subject to disclosure laws? But there arent many restrictions on campaign finance spending in Alabama anyway. PAC-to-PAC transfers are banned in the state, but enforcement of that ban is situational at best. Marshall escaped a referral in 2018 for accepting money from a federal PAC for his reelection campaign that year. And Ive seen many other entities work to conceal their efforts on behalf of candidates. The Alabama Education Association in 2014 routed millions of dollars to out-of-state entities, which then routed millions of dollars to the associations preferred Republican candidates without AEAs name on them. Political consultants can also distribute one donors cash among multiple PACs and send the money onto candidates without any clear sense of who or what is supporting them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our campaign finance laws are written and enforced not to ensure voters have a clear view of the motives and interests of those seeking office, but to conceal that from us. They create a frictionless path between the wealthy and their candidates. Which reflects the design of Alabama government. It allows the powerful to act with impunity and never have to fear the verdict of the ballot box or the censure of popular feeling. Lawmakers care far more about stakeholders their term for powerful interests than voters. A representative government would work from the understanding that the wealthy are a very tiny sliver of the population, with unusual access to resources and priorities that could harm the rest of us. There would be a basic understanding that money and the public interest are not the same. That voters need to understand whos using money to influence elections. The Sorrell loan seems so far outside the intent of campaign finance, even in Alabama, that Id like to believe someone will try to ban it next year. Its a layup that wont affect the ability of incumbents to draw down cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im far less optimistic that well see more enforcement of existing laws. And even less effort to stop anonymous people from influencing our elections. But why would lawmakers try? Theyre working for the donors, and they work to let the donors do what they want. The states campaign laws reflect a basic truth: we have elections in Alabama, but not democracy. The NHS in England could learn important lessons from Scotland after a measles death in Liverpool last week, experts say. Comparative data shows that vaccine uptake in Scotland is considerably higher than in England, with nearly 90 per cent of children fully protected against measles by age five. The difference, say experts, is most likely to be explained by the fact that access to GPs and other primary health care facilities is much better north of the border Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody talks about [vaccine] hesitancy, but the main thing thats stopping uptake is access, Dr Helen Bradford, Professor of Childrens Health at University College London, told The Telegraph. That includes knowing what vaccine is due and when, being able to make an appointment, and actually getting to that appointment all of which can be really difficult for some families. News of the death of a child in Liverpool of measles comes as Britains vaccination rates have fallen to the lowest of any G7 country, including the US. The problem appears to be being driven by the performance of the NHS in England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 89.2 per cent of Scottish children are fully vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine by age five, compared to just 83.9 per cent in England. At the same time, Scotland has much better access to primary care with 76 GPs per 100,000 people, compared to just 58 per 100,000 in England. General practice [in England] has continually had resources withdrawn, but at the same time delivers most of the childhood vaccinations, said Dr David Elliman, an honorary senior associate professor and medical doctor at UCL. Access, he added, was the most important issue. In a GP practice, most parents are happy to have their children immunised. Some may have questions, but as long as they receive clear and satisfactory answers, theyre usually comfortable proceeding, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the pandemic a time where nearly all health systems saw a noticeable decrease in routine vaccinations Scotlands coverage of routine childhood jabs actually increased. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found a 14.3 per cent increase in children receiving the second dose of the MMR vaccine on time during the first lockdown in Scotland compared with vaccination levels in 2019. England saw a net fall in the same period of 1.93 per cent. The researchers linked the boost to flexible working for parents which meant they could attend vaccination appointments and better access to mobile vaccination centres. In 2018, the Scottish Government took the decision to transfer the responsibility for delivering vaccinations from GP practices to regional health boards as part of a plan to boost uptake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While most vaccines are still administered by GPs, the shift gave health boards the flexibility to tailor services for harder-to-reach communities. Unlike in England where families often struggle with rigid booking systems, the so-called 8am scramble for same day appointments, and limited availability Scotland offers vaccinations in several different settings like schools, A&E departments, and at home visits. We need to get away from being too rigid in what sort of settings we give the vaccine in. Traditionally its either been a community clinic or general practice but we ought to be doing it more in the places that parents go to, and particularly children who are at high risk, said Dr Elliman. That means more immunisations in hospital settings and in neighbourhoods, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scotlands better vaccination rates appear to be positively influencing outcomes. So far this year, England has recorded 529 measles cases, while Scotland has had just 27. In 2024, those numbers were even more dramatic: 2,911 cases were recorded in England, compared to just 24 in Scotland. While population size partly explains the disparity Englands population is more than eleven times larger than Scotlands it doesnt account for an almost 120-fold difference in infection rates, say experts. Only last week, the health secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the need for better access to primary health care in England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the governments new NHS 10-year plan, he committed to rolling out neighbourhood health services to try and end the 8am scramble and make it easier to see your GP, referencing the countrys maddening and archaic GP booking system. The document also includes a plan to boost vaccine uptake by allowing nurses and midwives that carry out home visits to administer vaccines in England. Yet it is unclear when the new measures will come into force: England currently faces a 5,000 shortfall in the number of health visitors needed to provide the mandated four at-home visits required for every child in the country under school age. Scotland outcompetes England in this area, too. About 90 per cent of Scottish children receive at least their first four scheduled reviews, compared to just short of 65 per cent in parts of England, including London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are the public health nurses that have contact with all young families with young children, often the first port of call, the first place that parents will ask questions about immunisation. The numbers [in England] have gone down dramatically, which for those people who have got questions means there isnt always somebody obvious to ask, said Dr Bradford. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter started its life as one of the more controversial programs in Pentagon history. Two decades of delays, blown budgets, software problems, and political fights made it look like the fifth-generation fighter might be remembered more for what it cost than what it could do. Now, it has become a major part of NATOs airpower. Fourteen of the 32 NATO allies the U.S., the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Finland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Greece are either flying the jet now or plan to. The United Kingdom also recently announced it would purchase the F-35A to serve as a nuclear deterrent. And of the 18 NATO countries that do not fly the F-35, nine dont operate any fighter aircraft at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At its core, the F-35 offers three things most legacy NATO jets cant enhanced survivability, integration, and standardization. A U.S. B-2A Spirit bomber assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing and a Royal Netherlands air force F-35A conduct aerial operations in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 20-2 over the North Sea March 18, 2020. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Matthew Plew. Against a modern air defense network like those used by China or Russia, fourth-generation fighters like the F-16 or Eurofighter cant get close to a target without being detected. Even the best jammers or towed decoys dont change the fact that older jets were designed before stealth was considered essential. The F-35, while not invincible, is stealthy enough to survive in contested environments and smart enough to do more than shoot missiles. Flying more as a sensor platform, it pulls in radar, targeting, threat and electronic warfare data that can then be passed to other aircraft or ground units. This makes it valuable as not just a fighter, but as a node in the broader command-and-control network that NATO allies will rely on in a joint fight. Top Stories This Week News Army bids farewell to laundry specialists Army bids farewell to laundry specialists By Patty Nieberg News The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks By Matt White News Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate generals dad Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate generals dad By Matt White Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standardization also matters. NATO air forces are used to flying together, but that coordination gets complicated when everyone is flying different aircraft with different capabilities, data links, munitions, and maintenance needs. The F-35 streamlines all of that. Pilots train on the same simulators. Maintenance crews can work off the same playbook with parts, procedures, and diagnostics. Spare parts, software updates, and weapons integration become easier and cheaper. The F-35 is also no longer a theoretical platform with questions surrounding its effectiveness in combat. Israel has flown its custom F-35I Adir in multiple combat operations, including strikes against Irans air defenses and suspected nuclear facilities in Operation Rising Lion. The United States has also used the F-35 over Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and in operations against the Houthis. Still, there are concerns. With so many countries betting on a single platform, those same benefits can become weaknesses. If a major software bug or hardware issue grounds part of the F-35 fleet, as we have seen before, multiple times, it could affect operations across multiple countries, with few viable replacements. An Israeli F-35I Adir assigned to 140 Squadron, Nevatim Air Base, taxis out for a mission during Red Flag-Nellis 23-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March, 24 2023. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis. Theres also the matter of cost and complexity. The F-35 is expensive to operate, between $26,400 and $39,000 per flight hour according to a GAO report, and requires specialized infrastructure and contractor support. For smaller countries, that creates dependency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO has tried to mitigate these bottlenecks with regional sustainment hubs. Italy assembles the jets at Cameri, and the Netherlands handles major maintenance, while other partners manufacture parts and other necessities. But its a long way from the kind of modular, self-reliant logistics that legacy jets allowed. Regardless, the F-35 is no longer just an American fighter; it is, for better or worse, becoming NATOs as well. The attempt by European aerospace builders to create a next-generation fighter drags on. We get into it in the latest video on YouTube, diving deeper into the reasons why this works, and why it may not in the future. Go ahead and watch that here, and please like and subscribe while youre there so you dont miss the next one. NEED TO KNOW Last month, Pope Leo XIV declared that the birth of baby boy in Rhode Island in 2007 was a miracle The newborn's heart stopped, and then the attending physician offered up a prayer to a 19th century priest The miracle is a reminder of the power of prayer and the intercession of holy men and women, said the Chancellor of Diocese of Providence Almost 20 years after he nearly died at birth, a little boys arrival at a Rhode Island hospital has been declared a miracle by Pope Leo XIV. Its the first such declaration of his papacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newborns recovery occurred in 2007, at the now defunct Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, after the Venerable Servant of God Salvador Valera Parra was reportedly called on, the Diocese of Providence said in a statement on Facebook. The formal decree was one of many that Pope Leo made last month, according to the Vatican. The Vatican and Diocese of Providence did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for further comment. Father Timothy Reilly, Chancellor of Diocese of Providence, said the declaration was wonderful news. The miracle is a reminder of the power of prayer and the intercession of holy men and women, he said in a statement. God is indeed close to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 14, 2007, an emergency cesarean section was performed because the unborn baby had a slow heart rate, oxygen deficiency and other issues, according to a report by The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Born prematurely, the baby boy, identified as Tyquan, was born with multiple health issues and, after an hour, no heartbeat was detected. The attending physician, who hails from Spain, then prayed to the 19th century Spanish priest for the for the child's salvation, the translated report read, noting, Shortly thereafter, the newborn, without any external intervention, recovered his heartbeat and began to revive. Expected to have cerebral palsy or other developmental issues because of his health conditions at birth, instead Tyquan was speaking at 18 months and walking at 2 years old, according to the report. Little Tyquan continued to grow like a normal child, The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints report said, leading a regular life and participating in sports." Wikipedia Father Parra. Father Parra. Father Salvador Valera Parra was born in 1816, in Huercal-Overa, Spain, where he served as a diocesan priest, archpriest and parish priest, according to a statement by the Vatican. He helped those suffering during cholera epidemics, a devastating earthquake and fires, and established a home for the elderly before his death in 1889. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that Father Parra has been connected to a miracle that has been approved by Pope Leo, he could be declared a saint. 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. Seven years after the little boy survived, an investigation into the miracle began when a bishop in Spain sent investigators to Rhode Island, Reilly told NBC affiliate WJAR. "The cool thing is, the more you think about the miracle itself, Father Valera lives in the 19th century. He never came to the U.S. We have no knowledge of him coming here. Never came to Rhode Island, the chancellor told the outlet. And yet, because the doctor called out and called upon his name for help in the situation back in '07 on behalf of that little baby, he decided to intervene and ask God for a miracle. Read the original article on People A string of violent protests has erupted outside a hotel in Essex that is believed to house asylum-seekers in what police condemned as mindless thuggery. More than 1,000 protesters attended demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel in Epping across 13, 17 and 20 July. The protests came after a 38-year-old asylum seeker was charged with sexual offences against a teenager and an adult in the town. Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, had arrived by boat just eight days before his arrest. He denies the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said irresponsible behaviour at the protests, which left police officers and hotel workers injured, would not be tolerated, branding some protesters thugs and vandals. He added the force had made 10 arrests since the demonstrations, with five charged over violent disorder. Here is everything we know about the protests: Masked protesters attack and jump on police vans near the Bell Hotel on 17 July (Ky Mo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock) What happened at the protests? Protests on Sunday 20 July saw a large number of people gather outside the Bell Hotel, as an initially peaceful demonstration descended into violence with bottles and flares thrown. The events marked the third time in eight days that violent scenes unfolded outside the Bell Hotel, which is thought to be temporarily housing asylum seekers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two security guards working the Bell Hotel were also attacked at a bus stop after the first protests on Sunday 13 July. The attack is being treated as a racist hate crime. Reports indicate that most of those in attendance at the initial protest were local people concerned about the arrest of Kebatu and the location of the asylum accommodation. Signs reading Protect Our Kids could be seen in the crowds during the initial hours when the protest was peaceful, with families in attendance with their children. Footage from the scenes after the second protest on Thursday 17 July shows rioters attacking police vans, with one man appearing to be struck by a vehicle that was attempting to navigate the crowds. Eight police officers were injured following what again started as a peaceful protest outside the hotel. Women hold a placard as they demonstrate peacefully near the Bell Hotel on 20 July (Getty) What sparked the protests? The events were organised in response to the arrest of Kebatu, who denies all charges and remains in custody. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On 10 July, Essex Police confirmed Kebatu had been arrested after being alerted to reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager. The initial protest on 13 July was sparked after Kebatu was charged. On Monday, a court heard Kebatu is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl. What have the authorities said? Following the protests, Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which began peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle. For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery think again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Constable Harrington told the media on Wednesday: Whos important to Essex Police the communities of Epping, and the right for everybody there to go about their business lawfully and peacefully. What its not about is allowing people to commit crime, to commit violence, or to disrupt those communities. The policing boss denied reports officers had been overwhelmed and outnumbered at the protest, insisting there was a robust policing operation in place. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a stark warning to Keir Starmer, saying the UK faces a repeat of last years summer riots unless the government shows it can address peoples concerns (PA Wire) He also said it was not true that police had driven protesters to the site of the hotel, telling members of the press people came to the protest of their own volition. Chief Constable Harrington went on to urge people to comment responsibly on social media reports, saying online posts can have real consequences to the communities of Essex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a stark warning to Keir Starmer, saying the UK faces a repeat of last years summer riots unless the government shows it can address peoples concerns. She told the prime minister it was incumbent on the government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to peoples lives in their communities amid worries the country could see a repeat of the violence sparked in Southport. At the press conference on Wednesday, Chief Constable Harrington said police were aware of the plans, and that forces across the country were working together to prevent further unrest, adding they had learned a lot last summer. He also thanked those who had protested peacefully, adding many feel firmly about an issue that concerns them and have expressed that well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epping Forest District Council has called on the Home Office to close asylum seeker hotels, including the Bell Hotel. Following the disruption, council leader Chris Whitbread repeated concerns that its location is entirely unsuitable. He also condemned the violence that has broken out there. Police protect the Bell Hotel in Epping on 20 July (Getty) Were the far-right involved? Experts from far-right research group Hope Not Hate say this series of gatherings, which began with largely peaceful intent, was co-opted by actors intent on causing violence. Several prominent members of the far right were in attendance, analysis by the groups Right Response Team found, with figurehead Tommy Robinson drawing attention to the initial protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage and photography from the events show people with links to groups such as the British National Party (BNP), Britain First, Patriotic Alternative and neo-nazi group Blood & Honour all in attendance. The Bell Hotel has regularly attracted anti-migrant protests organised by groups such as these since 2020, Hope Not Hate explained, with actors capitalising on the recent concern to reignite racial tensions. Nick Lowles, CEO at Hope Not Hate, said: The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred, pushing what could have been a peaceful protest towards violent disorder. The individuals engaging in violence are not representative of the people of Epping, who are understandably angry following the assault of a local girl. Instead, they sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse. This is an odd moment for the Trump administration and its MAGA supporters. Im not talking about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has led at least a few members of this weird political cult to question their slavish devotion to a deeply flawed leader. Rather, Im talking about the recent shifts in Trumps foreign policy, which are a clear departure from positions that he has taken in the past. Instead of cutting a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and ending the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, as he promised he would during the 2024 campaign, or permanently halting all U.S. aid to Ukraine, Trump is now promising to send Kyiv more military assistance and even encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to strike Moscow directly (advice that he walked back after the story broke). Trump is not pledging Biden administration-era levels of support, and there are good reasons to question whether this new policy will last, but it is still a striking shift that sparked sharp criticism from previously loyal MAGA-types such as firebrand House Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Trump aide Steve Bannon. Similarly, instead of disengaging from Europe and pivoting sharply toward Asiaas officials such as Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby have long urgedTrump has also expressed a newfound affection for NATO. Hes not abandoning the Middle East, either: Hes letting Israel do whatever it wants (as all his recent predecessors have done), but last month, he went to war against Iran at Israels request, ordering U.S. forces to bomb Iran in a failed attempt to eliminate its nuclear program. Never-Trumper neoconservatives such as Bill Kristol were delighted, of course, but former fans such as Tucker Carlson were dismayed. Lastly, Trump recently agreed to let Nvidia resume advanced chip sales to China, suggesting that hes backing away from past efforts to stifle Chinese technological advances via export controls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not saying Trumps a new man. Hes still committed to his economically illiterate tariff war, still undermining relations with key allies that the United States needs to balance China, and still engaged in a breathtakingly stupid effort to gut the United States once-dominant scientific community and undermine its premier universities. Chinas leaders must be giddy with delight: In an era when scientific and technological mastery is the key to world power, the Trump administration is engaged in act of unilateral disarmament. Trump also continues to conduct vendettas against perceived personal enemies, shows growing signs of cognitive decline, and is happily presiding over the most corrupt administration in U.S. history. At his advanced age, hes not going to become a different person. But his recent actions are not the foreign policy that he promised or that his followers expected. How might we explain these shifts? I can think of at least three possibilities. One obvious explanation is that the foreign-policy Blob is beating him again, despite Trumps efforts to bring it to heel. As I argued in my last book, the foreign-policy establishment thwarted most of Trumps efforts during his first term because Trump didnt understand how government worked and had neither a clear strategy for overcoming the establishment nor a cadre of loyal officials who would faithfully implement his vision. Except for trade policy, therefore, the substance of U.S. foreign policy didnt change very much during Trumps first term. True to form, Trump blamed his many failures on the so-called deep state and vowed to do better if he got another chance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time around, Trump tried to overcome the Blob by appointing photogenic loyalists, such as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, or easily manipulated opportunists, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio or Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, to key cabinet posts or other influential positions. But putting obedient lackeys at the top of key departments hasnt worked out as he had hoped. For starters, Trump is a bad manager who is incapable of giving his subordinates clear, coherent, and consistent instructions to follow. Second, as many had feared, Hegseth is an unqualified and inept administrator who has blundered repeatedly and whose own office is a sea of dysfunction, according to a former aide. Rubio is an ideologue with strong neoconnish tendencies; he wont buck his boss, but hell nudge him in dangerous directions. Moreover, although getting rid of former commanders and firing a lot of civilian officials leaves key agencies understaffed and less effective, it doesnt change the worldview of the people who remain in place or prevent them from advancing policies that might be contrary to Trumps instincts. The bottom line is that taking on the Blob would require the president to put a lot of smart, experienced, and knowledgeable people in key positions and work with them to develop a coherent strategy that reflected a different set of principles. The president has now had two opportunities to accomplish this goal, and hes whiffed both times. A different and more flattering explanation is that Trump is simply adjusting to reality. He has discovered that his supposed friendship with Putin didnt give him much influence over the Russian leader, and that Putin wasnt about to end the war just because Trump wanted him to. Trump may not share former President Joe Bidens view that Putin as an evil leader who must be decisively defeated, but he now recognizes that the Russian president wont negotiate seriously as long as hes confident of eventual victory, which has led him to move closer to Bidens approach. Restoring U.S. aid to Ukraine is supposed to put pressure on Putin to cut a deal, although the level of aid that Trump is promising is probably insufficient to achieve that aim. Still, in this interpretation, Trumps recent shifts are evidence that hes learning, and not a sign of lingering deep state influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One could tell a similar story about the Middle East. Like Biden, Trump was never going to put any serious pressure on Israel, which is why the genocidal war against Gaza continues to rage with active U.S. support. Iran was never going to agree to Trump and Rubios demand that it give up its entire nuclear enrichment capability. With diplomacy frozen, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was able to convince Trump that airstrikes could eliminate Irans nuclear program once and for all and cement Israels regional dominance. The war did not achieve these aims, however, and Israel is still too small to establish genuine hegemony in the region. But in this admittedly charitable interpretation, Trump was pragmatically adjusting U.S. policy as events in the region evolved as well as resisting calls for a protracted air campaign or an increased ground force presence. As for China, perhaps the president and his advisors realized that an all-out economic war with Beijing was going to do considerable harm to the U.S. economy and wasnt going to halt Chinas technological advances. If so, then lifting the ban on the export of Nvidia chips and negotiating some sort of interim trade deal makes sense. Id like to believe that this explanation is the right one, and that Trump is trying to adapt to changing circumstances, but it implies a degree of coherence and strategic vision that is hard to discern. Helping Israel kill more Gazans and letting it bomb the Houthis, Lebanon, and Syria whenever it wants wont make the United States or Israel more secure, and bombing Iran is more likely to convince its leaders to sprint for the nuclear bomb instead of choosing to remain only a latent nuclear weapons state. Sending more Patriot missile systems or other arms to Ukraine wont alter the situation on the battlefield or Putins political calculus, and the administration has neither proposed a political solution that both sides might accept nor admitted that it has no solution and chosen to walk away. (Trump flirted with the latter option earlier this year, but he ultimately backed off.) Yes, the Trump White House has revised its policies in light of events (as all presidents must), but it takes a great deal of squinting to see a well-developed strategy behind its various responses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which leaves Option 3: The recent shifts in Trumps foreign policy are mostly about the presidents ego. Hes sending more arms to Ukraine not because he has a newfound commitment to that countrys independence, but because Putin was making him look bad. He decided that NATO was OK after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte showered him with flattery worthy of a medieval courtier. He jumped into a pointless war in the Middle East because blowing stuff up made it look like he was in charge, regardless of the results. Trumps on-again, off-again approach to tariffs is also entirely consistent with this explanation: He likes tariffs because they keep everyones attention riveted on him. They go up, they go down, they are paused then reinstated, and every single time the media goes into a tizzy and starts talking about him once more. For some observers, such as Janan Ganesh of the Financial Times, Trumps lack of a consistent or coherent worldview and relentless preoccupation with his own image is preferable to the doctrinaire extremism common within the MAGA base, because his lack of any genuine policy convictions or deeply held policy preferences (apart from his fixation on tariffs and trade deficits) makes it easier for him to alter course as needed. Im not so sure. Because Trump cannot separate the national interest from his personal interest, remains a terrible judge of talent, and is notoriously vulnerable to flattery, U.S. foreign policy on his watch is proving to be even more erratic, internally inconsistent, and counterproductive than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington could get away with this when it was the sole superpower (though it paid a substantial price for its various follies), but global circumstances are far less forgiving today. In an era when the United States is facing the most formidable peer competitor in its history as a great power, having an impulsive and erratic leader giving orders to subordinates chosen for their loyalty rather than their competence is a poor recipe for success. Americans can only hope that German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck was right when he supposedly said that God has a special providence for drunkards, fools, and the United States of America. The country is likely to need it. Donald Trump has made a career of bringing meritless cases to try to intimidate opponents, influence the public narrative, or delay other proceedings. He has been willing to absorb the harsh criticism and risk of adverse judgments, reasoning that he could weather any storm so long as his base remains steady. Trumps base has stood by him through almost anything: indictments, impeachments, grotesque abuses of power. The same voters who cheered family separation and shrugged off his call to terminate the Constitution have stayed firmly in his corner. In recent settlements with CBS and ABC, he leveraged threats directed at the companies broader business holdings to secure settlements of weak or groundless cases. But the Jeffrey Epstein story is different. It touches something even Trumps most devoted followers may care about more than him: the conspiratorial obsession with pedophilia rings and global elites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he is taking on a publicationThe Wall Street Journalthat has bet its reputation on the story. Hes not going to be able to shake down the Journal for a cheap settlement and a claim of victory. For years, MAGA diehardsand adjacent QAnon circleshave insisted that a secret cabal of elites is engaged in child trafficking and that Epstein was central to the network. The belief isnt just that Epstein was evil, but that he was a gatekeeper to a world of depravity involving media moguls, financiers, and powerful politicians. While he was out of power, Trump encouraged MAGAs obsession and promised to open the books if he returned to the White House. And in recent weeks, Attorney General Pam Bondi all but swore that the full story was coming, only to deliver a meek never mind and retreat to the position that there were in fact no Epstein files to reveal. So when the Journal reported that Trumps name appeared in a 2003 birthday note in one of Epsteins personal notebooks, it wasnt just another tabloid tidbit. It was confirmation of the deepest suspicions in MAGA world thatalong with the Bondi reveal, which nobody believeshave given rise to a drumbeat for the administration to come clean that shows no signs of going away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps response was to immediately deploy his very thin playbook, bringing a defamation suit against the Journal and a series of its employees, plus owner Rupert Murdoch, still a major decision-maker at the paper as well as at Fox News. The move did rally Trumps base to his defense in the short term. But in the longer term, its the stupidest thing he could have done. Trump couldve taken the approach he did with his first sexually tinged scandal over his comments on Access Hollywood: Admit it, dismiss it as wrong and juvenile, and pivot. He did in fact part ways with Epstein the very next year, reportedly banning him from Mar-a-Lago after an alleged advance toward a young woman. He could have said, Yes, I once wrote a birthday note, before I knew who he really was. I cut ties long ago. End of story. Instead, Trump went all in immediately on a claim that the letter was a fake. His complaint asserts that no authentic letter or drawing exists. Defendants concocted this story to malign President Trumps character and integrity and deceptively portray him in a false light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which means that he has made the whole case, and the whole political scandal, turn on one question: Is the greeting real? Anyone with a whiff of media literacy knows the likely answer. The Wall Street Journal surely never would have published the story without rock-solid sourcing. If they printed it, they probably have the receipts. And that means its Trumps burden to show that the reporting is false and they knew it. Its also true that the Journal never would have published the story were it not prepared for all-out war with Trump. This is not like Trumps recent cases involving ABC and CBS, which were also meritless but which he was able to leverage to a claim of victory by bringing business pressure to bear that was unrelated to the merits of the case. Here, by contrast, there is a certain train wreck in Trumps future; and the only question is whether the Epstein story is far enough down the tracks for his MAGA constituency to just forget about it. The evidence of the last few weeks is that thats unlikely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The road to that endpoint is also a nightmare for Trump. Every court filing in the case will pour more fuel on the fire and dominate another news cycle. Every motion or court hearing will reinforce the major question that he cannot win: the existence of the notebook. And then theres the question of a Trump deposition. Trump is a notoriously undisciplined witness. He rambles. He lashes out. He implicates himselfand others. Imagine that energy under oath, on the record, about Epstein. Since the case hinges on the claim that the notebook doesnt exist, Trump will be askedexplicitlyabout his relationship with Epstein, his knowledge of Epsteins behavior, past statements, and anything that could corroborate or contradict his denials. Its hard to envision a version of that deposition that isnt a debaclelegally and politically. And it all leads inexorably to the point that the notebook is verified and Trumps credibility craters. And the very people whove demanded Epsteins enablers be unmasked will see that Trump tried to bury the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By filing this suit, Trump guaranteed the worst version of this story will dominate the news. This wont be one of those scandals that fades in the churn. Its built for slow, ugly unraveling. It ensures repeated exposure, sustained embarrassment, and a final reckoning thats inexorable. And once again, as with so many of Trumps wounds, this one is self-inflicted. There was an off-ramp. He could have minimized the damage. But he cant help himself. The man who once boasted he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose support may have finally found the issue that tests that theorynot because the allegations are more damning but because, for once, the story matters more than the man. Hes not just up against The Wall Street Journal. Hes colliding with the dark, paranoid mythology hes spent years feeding and exploiting. And that means that as long as he maintains the lawsuit, it is going to extend and aggravate the scandal that is now roiling his second presidency. MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has named Conservation Warden Bradley Dahlquist its 2024 Warden of the Year. Dahlquist, part of the Antigo Warden Team in the DNRs Northeast Region, was honored with the prestigious Haskell Noyes Award at a July 12 ceremony in Antigo, according to a press release. The award, now in its 95th year, is one of the highest recognitions given to Wisconsin conservation wardens. Milwaukee Admirals to play in teams first-ever outdoor hockey game Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Known for his dedication, leadership, and community spirit, Dahlquist has served as a DNR warden since 2008. Hes praised by colleagues as a humble leader with a strong commitment to public service and a can-do attitude. Brad has been instrumental in serving the public in Forest and Langlade counties throughout his career, said Capt. Ben Treml, who nominated him. Hes always willing to help, keeps up with new technology, and volunteers for extra duties. 5 million above-ground pools recalled after deaths reported in 6 states including Wisconsin Dahlquist is also a familiar voice on local radio, sharing seasonal updates and safety tips on 106 FM Antigos monthly Breakfast Club Radio Show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brad treats everyone with respect and often changes peoples view of the department, said Lt. Jacob Cross, his supervisor. He truly represents the best of our warden service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Blaise Keller - WISC WISC meteorologist Blaise Keller was covering the July 16 severe weather outbreak for the Madison, Wisconsin CBS affiliate when he noticed one of the five tornadoes produced by the storm was headed straight for his moms house. A trained spotter has reported a tornado along County Road Z, a reported funnel cloud County Road YZ, so that would be right where were looking at - so Im going to text my mom and let her know, Keller said during the live severe storm coverage. He took a moment on air to note he needed to text his mom, and then stepped away a short time later to call her. He said that when she answered, she told him they were in the basement watching him and his co-meteorologist on television. Keller said he reassured him she was OK and told him to get back on TV. His mother said the storm just missed her goats and chickens, but when she emerged from the basement, she found significant damage to trees on her property. CBS News Of the five tornadoes, four were rated EF0. The strongest was an EF1 that was on the ground near Dodgeville in Iowa County. That was kind of my worst fear coming to life on air, Keller said, fighting back some emotions during an interview with ABC 33. Sorry, its just something that I didnt think I would have to do, did not want to ever have to do, and I hope I never have to do again. NEED TO KNOW A Chicago woman has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 1-year-old boy on Friday night Police alleged the 31-year-old woman drowned the 1-year-old boy in Lake Michigan The 1-year-old boy was pronounced dead after being rushed to a local hospital A Chicago woman has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after police allege she drowned a 1-year-old boy in Lake Michigan on Friday night, PEOPLE has learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surah Amon was arrested shortly after the alleged murder took place late Friday after witnesses called police to report seeing the 31-year-old woman in the water, according to NBC 5, CBS 2, and ABC 7. When Chicago police arrived at the scene, they discovered Amon still in the water and soon realized she had been drowning the young boy, according to reports. The Chicago Fire Departments Marine Unit took the boy out of the water, but he was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly afterwards, according to ABC 7. Police have not confirmed what Amons relationship was to the 1-year-old boy, according to CBS 2. 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. According to a news release obtained by PEOPLE, Chicago police said Amon was expected to appear in court on Monday morning, where she faces one felony charge for first-degree murder and another felony charge for murder with a strong probability of death. Read the original article on People MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) A woman has been charged after allegedly using a machete to attack a victim at a church in Morgantown. On July 18, officers with the Morgantown Police Department were dispatched to Trinity Church on Willey Street for a report of an assault which had taken place, according to a criminal complaint. While officers were en route, they were advised by the communications center that someone was cut with a machete and bleeding badly, officers said. Connie Newberry When officers arrived on scene, they met with the victim who was bleeding from both of his lower legs and multiple people were applying pressure with towels, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man allegedly picked children up by their necks as punishment in Barbour County After EMS workers were dispatched, the victim told officers that Connie Newberry, 53, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, attacked him with a machete, officers said. Officers located the machete on the sidewalk and made contact with Newberry inside the church with a cut on her right leg; she was then taken into custody, according to the complaint. Newberry has been charged with malicious assault. She is being held in North Central Regional Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) A woman has been charged with assault after fighting with an officer, causing him a broken ankle that requires surgery. Kassie Diane Marsh, 34, has been charged with disarming a police officers energy device, assault by prisoner, possession of a controlled substance, sexual battery, and interfering with a police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to documents, just before 5 p.m. on July 20, an officer with the Ogden Police Department was dispatched to the Lindquist Mortuary. Representatives stated that Marsh had been loitering on the property. READ NEXT: Two stabbed during large birthday party in Heber City When the officer arrived, he made contact with Marsh and conducted a records check on the woman. Marsh began walking away, and he told her that she was not free to leave and asked her to stop. After Marsh allegedly ignored his orders, he told her she was under arrest. Following this, documents say Marsh and the officer got into a physical altercation. Marsh allegedly grabbed the officer inappropriately to try and stop him. When the officer attempted to use a taser on the woman, she took it and continued physically fighting with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another officer arrived on scene, and Marsh was taken into custody. The officer who had been involved in the altercation said his ankle had snapped, and was transported to the hospital. Doctors found that the officers ankle was broken and would require surgery. Marsh was arrested and booked into the Weber County Jail, where she is currently being held without bail. She has an initial appearance in court scheduled for tomorrow. 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. A 58-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of multiple crimes Friday night, including aiding and abetting driving under the influence, according to Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and jail log information. Around 10 p.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to a single-car crash at 46th Avenue and Libby Road Northeast in Olympia. Once there, deputies spoke to a woman who allegedly claimed she was the driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses disputed this, however, stating the driver was a male, said Sheriff Sanders in a social media post. The driver was located and was extremely intoxicated and uncooperative. The man was arrested and restrained, Sanders said. It wasnt clear if the man was injured in the crash. Deputies continued to investigate and learned the woman responded to the scene, helped the driver escape, then lied to the deputies by pretending to be the one who crashed, according to the sheriffs post. Sanders also said that the actual driver threatened to kill the deputies. A warrant is being applied for the drivers blood, he said in his post. Once that is complete, he will be booked for DUI, felony harassment threats to kill, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended license, and driving without an ignition interlock device. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt clear Sunday if the man has been booked because there was nothing reflecting those charges in Saturdays or Sundays Thurston County jail log. The woman was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a law enforcement officer, making a false or misleading statement, aiding and abetting driving under the influence, and aiding and abetting driving while license suspended, the jail information shows. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A Ferguson woman is charged after she and two cohorts stole several thousands of dollars worth of clothes from an outlet mall in Chesterfield and led police on a high-speed chase. According to the Chesterfield Police Departments probable cause statement, the theft happened on July 10 at the True Religion store in the St. Louis Premium Outlets. Store employees reported three people stole clothing valued at more than $7,700. Police reviewed surveillance footage from inside and outside the store and saw the trio leave in a 2017 Ford Fusion with a ripped Illinois temp tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A vehicle matching that description was located a short time later on eastbound Interstate 64. Police said they attempted to make a traffic stop but the driver fled at speeds topping 100 miles per hour. The driver swerved across multiple lanes of traffic, onto the right shoulder, and then cut back across to the far-left lane. Police said they broke off their pursuit for the safety of other drivers. Many of the stolen items turned up on Facebook Marketplace, police said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Police arranged to buy some of the items and met with one suspect, identified as Ladarious Melton-Hamilton, and recovered more than $1,300 of the stolen merchandise. Police learned this individual was working with Jhatoria K. Tomlin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they questioned Tomlin, who admitted stealing the clothes from the True Religion and to driving the Ford Focus, which she owns. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Tomlin with stealing $750 or more and resisting arrest by fleeing creating a substantial risk of injury or death. Tomlin posted bond on July 15 and was ordered to sign up for electronic monitoring. Hes due in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Meanwhile, Melton-Hamilton is facing charges for two separate robberies at the same outlet mall in September 2024. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of stealing 750 or more and one count of aggravated fleeing a stop. Hes due in court for that case on Aug. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if the suspected third individual has been charged yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO (WGN) Family members of a woman charged with murder after allegedly drowning her infant son in Lake Michigan spoke out Monday, calling the incident a mental health crisis. 31-year-old Surah Amon was charged with first-degree murder and murder with a strong probability of death/injury Monday morning after she was identified as the person who allegedly caused the death of a 1-year-old boy Friday night, according to the Chicago Police Department. A source told WGN News that she is related to the boy. The baby has not been identified at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amon was supposed to appear for a detention hearing at 11:30 a.m., but was still hospitalized at the time. Her sisters, Claudia and Clare Amon, said they knew something was wrong the moment they heard about what happened. I want to say this should not have happened. This could have all been prevented, Claudia Amon said. Three hours before this happened, me and my sister made a call to police to have a mental health care team come out for my sister. When the police showed up, they told us there was nothing they could do because my sister was not being violent toward them. Previous: Woman in custody, homicide investigation underway after baby drowns in Lake Michigan CPD said officers were called to the 7000 block of South Shore Drive, near South Shore Beach, at around 9:45 p.m. Friday for a service call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surah Amon was found by authorities in Lake Michigan. The body of a 1-year-old boy was found shortly after and police allege that Amon drowned him. Theyre not considering her state of mind. Thats what we want consideredher mental health, Clare Amon said. The sisters said Amon had a history of mental illness, and that her boyfriend contacted them about her Friday night. We received a text message from her boyfriend that she stays with, the babys father, that her mental state was not good at all, Claudia Amon said. He told us thats what triggered us calling the police to get her admitted, because we knew something bad like this would happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPD has not responded to WGN-TVs request for comment on the alleged 911 call placed Friday night. Surah Amons detention hearing has been rescheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) A dental office in the Sacramento area was damaged after a woman crashed into the building on Sunday morning, according to the Galt Police Department. Video Above: What to do if you witness a crash GPD said it responded to a report of a vehicle collision into a structure at Galt Dental Group, located at 1067 C Street. When officers and the Cosumnes Fire Department arrived at the scene, they found a 47-year-old woman who had parked on the west side of the business. While parked, she inadvertently accelerated, causing the vehicle to drive through the business, according to GPD. She was the only person in the car. The Galt Police Department responded to a crash that involved a vehicle that drove through a building on July 20, 2025./Galt Police Department Bystander struck by vehicle in Northern California sideshow, several cars involved Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the business was unoccupied at the time of the crash, and no injuries were reported. The collision was determined to be the result of driver error, and alcohol/drugs were not suspected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A woman is facing DUI charges following a crash that critically injured another woman in the southeast valley. The crash occurred at Warm Springs Road and Amigo Street west of the 215 just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday. According to Las Vegas Metropolitan police, Michelle Lane, 34, made a left turn at the intersection in front of an oncoming vehicle. Makes zero sense: Outrage after accused drunk driver in fatal Las Vegas crash only faces DUI charge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The passenger in the other vehicle, a 61-year-old woman, suffered critical injuries and was transported to Sunrise Hospital. The driver, a 61-year-old man, had minor injuries. According to records, Lane is charged with DUI resulting in death/substantial bodily injury and due to make an initial appearance in court on Monday, July 21 for her initial appearance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger or an emergency, please call 911 immediately. MIDVALE, Utah (ABC4) A woman is dead following an alleged assault by her boyfriend in Midvale on Sunday, according to Unified Police. Leituono Falaniko, 31, was arrested in Salt Lake County on one charge of manslaughter (second-degree felony). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 8:20 a.m. on July 21, police responded to Alta View Hospital on a report of an assault. A nurse told police that a patient claimed she was assaulted by her boyfriend in the road. The victim reportedly had an abrasion to her right hip and a cut on her lower left lip that required stitches. She had been dropped off at the hospital by an unknown individual, police said. Nearly an hour before, at around 7:30 a.m., police responded on a welfare check in the area of 7350 S 900 E in Midvale. The caller said they had seen a dark blue sedan on the side of the street in front of Hillcrest High School. The witness reportedly saw a man, later identified as Falaniko, exit the passenger side, go around to the drivers side, and open the door. A woman in the drivers seat was trying to get away from him, the witness said, kicking at the man as the man was punching her. The man allegedly then forced her into the passenger seat and drove them away north on 900 E. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers realized this welfare check was the same incident reported by the hospital by the vehicle description and involved persons descriptions, an affidavit of probable cause states. This witness provided officers with a picture of the involved vehicle. While at the hospital, the victim told family that her boyfriend had punched her in the face multiple times with a closed fist during an argument. While her family was with her in the hospital room, she said she was having chest pains and couldnt breathe. The victim suddenly collapsed and was declared deceased by hospital staff. Investigators reviewed footage of the victim being dropped off at the hospital. The video reportedly shows a Chevrolet Impala, registered to Falaniko, being driven by a large male matching Falanikos description. The individual dropped off the victim and left immediately after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officer conducted surveillance at Falanikos home and found him standing near the road with a gym bag, appearing to be waiting for a ride. Police took him into custody. In speaking with police, Falaniko said he and the victim lived together. He admitted to getting into a fight with her that day, which turned physical, and dropping her off at the hospital. Police said the victim did not have any known medical issues that would have contributed to her death. Falaniko was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 22-year-old Farmington woman died Sunday after her vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic on Route 9 in Chesterfield, causing a three-car crash that injured two others, State Police said. Arreona Davey was driving a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder when it crossed the centerline at Wellington Drive about 12:27 p.m., according to State Police. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two people in a second vehicle suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Cheshire Medical Center. Four people in a third vehicle were not injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Route 9 was closed for about four hours. Multiple fire and police departments assisted at the scene, along with State Police Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information can contact Trooper Paul Bergeron at 603-223-8494 or Paul.J.Bergeron@dos.nh.gov. The family of a man who was fatally sucked into an MRI machine while his wife was receiving treatment has described how the tragic incident unfolded. Adrienne Jones-McAllister was undergoing a routine knee scan when she asked a technician at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, Long Island, to fetch her husband from the waiting area. Keith McAllister, 61, entered the examination room to help his wife get back to her feet near the end of the scan. But instead, the machines strong magnetic pull dragged McAllisters 20-pound weight-training chain in. Keith McAllister died after attempting to help his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, get out of an MRI machine (Supplied) Jones-McAllister said that she and a technician tried to pry McAllister away from the machine while she pleaded for someone to turn it off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was saying turn off the machine, call 911, do something, turn this damn thing off! Jones-McAllister told News 12 Long Island. He waved goodbye to me and his whole body went limp. Jones-McAllister said that her husband died the day after the incident last Wednesday after suffering from a series of heart attacks, with the Nassau County Police Department earlier reporting that the man experienced a medical episode. I havent been able to sleep, Im barely eating. I just cant believe..., she said. Im just trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. The incident took place last week at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury (Google Street View) McAllisters stepdaughter Samantha Bodden has set up a GoFundMe campaign page to help the family cover funeral costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the description of the fundraiser, which had raised more than $3,300 by Monday morning, Bodden said her mother and the technician tried for several minutes to release him before calling the authorities. McAllister was attached to the machine for almost an hour before they could release the chain from the machine, she added. Bodden insisted that, despite some reports, her stepfather was allowed to be in the room. Was it a freak accident - yes. However him being in that room wasnt unauthorized, she said in a Facebook post a day after McAllisters death. The magnetic field from an MRI machine is reportedly enough to fling a wheelchair across the room (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) MRI machines are designed to find ailments in the body using powerful magnets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The magnetic field of an MRI scanner extends beyond the machine and exerts powerful forces on iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects. It is even strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. In a post on Saturday, Bodden attempted to clear up why the hospital didnt just shut the machine off. A MRI machine is a magnet. An extremely powerful magnet, she began. Even after the machine is cut off for emergencies the magnet still holds a great force of power. So yes, it was strong enough to suck him in which it did and left him that way for a very very long time. He definitely didnt deserve to go out like that [so much f***ing hate]. The Independent has contacted Nassau Open MRI for comment. > < 23:49 Varanasi court accepts plea against Rahul over statement against Sikhs An MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Monday accepted for hearing a petition filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his statement on Sikhs during his visit to the United States. Advocate Vivek Shankar Tiwari said a petition was filed in the court regarding the alleged... Read more > 23:42 Odisha burn victim admitted to AIIMS Delhi continues to be critical The condition of the 15-year-old girl who was set ablaze in Odisha's Puri district and is undergoing treatment at AIIMS Delhi continues to be critical, sources said on Monday. The girl, who has suffered 75 per cent burns, was airlifted from AIIMS Bhubaneswar and reached AIIMS Delhi at 4.20... Read more > 23:29 'Rummy' row: Clamour grows for sacking of Maha minister In fresh trouble for embattled Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad on Monday posted two videos claiming that the NCP leader was playing Junglee rummy on his mobile phone during the recent monsoon session of the state legislature. Amid the growing... Read more > 23:01 Three workers die in fireworks unit blast in TN's Sivakasi File image Three workers died and an equal number of them were injured in a blast at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Naranapuram in Sivakasi district on Monday, the police said.They were making crackers at a private fireworks-making unit when the explosion triggered by the friction of chemicals occurred... Read more > 22:40 7/11 train blasts: Four of 12 persons acquitted by HC freed from Amravati jail Four of the 12 persons acquitted by the Bombay high court in the 7/11 train blasts case were released on Monday evening from Amravati Central Jail, with Suhail Sheikh, who was among the four, asserting he was innocent and always had faith in the judiciary and the government. Sources... Read more > 22:23 IndiGo flight with 140 on board makes emergency landing in Indore, all safe File image An IndiGo flight from Goa with 140 passengers on board made an emergency landing at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore on Monday evening following a technical alert related to its landing gear, officials said. All passengers are safe. Airport director Vipinkant Seth stated that... Read more > 22:11 7/11 blasts: Maha to challenge acquittal of 12 in SC The Maharashtra government will challenge the acquittal of 12 accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train bomb blasts case by the Bombay high court in the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday.He described the high court verdict as shocking.I will go through the entire order. I have... Read more > 22:01 8 kanwariyas killed in road accidents in UP, U'khand File image Eight devotees were killed in road accidents on the Kanwar Yatra routes in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the last 24 hours as the annual pilgrimage entered its last leg. In UP's Barabanki, a group of kanwariyas (Lord Shiva devotees) was allegedly attacked by some intoxicated men following... Read more > 21:46 Vice President Dhankhar resigns citing health reasons Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening resigned from his post citing medical reasons. He has sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he was stepping down with immediate effect. To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice... Read more > 21:19 'We are in shame': SC on Odisha teen set afire The Supreme Court on Monday used shame and unfortunate to describe the attack on a 15-year-old girl in Odisha, underscoring the need to empower and provide a safe haven for women especially in rural areas. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said, We need suggestions from... Read more > 21:01 7/11 blasts: Death row convict among 2 freed after HC order Two of the 12 persons acquitted by the Bombay high vourt in the 7/11 train blasts case were released from Nagpur Central Jail on Monday evening, officials said. These comprise Ehtesham Siddiqui, who was sentenced to death in the case by a trial court in 2015, and Mohammad Ali, who was... Read more > 20:46 Rupee falls 15 paise against US dollar The rupee depreciated 15 paise to close at 86.31 against the US dollar on Monday due to consistent dollar demand from oil importers and foreign fund outflows. Forex traders said that after breaching the crucial 86 level, the rupee continued its decline, which intensified the downward trend,... Read more > 20:33 Two kanwariyas among 3 killed in separate road accidents in Uttarakhand Three people, including two kanwariyas, were killed on Monday in two separate road accidents in Uttarakhand. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, a motorcycle carrying five kanwariyas overturned near Bhaniyawala flyover in Doiwala area of Dehradun district, leaving two Lord... Read more > 20:21 EC shares list of people not found at addresses with political parties As the the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral roll reaches a crucial stage, poll machinery in the state has met representatives of all the political parties to share detailed lists of the 29.62 lakh electors whose enumeration forms have not been received so far. It has also... Read more > 20:09 Hockey trainee abducted, gang-raped in Odisha, 4 held A 15-year-old girl has been allegedly raped by four persons, including her two hockey coaches, in Odisha's Jajpur district, police said on Monday. Though the incident occurred on July 3 evening, it came to the fore after the victim filed a complaint at Jajpur town police station on Monday,... Read more > 20:04 Travel blogger's post on Bengaluru gridlock goes viral, city shares its traffic trauma File image A travel blogger's viral post on Bengaluru's infamous traffic has struck a chord online, prompting a flood of responses from residents sharing their own nightmare tales of being gridlocked in the city. From missed flights to hours-long commutes for just a few kilometres, the post has... Read more > 19:14 Bumrah will play 4th Test, confirms Siraj India pacer Mohammed Siraj on Monday confirmed Jasprit Bumrah's participation in the fourth Test beginning at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Bumrah, who has been earmarked to play in three Tests out of five due to workload management, had missed the second Test at Edgbaston that... Read more > 19:12 Govt nod for 16-hr debate on Op Sindoor, Pahalgam in LS The government on Monday agreed to a 16-hour discussion in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam terror attack, and it is likely to be taken up next week, even as the opposition insisted that it should start this week itself and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must reply. At... Read more > 19:05 MNS forces removal of Gujarati board at BJP MLA's office Workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and from other political parties forced the removal of a Gujarati display board at the office of a Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party MLA's office in the Seawoods area of Navi Mumbai on Monday.The plaque was removed under police supervision outside the public... Read more > 18:58 In a first, Konkan Railway to operate Ro-Ro car service for Ganpati Konkan Railway on Monday said it would be running special roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) train services from August 23 to September 11 between Kolad in Maharashtra and Verna in Goa for private cars during the upcoming Ganpati festival. The specially designed rake for the Ro-Ro car service,... Read more > 18:52 Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda summoned by ED The Enforcement Directorate has summoned actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda and Lakshmi Manchu for questioning in a money laundering case linked to illegal online betting and gambling by certain platforms, official sources said on Monday. The federal probe agency... Read more > 18:19 Conversion racket: UP Police arrests kingpin from Delhi Two days after an inter-state religious conversion racket was busted, the Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday arrested an alleged kingpin in the case from Delhi, officials said. Abdul Rehman, a resident of Firozabad, is the 11th accused arrested so far in the case, they said. Agra... Read more > 18:06 10 months have passed, no statehood for J-K: Cong Congress on Monday said that BJP had committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and that ten months have passed, but the Narendra Modi government has not taken any steps in that direction. Jammu-Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra told ANI, For the past six months, we have... Read more > 17:43 The gainers at the markets today Among Sensex firms, Eternal surged the most by 5.38 per cent post its first quarter numbers. ICICI Bank jumped 2.76 per cent after the company posted a 15.9 per cent jump in its consolidated net profit for the June quarter to Rs 13,558 crore compared to Rs 11,696 crore in the year-ago... Read more > 17:42 Stock markets rebound on buying in HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank Benchmark BSE Sensex surged by 442 points while Nifty closed above the 25,000 level on Monday following buying in blue-chip private banking shares HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank after their quarterly earnings.Snapping the two-day falling streak, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 442.61 points or 0.54 per... Read more > 17:36 7/11 train blasts: Maha govt to study acquittal order Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Monday that the government will assess the merits of the Bombay High Court order acquitting all 12 accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts before deciding whether to challenge it in the Supreme Court. Seven blasts had ripped through... Read more > 17:31 When Achuthanandan was going to be buried alive Update: Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan, one of India's most respected Communist figures and a key presence in Kerala's political history, died on Monday at the age of 101, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said. The veteran leader passed away at 3.20... Read more > 17:10 Who are the culprits, then, asks upset train blasts' survivior Gardening contractor Harish Powar lived with the physical and emotional scars of the 7/11 local train bombings while waiting for the closure. However, the acquittal of 12 accused by the Bombay High Court after 19 years has left the Virar resident aghast, prompting him to dub the verdict akin to... Read more > 16:54 19 dead, 150 injured after B'desh jet crashes into building Pic courtesy: X At least 19 people have been killed after a Bangladesh Air Force F7 aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone College in Dhaka's Uttara this afternoon. Bangladesh Army and fire service have started rescue operations. Between 100 and 150 people were injured in the crash as well.According to... Read more > 16:47 Blood-stained hammer and smartphones and a murder most foul Representational image A 29-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly killing her husband for having an extramarital relationship with another woman in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district, a police officer said on Monday. The accused woman, Puja Kumari, had attacked her husband Rajesh Kumar Mahtha with a hammer on... Read more > 16:31 TN CM hospitalised for 'mild giddiness' Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has been admitted to a corporate hospital in Chennai on Monday after he developed 'mild giddiness' during his morning walk, the hospital said. State Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, who visited the Chief Minister at the hospital, said that he was... Read more > 16:23 Floods washed away 30 years of my work: Former Himachal CM Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the State assembly, Jai Ram Thakur on Monday raised a strong alarm over the extent of devastation caused by heavy monsoon rains in the State.He sad that rain hit across Mandi district, Seraj and the assembly segments of Karsog,... Read more > 16:21 34 crore people got jobs since 2014 in MSMEs: Manjhi in RS More than 34 crore people have got jobs since 2014 in micro and medium enterprises through the Udyam and Udyam Assist portals, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises gave the information while responding to... Read more > 16:03 Govt agrees to 16-hr discussion on Sindoor, Pahalgam in LS Baisaran meadow where the horrific attack happened The government on Monday agreed to a 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam terror attack in the Lok Sabha, and it is likely to be taken up next week, even as the opposition insisted that it should start this week itself and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must reply. At the... Read more > 16:01 Heavy rains continue in Himachal, normal life severely affected The monsoon map The heavy rainfall has continued to lash Himachal Pradesh over the past 24 hours, causing widespread damage across various regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for intense rainfall in the coming days, while normal life in the state capital, Shimla, has been... Read more > 15:59 Amul's take on the Coldplay kiss cam boo boo Update: Astronomer Chief Executive Officer Andy Byron has resigned, days after he was caught on camera sharing an intimate moment with a female co-worker at Coldplay's concert in Boston - a moment that made international headlines. The company issued a statement on LinkedIn, saying that... Read more > 15:55 US team to visit India in Aug for for trade pact talks The US team will visit India in August for the next round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two countries, an official said on Monday.India and the US teams concluded the fifth round of talks for the agreement last week in Washington. For the next round of... Read more > 15:25 100 MPs to submit letter to Speaker for impeachment motion against Justice Verma Justice Verma Leaders of the opposition parties are scheduled to submit a signed letter on the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma to the Lok Sabha Speaker at 2 pm on Monday, said sources. According to sources, more than 100 Members of Parliament have signed the impeachment motion draft,... Read more > 15:15 Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes in Dhaka, 1 dead It will be a year since Sheikh Hasina fled to India A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed in Dhaka's Diabari on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring several others, BDnews24 reported. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft an F-7 BGI training jet. It took off for a routine training mission... Read more > 15:09 No regrets: Sonam Raghuvanshi after a month in jail Sonam Raghuvanshi, who murdered her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, has spent exactly one month in the Shillong jail. But sources told NDTV, that she has neither regretted her actions nor has any of her family members visited her.NDTV quoting sources said Sonam has... Read more > 15:03 Landslide hits government school in J-K's Poonch, student killed The injured are being treated at a hospital A student was killed while five others were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy rains hit a government school in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Monday, officials said.They said a big boulder came rolling down on the tin roof of the primary school in Bainch-Kalsain area, resulting... Read more > 14:51 I'm unavailable for next three days: DK Shivakumar Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar announces that he will not be available for any public engagements, including meetings with the public, party workers, or leaders, for the next three days starting tomorrow. I sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding, DKS... Read more > 14:14 'TMC will send BJP to detention camps after 2026 polls' Abhishek Banerjee TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday tore into the BJP, branding it a 'Bangla-Birodhi' party, alleging that it wants to send Bengalis to detention camps. He also claimed that after the 2026 Bengal Assembly polls, it is the BJP that will be electorally sent to detention camps and wiped out from... Read more > 13:49 Probe in AI171 crash totally unbiased: Govt in Parl The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is totally unbiased and is carrying out a definitive, thorough and rule-based probe into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Monday. We want to stand with truth, not anything... Read more > 13:43 SC protects actor Shreyas Talpade from arrest in marketing scam case The Supreme Court on Monday granted protection from arrest to actor Shreyas Talpade in a case of cheating and breach of trust against a society. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan issued notice to Haryana Police and others on the actor's plea. Thirteen people, including... Read more > 13:31 Air India plane overshoots runway at Mumbai airport An Air India plane from Kochi overshot the runway at the Mumbai airport on Monday morning and the aircraft has been grounded for checks.An airline spokesperson said the aircraft taxied safely and all passengers as well as crew members have disembarked.'Flight AI2744, operating from Kochi to... Read more > 12:43 Ambedkar's statue uprooted, chucked in canal in UP village A statue of Dr BR Ambedkar. File pic Tension flared in Kodapur village in Ganganagar in Prayagraj after a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar was allegedly uprooted and thrown into a canal, police said on Monday. Preliminary findings from the revenue department suggest that the statue was located on a disputed access path through... Read more > 12:33 Oppn not being allowed to speak: Rahul After the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on the first day of the monsoon session, LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi says, The question is - the Defence Minister is allowed to speak in the House, but Opposition members, including me, who is the LoP, are not allowed to speak... This is a new approach.... Read more > 12:20 Govt ready for discussion on Op Sindoor: Nadda in Parl The government on Monday asserted in the Rajya Sabha that it is ready to hold discussions covering all aspects of Operation Sindoor, as the Opposition demanded immediate debate on the Pahalgam terror attack as well as India's military response against Pakistan. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also... Read more > 12:17 Modi wishes to Mallikarjun Kharge on his birthday today Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday wishes to the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. Best wishes to the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji on his birthday. Praying for his long and healthy life, PM Modi... Read more > 12:12 Himachal havoc: Newly-married couple killed, 471 roads shut A newly married couple was killed and normal life thrown out of gear in Himachal Pradesh as heavy rainfall triggered landslides, blocked 471 roads, and forced the closure of educational institutions, officials said on Monday.The state's meteorological department has issued a 'red' alert for very... Read more > 11:53 India upgrading 255-km key Ladakh road to counter China India and China were locked in a military standoff from May 2020 to October 2024. Countering China's rapid infrastructure growth, India is upgrading a strategically vital 255-km road in Eastern Ladakh to enable the movement of very heavy vehicles, including tanks and specialised trucks capable of... Read more > 11:46 UK fighter jet stuck in India for five weeks is finally ready to fly File pic A state-of-the-art British fighter jet that has been stuck at an Indian airport for more than five weeks is set to fly out on Tuesday.The F-35B is due to be pulled back from the hangar today and the departure is scheduled for Tuesday, an airport spokesman told the BBC. We do not have any... Read more > 11:46 Smartphones aren't safe for kids under 13. Here's why Smartphone use by children younger than 13 was associated with suicidal thoughts, worse emotional regulation, lower self-worth and detachment from reality, especially among girls, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities.For every year... Read more > 11:38 Monsoon session like 'Vijay Utsav': PM hails Op Sindoor Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Parliament's Monsoon session is like a 'Vijay Utsav' as the Indian armed forces achieved their objectives under Operation Sindoor 100 per cent, and expressed confidence that the MPs will articulate this sentiment in one voice. Speaking with the... Read more > 11:24 Utterly failed to prove case: HC on 2006 blasts verdict Update: Nineteen years after multiple train blasts here killed more than 180 persons, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was hard to believe they committed the crime. The judgement comes as a major... Read more > 11:07 Woman strangled to death in Kerala lodge, boyfriend held Representational image A 34-year-old woman was found strangled to death at a lodge in Aluva in Ernakulam district, police said on Monday. A man was apprehended from the same room in an inebriated condition. The accused, identified as Binu is a 35-year-old native of Neryamangalam. According to sources, the... Read more > 10:37 2006 Mumbai train blasts: HC acquits 12 people after 19 yrs Nineteen years after the 2006 Mumbai train blasts claimed 189 lives and left over 800 people injured, the Bombay High Court today acquitted all 12 people convicted by a lower court in the serial bombing case. In 2015, a trial court had convicted these 12 accused, sentencing five of them to death... Read more > 10:31 Technical snag detected on IndiGo flight, lands safely File pic A minor technical snag was detected on IndiGo flight 6E 6591 operating from Tirupati to Hyderabad on July 20, 2025. As a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to turn back and landed safely in Tirupati. The aircraft will undergo necessary checks before resuming operations.The IndiGo... Read more > 10:19 Markets bounce back after falling in early trade Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty dropped in early trade on Monday, but buying in the blue-chip stocks ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank helped the markets recover all the early lost ground. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 148.68 points to 81,609.05 in early trade despite a positive start.... Read more > 10:02 Odisha NSUI president held for 'raping' woman The Odisha unit president of National Students' Union of India (NSUI), a wing of the Congress, was arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel in Bhubaneswar, police said on Monday.The incident occurred on March 18 but came to light on Sunday after the student lodged a complaint... Read more > 09:45 3 held with drugs on Kanwar Yatra route Police have arrested three people for allegedly supplying drugs along the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar and seized contraband from them, officials said on Monday.They also seized Rs 19,450 in cash from the trio during the arrest under the Civil Lines area in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday evening,... Read more > 09:12 Mumbai man unleashes pet dog on minor boy, booked A disturbing incident occurred in Mumbai on July 17, 2025, at around 10 pm, where Mohammad Sohail Khan deliberately unleashed his pet dog on a minor boy, who was playing in a parked auto-rickshaw, according to Mumbai Police.The dog attacked the minor boy, biting him on the chin and hands, causing... Read more > 09:04 Israel hits 75 terror targets in latest operation The Israel Defence Forces on Sunday stated that they had killed Bashar Thabet, a commander in Hamas' Development and Projects Department within its weapons production headquarter.Thabet was reportedly responsible for research and development in Hamas' weapons manufacturing apparatus.The IDF said... Read more > 09:00 Death toll rises to 216 as monsoon wreaks havoc in Pakistan At least 13 more people were killed due to rain and flood-related incidents in the last 24 hours in Pakistan as heavy monsoon continues to lash parts of the country, Geo TV reported on Monday, citing Pakistan's disaster management authority.The downpours have thus pushed the death toll to 216... Read more > 08:51 8 held in religious conversion case in UP's Pratapgarh Eight people, including a woman, were arrested in connection with a case of religious conversion, officials said.According to Additional Superintendent of Police (West) Sanjay Rai, acting on a tip-off, a police team searched Kachha Dube Ka Purwa village under Jethwara police station limits and... Read more > Editors note: The video above aired in a previous newscast. QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) Police have determined that the two victims from Saturdays apparent murder-suicide are related. The 41-year-old woman and the 2-year-old deceased toddler are related, and the incident was domestic, according to police sources. More Local News The NYPD made the announcement Sunday evening. Officers responded to 63-35 Forest Ave in Queens for a reported assault just after 7 p.m. on Saturday. Police found a 54-year-old man with stab wounds to his chest, along with the woman and child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three were taken to a local hospital. The man is reportedly in stable condition, according to police. The woman, Ana Pilatagsi-Moposita, and the child, Analiz Cruz, were pronounced dead at the hospital as a result of their injuries. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time. Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. 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 PIX11. Under pressure from the Trump administration, the National Park Service (NPS) removed historical context from signage that explained the role women played in the creation of the Muir Woods National Monument and highlighted the racist ideologies of some of the men associated with the site. A ranger for the monument confirmed that the information removed last week originated from an initiative by NPS officials called History Under Construction that filled in gaps in the timeline of the park to offer a more comprehensive history of the monument in Marin County, California, which is known for its old-growth redwood trees. An article on the National Park Service (NPS) website explains what new information park officials had added to the interpretive signs in 2021. This had included highlighting the work of a womens club, called The California Club, which launched the first campaign to save what was then known as Sequoia Canyon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The updated text also detailed the racist backgrounds of otherwise celebrated men associated with creating the monument. For example, it added the political views of William Kent, who was credited with buying and later donating the land that would become the national monument to President Theodore Roosevelt. The additions referenced that he worked on anti-Asian policies during his time in Congress, which laid the groundwork for Japanese mass internment during World War II. It also pointed out that important conservation figures of that time like Gifford Pinchot, who was appointed chief of what is now the U.S. Forest Service in 1898, was also a eugenicist who believed the human race could be improved by selective breeding. He served a 10-year term on an advisory council of the American Eugenics Society. The additional text also highlighted the original caretakers of the land, the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo tribes, as well as pointing out that their lands were stripped from them and later became places like the national monument. All of the additions associated with the initiative have been removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NPS did not respond to a request for comment by The 19th as of press time. The monuments ranger office confirmed that the language was taken down at the direction of the NPSs Washington, D.C., office following a secretarial order issued by the Department of Interior (DOI). The order outlined how the agency would implement the Trump administrations executive order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, that stated the federal government would take action to ensure that any monuments, memorials, statues or markers managed by DOI do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living. Instead it stated the agency should focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape. In a March press release, Alan Spears, senior director of cultural resources at the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit that advocates for the park system said, The presidents executive order could jeopardize the Park Services mission to protect and interpret American history. He continued, Every American who cares about our countrys history should be worried about what people, places, and themes disappear next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate follow up order issued in June by the DOI asks land managers to report any language that was added after 2020 that could potentially violate the executive order. It also required land agencies to post notices that would allow members of the public to report any language via a QR code. Prior to the executive orders, the Trump administration was already taking action to revise information on park websites that did not align with its priorities. For example, NPS removed references to transgender people from the Stonewall National Monuments webpage in February. The monument, in New York City, was created to honor the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. The post Womens contributions and mens racism erased from history of national monument appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has been accused of rigging research to make Brexit look like a failure. Klaus Schwab, the face of the Davos conference in Switzerland for years, allegedly intervened in the WEFs annual Global Competitiveness Report, which ranks countries on productivity and long-term prosperity. In the 2017/2018 report, the UKs ranking improved from seventh to fourth after a change in methodology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Mr Schwab, 87, wrote to staff that the UK must not see any improvement, as otherwise it would be exploited by the Brexit camp. The final report published in 2017 showed the UK had dropped one place to eighth. The WEF said at the time the Brexit vote had not fed into the rankings but warned it was likely to undermine UK competitiveness in the future. Brexit will by definition weaken the UKs markets component as integration with the EU is rolled back, the report said. At the time of the report, the UK had voted to leave the European Union but had not yet done so, and the difficult Brexit negotiations were at their beginning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was still discussion of the possibility of holding a second referendum in order to reverse the result of the 2016 vote. Baroness Theresa May, the then-Prime Minister, spoke at the Davos summit in January 2017 and 2018. She said that Britain was looking to its post-Brexit future with confidence and planned to build a truly Global Britain based around free trade. Allegations that Mr Schwab ordered the figures to be changed were made in an internal WEF investigation, launched after a whistleblower accused him of misusing funds, making suggestive remarks to younger staff, and manipulating research. Switzerlands SonntagsZeitung newspaper obtained some of the preliminary findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brexiteers told The Telegraph that allegations of tampering with data exposed anti-democratic practices at the WEF. The WEFs annual meeting at Davos has become a symbol of out-of-touch elitism but also a lightning rod for conspiracy theories. In 2020, King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and Mr Schwab called for the Covid pandemic to be used as a great reset of the world economy. This was seized upon by online conspiracy theorists as proof unelected leaders were plotting a tyrannical world government. During the preparation of the same report, according to the investigation, Mr Schwab allegedly ensured that India did not drop 20 places in the ranking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was hoping to convince Narendra Modi, Indias prime minister, to join the conference in the Swiss Alpine ski resort, which is attended by about 60 world leaders every year. Mr Schwab reportedly wrote: We must protect our relationship with India before Davos 2019. India ranked 40th, just one place lower than the previous year in the report. Expenses claims The investigation carried out by Homburger, the law firm, also looked into some 836,000 in expenses submitted by Schwab and his wife Hilde. SonntagsZeitung reported the expenses allegedly lacked sufficient links to WEF activities. It is also alleged Mr Schwab sent suggestive emails and had embarrassing interactions with younger WEF staff. The final results of the investigation have not yet been published. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Schwab accused the WEF board of breaking an agreement on media restraint tied to the investigation after the initial findings were leaked to SonntagsZeitung. He said he had co-operated with the inquiry on the basis that both sides would not make public comments on the investigation. Klaus Schwab with Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020 - Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty I feel deceived, he said on Sunday, I am not available for further investigations. Before Davos 2017, the first to be held since the Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump, Mr Schwab called on attendees to help overcome the present mood of divisiveness and negativism. That year, he acknowledged that globalisation had become an easy scapegoat for rising populism, as typified by the Brexit vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, he described the referendum result as one challenge more for the global economy. A stain on the reputation of the WEF Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, commented: For such a senior figure in geopolitical affairs to have conspired and manipulated information against Brexit and the democratic outcome of a political process is a stain on the reputation of the WEF and those who are part of that forum, and it is thoroughly unacceptable. The conservative MP for Witham added: The WEF had built its reputation on geopolitical thought leadership but has now been exposed for its own anti democratic practices, sinister manipulation and corrupted process all based upon damaging Britains reputation and standing in the world because of Schwabs narrow minded and selfish ideological purposes. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, told The Telegraph: Every conspiracy theory about Klaus Schwab now turns out to be true. He is a dangerous globalist manipulator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Tice, deputy leader, added: No surprise the globalist WEF appears to have distorted facts to prevent sovereignty and independence being seen as a good thing. They are a dreadful organisation that Reform will have nothing to do with. Lord Frost negotiated the Brexit deal that took the UK out of the EU when Boris Johnson was prime minister. He said: Its rare we get such clear direct evidence of the global establishments hostility to Brexit. Schwabs alleged deliberate downgrading of Brexit Britain in his Global Competitiveness Report, directly contrary to the actual evidence, shows how deeply embedded distrust of national independence is, and how determined so many people are to suppress any discussion of its benefits. He added: Labours continued denunciation of our trade agreement with the EU, and their refusal to acknowledge that their trade deals with India and the US would have been impossible without it, are the direct descendants of Schwabs censorship: ideology before evidence, belief before fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WEF has declined to comment on the investigation and said it will respond when the probe is finished, which is expected to be in August. The Government has been asked to comment. The term Davos Man was coined 20 years ago by political scientist Samuel P Huntington to describe an elite who have little need for national loyalty, view national boundaries as obstacles that thankfully are vanishing, and see national governments as residues from the past. 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. What happens when a country seeks to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program? Every peaceful program starts with a promise not to build a nuclear weapon. Then, the global community verifies that stated intent via the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Once a country signs the treaty, the worlds nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, provides continuous and technical proof that the countrys nuclear program is peaceful. The IAEA ensures that countries operate their programs within the limits of nonproliferation agreements: low enrichment and no reactor misuse. Part of the agreement allows the IAEA to inspect nuclear-related sites, including unannounced surprise visits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are not just log reviews. Inspectors know what should and should not be there. When the IAEA is not on site, cameras, tamper-revealing seals on equipment and real-time radiation monitors are working full-time to gather or verify inside information about the programs activities. Safeguards toolkit The IAEA safeguards toolkit is designed to detect proliferation activities early. Much of the work is fairly technical. The safeguards toolkit combines physical surveillance, material tracking, data analytics and scientific sampling. Inspectors are chemists, physicists and nuclear engineers. They count spent fuel rods in a cooling pond. They check tamper seals on centrifuges. Often, the inspectors walk miles through hallways and corridors carrying heavy equipment. Thats how the world learned in April 2021 about Iran pushing uranium enrichment from reactor-fuel-grade to near-weapons-grade levels. IAEA inspectors were able to verify that Iran was feeding uranium into a series of centrifuges designed to enrich the uranium from 5%, used for energy programs, to 60%, which is a step toward the 90% level used in nuclear weapons. Around the facilities, whether for uranium enrichment or plutonium processing, closed-circuit surveillance cameras monitor for undeclared materials or post-work activities. Seals around the facilities provide evidence that uranium gas cylinders have not been tampered with or that centrifuges operate at the declared levels. Beyond seals, online enrichment monitors allow inspectors to look inside of centrifuges for any changes in the declared enrichment process. When the inspectors are on-site, they collect environmental swipes: samples of nuclear materials on surfaces, in dust or in the air. These can reveal if uranium has been enriched to levels beyond those allowed by the agreement. Or if plutonium, which is not used in nuclear power plants, is being produced in a reactor. Swipes are precise. They can identify enrichment levels from a particle smaller than a speck of dust. But they take time, days or weeks. Inspectors analyze the samples at the IAEAs laboratories using sophisticated equipment called mass spectrometers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to physical samples, IAEA inspectors look at the logs of material inventories. They look for diversion of uranium or plutonium from normal process lines, just like accountants trace the flow of finances, except that their verification is supported by the ever-watching online monitors and radiation sensors. They also count items of interest and weigh them for additional verification of the logs. Beyond accounting for materials, IAEA inspectors verify that the facility matches the declared design. For example, if a country is expanding centrifuge halls to increase its enrichment capabilities, thats a red flag. Changes to the layout of material processing laboratories near nuclear reactors could be a sign that the program is preparing to produce unauthorized plutonium. Losing access Iran announced on June 28, 2025, that it has ended its cooperation with the IAEA. It removed the monitoring devices, including surveillance cameras, from centrifuge halls. This move followed the news by the IAEA that Irans enrichment activities are well outside of allowed levels. Iran now operates sophisticated uranium centrifuges, like models IR-6 and IR-9. Removing IAEA access means that the international community loses insight into how quickly Irans program can accumulate weapon-grade uranium, or how much it has produced. Also lost is information about whether the facility is undergoing changes for proliferation purposes. These processes are difficult to detect with external surveillance, like satellites, alone. A satellite view of Irans Arak Nuclear Complex, which has a reactor capable of producing plutonium. Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies via Getty Images An alternative to the uranium enrichment path for producing nuclear weapons material is plutonium. Plutonium cant be mined, it has to be produced in a nuclear reactor. Iran built a reactor capable of producing plutonium, the IR-40 Heavy Water Research Reactor at the Arak Nuclear Complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran modified the Arak reactor under the now-defunct Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to make plutonium production less likely. During the June 2025 missile attacks, Israel targeted Araks facilities with the aim of eliminating the possibility of plutonium production. With IAEA access suspended, it wont be possible to see what happens inside the facility. Can the reactor be used for plutonium production? Although a lengthier process than the uranium enrichment path, plutonium provides a parallel path to uranium enrichment for developing nuclear weapons. Continuity of knowledge North Korea expelled IAEA inspectors in 2009. Within a few years, they restarted activities related to uranium enrichment and plutonium production in the Yongbyon reactor. The international communitys information about North Koreas weapons program now relies solely on external methods: satellite images, radioactive particles like xenon airborne fingerprints of nuclear activities and seismic data. What is lost is the continuity of the knowledge, a chain of verification over time. Once the seals are broken or cameras are removed, that chain is lost, and so is confidence about what is happening at the facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to IAEA inspections, there is no single tool that paints the whole picture. Surveillance plus sampling plus accounting provide validation and confidence. Losing even one weakens the system in the long term. The existing safeguards regime is meant to detect violations. The countries that sign the nonproliferation treaty know that they are always watched, and that plays a deterrence role. The inspectors cant just resume the verification activities after some time if access is lost. Future access wont necessarily enable inspectors to clarify what happened during the gap. 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: Anna Erickson, Georgia Institute of Technology Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anna Erickson receives funding from DOE National Nuclear Security Administration. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A local universitys police department recently received recognition from an Ohio law enforcement organization. The Wright State University Police Department was named the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and the Law Enforcement Foundations Agency of the Month for July. According to the university, the department was awarded for its outstanding community policing initiatives, specifically for campus safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio Lottery player wins $1M prize in Fairfield Kurt Holden, chief of police and director of public safety, said the department is grateful for the support of the school community and its partners. This recognition is an honor for our department, but it truly reflects the strength of our Wright State community, said Holden. We are only as good as the partnerships we build, and were proud to work alongside students, faculty and staff who are engaged, supportive and committed to making our campus a safe and welcoming place for all. The Dayton Police Department received the same award from the organization in May. 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 WDTN.com. Rapper Brother J of X Clan performs in Chicago in September 1990. - Credit: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images Writer and activist Patrice Griffin has settled a child sexual assault civil case with former Quad Recording Studios owner Luis Gonzalez and the studio itself for undisclosed amounts, her attorney Hugo Ortega tells Rolling Stone. Gonzalez and the studio were codefendants in a lawsuit that accused Gonzalez of failing to ensure that guests, including [Griffin], were safe and free from being sexually assaulted while there. The lawsuit also accuses Jason Brother J Hunter of the Nineties rap group X Clan of sexual assault. In July of 2023, New York Supreme Court judge Laurence L. Love granted Griffin a default judgment against Hunter after he failed to appear in court (Ortega says theyre currently seeking an inquest to determine damages against Hunter). Neither Hunter nor Gonzalez responded to Rolling Stones requests for comment. The civil suit accused Hunter, late X Clan member Lumumba Professor X Carson, and numerous other members of the Blackwatch movement of repeatedly sodomizing and gang-raping her from the age of 14 in hotel rooms, public bathrooms, and at Quad Studios. Now 49, Griffin says she was forced to ingest cocaine and alcohol during the assaults, which occurred until she ran away from the group at 17. (She says that the late X Clan member Anthony Sugar Shaft Hardin was also part of the assaults.) More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, Hunter denied all allegations in an interview. (The conversation, deleted from YouTube, is archived here.) Griffin tells Rolling Stone that Hunter was served with the lawsuit three or four times, and says that on one occasion she was told that Hunter took the paperwork and threw it in the trash in front of the server. Though shes now brought closure to the case against Hunter, Gonzalez, and Quad Studios, she says her pain lingers. You would think that I would be so thrilled, but Im not, she says. I was talking to my therapist today. I was like, I still feel anger and frustration. Sometimes I sit back and ask myself, did this really happen to me? And then I have to remind myself, Yes it did. And youre not tripping. The Blackwatch Movement is a Black militant group that Griffin says had several chapters in American cities, including New York. Blackwatch included the late activist Robert Sonny Carson, who was seen as the Master Overseer, while his son Lumumba (Professor X) was Overseer. Hunter, 14 years younger than Lumumba, was the Underseer. X Clan was part of the Blackwatch Movement; the quartet, consisting of Carson, Hunter, Hardin, and Claude Paradise Gray, dropped their debut album, To The East, Blackwards, on 4th & Bway Records and Island Records in 1990. Their Afrocentric aesthetic, esoteric themes, and energetic songs made them early beacons of so-called conscious rap. Griffin has alleged that she first became acquainted with the group when she was 14, while they were crafting their debut. When I heard their music, I immediately fell in love with it because I loved hip-hop, she recalls. She had been listening to their music for a while, and attended anti-NYPD protests they held on the Brooklyn Bridge. I think I was just looking for a place to belong, she says. Blackwatch appeared to be a family-oriented environment, and she befriended several young women who became big sister figures to her. Through them, she met Lumumba and Hunter and asked them to join the organization. Around the same time, she had been kicked out of her mothers house for cutting school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She became the groups secretary and lived at their office in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn; the lawsuit alleges that the assaults began shortly after. At 15, she ran away from Blackwatch and moved into a homeless shelter, but she has alleged that Carson came to the shelter and brought her back to their office. I told [Sonny] myself and instead of helping me, he wanted to have sex with me, she told Metropolis newspaper in 2020. She eventually fled from the group for good at 17. X Clan disbanded in 1992 (though Hunter reprised the group in 2007). Hardin died of AIDS in 1995, while Lumumba died at 49 of spinal meningitis in 2006. In 2002, Sonny Carson died at 66 after complications from two heart attacks. I literally trusted these people, Griffin says of Blackwatch. I thought they were going to be family to me, especially since my mom had put me out for cutting school and all the things that normal teenagers do, and they welcomed me with open arms. The last thing that I would ever think is that they would do those horrific things to me. She says the alleged assaults have taken a toll on her mental health, resulting in depression, PTSD, recurring nightmares, and multiple suicide attempts. She also battled cocaine addiction after she says she was plied with the drug during the assaults. In 2014, she achieved a bachelors degree in psychology and sociology from Touro College. She then joined the U.S. Army, pursuing a career in a VA hospital as a maintenance mechanic. But the residual trauma of her abuse lingered, and the VA let her go. My psychiatrist was like, you need to not work, she says. Focus on healing and getting yourself together. Shes been in therapy for the past 10 years. Its something that never leaves, she says. It comes and goes, but there are triggers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Hassan Campbell came forward in 2016 to accuse hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa of child abuse (hes denied the accusations), Griffin says she felt empowered to speak up about her assaults. (A New York John Doe later accused Bambaataa of child molestation and sex trafficking in 2021; that plaintiff won a default judgment this May when Bambaataa never appeared in court.) In 2019, Griffin started Patrices Kids, a nonprofit serving kids in underserved communities, especially foster children. The organization offers kids school supplies, toys, and sneakers, and has an annual party. She also worked with Gary Greenberg, a fellow child abuse survivor and founder of the nonprofit Protect NY Kids, on New Yorks Child Victims Act, which was enacted in 2019. The law extended the statute of limitations for criminal and civil cases of child sexual abuse, allowing her to pursue the lawsuit against Hunter. The following year, Griffin, who now lives in Texas, published a book called The Unconscious Community, which her nonprofits website says is a story about being a 14-year-old girl who endures the horrors of child sexual abuse, but is able to triumph, becoming dedicated to making sure the hidden world of pedophiles is no longer safe. I didnt want to hold it in anymore, she says. I thought about other kids that mightve been my age at the time, 14, or even younger. They said one in three young girls and one in six young boys in the United States have been sexually abused before the age of 18. So it was a therapy thing for me, a release [that] expose[d] them as well; you cant go around doing horrific things like that to people and think youre going to get away with it. It was more of helping parents to pay attention to signs when it comes to their children, and being more aware so that no child has to go through what I went through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin says she feels that society is still too disbelieving of survivors, who come forward seeking support, understanding, and love. When youre being honest and actually a survivor, people are quick to say that youre a liar, that youre just trying to get money and they attack you, she says. That messes with your mental, because youre like, All I want to do is get justice. It makes you not want to say anything because youre afraid of the backlash. Griffin says she cant speak for Hunter, but wonders if he thought him ignoring the case would make her stop pursuing the case. I wasnt going away, she says. I wanted to do everything in my power to get the justice that I so desperately needed from age 14 until now. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CHEYENNE The Wyoming Department of Transportation is nearly done with creation of its 25-year Long Range Transportation Plan, which takes public feedback to outline its top priorities for the next quarter-century. As the organization continues to take public feedback, it is also informing the public of potential funding challenges and asking for input on how to use its funding to best meet the needs of Wyoming residents, as well as potential avenues to increase its revenue. Between increasing fuel efficiency, increasing construction costs and a stagnant gas tax revenue, WYDOT estimates an annual funding gap of $200 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last decade, WYDOTs construction costs have increased 42%, and its primary revenue sources have remained relatively flat. Wyoming has not increased its state fuel tax since 2014, when it went from 14 cents to 24 cents per gallon. The number of vehicles registered in the state has decreased over time, and there is a cap on how much the agency can receive from mineral royalties and severance tax. However, WYDOT is expected to receive additional funds beginning in October 2026 after House Bill 33 was passed by the Wyoming Legislature earlier this year. It provides around $70 million in additional transportation revenue due to the transfer of sales and use tax on vehicles and trailers to the highway fund. This year, WYDOT is expected to receive $818.2 million from its revenue sources; 57.4%, or $469.4 million, of that goes toward the highway improvement program, which utilizes 70% federal dollars and the remaining 30% from the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other biggest expenditures include 15.4%, or $129.9 million, for maintenance and operations, and 6.6%, or $53.7 million, allocated for law enforcement expenses. As part of this long-range plan, WYDOT is asking the public and industry stakeholders how they should balance budget challenges with Wyomings priorities. There is an online survey available until Aug. 9 at wydotlrtp.com/meeting2, and feedback is accepted by email, mail or phone calls, as well. The email address is connect@WYDOTLRTP.com, and the U.S. mail address is WYDOT Headquarters, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340. The survey asks participants to rank their preference on where the transportation agency should invest, including things like maintaining pavement, replacing bridges, public transit and new roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also asks in what ways Wyoming residents would consider contributing to fill the funding gap, including options like increasing the fuel tax rate, increasing the vehicle registration fee or implementing a mileage-based user fee. Its meant to gather ideas and just strategize in a new way, said Jordan Young, WYDOTs deputy public affairs officer. I dont want folks to think that these are all things that were definitely going to be doing. Its just kind of getting ideas, taking the temperature on what the public is feeling. She said this stage of the plan is very high level, and not determining any specific projects. That decision falls under the State Transportation Improvement Plan, which takes public feedback on specific projects when WYDOT is determining what to prioritize. This step of the process only focuses on where to strategically allocate funding to work toward common goals and how to potentially acquire more funding. As the public comment period for this plan is still open, Young said it is too early to say which priorities are the frontrunners so far, but that will be outlined in the final plan, expected to be finalized sometime this fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think there is a big push from the agency to try to get out of this preservation-only mode. You know, weve been really focusing on maintaining what we have, which is great. We want to make sure we have a really great driving surface for everybody, she said. ... And I think we also want to look at some of those capacity improvements, dividing more highways, adding more turn lanes, and those quality-of-life things that people appreciate and learn to really look for in different towns as theyre growing. Though Young didnt say if WYDOT anticipates approaching the Wyoming Legislature for additional funding anytime soon, she said the data collected from this public comment period both quantitative and qualitative could be useful information to have going forward if they decide to pursue any extra funding. On the survey website, there are several testimonials provided, including one from Dan Benford, executive director of Associated General Contractors of Wyoming. The highway system is our number two asset in Wyoming only behind the people of Wyoming. I believe it is absolutely vital to the economy, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another testimonial comes from Jim Magagna, executive vice president of Wyoming Stock Growers Association. He wrote, WYDOT is a true partner in the enterprise of running livestock in Wyoming with highways all over the state. PARIS (AP) Elon Musk's social media platform X on Monday denied accusations from French prosecutors of alleged data tampering and fraud, calling them politically motivated. X was responding to an announcement earlier this month from the Paris prosecutors office, which said it was opening an investigation into the two alleged offenses. Both offenses involved an "automated data processing system," according to prosecutors, who provided scant details of the alleged wrongdoing. They are potentially punishable in France with a jail term of up to 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The platform said French authorities were carrying out a "politically-motivated criminal investigation into X over the alleged manipulation of its algorithm and alleged fraudulent data extraction. X categorically denies these allegations, it said in a post from its Global Government Affairs account. The prosecutors office has said it acted on information that two people provided in January to its cybercrimes unit. One of them is a member of parliament, and the other is a senior official in a French government institution. It didnt identify them or the institution. Prosecutors said the two people alleged suspected use of Xs algorithm for the purposes of foreign interference, without providing details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The platform said it remains in the dark about the the specific allegations. However, based on what we know so far, X believes that this investigation is distorting French law in order to serve a political agenda and, ultimately, restrict free speech. The Paris prosecutors office said Monday that it has asked X to grant police investigators access to its algorithm, as part of the probe. The request was made in a letter last week, it said. It said that investigators are bound by confidentiality and that only those in charge of the investigation will have access. The office said it hasnt had a formal response from X. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) A Cuyahoga County grand jury declined to issue criminal charges against three Cleveland Heights police officers involved in the shooting death of 18-year-old Christian Tyson Thomas last August. The city of Cleveland Heights held a press conference Monday morning at City Hall to address Fridays grand jury decision and discuss the next steps. Mayor Kahlil Seren spoke emotionally, offering condolences to the family and acknowledging their pain. Dog the Bounty Hunters step-grandson killed by father in accidental shooting: report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a positive thing that the grand jury did not find that Cleveland Heights officers engaged in criminal conduct, Seren said. I do not believe those officers arrived with intent to do anyone harm. But that night still ended with irreparable loss. The shooting occurred Aug. 29, 2024, after police were called to a Yellowstone Road home for a domestic dispute between Thomas and his father. Family members told police Thomas had a gun and was refusing to put it down. According to investigators, officers engaged Thomas after hearing a loud crash followed by two gunshots. He was shot multiple times by police and died at the scene. Photos released by the Ohio Attorney Generals Office showed more than 35 evidence markers at the scene. Among the items documented was a robins egg-blue Glock 19 handgun found in the landscaping outside the home. The gun appeared to have no magazine and a damaged trigger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the prosecutors report, Thomas father told officers his son was under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms and not grounded in reality. The report also stated that Thomas had jumped through a screen wall of a three-seasons room to flee the home. Three officers discharged their weapons 25 times, according to the summary. FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo During the press conference, nearly a dozen family members were in attendance, some of whom demanded answers. The use of an AR-15 weapon needs to be regulated, I dont care if you have a badge or not a female relative said. As hurt as I am, I dont want to see this happen to anyone else. Were broken, yall broke us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-TEAM: Officer taken off job due to 2014 clerical error Why were there so many shots fired? one relative asked. Why was the type of weapon used in that particular situation? Mayor Seren responded: I hear you, man. When asked about the use of de-escalation tactics, both Seren and the police chief emphasized that officers must make split-second decisions in high-stress encounters. We have to recognize this pain no matter the result of this grand jury, Seren said. And pain is a signal that something needs to be fixed. The city announced an internal review will now begin to assess the officers conduct, department policies and potential reforms, including a police review commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am Introducing legislation to create a police review commission in Cleveland Heights, made up residents who will take on heavy responsibility of reviewing policies training complaints of an investigations into misconduct, disciplinary decisions, accommodations, recruitment and recommendations for appointment and promotion in the police division, Seren said. The Thomas family is being represented by the Cochran Firm, Ohios Stanley Jackson. Attorneys issued a statement Monday that read: The family of Christian Thomas is incredibly disappointed that a Cuyahoga County grand jury declined to indict the Cleveland Heights police officers involved in his tragic shooting death last year. Sadly, far too often, families of loved ones in distress call law enforcement looking for help only to have their loved ones killed in the process. The Cochran Firm is still conducting its own independent investigation into Mr. Thomas death. We will not stop until we get justice for Christian Thomas and for every other family who may one day have to rely on the police for protection or intervention. Family members declined to do an interview and said they plan to host their own press conference soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. > < 23:52 India sends burn-specialist doctors to Dhaka to treat those injured in air crash India on Tuesday night said it is sending a team of burn-specialist doctors and nurses to Dhaka to treat those injured when a military jet crashed into a school. At least 31 people, including 25 children, were killed when the military jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in the... Read more > 23:37 Indian hospitalised after violent racist attack in Ireland File image An Indian man in his 40s was hospitalised following what has been dubbed mindless, racist violence in a suburb of the Irish capital of Dublin, with the Indian Ambassador to Ireland calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. According to local reports, the victim had arrived... Read more > 23:18 EC to soon initiate process to hold Vice Presidential polls The Election Commission will soon initiate the process to hold polls to elect the next vice president after Jagdeep Dhankhar quit the post, sources indicated on Tuesday. Though there is no official word yet, the sources said with the Union home ministry officially notifying Dhankhar's... Read more > 23:04 IIT Kharagpur student chokes on medicine, dies A second-year B Tech student of IIT Kharagpur died after choking on medicines, an official said on Tuesday. The institute spokesperson told PTI that Chandradeep Pawar from Madhya Pradesh gulped some medicines prescribed by his doctor after dinner on Monday night but complained of difficulty... Read more > 22:54 7/11 blasts: After acquittal, 9 walk out jails, 2 stay due to pending cases File image Nine of the eleven persons acquitted by the Bombay high Court in the 7/11 serial train blasts case have been released from various prisons in Maharashtra, while two others will continue to be behind bars as other cases are pending against them, officials said on Tuesday. Nineteen years after... Read more > 22:21 Five Kuki militants killed in 'internal clash' in Manipur File image Five cadres of a Kuki militant outfit were shot dead during a suspected internal clash at Deivaijang village in Noney district of Manipur, officials said on Tuesday. The incident occurred at the remote Deivaijang village, about 53 km from the district headquarters Noney, on late Monday... Read more > 22:19 Pastor held for 'religious conversion' under guise of faith healing in UP A pastor was on Tuesday arrested in Akbarpur town of Ambedkar Nagar district following allegations of religious conversion under the guise of faith healing, the police said.According to officials, pastor Pramod Kumar was booked under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful... Read more > 22:15 2 kanwariyas killed as vehicle comes in contact with high-tension wire in Haryana File image Two kanwariyas were killed while two others were seriously injured after their pick-up vehicle, which was covered with a tarpaulin sheet tied to an iron pipe, came in contact with a high-tension wire in Haryana's Yamunanagar district on Tuesday. A group of 15 kanwariyas from Gumthala village... Read more > 21:38 Mamata unveils Rs 8,000-cr mass outreach programme ahead of 2026 polls With less than a year to go for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced a massive grassroots outreach programme, similar to another welfare initiative launched before the 2021 polls. Unveiling the Rs 8,000-crore 'Amader Para, Amader... Read more > 21:20 Maha challenges acquittal of all train blast accused in SC The Maharashtra government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging yesterday's Bombay high court's decision to acquit twelve persons who were accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. The plea was mentioned on Tuesday before a bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai by... Read more > 20:59 Terror case: Jailed J-K MP Rashid gets custody parole to attend Parl A Delhi court on Tuesday granted to jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid custody parole between July 24 and August 4 to attend the monsoon session of Parliament. Rashid has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful... Read more > 20:33 Cabinet approves India-UK free trade pact: Sources The cabinet on Tuesday approved the free trade agreement between India and the UK, which will be signed in London on July 24, sources said. The pact, officially called as comprehensive economic and trade agreement, will be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to... Read more > 20:26 J-K: Bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims meets with accident, 4 injured A bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims met with an accident in the Kela Morh Tunnel-T2 on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Tuesday, an official said.Four pilgrims were injured and have been shifted to the District Hospital Ramban. A crane is on site to clear the damaged bus from the... Read more > 20:08 Rupee falls 5 paise to close at 86.36 against US dollar The rupee pared initial gains and settled for the day down 5 paise at 86.36 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, amid uncertainty over the US-India trade deal ahead of the August 1 deadline. Forex traders said, all eyes are now on the outcome of India-US trade talks, especially as... Read more > 19:51 Man who cheated Delhi bizman of Rs 95 lakh, lived as philanthropist, held A man who allegedly duped a Delhi resident of Rs 95 lakh in a land scam and later reinvented himself as a philanthropist in Haridwar to evade arrest has been arrested, the police said on Tuesday. The accused, identified as Dharmander Aggarwal (50), had completely severed ties with his family... Read more > 19:09 Kerala man booked for abetting wife's suicide in Sharjah A case has been registered against a 40-year-old man in connection with the death of his wife, Athulya (29), who was found hanging in their apartment, police said.The incident took place inside the couple's flat in Sharjah, where the man is currently employed. Athulya was found dead under... Read more > 19:04 Fire breaks out in AI plane's aux power unit at Delhi File image An Air India plane's auxiliary power unit caught fire after landing at the Delhi airport on Tuesday afternoon, and all passengers and crew members are safe. Flight AI 315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit fire shortly after it had landed... Read more > 18:34 Defamation case: HC grants Lakshmi Puri time to consider Gokhale's apology The Delhi high court on Tuesday granted time to former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri to peruse an affidavit filed by TMC MP Saket Gokhale tendering apology for his alleged defamatory utterances against her. A bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar passed the... Read more > 18:06 BSF raises drone squadron for Pak border after Op Sindoor File image The Border Security Force is raising a maiden drone squadron for deployment along the India-Pakistan border even as it has begun hardening its defences and posts against lethal UAV attacks in the wake of lessons drawn during Operation Sindoor. The squadron, to be based in specific border... Read more > 17:50 U'khand Waqf Board slams Akhilesh for using Delhi mosque for political meet Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams on Tuesday accused Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav of using the mosque on Parliament Street in New Delhi for a political meeting and demanded an apology from him, saying it had hurt Muslim sentiments.Shams was reacting to pictures shared by SP... Read more > 17:34 Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's 'The Bengal Files' to release in September Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri says his new movie The Bengal Files will release in theatres worldwide on September 5. The filmmaker previously directed and wrote The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, the former won him a National Film Award while the latter emerged as on of... Read more > 17:14 Who gained, who lost at the markets today Among Sensex firms, Eternal jumped the most by 10.56 per cent in a post-result rally. Food delivery and quick commerce firm Eternal, which owns the Zomato and Blinkit brands, on Monday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 25 crore for the June quarter, as continuing investments in quick... Read more > 17:13 Stock markets close flat in volatile trade Mumbai, Jul 22 (PTI) Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed almost unchanged in a volatile trade on Tuesday as gains in quick commerce and private banking shares were offset by losses in oil & gas and IT shares. The 30-share BSE Sensex ended 13.53 points or 0.02 per cent down... Read more > 17:02 After Dhankar's exit, RS Dy chairman meets President Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Tuesday called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, her office said. The meeting comes a day after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the ex-officio chairperson of Rajya Sabha, tendered his resignation to Murmu. The... Read more > 16:52 'Dhankar's Resignation Laced With Intrigue' If a senior person wants to resign, the political leadership gets a sense of it and has a mechanism to avert it. There was no mechanism in place to avert, delay or stop the VP's resignation, says leading political analyst Rasheed Kidwai, who has reported on national politics for nearly three... Read more > 16:47 Guru Dutt films' retrospective in August As part of the centenary celebrations of Guru Dutt, Ultra Media & Entertainment Group, in association with NFDC-NFAI, will be presenting a nationwide theatrical retrospective of his most iconic films, meticulously restored and reintroduced for today's audiences. From August 8th to 10th,... Read more > 16:39 What led Dhankhar to quit The BJP had no option but to get Dhankar out of its way for the sake of the stability of the Modi government, reveals Sheela Bhatt, the legendary political journalist. Read the column here. Read more > 16:17 Which crops take up the most acerage? Take a look at the graph alongside. The government has also said it is ensuring adequate availability of fertilizers to meet the Kharif 2025 requirement. The requirement for chemical fertilizers during the 2025 Kharif season (is) marginally higher than that of the previous year, owing to expanded... Read more > 16:11 All the times Jagdeep Dhankar felt unwell in public Jagdeep Dhankhar, who stepped down as the vice president citing health reasons, has been keeping unwell, even though he appeared lively and energetic in Rajya Sabha, which he presided over as chairperson.-- He was admitted to the AIIMS here for a few days in March, following which he was advised... Read more > 15:50 'Hope Dhankhar's successor will do justice to VP's chair' Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday wished Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as Vice President on Monday, good health and expressed hope that his successor would do justice to the office. First of all, I hope for his better health and pray to God to keep the former vice... Read more > 15:45 Himachal rains death toll rises to 132, with 432 roads blocked The death toll amid the relentless monsoon in Himachal Pradesh has risen to 132 with 74 deaths directly attributed to rain-related incidents and 58 caused by road accidents, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). According to... Read more > 15:44 IMD issues orange alert for heavy rains in Konkan, ghats File pic The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for parts of Konkan and ghat areas of western Maharashtra, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on Tuesday. The orange alert has been issued for Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, and ghat... Read more > 15:08 IAF to phase out 'flying coffins' MiG 21, replace with Tejas The Indian Air Force will be phasing out phasing out its MiG 21 fighter jet aircraft by September 2025, and replace them with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A, defence officials said on Tuesday.First inducted in 1963, these jets will be retired after 62 years of service with the... Read more > 15:04 Don't know how to play rummy: Maha minister Rohit Pawar @RRPSpeaks shared the video of the minister allegedly playing rummy Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate claimed on Tuesday that he never played rummy on his mobile phone as alleged by opposition parties and rejected demands to step down, stressing that a trivial issue was blown out of proportion. The Nationalist Congress Party leader warned of... Read more > 14:58 Doctors remove 30 fibroids from Indore woman's uterus Representational image A 45-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh's Indore got a new lease of life after doctors of a government hospital removed 30 fibroids from her uterus, curing her of a painful condition, an official from the health department said on Tuesday. Dr Sumitra Yadav, who heads the gynaecology and... Read more > 14:55 Nagpur airport gets bomb threat The Nagpur airport in Maharashtra received a bomb threat on Tuesday, prompting authorities to conduct an extensive search of the premises, officials said. Nothing suspicious was found during the search, a senior airport official said. The Airports Authority of India received an email about... Read more > 14:28 No issues found: Air India ends probe into locking of Fuel Control Switch Air India on Tuesday informed that it has concluded inspections on the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft in its fleet and stated that no issues were found. Air India informed that Boeing 737 aircraft are part of the fleet of Air India... Read more > 14:19 Only someone under pressure...: Cong on Dhankar exit A day after Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down as vice president, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said only a person working under pressure can give such a shocking resignation. Dhankhar may have cited health reasons for his decision, but people are finding it hard to believe, the... Read more > 14:11 Kharif Sowing Completed In 65% Of Area Sowing of kharif crops increased as the southwest monsoon remained vigorous over most parts of North-West India during the week ended July 16.India Meteorological Department data showed that rainfall from July 10-16 were almost 31 per cent above normal in North-West India.Data from the Department... Read more > 14:10 Anup Saha Resigns As Bajaj Finance MD Anup Kumar Saha, who succeeded Rajeev Jain as managing director of Bajaj Finance on April 1, 2025, has resigned from the position citing personal reasons, the company said in an exchange filing on Monday. The Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL) board has redesignated Jain as Vice Chairman and... Read more > 14:08 Sebi Cautions Investors Against Dabba Trading Practice The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Monday cautioned investors against dabba trading, an illegal and unregulated off-market trading activity. The market regulator's advisory follows a full-page advertisement by a dabba trading company in a Hindi newspaper on July 13,... Read more > 14:03 BJP conspiracy to 'shunt' Nitish: RJD on Dhankhar exit The opposition RJD in Bihar on Tuesday claimed that the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was a conspiracy hatched by the BJP, aimed at shunting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the assembly polls.However, the claim was summarily dismissed by state minister Shravan Kumar, a close... Read more > 13:27 Tell us reason why Dhankar quit: Sena-UBT MP tells govt Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday questioned the Central government over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, claiming that the latter seemed in fine health. Referring to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh's X post, which alleged deeper reasons behind the resignation,... Read more > 13:16 Boeing delivers three Apache choppers to Indian Army American aerospace major Boeing on Tuesday delivered three Apache attack choppers to the Indian Army, officials said. The company delivered the AH-64E Apaches choppers as part of a contract to supply six helicopters to the Indian Army. The AH-64 Apache is one of the world's most advanced... Read more > 12:58 Ex-ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar found guilty of fraud In the ICICI Bank-Videocon loan matter, the Appellate Tribunal under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) has found former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar guilty of accepting a 64 crore bribe in return for sanctioning a 300 crore loan to the Videocon... Read more > 12:54 SC directs all eateries along Kanwar Yatra route to display licenses The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all hotel owners along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to display their licences and registration certificates in accordance with statutory requirements.A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into... Read more > 12:47 Home Ministry notifies resignation of VP Dhankhar The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday was informed about the Ministry of Home Affairs' notification regarding the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, with immediate effect. Soon after the House met for the Question Hour at 12 noon, Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, informed members... Read more > 12:21 Is PM's curt message a clue to Dhankar's resignation? File pic. PM Narendra Modi shares a message on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation. It says, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health.Amidst the opposition raising concerns over... Read more > 12:14 INDIA bloc protests against Bihar SIR at Parliament The party leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Tuesday protested against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging that voting rights of people are being taken away. Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of... Read more > 12:02 Couple walking strangely stopped at Surat airport. Under their clothes was... Representational image A couple coming from Dubai were apprehended by the CISF and Customs at the Surat airport for allegedly smuggling in over 20 kg of gold paste by concealing it under their clothes, officials said. The incident took place around 10 pm on July 20. The couple were first noticed by a... Read more > 11:52 Deputy Chairman Harivansh chairs RS proceedings Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh chaired the proceedings of the morning session on Tuesday, a day after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as Vice President citing medical reasons. Vice President of India is ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Usually Dhankhar used to chair... Read more > 11:45 LS proceedings adjourned till noon Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the second consecutive day on Tuesday due to noisy protests by opposition parties demanding a discussion on Operation Sindoor, leading to the House being adjourned till 12 noon.When the House met at 11 am, opposition MPs, including Congress, were on their... Read more > 11:42 Informed that I & Rijiju would skip Dhankar's meet: Nadda Union minister J P Nadda on Tuesday said the Vice President's office was informed that he and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju would not attend a BAC meeting convened by Jagdeep Dhankhar last evening, shortly before he resigned from the post. Nadda's remarks came after Congress... Read more > 11:25 SC to hear on July 24 Maha govt's plea against 7/11 verdict Update: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on July 24 plea of the Maharashtra government against the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria listed... Read more > 11:12 Grounded British fighter jet flies back British fighter jet F-35 B, which made an emergency landing at the international airport here over a month ago and has been parked since then, flew back on Tuesday after completing maintenance, airport sources said.The jet, which took off at 10.50 am, flew to Darwin in Australia, they said. The... Read more > 11:09 Maha govt moves SC against 7/11 train blasts verdict Maharashtra govt moves SC against Bombay HC verdict acquitting 12 accused in 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. The SC to hear the plea on July 24. The Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 people who had been convicted by the trial court for their alleged role in the 2006 Mumbai... Read more > 11:05 'Dhankar's exit indication of impending political storm' Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday morning expressed doubts over the health reasons cited by Jagdeep Dhankar for his resignation as Vice President of India, saying it was an indication of an impending political storm. He said that... Read more > 10:44 Dhankar was partisan: Shiv Sena-UBT On Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, Despite his health situation, he used to conduct parliamentary proceedings. This is the first time a Vice President has resigned in such a shocking manner and hope we get to know more... There should be... Read more > 10:30 Intriguing, mystery, enigma, riddle: Cong on Dhankar's resignation Congress MP Manish Tewari says, First of all. I wish the Vice President of India a very healthy and long life. However, his resignation remains somewhat of a riddle which is at the moment wrapped in a mystery and rolled in an enigma. Because the abrupt circumstances or the abrupt manner in which... Read more > 10:26 US releases FBI files on civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr US President Donald Trump has released files related to 1968 assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, despite opposition from most of his family, local media reported. More than 6,000 documents related to the assassination totaling nearly a quarter-million pages, were... Read more > 10:17 'Centre must clarify if it had prior info on Dhankar exit' Deputy Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday said the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was shocking and asked the Centre to clarify if it had any prior information about it. He also wanted clarification from the government regarding the transition plan for the... Read more > 10:05 'BJP wanted to get rid of Dhankar before Bihar polls' Congress MP Mallu Ravi expressed concern over the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and claimed that ahead of Bihar elections, the BJP government wanted to get rid of him and appoint someone who would bring benefit in the upcoming polls. Speaking to ANI, Ravi claimed that... Read more > 09:51 Bangladesh jet crash toll rises to 27 The death toll from the crash of the Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet into a school building in Dhaka rose to 27 as more people succumbed to their injuries, authorities said on Tuesday. The F-7 BGI aircraft, a training fighter jet manufactured in China, experienced a mechanical... Read more > 09:49 Man out to watch kanwariya procession found dead A 23-year-old man was found dead with injuries from a sharp-edged weapon in Muzaffarnagar, officials said on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Anuj Kumar. The victim's family told police that Kumar had stepped out to witness the kanwar procession on Monday but did not return... Read more > 09:47 Delivery agent caught urinating in lift of Palghar building Representational image A food delivery agent was caught urinating inside the lift of a building in Maharashtra's Palghar district, following which residents allegedly beat him up and handed him over to police, officials said. The incident took place on Monday at the high-rise residential building in Bolinj area of... Read more > 09:41 Something very serious happened from 1 pm: Cong on Dhankar Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday claimed that there are far deeper reasons behind the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing the deliberate absence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting chaired by the Rajya Sabha... Read more > 09:33 Vice President's resignation doesn't need Prez approval In a sudden move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday, citing medical reasons.He sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he is stepping down with immediate effect. The Vice President's resignation does not require the President's approval.No... Read more > 09:30 Polls to elect next vice president to be held ASAP With Jagdeep Dhankhar quitting as the vice president, the election to appoint his successor will have to be held as soon as possible. According to Clause 2 of Article 68 of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the vice president occurring due to his death, resignation... Read more > 09:13 Delhi Court Convicts Former Nalco CMD For Money Laundering A Delhi court on Monday convicted Abhay Kumar Srivastava, former chairman and managing director of the National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco), for money laundering under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Nalco is a public sector undertaking (PSU). The court... Read more > 09:10 Far deeper reasons for Dhankhar's resignation: Cong The Congress on Tuesday claimed that there are far deeper reasons for Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as the vice president than the health reasons cited by him, and said his resignation speaks highly of him but poorly of those who got him elected to the post. Congress general... Read more > 08:47 Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath to leave IMF Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath who is serving as the first deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said she is rejoining Harvard University as an economics professor. After nearly 7 amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots,... Read more > 08:23 3.2 magnitude quake hits Haryana, tremors felt in Delhi-NCR Tremors were felt across Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning. There were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property. The National Centre for Seismology said an earthquake of 3.2 magnitude was recorded at 6 am, with Faridabad as its epicentre. The depth of the earthquake was 5... Read more > 01:01 Odisha bans sale of petrol, diesel in plastic bottles File image The Odisha government on Monday banned sale of petrol and diesel in plastic bottles. The state government also ordered petrol pumps in the state not to sell petrol and diesel to people coming with plastic bottles. Inflammable substances were used in the Balsore student self-immolation... Read more > 00:19 Maha ex-deputy secretary booked for duping 19 govt officers of Rs 2.61 cr File image The Mumbai police registered an FIR against a retired deputy secretary posted at Mantralaya in south Mumbai for allegedly duping 19 Maharashtra government officers and employees to the tune of Rs 2.61 crore in a housing scam, an official said on Monday. According to the Powai police station... Read more > New York Democrats cool to their partys Big Apple mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani are weighing their options as the 33-year-old progressive makes his own pitch to centrists that they should back him. The Democratic establishment has been looking for alternatives, but none really satisfy. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week announced an independent run after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, but a number of Democrats who spoke to The Hill have doubts he can win. Some also havent forgotten past Cuomo controversies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incumbent Eric Adams is also a Democrat running as an independent, but he has had a scandal-tarred career and his tilting toward MAGA and Trump World hasnt won him too many friends in the Democratic establishment. Political observers say there arent enough moderates to go around for one let alone two candidates and if the establishment wants to prevail, either Adams or Cuomo should exit the race. You cant have multiple alternatives, said Grant Reeher, the director of Syracuse Universitys Campbell Public Affairs Institute. I just dont see any way that Mamdani doesnt win unless one of these folks drops out. If I was a Democratic strategist for the whole party in New York City, and I commanded authority, I would put Adams and Cuomo in a room, and I would say, You guys are going to flip a coin, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A HarrisX poll out earlier this month before Cuomo announced his independent bid showed Adams trailing with 13 percent of the vote and Mamdani leading with 26 percent, followed by Cuomo at 23 percent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 22 percent. In a three-way race without Adams, the same poll revealed Cuomo would lead the field by 2 percentage points in front of Mamdani. Mamdani appears to recognize the potential danger to his candidacy if voters opposed to him rally around one independent choice. The left-wing candidate this past week sought to make inroads with business leaders and establishment Democrats, including during a trip to Washington where he met Democrats at an event with liberal star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, he met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in New York. Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Jeffries called the face-to-face constructive, candid and community-centered. The spokesperson said Jeffries and Mamdani also discussed a variety of other important issues including public safety, rising antisemitism, gentrification and the importance of taking back the House in 2026. Mamdani also recently earned the endorsement of Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.), another rising Democratic star. Some of Mamdanis efforts appeared to be helping him. Hes already had those conversations, been in those meetings, and it doesnt seem that there is a wholesale public rebuke of him, said Democratic strategist Basil Smikle, who served as executive director of the New York State Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smikle said that signals that a lot of those constituencies and voters are willing to hear more and are likely going to find a way to work with him. Mamdani has impressed some Democrats who say the party needs fresh blood. He is campaigning like he isnt 94 years old, said Democratic strategist Eddie Vale, who hails from New York. He is out hitting the streets and events and talking to tons of people. He is doing press interviews and podcasts and he is young and natively comfortable online for doing his own videos and social media. By meeting with establishment operatives and backers, Mamdani has been chipping away at a part of the electorate that strategists say is critical to both Cuomo and Adams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two independents are, for a number of moderate voters, the business community, the real estate community, a firewall against more progressive politics, Smikle said. Some observers in the race differ over who is the stronger challenger to Mamdani. New-York based Republican strategist Susan Del Percio, who worked for Cuomo as a special adviser in 2014, holds the view it is Adams. Cuomo has lost once; he probably will lose again, she said. The only one who really has a path when it comes down to Cuomo, Sliwa, and Adams is Adams, Del Percio added. If hes willing to reinvent himself a bit in light of people being scared of Mamdani its almost Cuomos argument, except I think that theres more that Adams can do now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you tell [Adams] now, You may actually be able to win, hell twist himself into a pretzel to do it, Del Percio added. If you told him he had to be disciplined, and this is how you do it, and he has a real campaign, I think he could do it. Other voices who think Cuomo could win more support point to Adamss unpopular tenure as mayor. Though Adams was charged with corruption charges last year, a judge permanently dismissed them in April. The dismissal came weeks after the Trump administration asked prosecutors to drop the charges against Adams. Reeher said Adams has been tarnished with financial corruption and incompetency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobodys really making the argument that Andrew Cuomo is incompetent and doesnt know what hes doing, he said. Cuomo faces his own hurdles. The former governors time in Albany came to an end with 13 women accusing of him sexual assault and accusations that the state purposefully under-reported COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. And his political opponents, particularly Mamdani, have not let him or the New York City electorate forget it. Some criticized Cuomo for reentering the race last week with an ad filmed on the Upper East Side, a sign to political observers that he has learned nothing about appealing to the issue that New Yorkers care most about and the issue Mamdani won on in the Democratic primary affordability. But there is still great worry about Mamdani in the party, strategists acknowledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He cant be the future of the party, one strategist said. Hes only going to be fodder for Republicans. Reeher agreed, saying If I put myself in the place of a Republican strategist, Im wanting [Mamdani] to win. I can imagine the advertisement would be a list of some of the most extreme things that he has stood for and I would say, This is what Democrats do when theyre left to their own devices, 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 The Hill. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Shield Law 2.0 has passed both the New York State Senate and Assembly, paving the way for permanent legal protections for those seeking or providing gender-affirming and reproductive health care. If signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, the legislation would solidify New Yorks position as a sanctuary state for individuals accessing these services. Assemblymember Harry Bronson held a press conference Monday celebrating the laws passage. He praised the measure as a commitment to equality and civil rights in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in New York, we say no more. No more racism, no more sexism, no more homophobia, no more transphobia, no more bigotry. No more, Bronson said. We will fight in New York for the equality, the justice and the freedom of everyone. We will fight in New York to make sure that workers have the rights and protections that they deserve for themselves and their families. Bronson also highlighted the passage of two additional labor measures: the NLRB Trigger Bill and the Remedial Construction of New York Labor Law Act. Both aim to enhance and clarify the states labor laws. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A tragic and highly unusual accident at a Long Island medical facility has left a New York man dead and a community reeling. Keith McAllister, 61, of Long Island, was killed on Wednesday (July 16) after being pulled into a powerful MRI machine at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, while assisting his wife following a routine knee scan. McAllister was wearing a 20-pound metal chain with a lock, an item he reportedly used for fitness training and had worn to the same facility at least once before without issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, however, the chain proved fatal. As he stepped into the MRI room to help his wife, the magnetic field of the machine forcefully yanked him forward. The machine switched him around, pulled him in, and he hit the MRI, his wife, Jones-McAllister, told News 12 Long Island. I said, Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, turn this damn thing off! Despite frantic efforts, McAllister remained attached to the machine for nearly an hour. The Nassau County Police Department confirmed the chain caused him to be drawn into the machine, which resulted in a medical episode. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but died the next day at 2:36 p.m. after reportedly suffering several heart attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standard MRI protocol requires all individuals entering the room to remove metal and electronic items due to the extreme strength of the machines magnetic field, which is powerful enough to fling a wheelchair across the room. Despite this, McAllister was permitted to enter without being asked to remove his chain, a factor that is believed to have contributed to his death. McAllisters family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for funeral expenses and other associated costs. VIBE sends our condolences to the McAllister family. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A 26-year-old Democratic labor organizer calling for a new generation of leadership in Washington will announce his campaign Monday to unseat GOP Rep. Young Kim in Californias Orange County. Perry Meade joins a wide field of challengers running for the 40th District seat held by Kim, one of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees top targets in the state. Kim won the seat by more than 10 percentage points in 2024. But the district has swung back and forth in recent years, with Joe Biden winning it in 2020 before Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris by more than two percentage points there in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meade, the youngest member of the Democratic Party of Orange Countys central committee, is making affordability the thrust of his campaign. In a campaign launch video , he asks, Can we just catch a fucking break? Meade, a labor organizer with UNITE HERE Local 11, said in an interview that he wants to see a Democratic Party in Congress that "unapologetically" fights for affordability, adding that he feels a responsibility to fight back. He took aim at the Trump administrations deployment last month of the National Guard to immigration raid protests in Los Angeles, as well as recent crackdowns at farms and businesses. I think it's time that we have a new generation of leaders as well, and a new generation of leaders that has this lived experience and is willing to fight in the halls of Congress to deliver on these things that our community needs, said Meade, a former West Coast regional organizer at March For Our Lives. The Rancho Santa Margarita native joins several Democrats eyeing Californias 40th District, including Kims 2024 challenger, Joe Kerr; former Chino Valley school board member and attorney Christina Gagnier; Los Angeles art dealer Esther Kim Varet; consultant Paula Swift; and entrepreneur and nonprofit leader Nina Linh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meades support includes endorsements from Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and state Sens. Catherine Blakespear, Sasha Renee Perez and Maria Elena Durazo. CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this report misstated Meade's role at March For Our Lives. (KRON) A young California sea lion that was found wandering in a San Rafael roadway was rescued Saturday with help from police and fire departments. The San Rafael Police Department began getting calls on Saturday morning about the juvenile sea lion that was on Point San Pedro Road near Bayside Park. Responding officers, along with San Rafael Fire Department personnel and community members, used police shields, cardboard and other objects to corral the pinniped. Pointer the California sea lion was rescued from a San Rafael roadway on July 19, 2025. (San Rafael Police Department) Pointer the California sea lion was rescued from a San Rafael roadway on July 19, 2025. (San Rafael Police Department) Pointer the California sea lion was rescued from a San Rafael roadway on July 19, 2025. (San Rafael Police Department) Once the sea lion was scooted to safety off the roadway, they took advantage of the activated sprinklers in the park grass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marine Mammal Center arrived at the park and found that the sea lion was likely suffering from a bacterial infection, police said. The Center took the sea lion for treatment and rehabilitation. The rescuers gave the sea lion the name Pointer after the roadway on which it was found. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Reports said Youngstown police early Saturday evening found casings from two different weapons after people in a car were shooting at a Jeep. Read next: Trumbull County judge charged with DUI and felony gun offense Officers were called about 8:55 p.m. to the 500 block of S. Schenley Avenue for gunfire, where they found 16 handgun casings and six casings from a rifle. Police watched surveillance video, which showed a man getting out of the car on S. Schenley and firing several shots at a Jeep on Noel Avenue. Only one person could be seen shooting on the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was injured. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Everyone has a favorite beer. From local craft brews to regional staples, beer fans are loyal, and they are proud of where their drink comes from. But whether your pint of choice was bottled down the street or thousands of miles away, there is a high chance its hops were sourced from the same place. Nestled deep in the heart of Washington State, the Yakima Valley is an all-around powerhouse for alcoholic beverage production. The region is perhaps best known for its designation as an American Viticultural Area, meaning it has been federally recognized for growing high-quality grapes. While you can find some of the best Rhone-style wines from Washington State here, the Yakima Valley is quietly one of the biggest hop-growing regions in the world, producing more than 75% of the United States' supply. For those unfamiliar, hops are the unsung hero in countless types of beer, from lagers to ales and stouts. They're responsible for myriad complex flavors, ranging from floral and citrusy to bitter and funky. They also act as natural preservatives and foam stabilization agents. Just like wine grapes, it's been said that hops possess terroir, meaning the natural environment the plants are grown in will impact their taste. With that in mind, it's clear the Yakima Valley hops are desirable and ultra-flavorful, as more than 72 millions pounds are harvested annually. Not to mention, the valley produces more than 130 different varieties of hops, allowing brewers to carefully select what flavors and aromas end up in their beer. Read more: Popular Oktoberfest Beers Ranked Worst To Best A Hoppy History Of The Yakima Valley Hops growing in front of mountains in Yakima Valley, Washington - Philaugustavo/Getty Images Humulus lupulus, commonly referred to as the hop plant, is not actually native to Washington (or anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, for that matter). The viny perennial related to cannabis actually originates from Eurasia, with a range that spans from Egypt to central Europe and parts of western Russia. Hops would not see cultivation in U.S. soil until the early 1600s, when English settlers brought clippings with them across the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts became the first American hop capital, followed by New York. This Northeast hop dominance would end in the late 19th century, following plights with mildew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is said that hops were first brought westward to Washington by a man named Ezra Meeker in the 1860s. Around a decade later, after receiving clippings from his father, Charles Carpenter introduced the plant to Moxee, a small town in the Yakima Valley. The crop spread like wildfire, and Moxee was unofficially named the newest hop world capital. Catching onto the region's success, Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, alongside the inaugural president of the National Geographic Society, Gardiner Green Hubbard, invested in the Moxee Co., a company that encouraged American and Canadian hop farmers to set up shop in the Yakima Valley. Farmers were offered land and a stipend to get started, setting an already flourishing cash crop ablaze. During the Great Depression and Prohibition, the Yakima Valley continued on, with harvesting practices that kept consumer costs at a minimum. The Perfect Growing Conditions Hop cones growing on a vine - Yu.li.ko/Shutterstock Post-Great Depression, the Yakima Valley thrived, as after harvesting the hops, farmers began to export their produce worldwide, establishing the region (and the United States as a whole) as a geographically significant component of the global beer market. Flash forward to the 21st century, and it is said that the ever-present global threat of climate change might impact beer's future taste and price. As long-term weather patterns shift worldwide, it is estimated that annual hop crop yields could drop by about 18% by 2050. While it is hard to say what the future may bring, the valley's present conditions are ideal. For one, hops love soaking up the sun, and in the Yakima Valley, summer days can see around 16 hours of sunlight thanks to its northern latitude. Plus, hops do well in fast-draining, fertile soil, which the valley has in abundance. The region's semi-arid desert climate brings dry heat by day, but thanks to advanced irrigation systems, the hops never have to worry about drying up. Not to mention, the winters are cold, allowing the plants a dormant period of rest before the following year's harvest. Believe it or not, the conditions are so perfect in the Yakima Valley that the hop plant's bines (a sort-of climbing vine with little hairs) can see an astounding daily growth of up to 14 inches. The region is also the only place of its kind where farmers can propagate clippings at springtime and receive an autumnal harvest just a few months later. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Detailed ceasefire talks are not on the agenda for the next round of negotiations with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Kiev diplomats on Monday. Wednesday's meeting should instead focus on advancing the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and children abducted by Russia, as well as preparing a meeting at the presidential level, "We need more momentum in the negotiations to end the war," Zelensky said, explaining his insistence on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stated that results could only be expected from discussions at the highest level. In mid-May, Zelensky had already travelled to Turkey in vain, hoping for a meeting with Putin. The Kremlin has so far rejected direct negotiations between the presidents, arguing that such talks must be well-prepared to yield results. Necessary groundwork must first be laid at lower levels, according to Moscow. In the first two rounds of direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow in May and June, both sides agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange and the return of fallen soldiers. Over the weekend, Zelensky proposed new negotiations with Moscow to take place during the week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Moscow's interest in the talks, which, like the previous rounds in May and June, will take place in Istanbul. Zelensky confirmed they would be held on Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the countries where procedures for obtaining multiple citizenship are likely to be introduced first. Source: Zelenskyys address at the ambassadors conference on Monday 21 July, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy reminded those present that Ukraine recently passed a law on multiple citizenship, which aims to maintain Ukrainians connection with their homeland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "We will gradually determine the countries where the corresponding procedures will be introduced. I planned to start with the countries hosting the largest Ukrainian populations now primarily Germany, Poland, Czechia and the Baltic states." Details: Zelenskyy added that the list will be finalised following consultations with the prime minister, foreign minister and speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament). Quote: "Of course, we should also consider Canada and other countries where many Ukrainians live and where Ukraine feels such strong support. This is also an important aspect which countries have traditionally stood with us, traditionally supported us and remain warm, very warm to Ukrainians, as well as very warm and important to Ukraine." Background: The idea of a law on multiple citizenship had been under discussion even before the full-scale war, but became more of a pressing issue after 2022. The current law was submitted to parliament by Zelenskyy as far back as January 2024 and signed on 15 July 2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian representatives are preparing for the next round of meetings with Russia in Turkiye on Wednesday 23 July. Source: European Pravda; President Volodymyr Zelenskyys evening address on 21 July Details: Zelenskyy said he and National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umierov had discussed preparations for a prisoner exchange and the next meeting in Turkiye with the Russian side. "Umierov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday [23 July]. There will be more details tomorrow," Zelenskyy added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Ukrainian, Turkish and Russian media outlets have reported, citing sources, that the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul could take place this week. Ukraine had previously announced the agenda for the next meeting: the return of prisoners of war, the return of children abducted by Russia, and preparations for a leader-level meeting. The most recent round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations took place in Istanbul on 2 June. At that meeting, Russia handed Ukraine a memorandum with a list of clearly unacceptable ultimatums. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Typhoon Wipha was the first strong storm to test the Macau Bridge, built for over MOP5.2 billion, which demonstrated its capability to remain operational under a Typhoon Signal No. 8, though the Public Works Bureau (DSOP) is reviewing data to assess future operations during typhoons. Typhoon Wipha directly struck Macau yesterday, bringing the first Signal No. 10 of the year. In response, the government declared an immediate preventive state when Signal No. 8 was issued, leading to the closure of four Macau-Taipa bridges. Following the announcement, netizens referenced comments made by Yang Song, assistant general manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and managing director of CCECC Hong Kong and Macau Branch, during an interview last year with mainland Chinese and Hong Kong media. He stated that the Macau Bridge was designed to withstand winds associated with Signal No. 8, capable of reducing wind speeds by three to four levels, and that testing had been conducted during the modeling phase. This led many to question the governments reversal of its commitment that the bridge could remain operational under Signal No. 8, referencing earlier assurances that it could operate safely under those conditions. According to a report in the Macao Daily News yesterday, the Civil Protection Operations Center of the Unitary Police Service (SPU) stated that, based on information from the DSOP in September last year, data would be collected to assess the feasibility of opening the Macau Bridge to the public during typhoon conditions. Consequently, the Macau Bridge will remain closed during Signal No. 8, similar to the other three bridges. According to reports, Yang Song previously stated to the media that, if permitted by the government, the bridge could be opened to traffic under a Signal No. 8. However, there are currently no considerations for operating the bridge under stronger winds associated with Signal No. 9 or No. 10. The DSOP indicated in September last year that once the Macau Bridge is operational, it will collect data on the effectiveness of wind barriers during Signal No. 8 and analyze the conditions under which traffic can be allowed. Authorities noted that the main section of the Macau Bridge is equipped with wind barriers designed to reduce wind speeds on the bridge to levels comparable to those at its landing points. This ensures that wind speeds on the bridge during a Signal No. 8 remain lower than those on land, creating a consistent driving environment with the mainland. Operating black taxis during extreme weather conditions The Shi Min Daily reported today on the responsibilities of taxi operators during typhoons. The article noted that Leng Sai Vai, president of the Association of Trade and Workers of the Automobile Industry of Macau, expressed a desire for the government to clearly define the risks and responsibilities associated with operating during extreme weather conditions. He suggested that this clarity would enable industry operators to make informed decisions about whether to maintain limited services during such events. According to Leng, during Signal No. 8, government regulations theoretically permitted only black taxis to continue operating, even though the government did not encourage this. It is estimated that around 20% of the total black taxis in Macau, roughly 200 vehicles, remained in operation during Signal No. 8. The industry insider commented that operating black taxis during a typhoon does not violate regulations. However, he recommended that the government enhance the timely dissemination of traffic information for drivers reference. Leng also suggested using this typhoon, Wipha, as an opportunity to test the feasibility of maintaining traffic flow on the Macau Bridge under a Signal No. 8, while clarifying the associated risks and responsibilities for operators and drivers. The decision to continue operations should be left to the discretion of the operators, rather than mandating a suspension. The insider noted that while taxi drivers can purchase typhoon insurance, the annual cost ranges from approximately MOP20,000 to MOP30,000, which is relatively high and deters many drivers from obtaining it. Furthermore, incidents such as scaffolding collapses or debris shattering windows during typhoons are not covered by third-party insurance. In the event of an accident. including injuries or fatalities, drivers would be responsible for a significant portion of the compensation liability. Like this: Like Loading... In his address to Ukrainian diplomats, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named three priority issues for Kyiv that he wants to discuss during the third round of talks with Russian representatives in Istanbul. Source: European Pravda, citing Zelenskyy's address, including on social media platform X Quote from Zelenskyy: "Rustem Umierov has proposed holding a new meeting of representatives in Turkiye. The agenda from our side is clear: the return of prisoners of war, the return of children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a meeting at leadership level." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy reiterated his earlier statement that negotiations can only be truly effective if they take place at leadership level. "I urge you to inform your host countries of the importance of this negotiation framework and to ensure the necessary political support for Ukraine," he added, addressing the ambassadors. Background: Ukrainian, Turkish and Russian media, citing sources, reported that the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul could take place this week. The last round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul took place on 2 June. At that meeting, Russia handed Ukraine its memorandum with a list of knowingly unacceptable ultimatums. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Two people were killed and 15 others injured, including a 12-year-old boy, in a large-scale Russian missile attack on Ukraine on the night of 20-21 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter) Quote: "Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the oblast. 15 people have been injured; the youngest is a 12-year-old boy. Everyone is receiving assistance. Two people were killed in the attack." 15 . , . pic.twitter.com/pQr7JzJcVg (@ukrpravda_news) July 21, 2025 Details: Zelenskyy said search and rescue operations are currently underway in Ukrainian cities and hromadas following the Russian strike. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damage has been reported in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Russian drones were shot down over Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Poltava and Kherson oblasts. Firefighters extinguishing fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Zelenskyy said that during the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic missiles. The attacks continued throughout the night and into the morning. In the morning, Shahed drones again targeted Kharkiv Oblast. Mobile fire teams, aircraft, electronic warfare units, Air Force personnel and interceptor drones were all deployed to counter the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many targets were shot down but sadly, not all," the president noted. "That is why we must continue scaling up our interceptor capabilities. This is the kind of solution that can protect us from large-scale attacks." Firefighters extinguishing fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Background: On the night of 20-21 July, Russia launched a large-scale combined air attack on Ukraine using attack drones and missiles of various types. As a result of the Russian strike on Kyiv, one person was killed and eight others injured, including a 15-year-old girl. Residential buildings, a kindergarten, a supermarket, kiosks, garages, cars, warehouse premises and the above-ground part of a metro station were damaged. In Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, three adults and one child were injured in the overnight Russian missile and drone attack. Residential buildings were damaged. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Socialist Zohran Mamdani is back in Uganda, the country of his birth but just to celebrate his wedding. The Democrat mayoral candidate, 33, announced the visit to the East African country in a video addressed to his haters on X on Sunday morning, and even found time to have a pop at The Post. Zohran Mamdani announced he was returning to Uganda on Sunday. X/ZohranKMamdani Being a politician means listening, not just to your supporters, but to your critics too, he said in the video. And some of these critics especially on a certain website have been giving me consistent advice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharing a series of posts on X telling the Queens congressman to go back to Africa, Mamdani, who moved to the US when he was 7, joked that he was taking his trolls advice. I hear you, and I agree: Im going back to Uganda, he said, before adding, Im headed there in a personal capacity to celebrate Rama and Is marriage with our family and friends. Mamdani and Rama Duwaji, 27, an artist and animator, married in February this year, the would-be successor to Eric Adams revealed in a post on X in May. The visit is to celebrate his marriage to artist Rama Duwaji. Instagram/Le Marche des Fleurs But I do want to apologize to the haters, because I will be coming back, Mamdani added, before having a pop at The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And since you will undoubtedly read about this trip in The New York Post inshallah on the front page here are a few of my humble suggestions for headlines, he said, before dropping a few pale imitations of The Posts signature style. The trip comes after Mamdani won the Democratic primary for the NYC mayoral election last month. AP Mamdanis campaign issued a statement about the visit to Uganda. Zohran is traveling to Uganda, where he is celebrating his marriage to Rama with their family and close friends, the statement read. He will return to New York before the end of the month and looks forward to resuming public events and continuing his campaign to make the most expensive city in America affordable. The educational priorities of socialist Big Apple mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani could undermine progress in the nations largest school system, veteran education experts warn. The Democratic Party candidate was the only hopeful who said he wants to gut mayoral control of the city school system a set-up that has been in place since 2002 and supported by former Mayors Mike Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio and current Hizzoner Eric Adams. Zohran supports an end to mayoral control and envisions a system instead in which parents, students, educators and administrators work together to create the school environments in which students and families will best thrivestrengthening co-governance, his campaign platform says. Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani accepting the endorsement of the United Federation of Teachers at its Manhattan headquarters on July 9, 2025. Matthew McDermott Mamdani repeated during a NY1 interview last week that he wanted to go beyond a mayor having an automatic majority of appointments to the Panel for Educational Policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The socialist Democrat, who was endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers after he overwhelmingly won the Dem primary last month, said he is on the same wavelength as the union, which has long fought to reduce the mayors authority over the school system. Ive seen this as something the union was also advocating for in the past a changing of the composition of the board, Mamdani said. Education experts questioned Mamdanis approach. It would be a terrible mistake to take away the mayors majority on the Panel for Education Policy, said Ray Domanico, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a veteran researcher who previously worked in the city public school system. Mamdani said he agrees with the UFTs view on mayoral control. Matthew McDermott The biggest advancements in New York City education systems were during the first 12 years of mayoral control under Bloomberg, when low-performing schools were closed and replaced with charter schools and other smaller, experimental schools, Domanico said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani also is out of touch with the working class and low-income parents he claims to represent who enroll their kids in charter schools, he argued. Mamdani is not a fan of charter schools. Hes a fan of the teachers union, Domanico said. Hunter College urban affairs professor Joseph Viteritti, who served as senior adviser to Schools Chancellor Frank Macchiorola, opposed diluting the mayors authority over the school system, too. You need to focus on accountability and responsibility somewhere. It gives the mayor a direct stake in the process, Viteritti said. He said proper checks can be put in place on the PEP without diluting City Halls responsibility for schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CUNY Graduate Center education Professor David Bloomfield said Mamdani doesnt seem to have a thought-through policy on schools, as he does in other areas. He said mayoral control is better than education by committee. But Mamdani, if hes elected, could be more inclusive in his decision-making by having an open search to select the next schools chancellor, instead of making a unilateral choice, Bloomfield said. Mamdani has said the mayor should still appoint the schools chancellor, as is the case now, and that ultimately the mayor is responsible for educating students. The leading candidate insisted he didnt want to return to the much-maligned city Board of Education, when the mayor had two of seven appointments. He also insisted his goal was to get more parents and educators engaged in school policy through various advisory boards, such as community education councils. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state law on New York City school governance is up for renewal next June. During a private meeting with tech executives last week, an attendee who is a charter-school parent asked Mamdani about his position on the popular alternative to public schools. Mamdani said he is skeptical of charter schools, citing equity issues and higher suspension rates for their students though many charter-school students are poor or working class. I agree with your assessment that public education, for the most part, is not working as it should be, he told the parent. He told the tech executives that hes interested in efficiency and curbing costly consultant contracts awarded by the city Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A rep for Mayor Eric Adams called Mamdanis proposed to undo mayoral control of schools reckless and irresponsible. It would take us back to a time when New York Citys school system was mired in dysfunction, with no clear accountability and no one in charge, Adams campaign spokesman Todd Shapiro said. While Mamdani talks about pulling power from the mayor, Mayor Adams is focused on keeping our kids learning, safe, and supported. He fought to extend mayoral control because he believes one person should be responsible and that person is the mayor New Yorkers elect. In general, education has gotten short shrift during the mayoral campaign with little talk about a drop in enrollment, high absenteeism and stagnant test scores, the school watchdogs said. NEW YORK (AP) New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is visiting his native country of Uganda to celebrate his recent marriage, taking a short break from the campaign trail ahead of the November election. Mamdani announced the visit in a video posted to social media on Sunday and said he would return to the city by the end of July. The trip comes as Mamdani, a 33-year-old member of the state Assembly, is facing a crowded field of opponents in the city's general election, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who are both running as independent candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his video, Mamdani joked that he had decided to heed the consistent advice of some of his critics online who have told him to return to Africa, showing a screen full of posts that called for him to leave the U.S. I hear you, and I agree: I'm going back to Uganda, he said. I'm headed there in a personal capacity to celebrate Rama and I's marriage with our family and friends. "But I do want to apologize to the haters, because I will be coming back," Mamdani added. Mamdani announced his marriage to Rama Duwaji, an animator and illustrator, earlier this year. He was born in Kampala, Uganda to Indian parents and moved to New York when he was 7, becoming naturalized as an American citizen in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the city's Democratic primary election but Cuomo later relaunched his campaign to run as an independent candidate. Adams is a Democrat but skipped this primary to instead run as an independent because of the political fallout over his now-dismissed federal corruption case. Jim Walden, a former prosecutor, is also running as an independent. Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the anti-crime Guardian Angels patrol group, is running on the Republican line. GENEVA (AP) Swiss prosecutors have filed an indictment against a Zurich city councilor who fired a sport pistol at an auction poster of a 14th-century Madonna and child painting and posted images of their bullet-ridden faces on social media. The Zurich public prosecutor's office confirmed the indictment of Sanija Ameti to The Associated Press on Monday. Her actions in September caused an uproar, prompting her to resign from the local leadership of the Green-Liberal party. Ameti is now listed as an independent on the website of the municipal council. A redacted copy of the indictment, posted by the activist group Mass Voll, said Ameti was accused of disturbing religious freedom and that prosecutors were seeking a fine and penalty equivalent to 12,500 Swiss francs (about $15,600). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Swiss criminal code says anyone who publicly and maliciously insults or mocks the religious convictions of others or maliciously desecrates objects of religious veneration is liable to a monetary penalty, the indictment copy stated. A top leader with Operation Libero, a political movement Ameti co-founded that describes itself as liberal and progressive, did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Ameti apologized at the time and quickly pulled down the images after posting them on Instagram and reportedly sought police protection against threats after the incident. She later said she had been practicing shots and found the poster big enough for a suitable target. The poster, an advertisement, showed details of the work Madonna with Child and the Archangel Michael by 14th-century Italian painter Tommaso del Mazza before a sale. Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. People protest the removal of the word transgender from the Stonewall National Monument website during a rally outside of The Stonewall Inn on Feb. 14 in New York City. The measures recently announced by Francois Bayrou constitute a reactionary offensive on a massive scale: the abolition of two public holidays, a blank year (freezing pensions, social benefits, etc.), the elimination of thousands of civil service jobs, cuts to local authority funding, a 5 billion cut to public health spending and so on, for an estimated total saving of 43.8 billion. [Originally published in French at marxiste.org] The logic behind these announcements is very clear: the government wants to massively tax young people, workers, the middle classes and pensioners i.e. the overwhelming majority of the population in order to reduce the public deficit while at the same time significantly increasing military spending and defending the competitiveness of the French economy, i.e. the profits of the big bourgeoisie. As for the vague solidarity contribution that will be demanded from the most fortunate households, these are empty words aimed solely at making the austerity pill easier to swallow. On the one hand, it is precisely the richest who will benefit (directly or indirectly) from the austerity measures hitting the overwhelming majority of the population. On the other hand, the bourgeoisie has an army of advisors and tax lawyers who enable it to evade taxes in a thousand legal and illegal ways. Bayrou implicitly acknowledged this when he declared his will totally abstract and fictitious to fight against the abusive optimisation of non-productive assets. Basically, what Bayrou and his ministers have announced is a good preview of the type of policy that the French big bourgeoisie urgently needs except that, in reality, it needs even more reactionary policies. At stake is the competitiveness of French capitalism, which has been in relative decline for several decades, particularly in relation to Germany and China. Over the past three years, this decline has been spectacularly evident in Africa, where French troops have been driven out of a whole series of countries to the benefit of other powers, including China and Russia. The enthusiasm of the media for Bayrous announcement reflected this urgent need for the French bourgeoisie to brutally attack the masses, even as the INSEE (the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) published a detailed report highlighting that poverty in France is reaching record levels. The central problem for the bourgeoisie is obvious: young people and workers will not allow themselves to be robbed without reacting, at some stage, in the form of massive and explosive struggles. It is true that the leaders of the trade union confederations are doing everything they can to contain the class struggle within limits that allow the ruling class to implement their reactionary policies. For the moment, they have succeeded. But this is the country of June 1936, May 1968 and the gilets jaunes. They will not be able to confine the class struggle to the failed strategy of successive, harmless days of action indefinitely. Sooner or later, all the accumulated social anger will provoke explosive mobilisations that will largely escape the control of the trade union confederation leaders. Between now and the vote on the budget, more or less discreet negotiations will therefore take place between the government on the one hand and the leaders of the PS and RN on the other / Image: European Union, Wikimedia Commons The second problem for the bourgeoisie is more immediate: the situation in the National Assembly, where Bayrou does not have an absolute majority. Faced with the scale of the offensive announced last week, even the leaders of the Socialist Party (PS) and the National Rally (RN) are threatening to censure the government. Not that the leaders of the RN and PS are hostile to austerity policies, of course: as responsible, pro-capitalist politicians, they are even very much in favour of them. But if they approve an offensive as brutal as the one announced last week, they would risk paying a heavy price in electoral terms. Bayrou, who is well aware of this, was careful to point out that he was open to discussion with the parliamentary opposition. Between now and the vote on the budget, more or less discreet negotiations will therefore take place between the government on the one hand and the leaders of the PS and RN on the other. We will not venture to predict the outcome, nor to assess the chances of survival of the Bayrou government this autumn. It is a complex equation, involving various contradictory and shifting calculations at the top of the RN and PS. But above all, from our class perspective, the essential issue lies elsewhere: regardless of the parliamentary manoeuvring in the coming months, the leaders of the labour movement should develop and popularise a solid battle plan to mobilise the mass of workers against all austerity policies, whatever they may be, including those that would suit the RN or the PS. Such a battle plan must emphasise the need to build a large movement of renewable strikes, i.e. to paralyse the country's economy. A broad campaign of agitation must be launched to this end. Given their place and weight within the labour movement, it is up to the leaders of the CGT and La France Insoumise (FI) to commit to this path and call on all workers' organisations trade unions, political parties and associations to join them. Finally, they must do so on the basis of a radical programme, a programme of breaking with all austerity policies. We must put an end to the government of the rich and replace it with a government of the workers, who will know how to manage the economy for the benefit of the many and no longer for a handful of wealthy parasites. In another win for the digitalization of Hungarian administration, the pink social security booklet is finally being abolished as of January 2026. The information it contains is now safely managed by various government agencies, so the booklet has been redundant for some time. Instead, a new online platform will be created where employers can still check data if that is relevant to them. What is the pink social security booklet? The social security booklet, sometimes also called the pink booklet because of its distinctive color, is a document that indicates your social security status. Every employee in Hungary has one, and it lists the first day of your employment as well as all the benefits you have received related to social security, such as sick leave benefits or maternity benefits. If you are on a work permit in Hungary and you are still working for your first employer, there is a chance you have not yet seen this document, since it is created by every employees first employer, and then it is kept by them throughout the employment relationship. If you change employers, you are supposed to receive it with your exit documents and submit it to your next employer when you start. If you are an employer, most probably your HR or payroll specialist handles the pink booklets of your employees. Changes from 2026 According to a new regulation, the social security booklet will be abolished starting from January 1, 2026, since it has become redundant due to the digitalization of administration related to social security and employment. Employers will be required to make their reports to the Tax Authority the same as before, while employers that are also paying agents for social security will be able to access relevant data through a new platform. Are you an employee? As an employee, not much will change for you. Starting from January 2026, you will not be required to carry your pink social security booklet from one employer to the next when you are changing employers. If your employer is a paying agent for social security (so you get your benefits from your employer and not directly from the Treasury), the data management policy of your employer should be updated, and you are supposed to receive a notice of this. Are you an employer? As an employer, you will no longer need to worry about managing the pink social security booklet of your employees. You, or rather your payroll specialist, just need to keep electronically reporting employment related data to the authorities the same as before, and starting from January 2026, you will be spared the hassle of redundant paper-based documentation. HR and payroll related workflows should be updated accordingly. If your business is a payment agent for social security (so you are paying social security related benefits to your employees, for which you are being reimbursed by the state), you will be able to access relevant data currently listed in the pink social security booklet through an online platform. Accordingly, you will need to update your data management policies and notify your employees about this. In case of healthcare providers, employers will also be able to check if their employees have alternative employment, which is necessary for compliance with the rules governing minimum rest periods for healthcare professionals. Helpers Hungary at your service Helpers provides comprehensive business and personal solutions to foreigners living, working, and doing business in Hungary. If you are an employer and you have accounting and/or payroll services with Helpers, colleagues will manage the changes related to the abolition of the pink social security booklet, and you will need to get involved only if your personal touch is needed. Otherwise, we are happy to take the burden of administrative tasks off your shoulders, so you can focus on making your business a success in Hungary. Source: Helpers.hu - republished with permission ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. New Delhi: The much-awaited first look of Mouni Roys upcoming thriller Salakaar has finally been unveiled on JioHotstar, sparking a wave of excitement among her fans who have been eagerly awaiting her next big project. The glimpses reveal the actress in a strikingly new avatar, signaling a daring transformation that promises to redefine her career trajectory. The unveiled visuals showcase the actress in a sharp, never-before-seen avatar, steely, composed, and enigmatic, suggesting that Salakaar could mark one of her most complex and layered performances to date. The project, helmed by Khuda Haafiz director Faruk Kabir, is being touted as a significant career milestone for Roy and a potential game-changer in the realm of Indian spy thrillers. Set against the backdrop of international diplomacy and national security, Salakaar delves into the shadowy world of covert operations. The narrative reportedly kicks off when Indian intelligence intercepts critical information about Pakistans accelerated nuclear ambitions. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs deploys one of its most skilled operatives, played by TVF Pitchers actor Naveen Kasturia, to infiltrate and sabotage the adversarys plans. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source In a surprising twist, Mouni Roy plays a key role in the mission, assisting Kasturias character through a labyrinth of espionage, deception, and danger. Though full character details remain under wraps, the first look hints at her involvement in intelligence operations, potentially as a double agent or intelligence analyst, marking a bold deviation from the kinds of roles she has traditionally portrayed. Watch the First Look Here: Set to premiere on August 8 exclusively on JioHotstar, Salakaar is reportedly inspired by the real-life exploits of Ajit Doval, Indias National Security Advisor. Early buzz suggests that director Faruk Kabirs vision has tapped into a fresh dimension of Mounis acting prowess, offering her a challenging role that highlights her ability to portray complex, layered characters in a gripping espionage thriller. With this promising project, Mouni Roy is poised to carve a new niche for herself in the industry, delivering a performance that could be a game-changer in her already impressive career. 'The Bengal Files' First Review: Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's 'The Bengal Files' is making waves since its gripping teaser released. Earlier, The makers have announced premiere tour which includes 10 grand mega screenings across the United States, starting July 19 in New Jersey. Amid this honest reviews of 'The Bengal Files' are out. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri directorial has left the audiences stunned, the film has now created a stir with its first-ever grand premiere in New Jersey, USA. After first-ever premiere held in New Jersey, moviegoers honest reactions are pouring inn and speaking volume about the film's impact on the viewes. Taking to Instagram, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared audience's reactions, showing how deeply moved they were after witnessing the hard-hitting, shocking, and untold story of "Direct Action Day"a portrayal that raises the alarming question: is Bengal becoming another Kashmir? He also wrote the caption, 'Audience reactions after the first-ever screening of the untold story of Hindu Genocide #TheBengalFiles in New Jersey.' Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Check 'The Bengal Files' First Review Below! 'The Bengal Files' USA Tour Dates As announced, The Bengal Files will have international premieres ahead of its grand release in India, beginning with a massive USA tour. The schedule of the 10 grand premieres across the U.S. will be like, 19 July in New Jersey, 20 July in Washington DC, 25 July in Raleigh, 26 July in Atlanta, 27 July in Tampa, 01 August in Phoenix, 02 August in Los Angeles, 03 August in Sf Bay Area, 07 August in Detroit, 09 August in Chicago, and concluding on 10 August in Houston. The Bengal Files is written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi. It stars Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar. The film presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal & I Am Buddha is a part of Viveks Files trilogy that includes The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. FAQs When Is 'The Bengal Files' Releasing In India? Vivek Agnihotri's film will arrive in Indian theatres on September 5, 2025. What Was The Earlier Title Of The Bengal Files? The Bengal Files was initially titled as 'The Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter.' Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's Upcoming Film Is Based On? It's the third installment in director Vivek Agnihotri's 'Files' trilogy and is based on communal violence in Bengal during the 1940s. New Delhi: The Central government's committee, which was constituted as per the directions issued by the Delhi High Court on July 10, has recommended six modifications/changes to be incorporated in the film 'Udaipur Files' before its release for public or commercial viewing. 'Udaipur Files' is based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan. The film was scheduled to be released on July 11. On July 10, the Delhi High Court stayed the release till the Centre decides on pleas seeking a permanent ban over the film's potential to "promote disharmony" in society. The Centre has now recommended certain alterations to the film's disclaimer and has asked the filmmakers to replace the original one with the revised one. The committee also advised removing credit frames that express gratitude to certain individuals. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source A particular AI-generated scene resembling a Saudi Arabia-style execution is to be revised, as per the committee's recommendation. Additionally, it has recommended that all instances in the film with respect to a character named "Nutan Sharma" are to be removed and replaced with a new name. Specific dialogues attributed to Nutan Sharma, including one with reference to religious texts, are to be deleted. "Delete Nutan Sharma's dialogue: 'Mainetoh wohi kaha hai jo unke dharma grantho mein likha hai', the order released by the Central Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated. Lastly, the Committee has recommended the removal of certain dialogues regarding the Baloch community. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi has continued the stay on the release of the film and scheduled the next hearing for July 24. The Indian Innovation, backed by two state governmentconfirmed over 19 million therapies is now ready to address the $9.8 trillion global child development emergency. Bharat's Pinnacle Child Development Modelformally endorsed and externally audited by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh's Health and Education Missionsrises as the first scientifically verified, economically viable, and globally deployable solution to the current child development crisis affecting more than 500 million families globally. *Bharats Pinnacle Child Development Frameworko